Published Date: 23-01-2025
This story is a part of Disembodied's storyline!
An introduction story from the POV of Victor—a defeated hero taken captive, abandoned by her goddess. The story follows her first moments in the cult.
Content Warnings: The storyline's atmosphere leans to a darker direction. But in this story in particular, the worst is verbal taunts/threats.
Word Count: ~1,700w
(...My lady?)
(Where did you go?)
(...)
(Ah.)
(Seems like she's disappointed in me.)
(Of course. I've failed my one and only mission to protect our home.)
(You've made a wise choice to leave me behind.)
(That was... a sound decision.)
(No, I am not hurt. I can accept this, I believe.)
(I'm still alive, and that certainly means I've been disgraced.)
(Once again, to everyone who's put their faith in me—)
(I'm terribly sorry.)
Oh, you've finally woken up!
...
It's alright. You'll be safe and sound with us. I've put in a lot to heal you—the leader wants you alive and intact, after all.
That uniform...
Mhm, you've ended up with us.
Keep in mind, I can snuff out the last of magic—that's keeping you alive right now—at any moment's notice. We won't hurt you, and we're actually pretty welcoming—as long as you return this generosity. Understood?
O-oh... Okay.
Oh, whoops. Sorry about the sudden threat.
I just needed you to know the consequences. As long as you play nice, we're all good. Any questions?
(What do I even ask...)
Hungry?
Not really...
Here, some water. Should help with the dry throat.
...Thanks.
Hmm... I guess the leader part would be the most important.
So, our leader, wants to bring you back alive from that battle at all costs. Then she left you to me.
I'd say I did a decent job bringing you back from seconds close to a corpse to... this.
Therasia cups Victor's cheek.
Doesn't it feel nice to be alive again?
...
Right. Probably not the best thing to say to you right now. My bad.
But it's alright, we'll help you bring light back to your eye again.
We're like a big sisterhood here, seeking to make the world a better place for us all.
...What does she want from me?
The leader? She probably sees potential in you, just like how I got into this.
What potential...
Hmm. Fighting potential, I'm guessing? You've put up a good fight against her.
(I was defeated, wasn't I?)
(Wait, her?)
...I fought with her? The leader?
Mhm. Didn't you realize?
(What does she want from me, exactly?)
(The blessing?)
(My lady's powers?)
(How do I even explain that she's cut ties with me?)
(Fuck. I'm probably getting killed if I don't get her back.)
(...Please.)
(...I'll do anything for you again. Please. I'll bring back anything you needed to bring them down.)
A heavy silence.
Victor sheds a tear.
Oh, no, where's the...
Therasia wipes the tear from Victor's eyes.
Victor continues to weep, out of being pitied, and out of the truth she just realized.
Her lady doesn't even look at her anymore.
Sorrow fills her chest, suffocating her from the insides.
There, there... It must've been so hard.
If it helps, I'd still try to bring you back alive if it weren't for the leader.
...Why bother?
I, too, see a potential in you. Not just battle potential. But something... more wonderful.
Maybe I'll tell you all about it in the future, if you make it through today.
Just... keep your head up. You're still alive. I'm sure you still have your worth.
...
Victor solemnly nods.
A knock on the door.
Oh, come on in!
Are you finally done?
Yeah, she's fully conscious now. Should be ready for the meeting.
Ready? She hasn't changed into our garb.
Oh, right. The clothes. They haven't said anything about it today.
I believe I've told you to get the uniform ready days ago.
Told you, I haven't heard a thing about them today...
You should check on the tailors yourself to see what's up, I've been busy taking care of her.
That's just your usual excuse, but alright, I'll do it. The leader has been waiting.
Constans leaves the room, and closes the door shut.
She's one of the teachers. If you're fortunate enough, you might've ended up with her...
Say, can you promise me one thing?
...?
That you'll stop by the office every now and then.
Once I let you go, you would've gotten much busier with other people...
Do you need something from me?
Just your time and company, that's all.
Why though?
Unlike me, the others might've been much more... strict, and overbearing.
So if you were to feel overwhelmed, injured, hurt, or you just need someone to talk to—you can always turn to me, alright?
...Alright.
Ahem.
You didn't knock the door!
I did. You're too enamoured by the recruit.
Constans grabs Victor's arm.
Come with me.
Hey, now. What about the clothes? Are you really dragging her away in this state?
