Lia wanted to die.

She was squatting in the shallows of the oasis, feeling the water lapping gently around her calves. Lia snivelled as she tried not to be crushed under guilt and shame. How could she have forgotten about Faen so easily? After rescuing the tiny spirit from that old temple, she had promised to bring her safely to this lake where she could be free. Then just a few hours later, she’d guzzled all of her water supplies …including Faen.

Her march through the desert had left Lia exhausted and thirsty. She hadn’t been thinking straight. She didn’t even realise the oddly sweet flavour and strange tickling sensations had been her friend thrashing about inside her, likely terrified and confused. She didn’t even realise the consequences of her binge until she had arrived here; the sight of the oasis and the sudden need to relieve herself had jogged her memory about the promise she’d made.

Lia choked back further tears, trying to contain herself as the last of Faen trickled out of her. Her head bowed, she could pick out her reddened eyes from the rest of her dishevelled appearance, rippling in the water. Taking slow breaths, she managed to get her heart back under control. It was healthy to feel, she knew. But she couldn’t remain distraught forever, especially out in the wild like this. Even if, admittedly, the V’pran desert was mostly empty outside of the cities. Looking up, she tried focussing on her surroundings to take her mind off of things.

Lush foliage ringed around the small blue lake, bunched up against the bank like a swarm of thirsty animals, greedily drinking from the precious spring. Squat ferns and the occasional tree swayed in the slight breeze. Beyond them was a bare expanse of golden sand stretching in waves toward the horizon. The air rippled in the heat of the sun, as if the sky itself was sweating.

Lia remembered how odd the plants here – across the border – had seemed to her at first. The trees didn’t have branches, and instead were these tall, slender things with tufts of leaves sprouting from the tip. Other foliage consisted of short bushes with long green leaves that hung out like tongues, or tiny stiff things covered in spines. That was assuming you could find any vegetation at all. Nature was so odd here. Especially compared to her homeland in Co’ille which was much cooler and densely forested.

The hot sun pressing down on her back brought Lia back to attention. She was naked, having left her armour with the rest of her belongings on the bank behind her. Her heart had calmed somewhat from the initial outburst, and in the absence of panicked distress she was left with simply her shame. She groaned, barely noticing the gentle waves lapping at her rear as she curled into a ball. She peered over her arms, pulling her knees to her chest. The final few drops of urine finally left her as she stewed in her guilt.

Gods above, she was ridiculously overhydrated; Lia could barely make out any colour change in the water below her. The thought only added to the tragedy of the situation: she didn’t even need all the water she had so mindlessly guzzled last night. She probably even would have been fine to abstain all the way here, where she could have refilled. If not, Faen could probably have conjured up water for her, being a spirit and all. Or maybe she could have even asked Faen permission to have some of… her.

It suddenly occurred to Lia that she had even forgotten to introduce herself properly to Faen. She winced at the thought. The tiny spirit had died inside her without even knowing her name.

Lia squeezed her eyes shut. She tried to dismiss the thoughts of what could have been. It was difficult, but she had practice. It was a core tenet of her oath; she must not dwell upon the possibilities of paths not taken. She was a Paladin. That meant taking responsibility for her actions. No matter how much it hurts… She thought quietly.

Lia quickly washed off her nethers in the cool water. Before standing to leave, she knelt and offered a quiet prayer to her goddess. Lady Whitefeather was kind and motherly as the Shade of Life. So, she was often quite forgiving of mistakes. This was far from the first mistake Lia had made due to her forgetfulness. Though it was perhaps among the most grievous. Regardless, she still prayed for the poor spirit, both in apology and to swear she would atone. When she was finished, she solemnly stood and turned to leave.

Wading back to her equipment, Lia stewed in thought. She should give more attention to her spiritual side moving forward. When was the last time I hunted undead? She thought, frowning. Technically her oath cared more for protection than actively seeking out evil, but her goddess had a particular loathing toward the things. Lia happened to agree. Standing vigilant was noble yes, but she couldn’t be everywhere at once. The thought of someone she protected falling prey to unaccounted undead while she was travelling raked at her soul.

Lia combed her mind, thinking back. There had been skeletons infesting Faen’s temple, but she hadn’t known that before she left; she had been after the treasure. She felt another small jab of shame at the acknowledgement.

Fighting the shame with determination, she firmed her resolve. She would double- no, triple her efforts as a holy knight. Never again would she allow a person to die under her care. It was the least she could-

A booming roar of rushing water erupted from behind Lia. She felt the waters surging past her ankles toward its source. Broken from her thoughts, she spun around in a panic. A looming mass was beginning to coalesce, and she started wide-eyed as it began to take shape.

                                                                             ~~~                                                                                                            

Faen awoke in darkness.

Warmth. It was hot here. A pulse throbbed around her body, beating to a familiar rhythm.

When had she fallen asleep? That was foolish.

Her fleshy confines jostled slightly. Imperceptible to her captor most likely. Faen could feel movement.

Had she been awake she would have been able to retain control of her water; not allow it to be absorbed by her captor’s body.

How much did she have left? Half a litre? Less? Barely enough to survive. Unlike others of her kind, she possessed no core. She simply existed within whatever liquid her consciousness was currently inhabiting. Without enough water to inhabit – or if that water as spread too thinly – her soul would simply puff away. Like a drop of sweat on the daylit sands.

Her mind felt fuzzy. As if her thoughts were dehydrated, barely able to crawl.

The cramped chamber twitched slightly around Faen. With effort, she managed to inch her form up the sides of her fleshy cell. Touch was the only sense she bothered to use at the moment. With such little water at her disposal, it took most of her energy to simply stay conscious.

Some part of her mind was surprised that she had even that. She would have expected the elf to have needed a lot more, given the zeal with which she drank.

Faen felt herself heat up, her mind filling with memories of sliding through her friend’s mouth. Drifting off inside her warm belly, rocked gently by…

Faen snapped herself back to attention. No! Now isn’t the time. She scolded herself. There would be time to swoon over the events of last night after she got out of here.

After we get out of her… a lustful part of her mind corrected. She quickly stuffed that traitorous voice away somewhere else as she continued to feel out her surroundings. Her energy returning somewhat, she mustered the energy to form a vague, wobbling upper body. It wasn’t necessary, but it helped her focus.

Faen was no scholar on elven biology, so it was all she could do to grope around blindly with her senses. She could feel two small openings on either side of her, though they seemed to retreat deeper into the body. She guessed that was how she had entered this place. The floor of the chamber sloped sharply downward before ending in a tiny sphincter, clamped shut tightly. The slight twitches that jolted the chamber seemed to emanate from it.

Faen pushed her form downward, trying to pry the orifice open by force. It didn’t budge. It did begin to twitch harder in response, however. With a sudden force, her surroundings swayed and bobbed violently. It seemed her captor was in a hurry.

Well, good. Faen thought. Hopefully, that means she-

The floor dropped out from beneath her.

Faen found herself suddenly rushing downwards. She was being squeezed through a small tube. A rushing sound consumed her senses. Testing her sight, she could faintly make out a dull reddish glow around her and a tiny pinprick of light at her feet. It quickly grew brighter, until…

Light! Sound! Colour! Energy!

Faen felt her mind flood through what felt like an ocean, compared to her previous confines. Her vitality came back to her in a sudden rush, overwhelming. Her mind gasped in reflex. She could suddenly feel the great expanse of a small lake all at once. Her starved essence greedily drank from it until her form made up almost the entire lake. All seven of her senses returned simultaneously, the fog around her mind vanished like mist, and elemental power rushed through her like a storm. More than fully restored, she realised just how much she had lost of herself over the centuries of isolation. It had been so gradual she didn’t notice, but the slow and steady evaporation had left her small and simple-minded. Not unlike the lesser spirits she could feel milling about herself.

The wave of sensation and power left Faen stunned. It was several long moments before her mind began to settle. As the rush began to fade into normalcy, she finally took proper focus of her surroundings.

She was in – or rather, now mostly was – one of the small oases that popped up now and again around the desert. The thin green tongues of ferns gently tickled at her sides. The long stalkish trunks of trees leaned over her, as if intrigued. The sun burned arrogantly in the sky above her; his penetrating heat felt almost invasive after the ambient warmth of her former captor. Speaking of which…

There she was. Faen felt her moving before she saw her. The elf was wading back toward the bank of the oasis, where Faen could spot the faint glint of her equipment. The elf… Faen frowned mentally. She chided her foolish past self for not asking her saviour’s name.

Anyway… The elf was naked, the sun gleaming off of her wet tan skin, water dripping from her hair the colour of sand.

The lustful part of her mind – escaped from its former stiflement – wanted Faen to stay a moment and watch. But the elf was leaving, so she had to act soon.

Faen considered a moment, going back through her memories of the day before. The elf had treated her with kindness, that was certain. There’s a chance it was a ruse to capture me, and that she had always intended to consume me later, but… Faen’s gut twisted at the thought.

She had grown very fond of the elf, despite their brief time together. She was kind, pretty, and had saved Faen from her slow demise without hesitation. If all of that was a lie…

Faen stopped herself sharply. Don’t linger on it. She told herself. It would hurt too much, especially if it were true. Faen instead filed it away as a possibility and turned to consider others.

Perhaps the elf simply needed the water, and took without asking? That seemed unlikely, not to mention rude. Could she have simply forgotten? It seemed ridiculous, but Faen had seen what the desert can make of strong travellers. That idea was comforting. Faen tried to focus on it. The elf had seemed a tad scatterbrained when they first met.

With those possibilities filed away, Faen moved to what had happened. Analysing the events of the last night.

Regardless of her feelings toward the elf, she felt ire beginning to rise inside her. The elf had eaten her! Without asking! Yes, she had …enjoyed it in the moment... but she hadn’t been thinking straight!

The part of Faen that remembered having once been worshipped by an entire township refused to suffer the indignity. She was a spirit! She had an entire temple! And this elf had just filtered Faen through her kidneys! Though she was asleep when it happened, Faen’s pride still rumpled at the idea.

The elf was almost to the shore. Faen calmed herself. It could have been an accident, after all. She needed to get the elf’s attention. She couldn’t cross the desert herself after all.

A small part of her mind was quietly confused at that. Wasn’t she already where she wanted to go? The elf promised to take her to an oasis, after all. What more was she expecting?

Faen pushed that away for later as she thought up ways to get the elf’s attention.

How should she approach? Casually? Casually could pose danger if the elf really did betray her. No, better to impose a grander, more intimidating image. That way Faen would have easier control over the conversation. Just in case.

Faen grinned mentally as she prepared. She found she did that often – feeling human sensations regardless of her form. She supposed it was something to do with her soul.  

Faen quickly gathered herself, dusted off some old, haughty mannerisms, and threw her form into a swirl.

                                                                                     ~~~                                                                                                     

Lia stumbled backward, tripping herself up and falling on the wet sand of the rapidly receding shoreline. She gaped toward the centre of the oasis, where the waters of the lake were rapidly surging upward into a looming figure.

The water curled upon itself with roaring noise. It rose into the air with a menacing slowness as it blotted out the sun behind it. Cast in the flickering shadow of the monolith and tickled by the thin golden rays of the filtered sunlight, Lia’s heart skipped a beat as she realised what was happening.

The watery pillar slowed to a stop some thirty-five feet into the air and slowly began to take shape. First, large swathes were cut out in broad strokes to form the vague shape of a woman, the discarded chunks cascading back into the basin. The interior cooled rapidly, forming giant bones of ice that propped up her body. The shape was then refined further and further, with bursts of colour popping into existence like dye to fill the increasingly humanlike form.

The shoreline – which had been steadily receding so far – slowed its retreat, stopping several meters from where it started. Lia watched in awe as the figure completed the finishing touches of her form. She was stately, with a lithe figure and refined features. The pale blue of the water had given way to a tan brown for her skin, and a deeper navy for her hair, which flowed like waves around her head.

Lia continued to let her awe forestall the panic building at the back of her mind. The figure had even taken the care to form simple coverings. She was endowed with a flowing azure loincloth with golden fittings. As well as other fabrics loosely draped upon her form, all in idyllic shades of blue. Oddly, her breasts remained uncovered – Lia tried not to linger for too long on that – and her eyes were a bright sky blue. Her form vanished into the blue of the oasis mid-thigh, as if she were seated upon the rippling surface.

All in all, she was very pretty. A particular kind of regal beauty flowed from the figure before Lia. Even her imperious glare was…

Faen’s glare was enough to shatter Lia’s awed gazing, allowing her built-up panic to collapse upon her like a cave-in. Trembling, she quickly covered her still-naked self as a million thoughts and emotions surged through her.

Surprise, joy, and relief from seeing that Faen had survived. Guilt and shame from her mistake last night. Embarrassment from her current nakedness and the thought of where the spirit had just been…

The rush of emotions all surged forward at once, and despite all the extensive apologies and feelings she wanted to express, Lia was only able to squeak out a single word.

“Uh- s-sorry…”

                                                                              ~~~                                                                                                            

Faen towered above the trembling elf. She folded her arms, puffed out her chest, and glared.

Sands, it must have been a good one. The poor girl looked terrified. Faen fought a smile. It had been centuries since she’d put together a proper human form like this. She had been worried about getting the features just right, though it seemed she needn’t’ve.

Faen held the pose for a long moment, observing the elf and trying to project as much indignant offense as she could manage. Thinking about how massive the elf had seemed to her before, it was hard to keep a straight face with how easily this display had worked so far.

Faen let the elf squirm for a moment longer, watching the conflicting emotions fighting for control of her face with satisfaction. Eventually, she had composure enough to speak.

“Uh- s-sorry…” The elf managed to squeak out.

