As Michael hauled his latest catch towards the village, a knot of unease began to grow in his stomach. After a moment of deliberation, he sighed and stashed his prey in a nearby bush. His mentors would call the act foolish, but there was a reason they were dead and he yet lived. Better to end up hungry than wandering, trapped inside your own mind.
Michael hunted in the Deepwood, a place of ancient magic and forgotten monsters, one that warped the very minds of those that dared enter its borders. In his village, foolishly built on the outskirts of the Deepwood as it was, he was the only remaining hunter brave enough to try and retrieve prey from within the Deepwood proper.
And, arrogant though it sounded, he was the best there had ever been; for two decades, since the age of fifteen, he had hunted the Deepwood, over twice as long as any of his mentors or their mentors ever had. The scholars in the capital no doubt claimed to have an understanding of the Deepwood that a “mere peasant” like him could never dream of, but they wouldn’t last ten minutes in his career.
So, he crept back to town, blending into the shadows as best he could while he addressed the situation. He had only been in the forest for half a day, not long enough for any significant mental attacks to take hold, so it was unlikely that he had fallen into a deep paranoia again. Of course, there was always the possibility that his perception of time had been messed up, but that had only happened once, so he tabled the possibility for now.
Far more likely was that a patch of magic had rolled close to the village, enough to catch Michael on his way home. But…as the evening shadows lengthened, Michael’s dread only mounted. If it was a patch of magic strong enough to affect him, he should long since have left its area of effect. He was half a mile into the mile buffer between the village and the Deepwood proper, and he had never once had any magic affect him within that buffer.
Something was wrong. His rationality screamed at him that he was under the effect of some sort of magic, that he should just calm down and go back and get his prey, but he ignored it. His brain and his heart told him everything was fine, but a deep, almost animalistic, part of himself refused to believe it.
And, like he always did, he trusted in that part of himself. If he did, the worst-case scenario was Elise making fun of him for freaking out over nothing again. If he didn’t, the worst-case scenario was a life spent wandering the Deepwood in a stupor, until some monster eventually put him out of his misery.
As he crested the last hill between himself and the village, his suspicions were confirmed. There were lights in the center of town, and if he strained his ears, he thought he could make out music. That should not be happening; there wasn’t a festival planned, the traders should be tired from their travels, and the village didn’t have the resources to just throw festivals whenever.
He took a deep breath, eyes narrowing as he focused on becoming one with his surroundings. It was his special skill, one the villagers often likened to magic, but he knew it wasn’t true magic. He wasn’t channeling that raw, primal energy the Deepwood had, and he had no spellbook with which he could cast magic.
No, it was just an incredible stealthiness, one that only seemed like magic to the uninformed. It came from a lifetime of hunting in the most dangerous place on the planet, and it was the largest reason he was still alive. And it served its purpose here, as he crept ever closer to the town, no one seemed to notice him, despite people being out and making merry.
Fortunately for him, he didn’t need to risk going close to the people. He and his wife, Elise, lived in a small hut on the edge of town, and he was able to make his way to it while remaining in the shadows of the forest outside.
His unease only grew as he caught his first glimpse of the hut; it was lit from the inside, and Elise was normally asleep by this time. But, as he drew close, a figure walked up and, after a moment, entered the house. So, instead of entering and asking Elise what was happening, he chose to crouch near the back window and listen in.
“That’ll be perfect! Michael should be home soon, so we won’t have to wait long!” Elise was saying enthusiastically. “It’ll take a bit of convincing, but once he understands I’m sure he’ll be up for it.”
“You think so?!” Another voice, this time belonging to Violet, a longtime friend of Michael and Elise, said. “I’ve been pining after him for so long, I’m not sure why it took me this long to do something! And, of course, this wouldn’t be complete without you there, too!”
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing!” Elise said. “But…he’s not here yet, and I think he wouldn’t object to the two of us having some fun while we wait!”
There was the distinctive rustling of someone taking off their clothes, and Michael’s heart sank. Violet was a shy woman, the type who was hesitant to ask for even a small favor, and there she was, propositioning Michael and Elise, and neither she nor Elise seemed to find it odd. With their odd behavior and the town’s liveliness in mind, Michael had become all but certain of the cause: Aira’s Fervor.
It was an ailment that had begun in one of the other countries and spread like wildfire. No one knew how to stop it or even how it spread, but the effects couldn’t be clearer; it greatly lowered a person’s inhibitions and magnified their desires by an even greater margin. Even the most righteous person would become a slave to their own pleasure, a hedonist for whom matters such as right and wrong paled in comparison to their lusts.
Many claimed it was Aira’s wrath, that society had become too repressed and she was simply returning it to its rightful state, but Michael didn’t believe that for a second. Though he wasn’t an extremely religious person, it just didn’t fit with what he knew of Aira. If left unchecked, this illness, or whatever it was, would cause the collapse of society as it was, and that just wasn’t how Aira worked.
