Excuse me?

“And her legs are sooo long...” the girl murmured, gazing down at Liz with contempt.

Sh-She’s terrifying. Liz was certain this girl was about to eat her alive.

But then the elven girl’s shoulders slumped, and she sighed, muttering something strange instead. “Why is everyone around Zenos so pretty?”

What? What is she talking about? Liz’s mind stirred as she desperately tried to make sense of the situation. And then it hit her. Oh! She’s sizing me up! This is an evaluation!

Of course! The girl was making sure that Liz was a suitable offering to the mastermind. That was why she hadn’t been taken downstairs immediately and instead placed on a bed by the door! It wasn’t as though she’d get special treatment just because she was a woman. Only those who passed the test were allowed near the mastermind. Maybe this girl doubled as an evaluator.

Now aware that she was being scrutinized, Liz thought, Well? Hurry and say what you think! There’s absolutely no way I’ll fail this test. Go on, evaluate me.

The young girl—Lily was her name—relaxed her posture, seemingly convinced of Liz’s charms. “Oh! Silly me, I can’t afford to stand here spacing out. This woman could be sick! I have to do something! I’m in charge while Zenos is away!” she mumbled to herself as she hurried toward the cupboard.

Liz peeked through half-lidded eyes and saw the girl take out what seemed to be a small, hand-sewn cloak, then hastily put it on.

Lily looked around nervously, slowly climbed onto a chair, and puffed out her chest, putting her hands on her hips.

“Heh heh! ’Tis I, Lily, apprentice shadow healer extraordinaire!” she exclaimed. “I shall cure any illness, any injury, with but a flick of the wrist!”

Uh, what? I’m not sure what’s happening, but it can’t be anything good... Liz continued to lay still on the bed, her eyes closed, sweat dripping down her forehead.

And then, unsure whether her mind was playing tricks on her or not, she could’ve sworn she’d heard a barely contained chuckle coming from the second floor.

***

What in the hells is happening?!

Uneasy, Liz opened her eyes only slightly. She’d been brought to the mastermind’s lair after pretending to have collapsed on the street, but she was still lying on the bed by the front door. She’d seen no guards, and the mastermind himself was also absent; the only person who’d come out to see her was a lone elven girl, presumably to evaluate her.

The girl had observed Liz’s form carefully, but without announcing the results of her evaluation, she’d gone somewhere, then returned wearing a small black cloak. “Now then, miss, tell me: what ails you? I, Lily, the great shadow healer apprentice, shall hear you out,” she said, making no sense whatsoever.

It was a question of some sort, but Liz wasn’t sure whether to answer. Wouldn’t it be far too suspicious for her to suddenly open her eyes? It could be a trick question. Liz decided to feign unconsciousness a while longer and see what would happen.

After a moment, the elven girl said in a disappointed tone, “Ah, no good, no good at all. I thought maybe speaking to her would wake her up, but no such luck, I see. Miss? Miiiss!”

Liz felt the girl pat her shoulders, but chose to keep her eyes closed a bit longer still.

“Still no good,” the girl lamented. “Well then, this calls for a...Diagnosis!”

It sounded as though the girl had chanted something, a spell Liz was unfamiliar with. But...there were no signs of anything being activated. Opening her eyes just a smidge, Liz saw the girl with her right hand held out, looming ominously.

The seconds ticked by painfully slowly, with Liz utterly confused as to what was happening.

After a long while, the girl’s shoulders slumped. “Aw, I was hoping it’d activate if I waited long enough, but I guess it’s not that simple to see through things with magic... Zenos is just really amazing...” A sigh of disappointment mixed with admiration escaped her. She grumbled, leaned closer to Liz, and muttered, “I guess I should be a proper apprentice and do what Zenos taught me.”

What did the mastermind teach her? Liz wondered nervously. What could it be, she wondered? Again she peered out from half-lidded eyes, and saw the girl’s beautiful face drawing closer and closer, their lips almost touching. Liz recoiled, shutting her eyes tightly. Um, wait a second! Hold up! I don’t swing that way! Wait! What in the hells is that man teaching this girl?!

“Okay, her breathing seems normal,” the elf girl said, suddenly placing a cold palm on Liz’s forehead.

Ack! Once again, she barely bit back a noise.

“No fever,” the elf said, gripping Liz’s wrist. She then continued to say things that made no sense. “Zenos said that if the breathing and pulse are okay, they’re not at immediate risk of death.”

Hey!

“And her pulse’s fine too. That’s good.”

Ah, so it’s this type of evaluation! I see! It made sense. The girl had assessed Liz’s appearance, and was now checking her bodily functions. This mastermind was so thorough! Quite the womanizer! Which only made him easier to control, of course. This is a problem, though...

Liz could use her succubus powers to ensnare a man without any problems, but they wouldn’t work on a woman. If a guard or two showed up, she’d at least have something to work with.

As Liz fretted, the elf crossed her arms and muttered to herself, “Hmm, but if she’s still not waking up, maybe she hit her head. Which means...” She placed her small palm over Liz’s eyes, prying them open, then chanted, “Glow!”

“Augh!” Liz blurted out as a bright light flooded her vision.

“Huh? Did that wake her up?”

“Zzz...”

“Wait, she’s still sleeping? Did I hear things?” the elven girl asked, staring intently at Liz. “I was just trying to check her pupils...”

What a piercing gaze! Liz had assumed that pretending to be unconscious would’ve made the mastermind’s lackeys lower their guard, but she was beginning to fear for her life.

Desperate, she continued her act, while screaming internally, What the hells is this evaluation?! Where are the meeeeen?!

***

In the middle of a house call, Zenos lifted his head. “Huh?”

“What’s the matter, doctor?” asked the elderly patient lying in bed.

“Oh, nothing, just... I thought I heard someone screaming.”

“Really? Maybe you’re just tired, doctor. I’m so sorry for making you come all the way out here.”

“Don’t worry about it, gramps. Your strength isn’t what it used to be, you know? I can’t have you walking all the way to the clinic.” The clinic. Was something going on over there?

Zenos gazed out the window at the setting sun and began to prepare for his return home.

***

No, seriously! Where are all the men?!

Liz was sweating bullets as she continued to lay still, eyes closed, on the clinic’s bed. She’d been thoroughly examined by an elf girl, who’d touched her here and there before suddenly prying her eyes open to shine a light in them.

What the hells is this place?!