Faen scoffed. “That’s all you have to say?” She asked, raising an eyebrow. The elf winced at her own meagre apology. “After devouring me like some starved beast?” Faen continued. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be squeezed and absorbed through a digestive tract? By a complete stranger no less!” Faen shook her head disapprovingly.

The elf started, using the brief pause to scramble around until she was on her knees, still awkwardly covering herself with both hands as she half-bowed to Faen. “L-Lia! My name is Lia Aloro!” She cried, still bowed.

Faen let out a small smile, having gotten what she wanted. She tucked the name away securely before continuing. “I’m glad introductions can finally be in order. I assume you must know who I am, given you ransacked my temple.”

Lia hesitated. “Your name is Faen. You’re a… spirit?” She answered, unsure.

Faen’s pride rankled. Her ire became less faked for a moment. “A greater spirit, yes. Nothing like these lesser gnats you could find on any old dune.” She bat away some nearby ditsy lake spirits to accentuate her point. Small flat-bodied things with spindly legs, they skittered away from her, startled. Lia’s gaze flicked to the action, specifically toward the lake spirits that scattered off.

Interesting… Faen thought. “You have a rather keen sixth sense, for a mortal.” She said, genuine interest breaking through the stern façade. Lia gave up the bow as well, meeting Faen’s curious gaze. “Your name and appearance are foreign to me as well. From where do you hail, and how did you acquire such spiritual acuity?”

Lia gathered herself a moment before responding. “I hail from Vo’tel, the continent to the northwest from here. The forest of Co’ille specifically.” Lia answered immediately, surprising Faen a little with her compliance. She rose to place her hands on her knees in a dutiful posture. “My training as a paladin under Lady Whitefeather is what honed my sixth sense. Something about ‘strengthening my connection to the life force of all living things’, I think…” She trailed off, blushing as she quickly covered herself once more.

Faen rose, smothering a giggle at the woman’s strange embarrassment. She had assumed the full suit of armour from before had been a practical decision; that Lia’s normal clothes would have been more open. She found herself questioning that idea now, however. It was said that it got colder the further north you went. Perhaps people wore more coverings where Lia was from?

Anyway. A holy knight, eh? There had been a few of those cropping up a few centuries ago. It seems that hadn’t stopped. Whitefeather was supposed to be the kinder of the Shades, which – alongside Lia’s behaviour thus far – bode well for the elf’s character. Faen felt some of the weight of her previous worries lifting.

Faen leaned forward to study Lia as the elf shifted awkwardly under her gaze. Lia was proving to be more and more interesting to her. She moved to ask more but caught herself before the act dropped completely.

Right, stern.

She narrowed her eyes again, making Lia stiffen. “Well then, Lia Aloro, paladin from Co’ille. What do you have to say for yourself? Before you answer, let me remind you of exactly the things you’ve done.” Lia shrank under Faen’s gaze, not able to meet her eyes.

“You barged into my temple. You stole my vast riches – yes those were mine. You trod all over my chamber without saying the proper address. You… killed my… guard… skeletons,” Faen winced. Those last two were flimsy exaggerations at best. The ‘proper address’ was an ever-expanding list of silly titles she would come up with whenever she was bored. Not to mention the skeletons, which just kind of showed up one day. Laying it on a bit thick there, ‘Grand Spirit’. She thought. Better to stick to the truth. 

“Worst of all, you promised me sanctuary, freedom from my confinement. Then ate me that same night.” Faen said, real emotion colouring her voice. Lia shrivelled further. “You gave me hope, then used me for your own sustenance.” Faen hissed. Emotions finally rising from her considering the situation objectively. “I would have died. If not for you drinking far more than you needed.” Faen chided.

Lia was trembling, looking on the verge of tears, her prior embarrassment covered by shame. Faen stood tall, regaining her composure after the outburst. After a long few moments, Faen gathered up her anger, then blew it out in a sharp huff.

The moment it was gone her treacherous libido sidled up to remind her how her experience inside Lia wasn’t all bad. Faen pretended to ignore it.

“Well? What do you have to say?” Faen asked, tense.

Lia sat for a few moments, not meeting Faen’s eyes. Her hands were balled at her knees, not bothering to cover herself anymore. Faen could feel the heart she had subconsciously constructed pounding as she waited.

Finally, Lia spoke softly. “There’s no easy way of putting it…” Faen’s throat tightened at the resignation in her tone, expecting the worst. “The truth is…”

Lia quickly met her gaze, face red with embarrassment. “I forgot!” She confessed. The words tumbled out of the elf in a rush. “I had been wandering the desert in full armour for hours, and by the time I made camp I was so thirsty I wasn’t thinking straight! I only remembered about you after I woke up today…” She faltered, somehow blushing further. “I’m so, so sorry Faen! I promised that I’d keep you safe and I only put you in more danger!” Lia finished, voice faltering as tears formed in her eyes.

Faen felt relief wash over her like a cool breeze. All the weight of her fears over Lia’s intentions vanished at the confession. She really had forgotten, dazed by the heat. Faen couldn’t help but smile, even chuckle at the situation. She basked in it for a moment, until she noticed Lia looking up at her quizzically. Her expression floundered a moment, as she regained her regal composure. She altered her chuckle to be more derisive and shook her head at the foolishness of it all. “Foolish elf. How could you have forgotten such an important passenger as me?” She uttered with extra haughtiness. Maybe too much.

Lia didn’t seem to notice. “I’m sorry… It’s always been a problem of mine. It’s almost like the more important something is, the more likely I’m going to forget it.” She said reservedly.

Faen harrumphed in response, almost daring Lia to question her increasingly snooty reactions at this point. “Well, I suppose forgetfulness is a better excuse than most.” She said, crossing her arms under her breast. Lia – to her credit – kept her eyes in contact with Faen’s for the moment.

The libido Faen had been ignoring – now that her questions had been resolved – was starting to creep up on her. Under the watchful eye of her rational side, it resorted to manifesting as simple mischief. For now.

Faen smiled at Lia openly now. A devious kind of smile. She raised a hand to her chin and tapped at her cheek in thought – it made an odd slapping sound, betraying her watery form. “Well, little elf, while I can accept your apology, you must admit your actions were terribly irresponsible, no?” She led.

“No… I mean- Yes.” Lia answered, blushing.

“Then it only stands as reasonable that some amount of comeuppance is owed, yes?”

“Yes, I mean- Wait…” Lia said, caught up by Faen’s verbal shenanigans and still processing the sentence’s meaning. After a short – yet amusing – calculation, she froze, as the implication hit her.

Faen was surprised then, to hear her reply.

“Yes.” Lia said, worried but resolute.

Faen’s grin deepened, Lia’s obedience tickling something in her. Thoughts on how best to toy with the elf began to flood her mind. The current size difference opened several fun options to her.

How best to start?  Stepping on her could be sufficiently demeaning. Though then again, that meant grinding Lia into the sand, and sand was a distasteful particulate. Perhaps another time. Other than that, little could be done from this distance. Best to start with…

A tendril of water lashed out from the oasis, snatching Lia by the ankle. With a yelp she was suddenly dragged into the air, the tendril keeping a firm grip as it trailed from the lake up Faen’s body. Lia came to a stop as the tendril merged with Faen’s right arm and hand – the ‘skin’ rippling softly – and she was suddenly dangling from between Faen’s fingers.

Faen lifted Lia up to her eye level, ogling at her shamelessly. Lia did her best to cover up, though was clearly having a hard time orientating herself.

Faen chuckled as she took in the elf’s body. Her tanned skin shone in the midday sun, an impressive musculature visibly shifting beneath. Her sandy-coloured hair dangled around her pointed ears, toyed with by the wind. And her amber eyes peered out of soft features with a mixture of trepidation and resolve that Faen was starting to love.

Faen let the dangling be the first bit of payback for the moment as the considered her options. Her mind began to come alight with schemes. This was going to be fun.

                                                                                    ~~~                                                                                                      

Held upside down by the enormous spirit, Lia once more tried her best to protect her modesty from the amused gaze of Faen. One hand over her breasts, she could feel her heart pounding. She could feel the heat of her blush radiating out from her face and chest, no doubt made worse by the blood rushing to her head.

The giant fingers on her ankle had an oddly smooth texture to them. Faen’s surface had a bit more give than normal flesh, but her water refused to break its surface tension. She was wet, but wherever she touched Lia, she came away dry. What’s more, she was warm. The heat of skin contact warming Lia up even more.   

Faen’s grip shifted somewhat, and Lia was jostled as her captor idly adjusted position. What was likely a tiny movement for Faen swung Lia with the strength of a bucking horse. She trembled at the thought of just how much power the spirit truly held over her at this size.

As her mind settled from the panic of being dangled some three dozen feet in the air, Lia was once again overcome with emotion. Relief was chief among them. Relief that she was able to express her regret and guilt toward Faen, and that she spirit had survived in spite of her forgetfulness. Her shame still lingered after confessing her failure, but she tempered it with determination to overcome whatever trials Faen concocted.

Unfortunately, that didn’t help with the embarrassment that began to creep back into her awareness.

Lia blinked, noticing Faen’s idle movement had moved her directly in line with her modest – and fully exposed – breasts. She let out a small gasp, desperately trying to move her gaze somewhere else as her heart beat faster. Why isn’t she wearing any clothes?! The thought came unbidden, as a more rational thought reminded her that V’pran manners of dress were a lot different from her homeland. Obviously due to the vast difference in climate.

Lia had already seen dress like this in the several towns she had passed through on her way here. There, both men and women alike seemed to be perfectly comfortable leaving their bare chests uncovered, or at least exposed. She had been able to stay (mostly) focused back then, but something about seeing Faen like this was stirring her up.

Darting her eyes about, Lia’s blush grew. No matter where she looked, her eyes landed upon Faen’s body. The gentle curve of her hips, the smooth tan plane of her navel, the slow rise and fall of her breasts – each now larger than her entire body, the shaded slope that ran between her thighs, leading toward-

Lia slammed her eyes shut, cheeks burning as she tried to regain control of her thoughts. However, that only left her vulnerable to her own memories of the day before. Memories of how the feeling of Faen’s kiss lingered on her lips. Memories of the sweet taste her body had left in Lia’s mouth. And – of course – memories from a few seconds ago of Faen’s presently attractive body right before her eyes.

Forgetting her own modesty for now, Lia slapped her cheeks with both hands to try and re-focus. She was a paladin for the gods’ sake! She couldn’t let herself get this flustered so easily! Especially over someone she had let down so badly before… Though, perhaps, if she could best whatever ordeals Faen had planned…

Taking a deep breath, Lia calmed herself before she opened her eyes again. Her gaze would behave this time. The last thing she wanted to do was further upset Faen by ogling her so openly.

She was greeted by the sight of Faen’s smirking face immediately before her.

Lia jumped, startled by the sudden change of surroundings. She had been so consumed by her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed Faen leaning down and bringing her close. Lia was frozen a moment, caught up in the scale of the face before her. Faen’s bright blue eyes sparkled out of her soft features, each one larger than Lia’s own head. She chuckled softly. Lia flushed as her breath gusted past, flowing through her hair. Faen gave a knowing smile toward her, her eyes eagerly taking in her once more uncovered form.

Blushing furiously again, Lia went to re-cover herself, knowing she’d already been caught.

                                                                                    ~~~                                                                                                      

Faen watched Lia closely as the elf struggled with herself, eyes squeezed shut. Moving slowly as to not disturb her, she settled into a lower position. She lifted Lia’s tiny body to her eyes, eager to get a closer look at the elf.

Lia hadn’t exactly been subtle with her reactions, much to Faen’s delight. It wasn’t hard to guess what she was thinking about. The poor girl practically looked like she had steam coming off of her cheeks.

The more their feelings seemed mutual, the more Faen’s libido grew in power. Her scheming grew more perverse as she could feel her rational side fighting to keep things in check. It was losing. A soft blush dusted over her cheeks.

Lia slapped at herself to focus, unwittingly revealing herself again. A small thrill rushed through Faen. Her rational side lay in ruins as her victorious id proudly presented her with the perfect plan.

She couldn’t hold back a grin as Lia opened her eyes once more. The elf practically jumped out of her skin, earning a chuckle from Faen. She re-covered herself with embarrassment, shrinking under Faen’s knowing gaze. Lia’s odd shame toward exposure was foreign to Faen in its severity, yet she couldn’t help but find it adorable.

“Oooh~, is the big, strong, paladin tempted by my alluring form~?” She cooed, gesturing down at herself. Lia’s gaze followed the invitation, before snapping back to Faen’s eyes as she tried – and failed – to stammer out a reply. “How naughty~! Won’t you get in trouble with your goddess for that? Or were you thinking of replacing her with me~?” She teased, as Lia finally managed to speak.

“I-I would never!” she stammered out in a rush. “And b-besides, Lady Whitefeather holds no ill will toward desire! S-she teaches us ‘lust is a catalyst for life’!”

“So, you admit to feeling lust toward me?” Faen giggled.

Lia clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide at the accidental confession. Faen smiled. A warm feeling of satisfaction and amusement bubbling up inside her – literally. Oh, how she loved vexing Lia with her words. It was a double satisfaction, coming from the fun of wordplay and of getting back at her for last night.

“How quaint~” Faen drawled, going to prod at Lia with the fingers of her other hand. “Aren’t you punching a bit above your weight? After all, I doubt someone as little as you could endure my… challenges, at this size~” She continued.

Lia instinctually reached out to hold back the probing fingers, planting her hands on the pad of Faen’s index. To Faen’s surprise, Lia’s strength prevailed over her own. She shoved a tad harder, fascinated. Impressively, while Lia’s body was pushed away, her finger got no closer toward the elf’s chest. Faen spied the expanding muscles moving under the skin of Lia’s shoulders and couldn’t help but be impressed. Lia’s reply snapped her out of her gaze.