They didn't make it in time, so I'll deal with her myself.
Get back to work.
Therasia quickly works her magic so Victor can freely leave the bed.
Constans then brings Victor outside of the room.
Tsk, already taking the recruit for herself...
Constans is leading Victor down the narrow hallways.
Do you have any issues with clothes? Any preferences in texture? Or are you sensitive to any particular textures?
N-No...
Good.
Since they haven't finished with your garb, I'll let you borrow mine. They'll get it done by tomorrow.
Until then, you can have my old one—it should fit you.
...Thank you.
Victor is brought into a changing room and left there.
Soon, Constans puts the garb in the changing room, leaving Victor to her privacy.
As Victor undresses, she notices a large scar across her body. Memories of her last battle lingers in the air, like blood, before she continues changing her outfits.
Not the time, she thinks, as she leaves the changing room.
...How do I look?
Constans begins to adjust Victor's outfit.
Roll the cuffs like this, make sure the collar lines up properly, straighten the skirt, make sure it aligns straight...
At this hair length, you'll have to get your hair brushed or at least tied, too. It's too disheveled for a meeting with the leader at this state. You can leave it like this, of course, but it won't look too proper, especially in situations like this.
Constans grabs a hairbrush, before sitting Victor down in a nearby seat.
As Constans work her way through her hair, Victor's mind drifts off again—to her past, distant memories she can't clearly recall. How many years has it been since she's had her hair brushed by someone?
Do not expect me to do this again.
You'll get your own brush, and other supplies you need by the end of the day. And once you get your own garb, you'll need to return mine too.
Victor nods.
Get up. I need to make sure of something.
Victor stands up, only for Constans to press her hand against her back, adjusting her posture.
From getting her back straight, to making sure she gets the shoulder posture down, before tilting her face up.
Overall, an improvement from her intial posture.
Has no one taught you this?
...Not really.
Don't let her see you like that again. You'll be embarrassing yourself in front of her, especially as someone she fought against.
Victor says nothing.
Constans brings her outside, leading her to somewhere else. Instead of narrow hallways with a few passing by, Victor's presence begins to catch the attention of others.
Pay them no mind. Just keep going.
At last, they enter a room.
There she is!
After that fateful meeting, you've finally begun your new life again with us. We welcome you again, to Disciples of the Full Moon. You're now a part of us.
Thank you, Constans, for bringing her here. But I must ask you to leave for a moment, I'll summon you later.
Magnus focuses on Victor.
We'll need to have a one-on-one talk, as former opponents.
Very well.
Constans leaves the room.
You can relax now, there's no need for you to keep the formalities around me.
Come and get your revenge if you need to, I'm right here, all defenseless with nothing in hand.
...You.
That would be me.
Victor takes a deep breath, trembling.
She has a lot of thoughts—a lot of things to say to the one whom she fought against. She still remembers the day—when Magnus showed up with the similar lax demeanor that lowers your guard, only for her to pull the punches and horribly outpower her.
The scar on her body stings.
What did... you do...
To whom? The town you cherished?
Who else?
Worry not, I didn't eradicate that entire place or anything that sort. Some are still alive and safe, just retreated. However, we'll keep an eye on them—in case they send someone like you to face us again. That would've been terrible for them, who's left to a lone lady—barely capable of holding her town together, and putting their hope onto their one last hero.
Oh, and I've heard that your lady has abandoned you, has she not?
Victor blanks out.
So that's how it is.
So that's how it all is.
...!
Magnus takes Victor in her arms.
How about we sit down somewhere?
Victor doesn't respond, and Magnus brings her to a nearby seat to sit down together.
...
Seems like they didn't prepare you for such a shock, a pity. But in a few days, with our help, you'd already be sparring with your members.
Tell me, what brought you to this path of a fighter?
...Kind of a long story.
Oh?
It's just... what I must do. Nothing more.
Oh, how noble. Did you like it?
...
Of course. I may be the leader, however, I have an appreciation for sparring.
Magnus traces her fingertip along Victor's body, right at where her scar is beneath the clothes.
Don't you wish to leave the same scar on me?
...!
I'm just teasing. It'll be a long while until you reach that point.
Until then, I hope you'd become a part of our sisterhood.
That's all for today. You can leave now.
Or perhaps... you still have something to say?
With her hope to return to her hometown all gone, and now she's thrown into this new life...
...I'm going to get you.
Magnus only smiles in return.