A Mother’s Promise, A Master’s Craving

My mind, in a sudden rush of fervor, had concocted such an outrageous claim, all to ensure Kalima’s elevation to bishop and to sway the church’s influence to our side. There was simply no other way; she yearned to emphasize her profound connection with Vireta without revealing her true identity. Terms like ‘friend’ or ‘sister’ would inevitably ring hollow, lacking the impactful conviction of ‘mother and daughter.’ Ah, well, for the sake of her and her master’s grand ideals, what did a little thing like playing a mother truly matter?

“Therefore, Squadron Leader Vireta, you have been promoted. I command you to temporarily assume my duties as Grand Commander, and from this day forward, you are to pretend to be my daughter.”

Saranya recounted the entire affair to Vireta, leaving the trainee knight utterly bewildered. Her shoulders trembled, and the candlestick in her hand nearly slipped to the floor.

“Is that… true?”

“What do you mean, ‘true’?”

“I mean, about being my mother…”

Saranya’s brow furrowed in confusion, but as her gaze met Vireta’s tear-filled eyes, she finally understood. What she had casually dismissed as merely ‘pretending to be a mother’ was, to Vireta, an event of immense significance. She realized then how little she truly knew Vireta. In her lofty position, she had offered a condescending gesture, her mind solely focused on securing the other’s cooperation. Reflecting now, it felt incredibly presumptuous. There could only be one reason for Vireta’s profound reaction… Saranya, slow to grasp the situation, blurted out a remarkably impolite question.

“Vireta, do you… perhaps not have a family?”

“Now I do… Hehe.”

Vireta, far from being offended, simply wiped away her tears, a radiant smile breaking through. She then curtsied respectfully to Saranya and Kaelan.

“Hello, Mother, and Mother’s… uh, Auntie!”

Witnessing the child’s earnestness, Saranya’s heart clenched.

“I’m sorry, I should have realized. A significant number of new recruits in the Night Lily Knights are orphans…”

“It’s alright, really! I’m just so happy! You have such a maternal presence… Having a mother like you would make me incredibly fortunate…”

“Then you’ll also have to explain this to the other members of the squadron.”

“Leave it to Vireta, Mother!”

****

As night deepened, the trio did not linger in the great hall. Instead, they proceeded to check on the remaining members of the knight squadron stationed within Vero’s jurisdiction. Within the stark, empty room, a row of shabbily dressed, dirt-smudged girls lay soundly asleep on the floor. For warmth, some were huddled together, intertwined in sleep, occasionally emitting soft murmurs.

“Since the squadron lost its barracks, have you all been living like this…?”

“Yes, we’re all alone, with nowhere else to go. The knight squadron is our last home.”

“It will get better, with Mother here—”

Saranya reached out and gently patted Vireta’s head.

“Oi!”

Kaelan suddenly interjected, yanking Saranya back a half-step.

“Let’s go. Let these children get some proper rest.”

Saranya was abruptly pushed out of the room by her master. Behind her, Kaelan firmly closed the door, blocking Vireta, who had been about to follow. Through the solid door, Vireta’s faint call drifted from within the room.

“Then good night, Mother, and Auntie Kaelan…”

Hearing Vireta utter “Auntie” once more, Kaelan reacted as if scalded. A fierce expression instantly flashed across her face, her pupils contracting rapidly to pinpricks.

The two walked in silence, swiftly turning down a corridor. No sooner had their figures dissolved into the shadows cast by the wall than the witch pressed herself against Saranya, forcefully pinning her against the stone.

“Mo-ther-dear, huh?”

Mimicking the girl’s tone, Kaelan’s fingertips brushed Saranya’s neck, exhaling a breath of chilling air.

“Master, Vireta is just a child, and innocent at that. I have no other intentions towards her…”

“Indeed, she’s a good child. A hug, a pat on the head, an occasional affectionate touch—these are all perfectly natural, aren’t they? Our little Yaya’s maternal instincts are truly pure and boundless, with nowhere to be placed…”

“No, Master, you were aware of what I intended to propose to Vireta—”

“Silence! Aware… being aware doesn’t mean I agreed!”

Kaelan’s jealousy erupted, her words sharp and venomous, a torrent of accusations spilling forth, allowing Saranya no opportunity to explain.

“So today you interacted with her to this extent, what about tomorrow? What will you do tomorrow? Will you take her to bed?! And ‘Mother’… if Vireta says she wants milk tomorrow, will you strip off your clothes and let her suckle?!”

“No… Mmph!!!”

Moonlight, slicing diagonally through the narrow window, cast a cold, silver sheen upon the witch’s delicate silhouette. The witch seized Saranya’s sword belt, forcing her to arch her long neck downwards. Then, murmuring a soft incantation, she conjured a magical shadow to elevate herself, meeting the lips of the s*ave before her in a searing kiss.

“Hold it properly.”

The master’s icy command echoed in Saranya’s mind, just as her mouth was invaded by something wet and soft. Saranya dared not resist, carefully attending to the master in her embrace. With a soft *pop*, their lips parted. As their lips separated, Saranya suddenly tasted rust. Her lip had been deliberately bitten by her master. Just as she was about to speak, she felt her master lift a leg. A knee brushed against her abdominal armor, then wrapped around her rear, gently tightening and securing itself over her heavy plate. Even through the layers of clothing, tiny Kaelan, clinging to her in this manner, began a rhythmic, circular motion, her breathing growing increasingly ragged.

“Don’t you dare give that little brat any more… You can’t betray me… You mustn’t… All of that is meant for me… It’s all mine…”

Upon realizing what her master was doing, Saranya’s gaze softened, and a faint blush bloomed across her skin. Kaelan, utterly devoid of gentleness, gripped Saranya painfully. Fortunately, she merely sought balance and had no intention of harming Saranya’s body. Given Saranya’s larger stature, she could readily accommodate all of her master’s capricious actions. Like a steadfast carriage, Saranya stood firm against the wall, occasionally steadying Kaelan as the witch lost her balance, allowing her master to recklessly unleash her desires upon her. Finally, at one point, Kaelan’s entire body convulsed, and she slowly collapsed into Saranya’s arms.

`”Wuh… wuh-wuh…”`

For some inexplicable reason, Kaelan, now spent, suddenly began to sob. Her beautiful eyes were rimmed crimson, and large, hot tears streamed from their corners.

“Eh?”

Saranya looked at the little witch, who was crying without apparent cause, a hint of surprise in her expression. ‘What’s wrong…? Is Master not satisfied with her?’

“Mo… Mother…”

Kaelan stammered, her voice lost in a sob. Saranya tilted her ear towards her, and only after confirming that her master was indeed calling her, did understanding dawn.

“Mother… don’t abandon me… Get up… get up… I want to go home, I want to go home…”

Saranya’s expression softened. She gently pulled Kaelan’s head against her, letting her rest in her embrace.

“Yes, Mother won’t leave you. Whenever you wish, Mother will always be here…”

Kaelan knew perfectly well that Vireta would “acknowledge her as mother” upon request, yet she still threw such a tantrum, displaying such unreasonable behavior. This spoke volumes. And those things she had given Vireta, how could Kaelan not crave them herself? Saranya inwardly cursed herself for being so foolish, for failing to consider this deeper layer. In the utterly dark corridor, she hummed a lullaby, patting Kaelan’s back. Then, scooping her master up by the waist, Saranya slowly slid down the wall until she was seated on the floor. She gently swayed her arms, coaxing her master’s eyelids to slowly droop, revealing a serene, sleeping face before her.

“Master, whatever shape the voids within you take, I will fill them all, little by little…”