Hero Is Now Villain

Ophidia and a group of Frostmarch guards were standing outside the Frostmarch Dungeon gate when Ryzen stepped out and showed himself, frowning slightly at the afternoon sun that felt like a blaze after having been inside the dark prison for a long time. He was no longer covered in blood, thanks to the well-fed Daemonic sword, but there remained a certain 'sense'—be it from his face or the around him—that he was still drenched with blood, albeit unseen.

"Well?" said Ophidia, staring expectantly at Ryzen with a coy smile.

"It is done," said Ryzen ominously.

Kisha and Garbiel, face hardened and pale, came out of the gate behind Ryzen. Garbiel did not glance towards the congregation gathered in front of her as she marched away from the bleak stone building that smelled like decay, and blood at the moment.

Kisha stood and blinked at Ryzen, who nodded gratefully and apologetically back. Kisha scurried after Garbiel, who was already half way across the barren courtyard that led to the streets.

"You look tired," said Ophidia, approaching Ryzen with a delicately concerned look.

"The cell is in a mess. I made a mess. Someone will need to clean up the place," said Ryzen.

Ophidia turned her head and simply nodded to the guards behind her. The reserved Valforrest guards entered the Dungeon with even, purposeful steps and pace.

"Come, a job well done should be followed with a reward," said Ophidia as she extended her hand beckoningly when she was left with just Ryzen and two stationary guards by the gate.

Ryzen did not take Ophidia's hand and instead stared at her questioningly.

"You are not going to check inside yourself?"

"Oh, but I have. I have watched and listened the whole thing," said Ophidia to Ryzen's perplexed face.

At that moment, Ryzen felt something move behind him, silently and slitheringly. He turned and was started by the sight of the white snake he had seen the night before in the woods, still bright and phantasmal under the daylight, slink its way past him and disappearing—evaporating—at the feet of its beautiful, mysterious mistress.

"And you were right. That was a bit messy, the way you did it," said Ophidia with a cheery frown.

"You saw the whole thing?" asked Ryzen, his voice cracking in distress.

"I also heard you addressing yourself as someone else. Someone dead. Someone... more dangerous than a Daemonic Champion."

Ryzen stared blankly at Ophidia's last words.

"Let us go back to my quarters. You look like you need some tea, and then some," said Ophidia with an inviting smile.

"I am afraid I am not in the mood for tea, or anything else at the moment."

"How about we just talk, then, regarding one Betrard Falen?" said Ophidia nonchalantly. Ryzen turned to see the guards by the gate keeping their uniform, impassive faces, showing no sign of overhearing or even paying the slightest attention to the conversation between him and Ophidia.

"I said dangerous, Ryzen, not famous. As long as you are in Valforrest, no one will recognize you as the former King's General, let alone care that you were one. For now, you are known as the Black Knight who, reportedly, will disappear after killing the High Mage Dustein in the woods tonight."

"The High Mage said that you are plotting treason against the King," said Ryzen abruptly, remembering Dustein's desperate words, along with his indifferent face listening to them. Still indifferent, Ryzen turned and, again, saw that the guards appeared either deaf or mute, or both.

"How the stars align all the more perfectly. It is almost poetic how it all fits together. A former traitor learns of a new treason forming, gets his second chance—"

"I was no traitor," said Ryzen curtly, cutting off Ophidia's amused, dreamy voice.

Ophidia stared at Ryzen for a while before putting on a wicked smile of an accomplice.

"But you are now, is what I am hearing."

"Not a traitor, but a venger."

"I can work with that, Ryzen Venger."

"Work with what?"

"Do you feel thirsty yet? I, for one, am dying for a drink," sighed Ophidia, looking ostensibly, seductively eager to return to her cozy quarters.

"Work with what, answer me."

"A vengeful treason, if you will."

"You are going to use me like how you made me kill the High Mage?" scoffed Ryzen.

"No, Ryzen. I am rather proposing a united force. Ten thousand druid warriors and North army—and you, a reincarnate of the wronged General Falen, now a Daemonic Champion."

Ophidia exhaled a short sight before beaming up again.

"If that does not dry your throat, I do not know how else I can have you in my room again. Perhaps we can use the snake we talked this morning to get you fired up—"

"Let us go," said Ryzen, swallowing and tensing a little at the interrupted suggestion.

"You will not be disappointed," said Ophidia teasingly, following after Ryzen in such a graceful poise that contrasted with the sensual, vulgar conversation shared between them.

"Just talk. Nothing else."

"Sure, as you wish," smiled Ophidia, unconvinced and unbelieving.

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The tea was still hot when Ryzen and Ophidia were both n.a.k.e.d and on the bed, l.i.c.k.i.n.g and s.u.c.k.i.n.g at each other's genital, one more eager than the other. Ophidia was clearly disappointed when she saw that Ryzen's p.e.n.i.s stayed limp and normal colored even after half an hour of passionate touches and mouthings.

