Chapter 2: The Sacred Spring
Bertrand and Runa led John deeper into the forest, their bare feet crunching softly on the damp earth. The air was thick and fragrant, the smell of damp foliage and the earthy scent of the woods filling John's nostrils. The forest seemed to be alive, a living organism that breathed and whispered.
John followed them, his thoughts swirling with questions and confusion. He could hardly believe that the beautiful woman he met in the woods was a Fae from another realm.
She was dangerous, yet he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness at the thought of never seeing her again. Still, he knew that Bertrand and Runa were right. The Fae were dangerous creatures, and he couldn't risk being tainted by their magic.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker and the underbrush more dense. John found himself watching Runa as she walked ahead of him. She wore nothing under her leather armor. He could see much of her muscular form, even in the dim moonlight. She moved gracefully, her legs seeming to glide over the ground with an almost fluid motion. While Evelina had been pale and slight, Runa was tall and muscular, with raven-black hair and a face that was at once harsh and beautiful.
Bertrand also wore nothing under his leather armor. While he didn’t appeal to John in the same way as Runa, John had to admire Bertrand’s strength and poise. He carried an axe on his back, and there was a certain brutish charm to him that John couldn't deny.
“So how did you come to be here, John?” Bertrand asked, breaking a long silence.
His voice echoed through the woods, causing John to startle slightly.
"I don't know," John replied with a shrug. "I woke up in the middle of that clearing, with no idea how I got there or who I am. I must have had a life before I came here, but I remember nothing about it.”
Bertrand grunted in acknowledgement. "It happens sometimes. A Fae can steal your memories and leave you stranded in the forest. You're lucky Evelina didn't do any real harm to you.”
Runa added, “Fae are known to feed on human memories and emotions, leaving their victims in a state of confusion and despair. But, you were fortunate enough to escape her clutches.”
Runa's words sent a shiver down John’s spine. He couldn't imagine being trapped in the forest forever. His only chance now was to cleanse himself in the Sacred Spring, and hope that the lingering traces of the Fae's magic were removed from his body.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker and more ominous.
The moonlight struggled to penetrate the thick canopy above, casting shadows that danced and twisted on the ground below. Bertrand and Runa started to walk faster, their strides lengthened as if time itself was urging them onward.
John followed closely behind, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a strange sense of uneasiness creeping up on him, a feeling that something dangerous lurked around every corner.
"Are you okay?" Runa asked, checking on him. John nodded, trying to hide his fears.
"I'm fine," he replied.
She smiled at him, surprisingly warmly. “These woods can be unsettling,” she said, “but we will keep you safe.” She touched his arm, which sent a thrill of electricity through John’s body. He was fairly certain his cock twitched, and that Runa noticed.
They continued walking. “Will the Sacred Spring help me remember who I am?” John asked.
“Maybe,” Runa replied. “That is not our area of knowledge, though.”
“Who could I talk to to learn more?” he asked.
Bertrand's eyes shifted to John, his expression remaining stoic. "The Spring has its own powers, and we cannot predict what may happen. It could restore your lost memories, or it might bring forward new ones. It comes down to luck, of which you seem to have plenty," he said cryptically.
John remained silent, contemplating their words as they continued further into the forest. They did not speak for a while, communicating only through subtle gestures and signals.
After an hour of walking and climbing over fallen trees and pushing through dense underbrush, John spotted the Spring in the distance.
It was a large pool of shimmering water nestled in a small clearing surrounded by tall trees. A sense of peace descended upon John as he approached the Spring, the forests' constant whispering fading away as he gazed at the crystal-clear water.
It was as if the Spring itself beckoned him nearer, inviting him to step into the soothing embrace of the water.
John looked around. Bertrand and Runa had stopped at the edge of the clearing, and they stood quietly off to the side, giving him space. "Take your time," Bertrand said, his voice barely audible. "But remember, stay within the borders of the Spring."
John dipped a toe into the water.
It was as cold as ice, but as he waded deeper, soothing warmth enveloped him. He closed his eyes and let the water wash over him, feeling weightless and free. For the first time since he entered the forest, he felt at peace. He let out a deep, contented sigh.
