Beating Seductive Magics With Borrowed Immunity

20260628

Prompt from “pridemonthprompts” 2025 list.

“Huh. This is surreal.” Lance muttered, sword held ready - despite knowing that, these demons being made of lust, they were no more capable of entering the barrier than their seductive magics were.
“What, the faces they’re making?”
Gawain chuckled as one demon responded by gesturing rudely, their sulky pout only deepening.
“No, more… being entirely unaffected by them.”
Gawain shot him a puzzled look. “Surely that should just be like walking through a crowd of people you’re not attracted to?”
“But, I know that I would be attracted to them if not for your barrier, and I sort of still am?” Lance fumbled to explain. “It’s as if my eyes are still attracted to them, while the rest of me is unmoved.”
Caelia nodded. Unlike Lance, she was now sufficiently at ease to be using her spear as a walking stick. “Yes, their forms remain attractive to me, yet I feel no attraction. The conflict is strange - though much appreciated!”
“Oh, I didn’t think either of you wanted me to stop casting.” Gawain assured her with a crooked grin. “And we should be through the cave soon.”
“So, about this projection spell…” Alys interjected. “Can you imbue a temporary resistance into it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You see, I managed to brew a tincture which renders one immune to fear, but, ah, it’s generally not useful…”
“How would that not be useful?” Lance asked, perplexed. “Surely many warriors would prefer to fight with their mind unclouded by-”
“That’s what I assumed, too.” Alys sighed. “However, when fear is removed, it takes much of your common sense with it.”
“Ah.” Lance chewed this over and winced. “You mean, those you gave it to simply, er, rushed up to a bear and…?”
“Oh no no, I was testing it on people with anxiety.” Alys said firmly, waving her hands. “Fear of social judgement, that sort of thing. Nobody died.”
The other three gave soft sighs of relief.
“But even then, the number of unfortunate regrets which were made out to be my fault…! I tried lower doses, weaker tinctures, all sorts, then finally gave up on the project. However, if your immunity to fear would be shallowly transmitted, as your immunity to attraction is… I think it could be viable! And, er, if the people around you still have a sense of ‘this would normally be frightening’, they should be able to prevent you from doing anything ill-advised.”
“Certainly worth trying.” Gawain said. “Though-”
“Somewhere safe, yes, yes. I shall brew a dose next time we’re at a safe haven.”
Caelia raised an eyebrow at how theatrically (and pointedly) three of the demons were indulging in lust, and wryly mused “They do seem to be taking this personally.”
“You’d be surprised how many do.” Gawain muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Well, I suppose it must be frustrating, having their entire arsenal defused so.” Lance said, sympathetic despite himself.
“Hm.” Caelia mused, mostly to herself, “When I think back on this later, I wonder if my memories will also be affected by the spell?”
“We really should hope so.” Lance nobly tried to keep his gaze on the floor. “A holy warrior’s mind is one of our weapons and must be kept clean, after all.”
“Yes.” Caelia said, her expression impassive. “We really should.”

Prompt was “Barriers”.