"I am calling her," said Ophidia resolutely, her ample b.r.e.a.s.ts heaving and jittering at the determined, heated exhalation.

"Please, no," protested Ryzen but to no avail.

With a short, chant-like incantation, the now familiar giant white serpent materialized next to the pale, snow-skinned n.a.k.e.d body of Ophidia. It was a beautiful sight, and also terrifying and uncomfortable.

"Relax, and let us into you," whispered Ophidia sweetly as she climbed on top of Ryzen, her smooth, pleasant skin rubbing against Ryzen's tense, reluctant body. The snake lingered around Ryzen's ankles, ready to slither upward at any moment.

"Wait, what do you mean, 'into' me?" panicked Ryzen. Ophidia simply placed her delicate index finger on his lips, silencing him.

Ryzen could feel the airy, cold, scaly skin of the snake ascend his legs slowly and finally coiling around his still limp, lethargic p.e.n.i.s.

"I really do not like where this is going, Ophidia."

This time Ophidia placed her mouth onto Ryzen's, sticking her soft, flexible tongue l.i.c.k.i.n.g and rolling all the way down to Ryzen's throat.

At that moment, the white snake began its 'massage' down under, flexing and loosening with Ryzen's p.e.n.i.s in the middle of its wrapped body while constantly moving in different directions and bracing the p.e.n.i.s against the smooth yet soothingly scabby scales.

Meanwhile, Ophidia was ticking Ryzen's n.i.p.p.l.es as she pressed and rubbed her v.a.g.i.n.a against Ryzen's t.h.i.g.h around which she had wrapped her flawless, pretty legs tightly.

It was as if Ryzen was beset by two snakes at the same time.

The sensation was strong enough for Ryzen to get his p.e.n.i.s erect, but Ophidia saw it and deemed it insufficient. The snake had retreated and Ophidia was now kissing and s.u.c.k.i.n.g the p.e.n.i.s. She lifted her discontent face to to say the final, most disturbing warning Ryzen had ever heard in his life.

"When it is in, try to stay calm," said Ophidia, mouthing the p.e.n.i.s again and s.u.c.k.i.n.g it delicately, deliciously.

"What is in what?"

And through Ryzen's tense, taut anus entered the white snake, making Ryzen shudder and jolting at the weird, alien sensation.

"Let it go through," said Ophidia reassuringly, patting the p.e.n.i.s that was thumping along with the increased, panicked heartbeat.

Ryzen, in all of his shock, could not say a word as the spectral but very real snake ventured inside his anus and slithering against its wall. Ryzen wanted to yell in unpleasantness and discomfort, but something kept him from resisting altogether, making him loosen up more and more despite his disinclination to the whole experience.

Then came the most delightful, satisfying sensation of his life. The snake had found the spot.

Ryzen's p.e.n.i.s grew almost double its size as it spewed out s.e.m.e.n all over the place. Ophidia licked some that was spurted on her hand, eyeing hungrily at the man who was still shaking and breathing in stops.

"First time you had something up your ass?" asked Ophidia, to which Ryzen nodded hazily.

Ophidia cleaned off Ryzen's p.e.n.i.s and made sure that he was good to go for another round. She then lay on her back and spread her legs, while her hands stretched both the v.a.g.i.n.a and the anus wide open.

"My turn, now. Come, both of you."

Ryzen watched as he entered Ophidia, the white snake slinked between his legs and wriggle itself into Ophidia's pink-colored, tight-lipped asshole. Without thinking, he pulled it back, and instead thrust his p.e.n.i.s inside Ophidia's anus.

Ophidia did not object, only letting out a delighted cry of surprise at having her anus swallow Ryzen's p.e.n.i.s, now black and in its full size and firmness.

"Free the snake," breathed Ophidia, nodding to the snake still held by Ryzen's strong hand. Ryzen let go of it and watched it enter Ophidia's v.a.g.i.n.a with its tail first, making him wonder where the head was headed.

The head turned and passed between Ryzen's legs again, and in the midst of thrusting and grinding inside Ophidia's asshole, Ryzen could feel a delicate, fine touch tickling his own anus. The snake was l.i.c.k.i.n.g his hole with its slick, double-pointed tongue.

Ryzen kept going and stayed calm when the snake entered him for the second time, in due for the biggest load of c.u.m that Ophidia would have to discrete out for the next few days.

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Ryzen and Ophidia had fallen asleep after hours of love-making. Ophidia was sleeping peacefully with Ryzen's arms folded around her. The two were n.a.k.e.d without a single blanket covering their perfectly fit, masterfully chiseled bodies. The sight of two beautiful persons sleeping in their arms was as breathtaking as any magnificent scenery.

