《Natasha the Halve》 1 - Reborn? Transported? Created! My room was filled with the noise of a keyboard being abused. There I was, playing an online video game with my friends late at night, when a voice reached my ears. ¡°Heal me, heal me, heal me!¡± a cry not uncommon to us. In the screen in front of me, the form of a warrior was bathed in glowing blue light. ¡°Gotcha¡­ no need to scream,¡± came the response from our healer. The game we were playing was a classic isometric MMORPG released back in 2016, Redeemer¡¯s Bush. As a free game it was surprisingly among the better ones of the decade, though not exactly at the top. However, as a bonafide MMORPG, it required dedication and commitment to experience the full game in a satisfactory manner. That is, it took time to ¡°git gud¡±, and everyone had loads of free time due to the global pandemics that ruined the decade. ¡°We¡¯re about to end, start praying!¡± I said to the mic. We all went silent in order to do our own rituals to increase our luck. The mode we were playing was a staged game mode that pushed players to survive and kill monsters quickly before a timer ran out. The difficulty increased along with the amount of players and the stages cleared. Every stage had waves of monsters you had to defeat in order for the boss to show up. Once defeated, the next stage would be available. Pretty simple. This time, just like any previous, the boss showed up and we ground pounded it to oblivion in less than a minute. The corpse of a being out of my worst nightmares disappeared, replaced by a portal to end the stage. Our expectations rose. It was at the very end of the 10 stages when players were rewarded for their efforts. We were all aiming for different items that had the same chance of dropping. As the loading screen shifted to the map we were at previously, a pop-up mini screen showed up in my monitor. [You¡¯ve acquired a new item!] [Mythical Weapon (2-H Spear)] [Alma Pike] (Attack 9675 ¨C 14281) (10 Sockets) -STR + 250 -Crit Rate + 750 -All Skill Levels + 1 -Damage to Large/Boss Monsters + 40% -Critical Hits apply a Debuff for 5 seconds -Damage to Debuffed Enemies + 25% -Damage taken from Debuffed Enemies ¨C 30% ...+ ¡°Wooo! Yeah baby! That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been waiting for!¡± I screamed to the top of my lungs. I stretched my arms and legs in joy, pushing me back too fast, making me fall backwards. My keyboard flew away along with my mouse as a barrage of rage-fueled screeches reached my ears. As the back of my head hit the ground, I started laughing and giggling away. ¡°Did this bitch fall off her chair? Lmaooo!¡± someone said. ¡°Fucking classic...¡± another said. I stood up while laughing and feeling a wave of satisfaction I hadn¡¯t felt in a while. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m off to the enchant gacha, everybody. Have fun and GG.¡± I said as I sat on my chair again. ¡°Good for you Nash. Have a good one.¡± a familiar voice said. ¡°You too, Lilly. Talk to you later.¡± I said and disconnected from the group call. I sighed as I laid back and stared at my large monitor. I opened the game¡¯s inventory and used an item to teleport back to town. While the game loaded, I turned to a side monitor and unpaused a stream I was watching. A cute rabbit v-tuber was playing ¡°CraftingMines¡± and committing war crimes once again. I saw a few comments saying [Geneva Suggestions kusa]. I chuckled and typed a few emotes on her live-chat and focused back on the game. The town opened up and I went up to the blacksmith dude and interacted with the little UI that popped up, transferred bonus stats from my previous weapon to the new one, filled the gem sockets with max-level stones, ascended the thing to ten, enhanced it to plus one hundred and closed the UI. I clicked on a scroll in my inventory and began the tortuous process of gacha enchantment. A small window popped up and flashed as the enchantment took place. [+ 1.5% Block Ignore] ¡°¡­ Next!¡± I clicked the ¡®enchant again¡¯ prompt in the little window. [+ 11% Threat Reduction] ¡°¡­ You know you want to give it to me, you little shit!¡± [+ 230 Magic Attack] ¡°Useless!¡± [+ 45% Threat Generation] ¡°...¡± [+ 120% Dmg Against Full Plate] ¡°Who uses that?!¡± [+ 400 Magic Resist] ¡°Give me attack statistics at the very least...¡± [+ 10.2% Physical Damage] ¡°Too low!¡± After what felt like an eternity and around 200 enchant scrolls later, I was finally starting to see an improvement in the quality of the rolls, until something happened that I could not ignore. [+ 45% Physical Damage] ¡°What? It can go that high?!¡± I stared at the screen and re-read the line many times to confirm my eyes were not playing games on me. I quickly went to my second monitor and searched the values of potential enchantments on the official wiki. Confirming it was neither a bug nor an exploit, I returned to the game and prepared myself to brag about my godly roll to my clanmates. Suddenly, my sight went blurry and my hearing became muddy. My body began to tingle all over with that same crippling sensation you get when sitting on the toilet for too long and your legs become numb. ¡°Oof! What the fuuu...¡± And I lost consciousness while mumbling curses to nobody in particular.
In a world far, far away ¨C so far that humanity on earth would never come to know about it, the laws of the universe worked in a very different way from those belonging to the milky way. A force that could be called fantastic or even miraculous was a part of the inhabitants¡¯ everyday life, allowing feats that would defy nature in our eyes. From replacing fuel and allowing combustion in almost every environment, to allowing land-locked species to breathe underwater or fly above unreachable clouds. Some would call it magic, some would call it miracles, some would call it divine powers, mystic arts, etc. No matter the name, it was undeniably there in the grasp of those willing to learn its wonders. Such a force of nature was ever present in this world. In the trees, the soil, the bees, the water¡­ everywhere. Its people were as varied as were the uses for such a force. The beings who were shaped by evolution were also influenced by this force since time immemorial. While the action of using such a force received many names throughout the ages as well as the force itself, in current times it was widely known by one name. E¡¯er. In such a world, in a forest drenched with E¡¯er, a figure slowly manifested itself. At first, barely visible lines formed a vaguely human shape. The event began with a few atoms coming together and forming cells, then the cells formed tissue, specialized tissue formed organs, and, in turn, these formed systems. A creature that looked like a human was being created in the noisy symphony of the forest. Birds chirped, trees and foliage swayed on the wind, millions of insects went about their day, water flowed noisily through streams both far and near, animals of all sizes leisurely moved around, slept, ate, etc. Life was following its natural course in this forest, ignorant of the miracle that was occurring in its midst. The creation of life. As the process was coming to an end, the body slowly shifted positions from a vertical ¨C almost standing ¨C position, to laying on its back. When it touched ground, a pulse of concentrated E¡¯er converged on the creature. It soon gained a rhythm. Do-don-n. Do-don-n. Do-don-n. Do-don-n. Do-don-n. Do-don-n. Then, slowly, air began flowing on its own into the lungs. Suu-haa. Suu-haa. Suu-haa. Suu-haa. Suu-haa. Suu-haa. Suu-haa. Finally, a jolt ran from the top of the body¡¯s head to its feet. Their eyes shot open.
A loud gasp escaped my lips as I came to. It felt as if I hadn¡¯t breathed in a million years. I greedily gulped air as I reached for my throat. As my vision cleared from a world of white, and my senses caught up with me waking up, I froze in place. Green. All I saw was green. I blinked a few times, and, soon enough my vision gained detail. As I kept on breathing, my nose picked up scents. I sat up as fast as I could and looked around with wide eyes. My hands dug into the soil I was sitting on. It was warm and pleasant to the touch, even as I felt greenery and a few pebbles that should cause discomfort, it felt good. I opened my mouth and gently bit the air. The sound of my teeth was loud and crisp, instantly removing the possibility of this being a dream. The rich smell of dirt, weeds, trees, water, and something clean was all too real. I could hear the wind blowing, the trees doing that tree thing when the leaves sway, a myriad of birds and flowing water. I quickly noticed a few things. I could breathe with surprising ease. As if years of chronic smoking had vanished into the void. My lungs reached full capacity without any discomfort. That elicited a small hum of satisfaction. My eyes could see clearly, too clearly. Never had I seen the world with such pristine definition. It was almost as if the world ran at 8k 144fps. I instinctively knew I could see better than before, and not just in details. There was a change in how fast I could see images. It truly felt as if I could see way more ¡®frames¡¯ per second than before. It was incredibly hard to grasp, but the simplest explanation would be that silly comparison. As I looked around, a strange sensation began to blossom in my heart. Not in a figure of speech, it felt as if something physical was taking form within me. As if pure instinct, I tried concentrating on this odd feeling. It was like taking over the automatic breathing mechanism within my consciousness. These comparisons need to stop. The sensation of a bubble gently popping inside my mind overcame my senses. A flood of information assaulted me, but somehow, it was properly processed without causing major confusion. I somehow understood I had become a better version of a human. Faster, stronger, more adaptable, more durable. What came after was like a splash of cold water in a sunny day. I somehow knew how to use a spear. Not in a sense that could be concretely seen with a skill. Just like you knew you could do a backflip, I knew I could perform various feats. As understanding dawned on me, it all pointed in a direction that both excited me and frightened me. With this knowledge came the realization I could ¡®summon¡¯ objects out of something similar in concept to an inventory. This was exciting because it screamed fantasy-RPG, and frightening because it was identical to a fault to my character in the game I was playing when I lost consciousness. I looked at my hands and balled them into fists. I felt unbelievably strong. Then I noticed something that made me choke and almost faint. My chest was more or less the same, if not a size bigger. The problem was between my legs. ¡°Why do I have a massive dick?!¡± my loud voice echoed in the forest. I immediately facepalmed. Those were my first words after arriving in a fantasy world. "¡­¡­" It wasn¡¯t just a penis between my legs. I could also feel my female sexual organ. ¡°I¡¯m a futa?!¡± I facepalmed again. The damage was already done. No point in despairing. While I liked both genders, I leaned more towards men. ¡°But to like dick so much that I get one for myself...¡± I groaned. ¡°What kind of man would have sex with a woman who has a bigger penis.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Not including deviants.¡± Truth was, it didn¡¯t feel out of place at all. Almost as if I was born with it and had it all my life. The organ was, in my opinion, quite well endowed. Even in its flaccid state, it was at least 18cm long. ¡°Anyway. Let¡¯s change the subject.¡± I said to no one in particular. I stood up with little trouble and inspected my body to check if anything else was different. My toes dug into the warm soil with a satisfying feeling. I tensed up my legs and noticed they were sculpted as if belonging to a sports maniac. My skin was lighter than before, which I lamented. I quite liked the tan I had going. My muscles were rock solid and I happily welcomed the abs I was sporting. I always liked abs. Who doesn¡¯t? I¡¯ll fight whoever says they don¡¯t. I didn¡¯t have a belly button but shrugged it off. My body was uncannily hairless, which made me shoot my hands up to my head, where a healthy amount of hair flowed down to my knees. I sighed in relief. Grabbing a good amount, I brought it forward to inspect it. The familiar color of gold made me release a sigh. I furrowed my brows and looked up trying to see if they matched. Gold again. Nice. I posed in victory. Genes mostly unchanged. My arms were noticeably more muscular than before, though not in an extreme fashion, more ripped than swole. My back felt right, no longer hurting when stretching or exerting force. I posed like a bodybuilder and tightened all the muscles I could strain. Nothing felt out of order. It actually felt good. There was none of that stinging after flexing muscles to their limit. ¡°Good bye bad posture.¡± I muttered while posing for good measure. Once the self was taken care of, I turned my attention to my surroundings. There was a lot of greenery which obstructed view and didn¡¯t let me see more than 20 meters in any direction. Trees around me grew close to one another, but sparse enough to allow the rays of the sun ruling the sky to penetrate the canopy. Unfortunately not enough to actually see the king himself. Temperature-wise it was around 20oC if not above that. With the amount of sounds that were present, it was safe to assume no predator was around. Returning to that odd feeling that was what I could best explain as an inventory, I extended a figurative hand and tried to grab something. Surely enough, I could ''sense'' the cold and smooth surface of metal. I tried ¡®pulling¡¯. A set of brownish leather clothes materialized at my feet. Something that resembled socks, pants, a vest, and gloves. After that, the loud thunk of heavy metal armor resounded as whitish silver pieces of armor fell on top of the leather. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Figures I have to dress myself instead of it just auto equipping.¡± I did my hair in a single braid, then crouched and started the process of wearing clothes. I noticed pretty quickly that leather chafed my more sensitive parts, so I looked for the 2017 summer event underwear/swimsuit I got in a gacha box to protect them. To my surprise and relief, my new partner down there seemed to shrink to nothing when I wore the thong that was the lower piece of clothing. As for the increase in bust size, the bra was a perfect fit, so all was good under heaven. The leather pieces fit like a glove and were as comfortable as second skin sportswear. They even had the feeling of elastic cotton on my skin. I would have stopped there if not for the fact that I felt too exposed, as if not having armor made me queasy. Then came the hurdle of figuring out how the clasps and belts worked for the armor. After a long few minutes of mental gymnastics I managed to figure out the order of things. The metal pants went first, then the boots, then the shin guards, then the knee coverings, then the breastplate, then the gloves, the arm guards, the elbow guards and finally the shoulder plates. I spent more than an hour wearing the armor on. Too time consuming. The end result, however, was way more comfortable than I initially expected. It clearly weighed more than it should, and it made me think it would be too cumbersome to move around with, but things turn out different. I tried stretching and the armor pieces didn¡¯t interfere at all, plus they felt unreasonably light. I moved around and it was as natural as being naked, but with the ease of mind that heavy metal armor brought with it. The armor was silvery white and all the pieces connected to each other, not a single piece of leather to be seen. It looked like an exoskeleton rather than heavy plate armor. The chest area sported a golden sun. Straight lines of the same color imitating rays of sunlight stretched outwards. ¡°As expected of a fantasy world.¡± I said to no one in particular, once again. As I posed in various ways, a thought came to mind. ¡°My weapon¡­¡± I performed the insightful exercise of reaching for the unfathomable inventory and soon enough found the pike I got in my last hours of life back on earth. It materialized in my hands with a weird effect much like a reverse of when the big bad titan snapped people into dust. As it settled, I felt a rush through me. My muscles surged, tightened, and then relaxed. A jolt went down my spine and my legs quivered with energy. It lasted less than an instant. ¡°Is this how steroids feel like?¡± I asked the air. It was a thick, light blue pole with a pointy bottom. The head proper was a bladed tip around 80cm long, twenty centimeters at the widest, making it a mean weapon to stab and swipe with. The material of the blade was bright orange, heavily contrasting with the body. A gritty surface ran along the pole for better grip. At 3m long, it was a pretty good pike. What do I do now? I thought as I looked around me. Is it the classic ¡®water, shelter, food¡¯? Or should I follow flowing water and see if I can find sentient life? Will a small life form come to aid me? Ahh¡­ I just found food and water in my weird pocket dimension inventory thing. A dumpling fell into my open palm from thin air. It was warm and releasing steam. Taking a bite off it, I started walking towards the sound of flowing water. The rich flavor of meat and various vegetables filled my mouth as I thanked all living beings above divinity for the existence of food in MMOs. Using the pike to sometimes move shrubbery or branches out of the way, I started humming to kill time. Looking around, a lot of flora was surprisingly colorful. Violet glowing mushrooms, plants with almost neon-bright flowers, so on and so forth. Birds were harder to spot, and mostly just sat in branches chirping and flying around. I saw what looked like woodpeckers, hummingbirds, sparrows, thrashers, and many, many others I had no idea the name of. I eventually stumbled across a turkey sort of bird, but at least five times bigger, easily reaching my shoulders. I stopped to look at it and it just glanced at me and went on its way as if I didn¡¯t exist. Its feathers were shiny and had an almost magical glisten to them. I watched as it came to a stop a good ten meters from me and dipped its head on water. The stream is there! I lowered my position and closed in on the turkey. It merrily drank from the stream with no worries about the mortal realm. As I stood next to it, it lazily turned over to me, stared at me for a good five seconds, then slowly dipped its head in the water, stared at me again and tilted its head towards the stream. ¡°Oh, are you giving me permission to drink?¡± I asked the turkey. It made turkey sounds back at me. ¡°Well, I thank thee, mighty feathered leviathan of the forest. Such grace is wasted upon one such as I.¡± I bowed exaggeratedly and used both hands to support myself as I went on all fours and dipped my head in the water. The cool water was refreshing and a mouthful left me quite satisfied. The turkey nodded at me and once again made turkey noises. It then turned around and walked off with the pompousness of a king. I noticed a goofy smile on my face as I watched such a regal bird leave downstream. Standing up, I decided to follow it. ¡°My feathery King, I beg thee to allow one such as this lowly one to ask thee a question.¡± I said to the turkey. It responded with more turkey noises. ¡°I see! Well, then. Do you perchance, in your vast wisdom, happen to know of any settlement nearby? Perhaps humans? Elves if they exist in this realm of yours or any sentient creature who may be of aid to me? You see, your excellency, I happen to not be from your mighty realm and find myself quite lost.¡± I was starting to get a hold on this. Again turkey noises. ¡°Aha! I shall follow thee if thou would excuse such daring behavior.¡± Right¡­ I thought. Thee, thy, thou. More turkey noises. The conversation went on for what felt like hours. Sometimes the turkey would drink from the stream, after which it would graciously allow me to get my fill and I would profusely thank it. Other times it would pick the soil for seeds or whatever turkeys ate, an activity I would embarrassingly reject, stating that such fine dining was not fit for one as lowly as myself. Instead, I would summon a dumpling and feast on it. The stream, though, was one of the few things that changed from our routine. It widened and became more tranquil the further we walked. The day, too, saw some changes as it became brighter, leading me to think I arrived in early morning. As the sounds of birds quieted down and trees started growing further from each other, I questioned my sanity when the thought of the turkey actually guiding me crossed my mind. But wait. I thought. This might very well be a magical turkey that guides the lost. I haven¡¯t seen any other turkey since meeting this one. I stared at the bird in question with new eyes. Of course, this could be one big coincidence. Or not. It didn¡¯t really matter. I was fine with both outcomes. As I was absorbed in such thoughts, I noticed the stream narrowed and the sound of water becoming louder than our footsteps. Some thirty meters in front of us, another stream, or rather, a river, ran its course. The stream we¡¯d been following joined the river after descending a few rocks. Opposite of us, a few meters beyond the river bank, was a road. Well, to call it a road was too much. It was a beaten path. Greenery gave way to pressed dirt in a thin line along the river. Its brownish color a give away in such a green environment. As I was staring at the path, the turkey made some turkey noises. I turned to look at it and sure enough, it was staring at me as if expecting gratitude. ¡°Oh! Thy Highness! How can I repay such good graces you have laid upon this lowly one?¡± I bowed and put a knee on the ground. I quickly checked my inventory to see if I had anything that would please a turkey. I found grapes and summoned them. I offered the grapes to the turkey and it instantly went for them. It grabbed the main stem in its beak and flapped its wings a few times while turning away, not without glancing at me one last time and nodding its head. I nodded back. ¡°Well¡­ fuck me,¡± I whispered as I watched the bird walk away. ¡°It really is a magical turkey.¡± I let myself laugh for a bit and stood up. I had a river to cross. How? No idea. I could jump over the water or swim across. Though the latter option wasn¡¯t very attractive. ¡°Jumping it is,¡± I said as I walked back a bit, returning my weapon to my inventory. The river was easily thirty meters wide. Jumping to the other side should be impossible, but I had yet to check my physical prowess so I had nothing to lose. If I fell in, I¡¯d swim. If I sank, I¡¯d walk underwater as fast as I could. Something inside me made me feel as if I could jump across no problem. I started sprinting and as I came to the last step of land, I pushed myself. I flew across. I didn¡¯t even gain altitude. Much like a bullet, I shot forward. It didn¡¯t even take a second. I slammed on the river bank. I heard water splashing behind me, most probably perturbed by the shock wave of my ¡®jump¡¯. The crash formed a crater with me as its center, obliterating most of the unfortunate terrain I landed on. Dirt, stones, and more raining down on me as I pushed myself up. I could¡¯ve sworn I heard the distant gobble of the turkey as if laughing at me. I kept quiet as I checked myself to see if anything broke or needed fixing. All was fine. I didn¡¯t even feel the impact. At first I thought it was good old adrenaline numbing the pain, but after a few minutes, nothing came. I stretched to double-check and everything felt fine. ¡°Huh,¡± was all I could utter. Coming back to reality, I walked off towards the path. I had two directions I could follow: upstream or downstream. I tried the old and proven method. Check the water. If the water carries anything that would suggest a settlement, go upstream. If not, go the other way. Honestly speaking, I had no idea what I was looking for. This was a fantasy world if my guess was right, so I highly doubted I could find anything too telling. There¡¯s no way plastic exists, right? Less so light metals like cans or the like. It was a sparkling clean river. It even had fish, insects, and a plethora of other life forms. ¡°If water won¡¯t give, check the land,¡± I said to myself, returning to the dirt path. That, too, didn¡¯t tell me much. I was not a tracker. It looked agreeably used, but sparsely so. ¡°...Okay. If land won¡¯t give, check nature.¡± I approached a clump of trees and searched for any fallen branches. After finding a slightly thick and long branch, I made it stand up on the ground. ¡°Pretty please, pretty please, show me where to move my feet.¡± I let go of the branch and watched it fall. It pointed upstream. ¡°There we go.¡± I tossed the branch back where I found it and began my walk. That is, downstream. You must be thinking ¡®Why?¡¯. Well allow me to enlighten you. You should go where the end of the stick/branch on the ground is pointing to. I don¡¯t know why, but that has worked for me when I was younger. Twice. That still makes it a 100% success rate. Fight me if you think otherwise. So began the long walk along the river. Accompanied by the sounds of birds and other small critters, what was late morning turned into noon. This time, however, I was not distracted by the presence of a magical bird, allowing me to fully immerse into myself and try to make sense of what was available to me. The first was obviously myself. I had somehow absorbed my game character. The game had levels, classes and all the common features of mmo¡¯s. My main character was a spear-wielding warrior. I had evolved it from a base Swordsman to a Hoplite, then to a Lancer, and finally a Dragoon. Each class granted a number of skills, with few skill points to level said skills, preventing players from raising all skills to their max-level, suggesting a more balanced skill set where players made personal choices. Most players, however, went with the tried and confirmed set of skills, and I was no different. The main thing that had caught my attention, though, was that I could feel all the skills at their maxed-out state. Though I could not see them as you would in a game, with text and everything, I still instinctively knew they were there. I knew I could throw my weapon and it would somehow return to me. It was just like how I knew I would need to go to the bathroom a few hours after eating a meal. It all felt linked together. I was an individual belonging to a society of science, however, so I had to try for myself. Seeing is believing and all that. I took out my weapon. I felt the same rush of energy as before, but this time it was milder. I had never in my life thrown a javelin or anything of the sort, but I now knew how to, and my muscles reacted accordingly. I picked a patch of grass in the middle of the path a good thirty meters away as a target and took aim. I threw the pike as if I''d done it a million times before. It flew in a beautiful arc and embedded itself on the ground just where I had aimed, not a millimeter off. It sunk down to the bottom tip and disappeared from sight. I gaped at the event. It flew fast and the impact made the ground shake a little. Not one second passed and the pike formed in my hands. It didn¡¯t fly back. Instead, it teleported. ¡°Holy shit!¡± I breathed out in amazement. I walked up to the impact area and, sure enough, there was a hole in the ground. Ripples formed on the ground outwards up to ten meters in radius, as if a heavy object had fallen there. It seemed the ¡®skill¡¯ retained its area of effect feature. I continued walking and trying all the arsenal of skills I could. Some, however, could not be performed. I assumed that would be the case. One of my classes required me to be mounted to access its most powerful skills. Most self buffs and defensive skills worked as normal, however, so that was a nice thing. I struck the air in front of me while advancing with as many skills as I could, and felt the existence of cooldowns carried out into this world, though tamed for the most part. As seconds turned into minutes, then hours, I realized the defensive buffs were not disappearing. I kept track of the time. Two full hours went by before the buffs wore off. That was a radical change from the game, which made sense when brought into reality. It was nothing imbalanced like immunity to damage or anything of the sort, just static damage reduction, resistance to knock-backs, knock-down, stagger, slow, arrest, and immobility. Nothing unbalanced. I noticed the skills ready again and used them once more, realizing they were always ready, leading me to believe they were supposed to be up at all times. Instead of waiting 35 seconds for a charge skill that advanced a set distance, I could charge as long as I felt like, running at a shocking speed. When I stopped, something told me I had to wait for five seconds for it to be available again. In the meantime, I tried out more skills. All in all, I never stopped swinging, stabbing, impaling, twirling, and spinning, even without the mounted skills as I moved. Being careful myself, I never hit a tree or the ground, so there was no damage to my surroundings. After around four hours of walking something happened that made me stop as if struck by lightning and fall on my knees. The path had kept itself right next to the river and the trees around me were growing more and more distant until the canopy was thin enough for there to be gaps. That was the moment when I glanced up while swinging my pike and saw something strange. Them. Two suns. ¡°Yo¡­ That¡¯s terrifyingly amazing.¡± I said from my position on the ground. I had certainly read novels about worlds with two or more suns, but it was a completely different thing to witness it with my own eyes. I raised a hand to cover my eyes and was once again shocked. My reflection on the plated gauntlet was glowing with a golden hue. I noticed from the corner of my eyes that my nose glowed too. As I removed a plated glove along with the leather one beneath, I inspected my hand. There indeed was a golden glow coming from it. I checked closely and noticed that the glow stayed even when in the shade. ¡°Is it that... bio photo something?¡± I remembered some plants and insects ¡®absorbed¡¯ sunlight and glowed in the night. The name, however, escaped me. My glow was nowhere near as bright as a firefly or fungi, but it was noticeable enough to see it up close. It didn¡¯t hurt to look nor did my eyes sting. ¡°Whatever,¡± I said, standing up. ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯ll be useful when going underground.¡± I kept walking. This time focusing on my ephemeral inventory. After a while I chuckled. I had all my items, plus all of my account character¡¯s inventories and their respective banked items. In terms of currency, I had over twelve billion gold coins. Farming all the time was showing its results. As for useful items, I had nine mythical weapons, result of playing for long hours trying to get the pike I now held. I also had seven sets of equipment optimized for endgame content. One for the wizard calss, one for the cleric class, one for the scout class, two for the archer class, and two for the swordsman class. Each set specialized for a specific role. I had all the costumes too. Costumes are justice. School uniforms, animal costumes, Victorian-era dresses, futuristic space suits. You name it, I had it. I had a lot of consumables too. Potions, scrolls, enhancing anvils, repair kits, identifying magnifiers, food, drinks, the list goes on: I was serious about the game, after all. An unexpected surprise, but a welcome one. While checking my inventory and walking, the suns began their descent in the sky. Late afternoon turned into early evening and the only thing changing was the width of the river. I stopped once to relieve myself after eating ten dumplings and a few soft drinks. I even had toilet paper, a result of too many failed gacha pulls. The developers of the game were known for their joke items. I was grateful, however. I didn¡¯t want to use leaves. After burning the evidence with a fire-based weapon, I resumed my trip. The late evening turned into the night a few hours later, and, much to my surprise, the path joined with a proper road both wider and much more used. There were even tracks that looked like horses¡¯ and thin marks I assumed were from carriages or the like. By then, the river was no longer covered by the canopy and the sky was visible from the road, the forest edge on my right as I looked up into the sky and the three moons. Yes. Three. One purple, one white, and one that looked like a small planet but much smaller than any of the other two. ¡°This really is a fantasy world, huh?¡± I whispered as I stared at the moons. The purple and white moons were closer to each other than the small planet in the sky. The latter being in the other side of the visible night sky. The sounds of birds and wildlife were replaced by owls and other nocturnal animals, like the distant howls of wolves and sometimes a cat meowing loudly. Even after having walked most of the day, I didn¡¯t feel tired. My feet were surprisingly comfortable in my leather socks and metal boots. My legs actually felt reasonably well-rested instead of pained and tired as I''d expected them to be. That was either due to my new body being more resilient or the equipment being far better than I initially thought; whichever it was. I kept on walking. Lit by the many stars and the three moons, the night was as uneventful as the day. At times I got hungry and ate a dumpling, at other times I drank water from the river or soft drinks from my inventory. I also relieved myself in the bushes a few times. As the sun rose, I got bored. Nothing was happening. ¡°Is this the Nile or something? How long is this river? Give me some people, for fuck''s sake!¡± I grumbled while having breakfast and dipping my feet on the river. Then, I had an idea. I fixed my armor, took out my pike, aimed it down the road, and charged. As the skill did its thing, I also activated all my buffs. That must have increased my speed exponentially. I heard a loud boom around me and then silence as I sped down the road. I heard nothing but the sound of the wind hitting my face and rushing past my ears. Did I just break the sound barrier? I wondered, not wanting to open my mouth in case some magical bug entered. And I had seen many bugs so far. The world around me flew past and even though my speed was ridiculous, I could still see in detail and was able to steer myself when the path followed a curve in the river. Though the world was silent for me, it was still a sight to see. And so, time passed. After hours of me running full speed, the suns began their descent. I also saw the road change. It was as straight as could be. I could even see for thousands of meters ahead. I could even see the carriage I was closing in on. A carriage! I shouted in my mind. Civilization! Gods be praised! As soon as I saw the vehicle, I was almost reaching it. I slowed myself by ¡®deactivating my skill¡¯ and only using my legs, which was quite fast still. I must have saved myself a week of walking by just charging and running. I¡¯d need to check my math, though. As I came up to the carriage, I noticed the few horsed people around it. There were ten escorts surrounding the carriage. After I completely stopped, the sound of my speed caught up to me. We were surrounded by a powerful burst of wind. The horses panicked and their riders clutched their heads in fear. They all turned around while unsheathing their swords. ¡°Who goes there!?¡± the nearest man to the carriage shouted, pointing his sword towards me. With his shout, all the guards pointed their weapons at me as well. They were all wearing matching leather armor, brownish with a green ¡®Y¡¯ on the chest. There were seven men and three women, the latter noticeable due to the difference in their vests. They have boing boings. As far as special features, most had tanned skin with sun-bleached hair, while a couple had lighter skin and darker hair. Brownish eyes and generally malnourished bodies. ¡°Hello, there.¡± I said. I had no clue what to say. ¡°Who are you?¡± the man who had shouted brought his horse closer to me, an aggressive look on his face. ¡°Natasha, you?¡± I gave my name. This was my first interaction with people in this world! ¡°Hmm.¡± his face relaxed. ¡°Haven¡¯t heard of...¡± ¡°HELP!¡± his words were cut off by someone in the carriage screaming at the top of their lungs. His face soured and I couldn¡¯t help but give him a suspicious look. ¡°Finn! Go check up on the Lady!¡± the man facing me shouted back. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± a young-looking guard responded and approached the carriage. As he opened the cloth at the back, a leg struck out and hit him square on the face. He crumpled to the floor as a figure shot out of the carriage. ¡°HELP!¡± a woman running for her life screamed again. ¡°THESE ARE BANDITS! PLEASE HELP ME!¡± I noticed various things happen at the same time. The carriage flickered and became a cart, the man in front of me raised his sword, and three ''guards'' moved to block the path of the woman. I was in shock. Not because of the illusion, nor the man preparing to attack me, nor the fact the woman who was running with all her strength was naked, not a centimeter of skin without a wound. Her ears. Long at around 20cm, her ears bounced every time she took a step. I felt my mouth fall open. An elf! I thought, just as the sword hit me in the neck. 2 - With Overwhelming Violence! There was a loud cracking sound as the blade bent and broke on contact with my skin. I gaped at the man. ¡°You tried to kill me!¡± I accused him. Hot anger boiled inside me. He too, was shocked. Looking in disbelief at his sword that was bent and broken. ¡°HAL-!!¡± He didn¡¯t manage to finish his sentence. I reacted by stretching my arms which held my pike towards the man, trying to push him off the horse. My weapon skewered him through the chest, though. ¡°Holy shit!¡± I shouted as I retracted my arms. There was a head-sized hole in the man¡¯s torso. My blood ran cold and I stopped breathing. ¡°Oh fuck!¡± I shouted again in horror. ¡°I killed him!¡± Everyone stopped moving, the man that fell down climbing on his horse, the rest in front of the cart. The man slipped off the horse and hit the ground while leaving a trail of blood on the animal. A gurgling sound was heard as the last of his breath left him. A few spasms were the last movement he made before life left him. I felt bile rise on my throat, but forced myself to swallow back. Self defense. I told myself, taking a deep breath and clenching my jaw. I turned my head away from the dead man and prepared myself for the others if they decided to attack me. An unnatural rage filled my head. Two bandits charged me and rose their swords. I lined my pike up and quickly stabbed at the woman on the left, leaving three head sized holes on her body. She collapsed before reaching me, staining the horse she rode with blood. I had the advantage of having a longer weapon. The second bandit barely had time to react as his head left his body with a swipe of my weapon, blood shot up like a geyser from his neck as his heart pumped its last, drenching my hair. I turned around, not having the time to give attention to dead bodies. I saw the world slow down, adrenaline pumping through my body. My muscles surged and my speed increased. I sprinted to three mounted bandits that were close to each other, jumped and twirled my weapon over my head, dismembering bodies left and right. A shower of blood, guts, arms, legs and heads fell on me and I felt the bile rise again. "Bluergh!" This time, I couldn¡¯t suppress it and vomited on a fallen head, which made it even worse. His fraightened face covered in blood and vomit. I gagged as I spun in place, lifting my pike. I threw it to the furthest bandit from me, splitting his body in half, organs flying in every direction. The pike continued its course, flying off to the river. The remaining bandits recovered from the shock of seeing seven of their own die in less than three seconds and charged at me seeing that I had no weapon. One jumped off her horse towards me while swinging a sword down on me. ¡°Die, you wench!¡± she shouted. Her face twisted in anger. I raised a hand over my head and the blade bounced off my armor with an ear piercing ring. Her face shifted from rage to terror. I punched her in the face now that she was standing on the ground, trying to knock her out. However, her head exploded like a watermelon shot with a 50.cal. My arm moved faster than my pike in flight. Bones, skin, brains and blood covered my body and face. ¡°Shit!¡± As I recoiled from the excessive success, my weapon reformed in my hands. The two last bandits must have realized the futility of their actions, because they turned their horses around and ran off. ¡°Retreat! She¡¯s too powerful!¡± one called. I raised my right arm, feeling an unnatural weight to my weapon, and threw it. This time, the pike impaled the last woman to the ground, dismounting her, which activated the area of effect part of the skill, sending a shock wave outwards. The other bandit was pulverized by the impact along with the two horses and the dead bandit¡¯s corpse. ¡°Holy shit, not the horses too!¡± I closed my eyes and whispered as I felt the pike return. I quickly searched my inventory and pulled out a pink potion. My hands were shaking as I unscrewed the top. I drank all its contents at once as I felt another wave of nausea and bile rising up my throat. I took a deep breath to calm myself. I was trusting in something I had yet to confirm. My expectations turned true as my entire body stopped shaking and my panic disappeared. It was a useless potion in the game that didn¡¯t do anything, part of a quest, but had the flavor text ¡®calms the mind and spirit¡¯ on it. That was useful information. I sighed a deep breath and walked up to the Elf woman. She was sitting on the ground staring at me with wide eyes and mouth. The horses were standing where their riders had died, not minding their deaths one bit. ¡°You alright?¡± I asked the woman. My mind was tranquil as a pond. She closed her jaw and cleared her throat. ¡°Good riddance. You killed them all, good.¡± she said as she stood up. ¡°Those were ruthless bandits, and strong too. Good thing you were around. I was kidnapped, you see. They killed my companions and stole the cart. Phew!¡± her shoulders dropped as she exhaled all the air in her lungs. ¡°Dunno, still processing it all.¡± I said. ¡°Are you injured?¡± I asked. Duh, you dumb bitch, look at her! I retorted in my mind. I checked on her and saw plenty of wounds. Small and large cuts, huge bruises and deep rope marks. ¡°Yeah. They roughed me up pretty bad.¡± she chuckled. ¡°I was tied up for three days before I manage to free myself and you arrived.¡± ¡°Here.¡± I summoned a health potion and gave it to her. ¡°Drink that.¡± She eyed the flask and took it. ¡°This is a-¡± she started. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Drink up first. Talk later.¡± I interrupted her. ¡°...Sure.¡± she said and brought the potion to her lips, shrugging. The effects were immediate. Her wounds closing up in a matter of seconds and the bruises fading out. I even heard a few bones popping. We both winced at that. ¡°Okay. Now that that¡¯s dealt with.¡± she said, returning to the cart. She rummaged through a few bags and took some clothes. After getting dressed, she returned to where I was standing. I turned around to face her. ¡°I¡¯m Lapia. You?¡± she said, offering her hand. ¡°Natasha.¡± I returned the handshake. ¡°Not that it¡¯s any of my business, but I saw you vomiting while you fought.¡± She eyed me warily. ¡°Was that the first time you killed?¡± ¡°Pretty much, yeah. It was mostly on instinct, though. I just followed what my body told me to do.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Quite gruesome.¡± I felt the potion effects wearing off, and a wave of nausea rising. I turned to the side and vomited again. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s any consolation, you¡¯ll get used to it.¡± she patted my back. ¡°I guess I will.¡± I managed to say between barfs. After calming down, I straightened myself and took a good look at the Elf. Her chestnut hair was long, her green eyes were almond shaped. She was, however, almost only bones and skin. I looked away quickly. ¡°Now what?¡± I asked as I eyed the horses. ¡°What do we do about the corpses and the animals?¡± ¡°We burn the corpses and take the animals to Riverfield. We¡¯ll sell them or return them.¡± she explained, gesturing around. ¡°Riverfield being a town nearby? I¡äm not from around here, you see.¡± I sighed as I approached the horses. They were pretty tame and followed me when I took the rains. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a city a day or two from here if haven''t lost my sense of direction.¡± she explained. The horses moving away from her. ¡°I¡¯ll get the horses, you gather the bodies.¡± I offered. ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡± she sighed in resignation. The following minutes were spent in silence as both bodies and horses where gathered in different places. The Elf going through the corpses and taking pouches and useful items, which weren¡¯t many. The swords were ordinary steel, their armor destroyed beyond usage by me or covered in blood. ¡°I was saving this for when I escaped, but your timing was good, so I¡¯ll use it here.¡± she said and raised her hands. The air in front of her distorted and a few sparks flew out before a flame the size of a fist formed in front of her. It grew in size to an adult head and slowly descended to the pile of bodies, setting them ablaze. ¡°What the fuck was that?!¡± I raised my voice unconsciously. She looked at me with a fearful expression. ¡°What was what?¡± she looked around us, searching for something. ¡°That fire thing you did!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°Oh, E¡¯er? Everyone can do this if they study long enough.¡± she explained, looking me with obvious confusion. ¡°Have you lived your life under a rock?¡± she asked. ¡°Might as well.¡± I nodded. ¡°How come you got caught if you can use fire?¡± I asked the obvious. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± she nodded, a sad smile on her face. ¡°You see, the bandits attacked at night and knocked me out, then bound me with Numbing Rope, rendering me useless.¡± she scowled. ¡°It took me three days to cut through the ropes.¡± she flexed her fingers, her eyebrows knitting together. ¡°Good thing I showed up, then.¡± I said with a smudge of bitterness. The smoke rose and brought the stench of burning flesh and leather. I backed off, allowing another wave of nausea to rush through me, bending over and emptying my bowels on the ground. ¡°Better out than in.¡± I wiped my mouth with a towel I had in my inventory. As I moved away from the pyre of corpses, I focused on my armor, now covered in blood, guts, brain matter and pieces of skin. The smell was anything but delightful. Nearing the river, I undressed to my underwear and took a nice dip in the freezing water. The fire kept going as I did my best to clean my metallic equipment. Once there were no signs of blood, I was satisfied. The leather undergarments were easier to clean by an entire magnitude, just washing them once took the blood away. I cleaned my body as meticulously as I could, making sure my hair was spotless. I vomited once more when coagulating blood came out of my ear canals. I never thought people had that much blood in them. I left the armor and leather drying on the edge of the river and mindlessly floated in the water. Making sure I didn¡¯t drift off was an ordeal of its own. The river had a strong current. A few minutes later I got out and dressed as the fire died down. Luckily my equipment had dried by that time. Lapia was leaning on the side of the cart and saw me approach. ¡°Ready to leave?¡± she asked. ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± I said as I sat on the front. The horses pulling the vehicle responded amiably, advancing at a steady pace, the rest following the cart. Lapia sat next to me. It wasn¡¯t until twenty minutes later that she started crying. ¡°I was so scared!¡± she managed to say between sobs. ¡°Hm...¡± I looked up to the sky, taking notice of the two suns. ¡°You¡¯re safe now.¡± I, too, wanted to cry. I didn¡¯t expect my first meeting with humans to be so violent. I thought it would be a majestic tale, with friends along the way, a heroic adventure. I had fought before, sure, but a fistfight paled in comparison to taking lives. It was brutal, savage, and left my mouth tasting like bile. I allowed myself to relax and let tears fall. ¡°Looks like this world is not as kind as I thought.¡± I sobbed and choked. ¡°That, it is not.¡± she said back, still crying. ¡°Seriously, thank you.¡± she put her hand on my shoulder. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all good now. Hic!¡± A hiccup escaped me and I laughed. Lapia laughed too. Then we both cried a little longer with words of gratitude on her part and reassurance from mine. After calming down, I summoned food from my inventory. Dumplings. Those were damn good. ¡°Is there anything you don¡¯t eat?¡± I asked. Maybe Elves in this world were vegans or something. ¡°Hubis mushrooms, I hate those.¡± she said. ¡°Never heard of them.¡± I gave her a dumpling and a soft drink. ¡°Give me the bottle after you finish, I don¡¯t want to pollute.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know what you mean, but sure.¡± she accepted the food and the pet bottle. ¡°So.¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Your ears, what¡¯s up with them?¡± She stared at me with wide eyes. ¡°You really have lived under a rock, huh?¡± she nodded with understanding. ¡°I¡¯m from the Elf species.¡± she said as a matter of fact. ¡°Species?¡± I asked confused. ¡°Not race?¡± ¡°Uhm, you know races are within a species, right?¡± she took a bite of the dumpling. ¡°This is pretty good.¡± ¡°They are, aren''t they? Continue.¡± I sighed. ¡°There are many species in the world. Elves, for example. There are a few races of elves. You have the Elmari, the Tulmi, the Domi, and the Faeton. Each with their own land, laws, culture, specific features, etc. We all have common features, though. Much like dwarves are all short. Humans have round ears and have short lives. You Halves glow with the sun. You get it.¡± she explained. I choked on my dumpling. ¡°Wha- cough! What?!¡± I almost shouted. ¡°What the fuck is a half?¡± ¡°A Halve, my ignorant companion, are born of E¡¯er.¡± She took a sip from the bottle. ¡°Had better.¡± The e in Halve is stressed? I shook my head. A realization struck her. ¡°Right! I¡¯m such an idiot!¡± she facepalmed. ¡°How old are you?¡± she asked almost sticking herself to me. ¡°Uhh¡­ I woke up about a day or two ago.¡± I counted in my mind. ¡°Well, there it is.¡± Lapia pointed at me, sitting back down. ¡°You are a being of E¡¯er. Born with incredible power, but really ignorant. There is no centralized nation or anything of the sort for you, though. Halves are mostly independent from all others. That¡¯s good, too. Nobody wants a super nation full of ultra beings.¡± she drank a bit. ¡°Let me guess. You woke up in a forest?¡± ¡°That I did. Why?¡± I finished my first dumpling. ¡°Want another?¡± ¡°Sure, thanks.¡± the elf received a second treasure of culinary arts with glee. ¡°You Halves are born in places where E¡¯er gather. Forests, caves, volcanoes, deserts. Anywhere that could gather enough E¡¯er can birth a Halve. We¡¯re surrounded by forests for thousands of kilometers. Of course, those places are dangerous to any other species. Powerful monsters live around gathering spots. That¡¯s as much as I know, though. My bad.¡± ¡°Nah, that¡¯s a lot to process. Thanks.¡± I sighed. I¡¯m not human. I pondered. Well, not anymore. ¡°How long do we live?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Hmm . As long as you don¡¯t die of either illness or a fatal wound, you can live longer than us Elves.¡± she saw my raised eyebrow. ¡°That is, thousands of years.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. I sighed in relief. ¡°Can I have children?¡± I asked after a while. ¡°Yes, but you¡¯d have to try for yourself.¡± she shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that your fertility rate is as low as it gets. Understandably so. Nature is the way it is for a reason.¡± ¡°What about Elves?¡± I asked. ¡°Our cycle comes once every fifty years. The longer the lifespan, the lower the fertility. That¡¯s how it works.¡± As she said so, she handed me the empty pet bottle. I took it and put it in my inventory. I had a lot to think about, so I kept silent. She must have noticed, because she too, didn¡¯t say a word. Time passed with us to ourselves. The river kept widening and we passed through some rudimentary bridges which crossed many streams that fed into its size. A being born of magic, huh. I thought. If that¡¯s not a convenient excuse for ignorance in a fantasy world, I don¡¯t know what is. I could ride on this heaven sent background. Nobody needs to know I come from another world, really. I bit the air a couple times, the crisp sound of my teeth reaching my ears. Definitely not a dream, then. I sighed. Bar the killing earlier, this seems like a pretty good situation I¡¯m in. I don¡¯t have to work 8 to 5 anymore. Whatever happened to the ¡®me¡¯ from earth is up to speculation. Those mental gymnastics escape me. I am, or was, an artist, not an inter-dimensional expert. *** ¡°It really works like that, huh.¡± Lapia said to herself as late evening turned into night. ¡°What does?¡± I asked. We had been silent for the last few hours. ¡°I¡¯m getting a feeling of duty.¡± the Elf said turning to me. ¡°It is said that those who encounter newly born Halves get an inescapable feeling of responsibility to teach them about the workings of the world. I never understood that, mostly chalking it up to attempts to promote the selflessness of those who told the tales. Lies, in other words. But now I understand, though I can¡¯t properly explain it.¡± ¡°That¡­ sounds creepy.¡± I cringed a bit. ¡°The workings of the world? What does that even mean?¡± Like getting a quest? I wondered. You''ve met Natasha, explain the world and fuck slow exposition! ¡°That¡¯s E¡¯er for you.¡± she shrugged. ¡°It means seeing E¡¯er. Or what we refer to as ¡®seeing E¡¯er¡¯. It¡¯s easier to learn when you present it like that, really. The actual mechanics are too complex for a simple explanation.¡± she extended a hand and produced a fist sized flame. ¡°E¡¯er is in everything. If you learn how to read it, information will be provided. What you can see is limited to what you know in most cases. If you meet the unknown, the uncharted or that which lies beyond, you will see very little, if not nothing. But you''re a Halve, E''er will react to that.¡± she extinguished the flame and pointed at a bird flying by. ¡°All beings have a measure of E¡¯er in them. There have been many ways in which the amount of E¡¯er is categorized. In current times, however, there is a single universal term accompanied by a magnitude represented by a number. Are you following so far?¡± she turned to me. I was wide eyed and my mouth was hanging open. This sounds like science. I nodded. ¡°Good.¡± she chuckled at my reaction. ¡°The bird that flew by is a Level five Gorrooter. Level being the way of measure, and five being the magnitude. That is the most basic of information. You will always be able to see that unless the measure is well beyond your capabilities. You, for example. All I read at first was your species. Now I can see your name. Your ¡®level¡¯ is not disclosed, due to it being way beyond my reach. I could see your species because I¡¯ve met your kind before. You with me?¡± The Elf had my complete and total attention. I nodded once more. ¡°Take those bandits from before. They attacked as soon as they saw an opportunity. I guess they¡¯ve never met a Halve before. Things would¡¯ve ended very different if they knew your species. They must have mistaken you for a human, a demi, or thought it was an illusion. I bet all they saw was ''Unknown'' until they connected what little they knew with what they witnessed. This¡­ ¡®system¡¯ can backfire like that. However, you can¡¯t hide you species to those who know. People believe it can be done mostly due to ignorance. You can, on the other hand, misdirect. Instead of showing your species, it shows something else, but it can¡¯t show ¡®nothing¡¯.¡± she shook her head. I slowly nodded. ¡°How can I see, then?¡± I asked expectantly. ¡°For you who are born of E¡¯er, it¡¯s way easier than for us born of flesh. Try reading me. Focus on the E¡¯er within me and attempt to give meaning to it.¡± she explained. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll try.¡± I focused on her. At first, nothing happened. I could neither see nor feel this ¡®E¡¯er¡¯ thing she talked about. What in the flying fuckitty fuck is E¡¯er anyway. It¡¯s ''magical'' in nature. So, ''Mana''? It''s in everything. I am born of it. ''That which lies in front of you is a reflection of yourself''. I remembered what my counselor once said. As that thought formed in my mind, something clicked. Unconsciously, I connected what I understood ¡®mana¡¯ was from the fantasy genre of literature, covering thousands of iterations on the concept. From this marvelous thing that fell from the sky as a gift of the gods to a foul curse from demons. Every take of ¡®mana¡¯ I¡¯ve read before coalesced into one. Maybe subconsciously I translated it to a scientific understanding. Whatever the case was, it was undeniable that something clicked. Then, I saw. [Lapia, Level 172 Domi Elf Pyromancer.] ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± was all I could say. A slight numbness spread on top of my skull. ¡°What did you see?¡± she asked. Her eyes flashing with interest. ¡°I see your name, level, species, race and it says you¡¯re a Pyromancer.¡± I said while rubbing my head. ¡°Hmm. Race and class. Not something I shared. Must be the difference in level.¡± she said to herself. ¡°Check yourself now.¡± she said turning to me. ¡°Alright.¡± I focused. Natasha Novak. Forest Halve Class(es) -Hoplite Lvl 450 (Open Skills) -Lancer Lvl 450 (Open Skills) -Dragoon Lvl 450 (Open Skills) Status -STR: 5400(+750) -CON: 2700(+750) -INT: 675 (+ 250) -WIS: 675 (+ 250) -DEX: 4050(+750) Health: 54000/54000 Stamina: 10490/13500 E¡¯er: 8312/13500 ¡°HOLY SHIT!!!¡± I screamed unconsciously. Lapia jerked in surprise. ¡°What the fuck are those numbers?!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked before raising a hand. ¡°No, don¡¯t tell me. I apologize. It¡¯s taboo to share that information.¡± ¡°This looks inflated as fuuuuck.¡± I breathed out in disbelief. ¡°I have SO many questions.¡± I looked at her with wide eyes. ¡°No. It¡¯s taboo.¡± she shook her head. ¡°Do I look like I give a fuck about that?¡± I grabbed her shoulders. ¡°What¡¯s-¡± ¡°AHHH! I CAN¡¯T HEAAAR YOOOOU!!¡± the Elf closed her eyes, covered her ears and started shouting over my voice. I let go of her. She continued making noise for a while. It was hilarious and slightly annoying. As Lapia shouted with closed eyes and covered ears, I was doing math inside my head. However, the Elf-turned banshee beside me wasn¡¯t helping. I tapped her shoulder and did a silencing gesture when she cracked open an eye. She nodded and went back to normal. ¡°I won¡¯t push. Please be quiet though, I¡¯m trying to figure things out.¡± she nodded again and I focused back on the road ahead. So. It looks daunting but it must be quite simple in reality. I thought. And sure enough, after about thirty minutes I was close to a definitive conclusion. Doing some ¡®simple¡¯ math, I arrived at the answer of the status inflation. Plus four in strength, I guess, every level. Two for constitution. Three for dexterity. The other two got half a point every level. That is, assuming the classes were there since level one. But I didn¡¯t level up. True, my character was max level, but the system didn¡¯t work like this in the game. Well, that was a game, can¡¯t expect it to be real life. However, health points in reality? ¡°Hey, I have a question, it¡¯s not about my numbers or anything, but about the nature of things.¡± I leaned back on the cart seat. ¡°If I know the answer.¡± she said after a moment of contemplation. ¡°If I receive a million damage at once on the tip of my finger, will I die?¡± I looked up at the dark night sky, the moons already in sight. ¡°What?¡± she held back laughter. ¡°Of course not. You¡¯ll lose a finger, though.¡± she fixed a few locks of hair that had been rustled when she covered her ears. ¡°Health numbers and damage is a dodgy topic. There are way too many factors that influence them to have a satisfactory answer as far as I know.¡± her voice trailed off as a yawn escaped her. ¡°Anyway, they represent reality, not influence it.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± though the specifics escaped me, I was sure I¡¯d understand more some other day. ¡°Get some sleep. I hardly feel tired. I do, however, need to take a piss.¡± I had been suppressing the urge for a few hours now. Halting the horses, I got off the cart and walked off to the side of the road. As I had done a few times already the last few days, I unclasped the front side of my plated pants and pulled down the edge of my leather garments, unleashing my new partner. I had already mastered the ways of the penis, at a great cost. It took me a fair amount of tries and wet hands to get it, but now I was proud to be able to pee while standing. At first I was naive, thinking a firm grasp would do the trick. That was the old me. I chuckled at the memory of shaking it too much and shivered at the terror I experienced when it transformed for the first time. Again, that was the old me. ¡°Why are you standing?¡± I heard Lapia¡¯s voice ask from the cart, apparent confusion on it. ¡°I have both female and male genitalia. It¡¯s way more comfortable to pee while standing.¡± I said back, feeling relief wash over me. ¡°I¡­ see.¡± her voice sounded a bit shocked. Understandable. ¡°I was confused at first, but I got the hang of it. It¡¯s not that hard.¡± I laughed at my own joke. I finished my business and covered my new organ with the underwear, magically shrinking to nothing, then my leather garments and my plate pants as I heard Lapia laugh when she understood my comment. I got on the cart and maneuvered the horses back to the road. Lapia had moved to the back and covered herself with something while I was busy. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if anything happens. Good night.¡± a dumpling materialized in my hands. ¡°Thanks.¡± she said in a low voice. The night was dark and the moons granted enough light to see the road. I guessed the horses were magical in nature, since they avoided stones and holes in near complete darkness. After appraising the creatures, though, I saw they were only ordinary horses. I quickly checked my status thing, seeing the same information as before. As I processed the information, the gentle snoring of Lapia reached me. These classes. They are the same my character had in the game. As my thoughts gravitated towards that particular section, more information showed up. Hoplite, Lvl 450. -Expert spear wielders with extended range. Able to face off larger enemies with ease, their skill set allowing them to hunt foes others may deem too dangerous chase. Though not specialized, they can handle monsters, and possess enough military knowledge to go toe to toe with sentient beings of equal power. Skills. Rank 1. -Pierce, Lvl 50. Attack an enemy with simultaneous attacks. The number of attacks depends on the size of the target. Smaller than you, 2. About the same as you, 3. Larger than you, 4. Humongous, 5. The number of simultaneous hits is increased by 2 if under the effects of Initiation or Dragoon Might. If both are active, the number of attacks double. Max total attacks; small ¨C 12, same size ¨C 14, larger ¨C 16, massive ¨C 18. E¡¯er is spent to increase your speed and achieve this feat if Dexterity is not high enough. -Shielded Thrust, Lvl 50. You grow familiar with weapons of the spear group, learning techniques to parry, block and redirect attacks with increasing ease. Repetition and practice has taught you how to do so while attacking. -Sharp Spear, Lvl 50. Your expertise with spears increases and the effectiveness of your spear based skills rises exponentially with both this skill¡¯s level and the skill in use. -Throw Spear, Lvl 50. Throw your spear to attack the enemy. Targets that survive, but receive major wounds, are impaled to the ground. Can pierce through multiple enemies while in its path. The spear impacts surfaces with a massive shock wave that damages all enemies nearby. Spends E¡¯er to return your weapon via Shift. Rank 2. -Long Attacks, Lvl 50. Utilizing the full range of your weapon, attack at a distance, increasing the reach of your movements. The higher your knowledge of the technique, the lower the success of enemies parrying, countering, disarming, or grappling you. -Spear Finesse, Lvl 50. Extended combat with spears has brought your attention to ¡®Overwhelming Violence¡¯, a style that focuses on absolute annihilation of enemies. Higher levels of this skill allows for seamless usage of all stances, combining their purposes. Rank 3. -Endless Rain, Lvl 50. Abandoning all defensive measures, you stand grounded while you strike all enemies in front of you in a flurry of attacks. The longer you attack, the firmer your stand becomes, making it progressively harder for impacts and such to break your position. Lancer, Lvl 450. -Mounted units that thrive against grounded opponents. They have the power to charge into battle and break into structures unimpeded. Mountable beings behave favorably to those who shall bring glory to them in battle. Skills. Rank 1. -Crush, Lvl 50. Attack forward with the full extent and weight of your weapon and body, breaking enemy defenses with greater success the higher the skill. Breaks shields and defensive stances with impeccable accuracy when mounted. -Charge, Lvl 50. You charge forward, damaging all within your path. Breaks into structures and barriers while mounted. Requires a powerful mount to perform the latter part of the skill, otherwise spends a large amount of E¡¯er to protect it. -Topple, Lvl 50. Grip your spear with great strength and strike down at your enemies, dismounting them with greater success the higher the skill, doing so immediately if the enemy has their defenses or shield broken, knocking them down with immense momentum. You strike grounded enemies on their heads or shoulders, forcing them to their knees if they survive or have their defenses broken. Can only be used while mounted. -Accurate Strikes, Lvl 50. While mounted, you are aware of enemies¡¯ weak points due to having the higher ground, greatly increasing the effect of skills that exploit them or intend to expose them. Rank 2. -Initiation, Lvl 50. [Aura] Prepare for battle. You and your mount become connected, entering an advanced battle trance that lowers the success of being dismounted by being aware of your own weaknesses. Your mount may continue to move regardless of your actions, if instructed so. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. -Prevention, Lvl 50. [Aura] You are highly aware of the dangers of battle. You become increasingly resistant to slow, arrest, immobility and effects that impede movement. While mounted, this effect is shared with your allies in (STR/5)m around you. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. -Rhongomyniad, Lvl 50. You and your mount target a single enemy and ruthlessly rush to it, increasing your toughness through the process. Your momentum is massively increased the further you advance, breaking traps and demolishing structures in your path. A large amount of E¡¯er is spent to home into your target, making evasion impossible. Rank 3. -Gorymdaith Wych, Lvl 50. Your necessity for mounts allows them to take part of your portion of E¡¯er from fallen enemies, the efficiency at which this happens increases with the skill level, resulting in you not losing any and them gaining even more. Your experience with mounts strengthens their resolve and courage, granting immunity to effects that influence the mind when familiarity with them reaches a certain threshold. Your mounts grow stronger and tougher as you ride them, turning into threatening tanks with enough time. As your mount gains confidence in itself, if able to, it will attack prone enemies close to it, if instructed so. The greater your mount level, the easier it becomes to trample enemies underfoot making full use of its weight to flatten them. Create a personal bond with your companion. Dragoon, Lvl 450. -Elite spear wielders specialized in two-handed spears. With a focus on fighting monsters, their arsenal revolves around high mobility and attacks that cause serious injuries and various effects that allows them to triumph in combat. Skills. Rank 1. -Dragonclaw, Lvl 50. Grip your spear and violently rotate ten times in an instant, using centrifugal force to attack enemies around you. E¡¯er is spent to increase your speed and achieve this feat if Dexterity is not high enough. -Coiling Attacks, Lvl 50. The savagery of combat has taught you to thrust your spear while rotating it at astonishing speeds. Myriad encounters has given you an eye to foresee enemies countering, blocking, grappling, or deflecting your attacks by their body language. E¡¯er is spent to increase your speed and achieve this feat if Dexterity is not high enough. -Gae Bulg, Lvl 50. Jump high into the air and throw your weapon down with colossal might. Your weapon¡¯s momentum is massively increased the higher you jump. Breakable ground explodes, becoming projectiles that injure all enemies in the surroundings. The greater the impact, the larger the area of ground that breaks. If the ground cannot be broken, the shock wave alone is devastating enough. E¡¯er is spent to increase your might and achieve this feat if Strength is not high enough. If your base strength allows it, your weapon becomes unstoppable instead. Breaks low quality weapons. Medium chance of breaking medium quality weapons. Low chance of breaking high quality weapons. No chance of breaking Epic quality weapons or above. Can use Dragon Dive in the air. -Intimidate Prey, Lvl 50. [Warcry] Let your bloodlust run free. Enemies in (STR/10)m will succumb to your challenge to the death if they are below you in power. Otherwise they will be wary of you and your allies and engage with extreme caution. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. Rank 2. -Monster Hunter, Lvl 50. [Aura] Face insurmountable odds. Increases status according to the number of enemies you take on for you and your allies by 10%(2 highest stats) per enemy (STR/5)m around you. Enemies must be doing battle with you. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. -Dragoon Might, Lvl 10. Recall the might of Dragons. All Dragoon skills are increasingly effective against monsters larger than you. You gain a fraction of the power of a True Dragon, allowing the use of Dragon Roar and Dragon Dive. -Dragon Roar, Lvl 10. [Warcry] All your skills attack two times simultaneously. Those who hear your call feel a deep fear in them, rooting them in place and breaking their concentration if they¡¯re below you in power. Doubles your strength against monsters. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. Rank 3. -Dragon Dive, Lvl 50. Fly up to the sky with Dragon Wings, then land with an impact akin to a Dragon crashing on the ground. Your landing creates spikes from the ground that impale enemies. The material of said spikes depends on the surface you land on. Spends a large amount of E''er to achieve this feat. Warrior Base. -Battle Trance. Increases strength and dexterity the longer you are in battle. -Ignore Pain. Increases your toughness the higher your average level. -Warrior¡¯s Poise. Grants resistance to loss of consciousness and most staggers the higher your total level. If total level exceeds 1000, you become immune to these effects. Halve Species. - As a being born of E¡¯er, you are most sensitive to it, and efficient with it. -The E¡¯er at your disposal won¡¯t decrease unless you allow it. Additionally, choosing to stay awake spends a variable amount of E¡¯er a day until proper rest. -Sleep restores your body, mind and spirit with great efficiency. -Your body is forged by the energy of the world; your hair, fingernails and teeth cannot break or be cut. -Stamina expenditure is reduced to the lowest limit. -Few and far between, you are a female with male genitalia. Enjoy it! [Your reproductive cycle has yet to arrive]. -You are the existence evolution strives to achieve. -Forest is your home and your peace. -Sunlight shall heighten your beauty. Hellwalker. -Before you woke, as every individual of your species, you went through a trial. You grew powerful in an endless battle in the depths of the umbral planes. To survive, you had to adapt. You know the languages from Hell: Infernal and Abyssal. Lower Demons shall fear you and, as the second Halve to have gone through Hell, High Demons refer to you with this title. The trophies you earned this way are in your storage. Memories of that time will return to you with time or as you interact with said trophies. ¡°Aw hell no. Too much information.¡± I cringed as the wall of text invaded my mind¡¯s eye. ¡°Way to clog my eyes, shit.¡± I rubbed my eyes to try and erase the info dump. ¡°I mean, sure, that¡¯s neat and all, but Jesus.¡± I sighed. "This E''er thing needs to know a thing or two about proper exposition." I hissed. 3 - Women do what? First answers! Now that the information was apparently burned into my memory, that was probably the last time I was going to open that particular section of information. Too long for too little. The skills were mostly identical to the ones in the game. There were few that were completely different, however. I could no longer summon an entire army of cavalry to trample my enemies, for example. Something I was completely alright with, to be honest. I continued reading my ¡®status¡¯ information, and this time I succeeded in keeping things simple. There were no longer game elements such as critical rate, critical damage or critical resistance. Maybe critical attacks didn¡¯t exist in this world. I¡¯d miss my 100% critical rate and 540% critical damage, but it was no major loss. It would be difficult to implement that feat in the real world. I imagined a slap that would make people explode, and remembered the bandit that suffered a similar fate. I scowled at the memory. I took off a ring and saw the number in parenthesis go down. I did the same with a plated boot and was relieved to see no changes. My suit of plate armor was a costume in the game, not actual equipment. A few experiments led me to the conclusion that they were treated as a natural piece of armor without any enchantment or enhancement. The game allowed you to improve gear via enhancing anvils, enchanting scrolls and npc¡¯s that ascended your equipment. The first had a chance to fail, the second was completely randomized and the third was very expensive. After undressing and dressing, I reached the conclusion that my leather undergarments were what boosted my status so much, but were quite fragile compared to the metallic plates of armor. If I were to believe the flavor text of all items were turned into reality in this world, my armor was forged in a star. [Starforged Eternium Plate Boot (Legendary)] (Durability SSS+)(Weightless Wear) That¡¯s some bullshit. If that¡¯s true on every case, my spear was forged with the claw of a Demon God. My thoughts sent a shiver down my spine. If that turned to be factual, I could imagine very little having a chance against it. I felt drops of figurative sweat go down my face. That¡¯s no bueno. Let¡¯s see. I summoned my spear out. The thing materialized on my lap. I used the magical eye of absolute truth, or whatever its name was, to appraise the weapon. A few lines were missing, including the flavor text that referred to the Demon God. [+100 Alma Pike (Mythical) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (SSS+ Sharpness)(Durability SS+) -Sharpness + 100% ({Lvl 10 Emerald}x10) -Sharpness and durability + 45% (Enchantment) -STR + 250 -CON + 200 -DEX + 195 -Infects wounds, cursing enemies -Cursed enemies have their reflexes impaired -Cursed enemies'' nervous system is crippled, reducing their offensive capabilities -STR + 250 (Transmutation) -CON + 250 (Transmutation) -DEX + 250 (Transmutation) Changed quite a lot, huh? I sighed. It would¡¯ve been way too much if the spear was actually forged with parts of beings beyond mortal understanding. The rest of my general information was pretty close to that of the game, but some values were way lower. My character had well over 200k health and a good 20k mana. While the damage numbers were obscene, it made sense when fighting hordes of enemies coming at you in waves. A world where life is precious cannot be held to the same standard of a videogame. Nerfs may be necessary. I concluded. True, the basic status are inflated to Pluto and back, but nothing to do there. There¡¯s no screen showing me my average damage or armor values. Besides. I eyed the horses around me. I need a mount. I rode a fucking penguin in the game and it¡¯s nowhere to be seen. Horses, though? I doubt a horse can go fast enough or be strong enough. Are horses used like war mounts in this world? Would that be animal abuse? Maybe. I could keep one to move around. I¡¯d need a stronger beast or monster to fight, though. I don¡¯t even know how to take care of a horse, let alone a fantasy beast. I hope I can find a stable or something in this River-whatever town we¡¯re going to. I appraised the horses once again. Nothing interesting. Most were level 3 or 4, two were level 5. Frustrated that my penguin was not even in my inventory, nor any of the mount eggs from the game at that, I changed my focus to try and find anything to kill time. Fortunately enough, I found books. Those quest tomes from the game turned into full books in this world. Hooray for fantasy worlds! Reading a series of journals belonging to an archaeologist from the later chapters of the game, I killed time while driving the cart. Lapia¡¯s snoring and the clip clop of the horses kept the early night from being mostly silent, though I could hear distant owls and wolves from time to time interrupting the incessant noise from insects and small critters. I had to take a lamp from my inventory when the night got dark enough that the horses stopped advancing, guiding them to the side of the road. Sitting on a tree root that had grown into the road, I faced the cart and horses. Having spent some mana, or E¡¯er, to make the contraption work, I relaxed and continued my reading while eating dumplings and drinking some juice I had. As someone who played the game on various characters, and seeing as all my character¡¯s inventories were with me, I had the complete collection of books the game had to offer. However, as many books as I had, I didn¡¯t have the time to read them all in one night. I barely read four journal volumes when dawn broke and Lapia woke up. With a startle, she shot up, summoning a fireball and looking around her. When her eyes met mine, realization struck her and she relaxed. ¡°You okay?¡± I asked while standing up, putting the lamp back into my inventory. I walked to the cart and, as she didn¡¯t reply, leaned over the side and put a dumpling and a bottle of juice next to her. As I did so, I noticed a sack full of grain. Assuming it was the horses¡¯ feed, I took it and approached the group of animals. I opened it and they all rushed me to have a piece. As the first few ate in turns, I heard Lapia sighing loudly and rustling around. A few minutes later she walked to where I was feeding the horses with a sack of her own and helped me feed them, not before returning the bottle. I smiled at her and resumed the task. ¡°Good morning.¡± she said while yawning. Her voice was a little hoarse due to having just woken up minutes ago. ¡°You snore like a storm.¡± I said as a cheeky horse tried to take the sack from me, failing to do so due to my superior strength. That managed to crack a smile from the elf and she visibly relaxed, chuckling to herself. ¡°Surprisingly enough, horses sleep very little.¡± I said as the last horse ate its breakfast. ¡°Yet they eat as much as a whole village.¡± she stared at the empty sack in her hands. ¡°They must¡¯ve been on the road for a while. Four days since your incident, plus however long they prowled the roads before that. No surprise they¡¯re so hungry.¡± I caressed a horse¡¯s face as it tried to take the sack from me, a few grains were left inside. She nodded and walked to the cart. I went over to the river and quickly undressed, jumping in the water. It was positively refreshing. Although the day was comfortably warm, it wasn¡¯t hot enough to the point where I¡¯d sweat under the sun. ¡°Hey Lapia!¡± I called from the water. ¡°What season are we on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the middle of spring. The rainy season is coming close.¡± she said as she approached the edge of the water, where she just stared at me. Her green eyes were jumping from me to the road. I could see her hands shaking a little while grabbing her improvised clothes. Standing up from my floating position, I kept my distance from her. ¡°They¡¯re dead.¡± I said. Her eyes snapped to meet mine. ¡°They can¡¯t hurt you anymore. You can relax and take a bath. If you want, I¡¯ll watch over the road.¡± I offered a hand to her. She took a deep, trembling breath. Her eyes darted to my lower half and she visibly flinched and gasped. ¡°Yes, I have a penis.¡± I looked down to my new partner. ¡°However, I am a female. I understand what you¡¯re going through. Most people would, actually, regardless of gender.¡± I lowered my hand. ¡°You just had bad luck. Nothing will come from looking away from reality. You have the power to move forward.¡± I turned around. ¡°B-but¡­¡± she stammered. ¡°Make your choice, Lapia.¡± I relaxed and allowed myself to float again. A few minutes went by and I heard the splash of water, following by sobs and muffled cries. I smiled to myself. Crying is healthy. Though what I said could be called insensitive, reality is reality after all. The cries then turned into hiccups and finally laughter. Suddenly I heard an explosion and Lapia¡¯s laughter growing in volume. I turned to see the elf wearing a manic smile flinging fireballs into the water. Her hair was damp and her breathing ragged as she swung her arms, producing fireballs the size of an adult head while water rained on us. The display of unrestrained emotions went on for a while until she fell to her knees sweating profusely and trembling slightly. Her laughter, however, didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Now what?¡± she asked after calming down. ¡°Dunno.¡± I replied honestly. ¡°That¡¯s nobody¡¯s business but yours.¡± I stood up, walked over to her and offered a hand. She took it and as I pulled her up, she went stiff as our bodies touched. Her skin was coarse. At least compared to my own. Now that we were this close, I noticed her fingernails were long and sharp, almost claw-like. Her lips were thin, hiding unnaturally sharp teeth behind them. Aside from those details, she didn¡¯t look that different from an anorexic human. ¡°Wanna go?¡± I looked at her eyes as I asked. ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± she blinked a few times and nodded, her damp chestnut hair stuck to her neck and face. Must have a lot to think about. I sighed as I used a towel from my inventory to dry myself. ¡°This is pretty high quality. Was this in your storage?¡± she asked as she dried herself with another towel I lent her. ¡°Yeah, pretty neat, huh?¡± As we dressed up, I heard a distant whistle. Lapia froze for a second, then started wearing her clothes as fast as possible. I tried doing the same, but the nature of my outfit was more complicated. As I finished wearing my leather garments, however, she whistled back two times to whatever it was. While I was still focused on finishing, the sound of cart wheels reached my ears. I looked down the road in the direction we were going and saw a coach followed by various carts quite a distance from us. ¡°What was that?¡± I asked Lapia as I tightened a belt around my waist, fitting my armored pants in place. ¡°A caravan. When they spot someone in the rivers or lakes, they whistle to make their presences known so as to not intrude on nude people. It¡¯s a courtesy of the road adopted by mostly everyone. They then wait for a response, after which they resume advancing.¡± she talked as she rummaged through the bags and sacks on the back of ¡®our¡¯ cart. ¡°Huh. Pretty civilized.¡± I nodded in approval. ¡°Avoids conflict, really.¡± She sighed. ¡°Imagine a powerful individual is walked into while naked and doesn¡¯t like it. Some heads might roll.¡± ¡°Does everyone use the river to bathe?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°While traveling, yes. It¡¯s allowed by law. You shouldn¡¯t litter, though.¡± she explained. The caravan was getting closer. ¡°Makes sense.¡± I said as I continued equipping my whole ensemble. ¡°This shit takes way too long. Wish it would just materialize around me from my inventory.¡± I grumbled as I fumbled with the belts and clasps. ¡°You can, though?¡± she showed me her hand, where a ring appeared and disappeared on her index finger. ¡°Takes a lot of practice. You should try it when we get to the city.¡± ¡°That...¡± I gaped at her. ¡°Looks awesome.¡± She smiled and removed a bag from the cart, which she put down next to her feet. ¡°Not everyone has a personal storage, though. I am learned in E¡¯er and spent time developing my own pocket space.¡± she leaned back on the cart. ¡°Most people use an enchanted item that holds a similar effect of a storage allowing them to store and retrieve items. Of course, you were born with one holding massive space. E¡¯er just loves Halves." she chuckled. "Then again, maybe that¡¯s the norm when one reaches such power.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make more sense?¡± I said as I finished dressing. ¡°Maybe at a set milestone there is a prompt or something that would make developing it that much easier. At two hundred or five hundred total.¡± She shrugged at that. ¡°Maybe. That wouldn¡¯t explain yours, though.¡± ¡°You¡¯re under the assumption that it has to. I¡¯m made of the thing you strive to understand and control. I could work under different logistics. For whatever I know, you¡¯re the one that¡¯s different.¡± I looked up at her. ¡°It¡¯s a matter of perspective, is it not?¡± Her brows furrowed and a scowl formed on her face. ¡°Not really. Sure, there are distinctions the more powerful one grows, but the Law of E¡¯er is constant. Halves are the most influenced by E¡¯er and at the same time are the ones that most influence it, but the only difference between an extremely powerful individual and a Halve is their affinity with it.¡± she looked up. Stolen story; please report. I just got schooled. I smiled. The caravan was reaching us. At the front was a coach driven by a bald old man with no outstanding features. The coach itself was of wood and had windows on its sides, there were black drapes hiding its insides. It came to a stop before us. The two horses pulling it were taller and more muscular than the ones we had gathered. The driver looked at Lapia and frowned. He then turned and tapped on the roof of the coach. ¡°What is it?¡± came a deep voice from the coach. ¡°Lady Lapia is here, and she doesn¡¯t look good.¡± Rustling was heard from the coach and soon the door facing us opened. A well dressed man came out. He had deep black hair and a stunning mustache. His clothes were mostly silk and high quality leather. His eyes were clear and brownish, which squinted when they met Lapia. ¡°Lapia!? What happened?¡± he approached her with raised eyebrows, folding his arms behind his back. His eyes flashed between surprise at seeing her, shock at hearing her words, and horror at witnessing the malnourished state of her body. Though Lapia had no wounds on her, her thin complexion said more than was necessary. ¡°Lord Punten.¡± she bowed slightly. ¡°My cart was ambushed by bandits and my companions killed. I could not deliver the missive to Ratunke as asked.¡± He sighed deeply. ¡°I am sorry to hear this. You may take a paid leave for a month to recuperate.¡± he then turned to me. His eyes opened like saucers with surprise. Then understanding dawned him and his face relaxed. ¡°May I know the name of Your Excellency?¡± he said as he took a weird posture as if wanting to bow, but not wanting to send the wrong message. He decided to nod appreciatively in my direction. Your what? Do I look like royalty to you? Don Ramon looking ass... ¡°Natasha Novak.¡± I said. ¡°I met Lapia here when she was being held captive by the aforementioned bandits. They attacked before anything was really said and it ended in a gorefest.¡± I shook my head at the memory, and my hands trembled slightly with a feeling I was not comfortable with. ¡°I see.¡± he said as he closed his eyes for a moment. ¡°I appreciate the aid you provided to my associate.¡± he then searched his coat and retrieved an envelope. He opened it and a quill appeared in his other hand, with which he began writing something. He closed the envelope and handed it to Lapia. ¡°Bring this to Julis.¡± he tried to smile but failed several times. ¡°I¡­ There¡¯s no need. Natasha here has already healed my wounds, I only need to rest and eat healthy for a few weeks.¡± she replied in a rush, refusing to take the letter. At her words, the coach driver, a few guards and Lord Punten turned their heads in my direction. ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡± I said, crossing my arms. They quickly averted their gazes with apologetic smiles and blushing. It really is taboo. I thought back on Lapia¡¯s words. They might think I have healing powers, or skills, or whatever. We all stood awkwardly for a few seconds until inspiration struck me. ¡°Lord Punten, was it?¡± I faced him. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± he managed to smile this time. ¡°I assume you¡¯re knowledgeable in the ways of the trade?¡± I asked, eyeing his coach and the impressive caravan. ¡°That I am.¡± he said while stroking his mustache and laughing gently. ¡°I am looking for a battle mount. Preferably more durable than strong. I don¡¯t mind magical beasts or the like.¡± I could feel my heart rate rise slightly at the thought of a dragon or something along those lines. ¡°Any idea where I could make such a purchase?¡± His eyes showed a smudge of confusion for a split second and I could feel my heart sink. ¡°May I ask what do you mean by ¡®majeekal¡¯?¡± his voice was moderate and soothing. ¡°Right.¡± E¡¯er this, E¡¯er that. ¡°Beasts of E¡¯er.¡± Or is it E¡¯erial? E¡¯eric? ¡°Ah. I see now.¡± He stroke his mustache and thought for a few seconds. ¡°There is a breeder in Riverfield, she owns a farm and deals with such beasts. If, however, you seek a really powerful beast you might want to head to Paarjo. The merchants there deal with the best Lumin Kingdom has to offer. I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± he offered a flawless smile. I, on the other hand, felt my brows knit and a scowl form. I quickly smiled and gave a light laugh. I could clearly see a bead of sweat forming on Lord Punten¡¯s forehead. He raised his eyebrows in confusion. ¡°Did you just say ¡®Kingdom¡¯?¡± I asked in the most friendly tone I could muster. ¡°Hm?¡± he blinked a few times. ¡°Yes, I definitely said that.¡± he quickly fixed his face to a polite smile. ¡°Lumin Kingdom. His Majesty King Gordon Igne Lumin IV rules a large territory along with his wife Queen Josalia Hyth Lumin. Territory, which in case you didn¡¯t know, is where we are standing at the moment.¡± He gave a polite laugh. ¡°Is anything the matter?¡± I looked up to the sky, where the two suns were indiscriminately bathing the world with their light. ¡°Not at all. First time hearing this. You see, I woke up barely a week ago, and I¡¯m not that learned about the world.¡± I struggled to smile, which must¡¯ve shown, because the man in front of me slightly fixed his posture. A few seconds of awkward silence followed my words. Silence that was interrupted by the man¡¯s words. ¡°I see.¡± He leveled his arm in front of him, looking up to the sky for a second before checking his wrist. There, a golden watch sat, indicating the time. ¡°In any case,¡± he started with a polite tone ¡°I must take my leave.¡± He looked at Lapia for a moment and sadness was clear on his eyes. ¡°Remember to rest, Lady Lapia.¡± he turned to me and gave a flawless smile. ¡°It was a pleasure meeting Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Have a safe trip, Lord Punten.¡± Lapia called after he turned around. ¡°Have a good day.¡± was all I said. He raised a hand and waved as he walked towards the coach. I focused my ultra high level newborn senses into the way of the dao and appraised the man as he was getting on the vehicle. [Punten, Level 82 Perco Human Fencer.] Soon, the driver whipped the reins and the horses began their track. A few minutes later, the last cart stopped by us and Lapia handed the bag she had taken from our temporary vehicle over to the man sitting on the back. ¡°Good travels.¡± she said to him. ¡°Take care, Lady Lapia.¡± he smiled gently and waved at her as the cart went away. As for us, I climbed back on our cart and sat at the front. Lapia slowly made her way next to me and sighed. ¡°Popular, aren¡¯t we? Lady Lapia.¡± I snickered and whistled. The horses taking the sound as the command to start pulling. The beasts that weren¡¯t in front of the cart slowly began their own trek of following us. The elf gave me a shit eating grin. ¡°What?¡± I asked tilting my head. ¡°Jealous?¡± she asked with as much smug as she could muster. ¡°Jealous?¡± I repeated in disbelief. My eyebrows almost fusing with my hairline. ¡°No way, sis. You can have those for yourself.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± she rose her chin. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that Lord Punten himself has showed interest in me.¡± she bragged. ¡°Alas, I have yet to make a decision and approach any of them. There are promising young men among them. A few too shy to even look my way. Haha!¡± she gloated. I could even see her nose stretching with how smug she sounded. ¡°Wait, what?¡± I could not help but fixate on a few things she said. ¡°You would approach them? Not the other way around?¡± I asked, confusion making my brain itch. ¡°The other way around?¡± her eyes opened wide and a smile not befitting an elf showed itself. At least not in my mind. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be divine, being accosted by men seeking my hand.¡± she sighed almost as if regretting reality. ¡°Life is different, my dear.¡± she patted my shoulder almost in pity. ¡°In this world, women chase men.¡± I felt a thunderclap explode inside my head. My mind blanked and my mouth fell open. I could not articulate a single thought for what felt was hours. ¡°What?¡± I whispered weakly. ¡°What about chivalry? What about masculinity and hoarding females as prizes? Is this a nightmare?¡± I stared at my hands in utter disbelief. ¡°Hoarding females?¡± a slightly disgusted expression crossed her face. ¡°I have standards, you wont'' catch me fucking a man with another woman.¡± she shook her head. ¡°If you find a man willing to force himself on a female please let me know, hehehe.¡± she laughed like an old man. ¡°Then what the fuck happened to you?¡± I asked, all thoughts of the topic being sensitive flying away. ¡°Did they not rape you?¡± I stopped as even I found my own words extremely wrong, confusion blinding my sense of reason for a brief moment. I was about to apologize for being out of line, when Lapia suddenly let out a sound belonging more in a bedroom than anywhere else. I turned to her and found her blushing, a transparent line leaking from her mouth. SHE¡¯S DROOLING!? I was beyond shocked. ¡°I wish.¡± she said, smiling depravely and wiping at her mouth. An instant later, her face replaced that blissful facade by one of pure rage, pain and humiliation. ¡°Those barbarians tortured me until I cried blood!¡± her voice trembled with unrestrained anger, her hands balled into fists that soon turned white. I turned to the front, too confused to think straight. Was she not traumatized by rape, but by torture? I thought to myself. Then why did she recoil when she saw my new partner? Was it not a memory of the sexual assault, but an unconscious link between male and pain? Maybe I¡¯m oversimplifying this, but she looked like she¡¯d prefer being gang raped than tortured. Was it that bad? Or is this elf that much of a sexual deviant? I then came to the conclusion that I was too hasty in assumptions. There were the signs, sure. I¡¯d seen them first hand before. The repressed anger of a rape victim, whether male or female, are surely alike, with slight variations. Though not a psychologist, I had unfortunately dealt with that unsavory side of reality. A thought came to me then. Is pain and death magnitudes worse than rape in this world? The thought deeply confused me. Was rape not torture? Surely in a world where individual strength varied so much, forcing others to have sex would be treated as bad, if not worse. Is it that? I had a scary thought. One that would challenge my view of the world. Anything related to death is bad, and anything relating to the creation of life, no matter how foul, is good? Then another thought that genuinely scared me crossed my mind. Is rape, not actually ¡®rape¡¯ in this world? I felt a mushy sensation in my head. Much like when one learns that the definition of a word one thought one knew, was actually wrong, and meant something completely different. I remembered when I learned that schadenfreude had nothing to do with friendship, but a complex feeling. I felt my cheeks heat up in a mix of shame, anger, confusion and disgust. ¡°Anyway...¡± I had no business in the views of this world, to be completely frank. ¡°That conversation is better left for another time. Preferably when alcohol is in the mix.¡± I sighed, feeling a slight pain behind my eyes. ¡°Oh?¡± I could almost hear the smugness Lapia exuded. ¡°Are you perhaps inviting me to a night of passion? Did the mention of carnal pleasure leave you in the mood?¡± I could feel her breath infiltrating past my hair and brushing against my ears. ¡°Restrain yourself, woman!¡± I laughed and backed away slightly. ¡°Besides, aren¡¯t I considered a newborn? Isn¡¯t that morally questionable or something?¡± I eyed her with caution. This elf was a whole bag of surprises. ¡°Aiya!¡± she sighed exaggeratedly, looking at me with a hint of pity on her eyes. She rose both hands. ¡°You Halves can topple Kingdoms, slay Divines, sink continents and much more, mere minutes after being born, and you mind affection?¡± she explained with a small smile. ¡°What are we? The end of times?¡± the sarcasm was obvious in my words, yet her smile grew. ¡°A few think so.¡± she nodded slowly. ¡°What is a being that is manufactured by the very energy that governs the universe if not a divine being? Some believe Halves to be sent by heaven by that reasoning.¡± she stretched her arms and back, letting out a quiet moan of pain. ¡°However, if that is to be true, why is it that your species is so fragmented? Why not create an earthly paradise? Why not rule the world? Yet, none have tried.¡± she let out another sigh. Because that would be boring. The thought came to me faster than I could mull over the conversation. It felt so ingrained that I did not question it. Not that I would have. World domination was not fun. My instincts told me so and I, personally, thought so too. ¡°Hmm.¡± I ran a hand through my hair. ¡°I have an idea why.¡± ¡°Yes. Many Halves have given an answer. It all boils down to it not being the least bit interesting. Perculis said it was in your nature.¡± she cracked her neck. ¡°He was a very known Halve for various reasons. ¡®Why sit in power when we can be out there, having fun and living adventure¡¯ is what he said.¡± she smiled, this time there was a spark in her eyes. ¡°The dude had a point. Not everything has to be so serious or be that great of a life goal.¡± I stared at the horses, letting my mind go in whatever direction. ¡°Anyway.¡± she fixed her posture and crossed her legs. ¡°We should arrive at Riverfield tonight.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Need to take a leak?¡± I summoned a juice bottle from my absolute inventory of infinite space, or whatever its name was. ¡°Nah.¡± she waved my comment off. ¡°You see, a girl has needs. And being held captive for three days straight with no affection left me pretty dry. Add that to meeting Lord Punten¡¯s retinue, with all those young attractive boys. I¡¯m a bit fidgety, is all. Haven¡¯t had time to myself.¡± she explained with a slight blush. There we go again. I felt my eyes roll as I sighed inside my head. It¡¯s only time until she jumps someone. ¡°You need to relax. Get home, eat healthy for a few weeks, exercise a little, get some beauty sleep and then you go hunt for young boys.¡± I laughed. Her explaining the nature of the captivity lifting an incredible weight off my soul. ¡°Yes, yes. You don¡¯t need to worry that much.¡± she waved me off. ¡°That elixir you gave me healed all my wounds, even a few old ailments. I bet it would take barely a week of rest and I¡¯d be back in top shape.¡± she turned to me. ¡°Anyway, what¡¯s the deal with you?¡± she pushed an accusing finger on my arm. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I chuckled, this Elf changed moods way too fast. ¡°What was that reaction to there being a Kingdom?¡± she rested her head on her hands. ¡°Whatever. I don¡¯t plan on committing regicide if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about. Just don¡¯t like the concept.¡± it was my turn to wave her off. ¡°Not that big of a deal.¡± I shrugged. She noisily exhaled through her nose. ¡°If you say so.¡± "Let''s talk about something else. You know, liven up the atmosphere." I looked at her. ¡°Like what?¡± the Elf asked, staring deep into my eyes. ¡°How old are you? What¡¯s your full name? Things to kill time other than the moral quest of a race I don¡¯t particularly feel a part of, yet.¡± I offered. This chick is pretty chill, all things considered. I leaned forward. ¡°I will be turning 81 next winter.¡± she nodded to herself. ¡°Lapia Pofeta, Flame of the East. I come from a port city in the Queendom of Maaruhk. Took studying E¡¯er since an early age. Current Adviser of Lord Punten, though it¡¯s more of an association than anything else, actually.¡± her voice was smooth, tickling the back of my ears, relaxing the tension at the base of my neck. ¡°And you don¡¯t like buhiir mushrooms.¡± I pointed out. ¡°Hubis, they smell like raw meat and taste like death. Somehow they ended up as luxury food.¡± she shook her head, a deep scowl on her face. ¡°Where did you study E¡¯er?¡± I already felt my muscles relaxing. No big brain time. ¡°Royal University back home. Completed three courses, then took up teaching. I found myself in a bottleneck researching absorption of E¡¯er and set out to look for the answers. Experience it myself and all that.¡± she extended a hand and summoned a ball of fire. ¡°Bar what happened this week, it¡¯s been quite relaxing.¡± her fingers closed into a fist, the fire extinguishing. ¡°That¡¯s a more interesting conversation.¡± a long breath escaped me. ¡°Speaking of conversation, what language are we using?¡± ¡°Common Tongue. Spoken by mostly everyone.¡± she then switched to a barrage of hisses, clicks and a lot of throat sounds. ¡°That is Elvish. My native language.¡± she eyed me warily for a few seconds, then smiled when she confirmed I didn¡¯t understand. ¡°I bet you said some raunchy stuff.¡± I chuckled as she kept smiling. ¡°Is your cycle close with so many erotic remarks?" I asked in Spanish, raising an eyebrow. Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°No, it¡¯s twenty years away, actually.¡± she said back in Spanish. That surprised me more than I thought it would. ¡°You speak Earthen Tongue?¡± she asked in common. ¡°Earthen Tongue?¡± I couldn¡¯t help the shock from showing on my face. ¡°Dwarven Language.¡± she clarified. ¡°That¡¯s a high profile one. Takes years to learn.¡± she nodded approvingly. Then I tried with my own native language, Russian. ¡°How about this one?¡± Her reaction was squinting her eyes and rubbing her chin. ¡°I heard that one before. Say something simple.¡± ¡°I love water.¡± I said in Russian, or whatever it was in this world. She knit her eyebrows and closed her eyes. ¡°Flower.¡± I offered. At that, her eyes shot open. ¡°Orkish!¡± she said with a triumphant smile. I felt my head fall into my hands. Orkish!?!? ¡°What do they look like?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Orks? Blue, very tall, sharp tusks from ancestral features. Very intelligent, they live in the republics of the far east, across the Bulukuru Sea.¡± she closed her eyes in thought. ¡°They don¡¯t really separate themselves into races, mostly cultural differences represented by white markings on their bodies.¡± she opened her eyes and shrugged. Oh¡­ better than I thought. I sighed in relief. ¡°Quite knowledgeable, aren¡¯t we?¡± she nudged my arm with a smile. How about the Hell ones? As that thought formed, a tsunami of words, intonations, pronunciations, and even ways to flex the tongue I didn¡¯t even think possible registered in my mind. I went through the words with surprising speed. ¡°Are there any banned languages or something like that?¡± I asked before speaking them. I tried voicelessly saying words and realized they¡¯d sound very rough. ¡°Not that I know of around here.¡± she shook her head slowly. ¡°Why?¡± she looked me in the eye and smiling cheekily. ¡°Are you sure?¡± I asked in Infernal. My voice, however, came out less than a voice, and more like a snarl, making the air vibrate and reverberating in my bones. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± she grimaced and looked away. ¡°Something I better not speak too often, I suppose.¡± I winced at my own voice. ¡°That¡¯s a Power Tongue.¡± she sighed heavily. ¡°Those can command E¡¯er, and are considered to be very well a Divine tongue.¡± she placed a hand on her chest. ¡°That, however, did not sound like Celestial at all. More like the exact opposite.¡± ¡°Infernal.¡± I explained. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Taboo.¡± I said as her aghast expression morphed into an accusatory glare. ¡°I never heard of Infernal before.¡± she said slowly. ¡°And I would bet only those who are really ancient would recognize it, perhaps not even understand it.¡± ¡°Might aswell avoid speaking Abyssal, too.¡± I said while looking up, and felt a nudge from my right. There, Lapia was clutching her left hand, pain on her face. ¡°Did you just punch me?¡± I asked, amusement evident in my voice. ¡°Yes.¡± she winced. ¡°I think I broke a finger.¡± she said, her face melting in anguish. "Don''t just give that information away." As she moaned in pain and took deep breaths, I retrieved a small health potion the size of a thumb from my awesome, infinite, absolute, hyper, mega, ultra space dimension and handed it over. She didn¡¯t take it, however, her hands busy with the now swelling pinkie. It looked positively purple and engorged. I took the cork off and held the back of her head gently and poured its contents in her mouth when she understood my intentions, following my movements. Her face relaxed for a brief second and then turned into a scowl. ¡°That tastes like rancid beer.¡± her breath now under control and the broken finger recovering both color and shape. ¡°Works wonders, though.¡± she stared at her hands. ¡°That, they do.¡± I noticed her hair gained some luster and her skin was smoother now. ¡°We were talking about languages.¡± I nonchalantly went back to the topic. ¡°What do humans speak?¡± Lapia, on her part, sighed and then perked up. ¡°Low Tongue.¡± she took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s something like this.¡± she said in Welsh. ¡°Come again?¡± I asked, confused. ¡°This is the Low Tongue.¡± she said, once again in Welsh. That sounds like normal Welsh. I rubbed my chin and looked up. Is this a giant Europe? If I focused, I could differentiate the ¡®Low Tongue¡¯ from ¡®Common¡¯. One was the Welsh I knew of before waking up here and the other sounded more nuanced, though not as much as Earth Tongue, or Spanish, but decidedly foreign from Welsh. Then, realization struck. English? The thought echoed in my mind. ¡°You¡¯re pretty hot.¡± the elf said, placing a hand on my shoulder and giving me a thumbs up. ¡°I understood you the first time. And I know I¡¯m hot, no need to try so hard.¡± I smiled smugly. The elf blushed slightly as she got caught. I returned my focus to the front. ¡°So, how did these languages came to be?¡± I asked offhandedly. I never took up Welsh. I mulled it over. Sure, that one hot guy on Y*utube was from Wales and I thought more than once about picking it up, but I never actually did. The pain behind my eyes was returning. Oh well, a good addition if anything. As I avoided the telltale headache that showed up when I focused on something I knew jack shit about, Lapia was going on and on about the story of the Common Tongue. 4 - Riverfield! Town? City? ¡°...Then, thousands of years of trade later, you have that.¡± she finished. ¡°Neat.¡± I made a thoughtful expression. I hadn¡¯t heard a word. ¡°What about currency?¡± I had to make sure my riches worked in this world. ¡°Usage of coins were widespread by the Dwarf Kings. Every nation has their own version, only adding their national symbols.¡± She summoned three coins. One brown, one silver and a golden, thicker coin. ¡°Copper, mostly used in day to day expenditures; food, gate taxes, expendable tools. Silver, staying at an inn, purchasing livestock, long term tools. Globally, one hundred coppers make a silver. Some countries use a thicker copper coin that go for 50 simple ones, same for silver. Gold, however, is reserved for more ¡®permanent¡¯ things. Land, a store, crafting permits; things that would be useful for settling down as an individual. Most educational institutions deal in gold, such as Universities, Academies, and others that offer specific education. One hundred silver is one gold coin.¡± she put her money away. ¡°Then we have platinum plaques. Those are used among businesses for large purchases, renting large amounts of land and transactions of that nature. One platinum plaque is worth one hundred gold coins. Countries deal with large amounts of platinum plaques.¡± she was staring in front of her while talking. ¡°Can I see them?¡± I asked, extending a hand. ¡°Here.¡± she summoned them back out and dropped them on my open palm. The copper coin was thin as a five cents coin. It had markings on its border much like modern coins, with a pickax on one side, and a ship on the other. The silver one was practically identical except for the material and the size, being slightly thicker and wider, but not by much. The gold coin, however, was thick and twice the size of the copper coin. The pickax and ship depicted in the same fashion. I took a glove off and held the coin in my palm. I had been ignoring it, but my skin color had solidified the past few days, making me gulp as I recalled the actress from Goldfinger as she was covered in gold. Though, in my case, it looked incredibly healthy instead of a substance that would poison me. The coin was, surprisingly, a shade duller than my own gold, even without me having the shine that metal had. ¡°Good thing you¡¯re wearing loads of armor, otherwise you¡¯d be a small sun with the amount of glow you¡¯d emit.¡± she had seen me comparing my skin with the coin, grinning after joking. I hope that''s a joke. ¡°Good to know.¡± I returned the coins and summon my own. ¡°Would this one work?¡± I offered the single gold piece. ¡°Yeah, no problems.¡± she took a single look. ¡°Just don¡¯t break the economy.¡± ¡°How would anyone know if they¡¯re not counterfeit?¡± I asked, eyeing my coin. It was chubbier and only had a seven pointed star on one side, different from the image files the game showed. ¡°That is considered Halve currency. You all carry the same coin. It has an E¡¯er trace unique to currencies. Courtesy of the universe, I guess.¡± She explained, pointing at my coin. ¡°Why no breaking the economy?¡± I ask, storing the coin back. ¡°Come on.¡± she rose a brow and smiled. ¡°That armor looks like it would be a national treasure by aesthetic standards alone. Same with your spear. I don¡¯t know much about Halves, but one thing is clear.¡± she took a dramatic pause. ¡°Something happens before you are born into this world. No one has ever witnessed a Halve¡¯s birth, or reported such a happening. Where do these possessions come from? Massive wealth, weapons and armor beyond what even master craftsmen can make.¡± she looked at me. ¡°And where do you learn languages, definitions, the specific set of skills that can be recognized as a class.¡± her face relaxed into a smile. ¡°Does it not make you wonder?¡± ¡°I have no clue how it works, to be honest.¡± I kept the where to myself. ¡°Maybe cosmic beings, or E¡¯er is sentient?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Why do you always gravitate towards existential topics like that?¡± I asked, my eyebrows knitting. ¡°True, it¡¯s an interesting topic and the mechanics behind it all do make me curious, but remember, I woke up not even a week ago.¡± I gestured to the surroundings. ¡°My priorities are more concrete at the moment.¡± ¡°Yes, I get that.¡± she sighed. ¡°Can¡¯t help it. I¡¯m a scholar, the thirst for knowledge is addicting.¡± she deflated slightly. ¡°As I see it, it¡¯s not the only thing you¡¯re thirsting over.¡± I smirked at her. She blushed slightly. ¡°Well, can you blame me?¡± she snorted and crossed her arms. ¡°You¡¯re a fine specimen.¡± ¡°A specimen?¡± I let laughter overtake me. ¡°You have no subtlety.¡± I wiped small tears forming at the edges of my eyes. ¡°Pardon?¡± she turned to me in mock offense. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know it¡¯s worked so far with men.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no man, though?¡± it was my turn to play offended. ¡°You saw me naked in the river.¡± Then I remembered my now hidden new companion, whose existence I almost forgot due to the fact that it was shrunk underneath my underwear. ¡°Bar the penis, I look like a female no matter how you slice it.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Those shapely breasts.¡± she started, drawing herself closer and whispering in my ear. ¡°Those toned legs and arms that look strong, yet flexible.¡± she rested a hand on my own. I noticed I hadn¡¯t put the plated glove back on. A thought that quickly melted along with her voice. ¡°Those sculpted abs. That bubbly butt, which I¡¯m sure is as strong as those luscious thick thighs. How I would lick it all over and take you to heaven.¡± she breathed slowly into my ear. I felt the few hairs on my body rise along with a tickle at the base of my brain that threatened to melt reason. I silently hoped with all my heart the golden tone of my skin would hide the blush on my face. I simply nodded. ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± What felt like an intense and personal, albeit short, ASMR session left my heartbeat surprisingly calm. Damn these sensitive ears. I was both flustered and surprised inside. I must keep her away from my chest at all costs. She gave me a shit eating grin. ¡°And that has worked with women.¡± she let out a hearty laugh at my silence, retaking her position at her side of the cart seat. ¡°I must ask.¡± I began. She turned to me as I hesitated. ¡°A¡­ are men¡­¡± I cleared my throat. My next question would weigh my opinion on potential partners. ¡°You know...¡± I fixed my posture. ¡°Dominating in bed?¡± As soon as I finished my sentence, she exploded in laughter. ¡°HAHAHA!! OOHHAHAHAHA!¡± she laughed so hard she was wheezing, squeaking, gasping. All the works. Sneaking glances my way every time her laughter was subsiding only to burst again. Well, that¡¯s a no. A smudge of disappointment darkened my heart. She stood a few times only to bounce about and dance a little. She choked three times, taking water I offered. She was red as a tomato and tears streamed down her face. She opened her mouth when the excess laughter cramped her cheeks, and started actively fighting the laughter when her stomach began to ache. I just nodded along and sadly chuckled for the entire thirty minutes she spent rioting in joy. When she succeeded in the herculean task of calming down, she plopped a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Please.¡± she began, a short fit of giggles preventing her from continuing. I didn¡¯t interrupt, though. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re submissive.¡± she was smiling as wide as her facial muscles allowed. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± I shook my head. ¡°So you just like it rough?¡± she asked, coughing a few times. ¡°Pretty much.¡± I said begrudgingly. ¡°Well, maybe you don¡¯t know yet. You do have a penis, so yeah...¡± she sighed, patting her chest. ¡°Ayayay. That was a good laugh.¡± she yawned, stretching and leaning back on the seat. I want to laugh too. Though my situation was utterly tragic, I could see how funny it was. I choose to take deep breaths. ¡°This better stay between us.¡± I said. She just gave me a thumbs up and closed her eyes, soon falling asleep, not before leaning on my side. I summoned a pillow and let her head rest on my lap. I released a deep sigh. Her complexion was looking better thanks to the potions she consumed. I didn¡¯t know if too many potions were bad or what. Her malnourished body had gained a better color and she didn¡¯t look like a zombie anymore, compared to the first time I saw her. Based on her initial reaction, health potions might be expensive. The first one had been a lower level one, supposedly healing a small chunk of damage with a thirty second effect that further healed the same amount over time. The result here, however, was surprising. Wounds disappeared along with bruises and broken bones. The shittiest potion healed her broken finger in a matter of seconds. I wondered what the best would do. Recover lost limbs? Mortal wounds? I let my imagination soar. Though if there¡¯s any logic to it, the drinker has to be conscious for the body to heal. I searched my inventory for the resurrection scrolls, and to my surprise, instead of being in the hundreds for emergency pick ups in dungeons, raids or junctions as I remember having, there were none. Is it to avoid abuse? So it¡¯s not that easy? I pondered for a few minutes. In that case, why such a high level? Why my main character and not my healer focused cleric? That bitch could mass resurrect. I smirked at the though. Maybe too much. I thought back on my other characters and realized they all had main skills that would challenge reality. Though if my Lancer class was any indication, some feats would be completely changed or nerfed. A game mechanic as basic as projectiles bouncing from enemy to enemy might aswell not exist in this world in the same way. Unless you take into account this miraculous thing that is E¡¯er. Mhm. How about class restriction. I summoned my archer¡¯s mythical bow. A two meter long weapon materialized in my hands. The material was a flexible stone-like substance that had a marble like texture just as the flavor text suggested. The string was supposedly taken from the world tree, which I highly doubted was brought to reality. Taking aim, I pulled the string with surprising ease. To my utter shock, an arrow materialized once the string was pull taut. I slowly relaxed my string arm, not firing the projectile. I did not know even the basics of archery. If the arrow flew off to Riverfield, that¡¯d be pretty dangerous. I did not want to kill people by accident. At least not again. After returning the bow, a staff that looked quite similar to my pike came out. Instead of a blade, the tip had floating gemstones and the opposite end had a fist sized red jewel. Supposedly crafted from the same Demon God, the staff was extremely useful for a single class in the entire game, a Geomancer. Intrigued by a magical class oriented weapon, I used my Geass of Information Dominion, or whatever its true name was. [+100 Alma Stoneweaver (Mythical) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (E¡¯er Efficiency SSS+)(Durability S) -E¡¯er Efficiency + 100% ({Lvl 10 Ruby}x10) -Spell Intensity +20% (Enchantment) -INT + 250 -WIS + 200 -CON + 180 -Shifts Geo Formula for weight values *T^2=0.001TE -Petrification Formula *(TL/2+TW+TI)/100=PR -Petrified enemies become (TW/2) % more brittle -When a petrified enemy dies, it shatters, damaging enemies in TL/5 m for PAWx10 -INT + 250 (Transmutation) -WIS + 250 (Transmutation) -DEX + 250 (Transmutation) -Using Geo Formula, (MW/5) % is transformed into a shield around you ¡°What in the flying fuck?¡± I said under my breath. I felt my brow knit at the absolute cluster fuck this weapon turned into. Petrification? That¡¯s new. I once again felt a slight pain behind my eyes. Math is not for me. For a second, I regretted not having honed my skill with numbers beyond the basics. But then, I remember the fulfilling life being an artist allowed me to have. However. There was a stinging pull at the back of my heart accompanied by a mild nausea. This was not Earth anymore, nor was it a game. These ¡®game mechanics¡¯ were now a part of reality, whether I sucked at math or not, it wouldn¡¯t change to accommodate me. What if I faced a stronger enemy that uses magic, or E¡¯er as they called it here? Would I understand enough to know what to do? Could I really just go about with just instincts and overwhelming violence? Perhaps. Would I die because of my ignorance? Most likely. This is not a pg-13 world. My first interaction with a human was them trying to kill me. I could consider myself lucky the power difference was so large. I noticed my eyes stung as a few tears ran down my face. The frustration that comes when one feels stupid, something I had not experienced in many years. The anger that comes with said frustration reared its ugly head. What do artistic skills matter when I can''t understand if the equation in front of me is simple or not? Though I¡¯d never seriously consider myself stupid, I was painfully aware the abilities I developed with much effort were not really useful in my current situation. I had a retarded amount of money, I realistically didn¡¯t need to work anymore. I could buy a country and have spare money for a few others. Would that make me happy? Just sitting around, doing nothing. Not at all. What I really wanted, even if it sounded childish, was to explore this brand new world I knew nothing about. To quench that thirst that plagued humanity the last few centuries. Born too late to explore the world, born too early to explore the stars. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The Elf resting on my lap said my kind live for thousands of years. Would I hold on for that long living behind safe walls? No. It would be an exciting life if I went around, meeting new people. Maybe I could find people from my world. The thought was not that far-fetched. If my gut was right, Halves were people from other worlds, holding onto that secret with dear life. Most could very well be newly born entities. But the chance was there. Even the wild thought of my fellow friends from the game having been brought here crossed my mind, but that would be a fat chance. Better not cling to false hope. I hiccuped as I wiped the tears from my face with some joke item napkins. Better out than clog inside. I put the staff away, taking out the continuation of the journals I began reading last night. Even if just a little, crying always clears the mind. And surely enough, as the day darkened with the coming of late evening, I finished the sixth volume and Lapia was beginning to rouse from her nap, I noticed tall walls in the distance. ¡°Good morning sleepyhead.¡± I whispered in her ear as I caressed her head and gently nudged her shoulder. ¡°Riverfield is in sight.¡± Her ear twitched a little and she slowly opened her eyes. She smiled and sighed. ¡°This pillow feels divine.¡± she yawned. ¡°And your voice is even better, silvery and smokey at the same time.¡± sitting up, she took a juice I offered from my inventory, along with a dumpling. ¡°I know, right?¡± I touched my throat. A few quick memories of comments about my vocal prowess flashed in my mind. I took pride in my voice, not minding vanity. ¡°What would I give to have you wake me up everyday.¡± she said, smirking at me. ¡°That one was pretty good.¡± I admitted. Feeling a small heat in my chest, a smile forming on my face. I noticed the city walls in the distance were actually massive, easily reaching hundreds of meters. I was baffled for a few seconds. Right, magic. I reminded myself. The ivory white was a stark contrast to the greenery of the forest and the blue sky. The two suns bathing the view, making for a surreal sight. I let out a breath of amazement. ¡°Pretty, isn¡¯t it?¡± she said, staring at the city. ¡°True.¡± was all I could say. As we got closer, the forest gave way to open land. The river flowed into an underground tunnel, clearly man-made. The ground that wasn¡¯t road had vibrant green grass growing, with the occasional tree popping here and there. Roads that surrounded the forest connected to the one we were using, and we passed a few crossroads with poles that held signs informing of which direction was what city, town, port and many more. A particularly large sign that showed up frequently read ¡®Riverfield Ahead¡¯ in different languages. As I marveled on the expansive stretch of land around us, we had neared the city gates, its walls towering in front of us, granting shade. A few guards were stationed on the sides of the road. The horses pulling our cart came to a stop behind an opulent coach lead by a snow white beast. Standing on two sinewy limbs with claws at the end of four thick digits, what looked like scales could be seen on the naked legs that supported a bird shaped body covered in white lustrous fur. A short, broad neck connected to large a head, ending in a short beak. A single guard was conversing with the chauffeur. ¡°Hey.¡± I pointed at the bird-like creatures. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I gently elbowed Lapia to get her attention. ¡°Hawcans?¡± she looked over at the animals in question. ¡°Appraise them and you¡¯ll see their names.¡± I turned to her. ¡°Is that the verb you use when you read the thing you told me?¡± I asked, now finally having a confirmed term instead of calling it with cringe names. I focused on the birds again and appraised them. [Hawcan, Lvl 23] Nothing else? ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the word.¡± she nodded as she produced a few coins from her own profound storage of myriad dimensions. ¡°You can appraise things you don¡¯t know the name of, E''er will grant you knowledge.¡± The coach in front of us moved forward and a soldier looking fellow approached us. His armor was dull grey leather with sober blue details. ¡°Good Eve-haaaahhhh.¡± his greeting turned into a long, tired sigh when he saw me. His posture slouched slightly and he brought a hand to his face, sighing deeply once more. ¡°Welcome back to Riverfield.¡± He nodded towards Lapia. ¡°Your cart is limited to two beasts of burden, then it¡¯s five coppers per horse. Five silver coins for Halves. Twenty copper for the cart, and ten copper for you, Lady Lapia.¡± He sighed once again. ¡°Lord Punten¡¯s associates pay half, so it¡¯ll be two silver, eighty five copper.¡± he extended a hand, waiting for the coins. Lapia reeled back a bit. ¡°Five silver for Halves?!¡± her expression turned complicated. ¡°She was attacked on the road, I¡¯ll cover the fee.¡± I took a golden coin and handed it to the man. He sighed, louder this time. ¡°Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll bring your change.¡± He turned and walked to the gate. He disappeared into a door on the inside of the massive wall. ¡°Are you short on money?¡± I turned to Lapia. ¡°Well, yeah.¡± she shrugged. ¡°The bandits must¡¯ve sent someone away with the money they took from us.¡± she showed me her open hand, where mostly gold coins sat, barely three silver and a few coppers. ¡°No worries, I can cover this. The price went up because of me, anyway.¡± I smiled. ¡°Good thing I have endless riches.¡± I laughed like a rich lady. ¡°How much, young lady?¡± she asked in a whisper, acting as if she was a suspicious person. ¡°Take a guess.¡± I said back. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± she thought for a second, squinting her eyes. ¡°Five hundred millions.¡± she said after a second. ¡°Cold.¡± I gave her a shit eating grin. ¡°A billion?¡± ¡°Wow. You skipped a few zeroes.¡± I laughed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she rose her brows. ¡°A billion is nine zeroes.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s a milliard. A billion has twelve zeroes.¡± I brunched my brows. ¡°Then what are fifteen zeroes called?¡± she asked with an inquisitive tone. ¡°A billiard. A trillion has eighteen zeroes. It goes on like that.¡± I gave her a look of disbelief. ¡°Why would a Billion be a thousand millions? Makes no sense.¡± I shook my head. This world used the short scale. Ew. ¡°It does. Anyway, a milliard?¡± she asked, imitating my voice. ¡°I have twelve of MY billions.¡± I thought for a second. ¡°So twelve of your trillion?¡± Her eyes widened to the point they threatened to pop out. ¡°That is indeed endless.¡± ¡°See.¡± I covered my mouth with my hand. ¡°Does the peasant not have enough to pay a gate tax? How embarrassing. Hohoho.¡± The Elf giggled and lightly pushed me, or perhaps she used her full strength. I laughed at such puny efforts, then noticed the gate guard was coming back. ¡°Here is your change, Your Excellency.¡± the man handed me a leather pouch full of coins. ¡°Welcome to Riverfield.¡± he gave me a forced smile. The guards at the gate moved aside. I clicked my tongue at the soldier¡¯s evident discontent, and the horses resumed advancing. We were quickly enveloped by dim lights when the cart entered the wall. I hadn¡¯t thought about it, but the walls seemed to be pretty thick, resulting in a sort of tunnel before entering the city proper. A low rumble grew louder as we approach the end of the tunnel, to the point it became impossible to ignore the thunderous sounds of life inside the city. As we finally crossed the wall, the city was in my sights. Buildings, towers, roads. Everything was the same ivory white of the outer wall. A plaza the size of a stadium filled with hundreds upon hundreds of people going about their lives greeted us, guards here and there walking among the populace. Paved roads split the many buildings, of which some were absurdly tall near the walls. The city was colossal in size. The walls, which could not be seen in their entirety from outside, surrounded the city in a hexagonal shape. Or so I assumed. The sheer amount of buildings, towers, and everything in between blocked the opposite wall from sight. This didn¡¯t look like a city. Metropolis. The word popped in my mind and felt right. Though huge, no building was taller than the walls circling the city. Those I could see, at least. Variety was obvious upon a second look, the only constant was the color and apparent material for construction. ¡°Fuck me...¡± the words left me before I could even register them. The city was a marvel on its own. However, the people too, were a sight to see. I saw people no different than Lapia. Long ears, sharp teeth revealed by wide smiles, the few hands I managed to spot had claw shaped fingernails. [Domi Elf Child, Lvl 6] [Domi Elf, Lvl 26 Merchant] [Faeton Elf, Lvl 52 Warrior] The Domi race, I noticed, was mostly uniform. Lighter shades of hair, skin in the pale to tanned range. The few Faeton I saw had darker complexion and, surprisingly, colorful hair. I saw a red haired female and two green haired children walking with an adult that had their same hair color. Humans were the most numerous. About six out of ten citizens were human. And in that same group, Perco was the most common race. They reminded me of Hispanics back on earth. The others were Celez Humans. Most definitely Caucasians. I was shocked to my bones when I saw animal ears. My mouth went slack and my eyes widened. A single one was conversing with a human at a stall. Long rabbit ears stood at attention. I saw only her back side. Hair white as snow and long to her knees braided in a single rope. Then I noticed the many eyes focused on me. Confusion set in me for a good minute until I heard a child speak. ¡°Ma¡¯, why is that lady glowing?¡± our cart passed close to him and I heard him clearly. ¡°Honey,¡± the mother laughed with love. ¡°she is a Halve. A very powerful person.¡± ¡°More than daddy?¡± the kid asked, hugging her legs. His eyes shone with youthful innocence. A complicated look crossed her face. No good parent would willingly lie to their children. She made a mock thoughtful expression, with a finger on her chin, looking up. ¡°Hmm. I don¡¯t know!¡± she smiled to her son and laughed. ¡°How about you ask him when he returns?¡± We moved past them, a smiled plastered on my face. All is good under heaven. Many people around them must¡¯ve heard the exchange, because I saw smiles all around. That smile that reminds you that life was once simple, peaceful and full of love. ¡°Done being awestruck?¡± the Elf beside me woke me from my trance. ¡°No, not really.¡± I turned to her. ¡°Why?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Them.¡± she nodded to the back, where the horses that previously belonged to the group I massacred followed us. My smile vanished in that moment, an instant of memory made me close my eyes. Blood, organs, flesh everywhere. ¡°We¡¯re going to the closest Watchers office and report what happened.¡± she shrunk slightly, perhaps plagued by the horrors she lived. I placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± I tried to smile, but failed and just squeezed her gently. It was surprisingly easy to control my strength when relatively calm. Maybe I can stick with her in this unknown world. ¡°Thank you.¡± she nodded. ¡°To the right there.¡± she pointed at a turn a few buildings ahead. The horses reacted accordingly and followed her instructions. ¡°Aren¡¯t these horses pretty clever?¡± she stared at the animals in question. ¡°Is it because you¡¯re a Halve?¡± she turned to me. ¡°No, ¡®mountable creatures behave favorably.¡¯ or something like that.¡± I tapped my temple. ¡°I have a skill like that.¡± ¡°Ah, makes sense.¡± she nodded in thought. ¡°Saves us the need to whip them.¡± When the horses turned, I saw a large building that surprisingly was not white. Deep blue walls with the familiar imagery of a pickax and a ship in red, one single floor and a gate wide enough to allow carriages was the only visible entrance. Windows were near the roof, where bars covered them. ¡°There.¡± she gestured to the blue building. ¡°You heard her.¡± I told the horses and, to our surprise, they quickened their pace. The large gate was guarded by some uniformed Humans and Elves in the same fashion as those from the city gate. This time, though, they did not block the way, letting us in pretty easily. The inside held a parking lot kind of place for carts, carriages, single horses and the like. We got off the cart after finding a spot and a woman approached us. ¡°I¡¯m Watcher Ulka. How may I be of service?¡± she spoke loudly, her face straight and looking directly to the front. ¡°Report of bandit activity a few days from Riverfield, along with all their horses and their valuables.¡± Lapia spoke in a clear tone. The woman nodded once, turned around and started walking towards the building. ¡°Please follow me. We will take your statements.¡± she said over her shoulder. We did as asked and entered the building. Though the day had a few remaining hours of natural light, there were lit lamps inside. Hanging from the ceiling and the walls, they did a proper job of illuminating the interior. We were led to an office with little furniture. A desk and five simple wooden chairs. A hanging lamp left no shadows other than the desk. A single window near the top of the ceiling behind the woman. She took a seat and gestured us to do the same. ¡°Please, make yourselves comfortable.¡± she opened a drawer and retrieved a stack of papers and a quill. Lapia sat first, I followed suit. ¡°Please state your name, your occupation, and the events you¡¯d like to report. Take your time if any information is sensitive.¡± Ulka hovered the writing utensil on a form with a bunch of words and lines, ready to begin writing at any moment. ¡°Alright.¡± Lapia sighed. ¡°Lapia Pofeta. Adviser of Lord Punten.¡± she leaned back on the chair. ¡°Thirteen days ago I departed with a small group of five merchants towards Ratunke with a missive from my employer.¡± she took a deep breath. ¡°We never made it. We were assaulted in the middle of the night, my companions killed. I was restrained with Numbing Rope and battered to unconsciousness.¡± she scowled. ¡°For three days I was tortured by those savages. Reprieved of food and water. During the day they robbed and killed. During the night they celebrated their trophies. I heard them talking about going to Kelske to meet with Urgun. I don¡¯t know much, every waking moment I was whipped, punched, stabbed, stepped on...¡± she took a pause. Yikes. I winced internally. That¡¯s brutal as fuck. ¡°They had a healer who kept the more serious wounds from ending my suffering. They purposefully left my legs unbroken, perhaps to give me the false hope that I could escape. I don¡¯t know.¡± she gulped. ¡°On the third day, I heard a massive explosion and then the leader of the group talking to someone. I then called for help and attempted my escape.¡± her voice was now barely a whisper. I rubbed her back in silence. I couldn¡¯t find words that would alleviate her. She shook her head, a few tears going down her pained face. She looked at me and took my other hand. ¡°I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± I said, a knot on my throat. The Watcher nodded, a scowl very visible on the so far stoic woman. ¡°Name, occupation and events, please.¡± her voice was gentle now, not the militaristic screaming from earlier. ¡°Natasha Novak. Newly awakened Halve, no occupation yet.¡± I sighed. I would have killed for a cigarette. The woman nodded and gestured for me to continue. ¡°The leader told one of his goons to check on Lapia here after she screamed for help. When he did so, however, she kicked the man square on the jaw, making him fall. Opportunity she took to make a run for it. In the confusion that followed, the leader tried to cut my head off.¡± I was interrupted by both women snorting, a laugh almost escaping them. ¡°I responded in kind, butchering him in a single strike. Though I had only recently awakened, my instinct guided my actions and I readily followed. I massacred them in a few seconds.¡± I shuddered slightly, an uncomfortable shake in my hands made me scowl. ¡°I helped Lapia with her wounds and we set off to return here. We took their horses and the cart loaded with what they stole.¡± I zoned out in realization of how simply the events could be summarized. A wave of relief overcame me after having recounted the previous days. In the meantime, Lapia gave the Watcher the bandit¡¯s descriptions in case they were seen near other settlements. ¡°Got it.¡± the woman put the quill aside and looked at us. ¡°Thank you very much for your contribution to road safety.¡± she nodded looking at me. ¡°An investigation will begin regarding their identities and their connection to Urgun.¡± Ulka sighed. ¡°I apologize, but I must ask you to leave your vehicle here for the foreseeable future, as it is now criminal evidence.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll spend the night at a nearby inn.¡± ¡°Who is this Urgus guy?¡± I asked. ¡°Urgun, she¡¯s a noble from Kelske, a city six months to the east.¡± the woman answered. ¡°There is no conclusive evidence on our side, so I¡¯d discourage any action taken against her.¡± she looked me directly in the eye. ¡°Just asking.¡± I nodded. ¡°Do you require any medical attention, Lady Lapia?¡± the Watcher asked looking at her body. ¡°Not really, Natasha¡¯s help was enough to only need a week of rest and good meals.¡± the elf smiled. ¡°Good to hear.¡± she stared at both of us for a few seconds. ¡°Anything else I can do for you?¡± Lapia shook her head. ¡°That¡¯d be all. Thanks for your time.¡± she stood up, I did too. ¡°Doing my duty.¡± the woman stood up and smiled. Or at least tried to. It looked positively out of place. ¡°Allow me to escort you outside.¡± We followed her outside and parted ways from the fantasy police officer. Back out on the streets, the suns were hidden behind the walls. On every turn, bright lamps that kept the city from plunging into darkness hang from tall poles. Though we didn¡¯t spend that long inside, the walls were tall enough to shorten the amount of direct sunlight. ¡°What now?¡± I asked, looking around at the people still out. Clothes seemed to be mostly made of cotton, leather and linen. Footwear was mostly metallic in composition. A few armored people walked about, with weapons strapped on their backs or waists. ¡°Food.¡± she simply responded. ¡°There¡¯s a pretty good inn a few blocks away. Would you join me?¡± she looked me in the eye. I noticed I had to lower my gaze to meet hers. I had no reference in this brand new world, but back home, I proudly stood at 186cm last time I measured. If my height remained the same, she was around 170cm tall. The wonders of a calm mind. ¡°Sure.¡± I nodded. ¡°I could use some fresh food.¡± ¡°This way, then.¡± she smiled and turned. Our journey towards food and proper rest began. ¡°How many people live in this city?¡± I asked as we walked side by side. ¡°According to last year census, about ten million I¡¯d say.¡± we took a turn to the right as we came to the street. ¡°Humans, Elves, Dwarfs, Lupum, Tigea and Luzo live here. The general populace is inclined to younger people. The term relative to each species, of course.¡± A coach drove past us, red horses with ox-like horns adorning their heads pulling the vehicle. [Bhin, Lvl 36] [Bhin, Lvl 81] My eyes followed the odd creatures. ¡°What do Lupum look like?¡± Nothing of the name hinted at what it was. She turned to me. ¡°Wait.¡± she stopped me. ¡°Let me clarify that comments about other species¡¯ features or ancestry might not be well received. You might be capable of slaughtering the entire city withing minutes, but civility is very much welcome anywhere in the world. While I understand you have little information about pretty much anything, other might not be so tolerant.¡± she gave me a complicated smile. ¡°What¡¯s something I shouldn¡¯t ask or say, then?¡± I asked. This world has political correctness? ¡°Things like comparing an individual to their ancestors. We all see them with respect.¡± she thought for a second. ¡°I¡¯ll give you an example, but don¡¯t ever repeat it.¡± she stared me in the eye. ¡°Okay?¡± I nodded weakly. ¡°If you tell a Lupum that they ¡®fuck quick and often, just like a rabbit¡¯ publicly, they¡¯ll go for your throat no matter who you are.¡± her gaze intensified as I stifled a laugh. ¡°You gotta admit that¡¯s pretty funny.¡± I looked away. ¡°So the current people all have ancestry from animals?¡± I changed the subject. ¡°Yes.¡± she nodded. ¡°Except Halves.¡± we resumed our capricious chase of culinary creations. ¡°How about Elves?¡± ¡°Foxes.¡± she replied. ¡°What?¡± I stopped dead in my tracks, interrupting our walk. ¡°That¡¯s awesome! Foxes? Wow.¡± I shot like a machine-gun, staring at her with wide eyes. Lapia blushed and looked away. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°What about the others you mentioned?¡± my eyes were sparkling with wonder as we resumed our walk. ¡°Tigeas are feline, Luzos are reptile.¡± she said, and quickly added. ¡°Do not call them cats or lizards.¡± ¡°I see.¡± she caught the words before I even said them. ¡°How do people go about having pets, then?¡± I asked, the idea popping into my head. ¡°Pets?¡± she turned to me. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Animals you keep for company?¡± I explained. ¡°If you mean what I think you mean, animals which birthed the sentient species are no longer around. The very few that do, are protected as national treasures in the descendants¡¯ main countries.¡± she said as we crossed a street. ¡°Got it.¡± then I remembered her own words. ¡°How do people know how rabbits reproduced?¡± ¡°Lupum are a fairly young species, so their ancestors are still around.¡± she pointed at a building a good thirty meters away. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± 5 - Food! Talk! Rest? The thing screamed high class hotel. Five stories of the same marble-like material with a definitely modern architecture. Warm light bled into the street and a low buzz of activity reached us as we approached. Rather than the fantasy inn I imagined it would be, it wouldn¡¯t feel out of place in Dubai. Minus the nearby buildings almost sticking to it, of course. Talk about suspension of disbelief. I sighed. The hall that greeted us was wide and furnished with wooden tables, chairs, desks, all the works. Three people were sitting inside, each by themselves. A short man stood behind an exquisitely crafted counter, smiling at us when we came in. ¡°Welcome to West Cyr Inn.¡± he greeted us with a slight bow. ¡°How may I be of service?¡± Lapia put a gold coin in front of him. ¡°One night, dinner and breakfast.¡± ¡°Certainly, Lady Lapia.¡± he turned to me. ¡°Your Excellency, I must ask that you please return all heavy objects into your Storage. While we pride ourselves in the structural capabilities of the city¡¯s buildings, anything too heavy would pose danger not only to your companion, but also other guests.¡± his smile tightened slightly and he avoided eye contact. I turned to Lapia with an expression that would best be described as ¡®shocked out of my wits¡¯. This dude is amazing. The stance, the tone, the treatment. I was convinced we were received by the best employee there was. ¡°The armor¡¯s not that heavy, but sure.¡± the receptionist relaxed visibly. I reached up to my shoulders and unclasped the tight buckle that kept the shoulder plate in place. It fell into my hand and it dissolved into my storage. That¡¯s apparently the name. I repeated the process until my chest plate was next and noticed him blushing profusely. Oi. This is not a show. I thought. Then noticed him looking away uncomfortably. Ah. I realized. If a dude were to undress in front of a gal, that would be her reaction in his position. I turned around and walked to a pillar, standing out of sight. The rest of the process went smoothly, as I had already done this a few times, the stress drilling the actions to memory. After finishing, I stood wearing only the stretchy leather garments, which felt more like sports clothes than leather armor meant for brutal combat. Feels like yoga pants. The material hugged my body in a comfortable way, at the same time revealing the shape of my body for all to see. That in itself was not a problem, as I had frequented beaches and events wearing even less. I felt vulnerable in a primal, instinctual way. As if something would come out of nowhere aiming for my vitals. I took a deep breath. Focusing on the present. I¡¯m durable. I told myself. The vivid memory of the bandit¡¯s blade shattering against my unprotected skin replaying in my mind¡¯s eye. A long breath leaving my lungs and my muscles relaxing. I returned to the reception desk, my armor now in my storage. The man smiling and Lapia looking positively tired. ¡°Here¡¯s the key to your room.¡± the man handed Lapia a metallic key. She took it and headed to the stairs on the other side of the hall. I followed the Elf up to the third floor. We stood in front of a door with the number ¡®305¡¯ on it. She opened it and we entered a spacious room with a large King sized bed and various other furniture; a desk, night stands and foldable chairs leaning on a wall. A window showed the city in it¡¯s now late evening state, thousands of streetlights showing an image I was no stranger of. I walked to a table on the left side of the room, opposite from the bed and took a seat. The cushion was comfortable and the height was just right. Lapia sat directly in front of me. ¡°Dinner will arrive in around thirty minutes to an hour.¡± she informed me. ¡°Sounds great.¡± I supported my chin on my hands, leaning on the table. ¡°So, as you might imagine, I have quite the number of questions.¡± ¡°I bet.¡± she sighed. ¡°First of all.¡± I pulled a golden potion from my inventory. If things would progress the way I hoped they would, I¡¯d need the elf at her best and full of energy. ¡°I need to know if potions, or elixirs as you called them, have any side effects or a limit to them.¡± I put the 500cc bottle between us. ¡°They do.¡± she eyed the item. ¡°Much like most things in life, excess is bad.¡± she took the bottle and examined it closer. ¡°Potions are everyday medicine. Elixirs are magnitudes higher in potency, price and quality.¡± she looked at me. ¡°I assume this is better than anything you gave me?¡± ¡°It is, by far.¡± I wasn¡¯t lying. The first potion I gave her was a Lvl 100 potion, of which I had a considerable amount. The second one was a Lvl 20 potion, those were scarce on my storage, but did their job properly; localized healing if I understood things. The golden concoction was a Lvl 300 potion, it restored health, mana, stamina and boosted stats for a short duration. Those I had in large quantities. ¡°I¡¯m about to go teacher mode. You okay with that?¡± she placed the potion on the table and looked at me. ¡°Go ahead.¡± I nodded. ¡°You use a potion to alleviate pain. A headache, a sprain, cramps, you get it.¡± I nodded. ¡°Better potions treat light ailments. A cold, asthma, seizures. Instances of biological disorder, and light chronic illnesses.¡± she leaned back on her chair. ¡°Keyword being treat. They do not cure the ailment. Higher quality potions can stop bleeding, cure minor ailments and in general better the drinker¡¯s overall health. Those take time, though. Patients would drink them for long periods of time for them to show their effects. Master potioneers can brew something akin to what you gave me when I broke my finger.¡± she knit her brow at that, a hint of embarrassment on her face. ¡°True geniuses can create what you gave me first.¡± she continued nonetheless, her eyes set on mine. ¡°Elixir of Life. Heal wounds, broken bones, bruises, the works.¡± she pointed at the bottle on the table. ¡°The higher quality a potion or elixir, the less impurities it would have, leading to less side effects.¡± she scratched her forehead for a second. ¡°I have drank many potions and elixirs in my life, and none were as positive as the ones you gave me. I believe they have no downsides. That¡¯s how pure they are.¡± she put a hand on top of the potion. ¡°What does this one do? All it says is ¡®Rejuvenation¡¯.¡± [Elixir of Rejuvenation] ¡°Holy shit.¡± I exclaimed, a pleased smile on my face. ¡°You summarized that so well. Damn.¡± I nodded approvingly at the Elf. ¡°It shows you know your shit.¡± ¡°I would hope so.¡± she smiled. ¡°And thank you.¡± ¡°It does a lot, really. I don¡¯t know the exact extent, as I have yet to drink it. If it works as I think it does, it should restore you to your best.¡± I gestured to the potion. ¡°What I¡¯m worried about the most, is addiction.¡± My eyes drilled Lapia¡¯s. ¡°A very sober thought.¡± she nodded at my words. ¡°I have no antidotes or that kind of medicine on me, unfortunately.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± I searched my inventory and found many antidotes to poisons and magical effects, but none for addiction. ¡°Let me try it first.¡± I grabbed the bottle and undid the cork. I brought the drink to my lips and noticed Lapia watching me intently. I took a sip and the moment the liquid came into contact with my tongue, I instantly recognized the taste of caffeine. My tongue, however, was not used to the flavor, having being reborn anew. I choked. Hard. The bitterness was all invasive, my eyes watered and I coughed like a madwoman. ¡°This cough! shit cough! tastes vile.¡± I continued coughing for a full minute. I quickly read my status and found the numbers raising slightly. I had only taken a sip, and little of that made it to my stomach. ¡°How do you feel?¡± she asked, worry evident on her face. A smile forced itself through the grimace the foul drink brought on my face. ¡°Normal, works as I thought it would.¡± I said after calming down. ¡°Take a sip. It¡¯s pretty strong.¡± I handed over the flask. She carefully took the potion from my hands, a wary look on her face. She closed her eyes and took a tiny sip. Her eyes shot open. ¡°What do you mean it tastes vile.¡± she took swig, a pleased sigh escaping her lips. ¡°This is divine.¡± ¡°New tongue.¡± I said. ¡°Take it easy.¡± I warned, reaching for the bottle. She let it go. Her eyes glazed and the effects were instant. Her skin went from slightly discolored to a healthy tan in a second. Its shriveled state one would associate with a malnourished individual disappearing completely. Her so far unruly chestnut hair turned dark blonde and silky straight with a healthy shine to it. Her face filled in and her cheeks were no longer slightly sunken. Her body followed suit, filling out where fat had vanished due to starvation. Breasts, hips and legs thickening to a perfect triangle. Her hips widening to fill a meaty behind, thighs with a healthy tone to them and perky breasts. Her clothes were several sizes smaller than what she should have been wearing. Dark blonde hair like soft sunshine flowed down her shoulders. Her skin like brown sugar looked supple, flexible and youthful. Her facial features were defined and sharp. Her dazzling almond shaped emerald green eyes looked at me for a second and I felt my heart skip a beat. My jaw fell. I even looked under the table to see her legs. There was not a single blemish visible on her. I quickly looked away. Oh no. She¡¯s hot! I screamed inside. The woman in front of me was not the half corpse I had met. The few elves I saw earlier must have been way under the line that Lapia drew when it came to beauty. I reluctantly turned my gaze back to her. ¡°How do you feel?¡± I asked. My voice came out as a croak. Her emerald shining eyes locked with mine. ¡°Like never before.¡± she smiled and I saw beauty for the first time in this world. The kind that would turn one stupid. I felt myself gulping by reflex. I kept my face cool. This was an Elf that flirted like there was no tomorrow. ¡°I can see where that earlier confidence came from.¡± the words left me before I could stop them. What am I, a teenager? I chastised myself. Fortunately, my comment came out as a sarcastic comment rather than gay panic. She laughed and her voice tickled the base of my skull. Even her vocal cords improved. The woman in front of me was such a surreal difference from the previous creature, it made me think how much abuse she went through. Also just how above average she really was, that even in that state of utter famine, she was not absolutely horrid. Like a diamond you find underground; you¡¯d find it pretty, but until it was polished and processed, its true beauty would be hidden. My ridiculous comparisons returned, revealing my state of mind. My feelings were a mess. I couldn¡¯t simply say ¡®wow you look way better¡¯, that¡¯d make her feel even more miserable about how ruined she was the past few days. Neither could I keep quiet. Were it me in her position, I¡¯d like some encouraging words. Unless this world¡¯s people mental strength is high as clouds. She was examining her hands. Her fingernails, or claws, grew a couple centimeters and became sharper, her digits now sleek and refined. Her teeth were not the wretched grayed out bones they were, she wouldn¡¯t look out of place in a toothpaste commercial. Their sharpness was delicate, hidden behind plump, full, soft pink lips that glistened like fine china. I realized I was staring when descriptive words became over the top. ¡°Now I¡¯m closer to your divine looks, though I still lack a bit.¡± she said with a smirk as she checked her changes. ¡°No way.¡± I snorted. ¡°You¡¯re way above.¡± I waved her comment away. She stared at me with unimpressed eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve absorbed sunlight. Go check yourself on the mirror.¡± she pointed at a door behind me. ¡°What do you mean? I just glow with sunlight, don¡¯t I?.¡± I tilted my head, having forgotten my own species features. ¡°Yes, you glow. You also absorb it and improve yourself with it.¡± she stood up. ¡°Go, I need to change clothes in the meantime. This are too tight.¡± she said, pulling at the linen pants she was wearing. Those were about to burst, her bottom was that thick. I went to the door, a bathroom inside. I was surprised for a second, but then again, in a world of magic, people with incredible lifespans could easily come up with construction technology. Egyptians had pipes thousands of years ago for fucks sake, why couldn¡¯t a dwarf or something think of it. I stood in front of a full body mirror and froze. My mind reeled for a minute until I understood that the reflection in front of me was of myself. Gold. The color was everywhere. My skin, my hair, my lips, my eyes. I did, in fact, look like I was touched by King Midas. There was no uncanny feeling, however. I did not look like a statue, just a really golden person. My hair was braided as I did every morning, shades darker than my skin. I pulled it in front of me and it reached my knees. That didn¡¯t change. My lips were a pale gold, full and plump. I pouted and even I was struck by the effect. I smiled and platinum silver teeth showed themselves. What the fuck. I took a step forward. They looked like chromium. ¡°And then act like I don¡¯t know nobody.¡± I imitated a dude from a video from years ago, and the image was hilarious. Though they were not diamond, it was still funny. Though I was actively trying not to look, my eyes were next. Though fascinating, they were not something that overly shocked me. If my skin was a glowing gold, my hair a dull gold, my eyes were the color of molten gold. My pupils were strangely crossed horizontally by my iris. It was weird, but didn¡¯t impair my vision. ¡°Quite pretty.¡± I whispered. I took my clothes off and admired my new body, keeping the underwear on. Contrary to what I thought would happen, my skin was uniform in its golden hue, veins and arteries noticeable here and there along with muscles underneath. The nature of my skin left me guessing at their color, perhaps too thick or the color too rich. I hope I never see my blood. I made an angry face and I noticed the line in my eyes turning into an X. Weird, but acceptable. Truth be told, it was mostly the same face I had before with slight adjustments and a higher quality of beauty. Sharper eyes, better skin and finer features. I turned my head to the side and noticed sharp ears. Though not long as Lapia¡¯s, they had a pointy end. My tongue was longer, easily reaching the underside of my chin. It too, was golden. Compared to running water, a mirror showed way more details. I moved my top aside and saw light golden nipples. Figures. I chuckled. I held my breasts and pushed them up, not feeling a difference in weight. I supported them with an arm and with the other held my chin, smiling seductively. Pretty effective. Gonna take a while to get used, I might turn into a narcissist. I took a long look at the reflection. Broad shoulders, strong arms, medium sized breasts, sculpted abs, a tight muscled waist and wide hips with a meaty bottom followed by thick toned thighs. Pretty hot. I agreed with Lapia. I imagined my body would have looked like this if I went to the gym when I was a teenager. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. I looked at my hands and examined my digits. My fingernails were a far cry from Elven claws, though looked like they would rend skin and flesh nonetheless. Half the length of Lapia¡¯s, they were a silvery color similar to my teeth. I looked closer and noticed my fingerprints were straight, vertical lines. Then I looked down. The final hurdle. My penis. I took a deep breath and took my underwear off, returning them to my storage when they came off. There it hung in its golden glory. I gently grabbed it and raised it, checking underneath. No testicles. I felt myself release a breath of relief I did not register I was holding. There was no pubic hair either. The only noticeable details were the veins under my skin. I could not hold the entire thing with my hand, and my fingers barely closed around it. I felt a shudder run down my spine to the pit of my stomach. I had experienced one of these monsters a few times in the past. Moving past glorious memories, I began slowly pulling back. The foreskin retreating and the glans coming in contact with the air sent a paralyzing shiver from my tailbone to the top of my head. I powered through. Every freed centimeter sent stronger signals to my brain. I clenched my teeth. The sensation was extremely alien. It reminded me of stimulating the clitoris, but in a much, much larger scale. My butt hole was tightened and my legs tense. At last, I had finished the process. There, a dull golden glans connected to the end of the member. The urethra was considerably darker in shade. I sighed, the stimulation was too much. As I finished checking that, I reached down and confirmed my vulva was just behind the penis. I checked and the mythical clitoris was there. It hadn¡¯t been replaced. That raised many questions inside my head, but I ignored them. Those were not important, really. I slowly traced a finger across my labia, checking if anything was amiss. Everything was fine under heaven. However, I felt a pulse coming from my phallus. Slowly but surely, I was having an erection. The entire thing was beating at the rhythm of my heart, bouncing as I let it go. In but a few seconds, there stood what could be called a massive cock. A few memories made my breath quicken, and I tried to quash them. I took deep breaths, closing my eyes and letting my mind wander into whatever it was it wanted to explore. Two minutes later, my rhythmic breathing and hands on my hips helped return my new partner back to its regular, though still large, shape. Was that stress or tiredness? I wondered. I wasn¡¯t aroused or excited. Maybe the pulling back did that. Or all the above. I was satisfied with that conclusion. I put the underwear back on and ran a hand through my now shrunk manhood? Pecker? Dick? I found nothing that would indicate I had one in the first place. Truly magical panties. I turned around and flexed my back muscles. "Hmmm." I purred at the sight of my own muscles. I took a last look at my Halve body and summoned a regular black t-shirt, a white hoodie and gray sweatpants. I stopped and returned them. I tried wearing them directly from my storage. The first time nothing happened. I then visualized them on me and made the mental exercise of pulling them to reality. The shirt was on, but the hoodie was backwards, the pants had only one leg in, falling to the tiled floor. I repeated the action in reverse, and they disappeared into my storage. Five minutes went by and results were varied. Finally, I imagined myself dressing up and summoned the clothes. This time it was a complete success. Praised be E¡¯er affinity! I raised both arms in a Y shape. I left the bathroom and saw Lapia sitting on the table, wearing a white dress that covered both front and back. Her long legs were bare along with her arms. The piece of clothing hugging her body. ¡°That was fast.¡± she said, setting a thin book aside, her eyes going over my body. ¡°What are those?¡± her eyebrows raised. ¡°Comfy clothes.¡± I gestured at her choice of garments. ¡°What are those?¡± I asked back, sitting down at the table. ¡°Everyday clothes.¡± she said reaching for my hoodie. ¡°May I?¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± I extended an arm, allowing the Elf to feel the material. She ran a hand up my arm, grabbing the hood of the item. ¡°Feels nice.¡± she said leaning back looking me in the eyes and smirking. ¡°Beats wearing leather.¡± I pulled the neckline. ¡°More room to breathe.¡± my face heated up and I looked away for a second. ¡°You look...¡± she stared at me for a few seconds. ¡°More relaxed.¡± she smiled. ¡°I do feel that way.¡± I looked at her. ¡°You too.¡± ¡°All thanks to you.¡± she supported her chin with a hand, elbow on the table. We looked each other in the eye for a few minutes. ¡°I don¡¯t really know what to say.¡± I giggled, unconsciously pouting. Lapia smiled. ¡°Me neither.¡± she sighed. ¡°I feel really grateful, and I know that saying ¡®thank you¡¯ all the time is tiring. So I don¡¯t.¡± she offered her hand across the table. ¡°Sometimes...¡± I took it, her warm digits entwining with mine. ¡°Silence and action is the best.¡± I nodded, relaxing on my seat and caressing her hand with my thumb. ¡°Is there anything you want to ask?¡± she said. ¡°In terms of the world, I mean.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up with the numbers I see when I read my information?¡± I recalled them and though I understood the growth rate, not much else was clear. Reality too different from the game I was accustomed to. ¡°Those are representations of your might. Strength is self explanatory, constitution shows how tough you are, intelligence is your potency when manipulating E¡¯er, and it has nothing to do with a person¡¯s mental capacity when learning things. Wisdom represents how much E¡¯er you have available for manipulation. Dexterity is also self explanatory.¡± she smiled. ¡°Growing up, people absorb E¡¯er from their surroundings and improve their bodies. One can train the body and mind to absorb E¡¯er in different ways. Once enough skills are learned, the ''system'' labels them with a globally agreed upon term.¡± ¡°What are skills, then?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Is reading and writing not a skill?¡± ¡°Not specific enough to belong to a class. Not anymore.¡± she shook her head. ¡°Accessibility to education increased to the point that everybody would have the same class if it was treated as such.¡± small purple sparks flew from her finger. ¡°I studied E¡¯er, becoming a Wizard. Then I specialized my knowledge in Pyromancy. I first learned to manipulate E¡¯er into thermal energy, then controlling enough of it to produce flames. Fire has many uses, and the system recognizes such skills under that class.¡± ¡°Would you not be a Pyromancer if the system didn¡¯t recognize them?¡± I asked. ¡°I¡¯d be a higher level Wizard, though specialized, becoming a High Wizard.¡± she nodded. ¡°Classes are founded that way, a group of people share their knowledge and the system recognizes their skills to be specific and attainable enough to be a class.¡± she smiled. ¡°That is an amazingly good thing. It forces the scholastic elite that prides themselves in being unique to get off their high horses.¡± she chuckled. ¡°What happens to being a Wizard, is it replaced by the new class?¡± Reality turned fantasy was astonishing. ¡°Not entirely. Basic techniques remain, and the rest either transform or change into something else.¡± she raised a finger. ¡°Take a warrior for example.¡± and pointed at me. ¡°Basic training would require you to be aware of your surroundings, to exert yourself and survive combat. Techniques would be learned so that you act accordingly. Then a warrior takes up a spear and trains with it. Previous techniques would still be there, but the most important ones would transform into spear related skills, due to the warrior understanding and linking them to newly acquired knowledge.¡± she tapped her temple. ¡°This rules everything, the ''system'' just shows you.¡± ¡°How do you learn skills, then?¡± I got a little confused. ¡°Take your own example, how do you learn to read?¡± she smiled, then realized something. ¡°Except Halves, you are born knowing.¡± I nodded. ¡°Repetition, then.¡± "That''s right. When you have mastered knowledge of something, you integrate it into yourself, allowing E''er expenditure, transforming it into a skill." I thought of something. ¡°How many classes can be obtained?¡± ¡°Well, it depends.¡± she gave me a wry smile. ¡°At first, your body can only hold so much E¡¯er, so the number of skills that can be recognized are somewhat limited. At the age of ten, as you reach level ten, also, the E¡¯er within you reacts to your knowledge, some can choose if they know too many skills that can be recognized. Then when one reaches level one hundred, E¡¯er within you has become dense enough to allow further recognition. Then at two hundred and fifty in both classes, then five hundred in three. The rest is up to speculation.¡± What? Is this a cultivation world? ¡°What do you mean choose?¡± I asked, that caught my attention. ¡°Well, will you follow the path of a warrior, wizard, scout, archer, craftsman?¡± she looked at me like the answer was obvious. ¡°Who has the time to learn it all? A wizard who exercises regularly won¡¯t gain combat classes, their time is mostly occupied with learning the Laws of E¡¯er.¡± ¡°What if some classes share some general knowledge?¡± A few classes from the game coming to mind. ¡°If an archer crafts their own bows and arrows, for example.¡± If the classes were similar, that¡¯d be easier for me in the future. ¡°They¡¯ll be a Fletcher.¡± she answered instantly. ¡°A warrior that crafts their own armor and weapons will be a Squire. Though none like the name.¡± she chuckled. ¡°A wizard that does similarly will be an Enchanter.¡± she smiled. ¡°There¡¯s enough variety in classes to cover most niche activities, because there was a group of individuals that shared their knowledge and were recognized, receiving a name.¡± ¡°I see.¡± those classes I remembered. ¡°What if I started studying the laws of E¡¯er, then?¡± I remembered the formulas from the staff. I grimaced internally. ¡°You¡¯re a Halve, E¡¯er would become second nature faster than any species. But depending on its nature, the new class wouldn¡¯t complement previous ones.¡± she thought for a second. ¡°Most people who go out and venture the world group with others that compensate for their weaknesses. Perculis joined with Helena and Rozaria, a healer and a warrior respectively.¡± ¡°What was he?¡± I asked, this Perculis fellow was brought up again. ¡°An Archon.¡± she said as someone knocked on the door. ¡°Our food is here.¡± She stood up, and went to opened the door. A middle aged lady pushed a trolley into the room, the smell of roasted meat permeating the previously odorless space. She was wearing a white apron on top of a black dress of sorts. She looked like a maid. She smiled at us and gestured at the various containers on the trolley. ¡°Roasted boar, boiled vegetables, fruits and rice.¡± they were covered by silver domes. She took them off one by one and the smell intensified. She carried the pots containing the vegetables and rice to the table, the meat laying on a slab of metal. The fruits sat on a basket she placed next to me, smiling. She put two wooden plates on the table along with silverware I doubted was silver. She grabbed a thick cloth, covering the sides of the metal slab holding the meat, and put it in the middle of the table on top of another piece of thick cloth. From under the trolley, she produced three glass bottles and a medium sized barrel. One bottle was what looked like wine, the others juice and water. The barrel had a tap for serving the contents. She put glasses and cups on the table and pushed the trolley to the door. ¡°Have a nice meal, and an even better night, ladies.¡± she smiled and left, closing the door behind her. I glanced at the food, feeling a rumble on my insides. I wasn¡¯t particularly hungry, but the display was seducing my senses. ¡°Let¡¯s dig in, then.¡± Lapia said with a wide smile, her sharp teeth peeking from under her succulent lips. Stop that. I halted the line of though. People¡¯s lips aren¡¯t succulent. My attention back on the food, I took a slice of pork and some vegetables that were actually just potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower. The meat was delicious and the vegetables rich in flavor. I finished eating quickly. I reached for the water bottle, but was stopped by Lapia¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s alcohol.¡± she warned me. ¡°What kind?¡± I took the bottle anyway and inspected its contents. ¡°Potato spirit.¡± she said, taking a bite from her food. My eyes went wide. Vodka?! I removed the cap, squashing the thin metal under my grip in my haste. I sniffed the contents and surely enough, the overpowering smell of high percentage alcohol assaulted my nose and my face scrunched up. My lips met the bottle and long gulps went through my throat. ¡°Yooo...¡± Lapia¡¯s surprised voice matched her face. ¡°This is pretty good.¡± I said, licking my lips. I drank a third in one go. It was pretty mediocre if I was honest, but high quality is not necessary for vodka to be good. ¡°Let¡¯s hope your liver is as strong as you are.¡± she shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to deal with a drunk Halve.¡± she shuddered at her words. I ate more meat as I drank the vodka. Lapia took her time with her meal, annihilating the vegetables mostly by herself. When we finished, the rice pot sat almost untouched, the Elf eating very little and me not bothering with it. The fruits were juicy and sweet, an assortmentof tiny apples and pears. ¡°That hit the spot.¡± she sighed and leaned back on her seat. I had finished the alcohol, a pleasant buzz at the back of my head, a smile on my face. The Elf was drinking something that looked and smelled like beer, served from the small barrel. ¡°Hey, Natasha.¡± her voice was tired and smooth. I perked up at her calling me directly by my name for the first time. ¡°What¡¯s it like, waking up as a Halve?¡± she took a long sip from her drink. ¡°Confusing, exciting, scary.¡± I recalled the first days. ¡°I thought it would be an epic tale of adventure, friendship and romance. Then I killed ten people in the blink of an eye.¡± my hand shook and a jolt went up my spine, a queasy feeling in my chest. ¡°Want to know a little something?¡± she looked at me with a smirk. I nodded. ¡°You are the second Halve I¡¯ve met, and you both show the same symptoms after your first kill.¡± her smirk turned into a shit eating grin. ¡°Your body will remember the rush. It will try to reenact the flood of adrenaline and emotion until you do it again. Whether beast or people, the second kill is cathartic.¡± I had recognized the withdrawal, but didn¡¯t want to label it as such. Both because I thought it was mental trauma and because it was too fast to form an addiction. I wasn¡¯t particularly haunted by the faces of those I killed. It was the memory of the shower of guts and blood that made me quiver. The very next day I realized my reaction to the events was more an emotional overload than disgust, and yet I did not address it. ¡°How come?¡± though the alcohol buzz was there, it was not enough to impair my thoughts. My liver lived up to expectations. ¡°No clue.¡± she shrugged. ¡°Your minds are constructed for conflict, perhaps?¡± she waved that off. ¡°Matters not. I see you struggling with something when you mention the bandits you killed, and that is perfectly normal. If you choose not to kill again, it will fade with time. If you choose to kill, it will instantly disappear.¡± she gave me a gentle smile. ¡°Both choices are fine.¡± ¡°Sounds more complicated than I feel it.¡± I told her. ¡°However, I see your point. Thanks.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Anyway. Do you have a general idea of what you want to do from now on?¡± ¡°Go around, explore, see the world.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve no need for money, I don¡¯t like the thought of staying behind walls, and a whole world sounds too exciting to pass on.¡± ¡°Great.¡± she had a weirdly excited smile, but covered her mouth and let out a long yawn. ¡°I¡¯m spent.¡± ¡°Same.¡± I said, the buzz from the alcohol and the relaxation of being out of relative danger allowed for tiredness to creep in. ¡°It¡¯s pretty late.¡± I looked out the window and the dark sky was surprisingly not stained by the many streetlights. Lapia stood up and walked to the window, closing the curtains. I removed my underwear with the super amazing power of storage and sighed in relief as my chest was liberated from the constrains of the surprisingly comfortable swimsuit. No piece of garment in existence would beat the feeling of freed breasts. My new partner dangled inside my sweatpants, slightly uncomfortable, but not out of place. I also removed the hoodie, leaving me in my sweatpants and t-shirt. The King sized bed was bouncy and comfortable, the sheets smooth on my naked feet and arms. I saw Lapia undressing and entering her side of the bed naked, she lied on her stomach and her butt stuck out from under the covers. That¡¯s a thicc ass. I commented in my mind. She waved towards the lamp on the ceiling and the light turned off. I closed my eyes, relaxing my breathing and mind. ¡°Hey.¡± a whisper next to me made me turn. Lapia grabbed my arm and closed in. ¡°Good night.¡± she gave me a quick kiss on the lips. ¡°Sleep well.¡± I said back, caressing her face and smiling. I closed my eyes again, and this time no horny flirty Elf kept me from falling asleep.
