Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Unrequited Past

Sunlight blazed through the clouds, indifferent to the solemn event underneath. Under it was the bright blue sky, rippled with winds, blowing, twisting, and straining the climate. There was no rain nor overcast, only the monotony of everyday life, which moved on regardless of what had happened, happened, or would happen.

Inside the Sinking Dark Forest, amidst the countless trees, under the soft shade of the Soul Tree, Iris, with a glowing purple crystal in her hand, stood alone in front of a simple grave made with dried muds and decorated with purple and black flowers. They resembled the colours of Vilia's scales, which glittered under the holy light and turned to ash from the slightest touch.

"It is strange, isn't it?" Iris said. "Yesterday, you were still here."

The phantom of her touches, the sweetness of her saliva, the warmth of her body, they lingered. Iris could feel a pair of arms holding, gently coaxing. Everything would be fine. No need to cry. She couldn't stop trembling. Her soft blue slime body withered grey and dull as her eyes lost their glitters.

Before the reincarnation, family hardly meant anything to her. She had never considered them something she cherished, and she found herself relieved when she finally escaped their grasp. Not once had she thought about their feeling, which she was experiencing. A week time was not a long period, yet the void left behind by the flirtatious Snake Girl was large enough to make her inside hollow.

It was not rain but tears which fell from her face. Each droplet reflected the bright sunlight, revealing within it countless muddled images. They shifted and changed until they hit with the dirt below, splashing on the ground before becoming a part of the great earth. Like the droplets, life was the journey towards the end, insignificant to the whole earth, yet it rippled with magnifying impact to the surrounding.

Aside from the sound of grief, a soft, ashamed slither broke the serene rhythm of the funeral. From the cave, a young and guilt-stricken Snake Girl softly coasted against the gloomy air towards Iris, her head hung low, her hands trembling. Corrupted by Vilia, then rescued by Reta and Tardi, Vinesta, now a Monster Girl, experienced conflicting emotions and memory. She should disgust her new appearance, but her soul accepted her new self.

She was now standing behind Iris, someone whom she knew was very close to Vilia, the Monster Girl who brought her a new life, akin to a mother. Despite the sinful acts Vilia committed, Vinesta felt nothing but grief for someone she never had. She was an orphan as a human and as a Monster Girl.

"Sister Iris," she said and raised her head. Her body, covered by soft green scales, quivered with guilt that pushed her gaze back down. "I'm sorry. I have no excuse, but please, don't hurt yourself. Everyone is worried."

"Tell them not to. I'm just thinking about her. That's all."

"Sis, you've been standing there for half a day." Vinesta reached out for Iris's hand but failed to cross the boundary she herself created. Conflicted, she pulled her hand back and clasped it in another, seeking warmth in herself.

"Nothing will change, right?" Iris said. Her voice broke into multiple cracks, which lingered around the grave. "You don't understand."

"I'm sorry."

"Is that all you're going to say? Go tell them I need some time alone. They'll understand."

Vinesta slowly turned around, her gaze catching Iris's back. Faintly, it trembled, in sync with the tears that rolled from her face and fell onto the ground. The confusion and regret resonated together, forming a push that throbbed inside Vinesta, who paused and made a heart-led decision.

Her head raised, she closed her eyes and reached out once more. Her hand plunged through the viscous air, which slowed her momentum, whispering into her what she used to be. It was like passing through a waterfall, landing on the other side, where a cosy cave resided. Her heart embraced the need for affection and followed the familiar scent from Iris, hoping for once to receive it.

When the hands met Iris, a spark exploded inside her soul. The stuffy flesh soaked inside her slime emitted a kind of warmth that diffused into her cold body. Agitated, her body glowed and turned vibrant like the first spring sky after a long winter. Behind her was a confused little girl whom she resembled, a Monster Girl born into the world without any care, seeking the comfort of a family.

The slimy, snakey scent permeated the atmosphere, pulling Vinesta closer to Iris, who finally turned around and looked clearly at the newly corrupted Snake Girl. Innocent, Vinesta sought the familiar scent which lingered around Iris, who had been thoroughly imbued in Vilia's aroma.

Iris remained still and let Vinesta hug her, indulging in the emotions which rose inside her heart. Though different, Vinesta's touch carried the same mannerism as Vilia’s. Given enough affection and training, she would grow into a magnificent Snake Girl. One that could replace Vilia as a flirtatious sister.

"Please don't leave me," Vinesta whispered. Under such a familiar scent, she immersed herself in the sticky slime she held tight. As it coated her body, a pleasant temperature swept her body, seeping under her scales and pervading her flesh. Her heart sank deeper under her instinct, which yearned for a life of passion.

"Silly you, why would I leave? We are family, sister to sister."

"Really?" Blushing, Vinesta met Iris's gaze. "Sister to sister?"

"I'll make you dazzling and alluring, that no one can resist you. All the teases and techniques and expressions. You will remember them, consciously and unconsciously."

In embarrassment, Vinesta averted her eyes, turning away, though her body was too sticky to move. Iris slightly smirked then held her closer, leaning on her shoulder, blowing a puff of stuffy air into her ears.