As he stood in the water, hefocused on the buzzing feelings in his chest. The questions and confusion that had so consumed him since he woke up in the forest faded away. In their place, a curious sense of clarity emerged. He allowed himself to relax fully. While no memories were returning to him, he felt his fear slipping away.
When he opened his eyes, the water gave off a glow that lit everything around it. He wasn’t sure if it was something new, or if it had always been there and he just hadn’t noticed it. The water’s glow lit up the rocks surrounding the pool, as well as some rocks that rose from the water. He saw how his own skin had a lingering glow where the water touched him. He felt very alive.
The Spring's energy pulsed through his body, and with every pulse came a renewed sense of vitality. It was not just a physical cleanse he was experiencing but also something deeper - a recalibrating of his very self.
Feeling rejuvenated, John submerged himself completely in the Sacred Spring. The warmth enveloped him entirely, washing over his body and mind. Allowing himself to be carried by the currents, he welcomed the peace that washed over him like the soothing water.
Emerging moments later, he looked around him. Bertrand sat near the edge of the water. He looked up at the stars but reserved some of his attention for potential threats. Runa stood several feet away. She was in the process of stripping off her armor.
The motion was practiced and efficient. Each piece was placed meticulously on a pile nearby. Her body gleamed beneath the glow of the moonlight, lit up by the pool's waters. She slowly stepped into the water.
John couldn’t draw his eyes away from Runa’s figure, the water accentuating every lean muscle that rippled over her toned form. She looked more like a forest nymph than a soldier.
John’s cheeks flushed with warmth, but he also felt a sense of caution. His last encounter with a beautiful naked woman — only a few hours earlier — hadn’t gone the way he had hoped. He wasn’t sure to what extent he could trust Runa. Plus, Bertrand was sitting by the side of the spring pool with a clear view of them.
These seemed like obvious norms to John, but not to the people of this place.
Runa was slowly approaching John. Her eyes shone with light as she dipped her body down into the glowing water. The dirt and grime of her journey washed away. John could see her skin start to glow, much like his.
“This place is amazing,” he said to her as she reached the spot where he sat in the water.
“The Spring has healing properties,” she replied, “and it purges harmful magic from our bodies.”
John felt his cock twitching as he looked at Runa, the way her long black hair sat in a wet clump on her shoulder, how her dark eyes stared into his own with an intensity that he couldn’t read. Her voice was low and husky, drawing him in like nothing before.
He found himself leaning forward towards her, drawn by her closeness and her scent, that intoxicating earthy smell mingled with desire. He felt his control slipping away, and given his experience with Evelina, that frightened him.
“What’s happening?” he whispered as he felt his body drawn to hers.
His own body seemed to have a mind of its own as it moved closer to her, his mouth claiming hers in a deep, hungry kiss.
Runa responded to his advances, her fingers threading through his hair as she leaned into him. Their bodies molded together, her hard, toned muscles pressing against his own strong, muscled frame. He could feel her heart racing just as fast as his own, and it sent a thrill of excitement straight to his cock.
"Runa, I...I need you," he said with a hoarse voice, breaking the kiss.
Runa was already breathing heavily. “The pool also has a way of amplifying desire,” she said between gasps.
“You mean this is something we both want?” John asked. He continued, “No one is controlling us?” Runa let out a throaty laugh. “No, John. There’s no one controlling us.”
As she spoke, John glanced over at Bertrand. The big man was watching John and Runa with an amused smile on his chiseled face. It made John’s face burn with heat, but he couldn’t deny the thrill of knowing that they had an audience for their union.
He leaned forward to embrace Runa once again, and as they kissed, it wasn’t long before they felt each other's hands wondering elsewhere.
His fingers moved to her hips, and caressed her soft, wet skin, while she wrapped her arms around his sculpted shoulders.
Their kiss deepened with every second, a low moan slipping from John’s lips. The taste of salt and musk lingered on his tongue, a reminder of the woman he was now holding.
Runa’s slender hands stroked along John’s shoulders and back. He could feel her sharp nails grazing over his muscle tone, igniting sparks along every nerve ending.
Her fingers moved downwards, tracing the line of his spine, eliciting wicked sensations in their wake that made him shiver in her grasp.
"You're so beautiful," Runa whispered between their hungry kisses. "I could look at you for hours."