And…unfortunately, it had come to his village. He had hoped that some sort of cure would be found before it reached their remote part of the world, but…it wasn’t to be. Still, even though no one had ever found a way to reverse its effects, Michael had one faint hope.
He retreated from his house, retracing his steps back into the Deepwood, ignoring his kill as he did. Years prior, Michael had discovered a shrine to the goddesses hidden deep within the treacherous woods he hunted in daily. Despite the area around it being completely overgrown and devoid of any sort of trail, the shrine and its surroundings remained perfectly maintained.
There was an air of peace and power about the place unlike anything Michael had ever felt before. And, unlike most people, Michael was intimately familiar with how magic felt. He may not have been able to use it, but the Deepwood was the most magically dense place known to humankind. Magic wove through the air, granting the Deepwood an almost dreamlike quality, but this feeling faded near the shrine, replaced with an air of deep peace and love. If the shrine wasn’t holy…then Michael didn’t know what was.
At particularly important times in his life, he would return to the shrine and pray, and its guidance had never steered him wrong. Fortunately, as he entered the clearing, the shrine remained as it ever was; a raised stone platform carved with intricate symbols, surrounded by a calm body of water. That comforting peace still filled the area, and for a moment, everything seemed just a bit more manageable.
He slowly ascended the steps, walked up to the altar at the center of the shrine, placed his spear to the side, and knelt down. “Oh, Goddess Aira, unworthy though I am, please lend me your guidance.” He began, doing his best to imitate the older language used in the scriptures. “My village has been beset by the affliction they call Aira’s Fervor, and I alone have been spared. If this is your will, I will accept it with open arms, but I cannot help but feel that it is not. If you are listening, please –”
Michael was cut off as a dazzling display lit up the shrine. One by one, small orbs placed in the corners began to light up with a warm glow, culminating in a bright flash that resolved into the forms of two women, standing before Michael and gazing down at him warmly. They were the two most beautiful women Michael had ever seen, dressed in flowing white robes that fluttered slightly as they moved, and he had to try hard not to stare as they spoke.
“Michael, we have heard your prayer.” The first, who had long, bright-red hair said. “I am the goddess Nia.”
“And I the goddess Aira.” The other, who had similarly long light-blue, almost silver hair added.
As the goddesses spoke, an undeniable feeling filled Michael’s core, assuring him that he was indeed speaking with divinity. It wasn’t like the “knowledge” that was sometimes implanted during a Deepwood hallucination, it was warm and comforting yet firm, engraved onto his soul itself.
“You are correct, Michael. This curse is not my doing, but the work of a far more malevolent power.” Aira said. “My sister and I have been locked in battle with this force for millennia, and this is yet another of its schemes. It knows that we care for the people of this world, and wants to attack us through them.”
Michael’s heart thumped in his chest. If this was true, then…what hope was there for humankind to resist? And, more importantly, why was he being told this?
Nia smiled warmly at him. “Fear not, Michael.” She said. “As terrible as the situation is, all hope is not lost. We are appointing a champion, imbued with our power, to fight against this curse in our stead, and we would like nothing more than for you to accept this position. Of course, we will not force you to do so; the path in front of you will be difficult, requiring significant sacrifice and hardship, as well as irreversible alteration to your body to both render you immune to the curse and more receptive to our power, but we believe you are capable.”
“We understand this is an enormous responsibility, and should you decline, we will find another to fill your place, but we will not force you to make a decision of this magnitude uninformed.” Aira added. “Ask whatever questions you have, and we will answer to the best of our ability.”
Michael gulped, working up his nerve to speak to the divinities in front of him. “If…if I may be so bold, what is this force working against you? I need to know what I’m up against if I want to be effective.”
Nia gave a deep sigh, giving Michael a weary smile and shaking her head. “I am afraid that this is a question we will not answer fully at this time. This is a complex topic, but, more importantly, ignorance can be power. The being we fight is not of this world, and simply knowing details of its existence can be enough to provide it with purchase that it can use to influence you.
“You will, inevitably, discover more about this being as you fight. History has gotten many things wrong, and at times has even been willfully manipulated. As you learn more and more of the truth about this world, so too will you glean bits of information about our enemy. When the time comes, we will explain further, but it is best to use the shield of ignorance as much as possible.”
Others might have rejected that idea out of hand, but Michael knew better. The world was an incredibly complicated place that people only convinced themselves that they understood. Some of the things that happened in the Deepwood defied all normal principles of the world, and he had long since learned that speaking of them to outsiders would only serve to make him seem crazy.
If there was a being that thrived on knowledge and, in all likelihood, fear, well…he’d just have to accept it. Others might scoff and call him naïve, but he was confident that he was one of the only ones who truly understood how little they knew. “I…understand.” He said. “In that case, what changes will be wrought upon me when I accept?”