Screeches and growls surrounded me. The source of the aggressive cacophony rushing to me. Corpses littered the ground of a massive cave. My naked feet tread on a yellow sticky liquid that filled the air with the stench of vomit, piss and shit. The first creature reached me, flinging clawed hands on my naked torso. Gashes as wide as my fingers and just as deep spurted crimson blood on both the creature and me. I screamed in pain and rage, grabbing the offender by the horns it grew on both temples. I jumped on the spawn and wrapped my legs on it, twisting my upper torso, breaking its neck and separating the head from the body, a shower of the same liquid that covered the ground from wall to wall fell on me. I bit the stump and sucked with all my strength, the all consuming taste of urine bringing me to the edge of ecstasy. Falling down and quickly standing up, I heabutted the severed head with all my might and split it in three pieces, now holding its horns as makeshift weapons. I ran at the approaching horde, my wounds closing and my energy renewed. Pain. Agony. Suffering. Death. Kill! Kill! Kill them all!! Consume! Pain! Death! Consume!! Survive!!! Live!!! Annihilate! Obliterate! Exterminate! Extinguish! Eliminate! Kill! I jumped into their numbers, swinging my improvised weapons around, kicking, and biting. "DIIIEEE!!!!" my throat bled as my loud scream injured my vocal cords. Demonic beasts fell as fast as they approached. Those that had any body part resembling weapons I could use fell first, twisted, broken, ripped open and apart by my bare hands to be used as tools to bring death upon their kind. Beheading, dismembering, bisecting, impaling. My body cleaved, impaled, cut open, crushed, and destroyed in equal amounts. Every time I received injuries, I¡¯d feast on the corpses of the fallen, consuming blood, flesh and all manner of fluids I could get my hands on to heal and strengthen the most important tool I had access to. Spawns were slowly replaced by bigger, stronger demons as time passed. Their bodies magnitudes tougher, though ultimately useless in the path of my unending thirst for death. I felt primal, unending hunger. Such starvation caused madness to break my mind, finding the briefest of respite when consuming those I butchered. Nothing more than prey for me to slaughter. I lost legs, arms and sections of my torso. The sheer amount of blood and flesh I consumed changing my body to regenerate even mortal wounds. The pain, however, was crippling, bringing waves of insanity and unhinged madness which empowered my rage, breaking my body time and time again to end those in front of me. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. My mind broken by unimaginable pain and rage. My body abused to its limits and forced to adapt or die. Until there remained one demon among a sea of carcasses. A female like me. I could smell it. "L????????? ??????????????????? ????????????????????????!???? ????R????????? ????s??????????????????? ???????????????????s?????????!????!!" She snarled something and the world around me shook. Her wings kept her floating high above ground, near the ceiling. I hated that. Beasts such as them should not enjoy power. I did not. All should suffer. Pain. Anger. Hunger. Kill. CONSUME!! I leaped and reached her in an instant. She tried to dodge, only to expose her back. Holding onto her wings, I placed my feet between her shoulder blades and pulled until my muscles screamed and bones creaked. "DIE!!" I screamed as I plucked her wings off. She screamed in pain and rage. The fall was a storm of blood and flesh as I grabbed everything I could and ripped it from her. My body tattered as she fought back, claws and teeth rending my body. I ate what I took from her, forcing the flesh down with her own blood, and sometimes even mine. Her screams shook the world, saying things in a tongue alien to me. I locked her in position when her struggles ceased, my legs around her head and my arms keeping her own legs open, devouring what was between them. We crashed on the ground, her head first, bursting like many creatures before. Screeches and growls surrounded me. A new wave approached. A savage smile twisting my face in anticipation, insatiable hunger and unquenchable thirst. As long as I lived, all would die! 6 - Sex! Love? Fast! (18+) My eyes slowly opened. The dream I just had quickly fading away. My mind waking up just as fast. I took a deep breath and released a long sigh. That was brutal. I tried remembering the dream again. Only snippets remained. Pain, hunger and rage. I recalled memories of my trial would return to me over time, however, I hadn¡¯t interacted with any ¡®trophies¡¯ I had collected. Not that I knew, at least. I looked toward the window and noticed through the gaps in the curtains that it was moments before dawn, yet I felt completely rested. The city lights were off. The suns¡¯ light clearing the small pieces of sky I managed to spot. If I got the time right, we went to sleep at around ten or eleven, so it must be five or six in the morning right now. Though my number management was dubious at best, I recognized the early dawn from previous days. My body regained feeling and I noticed a few things. Lapia had her legs and arms wrapped around me, and a tightness in my sweatpants raised a few alarm bells in my mind. Morning wood? I found the event amusing. My eyes found Lapia¡¯s sleeping face and I appraised her. [Lapia, Domi Elf Lvl 175 Pyromancer] Did her level increase? The Elf¡¯s body felt warm against my skin, her breathing brushing my ear, sending small shivers down my spine. That only served to make the tightness increase and a slight warmth to spread from the pit of my stomach to the back of my hips. I recognized the feeling instantly. I was getting horny. Her plump thighs around my hips felt like godly pillows, her right arm hugging my neck and her left under my shirt, her hand resting on top of my left breast, occasionally brushing my nipple, which elicited short gasps from me. The heat was spreading up my upper torso. I let the feeling run its course. The dream had been concerning, and the current circumstances were pleasant beyond description. Still, I didn¡¯t drown in the warmth. What should I do about her? I wondered, looking at Lapia¡¯s sleeping face. She wants to bump uglies, that¡¯s clear as day. All her comments and attitude lead me to think so, at least in my understanding of the situation. It was a far cry from Earth¡¯s mating habits, if those could be called like that. She¡¯s smart, interesting, clearly a hard worker, and really attractive. I peeked at her ass, asserting itself from beneath the sheets, her hips wide enough to form a hill. Then I recalled the events that lead to us meeting. What was the name? Spencer Bridge? I recalled there was a term for physical attraction born of stressful situations. Suspension bridge effect! I mentally patted my back. It was a possibility, though a myriad other answers came with that. She¡¯s 80 years old, can an old hag like that be so easily swayed? If that were the case, in this world of magic it must happen more often than I could possibly imagine. People being saved out in the wild must be a daily occurrence. My mind gravitated to a few comments she made, and the conclusions I made based on them. Perhaps it¡¯s not viewed in a bad light, more like a passing moment of passion or how relationships begin. Her drooling face when I thought she was raped was branded on my mind. I came to a decision. If she goes for it, so will I. I was all for having sex with Lapia, in all honesty. Though a fetish it might be, Elves were a fantasy most would share. Adding to that the fact she was smart, tough in her own way and respectful. I felt my cheeks burn. Maybe I¡¯m the victim of the suspension bridge. I sighed inwardly. Anyway. I¡¯ll follow my life long motto. Communication is key in relationships. I returned my gaze on her face. In close proximity I stared at her long eyelashes, her straight nose, pouty lips, her oval face and defined jawline. Her long ears were a wonder on their own. Her breathing relaxed and deep. I shivered at a particularly nice touch of her hand, her fingers gripping my breast, though she was still sleeping. My new partner was standing at full attention now, pressing against her stomach. I took a deep breath and approached her ear. I brushed the hair aside and caressed the back of her head, scratching at her scalp with care. I didn¡¯t want to rip her head off by accident. A tiny moan escaped her lips, my cheeks felt sunburnt. I blew air into her ear, a noticeable shiver running through her body. ¡°Wakey wakey.¡± I whispered in her ear. I felt daring and gently kissed her earlobe, making enough sound to get her attention, but not enough to hurt her eardrums. She fixed her position and tightened her embrace. I noticed a slight moistness touching my tummy, her hand on my chest having stripped my midriff. Her eyes still lightly closed and her breathing regular. I opened and closed my lips, making soft popping sounds. ¡°Lapia, wake up.¡± I softly blew air in her ear, tapping my palate with my tongue, producing a sound I quite liked myself. ¡°Lapia, it¡¯s morning already.¡± I breathed down her neck a little. ¡°Psps. Lapia. Psps.¡± I was tempted to lick her from her clavicle to her jaw, but that would be a rude way to wake her up. I returned to her ear. ¡°Turuturu. Lapia.¡± Her body tightened for a second and then relaxed, releasing a long, shaky breath. Her eyes slowly opened. She found my gaze and noticed her hand under my shirt, which she slowly removed, a smile forming on her face as her eyes cleared up the sleepiness. I tried my best to ignore the increase in moisture between her legs, noticing I was in a similar state regarding my feminine parts. ¡°Good morning sleepy head.¡± I caressed her face, tracing her jaw with my fingers, gently lifting her chin so her face was directly in front of mine, looking at her emerald eyes. ¡°You finally woke up.¡± Her now free hand reached for my stomach, running her hand over my abs. She sighed and tightened her legs around my hips. ¡°Morning.¡± she answered, her voice groggy, having just woken up. ¡°What a way to start the day.¡± she smiled, a dazed expression on her face. Her almond shaped eyes closing again, resting her head on my shoulder. ¡°Give me a second.¡± her voice was both energized and weak. ¡°What happened?¡± I whispered in her ear, running my hand down her back, her muscles contracting for a second. ¡°I came a little.¡± she said and purred. Oh. I felt my heart race at that. Six parts excitement and four parts embarrassment. ¡°What a way to start the day indeed.¡± I laughed awkwardly. I never thought it would be that effective, I just wanted to give her a pleasant wake up. She tightened her embrace, her body glued to mine. She took a deep breath on my neck, her lips brushing my skin. I felt her chest press against mine, our mid section connected. Her hand slowly crawled to my face, where she gripped my jaw and turned my head to hers. She leaned close and looked me in the eye. Her breath was fast, not a pant, but deep and quick. ¡°Want to fuck?¡± she said, a smirk on her face. Holy shit that¡¯s direct. I smiled and closed the distance. Her pillowy lips touched mine, her tongue invading my mouth as soon as I opened them. The taste of her saliva was salty and sweet. She went full on, her hands grabbing my shirt and pulling up. The kiss briefly interrupted as she took the piece of clothing off as I raised my arms. We were reconnected and her warm tongue entwined with my own. Gasps leaving me as my hands reached for her butt and hers for my breasts. Shivers ran from my chest through my spine to my brain, making me quiver in pleasure. I gently groped and played with her butt cheeks as the kiss intensified, saliva going down our chins. Her tongue tasted a little like apples. Her lips were soft and full, and felt even better than I had imagined. A hand crept down my stomach and grabbed my pants. ¡°Wait.¡± I exhaled as I broke the kiss. ¡°I have a-¡± ¡°I know.¡± she said, looking me straight in the eye. ¡°And I want it all.¡± she separated and helped me out of the clothes, the bed sheets taken with her. She sat on the bed in all her naked glory. Her tanned skin, perky breasts, wide hips and long legs. Once the pants were out of the way, she grabbed my penis with her warm and slender fingers and stared at it. ¡°This is massive.¡± she whispered. ¡°You have a really nice cock, Natasha.¡± she smirked, slowly pulling back the skin. Her expression seductive and confident. Her other hand went behind my member and ran a finger through my labia. ¡°Holy shit!¡± I groaned, the over-stimulation numbing my mind for a second. My breathing quickened and I sat up, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her close. Her fingers wrapped around my penis continued to pull, and her other hand rubbed here and there, looking for reactions. She kissed me and traced her tongue from my lips to my chin, then my neck, finally up to my ears, where she nibbled my earlobe. My hips buckled when she inserted a finger in my pussy, her other hand going up and down my penis in its entire length, precum leaking due to the high stimulation, lubricating both genitals. A completely unrelated and stupid thought crossed my mind. So I have cowper glands, or whatever those are called. My hand around her waist lowered to grab her meaty ass, and the other went between her legs. She spread them and hummed into my neck as I found her vulva, my fingers running across her wet shape. She pushed her hips forward to ease my access. I slowly inserted a finger and felt her hot tight pussy wriggle around it. She squealed and slightly relented her grip on my phallus, her hips shifting position at the intrusion. ¡°Lapia.¡± I breathed into her ear. ¡°You¡¯re pretty tight.¡± I inserted a second finger and bent them to reach for the glorious spot. ¡°Call me Lala.¡± she sighed deeply into my ear. ¡°Your cock is hard as a rock. And you¡¯re quite tight yourself.¡± her movements quickened around my penis. Her voice was a bit raspy and she was panting. ¡°Uhh, yeah. There, there.¡± she moaned straight into my ear canals as I scraped against her pelvic bone. ¡°Nasha.¡± I almost barked as she put another finger in my pussy, her thumb rubbing my clitoris. My thumb copied hers, and a low growl escaped her throat. ¡°I¡¯m gonna cum, Nasha. Make me cum.¡± she moaned as a few spasms coursed her body, her hand on my penis speeding up, precum covering her fingers. The stimulus was overpowering, a fiery heat surged from my hips and shot through my entire body. Lapia quivered and her ass cheeks trembled. I noticed her feet were shaking on their own. ¡°Fuuuck!!.¡± I whimpered, her body rocking against my own. ¡°Lala. I¡¯m cumming.¡± My voice came out as a whisper, the orgasm overtaking my senses and blanking my mind. ¡°Oh fuck!¡± the Elf¡¯s voice was a low growl as her own climax overcame her. She pulled me into a kiss and our tongues resumed their exploration of the other¡¯s mouth. Moans, whimpers, squeals and sighs escaping us both as we indulged in the afterglow. Shaking against each other¡¯s bodies, our sweat and body fluids made a mess of the bed, the salty smell tickling my nose. I peeked at my penis and found only transparent liquids. No semen had come out. It was still standing firm, though. Now between Lapia¡¯s legs as we entangled our limbs. I grabbed her by her hips, pulling her up with me. A surprised squeal escaped her and laughed in joy. ¡°That was amazing.¡± she sighed, kissing me as I put her down on the bed, her skin shining with sweat. ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± I said with a smirk. Licking her jaw and rubbing her breasts. Sighs left her as I very gently pinched her erect nipples. I climbed on the bed on top of her. My partner pressing against her stomach. I grabbed her knees and spread her legs. Many times had I been on the receiving end of what was to follow, so I had a pretty solid grasp on what to do. ¡°Give me that monster cock.¡± she whispered seductively from her position on the bed. ¡°Take it easy, though. I don¡¯t want my hips to break.¡± she chuckled, running a hand on my stomach, tracing my abs. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely beautiful, Nasha. I want you to make me cream all over that beautiful cock of yours.¡± she looked me in the eye and smiled, her eyes half closed. She¡¯s good. I could see now women being chasers, with such words stroking all the right spots of my psyche. She was not simply laying there ¡®taking¡¯ it, she was encouraging me and participating. ¡°You¡¯re breathtaking, Lala.¡± I bent over and kissed her, running my tongue down her neck to her breasts. I took one perky tit into my mouth, licking her nipple. Her chest rose with a gasp, falling with a long sigh, followed by a squeal. I pulled back and looked down. My golden penis was full of energy, her pink pussy mere centimeters away. I grabbed my shaft and guided myself towards her. I felt an electric shock as my glans touched her lips. We both moaned at the same time, then laughed. I grabbed her hand and locked fingers. "Goodbye virginity, it was nice having you for five days." I licked my lips at the sight. Lapia giggled and pulled my arm. "Put it in." she winked at me. I pushed my hips forward and her labia parted, welcoming me inside her. The act facilitated by the lubrication of the foreplay. My skull went numb as centimeter by centimeter entered her hot and wet tightness, the stimulation rendering me speechless. Her grip on my hand tightening every second. Halfway my length, I felt her vagina becoming slightly firmer. I remembered this happening to me the first time I took on a large cock. I had only experienced smaller penises at that time, so the final third of my vagina wasn¡¯t accustomed to being penetrated. ¡°Is this the limit of what you¡¯ve taken?¡± I teased her, rocking my hips back and forth slightly. Her mouth was wide open, so were her eyes. She quickly nodded. Yeah, that happens. I chuckled and slowly pushed forward. Her insides tightened and relaxed every time a new boundary was surpassed, gasps and yelps of pleasure filling the room as her deep vaginal walls experienced a penis for the first time. Such a shame, I thought. That¡¯s where it feels the best. My advance was stopped when I reached her cervix, a shaky sigh leaving me. Her face contorting in a mixture of unimaginable pleasure and pain. A barrage of unintelligible words left her mouth. Probably speaking Elvish. Ah, what would I give to experience that for the first time one more time. I looked at her face with slight envy, knowing her sexual world was changed forever, her entire vagina filled with my pulsating phallus. I too, was struggling. The tightness, wetness and warmth enveloping my penis was numbing my reason. Constantly on the verge of losing my consciousness. It felt that good. Her legs began trembling and her moans reached new heights. I fought the urge to move my hips, giving her time to adjust to the stimulation. A new orgasm racked her entire body, legs shaking, thighs trembling, her stomach tightening and jaw clenching. A scream of pleasure resonated, I closed my eyes and enjoyed her vagina gripping me inside, convulsing around my shaft. I pulled out, a torrent of liquid covering my penis and hitting my stomach, her entrance trembling. Fluids dripped down her ass onto the sheets. "Ooohh!" an loud scream of pleasure left her. She spread her arms, looking at me. Her jaw slack, probably due to experiencing her first full blown orgasm in eighty years, kept her from forming coherent words. I covered her body and she hugged me. ¡°Oh. Oh. Ah. Uh. Mah.¡± she tried speaking, giving me tender kisses and pecks all over my face. She bit my lips, licked them, suckled them a few times, while her rapid breathing and moans accompanied shivers and smaller, shorter orgasms. Drool rolling down her chin onto her chest. I lifted her up and sat on the bed, hugging her back and penetrating her folds once more, her pipping hot pussy made me sigh. I returned her kisses and caresses. She tried pushing me back to be on top, resulting in my glans poking her cervix, bringing a lesser wave of pleasure and pain, her grip on my shoulders threatening to break her fingers. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Relax.¡± I whispered in her ear, blowing kisses and licking at them. ¡°Ogey.¡± she said, her tongue languid. She grabbed my face and gave me a particularly deep and juicy kiss. Slow, long and full of desire. In turn, I played with her butt cheeks, groping them, spreading them, lifting them, pushing them together and sinking my fingers on them. Our bodies grinding and breasts pressed together, sliding up and down due to our sweat covered skin. ¡°Mmffh.¡± a moan escaped her. She hugged my neck and kissed me aggressively, her hips moving slightly. ¡°Go on. Fuck me. Make me cum again with your perfect cock.¡± she said between kisses a few minutes later. I moved my hips and a low moan left her mouth just as a squeal left me. I grabbed her hips and began thrusting, my breasts bouncing with each movement, rubbing against hers. Her arms still hugging my neck, her head on my shoulder, moaning and gasping into my hair. My own voice turned higher pitched, uncontrollable gasps turned into squeals and whimpers. She let go of me and leaned back, supporting herself on my legs. A stupid smile on her face. ¡°You fucker. Mfh.¡± she said, grinning. ¡°I almost fainted. Ahn.¡± her hips went up and down, half of my penis leaving her vagina before going back in. Her perky breasts bounced, sweat running down her stomach. ¡°Agh. You needed a good fucking, is all.¡± I smirked. ¡°Yeees. So good.¡± I groaned, I let go of her hips and leaned back on the bed, the sheets drenched, my hands resting on her ankles. She shifted position, her body on top of me. ¡°Your cock is the best.¡± she kissed my neck as she bounced her hips. ¡°It hits every good spot, so deep. So thick, so long, so hot, so hard. It feels so good in my pussy, pushing my womb up.¡± she licked my breasts, a jolt ran down my back, and my hips buckled, pushing up just in time as she came down. I felt bubbly satisfaction at her encouraging words. and let out a guttural moan as she squealed in pleasure. Her eyes widened, legs squeezing my hips. ¡°Oh?¡± she raised an eyebrow, her hips gyrating against mine, her vagina rubbing my penis without going in or out. ¡°Interesting.¡± she said, leaning over me, her tongue circling my left breast. We were making eye contact as her tongue neared my nipple, her hips still moving. I shook my head, biting my lower lip and my eyebrows scrunched up. Her tongue flicked and a loud moan escaped me. She smiled and took a deep breath. ¡°Say, let¡¯s go all out. Let''s fuck like our lives depend on it.¡± her voice was confident, a moan or two mixed in her words. ¡°Okay. Ahh.¡± I gave her a shit eating grin. ¡°Don¡¯t faint on me, Lala.¡± I kissed her and leaned back again. ¡°Here we go.¡± she took both my breasts in her hands and pushed them together, my nipples soon in her mouth. Shit. A flick of her tongue and my head shot back, a loud moan spurring her on. She resumed her bouncing, every time her hips came down, mine went up, slamming into her, poking her cervix with every thrust. My hands reached for her head, caressing her ears. If she came with only words earlier, I bet this will be really good. I stuck both index fingers inside and rubbed, minding with my fingernails. She tightened her eyes as a particularly pleased squeal broke her lips. We met eyes and both smirked. She licked my nipples, I played with her ears. The clapping of our hips was drowned with the incoherent mess that were our voices. An untold amount of time passed until I felt heat rising from my hips. ¡°Lala, I¡¯m cumming.¡± I whimpered. ¡°Big one. Don¡¯t stop.¡± my voice was thick with excitement. ¡°Same. Make me cum...¡± she went quiet and squealed. ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna faint. I¡¯m gonna cum on your big cock. Make me cum with your big, thick and hard cock!¡± her mouth tightened and she sank her teeth on my tits. "Cumming!" I yelped, heat surging from my hips to my entire body. I came instantly at that. The feeling of her canines dig around my nipples numbed my spine, my sight blanking for a few seconds. I thrust upwards and an unnecessarily large amount of liquid gushed from my pussy. She trembled and fell on me. A long, low growl from her throat the only sound as her hands grabbed the sheets, her entire body shaking. Her hips rose, my penis slipping out. I felt warm liquid spread on my stomach, her squeals turned whimpers of ecstasy. We tangled in another hug and took a break. We shared deep, tender and long kisses. The sheets were a jumble of sweat and pussy juices. ¡°So good.¡± Lapia whispered between kisses. ¡°I even squirted.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Yeah.¡± I caught my breath, feeling her warm body. ¡°Me too. I came like a fountain.¡± I sighed, my mind gradually clearing up, yet my new partner was still fully erect, no signs of it going down anytime soon. She felt my member between her butt cheeks, spreading them apart. Her eyebrows rose and her eyes widened. ¡°Nasha, my girl.¡± she kissed me. ¡°You just surpassed everyone I¡¯ve bedded before.¡± she hissed in my ear and ran her tongue on my cheek. ¡°Pretty good for a first time.¡± I felt my ego inflate. ¡°Right.¡± she nodded, realizing my words. ¡°It was your first time.¡± her smile widened, revealing sharp teeth. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how you¡¯ll improve.¡± she nuzzled her head on my neck, leaning her body on me. I felt my discharge leaving her pussy, the liquid transparent and sticky. ¡°Another round?¡± my heart was still beating fast, my body shivering every few seconds, hot and excited. ¡°Sure thing.¡± she laughed, full of energy again. She lifted her hips and welcomed me inside once more, a long sigh escaping her, her face red and sweaty. "Your cock is supreme." We continuid having sex for another hour, our bodies melting in each other''s embrace. Drowned with ecstasy, our voices filled the room, mixing with the wet sounds of my penis gouging her and our skin clapping. We changed positions often, fucking in ways I had never experienced before. Lapia had good stamina, but stopped me when her joints began aching. "Wait, I''m gonna pull a muscle if we keep going." she hugged me and kissed me after another climax. "You fucking destroyed my pussy with that giant cock." her eyes locked with mine, her labored breathing brushing my face. I stopped rocking my hips and hugged her back, enjoying the afteglow of a series of orgasms. "Your pussy is heavenly. It felt so fucking good." I sighed. The experience had broken my view of the world. "I bet." she smirked. "I can''t keep up, though. Let''s go clean up, sunshine." biting my lower lip, she stood up. We entered the bathroom to clean the sweat and fluids off our bodies. The bathtub was two meters long, one wide and half deep, a toilet seat on the opposite wall. I walked over and peed, my penis now flaccid. It took another five orgasms for it to calm down, for a total of seven. However, I felt like I could go on. Looks like constitution translates to that, too. I had a satisfied smile on my face and a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest. Lapia, who entered after me, was having trouble walking. Her body not as resilient as mine, muscles sore. After I flushed, she sat and did her business. The bathtub had two faucets, one with a flame, and the other with a water drop drawn on them. I turned them both, regulating the temperature to an enjoyable level. Not scalding, but not lukewarm. There was a metallic box on a shelf above the faucets. I opened it and found a large bar of soap covered in blue particles of light. Similarly encased, a wooden container the size of a fist was next to it. Soap and shampoo? I wondered. ¡°Inject them with E¡¯er. That¡¯s a barrier to keep them fresh and clean.¡± Lapia said from her seating position, the sound of her peeing masked by the filling bathtub. ¡°Think of spending points to activate it, that¡¯s the simplest way to explain.¡± her voice was a little tired, ending with a sigh. I nodded, picturing five particles flying from my hand to the barriers. Surely enough, the barriers vanished. Neat. I dipped the soap in the water and lathered my hands with it. When enough bubbles formed, I wiped my body. The fragrant scent of lavender replaced the salty smell of sweat from my body. I took extra care to clean my penis and vulva. While I theorized I could heal STD¡¯s with my strongest potions, an infection would be a bitch until I noticed it. I heard Lapia flushing and walking over to me. Her steps were slow and there was a limp in her stride. As I had finished soaping up, I motioned her to stand before me. ¡°I¡¯ll wash you. You do my hair?¡± I offered. She sighed and nodded. ¡°That¡¯d be nice, I can¡¯t bend over.¡± I handed her the wooden box and she opened it, an oily cream inside. She scooped a little with two fingers and brought her hands to my head. I squatted and began wiping her legs first. Lifting her right leg, I made sure she was supporting herself before I cleaned the sole of her foot. Cleaning between her toes elicited a sigh from the Elf. I smiled. As I did my thing, she was massaging my scalp, her fingers brushing my hair, making sure to cover every nook and cranny. Foam dripped down my head, her hands grabbing golden strains and cleaning them thoroughly. I cleaned her genitals with gentleness, leaving the more detailed parts for herself. I enjoyed wiping her thighs, their thickness felt divine. Her bottom I enjoyed too, cleaning it to its fullest. Her satisfied sighs confirming my mastery of the art of handling an ass. I stood up and circled around her, wiping her back. From there, I cleaned her shoulders, breasts and stomach. Her armpits, arms and hands came after. I massaged her body as I wiped, her sore muscles relaxing. I cleaned her neck as I gave her a juicy kiss. ¡°That was nice. Thanks.¡± she gave me a shy smile. Kekeke. Every living creature is weak to care. I laughed in my mind, however, I couldn¡¯t hide the anxious beating of my heart. I finished it up by scooping a bit of the shampoo and getting her hair all foamy. ¡°Now how the fuck do we rinse?¡± I said, looking around for a bucket or something like that. ¡°Here, look.¡± I turned to her. She grabbed the cold water faucet, the thing glowing and a hose extending it out the wall. ¡°Ooh!¡± I applauded. ¡°That¡¯s clever.¡± ¡°It is.¡± she smirked and turned the hose on me. The exquisite cold water covered me, the shower taking the foam and dirt away with it. I welcomed the freezing shower with open arms, enjoying the change from the now steam filled bathroom. Russia had colder winters. The cold doesn¡¯t bother me anyway. I heard Lapia click her tongue as my reaction wasn¡¯t screaming or yelping in surprise. She then pointed the hose at herself, the water rinsing her body and hair. She let out a low hiss. I noticed her skin shimmer, steam coming out of her as she turned the faucet off, returning it to the wall. ¡°Meh.¡± I snorted and entered the tub. The water was exquisite. ¡°Ooh.¡± a pleased sigh left the Elf as she sat next to me, leaning her head on my shoulder, her hair sticking to my back. We both sighed at the same time and laughed. ¡°We need to talk.¡± her words made me turn my head to her and my pulse quicken. ¡°We do.¡± I nodded. Our gazes meeting. ¡°I would very much like us being lovers.¡± she cleared her throat. ¡°If not, I¡¯d welcome being sex friends. I want you to know I don¡¯t indulge in carnal pleasure with just anyone, though. I have standards.¡± her cheeks reddened. ¡°You are capable, collected, respectful. You¡¯ve showed care, which I appreciate, restrain where it was due, and so far you¡¯ve been honest. You helped me in my time of need and cared for me at my lowest.¡± she rested a hand on my thigh. ¡°We are both young. You more than me, but in the long run it¡¯s a drop in the sea of time.¡± her free hand ran down my arm, finding my hand and locking fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest and admit I¡¯ve been waiting for an excuse to leave the city. Life here as Lord Punten¡¯s Adviser is not exactly fulfilling. It might sound selfish or greedy, but I could further both my research and power alongside you, if you¡¯ll have me.¡± she gave me a short nod. Holy shit. I was surprised she could say so much after such a short time knowing me. Certainly, if Elves lived for thousands of years, and us Halves even longer, as long as we were careful, we¡¯d be together for the long run. I sighed. When in Rome. I''d be lying if I didn''t admit to being interested in her. I''ve started relationships with less before. I brought my free hand and held her cheek. ¡°Yeah, sounds perfect to me.¡± I kissed her on the lips. ¡°You taught me a lot, and I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a mountain of things I still don¡¯t know. I promise to protect you with everything I have, and help you wherever I can. We have all the time in the world to know more about each other, and so far I like everything about you. You¡¯re smart, tenacious, and respectful. You didn¡¯t trample or abuse my help, receiving what I offered and giving back in what you thought was pertinent.¡± I caressed her cheek. ¡°Though you were a bit cheeky and flirty, you didn¡¯t cross any lines, and I appreciate that. I honestly was planning on accompanying you in your recovery and getting to know you better. Now it¡¯s a different story, though.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile at Lapia¡¯s embarrassed expression to my words. She cleared her throat. ¡°We¡¯re on the same page. I¡¯m glad.¡± she closed her eyes and melted on me. ¡°We¡¯ll need to find two more, preferably women. I don¡¯t think a man can compare to you anymore.¡± she kissed my neck. ¡°What?¡± I was confused by her words. ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°Last night you said you wanted to explore the world, right?¡± she asked. ¡°I certainly did.¡± I nodded, still not understanding. ¡°Ah, right.¡± she realized I had no idea what she was talking about. ¡°When venturing the world, people group up. I explained yesterday how these groups would cover each other¡¯s weaknesses.¡± I nodded at her words. ¡°Said groups need to be tightly united. Romantic relationships help tremendously in building trust and unity.¡± she finished. ¡°And people just ask around ¡®hey I¡¯ll go explore the world, wanna be in a relationship with me?¡¯. That sounds suspicious no matter who asks.¡± I felt my brain become slightly numb. She laughed at my imitation of how a suspicious person would sound. ¡°No, not like that.¡± she wiped a tear away. ¡°There¡¯s a place where you can find people with matching interests and goals. There¡¯d be a date to get to know each other, and if things work out, you¡¯d set out with a life partner, ideally.¡± she thought for a second then came to a conclusion. ¡°Maybe explaining that people are very open to relationships would clear things up?¡± It finally fell in place. The people in this world evolved from bonobos. I chuckled at the thought, I didn¡¯t really know if bonobos fucked all the time. Silly comparisons coming back. ¡°Now I get it.¡± I blinked a few times. ¡°Is sharing partners common?¡± I had to ask, my monogamist mind a little perplexed at the concept. ¡°No, no.¡± she shook her head. ¡°Everyone in the group is in a relationship with each other.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re telling me people have orgies all the time?¡± my eyes widened. ¡°That sounds amazing!¡± ¡°Not really. We women don¡¯t share males in bed. At least if you have dignity.¡± she scoffed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to associate with a fellow woman if she¡¯s happy with a second spurt of seed. If you get seed, you better get it all, and if not all, at least the best.¡± It suddenly got complicated. My confusion was reaching untold heights. ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t other females in our group feel something similar with me, having a penis and all?¡± I voiced the first concern that popped in my mind. ¡°You¡¯re a Halve. Every seed is the best seed. When you produce it, of course.¡± she pointed at my genitals. ¡°Your cycle is unique to each individual, so we can¡¯t even guess. That removes that issue from the equation. Still, the chance of conceiving is as low as it gets with both seeds and eggs anyway, so it¡¯s healthy for expectations to be as low.¡± she shrugged, checking her hair. ¡°I see.¡± I relaxed. It simplified. However, being magically sterile was slightly concerning. ¡°What would we need, then?¡± the idea of a mutually shared ¡®harem¡¯, if the term even worked in the current situation, slowly formed in my mind. No competition, everyone loves each other. It sounded like a dream. ¡°Definitely a healer. A scout would be nice too.¡± she thought for a second. ¡°A High Priestess at the very least, ideally an Arch Bishop. Though rarer, they are usually higher level and more inclined to join already powerful groups.¡± she looked at me. ¡°You already set the bar high.¡± ¡°Hm,¡± I lowered my body, only my head out the water. ¡°What kind of information can be shared? You mentioned taboo intel, but never went into detail.¡± ¡°Specific numbers are no good. Those are incredibly personal.¡± she took my hair and fiddled with the golden material. ¡°The name of your classes are okay, your total level too. You should only share your highest class level, that¡¯s what shows up when you appraise people. By the way, what are yours? I only see your name, race and ''Unknown''.¡± she was making braids with my hair. ¡°Hoplite, Lancer and Dragoon. 1350 total levels. All classes at 450.¡± I answered, checking my information. ¡°Holy shit!¡± she almost shouted. ¡°That¡¯s insanely high. I feel kind of inadequate now.¡± she laughed. ¡°I have to push myself, then.¡± her eyes filled with determination. ¡°You¡¯re really close to acquiring a new class, too. Wow.¡± she giggled and undid the braids. ¡°I went with Pyromancy, as you already know, and Thaumaturgy, which studies and manipulates space itself through E¡¯er.¡± ¡°Why is one called ¡®mancy¡¯ and the other isn¡¯t?¡± I was shooting water with my hands. ¡°Because there was a Goddes involved. Yiama taught one of the first tribes the ¡®miracle¡¯ of the flame and the idiots believed it a divine revelation.¡± she sighed. ¡°E''er then recognized their knowledge, naming the class after their devotion to her.¡± she shook her head. ¡°Is that proven or a myth?¡± my inner skeptical showed herself. ¡°She told the story herself.¡± she stretched, her breasts jiggling slightly. ¡°She lives way up north.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a living God?¡± I turned to her, my neck almost snapping. ¡°Plenty, actually. Though they are immortal, they are exceedingly weak. They keep to themselves mostly.¡± she explained, her nimble fingers returning to my hair, forcing my head back in position. ¡°Anyway, back on topic.¡± she was attempting to make drills with my hair. ¡°Once you share your information, it will become visible when appraised by those who know it. I can now see your level and class, even with the massive difference, because it is the truth.¡± she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. ¡°Interesting. What if someone asks and I don¡¯t want to tell?¡± I busied myself checking my fingernails. ¡°Then you don¡¯t. Duh.¡± the drills couldn¡¯t hold their shape. She clicked her tongue and moved on to another construction project on my head. ¡°So how does this recruiting business go?¡± the silver lunulae were lighter than my nails. ¡°Do we just go around asking questions or is there a meeting spot?¡± I thought back on the one speed dating place I was too ashamed to tell even my close friends. ¡°Yes, and no.¡± she was doing something with my hair I couldn¡¯t quite catch. There was a lot of braiding and tying involved. ¡°The Church lends its grounds as meeting spots. They came up with a system that would simplify the process of finding partners while also saving time. A person fills a form with their interests, what they¡¯re willing to share, and their general strengths. The Church takes that form and put them in a registry. We search the registry and find potential candidates, if we like them, the Church can mediate and we meet for a chat.¡± I could feel all my hair on top of my head forming something. ¡°What if the Church missuses that information?¡± I reached for my head to try and feel, but the Elf slapped my hand away. ¡°Information warfare and whatnot.¡± ¡°They¡¯d be mobbed to oblivion.¡± she chuckled, perhaps picturing the event. ¡°It¡¯d take a while, them being mostly healers, but it could happen.¡± she pulled my head back and fixed a few loose locks. ¡°Organizations around the world are highly transparent. If not, they wouldn¡¯t exist. Political power is shit compared to a pissed off level 400 Geomancer, for example. There¡¯s a reason the occupation is called Public Servant.¡± she let my head go. ¡°Hmm. And this Church, which God does it worship?¡± I leaned back on her chest. ¡°Mostly Danuva. She¡¯s credited for awakening the ancient species. They study her teachings and focus on healing.¡± a braid escaped the mess she was creating, provoking an annoyed hiss from the Elf. ¡°Similar to us Wizards, they study for years. Wizards master the Laws of E¡¯er, while Clerics master the Laws of Life.¡± ¡°How do they increase their power if they study all the time?¡± I imagined a wrinkly old lady in my arms and cringed. ¡°Practice. Using skills improves them, which in turn improves your body, increasing the E¡¯er inside you. It¡¯s a slow process. I spent forty five years improving myself while studying and teaching and only reached Level 100. Then I moved to this city and killed a few monsters on the way, reaching my current Level. Stress is key to growth.¡± her chin on my head, I felt a hairy pillow between us. ¡°Sounds like a plan, then. When will we be going?¡± I stood up and felt my hair releasing from whatever she built and falling freely on my back. I felt a hot wind on my head, water dripping off. Bathrooms have that function in this world? Fucking awesome. I deftly did my hair in a single thick braid, using a rubber band to keep the thing from untying. Lapia followed me out of the bath, towels materializing on my hands. I offered one and she took it, drying her body as I did mine. ¡°I won¡¯t be joining you.¡± she said after a moment of contemplation. ¡°Though Lord Punten gave me a month to rest, I¡¯m already in top shape. I¡¯ll feel bad if I just lazed around and left work undone.¡± she shrugged. ¡°You go and fetch us pretty girls, we''ll be leaving sooner than you think.¡± she smirked. ¡°Alright.¡± I smiled at the woman. ¡°I can¡¯t expect you to hold my hand all the way. You have responsibilities to take care of.¡± A knock on the door signaled the arrival of breakfast. ¡°Just in time.¡± her towel disappeared and a dress similar to the one from last night covered her. ¡°Can I keep the towel?¡± she asked as she walked to the door. ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± I nodded. White, modest lingerie covered my privates, and a modern dress covered my body. The bodice hugged my torso, the low cut allowed cleavage, not too much to let the bra show, in a V shape. Followed by a plated skirt that reached halfway my thighs. Black with red hems in both the skirt and arm holes. It was both cute and sexy. If you¡¯ve got it, flaunt it. I looked down and my golden skin was well complemented by the black and red fabric. Leather boots with metallic details reached halfway up my shins, the footwear¡¯s many buckles neatly done. Though I did not wear socks, my skin was more resilient than the material, so it felt surprisingly comfortable. The same lady from last night came in with a trolley, and her eyes widened for a split second when she saw the absolute mess we did of the bed. I almost fainted with embarassment. 7 - A moment to think? An hour later we stood in front of the inn. The early suns bathing the world in their glorious light. Lapia had my attention, however. The Elf looking positively glowing. Her clothes reminded me of Chun Lee, but her legs were bare instead of wearing stockings, her arms too. The backside following the curvaceous shape of her behind, stopping mere centimeters after her legs began. It looked dangerously sexy. Making sure nobody was looking at us, I groped her butt, noticing a few strings kept the cloth from revealing more than necessary. She turned to me and gave me a coy look. ¡°For someone who almost cried of embarrassment when the maid took the sheets, you sure act bold outside.¡± her voice was full of smug, looking up at me. ¡°You said it¡¯s normal.¡± I shrugged. ¡°So I powered through.¡± I felt my cheeks burn a little at the memory of the drenched sheets. She walked to the right, with me at her side. ¡°What¡¯s the first thing you saw when you first opened you eyes?¡± she asked all of a sudden. ¡°The forest around me. Trees no more than five meters apart. Lots of wildlife.¡± I recalled. ¡°I woke up naked on the ground. I walked for a few hours, completely lost. Then I met a turkey, about this size.¡± I gestured around my shoulders. ¡°I talked to it, and followed it for the rest of the day. We came to a river and it wandered off back into the forest. I jumped across and walked downstream. A few days went like that. Then I started running while charging forward with my pike. Around ten hours later I saw the cart, and the rest you know it.¡± I took her hand, locking fingers. ¡°Huh.¡± she nodded slowly. ¡°How fast were you running?¡± she asked with a thoughtful expression. ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell. All I know is I broke the speed of sound.¡± I laughed. ¡°That must¡¯ve saved me a week or two.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Natasha, your numbers suck.¡± she sighed. ¡°You traversed at least twelve thousand kilometers in ten hours. That¡¯s more than a week of walking.¡± she looked at me. ¡°Try three months at the bare minimum.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± I really did suck at math. ¡°Well, that¡¯s that.¡± I shrugged. ¡°You were two entire Countries upstream.¡± she closed her eyes. ¡°You left Tidon and entered Koluum, then rushed into Lumin.¡± She leaned her head on my shoulder. ¡°Now I get your stamina.¡± she said, planting a soft kiss on my neck. A pleasant shiver ran up my spine. I laughed with slight embarrassment and joy, looking around us. Pedestrians around us were starting their day, leaving their houses and slowly filling the streets. A wide variety of vehicles pulled by animals and a few that I assumed used E¡¯er to function, no visible mechanism to tell otherwise. People of all walks of life came and went. Watchers patrolling and a few standing at random spots. Their armor recognizable. However, the name of yesterday¡¯s Watcher completely forgotten. Stores were either open or starting business. A group of similarly outfitted teens walking into a large building with opaque words that read ¡®SCHOOL¡¯ and some other words I didn¡¯t know, probably names. People mingled and did their own thing. I heard a few bards singing, unfortunately they were too far away to understand their words, the melody pleasant nonetheless, flutes and string instruments expertly combined. The buzz of hundreds of voices and footsteps slowly drowned the tranquil morning. The people were as varied as were their voices. I spotted a few Lupum going about their day, some looking in my direction, my appearance quite contrasting to others around me. My skin no longer the pale tone it had when I woke up almost a week ago, now a vibrant gold that held a soft glow under the direct sunlight. I looked towards the source of light and was pleasantly surprised my eyes didn¡¯t hurt when gazing directly at the suns. There were no spots when I looked away either. My attention going from the people to the many animals and beasts that walked the streets, their growls, squeaks, roars, snarls and hisses too close for comfort. I had never gone to a Zoo, so the close proximity to the creatures made me slightly nervous, though not as much as I thought it would. Perhaps my instincts had changed after becoming a Halve, feeling no danger from those that clearly had the tools to be a threat in the wilds. I felt a light tug and noticed Lapia changing directions. We walked to a stall that had fruits and vegetables for sale, the merchant a lanky lady with oily black hair. ¡°What will it be, dear?¡± her voice rough and raspy. Eyes like dark pits avoided mine. ¡°I¡¯ll have four peaches and a set of polupis, please.¡± the Elf paid with a few copper coins. The lady took a linen pouch and placed the peaches inside, then another smaller pouch and gave them to Lapia. ¡°Have a nice day, dear.¡± smiling, the lady waved at us as we walked away. My¡­ Girlfriend? Handed me a peach. ¡°Here, those are pretty good.¡± she said and took a bite of her fruit. ¡°Thank you.¡± I bit into it and a deceptive amount of juice exploded into my mouth. I had to suck and swallow to keep the liquid from spilling. Crisis averted, I turned to the laughing woman. ¡°No.¡± she giggled. ¡°The juice comes from the piece in your mouth, not the fruit.¡± her smile was refreshing to say the least. My laughter soon joining hers. Though a peach through and through, the fact that a bite produced enough juice to fill a glass was mind numbing. I enjoyed the fruit while thinking about E¡¯er, fruits and Lapia¡¯s laugh, a gentle warmth spreading through my chest. Well, well, well. If it isn¡¯t the consequences of my own actions. I thought with a smile. Pretty fast to be falling for her. I thought. Is it this new body? Does it affect the mind more than I initially thought? I had no way of knowing, and asking was too embarrassing. It reminded me of the crushes I had when I was but twelve, looking at fellow classmates and swooning over boys and girls. This time, however, the target was a bombshell of an Elf. I stared at her while we walked. Her almond shaped emerald eyes meeting mine when she noticed my gaze. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, tilting her head. I shrugged. ¡°Enjoying the view.¡± I smirked at her blush. That caused her to laugh and wrap her arms around me. ¡°That was good.¡± she whispered and kissed me. ¡°Mommy! Why are those two ladies kissing?¡± a boy¡¯s voice reached my ears followed by a female¡¯s gentle laughter. ¡°Because they like each other.¡± the Mother in question answered. ¡°Just like you and Misha.¡± she added in a playful tone. ¡°Ma! I don¡¯t like Misha!¡± the kid protested. ¡°She takes all my toys and pulls my hair!¡± ¡°My.¡± she sighed with mock worry. ¡°It must be worse than I thought.¡± a calm laughter escaped her. Lapia released me and looked around us. ¡°Children and their curiosity.¡± she smiled. We continued our walk and eating the fruits. She took what looked like a cherry tomato and gave it to me. I received it, and ate it. Yep, cherry tomato. The taste, texture, amount of juice and even the seeds all were the same. ¡°What are these called?¡± I asked after I swallowed. ¡°Polupis. They¡¯re alright for a light snack.¡± she shrugged. ¡°They cost two copper coins on average for a set of ten.¡± ¡°That¡¯s cheap as hell.¡± I blurted out. Back home they were five euros a dozen!! Viva fantasy world. ¡°There¡¯s an abundance, so it¡¯s understandable.¡± she handed me another which I quickly devoured. ¡°You liked them?¡± she asked with a smile. I nodded. ¡°They¡¯re so good.¡± I said licking my lips. ¡°Have at them, then.¡± she handed me the small pouch. ¡°I bought the fruit for you. So you can try different things.¡± she leaned in and continued. ¡°Also to find out what you like.¡± ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll graciously accept thine kindness.¡± I said with extravagance and took the pouch. ¡°I find myself overwhelmed with joy by the fact that Your Excellency finds such gifts fitting.¡± she bowed with elegance and grace. ¡°I sincerely hope these paltry offerings placate thee.¡± I was pleasantly surprised at her following my antics. ¡°What¡¯s with ¡®Your Excellency¡¯?¡± I asked. Remembering the way some people referred to me. ¡°Ah, that.¡± she shrugged, straightening up. ¡°People say that to Halves they don¡¯t know. It used to be ¡®Your Divinity¡¯, or ¡®Your Highness¡¯.¡± she scowled. ¡°Pretty cringe, if you ask me.¡± I laughed, agreeing with her. ¡°It does feels off.¡± ¡°Nothing you can do, really.¡± she smiled, taking my hand. ¡°Get used to it.¡± ¡°Whatever, then.¡± I tried not giving it too much thought. We continued our stroll, chatting about fruits and vegetables, sometimes buying food from street stalls. The white buildings became taller and more distanced from each other as time passed. What looked like mansions surrounded by massive gardens were a common sight after an hour of walking. Then a wall half the height of the ones circling the city imposed itself in the distance. According to Lapia, farmlands and breeding grounds occupied the eastern side of the city. We stopped in front of a particularly wide structure after mansions were no longer showing up. ¡°We¡¯ll take a ride here.¡± she explained, approaching a guarded gate where a bald old man sat behind a small window to the side. ¡°Where to, Lady?¡± he asked Lapia, a professional smile on his face. ¡°West. Through High Grounds towards the Church.¡± she handed the man a silver coin. He turned to the side and whistled. ¡°In a moment.¡± he took the coin and stored it somewhere out of sight. ¡°Two! West! High Ground, Church.¡± he called behind him. Before I could ask anything, a cat the size of a rhinoceros trotted out of the gate pulling a carriage. The beast was red with white stripes, faint, light blue whiskers shook as it moved its head towards me. It looked me in the eye and slowly blinked, then turned its head to the front. A man in a suit stood at the front of the vehicle, handling the reins. [Untu, Lvl 62] Holy shit. I gaped at the creature. It was massive. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get in.¡± Lapia pulled my hand and I followed, climbing on the carriage. The interior had two seats facing each other, as any carriage would in any world. The material was padded leather and the overall tones were white and gray. ¡°Did you see that massive thing out there?¡± I asked the Elf next to me. ¡°The Untu? What of it?¡± she tilted her head. ¡°That shit looks like it could rend everyone apart.¡± I pointed in the direction of the animal. ¡°How can they control them?¡± ¡°Domestication?¡± she shrugged. ¡°Like any beast of burden.¡± The answer was so obvious it had escaped me. I covered my face with a hand and sighed. ¡°Anyway.¡± I changed the subject, a little ashamed I asked such a stupid question. ¡°What¡¯s your daily routine?¡± She laughed, perhaps finding my sudden change of subject entertaining. ¡°Wake up, take a bath, read morning reports, file them and, if needed, write up a summary.¡± she leaned on me. ¡°Mostly land taxes, profit, budget expenditure. Boring stuff. Then I¡¯d meet with Nobles or merchants, discuss business and they¡¯d try and convince me to teach the Laws of E¡¯er to their children.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Then lunch, then more meetings, then write a log of the day¡¯s events. If I have any spare time, further my research and study E¡¯er.¡± she sighed. ¡°Fifteen years of that. I¡¯m tired of the monotony.¡± ¡°Well, you had young boys to chase.¡± I nudged her, chuckling. ¡°That can¡¯t compare to you.¡± she smiled. ¡°It¡¯s about time I retake control of my life. Recent events opened my eyes. I don¡¯t want to be sitting on my butt all day and talk about money. I didn¡¯t spend over half of my life studying E¡¯er to work in that field.¡± I nodded. ¡°That does sound boring, to be honest. Can¡¯t imagine myself doing that.¡± ¡°You¡¯d quickly go bankrupt.¡± she laughed. ¡°My numbers aren¡¯t that bad.¡± I defended myself. ¡°True, there would be losses, but not enough to guarantee bankruptcy. I¡¯d hope.¡± The Elf laughed, tears forming at the edge of her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can help you with those.¡± she caressed my face and kissed me on the cheek. ¡°If you prove yourself to be a good student, I can teach you a looot of things.¡± she whispered in my ear, nibbling at it. ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± I smiled, the idea of the smoking hot Elf giving me ¡®private lessons¡¯ lighting a spark inside me. I¡¯d never done something like that with previous girlfriends. Is that what we are? I thought for a second. ¡°What¡¯s the word we¡¯ll use to refer to each other, now that we are lovers?¡± I looked away, embarrassed after saying the words. ¡°Girlfriend, lover, partner, companion, sweetheart, darling. Whichever you¡¯re comfortable with.¡± she scratched her ear, a slight blush on her face. I rested a hand on a long tanned leg, feeling her thick limb¡¯s skin, she lifted them and placed them over my lap. She took my face with both hands and stared at me. Running her thumbs over my eyebrows, she gave me a peck on the lips, her soft tongue giving them a lick. Her eyes drilling my own, a smile on her face. I gave her puppy eyes, a pout and let out a whimper. She chuckled and kissed me again, leaning her body against mine. We continued like that for the rest of the ride, kissing and chatting. When I asked her about buildings we passes, she''d tell me what they were. Nothing of note to mention in detail, howerer. I was focused on her entire being. Around an hour later, the carriage came to a stop. ¡°High Grounds!¡± the driver called. Lapia fixed her hair and posture, then opened the door. Turning to me, she grabbed me by the collar and pulled me in for an aggressive kiss. ¡°You¡¯ll know how to find me. We bonded this morning.¡± she gave me a playful smile. ¡°Here, take this.¡± I took her hand, placing a ring on her thumb. The item increased stamina and health regeneration along with boosting status. I figured I could give her something in case anything happens. A weapon was overkill, and armor too stuffy. ¡°Thank you, Natasha.¡± she kissed me again and got off the carriage, closing the door after her. I looked out and saw her waving at me with a huge smile on her face. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Behind her, a wide and tall building had opaque purple words that read ¡®Punten & Co.¡¯ on it. It was massive. I assumed people worked and stayed there, looking more like a palace than a company building. The carriage continued on and Lapia turned around, walking to the entrance of the building. I took out a journal and continued reading where I had left off. The archaeologist had found the last piece of a puzzle in ancient underground catacombs. Naturally, that had been the player who defeated a boss and looted the piece, but there was no mention of that. I didn¡¯t give it a second thought. Then an idea struck me. I should keep a journal. With any luck, the Church would sell things that served that purpose. I mentally patted myself on the back. Slowly, all the dopamine on my brain wore off. I stored the book, rubbed my eyes and let out a long sigh. This is going way faster than I¡¯m used to. I looked at my hands, the golden skin contrasted by the silver fingernails. Is this normal in this world? To save someone, spend the night together, then fuck and become partners for life? I stopped for a second. I even killed ten people. In the blink of an eye. No hesitation. I was a little surprised that I was not as shell-shocked as yesterday. While I was well aware that nature itself is the most brutal aspect of reality, I couldn¡¯t simply laugh it off. Is this world so dangerous that we need a team to go around exploring? I didn¡¯t see any dangerous creature. No hydra, dragon, wolves, goblins or fantasy monsters that show up in forests native to this kind of world. I balled my hands into firsts. Was I the predator they were hiding from, if there were any? Though I didn¡¯t know if those even existed in the first place, the chance was still there. She jumped on the boat instantly, too. Like, girl, hol¡¯ up. You have a life here. A job, ¡®young boys¡¯ to chase. Friends or whatever. Am I that much better of a choice? Certainly, the sex was amazing, but is that enough? Did she see that much in me? I looked at my reflection on the window. Golden eyes with a horizontal line across stared back at me. Just what is a Halve? I touched my cheek, the face I knew my whole life, magnitudes more beautiful, sharper, more refined. Am I such an amazing being? Was the roll of the dice that good? There was no denying I was exhilarated on becoming something else, something more. Yet still being the same, more or less. Incredibly stronger, faster, tougher. A smile formed on my face. It does indeed feel good. There was no back pain from leaning over desks drawing for years. The utter liberation of the pandemic afflicted world that became Earth. My wrists at their best. No, even better. Young, healthy lungs. No more blurry eyesight. Objectively speaking, it was absolutely better than before. I might¡¯ve escaped dying from cancer, too. If I didn¡¯t get the viruses before that, of course. I chuckled. My family, friends, job. The talents I did avatars for. The fame that came with it. The many series I worked on. If I died, it¡¯d suck. I did hit my head before passing out. I had forgotten about that. But all that weighs so¡­ little now. It felt like millions of years ago. The memories there, but the emotional attachment barely registered. Did the trial numb me? Was it that long? Was it that brutal? I remembered the dream and the raw emotions I apparently had. That did look hellish. I was like that one guy trapped in hell. I chuckled, imagining the metal-like music playing on the background while slaughtering demons barehanded. ¡°Until it was done.¡± I nodded. It did end, I¡¯m here after all. A hot Elf wizard wants to be my lover, I¡¯d be lying if I said that didn¡¯t feel the best. The way she squirmed in pleasure under me vivid in my mind. Her voice calling my name. Though I had plenty of experience, the tool had drastically changed. I followed my instincts and memory, catching up quickly. Am I whining over an incredibly enviable situation? I laughed, picturing my brother in my position. Though women don¡¯t share, according to Lapia. That¡¯d suck for any male, the harem dream shattered. Is it even a harem, being all women? Because I don¡¯t think a man of this world would go at it with me having that. The thing even bigger than any I had seen. And Eastern Europe had big ones. I laughed sadly. Is size important to the men in this world, too? I sighed. I didn¡¯t mind missing out on men, to be completely honest. What mattered was not the past, or the ¡®what if¡¯, but the present, and the near future. I was on my way to get another partner, which was anxiety inducing for my monogamist mind. I felt like I was cheating, but the person herself sent me. ¡°Anyway.¡± I sighed. ¡°New girlfriend, books, and later a long discussion with Lapia.¡± I smiled. ¡°Some sexy time too, perhaps.¡± I giggled with excitement. I took the journal out and resumed my reading. I had finished the volume and was halfway through the next, when the carriage stopped once again. ¡°Church!¡± the chauffeur¡¯s voice woke me up from the book. I stored the journal and fixed my clothes. I let my hair down and exited the vehicle. A massive cathedral greeted me. It was easily three hundred meters tall, Gothic architecture and massive gardens surrounding it. Two words instantly came to mind, the similarity was distressing. An*r L*ndo. I unconsciously searched for a yellow flask I did not have. ¡°Have a good day, Your Excellency.¡± the driver called and cracked the reins. ¡°Thanks a bunch.¡± I turned and gave him a thumbs up. The man chuckled and shook his head, the carriage advancing through the street. I returned my attention to the cathedral and set forth, humming the plin plin plon song. The gardens were well tended and I saw a surprising amount of people on grounds. Probably looking for companions just like me. I noticed a good amount looking at me with interest, gesturing to their own companions and discreetly pointing at me. I realized the appraising action was not infinite in reach, the more interesting looking fellows out of range. I saw a good amount of Archer and Wizard related classes. Too low level, however. The front gate of the cathedral was wide open, people going in and out as if it was their own house. I came inside and noticed a robed woman approach me. Her white robe had golden details and the image of an open eye in the chest area. A few belts kept it in place. The fabric reached the floor, her feet barely visible, sandals covering them. The contours of her body displayed, but paling in comparison to my Elf partner. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± she gave me a deep nod which I returned. ¡°How may I be of service?¡± she gave me a smile. Her face was half covered by a hood, only her mouth visible, long brown hair flowing down her shoulders. [Celez Human, Lvl 121 Priestess] Creepy. I smiled back. ¡°Looking for companions. I¡¯d appreciate you guiding me.¡± I said, my hands behind my back. ¡°Certainly, Your Excellency.¡± the hooded woman nodded and turned. ¡°This way, please.¡± she gestured for me to follow. I walked behind her, crossing the massive entrance hall and into a long corridor, deep into the building. Windows on both sides bathed us in light, small inner gardens in sight. Various people similarly dressed in white tending to them. ¡°Excuse me for asking, Your Excellency.¡± the woman said, looking to the side. ¡°Is Your Excellency looking for a group to join, or individual companions?¡± her voice was calm and respectful. ¡°Individuals.¡± I answered. ¡°I see.¡± she nodded. ¡°Is Your Excellency perhaps looking for a healer?¡± her voice held a note of excitement. Perhaps hope. ¡°Yeah, actually.¡± I appraised her again. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but I¡¯m looking for strong people.¡± I wanted the healer to at least be higher level than Lapia. ¡°Oh.¡± she said, a mix of humorous surprise and flattery. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to offer myself. Your Excellency is beyond my capabilities. I¡¯d be but a burden.¡± she chuckled gently. ¡°Do you have someone in mind?¡± I asked, taking the bait. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s staying with us for a while.¡± she kept going when the corridor opened to another hall, smaller this time. A double door stood on the opposite wall. ¡°I¡¯ll present you with her form once we are inside.¡± she pushed the doors open with a little effort, faint white light on her hands. ¡°Welcome to the Archives.¡± she bowed, allowing me to enter first. A library welcomed us. Walls with rows upon rows of shelves filled with books, manuscripts, scrolls and all manner of written media. It was decent in size. Tables occupied the center of the room, lamps on each of them. Paintings covering the walls where shelves were absent, exquisitely crafted chandeliers hung from above. The ceiling was surprisingly high. The musk of old books slapped my nose. ¡°This way, Your Excellency.¡± the priestess guided me to the right, then towards the back, where a sign read ¡®T Clergy¡¯. She took a stool next to the shelf and brought it in front. She put a hand on it and it grew taller, a ladder forming from the wood. She climbed on it and reached for a thin tome. It looked recently used. She opened it and leafed through it. Near the end, she took a page and gently detached it from the body. ¡°Here.¡± she offered me the piece of paper. ¡°I truly hope she¡¯s to your liking.¡± she smiled, got down the ladder and moved away a couple of meters, where she waited. Just like that? I thought. That was simpler than I expected. I looked at the paper and was surprised by the contents. Name: Alyssa Pruvik Species: Luzo (Krystaali) Gender: Aristi/Male/Female Age: 104 Likes: Warmth, the suns, pastries, juicy fruits, sleeping in (on days off), the smell of clean water, hot baths, cleanliness, strong people. Dislikes: Disorganized spaces, butterflies (IMPORTANT), arrogant people, needles, pants in general (NO TAIL HOLE? SERIOUSLY?). I tolerate: Children. Offspring: None. Interested in: 65% women, 35% men. Languages: Dragon Tongue, Elvish, Low Tongue, Common. My motivations are: Finding the best pastry in the world. Hobbies: Reading, sunbathing. Highest Class: Cardinal (Healer, support) Total Level: 400+ At the foot of the page was a drawing of the suns and what I assumed to be a person with a tail smiling under them. If not for the information above, I¡¯d assume a three year old drew it. I couldn¡¯t help but laugh. I noticed the priestess fidget a little at my laugh. ¡°This is pretty cute.¡± I said, gesturing to the drawing on the paper. ¡°She seems cute, too.¡± I smiled and laughed at the comment about pants. ¡°Yes, she is.¡± she sighed with relief. ¡°I¡¯m glad you find her so, your Excellency.¡± the woman smiled warmly. ¡°How does meeting with her sound?¡± she approached me with a different smile. ¡°Right away?¡± I blurted out. Things sure are fast in this world. ¡°My.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Not right away, Your Excellency.¡± she grinned with a hand on her cheek. ¡°Your Excellency would need to fill a form similar to this one. I¡¯d take it to her and if she agrees to meet, I¡¯ll arrange it.¡± she explained. ¡°Sounds fair.¡± I looked at the drawing again and smiled. ¡°I have a question, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± I looked over the text once more. ¡°If I can answer.¡± she nodded. ¡°What is an Aristi?¡±I looked at the woman. ¡°Hmm.¡± she pondered, a finger on her chin. ¡°Has Your Excellency not met the Luzo before?¡± a troubled smile the only thing visible on her face. ¡°Not yet. As a matter of fact, I woke up only five days ago.¡± I said, a wry smile forming on my face. ¡°I see.¡± she nodded. ¡°Unlike the majority of species who only require males and females copulating to produce offspring, the Luzo require a third individual. Their role is crucial to the process, they receive both egg and seed, and are the party that gestate the new life. That is the Aristi.¡± she explained. ¡°The Jorrksuuv species are similar, but they are consisted of seven genders, each taking a crucial step in the process.¡± she smiled. What in the flying fuck? I was shocked beyond comprehension. ¡°So, a female Luzo can¡¯t get pregnant?¡± I felt my brain turn to mush for a second. The implications of three active genders were too confusing for me, let alone seven. ¡°Only if the objective is to conceive a Luzo.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Female Luzo posses a womb as any other species. This womb, however, does not present the adequate conditions that allows the gestation of a Luzo egg.¡± she thought for a second. ¡°If Your Excellency would allow me to be bold?¡± she lowered her head slightly. ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡± I nodded. ¡°Through a skill belonging to one of my classes, it has come to my attention that Your Excellency has both a penis and a vagina.¡± she waited a second, perhaps expecting a reaction on my part. I just nodded. ¡°If Your Excellency were to copulate with Alyssa under the right conditions, producing offspring would be possible.¡± she straightened. ¡°The limitation is only applied when the desired result is a pure-blood Luzo.¡± she sighed with a smidgen of pity. ¡°Such is the way of the world.¡± a sad smile replaced her cheerfulness. ¡°I see.¡± I nodded. ¡°Are there species that aren¡¯t compatible with one another in terms of reproduction?¡± I had to ask, a tiny worry in the back of my head. ¡°My.¡± she smiled, this time it was gentle and slightly amused. ¡°Your Excellency is a Halve. There are very few such limitations.¡± she shook her head and raised a finger. ¡°However, a partner would need to be of sufficient power to nurture such a life, otherwise fertilization is not possible.¡± she raised another finger. ¡°The same applies if the partner is male, the seed too weak to fertilize Your Excellency¡¯s eggs otherwise.¡± I stared at the woman with new eyes. I nodded, the worry of unwanted pregnancy mostly answered. So the Church is like... doctors and shit? ¡°What would this margin of power be?¡± my curiosity got a hold of me. If at any point in time I¡¯d want children, I had to know. ¡°The short answer would be around less than ten percent of difference in total level. The study of this particular field of knowledge is not extensive enough, I¡¯m afraid.¡± she sighed. ¡°Only Her Excellency Yulianna and His Excellency Perculis delved into the matter with an academic perspective.¡± her words were calm, her tone scholarly. ¡°So inter-species offspring can happen with anybody?¡± I asked with amazement. What a development. The Perculis fellow came up again. ¡°Not quite.¡± the woman coughed lightly. ¡°There are¡­ some species¡­ that cannot copulate with others due to¡­ lacking¡­ the required organs.¡± ¡°Ahh. I see.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°Thanks a lot for answering.¡± I smiled at the priestess. ¡°Not at all, Your Excellency. It¡¯s an honor to bring enlightenment.¡± she turned and gestured towards the tables. ¡°Shall we get the form filled?¡± she asked with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± I followed her. We took a seat at a nearby table, with her sitting next to me. She pulled a blank piece of paper and an empty form along with a quill out of her storage. Perhaps an item sorage like Lapia mentioned before, I couldn¡¯t picture the priestess diving into E¡¯er like my girlfriend. My cheeks heated up at that thought. ¡°Let us begin.¡± she put one next to the other. I noticed the empty form had a very large collection of options for the many species that existed. The quill worked interestingly. I saw the top end of the feather disappearing as ink came out, fine hairs getting sucked into the thing. Around thirty minutes later, I looked at the final product. I changed my interest ratio after experiencing Lapia, a penis changed my entire view on my sexuality. The priestess was satisfied with the information I wrote down. I even spent ten minutes sketching myself and Lapia, the priestess highly praising my drawing skills. It looked rough, but it was a near perfect image of the both of us. I drew the Elf in her ¡®everyday clothes¡¯ and me in my current dress. ¡°Now, I shall take this to Alyssa.¡± she stood up, taking the form with her. ¡°Your Excellency is welcomed to peruse the Archives in the meantime.¡± she smiled, bowed, and left. I stood up and watched the woman close the door behind her. Is it me, or does she want to either get rid of this Alyssa, or to set her up with someone equally as desperately. Looking around, I approached the shelves and searched for scouts. After walking around a bit, I found a small section dedicated to the class. I leafed through what felt like a thousand individuals, mostly human males. The few female scouts were either human or had motivations that sounded too grim to add to the group. I had no way of confirming, but I had the feeling humans weren¡¯t as long lived as me or Lapia. Losing a mate to the unavoidable passage of time was not something I wanted to experience in the future, so I avoided them. Maybe they live longer the stronger they get, but I don¡¯t want to find out if I¡¯m wrong the hard way. There were Assassins, Rogues, Binders, and was surprised to find a ¡®Crown Traitor¡¯ among them. Though her level was decent, she went only for men, so I didn¡¯t even bother checking her species. I supposed the class had nothing to do with the crimes the individual committed, otherwise she¡¯d be imprisoned or executed. I moved to another shelf after not finding any satisfactory prospects, finding a book that read ¡®partying for dummies¡¯. I gave it a read and aside from insulting me every page, it provided little explanation to the concepts it brought up. Apparently, you had to ¡®bond¡¯ with a companion for the E¡¯er released by monsters to be absorbed equally, but it didn¡¯t go into detail as to what ¡®bonding¡¯ actually was, or why E¡¯er was released when something died. Maybe having sex forms it? I wondered. Lapia said we had already bonded. Maybe mutually agreeing is enough? The guide was absolutely useless. Instead, I focused on finding this ¡®bond¡¯, whatever it was. I closed my eyes and read the E¡¯er within me, along with looking for any link or union. The status list assaulted my eyes with its unnecessarily large amount of information. Everything was the same, save for the little amount of stamina I had spent during the day. Then I tried the thing I did when I first ¡®peered¡¯ inside myself. I felt the unfathomable storage, the weird knowledge of skills and a calming warmth that reminded me of the suns. It slowly moved inside my body and coalesced on my skin. I tried to picture any link, union, bond, attachment, connection, tie and most concepts that meant the same thing. I noticed a light tug around my heart. There, a calm heartbeat accompanied mine. It was exactly how Lapia¡¯s felt earlier in the morning. I was surprised how clearly I could remember it. ¡°That¡¯s neat.¡± I whispered, touching my chest. I had a general idea in which direction to go to get to her. I looked at the book and refused to credit it for this finding, placing it where it was. I continued my exploration of the library, finding books about the different species, too intricate and full of technical jargon to understand in passing. I had confidence in my drawing skills, playing the piano, my singing and even my affinity with E¡¯er, but not in my brain to understand the genealogical origin or Lupum in a matter of minutes, not that I was that interested. I saw books titled ''How to catch a man, the intricacies of the male heart'', ''200 positions to conquer a man in a single night'', ''What do men look for in a relationship?'', ''How to handle your man'', ''Top ten hottest men of the century'', and many more. Fucking hell. This is insane! I gaped at the books, shaking my head and moving on. A few books about alchemy caught my attention for a while, presenting the history of material transmutation and the laws imposed to avoid over-saturation of the market. Instead of punishing alchemists, they were given office in government to help regulate, deepen and spread the knowledge of the art and its dangers. And they lived happily ever after. A mocking snort escaped me. Yeah, right. Like that¡¯d happen. I picked another book, but before I could read the title, the doors to the Archive opened behind me. I felt my pulse quicken, a light faintness sneaking into my head. The sound of two pairs of footsteps made me gulp. I just got a girlfriend today, and I might get another one in the next few hours. Though events were going faster than I was used to, there was no denying the excitement of the circumstances. Back on Earth, before the pandecade, I was no stranger to numerous hookups, however, that¡¯s where the similarities ended. This felt more like a dating site, but fantasy polygamy on speed. I carefully put the book back on the shelf, slowly turning around. 8 - Beautiful Reptile. Dumb Reptile. Red eyes like blood stared into mine. Thin vertical pupils split them like a snake¡¯s. Dark scales covered her face from the eyes up, the lower section was a pale purple, almost as if she was suffering from hypothermia. Her lips, however, were scarlet, full and plump. A pair of fangs peeked through, making for a stunning picture. Dangerous and beautiful. I thought she would look more reptilian in nature, but she looked like a woman. A very beautiful woman. A stunningly very beautiful woman. A stunningly beautiful yet dangerous looking woman. Stop it! Silvery white hair like smoke fell down her shoulders to her waist, spilling the rest down her back. Two long, black horns emerged from her forehead. They looked to be around twenty centimeters long, bending backwards. She wore similar clothes to the priestess, with plenty of differences, however. Hers had a more intricate golden motif and were sleeveless. A black leather belt directly beneath her chest acknowledged a sizable volume and a lean midriff. The body fitting clothes also displayed wide-ish hips. The front of the skirt opened halfway down her thighs, showing her legs. A lithe tail dark as night hanging behind them, bending up and avoiding the floor. The limbs were slender and toned, covered in scales except for her inner thighs, where her skin showed the same shade of light purple as her face. Scales continued from the knees down, thicker the lower they went. Her toes ended in claws, sandals protecting her soles. Her arms were similar. From the elbows, scales turned thicker towards her fingers, ending in claws. Her limbs didn''t look that different from a person save for the scales. I walked towards her and she met me halfway. We studied each other in silence. Her elongated eyes stopped on my cleavage for a few seconds, then averted her gaze, blinking a few times. I noticed her eyelids were covered in thin scales. Her eyebrows were scaly and the pattern clearly noticeable. Our eyes met again and I let a wide smile form. Excluding her horns, she was a few centimeters shorter than me. She was beautiful in a primal way. Her features were sharp, her eyes like a predator¡¯s. She opened and closed her mouth several times, a deep purple blush coloring her cheeks, I saw a glimpse of a blue tongue. ¡°Natasha, nice to meet you.¡± I offered a hand, she took it and I felt soft skin against my palm. I was lost in her eyes. She had no whites, the entire orbs a vivid scarlet. ¡°Alyssa. N-nice to meet you.¡± the Luzo said in a deep, feminine voice. [Alyssa, Krystaali Luzo Lvl 246 Cardinal] She stuttered! I giggled and her blush reached her neck and scaled ears. Hers were longer than mine, but not as long as Lapia¡¯s. This creature is cute as all hells. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful.¡± I whispered, staring into her eyes. She smiled and looked away, the blush now on her entire face. ¡°Thanks.¡± she said in a meek voice. ¡°You too, are beautiful.¡± she took a quick peek at me. Her voice numbed the base of my skull, the sound gentle and rich. Her attitude was a contrast to her appearance. Is this the big titty goth girlfriend I was promised in the afterlife? ¡°Would you walk with me?¡± I asked. Her hand trembling slightly. She nodded and turned to look at the priestess. ¡°Clara, I¡¯ll be having a stroll with Natasha.¡± she lowered her head slightly. ¡°Thank you for introducing us.¡± her voice was thick with nervousness and excitement. The woman in question smiled from ear to ear. ¡°Not at all, Lady Alyssa.¡± she bowed and turned to leave. As she left the library, she looked back at us and gigged. Alyssa looked back at me, her deep red eyes going over my face, a smile forming. ¡°Shall we?¡± I gestured to the open doors, relaxing my hand around hers. She nodded. ¡°I know a nice spot.¡± she began slowly walking, releasing her grasp. We left the library, the doors closing on their own at a gesture from her. She turned right and walked towards an opening to the side. It led to a long corridor, an open space at the end. I kept my hands on my back, my spine straight. My breasts shook slightly with each step. ¡°Excuse me.¡± she said, taking out the paper with my information, pointing at the sketch I did. ¡°Did you draw this?¡± ¡°Yeah, did you like it?¡± I walked at her side, leaving a comfortable distance between us. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous, and your handwriting is beautiful.¡± she looked at the drawing with a smile. ¡°It doesn¡¯t do you justice, though.¡± she added, shyly looking away. ¡°Thank you.¡± I felt my heart skip a beat. ¡°Would you like me to draw you?¡± I offered. I had confidence in my skills, I earned a living thanks to them. She turned to me, eyes wide. ¡°You would?¡± her voice had increased in pitch a little. She covered her mouth. ¡°You would?¡± she asked again, calmer this time. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d love to.¡± I smiled at her. ¡°It would be a crime not to immortalize your beauty.¡± I said with my most charming (?) smile. That was a good one. I patted myself mentally. ¡°Oh, you flatter me too much.¡± she blushed and looked away, but a smile was there. ¡°Thank you.¡± she said in a whisper. ¡°Not at all. You really are beautiful.¡± I complimented her. Her eyes met mine, and gave me a shy smile, her fangs showing. She returned her focus on the paper in her hands. ¡°Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?¡± she asked, peeking at me a few times. ¡°Go ahead.¡± I fixed my posture and noticed her taking a glance at my chest, then quickly looking at the paper. ¡°Here you wrote you woke up five days ago.¡± she looked me in the eye. ¡°Was the place near Riverfield?¡± ¡°I woke up more than ten thousand kilometers to the south.¡± I explained. ¡°I covered the distance running.¡± Her eyes widened for a second, then leaned close. ¡°So¡­ you have¡­ uhm¡­ great stamina?¡± she blushed, struggling to maintain eye contact, blinking quickly. Holy shit this woman went there instantly. I chuckled, fighting the urge to laugh out loud. ¡°Yes. I do have great stamina.¡± I admitted, my cheeks burning a little. ¡°And you already have a partner. Lady Lapia.¡± she read the paper again. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Have you heard of her?¡± though I added a little of her information, a clarification is never bad. ¡°Yes.¡± she nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve met a few times due to clergy business.¡± she smiled and looked at me. ¡°She¡¯s quite the charmer, isn¡¯t she?¡± she giggled and I felt my already short age gaining vitality. ¡°She is.¡± I smiled. ¡°How long have you been in Riverfield? The priestess mentioned something like that.¡± ¡°I''ve been staying in Riverfield for three years.¡± she paused. ¡°Before that, I spent some years in Juufk in the Koluum Kingdom, helping various teams that delved into dungeons in the nearby swamps.¡± she shrugged. ¡°The income was good, but level gains were slow. Nobody really caught my attention so I left.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± I nodded. ¡°Have I caught your attention, then?¡± I grinned. She blushed, looking down. ¡°Very much so.¡± she said in a quiet voice. ¡°When Clara brought me your form, I admit I was skeptical.¡± she said, looking back at me. ¡°Once I saw you, however, I was¡­¡± she gulped, the blush going up to her ears. ¡°Smitten.¡± she whispered, looking away. Wow. Can I have this one? I felt my heart squeeze, her expressions were too cute. I covered a stupid smile with my hand. ¡°You¡¯re so cute.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but admit it, giggling. We reached the end of the corridor and walked into a large garden surrounded by walls. Trees dotted the view, a pond in the center of the spacious grounds. ¡°O-over here.¡± she stuttered, a wide grin on her face, the blush not leaving her. She guided me to a particularly tall tree with a bench next to it. She sat and excitedly patted the spot right next to her. I noticed her tail was curled up, resting opposite of where she gestured. I did as offered. ¡°Beautiful spot.¡± I said looking around. A few birds sang, the late morning bathing us in the suns glorious light. ¡°I like to come here and read.¡± she took deep breaths, calming the blush on her face. Her elongated eyes found mine. Her hands still held the sheet. ¡°What do you read?¡± I rested my hands on my lap, maintaining a straight posture. ¡°I like epics and romantic tragedy.¡± she tucked some hair behind her ear, her slender fingers seemed delicate despite being covered in scales, giving me a sidelong glance. She smirked when she noticed me staring at her. I felt my face heat up. She knows what she¡¯s doing, alright. ¡°Any particular piece you¡¯d recommend?¡± I leaned forward slightly, looking to the front. I noticed her take a quick glance at my breasts, a soft sigh escaping her lips. ¡°Kindgom Fall, by Yinka Plavas. It¡¯s pretty exciting.¡± she slightly moved closer to me. ¡°Oh? What¡¯s it about?¡± I asked, turning my body in her direction. ¡°I¡¯m not one to spoil a good read, so you¡¯d have to find out.¡± she laughed, the bountiful breasts I had been trying to ignore shook. My eyes instantly fell on them. The sheer volume threatened to consume me. I looked away the moment I saw her head turning. I felt a heat rising from my chest to my face, spreading through my torso. This woman was physically attracive and really cute. Knowing the forwardness of romance was honestly liberating. ¡°Do you have a copy I could borrow? In exchange, I have a few books of my own that I woke up with.¡± I said, grabbing my collar and airing my chest. Though the excitement and arousal were welcome, I didn¡¯t know if she was that open minded. ¡°Oh?¡± her eyes sparked with interest. ¡°That sounds like a plan.¡± A white book appeared on her hand, offering me the item. I took out a Saint Valentine event book titled ¡®Yours, Truly¡¯. It was a quest item that was supposed to fix the relationship between two NPC¡¯s in the game. Romance was never my thing in literature, I preferred cyberpunk or sci-fi. She took the book and I hers. The shape of a castle stood below the title. The book looked more like an ancient encyclopedia, and was as thick as one. Silver decorations everywhere on the thing, the author¡¯s name on the tome¡¯s spine. After going through some pages and discovering it was in English, or Common as it was called in this world, I stored it. Alyssa looked at the cover of the admittedly thinner book I gave her, and nodded to herself. ¡°A romance novel?¡± she asked, a scaly eyebrow rising. ¡°I though it fitting.¡± I looked into her eyes. Her face blushed, eyes widening slightly. ¡°It is.¡± A wide smile formed on her face. The book and the sheet of paper disappeared from her grasp. ¡°I''m glad you think so.¡± I sighed, leaning back and looking up to the sky. I was never a gesture type of woman, so this book and Lapia¡¯s ring were blind shots. A warm, fuzzy feeling made me giddy. I felt her hand on my shoulder and turned to her. Her face was really close, her eyes darting from mine to my lips. Her long, blue, forked tongue licked hers. It reminded me more of a split tongue than a reptile one. Her hand followed my arm locked fingers with mine. As she leaned on me, I felt her generous chest on my side. Crimson lips connected with my golden. Her eyes closed and body leaning on me. The two tips of her tongue invaded my mouth at the first opportunity, the long muscle wrapping around mine. Her fangs dug into my lips and a moan left her accompanied by a long sigh. She gave me a deep kiss right away. I was surprised but followed her actions, hugging her back and pressing our chests together. She tasted like strawberries. Her tail wrapped around my waist and pushed me hard against her, both her arms around my neck. The scales were harder than I thought, scratching against my skin and sending pleasant shivers through my body. I was momentarily reminded that my skin had, in fact, reflected a blade with the intent to kill, so the hard reptilian surface would never hurt me or cause any discomfort. She broke the kiss and giggled, then sighed and gave me a peck on the lips. In my infinite stupidity, born of more than redacted years of life, I said the first thing that came to mind. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little too fast?¡± I looked her in the eye. Her eyes widened and she laughed. "Hahahahaha!" Her chest trembled and her body shook against mine in joy, as if I had told the best joke since the Big Bang. Her jaw opened to the point I would almost see her tonsils, if she had any. My focus was on her blue forked tongue, though. Her entire mouth was blue on the inside. She nuzzled her head on my neck, letting whatever she found so funny to overcome her. I let out a defeated chuckle. What is it with women of this world laughing so hard at my worries. The air in my lungs flew out my mouth. ¡°Aiyahh.¡± she let out a deep sigh as she calmed down. ¡°Natasha, you¡¯re the best.¡± she kissed me on the cheek, sweet giggles making for an adorable sight. ¡°It¡¯s not?¡± my stupid face must¡¯ve been funny, because she laughed again. ¡°For someone who¡¯s such a tomboy, you can be pretty cute.¡± she moved over to me and placed her ample behind on my lap, her tail not changing places. ¡°Though I understand, you¡¯re new to the world.¡± I¡¯m a what? I was shocked. I always thought of myself as quite feminine, and considered myself a passive partner for many years, with both men and women. Is the definition different here? Or was I so clueless my entire life? ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like me.¡± she said, smiling at me and caressing my face. ¡°When meeting someone like we did, to become partners, it¡¯s customary to share a kiss. Yet you offered me a handshake.¡± she giggled. Her voice was surprisingly even, no shred of nervousness. The rich sound tickled my ears and relaxed the base of my brain. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know.¡± I looked away, way too embarrassed and confused. ¡°I noticed.¡± she giggled. ¡°I quickly figured the rest, yet I was still uncertain.¡± she hugged me tight. ¡°Then you gave me a romance novel and said it was fitting.¡± she broke into another series of giggles, the sound divine. ¡°Lapia must¡¯ve kept the details to herself, the sexy devil.¡± a sigh entered my ears, tickling my spine. What happened to calling her ¡®Lady¡¯?! Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Sexy devil?¡± shock evident in my voice, she giggled again. ¡°I told you I met her before.¡± she kissed me on the cheek again. ¡°I¡¯ve been interested in her, but we never had the chance to ¡®personally¡¯ get to know each other. She¡¯s a mischievous little Elf.¡± her giggles kept coming. Goodness gracious, her giggles give me life. I relaxed in her embrace. The slight anxiety melting away. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± I inhaled deeply, taking in the rich scent of lemons emanating from her hair. ¡°If I made you anxious, I¡¯m sorry.¡± I raised my head and softly kissed her lips, keeping eye contact. ¡°Oh, you.¡± she smiled, her face blushing. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize, really.¡± she leaned her forehead on mine, her scales warm. At first I thought her body would be cold, being a reptile species, but she was surprisingly warm and comfortably soft. I guess all, or most, species are mammals. My fingers felt strong muscles on her back, the scales following their shape, becoming firmer near the lower back. Probably because of the tail. The appendage around my waist seemed rock solid, yet incredibly flexible. ¡°Are you staying with Lapia?¡± she asked, her warm breath grazing my face, the sweet smell of strawberries tickling my nose. ¡°About that.¡± I chuckled, not knowing how to answer. ¡°We arrived to the city yesterday evening, stayed at an inn for the night, and in the morning we took a ride. She got off at her workplace and I came here.¡± I explained. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can stay there, though. I was thinking of crashing at a hotel for the time being.¡± I shrugged, I had the money for it. Her eyes opened wide. ¡°Did you bond with her at least?¡± her worried face was also cute. ¡°She said we did, I feel a sort of connection.¡± I nodded, pointing to the south-east. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± she sighed in relief. ¡°Will you have me, then?¡± she asked, her red eyes locked with mine. Shes beautiful, cute, hot and her personality fits all my tastes. ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded, kissing her again. She giggled, her breasts pushing mine and winning the battle. ¡°You really like kissing, huh?¡± ¡°I do.¡± I laughed and felt my cheeks burn. ¡°Did Lapia explain what bonding is, by any chance?¡± she asked, lowering a hand and trying to circle my bicep with her long slender fingers. When she failed, a soft whimper left her. I did my best to ignore that particular moment of thirst. ¡°No, she didn¡¯t. I figured she thought I¡¯d read on it at the library.¡± she tried again, but the result was the same. ¡°Hum. I see.¡± she abandoned the futile task and proceeded to trace my muscles with her fingers. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± ¡°I found a guide, but it wasn¡¯t very helpful.¡± the insulting contents going through my mind, a laugh left me. ¡°I get the gist of it, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± she said, her voice was a little absent, focused on her hands. ¡°It¡¯s very useful, and essential when you have a healer like me with you.¡± ¡°Oh ho?¡± that got me. ¡°How so? Does healing work through the bond?¡± ¡°No, not healing. Some of my Cardinal skills can only function with people I¡¯m bonded with.¡± she explained. ¡°Though the term makes it sound like you must be close with people, a verbal agreement can form a temporary bond.¡± she took my hands in hers and began inspecting them. ¡°When you¡¯re actually close, the bond is deeper. It also deepens or weakens with time.¡± she looked me in the eye for a second. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean spells become stronger. Only the feeling of direction and general well-being of your partner.¡± ¡°Ohh.¡± This E¡¯er thing is pretty amazing. ¡°What¡¯s the nature of your skills?¡± I asked. She blinked a few times, and then a deep blush covered her face. ¡°Right. We haven¡¯t talked about that.¡± she sounded a bit embarrassed. ¡°Sorry, you¡¯re just too... charming and alluring, I got distracted.¡± she let go of my hands and covered her smile. I moved them aside and gave her a peck on the lips. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m fascinated too.¡± we both giggled, she fixed a lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯m a Cardinal and Arch Bishop. I can heal in various ways; single, group, area, over time. Protect body, mind and spirit. Boost status, inflict various effects on enemies and in general save someone¡¯s butt.¡± she giggled, taking my hands again. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°Hoplite, Lancer and Dragoon. I use a spear, though I have only fought once and against bandits at that. I can fight large monsters with relative ease if my skills are accurate. I¡¯m strong, fast, and tough. One class benefits from riding a mount. I have auras to help fight monsters.¡± I did my best to summarize my classes the way Alyssa did. ¡°Mhm. So you¡¯ll take the front in combat.¡± she nodded, thinking about something. ¡°What do you ride?¡± she asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten a mount yet.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m planning on buying one soon, though.¡± ¡°We could go together, if you want.¡± she offered, tilting her head. ¡°I¡¯ve studied plenty of beasts in case a partner uses a companion or mount. I¡¯d say I know a thing or two.¡± she smiled, her fangs showing in their entirety. Her gums were blue as well. That''d be a pretty nice first date. My heart warmed up. ¡°That¡¯d be really helpful.¡± I nodded. ¡°I remember that Punten fellow mentioned a breeder he knew that deals with Beasts of E¡¯er.¡± I recalled. ¡°Though I don¡¯t know if he ever said a name.¡± ¡°Natasha.¡± she smiled, holding back laughter. ¡°The word is E¡¯eral.¡± she caressed my cheek. ¡°Ah. Good to know.¡± my face heated up with embarassment. ¡°I¡¯m really ignorant on some things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. You have all the time in the world.¡± she kissed me on the cheek. ¡°Right.¡± I noticed I hadn¡¯t asked something. ¡°Speaking of time, I apologize if this is an insensitive topic. How long do Luzo live?¡± I searched her face for any unfavorable reaction. ¡°Three, four thousand years.¡± she said, putting a finger on her chin. ¡°I¡¯ll live longer, though.¡± she noticed my confused eyes. ¡°I¡¯m a healer. Deterioration from passage of time is something I¡¯ll be able to heal if I get powerful enough. It needs to show up first for me to detect and challenge, though.¡± ¡°That sounds overly powerful.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Look who¡¯s talking.¡± she pinched my cheek, my skin too resilient to even register pain. ¡°Miss level one thousand.¡± her teasing tone almost sending my soul to the afterlife with her deep voice. ¡°One thousand three hundred and fifty.¡± I corrected with mock offense. She giggled, pulling me into a hug. Loud bells interrupted the moment. The sound came from above, so I looked up to see the source of the deafening noise. At the top of the cathedral, two massive white bells swung. The clang was exceedingly loud, making me wince in discomfort. The bells rung a total of twelve times, returning to silence immediately after the last, the things disappearing. ¡°That was something.¡± I yawned, trying to rid myself of a light pressure in my ears. ¡°Is it noon already?¡± I had lost track of time since parting with Lapia. ¡°It is.¡± she stood from my lap, releasing her tail¡¯s grip on my waist. ¡°Shall we go?¡± she fixed her robe/dress and I noticed a ring at the base of the appendage through the cloth. A storage item, perhaps? I rose and straightened my skirt. Smart to place it there. ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± walking next to her, I offered a hand. She smiled and blushed, taking it and locking fingers. Her warm hand was soft on the inside and hard on her fingers. ¡°By the way, do you know somewhere I can buy a book or a notebook? I want to start a journal.¡± I said as we walked back inside the building. ¡°You can buy one here.¡± she changed directions and guided me deeper into the cathedral. ¡°So, what kind of beast do you prefer?¡± ¡°Ideally durable, strong enough to pull a cart or carriage by itself. Also to carry me on its back, my skills are pretty demanding. My standards are not that high, to be honest.¡± I shrugged. ¡°That does narrows it down quite a bit.¡± she nodded. ¡°It does?¡± my tilted head made her giggle. ¡°Yes, it can¡¯t be that big if it needs to pull a vehicle, right?¡± We turned left at the end of a corridor and came into a mess hall of sorts, an uncountable amount of tables and chairs in it. We walked across and into another corridor. ¡°True. I saw a big feline this morning. It was the beast pulling the ride we took. Huge, red fur with white stripes. Would that be useful?¡± I couldn¡¯t recall the name of the thing for the life of me. ¡°An Untu.¡± she supplied. ¡°If you want to spend fortunes buying high quality meat, sure.¡± ¡°Oh, are they picky?¡± the corridor led us into a hallway lined with doors, we kept going. ¡°Not really.¡± she laughed softly. ¡°Breeders spoil them too much.¡± ¡°Well, how about we see what they have in store and work with that.¡± I figured we couldn¡¯t know until we saw the animals ourselves. ¡°Sure.¡± she nodded. We continued walking for a few minutes, talking about small things like food and the turkey I saw the day I woke up. She blessed me with giggles and laughter as I told her about the exchange. We reached our objective when we entered a storage hall of sorts, filled with crates, chests, and large wooden containers. I purchased three thick blank books from a woman similar to the priestess that received me. One was the size of a regular notebook, though in book form, with about one thousand pages. The pages were blank; no lines, dots or squares to guide what I¡¯d write, which I was okay with. I had mastered the mythical skill of cursive. The other two were intended as sketchbooks, and looked the part. Both had around four hundred pages each, fifty centimeters tall and twenty wide. I also got ten writing utensils; quills, pencils and erasers. I paid twenty silver for everything, apparently the materials were top notch. We left the cathedral after that, walking out to the street. I noticed a lot of people looking at us on the way, especially people from the Church. They were smiling and whispering among themselves as if a glorious event was upon them. ¡°What¡¯s with the gossip?¡± I asked Alyssa in a quiet voice. ¡°Do I have something on my face?¡± She giggled. ¡°They must be happy for me. We clergy are a united bunch.¡± she smiled and shyly waved back at a group of priests, who in turn gave her a set of twelve thumbs up. ¡°That¡¯s pretty cute.¡± I laughed with her. Supportive circles are a nice thing to have. We left the grounds and walked over to a parking lot of sorts connected to the road. ¡°Looking for a ride, Lady Alyssa?¡± a gruff voice called. Next to a carriage stood a woman built like a brick shithouse. She wore a leather top and pants, and nothing else. Two black horses waited in the front. ¡°Norma, long time no see.¡± Alyssa said back. ¡°We¡¯re going to the Burhim & Pam breeding farm.¡± The driver looked me over and smiled. ¡°And who¡¯s the lady?¡± her short dark hair and brown skin made me think of an Amazon. What a chad. Look at that charismatic smile. I nodded to her. ¡°Natasha, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Nice indeed.¡± she opened the door to the vehicle. ¡°Fifty copper discount for the nice view.¡± she winked at me and laughed. I gave her the money and she got on top of the carriage surprisingly quickly. I laughed and followed Alyssa as she climbed on the vehicle. The insides were identical to the one from before. I sat down and she took a spot in front of me. I took a sketchbook and a pencil. ¡°Get comfortable, I¡¯ll take my time.¡± I looked at her. ¡°Okay.¡± she blushed slightly. I had noticed before while sketching me and Lapia that my hands were more precise, taking less time to shape what I had in mind. The strokes were decisive, accurate and quick. I chalked it up to my high dexterity. Ten minutes later I had finished the initial sketch, going with shading and depth next. I had no colored pencils, so I ended with a cold drawing. The details made up for it, having drawn every single visible scale on her body and lines of her horns. Around twenty minutes later, I had finished. Even though I took my time to avoid as many mistakes as I could, I was impressed at the final product and how quickly I completed the piece. I presented her the picture and she was speechless for a few moments. ¡°Holy crap.¡± she covered her mouth. ¡°This is beautiful.¡± ¡°You are.¡± I smiled. ¡°You can have it. I¡¯ll keep future drawings, though.¡± I carefully detached the page from the book, handing it over. She stared at it and stroke her cheek. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ve never seen myself like this except in mirrors.¡± the paper disappeared and she moved over to me, sitting on my lap. ¡°I¡¯m glad you liked it.¡± I hugged her and rested my head on her chest. They made for godly pillows. ¡°You must¡¯ve laughed at my pathetic drawing.¡± she said, laughing awkwardly. ¡°I found it cute.¡± I took the form out and pointed at the arms she doodled. ¡°You have a basic sense of body dimension, so it¡¯s not pathetic.¡± I looked up at her and smiled. ¡°You need to work on your tail, though.¡± I giggled at the squiggly line. ¡°You meanie.¡± she pouted. ¡°I can¡¯t see it very well.¡± ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t think of that.¡± I thought of her butt-cheeks blocking the view and grinned. ¡°Breeding Grounds!¡± Norma called, tapping on the roof of the carriage. ¡°You better not have made a mess inside there.¡± she laughed loudly. I laughed too. ¡°Good ol¡¯ Norma.¡± Alyssa sighed and opened the door. She fixed her dress and left the vehicle, I followed doing the same. A wide expanse of green greeted us. We had crossed the inner wall at some point, the road was paved at least. Land spread for kilometers, animals here and there. Some were small like cats, those I spotted near. Some were as big as elephants. Both too far to appraise or see any details. A farm looking property connected to the road via a short path. Trees surrounding it. It looked like a country side farm that could be found anywhere, but at least ten times larger. It was two stories tall and wide as could be. ¡°I¡¯m getting excited.¡± I admitted, my thoughts gravitated to dragons and wyverns. Unless those are Luzo ancestors. Alyssa giggled and took my hand. We walked to the farm, a short man coming to greet us. ¡°Welcome to Burhim & Pam.¡± he opened his arms wide. ¡°My name is J?k, what can I do for you, Ladies?¡± he was wearing leather and was leaning on a walking stick. He had Asian features, inclined towards the southern islands. [J?k, Tilen Human Lvl 53 Merchant] I appraised him and was surprised to see a new race. ¡°I¡¯m Natasha, my partner here is Alyssa.¡± I introduced ourselves, the Luzo smiled and waved. The man nodded. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a battle mount. Strong enough to pull a carriage. Not too big, though.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, then.¡± he gestured to the closest building and walked towards it, I noticed a limp. ¡°Lady Natasha, we here at Burhim & Pam proud ourselves for providing the best. We deal in cattle and beasts of burden. We also have a wide variety of E¡¯eral beasts you might be interested in. If any catches your fancy, don¡¯t hesitate to let me know.¡± We came into the building and the raw smell of animals and their waste assaulted my senses. The building was deceptively large. It reminded me of a barn, but white in its entirety, much like any edifice I had seen so far in Riverfield. The floor was covered with straw and leaves. Animals were kept behind a fence, spacious room to go around. The closest animals walked over to the fence. Regular horses, Bhin, which were red horses with ox horns, and others I wasn¡¯t too interested in to appraise. I saw a horse that had four eyes and a horn on its nose. I stared at the animal for a few seconds trying to figure out how that came to be. [Bey¡¯tu Lvl 9] ¡°Looks like they like you already.¡± Alyssa said next to me, caressing a Bhin¡¯s head. The animals were all looking at me. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that a surprise.¡± J?k laughed cheerfully. ¡°You seem to have quite the affinity, Lady Natasha.¡± ¡°So it would seem.¡± I kept the details to myself, he didn¡¯t exactly need to know that. ¡°Do you have higher level beasts? Above one hundred?¡± I turned to the man. He thought for a second and turned around. ¡°This way.¡± The animals followed us and stopped once we reached a wall that separated their shed with the next one. The same scene welcomed us, animals walking over to us as if appealing to me. The same animals with a few additions, horses with added body parts. Their levels too low. The man ignored them and kept going, entering the next shed. After the fourth, he stopped and turned to us. ¡°Animals here are higher level. Their strength confirmed at being able to pull twenty tonnes of dead weight.¡± he presented the space. It looked exactly the same as the previous ones except for the animals. "We have Untu: large and agile felines. Bhin..." The man went on about the animals, introducing them by name and features. I saw a couple Untu a distance away, recognizable by their shape and color. I remembered Alyssa¡¯s comment about being expensive to keep. I could sustain that, probably for a few hundred years. A cat though? I had my doubts. True, a cat would be helpful in combat, but their eccentric nature would be troublesome. There were cats of various shapes, sizes and colors. Some looked fairly simple, others with horns or tusks. What looked like dogs were present as well, unnecesary extra things like horns, spikes, or tusks on their bodies. I looked at other animals, but wasn¡¯t very impressed. I miss my penguin. ¡°Oh, a Ratnak.¡± Alyssa¡¯s voice reached me and I turned to where she was looking. ¡°Those are rare.¡± A savior? Hope bloomed in my heart. There, what would be best described as a drake lied resting on the ground staring at me. It stood up when we made eye contact and closed the distance at a slow pace. Its body was covered in red scales. Deep blue eyes locked with mine. As it approached, I noticed it was at least four meters from its head to the end of its short tail. Its nostrils opening up every time it took a breath. Those were big enough to fit my entire arm inside. From head to floor, Its was three meters tall at the very least. Strong legs supporting its frame. The neck a meter long, covered in large scales. Its face had no lips, the pointy teeth opening slightly as it exhaled. It reeked of iron and copper. It was a drake through and through. The thing¡¯s eyes never left me or blinked until it stood right in front of me, lifting its head. [Ratnak Lvl 150] ¡°These are pretty good.¡± Alyssa commented. ¡°They eat metal.¡± she said offhandedly. ¡°They what?¡± I turned to her. ¡°Ah, you looked away.¡± the man said, now behind me and a few meters back. I noticed movement from my periphery and turned back to the beast, only to see its forehead the instant before it headbutted me. The impact made me close my eyes, expecting to be knocked back and out. It felt like a weak punch, however. My neck moved back a few centimeters. I heard a loud roar followed by a thud and opened my eyes. It was sprawled on the ground, clutching its head with its four digit claws. If they could be called that. No opposable thumbs... Not a paw either. It was growling in pain, its eyes closed. ¡°Ha! You fool.¡± I snickered. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me, I¡¯m a badass bitch.¡± I laughed, the momentary panic gone in an instant. For good measure, I wiped my forehead in case it wounded me, but not even a bump was left, the area felt a bit numb, though. I heard Alyssa sigh. ¡°They are quite smart, but simple minded. In the wild they form herds, following the strongest one of the bunch. They find mines and feast on them until nothing remains, sometimes even entering dungeons to find ore veins.¡± she smiled at me. ¡°Now that you proved to be stronger, it¡¯ll follow you even if it means breaking the walls.¡± she laughed as I gaped at her. ¡°Oh.¡± I turned to the man. ¡°Would it have been better if I played dead?¡± ¡°If you want her, you did perfectly.¡± his smile was not amused. I got the message. I better not claim ignorance or they¡¯ll be troublesome. His eyes told me something similar. ¡°Uh. How much for the Ratnak?¡± I asked with defeat. At least it looked cool. Not as cool as a green penguin, though. ¡°One gold coin.¡± the man answered. CHEAP! I screamed in my mind. This cataclysm looking motherfucker is ONE gold piece? ¡°What about information on how to take care of¡­ her?¡± I asked the man. ¡°Yes, her.¡± he nodded. ¡°There¡¯s an office next to this shed. We¡¯ll sign paperwork and give you a booklet about Ratnaks. It would seem your partner is very knowledgeable, however.¡± his smile was still a bit tense. ¡°That¡¯s right. I know them.¡± Alyssa confirmed. I looked at her and she smiled. I approached her and asked in a quiet voice. ¡°Are you okay with this? Are these animals somehow related to your ancestors or something?¡± her smile went so up, her eyes squinted. ¡°Not at all. I come from the Storm Dragons.¡± she fought back laughter. ¡°These are as distant as a pig.¡± she giggled. ¡°You¡¯re so cute.¡± and kissed me on the cheek. Storm Dragons? That sounded badass. ¡°Well.¡± I fixed my hair. Though the impact was negligible, my hair took a hit. ¡°I¡¯ll buy it.¡± 9 - To ask is to challenge ignorance. ¡°Her.¡± the man corrected me, his smile now relaxed. ¡°This way then, please.¡± he walked back to where we came from. We followed and left the building, walking to another, smaller one. It looked like a cabin of sorts. Inside, a desk and a few chairs occupied the room. The man sat down and motioned for us to take a seat. He touched a ring on his right pinky and some papers came out. I took the chair offered and Alyssa sat next to me. ¡°Alright, so.¡± he began. ¡°Write your signature here, here and here.¡± he said, pointing at various papers before pushing them to me. ¡°Write your information in this form.¡± he handed me another paper. ¡°You¡¯ll keep the original, and we, the copy.¡± he took out another sheet of paper. ¡°I am obligated by Law to read to you the various regulations regarding ownership of a Beast like a Ratnak.¡± I took the papers and a quill he offered. I looked at the form and it was as extensive as it could be. I began filling the thing and J?k began reading the Law. Which was basically ¡®do no harm, stop what harm you can, report harm, and avoid harm if at all possible¡¯. Of course, it was more than that, wizards, warriors, and all manner of individuals had a place in the law. Even if it was just ¡®live mount ownership¡¯. It reminded me of studying the law for a driving license, but Electric Bogaloo with a mount that could eat metal. I chose my name in cursive as my signature. Alyssa was paying close attention, even correcting the man when he made mistakes or used the wrong term. J?k appreciated the help. I was surprised at her knowing the law so well. She only winked at me when I turned to her. After he finished, I sighed. He had paid special attention to sections that referred to E¡¯eral beasts and those of a specialized diet. I felt drained. I had put the gold piece on the desk while he explained and he took it when he was done. He took the papers and gave them a read. He did some magic thing and another set of identical documents appeared on the table. I received the ''original'' and he stored the new ones. He nodded and stood up. ¡°A saddle will be provided along with a month¡¯s worth of feed.¡± he extended a hand, and I took it. ¡°So what¡¯s her name?¡± I asked, he never mentioned it. ¡°That is for you to decide, Lady Natasha.¡± he chuckled and went to the door, motioning for us to follow. ¡°Are they that smart?¡± I turned to Alyssa. ¡°Or are they that ¡®simple minded¡¯?¡± ¡°A mix of both.¡± she smiled. ¡°Smart enough to understand they¡¯re being given a name, though.¡± she giggled. As we came out, there was another man, tall and muscular, next to the merchant. [Perco Human, Lvl 157 Peltasta] Oh, a tank. I felt energy coming back. I was familiar with the class, having had it myself. It was pretty shitty in the game, however, it must be a life saver in reality. ¡°Darling, could you go fetch the Ratnak?¡± J?k told the warrior. ¡°This customer has just purchased her.¡± he smiled. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be back.¡± he said in a thick accent. He walked over to the shed. I was flirting a little with Alyssa when the man came back, beast in tow. It looked at me and lowered its head. ¡°What do I do?¡± I whispered. ¡°Rub the top of its head. It means accepting her surrender.¡± Alyssa responded. I walked to it and did as advised. Its scales were hard and cold. At least these are proper reptiles. I thought. It raised its head and looked me in the eye for a second. Then, it headbutted me again, but much gentler this time. I felt a tiny bond form. The beast¡¯s heartbeat was fast. It sniffed me and sat. The tall man produced a large saddle and began the process of putting it on the beast. It was mostly leather with small metal details. The pieces too small to get its attention and eat them. I hope. Once the process was finished, I made my leather boots disappear, replacing them by the leather and armor ones. I equipped the rest of the leather garments and stored the dress. Then, my armor covered my body. I succeeded on the first attempt, having already figured the trick. It opened its mouth and tried to bite my hand. I pushed its head away with little force. ¡°No.¡± I looked it in the eye. ¡°My armor is not food.¡± It nodded. I was momentarily surprised. Shit, this little monster is quite smart. I went around it and climbed on its back, the surface had flat scales and the saddle was comfortable. It stood up with no problems. I was satisfied with the animal. The height was a little worrying, but I¡¯d get used to it. ¡°Looks like it can handle me.¡± I summoned my spear, the beast not reacting. ¡°Good.¡± I said, rubbing its neck, the tip of the head over a meter away. ¡°You look powerful.¡± Alyssa said from the ground, giving me a thumbs up. ¡°Thank you.¡± I laughed. ¡°Let¡¯s see how fast you can run¡­¡± I thought for a second, looking at the animal. ¡°Sonya.¡± It growled and started moving. I had never ridden a horse, so a massive reptile was a high hurdle. However, knowledge of how to handle a ride had already been downloaded into my brain, so I felt like I had done this a million times. It was a little annoying. I wanted to spend time learning to ride this monster. I took the reins and guided Sonya to a gate on the side of the property leading to a large expanse of grass. I looked back and called. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back!¡± I was worried about Alyssa, but remembered she was higher level than the two men, and if I didn¡¯t misunderstand the merchant¡¯s comment, they were in a relationship. Besides, I¡¯m told men are passive. I sighed in relief. There were many things I needed to change my perspective on. And a less than a week was not enough time. She waved at me. ¡°Have fun!¡± her voice reached me followed by a giggle. Once we crossed into the field, the reptile gained speed. From a walk to a jog. I felt the air brushing my face lightly. Then, she started a full on sprint, lowering her head. My hair was flowing behind me, the air resistance increasing. Animals around us went by as the two of us sped like a cannonball. It was about as fast as a motorcycle I had before. It was an old Kawasaki Versys 1000 I had little chance of riding after going into isolation. I was no physics expert, and my numbers were dubious at best, but I reckoned we were going at 100 km/h at the very least. "How can a living being run so fucking fast?!" my voice disappeared in the wind. Well, I run faster. I leaned forward and raised my hips from the saddle. Just like the day I ran by myself, the air resistance didn''t sting my eyes nor made breathing difficult. ¡°To the right.¡± I said, and she followed. The turn didn¡¯t loose speed at all. It was sharp, almost ninety degrees. Her claws digging into the earth granting much needed grip. She didn¡¯t even lean to one side to compensate for the added weight. I saw an elephant looking animal passing by like a pole in a highway. Its trumpet distorting due to our speed. I looked ahead and saw nothing but fields of grass for kilometers. So, I decided to let her go as fast as she could. ¡°Faster Sonya!¡± I called and she sped up even more. Her body bending sideways as four legs moved in perfect synchronization. The head too, went from side to side. I looked back and saw the tail doing the same. The movement was incredible. The speed was increased by half. I looked at the trees and they were zooming past. ¡°Turn right again.¡± I doubted it would reach her, but she turned once more. Her long claws gripping the ground kept inertia from sending us rolling. I gripped my spear and aimed forward. I had no idea how to make the skill work, but pushed E¡¯er into Initiation, Preparation, and Charge. I hoped it would somehow work that way. It did. In what I assumed was slow motion, air in front of us compressed and was pushed aside by a thin film of particles coming from me. A loud boom went off and I saw the world accelerate even in my sped up perception. I laughed like a possessed woman. Such speeds were not meant to be achieved so easily, but I did it anyway. In the distance, the farm was growing closer by the second. I deactivated the skill, cutting the stream of E¡¯er off after five seconds. Our speed decreased noticeably. ¡°Slow down, girl.¡± I patted her neck and she slowed to a fast jog. ¡°That was terrifyingly awesome.¡± I felt my heart pumping, adrenaline coursing through my body. I laughed loudly, the excitement was too much to contain. I noticed barely seven E¡¯er points were spent. ¡°Fucking hell.¡± I was shocked. ¡°I get the E¡¯er efficiency, but shit. That¡¯s broken as fuck.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Sonya followed my instruction and jogged back into the farm. On the way, I stored all my armor and leather, leaving me naked for a second, then summoned the underwear and dress over me, my feet covered by the leather boots. I had a wide smile on my face as we turned around the fence and entered the farm. ¡°That was pretty good.¡± I said, nodding at the merchant. ¡°I really like her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you do, Lady Natasha.¡± he had a complicated expression. ¡°Was it you who produced that loud boom?¡± he was wringing his hands. ¡°Yeah, I was testing a skill and we broke the sound barrier. Sorry if I made you worry.¡± I stood up and jumped down from the beast, making sure my skirt didn¡¯t flip up. I landed on the floor and bent my knees slightly to compensate. ¡°I thought something happened.¡± he said. ¡°But I¡¯m relieved to know it was you.¡± a sigh escaped him. ¡°That sounded pretty dangerous.¡± Alyssa walked to me. ¡°A loud boom like an explosion, then a roar, then you laughing like a maniac.¡± she chuckled, approaching the lizard. ¡°She looks fine.¡± ¡°Good. I thought she¡¯d be exhausted.¡± I stared at Sonya. Her breathing was fast, but nothing too out of place. It stretched its neck and playfully headbutted me again. I laughed and scratched her chin. ¡°It was a pleasure doing business with you, J?k.¡± I said to the man. ¡°The pleasure was mine.¡± he bowed slightly. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re happy with the Ratnak.¡± ¡°Sonya.¡± it was my turn to correct him. ¡°Pretty name.¡± Alyssa said, petting the beast¡¯s head. The merchant and the warrior nodded approvingly. Sonya reared her head back. I moved to stop the beast, but Alyssa raised a hand. ¡°I can take it.¡± she smirked at the animal and met the headbutt with one of her own. The sound of skulls hitting resounded, making me wince. The beast lost and covered her head with a hand, a pained growl on her throat. She didn¡¯t lower her head this time, but nodded at the Luzo. ¡°These are not just for show.¡± Alyssa pointed at her horns and the scales on her forehead with a smile. ¡°HAHAHA¡± the tall man that had been quiet so far let out a merry laugh. He turned and left just like that, laughing. The merchant laughed too and followed after him. I chuckled at the sight and turned to my new girlfriend. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Peachy.¡± she answered, fixing her hair. ¡°My scales are pretty hard.¡± I giggled and hugged her, giving her a kiss on the impact area. ¡°Wanna go grab lunch?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± she said, blushing. I released her and climbed on my new mount. Alyssa accepted the hand I offered and helped her up. She sat behind me on the large saddle, hugging my waist and pressing her big breasts on my back. ¡°Not too fast, please.¡± she said in a quiet voice, tightening her embrace. ¡°Okay.¡± I was convinced by the two divine pillows. ¡°Sonya, go slow.¡± The beast growled and began walking. ¡°Why did she headbutt you too?¡± I asked as we left the farm, the road mostly empty save for people on horses every now and then. ¡°The Ratnak are herd animals, so they try to establish their position in the group.¡± she explained. ¡°I¡¯m sure Lapia will have to do it as well.¡± she giggled. ¡°I¡¯ll help with that.¡± she rested her chin on my shoulder. ¡°Sounds like a troublesome animal.¡± I laughed picturing the Elf receiving a headbutt by the massive drake-looking beast. ¡°They are.¡± she agreed. ¡°But they¡¯re the perfect mount for you. Durable, long lived, strong.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± I nodded. The Ratnak was indeed a good mount. ¡°Where do you want to eat? It¡¯s on me.¡± We crossed a few carriages, Sonya ignored the other beasts. ¡°I know a few places. There¡¯s a really good restaurant near the Church.¡± her breath brushed my ear, sending pleasant shivers down my back. ¡°Sounds-¡± I stopped mid sentence. Meet? I felt a word enter my mind. It was decidedly foreign, but a voice I recognized. Lapia¡¯s. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± I said, looking around me. ¡°Alyssa is there a class that can fuck with my mind?¡± I took my spear out and pulled the reins, Sonya stopping too. ¡°What did you feel?¡± her voice was cautious, a large staff in her grasp. I didn¡¯t focus on it, the weird voice still vivid. I felt an electric sensation go up my spine, my muscles felt lighter and my eyesight sharper. ¡°I heard Lapia¡¯s voice.¡± I explained. ¡°But she¡¯s not around, and as far as I know, she¡¯s not a telepath.¡± I was about to take out a shield when Alyssa burst out laughing while clapping. "Hahahahahahahaha!!" What now? I sighed. The spear went back into my storage. Just make it quick. A few minutes went by with the Luzo laughing. I took the reins and Sonya continued advancing. ¡°Natasha, you¡¯re a riot.¡± she giggled. ¡°That was a message through the bond.¡± she wiped a tear. ¡°What did she say?¡± she sighed, her breasts going up and down my back. ¡°Only ¡®meet?¡¯.¡± I sighed. ¡°You can send messages once a day.¡± she leaned on my back, hugging me again. The staff gone. ¡°You can answer, grasp the bond and think of a word, then whisper into the bond, picturing the word going through.¡± she explained. ¡°Do you want to go?¡± I asked, the slight embarassment fading away as fast as it came. ¡°Yeah, sounds great.¡± she said, giggling still. ¡°You¡¯re the best.¡± I felt a kiss on my neck. I calmed down and tried to ¡®grasp¡¯ the bond. I felt a tether forming. I thought ¡®Going¡¯, and whispered inside my mind, picturing the word going through and reaching Lapia. The link grew thicker for a second and my voice echoing into the distance. ¡°That¡¯s neat.¡± I said. ¡°I sent it.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Alyssa sounded surprised. ¡°I¡¯m a Halve. Maximum E¡¯er compatibility.¡± I said with as much smug as I could muster. We were nearing the inner wall, guards posted on its sides. I waved at them as we passed and a few warriors saluted back. Is it the military oriented class? I shrugged. Maybe it¡¯s just the high level and species. Haven¡¯t seen any golden person other than me. We went through into the city proper, the clamor of voices and animals alike surrounding us. It was already afternoon, a flood of people going about. I assumed it was lunchtime for everybody. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s impossible to forget that.¡± she said, running a hand over my arm. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I felt my cheeks heat up. Her hand wrapped around my bicep and she let out a soft whimper. Lord almighty this woman is thirsty. ¡°Can I braid your hair?¡± she asked. ¡°Sure, make only one, I like it tight.¡± I said back. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. She took my hair and started humming a melody I couldn¡¯t recognize. Figures. We rode through the city like that. Her doing my unnecessarily long hair and me guiding Sonya. The city was crowded at this hour. Elves, Humans, Luzo, Lupum, and the feline species I forgot the name of. I saw a teenager looking one passing and appraised her. [Shishi Tigea, Lvl 181 Bard.] She certainly dressed as one, a lute hanging from her back. She had tall ears and a feline tail, her feet covered with leather boots. Thin, brown fur covered her body where leather did not. Her relatively high level surprised me a little but I saw a good number of people around that level range. Lapia¡¯s case was understandable, she had spend most of her time doing office work. A few children were amazed by either me or my mount, following us for a block or two. Their parents explaining things along the way. I smiled at their curiosity, thinking that they would probably know more about this world than me. That made me laugh. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Alyssa asked from behind me. ¡°Kids.¡± I pointed at a few following us. They waved at me and I waved back, they parents nodding at me. ¡°They are a funny bunch.¡± she commented. ¡°You don¡¯t like them, right?¡± I remembered the form with her information. Such a good system, it gives topics to talk about! ALL HAIL THE CHURCH OF DANUVA. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I don¡¯t disliked them either, though.¡± she fixed a few hairs that I messed by laughing. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± I looked to the front, staying still. ¡°I have seventy two siblings, I grew up around enough children to last a while.¡± she explained. ¡°That¡¯s a lot.¡± my shock evident in my voice. ¡°How old are your parents?¡± ¡°My mother is seven hundred and forty one this year. My biological father is three hundred and fifty. My pomma is five hundred.¡± she stopped for a second to recall. Right, three genders. The concept still confused me. Pomma? Is it a mix of pops and mom? I wondered. Maybe, maybe not. ¡°Do you have a lot of fathers? Since you mentioned the biological one.¡± I jumped straight into it. ¡°Twenty seven.¡± she answered. My eyes widened to their limit, but regained my composure quickly. ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± I said, I had no idea if it was nice or not. In a world where women chased, having many men could be seen as a good thing. ¡°Yeah, my mother is a player.¡± she chuckled. I wanted to ask more, but three genders would make the family dynamic incredibly complicated. If three individuals needed to have sex to produce a child, what would the ramifications be if they changed partners every few years, or added more. I just didn¡¯t know how to ask. ¡°Were you close with any of your siblings?¡± I decided on an easy question. ¡°Pretty much all my sisters. Our aristi were few and shy, and the males too stuck up.¡± she said. Holy shit, I forgot the third gender being born. I mentally facepalmed. I had only thought of brothers and sisters. Imagine the amount of nieces, nephews and whatever the third gender is called. ¡°Are you an aunt, then?¡± I decided to fucking go with it. ¡°Yes, actually.¡± she sighed. ¡°Thirteen little monsters by the time I was of age to leave the clan.¡± Fast! The sheer amount of sex these people have must be insane. Well, coordinating reproductive cycles among three must be quite the task. Gotta take every chance. I sighed. ¡°Mhm. I can see why you¡¯re not a fan of kids.¡± If I had that many around me as family, I too, would get sick of them. ¡°The oldest ones have grandchildren, too.¡± she said offhandedly. Alright, that¡¯s too much. I felt my sense of reality crack a tiny bit. ¡°Must¡¯ve been lively.¡± I said. ¡°Festivities and all that.¡± ¡°They were. Children everywhere, climbing walls, throwing spells at everything that moves, fighting each other.¡± she chuckled. ¡°My pomma¡­ there¡¯s no word in common.¡± she thought for a second. ¡°Were? Pretty laid back.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the word in you native tongue?¡± I asked, interested in the language implications of having three genders. ¡°Eshek¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s like he was or she was, but for aristi. It''s complicated to refer to the aristi in another language without sounding distant.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Dragon Tongue?¡± I remembered the section of known languages. ¡°It is.¡± she was halfway through my hair, taking her time with it. ¡°It¡¯s pretty wide in its variety, as you might¡¯ve guessed already.¡± she giggled. ¡°Not that easy to learn, with verbs taking gender form.¡± That¡¯s too much! I shouted inside my head. ¡°So eshek, what else is there like it?¡± this was actually interesting. "Ashek for female, Ushek for male, Ishek for objects and animals.¡± she supplied. ¡°When talking about a female you can say ¡®ashek very strict¡¯, for example." Oof. My brain tickled with confusion. ¡°Sounds pretty... complicated?¡± I tried wrapping my head around it. I stopped to let an old lady cross the road. More like forced, the old crook was ready to jump in front of me to pass. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s the most difficult language to learn. Closely followed by Elvish in terms of pronunciation.¡± she giggled. ¡°You¡¯re gonna have a hard time, Natasha.¡± ¡°You bet.¡± my voice was weak. The old hag crossed and Sonya resumed advancing. ¡°It¡¯s going to take me a while.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± she said, a little touched. ¡°It¡¯s your mother tongue. I at least have to try.¡± Even if it sounded completely insane, it also was incredibly interesting. ¡°What are the personal pronouns?¡± I tried with the basics. ¡°K¨¡ is first person. B¨¡ is second person. U is for male third person. A is for female third person. E is for aristi third person. I is for neutral, objects and animals. Ke is for first person plural. Bs¨¡ is for second person plural. Pu is for male third person plural. La is for female third person plural. Ne is for aristi third person plural. And Mi is for neutral plural." she explained. ¡°So Shek is the verb to be in the past tense?¡± I felt a little hope. ¡°Yes.¡± she undid a bit of the braid. ¡°Sorry, got distracted.¡± ¡°Not at all. This is pretty interesting.¡± I said. I turned Sonya to the right when a building blocked the way. Hmm. It''s more like Spanish with the vowels. It would be hard but interesting to learn. Two hours later I managed to say ¡®I am Natasha. Nice to meet you¡¯, ¡®I am fine, thank you¡¯, ¡®You are beautiful¡¯ and ¡®I am hungry¡¯. It was slow, but I was pretty satisfied with my progress. Alyssa wasn¡¯t meant to teach, however, she sulked every time I made a mistake. That forced me to make a few more mistakes on purpose, it was ¡®force majeure¡¯. She was just adorable. By the time I said the fourth sentence, we had arrived at Punten & Co. We circled the building and found a parking lot for mounts. I chose a spot with shade. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± I pointed the obvious. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°We go in.¡± she too, pointed the obvious, shrugging. ¡°Well, yeah.¡± I chuckled and dismounted, offering a hand which Alyssa took. Once she stood beside me, I approached Sonya. ¡°Wait here.¡± she just looked at me. For good measure, I gently headbutted her. She nodded and laid on the ground. Huh. That worked. I took the saddle off and stored it. We returned to the front and walked into the building, where a butler-looking young man greeted us. He was slender and his clothes crisp and tidy. Dark hair went down on one side of his head to his shoulders. ¡°Welcome to Punten & Co. How can I help you?¡± he bowed deeply. I looked around and was unimpressed at the bank-looking interior. ¡°We come to meet Lapia. My name is Natasha.¡± I told the pretty boy. He had sharp features and slanted eyes. [Tilen Human, Assassin Lvl 101] ¡°Wait a moment, please.¡± he excused himself and entered a door to the side of the entrance hall. The first scout based class I recognize in person. I looked at his back as he disappeared into a room. While the game had a wide variety of classes, this world had more than I could possibly have imagined. I sighed and looked around. A few people sat behind desks, mostly merchants. The side opposite the entrance had a stair that went up and turned to the left. Not much else was of note. It looked like a modern company building entrance. I looked at a clock on a wall and spent a few seconds figuring out the time. It had twelve hours, just like the ones from Earth. Three thirty. Maybe? ¡°It got pretty late for lunch.¡± I said, taking Alyssa¡¯s hand. ¡°Not a problem, really.¡± she rubbed my hand with her thumb. ¡°I have lunch around this time normally.¡± she smiled. ¡°Sometimes later.¡± ¡°Because of clergy duty?¡± I tilted my head. That must be time consuming, whatever it is. ¡°No.¡± she blushed. ¡°I¡¯ve been quite free lately. I just sleep in.¡± she looked away. ¡°I see.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I must¡¯ve woken you up earlier.¡± ¡°Y-yes.¡± she stuttered. ¡°But it¡¯s not a bad thing.¡± her quick addition made her look cute. ¡°I haven¡¯t apologized.¡± I smirked. ¡°Meeting you has been great.¡± I gave her a quick kiss on the lips, her blush intensifying. ¡°I think so too.¡± she caressed my cheek. Her red eyes staring into mine. I heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stair and turned in that direction. Tanned long legs made their appearance first, followed by thick thighs and wide hips, her slender abdomen was next, then her modest breasts and finally her face, framed by dark blonde hair and long ears. She smiled from ear to ear. ¡°Alyssa Pruvik.¡± Lapia¡¯s voice was excited. ¡°Lapia Pofeta.¡± Alyssa said back, nodding at the woman. A similar smile on her face. The Elf approached with arms wide open. She took the back of my head with one hand and pulled me in for a kiss. I kissed her back, her tongue wrapping with mine. She separated and looked at the Luzo. She placed a hand on her cheek and Alyssa did the same. And they both kissed. I saw tongue going in. Different culture. Adapt to it, Natasha. I told myself. The scene of beautiful women sharing a passionate kiss was delectable to say the least. I was smiling widely. They broke the kiss and sighed at the same time. ¡°Will you have me?¡± Lapia spoke first, her silky voice was quiet. ¡°I will.¡± Alyssa nodded, a blush covering her face. Her deep voice contrasted the Elf¡¯s. So that¡¯s how you do it. You go straight in for the kiss. I nodded, impressed by them. Well, not that straight. Hehe, I''m so funny. ¡°So.¡± The Elf started. ¡°Have you ladies had lunch yet?¡± she smiled. ¡°Not yet.¡± I answered. ¡°We were at the breeding grounds when I got your message.¡± Alyssa giggled and covered her mouth. ¡°Breeding grounds?¡± Lapia tilted her head and looked at Alyssa. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll tell you later.¡± I sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll love it.¡± the Luzo said between giggles. ¡°It was so funny.¡± ¡°I bet.¡± Lapia smiled, turning around and going to the stairs. ¡°This way.¡± We followed her, I noticed Alyssa was staring at Lapia¡¯s legs just like me. I silently thanked all above for granting me a big titty goth girlfriend who was a woman of culture as well. Well, she¡¯s not exactly goth. She¡¯s pretty soft. I thought. Her scales were dark as night and her skin pale purple, but her personality was quite the contrast. We were staring at Lapia¡¯s big behind the entire way up the stairs. I again silently thanked all above for not having invented elevators in this world. We went up to the top floor, which was the tenth one and turned left. There, Lapia entered the first door. ¡°Welcome to my office.¡± she said, making a flowery motion with her hands. The room was spacious, a large desk at the end of it, wide windows letting the light of the suns enter. Chairs were set in front of her desk and there was a door to the right. It was surprisingly tidy. Documents on top of the desk neatly arranged next to quills. A few paintings hanging on the walls next to three diplomas. Royal University of the Queendom of Maaruhk Maarkhan, Queendom of Maaruhk Upon recommendation of the Faculty, the board of Scholars has conferred upon Lapia Pofeta the degree of Master Wizard Ohk Tukiir Having honorably fulfilled all requirements for this degree together with all the righs, privileges and honors pertaining thereunto. In testimony whereof the Seal of the Royal House and the signature of Her Majesty Queen Lofrada Tilensis III and Headmaster Prince Ulmke Tilensis VI are affixed at Maarkhan, this first day of the twelfth month, year one thousand nine hundred and twenty. A royal looking seal was stamped on the document, along with two signatures. My eyes opened wide. This looks official as fuck! I was admittedly skeptical about people going to university to learn magic of all things, but the framed diploma in front of me confirmed the importance of it. The next one was practically the same, but for a different degree, ¡®E¡¯er Scholar¡¯. The next one was for ¡®Pyromancy¡¯. The dates were different as well. ¡°What year is it?¡± I turned around to the two looking at me, smiles on their faces. ¡°1980, fourth day of the third month.¡± Alyssa answered. ¡°How is the calendar handled?" I looked at some books on bookshelves. "Thirteen months a year, twenty eight days a month." Lapia said walking to her desk. "Days and months used to have names, but some species couldn''t pronounce them. Now we use only numbers." Twenty eight times thirteen... two hundred... no, no. Three times eight is... twenty four. Three times two is six, plus two equals eight. Okay, eighty four. Twenty eight underneath. Okay. Breath in. Four at the end. Eight plus eight is... sixteen. Six before the four. One plus two is three. Three six four. Three hundred and sixty four days? I counted on the palm of my hand to help visualize. Huh. A day off. That''ll be easy. "What happened to make the years that way? I mean, people live for thousands of years. How come it''s 1980?¡± I couldn¡¯t think of a Jesus fellow, unless he was a Halve with healing powers. ¡°A God died.¡± Lapia answered. ¡°Every time a God dies, the yearly number is reset, and a new Era begins. We''re in Yiama''s Era at the moment.¡± ¡°What?¡± I remembered my conversation with the Elf in the bathroom. ¡°Aren¡¯t Gods immortal?¡± ¡°They are.¡± Alyssa took a seat. Lapia did too, behind her desk. ¡°They reincarnate, that¡¯s what makes them immortal.¡± she explained. ¡°Takes a few centuries, though.¡± I nodded, not really interested in Gods and their deaths. Perhaps in the future I¡¯ll meet one. Lapia said they were a chill bunch. ¡°Anyway, lunch.¡± I said. ¡°That was short.¡± Lapia stood up. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be more interested in Gods.¡± she had a surprised expression. ¡°Meh, Gods are lame.¡± I turned to Alyssa. ¡°No offense.¡± She shrugged. ¡°None taken. Danuva¡¯s pretty lazy.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Over here, I prepared food.¡± she entered the room next to her office. When she opened the door, the smell of chicken and vegetables drifted into her office. Alyssa followed, and so did I. An entire apartment welcomed us. A living room with sofas and tables. On a corner, a kitchen with ovens and what looked like a refrigerator. A wide doorway lead to a room with a massive bed opposite of the entrance. ¡°This looks deceptively small from outside.¡± I commented. Lamps hung from the ceiling. It even had a fireplace. ¡°The wonders of Dwarven construction.¡± Alyssa said, sitting at a table next to the kitchen. ¡°They built Riverfield? Impressive.¡± I sat next to the Luzo. ¡°They did, around two thousand years ago.¡± Lapia said from the kitchen. ¡°That goes to show what a few thousand Geomancers can do if they put their heads together.¡± ¡°And billions of gold.¡± Alyssa added. ¡°You could pay them to build a few.¡± Lapia laughed. ¡°True.¡± I nodded. ¡°I have no interest, though.¡± ¡°You¡¯re that wealthy?¡± the Luzo asked, looking at me with wide eyes. ¡°Twelve trillion gold coins.¡± I said, smirking at her mouth opening wide. ¡°Anyway. Now that the three of us are together, I¡¯ll bother you with some explanations of the world.¡± Lapia put plates in front of us along with silverware and napkins. ¡°Shoot your shot.¡± she said as she returned to the kitchen. Alyssa nodded. ¡°What is this system we see?¡± I asked the first thing that came to mind. ¡°Hm.¡± the Luzo pondered for a few seconds. ¡°It¡¯s pretty long, and surprisingly simple.¡± she looked at me and continued after I nodded. ¡°In the very beginning, there were Gods, Halves, and the unawakened ancient species. They knew what they were doing, but only by instinct. One day, Gods and Halves gathered up and shared their findings of Galeia.¡± she stopped as I raised a hand. ¡°What is Galeia?¡± I asked. She turned to look at Lapia. ¡°That¡¯s the name of the world.¡± ¡°It kind of never came up.¡± the Elf explained. ¡°Go on.¡± she smiled as she put drinks on the table. ¡°As Gods and Halves came together, they discussed their findings of the world and noticed that they all shared the same tales. They used E¡¯er, found E¡¯er and saw E¡¯er all around them.¡± I poured a glass of juice for her. ¡°Thanks. Then, they turned their attention to the energy of the world. In their research, one Halve managed to read E¡¯er the way we do today. Everything they had named reflected on the words she saw. That which was old, and that which was new. However, things that were not yet named did not show words.¡± she took a sip. ¡°As they verbally explained themselves to one another in ways they hadn¡¯t done before, they began seeing their own names when they read each other and themselves. They protected each other, and together they studied E''er. After that, they turned their attention to the species of the world. Danuva lead the awakening of the species, granting knowledge to all with the Laws of Life.¡± she took a small break and drank more juice. ¡°My ancestors, the first Dragons, gained sentience and evolved with time. Storm Dragons, Earth Dragons, Ocean Dragons and Fire Dragons. They helped spread the knowledge. Foxes, Lapia¡¯s ancestors, were more unified in their evolution. Nine tailed foxes with a wide variety of features. They helped gather the rest of the species. And so the first age of E¡¯er began. Gods received new Halves with open arms, granting knowledge and direction. Halves protected the sentient species from dangers with their nigh invulnerable bodies. Things went on like that for a really long time.¡± she sighed and drank the last of the juice. ¡°Gods noticed through the ages that the new species were evolving more and more, and so was E¡¯er. It shaped with everyone¡¯s knowledge. If an individual understood the mechanics behind something, and then merged the knowledge with the E¡¯er within them, they acquired a skill. If a group of individuals gained the same, or similar, sets of skills, E¡¯er would react and grant them a shared name based on their understanding. Those who fought with their bodies became Warriors, those who studied the Laws of E¡¯er became Wizards, Clerics for the Laws of Life, so on and so forth.¡± she took a breath. ¡°The system is there to reflect what we already know. We learn to read E¡¯er and in turn, are given knowledge based on the names Gods and Halves gave.¡± she nodded. I waited for a couple of seconds. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± I asked. ¡°The short version, at least.¡± she nodded again. ¡°So the system doesn¡¯t rule E¡¯er?¡± I was a little confused. ¡°Think of the system as the collective knowledge of every sentient being that has lived and is alive. It¡¯s reactive. It structures information already inside us, in a convenient way.¡± she said after thinking for a few seconds. She sucks at explaining. I smiled at her. ¡°Food is ready.¡± Lapia uncovered a tray and a roasted chicken sat surrounded by many vegetables. I was left with my own thoughts, Lapia serving the food. It¡¯s organic. I thought. An organic magical network. That conclusion helped a bit more than Alyssa¡¯s story. The concept of a magical hive mind was easier to digest. I¡¯ll stick to my silly comparisons. ¡°What is E¡¯er?¡± I asked next, taking a bite of the food. An explosion of flavor made me release a short moan. ¡°This is good. Lapia you¡¯re an excellent cook.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± she smiled and blushed a little. ¡°I¡¯ll take that question.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the expert.¡± Alyssa smiled. ¡°E¡¯er is a particle that is everywhere.¡± she said. ¡°We can manipulate it, spend it, absorb it, transform it, and be transformed by it.¡± I poured some juice for her. ¡°When an individual¡¯s body is changed by E¡¯er, we call it ¡®level up¡¯. It happens when you¡¯ve absorbed enough to naturally change your body. For example, if you lift heavy objects every day, your muscles will rupture and heal, increasing your strength and constitution. Absorbing E¡¯er is different, however. It reacts to you, increasing your power across the board in different magnitudes.¡± she took a bite and drank a little juice, then swallowed with a smile. ¡°With me so far?¡± I nodded. Alyssa was paying attention as well. ¡°If I ¡®level up¡¯, my ¡®INT¡¯ will increase more than my ¡®STR¡¯ because E¡¯er reacts to what I am. An individual who has spent time studying the Laws of E¡¯er, my consciousness ingrained with their workings. Natasha, your ¡®CON¡¯ will increase more than your ¡®WIS¡¯ because you need to survive combat, being a warrior. A larger E¡¯er pool won¡¯t be as useful as a tougher body. Alyssa is similar to me, she doesn¡¯t benefit as much from higher strength, but with a larger source to cast more spells.¡± she took a sip. ¡°That¡¯s the short version.¡± I was confused for a second. You temper your body with the energy of the world. I smiled. For an organic magic world, it made sense to me. At least more than a weird interface that you could interact with and change your body on the fly. ¡°I see.¡± I nodded. It was all coming together. ¡°So the E¡¯er within you ¡®resonates¡¯ with the E¡¯er you absorb, guiding it and further ¡®nurturing¡¯ you.¡± I made air quotes. ¡°That¡¯s the gist of it.¡± Both women nodded. ¡°Is E¡¯er sentient?¡± I asked. ¡°That¡¯s one of the big questions.¡± Alyssa said. ¡°Not even the Gods know.¡± ¡°Okay. What¡¯s with the three moons?¡± I tried to avoid talking about Gods. ¡°Shia, the bigger one. Kia, the smaller one. Tia, the one that looks like a small planet.¡± Lapia said. ¡°Naturally formed satellites by asteroids crashing against Galeia when it first formed.¡± she took a sip. ¡°Gods have gone to Tia.¡± Alyssa commented. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much. Only vegetation, and the E¡¯er is thin.¡± she shrugged. ¡°They can cross space?¡± I choked a little on my food. Drinking juice helped it down. They are fucking overpowered! Who told me they were weak?! ¡°Outer space is not enough to kill a God. They can hold their breath for a few years surrounded by barriers.¡± Lapia shrugged. Don¡¯t just shrug it off! I sighed. ¡°Is the world so dangerous that people form teams to go around?¡± I changed topics again. ¡°Yes.¡± they both answered at the same time. ¡°Wild Dragons prowl mountains.¡± Alyssa said. "Predators run rampant between cities.¡± Lapia said. "Oh. Okay.¡± Harsh world we live in, huh? 10 - A glimpse into Natasha. I continued eating my food in silence, thinking about the world, E¡¯er, Elf thighs and Luzo breasts. Alyssa and Lapia left me to my thoughts and caught up with each other. Once we finished, I helped take the dishes to the kitchen and put them in the sink. Lapia rejected my offer to help clean the dishes, my strength too high to risk breaking the china. ¡°How much is known about Halves?¡± I asked, returning to my seat next to Alyssa. ¡°Not much beyond the surface.¡± Alyssa took my hand, playing with my fingers. ¡°Nobody has seen a Halve being born. It¡¯s not known if you are even born in the first place.¡± she traced my fingerprints with her claws. ¡°You all ''wake up'' in gathering spots. It¡¯s known you are not born of flesh, however. The Laws of Life inside you are different.¡± ¡°Would that complicate things?¡± I looked at her. ¡°With your healing, I mean.¡± ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m thinking of a few ways to familiarize myself with you.¡± she blushed. ¡°It¡¯s sex.¡± the Elf said from the kitchen, laughing after seeing Alyssa¡¯s deep purple face. ¡°It is.¡± she admitted, her eyes looking down. ¡°It¡¯s the fastest way. Affectionate intimacy is extremely useful.¡± ¡°I¡¯m all for it.¡± I smirked at the woman. ¡°You¡¯re pretty horny yourself.¡± Alyssa covered her face with a hand while groaning. Lapia¡¯s laughter turned into wheezing accompanied by claps. ¡°That was pretty good.¡± the Elf said, giggling and sitting on the table, giving me a high five. ¡°That joke is so old.¡± she shook her head, but she was smiling. ¡°Anyway, Halves are known to not share much about themselves.¡± ¡°Well, you have one right in front of you.¡± I looked at both of them. ¡°Anything you want to know? Don¡¯t mind taboos or silly things like that.¡± They both shared a look. Lapia nodded and turned to me. ¡°Do you have memories of a time before life?¡± she asked, they both stared at me. ¡°That sounds deep.¡± I said, nodding. ¡°There was a ¡®trial¡¯ of sorts.¡± I said the first thing that came to mind, not even my life on Earth popped. ¡°So it¡¯s true.¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°What¡¯s it about? Where was it? What happened?¡± she asked in quick succession. ¡°Hell. Survive.¡± I simply said, shrugging. Their eyes opened wide. ¡°Last night I had a dream, recalling memories of that time. It was brutal.¡± I sighed. ¡°Apparently, I spent enough time there to learn the languages of Hell. I don¡¯t recall much. It says time or interacting with trophies will bring the memories back.¡± I noticed their interested eyes. ¡°Which I won¡¯t do in the middle of a city. Whip out things taken from hell? What if everyone in Riverfield dies, gets possessed, or some eldritch bullshit happens?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Couldn¡¯t be me.¡± ¡°You¡­ survived Hell?¡± Alyssa said in a quiet voice. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± She stopped, not finding words. ¡°Fucking badass!¡± Lapia finished. Alyssa nodded. ¡°You go, girl.¡± she chuckled, patting my shoulder. ¡°So how come you had that reaction with the bandits?¡± ¡°I had no memories of Hell back then.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°What does it exactly say?¡± the Luzo asked. Lapia showed a complicated expression at her words. ¡°Let me check.¡± I searched for the Hellwalker title and read it out loud. Then, I nodded. ¡°Word for word.¡± Alyssa nodded and Lapia shook her head, sighing with her eyes closed. ¡°Pretty in line with Title acquisition.¡± the Luzo thought for a second. ¡°So we have Lapia Pofeta, Flame of the East. Lightbringer Alyssa Pruvik. And Natasha Novak the Hellwalker.¡± she giggled. ¡°Those are some great titles.¡± Lapia relaxed and smiled. ¡°How did you get yours?¡± I asked them. ¡°Healed many people in dungeons.¡± Alyssa explained. ¡°Mastered Pyromancy and used it a lot on my way here.¡± Lapia supplied. ¡°Cool.¡± I leaned back on the chair and relaxed. "How many Halves are there? You mentioned having met one before. Are there enough to form a nation?" I asked. I hadn''t seen any of my kind. And if we''re all as powerful as I am, I''d assume there''d be very few. "There are five accounted Halves." Lapia answered. "Perculis passed away of old age a few hundred years ago." "That''s way less than I thought. You made it sound as if we were in the thousands..." I sighed. "Those are the ones who have come into civilization. No one knows how many actually are there." Alyssa said. "Yulianna, Miraztor, Nilenna, and Desseyr. Now you, Natasha." "Are we all gold like me?" I stared at my legs, the muscled limb emitting a soft golden hue. "You come in two colors. You, Yulianna, and Miraztor are gold. Nilenna, Desseyr, and the late Perculis, silver." Lapia supplied. "I met Desseyr. He was a student of mine back home. He''s... a complicated man." she chuckled. "So there could be thousands out there in the wilds?" I asked. "It''s hard to tell. We only know of your existence when you show up near settlements, or meet people while roaming around." Alyssa said, resting her elbows on the table. "Perculis was first sighted chasing a Giant near the mines of Tolona seven thousand years ago. Not many people died, thanks to his efforts." "The priestess... Clara was her name?" Alyssa nodded. "She said Yulianna and Perculis researched fertility or something." "She was his assistant for a few centuries." the Elf said. "Nothing came out of their union, however. After his death she set out to Makah, a continent to the west. No one has heard of her ever since." The plot thickens. I chuckled. "What would happen if I have a child with you?" I asked, both blushed hard. "A-about that. I would give birth to a demi. A Luzo with Halven might." Alyssa responded. "You would influence their affinity with E''er. It would not be as high as yours, however." "Same here." Lapia cleared her throat. "An Elf with Halven might." "Would they be gold as I am, or take after you?" my face heated up. "We can''t guess about that. My ch... child could have golden scales, or dark like mine. There aren''t enough Halve offspring to reach a concrete answer." Alyssa fidgeted. This is embarassing. I looked at my hands. "Let''s change subjects. I don''t even know when my cycle will come." I scratched my ear. Taking out a mint chewing gum from my storage, I put it in my mouth and went at it. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± the Elf perked up at the refreshing smell. ¡°Chewing gum. I don¡¯t have a toothbrush, so I chew on these to clean my teeth.¡± I had done so before, but the last three days were hectic enough to make me forget. ¡°You can use E¡¯er to do that.¡± Lapia pointed out from her seat across the table. ¡°And your saliva is ¡®strong¡¯ enough to dissolve whatever is left.¡± she smiled widely, showing her sharp teeth. ¡°Kissing you is very healthy, I discovered.¡± a light blush covered her face. The more you know. I nodded, a grin forming. ¡°Why am I not surprised.¡± I said in monotone. I had certainly noticed my teeth to be surprisingly clean, but chalked it up to the food of this world being incredibly healthy. ¡°E¡¯er is pretty useful. Makes me want to be a wizard, even if a little.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I noticed that too.¡± Alyssa said, licking her fangs with her blue tongue. ¡°My mouth is pretty clean.¡± she looked away, blushing. ¡°Also¡­ you taste pretty good.¡± she said in a quiet voice. ¡°I do?¡± I leaned forward. ¡°You do.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°Let me refresh my memory.¡± Smirking, she stood up and walked over to me. She took my chin and kissed me, her tongue invading my mouth and wrapping with my own. She parted after a few seconds and licked her lips. ¡°Mhm. Mint. That chewing thing is masking your taste.¡± she pouted cutely. She tasted of chicken and vegetables. ¡°Then I better get rid of it.¡± I put it in the wrapping and stored it. ¡°How about now?¡± I turned to Alyssa and gently pulled her closer, connecting our lips. Her long tongue didn¡¯t waste an instant and entered, licking my palate and teeth, which made me moan a little. ¡°Mint.¡± she licked my lips. ¡°I prefer your natural taste.¡± Her red eyes were half closed. She too, tasted like the food we just ate. I cleared my throat. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. ¡°I bought a Ratnak.¡± I told Lapia the first thing that came to mind. She gave me a knowing smile. ¡°A good beast.¡± she nodded and turned to Alyssa. ¡°You mentioned something happened?¡± ¡°Ah, right!¡± she said and burst into a series of giggles. I felt the cold hand of regret grip my soul. ¡°Earlier¡­ pff!¡± she couldn¡¯t even form sentences. ¡°When you sent a message through the bond, Natasha panicked and thought she was under mental attacks. Hahahahaha!¡± She was clapping and gasping. ¡°HAHAHAHAHA!!¡± Lapia erupted in her own laughter. Resting on my shoulders and bending over, her laughter was as loud as the Luzo¡¯s. I sat there, embarrassed. Shaking my head in silence. ¡°What did she do?¡± Lapia asked in a really high pitched voice, fighting the laughter. ¡°She¡­ KAHAHAHAHA.¡± Alyssa choked and continued laughing. Finish your sentences at the very least! I shouted in my mind. I covered my face with both hands, my face burning like never before. ¡°She took her spear out¡­ HAHAHAHA.¡± she grabbed her sides, her jaw opened to its limits. ¡°And then?¡± Lapia wiped a tear, her voice shaky with joy. ¡°And then.¡± she breathed in, calming herself. ¡°And then asked.¡± she took another breath. Lapia was waiting, her laugh escaping. Probably imagining what came next. ¡°She asked ¡®Alyssa is there a class that can fuck with my mind?¡¯.¡± Both exploded in laughter, Lapia crouched on the ground and Alyssa sprawled on the table, slapping the wood. Though her impersonation was pretty good, the laughter ruined the tension I was supposed to be in. Six out of ten. I thought. Their laughter was contagious, though. I soon found myself laughing alongside them. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± I said after ten minutes of us laughing. ¡°You¡¯ll faint if you don¡¯t calm down.¡± I went to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the counter and two glasses. I poured them a glass each and set them on the table. They didn¡¯t reach for the drinks, however. They both hugged me while trying to calm down, and showered my face with kisses. ¡°Ugh!¡± I tried to cover myself, but they took my hands and brought them around their waists. ¡°Noo.¡± I whimpered in embarrassment at their affection. ¡°So cute.¡± Lapia said between kisses. ¡°Adorable.¡± Alyssa whispered in my ear. My face was about to melt with how hot it felt. I was absolutely convinced that it showed even through my golden skin. I had the power to free myself, but it would be a lie if I said I didn¡¯t enjoy it. They both stopped what they were doing at the same time and took my face, lifting my head. ¡°Are you blushing, sunshine?¡± Lapia was surprised, her eyes wide open. I pulled them into a hug and hid my face in their hair. My weak nod made them giggle. I took a deep breath to calm myself, the smell of lavender and lemons relaxing me slightly. I felt their hands on my hair, caressing my head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to notice.¡± Alyssa¡¯s deep voice was still shaky from the previous scene. ¡°It is.¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how she felt for it to show through.¡± ¡°Like dying.¡± I whined. They giggled and tightened the embrace. The Luzo¡¯s breasts were pressing against mine. I managed to calm down after a few moments. ¡°Alright.¡± I separated. ¡°There¡¯s a few things I need to check with you two.¡± I released the hug and walked over to the living room, gesturing for them to follow. As they did, I pointed at a large sofa. ¡°Sit.¡± I said in my most convincing serious voice I could manage. Alyssa followed my instruction instantly, Lapia looked at me warily. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to make you uncomfortable.¡± the Elf said. ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± I looked away. ¡°I kind of like that sort of thing.¡± Lapia smirked at me. ¡°Anyway.¡± I stood in front of them. Arms crossed and posture firm. ¡°Show me what you use for combat.¡± I said. If these two women were going to be my long term lovers and companions, I was going to make sure they survived a nuclear blast if possible. ¡°Okay.¡± Alyssa said, summoning her Staff along with leather garments and metal boots with an opening for her toes. A couple of rings and jewelry sat on top of a white robe. I crouched and took the staff, appraising it. It was a white metal pole with an eye at the top, the thing was golden and meticulously crafted. [+5 Cardinal Staff (High)] (E¡¯er Efficiency B) -INT + 45 -WIS + 50 -Dex + 30 My eyes widened to the point my visual organs threatened to fall off. I felt my hope in the world crumble. This is a starter item, if anything. The Luzo, however, looked pretty smug. ¡°Quite the item, right? It cost me fifty silver.¡± she smiled and straightened up. ¡°We¡¯re gonna get Halved, aren¡¯t we?¡± Lapia sighed, leaning back on the sofa. ¡°Yes. Whatever that means.¡± I scowled at the item. ¡°Alyssa, were you scammed?¡± my worried face froze hers. ¡°Huh?¡± I summoned a Mythical staff for clerics. I had yet to check this one out, so my expectations were high. I hoped the passives hadn¡¯t changed much. I was disappointed. In a good way. [+100 Crest of the Redeemer (Mythical) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (E¡¯er Efficiency SSS+)(Durability S+) -Healing Power + 100% ({Lvl 10 Ametrine}x10) -Spell effect duration +1500% (Enchantment) -WIS + 300 -INT + 200 -DEX + 150 -Crest of the Redeemed will copy your healing spells on allies (Total Level/2)m around you as a wave every ten seconds *Cost of copied spells is reduced based on your highest class level (-0% at level 1 | -95% at level 500) *Potency of copied spells is increased based on your highest class level (+10% at level 1 | +1500% at level 500) -INT + 250 (Transmutation) -WIS + 250 (Transmutation) -DEX + 250 (Transmutation) -Using Pulk¡¯Oz Conservation View, [(TW/TL)x10]% of E¡¯er spent returns to you It was beautiful. Two meters in length, a two colored jewel at the bottom. The golden pole had etchings on it and a gritty surface. The head was a flat stained glass circle around thirty centimeters wide supported by the same material as the body. A sun motif on it clear as day. A faint light coming off the glass, swaying like smoke. I offered Alyssa the staff and she took it, her jaw dropping. Six rings materialized in my hand an I placed them on her lap. Late game jewelry. Each giving fifty points in intelligence, wisdom, constitution and dexterity. For a total of three hundred for each stat. We had ten fingers, so we could wear six comfortably. A seeveless white robe came next, similar in color to hers. Mine, however, had golden metallic sections that worked as armor. It was stretchy and breathable, but durable upon further inspection. Originally a costume, it also turned into a functional piece of protective gear. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. [Garb of Purified Light (Legendary)] (Durability SS)(Agile Movement) I placed a set of leather garments next to her. A sleeveless vest, shorts with a hole for her tail, finger-less gloves and toe-less socks. Well, well, well. It¡¯s almost as if there were playable races that had claws. I chuckled inside my mind. You can¡¯t escape me! Modern video games cater to all! They were all endgame equipment. Boosting stats and durable defenses. These, however, were not as durable as mine. They were a weird mix of leather and breathable spandex. Stretchy and form-fitting. I placed a pair of black metallic boots and gauntlets at her feet. Both had openings for fingers and toes. ¡°Take these. And always fight with everything you have.¡± I looked her in the eye and she nodded. I took her chin and kissed her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to risk anything. This may be overkill, but I¡¯d rather our travels be boring than dangerous.¡± I turned to Lapia. ¡°Makes sense.¡± she nodded and summoned her ensemble. A similar looking staff, but with a flame-shaped piece of iron instead. An unnecessarily revealing robe and some jewelry. Her staff was just as poor, but it had better E¡¯er efficiency than Alyssa¡¯s. I summoned another Mythical staff, this one specific for Pyromancer, being the most played class in the game due to its large area of effect spells and overall utility. My, my. What a coincidence. I smiled. I might start believing in fate. I had all of the class specific weapons in the game, so not much coincidence after all. Four were Mythical and the rest were Legendary. This is no game, though. [+100 Eternal Flame (Mythical) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (E¡¯er Efficiency SSS+)(Durability S) -E''er Efficiency + 100% ({Lvl 10 Ruby}x10) -Spell Reach +200% (Enchantment) -INT + 300 -WIS + 200 -DEX + 150 -Shifts Pyro Formula for T.E.C. values *500oC^2=0.01TE -The more enemies burn by your fire, the faster you cast your spells -When a burning enemy dies, it explodes. Width of explosion is (Total Level/5)m -INT + 250 (Transmutation) -WIS + 250 (Transmutation) -DEX + 250 (Transmutation) -Allows use of Yiama¡¯s Wish once a day The weapon became a cluster-fuck just like the Geomancer one. The thing two meters tall just like the one for Alyssa. The pole a flame orange with a gritty surface, and at the top, four short studs held a fifty centimeter long, ten wide red crystal encasing a white flame. I presented her the staff and after a few seconds of reading, she choked. ¡°Holy shit!¡± she coughed for a bit and I rubbed her back. She began saying things in Elvish. I moved on to the gear, placing similar items to those for Alyssa. I placed five rings, having already given her one this morning. And a properly covering set of clothes. [Regalia of Pyroclast (Legendary)] (Durability SS)(Agile Movement) Been a long day. I sighed. ¡°Attention, please.¡± I snapped my fingers and they both looked up. ¡°Which do you prefer? Helmet, crown, or tiara?¡± I had it all. One does not get to the top without commitment. ¡°I have most wares for fine ladies such as you.¡± I imitated an old merchant, or tried to. They giggled and relaxed. ¡°Can¡¯t wear helmets.¡± Alyssa said, pointing at her horns. ¡°I don¡¯t like them, too stuffy.¡± Lapia said with an apologetic smile. ¡°Not to worry.¡± I smiled, and summoned two helmets. Kind of. They had an opening on top. The face had eye sockets for vision. On the sides, cuts allowed for long ears to comfortably fit the piece. The interior was a padded material, so it would absorb impacts. The items I gave them were my other character''s equipment, so it was top notch. I placed them on their heads and was satisfied with how they looked. Alyssa¡¯s fit like a glove, the opening wide enough to allow her horns to go through. They stared at me through the gaps meant for vision. Their long ears poking out made for a funny picture. ¡°You look pretty silly, not gonna lie.¡± I giggled. ¡°But better dull than dead, am I right?¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± Lapia said, not finding the words. She took the helmet off and stored it. ¡°You told me the world is dangerous.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Think of this as me taking care of my partners.¡± I chuckled at their blushing faces and pulled the Elf up. I hugged and kissed her. Alyssa stood up and hugged us both. ¡°So this is to get Halved.¡± she sighed, chuckling. ¡°Yep.¡± the Elf nodded. ¡°To absolutely demolish our common sense.¡± I laughed. That sounded pretty accurate to what I just did. ¡°Try them on, let¡¯s see if they¡¯re comfortable.¡± I urged them, sitting on the sofa. They undressed, storing their clothes. Before I could get a glimpse of the Luzo¡¯s body, she had already equipped the new gear through the magical process of storage dressing. They comfortably shaped to their bodies. I gawked at Alyssa¡¯s chest, the piece stretching beyond what I thought possible. I gulped. The piece was sleeveless so her scaled arms were bare. Those scales could rip cloth, I bet. Some looked a little sharp. I smiled when she put the gloves on, her clawed fingers going through the openings for fingers. Thank all above lizard people are popular in most fantasy games. Though the Luzo had Dragon-like features, her body was no different than mine. Aside from her tail and horns. They might even call it God-shape or something. I chuckled at the thought. A world with species older than humans would not call it ¡®humanoid¡¯. They might even link it to Halves, I don¡¯t even know how a God looks like. I thought back to Earth¡¯s eastern religions, their deities more animal than human. As an individual originally belonging to a society of discussion, however, I asked. ¡°Hey, how do you call our body shape?¡± I asked while they fixed details on their gear. ¡°I mean bipedal, erected back, head above shoulders, arms on the sides. You get it.¡± ¡°That is a very interesting question, considering the answer.¡± Lapia said, fixing a belt that kept her skirt in place. ¡°Halven Figure.¡± Alyssa answered, adjusting a belt under her breasts. Right on the money. My shoulders sagged. I have to prepare myself in case I meet a cult out there worshiping my species. ¡°What does ¡®Halve¡¯ mean?¡± I looked at my hands. The tendons and muscles defined under my golden skin. ¡°That¡¯s Celestial for ¡®Protector¡¯. God means ¡®Mentor¡¯.¡± Lapia said and stood in front of me, having finished fixing her belts and clasps. ¡°How do I look?¡± she posed, aiming an open hand at me with her new staff in the other, as if she was about to cast a spell. She looked like a proper wizard. The clothes were light blue accented with gold. The belts and gloves were purple, the skirt part of the dress reached halfway down her thighs. Her legs were covered by the spandex-like material, accentuating their thickness. The boots did their job properly, and a high neck protected her throat. Exquisite shoulder armor covered the joints, and flexible interlinked metals covered her back and front. There shall be no bikini armor on my watch! I nodded. ¡°You look great.¡± I gave her a thumbs up. Alyssa stood beside her, not saying anything. The robe did wonders for her figure. It covered her from her neck to her knees. It had symmetric embroidery and golden interlinked pieces of metal that provided protection without restricting movement. Her upper arms were naked, the dark scales covering the outside of the limb, the inside and her armpits a light purple. Black metal gauntlets covered her forearms, the leather ones hidden beneath. Her tail lifted the dress a little, but the end of the fabric was loose enough to allow for comfortable movement. Her fingers free, she did a sign I did not recognize. A peace sign with an added thumb. Unless she¡¯s throwing gang signs. ¡°Lovely.¡± I smiled and clapped. ¡°You two look amazing.¡± ¡°And yours?¡± the Luzo asked. ¡°May I see your armor again?¡± her tail swayed a little. Is she happy or testing the range of movement? I wondered while standing up. Leather armor appeared under my dress. I stored the silk attire along with my boots and made the armor appear on top. A silver white helmet with no holes for vision materialized in my hands. The thing had a thick golden line where eyes should be, crossing the front from side to side. A small hole at the back I assumed would let my hair out. It had a few clasps and plates that suggested it was connected with the neck of my chestplate. The pieces mobile to allow wide movement and protection at the same time. How do I see with this? I appraised it. [Starforged Eternium Plate Helmet (Legendary)] (Durability SSS+)(Weightless Wear)(True Vision) I put it on and was surprised at seeing everything in front of me. Is this how Ir*nman''s helmet would feel like? There was no interface, however. I touched the front and found no holes or the like. It¡¯s good. I stored it and equipped it again through my storage. My braid came out the hole in the back. I took my spear out. ¡°How is it?¡± I twirled around and my long hair followed, the braid courtesy of Alyssa held firm. I then posed like J*suke, framing my head. ¡°Impressive. Sleek.¡± Lapia said and Alyssa nodded. ¡°What is it made of?¡± she approached me and touched my arm. ¡°Eternium." I said back. ¡°Ring any bells?¡± Both shook their heads. Originally, the costume was ordinary iron forged in a star. You can write whatever you want in a game, though. This world may have changed things for balance''s sake. I thought about the many weapons and costumes, changing considerably from game to reality. Maybe it just didn¡¯t make sense, and gave names according to what it recognized them as. Now a fully functional piece of protective gear, the thing was pretty cool. I thanked all above for the fact the art designers didn¡¯t like boob plate or bikini armor. Exposing skin while fighting is not a very good idea unless you use a shield, or a large enough weapon to use as one. ¡°Feels pretty comfy.¡± I squatted, the armor making very little sound, the pieces moving to ease the movement. ¡°How about you?¡± I checked the knee plates. ¡°Comfortable, yes.¡± Alyssa nodded. I looked up at the Luzo from my squatting position. ¡°The chest area stretched perfectly.¡± she blushed. How has this woman not developed blood pressure problems blushing that often? I turned to the Elf. ¡°The hip area was tight, but I increased the size with the belts and clasps.¡± she smiled. ¡°My stats went through the roof, though.¡± she chuckled. ¡°True, it feels¡­ odd.¡± the Luzo tilted her head, silver white hair falling to the side. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not feeling any discomfort, all is good.¡± I stood up without issue, the plates relocating. I changed clothes back to my dress, the action instantaneous thanks to my storage. I ran a hand through my hair and undid the braid. My hair tickled the back of my knees. ¡°Ah. Need to go to the bathroom.¡± Lapia said, turning around. ¡°Me too.¡± Alyssa said in her lovely deep voice. They both turned to me. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± I said after double-checking. ¡°I don¡¯t need to go yet.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± the Elf said. ¡°This way.¡± She guided Alyssa through a hallway into the apartment. I let out a long sigh. Looking around, I found a clock and spent a few seconds figuring the time. Someone invent digital clocks already! You have toilet seats! It was four ten. I walked around the apartment, looking at the paintings. They were mostly abstract art I had no way to recognize. Some might even be real monsters. I chuckled at the notion of a diamond shape monster with smoke for legs, but shivered at the possible existence of such a being. Above the fireplace stood a few small portraits. A young Elf girl with two adults, probably Lapia and her parents. They looked upper-class, her mother had light blond hair, her father the same shade of dark blonde Lapia herself had. They both had green eyes. She was sitting on a chair and her parents stood behind her, the three smiling. The others had each individual by themselves. Her mother was quite the beauty. Not as beautiful as my girlfriend, however. Her father had more feminine features, giving him an air of aristocracy. Lapia was wearing some sort of uniform with badges and holding a diploma. Looks like a photograph. I thought. The image perfectly still and crisp. I tried to remember the history of cameras, and tried to imagine if they¡¯d be easy to come by in a world like this one. Perhaps a really skilled individual with a related class. I moved on and looked at paintings depicting landscapes. A beach and a humongous castle floating in the sky were the only ones that were not lines, smoke, and odd lighting. They were pretty good. I¡¯d fix some of the shading, but that might be the result of looking at them through the day and the suns changing position. A very common occurrence to beginners, especially if they¡¯re outside. Unless that¡¯s what they actually look like. I could very well be wrong. I continued and walket over to an upright piano. They have pianos, nice. Was it the 16th or 17th century when the first piano was invented on Earth? That feels like teenage years for people who live thousands. I ran a finger on its surface. My finger came out spotless, I nodded in approval. I reached down and pulled the bench from under the instrument. It had a knob to adjust the height, so I sat and opened the lid. Fiddling with the knob, I got to a comfortable level in front of it. What should I play? I wondered. After graduating art school, I worked in a museum while doing commissions online. Fortunately, a writer contacted me and I ended up drawing a comic which made us both popular. The rest went up. I was making good money so I quit my day job and took up piano. I had always wanted to learn how to play since I was little. Let¡¯s start easy. I pressed a few keys, testing the sound. It was properly tuned. So, I began playing. The arrangement one of the first I learned at an academy after having earned enough money to pay for classes. Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata. I thought, my hands going over the keys with ease assisted by my high dexterity. Maybe performers are dexterity based, along with constitution for the stamina needed. I wondered. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact I could remember the music sheets vividly. Almost as if they were in front of me. The first movement was going perfect. In reality, it wasn''t an easy one. It was quite the story. A smile formed on my face. The teacher had thought I¡¯d waste her time, being an artist of another category already. So in order to discourage me, she gave me a few difficult arrangements and told me to choose one. I¡¯d practice for two weeks and show my progress. My first performance was a complete mess. But so much better than what she expected, that she took me seriously starting that day. What a bitch. I chuckled at the memory of her astonished face. I started the second movement. She had said I had incredible talent, and she would nurture it. I though she was exaggerating, but went along. Turns out, I did actually have a talent for the piano. More than I had for drawing, unfortunately. I was in love with the pen, however, so I refused several offers to go to concerts and concourses. That made her mad. The third movement started as the flood of memories came. My hands went over the keys as I relived them. The emotions weak and distant. She insulted my art, called me a low-effort, and said I¡¯d never amount to much. Even going as far as saying I was a waste of time. I called her a manipulative, lying bitch. That made her snap. She tried to slap me. Unfortunately for her, I had been going through some anger issues due to a toxic girlfriend at the time. I ended up breaking her nose and cheekbone. We went to court, and I won. There were cameras in the building, after all. I finished the piece and quickly began with another. A few memories returning. After a messy breakup with the toxic girlfriend, I met a girl named Elise. Fitting, I had just finished learning another Beethoven piece. F¨¹r Elise. I giggled. The universe worked in amazing ways. At the same time, I had started working with a video game company. I was hired to do character and environment design, since that was my strength back then. She was from Poland, we met in Vor¨®nezh. I had accompanied a friend to watch a play, and Elise went with her sister. The relationship was good, but short, just like the piece. She received a job offer from Indonesia. She was an Engineer. I never understood the specifics of her work, however. She took it right away and said she¡¯d be financially stable enough to support the two of us. I was young and scared of commitment. We fortunately parted ways in great terms. To the point of keeping in touch for years to come. I¡¯d always remember her patience and caring nature. I finished the second piece and began another. This one I hummed along. Liszt''s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. After leaving that bitch of a teacher, I enrolled into another piano school. They had heard of what happened with the previous one, the hag was famous. I had gone to anger management, so they decided to accept me in the end. They too, were surprised by my piano skills. But didn¡¯t push after I rejected invitations to bring my talent to the stage. I didn¡¯t have the time, even if I wanted to. My job was doing great. I immersed myself in the memories and continued playing the piano. I switched to Rachmaninoff, and then to Chopin. I recalled the memories, but the emotions were weak. What if I forget? I¡¯ll live for hundreds of years, thousands even. Will my mind be able to keep that many memories? I wondered as I began playing Winter Wind. I¡¯ll have to see. The sound filled the apartment, and I lost track of time with how many pieces I played. I¡¯m scared shitless. My eyes began stinging. I know nothing. People tried to kill me. Tears flowed. My fingers kept going, however. Breath it in, Natasha. Recognize it, and face it. I took a deep breath. I won¡¯t die for while, at least. I can learn. I have time. I can adapt. I will adapt. I survived Hell for fuck¡¯s sake! I already died once. More tears came out. I¡¯m not from Earth. I died on Earth. The energy of the world created me. I remember a life that doesn¡¯t feel mine. I accept that. I took a deep breath again. I have killed people. And will do so again if the circumstances demand it. Whether King or God. Tears stopped flowing and I calmed down. I am Natasha Novak, a Halve born in Galeia. As I pressed the final notes, a long sigh left me. I needed that. I hadn¡¯t had time for myself since waking up in this world. I couldn¡¯t really guess at my mental health, and everything seemed to move too fast. Little moments like this make a difference. I felt lighter. I forgot life could move so fast. Twelve years of isolation did a number on me, I guess. Fuck pandemics. ¡°There.¡± I whispered. I wiped my tears with some napkins. After saying that, I heard clapping behind me. Turning around, I found Alyssa and Lapia in tears. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked, standing up. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m that bad.¡± I closed the lid and pushed the bench back under the instrument. My joke made them laugh, wide smiles on their faces. They had changed to their own clothes and sat in the living room. The piano faced a wall, so I hadn¡¯t noticed them. Got too into it. I thought. Good thing I played lighter pieces. I walked over to them and they stood up, still clapping. ¡°That was beautiful.¡± the Luzo said, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. ¡°I¡¯m moved beyond words.¡± ¡°Same, it was quite the experience.¡± the Elf cutely blew her nose. ¡°Good thing I kept the piano.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not yours?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Came with the place.¡± she explained. ¡°I¡¯ve no use for it. Makes for good decoration at least.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you liked it.¡± I smiled. It felt good. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°A quarter to eight.¡± Alyssa said, checking the clock. ¡°You played for quite a while.¡± Over three hours. It felt like thirty minutes. I nodded. ¡°Sorry, I made you wait.¡± I hugged them both and gave each a kiss. I¡¯m here now. In this world, with two beautiful women. I smiled. I can afford to forget. ¡°Hey.¡± Lapia whispered, kissing me on the neck. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my room.¡± her voice turned seductive. Alyssa blushed and gave a small nod, looking down. Damn, girl! I felt an exciting jolt run up my spine. Wait. It¡¯s eight o¡¯clock. Sonya. ¡°How about this.¡± I began. The elf pouted at my words. ¡°I¡¯ll go feed Sonya. The Ratnak.¡± I explained. ¡°I¡¯ll be back before you know it.¡± I turned to the door. ¡°We¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Lapia smacked my butt, chuckling. Alyssa giggled at her action. I left the apartment and searched my storage for the bag of feed I received from the farm. I went down the stairs with a light step. The butler from earlier was still standing near the front door. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, going to feed my mount.¡± I told the pretty boy. He looked like he could be in a boys idol group. ¡°I could take care of it, if you wish.¡± he bowed, a small smile on his face. ¡°She¡¯s a Ratnak, level one hundred and fifty.¡± I told him, looking him in the eye. ¡°Ah. Good luck, then.¡± he blushed and took a step back. I walked out of the building with a heavy bag full of metal pieces the size of tennis balls. They gave me ten bags. I had taken the information booklet anyway, reading its contents on the way. ¡°Feed two metal pieces, two times a day. Tell her to sit down before and to nod after.¡± I read to myself. ¡°Feels like a dog.¡± I reached the parking lot area and Sonya stood up when she saw me. The spot was still covered in shade. A constantly fed water trough encircled the space, keeping animals from dehydrating. I approached her and scratched her chin. The beast releasing a pleased growl. ¡°I bring food.¡± I showed her a metal piece. She perked up and tried to take it. ¡°No. Sit.¡± I pushed her head back and gently headbutted her. She nodded and followed my instructions. I offered the food and she carefully took it from my open hand, her long teeth avoided my skin. ¡°Good girl. Nod.¡± I said, she obeyed. I repeated the process, the beast didn¡¯t try to snatch if from me again. I congratulated her and patted her large head. I headbutted her again, softer than before. She looked me in the eye with her blue ones, and nodded. She opened her maw and licked my face with the thick and long muscle. The smell of metal spreading to my nose. I laughed at the similarity to a dog. ¡°We¡¯ll stay the night. I¡¯ll come tomorrow morning to give you breakfast, but you have to be a good girl, and behave.¡± I rubbed her cheeks. She nodded and laid down on the ground. I turned around and made my way back to Lapia¡¯s, storing the bag and the booklet. The butler was talking to a lady wearing a sort of suit. I ignored them and made my way up the stairs. I reached Lapia¡¯s door and opened it, crossed the office, and knocked on the door leading to her apartment. I heard footsteps and a few seconds later the door opened. Lapia was wearing a black silk bathrobe, her hair a little damp. A lot of exposed skin made her look really sexy. ¡°Go take a shower. We¡¯re in my room.¡± she said, summoning a cloth similar to hers, but red, and giving it to me. ¡°That way, last door.¡± she pointed at the hallway. She smacked my ass again when I turned around. ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re gonna get it.¡± I pointed at her as I walked. ¡°I¡¯ll make you faint.¡± ¡°Looking forward to it.¡± she gave me a wink and smirked. I felt my cheeks burn. This woman is so fucking hot. I couldn¡¯t avoid the excited smile that took over my face. 11 - Self Discovery and Revelations (18+) I followed the hallway, two doors on the left. How does this fit? I wondered at the construction techniques, trying to picture the apartment in my mind but failing to make sense of it. In the end I chalked it up to magic, unless the other doors led to tiny rooms. The bath was similar to the one from the inn, but longer. A toilet seat greeted me. I relieved myself. To my right, two shower heads stuck out from the wall, a flame and a water droplet drawn on the wall. Furthed inside, a narrow but deep bathtub. Though I had sat on the toilet, pee came out of the penis. It was way more convenient since I didn¡¯t have to wipe, but my new partner touched the bowl. It was uncomfortable in a weird way. I flushed, stood up, and removed my clothes as I stepped under the nozzles. I touched the flame and nothing happened. Right. Magical world. I pictured tiny particles flying into the thing and water rained on me. A comfortable jet of hot water made me sigh. I¡¯m about to have a threesome with two women for the first time in my life. My hands shook a little. I saw a square on the wall and pushed E¡¯er into it, an opening revealed itself. Soap and shampoo in it. I grabbed some of my hair and took sniffed it. It still had the scent of lavender, so I didn¡¯t wash it. I used the soap to clean my face where Sonya had licked me. I made sure I was squeaky clean. I took great care to clean my penis and vulva. I felt my body tighter and lighter, the golden hue reflecting off the wall. My body and mind working fast but not hurried. I took a deep breath and tried to calm my heart to no avail. Is it the sunlight? I wondered. A lot of my skin had been exposed to the suns, absorbing whatever it was I absorbed. Checking my stats, I saw nothing out of the ordinary, the numbers exactly the same as before, if not topped off. I felt strangely detached, but in a positive way. Is this how ADHD medication feels like? I had never taken any drugs, prescription or otherwise, so I lacked in comparisons to make. My brother had, though, so I knew a little about it. Unless tobacco and alcohol count, then I have. My heartbeat was strong, my mind sharp. There was something else under the excitement at the idea of fucking two women at the same time. I checked my species information, and sighed in relief at finding my cycle unchanged. It wasn¡¯t a basic urge. I should exercise, then. My muscles demanded action, and I didn¡¯t want to lose this wonderful and powerful figure. Yoga and calisthenics in the morning and running with Sonya. I decided. I went over my body once more and noticed something I hadn¡¯t before. My breasts. They didn¡¯t change in shape since I woke up. Still medium sized. If I were to guess, my increased bust was now C, if not D. Nah, D is pushing it. I chuckled. However, that wasn¡¯t the thing that caught my attention. They hadn¡¯t changed shape. At all. Gravity wasn¡¯t pulling them down. Though the bra was comfortable and lifted them, the opposite didn¡¯t happen when free. What the fuck? They just stood there, unperturbed by gravity. Is my skin that firm? I held and massaged them, they were soft, warm, and felt nice. Letting them go, they returned to their gravity defying position. I shrugged. They¡¯re not that big anyway. If anything, they look healthy and¡­ sturdy? I went for my butt cheeks. Those were full muscle, so it didn¡¯t feel off. ¡°Whatever.¡± I sighed. ¡°I look and feel hot, so it¡¯s all good.¡± I turned the shower off when I felt clean enough. The water went down a drain on the floor under the shower head. My hair stuck to my back, warm and wet. I noticed a towel hanging from the now closed door. I took it and dried my hair as fast as I could. The sheer speed drying it in seconds. It didn¡¯t frizz up, the material keeping its straightness. At least something is. I laughed at my own joke. I put the bathrobe on and decided not to tie it, revealing enough of my breasts to tempt, my abdomen, and my penis. My face was getting hot. I left the bathroom and heard giggles coming from Lapia¡¯s room. Walking down the hallway, my heartbeat sped up. ¡°...off?¡± I head Alyssa¡¯s voice as I closed in. ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± ¡°Yeah. Lord Punten sent a letter today.¡± Lapia said back, her tone slightly annoyed. I came into view and saw them sitting on the massive bed, glasses with amber colored liquid on a small table next to them. Alyssa was wearing a white silk bathrobe. They turned to me and I raised both arms to the back of my head, quickly braiding my hair. Their eyes went from my face down my body. I felt a heat rising from my womb to my chest as their eyes went all over me. The Luzo licked her lips at the sight of my chest, her eyes went wide when she saw my abs and her jaw dropped when she saw my phallus. ¡°Hnng.¡± she whimpered after closing her mouth. I finished braiding my hair and approached the bed. Alyssa had her bathrobe closed, but revealing quite the cleavage. The visible skin was light purple. I tried imagining her naked body, but the possibilities were too many when taking scales into consideration. ¡°What are we drinking?¡± I asked as I climbed on the bed, their eyes still on me. ¡°Ladies?¡± ¡°Oh. Ehem.¡± Lapia cleared her throat. ¡°Plum wine.¡± she produced a glass and a bottle, pouring some after dropping an ice ball into it and giving it to me. ¡°Here. Don¡¯t worry if you get drunk, Alyssa can clear that up.¡± ¡°If I can get drunk in the first place.¡± I chuckled, taking a sip. ¡°Pretty good.¡± It was plum wine alright. Sweet, sour, easy to drink. ¡°Right, you drank an entire bottle of potato spirit last night.¡± she smiled and took a sip of her drink. I sat between the two of them cross-legged. I had no idea how to sit comfortably while having a penis, the thing hanging free between my legs. ¡°You¡¯re immune?¡± Alyssa asked. ¡°That¡¯s really good.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say immune, more like highly tolerant. I got a really good buzz.¡± I looked at her. She was sitting with her legs to one side, her tail around them. ¡°So I guess some poisons will work on me.¡± ¡°Good to know.¡± she said, scooting closer to me. Her red eyes roamed every centimeter of my exposed body. ¡°You don¡¯t have a belly button.¡± I looked down. I indeed didn¡¯t have one, the only visible thing on my stomach were my abs. She brought her glass to her lips and took a long swig. ¡°Belly buttons are wack.¡± I laughed. ¡°I''d get dust, moisture, hair or whatever in there.¡± ¡°They are slightly inconvenient, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Lapia said. ¡°So you got a Ratnak and named it Sonya.¡± She took the bottle and refilled her glass. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s red, and huge. You¡¯ll have to headbutt her at some point if I¡¯m not wrong?.¡± I turned to Alyssa. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll help.¡± she accepted another serving of alcohol from the Elf. ¡°Once she understands she can¡¯t knock you out once, she¡¯ll give up.¡± ¡°Good. I don¡¯t think I can take a Ratnak¡¯s headbutt on my own.¡± she giggled. ¡°How did you do it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tough.¡± the Luzo shrugged. ¡°No, no.¡± I giggled. ¡°She said.¡± I pointed at my head, where her horns would be. ¡°These are not just for show¡± I did my best to imitate how smug she sounded at the time. Lapia burst in giggles, Alyssa blushed hard. ¡°Meanie.¡± she said in a quiet voice, grabbing the hem of my robe. I looked at her and drank my glass in one go, the alcohol warming my insides. I put the glass on the small table and wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer with care and a little force. ¡°Come here.¡± I said. ¡°Nn.¡± she let out a soft voice, surrendering her body to me. I had thought about it before: she was confident and assertive in her own way, yet incredibly soft at times. I guess I¡¯ll try and be the lead with her. I sat her between my legs, my arms hugging her stomach. Her tail wrapped around my waist, leaning her body on me. I barely felt the weight. What I did feel, however, were the scales on her back under the bathrobe. The existence of the appendage at her back prevented her from outright sitting on my lap. I had a full view of her front, however. I leaned closer and whispered in her ear, loud enough for Lapia, who was grinning widely, to hear. ¡°But you like it, don¡¯t you?¡± I licked her neck, a shiver running down her back. My pulse increased and my stomach warmed up. ¡°Nn.¡± she sighed, nodding. ¡°Wow.¡± the Elf¡¯s barely audible voice reached me. I looked at her and winked, a blush covered her face. ¡°I asked you something.¡± I nibbled on her ear, eliciting a voiceless moan from her. ¡°Answer.¡± ¡°I¡­ I do.¡± her rich voice was low, her face looking away from Lapia. ¡°You do¡­ what?¡± my hands reached for the bathrobe. ¡°I¡­¡± she took a deep shaky breath. I looked down and noticed her breasts trembling. ¡°I really, really like it when you tease me.¡± her voice came out like a whimper. She placed her hands on her lap. ¡°Put your hands on my thighs.¡± I said, blowing air in her ear. She nodded, her scaly fingers rested where I told her. I felt her soft palms on my skin. She didn¡¯t grope, pinch or rub. She did exactly as I told her. An intoxicating feeling of satisfaction filled me. ¡°Good girl.¡± I raised a hand and slowly turned her head to me and gave her a passionate kiss. While I kissed her, I turned my eyes to Lapia. She was covering her mouth, her eyes open with amazement. Her legs shifting every few seconds. I separated from Alyssa, a long sigh escaping her, and smiled at the Elf. She gave me a big nod, a deep red blush covering her face. I reached down and slowly opened her robe. First, I revealed her legs, slowly and really carefully running my fingertips on her scales. Her hips shifted slightly, a sensual sigh leaving her mouth, her head looking at my hands. I figured she knew she couldn¡¯t lean her head back, or she might poke me with her horns. I kissed her neck, suckling with very little force, making a soft popping sound when I pulled away. Resuming the removal of her bathrobe, I revealed her hips. The scales on the outside of her legs connecting to the hips and following their path. Her slender, toned legs were on full display. I almost gulped at the sight. I very slowly ran my entire tongue from her clavicle to her jaw. Her sweat was tastefully salty and warm. Long sighs made her abundant chest raise and fall. ¡°Do you like how I¡¯m teasing you now?¡± I blew air into her ear, tapping my palate with my tongue. She squirmed weakly in my embrace. ¡°Nn.¡± she nodded, a long sigh shaking her body. ¡°Say it.¡± I nibbled on her scaly ear. ¡°I really like this teasing, Natasha.¡± she moaned and leaned her head on my shuolder. I almost choked, but managed to turn it into a chuckle. Holy shit! A jolt of pleasure and satisfaction numbed my scalp. My penis slowly hardened, poking her lower back. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Look at me.¡± I whispered in her ear. She slowly turned her head, her eyes were moist with arousal and her breathing was fast. I kissed her and she moaned into my mouth. I pushed my entire tongue in. Her hips buckled and she weakly grasped my thighs, a long whimper echoing inside my skull. ¡°Holy shit.¡± Lapia¡¯s barely audible voice was shock full of emotions. I looked at her and noticed a hand between her legs, rubbing her pussy. I playfully glared at her, and she removed it immediately, nodding a few times and closing her mouth. Calm down, Natasha. I told myself. You got this. You¡¯ve been on the receiving end before. You know how this goes. In truth, I was nervous as fuck. I had no clue what I was doing. I only knew it was working, but not how much. So far, I had kept my hands from shaking and my breathing calm. I continued removing the bathrobe, slowly revealing her navel. The attire was tied bellow her breasts, keeping them covered. I was hard as a rock and wet as a river. The feeling was exhilarating. I ran my hands on her abdomen, the skin soft. Toned muscles underneath hinting at abs. Sensual sighs escaping Alyssa at my caresses, her deep voice tickling the base of my head. FUCK YEAH! ABS! I screamed in my mind. I felt moisture drip down my ass, the sexual tension in the room had me ready to jump the woman in my arms. I controlled my emotions and focused back on the process. My hands grabbed the silk belt keeping the bathrobe in place, and slowly, very slowly pulled with one hand. The other was holding the attire. I didn¡¯t want her breasts to spill out. The tightness of the fabric threatened to do that. Give her time to react if she doesn''t like it. And to enjoy the process. Once I had removed the item, I took the hems of the clothing. ¡°Alyssa.¡± I called her name with the most sensual voice I could manage. Her hips buckled and her grip on my thighs tightened. ¡°You¡¯re mine and Lapia¡¯s, aren¡¯t you?¡± I breathed down her neck. ¡°Yes, Queen.¡± her breathing had grown slightly erratic, her voice shaky with excitement. Oh, fuck. I almost panicked. That''s some trust you''re giving me. I looked over at the Elf and beckoned her with my head. She crawled over and sat in front of us. ¡°Spread your legs, Alyssa.¡± I said in a gentle voice. I was attempting to be commanding, but had no fucking idea what I was doing. ¡°Y-yes, my Queen.¡± She meekly nodded and slowly opened her legs. Her loins were glistening, her sweat and moisture mixing together. A light purple, tight vulva was revealed to us. Her labia majora was flat, the labia minora barely visible. Her deep blue clitoris in sight from my position, swollen and half covered by the hood. It too, glistened with her fluids. ¡°Good girl.¡± I nibbled her ear. I slowly released my grasp on the cloth, opening my hands wide to receive the blessings from the Lord. The silk fell to the sides, leaving her breasts in plain sight. I held them and almost fainted. Look at that subtle light purple coloring. Scales around her breasts formed a sort of natural support. I had found the answer to their constant shape. I lightly sunk my fingers on them. The tasteful thickness of it. I felt something poking my palm and moved a finger, revealing her nipples. Oh my God, she even has blue nipples. They were a shade lighter than her tongue, erect and hard. The bosom''s shape was perfect. Way bigger than my own, or Lapia''s. This could very well be the biggest I''ve held. What size are these? Double D? E? Her slender body made them look even bigger, the proportion was immaculate. They didn''t look overly large nor out of place. I looked at Lapia and nodded towards Alyssa¡¯s groin. She nodded back and laid on the bed between the Luzo¡¯s legs. She put her arms under her thighs, bringing her face close to her crotch. I heard a wet sound, shivers running down Alyssa¡¯s spine. ¡°Yah!¡± she yelped, her grip on my thighs tightened. "Mnn!" I was focused on her breasts. The two firm and soft shapes bigger than my hands could grasp, yet they kept their form. This world¡¯s breasts physics is divine. I flicked a nipple with a finger and her hips buckled, eliciting another yelp. I let a breast go and it barely sagged, the support underneath keeping gravity from doing its job. The scales went from her hips to her breasts, framing her abdomen and covering the sides of her torso. From there, they continued to her back, her armpits light purple like I saw before. I held her face, her jaw devoid of strength, and kissed her. My hand went down again and I groped her breasts with more force, her gasps inundating my mouth. My thumbs and index fingers gently but firmly pinched her nipples, rubbing them and very gently twisting them. I noticed Lapia looking at me and we both smiled. Her tongue stimulating the clitoris. She winked at me and brought a finger to Alyssa¡¯s pussy, slowly putting it inside. I pressed her nipples down at the same time. Alyssa moaned loudly inside my mouth. Her hands remained on my thighs, however. Claws digging into them. She didn¡¯t move her head either. Her body trembled all over, her hips shook, and her back shivered with the pleasure. Her tail tightened around my waist, the appendage¡¯s grip barely perceptible until now. I put a hand on her tummy and caressed the soft skin on the surface, enjoying her muscles and very gently scratching the scales around. That made her relax and kiss me back, her tongue wrestling with mine. The taste of the plum wine was mixed with our saliva, accentuating the sweetness. Her soft lips felt like heaven, her warm tongue sent jolts into my head and down to my hips. The sounds of Lapia¡¯s tongue and finger on Alyssa¡¯s pussy, and my kisses with the Luzo resonated in the room. Along with the woman¡¯s moans, gasps, whimpers, and yelps. A few minutes went by and I looked at Lapia. I lifted two fingers, motioning for her to stimulate the g spot. She gave me a nod and turned her hand, a second finger going in. I gently pushed Alyssa¡¯s abdomen down, while Lapia rubbed against her pelvic bone. She called me Queen. Does she want me to dominate her? What would an appropiate response be? Princess? Yeah. I''ll go with that. I thought about the dynamic. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I broke the kiss and whispered in her ear. ¡°Let me know when you cum, Princess.¡± I licked her ear, her moans slowly increasing in pitch. ¡°Y-yes, Queen.¡± she managed to say between gasps. "Lapia, your tongue... feels... amazing." I kissed her again and softly scratched every scale I could reach with one hand, the other groping her breasts, alternating between the two shapes. The Elf chuckled from her position, continuing her caresses. Alyssa¡¯s deep voice had turned higher pitched as the stimulation continued. Lapia¡¯s tongue never took a rest. Neither did her fingers, or my caresses all over her body. Sweat soon covered her body, shivering and trembling. Her breathing became irregular gasps and moans, until she took a deep breath. ¡°Kuhgiin!¡± she moaned into my mouth, her tongue didn¡¯t disconnect from mine. Lapia leaned back, removing her fingers. A stream of liquid hit her face, the sheer pressure sending droplets everywhere on the bed. The Elf licked her lips, a cheeky smile on her face. ¡°Kuuuhggiin Khuiin!¡± Alyssa''s back arched and her entire body shook with the orgasm, smaller streams of fluids gushing from her pussy. She diligently kept her posture as best as she could, not breaking the kiss, yet following my instruction of announcing her climax. I felt my jaw tighten with how alluring she looked. Red eyes half closed, our lips locked and her hands gripping my thighs as if her life depended on it. Her voice turned into a mix of Dragon Tongue and rough breaths as I ended the kiss, still caressing her body. Lapia crawled over to me and waited, her body flushed and covered in sweat. Strings of fluids dripping down her thighs and chin. I grinned at her. ¡°Wait. I¡¯ll make you faint later.¡± I grabbed the back of her head and kissed her. The taste of Alyssa¡¯s pussy was divine. Sour, a little sweet, and slightly salty. She sighed into my mouth, her arms wrapping around my neck. ¡°Give it to her good, Nasha.¡± she sat down and bit her lips seductively. Taking my bathrobe off, I reached for Alyssa¡¯s legs and lifted her, her attire sliding off. ¡°Nn.¡± she hugged my neck, kissing my face. I did quick mental gymnastics taking into account her tail, and decided on the cowgirl position. I carried her to the edge of the bed and sat down with her next to me. ¡°Now, sit on my lap facing me.¡± I leaned back, resting my arms on the bed. My erect penis stood at attention, the thing thick and long. ¡°You have a magnificent penis, Queen.¡± Alyssa said after thinking for a few seconds, looking right into my eyes with her deep scarlet ones. Yeah, complicated to appeal to a woman with a penis. I smiled at her and nodded. She did as I said and sat on my lap, her pussy touching the base of my penis. I felt her hips moving slightly. She took a deep breath and sighed, a soft moan leaving her at the end. Her legs spread in an M shape, her scaly feet next to my thigs, tickling my skin. This woman has the willpower and restraint of a God. I smiled at her. If I were her, I¡¯d be rocking my hips like a monkey. ¡°Put it in yourself.¡± my face was about to melt. Taking the lead so aggressively was out of my comfort zone, but I was willing to adapt in this new world no matter the situation. ¡°Yes.¡± she gave a short nod and lifted her hips, reached down and grabbed my penis. A whimper escaped her at my size. She lowered her body, guiding me. My glans touched her vulva, and the warmth almost made me cum right that instant. The previous foreplay had left me more hot and bothered than I thought. She used her weight and my penis slowly slid inside her, her labia parting at my intrusion. Her tightness was out of this world. I even remembered and started counting the number pi to avoid climaxing. "Your pussy is so tight!" ¡°Ooahh.¡± she let out a loud moan when I reached a firmer section of her vagina. "You are so biiig!" Fucking hell. Are men of this world so small? I had reached about three fourths inside her. She stopped and closed her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you to stop.¡± I groaned, about to explode myself. I clenched my jaw to control myself. ¡°Yes!¡± her voice was excited, fighting a huge smile and continuing to go down. ¡°Hng! Queen, your penis is so biiig. You''re reaching so deep inside. Ah! You''re spreading me so much.¡± Her breasts shook with every breath and gasp, the sight hypnotizing. I fought the urge to have my way with them. ¡°When you reach the limit, start riding on it.¡± I said, grabbing the bed-sheets. ¡°Put your hands on my knees.¡± I used my entire willpower to maintain a straight face. Nicely done, me! I was starting to get a little more comfortable with it. A wide smile plastered on her face, she nodded. ¡°Yes!¡± She leaned back and I almost fainted. Her breasts are the second wonder of this world! Lapia''s ass is the first! ¡°Auuh!?¡± she made a weird sound when my phallus touched her cervix, her eyes going wide. ¡°Ughu!¡± The sensation on the tip of my cock was incredible. Jolts of inmense pleasure assaulted my body. Lifting her hips, she dug her fingers on my skin. A wave of pleasure and pain coursing through her body. She¡¯s a healer, she might be able to mitigate pain. I saw her melting face. Maybe she doesn¡¯t want to... She went up my length and I noticed her insides gripping my penis, the purple color darker than her skin. The feeling was mind-blowing. She was super tight and was wriggling her vaginal walls around me. Her labia swollen by arousal. ¡°Oof!¡± she reached the top, keeping the head of my penis inside her. Then, she went down slowly again. ¡°Yah!¡± a yelp echoing in the room. The sounds of my penis and her vagina lubricated by both our fluids was loud and clear, sending jolts up my spine and numbing my brain. I bottomed out inside her again and she gasped, a low, throaty growl shaking her impressive breasts. ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± a whimper left me followed by a moan. "Ahn!!" She was starting to sweat again, wetting her thighs and my lap and mixing with my own. The smell filling the room. Her white silver hair tickling my legs. She went up once more and picked up the pace. ¡°Yes! Yes! Queen! Your penis feels amazing! Hahn! You''re reaching everywhere inside me. Uh! I can feel you all the way in.¡± she was riding on my penis, her breast shaking, but not too much due to the scales around them. She was going at one pump a second. I tightened my anus. The stimulation of her hot, unfairly tight, coiling pussy had me constantly on the edge. The clapping of our skin, and her body going at it filling my mind. ¡°Your pussy is so fucking tight.¡± I growled. ¡°Go faster!¡± She squealed in joy and giggled, picking up speed. I was panting, my own breasts going up and down, the movement shaking the bed and making us bounce. A heat formed on my womb, going down my hips and numbing them. ¡°Do you like my cock, Princess? Guh!¡± I struggled to get my voice out, resulting in a low grunt. She was going at it like an absolute champ, her smile wide as the sky and sweat covering her lower face. Her hair sticking to her body. ¡°Your penis is going to make me c-cum, Queen! Hah! I¡¯m going to cum all over your massive penis! Yah!¡± she yelped. ¡°Then, cum!¡± I reached a breast and squeezed her nipple, not strong enough for pain, but enough to deliver pleasure. ¡°Queen! I¡¯m cumming on your big, hard, hot penis! I¡¯m cummmmmiiiing! Really hard!!¡± Her body tightened and shook all over, her eyes shut and the muscles on her stomach flexing, revealing her abs. A loud and long yelp escaping her open mouth. "Ahaaaaahn!!!" ¡°I¡¯m cumming too, Princess! Your tight pussy is making me cum!¡± pipping hot fluids gushed from her, enveloping the base of my penis. Her vaginal walls squeezing my soul and the heat in my hips shooting up my penis and pussy. ¡°Ugh! Fuuck!!¡± We both climaxed together, I pulled her into a hug and kissed her. Our bodies shaking, flexing, trembling and relaxing. I felt the bed getting wet with the juices coming from my pussy. I didn¡¯t squirt this time, however. "So hot!" she purred as I pulsated inside her, spurting whatever it was I produced. She melted in my embrace and sighed once we calmed down. I ran my fingers through her whitish silver hair with one hand and caressed her stomach with the other. Her tail wrapping around my left leg. I had forgot about the thing. Maybe she needed it for balance, her posture was a perfect ten. ¡°That was¡­ the best.¡± she sighed, connecting foreheads and looking me in the eye. ¡°I feel so full. You blew a huge load inside me.¡± I smirked at her. ¡°Was?¡± she looked confused for a second. ¡°I¡¯m still standing strong, Princess.¡± Her face lost a little color. I felt her vagina tighten around my still rock-hard penis and she let out a shaky breath. ¡°Yes, Queen.¡± she returned to submissive mode. This is so fucking hot! I kissed her. Lifting her up by the legs and turning around, I advanced to the center of the bed on my knees, Alyssa clinging to me and giving me kisses all over my face. I placed her facing up and leaned over her, giving her a deep kiss. At the same time, I pulled back half my length, then slowly thrust forward. ¡°Hyaah!¡± she let out a pleased moan. "So good." I grabbed her ankles and raised her legs, spreading them wide, forming the letter V. Her tail unwrapped my leg and anchored her body on the bed, preventing her body from moving. Holy shit, this is hot. I stuck my tongue out and let saliva drip where our bodies connected, my gold against her purple. ¡°Keep your legs like that.¡± I whispered. ¡°And put your arms behind your head. You¡¯re free to move your tail.¡± I let go and she kept her posture. ¡°Yes.¡± she said, her breasts turning a deep purple. She stared at me with enraptured eyes, a huge smile on her face. With her arms behind her head her breasts looked bigger, if that was even possible. "Lapia, come here." I called the Elf. She was spectating with a huge smile on her face, drinking wine. The glass dissapeared and she crawled to me, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?" "Stand in front of me, and put your legs on my shoulders." I was drowning in self confidence and pleasure. Her eyes widened along with her smile. "Oh, this will be so fucking good." she chuckled, standing in front of me. I put my arms between her legs and lifted her entire body. My hands on her lower back prevented her from falling. Her pussy in reach of my mouth. Her thick thigs around my head rested on my shoulders. "Holy shit!" Lapia''s voice was shaky with excitement. I felt Alyssa''s tail go up my back, holding her in position relative to my body. I fixed Lapia''s position and pressed her hips to my face. Her labia in contact with my lips. My hips thrust forward as my tongue assaulted the clitoris in front of me. Two loud moans made me smile with a wave of satisfaction. I felt the Elf lean back while talking. "I''m pretty flexible, let me lick you two in this position." My eyes went wide as her back bent and her head rested above the Luzo''s groin in a quick motion. She stopped and I felt her tongue lapping at my and Alyssa''s genitals. "Uhn!" I gasped at the sensation. "Ahn!" came the Luzo''s moan. Lapia''s delicious ass was on my chest, pressing against my breasts and rubbing my stupidly sensitive nipples. Wow! That''s more than ''pretty flexible''. I held her lower back as she locked her legs behind my head. My tongue still stimulating her. My hips not stopping. I could see Alyssa in the eye in this position, her arms behind her back and legs open wide. She smiled at me as she moaned, my penis gouging her insides. Her scaly eyebrows scrunched, biting her lower lip. "Queen! I''m gonna cum again! Ahn!" she yelped and her breasts jiggled. "Your big penis and Lapia''s tongue are making me cum! Hnng!" My tongue invaded Lapia and rubbed against her g spot, making her quiver and slowing her licking down. "Fuug!" she moaned, tongue still out. "Yo hong ih ho long! Uhh!" "Aaahhn! Queen! Cuuummiiinggg..." Alyssa growled and her pussy wriggled around my penis. Her eyes wide open, her head shot back, lifting her body with her horns on the bed. Her tail slap my back a few times as her orgasm ran its course. Lapia''s tongue stopped and she raised her body, her hands gripping my head and pulling my braid. "What the fuck!" she moaned loudly. "You''re... Ugh! Making me... cum... so... Ahn! Fast!" I kept going. Thrusting my hips and licking. The Elf''s entire body shook, her thighs trembling around my head. The two let out guttural moans as I continued stimulating them, their climaxes extending. When they stopped shaking, I lowered Lapia and placed her body on top of Alyssa, the Elf''s legs around the Luzo''s. I slowly pulled out and my previous discharge slowly flowed out of her pussy, running down her butt and to her tail. Then, I put myself on Lapia''s entrance, her pussy hot and soft from the previous orgasm. I reached down with a hand and rubbed Alyssa''s clitoris as I plunged inside the Elf. "Holy shit!" I moaned as my penis entered. "Oh! Fuck! Yes!" she moaned. "Queen, I''m gonna cum again!" Alyssa hugged Lapia and rubbed her breasts, running her forked tongue on the woman''s neck and planting kisses on her skin. I swallowed hard. "This is so hot." I put two fingers inside the bottom pussy and rubbed against her pelvic bone. *** Some time later, I was fucking Alyssa while standing. Her legs around my waist and arms around my neck. Her tail was slapping agains my back, going between my legs. The feeling was indescribably intoxicating. Her big breasts pressing against mine. Our sweat made them slippery and the sight was heavenly. The sound of our bodies filled the apartment with the slapping of our skin and my penis ravaging her sopping wet insides. Every time I pushed her womb up, she''d let out yelps that grew in volume. We had gone through many positions. Most were Lapia''s ideas. Alyssa was submissive only to me, however, and followed what I told her to do. "Queen! Hya! You''re the best! Hahn! My Queen! Ohh! You''re so deep inside me! It feels so good!" she gave me an agressive kiss, her fangs dug into my lips as she let out a very loud moan. "You''re going to make your Princess cum again!" she moaned into my mouth. "I wont stop until you cum!" I whispered into her hear. Her legs tightened and her tail gave me a particularly loud slap as she purred back. "I''m gonna cum too! Your tight pussy is gonna make your Queen cum, Princess!" " Yes! I''m gonna cum really hard!! Cum inside me, my Queen! Look me in the eye as I cum!" Alyssa had the strongest orgasm so far as I came inside her for the nth time. "I''m gonna faint! Ohoohhh!" She tensed her body, and then lost all her strength. Her vagina wriggling around my penis. I caught her and gently laid her body on the bed. I had lost count how many times we came or how long we fucked. My stamina had surprisingly increased from my first time. Was it virgin over-stimulation? I turned to the Elf, who was breathing hard on top of the bed from previous climaxes. ¡°Lapia, I¡¯m cumming for you.¡± I sang as I pulled out of the fainted Luzo, my transparent discharge flowing out. Her breathing relaxed and regular. She giggled and sat up. ¡°You¡¯re insatiable.¡± Lapia smiled and threw herself to me. I caught her and kissed her. ¡°In which position would you like to faint?¡± I cheekily asked, brushing her hair. ¡°You on top, pound me until I lose consciousness.¡± she chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re not going to call me Queen?¡± I asked, putting her down and placing my penis on top of her vulva. Her hands went to my ribs and stroked my skin, feeling up my muscles. I covered her body and spread her legs apart. ¡°I¡¯m not really into that.¡± she shook her head and smiled. ¡°I talked with Alyssa when we went to the bathroom.¡± she whispered in my ear. ¡°Well, it¡¯d be awkward to go in silence. Haaah...¡± I penetrated her, a long sigh escaping me. ¡°Ahn! No, you silly.¡± she licked my ear. ¡°She was hoping for you to dominate her. She''s pretty shy when it comes to that. I''ll bet you surpassed all her expectations.¡± my penis came out halfway and I plunged back in. ¡°She may think you¡¯re a Goddess of sex. Hyaa!¡± ¡°Am I not? Hahn!¡± I moaned as I gained a rhythm and our skin was wet slapping. My confidence was soaring. ¡°You¡­ Ah! Yes, there! You sure are.¡± she bit her lips, running her hands over my body. ¡°You¡¯re perfect, Natasha. Ahaan! You''re so divine. Those eyes make my womb tremble. Fuh! Your voice is addictive to hear. Yes! Right there! Your huge cock hits all the spots that make me... Fuck! Cum so fucking hard in record time. You make me so fucking hornyyy... Yees! You can pick me up and fold me like a piece of cloth, and yet... you''re so careful with me. It makes my spine tingle, and my pussy quiver in hunger for your supreme cock.¡± she purred in my ear. "Even with this being our second time having sex, I can''t help my pussy from drooling when I think about how long and hard you''ll fuck me next time." I felt my face on fire as I continued to move my hips. She has such a way with words. I chuckled. ¡°Thank you.¡± I grabbed her hips and sped up. "I... don''t know how to respond to that." "You don''t have to, Natasha. Don''t ever feel like you have to." she gave me a quick kiss. "Remember what I told you the night we stayed at the inn?" she yelped and licked my cheek. "Sometimes, silence and action say more." she whispered into my ear. I nodded and kissed her, pushing my tongue deep inside as I rocked my hips against hers. Her pipping hot pussy squeezing down on my penis everytime I pushed her cervix. Her legs started to tremble, her eyebrows scrunched up and she bit my lips. Her glazed emerald green eyes were drilling into my own. I felt the telltale surge of heat from my hips that promised an orgasm. "Fuck me, Natasha! Make me faint. Fuck! Yes! Yes! Use that huge cock of yours and plow me to insanity!" she growled into my mouth, followed by a banshee-like scream of pleasure as she hugged my neck while I came inside her. I stopped moving when her breathing turned regular, her eyes losing focus and her arms lost strength. She went to sleepy land. I took a deep breath, getting off of Lapia and sitting on the edge of the bed. Bathroom. I stood up and did my business. It took me a few minutes to relax my still erect penis while taking a cold shower. I put on hotpants and a sports bra. Both had a dude armed to the teeth stamped on the fabric. I realized my penis formed a bulge, so I equipped magical panties, my gungnir shrinking to nothing. I decided to put on a pair of short on top of the hotpants. The whole set was a costume celebrating the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Returning to the room, I choked on laughter. The bed was an absolute mess, drenched with our sweat and discharge, the covers crumpled, and pillows were everywhere. The two looked more like dead bodies than people who fainted due to over-stimulation. "How does one faint from cumming too much, anyway? I¡¯ve never felt that." I grumbled with envy. I searched the room and found clean sheets in a closet. I spread one on the floor and laid the two women on it. Then, I removed the dirty bed covers. Is it dopamine overdose or something? More mental than physical? Was is the alcohol? Is it hyperventilation? The mattress suffered the same fate, unfortunately. I inspected the thing in case it had a convenient drying system included. I almost cackled when I found it. The drawing was confusing, three squiggly lines circled by a red line. Next to it read ¡®Do not wash. Do not lay on it while drying it. Do not lay out on the suns. Do not feed to animals. Dries and cleans with wind and cleansing enchantments. Twenty years warranty(Does not include Halves, damage by claws, tails, horns, fangs, or talons)¡¯. I quietly laughed as I pushed supernatural fuel into the drawing. The bed inflated and the acrid smell of bodily fluids was forced away. A few seconds later, the thing was dry and the room smelled like jasmine. Ohh, not bad at all. I smiled and sniffed the air. Cleansing magic sure is neat. I did the bed and fixed the pillows, then gently tucked Lapia and Alyssa in. Their bodies were covered in dried sweat and fluids, but I wasn¡¯t about to shower them while unconscious. The bed was big enough to fit at least five people, so they had plenty of room for themselves. I waved at the hanging lamp, but nothing happened. How do I turn the lights off? I thought for a moment, but nothing came up. Whatever, it¡¯s not that bright anyway. I left it on and walked to the living room, sitting on the table where we had lunch. My hands covered my face and I leaned back. I want to dig a hole and die. Once I calmed down, endless embarrassment replaced the confidence. I hope they liked it. I had never before been dominating when having sex. It was nerve-wracking to no end. Alyssa took it in stride, however. The woman following every little thing I said. I calmed down taking deep breaths and drinking some juice from my storage. I took out my journal and opened it. Title! Think, Natasha, think! Natasha Novak the Hellwalker! A quill appeared in my hand, but I stopped. Nah, if anyone reads it, they¡¯ll think the contents are about Hell. An idea popped up. Natasha the Halve. I clenched a fist. I¡¯m a genius. I have written my experiences of the last few days in this journal, with as many details as I could, though I lack the narrative skills to properly convey some events. I realized I somehow remember things very vividly while writing. Some things come easier than others, however. I chose to write this in English, or Common as it is called here, in case there''s someone out there with similar circumstances as me and finds this in the distant future. I have noticed various things about this new world I¡¯ve found myself in. They speak of Gods, yet there is no reverence, no worship in their words. They speak with respect, sure. There is a closeness to the term I can¡¯t yet understand, however. I¡¯ll have to meet one eventually to understand more. Their approach to relationships is, if anything, shocking. I can see societies developing in the current direction if there was no censoring authority or centralized moral guide. If people of this world can grow powerful individually, even surpassing Gods, who can tell them what to believe in? Or what to do? I can think of a few theories, though I lack the understanding in psychology or related knowledge to form an educated guess. There is no internet where I can research on the topic either. I am left with my own experiences as only reference. Affection seems to be incredibly valued, desired, pursued, accepted and promoted. If anyone ends up reading this, it¡¯s confusing, isn¡¯t it? At least for me it is, as I am in the middle of it. If you, the reader, are from Galeia, you might not understand my confusion. But in the off chance that this journal somehow ends up in my previous world, you might understand things I have not. A fantasy world is not what we thought, isn¡¯t it? At least not this one. As I understand it so far, people seem to be able to interact with particles, almost like an esper. They cultivate passively and actively, and grow stronger like a western fantasy world. My bad habit of using overly simple comparisons might annoy you, but it¡¯s a coping mechanism to understand the world around me that might not go away for a while. I am excited, confused, scared, and lack a definite purpose. I haven¡¯t heard of a demon king to subjugate, evil forces to vanquish, or a world-ending threat to face. I was an artist, and you might have recognized my name. I¡¯m doing fine. If by some fuckery of time space continuum the year is still 2034 by the time you find this, let my brother and father know I¡¯m doing alright. If I am still alive after the twentieth of September, however, I¡¯d implore you to not contact my family, or myself at that. In case this journal travels through time to before 2022... watch out for the birds, then the fish. -5/3/1980. Yiama''s Era. I closed the journal, hearing rustling from the bedroom. I had gone over my time since I woke up, to opening the journal. I hope I did a good job. I turned around and looked at the clock. Six ten? I confirmed after staring for a few seconds. I had spent the entire night writing. My high dexterity helped me write quickly and avoid making some mistakes. I stored the items and walked to the closest sofa and began my morning exercises. Warming up, calisthenics and finally yoga. I had been doing it for years, the movements becoming easier due to my more flexible and stronger body. I worked up a sweat quickly. Being the first time I moved my body that much other than when fighting, or having sex. My face heated up at the night of passion the three of us shared. Shaking my head, I focused on the present, stretching my body and emptying my mind, following a routine I had decided on. 12 - Invitation. Some time later, I heard footsteps as I completed a forearm stand. Bending my legs back, I saw the golden soles of my feet. My body was beyond my expectations. The exercises came easily and did not strain my muscles, but made me sweat nonetheless. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I heard Lapia¡¯s voice from my right. ¡°Shh. Seeking balance, I am.¡± I wisely answered. I stretched my legs and slowly stood on my hands, my body straight. I shifted my weight to my left arm while spreading my legs, reaching my right knee with my right hand. ¡°What¡¯s with the weird voice and speech?¡± she laughed. ¡°That looks hard.