John's heart raced as he felt her fingers reach his ass, gripping it firmly as she pulled him tighter against her. Her body was warm and inviting, and he couldn't resist the urge to press himself even closer, feeling their nipples harden against each other. His cock was pressed firmly against her belly. Runa wiggled her hips to give it some friction.
“I could do a lot of things to you for hours, Runa,” John said as he grabbed her ass and kissed her again.
She withdrew one arm from around his neck and reached down between them.
John's breath caught in his throat when her fingers curled around his thickness. The moment they touched him, he felt a raw surge of heat flood through his entire body, igniting a primal fire.
"Gods, Runa," he muttered, his hands finding their way to her ass as he thrust into her touch.
John could feel his cock throbbing, aching to find his way inside of her. He leaned forward, wanting nothing more than to feel her heat around him. With a low growl, he captured her mouth once more in a fierce, possessive kiss.
She returned the kiss, their lips and tongues dancing in a desperate, urgent rhythm. John's hands roamed her body, caressing the curve of her back, and then he gripped her firm ass, pulling her even closer against him.
Runa rose to her feet, one hand still gripping John’s shaft. The water was about waist deep in that part of the pool. She led John to a rock with a smooth, flat surface that rose about a foot out of the water.
“Sit,” she said, motioning for him to sit on the rock.
John hoisted himself up. His feet hung in the water while the rest of him was exposed to the cool night air.
Runa remained standing in the water. With one hand still wrapped around John’s cock, she pulled his head down so she could kiss him again. Then she pushed him back so his cock was more exposed. She began to stroke it with both hands, her eyes never leaving his.
She licked her lips, and John knew what was coming next. She smiled wickedly as she lowered her head over his cock. She opened her mouth and took its full length.
John felt her tongue swirl around him. Every inch of his cock felt like it was on fire from the intensity of her ministrations. Her fingers gripped the base as she explored him with her mouth, teasing with quick flicks and slow strokes.
John could hardly contain himself. He reached down to thread his fingers through her hair, pulling it gently back so he could watch her take him in. His other hand clutched onto the rock beneath him, trying not to lose control as he watched her perfect lips wrapped around him.
With every movement of her mouth, he could feel himself getting closer to the edge, and it took all of his strength to hold back.
Runa's head moved faster, her hair tickling his thighs as she sunk him deeper into her mouth. Her fingers moved in sync with her mouth, creating a perfect rhythm that threatened to drive John wild. He couldn't help but cry out as waves of pleasure pulsed through him, each one stronger than the one before.
John couldn't hold on for much longer.
His muscles tensed as he felt his climax building. He wanted to warn Runa, to give her a chance to pull back, but he was beyond words, beyond thought. With a growl, he pushed himself deeper into her mouth and exploded in a burst of pleasure. He heard Runa cough and gag, but she didn't pull away, didn't break eye contact with him as she swallowed every drop.
When it was over, John was left panting, his head thrown back in relief. His hand released her hair, falling to his side with a slap against the wet rock surface.
Runa slowly pulled back, releasing him from the confines of her mouth. She wiped the side of her mouth with the back of her hand, a look of satisfaction in her eyes.
"Gods, woman," John muttered, still trying to catch his breath. "You're incredible."
Runa offered him a coy smile. She let go of his cock and held up her fingers, covered in the evidence of his pleasure.
"Delicious," she said, licking them clean.
John could hardly believe what he was seeing. Even if he never got his memories back, he hoped he could keep the memories of this night forever.
He sank back into the water and pulled Runa into another kiss. Her finger trailed along his softening member, and he felt it twitch again.
“How is that possible?” he asked in amazement.
Runa merely chuckled, the sound low and throaty. “There's no denying this ancient water is magical,” she said with a grin, “but you still need a few moments before you are ready to go again. Would you mind if Bertrand joined us?” She asked this so matter-of-factly, as if it were something she asked about every day.
John could only stare dumbfounded. “Are you…do you two…” he stumbled for words.
Runa touched his face and smiled. “Bertrand and I spend much time out in the forest together,” she said, “so of course we know each other well.” Seeing John’s continued confusion, she continued, “Come with me. I’ll show you what I have in mind.”