“I can endure!” Lia cried. “I have to! If going through your trials is what I have to do to make things up to you, then I can endure any challenge you can muster!”

Faen giggled. Her implication had gone right over Lia’s head. Still, a pleasant tingle ran through her. She was clearly earnest in her resolve, and Faen had to admit that it warmed her soul.

She kept that to herself however, keeping her haughty smile facing the elf. “I certainly hope so, Lia Aloro~” She purred. Lia suddenly lost her grip as Faen transformed the shape and texture of her poking finger. The surface tension left, replaced by a slippery goop that slid past Lia’s grasp and globbed into her face and chest.

Faen chuckled as her hand retreated, leaving a slick coating across Lia’s upper body. Lia sputtered a little, as she wiped at the oddly slimy layer she’d been gifted. Faen gave her little time to be confused, as she lazily rolled backward to lounge upon the surface of the Oasis.

Faen dangled the elf above her as she got comfortable, laying upon the water that had obediently risen to support her form. “I’ve decided upon your trials, Lia.” She said, gazing up at the elf. “However, one requires you be a little bit more… slippery. And I’m afraid what you have already isn’t quite enough~” she gestured toward the slimy liquid dripping from the confused Lia. With a smile, Faen licked around her lips, slowly. “So, before we get to that, consider this your first trial~”

Lia gasped as Faen opened her mouth wide. Strings of the same slick substance coating her body trailed from Faen’s palate to her tongue, framing the eager chasm that opened up beneath her. As she stared, her heartbeat rising, Faen’s tongue slithered over her lips, rising up to claim the little elf as hers.

                                                                         ~~~                                                                                                                             

Lia barely had a moment to react before Faen began lowering her toward the gaping maw below. Crying out, she struggled with a renewed vigour as Faen’s tongue raised toward her. “H-Hold on! What are you-?!”

Lia’s protests were cut off with a muffled sound as her face was pushed into the middle of the slick muscle. She felt its odd texture sliding against her body, both rough and smooth at the same time. Faen’s oddly thick saliva was pushed into her mouth, filling it with a lightly sweet flavour. Her voice muffled, Lia continued to struggle as she felt the giant fingers on her ankle move up her back, now wholly pushing her deeper. Try as she might, her pushes and kicks found no grip against the slippery surface.

The air around her began to change. Lia could feel the dry heat of the desert giving way to the more ambient – and more importantly, humid – warmth of Faen’s mouth. The fingers against her back slid her further down the tongue, covering her front with slick, viscous saliva.

A loud moan vibrated all around her as she was tasted. Lia shuddered as the sound tingled through her body. In her panic, she could almost ignore how pleasant the sensation was.

Suddenly, the pressure upon her slid off, retreating backward toward the freedom beyond Faen’s lips. Lia pushed herself up, gasping a needed breath and wiping the spit out of her eyes. She managed to witness the tips of Faen’s fingers vanishing between her puckered lips, accompanied by an exaggerated slurping sound.

The spirit’s lips closed, and Lia was engulfed in darkness. For a moment, things were still.

Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst. Something deep and primal within her was panicking, threatening to shatter the last of her composure. Taking deep breaths of the muggy air within Faen’s maw, Lia tried her best to remain calm.

It wasn’t easy.

She looked around, her eyes adjusting to the tiny amounts of light filtering through the ‘skin’ of Faen’s cheeks. The first thing she saw threatened to send her right back into panic mode.

She was upright, kneeling in the cramped space, and face to face with the great spirit’s bobbing uvula. It was about the size of her head, dangling right above the steep plunge into Faen’s gullet. Lia froze.

She was kneeling right at the precipice of Faen’s throat, at the very back of her tongue. A deep groaning rumble called up to her from the fleshy tunnel, and for the first time in very long, Lia was scared.

Before she could so much as tremble, however, a tilt of Faen’s head sent her tumbling. She slid backward with a yelp, returning to the middle of Faen’s mouth as her surroundings began to come alive.

The massive tongue caught her fall with a supernatural dexterity, the impact pushing the breath out of Lia. A giggle vibrated through her as Faen began toying with her in earnest.

Before she could regain her bearings, Lia was shoved by the suddenly playful tongue beneath her. She let out a grunt as she was slammed into the roof of the mouth. The tongue wasting no time in slathering all over her backside she was pinned. Despite her shock, Lia still blushed at the feeling of Faen’s tongue on her buttocks.

The pressure let off, and Lia fell back down with a splat. Without time to rest, she was shoved to the side, smushed up against the inside of Faen’s smooth cheeks. There, she was slid around wildly. Left and right, being rolled to-and-fro. All the while being thoroughly coating in the spirit’s unnaturally slick and sticky saliva.

Sputtering, Lia could hardly focus on her fear under the endless ministrations of Faen’s eager tongue. She was pulled and pushed around, rolled over Faen’s tastebuds, and wrapped up in its length.

Dizzy, Lia struggled to wipe her face free as she felt the motion stop. She was laid back against the inside of Faen’s lips, and the tongue was once again advancing toward her. Before she could move, it lanced forward, now taking long and pointed licks up and down her body.

She gasped at the slick texture rubbing against her sensitive areas. Lia felt the spirit’s tastebuds grinding against her nipples. She inhaled a shuddering breath each time the tongue passed between her thighs. Each pass sent a bolt of pleasure through her, and she could feel her body winding up for release.

Faen continued jabbing, lapping, and taking long licks up Lia’s front. The tongue was so large to her that she couldn’t tell if the pleasure she was being given was purposeful or not, but right now, she didn’t care.

Lia was bathed in the warmth of her giant captor. Breathing her air, soaked with her saliva, and being overwhelmed by her flesh over and over. It was all becoming too much to bear. Her mind was a fog of conflicting emotions, awash with pleasure and thoughts of the ginormous spirit that had become her entire world.

Her pleasure rose to a peak.

Faen’s tongue lunged forward again, trailing from Lia’s loins to her cheek.

Her muscles seized.

She gasped.

And then, with a cry, she finally came.

All her feelings since she met Faen twisted together into a single piercing needle of pleasure. The glut of emotions she had been carrying vanished, replaced by this single point of release. She caught the tongue before her in a death grip, holding its warmth against herself as she ground her womanhood against it, completely consumed by the moment.

It was the single most intense orgasm she had ever experienced.

After what felt like several minutes, the rush left her as suddenly as it came, and Lia collapsed back. In the pleasant afterglow, she felt as if all her worries had been washed away, and her mind was clear. …Had Faen meant to do that?

Feeling surprisingly energized, she was brought back to focus by a rumbling moan once again emanating from the spirit’s throat. The great tongue had left her, and was grinding against Faen’s palate, brushing against her body in the confined maw.

Lia blushed, reading the implication.

Faen clearly enjoyed her… flavour. Something about herself Lia had never considered until now.

And it looked like she was about to come back for more.

The tongue surged for her, eager to overwhelm her once more. But this time, Lia’s mind was clear – and she was feeling quite refreshed. Her instincts finally kicked in.

She dodged left, feeling it slide under her arm as she surged forward in response. Wrapping her right arm around the tongue’s girth, she locked her hands together in a tight grip. Planting her feet against the cool surface of Faen’s teeth, she tensed her muscles and pushed.

“Gck-!”

                                                                                      ~~~                                                                                                    

Faen moaned in pleasure as she pushed the little elf into her tongue. Sands, she tasted incredible. Like cinnamon. She hadn’t been expecting anything at all flavour-wise, which only made the realisation all the sweeter.

“Mmmm…”

Sliding her fingers out slowly, to capture the most of Lia’s flavour, Faen held still a moment, feeling Lia holding very still at the entrance of her throat. A mischievous impulse made her rumble her stomach ominously, hoping to spook her captive further. Whether or not it worked, she couldn’t tell. So, with a shrug, she got to work.

 Tossing her head forward, she threw Lia away from her throat, catching her with her tongue. From there, she started toying with the elf.

While idly tossing Lia around in her maw, Faen began subtly adjusting the nature of her saliva. She wondered if Lia was confused by the fact that she had any at all, instead of just pure water.

The simple answer was that normally, she didn’t. Or rather, she hadn’t, before Lia oh-so-generously gave her a first-hand sample the night before. As a greater spirit, she was able to mimic the properties of any water-based liquid she had previously encountered, to a degree. Amusingly, that meant that from a certain point of view, Lia was currently bathing in her own spit, not Faen’s.

She continued rolling the poor elf around as she tampered with the saliva’s viscosity and cohesion. Just enough to be slippery, while still clinging to itself and Lia. A chemically optimal lubricant. Having spent a very long time alone and bored, she’d had a lot of practice.

Once Faen was satisfied, and the elf was thoroughly coated, she set the poor girl to rest just behind her lips. Once again, she appreciated the feeling. Lia, once a giantess to Faen, was now a gently moving, warm morsel, tucked away in her mouth. Raising a hand to her lips warmly, she also sent her other hand down to gently caress at her nethers, making sure everything was ready for the next step. The role reversal was an incredible turn-on, of course. But there was also something… sweet about it too.

Besides Lia.

Sands, she just couldn’t get over that flavour! It only just got better the longer things went, it seemed. Gaining further depth as the muggy heat of her maw made Lia start to sweat. With Lia in prime position, Faen tasted her with a renewed vigour. Lapping at each and every inch of her body, she greedily drank more and more of the helpless elf.

Faen was completely unaware of the pleasure she was causing until a muffled cry pricked at her ears, accompanied by a burst of flavour across her tongue as the elf gripped it tight.

A soft blush accompanied her realisation of what had happened. So much for ‘punishing’ the poor girl.

Before Faen could process her thoughts on the matter any further, she was overcome by the wash of flavour she had unwittingly teased out. Forgetting herself for a moment, she moaned loudly in appreciation. Slurping down every bit of the taste she could.

Gods she would have to do this again in the future.

Her rational side didn’t question what that said about her future plans this time.

The spike in taste eventually faded, and she turned her focus back to its source. Her tongue lanced toward Lia again, eager for another taste.

“Gck-!”

Faen snapped out of her daze, accosted by the awkward tugging feeling inside her mouth. She blinked. Lia had actually managed to grapple her tongue. Sands, this elf was strong. Even slicked as they both were, it took Faen much longer to break out of Lia’s grip than she thought.

A smile crossed over her lips as she rumbled a menacing chuckle over the defiant elf. A challenge then.

Faen lunged forward with her tongue, catching Lia in the gut and pinning her against her right cheek. She poked the squirming bulge the elf made mockingly, until Lia slipped out and over, righting herself on the other side.

The very slipperiness Faen had cultivated was working against her now. Lia pounced back in, moving well despite the cramped confines. The elf managed to pin Faen’s tongue between her own teeth, before Faen slipped out to grapple her in turn.

They continued in this strange dance for several minutes. Each taking turns attempting to grapple and pin the other, each escaping in turn. A handful of war spirits even made themselves known, manifesting across the shoreline. The stout, bulging things were drawn to any kind of contest it seemed. Faen drove them off with a stern glare. This wasn’t a public show.

As they struggled, Faen found herself compelled by how challenging pinning the nimble elf really was. Of course, Faen could always just make a dozen more tongues and overwhelm Lia with writhing mass. But something about struggling with the elf like this got her excited, and Faen knew that cheating like that would ruin the moment.

Not a bad idea though… Her libido neatly tucked the thought away in her ever-expanding list of things to try with Lia someday.

The thought finally gave Faen pause. Her tongue slowed its movements somewhat as her rational side forced her to acknowledge the decision she had made.

She wanted to keep travelling with Lia.

When they had first met, the elf had offered her passage out of her doomed temple. Freedom from slow, dry death, and relocation to an oasis just like this one. That’s technically all they agreed on, yet…

Faen let down her haughty demeanour and faced her heart, unobscured. Despite everything – or perhaps even because of it – she didn’t want to say goodbye to Lia just yet. She wanted to spend more time talking with her. More time hearing about her life and getting to know her. More time with her smile and simple charms.

Faen felt herself growing warm as she thought. Going with Lia would mean a very different life. It likely even meant leaving the desert one day. Daunting as it seemed, Faen found she felt eager at the prospect.

She looked around at her surroundings. A small lake ringed by greenery. The golden desert for uncountable miles beyond. Beautiful yes, but a place to spend the rest of eternity? She would be just as alone as before. Her only company the greedy flora and occasional wildlife.

In the face of that, seeing the world beyond seemed the only reasonable choice. Especially if I can travel alongside Lia. She thought warmly.

Her decision was made. Speaking of whom-

“Gckk-!”

Faen’s attention was brought back to her mouth by a sharp tug. Her distracted thoughts had given Lia the advantage she needed. Her tongue felt like it was in a vice.

She chuckled, smiling again. Seems Lia had passed her first ‘test’.

                                                                               ~~~                                                                                                                       

Lia was in the zone. She’d been grappling with the soft-firm muscle of Faen’s tongue for several minutes now. The orgasm had hit her like a mental reset, and the warmth of her afterglow gave her emotions room to breathe. With her heart settled, she was able to throw herself into the familiarity of physical contest.

The tongue slapped down upon her again, grinding her into the soft, complex texture beneath. It rose back up to readjust its grip, giving Lia the opening to escape.

Her jaunt through Parametre clearly paid off. The kingdom to the west of Lia’s home was large and sported a vibrant wrestling subculture. She’d looked into it on a whim as she travelled down to the southern continent, and quickly gained an appreciation for the pastime. She had figured the experience might come in handy one day, though she’d never expected something quite like this.

