The dense aura of mind mana remained thick. In the water and the air, lasting longer than it had previously. Chloe watched it carefully, her senses tracing the source. Her blank-eyed friends were no longer stock still, as they began to wash themselves in the water. Chloe idly did the same. Not that they seemed likely to notice what she did in their current state, and it wasn’t just them; their fellow bathers were just as blank-eyed.
Chloe relaxed a bit when the aura thinned back to the previous level. By then she’d already traced the source. The strange aura was coming from somewhere under the city. Chloe made a mental note to take a look when she was given a chance. Her mind raced with various theories. Was this the work of the cult? Did they have access to some mystical artifact? Or was this field the work of some powerful individuals? A few thousand mages in the level two hundred range might be able to do it, but it was more likely to be a much smaller number. If a living being was behind it, a small group ranging from six to seven hundred would be able to do it.
She gasped when someone grabbed her tail. Turning she glared at Myshi, who just grinned shamelessly, “I’ll wash your tail for you!” she produced some ribbons, a brush, and a basket of soaps from nowhere like she usually did. “I’ll make it look so cute!”
Chloe sighed, then glanced at the others. Sae and Alicia were helping each other wash. Ellie was off by herself. It was just her and Myshi. Now might be the best time to ask. Myshi had more knowledge of mind magic anyway. “Myshi? Do you... feel like yourself?”
Myshi blinked, pausing mid-stroke with the brush. “Huh? What brought this on?”
Chloe was silent for a moment, not sure what to say. After a moment she said, “Do you not sense the mind mana permeating the air, the water, the earth?”
The other girl was silent for a good minute or two before she slowly said, “Strange how did I not notice that before?” A pause, “Wait? You asked if I felt like myself. Did something happen?”
Chloe nodded, “Your eyes glassed over a moment ago when the field surged.”
“Well I don’t feel any different,” she frowned. “But the thing about mental manipulation is that the true experts are often subtle with their hand. They must be pretty strong to affect me though. My abyssal blood makes me rather resistant,” she gave Chloe a look. “Why aren’t you affected?”
Chloe already had an answer, it was false but better than admitting her true level, and consequently her true nature. Undead, spectral and otherwise were innately resistant to mind control. Higher level undead were completely immune. “My blessing protects me,” she gave Myshi a look, “And what do you mean Abyssal blood?”
Myshi shrank a little, then sighed, “I’m part Lykeri.”
Chloe blinked, her mind flashing to the odd things she’d noted about Bysha Trading. What she’d seen about the caravan guards provided by the shady guild. “That... that explains a lot actually. I’d thought some of the stuff your guild was doing seemed... Lykeri-like, but I dismissed it. Too clean, there wasn’t any trace of the needless cruelty an Abyssal usually does.”
“That was Grandma’s idea. After the crusade, she worked to design the techniques we use today.”
“I see, but I take it slave trading is part of the family business?”
Myshi nodded, “Quite so. Although we have branched out.”
Chloe had noted that. “I have questions, but I don’t think now is the time to discuss them.”
Myshi looked into her eyes, then seeming reassured she relaxed, “You don’t hate me?”
“One does not choose their bloodline.”
“But I deal in slaves.”
“That doesn’t make you evil,” Chloe replied. She didn’t elaborate. Myshi had nothing to say in response. The next few minutes passed rather quietly.
Finally Myshi spoke up, “Okay I’m done. Can’t do the ribbons until your fur is dry.
“Thanks.”
____________________
By the time they left the bath, a few other girls had left and some new ones had joined. Not in equal numbers either, Chloe wasn’t sure if it was a natural shift or not. Yet it seemed like one, so she left it at that. Yet she made note of it all the same. For she didn’t know what details, no matter how minor, might shed light on what was going on here in Black Blossom.
Heading back into the dressing room, they waited while Alicia and Sae spoke with the attendant. They came back with their clothes a moment later and started getting dressed. Chloe watched them, if this had been a cult stronghold, she might expect them to wear even less or something. Yet that didn’t seem to be the case. Glancing around the changing room, she took in the others. A few girls from the bath were already fully dressed and heading on out to the foyer, every single one had exposed breasts and naked bellies. Now that she thought about it, that did seem to be pretty normal around here.
“Myshi, does anything strike you as unusual about the town?”
“Hmm not really. Why?”
“Every local I’ve seen has been pregnant with bare breasts and naked bellies. Does that seem normal to you?”
Myshi frowned, glanced over and was silent for a moment, “... huh, you’re right. Why didn’t I notice?”
Chloe asked quietly, “Did you notice they were pregnant, or just not notice how many were? Or was it the dress style?”
“I didn’t notice they were pregnant and I highly doubt it would be related to dress. Bare breasts are quite common these days.”
“Really? The cult’s been... adjusting Alicia’s outfit.”
“That’s different. They are trying to convert her.”