John followed her to the edge of the pool, near where Bertrand was laying on a thin mat from his pack. Runa rising out of the water in the moonlight was the most beautiful sight John could remember ever seeing.
She helped Bertrand to his feet and started removing his armor. Bertrand helped her slide the larger pieces off his thick chest. Soon, all three of them stood naked in the moonlight.
Bertrand took Runa in his arms and kissed her. John watched this with more interest than he had expected. Runa was tall and muscular, but she still looked slender with Bertrand’s enormous arms around her.
Runs ran her hands along his arms, then across his chest. John noted the powerful muscles there — not sculpted, but solid. Her hands slid down his belly and wrapped around the thick column that lay against his thigh. John let out a quiet groan of surprise at Bertrand’s gift, and he could see Runa's eyes flash with satisfaction.
She dropped to her knees in front of Bertrand and tried to get her mouth around his shaft.
But as big as John’s was, Bertrand’s was monstrously huge. She managed to wrap her lips around the head and used both hands to stroke him. Bertrand’s body shook, and he let out a guttural groan.
John watched with a sense of awe and wonder. Runa worked his shaft as if it were her mission in life.
Her fingers traced the vein on the underside, and she looked up to make eye contact with Bertrand. He was looking down at her with so much lust that John felt it from across the clearing.
Runa detached her mouth from Bertrand’s cock and turned around, presenting herself to him. He dropped to his knees, grabbed her hips, and slowly began to enter her.
Runa let out a slow, satisfied moan, pushing her hips back into him as he slid deeper and deeper. Bertrand filled her completely. His balls pressed against the soft skin of her thighs with every thrust, their bodies moving together in a primal dance.
John walked around to stand in front of Runa's face, watching as Bertrand pumped in and out of her. The sight was beyond his wildest dreams. He could feel his cock hardening again just at the thought of being inside such a wet, tight and gorgeous woman.
And he could tell she felt the same as her eyes roamed his body in an urgent, hungry way.
She grabbed John by his member and pulled him down into a kneeling position. He leaned back as she leaned forward and took him in her mouth again.
Runa groaned and grunted as cocks entered her on both ends. Bertrand thrust wildly into her pussy while she bobbed her head on John’s cock.
Runa’s body rocked and trembled between them, feeling every inch of Bertrand’s immense girth as he took her, the exquisite sensation of John’s swollen head against her tongue in her mouth.
“Fuck,” Runa whispered around John’s cock as her breathing picked up, her body tensing.
John looked down at the raven-haired warrior, groaning as he felt her hot, slippery tongue swirl around him.
Bertrand was holding on to her hips, slamming into her at a punishing pace.
She took every inch of him with a wild, unrelenting hunger.
John looked down at the sinful act and groaned, pre-cum beading up on his swollen head. Runa moaned and hummed around his cock, taking him deeper as she swallowed.
John's hands roamed her body - her strong back, her toned shoulders, and her full breasts, each speckled with goosebumps in the cool night air. He could feel her tensing, her eyes squeezed shut as her ragged breathing told him she was close.
She began to moan as she bobbed her head on his cock. Soon, she had to release him from her mouth to focus on her climax.
She held him tightly and bucked against Bertrand, her entire body shaking with pleasure.
A quiet, guttural moan escaped her lips, followed by a choked, silent scream. Her head dropped back as she came, her eyes rolling back into her head. Bertrand grunted, satisfied with a job well done. But he and John still had more to give her.
Still gasping from her orgasm, Runa guided John down onto his back. She straddled him and lowered herself onto his shaft. John was about to start thrusting up into her when she motioned for him to stop.
“Not yet,” she whispered, motioning to Bertrand.
The large man knelt behind her. Slowly, he slid his thick cock into her tight ass. Runa moaned, her head dropping down onto John's shoulder as she began to rock her hips back and forth, taking both of them into her at the same time. John could feel Bertrand’s cock pressed up against his own through the delicate barrier between them, intensifying the sensation for all three of them.
Their lovemaking turned into an animalistic, primal dance. Bertrand and John thrust in and out of her at a measured pace - slow enough to leave Runa begging for more but fast enough to push them to the brink of ecstasy. They found patterns and rhythms that brought them all pleasure.
Their bodies glistened with sweat as they moved against one another.