¡± I bent my right leg and touched the sole of my foot. ¡°Require concentration, it does.¡± I murmured. ¡°Still sleeping, Alyssa is?¡± I thought that one for a second. ¡°Sound asleep, she is.¡± she sat in the sofa in front of me. ¡°Day off, she argued.¡± I fought back laughter. The Elf was quick to follow. She did earn a masters in wizardry. I thought of the diploma. ¡°Exercise, you should.¡± I inhaled and exhaled slowly, my muscles were starting to ache slightly. ¡°Good for the body, it is.¡± She giggled. ¡°How long have you been at it?¡± ¡°A while, lost track of time.¡± I dropped the impersonation, returning my right arm to the ground. I slowly lowered my legs to shoulder level, muscles tightening. When my knees touched the ground I exhaled and lowered my head, keeping my arms straight and bending my hips. Pushing my hips down, my legs spread and stretched, doing a split. My forehead touched the floor, my arms forward. I kept the posture for thirty seconds and stood up. ¡°You done?¡± she asked, her eyes on my stomach. ¡°Had breakfast?¡± I rotated my neck, shoulders, and hips, loosening the strain and relieving pressure on the joints. Not that I knew if I needed to. Better safe than sorry. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± I sighed, my clothes drenched with sweat. ¡°Haven¡¯t had anything yet.¡± She stood up and hugged me. ¡°Good morning.¡± her lips connected with mine. ¡°Morning.¡± I hugged her back, lifting her up and sitting on the couch. ¡°Ow!¡± she winced as her legs and hips bent to sit on my lap. ¡°I¡¯m sore all over again.¡± a pout directed at me. ¡°Who was it that slapped my ass and taunted me?¡± I inhaled her scent. Exquisitely salty and raw. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were that much of a sex monster.¡± she closed in and smelled my neck. ¡°Don¡¯t sniff me!¡± I lifted her face. ¡°I¡¯m all sweaty.¡± ¡°Thanks for putting us to bed last night.¡± she gave me a peck on the lips. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± I giggled. ¡°You looked like a rag doll.¡± She blushed and squeezed my breasts. My eyes opened wide. My reaction made her laugh and she gave me a kiss. She stuck a hand unter my shorts and tried to grab at lil'' Nasha. Alas, the fellow had shrunk. "EH?!" her voice trembled a little. "Did you use it so much it fell off?" "No." I laughed, licking her lips. "It shrinks when I wear panties." "..." her expresion turned extremely confused, then shook her head. ¡°Anyway. Shower?¡± she asked, standing up. ¡°Shower.¡± I said, taking a hand she offered. She failed to lift me, however. We both laughed at that. I stood by myself, sweat running down my legs. ¡°I¡¯ll go get Alyssa. She has to clean up all the sweat and fluids.¡± I said, and the Elf nodded. ¡°Good luck with that.¡± she chuckled and walked off to the bathroom, picking the dirty sheets I left on the doorway to her room. I entered the room and saw a bulge under the bed covers. I stood still for a second, not making a sound. A clearly fake snore came out of the bulge. ¡°I spy with my little eye.¡± I sang as I approached the bed. ¡°Nooooo¡­¡± a whine left the bulge. A tail showed itself through an opening and pulled the covers tighter around the shape. That looks useful. I nodded to myself. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± I said, sitting on the edge of the bed. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a shower.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a day off. Let me sleep.¡± she whined again. ¡°Aww.¡± my voice was sad. ¡°I was thinking of sharing a cake I woke up with. I-¡± ¡°I¡¯M AWAAAAKE!!!¡± she roared, standing up and throwing the covers off, her long white hair flipping all over. Her glorious naked body was on full display in front of me. Red eyes wide open. ¡°Shhh!¡± I waved at her. ¡°The neighbors!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± she tilted her head. ¡°The place is soundproof.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± I made a weird sound. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Lapia told me.¡± she smiled, her fangs showing. ¡°I see.¡± I said, standing up from the bed and opening my arms wide. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go shower. Come at me.¡± She walked on the bed to the edge and took what looked like a hand brush from the night stand. Then hugged me, locking her legs on my stomach and wrapping her tail on my waist. Her abundant bosom on my face. I supported her back, my hands feeling her scales. Her warm body had dry sweat and body fluids here and there. The soft skin and the hard scales were comfortable. She weighed less than my spear, I noticed. The wonders of a calm mind, indeed. ¡°Alright. This cake better be worth it.¡± she sighed. I hope so too. Praised be Saint Valentine events! I chuckled. Since Alyssa¡¯s tits blocked my sight, I slowly made my way to the bathroom. I heard a door closing followed by Lapia¡¯s voice. ¡°Well, well, well. Looks like a monster caught a little Luzo.¡± she chuckled. ¡°I just finished doing the laundry. Let me open the door for you.¡± ¡°Help me, master Wizard! I¡¯ll be eaten!¡± the woman in my arms giggled. I heard the door open and continued walking. My feet left the wooden floor and the cold tiled floor welcomed me. Alyssa detached all her limbs from me and I slowly put her down. Lapia behind us sat on the toilet. ¡°Now, just stand still and let me clean you up.¡± I said, turning the shower heads on and storing my shorts. I pushed E¡¯er into the soap/shampoo compartment and took the bar. Then, I turned around while posing for dramatic effect, my hair flew all around me. Alyssa noticed my hotpants and froze. ¡°Eh?!¡± the Luzo covered her mouth and her eyes opened wide. ¡°Where is your penis?!¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Lapia giggled. ¡°I had the same reaction.¡± ¡°Come on. I was wearing a dress yesterday, the thing would have been noticeable with its ridiculous size.¡± I sighed. ¡°Panties make it shrink. It¡¯s more comfortable this way.¡± ¡°Ohh! That¡¯s convenient.¡± Alyssa nodded, spreading her arms and legs. Her tail straightened diagonally to the ground. The appendage was easily 180 centimeters long. The base coming out above her butt cheeks, continuing her spine. The thing hadn¡¯t gotten in the way last night. My face heated up remembering her sweet moans and growls. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll begin.¡± I lathered my hands with soap and placed the bar in my bra. "Here, use this to brush my scales." she blushed while handing me the hand brush. I squatted and started with her feet, the scaly toes flexible and strong. Her soles were soft and I noticed her leaning back on her tail, keeping balance. I continued up her slender legs, the limbs pure muscle. Her thighs were softer on the inside, the scales receding and the skin a light purple. Her wide hips framed by scales were next. She sighed when I gently cleaned her vulva. I circled her and carefully cleaned her butt and tail. I had no idea if the thing would detach like a normal lizard, so I took extra time with it. The underside was soft skin for around thirty centimeters. Then, scales covered the entire appendage. It was hard as a rock, the muscles strong and flexible. I cleaned it thoroughly with the soft hand brush. Then I cleaned her abdomen from behind, sweet sighs escaping her. I held her breasts and admired their volume and weight while cleaning them. Her back was entirely covered by scales from her shoulders to the base of her tail. Strong muscles underneath. With such breasts it makes sense. I thought while massaging her. I moved to her arms and repeated the process. Her palms soft and warm. I finished by cleaning her neck and giving her a juicy kiss. I call this ¡®the Natasha special¡¯. I smiled at her. ¡°If I get this by waking up early, I might just start doing it everyday.¡± she smiled back. ¡°I know, right?¡± Lapia sighed after a particularly tough turd. I had turned the shower on, masking the sounds she was making. Not loud enough, I suppose. I chuckled. ¡°Okay, hair next.¡± I walked to the wall and took the balm out as I stored the brush. I turned around and I found Alyssa sitting on her tail. The thing supporting her like an ordinary chair. Holy shit, that¡¯s useful! I was shocked immobile for a second, then moved behind her. Her hair was silky smooth. The silvery white material easy to clean. Her scalp was light purple skin, much to my surprise. The shampoo frothed nicely and smelled like lavender, just like the one from the inn. I noticed her horns were pretty thick at the base. If I were to guess, around three centimeters in diameter. I used the brush again to clean them. Her head bobbed back and forth with the movement of my hands. I helped her up and she walked under the waterfall. I quickly washed myself after undressing. My unnecessarily long hair took most of my time. I then moved beside Alyssa under the stream. The water was perfect. Hot, but not scalding. ¡°When are we leaving?¡± Alyssa¡¯s voice brought me back to reality. ¡°I was thinking we could leave after we properly teach Natasha the basics. How does a couple of days sound?¡± Lapia answered. ¡°Huh?¡± I made a weird sound again. ¡°What about your job?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll resign tomorrow. Lord Punten sent a letter letting his son know that I was to rest.¡± she scoffed. ¡°Nosy man. I figured we could hit the road as soon as I''m free. After all, I was supposed to be on my way to Ratunke.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me.¡± Alyssa said, I turned to her. ¡°I have my possessions on me, I have little anyway. Going around the world has taught me to be mobile.¡± ¡°What about a scout?¡± I asked. ¡°Oh, you found one?¡± Lapia wiped her butt, flushed, and stood up. I handed her the soap and she began cleaning her body. ¡°Since you didn¡¯t mention any, I assumed none caught your eye.¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± I took the shampoo and lathered her hair. ¡°There were some. Mostly Human males, or women only interested in men.¡± The Elf entered the shower and rinsed her body. "While a scout is good to have, it¡¯s not that essential. Not with a Halve, at least.¡± Alyssa turned off the water and looked at Lapia. ¡°Can you dry my hair?¡± she hugged her. ¡°Sure can.¡± the Elf smiled and they kissed. That¡¯s hot. Viva la true polygamy! I grinned. Or was it polyamory? ¡°Why not with a Halve?¡± I asked when the two ended their act of affection. ¡°The scout branch is focused on, well, scouting. Finding traps, sneak around, infiltration, espionage. The more subtle side of things.¡± Alyssa¡¯s hair swayed with hot wind coming out of Lapia¡¯s hands. ¡°With you, half of those issues become mute. You¡¯re level one thousand three hundred and fifty, I doubts traps will be an issue, unless an entire mountain falls on you. Sneak around? We¡¯ll charge in. Infiltration? Try annihilation. You get it.¡± she shrugged, her breasts raising and falling. ¡°Ah¡­¡± I nodded, staring at her chest. ¡°That¡¯d be an issue for a scout.¡± Her hair dried pretty fast. Lapia aimed at me while hugging Alyssa. A pleasant wind covered my head, the water sliding off my hair. ¡°So it was you yesterday.¡± I smiled at her. ¡°Thanks.¡± She winked at me and let out a sigh. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to heal me.¡± Lapia gently told Alyssa and kissed her again. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± the Luzo¡¯s tail brought them closer and their kiss intensified. Nice! I was marveled at the sight. Lapia¡¯s tanned skin molded to Alyssa¡¯s dark scales. Their tongues entwining and their fangs and canines producing soft clicks every now and then. They separated and smiled, licking each other¡¯s faces. Pleasant growls escaping their throats. The Luzo said something in Elvish, giggling and looking at me. ¡°What?¡± I blinked several times. ¡°I said we better stop or you¡¯ll make us faint again.¡± she blushed. I laughed. ¡°Let¡¯s go have breakfast.¡± We left the bathroom and clothes appeared on my body and Lapia¡¯s. I chose a slim fit, white, cotton blouse and a red plated skirt. Belted boots covered my legs up to mid shins. It was a comfortable ensemble. White underwear covered my privates. Praised be games targeted to males! All the sexy underwear created to satisfy your tastes serves a purpose now! Lapia wore her regular revealing clothes. Alyssa walked to the room and I saw her putting a ring on her tail, bringing it up to the base of the appendage. Black underwear covered her privates. The panties were quite kinky, but I quickly realized the strings that should cover the ass were on top of her tail. It would be useless otherwise. A white dress like the one from the day before covered her body. She didn¡¯t wear anything to support her breasts. That¡¯s nice. Scales make for a natural bra. I noticed I was staring and turned to the kitchen. There, Lapia was heating water, holding a kettle on her hands. Cups and plates already on the table. ¡°I heard you¡¯ll share a cake with us.¡± the Elf smiled. ¡°Looking forward to it.¡± We sat down on the table. I searched my storage and took out a medium-sized sponge cake. It materialized on my open palm and I gently put it on the table. Pink frosting and whipped cream covered the thing, heart shaped chocolate pieces crowned it with a generous amount of strawberries. ¡°Looks cute.¡± Alyssa said, her voice dead serious. ¡°What are these shapes?¡± she pointed at a chocolate heart. ¡°Huh?¡± I made a weird sound once again. ¡°Those are hearts.¡± ¡°Hearts? They look nothing like one.¡± she glared at the pastry. ¡°Is that chocolate?¡± ¡°Y-yes.¡± I said. Is this an other-world G*rdon R*msay? ¡°Hmph!.¡± she huffed through her nose. A kitchen knife materialized in her hand. She cut the thing in half in a flash. Another cur, then a final one. Leaving six servings, all equal in size and amount of decorations. She did it so fast and so accurately, I would have no doubts if she was a three Michelin Star chef. I was holding my breath. ¡°Looks properly baked. Not soggy, and not too hard. Just firm enough.¡± she reviewed. Her scaly eyebrows raised and together. Taking a fork from the table, she carefully cut a bite sized piece. She brought it to her face and took a small whiff. ¡°Smells sweet. Not too much, but enough to tempt.¡± she gave a short nod. She finally put the damned thing in her mouth. Her eyes squinted as she slowly chewed. Why am I about to shit myself? I felt my stomach twist. I unconsciously clenched my fists. She swallowed and hummed. ¡°The sweet sponge does a good job to complement the sour cream. The chocolate just the right bitterness to balance the many strawberries layered between. I can taste the butter, eggs, milk, and a hint of vanilla in the sponge. Fluffy, light, and delicious.¡± a wide smile formed on her face. ¡°Totally worth it. Eight out of ten.¡± her verdict fell. I sighed in relief. Figurative sweat going down my back. ¡°Damn. That was intense.¡± Lapia said, sighing as well. ¡°Pastries are no game.¡± her eyes flashed with an almost murderous light, quickly relaxing and taking another bite. ¡°So good.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. I cleared my throat. Thank all above she liked it. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thought of it not pleasing her. ¡°G-good to hear.¡± I stuttered. Lapia served tea, the water hot enough from her hands. A citric smell rose from the cups, the aroma relaxing. I noticed a little chamomile mixed in. Taking a sip, I sighed. ¡°Tasty.¡± The cake was good. My palate was not as refined as Alyssa¡¯s, so I missed what she meant. ¡°Better than the dumplings.¡± Lapia commented. ¡°Those were good, but I ate enough to last a while.¡± ¡°Oh?¡¯ Alyssa¡¯s voice was deeper than normal. She just smiled. Her red eyes like a predator staring into my soul. I quickly produced a dumpling and offered it. Keep the dragon happy, Natasha! She took it and I noticed she had finished her share of cake. The plate sparkling clean. That was fast! How is this woman not¡­ her breasts! I had solved another universal mystery, but decided to cut the thought short in case she had a healing power that could read minds. If that was even possible. Don¡¯t risk it. I told myself. She bit it and scowled. ¡°Too salty.¡± was all she said. The dumpling disappeared soon, though. Her maw made quick work of it, her tongue licking her lips. I focused on drinking my tea and eating my portions of cake. ¡°What should we do today?¡± Lapia threw me a lifeline. ¡°I was thinking of riding Sonya. Then, we could go shopping for things we¡¯d need for the road.¡± I was relieved at the change of topic. ¡°Mhh¡­¡± the Elf thought for a second. ¡°How about I go shopping with Alyssa while you ride Sonya? That way, we can start earlier.¡± ¡°Start what?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Your instruction.¡± Alyssa answered. ¡°You are five days old, Natasha. I¡¯ll teach you civil law and the basics of the Laws of Life.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach you the Laws of E¡¯er. Enough that you understand the world in general terms at the very least.¡± Lapia said, then drank some tea. Well, shit. I smiled awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m not very good with numbers.¡± I admitted. I looked down at the cup. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you don¡¯t really need to dive that deep into it, unless you want a wizard or cleric class.¡± Lapia said. ¡°I¡¯d discourage pursuing one, however, your already high level is inclined to warrior classes. You¡¯d benefit very little from any other.¡± ¡°How so?¡± I asked, drinking more tea. ¡°You have one thousand three hundred and fifty levels worth of stats focused on strength, constitution, and dexterity. It¡¯s just not worth it.¡± she finished her tea and leaned back, stretching her arms. ¡°For example. Let¡¯s say you get three warrior classes and one wizard class to level five hundred each, and they all have a growth rate of five. You¡¯ll have seven thousand five hundred strength, and two thousand five hundred intelligence. If I get four wizard classes to level five hundred with a growth rate of five, I¡¯ll have ten thousand intelligence. Then, we fight each other. My spells will be way stronger than yours no matter their nature. I¡¯ll be able to counter your strength as well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I stared at her. ¡°I don¡¯t really get it. So if I get a wizard class, my spells will be shit either way?¡± ¡°Against monsters of your total level, yes. That will hold your growth back.¡± Alyssa supplied. She turned and looked at the clock. ¡°It¡¯s seven thirty. We should go shopping now.¡± ¡°Right.¡± I stood up with a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ll continue later.¡± I took the cups and plates to the sink and tried to do the dishes, but Lapia was not having it. ¡°You¡¯ll break the china.¡± she said, nodding to the door leading to her office. ¡°Go ride Sonya, she must be hungry and miss you.¡± she chuckled, giving me a kiss. ¡°I¡¯ll take Sonya out of the city and run a little.¡± I hugged Alyssa and kissed her. ¡°See you later.¡± I gently slapped her butt. She giggled. ¡°Okay.¡± her tail hit my ass, making me chuckle. I left the apartment, went through the office and came to the hallway. I saw the same suit dressed lady from the previous day. She was talking with an old woman in front of the door to the next office/apartment. I noticed she was quite short. ¡°...off. I hope you can meet them.¡± the old woman smiled, her face wrinkly with age. [Celez Human, Accountant Lvl 103] [Tilen Human, Alchemist Lvl 225] I turned to leave, but the lady¡¯s voice reached me. ¡°Excuse me?¡± her tone was clear and strong. ¡°Are you the Halve that arrived a few days ago?¡± ¡°Ka ka! Nay, I¡¯m a five hundred year old vampire.¡± I turned to her while posing, but her face soured. ¡°Yes, that would be me.¡± She walked to me and I looked down at her. She barely reached my shoulders. The old woman made her escape as soon as the lady was focused on me. Oh, no. Please be reasonable. ¡°My employer would like to meet you.¡± she said. ¡°When are you free?¡± ¡°Okay, lady.¡± I sighed and rolled my eyes. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± I looked her over one more time. Her suit looked professional, her hair neatly done. She looked like any ordinary human with Asian features, leaning towards the far east. This world¡¯s Tilen. Her face paled at my question. ¡°Tay.¡± was her answer. She looked like she was about to have a panic attack. ¡°Who do you work for?¡± I scratched my forehead. What a difficult woman. Who even sent her? ¡°Lady Dabrak. She wants to have a chat with you.¡± she crossed her arms. ¡°When are you free?¡± ¡°Now we¡¯re making progress.¡± I smiled. ¡°Why does she want to meet me?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t say.¡± Tay looked away. ¡°Mhm. It¡¯s hard having that kind of boss.¡± I checked my fingernails. ¡°Why should I meet her?¡± She let out a long sigh. ¡°She¡¯s part of the city council.¡± City council? Like... local Government? How do I deal with a Noble, anyway? ¡°That doesn¡¯t tell me much either.¡± I sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll be free tonight. Maybe tell her to drop by?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± her eyes widened to their limit. ¡°Not a good time?¡± I winced. ¡°Maybe tomorrow night, then?¡± ¡°N-no. That sounds pretty good.¡± she smiled as if I had told her the purpose of life itself. ¡°It does?¡± I smiled back. ¡°Well, yes.¡± She nodded and stood there. "Thank you very much!" Okay, then? I chuckled. I gesture for her to follow me as I walked to the stairs. She moved beside me. ¡°So, you''re an alchemist. I read a book at the Church about the class, but haven''t seen any so far." "The class is not really popular, unfortunately. I pursued it thanks to my Grandmother. She taught me the art." she smiled. "Is it true you were given government office?" I asked. "Well, I''m working for Lady Dabrak." "Ah... I see." I nodded. We made our way to the first floor in silence. Once there, she turned to me. ¡°I¡­ was given very little information. I offer my apologies if I came off too strong." she bowed and I almost visibly cringed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Tay. I got here just recently. No hard feelings.¡± I nudged her arm and she smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll let my employer know of your answer.¡± she gave me a nod and walked off to a carriage waiting outside. That woman must have been stressed to pluto and back, talking to a person that can rip your head off with a slap must be nerve-wracking. I sighed. She got on the vehicle and the driver took off, cracking the reins. She did look terrified for a second there. I made my way to Sonya and gave her breakfast. She behaved and I put the saddle on her after she ate. ¡°Okay, girl.¡± I mounted up. ¡°Let¡¯s go exercise.¡± I followed some street signs and asked for directions on the way to the south gate. We got there earlier than I thought we would, she was pretty fast. I recognized the Watchers building from two days ago. I was surprised to recognize three faces. The first mother I saw, the one with the child asking about my skin. The lady from the fruit stand, where Lapia bought the peaches. And the second mother, the one with the child asking why Lapia and I were kissing. They were all standing together, talking about something. I noticed their eyes bloodshot, handkerchiefs wiping tears and snot. I passed next to them and saw the Watcher that received me and Lapia walking out of the building, a stack of papers with faces drawn on them. She noticed me and subtly nodded. I reciprocated and looked forward. Families of the merchants that died when Lapia was kidnapped? I was skeptical, it would have been too big a coincidence to have come into contact with them specifically out of millions of people in this city. Maybe. I thought, shaking my head. They would have recognized Lapia, she¡¯s pretty known, I noticed. I got to the gate and the guards let me through with no problem. Once outside, the expansive fields around Riverfield came to view. I guess that¡¯s where the name comes from. I thought while braiding my hair. Sonya picked up speed to a fast jog. I put my combat gear on, including the helmet. I had no idea if there were flying predators or stuff like that, and I was not going to take any chances. With pike in hand, we circled the city to the west. It was massive. Tens of kilometers wide, the walls felt endless. The fields saw little change, the forest around keeping the same distance to the walls. Good thing I met Lapia. I sighed. I probably would have taken a turn somewhere, missing the city. I turned my head to the wall and, for a split second, thought about using a skill to break through. I shook my head and chuckled. Not a good idea. I enjoyed the wind, the speed making my braid sway around. Birds flying high in the sky led my eyes to the horizon, where massive clouds lazily floated. ¡°Cumulonimbus?¡± I had drawn that type of cloud many times before for media. ¡°Didn¡¯t those form near the sea or something?¡± I thought about Lapia and Alyssa. ¡°They¡¯re amazing, aren¡¯t they, Sonya?¡± A low growl was all I got back. I took it as confirmation. ¡°80, and 104 years old. And they¡¯re young for their species.¡± I laughed, happiness bubbling inside me. ¡°Smart, charming, beautiful, and so very loving.¡± No woman I had been with could compare to their beauty. No offense, girls. You were just human. I laughed again, my helmet covering my mouth in case any cheeky bug tried to become my snack. ¡°What could they be buying anyway?¡± I asked Sonya. ¡°A carriage? Camping equipment? Food? Water?¡± She just growled back. In the distance I saw a ravine about a hundred meters wide, the forest a good distance behind it. ¡°Okay. Sonya, let¡¯s do it.¡± I pushed E¡¯er into Preparation and Initiation, a transparent film surrounding us for a split second then fusing into us. I felt Sonya¡¯s feet as if they were my own, her breathing and heartbeat clear to me. ¡°Jump!¡± I commanded when the ravine was five meters in font of us. She pushed herself off the ground and we took into the air. I made a huge mistake. I should have known better, it was a ravine. Of course that would have happened. I admit to being an idiot. I looked down. The pit of my stomach almost came out of my mouth. My body went cold and I screamed to the top of my lungs. ¡°FUUUCK!!¡± My voice echoed through the ravine, my eyes locked to the bottom hundreds of meters down. I felt time stretch, imprisoned in an eternity of terror. In truth, not a second passed, the ravine replaced by ground and Sonya landing. My body went limp and I leaned on her neck, trembling all over. My fingers dead cold and my face numb. Sonya came to a slow stop and turned her head around. I was breathing heavily. ¡°Sonya, if I ever tell you to jump over another ravine, don¡¯t do it.¡± my voice was shaky. ¡°I think I shit myself.¡± a warmth was spreading between my legs. I dismounted and fell on the ground, my knees weak. I undressed and touched my crotch. ¡°No, just pee.¡± I sighed in relief. I took a towel out of my storage and dried the pee off. ¡°Natasha, you stupid bitch.¡± nervous laughter left me. I replaced my underwear and stopped for a second. ¡°How did I pee if it was shrunk?¡± I looked down. ¡°Can I pee while not having my penis out?¡± What witchcraft is this? I shook my head. I finished dressing up and got on Sonya. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Nice and easy.¡± those mysteries escaped my simple mind, and I didn¡¯t want to pee myself several times to find out. I rode her into the forest, avoiding trees and flattening bushes. I enjoyed the scenery of green everywhere. Birds singing, and small critters fleeing the massive drake-looking monster I was riding. I started singing while we advanced. "Hi, how are you? Are you calling up my phone?" I chose an old song from an eldritch abomination disguised as a school girl. A few minutes later I saw a pond and stopped next to it as I finished singing. I dismounted and Sonya lowered her head to drink. The clearing around the pond was silent, the suns shining on us. I took out a sketchbook and a pencil. Turning to Sonya, I started drawing. A cracking sound came from behind me, making me stop my hand. I slowly turned my body and saw a moose a good thirty meters away, behind us. Or something that resembled one, at least. It was staring at us. Brownish, tall, thick, and a long tongue dripping with blood. That¡¯s no moose. I noticed its feet. Paws like a wolf instead of cloven hooves. Its black eyes looking directly at me. I slowly stood up facing it. I had no idea if moose were aggressive back on Earth, but the animal looked like it wanted to charge at us. Its head lowered and its massive antlers pointed at us. It scraped its feet on the ground, and growled. Definitely not a moose. Sonya was right behind me, growling back at the animal. I raised my hands in front of me, trusting in my strength to stop it in case it decided to charge. I took a step toward the animal and it barked, then charged at me. A moment of pure genius ran through me and I appraised it as it closed in at a fast speed. [Me¡¯ik, Level 212] So low! I was disappointed at the low level of the creature, but didn¡¯t relax my body in the slightest. Its paws raked the ground as it advanced, sending dirt and grass flying back. It further lowered its head as it prepared for the collision. I took another step forward and shot my hands to the base of its antlers, halting the beast completely as we clashed. A cracking noise came from its neck and it crumpled down, a pained howl leaving its open maw. I quickly stepped on its neck and twisted its head, silencing it. The action crushed its spine and throat. There was no effort in my actions, it felt as if it was made of paper. Red blood oozed from its open maw. I saw fangs and serrated teeth peeking out as I let the head go and it hit the ground with a loud thud. ¡°Well¡­ that was something. At least it didn¡¯t suffer more than needed.¡± I sighed. It definitely wasn¡¯t a moose. Those teeth look like a wolf¡¯s. I heard the dying cry it let out echo into the forest. A low rumble followed. The ground shook with something coming. Not something. I turned to Sonya and mounted her. Many things. The rumble grew louder and louder. The clear sound of a stampede heading my way. ''Me¡¯ik.'' I sent to Alyssa. I had no clue what to do. I could run away, but they may follow me all the way to Riverfield. I wasn¡¯t that far away, after all. ''Hundreds.'' Came her reply. ''Fight.'' Came Lapia¡¯s voice. ¡°Shit!¡± I took my pike out. ¡°Fuck!¡± I hissed. Should I go all out? How many even are there? One hundred? Two hundred? Nine hundred? All level two hundred? The average level of people I''ve seen so far is one hundred and twenty. ¡°Sonya, get ready!¡± I pushed E¡¯er into Initiation, Dragoon Might, Preparation, and Monster Hunter while thinking about two hours. My muscles surged, tightened, then relaxed. A wave of power running through my body. I contemplated using Intimidate Prey, but decided to wait and see how many of them would come. My face turned into a deep scowl as the first wave of beasts appeared far ahead into the forest. A wall of animals were rushing to me. ¡°Fuck it, then.¡± I took a deep breath. How do I even activate a warcry? Well, it¡¯s a warCRY. I pushed E''er into Intimidate Prey, thinking of two hours. Then, I spoke. ¡°COME AND DIEEE!!¡± an unladylike scream left me, the sound loud as a jet engine. I saw trees being uprooted as my voice traveled towards the beasts. Sonya roared. The sound sending pleasant shivers up my spine. I checked my status and almost fainted at the number in parenthesis. TEN THOUSAND?! Wait... is there a limit to it? When my voice reached them a few fell down, while others picked up speed. Trees were pushed back and some crushed a few Me¡¯ik. ¡°Not as bad as Hell, anyway.¡± I smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Sonya!¡± Sonya charged at my command. I pointed my pike forward as we sped up, and pushed E¡¯er into Rhongomyniad aiming at a beast on the back of the masses. The world slowed down and we picked up speed. We crashed into the wall of moose and I saw bodies exploding in slow motion. Sonya¡¯s scales shining with a magical glisten. The sheer speed breaking bodies left and right, gore covering the both of us as we broke into their numbers. My sight was unimpeded, the helmet granting vision even when covered in blood, organs, skin, and more. I raised my pike and brought it down with all my strength, cleaving bodies wherever it reached. The blade cut the air, a whistle followed. Pained barks and whiles of agony leaving the creatures as I reaped their lives. Aiming forward, I thrust with all my speed. Piercing heads, flanks, chests, and whatever was close to me. With my other hand, I grabbed antlers and pulled with brutal violence. Heads leaving bodies, necks cracking, and using the beasts¡¯ bodies to slam others. A cacophony of violence and death surrounded me. Heads impacted both me and Sonya, necks cracking and antlers breaking. The sound similar to an avalanche. When we reached our target, the poor animal¡¯s body burst in a shower of gore. I looked back and noticed the entire herd turning around towards us. We had only killed about ten percent of the animals. There were easily four hundred of them, a sea of brownish animals with antlers. Barks, howls, growls, and sounds no moose should produce surrounded us. ¡°Use your claws while advancing, Sonya!¡± I shouted and picked up speed as I stabbed those in reach. I heard barks, wails, howls, and more from behind. Barely perceptible impacts hitting my armor and Sonya¡¯s rear. I swung my pike around, decapitating and cleaving bodies around me. Sonya¡¯s claws tearing the bodies of animals that came too close, her body buffed by my auras. She bit into necks and spat the meat out, their corpses littering the ground around us. I kept at it. Thrusting, swinging, impaling, dismembering, beheading. My heart flooded with panic when I saw a Me¡¯ik bite Sonya¡¯s neck, but laughed when its teeth broke on her scales. ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± I laughed like a berserker. ¡°BREAK YOURSELVES UPON OUR BODIES!!¡± I screamed as more bodies piled around us. ¡°WELCOME TO THE CARNAGE!!¡± It reminded me of Hell. The rush there, but the insanity absent. There was no hunger, thirst, pain, nor rage. My pike flew as I threw it with all my strength, impaling tens of beasts and sending shock-waves when it impacted any surface. Tree or ground. As I waited for my weapon to return, I punched, kicked, pulled, and crushed heads with my hands. My body and Sonya¡¯s covered in blood. A group jumped over the corpses towards us, at least twenty. As my pike materialized in my hands, I jumped from Sonya¡¯s back and spun in the air, using Dragonclaw. The tearing of flesh and bone deafening their dying howls. An exhilarating feeling pumped through my veins. I remembered Lapia¡¯s words. A Halve would find their second killing cathartic. I smiled. It felt like having an orgasm. Their numbers thinned as we brought havoc upon them. Their relentless charge influenced by my deadly invitation forced them to throw their bodies directly into my weapon, arms, or Sonya¡¯s claws. My pike blurred as I stabbed to the sides and back with all that my strength and speed allowed. The length of the weapon going beyond Sonya¡¯s reach, keeping her from being overrun. The sheer speed of the action sending their dead bodies back like rag-dolls. Minutes turned into hours as fewer and fewer rushed to us. When the last fell, I took a deep breath and calmed down. I cut the stream of E¡¯er off and relaxed. I looked around and saw the product of the violence. My warcry had pushed and flattened the trees around us for hundreds of meters. A ridiculous number of corpses painting a vicious scene. Ground drenched with blood and innards. ¡°Nature is fucking brutal.¡± I whispered, storing my weapon. I dismounted Sonya while sighing. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked as I checked her body for any injury. She let out a low growl and I noticed a limp. I took out an Elixir of Rejuvenation and popped the cork. ¡°This is going to taste like shit.¡± I walked to her front and showed her the bottle. She nodded and opened her maw. I patted her cheeks as the liquid went down her gullet. She swallowed with eyes closed. A weird whimper left her and she shook her big head. She retched a few times and then licked my helmet. ¡°Good girl!¡± I scratched her neck. ¡°Guess who earned a snack? You did!¡± I took out a ball of metal and gave it to her. She let out a pleased growl and nodded her head. [Sonya, Lvl 203 Ratnak] ¡°Holy shit!¡± my eyes went wide. ¡°What is this sorcery?¡± I read the skill for companions and relaxed. She leveled up a lot, but I was still the same. All three of my classes at four hundred and fifty. ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s get out of here.¡± I mounted up and guided her out of the forest. We jogged south towards the river, where I cleaned my equipment and washed Sonya¡¯s scales. Returning to the fields, we continued with our exercise as if nothing had happened. She was full of energy thanks to the elixir. I got off and ran along with her. She couldn¡¯t catch me when we played tag, however. Sonya was surprisingly smart. She understood how the game worked, and even how to cheat. Jumping high into the air when I approached her and gaining few precious seconds. When she was getting tired, I heard the Church¡¯s loud bells from inside the city. ¡°That¡¯s pretty loud.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Sonya! Let¡¯s go back.¡± She jogged to me and I jumped to her back. We went back to the city and I had to pay the gate tax, no discount this time, and adding a ''rare'' mount. Five silver and fifty copper. ¡°Robbery in broad daylight.¡± I clicked my tongue as I guided Sonya to Punten & Co. When we arrived at the building, I noticed a few adults with an army of children walking in the same direction I was going. Well, to call it an army is an exaggeration. There were easily thirty kids. Lupum, Humans, Tigea and a pair of Elves. Haven''t seen that many Dwarfs or Luzo. Maybe they live in another district or something. I came to a stop next to the sidewalk as they crossed the street. The adults nodding their heads and waving at me, saying something to the children. ¡°Hi lady!¡± a childish voice came from beneath. 13 - Reality Check. I looked down and, lo and behold, a little catgirl was staring at me, the army of kids gathering behind her. A few adults looking over at us. The sight was slightly uncanny. Her ears were on top of her head and her short hair revealing the empty sides of her head. She had feline eyes like amber and a cute little tail poking from under her skirt. [Shishi Tigea Child, Lvl 8] [Urkila Tigea Child, Lvl 5] [Faeton Elf Child, Lvl 8] [Domi Elf Child, Lvl 6] [Lupum Child, Lvl 7] No race? The other children were mostly the same level, all above five, but under ten. The Lupum all had snow white hair, same as their skin, and violet eyes. Tall ears shifting every few seconds. ¡°Hello, there.¡± I said back. I guess at that age, if you see long hair you¡¯ll immediately think of a woman. ¡°What are you?¡± she spat at me with the ruthlessness of an innocent child. ¡°If it¡¯s not too much to ask?¡± a middle aged woman asked me. She was standing behind the army of kids and smiling. A silky green dress with a blue apron on top covered her body. Brownish hair in a side ponytail. [Tilen Human, Lvl 241 Paladin] HOLY SHIT! I get protection of children is top priority, but damn! The other adults had the same class and clothes. All above two hundred. ¡°No problem at all.¡± I nodded. I chuckled while dismounting and squatted down, looking at the kids. ¡°I¡¯m a Halve, we glow with the suns.¡± I took out a gauntlet and the leather one beneath, showing her my golden skin. She did not hesitate to take my hand, her smaller one grabbing it with furry, chubby little fingers. ¡°Whoaa!¡± the kids behind opened their eyes wide. ¡°Can I see your face?¡± she smiled while playing with my fingers. My helmet disappeared and we stared at each other for a few seconds. ¡°You have weird eyes, lady. Get a healer to check on you.¡± a boy said. I giggled and he blushed. ¡°She¡¯s so pretty!¡± another girl said. ¡°You know nothing, Gil!¡± ¡°Are you strong?¡± a girl asked. ¡°What is the beast you¡¯re riding?¡± another asked. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Can I play with your hair?¡± ¡°Can I climb on your mount?¡± ¡°Do you want to play with us?¡± ¡°Give me your lunch money!¡± They bombarded me with questions. I laughed and answered one by one. ¡°My name is Natasha. I am very young and strong. Yes, you can play with my hair. She¡¯s a Ratnak, and no, I don¡¯t want you to get hurt. What do you want to play? I won¡¯t give you money.¡± I relaxed and sat on the ground, Sonya imitating me. An older girl and two boys sat behind me and undid my braid. The rest in front of me. ¡°Let¡¯s play Sword, Shield, and E¡¯er!¡± the girl that called to me said. Apparently she was the leader, the rest of the kids nodding. ¡°I don¡¯t know the rules, can you explain them to me?¡± I smiled at her. ¡°Are you stupid? Everyone know how to play!¡± I received a burn right away. ¡°Don¡¯t be rude! I¡¯ll tell your mamma.¡± another kid stood up for me. ¡°Sword beats E¡¯er, E¡¯er beats Shield, and Shield beats Sword.¡± the leader explained, making gestures with her hands. So rock, paper, scissors? I nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± I said and we started playing. The kids were pretty strong. Some cheated and got called out, losing by default. I refrained from abusing my high dexterity and, after hard battles, reached the finals against the leader. She smirked as she raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve never lost.¡± she warned me. ¡°You are pretty fast, but not enough to beat me!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± I raised my hand. ¡°You have to win, Pola!¡± ¡°Avenge us, leader!¡± ¡°Ah, she¡¯s gonna lose.¡± ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll give you my toy sword!¡± ¡°Beat her, teach her not to mess with us kids!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take her lunch money!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give her to my mamma!¡± ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll be your wife!¡± I heard some concerning things, but chose to ignore them. Pola was focused on me, not breaking eye contact. ¡°Go, go, Sword, E¡¯er, Shield!¡± they chanted and we both moved. The world slowed in front of me to a crawl, her hand slowly stretching two fingers. Sword! Do I lose or do I win? I contemplated. I chose to loose. Being a kid was all about having fun anyway. My hand took the gesture for E¡¯er, stretching my index and pinkie. ¡°Gaah!¡± I grabbed my chest and writhed in mock pain. ¡°You beat me!¡± """"""WOOOOAAAHH!!!"""""" The kids exploded in cheers. Pola stood up and fell back, the horde of children received her and lifted her above their heads. She looked down on me with a cheeky smile and wide open arms. ¡°Leader is the strongest!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be your wife, Pola!¡± ¡°Take her lunch money!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you my toy sword later!¡± They circled around me, laughing and cheering. The kids behind me had finished playing with my hair and giggled at the girl¡¯s victory. I noticed the adults a few meters away from us smiling and giving me a thumbs up. Probably their caretakers. I nodded to them and stood up. ¡°Had your fun?¡± Lapia¡¯s voice made me turn. Next to her, Alyssa was holding back laughter, covering her mouth and shaking. ¡°Yeah, was pretty fun.¡± I smiled and walked to them. ¡°Kids! Play time is over. Thank you, Your Excellency!¡± a handsome man called and smiled at me. I waved at him. The children whined and protested but followed the man down the street, still carrying Pola. "How did it go with the Me''ik?" Lapia asked. "Pretty good, Sonya leveled up quite a bit." I patted her flank. "Weird animals." "They move in large herds and are incredibly aggressive. They send their weak to scout ahead. If they die, they let the herd know. The stampede usually tramples everything in their path." Alyssa explained. "Pretty much what happened." I sighed. "I didn''t gain a single level." "You need more than a herd of Me''ik to level up." the Luzo giggled. "They''re around level two hundred to five hundred, that''s nothing for you." I hummed. "I see. Anyway, I met an interesting woman earlier.¡± I said as we walked towards the parking lot space. ¡°I heard.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°Yolanda, the accountant, told me when we left.¡± ¡°Who was she?¡± Alyssa asked. ¡°Tay, an alchemist. Said she worked for Lady Dabark, or something.¡± we got to the parking area and Sonya stood in front of Lapia. ¡°She¡¯s huge.¡± she said, apprehension in her voice. ¡°I got you.¡± Alyssa patted her back. A bright, white halo floated above the Elf¡¯s head. They locked eyes and the Ratnak reared her head back. Lapia almost closed her eyes, balling her hands. The impact was softer than the previous two. Sonya reeling back nonetheless, quickly nodding her head. I laughed and rubbed the massive head. ¡°Good girl!¡± her eyes looked into mine and gave a short growl. She laid down and drank from the water through. ¡°Lady Dabrak. What did she want?¡± the Elf asked as she rubbed her forehead. ¡°She wants to meet me.¡± I took the saddle off and stored it. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡± I changed clothes to my blouse, skirt, and leather boots. Running a hand through my hair, I undid the poorly done braids the kids made. ¡°Mhm. That sounds like something she would do.¡± Lapia sighed. ¡°That woman is so troublesome.¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°You know her?¡± I looked at them. That was a surprise. ¡°Only heard of her.¡± the Luzo said as I opened the door and held it for them. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Met her because of work.¡± the Elf scowled. ¡°She''s a woman of tradition, set in the old ways.¡± We walked to the stairs and I noticed the first floor almost empty. Three merchants behind desks the only people. What time is it? I looked at the wall and squinted at the clock. One? ¡°Why would she want to meet me, then?¡± I positioned myself behind Lapia as we went up the stairs. Her butt jiggling with the sway of her hips. ¡°I can think of a few reasons.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Most likely, she just wants to chat. Welcome you to the city and all that. She¡¯s a pain to deal with, but she¡¯s not unreasonable.¡± ¡°What was your answer?¡± Alyssa asked, staring at Lapia¡¯s behind as well. ¡°I told her to tell her employer to drop by tonight.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Haha!¡± the Elf¡¯s laugh echoed. ¡°How did she react?¡± ¡°Oddly relieved, for some reason.¡± I answered. ¡°I can imagine.¡± Alyssa took my hand. We reached the tenth floor after speculating about the Noble¡¯s intentions. ¡°We¡¯ll see tonight.¡± Lapia opened the door to her office. ¡°We have lessons to worry about.¡± Here we go. We entered the apartment and walked over to the table. Lapia sat down with Alyssa next to her. ¡°Take a seat, Your Excellency.¡± the Elf motioned for me to sit in front of them. ¡°Why, thank you.¡± I sat down. She summoned a few linen bags and placed them on the table. Polupis, peaches, and a wide assortment of other fruits I didn¡¯t know. ¡°We should snack while we talk.¡± she pushed the cherry tomatoes in my direction. I took them and ate one. Delicious. I took out some dumplings. ¡°Alright. Where do we start?¡± I asked. I rested my elbows on the table, supporting my chin. ¡°Okay, first.¡± Lapia extended a hand, a spark flying off. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the basics. Sensing E¡¯er.¡± ¡°Okay. How do I do that?¡± I winced. ¡°You already do, you just have to actively become aware of it.¡± Alyssa comforted me. ¡°You are a Halve, so the process is different.¡± Lapia thought for a second. ¡°Yeah, he did say it like that.¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°When you first woke up, did you sense something other than with your five senses?¡± she asked me. I racked my brain, trying to remember. The smell of the forest, the sight of the trees, the temperature, the sounds, the clean taste of the air. I tilted my head. And something clean, other than the air. ¡°I felt something clean, like a smell, but different. It wasn¡¯t water.¡± I said after remembering. ¡°Alright. That right there is E¡¯er. It can be something like a smell, or a taste, of outstanding cleanliness. Almost of nothingness.¡± she smiled. ¡°Yeah, like that.¡± I nodded. It fit the description. ¡°Now try and feel it again. From around. Become one with it.¡± Alyssa said. I closed my eyes and focused. Darkness welcomed me. I took a deep breath, then let it out. Cleanliness, I remember the smell. Come to Mommy. I continued taking deep breaths. Zoning out the world in my focus. I remembered anger management. I am in control. The body is a vessel. I let the air in my lungs leave and my senses numbed. ¡®What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.¡¯ I thought back on what my counselor had said. The man taught me yoga and how to clear anger off my mind. ¡®Unless you realize who you truly are, it won¡¯t matter what you do.¡¯ I am a Halve. A being born of the energy of this world. I am a warrior, a protector. I will fight to my last breath. I am E¡¯er, E¡¯er is within me. E¡¯er is nothingness. I am nothingness. Formless. I felt a lid open inside me. A soft and gentle warmth spread from my skin into my core. I opened my eyes and the smell of something very clean tickled my nose. ¡°That was easier than I thought.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°You did it.¡± Alyssa¡¯s deep voice reached me. The sound rich and gentle. ¡°Being of E¡¯er, I tell you.¡± Lapia¡¯s silky voice tickled my ears. ¡°Well done.¡± I smiled. ¡°Do you see now that it all comes from within?¡± Alyssa asked, a gentle smile on her face. I nodded. ¡°It does.¡± ¡°Now, absorb E¡¯er.¡± Lapia continued the lesson. ¡°Pull it inside you.¡± I did as told and it surprisingly came easy. I breathed in slowly, the energy around seeping into me. Nothing changed, I noticed. ¡°Every time you kill something, the E¡¯er within their bodies will be released, you have to absorb it in order to grow in power.¡± Lapia explained. ¡°I¡¯m researching this very phenomena.¡± ¡°Have people not explored it?¡± I asked after calming a weird feeling. It was strangely personal. ¡°They have, but not in the way I am doing it.¡± she smirked. ¡°Now that you have sensed and absorbed E¡¯er, you will slowly understand the mechanics behind it.¡± ¡°With that understanding, you might see what you want to become.¡± Alyssa said. ¡°Is that how it went with you?¡± I looked a them. Both nodded. I ate another polupis. ¡°Now that you have done the basics, we can go deeper.¡± Lapia smiled. ¡°I said before that E¡¯er is a particle. Before that, however, I have to explain a little. Natasha, the world is made up of very small things.¡± she explained slowly. ¡°Atoms?¡± I interrupted her, raising an eyebrow. Her eyes widened a little, then relaxed into a satisfied smile. ¡°Well, that saves us a lot of time.¡± she served juice in glasses and took a sip from one. ¡°E¡¯er is smaller than an atom. Subatomic particles are the size of a planet in comparison. When we absorb it, untold amounts of E¡¯er merge with us, becoming our source of might. Our ¡®wisdom¡¯ represent the amount of E¡¯er at our disposal times twenty, but it¡¯s not the exact amount of particles. One ''point'' of E¡¯er is actually around a cubic meter in size in its free state. E¡¯er compresses within us. When we spend it, it expands and we transform it with the knowledge we possess. I studied Pyromancy and its thermal laws of E¡¯er transformation. I can control a flame¡¯s temperature, size, lifespan, and more.¡± she took another sip. ¡°To study Pyromancy, a person must first learn to detach expelled E¡¯er from their body. Otherwise they¡¯d burn to ashes with the first spell cast. Most Wizard classes do the same. Warriors, however, don¡¯t do that. The Way of the Warrior works in a completely different manner. E¡¯er within you is not expelled, but directed to your body.¡± She took a bite of a small apple-looking fruit. I did too, it was sweet but felt sandy. ¡°However, The Rhak¡¯Math View is the basis for all skills that have Aura effects. A lot of classes benefit from it. It is a very ancient method that influences living beings in various ways. Do you have any?¡± her eyes sparkled. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Uh¡­ yeah.¡± my voice barely came out. ¡°I have Initiation, Prevention, and Monster Hunter.¡± I said after checking my skills. ¡°Mhm. I haven¡¯t heard of Monster Hunter.¡± she took another bite. ¡°When you use an aura, it travels through the Bond. A Warrior bolsters their allies this way. Warcries are a different beast. You empower your vocal cords with E¡¯er and it travels along with your voice. Do you have any?¡± I nodded. ¡°The sound wave enters the target¡¯s thorax and shakes their core, disrupting their internal flow of Life Energy. The other way is to shake their brains through the ear canal. Then, a wide field surrounds you, keeping the effect active.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I nodded. I understood things so far. ¡°So, how does one learn a skill with an Aura effect?¡± she asked, I shrugged. ¡°You first give E¡¯er purpose, and then ¡®link¡¯ transformed E¡¯er through the Bond. When we give E¡¯er purpose, we can bring about a variety of effects. I learned a skill called ¡®Solar Epitaph¡¯, it has an Aura effect. I can summon a miniature sun that bolsters allies and inflicts enemies with different effects.¡± ¡°You know that one?¡± Alyssa sounded impressed. ¡°As expected of a master Wizard.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± she took her hand and locked fingers, then turned back to me. ¡°Do you understand so far?¡± ¡°Yeah. Kind of.¡± I scratched my jaw. ¡°Warriors don¡¯t deal with concrete Laws like Wizards or Clerics.¡± Alyssa said while playing with Lapia¡¯s fingers. ¡°Your skills are mostly effects that influence your own bodies, knowledge of combat techniques, Auras, and Warcries.¡± ¡°What about the Laws of Life?¡± I looked at the Luzo with a drop of hope. ¡°Hmm.¡± she tapped her chin, her claws scratching softly. ¡°Once we are transformed by E¡¯er, it¡¯s not E¡¯er anymore. We call it Life Energy. We clerics study how to sense it and then manipulate it. Healing is just the tip of the dungeon.¡± she nodded. ¡°Huh. That¡¯s easy to understand.¡± I nodded. ¡°So, outer energies.¡± I pointed at Lapia, she nodded. ¡°And inner energies.¡± I pointed at Alyssa, she nodded as well. ¡°That¡¯s an extremely simple way to put it, but yeah.¡± the Elf chuckled. ¡°First time hearing it like that.¡± Alyssa smiled. There we go. Oversimplifying things is useful sometimes. I smiled. Can¡¯t be harder to understand than E¡¯er. ¡°What was that halo that was floating over Lapia¡¯s head earlier?¡± I asked, confident in being able to understand. ¡°That¡¯s True Significance, it¡¯s a buff with a variable duration based on the E¡¯er I spend and the Level of the user. It¡¯s a pulse of Life Energy targeting the various systems within a person. It increases their overall vigor using the body¡¯s maximum limit of strain as reference.¡± she said as if she was talking about the weather. Eh? Pardon? ¡°Joy¡¯s Law?¡± Lapia was impressed and turned to Alyssa. ¡°I knew you were a high profile Cleric, but didn¡¯t think it was to that extent.¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait.¡± I raised a hand. ¡°Why not just say it increases toughness?¡± They both turned to me with expressions as if I grew legs instead of eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not what it does.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°It increases all your stats, not your defenses alone.¡± ¡°Okay. So, how did you learn that?¡± I tentatively asked. ¡°First, I studied the anatomy of all sapient species, except Halves, and Gods. Their inner energy circulation system, the maximum levels of strain before they suffer injury, and how every system works in harmony with one another. Then, the proper formula to transform E¡¯er into manipulable Life Energy required to bring the effect to action.¡± she slowly said. ¡°Holy shit!¡± my voice came out louder than I intended. ¡°I just swing a stick around¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t put yourself down.¡± Lapia shook her head. ¡°Sure, you didn¡¯t learn The Rhak¡¯Math View from scratch, but you still know it.¡± My shoulders slumped. ¡°I must look like an idiot to you two.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Alyssa said with a gentle tone. ¡°The process of learning things is essential, sure. But understanding your skills is equally, if not more important in the end.¡± ¡°Did you go to University, too?¡± I received a hard reality check. Magic sounds like quantum physics. And to be a Cleric you need to study so much anatomy... Fuck yourself, E¡¯er! ¡°No, I studied at the Church in a country close to where I grew up.¡± she smiled. ¡°I spent thirty five years studying and got my first class. I wanted to be more than just a Priestess.¡± ¡°That sounds reasonable.¡± I sighed. ¡°Where did you grow up?¡± I need a break already! Lapia smiled and nodded, relaxing and eating more fruit. ¡°I come from a country to the south. O¡¯lu Keer Ren is the name in Dragon Tongue, roughly meaning ¡®Where our Scales Rest¡¯. A chain of volcanoes surround the land.¡± she smiled as I took her free hand, running my fingers on her scales. ¡°A council formed by each clan head serves as government. An ancient Storm Dragon sleeps in the biggest volcano, so we¡¯ve enjoyed relative peace with neighboring countries.¡± she sighed. ¡°Monsters don¡¯t care about that, however, so invasions are a common occurrence at the borders.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± I sighed with wonder. ¡°I¡¯d love to go there some day.¡± ¡°We just may.¡± she locked her fingers with mine. ¡°How about you?¡± I looked at Lapia. ¡°The Queendom of Maahruk is a small coastal country to the far east. Sea focused businesses feed the economy. The borders touch with four neighboring countries, with which amiable relations date back thousands of years.¡± I took her free hand and locked fingers too. ¡°I grew up in a high class home in the port city of Pomkh. One brother and a pair of twin sisters. I left after earning my first degree, becoming independent quickly after.¡± ¡°Nice. I¡¯d love to eat some seafood there.¡± I turned back to Alyssa. ¡°How about your family?¡± ¡°It¡¯s massive.¡± she smiled. ¡°Around sixty thousand Luzo.¡± ¡°What?¡± my voice came out a whisper. ¡°We¡¯re evenly distributed between aristi, females, and males. My great grandparents are still producing offspring, after all.¡± she giggled. ¡°There are three hundred clans, so around twenty million Luzo in total. They¡¯re pretty strict with outsiders. Only Krystaali Luzo and demi live there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot.¡± I sighed. ¡°I¡¯m glad I met you two.¡± I felt a warm feeling spreading in my chest. ¡°Now, about the rest of the stats.¡± Lapia announced. ¡°Strength is the potential energy your muscles can put out, and is strictly related to constitution. You cannot hit harder than what your body can handle. Every class that increases strength also increases constitution, at at least half the rate.¡± I took a glass and enjoyed the blue apple-like juice as it went down my throat. ¡°Conversely, classes that increase constitution also contribute to strength. If your body is resilient, it stands to reason that your muscles would be powerful to some extent. Dexterity increases both reflexes and fine motor skills, such as drawing, sewing, aiming, etc. Intelligence influences how powerful your spells are, I will explain why later.¡± she produced a thin textbook and opened it, letting go of my hand. Alyssa stood up and walked to the living room, where she laid down on a sofa. Et tu, Alyssa?! ¡°All the base classes have three stats they focus on. You cannot be a jack of all trades, it would be absolutely useless.¡± she continued. ¡°These stats can vary depending of the specific class an individual pursues, but generally follow these standards.¡± Alright, so far sounds pretty RPG to me. ¡°To become one of these classes, you follow each of their paths. Laws of E¡¯er for wizards, Laws of Life for clerics, Way of the Warrior for warriors, Path of Cunning for scouts, the Endless Trail for archers, the Way of the Trade for merchants, the Eloquent Whisper for performers, and the Code of Makers for craftsmen.¡± she flipped a page. ¡°Do you understand so far?¡± I nodded. Sounds pretty simple. ¡°Now, to acquire skills, you need to ¡®merge¡¯ knowledge with the E¡¯er within you. This is done by meditation. Your subconscious takes this knowledge and burns it into your unconscious¡¯ dormant memory, which allows for casting spells or using skills without the need to read the formula every time you do. You still need to fully understand it, however. This is what I meant when I told you about the limited amount of skills an individual can integrate. As our lovely Alyssa explained, E¡¯er transforms into Life Energy inside us. This energy grows as we level up, expanding said dormant memory, thus allowing us to integrate more skills.¡± she looked up at me. ¡°With me?¡± My eyes were wide open. Why did it suddenly turn into some Freudian bullshit? "Wait... so you transform Life Energy back into E''er when using it?" I tilted my head. "No, no. That is only the E''er that change our bodies. The E''er at your disposal stays E''er." ¡°How did people come to know about this meditation stuff?¡± I asked. There was something incredibly uncanny when hearing about tampering with the unconscious. ¡°Studying the mind.¡± she answered. ¡°Natasha, people have varying degrees of awareness. You have the subconscious, the unconscious, and the conscious. Once we integrate our first skill, these open and we can influence what our minds can register as a skill.¡± she put the textbook down. ¡°Do you have any questions?¡± I was beginning to feel palpitations. This talk was way above my head. A knot formed on my throat and my chest felt like it was going to implode. ¡°Give me a minute, please.¡± I closed my eyes and rested my head on my hands. I took a deep breath, calming down. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. What the fuck is this quantum-pshycology world? Then, I remembered something. I read my information and did the insightful exercise or peering within me. There, for the third time, I felt the weird knowledge of skills and my storage. ¡°HAHAHA!¡± I laughed loudly and shot my head up. ¡°I got it! I¡¯m not that stupid, after all!¡± Lapia jerked in surprise. ¡°What happened?¡± her face was full of worry. ¡°Nothing.¡± I whispered, rubbing my eyes and relaxing. ¡°I just got super frustrated. I wasn¡¯t understanding anything, and felt really dumb. Then, I remembered I had already seen the skills in my mind. Or something like that. I¡¯m sorry, Lapia.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, sunshine.¡± her voice was gentle. ¡°If there¡¯s something you don¡¯t understand, just tell me. We can go over it however many times you need.¡± I looked into her emerald green eyes. An Elf is teaching me magic, or something like that. I giggled. This is so surreal. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Let¡¯s continue.¡± I held her hand. She smiled and returned her attention to the textbook. ¡°Intelligence helps turn the formulas in our minds into reality. The higher the intelligence, the faster and stronger. For example. I can produce fire up to one thousand degrees.¡± she stopped for a second. ¡°Water freezes at zero degrees and boils at one hundred when at sea level. This measurement is called Yiama¡¯s degree and is accompanied by a Y next to it.¡± Okay, Celsius. Thank the above. I sighed with a nod. ¡°The higher my intelligence, the higher the temperature of my flames. A Shade Adept would have the density of the shadows they manipulate increase. Weight for Geomancers, water pressure for Water Weavers, etc. The progression is linear.¡± she ate a polupi I offered. ¡°For everyone else, Intelligence influences the speed of skill activation, becoming instant at five hundred.¡± she closed the textbook. ¡°That would be it for the five stats.¡± she smiled. ¡°Now onto monsters, creatures, animals, and relative power.¡± Another textbook materialized. ¡°Just like people, they level up. Their power is linear, since they don¡¯t possess classes. They grow at the same rate as us, ten ¡®status points¡¯ per level.¡± she did air quotes. ¡°This means that a level one hundred person is equally as powerful as a level one hundred creature. In different measures, of course. A Me¡¯ik is stronger than me by a long shot, for example. However, I can kill a Me¡¯ik before it reaches me, being a wizard. I would be trampled to death by a herd, though.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Your should face enemies around your total level to grow in power at a reasonable speed. Hence why you didn¡¯t level up, you are way above.¡± she smiled. ¡°With me so far?¡± ¡°Yes, this is much simpler.¡± I smiled back. ¡°The difference between a beast and a monster is their use of E¡¯er. A monster uses E¡¯er, a beast doesn¡¯t. Simple as that. Sonya is considered an E''eral Beast because she has been domesticated.¡± she closed the textbook and produced another. ¡°Onto people.¡± she sighed. ¡°There are many sapient species in the world. The latest being the Lupum. There are five types of species, as stated by Danuva. Short, those who live under five hundred years. Medium, those who live under two thousand years. Long, those who live under five thousand years. Eternal, only one species fits here. You Halves. Up to ten thousand years. Then, Immortals. Divines. They can be slain, however, entering a cycle or reincarnation. Gods are Divines, but not all Divines are Gods. In order for a Divine to become a God, they must teach the sentient species something of irreplaceable value. For example. Yiama became a God when she taught the first tribes the ¡®miracle¡¯ of the flame.¡± she cringed. I chuckled. ¡°You really don¡¯t like her, do you?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ Pyromancy?¡± she sighed. ¡°Why not Flame Master or Fire Weaver... I would even accept Temperature Controller.¡± a defeated chuckle left her. ¡°No way. That sounds worse.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Pyromancy sounds cool.¡± She sighed. ¡°Anyway. The older a species, the longer their lifespan. This also lowers the fertility. Evolution is attempting to imitate Halves.¡± she looked me directly in the eye. ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded. ¡°My species information says that. ¡®You are the existence evolution strives to achieve.¡¯ it says.¡± I read it. She nodded with a smile. ¡°Anyway, back to the people.¡± She leaned back. She then proceeded to list every single species in Galeia. I almost fell asleep. Lamia, Harpies, Centaurs, Minotaurs, Merfolk, Dryads, Nymphs, Oni, and much more. The wild ones were too many to mention, and I heard some concerning things like undead and cursed ones. I learned demi, the offspring between different species, could not reproduce among themselves. If they wanted to have children, they¡¯d have to copulate with an individual from one of the parent species. I was too embarrassed to ask about my possible future child with Alyssa, me being a Halve, and her species consisting of three genders. Some other time, perhaps. I had yet to fully contemplate on the fact I would eventually become something like a father if time and circumstance allowed it. I was born, raised, and died a woman. I still thought of myself as a woman. My mental gymnastics were not that advanced, yet. I quickly arrived to the conclusion that I wasn¡¯t going to be casting magic any time soon. Lapia wrote a few equations showing me the basics of E¡¯er manipulation. I felt my soul escape my mouth when she drew a circle with numbers. The entire sheet of paper she was using ended up covered in numbers, symbols and more. What looked like a diagram straight out of the Akashic records was surrounded by smaller pentagrams. Instead of lines, however, numbers and letters formed the shape. ¡°This is the Pyro formula for the spell I told you a while ago.¡± the light of the suns descending in the sky painted the apartment with a warm orange color. The light entering through a window in Lapia¡¯s room. ¡°The formula at the center is what I use to summon the orb of fire and keep it going. The one above is what transforms E¡¯er into beneficial effects.¡± she pointed at the top of the page. ¡°The one below is what makes it damage and influence enemies.¡± the bottom was equally as confusing for me. It looked like a Mandala. It was symmetric and her handwriting was surprisingly legible. I read ¡®Pyro¡¯ at least twenty times in the drawing-looking formula. ¡°...It¡¯s really pretty.¡± was all I could say. I understood none of it. I picked up another sheet of paper. A much simpler formula written on it. It still looked insane, however. Symbols I had never seen before followed by letters and numbers encircled in what looked like a square root. Instead of a ¡®v¡¯, it had an ¡®e¡¯. This woman could easily solve Earth¡¯s Mathematical Dilemmas in her sleep. I looked at Lapia with admiration. ¡°You two must be incredibly smart.¡± I put the paper down with a sigh. ¡°This is not for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that, Natasha.¡± the Elf chastised me. ¡°This is only the first day.¡± ¡°It takes a long time.¡± Alyssa said from the living room. The Luzo had taken a nap when Lapia went N*il deGr*sse Tys*n on my ass. Now lazying on a couch, she was reading the book I gave her. ¡°Anyway, that was just to show you how linear the progression of studying E¡¯er is.¡± Lapia took the papers and stored them. ¡°If you want a Wizard class, you have to prepare yourself to understand formulas similar to these.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t I just cast spells using a Power Tongue?¡± I leaned on the table. ¡°Those only command E¡¯er, they don¡¯t transform it in any way.¡± she thought for a second. ¡°When you speak Infernal, for example, E¡¯er vibrates. You could use that to disturb spells, barriers, wards, and more. I don¡¯t know a thing about Infernal, however. That¡¯s just my assumption. Also, as I said earlier, you can¡¯t cast a spell if you don¡¯t understand the mechanics behind it.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I see.¡± I stretched. ¡°This is way harder than I thought.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, in a way. It discourages those who want power for the sake of power. There is no easy way.¡± she chuckled. ¡°You should also start thinking of what class you want next. You¡¯re level four hundred and fifty on three classes.¡± ¡°Another Warrior class, I don¡¯t think I can handle E¡¯er.¡± I whined. ¡°Maybe related to spears, too.¡± ¡°How about the Halve specific classes?¡± Alyssa commented from the living room. I whipped my head around. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Right!¡± the Elf¡¯s voice was loud. ¡°I forgot about those.¡± ¡°There have been Halves who founded new classes.¡± Alyssa explained. ¡°As beings born of E¡¯er you influence it the most, so it behaves differently in that particular case. The Shorvanna Records mention them a few times.¡± she stood up and walked over to the table, sitting down. ¡°It¡¯s mentioned that they were all above level one thousand five hundred in total. There are classes that require a base level of power to acquire. I first got Arch Bishop. Then, when I got to level one hundred I went for Cardinal. You can¡¯t be a Cardinal before that. Some classes function that way, their skills too powerful to handle at lower levels. I believe those classes work like that.¡± ¡°And these classes, what are they?¡± my heart was beating fast. ¡°Nobody really knows, unfortunately.¡± she gave me an apologetic smile. ¡°Shorvanna described them as incredibly powerful.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Shorvanna?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°A Goddess.¡± the Elf replied. ¡°She taught the first tribes the Way of the Warrior.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I nodded. ¡°Is there a spear oriented one?¡± I asked, my fingers itching with the idea of a class specific for my species. ¡°You may be it.¡± Alyssa smirked. ¡°The Shorvanna Records tell of shields and swords. None with spears.¡± ¡°How? Aren¡¯t classes founded by groups of individuals sharing their knowledge?¡± I turned to Lapia. ¡°Well, a group of Halves gathered and founded new classes. Specific and attainable enough. For your species, at least.¡± the Elf smirked. ¡°You may turn its skills into spear related ones, who knows.¡± ¡°Okay, that sounds good.¡± I smiled. ¡°How do I get them?¡± They both shrugged. ¡°You¡¯d have to meet Shorvanna.¡± the Luzo took my hand to her cheek and closed her eyes. ¡°You have to reach five hundred in your classes first. Unless you jump into a nest of Blood Fiends, it¡¯ll take a while.¡± she smiled. ¡°Right¡­¡± I nodded. ¡°How about you? What class are you going for?¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be a surprise.¡± the Elf said, Alyssa giggled. I smiled at them and relaxed on the table. Blood Fiends? Nest? Like a dungeon? ¡°You¡¯ve mentioned dungeons before. What are those?¡± I took a cherry tomato, and ate it! ¡°Hmm¡­ Think of one hundred Riverfields on top of each other, going down.¡± Alyssa said as if she was talking about a vacation spot. ¡°Filled with monsters, dangerous environments, and the occasional group of criminals. There are usually a couple monsters stronger than the rest guarding each floor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s massive. How have monsters not just gone outside and fuck shit up?¡± I wondered. ¡°Various factors.¡± the Luzo raised a clawed finger. ¡°E¡¯er density, monsters are stronger the deeper the dungeon goes, so leaving would be like starving for most of them.¡± another finger went up. ¡°People enter and kill them for various personal benefits.¡± she raised a third. ¡°Dungeons hold many treasures. Resources, materials, monsters to tame, the list goes on. Plundering dungeons is very profitable for a nation.¡± ¡°And how long do people need to clear a dungeon?¡± I asked. A few weeks? Months at best? I wondered. ¡°Years.¡± the Elf shattered my expectations. ¡°Taking into account what you gave us, we could clear a dungeon in a few months. I have never entered one, though.¡± she turned to the more experienced woman. ¡°Four, five months tops.¡± Alyssa smiled. ¡°Without you, Natasha. You alone could clear an entire floor in minutes. Perhaps even destroy the dungeon itself and make it collapse, killing everything inside in a matter of hours, including other people.¡± It seems they''re overestimating me. I thought back on the Me''ik, it took me quite a while to kill them all. Well... I didn''t use my most powerful skills. I scratched my forehead in confusion. ¡°And the three of us going full power? With me attracting monsters and keeping them away from you?¡± ¡°Maybe a month.¡± she giggled at my confused face. ¡°We need to sleep.¡± Right. I have slept only once since I woke up. ¡°Makes sense.¡± I nodded. ¡°And how profitable would it be in terms of levels and such?¡± ¡°Depends on the dungeon. The nearest ones are pretty mid tier, the strongest monster at level eight hundred.¡± she explained. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I rubbed my chin. ¡°They¡¯d be pretty useful to you two.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°I think we could get a third class if we go.¡± ¡°How come I haven¡¯t seen anyone above two fifty?¡± I asked, remembering the last few days. ¡°Most people in Riverfield are young. While it takes time to grow in power, it¡¯s also dangerous.¡± Alyssa said. ¡°The best way is to get a solid group, and then take your time clearing dungeons or hunting monsters in the wild. Usually a tank or two, a wizard, a cleric, a scout, an archer, and a warrior. But you¡¯re a Halve.¡± she gave me a smile. ¡°I see.¡± I nodded. Yeah, it would be stupid to go unprepared. ¡°There seems to be a lot of leeway given to us Halves.¡± I commented. ¡°You¡¯re born with incredible might. Add that to all the things in your storage. You have elixirs and equipment of the highest quality.¡± Lapia shrugged. ¡°Elixirs?¡± Alyssa perked up. ¡°Can I see one?¡± I summoned an Elixir of Rejuvenation and gave it to her. Her eyes widened, then squinted. ¡°This is extremely potent.¡± she took the cork off and sniffed its contents. She put the cork back on and returned the thing. ¡°But it can¡¯t compare to me.¡± she gave me a wink. I laughed and stored it. ¡°I bet.¡± Lapia said, standing up. ¡°Bathroom break.¡± ¡°It got pretty late.¡± Alyssa looked at the clock. ¡°It¡¯s almost eight.¡± ¡°Sonya!¡± I stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± I gave the Luzo a wet, juicy kiss, and walked to the door leading to Lapia¡¯s office. Going down the stairs, I took the booklet and the feed. Hmm¡­ Sonya is twelve years old. Looks ancient, though. I read the information and walked out of the building. Sonya was drinking water and turned to me when I approached. ¡°Hey, Sonya.¡± I rubbed her head. ¡°Have you been a good girl?¡± She nodded, her ice blue eyes locked with mine. ¡°You¡¯re pretty smart, aren¡¯t you?¡± I fed her and petted her red scales. ¡°Such a good girl.¡± She growled and licked my face, the smell of metal invading my nose. I admired the fantasy creature for a while, her scales hard and cold. Such an amazing thing. Even while talking to an Elf and a Luzo I tend to forget how fantastic this world truly is. Barely five days have passed. It feels like months. I chuckled. ¡°Hey, Sonya.¡± I grabbed her head and put my forehead against hers. ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± She growled and laid down. ¡°I¡¯ll come back tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll go run to the east.¡± I turned and left, storing the feed and booklet. As I walked back to the building, I noticed a really nice carriage parked at the front gate. It screamed high class. Two ostrich-like creatures pulling it, and a very well dressed lady holding the reins at the front. [Tateli, Lvl 147] [Tateli, Lvl 196] The lady turned to me and gave me a nod. Her skin was white as processed paper. Her eyes a dull silver. She had long ears like Lapia, and hair darker than Alyssa¡¯s scales done in a bun. [Elmari Elf, Lvl 101 Stalker] Ohh! A new one. I nodded back and entered the building. Going up the stairs, I whistled a tune and advanced with a light step as I cleaned my face with a towel. Reaching the top floor, I walked over to Lapia¡¯s office and opened the door. The office looked comfy. The light of the suns bathing it in warm light. I walked to the door and knocked. ¡°Is anyone home? I¡¯m selling a brand new product.¡± I called. ¡°My company deals with high quality silk bed-sheets. We guarantee one hundred percent customer satisfaction.¡± I waited. I heard footsteps and the door opened. There, a man of color stood. Wavy brown hair to his shoulders. A suit hugged his body. Hazel eyes stared at me and slowly widened. He was handsome and well built. [Amal Human, Lvl 192 Duelist] Who? I tilted my head. 14 - Cat. Laws. Boundaries. ¡°And you are?¡± I stepped into the apartment and asked him. He was taller than me, broad shoulders and thick arms. I looked behind him and saw Lapia and Alyssa sitting in the living room, a person wearing all black on the sofa in front of them. I noticed Tay, the alchemist I met in the morning, standing next to the unknown guest. ¡°Yon. It¡¯s an honor to meet Your Excellency.¡± he said, lowering his head. His voice was a pleasant tenor. I nodded. How do I even respond to that? Walking past him, I entered the living room and turned to look at the unknown guest. [Egys Tigea, Lvl 203 Necromancer] Blue feline eyes stared back at me. She was wearing a Goth Lolita dress. Black hair reached her shoulders, two round ears on top of her head, leaning to the sides. Her face was mostly gray-ish skin with black fur covering the sides and forehead. Gray, short, round eyebrows on top of her eyes. A small, gentle smile on her face. She didn¡¯t look a day past her thirties. She gave me the impression of a panther. I kept my face neutral. A nekomancer. Haha! She stood up and gave me an elegant bow. Crossing a leg and raising the skirt of her dress while her other arm went over her chest. Oh God, please no. I winced. ¡°Ren Dabrak, current head of House Dabrak. I cannot put in words how honored I am to meet Your Excellency Natasha.¡± her voice was mature and polite. ¡°Natasha Novak.¡± I said back. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± She sat down, and I positioned myself between my two girlfriends on the sofa, crossing my legs and arms. I noticed tea utensils on the table between us. ¡°Your Excellency must be wondering why I wanted to meet.¡± She was wearing black stockings and high heels. A thin, black tail around her left leg. ¡°First of all, I would like to welcome Your Excellency to Riverfield. I sincerely hope Your Excellency finds the city up to standards.¡± fangs peeked from between thin, black lips as she talked. ¡°I must say I am relieved that some of my worries seemed misplaced.¡± she smiled at the two women on my sides. ¡°Tay, would you be a dear and please serve us tea?¡± The woman in question moved to the table and did as asked. The man on the door like a bouncer. ¡°Took your time.¡± Lapia nudged my arm and smiled at me. ¡°Got distracted with Sonya for a little.¡± I smiled back at her. A plate and cup of tea was placed in front of each of us. I was dying inside. The woman in front of me felt like she came out of an old movie with her way of speaking. ¡°I confess I was plagued by worry when I first heard of Your Excellency¡¯s arrival at Riverfield. I was informed of Your Excellency¡¯s name and age, and couldn¡¯t help but think some of my peers would approach with ill intentions. Thus, I decided to send my assistant to arrange a meeting. I am most pleased Your Excellency agreed.¡± she smiled. Already regretting it. I took a sip of tea and tried to relax the knot in my stomach. ¡°I see.¡± I nodded. ¡°Why did you decide to meet me here, instead of your own place, or something?¡± ¡°Your Excellency¡¯s standing is above mine, it would be insolent to no end to arrange a meeting spot of my convenience.¡± she explained. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Though daring of me, I would assume Your Excellency¡¯s partners have explained some of the workings of the world, or will do so in due time.¡± she took a sip of the tea and hummed. ¡°Lady Lapia, you have excellent taste in tea, as always.¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± the Elf smiled back. ¡°Not at all.¡± she put the tea down and turned to me. ¡°Your Excellency, I have come for a number of reasons. If Your Excellency would allow me such boldness, I would very much appreciate if we could trade some of the items Your Excellency woke up with. I am interested in purchasing elixirs, weapons, armor, and anything Your Excellency would be willing to part with.¡± ¡°Elixirs? Why?¡± I remembered Alyssa¡¯s words at the elixir I showed her. ¡°Tay here is a very talented Alchemist. She would study them and, hopefully, come up with a way to replicate them.¡± she smiled at the woman in question. ¡°While Clerics are stronger when it comes to healing, some settlements have none. Alchemists rise up to that demand.¡± ¡°Sounds alright. What¡¯s in it for me?¡± I relaxed. This is much simpler than I thought. ¡°Of course.¡± she raised a finger. ¡°Ten gold coins for every unique elixir.¡± ¡°Mhm. Sounds fair.¡± I nodded. I have a literal ton, anyway. I stood up and walked to the kitchen table. Tay and Lady Dabrak followed me. I saw Alyssa visibly relax, shaking her head and whispering something to Lapia. Yikes. Should finish this fast. Taking out mid-tier potions, I placed them on the table. [Elixir of Rejuvenation] ¡°Haven¡¯t heard of this one.¡± Tay picked it up and appraised it. [Elixir of Life] ¡°This is better than the ones I make.¡± [Elixir of Night Vision] ¡°¡­¡± [Elixir of Fire Resistance] ¡°¡­!¡± [Elixir of Frost Resistance] ¡°¡­!!¡± [Elixir of Shock Resistance] ¡°¡­!!!¡± Her face morphed into one of awe as she appraised them. ... In total, thirteen potions sat in front of us. The consumables in the game went from ¡®tonic¡¯, ¡®potion¡¯, ¡®elixir¡¯, ¡®dew¡¯, to ¡®draught¡¯. From level 20 to level 450. I blame localized translation! The table looked like a Christmas tree with all the different colored hues coming off of the glass bottles. ¡°What do you think, Tay dear?¡± Lady Dabrak asked the alchemist once I stopped producing them. ¡°I¡­ would like to study them all.¡± she turned to me with shining eyes. ¡°Do you have stronger ones?¡± Shaking my head, I crossed my arms. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m willing to part with.¡± The scene of Lapia becoming an absolute babe replayed in my head. I had yet to test the others, so I took out ones with obvious effects. I wasn¡¯t about to whip out potions that granted immunity or silly shit like that. Her shoulders sagged and turned to the necromancer. ¡°We should take them all, Lady.¡± her voice was defeated. ¡°I see.¡± the Noble turned to me. ¡°That would be one platinum plaque and thirty gold coins, is Your Excellency satisfied with the amount?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I shrugged. I didn¡¯t need more money, to be honest. She produced a silvery credit card. I took it and noticed it had ¡®Lumin Kingdom¡¯ written on it, along with the ship and pickax. A serial number was carved on the left side. Cool. I stored it along with an embroidered cotton pouch holding the gold coins. The pattern was similar to the Noble¡¯s dress. ¡°Would Your Excellency perhaps part with any armor, or weapons?¡± her pupils widened a little and an ear fidgeted. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think I will.¡± I shook my head again. Alyssa¡¯s staff flashed in my mind. My weapons were too powerful. I had no low-level equipment as all my characters were max-level. ¡°May I inquire as to why, Your Excellency?¡± she gave me a polite smile. ¡°Elixirs can help people. Weapons and armor, however? No.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± she bowed. ¡°I offer my deepest apologies if that offended Your Excellency.¡± A queasy feeling ran up my spine. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the living room, alright?¡± I offered, walking to the sofa. I¡¯m spent already, Nobility is not for me. Never again! I sat down and Lady Dabrak did too. ¡°Now that business is done, we can go over the next topics I wanted to discuss with Your Excellency.¡± she smiled. ¡°Go ahead.¡± I nodded. I turned to Lapia and she was smiling, not saying anything. Alyssa was in a similar state, smiling and silent. Help me! Help. Me. ¡°As a fairly young city, Riverfield has seen very few Halves. His Excellency Miraztor visited over a thousand years ago. I would like to arrange an official welcoming party in Your Excellency¡¯s name.¡± she smiled. ¡°If Your Excellency refuses, I will understand. I am known as a woman of tradition, but I am not one to outright disrespect the wishes of others.¡± ¡°This¡­ party. Is it a political thing?¡± I winced. ¡°Yes, it is. Nobles and Merchants would try and curry favor with Your Excellency. Your Excellency¡¯s kind is more than just mighty individuals. A testament of power, wealth, status, tradition, culture, and much more. We Public Servants engage in such games, but ultimately respect those who wish to stay away from it. It may sound insolent, but we do not enjoy playing with an unwilling party. Please let me know if it¡¯s not something that would be well received.¡± Well, that was honest. I relaxed. She wasn''t demanding or imposing anything. ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡± I nodded. Fantasy politics? Miss me with that. ¡°I will let my peers know of Your Excellency¡¯s preference.¡± she smiled. ¡°Some, however, may not be as well behaved. Your Excellency¡¯s extremely young age has already reached our circle.¡± she glanced at the woman next to the kitchen table, who was still fiddling with the potions. ¡°But if Your Excellency¡¯s response to my dear Tay is any indication, I believe there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± she gave me a wide smile. ¡®Your Excellency¡¯ is kind of losing meaning in my mind by now. I blinked a few times. ¡°Thank you for the heads-up.¡± I nodded. ¡°Also, could you please just call me by my name?¡± ¡°That, I cannot do, I¡¯m afraid.¡± she shook her head, her ears shaking a little. ¡°I would be throwing away my respect for Your Excellency as a being of higher power. I beg to be allowed this.¡± she lowered her head. Holy shit. NEVER AGAIN! ¡°Okay.¡± I sighed. A headache was forming. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°I am most grateful, Your Excellency.¡± she straightened and smiled. ¡°I would like to interview Your Excellency, if that would be acceptable. My House owns Riverfield¡¯s newspaper.¡± she stopped. ¡°A newspaper is a form of written media. Publicized on the first day of the week for everyone to read, it contains information about current events, both domestic and foreign. I would like to write an article about Your Excellency.¡± I took a deep breath. Calm down, me. I¡¯m less than a week old in their eyes. ¡°Sounds fine.¡± I sighed again. Alyssa fixed her position next to me, covering her mouth. Probably holding back laughter. I chuckled. Lady Dabrak took out a notepad and a quill. ¡°When and where did Your Excellency wake up in Galeia?¡± she asked. The alchemist walked over and stood next to Lady Dabrak. ¡°Five or six days ago. In the middle of a forest, over ten thousand kilometers to the south. It was early morning when I came to, the weather was nice. There were a lot of birds and small critters.¡± ¡°So Your Excellency woke up in Tidon. Did anything interesting happen?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I met this big bird. Wait, I¡¯ll draw a sketch for you.¡± I took out a sketchbook and quickly drew the turkey. I paid special attention to the feathers, it was the first time I saw something that looked like magic. I drew my silhouette next to it for size reference. Lady Dabrak took the paper and smiled. ¡°Your Excellency is a very talented artist. May I keep this for the article?¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± I smiled. ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± ¡°What happened with this bird?¡± she stored the drawing and wrote down a few things. ¡°I tried talking to it.¡± I laughed at the memory. ¡°I followed it for a few hours. Then, we came across a river, where it wandered off back to the forest.¡± ¡°I see. Did Your Excellency appraise it, by any chance?¡± she looked me in the eye. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t know I could do that at the time. Why?¡± I fixed my skirt as she studied my face. She nodded. ¡°I have never seen this kind of bird before. Turkeys don¡¯t grow this big. How did Your Excellency reach Lumin?¡± ¡°I ran. One of my skills allows me to charge at very high speeds.¡± I re-read my skills. Hmmm¡­ is wind resistance treated as a ¡®slowing¡¯ effect? I shook my head. I could ask later. ¡°As expected.¡± her smile grew. ¡°What¡¯s your impression of the world so far?¡± ¡°Warm, violent, fascinating.¡± I took my partners¡¯ hands. ¡°It¡¯s a lot to take in, but I have two extremely smart women by my side, so I¡¯m not worried.¡± The two squeezed my hands. ¡°Lovely.¡± she gave us a warm smile. ¡°May I ask about Your Excellency¡¯s classes?¡± ¡°Warrior.¡± I simply said. ¡°Naturally.¡± she smiled and wrote down a few lines. ¡°About goals, is there anything planned?¡± ¡°Go around, explore the world.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Meet other Halves. Gods if I can.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± the sound of the quill scratching on the paper managed to calm my nerves a little. ¡°I beg Your Excellency to forgive my audacity. I would recommend visiting Her Dinivity Danuva, His Divinity Saravia, and Her Divinity Shorvanna. The three live together up north.¡± Even Gods have stupid ways to refer to them. I chuckled. ¡°I appreciate your advice.¡± I drank some more tea. The citric flavor with a hint of chamomile calming my slight headache. ¡°What about other Halves?¡± I thought maybe the Nobility knew of their locations, or where they were last seen. ¡°I am afraid I know no such information. I deeply apologize.¡± she lowered her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± I sighed. Her eyes went over what she wrote, then nodded to herself. ¡°How long will Your Excellency stay in Riverfield?¡± ¡°Until tomorrow.¡± I drank more tea. If Nobles are going to chase my tail, I¡¯d like to leave as soon as possible. ¡°Any destination in mind?¡± her quill moved as she wrote some more. ¡°Not yet. We¡¯ll talk about it later.¡± I looked at them and both nodded. ¡°Delightful.¡± she closed the notepad and stored it. ¡°I believe that would conclude my visit. I am endlessly grateful that Your Excellency agreed to meet me.¡± She stood up and I saw her black tail release her leg, hiding beneath the skirt. I stood up as well and sighed in relief. Lapia and Alyssa imitated us and I walked to the door, following Lady Dabrak. The Duelist opened the door and followed after Tay. I escorted them to the hallway, where the necromancer bowed once again. ¡°I am honored beyond words to have met Your Excellency. I extend the best of wishes, happy times, and plentiful spoils of war.¡± she gave me a wide smile. ¡°Same.¡± I smiled back. ¡°Good luck with the elixirs.¡± I gave Tay a wink. She simply nodded. ¡°Have a pleasant night, Your Excellency.¡± Yon lowered his head, his face showing a smile. ¡°Same to you.¡± I smiled back at him. They turned around and left. I closed the door and let out a very long sigh. Never again. I chuckled. Can¡¯t even imagine what a party full of people like her is like. Lord Punten was much more relaxed... I think. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. I walked back to the apartment and sat on a sofa, a loud sigh escaping me. ¡°You did great.¡± Lapia said from the kitchen. She was washing the cups and plates. ¡°Why did you leave me alone to deal with that woman?¡± I whined. ¡°Where is Alyssa?¡± The Luzo was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Bathroom.¡± she finished and walked over to me, then sat on my right. ¡°Natasha, you¡¯re your own person. You¡¯ll meet more people like her in the future. I though it would be a good learning experience, so I asked Alyssa to keep quiet as well.¡± ¡°Meanie.¡± I hugged her. ¡°That was stressing.¡± ¡°She held back.¡± she chuckled. ¡°I told you she wasn¡¯t unreasonable.¡± I ran my hands on her back, the feeling of her warm body calmed me. ¡°That was her holding back?¡± I felt terror at the thought of the woman going all out. ¡°Damn.¡± ¡°Nobles are an annoying bunch, but they understand limits.¡± she put her arms around my neck. ¡°They are raised to be respectful. Can¡¯t be successful if they offend the wrong people.¡± ¡°I felt so odd.¡± I smelled her hair, the scent of lavender tickling my nose. ¡°Your Excellency this and that.¡± ¡°I did tell you to get used to it.¡± she pulled back and kissed me. ¡°Was it that bad?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± I caressed her face. ¡°She left pretty quickly, after all.¡± ¡°Should¡¯ve seen your face. You were glaring at the woman.¡± she laughed. Her canines and sharp teeth showing. ¡°She must¡¯ve taken it as a sign to leave.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± I reeled back a bit. ¡°I thought I was pretty chill.¡± ¡°Well, you have that permanent stare, so I understand.¡± she looked me in the eye. What a nice way to say ¡®resting bitch face¡¯. I chuckled. I heard the bathroom door open, then close. Alyssa¡¯s footsteps followed. ¡°Finally, the hag left.¡± the Luzo¡¯s loud voice reached us as she came into view. She walked over to us and sat to my left, the sofa shifting at the action. ¡°Hag?¡± Lapia turned to her. ¡°She¡¯s barely two hundred and thirty seven years old.¡± ¡°What?!¡± I gaped at the Elf. ¡°That¡¯s a hag alright!¡± ¡°See? Her Excellency agrees with me.¡± Alyssa gave me a cheeky smile. ¡°Please don¡¯t. Those words lost their meaning in my mind.¡± I chuckled while relaxing on the sofa. She giggled and leaned her head on my shoulder. I looked at the clock on the wall and struggled for a few seconds to read the time. Nine thirty? A sigh escaped me. The booklet about Ratnaks materialized in my hands. Lapia summoned a thin book with some symbols on the cover. I assumed it was probably related to E¡¯er, having recognized some of the simpler shapes. Alyssa took out the romance novel I gave her. I continued reading about the beasts until a line caught my attention. ¡®A Ratnak¡¯s scales can become as hard as the metal they consume.¡¯ ¡°Alyssa?¡± I turned to her. ¡°Yes?¡± she looked up at me from the book. Her deep red eyes locked on mine. ¡°Here it says something about a Ratnak¡¯s scales becoming as hard as what they eat. Is that true?¡± I tilted my head. It sounded too fantastic, even for me. ¡°Yes. You shouldn¡¯t feed Sonya metals above a certain density, however. Her scales need to be flexible enough to allow movement. The feed they gave you is an alloy mostly consisting of soft and malleable metals. It¡¯s perfect for a Ratnak; they can easily digest it, keeps their scales hard enough to endure impacts, and resistant enough to withstand high temperatures. Their digestive organs are pretty strong, as you might¡¯ve guessed already.¡± she smiled. ¡°That¡¯s pretty cool. So if I want Sonya to be at her hardest, should I feed her my armor?¡± my smile widened with excitement. ¡°That would leave you with no armor.¡± she giggled. I tilted my head. ¡°I have more than one set, though?¡± Her eyes widened to their limits. ¡°What?!¡± Lapia asked next to me. ¡°Then why did you give us those flimsy-looking robes?¡± ¡°Well, Alyssa has a tail. And your ass is huge, Lapia.¡± I giggled. ¡°You won¡¯t fit in the pants.¡± ¡°Hahahahaha!!¡± the Luzo burst out laughing. ¡°My ass is not that big!¡± she blushed. ¡°What are you laughing at, Alyssa? Your huge tits wouldn¡¯t fit either!¡± The healer gasped, covering her chest. ¡°You did nooot!¡± ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± I laughed. ¡°Why are you laughing, Natasha?¡± Alyssa blushed. ¡°If not for your panties, you massive penis would get in the way!¡± ¡°¡°¡°HAHAHAHAHAHA!!¡±¡±¡± The three of us burst into laughter. I covered my stomach and enjoyed the silliness of the situation. I clapped for a while and choked on my own saliva, making us laugh even more. The picture of a dummy thick armor too funny. I noticed Alyssa¡¯s tail slapping the sofa as she laughed. Lapia¡¯s ears twitched a little. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Lapia let out a long breath after we managed to calm down. ¡°Such a good chain punch.¡± ¡°True.¡± a few giggles escaped me. ¡°Anyway, the robes are pretty good.¡± ¡°Can I see a piece of armor?¡± Alyssa extended a hand. I summoned a helmet and gave it to her. Her eyes squinted at the item. ¡°SSS+? Yeah, too tough. Sonya would need to be insanely high level to move with scales that hard.¡± she weighted it from one hand to the other. ¡°Pretty heavy, too. Good thing it has ¡®Weightless Wear¡¯.¡± She handed me the thing and I stored it. ¡°So, where are we going?¡± I asked. ¡°We leave tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lapia answered. ¡°I resigned earlier today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still a little surprised at how easily you decided to leave.¡± I confessed. ¡°Well¡­ I was attacked on the road, I realized I was stagnating.¡± she shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll have some trouble once we leave. I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll last long, however.¡± she sighed. ¡°We¡¯re here for you, Lapia.¡± Alyssa commented and smiled at her. I nodded. ¡°Thank you, Alyssa.¡± she blushed a little. ¡°I was thinking northwest.¡± the Luzo fiddled with her tail, making it wrap around her wrist. ¡°There are a good amount of dungeons there. Also, Mountroad is in that direction.¡± The Elf nodded. ¡°Sounds pretty good. We could recruit a Scout or an Archer there.¡± ¡°How long is the trip?¡± I rubbed my eyes. ¡°The longest in your life.¡± the Luzo gave me a cheeky smile. I tilted my head in confusion. Longest? Where are we even going? ¡°Three days.¡± the Elf leaned to the side. ¡°That¡¯s half your life.¡± ¡°Ah, yeah. That would be the longest trip.¡± I chuckled. Then, I smirked at them. ¡°I could make it in a few minutes, though.¡± I pointed out. Alyssa smiled and wrapped her tail on my thigh. ¡°Hey. Since we¡¯re leaving tomorrow, should we go over the laws tonight?¡± she asked, looking me in the eye with her scarlet ones. ¡°Sounds good.¡± I sighed. ¡°Make it simple, please.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± she smiled. ¡°The judicial system is split in two; courts and bounties. If someone commits a crime within a city, the Watchers would apprehend them and take them to court where they would receive judgment. This court is made up of regular citizens and change every two months, with one cleric supervising the process, since we study the law. Simple so far?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I put a hand on her thigh and caressed her scales. ¡°If someone commits a crime outside a city, that is, in the wild, someone would have to report them. Then, the Watchers investigate and put a bounty on the criminal. If there¡¯s little information, the bounty would be to bring them alive for interrogation. If the evidence is concrete enough, they may issue an order of ¡®Kill on Sight¡¯ if the crimes justify it. They offer a reward for whoever brings them in, usually in silver. There is no reward for killing them, however.¡± ¡°Okay. Pretty simple.¡± I stretched and sighed. ¡°What do they do with criminals if they¡¯re found guilty?¡± ¡°Prison. There is one in Lumin Kingdom. The Endless Pit, next to Paarjo, the capital. A literal hole in the ground. A sentence can range from fifty to a thousand years. Prisoners are tied with Numbing Rope and hanged. They are given enough food and water so they don¡¯t starve to death.¡± she sighed. ¡°It might sound too brutal, but abiding the law is the basis of contemporary society. If I were to disagree with a Human, for example, all I have to do is wait four hundred years and they¡¯d die of old age. The moment you commit a crime, you surrender your rights.¡± Four hundred years? That¡¯s a lot¡­ ¡°What about theft, or small crimes like that?¡± I was incredibly confused. ¡°Ah, well. You get a fine and forced labor. The more despicable the crime, the worst the punishment, of course.¡± she explained. ¡°The Watchers always investigate.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I see.¡± I nodded. It sounded pretty weird. I remembered the Watcher said they¡¯d investigate Lapia¡¯s case. Wonder how that¡¯ll end. ¡°Then, we have to address Society versus Rule.¡± her voice increased in volume. ¡°Let¡¯s say Lady Dabrak is found guilty of embezzlement. She would forfeit all rights to a trial. The populace would become her executioner. A corrupt Noble is of no use. Same with Royals and the Military. A country has no need for them, really. You can replace a King, a Queen, a General, or a Noble. You can¡¯t replace the populace. We are what truly matters in a country. There¡¯s more of us and we have more raw power. All it takes is an assembly for a city to fall in a single day. That keeps them clean and proper. If all else fails and a dictator rises to power, we have Halves.¡± she gave me a smile. ¡°Yulianna executed an entire Royal Family five hundred years ago, along with all the Nobles and the high-ranking Military. The country then became a Republic. Everyone who holds political power knows this. ¡®If you betray the people, they will bite your head off¡¯ is what she said.¡± she was smiling as she said those words. ¡°What if a Halve gets drunk with power?¡± I asked. The loop-holes were waving at me. She looked at me with an unimpressed face. ¡°Would you rule a country?¡± she asked me. ¡°Not at all.¡± I instantly said. ¡°Well, there you have it.¡± she shrugged. ¡°Halves have never been part of any government.¡± ¡°What if I commit a crime, then?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Who would stop me? No, who could?¡± ¡°That is a big point of discussion. A mute discussion, fortunately. You are born with incredible might, yes. At the same time, however, you all understand good and evil. In your own ways, of course. That¡­ is one of the many mysteries. How come the most powerful beings in the world aren¡¯t tempted by power? Are your minds constructed in such a way? Is authority not that seductive when one is born with such might? Is the instinct to protect that much compelling than any mortal temptation?¡± she smiled. ¡°All questions that have no answer. We have facts and evidence, however. No Halve has ever ruled.¡± ¡°Well, aren¡¯t we perfect.¡± I scoffed. ¡°No, you aren¡¯t.¡± Lapia said, putting her book away. ¡°A very long time ago, Holistos, a Halve, destroyed an entire country. Then, other Halves teamed up and killed him. They took his dead body before the Gods and Danuva revealed he was born with a fragmented mind. That has happened three times so far. However, a few individuals do not represent an entire species.¡± ¡°How did they find that out if he was dead?¡± that made me skeptical, even for a magical world. ¡°Danuva.¡± Alyssa shrugged. ¡°The mind stays behind after death.¡± Okay, that¡¯s too much. I shook my head. That¡¯s existential crisis fuel for me. ¡°Got it. If I¡¯m a naughty girl, my big siblings would come and fuck me in the ass.¡± I said in a bratty voice. ¡°Exactly.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°That would be it for the law. In very broad terms.¡± Lapia chuckled. I thought back on the conversation and the comment about recruiting more people to the group made me a little nervous. ¡°Hey, how would we go about ¡®recruiting¡¯ more people?¡± I asked, playing with my hair. ¡°There¡¯s three of us, how do we decide if someone joins?¡± ¡°Mhm. We could set boundaries right now.¡± Lapia said while standing up. ¡°How about we discuss it over some alcohol?¡± ¡°Alright!¡± the Luzo cheered and followed her to the table. I followed and we all sat down, the Elf produced five bottles. Three had transparent liquids and two were amber colored. More vodka? Nice! Alyssa produced green olives and pickles. I searched my storage and took out a wheel of cheese. Nothing hinted at what kind. It was white, around a meter in diameter and had no protective film. I took out a dagger and cut a triangle. Then, I cut out a small chunk and ate it. Goat? Fucking awesome! I put it on the table with a loud thunk, then, with a dead serious voice said, ¡°Cheese.¡± ¡°Nice, what kind?¡± Lapia took out glasses and served two with the amber liquid and one transparent. ¡°Goat.¡± I received the fantasy vodka and drank a sip. Ugh. Delicious. ¡°What did you cut it with?¡± Alyssa looked at the dagger. ¡°A Unique dagger. Why?¡± I cut the triangle in small chunks, around a cubic centimeter in size. The Elf put a plate on the table where I placed the cheese. ¡°That didn¡¯t leave any weird effect?¡± Lapia asked, a concerned expression on her face. I appraised it. It was a ''regular'' dagger, no special effects. I shrugged. ¡°None.¡± I offered the weapon, holding it by the edge. ¡°Check it.¡± ¡°I trust you.¡± she gave me a smile. My cheeks heated up. I simply nodded. ¡°First,¡± I started. ¡°Are we¡­ like, you know, long term?¡± I took a swig after saying that. ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± Alyssa blushed. ¡°Same with me.¡± the wizard said, and took a sip from her glass as well. ¡°So, about new partners.¡± the healer cleared her throat. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about things we won¡¯t accept. I think any member of the short to medium species would be a pass. We three will live more than four thousand years. While I will be able to extend lifespan, it¡¯s limited, and I don¡¯t know how long will take me to achieve it.¡± ¡°Reasonable.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°That would leave the long species as only candidates. I¡¯m pretty open. Except for the Jorrksuuv.¡± she shivered. ¡°What are those?¡± I asked, drinking more vodka. ¡°Bugs.¡± Alyssa said. I choked on my drink. ¡°Don¡¯t call them bugs.¡± the Elf chastised her. ¡°It¡¯s insect.¡± ¡°Wha-cough! What?¡± I winced, cleaning my face. ¡°Fucking insects? That¡¯s disgusting!¡± ¡°Alright, they¡¯re ugly, yes. Disgusting would be pushing it, however.¡± Lapia shook her head. ¡°The priestess said they have seven genders, how is that possible?¡± my stomach twisted at the thought of a person-sized bug flirting with me. ¡°Their gestation works like a factory assembly line.¡± Alyssa stopped for a second. ¡°Do you know what that is?¡± ¡°Yes, I get the idea of how that works.¡± I flexed my fingers to calm the queasiness. ¡°The egg goes from one to the next, each individual helps with the gestation of a different system.¡± she explained. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m not comfortable with this insect talk.¡± I said, drinking more. I imagined a giant cockroach winking at me and blowing me a kiss. I shook my head. Please, don¡¯t. I trembled all over. They both giggled at my reaction. ¡°What about more¡­ primal features?¡± Lapia asked, playing with a pickle. ¡°Minotaurs, Lamia, Harpies, and Merfolk belong to the long species.¡± ¡°Merfolk need to swim in the ocean every four months tops, that would limit our travels.¡± Alyssa said as she ate some olives and took a sip of her drink. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it once a year?¡± the Elf tilted her head. The Luzo shook her head. ¡°Four months. That¡¯s a little problematic. We can¡¯t go to the desert in that case.¡± the Luzo offered me some olives. I ate one. Tasty. ¡°Hmm¡­ true.¡± Lapia ate some cheese and hummed. ¡°This is good.¡± ¡°Harpies don¡¯t like Elves, so that¡¯s that.¡± Alyssa shrugged. The Elf scowled. ¡°Unreasonable bunch.¡± I finished my drink and served more alcohol. The thought of giant bugs still in my mind. ¡°What are Lamia like?¡± I thought of snake women, but doubted they would be a single gender species. ¡°You only mentioned them this morning.¡± ¡°The lower half of their bodies are serpent-like.¡± Lapia answered, refilling her glass. ¡°We¡¯d be lucky to meet one, though. They¡¯re really secluded.¡± I nodded. I had no interest in Lamia. ¡°They¡¯re often mistaken for gorgons, so it¡¯s understandable if they hide.¡± Alyssa commented, a piece of cheese in her mouth. ¡°Minotaurs are incredibly discriminatory.¡± the Elf chuckled. ¡°They don¡¯t involve themselves with people without horns.¡± ¡°Damn. That¡¯s fucked up.¡± I took a pickle and bit it. The sourness exquisite. ¡°What are we left with, then?¡± ¡°Elves, Luzo, Oni, Orks, and Goliaths.¡± Alyssa commented after swallowing. ¡°There are very few species with long lifespans.¡± That¡¯s still a lot. ¡°Hmm.¡± I chewed on another pickle. The mix of vodka with the snack divine. ¡°Would people from your species be okay?¡± They both nodded. ¡°Okay, now that we have boundaries, we can talk about how we would include an individual.¡± Lapia drank from her glass and sighed. ¡°How about all or nothing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay with that.¡± the Luzo nodded. ¡°And that is?¡± I finished my second glass, quickly refilling it while chewing on cheese. ¡°If one of us doesn¡¯t like somebody, it¡¯s a no-no.¡± Lapia pointed at me with a pickle. ¡°Reasonable.¡± I drank more. ¡°Any particular inclination?¡± ¡°Elmari Elves.¡± Lapia blushed. ¡°They¡¯re just¡­ ngh!¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°Not really.¡± I chuckled. Elmari¡­ the chauffeur was one. ¡°I saw an Elmari Elf. She was driving Lady Dabrak¡¯s carriage. I think it was hers, at least.¡± I put an olive between two cheese cubes and ate the questionable sandwich. ¡°I¡¯ve met her.¡± the Elf nodded. ¡°She goes for young boys only. Pretty quiet girl, too.¡± ¡°Can I ask what a ¡®young boy¡¯ is?¡± I tilted my head. She had said that quite the number of times. Please don¡¯t be a pedophile. ¡°It¡¯s an endearing term used to refer to bald men. Mostly for Humans.¡± she said. I sighed in relief. ¡°Natasha. I have to ask.¡± Lapia gave me a complicated smile. ¡°What are you doing with the olive pits?¡± I stopped chewing and looked down at the table. There, Lapia and Alyssa both had a napkin with a few. ¡°They have?¡± I took a napkin from my storage and spat what I had in my mouth on it. ¡°Shit.¡± I had crushed them. Broken pieces here and there between the meat. What? I looked at them. I didn¡¯t even feel them, my teeth and jaw too strong. I thought they were stuffed olives. ¡°Ah, I thought you were swallowing them whole.¡± she shrugged. ¡°No big deal.¡± I sighed. The crack on my sense of reality growing a few centimeters. ¡°Not like they would be a problem, anyway.¡± Alyssa patted my shoulder. I noticed her empty glass and refilled it. She nodded and took a sip. ¡°Are we going to the dungeons?¡± the Elf asked. I nodded. ¡°That would be nice. I want to go to one.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± the Luzo thought for a second. ¡°We have you Natasha, a Halve above level one thousand, so we don¡¯t really need another warrior at the front. A tank would be nice, to protect us in the back. Also an Archer, and a Scout.¡± ¡°What can be a tank if not a warrior?¡± I asked. Classes in this world were much more varied. Cardinals didn¡¯t exist in the game, after all. ¡°Clerics.¡± she answered. ¡°They focus on self-buffs and learn combat techniques. Monks, Paladins, Crusaders, Inquisitors, etc. Their healing spells are way weaker than us supportive clerics, but they do a pretty good job of protecting others.¡± ¡°The adults accompanying the kids were Paladins.¡± I recalled. "They were pretty high level, considering what I have seen so far." ¡°Yes. The Church lend their personnel for childcare.¡± the healer nodded. ¡°They are the future, top priority. Not even a Noble has that much protection. Lady Dabrak was joined by her personal bodyguard, the Duelist.¡± Lapia said. ¡°Did you see his level?¡± ¡°I did.¡± I ate another olive and took the pit out, placing it on the napkin. ¡°So a tank, a Scout, and an Archer.¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± Alyssa yawned. ¡°Uh, I think the alcohol just hit me.¡± Lapia yawned by reflex. I chuckled. ¡°Anything else you¡¯d like to ask?¡± the Elf looked at me. ¡°A shit ton.¡± I smiled. ¡°But we covered my concerns. Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to talk things over.¡± Alyssa smiled and yawned again. ¡°Ahh¡­ it¡¯s pretty late.¡± I turned to the clock. Uhh¡­ Ten fifty? Or Eleven? ¡°We should go to bed.¡± I stored the cheese and drank the rest of my glass in one go. ¡°Mhm.¡± Lapia rubbed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll wash the glasses, you go first.¡± She took them and turned to the kitchen. ¡°I need to go to the bathroom.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll join you tonight, I want proper rest.¡± ¡°Nice!¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°Let¡¯s cuddle, the three of us.¡± I stood up and gave her a kiss, then walked to the Kingdom of Rest. Facing the Throne, I peed. Then, I equipped a thong. Sitting down, I moved the string aside, making the nastier process easier. Since my partner was covered, it didn¡¯t touch the bowl. Sometimes my genius is¡­ it¡¯s almost frightening. I chuckled. The alcohol barely did anything, but I was a little giddy. I did my business, then went to the room. Lapia and Alyssa were under the covers already. I undressed and made sure my braid was tight, then went under the covers. With Alyssa in the middle, we got ready to sleep. ¡°Sleep tight, you two.¡± I said. Lapia waved her hand and the lights went off. My glow bathed the room in a gentle gold light. ¡°Sweet dreams, Natasha.¡± Alyssa gave me a kiss. ¡°I¡¯ll probably dream of Hell again.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Are you scared?¡± the Elf asked after a few seconds. ¡°Not really.¡± I sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ concerning.¡± ¡°Do you want to have sex before sleeping? Maybe that will help.¡± the Luzo blushed and gave me a shy smile. ¡°You should rest. Thank you, Alyssa.¡± I caressed her back and playfully slapped her ass. ¡°Nn. Whenever you want, Queen.¡± she giggled, then turned and hugged Lapia. I heard them kiss and smiled. ¡°Good night.¡± Lapia whispered. I hugged Alyssa¡¯s waist and closed my eyes. The feeling of her warm scales against my skin and her fit stomach was calming. Here we go. I relaxed, letting tiredness take a hold of me. 15 - Hot Morning (18+) I slowly opened my eyes, the image of a massive head with my fists in its eye sockets still fresh from the dream. The early morning light sneaked through the window above my head. Will every dream be like this? I sighed and noticed no trace of a hangover. Nice. I smiled. My penis was doing its morning thing, standing tall in full golden glory under the blankets. I looked to the side and the two were still sleeping. I quietly got up and went to the bathroom, where I washed my face and emptied my bladder. Then, wearing a different set of clothes from the previous day, since those were dirty, I went to the living room and did my morning exercises while thinking about Hell. I know Infernal, but the ¡®me¡¯ from the dreams doesn¡¯t understand¡­ That had caught my attention. I searched my storage for anything that could have come out of Hell, and found a few things I didn¡¯t recognize from the game. Since they were inside my storage, I couldn¡¯t appraise them, so I let them be. I only felt a warm and squishy surface. Shaking my head, I completed a set of crunches. Then, I went over the yoga routine. Standing up after finishing, I drank some water and wiped the sweat with a towel, running my hands over my abs. Then, I went to the bedroom to wake the two up. I heard giggles and sighs as I approached, however. Sexy time? I smiled and my face heated up. I walked into the bedroom and found Lapia and Alyssa making out on the bed, the covers pulled back. Limbs around each other, lips connected, and tongues entangled. Their breathing fast and sighs of pleasure escaping their lock. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I took out a sketchbook and a pencil while storing my clothes. Wonderful. A beautiful scene indeed. I began with basic shapes, sketching their bodies and limbs. Lapia was on top of Alyssa, tanned legs on the sides of scaly hips. Her hands on the taller woman¡¯s breasts. The Luzo had her hands on the Elf¡¯s butt, groping her big cheeks. A dark clawed hand reached up and cupped a tanned breast, pinching the soft pink nipple. Lapia let out a deep sigh, licking the other woman¡¯s neck. The older woman moaned at the feeling of the tongue running from clavicle to jaw. I turned the page after finishing, and began drawing again. Alyssa sneaked a hand between Lapia¡¯s legs, her fingers caressing an already moist vulva. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Lapia. I¡¯ve always wanted to do this with you.¡± her deep voice elicited a pleased hum from the Elf. ¡°I¡¯m the same. If not for my job being so time consuming, I would have chased after you a long time ago.¡± her silky whisper thick with excitement and arousal. Their eyes glazed as they stared at each other. Lapia moaning at Alyssa¡¯s touch. Tongues lashed out and reconnected. Tan skin began to sweat. The sound of Lapia¡¯s wet labia being gently rubbed echoed in the silent apartment. I had a full view from the back, scaly fingers rubbing the clitoris and pinching the lips sometimes. Slowly, she inserted a finger. I saw Lapia¡¯s back muscles contract with pleasure, a moan leaving her. A tail went up and gently slapped both ass cheeks with a rhythm. Moans, sighs, growls, and purrs filled the apartment along with the soft slapping of skin against skin. The younger woman now moaning loudly and shaking her hips roughly against the hand between her legs. ¡°Alyssa¡­ I¡¯m going to squirt.¡± she groaned. She inserted a second scaly finger. Air and fluids were pushed out at the intrusion, a watery sound made me squirm. From between the two¡¯s legs, I saw a tanned hand reaching down to a light purple pussy, fingers slowly rubbing the clitoris. I turned another page. Alyssa increased her speed, and a wet slapping was heard every time her palm came into contact with Lapia¡¯s pubic mound. Both yelped and giggled, sharing wet kisses as they moaned. ¡°Fuck! I¡¯m gonna cum!¡± Lapia groaned, her big butt quivering and legs shaking. ¡°Isn¡¯t that pretty fast?¡± Alyssa teased the Elf with her deep voice. Holy shit. I want that teasing voice! I clenched my jaw. ¡°Your fingers feel the fucking best! Your claws are digging into my g spot.¡± she whined. ¡°Tell me if it hurts.¡± the Luzo said, her voice now gentle. Their hands kept going despite the pleasure they found themselves in. The two women¡¯s hips trembling with pleasure, moans increasing in pitch. Lapia inserted two fingers into Alyssa and rubbed the clitoris with her thumb, pressing down and making it vibrate. Is that what she did to me? I smiled. ¡°That!¡± Alyssa let out a loud moan. ¡°Just like that!¡± They collided into another kiss, their breathing ragged and interrupted by the wet sounds of their tongues and fingers rubbing their drenched pussies. The Luzo¡¯s tail went up the Elf¡¯s spine and started vibrating. ¡°Fuuuck!¡± Lapia screamed in pleasure, her hand not stopping. ¡°I¡¯m cumming too! I¡¯m cumming, Lapia!¡± she took her fingers out and quickly rubbed the wizard¡¯s clitoris, pressing against her with her light purple palm. Liquid gushed, wetting the bed and Alyssa¡¯s stomach as they both shook with their orgasm. ¡°Ahhn! Alyssa! Ahaa!¡± ¡°Lapiaa! Oohh!¡± Their movements slowed to gentle patting, their breathing relaxing. Bodies covered in sweat, they hugged, sharing a deep kiss. I finished the third drawing just in time. They giggled as they kissed, rubbing each other¡¯s skin and licking each other¡¯s faces. Noticing a heat spreading through my chest, I looked down and saw my penis erect once more. It leaked precum and stood angrily. My horny levels were off the chart. Standing up and storing my stuff, I climbed the bed and walked over to the two. ¡°Done drawing?¡± Alyssa asked, her tail wrapping around Lapia¡¯s thick left thigh. ¡°Yeah.¡± I breathed in, my face burning. ¡°Can I join in?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lapia turned to me. ¡°You don¡¯t have to ask, sunshine.¡± ¡°O-oh.¡± I cleared my throat and put my hands on my waist. ¡°So uh¡­¡± I hesitated. Both looked at me. ¡°Could one of you uh¡­ e-eat me out?¡± ¡°Sure can do.¡± Lapia smiled. ¡°I¡¯m pretty good.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll suck your penis, Queen.¡± Alyssa nodded with a smile of her own. I felt a moan escape me. Just imagining how mind-blowing it would feel to have both of my genitals stimulated to orgasm was already thinning my reason. Lapia thought for a second. ¡°I have an idea. Me and Alyssa will scissor, and you stand between us. I¡¯ll take the pussy, and you the penis.¡± She turned to the Luzo, who nodded with a wide smile. ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡± she giggled. My face burned after hearing her words. I sighed in delight at being naked in front of them. They both stood up and we all hugged. Sweet sighs escaped us as we groped each other¡¯s bodies. The two guided me to a three-way kiss and I felt my mind explode. I took one breast in each hand and gently groped them, softly pinching their nipples. In turn, they both grabbed my penis, slowly pulling the skin back and stroking it as they rubbed each other. We all moaned and sighed. Our tongues lapped each other, fangs and canines biting lips. Alyssa¡¯s tail slapped my and Lapia¡¯s butt. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this!¡± Lapia said with excitement, moving closer to the pillows. The two of them sat down on the bed and entwined their legs, Alyssa¡¯s tail supporting Lapia¡¯s back. This tail has so many uses! I stood between them, my front facing Alyssa, my back to Lapia. I supported my left leg on the bed headrest to ease access to my vulva. My balance would make a ballet dancer green with envy. I smiled. Alyssa gently took my penis and looked up to me, her red eyes glazed with arousal, her face flushed deep purple. ¡°I¡¯ll begin pleasuring you, my Queen.¡± she gave the head of my penis a quick lick and I almost fell down on my ass from the sudden stimulation. ¡°Ngh!¡± I moaned. ¡°That felt pretty good, Princess.¡± I brushed her white-silver hair as she ran her long blue tongue on my phallus, wrapping the muscle around my gold. The contrast in colors was wonderful. ¡°Ready or not, here I cum!¡± Lapia said, holding my hips and sticking her head between my legs. My position a perfect fit. Her tongue went straight for my clitoris, my pussy already moist with the previous affection. ¡°Fuuck! Mmm!¡± I trembled all over. The stimulation was world shattering. ¡°This is so good!¡± I whined. Shit! I felt my heart sink a little. I haven¡¯t seen my pussy yet. Is it ugly? Is it pretty? Is it smelly? Does it taste good? They both moaned into my genitals as they started grinding their hips. The tip of Lapia¡¯s wet and soft tongue circling my clitoris sent waves of pleasure all over my body. The rest rubbed my labia. ¡°You taste amazing, Natasha.¡± she slurped. ¡°Your clit looks like a pearl made of gold.¡± Good. I sighed in relief. I tried focusing on Alyssa. Her tongue covering my penis with saliva, tickling my frenulum and grabbing the base with her right hand, her left going between my legs and groping Lapia¡¯s breasts. She¡¯s good. I grunted as her tongue flicked my glans. ¡°Put it in your mouth, Princess.¡± I whispered, slowly placing my right hand on the back of her head. I had no idea if it would feel good or not. I had given blowjobs before, but that didn¡¯t give me any hint. I remember being told I gave killer oral sex. I chuckled. I saw her smile and open her mouth very wide, welcoming my thick cock in her mouth. Her fangs ran over the skin of my member, sending shivers up my spine. ¡°You can¡­ ngh! Do that?¡± I put my other hand on Lapia¡¯s head, holding her in position as she hit a really good spot. ¡°Yeh, Khuiig.¡± she said with my penis in her mouth. The moisture, warmth and softness enveloping my genital. Only about a fourth of it, though. ¡°Take it deeper.¡± I said, now more comfortable in telling her what to do. She nodded, the head of my penis hit the back of her throat and made me moan. She took a deep breath and slowly swallowed it. Whole. ¡°Fuuhuuck!¡± I whined. Her throat pressure stimulated every centimeter of my cock. Her nose touched my tummy. The sound of her tongue, saliva, and lips on my penis was loud and clear. Her jaw open to its limits to receive my stupidly thick member. Lapia¡¯s tongue was doing wonders, focusing on my clit and rubbing my labia at the same time. The wet sounds of my pussy juices as she lapped on them was numbing my reason, sending shivers down my legs. I felt the telltale heat of an orgasm dropping from my womb to my hips. Alyssa didn¡¯t move her head, though. Keeping her position and looking me in the eye. I slowly moved both my hands to her horns, giving her time to nod or shake her head. She closed her eyes and let a moan escape her stuffed throat, making my penis vibrate. How can she breathe? I wondered, wrapping my fingers around her horns. Their rough surface tickling my palms. Unless she¡¯s just not breathing. I slowly pushed her head back until the head of my penis was still in her mouth.. She exhaled as it went out and inhaled deeply once I stopped moving her head. My member was covered in her warm saliva, strings going down her chin and my length, mixing with my pussy juices and Lapia¡¯s spit. I tightened my anus and slowly pulled her horns, driving my cock deep in her throat again. ¡°Ghk!¡± she choked a little and opened her eyes, smiling. Her lips morphed around the intruder. Lapia¡¯s tongue picked up speed and so did I, moving Alyssa¡¯s head faster, but being careful not to hurt her neck. They rocked their hips and ground against each other, sighing and moaning into my genitals again. Watery noises coming out of their union along with the slapping of skin. ¡°Mhf!¡± the Luzo moaned. ¡°Ghk!¡± she choked again as my penis went down her throat once more. Alyssa breathed through her nose, air brushing my cock as it came out of her warm, squishy, and wet throat. Whiteness was replacing my sight and the heat in my hips made my legs shake, my right foot trembling on its own. ¡°Shit, this feels good!¡± I moaned, whining with pleasure. ¡°Oh, fuck! Keep going on your own, Princess.¡± Alyssa put both of her hands on my thighs as I released her horns, the stimulation too much to keep my hold on them. She went at the exact same speed as before, two pumps a second. Her head going back and forth as her lips around my penis made it disappear every time her nose touched my tummy. My breathing ragged, I moaned, yelped, whimpered, and hummed while drowning in ecstasy. ¡°Hyan?!¡± a high pitched moan left me as an adventurous finger enter my pussy, quickly scraping my g spot. ¡°Oh, shit!¡± I whined. ¡°So fucking good!¡± A numbing sensation spread from my vagina to my stomach, chest, back, and legs. ¡°Gunna¡­ cum!¡± Lapia moaned into my pussy, her voice making my labia and clitoris vibrate. I tightened all my muscles to prevent my legs from kicking, the incoming orgasm promised to wreck my body. My hips convulsed as the heat shot down my genitals, Alyssa¡¯s eyes widened when I came in her throat. Lapia¡¯s hand and face became absolutely sodden as I squirted. My head shot back as I climaxed. A supernova of pleasure numbed my mind. I bit my lips to suppress a scream, only a groan coming out. My hips shook back and forth uncontrollably between the two¡¯s heads, taking out my penis from Alyssa¡¯s mouth in the process. Muted whimpers left the two, climaxing at the same time, their movements and breath erratic. I heard gulping sounds coming from Alyssa and looked down at her, transparent liquids dripping down her lips to her chin and into her open hands below. She licked her lips and smiled at me. ¡°Such a big load, Queen. Your cum tastes wonderful.¡± she sighed and licked her fingers clean. Taking my cock in her hand again, she licked all over it. Not a single drop of transparent cum was left. I was breathing hard, coming down from the bliss, my legs shivering. Lapia leaned back, licking her own lips and hand. Taste? Let¡¯s see. My mind felt fluffy and warm. Bending down, I gave her an aggressive kiss. The taste of my own fluids was delightful. Not like semen, but pussy juices. Somehow extremely sweet. Lapia smacked my ass and giggled. ¡°Felt that good?¡± ¡°Heavenly.¡± I sighed. ¡°Truly divine.¡± Still shaky, I lowered my leg and walked to the middle of the bed, sitting down. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the afterglow, massaging my breasts and pinching my nipples. The two hugged and kissed, tongues entwined and hips quivering still. The two flirted for a while, kissing, hugging, caressing each other¡¯s bodies, and whispering sweet words of affection. Once the pleasure subsided enough to regain full control of my body, I turned and grabbed Lapia¡¯s legs, gently pulling her to me. ¡°Princess, let¡¯s make Lapia feel good together.¡± I said, spreading the Elf¡¯s legs wide. ¡°Oh my, please do.¡± she chuckled and laid back. ¡°Yes, Queen.¡± the Luzo giggled. Alyssa held her left leg, and me the right. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. We closed into her pussy. Her labia majora was puffy, the pink labia minora peeking out slightly. Beautiful. Her deep red clitoris was completely exposed, the hood pulled back. My golden tongue and Alyssa¡¯s blue licked her shape upwards, the Elf shivered. We met at her clitoris and both flick it from the sides, a yelp escaping our target. ¡°Nah!¡± she placed a hand on each head. I ran my tongue to the side, nibbling on her inner thigh. My partner in crime focused on the clitoris, her blue forked tongue lapping at the scarlet bean. I made my way back and replaced her as she imitated what I did, kissing and nibbling her other thigh. ¡°Fuck!¡± the Elf giggled. ¡°I have never had two women do this to me.¡± ¡°Do you like it?¡± I nibbled her clitoris, she shivered. ¡°Uh huh.¡± she nodded. ¡°Do you like how we¡¯re teasing you juicy and delicious Elvish pussy?¡± I closed my lips around her labia and vibrated my tongue against her clitoris as fast as I could. Loud watery noises filled my skull. ¡°HOLY SHIT!!¡± she shot her head back. ¡°OH, FuUuUuCK!¡± Her voice did a vibrato. I chuckled into her folds. She pulled my hair and tried to close her legs. Our hands kept her from succeeding. I disconnected and kept teasing. ¡°Princess, isn¡¯t this naughty little Elf¡¯s pussy just scrumptious?¡± I looked to the woman in question. She nodded. ¡°This mischievous Elf¡¯s pretty pink flower is exquisite.¡± Her tongue teased the younger woman¡¯s vaginal opening, pushing it open and going in circles, but not entering. ¡°Ohhh! Ahh! Mmh!¡± Lapia¡¯s voice was dreamy, leaning back and grabbing my hair and Alyssa¡¯s horns. ¡°Do you think you can reach her g spot with your tongue, Princess?¡± I kissed a tanned thigh, making loud sounds. ¡°Yes, Queen. I can do this, too.¡± she said. I turned and she showed me her entire tongue, it was a little longer than mine. The two tips moving independently, the left going up and the right going down, quickly alternating between the two. My pussy squeezed at the sight and I felt my womb quiver. I let out a whimper. ¡°I¡¯ll assault her cheeky little clit, and you rub against her glory spot with your tongue, Princess.¡± I kissed her and grabbed a big breast with my free hand. I was still high as a kite from the previous orgasm. My mind was swimming in confidence and audacity. She nodded as we broke the kiss, licking the Elf¡¯s juices off my lips. ¡°Let¡¯s begin, then.¡± I whispered. My lips caught the clit and I pressed my tongue against it as I heard Alyssa¡¯s tongue entering Lapia¡¯s wet pussy. Her head was sideways, otherwise her horns would obstruct me. I stiffened my tongue and pressed it against the pleasure point, and made it vibrate again. ¡°FUCK! FUCK! YES!¡± the Elf was screaming, her entire body shaking, her hips rocking and her hands pulling my hair. ¡°NATASHA YOUR TONGUE IS GONNA KILL ME. AHHNN! ALYSSA THIS IS GONNA BREAK MY MIND!!!¡± The woman next to me chuckled, and I noticed her eyes shine with a white light. Using skills while having sex? I felt my muscles become lighter. My tongue increased in speed at least thrice as fast. Oh. My. God. ¡°I¡¯m gonna dieee¡­ Cumming¡­¡± Lapia¡¯s voice was a breathy whisper. I didn¡¯t stop, and opened my mouth wide to receive her squirt. Alyssa imitated me and opened her mouth, her tongue still inside the elf. ¡°Oooahaahhmmm!!!¡± Lapia¡¯s stomach tightened and her pussy trembled. I looked up at her. Her eyes were closed, eyebrows scrunched up and mouth wide open. I felt her warm discharge hit my chin and the underside of my tongue. I greedily gulped her juices, the light sweet taste made me hum in delight. She does eat a lot of fruit, after all. As the torrent ended, I placed my fingers on her clitoris, quickly rubbing sideways. My dexterity made my actions unfairly precise and fast. The healer put two fingers inside, pushing air out and rubbing against the pelvic bone. Lapia¡¯s loud moans joined the sound of more streams hitting our faces, the bed, and even the floor. I kissed her stomach and ran my fingernails on her inner thighs as she came down from heaven. ¡°Hah¡­ that was¡­ a first.¡± she sighed and purred. We stopped our attack and covered her genitals with gentle kisses. ¡°Sex with a Halve is just on another level.¡± the woman beside me looked at me with a wide smile. ¡°Your turn next, Princess.¡± I kissed her and softly pinched her blue nipple. ¡°Tell me how would you like us to make you cum.¡± We sat up and faced each other while on our knees. The Elf closed her legs and took deep breaths. Her body still shaking with the afterglow of the orgasm. ¡°I¡­ want to make you cum, Queen.¡± she blushed and took my face in her hands. ¡°How would my Princess like to make her Queen cum, then?¡± I closed in on her and hugged her, caressing the scales at her back and gently slapping her butt. My erect penis rested against her flat stomach. ¡°Nn! I can use my tongue, or my tail.¡± she lowered her hands to my chest, groping my tits and pinching my nipples. ¡°Mf! Show me what you can do you with that tail, Princess.¡± I licked her lips and grabbed her butt, spreading her cheeks and sinking my fingers on them. ¡°Y-yes, Queen.¡± she breathed into my mouth and separated our hips. Her right hand went down and she grabbed my cock, pushing it down and placing it between her legs, where it pressed up against her labia. She moved her hips forward and ran her pussy lips over it until out tummies touched again. I felt a gentle, wet suction on my phallus. Her tail went beneath us and up my back, where it pressed me against her. A rough surface touched my female genitals. It felt like a rugged dildo, my body too tough for it to bring me anything other than pleasure. She returned both hands to my face. Lapia stood up and went behind Alyssa, where she knelt and lowered her hips on the base of the healer¡¯s tail. ¡°Recovered already?¡± I asked her, pinching one of her nipples. ¡°Ahnf! Not yet. I¡¯m still above clouds.¡± she sighed. ¡°I will begin, Queen, Lapia.¡± she looked me in the eye, leaning her forehead on mine as her tail brought us even closer, pressing out breasts together. ¡°Ahaaann!!¡± ¡°Mmnnn!!¡± Lapia and I moaned at the same time. Her tail was vibrating like a magic wand. The electrifying sensation sent shivers through my vagina up to my brain, coursing through my entire body. She lifted her tail further, touching my penis in its entirety and pressing harder against my pussy lips and clitoris. My vibrating penis pushed her labia up, warm moisture wetting it. ¡°Nn!¡± she closed on me and softly bit my lips, not breaking eye contact. ¡°Does my Queen like the pleasure her Princess is giving her?¡± she whispered in a teasing tone, rubbing my earlobes and nibbling my lips. My eyes rolled back and I let out a guttural moan as Lapia¡¯s hands went around Alyssa and pinched our nipples just as she said those words. The stimulation on all my erogenous zones and her deep, teasing voice was paralyzing my entire body. Heat dropped from my womb to my hips. ¡°Ahn! Mfh! Nha!¡± I moaned into her face. Her smile grew wider, showing her fangs. ¡°Holy fuck, this feels even better than that shit Dwarfs make.¡± Lapia commented from behind, purring into the Luzo¡¯s neck and licking it. Alyssa licked my lips, nibbling at them. Her supple, full lips against mine felt like a nuclear blast was happening inside my head. Her soft, wet tongue running over mine and sucking it. Scaly fingers pinched and caressed my ears, folding their tips and letting go. ¡°This¡­ Ahn¡­ feels¡­ terrifyingly amazing.¡± I managed to say between gasps and moans. My entire body was on fire. My pussy was drooling stupid amounts of lubrication. I took her face into my hands, staring at her deep red eyes. Her vertical pupils widened and narrowed every time she gasped. The reptile orbs made my heart accelerate and my womb quiver. Waves of pleasure assaulted my body as we stared into each other¡¯s eyes. Her big tits pressed against mine, our tummies together. ¡°This is heaven. Ahn!¡± I smiled as a loud moan escaped me. My heart was beating at the speed of light, my brain mushy and warm. I felt endless satisfaction. The hard tail vibrating against my clitoris made me lightheaded. Pleasure invaded every centimeter of my body. Red eyes looking back at me, a smile wide as the sky. I kissed her, her tender lips reciprocating. The taste of her saliva, the Elf¡¯s fluids, and my own tickled my tongue and brain. We drowned in the pleasure. Shivering, trembling, shaking,, and quivering. Our voices a loud and incoherent choir of bliss. ¡°Ahhn! I¡¯m going to cum, Queen!¡± she whispered into my mouth, her warm breath caressing my skin. ¡°Me too, Princess.¡± my hips were rocking back and forth, rubbing her wet labia with my cock and bringing ecstasy to both of us. ¡°I¡¯m about to as well.¡± Lapia announced, her voice still dreamy from her previous climax. ¡°Fuck! This is so good!¡± Our voices increased in pitch, moans becoming gasps as we climbed towards our orgasms. Heat shot from my hips down to my entire vagina and through my cock, the pleasure numbing my spine. I grabbed Alyssa¡¯s hips and pushed her back a little, then pulled her in, rubbing both my penis and her tail against our pussies. My penis pressing her pussy pulsated and my own pussy trembled as my discharge shot out through both. ¡°Cumming! Cumming! I¡¯m cumming, my Queen!¡± the Luzo moaned into my ear, further numbing my spine. ¡°Yeees! I¡¯m flying awaaay!¡± I closed my eyes as my entire body climaxed. I felt a warm, viscous wetness cover my member as we both ground against each other. ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Cummiiing!¡± the Elf hugged us both, shaking her hips against the still vibrating tail. ¡°Agh! Fuck!¡± I whimpered in ecstasy. ¡°Still cumming!¡± I lowered my hips, pressing my pussy harder against the tail. My entire back trembled, my feet shook. We fell to the side and shared a three-way kiss, lapping tongues and nibbling lips. Hands rubbing skin and patting pussies, along with gentle caresses to any clitoris our hands found. Our limbs tangled as the three of us hugged and cuddled, enjoying the afterglow. ¡°Nnn¡­¡± Alyssa purred. ¡°That was incredible.¡± ¡°You made us cum pretty fucking hard.¡± Lapia kissed her, grabbing a breast and pinching a nipple. ¡°Your tail is amazing, Princess.¡± I was breathing hard. I felt fluffy inside. My first proper orgasms with my lady parts felt amazing. ¡°Thanks.¡± the Luzo blushed. ¡°It was my first time pleasuring two women with my tail. I was really nervous.¡± ¡°You did great, it felt really good.¡± Lapia whispered. I nodded. ¡°True, you made my pussy feel like a festival, Princess.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°Oh, you two.¡± she smiled. ¡°How about we have penetrative sex next? I¡¯m craving for your cock right now.¡± the Elf gave me a cheeky smirk as she caressed my face. ¡°We should leave early to make the best of sunlight.¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°If we continue, we may leave later than we should.¡± Lapia pouted. ¡°Fine.¡± I thought for a few seconds. ¡°Is there a way for you two to fuck me? Like, proper penetration?¡± ¡°You want that?¡± the healer asked. ¡°Next time I could use the tip of my tail, but¡­¡± she trailed off, a complicated expression on her face. ¡°Natasha, you squeeze pretty hard.¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°My fingers are thin, so I¡¯ve managed to pull out right as you cum. I think you may break Alyssa¡¯s tail, though.¡± My eyes opened to their limit. ¡°Huh?¡± I sat up. ¡°About that!¡± I had just realized something. ¡°Did you break my hymen during our first time?¡± I hadn''t felt any pain, nor seen any blood. ¡°Queen, female Halves don¡¯t have a hymen. Otherwise you¡¯d be a virgin until you find something hard enough that could tear it.¡± Alyssa cupped my right breast and gave it a lick. ¡°That¡¯d be sad, losing your virginity to an object.¡± I gasped at the stimulation, then relaxed. That¡¯s hella convenient! I smiled. ¡°How do you know that?¡± I asked. ¡°They have said so themselves, and you didn¡¯t have one.¡± Lapia shrugged. ¡°You mentioned something Dwarfs make?¡± I turned to Lapia. ¡°Yes, they make the best toys. You¡¯d have to get one made of a really tough metal, Natasha.¡± she kissed me and grabbed my penis. ¡°I have one made of glass, but you¡¯d shatter it.¡± Oh¡­ that¡¯s inconvenient. Am I really that tight? High strength and constitution are really annoying now. I grumbled. ¡°We could buy a few toys in Paarjo. If we keep going northwest, we¡¯ll eventually get there.¡± Alyssa commented, going around Lapia and groping her butt. ¡°They¡¯re pretty expensive.¡± ¡°Do you have one too?¡± I asked the Luzo. ¡°I do.¡± she blushed. ¡°It¡¯s made of glass too.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go shower, then.¡± the Elf sighed and stood up. We went to the bathroom and Alyssa sat down on the toilet. She sat facing the wall, however. I was confused until her tail registered in my mind. Oh. Yeah, makes sense. I was cleaning the Elf¡¯s body while thinking about our relationship. While confusing at first, it also felt warm and fluffy. ¡°How about we buy Bhin?¡± Alyssa asked lapia. ¡°They¡¯re pretty good for long travels, and they eat less than a horse.¡± A big smile spread on my face. At least they know what a ¡®normal¡¯ animal is supposed to be. My hands went over her body, the tanned skin supple and warm. I finished my ¡®Natasha special - Elf edition¡¯ and she stood under the shower. ¡°They¡¯re cheap, too.¡± the Elf said back. ¡°I have money, but I¡¯m not spending a whole gold coin on a mount.¡± she eyed me with stern eyes. Alyssa was next, handing me the hand brush. ¡°I can splurge.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Besides, Sonya looks really cool. I want to buy a carriage, though.¡± I carefully scrubbed her scales and gently cleaned her body. I admired her tail for a while. The appendage was still a little surreal in my mind. The way it vibrated against me made my face heat up. That felt insanely good. I giggled. ¡°No way.¡± the Elf said from under the waterfall. ¡°Those are too expensive.¡± I kissed the Luzo after finishing, then began cleaning myself. I used shampoo and a lot of soap. ¡°How much?¡± I asked, smirking at her. She sighed. ¡°Yes, yes. You¡¯re unfathomably rich. I don¡¯t want to mooch off you, though.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°I¡¯m used to traveling on horseback. Much more comfortable.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± I finished lathering my body with soap and stood under the rain. I stared at the Luzo. She had given me power to dominate her. Whatever that meant here, it surely was a matter of trust just like in any world. I guess now is as good a chance as any. Moving closer to Alyssa, I hugged her and kissed her cheek. ¡°Hey, cutie.¡± I whispered. ¡°Hey.¡± her deep voice tickled my scalp. She smiled and her tail pulled us closer. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Alyssa.¡± I gently caressed her scales and softly kissed her. She blushed and gave me a shy kiss back. ¡°Nn.¡± she nodded, running her soft palms over my abs. ¡°You¡¯re perfection.¡± Holy shit. I felt my heart flutter. How do I even top that? I giggled and licked her lips. ¡°Hey, Alyssa.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± she smiled and took my cheek, gently caressing me. ¡°Is it okay if we talk for a bit about our sexual dynamic?¡± my face heated up. ¡°I... don¡¯t know if I¡¯m doing it the way you prefer it, since I¡¯m pretty much a novice. I thought we could maybe speak our thoughts and feelings about it?¡± I saw Lapia give me a big nod and a thumbs up. ¡°Natasha.¡± the healer purred my name, giving me a huge smile. ¡°I feel safe and cared for when we have sex. You make sure I enjoy what we¡¯re doing and give me time to react and consent to what¡¯s coming next.Our first time together was pretty intense, true. Then, you put me and Lapia to bed with clean sheets afterwards.¡± she bit her lip. ¡°I really, really loved that. I feel like I can entrust you with my body even when unconscious. Then, when we shower, you treat me like I¡¯m the most precious treasure in the world. I feel respected, safe, and loved.¡± she looked away for a split second, blushing pretty hard. ¡°I¡­ admit to calling you Queen a little too fast. I just felt so¡­ comfortable in your arms. You¡¯re so, so much stronger than me, and yet, the way you treated me... I felt so desired and protected. Like nothing could have hurt me. Then, it flowed so naturally. You didn¡¯t abuse my trust, or go beyond soft orders.¡± she took my face with both hands. ¡°Are you comfortable with it?¡± I felt a huge weight fly off my shoulders. This was the very first time in my life I was in a position of dominating partner, and I had my doubts. But she just went and obliterated them. I felt my heart squeeze with happiness. ¡°I am. Thank you for trusting me, Alyssa.¡± I caressed her cheek, a wide smile spreading on my face. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful I was just nervous, is all. I didn¡¯t know if I was living up to expectations.¡± ¡°You bringing this up means a lot to me, Natasha.¡± she gave me a wet kiss. ¡°Thank you for respecting my feelings and caring for me. Also, for accepting me like that.¡± she smiled. ¡°My Queen.¡± I giggled and kissed her, embracing her in a tight hug. Her generous breasts pressed against mine, sending shivers all over my body. It felt indescribably good to fulfill that role for her, knowing I could satisfy her both sexually and romantically. ¡°How mature of you, Natasha.¡± Lapia¡¯s voice reached us. ¡°I almost forgot you¡¯re barely a week old.¡± I chuckled into Alyssa¡¯s mouth, stretching an arm and gently pulling the Elf into our embrace. ¡°I might be young compared to you two, but I¡¯m not one to keep my feelings to myself.¡± I kissed them both. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s go have breakfast.¡± Alyssa turned the shower off and Lapia dried us with her hot wind. I braided my hair and equipped red underwear, a white blouse and a blue skirt. It was supposed to be a school uniform, but I left the tie in my storage. Lapia, once again, wore a skimpy dress. ¡°Any dirty laundry?¡± she asked, fixing the front side. ¡°Yes, let me get my ring.¡± Alyssa smiled and walked naked to the room. Her tail moved with the sway of her hips. Her butt cheeks, though not as big as the Elf¡¯s, jiggled a little with every step. Her slender, toned legs were long. Her clawed toes softly scratched the floor. ¡°What do people eat to keep such figures?¡± I wondered out loud as my eyes roamed the Luzo¡¯s body. ¡°Healthy food?¡± the wizard next to me said, staring at the healer as she entered the room. ¡°A lot of walking, and high metabolism due to being high level prevents us from getting in bad shape.¡± I nodded, walking with Lapia as we kept looking at Alyssa¡¯s glorious shape. ¡°Makes sense.¡± I whispered in amazement. The healer took her ring from the night stand and brought it up her tail, a different pair of black panties covering her privates. She turned and found us ogling her body. She blushed and smiled. ¡°Like what you see?¡± her deep voice teased us. I gulped. ¡°Yes.¡± we both answered at the same time. She walked to us and a clump of white fabric materialized in her hands, which she gave to Lapia. ¡°These are the dresses I¡¯ve worn the last two days. And my panties.¡± the blush reached her neck and ears. I was looking at her breasts, the blue nipples greeting me a very good morning. ¡°And you?¡± the Elf asked me, extending a hand. ¡°Any dirty clothes?¡± I summoned everything I had worn so far, placing them in her free arm. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked, looking at the swimsuit. ¡°Waterproof clothes.¡± my eyes left the voluptuous breasts and looked into the Elf¡¯s green eyes. ¡°They¡¯re pretty comfortable.¡± ¡°I bet.¡± she smirked, stretching the fabric with her fingers. ¡°It wont take long.¡± She turned around and walked towards the bathroom, opening one of the doors to the side and entering. I returned my eyes to Alyssa, still naked. By all that is holy, those breasts are beautiful. I reached one and held it. The weight was null with my high strength, which made it a little frustrating. I wanted to feel how heavy they were. ¡°Nn¡­ your hands are so warm.¡± Alyssa whispered. Her eyes locked with mine. I released the tit and cleared my throat. ¡°Are you short on dresses?¡± ¡°No.¡± she chuckled, still staring into my eyes. ¡°I like being naked.¡± This woman¡­ I smiled. I fought the temptation of undressing and having another round of sex. We would be really delayed if I let my lust run free. ¡°Let¡¯s get the table ready.¡± I took her hand and we walked to the kitchen. ¡°Hey, how do I clean my teeth with E¡¯er?¡± ¡°Think of a million particles cleaning them. I doubt you¡¯ll hurt yourself, but be careful.¡± she snuggled against me. I did as told and felt like an entire colony of ants entered my mouth. I jerked at the feeling, letting go of her. ¡°Ugh!¡± I scowled. ¡°That felt super weird.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± she laughed. ¡°It does, but it¡¯s pretty useful.¡± Running my tongue over my teeth, I found them the same as before. I smelled my breath and the clean fragrance of E¡¯er tickled my nose. ¡°Weird, but pretty neat.¡± I curled my lips. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°A very beautiful silver.¡± she nodded, a white dress covering her body. ¡°A what?¡± I stopped thinking for a second, then I remembered what my teeth look like. ¡°Ah, right.¡± ¡°Here.¡± she summoned a small hand mirror and handed it to me. I took it and looked at my reflection. My golden eyes with the weird horizontal line across stared back at me. I smiled and the platinum-silver teeth showed themselves. It reminded me of that mutant that could transform into metal. He was Russian, just like me. He had a thicker accent. I chuckled, then felt a little insecure about my way of speaking. ¡°Hey¡­ do I uhm¡­ have an accent?¡± I asked. English, or Common, in this world, was not my first language. Also, I didn¡¯t speak it a lot after graduating art school, so I doubted my pronunciation was perfect. It¡¯s hard to spot accents while speaking. Alyssa bit her lips and fought a smile. ¡°A little.¡± Fuck. She sat down. ¡°I like it, a lot.¡± she quickly added, blushing. ¡°Especially the way you say ¡®Alyssa¡¯.¡± I chuckled. At least I understand everything. Still, that makes me self-conscious. ¡°Thank you.¡± I gave her a shy smile. I took out some juice from my storage and put it on the table, then walked to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I was surprised to find it filled to the brim with food. Well, storage magic exists. I shrugged. ¡°How come nobody has told me?¡± I asked as I searched for anything that could be eaten at breakfast. Lettuce, what looked like onions but blue, tomatoes, a lot of fruit, frozen meat, what I assumed was milk, alcohol, carrots, celery, and much more. I took out milk, eggs, and ham. I found flour, cooking oil, sugar, and salt in a shelf. I tried them to check if they weren¡¯t some fantasy look-alike. The milk had a really nice smell, almost as if it came directly from whatever animal it was milked from. It was decidedly not cow milk. Can¡¯t be from cows if Minotaurs exist, right? ¡°For one, it¡¯s very attractive.¡± she said. ¡°And who would point it out?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I turned to her and tilted my head. ¡°You¡¯re a Halve, Natasha.¡± she giggled. ¡°People respect your species a lot if you haven¡¯t noticed.¡± ¡°Yes, I have.¡± I sighed. ¡°While I¡¯m glad nobody has tried to stab me in the city, I think some take it to the extreme.¡± I searched the cabinets and found a big pan. I placed it on a burner and turned to the woman. ¡°How do I turn this on?¡± I asked. ¡°You¡¯re cooking?¡± her scaly eyebrows went up. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m making pancakes.¡± I pointed at the ingredients. ¡°There is a small circle with a flame, inject it with E¡¯er.¡± she explained. ¡°You know how to cook?¡± Why can¡¯t it be mechanical? I shrugged. I found the thing she meant and pushed magical fuel into it. A decent flame came to life in the biggest burner. ¡°Huh, neat.¡± I nodded and put the pan on top of it. ¡°I know a few recipes.¡± Pancakes and Okroshka. Living alone reminded me of a few things. And the internet. Definitely the internet. I mixed the ingredients and whisked the batter to perfection. Not too thick, not too runny. Then, I poured cooking oil on the pan and waited a few seconds for it to heat up. A few minutes later, three folded pancakes sat on plates. Goat cheese and ham inside. I took them to the table and placed one in front of Alyssa, one where Lapia usually sits, and the last one where I sat last night. I walked back to the sink where I put the pan, bowl, whisk, and wooden spoon and turned the water on, injecting some E¡¯er into the faucet. ¡°Well, well, well.¡± I heard Lapia¡¯s voice from the hallway. ¡°What do we have here?¡± I quickly looked for the sponge and dish soap, the world slowing down around me due to my adrenaline driven heartbeat. I looked back and the Elf was standing there, menacingly. Calming down, I washed the dirty utensils. Being careful not to justify Lapia¡¯s worries of me breaking stuff. ¡°Why nothing, Lapia dearest. I just made some pancakes for us to enjoy.¡± I gave her a wide smile. She raised an eyebrow and bit her lips, fighting a smile. She turned to the Luzo and tilted her head. ¡°Did you tell her?¡± Lapia asked as she walked to the table, then sat down. ¡°She asked.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°Whatever could you fair ladies be talking about, I wonder.¡± I did my best not to laugh. ¡°Natasha, your normal accent is fine.¡± the Elf dropped the bomb. My shoulders sagged. I finished cleaning and took my seat on the table. The pancakes were okay. Inoffensive at best. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± I drank some juice, the citric flavor was pretty good. ¡°I don¡¯t go around telling people what they sound like.¡± she shrugged. ¡°People have different accents, its called Common Tongue for a reason.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s hot.¡± Alyssa said, taking a bite of her pancake. Her face turned absolutely neutral. ¡°You didn¡¯t like them?¡± I asked a little nervous. ¡°They¡¯re¡­ okay.¡± she tried to smile. ¡°They¡¯re bland.¡± the Elf said, eating some of hers. ¡°The cheese and ham are nice, though.¡± I sighed in relief. ¡°Oh, okay. They¡¯re not supposed to be special or anything. Just plain pancakes.¡± The Luzo nodded, but chose to stay silent. I laughed. ¡°You can roast me if you want, that¡¯ll help me improve.¡± ¡°The taste is weak.¡± she looked me in the eye. ¡°Maybe next time add some powdered sugar, or baking powder.¡± ¡°Sorry. Didn¡¯t find any.¡± I looked down at my pancake. It was a little ugly, but no different from what I made back home. ¡°Pretty good for my first time cooking, right?¡± ¡°True.¡± she said, taking another bite. Her face returned to Buddhist Neutrality. ¡°They¡¯re alright for breakfast. Don¡¯t let the culinary critic discourage you.¡± Lapia chuckled at the healer¡¯s face of complete nothingness. I finished my food and stretched. ¡°What are we doing today?¡± ¡°I need to pack my things. Could you store the refrigerator?¡± Lapia asked me. ¡°My storage is limited.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± I nodded. ¡°How does it work?¡± ¡°You pump it with E¡¯er once a month. There are cooling enchantments that keep the food fresh.¡± she explained. ¡°Why not use a storage item?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°A refrigerator costs thirty silver on average. A storage item goes for fifty gold coins at the lowest.¡± she smiled. I turned to Alyssa and blinked a few times in confusion. ¡°And you have one?¡± ¡°I told you I made good money delving into dungeons.¡± the healer smiled and brought her thumb and index finger together. ¡°I have a small fortune.¡± ¡°Ah, I see. That¡¯s neat.¡± I nodded. ¡°How do I store the whole thing?¡± I asked. ¡°If you can move it, you can store it.¡± Lapia stood up, taking the empty plates to the sink. ¡°If it fits, it goes in.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I walked to it and squatted, putting my hands under it. I lifted it a little and did the exercise of pulling it into my storage. It disappeared. I tried feeling for it and it materialized in front of me. Opening it, I saw all the food still inside. ¡°Cool!¡± The two laughed. Then, we all gathered Lapia¡¯s belongings. They weren¡¯t many, most of the furniture belonged to the company. She fetched a few towels from the laundry room and we cleaned the apartment. I did most of it, since I moved faster and didn¡¯t get tired. She returned our clean clothes, they had the scent of lavender. One hour later after finishing breakfast, we were going down the stairs. 16 - Bye Riverfield. Hi Mountroad. End of Arc 1. We reached the first floor and the Human Accountant, Yolanda, was waiting at the front door. She smiled when she saw us and walked over to Lapia, giving her a big hug. ¡°It has been a pleasure working with you, Lapia.¡± she said. ¡°Same, Yolanda. I wish you peaceful and happy times.¡± the Elf returned the hug. They separated and the Human faced me with a smile. ¡°Please take good care of Lapia, Your Excellency. She¡¯s a bit cheeky sometimes, but she means well.¡± Lapia blushed and crossed her arms. I laughed. ¡°I think she¡¯s the one taking care of me.¡± I offered a hand and she took it while laughing. I stared at her for a few seconds. Humans¡­ huh. I felt nothing, not even loss at not being a Human myself. A very small relief, perhaps. ¡°I wish you good travels and plentiful spoils of war, Lady Alyssa.¡± the Human gave the Luzo a warm smile. ¡°Please take care of Lapia.¡± ¡°I will.¡± the healer giggled. ¡°Thank you for seeing us off, Yolanda.¡± Lapia smiled and hugged the woman once more. ¡°You¡¯re free to visit anytime.¡± the accountant took a handkerchief from a pocket and wiped a few tears forming on the edge of her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to come before you kick the bucket.¡± they both laughed at that comment. That¡¯s dark. I turned around and bit my lips. They said a few more words of good-bye and we left the building towards the parking lot. The suns were still rising, not visible yet due to the high walls. We hadn¡¯t spent that much time having sex and cleaning. ¡°You okay?¡± Alyssa asked Lapia. She nodded, her chin trembling a little. We all hugged and the Elf let out a few tears. ¡°Fifteen years.¡± she whispered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel wasted, but I could¡¯ve done so much more.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯ll do from now on.¡± I tried cheering her up. ¡°Go around, explore ancient ruins, maybe save a few countries.¡± She laughed at that. Alyssa giggled. ¡°Thank you.¡± she kissed us both and tightened the hug. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± We separated and she wiped her cheeks. She had a big smile, now. I had only seen her cry three times, and this was the one I liked to see; looking forward with clear eyes, instead of fearful and pained. ¡°What time is it?¡± I asked as we saw Sonya. The beast perked up and stood, looking at us while her tail swayed. Alyssa took out a pocket watch and looked at me ¡°Seven fifty. We woke up at around five.¡± I produced the metal balls and fed the Ratnak. I took one of her massive hands and rubbed between her fingers. Her eyes opened wide and growled in joy. If she had lips, she would be smiling. That booklet had a lot of information about these monsters. I smiled at her. ¡°Good morning, girl.¡± I let her hand go and patted her head, then put the saddle on. I mounted up and helped Alyssa and Lapia up. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re strong!¡± the Elf commented after she sat behind the Luzo. ¡°I would tell you the exact number, but you¡¯d get mad.¡± I snickered. Alyssa laughed and hugged me. ¡°Go slow, please.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± I asked. ¡°Let¡¯s go where you bought Sonya, then we can go to the market and buy a few last-minute things.¡± Lapia answered. ¡°Sure.¡± I nodded and rode my fantastical mount to the street. ¡°In the meantime, I would like to hear more about the Dragon Tongue.¡± ¡°Kahi.¡± the Luzo pulled back and took my hair. ¡°That means ¡®sure¡¯.¡± ¡°Kahi.¡± I repeated. We rode like that. Alyssa playing with my hair, Lapia with Alyssa¡¯s, and me looking around. The city was starting its day, people going in every direction, stalls and stores opening, and Bards singing in the distance. Two hours later we arrived at the Burhim & Pam farm. The fields were not as expansive as those outside the city, and the suns were starting to show themselves over the walls. I dismounted and helped them down, giving each a kiss. I noticed Alyssa¡¯s white hair done in a stylish braid. ¡°You look beautiful, Alyssa.¡± I hugged her. ¡°Nice job, Lapia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not 80 years old just because, sunshine.¡± she smirked, hugging us both. ¡°Thank you, Natasha.¡± the Luzo gave me a shy smile and a soft kiss. ¡°And thank you, Lapia.¡± she gave the Elf another soft kiss. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, honey.¡± the wizard blushed and separated. ¡°Let¡¯s go buy Bhin.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay here.¡± I announced. ¡°My Lancer class influences mounts too much. You should find a companion that likes you.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± Alyssa smiled and Lapia nodded. J?k, the merchant that sold me Sonya, limped out of the shack and opened his arms wide. ¡°Welcome to Burhim & Pam. Oh, I see you¡¯ve returned, Lady Natasha.¡± ¡°Good to see you again, J?k. Sonya¡¯s been a good girl.¡± I patted the Ratnak¡¯s neck. ¡°Love to see it.¡± he smiled, then turned to the Elf and Luzo. ¡°How may I help you Ladies?¡± ¡°We¡¯re looking for Bhin.¡± Lapia explained. ¡°We¡¯re going northwest.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, then.¡± he motioned towards the stable-looking building and walked off. Both followed him and disappeared into the white edifice. I leaned back on my mount and summoned Kingdom Fall, the novel Alyssa gave me. ¡°Holy shit!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°Not even a paragraph and someone already died.¡± The story was fairly straightforward. It began with the death of one of the Queen¡¯s many partners, Rinal. Distraught by the death of one of her lovers, she began an investigation. Fearing it was done by an enemy nation, she sent spies all over her Kingdom. When the story was getting juicy with drama and overly flowery dialogue, I heard Lapia¡¯s voice. ¡°Hey there, sunshine.¡± I looked up and saw her riding a red horse with ox-like horns. A Bhin. Behind her, Alyssa was sitting on top of another one. The horses were pretty thick boys, tall and muscular. ¡°What do these eat?¡± I asked, caressing the closest one¡¯s head. ¡°The same a horse does. These have better stamina, higher constitution, and run faster.¡± Alyssa answered. ¡°And eat less.¡± ¡°Hoooh¡­¡± I breathed in wonder. The animal stared at me and snorted. Then, it stuck its black tongue out and clapped its lips on it, making a weird noise. Blin! I took a step back and shook my head. I mounted up and drove Sonya out of the farm. ¡°Hahahaha! Natasha!¡± Lapia laughed and called me. ¡°Yes?¡± I turned around. ¡°Your skirt flipped up!¡± she pointed at my butt. I fixed the thing and felt my cheeks heat up. ¡°Thank you for telling me.¡± We advanced slowly, the pleasant morning breeze dragging the smell of animals and their waste. I looked around, a lot of animals were weird and had unnecessary parts. Too far to appraise and get a name for the weird Elephant with a crown of horns in the distance. We crossed the inner wall and I followed the two as we moved towards a ¡®market¡¯ to buy stuff. The buildings became wider until a plaza similar to the one I saw when I first entered the city greeted us. Hundreds of people buying, selling, shouting, promoting, inviting, and marketing occupied the space. I looked around and saw a lot of fruit and vegetable stalls. Humans, Lupum, Elves, Tigea, a few Luzo and Dwarfs. I stared at a short man, his ashen silvery hair done in a ponytail and a very well kept beard of the same color adorned with jewelry. He was wearing overalls and eating a big papaya while leaning back on a wall. His eyes were similarly ashen silver. I almost thought he was a Halve, if not for his brownish skin. [Argo Dwarf, Lvl 86 Squire] ¡°The best fruit in Riverfield! Come and get your Oloyas! Fresh and juicy!¡± he shouted while eating. Huh¡­ I grinned. I guess class and occupation can be different. I also saw a very chunky Luzo, bare chest covered in blue scales, pale pink skin, two short horns and a thick tail coming out of loose pants. He was walking with a Lupum female, talking about something. [Azuuli Luzo, Lvl 92 Mocker] A performer, maybe? Weird class¡­ I continued looking around, Dwarf races made no sense to me; Argo and Ferk. The Argo race had ashen silvery hair and eyes, while the Ferk¡¯s were pitch black with lighter skin. We continued advancing for a while until Lapia and Alyssa stopped, Sonya halting as well. They dismounted and waved at me to join them. I did and we entered a small shop, moving a curtain aside. The interior was dimly lit, flasks and small trinkets filling shelves and tables. Nobody in sight. Now before I forget. ¡°Potion seller!¡± I called with a deep voice. ¡°I am going into battle, and I want your strongest potions!¡± ¡°This is not an apothecary!¡± a loud voice came from the back. ¡°Leave if you¡¯re seeking those!¡± ¡°Natasha!¡± Lapia nudged my arm. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯ll get us kicked out.¡± she hissed. ¡°Sorry.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Had to do it.¡± I am the strongest of beings, after all. I fought back laughter. And I¡¯m not a knight. I bit my knuckles to avoid laughing. ¡°Excuse me? We¡¯re looking for travel equipment!¡± Lapia called, shaking her head. Alyssa was looking at me with a confused face. I shook my head and bit my lips. A dandy old man appeared from behind a door, walking behind the counter. He looked at me and sighed, then gave me the stink eye. [Celez Human, Lvl 108 Enchanter] Finally! I am not worshiped! I wanted to give the man a kiss for not bowing or calling me cringe names. He was wearing a three piece suit, his hair meticulously kept, and a white beard equally as cared after. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± he raised an eyebrow. His tone was slightly annoyed. ¡°As I said, we¡¯re looking for travel equipment.¡± the Elf said. ¡°I heard you the first time.¡± he looked at her with clear gray eyes. Alyssa covered her mouth with a hand, and I bit my lips harder. Lapia nodded and smiled. A polite ¡®business¡¯ smile. ¡°A tent. For three.¡± she said flatly. ¡°Ten silver coins.¡± he talked slowly, then tilted his head as he focused on me for a second. ¡°Warranty not included, naturally.¡± ¡°Give me the best you have.¡± she said and put three towers of silver on the counter. The man lowered his eyes on the money for a few seconds, then looked back at Lapia. ¡°Very well.¡± he squinted his eyes and took the money. ¡°Any specific enchantment you¡¯re looking for?¡± He stretched every vowel and stressed every consonant, forcing me to increase my efforts to not laugh. ¡°Sound-proof, pest-repellent, and self-repair if you have.¡± she stared back at him. ¡°Hmm. I¡¯m sure I have one somewhere.¡± he replied. The enchanter turned around and picked up a ring from a side table. A big box materialized on his hands. ¡°Ra¡¯me leather, enchanted with pest-repellent and self-repair.¡± he said as he turned around, presenting the leather box. ¡°I don¡¯t have sound-proof enchanted tents left, unfortunately.¡± he placed one tower of silver back on the counter. Lapia eyed the box and nodded. ¡°Have a nice day.¡± she took the silver coins and inspected each one. The man simply nodded and turned around, walking to the back. We left the shop after the wizard stored the items. I laughed, Alyssa joining me. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Lapia chuckled. I shook my head. ¡°Nothing. He sounded funny, is all.¡± The Luzo sighed and we mounted up. The plaza was noisy and busy, so we left without talking. I followed their lead. We rode to the west, streets became narrower as houses and tall buildings became more common. Crossing the gate, we left the city. I turned around and looked at the tall walls as we moved towards the forest in the distance, following the road. Four days¡­ felt longer. I sighed and looked forward. I guess I¡¯m a nomad now. ¡°Haaa¡­¡± Alyssa sighed loudly. ¡°The road. We meet once more.¡± Her dress puffed up a little, then the one I gave her replaced it along with the helmet. Lapia did the same, wearing her combat garments. I copied them and sighed in relief at the feeling of the armor around me. ¡°Life moves so fast.¡± I commented. The Elf was on my right, and the Luzo next to her. ¡°Does it bother you?¡± Lapia asked, looking around. ¡°A little. Would be much harder without you two, if I¡¯m honest.¡± I gave her a thumbs up. ¡°I bet.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Can¡¯t see myself in your shoes.¡± ¡°Same.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°It¡¯s enjoyable, if anything.¡± I laughed. We advanced at a fast pace. Talking about little things and laughing at lame jokes. Once we crossed the edge of the forest and the sparse canopy covered the sky, the loud sounds of insects, critters, and the occasional cat accompanied the clip-clop of horses and Sonya¡¯s claws scratching the dirt road. Hours passed with us conversing. Alyssa taught me more of the Dragon Tongue, Lapia listening as well and writing things down. We ate a light lunch: fruits and dried meat. When night fell, we searched for a clearing and made camp. Alyssa taught me how to set a tent, something I had never done before. The sticks worked interestingly: they stiffened when injected with E¡¯er. The stakes were easier to handle, I just pushed them into the ground with a finger. Sonya and the two Bhin were laying on the ground as we sat around a fire Lapia lit. The flames revealed the clearing, casting dancing shadows into the trees and illuminating our faces. Alyssa took out a big piece of paper and stared at it. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I asked, stretching to see if it was a map or something. ¡°A map of the area around Riverfield.¡± she answered, looking at me for a second. ¡°Let me see!¡± I stood up and walked behind her. ¡°Cool!¡± The Luzo giggled at my reaction. ¡°Shit! I forgot to show you any maps.¡± Lapia facepalmed. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry.¡± I gave her a wink. ¡°I have you two. I don¡¯t mind not knowing a few things right away.¡± A large hexagon was drawn on the right part of the paper with ¡®Riverfield¡¯ written on top. A river crossed the city from south to north sticking to the rightmost wall. It then went north to the top of the paper. What I assume was the forest surrounding the city took most of the space on the map, green ink the only hint of it¡¯s meaning. A lake to the west surrounded by mountains with various dots on them. Each had a name, but were in an alphabet I didn¡¯t know. A little separated from the mountains was a small circle that had ¡®Mountroad¡¯ written above it. A road crossed it, continuing to a mountain chain if my understanding was correct. To the north, more mountains. To the south, forest. A few squares here and there with ridiculous names like ¡®Peakside¡¯, ¡®Lakeview¡¯, and more. There were a lot of dots with weird writings on the map, small settlements nearby. Dungeons? I wondered. That¡¯s a lot. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°We¡¯re around here.¡± a scaly finger pointed at a point west of Riverfield, about a fourth on the way to Mountroad. I nodded. ¡°Do you have a map of the world?¡± I excitedly asked. ¡°I have one.¡± Lapia said, taking out a map of her own. I walked over to her and looked at the map. Three continents were drawn on the map. The biggest of the three was to the left, leaning diagonally to the right. It was pretty thick at the middle. The top and bottom were narrow. The top fourth was grayed out for some reason. The second biggest was at the bottom half. It was shaped like a trapezium with very rough edges. At the bottom left of the continent, a massive delta formed a lot of islands. On the top right of the map an almost circular continent was drawn. A massive amount of islands sat in the middle of the three landmasses. The trapezium and the circle came pretty close to touching each other. ¡°This is Patuk.¡± she pointed at the circular continent. ¡°This is Makah.¡± she pointed at the left continent. ¡°This is Leks.¡± she pointed at the trapezium. Was there no Pangaea? I wondered. Right. Gods or Halves maybe changed shit. ¡°Where are we?¡± I looked closer. ¡°Lumin Kingdom is here.¡± she pointed at a spot near the middle of the trapezium, a little up. ¡°I came from the south. So maybe near the bottom coastline?¡± I wondered. Twelve thousand kilometers should be enough to cross the continent. I thought. ¡°The continents are way bigger, Natasha.¡± she giggled. ¡°Wait, so how much land did I cross?¡± I tilted my head. Russia is a little over eight thousand kilometers from west to east. Was I wrong about my speed? ¡°From here to here if you kept your speed constant along the river.¡± she pointed at a lower point in the continent. Not close at all to the edge. ¡°Alright.¡± I felt a buzz in my ears. ¡°So this is the world?¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± she nodded. This wold is massive! I looked up. I never left the forest while running. ¡°That¡¯s a big forest.¡± I sighed. ¡°The biggest in the world.¡± Alyssa said, smiling at our exchange. ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®Cradle of Life¡¯.¡± ¡°It covers Leks from east to west. Twenty five thousand kilometers.¡± the Elf nodded. No¡­ that¡¯s¡­ like half of Earth, only one forest? I sat down slowly and closed my eyes. ¡°This is hitting me harder than I thought. Give me a minute.¡± I managed to say. Three moons¡­ twenty four hours¡­ three hundred and fifty four days a year. How fast is this planet spinning? I felt nauseous. Two suns. My hands went numb and a shiver ran up my back. How strong is gravity here? To pull three moons and keep them away from two suns. How far away are they? Does it even work like that? Is this one of those super planets or whatever the name was? Shit, I¡¯m gonna have a panic attack. I took deep breaths. The sheer size of the world made me feel extremely small. I relaxed and let the feeling run its course. A single river is thousands of kilometers long. I didn¡¯t see any mountains. I should¡¯ve paid more attention in school. I chuckled. ¡°You okay?¡± Lapia asked. ¡°I can feel your heartbeat through the Bond going pretty fast.¡± I shook my head. ¡°A little existential dread.¡± I need a smoke. I stopped the thought. No, I shouldn¡¯t pollute my new body. A hand rested on my head, a gentle warmth spreading into my body. My panic lessened and I opened my eyes. Alyssa was smiling, kneeling in front of me. ¡°Better?¡± she asked, ¡°A lot. Thank you.¡± I sighed. Bless this woman. ¡°What happened?¡± Lapia asked in a soft voice. ¡°I felt¡­ small. So incredibly tiny.¡± I whispered. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± the healer comforted me. ¡°We live long, so we can explore it all.¡± I winced. ¡°That¡¯s a red flag.¡± ¡°Only in fiction, silly.¡± she pinched my cheek and stood up. ¡°We should sleep, how will we handle watch?¡± ¡°I can do it.¡± I raised a hand, a slight dizziness still in my head. ¡°I can forgo sleep until we reach Mountroad.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the limit?¡± the Elf asked. ¡°Uhh¡­ it says ¡®Choosing to stay awake spends a variable amount of E¡¯er a day until proper rest¡¯, so I guess until I run out.¡± I shrugged. ¡°A being of E¡¯er I tell you.¡± she shook her head. ¡°That means you could fight as long as you absorb E¡¯er. If the cost isn¡¯t exponential, of course.¡± ¡°If you drop below half, we¡¯ll rotate.¡± Alyssa declared. ¡°Okay.¡± I gave her a cheeky smile. She¡¯s the experienced one when it comes to traveling around, after all. ¡°How about a little sex tonight?¡± Lapia smirked. ¡°The tent is not sound proof¡­ we might attract something.¡± the Luzo pointed out. ¡°Tch!¡± clicking her tongue, the wizard crossed her arms and looked away. ¡°Can we make out, at least?¡± I chuckled as I stood up, walking over the Elf and giving her a juicy kiss. Alyssa joined us and wrapped her tail around us. ¡°Go rest.¡± I said after separating. ¡°Sleep tight.¡± Lapia nodded, holding the Luzo¡¯s hand and entering the tent. I sat down and took out my journal. While updating this journal, some things have come to mind. I have seen men, but they don¡¯t look like I expected them to. When Lapia first told me women chased, I thought men would be timid, shy even. That was not the case. My guess: it¡¯s not a matter of gender expression, more like sexual roles, if that can be differentiated between the two. Although it may sound narcissistic, I am quite the beauty now that I am a Halve. Not that I wasn¡¯t before, but it¡¯s much more pronounced. I didn¡¯t see the stares I was familiar with. Most were filled with amazement, respect, some fear. None had the desire I want from men. The little understanding I have about the subject is that roles in a society shift when ¡®nature¡¯ is conquered. That is not the case in this world. I faced a herd of animals that could easily trample over the entire populace of Riverfield. Even if it¡¯s something I don¡¯t really need to think about, and hardly comprehend, it comes to mind. Comparisons are inevitable, I recall Earth to find common ground and understand more, which sometimes confuses me further. If an Elf can live up to five thousand years, how long has the species existed? How long did it take for a fox to evolve into what they are today? Could Lapia be considered a fox girl? Wonder is what I feel as I write this. I will continue next time, the suns are rising. 7/3/1980. Yiama¡¯s Era. I looked up and saw Alyssa leaving the tent. The fire had kept the early morning from enveloping us in fog. Now dispersed, the air was comfortably moist and warm. I didn¡¯t want my sanity to drop, so I didn¡¯t question how a fire lived through the night without fuel. ¡°Good morning.¡± I waved at her. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Hey¡­ I did.¡± she yawned and nodded, receiving a peach I offered. ¡°Ohh! Thank you.¡± Sitting down, she bit it and swallowed a few times. Lapia came out of the tent next, her hair an absolute mess. We had breakfast, fruits and dried meat. We cleaned ourselves with a magical cloth Alyssa produced. I still felt dirty, however. Then, we fed the animals, packed our stuff, and resumed the trip. That day, Alyssa continued her lessons on Dragon Tongue. When we took breaks, they¡¯d teach me a few songs in common and were surprised by my vocal range. When the sky darkened we camped on a clearing and I checked my E¡¯er pool, ten points of E¡¯er were missing. Alyssa accepted that and went to sleep with Lapia. I spent the night walking around the clearing, a few animals came close but were harmless critters; birds, rats for some reason, weird miniature wolves, and a few cats with talons on their leg joints. Just approaching made them leave, so all was good. When dawn broke we had breakfast, cleaned ourselves, fed the mounts, and left. The two got worried when I told them about the little forest friends that visited. They said those were all dangerous predators. I hadn¡¯t appraised them, because I¡¯m dumb, apparently. The Luzo said that unlike the Me¡¯ik, the weird moose, most predators have a semblance of intellect, and must¡¯ve realized I could have deleted them from the mortal realm, so they chose to leave. Alyssa asked me to speak in Infernal, and I said a few lines. We all cringed at my voice. Lunch was had and when the day started to darken with the coming of late evening, we spotted a town. It was a normal sized, regularly built, medieval looking town. The suns be praised! A stone wall surrounded a group of buildings, mostly wooden houses. Guards stationed on a large wooden door greeted us. We paid the tax and entered the town. I equipped my helmet to avoid being called cringe names. ¡°Let¡¯s go rent a room at the inn. We¡¯ll spend the night here and continue in the morning. It¡¯s pretty late. We can check if there¡¯s anyone interesting at the local Church, too.¡± Alyssa commented from the front of our formation. We continued into the town through its narrow streets and stopped at a tall wooden structure, four stories and a double door at the front. Now that¡¯s more like a fantasy inn. I smiled at the building. We left Sonya and the Bhin outside. I walked in first, pushing the doors open. At first, I wanted to do it wild west style, but that might have ended destroying them and causing trouble. Easy does it. A tavern welcomed us. FUCK YES! This is what it should have been. I clenched a fist in celebration. The space was dead silent, however. The bartender, a male Luzo, was chatting with a Human waiter. Blue scales covered his visible body except his face, two horns to the sides. The interior had twelve tables, of which eleven were occupied. Elves, Dwarfs, a couple Lupum and some Humans. The table farthest from the entrance was free, so we walked there and sat down. I stored my armor, the chair might have broken otherwise. The waiter approached us and smiled. ¡°Good evening. My name is Mako, what are you having?¡± his brown eyes scanned us. ¡°Vegetables and ale.¡± Lapia put five silver coins near the man. ¡°Meat and wine.¡± Alyssa did the same. ¡°Meat and fruit.¡± I put two gold coins on the table. ¡°And alcohol.¡± ¡°How many bottles?¡± he asked. I looked around, noticing a few patrons glancing my way. ¡°Enough for everyone.¡± I said loudly. A booming chorus of cheers followed. The bartender shook his head and took out bottles from under the counter. It feels as good as I imagined! I smiled widely. A female Lupum stood up and started singing, the Elves on her table followed her lead, taking out lutes and flutes. ¡°As the suns rise, so does the protector~ Eternal watcher, forever our savior~¡± she sang. That¡¯s cringe. I covered my face and laughed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a way to brighten the day.¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ll be staying the night if you have free rooms.¡± Alyssa put another ten silver coins. ¡°One room.¡± The waiter nodded, took the money, and went into a door next to the bar. A few more waiters came out and served everyone what they asked. The place soon filled with chatter, laughter, and the music of the performers. A few people approached me and asked my name, then started calling it out loud for everyone to hear. Toasts came and went, and drinking competitions began. A dwarf woman strolled over to our table as we ate, and sat next to me. Short. That would be the best way to describe her. Blond hair styled in a side cut and leather armor over her body. ¡°It would be rude not to drink with you!¡± she said in Earthen Tongue, or Spanish, then smiled and drank her tall tankard in one go. [Auno Dwarf, Lvl 134 Monk] I laughed and took a bottle of vodka, downing it in five seconds. I turned to her and smirked. Her booming laughter attracted people around our table and they began cheering on us. We drank directly from bottles and then we moved to full barrels. A few rounds later, she passed out. My liver was more resilient than I thought it¡¯d be. I was tipsy at best and was pleasantly surprised that my stomach burned the alcohol pretty quickly, not bulging in the slightest. I lost track of time while enjoying the light atmosphere and soon, night fell. We retreated to our room on the third floor where a wide bed welcomed us. Lapia and Alyssa had had their fill of alcohol too, giggling with me as we cuddled naked under the blankets. Alyssa stacked a few pillows and found a comfortable position as we hugged, Lapia hugging her from the other side. I kissed them softly and deeply, their wet and warm tongues, and soft full lips melting my brain. We fell asleep entangled like that. Since the rooms weren¡¯t sound-proof, we didn¡¯t indulge in sex. I had another dream about Hell. The same cave, facing demons the size of houses by hordes of flying demons. It was brutal. The pain was the same, the hunger and thirst too. The next morning we went to the first floor and had breakfast: fruit and a flavorless soup. Then, we left the inn, fed our mounts, and moved to the Church. Fortunately for my sanity, the registry didn¡¯t have people from the long species, so we decided to leave town. We continued our trip, going north this time. The forest was covered in fog, Alyssa complained about the cold and Lapia cast a floating fire ball to keep her warm. Our mounts were surprisingly quite fast, covering an absurd amount of distance the last few days. I understood why Bhin were the superior choice compared to a horse, they were easily twice as fast when jogging. Sonya easily kept the pace, maybe even slowing down to let them keep up with her. Alyssa filled us in about how dungeons worked. Watchers were stationed at the entrance, and a tax had to be paid once an individual left. We came across a good number of people on mounts and carts. Their levels ranging in the two hundreds. All headed towards, or coming from, the dungeons, apparently. I was getting exited about it. The Luzo hadn¡¯t said a word about how a dungeon looked like, wanting us to experience a fresh first impression. When the suns reached their zenith and the canopy thinned, I spotted tall mountains in front of us. Massive clouds lazily floating around them. The forest prevented me from looking at the horizons, so I had no clue as to their actual reach. We had a light lunch and kept going. When we reached the edge of the forest, a small city at the foot of the mountain greeted us. It was built into the cliff. Gray buildings going up formed a spiral, a tower at the center. Black walls circled the city in a semi-circle, stopping at the cliff. The city was tall, so we had a complete view of the settlement. We paid the entry tax and started crossing the gate. I decided to wear my armor at all times, helmet included, to prevent being called cringe names just like before. I still showed my face to the guard, however. ¡°Welcome to Mountroad.¡± the guard said as we continued. ¡°Huh?¡± I turned to Alyssa on my left. ¡°I thought the town we passed was Mountroad.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Why?¡± her helmet disappeared and I saw her confused eyes. ¡°Haha!¡± on my right, Lapia laughed as she too, took her helmet off. ¡°I did too.¡± ¡°The town wasn¡¯t on the map, so I assumed that was it.¡± I shrugged. The Luzo giggled at us. ¡°That happens.¡± Lapia blushed, then cleared her throat. ¡°Anyway, what should we do first? Find an inn or go to the Church?¡± I took a deep breath. Can¡¯t enter a dungeon without at least someone to protect them. I have no defensive skills. However. I would murder a blind mother for a bath. ¡°How about you two go to the Church and look for a tank. I need a bath. I feel absolutely disgusting, I haven¡¯t showered in three days. Also, I won¡¯t meet anyone while dirty.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯ll get us an inn, you can find me through the Bond.¡± The two looked at me with surprised faces. Lapia smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll bring back their forms, if that¡¯s possible?¡± she turned to Alyssa. The Luzo nodded. ¡°As long as we return it the next day.¡± We followed the street. The gray buildings and towers going up cast shadows over the city. I looked at a middle aged Human and called. ¡°Excuse me, sir?¡± I waved when he turned. ¡°Could you tell me where the best inn is?¡± ¡°Piss off!¡± he glared at me and walked away. ¡°Freak.¡± Refreshing. I smiled under my helmet. I tried a few times, responses were varied. Lapia and Alyssa laughed at my failed attempts. It wasn¡¯t until ten minutes later that I got an answer. I had to ask a Watcher. We rode until the street split in two directions. ¡°Have fun. And be careful.¡± I looked at them. ¡°If anything happens, send me a message through the Bond. Red for danger, green for when you are done, and blue if you want to meet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty smart.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be careful.¡± Alyssa waved at me. I went to the right, the two to the left. Looking around, I rode Sonya towards a well deserved bath. The streets were mostly occupied by individuals walking and riding animals. The buildings were pretty plain in design, and all were constructed with what looked like granite. Roofs were tiled, windows had wooden covers, and the streets were paved with the same material as the buildings. A lot of bridges and tunnels blocked the suns due the spiral shape of the city. More vertical in its construction compared to Riverfield. I felt the Bond pointing north and up. Their heartbeats calm and clear. Following the Watcher¡¯s directions, I arrived at a tall building. It looked just like the rest, a sign on the front read ¡®Koporva¡¯s Rest¡¯ in black letters on a white stone. I noticed another, smaller sign leading to a parking lot. It had a water trough and shade. I stopped and dismounted on an empty spot. ¡°Sonya, you¡¯ve been a very good girl.¡± I took one of her feet and rubbed between her fingers. I need to buy a pocket watch. I looked up, the underside of a bridge blocked the suns. She let out a pleased growl and licked my helmet. ¡°Are you tired?¡± Her big head shook from side to side. I looked around to see if anyone was close, I had no clue what time it was. ¡°We¡¯ll be staying here, so don¡¯t pick a fight with other animals, Okay?¡± I rubbed her chin. She nodded. I chuckled and walked around the building to the front door. Entering, I heard a small bell ring, announcing my presence. The interior had a cozy atmosphere, wooden furniture occupied a small hall, a counter right in front of me. Stairs on the right side going up into the building. A very handsome Elf came out a door behind the counter and looked at me. He was wearing a linen shirt and pants. Long, pitch black hair, and skin whiter than paper. ¡°How may I help you?¡± he asked in common. I removed my helmet and his eyebrows went up a little. ¡°Looking to stay for a while, three people, soon four.¡± I took out a gold coin and placed it on the counter. [Elmari Elf, Lvl 203 Comedian] I hope he knows a few jokes, unless that has nothing to do with the class. His dull silver eyes blinked a few times, a complicated smile on his face. ¡°Certainly¡­ Your¡­¡± he squinted, trying to remember something. ¡°Please don¡¯t. My name is Natasha.¡± I gave him a smile. He sighed in relief. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know what people call you Halves nowadays.¡± ¡°Stupid titles.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Do you have vacancy for four?¡± ¡°We do.¡± he chuckled. ¡°My name is Dasiso, by the way.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± I offered a hand, removing the gauntlet and glove. He shook it, then produced a book and a white quill. ¡°Name of guests? Their species too, please.¡± ¡°Natasha Novak, Lapia Pofeta, and Alyssa Pruvik. Halve, Elf, and Luzo.¡± I answered. He wrote something down and nodded. ¡°How many rooms?¡± he looked up at me, a cheeky smile on his face. ¡°One, a big bed.¡± I felt my cheeks heat up. ¡°And a large bath, if that¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± he chuckled and wrote another line. ¡°Breakfast is served at seven, lunch at one, and dinner at eight. Each floor has a mess hall.¡± Ooohh! It¡¯s one of those. Nice! I nodded. ¡°Good to know.¡± I looked him in the eye. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± he nodded, resting his hands on the counter. ¡°Do you know where can I buy a pocket watch?¡± I crossed my arms on my chest. ¡°You¡¯re in luck. The store across the street deals with those trinkets.¡± he smiled, his canines showing. ¡°Nice.¡± I nodded. ¡°Also, we have mounts. A Ratnak and two Bhin.¡± ¡°Thank you for letting me know.¡± he wrote another line. ¡°Any preferred floor? We have three rooms of your request available. Top floor, third floor, and second floor.¡± ¡°Second floor.¡± I answered instantly. It was already daunting to know we were on the tenth floor back in Lapia¡¯s. I want to look out the window without having a heart attack. He nodded and wrote a few words. ¡°I have to ask if you would please refrain from wearing your armor when going up the stairs. It looks kind of heavy.¡± he gave me an apologetic smile. ¡°No problem.¡± I nodded. I stored my armor, leaving me in my leather garments. ¡°Thank you.¡± he looked down at the book. ¡°How long do you plan on staying?¡± ¡°For the time being, indefinitely.¡± I looked around, a few plants here and there. ¡°Please sign here.¡± he turned the book to me, pointing at a small square and offering me the quill. I took it and signed my name in cursive. ¡°That would be it.¡± he closed the book and produced three brass keys. ¡°Your room is 2C. Second floor, at the end of the hallway.¡± I took them and put them in my storage. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± ¡°Thank you for choosing Koporva¡¯s Rest.¡± he gave me a big nod. ¡°What time is it?¡± I asked, turning to the stairs. He looked behind him, a clock hanging on the wall. ¡°Five twenty.¡± ¡°Thanks a bunch.¡± I gave him a thumbs up and went up the stairs. I heard a door open, then close. Bath. Bath. Bath. I chanted in my mind as I went up the stairs. Coming to the second floor, I saw a wide room, tables and chairs spread in it. I continued down the hallway to our room. It had a big ¡®2C¡¯ in wooden letters. Using a key, I opened the door. A wide, comfy space welcomed me. It had a living room and a window. A doorway led to the bedroom, a gigantic bed on it. Even bigger than Lapia¡¯s. I moved past, heading to a door on the other side of the room. A bathroom blessed me with its existence. Praised be all above. I got naked and walked over to the shower heads. I took a long shower, using a lot of soap and shampoo. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the shit out of the shower. ¡°Ah. Ah. ah. aH. AH.¡± I relaxed and warmed up my vocal cords. Even if my voice was higher than the original singer, I still liked the song. ¡°As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ~¡± I sang for a few minutes as I washed my body and groped myself. A loud sigh left me as I finished. ¡°This is bliss.¡± I wrapped a towel around me and left the bathroom. ¡°How can people live without showering at least once a day?¡± Walking over to the living room, I summoned a peach and took a bite. The explosion of juice was delicious. I sat down on a couch and relaxed. Hopefully our stay is peaceful. ¡°Shit.¡± I groaned. ¡°I jinxed it.¡± 17 - Test of strength. I explored the small apartment for a while, testing the bed and the other sofa. There was no kitchen, since the inn served food to their guests. I found a contraption that looked like a washing machine in a small room next to the living room. Two bottles labeled as soap and softener on a small shelf above it. Returning to the living room, I got dressed. White underwear covered my privates, a simple shirt and a skirt finished the outfit. My ¡®trusted¡¯ belted boots covered my feet. I left the room and walked to the first floor, then left the building. I didn¡¯t hear a bell this time. Neat. I nodded as I crossed the street. There, just as the clerk had said, a shop was open. ¡®Rutia¡¯s Trinkets¡¯ was written on top of the door. Moving a transparent curtain aside, I entered the store. Nobody in sight. A good amount of clocks, watches, umbrellas, goggles, and many trinkets I had no idea of were on display. Lapia said the rainy season is approaching. How hard will it rain? I wondered as I inspected the umbrellas. ¡°Those are one silver coins.¡± a female voice said from behind me. I turned around and found the smallest person ever to exist. She was standing on the counter, looking at me with an amused smile as she leaned on a mug. Her skin was pale green and her hair an ocean blue. White eyes looked at me. She was 20 cm tall, a silk dress covered her body. If she stood still, she¡¯d pass for a figurine. And that¡¯s what I thought she was when I entered. What is she? Appraise, go! [Tiny Laple, Lvl 227 Artificer] ¡°Hi, I was just looking.¡± I returned the items and faced the tiny person. ¡°I was told I could buy a pocket watch here.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I have a few that could suit you. Please wait a moment.¡± she turned around and started walking. I nodded and followed her with my eyes. The sight was a little scary. She was small, slender, had weird colors, and her eyes had a glow similar to my own. I was expecting her to grow butterfly wings and fly off, but she just walked all the way across the counter to a small hatch door on it. She disappeared into it and closed the door after her. A little cute, a little nightmare fuel. I smiled. I bet a fly is an arch-nemesis. While thinking what kind of animal or fantasy creature birthed such a tiny being, the hatch opened and she climbed back onto the counter. ¡°So, I have three that could be useful to you, Halve.¡± she produced a fabric and spread it on top of the counter with her arms and feet. Walking over the thing, three watches materialized on top of the fabric. One was gold, one was silver, and the last one pitch black. They had intricately carved lids and backs. Chains of the same materials ended in rings. ¡°The first one.¡± she announced, walking to the golden watch. ¡°Immune to stasis so you can store it and it¡¯ll keep working. It works with Perekis¡¯ Relative Eternity. Made of Gold and Inperim.¡± her hands glowed for a second and the lid opened. The interior was a masterpiece of clockwork, in my humble opinion. A glass pane protected the gears inside, four hands from the center to the edges. The interior was completely visible, hundreds of gears and small parts moving. All in gold. It had roman numbers, for some cosmic reason. ¡°Enchanted with self-repair, water-proof, and impact-absorption.¡± she patted the thing with a tiny hand. ¡°Ten gold coins.¡± I can take being scammed. I nodded. Besides, I believe we Halves are overcharged. ¡°What¡¯s the Perekis thing?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°As long as there¡¯s E¡¯er, it functions. It absorbs it passively to power the enchantments and gears.¡± she looked at me with her white eyes. ¡°I see. Got it.¡± I nodded. Amazing. ¡°Next.¡± she walked to the silver watch. ¡°Also immune to stasis. Made of Silver and Inperim.¡± her hands glowed again and it opened. It was the same, but silver. ¡°Enchanted with self-repair, water-proof, and impact-absorption. You have to inject the inner mechanism with E¡¯er every ten days. Two gold coins.¡± she moved to the next. ¡°Finally we have this.¡± she rested a tiny foot on the lid. ¡°Immune to stasis. Works like the first. Made of E¡¯eral Obsidian, Inperim, and Platinum, making it almost indestructible. I don¡¯t recommend testing that claim, however.¡± she smiled. Her tiny teeth looked like needles. I nodded. ¡°Noted.¡± ¡°Enchanted with self-repair in the unlikely event it breaks, water-proof, and has a compass on the back.¡± she opened it and it was surprisingly not entirely black, the hands were silver as well as a few gears. ¡°Twenty Gold coins.¡± That¡¯s a new element. I rested my hands on the counter. ¡°What¡¯s Inperim?¡± I asked the tiny woman. ¡°Found beneath the Bulukuru Sea, this material is very useful when it comes to enchanting tiny parts, perfect for clockwork.¡± she closed the watches one by one. I don¡¯t want to doubt the woman, but it sounds like bullshit to me. I gave it a thought. ¡°I¡¯ll take the three.¡± I decided. Turning my palm up, gold coins materialized on it. I put thirty two pieces in three small towers on the counter. The tiny woman stared at them for a few seconds, turned to me and smiled. ¡°Thank you very much for your patronage.¡± I took the watches and stored them. ¡°Thanks a bunch.¡± I smiled and left the store. Back on the street, I let out a sigh. Summoning the golden watch, I injected a little E¡¯er and it opened. Six¡­ forty. I nodded and appraised it. [Rutia¡¯s Gold-Inperim Pocket Watch (High)] (Perekis¡¯ Relative Energy) (Complex Clockwork) (Durability B) -Water Proof (Enchantment) -Stasis Immunity (Enchantment) -Self Repair (Enchantment) -Impact Absorption (Enchantment) It has the maker¡¯s name. Pretty cool. I put it back into my storage and crossed the street towards the parking lot. Sonya was drinking from the water trough. I lowered my body and closed in on her. When I was a few meters away from her, I jumped forward and grabbed her left hind leg. ¡°Gotcha!¡± I imitated a kidnapper. She let out a surprised yelp/roar and jumped back, taking me with her. Turning her head around, she saw me, then growled in annoyance. I laughed and she pushed me with her claws. I looked down to see if my clothes got ripped, but they were completely fine. ¡°Hand!¡± I extended my right one. She complied and put the limb on mine. I rubbed her fingers and scratched her chin. What should I do while waiting? I wondered as I played with the drake-looking beast. We playfully pushed each other, I was careful not to use too much force. I hugged her neck and focused on her heartbeat. ¡®Blue¡¯ Lapia¡¯s silky voice entered my mind. ¡®Church¡¯ Alyssa¡¯s gentle, deep voice said. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time.¡± I put the saddle on and mounted up. ¡®Going¡¯ I sent back to the two, then replaced my clothes for my combat gear. Alyssa has my form, so she can make a copy and update it. I rode the beast into the street and followed the Bond. I got lost. Two times. The city was a maze. I decided to ask a Watcher for directions. Finally, I reached Mountroad¡¯s Church. I had to look up while crossing bridges, and face walls while we passed near the edge of roads. I hate this city. I grumbled as I dismounted in a parking lot near the house of worship. A black wolf the size of a horse was laying on the ground a few spots away. It reminded me of the dudes that transformed into big dogs in that movie with the shiny vampires. Is that someone¡¯s mount? I wondered as I stored Sonya¡¯s saddle. [Fekir Lvl 704] My eyes widened at the level of the thing. The owner must be pretty high level too. ¡°Don¡¯t pick a fight with the dog, okay?¡± I rubbed the Ratnak¡¯s head. She nodded and neared the water trough. I left the parking lot and walked to the cathedral. The building was similar to Riverfield¡¯s, but smaller and without gardens. Built with granite, it was a dull gray. Not many people loitered around, and most were clerics and Watchers. Crossing the entrance, a Dwarf approached me. ¡°Lady Natasha?¡± he smiled at me. He was wearing a white robe with golden embroidery, a hood covering his hair. He had silver eyes and the little skin that was exposed was a gentle tan. A well kept beard of the same color as his eyes done in many braids and adorned with jewelry went down to his waist, covering the front of the attire. [Argo Dwarf, Lvl 210 Pardoner] ¡°That would be me.¡± I said back. ¡°Your partners are waiting for you.¡± his eyes squinted a little with his smile. ¡°Lead the way, please.¡± He turned around and gestured for me to follow, then walked off. His short legs made it easy. My armor disappeared into my storage, leaving me in my stretchy leather armor. The walls were covered with paintings, mostly abstract art. A few depictions of individuals bathed in light caught my attention. Are those Gods? I wondered. I knew better than to ask about it, so I kept quiet. We reached a double door and he opened it. A room with two sofas and a table between them. Lapia and Alyssa were sitting on the right one, and a red woman on the left one. They stood up and I focused on the unknown person. Red skin. Lots of it. She wore a black eye patch, covering her right eye. Her good eye was blue, looking over at me. White hair like snow tied in a short ponytail revealed short, pointy ears as red as her skin. Strands framed her face. Her chest was wrapped with a white fabric, going over her shoulders. Her chiseled abs and muscled waist were revealed for the whole world to admire. She had muscular arms and had her hands in her pockets. Loose shorts covered her hips, ending at her knees. Her feet were bare, black fingernails on her toes. She had thin, white markings on her body. They covered her shoulders, armpits, and ribs. Two red horns on her hairline divided short bangs. They were short and thick, at around ten centimeters in length, and going up. A golden ring rested at the base of the left one. Her lips were a shade darker than her skin, short fangs and tusks at the edges. She was similarly built like me, and equally as tall. Why are all women hot? I smiled. Bless this world. ¡°Hello, m-¡± I began. ¡°Halve! Fight me!¡± she said with a wide smile. Her voice was soothing and mature. Quite the contrast to the content of what she said. She walked over to me and crossed her arms under her chest, pushing them up. [Red Oni, Lvl 305 Asura] I turned to the other two and they smiled. What is going on here? I tilted my head. What about the kiss when first meeting? The Dwarf next to me chuckled and patted my lower back. ¡°Good luck, Lady Natasha.¡± He turned and left, closing the doors behind him. I gulped and took a step toward the Oni. She took a step of her own and I mentally prepared myself for a punch or whatever. ¡°No violence.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Not violence.¡± the Oni shook her head. ¡°Just a fight for fun.¡± She walked over to the table and took a paper, then came back and offered me it. I took it and gave the form a read. Name: Yolin Makav. Species: Oni (Red) Request: Lost my right eye to an Ur¡¯en recently. Cool if you heal it. My skills can¡¯t restore it. Gender: Female Age: 201 Likes: Fights, strong alcohol, nature, any food, honest feelings. Dislikes: Betrayers, people who abuse the weak, stupid titles. I tolerate: Snoring. Smelly feet. Offspring: None. Interested in: 50% men. 50% women. Languages: Red Tongue. Blue Tongue. White Tongue. Orkish. Common. My motivations are: Fighting strong beings. Reach the limit of mortal growth. Hobbies: Fighting. Training. Highest Class: Asura. (Tank Cleric) Total Level: 800+ Her likes are pretty nice, her dislikes too. So she just likes to fight the strong. That was a scare. Her level is pretty high. I looked her in the eye. Her good one, at least. She stared back, a carefree smile on her face. ¡°Natasha Novak.¡± I softly said. ¡°Yolin Makav.¡± she answered in her soothing voice. Her tongue was black, much to my surprise. ¡°So you¡¯re a tank?¡± I asked in Russian, or Orkish in this world. Her eye widened and so did her smile. ¡°You know Orkish? Good!¡± she nodded. ¡°Your form didn¡¯t say anything about Languages. I guess you haven¡¯t heard enough of them, yet. As you asked, I¡¯m a tank. Cleric base, Monk, Paladin, and Asura. I have various skills to redirect attention and increase durability, knowledge of fighting techniques, and I can inflict enemies with a few effects.¡± her soothing, mature voice did wonderful things to my mind. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°I fight with a spear. Warrior base, Hoplite, Lancer, and Dragoon. I have a few auras and warcries, and skills to fight big monsters. My Lancer class benefits from riding a mount. I have a Ratnak.¡± I answered. She was staring at my lips as I talked. I glanced at Lapia and Alyssa. They sat back down on the sofa and were looking at me. I guess they approve of her, since they called me over. I returned my attention to the woman in front of me. ¡°Let¡¯s fight, then.¡± she gave me a toothy smile. ¡°We can Bond later.¡± ¡°Why do you want to fight me?¡± I asked. I don¡¯t even know if I can fight bare handed. No way I¡¯ll use a weapon. I felt conflicted. ¡°You¡¯re a warrior.¡± she shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d like to test my strength against a Halve.¡± Is she a battle maniac? I giggled. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll hold back, though. I don¡¯t really know the extent of my strength.¡± ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s go outside, then.¡± she walked to the door and opened it. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Lapia and Alyssa stood up and walked over to me. ¡°Did you find an inn?¡± the Elf asked. We turned and followed Yolin. ¡°That¡¯s the first thing you ask?¡± I chuckled as we left the room. ¡°I did, big bed, comfy place. They serve food at set times, so we don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± the Luzo tilted her head. ¡°Sounds expensive.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cover that. Don¡¯t worry.¡± I held their hands. Then, I asked in a quiet voice. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with the duel, anyway?¡± ¡°Pretty normal, really.¡± the healer answer. ¡°Tanks test the vanguard¡¯s power, that also allows them to show their resilience and skills.¡± ¡°Sounds a little barbaric, to be honest. Makes sense, though.¡± I nodded. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, her level is very high.¡± Lapia squeezed my hand. ¡°Relax, Natasha.¡± I was staring at the back of the woman leading us. The white markings covered her entire back, a symmetrical pattern that reminded me of Polynesian tattoos. We crossed the hall and turned to the back of the cathedral. The Oni opened a big door and a spacious yard welcomed us. What looked like a fighting pit with pressed dirt was surrounded by stone stands. It was around twenty meters wide. It was more like a low-budget coliseum. ¡°Let me heal your eye.¡± Alyssa walked to her. ¡°Right! Almost forgot.¡± the tank laughed and removed the eye patch. A nasty acid burn covered where her eye should be. I grimaced, a queasy feeling going up my spine. The healer raised a hand and her eyes shone with white light. The scarred tissue fell off and her eye socket emptied. Then, an eye regrew inside, followed by eyelids, eyelashes, and the skin around the organ. She blinked a few times and nodded, giving Alyssa a big smile. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± The Luzo giggled. ¡°No problem.¡± I took a deep breath and looked away. That was disgusting. Yolin walked to the middle of the pit and turned to me. ¡°Come!¡± she took a fighting posture. Her fists were at eye level, her legs at shoulder width. Knees bent a little and her left foot forward. Lapia and Alyssa walked over to the stands and sat down. I sighed and walked into the circle, replacing my clothes for the sport set I wear while exercising, my feet bare as well. ¡°Any rules?¡± I asked. ¡°Monsters and bandits don¡¯t have any. Why should we?¡± she simply said. ¡°Alright, then.¡± I raised my hands in front of my face. I don¡¯t know how to fight barehanded! I¡¯m gonna get my ass kicked... ¡°Let¡¯s start!¡± Yolin announced and advanced on me. A set of four floating arms materialized behind her, her tattoos and eyes glowed bright white. White wrappings covered her hands and feet like a Thai boxer. What is this bullshit? I screamed in my mind as a white fist flew towards my face. I felt my pulse quicken and everything slowed down. Bless high dexterity! I ducked and took a step to the side, keeping the Oni in my field of vision. The other three arms were on their way towards me. Yolin advanced between them, looking me straight in the eye. She reached me before the arms, raising her right knee and pushing forward with her hips, aiming at my stomach. I dodged, stepping aside. A flying fist grazed my nose as I leaned my head back. I met another fist with my own, the thing burst in a small explosion of light. I didn¡¯t blink, since the brightness was not enough to blind me. I headbutted another fist, making it burst again. She brought her leg down, sinking a little in the ground, then spun. The same leg going up and around, her heel on its way to my temple. Holy shit! I ducked again. I felt a soft impact on the back of my head, probably another flying fist. I closed in on her and almost punched her lower back. I gently pushed her instead. That destabilized her, but she lowered her leg and jumped forward while turning around. She had a huge smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re fast and strong!¡± I heard her say in slow motion. But I don¡¯t know what to do! I retorted in my mind. She rushed me and more arms materialized around her. This time, they formed a circle and flew toward me at an even higher speed. I raised my arms in front of me, blocking them. The impact was negligible, and they all dissipated in light. A fist appeared beneath my elbows, going up towards my chin. I leaned back and avoided the uppercut. Her left leg went in for a kick on my leg. I instinctively raised it, receiving the blow with my shin. Her raised arm came down, supporting her on my shoulder. She closed in, bending her other arm and approaching my face with her free elbow. I decided to take it and see what would happen. It made contact on my temple and I felt a tickle. Now is the time where the protagonist awakens her hidden martial arts! Come! Nothing happened. I decided to copy her, my knee instantly hitting her stomach. It felt like a wall made of steel. It didn¡¯t hurt, and she didn¡¯t budge either. I didn¡¯t use much force either. Otherwise I would have killed her. I had no doubts about that. She smiled and punched me in the face while distancing herself. It felt like a playful slap. Shifting her hips, her right leg went for a high kick. I blocked it with a hand. Lapia, come pick me up, I¡¯m scared! I whined in my mind. She advanced and went for another kick, her left leg lashing out. I took a step forward, placing my right foot behind her supporting ankle, then pushed her with my shoulder. She was heavy. More than anything I had moved before. She bent backwards and supported her body with her arms, her legs following the inertia. I dodged a foot going for my face. She landed on her feet and righted herself, taking another step towards me. So pushing works. I smiled. And it doesn¡¯t hurt her. We circled each other and I dodged more punches, kicks, knee strikes, and elbow blows. Her right fist went for my face, I moved it aside and pushed her again. She had put her left leg behind her for support, canceling my action. Her arms shot around my neck, and she went for a knee strike on my solar plexus. I tightened my body and prepared for pain. It felt like a slightly heavy pillow hitting me, however. So this is five hundred levels of difference. Feels like cheating. I exhaled and relaxed, taking two steps back. It won¡¯t matter how big the difference is if I can¡¯t fight back, though. We continued sparring for a few minutes, I pushed her whenever the chanced presented itself, but she adapted incredibly fast to my movements. When she realized I was focusing on dodging, she stopped and smiled. The tank summoned more arms, this time connected to her body. Two above her shoulders, and two on her armpits. Their white color a heavy contrast with her red skin. A large white mandala floated vertically behind her, a horn of the same material grew from her forehead between her actual horns, her skin darkened, and twenty blue spheres circled around her. That¡¯s an Asura, alright. I felt a little turd threatening to escape me. ¡°Wooah!¡± I heard Lapia to the side. ¡°Let me buff you too!¡± Alyssa betrayed me. Yolin¡¯s body grew brighter, the markings on her body, the extra arms around her, and her eyes changing to a golden color. No halo floated above her head, fortunately. She brought her real arms together with a clap, the upper pair took the gesture of shoonya mudra, the lower pair had one palm facing up, while the other faced forward with the gyan mudra. The spheres shot towards her, merging with her body. Three symbols floated above her eyebrows. I demand a refund! I want those classes! Fuck spears! I grumbled in my mind. The woman in front of me looked like an accurate Asura. I thought of stopping the fight, but that would prevent me from testing my own body as well. I clicked my tongue and pushed E¡¯er into Prevention, Monster Hunter, and Dragoon Might while thinking of four hours. She smirked and rushed me again. She threw a punch, and I dodged to the left. A white arm hit me square on the chin. The rest hit me in the stomach, both ribs, and chest. It felt like a tap. I leaned forward and tried to push her. She dropped her body, dodging my hands. My momentum made me lose balance. The six arms supported her body and she bent her legs up, kicking me in the stomach and lifting me an entire meter above ground. Alright. I¡¯m scared. I admitted to myself. I clenched my butt as she followed the kick by grabbing my legs. She spun and I saw the world shift to my left. I punched to the ground, hoping to stop the carousel. My fist lodged into it and she let me go. Jumping back, I took deep breaths. This woman is serious. She rushed me again, all six of her arms punching different spots on my body. I raised my arms again, blocking my face. Her fists rained on me. Although the impact was negligible, I was worried of hurting her if I hit back, even if she was a tank. An idea came to me. I could just punch her extra arms, and block her actual fists. My fists lashed out, meeting white punch with golden punch. I palmed her real fists, my sped up reflexes fortunately allowed me to achieve it without hurting her. Every time I blocked her actual arms, the extra ones were already replaced. ¡°Hahahahahaha!¡± she laughed like a maniac. ¡°So this is a Halve! Wonderful!¡± What do I do?! I was getting worried. My strength, reflexes, and speed increased by the second. Her eyes were wide open, a smile befitting an Oni on her face. She looked like she was enjoying herself to no end. I punched fists, they exploded in light. I blocked her real hands, the arms reformed. I didn¡¯t dare blink in case I missed a hand and punched her actual fists. A smile slowly formed on my face as we traded blows. I was keeping up with six arms. Sometimes she would add a kick to the mix, spicing things up. I would raise a leg and block with my shin. She changed the order of punches, hitting with three arms at the same time. I dodged and leaned forward, trying to bait her into lowering her body. She didn¡¯t. She¡¯s 200 years old. Of course she won¡¯t, you pancake! I chastised myself. Taking a step forward, she spun around. Her heel connected with my temple. I didn¡¯t budge. Laughter escaped her. The soothing sound was nice. She took a step back and stopped her barrage of attacks. ¡°Can hit you with all I have?¡± she excitedly asked. I relaxed. Finally. A long sigh escaped me. ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t kill me, go ahead.¡± I nodded and spread my arms wide. I had already resigned myself for a beating, anyway. Hopefully Alyssa can heal whatever comes out of this. Something told me nothing would happen to me. I decided to trust that feeling. She brought her six arms back and took a deep breath. Then, she breathed out and her arms moved. In perfect synchronization, her fists hit me all at once. Her upper arms punched me in the face, her actual arms on my ribs, and the lower ones on the sides of my abs. Comfortable. Her strength was not enough to hurt me, but was more noticeable than before, and pushed my head back a little. The parts she hit became numb, and my breathing was interrupted by the impacts on my thorax. ¡°Yeaaahh!!¡± Lapia cheered. Whose side are you on?! Yolin was way stronger than Sonya, but the Ratnak had caught me off guard with the headbutt. Plus, I got a little scared back then. We locked eyes. Her sky blue eyes shined with excitement and she smiled. ¡°You¡¯re really durable, Natasha.¡± I nodded. ¡°You¡¯re quite strong yourself.¡± ¡°Why do you need a tank?¡± she crossed all her arms. ¡°I don¡¯t have skills to defend them.¡± I nodded towards Lapia and Alyssa. ¡°And I don¡¯t want to take risks.¡± She nodded. ¡°Good enough for me. Now, you punch me.¡± I raised my eyebrows and crossed my arms. ¡°No, I could kill you.¡± ¡°Not with everything. A mid punch will do. I¡¯m more durable than strong, after all.¡± she smirked. ¡°How about this.¡± I began. ¡°I will start with a weak strike, then use more strength. I haven¡¯t fought without the intent to kill, so I don¡¯t know how to control myself.¡± ¡°What have you killed?¡± her eyes sparked with interest. ¡°Human bandits and a herd of Me¡¯ik.¡± I reared a fist back. ¡°That sounds boring.¡± she laughed and opened her arms, offering her stomach. ¡°You¡¯re doing it wrong.¡± she pointed at me with one of her many arms. She took a stance and punched me in the stomach. It was a perfectly executed strike. ¡°Like that.¡± she straightened. I nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Taking a deep breath, I copied her. I had seen Thai boxing before, so the picture wasn¡¯t exactly foreign. I put my right foot forward, and my fists at eye level. Using very little force, I punched her stomach. It felt like a boulder. ¡°More.¡± she nodded. I complied, and used a little more force. ¡°More.¡± she gave me a wide smile. I did it again, stronger. ¡°Hmm. Now I felt it.¡± she gave me a shit eating grin. I chuckled. I was scared inside, however. I didn¡¯t want to hurt her, but knew this would give me an idea on how strong I actually was. Putting more weight into it, I quickly punched her stomach. She let out a sigh. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± her upper arms rested behind her head, her actual arms crossed in front of her chest, and the lower ones rested on her hips. ¡°Think of using an exact amount of strength. Just like when you use a skill and think about the time you want it active.¡± ¡°That helps a lot more.¡± I smiled at her. Let¡¯s go with two thousand strength, then. I brought my arm back and punched her. ¡°Good!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°More.¡± That worked?! ¡°Okay. Clench your butt, hottie.¡± I tightened my fist. Three thousand strength. I punched her and she moved two steps back. ¡°Nice! That actually hurt for once!¡± she motioned me towards her with her six arms. ¡°Break a bone or something. I have seven layers of defenses active right now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot!¡± my eyes widened. ¡°Come on, Halve!¡± she gave me a wink. My cheeks heated up. I want to kiss her, not hit her. Four thousand strength. I clenched my fist and punched her. ¡°Oof!¡± She bent over and fell on her ass. My heart sank. ¡°Nononono!¡± I rushed to her and went on my knees, supporting her back. ¡°Yolin! Are you alive?!¡± ¡°Ahh¡­¡± she groaned in pain. ¡°How long has it been since I last felt this much pain?¡± Her eyes were closed, a huge smile on her face. I sighed in relief and felt like fainting. ¡°Alyssa!¡± I called. ¡°Please, heal her!¡± I heard a giggle as the Luzo walked over to us. ¡°She¡¯s alright. That¡¯ll leave a bruise at worst.¡± Lapia stood beside Alyssa, both held hands and smiled at us. ¡°That was pretty hot, both of you.¡± the Elf bit her lips. The Oni relaxed and sighed. ¡°How much was that?¡± she looked at me with sparkling eyes. ¡°Ehh¡­¡± I started counting on the palm of my hand. Four thousand out of five thousand four hundred. Battle Trance increased my strength by two thousand, and Monster Hunter by five hundred and forty. Five plus two is seven. Uhh¡­ I¡¯ll round it up to eight thousand. So half? ¡°A little over half.¡± my cheeks heated up. ¡°Not bad at all!¡± she tapped my stomach. ¡°You¡¯d instantly kill me with all your strength.¡± She laughed and I shook my head. That gave me a good idea of how strong I was, and why the bandits and the Me¡¯ik exploded in showers of gore. A level 800 plus tank-focused person could take only half my strength after fighting for an extended period of time. ¡°That scared the shit out of me.¡± I sighed again. My heart was still going fast. Yolin stood up and I helped her. All her buffs dissipated and her skin returned to its original red color. The wrappings around her hands and feet disappeared as well. ¡°Thank you, Natasha.¡± she said in her soothing, mature voice. ¡°That was really fun.¡± I felt a pleasant shiver going up my spine. We stood facing each other. Should I kiss her now? I looked her over and liked what I saw. Same height as me, lean body, her chest was bandaged, so that didn¡¯t tell me much. Her abs looked like a work of art. Her voice was really nice, and she seemed like a relaxed woman. I licked my lips. Her eyes darted to my tongue, and she licked her own as well with her black one. We already shared basic information. I should get a book on how this works. We were standing at arms reach. Yolin had bow-shaped, full lips. They glistened with her saliva. Her fangs and tusks were apart enough that they wouldn¡¯t get in the way. Everyone has kissable lips, apparently. I smirked. Her white eyebrows arched in response. Her blue eyes reminded me of the sky. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The conversation died and I froze up. Why am I so nervous?! I¡¯ve had threesomes already! I gathered all my courage and raised my right hand, placing it on her left cheek. Her skin was warm and soft. I was imitating what Lapia and Alyssa did when they Bonded. My gold against her red was fascinating. She reciprocated, her right hand on my left cheek. I felt the weight of the universe leave my shoulders. Her hand was warm and rough. I liked it. My heartbeat was picking up speed. A tiny anxiety at the back of my mind. Just kiss her, you pancake! I told myself and slowly closed in on her. We connected our lips and I licked hers. A soft, warm tongue touched mine. We shared a gentle, soft kiss and then invaded each other¡¯s mouth with our tongues. I closed my eyes, embarrassed and excited. My left hand went around her waist and I pulled her against me, our abs touching made me sigh. My heart was going as fast as it could. I was kissing a woman I met barely an hour earlier, and in front of my partners at that. It should be a shameful thing to do, but I didn¡¯t let that feeling last long. She returned the embrace and we shared a passionate kiss. She tasted a little like smoked salmon. Her body was both hard and soft. The supple skin and hard muscles were really nice. I separated and sighed. ¡°Will you have me?¡± she asked before I could say anything. ¡°Yes.¡± I gave her a peck on her dark red lips. She smiled and turned to the other two. They walked over and Alyssa blushed as she kissed Yolin first. ¡°Will you have me?¡± The Luzo asked. ¡°Yes.¡± the Oni answered. Lapia was next. They kissed and the Elf asked the question. The tank gave her okay. ¡°So the lower level one asks?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Yes, since the stronger decides in the end.¡± the healer smiled at me and hugged me, giving me a kiss. Lapia gave me a kiss too. I was getting flustered with so many women kissing. I relaxed and focused on the Bond. Three heartbeats accompanied mine, I could tell each other apart, calm and clear. Realizing something, I literally froze. Does she know I have a penis? ¡°Uh¡­ Yolin, I uh¡­ have a¡­ penis...¡± I wrung my hands. ¡°A penis? Yeah, I was told. And your form said so as well.¡± Yolin gave me a thumbs up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t mention it before.¡± I looked down. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. We clerics have a scan skill to perform diagnosis, so I knew when I appraised you.¡± she laughed and playfully pushed my shoulder. What a refreshing attitude. I relaxed. ¡°Does it bother you?¡± Lapia asked me. ¡°Not at all. It feels natural to me, but other people may find it disgusting, or a deal-breaker.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I can¡¯t realistically expect everyone to accept me.¡± Alyssa turned to me with a face of cosmic confusion. ¡°Didn¡¯t Lapia tell you of the species?¡± ¡°She did, but I forgot most of them, to be honest.¡± I played with my hair to avoid looking them in the eye. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Changelings.¡± Yolin said. ¡°They can change their sex on the fly, and are very popular as partners. A little chaotic, but they¡¯re good people.¡± I nodded. I had heard of those from fantasy before, so I had an idea of what they could be in this world, if they were similar in any way. ¡°I see. So it¡¯s not such an alien concept?¡± I sighed in relief. ¡°Well, hermaphroditism happens. Having both properly working as sexual organs? Very rare.¡± Alyssa explained. That relaxed me a little. I nodded and turned to the Oni. She gave me a smile. ¡°Where do you come from?¡± I straight up asked. ¡°Red Island. A country to the far north, between the three continents. I came to Leks over a century ago.¡± she shrugged. ¡°Lumin Kingdom about ten years.¡± My eyes widened, then it clicked. Right. Long lived. 200 years old. Alyssa took my hand and giggled. ¡°It won¡¯t matter in a thousand years.¡± ¡°That¡¯s another red flag.¡± I winced. ¡°When I reach level one thousand, I want to tell you something.¡± Lapia gave me a cheeky smile. I shook my head. ¡°Not listening.¡± The three laughed and I joined. ¡°What should we do today?¡± I asked, a wide smile on my face. ¡°We came across some interesting forms.¡± the Elf gave me a wink. More?! I felt like fainting. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, then.¡± the Oni offered and led the way. We followed her and returned to the room where we met. The cool air was comfortable. Alyssa sat with me, and Lapia next to Yolin in front of us. ¡°We found two individuals.¡± Alyssa commented. ¡°They would not become partners, however.¡± I sighed in relief inside my head. ¡°Okay. Why?¡± ¡°They¡¯re men.¡± she simply said. ¡°And belong to the medium species.¡± Okay. I nodded. So you can have male friends without having sex? Who would have thought... Lapia offered me and the Oni a paper each. ¡°Me and Alyssa already went over them.¡± ¡°Before that.¡± I looked at Lapia. ¡°Can I see your form?¡± She smiled and nodded, adding another form. ¡°Here.¡± I reached over the table, took them, and went over the contents. Name: Lapia Pofeta Species: Elf (Domi) Gender: Female Age: 80 Likes: Ale, fruits, seafood, honesty, forwardness, tidy spaces, studying, the smell of the ocean. Dislikes: Liars, Gyk¡¯els, hubis mushrooms, bandits, ropes, being underwater, discrimination. I tolerate: Smokers. Offspring: None. Interested in: 90% women. 10% men. Languages: Elvish, Low Tongue, Common, Earthen Tongue, Kator, Sign Language (Elvish, Common). My motivations are: Furthering my research while growing in power. Hobbies: Reading, studying. Highest Class: Pyromancer (Fire-based Wizard) Total Level: 300+ Partners: 2 (Alyssa Pruvik, Natasha Novak) Finally. I smiled. Lapia is revealed! 18 - Meeting and Planning. Tolerates smokers¡­ I¡¯m not touching that shit again, anyway. ¡°You like the smell of the ocean?¡± I looked at the wizard. ¡°I grew up in a port city, of course I like it.¡± she smiled. ¡°What¡¯s this about being underwater, then?¡± I looked her in the eye. ¡°My mother is an asshole. We went to the beach and she threw me to the ocean when I was three years old.¡± she sighed. ¡°Large bodies of water are a little scary since then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty mean.