The goddesses’ faces fell. “It is…unfortunate.” Aira said. “The vector for the curse is humanity. In order to make you immune, we must, in turn, transform away your human form. You will be reshaped in our image, becoming what the history books call a “monstrous maiden”. Personally, we prefer the term “monster girl”, it is more…friendly, but the point remains that you will become both inhuman and female. We will also be required to tweak your mind ever so slightly so that you are able to accept and properly use whatever new features you gain, but rest assured that in every important way you will remain yourself.”
“I know you wonder why we are doing it this way, but we do not have much of a choice.” Nia added. “Any other cure would leave openings for our enemy to exploit, and we need every advantage we can get, distasteful as they may be.”
Michael thought on that for a while, and either the goddesses were reading his mind or something must have shown in his expression, because Nia interrupted his contemplation. “You hesitate to ask something.” She said. “Please, speak your mind; we will not punish you or view you differently for anything you say, even if you curse our names. We deserve as much, for our failures to protect the people.”
Michael chose not to comment on that last part. It was likely a touchy subject, and he knew little of whether or not such things were warranted. Instead, he chose to ask about what he was thinking before. “If…if this is your only method of combating this curse, then what can I possibly do to help? I’m just…just a hunter. Forget being a mighty warrior or an archmage, I’ve only ever slain beasts and couldn’t cast even the most basic spell if I was given a tome. Surely others are more worthy than I…right?”
Aira knelt down in front of Michael, smiling softly and stroking his cheek gently. “You could not be further from the truth.” She said. “Though it might seem unbelievable, in all of history, none has ever been more worthy to be our champion than you. The Deepwood is a place of ancient, powerful magic the likes of which only our enemy wields.
“You have spent day after day within, adapting to its power and learning to combat its tricks. You have lived through something that no one else has ever lived through, and, as you may have guessed, finding our shrine here has played a not insignificant role in that. This place is no mere shrine; it is a conduit through which my sister and I suppress the Deepwood, and your time here has suffused you with some of that power, in much the same way your time within the Deepwood has suffused you with some of its power.
“Your body is bursting with potential unlike anything anyone has seen before. We are sure that, in time, you will become both a warrior and mage greater than any who has come before. That is why you are fit to be our champion.”
For the first time in the conversation, Michael met the eyes of the goddesses. “I…accept your proposal. What would you have me do?”
“We will grant you portions of our power.” Nia said. “With it, you will be able to rise to the task of fighting the foes that will inevitably be thrown your way, and, more importantly, cure them too. However, know that those in the thrall of the enemy will fight against you and monster girls in general fiercely, even people’s closest friends and family. You will have to use force, but don’t worry; after you subdue them, simply place a hand on their forehead and send out a spark of power, and they will be healed and become a monster girl.
“The type they will turn into will be that which they themselves would most prefer to be. And, for logistical reasons, know that you will likely have a few hours of grace during which monster girls will be safe after being defeated; our enemy prefers to enjoy their spoils before discarding them. But…I’m beginning to ramble. Let us begin.”
Nia stepped forward, and the shadows seemed to deepen, the world throwing itself into sharp focus as she spoke. “I bestow upon you the gift of might.” She said, her voice taking on an odd weight, despite it not actually sounding different. “With it, all types of magic will come as naturally to you as breathing. Simply pick up a tome, and you will know how to use it. In time, you will find that you no longer need tomes of spells you are familiar with; your body will suffice as a medium for casting.”
Aira stood back up. “And I bestow upon you the gift of life.” She said, that same intensity present in her voice. “With it, you will find yourself able to heal and reshape others. If they are not dead, then your magic can save them, no exceptions.”
Michael felt the touch of two alien beings upon his soul, the size and power of which dwarfed anything he had ever felt. Both Aira and Nia were speaking now, but Michael could only barely pay attention to their words as they changed him. “And, by our rights as goddesses of this world, we dub thee Maia. Go, our champion, and save this world.”
The moment they finished speaking, Michael felt his body shift, wings growing out of his back and his frame compacting and becoming more feminine, the visible muscle from years of hard labor melting away into smoothness, yet he felt his strength surge to a previously unimaginable height as he became what he instinctively knew to be an angel.
The spear he had discarded before his prayer shimmered, then shattered into shards of light that shot into his body. The surge of strength he had felt calmed, and then…it was over, and she felt little different from when she had started.
“M-Maia?” She questioned, still somewhat dazed. “But that’s…”
She trailed off, a foul presence behind her interrupting her thoughts. She turned to look and beheld what appeared to be a group of six zombies, but…different from the type she was used to. The naturally created ones, ones that came from those who had died within the Deepwood, felt like little more than beasts, bodies puppeted by rogue Mana.
These zombies, however, were purposeful. Their bodies showed all sorts of disfigurements that were rarely seen within the Deepwood, and, more importantly, Maia could feel that the energy within them was wrong. It was, in a word, evil.
“Our enemy has noticed us.” Aira said. “Yet, this may be to our benefit; you need to adjust to your new power, and though our time here dwindles, we can help guide you through this battle. Now, prepare yourself for your first battle as our champion!”