The tension rose like wildfire between the three of them. With every thrust, pleasure rippled, magnified ten-fold.
John's hands explored every inch of Runa, feeling the tightness of her body and the force of Bertrand's body behind her. Her inner walls clenched tighter, squeezing him in a snug embrace.
She welcomed another orgasm, her face contorting in ecstasy and her mouth falling open in a silent scream. Neither John nor Bertrand let up, but soon they both felt their climaxes approaching.
Their hands gripped onto Runa, her back and hips, as they plunged deeper and faster into her willing body.
“Do you want our cum?” Bertrand growled.
Runa looked back at him with a knowing smile. “Yes,” she said, “let’s show our new friend what you can do.”
Bertrand pulled out of Runa’s ass and stood up. Runa rolled off of John’s cock and kneeled in front of Bertrand. She wrapped both hands around Bertrand’s thick length and began stroking it.
“Watch this,” she said to John. She could see her taut arm muscles flex as she stroked his cock with abandon. Soon, his breaths quickened. She kept stroking and lowered her face directly in front of his engorged shaft. She looked up at Bertrand and nodded eagerly, then looked at John and winked.
Bertrand made a low growling noise, and she knew it was time.
“Cum for m—” was all she had time to say before Bertrand unleashed a thick stream of white-hot cum onto her face, and chest. It landed like a wet slap, covering her olive skin in its warmth. The soldier reached down between them to fondle her slick breasts, and she moaned in anticipation.
The next jet of cum landed on Runa’s bottom lip. She opened her mouth in surprise, but it wasn’t long until the next few ropes followed.
Every spurt of hot semen hit her face and lips, covering her in the soldier’s load. When he was finally done, Bertrand took a step back and let out a long sigh.
Runa looked utterly debauched, her face and chest covered in Bertrand's thick cum. She slowly trailed a finger through the sticky substance on her cheek, bringing it to her lips to taste him. Her eyes rolled back briefly, relishing his flavor.
She opened her mouth and let out an approving hum.
“Delicious,” she whispered.
Bertrand grinned and looked over to John. John, still on his back after their lovemaking, was watching the scene with hunger in his eyes.
“You want some as well?” Runa asked, a teasing note in her voice.
John was still rock-hard, and the sight of Runa covered in semen was making him harder. He stood up and let her take him in her mouth once more. Her hand stroked him as she sucked on his length.
He felt the pressure building. She didn’t let up. She knew he was close. She looked up at him as semen dropped from her eyelashes. After several more strokes from her hand, he couldn’t hold on any longer.
With a strangled curse, John’s entire body shuddered and pulsed as ropes of thick cum erupted from his tip, filling Runa’s mouth. She moaned as she let it fill her mouth. Once he had finished coming, she let it all dribble down her chin and onto her chest.
She leaned back against the rock and rubbed both men’s semen into her chest.
John couldn’t take his eyes off this show of sexuality.
“You did well, newcomer,” Runa said with a smile.
John’s eyes and mind were reeling at Runa’s ability to go from such intimate moments to speaking so casually. This show of nonchalance wasn’t what he expected; it was refreshing, though, and he joined in.
“Well, I have to admit I wasn’t expecting that,” he said jokingly.
Bertrand let out a deep chuckle.
“I think the Sacred Spring has been very kind to you, John. I have never seen a man's sexual appetite amplified so much.”
Runa stood up and walked over to the edge of the pool, beckoning John to join her. Her body glistened and shimmered in the moonlight, and John couldn't help but follow her.
She lowered herself back into the water. John and Bertrand both followed her.
“Is this just going to make us go again?” John asked.
Runa laughed and shook her head. “No, John,” she said, “it’s true that the waters of the sacred pool amplify your desires, but they also understand your needs. And what we all need now is rest.”
They climbed out of the water. Runa showed how their sleep pack could be big enough for all three of them. They slept for several hours, with Runa nestled between John and Bertrand. John settled into a satisfying sleep.
When John awoke, the sun was up, but it was still below the trees. Runa and Bertrand had put their armor back on, and appeared to be practicing some combat moves with the axe and spear.
John crawled out of the sleeping pack. Being naked was starting to seem normal to him.