¡± I bit my lips to avoid laughing. I looked at the other form next. Name: Bromisnar Bahadh Species: Satyr (Khlyp) Gender: Male Age: 176 Likes: Music. Poems. Yinka Plavas¡¯ works. Fine wine. Dislikes: High percentage alcohol. People touching my horns. Unfounded rumors. I tolerate: Uncultured people. Offspring: None. Interested in: 70% Men. 30% Women. Would accompany any party. Languages: Kator. Common. Twisted Verse. My motivations are: Meeting Yinka Plavas. Writing a poem worthy of Saravia. Hobbies: Playing the Lute. Writing Poems. Highest Class: Minstrel (Support Performer) Total Level: 300+ Partner: 1 (Bonte Slirmy) Oohh! A Satyr. Saravia as in the God? What a mad lad. I smiled. This one is quite the sensitive fellow. ¡°He seems alright.¡± I nodded. ¡°Who is Yinka Plavas? I know they wrote Kingdom Fall, but nothing else.¡± ¡°Yinka Plavas is a pen name.¡± Alyssa sighed. ¡°Nobody knows who they are. They¡¯ve been publishing books for three hundred years, so the possibilities are many.¡± Oof. I can¡¯t imagine what Dostoyevskiy could¡¯ve written if he lived that long. ¡°You¡¯re a fan, right?¡± I turned to the Luzo. ¡°Yes.¡± she nodded, a slight blush on her face. ¡°I¡¯ve read their works since I was young.¡± ¡°Nice, so he¡¯d be a fellow enjoyer.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Hopefully.¡± she smiled. ¡°What¡¯s Twisted Verse?¡± I re-read the form. ¡°The language of the Satyrs.¡± Lapia responded. ¡°Seems okay.¡± Yolin said and offered me the form she held. We traded papers and I went over it. Name: Bonte Slirmy Species: Tigea (Shishi) Gender: Male Age: 143 I tolerate: Picky eaters. Nobles. Offspring: None. Interested in: 40% Men. 60% Women. Making friends. Languages: Kator. Common. Severed Fin. My motivations are: Gathering money for a personal project. Highest Class: Shadow Chaser (Scout) Total Level: 200+ Partners: 1 (Bromisnar Bahadh) Kator must be Tigea Language? So little information. I tilted my head. Well, he doesn¡¯t really have to write a dating profile, after all. ¡°Haha! Funny man.¡± the Oni laughed while reading, then nodded. ¡°Interesting goals.¡± ¡°Why do men write so little information?¡± I asked, going over the form once again. ¡°I understand it¡¯s not really mandatory to put your entire life, but this¡­ Bonte, wrote very little.¡± The three shared looks, then turned to me. ¡°Men like to be a little mysterious.¡± Alyssa sighed. ¡°They¡¯re complex creatures.¡± ¡°It¡¯s to keep women from knowing too much about them before meeting.¡± the Oni shrugged. ¡°Makes them more interesting, in my opinion.¡± Lapia smiled. Weird, but acceptable. I nodded. ¡°Hmm. In Riverfield, most forms I read stated interest in both genders¡­ is everyone bisexual?¡± I asked, my brain tickled with a little confusion. ¡°Byesexual?¡± Alyssa tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Oh no. My eyes widened. Are heterosexuals a minority? ¡°You know¡­ being attracted to both genders.¡± I put a hand on Alyssa¡¯s thigh, caressing the limb. ¡°That¡¯s normal, though?¡± the Oni scrunched her eyebrows. ¡°Why have a name for that?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± the Elf rubbed her chin. ¡°There are women who only go for men, but those are outliers.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I nodded. ¡°And what do people call them?¡± ¡°Cock-chasers.¡± Yolin chuckled. I laughed. Who came up with that? ¡°That¡¯s a derogatory term.¡± Lapia shook her head, leaning back on the sofa. ¡°Doesn¡¯t make it less true.¡± Alyssa giggled, wrapping her fingers on my bicep and licking her lips. ¡°I have a question.¡± the tank raised a hand. ¡°Will men join us as partners at some point?¡± Lapia and Alyssa looked at each other and shared a knowing smile. These two. I couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°After you experience Natasha, men will disappear from your mind.¡± the Wizard gave the Oni an extremely smug grin. ¡°Oh?¡± the woman leaned forward, looking at me with hungry eyes. ¡°Is it that good?¡± ¡°Extremely so.¡± Alyssa blushed hard and nodded. The three looked at me with different degrees of lecherous eyes. Holy shit. Women DO chase, after all. I shook my head. Let¡¯s change subjects. ¡°Anyway. I¡¯m okay with the two joining our¡­ party? Team?¡± I put the form on the table. ¡°Both work.¡± the healer said, scooting closer to me and taking my hand. ¡°Are you staying at the Church, Yolin?¡± the wizard turned to the woman next to her, supporting her head on a tan arm resting on the sofa. ¡°I am.¡± the Oni nodded, her sky blue eyes meeting Lapia¡¯s emerald green. ¡°You said Natasha went to find an inn?¡± ¡°I did. It¡¯s pretty nice.¡± I nodded. ¡°Koporva¡¯s Rest was the name, I think. A little to the east of the city. You should join us.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± Yolin gave me a wide smile. ¡°Right next to the dungeon, nice.¡± ¡°What?¡± I blinked a few times. ¡°The dungeon is in the city?¡± ¡°It is. Well, the city was built around the dungeon, actually.¡± she gestured her hand in a circular motion. ¡°That¡¯ll save us a lot of time.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°Leave in the morning, spend the day inside, then return for the night.¡± ¡°And pay the tax every single day?¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°We can camp inside the dungeon.¡± ¡°I can keep watch the first few days. I don¡¯t want to lose my sanity, however, so one of you can switch with me every few days.¡± I nodded. ¡°It¡¯s good to know limits. If you have any in the first place, anyway.¡± the Elf chuckled. ¡°Being of E¡¯er.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with those comments?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Not that I¡¯m mad, just asking.¡± ¡°I¡¯m amazed, is all.¡± Lapia sighed. ¡°Desseyr slept a lot. Fortunately, he was never late to class.¡± ¡°Probably had pleasant dreams.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Hmm?¡± Yolin looked at me. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Communication is key. I reminded myself. ¡°I went through a trial before being born.¡± I looked her in the eye. She raised her eyebrows, and nodded with a serious face. ¡°I went through Hell.¡± I smiled, waiting for her reaction. ¡°What happened?¡± her face turned gentle. Alyssa covered her mouth, Lapia laughed. ¡°No, I literally went through Hell. I have a title, Hellwalker.¡± I giggled. Her eyes widened to their limits. ¡°What?¡± her soothing voice came out a whisper. I laughed. ¡°I killed a lot of demons. Every time I sleep, I remember my stay. Wouldn¡¯t recommend, however. The service was horrible.¡± The Luzo choked, fighting laughter. The Elf bent over, her laughter increasing in volume. Yolin bit her lips. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that funny, come on.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°That explains a lot about Halves.¡± the Oni relaxed. ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone, rest assured.¡± I gave her a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. The title is pretty cool. Way better than ¡®Your Excellency¡¯.¡± I sighed. The red woman stood up and walked to me, opening her arms. I copied her and she gave me a tight hug, resting her forehead on mine. ¡°Thank you for trusting me, despite having just met me.¡± Her warm body was pleasant. ¡°We¡¯ll be together from now on, so it¡¯s natural.¡± I gave her a kiss on the lips and she smiled. ¡°You really do like kisses.¡± ¡°I do.¡± I kissed her again. Alyssa joined the hug, followed by Lapia. We stayed like that for a while, enjoying the intimacy. The Luzo¡¯s tail wrapped around our bodies. Feels really good. I smiled, bubbly happiness spread inside me. ¡°We¡¯ll meet the other two in a few minutes. A letter was sent informing them of potential companions.¡± Alyssa separated first, then turned to the table and stored the forms. I took out my black pocket watch and read the time. Almost eight. ¡°Oh?¡± Lapia looked at my new acquisition. ¡°Looks pretty nice.¡± the Luzo said, walking back to where we stood. ¡°Right?¡± I gave her a smile. ¡°I bought it from a very tiny person.¡± ¡°Rutia¡¯s?¡± Yolin asked. I nodded. ¡°How much did it cost?¡± the Elf raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. ¡°Twenty gold coins.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I know I might have been overcharged, but it¡¯s whatever.¡± She nodded. ¡°At least you consider that.¡± ¡°Do you have one?¡± I looked her in the eye. Her other eyebrow rose as well. ¡°I don¡¯t. I lost it to the bandits.¡± ¡°Here, I bought three.¡± I took out the other two. ¡°Choose the one you like.¡± The Elf sighed, then smiled and turned to the healer. ¡°How about yours, Alyssa?¡± She nodded. ¡°My Pomma gave it to me when I turned ten, so it¡¯s important to me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± I smiled, then turned to the Oni. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°I have one.¡± she shrugged. ¡°I bought it a few decades ago, so it¡¯ll last a while longer.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± I looked at the Elf. ¡°Pick the one you like.¡± She inspected each, appraising and opening them. ¡°I¡¯ll take the gold one. It resembles your eyes.¡± the Elf gave me a cocky smile, storing the pocket watch. ¡°Thank you.¡± My cheeks burned a little. ¡°Smooth.¡± She hugged me and we kissed. I ran a hand through her dark blond hair. I separated and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll go feed Sonya.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± she playfully smacked my ass. ¡°I¡¯ll join you. I want to meet the Ratnak.¡± Yolin looked at me. ¡°I also have to feed my mount, you should meet him.¡± I nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± then turned to Alyssa. ¡°We¡¯ll be right back.¡± The Luzo gave me and Yolin a soft kiss each, circling her fingers around our biceps. The Oni opened the door and walked off, I followed. We walked in comfortable silence through the cathedral. I caught up and put my right arm around her waist, feeling her red skin and the muscles beneath. She turned to me and gave me a wide smile as we walked. ¡°I¡¯m really excited about joining you.¡± her sky blue eyes met mine. ¡°They¡¯re amazing women, aren¡¯t they?¡± I smiled back. ¡°They are. And you too, are amazing.¡± she gave me a quick kiss. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Halves are pretty reserved, so your honesty surprised me.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t met any.¡± I looked forward. ¡°I¡¯d like to, at some point.¡± ¡°Sounds like a pretty good adventure.¡± she laughed. ¡°We might end up going to Makah. Yulianna went there.¡± ¡°I heard.¡± I nodded. ¡°What is she?¡± I realized I had very little information regarding my own kin. Lapia and Alyssa only mentioned them a few times, but didn¡¯t go into details. I hadn¡¯t asked, either. ¡°She¡¯s a wizard. The specifics are unknown.¡± she shook her head. ¡°What about the others?¡± I caressed her muscled waist. ¡°Miraztor is a cleric. Nilenna an Archer. Desseyr a Scout.¡± she chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Desseyr is a complicated man.¡± ¡°Lapia said the same. What makes him complicated?¡± we were approaching the front gate. ¡°I¡¯ve heard he talks in riddles.¡± she let me go once we exited the building. ¡°And almost nobody can understand him.¡± The world was painted with a warm orange, probably the suns setting. I didn¡¯t look to check, since I didn¡¯t want to have a heart attack, we were pretty high in the city. ¡°Sounds creepy.¡± I laughed. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll know more once I meet them.¡± ¡°True.¡± We walked to the parking lot and my eyes opened wide when Yolin walked to the giant black wolf. She hugged it and patted its head, then asked something in a quiet voice. I approached Sonya and she turned to me. ¡°Have you been a good girl?¡± I patted her head. ¡°You talk to her in Orkish?¡± Yolin asked while feeding huge chunks of meat to the dog. ¡°I do, It¡¯s more comfortable than common for me.¡± I produced the metal balls and fed her. ¡°Is it tasty?¡± The Oni asked in Japanese, a steak on the wolf¡¯s mouth. I slowly turned to face her. ¡°Is that the Red Tongue?¡± ¡°Hm? Yes.¡± she nodded, answering in Common. ¡°I bought Pochi here in Red Island. He likes Red Tongue better.¡± I sighed, patting Sonya¡¯s red scales. She¡¯s an Oni, should have guessed. And her markings look like a Yakuza¡¯s tattoos. Good thing I worked with Japanese v-tubers and learned a little. Should¡¯ve learned more than basic shit that is absolutely useless to me now. ¡°How do you write it?¡± I asked as I played a little with Sonya. If it uses Kanji, then Chinese also exists. ¡°Like this.¡± she walked over to us and showed me a book. It had an alphabet I had never seen in my life. ¡°I see. I don¡¯t understand.¡± I chuckled. She shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s only spoken in Red Island, so you don¡¯t lose anything.¡± Sonya turned to Yolin. The Oni gave her a big smile. ¡°So you¡¯re Sonya?¡± The Ratnak stared for a few seconds, then snorted and reared her head back. Not moving a single muscle, the tank took the headbutt with a smile. ¡°Good girl.¡± I rubbed her giant head. She looked me in the eye with her blue ones and nodded. Sonya¡¯s were lighter, more of an ice blue, while Yolin¡¯s were a beautiful sky blue. ¡°Say hi to Pochi.¡± she patted the Ratnak¡¯s scales. I turned to the giant wolf and he stared me with brownish eyes. ¡°Hello, Pochi.¡± I laughed. What a ridiculous name to give a giant wolf. He sniffed me all over, his black nose touching my skin felt cold. A big paw rested on my left shoulder as the wolf looked me in the eye. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°What is he doing?¡± I asked, not breaking eye contact. ¡°Trying to push you down.¡± the Oni explained. ¡°Just like the Ratnak, the Fekir are group animals. They hunt big game and live in the mountains. They usually fight for the alpha position, but I trained Pochi to just push people down to test them.¡± ¡°Looks cool.¡± I smiled when the dog put his paw down. The two animals looked at each other, then they circled around us, keeping eye contact. Sonya was a taller, and had thicker feet. Pochi was slender and looked agile. They came closer and sniffed each other, then separated. ¡°Well, that was fast.¡± I looked around, the two were the only animals at the parking lot. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yolin also looked around, her ponytail swinging around. ¡°Where are the Bhin?¡± ¡°Probably at a livery.¡± she said, walking to me. ¡°Bhin are part of the horse family, so they¡¯re not that smart compared to a Ratnak or a Fekir. You can ask a Watcher to take them to a livery. It¡¯s pretty cheap here in Mountroad, since everybody stays for short periods of time, or simply doesn¡¯t have horses.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I nodded. Then, I had a thought. ¡°Wait. What about Centaurs?¡± I asked. ¡°What about them?¡± she tilted her head. ¡°Won¡¯t they be angry if people use horses?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t. They¡¯re too distant to consider them cousins, even.¡± she shrugged. I shook my head. ¡°What about ancestry?¡± ¡°They come from the same animal, sure, but they¡¯re not that close.¡± she patted the wolf¡¯s head. ¡°Like Lupum and hares. Harpies and Hawcans. Tigeas and Untu. You get it.¡± ¡°I get the gist of it.¡± I nodded. ¡°Thanks for explaining.¡± Pretty complicated. ¡°Not at all.¡± she turned to me gave me a big smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± I nodded, and followed her. The inside of the building was lit by the chandeliers, white light coming off. I stared at one and didn¡¯t see a flame. Instead, small spheres stood where candles should. I changed my clothes to a shirt and skirt, my belted boots on my feet. Yolin opened the door to the room we were at and we found Lapia and Alyssa sitting on a sofa, leaning on each other and reading books. They looked up and smiled. ¡°That was fast.¡± Lapia turned a page. ¡°Did you leave the Bhin nearby?¡± I asked the two as I entered the room. ¡°I told the clerk at the inn we had mounts.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll fetch them later. There are Watchers outside we can ask.¡± Alyssa returned to reading. I nodded, then walked over to the free sofa and sat down. Yolin joined me and put an arm around my shoulders. I leaned my head on her and relaxed. ¡°You look really good on those clothes, Natasha.¡± the Oni looked at my breasts, playing with my braid. ¡°Thank you.¡± I kissed her cheek. ¡°I like your outfit, too.¡± She smiled. I heard a set of footsteps approach the door, voices following. ¡°I said it once, and I will say it again. There is no way the other party is a Halve, Bromi.¡± a high pitched male voice said a good distance behind the door. ¡°You need to think outside the box, Bonny.¡± a melodious tenor said back. ¡°If it is as you say, we¡¯ll do as previously decided.¡± I looked at the three women and saw them smiling. Lapia stood up and walked to the door. There was a knock on the door, and the Elf opened it. Two men stood there, polite smiles on their faces. The cleric dwarf behind them. The Satyr was tall. Really tall. Over two meters in height. He wore a tacky, silk long coat with more colors than it strictly needed to have, a pink cotton shirt beneath it with a pronounced v-cut revealed a modestly hairy chest. Tight, gray leather pants stopped at the knees, where his light brown, furry legs ended in cloven hooves. His face was completely shaved. Pink eyes with goat pupils scanned the room. His skin was light brown, thin lips formed a small smile. White horns like a ram formed at his temples, circling around medium length ears, longer than Alyssa¡¯s, but shorter than Lapia¡¯s. His went to the sides, instead of the back. His hair was an attention-grabber mix of red and blond combed backwards, a few locks escaping reached his red eyebrows. The man next to him was short, around 160 cm in height. Tall ears covered in brownish fur twitched every few seconds. His face was mostly covered by thin, soft hair. The little skin visible was the same brownish color, and amber feline eyes inspected the woman in front of him. His brownish hair was tied in a side braid, reaching his shoulders. He was wearing a black, sleeveless leather vest, and leather pants, which continued down to his leather boots. A thin, furry tail lazily swayed behind him. His naked arms were covered in short fur, resting behind his head. Their smiles disappeared when their eyes met me. The Tigea clicked his tongue and produced a few gold coins, handing them to the Satyr. ¡°Told you.¡± the taller man chuckled. ¡°Good evening. I am Bromisnar Bahadh.¡± [Bromisnar, Khlyp Satyr Lvl 167 Minstrel] ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± the short man said, crossing his arms. ¡°My name is Bonte Slirmy.¡± [Bonte, Shishi Tigea Lvl 129 Shadow Chaser] They walked into the room, Lapia stepping aside. Surprisingly, the Satyr¡¯s hooves did not made a clip-clop sound, but a muted thud instead. We all stood up, I was a little slower in the action. Bromisnar had my full attention, the man towering over everyone in the room. He should play basketball! I smiled. ¡°Alyssa Pruvik.¡± the Luzo nodded. ¡°Lapia Pofeta.¡± the Elf introduced herself. ¡°Yolin Makav.¡± the Oni waved at them with a toothy smile. ¡°Natasha Novak.¡± I offered the Satyr a hand. He took it with a smile, an unhealthy amount of rings on his fingers. His hand was big. ¡°Hmm.¡± he looked down at me in the eye. ¡°Eyes like the suns. It¡¯s no longer a metaphor.¡± I chuckled and let go, we all shared handshakes and I noticed the Tigea¡¯s hands were furry and had short claws at the end of each finger. He didn¡¯t have the pillows normal cats have, which was a little disappointing. The Dwarf had been standing next to the door, a smile on his face. He entered the room and produced a third sofa and placed it behind the table. He left with a few words of good-bye. We all sat down and introduced our classes. ¡°I am a support performer. Bard and Minstrel. My skills revolve around sound, I can buff allies and inflict enemies with serious effects. I play the lute to cast them.¡± Bromisnar said, presenting a big lute. ¡°Scout. Rogue and Shadow Chaser. I can sneak around, disarm traps, pick locks, and cast a few illusions. I use daggers and a crossbow.¡± Bonte nodded, showing a pair of daggers. I nodded and thought about the items I had in my storage. I wasn¡¯t going to give them Mythical equipment, since they weren¡¯t my partners. I needed to make a distinction. I wasn¡¯t a charity, nor were my items endless. I also didn¡¯t have equipment for performers. The game had only one, and it was shit. Maybe Unique items and costumes. I had thousands of those. Whatever, we¡¯ll see tonight, or tomorrow. ¡°Do you know any music, Natasha?¡± the Satyr asked me from the sofa in front of me, his eyes sparkling with excitement. I nodded. ¡°I play the piano, and I can sing.¡± ¡°Ohh¡­¡± he sighed. ¡°The music of a Halve would indeed be beautiful. I would love to hear it some time, if it¡¯s no problem.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± I smiled. ¡°Happy to show you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to ask.¡± Bonte raised a hand, looking at me. ¡°How will our formation be in combat? I¡¯m a scout, so I can cover the back, sides, or go with the vanguard.¡± Alyssa nodded and thought for a few seconds. ¡°You could go with Natasha. Yolin would protect me, Lapia, and Bromisnar in the back. Lapia can burn down whatever comes close.¡± The Oni nodded. ¡°I can hold a lot of enemies by myself, so you wouldn¡¯t face a single one.¡± Everybody nodded. Except me. ¡°Couldn¡¯t I just¡­ carry you all?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°You know, charge in and slaughter everything.¡± The men and the Oni looked at me with complicated expressions. ¡°Have you entered a dungeon before?¡± asked the Tigea. I shook my head. ¡°There are a lot, and I mean a lot of monsters inside. If you charge in as you said, we¡¯d be swarmed.¡± the Oni laughed. ¡°I¡¯d like to see that, but I can¡¯t endanger others.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I see.¡± I bit my lips. ¡°How many, on average?¡± ¡°A few hundred thousand.¡± the Satyr further extended the crack on my sense of reality. ¡°On each floor.¡± A thick crack formed on it. I see. That¡¯s why it takes so long, and is so dangerous. If it was that easy, everybody would be powerhouses. I was thinking more of a dungeons and dragons experience. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Alyssa tapped her chin. ¡°We need to be relatively close to absorb E¡¯er efficiently. If you charge too far, we wouldn¡¯t benefit from it. Maybe you could focus on killing the more dangerous ones, or enter when the fight is leaning against us.¡± What am I? A deus ex machina? ¡°Okay. Sounds good.¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll focus on the stronger ones, and help you if too many gather.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about range, then.¡± Yolin produced a sheet of paper and a pencil. ¡°My auras have a reach of around six hundred meters. How about yours?¡± ¡°One hundred.¡± Bromisnar thought for a few seconds before answering. ¡°Over three hundred and fifty.¡± Alyssa said. ¡°Over two fifty.¡± Lapia instantly replied. ¡°I don¡¯ have any.¡± the scout shook his head. I checked mine. Monster Hunter, Lvl 50. [Aura] Face insurmountable odds. Increases status according to the number of enemies you take on for you and your allies by 10%(2 highest stats) per enemy (STR/5)m around you. Enemies must be doing battle with you. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. Prevention, Lvl 50. [Aura] You are highly aware of the dangers of battle. You become increasingly resistant to slow, arrest, immobility and effects that impede movement. While mounted, this effect is shared with your allies in (STR/5)m around you. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. So both are a fifth of my strength. 5400 divided by five¡­ uh¡­ divided by ten is 540. Times two is 1080¡­ an entire kilometer, pretty good. ¡°A little over a kilometer.¡± I answered after counting on my palm for a few seconds. ¡°That¡¯s a lot.¡± the Oni laughed. ¡°So we shouldn¡¯t be farther than one hundred meters from Bromisnar.¡± The Satyr nodded. ¡°That would be correct.¡± ¡°What about warcries?¡± Alyssa turned to me. ¡°That would be too dangerous. It attracts enemies in a challenge to the death. It doesn¡¯t specify if they attack only me, so I won¡¯t use it.¡± I shrugged. ¡°The other one paralyzes everything that hears my voice, so I don¡¯t know the range.¡± They all nodded. ¡°About attacks.¡± the Oni finished writing and continued. ¡°I can punch, and extend a field around me that deals little damage, but taunts enemies and makes them focus on me.¡± ¡°Fire.¡± Lapia smiled. ¡°And space.¡± ¡°I can numb nerves, blind, and force a brain into overproducing serotonin in enemies weaker than me.¡± Alyssa fixed a lock of hair behind her ear. That¡¯s scary. I looked at the Luzo and she gave me a sweet smile. ¡°I can cause confusion with my illusions. And I use daggers, as I said before.¡± the Tigea nodded. ¡°My skills can make enemies deaf, and paralyze them for a short duration.¡± Bromisnar crossed his legs and rested his hands on his knee. ¡°I kill.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Doubt anything can survive my attacks, anyway.¡± They all chuckled. ¡°That would be it.¡± Yolin stored the sheet of paper. ¡°I will keep this, since I¡¯m the tank and need to know your skills in case an enemy approaches you.¡± ¡°Naturally.¡± the Satyr nodded. ¡°About loot.¡± the Tigea cleared his throat, supporting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward, resting his chin on his hands. ¡°You can have my share.¡± I shrugged, leaning back. ¡°I have more money than I can reasonably spend.¡± ¡°That would leave us five.¡± the man next to him rubbed his chin. ¡°We split it evenly?¡± The three women nodded. ¡°Where are you staying?¡± Lapia asked them. ¡°At an inn near the gates of the city.¡± the scout relaxed on his seat. ¡°We¡¯re fairly close to the dungeon, so we can meet early.¡± ¡°When are we going?¡± I asked. ¡°Tomorrow.¡± the Oni smiled at me. ¡°And we should go to a tavern and celebrate tonight.¡± Affirmative answers were given. I thought back on the inn. I hadn¡¯t told the clerk we¡¯d be out on the first night. There was no way I could have known either way. ¡°What about the inn?¡± I asked anyway. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell them we¡¯d be out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal.¡± Alyssa gave me a smile. ¡°People go out to have drinks when arriving at a new city.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡± Yolin stood up. ¡°To Horace¡¯s.¡± The Satyr nodded with an approving smile. ¡°Good choice.¡± Follow the locals. I smiled. We all stood up and left the room. The two men went ahead, quietly chatting. I was looking at the Satyr¡¯s legs. His had the ankle joint midway down his shins, like a goat. That made sense in my mind, since most animals have that joint higher in the leg structure. It was a fantastic thing to see, whether logical or not. A hand nudged me from my left, I turned and found Lapia smiling. ¡°You¡¯re staring.¡± she whispered. ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s amazing.¡± I gave her an innocent smile. ¡°I like it when you stare at my ears, but men are a little more sensitive.¡± she took my hand. ¡°Do I stare that much?¡± I tilted my head. She nodded and gave me a cheeky smirk. We left the small cathedral and Alyssa approached a Watcher standing nearby. She said something and the man, an Elf, nodded and walked off to the street. The world was darker now, but still had the pink-orange stain of dusk. ¡°We¡¯ll meet you there.¡± the Satyr waved at us and got in a carriage waiting in the street. I watched the vehicle leave, a pair of Tateli, the ostrich-like creatures, pulling it. ¡°We¡¯ll go get our mounts, we¡¯ll be right back.¡± Yolin walked towards the parking lot. I followed, we got our animals, and returned to the cathedral. The Oni didn¡¯t use a saddle, I noticed. Neither did she use reins. When she shifted her hips the dog turned, slowed down, or sped up. Pretty neat. I nodded. ¡°Where did you study to become a cleric?¡± I asked her as we waited on the street. ¡°Back in my homeland. I went for a purely tank path, so it took me just ten years of studying to get my first class.¡± she patted the dog¡¯s head. ¡°Cool.¡± I leaned forward, resting on Sonya¡¯s neck. I made sure my skirt covered my ass. Alyssa and Lapia walked over to us, both staring at my butt. ¡°Nice position you got there, Natasha.¡± Lapia licked her lips. ¡°I can almost see your panties.¡± ¡°You can see them whenever you want.¡± I grabbed my skirt and slowly lifted it a little. The Elf¡¯s green eyes, and the Luzo¡¯s red followed my hand with religious commitment. I let the fabric go. ¡°But not outside.¡± Both blushed. ¡°This is the woman that almost cried in shame when the sheets sodden with our discharge were taken by the maid.¡± she smirked at me. ¡°Time changes people, indeed.¡± Alyssa covered her mouth, blushing harder. Yolin laughed. ¡°Oh, I remember.¡± I fought the embarrassment and replied. ¡°You were squirting like a Water Weaver.¡± ¡°If it were up to me, I¡¯d flood the world while fucking you.¡± her face turned red as she countered. Holy shit. My cheeks burned. This Elf is a huge pervert! I love it. ¡°You win.¡± I laughed. ¡°For now.¡± She clenched a fist. ¡°Lapia one. Natasha zero.¡± We all laughed louder. Dirty jokes would always be funny no matter the world. Especially if a hot Elf told them. The clip-clop of horses made me turn. A Watcher was approaching us with two Bhin. Alyssa and Lapia walked over and gave the man a couple silver coins. They mounted up as he walked away. We followed Yolin through the city. I avoided looking down, staring at her back the entire way. A few minutes later, we stopped at a two story building in a street full of stores. The building had ¡®Horace¡¯s Endless Tankards & Barrels¡¯ written on a white stone sign above the door. It was built with granite, just like the entire city. ¡°Here it is.¡± Yolin gestured at the building. ¡°There¡¯s a rest post nearby, let¡¯s leave our mounts there.¡± There it is. It wasn¡¯t parking lot, but rest post. I cringed inside. We followed her and entered the rest post, then dismounted. The Bhin were tied to a pole, and Sonya laid down next to Pochi. We walked an entire block back to the tavern. Not many people on the streets, as it was getting darker. Poles with lamps lighting up on every corner. I guess night has been conquered already. I stared at a pole, a glass sphere emitting light hung from it. Opening the front door, we entered the establishment. It was spacious, around thirty meters by twenty. Tables occupied the first floor, a lot of patrons sitting and having well deserved refreshments after a long day. Or so I assumed. Most wore linen, leather, or cotton clothes. Elves, Dwarfs, Lupum, Humans, a few Tigea, and two Luzo. Gentle music was played by performers on a little stage. Lupum and Elves with flutes, lutes, and a few percussion instruments. At the back of the room, a staircase went up. The second floor was visible, sticking to the wall and leaving space for the suns to enter, if it were daytime. Windows on the walls were blocked with wooden covers. A large counter covered the entire left wall, a few meters of space behind it for the workers to serve the customers. Three bartenders were chatting with a few waiters and waitresses. The bartenders were Dwarf males, the waiters Humans, and the waitresses Lupum. What a diverse Kingdom. I nodded as I walked inside. A few people looked my way, and I felt the cold hand of regret grip my soul. I hadn¡¯t worn my armor to conceal my species. While it wasn¡¯t bad, I wanted to avoid being called stupid titles. I sighed and followed the group to the back. There, Bromisnar and Bonte sat next to each other on a round table. The Satyr was holding a glass of wine, a bottle next to him. The Tigea was sipping from a tankard, a small barrel next to him on the ground. They spotted us and the performer waved at us. We walked to the table and sat down on wooden stools. I sat next to Bromisnar, Yolin next to me, Lapia next to the Oni, and Alyssa between the scout and the wizard. ¡°Aayyy!¡± the cat man cheered. He waved at the counter and turned to us. ¡°You got here pretty fast. We were just served.¡± Just as he finished those words, a Lupum waitress approached our table. ¡°What¡¯s the order?¡± she asked in a bubbly tone. Her violet eyes stopped on me for a second longer. She put a wooden tray on the table and waited. ¡°Ale.¡± Lapia put two silver coins on the tray. ¡°Plum wine.¡± Alyssa put a silver coin. ¡°Whiskey.¡± Yolin put ten silver coins. ¡°Two bottles.¡± ¡°Your strongest potato spirit.¡± I placed a gold coin and looked around. I saw a few tables with roasted meat and baked potatoes. ¡°Two bottles. And meat, please.¡± ¡°Right away!¡± she nodded and took the tray, then walked to the counter. I followed her with my eyes, her tall ears bounced with every step she took. I chuckled and returned to reality. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Lapia asked me. ¡°A little.¡± I nodded. ¡°We had lunch pretty early today, you should eat too.¡± While I hadn¡¯t eaten since lunch, I wasn¡¯t that hungry. This body seemed to be very efficient in ways I didn¡¯t understand. Hunger, tiredness, and sleepiness were almost nonexistent. If I didn¡¯t actively go to bed, or even eat, I could probably still go on for a few days. ¡°We ate some fruit while searching the registry.¡± the Elf smiled. ¡°Thank you for thinking about us.¡± Alyssa blushed a little, then turned to the two men. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°We had a light meal before going to the Church.¡± the Satyr took a sip of his wine, the Tigea nodded behind his tankard. ¡°I¡¯ll partake on the meat.¡± Yolin nodded. ¡°Our fight left me pretty hungry.¡± ¡°How was it?¡± Bonte asked, his eyes flashing with interest. ¡°Awesome.¡± the Elf chuckled. ¡°You should have seen it.¡± ¡°About that. Why didn¡¯t you two fight?¡± I looked at the tank and the scout. ¡°He¡¯s a scout. It wouldn¡¯t be much of a show if we fought one on one.¡± the Oni rested her elbows on the table. ¡°Not that I¡¯m belittling you.¡± ¡°Oh, no. I get it.¡± the Tigea waved his free hand in front of him. ¡°My skills are inclined towards sneaking around and illusions, anyway. I don¡¯t have much to show in a controlled environment.¡± I nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°So.¡± Bromisnar began. ¡°I got a few bounties we could clear in the dungeon.¡± That caught my attention. ¡°Bounties? What kind?¡± ¡°The local smithy needs ores from monsters on the tenth level.¡± he answered. ¡°The blacksmith¡¯s partner needs hide from the animals on the fifteenth level.¡± Eh? Aren¡¯t those tutorial quests? I looked at the table. I¡¯m more of endgame kind of individual. Well¡­ boosting lowies is part of endgame. ¡°What¡¯s the reward?¡± Alyssa asked. ¡°Ten copper coins for every square meter of hide, and one silver coin for every kilo of the ore.¡± he produced a paper and put it on the table. ¡°Ah, good old Hinga. She can never have enough, can she?¡± the Oni chuckled while reading the document. ¡°What monsters would we face?¡± Lapia asked next. ¡°Golems for the ore, and mostly beasts for the hide.¡± the Satyr shrugged. ¡°That also leaves us with quite the haul of meat. We could sell that to a butcher.¡± I was slowly understanding the value of dungeons. If they had that kind of resources, it would clearly be beneficial for people to plunder them. ¡°So we¡¯re mercenaries?¡± I asked, a little disappointed in the term. ¡°No.¡± Bonte shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re Chasers.¡± ¡°We chase power.¡± Alyssa answered before I asked. ¡°Ahh¡­ I see.¡± I nodded. ¡°That sounds pretty cool.¡± They went over the details of the lame quest for a few minutes. I expected something a little more interesting, but reality is often disappointing. When our drinks and the meat arrived, the details were already ironed out; who would skin the animals, who would butcher them, and who would store the meat. Unsurprisingly, the last was my job. I was also tasked with breaking the beasts¡¯ spines or necks, since other forms of violence would damage the hide and meat. The Golems would be blocked by Yolin while the rest kill them. Laaameeee. I sighed in my mind as I drank vodka. Well... easy does it, after all. ¡°Why don¡¯t they go themselves?¡± I asked after swallowing a forkful of meat. ¡°They¡¯re craftsmen.¡± Alyssa smiled. ¡°They don¡¯t have combat skills.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Then how do they level up?¡± ¡°Most just improve their skills with time.¡± the Oni shook her head. ¡°Others ask to join people who go to dungeons in order to gain a few quick levels.¡± ¡°Seems a little more alive than I initially thought.¡± I nodded. ¡°Makes sense.¡± Everyone seems uncannily willing to answer my questions. I drank more alcohol. Well, I¡¯m what? Around ten days old? Is this underage drinking? I chuckled. We spent a while discussing routes, possible encounters, traps, and what to do if we encounter criminals. ¡°How does a dungeon work, anyway?¡± I asked after half an hour of them talking about traps that should be public knowledge. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Alyssa turned to me. ¡°Like, where do these traps you talk about come from? And the monsters? Do they reproduce? Does the dungeon create them?¡± I finished the last of my second bottle. ¡°There are nests inside a dungeon.¡± the Oni explained, drinking her whiskey. ¡°People don¡¯t touch those, since it¡¯s where monsters, meaning resources, come from. Traps appear randomly, so it¡¯s hard to keep track of them.¡± Bromisnar and Bonte both nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± the Satyr drank the last of his wine. I looked at her with millennium confusion. ¡°Is a dungeon alive?¡± ¡°Not really. They¡¯re like... a storm and the rain.¡± Yolin struggled to explain. ¡°A natural phenomenon. Just like rain falls from clouds, traps form in dungeons. And if they¡¯re too dangerous, a Halve, or a very powerful individual would be tasked to destroy it.¡± I nodded. ¡°What about monsters, then?¡± ¡°They enter dungeons by themselves. Like the Ratnak are attracted to ores, monsters are attracted to the high density of E¡¯er.¡± Alyssa said, licking wine off her lips. ¡°And ores in a dungeon form because of it as well. Then, if the dungeon is old enough, monsters can show up inside. Like Golems, for example.¡± I nodded. ¡°Hmm.¡± I don¡¯t really get it. The amount of books I should read increase every time I ask a question. I smiled. It was five times frustrating, five times exciting. When we finished the alcohol and the meat, we agreed on meeting at the dungeon entrance at ten in the morning. Saying our farewells, we left the tavern. The two men walked in the opposite direction we were going. ¡°Chill dudes.¡± I looked up and saw clouds blocking the night sky. We got to our mounts and I guided them to the inn. We got lost and I had to ask for directions. The city was mostly empty, stores closed or opening for night hours. Mostly inns or taverns. Once we finally got to Koporva¡¯s Rest, it was eleven o¡¯ clock. We left the mounts at the rest post, and entered the building. The clerk came out and I registered Yolin as a guest as well, since she decided to leave the Church and join our love nest. I gave him five gold coins in case we took longer inside the dungeon. We climbed the stairs to the second floor, walked down the hallway, and entered the room. Lapia turned the lights on and hummed in approval at the space. I went to the bathroom and peed, then Alyssa sat on it, followed by Lapia, and finally Yolin. I walked to the bed and laid on it. It was pretty comfortable for what it was. I did the deeply disturbing exercise of cleaning my teeth with E¡¯er. The feeling of a colony of ants in my mouth made me cringe. ¡°I¡¯m mentally exhausted.¡± I let out a long sigh. ¡°Today was packed.¡± ¡°Sex will cheer you up!¡± Lapia got naked, climbed on the bed, and hugged me, planting kisses on my face. ¡°We¡¯re entering a dungeon tomorrow, no sex today.¡± Alyssa declared, entering the room. The wizard clicked her tongue. ¡°We haven¡¯t had sex since we left Riverfield. It¡¯s been almost a lifetime ago¡­¡± ¡°Haha!¡± Yolin laughed, sitting on the edge of the bed. ¡°I¡¯m the tank, so I should get proper rest.¡± ¡°Can we fuck in the dungeon?¡± the horny Elf asked, laying next to me. ¡°Lapia¡­¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°Our tent isn¡¯t soundproof.¡± ¡°Ahh¡­¡± the wizard let out a desperate wail. ¡°Life is so unfair!¡± I laughed and made my clothes disappear. I kept the panties on, however. Sleeping with a penis out was more uncomfortable than it was worth it. Yolin stared at me, focusing on my panties. Her head tilted to the side, confusion setting in. ¡°Want to see it?¡± I asked. Alyssa walked over to the night stand and got naked, then placed her tail ring on the piece of furniture. The Oni slowly nodded at my question. I raised to my knees and stored the panties. My golden comrade hung in full glory. Her eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s pretty thick.¡± Chuckling, I put the panties back on. ¡°I showed you mine, show me yours.¡± The red woman stood up, her clothes disappearing. I stared at her perfectly sculpted body. Her breasts were a size bigger than mine, dark red nipples greeting the world. She slowly turned around, her butt was bubbly, muscled, and thick. The loose shorts hid wide hips. I licked my lips as my eyes roamed her red, toned thighs. She completed the turn and my eyes widened at the landing strip of white pubic hair. ¡°Wow.¡± I breathed. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Yolin.¡± A wide smile spread on her face. ¡°You three are charming beyond words.¡± ¡°Come, let¡¯s rest.¡± I opened my arms wide. She climbed on the bed and joined us, then we all got under the blankets. Alyssa laid next to Lapia. ¡°The bed is amazing.¡± Alyssa yawned. ¡°Big, comfortable, and bouncy.¡± ¡°Nicely done, Natasha.¡± Lapia laid on her back, her left arm around Alyssa¡¯s shoulders, and her right around my waist. ¡°Did my best.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Better than the Church.¡± Yolin laughed to my right. ¡°Theirs are like a sack filled with leaves compared to this.¡± We all laughed at that. Lapia turned the lights off and we all shared good night kisses. ¡°You glow a lot.¡± the Oni ran a hand over my chest. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I felt my face burn. ¡°Let¡¯s sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow.¡± I closed my eyes and let Morpheus take me to sweet, dreamy Hell. 19 - Dressing the Oni. Dungeon. A Boss? I slowly woke up with confusion. I tortured a demon until it died of shock. Staring at the ceiling, I took a deep breath. Pretty tame for what I¡¯ve seen so far. I sighed. Weak light leaked through the curtains, the room was still shrouded in the darkness of early dawn. I closed my eyes and listened. The three were still sleeping. A small relief washed over me. My body was in the exact same position I fell asleep in. My body slowly regained feeling and I looked down. Yolin was on top of me, face up. That has to be the worst sleeping posture I¡¯ve ever seen. I smiled. Slowly moving her to the side, I freed myself of the entanglement. Getting up, I properly covered them with the sheets. The colors were fascinating. Red skin, tan skin, and light purple skin with dark scales. The Oni had her hair down, reaching her shoulders. A relaxed expression on her face. The Elf was similarly relaxed but her limbs were around Alyssa, who was facing the wall. I turned around and walked to the bathroom, where I washed my face. A mirror had my reflection staring at me. My blank expression was admittedly bitchy, but a pretty woman can get away with it. I got naked and my J?rmungandr was ready to start Ragnar?k. Morning erections are a little annoying. I sighed. Walking to the living room, I sat down on a sofa and ate a peach. I updated my journal and checked the time. Six¡­ that¡¯s fast. I heard a yawn and turned to the bedroom. Yolin was waking up. She got up and walked to the living room in all her red naked glory. ¡°What are you up to?¡± her voice was a little tired. ¡°Exercise. Wanna join?¡± I stood up and loosened my waist. ¡°Here?¡± she looked at me confused. ¡°Let¡¯s go outside.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll leave a note letting the two know.¡± She nodded and got dressed, the same chest wrap and shorts from the previous day covered her body. I took a page out of a sketchbook and I wrote [Went out with Yolin to exercise. Hugs and kisses] on it, then placed it on the living room table next to two brass keys. Yolin left first and I followed. We went down the building and walked to the rest post where we left our mounts. The gentle light of the morning suns bathed the world as we exercised. I followed the Oni¡¯s routine, and we stopped after an hour. She wanted to save energy for the dungeon, so we returned to the room. The two were awake, and we took a group shower where I introduced the tank to the marvelous, ultimate, absolute, profound, mega technique that was my ¡®Natasha Special¡¯. I dutifully performed the ¡®Elf Version¡¯, followed by the ¡®Luzo Version¡¯. It was undeniably a level ten million skill. The Oni gave up trying to massage me when she realized my muscles were just too hard. We then went to the communal room to have breakfast. It was like a buffet, and we ate a light but energy-filling meal. There were some other guests but they mostly ignored us, sneaking glances my way once in a while. After returning to our room, Yolin sat down with a sigh and I stood in front of her. ¡°What do you use for combat?¡± my tone was serious. ¡°Ohh! I want to see her reaction.¡± Alyssa giggled, sitting down on the other sofa. ¡°Don¡¯t spoil it.¡± Lapia chuckled, joining the healer. The Oni looked a little confused, but simply opened her arms. ¡°What you see on me right now.¡± she shrugged. ¡°I buff my own body, so using armor would only slow me down. I can¡¯t cover my shoulders or armpits, since that¡¯s where my Asura Projection comes out of.¡± I nodded. ¡°How about rings or jewelry?¡± ¡°If I wear rings, I¡¯d either break them or my fingers.¡± she shook her head. ¡°I just wrap my hands and feet with this.¡± She produced a white roll of bandage strap. I took it and appraised it. It was shit. Better than Alyssa¡¯s staff, but shit nonetheless. It wasn¡¯t even a weapon, it was an enchanted piece of cloth. The Elf and Luzo must have found my disapproving face hilarious, because they laughed. ¡°What do you think would suit you best?¡± I sat down on the floor in front of the Oni. ¡°I have a lot of items that can help you survive combat. Tell me what your ideal equipment is.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± she leaned back and looked at the ceiling. ¡°Better bandage wraps, tight but durable shorts or pants, a top that doesn¡¯t cover too much skin, and fist weapons.¡± ¡°I have something like that.¡± I thought for a second. ¡°I also have a set of leather armor for a tank. It¡¯s stretchy, breathable, feels like air, and increases stats. Would you wear something like that?¡± She nodded. ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t get in the way of my other arms, sure.¡± Alright. I have all the costumes from the 2021, 2024, 2028, and 2032 Olympic games. I closed my eyes in deep thought. Taekwondo¡­ nah, it¡¯s just the uniform. Judo¡­ same. Wrestling¡­ no way. Boxing¡­ bingo. Sixteen rolls materialized on my hands. They all had ¡®Boxing¡¯ written on them. The gloves where useless for killing, so I didn¡¯t bother with them. I took out a chest wrap that was part of a risque costume for female swordsman-based characters. Warrior makes much more sense, though. I smiled. I placed the items on the floor after confirming they all had SS durability and didn¡¯t have cringe names, then produced the leather armor. Similar to Alyssa¡¯s, the set consisted of a pair of shorts with a hole for a tail, finger-less gloves, toe-less socks, and a vest. The chest item had sleeves, so I stored it back. The shorts resembled hot pants, and would be useful even if the wearer didn¡¯t have a tail. Granting a total of 100 strength, constitution, and dexterity, along with enchantments, the ¡®leather¡¯ was pretty good, even without the vest. Next, I took out a pair of Legendary fist weapons since I unfortunately didn¡¯t have any Mythical ones for her classes. This meta-game aspect is exciting. Good thing I was addicted to the game. Wait that sounds wrong. I chose to go for a weapon that would help the Monk-Asura combo rather than her Paladin class. Asura was a new thing, but Monk was familiar to me and they both were punching tanks if I got it right. I had flails and maces for Paladins, but doubted the Oni would use those. The cheeky thought of giving her a kanabo crossed my mind, but I ignored it. I appraised the pair of fists and instantly cringed at the name. [+100 Raging Fists of Thunderous Claps (Legendary) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (Kinetic Link SSS+) (Durability S+) -Kinetic Link + 100% ({Lvl 10 Emerald}x10) -Toughness + 10% (Enchantment) -CON + 250 -STR + 200 -DEX + 100 -Raging Blows: Increases Kinetic Link by 1% for every two Enhancement levels. (50%) -Thunderous Claps: Increases Skill Potency by 5% for every two Ascension levels. (25%) -Inner Peace: Increases Toughness by 2% for every five Enhancement levels, and 2% for every two Ascension levels. (50%) -CON + 250 (Transmutation) -STR + 250 (Transmutation) -DEX + 250 (Transmutation) Exactly what she¡¯d need. I nodded. But what the fuck is Kinetic Link? Where do I even check toughness? ¡°Those look cool!¡± Yolin smiled wide and her eyes sparkled with excitement. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be 200 years old? I chuckled and handed them over. She received the fists and quickly put them on. They were long boys, covering from her elbows to the tip of her fingers. White metallic gauntlets wrapped in golden rings. They also had short spikes for knuckles. ¡°Did you appraise them?¡± Lapia asked, a cheeky smile on her face. Alyssa giggled and playfully nudged the Elf next to her. The Oni took one gauntlet off and her eyes widened, then looked down at me with a complicated face. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t know it would be this impressive.¡± she took the other one off as well, then laughed. ¡°With just these I could tank the entire dungeon by myself.¡± I relaxed. For a second there, I thought she¡¯d say something deep or serious. I admit to almost shitting myself. While handing out equipment might be a trivial thing to me, it could be immensely different for others and their sense of normalcy. ¡°A little anticlimactic.¡± Lapia slumped a bit. ¡°Can I see them?¡± Yolin passed them over and Alyssa joined in the inspection. I returned my focus to my storage. Pants. Tights. Yoga pants. The Taekwondo pants would suit her very well. She also kicks, after all. A pair of white, loose-ish pants came out. They had SS durability, like most of the combat-oriented costumes that weren¡¯t outright armor. I added a black belt for aesthetic purposes. I gave her the items and she wore the entire ensemble. She put the finger-less leather gloves first, then the wrappings, then the fist weapons after the two returned them. Her breasts were liberated for a second before the new chest wrap covered them. I noticed a pair of very elaborate white panties covering her privates when she stored her shorts. She wore the stretchy and breathable leather hot pants, followed by the white pants of the dobok. Bending over, she put the toe-less socks on, then the wraps around her feet. I looked at her for a few seconds, rubbing my chin in cultured contemplation. Looks badass. The clothes, that by ¡®complete coincidence¡¯ were all white, complemented her red skin really well. The pants were a little on the tight side due to her muscled figure, something I was completely alright with, to be honest. ¡°Any head protection?¡± I asked, looking her up and down. ¡°I make sure to never get hit on the head.¡± she gave me a peace sign with an added thumb. ¡°I use Asura Projection to cover it.¡± It reminded me of the gang signs Alyssa threw last time I gave items. Is this a cleric thing? ¡°Ah. Have these, then.¡± I summoned six rings and gave them to her. ¡°Try to put them on your horns.¡± She appraised them and cleared her throat. ¡°Are you trying to make me immortal?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I honestly answered. Lapia and Alyssa raised their arms. ¡°There it is!¡± the Luzo pointed at the Oni¡¯s shocked face. ¡°Yeeaah!¡± Lapia celebrated. ¡°Hahaha!¡± I laughed. ¡°She didn¡¯t have as strong a reaction as you two, however.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± the Elf sighed. ¡°I almost fainted back then.¡± Alyssa giggled. The rings fit the horns in a shocking way; they widened the further down she slid them. Now THAT is convenient. I looked at Alyssa¡¯s tail and thought about surrounding it to the brim with rings. ¡°I feel¡­ powerful.¡± the tank breathed out. ¡°This is¡­ thank you, Natasha.¡± She hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Yolin.¡± I smiled. ¡°Make sure to fight with everything you have.¡± She nodded and her red skin darkened a little around her cheeks. Cute. ¡°Now. Let¡¯s talk about potions, elixirs, and such.¡± I went all in on them. Their faces slowly lost color as I produced item after item. I focused on concoctions that granted resistances since Alyssa would heal, but added a few Elixirs of Rejuvenation in case of emergency. It reminded me of the days my clanmates and I prepared for dungeon crawls, raids, junctures, and more in the game. This time, however, death was not an option since resurrection scrolls were nonexistent, and these women were people I actually cared about instead of online friends I would never meet. An hour later, we were fully prepared and left the inn toward the dungeon. We mounted up and made our way east. Soon, the suns were completely blocked by bridges and towers, dimming the world around us. We reached a gate at the end of a wide road. It had a tall arc, easily reaching fifty meters in height and twenty in width. The door proper was of wood, and had golden handles. A small blue building with a ship and pickax in red next to it. Alyssa and Lapia asked a Watcher to take the Bhin to a livery. I checked my pocket watch and it was time to meet. I focused on the Bond and noticed the men¡¯s link was weaker than the women¡¯s. It still hinted direction, but their heartbeats felt a little distant. They were very close. I looked back and saw them turn the corner. ¡°Ayyy!¡± the Bonte called to us while waving his arms. A few pedestrians looked at him with a little annoyance. ¡°Good morning!¡± he said once they reached us. ¡°Good morning, everyone.¡± the Satyr nodded with a smile. We shared greetings and I dismounted. Walking to the two, I produced a pair of Unique daggers and a costume that resembled that one assassin from a game where the character jumped from high places into stacks of hay. I also added the consumables the three women carried. ¡°For you.¡± I handed him the items and he choked. ¡°Oi¡­ is this alright?¡± he raised both eyebrows. ¡°How much for this?¡± ¡°A gift.¡± I smiled. ¡°You¡¯re part of our group, can¡¯t have you enter without proper gear.¡± Next was Bromisnar¡¯s, he humbly accepted the items; a tacky Troubadour costume, and a Unique dagger just in case. He was pleased with the colorful fabrics. Since the man had complex horns, I gave him a face mask for protection. The taller man gave the shorter one a cocky smile. The scout clicked his tongue and gave him a few silver coins. ¡°I should stop betting with you.¡± he grumbled and stored the equipment. Bromisnar let out a satisfied chuckle. ¡°You¡¯d do well to do that.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go in, then.¡± Yolin laughed on top of Pochi. ¡°Alyssa and Lapia, you go with Yolin. I¡¯ll take Bromisnar and Bonte.¡± I said while mounting up. I helped the two men up, and approached the dungeon gate as the other two climbed the big wolf. ¡°Halt!¡± a voice called from the blue building. A female Watcher walked out and approached, stopping in front of me. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± I asked her. [Perco Human, Lvl 209 Parrier] What? Who dedicates an entire class to parrying? I chuckled. Unless that¡¯s not what it means. ¡°Halves pay the tax up front.¡± she declared. A couple Watchers observed from the sides. They all had classes that seemed to be warrior-based. I sighed. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°One gold coin.¡± she nodded. ¡°Then another one when you leave.¡± I turned to the more experienced members. ¡°Is that too much?¡± Alyssa nodded behind Yolin. ¡°The regular is one silver coin.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The Oni confirmed and so did the two men behind me. Bah, not that bad. I shrugged. I produced the gold coin and paid the tax. The woman walked away and a few burly guards slowly opened the door. They revealed a slope. Thirty meters wide, plunging into the darkness. Over-hyped much? I patted Sonya¡¯s scales and she advanced. Our formation was Yolin, Alyssa, and Lapia on Pochi¡¯s back. Me, Bonte, and Bromisnar on Sonya¡¯s. We crossed the arc and the door slowly closed behind us. Darkness consumed us... not quite. I glowed, so the walls, ceiling, and ground were visible. Around thirty meters around me the world was bathed in golden light. I was wearing my leather gear, so only my head, and my long hair were out. ¡°Oohh!¡± I exclaimed with excitement as we advanced further into the dungeon. I was right! It IS useful when going underground! I smiled at the memory. ¡°Nice! Saves us the need to use spells.¡± Lapia chuckled. The rest were eerily silent. ¡°Shh¡­¡± Alyssa shushed us with a serious face. ¡°Let¡¯s begin the prayer. You start, Yolin?¡± Eh? Me eyes opened wide. ¡°Sure.¡± the woman in question nodded. I heard a few strings being plucked from behind me as Bromisnar began playing a quiet tune along with Yolin¡¯s soothing voice. ¡°We enter your bowels once more, Galeia. Please be plentiful. We ask the Mentors to bless our stay; and the Protectors to guide our weapons. O Danuva, guide us Clerics to bring aid. O Photem, advice our Wizard to see past mystery. O Saravia, grace our Performer so that he tells of our glories. O Yvanna, cloak our Scout so he remains unseen. O Natasha, protect us in our time of need.¡± A chill ran down my spine. Our mounts moved down the slope at a fast walk. The walls, ceiling, and floor were granite, just like the city. My glow illuminated enough so that the Ratnak and Fekir could see the path ahead with no issue. ¡°We enter your bowels once more, Galeia.¡± the Luzo¡¯s deep voice continued. ¡°A Protector is in our midst. Her might shall bring us unquestioned victory. Her glow shall light the path. Her courage shall embolden us. Her figure shall dispel doubt. Fear not, All Mother. Face us with unbridled fury.¡± I turned to Lapia and we met eyes. We were both visibly cringing. Fortunately for my sanity, after Alyssa¡¯s words everyone went quiet and the Satyr stopped playing his instrument. I looked forward and focused on our surroundings. Busying myself with whatever my eyes found, I tried to not think of the fact that the two literally prayed to me along with actual Gods. This weighs more than I thought it would. I failed to keep my mind from opening that box. No wonder some people call me Your Excellency. They pray to us Halves as well. I found no pride in it, however. It felt alien. I would understand if Lapia treated me with great respect, since I saved her life. Nothing would relieve me of the cringe that was to be treated as a peer to Gods, whatever that actually meant. While I was having a tiny existential crisis, the path turned to the left. After a few minutes it turned to the right and we came to a stop in front of a gate as big as the entrance¡¯s. ¡°Who gets to open the door?¡± Bonte excitedly asked. ¡°Is it heavy?¡± I looked at the massive double door. ¡°It opens with E¡¯er.¡± Yolin chuckled. I dismounted and walked to it. ¡°Let me give it a go.¡± Placing both hands on it, I injected E¡¯er. ¡°Slow-¡± Bromisnar began. Pushing with both fuel and force, the doors swung open. A loud crashing sound echoed like an explosion as they opened completely, impacting the walls of the massive space in front of me and silencing him mid-sentence. It wasn¡¯t a hall, a cave, a room, a tunnel, or anything small like that. It was a labyrinth. Rows upon rows of pillars and walls filled my vision, blocking the view. One hundred meters tall, they connected ground and ceiling. Cracks on the ground bled light onto the space, keeping darkness away. Motherfucker. I gaped. They weren¡¯t pillars of dirt or ordinary stone. The entire space had a definite architecture, as if it was built by a long lost civilization. I felt my muscles tighten to their limit, then relax. A flood of power surged through my body as a wave of cleanliness rushed past me. ¡°Is that high density E¡¯er?¡± I asked, taking a step forward. My voice echoed in the distance. I wanted to jump in. To let loose and test the limits of reality itself. It called to me like a primal instinct. Taking a deep breath, I calmed down. The body is a vessel. I told myself. ¡°Yes.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°How did it feel?¡± I turned around and found the Satyr covering his face. Bonte had a worried expression. ¡°It felt terrifyingly amazing.¡± I laughed, and the echo made me shut up. The Luzo smiled. ¡°Good. Now, everything that heard the doors opening will come rushing.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lapia¡¯s eyes opened wide. ¡°That was fucking loud!¡± ¡°It was.¡± Yolin let out a merry laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Monsters on the first floor are weak. None above level fifty. And people keep the path between floors clear of monsters.¡± Lapia and I let out sighs of relief. We waited in silence, keeping an ear out. When nothing came, I walked to Sonya and mounted up. ¡°My bad.¡± I let out an awkward laugh. ¡°Happens.¡± Bonte chuckled. Sonya began walking, and we entered the first floor of the dungeon. I looked to the sides and the saw the same walls and pillars. ¡°Gear up.¡± Alyssa said. ¡°We rush to the second floor!¡± I did as told and my armor materialized around me, helmet included and pike in hand. ¡°Go, Pochi!¡± Yolin called in Japanese. The wolf picked up speed and started running. ¡°Go, Sonya!¡± I called in Russian. The Ratnak caught up and we sped through the floor, turning when our advance was blocked by walls. The man behind me grabbed onto me, and a second pair of hands wrapped around him. Pillars and walls flew by and the distant screeches of monsters reached us in our advance. I looked around and saw nothing running towards us. Just in case, I looked up. Nothing was there. If a huge fiery goat shows up, I¡¯ll sue Galeia for copyright infringement myself! I chuckled. A few minutes later, we reached the opposite wall. A door just like the previous stood there. We moved in a decided path, so it was nice to see the walls didn¡¯t shift with time. Yolin opened the door, much gentler than I did. We continued to the second floor and the same scene welcomed us. We crossed it and went down to the third floor. The way was also cleared, fortunately. It changed when we reached the ninth floor and I was getting a little bored. There, I saw monsters. They were green little people holding weapons and moving in groups. I stared at them in surprise. There were a lot of them. ¡°Walas.¡± Yolin muttered. ¡°We¡¯ll fight through.¡± ¡°Lapia, you kill them with your fire.¡± the Luzo commanded. ¡°I¡¯ll buff us all so we run faster.¡± The Elf slowly nodded. A gulping sound came from beneath her helmet. ¡°Natasha¡­¡± the healer turned to me. ¡°Call them.¡± I nodded. First, I pushed E¡¯er into Initiation, Prevention, Monster Hunter, and Dragoon Might while thinking of ten hours. I saw my E¡¯er pool tank a few hundred points. Then, I took a deep breath and activated Intimidate Prey with the same amount of time. ¡°COME AND BURN TO ASHES!¡± came the unladylike scream. Sonya and Pochi roared. The nearest group of creatures got obliterated by the air pressure alone, a red paste left behind. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Bonte whispered. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± the Oni called, and Pochi obeyed. We advanced with Yolin¡¯s group at the front. The monsters rushed towards us and I managed to get a closer look. They were bipedal, but ran on all fours. Green skin, ugly faces, thin bodies, black eyes, hairless, and naked. Their weapons were mostly made with rusted metals, stone, or sticks. Lapia summoned her staff and it floated next to her. She spread both arms to the sides and her hands conjured fire, shooting out. Literal flamethrowers came to life. The heat reached us at the back. The streams were at least fifty meters long, reaching from wall to wall and burning everything to death within seconds. Orbs of fire floated above the three, from which fiery arrows shot towards those that survived, puncturing their bodies and burning them from withing. Black carcasses were left in our wake. Bright white halos floated above their heads. I looked up and saw one on me. As we advanced, more of the green creatures entered the range of my skill, but rushed to Yolin instead. Right into the Wizard¡¯s line of fire. The Elf burned everything down. The monsters died so fast they didn¡¯t scream or struggle. When we reached the next door, Lapia started shaking and sobbing. I dismounted and approached her as I stored my helmet. Tears dripped from her chin behind the helmet. The Luzo was hugging her, not saying anything. Pochi laid down, leaving the woman at arms reach. ¡°Lapia, come here.¡± I grabbed her by the waist and put her down. ¡°Look.¡± I pointed at the vast dungeon floor, hordes of monsters still approaching in the distance between pillars and walls. Their screams and the clamor of their footsteps grew louder every second. ¡°What?¡± she asked in a weak voice, a sob or two escaped her. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡± I took her helmet off and wiped her tears. ¡°Keep going. Until it is done.¡± Alyssa stood behind her, her red eyes shining with white light. Yolin positioned herself thirty meters ahead of us, between the creatures and us. Bromisnar took out his lute, and Bonte walked to me. ¡°Remember what I told you in the river.¡± I gently raised her to her feet and gave her a soft kiss. ¡°It¡¯s nobodies business but yours, and we¡¯ll stand beside you as long as you need. Make your choice. You have the power to move forward.¡± She looked me in the eye and nodded. Then, her face slowly changed from uncertainty to determination. ¡°I want power.¡± she growled. ¡°To never feel weak again. Never to be toyed with. Never to feel fear, pain, nor despair.¡± I nodded. ¡°And to do that, you need to face it all. The fear, the pain, the despair. We can¡¯t solve this problem for you, but we¡¯ll support you. No matter what.¡± The monsters were reaching us, Yolin summoned her extra arms and all her skills came to life. ¡°They won¡¯t move past me.¡± she spread all her arms around her. I looked at Alyssa. She had taken her helmet off and was smiling from ear to ear. We gave each other a nod and I walked off towards Yolin, Bonte following me. ¡°Helmets on!¡± Alyssa called. ¡°Natasha, Yolin, and Bonte will hold them back for Lapia to kill!¡± We followed her instructions. A huge white circle formed beneath us, with the Luzo at its center. I checked my status and winced at the ten thousand extra strength and dexterity. How does it affect the others? How can my body hold that much strength? Is it Ignore Pain? ¡°Natasha¡­ those were some nice words.¡± the tank whispered as I stood next to her. I raised my weapon horizontally, waiting for the wave of monsters to reach us. They were shortening the distance quite fast. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s what I can do.¡± I sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t heal her mind, and she needs to face her demons.¡± A loud and quick tune came from behind, the Satyr started playing his lute. The scout crouched behind us, the daggers aiming forward. ¡°I don¡¯t know what is going on, but I¡¯ll use a few illusions.¡± the Tigea muttered. ¡°That¡¯ll keep them a little occupied.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± me and Yolin said at the same time. He nodded, and shadows spread from his feet towards the green horde. They slowed down, but kept advancing. ¡°Ah¡­ they are in a state of throwing their lives away.¡± I bit my lips to avoid laughing. ¡°That might have meddled with their perception or whatever.¡± ¡°Something is insanely boosting two of my stats, so it¡¯ll work either way.¡± he chuckled. ¡°When they get here, they¡¯ll see nothing but shadows.¡± I nodded. The first monsters reached us, clashing against us with their poorly improvised weapons, their bodies, and their claws. The sounds of tools hitting my armor surrounded us as hundreds joined them. A green sea of ugly little shits made me a little disgusted. They reached my waist, and their arms failed to reach my helmet. I appraised one as it jumped and headbutted me in the chest, failing to do anything other than hurting itself. [Walas, Lvl 140] Pretty low for the ninth level. Their weapons and claws broke on my armor and Yolin¡¯s body. It felt like the Me¡¯ik, but the ugly fuckers looked like bastardized goblins instead of an animal. I just pushed back those that came too close, and a lot of floating arms kept them in place, forming a circle around the tank. Suddenly, a bright light came from behind us and bathed the visible area in an orange light. I smiled. Solar Epitaph, was it? I was already topped off in terms of stats. The various buffs made my eyesight sharper, my mind work faster, and my body more responsive. Streams of gentle energy flowed into me through the Bond, the little stamina I had spent so far slowly regenerating. Bubbles had formed around my figurative mind at some point. The creatures had their eyes enveloped in shadows, their skin slowly burnt, and wails of pain left their deformed mouths as they assaulted us. They moved slower than the first time I saw them, some were completely frozen. Our shadows disappeared, the source of light moving right above us. ¡°Oh, shit!¡± Bonte hissed and retreated after looking back. I turned my head around and saw a literal sun descending on us. It occupied most of the space between the ground and ceiling. THAT¡¯S NOT MINIATURE! I screamed in my mind. Yolin let out a loud laughter. ¡°COME!¡± Lapia yelled something in Elvish, and the sun fell down. A bright light enveloped us and the world fell silent for a second. It reminded me of a summer I went to Italy. The heat was comfortable, if anything. In an instant, all the monsters turned to ashes. I stared with wide eyes. It reminded me of a nuclear blast, though miniature. The ground glowed red and the air shimmered. This is a level three hundred wizard¡­ but Alyssa made it sound as if the skill was particularly hard to learn. I gulped. How the fuck did she get kidnapped? I nervously laughed as the world returned to its dim lighting as quickly as the explosion happened, not a single flame to be seen. Yolin joined me, enjoying the absurdity of it all. Looking around, no monsters were left. I relaxed and turned to the rest of the group. There was a silver dome where Alyssa, Lapia, Bromisnar and presumably Bonte stood. We walked to it and I knocked on the surface. ¡°All good in there?¡± I asked. The dome slowly thinned until it disappeared. They were all good. I walked to Lapia. ¡°Better?¡± I hugged her. Alyssa joined, then Yolin. ¡°A lot.¡± she sighed in the cocoon of arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I remembered the bandits and relived some unpleasant memories. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± the Luzo caressed the Elf¡¯s face. ¡°We¡¯re here for you.¡± Yolin nodded with a toothy smile. ¡°Like Natasha said, no matter what.¡± A loud sniff made us turn. Bromisnar was wiping tears away. ¡°Oh! I apologize. I¡¯m weak to these sorts of scenes.¡± His pink goat-like eyes were a little puffy, and Bonte was rubbing his back. Alyssa giggled, and we all laughed. We moved to the next floor, and the environment changed. It was no longer a labyrinth of stone. It looked like a jungle. I looked up and saw white stalactites bathing the world in light. The ground was dirt, and trees blocked out view along with bushes. ¡°What the fuck?¡± I blurted out. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°The tenth level.¡± Bonte answered behind me. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°And Golems are supposed to be here?¡± I asked next. ¡°Yes. Look.¡± Yolin pointed at a boulder between trees a few meters in front of us. ¡°There¡¯s one right there.¡± It was an unassuming rock on the dirt ground. It was pitch black, and had a lot of jagged edges. ¡°Well¡­ whatever.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s get the ores, then.¡± They dismounted and assumed the battle formation as discussed the previous day. Yolin was at the front, Bonte a few meters behind her. Lapia, Alyssa, and Bromisnar stood together at the back. A flying white fist hit the boulder and it immediately moved. Legs pushed it up, and arms rose from beneath it. It stood at five meters in height. That¡¯s a Golem alright. I circled them, keeping an eye out for any cheeky crature that would approach. Boulders sat every fifty meters, and some formed groups. [Jungle Golem, Lvl 200] The monster slowly approached Yolin flattening the ground, cracking branches, and breaking small stones, then raised an arm. An Asura Projection grabbed the limb and kept it from moving. The Oni rushed to it, and punched it once with a loud impact. It cracked and shattered, splitting in a few hundred pieces and revealing a silvery mass at its center. ¡°That¡¯s how it¡¯s done.¡± the tank picked up the ore and tossed it in my direction. I received it and stored it. ¡°You can¡¯t use too much force, or the ore breaks. Fire is not advisable, the ore may melt and fuse with the stone¡­ and we¡¯re surrounded by trees.¡± Yolin spoke as we moved forward. ¡°Is the ore usable if it¡¯s cut in half?¡± Lapia asked, her staff floating behind her. ¡°Yes.¡± Bromisnar nodded. ¡°The bounty asked to bring clean ores, not necessarily whole.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it slowly but surely.¡± Alyssa said from the back. They moved on foot, and I moved on top of Sonya, Pochi walking next to us. A few Golems were killed, Lapia used her Thaumaturgy spells to cut the things in half from top to bottom. Yolin punched them and shattered the stone around the ore. Bonte somehow confused them even though they were made of stone. And the Satyr froze them with loud tunes from his lute. I might have overly boosted them with the items. I pondered as they annihilated monster after monster. As I had nothing to do, I appraised everything in my reach. All the Golems had the same name, and were level 200 on average. Doing poor math, I failed to reach an answer to the level growth of monsters for each level. The first had 50 tops according to the Oni, and the tenth had 200. The ninth had 140 on average. It made no sense to me. I saw a boulder near me and approached it on Sonya. When I came ten meters from it, it stood up. Bushes fell from its back and it pushed the tree¡¯s branches aside. A fist came down on me and I stopped it with a hand. Sonya didn¡¯t flinch. It didn¡¯t make sounds like a living creature. It was deadly silent except for its footsteps and the grinding of stone its limbs produced. It doesn¡¯t have a head, so no forehead to write. I inspected the thing for a while. When I was satisfied, I vertically cut it in half with my pike. The thing crumbled and the ore inside was revealed. I quickly dismounted and stored it, then got on top of Sonya again. Circling around the group, I decided to appraise my companions. I hadn¡¯t done it once since meeting each of them, and I wanted to see if they had leveled up. [Lapia Pofeta ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Domi Elf, Lvl 177 Pyromancer] [Alyssa Pruvik ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Krystaali Luzo, Lvl 248 Cardinal] [Yolin Makav ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Red Oni, Lvl 305 Asura] [Bromisnar Bahadh ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Khlyp Satyr, Lvl 169 Minstrel] [Bonte Slirmy ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Shishi Tigea, Lvl 136 Shadow Chaser] Well¡­ I should appraise them more often. I chastised myself. So little growth. I read my skill for mounts and noticed it mentioned efficiency of E¡¯er absorption. With me being a Halve, having high affinity with it, Sonya had gained a lot more with a single herd of Me¡¯ik. Besides, she didn¡¯t have classes like people did. Maybe their lower leveled classes increase more. Can¡¯t see that, unfortunately. I checked the surroundings and nothing seemed out of place. There were no birds, bugs, critters, or anything of the sort. The boulders didn¡¯t react to sound, but moved when someone approached them. Do they have a radar? I wondered as I dismounted again. I picked up a rock near a clump of trees and tossed it to another boulder. It didn¡¯t move. Do they react to living things, then? I looked around, a little bored. ¡°Natasha, we¡¯re moving!¡± Alyssa called to me. I climbed on the Ratnak and caught up to them. We moved through the jungle killing Golems for a few hours. Bromisnar¡¯s lute kept the activity from being a drag, and I vibed to his music. We reached a wide clearing and I noticed a small little thing flying at the center. Moving past the rest, I approached it to get a better look. It looked like a bug, it had wings like a dragonfly, antlers like a moth, and feet like a mosquito. It was a little terrifying to look at. Turning to me, it lazily flied in my direction. I decided to appraise it before killing it. [Floor Guardian ¨C Morthar Vanguard, Lvl 250] What the fuck? I stared at the thing in confusion. This little shit is the floor guardian? ¡°Natasha.¡± Alyssa¡¯s voice was dead serious. ¡°Walk away from it. Slowly.¡± I looked back and they all had assumed battle formations. ¡°Why?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°That is a scout. They¡¯re a swarm.¡± Yolin quietly said. ¡°They group up and latch onto people, then explode.¡± Oh. I nodded. Wouldn¡¯t want that to happen. I slowly turned and noticed a few approaching them from behind. ¡°Too late.¡± I sighed and pointed behind them. ¡°They¡¯re around us already.¡± 20 - Consequences. I dismounted Sonya and gave her back a pat. ¡°Go to them.¡± The Ratnak jogged to the group, Pochi stood behind the tank. After my mount joined them, Alyssa waved her staff and a silver dome expanded from her position outwards, enveloping everybody around her. The little flying things that had come close enough were pushed away by the barrier and fell to the ground. That looks cool. I nodded. I looked back at the approaching bug. It was green, as big as a humming bird, and had compound eyes like a fly. I stepped back and swatted it away with a hand. A disturbing sound came as it burst against my gauntlet. ¡°FU!¡± the feeling made my voice come out louder than I intended. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°HAHA!¡± Yolin¡¯s laughter resounded in the clearing. ¡°They¡¯re really nasty.¡± I turned back and saw her walking out of the dome as if it wasn¡¯t there. She had her two extra pair of arms connected to her body, swatting the bugs around. ¡°The sound¡­ it¡¯s¡­ there¡¯s no word in Common.¡± I shook my head and swatted another one. ¡°Disgusting falls short.¡± ¡°I get you.¡± she nodded as she swatted six bugs. ¡°Common doesn¡¯t have much variety.¡± More bugs were gathering around us and throwing their bodies against ours. I kept swatting at them and the sounds kept coming. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± I winced and lifted my pike. ¡°This is too much.¡± The blade of my weapon cut them in half when they neared, green liquid splashing the ground below. Hundreds flied off from the trees around us, blocking the light coming from the stalactites above. A cloud of bugs replaced the few we killed. My heart fell down to my feet. ¡°Think of them as bags of E¡¯er.¡± the Oni¡¯s soothing voice calmed me down a little. ¡°The others will benefit a lot from this. Get over here. I¡¯ll cover one side of the barrier.¡± I twirled my pike around me as I quickly made my way to the dome. Looking down at my hands, I gagged as the green liquid had covered both gauntlets. ¡°Can they hear us?¡± I coughed as a little bile crept up my throat. ¡°Yes, but we can¡¯t hear them.¡± Yolin¡¯s voice came from the other side of the barrier. ¡°I tried talking to you while inside.¡± ¡°Lapia, use your fire!¡± I hissed as more bugs died by my blade. ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck about the jungle!¡± The cloud of bugs grew thicker, more and more joined them as time went by. The loud buzz of the swarm made my skin crawl. I kept moving my arms as fast as Halvenly possible to keep the spawns of hell from getting closer. Not even Hell had this shit! I whined in my head. I hope¡­ As the cosmic beings ruling the universe saw fit, my weapon was long and my aim was true. Keeping the nightmarish beings away was easy, but incredibly taxing on my sanity. The little ground that wasn¡¯t grass was colored green by the swarm¡¯s innards. ¡°Relax, Natasha.¡± the Oni sounded amused for some reason. ¡°By the way, why aren¡¯t they rushing towards us like the Walas?¡± ¡°I deactivated the skill before we entered this floor.¡± I managed to get out as more bugs died by my holy and righteous actions. ¡°We need the ores, so I figured rampaging Golems wouldn¡¯t be too useful. How many are there in a swarm? This is taking too long!¡± ¡°Good call.¡± she let out a chuckle. ¡°Barely a minute has passed. Chill and kill.¡± I wanted to laugh. I really did. Reality was different, though. I was fighting for my life. ¡°I can¡¯t stand the noises.¡± Loud clapping came from her position. ¡°Right. You don¡¯t like spiders either.¡± My body went cold. ¡°Please. Don¡¯t tell me there¡¯s s¡­ spiders in this dungeon.¡± A small cloud approached me, and I swiped my pike a few times to kill them all. Divine relief was graced upon me as my weapon created a vacuum with it¡¯s speed, gathering them and making the herculean task a little easier. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There are none.¡± The red Goddess enlightened me with her answer. I sighed and firmly planted my feet on the ground. Grabbing the butt of my pike with my right hand and the pole with my left, I activated Endless Rain. The blade of the weapon whistled through the air as I stabbed everything in my vision as fast as possible. My right hand came up to my left armpit with each thrust, killing dozens of bugs in an instant. Before their bodies separated completely, I was already thrusting again and again, repeating the action each time my right hand returned to my hip. Sneaking a glance back to the dome, I noticed no bugs were on it. They were gathering in front of me, and I assumed around Yolin as well. I could maybe kill them all with a warcry, but that¡¯ll attract every Golem in¡­ I checked my strength stat. A wide area. Better not do that. ¡°Do they have a Queen?¡± I asked after a few minutes of nonstop pest elimination. ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of being covered in green goo.¡± ¡°They do. It¡¯s more beneficial to kill the Vanguard for a while, more E¡¯er to absorb.¡± she laughed. My eyes widened. I had forgotten about that. I focused on the clean smell. A large wave of it entered my core through my lungs along with the stench of the Morthar Vanguard¡¯s innards as they died. I realized it happened passively, rather than something that had to be done consciously. ¡°So if I kill the Queen, they¡¯d all die?¡± I asked while killing. Focusing on my rhythmic breathing helped calm my disgust and focus on the bugs. I felt the clean presence of E¡¯er flow through the Bond towards the others. Cool. I smiled. ¡°They¡¯d explode, so no E¡¯er for us.¡± she chuckled. ¡°The Queen should show up in a while, along with the Soldiers.¡± ¡°Are they bigger?¡± I asked, my pike blurring with the speed. ¡°I¡¯m just going to one-shot them when they show up.¡± ¡°A little bigger, yes.¡± a particularly loud clap was followed by a scoff. ¡°They almost latched onto me.¡± ¡°Come on, these are level two fifty. How can they come close to you with all those extra arms?¡± I teased her a little. ¡°Oh? Wanna bet who kills more?¡± she asked back. ¡°You¡¯re on.¡± I chuckled. ¡°No attracting them with skills.¡± ¡°Tch! Fine.¡± Although she clicked her tongue, she sounded entertained. 1, 2, 3, 4¡­ I counted as more bugs fell to the ground. For some cosmic reason their corpses dissolved after a few minutes, keeping the ground relatively clear. The green goo stayed, however. As I counted, I wondered why Lapia wasn¡¯t using her fire. True, we were surrounded by a jungle, but she could control the flames and avoid a wildfire from forming. When the swarm thinned a good amount, a loud rhythmic clapping came from between the trees and bushes. I looked in the direction of the sound and saw a big one lazily flying in our direction. It was similarly green, the size of a seagull, a stinger on its butt, and big mandibles on its head. I shivered. [Floor Guardian ¨C Morthar Soldier Lvl 280] ¡°Yolin?¡± I called. ¡°Yeeah?¡± ¡°A soldier is coming. It has mandibles and a stinger.¡± I continued stabbing nonstop. ¡°Let it approach a little, then kill it.¡± she continued to clap. ¡°That¡¯ll attract the Queen.¡± Why can¡¯t it be a single monster? I complained. I killed, counted, and focused on the approaching Soldier. When it was four meters away from me, it pointed its butt in my direction. The chubby abdomen wiggled a little and I saw the stinger tremble slightly. I deactivated Endless Rain and took two steps forward, cutting it in half with a vertical swipe. Then, I kicked the corpse to where I was standing as I kept stabbing those around me. ¡°Got one here too!¡± Yolin cheered. The sound of a watermelon falling on the ground reached me after her words. ¡°Ueee! It¡¯s all over me¡­¡± I laughed and kept stabbing. A couple more Soldiers showed up and ended up being cut by me and squashed by the Oni. When the swarm was nothing more than a few bugs, the Queen showed up. Equal in size to the Soldiers and similarly green, it had a small coronet on top of its head. It approached through the bushes towards me. [Floor Guardian ¨C Morthar Queen Lvl 300] ¡°Got eyes on the Queen. I repeat. Got eyes on the Queen.¡± I killed the last of the Vanguard just in time. ¡°Six hundred and forty two, by the way.¡± The Oni walked around the dome and I saw her body covered with green goo from top to bottom. ¡°Five hundred and eighty one.¡± she clicked her tongue. ¡°Your win. Kill it, then.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Does it drop items? Like the coronet or something?¡± She shook her head. ¡°The green goo is really good for the skin even if it¡¯s repulsive, but it¡¯s almost impossible to collect. The coronet is¡­ pretty useless.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Alright.¡± I unceremoniously threw my pike to the bug. It pierced it through the head and got stuck on the ground. ¡°Prey slaughtered. Victory achieved ~¡± I sang as I approached the mutilated corpse that resulted from the shock wave. I picked the coronet and it shrunk to ring size. [Morthar Queen Coronet (Low)] -Attracts a Morthar Swarm when worn. ¡°¡­¡± I turned to Yolin. She crossed her six arms. ¡°Told you.¡± ¡°But what if I wear it outside the dungeon?¡± I contemplated. ¡°Would that create a Morthar Swarm?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± she chuckled. ¡°Only if there¡¯s one nearby. That¡¯s been tested ever since the first dropped.¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, makes sense.¡± The dome vanished and I saw the four wiping tears away. Lapia was chuckling and Alyssa was flushed deep purple. ¡°All good?¡± I asked, taking a step towards them. They all took a step back. ¡°Yes, all good.¡± Bromisnar eyed me with a little disgust. I looked down and winced at the green goo covering me from head to toe. I stored the armor and sighed in relief at seeing my leather garments unblemished. ¡°What were you laughing at?¡± I asked while double checking. Alyssa giggled. ¡°You¡¯re such a wuss with bugs.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± I produced my chest plate, green goo dripping from it. ¡°Want a piece?¡± The Luzo scowled and shook her head. ¡°You two need to clean up.¡± Lapia covered her nose. ¡°Is there a stream or something nearby?¡± Bonte shrugged. ¡°Never been this deep.¡± ¡°There is.¡± Yolin once again blessed all life on Galeia with her words. ¡°A few streams cross the entire floor.¡± I clenched both fists in celebration. ¡°We should eat first.¡± the healer eyed the ground around us. ¡°Not here, naturally.¡± We all nodded at that and moved out of the crime scene. We looked for another clearing. I led at the front, stabbing Golems before they could rise. Lapia moved the ores with space spells and Yolin threw them at me, who stored them. We reached a small clearing and Bonte checked for any unwanted guest or trap. When he gave the okay, we had lunch. I produced the refrigerator and Lapia cooked a light meal with her fire. Magic is way better than technology. I smiled while enjoying a rich soup. Moving on, we reached the stream. The goo on the Oni¡¯s body had dried and we both took a quick dip to clean ourselves. I joined her mostly because I felt dirty and wanted to clean the armor. Continuing the systematical extinction of Golems for a few hours, the stalactites dimmed and we had to find another clearing to rest. We made camp in a spacious area free of Golems and bugs. I uprooted a tree for sitting purposes, then carved a seat on the trunk with my spear. The women sat next to me and the men retreated into their own tent. ¡°So¡­¡± Yolin began with a smile. ¡°What do you think of your first dungeon dive.¡± ¡°Exciting.¡± Lapia answered. ¡°I fought monsters while traveling, but those were mostly ambushes. It¡¯s nice to be coordinated.¡± ¡°Pretty relaxed.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t have much to do, so it¡¯s a little boring.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we left you with the task of killing the beasts on the fifteenth floor.¡± Alyssa giggled. I nodded at her words. ¡°What¡¯s the time?¡± Yolin asked while yawning. I checked my pocket watch. ¡°It¡¯s almost ten, you should go to sleep.¡± I stood up and turned around. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch as previously discussed. I¡¯ll wear my armor so my glow doesn¡¯t attract monsters.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Lapia produced a book and gave it to me. ¡°So you don¡¯t get bored.¡± I read the title. ¡®Way of the Warrior, an Analysis of Skill Advancement¡¯ was written on it. ¡°Cool. Thanks.¡± I gave her a kiss. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a read after I finish Kingdom Fall.¡± Alyssa nodded with a satisfied expression. ¡°It is a good book.¡± Yolin laughed and pulled us into a four-way kiss. She groped my butt, then separated. ¡°Let¡¯s go sleep.¡± she turned around and walked towards the tent Lapia bought. ¡°Good night.¡± the wizard gave me a wink and walked off. The healer¡¯s tail wrapped around my waist and she pulled me into an aggressive kiss. ¡°Can I join you for a while?¡± I nodded while licking my lips. ¡°You can.¡± She smiled and we sat on the trunk. Placing her hands on my shoulders, she closed in and kissed me softly. Her full lips felt really good, and butterflies fluttered in my stomach. We separated and she gave me a beautiful smile. ¡°I like you a lot, Alyssa.¡± I smiled back. ¡°You¡¯re cute, beautiful, your personality is amazing, and you¡¯re really hot.¡± She blushed and wrapped her fingers around my biceps on top of the leather. ¡°You¡¯re an amazing woman, Natasha.¡± her eyes were dreamy. ¡°I¡¯m really lucky to have met you.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. I grabbed her by the waist and sat her on my lap. I stuck a hand under her dress and gently scratched her scales. Closing my eyes, I kissed her. Our tongues wrestled for a while and we groped each other a few times. ¡°Natasha.¡± she breathed out as I cupped a big breast. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t go further.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning to. It¡¯d be embarrassing if the other two heard us.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± she blushed. ¡°I thought you¡¯d want to have sex here.¡± ¡°And have them hear your moans?¡± I whispered next to her ear. ¡°Those are reserved for me, Lapia, and Yolin.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She let out a sultry sigh. ¡°Can I ask you a favor?¡± she whispered back. ¡°Whatever you want.¡± I nodded. ¡°When we have sex with Yolin, could you sandwich me between your bodies?¡± her deep voice was thick with embarrassment and excitement. ¡°You like muscles that much?¡± I licked her neck. ¡°Nn! I do.¡± she breathed on my ear, then yawned. I giggled and released her. ¡°You should go to sleep.¡± With a wide smile, she gave me a peck and turner to the tent. I stared at her hips until she disappeared into it. My armor materialized around my body and I slowly walked around the tents. Giving Kingdom Fall a light read, I busied myself as nothing particularly interesting happened. No bugs or Golems approached. I could pick a thing or two from this book to improve my writing. I thought while patrolling. It is as you say, madame of scales. I pictured Alyssa in front of me. How your red eyes stare into mine, like¡­ I don¡¯t know. Red eyes like ruby! Oh, so beautiful! A chorus of angels! A proclamation by the Gods! You truly are a woman of beauty!! Oh, Elvish maiden with lockets of sunshine. Oh, fine lady of red with hairs of snow. Save this damsel from her troubles of the heart! I continued walking and thinking about love. While romance on Earth was known to me, the culture of this world was on it¡¯s own league. I looked around, nothing out of order. I¡¯m not scared of love, honestly speaking. I¡¯ve had more trouble being overly loving than the other way around. Thing is, Yolin just joined us. I like her, but I know I don¡¯t love her yet. I care a lot about Lapia and Alyssa, that¡¯s for sure. I bit my lips as I completed another lap around the camp. I looked around, using my pike as a walking stick. The trees looked cleared, no bugs sticking to them. The ground was flat, no boulders to be seen. Lapia¡¯s gentle snoring reached me and I quietly giggled. I sighed and properly focused on the surroundings for the rest of the night. When the stalactites brightened, I checked the time. Six. How does it work? The group left their tents and we had breakfast. More Golems were killed, but no bugs showed up. When we couldn¡¯t find more, we moved down to the next floor. We killed them all going down to the fifteenth floor. It took us two days. I was going senile. When we reached the final destination, the same jungle I had come to despise greeted us. There, however, roamed animals. What looked like bears walking on two feet, as I was previously told. I dismounted Sonya and quietly sprinted towards a tree. A beast was sitting some twenty meters ahead. Desperation for anything that could stop the routine of doing nothing forced me to seek any form of entertainment. I looked at the group standing at the door and sent the signal for them to start. Alyssa giggled, looking at a piece of paper. ¡°Look at Novak sneaking behind the Beast. What is she planning on doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Pruvik, but I can tell you one thing, and one thing only.¡± Lapia continued, reading from her own sheet. ¡°That Beast won¡¯t see it coming.¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Pofeta.¡± Yolin covered her mouth with her script. ¡°If one thing has been made clear, is that Novak has impressive sneaking prowess.¡± I leaned forward a little. Turning back to the beast, I signaled once more. ¡°Look! What is she doing?!¡± Bonte exclaimed in an attempt to sound surprised. I moved towards the beast. ¡°Watch out! Watch out! Watch out!¡± Bromisnar chanted as I advanced. The beast turned to me and I jumped. Turning in the air, I hugged its neck and came down to the ground with a loud impact. The animal didn¡¯t survive the neck dislocation and died immediately. ¡°An NKO outta nowhere!¡± Alyssa cheered. ¡°What a development right at the start!¡± I stood up and raised both arms. ¡°Yeeeahhh!!¡± ¡°Her name is Natasha Novak! A heavyweight coming straight from the Cradle of Life! Eleven days old and making waves already!¡± Lapia struggled to contain laughter. ¡°But look!¡± Bromisnar interrupted my character introduction. ¡°A new contender rises!¡± I looked around, a few beasts had surrounded me. ¡°Tch!¡± I wiped invisible sweat off my helmet. [Uger, Lvl 295] It was a brown bear standing on its hind legs. They all looked the same: furry, tall, thick, clawed hands, and snouts. ¡°Grrrr¡­¡± the closest to me approached while growling. I took a step forward and forced its head between my legs. It struggled a little, but a few slaps kept it still. ¡°Oh! Look!¡± Bonte exclaimed. ¡°Is that what I think it is?!¡± ¡°Novak is as bold as ever! What an approach!¡± Alyssa was getting into it. ¡°Look closer, everybody!¡± Yolin¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°It¡¯s not just that!¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Makav?¡± Bromisnar sounded shocked. ¡°It¡¯s obvious, Bahadh! It¡¯s the Tsar Bomba!¡± Lapia sighed with amazement. ¡°What luck we have to see such a legendary technique from the eleven days old fighter!¡± I grabbed the bear by its chunky waist and lifted its body to sit on my shoulders. It weighed nothing to me. I jumped a little and performed the finisher. The bear¡¯s spine shattered, and the back of its skull bounced off the ground. I stood up and posed. ¡°What a finisher!¡± Bonte clapped. ¡°This truly is a legendary eleven days old technique!¡± I felt a soft impact on the back of my head and took messy steps forward, as if the strike had dazed me. ¡°OH?!¡± they all gasped. A bear grabbed me from behind and bit me on the shoulder. I was wearing my armor, so nothing happened. ¡°Aahh!¡± I let out a weak yelp of fake pain. ¡°Is this the end of Young Novak, the eleven days old heavyweight with two legendary techniques?¡± Alyssa sounded distraught. Nice acting! I smiled widely. ¡°Two?!¡± Lapia snorted. ¡°You¡¯d be naive to think such a young fighter only has two legendary techniques!¡± ¡°You mean?!?!?!¡± Bonte made a weird sound. ¡°Yes, Slirmy!¡± Bromisnar took out his lute and started playing a tune. ¡°Can you smell what the Halve is cooking?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t smell anything, but let me tell you something.¡± Alyssa interjected. ¡°I have tried her cooking and I must admit, it¡¯s plain. Her technique, however, is top tier. On both battlefield and bed!¡± Hey! That wasn¡¯t on the script! Don¡¯t add sex jokes to the skit! I freed myself of the hold and turned around, hugging the bear. Swiping my right leg under the bear¡¯s, I pushed it down to the ground. The fall shattered its thorax and it died instantly. ¡°The cracking of bones is loud and clear!¡± Lapia cheered. ¡°This might turn into the best fight of the century, ladies and gentlemen!¡± I heard footsteps and turned around, a beast was running towards me. ¡°What will she do?!¡± Bromisnar asked an invisible crowd. Jumping over it, I grabbed its head with my legs and pushed my upper body forward. The inertia made us spin and it landed on its face with my knees on its back. The loud crack of its neck reached the rest. ¡°That Uger is not standing up after that.¡± Bonte sounded impressed. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Yolin bent over and dropped her script. ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± The rest joined in the laughter. ¡°We¡¯re not done¡­¡± I walked over to them, removing my helmet. ¡°I wrote a few more lines.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± Lapia wiped tears of joy as she read the paper. ¡°¡®Bam! Wham! The Big Slam¡¯?¡± ¡°I wanted to include everyone on the fun.¡± I shrugged, a little embarrassed. ¡°Was it lame?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°It was really fun.¡± ¡°A very colorful script.¡± Bromisnar chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve performed a character.¡± Yolin gave me a toothy smile. ¡°That was pretty funny. You came up with really interesting names for the moves, too.¡± ¡°I may tell you more one day.¡± I gave her a wink. Lapia nodded with a mysterious smile. ¡°And we¡¯ll wait.¡± Smiling, I turned around to face the jungle. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going, then.¡± We advanced through the jungle killing the beasts. Since my method was too flashy, it was decided that it¡¯d be better if I just kill them quickly and move on to the next. I stored the bodies for Bonte to butcher later and the stalactites dimmed again at around eight. We set camp and the Tigea worked on the corpses: skinning and butchering. That night, Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin kept watch in turns. I had a comfortable rest and visited my boys, the demons. A few days of thinning the Uger population went by and we stopped when we found the nests. They were caves on the walls of the dungeon floor. Stronger beasts patrolled around them, and we retreated to let them repopulate. Extinction wasn¡¯t necessary since the hides were useful for a lot of craftsmen, and we¡¯d be fined if the Watchers found out. Not worth it. We made camp and I took watch. Since the dungeon floor was mostly empty after our bloodthirsty quest, I sat down and read for a while. My eyes glowed and illuminated the pages. I thought back on the first nights I spent on this world and chuckled at the need to use a lamp. I finished Kingdom Fall, the ending was pretty dark. The lovers of the Queen grew jealous of her giving too much attention to a man long dead. Turns out, it was the harem that killed Rinal at the beginning of the story because he had gotten the Queen pregnant ¡®too many times¡¯. In her despair, she sentenced them all to death. They didn¡¯t like that, so they killed the Queen. Truly a tragic tale. Surprisingly, their species were never mentioned. Only eye color, voice, and height were described. I shrugged it off and opened the book Lapia gave me. After a few minutes of reading, a few things became clear. All skills could be improved to Rank 3. I only had three such skills. To do that, I would need to add something to the skill according to the book. That was a little problematic. Some of my skills were useless. Shielded Thrust was similar to Coiling Attacks, they both gave me ¡®knowledge¡¯ of parrying, blocking, and stuff. The book said a warrior could improve a skill from rank 1 to rank 2 at level 15 of the skill. Then, from rank 2 to rank 3 at level 30 of the skill. A few examples were given, and Prevention was among them. It didn¡¯t specify how to improve it, only that it was possible to affect enemies. Pretty good book. Gives me something to work on before I get a fourth class. Thankfully, no formulas were on the book, only exercises and simple stuff. I followed its instructions. Activating Prevention, I consciously tried ¡®reversing¡¯ the effect of the skill. Nothing happened. How do I reverse a buff that grants resistance to slow? I rubbed my chin. It should affect enemies, so it obviously doesn''t travel through the Bond. I closed my eyes and tried focusing on my warcries. A pattern surrounded the knowledge of the skill. It was a little triangle with spikes. My figurative fingers went along the shape. I turned to the Auras. The pattern was a square and had semi-circles on the edges like a flower¡¯s petals. Is this the Rak¡¯Math View? I remembered the thing Lapia taught me. Good thing it¡¯s visual instead of numbers. I fumbled around a little with the shapes. Well, I should somehow make spikes on the square so it affects enemies as well. Hmm¡­ The basis of a warcry is a field surrounding me that activates after shouting. So if I make the skill have a similar field through aura activation, it should work. Carefully pinching every other half circle, I turned them into spikes while thinking of the field a warcry creates. I was left with a mix of the two after a while. I let go and it kept the shape. Then, I checked my skills and let out a satisfied hum. Rank 3. -Prevention, Lvl 50. [Aura] You are highly aware of the dangers of battle. You become increasingly resistant to slow, arrest, immobility, and effects that impede movement. While mounted, this effect is shared with your allies in (STR/2)m around you. You slow enemies (STR/5)m around you, and arrest those greatly below you in power. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. The range increased¡­ now it¡¯s over two kilometers. Arrest? Like freeze? Cool. I opened my eyes. The women were standing in front of me, the men sat on a patch of grass working on the skins. The stalactites were bright. ¡°Back to the mortal realm?¡± Lapia raised an eyebrow. I tilted my head. ¡°Did I just jump forward through time?¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°No, you were in deep meditation. It¡¯s four in the afternoon.¡± Fuck. ¡°My bad. Shouldn¡¯t have done that in the dungeon.¡± I apologized. Yolin nodded. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We cleared the beasts anyway.¡± Lapia sat next to me. ¡°What did you advance?¡± ¡°Prevention.¡± I stretched, nothing felt off. ¡°Now I arrest enemies.¡± ¡°Pretty useful.¡± Yolin nodded. ¡°And you did it in a single sitting.¡± I shrugged. ¡°It was surprisingly easy.¡± ¡°Tell me the details when we get back to the city.¡± Lapia stood up. ¡°I¡¯d like to know how you went over it.¡± ¡°Sure. You¡¯re gonna laugh, though.¡± I giggled. ¡°I bet.¡± she grinned. ¡°Should we keep going?¡± Yolin asked. ¡°We have a good amount of hides and ores.¡± ¡°We did what we came here to do.¡± Alyssa smiled. ¡°True.¡± the Oni walked to me and caressed my cheek. ¡°We should go, then.¡± She looked me with her sky blue eyes and I felt a little warmth spread inside me. ¡°If we move fast, we can leave the dungeon by nightfall.¡± Alyssa walked to the tent. The Satyr stood up. ¡°Is Natasha alright?¡± ¡°All good.¡± I gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Was meditating for a while and lost track of time.¡± ¡°Happened to me the first time.¡± the scout chuckled. ¡°Are we leaving?¡± The tank nodded. ¡°We have completed the bounties.¡± They stored the skins and walked to their tent. We packed and left the clearing. Bonte and Bromisnar joined me on top of Sonya. Alyssa and Lapia sat with Yolin on Pochi. Quickly moving through the jungle, we left the fifteenth floor. When we reached the tenth foor, I was surprised to see a few boulders between trees and bushes. Too few to get their ores, however. The labyrinth levels were empty, no Walas to be seen. Yolin opened the doors every time, and we made quick progress on our mounts. I looked back to the dungeon. Dunno what I expected. My level is stupidly high. Had a lot of fun, though. A smile formed on my face. We reached the dungeon entrance and the doors opened on their own. A Watcher was waiting for us. ¡°Tax, please.¡± he produced a linen bag and approached us. Coins were tossed, and he nodded when he saw my golden piece. ¡°Thank you very much, you may leave.¡± he gave us a tiny bow. We crossed the gate into the city. Poles kept the road from plunging into darkness. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Henga¡¯s.¡± Yolin guided the formation. ¡°We¡¯ll celebrate at Horace¡¯s.¡± I patted Sonya¡¯s neck and she followed the big dog. A few minutes later we stopped at a smithy. It had ¡®Henga¡¯s Hammer & Buru¡¯s Threads¡¯ on a plaque above the front door. I followed Bromisnar inside as he took out the bounty document. I had all the ores, hides, and meat in my storage, after all. The space was a comfy store, a lot of weapons and leather armor were displayed on the walls. ¡°Good evening.¡± he respectfully called. ¡°We¡¯ve finished the bounty for ores and hides.¡± A few pans clattered as someone approached. ¡°So fast!¡± a booming female voice said back. A Dwarf showed up. She was wearing an apron and her hair was pitch black. [Ferk Dwarf, Lvl 203 Blacksmith] Why am I not surprised? She looked at me and smiled. ¡°Lady Natasha, welcome. My name is Henga, please come in.¡± So news spread already? I sighed. We followed her into the building and stopped in a room with a scale in the middle of it. It wasn¡¯t big enough for the amount of ores we had collected. ¡°Well?¡± she urged me towards the scale. ¡°Drop them in.¡± I nodded and walked to it. An ore materialized in my hand and I let it fall into the scale¡¯s bowl. My eyes widened when the ore shrunk to the size of a pebble when it entered the plate. ¡°This is amazing!¡± I blurted out. The two chuckled and I put all the ores inside. A total of five tonnes of ores sat on the bowl. The mechanism¡¯s workings escaped me, and I stared at it in wonder. ¡°That¡¯d be five hundred gold coins¡­¡± the Dwarf chuckled. ¡°This will last me a few years.¡± ¡°We went at it pretty efficiently.¡± Bromisnar chuckled. ¡°With a Halve, I¡¯m sure.¡± the short woman gave me a smile. ¡°And the hides?¡± I nodded. ¡°I have them with me. We¡¯d need another one of those.¡± I pointed at the scale. ¡°Follow me.¡± she nodded. We did and stopped at yet another room with a scale. I repeated the process and the hides shrunk on the bowl. ¡°I¡¯ll send a letter tonight letting you know of the final reward.¡± she nodded. ¡°My hubby will be happy with this.¡± I smiled. ¡°That would be acceptable.¡± the Satyr chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m staying at Urdis¡¯.¡± ¡°I know her.¡± she nodded again. ¡°Thank you very much for your service.¡± ¡°Have a good night.¡± I turned and left the smithy. The performer followed, and we relayed the information to the rest of the party. Bonte was especially happy with the amount of gold. We made our way to the tavern and had a relaxed celebration. The Tigea got drunk and Bromisnar had to take him home early. We said our goodbyes and us women went to our love nest. When we reached the inn, the clerk, Dasiso, greeted us with a complicated expression. ¡°You received mail, Natasha.¡± he offered me three envelopes. ¡°Huh?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know anybody, though.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± he had a serious face. Okay? I took them and we went up to our room. Once inside, Lapia turned the lights on and I sat down on the living room. I looked at the first one and scowled. It had a royal stamp, a red ship and pickax. Shit. I cursed. Kingdom, of course. I opened it and cringed further. Your Excellency Natasha, it is of my utmost honor to extend this missive. I must apologize for reaching Your Excellency with a request, instead of an invitation. My Royal Father, Gordon Igne Lumin IV is plagued by a dark spell. I beseech Your Excellency to please aid us in our time of need. If you would be so kind, please come to Paarjo. I beg Your Excellency to make haste, my Royal Father does not have much time left. Ronald Igne Lumin II I let out a long sigh, then looked at the next letter. It had a very beautiful H stamped on it. The character was half silver, and half gold. I gulped and opened it. Sup¡¯, little sister. I heard of your birth through the newspaper. Lady Dabark did a number on you to spread the interview through all countries of Leks. It was easy to find you, however, which is good. I write this letter to ask you if you could please solve the little problem they have over at Lumin Kingdom if you¡¯re still in Mountroad. I¡¯m too far away, and Yulianna is the one who specializes in that kind of shit. Surprise surprise, she¡¯s nowhere to be found. I¡¯ll be sure to reward you as a big sister should. WINK WINK. Hoping we properly meet in the future, Nilenna Atarka. I took a deep breath. I knew I shouldn¡¯t have done that interview! I sighed. Looking at the next envelope, a deeper sigh escaped me. It had a skull on it. Be warned, Halve scum, we do not need you in the world anymore. The hunt has begun. And that was it. 21 - Pushover. Entanglement. Awakening. (18+) Another sigh escaped me. Nilenna Atarka. Doesn¡¯t sound Earthly to me. What is this family play? ¡°Anything interesting?¡± Lapia asked me from the other sofa. ¡°You¡¯ve sighed a few times while reading the letters.¡± I looked up and noticed Alyssa sitting next to the Elf. Yolin had walked to the bathroom at some point. Looking out the window, I noticed the night had completely devoured Mountroad. ¡°You could say that¡­¡± I began. ¡°Give them a read. I¡¯ll go ask the clerk if he knows anything.¡± The wizard took the letters and the Luzo scooted closer to read. I stood up and walked out of the room and down to the first floor. Reaching the counter, I saw a table call bell and ringed it once. Dasiso walked out of the door and sighed when he saw me. ¡°Which came first?¡± I asked with a polite smile. ¡°The one with the H, then the Royal letter, then the one with the skull.¡± he nodded. ¡°A bird brought the first a day after you left, a courier delivered the letter from the Royals three days after you left, and the last one was on the counter this morning.¡± ¡°Got it, thank you.¡± I gave him a nod. He shrugged. ¡°No problem.¡± Walking back up to the room, I changed to a string top and skirt, then sat on the sofa once inside. Yolin had gotten out of the bathroom. She had a towel around her shoulders and was naked from head to toe. ¡°What species is the King?¡± I asked as my eyes roamed the tank¡¯s body. ¡°A Tigea.¡± Lapia answered, handing the letters to the Oni. Of course. I sighed. I thought he was a Human based on the name. ¡°What does ¡®not much time left¡¯ mean to a Tigea?¡± I leaned back on the sofa and crossed my arms. ¡°A century? Ten years? A few? Months? Days?¡± ¡°With how messy the letter is written, I¡¯d assume the Prince was in a hurry.¡± Alyssa scratched her left horn. ¡°That could mean two months or less.¡± ¡°Do they itch?¡± I asked out of nowhere. ¡°Your horns, I mean.¡± She smiled and put her hand down. ¡°No, just a bad habit when I¡¯m a little stressed.¡± ¡°Is this Nilenna¡¯s handwriting?¡± the Oni asked after returning the letters. ¡°Are we sure it¡¯s not a prank? Or a trap? Or a ploy to convince you to go to Paarjo?¡± We all shrugged. ¡°The only Halve that has written anything publicly was Perculis.¡± Lapia pointed at the letter. ¡°And that stamp is the real deal.¡± ¡°Nothing we can do if Nilenna¡¯s is a fake.¡± Alyssa grabbed her tail and made the tip wiggle like a worm. ¡°What about the threatening letter?¡± I asked next. My eyes followed the tail. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with sending that?¡± ¡°There are groups in the world that think Gods and Halves are no longer necessary. They are convinced the world is at peace.¡± Yolin sat down next to me after getting dressed. ¡°And believe we should no longer live under their protection and tutelage.¡± Understandable. I nodded. ¡°How realistic is that belief?¡± I still asked. ¡°What¡¯s the highest level a person has reached without our help?¡± ¡°The stronger the monster, the bigger they are.¡± Alyssa played with her tail. ¡°Above level one thousand, they are the size of a town. I¡¯d say not many have passed that threshold. And the few that have, understand the importance of a Halve.¡± ¡°Helena and Rozaria, Perculis¡¯ mortal companions, wrote an essay on the importance of Halven might.¡± Lapia said as she produced a bottle of water and served four glasses. ¡°They stated you Halves are the natural protectors of the world. As beings of E¡¯er, you also change how we perceive the limits that exist. Both reached level one thousand five hundred before they died of old age.¡± I turned to Yolin. ¡°Is that what you mean in your form? The limit of mortal growth?¡± She nodded after taking a sip. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°So these groups would be weak people trying to get rid of a power they don¡¯t really understand?¡± I summarized. The three nodded. ¡°Most likely privileged people who haven¡¯t lived enough hardships.¡± Lapia chuckled. Classic. I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m worried about you...¡± I admitted. ¡°You know¡­ the classic tactic of going after those around your target.¡± ¡°Luckily,¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°We¡¯re next to a dungeon with a power ceiling of eight hundred. You¡¯re a Warrior,¡± she turned to Yolin. ¡°You¡¯re a powerful tank,¡± then to Lapia. ¡°And you¡¯re a genius Wizard.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re a genius Cleric, don¡¯t take yourself lightly.¡± Lapia smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± the Luzo flashed a cocky smirk for a second, then turned it to a sweet smile. ¡°But I don¡¯t like that label.¡± Oh God, that was sexy. I gulped. Focus, Natasha! Yolin drank more water and asked. ¡°What about the other two?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead and assume spies and shit are spread all over and they¡¯ll be targeted too. I¡¯m not taking stupid risks.¡± I took the letters and stored them. ¡°It might sound arrogant, but I¡¯d rather be vain than careless.¡± ¡°Sound argument.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t become paranoid, though.¡± I smiled at her and raised my glass. ¡°If I ever do, please slap me. Don¡¯t break your hand, though.¡± Alyssa and Yolin laughed at that. ¡°I¡¯ll burn you.¡± she shrugged with a grin. ¡°You survived Solar Epitaph, anyway.¡± I relaxed on the sofa. ¡°So we¡¯re going to clear the dungeon?¡± Yolin asked. I¡¯ll power-level them to pluto and back. I nodded. ¡°As fast as we possibly can, then we¡¯ll go to the next dungeon and clear that one. Then again, and again. We¡¯ll take the two months Alyssa mentioned as time limit and head to Paarjo after you all reach eight hundred.¡± The three blinked for a few seconds. ¡°It took me three years to clear the dungeon and get from six hundred to eight hundred.¡± Yolin sighed, then smiled widely. ¡°Halves are cool.¡± ¡°About that,¡± Alyssa put her glass down. ¡°What happened to your last party?¡± ¡°That could be sensitive, don¡¯t ask her that.¡± Lapia hissed at the Luzo. Yolin, on the other hand, shrugged. ¡°Perella, one of my previous partners, got pregnant so they all left to Uuruhk.¡± ¡°And you stayed behind?¡± the Elf gaped at her. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really comfortable around them, to be honest. Two women and three men is a bad mix.¡± the Oni shook her head. ¡°Also, I don¡¯t want to have children before turning three thousand.¡± Yikes. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best so that you don¡¯t feel that way with us, Yolin.¡± I put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. ¡°I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t¡­¡± she smiled and kissed me on the cheek. Her lips covered her small tusks and fangs, so it felt nice. ¡°Healing the King should be no problem, you could use a strong Elixir.¡± Alyssa smiled. I nodded. ¡°That¡¯d be a nice side mission.¡± Lapia tilted her head. ¡°What would be the main one?¡± ¡°Yeah, what do you mean?¡± the Luzo had the same confused expression. I raised a finger. ¡°The toys.¡± Both covered their faces with a hand. ¡°How could I forget?!¡± the Elf hissed. Alyssa shook her head. ¡°Almost got our priorities all wrong!¡± With a wise nod, I chose to forgive them. ¡°It¡¯s alright, that conversation happened more than a week ago.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t remind me of how long we haven¡¯t had sex, please.¡± the Wizard winced. ¡°True¡­¡± the healer pinched her own lips. ¡°We¡¯ve spent more time fighting than loving each other lately.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Yolin leaned back and laughed. ¡°We have tonight.¡± Six eyes opened wide and we turned to the Oni. ¡°First.¡± I stood up. ¡°Bath. We spent too damn long inside that dungeon. Also, I really need to relieve myself. Bushes can¡¯t compare to a toilet.¡± ¡°Haha!¡± Yolin spanked my ass. ¡°I¡¯d take that even if dirty.¡± My face heated up. ¡°What¡¯s with you people and smacking my ass?¡± ¡°It¡¯s big.¡± the Luzo blushed. ¡°It¡¯s tight.¡± the Elf bit her lips. ¡°It¡¯s golden.¡± the Oni gave me a wide smile. ¡°Lapia¡¯s is bigger, though.¡± I pointed out. ¡°True.¡± Yolin and Alyssa said at the same time with a nod. ¡°Alyssa¡¯s is tighter than mine.¡± Lapia countered. ¡°True.¡± me and Yolin nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± I laughed while walking to the bathroom. ¡°We can keep going forever. I¡¯ll go clean up.¡± I stored my clothes, entered the bathroom, and took a much needed dump. Stepping under the shower, I turned it on. Freezing cold water rained on me and I let out a relaxed sigh. Lapia came in after me and sat naked on the toilet while staring at my body. ¡°You¡¯re a really sexy woman, Natasha.¡± she smirked as her eyes roamed my body. ¡°Is that cold water?¡± ¡°Thank you, Lala. You¡¯re incredibly attractive.¡± I winked at her. ¡°Yes. Freezing cold. I love it like this. Wanna join me and have some fun?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± her face turned a little complicated. ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of cold water. Not this late.¡± I¡¯m hella horny¡­ How about I give her a show for once. I smiled as an idea popped up and I put a swimsuit thong on. The string was completely devoured by my butt cheeks. My fellow shrank and the piece fit snugly around my muscled waist. I looked her dead in the eye and smiled as sensually as I could. Running my right hand from my abs to my neck, I let out a soft, seductive sigh. With my left hand, I cupped my left breast and blew her a kiss. Lapia¡¯s emerald green eyes slowly widened and her mouth opened a little. I could see my glow reflected on her eyes like a pile of gold in front of a dragon. I leaned back on the cold bathroom wall, the freezing water fell on my chest and down my body. I opened my legs a little and took my right hand to my mouth, where I nibbled at my thumb. My left hand slowly went down my tummy and sneaked inside my thong. Complete and absolute shock almost broke my face as I felt nothing down there. Only smooth skin, instead of my member. My heartbeat accelerated as I continued down to my vulva. I found my lady parts, and my penis was nowhere to be found. This is the discovery of the century. I smiled widely at Lapia, who was fixedly staring at my body. What kind of cosmic fuckery is going on with these magical panties?! I let out a giggle and started to very slowly and gently rub my clit. ¡°Ahn¡­¡± I let out a soft moan as the action sent a weak electrical current all over my body. ¡°Lala, come play with me.¡± I purred. ¡°Are you satisfied with only watching, or do you want to touch me?¡± Her eyes were wide open, and she shook her head slowly. Standing up, she took a step towards me. ¡°Ah, ah, ah.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Wipe yourself before you come here.¡± She blushed and swallowed. After cleaning up, she stood just outside the cold shower, staring at me. ¡°You devil.¡± she whispered and took a deep breath. Taking a step forward, she trembled and let out a low hiss as the cold water touched her skin. ¡°No using skills.¡± I teased her in a sultry tone. ¡°Only bad Elves use skills.¡± I might be pretty good at this. She collided with my body and hugged my back. Her lips found my neck and I leaned my head back, enjoying her caresses. ¡°Yes, Lala.¡± I softly spurred her on. ¡°I¡¯m yours.¡± ¡°Haaa¡­¡± she let out a long sigh as she rained kisses on my skin. ¡°You have no idea what you do to me.¡± ¡°I might.¡± I gave her a smirk. ¡°You do the same to me.¡± ¡°I bet.¡± she smirked back with hungry eyes. Since she was a little shorter than me, I lowered my head and kissed her. Her soft, full, pouty lips made my head light. Her hands ran around my body and stopped at my hips, where she pulled me against her. ¡°The water is freezing.¡± she complained. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up!¡± ¡°No¡­¡± I licked her lips and grabbed her ass. ¡°Let¡¯s take our time and enjoy ourselves, Lala.¡± My left hand went between her legs, and my right hand groped her meaty behind. Gently running my fingers over her labia, she let out a satisfied hum. ¡°Lala, put your hand in, you¡¯ll be surprised.¡± I whispered in her right ear, running my tongue on the entire thing. Her left hand caressed my abs and then slowly went down into the thong. Her eyes opened wide and she looked me in the eye. ¡°It¡¯s not there!¡± she almost shouted. ¡°Where did it go?!¡± ¡°No clue.¡± I shook my head and pinched her lower lips. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Ahhn¡­¡± she moaned and her fingers found my pussy. ¡°It does matter¡­ but maybe later.¡± I turned around and gently pressed her against the wall. The cold wall made her shiver, or that was caused by my fingers rubbing her clit and gently spreading her lips, I didn¡¯t know for certain. A cheeky finger split my labia, sending strong shivers up my spine and down my legs. I groaned into her mouth and my toes spread with the pleasure. Letting her butt go, I cupped a perky breast with my right hand, flicking her erect nipple a few times. ¡°Nasha¡­¡± she breathed out. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted you so bad.¡± ¡°Me too, Lala.¡± I kissed her. Our warm, soft tongues entwined and our sighs escaped through our noses. I licked her sharp teeth and canines, and got momentarily pissed that my body was so resilient. I wanted to feel a little pain during intimate moments. My clitoris was pinched, and a yelp escaped me followed by a hum of pleasure, erasing my previous thoughts. My fingers didn¡¯t relent, however, rubbing at her pussy and spreading her lips. A wetness that wasn¡¯t the cold water falling on us covered my fingers. Gently pulling on the nipple on my right hand, I separated from the kiss and licked her face. ¡°Ahnn!¡± a loud moan left my mouth as a finger entered my folds. ¡°Don¡¯t separate the cloth too much, or my penis will come out.¡± ¡°OkaaaAAAHhh!¡± her response turned into a moan as I put a finger inside her, bending upwards and gently pressing against her pelvic bone. ¡°Fuuhuuck¡­¡± She put her forehead on my shoulder and sped up her fingers. Electric pleasure erupted from my vagina to my entire body in burning waves that clashed against the cold shower. ¡°Oh¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°Finger me good, Lala. I love your fingers.¡± Putting another finger inside her pussy, I put a leg between hers, and spread them. Bringing my thumb to her clitoris, I abused my high dexterity and made it vibrate. As my own legs spread as well, she took the chance and did the same to me. ¡°Do my... fingernails not... hurt you?¡± she asked between moans as her fingers went in and out of my pussy, making watery sounds and intensifying the shivers all over my body. ¡°They¡¯re pretty long.¡± ¡°Not¡­ Ahn! Not at all.¡± I whined as she hit a really good spot. I started to sweat, and so did she. Our moans had been echoing in the bathroom, interrupted only by the occasional kiss and her biting my shoulder. Her warm and soft vagina clenched a little around my fingers, and she let out a shaky moan. ¡°I¡¯m gonna cum!¡± she hissed and tightened her body. ¡°Being fingered under a cold shower is going to make me cum really fast, Nasha!¡± Ever the wise, the Elf closed in on my breasts and bit my nipples, paralyzing my spine for an instant. My hips numbed and I knew I was gonna cum real soon. ¡°You¡­ guh! Cheater!¡± I accused her as my legs began trembling. ¡°You¡­ ngh! Know my nipples are weak!¡± A festival was happening in my mind. My pussy lips, my clitoris, my G-spot, and now my nipples were being assaulted. ¡°I have to.¡± she whined, looking into my eyes. ¡°You have a lot more stamina than I do.¡± We kissed shortly and our fingers picked up even more speed. Her free hand went for my other breast and she separated, attacking both nipples and bringing me ever closer to orgasm. Whiteness was replacing my vision, and I did the only thing I could do at the time. I stuck my tongue in her right ear and went at it like it was a treat. ¡°Fffuuu¡­¡± her legs tightened and her eyes closed. I felt an explosion of pure bliss as her canines dug with greater force on my golden nipples. My hips shook as a heat dropped from my womb, and my voice was an incoherent mess of moans and Russian. ¡°¡°Cumming!¡±¡± we both announced at the same time. Warm liquid sprayed on my palm and I trembled all over. Every muscle in my body sang in climax. My mind went stupid and I kissed the Elf in my arms. Our tongues reunited and the exploration of our mouths continued as our bodies jerked with the afterglow of our orgasms. More than a week had passed since our last act of sexual intimacy, so our bodies were pretty quick in reaching the peak. I was in heaven, though. My mind swam in white paradise as I enjoyed the woman in my arms. The moment was interrupted as I felt a large area of skin get cold with the water. Looking down, Lapia had removed the thong in the shakes of her own release, so my penis was out and about. Taking deep breaths, I brought my fingers to my mouth and licked them clean under the Elf¡¯s gaze. Her face reddened with each lap of my tongue. The taste was divine. The slight sweetness of her fruity diet was something I unconsciously craved for the last days. Time had flown past quickly, and now that we were back at the inn I realized how long we spent down in the dungeon. A complicated feeling sneaked into my head. Between slight anger and slight guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry we weren''t intimate in the dungeon, Lala.¡± I caressed her face. She smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t think like that. We kissed and hugged a lot. I might have joked about wanting to have sex, but I understand we can¡¯t sometimes.¡± A relieved giggled left me. ¡°What do you think of cold showers now?¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t like them.¡± she scowled, then smiled. ¡°But if a beautiful Halve is showcasing herself in front of me and obviously inviting me, not even a lava lake will stop me.¡± I nodded. ¡°Pretty good.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Our tongues found each other again, and we melted in each other¡¯s embrace. Until a deep, yet feminine voice reached my ears. ¡°Done feeling good by yourselves?¡± Alyssa asked from the bathroom door. I turned to her and saw her smiling. A flash of panic coursed through my mind, clearing it from any high I was in. Would this be considered cheating in some way? I couldn¡¯t help but think. We did naughty stuff behind the others¡¯ back. ¡°Get over here, Alyssa.¡± Lapia chuckled, her voice came out a little shaky. ¡°Let me turn the hot water on. I can barely speak.¡± A sigh left me as the freezing shower sharply increased in temperature. I looked at the Luzo¡¯s eyes and didn¡¯t see any hint of anger, jealousy, or anything like that. ¡°Is it bad if we do things alone?¡± I asked anyway. There were a lot of things I¡¯d need to know. ¡°Like just now?¡± The healer¡¯s head tilted so much, I though she¡¯d stab my eye with a pencil. ¡°Not at all¡­¡± she said a little confused as she walked over to the toilet, where she sat facing the wall. ¡°While we are all in the same relationship, we¡¯re mortals with limits and wants. It¡¯s natural to take any chance to be intimate. Just now, for example, I was making out with Yolin.¡± I nodded. Polyamory is truly amazing. ¡°Yeah,¡± the Elf in my arms kissed my cheek. ¡°We kissed a lot in the tent, and I know you heard us since it isn¡¯t soundproof. Were you bothered by it?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Actually¡­¡± I felt my face burn. ¡°I thought it was pretty hot.¡± ¡°See? Why would anyone think it¡¯s bad?¡± Yolin¡¯s soothing voice said from the bathroom door. ¡°If someone doesn¡¯t feel happy when their partners grow closer, then this kind of relationship is not for them.¡± I looked at her and she was naked. Her glorious red body, which was sculpted by the heavens, was bare for my eyes to freely devour. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s really big.¡± the Oni looked down at my waist. ¡°I¡¯ll admit I¡¯m a little scared.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a tank, Yolin.¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°How can you be scared? Even I took it all inside.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t had sex in a little over five years.¡± she laughed loudly. ¡°Of course that big thing will scare me a little.¡± ¡°What?¡± three voices said at the same time. ¡°What about your previous partners?¡± I blurted out. ¡°How can you last that long without sex?¡± Lapia asked, her voice thick with disbelief. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make you a virgin again?¡± Alyssa giggled. Please say sike. I looked at Alyssa with a little apprehension. The idea of taking a virginity legitimately scared me. ¡°I¡¯m 201 years old.¡± Yolin shrugged, a toothy smile on her face. ¡°My cycle is a little irregular and lasts a little longer than normal. Also, I didn¡¯t want to risk pregnancy.¡± ¡°Ahhhh¡­¡± I nodded. ¡°I see.¡± Irregular cycles are a bitch. I sighed. ¡°Makes sense...¡± the Elf gave a short nod. ¡°I too, didn¡¯t have sex for a while when my cycle arrived.¡± ¡°Same.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°The risk is not worth it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting on the bed.¡± Yolin smiled and walked off. Alyssa joined us under the water and we thoroughly cleaned ourselves. I did most of the cleaning, and they enjoyed my care. Once clean and dry, we made our way to the bedroom. The red woman was sitting on the bed with her snow white hair loose. The three of us climbed on it and surrounded her. ¡°How do you like to have sex?¡± I asked. ¡°Rough and long.¡± the Oni blushed at her own words. ¡°Me and Natasha have a soft sub and dom thing going. Would you like to join?¡± Alyssa asked with a blush of her own. Her red eyes were taking the muscled figure before us, and her tail curled up on the bed. ¡°You¡¯re not part of it?¡± Yolin asked Lapia. The Elf shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not. I respect their dynamic, and enjoy them with no problem.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to join.¡± the Oni nodded. We all nodded at that, Alyssa a little more excitedly. ¡°Which role would you like?¡± I asked, arousal enveloping me. ¡°Dom or sub?¡± Yolin cleared her throat. ¡°Sub, if you don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m a tank in the field, so I¡¯d like to be at your mercy in bed.¡± I gulped. The idea of commanding the much older woman already thinned my reason. ¡°Okay, then.¡± I raised my voice a little. ¡°Yolin, you hug Alyssa from behind, I will take her front. How about you, Lapia?¡± The Elf blushed really hard, and took a moment before answering. ¡°I¡¯d like to watch.¡± her voice came out a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m a little hypersensitive right now after you made me cum in the bathroom.¡± ¡°Whenever you want, join us.¡± Alyssa giggled with excitement. The Luzo positioned herself on her knees between me and Yolin. The Oni and me pressed our bodies against our prey and she let out a shaky breath. ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± her deep voice came out dreamy. ¡°This is even better than I imagined.¡± Her tail and legs went between Yolin¡¯s, and I connected our tummies together. My soft penis hang freely, not touching anyone yet. ¡°Tell us how it feels, Princess.¡± I licked her neck while staring at Yolin. The Oni winked at me and kissed my cheek. Alyssa took a deep breath and began the declaration. ¡°Yolin¡¯s abs, thighs, arms, and hands are touching my back. It feels like a wall of iron. I love it. My Queen¡¯s rock hard muscles are molding my skin to their shape at the front. Your breasts pressing against mine touch my nipples and send shivers all over my body. I feel trapped. I feel helpless. I feel really good, Queen.¡± she said in a single breath. I nodded. ¡°Good job, Princess. Yolin, lick her right side, I¡¯ll take the left. Also, rub her pussy slowly and¡­ pleasure my penis.¡± Focusing on Alyssa, I went into action. Her warm body against mine felt amazing, and her big breasts pushed mine back. I leaned on her left and softly kissed her neck while cupping her generous bosom. A rough hand took my member and slowly caressed it. Alyssa gasped and leaned her head back, drowning in the stimulation. I noticed her hands rested on Yolin¡¯s thighs, caressing her muscles. I smiled and groped her big tits. ¡°Uhh¡­¡± she sighed, then purred. ¡°Your bodies are soooo hard.¡± I¡¯ll make you feel like a harem protagonist. I smirked. ¡°Yolin, let¡¯s alternate and kiss her, don¡¯t let her lips rest.¡± Alyssa¡¯s eyes opened wide and so did her smile. ¡°Gyoi!¡± her soothing and mature voice answered. I don¡¯t understand, woman! I took the Luzo¡¯s jaw and kissed her deeply. She moaned into my mouth and her forked tongue entwined with mine, saliva dripped from our lips down our chins to our breasts. The Oni waited, nibbling the healer¡¯s scaly ear. Her hands didn¡¯t stop her ministrations on our genitals, sending shivers all over our bodies. I sneaked a hand around Alyssa¡¯s hips and between red legs, touching Yolin¡¯s pussy for the first time. I felt around her labia, gently stimulating her. Separating from the kiss, I turned Alyssa¡¯s head towards the older woman, who promptly connected her lips. I turned my head down and licked the blue nipples. ¡°Hnn!¡± the Luzo sighed and her eyelids fluttered. ¡°Feels good, Princess?¡± I teased her as I flicked a blue nipple with my tongue. ¡°Hng!¡± she slowly nodded, enjoying the Oni¡¯s kiss. My penis slowly hardened, and Yolin ran my entire length with slow, long strokes. It felt completely different from my pussy, but equally as good. I sighed into the two big tits in front of me, and ran my tongue between them, making the woman shiver. My right hand stimulated Yolin, my left groped Alyssa¡¯s left massive breast, and my tongue flicked her right nipple. Yolin¡¯s right hand was on the healer¡¯s pussy, and her left around my cock as she kissed the woman between us. Alyssa¡¯s hands ran over our bodies, feeling up our muscles and sighing deeper and deeper with each passing moment. I replaced Yolin on the kissing and my second round with the Cardinal began. The Oni¡¯s tongue ran on light purple skin, giving kisses and suckling every now and then. ¡°You feel amazing, Alyssa.¡± Yolin¡¯s soothing voice elicited a few gasps of pleasure from the woman. Watery sounds came from Alyssa¡¯s pussy along with faster and faster sighs and yelps. We didn¡¯t give her lips a single second to rest, assaulting her entire body and drowning her in unfiltered pleasure. If I wasn¡¯t kissing her, I was licking and flicking her nipples with my long tongue. If Yolin wasn¡¯t kissing her, she was licking, kissing, nibbling, or suckling her neck. Alyssa was in heaven. Two muscled women sandwiched her between our rock hard bodies and stimulated every centimeter of her erogenous zones. I didn¡¯t forget for an instant to stimulate Yolin¡¯s pussy, and she did the same with my cock. We didn¡¯t get to the point of making the other moan, as the focus was giving the healer pleasure. A second pair of hands joined us as Alyssa¡¯s breathing became ragged. Lapia began her attack. Focusing on my pussy, and Yolin¡¯s breasts, she also licked the Luzo¡¯s left ear. ¡°Ghns!¡± Alyssa took a deep breath as Yolin kissed her. ¡°Gnghgg Khmh!¡± ¡°Gonna cum, Princess?¡± I licked her neck. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back.¡± I let go of her breast and hugged Yolin, pressing us tighter and squeezing Alyssa. That did it for her. She tightened her entire body and trembled. I took both nipples into my mouth and gently bit them. Her hips shook, her big tits trembled as her spine quivered, and she gripped my right bicep with her left hand while her right hand grabbed Yolin¡¯s right thigh. ¡°Mmf! Mff! Hnnn¡­¡± her voice was trapped inside the Oni¡¯s skull, so only soft whimpers were heard. I kissed and caressed her skin, maximizing her enjoyment of the afterglow. When she came down from heaven, she let out a long sigh and disconnected from Yolin¡¯s lips. ¡°That was so good¡­¡± she whispered. ¡°I came so hard.¡± ¡°Glad you liked it.¡± the Oni caressed her cheek and kissed her neck. ¡°Thank you, my Queen.¡± she gave me a soft kiss. ¡°For granting my selfish wish.¡± I nodded. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± ¡°Now, it¡¯s Yolin¡¯s turn.¡± Lapia announced. ¡°I had my share in the bath, and now Alyssa got to cum.¡± The Oni nodded. ¡°I¡¯d like your penis, Natasha.¡± My face heated up. ¡°Alright.¡± Alyssa crawled on the bed to Lapia and hugged her, taking a small break. ¡°Can you please start gently? You have a really big and thick one.¡± her red cheeks darkened further. ¡°Also, I can easily have orgasm after orgasm. After the fifth I think I¡¯d be good to go at it roughly.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± my face was about to melt. ¡°Let me know if you need me to stop. Let¡¯s choose a word.¡± She nodded. ¡°How about ¡®summer¡¯?¡± I smiled and hugged her hard body. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. Do you want to continue the dom sub while having sex?¡± ¡°Not for my first time with you.¡± she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve done it in the past, so I tend to go quiet if I¡¯m a sub.¡± ¡°Go at it as you wish, Yolin. I¡¯ll accept you as you are.¡± I nodded and kissed her. Her lips felt good, and her kissing technique was superior to mine. She assaulted my gums, my tongue, the back of my teeth, and my palate. My head turned to mush. I let her take control of my body. She pulled me and connected our hips. We were sitting on our knees, so the position was comfortable for both of us. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the vanguard position.¡± her soothing voice said next to my ear. ¡°I¡¯m already wet enough from before.¡± So they have their own names for that, too? I was impressed. She raised her hips and guided my erect penis inside her. I looked down and saw my golden glans spread her red labia. ¡°Hnn¡­¡± she moaned right away. ¡°I¡¯m gonna cum with insertion alone.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go slowly, then.¡± I nibbled her red ear and held her hips. ¡°Alright.¡± she sighed. Her soothing and mature voice sent pleasant waves through my brain. She sounded like a MILF, and was older than any on Earth. Slowly lowering her hips, the head of my cock went inside and her legs began trembling. ¡°Cumming!¡± she hugged me tight and her entire body shook. That¡¯s hella fast! Her pussy was soft, wriggly, and had just the right tightness. She didn¡¯t feel like she hadn¡¯t had sex in years. The warmth and wetness felt insanely good. Having a penis as a woman is truly the best. I shifted my hips a little and hit her G-spot with the crown of my cock. She whimpered and tightened the hug. ¡°CUMmIinGg aGaaaiIIiiN¡± The shaking of her hips didn¡¯t help me in being gentle, as she lowered them in a single motion and half of my penis disappeared inside her pussy. ¡°Natashaaaa¡­ Summer! Sumeerrrr!¡± she closed her eyes and headbutted me. I stopped moving. Taking deep breaths to reign in the boundless lust that clouded my mind. Her pussy clenched around my cock and I counted six orgasms as she moaned and trembled in my embrace. My mind was on the seventh dimension. The woman came with just the head of my penis going inside her. The tight orgasms loosened her vagina, and lubrication covered my member. ¡°Sssshshhhhhiiiiittttttt¡­.!¡± she let out a long hiss and kissed me with violence. Her tusks hit my teeth, and her fangs dug on my lips. Her lips went all around mine, and her tongue even licked my nose. ¡°Oh! Ahn! Wait! Natasha! Cumming again!¡± she wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled me on top of her. ¡°Summer! Summer!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not moving, Yolin.¡± I whispered in her ear. ¡°Take your time.¡± ¡°Okay, just give me a¡­ Kh! GnH! Cumming again!¡± she shivered and let out a guttural moan under me. Her red skin quickly got covered in sweat, and her dark red nipples hardened. This tank is a total pushover! I smiled. I took her cheek with my right hand and caressed her cheek. ¡°Talk to me, Yolin.¡± I gave her a soft kiss on the lips. ¡°Do you want to stop?¡± ¡°No! This feels so good¡­ Hnggg! You reach everything inside me. Kh! I¡¯m cumming nonstop!¡± she grabbed my face and looked me straight in the eye with her sky blue ones. ¡°And you¡¯re¡­ Guh! Not even moving!¡± ¡°Let me know when I can start moving.¡± I licked her lips and relaxed. I rested my body on top of hers, which sent her body into another orgasm apparently, because she shuddered from head to toe. She screamed and let out a few words in Red Tongue. Her body tightened and I felt her chest raise and fall, pushing up into mine. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± she asked me with a face drenched in sweat and pleasure. ¡°I¡¯m cumming again!¡± Not even two minutes have passed. Damn. I bit my lips. Something about this made me feel really good. The red woman under me writhing in pleasure with my cock sitting inside her brought a wave of satisfaction had felt two times before. The first time Lapia came while having sex with me, and when Alyssa called me Queen for the first time. I closed my eyes and focused on the climaxing woman. Her vagina coiled, wriggled, tightened, clenched, squeezed, and gripped my penis in all kinds of ways as wave after wave of orgasms racked her body. Her soothing moans, gasps, yelps, and more numbed the back of my head. I struggled to contain my lust, but won in the end. A few more minutes of her having uncontrollable orgasms went by and she let out a long sigh. ¡°Haven¡¯t felt that in over a hundred years.¡± she chuckled while hugging me. ¡°That¡¯s a Halve for you.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°First time seeing a woman cum so much so fast.¡± Lapia whispered. I turned to them and they were hugging and making out while watching us. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked, my cock was angrily erect and my precum leaked from her folds, wetting the bed. ¡°Yes, Natasha.¡± the Oni smiled widely. ¡°Let¡¯s properly have sex now.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll start moving.¡± I let out a long sigh and pushed the rest of my cock inside her hot pussy. As I advanced inside her, I was not met with the firmness that small dicks left behind, which made me endlessly happy. Her warm, wet, soft vagina felt amazing. It tickled the back of my hips and the base of my cock in ways that drove me insane. ¡°Uhh¡­ Natasha I¡¯m gonna cum again!¡± Yolin moaned, her eyebrows scrunched up and she bit her lips. I pressed my hip bone against her clit and gyrated my hips, rubbing the insides of her pussy with my cock. With both hands I spread her legs and moved my spine like a snake, rubbing my body against Yolin¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m cumming!¡± she trembled and hugged my neck. ¡°The way you move! You know exactly how to use your fat cock, Natasha!¡± I did that four times, then pounded her with my entire length six times. Her pussy tightened every time I reached her cervix, sending orgasmic explosions over her body. As I inserted my cock, I pushed my hips down, running my hard glans on the front wall of her vagina. Her legs trembled and her pussy contracted with every action. ¡°So that¡¯s how it looks like.¡± Lapia gulped. ¡°No wonder she makes us cum so easily.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Alyssa whispered. I turned and saw them fingering each other. Returning my focus on Yolin, I leaned forward. ¡°Do you want to take it from the back?¡± I asked in a low voice. ¡°Yes!¡± she instantly answered. ¡°I really like that position.¡± I pulled out and she went on four, sticking her ass in my direction. She bent her back and I penetrated her again. ¡°Shit! Cumming!¡± she clenched around me and shivered. She put her hands on my thighs and leaned her head back. I looked at her back muscles contracting and her ass cheeks quivering. A heat dropped from my womb and I grabbed her by the shoulders, raising her body and drilling her from behind. ¡°Ahng! Your pussy feels amazing, Yolin.¡± I licked her ear. ¡°I¡¯m gonna cum¡­ Guh! Really soon.¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± she breathed out as she pushed against me. ¡°Cum inside me. I wanna feel your hot womanly discharge in my womb.¡± I sped up and hugged her tighter, grabbing her breasts and playing with her nipples. She turned her head and we kissed, entwining our tongues and looking into each other¡¯s eyes. My hips became numb and my left foot started trembling. ¡°Natasha¡­ You¡¯re making me cum again!¡± the Oni breathed into my mouth with a whimper. ¡°You fuck so good! I really like the way you fuck me, Natasha. Ah, Natasha!¡± Her calling my name did it for me. I closed my eyes and a lout yelp escaped me. Heat shot through my cock and pussy, and I came inside the Oni with waves of pleasure. ¡°Haaahn! Yolin! I¡¯m cumming!¡± I pumped inside her as her folds clenched around me, sending pulsating pleasure to my brain. ¡°Me too, Natasha!¡± she pressed her body against mine, holding my cock deep inside her quivering pussy. ¡°Let it all out in my womb.¡± We hugged tighter and enjoyed the afterglow of sex. ¡°Alright, now fuck fiesta.¡± Lapia crawled to us. ¡°I have a few ideas for us four.¡± I chuckled, still hugging Yolin and releasing my cum inside her. I looked down and noticed a thick whiteness escape the red folds. Shit. Checking my species information, I got confused at seeing my cycle unchanged. Is that Yolin¡¯s discharge? Scooping a little drop that went down my cock on my index finger, I licked it. It didn¡¯t taste like me at all. It was perfectly salty and slightly bitter. ¡°Yolin, you taste really good.¡± I licked her red skin. She disconnected with a soft moan and turned around. ¡°You¡¯re still hard.¡± she whispered in amazement. ¡°Do you even have refractory period?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Surprisingly, I don¡¯t.¡± She sighed. ¡°We could fuck for days with our stamina.¡± ¡°That¡¯d be nice.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°A sex carnival.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll faint two hours in.¡± I pulled the Luzo close and licked her nipples. ¡°With my Queen¡¯s penis, always.¡± she brushed my hair with a sigh. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s get entangled.¡± Lapia clapped once. ¡°Natasha, you fuck Alyssa while laying down. Yolin, you sit on her face. I will stand in front of Yolin¡¯s face and make out with Natasha.¡± ¡°What about my pussy?¡± I asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to just have sex with my penis.¡± Yolin chuckled. ¡°Sorry I didn¡¯t give you attention there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± I hugged all of them. ¡°You were cumming nonstop, so I understand.¡± We all kissed, and sweet sighs escaped us. ¡°I can use my tail to stimulate your pussy, Queen.¡± the healer bit my lips. ¡°Is that something you¡¯d like?¡± I felt my pulse quicken. ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± Following the Elf¡¯s suggestion, we got to fucking. I stood on the floor. Alyssa laid on the bed, legs around my waist. Yolin straddled the Luzo¡¯s face. And Lapia had her ass on the Oni¡¯s face, facing me. Pushing my penis inside the healer, I let out a loud sigh. The woman¡¯s tight pussy was a treasure of the world. I saw a blue tongue enter a red pussy and Yolin¡¯s red hands spread Lapia¡¯s tanned ass. We all moaned and began moving like clockwork. The Elf¡¯s lips found mine and we kissed, entwining our tongues and breathing into each other¡¯s mouths. She put her hands on my shoulders for support. Looking past Lapia, I could see Yolin¡¯s red horns peeking over the wizards big ass. I chuckled and picked up speed. A mess of moans, words of appreciation, announcements of climax, and watery sounds coming from four pussies filled the room for almost an hour. I put a hand on Alyssa¡¯s pussy and gently rubbed her clit with my thumb as her tail vibrated against my pussy and slapped my back with a gentle rhythm. Yolin had the most climaxes. I was amazed that her pussy didn¡¯t chafe or hurt after each orgasm, moaning louder and louder. Lapia had to rest a little between orgasms, and gave me deep and long kisses. Alyssa let out a particularly loud yelp after her fourth orgasm, and I stopped moving my hips for a moment. ¡°Wait,¡± she began. ¡°I want to have a round with Natasha alone.¡± Yolin and Lapia quickly disbanded the entanglement and sat on the bed with happy smiles. They hugged and kissed while looking at us like God was descending upon us. What¡¯s going on? I tilted my head. The Luzo sat up and opened her arms wide, inviting me in. ¡°I want to make love, Natasha.¡± she looked me with a loving smile. ¡°Anything, Alyssa.¡± I climbed on the bed as she crawled back. She stopped in the middle of it and hugged my body with all her limbs. ¡°Please don¡¯t be scared.¡± she whispered in my ear and licked my cheek. I was confused beyond measure. ¡°Why would I be scared?¡± ¡°Put it in.¡± she grabbed my penis and put it in front of her pussy. ¡°Let¡¯s do it slowly and gently.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I nodded. I was confused by her sudden change in behavior. She wasn¡¯t calling me Queen, or asking orders. A few ideas came to mind, but none that would scare me. Penetrating her, she wrapped her tail around my waist and pulled me really close to her. ¡°Ahn!¡± she moaned as I reached her cervix. Her hot, wriggly, and unfairly tight pussy welcome my entire member and sent me to the edge of orgasm right away. I hadn¡¯t had my own climax in a while, so I was already about to burst. ¡°How do you like my pussy?¡± she asked me in her lovely deep voice. ¡°I love it.¡± I licked her red lips. ¡°It makes me feel really good.¡± She nodded. ¡°I love your penis too, Natasha. You have no idea.¡± I gently and slowly moved my hips back and forth, invading her vagina in our entire length. ¡°I love your body, Natasha.¡± she kissed my neck. ¡°I love your body too, Alyssa. Your horns, your tail, your claws, you scales, your light purple skin, your red eyes and lips...¡± I said back. ¡°And your beautiful white hair.¡± She blushed and smiled even wider, her fangs bit my lips and she sighed with planetary content. I continued fucking her and her moans grew in volume. ¡°You are an amazing person, Natasha. You always looked at us to check if we were okay down in the dungeon. Even if you don¡¯t understand much of the world, you face it with a courage I can¡¯t begin to imagine.¡± Bubbly happiness spread inside me. She¡¯s going to confess. I smiled widely. ¡°I care about you a lot, Alyssa. About all of you.¡± I looked her in the eye. ¡°The few things I can do is make sure you¡¯re safe and treat you with care and respect.¡± She nodded as her scaly eyebrows connected. ¡°You don¡¯t have to, but you choose to do so.¡± she cupped my breasts and gave them a very pleasant squeeze. ¡°You always treat me well and ask me if I like whatever we do.¡± I nodded as I moved my hips and the heat in my womb began to descend. Biting my lips as I was close to orgasm, I leaned my head on her shoulder, giving her soft kisses. ¡°You¡¯re so strong, and so careful.¡± she whispered in a high pitch voice as her own climax approached. ¡°And I find that... really attractive.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna cum¡­¡± I let out a weak whisper. ¡°Uh! Me too, Natasha.¡± she tightened her hug. I trembled all over and my cock pulsated deep inside her, releasing my cum. The pleasure numbed my mind and I felt her body shake beneath me. ¡°I love you, Natasha! With all my heart!¡± she growled at the peak of her climax. Her eyes had a shadow of doubt. Not from herself, no. I had seen those eyes before. Many times. On both others and myself in the mirror. It was fear of rejection. ¡°I love you too, Alyssa! You can¡¯t imagine how much!¡± I said back with a tight hug. The words came out with no problem. There was no doubt, no fear, no hesitation. The only worry was the nature or the poly-amorous relationship, but we were all grown ups and would be able to talk things out. My body was wrapped in happiness. Cumming and announcing my love was explosive and rewarding in indescribable ways. She giggled and kissed me all over my face. ¡°I love you! I love you! I love yoou!¡± I joined her giggles and kissed her back. ¡°I love you, Alyssa.¡± Then. I froze. Something crept from my mind. A feeling so ingrained in my psyche I had no way to fight it. Not that I could. After all it was absolute, unquestionable, indisputable, undeniable, unequivocal, and incontestable. I understood in that moment what being a Halve, a Protector, truly meant. And I completely embraced it. I will drown the world in blood if anything happens to this woman! A voice filled with wrath echoed in my mind. I will dry the seas! I will split the continents! I will butcher the Gods and expose their bodies to the world! I will bring down the moons! I will annihilate all life on Galeia! And if I die. The empty halls of Hell will welcome me! So I vowed in my very soul. 22 - Insight. Confession. (1) Hellwalker. -Before you woke, as every individual of your species, you went through a trial. You grew powerful in an endless battle in the depths of the umbral planes. I initially thought a million years had passed from me dying and waking up as an exaggeration. Mainly because I felt I hadn¡¯t breathed in that long. Because I hadn¡¯t felt sunlight in that long. Because I hadn¡¯t been relaxed in that long. I felt my life as distant. Why such a precise amount of time? Why not a hundred years? I didn¡¯t live that long on Earth, so why didn¡¯t I think of fifty years? That was much more than I lived, anyway. Why a million, then? Why not another equally unfathomable number, like a thousand years? It was not a figure of speech, I just found out. But the exact amount of time. The vow I was pushed to make by my instincts left from Hell showed me I did my task of surviving, and then some. The time spent in Hell went through my mind in a second. A million years of fighting to the death. A million years of eating demons. A million years of pain. A million years of insanity. It began with a simple imp. I bashed its head with a rock, scared out of my mind. I had no clue what was going on. There was no higher entity to receive and guide me. Nothing. It was me and the demons. Naked and alone. There was no Satan, no icon of sin, no Princes of Hell. There were rulers, however. Hell is a prison. And there, the beings of the Abyss are chained. It¡¯s understandable, then, that demons leave that place. I quickly lost my mind. Hell is not a place conductive to sanity, it seems. As fate would have it, Halves are born of highly concentrated E¡¯er. My mind was remade. Healthy, working, better, faster. Unlike my Earth mind, which was mature and arguably old, the new one was fresh. Why keep my memories, then? Why not start with a clean slate and begin from scratch? Why keep the knowledge that I died and lived such torment? Apparently, I made a wish. To never forget. To be the strongest. And because I was, and still am, a degenerate, I wished to have a penis. There was nothing to wish to in Hell. So, I wished to the universe. And it responded. In the millionth year, in the last day, at the last hour. I was liberated. ¡­ Halve Species The instincts of a Halve are surprisingly strong. I feel them inside me now that I verbalized my feelings. They push me to guard, protect, shield, and stand at the front. It¡¯s not justice, but to seek peace through combat. Conflict is the way to earn it. Nothing about killing Gods, splitting continents, bringing down moons or whatever, though. That¡¯s all Hell. That would force other Halves to intervene and I¡¯ll end up dead like Holistos. Something I did not want. I looked down at Alyssa. Our warm, naked bodies were still locked in the afterglow of ecstasy. Her smile was larger than life and grounded the thoughts. Relaxing, I focused on her rapid breathing and heartbeat. A long sigh left me and I kissed the woman. I laid back on the bed next to her and closed my eyes. I¡¯ll protect them with all I have, yes. But I won¡¯t end life on Galeia. I¡¯m not an uber simp. I took a deep breath and dived into the unfiltered anger. It resembled the feelings from the dreams: primal, all-encompassing, devouring, unforgiving. It promised eternal torment to all without distinction. There was a clash with my Halve instincts. I opened my eyes and gently put Alyssa on top of me. Focusing on her entire existence, I took a deep breath while caressing the scales on her back. Her red eyes looked into mine with adoration and boundless love. My heart was at peace, and I managed to fight the unnecessary thoughts while thinking of love, kindness, and acceptance. For the moment, at least. She took my face with both hands and kissed me. Her delicious lips and the feeling of her warm, sweaty, and voluptuous body slowly melted the remnants of that silly proclamation. I looked to the side and saw Lapia wiping a tear away, a huge smile on her face. Yolin was similarly happy, and her blue eyes were glazed. Beckoning them with a hand, they approached and we continued our session of intimacy as a team. With Lapia, I thought of acceptance and how she grounded me when I was lost. Though it was fast for my own world-view, she provided me with emotional support. When embracing Yolin, I reminded myself that the task to protect wasn¡¯t solely mine to take on. She was a strong and tough woman that faced me as an equal with a wide smile. I was not a naive little girl, nor a teenager with a skewed view of the world. I grew up bi in Russia. *** The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. When the suns rose, we had breakfast, showered, and made our way to the church. Yolin said that we should gather as much information about the monsters we¡¯d face when clearing the dungeon. It was a sound argument, so we complied. Alyssa and Lapia didn¡¯t fetch the Bhin since we could all move around on Sonya and Pochi. We picked up Bromisnar and Bonte on the way. Once there, we moved to the library and I sat down at a table with a sketchbook in front of me. Lapia and Alyssa were researching monsters and whatnot. Yolin was reading a book. The men left to the yard where I fought the Oni, probably playing music, telling jokes, or doing research of their own. I had other plans. I needed to fully face the anger inside me. Taking a deep breath, I began sketching everything I had seen since arriving in Galeia while diving into myself. I started with the forest I woke up in. The Cradle of Life. Drawing the tree trunks, the branches, and every leaf, I properly addressed my issues. Step one. I am angry. Adding small birds, critters, bugs, and animals, I went over the feeling and recognized it as it was. Hell ended. I don¡¯t need that much anger. The roots were next on the drawing. Anger is a tool, a very powerful one. It¡¯s fuel, helps focus, and lets us know of what we care about. It¡¯s an alarm that protects us. As such, it should not be aimed carelessly. We should always be in control of our anger. As mortal beings, we need it to survive, so it¡¯s important for it to exist. True peace is an illusion. Nirvana is a lie. Enlightenment is a ruse. I drew a bird sitting on a branch. As long as entropy exists, so will emotions. All of them. Without exception, without limit. For us to face life in a satisfactory manner and properly work with others, we should connect with ourselves and recognize what¡¯s inside us. Analyze, meditate, communicate. A little squirrel with small antlers hugged a tree. The nature of anger as a tool inherently leaves it at our disposal, at our hand, at our beck and call. It does not control unless we allow it to. As such, wisdom is necessary when dealing with our emotions. I drew the turkey next. The wisdom to recognize what is inside us, and what course of action is appropriate. We are not alone. We never will be. We never have been. As long as we can control ourselves, we can also keep others from controlling us. I paid attention to the feathers and the magical glisten they had. That would forever be burned in my mind as the first time I saw anything that resembled magic. With that set, step number two: I am in control. I do not believe so, I know so. It is an irrefutable fact, otherwise I simply would not function. Like love, once you apply control, you never lose it. It thins and thickens, but it never goes away. Awareness is key. Next, I drew the river. To be aware, one needs to be calm. Reign in your emotions. Choose silence. Choose inaction. That is the first step to control yourself. Stop. Moving. Adding the algae, fish, water bugs, and pebbles, I brought life to the river. I continued and drew the bandits. Anger is hot. Anger moves us. Angers is explosive. To conquer anger, stillness is required. Stillness calms us. Being calm allows us to look at our surroundings. This allows us to recognize what is going on. Through this recognition, we can begin the next step. The bandit that I pierced first, his face, his fear, his anger. All were drawn on the piece of paper. Compassion. Once we¡¯ve experience loss of control, we can see it in others. This allows us to understand. Again, we are not alone. We are also not the same. We all want peace through different means. We will inevitably clash with others in the pursuit of happiness. This enriches us. On the next page, I drew the first woman I killed. We must not be fooled and forgive all. Understanding does not mean tolerance. Reality simply does not work like that. We are not meant to reach happiness with everyone. Nor should we seek it. The man I beheaded was depicted on the following page. Life is pain. As such, it befalls on us to choose if we suffer or not. Happiness and suffering are states of mind. Thus, their origins cannot be found outside the mind. We are the ultimate masters of our life. We must experience pain to live life to it¡¯s fullest. This allows us to become a better version of ourselves. To grow as individuals, artists, sisters, daughters, mothers. A head covered in blood and vomit was next. His frightened face, his lifeless eyes. With this, we can function with others. Compassion. Recognition. Control. With this, we can embrace love and acceptance. First to ourselves, then to others. The second woman¡¯s expression of utter terror as she was about to die took place on the next page. Death is as much a part of life as it is waking up. Realizing our mortality furthers our control of ourselves. We know our limits, our goals, our time. I continued drawing for a few minutes while contemplating on my inner turmoil. Lapia was next on my sketchbook. I drew her cheeky smile, the one she has on her face every time she says ¡®I bet¡¯. I drew Alyssa giggling, her smile showing her fangs. I drew Yolin smiling widely, her toothy smile with her tusks and fangs. Then, I drew myself. First with an angry face, the lines on my eyes forming the X. After that, I drew myself smiling, enjoying life in this new world. I am loved. I have people who care about me. People who trust me. People who I trust in. After I finished, I looked up and stared at the three women sitting across the table. ¡°So this is an Ur¡¯en¡­ disgusting.¡± Alyssa shook her head as she looked at a piece of paper. I looked at the sheet and saw a fat worm drawn on it. ¡°It shoots acid out of its mouth.¡± the Oni replied with a chuckle. ¡°I got cocky and lost an eye.¡± ¡°And they live in the last floor? That means they¡¯re level eight hundred.¡± Lapia asked. I looked around us and saw nobody else was in the library. ¡°I died once already.¡± I said. The three slowly looked up at me. ¡°I lived a life in another world before going to Hell. Then, I woke up here.¡± I sighed. 22 - Insight. Confession. (2) I kept silent for a few seconds to let it sink in. Alyssa slowly nodded, a small smile on her face. Yolin was more surprised, and I noticed she had a worried expression. Lapia spoke first. ¡°I had my suspicions.¡± she smirked. ¡°When you told us your trial was in Hell, I questioned your knowledge. Did you learn things from a demon? I doubt it. While you Halves are ignorant, you¡¯re more like an empty shell as far as I know. How come you know of atoms, music, and art? Where do these preconceived notions, like what a relationship should be, come from? Now I get an idea why. My guess: the world you lived in was similar to ours.¡± My eyes were wide open. ¡°How come?¡± I asked. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t really talk that much.¡± ¡°Really, Natasha?¡± the Elf raised her eyebrows. ¡°Why would you be surprised by our culture if you don¡¯t have a previous world-view? When I first told you about Gods, you didn¡¯t ask what they were. Instead, you were surprised there was a ''living one''.¡± I nodded. ¡°Point taken.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± Alyssa began. ¡°When we met, you asked me if we were going too fast. Now it makes sense.¡± ¡°Were you as powerful as you are now?¡± Yolin asked. ¡°I wasn¡¯t. There was no E¡¯er over there.¡± I sighed. ¡°I guess a bit of context wouldn¡¯t be bad.¡± The three nodded. ¡°I was born in a world where only one sentient species ruled. We were similar to Humans here in Galeia, but much more varied. We didn¡¯t have E¡¯er and monsters didn¡¯t exist. There were no such things as levels, stats, spells, skills, etc. We conquered nature pretty easily thanks to that.¡± I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair. ¡°That made us conceited in my opinion. Seeing ourselves as something outside nature for some reason. Anyway, I went to art school after finishing my education and became a full time artist. That¡¯s why I can draw. I also picked up the piano as a hobby. I fell down and hit my head, then died. Next thing I know, I¡¯m on this world.¡± I let out a long sigh. The three stared at me for a few seconds. ¡°How long did your species live?¡± Yolin asked. ¡°No more than seventy years on average.¡± I leaned back on the chair. ¡°That¡¯s only for the last fifty years I was there.¡± ¡°So short.¡± she sighed with relief. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be older than me.¡± I technically am. A chuckle escaped me. ¡°How long did your species exist for, then?¡± Lapia asked. ¡°Around¡­ one hundred thousand years? I wasn¡¯t very good with history.¡± I smiled awkwardly. ¡°What about civilization?¡± Alyssa asked. ¡°Five thousand the oldest, I think.¡± I answered. ¡°Okay.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°How old were you when you died?¡± ¡°Redacted.¡± I sighed. ¡°So young¡­¡± Alyssa covered her mouth. ¡°Compared to people in this world, yes. Some things changed when I got here. I get overly excited about things that wouldn''t interest me before. It¡¯s like my mind regressed to my early twenties.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lapia nodded and rubbed her chin. ¡°How about culture? You were surprised when I told you a bit.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t have Halves to protect us, nor Gods to guide us, so we had to hunt to survive. Men fought while women took care of the children, basically. This led to men being the ones in power. That way, they were the ¡®strong¡¯ side of society, and expectations became toxic. From women and from themselves.¡± I put my elbows on the table and rested my chin on my hands. ¡°What about you?¡± Alyssa asked. ¡°I was a pretty famous artist in a certain circle. I drew avatars for talented people, and their audiences also became fans of mine. I was making a lot of money, and I got to buy a big house for myself.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Redacted¡­ out of seventy.¡± Lapia whispered. ¡°Can¡¯t imagine.¡± ¡°And your family?¡± Alyssa asked. ¡°I had a brother, a father, and a mother if you could call her that way.¡± I shrugged. ¡°She left us when I was ten.¡± That left an awkward silence for a few seconds. ¡°Did you also have a penis before?¡± Lapia asked with a flash of interest in her eyes. ¡°No!¡± I laughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I also didn¡¯t look that much different.¡± ¡°So you were hot before, too?¡± Yolin smiled. Alyssa giggled and nodded. ¡°You could say that. I had smaller boobs, too.¡± I looked down at my chest. ¡°Pretty nice change, to be honest.¡± ¡°So men were in charge.¡± Lapia nodded with a smile. ¡°Would be nice to live in a world like that.¡± I shook my head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t all fun and games. People can be pretty shit if they can get away with it.¡± ¡°Right¡­ no higher beings to keep them in check.¡± Lapia let out a long sigh. ¡°Why did you decide to tell us now?¡± Alyssa asked with a smile. Yolin nodded and waited for me to talk. My cheeks burned. ¡°After last night, I figured I could tell you.¡± The Luzo smiled widely. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Reincarnation is not that outlandish. Gods do that.¡± Yolin shrugged. ¡°They don¡¯t hop worlds as far as we know, so that¡¯s new.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Would that be a norm for Halves?¡± I asked. Lapia shook her head. ¡°No. While it¡¯s not my tale to tell, I can assure you Desseyr isn¡¯t like you. He was ignorant of pretty much everything.¡± ¡°Was he born recently?¡± I asked a little interested. The Elf sighed. ¡°He didn¡¯t move from his birthplace until he was found, the idiot.¡± I bit my lips. ¡°That¡¯s pretty dumb.¡± ¡°It was such a chore to teach him. Then, the imbecile went for riddles.¡± the Elf pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°Nobody could get anything out of him since he knew scrap.¡± I laughed at that. ¡°Were you scared of sharing?¡± Alyssa asked me with a smile. ¡°A little.¡± I nodded. ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought about telling you since I¡¯ve been focused on understanding the world.¡± ¡°I will accept you no matter what, Natasha.¡± she smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve accepted me, and that¡¯s all I care.¡± ¡°Same.¡± Lapia laughed. ¡°I took your virginity, so it¡¯s my duty.¡± I shook my head and covered my face. ¡°You did?¡± Yolin turned to her. ¡°Damn. How was it?¡± ¡°Really good for her first time. I guess being hung is a pretty big advantage for a woman. We know where to touch.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Yeah, tell me about it.¡± the Oni laughed loudly. ¡°It was really good.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we¡­ going on a tangent now?¡± I asked. ¡°True. My bad.¡± Lapia gave me a cheeky grin. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Alyssa looked at me. ¡°Go ahead.¡± I smiled. ¡°Where did you get your equipment?¡± her red eyes locked on mine. ¡°About that¡­ it¡¯s a little complicated. I don¡¯t know how, but I know where it came from.¡± I sighed. ¡°I was playing a game before I died, and the character I was using had classes similar to mine, along with every item in my inventory. Think of it like this. You¡¯re reading Kingdom Fall, then suddenly wake up in another world as the Queen.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°Me neither.¡± Lapia shook her head. ¡°Same.¡± Yolin added. ¡°Alright.¡± I sighed. ¡°In my previous world, we had literature and all that.¡± They nodded. ¡°A very long time ago, someone came up with the idea of a different world with magic, I mean E¡¯er. Or something similar.¡± I explained. ¡°They had people shooting fire out of their hands like Lapia does. Since that didn¡¯t exist in reality, it was called ¡®fantasy¡¯, because it was so out there. As any piece of fiction, it had characters, places, events, and all that.¡± They nodded again. ¡°Later, someone thought of making the book interactive, letting the readers ¡®become¡¯ one of the characters in the story. Or make their own story. Then, someone invented a game where you, the user, take an active role of the story. You go on an adventure and collect loot from enemies, dungeons, vendors, etc. Usually they have pretty big plots to them, since magic allows for cool shit to happen. Like¡­ uh¡­ killing a dragon, or an evil King. Or being a hero who saves the world.¡± They were looking me with skeptical faces. ¡°Magic¡­ means ¡®odd¡¯ in Dragon Tongue.¡± Alyssa smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a little confusing hearing the word being used like that.¡± ¡°Ah. Well, think of it as E¡¯er.¡± I chuckled. ¡°So you were¡­ playing this thing and then you died?¡± Lapia asked with confusion. ¡°Yes. I fell back on my chair and hit my head.¡± I explained. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a pretty silly death.¡± Yolin bit her lips. I sighed. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Was the story you were¡­ playing similar to this world?¡± Alyssa asked, a little excitement in her eyes. ¡°Not at all. So I don¡¯t have knowledge of the future if you mean that.¡± I chuckled. ¡°The chance was there.¡± she shrugged, a blush on her face. ¡°That¡¯s really weird.¡± Lapia sighed. ¡°For our world to be a genre of literature in another.¡± ¡°This world is pretty neat and logical.¡± I shrugged. ¡°There were books where people got a class first and then learned spells and skills out of nowhere.¡± ¡°Now that doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± Yolin shook her head. ¡°How did that work?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you more interested in that than my previous world?¡± I asked, leaning back. ¡°Well, a real world is ruled by logic.¡± the Oni shrugged. ¡°Fiction can be whatever you want.¡± ¡°True, but it still needs realism.¡± Alyssa pointed out. ¡°Suspension of disbelief is crucial.¡± We all nodded at that. ¡°There was this series of books where people needed wands to cast spells¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°And without them, wizards were pretty useless.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit.¡± Lapia laughed. ¡°How did the stats work, then?¡± ¡°There were none.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Most fantasy don¡¯t have them.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°Because the ¡®real¡¯ world didn¡¯t have them.¡± I nodded. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s weird for there to be stats?¡± Yolin asked me. ¡°Honestly, yes.¡± I nodded. ¡°Stats growing by themselves¡­ pretty weird. There¡¯s no notifications either.¡± ¡°Notifications?¡± the three asked. I chuckled. ¡°Like¡­ ping! You¡¯ve killed a Me¡¯ik, E¡¯er granted. Or something like that.¡± ¡°That¡¯d make life a lot easier.¡± Alyssa sighed. ¡°Knowing when your enemies die, that is.¡± ¡°But that¡¯d be boring.¡± Lapia crossed her arms. ¡°Imagine notifications spread to other aspects of life. It¡¯d change the world in ways I can¡¯t begin to imagine.¡± We all nodded at that. ¡°Ping! Your cycle has arrived!¡± Yolin said. ¡°That¡¯ be pretty useful.¡± ¡°Ping! You lost your virginity, congratulations!¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°That¡¯d be lame.¡± ¡°Ping! You¡¯ve been poisoned!¡± I offered. ¡°That¡¯d be useful as well.¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°If I get that too, otherwise you¡¯d be busy fighting until you noticed.¡± ¡°Still, that¡¯d take away agency.¡± Lapia thought for a second. ¡°You¡¯d grow dependent on the notification. Imagine you¡¯re learning a spell and are waiting for the notification and it just won¡¯t show up.¡± The other two nodded. ¡°That just means you have to put a little more effort.¡± I shrugged. ¡°That right there.¡± the Wizard pointed at me. ¡°You work until the notification.¡± ¡°Only if you want to optimize it.¡± I nodded. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t want to, anyway.¡± ¡°Good thing the world doesn¡¯t work like that.¡± Yolin chuckled. ¡°It¡¯d be really weird to have a thing in your head all the time.¡± ¡°Ping! You¡¯ve agreed with Natasha! You are now immortal!¡± I joked. They laughed at that. ¡°Anyway, thank you for sharing.¡± the Oni smiled at me. I nodded. ¡°Thank you for not freaking out.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s still a big surprise.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°It doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re pretty new and all. If anything, it¡¯s better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°It also doesn¡¯t change the fact that I love you.¡± My face burned. ¡°I love you too, Alyssa.¡± She offered her right hand and I took it. ¡°Can you tell me about the dungeon a little?¡± I asked. ¡°I¡¯ll do the killing, so it¡¯d be better if I know more.¡± The three nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Lapia smirked. ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°Let¡¯s begin, then.¡± Yolin smiled widely. Aren¡¯t I a lucky woman? My heart squeezed with happiness, and the anxious knot I hadn''t noticed dissolved. 23 - Suns. Shadows. (1) The monsters inhabiting the dungeon were pretty straightforward; bugs, mammals, and natural dungeon monsters like Golems and their variants. While most were weak to fire like any living creature, the Golem family had a high melting point depending on the material they were made of. Jungle Golems were made of E¡¯eral Rock, which for some cosmic reason means they¡¯re alive. No matter the nature of the monster, none would withstand the force of my strikes, so we changed topics to formation and the like. I proposed the five would follow me around the dungeon on top of the mounts while I killed everything. When we reached a conclusion, we left the library and went to fetch the men to inform them of the current circumstances and if they¡¯d choose to join us even if some shady group chased me around the world. As we came out to the yard, I was surprised to see it was raining. ¡°So it came.¡± I muttered as I looked up. The sky was full of thick, dark clouds. The rain was gentle and the drops were thin, unlike what I was used to. I stood at the arc of the door, avoiding the rain. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Yolin chuckled as she patted my back, then groped my butt. ¡°It¡¯ll rain for a few days straight and then summer begins.¡± I turned to her with cosmic confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked. ¡°Uh¡­ summer. When the temperature goes up?¡± she tilted her head, then whispered into my ear. ¡°You didn¡¯t have summer back in your world?¡± ¡°Of course we had summer.¡± I chuckled. ¡°What I mean is, why that fast? Two weeks ago Lapia told me we were in the middle of spring.¡± Lapia facepalmed and sighed. ¡°Alyssa and Yolin, could you explain Bromisnar and Bonte the situation while I explain the seasons to Natasha?¡± the Elf shook her head in defeat. ¡°Sure!¡± the tank responded. Yolin walked to Lapia and gave her a kiss, then turned and went to where Bonte and Bromisnar were chatting on the stands of the low budget coliseum. Alyssa giggled from behind us, then caught up to the Oni and took her hand as they walked under the gentle shower. ¡°Polyamory is truly amazing.¡± I whispered while looking at them. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± the Elf turned to me and tilted her head. ¡°What we have.¡± I answered. ¡°Poly¡­ amory¡­ you know. Many people in one relationship? Or something like that.¡± ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ll ask you more details later.¡± Lapia chuckled and looked up at me. ¡°Natasha.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± I nodded and turned to her. ¡°How many suns did you previous world orbit around?¡± she asked. ¡°Only one.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I see. Well, Galeia orbits around two suns as you already know. We have two winters, two springs, two autumns, and two summers a year. Every winter, one sun blocks the other for two weeks straight. This makes winters incredibly colder than summers, and seasons are equal all around the world because of this. Since sunlight is halved, days are darker and shorter.¡± That staggered me for a second. Weirdly makes a lot of sense. ¡°Right¡­ If I remember correctly, you said you¡¯re turning 81 next winter. I didn¡¯t even bat an eye at that back then, thinking it was the coming one.¡± ¡°Well, in a way it is the coming one.¡± she smirked. ¡°It works like this.¡± She raised both hands with each index finger standing up. ¡°During both summers, Galeia is at her farthest from the suns, and they are at their farthest from each other from our point of view. Since both suns are at the same distance, we receive heat from both equally. Fortunately we are far away enough that the heat doesn¡¯t boil the seas. We call this the Dual Aphelion. Days are longer and warmer. As the planet continues its orbit, we move away from one of the suns and autumn takes place. With me so far?¡± she smiled. The thick crack on my sense of reality thickened further. I blinked a few times. ¡°Wait, so the planet doesn¡¯t have summer in one side and winter in the other?¡± I was confused. ¡°No.¡± she chuckled. ¡°The entire planet experiences the same season at the same time. Some places have warmer climates than others, but the difference is not that pronounced.¡± She moved her hands, putting one in front of me and the other one in front of her, blocking one hand. ¡°As I said, one sun blocks the other during winter. This is because both are the same size. Fortunately both are also equally as hot, otherwise life wouldn''t exist on this planet. Galeia is closest to one of the suns during each winter, which prevents the entire world from freezing. Temperatures do drop considerably still, since we only get the heat of a single sun. We call this Single Perihelion, attaching the name of the sun. We passed Eternia Perihelion last winter. Next winter would be Perpetua Perihelion. Before you ask, Halves and Gods named the suns.¡± ¡°Haaa¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°I see. But suns are not eternal, though.¡± She nodded. ¡°You name things before completely understanding them.¡± I giggled. ¡°True. So how long does each season last?¡± ¡°Spring and autumn last thirty five days each, while summer and winter last fifty six days each. Spring ends with continuous days of rain in Leks. It does rain more often in summer, but that¡¯s because it¡¯s warmer.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Wait¡­ shouldn¡¯t rain have come earlier, then? We met a little over two weeks ago¡­¡± I rubbed my chin. ¡°Why would you think that?¡± she tilted her head. ¡°Back then I asked you about the season and you said, and I quote: ¡®It¡¯s the middle of spring¡¯. Here, look.¡± I took out my journal and went over to the exact page, then showed the Elf. ¡°Your handwriting is very beautiful.¡± she nodded. ¡°Your writing skill needs improvement, I didn¡¯t ¡®just stare¡¯ at you. I was surprised you floated in the river.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point, Lapia.¡± I chuckled and stored the journal. ¡°True. What I meant back then wasn¡¯t the literal mid point of spring.¡± she sighed. ¡°More like the beginning of the third week of spring. Out of five.¡± I nodded. ¡°I see. I got a little confused. I was used to ninety days for each season on average.¡± ¡°Right¡­ a single sun.¡± she nodded with a smile. ¡°This is very interesting.¡± ¡°When does the year begin?¡± I asked. ¡°When Eternia starts disappearing behind Perpetua. It¡¯s really pretty.¡± she smiled. ¡°I bet.¡± I imitated her smirk. She laughed and playfully pushed me. I deflected her hands and hugged her. ¡°How cold will it get?¡± ¡°The lowest reaches eighty degrees below zero.¡± she squeezed me, or tried to. ¡°I have a few ideas to keep me warm.¡± Her hand reached down under my skirt and groped my butt. So cold! I¡¯ll make sure to buy warm clothes. I took her hand away from my ass and shook my head. ¡°Not outside, cheeky Elf.¡± ¡°You groped mine back in Riverfield.¡± she pouted. ¡°And now we¡¯re even.¡± I chuckled. ¡°How hot will summer be?¡± ¡°Fifty the highest. I don¡¯t think temperature will be an issue for you. You survived Solar Epitaph while I held the staff you gave me. That was around two thousand degrees hot.¡± she laughed. ¡°Oh, come on! Don¡¯t shatter my sense of normalcy.¡± I whined and let her go. ¡°I have a diagram of the seasons if you want it.¡± she stood on the tip of her toes and kissed my cheek. ¡°That¡¯d be really useful.¡± I nodded and thought of something. ¡°When is your birthday?¡± ¡°Nineteenth day of the seventh month. Alyssa¡¯s is the twenty fifth day of the tenth month.¡± she handed me a piece of paper. I took my journal out and wrote them on the last page along with the piece of paper. ¡°Neat. I¡¯ll ask Yolin¡¯s later.¡± ¡°And yours?¡± she asked. ¡°I noticed you always fuck it up.¡± I looked into her emerald green eyes and smiled. ¡°I¡¯d like to live this life without considering the previous. You know, year zero and all that.¡± ¡°Fair enough. But don¡¯t dodge the question.¡± she giggled. ¡°I met you one day after waking up.¡± I looked up trying to do the math. ¡°First day of the third month, then. Alright.¡± she nodded. I stared at her for a few seconds. ¡°You work on your numbers pretty fast¡­¡± I raised my eyebrows in amazement. She shrugged. ¡°Been doing it all my life.¡± I smiled and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± She blushed and scratched one of her long ears. ¡°Thank you.¡± she gave me a shy nod. Oh? I smirked. ¡°Anyway. Can you tell me how you went about advancing the skill?¡± she asked as she closed in, looking up at me. ¡°With the power of imagination.¡± I lowered my head and gave her a quick kiss. ¡°I noticed Auras have a certain pattern around the knowledge of the skill. It resembles flowers and their petals. Warcries, on the other hand, have spikes around them. So, I turned some petals into spikes like the thorns of a rose. This changed the skill from full support to having an area that affects enemies.¡± Her eyebrows went up to their limits and she stared at me for a few seconds. ¡°Is this a joke?¡± she chuckled. I shook my head. ¡°Not at all. The book didn¡¯t have a specific way to do it, so I just went with my gut feeling.¡± ¡°And it worked?¡± she asked, her voice thick with skepticism. I nodded. ¡°It surprisingly did. I thought about the Rhak¡¯Math View and integrated the effect warcries leave after activation while doing it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± she nodded. ¡°That reminds me of a primitive way to advance skills. Glad it worked for you.¡± I shrugged. ¡°If it works, don¡¯t fix it.¡± ¡°But you can improve it.¡± she pinched my right cheek. ¡°True.¡± I nodded. The sound of footsteps made me turn to the side. Alyssa, Yolin, Bromisnar, and Bonte were walking over to us. ¡°Can I see the threatening letter?¡± Bonte asked as he stretched a hand. ¡°I might have heard of the group before.¡± Right, this dude is a sneaky scout. I produced the letter and offered it to him. He went over it and frowned. ¡°No clue.¡± he shrugged. ¡°The skull resembles Tripirin, but super low budget.¡± ¡°Well¡­ isn¡¯t that a clue?¡± I asked with a small smile. Alyssa giggled and covered her mouth. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s quite the lead.¡± Bromisnar chuckled. ¡°Either this¡­ organization¡­ is out of money, or they are a lame attempt at copying them.¡± ¡°What is Tripirin?¡± Lapia asked the important question. ¡°A group from the dark side of the world.¡± the Tigea answered in an ominous voice. I bit my lips to avoid laughing. ¡°The name is ridiculous.¡± Yolin laughed. ¡°Tripirin¡­ who was the idiot that came up with that?¡± I laughed. ¡°That¡¯s a serious case of bad naming sense. Why not The Black Rose or something more clever?¡± ¡°Or Shadow Knife.¡± Alyssa supplied. ¡°That sends a better message.¡± ¡°How about Poisoned Petal. It could be shortened to PP.¡± Bromisnar rubbed his chin. ¡°HAHA!¡± I hugged my stomach and let out a loud wheeze. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be against the PP chasing me.¡± Bonte handed the letter back and I stored it as I continued laughing. ¡°How about Cut Shadows?¡± he asked. ¡°Striking in the dark of night. And when the target is dealt with, they returned to the shadows.¡± ¡°Too dark.¡± the Satyr shook his head. ¡°It has to be a little poetic. With triple meanings if possible. PP would be the masterminds behind major political events. Maybe a few assassinations here and there. Betrayals and conflicting goals among the ranks. The leaders would be two childhood friends who grew up in the slums in Karakh. A Ferk Dwarf and a Dhar¡¯Ji Tigea.¡± he nodded. ¡°However,¡± I continued. ¡°Before the story begins, the Tigea would be stolen. By an Ork with endless stamina, sating them with pleasure never to be found again.¡± ¡°Ohhh!¡± Alyssa clapped. ¡°And the Dwarf would go after them, thinking the Tigea was kidnapped only to find them in bed one night. Drunk in pleasure and beyond salvation.¡± ¡°Then,¡± Bromisnar smiled. ¡°Feelings of love would turn into passionate hate, seeking nothing more than to end the perpetrator. The Dwarf would then recruit allies in order to take on the opposing organization which the Ork belongs to. None the wiser, the Watchers would only find dead bodies every morning. Until the big confrontation.¡± I nodded. ¡°The Dwarf would face off against the Ork. Both being scouts, the fight would be quick and silent. As the Ork deals a lethal blow, the Tigea comes out of the shadows and cuts the Ork¡¯s throat. It was all part of the plan. The Ork was never that good in bed, turns out. But the damage was done. If they go to the Church and ask for a healer, their bloodied hands would come to light. So, the Tigea pulls out a Poisoned Petal.¡± Bromisnar¡¯s goat-like eyes went wide. ¡°I can see it! Thinking that the Dwarf is dead, the Tigea then eats the plant. After a few minutes of silence, both Dwarf and Ork stand up. It was all part of the plan. The two scouts had Elixirs hidden in their clothes. They set out to Uriks and start a new organization together.¡± Alyssa clapped excitedly. ¡°That¡¯s a best seller!¡± ¡°Wait, what?!¡± Lapia spoke up. ¡°What about the feelings of hate?¡± ¡°Mh?¡± I turned to her. ¡°Ah, those were hate for the Tigea, not the Ork. The Dwarf had met the Ork a few months prior and they shared nights of passion. The Dwarf left without a word, however, so the Ork thought love was not possible. Hope was never lost, fortunately.¡± Bonte shook his head. ¡°Too many plot holes. Why wouldn¡¯t the Tigea have an Elixir as well?¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the beginning of book two.¡± I nodded at that. ¡°Needs a bit of work. I can see it being a good book.¡± I rubbed my chin. ¡°I don¡¯t want any shady organization if they don¡¯t have a background as convoluted as that.¡± ¡°Not at all!¡± Yolin spoke up after being silent. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense!! Why not talk it out, are they mute? Do they not know sign language?! Why such tragedy?!¡± I shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s the nature of the dark side of the world, Yolin. Suffering is a must for characters to justify their motives.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t the Dwarf plan to take out the Ork¡¯s organization?¡± she asked a little desperate. ¡°That was to lure the Tigea out.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°I get it. Multiple betrayals are a staple to those tragedies.¡± We all nodded, then burst out laughing. ¡°They¡¯re here, aren¡¯t they?¡± Alyssa asked. Bonte nodded. ¡°Last night we saw a cloaked person following us.¡± Well, shit. 23 - Suns. Shadows. (2) ¡°But last night you were drunk beyond sanity.¡± I pointed out. He scratched the back of an ear and looked away. ¡°I had a soup when we got back to the inn.¡± ¡°Later we got Henga¡¯s letter and we went to get the reward.¡± Bromisnar said. ¡°We saw them on our way back.¡± ¡°What level were they?¡± Alyssa asked. She fixed a lock of white silvery hair with the tip of her tail. I was momentarily shocked by the nearly limitless potential the appendage had. I looked at the Tigea¡¯s tail, wondering if it was as useful. ¡°Beyond what we could see.¡± Bonte shook his head. The man¡¯s answer brought me back to reality. ¡°What would that mean, then? At the minimum?¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°Two hundred the highest class, at the very least.¡± Bromisnar answered as he fixed his sleeves. This is so confusing. I sighed. ¡°So,¡± I began, resting my hands on my hips. ¡°Are you two okay with joining us for the foreseeable future, considering this cringirin wannabe?¡± I asked the two men. Bonte nodded, and Bromisnar chuckled. ¡°It could turn into an epic tale¡± the Satyr said with a smile. A chuckle escaped me at his overly positive outlook. What do I have that can help? I wondered as I went through my storage. A pair of golden aviator sunglasses materialized in my hand and appraised them. [Summer Sunglasses (Legendary)] (UV Protection) (Tinted Lens) (True Sight) (Durability S) ¡°Bonte, can you turn invisible?¡± I asked. He nodded and crouched, then vanished in a puff of shadows. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lapia chuckled. I put them on and saw the Tigea making a funny face. I chuckled and gave him a nod. ¡°Those look good on you.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°Thank you. Okay, these are pretty good.¡± I produced five pairs of sunglasses. ¡°Have these, they can see through invisibility. More comfortable than the helmets, and they protect your eyes from the suns.¡± ¡°They what?¡± Bonte almost choked, then dispelled his invisibility. ¡°Lemme see.¡± He received a pair and tried putting them on, only for them to fall off his face. His ears were on top of his head. Right¡­ ¡°Here¡­¡± I gave each a pair of sunglasses and they put them on, checking their surroundings. Then, I squatted next to Bonte and stared at him for a few seconds. ¡°What?¡± his tone was a little anxious. His amber feline eyes jumped from my face to my hands. I stared at the cartilaginous organs and experience a little uncanny valley after noticing the empty sides of his head. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of a way to keep the sunglasses from moving. You could braid your hair so the tips get stuck.¡± I pointed at his head. He nodded. ¡°Pretty smart.¡± Following my suggestion, he ended up with two braids framing his face, the sunglasses secured in them. ¡°Alright¡­¡± I sighed. Now what? I bit my lips as I stood up. I¡¯m not a natural leader. The Hoplite class is useless with it¡¯s militaristic knowledge. I decided to appraise them to kill time while they looked around wearing the sunglasses. [Lapia Pofeta ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Domi Elf, Lvl 192 Pyromancer] [Alyssa Pruvik ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Krystaali Luzo, Lvl 249 Cardinal] [Yolin Makav ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Red Oni, Lvl 305 Asura] [Bromisnar Bahadh ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Khlyp Satyr, Lvl 174 Minstrel] [Bonte Slirmy ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Shishi Tigea, Lvl 156 Shadow Chaser] Looking good. Alyssa hasn¡¯t gained much, though. And Yolin¡­ well. Her level is too high. I nodded a few times. ¡°These work like solar goggles.¡± Lapia commented, walking to me. ¡°Can you see me?¡± Bonte asked, moving around in a crouched position. ¡°I can.¡± Bromisnar nodded while following the Tigea with his head. ¡°True sight, huh? Pretty useful.¡± ¡°The design is pretty sleek.¡± Alyssa said, fixing the glasses with her tail. What is beyond that tail?! I sighed with amazement. She and Yolin threw gang signs while giggling. ¡°Ah, by the way.¡± Bonte stood up and produced three pouches. ¡°The money from the bounties.¡± The three women received them and gave their thanks, then stored them. ¡°Quite the haul.¡± Yolin smiled widely. ¡°I¡¯ve never gotten this much money for so little effort.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°You did a pretty good job of protecting us.¡± Lapia smirked and ran a hand through the tank¡¯s muscled arm. The Oni blushed and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, then.¡± Alyssa giggled and I smiled at them. ¡°I think you should stay over at Koporva¡¯s.¡± I nodded to the two men. ¡°That way if something happens we¡¯d be close.¡± ¡°With the reward, it¡¯s affordable.¡± Bromisnar nodded and folded his arms behind him. ¡°We¡¯d need to get our belongings and cancel our current stay.¡± Bonte nodded in agreement. ¡°We should get back into the dungeon tomorrow morning.¡± Alyssa said. ¡°It¡¯s late already.¡± She took Lapia¡¯s hand, who nodded. Yolin walked to me, hugged me from behind, and gave me a kiss on the neck. I felt my face burn in embarrassment, the men were looking at us. Their expression didn¡¯t change in the slightest, however. Slowly turning around, I looked int the Oni¡¯s sky blue eyes. She gave a wide smile and a wink. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡± she said. I gave her a weak nod and we followed her into the building. When we left the Church, we spotted the Watchers patrolling. That calmed me a little, knowing public security would most likely deter any shadowy individual from trying anything too daring in the open. While I could instantly kill anyone below level one thousand, I¡¯d very much like to avoid committing murder if possible. We made our way to the mounts and continued to the men¡¯s inn. Bonte guided us as Bromisnar played his lute. After arriving at their inn, Yolin dismounted and escorted them inside in case anything was planted. We all wore the sunglasses in case of invisible individuals. They complied with my no-risk policy. The building was similar to the inn we were staying at, but had a more ¡®rustic¡¯ feeling, if that was possible in a tight city built of granite. Our way back was as uneventful as the previous days. Dasiso welcomed them with a smile and they registered for the foreseeable future. They rented the room next to ours, and we turned in for the day. Us women went into our love nest, and sat in the living room. Lapia took out some alcohol and put it on the table between us. Yolin sat next to me on the sofa closest to the door, and the other two on the opposite sofa. Serving the drinks, the Elf started talking. ¡°So, Natasha,¡± she began. ¡°You mentioned polyamory. Could you go into detail?¡± I sighed and received a glass of transparent liquid she offered. Alyssa got plum wine, and Yolin had a similar drink to mine. The Wizard got some ale for herself. ¡°It¡¯s a little complicated.¡± I took a sip. ¡°First, I¡¯m pretty ignorant about all that. It wasn¡¯t until pretty late into my life that I discovered it, and I never was a part of it.¡± Alyssa nodded and drank a little from her glass. ¡°Polyamory would be what we have. Four women in a relationship network. We have a non-hierarchical network since we don¡¯t prioritize one over the others.¡± I drank more vodka. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean we won¡¯t prioritize you in combat, with you two being¡­ what¡¯s the term? Ranged casters?¡± I tilted my head. Alyssa shook her head. ¡°Back line. Archers, healers, and Wizards form the back line.¡± ¡°A Scout can cover them, and I would be on the front with you. We¡¯d be the vanguard.¡± Yolin explained. ¡°Most Scouts are fluid in their position, since they¡¯re reactive in their engagement in most scenarios.¡± ¡°Right. Well, that¡¯d be pretty much all I know.¡± I smiled. ¡°I used to have only one partner at a time.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°The nature of our relationships follow the example of the Divines.¡± Alyssa said, and took another sip. ¡°They are all in a relationship.¡± I choked on my drink. ¡°Wha-cough. What? All of them?¡± ¡°All of them.¡± Yolin next to me confirmed. Lapia chuckled at me cleaning my face. ¡°How many are there?¡± I asked in shock. ¡°What about children?¡± I couldn¡¯t believe my ears. An entire species(?) of beings in one big relationship was beyond my understanding. Wouldn¡¯t that be incest? ¡°Divines are immortal. They can¡¯t have children.¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°There¡¯s fifty of them.¡± ¡°Holy shit!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°Wait, so there are no demigods?¡± ¡°Not sure what you mean, but Divines can¡¯t have offspring.¡± the Elf shook her head. ¡°An organism that can¡¯t die permanently has no need for reproduction.¡± Alyssa explained. ¡°We can because we die.¡± ¡°Do they split like a cell, then?¡± I asked. ¡°HAHAHAHA!!!¡± The three laughed, and I covered my face with a hand. ¡°Can you imagine having two Yiamas?¡± Yolin asked the two. ¡°Or two Photems.¡± Lapia shuddered. ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡± The two chuckled. ¡°That¡¯d be a major pain in the butt.¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°Imagine two Danuvas lazying together.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that?¡± I asked, remembering her saying something like that before. ¡°Why is Danuva lazy?¡± ¡°She awakened the species. Since then, she¡¯s done very little.¡± Yolin chuckled. This conversation is going everywhere. I chuckled. How did we go from polyamory to a lazy Goddess. ¡°Anyway.¡± I sighed and leaned on Yolin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So relationships follow Divine form. That¡¯s cool. I remember Lady Dabrak mentioned something about Saravia, Danuva, and Shorvanna living together?¡± ¡°Oh, imagine two Shorvannas.¡± Yolin chuckled. ¡°Yes, they live in a temple up north.¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°Yiama lives further north.¡± Lapia served more alcohol. ¡°Near the coast.¡± I nodded. Are these Olympian Gods? I wondered. The comparison was screaming at me. The evening went on with silly talks and more drinking. When the night enveloped Mountroad, the rain started falling harder, but the sound-proof enchantments kept the noise out. The three went ahead to bed after I told them I wanted to update my journal. I¡¯ll still join them since I want to sleep before going to the dungeon. I was wrong. Relationships are not the way they are because of lack of influence. This is amazing. I really want to meet a God now. Maybe after we visit Paarjo we could pay Shorvanna a visit and she can give me a few pointers for my next class. If I got things right, we Halves were close with Divines back in the day. Nilenna¡¯s letter was weird. I hope she doesn¡¯t treat me like a little sister for real. Unless she¡¯s thousands of years old¡­ then there¡¯s nothing I can do, really. I hope the rest aren¡¯t like that as well. I¡¯m a little worried about the state of my mind¡­ I will do my best to avoid fighting sentient beings. I hope I will remain sane if things escalate. I need to talk about this with my partners. Also, I noticed women are incredibly vocal in bed. At least my partners are. It¡¯s honestly liberating. None of that slow shit. They go straight for the clitoris. Alyssa said she loves me! AAHHHHH!! She¡¯s so cute! When I met her for the first time I thought she looked dangerous, but she¡¯s none of that. She¡¯s so¡­ hnng! I¡¯m really happy in this world. I don¡¯t regret having died. Fuck pandemics! If you¡¯re from Earth and are reading this¡­ Elf pussy feels really good. LMAO. Having a penis is the shit. I haven¡¯t felt any dysphoria yet. Was Freud right? Was I so attracted to men because of some phallic envy? There¡¯s a catboy in the party and I don¡¯t find him cute in the slightest. The following weeks will be a speedrun to lvl 800. Any%, and since I can¡¯t glitch reality that¡¯s that. I guess it¡¯s time to get the cash shop items out. I¡¯m going all in. I¡¯ve used about half of the journal already¡­ I should buy another one soon. I¡¯m thinking of ways to spice this journal up. -17/3/1980. Yiama¡¯s Era. Fox Eyes: Speedrun (1) I shall begin my writings by explaining two things. I will not go into full detail since this is not a research journal. (1) E¡¯er Absorption. (2) E¡¯er Affinity. E¡¯er absorption takes place when a person assimilates E¡¯er into themselves. This can happen through two (2) means: Ambient E¡¯er, and E¡¯er from other beings. Absorbing Ambient E¡¯er is the slower of the two. E¡¯er has to be compressed and then enter the body. This does not happen when killing a living being since E¡¯er is released in its compressed state. E¡¯er affinity is how efficient the absorption is, and, by extension, the efficiency of its expenditure. Items that increase efficiency do not increase affinity, unfortunately. Let¡¯s take two (2) individuals as examples. Individual A; Natasha Novak, a Halve. Individual B; Alyssa Pruvik, a Luzo. The two individuals have one hundred (100) cubic meters of E¡¯er for them to absorb. Individual A has the innate quality to absorb the one hundred (100) cubic meters in their totality. This would then be split between body and pool. The ratio would vary depending on how depleted the pool is, at a maximum of 50-50 with an empty pool. Individual B is able to absorb ten percent of the available one hundred (100) cubic meters without prior training. This would then be split as mentioned above. Naturally, Individual B has the capacity to improve said Affinity by training body and mind in various ways. The time it would take to achieve the same results as Individual A would depend on how long and hard they have trained. Results have shown at least a thousand years of training are needed to reach eighty percent of affinity. I aim to change this by studying Halves and how they absorb E¡¯er.
18th day of the third month. Fifth week of Spring. 1980. Yiama¡¯s Era. A gentle caress woke me up. ¡°Hey, you. You¡¯re finally awake!¡± The first thing I heard was Natasha¡¯s sexy voice. That smoky yet silvery sound that both relaxed and excited me. While it was unfairly early to wake up at that hour even when considering we¡¯d go back into the dungeon, the words of complaint I was about to say vanished the moment I opened my eyes. ¡°You were trying to cross the border, right?¡± The Halve was wearing tight clothes that accentuated her figure. A black top of some unknown material covered her chest, and a pair of short shorts that ended right where her thighs began. And nothing else. Her golden skin shined with sweat, probably from exercising with Yolin. The muscles under her skin were defined and so very enticing. The lack of a belly button had at first confused me, but it stands to reason considering she¡¯s not born of flesh. Her golden hair was done in her signature braid, incredibly complex yet quick to do by her deft hands, leaving her face clear and unobstructed. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I asked while yawning. My eyes met the suns that were her own, golden ¨C as was almost everything about her ¨C with a line across them. Her platinum silver teeth peeked between her dull golden lips as she gave me a shy smile, almost as if she felt bad she woke me up so early while spewing nonsense. ¡°You walked right into that imperial ambush. Same as us, and that Luzo over there.¡± I wondered how can a someone sleep so little yet have that much energy to start saying bullshit so early. Truly, a being of E¡¯er. While in the dungeon I managed to time her sleep, though only once. Five hours were enough to leave her completely rested. Adding to that the fact she could spend E¡¯er to forgo the most basic need was beyond my understanding. I¡¯d need to collect more data. I had yet to ask her if she¡¯d let me study her in depth, but had the feeling she wouldn¡¯t refuse me. Lifting my body to a sitting position on the bed, I rubbed my eyes to chase the sleepiness away. ¡°Do you know what time it is?¡± I couldn¡¯t help asking her, not as a complaint. More of a genuine question. The room was illuminated by her glow, which made guessing the time a difficult task. ¡°Uh¡­ five¡­ no, six thirty. I guess. Yeah, six thirty.¡± She looked at a black pocket watch and spent a few seconds staring at it with a silly face. A smile broke my lips at that. Even the most powerful beings have a weakness or two. A yawn left me as I got out of bed and cleaned my teeth with E¡¯er. I went for a faint Oloya taste. Not too sweet, but not too weak. [Natasha Novak ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Forest Halve, Lvl 450 Dragoon] ¡°Good morning, sunshine.¡± I hugged her neck and gave her a soft kiss, sneaking my tongue in her mouth and licking hers as her lips reciprocated the affection. The delightful taste of pure E¡¯er that was her saliva woke me up more efficiently than any concoction could. ¡°Good morning, Lala.¡± A sigh escaped me at her calling me that way. She hugged me with her powerful arms and lifted me as if I was no more than a piece of paper. I glanced towards the bed and saw Alyssa still sleeping, her tail had gathered the covers around her on the other side of the bed. Natasha then brought me to the living room, where she sat us on a sofa. After covering my body with an everyday Ezh¡¯de, I straddled her waist and brought our bodies closer, relishing in the heat her body produced. I hugged her neck and stared into her eyes. ¡°Good morning, Lapia,¡± a soothing voice said from behind me. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I turned to the source and saw Yolin getting out of the bathroom, freshly showered and naked. Steam left her red body as she walked over to us, then gave me a kiss. I put a hand on her nape and made the kiss last a little longer. ¡°Good morning, Yolin.¡± ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± she asked with a wide smile. ¡°I did. And thanks to Alyssa healing us, there is no hangover,¡± I responded with a nod. I turned to Natasha, who was smiling at us while listening to our short exchange. Compersion written all over her face. ¡°So what made you wake me up so damn early?¡± Yolin chuckled as I released her and got dressed. Her new chest wrap and pants covered her body, accentuating her athletic figure. Although it was early, arousal was getting a hold of me already. She sat down next to Natasha on the sofa. ¡°I was thinking about my journal,¡± Natasha said while staring at my right ear. ¡°I thought you could write on it for a while. You¡¯re free to read it, of course.¡± The white book she showed me the day before materialized in her hands, which she offered. I took it and leafed through it, noticing a little over half was used. ¡°Sure. I can do that,¡± I said with a nod, then stored the book. She smiled and gave me a quick kiss, then hugged me for a while. After leaving the life of an Advisor, time came aplenty so it wouldn¡¯t be much of an issue even when adding my own studies. Considering how our following weeks would be spent, I would have even more free time. ¡°Also,¡± Natasha said, lifting my body like a feather. ¡°I bought some things last night with Yolin, and I was wondering if you could hold onto the result. I can¡¯t store it since it won¡¯t ferment if I do.¡± She sat me back down on the sofa and I had to suppress a whimper at her display of strength. ¡°Ferment?¡± I asked after processing her words. ¡°It¡¯s illegal to brew alcoholic beverages without a license.¡± Yolin laughed and put an arm around my shoulders. ¡°I told you it was illegal,¡± Yolin said after pinching my cheek. ¡°It¡¯s only illegal if they catch you,¡± Natasha said with a smile while tapping her right temple with a golden digit. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not that strong. It¡¯s a very necessary ingredient for a soup I have in mind.¡± ¡°What is it made of?¡± I asked, letting the comment about the legality of the subject go. I was honestly interested. This could very well be something from her previous world, never before heard or seen on Galeia. ¡°Rye bread, which was a bitch to find... you call it Koli bread here. Honey and sugar, which were a little more expensive than I expected. Yeast, it¡¯s a crime how cheap that one is. Raisins, and lemons.¡± I blinked a few times, trying to remember anything made that way. Nothing came to mind. ¡°And you use this to make soup?¡± I asked. Alcohol and soup didn¡¯t mix well in my opinion, and the ingredients she mentioned made it sound a little too sweet. ¡°I know, right?¡± Yolin said, getting up and stretching her muscular body. ¡°She woke me up to go shopping, too.¡± ¡°It needed to boil and rest through the night,¡± Natasha said with a shrug. ¡°Good thing Dasiso lent me the kitchen.¡± I covered my face with a hand. I hadn¡¯t felt them leave or return. ¡°Where did you buy all this?¡± ¡°A few taverns,¡± Yolin answered, then laughed. ¡°Good thing they work all night.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Natasha agreed. The two laughed and shared a high five. A chuckle escaped me followed by a yawn. ¡°So, where is this mystical drink?¡± I asked. ¡°And what¡¯s the name?¡± Natasha went behind the sofa and lifted two 2lt hermetically sealed glass bottles with a dark yellow liquid in them. I saw a good amount of raisins floating in the murky contents. ¡°Kvass!¡± she sang with a wide smile as she presented the items.
We woke Alyssa up and had a group shower. Then, we had breakfast in the mess hall. I enjoyed a fruit salad, Alyssa had vegetables and meat, Yolin a bomb of proteins, and Natasha ate an aberration of bread, butter, sausage, tomato, cucumber, and a Dwarvish sauce made of eggs and oil. Bromisnar and Bonte ate colorful salads. After that, we all headed to the dungeon after buying umbrellas to avoid the rain and Natasha had to pay the tax. When we visit the King I¡¯ll make sure to let him know how unfair it is to tax Halves separately. No wonder none have visited Lumin Kingdom in the last thousand years. Overcharging an entire species is clear discrimination. Once inside the dungeon, Natasha produced a number of items, handing each of us an elixir, a scroll, a ring, and a necklace. ¡°Here, use these to speed up the leveling process,¡± Natasha said as she distributed them. I appraised mine and felt my heart stop for a moment. [Draught of E¡¯er Assimilation (30 days)] [Ring of E¡¯er Assimilation (Unique)] (+250% Affinity with E¡¯er) (500 levels usage) [Necklace of E¡¯er Assimilation (Unique)] (+250% Affinity with E¡¯er) (500 levels usage) [Writings of E¡¯er Assimilation (30 days)] My mind swam in shock for a while, then I calmed down when I realized the effects would not be permanent. It would do wonders for my research in any case. I¡¯d have to be mindful of the brew and focus on the flow of E¡¯er. We all drank the concoction and then activated the scroll. A little injection of E¡¯er and it lit up, releasing the enchantments and fusing with us. After wearing the accessories, we moved on. It became clear to us how much of a mad woman Natasha truly is. She ran around the dungeon killing everything with her spear. Not a single Walas was left standing on the first nine floors. Sonya and Pochi kept up with her, and I had to hold the Kvass with space spells. Naturally, I kept them at 25oY as instructed by Natasha. The dungeon floors are pretty wide, yet it took her no more than an hour to clear each. As we followed her around the dungeon at speeds the likes of which I had never experienced before and Alyssa was holding onto me for dear life, I was focused on one thing and one thing only. E¡¯er. Locking the bottles in position relative to my body, and keeping the temperature around them constant, I focused on the absurd amount of E¡¯er that was flowing into me. As beings born of flesh, E¡¯er compatibility is something everyone strove to improve. It felt as if I had breathed smoke for the last eighty years and now I was out in the open for the first time. It was no longer odorless, but had a strong clean scent. It became clear to me now why Halves grow so quickly in power while killing so little. If I had to kill one hundred beings on my own power range to gain a single level, a Halve would need to slay a single one. If I had to kill a million beings half my level, a halve would naturally need less. That was the most glaring difference between those born of E¡¯er and those born of flesh. Not even taking into account the might they have since birth, or the many items they hold. Is this intentional? Is Galeia herself creating them? How are they created in the first place? The lack of a belly button is not enough information to arrive at a concise conclusion. Do they come out of the ground? Emerge from water? Are they formed inside trees, rocks, etc? How is a Halve created? Are they really created in the first place? If so, who or what begins the process? What is the purpose of a Halve? Is it purely to protect us beings of flesh? Then why have a mind of their own? Why not be like a Golem? Why have individuality? Why feel pain, anger, and sadness? Why reincarnate into one? There is no logic to it. No Law of E¡¯er that I know can answer this. Do Halves really not know? Natasha doesn¡¯t, and I believe her. Do the Gods know, then? Which came first? Halves or Gods? Fox Eyes: Speedrun (2) I think it¡¯s a good idea to explain things sometimes. Knowledge is meant to be shared, after all. I¡¯m a scholar and a teacher, even if I don¡¯t behave that way most of the time. I will include a snippet of knowledge every time I add something to the journal. I read a little of Natasha¡¯s journal and noticed she doesn¡¯t really understand a few things. In this instance, I shall broadly explain E¡¯er. E¡¯er is a subatomic particle, symbol ?, with a variable charge and behavior depending on the environment it is observed in, and a mass a hundredth of that of a neutron. Studies have shown it¡¯s incapable of coupling with itself. It can, however, transform matter. Levels are an example of this. When a creature dies, E¡¯er is released in its compressed state, which forms clumps that dissipate with time if left alone. This obeys the Laws of E¡¯er; E¡¯er cannot be created nor destroyed, only transformed. Some argue E¡¯er is the source of life, and it once came close to be an accepted theory, but Perculis himself was against this and proved life can exist without E¡¯er thanks to his skills as an Archon. Natasha¡¯s recount of her previous life and mentioning E¡¯er not existing further disproves E¡¯er as a source of life. The action of manipulating E¡¯er and, by extension, transforming it, was called ¡®E¡¯eruum¡¯ half a million years ago, and has since been simplified to ¡®E¡¯er¡¯ (written in cursive). As an individual pushes E¡¯er into the knowledge of a skill, the formula transforms the particles and bring forth an effect on reality itself. I myself ignite E¡¯er when using Pyromancy. Fire is not created out of thin air as a child would believe. This would be the conventional usage of E¡¯er. Things go deeper as one learns more, naturally. If I actively read a formula from a book, I can manipulate ambient E¡¯er and bring forth phenomena. It takes a long time since I¡¯d have to read and translate while manipulating decompressed particles. Skills automate this process, as we brand the formula into our minds. This way, ¡®E¡¯er¡¯ becomes unconscious.
¡°I still don¡¯t fully get it,¡± Natasha sighed. ¡°I mean, I understand more than before at least.¡± We had made camp on the seventeenth floor, having stopped after twelve hours of continuously following Natasha. Since the Uger and Golems hadn¡¯t repopulated yet, Natasha had continued to the lower levels and we followed. At the moment, we were going over a few details I noticed she was weak in, like specifics of E¡¯er and the correct terms. ¡°That¡¯s good progress,¡± Alyssa next to her offered words of comfort. ¡°Don¡¯t expect to understand it all right away.¡± Natasha nodded, but I could see a little frustration building up. Her brows were furrowed and she was biting her lips. ¡°How about we leave it at this today?¡± I stretched. ¡°Learning takes time, Natasha. It¡¯s not healthy to force knowledge into your brain.¡± Alyssa nodded in agreement. ¡°You done?¡± Yolin asked from inside the tent. ¡°Yep!¡± Natasha answered with relief. ¡°We should go to sleep.¡± I looked around us. The dungeon floor was eerily silent thanks to Natasha¡¯s actions. We would certainly not be attacked by anything since we made camp far from the nests. Bonte and Bromisnar would keep watch at night. We all agreed and entered the tent. I cursed the me from the past for not buying a soundproof tent. Another store could have a few available. Haste is bad. ¡°Did you make sure to keep the temperature constant?¡± Natasha asked me after undressing. ¡°If the bottles get cold, it¡¯ll take longer to ferment.¡± I nodded, running a hand over her stomach. ¡°The spell will last a day, I made sure of it,¡± I assured her, pointing at the bottles outside the tent. ¡°What was the name, again?¡± Alyssa asked, already under the blankets. ¡°Kvass. It¡¯s very tasty, and ideal for summer,¡± Natasha responded, getting under the blankets herself. ¡°It¡¯ll have a little alcohol, but not enough to get drunk.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t wait to try it,¡± Yolin said, followed by a laugh. ¡°I bet,¡± I countered with a smirk. We tangled in a hug under the covers and fell asleep after a kissing session.
The following morning we continued our descent after having breakfast. Natasha was fast, precise, and ruthless in her advance. She didn¡¯t use warcries, but rushed towards monsters and killed them with a single swing of her spear. The dungeon would later absorb the corpses, so it was fine to leave them as is. From the fifteenth level to the twentieth level, Uger and Ir¡¯ek were common sights in the jungle environment. It was my first time seeing an Ir¡¯ek, which were Untu sized larvae. Natasha called them Kat¡¯r Pi¡¯lurs, will ask her how it¡¯s written Caterpillars. Pretty disgusting, to be honest. She killed them from a distance by throwing her weapon at them and making them explode. On the twentieth floor, a ravine separated the jungle from the gate. Fortunately, there was a wide stone bridge we could cross. Natasha came to a stop next to it and faced us with a smile. She changed her bloodied armor for a white silk dress, stored her spear, and retrieved two white, almost transparent swords. Natasha was up to her shenanigans again, and I prepared to follow suit. The woman had been running for the last three hours, so a break from the monotony was well deserved. ¡°If you wish to pass, you must face me and answer my questions!¡± Natasha declared, crossing the swords in front of her. Bromisnar clapped slowly. ¡°Oh, riddles?¡± he chuckled and dismounted, then approached her. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot first.¡± ¡°My name is Natasha, the Guardian of the Bridge!¡± she proclaimed. The man nodded. ¡°The more you take, the more you leave behind!¡± Natasha raised her chin. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Ooh¡­ hard one,¡± he groaned and thought for a second. ¡°Time?¡± ¡°Wrong,¡± Natasha said and shook her head. ¡°To the back of the line.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As we gathered in a line we didn¡¯t know we had to make, Alyssa dismounted and sat on the ground. ¡°Haaa¡­¡± she sighed. ¡°Solid ground, bless you!¡± Yolin was next and walked towards the Guardian. ¡°What is your name?¡± the mysterious figure asked. ¡°My name is Yolin Makav,¡± she answered. ¡°What is your quest?¡± came the next question. ¡°To reach the limit of mortal growth!¡± the mortal said back with conviction. ¡°What is your favorite color?¡± she asked with a mischievous grin. ¡°Teal!¡± she answered the mighty being. The golden individual draped in white silk nodded, the wisdom in her eyes visible even from my position behind Bonte. ¡°Off you go, then,¡± she said, taking a step to the right. We were silent for a few seconds as Yolin crossed the bridge while laughing. ¡°Oh, so I got a riddle because I said it out loud?¡± Bromisnar contemplated at the back. ¡°I¡¯ll avenge you, Bromi,¡± Bonte comforted him. The Tigea walked forward with confident steps. ¡°Guardian of the Bridge, I challenge you to a duel of Sword, Shield, and E¡¯er!¡± the brave, albeit short Scout announced. He was towered by the much taller woman, almost two heads of difference in height. ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡± the sinister laugh coming from the Guardian echoed in the jungle. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯ve beaten several children already in this mighty sport.¡± ¡°Kuh!¡± Bonte grunted and took a step back. ¡°Children? Your power knows no bounds, Guardian of the Bridge!¡± Both balled their hands and prepared themselves. ¡°You have three chances. If you win once, you may pass!¡± the omnipotent being graced him with mercy. They moved. Natasha picked E¡¯er, and Bonte went for Shield. Natasha won. ¡°Tsk!¡± he clicked his tongue. ¡°Again!¡± They moved once more. Natasha picked Sword, and Bonte went for Shield again. Bonte won. She stared at him for a few seconds with a blank expression. ¡°It¡¯s illegal to use the same move every time¡­¡± she mumbled. Alyssa giggled at that and I chuckled. Bromisnar clapped as justice was served. ¡°There were no such rules, Guardian of the Bridge. I have achieved victory!¡± he puffed his chest in pride and crossed his arms. ¡°Fair enough, brave Bonte. You may pass,¡± she declared and stepped aside. The Tigea whistled as he crossed the bridge. Yolin received him with a high five. I was next, so I walked over to her. ¡°What is your name?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°This again?¡± I raised my eyebrows. ¡°My name is Lapia Pofeta.¡± ¡°What is your quest?¡± came the next question. ¡°To further my research and optimize E¡¯er absorption,¡± I said, resting my hands on my hips. Her face morphed into the most cocky shit eating grin I have ever laid eyes upon. ¡°Repeat after me. §¹§Ö§ä§í§â§Ö §é§×§â§ß§Ö§ß§î§Ü§Ú§ç §é§å§Þ§Ñ§Ù§Ö§ß§î§Ü§Ú§ç §é§Ö§â§ä§×§ß§Ü§Ñ §é§Ö§â§ä§Ú§Ý§Ú §é§×§â§ß§í§Þ§Ú §é§Ö§â§ß§Ú§Ý§Ñ§Þ§Ú §é§Ö§â§ä§×§Ø.¡± A tongue twister in a language I don¡¯t know. This woman is a cheater. I clicked my tongue and attempted to say it anyway. I would make her write it later. ¡°Chetire chorninki chumasenki chertenka chertili... chornimi chernilami... chertush¡­?¡± I butchered it. ¡°Pretty close,¡± she praised with a nod. ¡°To the back of the line!¡± I let out a defeated sigh and hung my head in defeat. ¡°So strict!¡± I complained as I went to the back. Next was Alyssa. She stood up and walked over to the evilest of evils. The Evil Mastermind stored the swords and produced a piece of paper and a quill, wrote a few lines, then gave it to Alyssa. Receiving the sheet, she went over the contents and groaned. ¡°You are to act the script I have handed you,¡± Natasha smiled and crossed her arms. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Alyssa nodded and sighed. ¡°We will have our revenge!¡± Natasha angrily said. I was surprised by her voice. It sounded angry, sad, and helpless at the same time. ¡°Bah!¡± Alyssa exclaimed in a deeper than usual voice. Her dismissive tone almost mocked Natasha. ¡°Revenge! Revenge! I WILL SHOW YOU¡­ REVENGE!¡± the last bit she almost growled. ¡°I AM FIRE! I AM¡­ DEATH!¡± Natasha excitedly clapped with a huge smile on her face. ¡°It was perfect!¡± she squealed in joy. Natasha hugged Alyssa and gave her a quick kiss, then stepped aside. ¡°That was really embarrassing¡­¡± Alyssa muttered as she crossed the bridge. ¡°Very well done, Lady Alyssa!¡± Bromisnar cheered while clapping. ¡°Marvelous performance!¡± ¡°True, very well done.¡± I praised her. The man walked forward for his second attempt. ¡°Another riddle, if you would,¡± he said with a nod. Natasha nodded and held her chin for a few seconds. ¡°I never was, am always to be. No one ever saw me, nor ever will. And yet, I am the confidence of all who live and breathe. What am I?¡± she asked. I sighed in relief. That one is a classic from Saravia¡¯s compendium. ¡°The future,¡± he instantly replied. Natasha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. I chuckled at her reaction. Bromisnar is a Performer so naturally he must have read Saravia¡¯s Divine Records. ¡°Alright¡­¡± she nodded and stepped aside. He chuckled all the way to the other side of the bridge, where everyone received him with cheers. I stood in front of her. ¡°A riddle, please,¡± I muttered. ¡°I see¡­¡± she smiled. ¡°I have a golden tail and a golden head but no body. What am I?¡± ¡°Sheesh¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°So that¡¯s where your smarts are.¡± She nodded and laughed. ¡°I suck at numbers, but words and shapes are my thing,¡± she proudly said. ¡°What was the correct answer to the first riddle?¡± I asked, gaining time. ¡°Footsteps,¡± she answered with a grin. I slowly nodded. A tail, a head, no body. I gave it a good thought. ¡°Heads or tails¡­¡± I muttered, then looked up. ¡°A gold coin!¡± Natasha, the Guardian of the Bridge nodded. ¡°Correct!¡± she declared approvingly. She stepped aside and I crossed the bridge. Natasha slowly made her way across the bridge followed by Sonya and Pochi. When she made it all the way to us, she knelt on the ground and took deep breaths. ¡°Come on, it wasn¡¯t that deep,¡± I teased her, looking down the ravine. It was maybe thirty meters deep. ¡°Deep enough¡­¡± the most powerful species in the world said while trembling in fear. I chuckled. No matter how mighty, we all have weaknesses. ¡°I bet,¡± I said back. Fox Eyes: Class Acquisition (1) When talking about E¡¯er manipulation, those ignorant tend to believe it is all powerful. The first recorded Wizards were Photem, a God, and Elesis, a Halve, and the Laws of E¡¯er have dramatically expanded since that time. In this instance, I will go over three elements. Earth, Fire, and Water. If someone were to call them ¡®simple¡¯, more than a few experienced Wizards would vomit blood on the spot, myself included. To manipulate Earth, an individual would need to study the many different soils, stones, and rock formations that exist. Manipulating compressed dirt would be the most basic of spells, and diamond would be the most complex. Intelligence would dictate how much weight the individual can influence. Geomancers excel at building cities and reshaping terrain. To manipulate Fire, an individual would need to study Thermal Laws, and understand the E¡¯er-energy-heat equations required to ignite E¡¯er. A flame would be the most basic of spells, and Solar Epitaph the most complex. Intelligence would dictate the heat of the flames produced. Naturally, there is a limit: fire cannot go above 6000oY, and there¡¯s only two recorded instances where that temperature has been reached by a spell. E¡¯er replaces oxygen and also acts as fuel. Pyromancers excel at killing and generating thermal energy. To manipulate Water, an individual would need to study hydrodynamics and understand the fluid-E¡¯er equations. That is, to transform E¡¯er into Water or other fluids the individual wishes to manipulate. A gentle stream would be the most basic spell, and floods would be the most complex. Intelligence would dictate water pressure. After a set period of time, the length of which depends on Intelligence, the liquid would transform back to E¡¯er. Because of this, Water Weavers are unable to assist during droughts, but are incredibly helpful during heat waves and eroding hard materials.