They collided again. The spirit’s tongue eventually became more sluggish as the contest continued. Lia gained a kind of primal satisfaction from outlasting her in a battle of stamina. Her heart beat in a steady rhythm, her muscles knew what to do. A tongue was an odd and slippery opponent. Like trying to wrestle with a western lamia covered in oil. But the slowing movements of her fleshy opponent began to give her the advantage, and she was figuring out what she could and couldn’t do against the slimy monster.

A languid jab of the tongue slid by her right thigh, giving her a perfect opening. Lia’s body moved with athletic instinct. She twisted like a spring, limbs moving almost on their own as she pounced upon the unsuspecting muscle. Her chest squelched against the wet surface as she kicked and grasped. Keeping her body in contact at all times and controlling her weight. Using the giant teeth nearby as leverage, Lia wrapped Faen’s tongue in a tangle of limbs and squeezed.

“Gckk-!” She felt another satisfying jolt from her captor.

It bucked and squirmed, but her grip held fast. Immobilised, it eventually gave in, holding still in her grip. Lia had conquered the mighty tongue of Faen. She had worked up quite the sweat and was breathing heavy, yet still a swell of pride swept over her.

Resting her head upon the cushiony surface of the tongue beside her, her mind felt fully clear for the first time since meeting Faen. An earth-shattering orgasm followed by heavy workout was good for mental clarity, apparently.

Mostly, she was relieved. Lia’s day had been a marathon of back-to-back shocks and anxieties. Now, wrapped in flesh and breathing the muggy air of her captor, she ironically felt the best she had all day.

Faen was alive. Lia hadn’t completely failed her. Better, she had been offered a means to make it up to her, which – blessedly – didn’t seem like a trick to fool her into being devoured. 

Lia had been terrified at first. There was many a tale of hapless adventurers being swallowed up by giant monsters. It would have been a particularly ironic fate for her, though that wasn’t much of a comfort. However now, as she felt Faen’s heartbeat thrumming through the tongue beneath her, she was – cautiously – at ease.

The greater spirit didn’t seem interested in devouring her – ominous as her current surroundings were. Faen’s gratitude the day prior had been genuine, and through her current ire was definitely earned, it was playful and… sweet, in a way.

Frankly, she just didn’t seem the hero-devouring type.

Lia looked around her, feeling the goopy spit that now covered her head to toe. She felt the warmth pressing into her chest - and the tingle from her still-sensitive nipples. The neutral, yet thick breath that was her atmosphere. The twitching uvula framed by glistening strings of viscous spit. The steep, dark slope into the depths of Faen’s body. She swallowed nervously.

…Hopefully she was a good judge of character.

Suddenly, the tongue sprang back into life. It wormed its way out of Lia’s grip yet again. She braced herself to continue the tussle, but paused at the odd sight before her. The tongue’s shape contorted, as if it were a sack with a creature writhing within. Its colour began to shift, and Lia watched as Faen’s tongue settled into human shape.

The transformation was swift, and before long Lia was face-to-face with Faen once again. The tongue had reshaped into Faen’s human form, her upper half around the same size as Lia. The form cut off at the waist, before smoothing back into the fleshy tendril of her tongue. She reminded Lia of the western lamia she had encountered before. A half-Faen, half-tongue creature, inexplicably within the larger Faen. Lia couldn’t help but stare.

The Tongue-Faen smiled at her, and before Lia could react, she surged forward. Her hands slid underarm, spinning her around and grabbing her shoulders from beneath. She pulled her close, chest pressing into Lia’s back. Both were still slick from the wrestling, yet Lia couldn’t pull herself away. She felt Tongue-Faen’s hot breath on her nape as she giggled.

“Surprised~?” Lia could hear the smile in her voice. “You must have never encountered a being such as me before, but as you can see, splitting my awareness like this is quite simple really.” She squeezed Lia tight, her forearms brushing against the side of her breast. Blushing, Lia resolved to test her conversational boundaries.

“D-doesn’t it make you really confused or… dizzy?” She ventured, earning a chuckle.

“Hardly. I’ve just closed my other eyes. Everything beyond that isn’t very complicated. I don’t actually need to breathe, and all my… senses… function perfectly fine~” Faen punctuated her words with a long, pointed lick up the side of Lia’s neck.

Goosebumps exploded across her skin. She didn’t miss the implication this time. She shivered with apprehensive arousal. Faen wasn’t exactly being subtle now. Lia was just able to hold back a lustful whimper.

“I must say, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of flavour from you, Lia.” She drawled, her breath cooling the fresh slickness across Lia’s nape. “Let alone one so sweet~” she finished with a purr. Lia was practically writhing at this point.

Faen’s grip finally eased, and Lia did her best to compose herself through shaking breaths. Stooped, and finding awkward footing on the unsteady ground, she turned to face Faen in the dim filtered light. Expelling some of her awkwardness, she spoke.

“…I’m glad you liked… me.” She half-chuckled, cringing at the awkward wording as Tongue-Faen licked her lips teasingly. “What- um. What do I… taste like?” She blushed hard at the embarrassing question.

“Cinnamon!” The spirit responded plainly. Lia blinked. Really? She was almost tempted to put her fingers in her mouth and see for herself.

“And that’s not to mention your physical prowess. I certainly wasn’t expecting an all-out grappling match to take place in my mouth.” Faen smiled, running her fingers across Lia’s musculature as the bashful elf blushed from the praise. Lia knew the spirit was toying with her, but couldn’t help but take the complement with a smile. Faen returned the gesture, but quickly heightened her posture, looming within the confined, muggy air.

“But don’t think you’re off the hook just yet, little elf. You may have impressed me against my tongue, but this is where things really start.” Faen declared with a devious grin. Before Lia could respond, Faen’s larger lips opened behind her. She felt a rush of the outside air flood into the chamber and cool her backside, before a blast of Faen’s humid breath blew past her in a sigh.

“Ahhh…”

Turning toward freedom, Lia felt Tongue-Faen slither forward behind her. She was gently guided toward the opening by soft hands, until she found herself standing on the precipice. Her heart began to pound as she stepped forward. She balanced the balls of her feet on Faen’s lower teeth, the hard, fake enamel digging in slightly. She had to stoop under her upper teeth and grab hold for balance. Tongue-Faen wrapped her arms around Lia’s waist, gently holding her in place.

“Now you see why I had to make this little form. I couldn’t exactly explain your next trial with a mouthful of elf.” She chuckled. Lia glanced at her with confusion. Meeting her gaze, Tongue-Faen clarified. “Look down.”

Lia turned her eyes downward, peering below Faen’s lips into the oasis below. The spirit had sat up straight, directing her gaze directly downward. There, she spotted a large block of ice, still freezing into place before Faen’s lap. “That’s your target.” Tongue-Faen explained. “You’re going to jump.”

Lia’s blood froze. She glanced toward Tongue-Faen fearfully. Surely that wasn’t it. Surely Faen didn’t simply expect her to jump into a block of solid ice. She would almost certainly injure herself – badly, too. Seeing her apprehension, Faen clarified.

“I’ll catch you before you land, of course. This is just a test of bravery.” Tongue-Faen intoned, with a posh lilt and a smile. Her blue eyes sparkling with mischief in the dark. Lia swallowed. She cast another look at the solid ice below. 

“H-how do I know this isn’t a trick, and you won’t just let me fall?” She asked.

“You don’t.” Faen simply replied.

Lia took a deep breath. The task was clear now. Part of her had almost thought Faen’s trials were simply going to be a kind of playful torment – spirits back home had a penchant for that sort of thing. Though now – unless Faen had some kind of trick to pull – it seemed like Lia really might be in for some trouble if she wanted to make things up to the offended spirit.

Lia steeled herself, taking deep breaths and clearing her mind. She had faced danger before. She could do this. Sensing this, Tongue-Faen gently retreated back into the safety of her larger self’s maw, leaving Lia to support herself.

“Ready?” She asked. Lia nodded, re-focussing on her surroundings. Tongue-Faen smiled, her form slowly melting back into the larger Faen’s tongue. “Good luck~” She chimed sweetly before vanishing into the homogenous pink.

Lia looked forward with determination, her amber eyes squinting in the cool breeze. She offered a final prayer to her goddess, closed her eyes, and jumped.

                                                                                    ~~~                                                                                                      

Faen opened her eyes again. The view of the desert was refreshing after the dark confines of her own mouth. As her tongue returned to normal, she focussed on the sensations of Lia tickling against her lips. She could feel her little breaths before they were caught by the wind, and almost thought she could make out a quiet prayer. She smiled, sensing her trepidation.

Their shared anticipation built, before Lia suddenly jumped.

Faen’s gaze quickly locked on to the elf’s falling form. Lia had her eyes squeezed shut, and was curled into a tight ball with her back facing the icy ground below. She looked adorable, her golden hair flailing in the wind and slime trailing from her form. She almost looked like she had been wadded up and spat. Faen smiled down at the elf, letting her fall a good distance. Letting her squirm in the uncertainty of safety. 

Before Lia hit the ‘ground’, Faen’s hand rushed up from below, entrapping her in a squeeze. Faen could hear a muffled yelp from the little elf. It melted her heart a little when she felt the soft sigh of relief against her fingers. Lia just couldn’t help but be adorable at this size.

Not one to let up yet however, Faen got up to the mischief part of the test.

Melting her hand into one liquid mass, Faen submerged Lia fully within herself. Before the elf had a chance to get her bearings, she sucked her down the length of her arm, toward her body proper. Faen squeezed Lia under her armpit for a moment, melting her icy chest bones to make room. Then she let Lia shoot out into her torso proper.

Faen cleared the pigment from the skin of her torso, allowing her to see the little elf squirt out into the larger space of her torso. With a cackle, she began violently swirling her around in the space. Faen swayed from side to side as Lia was tossed around wildly. Flailing in the current like a ragdoll, trailing bubbles.

As much fun as it was, she knew Lia couldn’t hold her breath forever. Faen slowed the maelstrom within her, and began bringing the elf up her throat. She formed the appropriate muscles to knead and squeeze at Lia on her way upward. Until before long, the poor elf oozed back into her mouth once more.

Faen laid back again, the oasis dutifully propping her up into a gentle slope. She also retuned the colour to her chest, and reorganised her anatomy. Everything needed to be back in place for the next two tests.

She could feel Lia gasping for breath as she opened her mouth, tilting her head forward. Lia was positively drenched in her slick, viscous saliva, poor thing. She slid down the length of Faen’s tongue, leaving a trail of that same sweet cinnamon flavour in her wake. Faen shuddered at the taste as she let Lia slip off of her tongue and splatter between her breasts. The poor thing looked exhausted as she rose from the slime, wiping it from her face as it slid down her arms in waves. Faen let Lia catch her breath, gently stroking at her back to ease the shock out of her.

“There, there~ You did wonderfully.” She smiled. Faen knew she hadn’t mentioned anything about the… engulfment. But she just couldn’t resist tormenting the little elf. It had been a long time since she had held any kind of power and to be honest, it was starting to get to her.

She rubbed her thighs together in anticipation. What remained of Faen’s rational side meekly suggested she was going a bit hard on the poor girl; that surely Lia had endured enough by now. However, Faen’s now firmly-in-charge libido insisted they go further. After all, when Lia drank her, she had been in actual danger. And as much as Faen was loving tormenting her, she wouldn’t allow any real harm to come to the little elf, enamoured as she had become. Her rational side couldn’t deny the surprisingly sensible point, and quietly acquiesced.

Lust bubbled in her chest as she watched Lia rise to her knees. She couldn’t help but smile at the little elf as she looked up at her. The sunlight sparkled on Lia’s slicked body, and her eyes were full of trepidation. But Faen could sense the determination behind it. Kneeling there, breathing heavily but holding firm, Lia seemed as if she would play Faen’s games forever. It took everything for Faen to not drop the pretence then and there.

Faen waved a hand, and her constructed garments collapsed back into the water with a splash. Running down her contours in little rivers she was now fully exposed before her little elf. Lia’s gaze moved toward her nethers, drawn by the sound, before snapping forward with an eep when she realised where she was looking. Looking at Faen’s breast didn’t seem to help either, and eventually Lia’s gaze settled upon staring at her own knees.

Faen chuckled, her cheshire grin broadening as she gazed upon the flustered little elf.

“Are you ready for your next test~?”

                                                                                ~~~                                                                                                                      

Lia lay face down upon the chest of her tormentor, covered in warm ooze and catching her breath.

She had gone from falling, to squeezed tightly in hand, to sucked into a swirling maelstrom of giggling warmth, and then finally spat back up and onto Faen’s bust. If she hadn’t been so disoriented at the time, she’d have been impressed at how perfectly timed her return to fresh air was. For a moment she feared she was going to drown in there.

In there…

Rising somewhat, Lia looked down to the warm brown skin below her. She had been inside of there just a few moments ago. She felt a blush warming her skin, adding to the residual heat of her captor.

The sharp heat of the sun on her back was replaced by warm fingers, as Faen caressed her gently. The spirit cooed out some manner of gentle encouragement, but Lia couldn’t make the words out through the gooey saliva still clogging her ears. She began to scrape it away from her face and hair, the thick substance warm on her hands. It sloughed off in waves, trailing down her arms and pooling below her.

The thick, warm liquid was unlike anything Lia had encountered in such large quantity before, not to mention it’s odd properties. It was clingy and webbed between her fingers, yet at the same time endlessly slippery. Lia feared she’d slip if she tried to stand properly.

Clearing most of the goop from her face, she rose to her knees and gazed up toward Faen. The giant spirit was smiling down at Lia, her smile growing wider as their eyes met. Her expression was a mixture of mischievous satisfaction, and doting care. Her adoring gaze betrayed her true intentions.