“Good morning!” Bertrand greeted him. Help yourself to some breakfast!
By “breakfast,” Bertrand meant some dried, cured meat and hard bread. John wasn’t picky about food, but he also noticed that he wasn’t as hungry as he ought to be. He asked about drinking water, and Runa told him to drink from the Sacred Pool.
John walked over to it and took a sip from the clear, sparkling water. It tasted cool and crisp, and he couldn’t help but swim a few laps to cleanse himself further. As he returned to the two warriors, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something magical was happening to him in this secluded area.
After they finished eating, John asked about the mysterious sacred spring and the purpose of the Sacred Circle. Runa explained that the Sacred Circle was a group of powerful warriors tasked with maintaining the boundaries between realms and keeping the darkness at bay.
She told him that he stumbled upon what is known as the Fae Crossing, a dangerous and mysterious area between the human realm and the enchanted realm of the fae.
John listened intently, asking questions about his role in this newfound world. Bertrand explained that until John regained his memories, there was no way of knowing if he belonged to a realm, but the fact that he happened to stumble upon the Fae Crossing was nothing short of miraculous.
Runa nodded in agreement, adding that the Fae were known for their mischief and had likely cast a spell on him, causing him to lose his memories.
John couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine at the mention of the Fae's mischief. Evelina was already beginning to seem like a distant memory, but John reminded himself that it had only happened yesterday.
“These woods seem dangerous,” John said.
Runa was quick to reassure him, “Fear not. You are now far from the edges of where the fae usually venture. Plus, the Sacred Pool will grant you protection from many forms of evil and mischief — although that protection will only last a limited time.” John nodded, taking in everything they were saying. He felt a strange mix of excitement and trepidation as he contemplated his new reality. He wondered how it compared to Gus earlier life.
“Is everyone as…friendly as you?” John asked.
Runa laughed, but shook her head. “If only the world were like that,” she said, “but not everyone is as…open as we are. You must be cautious, for there are those who would try to cheat you in various ways. No magic in the world can protect you from a mere liar.” Bertrand added, “And a dishonest person could be anywhere.”
John nodded, silently contemplating the truth in their words. After a moment he asked, “Now what is to become of me?”
Bertrand answered first, saying “We must return to our fort to report to the Sacred Circle. You may come with us, but the answers you seek will not be there. You should seek guidance from a wise woman who lives below the Mountains of Grief. She may be able to tell you what you must do. We can guide you to where the road splits. From there, you only need to follow the road for about three days. Her home will be apparent to you once you reach it, as there is no missing her dwelling. I promise you, it will be unlike anything you have ever seen before."
John nodded, taking in the new information. He knew that meant another adventure and perhaps the further amplification of the desires he had experienced in the Sacred Pool. His body thrummed with possibility and longing.
Bertrand and Runa began to pack up their things. John helped with what he could, impressed by the efficiency of their movements.
As they prepared to leave, John spoke up again. “What is this woman’s name?” he asked.
"The wise woman is named Melusina," Runa replied. "She has lived in her home for countless years and has wealth of knowledge about the world. You will know where you have arrived once you see her tall tower, gleaming like crystal in the sun."
John nodded. He couldn't imagine what the tower might look like, but he held on to the mental image as they walked through the forest. The sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the path before them. They walked in silence for several hours, reaching the fork in the road after mid-day.
Bertrand gave his pack to John. He put in a spare sleeping pack, several days’ worth of food, and a dozen gold coins.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” John said.
“This is what we do,” Bertrand replied.
“I’d say you’ve done quite a bit to thank me,” Runa said, looking John up and down with a hint of lust. John was tempted to stay with them, but it sounded like this Melusina woman might be able to help him.
“Will I ever see you again?” John asked, directing the question to both of them.
“Perhaps,” Runa said with sadness in her eyes. “Should your quest take you down this road,” she said as she pointed to the left fork, “you may find us again.” She gave him a gentle, lingering kiss on the lips. Bertrand gave him a tight hug.
“Be safe on your journey,” Bertrand said, “Trust no one, especially if they want money from you. Most people are good, but be careful until you learn how to spot the bad ones.”
John nodded. “Thank you both for everything,” he said. They parted ways. Bertrand and Runa took the left road, and John started down the right path.