That was why when Kedval III, the Protectorate of Valforrest, entered Ophidia's quarters unannounced and unscheduled, he simply stared at the n.a.k.e.d couple for a few second.

Anger and jealousy came after awe and admiration.

"Get up this instant, you whore!" yelled Kedval, shaking with fury and looking uglier through all the bitterness.

Ophidia opened her eyes and sat up, blinking and frowning at the titular ruler of Valforrest.

"My lord, what are you doing here?"

Ryzen also got up, looking alert and cautious.

Even when n.a.k.e.d, the two looked more composed and confident than the fat, ugly man dressed in an ill-fitting fancy clothes.

"I came here to congratulate you on successfully eliminating that King lover of a mage, and you—"

"—Were dutifully rewarding the man who had accomplished the job without fault."

"You sleep with every man who does you service?"

"If he is attractive, strong, and confident, yes, my lord."

Ophidia had gotten up and put a robe on her body. Kedval eyed her l.u.s.tfully and greedily, seemingly unsure whether he was glad or sad to no longer see her n.a.k.e.d.

"Yet, not once have you come to bed with me—"

"I will report to you at the court before dinner regarding the death of the High Mage. Unless you have other matters, I would like to have you leave my quarters, with due respect, my lord," said Ophidia calmly, even condescendingly at Kedval.

Kedval gaped and instead threw a harsh glance towards Ryzen. Ryzen, too, had gotten up and put on his pants, showing his well-built, muscular upper body and towering about four heads above the fat Protectorate. Kedval instantly withdrew his gaze and instead coughed irritably while looking down the floor.

"I want you to report to me at dinner as we eat together," said Kedval.

"Yes, my lord," said Ophidia with an obvious aversion to the agenda.

"And bring your... guest along. You said he was the perpetrator for the job, and he should be rewarded accordingly by me as well."

Ophidia did not say anything as she stared at Ryzen.

"That will not be necessary... my lord."

"I insist. Better yet, I may have another job for you. A proud, honorable service for the King—and the Protectorate," said Kedval, hastily and awkwardly changing the last word.

"He already knows, my lord. The High Mage had confessed in vain before his death. He... despises the King as well. He stands with us."

"Is that so?" said Kedval, eyeing Ryzen suspiciously and still resentfully for having violated his treasured, untouchable subject.

"We will see you at dinner, then," said Ophidia conclusively, urging Kedval to leave the room as f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y as an indirect message could carry its meaning across.

Kedval stomped out of the room looking clearly displeased and bitter. Ryzen watched the short, irate man's back disappear through the hallway and turned to Ophidia.

"The Protectorate loves you."

"It is not my job as an Elder Druid to love the ruler of Valforrest back. My job is to serve," said Ophidia, walking towards the restroom and leaving Ryzen standing awkwardly by the bed by himself.

"Anywhere but in bed," said Ryzen teasingly.

"I like to be served rather than serve on bed. Would you like to bring your companions to the dinner as well? I believe they are resting at the court residence, served well except on bed, presumably."

Ophidia had come back from cleaning herself and put on a fancy crimson robe in time for supper. Ryzen could get a glimpse of her perfect body one last time before she covered herself with the thick, winter fur coat dyed in a fiery red color that matched the color of the deeply cut robe.

"I would rather not attend the dinner at all."

"Please do come. Your presence would at least stop the old fart from touching me every chance he gets. He will still ogle me, but that I have gotten used to over the years."

"For someone who dislikes a man's gaze, your choice of attire tonight is rather too revealing."

"You think I dress for him? This is for you. After all, I have two younger, fresher competition to vie you for," said Ophidia, approaching Ryzen and kissing him teasingly. Ryzen instinctively grabbed her firm, tight a.s.s with one hand, not letting go of her until a light kiss turned into a heated, tongue-full exchange of passionate longing of each other.

"We will exit together and sleep in this very same room this evening," said Ophidia as if issuing an order.

"I am worried about Garbiel, though."

"Worry until you finish dinner. Remember that you have a lady to serve for the night," said Ophidia as she placed her hand on Ryzen's face and c.a.r.e.s.sed it sublimely, leaving no choice for Ryzen to nod helplessly with a weak smile and strong anticipation.

"Oh, and lose the armor. You want to be dressed lightly for the occasion."

Ophidia called a servant maid and, as if planned beforehand, she came with a plain, fancy set of clothes for Ryzen to wear.

"I will need my sword, for protection."

"The guards will protect you fine. We are attending a feast, with other important guests and figures of the city."

"No, I meant that the sword is a means to protect them, everyone, and not me."

Ophidia stared at Ryzen, thinking for a moment.

"A Daemonic Curse, I see. Do you often get an urge to kill?"

"Not often, but 'unexpectedly.'"

"What will you kill others when you are without a sword in the first place?"

"Hands. Knives. Broken plates. Look, I am a trained soldier, and I have got a Daemon speaking inside my head at times."