As much as Faen might torment her, Lia began to feel confident that no lasting harm would come to her under the spirit’s watch. Warm feelings buzzed through Lia’s chest, dancing about the exhaustion she was still trying to clear from her lungs.

But that didn’t mean she was out of the woods yet. Faen’s expression quickly corrected in a more regal and aloof direction, all narrowed eyes and smugness. Lia could tell she had more planned.

Swallowing her nerves, Lia met her gaze with a steady determination, ready for whatever Faen had prepared for her next. The greater spirit smiled.

She raised her hand, and Lia’s attention was pulled away by the sound of rushing water. Turning toward the spirit’s waist, she watched as the garments covering Faen reverted back into simple water. It trailed down the hills and valleys of her body, back into the oasis from whence they came. Leaving Faen fully exposed.

Lia found her gaze unwittingly upon the slope of Faen’s womanhood. Unnaturally smooth, and trailing just beyond her view. She could make out the faintest hint of the spirit’s lower lips behind the hill of her pubic mound…

The mettle she had built just a moment before shattered, and Lia quickly snapped her gaze back in front of her. …Directly toward Faen’s huge breasts, slowly rising and falling with her breath. Flustered and panicking, Lia simply locked her gaze downward, eyes boring holes in her knees.

She felt Faen’s chuckle more than she heard it. Lia looked up nervously, daring to make eye contact with the lascivious spirit. She blushed under Faen’s knowing grin.

It seemed impossible to hide her feelings from Faen, who seemed able to fluster her as easily as breathing. She’d be frustrated at how easily the spirit could toy with her, if she wasn’t still so incredibly turned on.

“Are you ready for your next test~?” Faen asked, her breath rolling down the valley of her breasts. Heart pounding, Lia could hardly eke a sound out.

“M-mhm…” It was the best she could muster.

Faen giggled, shaking Lia’s word with the motion of her chest. “Awe… Are you spent already?” She cooed. “But you had so much fire in you before~ Did all that wrestling tire you out?” Lia broke away from her awe to finally respond.

“I-I’m just catching my breath. I won’t back down, not yet.” She ensured, gathering back some of that courage she had mustered before. That seemed to please Faen somewhat, a flash of sincerity crossing her features before she continued.

“Still, I was expecting a little more out of someone so strong. You’re a paladin, aren’t you? Don’t you have any magic to help push you along?” She inquired.

Lia blinked. Right, her magic! In the rush, it had slipped her mind. Cupping her hands before her, she began to channel a basic restorative spell, before hesitating. She glanced up at the inquisitive spirit.

“Um. I… was just worried using magic might’ve been… cheating?” She ventured. Faen looked down at her with amusement.

“It’s all a part of your capabilities, Lia. No need to handicap yourself. I’m surprised you’ve gotten this far without it.” She replied. If Lia didn’t know better, she would have thought Faen sounded a little impressed. “Besides, you’ll need your strength for this next trial~” She said, an eager anticipation coming over her expression.

Her concerns addressed, Lia completed the spell, a brief golden glow spreading over her body, easing her fatigue. Faen leaned forward, intrigued.

So, Lia slipped.

The slick saliva still clinging to her body, she slid back with a surprised yelp. Sliding on her back down Faen’s stomach. She scrambled for purchase, before feeling her backside lodge into the spirit’s navel. Her momentum stopped there, leaving her jammed butt-first in Faen’s belly button.

Looking up, embarrassed, Lia saw Faen holding back intense laugher. Hand over mouth, her body convulsing as she held back an army of giggles. Lia blushed, helpless. Faen quickly contained her amusement before she spoke.

“Sorry.” She said, chuckles still colouring her voice. “I forgot how slippery you were.” Faen’s mirth lit up her features, glowing even brighter than the midday sun. Despite her odd predicament, Lia couldn’t help but be warmed by the spirit’s genuine smile.

Noticing this, Faen quickly composed herself, blowing the last of her amusement out with a huff. She reached down toward Lia, who braced slightly as two massive fingers grabbed under her arms and tugged. She slid out of Faen’s navel with a popping sound. The noise earning a slight chuckle from the spirit.

“Well, as much as you might want to become a cute piece of tummy jewellery for me,” – Lia blushed – “I’m afraid that’s not the next trial.” Faen said, setting Lia back on her smooth stomach. Lia kept her balance on shaky legs.

Faen lay back down, desire returning to her features as Lia met her gaze. The hand that rescued her from Faen’s hungry navel snaked back toward her. Probing fingers once again embraced her, stroking her gently. Lia shuddered at the touch on her skin, holding onto Faen’s large hand for balance.

“You see, I noticed you got up to a bit of… fun, during our little wrestling match earlier.” Faen began, twisting her ring finger to probe at Lia’s inflamed lower lips. Lia blanched, her mortified gasp morphing into a drawn-out moan as the spirit stimulated her crotch. Gods she was turned on right now. Even after her quaking orgasm in Faen’s mouth, her body was still hungry for more. Grinning down at her, Faen continued.

“You horny little thing~ Twisting my punishments into your own satisfaction.” She teased. “Using my tongue like that…” Faen gently let out a mock gasp. Lia struggled to muster an argument. Wasn’t it technically Faen who got her off in the first place? But her voice was silenced by further stimulation from the spirit, her hips starting to move on their own. Through lidded eyes she could see Faen’s satisfied grin.

“And here I am, feeling awfully left out” She pouted, suddenly removing her fingers from Lia’s touch. The source of her pleasure was suddenly stripped away, leaving her at the edge. The shock of which allowed the meaning of Faen’s words to strike Lia like lightning.

She doesn’t mean-

“So, I think you should return the favour, don’t you?” Faen continued. Under her lustful gaze, Lia blushed down to the shoulders. The spirit lay back, placing her hands over her breasts. “It looks like you’ve grasped the essence.” She smiled. “For your next trial, I would like you to pleasure me. Physically.” The blunt confirmation had Lia feeling like her skin was about to burst into flames.

The spirits hints from before began to click into place in her mind, and she became very aware of the slick, lubricating substance still oozing off her body. Lia gulped. Meeting Faen’s expectant gaze, she gathered herself. It was only fair, wasn’t it? This whole time Lia had been terrified of crossing a line with Faen, offending the spirit and ruining whatever chance they might’ve had to make up. But here she was, outright telling Lia to make a move.

Taking a few deep breaths, she nodded. The spirit’s eyes lit up at her agreement. Lia could feel Faen’s breathing hasten beneath her feet.

“You’d better get moving then.” Faen huffed. “Using you myself would defeat the point, but I might not be able to restrain myself for very long~” She purred the last few words. Lia felt them vibrating up through her body. Hastened by the implication, Lia took her first few shaky steps down Faen’s groin.

She tried her best to hold together. The culmination of all the spirits teasing – met with the idea of pleasuring her vagina at this size – had Lia so horny she felt she might pass out. Inching her way forward, she became hyper aware of her surroundings. The skin under her feet felt warmer with each step, and a faint cloud of musk began to envelop her as she got ever closer.

The incline quickly steepened, and Lia fell to her hands and knees to keep steady. At this size, she could feel every faint spasm and quiver she drew out with her touch. Faen’s breathing was getting heavier. Shaking with lust and anticipation, Lia peered over the edge of Faen’s pubic mound to finally lay eyes upon her goal.

Faen’s perfectly sculpted vagina lay before her, pulsing with anticipation. The swollen pearl that was her clit gleamed in the sunlight. Her labia moved apart of their own accord, seeming to invite Lia into their embrace. Trailing down, the grooves of her flesh all gathered into a single tight cave. Her entrance glistened with a thick layer of the same viscous lubricant Lia felt all over her body. She could feel the heat of Faen’s desire radiating from her like the sun.

Lia was mesmerised. She slowly turned around and lowered herself before the near-divine womanhood with reverence. It was as big as she was, nearly bigger. Faen crossed her thighs together, trembling like she could barely contain herself. Lia felt the warm softness of the spirit close in on her, pressing her entire body into Faen’s soft lower lips.

Her labia wrapped Lia’s trembling body in a hot, wet embrace. Surrounded by Faen’s warmth, pupils dilated and overcome with arousal, Lia was stunned. Yet again the spirit had consumed all of her senses. She was all Lia could feel, all she could see, even the air she breathed. She melted into Faen’s flesh for what felt like hours, until a rumbling moan from above broke Lia from her reverie.

It vibrated all around her, penetrating into her own body. The closeness she felt to Faen in that moment drew the breath from her lungs in a shaking groan. Shifting her attention, Lia focussed on the desperate womanhood before her. She raised her hands, sliding them from Faen’s slick grasp. The motion elicited a quivering twitch from her surroundings, finally spurring her to action.

Lia leapt into the embrace, grasping Faen’s vagina by the labia and slamming her mouth into the swollen clit. She began to aggressively make out with the spirit’s oozing nethers. Faen let out a moaning sigh, finally fully stimulated.

Sweetness exploded across Lia’s tongue. It was the same sweet flavour Faen had left on her lips last night. Memories of that kiss and the sweetness now before her drove Lia further into a lusty fugue. She started desperately grinding her hips into Faen’s slick folds, mewling at the meagre stimulation. Lia continued just like that. Kissing, licking and nibbling away dutifully, all the while Faen shook and moaned beneath her.

The labia’s grip around Lia grew tighter, pressing her hips into Faen’s entrance. She pulled away from the clit with a gasp. Faen sucked in a deep, trembling breath.

“More…! More, Lia I need- hah- more.” She puffed, flushed from arousal.

Lia took the briefest of moments to catch her breath, before letting herself slide downwards, bringing herself face-to-face with Faen’s quivering entrance.

The spirit held her breath as Lia gently ran her hands round the soft rim. She gasped as Lia planted the softest of kisses upon it. The gentle teasing rewarded Lia with a drawn-out whine from Faen. The spirit’s thighs mashing around her as she continued.

Some barely aware part of Lia felt amused at how completely Faen’s façade had crumbled, leaving her a mewling, begging thing under her ministrations.

She couldn’t dwell upon it however, as Faen’s labia constricted her face and arms in a death grip. Lia’s face was forced partway inside of the spirit. Warm, slick darkness pulsed around her features. She struggled as she was forced to ride out the spirit’s first orgasm of the day, trapped in place.

Faen’s labia relented, letting Lia pull back to gasp for air. Wiping her eyes, her sight was met with the entrance to Faen’s vagina proper, pulsing and eager for more. The spirit had fallen back, catching her breath for the moment. But the state of her womanhood told Lia she was far from satisfied. Taking shaky breaths, she reached forward again, this time plunging her arm deep inside the hot, liquid embrace.

She was rewarded with a surprised moan that rattled through her bones. Lia continued, hilting her arm up to the shoulder within Faen’s vaginal entrance. The slick flesh pulsed around her arm rhythmically. Her fingers glided across Faen’s interior, the rippling flesh giving way to her probing touch. The spirit’s moaning got louder as Lia unconsciously drew closer, feeling the heat emanating from the slick cave.

Then something grabbed her hand.

Lia gasped as she was pulled deeper inside, her whole upper body being surrounded by the vagina’s embrace as what felt like another hand grasping her own continued to pull. The world went dark, only a few faint shafts of light peeking in from behind let Lia see the rippling flesh embracing her. The slick lubricant constantly oozed from the flesh around her, soaking her in Faen’s juices completely.

Lia struggled in the spirit’s tight embrace as more hands manifested from the walls around her, clawing at her skin and dragging her deeper inside with desperation. They were met with resistance however, as Lia’s hips struggled to fit past the entrance, leaving her flailing legs outside.

Lia gasped as a giant finger pressed into her behind, grinding on her own lower lips as it forced her butt into Faen’s vagina. With the blockage cleared, Lia felt herself slipping inside rapidly, until warm flesh slid over her toes, leaving her sealed within Faen once again.

Faen’s moans were more felt than heard now, shaking through the writhing flesh chewing on Lia’s body. Lia met them with her own, completely overwhelmed with the sensations of Faen’s embrace.

The walls clenched, their softness mashing into Lia’s tough body with rhythm. She had to struggle to catch her breath, pushing the dripping walls away from her face. Though this seemed to stimulate Faen even more.

The hands that had dragged her deeper before returned, groping all over Lia’s body with abandon. Stroking, cupping, penetrating. The slick hands sculpted from Faen’s own womanhood ravished Lia with a kind of desperate adoration. As if being wholly inside of her wasn’t enough, her lust driving her to claim Lia completely in her grasp.

Lia screamed in arousal, the sound being captured by the folds of Faen’s vagina. The stimulation was almost too much, her thoughts overwhelmed with pleasure as she writhed in extasy.

The walls of Faen’s womanhood clamped down on her one final time, suffocatingly tight. Lia felt a final sonorous moan vibrate all around her. The grip of the hands upon her tightened like a vice. Unable to make a sound in the crushing grip of Faen’s vagina, Lia silently came for the second time that day, her body shaking in its confinement.

Slowly, but surely, Faen’s grip loosened. A similar rhythmic pulse loosening the muscles with each pass. Lia gasped for breath in the humid, musky air of Faen’s arousal. The hands faded back into the surrounding flesh.

Exhausted, Lia lay limp as the rhythmic pulsing around her slowly slid her back toward the exit. Basking in the afterglow, she felt cool air on her feet as her legs were pushed out, hanging from Faen limply. Two large fingers grabbed on to her ankles, and Lia let herself be pulled from Faen’s slick embrace.

Lia greedily drank in the fresh air as bright sunlight pierced through her eyelids. She could feel Faen’s juices dripping off of her body in large globs. She felt herself lifted upside down, the blood rushing back to her head. Lia heard Faen collapse backward with a loud sigh. She felt herself gently lowered down, slowly laid upon Faen’s skin.