“Convert. I guess you have a point there,” said Chloe, chewing on what she’d just heard. Myshi produced her ribbons again.
“Let’s decorate that tail!”
Chloe groaned, but let her do as she pleased. It was easier than protesting and she didn’t want Sae dragged in on this. Moments later the girls left the changing room and headed out into the foyer. A few girls were in the room, and unlike when they came in there was a group of three girls at the counter talking to the receptionist. Mid-twenties or late teens, two of them were beastkin of different species and the other was a dark elf like the receptionist. Pretty, pregnant and dressed like many of the locals.
Listening to their chat revealed nothing unusual. When they left to take a bath, her own group walked up. The receptionist smiled, “How was the bath, did you five enjoy yourselves?”
Alicia nodded, “We did.”
“Glad to hear it. Now is there anything else I can help you with?”
“The attendant said some of our items were left with you?”
“Ah yes, one sec,” she crouched and came up with a small basket. “Here you are. Can’t be too careful with valuables and I see you have an invitation. Have you been?”
“Not yet.”
“Head there next, you won’t regret it.”
“That was the plan.”
Chloe frowned, “Is there something special about this... invitation?”
She didn’t receive a response.
____________________
Following the invitation, they ended up walking deeper into the city. In the market square were a number of guild buildings, each one carved from solid stone. The invitation led them to a building just a block down from the local adventurer’s guild. It was carved from stone but otherwise nondescript with not even a sign on the door, only a symbol. A rather stylized symbol that Chloe had seen before, it was a fertility symbol used over the cycles by more than one fertility cult. So she knew the symbol represented the womb, the core of female fertility. A frown touched her face, what kind of place were they walking into?
Trailing behind the others she walked into the building. Her tail stiffened and a chill went down her spine when the door closed. The lobby wasn’t as busy as the entrance room of the bathhouse. She spotted three girls being led into the back upon them entering the room. Eight women in guard uniforms stood motionless, their eyes blank, on either side of the room. Chloe noted that as seemed usual in this town they were all noticeably pregnant.
Alicia didn’t even spare them a glance as she walked up to the counter behind which sat one of the locals. She was cute, petite of build, with fluffy triangular ears, a shock of jet black hair, and bright green eyes. Her skin was pale white with horizontal reddish stripes giving her a bit of an exotic flare. The girl’s chest was pretty small but clearly swollen from pregnancy. Her large belly put her about eight months in. The girl’s green eyes were blank and glassy.
Chloe didn’t feel the mana in here was any different from out there. Leaning closer to Myshi, she whispered, “How does this feel to you?”
Myshi replied a bit flatly, “We were invited. Best not to be rude.”
Chloe frowned. Something was definitely up here. They hadn’t been pulsed. Not since the bath... wait? Had that been regarding this?
Questions in her mind, she nearly missed Alicia addressing the receptionist. “Five females here to be processed, we have an invitation.”
“Certainly,” she replied in a flat monotone. “Five females is it? If you’d follow me. We can get started.”
“This is very strange, don’t you think?”
Myshi was slow to reply, “...I don’t... know.”
Chloe sighed. She definitely had a lead on what this was about, the question was what. It seemed she was about to find out.
The receptionist led them into the back and into separate rooms. Chloe found herself entering a small room, with five beds in the back of the room. Four of them were already occupied. Each of them by girls she recognized from the caravan, they were staring blanky at a crystal above their heads. Otherwise things seemed normal.
Alone for a moment, she started weaving some dark magic. It wasn’t something she’d normally do but she didn’t trust this. Letting them do whatever they were planning on to her wasn’t in the cards. With her shadowed eyes she kept an eye on the others, but she wasn’t sure how to shield them. She glanced at the crystals... would that work? She sighed, next time she had a chance she’d talk more thoroughly with Myshi. She clearly needed a better study of mind magic.
Not knowing what would work, she chose not to take risks and completed the first spell. Creating a false copy of herself on the empty bed. It took no genius to know they expected one there. This was no mere illusion; it was real to an extent. With the false copy in place, she concealed herself with magic and set to wait.
A good half hour passed before something happened. The receptionist walked in, she looked over the girls, then said, “Everything looks in order.”
Two more girls, of the same race came in. They pushed a small cart with tools on it, then approached the first woman on the left. The girl on the left, started by washing the woman’s belly. Then the girl on the right, made two slits into the belly. Short and bloodless. The tool used was a simple enchanted light blade.
Slits made, the pair worked the girl’s ovaries out into the air. Silently, they prepared two needles and gave each ovary a quick injection. Chloe paid close attention to the process. As for the two girls, they moved on to the next girl and repeated the process. Once they were done with all five girls, including her false copy they left the room. She muttered to herself, “Strange place indeed,” she glanced at the five tables each with an occupant and exposed ovaries. “Now what are we doing here?”