The trek through Jalip was a long one and my destination remained a mystery. Gone were the marbled streets of the Verriti markets, of spice stands and salons, replaced by looming evergreens. I'd always possessed a certain fondness for the gilded city, even if the magi of Verriti left little to be desired; they were shortsighted fools, put lightly.
I had never seen so many trees in my life. The forest seemed endless, as though I would travel forever into its depths and lose my mind within it; perhaps I was coddled. The soft life of an acolyte had not prepared me for my eventual self-imposed exile, but while the woodlands of Jalip lacked the pleasures of the city, the fresh air was liberating. The shackles of guilds would no longer hinder my journey into magic.
The forest hummed with it, and I felt myself drawn deeper and deeper into the depths of the woods until at last I found a clearing. The sun's rays pierced the canopy above, illuminating the glade before me. It was beautiful: a small pond sat in the center of the grove, surrounded by mossy boulders, and beyond that stood a majestic oak tree. Its bark was rough and dark like a polished stone, and its branches reached out far above the ground. There was no other sign of life around the clearing save for the bird song that drifted from the treetops.
A place like this would have been perfect for my studies, had I not been interrupted.
"Hiya!" A cheery voice joined the chorus of the glade, "Are ya lost, hun?"
I turned toward the sound and beheld the succubus before me, arms crossed over an enormous bust. She was tall and thin, barring an obscene rack of chest-flesh, and clad in the bimbofied mockery of a nurse's uniform. The demoness's hair was a deep sapphire and was bound in a loose ponytail that swung between two flittering wings. Her eyes were a startling shade of lilac, which made them stand out all the more against her pale plum skin. In both appearance and aura, the succubus was just as she presented, but where was the malevolence? The insatiability? It was all but absent in her dopey-eyed bewilderment.
"What are you doing here? And what's your name." I quizzed, taking a step away from the edge of the clearing.
"Name's Marci, young sir! And well," Marci hesitated, fidgeting about in heels that befitted a common whore, before blurting, "you just have such an interesting aura! I could smell it, so I followed it...to you."
"To feed on?" I accused.
The succubus blinked before blushing, "N-No! Kinda the opposite..."
Even in all my studies I'd yet to encounter even a lesser demon, let alone a succubus. I knew better than to entertain one. Then again, spoiled was I to the fanciful gait of bejeweled concubines, mistresses and otherwise working women in Verriti; they didn't hold a candle to Marci.
Marci tentatively resumed in a light drawl, "You got an energy about cha', young sir! A lot of promise! But," delicate fingers fiddled at the edge of her 'top', drawing my attention to the glistening orbs it so futilely hid, "Most succubus eat folk's spirit energy through all sorts of nasty business," lilac eyes burned with embarrassment, "but not me! I can make yer magic a heck of a lot stronger, young mage! If ya'll just give me a chance!"
I sighed, knowing full well that I couldn't afford to ignore her offer. This was a golden opportunity. Was it truly so bad to gain an ally? To gain a friend? Perhaps this was the best option.
"So, I drink your—milk, and my abilities are amplified? I've never heard of succubus milk working as such a potent catalyst..."
"Listen, hun, I ain't pullin' yer leg, and I surely don't wanna waste yer time. How about I show you?" Marci's offer was simple and her tone remained sincere. She skipped to a nearby boulder, settling upon its mossy top before patting at her largely exposed thighs to offer them as a headrest, "Lie down, sweetie, let Marci boost you right up!" Like a mother eager to nurse her babe