21st day of the third month. Fifth week of spring. 1980. Yiama¡¯s Era. We had reached the 43rd floor, an expansive field of tall grass and sporadic trees, where monsters were in the 500 to 520 level range. Silence reigned the party as we tried to cope with reality. I looked around, appraising everyone for the tenth time to check if my eyes weren¡¯t deceiving me. [Alyssa Pruvik ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Krystaali Luzo, Lvl 255 Cardinal] [Yolin Makav ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Red Oni, Lvl 305 Asura] [Natasha Novak ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Forest Halve, Lvl 450 Dragoon] [Bromisnar Bahadh ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Khlyp Satyr, Lvl 251 Minstrel] [Bonte Slirmy ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Shishi Tigea, Lvl 250 Shadow Chaser] [Sonya, Lvl 510 Ratnak] [Pochi, lvl 704 Fekir] I sighed. Three days. It took us three days to reach this level¡­ while doing nothing. I¡¯m sure that we all had complicated feelings on the matter. I read my own information once again. Lapia Pofeta Domi Elf Class(es) -Pyromancer Lvl 252 (Open Skills) -Thaumaturge Lvl 251 (Open Skills) I would not be as reckless as Natasha and write my stats down, so that¡¯d be it. We all were ready for a third class. We had two months to get to 800 according to Natasha¡¯s plans. This is madness. If we keep going like this for even twenty more days, I¡¯m sure we¡¯d break any established records. If we hadn¡¯t already, that is. There was a slight wrongness to it. Not in that it wasn¡¯t possible, as reality was undeniably and sonorously slapping me across the face. It didn¡¯t feel unearned, as the circumstances demanded we increase our levels in case of an ambush by the group that sent the threatening letter. I could rationalize it in more ways, but that¡¯d be running away from reality. It felt right, even, in a way. In the deepest recesses of my mind, I was even relieved. I wanted power, and it was given to me. It felt a little hollow, however. We had set camp and sat around a campfire I lit. ¡°Lapia?¡± Natasha asked next to me. I looked at her and blinked a few times. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Where is the Kvass?¡± she asked with an expectant smile. ¡°Here,¡± I muttered. I deactivated a spell and the two bottles materialized. She gasped. ¡°You stored them?¡± ¡°No,¡± I answered. ¡°I used a space spell to keep light from reaching them.¡± She gave me a big nod. ¡°Ah, I see¡­ I think they¡¯re ready,¡± she said with a big smile. ¡°Now I have to filter and then refrigerate it.¡± She produced another bottle and a very fine sieve. She grabbed the things and went about it. ¡°So,¡± Alyssa began. ¡°This will be my first time getting a class inside a dungeon.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Bonte mumbled with a short nod. Bromisnar also nodded. ¡°Me and Natasha will keep you all safe,¡± Yolin assured us. ¡°Go ahead and meditate.¡± We all sighed and retrieved various books, scrolls, and records. I opened a tome and went over the contents a few times. I had prepared for this for ten years, so I had a pretty solid grasp on the formulas needed to turn knowledge into skills. It was a matter of integrating them and then let E¡¯er recognize the class. Closing my eyes, I shut the world around me and began the long process. Pyro formulas occupied a third of my mind, Thaumaturge spells occupied another third, and the free space that was the last third welcomed the new knowledge. The most useful element when dealing with beings of flesh, especially so if they¡¯re sentient beings. First witnessed before even our ancestors walked the world. Something that was thought was punishment from the sky, but quickly explained by Gods. Feared, respected, and avoided even to this day. Widely used during the Second Age of E¡¯er when Wizards were the rarest class. Lightning. Writing the formulas on my mind and making sure I made no mistake, I slowly integrated them one by one. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Electricity is unpredictable in nature. Through study, one can understand its workings and come up with an adequate equation to manipulate it properly. These in turn become skills, as follows: Lightning Snap: the simplest spell. Numb nerves or stun an enemy. Lightning Cage: a spell to trap enemies. Lightning Discharge: a powerful lightning bolt. Chain Lightning: electrocute various enemies at once. Electric Shield: form a shield around myself that prevents projectiles from reaching me, and electrocutes enemies that get too close. Echoes of Thunder: through space manipulation thanks to my Thaumaturge class, the accuracy of my lightning spells increase by isolating the path I want E¡¯er to follow. This increases the potency of all my skills as the path is similar to ionized gas. Fury of the Storm: the most complex spell. As the name implies, it brings forth a lightning storm with me at its center. As the skills settled and the process was about to finish, I did last minute corrections and additions. Adding Photem¡¯s Impetus to Lightning Discharge, it turns into a channeled skill. Adding the Rakh¡¯Math View to Electric Shield and guiding it through the Bond, it turns into an Aura skill. Finally, adding the Rakh¡¯Math View and Perekis¡¯ Theory of Power to Fury of the Storm, it turns into a spell that affects enemies and grows stronger the more E¡¯er I pump into it, Similar to Solar Epitaph. The process is not finished when integrating skills, however. As a Wizard, most of my skills are widespread, so I have to limit their reach to avoid hitting allies. That is where the Bond comes into play. Running a very thin tether from my core towards the Bond, I influence my skills so as to not hit those I am Bonded with. The subconscious distinction between ally and enemy is aided by this. In the same way that I am not affected by Natasha¡¯s Warcries, Bromisnar¡¯s Sonorous Pang, Alyssa¡¯s Sense Retribution, Yolin¡¯s Protectoratum, and Bonte¡¯s Shadow¡¯s Reprieve, they would not be affected by my spells. The process is slow, as I need to connect every skill with my core. This takes a lot of time. Focusing on my new skills, I simulated them in my mind. Activating them with E¡¯er, the skills lit up and the Bond was untouched. I succeeded. It was not my first time doing it, anyway. Naturally, I could have chosen not to. That would mean I¡¯m deranged and uncaring of my partners and companions. Something I am not, of course. Then comes the process of setting where the skills would come out of. Hands are the most useful since aiming with them is easier. It¡¯d be completely useless to have them come out of my ass, for example. This time the process was simple, since I have already set them for my Pyromancer skills. This is extremely important when dealing with electricity, otherwise most of the charge would escape through my feet. Separating expelled E¡¯er from my body is equally as important, since I don¡¯t want to be shocked to death. I did a final check to see if everything was in order. All was good. Finally, I let the skills completely fuse with my unconscious. Then, I read my information. Lapia Pofeta Domi Elf Class(es) -Pyromancer Lvl 252 (Open Skills) -Thaumaturge Lvl 251 (Open Skills) -Storm Ruler Lvl 1 (Open Skills) Storm Ruler Lvl 1. -Elite Wizards that have specialized their knowledge in Natural Phenomena. They have seen lightning, they have heard thunder. They have mastered their origin through arduous study. Electricity begins as an already powerful weapon, so only high leveled individuals can sustain these spells. The higher your Intelligence stat, the higher the charge your spells will have. Skills. Rank 1. -Lightning Snap, Lvl 1. Attack an enemy with a quick electrical discharge, stunning enemies with greater success the higher the skill. Numbs the nervous system otherwise. Highly effective against those below you in power. -Lightning Cage, Lvl 1. [Trap] Encase enemies in a cage of lightning. The shape of said cage is up to your imagination, with a limit of 5m in width and 10m in height. The cage shocks those inside if they touch it. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. -Lightning Discharge, Lvl 1. [Channeled] Attack an enemy with a powerful arc of lightning that you can continuously feed. -Chain Lightning, Lvl 1. Let out a powerful arc of plasma that travels from enemy to enemy, further spreading if they¡¯re close together. Won¡¯t connect if enemies are more than (INT/50)m from each other. -Electric Shield, Lvl 1. [Aura] Become one with the Storm. A (INT/500)m wide shield surrounds you, blocking projectiles and shocking enemies that come too close. Allies in (INT/10) also gain this shield. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. -Echoes of Thunder, Lvl 1. Mastery of Space (Thaumaturge Class) has brought your attention to isolation of E¡¯er, allowing you to form paths for your spells to go through. -Fury of the Storm, Lvl 1. Summon a (INT/10)m wide Storm around you. As a spell that changes weather, it can only be used in the open. Enemies in range have their bodies charged, becoming easier to kill with lightning. You can command the Storm to release charged lightning and attack enemies. The more E¡¯er you channel into the Storm, the more potent its effects and attacks. - Lightning Manipulation, Lvl 1. You can manipulate electricity and influence electromagnetic fields to a certain extent. I cringed in my mind. Flavor texts are always something. Returning to my senses, I opened my eyes. I heard Natasha and Yolin talking. ¡°So you¡¯re saying your father¡¯s name would turn into your middle name?¡± Yolin asked. ¡°Something like that, yeah,¡± Natasha answered. ¡°But I didn¡¯t like mine, so I don¡¯t use it. The system must have noticed that, because I don¡¯t have it anymore.¡± I looked around and noticed the rest were still meditating. ¡°But didn¡¯t you say your mom left you? Doesn¡¯t that mean your dad raised you on his own?¡± Yolin asked again. ¡°Now you¡¯re making me sound like an ungrateful daughter,¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°He found a new partner a few years after that woman left, though. So he had that going for him.¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t picture that. Some of us live for thousands of years so having bad relations with family is really rare,¡± Yolin explained. I stood up and walked over to them. They were standing a few meters away from the camp, leaning on each other¡¯s backs. ¡°You¡¯re talking too loud,¡± I said as I got closer. ¡°What if Bromisnar and Bonte hear you?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re done?¡± Natasha raised her eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s been around fourteen hours.¡± I nodded. ¡°How did it go?¡± Yolin asked me. ¡°Pretty good,¡± I said with a shrug. ¡°Went as expected.¡± ¡°Nice. Back on topic,¡± Yolin insisted. ¡°What¡¯s your middle name, then?¡± Natasha sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not ¡®middle name¡¯. It¡¯s patronymic name,¡± she explained. ¡°My father¡¯s name was Nikolai, so that would make me Natasha Nikolayevna Novak in legal terms back there. Fortunately, he prevented my Mother from naming me Anastasia, that would have been the peak of cringe.¡± I hummed. There was something about Natasha speaking Orkish. ¡°Why?¡± I asked. ¡°Anastasia sounds like a pretty name.¡± ¡°There was a princess with that name. Anastasia Nikolayevna Romanova,¡± she said, then let out a long sigh. ¡°She was killed during a popular revolution. And had a lot of controversy around her because there were people who believed she survived.¡± ¡°I see¡­ so you don¡¯t like Nikolayevna?¡± I asked her. She shook her head. ¡°Too old fashioned,¡± Natasha said with a laugh. Yolin laughed too, and I chuckled at the absurdity. ¡°Old fashioned? How old would something need to be to be called that?¡± I asked. ¡°Well¡­ she was born around one hundred years before me,¡± she muttered. ¡°That¡¯s like nothing here, though.¡± ¡°Hmm. Depending on the species, things get old differently,¡± Yolin commented. ¡°My great grandmother is also named Yolin, she¡¯s four thousand years old. It¡¯s a pretty cute name if I say so myself.¡± ¡°Blin¡­¡± Natasha whispered. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty cute. Just like you.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± I said and hugged Yolin. ¡°As cute as you.¡± She blushed at our compliments. The three of us laughed and kept on talking while waiting for the others. Fox Eyes: Class Acquisition (2) ¡°I¡¯m getting hungry,¡± Yolin groaned after an hour of waiting. The ceiling of the dungeon had glowing stones similar to the stalactites found in higher dungeon floors, illuminating the space. I checked my new pocket watch: It was a quarter past three. I felt my stomach growl at her words. ¡°We could roast the Uger meat,¡± Natasha offered. ¡°You don¡¯t roast Uger meat,¡± I commented. ¡°Can you take the refrigerator out, please?¡± Natasha did a weird pose and out came the refrigerator. ¡°Do you have a table I could use?¡± I asked the two. Natasha shook her head and I turned to Yolin, who nodded. ¡°I got you,¡± she said with a smile. A low table materialized in front of her, which she picked up and placed next to me. Natasha put a big chunk of meat on it while licking her lips. ¡°Okay,¡± I nodded. ¡°Natasha, could you bring the rocks from the campfire? Also, do you have a knife you could lend me?¡± ¡°On it,¡± she answered with a nod. She offered me a long dagger. It had a wavy, silver blade with orange details on the center while the handle was pitch black. It was the same dagger she used to cut the cheese back at my place. [+50 Sleepy Keris (Unique)] (Sharpness SS+)(Durability S) -STR+ 200 -DEX+ 150 -CON+ 100 After handing me another treasure, albeit less impressive than the staff, she walked off to the camp. The rest were still deep in meditation, sitting on the ground close to each other. Fortunately, the ground was flat so the refrigerator was in no danger of falling down. Dungeons are just weird like that. Taking out a pot from my storage, I put a few ingredients in it from the appliance, then turned to the table. Yolin quietly observed me chopping vegetables and cutting the fat off the meat. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re making stew?¡± she asked. I nodded. ¡°Fatty meat is best in stew,¡± I answered as I put the fat on the pot. ¡°I don¡¯t have that much experience with meat like this, but I¡¯ll manage to make something edible at the very least.¡± ¡°Hoooh¡­¡± she was impressed. ¡°I¡¯m liking you more and more, Lapia. A woman that can cook is very attractive.¡± I blushed at her words, and almost chopped my thumb off as I cut the meat. She closed in on me and we shared a kiss. ¡°I¡¯m happy to hear that, thank you,¡± I said with a smile. I turned as I heard Natasha singing, she was slowly walking towards us wearing a black dress. ¡°L¡¯amour est un oiseau rebelle~¡± she sang, looking at us with a cheeky smile. ¡°Que nul ne peut apprivoiser~¡± Her voice made my ears pleasantly ring a little. The harmony was enviable to say the least. If that¡¯s the name, I can¡¯t sing even to save my life. As she came closer, she put the stones in a circle on the ground. ¡°What?!¡± Yolin whispered in shock. ¡°You can even sing?!¡± I chuckled as I put more fat on the pot, locked it in position one meter above ground with Space Manipulation and lit a fire right below it with Pyro Manipulation. ¡°Et c¡¯est bien en vain qu¡¯on l¡¯apelle~¡± she continued, and walked up to Yolin. ¡°S¡¯il lui convient de refuser~¡± Natasha placed a golden leg around Yolin¡¯s waist, then leaned on her and put her head on her neck. My eyes widened at the sight. Sometimes, Natasha can be pretty bold. ¡°Rien n¡¯y fait, menace ou pri¨¨re~¡± she sang into Yolin¡¯s neck. ¡°L¡¯un parle bien, l¡¯autre se tait~¡± The receiving woman closed her eyes and made a pleased expression. Getting such an attack from up close like that would leave even the experienced tank melting like butter in summer. ¡°Et c¡¯est l¡¯autre que je pr¨¦f¨¨re~ Il n¡¯a rien dit, mais il me plait~¡± Yolin tried hugging her but Natasha disentangled herself and spun a few times, distancing herself and making the dress flip up, revealing her legs in full. ¡°By the Gods,¡± Yolin whispered as she grabbed her chest. ¡°This is bad for my heart.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± I covered my face. Natasha stopped her antics and replaced the dress with a shirt and a skirt, then squatted down and stared at us with a smile. ¡°So, Natasha,¡± I began as I waited for the fat to melt. ¡°Where did you learn Kator?¡± Her eyes widened, then let out a long sigh. ¡°You can¡¯t just drop that bomb out of nowhere, Lapia,¡± she groaned, then answered. ¡°In school.¡± ¡°How many languages do you know, anyway?¡± Yolin asked, eyeing the pot with unshakable attention. ¡°Eight, not counting the two from Hell,¡± she answered. ¡°Orkish, Earthen Tongue, Common, Low Tongue for some reason, Kator, and I don¡¯t know how you call the others.¡± ¡°Well, speak. We might have heard them,¡± I offered as I stirred the fat with a wooden spoon. ¡°Say ¡®Hi, I¡¯m Natasha. Nice to meet you¡¯.¡± ¡°Ciao, sono Natasha. Piacere di conoscerti,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s Twisted Verse,¡± I commented. ¡°Bromisnar will be elated.¡± ¡°Cze??, jestem Natasha. Mi?o mi was pozna?,¡± she said next. ¡°No clue,¡± I admitted. ¡°Is that ¡®chesh¡¯, or what?¡± ¡°You write it as c-z-e-s-c. They have little accents on the s and c, and there¡¯s a diagonal line on the l,¡± she explained. ¡°That¡¯s the Centaur Language. I don¡¯t recall the name right now, though,¡± Yolin added. ¡°It¡¯s Tunir,¡± I supplied. ¡°So centaurs¡­ at least something stays the same,¡± Natasha said with a smirk. ¡°What does?¡± Yolin asked. ¡°Big dicks,¡± she said, gesturing with both hands at something long. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. We laughed and I heard the sizzling of the fat. I put seasoning and the meat in the pot, then prepared the vegetables in another pot. ¡°And why did you learn them?¡± I asked. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s embarrassing to say,¡± she mumbled while covering her face. ¡°I have the habit of really wanting to learn the languages of my partners. You know¡­ to eventually tell them I love them in their native language.¡± ¡°That¡¯s cute,¡± Yolin chuckled. She tried to put a finger in the pot, but I slapped it with the wooden spoon. ¡°What about the last one?¡± I asked as I glared at the cheeky Oni. She smiled and took a step back. Natasha put her hands down and I noticed her face glowing brighter. A blushing Halve is cute. ¡°Hallo, ich heisse Natasha. Sehr erfreut,¡± she said. ¡°Uh¡­ dunno,¡± I shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s the Merfolk¡¯s, Severed Fin,¡± a lovely deep voice said from where the rest of the party sat. ¡°You done?¡± Natasha asked as she stood up. ¡°How did it go?¡± Alyssa walked over to us and hugged Natasha. ¡°Pretty good,¡± she yawned and eyed the pot. ¡°Nice, what are we having?¡± ¡°Uger stew,¡± Yolin answered with a big smile. ¡°What classes did you two go for, anyway? Or is it rude to ask?¡± Natasha asked as Alyssa let go. ¡°Storm Ruler,¡± I answered. ¡°It¡¯s okay to ask, but if anyone refuses to answer, then that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°I went for Soul Warden,¡± Alyssa said as she fixed her dress. ¡°Now I can deal with curses and such.¡± ¡°Oohh!¡± Natasha exclaimed as she clapped. ¡°You may help the King with that.¡± ¡°I doubt the King is suffering from a curse,¡± Alyssa said with a small smile. ¡°The Royal Guard has powerful healers, so it might be a spell as the Prince said.¡± The meat had a healthy brown color, so I took out another pot and put it there. Then, I put the vegetables that took longer to cook in the pot with the meat juices. ¡°Are curses not spells?¡± Natasha asked. Alyssa giggled. ¡°They aren¡¯t,¡± Yolin shook her head. ¡°Curses belong to the Laws of Life.¡± ¡°Haaa¡­¡± Natasha sighed and ran a hand through her hair. ¡°I see.¡± I chuckled and continued cooking. I hoped she understood the difference between a spell and a pulse of life force. I could explain later, anyway. ¡°Do the three of you know how to behave in front of a King?¡± I asked just in case. The three shook their heads, and I sighed. ¡°First of all, Natasha,¡± I looked her in the eye. ¡°You bow before none. Is that clear?¡± She nodded, a little surprised at my words. ¡°If word gets out that a Halve bowed to a King, people might think you favor their country. I don¡¯t think I need to explain why that¡¯s not good,¡± I explained, and she nodded again. ¡°You address him and his wife with ¡®Your Majesty¡¯, and anyone else from the Royal Family with ¡®Your Highness¡¯. Naturally, they¡¯ll address you with ¡®Your Excellency¡¯, please don¡¯t cringe.¡± She groaned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say people called us Halves ¡®Your Highness¡¯?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°That was when the first Kingdoms were founded,¡± Alyssa explained. ¡°To signify you were as important as the ruler of a nation. Then it became confusing when Halves met Kings and Queens.¡± ¡°What about ¡®Your Divinity¡¯?¡± she asked again. ¡°That¡­ was suggested by the Gods, actually,¡± I sighed. ¡°To differentiate you from the rest of the species. You are mortal like us, however. And yet you live more than twice as long, and are many times stronger. So, it changed again to the current title.¡± ¡°Pretty complicated,¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°And do people pray to us as well?¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± the three of us said at the same time. Natasha recoiled and winced. ¡°What would you do if there¡¯s a species out there that can kill a Wild Dragon after breakfast and destroy an island before lunch?¡± I asked her. ¡°Pray to them and ask for protection.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± she uttered. ¡°Doesn¡¯t make much sense to me, honestly.¡± ¡°Halves make no sense,¡± I chuckled. ¡°True that,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°So, like¡­¡± Yolin hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t really like using titles. People have names for a reason.¡± ¡°Says the woman who called me ¡®Halve¡¯ when we first met,¡± Natasha teased her. ¡°Yeah, but that¡¯s the name of your species,¡± Yolin pointed out. ¡°You lost, Natasha,¡± Alyssa giggled. I looked at Yolin for a few seconds while Natasha grumbled something about puny mortals. ¡°You can always¡­ not talk to them,¡± I said with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s not mandatory to speak to them, really. And I doubt we¡¯ll all be invited to his chambers if he¡¯s bedridden.¡± Yolin let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Next,¡± I said as I put the meat into the pot with the vegetables and stirred. ¡°Here in Lumin Kingdom, they bow while crossing a leg and putting an arm on the chest.¡± ¡°Like Lady Dabrak did?¡± Natasha asked. I nodded. ¡°Just like her,¡± I confirmed. ¡°How?¡± Yolin asked with a displeased expression. ¡°Like this?¡± Natasha bowed, crossing her left leg behind the right one, and placing her left arm on her chest. ¡°You remember pretty well,¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°It¡¯s branded on my memory,¡± she shivered. ¡°The first time someone bowed to me while actually meaning it.¡± ¡°Ayo, that smells really good!¡± a high pitched male voice came from the camp. Bonte stood up, and shifted behind Natasha. ¡°Oy!¡± she gaped. ¡°That¡¯s awesome!¡± ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± he nodded with a satisfied smile. ¡°The perks of being a Dusk Blade.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The sound of the fire and the bubbling pot were the only sounds in the area. ¡°What?¡± he asked, genuinely confused with our silence. ¡°The name¡¯s¡­ a little edgy,¡± Natasha managed to say as she fought back laughter. ¡°I know, right?!¡± he raised a hand in victory. ¡°Pretty sweet, isn¡¯t it?¡± I looked away, not wanting to kill his mood. Even ¡®Storm Ruler¡¯ was cringe. I returned my attention to the pot and let the flavors get to know each other with the help of water from a bottle. Then, I added polupi juice for color and extra flavor. ¡°How does the skill work?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°Glad you asked, Lady Natasha,¡± he snickered as he stood next to the table. ¡°Uh, just Natasha is fine,¡± she corrected him with a tight smile. ¡°Ah, I was joking,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I read on your form you don¡¯t like that.¡± Natasha turned to Alyssa with a surprised face. The woman just smiled and winked. ¡°I shift through shadows, you see,¡± he explained. ¡°As long as there¡¯s a shadow, I can shift there.¡± ¡°Cool,¡± Yolin joined the conversation, disconnecting her sight from the pot. ¡°Pretty useful during the night.¡± The Tigea nodded. ¡°Haaa¡­¡± a loud sigh came from the last member in the camp. Bromisnar stood up and stretched with a groan. Natasha greeted the man in Twisted Verse as he walked to us. ¡°Quite the surprise, I admit,¡± he said with wide eyes. ¡°What did you go for?¡± Alyssa asked him. ¡°Maestro,¡± he answered while doing a flowery gesture and inclining his head. I put the rest of the vegetables in the pot and covered it with a lid. ¡°Good class," I gave him a thumbs up. "Okay, the food will be finished in around thirty minutes,¡± I announced. ¡°Nice. We eat and then keep going,¡± Natasha declared without mercy. We all sighed. 24 - Memento Mori. End of Arc 2. It took me seven days to reach the 100th floor and have the party at level 800 total on average. Things went way better than I expected, the cash shop items really served their purpose. Pay to win for life! On the 56th, 69th, and 78th floor, we came across groups of people killing things. I had found the lack of high leveled people in Mountroad a little odd, considering there¡¯s a dungeon in the city. Turns out most were delving the dungeon or taking a break in the city according to Yolin. I deftly ignored them, however. They shouted some expletives my way for killing everything, but I paid no attention to them and continued my speed run. Lapia helped me do the math: 1 hour for each floor from 6a.m. to 10p.m. Sleep from 11p.m. to 5a.m. to function properly with rotating watch. 1 hour for lunch every day, and thirty minutes of break to avoid going insane from the monotony. In the mornings, I exercised with Yolin. She wasn¡¯t interested in Yoga, and instead used thick, heavy chains to train her body. Once finished, we¡¯d spar for a bit and share cheeky kisses once in a while. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the difference in age or what, but she¡¯s the most forward with her wants. Really nice. An honest woman is a treasure. During the day I¡¯d clear the dungeon floors, killing everything and mostly avoiding swarms or generally small monsters to save time. Even the party acquiring a third class cost us half a day. Atrocious. During breaks I¡¯d relieve stress by doing some silly skit with everyone and improve my friendship with Bonte and Bromisnar, which was going fairly well all things considered. They didn¡¯t say much about themselves, but were pretty fun to talk to. When we made camp, Lapia would teach me math and the basics of E¡¯er for an hour and then we would all kiss for a bit. She¡¯s quite the thirsty Elf, I must say. She tried to sneak a hand into my panties a few times, which earned her a scolding. In the night I¡¯d cuddle with Alyssa and she¡¯d tell me about the Dragon Tongue. She tried to get under Lapia¡¯s panties a few times, but got the same treatment as Lapia did, but from Yolin. Doing naughty things in a dungeon is bad manners, after all. Especially if men are nearby.
100th floor, where a cave system occupied the space. I had seen many environments, from labyrinths, jungles, sand plains, to swampy expanses. Dungeons are weird. E¡¯er is weird. Galeia is weird. I was facing an abomination. The last in the dungeon. Tens of corpses were strewn around us, filling the space with the smell of highly acidic fluids. [Floor Guardian ¨C Ur¡¯en, Lvl 820] Turns out, these abominations aren¡¯t ordinary monsters but bosses. It was a 10m long, green worm. With a mouth that had four jaws and an anus-like opening that I assumed it ate with. Its skin was slimy, shiny, and overall fucking disgusting. So far, combat had been anything but rewarding. Everything died too quickly. Life lacked tension. And I had the feeling it would be that way for a while unless I faced creatures around my own level. Alyssa mentioned this dungeon was mid-tier. That leaves little hope for any interesting fight to happen. Not that I want to look death in the eye again. But my tale wouldn¡¯t be interesting if all I do is fight small fries like these. I dodged a squirt of acid and closed in on it, then stabbed it with my spear once. It made clicking sounds that made my skin crawl. But I earned it, in a way. Hell was enough to last me a long while. I¡¯m thinking of taking a long vacation in Paarjo after this. Gods can wait. The Ur¡¯en slithered away, leaving a trace of green blood after it. ¡°This is boring¡­¡± I whispered as I chased it. Glancing behind me, I saw my companions on top of the mounts following me a good fifty meters away. They were wearing their combat gear, so I had no clue as to their expressions. Only Yolin had her face uncovered. She was laughing at something as she talked with the other two on Pochi. I want to have sex¡­ I grumbled in my mind. Maybe have Yolin use all her arms to fuck me senseless. Well¡­ I¡¯m not that much of a pervert. I mean, I¡¯m not a pervert at all. ¡°Nope¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°I am a massive degenerate. Who acclimates so quickly to a new sexual organ, anyway?¡± I caught up to the bug and used the blade of my weapon to quickly write ¡°§·§å§Û¡± on its side. I chuckled at the childishness of my actions. It made that grating sound again, and the smell of its blood was making me dizzy. It turned to me and squirted acid again. I dropped to the ground and avoided it, opportunity it took to try and crush me under its weight. I grabbed it like Atlas did the world and quickly stood up, throwing it high in the air. It hit the ceiling of the cave we were in and then fell down towards me. I lined my pike and skewered it like shashlik. A very unappetizing shashlik. Its body collapsed on its own weight, helping me in the culinary endeavor of expanding Galeia¡¯s insect cuisine. Something I¡¯m sure the world¡¯s future generations will be grateful for. I¡¯m dumb, though. All its blood dripped on me. The smell was not as bad as demons¡¯ blood, but my mind is whole now, unlike then. I vomited in my helmet, which made the whole situation even worse. There was a karmic catharsis to it all. I was distracted, thinking of sex while killing a dungeon boss. Justice was served. I flung its body towards a wall, where it burst like a water balloon. I knelt on the ground and made the helmet disappear, taking a deep breath now that my mouth and nose weren¡¯t covered in vomit, then coughed a few times. ¡°This is the worst!¡± I exclaimed as I wiped my face with a towel. My vomit wasn¡¯t food like I expected, but a transparent liquid that smelled like stale E¡¯er. Very different from my first time throwing up. I stood up and raised both arms. ¡°World record for level 800!¡± I cheered. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The party walked up to me and I appraised them one by one, an activity I made into a habit lately. [Alyssa Pruvik ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Krystaali Luzo, Lvl 274 Cardinal] [Yolin Makav ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Red Oni, Lvl 305 Asura] [Lapia Pofeta ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Domi Elf, Lvl 273 Pyromancer] [Bromisnar Bahadh ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Khlyp Satyr, Lvl 271 Minstrel] [Bonte Slirmy ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Shishi Tigea, Lvl 270 Shadow Chaser] [Sonya, Lvl 815 Ratnak] [Pochi, lvl 817 Fekir] ¡°What is your total level?¡± I asked them as I changed clothes to a bikini. I took out a water bottle and did my best to clean my hair. ¡°819,¡± Alyssa said. ¡°818,¡± Lapia grumbled. ¡°852,¡± Yolin said with a big smile. ¡°Haven¡¯t gained a single level, but it¡¯s been a blast!¡± ¡°813,¡± Bonte answered. ¡°815,¡± Bromisnar said with a nod. ¡°Isn¡¯t it great to level up this fast?¡± I asked as I opened the third bottle and emptied it on my head. ¡°Not at all,¡± Lapia said back and crossed her arms. ¡°All my Storm Ruler skills are still level one.¡± The rest nodded in agreement. ¡°Wait,¡± I said and rubbed my forehead. ¡°Skills don¡¯t level up with E¡¯er?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t,¡± answered Bromisnar. ¡°They only go up when you use them.¡± ¡°Well¡­ next time you carry me,¡± I shrugged. ¡°That way you level up your skills. How does that sound?¡± I continued cleaning my hair. The material was supposedly indestructible so I had thought it¡¯d be a massive pain if it grew, but my body was as hairless as when I first woke up and my golden hairs were the same length. ¡°That¡¯d be better,¡± Yolin said. ¡°I wanted to join you, but I don¡¯t run as fast.¡± I nodded. ¡°That would have been pretty nice,¡± I admitted. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Words of agreement were shared. Once my hair was clean enough I wore a different set of armor since the previous was covered in acidic blood. My hair still had the stench of the Ur¡¯en, so I walked next to the mounts as we made our way to the 99th floor. ¡°Where should we go next?¡± I asked as we crossed the savanna-looking floor. ¡°I mean, where¡¯s the nearest dungeon?¡± ¡°We should head northwest as I said before,¡± Alyssa responded from atop Pochi. ¡°Lakeview is in that direction. Then, we could move towards Peakside. I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be as fast as you were, but we should make good time before going to Paarjo.¡± ¡°Those are some ridiculous names,¡± I sighed. ¡°New cities,¡± Bonte said. ¡°New naming sense. There¡¯s no translation for Paarjo.¡± I nodded and thought about the possible names the cities had in French, since cat people speak that in this world, apparently. Well, Lumin lacks the eux to be proper French. I guess that was a bit of foreshadowing. Koluum¡­ what would that be? And Juufk? Well, whatever. Maybe they don¡¯t mean anything and I¡¯m just overthinking it. I picked up speed and soon we were running through the floors going up. When we get to the capital I¡¯ll make sure to read about this world in depth, I can¡¯t be ignorant for much longer.
We exited the dungeon on the 26th day of the third month, at night. It was already summer, and the consecutive days of rain had already passed. It felt the exact same to me, though. Warm, but not enough to make me sweat. Only two moons were visible, Shia ¨C the big, purple one ¨C, and Tia ¨C the one that looks like a small planet. A Watcher collected the tax and we continued to the inn. On the way, Alyssa and Lapia asked a patrolling Watcher to fetch the Bhin and bring them to the inn. I found it weird that people could request that from them, but there were a lot going around so maybe that didn¡¯t get in the way of public security. I was humming a song while looking at the moons when I saw a shooting star. I wish to know how my dad is doing. Did my death devastate him? How is my brother doing? Did the million years in hell pass on earth as well? Did time pass normally? I may be older than all the Kingdoms in this world¡­ I looked down, scoffing at my own thoughts. Something caught my attention and I froze. In front of me, a sheet of paper materialized. It floated in the air one meter above ground, at arms reach. ¡°Lapia, do you see this?¡± I asked the Elf, pointing at the paper. She looked where I was pointing, then shook her head. ¡°I see nothing. Why?¡± she said, tilting her head. ¡°There¡¯s a sheet of paper floating¡­¡± I muttered. ¡°I made a wish to a shooting star and it popped up.¡± ¡°A wish to a shooting star?¡± she chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s just something entering the planet¡¯s atmosphere, nothing that can grant wishes.¡± I turned to the rest, but noticed Alyssa talking to Bromisnar about books. Bonte was chatting with Yolin about some fight or other. ¡°Are you absolutely sure?¡± I asked. ¡°It¡¯s not the time to play pranks.¡± ¡°I swear on Photem,¡± she said with a serious face. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that means, but I¡¯ll take your word on it,¡± I said with a sigh. Extending a hand, I grabbed the sheet of paper. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Lapia exclaimed. ¡°A paper really was there! I saw it after you grabbed it. What in the actual fuck?¡± ¡°No clue,¡± I shook my head. Looking at the contents, I smiled. It was written in Cyrillic. ¡°Ay¡­¡± I whispered. "How the fuck does this work?" The text contained the following: ¡®Obituary for Natasha Nikolayevna Novak. Natasha Nikolayevna Novak known as Nata or Nasha was born in Saratov, Russia. She passed away this 20th of September, 2034 in Madrid, Spain. Daughter of Nikolai Illych Novak, and sister of Vladimir Nikolayevich Novak, who bid her farewell. Nata grew up in Saratov, graduating from School No 23 in the same city. Continuing her studies at the Russian Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, where she achieved outstanding results. She then went to work at State Hermitage Museum for two short years. Finding success on the Internet, she made a name for herself with her beautiful artwork and positive personality, finding clients in all spheres of life all around the world. She was a skilled artist, notorious for being the first of many to bring life to various internet personalities, who also bid her farewell. Her long career with Methesda Hardworks began in 2022, where she gave realism to a virtual world with her work. Nata was not only a prolific artist, she also had a talent with the piano. She brightened family reunions with her hard earned skills, especially cherished by her grandmother Irina Dimitriyevna Izmaylova, whom she had a close relationship with before she passed in 2010. Her loving attitude and her ability to breathe life with her art will be remembered for years to come.¡¯ Out of Journal - Arc 2 Epilogue. Natasha stood in the middle of the street, staring at the sheet of paper in her hands. The streets were mostly empty save for a few Watchers patrolling, and a few pedestrians going to taverns or inns after a long day. Even in a magical world like Galeia, people retreated to their homes at night to find rest. The night sky was dotted with stars and two moons, and the spiral-shaped city built into the face of a mountain was illuminated by light poles which kept nocturnal animals from approaching the settlement. A gentle breeze she could not feel due to her thermal perception being different from any living creature brushed her armored body. The weight of her hair ¨C made of an indestructible material ¨C prevented it from fluttering. Lapia, her companion and lover, stared at her from atop a beast similar to a drake, waiting for the woman to speak. The rest of her companions were immersed in conversation and hadn¡¯t noticed the event. ¡°It¡¯s my obituary,¡± said Natasha, then continued walking. Her voice was impassive. No sadness could be found in it. No anger. No disappointment. No relief. It was as if she was announcing what she had for lunch ¨C a soup made by Lapia earlier in the dungeon ¨C instead of a document that declared her death. A document that, in any other circumstance, would cause grief to any who read it. Especially if the contents informed of the reader¡¯s passing. It had been a surprise at best. What caused her confusion was not the contents of the paper in her hands, but the nature of the event. Extending a hand, she offered the paper to the woman that had been waiting. ¡°Give it a read if you want,¡± Natasha said with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s kind of a summary of my life. Really summarized, though.¡± Lapia nodded. She was not an expert of the mind, so she could not begin to fathom the thought process of the woman, especially since she¡¯s a Halve. Anyone would be at least shocked to see their own obituary, even if it was mistaken or a prank. But if the woman didn¡¯t give it much thought, then that would be it. She had no reason to push for a reaction she wouldn¡¯t find. ¡°I bet,¡± she chuckled as she accepcted it. Going over the contents, a small smile broke her lips. She did not know what Russia was, or why the school was numbered, nor did she mind not knowing for now. Natasha¡¯s life was shortly squeezed in the paper and she drank it all. ¡°We should talk about this when we get back to the inn. I¡¯d like to ask a few questions if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Lapia said with a smile. Natasha turned to the Elf and gave a nod. ¡°Sure,¡± she chuckled and gave Lapia a warm smile. ¡°You can store it in the meantime.¡± The Elf did as suggested while the party continued towards the inn.
Galeia, Leks, Uuruhk, Pizh¡¯kh. A young-looking woman was reading the newspaper while sitting at a cafe in a busy part of town. It had become a habit to do so every morning since she returned to the capital, but a few chases had kept her busy for a few months and she was catching up to the world¡¯s current affairs. Her dull silver eyes lazily went over the pages, reading the same things over and over. The ¡®Hottest Halve¡¯ in the last five thousand years hadn¡¯t changed, an old picture of Miraztor on the paper. The man was admittedly handsome, but nothing out of the world. A shame he was so distant. He looked regular, plain even when taking Halven beauty into account at least. Nilenna was a looker, but the woman refused to have her picture taken. A shy woman is the best. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! At 49 years of age, the woman reading the newspaper had yet to form her first relationship. Something that ate at her mind, no doubt. She flipped the page and read the latest advertisements for parties. Ten pages full of people requesting for Clerics and Wizards. There were those that went to the lengths of offering half of the rewards earned during their chase to secure a member from the most challenging of Paths. She let out a scoff and picked another newspaper. Shchenneya had a new election, and an Ork by the name of An¡¯Atol Rek ruled now. She flipped the page once more. Lumin Kingdom was facing inner turmoil due to King Gordon¡¯s illness. Nothing new. The man would soon die and his wife would succeed him, no doubt. She put the newspaper away and picked another one, from a month ago. Her eyes widened when she read the heading. In big bold letters it read: ¡®A NEW HALVE HAS GRACED GALEIA. THE FIRST HALVE WARRIOR IN FIFTEEN THOUSAND YEARS!¡¯ ¡®INTERVIEW PROVIDED BY THE NOBLE REN DABRAK, FROM THE WALLED CITY OF RIVERFIELD, LUMIN KINGDOM¡¯ ¡®HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA NOVAK, BORN IN THE CRADLE OF LIFE AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD MONTH OF THE CURRENT YEAR NEAR TIDON KINGDOM, GRACED US WITH HER APPEARANCE AT RIVERFIELD, IN LUMIN KINGDOM. HER GOLDEN VISAGE IS THAT OF ANCIENT BEAUTY, HER GLOW REMINDS ME OF SUMMER, AND HER EYES SHINE BRIGHTER THAN ETERNIA AND PERPETUA DURING THE APHELION. HER ATTITUDE IS MORE RESERVED, HOWEVER. WITH CAREFUL QUESTIONS AND A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF PRODDING, I HAVE MANAGED TO SCOOP ENOUGH INFORMATION TO SHARE THE HONOR THAT WAS MEETING HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE WORLD, HER EXCELLENCY FINDS BEAUTY, WARMTH, AND REVELS IN THE CHALLENGE THAT IS OUR ALL-MOTHER. ABOUT GOALS, HER EXCELLENCY CONFIDED IN ME HER DESIRE TO EXPLORE OUR ALL-MOTHER WHILE VISITING THEIR DIVINITIES AND EXCELLENCIES AROUND THE GLOBE. HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA IS A WOMAN OF ACTION AND DECISION, STAYING LESS THAN A WEEK IN OUR WALLED CITY OF RIVERFIELD. ACCOMPANIED BY THE FAMED CARDINAL FROM O¡¯LU KEER REN, LADY ALYSSA PRUVIK, AND MASTER WIZARD LADY LAPIA POFETA, WHO TAUGHT HIS EXCELLENCY DESSEYR SOME FORTY YEARS AGO, SHE SETS OUT IN HER OWN CHASE. HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA SURPRISED ME WITH HER APPROACH TO HER STATUS AS A HALVE, REQUESTING I REFER TO HER BY NAME. I ADMIT TO BE SMITTEN BY THAT HONEST AND DIRECT POSTURE. SHE DOES NOT MIND THE DIFFERENCE IN MIGHT, AND PREFERS A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE SHE INTERACTS WITH. I¡¯M SURE THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING HIS EXCELLENCY PERCULIS MAY SEE A FEW SIMILARITIES. HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A SKILLED ARTIST, SHARING WITH ME A PIECE OF HER OWN MAKE, WHICH I HAD THE BOUNDLESS HONOR TO WITNESS FROM BEGINNING TO END.¡¯ Next to the column was a drawing of a fat turkey standing next to a woman. The strokes were crisp, the details marvelous, the style defined, and the shading technique literally out of this world. There was a small signature at the foot of the drawing, which made her jaw drop. ¡°Eh? RuNash?!¡± the woman exclaimed. She almost broke the table in front of her in her surprise. Looking around, she made sure to be out of earshot from anyone trying to eavesdrop. The cafe was decently crowded, and a few individuals looked her way with an amused expression. ¡°She¡¯s a Halve?¡± she whispered at the paper, shocked beyond her mind. ¡°She¡¯s accompanied by two women¡­ maybe lovers?¡± she wondered. After looking around one last time, she put a silver coin on the table and left the cafe. Walking into the busy streets of Pizh¡¯kh, the woman had a new goal in mind. She knew she could be wrong, the coincidence too big to be true. She also had nothing to lose, considering how long she would live. In any case, she set forth. To meet a Halve. A being of myth and legend alike. Also, possibly, her favorite NSFW artist from her past life, and the Mama of her favorite v-tuber. Writing Insights (You can skip this) Hello, Biggest Kusa Out There (Biggest Kusa for short) here. (means a really big laugh/grass) First of all, thank you very much for reading Natasha the Halve so far, and I hope you continue reading in the future. I would like to share with you the ¡°behind the scenes¡± for writing what I have so far in the form of a hypothetical FAQ of sorts. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s at least one person with questions as to the world, gods, halves, culture, and magic in general. I¡¯ll avoid any spoilers, naturally. - Let¡¯s start with the protagonist, Natasha. At first, I intended to write a male protagonist, but quickly trashed the idea since writing a man would be a quick trip to self insert (Yes, I¡¯m a dude, deal with it). I¡¯ve been wanting to write girls love for quite a while, and just went with it. Russia is a wonderful country which I haven¡¯t had the fortune to visit¡­ yet. Including the memes like hard bass, red army choir songs, western spy, etc. I¡¯ve liked the culture ever since I read Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevskyi when I was 14 years old (Almost fifteen years ago!) and loved Rodion Raskolnikov with a passion. Back then I read it at a library, and took every chance I got to continue reading every time I visited. It¡¯s an interesting endeavor to write about someone from a different culture, and I¡¯ve done some research in the last year as I built the foundations for the story. (mainly speaking with Russians) - Why a futanari (woman with a penis), then? Wouldn¡¯t that also be a self insert of sorts? Not really. And well... at first, Natasha didn''t have a penis, and would have been a woman through and through¡­ that is, until I thought of what kind of character she¡¯d be in the story. I think an overpowered protagonist has little things to challenge them, and a protagonist that starts out weak has no actual tension, because they can¡¯t die otherwise the story ends¡­ making it predictable in a way that I don¡¯t think people enjoy so much nowadays. So, I went with a challenge of the mind. A new sexual organ would invite questions as to the protagonist¡¯s sexual expression and such, which is a big deal. We have seen Natasha make a few such comments so far and is yet to fully contemplate on the subject, which I find criminally unexplored in contemporary web fiction. I hope you will find it interesting when the time comes. This is linked to the next subject. - Hell An overpowered protagonist needs a justification, however implausible. So I went with the worst kind of environment to give her power: Hell. This would then explain various things about her character. Her detachment to her previous life, her willingness for violence, and the acceptance of a new life in a new world. She doesn¡¯t miss Earth, since it happened so long ago. - Why a million years, then? To push the point of disconnection. How could anyone adjust so easily to a new world? If there was no in-between, no process of abandonment of who she was before, she¡¯d be confused and scared when faced with violence no matter how powerful she is. That¡¯s how people living in a peaceful society work; words first, violence as a last resource. Now, there are countries in our world where people are more prone to use violence in self-defense, and that is completely fine but not the kind of character I went for. Murder changes people. - Why have her as an absurdly powerful species? As a reward for surviving Hell. There needs to be a certain logic when making a character powerful, as power given freely isn¡¯t rewarding to read about in a fantasy setting. By covering certain necessities like money, power, lifespan, etc., her drive would be exploration. She won¡¯t escape it, however. All her dreams are Hell. - About the system. When thinking about a system, I thought of the different status and what they meant, the name of each status, and who could have named them. Then, I thought of the ¡®magical thing¡¯ to be non-intrusive and reactive. If you don¡¯t push, it won¡¯t do a thing. I was watching Pekora one day when an ad showed up. It was an app that could ¡®read¡¯ plants and flowers and tell you what they were. Someone named the plant, someone archived the knowledge, and then someone programmed the app to work that way (I have no clue if it works, though). I thought Gods and Halves naming stuff would then be recognized by a reactive system and show that every time something is appraised. Hence the weird names of stuff like Ur¡¯en, Me¡¯ik, Bhin, etc. Those are ¡®ancient¡¯ names. - Why Pandemics? To connect with her, in a sense. We¡¯re living through trying times, and I find the connection to someone who lived in a situation similar to ours rewarding. She lived twelve years in isolation due to various viruses that she mentioned in the first journal entry she wrote. That was revealed after the first dream of Hell to show and justify her hunger for contact with others, and her wanting to explore the world. I wasn¡¯t satisfied with just her saying that line about ¡®too late to explore the world, too early to explore the stars¡¯ no matter how realistic it is. - What about the species in the world? When I was a wee lad, I read a very interesting piece of fiction titled Bears Discover Fire by Terry Bisson. While the point of the story has nothing to do with Elves evolving from Foxes, I always remember it with a little fear: Bears holding torches appeared in more than a few nightmares back then. I then thought ¡®what would happen if evolution actually went with bears becoming the next Humans?¡¯ instead of the allegory Bisson intended. I pictured foxes, cats, birds of prey, etc. evolving in the same way we did from Lucy. That of course would mean the animal itself either went extinct a long time ago or they are preserved like we have zoos, or protected animals. Similarly, various fictions portray certain species having evolved from animals instead of the ¡®demi-human¡¯ approach. It took us several millions of years of evolution to reach where we are today, so how come Elves, Dwarfs, Catpeople, Lizardfolk, etc. are called demi-human? I¡¯ve always found it lazy and implying a very degenerate individual going about it with an animal, haha¡­ I also find it weird and pushing a human supremacy I am not comfortable in writing, nor confident enough to convey. The next steps were a little easier, give every fantasy species an ancestral animal that would fit them. I chose foxes for Elves due to their dentition and ears. The traditional long-eared Elf with fangs that you can find in contemporary media like World of Warcraft, would then be explained with a logical approach instead of handwavium. This made sense in my mind as every living creature has an evolutionary path we can trace. - Why Gods, then? What even are they? Aha! That¡¯s the thing that I had the most trouble with, to be honest. Every fantasy story has that spice that is Gods, or higher beings if you will. Narnia had Aslan, for example. Gods are, by definition, untouchable beings that look down from heaven, and I wanted to bring them down a little. So, Divines come into play. As such, I did away with omniscient and omnipotent beings in Galeia. I went with ¡®God of Nature¡¯ rather than ¡®God of Heaven¡¯ approach. - Aren¡¯t Halves too dangerous, tho? Not really. As we see in the conversation between Natasha and Lapia on the cart, Natasha instantly rejected the idea of ruling the world, something a Halve is unable to fathom due to how their minds work. They are protective by nature, going to extreme lengths to achieve relative peace. We were told about this particular thing two times. Perculis chasing a Giant, and Yulianna killing a tyrannical Royal family. This protective nature is also showcased when Natasha faced the moose beasts in chapter 12, as she could easily flee the encounter at the speed of sound even while riding Sonya, something a Me¡¯ik cannot achieve. This naturally is something that came to be subconsciously, instead of an active ¡®I must protect the people¡¯. Bandits were not the only thing that posed a danger to others; the herd was relatively large. More about Halves will be explored when Natasha meets her kin. - Political power v/s individual might. In a world where magic and a system of power like levels exist, ¡®Rulers¡¯ are not the authority we are used to. They can¡¯t be. If a King leaves the country to go and level up, the people could take the opportunity and riot if they¡¯re unhappy. If the capital is built around a dungeon, people may be more powerful than the King, and riot if he¡¯s doing a bad job. If the Royal Guard/Military are ¡°abusive¡±, people would riot. Imagine just 200 people in a city cast similar spells to Solar Epitaph¡­ get it? As Alyssa said, if all else fails, a Halve would just swoop down and execute the tyrant. We¡¯ll see more of this when Natasha reaches the capital. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. - Why do people need to study to get a class? Because you don¡¯t become a doctor first and learn what drugs do later. Like we have the distinction between a Nurse and a Doctor (bless them in these times of Covid-19), a distinction exists between a Priest and a Cardinal. We specialize our knowledge in various disciplines with varying degrees of depth. While I personally like the concept of getting a class and then a system grants you skills as you level up, that would make everyone an adventurer at some point since that¡¯d be the most optimal way to get a better class with better skills. I went for a society that knows the dangers of the world, and as such carefully chooses what they want to become. This is linked to the next subject. - Why do people live so long? A magical world where healers exist, even following the teachings of a divine being, would naturally extend lifespan since the earlier stages of civilization. Adding the concepts of levels would also increase survival rates when dealing with illnesses and such. It¡¯s just logical. Magic and monsters change the world and how people view and deal with it. Some species aren¡¯t as long lived due to joining the sentient party later. - Why make ¡®mana¡¯ a particle? I thought a particle we don¡¯t have in our world would make magic possible with the system I came up with. That¡¯s linked to the lifespan of people in the world. A ¡®protected¡¯ society would focus on knowledge and the sciences, this naturally leads to them studying nature to the point we have of physics, but magical. - It feels like telekinesis with extra steps? It feels that way because that¡¯s what it is. I made it so that people who manipulate a specific particle and then transform it with their minds would feel like some sort of telekinesis with extra steps. Naturally, a magic system needs limits like a mana pool, and the complexity of spells/cooldowns. I took a page from A Certain Magical Index by Kazuma Kamachi and their concept of Espers when dealing with spell complexity and how a person increases the power of their skills. We don¡¯t see Lapia using Solar Epitaph every chance she gets. Magic is a tool optimized for killing in a way, and people naturally should know this. Like we have the laws of thermodynamics, laws of motion, laws of gravity, etc., this world would need to have similar magical laws like the Rakh¡¯Math View, Perekis¡¯ Theory of Power and Joy¡¯s Law which are ways to make spells and enchantments work differently than others, instead of saying ¡®hey I¡¯m a genius and my spell is different¡¯. I hope I did a good job with that. Naturally, a Wizard would know these things just like a physicist knows of Newton, Tesla, Einstein, etc. It also made the world feel older than it would otherwise. With some random person¡¯s name attached to a theory, it¡¯d show studies are extensive and ways to improve spells are known, without outright telling they are. - What games/media inspired classes and such? Mostly Tree of Savior, Ragnarok Online, and Dungeons and Dragons. I added many of my own things as well, it''s not a direct copy. I also removed some things that didn''t fit the world. - Why do women chase? Because the men of the species weren¡¯t the only ones ¡®hunting for survival¡¯ since magic exists and women are just as powerful. That births a society of relative equality, which ultimately advanced differently. Mating rituals in nature are dictated by the female¡¯s reproductive cycle. So, in a ¡®protected¡¯ society where knowledge and cultural advancement is the sought after goal, women take the lead in such affairs. Naturally, people aren¡¯t one dimensional in their lives. In our own world/history we see a wide variety of individuals when it comes to behaviors like those. I went an extra step and made Alyssa be part of a draconic species that has three sexes, further fragmenting behaviors and culture. Some of you may find her inconsistent as a fiction character, which is acceptable. So how would women be active? Would they behave like men in our world? Not really. Sexual expression is not binary as we can see in our own world, where there is more than just top & bottom. This allowed me more freedom in how characters behave when it comes to affection and intimacy. Misandrist/Misogynistic views like being a slave to sex because of some made up instinct or one gender being better than the other(s) have no place in this fiction. I only believe in Futanari supremacy, haha... - Why such descriptive sex? Because there is descriptive death. Simple as that. I personally find the label of adult content wrongly defined. Death/violence should be 18+, and sex/love should be for all ages. How often do we kill? How often do we love? I¡¯m not someone to impose my belief on others, tho, so I tag the steamy chapters appropriately. - Why hasn¡¯t Natasha been accosted by all females, then? Not all women are as brave as Lapia. She¡¯s a special kind of pervert. - Your explanation of the two suns sucks! I know. Did my best, tho. I¡¯ll expand on it in future chapters. - Natasha¡¯s skills suck! They do, and we¡¯ll see something interesting in the future. - Your sex chapters suck! Heh¡­ get it? Okay, I suck at humor. - Why do you write so slow? 500+ pages and barely a month has passed. Because I¡¯m developing both the world and the characters. We¡¯ll see more time skips in the future (get it? Ok, I should stop), since we have a general idea of the world now, with a few things needing to be explained, which will come in future arcs. - Why didn¡¯t the shady group attack Natasha in the dungeon? Just have them ambush her! Really? In a place she could theoretically fight forever? These people are smarter than that. Halves are generally a mystery, but things are not set in stone for everyone. Some groups may have more information than others, especially if their goal is to rid the world of Halves. - What about Power Tongues? Did you forget about them? No, I haven¡¯t. They will be important later in the story. Also, Natasha has no real reason to use them so far, as nobody would understand her. - What¡¯s with the weird appraisal of Lord Punten?! Did you fuck up and haven¡¯t change it? No, the plot will thicken when he shows up again. Same with the first times Natasha appraised people and things. - Why write the story as a journal instead of third person? To make changes in perspective feel more natural, and to present a biased view of the world with each character. As we¡¯ve seen, Lapia doesn¡¯t write thoughts as Natasha does. And she ended most dialogues with dots instead of commas. Because she¡¯s not a writer. This changed when Lapia returned the journal and she read Kingdom Fall by Yinka Plavas?. It also showed the extent of Natasha¡¯s honest personality, since she also writes her thought process and desires. - If so, what¡¯s with that weird section where we see Natasha being created? We¡¯re seeing the finished product, not as it¡¯s happening in real time. - Wouldn¡¯t that make Natasha a pervert that writes her own sex acts?! Yes. Yes, it would. She¡¯s a massive pervert. - Why are languages from Earth in the story? Dwarfs speaking Spanish makes no sense! I honestly couldn¡¯t come up with more than two ¡®original¡¯ languages: Elvish and Dragon Tongue. And the classical ¡®magical translation¡¯ is not the best way to go about it in my opinion. Naturally there are some ¡®loopholes¡¯ with Welsh being Human language and Natasha somehow knowing it. That¡¯ll have to wait for future arcs. - Is this a LitRPG? In a sense, but it¡¯s not the main focus of the story. I didn¡¯t add the tag because readers would expect more of it than just items and skills. We¡¯ll see more of that when Natasha starts leveling up and gets a new class. It¡¯ll be different than Lapia¡¯s approach, though. - Why make Natasha suck at math? To limit her power creep. The magic system is heavily scientific, so that in itself is a challenge she has to face by re-learning mathematics and science. Otherwise we¡¯d have a protagonist than can cause nuclear explosions every fight, or use magic to solve every problem she faces. Imagine if she could just teleport around, fly away, or some nonsense like that. I also limited her power by including acrophobia. She won¡¯t be using Dragon Dive or Gae Bulg until she faces her fears. Being reborn in a new body with a new mind doesn¡¯t mean her deepest fears are gone. - Natasha¡¯s obituary was written in Cyrillic, why could Lapia read it if she doesn¡¯t know this world¡¯s version of Russian? Same with the staff Natasha gave her. If you remember (or you can check), the staff had temperatures expressed in Celsius instead of Yiama. As Alyssa explained, the system grants information based on what the individual knows. The obituary could be considered a magical item instead of regular writing due to its nature¡­ If we go back and check the item description of Alma Stoneweaver in chapter 4, and Eternal Fire in chapter 10, it¡¯s shown Natasha doesn¡¯t understand the information so she sees those weird-looking formulas instead of the actual ones. Even if she¡¯s a Halve. - How/why did she go to Hell, and then to Galeia? No spoilers. - Natasha doesn¡¯t feel Russian! Where¡¯s the cheeki breeki? The slavness? The cyka blyat? Why didn¡¯t she call dumplings chebureki? Why isn¡¯t she desperately seeking semechki? Why doesn¡¯t she wear Adidas tracksuits and ushankas all the time while singing the soviet anthem?! She¡¯s practicing her English (Common), so naturally she translates those words as she expects someone else to eventually read the journal. She doesn¡¯t write every expression as ¡®oy¡¯, ¡®ay¡¯, ¡®blin¡¯, etc. And I don¡¯t want to write her as a meme stereotype¡­ - Does Natasha have a Drip Jacket? Yes, she has one. She¡¯ll turn into Driptasha at some point.
That¡¯d be it! It became a little nonsensical at the end, though. If you have questions that I didn''t address, you can ask them or send me a DM telling me how I much you dislike the story or how much you like it! I won''t answer spoilers and such. If you''re wondering, my first language is Spanish, my second language is German, and my third language is English. (Tho I use english more than german tbh) 25 - 1 Month Later. 20th day of the fourth month. Fourth week of summer. 1980 Yiama¡¯s Era. Lakeview, Lumin Kingdom. I sat on the front yard of a cabin we rented a few days prior. The lounge chair was pretty comfortable, I admit. The summer heat was not as overpowering as I expected since Lapia said it¡¯d be 50o outside. Well, her super spell didn¡¯t face me much, so I guess that¡¯s that. The sound of ice hitting glass coming from my right made me turn. Alyssa was sunbathing next to me on a lounge chair of her own. Her reptilian nature may influence her tastes as to the suns, I guessed. She brought a glass of fruit juice to her lips and took a sip. ¡°Haaa¡­¡± she sighed with a wide smile. ¡°This is the life. Day off, sunbathing, reading a book.¡± We were both wearing swimsuits. I made the colossal sacrifice of offering the group summer-wear from my storage. I¡¯m such a martyr. Hers was white, a nice contrast to her light purple skin and dark scales. The top fit her pretty nicely, the exact nature of all the underwear still a mystery to me. The bottom was a thong, as I so unfortunately did not have anything else, which for some reason changed to fit her tail. I guessed the special trait of my clothes is to fit every kind of body shape, or fit every body shape to it in my case. Mine was black, pretty nice against my golden skin. ¡°I know, right?¡± I chuckled. ¡°Look at us, enjoying a break.¡± In front of us laid a massive lake. It reminded me of Baikal, but the surrounding mountains were around the size of the Ural. These fed the lake, and in turn, it fed a river that went off to the north, continuing some thousand kilometers until reaching the ocean. The suns were 10cm apart in the sky. It was the day the Aphelion began. For four days, all work should be minimized to avoid heatstroke for people below level 100, which surprisingly is the majority of the population in Lumin Kingdom. Higher levels are not enough motivation to go out and experience the dangers of the world, according to Bonte. I have learned a few things these last weeks. Not much, but enough to not be considered utterly ignorant anymore. Bromisnar was playing his lute a few meters away while talking to Yolin about something or other. Both were wearing swimsuits. Costumes are justice. Lapia was playing some sort of volleyball with Bonte in the shore of the lake. The game was a little weird: the net was low and they only used their feet and hips to pass the ball to the other side. They too, wore swimsuits. All according to plan... Bonte, who was wearing swim trunks, received the ball with his chest like a football player and kicked it some ten meters up, then jumped after it and kicked towards Lapia. The Elf, however, used spells¡­ something that apparently was allowed by rules. The ball stopped mid flight and crossed the field in a clean arc before the Tigea could land. Naturally, he shifted to the ball¡¯s shadow¡­ I shook my head and grabbed a drink on the table by my side. It was grape juice with a couple ice cubes floating on the surface. Pretty nice. ¡°We¡¯ve earned it, naturally,¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°These so called ¡®speedruns¡¯ work wonders, especially the one you came up with where we could only use a single skill for each floor.¡± I nodded as I feasted my eyes on both female and male bodies. The space was private, naturally. It costed me one gold coin a day. Robbery in broad daylight, but worth it when considering the lake shore was less than thirty meters from the cabin. ¡°I¡¯m glad it helped,¡± I said, staring at Lapia as she jumped five meters into the air like it was nothing and returned the ball. As she landed, her butt shook along with her thighs. ¡°Sheesh!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°Holy crap!¡± Alyssa whispered. The shake of that booty was divine. ¡°Still, skipping the first fifty floors could be considered cheating,¡± I commented. Alyssa let out a giggle, and focused back on the book she was reading. I have discovered new elements. E¡¯er holds nothing against them. Alyssium, released every time Alyssa giggles. It extends lifespan and heals every possible wound, including tiredness. I am absolutely sure any scientist from Earth would give their unborn child in return for a single gram of it. Wars would surely be started to monopolize it. The part about wounds is something I am yet to confirm as I have not been injured so far. I have no proof, but neither doubt. Lapium, found in the deepest confines of cheekiness. This particular element is prone to cause floods with just a smirk and a chuckle, and it could easily replace currency in civilized planets across the universe. Impossible to acquire by Alchemy, it¡¯s value is undeniably high. Not even the full fortune of a planet could acquire it. Yolinium, an element that is dangerous to acquire. Depending on the environment, it can function as an energy source or used in the forging of armor. It requires careful extraction, as the source could headbutt the intrepid miner if done hastily. Useful in both war and peace, any society could benefit from it. These three elements sustain life and bring about death in the right circumstances. Their true power is yet to be seen, however¡­ I looked up to the suns. Both looked the same to me since I was on the planet, and I was never that smart to really understand how light waves entering the atmosphere influenced the color of a sun. Returning my eyes to Lapia, I continued my insights. She was wearing sport swimwear, and her tan skin shone with a little sweat. She also had her hair tied in a ponytail. The Domi Elves have built their country in the eastern coast. A flat land with rich soil and generous sea produce next to it. Maybe after thousands of years of exploitation, the ocean lifeforms have dwindled. Low fertility rates added to a cycle every fifty years leaves little hope to form a new generation to take on tradition, culture, and knowledge. It could be said that the Elven Queendom of Maaruhk is a ¡®flatland¡¯ next to the sea. And it would make sense for people to call it as such. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. However, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, also known as Lenin, states in his discourse of social integration of the middle peasant that the term emerged from something entirely unrelated to the land. It¡¯s called a flatland because the Domi Elves are generally flat-chested, though not enough to be called a washboard. The Queendom of Maaruhk accepts those that visit with open arms similar to a vast plain. As such, people call this ancient nation ¡®flatland¡¯. I wisely nodded. Though Lapia¡¯s breasts were smaller than my own, I enjoyed them to no end. Then, I turned to Alyssa. The Krystaali Luzo have their country surrounded by volcanoes. And an ancient Storm Dragon sleeps in one of those. This makes it difficult to approach, as it presents a ¡®large¡¯ challenge to face. I¡¯m sure many are left in awe as to their enormity. The fact three sexes are required to continue their species is something to be celebrated, as I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a loving society. Maybe like the kind of mother I never had. It could be said that O¡¯lu Keer Ren is a ¡®mountainous¡¯ land with a gentle nature. And it would make sense if people were to call it as such. However, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, known for his discussions about nihilism, states that the term originated from something completely different. It was called mountainous because the Krystaali Luzo are generally big breasted. O¡¯lu Keer Ren is a land difficult to visit as it¡¯s similar to a mother¡¯s bosom, and it¡¯s kept from the reach of many just like lusting after one¡¯s own mother is forbidden. As such, people refer to this perilous land as ¡®mountainous¡¯. I wisely nodded once more. I turned to Yolin. The Oni was wearing a fashionable white bikini with frills. The fabric combined with her white hair and her white tattoos was a beautiful contrast to her red skin. Red Island is, as the name implies, an island. This came to be due to a volcano in the seabed that formed the land after millennia of spewing lava. It¡¯s a well-formed, firm land surrounded by the flattest of surfaces, water. It would make sense, then, that people refer to it as a ¡®solid land¡¯. However, Vasily Vasilievich Rozanov stated in one of his geography lessons that the term is not derived from how the land was shaped. It originated from the Oni anatomy of well-defined muscles and their nature leaning on the more ¡®aggressive¡¯ side. Their figures are firm and solid, and their class choices reflect this sentiment. Female Oni are voluptuous and fit with a generally carefree attitude. As such, people refer to Red Island as a ¡®solid land¡¯. I let out a hum of satisfaction. ¡°Maybe, maybe not,¡± I murmured. ¡°Those are just my assumptions, after all.¡± ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Alyssa asked. I turned to her and smiled. ¡°Nothing much,¡± I shook my head. ¡°Silly things.¡± ¡°You have that look on your face,¡± she commented. ¡°Like you¡¯re about to do one of your skits.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± I covered my mouth and relaxed on the chair. ¡°I¡¯m not planning anything.¡± ¡°Well,¡± she began, sitting up. ¡°It¡¯s about time for us to go inside.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I said while checking the time. It was a little past four. She stood up from her chair and I followed her into the cabin. Once inside, I laid on a big bed in the main room. The space was admittedly pretty comfy. Since I splurged, I managed to rent a two-floor cabin that had each room full of sound-proof enchantments. Me, Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin stayed on the first floor, and Bromisnar and Bonte took over the second floor. With three rooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen, the place was pretty damn nice. The bed was comfortable and bouncy. It almost made me think the pricing was right, but it still was too much. I was yet to properly convert the currency of this world to Earth¡¯s. Something I¡¯m sure Lapia would help me with. I felt Alyssa¡¯s hands going over my stomach, and a gentle warmth sank into my body. ¡°How far have we gotten?¡± I asked with eyes closed. The clawed fingers felt nice, and her increased status from leveling up made it easier for her to feel up my body¡­ in more than a few ways. ¡°Up to the skin only,¡± she answered. ¡°I¡¯m still trying to fully understand how you absorb sunlight.¡± I hummed. Lately, we¡¯d spend an hour each day doing this. Alyssa would scan my body and try to understand how it worked by injecting Life Energy into me. The specifics escaped me. I won¡¯t complain, though. A massage by my girlfriend every day is nice. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that work like a plant? You know, photo¡­ something,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Photosynthesis?¡± she supplied. Then, she giggled, ¡°No, you don¡¯t absorb light like a plant, Natasha. Photosynthesis works that way because plants don¡¯t eat like we do. You¡¯re not a mammal, a plant, nor any other type of life form.¡± Her hands cupped my breasts, and I opened an eye. Her face was serious, so I returned to darkness. ¡°Haven¡¯t you used supportive skills on me, though?¡± I asked, remembering the white halo floating above my head a few times. ¡°I¡¯ve brute-forced it,¡± she explained with a chuckle. ¡°If the time comes that I have to heal you, I need to understand more than just the surface.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I thought for a second. ¡°So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m not made of flesh?¡± Her hands rested on my ribs, and the warmth increased. ¡°We¡¯ve said it hundreds of times by now. You¡¯re made of E¡¯er, not flesh,¡± she whispered. I nodded. ¡°Still feels a little too detached from reality to me,¡± I admitted. ¡°I mean, if my muscles aren¡¯t ¡®meat¡¯, then how does it work?¡± ¡°¡®Meat¡¯, as you so eloquently call it, is not the only thing that can work like muscles,¡± she explained. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you drawing, and I know you understand anatomy very extensively, but that changes when we¡¯re transformed by E¡¯er.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I said back. ¡°If you- Ahn!¡± Her hands brushed a nipple, and a moan inevitably escaped me. ¡°Focus, Natasha,¡± she giggled. ¡°You were saying?¡± I felt my face burn in embarrassment. ¡°If you level up, do your muscles become denser? Or does the ¡®material¡¯ change?¡± I asked. ¡°Both,¡± she answered as she followed the shape of my abs with her fingers. ¡°Life Energy reinforces muscles and change how energy is liberated, along with its efficiency. Our nature as mammals is inescapable, however, so a lot of energy is wasted. While I¡¯m a Luzo and some ancestral features from Dragons remain, I¡¯m a mammal in the end.¡± ¡°You sweat, for example,¡± she continued, her hands prodding where my bellybutton should be. ¡°So you have a working internal thermoregulative system. You have sweat glands like us, but your sweat is unlike ours. It¡¯s a cold, pure liquid for some reason. Maybe our version of sweating is an incomplete imitation. We lose a big amount of minerals and water.¡± ¡°You¡¯re losing me, Alyssa,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Your sweat smells sweet,¡± she said. ¡°Sweat itself should be odorless in a healthy person. That either means there¡¯s absolutely no bacteria inside or on you, or there¡¯s something else added to your sweat. Adding to that the fact your smell causes sexual arousal, its leading me to believe Halves are supposed to have tons of sex.¡± Jesus. ¡°You mean like pheromones?¡± I asked next. The conversation was really interesting even if I didn¡¯t understand half of it. ¡°A little. Pheromone release is mostly unconscious, and it not only serves a sexual purpose,¡± she educated me. ¡°Take insects, they use pheromones to communicate.¡± I sighed. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m on your hands,¡± I muttered. Relaxing, I enjoyed the feeling of her hands on my body for the following hour. 26 - Alyssa Switch. (18+) ¡°Alright, we¡¯re done,¡± Alyssa said after finishing her prodding of my body. She sat on the bed and wiped a little sweat off her forehead, and I let out a hot sigh. Being fondled all over left me in a naughty mood. My patience always thinned by the time her studies were done. I fidgeted and noticed I was sodden. I looked at her and noticed a slight blush. ¡°Hey Alyssa, you missed a spot,¡± I whispered in a sultry voice as I opened my legs. ¡°Oh?¡± she looked between my legs. ¡°What do-¡± She stopped when understanding dawned on her. ¡°There¡¯s this¡­ golden bruise between my legs,¡± I pressed down on my wet genitals with a finger over the fabric of the swimsuit. ¡°Could you check it? I may have injured myself in the dungeon. If left alone, it could bring about catastrophic consequences for my health...¡± She bit her lips and raised a scaly eyebrow while staring at me. She was fighting a smile. Not the intended reaction, but not a total failure either. ¡°Please, Lady Healer!¡± I begged, sitting up and holding her left hand. ¡°I can¡¯t face my girlfriend like this! What if she thinks I¡¯m defective? I could never live with such shame! If only there was a knowledgeable Cardinal that could ease my worries?¡± I gave her the most convincing puppy eyes I have ever done in my life. I added a pout for extra effect. She gulped. Nice. Critical Hit. ¡°If you want to¡­¡± I began, slowly removing my top. ¡°You can take charge.¡± Her eyes widened, and she took a long breath. I took the top off and put it on the bed as an extra. I could have stored it, but a strip show gets the audience going. She crawled to me and I laid back down, stretching my arms on the bed. ¡°You can do whatever you want with me, Queen,¡± I whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll follow your every order.¡± On four out of her five limbs, she stopped on top of me. I felt her warm breath on my chest and neck. My heartbeat sped up, and a tingly sensation took root under my stomach. ¡°You¡¯re ¡®Queen¡¯ and I¡¯m ¡®Princess¡¯ when you¡¯re on top,¡± she said, breathing heavily. ¡°When we switch, you¡¯ll be ¡®Brat¡¯.¡± I saw her tail move and close the curtains, dimming the lighting in the room. The wall was right next to the bed, but it was amazing nonetheless. Okay, I want a tail in my next reincarnation. Staring back into her red eyes, I saw her vertical pupils widen and narrow with each breath. ¡°Uh¡­¡± I gave her an apologetic smile. ¡°That means brother in my native language¡­¡± She nodded and thought for a second. ¡°How about ¡®Servant¡¯? It¡¯s really spicy, with you being a Halve,¡± she offered. Holy shit. I nodded, my heart skipped a massive beat with that. ¡°I¡¯m okay with that,¡± I whispered. ¡°How about I call you ¡®Goddess¡¯?¡± She smiled. ¡°I¡¯m part of the Clergy, I can¡¯t accept that,¡± she said with a giggle. Inspiration struck. ¡°Empress!¡± I breathed out. ¡°It implies conquest.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re a genius,¡± she chuckled and gave me a quick kiss. My Empress then took a deep breath and turned around, placing her hips right above my face. Her tail blocked most of my sight, and the large amount of light purple skin surrounded by dark scales made me swallow. ¡°Remove the panties,¡± her voice trembled with excitement. ¡°And pleasure me, servant.¡± Her light purple thighs trembled at my touch, and I noticed a slight dampness on the thong. Pulling the strings, I slowly removed the piece of clothing. ¡°Right away, Empress,¡± I whispered. This is my first time alone with Alyssa¡­ I couldn¡¯t suppress the excitement that took over, making my heart go absolute insane. A gasp left me as I saw her pussy, slightly puffy and moist. The sight made me lick my lips. Her blue clitoris was half covered by the hood, and her loins were a little wet with sweat. Taking the thong off, I flung it towards the door. She lowered her hips and I extended my tongue, ready to lap at her juices. My Empress had other plans, however. Pulling my own thong, she took out my penis. I wanted to have sex with my pussy, but I had given control to her. If that¡¯s what she liked better, so be it. It was a part of me as much as everything else, so I was okay with that as well. Just as my lips made contact with her sex, I felt a clawed finger rub my own. I loud gasp escaped me and I ran my tongue over her labia. The delightful taste of my Empress forced a moan out of me. Salty, barely sour, and perfectly sweet. Her raw smell filled my nose, sending jolts of pleasure down my spine. Next, I felt her hand grab at my penis. My eyes widened to the limit. This woman! I did not stop licking, covering my tongue with her juices and focusing on her clit. Soft sighs escaped her, and as her own hands pleasured me, hot breaths left my mouth into her pussy. ¡°Nn!¡± she softly moaned. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to cum until I say so, servant,¡± she added. I felt her fingers rub my clitoris, the movement delicate but deliberate. The sounds of our genitals being rubbed and licked echoed in the room. ¡°Mmhh!¡± I purred into her as she softly pinched my clit. I remembered that hurting as a human, but my body could feel only pleasure when pushed by my girlfriends now that I¡¯m a Halve. Hella convenient! I grabbed her thighs and gently scratched her scales while eating her. ¡°Nha! You¡¯re doing great, servant,¡± she praised me. I felt a shiver go down my spine. I had never been called with a submissive nickname before, so it was a brand new world of emotions I couldn¡¯t properly describe. Should I thank her? I wondered, then chose to just go with it. ¡°Thank you, Empress,¡± I responded. That elicited an approving hum from her, and satisfaction bloomed in me. Her hand gripped my penis with more strength, and she started stroking it while rubbing my clitoris now that I was fully erect. I was gasping, feeling an overload of arousal and sexual gratification only possible with having two sexual organs. While I had great stamina when only one of them was sending pleasure to my brain, having both doing that lowered my sexual performance. My Empress lifted her hips as her own gasps increased in volume, but continued her assault on me. Sneaking a finger into my folds, a shiver ran through my body and a wave of heat spread from my sex. She didn¡¯t stop there, though: I felt her forked tongue tease my glans. Now that my mouth was free of the task I was given, moans left me accompanied by my body quivering. ¡°Ahn! Empress!¡± I cried in pleasure. ¡°That feels amazing! Ngh!¡± I was fighting the urge to move my hips, which only made the arousal greater. She then put another finger inside me, rubbing against my pelvic bone. I closed my eyes and covered my face while biting my lips to avoid screaming. ¡°Mmmhh!!¡± a muffled moan escaped me anyway. I could feel the spasms begin. A numbing heat formed in my womb and started descending dangerously fast. Tingles all over my penis warned me of the impending orgasm. Hold back! I told myself. I was ordered to hold back! Tightening my anus so I could last longer, I clamped down on her fingers which made it worse: her claws pressed on my sensitive spots all over my vagina. She hissed and removed her fingers, probably too tight and painful for her to continue. ¡°Hyaan!¡± I whimpered in ecstasy as she dragged her claws over my insides. ¡°No cumming yet, servant,¡± my Empress chuckled. Fucking Hell, this woman is so good! ¡°Huuu¡­ haaaa¡­.! Uuhhhnn¡­!¡± I took deep breaths to stop myself from orgasming. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Her tongue stimulated the back of my penis as she rubbed my clit with her fingers. A jolt assaulted my body, and my toes began to curl. I knew I had little time left: my vision was slowly replaced with whiteness, and my head became mushy. ¡°This penis¡­¡± she chastised. ¡°Even though we had sex last night until morning, it¡¯s so full of energy. This naughty servant¡¯s penis needs discipline.¡± ¡°Yes, Empress!¡± I yelped. ¡°Fuck!¡± ¡°No swearing, servant!¡± she scolded, and slapped my pussy. The action sent a wave of pleasure all over my body, and I bit my fingers. I was on the edge already. Whimpers, yelps, and moans escaped me as I did my best to avoid cumming. My mind swam in unrestrained pleasure, and her caresses felt like the best thing in the entire universe. My breathing was ragged, the heat in my hips was constantly trying to fly away, my body tingled all over, and my womb dropped. I wanted to cum so bad, but I couldn¡¯t. ¡°Can I cum, Empress?¡± I asked. Then, I rephrased it, ¡°Please let me cum, Empress!¡± ¡°No,¡± she denied me. Taking her fingers off my pussy, she lifted her body and moved to my hips while still stroking my penis. Squatting on top of me, I saw her back between the gaps of my fingers. Covered in dark scales, her silver whitish hair falling down her back was beautiful in a way I couldn¡¯t describe. Then, I noticed her tail move towards my neck, wrapping around it. ¡°Natasha,¡± she said, turning her head to me. ¡°Take deep breaths and let me know if you can¡¯t anymore.¡± I did as advised, and breathed in for ten seconds. Then, I breathed out for another ten seconds. Repeating the exercise, I waited. The appendage tightened around my neck, but I could still breathe with no issues. ¡°Seriously?¡± she whispered with raised brows. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked with ragged breath. ¡°I¡¯m tightening with all I have,¡± she giggled. ¡°And you can speak normally.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I uttered. Then gave her shy smile, ¡°I guess we can¡¯t do that play yet. My bad.¡± ¡°Any dizziness?¡± she asked with a deep blush, the meaning of my words didn¡¯t escape her. I shook my head, and she nodded. ¡°When I release my tail, you can cum, servant,¡± she said with a smile, resuming our sex play. I nodded. ¡°Understood, Empress!¡± I responded with a big smile. Guiding me inside her, she lowered her hips. Her tail blocked the view, so I could only feel my penis slowly entering her warm, wet, and unfairly tight pussy. ¡°Nnn!¡± she purred. ¡°What a magnificent penis¡­ for a servant!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± I grunted. She rested her hands on her knees and supported most of her weight with her tail. I felt the increase pressure on my neck, but still too little to even force a cough out of me or cause discomfort. Dropping her body, I felt her butt cheeks on my skin, the watery sounds of our genitals reached my ears. The feeling on the tip of my penis told me I reached her cervix, and I saw her legs quiver and her back bend backwards a little. Her insides clamping on my penis felt divine, my organ felt like a festival. ¡°Mhhaa!¡± she sighed, and then lifted her body. ¡°You have a very dangerous penis, servant.¡± I stuck a finger in my mouth and bit it to avoid my voice from leaking. ¡°Hah!¡± I inevitably moaned. She started riding me, and the bed shook with the movement. The feeling of her vagina rubbing my cock was something I''d never get used to no matter how much times we had sex. I had gained time when she shifted positions, but the heat in my hips returned. Closing my eyes, I focused on her wriggly pussy. She squeezed me every time I poked her cervix, and a yelp escaped her. Her hips gyrated against me every time she came down, rubbing the base of her tail on my stomach and grinding my penis on her vagina walls. ¡°Oh, Gods! This penis!¡± she loudly moaned after twenty thrusts. ¡°Haa¡­ haaah!¡± I focused on not cumming, taking deep breaths. My body quivered as the heat in my hips dropped further and came dangerously close to exploding. I was whining by that time, saliva dripping off my mouth as my jaw went slack with the excitement of not being allowed to cum. My penis slowly numbed, demanding I release my all inside the woman bouncing on top of me. I fought it, reminding myself that my Empress was trusting me in giving her control. She knew I was stronger than her by many magnitudes, and I wanted to be under her rule for as long as I could. ¡°Uuurrrggghh!!¡± I let out a low growl as I felt a little cum about to leak. She must have felt my penis throb, because she stopped her movements. Turning around, she found a better grip on my neck with her tail. She was blushing really hard, her breathing became ragged, and her skin was covered in sweat. Her big breasts moved with each gulp of air she took. Leaning on my body, she rested her heavy tits on mine, rubbing our nipples together. ¡°You are to thrust your hips until I cum, and only then you¡¯re allowed to cum,¡± she whispered with her deep voice. Her sweat smelled salty and slightly sweet, clearing my mind a little. I looked into her red eyes and nodded. ¡°Yes, Empress,¡± I responded. Then, I asked, ¡°Do I have your permission to touch you?¡± She smiled widely, then gave a nod. I placed both hands on her ass, holding her in position as I slowly began thrusting. ¡°Haa¡­¡± she sighed, slowly closing her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been a very good servant.¡± Our warm, sweaty bodies ground each other and the sound of my penis gouging her insides made me drool. ¡°Empress, may I ask for something?¡± I asked as I fucked her. ¡°Mmf!¡± she moaned as she opened her mouth. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°My pussy is a little lonely,¡± I whined. I kept on thrusting, however. Her breasts shook and my breathing made my chest rub against hers. ¡°I¡¯m going to release my tail, but you¡¯re not allowed to cum yet,¡± she managed to say between moans and gasps. I nodded, and she released me. My Empress, however, surprised me once again. She wrapped her fingers around my neck. ¡°Raise your hips,¡± she ordered me. Following the orders of my Empress, I lifted her body as well. Her tail went between my legs, rubbing my pussy and wrapping around my waist. She pushed me down with her hips, releasing a moan in the process. She left enough of her tail free to move on her own. She was still squatting on top of me, and the sight of her flat stomach and the soft abs under her skin threatened to make me cum in an instant. ¡°Move,¡± she said next. I shook my hips and felt the scales on her tail rub my clit. ¡°AhhN!¡± I moaned. I was incredibly sensitive, we had been going for a while and I was yet to cum. I felt my penis angrily erect, and my pussy wet as never before. She glued our bodies together and placed her mouth next to my right ear. Oh, shit. Oh, fuck. Oh, no. She licked it and I saw the world become white as I pushed my hips up. ¡°Naah!¡± she moaned. ¡°Good, I¡¯m close to cumming as well. Go all out, servant!¡± I gripped her and went medieval on her. The position felt amazing, her warm body was pressed against mine, our tits squashed between out bodies. I wanted to cum, but I had to make her cum first to gain permission. ¡°May I¡­ Nh! Cum inside you, Empress?¡± I asked with a whimper. Our breathing and voices increased in speed and volume. Her free hand pulling my hair and making me see stars. ¡°You want to cum¡­ Ah! Inside your Empress, servant?¡± she asked back as she squat-fucked me. I was in heaven. ¡°Yes, please,¡± I begged as I met her movements. I felt the heat in my hips resume its descent, and I suppressed it by clenching every muscle in my body. I closed my eyes, tightened my asshole, clenched my jaw, and let out a primal growl. ¡°You want to fill my very depths with your servant cum?¡± she teased me, licking my cheek. ¡°You¡¯re even flexing every muscle in your body, knowing that¡¯s what I like, servant. Very diligent.¡± I was about to lose it. My Empres was similarly close, whimpering in pleasure but without the restrains she placed on me. Her right hand tightened around my neck, and her left pulled my braid harder. ¡°Yes, Empress,¡± I admitted with a moan. ¡°I¡¯m addicted to filling you with cum.¡± If I don¡¯t cum, I¡¯m gonna fucking die! Then, as my Empress saw fit to allow my release, she climaxed. Clenching my penis with a titanic grip, product of her increased level, she let out a howl of pleasure as she pushed her hips down with all her strength. ¡°Aaahhhn! Ghhaa!¡± she moaned as her body trembled. I remained steadfast, however. I was not yet given permission to reach orgasm. I felt my chin and neck covered in my own saliva, my ass dripping with my fluids, and my Empress¡¯s own covered my stomach as the clap of our bodies invaded my ears and the smell of our sweat violated my nose. ¡°Cum, servant!¡± she ordered with a sigh of pleasure. ¡°Cum inside me!¡± And I did. I filled her up with whatever my discharge was. Pumping inside her with primal abandon, I allowed myself to relax and let the orgasm destroy my mind and body. Waves after waves of pleasure assaulted all my senses. I went blind in a world of white, went deaf with the sound of my heartbeat and a ringing noise, and my breath got caught on my throat. If not for my inability to lose consciousness, I would have fainted right there. As I ejaculated inside her, I squirted all over the bed. The release was so great after being held captive from reaching the peak, I felt like peeing myself. After releasing the last of my cum deep in her womb, my entire body shook and I pressed harder against her. Shaking in ecstasy, we let out guttural moans. My Empress sealed my lips with a kiss, and a smaller orgasm shot through my body. ¡°I love you, Empress...¡± I whispered into her ear. A strong squeeze from her pussy betrayed another orgasm from her, and I smiled as wide as the sky. Calming down, I took deep breaths and the white world faded, revealing Alyssa¡¯s beautiful face. Then, strong and confusing feelings rushed into me, threatening to make me cry. I hugged her and let out a sob as my eyes stung. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± she whispered, caressing my head and face. ¡°I love you, Natasha. You¡¯re important to me.¡± I struggled to get my voice out, but when I did, only a croak came out. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening,¡± I confessed, scared and confused. It felt amazing to be dominated, as soft as it had been. When it all passed, however, something akin to a panic attack took over. It was completely different, however: my body felt absolute bliss, but my mind was confused and swirly. ¡°You dropped,¡± she explained, kissing my ear. ¡°It¡¯s normal, there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of. I¡¯m here with you.¡± I felt her hands caress my body and her lips kiss my face as she whispered ¡®I love you¡¯ many times. I focused on her breathing, her warmth, her heartbeat, and her words. After around five minutes, I calmed down. ¡°Haa¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°That was amazing, but weird at the end.¡± She raised her head and looked me in the eye. I gave her a smile and a kiss. ¡°Your mental strength is as high as your physical one,¡± she said with a giggle. ¡°Usually, it takes longer to recover from a drop.¡± ¡°Have I ever been inside the norm?¡± I cheekily asked her. I felt absolutely incredible after calming down. My body felt like floating, and fuzzy feelings filled my head. ¡°Right,¡± she smiled, her eyes squinting. ¡°You never have.¡± We laughed and cuddled, sharing kissed and giving our bodies gentle caresses. I remembered a certain song, and a specific part of the lyrics weirdly resonated with me. ¡°It didn¡¯t take all my life to find you¡­¡± I whispered as my hands went over her scaly back. ¡°But you can believe it¡¯s gonna take the rest of my life to keep you.¡± She let out a whimper and hugged me tight. ¡°I love you, Natasha,¡± she whispered, full of emotion. ¡°I really do.¡± ¡°Me too, Alyssa,¡± I said back, kissing her cheek. Then, I said it in Dragon Tongue, ¡°I love you.¡± She giggled, and licked my face with her blue tongue. ¡°Let¡¯s go clean up!¡± her cheerful voice and her wide smile revitalized my existence. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go for a swim in the lake.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I said with a nod and a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± 27 - A Sizeable Matter. After a short shower, me and Alyssa walked out of the cabin with a new set of swimsuits since the previous ones were in the laundry basket. We walked to the shore and next to Lapia who was sunbathing on my lounge chair with her back to the suns. ¡°Them birthday cakes do be stealing the show, though,¡± I commented as we passed her, looking respectfully. Alyssa turned to me with a confused face. ¡°Birthday cakes?¡± she asked, tilting her head. We left the front yard and into the sandy shore of the lake, where I stopped and stretched. Alyssa did her own version. ¡°You¡¯re right, Alyssa. My bad,¡± I nodded, reflecting on my mistake. ¡°Those are not cakes, but the whole bakery. I¡¯m a fool for downplaying the sheer volume of her assets.¡± ¡°You¡¯re confusing me, Natasha,¡± Alyssa said with a sigh. I straightened and looked around. Yolin was chatting with Bonte, and Bromisnar was writing something on a thin notebook. The three were a few meters away. ¡°It¡¯s like this,¡± I began, closing in on Alyssa who leaned to listen carefully. ¡°A cake is a slang used to refer to someone¡¯s butt. A birthday cake is especially known for being a big cake since it¡¯s usually made to celebrate someone¡¯s birthday. With this, we can infer that a birthday cake is particularly large, thus meaning the ass one is talking about is of large proportions.¡± She nodded as we walked closer to the water. ¡°However,¡± I continued. ¡°There is a bigger cake out there.¡± ¡°A bigger cake?¡± she asked, incredulous as to the existence of something even bigger. ¡°A wedding cake,¡± I declared. ¡°When two people get married, a cake of colossal proportion is made to celebrate the union. With this, the ass would need to be of cosmic size, even going to unhealthy extremes.¡± She nodded in understanding. ¡°However!¡± I raised a finger, and her eyes widened. ¡°When talking about an ass that is particularly beautiful or attractive, you can say it¡¯s not a mere cake but the whole bakery.¡± ¡°Oohh!¡± she exclaimed with a nod. ¡°Then yours would be birthday cakes as well, right?¡± I shook my head, this Luzo required further education. ¡°No, mine is pure muscle. I¡¯m really fit, but I¡¯m still thick... even if it sounds narcissistic,¡± I explained, and she nodded. ¡°You see, a ¡®cake¡¯ needs a little fat. You know, the healthy fat that helps in keeping the cold away, not the one that can cause heart failure.¡± ¡°Heart failure?¡± she asked, confused again. ¡°How much fat would be needed for that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Alyssa,¡± I replied with a sad voice. ¡°I really don¡¯t.¡± We were silent for a few seconds, looking at the lake as we contemplated on the tragedy that was health problems. The waves were gentle, and a literal metric ton of birds flew all around. I didn¡¯t even bother appraising them. A few looked like seagulls, but had extra things like every single animal I¡¯ve seen so far. Most had bright blue feathers, however. ¡°We don¡¯t celebrate birthdays with cake,¡± Alyssa said, breaking the silence. ¡°Depending on the species and race, those rituals vary. Back in O¡¯lu Keer Ren, we have festivals once a month to celebrate those born in that specific month. Our clans have a lot of members, so its customary to celebrate them all at once. We prepare feasts with songs and dances.¡± I hummed. That sounded like something I wanted to see. ¡°Also, we compare people¡¯s butts with bread,¡± she giggled. ¡°Why?¡± I asked, turning to her. ¡°Because you knead bread,¡± she explained with a smile, lifting her hands and flexing her fingers as if fondling butt cheeks. My eyes were opened. Certainly, that¡¯d make sense if cake is not used for celebrations. ¡°Like¡­ tight buns?¡± I tentatively asked. She nodded, closing her eyes and slapping my ass with her tail. ¡°Exactly like tight buns,¡± she said with a laugh. I joined her in laughter. ¡°Yo!¡± Yolin¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°What are you two delectable ladies doing?¡± ¡°Contemplating on the mysteries of the universe,¡± I replied, crossing my arms and looking at the horizon. ¡°Tits or ass?¡± the Oni instantly asked. ¡°Butts,¡± Alyssa nodded. I nodded in surprise. Is this woman a mind-reader? ¡°Also,¡± Alyssa continued. ¡°Marriage is celebrated by fasting for a whole day. It symbolizes the abandonment of pursuing other partners by abstaining from food.¡± That actually shocked me. ¡°So if a person marries someone, they can¡¯t¡­ ¡®add¡¯¡­ more people to the relationship?¡± I asked. ¡°Oh, no,¡± Yolin interjected. ¡°They can, but only through marriage. And the joining individual is the one who begins the relationship. Marriage is a statement of stability,¡± she explained. ¡°People marry when they settle down for life.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°A person buys or builds a home, then they perform their species or race specific rites and start a family.¡± ¡°What if they¡¯re all the same sex?¡± I asked. ¡°How do they start a family?¡± ¡°They have the option to adopt orphans,¡± Yolin replied, standing next to me. ¡°Having children is not limited to married people only. And people die of either old age, illness, or they are killed.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I hummed in thought. ¡°Remember the children you played with in Riverfield?¡± Alyssa asked, and continued after I nodded. ¡°If their parents go out of the city and encounter a herd of Me¡¯ik, for example, and die to them, the children become orphans. The Church would then take care of them until they¡¯re of age. If the child agrees, they can be put for adoption. It¡¯s a sensitive subject.¡± I sighed. Doesn¡¯t make much sense to me. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Is the marriage blessed by the Gods or something?¡± I asked. ¡°Of course,¡± both replied. ¡°I have had the fortune of joining people in marriage on behalf of Danuva,¡± Alyssa shared. ¡°It¡¯s an important procedure.¡± ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Yolin was impressed. Then asked her, ¡°You¡¯re above the fifth rank?¡± ¡°Seventh,¡± Alyssa replied with a smile. ¡°There are less than a thousand Cardinals in Leks, after all.¡± I was confused for a second until I remembered Alyssa is actually part of the Clergy, for all intended purposes. ¡°How many marriages have you¡­ made possible? If that¡¯s the right wording?¡± I asked her. ¡°Thirty two,¡± Alyssa replied. I nodded. Not only is she a fantasy doctor and ¡®lawyer¡¯, she¡¯s also a minister? I really hit the jackpot with capable women. I laughed for a bit and then turned to them. ¡°Wanna go for a swim?¡± I asked. ¡°Sure,¡± Yolin said with a smile. ¡°Do you know how to swim?¡± Alyssa asked me. I scoffed. ¡°Of course I know how to swim.¡± ¡°You better drink one of your Water Breathing elixirs, your body is denser than fresh water,¡± Alyssa teased me with a giggle. ¡°I have already floated in water, but I will follow your advice,¡± I chuckled. I took out a glass bottle with purple liquid inside and popped the cork, then drank it. My face contorted in disgust as the taste of overly sweet coffee invaded my mouth. ¡°Why are elixirs so foul tasting?¡± I whined with a shiver. Yolin shrugged and pulled an elixir of her own, similar in color. She drank it and scowled. ¡°Don¡¯t you have better-tasting elixirs?¡± the Oni asked. ¡°The ones you gave us to increase E¡¯er affinity were tasteless at least.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t tried them all,¡± I replied while shaking my head. ¡°Well, let¡¯s get going!¡± Alyssa cheered and pulled both of us into the water. The water was nice, cold but not too much. ¡°Haaa,¡± Yolin sighed as we reached shoulder-level depth. I relaxed and let myself float. ¡°See?¡± I said out loud. ¡°I¡¯m not sinking!¡± ¡°Buha!¡± Yolin came out of the water and ran a hand through her white hair. ¡°I sank! I used to float twenty years ago!¡± I laughed and turned to Alyssa. The water reached her hips. What?! I put my head underwater and looked in her direction. The woman was using her tail to stand up. I swam towards her and put her legs on my shoulders, then stood up. ¡°Nice!¡± she cheered. We played around for a while, swimming, trying to catch fish, making out, and all in all having a great time. By the time we left the water, one of the suns was disappearing behind the mountains to the west, and soon the other one would follow. I remembered Lapia mentioned days were longer during summer, and it made sense when witnessing that. I noticed a few bonfires in the distance along the lake shore, probably other people staying in nearby cabins. While there were around one hundred cabins, they were far enough that people wouldn¡¯t meet each other, making it comfortably private. Lapia was drinking something while watching us dry ourselves, and the two men were chatting and laughing. ¡°Had your fun?¡± the Elf asked as we walked back into the front yard. ¡°We did,¡± Yolin replied, wearing a short sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts. ¡°We managed to catch fish.¡± ¡°I bet,¡± Lapia chuckled with a smirk. ¡°What did you get?¡± ¡°Punites, mostly,¡± Alyssa answered while drying her hair. ¡°We figured you could make something with them?¡± The Wizard nodded. ¡°I can manage something,¡± she sat up and finished her drink. ¡°But I was thinking we could go to the tavern later and have some drinks.¡± ¡°Ayyy!¡± Bonte perked up at the mention of alcohol. ¡°Did I hear you talking about taverns?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied with a laugh. ¡°How does that sound?¡± ¡°Good to me,¡± Bromisnar replied. ¡°I wrote a song I need some feedback with.¡± ¡°Cool,¡± Yolin laughed. ¡°How about we leave in half an hour?¡± Nods were shared, and we went to prepare for a night out. We showered and I performed my duties of resident body-cleaner. Lapia¡¯s thighs were a treasure as usual, her long ears felt amazing, and her butt was certainly a birthday cake. Alyssa¡¯s scales were pretty and hard, her tail was a wonder, and her breasts were a blessing from the Lord. Yolin¡¯s body was just marvelous. Her hard muscles were delectable, her firm butt was precious, and her laughter when I cleaned her ribs was revitalizing. Then, we got ready, but Lapia stopped me once she noticed what I was wearing. ¡°Why do you look like you¡¯re attending a Royal Ball?¡± she asked, eyeing my white dress and high heels. It was a New Years costume. I have it all! ¡°Huh?¡± I was taken aback. ¡°We¡¯re going out, so I dressed up. What about your own clothes?¡± I gestured at her revealing dress. I had gotten used to them, and noticed people didn¡¯t really stare at us when we wore light clothes, but it still didn¡¯t feel like clothes worn to go drinking. Alyssa giggled and Yolin laughed. ¡°Natasha, this is an Ezh¡¯de. Everyday clothes from my culture,¡± she explained with a smile. ¡°I think you¡¯re a little overdressed for a night out at a tavern.¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°But you¡¯re the only Elf I¡¯ve seen wearing an¡­ ejde?¡± I butchered the pronunciation. ¡°It¡¯s like Low Tongue¡¯s ¡®wych¡¯ from that skill you have,¡± her smile turned gentle. ¡°It¡¯s a voiceless uvular fricative.¡± ¡°Ohh!¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°You really are a teacher, huh?¡± Yolin laughed harder, and Alyssa covered her face. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Lapia raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I graduated the Royal University with honors, something only achieved once every century.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to offend you,¡± I hugged her. ¡°It¡¯s just that you¡¯re a really cheeky, horny, seductive, and beautiful Elf. I tend to forget you¡¯re a genius.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± she harrumphed with mock dignity. ¡°As long as you understand.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t deny being cheeky and seductive?¡± Yolin asked, smiling widely. ¡°I can¡¯t deny the truth,¡± she said with a shrug. ¡°Anyway. I don¡¯t know every Elf in the world, but those born in the Queendom of Maaruhk wear Ezh¡¯de as daily clothes. We haven¡¯t met that many Domi Elves, but they may have been born outside the Queendom, or simply adapted to another culture.¡± Okay, that¡¯s a little complicated. Alyssa and Yolin went out of the room after getting ready. Alyssa wore a white dress with golden embroidery, and Yolin went for the sporty vibe with a tight blue shirt and black shorts. ¡°I see,¡± I nodded. ¡°So what do you recommend I wear?¡± ¡°A simpler dress,¡± she sighed. ¡°The one you¡¯re wearing is too high quality for going to a mere tavern.¡± I nodded, and changed to a summer dress more in line with fantasy instead of something that looked like designer¡¯s clothes in Paris. It had a healthy cleavage, and my golden legs were displayed in full. ¡°That looks really good on you,¡± Lapia praised me. I felt my cheeks heat up. ¡°Thank you,¡± I chuckled and kissed her. ¡°You look really good in that Ezh¡¯de.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± she said and held my hand. I replaced my high heels with my regular belted boots. Those held on pretty good and were incredibly comfy. Like that, we were ready to leave. However, we had to wait for the two men. They didn¡¯t exactly take longer to get ready, but their¡­ hairy bodies delayed them. It wasn¡¯t just hairy due to being male, not at all. Bromisnar had hairy goat-like legs, back, and chest. Bromisnar¡¯s feline ears required special care and he didn¡¯t swim in the lake even once. I had managed to catch the catboy once as he cleaned his ears, it took him around half an hour to carefully dry them even when being high level. I guess getting rid of sand with that much hair is a real pain in the ass. 28 - Calm night. Lakeview is, unsurprisingly, a town next to a lake. As such, tourism plays an important role in the local economy. People from all over Lumin Kingdom gather in Lakeview to witness the Aphelion as its altitude is ideal for gazing at celestial bodies. An ancestor of the current King founded the town a really long time ago after taking down a monster that had its nest in the lake. Through this, he gained the favor of the people before Lumin Kingdom was founded. Or so said the pamphlet I was reading as we waited for our drinks in the tavern, ¡®The Sharp Paw¡¯. The name was a little on the nose for my taste, but who am I to judge. All the power for cat people. French cat people, I thought with a chuckle and stored the pamphlet. We sat around a table at the back of the tavern, near the counter. ¡°Like I said, ale is better,¡± Bonte insisted. ¡°No way,¡± Yolin replied, resting her elbows on the table. ¡°That¡¯s a kid¡¯s drink.¡± The space had a rustic vibe: the building was made of wood, same as most of Lakeview¡¯s edifices. Most workers were Tigea, something I noticed became more common the closer we got to Paarjo. Lupum were still a minority, and Humans were a rare sight around these parts. ¡°You both lack the finesse to enjoy a good wine,¡± Bromisnar shook his head, a sorrowful expression on his face. Elves were the flashier group of people, with Faeton being the most common race. Their colorful hairs and dark complexion a giveaway among all the brownish and white furs of the more¡­ animal-looking species. ¡°I second that,¡± Alyssa calmly betrayed her lover. ¡°Wine gets better with age, unlike your ale and whiskey.¡± ¡°Now, now,¡± Yolin laughed. ¡°Whiskey also gets better with age. You just need a strong liver and good taste.¡± Damn, that¡¯s a roast. The tavern was pretty spacious, being the only one in town. It was also crowded to the brim. With five floors, it could welcome a large number of patrons, and live performances were scheduled throughout the day for ¨C again, unsurprisingly ¨C performers to share their art. Each received a pay of one silver coin per song according to the poster at the entrance, which was written in French. Other classes could go up the stage too, but they wouldn''t get paid. ¡°You lot talk as if you¡¯ve tried Elven wine,¡± Lapia scoffed, followed by a chuckle. Apparently, which poison you chose to kill yourself with was a big matter of discussion. The conversation wasn¡¯t that heated, and they were mostly chilling. Still, a good amount of eyes were looking at us. More accurately, at me. Every time I caught someone¡¯s eye, I¡¯d wave and smile. I was never a shy woman, and I was quite sociable if I say so myself. I mean, can¡¯t get three girlfriends in less than a month if I¡¯m shy, I thought with a smile. Still, that one Elf is looking at me as if I owe her money. I smiled at the woman, who in turn gave me a short nod. She didn¡¯t break eye-contact, however. Her dull silver eyes locked with mine. It was a little unnerving, but I had gotten used to people staring at me. My glow and overall golden self was eye-catching enough. My species may have something to do with the attention, too. I¡¯m not an exhibitionist, however. I also don''t have tendencies that involve staring contests with strangers. ¡°What do you think, Natasha?¡± Bromisnar¡¯s question brought me back to reality. ¡°Potato spirit, or my Kvass,¡± I replied, looking at the man. ¡°Ale is meh, wine is mid, and whiskey has too much wood aroma for my taste,¡± I shrugged. ¡°But where¡¯s the flavor?¡± Bonte demanded, crossing his arms. ¡°Potato spirit has no taste!¡± ¡°See?¡± Yolin shrugged, rolling her eyes. ¡°Only a kid worries about the taste of his alcohol.¡± ¡°Haaa¡­¡± the ¡®kid¡¯ in question sighed while shaking his head. ¡°You just offended half of the world population.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all about patience,¡± Bromisnar raised a finger. ¡°Wine is best enjoyed after it ages for a thousand years. The olives need to be carefully grown with love and passion. The fermentation should be immaculate, and the aging process is without a doubt the thing wineries should be most concerned about. After a thousand years, a masterpiece is created.¡± Wouldn¡¯t that just be vinegar? I kept my question to myself, however. I had no clue as to the specifics of magical brewing of alcohol, or regular brewing of alcohol at that. I only know how to ''brew'' Kvass to make Okroshka. I do know from personal experience that wine turns bad when carelessly handled, however. The Kvass did turn out pretty good. I remembered their faces of shock and glee when they tried the holiest of soups, and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve cast a spell on me, my love~ And I don¡¯t want to find a healer to remove it!~¡± someone sang from the little stage to my right. I turned my head and saw a male Lupum on the spotlight. He was tall and pretty well built, wearing silk clothes and singing into a cone that amplified his voice. A male Shishi Tigea was standing in front of him, smiling widely and cheering for him. ¡°I found you after so long~ And I will share my love with this song~¡± he sang. His voice was a little untrained, but it was still good. Bromisnar chuckled. ¡°Amateur,¡± he muttered and shook his head. ¡°Like your taste in alcohol,¡± Yolin said with a wide smile. ¡°Says the one who drinks smelly grain water,¡± Bonte scoffed. Holy shit! I quietly laughed at the silliness of the situation, and noticed the waitress that received us walking towards us with our order. ¡°Alright, children. Stop fighting,¡± I interjected and straightened up. ¡°Rich coming from the youngest,¡± Bonte said back with a cheeky smile. That got a chuckle out of the group. I had a wide variety of cat jokes to retort with, but reminded myself that those comments were similar to racism so I kept quiet. Damned otherworldly morals! I lamented in my mind. ¡°Here are your drinks!¡± the waitress announced with a cheerful tone. ¡°Ale, potato spirit, whiskey, and wine!¡± Her feline eyes stopped on me for a second and I smiled back. She gave me a professional smile and placed the bottles on the table, then walked away. ¡°Finally!¡± Yolin cheered and served herself a glass of whiskey. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Took the words out of my mouth,¡± Bonte chuckled and took a sip of his tankard. I poured myself vodka in a small glass and drank it in a single swig. A pleasantly sweet taste spread in my mouth. I was a little surprised, but the taste was nice and a little spicy so I gave it no mind. A collective sigh escaped us, and then we all smiled. ¡°So,¡± I began, looking at Bromisnar. ¡°You mentioned a song you wrote. What¡¯s it about?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± he smiled, his pink eyes squinting with glee. ¡°A little song about my chase so far. I¡¯ll go and reserve a spot in the schedule for later.¡± Then asked me, ¡°Would you like to sing something?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I nodded. ¡°Sounds like fun.¡± He nodded, then stood up and walked towards the counter. ¡°So,¡± Bonte began, stretching the ¡®o¡¯ for a few seconds. ¡°Should we head to Paarjo after the Aphelion?¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°We already reached level eight hundred so I doubt an ambush would be any trouble. We can continue improving our skills after that.¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°We can skip Peakside,¡± she said, fixing a lock of white hair behind her right ear. ¡°We have¡­ other business in Paarjo as well.¡± Me, Yolin, and Lapia nodded at that. Bonte raised his eyebrows and shrugged. ¡°Good to me!¡± We continued drinking and roasting each other''s tastes. Bromisnar returned after a few minutes holding a large piece of paper. ¡°I go up in about thirty minutes,¡± he informed us as he took his seat. Then turned to me with a not often seen smirk ¡°You go next, woman of action and decision.¡± ¡°What?¡± I asked, a little confused. ¡°Here,¡± he offered me the large piece of paper, which turned out to be a newspaper. ¡°This section right here.¡± I took the newspaper and cringed harder the further I read. ¡°That bitch!¡± I groaned after reaching the end of the interview. ¡°What is this golden visage of ancient beauty? That''s fucking creepy! What kind of journalism is this?!¡± ¡°What''s that?¡± Lapia tried peeking, and I gave her the pile of misinformation. Shaking my head in denial, I poured myself another glass and drank it. The sweet flavor was a nice addition that eased my despair. What kind of interview is that? Is the entirety of Leks reading that bullshit? I remembered Nilenna''s words about that sneaky panther spreading the interview all over the world. I wanted to choke the bitch. Lapia erupted in laughter, handing the newspaper around. After everyone had their go at it, laughter filled the atmosphere for a few minutes. ¡°This is a stain on my name,¡± I muttered, drinking more. ¡°I should make sure there are no witnesses!¡± ¡°Those are some dangerous words,¡± Yolin said with a chuckle. ¡°Your holy eyes have an ''X'' on them now.¡± ¡°Is there a spell to erase Leks'' population''s memories?¡± I asked Lapia, who was massaging her cheeks after laughing. ¡°Not in a scale that large, unfortunately,¡± she replied, fighting a smile. I sighed. Well, it''s not really that terrible. Still, if I see that woman again I''ll let her know she fucked up. In a not so very nice way. We continued chatting and by the time I had my fifth glass, a deep voice came from my right. ¡°Bromisnar Bahadh, please come to the stage,¡± was the announcement. ¡°My turn,¡± the Satyr smiled and drank the wine left in his glass. ¡°Observe how it''s done.¡± We clapped in anticipation as he walked to the stage. Once there, he sat on a stool and the tavern quieted down. A Tigea waitress handed him a microphone-stand-looking thing that held the cone that amplified the voice at the end. His lute materialized in his hands, then plucked the strings and began playing a playful tune. ¡°Good night, everyone,¡± he said into the cone, then gave a theatrical bow to the audience. ¡°I am here to share with you a little song inspired by my travels.¡± ¡°Yeaah!¡± someone cheered. ¡°A Satyr!¡± another one commented on the obvious. ¡°He''s hot!¡± a female Lupum cheered. Laughter went around the spectators at her words, and the man himself gave the woman a small nod. He raised a hand and everyone quieted down, much to my surprise. ¡°Who is that woman, You may be thinking?¡± he nodded at me as he sang, and I noticed more eyes on me. ¡°Do your eyes deceive you?~ Is she a Changeling?¡± Everyone laughed, including me. His voice was deep and the flow felt more satirical than serious, ironically. The pace was more like a folk song than I expected. ¡°Saravia''s teachings allow me no lies!¡± he continued, looking around the tavern. ¡°Thus, I shall tell you what I''ve seen with my eyes!¡± Is everything going to rhyme? I thought, and noticed Alyssa pouring more wine. ¡°I come from Fatiira, a place you may know,¡± he increased the pace, standing up. ¡°It''s a beautiful country where the suns set low~ I''ve gone around the world, met someone I consider my brother~ East and west our travels have taken us, with a luck like no other~ We met a group of ladies looking for a chase~ We were surprised, we hadn''t seen an Oni in more than a few days!¡± Yolin laughed and clapped. Certainly, she was the only Oni I''ve seen so far. ¡°An Elf from the Queendom, a Luzo from the south~ Lo and behold, a Halve who silenced my mouth~ At first it was a shock, to see a Luzo far from home~ We met south in Mountroad, delved the dungeon in search of gold~ A mystery, I tell you! Then, I witness brutal combat! Flames like Hell brought death in an instant~ Injuries were a memory far distant~ No monster ever came close~ And a golden blur flashed to kill those~ I played my lute, enraptured in the scene~ My brother Bonte going around unseen~ I have witnessed a lot, and a mere night is not enough~ To share the entire chase would be a task quite tough~ I''m done, forgive my boldness~ But this song is still a work in progress~¡± I laughed and clapped along with the rest of the tavern. Bonte whistled and cheered, Lapia smiled and clapped, Alyssa blushed a little, and Yolin was laughing with full lung capacity. ¡°Such a cheeky ending!¡± the Oni managed to say between laughter. ¡°It was pretty good,¡± I commented, then drank another glass. ¡°I could never.¡± The Satyr bowed to the cheers, receiving a few flowers from the enthusiastic crowd. He stored them and smiled at the newly acquired fans. ¡°He sings pretty good, right?¡± Bonte asked with pride. I nodded. ¡°He does,¡± Alyssa agreed. The man in question walked towards us with a big smile, and people resumed their drinking. ¡°How was that?¡± he asked as he sat down. I gave him a thumbs-up as I chugged the last of my vodka. ¡°Natasha Novak, please come to the stage,¡± the ominous voice announced my turn. I stood up without any fanfare and walked towards the stage. ¡°Your Excellency, Bromisnar informed us you play the piano,¡± a waitress said, walking to me while bowing a little. ¡°Should I bring one?¡± I thought for a second, searching my mind for a good song. ¡°Sure,¡± I nodded with a polite smile. ¡°Thanks a bunch.¡± She bowed again and I turned to the entire tavern staring at me. Holy shit. I feel like a zoo animal. I tried to avoid gulping. This was too much attention, even for me. The woman returned, and a fucking grand piano materialized on the stage. My eyes widened a little, and I turned away from the crowd. She placed a stand with the magical cone next to the instrument. I walked to it and sat on the bench, then fiddled with the knob until I found a comfortable position. Clearing my throat, I closed in on the fantasy microphone. ¡°How''s it going?¡± I asked the crowd. I immediately cringed at my choice of words, but the patrons cheered back. ¡°I hope you like this one,¡± I said into the cone and pressed a few keys to test the sound. Let''s go with the rat song. Kator is French, after all. ¡°Les r¨ºves des amoureux sont comme le bon vin~¡± I sang. 29 - First Encounter. As I sang and played the piano, an alarming sensation took place withing me. My fingers moved without issue, my voice came out normal, my sight and hearing worked as they should. I felt a threatening bubbling in my stomach. The kind that nobody wishes to feel when in front of an audience. The stuff of nightmares. I have never had anxiety issues. If anything, I could be considered an extrovert before the pandemics, and I may have missed going out with a violent passion. No. I was about to shit myself. Literally. My stomach turned, and I began sweating a little. Where will you be when diarrhea strikes? I joked in my mind. As the song ended, a little nausea gripped my mind and I wanted to rush to the bathroom with all my strength. I clenched my ass and stood up with a titanic effort. The crowd cheered, but I couldn''t give less than a shit about it, ironically. The woman that brought the piano returned and I approached her with despairing need. ¡°Excuse me,¡± I called out to her. ¡°Where is the bathroom?¡± She gave me a polite smile and turned her back to the audience. ¡°There''s a door at the other side of the counter,¡± she said. ¡°The door to the right is what you''re looking for.¡± I muttered a word of thanks and bailed. ''Bathroom'' I sent Lapia through the Bond. My path was blocked by enthusiastic patrons, saying things I couldn''t care to hear. I just smiled and made my way towards salvation. I was on a crusade to free myself. Someone breathed out smoke and I almost threw up when the fumes hit my face. I covered my mouth and picked up speed, pushing people aside and zooming through the space. Words were said, but I just powered through. I was about to throw up and shit myself at the same time. It was unpleasant and worrying. I made it to the door, and pushed it open. The thing came off the hinges and fell to the ground. I walked over it and looked for the door to the right. My bowels were burning, my fingers were going numb, my hearing felt distant, and my skin itched all over. What the fuck is going on? I wondered as I reached the next door, literally breaking through the thing. A set of stalls welcomed me and I rushed to the closest one in an instant. I grabbed the door and ripped it off. Thankfully nobody was inside. I stored the thing and sat on the toilet. Pulling my panties down, I relaxed and allowed nature to take the wheel. Nothing came out, though. I rested my elbows on my knees, and my head on my hands. ¡°What the fuck?¡± I whispered. ¡°Are you alright, Lady?¡± a childish voice said from far away. I looked up and saw a kid standing in front of me. There was no stall door, so she was staring at me from outside. She was wearing a simple linen shirt and a pair of shorts. ¡°I''m fine, just give me some space,¡± I replied with a shaky voice. ¡°I''m feeling a little unwell, but it''s alright.¡± [Shishi Tigea Child, Lvl 9] ¡°I have some medicine if you want it,¡± she offered, taking a small vial from her shorts'' pocket and showing it. Medicine! I thought, and facepalmed. ¡°You''re a genius, kid,¡± I chuckled and retrieved the best healing potion I had from my storage. ¡°Wait, Lady!¡± she took a step closer. ¡°If you drink that, you may get worse. My uncle is an alchemist, so I know!¡± I stared at the bottle in my right hand. It was a fat bottle with a turquoise liquid inside. It glowed a little, too. If I saw it and didn''t know what it was, I''d mistake it for some foul concoction. ¡°It''s alright,¡± I struggled to smile. I was getting worse by the second. ¡°This is a very powerful elixir that''ll heal me.¡± ¡°But I want you to drink my medicine,¡± she sadly whispered. I saw a few tears forming on the edges of her eyes, and a pout formed on her face. ¡°Listen here, you little shit!¡± I hissed. ¡°I don''t give a fuck about your little medicine. You''re being disrespectful by not leaving me alone. Where are your parents, anyway? Who bothers people when I''m clearly taking a shit?! I''m gonna talk with your parents after I''m done here!¡± The kid began crying, unfortunately. She took another step closer and threw the vial in my direction. ¡°You''re an idiot!¡± she shouted. I was in a state of flight or fight. My innards felt like they were melting, and I was admittedly scared of not knowing what was going on. A shield materialized in my hands and I blocked the vial, which broke on impact. The liquid dripped, and I watched in horror as it made a hole on the floor. Blue-ish smoke came off from the reaction. I popped the cork of my elixir and drank the contents right away. All the bad sensations vanished and I stood up, covering my privates with the shield to not flash the kid. Then, I pulled my panties up before storing the piece of armor along with the empty bottle. I stared at the floor for a few seconds, the hole kept widening. It was close to twenty centimeters in diameter, and about a finger in depth. I held my breath and closed my eyes, then went over the hole as I grabbed the kid after I walked out of the stall. I stopped near the door, which had a hole the size of my body. Taking a deep breath, I put the crying kid down and tried to calm myself. So. Somebody used a kid to try and kill me, I thought. I may have been poisoned, too. I sighed, staring at the little catgirl. I squatted down and put a hand on her small shoulder. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°My bad,¡± I began. ¡°You see, my tummy felt really bad. You know how it goes, right?¡± ¡°Bu-but! You called me a little shit!¡± she cried harder. ¡°You were being naughty,¡± I explained. ¡°Maybe don''t be rude to people, and people won''t be rude to you?¡± ¡°Okay...¡± she said, and sobbed. ¡°I''m sorry...¡± After a minute, she calmed down. ¡°Who gave you the vial?¡± I asked. ¡°The medicine went bad, you see. Maybe we should let them know and they can improve.¡± ¡°A waitress gave it to me,¡± she said, wiping her nose. ¡°My mama works here, and my dad went away on a chase so she has nobody to leave me with.¡± ¡°What about your uncle?¡± I asked. ¡°You said he''s an Alchemist?¡± ¡°He comes to see us sometimes, but it''s been a while,¡± she muttered, a little sadness in her eyes. Fuck me sideways. ¡°It''s okay,¡± I rubbed my eyes. Then asked her, ¡°Why did you offer the medicine to me?¡± ¡°She said a golden lady would come to the bathroom,¡± she explained with a smile. ¡°She said she''ll give me a reward if I gave you the medicine.¡± ¡°Who''s she?¡± I asked with a smile. ¡°I may need to thank her.¡± ¡°Sussanna,¡± she giggled. ¡°She''s my mama''s friend.¡± I nodded. ¡°Did she say anything about anyone else?¡± I asked next. If my lovers were poisoned as well, I''d skin the perpetrators alive. Alyssa is with them, I told myself. She could heal poisons. The kid shook her head. ¡°She only told me about you.¡± I nodded. ¡°Thank you, uh. My name''s Natasha,¡± I introduced myself. ¡°What''s your name?¡± ¡°Olivia!¡± she said with a smile. The little shit that cried was nowhere to be seen. Handling kids is an art. ¡°You''ve been a very good girl, Olivia,¡± I gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Now my tummy doesn''t hurt anymore.¡± The kid nodded and laughed. I heard a door open behind me, and I turned my head. An Elmari Elf walked out of the stall next to the one I used, dragging a female Lupum by the neck. I recognized the Elf immediately. She was the woman that had been staring at me as if I killed her parents. [Elmari Elf, Lvl 300 Sniper] Fuck. ¡°This is the woman you''ve been talking about,¡± she said, dropping the unconscious Lupum in front of me. Her voice was monotone, and her eyes didn''t shift in the slightest. She had short, pitch-black hair that didn''t go past her jaw, making her long ears stand out even more. Her skin was whiter than snow, and she was wearing a sleeveless shirt, a pair of leather pants, and sandals. I looked at the woman on the floor, wearing a waitress uniform. [Lupum, Lvl 98 Brewer] I stood up and equipped my armor, helmet included. I also summoned the shield, placing it in front of Olivia in case the Elf had bad intentions. The thing was a pretty wide circular piece of metal similar to my armor. I had no time to appraise it at the moment, however. The Elf gave me a short nod and continued talking. ¡°I heard her say something about poisoning the alcohol they''d serve you,¡± she told me with a blank face. ¡°I guess the only thing that happened was that you had an upset stomach, instead of killing you. Then, as permitted by International Law, I apprehended and interrogated her on the basis of conspiring against a Protector.¡± This escalated quickly, I thought. ¡°You''re a Watcher?¡± I asked her, a little skeptic. ¡°No,¡± she replied with a shake of her head. ¡°It''s like hunting season, but permanent against those who conspire against Protectors. The entire world is there to help you, as you helped the entire world millions of years ago. Naturally, most people leave you alone to deal with it since you''re unreachable, in a way. It''s dangerous to face those who wish to harm your species. You don''t get in the way of a madman and expect not to get hurt.¡± She talked a whole lot for someone with an expressionless face. ¡°Why leave her alive?¡± I asked. ¡°Killing people is not my hobby,¡± she simply said. ¡°Watchers exist for a reason.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I said, turning to the kid. ¡°Olivia, how about you go to your mama? I''m gonna talk with the two ladies for a while. It seems Sussanna doesn''t feel too good.¡± ¡°Is she going to be okay?¡± she asked, gripping her shirt. ¡°She will,¡± I lied. ¡°I have more medicine, remember?¡± ¡°Right,¡± she said, taking a step back. ¡°I''ll let my mama know, okay?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I gave a nod. The kid turned around and left the bathroom through the hole on the door. I stored my shield and faced the Elf as I walked to the unconscious woman. Who lied? I wondered. A tavern waitress can''t possibly have concocted a poison that affected me. If anything, the Elf looks suspicious as fuck. I nodded. After the kid left, anger boiled inside me. My life was endangered once again, and I''d do the same to those who attempted to kill me, even if they failed. ¡°Makes sense,¡± I muttered. With two quick steps, I grabbed the Elf by the neck and lifted her. ¡°Ngnhn?!¡± her eyes widened, but I applied enough pressure to keep her from talking. She grabbed my arm and tried freeing herself with no success. Her legs flung around, kicking my armor. I didn''t budge in the slightest. ¡°Now,¡± I began. ¡°I''m not really a violent woman, but you''re telling me a level ninety-eight waitress is responsible for poisoning me and attempting to kill me. That sounds like bullshit.¡± She shook her head, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks. ¡°Did you poison a Luzo?¡± I asked, and tightened my fingers around her neck. She shook her head. ¡°How about an Elf?¡± I asked. She shook her head again. ¡°An Oni?¡± she shook her head. ¡°A Satyr?¡± again no. ¡°A Tigea?¡± Again she shook her head. With my other hand, I stretched a finger and placed it right above her left clavicle. ¡°Are you lying to me?¡± I asked. She denied it once more. I pressed against the soft tissue with a little force and her face contorted in pain. ¡°Is there a way for me to know you''re not lying? I don''t really fancy torture, but I''m not a paragon of justice either.¡± She nodded. ¡°I''m going to let go of your neck now,¡± I closed in on her. Then, I whispered, ¡°If you scream, you die.¡± She nodded again and I relaxed my grip on her neck. I didn''t let go, though. Risks are for fools. ¡°Who-cough!¡± she choked and blinked a few times. ¡°Who?¡± I pressed her to continue. She looked at me and said, in a quick barrage of words, something that shocked me to my core. ¡°Who was in Paris?¡± she asked. Then continued, ¡°Hoho? You''re approaching me? Rush B!¡± As she finished, she began crying. I let her go and she fell down on the floor. Well... this is fucked up... I thought, looking up at the bathroom ceiling. I felt the cold hand of regret grip my soul. 30 - Attempted Deicide. A long sigh escaped me as I looked down at the crying woman. I remembered Lapia telling me not to become paranoid. I jumped to conclusions while angry and panicking. I''m not going into the justifying rabbit-hole, I though, looking at the Lupum. A chuckle escaped me. ¡°Did I injure you?¡± I asked the Elf sitting on the floor. She shook her head, and hiccuped while wiping snot and tears. ¡°Can you stand up?¡± I asked next. In all honesty, I didn''t really had the time to care for a potentially level 900 person. I was just poisoned, and could have died. My priorities were less on the social morality and more on the primal survival aspect of things. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. She nodded and slowly stood up. ¡°Okay,¡± I sighed. ¡°Let''s go over what just happened so we can see where things went to shit. I''m assuming we''re both adults here.¡± She nodded and leaned back on the bathroom stall. She was looking at me with a great deal of caution. Something completely understandable, and something I would have appreciated from the start. ¡°I''ll go first,¡± I said, replacing my armor with the summer dress I was wearing. ¡°First, I was poisoned, most likely. I can''t really think of anything that can actually make me feel like that other than poison. Then, a little girl comes and offers me acid to ''fix the pain'', claiming someone else pushed her to it. Then, you show up,¡± I gestured at her. ¡°Claiming that the... objectively weaker woman did it. I''m being ''hunted'' by some weird group of people that I know close to nothing about. You, an unknown woman that had been staring at me for quite a while, showed up with incredibly convenient timing.¡± She frowned and nodded. Then, I continued. ¡°I''m not saying I was in the right, but you won''t get an apology from me either,¡± I said, resting my hands on my hips. ¡°Being from Earth does not make us friends in any way, shape, or form. Nor does that make you any different from the people around us. Yes, I''m a total bitch if that means peace of mind and safety for my partners.¡± She produced some napkins and cleaned her face. Then, she walked to the sink and washed her hands. After taking a deep breath, she started talking. ¡°I read about you on the newspaper,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I saw your drawing and recognized your signature, RuNash,¡± she tried smiling, but failed. I raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°It was the first thing from Earth I had seen in Galeia, so I got really excited. I am a big fan of your work, and I wanted to meet you so I mounted up and made my way to Lumin Kingdom. After asking about you, I followed your trail. I have a really good tracking skill, you see. When I got here, I heard you were staying here as well, so I just waited. I came to have a drink and then you showed up. I didn''t lie about the waitress and the poison. I really heard that. Then, I did something stupid because I wanted to look cool. I even came up with a few lines.¡± she let out a sad laugh. I was dying inside. RuNash was not my official tag, it was the account I used to upload spicy content on Twatter. In other words, the horny account. I didn''t expect someone to recognize it in another world. It was a habit to sign my sketches with that tag since it was easy and short. ¡°I see,¡± I said after a few seconds. ¡°Also, you didn''t really hurt me. It was mostly the fear of looking death in the eye that shocked me,¡± she fixed her hair and shirt. ¡°I''ve been through worse out there. I got impaled once, and lost both legs shortly after.¡± Pretty tame. ¡°Good to know,¡± I nodded. ¡°So, what did you learn from the Lupum?¡± She was confused for a second, looking at me as if I grew legs instead of eyes. ¡°You''re not excited to meet someone from Earth?¡± she asked in disbelief. ¡°Not in the slightest,¡± I replied. ¡°I don''t care about Earth. Maybe a little curiosity, but that''d be it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± she took a step closer to me. ¡°I miss smartphones, the internet, memes, anime, and a lot more.¡± ¡°I''m not going to tell you,¡± I sighed, running a hand through my hair. ¡°Anyway, what''s your name?¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± she shrugged. ¡°My name used to be Evelynn Heart. My current name is Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che.¡± I stared at her for a second. She did a clicking sound, and another that reminded me of Lapia''s clothes. It sounded like Po(click)orra Pejjke. ¡°I''m sorry, what?¡± ¡°You can call me Pokora,¡± she chuckled. I looked at the Lupum on the ground, then back at her. ¡°That''s unnaturally similar to the war criminal,¡± I commented. ¡°I know,¡± she groaned. ¡°I blame my classmates back at school.¡± ¡°Riiiight,¡± I sighed. Then, I tried to alleviate the atmosphere, ¡°Well, I can''t answer who was in Paris.¡± ¡°I can''t either,¡± she laughed. I carefully looked at her. She bounced back pretty fast considering what happened. ¡°You okay now?¡± I asked, looking her in the eye. ¡°Mh?¡± she tilted her head. ¡°Bitch, that was a little choking and poking. You didn''t flay me alive or used my bones as needles to stab me under my fingernails.¡± ¡°Don''t call me a bitch,¡± I warned her. ¡°And that''s worryingly descriptive.¡± ¡°Right,¡± she sighed, then smiled. ¡°You''re pretty tall.¡± I nodded. Elves used the weirdest coping methods, even if she used to be human. ¡°Also, your accent is thicker than a bowl of oatmeal.¡± I closed my eyes and took a deep breath through my nose. ¡°Alright,¡± I sighed. ¡°I''ll ask again, what did you learn from the Lupum?¡± ¡°She was blackmailed into poisoning the alcohol,¡± she said, looking down at the woman in question. ¡°Couldn''t you have said so from the start, you moron?¡± I sighed. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°I was going to, but someone choked me,¡± she scowled. ¡°That doesn''t mean ''from the start'', you idiot!¡± I glared back. Her eyes widened. ¡°Your iris change when you''re angry?¡± she asked, surprised. ¡°Do you want a fucking slap?¡± I asked back, a little pissed. ¡°I''m not playing games here.¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± she sighed. ¡°Well, I may have been too excited to meet you.¡± I crouched and pulled another elixir. Popping the cork, I raised the Lupum''s head and slowly pured a little into her mouth. Her body reacted and she swallowed the liquid. I didn''t go through Hell to please fans and play nice. ''Sussanna'', if that was even her name, slowly woke up and froze as her eyes met mine. ''Come'' I sent to Alyssa. ''Bathroom'' I sent to Yolin. ''Now'' I sent to Bonte. I looked into her violet eyes and saw a little fear. ¡°I was told you poisoned my alcohol. How about you remember everything and tell me?¡± She nodded and a few tears feel down her face. ¡°Please don''t kill me!¡± Sussanna begged. ¡°That''s up to you and your answers,¡± I replied. ¡°That''s not right,¡± the Elf interjected. ¡°Grow up,¡± I calmly said. In my humble opinion, I was doing a pretty good job of controlling my anger. The Elf wasn''t helping at all, and I gave up on being polite. She looked away, crossed her arms, and shook her head. The sound of footsteps reached me and I turned my head to the door. I realized my position was pretty bad if an assassin or something came in, so I re-positioned myself facing the door. A Tigea wearing a waitress uniform popped up, and my face soured. Probably Olivia''s mother. ¡°What''s going on?¡± the new arrival asked, then looked at the woman on the floor. ¡°Sussanna?!¡± ¡°Who broke the door?¡± Lapia''s voice came from outside the bathroom. ¡°Probably Natasha,¡± Yolin laughed. ¡°I bet she had a massive one to dump.¡± I chuckled and felt a little calmer. Alyssa''s giggle made me smile, and Bromisnar grunt of disgust managed to make me laugh. The Tigea walked into the bathroom followed by my companions, and I noticed Olivia hiding behind her mother. Alyssa approached me and crouched next to me, then placed a hand on top of the Lupum''s stomach. A white light came out of her hand and Sussanna let out a groan of pain, followed by a sigh of relief. ¡°She had a few broken bones, but nothing life-threatening,¡± she said, and turned to me. I showed her the elixir, and got a nod in response. ¡°Have you decided to talk?¡± I asked the woman still on the floor. She nodded. ¡°A few days ago, a Changeling came to the Sharp Paw,¡± she began with a shaky voice. ¡°They told me I had to poison a Halve if I had the chance. They''d return after the Aphelion and check if I did it, and kill me if I failed.¡± ¡°What?¡± Alyssa gasped, then turned to me. ¡°You were poisoned?!¡± ¡°That''s right,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°I felt pretty bad, then drank an elixir and got better.¡± I turned to the Lupum, and raised an eyebrow. ¡°I was given two vials,¡± she continued, closing her eyes. ¡°I poured one in your potato spirit, then told Olivia to give you the second dose if you came to the bathroom.¡± ¡°YOU WHAT?!¡± the unknown Tigea shouted in horror. ¡°HOW COULD YOU? SHE''S MY DAUGHTER!¡± ¡°I''m sorry, Celeste. I didn''t want to die,¡± Sussanna sobbed. ¡°I thought a Halve wouldn''t harm a child even if all was revealed.¡± ¡°Well, this got complicated,¡± Yolin muttered. ¡°Celeste, was it?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± the woman answered, a bit on the edge. ¡°How about you go get the Watchers?¡± the Oni offered. ¡°This is not a place for a child to be.¡± I saw confusion in the woman''s eyes. Hurt, worry, and uncertainty. After a few seconds of self-reflection, she nodded and walked away with Olivia. ¡°What''s this hole?¡± Lapia asked, looking at the product of the acid. ¡°That''s the second vial, I guess,¡± I replied. ¡°Olivia threw it at me and I blocked it, then the contents spilled and made a hole on the floor.¡± ¡°Looks pretty strong,¡± Bonte commented, then crouched next to the hole. ¡°Smells like nikontia.¡± Everyone sighed, and I just nodded. I had no clue what that was, and it wasn''t time to ask. ¡°It''s a plant-based acid, it''s used in mining and industrial work,¡± Alyssa whispered next to my ear. Bless this woman! ¡°But that wouldn''t be enough to kill a Halve,¡± Lapia commented, standing next to Bonte. ¡°At least not Natasha.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Bromisnar spoke up, pointing at Pokora. ¡°Who''s that woman?¡± ¡°My name is Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che. I apprehended and interrogated the Lupum after hearing her talking about poisoning a Protector. Then, I handed her over to Natasha who, in her infinite gratitude, choked me,¡± she said, giving me a smirk. I sighed and shook my head. Good thing she''s not talking about Earth shit. ¡°Meh, you''re alive,¡± Lapia simply said, shrugging. Yolin laughed loudly, and Alyssa tried not to smile. Bromisnar and Bonte shook their heads, but chuckled. ¡°What''s that supposed to mean?¡± Pokora asked, confused. ¡°I said you''re in one piece,¡± Lapia replied, uninterested. ¡°I''m sure you''ve heard the saying ''A Halve doesn''t attack without reason'', right?¡± ¡°A viper doesn''t bite unless you step on it?¡± Yolin supplied with her arms behind her head. Pokora just shook her head with a sigh. ¡°What''s your name?¡± Alyssa asked the Lupum. ¡°Sussanna,¡± she replied. ¡°Thank you for healing me.¡± ¡°It''s okay,¡± the Luzo smiled gently. ¡°Make sure you explain properly and with names when the Watchers come. If you do a good job, I''m sure you''ll only serve a little over a century at the Endless Pit.¡± My eyes widened. ¡°How come?¡± I asked her, pretty shocked. ¡°Well, if she was the sole perpetrator, she''d get life,¡± Alyssa smiled. ¡°But she was just an accessory to attempted deicide, so only a century.¡± Only?! But Lupum live up to what? 500 years...? I thought. So it''s like going to prison for twenty years? I shook my head. If anything, it was a light punishment. Attempting to end a being that lived 10.000 years shouldn''t be paid with just 100 years of prison. ¡°What''s deicide?¡± I asked in a whisper, leaning in on Alyssa. She bit her lips for a second, fighting a smile. ¡°Killing a higher being, like Halves or Gods,¡± she replied, looking me in the eye. I just nodded. I''d have her tell me every single crime there is when we reach Paarjo. Good thing I called them over. I had no clue on what to do. Looking at each of my companions, I smiled. ¡°Also, Pokh''Orra could face charges for assault and battery,¡± Alyssa continued with a serious expression. ¡°Sussanna''s level is what? Ten percent of yours? That''s unnecessary violence, bordering on torture of people below you in power. You broke more than a few bones. If you go to court, they could see Natasha as protecting her from further harm by choking you no matter the circumstance, considering your levels.¡± ¡°Well... shit,¡± the Elf muttered. 31 - Conclusion? "What are you talking about?" Yolin asked, leaning on the wall. "She apprehended her on suspicion of attempted deicide. The perpetrator has confessed, thus her rights are irrelevant from the moment Natasha was poisoned. While there could be grounds for scrutiny due to the evident difference in power, you can''t simply look away from the fact Sussanna tried to kill a Halve. She can''t report Pokh''Orra." "Does the fact she was threatened to do it influence anything?" I asked. Sussanna closed her eyes and resigned herself to fate. I stood up and scowled at her. If she ended up going to prison, I hoped she''d rot in there. "No, it doesn''t," the Oni replied with a shake of her head. "She should have gone to the Watchers. If, let''s say, she was killed after reporting it, that''d be a different story. We can''t operate on hypothetical scenarios, though." I nodded, that made sense to me. "Sure," Alyssa interjected, standing up and turning to Yolin. "But the fact that Pokh''Orra acted without concrete evidence remains. People can''t just act based on hearsay. We''d have people killing each other claiming they heard the other party say they''d kill a Halve all the time if that was the case." "True," Yolin nodded with a serious face, which was quite pretty. "That''s why suspects are to be kept alive for interrogation. Natasha, a Halve, has just conducted it and Sussanna confessed with six witnesses. You can''t get more legal than that. No matter the court, they will see Pokh''Orra''s actions as justified now that the truth came out. A few broken bones are ''fair game'' for a crime like that." Okay, this... is pretty complicated. Why are we talking about law? I want some hugs and kisses. Someone tried to kill me, you know? I grumbled in my mind. I''m not an unfeeling husk. The rest were listening to the exchange, nodding every now and then. Pokora''s eyes were wide open, apprehension evident in her expression. "Yes, that''s the case," Alyssa replied, crossing her arms under her chest. "But that applies only if the difference in level is less than ten percent. Any kind of violence against people under that limit is not justifiable, and is a crime regardless of intent and result.¡± ¡°You''re right, Alyssa,¡± Yolin said with a smile. ¡°But this is not just murder we''re talking about. The law treats deicide differently, especially attempted deicide and those responsible. If what you say was the case in any circumstance, Halves wouldn''t be able to keep people in check due to the massive difference in level.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Lapia interrupted, walking to me. ¡°That''s not for us to decide. We''re Natasha''s partners so our view is biased.¡± The Wizard stood in front of me and wrapped her arms around me. I returned the hug and relaxed. Her dark blonde hair smelled fruity, and her warm body calmed my nerves. ¡° Also, she used a child to commit a crime... that''s life sentence in any country,¡± Bonte supplied, glaring at the Lupum. ¡°Fucking coward.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°I... didn''t think of that.¡± ¡°That''s what she gets,¡± Bromisnar added with disdain. Sussanna started crying in silence, her body jerked a few times and tears flowed. ¡°Haa...¡± Yolin sighed. ¡°Child abuse and attempted deicide. Pokh''Orra won''t face any legal repercussions since a child is involved.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± the Elf in question asked, perking up. ¡°Seriously,¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°Levels don''t matter anymore once a child is involved. You could even claim you harmed her to protect a child. Anyone would stand behind that.¡± Pokora sighed in relief and leaned her back on the wall. ¡°Well... that settles that, then,¡± Yolin looked at Sussanna. ¡°You fucked up.¡± Everyone nodded. I kept quiet, letting the anger calm down while huggin Lapia. If not for the Lupum maybe knowing who was behind it all, I would have killed her without hesitation. Something that was admittedly worrying, but not out of the realm of reason in my humble opinion. I gave myself a pat on the back for not losing my cool. Pokora''s matter was another story altogether. A trio of footsteps approached the bathroom and two Watchers made their appearance, followed by Celeste. Lapia let me go and held my hand, smiling at me. I smiled back and gave her a wink. A tall-ish woman was on the front, her blue feline eyes and round ears taking the scene in front of her. She wore the recognizable Watcher uniform, with a badge on her chest that read ''Lakeview Watcher Peloton'' in French above a pickax and ship. A thin, long sword was attached to her waist, and she wore plated gauntlets. Her fur, or hair, was pitch-black, which reminded me of Lady Dabrak. [Egys Tigea, Lvl 251 Rodelero] A man followed her, his eyes locked on the woman on the floor. He had tall ears and amber feline eyes. Wearing the same uniform and badge, he was a little shorter than his co-worker. He wore leather gloves and a pair of daggers were strapped to his forearms. [Shishi Tigea, Lvl 208 Binder] Celeste had an angry expression, and her eyes were impaling Sussanna. [Celeste, Shishi Tigea lvl 121 Enchanter] The warrior''s eyes stopped on me and she gave me a respectful nod. ¡°You Excellency,¡± she curtsied. Her voice was mature, not at all out of place coming from a policewoman cat lady. ¡°My name is Lorena Oriz, captain of Lakeview''s Watcher Peloton.¡± The names of people didn''t really sound French, but I didn''t dwell on it long. I nodded back. ¡°Natasha Novak, a Chaser,¡± I introduced myself. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Ranulf Trok,¡± the man said. He sighed and approached Sussanna, flipped her on her stomach and tied her hands behind her back with a piece of rope. The Lupum didn''t protest, and kept silently crying. ¡°We heard what happened from Celeste, and we''d like to get everybody''s testimony,¡± Lorena announced as Ranulf helped Susanna stand up. ¡°If that''s not an inconvenience, naturally.¡± I nodded, honestly annoyed our night out was fucked. I wanted to get a little wasted and fool around with my girlfriends, but reality is often disappointing. After Sussanna was properly restrained with the rope, we followed Lorena through the Sharp Paw. I was a little embarrassed as we passed through the broken doors I felt in a hurry. I leaned on Lapia and asked in a whisper. ¡°Hey, will I get fined for breaking the doors?¡± ¡°Natasha, you were poisoned,¡± she said and let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°I don''t think that matters at all.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I replied, a little relieved. Then, I asked, ¡°What''s with the rope?¡± ¡°That''s Numbing Rope,¡± she replied with a scowl, tightening her hand around mine. I noticed the tavern had very few patrons left, and a few Watchers were talking with the Staff. Once outside, Lorena guided us to the Watcher''s office, which was a blue wooden house with Lumin Kingdom''s crest in red. We entered and made our way to a large office, and Ranulf took Sussanna through a different door, probably to a cell. The cat lady turned to us and gestured for us to take a seat. The eight of us sat down and she stood behind a large desk. ¡°Olivia is talking with a Cleric Watcher who''s making sure she has no lasting trauma,¡± Lorena informed Celeste. The mother nodded, biting her lips in frustration. ¡°Sussanna has been a family friend for nearly forty years...¡± she whispered, then a sob escaped her. ¡°How could she?! She''s like an aunt to Olivia...¡± Yikes. Then, Lorena looked at me. ¡°Your Excellency, may I hear what happened from Your Excellency''s perspective?¡± she asked with a serious face. ¡°First, could you just call me Natasha?¡± I sighed. ¡°Calling me like that will only make things complicated.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± she agreed with a short nod. Thank fuck. I retold what happened, from the waitress that served the alcohol, which wasn''t Sussanna, to Olivia''s words and what happened after that. Pokora followed with her side, having heard most of the conversation about poisoning me. Turns out, two waitresses were in cahoots to kill me. Sussanna and some Elena. The mention of a group ''hunting'' me didn''t surprise Lorena at all, but she still wrote down the details. Bromisnar and Bonte recounted having seen a suspicious person in Mountroad, and the captain asked a metric ton of questions, which we answered. After around an hour and a half, Lorena had compiled the information and was looking at me with a slightly complicated expression. ¡°Lady Natasha, the law dictates we grant you a ''Kill on Sight'' permission for anyone going after your life,¡± she declared. ¡°As a Halve, your judgment leaves us with a calm mind. If any of your companions are targeted as a result, Lumin Kingdom will readily assist you in any legal matter concerning this organization.¡± That was quite the help. ¡°Does this happen often?¡± I asked. ¡°I''m ashamed to say it does,¡± she looked down at the stack of papers in front of her. ¡°His Excellency Miraztor was targeted as well when he visited Lumin Kingdom. As a Cleric, he had very few options to fight back but with his bare fists. I believe this group thinks you''ll act the same way. I hope you change their minds.¡± ¡°Wait...¡± I thought for a second. ¡°Miraztor came here like a thousand years ago, right?¡± ¡°He did,¡± Lorena replied. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°So you''ve let this group of people be for a thousand years?¡± I asked, a little shocked and a little angry. ¡°You didn''t raid them? Investigate? I don''t know... go undercover or something?¡± ¡°We''ve tried,¡± she nodded. ¡°But we haven''t had any real lead. They have targeted only you two over the last thousand years.¡± I sighed. ¡°Alright,¡± I shrugged. ¡°Don''t blame me if one day you have to follow a trail of bodies.¡± ¡°We won''t,¡± she shook her head. ¡°And thank you for understanding,¡± she said with a smile. Then, she turned to Pokora, ¡±As for Lady Pokh''Orra, you assisted in the capture of a criminal, so a reward is in order. Attempted deicide is not a common crime, as we already know. While your actions didn''t keep it from happening, your aid is appreciated nonetheless. How does fifty silver coins sound?¡± Pokora nodded in agreement. She had been mostly silent through everything, only speaking when Lorena addressed her. ¡°Sounds good,¡± she replied. Lorena then produced a leather pouch and handed it over to Pokora, who accepted it with a word of gratitude. ¡°A court case will be held tomorrow morning, if you wish to attend,¡± the captain continued, looking at each of us. ¡°It''s not mandatory since the criminal herself confessed and the matter is considered as solved.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± Yolin said with a nod. ¡°Are we done here?¡± Lorena nodded, and we all stood up. ¡°If you learn anything, please let me know,¡± I told her as I walked out of the office with everybody. She simply nodded. Celeste stayed behind, waiting for her daughter. We made it to the street, the many poles keeping night away. I thought back on the day''s happening and a chuckle left me. We had been enjoying a nice day at the lake, I had steamy hot sex with Alyssa, then we went for drinks and someone tried to kill me. ¡°What a day,¡± I said, letting out the millionth sigh. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Alyssa asked, holding my hand. Her eyes showed worry, and mostly relief. I nodded, caressing her face with a hand. ¡°You sure?¡± Yolin stroked my cheek and gave me a soft kiss. ¡°Mostly angry, but nothing happened in the end,¡± I shrugged, licking my lips. ¡°We''re all alive, and that''s what matters.¡± Lapia nodded at my words, and gave me a big smile. The atmosphere was nice. Nobody got hurt and the night could still continue if we bought alcohol and returned to the cabin. I was a little stressed. Maybe a little group se- ¡°I don''t mean to interrupt,¡± Pokora said, interrupting my thoughts. ¡°Since the Sharp Paw closed for the night due to what happened, we could go to my place and have some proper drinks?¡± I looked at her for a few seconds. While at first I wanted to maybe meet people from Earth, it wasn''t what I initially expected. Choking aside, the indifference towards Earth didn''t change. If anything, I was more interested in her classes and her life as an Elmari Elf, rather than who she was before. ¡°I''m Yolin Makav, by the way,¡± the Oni introduced herself. ¡°Lapia Pofeta,¡± the Elf followed. ¡°Alyssa Pruvik,¡± the Luzo said. ¡°Bromisnar Bahadh,¡± the tall Satyr said. ¡°Bonte Slirmy,¡± the short catboy gave her a nod. ¡°Are they your harem?¡± Pokora asked, her eyes full of surprise looking into mine. I sighed and facepalmed. 32 - Reincarnators Chat ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin burst out in laughter at Pokora''s silly words, Bromisnar shook his head and sighed, and Bonte let out an amused chuckle. ¡°What makes you think that?¡± I asked the dumbfounded Elf. ¡°I mean, yeah... kind of stupid to just blurt that out,¡± Pokora said, rubbing her forehead. ¡°My bad, the stress is getting to me.¡± I nodded. It was indeed a pretty stressful night so far. All I wanted to do was drink and let loose as far as my annoyingly resilient liver allowed. ¡°Okay,¡± I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. ¡°I''m fine with a drinking party at your place.¡± I turned to the rest and approving responses were given. It seemed like everyone wanted the night to continue. ¡°Let''s make a stop at the Church to buy alcohol and we can go,¡± Alyssa cheered, wiping a tear of joy. Yolin held my hand and we walked at the front of the group, spearheading the quest for alcohol. Bromisnar and Bonte started making conversation with Pokora, and Alyssa walked next to Lapia, holding hands and talking. ¡°Were you scared?¡± Yolin asked me out of the blue as we turned a corner. People were going home, a few drunk women singing on the street a bit far from us. ¡°Extremely,¡± I nodded, biting my lips. ¡°Then, I calmed down a lot when you showed up.¡± She smiled and her sky blue eyes got me smiling back. She put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a tight squeeze. ¡°Thank you for depending on us, Natasha,¡± she whispered, kissing my neck. ¡°When we get to this level of power, we tend to forget how important it is to maintain relationships. I''m glad you decided to ask for help.¡± ¡°I''m not indestructible, Yolin,¡± I said back, hugging her waist. ¡°At least not inside, where it matters.¡± She nodded, taking my chin with her free hand and giving me a long kiss. Being a Halve, having super strength, being super respected, and being super high level were nothing compared to having lovers that cared for me. That''s where I thought of myself as a fortunate woman. I felt giddy and lifted her body, spinning a few times as we kissed. Her warm tongue was delicious, and her hard body made me feel safe in a way I had never felt before. I put her down and we laughed, then continued walking to the Church. We bought fifty bottles in total, as high constitution increased alcohol tolerance. Pokora then brought us to a small, cozy inn ran by a Tigea couple. Sitting on the floor of her apartment''s living room, we resumed our night. Bromisnar sang a couple folk songs about Halves that speculated on our origin, claiming golden Halves like me came from the suns, and the silver variant came from the white moon. Pretty silly nowadays, but interesting nonetheless. Bonte told us about a young lady that courted him some fifty years ago, and I remembered the catboy was actually 143 years old. His high pitch voice and cheerful attitude with a penchant for edgy names really confused me. Alyssa shared some dungeon horror stories from her time in the Koluum Kingdom, going into unnecessary detail when talking about a doppelganger that almost caused a party wipe. The creature had copied her, and some pretty scary shit went down. Pokora told us about one of her chases where she tracked a big monster through the mountains to the north, through cold peaks and dangerous valleys full of dangerous plants. We laughed, gasped, and screamed in fear at the many stories that were shared. The alcohol was quickly consumed and, as usual, Bonte got drunk beyond measure and blacked out. Alyssa healed him enough to not have a hangover, but didn''t heal the entirety of the effect. The Tigea enjoyed being drunk a little too much. Bromisnar tucked him in a traveling sleeping bag and retreated to a room Pokora lent him for the night after a few wine bottles. I had a step in the drunk realm after around seven bottles of vodka, and a really nice buzz clouded my mind. Lapia was her usual horny self and, along a slightly drunk Alyssa, showered Yolin with affection and kisses. The Oni was happy about it, and the three flirted in their drunken stupor. Alcohol is indeed the best thing any civilization can produce. ¡°Natasha,¡± Pokora called to me as I watched them laugh and talk nonsense. ¡°Yeah?¡± I asked, turning to her with a smile on my face. ¡°Could we talk for a bit outside?¡± she asked, her cheeks flushed by the alcohol. ¡°Sure,¡± I nodded, standing up. I followed her to another room with a balcony. Fortunately for my heart, we were on the first floor, so the street was less than two meters below us. The lake was in sight, the two visible moons reflected on the surface made a stunning picture. She leaned on the veranda after closing the window that separated the apartment from the balcony, and I squatted down with two bottles next to me. ¡°You really are Russian, huh?¡± she joked. ¡°That''s a stereotype, you know?¡± I said back. ¡°The entire world squats to relax. It''s the ultimate position.¡± She chuckled at that, shaking her head and taking a sip from a whiskey bottle. ¡°A Halve, huh?¡± she said, looking at the lake. ¡°An Elf,¡± I replied. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°Haaa...¡± she sighed. ¡°Infancy, childhood, and puberty again do incredible things to one''s mind.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I nodded, looking at the lake. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Forty-nine,¡± she said. ¡°I''m still in puberty. Haven''t had my first period. Can you imagine that?¡± ¡°No, I can''t,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°It''s been almost two months since I got here and I haven''t had my own. But it''s pretty nice, not dealing with that shit.¡± ¡°True that!¡± she laughed. ¡°Cheers.¡± She turned and we knocked bottles. ¡°To not having periods every month,¡± I toasted. We took long sips from our bottles, and sighed after. ¡°One thing I have to admit,¡± she said in a low voice. ¡°Men.¡± I nodded. ¡°It''s refreshing, isn''t it?¡± I asked with a long sigh, looking up at the moons. ¡°They cry, are sensible, and so much more.¡± ¡°It''s like a utopia,¡± she confirmed, looking down at her bottle. ¡°If any man from Earth reincarnates here, I''m sure they''d find a measure of freedom.¡± ¡°So you think that way, too?¡± I asked, looking up at her. Her dull silver eyes looked into mine, a smile on her face. ¡°How many times did you see a man cry on Earth?¡± she asked, her face turning serious. ¡°Less than I would have liked,¡± I replied. ¡°Here, though... Bromisnar cries when he sees beauty, affection, and when he hears good music.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she nodded. ¡°And there''s no religion to repress sexuality either. Shit, even the Gods promote love for literally everyone. If only...¡± She sighed, not finishing the sentence. I understood the meaning either way. ¡°When did you die?¡± I asked the hard question. ¡°2040,¡± she replied, shaking her head. ¡°Fuck pandemics.¡± ¡°Fuck pandemics!¡± I cheered, raising my bottle and then drinking more. ¡°I...¡± she began, struggling to continue. ¡°Didn''t... want to die.¡± I let out a long sigh. ¡°Who wants to?¡± I countered, standing up and placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Life was already hard, with how Earth turned out to be.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! She nodded, her lower lip trembling. ¡°I had a pretty successful career, you know?¡± she said with a sniff that threatened to make her cry. Evelynn Heart, I thought, trying to remember if I had heard the name before. Then, it hit me. My eyes went wide. ¡°2032 Olympic games, Evelynn Heart,¡± I blurted out. ¡°Gold Medal for the United Kingdom in Archery!¡± She nodded, a few tears rolling down her face. ¡°Yeah...¡± she said with a shaky voice, then her face turned sad as she turned my way. ¡°That... was me...¡± She tightly hugged me. I returned the hug, rubbing her back and saying ''it''s okay'' as she cried for a few minutes. She was quite shorter than me, her head reached my shoulders. ¡°Even though I already mourned my own death, it hits different when talking to you,¡± she said, breaking the hug and wiping her tears. Then, she laughed, ¡°I must look like some stalker.¡± ¡°Without context, yeah,¡± I replied with a chuckle, patting her shoulder. ¡°I understand you, though. You wanted to meet someone from Earth. There''s nothing wrong with that.¡± ¡°Yeah... nothing wrong with that,¡± she agreed. ¡°I consider myself an Elf through and through, though.¡± ¡°That''s good. You look really different,¡± I commented, looking at her and remembering the tall British woman I saw on TV. ¡°You''re whiter than before, for example.¡± We laughed at that. ¡°And you''re golden all over, except those rapper''s silver teeth,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°And you don''t sound posh,¡± I said back, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I don''t even remember how that sounded,¡± she said with a chuckle. ¡°Speaking Elvish for fifteen years straight was enough to made me forget.¡± ¡°Blimey, oh golly. Let''s eat some fish and chips. Pretty rude of you to shank me in broad daylight, laddy,¡± I said, poorly imitating the accent. ¡°The London bridge is falling, mate. Bo''ol o'' wo''ah. How can you tell I''m Bri''ish? Let us commence forth. Oi luv, I''ve ''ad me instafans set up, yeah? Wif me nyudes and it''s quite cheap innit, 5 quid to see me bum and fanny.¡± She was unimpressed, with a raised eyebrow and squinted eyes. ¡°You made fun of my accent first,¡± I said with a shrug. ¡°Because you say your r''s harder than reactor number 4,¡± she said with a smirk. ¡°Holy shit, that''s evil,¡± I said, my eyes going wide. ¡°Don''t make fun of that! People died.¡± ¡°Didn''t you say you don''t care about Earth?¡± she asked, crossing her arms. ¡°That doesn''t mean I disregard the deaths of innocent people,¡± I shook my head with a sigh. ¡°Let''s not talk about Earth.¡± ¡°Yeah, let''s,¡± she agreed with a nod. I took a long sip of my bottle since the effect was wearing off. ¡°Well, I know a little about Galeia,¡± I admitted. ¡°Lapia teaches me about E''er every day, Alyssa sucks at explaining the Laws of Life, and I haven''t read on history at all.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± she nodded. ¡°So you''re the ''born sexy yesterday'' type, huh?¡± ¡°From their point of view, yeah,¡± I chuckled. ¡°I told them I lived on Earth before, though.¡± ¡°I see...¡± she muttered, leaning on the veranda. ¡°So, are they your harem?¡± ¡°No,¡± I replied, looking at the moons. ¡°Alyssa, Lapia, Yolin, and me are in a relationship. It''s not a harem, however. Bromisnar and Bonte are our friends. I haven''t told the two about Earth, though. I''d appreciate it if you don''t mention that around them.¡± ¡°Reasonable,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°So you got three girlfriends in two months... that''s pretty alpha.¡± ¡°What can I say,¡± I laughed. ¡°What about you? Did you come alone?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she nodded. ¡°Haven''t been in a relationship once.¡± ¡°In forty-nine years?!¡± I asked in shock. ¡°How come you''re not a Wizard?¡± She scoffed. ¡°Women are too pushy, and men are too soft,¡± she said with a long sigh. ¡°Yikes.¡± An awkward silence followed. I drank more vodka. ¡°So, you''re an Archer?¡± I changed the subject. ¡°Putting archery to good use, nice.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she nodded, and took a swig of her bottle. ¡°I still had to learn a lot, this skill system thing is pretty complex.¡± ¡°Which God was it for the Archer path?¡± I asked. ¡°Pitela,¡± she replied. ¡°The Eternal Huntress. And now Nilenna represents Archery within the Halves.¡± ¡°Have you seen her?¡± I asked. ¡°Nilenna, I mean.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she nodded. ¡°She''s a looker, like you but silver.¡± ¡°You won''t get under my panties with that weak game,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Sorry, didn''t mean to make it like that. Gotten used to my girlfriends.¡± ¡°It''s fine,¡± she shrugged. ¡°Things are very different here. For one, Halves are... pretty damn important, you see.¡± ¡°How so?¡± I asked, drinking more. ¡°Your species banned war one million years ago,¡± she said, looking up at the moons. ¡°Can you imagine that? One million years without war. ''If you go to war, we''ll join the slaughter'' Filestra declared. She was a pretty brutal Warrior Halve. Almost brought Giants to extinction by herself.¡± ¡°That''s... hard to believe,¡± I admitted with a chuckle. ¡°Not if every Warrior Halve said the same after that,¡± she said, looking into my eyes. ¡°Imagine the entire pantheon of any religion went down during WWI and slaughtered the armies. There''s no bigger deterrent than absolute annihilation without compromise from a very real powerhouse.¡± ¡°But a million years...¡± I muttered, rubbing my forehead. ¡°How many generations ago was that?¡± ¡°One thousand years is considered a generation for the long species. So around one thousand generations ago,¡± she said, thinking for a second. ¡°If you think of one Human generation on Earth as forty years, that''d be around 40.000 years.¡± We don''t protect you so you can kill each other! A thought surfaced on my mind. I recognized the Halven instinct it came from. ¡°Haha...¡± I chuckled. ¡°I can see that happen. You''re pretty quick with math.¡± ¡°They teach it better here,¡± she said with a shrug. ¡°Math is way more useful when you have stats, levels, live for thousands of years, and more. There''s a lot that you have to think about if you want to go around the world for six measly months, for example.¡± ¡°Also, people don''t really act their age,¡± I commented, thinking of my partner''s and how old they are. ¡°Well,¡± she whispered. ¡°Being a wagecuck in a collapsing society is what kills the kid inside, not age.¡± I exhaled through my nose while nodding. Though her view was more on the negative spectrum, she wasn''t completely wrong. ¡°What about armies, if war is banned?¡± I asked, resting my hands on the veranda. ¡°They''re there to gain time before you Halves get there in case of an emergency,¡± she replied with a wince. ¡°I had to get into the army to get my Archer classes. At least the ones I wanted to get.¡± ¡°So you''re a soldier?¡± I asked, surprised. ¡°No,¡± she sighed. ¡°I reached a rank similar to Lieutenant. But it''s not the army experience you may think about. We''re mainly trained to fight monsters, not other people. There''s no... honorary status for being in the army. It''s just a specialized organization of pest killers and bandit hunters. An army is tied to a country, unlike Chasers.¡± ¡°That''s... disappointing,¡± I muttered. ¡°So that''s how you got to your current level?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± she shook her head. ¡°I left after reaching five hundred, then traveled around. Risking my life got me this far.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I nodded. ¡°Well, do you have anything planned for the future?¡± ¡°Not much,¡± she replied. ¡°Monsters get too big the higher level they are. I don''t fancy dying this young. Maybe look for more people from Earth if there''s any.¡± ¡°Want to join us?¡± I asked. ¡°We could use an Archer...¡± Her dull silver eyes stared into mine for a few seconds, probably contemplating on the offer. ¡°Sure. That sounds like fun,¡± she answered. Then, she gave me a smirk, ¡°You really want to make me part of your harem?¡± We laughed at that. ¡°How is it, being in a relationship with three women?¡± she asked. ¡°Pretty nice,¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°They''re incredibly loving and accepting.¡± ¡°What was the term when you got your lover stolen? The thing you used to draw a lot?¡± ¡°Netorare,¡± I supplied. ¡°That one,¡± she nodded. Then, she started singing, ¡°In anime, where love is lewd~ A poor boy''s heart shall soon be screwed~¡± ¡°When you dwell on the past while he pounds her sweet ass, Netorareeee~¡± I continued. ¡°When you fuck her in bed it''s his face in her head, Netorareeee~¡± we sang together, locking arms and bouncing from left to right. ¡°When she''s taking his cock when you''re out on the clock, Netorareee~ When she''s fucked by four guys and you''re still none the wise, Netorareee~¡± We laughed after finishing, the ridiculous concept of being fucked into addiction too far detached from reality to be taken seriously. I thought of it like that, at least. ¡°What if that happens to you?¡± she asked, wiping tears of joy. ¡°You know, your girls leaving your for another person?¡± ¡°If we talk about sex, that won''t happen,¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°First, I learned Bachata when I lived in Spain. That''s like, a huge plus when having sex. I doubt anyone can copy my moves let alone be better at sex.¡± ¡°But you''re a woman,¡± she insisted. ¡°Bachata is not enough to keep them safe from some ''evil cock''.¡± ¡°Second,¡± I continued, pointing at my crotch. ¡°I doubt any man has an absolute unit of a cock like mine.¡± She smiled, not understanding. I realized I fucked up and blurted out having a penis in my drunk stupor. Then, her expression slowly turned to that of shock. I felt my face burn in shame. ¡°My bad,¡± I quickly said, raising a hand. ¡°I didn''t mean to say that. The conversation just went there.¡± ¡°You have... a dick?¡± she slowly asked. ¡°Don''t call it a dick,¡± I groaned. ¡°Sounds weak. Better yet, let''s not talk about it...¡± ¡°Ookaay,¡± she turned to the lake. ¡°I mean, that''s quite the ''surprise''. I have a lot of questions, but I''d be crossing the line.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I muttered, covering my face with a hand. ¡°Pretty weird,¡± she said, then quickly added as I gave her a look, ¡°You dying before me and me getting here first, I mean.¡± I nodded. ¡°I''m not really that clever to think about potential timelines or the space-time continuum and shit,¡± I said with a sigh. ¡°I''m just trying to enjoy life. With three girlfriends and people trying to kill me.¡± The window opened, and we turned around. Yolin stood there, drunk and looking at me with a funny face. ¡°Naaataaashaaa...¡± she called my name. ¡°You sneaky little Halve.¡± ¡°Haa...¡± I sighed. ¡°Not this again.¡± 33 - End of Aphelions first day. ¡°What do you mean with ''this again''?¡± Pokora asked, looking at the drunk Oni. ¡°Come on, Yolin,¡± I sighed, ignoring the Elf and shaking my head. ¡°You''re 201 years old. Control yourself.¡± ¡°Hahaha...¡± the drunk woman chuckled, approaching me. ¡°You always try to get away, Natasha.¡± I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose with my right hand. It always went this way with Yolin. I felt the effect of the alcohol and took a deep, calming breath. ¡°No, it always ends the same,¡± I stubbornly refused. ¡°You gasping for air with a satisfied smile. What about me?¡± The Oni took a few steps and wrapped her arms around my neck. ¡°Come ooooonn!¡± she begged with a pout. Her breath smelled of whiskey and I looked away, a little embarrassed, ¡°I know you like it, Natasha. I know you need it as much as I do.¡± ¡°Wow...¡± Pokora breathed out. ¡°It''ll be quick, I promise,¡± Yolin continued. ¡°You always have a big silvery smile on your face when we do it, don''t act like you don''t enjoy it.¡± Her black tongue lashed out and attacked my right ear, making me almost accept her offer. ¡°You''re drunk,¡± I protested, knowing the woman didn''t take a no for an answer. Still, I tried to reason with her, ¡°You''re rougher when you''re drunk. I like it when you''re gentle with me.¡± ¡°Buuuuut!¡± she insisted, pressing her body against me. ¡°I like it when you''re rough with me. Please, Natasha.¡± ¡°Ask Alyssa to heal you,¡± I tried refusing again, bringing up the Luzo to see if the healer could convince the tank otherwise. ¡°Then we can do it as much as you want.¡± ¡°She went to sleep already, you know how much she dislikes having her sleep interrupted,¡± Yolin revealed the unfair tactic of waiting until Alyssa went to sleep to approach me. What a crafty woman, I thought, looking into the Oni''s blue eyes. She showed me a playful grin and gave me a soft kiss that lasted a good ten seconds. ¡°Come on,¡± she seductively whispered into my mouth, rubbing her sensuous red lips against mine as she looked into the depth of my eyes. ¡°How long has it been since we''ve done it?¡± ¡°Holy shit,¡± I heard Pokora say with a tiny voice. She''s right, I thought. We haven''t done it in three days. I do want to do it with Yolin. ¡°...¡± I didn''t say a word as I felt the alcohol pushing me into accepting. I also needed to release some steam after the day''s events. Her offer became more tempting. The dunk Oni gave me soft kisses, and I returned them as we locked eyes. We were both drunk, she more than me, but it was enough to thin my reason and actually consider going at it this late and in this state. Her tongue sneaked past my lips and I gladly reciprocated. Her taste mixed with the alcohol brought a foggy satisfaction to my mind. Her tongue tickled my palate, and I copied her technique. With locked lips, we shared a mind-melting kiss. I liked pampering the Oni, giving in to her demands and making her happy. I separated and gave her a shy smile. ¡°Okay, Yolin,¡± I caved in after that amazing kiss. ¡°Let''s do it.¡± Her smile widened and her eyes squinted in victory. I felt my face burn at being so easily swayed. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was my loving nature. Whichever it was, I wanted to make her happy. I turned to Pokora and noticed a deep blush on her face. Her eyes were sheepishly aimed at us. ¡°Want to join us?¡± I asked the Elf. ¡°Wha?!¡± she blurted out, eyes going wide. ¡°Natasha, we just met. I... can''t just...¡± ¡°Come on,¡± It was my turn to insist. ¡°It''ll help us get to know each other better. You agreed to join us, after all.¡± ¡°Certainly,¡± she said, quickly blinking and looking everywhere as her blush spread down her neck. ¡°But... I... haven''t done... it before. This is too fast!¡± ¡°But everyone does it,¡± Yolin argued. ¡°We''ll be a little rough, but you have nothing to worry about. Alyssa can heal you in the morning if you feel any pain.¡± ¡°True,¡± I agreed with a nod. ¡°Come on, Pokora. Let''s have some fun, the three of us.¡± The Elf took a deep breath, her blush going up her long, white ears. Her face was completely red and her eyes glistened. ¡°I can''t... not this suddenly... there needs to be a connection,¡± she refused. ¡°Ah, right. The Bond,¡± I said, realizing her words. ¡°We can Bond later. I''ll be gentle.¡± Pokora hugged her body, slightly shrinking. ¡°It''s not a matter of being gentle, Natasha,¡± she whispered. ¡°I just can''t... I''m not...¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Yolin said with an understanding nod. ¡°Do you want to watch?¡± ¡°Watch?!¡± the Elf covered her mouth. ¡°I... no... thanks. I don''t have those tendencies.¡± ¡°We usually have an audience when we do it,¡± I replied, not understanding the Elf''s issue. ¡°Since we do it outside.¡± ¡°Outside?!¡± she blurted out and her eyes widened again. ¡°Natasha, you''re bolder than I thought...¡± Yolin shrugged, turning to me. ¡°We can have a one on one fight just the two of us, then.¡± ¡°Yeah. It''s alright, Pokora,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°No pressure.¡± The Elf went quiet for several seconds, her blush intensifying to the point all her visible skin was a strong pink hue. She let out a long sigh while rubbing her eyes. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Pokora muttered. ¡°I could use a fight.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°But you...¡± ¡°I said it''s alright,¡± the Elf cut me off. ¡°I''ll lock the apartment and we can go. Wait for me outside.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Yolin and I cheered. I was slightly drunk, so I didn''t see the misunderstanding right away. We made sure to lock the doors and window, and left. Lapia was up and reading a thick book, so she could call us if anything happened.
On the shore of the lake, I was standing in front of Yolin. Pokora was a few meters away, rubbing the sides of her head. She had explained her weird outburst of embarrassment, and we laughed after clearing it up. Yolin wore the same tight shirt and shorts, and I the sport set with my hair in a tight braid. Standing at about three meters from each other, we had a staring contest. I held a long wooden stick, something I bought to spar with the Oni since I suck at hand to hand combat. A weapon is a force multiplier, after all. The two visble moons bathed us in light, the town''s poles not bright enough to taint the sky with light pollution. They aimed down at the streets, after all. Yolin''s skin turned darker, and her tattoos brightened up. The wide mandala showed up, floating behind her. Her Asura Projection activated, arms materializing around her. Some twenty blue spheres floated around her, and she did the clap/pose to activate her more complex tanking skills. I pushed E''er into Prevention, keeping the arrest addition from working along with the skill reaching her, something the Oni taught me how to do. Then, we all moved. Yolin rushed to me, her many arms going wider than they should due to her intoxication. I waited, my stance a little shaky due to the alcohol. The fists closed in, and I stabbed them all in a second. They burst in light, and I took a step forward. Yolin approached me and I hit her shoulder with a quick swipe from overhead. She fell to her knees due to the force, and I took another step forward. ¡°That''s one death!¡± I declared, sneaking the stick under her body. With a bit of force, I flung her body up into the air and stabbed at her stomach in an attempt at juggling her body. I didn''t use enough force to break bones or rupture skin, but it was enough to push her body up. ¡°Those are ten deaths!¡± I declared again after the tenth thrust. She fell down and immediately jumped towards me. I hit her right knee with the tip of the stick, making her lose balance. Then, I kicked her chest while taking a step forward. That sent her flying a few meters back. ¡°HAHAHAHAHA!¡± she laughed in the air. I chased her, and stored the weapon as I grabbed her body from behind. Hugging her waist, I did a German Suplex. The impact of the move made a decent crater on the sand. She squirmed and grabbed my fingers, trying to bend them back to have me release her. My fingers were stronger than her entire arm, so she had no luck there. She decided to headbutt me instead, hitting my nose with the back of her head. My face numbed a little, and she clasped her head in pain. ¡°Shit!¡± she groaned. I let her go and swiped my right hand, reflecting an arrow directed at my left eye. Pokora was standing a good two hundred meters from us, a large bow in her hands. She waved at me, and knocked another arrow. Yolin took the opportunity to free herself, grabbing my legs and flinging me to the side. I spun a few times in the air, tightening my stomach to avoid throwing up. I landed and jumped to the side, dodging another arrow. The game was pretty simple. Yolin would gain time for Pokora to hit me with a single arrow. If she did, they won. I dodged a barrage of arrows, running to the side as the Elf shot them in quick succession like a machine-gun. I summoned the stick out and deflected them as I pushed E''er into Charge and ran at her at the speed of sound, kicking up sand on the way. I heard the loud boom, something Lapia explained to me in simple terms: ''You are aware of anything your skills do, including sound''. She said that was handled by the unconscious'' spatial intelligence or something. I really should have paid more attention in school instead of doodling on my sketchbook all day. In less than a second, I reached Pokora. Her eyes widened to the limit and ducked a swing of my stick. I was impressed. I wasn''t fighting to kill, so I didn''t go all out. It was a friendly fight, after all. Still, for her to dodge a swing meant her dexterity was quite high. At least higher than Yolin''s. Unless the tank liked getting hit, something that wouldn''t be that much of a surprise since she verbally admitted liking rough fights and sex. The Elf rolled to the side, and withdrew a long knife from her storage item, an ankle ring. She swung at me and I grabbed her arm, then flung her up into the air after a quick spin. A good fifty meters. I made a mistake. I gave an Archer the higher position. Clicking my tongue, I dodged the barrage or arrows that came my way from above, deflecting the ones that came too close with my stick. My winning condition was to last five minutes. The odds were against me, and that made it fun. As I avoided the arrows, I noticed Yolin running towards me. She ran pretty fast, but not speed-of-sound fast. When she reached me, I took a step to the side to dodge a punch. She grabbed my braid and pulled with all her strength to destabilize me. That was a really bad move. In her drunk stupor, she didn''t give it a second thought and believed it a good idea. My hair is indestructible, and my neck muscles are really fucking strong. I fought the pull and saw in absolute terror as my hair sliced her palm open and her fingers flew away as the strands dug into her skin, muscles and bones. Blood flowed everywhere, and my heart stopped beating for a second. I immediately sobered up. ¡°Ah,¡± she uttered, looking at her finger-less right hand. ¡°This sucks.¡± ¡°Holy shit!¡± Pokora screamed as she landed. ¡°YOLIN?! HOLY SHIT!!¡± I shouted in Russian, grabbing her hand and applying pressure as red blood spurted out. ¡°Shit! Fuck! Yolin! What do we do?!¡± She looked at me in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked back, absolutely calm. ¡°I just have to drink an Elixir.¡± I froze in place. Then relaxed and a few tears rolled down my cheeks. ¡°Yolin, I''m sorry,¡± I sobbed as I produced the best healing potion I had. ¡°I''m sorry...¡± ¡°Aw, come on,¡± the Oni shrugged, a complicated smile on her face. ¡°It was my fault for pulling your hair without thinking.¡± I handed her the bottle and hugged her. ¡°I''m not used to people losing fingers and then just shrugging it off!¡± I argued, wiping my tears. ¡°I''m not fine with you, my girlfriend, losing fucking fingers. I don''t care if I behead other people, because I don''t care about them. But I care about you, Yolin.¡± Yolin, the ever so carefree, laughed. ¡°It''s okay,¡± she insisted, using her good hand to caress my face and separate us. ¡°Even the nerves were cleanly cut. I don''t feel any pain.¡± ¡°Bluergh!¡± Pokora next to us threw up. Yolin drank the potion and I watched as her bones reformed, then tendons, then blood-vessels, then muscle, then red skin, and finally her black fingernails. ¡°See?¡± she asked with a smile, showing me her hand and her flexing fingers. ¡°All good!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I chuckled, the panic slowly leaving. ¡°Now I look like an idiot.¡± ¡°It''s okay,¡± she whispered, caressing my face. ¡°I appreciate you worrying about me.¡± I sighed, looking at my bloodied hands. The sand was similarly tainted with blood, and her fingers were all over the place. Yolin''s shirt was covered in blood, and her arm was in the same conditions. Pokora was bending forward, cleaning her mouth and wiping snot after throwing up. ¡°How about a swim to clean up?¡± I asked after calming down. ¡°Then we go back and sleep. I''m going to snuggle you all night, Yolin.¡± Yolin nodded. ¡°Sounds good,¡± she replied with a big smile. ¡°That was something,¡± Pokora whispered, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. Yolin picked up her fingers, and threw them deep into the lake as we took a swim to wash the blood off. Then, we made our way back and turned for the night. A lot took place, and I needed some rest. Even if that meant dreaming of Hell. 34 - Chill Morning. I was running through a wide cave, huge stone stalagmites dotted the space. Cracks on the stone ground bled red light into the area, at least enough to see. I came to a stop. to be found. Pain! reveal the ceiling. Hunger... I crouched on the floor and went on all three, sniffing at the air. The scent was still fresh. The delightful smell of demonic blood around me. I smiled. It was nearby. I followed again, leading me directly to a pillar that reeked of piss, shit, and vomit. A sob came from behind. I felt my heartbeat rise. Consume. onto the stone with one hand. Circling it, I turned upside down. My left arm now healed to my elbow, the bones exposed and the flesh twisting as it knitted itself back together. There it was. Prey... tail I had previously ripped off. Toy... I could still feel the soft feeling of its leg between my teeth. The crunch of bones. The rubbery texture of the tail. The taste of blood. How easy it was to cripple its wings. Drool fell from my open mouth. I was smiling widely, ready to pounce on my prey and finally end this chase. ¡°N???????????????????????????????????????????????s?????!???? ????R????????????????????????????????????????????????H???????????????????walker!¡± it snarled into the ground. My smiled turned sadistic. My spine tingled. I had seen this before. It was begging. To whom? It didn¡¯t matter to me. I tensed all my muscles and shot my body in its direction. ¡°DIEEE!!!¡± I screamed, pouncing towards it. It turned its head around, utter horror on its face. Its black eyes wide open. I raised my stump, aiming at its left eyeball. I reached it as soon as it finished turning around, my newly formed ulna digging into its skull. The flesh around my stump stopped my thrust, pushing the head back instead of impaling it as I had intended. We tumbled on the ground, my right hand gripping its neck. Suffering! ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!¡± it screamed in agony. Its claws grabbed my injured arm. I punched its chest with all my strength, forcing the air in its lungs out. It tried kicking me, I kicked back. Another punch to its chest. Its arms lost a little strength. Another one, this time on its stomach. It screamed again. Pain. Terror. I sat on its torso, my left arm still in its eye socket. My flesh growing inside, slowly pushing my arm out. It grabbed my head, its claws digging into my hairless scalp. Its right eye looking directly into mine. ¡°O?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????! H???????????????walker!¡± it snarled at me. I felt an invasion in my mind. ¡°HAHAHAHAHA!!!¡± I laughed like a maniac, staring back. Broken! Pain! I turned my head to its right arm, still grabbing my head, and bit with all my strength. The flesh came off and bones broke. ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!¡± More agony. More pain. More suffering. regrew in an instant. Its eyeball remained destroyed. Raising both arms, I brought them down on its chest, interrupting the scream. Its left arm scratched my face, taking one of my eyeballs with its claws. Pain! ¡°AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!¡± I screamed. was torn. ¡°AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! S?????????????????????????????????????????????????????!! H???????????????walker ???? !!¡± it screamed. I shot my left arm into its maw, grabbing at the tongue. Agony.... ¡°Uuhh!!¡± it moaned in pain, but stopped when it saw me bit on the tongue. eye opened even wider, tears forming. It went for my head again. I went for the horns on the sides of its battered head. Pulling in, I connected our lips. ¡°Ahh?!¡± it sounded pleased. Then, I sucked with everything I had. Blood went down my throat. My strength increasing. My hands pulling at the horns with greater and greater force, until they broke off. ¡°Uhggguuuhg!¡± it moaned in pain into my skull. I separated and swallowed in absolute bliss. ¡°weak. Toy. Prey. Food. Holding the horns as weapons with both hands, I stabbed at it while cackling. ¡°AAHHH!! !!!!! N????????????????????????????!! N????????????????????????????!!¡± it screamed, still able to form words even without a tongue. Its broken arms flailed, claws went over my body and red blood spurted from my wounds and covered its large chest. Pain! Pain! Pain! Alive! Survive! ¡°DIEEEEEEE!!!!!!!¡± I screamed into its face. Whimpers of pain escaped the , its efforts growing weaker with each stab. Its arms fell to the sides. I stopped. A gurgling sound the only clue to its state. Trembling lips, unfocused , shaking limbs. My prey had finally been conquered. Consume. Heart. I grabbed one of its hands and began breaking every single finger, three times each. ¡°Hhhhh...Kho!¡± only air left it accompanied by coughing, a mist of yellow blood escaping its maw. Taking the fingers into my mouth, I bit tendons, muscles, and bones. Once separated, I swallowed. Survive. I ate another finger. Survive! Another. Survive!! The crunch of bones in my mouth soon formed a puddle beneath me. The taste of demonic blood overcame my senses. I continued to its arms, the tender meat exquisitely disgusting. ¡°Hhhh....¡± it let out weak wheezes, feeling the pain but unable to scream or talk. Supporting myself on its hips with my hands, I pushed down with all my weight and strength. A loud crack sent shivers of absolute ecstasy up my spine. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!¡± it screamed. I punched its throat, silencing it. Its chest convulsed and it choked. Getting off, I went on all fours and grabbed the only leg it had left. I repeated the process. Breaking bones, then eating it. After choking many times so far, I had learned to eat them without issue. Break bones, pummel muscles, eat. As I enjoyed the leg, it tried to scream several times. Pain. Agony. Suffer! Eat! Consume! Survive! I finished the leg and its skin turned slightly green. Muscles jerked and copious amounts of blood left its mouth. Time! Endless consumption showed me the proper way to feed on these animals. My broken mind had found the logic behind a few demons. I ripped its mangled breasts off, a much stronger jolt shook its body. Time! Time! Consume! Taking aim with a hand, I plunged my fingers between its ribs. I used my other hand to widen the hole and then cracked the chest cavity open. There, a heart was still pumping. Power! Mind! I grabbed it and yanked it off. Veins and arteries spurting yellowish, gooey blood all over me. The intoxicating fragrance of urine, feces, and vomit tempted me to continue my well-deserved meal. I shook my head. Time. Heart. Consume. Quickly bringing the organ to my mouth, I swallowed it whole. ¡°Aaahhnn!!¡± I climaxed as power surged through my body. Mind? Pain! Agony! I pushed its head. It had failed me again. ¡°DIE!!¡± spasmed. More! ¡°DIEE!!¡± Two times. Blood oozed to the ground. Death! ¡°AHHH!!¡± Three times. I heard a crack. Survive! ¡°AAAHHH!!¡± Four times. The crack widened, I felt it in my hands. Kill them all!! Five times, and the head cracked open like a coconut, its brain spilling on the ground. Having consumed the heart, its shell served no purpose. I took its horns and stood up. New weapons for a new chase. I had escaped my prison and began a hunt of my own. Yet somehow, I knew. They were coming for me.