"Now, like your sisters, you will choose a new name for the new you. Would you like my help, or do you already have one in mind?"

"Varda, I'll be called Varda."

"A lovely name for a lovely you." Iris stepped back and shifted her hands to hold Varda's shoulders. "Welcome to the family, Varda. You're a Monster Girl now. There will be many lessons ahead . . . ."

"Yes, Sis Iris," Varda stuttered, her heart wildly beating in anticipation. Along with her name, she discarded her humanity and embraced Iris's tempting guidance. "Please teach me how to be a Monster Girl."

"Your first night will be unforgettable. Let's go."

Like an excited child eager for a birthday present, Varda slithered towards the cave, though she mindfully stayed around Iris, clinging onto her, breathing in the intimacy.

While strolling at an uncomfortably slow pace, Iris glanced at Vilia's grave, which peacefully rested under the shade of the Soul Tree. Though different, she still felt Vilia's air lingering around Varda. She was determined to mould the green Snake Girl into an ideal Snake Girl, someone Vilia could have been.

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"Not the same, never will be," Iris murmured.

"Sis Iris, did you say something?"

Iris seized Varda's body up and down repeatedly. "I was thinking what kind of faces you will be making."

Though Varda averted her gaze in shame, under it was an apparent expectation. During her human life, she was already a mage, an experimentalist. The Monster Girl her would only become much more daring.

...

With a swing of her sword, Pallorn pushed the Scorpion Girl back. Her strength launched the gigantic Monster Girl towards a big tree, which crumbled like paper on impact. The wood broke into countless splinters, shooting everywhere but hurting no one.

In pain, the Scorpion Girl hissed at Pallorn. The intense clash had ruined her carapaced legs, which limited her chance of escaping. Her stinger had been cut apart in a single strike. She was now no more than a crippled human, yet her deep brown irises remained burning with hatred.

Pallorn strolled towards the Scorpion Girl, casually sheathing her divine sword. The heat surrounding her dispersed, pulling in the air, causing a gale to blow her long, mahogany hair into a wave. Standing in front of the Scorpion Girl, she smiled and reached out to her. Her hand shone in bright grey light as it approached the Scorpion Girl, who expressed unending apprehension towards it.

"You fought well. Your strength will be of use," Pallorn said. "Be free from the shackle of corruption and reborn once more."

"Distasteful. You are distasteful. This corruption has given me freedom, and you're taking it away."

"The Corruption Power has blinded you. Soon you will be under the divine grace."

As soon as the hand touched the Scorpion Girl’s face, she screamed and trembled and shoved her arms at Pallorn, pushing and scratching and pinching. Pallorn received the tickles with a gentle smile on her face, her eyes watching the despaired Monster Girl as if she were a child throwing a tantrum. In time, the grey light overwhelmed her and cleansed her body and soul.

Unconscious, she fell on a bed of grasses beside her, her body quivering in discomfort. The lower scorpion body cracked and shattered into countless carapaces, revealing the soft, pale body of a young maiden underneath. She soundly slept, unaware of her past, innocent and feeble. With her humanity restored, she became a member of the Pure Race once more.

Pallorn knelt in front of the maiden and caressed her face. Her fingers carefully traced across the pinkish cheeks, not to wake her up. She held the long brown hair and played with its texture before she came back to herself and finally held the lady up. Unlike the previous aggressive nature, the sleeping beauty radiated an air of purity and calmness.

Behind Pallorn, a few holy knights marched towards her after witnessing her purification. She was one of the gifted who could perform the miracle of the Goddess of Redemption. With her, they had their hope high, that one day, the Monster Girl they found might be their lost family.

Pallorn turned to them, holding the girl in the princess position. Her gaze shifted from gentle to cold as soon as it left the sleeping maiden.

"Give her a light cloth and treat her well. If we can't find her relative, she may live under the Church," she said and handed her to the holy knights.

"As you command, Lady Pallorn," the usual lady who took care of the purified said and left, leaving the other two behind.

"My condolence, Lady Pallorn," one of the holy knights said.

"I've saved another soul from the darkness. Even if it wasn't her today, it will be her in the future."

"The Goddess will surely reward you." The holy knight faked coughing. "We bring good news to lift your mood. When we scouted the area where the Seven Goddesses descended, we found a trace of unusual power and an indecipherable formation carved into the ground."

The holy knight handed Pallorn a drawing of the formation. It was like nothing she had seen before. She reckoned that only an ancient mage could decipher its meaning and function.

"Any trace of the survivors?"

"We found a trace of battle but no survivor. The investigation team sent by the Seven Goddesses was wiped out."

"I'll deal with it myself. Prepare a squad for me. I'm tired of killing the Wild Beasts. The Monster Girls are at least beautiful to look at."

After some more mundane reports, Pallorn dismissed the holy knights and watched them marched away from her. When she was sure she was alone, Pallorn took out her pocket watch and stared at the image of her little sister, imagining how fine a lady she would be if she were still a human. Even if her sister used to play with mud and dirt, she would grow into a delicate maiden.

"My Goddess, please give me strength so that I can find my sister and be with her again," with all her heart, she prayed.

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