Chapter 61: Wake Up


    Agni awoke with a start as she gasped for air. She couldn’t remember why she was dreaming or what she was thinking of, but it was enough to set her on edge. This was a stark contrast to the silken sheets and soft bed she was nowying on.


    There was a soft fragrance lingering in the air that reminded her of the ce she now found herself — The Silken Petal. She could hear the sounds of ecstasy in the air as she sat up boltright, craning her neck to listen. From the sound of things a couple was going at it in a room not far from hers. Her body ached and she felt rather tired, but that didn’t mean she forgot about the sequence of events from earlier. Her mind unraveled itself, rewinding to an undisclosed time just hours before as she gazed out of the nearby window. She realized it was now evening in the city of Grenvale.


    Agni gazed down at her fallen foe, having imed his life with his own weapons. She could remember the sense of smouldering rage mixed with justification as she watched his body form into light spheres and alight towards the skies. Until that moment her breathing was measured and focused, but as soon as her foe was in she found herself feeling weary and weak. She could hear Sh’s voice in her head, finally. The truth was she’d been hearing the familiar’s voice all along — she simply blocked it out due to rage. But now she couldn’t tell what was being said, instead she felt sleepy thus everything went ck as she fell face forward after taking a few steps.


    And then she woke up in the Silken Petal somehow, with seemingly several hours having passed. She got to her feet to check her injuries only to find that she was stark naked, so she stood before a nearby fullbody mirror to check her body. She ran her hands against her neck and down along her breasts, giving them a small jiggle before moving them down to her waist. Everything was in order.


    *Oi. Are you listening now?* Sh said out of the blue.


    *Yes. Do you know what happened after I cked out?* Agni mind-asked.


    *Of course. You passed out, so one of us had to keep an eye out. By the way, next time if you’re going to battle some kidnappers –make sure they are all dead.* Sh added before exining that one of the weaker enemies was nearly knocked out.


    *If it wasn’t for that little runt Ren, you’d probably have ended up in God knows where.*


    *Really? Ren? The guy we swindled?*


    *Persuaded.* Sh corrected.


    *And yes. He picked you up and carried you to the Silken Petal.*


    *Hmm. Maybe I had him all wrong..* Agni said as she thought pensively.


    *Hell no! That little creep groped the fuck out of you while you were passed out.*


    *Ha, really?* Surprisingly Agni didn’t seem to mind too much.


    *You’re a weirdo. I’d be pissed if someone yed with my tits like that.* Sh asserted.


    *Hmm, I don’t know Sh.. You sound like a smol girl.. Do you even have tits?* Agni said, a smirk forming across her lips as she thought.


    Sh was awkwardly silent, thus Agni chuckled to herself before saying out loud, ” Ha. I’m sorry, it was a joke.”


    “What was a joke dear?” Agni turned to notice Z standing in her doorway, her kimono half open and looking quite alluring. Agni could taste the essence of lust upon her, it glittered across her forehead in the form of sweat. Though she looked well “exercised”, her hair was immacte, not a hair out of ce and her dark locks trailed down to the middle of her back. Agni still had yet to get over the allure of the mature mistress of the Silken Petal. Every time she saw her she just wanted to —


    She caught herself as she felt the lust energy building in her eyes. Surprisingly Z smiled, offering no resistance to the obvious thoughts Agni was now having.


    A chubby adventurer wobbled as he passed the door, stopping to nod at Z before he continued about his way bashfully upon having seen Agni.


    “If you stand around like that so often, you’ll end up taking all of my regrs.” Z said with a warm smile as she walked towards Agni. She stopped just centimeters away from the Subus and began to check her from her crown to her toes for injuries.


    “I didn’t expect you to have too many injuries. But for some reason you were passed out on the roadside. A patron of mine brought you here, saying that he would have felt bad if someone had robbed you. Do you mind telling me what happened? Also, where is your beautiful, busty Scribe friend?”


    Agni recounted the story of what happened during their battle with the snatchers.


    “Do things like that happen often in Sprim Row?” Agni asked. Now that she thought about it, no one bothered to voice aint or even look towards the grand battle in the street.


    “Yes dear. This ce is what you’d call awless zone. I think.. Most cities have them. There is no world where those who are impoverished don’t exist. We are the dregs, the outcasts, the criminals and the thieves of Grenvale. You can find just about anything in Sprim Row– except kindness.” Z said with a bittersweet smile as she sat down on the nearby bed, crossing her legs as she did so.


    Agni couldn’t help but be drawn to the sleek alluring sight of her milky skin and the contrast against her purple floral kimono.


    “Well, you and Katrin seem capable. And you say she defeated a Rank 2 Striker type adventurer all by herself? She’s much tougher than I gave her credit for. Even as a Rank 3 it would be difficult for me to take on more than two or three other adventurers at a time. My ss isn’t exactly built forbat.” Z winked as she spoke.


    “Yea. This is..the first time this has happened. What do I do?” Agni said as she prepared to exchange some Gols for advice. Z dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand and patted the bedside, requesting Agni to take a seat near her.


    “First Death isn’t reallyplicated. It’s a system imposed consequence for failure that renders you weakened. Worst case, you could die again and be a Normal, which many adventurers would consider a fate worse than death actually.


    Your friend will be affected for some period of time, I honestly forget how long. You see it changes with every rank gained. I can’t imagine it will be longer than a day for a rank 0. For me, I think the effectsts almost 2 months.”


    “Two months? That’s crazy!” Agni nearly shouted.


    “Mhm. But, that’s the price you have to pay for power in this world…I suppose.” Z seemed to have epted it as a way of life by this point.


    “Anyway, you’ll be able to reach her the moment she decides to step out of her spawn point. I’m guessing you two are still connected to the Wilderness Tabernacle, yes? That’s the nearest one from here.”


    Agni nodded, prompting Z to continue.


    “Well, in that case, she can eithere back to Grenvale of her own ord, which I wouldn’t’ rmend. Not only does the affliction seal your strength significantly, delevel you and weaken your body but it also blocks ess to all of your equipment.”


    “That’s a nightmare. What if you’re attacked by monsters?” Agni asked.


    “I think that’s the point dear. This world is not forgiving, and to be an adventurer you need to be resourceful. Good at a trade, strong, or have connections. Any of these things can help you to be better able to live in this world.


    My ultimate point is that, to survive you need both luck and strength. I believe First Death is a reminder of that for us adventurers. Besides, monsters aren’t the only thing you need to worry about during First Death…” Z said as she got to her feet. A small flower shaped charm bangle around her wrist began to glow faintly.


    “I like you Agni, so feel free to drop by anytime. Though I doubt after today you will want to visit Sprim Row all that much. Feel free to gather your strength and stay as long as you need.” Z said before answering the call of her own business.