I opened my eyes and took a long, deep breath. Then, I sighed. Just a normal Tuesday night in Hell. Hellwalker is not a Mortal!''. Also, telling me to fuck off and die. Very colorful vocabulary for a Demon, all things considered. While my time in Hell had gone through my mind, I only saw glimpses of utter insanity and unrestrained brutality. Dreams helped me paint a more solid picture. Pokora''s existence made me doubt the million years thing, but something inside me confirmed the length of my trial. One of those pesky instincts that gripped my mind with an unbreakable lock. Something else to ask the Gods, or other Halves, I thought as I looked to the side. I saw big, red tits. Yolin was sleeping with me, limbs all around my body. My head nestled between her breasts. From Hell to Heaven, nice! I closed my eyes and relaxed on the woman''s chest. Her warm skin and delicious muscles woke me up in full. I turned around and hugged her, planting kisses on her tattoos. ¡°Unuwa ?¡± she mumbled in her sleep. Or something that sounded like that. I smiled and held back a giggle. were wrapped in a sleeping bag, lying on the ground of living room. Since Alyssa, , and were asleep by the time we got back, we chose to stay the night and the Elf was kind enough to allow that. It had nothing to do with not wanting to deal with an angry Alyssa. At all. Yolin''s arms and stood up. Looking at her face, I quietly laughed at her sleep-talk. She was saying things in Red Tongue, and I found that cute and funny. After properly covering her with the sleeping bag, I went to the bathroom. Since we were staying out, I wore sweatpants and a tank top as sleep wear. I had grown more used to my golden comrade hanging out and about while sleeping, so I didn''t wear underwear anymore. It could be said I graduated nocturnal underwear and embraced freedom. position. Morning erections are a pain. I can''t pee properly, and it''s uncomfortable when it gets caught on the waistband of the sweatpants. A complete hassle. Standing in front of the toilet, I waited for it to relax while humming a song. Pokora walked in. ¡°Kyaaaa,¡± I mumbled in monotone. ¡°Knock first, you pervert...¡± ¡°noes,¡± she muttered back, walking to the sink and activating the faucet. ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°§¥§à§Ò§â§à§Ö ,¡± I muttered back. peek. ¡°Morning wood?¡± she asked, washing her face. ¡°Yep,¡± I replied with a shrug. ¡°A bit annoying, but what can you do?¡± ¡°Wasn''t the greeting privet or something?¡± she asked. ¡°pree-vyet, unless you''re talking about that British Wizard,¡± I said back with a chuckle, shaking my head. ¡°Good morning is §¥§à§Ò§â§à§Ö .¡± ¡°Dobr-what?¡± she asked. ¡°Do-breh ,¡± I supplied. ¡°More formal, but works in this situation.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± she uttered. ¡°The more you know.¡± ¡°Orkish?¡± ¡°Haven''t,¡± she replied. Then asked, ¡°Does it bother you I just came in?¡± ¡°Not at all, we''re both women,¡± I replied. ¡°Does it bother you?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± she sighed. ¡°I just thought of trans people back on Earth.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I nodded as my fellow relaxed. ¡°Nothing to worry about with me. Treat me as a woman.¡± ¡°Will do,¡± she replied. I heard the familiar sound of hair being combed. Thinking back on the previous night, I remembered something. ¡°I think you forgot your arrows,¡± I said with a sigh, and pee flowed. She laughed. ¡°So nonchalant,¡± she said, chuckling. ¡°Those are diamond-tipped, so I can leave them there.¡± ¡°They''re what?¡± I asked, a little surprised. "But it''s diamond!" ¡°is used as arrow tips and not much else. obsidian is harder, making it more expensive. You can buy ten kilograms of diamond for fifty copper.¡± ¡°Isn''t it used for... cutting things, though?¡± I asked back with a sigh as my bladder emptied. I gave my fellow a few gentle shakes, then tucked it in. ¡°for example. Diamond looses it''s ''indestructibility'' when people reach thousand strength. Something unattainable on Earth, but very real here in . Add the fact diamond has shitty enchanting properties.¡± ¡°Now you''re going to come up with some bullshit material that is prettier than diamonds?¡± I asked with a light laugh. She was silent for a few seconds. ¡°You won''t, right?¡± I asked again, turning around. ¡°The name''s a bit cringe,¡± she gave me a wry smile. ¡°Star Tears.¡± ¡°Holy shit,¡± I winced. ¡°Give me some space to wash my hands, please.¡± She stepped to the side, still facing the mirror on top of the sink. I did my thing and then rubbed my eyes. I noticed her dull silver eyes going over my body and giving approving nods. ¡°Kyaaaa,¡± I again muttered in monotone. ¡°Stop staring at me, you pervert...¡± ¡°You''re built like a Greek God,¡± she pointed the obvious. ¡°Goddess, if you would,¡± I chuckled, running my hands through my hair and undoing the braid. ¡°How come you have breasts?¡± she asked in confusion, staring at my chest. ¡°Uh... I''m a woman?¡± I offered that possibility. ¡°should be tiny with that level of fitness.¡± ¡°My species is different.¡± She blinked a few times. ¡°That... doesn''t explain the size,¡± she insisted, gesturing at my medium-sized breasts. ¡°right now. Alyssa may learn more if she keeps studying my body.¡± ¡°Right,¡± she nodded, then shrugged. ¡°Mysteries of the universe, I guess.¡± ¡°Nah,¡± I shook my head. ¡°I''m sure all those ''mysteries'' have a proper explanation, and my species have just kept quiet about them. I mean, it''s fair considering there''s mad people trying to kill us.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± she said, then yawned. Lapia''s, and her tongue was a very pale pink. ¡°Haaa...¡± I sighed. ¡°Speaking of people trying to kill me. Are court cases held at the Church?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she eyed me for a few seconds. ¡°You''re going?¡± I nodded. ¡°I am.¡± 35 - Otherworld Justice. Leaving the bathroom, I woke Yolin up for our daily morning exercise. Then, we had breakfast with everyone and went back to our place after agreeing to meet with Pokora in front of the Church. I was going to drag them all to court. I fed Sonya as soon as we returned to the cabin, having bought a new bag of feed at the beginning of the month. Me and my girlfriends took a group shower and got ready. We again had to wait for our two furry friends. At Alyssa''s suggestion, I wore ''formal'' clothing. That meant armor for my species, so I went with the Starforged Eternium set I used most of the time. I once again asked if the material rang any bells, considering a sun is literally called Eternia, but I only got amused expressions in response. ''You can''t forge things in a sun'' is what Lapia said. Another thing added to the ''Questions for the Gods'' list. Shortly after, we made our way to Lakeview''s Church through cobblestone streets and met with Pokora, who was waiting outside. The building was pretty large, and sober in design. Wood was the predominant construction material and large windows with stained glass depicting individuals bathed in light decorated the thing. I gave them more than a passing glance, and saw golden and silver people standing over little animals. Are those Halves? I wondered, looking at them as we walked into the house of worship. And those animals... the ancient species? There were very few recognizable animals, the more common being felines. That wasn''t a surprise since we were in a Tigea country. What caught my attention was the... rudimentary style in which they were depicted. They looked more like lynxes instead of the house cats I expected to see. We moved towards a hallway and I saw a woman exiting a room. She noticed us and smiled. [Egys Tigea, lvl 142 High Priestess] ¡°Sister,¡± she gave Alyssa a bow. ¡°Welcome home.¡± I''m sorry? ¡°Sister,¡± Alyssa replied, giving her a nod. ¡°I''m home.¡± ¡°Sister,¡± the woman said once more, this time bowing to Yolin. ¡°Welcome home.¡± ¡°Sup,¡± Yolin said with a smile. ¡°I''m back.¡± Excuse me? I thought, looking at my two girlfriends. ¡°Clergy culture,¡± Lapia next to me whispered. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± the woman said, bowing to me. ¡°Is it safe to assume you''ve come for Sussanna''s case?¡± I nodded. She waited a couple of seconds for me to say something. I just kept quiet and she gave me a nod. ¡°This way, if you would,¡± she gestured us to follow her as she turned around. ¡°The trial will begin in thirty minutes.¡± The seven of us followed her to a double door deeper into the building, where she knocked two times and opened one side. ¡°Please come in,¡± she said with a bow. Stop that, you''re going to develop back pain bowing that much, I mumbled in my mind as I crossed the threshold. A literal courtroom welcomed us. A low wooden fence divided the audience and the place justice people did their justice thing. Wooden chairs were placed for, I assumed, the jury, where four out of five chairs were occupied by three Tigea and a Lupum. A dandy Tigea sat on the main seat where a judge would, and ten Watchers, seven Tigea and three Elves, stood vigilant in various spots around the room. I noticed a cage to the side of the room, where I assumed suspects were kept. The Judge lifted his head from some papers and gave me a nod, which I returned. ¡°Over here,¡± Yolin said, walking to the first row of seats. We sat down and the Judge cleared his throat. His grey-ish hair covered most of his face, and round, tall ears crowned his head. His ears were not as tall as a Shishi''s, nor as round as an Egys''. A white robe with golden symbols covered his body, with the recognizable golden eye of Danuva''s Church on his chest. ¡°Your Excellency Natasha,¡± he began, his green feline eyes meeting mine. His voice sounded tired that early in the morning. ¡°Thank you for coming.¡± [Urkila Tigea, Lvl 178 Inquisitor] I did all I could to hold back a sarcastic snort. The class name was beyond fitting. I just gave a nod in return, and he resumed his reading. Though I had seen Urkila children, it was my first time seeing an adult of that particular race. I also hadn''t seen the Dhar''Ji race yet, children or adult. I produced the book Lapia gave me in Mountroad, ''Way of the Warrior, an Analysis of Skill Advancement'', and continued where I left off as we waited. *** A loud bell brought me back to reality and I looked to the source. A door opened and Sussanna walked into the room, escorted by two Watchers. They walked her into the cage and closed it afterwards. Lorena, Lakeview Watchers'' Captain, came in next, walking to the other side of the room, where a small podium stood. ¡°Let Justice be done,¡± the Judge said in Kator, then fixed his seating as he cleared his throat. He continued in Common, ¡°It is the twenty first day of the fourth month, year one thousand nine hundred and eighty, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er.¡± Oh... didn''t know that, I thought, looking at Lapia next to me. Well, that may come later in the curriculum she had prepared. ¡°Lumin Kingdom versus Sussanna Indoz,¡± his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. Turning to the Lupum, he gave a small nod. ¡°Lady Sussanna, you are here today being charged of multiple felonies, to which you have confessed being guilty. Is that correct?¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The Lupum nodded. ¡°As stated by Law, the endangering of children leads to no legal advice nor defense for the perpetrator. This was stated by the Divine Council at the beginning of the previous Age, and Lumin Kingdom, along with all Clerics under the teachings of Her Divinity Danuva, which Lumin Kingdom recognizes as the Lawful Authority, subscribe to. Is that understood, Lady Sussanna?¡± The woman in question nodded again, her expression darkening. Oh, so that''s why she has no lawyer defending her... was that the term? I wondered, looking at the woman who tried to kill me. Pretty weird that I''m allowed to be here, as well. ¡°Does the Jury understand this as well?¡± he asked, turning to the people in the chairs. They all nodded. ¡°Captain Lorena Oriz,¡± the man said, turning to the Watcher. ¡°Please state the crimes Lady Sussanna has committed, so the Jury is aware.¡± ¡°Yes, Judge,¡± the woman replied with a short nod from the podium. ¡°Last night, Sussanna Indoz, in clear conscience and sound mind, attempted to kill a Protector,¡± she slowly declared in a loud voice. ¡°She poisoned Her Excellency Natasha Novak''s beverage, which she had access to as she was a waitress at the Sharp Paw, where Her Excellency was enjoying a break. Not satisfied with this, however, Sussanna convinced Olivia Yeliz, a child, to give Her Excellency a vial of acid, namely nikontia, in order to bring such foul crime to fruition. This endangered the life of a child, as Olivia could have opened the vial in her innocent curiosity, and a tragic and extremely painful death would have taken place.¡± Whispers broke out in the room for a few seconds, the Jury saying a few words among themselves. Then, they returned to silence. What about hypothetical scenarios?! I asked in my mind, glancing at Yolin. Do they consider that with children, but not with adults? ¡°The use of children to commit crimes, or attempt to commit them. Possession of nikontia in highly populated areas. Conspiring to kill a Protector. Attempting to kill a Protector,¡± Lorena recounted. ¡°Sussanna is facing these charges.¡± I was getting a little bored, to be honest. I thought it''d be more... interesting to see. I had already experienced court on Earth, and it wasn''t that different, even justifying the law with silly things like Gods. Though in this world it was more ''concrete'' than a big scary phantom in the sky as far as I''m aware. I was a little glad they didn''t use my species as justification for righteousness. That would have been cringe. To kill boredom, I began singing in my mind. To all the ladies in the place with style and grace, allow me to lace these lyrical douches in your bushes~ The Judge nodded, and proceeded to inform Sussanna of how long she''s spend in prison: the rest of her life. She''d be escorted by Watchers to Paarjo after the Aphelion ended, then brought to the Endless Pit where she''d be tied and hanged with Numbing Rope until her last breath. ¡°Justice prevails,¡± the Judge declared in Kator and slammed his hand on the podium in front of him. Sussanna was taken out of the room, then Lorena approached me with an envelope. ¡°Lady Natasha,¡± she called to me, offering the thing. ¡°This is the information we managed to gather from Sussanna.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I gave her a nod and received the envelope as I stood up. ¡°I wish you plentiful spoils of war,¡± she said as she turned around. I gave her a thumbs up, then our group left the room. Plentiful spoils of war... Lady Dabrak and Yolanda said the same thing, I thought. Walking through the Church, I put an arm around Lapia''s shoulders. ¡°Hey, Lala,¡± I softly sang. ¡°Yes?¡± she replied, turning to me and giving me a cheeky grin. ¡°What''s with people saying spoils of war?¡± I asked. ¡°You see, Pokora told me war is banned.¡± ¡°An old saying,¡± she explained, wrapping her left arm around my armored waist. ¡°It''s not meant to literally refer to war, but to conflict. And it''s something more often said to Halves, because you live and breathe conflict.¡± ¡°Mhm...¡± I nodded, giving it a thought. ¡°I haven''t really faced that much conflict, though.¡± ¡°Really?¡± she teased, smirking. ¡°Then how about I give you something to pound?¡± I looked at the Elf with wide eyes. She had the secret ability to turn any conversation into talks about sex. Truly a mythical skill. ¡°Maybe I can give you something to keep that cheeky mouth of yours occupied,¡± I teased back, and felt my face heat up. ¡°Oh, cock jokes,¡± she praised with an approving nod. ¡°First I heard cumming from you.¡± ¡°No,¡± I quickly tried to correct her, holding back a laugh. ¡°I meant the other one.¡± ¡°You sure it wasn''t a slip of the tongue?¡± she teased me. I looked away, covering my face with an armored hand. ¡°Ahem,¡± I cleared my throat, trying to keep my blush in check. ¡°Yeah, you win.¡± She nodded. ¡°Lapia twenty three. Natasha two,¡± she declared the result of our sex jokes so far. I felt my face burn hotter. I can''t come up with good jokes without rethinking them a few times, which makes them lose the funny in my mind. Maybe in a few years when I completely learn about the culture I can come up with funny shit. We left the Church and I noticed dark clouds covering the sky. I produced the umbrella I bought in Mountroad and used it as a walking stick for the moment. I noticed everyone doing the same as we walked to the plaza in front of the building. I checked the time and it was a little past ten in the morning. The whole ordeal took around two hours. A drag, but I learned a lot. ¡°How about we have something to drink?¡± I asked as I stored my armor, pointing at an open cafe. ¡°Maybe juice or something to fight the heat?¡± Though I didn''t feel the heat I was talking about, drinking liquid is healthy and juice is tasty anyway. ¡°Sure,¡± Lapia answered. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Alyssa said with a smile. Bonte nodded, giving me a thumbs up. ¡°It does get hotter around this hour,¡± Bromisnar pointed out, fanning his face. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Yolin cheered, holding Alyssa''s hand. ¡°Yes, please,¡± Pokora muttered. Thus, we entered the shop. A waitress received us and guided us to a large, round table where we sat down and she took our order. Yolin sat next to me. Alyssa sat next to Yolin. Bromisnar sat next to Alyssa. Bonte sat next to Bromisnar. Pokora sat next to Bonte. Lastly Lapia sat between Pokora and me. ¡°So,¡± I began, leaning back on the chair. ¡°I talked with Pokora last night and invited her to join us since we could use an Archer. Also, she helped me a bit with the Lupum.¡± The Elf in question nodded. ¡°I... have been looking into something these last few years, and it would be a huge help if I could join your party,¡± she said with a straight face. Lapia smirked, staring at Pokora. Oh, right, I thought, remembering what my Elf girlfriend mentioned in Riverfield. Lapia has the hots for the Elmari race, I kind of forgot. Good luck, Pokora! ¡°I am an Archer, as you may have guessed,¡± she continued her introduction. ¡°Hunter, Ranger, and Sniper. My total level is 848. I come from Uuruhk, and was part of the army for twenty five years, then left to become a Chaser.¡± I let out a satisfied hum and produced the envelope Lorena gave to me, and gave it a read. 36 - Fishy Business. The paper contained the following information: ''Lady Natasha: With the help of Clerics from the Church, we''ve successfully interrogated Sussanna and concluded she was under no mind-controlling spell or curse. I believe you can infer what this means. She recounted the meeting with the Changeling, who introduced themselves as ''Yugulari Thavas Pneumix''. Naturally, you can draw your own conclusions. Paarjo has been informed of your permission to terminate those who wish to claim your life. As a Warrior, and, more importantly, a Protector, I''m sure you''ll make the right decisions. I truly hope this information helps you in closing a few gaps you might have overlooked.'' I stored the thing and took a deep, calming breath. A slight anger was rising. This bitch, I swear to... Danuva or whatever, I hissed in my mind, closing my eyes and rubbing my forehead. I''m not Sherlock fucking Holmes, you litter-box using moron! SPELL IT OUT! This Yugulari motherfucker is obviously an alias! I had expected more than a ridiculous name, but it still was more than nothing. ¡°As an Archer, I mainly use a bow,¡± Pokora continued after everyone did their class-introducing business. ¡°I have tracking skills from my Hunter class, which helped me a lot on my travels. I can expertly handle projectile weapons of various types, and my aim is incredibly accurate.¡± I chose to distract myself by listening on what they talked about. ¡°Were you part of the ''Gyk''el repelling efforts'' back in 1971?¡± Lapia asked, a small smile on her face. ¡°Yeah,¡± Pokora replied with a nod. ¡°That was my last gig for the army, actually. It was pretty disturbing.¡± ¡°I bet,¡± Lapia said back, a rarely-seen serious expression accompanied the words. ¡°Didn''t Nilenna show up, though?¡± Alyssa asked, looking to the side. ¡°Our order is here.¡± The waitress placed our order on the table and left. I grabbed my Oloya juice and took a sip and the natural sweetness of the fruit filled my mouth. It reminded me of Lapia''s kisses, and I felt my face heat up. I thoroughly enjoyed it. ¡°Yes, she did,¡± the Archer answered with a frown, sipping on her beverage. ¡°She showed up, killed everything, then left. It was pretty enlightening. We struggled for weeks, and fortunately didn''t suffer any losses thanks to the Clerics. She just... deleted them from the mortal realm in a few hours.¡± You go, big sis, I thought with a chuckle. ¡°Was she accompanied by anyone?¡± I asked. I can''t possibly be the only Halve since Perculis to have companions. ¡°She was,¡± Pokora gave me a nod. ¡°Two Orks she met in Patuk, where she first showed up two thousand years ago.¡± ¡°Ho...¡± I breathed out in surprise and drank a bit of juice. Big sis, indeed. ¡°If I''m not wrong, their names are Boris and Vadim,¡± Bonte commented. I choked on my drink, then laughed while coughing. ¡°Are you serious?¡± I asked him between coughs. ¡°I may have butchered the pronunciation, but I think those are their names,¡± he confirmed, a confused smile on his face. ¡°No, you''re right,¡± Yolin said with a nod. Then turned to me, ¡°What''s so funny?¡± I noticed Pokora looking at me with a confused face as well. ¡°Nothing,¡± I said with a chuckle while cleaning my mouth with a napkin. ¡°Silly things.¡± That''s just poetic, I thought with a smile. ¡°What are your goals?¡± Bromisnar asked the new member, his pink eyes analyzing her. ¡°I''m looking for something,¡± Pokora replied, looking down at her glass. ¡°I haven''t found much, but there''s hope.¡± Her eyes met mine for an instant, then looked back at Bromisnar. Yeah, real subtle, I scoffed in my mind. The Satyr nodded, grabbing his own glass and drinking. ¡°Well, we''re heading to Paarjo after the Aphelion,¡± Lapia informed Pokora. ¡°We have some business with the King.¡± ¡°With the King?¡± Pokora repeated in disbelief, then looked at me, ¡°You''re going to heal him? But you''re a Warrior, right?¡± ¡°Ah, right,¡± I nodded, remembering I hadn''t told her my classes. ¡°My classes are Hoplite, Lancer, and Dragoon. All spear based. I may have something that can help with his... condition.¡± ¡°But he''s just ill, isn''t he?¡± she insisted, her brows knitting in confusion. I produced the Royal letter and gave it to her. ¡°Give it a read,¡± I muttered, nodding at the thing. ¡°Don''t react too much, though.¡± ¡°Alright?¡± she replied, taking the letter. Her eyes widened a little as she went over the contents. ¡°I see,¡± she muttered when she finished, returning the item. ¡°This is really poorly written.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. I stored it and gave her a knowing look. ¡°See?¡± I wiggled my eyebrows. ¡°Besides, where did you read that he''s ill?¡± ¡°The newspaper, of course,¡± Pokora replied with a shrug. I cringed. Lapia laughed, Alyssa giggled, and the rest chuckled. ¡°You should''ve seen Natasha''s reaction when she read the interview Lady Dabrak wrote!¡± Yolin rejoiced, laughing with a big smile. ¡°It was quite something,¡± Pokora chuckled. ¡°I read it back home.¡± I just focused on my juice to avoid the conversation about how everyone on the continent knew my name and me being a ''woman of action and decision''. Instead, I thought about Lapia''s kisses as I drank. I glanced at my girlfriend''s mouth and followed the movement of her tongue as she licked her soft pink lips clean after a sip of her drink. The rest continued talking about themselves, continuing with the introductions and mentioning their likes and all the jazz that comes with adding a new member to the party, something we hadn''t done in a while. Lapia''s lips had my full attention by then, the Elf''s mouth looked positively inviting. Her plump, full lips made me lick my own, with a tiny bite at the end. My mind got flooded with the many things we''d done and said behind closed doors the last two months, and my face heated up. Just remembering how dirty the Elf talked in the sack forced a smile on my face. I heard a crack coming from my mouth and noticed I was biting on the glass. I made a small crack due to my thirst-drown thoughts, and I my face burned with the strength of ten suns. Carefully looking around, I sighed in relief as nobody noticed. I finished the drink and put the glass back on the table, then covered it with a napkin to hide the crack. Well... this is embarrassing, I thought, feeling the heat from my face reach my ears. Luckily I just glow when I blush, and it''s... eleven in the morning. Thank all above! I covered my face with a hand and let out a quiet groan of exasperation. The horny was showing up. I really wanted to get to Paarjo as soon as possible. For... various reasons. Be honest, Natasha, I told myself. You want to get fucked by them. Don''t lie, girl. I let out a defeated laugh. Controlling my anger was easier than controlling my lust. ¡°How does that sound?¡± Yolin asked, nudging my knee. I turned to her, and noticed everyone looking at me. ¡°Ehem,¡± I cleared my throat. Then, I tried to play it cool, ¡°What was that? I wasn''t listening.¡± ¡°We''ll be having lunch back at the cabin,¡± the Oni said in Orkish, making sure I understood every word she said. ¡°Lapia is going to make some fried fish with the Punites we caught yesterday.¡± ¡°Fried fish?¡± I asked back in Orkish, a little unsure. ¡°Isn''t that full of bad oil?¡± ¡°Bad oil?¡± she repeated, her eyes widening. ¡°It''s the same oil Lapia uses for cooking, and the same you use when you make your... pancakes.¡± Yeah, she didn''t like my pancakes either. Lapia is my only ally. Even Bromisnar criticized them. Bonte didn''t even give them a try. ¡°Oh, okay,¡± I replied. ¡°Not sure why you need my input on that, though?¡± ¡°Just asking,¡± she said with a smile, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Mind speaking in Common, so we all understand?¡± Lapia asked with a smirk. I looked at her lips and felt my face burn hotter. ¡°Sounds great,¡± I replied. ¡°That''s that, then,¡± Pokora declared. Thus, we left the cafe. I made sure to place a gold coin next to the cracked glass as an apology, of course.
¡°Natasha,¡± Bonte calmly said. ¡°You need to respect the fish.¡± We were back at the cabin, and I was helping the Tigea clean the fish for Lapia to cook. We stood in front of a table on the backyard, with the dozen Punites we caught laid on it. Removing the scales was the harder thing to do since it required more than stabbing. A gentle rain fell on us, but we didn''t mind since we could shower right before eating. ¡°Gently run the knife over the side, and the scales should come off with no problem,¡± he continued the lesson. ¡°Like this, watch.¡± I look at his hands and he did a single, fluid motion that cleanly removed the scales which fell on the table. I noticed he positioned the edge in a way that didn''t make sense to me: he used the back of the knife to do it. ¡°Alright,¡± I nodded. Learning things is fun, and butchering animals for consumption is an important skill to have since there''s no restaurants everywhere we go, especially inside dungeons. And killing outside a dungeon means the corpse will decompose with nothing to eat it. I thought back on the Me''ik and kept quiet as I gently ran the knife over the skin. The Punite was a meter long green-ish fish with spiky whiskers and teeth for some forsaken reason. They reminded me of shark teeth, but smaller. They were around level twenty, fortunately. ¡°Good,¡± he praised with a nod. Then continued as he showed me, ¡°Now, we cut it. Grab the side fin and make a diagonal cut until you feel the spine. Then, turn your knife and cut all the way until you reach the dorsal fin, that means we passed the rib cage. Use the first three centimeters of the knife. Punites have poisonous organs, so you need to be careful or the meat goes bad. Now cut through and continue to the tail.¡± I watched in amazement. Bonte was incredibly accurate and quick. I may have missed a lot if I blinked. ¡°Now, we use the first ten centimeters of the knife and barely push. Let the knife do the work,¡± he explained, cutting the fish. ¡°If you feel the ribs, relax your grip and the blade will take the path of least resistance. If you break the ribs and damage the organs, the fish goes bad. This way, we have this nice fillet.¡± He turned to me, smiling and showing me a beautifully cut slab of fish. ¡°Wow,¡± I sighed with a nod. ¡°You''re pretty good.¡± ¡°What can I say,¡± he gloated with a shrug. ¡°I need to save a lot of money so I don''t usually buy food.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I replied, copying his movements. ¡°Smart man.¡± I carefully went about it, imitating his movement. The spine felt like paper after cutting air, but I managed to stop there. Then, I continued to the tail, avoiding the rib cage. As I let the knife ''do the work'' I ended up with a really juicy whitish pink fillet. Bonte clapped. ¡°Nice job, Natasha,¡± he praised with a smile. ¡°You''re a quick learner.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± I replied with a big smile. ¡°Now, we remove the skin,¡± he announced, grabbing his fillet. ¡°What?¡± I blinked a few times. ¡°Then why remove the scales?¡± ¡°Because they have a slimy coat that tastes like piss,¡± he explained with a chuckle. ¡°If we open the fish and the slime gets inside, the fish will go bad.¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± I exclaimed in understanding. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Show me your hands for a second, please,¡± he suggested, opening his hands wide for me to place. I did and he inspected my fingernails. ¡°Hmm... two and a half centimeters,¡± he muttered. ¡°Should work. Okay, next. Separate the skin from the meat with your fingernails, then use the knife to remove the rest.¡± He stabbed the fillet with his index finger''s claw and cleanly separated the skin. Then, he stabbed the skin with the same claw and used the knife to cut the rest. Just as he said. I was a little too surprised, but did as told. We ended up with two fillets each after repeating the process with the other side of the fish. ¡°Good progress,¡± he said with a nod, moving the fillets to the side of the table. ¡°Now, we have ten more to go.¡± ¡°Alright, bring it on,¡± I cheered, excited to help in making lunch. 37 - A bit of everything. The fish was delicious. Lapia''s batter was a thing beyond what three-Michelin-star chefs could make. The meal was light even though it was deep-fried, which was a nice surprise. I wasn''t one to care about calories all that much, but I did care about fitness and being healthy. Especially during my last years of sedentary lifestyle. We ate inside the cabin, talking and drinking. I noticed Pokora''s face of uncertainty when looking at the fish. Probably a lasting caution from Earth. A silly thing, considering we''re literally on another planet who knows how far away. Though I never understood the nature of what made sea produce become so toxic to humanity, I had the inkling it was the rampant pollution. I had no proof, but neither doubt. My life on Earth could be called simple. Boring at best, insanity-inducing at worst. Wake up, exercise, take a shower, buy something to eat from one of the many delivery companies that rose during the pandecade, work on projects for the game company for hours, play the piano for a while, connect to online lessons I enrolled into to kill boredom, watch a few streams, play games, and masturbate. Sometimes upload speed-drawings or art tutorials on video-hosting websites. Boring stuff, really. After the meal, we Bonded with Pokora. It was a handshake as we did with the men. She was not a romantic prospect. At the moment, at least. I think it''d be a bit of a stretch to see every woman I meet as a potential lover, unless stated as such. The Church helps a lot with the system they came up with. Galeia is a lung-filling breath of revitalizing fresh air. Sure, shit is weird. Magic exists, so do Gods and Halves which so far make no fucking sense to me. But it''s good. It''s better. Life is calm so far. True, a group of people tried to kill me, but it was more like eating the spiciest pepper in the world rather than stone-melting acid meant to kill me. Still, I''d pick being poisoned over committing mass genocide in Hell everyday. I don''t dwell on the morality or ethics of my actions during my trial too much, however. Not like I could have chosen a different approach, really. Hard to do when absolutely insane, in my humble opinion. ¡°Grar!¡± a growl woke me up from my deep thoughts. Sonya was pushing my stomach with her big head, urging me to pick the wooden stick she dropped in front of me. ¡°I''ve spoiled you too much,¡± I concluded, looking into her eyes. She scoffed at my words. Or something that resembled a scoff, anyway. Then, she pushed my chest with her left claws. ¡°You cheeky thing,¡± I chuckled, rubbing the scales on top of her head. She licked my face and ran off, the sign that she wanted to play tag. ''Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'' Pokora''s flat voice entered my mind. ¡°What the fuck is that?¡± I wondered out loud as I chased Sonya down the shore of the lake. ¡°Thats a pretty long word, but I have my own!¡± I waited like an idiot for a response, then remembered messages are a once-a-day thing. I shook my head, thinking the woman wasted it for a silly thing like that. I just replied so it doesn''t count for me. Sonya jumped high up in the air as I reached her, but I waited for her right where she''d land with a big smile on my face. ¡° She came down and I pushed her, making her roll to the side. We played for a few minutes, chasing one another over the sand. Her stamina had dramatically increased along with her level since I bought her. Her scales felt harder, and her pushes felt stronger. I was pretty happy with the Ratnak. As we made out way back to the cabin, birds flew up and away as we approached. Sonya chased a few, and slapped a couple to unconsciousness. After leaving, birds surrounded it as if to protect it. I laughed at that, then scolded the lizard. Back at the cabin, I took a shower to get rid of the sand and wore a simple skirt with a shirt. Then, I went to the backyard where Bromisnar was talking with Alyssa. ¡° ¡° They were talking about Yinka Plavas, the mysterious author of Kingdom Fall and many other books. ¡° ¡° The man in question rolled his eyes, and I held back a smile. ¡° ¡° ¡° This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡° Both squinted at me. ¡° ¡°it''s just a book,¡± I clamped my mouth shut. Bromisnar laughed, grabbing his sides and leaning back. ¡°ancient beauty, ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Both nodded and resumed their argument. I walked into the cabin and went to the master room. Lapia was laying on the bed, reading a thick book. ¡° I slowly walked to the bed, closing the door behind me. She raised an eyebrow and put the book to the side. ¡° ¡° ¡° She sighed as I massaged her feet. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° She shrugged. ¡°I''m not a Warrior, Natasha. I can''t really help you with that, unfortunately.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° I closed my eyes and dove into myself. Forest Halve Class(es) -Hoplite Lvl 450 (Open Skills) -Lancer Lvl 450 (Open Skills) -Dragoon Lvl 450 (Open Skills) Status -STR: 5400 -CON: 2700 -INT: 675 -WIS: 675 -DEX: 4050 Health: 54000/54000 Stamina: 13480/13500 E¡¯er: 13500/13500 I focused on the Hoplite Skills and picked one I used a lot. I looked at another skill, from the Dragoon class. Gae Bulg. A few lines caught my attention: Then, I thought about the possibilities. I felt around both skills and noticed completely different patterns on them. That made me frown internally. I didn''t exactly have the time to explore around; the first time I advanced a skill costed me around twelve hours. At least I had an idea of what to do. If it worked, it would mean I could throw spears with increasing momentum, which would be pretty strong if I got it right. Probably even reaching several times the speed of sound, which according to my shitty calculations would mean huge areas of effect. I opened my eyes and noticed Yolin sitting next to me, Lapia was taking a nap, and night was approaching. ¡° ¡° ¡° 38 - Aphelions Peak. Yolin looked at me with a face of absolute confusion for a few seconds. I sat up on the bed and faced her. ¡°Doesn''t matter,¡± I chuckled, stroking her cheeks and giving her a quick kiss. ¡°You know,¡± she said, taking my hands into hers and looking me in the eye. ¡°Sometimes, you confuse me.¡± ¡°In a good way?¡± I asked, leaning my forehead on hers. ¡°Mostly, yes,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°I just thought of a good way to advance a skill, is all,¡± I commented, bombarding her face with kisses. ¡°What does metallic gears have to do with it?¡± she asked, humming in delight at the affection. ¡°And why would you need to surpass it? You''re a Halve.¡± ¡°Ah, that,¡± I chuckled. ¡°It''s supposed to be a very powerful weapon of mass destruction in a piece of fiction. And my new skill could go beyond that.¡± ¡°Weapon of mass destruction?¡± she repeated, tilting her head. ¡°Isn''t that just a wide area rank 3 spell?¡± ¡°Kind of,¡± I nodded. ¡°Like Lapia''s Solar Epitaph, but with a spear.¡± ¡°Sounds dangerous,¡± she muttered, arching a white eyebrow. ¡°It is,¡± I confirmed with a smirk. ¡°And I am dangerous.¡± I added with a playful growl. ¡°Mhhm,¡± she purred. ¡°That, you are, Natasha.¡± We laughed quietly, and I placed my hands on her ribs. Her eyes went wide, and her face turned serious. I felt her pulse quicken under her exposed skin. ¡°Don''t,¡± she whispered. ¡°Please.¡± I had found the Oni''s weak spot. She was surprisingly ticklish. Her hands grabbed my chest, and her fingers were dangerously close to my sensitive nipples. ¡°It appears we are at a stalemate, Yolin Makav,¡± I whispered, acting as the villain. Slowly, we removed our hands from each other. ¡°You''re as ruthless as ever, Natasha Novak,¡± she accused me, squinting her eyes. I got up and off the bed with a giggle, then looked out the window. One sun had already gone behind the horizon, and the other would soon follow. ¡°Hey, Lapia,¡± Yolin called out to the napping woman. ¡°Time to wake up.¡± I heard a kiss and turned around in time to see the Oni giving the Elf a few kisses on the cheek. A smile formed on my face and I leaned my back on the window ledge. Lapia took a deep breath that turned into a yawn, then groaned. ¡°What time is it?¡± the still sleepy Wizard asked. I retrieved my black pocket watch from my storage and gave it a look. ¡°Twenty past ten,¡± I supplied. She sighed and got up, then we left the bedroom and came out to the front yard of the cabin. There, Bonte was piling sticks for, I assumed, the bonfire we''d light up later. Bromisnar was playing a relaxing tune with his lute, sitting on a chair near the pile. Alyssa was chatting with Pokora about something or other. They were on the sandy shore of the lake, far enough from the water and the cabin. I grabbed two lounge chairs and brought them to the sand for Lapia and Yolin to sit down. Then, I fetched one for myself. As we enjoyed the Satyr''s music, Bonte started singing as he fixed a few sticks. ¡°As the suns rise, so do the Protectors~ Eternal watchers, forever our saviors~¡± His high pitched voice rang comfortably, maybe Bromisnar taught him a little. Not this song again. My eyebrows rose, and I looked around. The night was slowly consuming the world. The town''s lights didn''t turn on, my glow becoming more and more noticeable around me. The moons were nowhere to be seen, and the starts slowly made their appearance in the sky. It had rained through the day, so the skies were crisp clear. Bromisnar hummed loudly, and Alyssa began clapping with a rhythm as her own hum took on a higher pitch, though still deep as her lovely voice was. ¡°Divines and Protectors~ To guide the ancestors~ Made sure we''d never die~¡± The Tigea continued. ¡°Ages, Eras, Years, and Perils~! The Protector stood unbroken and high~!¡± Alyssa joined. ¡°High~¡± Bromisnar stretched the word in a deep voice. ¡°For if they fell, no being would remain~ To face the dangers that roamed back then~¡± Pokora joined with a smile. Their voices joined in a chorus, and their clapping accompanied the Satyr''s lute. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°And if you meet~ Those who allowed us to be~ Be thankful and don''t take aim~ They''re not one of us, nor ones to be shy~ As conflict they yearn, since the beginning of time~ Their permission we need, to rest and to thrive~ Their gift you must cherish~ If you don''t want to die~¡± Of all things they could sing about, they chose a song about my species. Not the suns, not the moons, not even the Aphelion itself. I was absolutely sure it was a calculated strike. ¡°Fear not the Protector, they share our nature~ To love, to care, and to hope for the future~ They sing, they cry, they cherish, they die~ Even give birth some times!~¡± They laughed, clapped, and cheered after finishing. The last bit of the song was pretty welcomed in my opinion. It brought the idea of a dangerous being down to normal life standards. Maybe that''s what people believed in the most, rather than worshiping us like Gods. Perhaps a Halve fixed a bit of the many songs to not be seen as the apex creature. Conversation filled the atmosphere, and I relaxed on my chair while looking at the night sky. Lapia walked over to me and sat on my lap. Then, gestured to the sky where uncountable stars dotted the view. ¡°Look,¡± the Elf said, pointing at a specific area. ¡°That''s the Protector Constellation. The brightest in the sky.¡± I saw distant stars surrounded by the uncaring void of space. ¡°Where?¡± I asked, squinting to try and find a shape. She produced a thin book, and leafed through it until she found a specific page. ¡°Here,¡± she pointed at the paper, where a stick figure holding another stick stood. Then, she pointed at the same place in the sky, ¡°That''s there.¡± Slowly, I managed to find what she was talking about. It was very basic, but the complete darkness helped a lot in spotting it, even with my glow. Then, she proceeded to point out other constellations. The Guide or God, which pointed north and people used while traversing the seas. The Cleric, the Warrior, the Wizard, the Archer, the Craftsman, the Scout, the Performer, and the Merchant. Most weren''t visible since we didn''t have a full view of space around Galeia. She used the book to show them. ¡°Do Gods not have a constellation of their own?¡± I asked after spotting the Warrior constellation, which was below the Protector. ¡°No, they don''t,¡± she replied with a chuckle. ¡°If a Divine becomes a God today, it''d be hard to find a definite constellation for them. Much like there''s no constellation for every single Halve. There would be millions of them in the sky. In the Second Age of E''er, a lot of Halves showed up. It''d be hard to fit them all in the sky, don''t you think?¡± ¡°But each class Path represents a God, right?¡± I questioned. ¡°For example, Shorvanna introduced the Way of the Warrior, right? Doesn''t that mean that''s her personal constellation?¡± ¡°No, silly,¡± she giggled, hugging my neck. ¡°That''s for everyone that chooses that Path, not just for her.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered with a nod. ¡°Do constellations matter when it comes to births?¡± ¡°Births?¡± she repeated, looking at me. ¡°Not at all. Why would they?¡± ¡°No, like, when a person is born under the Warrior,¡± I offered. ¡°Do they feel like they should become one?¡± She stared into my eyes for a few seconds. ¡°That... would make the Merchant path empty,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°It goes above the sea, and the north of Makah.¡± ¡°That''s were Giants live, right?¡± I asked, remembering the info I had about the species of the world. She nodded. ¡°That''s right.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I hummed, looking up at the sky. Bromisnar''s lute took on a catchy tune, and everyone stood up at the same time. Yolin walked to me and took my hand after Lapia removed her big butt from my lap. ¡°Want to dance?¡± the Oni asked me with a smile. ¡°Sure!¡± I replied with a nod. Lapia snapped her fingers and the bonfire lit up, illuminating the area around us. I noticed a lot of bonfires lighting up along the shore of the lake, most of them quite far away from the cabins in the resort. The dance was pretty simple. Lock arms, circle each other three times, then face the partner and clap two times. We changed dancing partners often, every thirty seconds or so. Lapia was pretty good, Alyssa had ways to go, Bonte was a ball of energy, Bromisnar had the steps down to a science, Pokora sucked, and Yolin was pretty smooth. I also sucked because it was my first time doing that dance, obviously. This was not something that would be doable at a club, so I had to take it slow. Still, the night felt intimate so far. We drank a little while singing a few songs more in line with the event itself rather than an ode to my species. I stared at Pokora for a few minutes. The Elf looked happy, laughing with everyone and sharing jokes of her own. I had a hard time thinking about what it would mean to have a regular mind after being reborn in another world. The woman exuded belonging, not just in her physical appearance as that was undoubtedly that of an Elmari Elf, but more in her attitude. She knew the songs, the references to literature, the many regions and peoples of Galeia. Even as she sneaked glances at me, I could see a small reverence beneath the familiar gaze one would give a fellow former earthling. Reverence maybe as a fan of my work, or to my species. I admit I was a bit curious. Thinking the woman had trouble adapting to another world. Her lack of relationships, though superficially meaningless, hinted at something I wasn''t too interested in prying, nor had the knowledge to arrive at an educated conclusion. An Elf through and through, I thought back on what she said the night before. In the end, it was none of my business. She was a her own person, and she had every right to live life the way she saw fit. Yolin joined me for the night, bouncing back jokes and explaining to me those I didn''t understand. Mostly references to monsters, magic, Gods, other Halves, or things exclusive to Galeia. Groups of people showed up a few times, walking along the shore. A few sold things like souvenirs and local foodstuffs. Others were bands of Performers singing and playing instruments. I had to suffer through five versions of the same song dedicated to Halves. Apparently, the name of that particular piece of music is ''Eternal Watchers'' according to Bromisnar. That''s when I learned where the Watchers got their name and purpose. I produced a bag of polupis and chew on a few while enjoying the night. Quick footsteps made me turn back, and I saw a person running pretty damn slowly towards me. Can''t a woman catch a break? I wondered, squinting at the approaching figure. ¡°Your excellency!¡± the person screamed. The voice sounded male, and pretty young at that. Mid teens at best. As the individual approached, I noticed a few shapes following closely. They resembled dogs, but skinnier and with scales of all things. I didn''t sense any particular danger from them, but a little something made me queasy so I slowly stood up from my chair and faced him. Yolin noticed too and turned around. The young man stopped a few meters away from me, panting after the run. The light from the bonfire bathed him and a young Lupum boy was revealed. ¡°Your... haaa... Excellency!¡± he gasped, bending at the waist and supporting himself on his knees. ¡°Yeah?¡± I asked, producing a water bottle and handing it to him. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± ¡°A pack of Vok''ren showed up to the north!¡± he informed me while wiping his sweat, his face full of fear and worry as he took the drink with his free hand. Fuck. 39 - Abyssal: Power Tongue. ¡°What is a Vok''ren?¡± I asked him as I walked back to the group. ¡°By the way, what''s your name?¡± The boy followed me and Yolin, who had a serious expression. ¡°Ah, yes!¡± he replied with a long breath after taking a substantial sip of water. He looked down at the pet bottle in his hand for a second, ¡°Such a weird container. My name is Parris, Your Excellency! I... don''t know what they are, as I didn''t see them myself. I haven''t learned of them yet, unfortunately. I''m only thirteen years old.¡± I turned my head to him and appraised the boy. [Parris, Lupum Lvl 26 Warrior] Not even past the base class, I thought. ¡°And how did you know of them?¡± I asked as we reached Lapia and the others. ¡°There''s a threat to the north, who wants to come? It''s a pack of Vok''ren,¡± I informed them. The boy''s face turned complicated, and he looked down at his feet. He grabbed his shorts, the only clothes he was wearing, and bit his lips. My companions went silent for a few seconds and stood up. Lapia and Alyssa went to the cabin, and Bromisnar stood up from his chair, storing the bottles and foods. Bonte spat the alcohol in his mouth and helped the Satyr. Pokora ran into the cabin at a speed no shorty should run at. ¡°My... friend and I were exploring around the lake when we saw an Elf walking into the forests,¡± he said, looking up at me. Then, he continued at a quick pace when he saw my unimpressed face, ¡°We were curious, so we followed. After around twenty minutes, we lost sight of her and got lost. Then, we came across Captain Lorena with a team of Watchers, they were heavily injured. She asked me to come tell you about the Vok''ren. My friend stayed behind as he''s a Cleric and has decent healing skills.¡± Shit did indeed hit the fan, looks like, I thought, giving him a nod. ¡°Thank you for telling me,¡± I told him with a smile. ¡°Go to the Watcher''s office and informed them of what happened. Tell them I''m going so they have nothing to worry about.¡± I stopped for a second, my mind going into overdrive. I thought of the many possibilities this event could entail, from a natural migration of monsters to a calculated distraction. ¡°Also, tell them to increase security around Sussanna,¡± I suggested, placing a hand on his naked shoulder. His fur tickled my palm a little. He blushed a little and I immediately removed my hand. I had no clue how pubescent boys reacted to an unknown woman''s touch. Not with how different things are in Galeia. ¡°Alright!¡± he replied with a strong nod, and returned the empty bottle after I gestured for it. He looked around and fidgeted a little. ¡°Um, Your Excellency?¡± he gave me a shy look. ¡°Yeah?¡± I asked, raising my eyebrows. ¡°Where''s the exit?¡± he asked with a blush. I bit my lips to suppress a laugh. ¡°I''ll take him,¡± Yolin replied, walking off to the cabin. ¡°Follow me.¡± The two disappeared behind the side of the cabin, and I turned towards the north. Lakeview was on the southern shore of the lake, so that gave me peace of mind. Bonte stood next to me, and Bromisnar on the other side. So, Lorena is at least level 500, at best level 750, I considered the little info I had. There has to be a way to see the total level of people when appraising them, I thought, biting my lower lip. ¡°What is a Vok''ren?¡± I asked the two as we waited for the rest. Nothing would come out of me rushing ahead. Lorena may need medical attention, and I doubted a teenager could properly heal a Watcher. Not even considering they may be from different species, something Alyssa explained as a difficulty without intense studies. I could use an elixir, but with no knowledge of what I''d face, shit could go wrong pretty fast. ¡°They are pretty disgusting,¡± Bonte replied. ¡°I''ve never fought one, as they are usually above level 600 on average. They''re similar to the Ikar''en you killed in Mountroad''s dungeon. These are mostly passive monsters that help in thinning forests, however. I can''t think of a reason for them to approach a settlement.¡± Oh, shit, I thought with a wince, remembering the grasshopper/beetle hybrid nightmares I faced weeks ago. Sonya''s low growl made me turn, and I smiled. Everyone wore their battle gear, Yolin joining them. ¡°Mount up!¡± Alyssa commanded, and we followed. ¡°Let''s go!¡± We rode along the shore lake pretty quickly. Our mounts kicking up sand and water. Alyssa, Lapia, Bromisnar, and Bonte were riding Bhin. Pokora was riding a weird creature, like a dinosaur but with feathers and horns. The body of the animal was black, and the feathers were blue and red. It stood like an ostrich, but had no arms nor wings, so it wasn''t one of those popular dinosaurs from the horror-movie franchise Jurassic Dark. It made for a pretty fantastic sight along with my red drake and Yolin''s massive, black wolf. I equipped my armor and pulled out my spear from my storage. Just in case, I also pulled out the shield and gave it a look as we moved insanely fast along the shore with the water to our right. Magical beings are terrifyingly amazing. The lake was absolutely massive, so we had a few minutes until we got to the destination. [+100 Starforged Eternium Aspis (Legendary) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (SSS+ Durability) -Durability + 100% ({Lvl 10 Zaphyr}x10) -Durability + 50% (Enchantment) -STR + 220 -CON + 220 -DEX + 220 -Increases Toughness (5% for every 20 Enhancement levels) to Allies (CON/50)m around you. (25%) Pretty shit, I concluded. That''s a weird combination of languages. I used a 3m pike, but a Hoplite is a foot soldier that uses both spear and shield. Besides, Shielded Thrust gave me a solid grasp on how to handle a shield. Though I don''t particularly like that skill. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Pokora,¡± Alyssa called the Archer as we rode. ¡°Can you track Lorena?¡± ¡°Already on it,¡± she replied with a nod. We passed the last bonfires from the cabin resort on our way, the light of the stars illuminating our path along with the glow of my braid that came out of the hole at the back of my helmet. We took a turn and followed the shore of the lake, the formation shifting to allow Pokora''s mount to move to the front so she could guide us. I quickly looked to the south, noticing the distant bonfires in front of Lakeview on the other side of the lake. I thought of how long the boy must have ran and clicked my tongue, chastising myself for not asking for more information. The cabin resort was a little detached from the town itself, so that was a little reassuring. The Archer made a gesture to the left where the edge of the forest had replaced buildings, and took a turn. We followed, the animals pretty fast on their advance and quick to react. Through bushes and trees, Pokora lead us deep into the forest until we came across the Watcher group. I sighed in relief as they were relatively closer than I expected. We stopped and I dismounted, follwing Alyssa. A slightly older boy was kneeling next to Lorena, who was laying on the forest ground. I noticed quite the amount of blood on her clothes. The rest were in a similar condition, close to ten people. They were groaning in pain and holding their bodies. I noticed two were deathly quiet. The Luzo waved a hand and a white circle showed up on the ground, surrounding those wounded. A few seconds later they calmed down and slowly stood up. ¡°Lady Alyssa,¡± Lorena gave her a nod. ¡°Thank you for the assist.¡± The boy stood up and let out a long sigh of relief. He was a young Faeton Elf with green-ish hair and dark skin. He was wearing a linen robe with Danuva''s symbol on the chest. ¡°You didn''t have Clerics?¡± the healer asked in a slightly angry tone. Oh, shit, I thought, taking a step back and pretending to approach the mounts. You awoke the Dragon, you''re on your own. ¡°He lost consciousness,¡± the Watcher replied, shaking her head. ¡°He was targeted first. We were taken by surprise while chasing after Elena.¡± A young-looking Shishi Tigea approached with a complicated face, the whole scene visible thanks to the stars and the glow coming off my hair. I appraised the boy first. [Faeton Elf, lvl 21 Cleric] Wow... Then, I appraised the man. [Shishi Tigea, lvl 233 High Priest] ¡°Alright,¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°You''re good now. Where are the Vok''ren?¡± ¡°Further north,¡± the Captain answered, pointing in that direction. ¡°There''s tens of them.¡± So few! I managed to hold the snort back, walking towards danger. An excitement was taking root within me. I hadn''t fought to kill in a while and the last days were a little stressful. Pokora dismounted and gave the Captain a nod. ¡°Take care of the mounts,¡± she said, and walked off. I followed her, Yolin and Lapia joining us. The rest stayed with the Watchers and the boy. ¡°They''re a few hundred meters ahead,¡± Pokora informed us and started jogging as a bow materialized in her hands. We kept pace, and after a few seconds came up to a clearing where we stopped. There, an Elvish woman sat on a tree stump. Around her, bugs the size of cars were silently moving in a circle. This woman is a fucking retard, I thought, my eyebrows almost fusing with my hairline. Upon closer inspection, the woman was missing a leg, a belt around the stump. She looked up and I noticed her eyes were a little unfocused. ¡°Halve scum,¡± she spat. Here we go. ¡°Sup, bitch,¡± I replied, walking into the clearing. [Vok''ren, Lvl 874] Pretty good, I thought. The rest were around that level, from 860 to 880. [Faeton Elf, lvl 289 Entomyst] What the fuck is that class? The bugs were uninterested in me until I came two meters from the Elf. They moved pretty fast, jumping towards me. I swung my spear around, killing two instantly. I sighed. I must look like one of those petty evil characters, I thought. Should I laugh like ''mwahahaha''? A few arrows whistled though the air, killing three in the blink of an eye. The projectiles embedded on their heads, near the neck. ¡°How about we have a talk?¡± I asked the Elf, taking another step. Another bug moved, and I just held my weapon for it to pierce itself onto. The bug let out a quiet screech as it got skewered. I kicked it and it broke down, dripping mold-smelling liquid on the ground. ¡°I have nothing to say to you, freak!¡± she hatefully replied, glaring at me. ¡°So, what''s your narrative?¡± I asked, resting my spear on my shoulder. ¡°You shouldn''t exist, not anymore...¡± she muttered, wobbling a little to the side. She wiped sweat off her forehead, moving reddish locks out of her eyes. Using her right hand, she supported herself on the tree stump. ¡°Alright,¡± I nodded. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°Why?¡± she asked, her voice turning pained. ¡°Why is Galeia creating you? Why should we ask permission to found countries?! You have done nothing for the people of today, why should we respect you?! Why don''t the Gods fuck off too while we''re at it?!¡± The bugs shifted, turning to my companions. ¡°COME TO MORTAL COMBAT!¡± I yelled, activating Intimidate Prey. The woman was pushed back, her body flying away and crashing against a tree like a puppet whose string had been cut. The bugs focused on me, and jumped at the same time. I gripped my spear with my right hand and activated Dragon Claw, spinning around and mutilating them as they approached. The smell of the bugs'' innards filled my nose, and I walked towards the woman. She was glaring at me, blood covering her face from a wound on her head. ¡°Anyway,¡± I shrugged. ¡°We were talking.¡± ¡°Just kill me already,¡± she groaned, fixing her posture to better glare at me. ¡°Seriously?¡± I asked, a little surprised. ¡°I can? That saves me a lot of time, to be honest.¡± Her face paled, and she closed her eyes. I raised my spear and cut her arms and leg in a clean swing. ¡°Arghh!¡± she held a scream back, tightening her face. I grabbed her by the hair and lifted the limbless body. Removing my helmet, I closed in on her and whispered in a volume the others would not hear. ¡°I called three times, yet the dreamer only answered once,¡± I spoke Abyssal for the first time, my voice coming out as a foggy, distant whisper from the depths of the universe. The Elf''s eyes rolled back, and she started crying blood while her body was assaulted with violent shakes and jolts. Foamy spit escaped her mouth, her face distorted in insanity and madness. Endless mental pain and torture reflected the weak wheezes that left her open mouth, bubbly sounds coming out with every attempt at a cry. I watched in amazement. The world did not shake like when speaking Infernal. It was so quiet, so clean, so distant, so... ancient. This... is more dangerous than I thought, I contemplated, staring at the mess of a creature the woman turned into. 40 - Surprise Loot. I stored my spear and kept the shield out, then turned around and faced the rest as I cut the stream of E''er off of Intimidate Prey. Apparently I can mind-break people now, I thought. A surprise, to be sure. But a welcome one. Pokora was looking at me with a face full of horror, Lapia was glaring at the hanging Elf, and Yolin had a serious expression. ¡°So,¡± I began, walking towards them. ¡°It seems we caught the other little shit that tried to kill me.¡± I lowered the woman, carrying her like a bag of groceries. Her wheezes and gasps were accompanied by pained moans every once in a while. ¡°What did you do?¡± Pokora asked me, looking at the piece of meat that previously was a thinking being. ¡°You could say I have a way with words,¡± I simply said with a shrug. ¡°We''re healing her,¡± Yolin declared, her tone implying no room for argument. Lapia sighed. ¡°They are trying to systematically cull a species,¡± the Wizard said. Then, she sighed again and added, ¡°Alyssa can check if she was mentally controlled.¡± Yikes. I bit my lower lip. ¡°Uh, sure,¡± I nodded, turning to where we left our companions. ¡°We should totally check that.¡± Fuck. We made our way back to the group after Lapia burned the dead bugs and the Elf''s limbs. On the way, I was thinking of quite a bit of things. Is this what happened to me in Hell? I wondered, glancing at the hanging woman as we silently walked through trees and bushes. Our footsteps were the only sound around us, critters and insects nowhere to be seen. I don''t remember the exact moment of when I lost my mind. I lived, though. Well, a dream will show me eventually. I already saw the montage of insanity. When we reached the group, I noticed two Watchers lying on the ground with clothes covering their faces. An eye was drawn on the fabric, and their arms were crossed above the chest area. A man and a woman. Lorena approached us as we made our appearance, her face tired and her black hair a sweaty mess. It was a little hot. ¡°You... found her, I see,¡± she commented when she saw the stumpy woman. ¡°She was commanding the Vok''ren. Two of my best died trying to protect Zenno,¡± she added, nodding at the healer who was kneeling on the ground next to Alyssa. Both had their eyes closed in front of the bodies. Praying? I wondered. Then, Lorena''s comment clicked. Entomyst as in... bug controller? I see! ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded at Lorena. ¡°Tried talking with her, but she stubbornly refused.¡± I noticed the Cleric boy leaning on a tree near the two older healers. ¡°Good,¡± the Captain nodded. ¡°She''s still alive, I see.¡± I put the Elf down and appraised her, noticing the same information showed up. So appraisal shows that they''re alive... Yolin walked past us and approached Alyssa. Tapping her shoulder, she nodded to the half corpse. ¡°Could you heal her?¡± the Oni asked. ¡°Natasha cut her limbs and... neutralized her.¡± The Luzo nodded, and stood up. The two walked back to us and looked down at the woman in question. ¡°She''s... lost her mind,¡± Alyssa muttered, a little confused. ¡°I can heal her no problem. It will take a bit of effort to heal the mind, however.¡± I hummed. She does have skills to protect minds and such, I remembered. Though finding out Abyssal broke minds like some cosmic horror language, the extent was a bit too extreme. I hoped she''d faint at best, not become a meat shell. It was a little enlightening. Alyssa crouched and placed her hands over the woman, white light flowing from her hands. ¡°So, Lorena,¡± I began, turning to the Tigea. She gave me a nod and waited for me to continue, ¡°You mentioned you were chasing after Elena. Is that her?¡± She nodded again. ¡°That''d be correct, Lady Natasha,¡± she confirmed, trying to fix her hair. ¡°As soon as Lady Pokh''Orra informed us of another individual involved in attempting to kill you, we launched an investigation and raided her residence after the court appointment earlier today. We found it empty save for a bed and basic amenities. Registry showed she arrived in Lakeview around a month ago and found work in the Sharp Paw shortly after.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Her mind... it''s absolutely shattered,¡± Alyssa commented, fixing a lock of hair behind her right ear with her tail, her hands going over Elena and emitting the whitish light. ¡°It''ll take me a while with this much damage.¡± Lorena glanced at the Elf, then back at me. She nodded to herself and a small smile formed on her face. Don''t go there, I thought with a little apprehension. Yolin stood next to Alyssa, her eyes not leaving the woman on the ground. Pokora approached the mounts and Lapia stood next to me. Bromisnar was playing a soft, relaxing tune with his lute. Bonte was looking out into the shadows between the trees and bushes, his tail moving from side to side. The rest of the Watchers were eating and drinking water, standing in a wide circle around us and keeping watch. ¡°And after that?¡± I gestured Lorena to continue. ¡°One of our Archers tracked her down, and we gave chase. Elena escaped here, and we were ambushed by the Vok''ren. Nino and Parris found us after the confrontation. We were in no state to continue, so I asked Parris to inform you. Nino stayed and kept us from dying with basic healing.¡± I nodded. ¡°She beat the shit out of you, huh?¡± ¡°You could say that, yeah,¡± Lorena agreed with a sigh, a scowl on her face. ¡°Circumstance demanded we asked the children for help. It''s fortunate they weren''t in harm''s way.¡± Her face showed regret, frustration, and a small relief. ¡°There''s a curse as well,¡± Alyssa muttered in surprise. ¡°Ah, yeah,¡± I said, looking at her. ¡°My pike curses those it cuts.¡± The Watchers turned to me, looking at my hands with wide eyes. My spear was in my storage, so they found nothing. I quickly stored my shield as well, just in case. They all returned to what they were doing while clearing their throats. ¡°I see,¡± Alyssa replied with a nod. ¡°That''s quite the coincidence.¡± I was confused for a few seconds until I recalled her new class, Soul Warden. She had said she could deal with curses and the like. Coincidence indeed, I thought with a smile. ¡°I must thank you, Lady Natasha,¡± Lorena suddenly said, placing a hand on my right shoulder and giving me a strong nod. ¡°You came to our aid. Nature or not, I deeply thank you.¡± I looked down, a little embarrassed at the straightforwardness the woman was showing. ¡°No problem,¡± I replied, looking at Elena to avoid Lorena''s eyes. Something on the woman''s body caught my eye, and I bent down. Among her reddish hair, I noticed my glow reflected on a metallic object. Moving the locks aside, I noticed a black earring at the base of the Elf''s long cartilaginous organ. It had a little clasp which I pressed and removed it from her person, then I straightened up. A storage item? I wondered, looking at the thing on my palm. How do I use this? I tried pushing a little E''er into the thing, and a small world opened in my mind: around ten cubic meters of space showed up. It felt a little intrusive, but had a feeling similar to my own storage. Is a Halve''s storage the basis for the enchantment? I questioned in my mind. If someone tells me that, it wouldn''t really surprise me at this point. ¡°That is?¡± Lorena asked, eyeing the earring. ¡°Evidence?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± I replied. ¡°I''m checking it right now.¡± I went over the contents, the feeling I usually get with my storage wasn''t there. It felt like touching things with a stick instead of a figurative hand. Some shapes were disclosed, but not the texture nor temperature of things. I came across a long stick and tried pulling it out. A rod materialized in my free hand. The thing was two meters long and had a pair of insect wings on the tip, which was similar to a ''T'' but bent to one side. They had cross-connections similar to the wings of a dragonfly. The body was pitch black, with a forked bottom. I appraised it and my eyes almost left my skull out of shock. [+100 Khepri''s Was-Scepter (Mythical)] (E¡¯er Efficiency SSS)(Durability A)(Entomika) -Minion Toughness +20% (Enchantment) -WIS + 300 -INT + 200 -DEX + 150 -Allows command over beings of the En insect family. *Shifts Ento Dominion: *(TW/5)/25=LD -Doubles Minion Limit. I instantly put it in my storage. I glanced at Lorena and saw her look up at me. ¡°What was it?¡± she asked with an arched eyebrow. ¡°A dangerous item,¡± I replied with a serious tone. ¡°I''ll be keeping this. I hope you don''t mind.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Can''t be safer than with you, Lady Natasha,¡± she replied, giving me a small nod. ¡°I trust your judgment.¡± I tried storing the earring, but it didn''t go in. That made me wince. I wasn''t going to pierce my ears so I could have a storage item. Mine was enough. I had doubts that something could pierce my skin precisely enough so that I could wear the item, anyway. What the fuck was that thing? I wondered, thinking about the staff/scepter thing. Khepri... somehow rings a bell. And those stats... seemed tailor made for a person with a bug-related class. Holy shit! I looked back down at Elena with new eyes. Murderous eyes. I should kill her, I thought. But I should question her first. Should I torture her if she doesn''t want to tell? Thousands of questions swam in my mind as I stared at the slowly growing limbs of the Elf. I wanted to know where she got such an item. Also why would she carry it around, especially near a Halve who she tried to kill. It made no sense in my mind. There''s no way an item like that would close the power gap, adding the fact I have overall better ones, I contemplated, following the movement of the femur as veins, nerves, muscles, tendons, and skin re-formed around it. This one doesn''t have gemstones in it. It also has no ascension. I''ve never seen it before, so it''s not from Redeemer''s Bush. What a stupid name for a game. That made me re-think the group chasing after me. If they have access to that kind of items, then it isn''t simply an angry group of children wanting to get rid of us protecting them but a serious organization. I noticed a smile on my face, and my heartbeat increase a little. I was excited. This is fun, I thought. By the time all the limbs were whole again, Elena''s eyelids fluttered a little. I retrieved my pike and placed the bladed tip above her neck. If she tried anything, I was prepared to kill her. Alyssa stood up and took some steps back, Yolin standing in front of her. Lorena produced a blue metallic shield with Lumin Kingdom''s crest on it and took a stance. I produced my own shield and covered Lapia with it. The Entomyst slowly opened her eyes while taking a deep breath. She looked around and confusion started to set in her eyes until she looked at me. ¡°Your Excellency Yulianna?¡± she asked with a handful of doubt. Her voice oozed respect, her eyes avoiding mine. ¡°No... Your Excellency looks much younger.¡± What in the fuckity fuck? ¡°Elena, you''re under arrest for conspiring to kill a Protector,¡± Lorena declared, gaining the attention of the Elf. ¡°I... what?!¡± the Elf gaped at the Tigea. ¡°I would do no such thing, I''ll have you know! Nothing but nonsense is what you''re spouting. How dare-¡± I pressed the tip of the blade against her neck, and she stopped talking. ¡°Don''t play games,¡± I warned her. Her eyes focused on my weapon, amazement evident on them for a few seconds until the situation registered on her mind. ¡°If I may, Your Excellency?¡± she tentatively asked. I squinted at her, a scowl forming on my face. ¡°What?¡± I spat. ¡°What year is it?¡± she asked, panic replacing everything on her face. 41 - Actions have consequences. ¡°You won''t get away with cheap tricks like those, Elena.¡± Lorena replied, her tone not faltering in the slightest. ¡°No...¡± the woman in question whispered. ¡°A new Halve... how long has it been? I know! Inform His Excellency Perculis! He''ll vouch for me.¡± What the fuck. ¡°Perculis is dead,¡± I told her. ¡°Everyone knows that.¡± A few seconds of silence followed my words. Lorena never took her eyes off of Elena. ¡°What...?¡± her voice was barely a whisper that she almost choked on. ¡°His Excellency Perculis... dead?¡± ¡°Don''t act like you don''t know,¡± I retorted. ¡°Who are you, anyway?¡± ¡°I was... born in 54.780, Photem''s Third Era, Fifth Age of E''er. My name is Elena Pazh''Khun¡± she quickly said, looking at each of us. ¡°I was going to join Her Excellency Yulianna. We''re supposed to track down an Ijir''en that threatens a Jorrksuuv nest near Koluum.¡± ¡°That happened over two thousand years ago,¡± Lapia scoffed. ¡°Don''t lie!¡± ¡°I''m not!¡± the woman insisted, her eyes going everywhere. ¡°Please, these are trumped-up charges!¡± her eyes found mine and her face turned pleading, ¡°Your Excellency, please! I have not done what these people claim. I swear!¡± ¡°You tried to kill me barely twenty minutes ago,¡± I argued, arching my eyebrows. ¡°Now you try to pull names out of nowhere... seems really suspicious to me. Names, I must add, of people either dead or out of reach.¡± ¡°If she''s telling the truth, that means she''s three thousand five hundred and twenty years old,¡± Lapia muttered, squinting at the woman still on the ground. ¡°I have proof!¡± the woman insisted, slowly bringing her right hand to her ear where the storage item was. ¡°I... where''s my earring? No... there are documents that prove my identity... please...¡± I looked at Alyssa. She was staring at the woman with a raised scaly eyebrow. Her eyes met mine and I gestured for her to follow me as I stepped away. We walked to an empty spot behind some bushes. ¡°Did you see any signs of mind control?¡± I asked her in a low voice, glancing at the panicking woman. ¡°No, her mind was broken,¡± the Luzo shook her head. ¡°A mind-controlling spell or curse can''t do that.¡± I nodded. ¡°What do they do? Do people become like puppets?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± she replied, looking up at me. She sighed and scratched her left horn. ¡°How do I explain this? A person remembers everything they did when they were under such effects. That''s why they are questioned after lifting the mind control. It''s more like... an inescapable suggestion... they don''t change drastically, but new ideas are slowly added to their minds? Mind controlling people is a really difficult thing to do because people are deeply in tune with their minds after integrating their second class. The mind is not so easily influenced.¡± ¡°Okay, got it,¡± I muttered with a sigh. Then, I closed in on her, ¡°You see, I spoke Abyssal and she kind of broke down. Cried blood and all.¡± Alyssa''s eyes widened to their limit at my words. ¡°I... see,¡± she nodded, looking at me in deep thought. ¡°Maybe you erased her memory?¡± ¡°Wouldn''t that erase her classes, too?¡± I asked, thinking of the class-memory thing. ¡°Not... really,¡± she slowly replied, squinting her eyes as she thought about what I said. ¡°Classes rest in the unconscious'' dormant memory as you should already know. That''s deeper than mind control. Surface memories can be altered if you damage the brain''s frontal cortex. I repaired the damage, so... maybe you broke everything, returning her mind to two thousand years ago.¡± I stared at her for a few seconds. ¡°Can that happen?¡± I asked, a little skeptical. ¡°Are there any monsters that can erase memories?¡± She nodded, a complicated expression on her face. ¡°There are a few,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Some can steal memories, others can erase them, others copy them. Some can add fake memories, and people think them illusions or hallucinations. Sometimes they believe the new memories to be theirs, mostly young Chasers or inexperienced ones, and things can get really complicated. Classes are never involved in these events, otherwise the monster would gain them. There is one monster, however, that can go that deep,¡± she bit her lips for a second, her scaly brows knitting together. ¡°The Mind Flayer. They guard Blood Fiends'' nests. Extended exposure may result in class loss. They''re incredibly dangerous.¡± ¡°Holy hell,¡± I whispered. ¡°So, we could say Abyssal can erase memories? That''d explain her reaction. She was calling me ''Halve scum'' a while ago.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± she thought for a second. ¡°No, I think Abyssal breaks the mind, which is what I healed. There was no brain damage, however. Other than a small concussion at the back of her head.¡± ¡°Yeah, she hit a tree after I used Intimidate Prey,¡± I nodded. ¡°What''s that?¡± she perked up, looking at me. ¡°You used Intimidate Prey?¡± I nodded. ¡°And she didn''t jump to fight you?¡± she asked, an understanding spark in her eyes. ¡°No, she didn''t,¡± I confirmed with a nod. ¡°She actually told me to kill her.¡± ¡°I see...¡± she muttered with a smile. ¡°If she was capable of speech after receiving your Intimidate Prey, then she definitely had something else on her mind that prevented your warcry from working. Thing is... she won''t remember because you broke her mind.¡± ¡°Also, trees weren''t uprooted and flattened,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Maybe I subconsciously held back?¡± She giggled. ¡°No, Natasha,¡± she shook her head. ¡°Trees have stronger roots around here. I assume you refer to your encounter with the Me''ik?¡± I nodded and she continued, ¡°Those were young trees. Riverfield is not as old as Lakeview, so trees are harder to cut down, or moved, around older cities as they absorb E''er with time.¡± ¡°Ah, okay,¡± I nodded again, it wasn''t that far-fetched. ¡°So, she was probably mind controlled, but we won''t know... and we can''t get info from her... because I erased her memories?¡± ¡°Most likely,¡± she replied with a nod. ¡°I''d suggest you don''t speak Abyssal when dealing with sentient beings unless you''re absolutely sure they have no important information.¡± I let out a long sigh. ¡°Looks like I fucked up,¡± I muttered, scratching my left ear. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°In a way, yes,¡± she whispered, bringing her right hand to my face. ¡°But it''s alright. There are fates worse than death, and this isn''t one of them.¡± We returned to the others and I let out a long sigh again. Lost the biggest lead, I thought. Fuck me dead. ¡°So,¡± I began, showing Elena the earring. ¡°I have your storage item. We''ll have a talk back at Lakeview.¡± The woman nodded, a little relieved. Lorena produced some rope and tied the Elf''s hands behind her back. The rest of the watchers assumed formation and our group mounted up. Lorena guided Elena, the Tigea pushing the Elf''s back. Nino, the Cleric boy, followed behind Zenno, the Watcher Cleric. On the way, I looked at the sky and let out an annoyed snort. What a waste of time. I focused back on the path and kept quiet as we circled around the town through the forest, avoiding the lake of the shore. We came to the road that followed all the way to Mountroad, then we turned towards Lakeview. The town''s entrance was pretty basic. A wall of stone some twenty meters high. A big door opened to let the Watchers inside, and we followed. The streets were simple cobblestone, the buildings wood. It was pretty cozy for a vacation. The dungeon was a kilometer to the east, just outside the city. We took our sweet time clearing it, I mostly observed how everyone fought when we went there. As we moved further into the town, we came to the Watchers office. We left our mounts on the rest post next to the building and went in after the Captain. The woman guided us to a small room, me and Alyssa the only ones interested in what the woman had to say. Lapia didn''t give a single fuck, Yolin was satisfied with the healing, Pokora declined, Bonte chose to stay out, and Bromisnar joined the catboy. I stood next to a wall, Alyssa on the other side of the room. A low table had Elena and Lorena staring at each other. The Elf had her hands tied behind her back still, and her face was patient. ¡°So, Elena,¡± Lorena began. ¡°You claim to have no recollection of the events leading up to the attempt at Lady Natasha''s life. Is-¡± ¡°Don''t call a Halve by name, young woman!¡± Elena berated the Captain. ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°I gave her permission,¡± I commented, checking my silver nails. I had stored my armor, the leather garments the only thing on my body. And underwear, obviously. The Elf nodded at my words. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± she called to me. ¡°May I hear your name?¡± ¡°Natasha Novak,¡± I replied, a little bored. ¡°Call me by name.¡± She gulped. ¡°Could you... please check my storage item for documents that prove my identity?¡± Elena asked with a fair amount of respect. I checked the item, but had a hard time identifying which items were documents, and which weren''t. So, I pulled out one by one. Naturally, I went for items that weren''t blatant weapons or armors, so anything resembling written documents. A book titled ''Anatomy of the Penis, How to Please Any Species'' materialized in my free hand. Okay? I put it in my storage for the time being. If I put it back into the earring, I''d lose track of the items. Next, a book titled ''200 Positions to Conquer a Man in a Single Night'', came out. Mhm... Saw this one in Riverfield. I stored it and pulled another. ''Incelf: Myth or Reality? A study of High Libido in the Long Lived''. I used every point of strength available to not laugh. The following books were similar, all sex or romance related. Noticing the three waited for me made me speed the process. ¡°What am I looking for?¡± I asked after ''The ABC''s of Vaginal Pleasure''. A world where women are sexually liberated must have more information than a backwards Planet like Earth, I thought, squinting at the book. ¡°A thin plaque, Your Excellency,¡± she muttered quietly with a bit of shame. She had eyed the books I pulled out. Maybe I was exposing her. I nodded and searched for the thing. I came across three items that resembled plaques and pulled them out. They were credit card-sized plaques in various colors and materials. The first was black, the second was golden with a very beautiful ''H'' carved on it, and the last one was a white metal. I read the black one first. ''Honored Guest of Paar''khan Ladies Orgy House for Single Women'' was stamped on it, probably E''eral Obsidian by the feel of it. The words were clean, crisp, and incredibly legible. I was surprised by the text being in Common. I smirked at the item and put it back. The golden plaque had ''Proof of Ownership of Halven Items ¨C Issued by Her Excellency Yulianna Kavun''. It had a little text on the back: ''To any who it may concern: Elena Pazh''Khun is permitted to carry weapons and armor of Halven origin. You are not allowed to take these away. I, Yulianna Kavun, shall know of the theft of such items and will pursue you with deadly consequences to your entire family and organizations. No questions asked. If one of my kin comes across this message, I vouch for Elena. She has served me well for a thousand years. Greetings, my kin.'' I stared at the plaque for a few seconds. I should get one of these. But how could she know? Is there a mark or something? I wondered as I glanced at the Elf. ¡°Recognize this?¡± I asked her, waving the plaque. She shook her head. Figures. She remembers going to meet Yulianna, not having joined her for... a thousand years. I read the last plaque. ''Proof of Identity ¨C Elena Pazh''Khun. Faeton Elf born in the tenth day, seventh month, 54.780, Photem''s Third Era, Fifth Age of E''er. Red hair, turquoise eyes, ehelen skin.'' Next to the color name was a small dot that showed it. I glanced at the Elf and back to the plaque. Everything was in order. The ''ehelen'' color was caramel, I noticed. I nodded and walked to the table, then put everything in front of the woman. ¡°Checks out,¡± I confirmed. Lorena scowled. ¡°Her mind was broken,¡± Alyssa joined the conversation, looking at Lorena. ¡°I healed her after Natasha dealt with her. I suspect she lost her memories due to an unfortunate strike. I''m sure you noticed her head bleeding.¡± Elena looked at Alyssa, then at me. She smiled and nodded to herself. What? Got a gaydar? I wondered, squinting at the Elf. Lorena let out a long sigh that turned into a groan. ¡°Alright,¡± she went over the plaques and scratched her head for a bit. ¡°This got complicated. Lady Alyssa, was there any trace of mind control?¡± The Luzo nodded, looking at the table. ¡°Me and Natsha concluded there was enough evidence to point in that direction,¡± she said. ¡°Her mind was beyond repair, and her... extreme change in attitude would be explained by loss of memory.¡± ¡°About that,¡± Elena spoke up. ¡°Could you tell me what year it is? You said Perculis died... how long ago was that?¡± ¡°Three hundred years ago, Perculis passed away of old age,¡± Lorena informed her. She produced a pocket watch and continued, ¡°It is the twenty... second day of the fourth month, year 1980 Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er.¡± Elena''s face paled. ¡°So the Domi Elf''s words were true...¡± she muttered. ¡°I... can''t remember more than a thousand years of my life. How... why? Where is Her Excellency Yulianna?¡± ¡°In Makah,¡± Alyssa replied. ¡°She left Leks after Perculis death. No one has reported any findings about her.¡± ¡°Nilenna is looking for her,¡± I supplied. ¡°So... just wait?¡± Elena''s face turned pained, then she closed her eyes and tears began pouring out. This is the result of wanting me dead, I thought, staring at the suffering woman. I was a little angry I lost the lead, but at the same time conflicted at making her lose two thousand years worth of memories. I sighed. But the most I felt was pity for the woman. Probably used against her will to try and kill a Protector, the kind she apparently was pretty close to. Good thing I didn''t kill her, I thought. Still, Yulianna may want to say something about it. How do I even contact other Halves? How did Nilenna find me? I shook my head. That was a problem for another time. 42 - Interrogation. Lorena stood up and turned to me. ¡°I''m not satisfied. I''ll go fetch some tools to continue the interrogation,¡± she said and glanced at Elena. ¡°Please look over her.¡± I gave her a nod and the woman left the room. Alyssa grabbed a folding chair from the back of the room and sat down facing Elena. The Elf used her shoulders to wipe her tears and snot, then calmed down after a while. I need a timeline, I thought, chewing on my cheek as we waited for the Watcher to return. Of the last five thousand years at the very least. Nah, since Perculis showed up. That''d be seven thousand years... which means he spent three thousand years out in the wild doing who know what. I sighed. Long lives made things incredibly complicated in my opinion. The woman in front of me was older than the ancient Greek civilization as far as I recalled. She could have chatted with Aristotle and Homer, witnessed the rise of the Catholic Church, then give Gill Bates advice about Mykrosoft, I thought while staring at the Elf. Like a mega boomer. And I''ll live for ten thousand years if I don''t die before that. I walked back to the wall and leaned my back against it, thinking of how things could have gone the way they did. She asked about Perculis first, not Yulianna, I mulled it over. But Perculis was joined by Helena, a Healer, and Rozaria, a Warrior, not Elena who has a Wizard-type class. Both died of old age already. If she was seen with a Halve, the world would know just like how the newspaper mentioned Alyssa and Lapia in my case. Boris and Vadim with Nilenna''s. Yulianna got in the sheets with Perculis and researched fertility... This Elf doesn''t remember the last two thousand years... close to when Yiama died and the new Era began. Hmmm... Miraztor came to Lumin Kingdom and was targeted by the same, or similar, people as me. I''m told Desseyr is a riddle of a man. I retrieved a juice bottle from my storage. A little sugar helps think about stuff. Plus, I felt a headache forming behind my eyes. Holistos destroyed a country... but I don''t know how long ago, I wondered, taking a sip. Well, just fucking ask, Natasha. ¡°Hey,¡± I spoke up. ¡°When did Holistos destroy a country? Like, how long ago?¡± Alyssa turned to me and said, ¡°Three hundred thousand years ago, give or take.¡± So that''s out of the question for current events, I thought, giving her an appreciative wink. She blushed a little and returned the wink, then focused back on the Elf. I looked up at the ceiling and continued my thoughts. So, Perculis showed up. A dude that was pretty chill and sociable as I''m told. Then, he joined with two women, which is supposed to be rare. He did some researching, proved E''er isn''t the source of life as Lapia mentioned, published some stuff that I haven''t read yet, boosted his companions to 1500 at the very least. I assume he met Yulianna after all that, and both being Wizards interested in the scholar side of things, tried to have kids for some reason. Maybe he was a cute guy, a little shy and absorbed in the mysteries of magic. Yeah, that''d tickle a few- Nah. Can''t assume that kind of thing. I''ll go ahead and place Yulianna''s birth after Perculis'' for obvious reasons. Yulianna wiped out a tyrannical rule 500 years ago. Perculis was alive at that point, and Miraztor had already been targeted by then. Nilenna showed up two thousand years ago in Patuk. Desseyr was found near the Queendom of Maaruhk some fifty to forty years ago because the dumb fuck didn''t move from his birthplace... or so it goes. He''s a man of riddles, I thought for a second. And a Scout. A sneaky little thing that can go invisible, create illusions, and more. It wouldn''t be much of a surprise if everyone believed his story, if he was able to speak properly, which could very well be an act. I blinked a few times, trying to lessen the headache. Nilenna assisted in repelling a threat some nine years ago. Where does Yugulari''s group come in? A thousand years ago? Two? Did they kill Yiama? Did they get to Desseyr first? I doubt that... somehow I really doubt that. True, I was a little relieved to meet the bandits back then, but it quickly went south. I looked down at my hands. I''ve noticed three things were changed or removed from my mind, if I can call it that. Habits around technology, habits about the pandecade, and how I value the life of people that pose a threat. Adding to that I feel two pushes and one really strong pull. To fight and protect, to slaughter everything and consume all, and to never rule. Ever. If we all Halves are similar in that way, I can''t imagine Desseyr being swayed by some shady organization. Was I sent to Hell because I''d be the only Warrior Halve? I wondered. Galeia would require a relentless fighter if things were about to go to shit... but it''s not the case as far as I''m aware. But according to Lady Dabrak, it''s been fifteen thousand years since the last known Warrior Halve. I''m not even considering those that may be in the wilds. The door opened, interrupting my thoughts. Lorena came in carrying a small box with two handles. She walked to the table and place the contraption between her and Elena, then walked around the table and released the woman''s restrains. ¡°I''m sure you recognize this,¡± the Captain nodded at the item as she walked to the chair she previously occupied. The Elf nodded as the Tigea sat down. ¡°I do. And I''m okay with it. Although I admit I''m a bit disheartened at the need of such a thing, I know circumstance demands it.¡± Both grabbed a handle each, then Lorena spoke first. ¡°You have no recollections of the events leading up to the attempted deicide. Is that correct?¡± she asked. ¡°That''s right,¡± the Elf confirmed. I saw Lorena scowl. ¡°You forgot two thousand years worth of memories. Is that correct?¡± she asked next. Elena nodded again with a sad expression. ¡°That''d be the case.¡± The Tigea sighed and an ear twitched. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Do you feel any animosity against Halves that you would try to kill one?¡± ¡°No,¡± she simply answered. ¡°What''s the last thing you remember?¡± ¡°...¡± Elena''s face turned complicated for a second. ¡°I... was going to join her Excellency Yulianna. She had sent a letter asking for my presence. I had left my homeland, Akuuhk, and was on the way to Koluum.¡± Uuruhk, Maaruhk, Akuhk... Does ''Uhk'' mean land? I wondered. ¡°What year was it when this happened? And what were you doing?¡± ¡°56.280, Photem''s Third Era. I was 1500 years old, and had finished an essay on insect monsters and expanded on their potential usefulness in farm-related work as opposed to automation of E''eral constructs.¡± Hmm... I did see some sort of vehicles in Riverfield, I thought back on the weird things. Never again did I see them, though. Thinking about the things gave me the creeps for some reason, and I remembered the few I saw looked like bikes with no apparent engine or wheels. Still... a creature that levels up would be much more useful that a static machine, if the term applies. Unless they somehow also level up. ¡°Have you heard of the name Yugulari Thavas Pneumix?¡± Lorena asked. I looked at Elena, searching for any signs of recognition. ¡°Never,¡± the Elf replied, her voice sure and her expression unchanging. ¡°I want to ask her something,¡± I spoke up, walking to the table. Lorena, Elena, and Alyssa turned to me. The Luzo had been analyzing the Elf the whole time. The Tigea nodded and stood up from her chair, letting go of the handle. ¡°You inject E''er while asking a question,¡± the Captain informed me. ¡°The enchantment will let you know if she''s telling the truth.¡± That''s fucking convenient, holy shit! I exclaimed in my mind, raising my eyebrows in surprise. I bet it works with some surface mind scan or some other-world bullshit like that. I grabbed the free handle and stared at Elena after I sat down. She looked back at me, lowering her head a little so my eyes were higher than hers. I retrieved the scepter I got from the storage item and injected one hundred points of E''er into the contraption. ¡°Recognize this?¡± I asked, showing her the item. ¡°I do,¡± she answered, her eyes widening. A little something was trying to enter my mind. It felt similar to a Bond Message, but incredibly more intrusive. I relaxed slightly and got an affirmative feeling from the contraption. ¡°Who gave it to you?¡± I asked next, injecting more E''er. ¡°His Excellency Perculis,¡± she replied. Affirmative again. So Yulianna is safekeeping his items? I wondered. ¡°Did he mention anything about the item''s name or origin?¡± I asked, my heartbeat accelerating as I injected more E''er. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°His Excellency said it was a powerful staff from a faraway place.¡± I got the affirmative feeling in return, and a smile formed on my face. Perculis, you motherfucker, I thought with a chuckle. ¡°Why did he gave this to you?¡± I asked next while injecting fuel. ¡°As payment for a copy of my research.¡± Perculis, you retarded fuck! Don''t give Mythical items away like that!! I let out a sigh and noticed my E''er pool was six hundred points short after using Intimidate Prey, Dragonclaw, and asking the questions. I can ask... 129 more questions, I thought, staring at the Elf. Two thousand years worth of information lost... Most likely only remembers a little about Perculis, and nothing about Yulianna. I clicked my tongue in annoyance. ¡°What level was he when you met him?¡± I asked, again injecting E''er. Elena glanced at Lorena and Alyssa. ¡°I''m not allowed to disclose that information to non-Halves,¡± she replied, biting her lower lip. I turned to Lorena, who nodded and walked off the room and closed the door behind her. ¡°Alyssa is my lover and partner, she will stay,¡± I declared, looking back at the Elf. ¡°He was above three thousand,¡± she replied, and my mind almost blew up. I... see. Holy fucking shit. I nodded, letting go of the handle. ¡°What was his full name?¡± I asked the woman, not using the contraption. ¡°Perculis Valerius Sylla,¡± Elena replied. I turned to Alyssa and she nodded in confirmation. Well... that''s a weird name. ¡°How about the rest?¡± I asked next, putting the scepter on the table. ¡°The ones alive right now.¡± ¡°I don''t know,¡± she replied. ¡°I only know of Her Excellency Yulianna and His Excellency Miraztor.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± I hummed. ¡°People need to be a little more loose in that aspect, I barely know anything about my kin.¡± ¡°Miraztor Xipnak,¡± Alyssa commented. ¡°You never asked, and their last names are not really that important.¡± ¡°Well... to you, who treat me like a regular woman,¡± I replied with a smirk. ¡°You are regular people at the end of the day,¡± the Luzo argued with a smile of her own. ¡°Hmph!¡± Elena harrumphed. ¡°Couldn''t be farther from the truth.¡± ¡°How so?¡± I questioned her. ¡°Do you believe we come from Heaven?¡± ¡°Where else?¡± Elena argued back. ¡°Divines require your protections as much as the rest of us. If we''re to progress to a higher society, we need the Protectors. If something threatens the balance of the world, you''re there to ensure safety. We can''t reach your power in a short amount of time without suffering great losses. We''re born weak. You''re born strong. In the time it takes for a new Halve to appear, a single individual may reach around level 1000. You''re already there from day one. Teaching you is our purpose, and we should bow to your gifts from old. Take Filestra for example, she slaughtered every Giant that stepped into Leks and drove them to the north of Makah. In ten years! Beings the size of a mountain. Millions of them! Imagine how many would have died without her. Without your kind. You ARE a higher being.¡± Zealot much? I thought, staring at the Elf. But if we come from Heaven, which I don''t as I came from Hell... what is in Heaven? Or is it just an imaginary place they use to justify belief? ¡°Though I respect your beliefs, I can''t help but ask you,¡± I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. ¡°What is Heaven? And who or what is there?¡± Alyssa snorted and leaned back on her chair. ¡°That is none of our business,¡± Elena replied. Then, she gave me a smirk and continued, ¡°Your Excellency asks that as if You don''t know. It''s alright. Not many share this belief, and Your Excellency is allowed to keep secrets.¡± I let out a huge conflicted sigh. I don''t want to be some Holy Being, I concluded. 43 - Letters. I stood up and turned my back to Elena. I had heard enough. ¡°Let me know if you need anything. I''m partially responsible for the state you''re in right now,¡± I said, then walked to the door. I ignored the sob that followed my words, and opened the door. Lorena was leaning her shoulder against the wall of the hallway. She looked at me and I gave her a nod, then she went inside the room. Alyssa came out after that, with a face that said ''yikes''. We left the Watcher office and found Pokora waiting outside, her weird mount next to Sonya and a Bhin. ¡°The rest went back to your cabin,¡± the Elf muttered. I focused on the Bond and noticed it pointing west of Lakeview in the direction of the resort and nodded in response, then walked to the Ratnak. The town was in total darkness, my glow illuminating the space around us as I had absorbed a lot of sunlight while sunbathing. It wasn''t blinding, but a gentle light. ¡°Natasha...¡± Pokora called to me as I mounted Sonya. ¡°Aren''t you a little too violent?¡± I looked her dead in the eye. My glow revealed her face in full and I saw a complicated expression on her face. ¡°It''s cute that you think of what I have done as violence,¡± I replied, thinking of Hell. She scowled. ¡°Don''t patronize me,¡± she said back, glaring at me. ¡°And that''s not what I mean. I''m not criticizing or questioning your actions. Just wondering if you''re not... I don''t know how to put it.¡± ¡°I''m not,¡± I denied it, shaking my head. ¡°If we get to know each other better, you may understand more one day. You, Sussanna, and Elena are still alive, after all.¡± I heard Alyssa chuckle, and Pokora sighed. ¡°Anyway,¡± the Elf shook her head. ¡°See you tomorrow, I need some serious sleep.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I nodded. ¡°Take care.¡± ¡°Take care,¡± Alyssa gave her a nod. I smiled and stopped as I remembered something. ¡°Ah, wait! Pokora!¡± I called, dismounting. The Elf hadn''t gone too far, so I caught up quickly. ¡°Yeah?¡± she lazily muttered. ¡°Does ''Khepri'' ring any bells?¡± I asked her, hoping I wasn''t imagining things. She squinted, thinking for a few seconds. ¡°It does,¡± she confirmed with a nod. ¡°Let me check something.¡± She produced a book and leafed through the contents, stopping at a page near the middle. ¡°Uh...¡± she moved her finger over the lines, then tapped it twice. ¡°Yeah... it''s a...¡± Her eyes shone a little with blue-ish light, then her ears twitched a few times as she looked around. ¡°What''s that?¡± I asked, gesturing at her head. ¡°Nothing much,¡± the Elf muttered. ¡°I have a skill that checks if we''re being watched. Part of the Hunter Class. No one is paying attention. Think of it as Detect Life or Locate Creature.¡± ¡°I have no clue what those are,¡± I said back. ¡°Didn''t you work in Ancient Parchments 6?¡± she asked me. ¡°I was part of the art department, not a developer,¡± I argued. ¡°I know a few memes, but didn''t play the game. Don''t change the subject!¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± she nodded, looking down back at the book. ¡°Khepri... Egyptian God. Of what? I don''t remember.¡± ¡°How do you know that, then?¡± I asked, raising my eyebrows. She blushed a little. ¡°There was this yaoi anime-¡± ¡°Got it,¡± I interrupted her. ¡°Elena has a staff with that name. It originally belonged to Perculis. It was for a bug-related class.¡± ¡°Mhm, Khepri-sama was an onii-san character in the show, he owned the apartment complex the other Gods lived in,¡± she said with a satisfied nod as she read more. ¡°He had one of those Egyptian beetles as a pet. Deeply loved by fans.¡± I shook my head. I never knew how to deal with hardcore fans of those kind of shows. ¡°Okay,¡± I sighed. ¡°That helps.¡± ¡°So Perculis had a staff named after a God from Earth?¡± she asked with a spark in her eyes. I tilted my head. ¡°You do realize multiple worlds may have similar Gods? Out of billions of stars, I would bet there are at least two other worlds with a God named Thor that deals with lightning.¡± ¡°Well, there''s a chance he was from Earth too,¡± she insisted. I gave a noncommittal shrug. ¡°It would be a funny coincidence.¡± She stored the book and squinted at me. ¡°See?¡± she asked, pointing an accusing finger at me. ¡°You should be going Damn! He was from Earth! I''m sure of it! We should go and check his research!¡± she even imitated my accent. ¡°And yet you just mention it as a funny coincidence.¡± ¡°Pokora,¡± I let out a sigh. ¡°If that''s what you''d like to do, I have no issue. I thought you''d be interested in it more than I am, so I told you.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± she uttered. ¡°Thanks, then. Good night.¡± ¡°Night,¡± I replied. We bid farewell and went our separate ways. On the way to the resort, me and Alyssa shared a few jokes to lighten the mood of the day. It hadn''t been as eventful as the previous night, at least. We left our mounts on the back yard of the cabin when we arrived, next to a water trough and went inside. Lapia was waiting for us and received us with a kiss each. Yolin was in the living room, playing cards with Bonte as Bromisnar played some music. Me and Alyssa sat down on a big sofa and let out a long sigh. ¡°How did it go?¡± Lapia asked, sitting next to Alyssa. ¡°Pretty standard,¡± the Luzo replied. ¡°Captain Lorena used a Truth Device to get some answers. Elena lost her memory... around two thousand years worth.¡± ¡°Oof,¡± Yolin muttered. ¡°That''s tough.¡± I noticed alcohol on the table and grabbed a bottle of what I assumed to be vodka. When I was about to take a generous and humble sip of half the bottle, I heard a knock on the door. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Letting out a sigh, I stood up and walked to it, then opened it. A bird stood in front of me in the entryway, holding a few envelopes in its beak. Four of them. The animal was a meter and a half tall. Black feathers, black eyes, and a black beak. An over-sized raven. Not this again, I groaned in my mind. [Corvitex, Lvl 1000] Holy shit! I gaped at it. That''s the highest leveled thing I''ve seen! It dropped the envelopes at my feet and stared at me, tilting its head as a bird would. ¡°Thanks?¡± I tried talking to it. It hadn''t worked with the turkey, and I expected a magical raven to be smarter. ¡°You! Welcome!¡± it croaked, and I almost jumped back in surprise and shock. IT FUCKING TALKS!? I screamed in my mind. It looked down at the envelopes and pecked at them two times, then looked up at me. ¡°Okay,¡± I muttered, picking up the things. Two had a beautiful H stamped on them, identical to Nilenna''s letter and Yulianna''s plaque of item ownership. The third one had a crest I didn''t recognize, and the last one didn''t have any symbols on it except a line that read ''To Her Excellency Natasha Novak. From Her Divinity Shorvanna''. Holy shit, this got too real, too fast. I opened the first one from a fellow Halve and read it. ''Greetings, Junior Novak. I write to you with the intention to welcome you to Galeia. Elder Atarka pressured me into sending you a letter. I hope you''re doing fine, and wish you a pleasant Aphelion celebration. (She scares me a little, please dissuade her from forcing me to write more letters.) She mentioned being busy in the search of Elder Kavun, and Junior Idgaeh is too willing to follow her ridiculous requests. Hoping we meet in the future to come, Miraztor X., Your Elder. PS: Please talk some sense into her if you can. PS.2: Don''t do whatever she asks, as her requests will get more ridiculous with time. Trust me.'' I stared at the letter for a few seconds, trying to keep myself grounded and avoid laughing at the same time. Elder my ass! I retorted in my mind, storing the letter. I opened the next one. It was quite long. ''Hey, hey, hey, lil'' sis! ''Tis I, your big sis Nilenna, wishing you a merry Aphelion. It''s not that impressive when you actually think about it, doesn''t it? Just two giant balls of fire in space doing their thing. You should watch the Perihelion, now THAT''s a show! I haven''t gotten tired even after all this years of seeing it! Anyway, I''ve heard you''re increasing your companions'' levels. That''s good. Take good care of them, okay? Also, I thought of something since last time I wrote you. If you accomplish my request, I''ll give you a reward AND you''ll get to keep Pytor! He''s the cute little Corvitex that should be in front of you as you read this. You see, my animal companion had some cute little children some five hundred years ago and I thought it''d be neat if we could keep in contact more often. I want to hear from you, you know? You''re making big sis lonely by not sending letters. I don''t want to hear excuses! Yulianna refused and look how it ended! I''m in the middle of the ocean as I''m writing this. Can you smell the salt from the paper? I''m using Leviathan ink to write this. Cool, isn''t it?! You should draw a Leviathan if you have the chance! I kept your drawing of the Sentinel! It was really well done! Big sis is very proud of you, you know? I''ll get Miraztor to write you a letter as well. He likes to play hard to get, but comes around after a bit of convincing. He should be in Patuk around this time of the year. Don''t tell his admirers, though! Desseyr is such a good lil'' bro! You should definitely meet him! He''s so fun to talk to! Also! Send my regards to our cousins when you visit! Tell Saravia I have a new riddle for him! That should lift his brooding a little. If you decide to write back, I would like to hear any suggestions as to where big sis Yulianna could be. I''m thinking of visiting that old crook Pitela. Kind of embarrassing that the best tracker can''t find someone, right? Don''t answer that, please. I''ll be sad if you do! Also also! You should send a self-portrait to the Dryads! They have this really fun card game where they add us Halves as characters! It''s really cool, you know? You should also get a pack and practice for when I absolutely beat the shit out of you in a duel. You should add the following info: Your height, your base class, your weapon of choice (type, I use a ranged-type), which type of armor you use (light, medium, or heavy), and a memorable quote! The game''s name is Galeian Armory! Pretty cool, right? It''s super popular with Royals and Nobles! This letter ended up being pretty long. Last time I didn''t have as much time as I do now, you know? The oceans are huge and super deep! You should sail them! Hoping we properly meet in the future, Nilenna Atarka. PS.: I''ll tell Pytor to intercept any letter your way, letting the sender know, naturally. He flies faster than any bird any country can have to deliver letters.'' I blinked several times after having read the wall of text. Cousins? Sentinel? Card game? Oceans? Leviathan? This is too much... Too! Many! Exclamations! The next envelope had a cute crest on it; a mountain with a crown on top. The letter itself was a bit shorter, however. ''Your Excellency Natasha Novak, At the behest of our merciful sovereign, Her Illustrious Highness Claudia Tidon Coronalta II, I have sent this letter to lay before Your Excellency an invitation. Our Monarchy of Tidon has taken notice of Your Excellency''s glorious birth in our lands, thus we would be honored to offer Your Excellency a piece of said land for Your Excellency to do as Your Excellency pleases. If Your Excellency does not wish to see Our Monarchy of Tidon as Your Excellency''s legitimate birthplace, we would be disheartened, but understanding. We humbly beseech Your Excellency to consider granting us such an honor, as it would inspire future generations and uplift the people. We shall await Your Excellency''s response in full hope that Your Excellency will deign to grant us this morsel of consideration. This offer stands for as long as Our Monarchy of Tidon continues to exist. Your Humble Servant: Plavi de Piedrazul, Head of House Piedrazul, Minister of Higher Relations, Our Monarchy of Tidon.'' I groaned, and the bird in front of me imitated the sound. Such manipulations! Morsel of consideration? What does morsel mean? I wondered, giving it a second read. These names... Coronalta and Piedrazul... Highcrown and Bluestone? Dwarfs? This letter oozes political agenda. Fuck me dead. I let out a sigh and stored the letter. The next one was from Shorvanna. ''Natasha, Go west. There, you will find a small country by the name of Ualrin. In a cave you must search with your own means, behind a statue after my image, you''ll find an entrance to a hidden, high-tier dungeon full of undead and cursed ones. You can reach level 2300 there. This is my gift to guide you as a Warrior. You should go alone, non-Halves will not survive. Do not take these words lightly. Shorvanna, The Restless Brawler, Goddess of the Path of the Warrior.'' I let out a chuckle. What are these side-quests? I wondered, a little amused. A pet, a plot of land, leveling grounds? After storing the letter, I stared at the bird for a few seconds. It looked back at me with the expectation of food. ¡°I don''t know what you eat,¡± I muttered, running a hand through my hair. ¡°Bones!¡± it croaked. ¡°I don''t have bones to give you, unfortunately,¡± I shrugged. It nodded, turned around, and flew away. I watched it disappear into the darkness of night, then closed the door. I want some sexy time, I whined in my mind. 44 - Futanari F****ng: Foursome. (18+) I walked back into the living room and sat next to Yolin, who was focused on the cards in front of her. The cards were simple compressed paper with glowing symbols. They had seven different symbols and numbers from 1 to 10. The game she was playing with Bonte worked similarly to Poker, but with a hundred more rules and stuff. Not my choice of gamble. It''s gacha for me. ¡°Who was it?¡± Lapia asked me, nodding at the door. ¡°Letters,¡± I replied with a shrug, leaning my head on Yolin''s shoulder and focusing on Bromisnar''s music. ¡°What does morsel mean?¡± ¡°Something very small, or in tiny amounts,¡± Alyssa supplied. ¡°Ah, I see-¡± I began. ¡°And that''s an Ambitious Full-throttle Fortuna!¡± Bonte suddenly cheered, dropping his cards on the table. ¡°I win.¡± Yolin clicked her tongue and threw the cards on the table while leaning backwards. ¡°Why can''t I win? I''ve been playing this game for longer than you''ve been alive...¡± she grumbled, crossing her arms. ¡°Well,¡± the Tigea began, giving the Oni a shit eating grin. ¡°It''s not how long you have done something, but how much of it you master...¡± The man leaned forward and gathered the many gold coins on the table while snickering, then put them in a bag that disappeared into his storage item. I hummed, then closed in on Yolin''s ear. ¡°Hey, wanna go play something more interesting in the bedroom?¡± I whispered in a sultry voice. She turned to me and gave me a knowing smile, then nodded. I stood up and walked to the room and Yolin followed after me. Lapia turned to us with raised eyebrows and stood up as well, taking Alyssa by the hand. ¡°Aha... there they go,¡± I heard Bonte comment with amusement. ¡°Wanna play a round, Bromi?¡± The Satyr stopped playing his lute and the door closed behind Alyssa. I undressed to my panties and climbed on the bed, pulling Yolin with me. The woman giggled, then tackled me onto the bed. ¡°Someone''s in a rush,¡± Lapia chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed with Alyssa in front of her. Yolin''s clothes vanished as she pinned me down on the bed. I let out a hot sigh and kissed her neck. Her skin was deliciously warm and a little sweaty. Absolute perfection. She sighed and I heard kissing coming from Lapia''s position. ¡°I''ll make you squeal today,¡± Yolin growled at me, and I let out a whimper of expectation. She released me and slowly went down, planting kisses on my chest and running her black tongue on my stomach. Her hands caressed my arms and then my legs, making my excitement grow. Her head stopped near my crotch and then looked up at me. ¡°With or without?¡± she asked. ¡°Let''s start with,¡± I replied in a rush, wanting her to begin already. She gave a nod in reply and gave my panties a strong lick right where my pussy is, forcing a soft moan out of my mouth. I grabbed my own breasts and started playing with them as I spread my legs and closed my eyes while leaning my head back. While Yolin liked rough sex and being aggressively fucked, she liked to give as much as she liked to receive. I really, really loved how she asked me if I wanted to wear my panties or not every time we began the act. The wet noises coming from my pussy were accompanied by a heat slowly taking root beneath my stomach. Along with that, I heard Lapia and Alyssa sharing a sloppy kiss, which only added to the excitement. Yolin''s hands slowly made their way to my stomach, gently pressing against my flesh with her fingernails. I let go of my breasts and guided her hands to them, where she gave them a firm squeeze. ¡°Uuhh!¡± I moaned, and my hips buckled a little. I felt the mattress shift next to me and slightly opened my eyes. Alyssa was walking on the bed towards me, followed by Lapia. Both wore they birthday suits. The Luzo moved a leg over me and sat down on my stomach. She was as light as a feather for me and Yolin, so it didn''t make a difference. Then, she leaned back until she was resting on top of me and Lapia put herself on top of Alyssa. The healer raised her hips and her tail moved to wrap around the Wizard''s waist. My lips found a scaly nep and I kissed it. Yolin''s fingers found my nipples and gave them tender attention. I hugged Alyssa''s waist and ran my hands over her stomach, enjoying the abs under her skin as the two women on top of me kissed. I lowered my hands on Alyssa''s stomach and found her pussy, then began gently caressing her. ¡°Ah, fuck, yes!¡± Lapia moaned, probably being touched by Alyssa. ¡°You three look like a work of art,¡± Yolin commented from between my legs. ¡°Mhh!¡± I moaned as her voice made the moist fabric over my genitals vibrate a little. I felt a set of fingers grab my panties and pull them off as I closed my legs. Yolin''s arms were sandwiched between Alyssa and me, and the other two were hugging. It was Asura Projection, Yolin''s skill to summon four extra arms. If the arms weren''t connected to her body, however, she could summon up to fourteen floating arms. Truly a skill to be envious of. ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± I moaned loudly as I felt cold fingers enter my folds when I spread my legs again. My penis flopped out and a cold hand grabbed it as well, then I felt Alyssa''s back stiffen then relax, followed by Lapia moaning. Yolin was finger-fucking the three of us. I''ll never forget the first time she did that. I felt her lips wrap around my clit and her tongue assaulted it, forcing a growl of pleasure from me. My hand caressing Alyssa''s clit didn''t stop, and soon we were all moaning, gasping, yelping, and sighing. The stimulation made my cock hard almost instantly, which Yolin stroked with one of her arms. ¡°Ahn! Yolin, yes! Fuck me good!¡± Lapia moaned after separating from Alyssa''s kiss for a second. ¡°Ooohh! There! Right there!¡± Alyssa exclaimed in pleasure. ¡°Fuck! Your fingers are so deep in me!¡± I whined into Alyssa''s neck. ¡°Mhh! Yeah, gonna cum!¡± Lapia announced with glee. ¡°Make me cum, Yolin!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± the Oni replied. I felt the Elf''s shakes through Alyssa, and the sound of her warm squirt as it hit my cock was delicious. The woman''s breath turned ragged and she flopped to the side, removing herself from the tower of bodies. I took a sharp breath as fingers dug against my pelvic bone, and the heat above my stomach began to descend as fast as the hand stroking my cock. ¡°I''m getting close!¡± I announced as my left foot began shaking. ¡°Just like that! Keep fucking me just like that!¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Holy shit, the grip!¡± Yolin commented as my vagina began squeezing her fingers. I felt the ethereal limb become harder, maybe she activated a skill. It really didn''t matter to me as I was on a world of bliss getting finger-banged, clit-tongued, stroked, and nipple-squeezed. There was no going back to having regular sex for me. Even if I got pounded in the perfect position while holding hands and kissing, it wasn''t going to cut it. It could be said my standards regarding sex went up quite a bit since meeting the three. I felt the hand around my cock loosen and the tongue attacking my clit stop. I was about to complain when her tongue went up my cock and her lips closed around my glans. Her tusks made it impossible for Yolin to take me into her mouth, but her tongue-work was as mind-blowing as were her kisses. The hand that released my cock went to my clit and quickly rubbed it sideways, making me approach climax with every second. ¡°Uh, gonna cum!¡± Alyssa announced with a squeal. I took her right breast with my free hand and gave her nipple some love. The world was replaced with white flashes of light as I felt the heat at the back of my hips about to explode. ¡°Fuck!¡± I groaned. ¡°Cumming! Ah! Shit! AHH!¡± The heat rushed out through my cock and into Yolin''s mouth as my body tightened with the orgasm. Loud gulping noises came from her as I allowed the pleasure to blind me in a world of white. My cock pulsated and my pussy squeezed the fingers for a few seconds. Alyssa trembled on top of me, and she moaned loudly while gripping my hand rubbing her pussy. I let out a loud sigh and my arms fell to the sides as my brain got fried with the sensations of cumming. Yolin''s tongue licked my urethra and gave my glans a good suck, getting whatever remained in it. ¡°Your cum is so delicious, Natasha,¡± the Oni praised me and I felt a huge smile form on my face. ¡°Woah...¡± I whispered while taking deep breaths. ¡°That was something.¡± Yolin let out a cheerful laugh and lifted Alyssa''s body from mine. She gently placed the woman to the other side, then knelt in front of me. We locked eyes and I saw the rampant thirst in hers. She wanted to get pounded hard, and she definitely deserved it after making the three of us cum so good. I noticed her lips glistening with my cum and I straightened up, grabbed her nape, and gave her a deep kiss. The sweetness of my release made me hum, and her tongue wrestling with mine made me sigh. She leaned back and spread her legs, giving me a big smile. ¡°Fuck me, Natasha,¡± she said. Her soothing voice had an immediate effect on me, and I covered her body with mine. She put two fingers inside me and rubbed around, then pulled out and covered my cock with my pussy juices. Then, she guided me to her entrance and stroked my cock, making sure I was lubricated. ¡°It''s amazing how big your cock is,¡± she whispered, grabbing the thing in question at the base. ¡°I know,¡± I replied, kissing her neck. ¡°I find it amazing too.¡± ¡°I love how it reaches all the way to my womb,¡± she teased me, letting go of my cock and grabbing my tits. ¡°And how you always blow huge loads inside me, filling me up.¡± I stared at her for a few seconds. ¡°I think Lapia is having a lasting effect on you,¡± I commented, slowly pushing my hips forward. Her labia parted and I slowly made my way into her up to half her length. Her pussy was soft, wriggly, and the tightness was divine. She was super wet and I slipped inside with surprising ease. ¡°Ugh!¡± she groaned a little, her body trembling from head to toe. ¡°I came a little.¡± ¡°Hoo... getting more resistant?¡± I asked, pulling out until just my glans was inside. ¡°Not... really...¡± she said between gasps. ¡°I''m about to cum alreadyyy...! I really like dirty talk too, but I admit Lapia takes it a bit far.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± the woman in question perked up. ¡°Dirty talk is hot!¡± We giggled and Alyssa joined, rolling to Yolin''s side. I grabbed Yolin by the waist and plunged deep inside her, getting a loud moan in response. Her pussy clamped and her hands squeezed my tits, which made me moan back. ¡°Cumming!¡± the Oni stared into my eyes with a big smile. ¡°Ahhhnn! Mhhh!¡± I picked up a fast rhythm and gave her left breast a kiss. ¡°Hyan!¡± a surprised yelp escaped my lips as fingers entered my folds. ¡°Yeah, right there!¡± Lapia got behind me and grabbed my right ass cheek with a hand as she fingered me with the other. Her lips rained kisses on my back as she glued our bodies. Alyssa leaned into Yolin and kissed her, grabbing her breasts and playing with them. I brought my right hand to Yolin''s crotch and put my thumb on her clit, then gave it a good rub as I fucked her. The watery sounds of my cock going in and out of her divine pussy filled my ears along with Lapia''s kisses on my skin and her fingers in my own pussy. The Luzo sat up and made her way to the Oni''s head and stared at the woman for a second. The tank nodded and the healer sat on her face. ¡°Give me some love, too,¡± the Luzo said in a pouty tone. Her deep voice tickled my ears, and I let out a hum. I brought my left hand behind me and searched for the Elf''s vulva. She grabbed my hand and guided me herself, where I dug my fingers inside her. ¡°Your pussy is delicious, Alyssa,¡± the Oni praised. ¡°Oh, shit,¡± the Wizard let out a moan. ¡°Your fingers are so thick! I love them!¡± Alyssa moaned and her tail went up as she leaned forward. I saw Yolin''s black tongue lick the light purple pussy. ¡°Mhaa!¡± I moaned as I poked Yolin''s cervix with my glans. ¡°Having sex with a cock feels so fucking good!¡± My cock was squeezed in response, the woman shaking with orgasm after orgasm. I looked down and saw her thick whiteness and scooped a bit with a finger, then licked it clean. Lapia gently pulled my braid and I turned around while straightening up, sharing a sloppy kiss with her as her fingers scraped against my pelvic bone. ¡°I bet,¡± she whispered into my mouth as her fingers pressed harder against my front. ¡°Hmmm!!¡± Alyssa moaned and her head shot back. ¡°Ah, yes! Right there, so good! Aahm!¡± As Yolin kept cumming on my cock nonstop, her legs wrapped around my hips and squeezed me with her strong thighs. I let go of her clit and caressed her abs as I shared a long look with Lapia as we locked lips. She bit and nibbled my tongue and lips, releasing hot breaths into my mouth every time we took a breath as her hands followed the movement of my hips to finger me nonstop. Yolin''s hands left my chest and I noticed out of the corner of my eye that she brought them to Alyssa''s front instead. ¡°Ah, fuck!¡± I groaned into Lapia''s mouth as she pinched my clit with her free hand. ¡°That''s so good, Lala. Keep going just like that!¡± I bent forward and grabbed Yolin by the hips as I slowed down a little while using shallow thrusts to fuck her and pressed my pelvis against hers to stimulate her clit. My hips slowly numbed along with my back and legs. The stimulation on my cock and pussy was amazing, and getting fingered while fucking was an experience that couldn''t be explained with anything other than ''drowning in pleasure''. ¡°Fuck!¡± I yelped. ¡°You pussy feels so fucking good, Yolin. Holy shit!¡± The pussy in question clamped once again around my cock and squeezed my soul through my cock. I felt all the heat on my chest and stomach going down to my hips, warning me of the coming orgasm. I took her legs and moved them towards her body, then put my weight on her hips for the last spurt. I had taken an intense like to fucking in the mating press position. I gave Lapia a nod and she removed her fingers from my pussy, then I slowly began to pound the woman under me. My cock went out to the glans, then I pushed forward, reaching her cervix in a second. Yolin came again, her pussy wriggling round my cock. That felt amazing, and my own orgasm approached faster the more I made the Oni cum. ¡°Shit!¡± Yolin hissed, separating from Alyssa''s pussy. ¡°Yeah, yeah! Ahh! Fuck me like that!¡± I sped up, the slapping of our skin growing in volume and the watery sounds turning more obscene. I drove my cock inside her to the hilt with every thrust, and three fourths out with every pull. I was fucking her hard the way she liked. Lapia''s hands went over my back, caressing me and digging her nails on my skin. ¡°Ahn!¡± I moaned as the tank came again and again, squeezing my cock. ¡°You feel so good around my cock, Yolin. I''m getting close!¡± ¡°Agh! Cumming!¡± She announced between gasps and licking Alyssa''s pussy. ¡°Your cock is... pushing so hard inside me!¡± ¡°Mh!¡± I grunted as I slammed into her. ¡°I''m going so deep inside you.¡± ¡°Holy shit!¡± Lapia exclaimed. Then she muttered, ¡°I want that, too. But I don''t want my hips to break... tch!¡± ¡°I''m gonna cum!¡± I announced, keeping the same speed and depth. ¡°Cum inside!¡± Yolin groaned, her pussy gripping my cock. ¡°Deep inside!¡± I felt my feet shake, and the heat in my hips rush out. ¡°Agh!¡± I groaned as I started to cum. ¡°Hmm! Ahh! Fuck!¡± I deeply slammed into Yolin for a few seconds as I released everything inside her pussy as she clamped around my cock which made the act even more pleasurable with her grip. ¡°Cumming! Cumming!¡± the Oni moaned and tightened her body as I filled her with my cum. ¡°Shiiiiiiiit!¡± I pushed my hips forward to the limit, pressing my cock against her cervix as I emptied myself to the last drop inside her. ¡°Haaaa... fuck... that feels so good,¡± I squealed as the orgasm shook my body. I leaned back and Lapia caught me, helping me keep balance as my sight was covered in a world of white. ¡°The night is just starting,¡± Lapia whispered into my ear, then licked my neck. I shivered in expectation and excitement. We would fuck for hours that night. Out of Journal. Meetings: Lapia. Lapia Pofeta, Flame of the East. Daughter of House Pofeta from the ancient Queendom of Maaruhk. Former teacher of Desseyr, a Halve. Master Wizard with years of scholastic life. She had left her home in the chase of knowledge. To research a species nobody dared to approach with such intentions. Halves, Protectors, Azh''avun, Guardianes, and more. Every language has a word for them, for their purpose, for their role. Yet the people treat them as more than they actually are; people as everyone on Galeia. They are not much different than the rest of the species. They have hopes, dreams, wants, desires, and needs. There is a saying in Galeia. ''When trouble comes, a Halve soon follows''. Many, if not all, wish to see a Halve in action. Their low number makes meeting one exceedingly rare, and it''s the best if they''re not chasing you. If you look back and see a Halve, think of what you''ve done. What evils you may have committed against Galeia and her people. Think hard and quick. They are not ones to butcher without reason. They are driven by conflict, for conflict. A Halve showing up means trouble already found its way there. They are a statement of solution. Of better and safer times against unfathomable dangers. It''s always: Where are you going? What''s your class? What are your goals? Yet few ask them: How are you doing? Have you eaten? Does it hurt anywhere? Though complex in instinct and purpose, Halves are living, breathing people. If they do the protecting all the time, who is there to protect them? From lonely times. From harsh times. Who is there to support their troubled hearts and minds after making hard decisions? Who lends them a hand after they save a city, a country, a continent? Filestra is a prime example of this issue. Her brutality saved Leks, yet not a soul cared after her. She received praise, yes. Songs were written, cities were named after her, coin changed hands. Yet she remained alone. Is it a surprise then, that she banned war? Is it a surprise that after years of fighting for the people, she''d make sure they stayed alive? That she''d go to the lengths of threatening to slaughter those she protected to make sure not a single child was orphaned? All these are Lapia''s thoughts on the existence that is a Halve. ''People like us, with different drives and standards, but not much different''. And yet, she laid on a cart. It had been days since she last saw the suns. Days since she drank any water. Days since she ate any food. That in itself would be of no issue for a Wizard of her level, since she could hold on for a total of ten days without sustenance. Her constitution, though admittedly low, would extend the time before starvation and dehydration struck her. Being a Pyromancer, she could also actively regulate her body temperature and avoid that, though in a limited way. The first problem was the nature of the ropes that bound her. Numbing Rope. Used by Watchers and Wardens to keep criminals from using skills, interacting with E¡¯er, and even moving. Made of E¡¯er starved trees from Makah, the material constantly sucked living things of their fuel. The enchantment that these particular ropes around Lapia held prevented her from even speaking. Even the basic action of appraisal was taken from her. Only corrupt Watchers or Nobles would let bandits get a hold of Numbing Rope. ''Urgun'' she heard the bandits say a few times. A Harpy Noble to the East. Lapia had met the woman a long time ago when she passed through Kelske on her way to Lumin Kingdom. She remembered her as a righteous person, free of bias and corruption. Time changes people, indeed. The second problem were her wounds. The bandits that had captured her tortured her in every imaginable way, breaking her body and spirit. Somehow, a healer was among them. He, a boy called Finn, had kept her alive for their amusement with subpar healing. She was going to die. It was a matter of when, not if. The sadistic nature of the bandits pushed their cruelty into loosening the ropes only for her hands to move. As if to dare her. As if to mock any struggle she could muster. ¡®Go ahead and try¡¯ was the message. And she did try. If she was to die, she would at least go on her own terms, not as a plaything for brutes. Using her hands, she slowly cut the ropes. Breaking and chipping her fingernails, she managed to cut through them in the span of three days. When the last string of rope was cut, a loud explosion that deafened her shook the cart. Horses neighed in panic and the bandits¡¯ frightened chatter reached her. Weak and injured, she could only hope for a savior. She was in no shape to fight, and her body would soon fail her. The sound of horses was heard for a few seconds, then a voice that made her quiver in fear spoke. ¡°Who goes there?!¡± it demanded. Lapia recognized the voice instantly, it belonged to the leader of the bandits, and had heard his name only once: Bardan. She slowly crawled to the cloth at the back of the cart, slightly opening it and letting a tiny bit of sunlight inside. Through the gap, she saw an armored figure facing the group. Golden blonde hair reached her knees in a braid, her face had a healthy light tan, and her eyes were those of an innocent maiden just setting out into the world. Not a shred of questioning, suspicion, doubt, or even carefulness. As if she was glad she had met bandits. Lapia cursed her luck. A Human female. At worst, a demi. What chance would she have against this group of bandits? What she needed right now was a Halve, not a wannabe hero. ¡°Hello, there,¡± she said in an awkward tone. Lapia almost vomited blood. That was not the tone of an experienced fighter. Not even a fresh graduate from the Army, no matter the country. Yet her armor was the peak of craftsmanship. So was the long spear in her hands. The Elf thought a Princess had managed to lose her escort, or perhaps the rumored daughter of Perculis and Yulianna was actually real and was now in front of her. Her voice was a silvery and smokey sound that hinted at having spoken some other language instead of Common for most of her life. That meant the woman was young. In her panick, Lapia assumed the woman to be low level. Even lower than her if she was Royalty as she thought. ¡°Who are you?¡± Bardan demanded. His horse moved with a kick of his and approached the newcomer. Lapia could only see the bandit¡¯s back, and the woman¡¯s face. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°---, you?¡± she freely gave her name away with a smile. Though Lapia didn''t manage to hear the name as a pang of intense pain coming from her broken left arm interrupter her concentration, she had to swallow the blood her innards demanded she threw up. The Princess would die at the hands of the bandits. Not before the Elf asked for help. She silently apologized for pulling her into this, but the armored woman would suffer the same fate either way. A flash of thought made her stop such gloom. No country in Leks had a Princess with the armored woman''s description. Now free of the ropes, she focused the little mental strength she had to appraise the woman in front of the bandit leader. [Forest Halve, Unknown] She froze for a second, then took a deep breath. ¡°Hmm,¡± Bardan hummed and rolled his shoulders. ¡°Haven¡¯t heard of-¡± ¡°HELP!¡± Lapia screamed with all the strength she had left. A rush of adrenaline invigorated her weakened body. A Halve had appeared. An Unknown Halve! The exertion weakened her legs for a moment, making her slump on the inside of the cart. ¡°Finn!¡± Bardan commanded. ¡°Go check up on the Lady!¡± Lapia¡¯s heart sank. Finn was the healer that had extended her torment. He would blind her, mute her, or worse. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the source of evil responded. A horse approached the cart and Lapia saw a hand grab the cloth at the back. She was willing to rip her tendons if that meant freedom. So, she bent her better leg and kicked with all her strength when his smirking face showed up. The strike was true, and a new wave of adrenaline rushed through her. Summoning all that her weakened body could muster, she stood up, jumped out of the cart, and ran. ¡°HELP!¡± Lapia screamed again. The suns had blinded her, so she knew not where she headed. ¡°THESE ARE BANDITS! PLEASE HELP ME!¡± Her legs immediately started aching, and her bones complained with a creak. Her body was wounded and she was naked. The light of the suns and the warm spring breeze helped in soothing the pain a little. She was not ready to die. The sound of metal snapping and shattering came from the Halve¡¯s position as a few bandits surrounded the Elf. She fell to the ground. Her legs had given out barely meters away from the cart. Lapia looked around, and saw the Halve¡¯s face twisted in a fury the Elf had never seen before. ¡°You tried to kill me!¡± she accused the bandit. Her voice had none of the naivety Lapia had heard at first. It was threatening, predatory, demanding, and violent. The edge of the sound promised to cut everyone right where they stood. A shudder went up the Elf¡¯s spine. Bardan opened his mouth and shouted. ¡°HAL-!!¡± The Halve¡¯s weapon was already lodged in his chest. The movement was instant. No hesitation, no doubts, no room for argument. Instant death for those who attempt to kill a Halve. Her face turned into shock, and she pulled back her weapon just as fast. ¡°Ay, blyat!¡± the Halve shouted. Horror was palpable in her voice. Had she not appraised the man and realized the difference in power? ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± she took a step back. ¡°I killed him!¡± Lapia sighed. A first timer? That would spell trouble when facing the rest. The bandits that were approaching stopped moving as Bardan slid off his horse. His body fell on the ground with a thud, the gurgle of flooded lungs left him and his body jerked a few times before finally dying. The Halve took a deep breath and the following seconds were a mess of blood and death. She threw up while slaughtering the bandits, and when it was done, she drank a pink elixir. Lapia could not follow the fight, she was weakened and malnourished. She could only watch with wide eyes and slack jaw. With a deep sigh, the Halve approached the Elf. ¡°You alright?¡± she asked. Her voice was monotone. No anger, no horror, no naivety, no worry. The words brought Lapia back to the present, and she stood up while talking. ¡°Good riddance. You killed them all. Good. Those were ruthless bandits, and strong too. Good thing you were around. I was kidnapped, you see. They killed my companions and stole the cart.¡± She let out a loud sigh after saying those words. She hadn¡¯t spoken in days, and her body was taking the toll of moving so much so fast. Her muscles ached, her bones hurt, her wounds had opened, and her broken arm sent a strong wave of pain to her brain. But she was alive. Saved by a Halve, no less. ¡°Dunno, still processing it all,¡± her savior said back, then asked, ¡°Are you injured?¡± The Halve¡¯s eyes went over Lapia¡¯s body. The Elf wanted to vomit blood again. Who asks that of a person full of wounds? Maybe Halves don¡¯t consider such body injures to be a big problem. ¡°Yeah. They roughed me up pretty bad,¡± Lapia couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°I was tied up for three days before I managed to free myself and you arrived.¡± Making a Halve understand mortal pain and danger was a difficult task. She thought back on Desseyr and how long it took him to understand the frailty of life. ¡°Here,¡± her deadpan saviour''s voice said. An elixir materialized in hand, and she offered it to the Elf. [Elixir of Life] ¡°This is a-¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± the Halve interrupted, then continued, ¡°Drink up first. Talk later.¡± ¡°...Sure,¡± Lapia agreed. With a shrug, she undid the cork and drank the contents. Warmth spread inside the Elf, and her body filled with energy. Wounds closed up, bruises faded out, and broken bones were restored. The feeling of bones fixing made Lapia wince, and the sound must have been loud since the Halve also winced. She had escaped mortal danger. A wave of relief flooded her and she turned around. ¡°Okay. Now that that¡¯s dealt with,¡± she said. Walking to the cart, she noticed the illusion had vanished. Not giving it a second thought, she opened a few bags looking for her clothes. They were nowhere to be found. She settled with a linen vest and pants. Returning to her savior, she extended a hand as the Halve turned to face her. A face devoid of emotions. Lapia felt she was under the gaze of an unfathomable predator. [Forest Halve, Unknown] A drop of uneasiness tainted her hopeful heart. Would she die? Was she similar to Holistos? She had a strong reaction to killing, so her mind worked properly. She wondered if that state of uncaring was the effects of the pink elixir she drank. ¡°I¡¯m Lapia, you?¡± the Elf asked in a friendly and hopeful tone. ¡°Natasha,¡± the Halve simply said. They shook hands and stared into each others eyes for a second. 45 - Plans? End of Arc 3. When morning came, I woke up earlier than usual and silently got out of bed. Kneeling down on the bedroom, I faced the three sleeping women and put my hands together. ¡° I had found a new religion. In my eyes, only they were Goddesses. After performing my daily prayer, I left the room and went to the living room, where I sat down and updated my journal. A lot happened in only three days. I could only imagine what would happen in the following year. Taking out a sketchbook, I occupied myself with drawing while eating some fruit for breakfast. I sketched the town, the lake, the fish we ate, the people who tried to kill me, and the many animals and monsters I had seen, including those from the dungeon. I draw Pokora''s blank face, and realized I couldn''t show my journal to people who didn''t know she was from Earth. I am a firm believer that people should tell their own stories, especially if that includes secrets they''re not ready to reveal to just anyone. I hummed as I draw Sonya running along the shore of the lake, and closed the sketchbook when I was done. Next I pulled out my spear and checked it for a while. The bright orange blade was spotless and had no chipping even though I had used the thing quite a lot. I had no real knowledge of how to maintain equipment or weapons, but I could tell it was in top form. It''s weight was nice, and the balance was perfect for me. Holding it on a stretched finger, I noticed it didn''t wobble in the slightest. A door opened, and I turned to look at the source. Lapia came out of the room freshly showered, wearing her daily clothes and approached me with a smile on her face. ¡° ¡° The Elf''s eyebrows rose and she gave me a cocky smirk. ¡° Her brows knitted together and she glared at my weapon. Then, she used two hands to try and lift it. ¡° ¡° ¡° I chuckled and stored the weapon. She sat down next to me on the sofa and leaned her head on my shoulder. ¡° ¡° ¡° I turned to her with a small smile. ¡° Her eyebrows went up and a big smile formed on her face. ¡° ¡° She stared at me for a few seconds. ¡° I laughed. ¡°Lapia, I was the traumatic event.¡± She bit her lips, fighting a smile. ¡° ¡° ¡° I winced. I was not prepared for that. Letting out a long sigh, I gave her a nod. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Holy shit, I whined in my mind. Straight into the thick of it. I thought for a few seconds, recalling our lessons. She ate a purple tomato-looking fruit and hummed at the taste, licking her lips. ¡° ¡° Easy, I chuckled. ¡° The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She nodded. ¡°Good. Next: What do we use to measure temperature?¡± ¡° She gave me a thumbs up. ¡° Holy fucking shit, this woman is out for blood. I felt a shiver run up my spine. I''m dating a psychopath! I definitely wasn''t ready for a test. *** ¡° A few were trick questions, and I disliked those. A few others were questions I had to expand the subject on, I liked those. I sighed and leaned back on the sofa. Relaxing my shoulders I noticed I had tensed up, and a slight anger was rising. Why am I getting angry for? I wondered. It''s not something to get mad about. I stood up and walked to the door. ¡° ¡° Yeah, I need to cool down, I concluded. Leaving the cabin, I followed the cobblestone path that connected the resort with the town. I had chosen a blouse and some shorts for the day. I never liked shorts that much, pants even less. It wasn''t that I hated them, but I preferred skirts. Adding the funny and mysterious storage I had, pockets were simply useless so a skirt''s value increased in my eyes. It had nothing to do with the fact I could rip the fabric around my thighs apart if I flexed them. Thinking back on people bursting watermelons with their legs made me smile, but it soon vanished. The path was lined with bushes and tall trees. Their leaves were deep green, and the stems and trunks were a healthy color. The bark had no cracks and a few bugs made noise and flied around. A few bugs resembled the blood-sucking kind that keeps people up at night. I couldn''t remember the name for the life of me. At least in English. ¡°¡± I appraised it and saw it was a level 32 Bod''en. A little scary, but people are higher level than that around these parts, except for the kids. ¡° I sighed. I didn''t know that. I did know all about Monet, Picasso, van Gogh, Dali, Pollock, and others like them. I also knew everything, or most, about the renaissance period that had to do with art. I could draw in four different styles at a level that allowed me to live a fulfilling life and earn enough money to buy a house during the pandecade. I worked for a big name company, worked on projects millions of fans enjoyed and praised. I even earned a generous salary. I gave it a good thinking. Is that what makes me angry? The gap of knowledge? The fact I can''t focus on the arts because I''m a Halve? But I''m alright with that. I even welcome it. It''s exciting. The challenge, the danger, the chance for a worthy opponent. Even people trying to kill me didn''t get to me this much. I reached the town, and walked for a while. A stall was selling juice and ice cream, where I bought a cup of apple-flavored smoothy for ninety copper coins from a male Shishi Tigea. After a few minutes, I arrived at a plaza with some greenery and sat down on a wooden bench as I sucked on the paper straw. A few children were playing on the fountain in the center of it, laughing while chasing each other and splashing water. Watchers were paying close attention to them, far enough to not get in the way of their games, but close enough so they could reach them if anything happened. Among them, I noticed Lorena, and she noticed me at the same time. Her blue eyes widened a little and she gave me a nod, then walked towards me. Please, don''t. ¡° ¡° ¡° I moved to the side and gestured at the empty spot. She fixed the saber at her waist and took a seat next to me. The smell of peaches tickled my nose. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° The wind rustled the tree leaves, and Lorena''s hair fluttered a little. ¡° ¡° She chuckled. ¡°Please don''t. It can be seen as me asking that favor. Besides, Royalty has no connection to Watchers.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡° She looked into my eyes for a few seconds. ¡° ¡° The woman didn''t look a day past her twenties. ¡° Holy shit. ¡° ¡° I completely agreed with her. Though I understood time differently, aging is a scary thing no matter how long one lives. ¡° ¡° ¡° I laughed. ¡°That, she did.¡± We were silent for a few seconds, enjoying the late morning suns. I finished my drink and stored the empty cup. Then, I stood up and offered her a hand. She shook it with an appreciative smile. ¡° She blushed a little. ¡°Oh, my.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° I turned around and went back to the cabin. A new journey awaited, and I was admittedly excited about it. I smiled as I realized I was no longer angry. A walk does wonders, indeed. Out of Journal. Interlude. Three figures walked through the forests to the north of Lakeview. Their white-bluish skin, hair, and eyes were a dead give-away in the green environment, yet no creature gave them attention. The shortest of the group walked at the back, the tallest in the middle, and the other one that didn''t stand out that much walked at the front. They had failed their mission. The outcome was expected nonetheless, so that in itself wasn''t of much concern. The main objective was to gauge their target and get an initial impression. And an impression they got. The Bond with the sleeper agent had been forcefully severed by an external source. That was not expected, and had botched years of planning. ¡°I hate summer,¡± the shortest one let out an irritated sigh, glaring at the suns high up in the sky. ¡°Can''t wait for winter!¡± ¡°Now that''s just ignorant,¡± the one in the middle laughed. ¡°Summer is objectively the best season.¡± ¡°Both of you shut the fuck up!¡± the one at the front hissed while turning around. Giving each a glare, the individual snorted before continuing, ¡°Everyone knows Spring is best.¡± The other two let out mocking snorts. ¡°You get the best fashion during winter,¡± the one at the back argued. ¡°While you can only wear a single layer during summer.¡± ¡°Then level up and wear whatever,¡± the one in the middle shook their head. ¡°Summer fashion is by far the most comfortable. If you change into a woman, wear dresses or skirts. If you change into a man, wear shirts and shorts.¡± ¡°That''s just retarded,¡± the one at the front spoke up in a dismissive tone. ¡°Wearing a skirt is a man''s birthright. The testicles get uncomfortably sweaty if you cover them up in this heat.¡± they gestured to the suns. ¡°Everyone benefits from the freedom a skirt brings. Shorts are good if you expect to move a lot, but nothing else.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°I have to agree with that,¡± the one at the back spat at the one in the middle. ¡°I didn''t expect you of all Changelings to give clothes gender specific users. What will you wear if you change into an Aristi?¡± the question was loaded with contempt. ¡°Robes,¡± the one that started the whole debate gave an answer that shut them up. After waiting for a few seconds in case the other two had anything to say, a smirk met the silence. ¡°Thought so. Robes are truly the perfect garment. Is it too hot? Wear a thin robe. Is it too cold? Wear a thick robe. If you change into any sex, your genitals will be free either way. You should already know this, you aren''t young.¡± ¡°But you can''t wear different clothes if you wear a robe,¡± the one in the back whined. ¡°What about mixing lower garments with upper garments? What if you change into a person with a complex sense of fashion? Did you even see the Satyr back at the tavern?¡± The one in the middle clicked their tongue. ¡°Then you have to keep up with that rainbow of colors he wore. We could count ourselves lucky we only changed into waitresses.¡± The other two muttered words of affirmation. The three were Changelings, a species that could shape-shift into any person they touched, mirroring the appearance of their target. The reason the three were of different heights was to cover any possible species they may encounter. A Dwarf? Let the shortest one handle that. A Lupum? Let the middle-height one handle that. A Satyr? Let the tallest one handle that. Masters of disguise, they infiltrate towns and set their machinations in motion. Following a Changeling is discouraged, as they can easily lose the tracker if they enter a crowd. Unless you''re an experienced Archer with an especially outstanding tracking skill, never chase a Changeling. Like the Elmari Elf they saw in town. A shiver went up their spines when they saw her. Their names were Yugulari, the tallest one. Thavas, the shortest one. And Pneumix, the one in between. 46. To Paarjo...? I greeted the Tigea couple that ran the inn when I got there, then went into the building and knocked on Pokora''s door, where I waited for a bit. I heard footsteps and the door opened. The Elf was wearing underwear, and her hair was a mess. ¡° ¡° She cracked open an eye and glared at me with her dull silver irises, ¡°Why so early? Did something happen?¡± ¡° She sighed, ¡°It''s been almost fifty years since I last heard someone tell another person how to dress, not even talking about treating women as harlots. Or what? Your weewee will get hard?¡± I raised my eyebrows, ¡°Get some proper meat in those bones, and maybe.¡± She laughed at that, ¡°Ah, body shaming. A classic!¡± she stepped aside and gestured for me to come in. I walked into her apartment while laughing and turned to her. ¡° I smiled, ¡°You have committed crimes against Galeia and her people. What say you in your defense?¡± She bit her lips and shook her head, ¡°I''d rather die than go to prison!¡± I scoffed, ¡°Galeia has no use for your kind!¡± We burst in laughter, and she rubbed her eyes. ¡° ¡° She nodded, and walked into her place. I followed her to the kitchen, and sat down on a stool. She walked to a refrigerator and got a milk bottle. Then to a shelf and took a black box. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° She put the kettle on the fire and turned to me, ¡°So, what brings you here? It''s...¡± she checked a clock on the kitchen wall and sighed. ¡°A quarter past five. Shit, you''re a psychopath.¡± I shrugged, ¡°I don''t actually need sleep. I came to ask you to show me what you use for combat.¡± She stared at me for a few seconds, ¡°Why?¡± ¡° ¡° I nodded. A dark leather set covered her body. Standing up, I circled her to get a proper view of the affront to protection. It covered almost nothing. It had cleavage, even when considering her modest chest. Her navel, armpits, thighs, and back were visible. The leather looked flimsy and old. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Her eyes widened, ¡°Huh? That exists?¡± I pulled out the spandex-like leather set for my Archer class from my storage, and offered it to her, ¡°Check for yourself.¡± She took the items and frowned, ¡°Are you expecting me to survive against Giants?¡± ¡° She was silent as she appraised them. What''s so shocking? [Golden Band of Eternal Protection (Legendary)] (Durability SS)(Pool Recovery Factor SS) (Minor Healing Factor SS)(Minor Stamina Recovery Factor SS) -Toughness + 10% -STR + 50 -CON + 50 -DEX + 50 Pretty shit, stat-wise, Barely one percent of my strength. ¡° I pulled out a Unique bow. It looked like a standard composite bow. The body was a reddish brown wood, and the string was a matte black cord of metal. [+100 Trueshot Bow (Unique) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (Elastic Energy to Kinetic Energy SS+) (Durability S+) -Elastic Energy to Kinetic Energy +100% ({Lvl 10 Quartz} x10) -Draw Weight reduced by 10% (Enchantment) (Does not affect final Kinetic Energy) -DEX + 200 -STR + 150 -CON + 100 I handed it to the Elf and got a sigh in return. ¡°No Legendary weapon?¡± she voiced her disappointment. I shook my head. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Do your girlfriends have Unique weapons, too?¡± her eyes inspected my face. ¡°No, I gave them Mythical quality weapons,¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°Because they''re my girlfriends. I had no tank weapons, however, so Yolin got Legendary fists.¡± ¡°MYTHICAL?!¡± her eyes opened to the limit. Then, she looked at me in shock. ¡° Wait... you''re walling better weapons behind being in a relationship with you?¡± ¡°I don''t think I have to explain myself in that regard,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Besides, Unique quality is plenty good.¡± ¡°I mean... don''t get me wrong,¡± she shook her head. ¡°It seems a bit arbitrary. You do you with your items, I guess.¡± I nodded, ¡°I will.¡± She stored the items with a smile, after all. I searched my storage for arrows, and sighed after not finding any. Fuck games and their lack of ammunition. ¡°So, now onto costumes,¡± I pulled one after the other. Pokora''s eyes widened along with her smile, and I felt my chest tighten with glee at her excitement. In the end, she chose an Archer costume that was similar to the Elven archers in the movie franchise that was about a short man bringing a ring to a volcano. After that I reminded her about the appointment we had later, then left as she made herself a cup of coffee.
We joined the Watchers a few hours later in the northwest gate of Lakeview and set off. Their caravan was quite humble, consisting of three carts that were pulled by Tateli, the ostrich-looking animal. Six Watchers drove the coaches, two on each to switch every eight hours. The other four rode Bhin around the vehicles, and Ranulf, the man Lorena mentioned, rode an Untu, the large orange cats. My group mounted an animal each. We all wore our combat gear. Thick clouds covered the suns casting a nice shade on us. I looked up, hoping for some rain. I always liked rain, but hadn''t had that many chances to enjoy it in the last decade back on Earth. ¡° After leaving Lakeview we started a game with riddles since it was easy to play and everybody could join. We had a score going and Bromisnar was in the lead with five points. Next was me with three points, then Alyssa with two, and the rest had a point each. Escorting the caravan was abysmally more boring than I initially expected. ¡° I noticed Ranulf nodding to himself. He had chosen not to join, and instead rode his mount a bit farther ahead from our group. Flat, but deep. Kills and feeds. Angry and calm. No owner, but great provider, The road was pretty wide, around thirty meters from edge to edge. The road itself was a dirt road that cut through the seemingly endless forest so tall trees lined it on both sides. Well... it''s the ocean, ¡° The rest groaned, and I heard Pokora click her tongue. The Satyr gave me an expectant look. I gave him a nod, ¡°The ocean.¡± The man smiled, ¡°Correct.¡± The man knew way too many riddles, and sometimes gave an instant answer to the ones I knew. His eyebrows knitted and a frown replaced his light smile. Then, he looked ahead and squinted. I chuckled. ¡° ¡° She scowled at me. Her body moving up and down with the movement of her mount made it even funnier. Lapia gasped, ¡°Got it!¡± We all turned to her, waiting for her answer. ¡° Bonte clapped once, ¡°Yeah. Got it.¡± Bromisar groaned, ¡°Obviously.¡± ¡° I nodded, ¡°Correct.¡± Alyssa let out an exasperated sigh, ¡°I was so close!¡± She raised a fist and made an angry face at it. ¡° We continued the riddle game for a few hours. The suns reached the zenith behind the clouds, and we stopped at the side of the road when it was time for lunch. I was admittedly not hungry at all, but flesh beings require their sustenance. Ranulf went ahead and shared a few words with a couple of Watchers. My companions dismounted and I copied them, keeping an eye out on the road and glancing at the Watchers from time to time. One of them, a female Lupum, nodded with too much enthusiasm after whatever the man said. She dismounted and walked to the edge of the forest, then took a peek in my direction. After noticing I was watching, she nodded to herself and waved her hands. I noticed a short mace in her right hand that emanated a faint green light. The trees were pushed aside, almost as if they had come to life by themselves. The roots moved like worms under the ground and the trunks closed into each other forming a small clearing big enough to fit everyone. I watched with wide eyes. That''s fucking useful around here, isn''t it?! A hand closed my hanging jaw. ''Get your shit together'' I shrugged in response. The display of magic was cool. Three Watchers made camp in five minutes, setting a large pot in the middle of the clearing and some stools around the space. In the meantime, the Watchers driving the carts guided the vehicles so that the backs faced the clearing. Ranulf approached one of the carts and removed a cloth on the back revealing people inside. ¡° Sussanna and a few others came out, their hands tied with rope. Another set of Watchers guided them to the stools and sat them down. Then, appropriately, watched over them. Elena came out of another cart, no ropes binding her hands. She looked around for a few seconds, confusion and apprehension clear on her face. Until her eyes met mine. She smiled and walked over to me. Fucking hell. ¡° ¡° ¡° I nodded in understanding. Sussanna was level 98 after all. ¡° ¡° Is that the slogan? ¡° ¡° Everybody went into action immediately. thump ¡° I noticed a slight shift in the ambient E''er and turned to her. She had her staff floating next to her and all my companions were ready to fight. I smiled widely behind my helmet, a rumbling in my stomach made me shiver, ¡°No idea, but it''s pretty fucking big.¡± 47 - A not so worthy opponent. ¡°How do you know?¡± Yolin tilted her head in confusion and her white eyebrows scrunched up. ¡°Is it a threat?¡± Alyssa wrapped her tail around her staff and held it up. I stared at her appendage in amazement. That tail never ceases to surprise. ¡°Not a threat,¡± I shook my head, ¡°But very dangerous.¡± The sense of urgency accentuated and I turned to the group in the clearing, then made my way to the front of the Watchers with quick steps. They got into formation behind me and my group joined them. Yolin stood next to me and gave me a broad smile. That got me chuckling. Then, I glanced back and saw three Watchers stayed with the bound people. The thump grew closer and louder to the point it sounded like a small earthquake. I lifted my spear in a reverse grip and covered my front with the shield, then took a stance from Overhelming Violence. After that I focused on my instincts as we waited for whatever was approaching. The feeling was... odd. Much like the feeling someone would get when staring at a coming truck while walking the street. Imminent danger, but avoidable with appropriate action. I hadn''t felt that with Elena, then arrived at the conclusion the woman was running away with no intention to harm people. She had killed two Watchers not in spite nor ill intent, but as a response to being chased. A reaction that could be judged with the flimsy and decrepit lenses of morality and law, but ultimately a natural response free of evil. I myself do not strive for justice or righteousness. Only to remove dangers that could mean the end of large groups of people if left unchecked or given free reign. In a way, it''s more arbitrary than morality and law. And I''m absolutely fine with that. As the stomping of something very big started to shake the trees in front of me, I allowed myself to get angry. It''s not that I''m always angry, unlike the green man. But I easily get angry no matter the circumstance. That is something I always thought of as a flaw of mine. One of the many, at least. My lovers were with me. I would not allow a lower life form to endanger their lives. At any and all costs. I started humming as anger turned into excitement, and clutched my weapon tighter. Time to get rid of this boredom. ¡°Grrroooooorrr!¡± a deep rumble came from behind the trees. The next instant, a massive creature tore the trees aside and continued its charge towards us. It was at least twenty meters tall, a little shorter than the trees themselves. Halven figure, bluish green skin, one red eye, bald, pointy teeth inside a roaring maw, and positively naked. Also, It was built like a brick shithouse. [Giganto Cyclops, Lvl 932] ¡°Va te faire enculer ¡° ¡°Nom de dieu de merde!¡± I heard a slap after the last swear. YES! I screamed in my mind and leaped at the monster spear first. It swung at me with a boulder-sized fist but missed due to my speed. ¡°NATASHAAaa...!¡± I heard Alyssa''s scream but it soon was too far behind me. I collided into its form, halting its advance and launching us a few hundred meters into the forest. I embedded myself into its chest on impact, the flesh and bones turning into a ground mess all over my armored body. The sound of cracking trees and bones filled our surroundings as we tumbled through the environment, creating a path different from the one it took to reach us. We stopped moving and silence met me. Clicking my tongue, I looked out of the hole I made on its torso and grabbed a rib, then pushed it aside to make room and exit the meat tomb. Once out, I stood on its stomach and glared down at it. The heavy iron smell of blood was a bit off-putting. ¡°That''s it?¡± I wondered out loud. I was completely disappointed ¡°Blin!¡± I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, ready to scream my frustration. Right then, however, a huge something impacted my right side with the force of a bullet train, sending my body flying to the left. Though incredibly strong, I''m also very light. At least compared to a twenty meter tall cyclops. ¡°HAHAHAHA!!!! YES!¡± I screamed, breaking trees along my forced flight. The impact of the trees felt a little nice, like a massage at a Thai parlor. I stored my weapon and shield, then spread all my limbs to stop myself. After breaking countless trees, the momentum wore out. If momentum can wear out, anyway. I stood facing the trail of broken vegetation and pushed E''er into Prevention, Monster Hunter, and Dragoon Might like a toggle skill instead of thinking of a set time. Then ran in the direction of the monster. All is good as long as... I stopped thinking, and saw the world go a little red. Alyssa! Lapia! Yolin! If anything happens to them... I''ll eat every Cyclops in the world! ALIVE! This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I ran even faster as adrenaline, rage, and the overpowering instinct to protect pushed my body to action. I didn''t use Charge, as that would make me go too fast and probably miss if I didn''t stop in time. The Cyclops came to view almost instantly, and I laughed like a maniac at seeing that the hole I made had closed up. It hadn''t moved from the spot it was at previously, too. ¡°§±§µ§³§´§¾ §Á§²§°§³§´§¾ §¢§­§¡§¤§°§²¨®§¥§¯§¡§Á!!¡± I activated Intimidate prey, screaming at the top of my lungs and leaping at it again with arms wide. That time, however, I was running pretty fucking fast so my leap resulted in me going through its body like a hot knife through butter. I came out the other way and landed after a couple of seconds. I was so angry I didn''t pay attention to the fact I was suspended in the air for a good ten seconds. Anger is a powerful tool, indeed. I turned to it with heavy breathing. The excitement was incredible. Nothing so far had lived through a serious injury like that. A lot of blood came out of the Natasha-sized hole, and it flopped to the ground. Its spine was severed and a few organs were completely fucked. I walked to it and observed for a few seconds. Its spine wiggled like a worm and reatached itself while the flesh and organs regenerated and closed the wound. I giggled like a madwoman. Then approached its head and ripped the eyelid off. With lightning fast movements I plunged my arms into its eye. ¡°GRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!¡± it in pain, probably. A shiver of ecstacy went up my spine. Its right arm slowly, very slowly moved towards me with its four fingers stretched to grab me. I was seeing the effects of the arrest addition to the Prevention skill. The monster was 418 levels below me, and it wasn''t technically arrested but greatly slowed. I guessed the closer in level to me, the weaker the slow effect, and those too far below me would be ''frozen'' if I was right. I coulnd''t imagine what the skill would do to monsters my own level or those above me. I slapped the approaching hand away with all my strength, splitting the thing in half. Two fingers flew away and a lot of blood came out. ''Natasha!'' Lapia''s voice entered my mind. She sounded anxious and worried. I smiled and my heart fluttered. Even if my purpose is to fight to protect, them worrying warms my heart to no end. ''Alive'' I sent back . I thought of ways to kill the monster in front of me, but wanted to experiment a little even if it sounded horrible. I checked my status, considering the skills were up for thirty or so seconds up to that point. Natasha Novak Forest Halve Status -STR: 5400(x2) (+3100) -CON: 2700 (+750) -INT: 675 (+250) -WIS: 675 (+250) -DEX: 4050 (+1358) Health: 54000/54000 Stamina: 13390/13500 E¡¯er: 13440/13500 Hmm. Let''s see... I put my brain and Lapia''s teachings to work. My gear gives me 750 to three stats, and 250 to the other two. So the rest are from the skills. Battle Trance increases my STR and DEX by... 0.2% per second, apparently. This shit makes no sense... Lapia said CON should be half of STR. But... I''m not made of flesh. Now that''s got to be the lamest explanation I''ve come up with. Still, not even I know what exactly I''m made of... besides E''er. Alyssa hasn''t seen a breakthrough yet. I didn''t even receive damage... what gives? I''m not exactly a tank. I used a bit of strength to remove the Cyclops eye from its socket, and watched as it regenerated. It made pained noises, but I payed no attention to those. Its movements were incredibly slow, and the hand healed pretty fast for my taste. Will it grow another head if I decapitate it? I wondered. My spear would be useless with the relative size, and the curse is not preventing regeneration. Well, let''s see. I took a few steps away from the monster and retrieved my spear. Then all the strength that my legs and back could give into a throw at its head. The weapon plunged into the Cyclops and came out the other side, going deep into the ground. I went too hard. Seven seconds later a trembling underneath was followed by the spear materialized back into my right hand. [Giganto Cyclops, Lvl 932] Hmm... still alive. Next, I used less force into the throw. The thing got stuck inside the monster''s head and I smiled. The shockwave ripped the head open like a ripe tomato shot with a shotgun at pointblack. Bits and pieces of bone, skin, brain matter, and blood rained on me. ¡°FU!¡± I shook my head, disgusted with the smell. Then appraised the monster. [Giganto Cyclops, Lvl 932] STILL ALIVE?! I bit my lips under my helmet. Herakles defeated the Hydra with fire...I remembered. Sucks that my best weapon can''t kill this little shit. I sighed and stored the pike, then retrieved a very long and thick sword from my storage. Its blade was two meters long, thirty centimeters wide, and five centimeters thick. The blade was black, the guard was royal blue, and the grip was white. More importantly, it was covered in yellowish white fire. I had used this weapon to burn the toilet paper back when I took dumps in the forest. I felt a little nostalgia even though it was less than two months ago. [+100 Dyrnwyn (Legendary) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (Sharpness S)(Durability S+)(Blaze SSS+) -Sharpness + 100% ({Lvl 10 Emerald}x10) -Flame Temperature + 20% (Enchantment) -Blazes with Yiama''s Fire. *The Worthy shall receive the Miracle of The Flame. *The Unworthy shall Burn before It. -STR + 200 -CON + 200 -DEX + 150 -Worthy Wielder: Grants Immunity to Fires below 4000*-STR + 250 (Transmutation) -CON + 250 (Transmutation) on the other hand, I walked to it and raised the sword overhead with a single hand. Then brought it down with all my strength and cut its left arm off. I repeated the process with the other three limbs, then stepped back to watch how it dealt with that. The wounds were seared and the edges were burnt. Minutes passed as the head regenerated, and I busied myself with checking if the grass and trees around me caught on fire. All was fine, fortunately. The blade had made deep cuts on the soil under the Cyclops as I used too much force again. It can never be too much with regenerating monsters, I concluded with a satisfied nod. 48 - Finally! Paarjo! Oh no! I thought about the situation while waiting for the head to finish regenerating. It lacked the face, and the frontal cut was pretty interesting. I noticed it regenerated from the back of the head and then to the front. The brain itself wasn''t that different from the ones I was familiar with. I''m not a neurosurgeon, however, so I may have missed the minute differences. The monster had appeared out of nowhere from the north. It clearly didn''t have well-developed instincts as it continued to charge even after seeing me. I recalled the little forest friends I saw in our trip from Riverfield to Mountroad ran away pretty fast when I approached. I walked to one of the massive arms in the artificial clearing we created and lifted it for inspection. The wound didn''t show any reaction that would indicate the growth of a new body. The thought of it being similar to a sea star had crossed my mind for some reason. The smell of charred flesh made me scowl, and I dropped the limb. A soft plin came from my left shoulder plate, making me glance at it. The metal was covered in blood, so I didn''t see anything new. Then, without any warning, torrential rain fell on the world. I spread my arms and let the droplets hit my armor, making for a very relaxing sound. Then took deep breaths to get a whiff of the rain. A smile made its way to my face at the lack of pollution. Rain is really magnificent. I thought of the Elf I met when I first arrived, then laughed as warmth spread in my chest. The Cyclops spasmed a few times then started groaning after regaining consciousness. The burnt wounds didn''t heal, however. ¡±Hey friend, listen,¡± I walked to the monster. ¡°I know the world is scary right now but... it''s gonna get way worse.¡± Then I proceeded to cut its entire body with the flaming sword. It could live without a head, and it took about three minutes to regenerate it. The sword went through the flesh and bones without resistance. I cut its head off first, then the body in tiny pieces. After I was done, I appraised it and got nothing in return. Nice, I nodded. The smell of charred flesh and blood filled the clearing, and I stored the sword. The sound of rustling vegetation came from behind and I turned my head. My companions showed up in their mounts. ¡°Oh?¡± Lapia looked at me. ¡°You managed to kill it.¡± Alyssa dismounted and walked up to me, then looked me up and down. ¡°Is any of this blood yours?¡± her eyes looked at my helmet where my eyes would be. I shook my head. ¡°It''s not. I''m completely fine.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Yolin harrumphed. I looked at her but she turned her head away. Huh? I walked to the Oni on top of Pochi and nudged her right leg, ¡°What''s up?¡± She rolled her eyes at me, ¡°You sneaky little Halve. You went on ahead and fought it alone.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered, not sure what to say in response. ¡°Uhm, yeah... my bad. I got a little too excited.¡± I stored my helmet and gave her an apologetic smile. She shook her head, ¡°The fight would have been glorious! Don''t have fun all on your own! The monster was weak compared to you... it would have been so cool if we fought it together. Haaah...¡± I bit my lips. She was right on that. Pokora walked to the monster and collected a few bones. ¡°How was it?¡± Bonte perked up, looking at me with shining eyes. ¡°Got sent flying once, but then it was pretty easy,¡± I shrugged. Yolin clicked her tongue, ¡°You even got sent flying? You selfish woman.¡± Lapia chuckled, ¡°Okay, that''s dealt with. I see you used fire.¡± I nodded, ¡°I have a fire sword. Pretty neat.¡± ¡°Ohh!¡± Pokora breathed in amazement. ¡°That sounds cool.¡± ¡°What''s with the bones?¡± I inquired, nodding at the monster''s corpse. ¡°Arrow materials,¡± she replied, climbing her mount. ¡°Anything else that could be usable?¡± I gestured to the monster and glanced at Bonte. He shook his head, ¡°Nothing that we need. The organs are pretty useless, and the blood is too acidic.¡± I nodded in understanding. Alyssa walked to me and grabbed my head, then made me look at her. ¡°Natasha, are you sure you''re okay?¡± she looked into my soul with her scarlet eyes. I smiled, ¡°I am. Do you want to check for yourself?¡± and I undressed, only my panties covering my body. Bromisnar groaned and shook his head, then looked the other way. Alyssa ran her hands over my body, searching for injuries. I noticed Bonte sneaking cheeky glances at my chest, and I felt a little good since no man had showed interest in me so far. While my relationships were strictly with women, and they would stay that way, in the end I am bisexual. There''s no harm in looking and I honestly enjoy the attention. I''m pretty hot, after all, I thought full of smug. Pokora, however, was straight up ogling me. Well... not that straight. Her eyes stopped at my crotch and massive confusion set on her face. Her eyes darted to meet mine and she blushed, then looked away. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Heh, virgins, I chuckled. Look all you want, little Elf. I posed and flexed my muscles. Alyssa gulped and looked up at me, ¡°You''re hot- I mean, delicious- I mean, no injuries,¡± she blushed and cleared her throat. I nodded and got dressed, ¡°Let''s go back, then.¡± Affirmative answers were given in mutters. My half naked sculpted body had a greater impact than expected. I felt pretty damn good about it. My slight narcissism was showing. Lapia walked to the monster''s corpse and burned it to ashes, making sure the vegetation was untouched. Then we made our way back to the Watchers and the criminals. Crossing the edge of the forest, I saw Ranulf perking up at me walking into the road. He approached me and gave me a light nod. ¡°Everything alright?¡± his left ear twitched a little, splashing some water from the falling rain. I nodded, ¡°Disposed of the monster.¡± ¡°Thank you very much, Your Excellency,¡± he smiled, which was admittedly out of place. ¡°It would have taken us too long to chase it away, let alone kill it. This particular type has annoying regeneration, making them incredibly dangerous.¡± ¡°I noticed,¡± I smiled. ¡°But it wasn''t a problem, honestly. All is good.¡± He let out a short chuckle and walked back to the clearing. Sonya approached me with quick steps and soflty headbutted me. ¡°You''re angry too?¡± I rubbed her chin. Yolin scoffed and guided Pochi to the clearing. I smiled and we all joined the rest for lunch. The Watchers gave me glances full of admiration once in a while, and others whispered among themselves. Other than that, the meal was pretty relaxed. A Watcher made a delicious vegetable soup and roasted some chicken at a small fireplace. Before continuing our journey, however, the Watcher that had moved the trees to form the clearing was tasked with fixing the mess I made of the forest. I joined her since I wanted to check her magic out. It took her around an hour to get every tree that wasn''t outright ripped out of the ground back up again. Those that got destroyed beyond repair went into my storage, and I was suggested to sell the wood when we got to Paarjo. The reason was ''nothing should go to waste''. After that, we set out again. I rode next to Yolin trying to cheer her up. ¡°Hey, Yolin,¡± I called out to her in Orkish. ¡°What?¡± she looked away, replying in the same language. ¡°You''re really beautiful, you know that?¡± I began my attack. ¡°Hoh?¡± she nodded. ¡°I really like you,¡± I continued. ¡°A whole lot. I also like you getting angry like this. You''re extremely cute.¡± She turned to me and arched a white eyebrow, her wet white locks of hair stuck to her red skin. ¡°Makes me want to get your angry again,¡± I teased her with a cheeky smirk. ¡°I want to see you angry, Yolin. Maybe spank me a little? Pin me against the floor? Call me names as you vent on me?¡± ¡°With your strength?¡± she muttered. ¡°Fat chance.¡± ¡°I wouldn''t fight back,¡± I countered. Her red cheeks darkened and she cleared her throat. I was serious about that as well. The 200 hundred years old muscle house of a woman made me feel amazing and dangerous things. ¡°Well,¡± she cleared her throat again. ¡°Next time, you''ll be at my mercy.¡± ¡°How about all times?¡± I quickly added. ¡°How about right now? How about whenever you want it?¡± Her eyes widened, ¡°Damn, Natasha. Chill.¡± I felt my cheeks burn, ¡°Well, next time a big monster shows up I''ll make sure to fight it with you instead of by myself.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she laughed. ¡°That sounds good as well.¡± ¡°We good?¡± I poked her ribs, getting a short fit of giggles in return. ¡°We were never bad, though?¡± she tilted her head. ¡°I wasn''t angry either. Just bored. We haven''t seriously fought together against monsters. I want to, really bad. To face a Giganto Cyclops and have a hard fought victory,¡± she sighed. ¡°You''d have to hold back to make it interesting, however.¡± I laughed at that, ¡°Yeah, it was pretty disappointing all things considered,¡± I nodded. ¡°But I''ll follow your lead when the time comes.¡± ¡°That does sound interesting,¡± she gave me a broad smile. We continued flirting and Lapia joined soon followed by Alyssa. The four of us laughed, giggled, and shared dirty joked as we rode behind the caravan. The rain was nice and filled the air with the intoxicating smell of petrichor. Bromisnar chatted with Bonte and Pokora. I didn''t eavesdrop so the contents were unknown. They were having fun nonetheless. Later that day, when the two suns were near the end of their descent to the horizon and would soon plunge the world in the darkness of night, I saw a small dot floating in the air a good one hundred kilometers away. At first I thought it was a flying creature, but the dot didn''t move by itself as we approached. It was locked in place in the sky a good kilometer up. I didn''t give it much thought, guessing it was a floating rock or some magical thing like that. We made camp and I flirted with Yolin as we took watch. We hugged and fooled around through the night. I noticed all the Watchers went to sleep, and the criminals hadn''t gotten a tent for themselves. I figured they would make sure to keep an eye out at the very least, but I guess me being a legendary protector of the world made them slack off. I''d make sure to write Lorena a letter letting her know when we got to Paarjo. The next morning, the day began with a light breakfast and feeding the different mounts. Clerics checked the Bhin''s hooves and removed stones and small things that could have sneaked in there. Alyssa checked our mounts for anything out of the ordinary, and the Untu got a large serving of fatty meat. Then, we set out and continued northwest. The rain had stopped during the night, and the world glistened after the downpour. The grass looked vigorous, trees gave off a satisfied aura for some reason, and the road wasn''t as muddy as I expected it to get. A lot of critters roamed around; birds, mice, squirrels, and small predators. Many had the now prevalent Galeian feature of having either horns, antlers, tusks, talons, or any extra thing nature could think of. None looked like something that could be found on Earth, and it was beautiful. I was immersed in looking at a fat frog with whiskers and a thin tail while we went up a slope after lunch. It had been following us for a while, and I found it cute. It''s eyes were comically large and it jumped pretty far, keeping up with Sonya as she walked the road. We made it to the peak of the mount and I heard a weird sound coming from Lapia. ¡°Oh, no! Fuck!¡± she sighed in regret as if just remembering something. I looked up from the frog and met her eyes. She was wincing. ¡°What happened?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°I forgot to tell you, sssss,¡± she sucked air through her teeth. ¡°I''m sorry, sunshine.¡± ¡°About what?¡± I was genuinely confused. ¡°Ah,¡± Alyssa uttered. ¡°You''re right. Crap!¡± ¡°What?¡± I asked again, looking around at my companions. ¡°Yeah, that''s pretty important,¡± Yolin muttered. Then gave me a nod and a thumbs up, ¡°Don''t worry, Natasha. You can hold onto me.¡± What the fuck is going on? ¡°That''s Paarjo,¡± Bonte muttered, a complicated smile on his face. He pointed forward and I followed his finger. Dread consumed my entire being. I felt my fingers go numb and my mouth dried up instantly. The cold hand of regret gripped my soul. In front of us, or more correctly, above us. Paarjo floated in the sky. I remembered seeing a painting of a floating castle in Lapia''s apartment in Riverfield. It looked similar, but enormous. The hill we were on had blocked the sight of the Capital of Nightmares. I gulped, ¡°Yes,¡± I nodded. ¡°Lumin Kingdom is getting a new Monarch soon, apparently.¡± 49 - Acrophobia My comment got laughs in return, and I scowled at the floating city. I turned to Alyssa, ¡°Didn''t you say the prison was next to Paarjo?¡± I pointed at the thing in the sky. ¡°That is obviously above it.¡± The rock, or piece of land the city was built on was massive even from my viewpoint in the ground. White buildings could be seen on the edges, tall towers and walls for some fucking reason. As if being in the air wasn''t enough to protect it. ¡°It is,¡± Alyssa nodded with a tight smile. She pointed further north, ¡°The Endless Pit is over there, not actually below Paarjo but next to it.¡± I sighed and raised my arms in exasperation. ¡°You won''t even notice the trip,¡± Yolin tried consoling me. ¡°Trip?!¡± I gaped at her. ¡°We''re not teleporting or something fantastic like that? Oh, kill me right now!¡± ¡°Teleporting?¡± Lapia blurted with a snort of amusement. I glared at her. ¡°Teleportation is extremely dangerous. Especially if it''s not a skill like shift,¡± the Wizard explained, not giving to my annoyed glare. I sighed, ¡°Well, I''ll give you a few Elixirs you can give the King and then we move further North.¡± ¡°Natasha,¡± Yolin shook her head. ¡°You were personally invited by the Prince. If you send someone with a possible solution, it can be seen as you not giving a shit about the issue.¡± ¡°Well, I don''t!¡± I stubbornly insisted, crossing my arms. ¡°Not after knowing they''re a group of psychopaths with a floating city.¡± Pokora burst in laughter to my right. ¡°Come on,¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°Don''t be a child about it.¡± I gasped, ¡°A chi-? Excuse me?¡± Alyssa giggled, ¡°Just close your eyes as we go up.¡± I shook my head, ¡°I don''t want to.¡± ¡°Tough luck,¡± Yolin declared with a serious face. ¡°Tighten your ass, we''re going up.¡± I kept quiet. If I said anything, I knew something would come out that would make me regret it later. Still, I was determined to find a way to avoid going up to the city, whatever the cost. We moved closer to the nightmare as I machinated a plan to escape the dreadful whatever that awaited me. Playing dead was plausible, but the Bond and appraisal would botch the plan. I couldn''t fake a tummy ache since I could simply drink an Elixir. Fever? Same. Menstrual pains? I''m barely 2 months old, and I supposed Alyssa could see through it. All the perfectly logical options I thought of were brought down by the fact magic exists. I wanted to curse the heavens, and that gave me an idea. So, I slowly came up with something that would convince even the Gods themselves. The trees grew apart and the road came to an open area as our mounts continued their approach to death itself. Three roads split from the one we followed and went south, west, and north. We continued to the north, in the direction to where I assumed was right below Paarjo. I was running out of time. I retrieved a sketchbook from my storage and removed three pages. Then wrote a few lines down on them and stored everything back to my storage. ¡°By the way,¡± I began, turning to Lapia. ¡°I never showed you the letters I got the other day.¡± She looked at me with a face full of suspicion, then gave me a small nod, ¡°You didn''t.¡± ¡°Want to see them?¡± I pulled out Miraztor''s letter first, and sneakily added one of the pages I wrote on. ¡°Sure,¡± Lapia smiled and took the sheets of paper, then began reading. I smirked. ¡°Natasha...¡± the Elf turned to me. I wiped the smirk off my face and raised my eyebrows, ¡°Something wrong?¡± ¡°What''s this?¡± she raised an eyebrow and pointed at the extra paper. It read: Halves don''t go higher than 20 meters. Signed, Miraztor X. I even copied his handwriting. There was no mistake in my plan. I shrugged, ¡°No clue, Lapia. I got another one from Nilenna, too. Here, give it a read.¡± I produced the letter and handed it over. The Elf bit her lips and returned the first letter, then started reading the second one. I passed them around, spreading the fact Halves do not go to high places. My plan was flawless. After everyone finished reading, I pulled yet another sheet of paper from my storage. This one had a similar message but from ''Yulianna''. ¡°I found this in Elena''s storage item,¡± I made it sound like I just remembered I had it. ¡°Must have forgotten to return it. She did mention Yulianna, seems like a message or a reminder. Curious, right? Here, check it out.¡± I gave it to Lapia and her face turned to a pronounced scowl. Heh. Must be reconsidering my trip up there, I thought with a satisfied smile. ¡°Natasha...¡± Yolin started. I interrupted, ¡°I know, Yolin. Such a tragedy. Can''t do what my species can''t do, I''m afraid.¡± The group was in silence for a few seconds. Alyssa let out a sigh and scratched her chin. I gulped as the city''s shadow covered us. ¡°Natasha,¡± the Oni insisted. ¡°Yulianna flies.¡± The world shattered inside me. I was at a an absolute loss. Never had I lived through such betrayal. My own kin abandoned me in my time of need. ¡°Haha...¡± I let out a deadpan laugh. ¡°Good one, Yolin.¡± A small settlement appeared in the distance as we went down a slope. Low walls surrounded three buildings circling a large, empty space. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Death was imminent. I gulped again and gave it another attempt, ¡°You know, I''m not feeling the star alignment today. Tia is not in the right position, you know?¡± I turned around, looking for support. Everyone was flushed and holding back laughter. Shit! Fuck! I was getting desperate. ¡°The E''er is weird today. I feel like something will happen,¡± I continued bullshitting as my breathing and heartbeat picked up speed. ¡°Wait, I feel a threat to the south. A cataclysmic event is taking place. I better go there!¡± ¡°Natasha,¡± Lapia managed to let out a weird voice between wanting to laugh her lungs out of her thorax and reassuring me. ¡°Please, no more!¡± We crossed the gate of the settlement and my hands squeezed Sonya''s reins. What do I do? What can I do?! I don''t want to! I really don''t! I desperately looked for a way out. My hands should have been sweaty, but I had no physical reaction to the fear. Danuva! Photem! Whoever! Please! The caravan in front of us moved to the side, revealing a broad platform. It was around thirty meters wide. A dandy Tigea stood on it, a professional smile on his face. His silk clothes were pristine and fancy, and he stood straight like a rod. His black hair and ears were combed to perfection, and I noticed a silver badge on his chest. I wanted to run away. To escape at the speed of sound for the rest of my life. Yet a stronger pull kept me from attempting any real struggle. I knew I had to go visit the King and help in whatever way I could. I was needed. Of that I was dead sure. Still. I don''t like heights. Standing above ten meters terrified me, let alone a city one kilometer up into the sky. I never once traveled by plane. I even made sure to buy tickets on the first floor of buses whenever I traveled through Europe if I wasn''t riding my bike. For the short time I could freely ride it, anyway. I retrieved my helmet and covered my face. If I was going to do it, I didn''t want anyone to see my face. The Watcher escort dismounted and approached the carts, then guided the bound people to the platform. Then the animals followed and finally a couple of Watchers helped the ''free'' people out of the carts and the many crates and boxes the final cart carried. Once they were done, a hand nudged me from the left. I turned and found Yolin''s wide smile. ¡°Don''t worry, you have us,¡± her soothing voice along a gentle smile comforted me. I gave a shaky nod in return. My breathing was all over the place and my heartbeat almost deafened my hearing. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Our mounts approached the platform and I squeezed all the holes in my body. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± the dandy Tigea gave me a respectful bow after Sonya stepped into the platform. ¡°My name is Alastor Lafin. I''m here to welcome you to Paarjo and give you a tour around the city.¡± I managed to return a shallow nod. The possibility of the man waiting my arrival for almost a month didn''t even cross my mind. My companions dismounted from the animals. Yolin walked to me and grabbed my hands, then slowly helped me down while making it look like it was an everyday thing. Oh, this woman is the highest blessing I have received in this life, I focused on warm thoughts. She took my hands guided me to hug her from behind. I held on for dear life. Lapia stood to my right, and Alyssa took my left. The Luzo''s tail wrapped around my waist, giving me an extra anchor to the world. Oh, Gods. I will slay the very cosmos for these women if necessary! ¡°I see the champion has returned,¡± he pleasantly added, giving Yolin a respectful nod. ¡°How have you been, Six Fists of the North?¡± The Oni clicked her tongue, ¡°I''m not here to fight in the arena.¡± My eyebrows almost fused with my hairline in surprise. Alastor paused for a few seconds, then continued, ¡°I understand. Apologies for assuming. I see you''ve increased your level since last time you visited Paarjo, Lady Yolin,¡± he let out a polite chuckle. ¡°Pleasant surprises abound today.¡± His eyes flashed with purple light and the platform shook. I bit my tongue to avoid screaming in terror. Don''t tell me this is an elevator... Fuck this. Fuck! I looked up and focused on the rocky underside of the Capital, trying to ignore the world around me. That proved impossible since the man kept talking. ¡°Paarjo was founded seven hundred thousand years ago,¡± he began a lecture of sorts. ¡°His Excellency Lumin Dakor permitted the First King, Bachat the Brave to found Lumin Kingdom on the condition of using his name as proof of rule and obeying the Protectors. Since then, the Royal Family carries his name and see to the land with exemplary responsibility.¡± That''s fucking old! I retorted in my mind. I felt my stomach go up and threaten to leave my mouth as the platform raised at a steady pace. The man, however, continued. ¡°The City itself was initially built on the ground, above an Ergite mine. Naturally, this was not known at first and was only found several thousands years later. After millennia of slowly exploiting the mine, however, the foundations became unstable. In response to that, the Royal Family sought advice from the Gods and were directed to Her Excellency Anna Morgh, a Wizard. Together they devised what would then become the very first artificial floating city in the world.¡± ¡°That''s right,¡± Lapia smugly added. ¡°Artificial.¡± Don''t look down, Natasha. Don''t look down. It''s all fake. The city is coming down. ¡°Correct, artificial,¡± the man confirmed. ¡°The Elven Queendom of Maaruhk boasts the oldest natural floating islands in the world,¡± then added in a low, regretful voice. ¡°They make sure nobody ever forgets.¡± I allowed myself to chuckle, the idea of cats and foxes arguing over who has the coolest floating piece of land managed to ease my nerves. The man continued, ¡°Once the city took flight, however, a very unstable hole was left behind. The ruling Monarch at the time, Queen Abrielle Rodon Lumin II, was wise enough to find a quick solution. She proclaimed that those who committed crimes in Lumin Kingdom were to be sent to work the mines. The country would provide with everything they may need, excluding pay. Thus, in only five hundred years the mine was depleted. Then, her Royal Grandson renamed the hole to The Endless Pit and sought permission to hang criminals with Numbing Rope in it, which was approved by the Protectors at the time.¡± Oh, that''s interesting, I continued to stare at the city above. ¡°The Endless Pit is seventeen kilometers deep and forty kilometers at the widest. It is shaped like a drop of water which is the shape Ergite naturally follows....¡± The man kept on rambling about the history of Lumin Kingdom and the intricacies of the country itself. I heard Bonte sigh more times than I could count. Turns out, Lumin Kingdom is not an absolute Monarchy. Unlike Earth''s Monarchies, Galeia''s were basically founded on a command from a Halve instead of the glorious phantom in the sky. The economic system was heavily tax-based with set prices for every product that was sold. There was no concept of free market similar to Earth''s either. Every one hundred years, a revision was made to check productivity and availability of produce and resources to check market fluctuation. This is supervised by the Crown, and the many City Counsels around the country made sure there was no deviation. Otherwise the people had the irrevocable, Halve-backed right to remove whoever was poisoning the waters as Alyssa had mentioned when she superficially explained the laws to me back in Riverfield. So ruling is not a God-given right, but a Halve-given duty. Still... why tax us more? Well, I could just ask the King or the Royal Family later. I calmed down while focusing on the lecture Alastor was providing, which I immensely thanked. The platform moved pretty damn slowly, probably to acclimate to the height. I never had the slightest interest in learning about the subject for obvious reasons. Still, the closer we got, the more details I saw. The underside of the city was not actually just rock as I initially assumed. There were hanging towers, gardens, and all manner of edifices built into it. No matter how interested I was about the architecture of a floating city, however, I looked straight up. If I saw even a glimpse of the horizon I''d have a heart attack and literally die on the spot, no doubt. A circular hole the size of the platform was right above us, near the edge of the city where gates normally would be on a ground-level settlement. Once the rocky material ¨Cwhich let out a low thrumming¨C covered our sight and surrounded us, I allowed myself to relax. We had finally made our way to the Capital of Lumin Kingdom. ¡°I need alcohol,¡± I whined in a quiet voice, still staring upwards. 50 - Paarjo, Capital of Lumin Kingdom. I looked down from the blue sky above while slowly turning my head around. A whitish gray city filled my vision. Most buildings were towers and tall buildings similar to skyscrapers in height. It was oddly similar to Riverfield in architecture, but noticeably less varied in the shape of edifices. A floating city is not enough, huh? My thoughts became a little acidic. You also want tall buildings on it for all that is fucking holy. I sighed. An uncountable amount of people filled a plaza in front of the platform we stood on. The large space had a multitude of stalls and stores on it. A massive fountain stood in the middle of it, where children played. Performers did their thing with instruments and sang songs for the people around them. I glanced at the ground, and the same whitish gray material split the many buildings with paths, streets, and roads going in all directions. People rode animals and vehicles of many kinds, including the weird and unnerving machine-looking construct I saw in Riverfield. The things let out a low thrumming noise. They also floated a few centimeters off the ground. Magitech? I wondered. Well, advanced magitech... considering lights, showers, ovens, refrigerators and more work with enchantments people feed with E''er to work. I was a little amazed. ¡°Welcome, Your Excellency,¡± Alastor bowed gracefully. ¡°To Paarjo, Capital city of Lumin Kingdom.¡± A growl came from above and I shot my head up. A fucking Wyvern flew over, its large wings flapping and its long tail swinging around. On its back, a person sat holding reins of all things. Oh, no. They are all psychopaths, I lamented the fate of the country. The lizard was a bit too far to appraise, so I didn''t know for sure if it was a Wyvern. It didn''t have arms, so it wasn''t a Dragon. It soon disappeared behind one of the many towers, which made me realize there were actually quite the number of flying creatures around as more came to view and circled the airspace above. ¡°How are you doing?¡± Lapia next to me asked, tilting her head and peeking at the front side of my helmet. ¡°Trying not to think about it,¡± I replied, escaping reality. She smiled and looked to the front. ¡°Shall we?¡± Alastor gestured at the large plaza ahead. I turned to the Watchers, and found them guiding the criminals to a building behind us. The now familiar Watcher office ¨C blue with a red pickax and ship ¨C welcomed the bound people inside. I noticed Elena joining them, probably to get her case in order or something along those lines. She has to go to the embassy after all, I recalled. I turned back to the man and gave him a nod. He moved off the platform and my group followed him. I did my best to ignore the fact there was an empty void below me while taking steady steps. Alastor, now a tour guide apparently, began a short explanation of the surroundings. ¡°As you see around us, this is one of the many markets that dot our city. Here you can find foodstuffs and disposable tools,¡± he walked as he explained, nodding at each merchant along the way. ¡°Further deeper, however, is one of the largest and most varied markets in Lumin Kingdom,¡± he turned his head to me and gave me a polite smile. ¡°I''m sure Your Excellency will find anything that could be of interest there.¡± We followed him to the street at the edge of the plaza, where an opulent carriage pulled by two Untu sat. A female Tigea sat at the front, holding the reins. She was dressed in similar clothes as Alastor. The vehicle was adorned in royal blue with golden and silver details here and there. Its windows were tinted a dark gray so the interior was blocked. The man stared at it for a few seconds, then turned to look at our mounts. ¡°Ahem,¡± he brought a fist in front of his face and his ears twitched a few times. ¡°It appears a ride is not needed,¡± he turned to me with a tight smile, ¡±Would Your Excellency consider joining me inside nonetheless?¡± I gave him a nod, ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± Sonya growled and pushed me with her big head. I chuckled and turned to her, ¡°Don''t worry, girl. I''ll be back before you know it.¡± Alyssa let out an amused giggle and approached the Ratnak, then caressed the beast''s scales with a scaly hand of her own, ¡°I''ll accompany Sonya.¡± ¡°Thanks, Alyssa,¡± I gave her hand a gentle squeeze and turned to the carriage. I followed the man inside. He sat down at the front seat of the carriage and I sat opposite of him. His eyes flashed purple for a second and the bustle from outside disappeared. Only our breathing, the sound of my metallic armor, and the rustling of his clothes could be heard inside the vehicle. ¡°Nobody should be able to hear us,¡± he informed me. ¡°I''ve read the newspaper and learned Your Excellency prefers to be called by name. Would it be too daring for me to do so?¡± I raised my eyebrows behind my helmet, then replied in Kator, ¡°Please do. Lady Natasha is fine.¡± He smiled at me knowing the language, ¡°Very well,¡± he fixed the neck of his vest and relaxed a little. ¡°Lady Natsha, His Majesty the King is not well. We expected you to arrive next year, to be honest. We know how busy Protectors are. I personally appreciate your haste.¡± That was a surprise. Stolen story; please report. ¡°The letter I received mentioned the King not having much time left,¡± I moved my face behind my helmet to check if any snot or tears escaped while I was riding the Platform of Death. All was fine so I stored my helmet. ¡°My companions and I assumed we had four months at best.¡± ¡°I was informed of the contents of the letter,¡± he nodded with a complicated smile, looking into my eyes. He knocked the vehicle''s ceiling twice and the carriage started moving. ¡°His Highness Prince Rinald is perhaps the closest to His Majesty the King. Being His Majesty''s youngest Royal son makes the two of them pretty close.¡± Oh. ¡°I see,¡± I relaxed a little. ¡°Could you describe the King''s symptoms to me?¡± ¡°I have not met His Majesty since he became... ill,¡± he winced, and his left ear twitched once. ¡°The fact he''s under a dark spell is also kept secret to not worry the people. He''s very loved, you see. No amount of volunteering would help, I''m afraid.¡± Sheesh, I nodded, ¡°When can I see him?¡± I looked him in the eye. ¡°The faster, the better.¡± His expression darkened a bit, growing more complicated, ¡°His Majesty is... addicted to his work, never taking a break longer than a week. Her Majesty the Queen is similar in that regard, unfortunately. Both work too hard for the country,¡± he let out a regretful sigh. ¡°Today is Fifthday, so an appointment could be scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.¡± So, a workaholic. Got it, I nodded, ¡°Sounds good. I will explore the city in the meantime.¡± ¡°Would you like me to show you around, Lady Natasha?¡± he gave me an amused smile, ¡°Or would you rather find Paarjo''s little beauties by yourself?¡± I smiled and looked outside for a second. My companions were riding the mounts next to the carriage. Alyssa was riding Sonya, and the image of the horned woman on top of the red drake was breathtaking. ¡°I was thinking about visiting somewhere I could read a lot of books,¡± I admitted with a chuckle, turning to him. ¡° I would appreciate if you could point me to the most complete library.¡± He nodded and thought for a second, ¡°We are heading towards Split Tower, where I hope you will find appropriate lodgings that would fit your taste. There is a Church two blocks to the north. You can find every record there.¡± Split Tower? I gulped. I have a bad feeling. ¡°Every record?¡± I inquired with a raised eyebrow, more interested in that part of the conversation. ¡°Ah, I see you''re a Lady of culture,¡± he gave me an approving nod, perhaps misinterpreting my gulp as thirst for knowledge. ¡°Yes, every record. At least those that are publicly available. As you might already know, Divine Records are kept by the respective schools under each God.¡± I nodded. Had no clue about that. I smiled and appraised the man. [Alastor, Egys Tigea Lvl 203 Archivist] Cultured, indeed. I leaned back on the seat, ¡°Do you know where I can purchase a piano?¡± He nodded, ¡°There is a Performer School of the Arts near our destination. You may purchase any instrument you may fancy there, or you can visit the main market and find a wide variety of goods. Paarjo may have just the thing for you, Lady Natasha.¡± I gave him an appreciative nod. How do I ask about sex toys? I wondered, staring at the man in front of me. He just smiled back. Asking a man is a bit... I better ask Yolin. She came here before, apparently. The following minutes were spent making small conversation. Alastor asked about my dungeon dives so far, and I told him it was fun and interesting. After about thirty minutes the carriage stopped and he opened the door, then came out. I followed him out and was greeted by the noisy bustle of the city. Much to my endless relief, the building in front of us was not a literal tower, but a thick building of medium height. It was probably a hundred meters wide and fifty tall. It looked like a supermarket. Taller edifices surrounded it, however. The whitish gray material they were built with looked pretty nice under the suns. The building had ''Split Tower'' written on a slab of stone that hang on the front wall. ¡°This way, if you would,¡± Alastor called to me and walked towards the building. ¡°There is a rest post inside.¡± We followed the man and entered the building through a very broad and tall gate. Inside, a large number of animals were lazying about. Untu, Tateli, Bhin, and more I didn''t know the name of. The smell of animal waste hit my nose with the force of a supernova. I smiled as I had gotten used to Sonya''s dumps. A metallic diet was... the smelliest I had ever encountered. Worse than hangover diarrhea. A young-looking Shishi Tigea came out a person-sized door at the back wall and approached Alastor. They shared a few words and the newcomer nodded, then went back inside. My companions ''parked'' our mounts and I approached Sonya once Alyssa got off. ¡°See?¡± I told the Ratnak, playfully pushing her head from side to side. ¡°Mommy is back before you knew it.¡± Yolin laughed and dismounted Pochi, then walked to me and nudged my side, ¡°Mommy? You''re spoiling her too much.¡± I shrugged, ¡°I like her, and she''s my little Sonya. Nothing wrong with that.¡± The Oni smiled and pinched my left cheek, ¡°Are you doing better?¡± I sighed, ¡°Probably will sleep like shit.¡± ¡°I bet,¡± came Lapia''s catchphrase from the side. ¡°Don''t worry, we can cuddle all you want.¡± She walked to us with the rest of the group and gestured at Alastor with her head, ¡°Any news?¡± ¡°An appointment will be scheduled to meet the King,¡± I sighed, running a hand through my hair. ¡°I''m told he''s a workaholic.¡± ¡°A what?¡± Alyssa chipped in, confusion on her face. ¡°Addicted to work,¡± I explained. Everybody nodded in understanding. ¡°If you would?¡± our guide called to us. We followed him deeper inside through the smaller door and came to a reception of sorts. We registered and I tried to get the lowest floor available. Unfortunately there was no vacancy for floors below the twentieth. The towers next to the building were the actual lodgings, not the supermarket-sized building. I contemplated my entire existence as I signed the paperwork. I could simply not look outside. A few minutes and a seemingly endless staircase later, we got to our new temporary residence. Alastor stayed outside and caught my attention with a small gesture. ¡°Lady Natasha,¡± he began, giving me a well-practiced bow. ¡°I will inform you of any update. It has been a pleasure, and I hope you enjoy your stay. If you need anything, don''t hesitate to contact me through the concierge.¡± ¡°Same,¡± I smiled, offering a hand. ¡°It''s been a pleasure.¡± He hesitated for a few seconds, but decided to reciprocate the handshake. That''s the good stuff, I thought, giving his hand a gentle squeeze to avoid shattering his bones. None of that Excellency shit. We shared a smile and he turned around, then left with energetic steps. A bit bland, but helpful in the end, I stared at the man walking away. I went inside the apartment and let out a quiet laugh while walking to the living room. Then walked to Yolin and prepared myself to annoy the shit out of the Oni. ¡°So, Six Fists of the North,¡± I hugged her waist and lifted her, then spun a few times among the furniture. ¡°Care to tell me how that came to be?¡± She groaned. 51 - Literature. Yolin sighed and hugged my neck, ¡°I don''t think it''s that interesting, but okay.¡± I put her down and we all sat in the living room to listen to her tale. ¡°I arrived in Lumin Kingdom in 1960,¡± she began her narration, ¡°I joined a lot of parties and we dived almost all dungeons in the nearby cities and settlements. After a few years I reached Paarjo and found out about the arena here. They run tournaments where fighters can... well, obviously fight each other. I decided to go in and see if any fun could be found... I ended up becoming the champion and people began calling me the Six Fists of the North. The End.¡± Well, that''s a cheapskate summary if I ever heard one, I smiled. ¡°I see,¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°Was it fun?¡± The Oni smiled, ¡°It was lots of fun.¡± ¡°That''s it?¡± Pokora interjected, dull silver eyes shining with excitement. ¡°Did you have a nemesis or something? We need more details!¡± I chuckled at her reaction. Yolin sighed, ¡°Yes, I met Perella at the arena. She was an audience favorite. At first we hated each other''s guts,¡± a sad smile formed on her face, ¡°then we just overcame our differences and... became partners.¡± Yikes, I bit my lips. Sounds like a touchy subject. ¡°That''s pretty romantic,¡± Alyssa added with a broad smile. ¡°Fighters with opposing goals finding common ground after hard battles.¡± ¡°In a way,¡± Yolin nodded. Pokora turned to me and smirked. What? I raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°Anyway,¡± Yolin stretched and stood up. ¡°What''s planned for today?¡± I stood up as well and ran a hand through my hair, ¡°I want to go to the Church nearby and find something to read.¡± The Oni gave me a look that didn''t seem to excited about that plan. ¡°I''ll join you,¡± Pokora quickly stood up and walked next to me. ¡°I want to see if I can find something that could be useful for my... goals.¡± Bonte squinted at the Elf, ¡°You''re being mysterious.¡± Bromisnar snorted and rolled his pink goat-like eyes, ¡°Says the one who ''wants to gather money for a project''.¡± The Tigea turned to the Satyr with a smug grin, ¡°Well, mystery is good sometimes.¡± I laughed at that. ¡°Well, have fun.¡± Alyssa gave me a smile. ¡°I''ll take a nap. Nobody is to disturb me.¡± Everyone nodded. ¡°How about,¡± Lapia gave Alyssa a smirk, ¡°we go find a place that sells pastries?¡± The Luzo stood up and walked to the door, ¡°What are we waiting for? We''re not getting any younger.¡± I bit my lips and held back the laughter that wanted to burst up my throat. Yolin tried doing the same, covering her face with a hand, ¡°I''ll join you,¡± she managed to say. I turned to the two men. Bonte shrugged, ¡°I''ll show Bromi around.¡± And so, we set out. Pokora and I went north. Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin went east. Bromisnar and Bonte went west. After a few minutes of walking through the city''s tall buildings, Pokora made some conversation. ¡°Cool, right?¡± she asked and turned to me. ¡°Floating city, flying creatures, cat people, and so much more.¡± ¡°It is,¡± I nodded, looking at the multitude of people around us. Some turned my way and waved. I smiled and waved back. ¡°Is it exhausting?¡± she gestured to the people around. ¡°Being a Halve must be pretty tough.¡± I looked at the woman. Her dull silver irises we looking right into mine. A wide smile on her face betrayed the excitement of the situation. Perhaps the idea of me being from Earth did make her happy or highly relieved. There was something in her eyes. A shine to them usually belonging to people who had found hope after years of despair. Similar to the liberation people experience after years of dealing with something they can''t carry by themselves and meeting someone they can share the burden with. Something I had seen many times. Though I invited her to join the party due to her set of skills, I had the creeping feeling she accepted as a means to cope with whatever plagued her. ¡°Not really,¡± I smiled back, tapping my temple with an armored finger. ¡°We''re built different.¡± She laughed, squinting her eyes and broadening her smile if that was even possible. She placed a hand on my armored arm and let whatever she found so funny run its course. ¡°Your accent makes it even funnier!¡± she clapped a few times and then fanned her face with her hands. I looked forward, enjoying the view of all sorts of people. Most were Tigea by a large margin. We kept talking and sharing memes along the way. I noticed she took a few seconds to remember some and sometimes retrieved the same book I saw in Lakeview to mention some jokes. We quickly arrived to the Church... which was massive. Even bigger than Riverfield''s. It was the size of the entire block as far as I could see and as tall as the buildings around it. ¡°Sometimes it doesn''t feel that fantasy-like,¡± I whispered, staring at the copy of An*r L*ndo. ¡°Nonsense,¡± she shook her head, walking towards the building. I sighed and followed. A Shishi Tigea wearing a white robe approached us and we asked him for directions to the library. He guided us to an open set of large double doors and then left. The library was pretty big, around eighty square meters full to the brim with books. Huge chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating the space. Pokora went ahead on her own and disappeared between the bookshelves. I smiled and began my own search of knowledge, walking and reading the many labels on top of the pieces of furniture. One of them caught my attention, it had ¡°Halves¡± written on it. This must be interesting, I thought, more than happy to learn more about my species. I picked a book at shoulder height up and gave the cover a read. The title read ''Illusion of Independence, The Halven Fallacy. A study of the ''Protectors'' and their impact in Civilized Society.'' Oh, I rubbed my forehead. Yeah, makes sense. Well, at least I see there is no censorship of literature, I looked at the positive side. I held onto it to read later, then checked others. ''Understanding Galeia: Halves and Dungeons. Theory on the Duality of Nature'', ''Halven Ban on War: A Study of Progress after Prohibition'', ''Protectors, the Worship of the Eternal'', ''Registry of Known Halves. 5th Age of E''er Edition''. I moved on as the others I checked were records of the deeds of my species. I was more interested in the ideas and image the people had rather than what Anna Morgh or Filke Triux did hundreds of thousands of years ago. For the moment, at least. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I kept walking while holding the books and came across the ''Classes'' section. I felt my hopes rise a little. I picked a random book and checked the title. ''The Golden Chain: A Socioeconomic Study of the Merchant Class''. People! Chill! I whined in my mind, adding the book to the pile. Well, these are interesting after all, I nodded at the pile of books. Back in Riverfield I had no clue how... important... being a Halve is. Politically speaking, at least. Then I made my way to one of the many tables next to a wall at the back of the library, where I sat down and placed the pile of books in front of me. Letting out a sigh, I opened the first book I picked. ''(...)Taking the previous statements of basic self sufficiency into into account, consider the following: Are we truly independent from Halves? Can we start our own governments without their influence? How are we to make our own choices and mistakes if the rules are so rigid that failure means public execution? During the Third Age of E''er alone we have seen thirty six cases of regicide by the hand of Halves, more than eighty percent of the total.(...) Ten of which were arbitrarily labeled as tyrants without consulting the populace(...). Four were Monarchs changing the economic systems within the country and while lives were lost: What is progress without sacrifice? We see this price all around us in nature.(...) The natural path is for the bottom to die off so the stronger members of the group see to success. (...)Does this aberrant and nauseating fact not reveal the political scene around the world as mere puppetry controlled by those we blindly see as protectors? This supposed ''inability'' to rule that many believe them to have is naught but a facade cloaked behind poorly acted goodwill. They hold the true power: extreme violence for those who fail their obtuse and arbitrary standards, and apathy to those who succeed. (...)El''kuu Lao publicly declared our struggle for true freedom to be no more than a child''s tantrum at the beginning of the Third Age of E''er. We''re seeing the results of allowing them to walk among us. (¡­)It should not come as a surprise, then, that someday the last expression of freedom we have to grow through conflict ¨C War ¨C will be taken from us as well. That will be the day the countries of the world shall become the puppets through and through, nothing more than servants that seek to appease an unfathomable and unjust force of nature enabled by the Gods. (...)Halves revel in violence. When ¨C and not if ¨C Halves turn their figurative sword of mediocre peace to the people of the world instead of upholding their duties to keep us safe: Will Galeia side with them? Will the Gods side with Halves ¨C the True Tyrants?'' -Illusion of Independence, The Halven Fallacy. A study of the ''Protectors'' and their impact in Civilized Society, Parr''Okh Usulis Pelino, Historian. 5623, Admak''s Era, Third Age of E''er. ¡°...¡± I leaned back and stared at the ceiling, processing the contents. The narrative was similar to what Elena had said a few days ago while under mind control. It took me forty minutes to read that one. A few words were new, but context does wonders. I put the radicalizing piece of literature to the side and opened the second book I picked. It was quite shorter. ''In this volume of Understanding Galeia we''ll see to two natural phenomena: Dungeons and Halves. Before we ''dive'' into it, let''s define them. (1) Dungeons: Deep crevices in the land may birth a Dungeon if E''er reaches a 90% of concentration pet square meter in a one hundred kilometer wide sphere. Land itself will bend and form wide ecosystems in a variable number of chambers holding increasingly denser E''er the deeper it goes. This event has been recorder ever since the first report of Dungeon Appearance. (¡­) Monsters will migrate inside, lured by the density of E''er. There, they form their own ecosystems and the Dungeon will respond by producing the required habitat for them to thrive after years of being inside. This event, however, does not happen when the sentient species take residence in a Dungeon, which has led to the wrong assumption that we are no longer part of nature itself. In this volume, Dungeos will take the role of Chaos in Nature. (¡­). (2) Halves: In the ancient language of the Divines ¨C meaning Celestial ¨C ''Halve'' means Protector. They are a sentient species in our world that exists since before our ancestors, dating back to the beginnings of time. While the Gods themselves have not given an answer to which came first, we can cheekily deduce Halves did. Their physiology is mostly unknown, unfortunately. Their body pigmentation is perhaps the most unique to be found: being either a beautiful silver with a natural metallic shine, or an astonishingly shining gold resembling the suns. (¡­) Their births are one of the many mysteries of the world, almost as if Galeia wants to keep this fascinating little secret to herself. (¡­) While the purpose of this series of volumes is to unravel the mysteries of the world, their minds are perhaps the biggest mystery of them all. (¡­) Supposedly bound by an instinct some deem omniscient, their sensibilities to threat range from local monster migration to the actions of a despot ruler on the other side of the globe. (¡­) Since birth they boast the greatest might as well, never seen below level one thousand total. (¡­) Their psyche is as complex, if not more complex, than the rest of the specie in the world. (¡­) They are similar to rain in a way: inevitable and bringing either death or life depending on the circumstances. (¡­) One thing is clear, however. They''re made of E''er, meaning their bodies, minds, and might are created. Unlike the rest of us who need reproduction to exist, Halves skip this essential rule of life. In this volume, they will take the role of Order in Nature. (¡­).'' -Understanding Galeia: Dungeons and Halves. Theory on the Duality of Nature, Adina Rioclaro, Naturalist Scholar. 299, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. 211th revision of the original publication by Roston Kalamar, 55.712, Danuva''s Era, Second Age of E''er. ¡°...¡± I scowled at the book. The contents didn''t tell me anything new. Not even about dungeons. The fact people have been studying the world with this degree of interest since forever was incredibly interesting, however. I put it aside and opened the next one. ''(¡­) The Fourth Age of E''er came to an end with the ban on war Her Excellency Filestra Palaz enforced on the world. Backed by the rest of the Halves and the Gods themselves ¨C along a deathly reminder based on absolute and uncompromising violence ¨C she sought to end conflict between the people of the world and by extension, or perhaps fully intentionally, putting an end to millennia of unnecessary bloodshed. Politics were no longer a tool to avoid conflict. The armies of the world were no longer there to deter invasions from our neighbors. National borders were there as nothing more than a token of what once was. Yes, indeed. No more did we aim our knives at the throats of our siblings, friends, neighbors. We were given a new freedom. One we did not understand at first, unfortunately. Discontent plagued the land... the urge for war had become a habit(...). Rulers no longer were required to be Warriors, Archers, or Scouts. The Rule of the Merchant had arrived and civilization saw an explosion of progress so steep and so violent in terms of population and production growth most were dumbfounded(...).'' -Halven Ban on War: A Study of Progress after Prohibition, Tatiana Uspaxov, Sociologist. 15, Yvanna''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. ¡°Well, that''s nice,¡± I nodded, putting the book down. ''Protectors, the Worship of the Eternal'' was an absolute cringefest of a circus and I vehemently refuse to spread such narratives. ''Registry of Known Halves. 5th Age of E''er Edition'' was... pretty fucking long. Longer than I expected. A total of twenty million Halves were in the registry. The descriptions were incredibly bland, nothing more than [Name ¨C Middle Name (If any) ¨C Last Name ¨C Base Class]. I didn''t find any Halve with a non-combat class as far as I saw. Archer, Cleric, Scout, Warrior, and Wizard were the norm. Well, it is a registry, not a biography... I concluded. I looked at the next book and steeled myself. This is important to understand the world, Natasha, I convinced myself. ''(...)Economic deviation affects the Merchant Class family the most. Taxes, rates, market values, prices and more are liable to become a skill ¨C something we cannot change once we integrate it. It is the undeniable and inescapable responsibility of Royalty, Nobility, and the many governing bodies around the world to ensure stability in their countries so the loss of what make this Class of ours work in the first place is absolutely avoided. (...)If a single Oloya costs 10 copper with a 10% tax if sold inside a city with a population under a million, it should remain that way even if the population increases (¡­). This is not a matter of currency, wealth, or such superfluous and admittedly primitive concepts but the stability of what validates us Merchants as a Class carrying His Divinity Admak''s legacy(¡­). (¡­) It could be said, with all due disrespect, that the integration of currency was a mistake in the first place. Why do we deal with silver and gold? Does nobody see the arbitrary value of these materials as inherent discrimination against Halves? Are we not unconsciously stating, then, that Halves of the Silver variant have less perceived value than those of the Golden variant? Maybe it''s time to abolish the rotted and decayed system of contemporary currency in its complete decrepit form and instead adopt a system based on a single unit: no decimals, no arbitrary denominations. Basing the currencies of the world on Star Tears is flawed and perhaps the most ''unsentient'' concept we as a civilization have come up with.(...)'' -The Golden Chain: A Socioeconomic Study of the Merchant Class, Angharad Glynn, Royal Banker. 2371, Photem''s Third Era, Fifth Age of E''er. I smacked my lips and rubbed my temples. A slight headache was forming after reading the walls of text explaining at least twenty possible currency systems while simultaneously avoiding being racist against my species. ¡°Haaah...¡± I let out a loud sigh. Across the table, Pokora looked up from a thick encyclopedia, ¡°What got you so worked up?¡± I showed the Elf the covers of what I had read. ¡°Oh, this one,¡± she took the radical narrative one and smiled. ¡°Haven''t seen a copy since I graduated school.¡± No words could leave my mouth for a few seconds. I recovered nonetheless and leaned forward, ¡°They make you read this shit in school?¡± I couldn''t believe my ears. She nodded with a soft smirk, then moved pitch black locks behind her left ear, ¡°Critical thinking, Natasha. By presenting every side of a subject since childhood, people form their own opinions instead of perpetuating the same narrative. It''s even more important to do so since we live so long.¡± ¡°And everyone knows this? How come nobody mentions it?¡± I questioned, more than a little surprised. She shrugged, then looked down at the encyclopedia, ¡°Not everything needs to be political. People have more important shit to worry about.¡± I raised my arms in defeat, ¡°Like?¡± She glanced up at me, ¡°Maybe a Giganto Cyclops that will show up and slaughter an entire caravan? Immediate threats are kind of a little more important than ideologies without solid evidence, yeah?¡± I leaned back on the chair and let out a long sigh. Then checked the time and almost choked at seeing it was 9 o'' clock. Maybe I can make it in time to check the market, I thought with hope. 52 - A bit concerning, to be honest. I stood up and walked to the bookshelves and spent a couple of minutes searching for a lighter read while Pokora finished her reading. I found some fifty volumes of the book series ''Understanding Galeia'', but the titles weren''t exactly that tempting. Plus, they were pretty thick. I could come back everyday to read more, I concluded, determined to consume as much information as I could. Walking around, I found a thin book with the title ''Time: Understanding the Eras and Ages''. That got me hooked. I went back to the table and sat down in front of Pokora, then opened the booklet. ''We see the use of Eras and Ages everywhere in written records and documents. An Era begins when a God dies, and an Age is when something that changes the world takes place. The First Age of E''er began when Gods and Halves came together. After that, Her Divinity Danuva granted sentience to the ancestral species. This marked the start of our path in evolution(...). This Age lasted one million five hundred thousand years. Eras went as follow: Danuva''s Era, Yiama''s Era, Shorvanna''s Era, Photem''s Era, Yiama''s Second Era, Photem''s Second Era, Pitela''s Era, Photem''s Third Era. (¡­) The Second Age of E''er began with the founding of the first countries, where the first descendants congregated and formed secluded societies. The key event was the separation of Divines and the people (..). This Age lasted three hundred thousand years. Eras went as follow: Admak''s Era, Danuva''s Era, Saravia''s Era, Photem''s Era, Shorvanna''s Era. Yvanna''s Era. (¡­) The Third Age of E''er began with the conquest of Patuk, the eastern continent. The countries of the world rushed to get a piece of the cake and their desire to show their achievements to the Gods pushed them to action. This Age lasted seventy thousand years. The Eras went as follow: Tylke''s Era, Yvanna''s Era, Tylke''s Second Era, Shorvanna''s Era, Pitela''s Era, Admak''s Era, Yvanna''s Second Era, Danuva''s Era, Admak''s Second Era. (¡­) The Fourth Age of E''er began with the conquest of Makah, the western continent. It didn''t go as smooth as with Patuk. Giants live in Makah, and they answered in kind to the call for blood. This Age lasted one hundred and twelve thousand years. The Eras went as follow: Danuva''s Era, Photem''s Era, Tylke''s Era, Shorvanna''s Era, Yvanna''s Era, Shorvanna''s Second Era, Danuva''s Second Era, Pitela''s Era, Yiama''s Second Era, Admak''s Era, Shorvanna''s Third Era(...). Every Divine died at least once at the hands of the massive invasion of Giants. We can only thank Galeia for their immortality. (¡­) The Fifth Age of E''er began with the ban on War(...). This Age has lasted a million years, which goes to show that conflict between the people brings about Galeia''s unfiltered fury. The Eras have gone as follow: Yvanna''s Era, Pitela''s Era, Photem''s Era, Shorvanna''s Era, Photem''s Second Era, Admak''s Era, Photem''s Third Era, Yiama''s Era. (¡­)'' -Time: Understanding the Eras and Ages, Tobias Fischer, Historian. 1302, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. I leaned back and processed the information. The sound of a thick book being closed shut made me look to the front. Pokora sighed, ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°What were you reading?¡± I nodded at the encyclopedia. ¡°Technological advancements of Lumin Kingdom throughout seven hundred thousand years of history,¡± she leaned back and stretched. ¡°Nothing resembles anything that could have come from Earth.¡± ¡°What are you looking for? Precisely, I mean,¡± I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table and supporting my chin with my hands. ¡°Steam machinery, the telegraph, telephone lines, usage of radioactive material as energy fuel,¡± she shrugged. ¡°Things we came up with back on Earth.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I nodded, not that interested. ¡°You should have gone for the classic ones, capitalism and guns.¡± She laughed at that, ¡°Natasha, Monarchs have been killed for less. I doubt there would be a big enough retard to employ such a stupid system,¡± she leaned forward, looking me in the eye. ¡°What would you, as a Halve, do if Lumin Kingdom turned to capitalism? Imagine they sell The Endless Pit, the many mines, their ports, the roads connecting cities. All for profit instead of something of actual importance to society and civilization as a whole. Would you chip in for quick coin? Would you slap their hand and say a few words after their minds were poisoned by greed? Natasha, I will live longer than the entirety of modern Humanity back on Earth. Think of what horrors can be done to a planet.¡± I stared back at her. ¡°That was late-stage stuff. We were unfortunate enough to be born by the time the world was ending. Doesn''t mean all capitalist ideas will be predatory to the extreme. Maybe people here can think of a better system than what short-lived, weak, pathetic humans back on Earth could. And yes, I would kill them. The well-being of an entire planet is of greater value than the life of a group of despots and the weight of their purse.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡° ¡°Chakuvin? You know about that?¡± she gave me an impressed look. I shrugged, ¡°You could say I played a bit of FPS games.¡± ¡°I wasn''t much of a gamer myself, but I knew my projectile weapons,¡± she smiled. ¡°Anyway. Again you''re thinking it wrong,¡± she waved her hands up. ¡°How much would the production of firearms cost compared to teaching a Wizard? How would a Cleric benefit from carrying a 9mm if they can just... form barriers and wait until the Archer or Warrior in their party kills the monster? Guns don''t show up out of nowhere, Natasha. You''d need to think of the price of ammunition as well. Would you spend a hundred gold coins just to have enough bullets to kill maybe a hundred monsters? Would the return be enough to justify those expenses? Diamond bullets would be feasible to a certain extent, but they''d become irrelevant after a hard-to-overcome level of power. I''d bet no bullet could injure Yolin.¡± I was a little impressed with her, ¡°You''ve given it quite the thought, haven''t you?¡± She sighed, ¡°I''ve had forty years to think of ways to find people from Earth. Guns were one of the first ideas.¡± ¡°Still,¡± I insisted. ¡°With the different elements in Galeia, I''m sure some magical gunpowder could be thought of. Maybe use E''eral obsidian for the bullets,¡± I offered. ¡°And then the price goes up to the clouds,¡± she shook her head with a chuckle. ¡°I earned three gold coins a year while in the army. It was enough to live a relaxed life. You wouldn''t catch me spending fifty gold coins for a gun, less so expensive bullets. Those materials don''t see a fluctuation in price,¡± she nodded at the book about Merchants, ¡°as I''m sure you''ve found out. Besides, I can fire some four arrows a second. That''s less than a copper coin with diamond arrowheads. If I''m not making bank, bullets would be a loss.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I nodded. ¡°I can see your point. Would be cool to have guns, though.¡± She shrugged, ¡°I don''t think so, and we''re free to think differently.¡± I made finger-guns and aimed at her, ¡°No, you aren''t. Bang!¡± She ''dodged'' and grinned. ¡°Click!¡± I looked at my guns. ¡°Oh, no!¡± ¡°Hah! You ran out of bullets!¡± she pulled out a ''knife'', which was two stretched fingers, and pointed it at me. I smirked, ¡°No, Pokora. I just left one chamber empty. Bang!¡± ¡°Argh!¡± she winced and brought her hands to her chest, then looked at me with an evil smirk, ¡°You should''ve gone for the head!¡± ¡°HAHAHAHAHA!¡± I exploded in laughter, covering my face. ¡°Shh! We''re in a library!¡± the Elf chastised me. ¡°Don''t be rude!¡± I stifled my laugh and shook in joy for a few seconds. ¡°Who''s gonna tell me to shut up, anyway?¡± I raised an eyebrow after calming down. ¡°I''m an important person, you know.¡± ¡°That doesn''t excuse you from basic manners,¡± she shook her head. ¡°True,¡± I sighed and chuckled, ¡°Anyway, let''s get out of here. I''ve read enough for today,¡± I stood up and gathered the books. ¡°Also, I''m craving some alcohol. The fact we''re floating in the sky is still at the back of my mind.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± she nodded and stood up. We returned the books and left the library. Once out in the streets, the suns blasted us with their light. Summer was alive and well. ¡°Where should we go now?¡± Pokora asked as we looked around like the tourists we were. ¡°Something tells me Bonte is already drinking,¡± I focused on the Bond with him for a second. It pointed west. ¡°And I''d bet Bromisnar is making sure he doesn''t black out while it''s still bright outside.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she nodded. ¡°He''s a bit of an alcoholic, isn''t he?¡± I shrugged, ¡°He drinks less than me. I''d blame his low constitution.¡± She laughed, ¡°I don''t know about that.¡±
