EUREKA!
I understood, I finally understood why this crap was delivered into my hands, and I also understood everything that happened with Lysette! Damn it, I should have read the book before plunging straight into the potion, it had the entire explanation for this mess!
As I thought, Elves are an extremely private race in this world for a variety of reasons, but the main one stems from their social structure. I hadn't thought much about the aspects of Elves, to do that, I would need to force my memory and search Aubrey's database for an answer, which isn't easy considering this body sometimes acts on its own.
But the answers were right in front of me this whole time... Elves are gay!
I mean, almost. So, since they are a very exotic bunch, there is also the issue of fertility and longevity. They even have a good chance of fertility, except for the fact that it's the women who have an extremely sensitive heat.
Making a comparison with the animal world, maybe the clownfish is the best candidate to explain it. There, the female is larger and stronger, controlling the males and keeping them on a tightrope. Elven society is similar, meaning it's the female Elves who have the stronger sexual desire and consequently a violent mating phase, but then a problem arises.
Male Elves began to prefer fleeing their communities, as a way to stay with other same-sex Elves or with the other races on the continent, which is why they have been known for so long. To solve this crisis, as the flight of these men caused a huge drop in the birth rate, female Elves millennia ago developed arts and magic specifically for reproduction.
It was a good idea, I confess, but it had another rebound effect: the women ended up opting to stay with each other while the men remained free, so those who wanted to get pregnant asked female friends for help, and that sort of resulted in couples.
This must mean that... Aubrey has two mothers? That's a good guess. Checking the rest of my luggage and also the contents of the box, I find a kind of drawing, where three people are explicitly in the picture. It's a small portrait, with stylized lines different from human paintings, focusing on curves and black tones.
Forcing the memory, I realize that this is a classic style of Elven art, but what interests me most are the figures in the image, which are three women. Aubrey must be one of them, I judge it to be the one in the middle, who is seated and has the grumpiest face, while the other two would be... my mothers?
Wow, my brain just exploded with so many revelations.
"Who would have thought that a mediocre game like that would have such interesting secrets... it also explains why you have an interest in women."
It was completely unexpected, but it's good that I found out as soon as possible. The book is also an excellent guide, simultaneously addressing the concept of penile growth and other "interesting" spells and details regarding this Elven magic.
As I understand it, it is also very different from standard magic, where there is the configuration of magic circles or interaction with spirits, instead of using these two systems, it starts from a premise involving the person's body and their internal energies.
The words "hormones" and "pheromones" are not specifically used, but much of the content points to this. For example, in the section on the penis growth potion, it is mentioned that once ingested, the forces within the female Elf will begin to turn savage and radical, her desire will be increased to a frightening proportion, and she needs to be relieved as soon as possible so as not to suffer from pain or agony.
This seems more like some kind of hormone acting within the person's body that makes them want to have sex, like taking Tadalafil. Since I didn't include the Spiritual Tear root that time, the potion must have worked in a reduced manner, which is why I didn't pounce on Lysette.
This means... if the potion is completed properly, I'm going to turn into a beast in bed!
"Dangerous, more so than anything I used in the past to get a hard-on."
I look at the book and wonder whether or not I should test the spells in it. The first magic described starts out almost innocently... until the second line.
"To increase the partner's sexual energy, channel the internal flow to the lower core and allow the intensity to spread through the other body like heat."
Innocent, right? It's literally a spell to make someone horny.
Not only that, the method is quite strange. It suggests a series of sexual techniques involving masturbation that I didn't even know existed, but also explains that you need to be under the effect of the potion for it to work.
Disgusting? No, it's more like fascinating.
The more I read, the more obvious it becomes: the entire content of this book revolves around sex, dry and direct. It's a complete collection of... magic-assisted naughtiness.
For some reason, I just get more curious the more I read about it.
"'Increase the partner's sexual energy...'" I repeat in a low voice, rereading the sequence of movements and instructions.
It's too ridiculous to exist, but it makes sense within the Elven context. If women accumulate desire to an absurd level during heat, of course they would develop techniques to direct that and share it with a partner, thus being able to have more pleasurable sex for both parties.
I touch my fingertips to my temple.
"What a damn book..."
The magic requires proximity and touch, meaning I would need to practice with a partner.
I close the book hard... and then open it again, rereading the central instruction. Shit, why can't I stop wanting to try this thing?
My brain runs without permission, showing a series of thoughts too malicious even for me. It must be Aubrey's influence.
Would Lysette help me again?
I freeze. I can't believe this crazy person stooped so low.
Are you suggesting harassing a colleague just to satisfy your urge to fuck? No wonder you were classified as a villain, Aubrey, look how malicious you want to be just to put out the fire.
I slam the book shut for good, pressing down on the cover as if trying to crush the thought along with it.
"No. No. Focus, Aubrey. This is just research."
The feeling doesn't pass, remaining as an uncomfortable idea that pulses and wants to drag me down a dark path.
I pick up the potion scroll, rereading the section that mentions the full effect when prepared correctly, then shake my head, trying to dissipate the image of Lysette blushing as I corner her against a wall. It's useless.
"I just... needed to study."
I close everything and put it back in the box, but I know it won't help. Aubrey commands a part of this body with me, I am the sensibility and common sense, while this idiot is the desires and wants. Keeping distance is the responsible and safe thing to do, but I know she wants to test these obscene magics and go to the limit of what is possible.
No matter what I do, Aubrey already knows who she's going to practice with. My body starts moving without my command, and I become a mere spectator to the chaos that is about to happen.