They both basked in the afterglow a while, catching their breath and letting the faint breeze wick the heat from their skin.

Eventually, Lia found the strength to rise. Wiping her eyes clear, she took note of her surroundings.

She was resting upon Faen’s stomach, gently cradled by her right hand that covered Lia from the harsh sun. Faen was looking down upon her with lidded eyes. Her gaze was warm and loving, shining out of her glowing features as she too came down from the peak. Lia drank in that look like she had been dehydrated her entire life. After a minute, she gathered the courage to speak.

“Was I um… successful?” She ventured. Faen hummed out a quiet laugh.

“As if you couldn’t tell.” She replied snarkily. Lia blushed warmly. It had been obvious. Faen blew out a contented sigh, closing her eyes and lounging beneath the desert sun. “Yes, in matters of pleasure I’d say we’re even now.”

Lia noted the odd wording. Surely the spirit didn’t expect more of her, did she? She listened as Faen continued to speak.

“Your body is firm yet soft in all the right places, I could hardly resist claiming you like that once you were inside me.” She purred. Lia flushed at the praise. “I hope I wasn’t too rough with you?” She asked, peeking an eye open. Lia shook her head.

“N-not at all. It was warm inside you, not burning – like the Sun – but gentle. And when you held me like that… it was like a thousand hugs all at once.” The words tumbled out from her mouth, her blush unable to hide her admiration. 

Faen cooed, stroking Lia’s hair with a finger. She was rocked back and forth with the motion.

“You’re adorable when you look at me like that~” Faen said, holding a hand to her cheek. “Almost makes me feel bad for this next part.” She confessed, ominously. Lia felt a distinct kind of dread settle into the pit of her gut.

Faen fully opened her eyes once more, her piercing blue gaze fixing upon Lia. Her manner from before began to return.

Lia began to tremble.

“You’ve done a wonderful job getting through all these tests so far,” She led. A deviousness clouding her features. “But I can’t help but feel like you haven’t actually suffered any real punishment for what you did last night. Tossing you around a bit is all well and good, but it hardly counts as comeuppance. I mean, two of them let you come!” She explained.

Lia felt Faen’s grip tighten around her ankles again. She swallowed nervously as the spirit continued.

“So, I’ve got one last punishment for you to endure. A real punishment.” Faen said. “Something that will let you know exactly how I felt last night…” She concluded with a smile.

Faen’s stomach rumbled ominously below Lia. Her blood ran cold. Eyes wide, she looked up at Faen. A predatory grin spread across the spirit’s features. Holding Lia’s gaze, she slowly and pointedly licked her lips before opening her mouth wide.

                                                                                  ~~~                                                                                                        

Faen relished the look on poor Lia’s face. The elf’s amber eyes were wide with fear; clearly the implication had gotten through to her. 

She licked her tongue teasingly around her lips as she opened her mouth wide. Her humid breath rolling over Lia in a sigh.

“Haaaahhhh…”

The elf began to stammer something out. Faen could feel her trembling between her fingers. She cut off whatever Lia was about to say with a swift motion, hoisting the elf up toward her face.

Lia let out a high-pitched yelp as she was swung into the air by her ankles yet again. Unlike the last time Faen had plucked her up, she had decisively less fight in her. The elf’s arms dangled limply, no longer attempting to cover herself. She either no longer cared for her modesty, or was simply too tired. Faen couldn’t quite tell.

She paused a moment, drinking in the elf’s fright. Wide-eyed and trembling, Lia spoke up.

“Y-you’re just toying with me, right…? You aren’t really going to…” Her words trailed off as her gaze nervously shifted toward Faen’s stomach.

“Eat you?” Faen concluded for her. “Of course I am darling! It’s only fair, isn’t it? You should be thankful I’m giving you a warning.” Faen intoned, peering pointedly toward Lia. The elf shrank under her gaze. “I’m going to slip you back into my mouth, savour your delicious flavour, then swallow you.” She moved Lia right up to her throat, then slowly lowered her down. “You’ll slide aaaaaall the way down, and end up in my stomach.” She felt a tiny, trembling hand press up against her abdomen. “And then I’m going to leave you in there. To fend for yourself.” She finished, bringing the poor quivering elf back up into her gaze.

Even after everything, there was still a part of Faen that refused to let go of her prior ingestion. She was firmly settled in her warm feelings toward Lia by now – Faen could still feel a lingering buzz in her nethers – but that angry little part of her refused to go away without retribution. Shaking off the negative emotion, Faen smiled up at Lia.

Beyond the petty revenge, she was excited to swallow up the little elf. A lustful curiosity drove her forward, urging her to know how it felt to be the predator for a change. She had gotten a taste earlier, and was eager for more. Lia, shivering, spoke up again.

“But I- I thought- “

“So did I.” Faen interrupted. “That’s the point. To give you an idea of how I felt last night.” She finished. Her words were cold, colder than they’d sounded in Faen’s head. Lia paled, and went still. Catching herself, Faen tried to salvage some of the mood.

“…But still! It’s not all bad in there~ It’s warm and soft, and you’ll get to become a part of me like I became a part of you!” She purred, grinning as she brought Lia closer. “Or… am I just reclaiming the ‘me’ you absorbed last night?” She giggled. She brought Lia right up close, feeling the elf’s dangling hair tickling at her lips. “Either way,” Faen whispered, her lips brushing up against her soon-to-be morsel. “I’m looking forward to tasting you again…”

With that, Faen finally parted her lips, slowly slipping Lia’s trembling form inside.

She clamped her lips around the elf’s waist, letting her backside and legs dangle from her mouth. With her legs free, Lia finally started moving. Squirming against her lips, Faen heard the elf call her name before she muffled Lia with her slathering tongue.

Wiping away the neutral-tasting wet slick courtesy of her lower lips, Faen eagerly began tasting her wriggling treat. Licking all over her face, between her chest, over her abs, and under her arms. All the sweat Lia had built up gave her cinnamon flavour a shocking depth, and Faen couldn’t get enough.

Humming with delight, her tongue squirmed out between the elf’s legs, wrapping up around her butt and swiftly dragging her the rest of the way inside. Lia’s struggling redoubled as Faen began to toss her about, slathering every inch of her body with her tongue. Faen made sure to savour every nook and cranny of her sculpted body, without lingering too long on her sensitive womanhood.

…This time.

Eventually, Faen drank up all the sweat Lia had built up, and with it, most of her flavour. Lia’s struggling had begun to die down too, clearly exhausted from the day’s trials.

Faen leaned back, getting ready to finally swallow Lia down. She let out a contented sigh, opening her mouth wide to give the elf sitting in the pit of her gullet a final look at the sky.

“P-please…” The word trembled up to Faen’s ears. She felt a twinge of guilt for the poor girl. Perhaps this was going a bit far. Best to stop teasing Lia and hurry her down.

She closed her mouth, and swallowed.

“Gluk~ “

Faen shivered as Lia’s struggles picked up anew, tracing a wriggling lump down her throat. Feeling Lia coming up earlier was interesting, but sending her down gave Faen a whole new thrill. Her lustful side was high on the power she held over the elf, condemning Lia to her stomach until she chose to let her out.

Faen felt a slight plop within her belly as Lia was squeezed out of her esophagus and into her stomach proper. A tingle shot up her spine as she felt the elf feeling around carefully, her tiny footsteps and groping hands slowly moving about Faen’s insides.

She lay down proper, supported by the lake and basking in the hot sun. The slight movement sent Lia tumbling. Faen let out a sigh of contentment. Finally having claimed Lia in the truest sense.

Of course, she was just teasing earlier. Despite her implicative words, Faen had every intention to let Lia out eventually. But she didn’t need to know that just yet. Faen smiled.

“Mmm… You were a delightful treat, Lia. Do try to last as long as you can, alright? You feel wonderful in there…” She teased.

For the final piece of her frightening little play, Faen began to trickle a shallow layer of acids into her stomach. Just like before with the saliva, she was able to mimic stomach acids from her own trip into Lia’s guts. Faen contained her amusement.

Not only was Lia suffering the same treatment she had, but in the exact same fluids as well. Faen had even used her memory of Lia’s stomach to model her own, so Lia was effectively struggling within an elaborate facsimile of her own stomach. Faen stifled a giggle.

Of course, Faen watered down the acids to a pathetic degree. She didn’t want to actually burn the poor girl. She left them just enough bite to tingle a little against the skin. But it should take hours for Lia to even so much as rash, tepid as the acid was.

Though again, she didn’t need to know that. With a devious grin, Faen gave the acids a good churn. Making them fizz and bubble something fierce to scare the poor elf.

Faen felt Lia scramble in a panic, her muffled voice just barely reaching her ears. She let out a soft chuckle, stroking her belly gently. She’d let Lia squirm for a few minutes, then let her out and apologise.

For now, she lay back, basking in the warmth of the high desert sun. It penetrated her surface, warming her throughout. She hummed out a relaxed sigh, closing her eyes and lounging. She had pushed her powers pretty far today… Faen felt herself drifting, consciousness blurring under the hot afternoon sun…

                                                   ~~~                                                                                                                                                   

Faen’s betrayal stung Lia’s heart, the hurt made only worse by the fact that she deserved it.

Of course this was how Faen had felt. How couldn’t it be? The warm feelings of hope, and perhaps something more, stripped away in an instant by a hungry, uncaring predator.

Her heart felt leaden, and she could barely register the giant lips right before her. Only once she was slipped inside, did Faen’s now familiar humid breath snap her back to the present.

The grip on her legs was gone, and Lia found herself dangling from Faen’s mouth, face-to-face with her eager tongue. Lia scrambled for some kind of purchase, her legs flailing in the cool outside air. She cried out.

“Faen!- “ Her voice was cut off as the spirit’s tongue mushed against her face, replacing the slimy lubricant with a coating of fresh saliva. She squirmed harder as she was tasted once again, the soft, warm tongue sliding all over her upper body.

Faen’s voice vibrated through her body as she hummed with appreciation. Lia felt her tongue wrap up over her nethers, before dragging her flailing legs inside. Now fully inside, Lia frantically began struggling to escape.

Her muscles ached. All the earlier trials had exhausted her body. But the fear of being swallowed by the hungry spirit drove her forward, toward freedom. Yet, Faen’s tongue had no such handicap, and didn’t hold back in tossing Lia about like a ragdoll before eagerly diving in to relish her flavour.

The warm, wet muscle oozed against her, dextrous and clumsy at the same time, no spot of Lia’s body was left untouched. Lia again felt pleasure whenever her sensitive areas were touched, but her fear and panic overrode any arousal she might have felt.

Eventually, Lia ran out of energy. She just couldn’t move her limbs to fight against Faen’s powerful tongue anymore. The spirit’s tasting started to die down as well, and dread settled in the pit of Lia’s gut as she felt the inevitable swiftly approaching.

She gasped as the world tilted, sending her down the slippery tongue. She landed in the pit of Faen’s gullet, feeling the pulsing throat muscles waiting just beyond. Lia couldn’t stop her body from trembling.

Suddenly, the sky opened above her as Faen let out a quiet sigh. Her breath rushed upwards past Lia and into the blue sky above, daylight shining into the darkness of Faen’s mouth. Lia looked to the sky, quaking.

“P-please…” She stammered out. The single word was all she could muster emotionally.

For a brief, heart-stopping moment, Lia thought Faen hesitated.

But then she closed her mouth, and swallowed.

”Gluk~  ”

Lia didn’t have the chance to scream.

The pit of Faen’s gullet opened up beneath her, giving her over to the rippling throat below. Lia scrambled away, but Faen’s throat caught her tight, and she was squeezed down into a narrow, wet shaft.

Lia squirmed, embraced on all sides by pulsing flesh. Her hands scrambled for purchase, but slid uselessly against the impossibly slick throat. It squeezed tight against her head, and relaxed beneath her feet. Lia’s struggles were fruitless, and before long, she felt her feet emerge into a larger, sweltering chamber.

Her hips emerged from Faen’s gullet with a faint *pop*, and with a shriek, she fell the rest of the way into the bubbling darkness of the spirit’s gut.

She crashed into hot, sticky flesh, bouncing a little at the impact. She rolled a short distance before coming to a halt. Trembling, Lia picked herself up. It was dark, but the faintest trace of sunlight still penetrated through. Lia’s eyes slowly began to adjust, revealing the small, reddish, wrinkled chamber that was Faen’s stomach.

The air was thick and hot, hotter even than Faen’s vagina had been. The floor of her stomach was pliable and wet, unsteady beneath Lia’s feet. Stomach juices squelched under her footsteps. Above, Lia could just make out the puckering entrance, gently pulsing itself closed, trapping her inside.

Her breathing came fast and heavy. Trembling, Lia staggered about, steadying herself against the rumbling walls. Some small, still-functioning rationality insisted she didn’t want to be near the floor when the acids came.

And come they did. Slowly trickling in from every surface, hot, tingling fluids began to pool beneath her feet. It oozed up from the floor around her, trickled down the walls, and fell from the ceiling in small drizzles. Feeling it squelching around her feet and running down her back, Lia stumbled back as Faen’s muffled voice rumbled through the chamber around her.

“Mmm… You were a delightful treat, Lia. Do try to last as long as you can, alright? You feel wonderful in there…”

Her words sent shivers down Lia’s spine. This was real. The acid had crept up to her shins now, prickling at her calves.

Lia was still processing Faen’s comment when the acid kicked into high gear. Fizzing and bubbling, it suddenly roared to life with intensity. Lia yelped, stumbling back against the near wall and huddling against it. Panic settling in, she cried out toward her captor.