After minutes of walking, Pokora and I unsurprisingly arrived at a large tavern while following the Bond. The building was pretty big, some six stories tall. Bigger than Lakeview''s only tavern. Next to the front door stood a trio of Tigeas of various races. They were smoking and talking to each other. Pokora walked in front of me and I followed. The woman was short enough that my field of view wasn''t impaired. We passed the men while entering the building and the rancid smell of cannabis assaulted my nose. My face scrunched up and I turned to them. ¡°Is that legal?¡± I asked the closest man. He turned to me with an annoyed face but froze once his eyes met mine. ¡°Is what legal?¡± his ears pressed against his head and his eyes widened a bit. The other men turned to each other with questions in their eyes. I pointed at the massive joint in his hand and raised an eyebrow, ¡°That.¡± ¡°Uh, yes, it is,¡± he answered. Then took a closer look at me, ¡°You''re the new Halve, right? Natasha I think was your name. Read it on the newspaper a month ago. Made big waves.¡± I noticed his eyes weren''t red or squinting, oddly enough. Nor was his speech slurred as I''d seen with people smoking weed. I cringed inside at his words, Big waves, fucking Ren Dabrak. ¡°Yes, that''s me,¡± I replied in Kator. ¡°Pleasure to meet you.¡± The group looked at each other with pleasantly surprised smiles. ¡°First time meeting a Halve,¡± another man joined the conversation, an Egys Tigea. ¡°I''m Julis, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Hugo,¡± the first man introduced himself, his amber feline eyes inspected my face. ¡°Claude,¡± the last one gave me a nod. He was an Urkila Tigea. Who asked? I held the joke back. It could come across as incredibly arrogant. They were all around level 200, from the Performer Class family. Their behaviour didn''t seem to be clouded by what they were smoking, so I didn''t pursue it further. ¡°Well, have a good one,¡± I gave them a nod and walked inside the Tavern. The interior was pretty nice. A wide, modern-looking bar with hanging lights above each table. About half of them were occupied, and patrons of many species were enjoying the day''s last hours. The counter occupied the wall opposite of the entrance, where many bartenders and waiters were making conversation. Pokora was waiting a few steps inside, looking for our companions. ¡°Can''t you just track him with a skill?¡± I walked next to her, looking around. There were two Humans, a few Dwarves, and a surprising amount of Elves. ¡°While that would be convenient, I don''t use skills to find people I''m bonded with,¡± she shrugged, and started walking to the stairs on the left. ¡°Kind of redundant to have two of the same... effects if you will.¡± I nodded in understanding, It''s not urgent, anyway. We climbed the stairs to the second floor, which was almost a copy of the first one. ¡°Aha!¡± Pokora pointed to the far right of the space. ¡°They''re... wow.¡± I looked in the direction and my jaw almost dropped. Bonte, who is around 160 centimeters tall, was pinned against a wall by a mountain of a woman. And was being kissed in the most... passionate way I have ever seen a woman kiss a man. The... lady... in question was at least two meters and a half tall, skin the color of stone and muscles so defined it almost put mine to shame. Almost. ¡°Who... genderbent Kratos?¡± my voice barely came out a whisper. I was shocked. [Rodon Goliath, Lvl 210 Shieldmaiden] ¡°Natasha!¡± Pokora turned to me with a horrified face, ¡°We have to help him! That''s death by snu snu!¡± 53 - Is that a challenge? ¡°Help him?¡± I gestured at them, lifting my brows in confusion. ¡°Man''s got at least three hundred levels on her. She doesn''t even have a third class. What''s she going to do that he doesn''t want happening?¡± Pokora stared at me for a second, ¡°Sorry, that last sentence made no sense at first,¡± she shook her head, ¡°Yeah, forgot about his level. Anyway, we... well, found him.¡± I unashamedly stared at the giantess tongue-choking the catboy from the other side of the room. ¡°Don''t Tigea have, you know,¡± I turned to Pokora, a little concerned at something. I pointed at my mouth, ¡°Spiky tongues?¡± ¡°I... don''t really know, to be honest,¡± she looked like she had a small moment of enlightenment. ¡°Would they have... you know,¡± she gave a weak shrug. ¡°The same down there?¡± I gave it a good thinking. Though I''m not squeamish, picturing that gave me the shivers. ¡°Should we interrupt?¡± Pokora sounded a bit unsure. ¡°I don''t want to ruin the moment.¡± I shrugged, not sure myself, ¡°You know more about the social gymnastics of this world compared to me, Pokora.¡± I nudged her shoulder with my elbow, ¡°I''ll follow your lead. What''s the worst that can happen, anyway?¡± She groaned, ¡°She''ll bow to you and say, ''I''m sorry, Your Excellency. I didn''t know he was your man''. Or something along those lines... maybe. Add to that the accent of whatever language Goliaths speak.¡± My brain itched at the absurdity of her words. Then cringed at the possibility of that happening. I sighed and shrugged, ¡°No way. You''re too imaginative.¡± ¡°I''m what?¡± she sounded a bit offended. I deftly ignored her and walked towards them. Where is Bromisnar? I wondered as we got closer, not seeing the man. Some bathroom quicky? Nah, can''t see that happening with him. I ignored the looks people gave me on the way. I glanced back and found the Elf following me closely. Once in front of the table, which was adjacent to the wall, I felt the initial shock go higher. The Goliath was not simply pinning Bonte to the wall. She had him up in the air, supporting him by the armpits. Bonte''s legs dangled freely, and his arms were around the woman''s neck with eyes closed, ears down to the sides, and reciprocating the affection. Oh shit, I bit my tongue to avoid laughing. That had to be the most emasculating thing my eyes had had the misfortune of witnessing. The woman was wearing a pair of leather pants and a white linen shirt. Metallic boots covered her large feet, and her red hair... or rather mane, was tied with a strap of what seemed to be leather. ¡°Ahem,¡± I cleared my throat, loud enough to be heard over the soft noise people around us made with their conversation. Pokora facepalmed next to me, then shook her head. The display of wanton desire halted with the woman pulling back. She turned around and a pair of gray eyes glared at me. ¡°What?¡± she barked. The Goliath didn''t have any accent, funnily enough. Her voice was pretty husky, though. I ignored her, looking at my feline buddy, ¡°Bonte, you good?¡± He looked at me and his face flushed, ¡°Oh, Natasha. Uh, yeah. All good. You finished already?¡± I nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± I glanced at the Goliath, who was trying to drill a hole through my head with the glare. ¡°Thought we''d join you and Bromisnar.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. He, uh,¡± he turned to the woman still holding him up, ¡°could you put me down, Thelea?¡± Fitting name, I smiled. Thelea gently put him down and crossed her arms with an annoyed expression. She was definitely not happy about the interruption. Sorry, sis, I shallowly apologized in my mind. ¡°He went to the bathroom a couple of minutes ago,¡± Bonte gestured to the side of the counter to our right. ¡°I see, I see,¡± I nodded. ¡°Do you mind if we join you? In drinking, I mean.¡± The Goliath scowled. ¡°Sure!¡± Bonte smiled. ¡°The more the merrier,¡± he looked at the giantess and cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem, so. Uh, Thelea,¡± he gestured to the woman, then at me, ¡°This is Natasha. Me and Bromisnar joined her group last month. This,¡± he gestured to the Elf next to me, ¡°is Pokh''Orra, who recently joined us.¡± he hesitated for a second, then his face turned complicated, ¡°This is Thelea... I just met her.¡± Oh, this is good, my smile widened even further. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Pokora gave Thelea a nod. ¡°Same here,¡± I wiggled my eyebrows at the Goliath. The edges of her mouth trembled slightly, almost forming a smile. I took a seat and Pokora followed suit. The other two sat down as well and took a glass each from the table, then drank. The image was pretty funny. Even while sitting, the Goliath towered over the Tigea. ¡°Anything you recommend?¡± I asked, nodding at the glasses in their hands. ¡°Besides choking on tongue.¡± The two literally choked on their drinks, covered their mouths, and coughed for a few seconds. ¡°Haaa...¡± Pokora sighed. Bonte recovered first, ¡°They have a very good potato spirit here,¡± he gave me a look. ¡°You should definitely try it.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. I noticed the Goliath smile at his words. ¡°You drink potato spirit?¡± Thelea turned to me, cleaning her chin with a large handkerchief I presumed she retrieved from a storage item. ¡°I like it the most,¡± I nodded. Then smiled, ¡°But had a small... incident... a while ago. Someone put nikontia in my drink.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°How was the taste?¡± Pokora joined the conversation. ¡°What is it like?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± I remembered the physical feeling. It wasn''t pain but rather a burning sensation. I settled with the description I previously used, ¡°Sweet at first, then like the spiciest pepper in the world.¡± A collective groan came out of them. I stared at the Goliath, Guess she''s staying, then? Pokora stood up and looked at me, ¡°What are you having? I''m going to the counter.¡± ¡°Potato spirit, please,¡± I nodded. She raised an eyebrow, then turned around and walked off. ''Going'' Lapia''s voice entered my mind through the Bond. ''Kisses'' I sent back. ¡°The rest are coming as well,¡± I grabbed a napkin from the table and started folding it origami-style. ¡°By the way, what do people smoke?¡± ¡°Hemp leaves,¡± Bonte answered. ¡°Smells pretty bad, in my opinion.¡± So no tobacco? I wondered with a nod, making a crane with the napkin. Maybe it doesn''t exist or people found other uses. I don''t remember much about drugs. ¡°So...¡± Thelea began, sounding unsure. ¡°Can I call you Natasha?¡± I looked up from the crane and met her eyes. ¡°That''d be nice,¡± I nodded with a smile, then took another napkin and started making a frog. ¡°Um,¡± she gulped, ¡°Are you and Bonte... you know?¡± I glanced at the man in question, who gave me a ''don''t fuck this up for me'' look. That, I realized, was universal no matter the world. Ask him, not me, I retorted in my mind. Then a mischievous thought made me smirk. ¡°Are me and Bonte... what?¡± I looked up at the Goliath and made the frog jump in her direction. ¡°Fucking,¡± she went for it raw, grabbing the frog and crushing it. Bonte rolled his eyes. ¡°No, we aren''t,¡± I shook my head. ¡°And that''s something I think you should ask him instead of me.¡± This shit is too different, I groaned in my mind. I can''t even compare this to Earth''s standards. Well, people are honest and open enough that the norm is polyamory, then perhaps it stands to reason, I concluded. Who am I to talk, anyway. I got three girlfriends in less than a month. ¡°Good to know,¡± she sighed and relaxed. Ah, right, I remembered. One woman for many men. Yolin did say having more than one is kind of straining. Must be making sure. ¡°So,¡± Bonte interjected, his voice sounded amused for some reason. ¡°Now that you finished talking about me like a piece of meat, how about we play some cards while we wait?¡± I chuckled and stored the crane, ¡°Sure, you have to teach me the rules, though.¡± After a quick rundown of the rules by the Tigea, my face morphed into the cockiest smirk ever to be seen by thinking life in the universe. I would even go as far as betting all my wealth in favor that no smirk could be as cocky as mine even until the heat death of the universe. Pokora returned with two bottles while the man was explaining, and her face betrayed her confusion at the Goliath staying even after the interruption. There were four of us to play as Bromisnar hadn''t returned from the bathroom yet. The Tigea dealt the cards and I inspected my hand. I got a pretty mediocre one, unfortunately. Bad start, I lamented. Still winnable, though. Pokora began her turn, placing a card down in front of me on the table. It was a two of E''er. Hmm, starting pretty low. Maybe she doesn''t know the game that well. I glanced at her and let out an exquisite scoff. Enough to taunt her, but not mock her. I picked a seven of E''er from my hand and placed it on top of the two, successfully defending the attack. We were playing a Galeian version of Durak. The game had very similar rules, but the deck lacked the non-numbered cards so it was a little easier in a way. The extra symbols made it a little more complicated; with seven different symbols and numbers from 1 to 10. I assumed each round would last longer than normal. ¡°Ho?¡± Bonte nodded. I leaned forward, going into serious mode. Never had I lost a game of Durak and this new life was not the time to make exceptions. *** As expected of me, the greatest Halve to ever set foot on Galeia''s surface after toiling in Hell for a million years, I ran out of cards first. I looked down from my throne at the puny mortals still trying to reach the greatness of I. Right when I was starting to worry about the missing member, Bromisnar showed up. I was free of the peasant-like activity that was fighting for second place and chatted with the Satyr until the end of the first round. Right then, the rest showed up. They approached our table and their faces showed a little confusion and interest at the newest, and biggest, addition to the group. Alyssa gave me a ''who is this?'' look, and I shrugged with a smile. Other than the basic introductions, I knew nothing about the Goliath. Yolin, however, had the most interesting reaction. Her eyes widened, then squinted, then arched a single eyebrow. Thelea noticed her and smiled, ¡°Six-¡± ¡°Just Yolin, please,¡± the Oni interrupted with a tight smile, sitting down at the table. ¡°Been a while, Thelea.¡± We all looked at each other, not knowing what to say. ¡°It has,¡± the Goliath nodded, then looked at the Tigea next to her. The man was avoiding eye contact. His face was a clear example of ''what the fuck is going on?''. Bromisnar used his right hand to hide the massive grin that was forming on his face. Oh, this is getting better, I leaned back and enjoyed the show. What a coincidence. Yolin sighed, then let out a short chuckle, ¡°I met Thelea at the arena back when I won the tournament.¡± The woman in question nodded, ¡°You beat the shit out of me,¡± she smiled widely, ¡°The fight was really good, too.¡± she turned to me and continued, ¡°We made quite the noise back then. Two tanks fighting for over three days. Haah... What a battle it was!¡± So, another battle maniac? I took reality as it was. ¡°I see you haven''t wasted any time,¡± Thelea continued, inspecting Yolin with a satisfied smile. ¡°Can''t see your level anymore.¡± Lapia looked between the two with a cheeky smirk, ¡°How about a re-match?¡± Alyssa shook her head, ¡°The difference in level is too much.¡± The two tanks nodded. ¡°Not like that,¡± the Wizard chuckled, then turned to me. ¡°The two of you against Natasha.¡± Oi! I raised an eyebrow at my girlfriend. A moment of silence took over the group. ¡°You''re not really considering that, are you?¡± I looked at Yolin and Thelea, hoping some sense was left in them. They were smiling at each other. Oh, fuck me to the moons, I sighed. 54 - Jinxing it again. Alyssa and Lapia sat down with us and introduced themselves to the Goliath. ¡°How about a fight tomorrow?¡± Thelea turned to Yolin. The Oni shook her head, ¡°We have a busy day tomorrow. Maybe on Firstday?¡± ¡°You do realize I''m going to beat the shit out of both of you, right?¡± I leaned back, hoping to dissuade them with those words. While I welcome conflict, I lean more towards fights to the death rather than unnecessary violence. With the two being lower level than me, the stakes were nonexistent. ¡°Even better,¡± the Goliath nodded with a smile. "So, Firstday it is." So a masochist, too? I stared at the woman for a second then turned to Lapia, ¡°How was your day? Did you find any good pastries?¡± ¡°Pretty good, actually. We did,¡± she nodded with a beautiful smile. ¡°There''s a small cafe a couple blocks south from where we''re staying. They had biscuits and cake. They were delicious.¡± I served myself some alcohol from the bottle Pokora brought and took a sip. There was no sweetness and the taste was pronounced, leaving none of that burning sensation. It went down smoothly but lacked the creamy texture of high quality vodka. It was better than any previous by far but it still had ways to go in my opinion. Alyssa let out a soft huff, ¡°It was pretty mediocre, if I''m honest. The cake was a bit soggy and the biscuits had too much sugar.¡± I nodded in understanding. It''s important to have a passion and stick to it. Pokora stood up again and gave Lapia a nod, ¡°What are you having? I''m going to the counter.¡± ¡°Plum wine, please,¡± the Wizard gave her a wink. ¡°How about you, Alyssa?¡± the Archer turned to the Cleric. ¡°Wine, please and thank you,¡± the Luzo offered a warm smile. ¡°I''m feeling like potato spirit tonight,¡± the Oni nodded. Pokora left and we continued chatting. As the hours passed and alcohol was consumed, I grew increasingly confused as to why the Goliath was still sitting with us. It wasn''t any of my business and I wouldn''t ask her to leave, but nobody said anything about it and that caught my attention. Yolin told us about the fights she had in the arena and Thelea added her version of the story with her rise in ranks through the tournament. Both clicked like old friends which was nice to see. Bonte held back from blacking out with alcohol which was surprising to me. I just compared it with me not drinking too much on the first dates in case the other person is dangerous. Women chase in this world, after all. We laughed, shared some stories and jokes throughout the night, and all in all had a good time. By the time midnight came, we were preparing to leave the tavern. I wanted to get up early and get the matter with the King done at last, so I convinced the rest we had to go back. That took some time, unfortunately. We payed for our drinks and food and left. Much to my surprise, however, Thelea stuck with us. More specifically with Bonte. The two were walking together at the back of the group and talking in quiet voices. I didn''t give it much thought. While I assumed I was going to take the financial responsibility of paying for the apartment for however long we would stay, I wasn''t going to limit anyone if they wanted to bring a date back for the night if that ended up being the case. I would be a hard one to convince if my girlfriends tried to talk me into adding a temporary partner, however. I was going for the long term with them as we had discussed. Still, talking about the possibility harms nobody, and while I was open to discuss it, they never mentioned anything of the sort. The relationship was solid as far as I knew, and we were all happy with it. We made it back to our place and I was notified by the staff that someone had fed Sonya. The group went ahead to the room and I walked to the counter where the concierge sat. ¡°Excuse me,¡± I rested my hands on the table. ¡°Did Alastor leave any message?¡± The concierge, a female Urkila Tigea, looked up at me from a newspaper and gave me a nod. Then went to the lockers behind her and retrieved a sealed letter. ¡°Here,¡± she turned to me and offered me the envelope. ¡°Gentleman Alastor left this message in regards to tomorrow''s appointment. He didn''t elaborate any further, I''m afraid.¡± Gentleman? Not Sir or Lord? I nodded, ¡°Thank you very much.¡± She gave me a polite smile and took the newspaper she had previously let go, ¡°You''re welcome, Your Excellency.¡± I cringed inside and left for the stairs. After opening the door I found Pokora sitting in the living room staring at Bonte''s door with concern on her face. I shook my head and walked inside, then sat next to her. ¡°Where''s the rest?¡± I leaned back on the sofa and let out a long sigh. My mind was a little blurry with the alcohol. Not enough to be drunk, but comfortably tipsy. ¡°They went to bed already,¡± she whispered for some reason. ¡°I tell you, Natasha... Bonte''s going to die. That''s the textbook example of death by snu snu. She''s almost a meter taller!¡± I chuckled and let out a sigh, ¡°I have no idea what snu snu is, Pokora.¡± She was silent for a few seconds, then shook her head, ¡°That''s incredibly disappointing, girl. Snu snu is perhaps one of the funniest memes ever,¡± she was still whispering. ¡°Maybe,¡± I shrugged. ¡°That''s what everyone says about every single meme.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± she let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°We zoomers brought back the good ones.¡± I groaned and covered my face, ¡°You''re not a zoomer anymore, Pokora.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. She slowly turned to me with a complicated face, ¡°How can you say that? It''s hard to just abandon an entire life''s worth of experiences.¡± Well, that came out of nowhere, I sighed. ¡°Back in Lakeview you said you were an Elf through and through,¡± I began, placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°But you usually default to Earth''s jokes and references. I''m not judging you, and I think it''s good to look for people from that place... but don''t make it your goal in life. It could take longer than you initially thought.¡± She let out a long sigh, ¡°What about you? How did you... detach yourself?¡± ¡°When I first woke up, I did not panic,¡± I gave her a gentle smile, ¡°This world is beautiful and I found myself drawn to it. I walked for a while and found a cart. Lapia was being held captive by bandits. There were ten of them. Without realizing it... I killed eleven humans that day.¡± She nodded, ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Plus,¡± I raised my hand from her shoulder and pointed at my temple, ¡°We Halves go through a trial. My mind works a bit different than before. When I think of Earth I feel apathy at best. Other than a tool to understand this world due to familiarity, it holds nothing of actual value to me.¡± She sighed. ¡°Also,¡± I gave her a spooky look. ¡°We''re Galeians. Earthlings are aliens to us.¡± Her eyes widened, ¡°You fucking cunt! Don''t just ruin it for me. Agh!¡± she covered her eyes and leaned back on the sofa, ¡°Now I can''t not think about it like that.¡± I giggled, ¡°Well, just for today, let''s talk about Earth for a bit.¡± She glared at me through her fingers then put her hands down, ¡°I don''t want to talk about the planet itself, though. I''d like to ask you a few questions if you don''t mind.¡± ¡°Sure, shoot.¡± ¡°You did the avatar for Lulumy if memory serves me right,¡± she began. ¡°I wanted to ask why you ''disowned'' her.¡± ¡°She became a moral whore,¡± I replied instantly, remembering the events. ¡°Monetizing parasocial relationships is morally corrupt. I didn''t want to be associated to that kind of person, so I publicly cut ties with her.¡± Pokora scowled, ¡°It wasn''t that bad. Besides, how else would v-tubers make money?¡± ¡°Why is that for me to solve?¡± I countered with a shrug, ¡°She was nothing more than a client.¡± She raised her eyebrows and scoffed, ¡°Didn''t you watch v-tubers, too?¡± I nodded, ¡°Only those who stuck to their entertainer persona. I kept in touch with some friends from my school days, so I could only see the cons of paying for someone''s friendship. If an entertainer goes through a rough spot in their lives they should seek professional advice instead of likes, upvotes, or moral support from people who don''t really give a shit about them.¡± ¡°Ssssss,¡± she sucked air through her teeth. ¡°That''s cold. Fans do care.¡± ¡°True. Until the new trend comes around,¡± I shrugged then stood up. ¡°Anyway, you should get some sleep now. We have an interesting day tomorrow... meeting Royalty and all that.¡± ¡°Yeaah... about that,¡± she looked up at me. ¡°I''m not going. Is that okay?¡± I sighed, ¡°Pokora... I''m not going to force you to do anything you don''t want to. It''s okay, don''t worry.¡± She nodded and sighed. I turned to my room and went in, then closed the door behind me. Lapia was reading a book on the bed and Alyssa was giving Yolin a massage on a low table with a towel under the Oni. I smiled and got naked, then went under the blankets. ¡°Sooo...¡± Lapia gave me a seductive look. ¡°I''m not in the mood,¡± I muttered, pressing my face on the soft pillow. ¡°Can''t get in the mood today, more accurately. I''m still conscious of floating in the sky.¡± The Elf hugged me and kissed me on the cheek, ¡°Let''s have a nice rest, then.¡± I nodded and wrapped my arms around her, then brought her closer to me, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°What for?¡± she chuckled. ¡°Respecting my boundaries?¡± I closed my eyes and relaxed. ¡°What?¡± she sounded genuinely confused. ¡°If I don''t respect your boundaries then what is our relationship about?¡± ¡°True,¡± I nodded. Alyssa and Yolin joined us and we tangled in a group hug. *** The next morning, I woke up and began my morning routine. The dream about Hell was pretty average in its contents. I knelt on the ground in front of the bed and put my hands together. ¡°Thank you for blessing me with your love,¡± I quietly presented my honest prayers to the three Goddesses, then went to the bathroom. I need a name for my religion, I thought while taking a dump. I''m obviously the Pope, or a rank similar to that. Maybe I could be the prophet and spread the word. I could subjugate the entire planet and convert the people. I shook my head, The world is not ready for such perfection. I took a shower and got ready. Sitting on the edge of the bed I retrieved the envelope Alastor left with the concierge. ''Your Excellency Natasha Novak, His Highness Prince Rinald awaits you at any time you wish to arrive at the Royal Palace. His Majesty the King has cleared his schedule for the day so an audience with Your Excellency could take place. I shall guide Your Excellency if that is welcomed. I thank Your Excellency for showing us this mercy. Your Humble Servant, Alastor Lafin, Head of House Lafin, Royal Archivist and Minister of Higher Relations, Lumin Kingdom.'' I stared at the piece of paper for a few seconds. Would have been nice if you told me you''re the fucking Minister! I shouted in my mind. I woke the rest up and we had breakfast together. Bonte and Thelea were still locked in his bedroom. After we finished eating the most important meal of the day, I got ready to leave. I stood at the door and called for my companions, ¡°Alright, let''s go.¡± Lapia walked to me and smiled, ¡°I''ll be the only one joining you.¡± Yolin came to me and gave me a juicy kiss, then separated and gave me an apologetic smile, ¡°I don''t like Royalty, Natty.¡± Natty? It was the first time the Oni called me with a nickname. I felt a tingle at the back of my head. It felt oddly good. ¡°It''s fine,¡± I nodded and gave her a soft kiss. Alyssa was still sitting down at the table. She looked at me and tried smiling, ¡°Natasha, some things require balance in the world. Sleep is very important for a healthy lifestyle. I''m just a hundred years old. I''ve barely lived three percent of my expected lifespan. I haven''t had a proper nap in what feels like a century.¡± I giggled at her excuses and walked to her, hugging her from behind, ¡°It''s fine, Alyssa. Have a good nap. Love you!¡± I gave her a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Love you too!¡± she gave me a huge smile then yawned. ¡°Have fun,¡± Pokora gave me a nod from the sofa we sat at last night. Bromisnar waved me off and smiled, ¡°If you hear anything interesting, please do tell me.¡± I nodded and left the apartment with Lapia. ¡°Did I wake you up too early?¡± I checked my pocket-watch while we went down the stairs. It was barely 7 in the morning. ¡°A little, yes,¡± the Elf chuckled. ¡°Makes sense considering you''re meeting the ruler of an entire nation.¡± I gulped. I had been trying to rationalize it in different ways so far... but it hadn''t really settled in me that I was on my way to meet a literal King. ¡°Let''s hope it goes smoothly,¡± I bit my tongue as soon as those words came out of my mouth. Fucking jinxed it! 55 - A wild Princess has appeared! Me and Lapia made it to the first floor and we fed the group''s mounts ourselves. A couple staff members were making rounds near the animals in the rest post. Sonya behaved pretty good. I assumed that was because she was raised by the farm I bought her from with that purpose in mind. Pochi was chilling next to her, eating thick slabs of meat Lapia gave him. Pokora''s mount, the odd feathered armless dinosaur-looking beast, was a little hyperactive. It only reacted to me when I offered the fruit Lapia handed me after she failed to get its attention. [Trokoa, Lvl 836] Impressive, I nodded as it chew on the Oloyas. Sonya tried to get my attention several times as I fed the other animals and I found her jealousy cute. The Ratnak growled at me and slapped my legs a few times with whines. I gave her some affection for a few minutes and left when she was satisfied. I followed the Elf''s recommendation and wore my Starforged Eternium armor. She wore a white Ezh''de, complimenting her tanned skin very nicely. Out in the street, an opulent carriage was parked in front of the building. The door opened and Alastor came out. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± he bowed to me and Lapia. ¡°Lady Lapia, good morning.¡± Lapia gave an elegant bow in return, ¡°Good morning to you, Gentleman Alastor,¡± she spoke Kator. I gave the man a nod and greeted him in Kator as well, ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°If it''s not too daring, I''d like to escort you to the Royal Palace,¡± he gave us a polite smile and gestured to the carriage. ¡°Is that welcomed?¡± I nodded, ¡°Sure. Would be pretty nice.¡± Alastor turned to the carriage and went in. Lapia closed into me and whispered, ¡°Remember, Natasha. You bow to nobody.¡± I gave her a smiled and a quick kiss, ¡°I know, Lala.¡± We followed the man into the vehicle and sat down opposite of him. Alastor knocked the ceiling and our trip began through the busy morning streets of Paarjo. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± Alastor looked at me, ¡°If you have any questions about His Majesty the King, please ask them. I may not be able to answer everything due to not having the authority to do so or simply because I may not know the answer.¡± ¡°How old is he?¡± I relaxed on the seat and placed a hand on my girlfriend''s thick thigh. The Elf held my hand and caressed my backhand with her fingers. ¡°His Majesty the King turned one thousand three hundred and seventy two last winter,¡± Alastor slapped me with the numbers. ¡°He inherited the crown from his Royal Mother Her Majesty the Queen Felicia Igne Lumin II.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I nodded, contemplating on age and time. ¡°May I ask something?¡± Lapia joined. Alastor nodded. ¡°Has His Majesty the King come into contact with any Cursed One or Undead in the last century?¡± she fixed a lock of hair behind her left ear. ¡°That is not the case, Lady Lapia,¡± the man replied with certainty. ¡°Nor has the Royal Guard done so.¡± What would a proper question even be? I don''t know about any magical illnesses and I''d bet any regular old ailment could be easily cured by anyone with the Cleric base class. Alyssa healed Yolin''s eye like it was nothing back in Mountroad. ¡°Has he had a change in behavior?¡± I chose to go for a more abstract approach. ¡°Not that I know of,¡± he replied then thought for a second. ¡°It has come to my attention that His Majesty the King''s temper has become... slightly volatile the last few weeks.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I looked outside through the window. ¡°That''s a start.¡± The trip continued with me and Lapia asking about the King''s diet, his regular schedule, his sleeping habits, and more on the broad side. ¡°When did all this start?¡± I asked after around forty minutes. ¡°The first day of the third month,¡± Alastor let out a defeated sigh, his ears drooping down. If not for the circumstances, I would have offered him some tuna or catnip. Close to my birth... I contemplated. The vehicle stopped moving and I looked outside again. A very tall and wide palace sat behind spacious gardens. I had expected the King to live in a castle or something along those lines. Though extremely impractical in a floating city and more specifically considering how cold it gets in winter, I still expected it to be a medieval-looking edifice. The walls were a gentle sapphire blue similar to the Watchers Offices I had seen so far. The material was clearly the same as the rest of the city, and the blue coloring made it look a little more official in my eyes. Along the walls, the red ship and pickax dotted the almost completely blue building, making it a little more eye-catching than it strictly needed to be. Considering Paarjo was founded after the ban on war it made sense to build for a more practical purpose instead of the classic militaristic approach a regular castle is built for. The building was some ten stories high. The height of each made it a bit difficult to gauge as the visible windows were pretty massive by themselves with them being a little over three meters tall. The gates facing the streets were massive, and quite the amount of statues dotted the gardens and some were placed on the walls in little spaces that looked exquisitely carved out. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The figures were all Tigea, with tall feline ears and thin tails. Some wore armor, some wore dresses, some wore business-like uniforms, some wore robes, and some wore light clothes that looked like suits. The different styles of clothing didn''t discriminate in sex; men wore robes and dresses, and women wore armor and business-like uniforms in equal amounts. The gardens looked meticulously cared after and presented a wide assortment of trees and bushes in different shapes and colors. A surprisingly low chain-link fence separated the street from the palace. It was low enough that I could jump over it with no real effort. Closed gates every twenty meters offered a possible entrance and heavily armored people stood like statues next to each of them. The levels of those I could see were in the 280 range on average and their classes were mostly Warrior-based. ¡°We''re here,¡± Alastor announced after I took an eyeful of the building. ¡°Paarjo''s Royal Palace.¡± He opened the door and left the vehicle. Me and Lapia followed and I looked around. The buildings around the palace were incredibly tall but the same grayish white as the rest of the city. Most I managed to see had the red pickax and ship on their walls, probably official buildings by the lack of pedestrians in the nearby streets. ¡°If you would,¡± Alastor called to us and walked to one of the gates, then opened it. The guard next to it saluted him, then bowed to me, ¡°Your Excellency! Welcome to Paarjo''s Royal Palace! It''s an honor to have you here! I hope you enjoy your stay!¡± a high-pitch female voice came out of the person. ¡°Thank you very much,¡± I replied and walked past her, following the Minister. Lapia walked right behind me, looking around as if to find something. I copied her and noticed that the inside of the fence had glass bottles with water in them hanging on it. ¡°What are the bottles for?¡± I pointed at one, turning to Alastor. The man was glancing back at us with an amused smile, ¡°A precaution.¡± ¡°For what?¡± I tilted my head, wondering what would require glass bottles of water. ¡°They''ll come out soon,¡± he gave an ominous answer. ¡°You''ll see for yourself.¡± ¡°Should I be worried?¡± I inquired, feeling a bit queasy with the way the man was acting. The man turned to me with a worried expression on his face, ¡°I beg you not to hurt them. I assure you on my life that they are no threat.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I gave a non-committal nod. We continued walking through the gardens towards the palace. I gave the statues a close look. The material was similar to marble but completely different at the same time. It lacked the obvious stains marble has after a while. It also looked a bit like glass in how the light reflected off the surface. The details were immaculate and intricate, perhaps a step above Michelangelo and Bernini. Compared to the two artists that managed to create the most Human-like sculptures, the ones in front of me looked like they would wake up from a long and satisfying nap at any moment. Their clothes looked like I could take them off and wear them myself. The technique gave off the feeling that if I were to touch them, the skin would sink under my finger or they would slap my hand away as a reaction. The fur on their bodies gave off the impression of the wind rustling the individual hairs. I hadn''t felt that when looking at the statues on Earth. These were truly breathtaking. I stopped and inspected a statue of a young man dressed in armor, ¡°What''s the material used?¡± Alastor chuckled and walked back to me, ¡°The artist of this particular piece chose an Ergite core, crystallized Inperim for the middle layer, and E''eral marble for the surface. These statues have intricate enchantments inside that can be activated for easy moving instead of having to carry them around. They were made before storage items.¡± I looked at the statue''s face for a few seconds and experienced a little uncanny valley at how realistically the expression was carved. ¡°Impressive,¡± I breathed out. ¡°They really are,¡± Lapia next to me agreed. ¡°I''ll be sure to extend those compliments to the artist''s descendants,¡± Alastor let out a polite laugh and fixed his posture, ¡°I''m sure they''ll be elated.¡± We continued walking while I looked at the statues lined on the sides of the path we were walking. I noticed one was a voluptuous woman wearing a Victorian era dress and had a very strict face. It gave me the feeling of ''dommy mommy'' and I checked the base of the sculpture. It had ''Queen Abrielle Rodon Lumin II'' written on a metallic plate. Alastor had mentioned she was the one that turned the now depleted mine into a forced labor prison. She looked like the kind of person who would do that. Once we reached the gates of the Palace itself, Alastor nodded to the two guards standing watch next to it. The two individuals saluted and opened the large door. Their outfits were more refined that those the Watchers wore; red silk with blue details. [Shishi Tigea, Lvl 300 Royal Guard ¨C Crusader] That''s cool, I gave the man to the right a nod. Like a mini boss. Maybe he''s all serious and celibate, too. Nice to see the station is added to the class. Unless the class itself has the station in mind? We followed Alastor through the threshold and a wide hall welcomed us. It was pretty massive. Beautifully crafted chandeliers hung from the ceiling and a plethora of art pieces decorated the space. The floor was tiled in squares of red and blue. The large windows bathed the interior with the light of the morning suns. It looked like the kind of place to have a ball. Loud steps came from a staircase in front of us. A female Tigea was coming down, looking at us with the pompousness of Royalty. Oh, shit. The Queen? I panicked a little. [Dhar''Ji Tigea, Lvl 198 Financial Analyst] What? I took a second to process the class. The woman wore a tasteful dress that revealed the soft curves of her body and reached her calves. High heels covered her feet and she walked straight like a rod with her hands locked on the front of her stomach. Her hair was snow white and her skin was a beautiful brown. Her feline ears were taller than any I had seen so far, and her fangs peeked from between her lips. Her eyes were a shocking turquoise that squinted at us. A tiny tiara sat on top of her head. The band was a gentle gold and ten coin-sized precious stones were embedded on the material. They had a magical shine to them. Star Tears? I wondered. She glanced at Alastor and waited. ¡°Her Excellency Natasha Novak, Halve Warrior!¡± the man announced, bowing to the both of us. ¡°Lady Lapia Pofeta of House Pofeta from the Ancient Queendom of Maaruhk!¡± The woman in front of us arched an eyebrow and scowled. ¡°Her Highness Princess Agnes Igne Lumin XVII,¡± the man introduced her. Lapia bowed to the woman. I didn''t. ¡°What is a Noble from another country doing here?¡± her voice was thick with disdain, looking at my girlfriend. ¡°She''s my partner,¡± I interjected, taking a step forward. ¡°Are we not welcomed here?¡± The Princess looked at me and gave me a sneer, ¡°And what is a Warrior going to do to help my Royal Father?¡± she gave me a glare. Be understanding, Natasha, I gave the woman a gentle smile. Her dad is facing severe health problems. Anyone would lash out at uncertainty. 56 - Royal Family. I am not obligated to deal with this woman, I concluded. Understanding does not translate to tolerance. I let out a polite chuckle and turned to Alastor, ¡°Anyway. Where''s the King?¡± Lapia exhaled through her nose next to me. The man took a second to make a decision, then nodded, ¡°His Highness Prince Rinald is this way.¡± ¡°Hpmh!¡± the Princess harrumphed and took a step forward, ¡°Have you-¡± ¡°Nice,¡± I interrupted her, giving the Minister a look. ¡°Please lead the way.¡± He turned around and walked past the Princess to the staircase. Me and Lapia followed, and soon the Princess was behind us as well. Fortunately for everyone involved, the woman didn''t say a word while we walked through the palace. We reached the end of the stairs and then went up another. After going up three stories, Alastor walked into a hallway that lead deeper into the palace. The walls had quite the number of paintings hanging on them, depicting various Tigeas through the years. Most were Rulers and important people. A few individuals had outstanding achievements written in small plaques. I found the person who gave the Alchemists government office. He had a smaller painting, a male Egys Tigea wearing a silk suit with a gentle smile was depicted on the canvas. He looked pretty handsome in my opinion. After a few minutes of walking in silence, we reached a set of double doors. Two Royal Guards were posted at each side. Alastor knocked twice and waited. ¡°Come in,¡± came a suave male voice. My eyebrows went up at the pleasant sound. The Minister opened the door and stepped aside. A cozy office welcomed us. Shelves lined the walls, full of books, scrolls, and other written media. A chandelier hang pretty low, and a few paintings decorated the opposite wall. A dandy male Tigea sat behind a desk, reading some documents. His snow-white hair and brown skin were similar to the Princess, but his eyes were worlds apart from her. The left one was amber while the right one was turquoise. [Dharji Tigea, Lvl 178 Actuary] What the fuck is that class? I wondered. ¡°Has Her Excellency arrived, dear sister?¡± he asked aloud while turning the page he was reading. ¡°Ahem,¡± Alastor cleared his throat. ¡°Your Highness, Her Excellency has arrived.¡± The man behind the desk looked up and his eyes widened, ¡°Oh!¡± he exclaimed and stood up, then straightened his clothes. He cleared his throat and gave me a charming smile, ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency Natasha. It''s an honor to finally meet you,¡± he greeted me in Common. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± I smiled and greeted him in Kator. ¡°Did I arrive too early?¡± He blushed and cleared his throat again, ¡°Apologies, Your Excellency. I didn''t expect you to come this early,¡± he replied in Kator. His eyes met my own and he noticed the Elf next to me. ¡°Ah, Lady Lapia. It''s a pleasure to meet you. I''ve been incredibly interested in regards to your research and your time teaching His Excellency Desseyr.¡± Lapia bowed, ¡°Your Highness Prince Rinald. Thank you for the kind words.¡± The man chuckled, ¡°Not at all, not at all,¡± his eyes met the Princess and he froze for a second. ¡°I see you''ve met my dear sister.¡± I nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Hahaha,¡± the Prince let out an amused laugh. It sounded pretty nice and normal instead of the haughty laugh I expected a Prince to have. ¡°Your Excellency reminds me of His Excellency Perculis.¡± Agnes scoffed. I let out a short sigh, ¡°Can you just call me by my name?¡± Rinald nodded, ¡°If that''s what you''d prefer.¡± He gestured to the other side of his desk and gave us a smile, ¡°But first, please take a seat.¡± We walked inside and the Prince produced a pair of chairs for us. Nicer than Dabrak, I thought while sitting down. The Princess and the Minister remained standing, however. Rinald took a deep breath and gave me a tired smile, ¡°Thank you very much for answering my plea, Lady Natasha. My Royal Father''s health has worsened the last few weeks. He''s lost energy and appetite, and nightmares plague him in his rest. We''ve summoned the best Clerics Lumin Kingdom has to offer and yet non have managed to improve my Royal Father''s situation.¡± I nodded, ¡°I see. Have you considered this to be a mental health issue?¡± Agnes scoffed again. Rinald gave me a tight smile, ¡°We have. It was our first approach. His attitude towards work doesn''t help in the slightest, however. He''s grown aggressive, even.¡± What could be wrong with him, then? I wondered, rubbing my chin. Something that Clerics, meaning magic, can''t fix. Depression? That could be fixed with regulating neurotransmitters and stuff. Anxiety? Same. I remember Alyssa prevented me from having a panic attack when I realized the size of the world. Brain chemistry is well within a Cleric''s power to manipulate. I decided to see the man himself, ¡°It''d be better if I met him,¡± I offered, looking at the man in front of me. He gave me a smile, then looked down at the table between us, ¡°Yes, I think so too.¡± Agnes spoke up, ¡°How is that going to help? You are the youngest individual that has entered the palace. What can you do that others haven''t tried? We even used the legendary Dew of Life left by His Excellency Miraztor. I mean no disrespect, but what can a Warrior do to help?¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I stood up and turned to the woman, then gave her my most gentle smile, ¡°Fuck off, alright?¡± Lapia whipped her head to me with shock on her face. Alastor choked. Rinald failed to hold a laugh back, resulting in a snort. Agnes''s eyes widened and she opened her mouth, ¡°Wha-?¡± ¡°No,¡± I interrupted her, lifting a hand a closing my fingers. ¡°This is not a dialogue. We''re not having a discussion. I did not ask you a question that requires more than yes or no. I get that you might be angry at the world right now. You need to vent, and that''s alright. I''m not the one you have to be angry at, though.¡± ¡°Your-¡± she tried speaking again. Her face was blushing harder by the second. ¡°No, no, no,¡± I interrupted again, shaking my head. I gestured around the room, ¡°This isn''t about you. So you either get on with it, or get our of the fucking way. We don''t need your negativity. We,¡± I pointed at each of us, ¡°are trying to help your dad. To get him better. It''s fine to have doubts, Agnes. It''s healthy to criticize. Just,¡± I shrugged, ¡°don''t be a bitch about it.¡± Right then, the door opened and a female Tigea walked into the room. She wore a similar dress to Agnes'' but more intricate in design, and a beautifully crafted crown sat on top of her head. Alastor bowed and announced, ¡°Her Majesty the Queen, Josalia Hyth Lumin!¡± Agnes bowed. Rinald bowed. Lapia bowed. I didn''t. The Queen looked at me with a gentle smile which made her turquoise eyes squint a little, then gave me a respectful nod, ¡°Your Excellency Natasha, it''s an honor to meet you. Have you finished scolding my daughter?¡± I returned the nod, ¡°Nice to meet you, Queen. And no, I haven''t.¡± The Queen''s eyes widened in surprise but the smile didn''t leave her face. I turned back to the Princess and sighed, ¡°Look, I''m not a savior or a holy being that demands the utmost respect.¡± I walked to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°It''s scary to have a loved one in an uncertain situation. I don''t need to be fucking ancient to understand that. I''m not mad at you for expressing your feelings in however way you chose to do so... but don''t come to me with that childish attitude. You''re not helping anyone. So, yeah. Fuck off.¡± The Queen nodded a few times. Lapia shook her head with a sigh. ¡°So,¡± I turned to Rinald. ¡°We were going to see the King?¡± He nodded and cleared his throat, ¡°Yes, we were.¡± He looked at the Queen and smiled, ¡°Royal Mother, would you like to accompany us?¡± She raised an eyebrow and turned to me, ¡°If Her Excellency permits it.¡± I sighed, ¡°This is your palace and he''s your husband, woman. Do as you please.¡± Lapia took a deep breath and raised her eyebrows. Rinald made his way to the door and gave Agnes a tight smile, ¡°Are you coming with us, dear sister?¡± She was pouting. After a second of silence she nodded. Spoiled much? I shook my head and went out of the room. The group of people was something I found pretty funny. Me, a Halve, protector of the world. The Queen of a nation and her two Royal Children. The Minister of High Relations. And my girlfriend, who was of Noble birth. I see why the rest chose not to come, I chuckled. Still, a family seeking help to heal the dad is pretty wholesome, weird attitudes included. We moved through the palace followed by some ten Royal Guards. They were all beneath level 310 for the visible class, so below 1000 total. Still, they were the most ''powerful'' group of armed people I had seen so far. It made sense since they were tasked to protect an important family of Merchants. Lapia walked next to me, and her face betrayed the stress she was under. Maybe behaving like that wasn''t the smartest of choices, I pondered for a second, but then didn''t give a damn about it. Royalty are not Gods in the end. Their value is strictly tied to the happiness of the people in my eyes. I noticed the Queen stole a few glances my way, smiling and nodding to herself. Once we made it to another set of double doors, though much grander and decorated, Rinald stopped to knock. ¡°Come in,¡± a deep voice replied from inside. The Prince opened the doors and my eyes widened at the amount of people inside. Four Tigeas, Two Elves, and a Human were standing around a bed, all wearing Danuva''s Church robes. Most were silent, reading something while others were checking on a man sitting on the bed. The man himself, however, looked like shit. He looked like a cat with ringworm. Bald patches covered his visible body with gashes and bruises. His eyes were tired with large, dark eyebags beneath them. The Cleric next to him whispered something and the man nodded. A whitish light came off the healer''s hands and the man''s injuries healed at a visible rate until he was in top shape. His snow-white hair and turquoise eyes shone with youthful energy. So it''s chronic? I wondered. If the symptoms could be healed that easily I wouldn''t be needed. ¡°Her Excellency Natasha Novak has arrived, Royal Father,¡± Rinald announced, taking a slow step into the room. Another man wearing similar clothes to the Prince, a Shishi Tigea, walked in front of Rinald and gave him a smile, ¡°Thank you, dear brother.¡± Rinald nodded and stepped aside. Everyone went in and I followed after them. The Royal Guard closed the door behind me. I walked inside and stopped next to the bed, then stared at the King. [Dharji Tigea, Lvl 255 King ¨C Financial Manager] The rule of the merchant, indeed. Alastor stood behind me and announced in a low voice, ¡°His Majesty the King, Gordon Igne Lumin IV.¡± The man in question looked at me and tried smiling. ¡°Welcome to the world, Natasha.¡± His eyes showed fear. The uncertainty of facing a chronic illness was reflected on his face. In front of me, I saw more than a King. While I think every man is a King in their own right, I saw a Father. The memory of my own dad having a similar face when my mom abandoned us appeared on my mind''s eye. The pain and fear behind a man''s eyes when the world crumbles around them was quite similar between the two. Though raised in different worlds with different social values, the fear of uncertainty was shared. One of the memories that defined my life and how I view the world was replaying and yet I felt nothing. Is apathy the answer? I wondered, searching my storage for another flask of the pink elixir that muted my emotions after killing the bandits. ¡°Thank you, Gordon,¡± I gave him an honest smile. ¡°You look like shit.¡± He chuckled and closed his eyes. His laughter increased in volume until he started coughing. Everyone in the room was silent. Lapia was next to me, looking at the man on the bed. The King sighed, ¡°It''s always refreshing to meet a Halve. You''re totally different from Perculis and Miraztor, Natasha.¡± ¡°Thank you, I guess?¡± I chuckled and looked behind me for a chair. I found one and brought it to the side of the bed, then sat down. ¡°So,¡± I began, trying to brighten the mood of the room. ¡°What''s up with the tax?¡± 57 - The Kings answer and his troubles. (CW: Sexual violence) The King looked at me and gave me a sly grin, ¡°What do you need, Natasha?¡± I sighed, He''s that kind of person? ¡°I''d have to explain a few things first,¡± he lied back on the bed and fixed his posture, moving the pillows behind him. One of the Clerics, an Urkila Tigea, approached him and tried helping. The King glared at him and shouted, ¡°DON''T!¡± The man stepped back and looked down, ¡°Apologies, Your Majesty...¡± An awkward moment of silence followed the interaction. ¡°I''m...¡± the King sighed, his face flushed and his voice increased in volume, ¡°not senile! Don''t take this away from me!¡± I noticed his hands were shaking. The Queen sighed and covered her mouth. Her eyebrows went down and she closed her eyes. Rinald gave me a pained look. I see, I nodded, looking around the room to escape the awkward situation. The windows were wide open and the gentle smell of fresh air made its way into the room, probably to keep a constant airflow for the sake of the ill King. ¡°How about we give you some space, dear husband?¡± the Queen managed to say with a pained voice. Rinald, the man I assumed to be another Prince by what he said to him, Agnes, Alastor, and most Clerics left the room. The Queen stopped before leaving and turned around, looking at the King with love in her eyes. Her tall ears shifted slightly, ¡°I- we love you, Gordon.¡± The King choked a little, the kind that happens right before breaking down in tears. He whispered, ¡°I''m sorry, Josalia.¡± She nodded with a complicated smile and closed the door. Not before giving me a pleading look. The atmosphere turned a bit gloomy after that scene. Family is a complicated thing, I pondered. The people still in the room were a single Cleric, Lapia, and me. We watched in silence as the King fixed the pillows. He took a deep, shaky breath and let out a long sigh after finding a comfortable position. I pulled a chair close and Lapia sat next to me. ¡°So,¡± the King began as if nothing had happened. ¡°When ruling a country, one needs to consider two things when thinking about the economy: Necessity and Luxury. Food is a necessity so it should be accessible to all without exception or limitation. Without food we''d die. Alcohol is a luxury so the price is high since we can live without it. This outlook is what defines pricing in most countries. With the addition of currency, our predecessors came up with a balanced enough system that allows for fair access to all products while simultaneously presenting beneficial conditions so the Merchant class family can grow. Entering a settlement is a necessity. Disposable tools are a relative necessity. Having a roof overhead is a necessity. Owning a house, however, is a luxury,¡± he raised a hand and opened his fingers. ¡°The mobility of people removes value from owning a house. Eight out of ten people spend more than half of their life moving from place to place. Taking this into account, the service of providing temporary housing became a necessity and thus owning a house to provide such service is a luxury. Things that don''t help us achieve self actualization is a luxury,¡± he sighed and looked at me. ¡°A Craftsman, for example, requires a wide variety of products to achieve self actualization, so their requirements are a necessity. Class stagnation is to be avoided at all costs. If they set up shop, however, they face luxury since they are not a Merchant. All of these intricacies are properly written and taught to those who sell their products and services,¡± he looked up at me, ¡°So, Natasha. What do you need?¡± I took a few seconds to digest the King''s words. ¡°I''m a Warrior, so I need to enter a dungeon,¡± I pointed out. ¡°I got charged a gold coin to enter them.¡± The King shook his head, ¡°That''s not what I mean, and you''re not entirely correct.¡± Lapia nodded, ¡°I see.¡± I rolled my eyes. I can''t be this dumb. Sure, I suck at math but economy is more about concepts. ¡°Before being a Warrior, you''re a Halve,¡± he pointed at me. ¡°Do you wake up hungry or thirsty? Do you need sleep?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Do you need to enter a mid-tier dungeon?¡± he raised his eyebrows. ¡°Yesterday I was informed you faced a Giganto Cyclops on your way here,¡± he smiled, ¡°I bet that felt incredibly satisfying.¡± I chuckled, ¡°Yeah, it did.¡± The King nodded, ¡°So your self actualization is out there. Not inside a city. As a Halve, civilization itself is a luxury simply because you don''t need it. A country of Halves would exist by now if it were a necessity.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I nodded. ¡°I can see the reason for the gate tax. What about the dungeon tax?¡± He gave me a victorious smirk, ¡°I''m glad you asked.¡± A thin booklet materialized in his hands, then he opened the first page, ¡°You Excellency Natasha Novak, your actions in Mountroad''s dungeon have resulted in a substantial monetary loss for the city, and by extension, the country.¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. I gulped and the cold hand of regret gripped my soul. The King continued while reading, ¡°While clearing the dungeon by yourself is not a problem in itself, the loss of produce it holds by you keeping the loot has halted the local economy for the following six to ten years. You turned two bounties in; Beast hides and Golem cores. The city did not see any return in meat, bones, blood, plants, or any materials after your second time entering. Five to seven million gold coins worth of loot simply evaporated by your actions alone. I''m sure a single gold coin pales in comparison. I''d argue the tax is quite lax.¡± ¡°Ahem...¡± I cleared my throat, a little embarrassed. ¡°Yeah...¡± ¡°The local City Council received quite the number of complaints,¡± he gave me a severe look. ¡°We''re not even mentioning Lakeview''s dungeon. Fortunately, the latter were informed and a team managed to scavenge what your party left behind. It''s not an ideal situation, however. Halves are taxed more precisely because of this potential loss,¡± he closed the booklet and gave me a smile. ¡°We have adequate preparation for these contingencies since this is not the first, nor the last time this has happened. I hope this clears up your doubts about the taxation your species faces. There is nothing of actual value to you in a mid-tier dungeon: no increase in power, no loot that you factually need, and the possibility that you won''t bring out what you kill justifies the increase.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± I nodded with a sigh. ¡°That was a bit irresponsible of me.¡± ¡°A little,¡± the King chuckled. ¡°But that is balanced by the fact you were helping your companions achieve their own self actualization by increasing their power. They will become immensely helpful in the future if they decide to be. No amount of money can guarantee power so there is a certain leniency to the circumstances at hand.¡± ¡°Should I pay for the losses?¡± I scratched my left ear. ¡°That''s a lot of money.¡± The King shrugged, ¡°We can''t force you to. It''d be commendable if you do, however.¡± I should be more careful in the future, I concluded. ¡°Lady Lapia,¡± the King adressed my girlfriend. ¡°If there''s anything on your mind, please go ahead.¡± I turned to her and she had a face that said ''Is it, though?''. She bowed, ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± She straightened and spoke, ¡°If I may ask, who decided that civilization is not a necessity to Halves? I don''t remember having read this claim.¡± The King nodded, ¡°Mhm. When the first countries were founded, Halves informed the different Rulers of their capabilities in case they were needed when the countries faced insurmountable odds. Back then, they could have formed a country by themselves. When asked why they didn''t, their answer was a lack of interest in living in civilization. I''m sure you''ve read Perculis'' publications?¡± Lapia nodded, ¡°I have, Your Majesty.¡± The King smiled, ¡°He said, and I quote, ''Why sit in power when we can be out there, having fun and living adventure''. This was actually a response not to the possibility of ruling as many think it is but to the nomadic nature of Halves. Just as we stagnate if we don''t work on our Classes, Halves stagnate if too much time is spent in a single place. There is an... odd connection between Nature and Halves,¡± he turned to me. ¡°Is that true in your case?¡± I checked my species information. -Forest is your home and your peace. ¡° So one of the many lines we have carved to differentiate ourselves from the people is also the tax? Well, taking monetary advantage of adoration is pretty fucked up and not a very ''protector'' thing to do. If anything, it makes even more sense to pay extra so society may flourish. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Husband? Oh? Is that why the other Prince-looking fellow is a Shishi? That''s cool. ¡°creature ¡° That''s a Demon. Who would have thunk. ¡° So, the creature rapes the King in his dreams after killing his entire family and the people of his Kingdom, Sounds like a mind Demon. Or a Succubus if I were to take popular media into account. 58 - To catch a predator (1) The King closed his eyes for a few seconds, contemplating on my words. He opened them and turned to me, ¡°A Demon?¡± he slowly tasted the word. Lapia placed a hand on my arm, ¡°Are you sure?¡± I nodded, ¡°Pretty sure.¡± I retrieved a sketchbook and stared at the King for a second. ¡°Gordon, I''m going to draw the creature that''s troubling you. Would that be something you''re comfortable with? I''ll need you to look at it for confirmation.¡± He took a deep breath then nodded, ¡°Anything that could help me. Please do so.¡± I nodded and produced a pencil, then went to work. One of the many things I excel at when it comes to art is hyperrealism; to translate what''s on my mind with impeccable detail when drawing it. I put a lot of time and effort in developing my artistic skills during my life on Earth. While maybe focusing on the sciences could have been more helpful when taking this current life into consideration, there was no way for me to know the future. ¡°Have you appraised the creature in your nightmares?¡± I asked while drawing. The King chuckled, ¡°Natasha, you can''t appraise things when you''re in a dream.¡± I nodded. Is that similar to the smartphone thing with dreams? I wondered, shaping the drawing. I do remember having read that zoomers and the alpha generation saw more of interactive technology in their dreams. Maybe appraising people is not something the brain can simulate. I drew the Demon in a non-threatening pose and with blank facial features. The lighting showed its front in a easy-to-digest way while simultaneously avoiding its vicious nature. It even looked friendly to some extent. ¡°Haa...¡± Lapia next to me sighed with a worried expression, looking at the drawing. ¡°Is that how they look like?¡± I nodded, ¡°Here,¡± I showed it to the King. ¡°Does this look similar?¡± The man glanced at it and instantly looked away. ¡°Exactly the same,¡± he whispered. ¡°May I see it, Your Excellency?¡± the Cleric on the other side of the bed looked up at me. I offered the sketchbook and she slowly took it. Her eyes squinted at the drawing and she nodded, then gave me the book back, ¡°I see.¡± I stored it and let out a sigh. ¡°Does this only happen at night?¡± The King and the Cleric both nodded. I looked at the Cleric, ¡°Is there a Cleric class that specializes in exorcism or something along those lines?¡± Exorcism? ¡°So Demons are not a common thing, ¡°How do you know of this creature?¡± The King''s quiet voice betrayed his doubt. I looked him in the eye, ¡°It''s a bit complicated.¡± His eyes widened a little and he gave me a slow nod, ¡°I see. Claire, could you give us a minute or two?¡± The Cleric bowed, ¡°As you wish, Your Majesty.¡± We watched the woman leave the room and close the door. ¡°Natasha,¡± the King sighed. ¡°Is this related to your trial?¡± That was a little surprising. ¡°Yes,¡± I nodded. ¡°How do you know of the trials?¡± He smiled weakly, ¡°As a King, I know things others do not. My Royal Mother taught me a lot of things before she passed.¡± ¡°Have you met the Gods?¡± I gave him an expectant look. He nodded, ¡°Only His Divinity Admak. I did a pilgrimage before officially taking the throne.¡± ¡°Hoo...¡± I smiled. ¡°What does he look like?¡± Lapia sighed, ¡°It''s taboo to recreate or speak of the image of a Divine.¡± The King nodded at her words. I clicked my tongue, ¡°That''s silly.¡± The two chuckled at my reaction. ¡°Well,¡± I took a slow breath. ¡°I could hunt this Demon. If it has physical form it''d be easy for me to kill it, too.¡± ¡°How will you find it?¡± his eyes gained a bit of hope. ¡°I know their smell and how their bodies function,¡± I looked out the window and saw the many tall edifices. ¡°I''d bet I''m the one that knows the most about them. I even know their language as you heard before.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the King muttered. He continued with strength in his voice, ¡°Natasha, please do whatever it is in your power to rid me of this Demon. I beg of you.¡± I winced and turned to him, ¡°Don''t beg. That''s weird.¡± He chuckled, ¡°You Halves are a treasure.¡± Lapia quietly laughed next to me. ¡°This must be fate,¡± the King gave a resolute nod. ¡°Who knows?¡± I shrugged. ¡°I''ll take a stroll around the palace and see if I can-¡± Hampter'' ¡°Hmm,¡± he thought for a second. ¡°If I don''t find it before nightfall, I could stay the night,¡± I offered. ¡°Rats are easier to hunt during the few hours they''re awake and moving.¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The King nodded, ¡°I was thinking the same. I''ll make preparations on my side and send someone to inform you when the time comes. I''m sure you know I''d like it to be over before then... but I can''t ask too much, however.¡± ¡° The King nodded with a relieved smile and renewed energy in his eyes, ¡°Same. And thank you, Natasha.¡± We shook hands and I took a step back. Lapia curtsied, ¡°It''s been an honor meeting you, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Take care, Lady Lapia,¡± he gave her a smile. We walked out of the room and were greeted by the group of people who were previously inside. The Queen approached me with a tight smile, ¡°Your Excellency, how is my husband?¡± ¡°Pretty tired of you treating him like a kid, I guess,¡± I replied with a friendly smile. ¡°Other than that, all''s good. We came to a conclusion, however, so things are looking great.¡± Lapia took a deep breath and shook her head. The Queen smiled widely, ¡°A conclusion?¡± she ignored my comment like a professional. ¡°That''s great to hear.¡± I felt a queasy feeling inside me. People like her didn''t sit well with me. ¡°That''s right,¡± I nodded. ¡°Some topics were a bit sensitive, so I think it''d be nice if you give him some emotional support.¡± The King''s family nodded and walked past me into the room. The Queen smiled and started moving to bow to me. I placed a hand on her shoulder, halting her movements. She looked up at me and met my ''polite'' smiling face. She blinked a few times, then nodded and walked past me. The moment she was next to me, I sniffed the air. The soft and fluffy scent of flowers tickled my nose. After everyone went inside, I turned to Lapia with an amused smile, ¡°Went pretty good, right?¡± She smacked her lips and gave me an unimpressed look, ¡°It sure did.¡± Her tone was a bit more sarcastic than I expected. I shrugged and offered my hand for her to take. She shook her head with a sigh and took my hand, ¡°You''re a wild one, Natasha.¡± I chuckled and smirked, ¡°I thought you already knew that?¡± She laughed and we started walking. The palace was well ventilated with wide windows open every twenty or so meters. Stairs led us up and down the building, where we turned and explored the hallways. A good number of Royal Guards were stationed around the palace. Most were Cleric tanks and healers, a few were Warriors, and even fewer were Wizards. Lapia and I made some light conversation while walking, and she took the opportunity to teach me a few things about E''er. Nothing too complicated, just the different classes that exist and people can get. We spent a few hours walking through the palace. I tried finding a hint of the Demon while walking, sniffing around every once in a while. I caught a wide variety of smells from food, metals, fabrics, and flowers to the smell of sex, the flow of E''er, the stench of regular waste, and the peculiar smell of the stone that made for the majority of the building''s construction material. The palace was massive. We reached the first floor''s ''ball room'' space while following the many smells when I heard the soft rumble of Lapia''s stomach. I turned to her with a cheeky smirk, ¡°Looks like we found another little Demon.¡± She blushed and checked her pocket watch, the golden one she got from me in Mountroad. She sighed and closed it, ¡°It''s half past noon. Lunchtime already.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I wisely nodded. ¡°You mortal fleshlings require sustenance.¡± She arched an eyebrows and gave me a questioning look, ¡°Do you really not need food?¡± I shrugged, ¡°Not gonna starve myself just to prove a point.¡± ¡°What if you can feed off sunlight?¡± she pondered, rubbing her chin. ¡°I''m not a plant, Lapia,¡± I shook my head. ¡°True,¡± she nodded with a smile. ¡°You''re the apex living organism. Definitely above a plant.¡± I rolled my eyes and sighed. Footsteps from above caught my attention. We both turned and found a young Urkila Tigea walking towards us. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± she bowed, ¡°Lady Lapia. Her Majesty the Queen sent me to ask if you''d like to join her in lunch.¡± I turned to Lapia, who gave me a nod. ¡°Sure,¡± I gave the Tigea a nod. ¡°That''d be nice.¡± ¡°Then, if you would?¡± she turned around and walked off. We followed her until yet another set of double doors. She knocked once and opened them. A dining room welcomed us. A wide, circular table in the middle of the room was decorated with a fancy-looking table cloth. A chandelier hung low above it, and numerous paintings decorated the walls. On the table, three consecutive seats were prepared with china and silverware that definitely wasn''t silver; it was made of a material that had an almost glass-like transparent quality to it. Each seat had an unnecessary amount of glasses, forks, spoons, and knives along plates and large napkin containers. There was a door to the right, where I assumed led to the kitchen by the thick smell of food coming from it. My nerves turned a little. I had no clue as to fine dining and while my skin is as thick as city walls, I didn''t want to embarrass my girlfriend by eating like a barbarian in front of the Ruler of a nation. The Queen was standing behind a seat, probably waiting for us. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± she bowed to me. ¡°Lady Lapia. Thank you for joining me.¡± ¡°Thank you for the invitarion,¡± I gave her a nod. Lapia curtsied, ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± the Queen smiled. She gestured to the seats to her right, ¡°Food will be ready shortly. If you would, please.¡± We walked to our seats and I stored my armor since the chair looked flimsy if anything, then sat down between the Queen and Lapia. ¡°Where are the Princes and Princess?¡± I asked, glancing around the room. There were two Tigeas standing at attention near the door to the kitchen. ¡°Princesses,¡± the Queen had the audacity to correct me with a kind smile. ¡°I have ten children with my two husbands; six sons and four daughters. Most are out of the city at the moment doing several errands. The ones currently in the palace prefer to eat with my husbands now that Gordon''s health has declined.¡± I squinted my eyes at her, ¡°What about you? You don''t eat your meals with your sick husband?¡± Lapia took a deep breath next to me. The Queen''s eyes widened a little and she cleared her throat, then stored her crown, ¡°I do, occasionally. My work has kept me busy most of the time. I do make sure to spend time with Gordon, Your Excellency.¡± The door to the kitchen opened and a troupe of six Tigeas walked into the room carrying trolleys. The first one had several bottles on it. The second one had bread and fruit. The third one had domes covering the content of the dishes underneath. The last one had a tall cake-looking pastry. The Tigeas wore fine clothes with tasteful styles and colors. Their classes were mostly kitchen-related and I assumed them to be from the Craftsman class family. They pushed the trolleys around the table until they reached us, then bowed. A young male Tigea straightened first with a smug smile and spoke in a proud and professional tone, ¡°The meal will begin with olive tapenade and hubis mushrooms as an hors d''oeuvre that I''m sure will arouse your palate and taste buds. Next is steamed punites with a dash of Oloya extract on top of a loving bed of gentle greens. For the main course, the head Chef herself has roasted a Fenivis'' breast exquisitely embraced by a blanked of hubis mushrooms. For the salad, the freshest of vegetables have been steamed and boiled to bring an unparalleled harmony of flavors by the hand of six months old cheese that will be complimented with a three hundred year old Dubois wine. As a climax that I''m sure will satisfy you to no end, a most delightful pastry has been prepared by the head Patissier which will be served along a fine selection of tericas accompanied by a sixty year old Moulin dessert wine.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± the Queen nodded with a satisfied smile. She didn''t look quite as excited about the meal. 59 - To catch a predator (2) The Elf had her ''polite smile'' on. Three Tigeas moved to serve the food, taking plates from the trolleys and placing them in front of us. Another one served water in one of the glasses. I was served first, then the Queen, then Lapia. I wasn''t exactly happy with that, but I wasn''t about to challenge thousands of years of tradition because of my feelings. The plate in front of me was a bit confusing. Three small ''spoons'' made of some sort of bread held a gray paste. It didn''t look as appetizing as the dude had said. The amount was straight up offensive, too. Lapia moved and I glanced her way in the most discrete way I could manage. She took a napkin and opened it, then placed it on her lap. I copied her and noticed the Queen had already done so. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± the Queen did not read the mood and addressed me. ¡°I read on the newspaper that you have quite the skills with art. Your drawing was breathtaking.¡± I nodded, turning to her, ¡°Thank you. You could say I''m a bit of an artist.¡± The Queen gave me a small smile and a respectful nod, ¡°What does Your Excellency think about the art around the palace?¡± ¡°Good,¡± I replied. ¡°Pretty tame in intent.¡± Her eyes widened a little, ¡°I see.¡± She took her glass of water and took a tiny sip. Then slowly took one of the three small bread spoon on her plate. In the corner of my vision, I noticed Lapia do the same. I copied them. I brought the morsel of food into my mouth and took a small bite. The taste of olives, anchovies, coriander, and quite the number of other stuff I don''t have the knowledge to discern tickled my tongue. The Mushrooms weren''t as bad as Lapia said they were. There was no taste of death or smell of raw meat. There was also no sweetness that would indicate nikontia. It was pretty meh. Lapia''s soup is objectively superior. While lowering the rest of the spoon, I noticed the paste grew in volume. Oh? Automatic refill? I was amazed. Cool. I discreetly glanced at the two women, checking if taking small bites was the appropriate thing to do. Their spoons were similar to mine, so I let out an internal sigh of relief. As I continued eating, however, I noticed the taste of the mushrooms became increasingly overpowering. It didn''t get bad, but by the time I finished the first spoon the entire thing was mushrooms. That''s odd, I pondered, looking at the next one. The Queen brought her napkin up and gently cleaned her lips, then turned to me. ¡°What does Your Excellency think art should be?¡± she tilted her head a little, then took another tiny sip of water. Lapia turned to me as well with interest in her eyes. ¡°Art...¡± I cleaned my mouth, imitating the Queen, then took a sip of my glass and swallowed, ¡°should terrify.¡± The Queen blinked a few times then her eyebrows scrunched up a little and her ears twitched once, ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Art should never have an answer. It should always ask questions,¡± I looked into the Queen''s turquoise eyes. ¡°When you look at art, you should feel terrified and uncomfortable so you can experience catharsis. Artists put their souls into art. To look at their creations should be the most frightening thing to do. Only then does art transcend. If you don''t feel like you''re violating a taboo when looking at the canvas, the artist has failed to touch the depths of your heart. And that''s fine since not all art should push this boundary.¡± She took a second to process my words, ¡°And you see a lack of this in the art around the palace?¡± ¡°That''s right,¡± I nodded, moving forward to rest my elbows on the table. ''Wrists'' Lapia sent through the bond. I naturally shifted my movement to rest my wrists on the table. ¡°Hmm... I see,¡± the Queen nodded with a thoughtful expression. The Queen took another spoon and we followed her actions. The amount of mushrooms in my second spoon increased once again by the time I finished it. That time, I noticed a slight shift in the E''er to my right... where Lapia sat. The meal continued in silence, and I was certain something was going on with the mushrooms. It definitely wasn''t an automatic refill as I initially thought, but I couldn''t put my finger on it. I carefully imitated Lapia''s movements when cleaning my mouth, sipping water, resting my arms on the table, and all the little things I had no clue about. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The Tigeas behind us took the plates once we finished and replaced them with flat plates that had an offensively small portion of steamed fish and a yellowish clear sauce on top of what looked like asparagus that went through the desert by how thin they were. I paid close attention to the utensils Lapia picked, choosing one of the many forks and knives in front of me. The Queen was silent for most of it, only complimenting the dish after the first bite. By the time the main dish was served I was growing a little annoyed with the etiquette. I powered through nonetheless, taking the opportunity to learn as much as I could. I realized what the whole mushroom deal was when I brought a mushroom from the plate to my mouth and noticed a new one where I had previously left an open spot. It happened every time I ate a mushroom. Lapia did the same. She was copying me. The woman was shifting her mushrooms to my plate. The event was so imperceptible that I could only applaud the Elf''s mastery of magic if anything. The Fenivis, as I found out, was pheasant or something very similar to it. It definitely was a bird at the very least. Of that I was absolutely sure. The texture was pretty nice, but my tastes are not as refined to accurately review food literally served for a Queen. After finishing that, a criminally small salad was placed in front of me. I once again copied my girlfriend. Much to my surprise, the Tigeas served us red wine and placed cheese on equally small dishes in front of us. The delightful smell of blue cheese tickled my nose and I smiled while eating. Once the salad was done, the cheese was next. I took a whiff of the supposedly three hundred year old wine and had to use all of my willpower to prevent my facial muscles from scrunching in absolute disgust. It had the invasive aroma of rotten wood. And Bromisnar said a thousand year old wine is better? That''s total bullshit. Man''s lost his tongue. I thanked the beings ruling the universe for granting me a resting bitch face. My inner conflict would have evidently shown on my features otherwise. I witnessed acts of bravery to my left and right. Lapia and the Queen took sips from their glasses and gave a small nod each. The things I do to fit, I lamented and took a sip. My eyebrows went up at the gentle taste of... many things. There were a lot of flavors kissing my tongue, and none were bad. Still... nothing beats my Kvass, I concluded after comparing the two. The cheese was nice, regular blue cheese. I was immensely relieved it wasn''t some century old cheese or some insanity along those lines. I wasn''t even sure it''d be cheese after that long. After finishing the cheese, which was admittedly the nicest part of the whole meal, the Queen turned to me. ¡°What does Your Excellency think an artist needs to create a masterpiece?¡± she asked with a smile. I shrugged, ¡°Tragedy if I''m to put it in a single word.¡± She looked down at the table and slowly nodded. I looked up at the chandelier and sighed, ¡°Talent is important, but it eventually burns out. An artist translates their experiences into their medium. That has more impact than anything else in my opinion.¡± Lapia let out a tiny sigh. The Tigeas took the plates away and I noticed another one cutting the big pastry. I bet Alyssa would like to try that one. ¡°Uhm,¡± I turned to the Queen with a shy smile. She perked up and met my eyes, ¡°Yes, Your Excellency?¡± Fuck it, I put my embarrassment aside. ¡°Do you think I could take a piece of the cake? One of my partners really likes pastries.¡± She gave me a wide smile and chuckled, ¡°Naturally, Your Excellency.¡± She turned to one of the Tigeas and gestured to the cake, ¡°Cut a portion for Her Excellency to take with her, Lino.¡± The Tigea in question nodded, ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± I felt my cheeks burn a little, then turned to Lapia for moral support. She had a big smile on her face, making my cheeks burn hotter. I smiled and felt warmth spread in my chest. The Elf took a small fort and I copied her, then ate a bit of the cake. It was surprisingly good. It barely had any sugar, finding the sweetness'' foundation in the many fruits it had. The texture was fluffy in a way I lacked words to describe, and the flavors complemented each other in an explosion of colors that danced in my mouth with the smells of spring. I had to hold a moan back. It was that good. Lapia hummed, ¡°This is sublime.¡± The Queen nodded with a smug smile, ¡°Our Patissier is level eight hundred total,¡± she bragged. ¡°Impressive,¡± I nodded. ¡°Indeed,¡± Lapia agreed. The Tigeas moved again and served us a pinkish wine along with avocado slices. Oh, so these are tericas. Should buy some for myself... I concluded. The dessert wine was pretty mid, as all wines are. I continued my quest of imitating my girlfriend until the very end. The Queen gracefully wiped her mouth and placed the napkin on top of the table. Lapia did the same and so did I. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± the woman turned to me. ¡°Thank you very much for joining me. It has been a pleasure to share a table with you.¡± ¡°The pleasure was mine,¡± I gave her a smile. She chuckled, ¡°Tradition dictates a Halve is to stand up first from the table, Your Excellency. Your status is higher than Royalty.¡± I took a deep breath through my nose, then sighed, ¡°What are we not above?¡± ¡°The Gods,¡± she answered. Lapia nodded, ¡°You are equals.¡± I sighed, ¡°Well,¡± I stood up and nodded, ¡°There.¡± The Queen covered her mouth and laughed, then stood up. Lapia was last, standing up with a smile. ¡°Your Excellency, Lady Lapia,¡± the Queen gave us a respectful nod with a serious face. ¡°I won''t take more of your time. Thank you very much for helping my husband, and I wish you plentiful spoils of war.¡± ¡°I''ll be sure to find a solution, Josalia,¡± I replied with a nod. Her chin trembled a little and gave me a complicated smile. Lapia curtsied, ¡°Thank you for the meal, Your Majesty. Have a fruitful day.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lady Lapia,¡± the Queen smiled. A Tigea walked to me and bowed, offering a small, decorated box, ¡°The portion that was requested, Your Excellency.¡± I took it and stored it, ¡°Thanks.¡± Well, I turned around and placed a hand on Lapia''s back, then left the room. After closing the door, I let out a long sigh. I used the deeply disturbing feat of cleaning my mouth with E''er and winced a little. ¡°You did really good, Natasha!¡± Lapia cheered in a quiet voice, giving me a hug. ¡°I''m so proud of you!¡± ¡°Thanks, Lala,¡± I hugged her back, enjoying the scent of lavender coming from her hair. I separated and smirked, ¡°But I noticed a little something...¡± She gulped and her face turned playfully serious, ¡°Whatever could that be, Natasha dearest?¡± ¡°Oh, merely a little detail, my treasure,¡± I waved a hand. She blushed a little. I closed in and gently poked her ribs, ¡°It seems the kitchen did a little mistake with the food.¡± Her eyes widened a little and her blush spread down her neck and up to her long ears. ¡°Somehow, I got a curiously large portion of mushrooms,¡± I squinted at the Elf. ¡°Outrageous!¡± she shook her head. I brought her close into a hug, ¡°For an eighty year old woman, you do pretty childish things when it comes to food,¡± I teased her, whispering in her ear. ¡°That''s a cute thing to know, Lala.¡± ¡°How...?¡± she whispered. ¡°I''m a Halve, darling,¡± I kissed her cheek. ¡°Most sensitive to E''er and all that, remember?¡± She scowled, ¡°Fuck.¡± 60 - To catch a predator (3) I laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation, then equipped my armor and offered Lapia a hand, ¡°Did you really think I wouldn''t notice?¡± She took my hand and shrugged it off, ¡°Worth a try. I really don''t like those mushrooms.¡± We walked to the right, heading to the side of the palace we hadn''t explored yet. ¡°Do you think the Queen or the servers noticed?¡± I turned to Lapia with a smile. She shook her head, ¡°I made sure to be extra sneaky.¡± I hummed, ¡°So people don''t feel E''er shifting?¡± She raised her eyebrows and looked up at me, ¡°Feel what now?¡± ¡°Like, when someone casts a spell or uses a skill,¡± I explained, lifting a hand and touching my cheekbone. ¡°Their eyes light up and E''er shifts.¡± ¡°Eyes light up?¡± her face turned serious, thinking for a second. ¡°What else do you sense when people cast spells?¡± ¡°Wait a second,¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°You mean to tell me that you don''t see people''s eyes light up when a spell or skill is used?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± she replied, shaking her head. ¡°There is no indication other than the direct product of the spell. A fireball, a circle on the ground, a barrier, etc. Only that.¡± ¡°Huh...¡± I uttered with a nod. ¡°I see people''s eyes light up in different colors.¡± She chuckled, ¡°You''re joking, right?¡± ¡°I don''t see a reason to joke about it, Lapia,¡± I gave her a serious face. Lapia''s eyes flashed red and she waited. ¡°There,¡± I gestured at her eyes. ¡°Your eyes flashed red.¡± Her eyes widened a little, then nodded, ¡°I see. So a Halve''s sensitivity to E''er goes that far.¡± I nodded, ¡°Also, healers'' hands glow a little when they cast healing spells.¡± ¡°Hoooh...¡± she breathed out in thought. ¡°First time hearing about this.¡± ¡°Maybe I can see ultraviolet or infrared, too?¡± I wondered, looking around. Lapia chuckled, ¡°Infrared? Ultraviolet? Did you forget the names?¡± ¡°Hahaha...¡± I laughed, finding human creativity to be bankrupt. ¡°No, that''s how they were called.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she nodded. We took a turn at the end of the hallway, coming onto another hallway. I sniffed the air a couple of times. The smell of stone and food tickled my nose. Lapia continued, ¡°By the names, I assume infrared to be above the visible light spectrum, and ultraviolet below it?¡± I nodded, ¡°No clue.¡± She laughed, ¡°Then why do you nod?¡± I shrugged, ¡°I don''t know. Maybe to not seem completely ignorant?¡± ¡°Understandable. And well... there''s no real way to know if you can see beyond the light spectrum or not. Right now at least,¡± she concluded. ¡°That would be cool,¡± I offered. ¡°I agree,¡± Lapia nodded with a smile. We continued walking and talking about small things like the possibility of seeing ultraviolet lights and what that would entail. It wasn''t really that interesting. The conclusion was a grim world almost devoid of colors. The amount of Royal Guards increased while we approached the eastern wing of the palace at the same rate that paintings became less common on the walls. Some were relaxing in wide rooms, talking to each other and playing card games on stone tables. They didn''t pay too much attention to us and we didn''t disturb their break. We entered another room where a large group of people were playing cards. A few maids and guards were walking between the tables, checking on the players every few seconds. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± a voice called from behind. I turned around and saw a Royal Guard smiling at me. I raised my eyebrows, ¡°Yeah? Something I can help you with?¡± He bowed a little, making his feline ears shake slightly, ¡°I was wondering if I could interest you in a game of Galeian Armory.¡± Galeian what? I blinked a few times, then it came to me. Ah, the card game Nilenna wrote about. I nodded, ¡°Sure, I have the time. I don''t have a deck, however.¡± He smiled widely, ¡°That''s not a problem. I can lend you one.¡± ¡°That''d be nice. Thank you.¡± I replied, looking around the room. ¡°Not a problem. This way, please,¡± he turned around and approached an empty table. I gave Lapia a glance, ¡°Do you mind?¡± ¡°We could use a break,¡± she nodded with a smile. We followed the man and sat down across him on the table. ¡°I didn''t hear your name,¡± I offered a hand. ¡°Vival, Your Excellency,¡± he shook my hand, then coughed once. ¡°I mean, Lady Natasha.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. I smiled, ¡°Nice to meet you, Vival.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he sniffed and cleared his throat, then retrieved two linen bags from his vest''s inside pocket. He looked at me and placed a bag between us on the table, ¡°That''s your deck. Do you know the rules?¡± I shook my head, ¡°I don''t.¡± He chuckled, ¡°It''s very simple.¡± He pulled out the cards from his bag and gestured for me to do the same. I did and placed the cards on the table, then waited for the man to continue. ¡°Galeian Armory is a turn-based card game where the objective is to kill the opponent''s forces and destroy their figurative country,¡± he explained, shuffling his deck. ¡°There are three factions: monsters, people, and Halves. Each deck can only have one Halven card.¡± He picked a card and showed it to me. It had a drawing of a female silver Halve with long hair standing on top of a mountain of dead monsters on it. She wore white armored tights revealing the shape of her figure, and had a bow in her hands whith which she was aiming at the viewer. A flock of birds similar to the one that delivered my letters flew above her head. On top of the drawing it read: Nilenna Atarka, Halven Archer. On the top left corner, a golden circle held the number ten. On the top right corner, a silver sword held the number twenty. Right beneath the drawing, a small box with text had a few lines written. The first line read ''I will find you'', and I felt myself cringe inside. Next was a bit of information about Nilenna, like her birthday and her assumed birthplace. Her face lacked the details to accurately make out her features. ¡°Your deck has His Excellency Miraztor,¡± he gestured at my deck. I took the cards and looked for my kin. The card was pretty neat, it had a golden Halve with medium-lenght hair sitting on top of a pile of rocks and meditating. The top had ''Miraztor Xipnak, Halven Cleric'' written on it. The golden circle held a five, but there was no silver sword. Instead, a white eye held a ten. The little box beneath the drawing had ''Healing body, soul, and mind'' and then his birthplace and birthday. Pretty handsome, I concluded, inspecting his drawn face. He had a strong chin and a sharp jaw. His eyes were closed to I couldn''t see if our eyes were similarly crossed by a horizontal line. The man continued his explanation, ¡°Each deck has 60 cards with fifteen being currency in the form of gold coins. Some have special abilities like being worth double and such,¡± he took a card and showed me the drawing of a pile of gold coins on a table. ¡°You can have a maximum of twety spells in your deck, and, however unrealistically it may sound, you cast them spending gold. It''s a game, it can''t be too realistic.¡± I nodded in understanding. He put the gold down and showed me another card. It was a person with their hands raised at a floating sun above, ¡°Out of the available spells, only five can be tier three. Again, this is a game and balance is important. Tier three spells are rare and add to the overall power of your deck. New players don''t have tier three spells for a while since the cards are quite expensive. You can have a wide variety of spells,¡± he tapped the card he was showing me, ¡°This is Solar Epitaph, the strongest Pyromancer Spell.¡± I turned to Lapia, who had a proud and smug expression. He put the spell down and showed me another card which had a muscly Ork holding a large axe on it, ¡°These are units you can place on the board. You can have a total of twenty units. They have various abilities based on different physical classes like Crusaders, Parriers, Lancers, Assassins, and more. In other words, strong classes. You can have three clerics in your deck for balance''s sake. I will explain why when we come to combat.¡± Holy shit, the game seems pretty complicated. ¡°Now, the units can be either people or monsters. It won''t make much of a difference in the end. Once again, it''s a game so liberties are taken when it comes to balance. For example, I''m sure Nilenna by herself could kill every unit in my deck in a matter of minutes. I bet you can kill them as easily, too.¡± I chuckled. He was probably right. He put the unit down and showed me another card, which had a horned helmet, ¡°Now, the final set of cards are four wildcards. These can be either artifacts that strengthen your units or Halve, a location that changes the conditions of the encounter: for example a corrupt country that charges double and makes your enemies'' units increase in price except for Halves, a place of power that increases your units'' strengths, and more. These wildcards can only be interacted with by the opponent''s Halve. We flip a coin to decide destruction or appropriation. Destruction removes the card from the game and appropriation means the opponent gains control of the wildcard for the rest of the game.¡± I sighed, Why make these obtuse rules? Vival smiled, ¡°So, how about we play a game? I will walk you through the steps.¡± I nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Right, so,¡± he shuffled his deck again. I did the same. He took the top half of my deck and cut it, placing the lower half on top of it. I imitated him. He took his deck and placed it in front of him, ¡°Now, we draw eight cards.¡± I did as suggested. He retrieved a copper coin and placed in on top of his thumb, ¡°Ship or pickax?¡± ¡°Pickax,¡± I replied. He nodded and flipped the coin. The coin fell down on the table and fell on one side. It was ship. I clicked my tongue. Lapia chuckled and pinched my left cheek. ¡°So, at the beginning of every turn we draw a card,¡± he took one from the top of his deck and smirked. ¡°Oh, my.¡± ¡°Go easy on me,¡± I jokingly warned him. He chuckled and we started the game. In the end, I lost but it was a lot of fun. The rules were interesting and the variety of spells and units made for a very colorful experience. I had little knowledge of card games like these so it was fun to learn it. I hoped I could practice and beat the shit out of Nilenna when the time eventually comes. The basics were pretty simple. Draw a card, place a gold card, cast a spell, attack, then if the player has any clerics, heal the units if they received damage. The ''country'' he spoke of was a health pool each player had consisting of one hundred points each. The idea was to kill the units first so the health pool became vulnerable. Vival''s deck was definitely juiced up. He used Nilenna to absolutely decimate my units and health pool. I had no chance with Miraztor. The man could heal three times per turn, but that doesn''t matter if she one-shots every single one of my unit. After my absolute defeat, the man smiled widely, ¡°How about a little bet?¡± I shook my head, pushing the deck in his direction, ¡°I''m not much of a gambler. Thank you for teaching me the rules. It was pretty fun.¡± I stood up and offered him a hand, ¡°Besides, we''ve got business to attend to.¡± He nodded and stood up, shaking my hand, ¡°It was a pleasure teaching you, Lady Natasha. I wish you plentiful spoils of war.¡± I gave him a nod and turned around, then left with Lapia. As we passed the tables, I sniffed the air of the room. Nobody had the smell of Demons so we kept on exploring the palace. After a few minutes I noticed more and more staff like maids, servers, kitchen staff, and such individuals walking the hallways and relaxing in open rooms. The smell of sex increased as well. Maybe we''re approaching the living quarters or something? I wondered, sniffing the air every time someone walked past me. ¡°Have you played cards, Lapia?¡± I asked my girlfriend while we walked. ¡°Not that kind,¡± she shook her head. ¡°I play the one Bonte usually plays. It''s a bit more stimulating than cards with abilities and spells. And as Vival said, the cards are incredibly expensive.¡± We took a turn at the end of a corridor, facing a set of stairs. ¡°Hooh?¡± I nodded, ¡°How mu-¡± The unfathomably delicious smell of Demonic blood made its way into my nose, interrupting my words. It reminded me of a long-forgotten hunger. The smell, however enticing, was pretty thin. ¡°Ahn!¡± a quiet moan escaped me, and my stomach rumbled like thunder. Lapia''s eyes widened in surprise and shock, ¡°Was that your tummy?! Why did you moan?¡± I swallowed the saliva gathering in my mouth, ¡°It was. And I found the scent.¡± The Elf winced, ¡°Oh...¡± 61 - To catch a predator (4) Lapia took hesitant sniffs around and her expression became confused, then turned to me, ¡°I can''t smell anything out of the ordinary, though?¡± ¡°I think that''s good,¡± I nodded, taking a step toward the staircase. ¡°The smell is anything but gentle.¡± ¡°Will you be okay?¡± Lapia placed a hand on my shoulder, ¡°Mentally, I mean.¡± I nodded, ¡°With you next to me, probably yes.¡± She chuckled, ¡°I bet.¡± I smiled and gestured to the staircase, ¡°Let''s go.¡± We walked to it and I took a deep sniff. The smell was coming from the lower floors. A gentle breeze pushed the scent and I got a vague feeling of direction from it. I went down the staircase, following the scent of the Demon and Lapia followed behind me. After descending three floors, we came into yet another hallway. The windows to the left illuminated the space, giving it a clean image in the afternoon hours. I had to constantly swallow my saliva while walking and fight the urge to go on all fours and hunt the Demon like an predator. Snippets of memories from Hell flashed in my mind, increasing my heartbeat slightly. I tightened my hands and jaw, and a low rumble tickled my body. I was excited, thrilled, worried, and a little horny. A smile made its way to my face and the rumble grew in volume. ¡°Natasha,¡± Lapia called out to me. ¡°You''re growling.¡± I stopped breathing and the rumble stopped as well. A chuckle escaped me and I shook my head, ¡°I''m a bit excited.¡± ¡°I didn''t tell you to stop,¡± she replied in a playful voice. ¡°That''s really hot.¡± I could only laugh in return. We continued walking and following the trail. We left the living quarters behind us and approached the kitchens. The smell of food increased in intensity the more we walked. I was thinking of the possible effects a mind Demon could have on the people close to it. I wasn''t told of any unusual behavior other than the King''s so I assumed he was the only victim. Perhaps the nature of sexual behaviors being more accepted in this world prevented others to realize the increase in debauchery if that was the case. Even though I had thought of the Demon as a succubus, I had no real proof that it was the kind I knew of. Perhaps the fact it engaged in sex while in dreams was what made me jump to conclusions. Also, nobody mentioned missing people or the like. The possibility of the Demon being rather passive was another factor I had to consider. I was sure I would have been told if people died or became violent. The evidence was, if anything, rather lacking. To me, Demons are violent creatures that attack anything that moves with reckless abandon. Mindless violence was not present in what I saw, so it confused me a little. The smell, too, was tame compared to what I remembered smelling in Hell. There was a sweetness to it that I was unfamiliar with, and I felt no real sense of danger from my Halven instincts. Other than the King''s injuries, temperament, and mental health, I had no indication that the Demon was violent in the first place. Regardless, I would not hesitate to cull the creature. Sentient or not, it was not something I would take chances with when considering the future. Maybe the King would eventually die and then it would possess another person, spreading fear and uncertainty to the point the Kingdom itself could be at stake due to the internal turmoil of the people governing it. I believe people are free to think however they please. It''s when thoughts become actions that problems arise. The short explanation the King gave me about taxes and the economic system was enough for me to see there was no totalitarian regime or financial abuse of the populace with predatory economic practices. Things were more complex than I initially thought but in a good way. So far I had not seen a single homeless person or beggar in the streets. My experience with Ren Dabrak had not been the best introduction to people with political power since the woman was a little too overbearing with treating me with too much respect. Royalty was different in that aspect, perhaps being in relatively secure power allowed for a closer relationship with my species to the point of allowing the Princess to act like a little shit. Something I honestly appreciated. I stopped in front of a door in the middle of the hallway. The thick smell of food came from behind it, and the Demon scent pointed in that direction as well. Lapia stood behind me. I opened the door and walked past the threshold. The walls and floor we tiled, and steam filled the air with the smell of boiled vegetables and roasted meat. Kitchen tables occupied the room, pots and pans on top of them in burners. A few Tigeas wearing white aprons were cooking, giving me a single glance and then continuing with their work. I walked in and took shallow sniffs while passing next to the cooks. They were drenched with the smell of food, so I moved on. A door at the back of the kitchen led us to a small open space with a tree in the middle. A single Tigea was sitting on a bench next to the tree, smoking a long cigarette and talking to a bird on her shoulder. She had red eyes and the brownish hair of a Shishi. A white apron covered her body, and leather boots wrapped her feet. Her eyes widened and she looked in my direction the moment the door closed. ¡°Shit!¡± she hissed and stood up, then ran away to another door on the opposite side of the patio. I equipped my helmet and appraised the woman, taking advantage of the ''True Sight'' it had. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. [Felyareth, Lvl 900] A bestial growl left my throat and a smile of pure joy split my face. ¡°FOUND YOOOOUUUU!¡± I scream/sang, then leaped at it with all my strength. It threw herself on the floor, making me miss. I crashed into the wall, destroying the stone as if it was a sand castle and rolled into the room. The people inside screamed in surprise, shock, and fear. The room was a bathroom, and naked Tigeas in pools and bathtubs stood up with confused and angry faces. I stood up and turned to the Demon, ignoring the naked people. It was still lying on the ground, arms and legs spread wide open. I waited for it to stand up, but no matter how long it remained on the ground. ¡°Your Excellency?¡± one of the naked Tigeas approached me. ¡°May I asked what is going on?¡± ¡°Halve business,¡± I replied, not looking at him. ¡°Go inside to safety.¡± The man nodded and walked away, saying things to the other naked people. After a few seconds I was left standing alone in the bathroom looking out through the hole in the wall. I clicked my tongue and walked out of the bathroom and towards the Demon. It still didn''t move. [Felyareth, Lvl 900] Still alive, I observed. I flipped it on its back using an armored boot and stared at its face. Terror would be the most accurate word to describe the face I was looking at. I chuckled, ¡°But there''s one they fear. In their tongue I''m HaalVak... Hellwalker! Tatataaan tatataaan~¡± The Demon twitched when I spoke infernal. I placed a foot on top of its chest and looked around for Lapia. The Elf was still standing near the door to the kitchen, staff in hand and ready to cast spells. Her eyes were glued to the Demon under my foot. I glanced at the Demon and pushed my foot down with a little strength, ¡°If you hurt her I''ll eat your body and heal you for as long as I can.¡± Tears came out of the Demons eyes and it gave me a shaky nod. ¡°Good,¡± I turned to Lapia. ¡°You can come closer.¡± She walked over to us and stopped five meters from the Demon, ¡°Natasha... That''s a Tigea.¡± I shook my head, ¡°Use the sunglasses I gave you in Mountroad.¡± She retrieved them and put them on, then looked at the creature. ¡°I see,¡± she whispered. ¡°Why is she not moving? Did you use a skill?¡± ¡°It, Lapia,¡± I corrected her. ¡°Demons are animals, not people. And no, I think that''s an instinctual fear. I didn''t use any skill.¡± She shook her head with a sigh. I looked down at the Demon, ¡°Why do you still look like a Tigea? That''s in bad taste.¡± Its shape shimmered and the form of a Demon was revealed. The clothes were the same, covering most of its body. My foot moved by itself at the increase in chest size, but I pushed down. ¡°Better,¡± I nodded and removed my foot from its chest. I squatted down and stared into its black eyes, ¡°Tell me, Demon. Where do you come from?¡± Its breathing increased and more tears poured out of its eyes, ¡°Hellwaker... p-please. Don''t kill me!¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk,¡± I clicked my tongue in disapproval. ¡°Not what I asked.¡± I retrieved my spear and swung it at its left leg, cutting the limb clean. ¡°Argh!¡± it gasped in pain and shock. Lapia gasped and looked at me with wide eyes, ¡°Natasha! What are you doing?¡± I tilted my head, ¡°Getting information?¡± She sighed, ¡°Yeah, but what if she dies before you can get any information?¡± I chuckled, choosing to ignore the fact she treated it as a person, and pulled a potion from my storage and showed it to her, ¡°It won''t.¡± ¡°Natasha,¡± Lapia spoke in a calm voice. ¡°If you do this, you''ll be no better than the bandits that captured me.¡± That got me quiet for a second. I took a deep, calming breath and focused on the Demon''s bleeding leg. The liquid was a dark red instead of the bright yellow I saw in my dreams. All I saw in front of me was an animal that could only serve for consumption. To be butchered and eaten, or discarded for its inherent lack of value. Below an animal, even. ¡°Lapia,¡± I let out a complicated sigh and looked up at my girlfriend. ¡°I genuinely can''t see this as a person. I don''t want to burden you with the responsibility of pulling me back if I go too far, but I''d appreciate it if you help me avoid committing atrocities.¡± She laughed, ¡°Isn''t that the same? Well, I''ll be happy to help you.¡± I chuckled and nodded, then looked at the Demon. I swallowed my saliva and stood up, dropping the potion on its chest. ¡°Drink that,¡± I gestured at it and stored my weapon. The smell of the Demon''s blood tickled my nose and tempted my senses. My fingers itched to rip the spine off its back and suck the blood dry. To crack its head open and slurp the brain. Ew, I winced in disgust at my thoughts. I''m going to need therapy after that mental image. The Demon grabbed the potion with shaky hands and popped the cork, then drank the liquid. The femur grew first, followed by nerves, blood vessels, muscles and skin. Then the knee, then the calves, and finally the hooves. The other leg laid next to its body, so I grabbed it and stored it. I was going to kill it either way. The Demon took deep breaths and tried calming down. Every time its eyes looked in my general direction, however, it was paralyzed by fear. Hmm... I checked my Hellwalker title. Hellwalker. -Before you woke, as every individual of your species, you went through a trial. You grew powerful in an endless battle in the depths of the umbral planes. To survive, you had to adapt. You know the languages from Hell: Infernal and Abyssal. Lower Demons shall fear you and, as the second Halve to have gone through Hell, Higher Demons refer to you with this title. The trophies you earned this way are in your storage. Memories of that time will return to you with time or as you interact with said trophies. I looked down at the demon and scowled, ¡°You asked me not to kill you. Why should I spare you?¡± The Demon''s eyes widened with a drop of hope and it gulped, ¡°Because I''m not corrupted by the Abyss.¡± 62 - No Sympathy for the Wicked. ¡°Not corrupted by the Abyss?¡± I tilted my head and arched an eyebrow behind my helmet. ¡°Elaborate.¡± It nodded and took a shaky breath. Lapia looked up at me with a scowl, ¡°You''ll have her lay on the ground?¡± Am I the bad person here? I wondered for a second, then bent down and grabbed the demon by the front-most horn on its head and lifted it up. It froze and shook like a leaf in the wind. I clicked my tongue and brought it to the bench it previously sat at, then dropped it on top of it. It weakly nodded, ¡°Please-¡± ¡°Speak,¡± I interrupted. Lapia sighed and walked to my side, facing the Demon. The late day suns bathed us in light, giving the scene an unnaturally beautiful atmosphere. The tree in the middle of the patio granted shade and the leaves had the vibrant glow of recently watered vegetation. The stone ground and walls with large windows surrounding us made for an ideal reading spot. And yet, I was questioning a Demon who was tormenting the King of the nation. Not a relaxing event at all. There was an excitement to it, however. A thrill I couldn''t properly point out. The Demon fixed the apron it was wearing and tightened its claws on the fabric, ¡°Haal, or Hell as people call it, was a thriving world a very long time ago.¡± I rolled my eyes. Lapia nodded. ¡°A great deal of detail went missing due to the events that took place,¡± it explained with a shaky voice that gained confidence the more it spoke. ¡°Our home was made into a prison to house the beings of the Abyss. They were initially held in highly secured containment places. Out of reach and out of sight. My people performed their duty with outstanding results for a long time,¡± it sighed and bit its lips. ¡°Then, The Whispers plunged our world in chaos. Very little is known from that time. The beings of the Abyss corrupted the minds of those in charge of guarding them... which sent them into a feral frenzy. With time, the corruption changed their bodies to an irreversible state. Those free of the corruption had no chance to stand against them. People retreated to the depths of Haal to seek refuge,¡± it looked up at me and gulped, ¡°Then, the Hellwalker showed up. A very long period of dread due to rampant genocide by the hands of a single individual followed. There are uncountable tales about you. It is said that the beings of the Abyss were violently awoken and felled by you. How you survived the corruption is up to speculation.¡± I stared at it for a second, ¡°And how the fuck do you know this?¡± It gulped and blinked a few times, ¡°I was told so by my elders.¡± ¡°Here in Galeia?¡± Lapia asked. The Elf was taking the conversation surprisingly well. I could not imagine talking about different worlds without first having serious doubts. Her adaptability pleasantly surprised me. Maybe telling her I lived in another world loosened her worldview. The Demon shook its head, ¡°No, back home.¡± I scoffed, crossing my arms, ¡°So you come from Hell?¡± It nodded. I sighed in exasperation, ¡°How?¡± ¡°The few free of corruption wanted to leave Haal, so we searched the... barren world you left behind,¡± its chin trembled and looked away, then used a hand to cover its mouth. ¡°We found a way. A most foul way. In our desperation, we paid no concern to consequences. Our world was already dead. Vegetation refused to grow no matter what we tried. In the end we...¡± it took a shaky breath and wiped a few tears flowing down its face, ¡°sacrificed our elders to open gates to other worlds.¡± ¡°And then you got here,¡± I concluded with a nod, not caring about the sacrifices it spoke about. It nodded. I swallowed the saliva in my mouth and took a deep, calming breath. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°I arrived here three hundred years ago...¡± the Demon hesitated for a second. ¡°Time was... blurry in Haal.¡± I looked up to the sky, ¡°You speak of vegetation, is that what your kind eats for sustenance?¡± ¡°Not anymore,¡± its voice sounded pained. ¡°When I entered this world, no amount of food satiated me. My hunger only grew with time. I traveled the land, desperately looking for a solution. One day, I came across a dying person to the far south. They begged for help, but I found myself feeding off their pain and fear. I... got drunk on it back then.¡± I looked down on it, ¡°Were you alone?¡± It shook its head with a sad chuckle, ¡°I learned we were not the first to come here.¡± ¡°Elaborate,¡± I gestured with a hand. ¡°Haal is many times the size of Galeia,¡± it gulped and sighed. ¡°Some must have found a way to open gates long before my clan did. Perhaps during the time you were there.¡± I sighed, ¡°And?¡± ¡°It came to my attention that those who came before us had offspring,¡± its red eyebrows furrowed and a scowl formed on its face. ¡°The energy of this world influenced them with time, replacing the need to feed off emotions and allowed them to become another species of this world. They inherited our shape-shifting capabilities.¡± Lapia gasped, ¡°Changelings?¡± The Demon closed its eyes and more tears flowed accompanied by shoulders shaking, then nodded. I turned to Lapia, ¡°Didn''t Changelings descend from the same creatures as doppelgangers?¡± Lapia nodded with a complicated expression, ¡°That is the accepted theory. The Gods have supported it so nobody questioned it.¡± I groaned, ¡°That means they accepted these creatures at one point.¡± Lapia chew on her cheek for a second, then sighed, ¡°So it would seem.¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. I grabbed the Demon by the horns on its temples and forced it to look at me, ¡°Is the King going to die if you continue tormenting him?¡± Its lips trembled and snot came out of its nose, ¡°No!¡± it whispered with wide eyes. ¡°People with good lives don''t succumb to my feeding.¡± ¡°How many more of you are there?¡± I tightened my hands around the horns, making cracking sounds. It winced but didn''t resist. ¡°No more than a thousand,¡± it replied in pain. ¡°Are you all the same?¡± I questioned, bringing her face closer to my helmet. It sobbed, ¡°No, we aren''t! I left them once I knew what I feed on.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I nodded and let go of the horns. ¡°So, a Felyareth feeds on the mind?¡± It brought both hands to the side of its head and whimpered in pain, then took a shaky breath, ¡°Yes, we induce a state of hypnosis and then directly steal Life Energy. Not enough to result in any kind of loss.¡± I scoffed, ¡°As I see it, the King is losing his mind.¡± It looked down at its hands and tightened the fabric, ¡°But if I don''t do it, I''ll die.¡± ¡°Then die,¡± I declared with no empathy, retrieving my spear. ¡°Why should you be allowed to live if the very concept means the suffering of others?¡± Lapia turned to me, ¡°Natasha-¡± ¡°I won''t compromise, Lapia,¡± I interrupted her, storing my helmet and looking into the Demon''s black eyes. ¡°What''s your name?¡± Its eyes widened to the limit and its mouth opened wide in fear. The light in its eyes slowly faded with the realization it would inevitably die in the following minutes. I hit the ground with the butt of my weapon, ¡°Well?¡± More tears poured down its face. Its lips trembled and its body shook in fear, ¡°P-please!¡± I tightened my jaw and clicked my tongue, then laced my words with venom, ¡°Your very existence brings torment to others.¡± ¡°I didn''t choose to be like this!¡± it cried and pleaded, going down on its knees in front of me and bringing its hands together on its chest. ¡°Hellwalker! You cleansed our world of the corruption that plunged it into chaos. Please! Find mercy in your heart! I''m a victim!¡± I nodded, ¡°May you find a better life after death. State your name.¡± ¡°...Why?¡± it sobbed and hung its head. ¡°This is not fair...¡± ¡°What about Gordon?¡± I retorted, pushing the creature away with an armored foot. Its back hit the bench and it looked up at me in surprise. ¡°What has he done to deserve having his very life sucked out of him?¡± I curled my lips in disgust and glared at the Demon. ¡°To see the horrors you put him through every night? To be on the receiving end of such atrocious actions?¡± ¡°I know my actions can''t be justified!¡± it cried, supporting itself on the bench. ¡°But-!¡± ¡°BUT?!¡± I growled and stomped on the bench, pulverizing the stone. ¡°How dare you?! Are you going to say ''it''s just a dream''?¡± Its breathing became frantic and its face was a mess of tears and snot. ¡°Please!¡± it cried, lifting its arms in front of its face in a defensive gesture. ¡°No,¡± I simply said, shaking my head. ¡°Just... no. I declare your actions as irredeemable. You are a danger to the people of this world. Draining others of their Life Energy clearly results in mental degradation. I will not have that. State your name.¡± Lapia turned her back on the creature and sighed, ¡°Somehow, I''m getting increasingly aroused.¡± I bit my tongue. Not now, Lapia... I sighed in my mind. ¡°Nerissa,¡± the Demon whispered and closed its eyes. ¡°My name is Nerissa.¡± ¡°Well, Nerissa,¡± I took aim with my spear and spoke infernal, ¡°Farewell,¡± then pierced its chest with a single stab. The creature went limp and a copious amount of blood flowed from the wound. I pulled my weapon back and brought the blade close to my face, then sniffed it. The smell was indeed sweet. Nothing like the putrid fragrance from my memories. I stared at the dead thing for a while. The talk about corruption made sense since Elena lost her mind and memories. That would fit with the relentless violence of corrupted Demons. If the effects of Abyssal could be influenced by the intent of the speaker, then a variety of options were available if the circumstances led me to mind-break people. I would do so only as a last resort since the first and only experience resulted in substantial loss of information. While I''m willing to use it, understanding is required. The Demon itself was not corrupted just as it said. It''s actions, however, meant her death. Justice, as I had seen in this world, wouldn''t have done as I did. Imprisonment would be the just solution. To isolate it or chain it in a dark place. Probably in the Endless Pit or a far away place. That would not satisfy me. Again, I do not strive for justice. Gordon''s mental health would steadily decline if the Demon was left in the palace. Relocating it would simply mean the King, and only him and Royalty, would be free of the Demon''s influence. It could go for another person, or not. That was a risk I would simply not take. The E''er from the creature flowed into me and I absorbed it. My body grew hot, and a wave of pleasure washed my senses. Then, a feeling similar to holding back a sneeze took root in my core. I relaxed and let the feeling run its course. A soft pop similar to cracking my neck after a long day of drawing doused me with satisfaction: Like a fruitful day of productive work. After it vanished, I felt marginally stronger than before so I checked my information. Natasha Novak Forest Halve Class(es) -Hoplite Lvl 451 (Open Skills) -Lancer Lvl 450 (Open Skills) -Dragoon Lvl 450 (Open Skills) Status -STR: 5404 (+750) -CON: 2702 (+750) -INT: 675 (+250) -WIS: 675 (+250) -DEX: 4053 (+750) Health: 54040/54040 Stamina: 13495/13510 E¡¯er: 13500/13500 Well, well, well. I leveled up, I nodded with a smile. Also, I learned valuable information today, I concluded, looking back at what the Demon said about Hell. ¡°Natasha...¡± Lapia called to me. I returned to reality and faced my girlfriend, ¡°Yes, Lapia?¡± Her eyes squinted a little at the corpse on the ground, ¡°Did you feel a... wavelength of sorts when talking to the Demon?¡± I recalled the short encounter and shook my head, ¡°Nothing like that. Why?¡± ¡°The... aroused comment that slipped,¡± she tilted her head. ¡°I didn''t mean to say that out loud.¡± I gestured at the dead thing, ¡°Could that be some sort of aura?¡± She bit her lips, ¡°I''ll talk about it with Alyssa when we get back. She''s the expert on the Laws of Life.¡± I nodded, then squatted down and placed a hand on the Demon''s torso. With a ''pulling'' thought the corpse went into my storage. ¡°Now to let the King know,¡± I sighed, standing up. ¡°Natasha... I do not want this to come across as me being angry, but I need to say this,¡± she placed a hand on my shoulder with a serious face. ¡°Don''t ever torture someone in my presence. Whether you see a person in front of you or not, simply do not. That''s my bottom line.¡± I nodded, ¡°Got it. I''ll do better in the future.¡± She smirked and gave me a wink, ¡°I bet.¡± "Also," I smiled with all the smug I could muster. "I leveled up." The Elf''s eyes widened with an impressed expression. "You''re right! Finally!" 63 - Lifes constants. ¡°About time!¡± I shook my head. ¡°I''ve killed more monsters than I can count.¡± Lapia nodded, ¡°True. That''s just how it works, unfortunately. You needed a large amount of E''er.¡± I sighed, ¡°Yeah. Let''s go back inside.¡± Lapia used fire magic to burn the blood off the ground, then we left the patio. Back inside the palace, we walked in silence towards the room where the King was resting. After turning a corner, Lapia sighed and spoke up. ¡°You know... I don''t mean to impose my values on you.¡± I turned to her with a fair amount of confusion, ¡°Where is this coming from?¡± ¡°The torture thing,¡± she shrugged. ¡°Ah,¡± I nodded. ¡°Not a problem. Freedom of thought and all that.¡± ¡°I had figured being with you meant that at some point I''d see you going about the task of protecting,¡± she bit her lips. ¡°But I didn''t know it''d be so...¡± she struggled to find the words. Her voice tickled my ears and I listened with religious attention. ¡°Uncompromising?¡± I offered. She slowly nodded with a pensive expression. ¡°Lapia, how true do you think the Demon''s claim was about Changelings?¡± She shrugged, ¡°Dubious at best. And well... it wouldn''t change anything in my eyes.¡± I hummed, ¡°I haven''t seen one yet, what do they look like?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± she sounded a little confused. ¡°They''re Changelings... they can change their appearance. Maybe you saw a few already?¡± I shrugged, ¡°Maybe. Don''t you think it''s ironic that the people who allegedly mind controlled Elena were Changelings, supposedly descendants of Demons... whose world was ruined due to a form of mind control?¡± Lapia exhaled through her nose, ¡°That''d be tragic, if true.¡± ¡°Poetic, in a way,¡± I chuckled. She nodded, ¡°In a very morbid way.¡± I stared at her and slowed down until I stopped. She turned around and raised an eyebrow at me. Her almond-shaped, emerald green eyes inspected my face for a few seconds. Her lips glistened a little, and I found myself lost in her beauty. I stored my gauntlets along with the leather gloves and closed into her with a step. I gently took her face in my hands and caressed her cheeks. ¡°What?¡± she gave me a warm smile. I licked my lips and she imitated me. My chest warmed up and my loins tickled. A smile split my lips and I giggled. She raised both eyebrows, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You''re beautiful, Lapia,¡± I whispered, running a thumb over her left eyebrow. She closed her left eye and blushed. ¡°Thank you,¡± she smiled and giggled. ¡°You''re all over the place. What''s on your mind?¡± I let out a hot sigh and kissed her. She reciprocated and we shared a smooch on the hallway. I separated first and smiled, ¡°Nothing. Just showering you with love.¡± Lapia nodded and laughed, ¡°You know... I''m really horny right now. I don''t know what happened but after we met the Demon I''ve been growing increasingly horny.¡± ¡°Hooh?¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°A quicky in a room somewhere?¡± Her eyes widened and she playfully pushed me away, then hissed, ¡°Natasha! This is the Royal Palace. Besides, I''m a functioning adult. I can hold out until tonight.¡± ¡°Royal Palace?¡± I giggled. ¡°That sounds like a poor excuse you pulled out of your ass.¡± She smirked. Oh, no, I lamented my choice of words. She slowly said, ¡°The only thing I can fit in my ass... is your fat cock.¡± My face burned and I bit my lips. ¡°This is the Royal Palace!¡± I imitated her tone. Her eyes widened in mock offense, ¡°You dare use my own words against me?!¡± she brought a hand to her chest and pulled a pained expression. ¡°The hurt of betrayal!¡± I swallowed and retorted, ¡°The only pain you''ll feel is my cock stretching your ass.¡± After the words left my mouth my face burned with the strength of a thousand suns along a large serving of cringe. Lapia''s eyes widened and a huge smile spread on her face, ¡°That was really good. Your dirty jokes are improving.¡± I shrugged and tried another, ¡°In the end we both know who the butt of the joke will be.¡± ¡°HAHAHA!¡± she hugged her stomach and leaned back. I placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a hug, then laughed with her. ¡°That''d be a point for me,¡± I concluded, kissing her cheeks. She giggled and nodded, ¡°Without a doubt.¡±
After walking for a while we arrived at the corridor where our destination was. The Royal Guard was watching over the door and bowed to us when we approached. I knocked on the door and opened it. I should have waited for a reply. The room was empty save for Gordon and Josalia. Fully naked on the bed. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! My eyes widened at the sight of the Queen''s head between the King''s legs, giving him more than emotional support. His turquoise eyes met mine and his white feline ears stood at attention. ¡°Sorry!¡± I yelped and closed the door. I gripped the handle too tightly, resulting in the thing coming off the door. ¡°Shit!¡± I hissed and stuck my index finger on the hole, keeping the door shut. Lapia''s eyes were as wide as they could be. One of the Royal Guards turned to me with panic in her eyes, ¡°Are Their Majesties alright?¡± ¡°Oh, more than alright,¡± Lapia replied, holding back laughter. ¡°Please wait a minute!¡± the Queen called from inside the room. Silence followed while we waited. Lapia''s shoulders shook with mirth. I was fighting a battle inside me. They don''t shame sex. They don''t shame sex. They don''t shame sex, I chanted in my mind, reminding myself of the openness this world had in regards to sexual behaviors. I felt a pull from the other side of the door but didn''t budge due to my strength. ¡°Your Excellency, please let go of the door,¡± the Queen requested with an amused voice. I freed my fingers and took a step back, ¡°Done.¡± The door opened and the Queen gave us a smile, ¡°Apologies for the delay.¡± I shook my head, ¡°No, no. Apologies for the interruption.¡± The Queen laughed and took a step aside, ¡°Please, come in.¡± I sighed and entered the room followed by Lapia. The Queen closed the door and I felt the E''er in the room shift. She walked to the bed and sat next to the King. Gordon was blushing and his ears were pressed against his head, ¡°Natasha... You timing was...¡± he fought a smile. ¡°Excellent.¡± Lapia choked on laughter, and the Queen covered her mouth. Not word plays on my title, please! I sighed in my mind. I cleared my throat, ¡°Well, I''m glad to see you''re a loving couple.¡± The Queen nodded with a proud smile and the King let out an amused chuckle. ¡°Anyway,¡± I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°Serious talk now.¡± The joy left their faces and they nodded with serious faces. ¡°I succeeded in finding the Demon,¡± I dropped the bomb. ¡°It was passing as kitchen staff.¡± The Queen''s eyes squinted at my words and her ears twitched once, ¡°Was?¡± I nodded, ¡°I killed it.¡± ''That...¡± the King began, then his voice turned complicated, ¡°was faster than I had hoped.¡± I tapped my nose and gave him a wink. The Queen stood up and rushed to me, then wrapped me in a tight hug. Her shoulders trembled and she fought back tears. ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency!¡± she sobbed. ¡°Thank you so much!¡± I patted her back and nodded. ¡°I would hug you as well,¡± Gordon gave me a tight smile. ¡°But I''m naked below the waist.¡± I bit my lips and looked up at the ceiling of the room, then shook my head. ¡°Get your ass here!¡± the Queen hissed at him. ¡°She just saved your life!¡± ¡°Fine...¡± he grumbled and wrapped the bed sheet around his body. He stood from the bed and walked to a side table where he picked a thin ring. He put it on his index finger and then dropped the bed covers. Fortunately he had put wearing a pair of loose pants on, so his kitty didn''t greet the world. The man made his way over to me and patted my shoulder, ¡°You have my gratitude.¡± ¡°Well, aren''t you a bit cold now?¡± I joked with a broad smile. ¡°Anyway, do you want to see the corpse? To confirm the kill or something?¡± He looked down and gulped, ¡°If at all possible, please.¡± The Queen let me go and took a few steps back, then wiped a few tears off her face. Yep, I was definitely too harsh on her, I concluded. Lapia walked behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head to her. She gave me a wink. Extending a hand, I let the corpse of the Demon fall on the ground from my storage. The King winced and looked away, then nodded. ¡°My,¡± the Queen stared at it with inspecting eyes. ¡°So this is a Demon?¡± I nodded, ¡°A Felyareth.¡± She scoffed, ¡°Foul creature.¡± I crouched and stored the corpse, then looked up at Gordon, ¡°I was thinking I could spend the night here. Just to make sure.¡± The Queen gestured for me to stop, ¡°Please, stand up.¡± I sighed and straightened up, ¡°What do you think about that?¡± Gordon nodded and walked back to the bed, where he sat down, ¡°Do you think there''s another one?¡± I shrugged, ¡°It said it was alone, but I don''t trust its words one bit.¡± The two rulers nodded. ¡°By the way,¡± I began, walking to a chair and sitting on it. ¡°Can you tell me what is known about Demons?¡± The Queen shrugged, ¡°They originate from Hell, are part of the Cursed Ones, and not much else.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I nodded. ¡°Pretty lacking.¡± ¡°They don''t show up very often, and are usually dealt with quickly and without a trace,¡± Gordon supplied. ¡°Not even their forms are known, as you might already have guessed.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± I rubbed my chin, thinking of writing up an encyclopedia of Demons. I didn''t know their names so it''d be a bit useless in that aspect. My drawing skills would be immensely helpful when drawing them and giving them shape so that people could recognize them easily. The Queen approached and stopped in front me, ¡°Your Excellency. You have helped us in a way I cannot thank enough. If there''s anything you wish, I''d be more than happy to fulfill it to the best of my abilities.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° 64 - Its a Cats World. The couple bickered back and forth, teasing and taunting each other. ¡°Ahem,¡± I cleared my throat, getting their attention. ¡°I''ll leave you two alone now. While I killed the Demon, the possibility of another or more being around is still very real.¡± The King nodded with a wince, ¡°That is correct.¡± The Queen sighed. ¡°I''ll walk around the palace for a few hours to check and then spend the night here if you don''t mind,¡± I offered. ¡°You''re more than welcome to stay,¡± the Queen gave me a smile. ¡°If I may ask, where could we find you if needed?¡± I thought for as second and replied, ¡°If I don''t find anything, I''ll be outside in the gardens.¡± The two rulers shared a look and chuckled. ¡°I hope they make for good company,¡± the King gave me a mysterious smile. I raised an eyebrow at that, ¡°Okay?¡± Then walked backwards to the door but stopped, ¡°Ah. By the way, I broke a wall and a bench. Nobody got injured.¡± They nodded with impressed expressions. ¡°Less damage than what we accounted for, to be honest,¡± Gordon chuckled. ¡°Indeed,¡± Josalia agreed. ¡°We even considered the destruction of half the palace at best, and the entirety of it at worst.¡± I waited for them to say sike, but that didn''t happen. A sigh escaped me and I turned to the door, ¡°Well, see you later.¡± Lapia bowed and said her farewells, and the rulers responded accordingly. Once outside, we walked off to yet another unexplored side of the palace in search of any hint at another Demon. We came across a library which I had access to thanks to my species but decided to not go into, a full-blown theater with five stories of seats in rows and a huge stage, several ballrooms of different sizes, more kitchens than strictly necessary, and a lot of people walking around the palace. By the time one of the two suns hid behind the horizon and the day''s last lights were being replaced by the many chandeliers inside the palace, we had explored the entire building. At least places where a Demon could have walked through. For example, we didn''t go to the Throne room since the corridor leading to it had not scent of Demons. In the end, I didn''t catch the scent of another one. I came across a trail that led us back to the kitchens and the living quarters we had gone through earlier, but no new scent. Thus, we went outside. The world was painted by the orange light of the sunset coming from one sun, and the light pink light of the other, making the clouds in the sky a breathtaking image. The place came out to was a garden at the back of the palace with a decently wide flowerbed. An uncountable amount of different flowers of different colors, sizes, and smells were spread in front of us. Statues and fountains filled the spaces that had no flora and meticulously trimmed bushes lined the paths. I looked around while the two of us walked, taking the scene in. I turned to Lapia walking next to me and stopped at the sight. Behind her, a bed of carnations and camellias outlined her body from my point of view which made for an incredible sight. I retrieved a sketchbook from my storage and a pencil, ¡°Wait, Lapia. Stop for a second.¡± The Elf halted and turned to me, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°A once-in-a-lifetime event is happening before my eyes and I want to capture it,¡± I explained while looking at what was in front of me. ¡°Stand still for a few minutes, please.¡± She turned to the flowerbed and chuckled, then looked back at me and gave me a nod, ¡°I see. Sure, do your thing.¡± ¡°Okay, pose like this.¡± I touched my chin and looked up to the sky. ¡°Alright,¡± she nodded and followed my instructions. I took extra time to make sure I captured every single detail. My soul cried at the lack of colored pencils and swore to buy the most high quality materials I could when visiting the market. Adding some small notes for future me to add colors, I finished the drawing. ¡°Okay,¡± I nodded with satisfaction at the finished product, then showed it to my girlfriend, ¡°Here, look.¡± She took the sketchbook and gasped. Her eyes widened and her cheeks blushed, ¡°Damn, you were serious about touching the heart of the audience with art.¡± I nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± We both giggled, enjoying the moment. A meow came from a thick bush to the right, making us turn. From between the leaves, a lithe cat emerged. Its fur was brown with white stripes, its legs were black from the first joint down, and its tail was gray. Its ears were tall and pointy with hairy tips. Eyes like ice looked into my own. It looked like a lynx similar to the ones depicted in the church''s stained windows. [Ancestral Animal ¨C Tigir, Lvl 553] After appraising the cat, a few things clicked. Alastor''s comment of ''They''ll come out soon'', the King hoping for ''them'' to be good company, and Lapia''s statement that some countries took care of their ancestors made sense at that point. Still... to put water bottles on the fence around the palace should have been enough of a clue. The cat sat and gave me a nod. Please, don''t start talking, I begged in my mind. The talking bird had been surprise enough. If cats talked as well, I''d go insane. It meowed and stood up, then walked towards us. A sigh of relief left my being and I looked away from the cat. I''m not a fan of them. They are too eccentric for my taste. More meows followed and a pack of six cats showed up. ¡°Shoo!¡± I waved the closest one away with a hand. ¡°Go elsewhere! I don''t have catnip!¡± Lapia turned to me with an amused smile, ¡°They don''t understand you, you know?¡± I clicked my tongue and ignored the cats, then took Lapia''s hand and walked away from them. Unfortunately, the cats followed. The meows, purrs, chitters and more echoed in the garden as more and more showed up from who knows where. Some came out of bushes, others climbed down the few trees around, and others just showed up from behind statues. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. We arrived at a small paved area with a fountain and sat down on a bench facing the structure. ¡°What''s catnip?¡± Lapia tilted her head. ¡°Something cats liked very much in my previous world,¡± I explained with a wince. Earth wasn''t a topic of much interest to me. ¡°I think it was like a drug or something to them.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she nodded. I looked around at the army of cats that approached, ¡°What are they doing?¡± Lapia shrugged, ¡°No clue.¡± One of them, a black cat that reminded me of Lady Dabrak, approached me and jumped to the spot next to me on the bench, then stared into my eyes like a psychopath. I pointed at it with a finger, ¡°Do all felines on Galeia descend from these?¡± ¡°No. Only Tigea,¡± Lapia replied. The cat put a paw on top of my pointing hand, then meowed at me. ¡°I see,¡± I pulled my hand back and raised an eyebrow at it. ¡°So Untu and other felines don''t share a common ancestor?¡± ¡°Some do,¡± Lapia replied. ¡°The four races of Tigea come from the animals in front of us. Lumin Kingdom is one of two Tigea countries, and both house ancestral animals.¡± I nodded and distanced myself from the cat, ¡°What about Elves?¡± She chuckled, ¡°Elmari Elves have Uuruhk, we Domi Elves have Maaruhk, and Faeton Elves have Akuuhk. Ancestral Foxes went extinct a long time ago.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I tilted my head, ¡°What about Tulmi Elves?¡± She let out a heavy sigh, ¡°They chose to remain tribal so they live in the depths of the Cradle of Life.¡± ¡°Hooh?¡± I was a little surprised. ¡°That sound-¡± A new cat jumped up to my shoulder, where it sat down as if it was its house. I took a deep breath and turned to Lapia, ¡°Do you happen to carry a cucumber with you?¡± She arched an eyebrow, ¡°No, why?¡± I clicked my tongue, ¡°Felines are instinctively afraid of cucumbers. They run away from them like someone would from death. If I throw one to the ground, these annoying animals would go away.¡± She bit her lips and fought back laughter, ¡°Natasha... these animals are as important as the Royal Family. I don''t think it''s a good idea to scare them like that.¡± The cat put a paw on my head and began licking my hair. ¡°Okay,¡± I reached for its neck and gently pinched the skin behind it, then lifted it off of me and brought it forward. It stopped moving. ¡°Heh,¡± I smirked. ¡°Works wonders.¡± I put the cat on the ground and patted its rear so it would run off. ¡°Shoo!¡± It sat down and stared at me. I stared back and sighed, ¡°I forgot what I was going to say. Ah! What do the names of the Elven countries mean?¡± Lapia hummed, ¡°Uuruhk means High Land since its on a flat, tall hill. Maaruhk means Low Land since it''s next to the sea. Akuuhk means Sky Land since it''s a group of floating islands to the south.¡± I nodded. So ''uhk'' does mean land, go me. A pair of cats jogged to me and climbed up my legs and sat on my lap. ¡°Nooo!¡± I groaned and put them down, then turned to my girlfriend, ¡°I think geography could have been a better starting point for the learning program.¡± Lapia stifled a laugh and shook her head, ¡°I disagree. If I tell you of floating islands first you''d be confused. You need to understand how things work before I tell you what is out there.¡± I nodded in understanding. If she told me of Luzo that could swim in lava it''d be pretty damn hard to believe. More cats approached me and I let out an annoyed sigh, ¡°What''s the deal with these animals?¡± Lapia laughed, ¡°Maybe they recognize your species?¡± One of them climbed on my lap and meowed at me. I picked it up and stared into its eyes, ¡°You mean like ''Hey, Alek! This is one of those who made sure we could become people back in the day. Let''s annoy the shit out of her!'' then another replies with ''Oh, yeah! That sounds like a purrrfect plan! You''re a genius, Feliks'' or something?¡± The cat put a paw over my mouth. You little shit, I scowled at it. ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± Lapia bent over and wheezed. I noticed the cats didn''t approach her. Instead, they were all looking at me as if I was a catnip plant. I''m sure this would be heaven for a cat lover, I lamented my circumstances. Lapia recuperated enough to formulate sentences, ¡°Why did you give them names? And what''s with the high pitched voices?¡± I shrugged and put the cat down. At that point, some fifty or sixty cats had gathered and were staring at me. I felt a creepy vibe run up my back. Footsteps from behind the fountain made the cats run towards me like a horde of possessed creatures. Their meows and hisses grew in volume behind me, where they chose to hide for some reason. A dandy, worn looking Tigea appeared from behind the fountain. He was wearing tight-fitting leather clothes and was carrying a long stick. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed me and Lapia, then sighed at the sight of the army of cats behind me. He looked to be around sixty years old by the wrinkles on his face. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± he curtsied and approached us, then gave Lapia a respectful nod, ¡°Lady.¡± ¡°Hello,¡± I gave him a nod. Lapia was still fighting for her life with the laughter so she simply waved at him. The Tigea gave me a full-body look and nodded, ¡°So you were the reason they rushed here. Makes sense.¡± I tilted my head in confusion, then appraised him. [Shishi Tigea, Lvl 382 Custodian] Holy fuck! I screamed in my mind and raised my eyebrows. What even is that class? Which path does it even follow? Cleric? Warrior? Scout? He looked at the cats and clapped twice, ¡°Alright, you lot! Let''s get back. Don''t bother other people.¡± The cats hissed and yowled at him. ¡°Don''t give me that,¡± he warned them. ¡°Come now, let''s go.¡± The animals slowly walked to him, yowling and hissing. ¡°You take care of them?¡± I gestured at the cats. He nodded, ¡°That, I do. Best job in the world, if you ask me.¡± ¡°I don''t know about that,¡± I chuckled and gave him a nod. ¡°You''re pretty high in levels.¡± ¡°Not as high as you, I''m not,¡± he smirked. ¡°May I ask your age?¡± Lapia joined the conversation. ¡°One thousand, six hundred and thirty two,¡± he replied with a straight face. ¡°Caretaker of Ancestors for the last eight hundred years. Andr¨¦ Lavigne at your service.¡± The thick crack on my sense of reality widened at his words. ¡°Impressive,¡± was all I could say. ¡°I appreciate the compliment,¡± he whistled and turned around. ¡°Was nice meeting you. Have a great day.¡± ¡°Same,¡± I replied and leaned back on the bench. ¡°This is the first time I meet the caretaker of any ancestral animal,¡± Lapia said in a quiet voice. ¡°That was impressive. I couldn''t see his level.¡± I turned to her, ¡°Is it okay if people talk about others'' levels?¡± She nodded, ¡°It''s public already, so yeah.¡± ¡°He was three hundred and eighty two,¡± I nodded, looking at the man guiding the army of cats. ¡°That''s... really high for a Caretaker,¡± Lapia sounded amazed. ¡°Makes sense with his age.¡± I hummed, ¡°It does.¡± A different set of footsteps came from where we had arrived. A butler-looking fellow showed up from behind some trees blocking view of the path, then approached us. He bowed and spoke, ¡°I was sent by Their Majesties to inform Your Excellency of the room that has been prepared for the night.¡± He straightened up and gave me a polite smile, ¡°I can show the way if that is welcomed.¡± I turned to Lapia, ¡°Do you want to go inside?¡± She nodded, ¡°Sure. It''s getting late anyway.¡± We stood up and I gave the butler a smile, ¡°Alright. Leade the way, please.¡± 65 - Internalized Apotheosis We followed the man through the palace and up to the top floor. After turning on an empty hallway, we stopped in front of an excessively decorated set of double doors. One side was gold and the other was silver. A beautiful H was carved at the center with a golden half on the silver door, and a silver half on the golden door. It was the exact same symbol that was stamped on the letters Nilenna and Miraztor wrote me, as well as Elena''s proof of ownership of Halven items. Pretty on the nose, I observed. So they have a special room for my species? Talk about preferential treatment. The man stood next to the door and bowed, ¡°Your Excellency. I sincerely hope the room is up to standards. There is an enchantment that requires five hundred E''er to open. This is a safety measure of sorts to prevent interruption and unwanted visitors.¡± Don''t almost everyone past level five hundred total have... I see, I stared at him for a second before letting out a sigh, then placed my hands on the doors and injected the required amount of E''er. I heard a click and the doors opened. The interior was too lavish for my humble self. The amount of golden and silver decorations were a little much in my opinion. The man straightened up and continued, ¡°Dinner will be served in around an hour. Does Your Excellency prefer to attend with Their Majesties or have someone deliver it here?¡± ¡°Here, please,¡± I replied instantly. Having lunch with the Queen had been too exhausting on my mind. I wanted a relaxed dinner if I was given the choice. He nodded, ¡°Very well. I shall inform the staff.¡± He bowed again, ¡°Have a pleasant night, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Same to you,¡± I replied and walked into the room. Lapia curtsied to the man and said her farewells, then walked into the room after me. I closed the door and let out a very long sigh, then stored my armor and changed to a comfy hoodie with sweatpants. Lapia chuckled, ¡°It''ll be like this every time you meet Royalty.¡± I sighed, ¡°Yeah, fuck-¡± ¡°Wait,¡± she interrupted me with a cheeky smirk. ¡°Activate the sound-proof enchantment. It''s your room after all.¡± I bit my tongue and focused on the walls of the room, then expelled a hundred points of E''er while thinking of silence. The E''er in the room shifted and I felt the annoying feedback in the form of a tingle in my ears. ¡°Fuck that,¡± I shook my head and walked to a silver table, then sat down and rubbed my face. ¡°I understand where it comes from but I can''t help but be put off by it.¡± Lapia giggled and sat next to me on the table, ¡°That''s your new reality. Take your time to get used to it.¡± I looked at my girlfriend and felt a little concern grow inside me. I knew she didn''t see me as a being to worship and admire but the thought remained. She produced a thin book and began writing things down. I pushed my weird newfound insecurity aside and went for the healthy approach. That is, to talk about it. ¡°Do you see me as a higher being as well?¡± I asked, crossing my arms in front of my chest. She looked up at me and arched an eyebrow, ¡°I have a very good dirty joke as a response.¡± She smiled and continued, ¡°I don''t see you like that. There are many views on Halves, and mine is that you are a normal person that has a more concrete purpose in life than the rest of us.¡± ¡°How come you think like that?¡± I reached back to my hair and undid the braid. She scowled, ¡°I taught Desseyr. I can''t see Halves as higher beings after that. Don''t get me wrong, you are by definition but that part of my life opened my eyes to the fact some just aren''t that clever at first. I don''t mean to say he''s an idiot but it was like teaching a child.¡± She let out a sigh and furrowed her brows, ¡°I''m just glad he learned enough to function as an adult.¡± ¡°So your understanding changed because of that meeting?¡± I summarized, trying to understand better. "Does that happen often?" She nodded, ¡°But it''s not like that for everyone. You could say that the most notorious difference is between those who have met a Halve and those who haven''t. Meeting one has three probable outcomes.¡± She raised a hand and extended a finger, ¡°Those that see how necessary your species is and end up worshiping you. They bow and show their respect with preferential treatment and such. Most Royalties belong here. They carry the name of a Halve and make sure to never forget the one who permitted their country to be founded. It was Lumin Dakor for Lumin Kingdom.¡± I leaned back on the chair. While I didn''t expect and impromptu lesson of social studies, I listened with utmost interest. She extended another finger, ¡°Next is those that understand that you are not that different from a normal person from a interperstonal perspective. They are usually friendly or apathetic but treat you no different than they would a stranger. You could say I stand here. Since we are free of the burden of seeing you as a being above us, it''s possible for friendship and love to bloom. We can stand as equals in our interactions and daily life and grow together as people. There are also others who don''t really care about it that much simply because it''s none of their business and they will never be involved with you, so they don''t give it much attention. The coach driver that took us across Riverfield that one time won''t go back home and sing praises. Most likely they will go on with their day while being polite.¡± ¡°Mmm...¡± I rubbed my chin in thought. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. She extended yet another finger, ¡°Finally, those that fail to see the need of having Halves around. Maybe they were on the receiving end of a Halve''s task and developed a rejection to your species because of this. My theory is that the group that is ''hunting'' you belongs here but I don''t have any evidence to back it up. Those that suffer ''injustice'' or ''unfairness'' as result of their own actions usually spin the narrative to look like victims and blame Halves.¡± ¡°Ah, yeah,¡± I nodded. ¡°I read a book about us being the ''true tyrants'' or some nonsense.¡± Lapia winced, ¡°The Halven Fallacy?¡± I tilted my head, ¡°Pokora mentioned people read it at school. What do you think about it?¡± ¡°Yeeeaaah,¡± she sighed. ¡°It''s pretty much a tantrum. Besides, it''s extremely old. Those were different times.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± I nodded. ¡°How about people who never meet Halves? Would that be more of a word of mouth perspective?¡± ¡°Pretty much, yeah,¡± she nodded and leaned on the table with a warm smile. ¡°Alyssa had never met one before you, for example. Her education coming from the Church may be a large influence in her view. Yolin is similar, but she''s drawn by the potential fun she may have with you rather than anything else as we''ve clearly seen.¡± I chuckled, ¡°Yeah. Yolin is pretty chill.¡± ¡°So yeah,¡± she shrugged. ¡°There are many views regarding your species. When you take history into consideration you can find the reason as to why. After Filestra banned war, your species became widely popular.¡± I scoffed, ¡°With good reason. War is shit.¡± I reached for her head and caressed her hair, ¡°You know a lot, Lapia. Thank you for explaining things to me.¡± She smirked, ¡°That''s the responsibility of the one who took your virginity.¡± I rolled my eyes and ruffled her hair, ¡°You cheeky Elf.¡± She laughed and straightened up, then went back to writing on the notebook. I looked at her. Her green eyes went over the paper after the quill. How she bit her lips when she thought every once in a while. Her head bobbing when she came across something in her mind and her pinkish lips formed a smile before writing more. Her long ears twitched every so often and her delicate fingers fixed locks of hair behind them. Despite being so absorbed on her writing, she glanced my way a few times and gave me a warm smile that pulled at my heartstrings. The woman was a well of knowledge and had the patience to teach me things children probably already knew. She had the skills to make sure I understood things and knew of ways to keep me from growing frustrated when I didn''t understand how E''er worked. Her fangs peeked between her lips every time she took a breath or a smile formed on her face and I found myself staring at her while my heartbeat picked speed at the same time as a calming feeling made me feel like I was wrapped in a warm blanket during winter. Her dirty jokes added to her character which I found to be incredibly attractive. Love is an amazing feeling. It''s incredible when one shares it with a single person. Words fall short when one shares it with multiple. Slowly, a feeling of dread overcame me as I remembered something. ¡°Lapia!¡± I exclaimed, covering my mouth. She whipped her head in my direction with wide eyes, ¡°What?! Do you feel a threat or something?¡± I stood up and covered my face with both hands, ¡°We didn''t tell the others we''d be spending the night at the palace!¡± She brought a hand to her forehead and sighed, ¡°You scared me, woman!¡± I groaned, ¡°Alyssa''s going to worry!¡± She brought her hand down and her eyes relaxed. She gave me a nod and held her chin, ¡°Okay. You''ll send staying and I''ll send overnight through the bond to Alyssa. Then, I''ll send Royal and you send Palace to Yolin. How does that sound?¡± I nodded in relief, ¡°Sounds perfect. Let''s send it right away.¡± ''Stayin'', I sent Alyssa then gave Lapia a nod. She returned the nod. ''Palace'', I sent to Yolin and nodded again. We both sighed and then giggled. ''Have'', Alyssa''s deep voice entered my mind. ''Love'', Yolin''s soothing voice entered my mind next. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion and I turned to Lapia. She had a similar expression. ¡°I got Have and Love,¡± I explained. ¡°Fun and Much for me,¡± she tilted her head. ¡°Ah!¡± I nodded. ¡°Have fun, much love?¡± Lapia smiled, ¡°Much fun, have love?¡± I laughed, ¡°Have much, love fun?¡± Lapia fought back a smile, ¡°Love have, fun much?¡± We both laughed at the silly combinations. ¡°That''s a weird order of sending the messages,¡± I chuckled and sat back down. Lapia shrugged, ¡°Maybe they''re having sex?¡± ¡°Nice,¡± I smiled at the juicy mental image of the two doing the naughty. ¡°Maybe. It''s a likely explanation.¡± We looked into each other''s eyes for a few seconds and my heartbeat increased the longer the staring content lasted. Lapia gave me a cheeky smirk, ¡°Do you want to? To fill me to the brim?¡± My eyebrows went up and I covered my eyes, then let out a sigh, ¡°Lapia. There is this thing called being subtle that I don''t think you''re using to your advantage.¡± She laughed, ¡°Yeah, my bad. I''m still horny from earlier.¡± ¡°Go to the bathroom and chill for a minute,¡± I shook my head. ¡°Food is going to arrive in a while.¡± Lapia''s eyes squinted and she stood up, then slowly made her way to the bathroom door while looking at me, ¡°I''m getting some of that tonight, Natasha.¡± I nodded, ¡°You will. Be a bit romantic about it, Lapia.¡± She winked at me and entered the bathroom. Right then, a knock came from the door. I focused on the walls and deactivated the sound-proof enchantment by sending another wave of E''er. ¡°Your Excellency, I have brought you dinner,¡± a female voice called. I stood up and went to open the door. There, Agnes stood behind a staff person pushing a trolley. Fucking hell, I groaned in my mind while giving them a smile. 66 - 80 yo Elf babe gets her cheeks clapped (+18) (1) ¡°Your Excellency,¡± Agnes greeted me with a bow. ¡°Hey there,¡± I greeted back with a nod. I stepped aside and the staff person pushed the trolley into the room. ¡°I came to offer my apologies,¡± Agnes began, looking me in the eye. ¡°I was rude to you due to my ignorance.¡± She bowed again, ¡°Please, forgive me.¡± I tilted my head, ¡°No?¡± She shot her head up and gave me a surprised look. ¡°I mean,¡± I shrugged. ¡°It''s not wrong to worry about your dad. And as I said, I wasn''t angry. You''re looking too deeply into this.¡± I looked inside the room and remembered what I was going to ask the Queen. Josalia''s slip of the tongue had made me forget at the time. I turned to Agnes and gave her a smile, then gestured to the room. ¡°Hey, how about we go inside?¡± She nodded and came in, ¡°Pardon my intrusion.¡± I closed the door and walked back to a different table from the one where the staff person was placing food on, then sat down. Agnes remained standing. I gestured to the chair across the table, ¡°Please, take a seat. This won''t take long.¡± She sat down and faced me. ¡°So,¡± I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the table, then my chin on my hands. ¡°It has come to my attention that I owe the Kingdom a large amount of gold coins. I was wondering if you could help me with that?¡± She blinked a few times, ¡°I wouldn''t say owe, Your Excellency.¡± I shrugged, ¡°Then see it as my actions resulted in financial loss?¡± Her lips thinned in a tiny frown. I held a sigh back, ¡°Your dad told me the amount was between five to seven million gold coins.¡± The staff person took a sharp breath and then discreetly coughed a few times. Agnes ignored them and nodded, ¡°Yes, I''m aware.¡± I raised my eyebrows, ¡°Can you receive such a payment?¡± Her eyebrows furrowed and nodded, ¡°That would be several tonnes of gold, Your Excellency. Fortunately, I have a storage item that can hold this amount. So yes, I can.¡± The smell of tomato sauce tickled my nose and I nodded, ¡°Great. Let''s get on with it.¡± The Princess removed her tiara and placed it on the table. I put a hand on the table and pushed down with a little strength, then used more strength until it shook slightly. It held up to 2000 of my strength so I was confident it''d hold piles of gold. Thus, I made it rain. *** Halfway through, I was growing bored. The staff person had left, and Lapia had returned from the bathroom and was sitting next to me, staring with wide eyes at the literal piles of gold I was giving the Princess. ¡°Say, Agnes,¡± I began. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency?¡± she tiredly replied, storing the gold coins for the nth time. I looked at the coins disappearing into the tiara, ¡°Do you think I could get a license to brew alcohol?¡± She stopped and looked at me, then tilted her head, ¡°Do you plan on selling what you brew?¡± I shook my head, ¡°No, but I was told it''s illegal to brew alcoholic beverages without a license.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Agnes nodded and continued storing the coins. ¡°You only need a license if you want to sell your product. You would also need an accountant to help you with taxes, a permit to peddle if you don''t want to set up shop, a proof of safety of product to circulate consumables, and a host of other things to start such a business. You don''t need a license If you brew for your own consumption. Not in our Kingdom.¡± I turned to Lapia and gave her the cockiest smirk. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. *** After a whole hour, we were done with the money business. I didn''t know seven million coins took that long to pass from person to person. We all sighed, then Agnes stood up. ¡°I should go,¡± she muttered while suppressing a yawn. I stood up as well and nodded, ¡°Yeah, sorry to keep you here so long.¡± She smiled and shook her head, ¡°Not at all. I''m glad I could be of help.¡± I walked her out of the room and said our goodbyes. Lapia curtsied and Agnes returned the gesture. After the Princess left, I closed the door and turned to my girlfriend, ¡°Now, food.¡± She nodded. We walked back to the table and had dinner. A nice tomato soup, roasted beef, and cake. We took our time and made conversation. Lapia talked about catching the Queen giving the King a sloppy toppy with too much enthusiasm. I laughed and retorted with jokes, resulting in both of us laughing in good spirit at the situation. After that we drank some wine and talked about the cats we found on the gardens. I drank the last drop on my glass and sighed, ¡°Does the bathroom have a shower?¡± The Elf nodded, ¡°It''s pretty big.¡± I stood up and gave Lapia a flirtatious smile, ¡°I''m taking a shower. You coming?¡± She arched an eyebrow and stood up as well, ¡°Say no more.¡± I giggled and walked to the bathroom. After opening the door, I did my best to not gape at the amount of gold and silver decorations the space had. The toilet seat was silver, the bathtub was gold, the sink was silver, the shower heads were gold, so on and so forth. I stored my clothes and approached the shower, then injected E''er on the drawn droplet that was on the wall. The freezing cold shower forced a sigh out of me, and I turned to Lapia. She had a scowl and her arms were crossed. ¡°Not this again, please,¡± she shook her head. ¡°Warm it up.¡± I chuckled and got the water to a nice, hot temperature. She undressed and joined me under the waterfall. I looked for the shampoo and soap compartment and found it right above the temperature symbols on the wall. Taking the soap bar, I turned around and performed my body-washing duties on my girlfriend. She sighed as I cleaned her breasts and stomach from behind. ¡°Your hands are so strong,¡± she seductively whispered and pressed her butt against my crotch. ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied and licked her left ear. ¡°Mmmhh,¡± she hummed in delight. My penis got sandwiched between her big butt cheeks, which sent a short pulse of pleasure up my spine. I continued lathering her body with soap, caressing her curves and gently cleaning her body. ¡°Natasha, I really like this careful you,¡± she panted and gulped. ¡°I also like the violent you. Being capable of violence and choosing not to be is something I find incredibly attractive.¡± My face heated up and a bubbly feeling made me purr in satisfaction. I put the bar soap back in the compartment and scooped some shampoo from the little box and moved on to Lapia''s hair. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The dark blonde strands were straight and fluffy, and I took my time to clean every single hair. Very gently, I massaged her scalp and ears, giving the long cartilaginous organs a lick every once in a while which got hums of pleasure in return. Lapia''s hands went over my thighs, following the shape of my muscles with her fingertips. After rinsing her body of the soap and shampoo, I went down on my knees in front of her. She looked down at me and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Oh?¡± I tapped my right shoulder and gave her a wink, ¡°Leg, please. I''m not finished yet.¡± She blushed and a big smile spread on her face. She raised a leg and placed it on top of my shoulder, ¡°Wow. This is the entire package, huh?¡± I chuckled and kissed her thigh, then grabbed her ass with my right hand to give her support and caressed her stomach with my left hand, ¡°That''s right.¡± She put a hand on the wall and her other on the back of my head, then leaned her head back. I kissed her thigh, getting closer to her pussy and running my hands over her warm ass and torso. My golden self contrasted her tan skin beautifully, and I took my time to slowly shower her with love. I ran my left hand further up and cupped her left breast, then slowly ran circles around her nipple with my fingertips. ¡°Haaaa,¡± Lapia let out a sigh and her muscles relaxed. I turned my face to her crotch and gave her labia a slow and long lick. ¡°You teaser!¡± she pouted with a giggle. I chuckled and looked up, making eye contact with her at the same time as I flicked her clit with the tip of my tongue. ¡°Hng!¡± she twitched a little and bit her lips. I gave her lower lips a juicy kiss and grasped her ass, then began eating her out with care and pin-point accuracy. She was pretty wet already, much to my surprise. She had said she was horny but I didn''t think it''d be to the extent that I could finger her right away. I let go of her ass and gently ran my fingernails over her skin towards her pussy, scratching her skin with care. She gave me a nod and let out a sultry sigh. After getting the green light, I inserted my index finger first while licking her clit and teasing her nipples with my other hand. ¡°Huuu...¡± she sighed and brushed my hair. ¡°Eat my pussy good, Natasha.¡± She was already talking dirty, which got me fired up. I bent my finger and massaged her frontal vaginal wall, going up and down with a ''come here'' gesture against her pelvic bone. I had learned pretty quickly ¨C and unavoidably at that ¨C that Lapia is a squirter and she cums pretty fast. Though not as multi-orgasmic as Yolin, Lapia could cum some thirty times in the span of a two hour fuck with a short break between climaxes. Knowing that, I wanted to make Lapia feel good after having bowed, curtsied, and being proper around Royalty for the day. She had earned it and I was more than willing to provide for the Elf. ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± Lapia moaned, wrapping her fingers around my hair. ¡°Yeah! Just like that! My pussy is happy!¡± I slowed down my finger inside her pussy and licked her clit faster, getting a sharp breath from the woman. Her juices were sweet and rich, and I lapped at her pussy like I had gone through a desert and she was a fountain. The wet sounds of my tongue and my finger on her genitals echoed in the bathroom, making my own arousal greater by the second. I felt my cock harden and my nipples stiffen pretty quickly. ¡°Ahn! Natasha!¡± Lapia called my name, looking at me with glazed eyes as pleasure started to take a hold of her. ¡°My clit is trembling in joy! Your tongue feels so fucking good! Your finger is... fuck!¡± Her hips buckled a little and I got my signal to insert a second finger. I put my middle finger inside and sped up the rubbing against her pelvic bone, feeling her holy spot growing puffier and fluffier. My right hand grabbed her breast and I softly pinched her erect nipple. ¡°Ogh!¡± she grunted and let out a shaky breath. ¡°You''re going to make my cunny cum already, Natasha! Do you feel- guh! My pussy clamping around your fingers?¡± I felt her pussy spasm and nodded, then went for the last sprint. Her moans, gasps, grunts, and yelps echoed in the bathroom and I got ready to drink every last drop of her cum. Lapia''s stomach tightened, goosebumps covered her chest, and a primal howl left her throat with the orgasm. ¡°FUCK!¡± she screamed and her body convulsed. I opened my mouth wide and took my fingers out, then covered her pussy with my lips. Her squirt hit my palate and tongue and I gulped while giving her pussy a sloppy kiss. ¡°Aahhh!¡± Lapia moaned, grabbing my head and bending over. ¡°Wait! Too much!¡± I let her pussy go and licked my lips, then smacked them, ¡°Thank you for the dessert!¡± She shook her head with a pant, ¡°No. Thank you!¡± I chuckled and slowly stood up, making sure she kept balance by holding her body close to mine. ¡°You''re welcome,¡± I replied with a wide smile and a fluffy feeling in my head. ¡°Now, my turn,¡± she gave me a smirk and a kiss. Her supple lips and tongue played with mine, getting hums from the both of us. She separated and gave me a dreamy smile, ¡°You''re so fucking good...¡± I shrugged, then hugged her, ¡°What can I say. Anything for my cheeky Elf.¡± She giggled and turned around, retrieving the soap bar from the compartment. I let myself be cleaned for the following minutes. Lapia had a bit of difficulty with massaging my muscles since they were harder than steel. Her breathing, however, grew more labored as she explored my body. After rinsing my body, she got on her knees and took my cock in her hands, then let out an amazed sigh, ¡°This is stupid big.¡± I nodded, ¡°I agree.¡± My cock reached around twenty six centimeters when fully erect so I totally shared the sentiment. It always amazed me when I went full length deep into my girlfriends. They had felt a little pain the first times so I had gone slow with them. Now, after almost two months, Lapia was completely accustomed to my large cock. Lapia''s hands wrapped around my member, failing to cover the thing completely. She let out a hot breath and slowly pulled my foreskin back. A tiny electric jolt ran to my hips, where heat was already gathering and I felt a drop of pussy juice go down my inner thigh. I leaned my back on the wall and looked down at Lapia, then gave her a nod. She returned the nod and licked my glans, then ran her tongue all over my cock, reaching my pussy and giving my clit a quick flick with her tongue. ¡°Mff!¡± I twitched from the sudden stimulation. She smirked and brought her left hand to my pussy, where she teased my labia. With her right hand, she stroked my cock and kissed my glans while looking me directly in the eye. ¡°You cock tastes so good, Natasha... I''m going to eat you up!¡± she whispered, then opened her mouth wide to take my glans. Her warm, wet, and soft mouth covered the head of my cock and she rubbed my clit with her fingers. ¡°Shit!¡± I hissed, grabbing my tits and squeezing them. Her tongue flicked the underside of my glans, sending shocks of stimulation to my hips and up my spine to my brain. She took both hands to my pussy, where she spread my labia with one hand, and inserted a finger with the other, then immediately rubbed against my pelvic bone. I bit my lips and tightened my stomach, then brought a hand to the back of her head. I couldn''t move her on my own since my strength was vastly higher than hers, and in the moment of passion I could injure her. I settled with brushing her hair and caressing her long ears. Her eyes locked on my abs and she began rocking her head back and forth, taking more and more of my cock in her mouth until I hit the back of her throat. Her tongue tickled my underside, her fingers played with my pussy, and her fangs tickled my cock. ¡°Ugh!¡± I grunted, feeling the suction and tongue-work around my member and her fingers hitting all the good spots in my vagina. She took a deep breath and looked at me. ¡°You don''t have-¡± I began. She swallowed my cock in a single thrust, pinched my clit with two fingers, and inserted three fingers into my pussy, pressing hard against my pelvic bone. ¡°Ooooohhh!¡± a long groan left me, which turned into a scream of pleasure. ¡°Fuck! Lapia! That feels so oddly good! I can''t even... fuck! Describe it!¡± The feeling of a mouth is worlds apart from a pussy. A throat, however, is quite the unique experience. My womb lowered and I felt Lapia''s fingers pick up speed while she held her nose against my tummy. Gasps left me and my legs shivered at having both genitals under such unfair attack. Jolts of pleasure assaulted my body, making me tremble and twitch. Lapia''s flesh around my cock tickled every centimeter of it and her nose tickled my tummy. She closed her eyes and moved her tongue inside againt my cock, sending stronger waves of pleasure through my cock to my body. Her face, on the other hand, was slowly turning red as seconds passed. ¡°Breathe, Lapia!¡± I whispered, then a yelp left me as she gulped, using her throat to stroke my cock. She pulled back, leaving a messy trail of saliva on my cock. ¡°Ghk!¡± she gagged as the head of my cock touched that funny part of the throat. Then, she took my cock out of her mouth with long gulps of air. ¡°Haa... Haaa... Haaa...¡± I let out a hot breath and relaxed my tummy, ¡°That felt... weirdly good.¡± ¡°Did- cough!¡± she covered her mouth and licked her lips. ¡°Did you like that?¡± I nodded with a gulp, ¡°That felt amazing, but I got a bit worried at the end, not going to lie.¡± She chuckled and stood up, ¡°First time throating your cock. I was bound to choke.¡± I hugged her and kissed her with passion. My right hand grabbed her ass and my left went up and I brushed her hair. She reciprocated, meeting my tongue and lips in a sloppy kiss. Her hands went down to my cock and gave me a few strokes. ¡°Hey,¡± she spoke into my mouth. ¡°Fuck my brains out on the bed. I want to walk funny tomorrow.¡± I chuckled, ¡°Yeah? You want me to destroy your pussy?¡± She nodded and bit my lips, ¡°I want you to break my spine.¡± My eyes widened and I choked a little. ¡°Natasha, crush me with your cock,¡± she continued, stroking my cock faster while looking me straight in the eye with a horny expression. ¡°Murder my pussy with your Halven cock.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded, joining her dirty talk. ¡°We''re going to need Danuva to heal your body.¡± Her eyes widened to the max and her body shivered, then a small moan left her mouth. I felt my face burn and I bit my lips. She let out a short laugh, ¡°That was very hot.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I kissed her lips. ¡°I''m learning from the best.¡± She giggled and hugged my neck with one arm, ¡°Let''s fuck all wet and slippery. I want you to fuck me up. Make me cry and drool, Natasha.¡± Her face turned into a smug grin, ¡°If you can, that is.¡± I felt my body heat up to the max. Her words were so enticing, taunting, cheeky, and daring. A gasp left my lips as Lapia continued stoking my cock and a big smile spread on my lips. ¡°Oh, I will. Let''s see if you walk the talk,¡± I replied with a low growl. 67 - 80 yo Elf babe gets her cheeks clapped (+18) (2) Lapia smiled and licked my lips, then whispered, ¡°Do your worst...¡± I picked her up and walked out of the bathroom. She chuckled and hugged my neck, then licked my throat. Back in the room, I stopped for a second and activated the room''s sound proof enchantment. While I got used to having foursomes on the regular, unwanted attention is not a turn-on for me. After that was dealt with, I carried Lapia to the back of the room to the bed. The thing was... unnecessarily large. I have no idea if this world has a standard for beds that include several people sleeping together or what but it looked like it could fit 10 people with room to spare. The covers were golden and the frame was silver, unsurprisingly enough. I put the Elf on the bed and stood in front of her. She looked up at me with a big smile and grabbed my cock, then bent forward and gave it a sloppy kiss. Her soft lips wrapped around my glans and she looked me in the eye. I sighed, melting a little. She gave the tip a lick and gulped my pre-cum, then gave me a wink, ¡°You taste so good.¡± I felt my face heat up and cleared my throat, ¡°Thank you.¡± She turned around on the bed and crawled to the pillows, then made a little hill with them. Resting her stomach on them, she turned her head around while spreading her legs and labia with a hand. ¡°Come here and fuck me,¡± she whispered. I climbed on the bed and stopped behind her, then went on my knees and grabbed both ass cheeks with my hands, ¡°You''re beautiful, Lapia.¡± She blushed and turned her body, grabbing my shoulder with her right hand and supporting herself with her left hand, ¡°Go at it, Natasha. Pound this ass.¡± I took a deep breath and grabbed my cock with my right hand and spread her cheeks with the other, then pushed my hips forward until my glans touched her pussy. I rubbed our genitals, making sure to cover as much of my cock as I could with her pussy juices to make insertion easier. When I was sure it''d go in without issue, I pushed forward and penetrated her piping hot pussy. ¡°Haaaa...¡± Lapia let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°Oh, fuck,¡± I groaned at the feeling of her folds wrapped around my member. I stopped when I was a third inside, shifting my hips to rub at that nice spot at bladder level. The stimulation sent electric jolts of pleasure through my cock to my spine, slowly numbing the back of my skull. Lapia gasped and grabbed the base of my hair, then sighed, ¡°You go there right away. You fuck so good, Natasha.¡± I chuckled, continuing my poking, ¡°I''m a woman too, Lapia. I know where it feels good.¡± She looked me in the eye and gave me a wide smile, ¡°Would it be weird to ask you about sex with men in your previous life?¡± I winced, ¡°Yeah. It would. It''s just the two of us right now.¡± She nodded and let my hair go, supporting herself with both arms, ¡°Noted. Now kiss me and fuck me.¡± I let go of her ass and grabbed her hair. Pulling slowly and leaning forward, her flexible back bent until our lips connected. At the same time, I pushed my entire cock inside and reached her cervix. I stayed like that for a few moments, letting her grow comfortable to the insertion. ¡°Hmm...¡± she hummed into my mouth. ¡°You''re stretching me so good, Nasha!¡± I had a full view of her front. Her breasts were flushed and her nipples were erect. I reached around and cupped one, then gave it a gentle squeeze while pulling my cock out halfway. Then, I went to poundtown. My lower abdomen met her big cheeks, giving each thrust a pleasantly soft bounce whenever I went full length inside her. I let her lips go and licked her chin, then stared down into her eyes as I fucked her. The position was pretty hot with her back bent and her head upside down from my perspective. The watery sounds of our genitals echoed in the room at the same time as all the heat in my body converged in my pussy. ¡°Oh, fuck...¡± Lapia groaned and grabbed my right arm with hers, and my thigh with her left. ¡°How do you like my pussy squeezing your massive cock?¡± Her wet, soft but tight, pipping hot pussy melted my dick with each thrust, clamping on it every time I reached her cervix and pressed against her pelvic bone. The lubrication was enough that my cock went in with no issue and the sounds drowned the creaking of the bed. ¡°Ahn!¡± I moaned. ¡°I love it! Your pussy feels fucking amazing.¡± ¡°How is it?¡± she managed to ask between gasps, moans, and yelps. ¡°Describe it to me.¡± ¡°Your entrance is clamping down on me. Your entire vagina is wriggling and squeezing me trying to milk my cock dry. Your womb kisses my glans every time I bottom out sending shivers all over my body.¡± I replied, licking her face. ¡°It feels divine.¡± I shifted my hips and targeted her G-spot with slow and shallow thrusts. ¡°Ahh!¡± she moaned, grabbing onto me tighter. ¡°How? How can you do that? Holy shit!¡± I pounded her full length six times, then switched to shallow thrusts again, then switched it up every five seconds. ¡°It''s all about the hips, Lala,¡± I replied with a grunt, picking up speed. ¡°I think the word is leverage?¡± ¡°Yeah, that''s... fuck! AhN! The word...¡± she gasped and moaned into my mouth. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Her clamping pussy made my legs tremble and my spine numb a little, dropping heat to my hips. I was getting close. ¡°Look,¡± I continued, giving her nipple a soft pinch. ¡°If I do this,¡± I lowered my hips and bottomed out, then pulled back a couple of centimeters and rubbed her pussy walls with the crown of my cock, ¡°I rea-¡± ¡°FUCK!¡± she moaned and trembled in ecstasy. ¡°YES! THERE! GIVE IT TO ME!¡± Her tongue lashed out and licked my chin and throat, moaning and groaning at the stimulation I was giving her. Her pussy clamped and wriggled around my cock, forcing the heat in my hips to tremble which made my breathing speed up. ¡°Mmhh...¡± I moaned and kissed her. ¡°Lala, gonna cum!¡± ¡°Uh huh,¡± she nodded, returning a sloppy kiss. ¡°Cum inside, Nasha! I''m getting close!¡± I switched it up again, going for shallow thrusts then deep ones followed by poking the back of her vagina. I let go of her breast and rubbed her clitoris sideways while kissing her. ¡°Mhh! Mm! Ah! Fuck! Nasha!¡± Lapia moaned loudly every time I switched targets. ¡°Shit!¡± The clapping of her cheeks and the watery sounds of our genitals numbed my skull and the warm feeling of her skin against mine along with her pussy around my cock brought me closer and closer to climax. ¡°Ahn! Guh! Mgh! Fuck!¡± I moaned, thrusting my hips in different rhythms and depths. ¡°You like how I''m fucking you?¡± ¡°Fuuuuck yyeeeeess!¡± she let out a long moan, trembling all over. My toes curled up, my hips numbed, and I was panting. Lapia was similarly near, gasping, moaning, trembling, and drooling. ¡°Haa... haa... haaa....!¡± I breathed out as I plunged into her with every thrust, my vision going white with every clamp of her vagina. ¡°Uff!¡± ¡°AHHH!!¡± Lapia screamed and tightened her body. ¡°CummIInnGG!¡± With a titanic grip, her insides squeezed my cock, giving it the needed push for me to cum. ¡°Ogh! Haaa!! AAHHN!¡± I howled, slamming my hips against Lapia''s. ¡°Cumming!¡± The heat in my hips shot out through my cock and into the Elf in my arms. My cock throbbed and my pussy tingled in joy at climaxing inside my girlfriend. The feeling was world-shattering as usual. Lapia tapped my thigh and I let her go. She flopped on the pillows and I made sure to stay inside her as deep as I could to fill her up with every drop of my cum. I leaned forward and supported myself on the bed, pushing my hips down into her. ¡°Fuuuuuckkk!¡± I groaned, trembling and twitching as I emptied myself inside the Elf''s pussy. ¡°Haa... haah...¡± Lapia panted and trembled. I kissed her back, licking the sweat covering her body. ¡°You came a lot,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I''m full of you.¡± I giggled and pulled out. My cock flopped out covered in our fluids and I ran a finger on it, scooping both mine and Lapia''s cum and sucking my finger. It was sweet, slightly bitter, and perfectly salty. Delicious, I thought with a big smile. Lapia turned to the side and sighed, ¡°Haaah! That was amazing.¡± I chuckled and laid next to her, pulling her into a hug. ¡°It was. Ready for round two?¡± She burst in a fit of giggles and hugged my neck, then licked my neck. ¡°You barely broke a sweat,¡± she whispered. ¡°Amazing.¡± I laughed and kissed her, then pulled her on top of me, ¡°You''re the one that''s amazing, Lala.¡± She smiled and ran a hand through her hair, combing the mess I did. ¡°How does it feel to fuck a woman using a cock?¡± she licked my cheek. ¡°Like the best thing in the world,¡± I chuckled. ¡°I hope you can do the same for me when we get the sex toys.¡± She smirked, ¡°Oh, I will. You''ll see stars and faint.¡± I tapped my temple, ¡°Can''t faint, remember?¡± She clicked her tongue and pouted, ¡°We''ll never be even, then.¡± I shrugged, ¡°C''est la vie.¡± The Elf grabbed my cock and gave it a few pumps, ¡°Let''s continue?¡± I nodded, ¡°Let''s.¡± Lapia turned around and gathered the pillows against the bed headrest, then gestured at it, ¡°Lay your back there, I''ll move now.¡± I smiled, ¡°Hoooh?¡± Then crawled over and did as suggested, then stretched my legs. She approached me and sat on my lap, then hugged my neck and kissed me. I reciprocated, meeting her full lips and entwining our tongues while looking into each other''s eyes. The air coming out of her nose tickled my face and I caressed her tan skin, rubbing here and there with care and love. Lapia raised her hips and sneaked a hand between our legs to grab my cock. She looked down and chuckled, ¡°Your cock is beautiful.¡± My heart skipped a bit at that. It had been called huge, hard, fat, massive, perfect, and many other things. It was the first time Lapia called it beautiful and it made my face burn. She looked up at me, probably noticing the increase in brightness coming from me, and smiled. ¡°Oohh... I see,¡± she teased me. I gave her a shy smile and a quick kiss, ¡°Thank you.¡± Lapia gave me a wink and fixed her legs, placing her insteps on my thighs. Slowly lowering herself, she guided me back inside her. ¡°Haaa...¡± I sighed in pleasure, feeling her hot pussy surround my cock in a tight, slippery embrace. ¡°Fuck,¡± she gasped, leaning forward and covering my body. ¡°Your cock is stirring the huge load you shot inside my pussy,¡± she whispered into my ear. Our ragged breathing resulted in out chests pressing together and rubbing our nipples against the other''s skin. I gasped at the stimulation sending strong jolts all over my body in the form of twitches. Then, she pounded me. We drowned in the pleasures of sex, the back and forth of dirty talk in the form of overly descriptive words and taunting dares fueled our lust and increased the arousal. We switched positions every time we climaxed, going over a broad repertoire of sexual gratification and loving embrace. When I was on top, I made her cum and pulled out to drink her squirt and the cum I had shot inside her. When she was on top, she took the loads I pumped deep in her pussy while trembling in ecstasy. Whenever she needed a rest she''d eat my pussy and suck my cock, bringing me to orgasm. Every time one of us climaxed, we showered the other with words of appreciation and love, indulging in the intimacy of the moment. After roughly four hours, Lapia was a mess. Her voice turned incoherent and her eyes became a little lost. In the end, she fell asleep in my arms. I cleaned her body with a towel and searched the room for bed sheets, then tucked her in the bed and took a shower by myself. Much to my surprise and annoyance, I could not fall asleep. I figured that would eventually happen considering my lack of need to sleep. I had slept the last few days and had been under the suns for extended periods of time. I felt fully rested and energetic even after such intense sex. Thus, I laid next to the Elf and hugged her for the rest of the night, feeling fluffy and warm inside. 68 - Political parties are fun, right? I took advantage of not sleeping by updating my journal and drawing on my sketchbook. Lapia woke up at around seven in the morning with a loud groan. ¡°Mhaa...¡± she shifted under the bed covers with a yawn. Then said in a tiny voice, ¡°I''m in absolute pain.¡± I quietly laughed for a few seconds, then brushed her hair. ¡°Well, do you think you can walk?¡± She sighed and turned to me, ¡°I can''t feel my toes, woman. I need a healer.¡± I winced, ¡°That bad?¡± She nodded and rubbed her eyes. ¡°My hips, legs, back, and crotch are sore,¡± she whined. I bit my lips, ¡°Yeaaah... I should be more careful next time.¡± She looked at me with wide eyes and a big frown, ¡°Don''t you dare.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± I hugged her and showered her face with kisses. ¡°That may be what you get for taunting me.¡± ¡°Aaargh...¡± she groaned and hugged my neck. ¡°I may need to level up more.¡± We laughed and kissed. I tickled her long ears and pinched her cheeks, then separated and looked into her emerald green eyes. ¡°An elixir?¡± I offered, retrieving one from my storage. ¡°Ugh!¡± she groaned and took the bottle, then tried sitting up. ¡°Fuck! It hurts...¡± ¡°Take it easy,¡± I brushed her hair. ¡°Do you need help?¡± She nodded, ¡°Help me sit up, please.¡± I got on my knees and supported her back. She winced and sighed, ¡°I seriously need to level up.¡± I nodded and undid the cork, then held the back of her head and brought the bottle to her lips. She took a sip and then let out a long sigh. I wasn''t particularly happy with the fact she was in pain. The mix of regret and guilt made my gut turn. ¡°I''m sorry, Lapia,¡± I kissed her cheek. ¡°Oh, fuck off,¡± she laughed. ¡°I''m an adult, I knew what would happen.¡± I giggled and helped her slowly drink the elixir. ¡°Okay,¡± she stopped my hand. ¡°I''m good.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I nodded. ¡°Let me know if you need more.¡± She chuckled, ¡°I don''t want to depend on elixirs. I''ll ask Alyssa to heal me later.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± I concluded and helped her up. She limped towards to the bathroom. I followed her and cleaner her body while giving her a massage. After that, we sat on the table and chatted until we heard a loud knock on the door. I raised my eyebrows and turned the sound-proof enchantment off. More than knocking, someone was banging on the door. ¡°NATASHA!¡± the King shouted at the door. He sounded happy. ¡°Gordon! Calm down!¡± the Queen''s voice followed. She sounded happy as well. ¡°You''re being rude to Her Excellency!¡± I gave Lapia a look, then said in a quiet voice, ¡°I kind of don''t want to open the door.¡± She chuckled and nudged my arm, ¡°Don''t be silly.¡± I groaned and stood up, then went to opened the door. Gordon was wearing nightwear and a pair of slippers. His hair was ruffled and he had a huge smile on his face. The Queen on the other hand, was wearing a beautiful dress, high heels, and her crown was on top of her well combed hair. ¡°Look!¡± the King cheered, opening his night camisole and flashing me with what was underneath. I covered my eyes and looked away. ¡°Dude! What the fuck?!¡± I complained at the sudden action. ¡°Gordon!¡± the Queen chastised him. ¡°Cover yourself! You''re the King and we''re in public!¡± ¡°Right...¡± he muttered and cleared his throat. ¡°I apologize for my actions.¡± More like don''t flash people... I retorted in my mind. A sigh left me and I peeked between my fingers. He was wearing underwear. I chuckled and stepped aside, ¡°Come in.¡± The two rulers shared a look and entered the room. ¡°Pardon the intrusion,¡± both said. I sighed, walking to the table, ¡°It''s your palace, for fuck''s sake.¡± ¡°Natasha,¡± Gordon began, grabbing onto my arm. His eyes were wide open and I noticed they were a little red. He had a huge smile on his face and his ears were standing at full attention. ¡°I didn''t have nightmares last night!¡± I smiled and gave him a nod, ¡°I''m glad to hear that.¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°I also... didn''t...¡± his chin trembled and stopped talking, then blinked a few times. He sniffed and hugged my waist, then cried on my chest. I put a hand on his back and gave him a few pats, ¡°It''s okay. You''re safe now.¡± The Queen sniffed and approached us, then wrapped her arms around both of us. ¡°Thank... you!¡± the King of the nation cried his gratitude in a show of emotions birthed in the liberation from terror. ¡°I... iugh... I...¡± ¡°Take your time,¡± I reassured him and patted his head. His hair was way glossier than I expected, and the fluffiness of the strands tickled my palms. His sobs and tears continued for a few minutes, accompanied by the Queen''s own. A smile slowly formed on my face. It felt good to help. At whatever cost and to extreme lengths, I reminded myself, feeling my Halven instincts quiver in joy while giving the man the safety to express his gratitude. ¡°I dreamed of the day my daughter was born...¡± he croaked between sobs. ¡°I thought I''d be plagued by nightmares for the rest of my life... Natasha...¡± In my arms I held a scared man, frightened and hurt. Not a King, not a father, not a husband. Just a man that had glimpsed into the horrors of Hell not by his own will but by an external influence. A demon that did not belong to this world but was forced to flee into it. A world I was born to protect along with its people. A small amount of anger surfaced on my mind and I took a deep breath, focusing on the moment at hand. It would be easy to demonize them. It would be incredibly foolish as well. I could not allow my view on them to influence my actions. Lapia''s words had prevented me from torturing the Demon for the most part. My Halven instincts did not see it as a threat as big as the Giganto Cyclops probably due to the difference in potential direct death their actions would cause. Still, threats are to be removed. If I encountered a Demon that posed no threat, I would ignore it. Maybe ask a couple of questions if I was inclined to do so. I should ask the Gods about all of this, I concluded. Gordon separated and wiped his tears. Josalia hugged him and gave him the support people require in such circumstances. ¡°We should celebrate,¡± he announced with resolution in his eyes. I nodded with a smile, ¡°We definitely should.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± the Queen nodded along with a big smile and wiping a few tears. ¡°I''ll tell the Minister of Foreign Affairs to send invitations to the surrounding countries,¡± he declared, turning from a hurt man to a man in control. ¡°We''ll do a ball and all the fancy stuff.¡± I gulped, ¡°Now, now.¡± A nervous chuckle left me, ¡°Let''s not rush and-¡± ¡°It''s the perfect opportunity for you to meet the Rulers of other countries!¡± he gave me a victorious smile. ¡°I''m sure they''re all waiting for an chance to meet you. It''s perfect, I tell you.¡± I turned to Lapia with a pleading look. She smiled, ¡°I agree as well, Your Majesty.¡± Betrayed by my lover! I lamented my fate. A thorn that shall remain for a thousand years! I steeled myself and let out a sigh, then turned to the King, ¡°Sure, sounds good.¡± He clapped once with a smile then turned around and walked to the door. The Queen walked next to him with a hand on his back. ¡°Ah!¡± the King turned around again and gave me a deep bow. ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency!¡± The Queen bowed as well, ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency.¡± I wanted to die. Bowing to others is cringe in my opinion. I could only smile and nod. The couple straightened and left the room. I covered my face and sighed, ¡°Fucking hell. What did I get myself into?¡± ¡°Politics,¡± Lapia replied, walking to me. She raised an eyebrow and smirked, ¡°The Khaleezh does indeed chase its own tail.¡± I sighed, ¡°Is that some metaphor about fate or something?¡± Her face turned confused for a second, then shook her head, ¡°No. It means ''things that should happen, will happen.'' It''s an Elven saying.¡± ¡°Sounds like a fate thing,¡± I insisted, arching an eyebrow. ¡°It''s about probability of outcome,¡± she explained with a shrug. ¡°We''ll cover it in future lessons.¡± I nodded and looked down, then noticed the tears and snot on my shirt. A tiny chuckle escaped me and I changed clothes. ¡°How long do you think it will take for the Rulers to get here?¡± I asked her. She shrugged, ¡°A week at best if they all rush here at full speed.¡± I rubbed my eyes, then braided my hair, ¡°Sounds reasonable.¡± Lapia looked up at me and into my eyes. ¡°You don''t sound excited at all,¡± she accused me, poking my tummy. I shrugged, ¡°I''m not. Not really.¡± I hugged her and rested my chin on top of her head, ¡°Royalty and Nobility are not my thing. Feels off, is all.¡± Lapia hummed, ¡°Is it the glorification?¡± I nodded and looked down at her, ¡°I was just a simple woman. Some things take time to change.¡± She raised her eyebrows, ¡°Like a million years?¡± I giggled and nodded, ¡°Like a million years.¡± A knock on the door made me turn. A staff person was waiting outside the room next to a trolley. She came inside and served breakfast, then left. We took our time to eat, chatting and laughing. I explored the room for a bit, then found a washing machine contraption where I cleaned the bed sheets from the previous night. After that, I was itching to leave the palace. My task had been completed and nothing happened during the night. So, we decided to inform the Royal Family and go back to our place. They expressed their gratitude and we arranged to meet when they sent me a letter, then saw me to the gates of the palace where Alastor was waiting with a carriage. It felt excessive but I wouldn''t reject a ride ''home''. After a comfortably silent ride, we got off at our destination and went up to our floor after playing with Sonya for a few minutes. Lapia had the foresight to leave with a key, so we went inside the apartment. Our companions were in the middle of having breakfast. Thelea, the Goliath, was sitting next to Bonte. I greeted Alyssa and Yolin with a kiss each, then turned to the giantess and the catboy. ¡°Yo! What''s up fellow sex havers?¡± I walked to them and raised my hands. They laughed and gave me high fives. I stopped next to Pokora and patted her shoulder, ¡°Your time will come.¡± She scoffed and shook her head, then laughed, ¡°Fuck off.¡± Bromisnar gave me an expectant look, ¡°How did it go?¡± I shrugged, ¡°Pretty good.¡± They waited for a few seconds and then turned to Lapia. The Elf sighed, ¡°Natasha insulted Princess Agnes, told Her Majesty the Queen to do whatever she wanted since it was her palace, called His Majesty the King by name at first meeting him, played cards while we looked for a solution to his problems, killed a Demon, and ignored the Ancestral Animals while treating them like annoyances.¡± Damn, I recoiled a bit but realized my actions were a bit... questionable. Their eyes widened with every word Lapia said. Alyssa''s scaly eyebrows knit together and she covered her eyes, then sighed. Pokora burst out in full-belly laughter. Bromisnar tried holding the laugh back but failed miserably. Bonte covered his face with both hands. Thelea was just shocked. Yolin clicked her tongue, then groaned, ¡°A Demon? I should have gone with you... Fuck!¡± 69 - Democracy. End of Arc 4. Alyssa stood up and walked to Lapia, then kissed her. ¡°I''m going to need more details,¡± she said with a serious tone, then caressed Lapia''s right cheek with a scaly hand. White light emanated from her fingers and pinched both of the woman''s cheeks with her hands. ¡°Better?¡± Lapia nodded with a smile, ¡°Thank you.¡± A warm feeling spread in my chest at the sight. ¡°So,¡± Yolin began, standing up and greeting Lapia with a kiss as well. She turned to me with a raised eyebrow, ¡°A Demon, huh?¡± I nodded, ¡°Indeed.¡± The Oni walked up to me and crossed her arms, then raised her chin. ¡°Was it strong?¡± I shook my head, ¡°Not at all. Anticlimactic would be the best way to describe the whole situation.¡± She smacked her lips and gave me a hug, ¡°I''m glad you''re okay.¡± I returned the hug and kissed her neck. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°ZZZzz...¡± Pokora let out a loud snore. ¡°Okay. What was the Demon doing anyway?¡± I gave Lapia a glance. She gave me a nod. I retold the events, leaving out the Demon''s words about Changelings. That held no water until I asked the Gods myself. I also didn''t go into too much detail about what the King went through. It was not for me to tell others. ''Mental torment'' was how I described it. I also didn''t mention my title nor my time in Hell since not everyone was entitled to that information. After I finished, Bromisnar wrote down a few lines on a thin notebook while nodding to himself. Maybe a new song was in the making. I sat down on the table between Pokora and Lapia while chatting about the plans for the day, when Bonte spoke up. ¡°Natasha,¡± he looked at me with a nervous smile. ¡°I was thinking we could include Thelea in the party?¡± I rested my elbows on the table and gave him a confused look. ¡°And you''re asking me, why?¡± He shrugged, ¡°You''re the party leader.¡± My eyebrows almost fused with my hairline. ¡°I''m what?¡± my voice came out higher pitched than I intended, betraying my limitless confusion. He nodded, ¡°You''re a Halve, so...¡± he let the sentence float with a gesture towards me. I rubbed my temples and looked at the catboy, ¡°I learned how to clean fish last week, my dude.¡± He gave a slow, conceding nod, ¡°True.¡± I leaned back on the chair and raised a hand, ¡°I vote Alyssa to be the leader. She''s a healer and has the experience to match the position.¡± The Luzo turned to me with wide eyes. Pokora gave me a grin and raised her hand, ¡°I vote Natasha. She''s literally a higher being created by Galeia.¡± You bitch, I retorted in my mind and glared at her. Bromisnar cleared his throat and raised a hand, ¡°I vote Pokh''Orra. She was in the army for twenty five years. I believe that speaks for itself.¡± The Elf in question turned to the Satyr with an appalled expression. I chuckled, ¡°Serves you right.¡± Lapia raised a hand, ¡°I vote Pokh''Orra as well.¡± Alyssa raised a hand while squinting at me, ¡°I vote Natasha.¡± I arched an eyebrow and fought back a smile. Betrayal comes from those we least expect. Bonte raised a hand, ¡°N... Pokora.¡± I nodded. We turned to Yolin. She smiled and raised a hand, ¡°Pokora.¡± ¡°Argh!¡± the new leader groaned and covered her face with both hands. ¡°I love democracy,¡± I muttered with a smile. ¡°So, leader?¡± Bonte sneered at Pokora. She nodded and sighed, ¡°Sure, we could use a Warrior tank.¡± The Goliath sighed in relief and placed a large hand on top of the Tigea''s head, then ruffled his hair. Then, she turned to us, ¡°I should tell you about myself, then.¡± We all nodded. ¡°My name is Thelea Vathunith, I''m 122 years old,¡± she began, waving at us as if we were in a rehab meeting. ¡°I enjoy fighting, eating, and men. Sometimes the three at the same time.¡± she chuckled as if she said the funniest joke. ¡°I don''t really have specific dislikes, besides common sense of course. I would like to die in battle in the future. Even though I''m pretty low on levels, I''ll do my best to not drag you all.¡± I nodded, ¡°Welcome.¡± The thing about mixing fighting, eating, and fucking was a bit of a red flag in my eyes but I wasn''t going to jump to conclusions. Welcoming words were exchanged as we officially gained a new member. Bonte was smiling widely. Despite being early, alcohol was taken out and we toasted for new friendships. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. After that was done, Bonte and Thelea went out for a walk. I cleared my throat and stood up, ¡°I was thinking of going to the market. Who wants to join?¡± Lapia yawned, ¡°I''m going to take a nap today.¡± She turned to Alyssa and gave her a smile, ¡°Do you want to cuddle all day?¡± The Luzo blushed and nodded, ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡± I smiled and turned to Yolin. She smiled too and gave me a nod, ¡°Sure, let''s go.¡± We both turned to Bromisnar. The Satyr thought for a second and nodded, ¡°I could use a visit to the market.¡± I turned to Pokora, ¡°How about you, leader?¡± She groaned, and let out a defeated sighed, ¡°Yeah, sounds good.¡± Thus, the four of us went out. After reaching the first floor, we went to fetch our mounts and I asked the staff if they had fed Sonya. They said yes so I missed on that, unfortunately. We mounted up and left the building towards the market. Yolin was at the front to guide us since she had visited Paarjo before. We moved through the city''s morning streets under the suns'' light. The clamor of people, vehicles, animals, and the wind were accompanied by the smell of foods and a bit of animal waste here and there. Small stalls and shops were open and receiving costumers, shifting the flow of pedestrians on the sidewalk. I observed the variety of species around me, marveling at the sight of Dwarves, Elves, Tigea, and the rare Luzo and Goliath. I noticed there were no Oni around other than Yolin. The woman being the only red person in my field of view. The blue and white races of her species were similarly nowhere to be seen. It made sense considering their home countries were far, far to the north in the middle of the sea. I caught a glimpse of very small people similar to the Tiny Laple that sold me the pocket watches in Mountroad. The few I saw sat on people''s shoulders, funnily enough. We rode our mounts for a while, chatting and looking around. After around fifteen minutes we reached a large plaza where a large amount of stores dotted the place. People walked back and forth, entering the stores with empty hands or leaving them with boxes. I guessed not everyone owned a storage item considering the price, Pokora''s salary while being in the army, and the King''s words about need and luxury. We searched for a spot to leave our mounts and I ignored the people looking at me. We walked out of the rest post and into the plaza. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Yolin asked me while we walked. ¡°Colored pencils,¡± I replied, taking her hand and locking fingers. ¡°Also a new book. My journal is about to run out of pages.¡± Pokora turned to me with a surprised expression, ¡°You''re writing a journal?¡± I nodded, ¡°That''s right.¡± Bromisnar turned to us and joined the conversation, ¡°Could I see it one day?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I gave him a nod. ¡°When the time comes.¡± He smile and looked ahead, ¡°I''ll patiently wait, then.¡± We continued walking, checking different stores and stalls. I bought a kilogram of almonds for twenty copper coins from a young Tigea, which was the best deal in the history of deals even if I was taxed more. Pokora bought two basketball-sized avocados for fifteen copper coins a unit from a Faeton Elf. The Archer was pretty satisfied with the purchase, showing it off to me before storing it. I tried buying them all but the Merchant refused, explaining that he''d be left with no products for his usual customers. It was a fair explanation so I bought just one for twenty copper coins. The food tax wasn''t as extreme as with the dungeon which was nice. Bromisnar bought a bottle of wine from a store ran by an old Dwarf for a silver coin. The man was pretty excited about the purchase, sharing his knowledge of the alcoholic beverage. After lubricating the cogs of the local economy for a while, we found a store that sold what I was looking for. I went in and explored the wide variety of art supplies available. The clerk, a taller than average Dwarf, was excited to have a Halve customer interested in the pursuit of the arts. She guided me through the store and showed me a medium-sized box that had 300 colored pencils that covered almost every color possible. ¡°These can be used on paper, parchment, wood, and textiles,¡± she explained, giving the metallic box a few taps. I nodded, ¡°What''s it made of? Is it water resistant?¡± She gave me a knowing smile. ¡°The pencils are hexagon-shaped with soft and comfortable curves, made of galadar wood with a break-resistant 3 millimeter core. The outside is lacquered to prevent water damage and degradation of time. Depending on the usage, they can give your drawings vibrant and robust atmosphere, or a more subdued and exquisitely dim mood.¡± She took the box and walked to the counter. I followed closely behind. She set the box on the table and opened it, then took one and offered me it. I took it and gave it a close examination. The thing was a light brown with a turquoise/aquamarine line across the body. It was of pretty decent quality. ¡°The soft, rounded tip you can see now guarantees a smooth experience accompanied by an easy-to-blend process thanks to the oil-based mixture that makes the core,¡± she pitched the pencils with certainty and confidence. ¡°The set includes three brushes, two kneadable erasers, one sandpaper block, one knife, and one sharpener that I strongly recommend you use for a high quality creation.¡± I held the pencil between my fingers. Instead of forcing it, I let it find its own place in my hand. The surface was pretty comfortable and the shape fit nicely. ¡°Hmmm...¡± I turned to the Dwarf, returned the pencil and gave her a nod. ¡°I''ll take it.¡± She smiled and pulled out a sheet of paper where she wrote down a few lines, ¡°Anything else?¡± I nodded, ¡°Do you have graphite pencils?¡± Her smile widened even more, ¡°We''ll be good friends for a while, Se?orita Natasha.¡± I chuckled, ¡°That would be fantastic.¡±