"That sounds interesting," smiled Ophidia with her eyes flashing curiously.

"No, it is not," sighed Ryzen.

"Do bring your sword. Try to look like you are wearing it for fashion, if you can," nodded Ophidia finally.

"Do others in Valforrest wear weaponry for fashion?"

"No, we have animal skins for that," said Ophidia, draping an elegant leopard skin over the fox fur coat as the final touch to her wardrobe.

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Ryzen found Kisha and Garbiel approaching from the opposite hallway just before he turned to enter the Grand Hall of Frostmarch. Garbiel seemed less pale than before, but she ignored Ryzen and entered the hall without a word.

"She seems better, at least," said Ryzen to Kisha.

"You seem better, too. Had a nice nap, I figure," growled Kisha. Ryzen realized that Kisha was not looking pleased at all, especially with Ophidia casually linking her arm around him in the appearance of lovers.

"Is this your wedding ceremony that I am called for?" snapped Kisha, eyeing Ryzen's fancy clothing in distaste.

"Druid do not marry," said Ophidia with a kind smile.

"What a relief," scoffed Kisha.

"We just mate, for life."

Kisha blinked confusedly and then with a furious frown.

"Sit with us. I want to know how Garbiel is doing," said Ryzen.

"F.u.c.k off, Ryzen," hissed Kisha, walking ahead with a disgusted face.

"Let us f.u.c.k off then," said Ophidia, leading Ryzen to the seat close to the Protectorate's seat at the long table.

Kedval the Protectorate arrived when all twenty or so important courtiers and guests had been seated. Ryzen could see that Kisha and Garbiel were seated far across the table near the end. Neither seemed happy to be summoned at the place.

"Before we begin the feast, let me tell you, my kind friends and subjects, that we are one step closer to Valforrest Independence. The evil High Mage has been slain, foolishly believing that he could stop a natural disaster by himself. And so the Black Knight came and took his life, the true plague that only targets the wicked and the weak."

"I am a disaster now?" said Ryzen through the deafening clap of hands. Ophidia smiled understandingly.

"The Black Knight is gone, but his service to Valforrest will be remembered and will remain."

A mandatory round of claps swooped and quieted, but Kedval was not finished with his speech.

"Which is why I introduce to you the Black Knight who has now sworn loyalty for me against the false King in the south."

The crowd murmured with confusion and excitement as Kedval turned his sly, devious eyes to Ryzen.

Ryzen turned to Ophidia, who looked more confused—and angry—than Ryzen himself.

"My lord, you may have gone too far with your feel-good farce," said Ophidia with endeavored calm.

Kedval ignored Ophidia's quiet words and went on merrily, madly.

"And in proving his loyalty, the Black Knight has promised to retrieve the fabled White Wolf Helm for the true King of Valforrest."

The crowd reacted more to the 'White Wolf Helm' rather than the last two words of Kedval's tirade. Ryzen figured they must have heard it countless times before.

"The legendary helm will bring us one step closer to the long awaited realization to the Prophecy of Black Wolf. First the Black Knight, and soon the Wolf Helm will be my possession. Your prophecized King is here at last!"

The crowd returned Kedval's heated speech with lukewarm, compulsatory claps.

"Not to mention the White Wolf Helm will make a fine dowry for the nature's beauty, of course. Marry or not, we all know there is a fine bride for me waiting, not at the altar but in bed," laughed Kedval crassly at Ophidia's direction.

That was when Ryzen decided to step up. He rose from the seat, taking the interest of everyone in the hall, simply for his impressive, imposing looks made all the more appealing against the other person who was standing, Kedval III.

"I am the Black Knight," said Ryzen abruptly.

A lone, ill-timed clap sounded and disappeared into thin air.

"The Protectorate is wrong in—"

"You shall address me as the King of Valforrest!" yelled Kedval, now standing on his chair to try to look taller than Ryzen, and barely by doing so.

"The Protectorate has yet to secure my loyalty, but I am willing to deliver this Wolf Helm if he promises something back in return."

The crowd was silent, waiting for Ryzen's next words eagerly and with interest.

Ryzen turned to Kedval's ugly, oily face.

"If I get you the Helm, promise me you will free Ophidia of her duty as the Elder Druid."

The hall had gone silent, with Kedval blinking at Ryzen.

Ryzen could feel Ophidia's desperate hand clutching at him, but he ignored her and continued.

"I understand that druids do not marry. I am not asking for her hand in marriage. Her freedom, that is all."

What is he talking about, muttered one of the guests by the table.

Kedval was no longer blinking. Instead, he was flashing an impish smile with equally sly eyes glistening back at Ryzen.

"I promise," said Kedval.

"No!"

To Ryzen's surprise and bewilderment, it was Ophidia who cried out the word, looking pale, desperate, and despairing.