“Faen please! I’m sorry! I- ah!” The roiling acids splashed up against her as she felt Faen lean further back. She tumbled over, the menacing pool washing across her body and sending tingles all across her skin. Scrambling backward to relative safety, Lia shrank against the wall. Pressing her back into the wet surface, and legs scrambling to avoid the rising acidic tide.

Panic and sorrow shot through her like an arrow. This was it. This is what she had done to Faen just the night before. And now it was happening to her.

Just like the spirit said, she was being toyed with before, but this was her true punishment. Maybe Faen wasn’t just teasing. Maybe she really was going to die in here.

…Maybe she deserved it.

Lia felt the rising pool of acids lapping at her calves as she pulled her legs to her chest. Drowning in misery and afraid for her life, she couldn’t keep herself together anymore. Tears escaped her, as sobs claimed her breath. Trembling and alone, Lia began to cry.

                                                                                    ~~~                                                                                                      

Faen’s eyes shot open. Had she drifted off? For how long?

Lia’s faint cries reached her ears, and she could feel the elf had gone still, save for the trembling.

Guilt speared through Faen’s heart. She had taken this much too far.

She sat up, moulding her body to keep her stomach in the exact orientation to not unsettle Lia again. The poor elf’s comfort now at the forefront of her mind. Resting a hand on her belly, Faen tried not to panic herself.

What should she do? Coughing Lia up seemed to obvious choice. But no, the girl had already endured more than enough roughhousing. Draining the acids, then?

Obviously! She chided herself, guilt at Lia’s current state gnawing on her heart. With a thought, she reabsorbed the acids, quickly draining her stomach. Had she miscalculated? Sands, Lia wasn’t actually hurt, was she? With another thought, she half-filled her stomach with a gentle and warm water. Hopefully it would set Lia at ease? Faen’s constructed heart was hammering. She realised Lia could likely feel it, and thus feel Faen’s own panic. She quickly de-constructed it, though she could still feel the phantom sensation, thundering in her ears.

She could faintly feel Lia’s trembling slow, her body uncurling somewhat within the gentle pool Faen had made of her stomach.

Biting her bottom lip, Faen continued to fret. What should she do now? It seemed like Lia had calmed down a little, but she was still trapped. Spitting her up was too rough, so that was off the table. Faen could simply open a hole within herself to grab her directly, but that seemed grotesque. Would it scare the terrified elf even more?

Throughout her frantic thoughts, Faen felt a growing need to hold Lia. To simply embrace the poor girl, and apologise.

She blinked.

She sighed, palming her face. Obviously, Faen! Use your gods-damned head!

Faen closed her eyes, sinking her awareness deeper…

                                                                                           ~~~                                                                                                           

Lia trembled in the darkness, blinking through tear-blind eyes. The fizzling acid had suddenly vanished, and a deeper, gentle water had taken its place. Taking sniffling breaths, she slowly uncurled from her fetal position. She felt the warm water lap against her chest, soothing her skin. Was she spared?

…did she deserve it?

Her heart was still hammering, and the tears wouldn’t stop. Deep in the darkness, Lia couldn’t help but feel like she didn’t.

A slow change in the light level tickled at her eyes. Looking up, she noticed her surroundings brighten. More sunlight was filtering through the walls of Faen’s body. Lia tensed, unsure of what was coming next.

A sudden rippling in the pool before her captured her attention, and her vision snapped to a writhing figure hastily pushing its way through the stomach wall. It emerged, taking shape as a panicked and worried Faen. She was bereft of any fancy garments, stripped to the bare essentials. Her eyes full of concern. She rushed over, wading through the water, but not before another shape pushed through behind her, forming into another – equally flustered – Faen. Then another emerged. And another.

Lia watched with wide eyes as she was quickly mobbed by a swarm of concerned Faens. Their voices overlapped with one another in a chorus of concerned inquiry.

“Lia! Are you alright?”

“Ooh…! This went much too far!”

“You aren’t hurt, are you? Let me see.”

“I heard you crying, what’s wrong?”

“I didn’t mean it, I promise…!”

“Was it something I said?”

“Please don’t hate me!”

 “I’m so sorry…!”

Lia could hardly keep up with all of them. She was felt and embraced all over by a dozen different hands. Checking over her skin for burns, cradling her face, holding her hand, hugging around her waist. She was practically smothered by their ministrations.

The confusion shocked her out of her sorrow. Seeing the once haughty and regal spirit – literally – stumbling over herself like this brought a bewildered smile to her face. Not to mentioned that being touched by a dozen pairs of concerned hands was tickling her all over. Giggles began to bubble up her throat.

Her laughter shocked the gaggle of Faens into silence. Some backed away slowly, giving her room to breathe.

“Oh no-! I broke her…”

“She’s gone mad…”

“What have I done…?”

The Faens’ reactions brought more laugher out of Lia, fully belly-laughing at this point. The rush of emotions simply overwhelming. The laughter took most of her anguish with it, Faen’s mobbing unwittingly shocking her out of the darkness that had been clouding her mind. A thin relief began to rise in her chest as she calmed herself down. The closest Faen frowned, catching on to what was so funny.

“Seriously? I rush in here, terrified that you’re hurt, or emotionally damaged, or worse, and you laugh at me?” She said, crossing her arms. The others expressed similar disgruntledness, a crowd of regal frowns. Lia couldn’t suppress a smile at their group discontent. Unamused, the flock slowly melted away, leaving just the one that had spoken, and another behind Lia, still checking her over.

“Sorry,” Lia croaked out, her voice still clogged with tears. “I just really wasn’t expecting any of that from you is all.”

Faen frowned, her features softening as she sighed “Ugh, no, you shouldn’t apologise. I’m the one who should be sorry, not you. I took things much too far and scared you half to death!” She fretted, placing gentle hands upon Lia’s shoulders. The Faen behind her rose, holding her from behind in an embrace.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” She asked.

“I’m… ok.” Lia replied. “The bubbling scared me… But, it wasn’t actually dangerous at all, was it? She guessed. The lead Faen blew out a sigh of relief.

“No… No, it wasn’t. Well, it technically was acid, but completely toothless. I was terrified I’d miscalculated, and you’d gotten badly burned.” She said. Lia smiled, chuckling lightly at how easy she was tricked.

“No burns here…! Heh…” She offered, weakly. Faen frowned.

“Then I really did scare you that badly.” She sighed, hanging her head.

“Actually…” Lia began. Faen met her eye, curious. “What… really scared me was the thought that this is what you had gone through last night. How you must have felt.” Lia confessed, her voice cracking slightly. The tears came back. “I felt that if you really were going to… claim me…” She hesitated, seeing Faen’s wide-eyed concern. “…That… I’d probably deserve it.” Lia finished, her voice small. She looked away, blinking fresh tears from her eyes.

“Lia…” Faen breathed, shock evident in her voice. She shook her head, adamant. “No.”

“Wh- huh? What do you mean?” Lia looked back, confused. Faen took a deep breath.

“No, Lia. You don’t deserve that. You didn’t do a single thing wrong.” Lia went to speak up, challenging the statement. Did nothing wrong? She’d nearly killed Faen!

Faen shot her down with a tut, placing a finger on her lips. Lia frowned.

“You did everything you promised.” Faen continued. “You got me out of that veritable tomb, and saved me from a terribly slow and… disorienting death. Then you brought me here, to a nearby oasis where I could recover myself and thrive, just like you said. Frankly, I don’t care if your methods were… unorthodox,” She blushed, further confusing Lia. “You delivered on your promise. That’s what matters.” Faen concluded.

Lia was baffled. She went to speak up again, but was shushed by the Faen embracing her from behind. The lead Faen continued.

“Everything I’ve done to you today was born of my own selfish whims, nothing more. I wanted to toy around with you, to get back at you a bit for… you know.” Her eyes flicked toward Lia’s stomach. “But… I clearly took things too far.” Faen grimaced, guilt settling on her features. “I hurt you, and I’m sorry. I’ll never do anything like this again.” She finished.

Sensing she was finally allowed to speak, Lia piped up. “Faen, I could have killed you. I nearly killed you- ”

“But you didn’t.” Faen countered.

“I barged into your temple unannounced!” Lia said back, remembering Faen’s earlier grievances. In her state, she was desperate for Faen to acknowledge her wrongdoings. The spirit blinked, surprised.

“It was practically a ruin, I don’t care.”

“I stole all your treasure!”

“I’m a spirit, what do I care about treasure?”

“I failed to give you proper respect!”

“There was hardly any left of me to give it to.”

“I destroyed your guard skeletons!”

“Wh- ” Faen paused, staggered. Finally, Lia thought she’d touched upon a grievance Faen actually cared about. Perhaps they were long-dead worshippers, following their duty from beyond the grave?

The Faen behind her shorted.

Oh. Apparently not.

Faen’s restraint broke, and giggles erupted into full-blown laughter before Lia. Lia just blushed. Why had she actually believed that?

“I can’t believe you actually believed that!” Faen cried between laughs.

“You said it so earnestly…” Lia mumbled, embarrassed.

“And you remembered it!” Faen beamed. “You actually remembered all of those silly things I said and cared about them!” Faen’s laugher subsided, though her joy remained, shining through her features. “How could I possibly want anything bad to happen to someone like you?” She brushed a hand across Lia’s features. Lia blushed further.

She looked away, taking in the dimly lit stomach she still sat in. The warm bath Faen had made lapped against her breasts. The wrinkled ground beneath her was warm and undulated softly. The air was humid and smelled like Faen, a scent Lia was surprised to learn she had memorised.

“Still…” She spoke. Faen cocked her head, listening. “I must have scared you just as badly last night. Like you said, you wanted me to feel how you felt.” Lia bowed her head, the sorrow coming back to her. “I don’t deserve such easy forgiveness if that was how you felt because of me…” She felt Faen’s hand on her chin, lifting her gaze back to meet hers.

“I think you do.” Faen said, sweetly. “Besides, I don’t think we felt nearly the same feelings. You had it far worse than me.” Guilt crossed over her features again. “Sands, compared to yours, my experience was heavenly.” Lia looked up, confused.

“Heavenly?” She gestured a gloopy arm toward their surroundings. “How were you feeling for something like this to be heavenly?” Faen simply smiled.

“Hmm. Well, my memory is a little spotty,” She began, leaning in close. “…But I remember feeling something like this~ “ She finished the sentence with a kiss.

Lia’s heart damn near leapt out of her chest. She felt Faen’s lips upon her own, soft and warm. She melted into the embrace, the last of her guilt finally slipping away. Holding Faen tightly in the intimate warmth of her stomach, Lia started to understand what she meant.

                                                          ~~~                                                                   

Hours later, Faen was still trying to get all the lubricant out of Lia’s hair.

She had collapsed her giant form back into the oasis shortly after the kiss. Reconstructing a normal-size form in the same image and fishing Lia out of the small whirlpool Faen’s giant body had kicked up.

Lia was clearly feeling better, but guilt over her rough treatment had pushed Faen to spend the next few hours pampering the elf to make up for it. Currently, she had Lia laying down near the banks. Her body submerged in the lake and her head in Faen’s lap.

The sun was getting low in the sky, beaming golden light through the greenery that surrounded them. Dappled shadows danced on the shimmering waters. Faen smiled, pausing to watch a handful of skittish lake spirits flit past across the surface.

Lia was still and relaxed in her lap. Faen suspected she had fallen asleep not too long ago. She gently ran her fingers through the elf’s speckled golden hair, admiring how it stood out from her lightly tanned skin. Faen gazed over Lia’s features, admiring details she missed at giant size. Like the barely visible smattering of freckles across her cheeks. They were nearly the same colour as her skin, and Faen wondered if she even knew they were there.

With a sigh, Faen gathered more water around her hands again. Soaping it up (courtesy of Lia’s own supplies), she got back to work washing her clingy lubricant out Lia’s hair. Turns out it had been a bit too chemically optimal. Washing it from Lia’s skin was simple enough, but sands, her hair. It had genuinely been over an hour of non-stop scrubbing.

Though, Faen reasoned, it was only fair. She was the one who drenched Lia in the first place. And she certainly wasn’t complaining about getting to hold her like this.

Lia mumbled sounds of appreciation as Faen’s touch worked into her scalp, slowly rousing from the deep rest she had earned. Faen smiled down at her.

“Good afternoon.” She simply said. Lia smiled, opening her eyes partway to avoid the soap.

“How long was I asleep?” She mumbled, still drowsy.

“About an hour or so?” Faen mused. “You didn’t miss much. Cleaning this gunk out of your hair has been dreadfully tedious.” Lia looked like she was about to apologise, but Faen shot her down with a look. She sighed.

“Thank you.” She offered instead. “It feels wonderful.” She closed her eyes again, focused on the feeling.

“I’m glad.” Faen smiled. Running her hands through for the final time, she finally felt assured the gunk was gone. She raised her arms, the suds washing down and back into the oasis. Generating clear water about her hands, she got to work rinsing Lia’s hair out for the final time. The large globs of water pressed into Lia’s scalp like sponges, gently massaging while slowly tricking through her hair. The elf sighed in contentment, peering up at Faen again.

“Though, can’t you control water?” She asked. “Couldn’t you just… magically make it go away?” She asked, her eyebrow cocked.

Faen let out an exasperated breath, halting her movements. Raising her hands over Lia’s curious face, she dumped a few buckets worth of water over the fool. Lia burbled indignantly.

“First of all, I can’t magically do anything.” Faen explained. “I’m a spirit, remember? And yes, I could spiritually compel the gunk to move, but…” She flushed slightly, looking away. “…This is nicer, isn’t it?” Lia squinted up at her, blinking the water out of her eyes. She smiled.

“…It is.”

Faen returned her warm gaze, the pair simply gazing into one another in the golden light for a moment.

Their trance was broken as a ditsy, pinkish spirit made itself known on the breeze near Faen. The delicate thing was the shape of an embrace, and drifted like a flower petal. It brought with it warm feelings and mutual appreciation.

“What’s that?” Lia asked, rising to get a better look.

Recognising the love spirit for what it was, a blush covered Faen’s features. Worse than the spiritual recognition was that Lia could absolutely see it, and would probably figure out what it was too.

Before Lia could turn to look, Faen gathered her spiritual energy into a fierce glare and beamed it toward the traitorous little servant of the love goddess. It puffed away with a dainty squeal, banished back to wherever it came from. Lia turned, looking around curiously.

Faen looked away, hiding her blush from the elf as she tried to brush it off.

“Oh- It was… nothing. Just some ditsy thing intruding on our nice moment.” She half-lied, waving a dismissive hand.

“Oh, okay.” Lia replied, simply. Thank the gods for her simple mind! Faen was perfectly secure in her feelings toward Lia – obviously – but admitting them to her? Sands, no. Not yet. Faen’s regal pride held her back from such a bold admission.

An exasperated part of her psyche suggested she had confessed at least three times over by her actions today, words be damned. She quickly stuffed that thought away before she got any more flustered.

Returning to the present, she felt Lia slowly rise from the water. Her tan skin gleamed in the afternoon sun, highlighting her muscular body in all the right places. Faen let herself stare a while. Lia stretched, tensing her muscles before releasing with a sigh.

“Well, it’s going to be dark soon” she said. She cast a look back at her equipment. “I should probably set up camp for the night. I’ll head off tomorrow.” Her amber eyes grew distant. Faen was confused.

“Camp? Now?” She asked. Then it clicked. She remembered why Lia had drunk her in the first place. “You haven’t actually been travelling during the day, have you?” She asked incredulously. Lia frowned.

“Of course I have. When I first arrived in V’pra the locals insisted I do.” She said. Faen raised an eyebrow at that. Really? That didn’t sound right. Sure, monsters roamed the dunes more frequently once the sun set, but the risk was worth it to avoid the heat. And a heavily armoured paladin like Lia? Surely the locals didn’t offer her such advice. A thought occurred.

“Lia… you mentioned you came from the northern continent, yes? What languages do they speak there?” She asked, slowly. Lia’s brow furrowed, pondering her answer.

“Well… most places share a common tongue. The common language in the north isn’t that different to the one here.” She explained. A thought seemed to cross her mind. “Though, you’ve been talking to me in the exact same language. And you’ve been able to perfectly understand me this whole time. Why’s that?” Faen waved a dismissive hand.

“Spirits don’t care about language barriers.” She simplified. “That’s not important. Are you certain they told you to travel during the day?” Lia’s face scrunched as she tried to recall.

“I don’t remember exactly what they said… But our language’s words for day and for night are the same! There’s no way I got it confused!” She insisted. Faen thought for a moment.

“And you’re sure they told you not to travel at night?” Lia nodded, looking uncertain. “Are you sure it wasn’t a double negative?” Faen pressed. “The common tongue here uses that a lot.” Lia pondered for a moment. Then paled. She collapsed back down to her knees, cradling her face out of embarrassment.

“No wonder my guide never showed up… I probably left early…” Lia groaned. Faen smiled compassionately and pulled the elf into a gentle embrace. The poor girl had been travelling through the desert for weeks in full plate, under the terrible heat of the sun, all because of a grammatical miscommunication.

It took a lot of willpower to not snicker a little.

“Oh, darling it’s alright.” She comforted. Lia let out a heavy sigh, frustrated with herself. “Honestly, I’m more impressed than anything. A lesser adventurer would have died in the attempt, let alone get this far.” Another sigh left Lia, as if she were trying to ventilate her embarrassment.”

“At least I know, now …” She mumbled.

“Indeed.” Faen kept her smile under control.

Lia looked up, toward the lowering sun. The air before it writhed in waves, heated by the still-hot sand. A look of sadness passed over her features.

“Then… I should be leaving now, I guess…” She said in a low voice.

“Yes…” Faen agreed. Lia made a few slow steps toward her equipment, still dutifully waiting for her by the shore. Faen rose, and was startled by a tight embrace. Lia wrapped her arms around the spirit, holding her tightly. Faen returned it, bubbling slightly with warm feelings. Lia took a breath to speak, but Faen beat her to it.

“Well, let’s get you finished up and ready then.” She said, cheerfully. Taking Lia’s hands, she guided her back toward the shoreline. The elf followed silently. Faen settled in front of her.

With a snap of her fingers, the moisture beading off of Lia’s body evaporated in an instant, leaving her perfectly dry from the ankles up. Lia jumped slightly, gasping at what Faen assumed was the sudden change in temperature. Faen urged her toward the edge of the water.

“Here now, we don’t want sand clinging to you.” She said, guiding Lia’s left foot out of the lake. Before touching it down on the dry sand, she quickly vaporised the moisture covering it as well. She did the same with Lia’s right foot, leaving the elf standing on the shore, completely dry.

Lia blinked, stunned by the spiritual display. Faen took a moment to admire her again.

“That’s funny. I think your hair is looking better than it did before.” She noted, hand on her chin. Lia caught a strand, inspecting it. Her hair came down in thick, wavy strands, fuller and shinier than it was the day before.

 “Huh…” Lia looked down at her arm, feeling it up and down. “Now that you mention it, my skin feels amazing.” Faen looked, and indeed it radiated health and softness. She smirked.

“Maybe all that time inside me did you some good.” Faen teased. Lia blushed, smiling at the notion. Faen waved a hand in the direction of the equipment. “Now hurry up and get dressed, I’ve got to get ready too.” Lia shot her a confused glance, but Faen waved a shooing hand back at her as she waded back into the deep centre of the oasis.

Once Lia had turned to get dressed, Faen let herself collapse back into unshapen water.

She let her consciousness spread out, reaching every inch of the small lake. She basked in it. Her sheer size and power. She remained like that for a while, until she felt Lia at the water’s edge, refilling her waterskins.

Faen smiled internally, feeling those tiny parts of herself funnelling into the small bladders. It had only been a day, but the distance in mental clarity between now and then made the feeling almost nostalgic. For a moment she considered sneaking her consciousness into one, and accompanying the elf that way. But she didn’t have to this time.

She let those pieces go as she focused her sense of self inwards. It gathered towards the centre of the oasis, densifying and coalescing. She sculpted bones of ice, each one densely packed, tight as she could manage. She wanted to keep as much water on her as she could, after all.

Once her skeleton was complete, she pulled herself over it, reconstructing her human form in pristine detail. Her tan brown skin, flowing navy hair, and lithe figure came in first. Then she moved on to her coverings, all blue silks and golden fixtures. She considered covering her breasts, but the opportunity to keep flustering Lia was too good to pass up.

Finally refining the final touches, she willed herself back to the shore, rising with a practiced grace only a greater spirit could embody. She settled her gaze upon Lia, battering delicate lashes toward the elf.

Lia, for her part, was bent over, battening straps on her right boot. She was craning her neck toward Faen, staring with wide eyes and blushing. Faen smiled.

She still had it.

Lia rose, clad from the neck down in steel plates. They clicked together as she stepped up to meet Faen. She wrung her hands nervously before Faen spoke.

“So. Where to now?” She asked. Lia blinked at the question.

“Well… my main goal was the treasure…” She blushed at Faen’s amused raised eyebrow. “So… I’m headed back now, I guess.”

“Back to your homeland?” Faen asked. Lia nodded.

“In that direction at least. I was thinking about undertaking a more… spiritually inclined mission soon.” She explained. Faen cocked her head.

“What does that entail?” She asked.

“I’m not exactly certain yet.” Lia confessed. “I was mostly just planning on hunting down the first undead I hear of. I’d heard a couple whispers about a vampire while travelling here, for example. Cleaning up undead problems is important to Lady Whitefeather – and to me.” She explained, thumbing at a small pendant around her neck, depicting a white dove’s feather. Faen nodded, understanding.

“Well, you’ll certainly have an easier time travelling now that you’re avoiding the sun.” She said.

Lia chuckled, sheepish. Faen paused a moment.

“What’s it like?” She asked quietly. Lia looked up, a question in her eyes. “Your homeland.” Faen clarified. Lia thought a moment.

“It’s… different. From here, I mean. Vo’tel is an entirely different continent, technically. Even if they’re connected.” She began. Faen listened keenly. “It’s definitely colder. The seasons are a lot more obvious, and it snows when it’s cold.” Lia looked around, finger to her chin, thinking. “Oh, and there’s practically no sand, either. Only around lakes and rivers. There’re much more plants too.” She gestured around at the oasis’ greenery. “Imagine like this, but for miles.”

Faen blinked, taking the explanation in. She’d never heard of ‘snow’ before, and the idea of no sand seemed ridiculous. She’d heard of the greener lands to the north, but the mental image Lia gave her seemed confoundingly alien. Lia looked to the north, the golden sunlight shining on her skin.

“I miss it. A little.” She said, fondness colouring her voice. “But it’s been fun here too. Excluding the heat, obviously.” She chuckled. Faen returned the smile. “And it’ll still take me weeks to cross anyway. So, I’m hardly out of the woods yet.”

Faen looked at her quizzically, not understanding the phrase. Lia blew out a sigh, looking toward the sunset. A sadness settled over her features.

“I guess… it’s time to go.” Lia said, crestfallen. If Faen’s mind wasn’t made up already, Lia’s expression then would have most certainly have swayed her.

“Yes, lets.” Faen said, stepping forward to the shore. Lia hesitated a moment, confused.

“Whuh?”

“I agree, it’s time we get moving.” Faen clarified, stopping just before the dry sand, in front of Lia. Faen frowned at the granular substance. Not having thought this through.

“But… I thought… Aren’t you staying here?” Lia asked, hope slowly rising over her confused features. Faen considered the sandy conundrum as she replied.

“Stuck in the middle of nowhere with only lake spirits to keep me company? I’d rather dry up.” She smiled, snapping her fingers as a solution came to her. A slight chill rose up from below as Faen pulled her feet from the water, covering them in a frozen layer of ice. She shaved them down a bit, until they resembled a fine pair of sandals. Satisfied, she stepped forward to join Lia on the shore. Faen looked at her smugly, having overcome the distasteful granular menace. “I’d much rather travel. With company. Wouldn’t you?” Lia’s expression brightened.

“You want to keep travelling? With me!?” She exclaimed. “A-are you sure? You might have to leave the desert! A-and it could be dangerous!” Her bright smile betrayed her words of caution. Faen smiled.

“Danger is hardly any concern to me.” She bragged. “I’m practically indestructible by most means. And between you and me…” She leaned in, conspiratorially. “I’ve always hated sand.” She hissed. Lia looked up at her, seemingly only just noticing the height difference. Faen’s current body was about a foot taller than the elf’s five-foot frame. “Besides, after centuries of being trapped in the same room, I think a change of scenery is long overdue. That, and…” Faen blushed slightly, averting her eyes. “I… would rather like to spend more time with you. As well.” She finished.

Her heartbeat quickened. That was as close as she had come to admitting how she truly felt. She chanced a glance back Lia’s way. The elf caught her chin and brought her close, stealing Faen’s breath. Their lips met for the second time that day. Faen thought she might evaporate at the non-verbal acceptance. They held one another, tongues gently dancing under the light of the sunset.

Lia pulled away, glowing. “I’d be happy to escort you, if you’ll allow it.” She said, quietly. The obvious play on Faen’s regal sensibilities didn’t go over her head, but it worked, nonetheless.

“You are permitted…” She managed. Smiling back, meeting Lia’s eyes.

Wait.

Faen frowned. Had she shrunk? She was standing at eye level with Lia now. She looked down, and nothing had changed there. Lia wasn’t on her tiptoes either. Looking back up with confusion, she caught Lia licking her lips. Faen gasped indignantly. Lia suppressed a small burp, blushing.

“You… you… rogue!” Faen blurted, flustered. Lia giggled, cheekily.

“I think I like you better at this height.” She grinned. Faen blushed, just now feeling her grasp slipping away from the part of her now trapped in Lia’s belly.

“Do that again, I dare you.” Faen glowered, pointing an indignant finger in Lia’s face. She happily took the bait, slurping it into her mouth. After a moment, her eyes lit up. A hum of appreciation vibrated around Faen’s finger. Lia slurped on it eagerly for a moment before pulling back. Faen looked on cooly.

“Mmm! You were sweeter that time! It was earthy, like cinnamon. What was that?” Lia asked, still licking around her mouth. Faen smiled cruelly.

“Your own sweat.” She answered plainly. Lia’s expression quickly soured, and she started coughing up whatever was left in her.

“Ugh, pthleh! Eww…” Lia pouted at Faen a moment before her expression cracked into a smile again. Faen smiled back before clearing her throat.

“Well, now that’s settled, let’s get moving. The sun is already setting, and the nights are short this season.” She declared. Lia nodded, quickly gathering up her things.

While Lia was getting ready, Faen bent back down to the oasis. She gently kissed the rippling surface of the water, gave a pat to a passing lake spirit. The oasis was just as responsible for saving her as Lia, after all.

After a short few moments of gathering themselves, the pair finally set off. Fighting out of the dense greenery past the shoreline, they emerged into the desert proper once again. Lia stretched her limbs, preparing for the long journey home. Faen felt the cool breeze on her surface, looking up at the emerging starlight. It had been centuries since she had last seen them. Tiny pale dots connected together with golden streaks of light. She smiled.

Faen leaned sideways, resting her head on Lia’s shoulders. Her saviour-turned-escort returned the favour, and they remained there a moment.

“Lia?” Faen quietly asked.

“Mm?”

“Thank you.”