Forty minutes later and fifty gold coins lighter, I left the store with a wide smile on my face. The three were waiting outside, sitting on a bench and chatting. Pokora noticed me and threw her hands up in the air. ¡°Finally!¡± she exclaimed with relief. ¡°I was getting old!¡± Yolin looked up at me and gave me a smile, ¡°What did you get?¡± I smiled, ¡°A lot of good stuff.¡± Bromisnar stretched and stood up. ¡°Where to now?¡± ¡°I was thinking of buying a piano,¡± I told him. ¡°Alastor mentioned I could buy one at the Performer School of the Arts around our place.¡± The man shook his head, ¡°They close down on weekends. Maybe tomorrow after your fight I could accompany you.¡± I blinked a few times, a little confused. Ah! I remembered. My fight against Yolin and Thelea. I nodded, ¡°That''d be pretty nice. Thanks.¡± ¡°Not a problem,¡± the Satyr smiled politely. ¡°How about we check out sex toys?¡± Yolin asked out loud with no care. I discreetly looked around to see if people around heard us, then slowly turned to her and raised my eyebrows, ¡°Just like that? For everyone to hear?¡± She shrugged, ¡°It''s normal.¡± Pokora shook her head and sighed, ¡°I''m not interested in that, to be honest.¡± Brominar scratched his chin and turned to her, ¡°How about we go and check out other stores in the meantime? I need to buy a new shaving blade.¡± The Elf nodded, ¡°Sure, sounds good.¡± She turned to me and Yolin, ¡°Meet up here at one? It''ll be lunchtime¡± We agreed and parted ways. 70 - A hard matter. Yolin guided me through the market in search for a store that sold what we were looking for. I looked around, growing more nervous and conscious of the people staring at me. A woman accompanied by three men passed next to us. Their heads turned around, following me with curious eyes. I ignored them and focused on Yolin. We passed a small store and the Oni went in. I looked at the sign above the door. It read ''Fresh Fruits Forever'', which was an outrageous claim in my opinion. With a relieved sigh I followed her inside. The shop had a large amount of baskets and crates full of fruit, vegetables, grain, and bread. Yolin bought a couple fruits and we left. She held an apple and split it in two with her bare hands, which I thought wasn''t that hard with increased strength. ¡°Here,¡± she offered me half of it. I took it and kissed her cheek, ¡°Thank you.¡± I bit it and the citric and sour taste made my face scrunch up. ¡°The fuck is this?¡± She smiled and took my free hand, then pulled me to walk with her. ¡°Parrus fruit. They''re popular in Red Island.¡± I followed her while chewing, ¡°The taste is... unique.¡± She nodded and took a bite of the fruit. ¡°I grew up eating these. Fought my older brothers for the biggest Parrus.¡± I noticed her tusks cut the fruit in bite sizes that perfectly fit her mouth. ¡°Sounds like a fun childhood,¡± I chuckled and ate another bite. Yolin closed into my ear and whispered, ¡°Did you fight with your brother?¡± I shook my head, ¡°Nah. We got along nicely.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she muttered with a nod. Then gave me a smile, ¡°Sounds boring.¡± I shrugged, ¡°Different worlds. Can''t do much about it, right?¡± We continued chatting while walking towards the north part of the market. I asked about her childhood, her family, and life in Red Island. Yolin cheerfully answered, going into detail about how many fights she got into and how much fun she had before she got her first class. Around us, people looked at me with interested eyes. I was probably the first Halve they had seen based on the more surprised faces of the younger-looking pedestrians. None approached, however, which was nice. After a while we reached a tall building with an unassuming front. It had a plaque that read ''The Fun Chase (Always Open!)''. The thing had a male genital drawn next to the text. Also, the shop was in plain sight for all to see. I cringed with my entire being. The hopes that the store would be a little hidden from view fell down the abyss of despair. Yolin walked in, and I followed. The inside had a cozy atmosphere with gentle purple walls and soft orange furniture. Much to my surprise most items on display were clothes and costumes. A tall Shishi Tigea wearing a professional suit walked to us and curtsied. ¡°Good morning, valued customers,¡± she greeted us in Kator. ¡°My name is Amelia. How may I be of service?¡± [Amelia, Shishi Tigea Lvl 115 Carver] Yolin bit her lips. ¡°Sorry, I''m not that learned in Kator.¡± The Tigea smiled and shook her head, then said with a heavy accent, ¡°Not a problem. I have been learning Common for a while.¡± Ah! I rejoiced inside with a smile. The first person with a heavy accent other than me! Glory be to fate! ¡°I''m Yolin, she''s Natasha,¡± the Oni introduced us. ¡°We''re looking for sex toys,¡± she bluntly declared. The Tigea''s eyes widened a little, then slowly turned to me. ¡°You are a warrior, correct?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°Would that be a problem?¡± The clerk winced, ¡°For a... uhm... female customer, yes. We women... uhm... tighten up?¡± she asked, unsure of the choice of words. ¡°Unless I''m jumping to conclusions and you would be the partner on top. Apologies if I''m overstepping any boundaries.¡± Yolin laughed. ¡°Not at all,¡± she assured the clerk with a smile. ¡°Mainly for her, yes.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the Tigea nodded, looking down at the floor and thinking for a few seconds. Then looked up at me with an apologetic smile, ¡°In spirit of not breaking any taboos, I will show you a selection of materials. Would that be uhm... acceptable?¡± I felt a little more hope go down the abyss of despair. ¡°Sure,¡± I sighed. ¡°Then, please follow me,¡± she turned and gestured for us to accompany her. I turned to Yolin with a sad face. She chuckled and nudged my shoulder. ¡°You may break it if the material is not tough enough.¡± I smiled, ¡°I like your bluntness.¡± ¡°Any time, Natty,¡± she replied and hugged my waist. We followed the clerk into a room at the back of the store. There was a low table with six chairs around it. She sat down and gestured for us to take a seat. We complied and waited. The clerk produced a variety of materials shaped in cylinders twenty centimeters tall and five wide, and placed them in front of us on the table. She turned to me and gave me a professional smile, ¡°To better uhm... ascertain which material would fit your body best, please grab each sample and squeeze them with your hand using only your thumb and annular finger while applying no more than twenty percent of your total strength.¡± She showed me her fingers and did a gripping motion at the air. There''s a science for that? I thought in shock, then nodded. ¡°Let''s begin with break-resistant glass,¡± the clerk gestured to a transparent cylinder. I wrapped my fingers around the thing and gave it a squeeze. It cracked immediately, then shattered in my hand with a loud crack. A moment of silence followed the event. ¡°Damn!¡± Yolin exclaimed, then laughed. The clerk nodded and gestured at the next one, a gray cylinder. ¡°Next is a break-resistant alloy.¡± She produced a small hand brush and cleaned the table. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I rubbed my hands to clean them of any glass fragment that remained and went for the next one. It felt like crushing a baked potato. The material bent, cracked, and broke under my grip. I even saw sparks fly when the broken pieces rubbed each other. Oh, no... I felt my hope dwindle. Yolin rubbed my back while shaking her head. The clerk raised an eyebrow, then produced a mask to protect her face from anything that could fly off in her direction. She also summoned a neck protector and a chest plate. The woman then cleaned the table and nodded, ¡°Next is Ergite mined from The Endless Pit.¡± She gestured at a semi-transparent, pink crystal cylinder. I took a deep, motivating breath and grabbed the thing, then squeezed it. The pink color of the crystal was pretty nice so I hoped it would work. At first nothing happened and joy filled my young heart, then the surface cracked along with my dreams. ¡°Fuck!¡± I groaned in annoyance and covered my face. I felt a few pebbles rub on my skin and hot anger rose inside me. A deep breath later, I sighed and rubbed my hands together to get rid of the material. What''s the hardest material? I wondered, looking for an answer. Pokora said Diamond is shit for enchanting, but that should do the trick. ¡°Do you have diamond?¡± I asked the clerk. ¡°We do not work with diamond, but I could order some to make a custom toy for you,¡± she reassured me with a smile. I sighed in relief with a smile, ¡°Nice. What size would it be?¡± She thought for a second and said, ¡°Seven centimeters the smallest, ten the biggest.¡± I waited for her to say sike, but that didn''t happen. Resting my elbows on the table and my chin on my hands, I leaned forward with a serious face, ¡°I would like it to be twenty six centimeter long and six centimeters wide.¡± Yolin nodded in understanding. Even if it came off as narcissistic, I wanted a toy that was similar to what I had between my legs so I could experience the same as my girlfriends. The clerk tightened her lips and raised her eyebrows. ¡°Processed diamond comes in... smaller dimensions, dear customer,¡± she explained. ¡°A toy with more than one part would not be ideal considering your... body capabilities.¡± I sighed and covered my face in defeat. The prospects sank further and further into despair. ¡°Would you be able to make one if we supplied you with the materials?¡± Yolin asked. I perked up at her words. I had the money, and Pokora said diamond is dirt cheap so it was totally doable. Amelia nodded, ¡°If you supply it, we will cut the final cost down. Diamond is already cheap as is, so it won''t make that much of a difference from a price perspective.¡± I eagerly nodded, ¡°That''s not a problem. Do you know where I can buy diamonds that big?¡± The woman gave us a polite smile, ¡°I believe the largest diamond available in the market is around ten centimeters at the widest.¡± That''s huge! I thought, then sighed. Still, too small. ¡°I see,¡± Yolin nodded, then stood up. ¡°If we find anything, we''ll let you know.¡± I stood up and the clerk copied us. ¡°Please do so, we''ll be happy to provide you with a toy that will satisfy you,¡± she said with a smile. I nodded with a small disappointment in my heart. The clerk guided us back to the reception and gave us a business card, then Yolin and I left the store with empty hands. I looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh. ¡°Well, that was a bit of a let down.¡± Yolin chuckled and hugged my waist with one arm, ¡°We just have to find a big enough diamond. Maybe we should visit a few mines, or you could ask Royalty for information about it.¡± I turned to her and looked into her blue eyes, ¡°You''re a genius, Yolin.¡± She giggled and kissed my cheek. ¡°Not really, but thanks. Also, you acted like it was the end of the world back there.¡± I let out a defeated chuckle, ¡°Well, I want you to rearrange my innards too. If I have to go on a hunt for materials it gets a little discouraging.¡± She raised her eyebrows and her eyes widened, ¡°Rearrange your innards?¡± I nodded with a smile, ¡°Yep.¡± She laughed and pulled me along with her, ¡°Let''s check out other places.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I replied with a nod. We went around the market for a while but didn''t buy anything in the end. The amount of people out and about thinned by the time we agreed to meet the other two so we returned to the spot we parted ways at. I was sitting down next to Yolin and chatting about silly things when a kid approached us. He was a Shishi Tigea around seven years old. His eyes were wide and he was playing with his tail while standing right in front of us. I looked around but didn''t see any adult nearby that looked like him. ¡°What are you?¡± he asked in common. Yolin laughed and leaned forward with a broad smile, ¡°I''m a Red Oni.¡± I gave the kid a wave, ¡°And I''m a Halve.¡± He nodded and stared at us for a few seconds. ¡°Are you strong?¡± I smiled and stood up, then turned to Yolin. She nodded. I put an arm around her waist and lifted her, then placed her on my shoulders. ¡°Woooaah!¡± the kid breathed in amazement. ¡°That''s cool!¡± Yolin and I laughed, enjoying the kid''s innocence. ¡°What''s your name, kid?¡± Yolin asked. ¡°Alberto,¡± he replied. ¡°Which path do plan to follow?¡± she asked next. The kid thought for a second and smiled, ¡°I want to be a Warrior...¡± ¡°Ohhh!¡± she clapped then patted my head, ¡°She''s a Warrior, you know?¡± The kids eyes widened and his ears twitched. ¡°Really?¡± I nodded. ¡°Where did you train?¡± he excitedly asked, taking a step closer to us. ¡°Uh...¡± I didn''t know how to reply. I couldn''t just tell the kid ''Hell''. I chose an inoffensive reply, ¡°I was born this strong.¡± He frowned, ¡°What? That''s cheating!¡± I looked up at Yolin, not sure how to handle the situation. She smiled and got down from my shoulder with a fluid motion, then bent over to reach the kid''s height, ¡°Halves are born strong, Alberto. I''m sure you''ll learn about them soon.¡± He sulked. ¡°Mama says I can only get strong with training,¡± he muttered a little dispirited. I bit my lips to hold back a smile. ¡°Your mom is right. I still have to train, you know?¡± The kid gave me a skeptical look, ¡°You do?¡± I nodded, then placed a hand on Yolin''s shoulder. ¡°We train together to be stronger. It''s fun and good for the body.¡± ¡°How strong do you want to be?¡± the kid asked me. That''s a deep question coming from a kid, I thought. ¡°The strongest in the world,¡± I replied with a confident smile. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°I also want to be the strongest!¡± he cheered. ¡°I''ll be stronger than you one day.¡± Yeah, I doubt that, I kept that to myself. Yolin chuckled and straightened up. ¡°Where are your parents?¡± The kid looked at the ground and tightened his hands around his tail. ¡°I don''t know. I sneaked out.¡± I nodded, ¡°I see. Do you love your parents?¡± The kid nodded. I hummed. ¡°How would you feel if they sneaked out and you can''t find them?¡± He giggled, then turned serious, then a sad frown formed on his face. His eyes watered a little and a sniffle escaped him. ¡°How about you ask a Watcher for help?¡± I gestured at one of them walking around the market. ¡°I''m sure they''ll help you find your parents.¡± The kid rubbed his eyes and nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± he muttered and turned around, then walked to the Watcher I pointed. I watched him walk to the adult and then turned to Yolin. She was looking at me with a surprised face. I tilted my head, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You''ll make for a strict mo-parent,¡± she corrected herself and blushed. I sighed, ¡°What will I be?¡± Yolin thought for a second, ¡°Hmm. Maybe the four of us together can think of an answer? It''s not a simple matter, either.¡± I nodded, feeling a little disassociation, ¡°If we have children-¡± ¡°When,¡± the Oni corrected me with a challenging smile. I gulped and my face burned. ¡°Alright, then. We''ll cross the bridge when we get to it.¡± She laughed and hugged me, ¡°You''re so cute when you''re shy.¡± 71 - A small glimpse at eternity. Bromisnar and Pokora arrived shortly after and we looked for a nice place to have lunch. We settled on a cozy restaurant where we had a nice meal. After that we fetched our mounts and began our trip back to our place. I gave little attention to my surroundings beyond avoiding pedestrians and stopping at every intersection for five seconds. My focus was on pondering what Yolin said about having children. How would it work? I wondered, looking up at the suns for a second. I followed the shape of the tall buildings around us until my eyes reached ground level. Am I fertile in the first place? A group of kids crossed the street and I sopped Sonya to let them pass. I appraised them and saw their races and levels. My eyes followed them until the other side of the road, then I looked forward and patted the Ratnak''s neck for her to resume walking. If we have kids, they''d be Demi, I thought while looking around. Every person I saw had a species, race, level, and class. But I haven''t seen any... I bit my lips and sighed. Are they that uncommon? Or is it a term people use to differentiate them? I... don''t want my children to face discrimination. I realized something and a chuckle escaped me. I doubt someone would bully a Halve''s kids. That''d be literal suicide. A few roars from above caught my attention and I gazed at the flying creatures soaring the skies. I don''t even know how often my cycle will come. I cringed a little inside. ''Cycle''. Such a weird way to call it. Will I even menstruate? I can nut, but can I produce sperm? What do I even have? I don''t have testicles... do I have ovaries? Testovaries? I laughed at that. That''s dumb even for me. My sudden laugh attracted the attention of a few pedestrians who waved at me. I smiled and waved back, then returned to my thoughts, The Priest back in Riverfield mentioned the difference in levels should be less than 10% for successful pregnancy. So... 135? That would be... hmm... 1215? But why? Would my ''seed'' be too... what? Strong? I chuckled at the thought of my sperm beating Alyssa''s ovum. Then, I had a small enlightenment. Ah, the chemicals... I see. This is fucking complicated. And if a person with a penis were to nut inside me, their seed would be too weak to fertilize my ovum? Doesn''t make much sense. Well... if I don''t crush their penis before they nut, anyway. Also, what? If I get pregnant, wouldn''t the contractions when going into labor kill the baby? I bit my lips. I need to read the pertinent research. Having kids seems a bit more complicated than I expected... and our cycles have to match. Fuck... I covered my eyes and rubbed my eyes. This is not something I have to think by myself. And it''s a bit too soon to be thinking of children anyway. I looked at Yolin on top of Pochi and squinted my eyes at her. Yolin said she doesn''t want children before turning three thousand. I glanced at Bromisnar. He''ll die of old age before that. The sudden shift of thoughts from creating life to the awareness that death inevitably comes for us all made me a bit gloomy. I''ll live ten thousand years... that''s twice as long as my girlfriends. I let out a heavy sigh. Will I be able to live with the grief? Alyssa mentioned something about extending lifespan but I doubt she''ll be able to double it. My mood tanked a bit. Still, four to five thousand years is a lot... It''s not healthy to go too deep into it. I kept silent for the rest of the way, thinking of life, death, and time. By the time we got to our place I was trying to accept things as they were but found a bit of difficulty when trying to grasp periods of times beyond six decades. We entered the apartment and I slowly made my way to the room I shared with my girlfriends with heavy steps. I opened the door and found Alyssa and Lapia napping on the bed. They were hugging each other, and the Luzo''s tail wrapped them in a tight embrace. Yolin came in after me and chuckled, then closed the door behind us. She walked over to the bed and laid next to them. I stood by the door, looking at the three women I had decided to share my life with and felt an indescribable feeling of terror. If I have a child with them... would the child die before me? If, in two thousand years, I have a little Elvish son with Lapia... would he live five thousand years... meaning until I''m seven thousand years old? Would I live three thousand years after my own son dies? What if he has children? Will I outlive them as well? How about their children? I felt a knot form on my throat. The prospect of my progeny dying of old age before me scared the shit out of me. The natural aspect of death I was familiar with was nowhere to be found in my own life. The last moments of my life would not be surrounded by my direct family nor by those I loved. I''d be on a bed looking at faces of people generations away from me. The feeling was crushing and a tear rolled down my cheek. Will death numb me to the point of not feeling love anymore? Would I be so devastated by the loss I''ll end up killing myself? I looked down at my hands. The golden skin so clean and ''perfect'' that belonged to my species. What trial? What reward? That would be no different than the Hell I left behind. The cold feeling of dread crept up my back and mockingly ticked the base of my skull, attempting to imprison me in a cage of depression and despondency. The venomous thought that having relationships so soon in my life was a mistake reared its ugly head in my mind, threatening to make me feel a regret and guilt so big not even my high strength could lift it. I balled my fists and looked up to the three on the bed. Live first, then ponder, I reminded myself, wiping the tear off my face. I carry with me all that is mine. Yolin had been looking at me through my inner turmoil. She tilted her head and smiled, ¡°We can find another store. I''m sure of it.¡± She spread her arms and beckoned me with her hands, ¡°Let''s laze about for today.¡± I smiled at her misunderstanding. With a light laugh I walked over and laid next to her on the bed. ¡°I was thinking about what you said,¡± I muttered, looking at the ceiling. ¡°What did I say?¡± she hugged me and guided my head to rest on her shoulder. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°About having children,¡± I replied, looking into her eyes. ¡°Then I had a small moment of over-analyzing my longevity.¡± She nodded, ¡°I see.¡± Her soothing voice relaxed me, and I closed my eyes. I focused on the other two''s breathing. The light of the suns entered the room through a window I had no courage to look through, kissing my skin and bringing me a much needed calm. ¡°It''s a little scary,¡± I said after a few minutes, returning the hug. ¡°Ten thousand years is unfathomable.¡± The Oni brushed my hair and hummed. ¡°I can imagine,¡± she softly whispered. ¡°Going from seventy to ten thousand tops... quite the increase.¡± She kissed my forehead and wrapped me in her arms, nestling my head in her chest. ¡°We''re here for you, Natasha. Don''t carry your worries on your own.¡± I nodded, feeling the woman''s breasts on my cheeks. ¡°Will my children die before me?¡± I asked in a quiet voice. ¡°Will you?¡± ¡°Most likely,¡± Yolin confirmed my thoughts with a nod. ¡°But it''s what we do while we''re alive that matters. One day, maybe nine thousand years from now, you''ll look back to this very moment and smile at the memory. Death doesn''t have to be painful.¡± I nodded. ¡°Life should,¡± I chuckled. ¡°That''s right,¡± she giggled and pulled me into a kiss. ¡°Life is also amazing,¡± she whispered into my lips. I licked her lips and smiled. ¡°It truly is amazing. Like right now.¡± I looked into her blue eyes and smiled, feeling a warm tickle in my tummy. ¡°I''m horny.¡± She arched an eyebrow and gave me a wide smile. ¡°How did you call it? Rearrange innards?¡± I smiled widely and giggled. ¡°Yeah,¡± I breathed and closed into her, sealing her lips. Her tusks poked my lips which got a chuckle out of me. I focused on the present, drowning on the feeling of the Oni''s lips and tongue against my own. Her hard arms around me made me feel safe and protected, and her muscular torso against my own gave me peace. The much older woman managed to ease my worries with her presence and a few words. Truly a tank, I thought, nibbling her red lips and licking her black tongue. The delicious taste of smoked salmon tickled my tongue and I let out a tiny moan of satisfaction. I sneaked a hand under her shirt and followed the shape of her back muscles with my fingers. Yoling tightened her arms around me and closed her eyes. I chuckled and took a deep breath, then blew air into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed and her eyes opened wide in surprise. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± I laughed and nestled my head on her neck. ¡°Your face was so funny!¡± ¡°You little shit!¡± she giggled and put her arms on my ribs. ¡°Here''s payback.¡± Her fingers rubbed and dug on my skin against my ribs. I raised my eyebrows and waited in silence. I''m not ticklish, unfortunately. ¡°So you''ve chosen tickling, I see,¡± I muttered with a villainous tone. I placed my hands on her ribs. She froze and tried squeezing my hands with her arms. ¡°Natasha... We may break the bed.¡± ¡°HOOH?¡± I leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. ¡°We?¡± The Oni''s face turned panicked. ¡°Alyssa and Lapia are sleeping.¡± I nodded with a serious face, ¡°That''s-¡± The sound of someone clicking their tongue silenced us. ¡°SHUT UUUPP!!¡± Alyssa''s loud voice echoed in the room. It was too late. We awoke the Dragon. ¡°CAN''T A WOMAN TAKE A NAP, FOR ALL THAT IS SACRED IN THE WORLD?!¡± the Luzo shouted, sitting up and giving us a death glare. ¡°Ohh! How society has turned decrepit and allows for people to interrupt the rest of others!!¡± she shook her head and let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°The old tales of Halves say ''They shall do good for the benefit of the people'' but I haven been slighted today!!¡± Shiiiiiit! I thought with a wince and hid my face in Yolin''s ample chest. The Oni snored, trying to play it off as being asleep. ¡°Oh no, you won''t,¡± Alyssa growled and approached us. I felt a scaly hand grab my shoulder and try to push me away from Yolin. We tightened up, preventing anything the Luzo attempted to do. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Lapia''s groggy voice followed. ¡°What''s with the shouting?¡± Alyssa gasped and let my shoulder go, ¡°Lapia, I''m sorry for waking you up.¡± I heard a soft slap and then received one on my shoulder. ¡°These two were laughing and making noise next to us,¡± Alyssa explained with a little anger. ¡°Woke me up and all.¡± I cracked an eye open and saw Alyssa''s red eyes staring at me, then quickly closed it. ¡°I know you''re awake, Natasha...¡± the healer grumbled. ¡°I saw you open an eye. You won''t fool me.¡± I took a deep breath and opened my eyes, then looked around the room as if I had just woken up. ¡°What''s going on?¡± I asked in a tired voice and yawned. ¡°You think this is funny?¡± Alyssa asked with a serious tone and face. ¡°I''ve never seen you yawn before.¡± I tilted my head, ¡°That doesn''t mean-¡± She raised an eyebrow and frowned, which got me to shut up. Lapia sighed. ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded. ¡°My bad. We didn''t intend on waking you up.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Alyssa raised her chin. ¡°And what, pray tell, were you doing?¡± I shrugged, ¡°I had a bit of a bad moment and then, you know... tried coping with humor.¡± Her face relaxed and she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and then sighed and opened her eyes. ¡°What happened? Is everything alright?¡± I glanced at Yolin. She still had her eyes closed. I looked back at Alyssa and nodded. ¡°All good. Just... went too deep into thinking about life and death.¡± Lapia hummed. Alyssa covered her face and rubbed her eyes. ¡°I can forgive you for interrupting my sleep,¡± she muttered, then straightened up and gave me a gentle smile. ¡°Only if you rely on us with your worries.¡± I gave her an apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry for waking you up.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I think giving you emotional support is more important than a nap, Natasha.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Lapia muttered from behind Alyssa. Her words made me feel fuzzy and warm inside. I hugged Yolin and rolled on the bed until I was next to Alyssa, then opened one arm and gestured for her to join the hug. She sighed and laid her body on top of mine. I turned to Lapia and she rolled until she was on top of my extended arm. I hugged the three and smiled, then shared my worries with them. They listened and gave me their own views. It wasn''t a simple issue that could be waved away with a ''don''t worry about it'' response. We spent the following hours talking and discussing longevity, life, death, and time. I really am a blessed woman. 72 - A simple fight... right? We talked until night, snacking on fruit and drinking a bit of alcohol. I had no rest at night, finding myself unable to fall asleep once again. By the time dawn arrived, I had read some books from my storage. They had information about the game''s lore but that was boring in my opinion. Reading in the dark is easy peasy when my body, and especially my eyes, emit light. I did my morning routine and woke the three up at around six thirty and took a group shower with them, then had breakfast with everyone at the table. I tried making pancakes but that was met with resistance. By seven thirty we finished breakfast and chatted for a while at the table. Thelea was giving me a funny look, smiling to herself and chuckling. I arched an eyebrow and raised my chin a little. ¡°What?¡± I asked, looking at her. She shook her head with a small smile. ¡°Nothing.¡± I leaned back on my chair and squinted my eyes at her. ¡°Ready to get the shit beat out of you?¡± I taunted her. She nodded in silence. Yolin stood up and stretched. ¡°Aghaaahh...¡± she yawned then sighed. ¡°Okay, let''s go to the arena.¡± I sighed and stood up. ¡°Sure, let''s get this over with.¡± We all left the apartment and went down the stairs, then fetched out mounts. I fed Sonya and played with her for a couple of minutes. The Ratnak was happy and full of energy, licking me and pushing my torso with her claws. We mounted up and followed the Oni through the city towards the East. I noticed Thelea simply walked next to us, the woman tall enough to keep up with the mounts at a relatively fast pace. The buildings got taller and wider, and the people walking the streets grew in volume. Their average appearance also shifted to armor, worked leather, and carrying weapons around. The majority of people I appraised had combat classes, with around a third being Warriors. Yolin guided us to a massive coliseum even the Romans would envy. The thing was easily a hundred meters tall and three hundred wide. Flags were planted at the top every few meters, arches were carved on the walls holding statues made of gold and silver, and weapons of all kinds hung on the otherwise empty spots of the building. My eyes were wide looking at the colossal construction. People around us rudely pointed at me and whispered among themselves with excitement. I shook my head and ignored them. Maybe pointing at others wasn''t rude in Lumin Kingdom. We approached the tall gates of the coliseum behind Yolin. The Oni dismounted from Pochi and approached a small window. She knocked on it and it soon opened, revealing an armored Dwarf on the other side. ¡°Yeah?¡± the woman asked in a tired tone. ¡°We''d like to arrange a fight,¡± Yolin replied, pointing at our group over her shoulder with a thumb. The Dwarf squinted her eyes at the Oni, then realization struck her. ¡°Six Fists of the North! You''ve returned!¡± The Oni sighed. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Can we, or not?¡± she asked a little annoyed. The Dwarf excitedly nodded. ¡°Yes. Of course! Give me a second,¡± she replied and closed the window. Yolin turned to us and let out a troubled chuckle. The gate opened and the Dwarf approached Yolin. ¡°Lady Makav, I''m sorry this is so sudden but I''m a fan of yours! I''d love it if-,¡± the woman stopped talking when her eyes met mine. I winced. The Dwarf looked at Yolin, then back at me. She leaned closer to Yolin and whispered something. Yolin nodded. The woman''s eyes widened along with her smile. ¡°I see!¡± she cheered. ¡°I see! You should have told us sooner so we could arrange an event!¡± I groaned. Yolin shook her head, ¡°N-¡± ¡°EVERYONE!¡± the Dwarf shouted at the people walking the streets. They all looked at her. ¡°A HALVE WILL FIGHT AT THE ARENA! ENTRY IS FREE FOR TODAY!¡± she announced with a huge smile. ¡°Oh, fuck off!¡± I groaned. The bystanders exploded in cheers and rushed at the numerous windows on the walls along the building. The loud chatter of hundreds of voices drowned the quiet of the morning. The Dwarf laughed and turned around. ¡°Come! Come! The arena is this way!¡± she gestured for us to follow. ¡°Fuck my life,¡± I whispered and shook my head in defeat. Yolin turned to me and gave me an apologetic smile. I shrugged. ¡°Nothing to do about it,¡± I whined. Lapia chuckled next to me. ¡°You could just say no, you know?¡± ¡°And abuse authority?¡± I replied, rubbing Sonya''s neck. ¡°I don''t think so.¡± ¡°The Pitmaster did,¡± she argued. ¡°And she will join the fight,¡± I said in a voice loud enough that the Dwarf could hear. She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around. Her face was tight with regret. ¡°You WILL join, correct?¡± I gave her a big, warm smile. ¡°I mean, such a big crowd. Would be foolish not to brag you fought a Halve, correct?¡± The woman gulped and gave me a small nod. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency,¡± she squeaked. I hummed and nodded. ¡°That''s good.¡± ¡°Not abusing authority, huh?¡± Lapia chuckled. I gave her a big smile as well, ¡°Everyone will join.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The Elf''s smile vanished. Behind us, Bonte laughed. ¡°I mean,¡± I shugged. ¡°Not much of a fight if I go against three people only.¡± ¡°True,¡± Alyssa joined, then giggled. ¡°We''ll try to kick your butt.¡± I chuckled, ¡°Good luck.¡± __ Ten minutes later, I was in a spacious room inside the coliseum. The Dwarf had guided me there, asked me to wait for someone to come and introduce me to the audience, then left. Probably to prepare for the fight. I could hear the distant cheering of the crowd over my own breathing. The room was pretty empty save for a bench, buckets of ice, and Sonya. I equipped my armor and my helmet, retrieved my spear and shield, then summoned an elixir. It was time to juice up. [Draught of Fire Resistance] I smiled and chugged half. A burning sensation went down my throat to my stomach, then I let out a loud burp. It had the flavor of cherry soda. I turned to Sonya and smiled. She let out a low growl and opened her mouth wide. I poured the liquid and she gulped it, then retched a few times. ¡°I''m sorry, little one,¡± I whispered and caressed her face. ¡°I don''t want you to get hurt.¡± Next was a Dew of True Sight for Sonya in case Bonte tried some sneaky business. The Ratnak was pretty high level after the two dungeon dives and I doubted my companions would try to maim my mount, so I didn''t go crazy with the potions. Just a Dew of Iron Body which I hoped did more than the name suggested since iron is pretty much harmless to us, and a Draught of Lasting Regeneration that I hoped would last for the entire fight. I took out a scroll and appraised it. [Writings of Superior Reflexes] ¡°How do I use this?¡± I muttered, opening the scroll. Nothing happened. The contents were a few symbols along with numbers and words that didn''t make sense to me. There was no recognizable language being used in the parchment. ¡°Activate,¡± I said out loud at the scroll. Nothing happened. My face burned in embarrassment and I retrieved my journal, then searched for the pages Lapia wrote. I had given her a scroll and she had used it with no problem. I found the answer and felt pretty dumb. After pushing E''er into the scroll, the drawings lit up and vanished from the parchment. The E''er in the scroll shimmered and shifted in my direction, moving like a ripples in a pond. My nerves tingled and I felt my mind sharpen. ¡°That''s cool!¡± I whispered in surprise. More than that would be excessive, so I stopped there even though I had a collection of over fifty different scrolls. I turned to Sonya. ¡°Can''t bully lowies, especially since three of them are my lovers, right?¡± I asked her with a chuckle. She growled and nodded. I stared at the Drake-looking beast for a few seconds. ¡°Do you really understand what I say?¡± She nodded again. ¡°What''s the E''eral root of thermodynamic transformation?¡± I quizzed her. Sonya blinked and growled, then scratched my torso with a large claw. I giggled. ¡°Okay, got it. I don''t really remember that one,¡± I admitted and sighed. ¡°Are you happy being my mount?¡± She nodded and licked my helmet. I laughed and hugged her neck, ¡°Good girl!¡± Alyssa had mentioned the Ratnak were quite smart but simple minded creatures, and it kind of made sense with Sonya. The bit of them following those stronger also made sense with me being pretty damn strong. Footsteps from the hallway caught my attention and I turned to the open door. A short Urkile Tigea wearing a leather set of armor showed up and entered the room. ¡°Your Eeee... Lady Natasha,¡± he corrected himself with a smile. ¡°The Royal Family caught wind of the fight and would like to attend. It seems His Majesty the King feels better than ever so he asked if you could please wait for their arrival.¡± I shrugged then nodded, ¡°Sure. Not a problem. I''m sure the audience will be elated to see him.¡± He smiled widely. ¡°Oh, they will. Of that I''m absolutely sure.¡± ¡°Would that be considered a political move?¡± I asked him with a serious face. ¡°Him showing up now, when the people know he''s indisposed?¡± He nodded, ¡°Naturally. A lot of people have heard of your visit to the Royal Palace, Lady Natasha.¡± He gave me a knowing smile. ¡°They will naturally connect the dots.¡± I sighed, ¡°Seems awfully honest.¡± He looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath, then let out a long sigh. ¡°I''m sure you''ve heard that honesty, cooperation, and respect are the cornerstones of society,¡± He muttered, looking me in the eye. I nodded. ¡°A King is not exempted from that, Lady Natasha,¡± he said with a small smile. ¡°If anything, that''s why the people loves a good Ruler.¡± I shrugged, then stared into his eyes, ¡°Makes sense. Otherwise I''d come into the picture with a different approach.¡± He looked down at the floor and nodded. ¡°Nobody forgets that, Lady Natasha.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I muttered. ¡°Thanks for letting me know.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± he replied with a bow. He stayed like that for a second then asked, ¡°Did you heal His Majesty?¡± ¡°I did,¡± I admitted. ¡°But don''t spread that around. Let Gordon have that.¡± He straightened up. ¡°I won''t,¡± he replied and turned around, ¡°And thank you,¡± then he walked off. You''re really loved, Gordon, I thought, listening to the man''s footsteps. A good King makes for a good Kingdom, I suppose. Sonya growled and pushed my with her head. I giggled and pushed back. __ Twenty minutes later, I was rubbing Sonya''s stomach and playing with her when a new set of footsteps approached the room. I glanced at the door and saw a tall Shishi Tigea come around the corner. She gave me a deep bow and spoke, ¡°Your Excellency! The Arena is ready to welcome you!¡± ¡°Finally!¡± I cheered and stood up. Sonya copied me and headbutted the back of my head. I chuckled and gently pushed her head away. ¡°Come this way, please,¡± she suggested and turned to the left of the corridor. I followed, carrying my weapons and with Sonya behind me. We walked through tall and wide corridors until we reached a massive gate. The Tigea stepped aside and lowered her head, ¡°Please enter the Arena fter the master of ceremony calls your name. That will have a bigger impact on the crowd.¡± I smiled, ¡°Fair enough.¡± The gate slowly rose, revealing a stadium-sized arena. The audience seats were packed to the brim, the sound of thousands of people cheering and talking growing in volume. Then, a magnified voice echoed in the coliseum. ¡°THE TIME HAS COME, CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF PAARJO!¡± The announcer... well, announced. The audience went silent. ¡°FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS ARENA...¡± He paused for a second, letting the audience grow impatient. ¡°IN THE SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS THAT THIS VERY ARENA HAS EXISTED! AN EVENT WITH NO PRECEDENT! A FIGHT ONLY HEARD OF IN TALES, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS! A HALVE WILL TAKE THE STAGE!¡± The crowd exploded in cheers, straining my ears a bit. ¡°Holy shit,¡± I groaned. ¡°How many people are there?¡± ¡°Three hundred thousand,¡± the Tigea next to me replied. ¡°It''s full house. We haven''t seen this many since the last tournament''s finals.¡± I sighed, ¡°Well... fuck. Should I make a show out of it?¡± She shook her head. ¡°The audience prefers an honest show, Your Excellency. Do make it last a bit, however.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°HER KIND PROTECTED OUR ANCESTORS AND ALLOWED FOR CIVILIZATION TO EXIST! THE MAIN PROTAGONIST OF THIS EVENT! A WOMAN OF ACTION AND DESICION! ONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THIS WORLD LESS THAN TWO MONTHS! THE ONE AND ONLY! LAST OF HER KIND TO BLESS THIS WORLD OF OURS! GIVE A THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE TOOOOO!!! NATASHA NOVAK, THE HALVEN WARRIOR!!!!!!¡± The audience once again erupted in screams, shouts, and all manners of loud noises. I sighed and mounted Sonya. ¡°Well...let''s go, girl,¡± I patted Sonya''s neck. Looks like this got blown out of proportion... I complained in my mind while entering the arena. 73 - PvP (1) Sonya made her way slowly into the arena with me on top. The audience went silent once again. I looked around the coliseum, taking in the thousands of people staring at me. Children, adults, elderly, and people whose age I couldn''t discern had their eyes locked on me. I stood on the saddle with quick movements, stored my helmet, then raised my spear. ¡°WOOOOAAAHH!!!¡± the audience erupted in cheers. ¡°THERE SHE IS!¡± the announced hyped my entrance. I followed the augmented sound of his voice, quickly finding an old Dwarf standing on a tall stand. Above him, the Royal Family sat in regular-looking seats next to Noble-looking individuals. I looked directly into Gordon''s eyes. He gave me smile and a nod. I returned the gesture, then sat back down on the saddle and lowered my weapon. My helmet covered my head and I looked around, trying to find my companions. ¡°NEXT IS THE GROUP OF BRAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL TAKE ON THE HALVE!!¡± the announcer''s voice boomed through the arena. ¡°COMING FROM THE ELVEN QUEENDOM OF MAARUHK! HAVING TAUGHT HIS EXCELLENCY DESSEYR AND NOW LOVER OF HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA! FORMER TEACHER, NOW CHASER!! LAPIAAAA POFETAA, FLAME OF THE EEASST!!!¡± The crowd cheered with even more energy. A few aww''s could be clearly heard, though. A gate rose on the other side of the arena, revealing the figure of the Wizard. The Elf walked into the arena with graceful steps. She was wearing the full set I gave her along her staff floating next to her. Once she was in full view of the crowd, she smirked and crossed her arms. Cheeky, alright, I thought with a wide smile. ¡°NEXT IS THE FAMED CARDINAL FROM O''LU KEER REN! MOST OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW HER, BUT SHE AMASSED QUITE THE REPUTATION IN KOLUUM KINGDOM BY HELPING CHASERS AND REDUCING THE INJURY RATE TO A BAFFLING ONE PERCENT! IT''S RUMORED SHE ENJOYS PASTRIES ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE! ONE TO ALSO HAVE SNATCHED THE HALVE''S HEART!! AAALYYSSAA PRUUUVIIIK, THE LIGHT BRINGER~!!¡± The crowd, once again, erupted in deafening cheers. Another gate rose, and Alyssa strode into the arena with confidence and grace. Her tail followed the movement of her hips and her black horns reflected the light of the suns, making for a dazzling sight. ¡°NOW FOR A RATHER ODD ONE TO ENTER THE ARENA! NOT SEEN OFTEN IN FIGHTING TEAMS HERE, BUT APPRECIATED BY TEAMMATES ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR THE VERSATILITY OF HIS SKILLS! FROM FATIIRA! A MAN WHO ENJOYS THE ARTS AND THE PURSUIT OF CULTURE! ARRIVING WITH A SONOROUS CANNONADE!! BROOOMISNAAAR BAHAAADH, THE TALEWEAVER!!¡± The extremely loud screech of women fangirling drowned any sound that could exist in the coliseum. Damn! I was impressed. A gate rose and the Satyr calmly walked into the arena, waving at the audience. He was wearing the costume I gave him, and held his lute with one hand, and a flute with the other. He gave a charming smile to the crowd, then bowed. The women in the audience screamed louder than before. ¡°ALRIGHT! IT SEEMS WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE FAVORITE SO FAR!¡± the announced chuckled, demanding the audience''s attention. ¡°BUT THIS DOESN''T END HERE! NEXT IS SOMEONE YOU ALL ARE WELL ACQUAINTED WITH!! REGULAR PARTICIPANT OF THE TOURNAMENTS, THIS WOMAN FACES BATTLE WITH UNIQUE ABANDON!! WELCOME THELEA VATHUNITH, GOLIATH BATTLEMAIDEN!!¡± Again, the crowd cheered as if each introduction was the best in history. The tall woman walked into the arena fully armored, carrying a massive shield with an equally big mace. Her equipment was the color of ash, similar to her own skin but a bit darker. The armor covering her body had markings of battles past, giving it an edgy look compared to my pristine silver-ish armor. ¡°NOW, FOR A MAN BORN IN THIS KINGDOM!! DEAR AUDIENCE!! A SHISHI TIGEA THAT KNOWS NO FEAR! A MAN WHO KNOWS NO LIMIT! GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO BONTE SLIRMY, SHADOW''S CARESS!!!¡± I cringed with my entire body at his title. That''s an insipid introduction... I thought. The crowd cheered as always, threatening to burst my eardrums. Bonte trotted into the arena, wearing the white costume I gave him and holding daggers in both hands. His thin tail shifted a little and his ears twitched a few times. ¡°NOW NOW! A SURPRISE FOR EVERYONE! AN ELF FROM THE UURUHK MONARCHY! A RECENTLY RETIRED PLATOON COMMANDER THAT ASSISTED IN REPELLING A GYK''EL INVASION AT THE BORDERS OF THE CRYSTALIZED CITY OF ARAKH''OZH!! GIVE A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO POKH''ORRA PEZH''CHE, THE SHARPSHOOTER!!¡± The crowd erupted in cheers. My eyebrows went up in surprise. Pokora hadn''t mentioned having a title. Wait... did they interview them before the fight? I wondered, gazing at the announcer. ¡°AT THE INSISTENCE OF HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA, PITMASTER SOFIA WILL JOIN THE FIGHT!¡± he quickly announced with little fanfare. The crowd''s reactions was equally mild. The woman in question jogged into the arena wearing a set of armor and a long staff. I nodded in satisfaction. ¡°AND NOW! LAST BUT NOT LEAST! THE SECOND BIGGEST SURPRISE! RETURNING CHAMPION!! THIS WOMAN NOT ONLY MANAGED TO WIN A TOURNAMENT BY HERSELF! SHE ALSO MANAGED TO WIN OVER HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA''S HEART! HER FIGHT AGAINST THELEA HERE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR DECADES TO COME! THE SIX FISTS OF THE NOOORTH! YOOOOLIN MAKAAAAAAAV!!¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The crowd absolutely lost their shit. People leaned forward in excitement and whistled, screamed, sang, and roared for Yolin. Why is everyone famous?! I questioned the world from my mind. Even if I spoke out loud, the noise of the crowd would drown my voice. Well, living long lives makes chances for fame higher. I noticed my companions were on the other half of the arena opposite of where I was. They slowly made their way to the center, then turned to me. ¡°DEAR AUDIENCE! THIS FIGHT HAS A FAMILIAR SET OF RULES!!¡± the announcer''s voice echoed, silencing the audience. The arena trembled and shook with a low rumble. The edges that connected the ground with the gallery lowered and disappeared from sight. ¡°IF ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS FALL INTO THE PITS THEY WILL BE COUNTED AS DEFEATED!! FOR OUR RESIDENT ETERNAL, HOWEVER, THE RULES ARE A BIT DIFFERENT! IF ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS MANAGE TO KEEP STANDING AFTER TWENTY MINUTES, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED THEIR WIN!¡± ¡°Fair, to be honest,¡± I muttered and looked down at my weapon. It was a bit much for the fight. The sharpness could cut them open at best and dismember them at worst if something went wrong. Yolin was a bit of a madwoman when fighting, and I had no idea how Thelea fought. The Pitmaster was an unknown factor as well. Still, it would be disrespectful to use a shitty weapon, I considered, lifting the spear at eye level. With a quick movement of my wrist, I turned it around. The pointy tip that had no edge was more sensible to use. It would not injure them to the point of needing to recover lost limbs but would carry enough impact to break bones. I''d need to hold my strength back. ¡°NOW, THE FIGHT WILL START AFTER THE BARRIER IS RAISED!¡± the Dwarf informed everyone. A high pitched thrum was followed by the uncomfortable sound of shattered glass grinding against asphalt. Then, the E''er in the entire coliseum trembled and ''solidified'' into a dome that separated the arena from the audience. I looked around, noticing the barrier had a glass-like transparency with the surface of a soap bubble. It looked worryingly frail. Will it hold up to my warcries? I wondered, glancing around at the people in the audience. What if my auras go through? The arena was around two hundred meters wide. Not enough for me to use my skills without worry. Yolin had taught me how to control my strength and skills. She hadn''t mentioned anything about limiting their range, though. I clicked my tongue and sighed. Closing my eyes, I quickly peered within me. The knowledge of skills, the weird feeling of my status, and the unfathomable storage welcomed me. I focused on the warcries and touched them all around to see if range was something I could influence when using them. After ten seconds I didn''t find anything so I returned to reality. Not using them in the first place would remove the problem, after all. ¡°THE FIGHT WILL BEGIN IN TEN!¡± I first pushed E''er into Prevention, increasing my resistance to movement impairing effects and keeping the arrest from working. ¡°NINE!¡± Second was Initiation, connecting with Sonya and becoming hyper-aware of our movements. ¡°EIGHT!¡± Third was Monster Hunter, keeping the effects to myself and Sonya while thinking of the people in front of me as my enemies. My body tingled, tightened, then relaxed. ¡°SEVEN!¡± I checked my stats and hummed in satisfaction at the 70% increase to Strength and Dexterity. I was already in a battle trance with Prevention. ¡°SIX!¡± Intimidate Prey was over-kill. The skill sent out an irresistible invitation to fight to the death for those weaker than me... which meant everyone present as far as I knew. I quickly skipped it. ¡°FIVE!¡± At the front of the group in front of me, Yolin''s tattoos glowed, her skin turned darker, a third horn of light formed on her forehead, and the twenty blue spheres hovered around her. She clapped and a bright mandala floated behind her. The air around Lapia shimmered with the increase in temperature, her eyes glowed fire red and electric purple. Alyssa waved her hands and did gang signs. Bright white halos formed above their heads and an odd white light flowed around their bodies. Then, a barrier formed around her along with a huge circle on the ground that covered the entire arena. Smart, I nodded. ¡°FOUR!¡± Bonte crouched and shadows danced at his feet as if alive. Bromisnar plucked a few strings of his lute and the group''s ears twitched. ¡°THREE!¡± Thelea did a weird pose and E''er shifted around her and into the party, then took a stance. ¡°TWO!¡± Pokora''s eyes glowed with a greenish blue light and she knocked an arrow, then aimed at me. The Pitmaster stomped on the ground and balls of sand formed around her hands. ¡°ONE! THE FIGHT STARTS NOOOOOW!¡± I raised my shield and kicked Sonya''s flank. She rushed to the side, surrounding the group. They are owed their struggle... as we are owed entertainment, an obscenely arrogant thought popped in my mind from my Halven instincts. Thelea rushed to me, charging in my direction at an incredible speed. Pokora released arrow after arrow like it was nobody''s business. Lapia waved her hands around, bright white electricity flowing from them. Spherical shields of purple lightning formed around everyone. I clicked my tongue and lifted my spear, ignoring the arrows hitting my helmet right were my eyes were. Thelea approached and raised her massive shield. I activated Topple and Crush, swinging my spear down at her with four thousand strength right at the weak point my skills informed me. My weapon went through the electric shield like a bullet through a bubble. The loud crack of metal against metal echoed in the arena. Her shield shattered instantly under the weight of uncountable tonnes of force. My spear continued down and struck her shoulder, pulverizing the armor protecting her. She let out a pained groan and went down to her knees, then coughed blood. Right then, thick clouds covered the skies and blocked the suns. The light, however, did not dim as a small sun began to take form above Lapia. Holy shit! They''re going all in! I thought with a huge smile. A bit of drool might have escaped my mouth. Sonya continued jogging around the group, circling their formation. The Pitmaster threw sand balls my way, and I slapped them away with my shield. Shadows sneaked through the floor towards us and formed a pool beneath us that followed Sonya. The Ratnak did not react. I sighed in relief at seeing the potion working. Yolin was constantly changing position, keeping herself between me and Lapia. ¡°First the Wizard, then the Cleric,¡± I muttered and kicked Sonya''s flank. It was time to counterattack before the Elf blasted me with a sun. 74 - PvP (2) Sonya charged towards Lapia. The Elf turned in my direction and pointed a hand at me. Lightning surged between her fingers and hit me in the chest before I could even tilt my head in confusion. My body clamped for an instant and the disturbing taste of licking a battery filled my mouth. Sonya let out a short whimper but continue moving nonetheless. Yolin blocked our path, spreading her six arms and giving me a wide smile. ¡°Knock her up, Sonya!¡± I commanded and stretched my legs to get a better position. Arrows hit my helmet and neck, producing clicking sounds when the projectiles bounced off my armor. The ground of the arena suddenly rose in front of Yolin, forming a wall of dirt around her and Lapia. I turned my head to the Pitmaster. She took a step back and swallowed. ¡°Well, then,¡± I tapped the Ratnak''s neck. She took a sharp turn and zoomed towards the Dwarf. I raised my right arm and tightened my grip on the spear, ready to slam her chest and push her out of the arena. Movement from my left caught my attention and I turned my head. Thelea had stood up and was running towards my target with a new shield in hand. She was definitely using a skill to increase her speed. I stored my shield and gripped my spear with both hands like a baseball bat. The Goliath reached the Dwarf before me and raised her shield in front of her body. We reached them and Sonya turned to the left, giving me ample space. I swung my arms, aiming at the solid spot on the shield with the guidance of my skills that informed me of the weak spot. The loud clank of metal hitting metal echoed in the arena once again. The electric bubble around them did nothing to protect them. Her shield broke but didn''t shatter. That didn''t matter since the force was enough to send her flying backwards, crashing against the Dwarf and into the wall of the arena some forty meters behind them, then fell down to the pit below. ¡°!¡± I cheered with raised arms. The audience exploded in ooh''s. ¡°AND THAT''S TWO DOWN!!¡± the announcer''s voice boomed. ¡°WHAT A SPECTACLE! NO FANCY SKILLS! NO COMPLEX SPELLS! THIS IS A SHOW OF PURE STRENGTH, DEAR AUDIENCE!!!¡± The wall of dirt crumbled, revealing the two inside. A puff of shadows in front of me blocked my view for an instant. Bonte popped up from between the weird floating darkness, lunging at me. I tilted my head to the side, dodging the blades aimed at my face. Then, I tightened a fist and threw a punch at his stomach. The catboy''s body kept moving towards me. I stopped my fist mere centimeters from his crotch, then quickly moved my hand to the side and slapped his waist. My hand went through the bubble of lightning around him with no issue. The Tigea spun in the air a few times and his body dissolved in a puff of shadows only to emerge behind Bromisnar. Bonte was breathing heavily and his face was pale as a ghost with lost eyes, then fell down to his knees. That was close, I thought with a wince. I would never hit a man there. Not before, and even less now that I also have a penis. Extreme circumstances aside, that is not a place to target. While he recuperated from the shock, I looked around me. Pokora had stopped shooting arrows my way and was simply aiming at me with a serious face. Bonte''s attack had left the Archer alone. The clouds above had grown thicker and darker, similar to those of a thunderstorm. The sun above Lapia was around sixty meters wide and still growing. Yolin was still standing in front of the Elf with arms spread, ready to intercept me. Or try to, at least. ¡°Change of plans, girl,¡± I kicked Sonya''s flank again and she rushed towards Pokora. The Elf released arrows again, shooting them faster than before. I decided to flex so I grabbed each arrow before they hit me and stored them while laughing. ¡°Oh, fuck off!¡± Pokora groaned and knocked five arrows. ¡°Crazy bitch!¡± ¡°Don''t call me a bitch!¡± I retorted with a laugh. Sonya reached her and lowered her head, preparing to headbutt her. I leaned forward and raised my spear, ready to swing the weapon as soon as the woman dodged. Much to my surprise, Pokora raised a leg. Sonya made contact and violently lifted her head, going through the purple spherical shield like it wasn''t there. Pokora stepped on the Ratnak''s head and used the force to propel herself high up. ¡°Fuck you, bitch!¡± the Elf laughed and released the arrows in my direction. ¡°You''re the crazy bitch!¡± I replied and summoned my shield, then covered Sonya''s head with it to block the arrows. I jumped on top of my mount and took a deep breath. I can do crazy shit too, sometimes, I thought and jumped after the Elf, focusing entirely on the woman mid-air. My stomach tightened and my body went a little numb as I crossed the limit of ten meters with no ground beneath me. A tiny whimper left my lips and my face scrunched up in fear. I stored my shield and readied my weapon. The Elf''s eyes widened and she opened her lips to whine, probably. ¡°Yeet!¡± I intercepted her taunt and swung my spear at her. The weapon collided with her body and sent her to the ground like a meteorite, where she crashed and tumbled a few times, lifting sand on her path. I made a mistake. I looked down. ¡°§³§å§Ü§Ñ §Ò§Ý§ñ§ä§î!¡± I swore, then tightened my jaw. My body, however, continued going up. I looked in horror as the ground grew farther away until I stopped my ascend. Around seventy meters high. Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!!! My thoughts were in disarray and I grasped at everything that could get me out of that situation. And idea popped in my mind and I winced. Fucking fuck! I pushed E''er into Dragoon Might, then into Dragon Dive. Time slowed down to a crawl and the world turned red. Not red as when anger overtakes the senses, but red as in this is the area of effect of the skill red. A weird circle formed wherever I looked, growing wider the longer I waited. A moment of lucidity from my Halven instincts cleared up the fear gripping my mind, giving me a second to collect myself. -Dragon Dive, Lvl 50. Fly up to the sky with Dragon Wings, then land with an impact akin to a Dragon crashing on the ground. Your landing creates spikes from the ground that impale enemies. The material of said spikes depends on the surface you land on. Spends a large amount of E''er to achieve this feat. I looked at an empty area in the arena and chose that as my landing spot. The world rushed toward me in a fraction of a second. Or, more precisely, I dove down faster than sound. My collision formed a small crater with me at the center and sand flew up and all around. The moment I touched ground the E''er I had pushed into the skill transferred down and around me. I landed on my feet, fortunately. I coughed a few times and waved my arms around to disperse the sand, taking advantage of the much appreciated rush of adrenaline, then walked out of the hole in the ground. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Around me, spikes of hardened dirt stood one meter tall in a thirty meter radius. Yolin and Lapia were looking at me with wide eyes and slack jaws. Pokora slowly stood up from her downed position, wiping blood off her chin. Alyssa''s healing is going strong, it seems, I thought, trying to ignore the shake of my hands and legs. I tried taking a step forward but my body didn''t listen. The moment of being suspended mid-air so high up was still in the forefront of my mind despite my efforts. My heart was beating a million times a second and my breathing was labored, That was fucking scary! ¡°HOLY SHIIIIIT!!¡± the announcer''s shocked voice echoed in the arena. ¡°DID YOU ALL SEE THAT? WHAT A DISPLAY OF POWER! TRULY A HALVEN SKILL! I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!¡± The audience exploded in cheers of amazement and shock. Their screams blended together in an intelligible cacophony around the coliseum. ¡°THAT WAS AMAZING!!¡± some shouted. ¡°HOLY FUCKING SHIT!¡± others cursed loudly in awe. ¡°YAASS GIRL!¡± a few cheered. Pokora jogged to Bromisnar and Bonte, and aimed her bow at me. I took a deep breath and used all my willpower to move my right foot. The limb moved slowly with an annoying shake. Bonte dissolved into shadows and popped up to my left, aiming at my leg with his daggers. I quickly kicked his arms away, then grabbed him by the collar and turned to the Archer and Performer. The Elf frowned and lowered her bow. I smiled and moved the catboy in front of me as a shield. ¡°Uhh...¡± he let out an unsure mutter, grabbing my wrist with both hands. ¡°Natasha, buddy? You won''t use me as a shield, will you?¡± ¡°What do you eat that lets you guess so easily?¡± I chuckled and ran towards the two. ¡°Come ooon!¡± he groaned and slapped my head a few times. I stored my weapon when I reached them and wrapped my arms around the three. Then, I kept running to the edge of the arena. ¡°Well, this was fun,¡± Bromisnar chuckled, his hair rustling in the wind. Pokora clicked her tongue. ¡°Not like we had much of a chance, anyway,¡± she muttered, a little annoyed. I laughed and unceremoniously threw them into the pit. They disappeared into the darkness below. ¡°AND THA-¡± The sky split open and a lightning as thick as a bus fell down from the sky with a deafening rumble that silenced the announcer. The rod of electricity was cut short for an instant high up in the sky. Then, right above me, it appeared again and fell on me. My body seized up for an instant and the taste of batteries filled my mouth again. I winced and moved my tongue for a bit to rid myself of the sensation. Space spells to shorten the travel? I turned to Lapia with a small smile. Pretty neat. Sonya jogged towards me and stood by my side. I looked up at the rumbling clouds, then sighed. ¡°Stay back for a bit, girl. It''ll be bad if one hits you.¡± The Ratnak nodded and sat down on the sand. I chuckled and rubbed her head, then turned to the last three. Yolin laughed and gestured with her six arms for me to come closer. I took a stance and pushed E''er into Charge, then shot towards her at the speed of sound. Her eyes widened and she tried crossing her arms in front of her. I reached her before she could finish the action and tackled her. We crashed against the wall of the arena, right below the barrier that protected the audience. Yolin groaned and grabbed my body with her six arms. I pushed the wall with my legs, propelling us across the arena. We crashed against the opposite wall in less than a second. ¡°Uff!¡± Yolin groaned, then laughed. ¡°Don''t hold back, Natasha!¡± ¡°Alright, then,¡± I replied and pulled us out of the wall. We landed on the sand and separated. Lightning fell on me again, too fast for me to dodge. I coughed a few times. ¡°Lightning tastes bad,¡± I muttered with a shake of my head. Yolin laughed and rushed me. ¡°It does!¡± she agreed and hugged my waist, then lowered her body. I grabbed her left real arm, then dug my middle finger in her elbow right where the funny nerve is. ¡°Ahhh!¡± she groaned and loosened her arms. I hit her stomach with my left knee, lifting her up in the air for a second. ¡°Kha!¡± she coughed. I turned around, still grabbing her arm, and slammed her against the ground. ¡°Agh! Spicy!¡± she cheered with a laugh, then tried grabbing my arm with her extra limbs. I stored my spear and grabbed one of the white ethereal arms, then ripped it out of her body. It came off without resistance then burst in a shower of light. I slammed her against the ground again, then ripped another arm off. Lightning came down on me once again, forcing my body to twitch for a second. I gritted my teeth and kicked Yolin in the stomach, sending her flying back forty meters. Lapia shouted something in Elvish. I turned around and saw the sun above the Elf, which had grown to be around the size of the entire arena, slowly descend towards me while shrinking in size. The sight was a little scary, I won''t lie. I spread my arms wide and received the attack with a smile. The sun enveloped me and memories of a trip to Greece during summer surfaced on my mind. The sand around me turned black and the air shimmered with the massive increase in temperature. I held my breath and saw the world go white with the orb''s explosion. Lightning came down on me like rain, forcing my body to spasm with the electric charge. A hiccup escaped me and I held back a laugh. The Elf had managed to break my breathing rhythm. I kicked the ground and ran out of the voltaic inferno, then took a deep breath. Yolin had stood up and was in front of Lapia again. Sturdy woman, I thought with a warm smile, then rushed her again. That time, however, I didn''t play with my girlfriend. I grabbed her and slammed her body on the wall or the arena, then pushed her into the pit with enough strength to prevent her arms from latching onto me. She gave me a wide smile and fell down while laughing loudly. ¡°That was fun!¡± she shouted and blew me a kiss. My face burned and I giggled. Then, lightning fell on me again, stopping me mid-giggle and making my fingers twitch. I turned around and jumped back into the arena, then walked to the Elf at a relaxed pace. She put both hands in front of her and her eyes lit up with an electric purple hue. A thick, white arch of plasma connected to my chest from her hands. An incredibly strong tingle tickled my privates and a tiny gasp escaped me. This is not good, I thought, feeling a slight fluster in my loins and chest. If this keeps going she''ll make me cum in public. A few raunchy ideas crossed my mind regarding electric shocks, but none included a third party watching. I raised a hand, touching the arch, and summoned my spear, then stabbed at the ground. The current flowed down and into the sand, diminishing the erotic feeling between my legs by a large margin. The Elf didn''t relent, however. More lightning came down from the thick clouds above, and fire arrows slammed on my body. I continued walking nonetheless, the impact of her magic not strong enough to overcome my resistance to movement impairing effects. Once I reached her, she dropped her arms. Her breathing was ragged and her face was a little sweaty. ¡°That was really cool,¡± I said and gave her a thumbs-up. She smirked, ¡°I bet.¡± I hummed. ¡°I don''t want to hurt you, though.¡± The Elf shrugged, ¡°They told us there are healers waiting at the bottom of the pit all around the arena.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I sighed with a nod. ¡°Well, then.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Lapia chuckled. I grabbed her by the waist and spun, then threw her at the edge of the arena. Her body followed a clean arc and went down into the pit without slamming against the wall. I turned to the dome protecting the Luzo, then gave it a firm punch. It shattered like glass and Alyssa''s giggle followed. Her horns showed up first, going for my throat. I took a step to the side, dodging her attack. She spun and her tail went for my feet, and her staff for my head. I blocked both and breathed out in amazement. ¡°Wow. That''s a surprise.¡± Alyssa giggled and gave me a wink. ¡°Nobody expects the Cleric to know how to fight.¡± I tilted my head, more surprised about that comment. ¡°Why?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Too much time spent learning the Laws of Life.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I giggled and nodded. ¡°I''m more surprised here,¡± Alyssa commented, giving me an approving nod. ¡°You broke 70% of Thelea''s bones with a single blow. Then all of Yolin''s ribs along with her arms and half of her back.¡± I hiccuped, breaking the tension. Alyssa laughed and I joined. ¡°Lapia''s skills got me like this,¡± I muttered. ¡°Well, let''s end this.¡± The woman nodded. I grabbed her by the waist and threw her like I did Lapia. The two were not as tough as the Oni, and I didn''t put much trust on healers I didn''t know. My winning condition was to push them off the edge, not to injure them. After the Luzo disappeared into the pit, the audience erupted in roars. ¡°WHAT A FIGHT! BRUTAL BUT CAREFUL! DISPLAYING STRENGTH BUT NOT GOING OVERBOARD! WHAT A POLITE LADY SHE IS, DEAR AUDIENCE! STRONG LIKE NO OTHER YET CAREFUL LIKE A LOVING MOTHER!!¡± I cringed at the simil. I wasn''t going to butcher my friends and lovers for others'' entertainment. Besides, the fight was initially between Thelea, Yolin, and me. ¡°Sonya, come here girl!¡± I called my mount. The Ratnak stood up and trotted my way. I climbed on top and caressed her neck. ¡°You were awesome, Sonya.¡± She let out a low growl and nodded. I laughed and patted her neck. ¡°Let''s get out of here.¡± We left the arena through the gate I came in through, and I heard announcer going on about the fight, dissecting each of my movements with unnecessary detail and assuming my intent. It wasn''t as bad as with Lady Dabrak''s interview in the newspaper, but still a little much. Deep into the coliseum, my hiccups echoed on the hallways. 75 - A little music. ¡°We eating good~ I''m a fat man~¡± I sang while walking through the hallways of the coliseum. Sonya followed behind me, pushing my back with her head every few seconds. Orbs of light similar to the ones on the streets illuminated the white stone walls, ceiling, and floor. The Tigea that guided me to the arena walked next to me, bobbing her head along with my voice and chuckling every time I hiccuped. We arrived at a wide room with an unnecessary amount of weapons hanging on the walls and I quieted down. My companions were inside, sitting on chairs around a circular table. The Pitmaster was nowhere to be seen, though. ¡°What''s u-hic!¡± I tried greeting them. They turned to me and chuckled. ¡°That was pretty fun,¡± Thelea commented and gave me a nod. ¡°Thank you for holding back, Natasha.¡± I nodded. ¡°Fun?¡± Pokora interjected with raised eyebrows. ¡°She totally kicked our asses!¡± ¡°True,¡± Yolin agreed with a wide smile. ¡°But sometimes an ass-kicking is needed to review our skills.¡± Bonte gave me a slow nod. ¡°Thank you for... you know,¡± he muttered. ¡°It''s alright,¡± I returned the nod. ¡°Hic!¡± ¡°Well, looks like I got you to hiccup,¡± Lapia chuckled with a cheeky smirk. ¡°Not so unreachable,¡± she added with a shrug. I giggled at that while walking to the table. ¡°I guess we''re- hic! -done here?¡± I commented. Yolin nodded. ¡°Yeah, we should probably leave now or wait for the audience to leave first.¡± Pokora stood up with a sigh, ¡°Let''s leave now?¡± I nodded and gave her a thumbs up, not wanting to speak and have hiccups interrupt me again. And so, we bid our farewell to the staff and left the coliseum. Back out in the streets, we mounted up and slowly rode the streets. The suns were still on their way to the peak, and the world was bathed in the early hours of morning still. I guided Sonya to walk close to Bromisnar and his Bhin, then gave the man a nod. ¡°Could I -hic- take up the offer of going to the Performer School of the Arts?¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± he replied with a polite smile. ¡°Would you like to go now?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I nodded and turned to the rest. ¡°Who wants to -hic- come?¡± Pokora perked up and raised a hand. ¡°Me!¡± she excitedly replied. Alyssa shook her head. ¡°I saw an interesting store earlier. They had pastries on display.¡± Lapia smiled and turned to the Luzo. ¡°I''ll join you¡± Yolin hummed. ¡°I''ll go train with Thelea,¡± she turned to the woman in question. ¡°You up for that?¡± ¡°Fuck yeah,¡± the Goliath cheerfully replied, then turned to the Tigea. ¡°You with us, Bonte?¡± The catboy nodded and gave his girlfriend a wink. ¡°Alright,¡± I laughed with a smile. ¡°Take care and have fun.¡± We split up and went our separate ways. Pokora rode next to me on her mount and together we followed Bromisnar. Half an hour later we arrived at a building that had a form of Gothic architecture similar to the Churches but less dramatic. The building used up an entire block and had clock towers on each corner. We left our mounts at a rest post in front of the school''s entrance then went into the building. The entrance hall was busy with people walking back and forth. Some looked young enough to be students but I had learned that appearances meant mostly nothing. A thin Urkila Tigea wearing a colorful robe approached us with a smile and gave Bromisnar a polite nod. ¡°Welcome,¡± he began with an amused tone, offering a hand to the Satyr. ¡°The grapevine offers amusing whispers this morning, friend.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Bromisnar chuckled, returning the handshake. ¡°What whispers would those be, friend?¡± The Tigea glanced at me and then back at the man he was shaking hands with. ¡°They tell of a Satyr in the arena facing off a Halve,¡± he muttered with a grin. I glanced at Pokora. She was smiling with a small blush. Oh? A small smile formed on my face, then hiccuped. ¡°Indeed,¡± the Satyr nodded. ¡°That was me. We had a small, friendly match earlier.¡± The Tigea chuckled and let the man''s hand go. ¡°How can I be of service? I''m sure you''ve come for more than the little gossip I may offer.¡± Bromisnar nodded and gesture at me with a hand. ¡°Natasha here would like to buy a piano.¡± The Tigea''s face soured a little, then turned to me. ¡°A piano, is it?¡± I nodded. ¡°If you don''t mind showing me around? The Minister of Higher Relations informed me of this place.¡± His eyes widened a little but his unimpressed face remained unchanged. ¡°Mmhh...¡± he hummed and nodded. ¡°I see. This way, please.¡± He turned around and walked off to a hallway. I leaned into Bromisnar and whispered, ¡°What''s with the face?¡± He sighed, ¡°Probably doesn''t think you can play an instrument, being a Warrior and all.¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I shook my head and sighed. ¡°Guess I''ll just blow his mind away.¡± Bromisnar chuckled and nodded, giving me a cocky smile, ¡°I have only heard you play the piano once, so I have high expectation.¡± ¡°Hooh? You too?¡± I raised my eyebrows and smiled. ¡°You''ll see.¡± ¡°Can''t wait,¡± he chuckled. We turned to Pokora, who was frowning. I tilted my head. ¡°What''s with you?¡± I inquired. She rolled her eyes. ¡°Agh! Nothing. You wouldn''t understand,¡± she replied with annoyance. I shrugged and we followed the Tigea into the building. He guided us to a wide room with a sign that read ''Instruments for Beginners''. It held a large variety of instruments from pianos, organs, violins, lutes, flutes, harps, and more. My eyebrows almost fused with my hairline at the sight of the sign but chose to remain silent. Actions speak louder that words, after all. The man approached a small, low piano that looked like it was made for kids or dwarfs. ¡°I recommend purchasing this one to start learning,¡± he gave me a sneer. ¡°I''m sure it will cover everything you will need for the foreseeable future, Your Excellency,¡± he added with a healthy dose of sarcasm. I bit my lips to keep my face from smiling. I was sure the man wasn''t being disrespectful on purpose and instead was trying to accommodate me while being cheeky. The piano in front of me was admittedly beautiful. The wood had intricate carvings and small details here and there in the form of musical notes- which I was thankful were the same as from Earth for some reason. It had a third of the keys, however. It was definitely a beginner instrument. Not for me. I turned to him with a polite smile. ¡°Do you have one for a more... advanced player?¡± His eyebrows climbed his forehead and his mouth edges went down. ¡°More advanced, you say?¡± His eyes scanned mine and a sardonic smile replaced his frown. ¡°Alright, but I will ask you to play a piece in return.¡± That pissed me off. I tilted my head and smiled wider. ¡°And who do you think you are to make demands like that?¡± I asked him in the most friendly tone I could muster. ¡°Is there someone else available to show me around?¡± He turned serious and sighed. ¡°It''s tradition to prove yourself before you own an instrument. I was just trying to make it more entertaining, is all.¡± I nodded and turned serious myself. ¡°Then just say it. ''Hey, you need to play to buy it'' or some shit like that. Why the games, bro?¡± Bromisnar covered his face and turned away from us. Pokora sighed. The Tigea''s face tightened in an attempt to smile. ¡°It''s tradition because His Divinity Saravia stated so in his legacy.¡± ¡°Yeah, fuck that.¡± I waved his words away. ¡°Take me to the best grand piano you have and I''ll play you a lullaby to fuck off, then I''ll fuck off myself.¡± Pokora snorted, trying to hold a laugh back. Bromisnar sighed deeper. The Tigea squinted his eyes at me. ¡°Lang-¡± ¡°Did I fucking stutter?¡± I interrupted him with a glare. He frowned and shook his head. ¡°This way, then,¡± he muttered with a shrug. I shook my head in annoyance and followed the man. Why can''t shit be simple? I complained in my mind. If I ever meet Saravia I''ll give him a piece of my mind. We quickly made it to another room which had the sign ''Instruments for Masters'' hanging above the door. I took a deep, calming breath and let out a long sigh, then walked inside. The instruments were more complex and their making was a bit more complex compared to the ones before. I scanned the room and found a trio of pianos facing the entrance. One was black, one silver, and the last gold. A tiny, short chuckle escaped me and I approached the golden piano. The thing was a couple shades lighter than my skin color, had carvings all over the surface, white sparkly keys along with dark matte ones, and a glass cover to protect the insides. ¡°How much is this one?¡± I asked the Tigea. ¡°One hundred and fifty gold coins,¡± he replied with a blank face. I hummed and pulled the stool, stored my armor, sat down and fixed the height. I pushed a few keys with a finger to test the sound and was satisfied with the crispness of it. Bromisnar stood on my right and asked, ¡°What will you play?¡± I placed my hands on the keys and shrugged. ¡°First, La Campanella. I''ll see where I go from there.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± the Satyr nodded. I pressed the first keys and the Tigea let out a short scoff. Nobody would debate that the first few seconds of the piece weren''t that special. I focused the little anger that gripped my mind into the piano in the form of concentration and methodical rhythm. The Tigea took a few steps closer and stood to my left. I flexed and stared at him while playing. I had played that piece for over ten years and the muscle memory was still there, much to my surprise and satisfaction. His eyes followed my fingers and widened with each passing second. ¡°You''re fucking kidding me...¡± Pokora sighed and stood behind me. ¡°Natasha...¡± I nodded and returned my attention to the piano. The woman placed her hands on my shoulders and rested her forehead on top my head. By the time I finished the piece, a few tears coming from the woman got my hair and neck a little wet. She had been silently crying as I played. Is this the first time she hears music from Earth? I wondered with a heavy heart. In fifty years. ¡°Chopin?¡± I muttered. Pokora nodded against my head. The two men had been silently observing my hands so they didn''t notice the interaction. I took a deep breath and began playing Fantaisie-Imprompt in C sharp minor, Op. 66. I had always thought of the song as emotional in a way that helped me to let things out and calm down when things got too hard to handle on my own. I hoped it could maybe help the woman sobbing behind me, if only a little. There wasn''t much I could do in regards to Pokora''s nostalgia. I myself feel apathy towards Earth. Smartphones have never once been in my mind, and while I see the usefulness of the internet, I do not miss it one bit. If I need to learn something I can go to a library and do research or ask the people around me. I see no value in a digital world. Not anymore. Not knowing what it costs, and much less knowing what it does to people engaging in it. I figured Pokora wasn''t fortunate as I was to have her mind reconstructed and have self-destructive habits removed. I finished the piece and moved to one of my favorites: Hungarian Rhapsody No.2. Pokora slid off my shoulders and down on her knees. Her arms wrapped around my neck and her chest pressed against my back, betraying the shakes her body was going through. I felt for her. The idea of being reincarnated into another world in literature never addresses the depression it may cause to those unwilling. The loss of everything one is familiar with may perhaps be a fate worse than death. The dependency that one develops towards technology is especially strong in introverted people, and the pandecade made us all introverted... in one way or the other. What if we''re the only ones from Earth? I wondered while playing the more energetic part of the song, nearing the middle. Will she be alright? A sniffle from my right made me turn my head a little. Bromisnar was wiping his eyes and nose with a handkerchief. He noticed me and gave me a smile. ¡°It''s beautiful.¡± I nodded. ¡°Right?¡± I asked the three, but more to Pokora. She nodded against my neck. I turned to the Tigea. His eyes were wide and his jaw was slack. A snort escaped me. He closed his mouth and blushed. For your consideration, I mockingly thought. 76 - Scales and Arpeggios? More like Trill Tempo! I finished the piece and let out a short sigh. Pokora took a deep breath and cleaned her snot and tears on my shirt, then released me from the hug. Ah, yes... Why don''t you? I let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°That was...¡± the Tigea whispered in surprise. I turned my head his way and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well?¡± Bromisnar chuckled and patted my shoulder. ¡°That was quite the experience.¡± I turned to him and gave him a nod, ¡°I''m glad you liked it.¡± Pokora stood up and sniffled, then cleaned her face. I turned on the stool and faced her. ¡°You okay?¡± I probed. She rubbed her eyes and nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± she muttered. I once again turned on the seat, that time facing the Tigea. ¡°So?¡± I taunted him with a shit eating grin. He covered his mouth and cleared his throat. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency,¡± he replied with respect. A satisfied smile formed on my face. It was the first time that shitty title made me feel anything other than cringe. ¡°By the way... how much would it cost if a Performer bought it?¡± ¡°Five gold coins,¡± he instantly answered. I hummed. ¡°Makes sense,¡± I muttered and stood up. ¡°So, one hundred and fifty.¡± I retrieved a linen bag from my storage- specifically the one that had the polupis in it- and put the gold coins inside, then gave it to him. He took the bag and it disappeared. A sheet of paper replaced it and he wrote something down, then offered me it. ¡°Please sign at the bottom of the page.¡± I received the paper and gave it a look. It was a form of receipt similar to the one I got when I bought Sonya but for a piano instead of a creature. It stated that I could resell it for no more than the original price and following taxation laws. It had a one thousand year warranty that only applied for when the strings naturally worn out and details of that nature. If it got damaged beyond repair by a monster it would invalidate any return policy, for example. I signed it with a quill and gave it back to the Tigea. He scanned it for a second and nodded. ¡°I''ll get it copied and be right back, Your Excellency,¡± he informed me. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± I gave him a short nod and turned to the piano. Pokora blew her nose with a tissue and approached me. ¡°Why didn''t you let Bromisnar buy it? That''s a massive overcharge...¡± The Satyr chuckled. ¡°That would make the piano legally mine.¡± The Elf shrugged. ¡°Then you sell it to her for five gold coins.¡± ¡°That''s tax evasion,¡± the Satyr objected with an amused smile. ¡°Your know, a crime.¡± ¡°Ah, I see,¡± she muttered with a nod. ¡°The reselling of items is different in Uuruhk.¡± I hummed in understanding, then placed a hand underneath the piano. I lifted the instrument a tiny bit, then pulled it into my storage along with the stool. ¡°Uhm,¡± Pokora hesitated for a second. I turned to her. ¡°Yeah?¡± She gestured at my torso. ¡°Sorry about the shirt,¡± she shyly muttered. I gave her a gentle smile. ¡°That''s fine. Don''t worry about it,¡± I assured her, then changed to a different shirt. Bromisnar chuckled and tapped the Elf''s shoulder. ¡°It was emotional for me as well, Pokh''Orra,¡± the man shared with us. I smiled at the gesture. The Tigea returned and gave me the original copy of the receipt. ¡°Your Excellency, if I may ask?¡± he lowered his head. I sighed and nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Could I ask you to teach me?¡± he asked with a heavily respectful tone. ¡°The first piece was outstanding.¡± My eyebrows climbed up my forehead and a smile spread on my face. ¡°What''s your name?¡± ¡°Julien, Your Excellency,¡± he replied. I nodded. ¡°Sure, but I''m strict.¡± He raised his head and smile. ¡°I wouldn''t have it any other way.¡± I nodded and pointed at the black piano. ¡°Sit down,¡± I ordered him. He complied and took a seat, then fixed the height of the stool. I stood behind him and crossed my arms. ¡°Play as far as you can with what you remember by ear.¡± He nodded and started playing. Bromisnar and Pokora stood next to me and observed. Seven seconds into the piece, I gently slapped the back of the Tigea''s head. ¡°Wrong tempo!¡± I chastised him. ¡°Your rhythm is off and you missed a third of the notes.¡± I leaned forward, pushing his head with my chest and reaching for the keys. ¡°Like this,¡± I instructed him and played the first thirty seconds, then straightened up. ¡°I see,¡± he muttered, a little ashamed. I circled him and stood next to the piano, then tapped the surface with a finger like a metronome. ¡°Follow the tempo. It''s crucial for that part.¡± He nodded and gave it another try. I listened in silence until he finished. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Better, but not quite my tempo,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Do you have a sheet of paper so I can write it down?¡± Bromisnar took a step forward and produced some blank music sheets, then handed it to me. I gave him a grateful nod and produced a quill, then wrote the first part. I placed them on the music desk and nodded. Once again, the beings ruling the universe saw fit to make the system similar to the one I knew, or perhaps it was the other way around with how Galeia is older as far as I was concerned. Would this be copyright infringement? I wondered with a smile, tapping the piano with a finger and listening to the Tigea playing. The man made a lot of mistakes. The trill tempo was all over and he had to use 2 hands after I interfered. ¡°You''re not using your annular finger enough,¡± I pointed out after watching his hands. ¡°That''s fucking your rhythm and making you overreach.¡± He gulped and corrected himself. I looked at him and appraised him. [Urkila Tigea, Lvl 201 Conductor] I held back a snort. That''s pretty on the nose, I thought. ¡°So, Julien. What do you do around the School?¡± ¡°I''m the Dean,¡± he replied while playing. ¡°How am I doing?¡± Oh... this is a bit awkward, I bit my lips. ¡°Better. You still fuck the tempo and you need to slow down a bit after each trill.¡± He nodded and finished playing. ¡°Again,¡± I gave him a nod. He placed his hands on the keys and pressed the wrong ones, fucking the very start he snorted at. I waved a hand and closed my fingers. ¡°You''re rushing!¡± I hissed and he stopped playing. ¡°Take your time, follow the tapping of my finger.¡± He did, managing the start of the piece and following the rhythm I used. After ten seconds, he played slightly faster than needed. I shook my head and clapped once. ¡°Okay, what are you doing?¡± I asked a little pissed. ¡°Fo-llow-the-rhy-thm!¡± I said with a clap for each syllable. He looked down at his hands and nodded with a tight face. ¡°Okay,¡± I sighed and tapped my finger. ¡°Five, six, seven, eight.¡± Bromisnar took a step back, covering his mouth. Pokora was holding back laughter, pinching her lips and blushing. The Tigea played, and fucked up again with the first trill. ¡°You''re fucking with me, right?¡± I asked him with a serious tone. ¡°N-no, Your Excellency,¡± he stammered, looking up at me with nervous eyes. I looked into his eyes for a second then nodded. ¡°Okay... begin with the trill,¡± I said with a nod, resuming the tap of my finger on the instrument. He played for three seconds. I waved a hand and closed my fingers. He stopped playing and froze. I walked next to him and bent over, closing into his right feline ear then whispered, ¡°Your dragging now. Why?¡± He shook his head, ¡°I''m sorry,¡± he whispered. I straightened and sighed. ¡°It''s okay. We''re getting there. You''re improving.¡± He nodded and started again. That time he didn''t make mistakes, religiously following the tapping of my finger. ¡°Good!¡± I praised him with a nod. ¡°Now, keep going.¡± For the following two hours the Tigea played and I flayed him every time he made a mistake. I eased on the pressure but remained strict. Purposefully stressing him would have the opposite result and I wasn''t one to actively sabotage someone who wanted to learned something I liked. Still, even with my gentle direction, the man was close to tears a few times and I gave him a two minute break to collect himself each time it happened. After that session he was decent at it but not quite up to standards. Pokora''s stomach grumbled and I checked the time. We had passed lunchtime by ten minutes. I sighed and tapped the Tigea''s shoulder a few times. ¡°You did good,¡± I reassured him. ¡°I apologize if I was a bit strict there.¡± The man nodded and took a deep breath. ¡°I also apologize for my behavior earlier,¡± he sighed with a little relief. ¡°Mhm,¡± I hummed with a nod. ¡°We''ll take our leave now. Have a good one, Julien. Use a metronome to keep tempo if you have one.¡± The man stood up and gave me a bow. ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency!¡± he declared with respect. I patted his shoulder and nodded. ¡°Not a problem. Take care and have fun.¡± He straightened up and gave me a nod. ¡°Will do,¡± he said with a smile. And so, we left the School. Out in the street, Pokora burst out in laughter. Bromisnar was a bit more serious. ¡°Not quite my tempo,¡± Pokora imitated my tone. ¡°That was gold.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I am gold,¡± I commented with a smile, showing her my hands. ¡°I don''t know if I want to learn those pieces from you,¡± Bromisnar muttered. I patted his shoulder and laughed. ¡°He was a bit of an asshole, so I was a bit more strict than necessary. I will be gentle with you,¡± I reassured him and gave him a wink. He sighed and nodded. ¡°He was a bit disrespectful, true that,¡± he admitted with a small smile. ¡°Just a passionate man,¡± Pokora waved our comments away. I nodded. ¡°A bit too passionate,¡± I muttered. ¡°Anyway, lunch.¡± ¡°How about we meet up with Alyssa and Lapia?¡± Bromisnar offered. Pokora nodded. ¡°Sounds good.¡± We agreed on that and fetched our mounts, then made our way towards the two woman using the Bond as a guide. I sent them a message through the Bond to let them know and they replied in the affirmative. After around ten minutes we stopped in front of a luxurious-looking restaurant. It had wide windows on the front revealing the spacious insides. We entered the edifice and noticed the two woman quite fast. They were sitting on a wide table next to the right wall of the building. We walked over and sat down with them. Alyssa, Lapia, and me sat on one side of the circular table, and Bromisnar and Pokora sat opposite of us. ¡°Had fun?¡± Alyssa asked me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I nodded. ¡°I did. How about you?¡± I asked back, returning the gesture. I gave Lapia a wink. ¡°They had amazing pastries,¡± Lapia commented with an approving nod. ¡°Eeeh...¡± the Luzo wobbled her head. ¡°They were okay. A strong eight in my book.¡± ¡°Where was the store?¡± Pokora joined the conversation. ¡°That was quite the adventure,¡± the Luzo chuckled. ¡°I saw a store this morning when we were going to the arena. So, we went there. The pastry chef had gone and watched our match so they didn''t have any for customers. The ones on display weren''t available due to being in stasis and all that,¡± she sighed in reproach. ¡°I asked the staff that welcomed us if they would have some ready soon and was recommended to check other stores instead. And we did,¡± she sighed again. ¡°Turns out, all store owners and workers had gone to watch the fight. There wasn''t a single store that had pastries ready and fresh. I would not have stale pastries so we left and asked a local. They recommended going to the main Church where a lot of confectioneries are. That took most of the morning, unfortunately. I managed to buy some, however. Then, we came here for lunch.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered. ¡°That Dwarf did a number on us, huh?¡± I chuckled. Nods were shared. Wait... I thought and felt a cold shiver go up my spine. If nobody sold anything because of our fight... will I be charged with the financial loss again? I sighed and felt a little anger tickle my skull. 77 - Nightmarish Prospects. We ordered some local dishes and made conversation while we ate. At least they did. I was a bit too angry to talk so I just nodded or shook my head whenever a question went my way. By the time we finished dessert I managed to relax a fair amount. ¡°What''s planned for today?¡± Pokora asked, relaxing on the seat and giving me a look. I pinched the bridge of my nose with a hand and sighed. ¡°Aren''t you the party leader?¡± I retorted. She shrugged. ¡°With combat logistics and all that, sure,¡± the woman replied with a smile. ¡°But I''m not going to arrange an activity schedule while we''re on cities.¡± Bromisnar cleared his throat and rubbed his chin. ¡°How long are we staying on Paarjo, by the way?¡± Lapia looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I gave her a nod. ¡°Well,¡± the Elf began, fixing a lock of hair behind her right ear. ¡°After we dealt with the matter at the Royal Palace, His Majesty the King convinced Natasha into staying here for a celebratory event... which the rulers of neighboring countries will attend according to how he worded it.¡± Alyssa nodded and licked her red lips. ¡°So two more weeks at the very least?¡± I nodded in response. ¡°Well, there''s a lot to see and do in Paarjo,¡± Bromisnar supplied. ¡°There''s the Breeders, the main market, the weekly performances around the city, the arena we were at today, the underside of the city, the Craftsmen exhibitions, around three hundred taverns to check out, restaurants, confectioneries, and much more.¡± He smiled and shrugged. ¡°Two weeks is not nearly enough to explore the entire city.¡± Pokora leaned forward and placed her hands on the table with a worried face. ¡°Wait, wait, wait,¡± she began, giving each of us a look of disbelief. ¡°Did you just say the rulers of neighboring countries?¡± Lapia nodded with a smile. ¡°I did. Why?¡± The Archer''s dull silver eyes stared into the Wizard''s green eyes for a few seconds. ¡°And you mentioned a celebratory event...?¡± she tentatively asked. Lapia''s smile widened. ¡°Yes. And we''ll all attend,¡± she declared, leaving no room for argument. Pokora''s shoulders slumped and she let out a long sigh. Alyssa covered her mouth and giggled. ¡°It''s natural. We are accompanying a Halve who did Royalty a favour.¡± I slowly nodded. ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Bromisnar agreed with a shrug. The waiter that had taken our orders approached us with a professional smile. I produced ten silver coins and placed them on the table. He took them and gave me a nod. ¡°Thank you for your patronage, dear customer,¡± he respectfully said. I gave him a short nod and stood up, then walked out of the restaurant. Out in the streets I looked up at the two suns and redid my braid to keep myself busy. The others came out after and Lapia approached me. ¡°You okay, sunshine?¡± she asked, placing a hand on my cheek. I nodded and muttered, ¡°A bit angry.¡± She smiled and stood on the tip of her toes, then gave me a kiss on the other cheek. ¡°Why?¡± I scowled and shrugged. She nodded and took a step back, then looked me in the eye. ¡°I''m not going to lie, your angry face is super cute.¡± A smile slowly formed on my face. I sighed and shook my head as a tiny chuckle escaped me, lifting my mood. ¡°So I''m not always cute?¡± I teased her with an over-exaggerated pout. Her eyebrows rose. ¡°Don''t put words in my mouth,¡± she playfully warned me. I nodded and took the chance that was so generously given to me. ¡°I can only put my cock in your mouth, right?¡± I retorted in a quiet voice, then laughed. Lapia''s eyes widened and then she burst in a fit of giggles. ¡°You''re improving,¡± she praised me. I shrugged. ¡°Learning from the expert, I guess.¡± She wiped invisible tears and let out a fake sob. ¡°Oh, how they grow!¡± I hugged her and spun around a few times. ¡°Thank you,¡± I muttered and put her down. She fixed a few locks of hair and gave me a big smile. ¡°Any time, sunshine.¡± ¡°Where to now?¡± Pokora graciously interrupted the moment. ¡°Hmm...¡± I ran a hand through my hair, thinking for a second. ¡°I was thinking of going to see the King, actually,¡± I admitted. ¡°I wanted to ask him a few things.¡± ¡°I''m going to the library near our place with Bromisnar,¡± Alyssa supplied. ¡°We may find something good to read.¡± Lapia turned to Pokora. ¡°How about we go to the market?¡± she asked her. The Archer nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± And so, plans for the day were settled. After fetching our mounts we parted ways. I rode Sonya towards the Royal Palace, using the memory of the trip on the carriage as guide. After around thirty minutes and getting lost two times, I arrived at my destination. The Royal Guards were standing watch on the gates. Their heads turned in my direction when I passed them. I approached the same gate I entered through the previous time and addressed the two guards, ¡°I''m here to see the King. I didn''t make an appointment, though.¡± The two nodded and opened the gate for me. ¡°We were instructed to let you through, Your Excellency,¡± one of them informed me while saluting. ¡°Thank you.¡± I gave them a nod of gratitude and tapped Sonya''s neck. The Ratnak walked forward, crossing the gate into the palace. We slowly made our way on the path while I looked at the many statues. Sonya approached one and sniffed the stone, then gave it a lick. ¡°Don''t,¡± I warned her. ¡°That''s not food.¡± She let out a long growl and kept moving. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. We reached the building proper and I dismounted, then turned to the animal. ¡°Wait for me here,¡± I ordered her. ¡°It won''t take long, okay?¡± She nodded and sat down. The guards at the door bowed and opened it. I went inside and noticed one of the two walked behind me. ¡°I will inform the staff of your arrival, Your Excellency,¡± she muttered and walked past me. So, I waited. One minute later, Prince Rinald and the guard showed. He curtsied. ¡°Welcome back, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Sup?¡± I gave him a nod. ¡°Came to talk to your old man, if it''s no problem.¡± He chuckled and straightened up. ¡°Of course. Please follow me.¡± The guard saluted and left through the door. I walked behind Rinald, who guided me through the palace. ¡°We watched the fight,¡± he began with an excited tone. ¡°That skill you used to crash on the ground was spectacular.¡± My cheeks burned a little. ¡°Thank you,¡± I muttered. ¡°Do the spikes increase in reach the higher you use it from?¡± he asked with childish interest. I didn''t know that. ¡°Maybe,¡± I replied. ¡°I haven''t used it much.¡± We stopped at a broad door and he turned to me. ¡°May I ask why?¡± His eyes shone with curiosity. I shrugged. ¡°Haven''t had the need to.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± he uttered and nodded. ¡°Makes sense. Looks powerful.¡± He knocked on the door. ¡°Royal Father, Her Excellency Natasha has come to see you,¡± he announced. ¡°Come in,¡± the King''s voice came. I opened the door and gave the prince a nod. ¡°Thank you, Rinald,¡± I said and went in, then closed the door. The room was different from the one I had visited previously. It was a spacious office with bookshelves and paintings covering the walls. A broad desk was placed opposite the door where the King sat reading some documents. He looked up from a booklet and gave me a smile. ¡°Yo,¡± I greeted the ruler of a nation. His eyebrows went up and his smiled widened. ¡°Yo,¡± he replied with a chuckle. I walked in and scanned the man. ¡°Feeling better?¡± I inquired. He nodded, making his ears shift a little. ¡°Better than ever. I exercised this morning... something I hadn''t done in months,¡± he cheerfully shared with a relieved smile. ¡°It''s scary what time does.¡± I smiled and nodded. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Incredibly so,¡± he muttered. ¡°I woke up a few times, thinking it was a dream within a nightmare.¡± I grabbed the chair in front of his desk and sat down. ¡°I think that will take time to get used to.¡± ¡°It will,¡± he agreed, then shrugged,.¡°But the worst is over. Now I have to fix my sleeping schedule and eating habits.¡± ¡°Good to hear,¡± I nodded. ¡°I''m glad you''re doing better.¡± ¡°Thanks to you,¡± he pointed out. ¡°You did me a solid.¡± I laughed at his choice of words. ¡°What can I say? Born to do that.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± he agreed with a nod and leaned back on the chair. ¡°So, Natasha... what can this little public servant do for you?¡± I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk and my chin on my hands. It was time to ask about diamond. ¡°I need information on something. It''s important to me.¡± He nodded in understanding. ¡°Mhm. I was informed about it.¡± My eyes widened slightly in shock. ¡°You were? Why?¡± my voice betrayed my feelings. ¡°I''m the King, Natasha,¡± he pointed out the obvious. ¡°These matters will naturally reach my ears. So, I did some digging of my own.¡± I nodded, trying to handle the embarrassment. He looked me in the eye with a serious face. ¡°I moved a few individuals around to ask here and there. Mostly scouts so there''s little to no chance of being spotted,¡± he reassured me. ¡°So far they haven''t found much information about the matter. It also has been quite a while since last time so I think a change within must have come to pass.¡± What is he talking about? I wondered in confusion, slowly tilting my head. ¡°I see,¡± I muttered nonetheless. ¡°What''s your take on it?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± he rubbed his chin and looked up at the ceiling. ¡°After their move failed it would be sensible to avoid any upfront attempt for at least fifty years, including sleeping agents. Adding your public demonstration of strength today, along with your companions'', should be enough of a deterrent for the next decades.¡± I nodded, still not sure about what the conversation was about. ¡°What would you suggest I do?¡± I went for a broad question that would perhaps give me context. ¡°Hard to tell,¡± he butchered my hopes. ¡°You already have liberties about the matter. I know it may sound as we''re giving you permission but it''s more of an agreement that formalizes you, a Halve, and me, The King, knowing about it and the possible consequences it may bring. Some kind of unwritten contract, if you will.¡± Permission? I nodded and looked out the window. What permission? The cogs in my mind began working full time to understand what the King was talking about. I didn''t want to outright ask since I wanted to reach the answer on my own. He knew... or was informed, I gathered what I knew so far about the conversation. A failed move... further attempts are to be avoided because of it. Our fight served as deterrent. It''s been quite a while since the last time? Quite a while? This man is over a thousand years old... I racked my brains while spotting birds flying outside. My eyes widened a little. A thousand years since the last time maybe? I wondered. But what... I stopped thinking when I remembered Lorena''s words. His Excellency Miraztor was targeted as well when he visited Lumin Kingdom.'' I nodded. I see, he''s talking about the group that wants to kill me. Almost forgot about them. I turned to the King and sighed. ¡°If they target my companions things will go to absolute shit.¡± He nodded. ¡°And that''s entirely within your power. I want you to know that we support you one hundred percent on this. As Royalty, I can''t allow for groups to threaten the life of those who exist to ensure our safety,¡± he declared with a serious tone. ¡°I was thinking that we could let my fellow Rulers know of this issue when they visit. Maybe they can gather information on their sides as well.¡± I hummed in understanding. ¡°Sure, that''s fine with me. You said they may take a fifty year break. Will this take that long?¡± His eyebrows scrunched up and a frown formed on his face. ¡°Natasha... Ideas don''t die as easily as people and, sometimes, the death of people fuel certain ideas. It pains me to say that you will probably face disapproval from certain groups for as long as you''re alive simply because of your species.¡± ¡°And the rulers of nearby countries would help?¡± I asked, interested in that bit. ¡°I''m certain of it,¡± he replied, then a smile formed on his face. ¡°Especially the Royalty from Tidon Kingdom. I received a letter from their Monarch stating communications with you had begun. Something about wanting my help to convince you of seeing Tidon as your official place of birth?¡± I winced. ¡°Nah,¡± I simply replied with a shake of my head. His turquoise eyes looked into mine for a few seconds. ¡°They will test your Halven instincts with their proposal, Natasha. No Halve has ever recognized a specific country as their official place of birth. It''s a bold invitation but not something that would surprise me coming from Claudia,¡± he added with a smirk. I rolled my eyes and sighed, then leaned back on the chair. ¡°Why?¡± He shrugged. ¡°After the ban on war, countries focused those logistic resources to play games with Halves. Perculis and Yulianna enjoyed them greatly, taking every chance they got to engage in them.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Sounds like they were a power couple,¡± I joked. He nodded with a smile, ¡°They were.¡± ¡°I haven''t received any letters other than from Tidon, though,¡± I pointed out. ¡°How do they play these games?¡± He sighed and scratched his forehead. ¡°There are rules in place. The first one is to wait a century at the very least to approach a Halve with any kind of proposal... unless it''s about their birth. And Claudia did precisely that.¡± I hummed. ¡°I''m guessing those invitations have nothing to do with actual requests for help?¡± He nodded. ¡°Naturally,¡± he confirmed. ¡°This and that are completely different matters. If anything, we encourage each other to ask for help.¡± I smiled. ¡°That''s cute.¡± He lightly scoffed. ¡°You Halves always say that.¡± A short laugh escaped me and I ran a hand through my hair. ¡°Well, I don''t exactly like mind games that much. Anyway... Do you know where I could find large chunks of diamond?¡± ¡°Diamond?¡± the King repeated, a little confused. ¡°What for?¡± I shrugged. ¡°A little something I want made,¡± I vaguely admitted. ¡°Hmm,¡± he thought for a second and nodded. ¡°There is a mine three days north of Paarjo that turned into a dungeon a long time ago. My predecessors extracted gold from that mine. After it turned into a dungeon it was closed off due to the nature of the monsters inside, though. I''m sure you''ll find as much diamond as you want there. It''s also the only mine in the country that still has diamonds.¡± ¡°Nice,¡± I commented with a nod. ¡°What kind of monsters?¡± He frowned. ¡°Spiders,¡± he muttered in disgust. Fuck this entire planet! 78 - New Goals...? ¡°Do you have diamonds?¡± I asked with the utmost seriousness I could manage. He nodded, ¡°I do.¡± I smiled. ¡°How big are they?¡± He arched an eyebrow. ¡°They''re plaques with our Kingdom''s founding history, records of every coronation, and every Monarch''s personal achievements.¡± I covered my face and let out a groan, ¡°Do you have, like... records of who has big diamonds?¡± ¡°How big do you need them to be?¡± he asked with a chuckle. ¡°Thirty cubic centimeters would be ideal,¡± I replied with hope, leaning on the desk. ¡°If not, thirty long and ten wide the smallest.¡± ¡°That''s too big,¡± he shook his head. ¡°Even the small option is bigger than anything out there.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I sighed in defeat. ¡°How about a diamond mine in a nearby country?¡± He shook his head again. ¡°Diamond isn''t the main reason to open a mine anymore, and those that were are long depleted. There is, however, a large tregadite vein in the Human country of Wawr Goch to the far south, near the desert. They opened the ground recently.¡± ¡°What does trega-whatever have to do with diamond?¡± I inquired. He chuckled. ¡°Diamond forms underneath tregadite so you would have to wait until they extract it.¡± I frowned. ¡°But isn''t diamond super useful to cut stone and industrial work like that?¡± The King nodded. ¡°In very small pieces, yes. The size you''re looking for, though? Not so much. There is also a Halve-imposed limit on how many mines a country can run at once to prevent environmental damage. It''s a very strict business. And since diamond is so... low-value, it''s not a good idea to focus on it. That''s one of the reasons the nearby mine was abandoned instead of asking a Halve to clear it for us.¡± I let out a long sigh, ¡°I see.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Do you dislike spiders that much?¡± I nodded with disgust. ¡°Very much.¡± He nodded in understanding. ¡°You have options at least. You would need to clear the way into the dungeon to reach the mine, or wait until Humans deplete theirs.¡± I hummed. ¡°How long until they deplete it?¡± ¡°Two to three centuries,¡± he tentatively answered. ¡°Holy shit!¡± I blurted out. ¡°I can''t wait that long, my dude.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± he looked me in the eye and chuckled. ¡°Not much I can do there, I''m afraid.¡± ¡°Nah,¡± I shook my head. ¡°You gave me a lot of information. Thank you, Gordon.¡± ¡°I''m glad to be of help,¡± he replied with a smile. ¡°Is there anything else I can help you with?¡± I looked at my hands, trying to remember anything that a King could help me with. ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered as something came up on my mind, looking up at the man. ¡°Do you perhaps know where Yulianna could be?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I''m afraid not. All I know is that she went to Makah.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I nodded and sighed. ¡°Well, thank you for your time.¡± I extended a hand for him to shake. He took it and gave me a firm handshake. ¡°Any time, Natasha.¡± He gave a nod and a smile. I returned the smile and stood up, then walked towards the door. ¡°Ah! Natasha,¡± the King called me. I turned round and raised my eyebrows. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°When someone asks you a favor, see past the words and look at what exactly they are asking you to do,¡± he warned me. ¡°And what it means to give them aid. In this instance, you extended my rule.¡± ¡°And prevented a family from losing their father,¡± I added with a smile. He looked down at the table and blinked a few times. ¡°Indeed,¡± he muttered. ¡°And I can''t thank you enough.¡± I giggled. ¡°Then don''t,¡± I retorted in a light tone and turned to the door. ¡°Thank you for the tip, Gordon.¡± ¡°Any time, Natasha,¡± he replied in a quiet voice. ¡°I mean it.¡± I nodded and left the office into the empty corridor. A low buzz caught my attention from the right, just next to the door. It was similar to high tension cables in the distance. I looked both ways and stood perfectly still while holding my breath, trying to ascertain the origin of the sound. Two sets of quiet breathing came from next to the door. I retrieved the sunglasses and put them on, then looked in the general direction the sounds came from. A couple of armored individuals were crouching next to the door. One was looking at me and the other was looking forward. Creepy, I thought and appraised them. [Shishi Tigea, Lvl 292 Royal Guard ¨C Shadow''s Gaze] [Urkila Tigea, Lvl 299 Royal Guard ¨C Dusk Blade] You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. The one looking at me slowly turned their head away. I shrugged and walked away towards the entrance hall of the palace. They were doing their job so it was none of my business. A staff person opened the door for me on the way out. Once outside I mounted Sonya and we quickly left. The mention of spiders made me feel dirty so I went back to the apartment. *** There, I knocked on the door and Bonte opened up. I walked in and appraised him. [Bonte Slirmy ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Shishi Tigea, Lvl 298 Shadow Chaser] ¡°You don''t have a key?¡± he asked, gesturing at the door with his head. ¡°Nope,¡± I replied with a shake of my head. ¡°How was the training?¡± ¡°Hell,¡± he groaned, frowning deeply. I raised my eyebrows in doubt. ¡°Can''t be that bad, right?¡± The catboy smiled and shrugged. ¡°Not really, but I hadn''t exercised that intensely in a few decades.¡± ¡°Was it fun?¡± I asked while I walked to the living room. ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied with a nod, walking into the kitchen area. ¡°I''m making something to eat. Do you want anything?¡± I shook my head and approached the door to my room. ¡°No, thank you for asking.¡± He nodded and focused on the things on the kitchen counter. I opened the door and found Yolin taking a nap on the bed. A smile spread on my face and I crossed the room towards the bathroom door. There, for the following hour, I took a long and much needed shower to cleanse myself of the disturbing feeling of the mention of spiders. Just as I turned the shower off, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± I replied and started drying my hair with a towel. The door opened and Pokora walked in with an extremely pained face. ¡°What''s up?¡± I gave her a nod. She stopped dead in her track and gave my body a look from top to bottom, stopping at my groin. Her eyes opened like saucers and she covered her mouth. ¡°Holy shit!¡± she exclaimed in shock with a blush. I looked down and noticed little Natasha was waving the world, then wrapped my waist with the towel while blushing. I let out a sigh and shook my head. ¡°What got you so worked up?¡± ¡°That''s huge!¡± she hissed in amazement, gesturing at my hips. My cheeks burned and I cleared my throat. ¡°I meant why did you come in with a face that says you were stabbed?¡± I pointed out. She winced and approached the toilet. ¡°Ah, that. The curry is fighting back with ruthless abandon, and the other bathrooms are occupied. I''m so, so sorry for intruding,¡± she groaned. ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered and walked to the door. ¡°Then I''ll leave you to it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered and sat on the bowl. ¡°And I''m super sorry!¡± I left the bathroom and closed the door, then covered my face in embarrassment... and a little excitement. Fuck! I hissed in my mind with a big smile. I didn''t expect a cheeky bathroom encounter like that! Saying Pokora is unattractive would be a fat lie. Still, I tried not to look at her with those kind of eyes. The way her dull silver eyes scanned my body made my tummy tickle in a nice way. No! Stop! I told myself. That''s was an accident, and I won''t start seeing her like that just because of it! I tried convincing myself. A sigh escaped me and I ran my hands over my head, then noticed I was still wet from the shower. With a shake of my head I finished drying myself. Yolin was still napping on the bed with her limbs spread in ways that should be uncomfortable. Once dry, I put some clothes on and left the room. Lapia was sitting in the living room, squinting at the low table in front of her as if it held the answers to immortality and it would spill them if she stared long enough. I walked to her and picked her up. She let out a surprised yelp and hugged my neck. I sat down on the sofa and placed her on my lap. ¡°How did it go?¡± She smiled and gave me a soft kiss. ¡°Pretty good, I''d say,¡± she replied with joy. ¡°Really?¡± I nodded. ¡°What did you buy?¡± She smirked. ¡°It''s not what I bought that was good, but the progress I made.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°And what would that be?¡± She hummed. ¡°What do you think about Pokh''Orra joining us?¡± ¡°Well, she''s a good Archer and she has experience in the army, whatever that means,¡± I replied with a shrug. ¡°Not that,¡± she giggled with a big smile. ¡°I mean into our relationship. Her blank face is super cute and she blushes easily, which is also cute. I was thinking of that today when we went to the market so I flirted with her. She was super fun to tease!¡± she let out an excited chuckle. ¡°What do you think? Would you be okay with her joining? I''ll ask Alyssa and Yolin later.¡± ¡°Would she be interested in the first place?¡± I argued, brushing Lapia''s hair. ¡°I think that goes before asking us.¡± She arched an eyebrow. ¡°Natasha... have you seen the way she looks at you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I sighed, leaning my head back and looking at the ceiling. ¡°I have. I''m not a hundred percent sure if it''s that kind of interest, though.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± she thought for a second. ¡°Well, that''s basis for approach. If she''s not interested then that''s that,¡± she added with a shrug. ¡°It''s not that complicated.¡± ¡°True,¡± I nodded and looked at the Elf''s lips. She licked them and closed on me, giving me a cheeky kiss while whispering into my mouth, ¡°Besides... we Elves have our last growth phase when our cycle arrives.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± I licked her lips and nibbled on them. ¡°So you''re considered and adult after the first cycle?¡± Lapia bit my lower lip and pulled back a little, stretching it. ¡°No,¡± she whispered and covered my lips with a juicy kiss for a few seconds. ¡°We''re considered adults by the law when we turn twenty years old,¡± her voice echoed in my head. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, then explored her mouth with my tongue while caressing her thighs with my other hand. The Elf put her left hand on my right breast almost immediately and ran her right hand on my stomach, feeling my abs. The feeling of her plump lips, warm tongue, and the nibbles she sometimes gave me turned my brain into mush pretty quickly. In return, I licked her gums and palate with my entire tongue then entwined with hers. The door to my room opened and I glanced at it. Pokora walked out and noticed us. Her eyebrows went up and she smiled. ¡°Enjoying yourselves?¡± she tried teasing us. Lapia separated with a smirk and turned to her. ¡°Wanna join?¡± she taunted. Holy shit... I laughed in my mind. The Archer blushed up to her ears and looked at me for help. I summoned all my willpower to not burst out in laughter and gave her a wink while licking my lips. ¡°You know how good a time it would be,¡± I joined the taunting. ¡°Ha, ha,¡± the woman rolled her eyes. ¡°Is it ''make fun of Pokora'' day?¡± she chuckled and walked away into her room. Lapia turned to me with a victorious smile. ¡°Now we planted the seed,¡± she muttered. I chuckled and continued making out with her. 79 - What? LitRPG? Always has been. Alyssa and Bromisnar arrived just in time for dinner. Lapia was making a stew with the Uger meat I still had a lot of. We had a nice, cozy meal all together. After cleaning my teeth with E''er I relaxed in my seat and cleared my throat to get everyone''s attention. ¡°It has come to my attention that there''s a dungeon three days to the north which was once a mine,¡± I began, looking at each of them. ¡°We could go and have a look. It''s abandoned and blocked off.¡± ¡°What for?¡± asked Bonte from across the table. Lapia turned to the catboy. ¡°After we helped the King, he invited Natasha to a celebratory event which I was thinking we should all attend.¡± Yolin groaned. ¡°It will take place in one or two weeks,¡± the Elf continued. ¡°Polishing our skills would be good to kill time instead of sitting here and do nothing.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Bonte nodded and turned to the Goliath next to him. ¡°We could use the chance to help Thelea catch up in levels.¡± I nodded. It was all coming together. ¡°What kind of monsters are there?¡± Pokora asked me with a raised eyebrow. I winced and replied, ¡°Spiders.¡± She nodded with a relaxed smile. ¡°Neat.¡± What? I stared at her in shock. I see... she''s a psychopath. The rest nodded in understanding without so much as a hint of disgust. Alyssa nodded and spoke up, ¡°When we returned earlier, the concierge gave me a letter from the Watchers. They need help with Elena.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Why? Did something happen?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Nothing serious. I healed her mind so they requested my assistance.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered, looking down at the table. ¡°I''ll join you.¡± The Luzo nodded and gave me a smile. ¡°How about we go after you deal with that?¡± Yolin offered. ¡°Three days going, maybe two days in the dungeon, and then three days back total up to more than a week.¡± ¡°Or,¡± Pokora began, placing a hand on the table and looking around. ¡°You replace your Bhin with higher leveled mounts and we make the trip in a single day, maybe even less. That way we can either stay longer or come back sooner.¡± ¡°That, too,¡± the Oni agreed with a nod. ¡°It would be a nice opportunity to get permanent mounts more suited to your needs.¡± Alyssa, Bonte, Bromisnar, and Lapia shared looks and nodded. I turned to Alyssa. ¡°Did the letter say when they needed you to be there?¡± She nodded. ¡°Tomorrow morning,¡± she replied with a frown. I giggled at that. Pokora clapped once and stood up. ¡°Okay, I''ll go and prepare for the trip. I need to come up with formations and leader stuff,¡± she muttered with a sigh. Nods were shared and we retreated to our respective rooms. Back in mine, Alyssa got ready to sleep along with Lapia and Yolin. I was laying at the edge of the bed next to Lapia. ¡°Natasha,¡± the Elf placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Why don''t you take this chance to upgrade some skills if you haven''t already?¡± I nodded, looking her in the eye. ¡°Yeah, I should do that. Got any tips?¡± She thought for a second. ¡°Use what you''ve learned so far,¡± she advised with a smile. ¡°Don''t make rushed decisions, though.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied and gave her a quick kiss. ¡°You could upgrade them to kill better and faster,¡± Yolin supplied from the other side of the bed. ¡°Take your species into consideration, too,¡± Alyssa offered in a tired voice. ¡°With how efficiently you absorb E''er, you could ignore the increase in cost.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered, thinking about their tips. ¡°Thanks, girls.¡± The three hummed and quieted down. Lapia waved a hand and turned the light off. I closed my eyes and went at it. What should I upgrade? I wondered as I dove into myself. The section within me that held the knowledge of my skills welcomed me and I glanced at the little patterns surrounding the knowledge of each skill. Circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles that had spikes, semicircles, and mini squares on the edges occupied my mind''s eye. How about the ones I use the most first, I concluded and focused on Initiation. Rank 2. -Initiation, Lvl 50. [Aura] Prepare for battle. You and your mount become connected, entering an advanced battle trance that lowers the success of being dismounted by being aware of your own weaknesses. Your mount may continue to move regardless of your actions, if instructed so. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. I inspected the skill for a moment and noticed a tendril reached out to my core into the Bond and towards Sonya. That meant that whatever effect I added would influence the Ratnak as well. She''s my mount, I thought. The mount of a Halve. A Protector. What would be appropriate? A Halve is an immovable being who protects the world and keeps balance within. Nature made person, in a way. Well, who am I kidding. Her whimper when Lapia''s lightning hit us is still at the back of my mind. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. At that, an idea formed in my mind. If I made it so the skill increased Constitution and toughness, it would make her increasingly hard to harm or kill. It sounded a bit too overpowered, but I had already gone down that path when I integrated a crippling slow to Preparation. How do I make that work? Do I have a skill that increases stats? I wondered, then it came to me and I turned to the skill in question. Rank 2. -Monster Hunter, Lvl 50. [Aura] Face insurmountable odds. Increases status according to the number of enemies you take on for you and your allies by 10%(2 highest stats) per enemy (STR/5)m around you. Enemies must be doing battle with you. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. It fit like a glove. The conditional of being in battle with enemies was a little troubling in how it exactly worked. Next, I looked for a skill that increased toughness. Rank 2. -Rhongomyniad, Lvl 50. You and your mount target a single enemy and ruthlessly rush to it, increasing your toughness through the process. Your momentum is massively increased the further you advance, breaking traps and demolishing structures in your path. A large amount of E¡¯er is spent to home into your target, making evasion impossible. Okay, there it is, I cheered myself. Now I have to see what does what and add it to Initiation. I touched the skills all over the shape while closely inspecting the pattern and the information inside. The skills were branded into my mind, so the understanding was already there. It was a simple process of identifying and applying them. Monster Hunter had two tendrils that went towards my core and into the Bond. At the same time, it had two different tendrils going towards my stats, where they firmly latched onto strength and dexterity. Hmm... So my brain analyses reality and the skill reacts to the information? Is the conditional of combat a subconscious perception? Fuck me to the suns... I should have paid more attention in school. Rhongomyniad had a thin tendril that connected the skill with my stats as well, but it didn''t touch constitution the way Monster Hunter''s tendril did with the other two stats. Instead, it went around the stat if that makes any fucking sense. Okay... let''s give it a try. With utmost care, and remembering the way Lapia did hers, I guided two tendrils from Initiation. One followed the path Monster Hunter''s tendril went, but connecting with Strength, Constitution, and going around the stat like Rhongomyniad''s. The conditional was the same since I copied the reality-brain-skill feedback cycle to it that Monster Hunter had. The second tendril followed the path Rhongomyniad and Initiation went after, going through my core and intro the Bond towards Sonya. I made extra sure to do both at the same time in case the skill settled when I finished the first. It took me a while to do it since a mistake meant living with a botched skill for ten thousand years. That would be far from ideal. The threads grew a little erratic sometimes, splitting on their own like strands of hair. I settled with braiding them the way I did my hair to keep them from doing that. After what felt like hours, I connected the threads to their targets. I did a final check and everything seemed in order so I let it go. The skill shifted slightly and a few ripples flowed through my insides. I checked the skill and my figurative eyes widened in stupefaction. Rank 3. -Initiation, Lvl 50. [Aura] Prepare for battle. You and your mount become connected, entering an advanced battle trance that lowers the success of being dismounted by being aware of your own weaknesses. Your mount may continue to move regardless of your actions, if instructed so. While in combat, increases your mount''s status based on yours: Constitution, Toughness, and Strength by (STR/60)% each. Your mount''s weight is tripled. Spends E¡¯er in accordance to the duration you intend to use. I created a monster! I laughed in my mind. Holy shit! I checked my status and tried doing the math. Status -STR: 5404 -CON: 2702 -INT: 675 -WIS: 675 -DEX: 4053 Health: 54040/54040 Stamina: 13510/13510 E¡¯er: 13500/13500 So... 5404 divided by 60 is... 90% increase?Oh, no. That means...wait... is it times 9 or 0.9? It''s percentage so... 100% is 1. Oh, 0.9 then. This is still obscene. Holy shit what did I do? Is this what they mean with E''er reacting differently to Halves? This is absurd! My species is too overpowered! Still, this is so fun! I did quick multiplications and arrived at a disgusting increase of 4863 for strength, 2431 for constitution, and toughness was still a bit muddy in my mind. So... would this percentage increase later on? If one day I have ten thousand strength it would be... 166%. Damn. That''s sixteen thousand extra strength. I did create a monster! I was happy with how it turned out. Sonya was super cute so I welcomed making her absurdly strong and resilient. Plus, the bonus took my base stat into consideration instead of the final total. When I reach ten thousand strength, Monster Hunter will give me one thousand strength per enemy and it won''t make a feedback loop with the new version of Initiation. I opened my eyes and looked around the room. Much to my surprise and relief, it was still dark. I retrieved my pocket watch from my storage and checked the time. It was three in the morning. Efficient, indeed, Let''s go for another one, ¡®Way of the Warrior, an Analysis of Skill Advancement¡¯ Rank 1. -Shielded Thrust, Lvl 50. You grow familiar with weapons of the spear group, learning techniques to parry, block and redirect attacks with increasing ease. Repetition and practice has taught you how to do so while attacking. ''Warriors pay too much attention to striking and not enough in defending. The proper way to survive battles is to defend the self, and to hit an opponent only when the optimal moment arises. Why use unneeded force if the strike will be blocked? (...) The proper shield usage is all about the grip and a flexible wrist. It takes less power to deflect a strike than it does to give one. (...) A shield should cover one''s neck, torso, groin, and the companion to the side of the shield''s hand (¡­).'' Alright, then, Rank 2. -Shielded Thrust, Lvl 50. You grow familiar with weapons of the spear group, learning techniques to parry, block and redirect attacks with increasing ease. Repetition and practice has taught you how to do so while attacking. A million years of fighting for survival and using shields -though very rarely, and them being shields is questionable- have given you the knowledge on how to efficiently use them to protect yourself and others based on the skill level. Well... fuck you too, E''er! 80 - Suddenly, Second Volume? Thats not how any of this works, Natasha! The journal ran out of pages, LMAO. Luckily, I''m a smart woman and bought some blank books along with the pencils. Have to think in the long run, right? I guess this is the second volume of my story? It was such an abrupt end, though. Well, if I ever publish this... which is growing to be an insensitive decision the more I write, I will do it in a much more appropriate way. If someone finds this second volume first... well... good luck trying to make sense of things. Maybe this will be your personal Chase, reader... whoever you are. Find the first volume if you give a shit. If I ever lose them, that is. Hehehe. ** 2nd day of the fifth month. Sixth week of summer. 1980 Yiama''s Era. Paarjo, Lumin Kingdom. A couple hours later, I was riding Sonya with Alyssa behind me on our way to the Watchers Office she got the letter from. I had a fistful of almonds from the bag I bought at the market and was snacking on them while guiding the Ratnak. Alyssa was braiding my hair and teaching me more about the Dragon Tongue, which I had been neglecting the last week. ¡°K¨¡ sha Natasha, uv Halve Akrenk,¡± I said, stopping my mount at an intersection. ¡°Akrank, Natasha,¡± Alyssa corrected me. ¡°Akrenk means to do war, not Warrior. It''s the difference between verb and noun.¡± I brought an almond to my mouth and nodded while chewing. ¡°Got it,¡± I replied and went at it again, ¡° K¨¡ sha Natasha, uv Halve Akrank.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± she praised me and tightened the braid she was doing. ¡°Now, introduce the party.¡± By the Gods, I took a slow breath and my eyes widened. The woman is strict. Until we reached our destination, my girlfriend grilled me for every mistake I made. Progress was good, at least. Once there, we went inside the building and dismounted. There was a rest post inside just like the office in Riverfield. A Shishi Tigea Watcher approached us and saluted. ¡°Your Excellency, Lady Pruvik,¡± he greeted us. I gave him a nod. ¡°Good morning,¡± Alyssa greeted him with a smile. ¡°I got a letter requesting my presence.¡± The man nodded and turned around. ¡°This way, please,¡± he said and walked towards the building. We followed him inside and into a room. There, Elena was sitting on a chair reading a book. She had one leg on top of the other and a plate with fruit on a table next to her. On the other side of the table sat an Urkila Tigea reading a sheet of paper. [Urkila Tigea, Lvl 231 Routier] ¡°Lady Pruvik has arrived, Captain,¡± the Shishi Tigea announced. The other Tigea looked up at us and nodded. ¡°Dismissed,¡± he muttered. We walked in and the man who guided us left. The Captain stood up and walked to us, extending a hand. ¡°Lady Pruvik, welcome. And thank you for coming on such a short notice. I''m Gilen Corvin, Captain of Paarjo''s East Watcher Peloton No. 002.¡± Alyssa shook his hand with a smile. ¡°Not a problem,¡± she assured him then added, ¡°A pleasure to meet you.¡± The man turned to me and gave me a short nod, ¡°Your Excellency.¡± I returned the nod and moved to the wall next to the door, where I leaned my back against it. The two walked to the table and took a seat. Elena was looking at me with a big smile. ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency,¡± she greeted me with a deep nod. ¡°I hope you''ve been doing great since last we saw each other.¡± ¡°I''m good,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°How about you? Have they treated you well?¡± I asked, gesturing at the Captain with my head. The Elf sighed, ¡°Yes. They''ve been very accommodating.¡± I simply nodded. The Captain put a paper in front of Alyssa and pushed it in her direction. ¡°We need your signature, Lady Pruvik. You''re the Cleric that healed Elena''s mind and brought up the argument of mind control.¡± Alyssa nodded and began reading the document. ¡°Why didn''t Lakeview ask for it?¡± I inquired, looking at the man. He met my eyes and spoke, ¡°The pertinent document that proves, or disproves, the presence of mind control is usually issued by us here in Paarjo in cases such as this. As far as I know, there is always traces of mind control in people who were under it, sometimes lasting years. That requires appropriate attention from Clerics and is something we make sure the victims receive,¡± he explained with a bored tone. ¡°This case is peculiar, to say the least. There is no memory to speak of, nor are there traces of mind control. That would be the main reason we need Lady Pruvik to sign the document since she was the one who healed the victim''s mind.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I hummed, then turned to Elena. ¡°Any info on relatives?¡± She shook her head with a frown. ¡°Nothing yet,¡± she muttered in a sad voice. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. That sucks, I thought. ¡°How about the Faeton Embassy? How did that go?¡± I asked her. ¡°Contact was made yesterday and we sent the relevant documents,¡± the Captain replied. ¡°We should get an answer in the following days.¡± I hummed in approval. That was pretty fast. ¡°Alright. Looks good,¡± Alyssa muttered with a nod. She produced a quill and signed the paper, then handed it to the Captain. He received it and gave it a look-over. After a few seconds he nodded and put the paper down. ¡°In regards to Elena, she''s found to be perfectly healthy other than the memory loss. She was given guidance to attune her current memories with her classes, and was briefed on the time period she lost.¡± The Luzo nodded and turned to the Elf. ¡°How''s your mood?¡± Elena gave a weak shrug. ¡°Mornings are hard for me so I''m not that energetic yet.¡± While my girlfriend asked the woman about her health, I observed them in silence. Elena was in an odd situation. Her age could mean her parents were already dead unless they had her when young. The lost memories were something I hoped she could recover. If one day I go away for a while and Alyssa loses her memories... it would destroy me, I thought while biting my lower lip. I can''t imagine what it''s like to lose memories so I can''t even begin to empathize with that. I can imagine how Yulianna would see the situation, however. Losing Perculis, then Elena loses her memories of a thousand years spent together. That would push me to insanity. A few things popped on my mind, offering a possible solution. Danuva and Miraztor. A Goddess and a Halve. Both masters of the Laws of Life, I pondered. They could fix Elena''s amnesia and I''d get the information on the people who tried to kill me. With that possible solution in mind, I continued to listen to the conversation. ¡°How do you see yourself handling the process at the Embassy?¡± Alyssa asked with a gentle smile. Elena let out a long sigh. ¡°The cognitive derealization is becoming too much,¡± she replied with tired eyes. ¡°I feel too lost to go through the hoops of bureaucracy.¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°Why do you think that could be?¡± The Elf took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°Too many things happening too fast,¡± she muttered. The Captain nodded with a frown. He hesitated for a second then said, ¡°I apologize for giving you bad news, but you can''t stay with us for much longer... We could, however, set you up with a room at the Church so you can get the help you need for as long as you need it.¡± My eyebrows went up at that. That''s nice, I thought. Elena, however, didn''t seem like she liked that. Her eyes tightened in hurt and she bit her lips. Wait, I thought as I recalled something. Elena handles bugs and insects! I nodded as things came together in my head. ¡°How about,¡± I began, walking up to Elena and placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°You join my group for the time being? I''m planning to go see Danuva in the near future.¡± The three turned to me with wide eyes. The Captain''s lips trembled a little then whispered, ¡°You would bring her to the Gods?¡± I nodded. Alyssa looked into my eyes and a smile slowly formed on her face. ¡°That sounds good to me,¡± she cheerfully commented. Elena was staring at me with wide eyes and mouth. Her eyes watered a little and she gulped. ¡°Your Excellency would do that for me?¡± she squeaked. I shrugged. ¡°Why not? I told you I''m partially responsible for the state you''re in,¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°It''s not much, but it''s what I can do.¡± The Captain shuffled some documents and pulled out a form out of the small pile in front of him. ¡°Alright,¡± he muttered with a nod and continued, ¡°Your Excellency would need to sign this release form that states custody of the mentally maimed.¡± I winced at the label, but noticed the other two didn''t react to it. Then walked to the table and took the paper. It was a legal form that gave me more responsibilities than a parent would have with their children, along with both mandatory and recommended treatments Elena had to go through and had been receiving from the Watchers. It stated very clearly that the Elf should not be left alone for periods longer than ten minutes. Basically how to deal with a person going through suicidal depression. By the Gods, I thought with a heavy heart. That Changeling is getting tortured, no questions asked. I produced a quill and signed the paper, then turned to Elena. ¡°Are you comfortable with this?¡± I asked her with a serious face, pointing at the form. She nodded with too much enthusiasm. ¡°I won''t be safer than with a Higher Being,¡± she replied with joy, extending a hand to receive the form. My stomach turned at her zealotry, but it was the price I had to pay for speaking Abyssal without thinking of the consequences. Elena took the form and gave it a read. She winced a couple of times and nodded by the end of it. ¡°Yeah,¡± she muttered. ¡°I''m fine with it.¡± After producing a quill of her own, she signed the paper. ¡°Alright!¡± The Captain stood up. ¡°I''ll go fetch a high ranking Cleric to legalize the form. Please wait a couple of minutes,¡± he announced and left the room. I nodded and looked at Elena. She was smiling at least, and that''s what mattered in my opinion. Alyssa also had a big smile while looking at me. She looked a little proud. ¡°The bare minimum shouldn''t be celebrated,¡± I said in a quiet voice. Her smile accentuated even more at my words to the point her red eyes squinted. I looked at Elena and asked, ¡°Did anyone mention anything about combat to you?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Only that I shouldn''t overexert myself,¡± she replied. ¡°Fair,¡± I nodded. ¡°We''re going to buy mounts later, do you want to come with us or would you-¡± ¡°I''ll come!¡± she interrupted me with a loud voice, standing up and coming too close to my face. I chuckled and placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Alright, then.¡± Alyssa giggled and stood up as well. ¡°Things are already turning for the better, don''t you think?¡± The Elf nodded with a small smile. ¡°They are,¡± she replied still staring into my eyes. ¡°Can you tell me a little about Akuuhk?¡± I changed the subject and took a step back, returning to my position of leaning on the wall. She nodded and sat down, then told me of her home country. Just as Lapia had told me, the country was comprised of seven floating islands to the far, far south. It was a Monarchy just like the other two Elven countries. After five minutes, the Captain returned followed by a female Satyr wearing Danuva''s Church clothes. She had goat-like eyes like Bromisnar''s but green instead of pink. Her horns were also white but much shorter and didn''t twist. Her hair was a matte black and her skin an ash gray. [Maghir Satyr, Lvl 227 Inquisitor] She looked me up and down with a serious face, then squinted her eyes a little bit. ¡°If I may ask, Your Excellency. How old are you?¡± I arched an eyebrow and replied, ¡°Two months and two days.¡± Alyssa stood up with a ''Sup bitch?'' face and spoke, ¡°I can give testimony to her cognitive development.¡± The Satyr glanced at Elena and nodded. ¡°Are you aware of this?¡± The Elf nodded. ¡°Alright, then,¡± the Inquisitor nodded in satisfaction. ¡°All parties consent and everyone is aware. Let''s formalize this.¡± 81 - Improving mounts cuts travel time. After the Cleric made the document official, we left the office to meet with our group. They introduced themselves to Elena and we moved to the southern edge of the city, stopping at a too small building that didn''t look like the breeding farm in Riverfield. A Merchant Tigea greeted and guided us inside. Much to my surprise, we went down a long staircase that ended at a large warehouse-like room. There, animals were kept in spacious spots behind fences. The room didn''t have a wall to the left, overlooking the valley above which Paarjo floated. The light of the suns entered through there. I caught a glimpse from the corner of my eye and quickly looked away, choosing to stay at the entrance instead of joining the rest. It wouldn''t be ideal if my Lancer class influenced the animals. Elena and Pokora stayed with me, sitting to my sides on a bench next to the door. Yolin joined the rest, looking at the mounts and commenting something when pointing at some. ¡°What are your bets?¡± Pokora asked while looking at the group talking with the merchant. ¡°The Goliath is looking at the Kavnak with a spark in her eyes,¡± Elena commented with an amused tone. ¡°Her classes have zero synergy with a flying mount, however.¡± I looked at her, interested in that comment. ¡°Which one would be good?¡± I asked her. ¡°Taking synergy into consideration and all that.¡± The three thousand year old woman gave me a smile and replied, ¡°A ground lizard would be a smart choice, but smaller than your Ratnak. Her main tools are shields, after all.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°I bet she''ll go for an Unnak,¡± Pokora decided with certainty, gesturing to a chonky black lizard with short legs. ¡°Their diet is way easier to manage than a Ratnak''s, too.¡± I looked at the group and tried making a guess. ¡°I bet Lapia is going to choose a flying mount,¡± I decided. ¡°She''s a wizard so having the higher position would be incredibly advantageous.¡± ¡°Which one? That bet is too broad, Natasha,¡± Pokora retorted with a chuckle. ¡°Hmm,¡± I nodded and tried giving it a good thinking, but realized I didn''t know the animals enough to come to a conclusion. ¡°I don''t really know,¡± I chuckled. ¡°A Turop would be good for Gentleman Bonte,¡± Elena supplied, pointing at a lithe gecko-looking animal with little enthusiasm. ¡°They are known for being a good mount for Scouts. Plus, he''s short enough to ride it with no problem. I don''t like them, though. They eat mostly insects.¡± I gave her a glance then looked forward. Right, her class is about bugs. ¡°How about Alyssa?¡± Pokora asked, looking at the Luzo. The woman in question was looking over the fence at some animals from the horse family. She was looking at them deep in thought. ¡°Maybe she''ll keep her Bhin?¡± I wondered with a shrug. The two next to me nodded. ¡°Probably,¡± Pokora muttered. ¡°A Bey''tu would be good for a Cardinal,¡± Elena supplied, holding her chin. ¡°They have very good reaction time.¡± I turned to her and asked, ¡°Because of the four eyes?¡± She nodded. ¡°How come they have four eyes?¡± Pokora asked from my right. ¡°Well,¡± Elena began. ¡°They come from the Khalay Swamp. They evolved the upper set of eyes to see past the illusions used by predators there. That''s also a good reason for any Cleric to get one.¡± I nodded, a little impressed by the animal. ¡°A Great Ram would suit Bromisnar,¡± Pokora commented with a light laugh. A giggle escaped me at her words. We continued making bets as to what animal they would buy. Whenever they mentioned an animal I didn''t know I''d ask about it and both would tell me a little about them. Surprisingly, reptile mounts were highly popular due to their versatility in both combat and traversing difficult terrain. Having scales was a big point in favor of survival, too. After around thirty minutes, and selling the Bhin to the establishment, our companions made their decision on their mounts. Lapia bought a large red fox, much to my surprise. The animal was smaller but longer than a regular horse. Alyssa bought the Bey''tu Elena had mentioned. The animal was a pretty thick boy and his body was completely black. Thelea got herself an Unnak as Pokora predicted. It was pretty cute in my opinion. Bonte chose an Untu, which fit him quite well. Cats are sneaky by nature after all. Bromisnar went for a horse as well, but his was a massive beast a little over three meters tall. It looked like a Percheron on growth hormones. I appraised the animals while they approached us. [Vulupitas, Lvl 503] [Bey''tu, Lvl 502] [Unnak, Lvl 509] [Untu, Lvl 500] [Northern Grand Stallion, Lvl 501] I stared at the fox and horse with raised eyebrows. Quite on the nose... And those levels are pretty high for mounts. The three of us stood up from out seats and started walking towards the exist next to them. ¡°What names did you choose?¡± I asked them with a smile. ¡°Delazh,¡± Lapia replied with a satisfied smile. ¡°It''s an Elvish name that roughly translates to ''good girl'',¡± she added. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Valuk,¡± Alyssa answered. ¡°Dragon Tongue for ''observer''.¡± ¡°I named mine after a flower,¡± Thelea confidently supplied. ¡°Kathnik.¡± Bonte coughed and covered his face. ¡°Red Killer,¡± he muttered in a low, mysterious voice. We were all silent for a few seconds. Bromisnar cleared his throat and politely coughed. ¡°I went with Giorgio,¡± he proudly shared. Mutters of approval were shared among the group, letting the edgy name go. I checked my pocket watch while leaving the building and saw it was barely ten in the morning. Starting the day early does wonders for time management. I walked up to Sonya and mounted up, then offered Elena a hand. She took it and climbed up, then sat in front of me on the saddle. ¡°Excuse my intrusion of personal space,¡± muttered the Elf. ¡°Are you comfortable?¡± I asked her, fixing myself on the saddle to not be glued to the woman. She nodded, swaying her red hair. ¡°Good to know,¡± I replied in a gentle tone. ¡°If you feel like stopping along the way, let me know.¡± She twisted and looked at me in the eye. ¡°Where are we going?¡± she inquired. ¡°Ah, yeah... I didn''t tell you,¡± I nodded with a tight smile. ¡°We''re going to a dungeon.¡± She nodded and looked forward. ¡°That sounds good,¡± she commented with an interested voice. Lapia approached on top of her fox, and gave me a wink. ¡°Do we depart right now?¡± ¡°What does the leader think?¡± I turned to Pokora. She nodded. ¡°Let''s go, we may reach the dungeon by nightfall if we make the most of it.¡± We all agreed so we rode towards the elevator that brought us to the city. I closed my eyes and relaxed my body while going down. We told the concierge back at our place that we would go on a short Chase for a week at most, so that was covered. Lapia and Yolin made sure to set things up with no issue. After going a full kilometer down, I opened my eyes and guided Sonya out of the platform. The Watchers on the settlement bid us farewell and we went on our way north towards the dungeon. I pulled a map of Lumin Kingdom I bought on the way to the Breeding House and checked the general location of our destination. There were no towns or cities near the mine, but there was a small dot with a tag that read ''Abandoned Gold Mine ¨C High Tier Danger'' on top of it. Elena was reading it as well since my arms were around the Elf''s body. The woman was short enough for me to see the map over her shoulder. I ran a finger through the road connecting the mine to Paarjo. The forest was too thick for a shortcut on mounts, and the road was some 2000 kilometers long and didn''t meet a single settlement on the way. The forest around us tightened while we advanced on the road. ¡°Alright!¡± Pokora called in a loud voice, moving to the front of the group. ¡°Let''s go two hundred for four hours, then we''ll stop for a break and have lunch.¡± ¡°Aye, aye, Captain!¡± I replied with a big smile and kicked Sonya''s flank. Just like that, the eight animals shot forward at neck-breaking speeds no animal should be able to achieve with such ease. They did it anyway. We moved through the road with ease, our animals quick enough in their reflexes and dexterity to follow the curves without incident. Elena laughed and spread her arms, enjoying the high speeds. We crossed the first group of pedestrians some twenty minutes after we departed. They were a dot that quickly disappeared behind us. We followed Pokora''s pace. By the time the suns went over the peak up in the sky, we stopped to have a light meal and water our mounts. Unsurprisingly, the animals were not tired at all. Their high levels were paying off in full. After finishing a salad Alyssa put together, we continued on our way. *** After seven hours of travel, we made it to the mine. The place was at the bottom of a cliff side. A tall and wide hole of around five meters welcomed us into darkness. After fifty meters, however, we came to a caved in section of the tunnel. ¡°Alright, then,¡± I sighed and dismounted Sonya, then walked to the debris. ¡°Natasha will clear the way...¡± Pokora began, then chuckled. ¡°While the rest of us wait outside.¡± ¡°I''ll help,¡± Lapia spoke up and dismounted. ¡°My space spells will help move the stones around and help prevent another cave in.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Pokora replied and turned her mount around. ¡°Be safe,¡± she added and left. The rest followed her, taking Lapia''s mount along. I undressed to my underwear to take advantage of my glow and redid my braid into a bun. ¡°Do I just punch through?¡± I asked, touching the artificial wall. I sank my fingers on it and grabbed a fistful of rock, then pulled it out and dropped it on the ground. It felt like clay. ¡°Do you have a pickax or a shovel in your inventory?¡± Lapia asked, taking a step to the side. I shook my head. ¡°None of those.¡± ¡°Punch away, then,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Don''t use too much strength, though. We don''t want the back to compress too much.¡± I balled a hand and reared my right arm back. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered and punched the wall. My fist impacted the rock and made a hole on it, spreading dust and small pebbles all around. The impact cracked the wall and made the tunnel shake for a few seconds. I punched again, breaking more stone and widening the hole. Lapia used spells to shift falling rocks to the sides of the tunnel, preventing them from hitting my head. ¡°Should I go faster?¡± I wondered, wiping dirt off my body. ¡°I doubt it''s a small cave-in.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Lapia replied from behind me. ¡°Your back is amazing, Natasha.¡± I posed and flexed my muscles, tightening my back. ¡°Is it?¡± She giggled and smacked my ass. ¡°It is,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Now get to it.¡± I nodded and rolled my shoulders, then went at it at five punches a second. It was a healthy start in my opinion. The tunnel shook like an earthquake as I made my way through the wall. I used enough strength to prevent my arms from sinking into the wall instead of breaking it down. Lapia shifted the rocks and debris to the back, keeping the area around my feet clear of rocks and stones. After around a hundred meters the ground started going down in a gentle slope. My glow illuminated the space enough that I noticed it pretty easily. Plus, if the ground felt rough it meant I was going straight forward instead of following the slope. All in all, it was a fun activity. I felt powerful in a very destructive way at seeing my bare fists drill through solid rock like it was clay. Lapia was capable of even shifting the dust away, preventing me from choking on the amount of it that came out whenever I punched a hole. I also learned that punching holes on walls wasn''t as easy as I thought. If I punched straight, the rock would crack but it wouldn''t do much in clearing the way. Instead, I had to swing a little so the impact would make a large, concave dent. After about four hours, we stopped for the day. ¡°This tunnel is massive,¡± I commented while we walked back. Lapia nodded. ¡°I would bet they were after deep ores. The depth influences how much E''er they have absorbed, which also makes the vines bigger, by the way.¡± ¡°Ahhh,¡± I breathed out in amazement. ¡°That means there should be big diamonds down there, right?¡± She turned to me with a confused smile. ¡°Why do you need diamonds?¡± I looked at her in puzzlement and remembered I had kept the diamond dildo plan hidden. ¡°For a sex toy,¡± I admitted with a cheeky grin. Lapia''s eyes widened and her face tightened, trying to hold back laughter. ¡°Wait,¡± she said in a shaky voice. ¡°You mean to tell me you brought us all the way here to get diamonds for a sex toy?¡± I gave her a big nod. ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡± ¡°HAHAAAAAA!¡± she wheezed and bent over while hugging her stomach. 82 - Arachnophobia and Choosing Violence. The Elf had a good laugh while we walked through the tunnel. ¡°Okay, Natasha...¡± she rubbed her cheeks and sighed. ¡°You need to tell us you''re after diamonds. Letting others know of objectives is important.¡± I nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah,¡± I sighed. Lapia was right. There was no way to justify my embarrassment around toys. Not in this world. Just mentioning I was after diamonds would have been enough, too. We exited the tunnel and joined the rest. They had set camp in the time I was clearing the debris. There, while having a rich soup, I informed them of my goal in the dungeon. Nods were given in reply, and other than ''Oh, okay'' and comments of that nature, nobody said anything about the subject. That was nice. Night came and Pokora took charge of the group, assigning shifts for look-out. Me and Bonte stood watch until two in the morning, then Pokora and Thelea replaced us. I used the opportunity to give a set of armor to the Goliath. I didn''t know if anything in my possession would fit her large body, so I first offered her a gauntlet from one of the Swordsmen class costumes. Much to our surprise and shock, the protective gear fit her body like a glove. So, I gave her a full suit of black plate armor that had spikes on the shoulder plates along with a legendary shield and sword. The set''s name was [Cruel Onslaught Armor], and was pretty intimidating with her height. I spiced it up with rings and leather garments as well. The armor was similar to my own in terms of durability and enchantments. She profusely thanked me but I insisted it was alright and to not worry about it. I slept until six in the morning and woke up fully rested and energized. Thelea and Yolin joined me in my morning routine, exercising until eight in the morning. The Goliath was especially excited, probably still happy about the gear. After that we woke the rest up and had breakfast, then went into the tunnel. I continued breaking the debris and opening the way, taking breaks to drink water and joke around. After around five more hours of making sure the tunnel wouldn''t collapse, my punches started echoing behind the debris. I stopped and stared at the wall for a while. ¡°We''re getting close,¡± Lapia commented next to me. I looked behind and saw the group standing at the edge of my glow, then returned my attention to the wall in front of me and gulped. You got this, Natasha. Spiders are tiny. They are more afraid of you than you are of them. You know everything there is to know about them, too. That''s half the fight already! I told myself, looking for motivation to face another one of my fears. Lapia placed a hand on my left shoulder. ¡°How are you doing?¡± she asked. I turned to her and tried smiling. ¡°Me? I''m doing great. Why?¡± She arched an eyebrow. ¡°Your hands are shaking a little,¡± she pointed out and gestured at my fists. I rubbed my face and ran both hands through my hair, then braided my hair. ¡°I''m okay. It''s good. All is alright,¡± I quickly replied. She nodded and patted my back. ¡°Alright, then. Open it up,¡± she cheered me on. I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh, noticing my body shaking a little. ¡°§¢§Ý§ñ§ä§î!¡± I hissed and raised an arm to punch the wall. Images of eight legged nightmares surfaced on my mind, dowsing my back and core in dreadful coldness. In response to that, a boiling rage took hold of my mind, making me tighten my jaw and glare at the wall. Sometimes, fear makes us angry. In order to come out on top, weaponizing anger is often an appropriate approach. Lapia took a few steps back while muttering something. I punched the wall like it was my worst nemesis. I have elixirs with me. My armor has a durability of SSS+. My spear has a sharpness of SSS+ as well. I''m a Halve, too. The apex being of this planet. Nothing will happen to me, I reassured myself. Rocks fell and were shifted away along with the dust. Then, with a single punch, the wall opened and revealed a wide cave-like room. The walls, the corners, and even the ceiling were covered in webs. I immediately wore my gear along with my spear and shield, then jumped backwards and took a stance. Thirty seconds passed and nothing happened. ¡°Don''t scare me like that!¡± Lapia complained from behind me. ¡°I thought we were being swarmed.¡± I took large gulps of air, trying to calm my heart. Thelea approached on her mount and stared into the opening. ¡°Well, let''s go?¡± were the words that revealed her insanity. I gulped and nodded, then started walking. Very slowly. After crossing the artificial door of my making, the glow coming from my hair illuminated the place. My companions followed on their mounts, looking around. I stared at a nearby wall and my face paled at the thickness of the thread that made the webs. It was as thick as my fingers. Oh, no... they''re huge! I cried inside. This is worse than Australia! My skin crawled and my bladder threatened to loosen up. Sonya walked to me and pushed me with her head. I turned to the Ratnak and let out a nervous chuckle. ¡°You''re not scared?¡± I asked her in a tiny voice. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. She shook her head and gently headbutted me. ¡°Okay,¡± I nodded and climbed on top of her. ¡°How is E''er density looking, Natasha?¡± Pokora asked while approaching me on her mount. I sniffed around, getting a taste of the air. ¡°Pretty thick, higher than Mountroad''s dungeon.¡± She nodded and hummed, then turned to the group. ¡°Alright! We''re dealing with a potentially high tier dungeon. Natasha and Yolin on the front; Lapia, Elena, and me behind them; Alyssa, Bromisnar and Bonte behind us; and Thelea at the rear!¡± she commanded and moved. I turned to the wall one last time to look at the thread and gulped, then tapped Sonya''s neck. We followed Pokora''s formation and moved forward. I kept looking at the walls and ceiling, growing more uncomfortable every time I saw webs covering every surface, even most of the ground. Come on, Natasha. You''re doing it for the toy. Imagine what Yolin can do with it! I hyped myself with raunchy thoughts. The cave widened and turned into a properly built tunnel... which was still covered in webs. My glow revealed everything in a thirty meter radius, so we had good visibility at least. ¡°You good?¡± Yolin asked next to me. I turned to her and scoffed. ¡°Me? Pshh! Obviously. Why?¡± She smiled and gave me a nod. ¡°If you say so.¡± I looked to the front and tried recalling everything I knew about spiders. The telling details that separate the harmless from the dangerous. The exact location of their book lungs. The meaning of abdomen size, coloring, shape, etc. The differences in web and the presence of it and what it implies. Know your enemies and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster! I reminded myself, looking around. The threads around us were clearly cobwebs with no discernible design. They were also too spread out to be used in the protection of eggs. That was a small relief. The tunnel continued up to around forty meters, where it was replaced with a more natural-looking rocky surface. So far there were no webs blocking our path or forming a web tunnel. The environment, however, expanded into a dungeon floor. More precisely, a jungle dungeon floor. ¡°Fuck,¡± I muttered while glancing around. This dungeon, however, didn''t have stalactites that emitted light up in the ceiling. Instead, vegetation on the floor had glowing flowers. Unfortunately, the thickness of the jungle created shadows between the shining plants. Perfect for a spider to hide. ¡°Mhm,¡± Yolin hummed in agreement. ¡°At least better than cave spiders.¡± I turned to her and shook my head. ¡°There is no ''better'' when it comes to spiders, Yolin...¡± She laughed and gave me a toothy smile. ¡°True that!¡± she cheerfully agreed. I joined her in laughter and turned to the group at the back. ¡°Okay, Lapia! Burn it all down!¡± ¡°What?¡± the Elf blurted out in confusion. ¡°This is a closed off space. We''ll asphyxiate, Natasha...¡± I scowled behind my helmet. ¡°What do we do, then?¡± I asked out loud. ¡°We hunt the spooderoonies,¡± Pokora replied with an excited tone. ¡°We might find a cute one,¡± Elena cheered from behind Lapia. I shook my head in disbelief at their words. The sound of a loud and rhythmic clapping came from the right. I whipper my head in that direction and saw a familiar monster some twenty meters into the jungle. A green bug the size of a humming bird moved between the greenery. It had wings like a dragonfly, antlers like a moth, compound eyes like a fly, and thin, long legs. ¡°Hey, look,¡± I whispered and pointed at the thing and appraised it. [Morthar Scout, Lvl 300] ¡°Three hundred on the first dungeon floor?¡± Yolin muttered and whistled in amazement, then turned around. ¡°High tier dungeon, no doubt,¡± she announced. ¡°Got it,¡± Pokora replied. ¡°Give me a minute, please.¡± I followed the bug with my eyes. It lazily flied between the trees and above the undergrowth. So it''s not a floor guardian in this dungeon? I wondered while looking at it. The bug stopped moving mid-air. My heartbeat accelerated along with my breathing. It used its spindly legs and jerked around, shaking the spider web that had caught it. ¡°Ay, no!¡± I whispered and squirmed on the saddle, trying to scratch the itch that covered my body. I watched in horror as a being out of my worst nightmares showed itself from behind a tree. Slowly, very slowly, a yellowish green spider with red stripes crawled on the web towards the bug. Hairy, long legs appeared first. Then, the hairless cephalothorax followed, revealing eight beady eyes that uncaringly stared at the world around it. Chelicerae the size of my forearm trembled in depraved emotions that were probably more eldritch than the beings of the Abyss themselves. Its long pedipalps tapped the webs as it grew closer to its prey. It''s hairy abdomen pulsated like a heart in preparation to strike. It was the size of a fully grown Elf. When it was around a meter away from the bug, it stopped moving. I let out a breath I didn''t know I was holding. Right then, the spider shot towards the bug and wrapped its disgusting legs around it. With movements that were far faster than it had the right to have, the spider used its spinneret to envelop its victim in webs while spinning the bug with its legs. I was paralyzed in absolute terror at the sight. My heartbeat was going a million beats a minute and nausea filled my head. My mouth was dry as a desert and my eyes were as wide as they could be. It was at that moment that, similar to when I was high above the air in the arena, my Halven instincts kicked in and all the fear gripping my mind dissolved like cotton candy in the ocean for a moment. I lifted my spear and threw it at the nightmarish creature with all my strength. The weapon reached the spider in less than an instant, piercing its thorax and taking it along the pike''s flight. They impacted a tree that got split in half, continuing far into the jungle until both disappeared from sight. ¡°Nope,¡± I announced and turned Sonya around, then continued in Russian, ¡°Fuck all of this. Spiders can go fuck themselves for all I care. I''m leaving.¡± ¡°Did you appraise it?¡± Yolin asked in Russian, still looking at the spot the spider previously was at. I let out a nervous chuckle. ¡°I did not. I do not need to. I will not. I am leaving,¡± I finalized. ¡°It was level three hundred, just like the Morthar Scout,¡± Yolin continued. ¡°Do you remember how easily you killed those?¡± I bit my lips and looked down at my hands. My weapon materialized in my grip and I let out a long sigh. ¡°You are over a thousand levels higher than them,¡± the Oni insisted. ¡°They literally can''t do anything to you.¡± I turned to her and weakly shook my head. ¡°But I don''t like them!¡± I whined. Yolin nodded in understanding. ¡°I know. I get it. You don''t have to fight fight them as you did with other monsters,¡± she gently comforted me. ¡°I could deal with them,¡± Elena joined the conversation, speaking Russian. ¡°I would need a Morthar Queen, though.¡± ¡°Heh... hehe... HAHAHA!¡± I stored my weapon and clapped, turning to the Entomyst. ¡°Yes!¡± I searched my storage for the ring I got in Mountroad''s dungeon, then appraised the thing. [Morthar Queen Coronet (Low)] -Attracts a Morthar Swarm when worn. I offered it to the Elf. She took it and gave it a look, then nodded with a smile. ¡°This is perfect,¡± she commented, matching my enthusiasm. You''ll be mine, diamonds, I thought with a wide smile behind my helmet. I also have to give Elena some armor... I didn''t want her to fight, after all. 83 - Biochemical Warfare is based. Elena put the ring on her middle finger and then equipped a full set of protective gear. It was a set of armored purple clothes that completely covered her body. It looked pretty high quality. The kind us Halves have. Ah, well... No need to give her anything, I concluded. Maybe got it from Yulianna. ¡°Nice gear,¡± I commented in Common, gesturing at the ensemble. She nodded. ¡°I had it in my storage item,¡± she supplied, then her face turned complicated and added, ¡°I don''t remember where, when, how, or why I got it.¡± ¡°It''s alright,¡± I gave her a smile. ¡°Legendary?¡± I inquired. She nodded. Bingo, I thought. Lapia cleared her throat. ¡°So... what now?¡± she asked out loud. ¡°Elena will control a Morthar Swarm and deal with the spiders,¡± Yolin replied, looking in our direction with an amused smile. ¡°Hmm,¡± Pokora hummed then chuckled. ¡°That sounds good.¡± Agreeing words were given around. ¡°Alright!¡± Pokora called out and turned around. ¡°We''ll go with that strategy for as long as it''s efficient, then Lapia and me will take care of the spiders from afar.¡± The rest nodded and we waited. After around five minutes, a very loud buzz approached us. From between the bushes, trees, plants, and undergrowth, over a thousand bugs showed up flying in our direction. ¡°A nice harvest,¡± Elena cheered and pulled out the staff she got from Perculis. ¡°1634 Scouts, 20 Soldiers, and a single Queen... This ring is marvelous, Your Excellency!¡± she laughed with joy. Her enthusiasm spread and we laughed along with her. The Entomyst waved the staff and her eyes glowed with a violet-green light, stopping the swarm mid-air. She clicked her tongue and waved a hand. Loud explosions came from deep into the jungle, startling us. ¡°Seventy two got caught in spider webs, so I made them undergo autothysis,¡± Elena explained, moving her hands again. The Swarm gathered above her in a broad circle, leaving the Soldiers surrounding the Queen in the middle. Pokora turned to Elena and gave her a nod. ¡°You''ll send out scouts to latch onto the spiders and kill them, alright?¡± she instructed. The woman in question nodded. ¡°Got it!¡± I hummed in satisfaction at not having to face the eight legged horrors. And so, we unashamedly committed war crimes on spiders through biological warfare. Moving through the jungle, Elena sent out the scouts ahead to find spider webs and get caught, then made them explode. It was a little underwhelming in my opinion. I initially thought the Morthar Scouts exploded like a grenade, but their abdomens ripped open and doused the spiders in their acidic entrails before they were wrapped in webs, which in turn killed the spider. Still, it was an absolute win. Only a single Morthar Scout was needed to kill each spider, but sometimes two were needed after the first got wrapped in webs. I watched with morbid glee as the spiders melted and died horrible deaths at the hands of the amnesic woman. Elena commanded the Swarm efficiently and brutally, sometimes using the Soldiers to shoot their stingers at the spiders, killing them with the venom alone. On very rare occasions, Pokora had to use her bow to shoot wandering spiders that roamed the floor, killing them with a single arrow. Being carried is good sometimes. Time passed as we brought terror on the unsuspecting arachnids, going in circles around the dungeon floor to maximize the killing. Naturally, Elena wasn''t the only one using skills. Lapia used lightning spells, Alyssa used her skills at set intervals to prevent curses and heal fatigue, Bromisnar was singing and playing his instruments to boost the party, Bonte used skills to confuse and daze the monsters, Thelea made sure no monster approached from behind and used auras to boost the party, Yolin had her auras active to both boost the party and prevent monster from reaching those behind us, and I used Monster Hunter to boost the party. It was good progress. We didn''t find a Floor Guardian on the first floor, but we found the source of the local spiders. Lapia made quick work of the eggs with her fire. Elena attracted two more Swarms to use as kamikaze units. We also found natural ores which I stored for Sonya to eat later. Bonte and Pokora were also in charge of gathering any useful natural resources to gain monetary value out of the dungeon delve. They used branches to gather an unholy amount of spider silk. In one hour, we cleared the first floor of all living creatures. On the second floor, which was a jungle once again, we found Golems in the shape of spiders. Lapia dealt with those with space spells and I stored the cores. We again harvested every material we could get our hands on, not leaving a single thing behind. A lot of plants were useful for alchemy, especially the glowing ones. We continued the systematic exploitation of the dungeon at a fast pace. We realized pretty quickly that the main theme of the dungeon was that of spiders. They were everywhere we went. Under rocks, hanging from the ceiling, waiting to ambush between trees, etc. Fortunately, the beings ruling the universe saw fit to place Morthar Swarms as their main prey, which Elena used to cull them. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. We made camp after clearing the third floor and Bonte prepared a nice meal with the vegetation we had collected so far. I went into my tent along with Alyssa, who gave me a massage to familiarize herself with my physiology. We hadn''t had the chance to do those lately and took the chance. After that, I stood watch with Pokora. We sat on a tree stump with our backs to each other so we could look at everything around us. I was wearing a simple shirt and shorts to maximize my glow. I produced some almonds and snacked on them while looking around. ¡°Hey, Natasha,¡± Pokora bumped my back with hers. ¡°Yeah?¡± I turned around to look at her. ¡°Look ahead,¡± she chastised me. ¡°Well, fuck you too,¡± I chuckled and returned to looking around. ¡°No, that''s not what I mean,¡± she laughed. ¡°Can''t you talk while looking around?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered and ate an almond. ¡°What''s up?¡± She giggled. ¡°The sky,¡± she cheekily replied. I let out a long sigh and ate another almond while shaking my head. ¡°In a trolling mood?¡± She sighed. ¡°Not really. I just don''t know how to bring it up,¡± she muttered. I shrugged. ¡°Be blunt, then?¡± I offered. She took a deep breath and hesitated for a few seconds. ¡°We''re friends, right?¡± ¡°I would hope so,¡± I admitted. ¡°You''re capable, funny, sometimes annoying, but all in all you''re a great person to be around. If I''m honest I admire you a little. You made it in this world with effort and perseverance.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered in a quiet voice. Another minute of silence passed. I ate almonds and looked around. ¡°Do you feel like a cheat character?¡± she inquired after a while. ¡°I was wondering that maybe you had impostor syndrome with how strong and revered you are from the start?¡± I chuckled at that. ¡°Not at all. I deserve all that I am,¡± I replied. She let out a soft snort. ¡°Narcissist much?¡± ¡°I went through Hell,¡± I told her, eating another almond. Yet another minute of silence went by. ¡°You mean, like...?¡± she didn''t finish the sentence. ¡°Yep,¡± I confirmed with a nod. ¡°Literal Hell. I was sent there to clean up some corruption as far as I understand it. I fought for a while. Hunting, butchering, and eating demons to survive. Pretty nasty stuff,¡± I added with a shrug. ¡°Whayou- howthu-,¡± she stuttered in disbelief. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she managed to get out. ¡°Yeah,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Got a title, too. Hellwalker,¡± I sighed and ate another almond. ¡°I have dreams of my time there every time I sleep.¡± ¡°Shit, Natasha,¡± she muttered in disbelief. ¡°That''s heavy.¡± ¡°Kind of,¡± I chuckled. ¡°I went a little insane so I don''t directly remember things.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± she sighed. ¡°I didn''t intend for this conversation to get like that.¡± ¡°Oh, nah,¡± I calmly waved it away. ¡°It''s good. I''m alright all things considered. I told you before that my mind works differently. Trauma doesn''t last long, fortunately.¡± Two minutes of silence went by. I produced a juice bottle and drank a bit while eating a few almonds. I gave the bottle a long sip to finish it when Pokora spoke up. ¡°So... death, Hell, and now you''re an overpowered futa?¡± she concluded with a light tone. I laughed while liquid was going down my throat, so I choked like a moron. ¡°Also, is all that Hell thing true?¡± she asked, a little amused. ¡°Like, the souls of the damned, river Styx, the nine circles, Lucy, and all that?¡± I wiped my mouth and coughed a few times. ¡°That''s quite the mix of beliefs,¡± I managed to get out between coughs. ¡°First of all, river Styx is a Greek mythos and it was the line dividing the world of the living from the underworld, not the hell that was widely advertised. Second, the nine circles of hell were from Dante''s Inferno, a book. Third, there was no Lucy if what you mean by that is Lucifer. The souls of the damned... well,¡± I sighed and cleared my throat while using a napkin to clean my face and hands. ¡°You could say the souls there were damned in a way.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she muttered. ¡°To be completely honest, it''s had to imagine.¡± ¡°It''s alright,¡± I replied and drank the leftover juice. ¡°Mere mortals shouldn''t concern themselves with matter outside of their puny capabilities,¡± I added with a chuckle, then stored the bottle. Pokora snorted at my comment. ¡°You Halves and your high horses,¡± she retorted. ¡°Actually... I ride a Ratnak, not a horse,¡± I corrected her with an annoying tone. She laughed at that. ¡°Oh, fuck off!¡± I join her in laughter and we joked for a few minutes. ¡°So, Hellwalker,¡± she began, fixing her seating. ¡°That quite the impressive title. What does it say?¡± ¡°Demons fear me,¡± I shortly explained. ¡°So... the only thing they fear, is you?¡± she asked, then laughed. I giggled. ¡°That''s right.¡± We continued talking and joking until Lapia and Yolin came out of the tent for their turn at watch. __ The next day we continued clearing the dungeon. Elena did most of it with the many Swarms that were around while the rest of us provided support as we had done so far. After we got the hang of rotating the formation while we advance, along with Pokora''s commands and leadership, we managed to clear fifteen floors on our third day in the dungeon. Pokora is, much to my surprise, a ruthless commander. Her approach was unlike my own. She used her brain to form strategies for every conceivable situation, coming up with solutions that were efficient in time and effort on equal measures. Whenever monsters were too spread out, she''d have Elena use the bugs to deal with them. When they were gathered, she told Lapia to use lightning spells to stun and then burn them with fire while keeping them from either approaching or escaping with space spells. The woman gave orders left and right without disregarding safety. Not that we would be overrun. Not with me around, at least. If push came to shove, I''d just go all out. She wasn''t complacent either, considering me as a last resort for when shit hit the fan. And shit did, indeed, hit the fan. On the thirty second level, after three and a half days of steady progress, the mother of all nightmares fell down from the ceiling of a permanently dark dungeon floor when we approached the gate to the next level. It was a twenty meter tall, hairy, ugly, disgusting, and worst of all, noisy spider. The moment it touched ground, it screeched and lifted its front legs, showing massive fangs the length of my spear. Its body was white and its eyes were red. More importantly, it was blocking our path. [Floor Guardian ¨C Uv-Lanakh Lvl 620] So far the shock therapy of seeing spiders the size of adults being easily killed had considerably numbed my fear. A spider the size of a mine haul-truck was a completely different subject. My heart almost left my mouth and I tightened my grip on my spear. ¡°Lapia,¡± Pokora began, probably with a plan already. ¡°Thro-¡± The massive spider shot towards us, leaping the distance in an instant. My brain stopped working for the smallest fraction of a second, immediately going into a feral and violent frenzy. The spider had targeted Alyssa. Big mistake. 84 - Anger I: Seed of Arrogance. My glow intensified along with my rage, and I jumped towards the spider. Then, I offered it a banquet of agony in which I grew obese with hate. So far I had hidden the animal within me, wasting it and casting it to shadows of my own creation, rotting beneath my golden beauty. I tore the spider''s limbs one by one with the ruthlessness of a starving predator. Its screeches became the chorus of its requiem, the instruments of the waltz that would inevitably break its body. Like a puppet controlled by a child, its movements were erratic and indistinct. Nothing more than a toy for my entertainment, I thought while butchering the creature. My spear moved with brutal accuracy, the blade whistling through the air and singing its demise. Why do spiders scare me? I wondered, slashing its thorax and tearing it open with my hands. The entrails rained on me, tickling my nose with fetid scents. Nothing that could compare to a corrupted demon''s blood, however. Everything stands beneath me. I stabbed. Eager to please those who so generously allowed their continued existence. I ripped. Why am I cursed and hunted like game? I tore. Why do they dare to point their ugly and pathetic selves in our direction? I stomped. Have they forgotten their basic desires? I slashed. Have they lost their instincts? I stored my helmet and bit. Has peace dulled their senses to the point of idiocy? I chewed. Even a beast knows not to taunt those above it. I spat, the taste not pleasant at all. The spider had died already, but I continued to maul the corpse solely for my satisfaction. And yet, anger still drowned my mind. I had opened the gates, flooding my senses with the ocean of rage that bloomed when the vermin chose to commit the greatest of crimes. Have our ways made them porcine with complacency? They have feasted on our victories, not setting a plate for us on their ingrate tables. I turned around and faced the group, focusing on Alyssa. She squinted and averted her eyes, blocking her face with a hand. ¡°Can you lower the brightness? You''re blinding us,¡± she commented. The day will come when the parasites will take aim, pointing at beings above them with their feeble and ugly plans. I turned back to the gate to the next floor. ¡°They will dare,¡± I muttered and took a breath. ¡°Because they have forgotten fear.¡± Though different in nature, I had already seen a world end due to greed and denial. How destructive the gushing ulcers of industry and ideology are when they devour a world unchecked and blind to the consequences. Fear is the greatest of faiths. It''s a monster lurking in the shadows. It feeds on the mind, corrupting it. Their ignorance will be my weapon. Their hope will be the weakness I will aim for. While they stare with violent envy, I shall give fear a form... to remind them of who their gods are. Yolin walked next to me and put a hand on my shoulder. ¡°What was that?¡± I looked at her and smiled. She squinted and covered my face with a hand. ¡°You''re too damn bright!¡± I shall foil their plans with mocking violence, castrating the very ideas off their minds with words so corrupting their inferior selves will revert to the most base of forms. Alyssa approached me wearing her sunglasses and took my face in her hands. ¡°How can you see? Your pupils are glowing as well,¡± she commented in surprise. I stared at the Luzo. To achieve that, I have to elevate their divinity. To make them into beings so absolute and exceptional, those who dare will only see disdain as results of their sins... then be culled like the pests they are. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Yolin asked, pinching my cheeks. ¡°Talk to us.¡± I hugged them both and rubbed my cheeks on theirs. ¡°Everything that seeks to harm you will experience the worst of deaths by my hand,¡± I calmly commented. ¡°Such insolence will only gain them the greatest of despairs.¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Alyssa hesitated for a second, pulling back a little. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°Whoever, or whatever, fits,¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°I will kill them all.¡± The two shared a concerned look and looked back at me. ¡°Why?¡± Yolin asked with a small smile. I turned to her. ¡°If any of you get harmed, I will end those responsible for even trying,¡± I replied with a serious face. ¡°Damn!¡± the Oni blurted out, then sighed with worry on her face. ¡°Is this Halven anger?¡± Alyssa''s scaly eyebrows climbed her forehead and she frowned. ¡°Don''t make decisions when you''re angry, Natasha,¡± she chastised me. ¡°You''re not a child, nor are you in a position that allows you to make mistakes that big. How about you channel your anger and clear the dungeon instead?¡± she offered with a tilt of her head. ¡°We''ll have a talk when you calm down. Understood?¡± she added with a serious tone that implied the conversation was over. Yolin nodded at her words, waiting for my answer. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. What Alyssa said had cleared my mind for a brief moment. Enough to reign in the violence, but not enough to lessen the anger. I had broken my own rules of anger management and went down an unnecessary path. I nodded, choosing the middle ground. Being stubborn would not do me any good, and the anger still gripping my mind prevented me from calming down completely. The two had more life experience compared to me, all things considered. A million years in Hell would not make me smarter or wiser than them. Not when things happened the way they did. Alyssa nodded as well. I turned my back on them and walked past the dead spider. ¡°Sonya!¡± I called my mount. She approached and stood next to me. I climbed on her and wore my helmet, then took a deep breath. The air going into my lungs intensified the storm within. Now without a target to vent my thoughts to, actions were the only option left. ¡°Are we going to talk about what just happened?¡± Pokora asked out loud with a confused voice. ¡°Keep up!¡± I announced and pushed E''er into Preparation, Initiation, Dragoon Might, and Monster Hunter with an indefinite time, then tapped Sonya''s neck. The Ratnak rushed forward and broke through the gate that opened to the downward slope, took sharps turns traversing the bends going down, then broke the following gate as well. I pushed E''er into Intimidate Prey as soon as we crossed into the floor, and shouted, ¡°Come, spider filth!¡± Ear-piercing screeches came in response to my taunt. I stored my shield and pulled a second spear from my storage, then looked around the dungeon floor. It was a tropical rainforest enveloped in darkness. I stored my helmet and everything my eyes could see was revealed by my intense glow. I have around twenty spears above Epic quality, I thought with an angry scowl. ¡°Time to go §¬§Ñ§ä§ð§ê§Ñ,¡± I chuckled. The first spider rushed forward between the brushes and I instantly threw a spear at it, then produced another one. A second spider showed up and I shot the second spear in its direction. Spiders appeared in hordes, rushing towards me. I threw spears left, right, and above, rotating between the twenty I had. After half a second they returned via shift, making it a close forty throws each second. The shock-waves that the skill produced killed quite the number of spiders while Sonya carried me through the floor. I abused my dexterity to aim a little below their eight eyes, piercing their brains with above-surgical precision. ¡°We''re behind you!¡± came Pokora''s voice. So, I kept at it. For forty hours straight I killed everything in the dungeon. Nothing could escape the effects of Intimidate Prey, throwing themselves towards me. Whenever a Floor Guardian showed up... full-strength spear to the head. Whenever Morthar Swarms showed up, Elena took control over them. I continually absorbed E''er, keeping my pool above eleven thousand. Whenever it flowed into me, I kept thirty percent and sent the rest through the bond to the party. I also stored everything that looked useful after clearing each floor. Plants and ores were the priority. When I cleared the 75th floor, which was a sandy plain with scarce vegetation where desert spiders and scorpions roamed, Pokora caught up to me on her mount. ¡°Natasha,¡± she called out to me. ¡°Thelea wants to get her third class for a while now. Let''s take a break.¡± I stopped Sonya and let out an annoyed sigh. ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered then went towards the dungeon walls. Sonya approached and sniffed the wall, giving it licks every few seconds. I dismounted and walked up to it for inspection. Gordon had mentioned the mine held gold, but I had no idea how it looks like when raw. Sonya scratched the wall with her claws, removing some of it. She sniffed the pieces that fell and returned her focus to the wall. To distract myself from the anger I observed the Ratnak. She scratched the wall and licked small pebbles. She sometimes took large bites of rock only to spit it out after chewing for a few seconds. After a few minutes of scratching and licking, she moved away from the wall and charged at it, then gave it a strong headbutt. The wall cracked and broke, revealing milky white rocks with gold spots the size of a needle eye. Sonya rasped and jumped in a circle around me. ¡°Found gold, huh?¡± I pointed out, fairly surprised. ¡°I thought it came in larger amounts, though.¡± She moved behind me and pushed my back with her head towards the wall. I walked up to the spot she broke and ran a hand through the ores. ¡°What is that? Looks like quartz to me,¡± I wondered, peeling a little off with my fingers. ¡°Definitely not marble,¡± I muttered while looking at the thing. It was the size of a compact disk and had gold spots forming lines that divided the white mineral. It was beautiful. Sonya bit the air next to me, making her jaws click loudly. ¡°Here,¡± I offered it to her. She snarled and used a claw to push my hand back. Her eyes went from my face to my hand, then she bit the air again. I raised my eyebrows. ¡°You want me to eat this?¡± She nodded and jumped in circles around me. I brought the thing to my nose and sniffed it. It smelled like a rock. Earthy, metallic, cold, and dusty. I shrugged. ¡°If you can eat ores, why couldn''t I?¡± I muttered and gave it a small bite. The rock had no taste and it felt like sand in my mouth. Sonya watched me take the bite and nodded, then trotted to the wall and had her fill. I summoned a bottle of water and took a sip, then sloshed the liquid in my mouth and swallowed. If worse came to pass I could simply chug a healing potion. I had faith in my body, though. The Ratnak stood on her hind legs and bit the ores. When her teeth stabbed the stone sparks flew out. I want to kill something, I thought, looking around the dungeon floor. If only those Changelings would show up... I''d squeeze their pesky necks! How dare they try to kill me. Fucking lunatics. The sound of sand being stepped on came from behind me. ¡°Hello, there,¡± Pokora greeted me. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I turned around and showed her the rock in my hand. ¡°Sonya found gold,¡± I told her. She inspected my face for a few seconds. ¡°You look angry,¡± she commented. ¡°I am,¡± I admitted with a nod. She nodded with an unimpressed face. ¡°You''re acting pretty calm to me,¡± she insisted. I tapped my temple and replied, ¡°Anger management.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± she uttered and walked to my left. ¡°Is it rude if I ask you about it?¡± ¡°No. Not really,¡± I replied, looking her in the eye. She met my gaze and smiled. ¡°Your entire eye is gold. That''s pretty cool,¡± she chuckled. Sonya distanced herself from the wall and charged at it again, breaking more of it with a headbutt and revealing a larger vein of the ore. ¡°So you have trouble with anger...¡± Pokora muttered with a nod and placed an arm around my shoulders. ¡°Is that why you choked my back in Lakeview?¡± I nodded. ¡°I see,¡± she whispered. ¡°Well, I can count myself lucky I didn''t end up like that spider.¡± I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. ¡°That''s not it, girl.¡± ¡°You have to admit that was a bruh moment,¡± she argued with a laugh. ¡°Also pretty fucking yikes from both of us.¡± I snorted. ¡°How is that a bruh moment?¡± ¡°Like, I look back on it and think ''bruh'', get it?¡± she explained with a smile. ¡°Not really,¡± I shook my head. ¡°I don''t think I get it.¡± "Well, that''s unfortunate," she commented with a shrug. We continued to watch Sonya eat the ore for a while. 85 - To be emotionally intelligent. ¡°Should we go to the others?¡± Pokora asked after an hour. ¡°You can go,¡± I replied with a sigh. ¡°I''ll stay here for a while longer.¡± She nodded. ¡°Sure¡±, she muttered and turned around, then walked away. I let out a sigh and walked next to Sonya. Together we broke more of the wall and revealed the ores. I then stored as much of it as I could get my hands on. Sonya complained with a growl at seeing the snack disappear. I took out a a fruit and a knife, then cut it and ate some while waiting. Unfortunately, the anger remained the same. I finished the fruit and undressed to my underwear, then sprinted towards the wall with a raised fist and punched it with all my strength. The wall cracked and broke, making the dungeon floor shake. Sonya backed off and stood behind me while rasping. I pulled my left fist back and tightened my back, punching the wall the way Yolin had taught me. The wall cracked further and split up to the ceiling, making the ground shake violently. The sand beneath my feet turned weird and sucked me down to my calves. I clicked my tongue and freed myself with little effort. ¡°Can''t even vent,¡± I complained in annoyance. Sonya approached me and licked my face. I sighed and scratched her chin. I need something to kill time with, I thought. The dungeon was clear and Thelea would take her time to get her third class. Continuing to punch the walls wasn''t a sensible option as it could cause a cave-in. ¡°How about you sleep for a while?¡± I offered Sonya. ¡°We''ll wait for a few hours.¡± She headbutted me and laid down by my side. I sat down on the sand and stared at the wall, trying to clear my mind. ¡°Is that a delicious Halve I see?¡± Yolin''s voice came from behind. ¡°Is that a delicious Oni I hear?¡± I replied with a smile. She laughed and stood behind me. ¡°How about some training?¡± she asked with a cheerful tone. ¡°I''m still angry,¡± I argued with a sigh. ¡°I don''t want to hurt you.¡± She hummed and walked around me, then sat in front of me. ¡°How about theory, then?¡± she tried with a smile. I nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± she nodded and lifted her right arm above her head. She pointed at the toned muscles beneath her right breast and asked, ¡°How is this called?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Serratus anterior.¡± She raised an eyebrow and frowned. ¡°You had different names for muscles?¡± she asked in surprise. I nodded. ¡°How is that called here?¡± I asked back. ¡°Costipula,¡± she replied and lowered her arm. My eyebrows scrunched in confusion. ¡°Weird name,¡± I pointed out. ¡°And serratus anterior makes perfect sense,¡± she sarcastically retorted with a big smile. I could only chuckle at that. I had no idea of the origin of the name. ¡°Do you know what that muscle does?¡± Yolin continued, reaching to me and running a hand over my ribs. I shrugged and tried, ¡°Makes people ticklish?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± she shook her head. ¡°Close, though. It helps breathing, moving the shoulder blade, and much more. Look.¡± she showed me her ribs and took a deep breath. The muscle turned noticeably visible and expanded along with her ribs. ¡°I see,¡± I muttered with a nod. For the following hours we talked about anatomy, muscle function, and how to optimize them in training. After around eight hours, Lapia approached us. ¡°How is it going?¡± she asked and hugged my neck from behind. ¡°Good,¡± Yolin replied with a nod. I shrugged. ¡°Less angry.¡± The Elf kissed my cheek. ¡°Thelea is done. Should we continue?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded and stood up. ¡°Let''s.¡± We made it back to the group and had something to eat, then went to the next floor. I rode Sonya at the front and continued my §¬§Ñ§ä§ð§ê§Ñ tactics, throwing spears in quick rotations and killing the monsters the moment they entered my field of view. *** Ten hours later we made it to the 100th floor. Surprisingly, high-tier dungeons are called that way not due to the highest leveled monster being especially powerful, but because the starting monster is a higher level than in most dungeons. That was a bit of a disappointment if I''m honest. The last Floor Guardian was a group of jumping spiders that weren''t particularly fast compared to me. I left them to the group, however. I had considerably calmed down after clearing most of the dungeon so I let the rest take care of the last floor. Yolin stood at the front with Bonte. Pokora and Lapia were next. Elena, Alyssa, and Bromisnar were behind them. Thelea stood at the back, protecting the rear and watching out for anything that went past the first three. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The two tanks had auras that influenced monsters and made them focus on them instead, so the party formation was covered in that regard. Bromisnar was playing his lute and singing to buff the party. I looked at the spiders and appraised them. [Floor Guardian ¨C Mag-Noyath Lvl 930] [Floor Guardian ¨C Mag-Noyath Lvl 927] [Floor Guardian ¨C Mag-Noyath Lvl 935] Around the Demon''s level, I thought while watching them fight. Lapia activated the electric shield around everyone and encased one of the spiders in a cage of lightning, keeping it in place. The strongest spider jumped towards the group. Alyssa pointed her staff at it and did a few gang signs. Thelea rushed forward and raised her new shield to intercept the spider. Lapia blasted it with a fire ball. The magical projectile exploded on contact, stopping the spiders'' advance through the air. It landed but didn''t move any further. ¡°I paralyzed it,¡± Alyssa informed the others. ¡°We have ten seconds to kill it!¡± ¡°Gueirnir kalla!¡± Thelea shouted in a booming voice that shook the spider in front of her. ¡°Saman st?ndum vie h¨¢tt!¡± Oh? Sounds familiar... I thought with a smile. The Goliath took a step closer to the spider that left her right in front of the monster and swung her sword downwards on its head. The blade cut like a hot knife through butter, killing the spider instantly. ¡°HOLY SHIT!¡± the Warrior exclaimed in surprise and shock. ¡°Focus!¡± Pokora ordered and knocked her bow, then continuously shot arrows to the two remaining spiders'' eyes. Yolin had a spider locked down, using her floating arms to stretch its legs to prevent movement. The woman walked to it and grabbed the spiders chelicerae, bent over, then gave it a strong headbutt that pierced it with her horns. I winced and shook my head. Bonte appeared on top of the trapped spider, then transformed in a flurry of steel and shadows that slashed all over its body. After cutting all limbs and appendages off, he stabbed the head with both daggers. After a moment of silence Pokora sighed. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± she praised and walked over to the monsters. Thelea stood still, looking at the sword in her hand. ¡°It''s the equipment, isn''t it?¡± she asked out loud. ¡°Oh, it definitely is,¡± Bonte replied and shifted towards her, standing on her shoulders. ¡°The blades cut like nothing made by mortals. I have to constantly remind myself of that.¡± Alyssa walked over to them and nodded. ¡°While the equipment helps, it''s the way we use it that matters most,¡± she reassured them. ¡°The Chaser makes the tools, after all.¡± ¡°True,¡± the Tigea agreed with a nod. ¡°A novice Shadow Chaser won''t pull off Death''s Waltz the same.¡± We were silent for a moment. Thelea, however, giggled. ¡°That name is sooo cool!¡± she cheered her boyfriend. Ah, well... there it is, I concluded. Another edgy-name lover. Bonte dropped down from her shoulders. Thelea caught him in her arms and stored her helmet. Both looked into each others eyes with a smile, then kissed. The body proportions made it look like an adult woman cradling a kid. She''s just tall, I reminded myself. And he''s just short. Still. I barely reached the Goliath''s elbows when standing next to her. The Tigea, on the other hand, reached her hips. Don''t think too much into it, I told myself and looked away. Alyssa walked to me and raised her scaly eyebrows. ¡°Well?¡± she began, lifting her chin a little. ¡°Calm now?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted with a nod. She inspected my face for a moment and smiled. ¡°Your eyes are back to normal,¡± she pointed out. Lapia and Yolin walked to us. The rest were a good distance away. ¡°Good to know,¡± I insipidly replied. ¡°I''m not a fan of getting angry like that.¡± ¡°It''s healthy to be angry,¡± Alyssa closed the distance and took my face in her scaly hands. ¡°But if the love you offer is that violent and volatile... I don''t want it,¡± she declared with a sad face. My throat tightened and a frown formed on my face. ¡°I know. I''m sorry,¡± I croaked. ¡°I don''t want to upset you.¡± ¡°Don''t apologize for what and who you are, Natasha,¡± the Luzo scolded me. ¡°If you have anger issues and you''re dealing with them, that''s admirable considering your species and purpose. We have to talk about it, however. Alright?¡± I nodded and my eyes started stinging. Yolin placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle smile. ¡°Why do you have anger issues?¡± she asked. I wiped my eyes and gulped. ¡°I had a girlfriend after I finished school. She was pretty shitty with me and I ended up repressing my emotions to avoid breaking up,¡± I replied. ¡°I had recently come to terms with the fact I am also attracted to women and she was my first girlfriend so I didn''t want to fuck it up. It took me a while to realize I should''ve left her from the start.¡± ¡°Did you report her to authorities?¡± Lapia asked with an angry face. I shook my head. ¡°The country I grew up in was strongly against same-sex relationships. If I went to the... Watchers in that world, they would have ignored my claim. Plus, domestic violence wasn''t as addressed as it should have.¡± The three hugged me and sighed. ¡°I got professional help, though,¡± I continued, returning the hugs. ¡°It helped me heal and move on. Now the only thing I deal with is I get angry too fast and it sometimes goes too far.¡± ¡°I apologize for what I said,¡± Alyssa muttered. ¡°I didn''t think things through.¡± I nodded. ¡°It''s alright. I know how scary having a violent partner is,¡± I reassured her. ¡°I''m sure you didn''t say that with bad intentions.¡± ¡°No,¡± the Luzo shook her head and separated a little, looking me in the eye. ¡°It''s the first time you get that angry. I don''t know how many times you''ve successfully controlled yourself and now I said some stupid crap like that,¡± she sighed. ¡°That was uncalled for on my part, Natasha. I''m sorry.¡± I giggled and wiped an escaping tear. ¡°Okay, thank you,¡± I gushed. ¡°I also apologize for making you feel like that.¡± She nodded and gave me a tight hug, wrapping her tail around the four of us. ¡°I love you, Natasha.¡± ¡°I love you too, Alyssa,¡± I giggled and picked the three up, then spun a few times. ¡°You''re hot when you''re angry, though,¡± Lapia confessed with a laugh. We laughed and I released them. ¡°True,¡± Yolin agreed with Lapia. ¡°Makes me want to try angry sex,¡± she added with a blush and a wink. I shook my head with a sigh. ¡°You two are too horny,¡± I accused them. ¡°I like that, though.¡± The Oni shrugged with a laugh. ¡°What can I say? I had my cycle not too long ago.¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°A calm mind is much more attractive. Allows for more plays on the bedroom with a controlled environment.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°I can see your point, but being all excited brings the primal side out,¡± she argued with a shrug. ¡°That''s a good recipe for intense, sweaty, and hot intercourse to the point of exhaustion. Just how I like it best.¡± ¡°Speaking of sex,¡± Yolin began, looking around the dungeon floor. ¡°How about we look for diamonds now?¡± Alyssa tilted her head. ¡°What do diamonds and sex have to do with each other?¡± she inquired. I cleared my throat. ¡°Yeah, about that... Yolin and I went to a shop that sold toys and we concluded diamond would be the best material for me,¡± I admitted with a blush. The Luzo''s scaly eyebrows climbed her forehead and a huge smile formed on her face. ¡°Who are you to call others horny when you put together a dungeon delve to get materials for sex toys?¡± she challenged me with a giggle. ¡°A horny woman,¡± I replied with certainty. ¡°I never claimed to not be one,¡± I pointed out. 86 - Below Layer 15. ¡°Alright,¡± Yolin nodded and looked around, then turned to me. ¡°Did the King tell you how the mine was shaped?¡± I just stared at her. ¡°Do you have the schematics and the records of the way land around it bent to form the dungeon?¡± Lapia asked with an excited smile. ¡°That way we could find diamonds faster.¡± I looked at the ceiling. ¡°You forgot to ask for essential information!¡± Alyssa accused me in an amused tone. I looked at my feet and cleared my throat. ¡°I uh... didn''t know we''d need that,¡± I admitted. The three women covered their faces and sighed. ¡°Well, life is a learning process,¡± Lapia commented while holding her laughter. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°We could use Sonya,¡± Yolin pointed out. ¡°A Ratnak can sniff out diamonds.¡± ¡°The King mentioned I had to clear the dungeon to access the mine,¡± I recalled, squinting at the ground. ¡°But Sonya found gold on the seventieth-something floor so that''s a little misleading¡± ¡°Diamond forms way deeper than where you can find gold, though,¡± Lapia pointed out. I groaned. ¡°How about I pay a Geomancer to create diamonds?¡± Lapia hummed. ¡°That would take too long. And they don''t create diamonds, they transmute matter into them.¡± ¡°How long?¡± Alyssa inquired. The Elf turned to me. ¡°How big do you want it to be?¡± My face burned and I looked away. ¡°Around my size?¡± I tentatively replied. ¡°I bet,¡± she giggled. ¡°That would take a few months, and only one piece,¡± she added in a more serious tone. I clicked my tongue. Yolin laughed. ¡°Okay,¡± Alyssa began with a giggle. ¡°So my bet is the celebratory party will be in eight days from now since the King knows you left with basically no info.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Why would he know I left?¡± Yolin shook her head and sighed. ¡°I don''t know, maybe because you''re the only Halve in the city and he would be informed if you leave?¡± she pointed out with a smile. ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered with a nod. ¡°Well, yeah. I kind of forget about that aspect of life.¡± ¡°Are you done having your talk?¡± Pokora called to us while walking in our direction. Alyssa turned around and nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± The Archer inspected our faces for a few seconds wile approaching. ¡°Everything good?¡± The four of us nodded. ¡°Sooo,¡± Pokora began with raised eyebrows. ¡°Now we look for diamonds?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°The bigger, the better.¡± ¡°I''ll stay with Elena,¡± Alyssa announced, checking on a pocket watch. ¡°It''s half past nine.¡± We nodded and the Luzo walked towards the rest of the group. ¡°Alright,¡± Lapia fixed a lock of hair behind her right ear. ¡°My guess is that the dungeon deformed the mine shafts. If we find signs that would indicate the continuation of the mine, we let the others know and go from there.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± I replied. ¡°Let''s get to it, then.¡± We agreed on that and parted ways. I took Sonya with me and went to the northern section of the dungeon floor which was a plain with no outstanding features other than glowing cracks on the ceiling. I checked the walls, looking for something similar to the entrance of the mine. After thirty minutes I had no luck so I retrieved one of Pokora''s arrows I had stored in the fight at the arena and turned to the Ratnak. She saw the thing and approached me. ¡°Can you find more of this?¡± I probed her, offering the transparent crystal tip. She sniffed it and huffed, then looked away. I raised my eyebrows and laughed, ¡°You don''t like it?¡± Sonya shook her head and pushed my hand away with a claw. ¡°That''s okay. You don''t have to eat it. I just need to find more of this,¡± I explained while scratching her jaw. She nodded and started walking along the wall while sniffing around. I retrieved a bottle of water and followed her. ''Found'' Yolin''s soothing voice entered my mind at that moment. I checked the Bond and it pointed in the direction we were going already so I didn''t rush. By the time the two of us arrived at the Oni''s location, Lapia and Pokora were already there. The three were looking up the wall. There was a clearly out of place square some seven meters above. It looked like a tunnel had been closed off with rocks and pebbles. Pokora noticed me and hummed. ¡°Took your time,¡± she complained. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Oh, fuck off,¡± I retorted. ¡°It took me a little under ten minutes to get here.¡± ¡°So,¡± Lapia began, scratching her forehead. ¡°How do we go about this? We could make a ramp from here if the shaft goes straight ahead.¡± Yolin walked to the wall and knocked on it. ¡°We''d have to start from the top. The wall is a little weak here.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I nodded and approached the wall. ¡°I''ll help,¡± Yolin announced and stuck her fingers on the rocky wall like it was styrofoam. I stored my gauntlets and did the same, then slowly climbed up. Seven meters were easy after experiencing the drop at the arena. ¡°I''ll catch whatever falls,¡± Lapia infomed us. ¡°So go at it.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I replied and stabbed the wall a with my fingers and pushed myself up. Yolin and I made it to the sides of the blocked tunnel and shared a look. ¡°No punching,¡± Yolin warned me. ¡°Scoop it out, alrigh?¡± I nodded and released my left hand, equipped the gauntlet, and treated the rock like it was mud. The debris blocking the tunnel fell and disappeared on the way down. We made quick progress, repositioning ourselves to clear the shaft after we made a foothold. ¡°This is going to take a while,¡± I complained with a sigh, scooping solid rock and dropping it. ¡°Look at the bright side,¡± Yolin laughed, placing a foot on the hole she made. I nodded. ¡°You''re right.¡± Fortunately, the beings ruling the universe saw fit to make the blockage a meter thick. After that it was a proper tunnel. ¡°Well, that was quick,¡± Yolin commented with a smile then turned to me. ¡°You go on ahead, I''ll make the ramp.¡± I nodded and went into the tunnel. The top of my head almost touched the ceiling, which made me wince a little. I equipped my armor and wrapped my braid around my neck, then retrieved my spear and shield and moved forward in a defensive stance. The shaft was odd. There was no frame to prevent cave-ins and stabilize the rock around it. Is it enchanted, then? I wondered while advancing and looking around. After around ten meters the tunnel went down in a slope, then bent to the right. I followed, looking around for anything that would indicate diamonds. A spot on the wall caught my attention. It was similar to the ore Sonya had found. I used my fingers to loosen the wall around it so I could get it out. The wall cracked and it came off. A loud rumble followed, and the tunnel shook. ¡°What the f-¡± I began. Water shot from the hole, crashing onto me with uncountable tonnes of weight. I got swept along like a leaf in a river, but quickly lined my pike so it would get caught on the walls. I had no idea where the tunnel lead to, after all. The weapon got stuck on the walls and I held onto it, stopping my body from being thrown around. The water didn''t stop, however. ¡°Holy shit!¡± I groaned behind my helmet, feeling the water pushing my body back. ¡°No wonder they left that one behind.¡± I sighed and waited. After about two minutes the flood stopped. I sighed and moved my feet around to feel the ground. Nothing was there. I slowly looked back and down. An endless chasm greeted me. Darkness was the only thing in my field of view. I was dangling on the edge of the tunnel leading to it. ¡°Okay,¡± I muttered and turned to the front. ¡°Okay. That was close.¡± I sighed and pulled myself up. The wall gave in, releasing the spear and leaving me to a fall that would probably kill me. I closed my eyes and screamed, ¡°FUUUCK!!! NOOO!¡± Yolin''s laughter came from above. ¡°Those are your chosen words?¡± she teased me. ¡°Fuck and no?¡± I whipped my head up and saw the woman had grabbed the spear with a chain of floating arms. ¡°Oh, Yolin! You Goddess!¡± I blurted out in immense relief. ¡°I''ll give you everything in the world. If you want the world itself, I can do that no problem!¡± She laughed even louder. ¡°You silly little Halve. Seeing you safe is reward enough,¡± she chuckled with a big smile. ¡°What happened?¡± she inquired and started pulling me up. ¡°I removed an ore from the wall and water came out,¡± I replied with a nervous laugh. ¡°I almost died.¡± She tilted her head and grabbed the spear with her real arms, then pulled me back into the tunnel. ¡°I doubt that fall would kill you, though,¡± she pointed out with a confused face. I let out a long sigh and sat down. ¡°No, that would definitely kill me,¡± I argued with a serious tone. She hummed and took a fistful of rock from the wall, then dropped it into the chasm. Fifteen seconds later a loud, distant click echoed from the pit. ¡°See?¡± she turned to me with a smile. ¡°Around a full kilometer. No way you would die from a fall like that.¡± I stared at her in disbelief. ¡°The fuck you on about?¡± I questioned my girlfriend and her sanity. ¡°That is certain death!¡± She shook her head. ¡°Natasha, Natasha, Natasha,¡± she sighed. ¡°Terminal velocity can''t kill me, I highly doubt it will kill you too. Death by fall is an impossibility for the two of us.¡± ¡°What?¡± I blurted out in confusion. ¡°I don''t know what terminal velocity is...¡± I admitted. She bit her lips and sat down next to me, then explained what it was. ¡°I see,¡± I nodded after a moment of thought. ¡°Taking your weight into account... the fall would be shorter, too,¡± she pointed out with a pensive expression. I stared at her for a second. ¡°What does my weight have to do with it?¡± ¡°Well, you weigh a bit above five hundred kilos,¡± she cruelly declared with a smile. ¡°Oof!¡± I groaned at the unexpected blow she so ruthlessly threw at me. ¡°Blin!¡± ¡°That would make the fall around half a second shorter,¡± she muttered with squinted eyes. ¡°I may be wrong, though. Lapia would know better.¡± I looked behind us and then back at Yolin. ¡°Where is the rest?¡± ¡°I heard the water and came to check what happened,¡± she replied with a carefree smile. ¡°They''re probably waiting.¡± I sighed and stood up. ¡°Looks like we need to find another tunnel,¡± I muttered in disappointment. Yolin stood up and nudged my shoulder. ¡°We just have to jump down and see if there''s diamonds there,¡± she proposed with a toothy grin. ¡°You''re insane, Yolin,¡± I concluded while shaking my head. ¡°Nah,¡± she waved my statement away. ¡°You''re the one scared of heights, not me,¡± she pointed out. ¡°It''s alright, though. One step at a time.¡± I smiled and gave her a hug. ¡°Thank you for helping me,¡± I whispered and gave her a quick kiss. ¡°Anytime,¡± she gave me a wink and turned around. We went back and finished the ramp at Yolin''s insistence, then returned to the abyss with the other two. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Pokora muttered while looking down. ¡°That''s deep!¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Lapia thought for a second and threw a stone just like Yolin did. The echo came once again. The Wizard nodded and turned to me. ¡°Your call,¡± she pointed out. I turned to Yolin and pouted. ¡°Can''t you do it for me?¡± She laughed and hugged me. ¡°Nope!¡± then she jumped into the darkness, taking me with her. ¡°AAAAAAAAHHH!¡± I screamed in terror. 87 - Diamond wa kudakenai. ¡°WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!¡± I shouted at the top of my lungs, hugging the Oni for dear life. ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± she just laughed. ¡°I ALREADY DIED ONCE!!¡± I complained as we fell into the dark void. ¡°NOW I''M GOING TO DIE AGAIN!!¡± Yolin laughed harder. ¡°AAAAHH!!!¡± I screamed again and closed my eyes. ¡°I DON''T WANT TO DIE!¡± We spun in the air as we dropped, picking up speed the longer we fell. ¡°You wont die, Natasha!¡± Yolin retorted next to my ear in an amused tone. ¡°It will hurt, sure... but death is not waiting for us down there.¡± I did my best to avoid throwing insults at the Oni. ¡°AHH! TRUST NOTHING! BETRAYAL IS FOREVER!¡± ¡°Open your eyes, Natasha!¡± she pushed. ¡°NO!¡± I shouted back. ¡°I''M GOING TO DIE OF A HEART ATTACK, YOU SMOOTH BRAIN ONI!¡± ¡°NATASHA!¡± she shouted in my face. I opened my eyes and saw her angry face. Quite pretty, I must add. She grabbed my face and headbutted me, then shouted, ¡°ON THE OTHER SIDE OF FEAR LIES GREATNESS!¡± ¡°I KNOW! BUT IT''S FUCKING HARD!¡± I shouted back. ¡°THAT''S THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT, YOU DUMBASS!¡± she retorted in exasperation, then released me. ¡°FUCK!¡± I retorted and spun around, facing down. ¡°SHIT!¡± ¡°TRY LANDING ON YOUR FEET!¡± she instructed, fixing her position. I tried doing as she told me, but ended up spinning around. ¡°BRACE FOR IMPACT!¡± she announced and started laughing. ¡°YOU''RE ENJOYING THIS TOO MUCH!¡± I accused her. The ground entered my glow''s range and we immediately crashed on it. The rock broke and I sank into it like it was snow. My body went completely numb and the air in my lungs got pushed out. The sound of the impact was as loud as an explosion that echoed in the chasm. Did I die? I wondered, feeling nothing. Did I snap my spine? ¡°I told you to land on your feet,¡± Yolin''s voice reached me. ¡°And see? We didn''t die.¡± ¡°I think I broke my back,¡± I groaned. ¡°I can''t feel my legs... or my entire body.¡± The Oni chuckled. ¡°Well, you have Ignore Pain,¡± she pointed out. I pushed myself off the ground and looked around. My fall had made a hole in the rock. ¡°Check your status for any damage,¡± Yolin suggested, standing next to me. I did and found my health points to be unchanged. ¡°What the fuck?¡± I muttered in relieved surprise. ¡°See?¡± Yolin insisted. ¡°No need to be scared of heights.¡± I sighed and laid on my back. ¡°Ah, yes. I am no longer scared of heights,¡± I muttered in monotone. She smiled and offered me a hand. ¡°Let''s find diamonds so I can rearrange your insides, then,¡± she chuckled. I sat up and took her hand. ¡°Do you know how diamonds look like when raw?¡± She pulled me up and grabbed my face. ¡°I have an idea,¡± she muttered and opened my eyes with her fingers. ¡°Look to your right,¡± she instructed. I did. ¡°What''s up? I wasn''t injured by the fall.¡± ¡°Nerves and some blood vessels are too tiny to register as health point loss if damaged or severed,¡± she explained, inspecting my eyes. ¡°Now look to your left.¡± I moved my eyes and sighed. ¡°Can''t you use the Cleric scan skill to check?¡± ¡°I could if you were an Oni,¡± she explained and wobbled my head to the sides. ¡°Any dizziness?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± I replied. ¡°So the scan is not universal?¡± She released me and shook her head. ¡°Not really. I can see basic information but nothing too specific. The scan shows you''re healthy but that only means you won''t die without healing. It would show the same if you lose a finger, for example.¡± I stared at her in confusion. ¡°Didn''t you see I have both genitals, though?¡± She nodded. ¡°That''s... basic information as I said. I know you have two lungs, a stomach, a heart, a liver, kidneys, a brain... You know, organs required to live. Your skin, eyes, nerves, veins, bones, marrow, and more are foggy because you''re a Halve. Your immune system is confusing, too,¡± she added, then sighed. ¡°I won''t even mention your E''er receptors, those are an absolutely confusing monster.¡± I squinted at her. ¡°How does the whole...¡± I gestured at my crotch, ¡°work?¡± ¡°No clue,¡± she replied with a shrug. ¡°I''m not familiar with the coding.¡± I raised my eyebrows. ¡°Coding?¡± Yolin''s eyes widened a little. ¡°You don''t know about that?¡± ¡°No, wait,¡± I interjected, raising my hands. ¡°I know about DNA. I meant, like, if the code is there, shouldn''t the function be obvious?¡± The Oni''s face turned to confusion. ¡°DNA? What''s that?¡± ¡° ¡° A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° 88 - Global Communications: Unlocked. ¡°So,¡± I struck a conversation while climbing the wall. ¡°I''ve heard people mention taboos a few times. How many are them?¡± Yolin turned to me with a confused face. ¡°Where''s this coming from?¡± she asked and stabbed the wall with her fingers, then pushed herself up. I kicked the wall with enough strength to make a hole that would support me, then stretched my leg to push myself up. ¡°Distraction,¡± I replied. She hummed. ¡°Still scared?¡± I sighed and shook my head. ¡°Falling and surviving is not going to make it go away,¡± I argued while climbing. ¡°True,¡± she agreed. ¡°Did it help even a little?¡± I glanced down and noticed I wasn''t paralyzed by the fear. It was still scary, however. ¡°A little, yes,¡± I conceded. ¡°But don''t ever do that again!¡± ¡°Fair,¡± she concluded with a chuckle. I nodded in satisfaction and continued, ¡°So, taboos?¡± She thought for a second and sighed. ¡°You''re not angry at me?¡± I laughed. ¡°I''m not such a petty woman, Yolin.¡± After a few seconds of silence Yolin chuckled, ¡°I''ve noticed.¡± She pushed herself up and continued. ¡°Well, there are various taboos. The first and most important one is to never recreate or speak of the image of a Divine. There are no words in the known languages to describe the arrogance needed to attempt to do so.¡± I opened my mouth to point something out. ¡°However,¡± she continued before I could speak. ¡°Metaphors and poetic prose is allowed if the individual must describe them. I have never met a Divine and Perculis didn''t mention them in the few publications I read, so I wouldn''t know.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I nodded and used my hands to climb the wall. ¡°Next is to never obstruct you Halves while you go about your task of protecting,¡± she continued. ¡°Active sabotage is viewed as abandoning the right to live. Basically, you don''t get to hinder the species that allowed us to evolve in safety.¡± ¡°That''s pretty extreme,¡± I sighed. She laughed. ¡°Well, yeah. Sex between family members is taboo as well,¡± she continued. ¡°Also with animals and the dead.¡± ¡°That''s pretty obvious,¡± I agreed. ¡°Mentioning status numbers is taboo,¡± she added while climbing. ¡°It''s the most personal of information. You can only talk about it if you''re planning to have children, though. That helps with a lot of things.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered, but didn''t push for more information. ¡°When Perella got pregnant with Eliso''s child, they shared their status with each other,¡± she went for it. ¡°I was glad they didn''t tell me, which led me to the conclusion that I didn''t want to spend my life with them.¡± I nodded. ¡°Thank you for sharing.¡± ¡°Not a big deal,¡± she chuckled. ¡°It ended on good terms.¡± I hummed and stabbed the rock with my fingers. ¡°You sound a bit... hesitant when you mention them, so I thought it was a difficult topic,¡± I tentatively brought it up. She sighed and stopped climbing. ¡°I mean... yeah,¡± she chuckled. ¡°If I''m completely honest I was unsatisfied,¡± she admitted with a long sigh. ¡°I''m a tank so my wants are a little...¡± ¡°Intense,¡± I finished for her with a giggle. She laughed for a few seconds, then let out a short sigh. ¡°Basically, yeah,¡± she agreed and continued climbing. I kept pace in silent contemplation. ¡°Now, however,¡± she purred with a sultry chuckle. ¡°Warriors like you are just made for tanks like me. And with you being a Halve and having both... uff! You can''t begin to imagine how satisfied I am.¡± My cheeks burned at her bold words in a mix of embarrassment and satisfaction. ¡°Ahem. I''m happy to hear that,¡± I giggled. ¡°I''m the same,¡± I added with a smile. ¡°It will only get better once we get the toys, Natasha,¡± she teased me while climbing. ¡°Oh, yeah!¡± I laughed loudly. ¡°It definitely will.¡± Yolin joined my laughter and we continued climbing while talking about bedroom activities. Once we made it to the mine shaft we found Lapia leaning her back on the right wall. ¡°How did it go?¡± she inquired and walked to us. I gave her a thumbs up and a big smile. She nodded and gave us a kiss each, then extended a hand. ¡°Can I see it?¡± I produced the first one I found and handed it to her. She moved a hand and the rock floated towards her. Then, she did a circular motion with her fingers. The gray surface of the rock peeled itself off, revealing the rough shape of a crystal. ¡°Decent,¡± she commented and made it float in my direction. I caught and stored it. ¡°Let''s move?¡± Yolin suggested, heavily tilting her head to the side. Her horns prevented her from standing upright. ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied and started walking. We went down the ramp and into the dungeon floor, where the rest had made camp and were playing cards. I stood next to Thelea, who was still taller than me when sitting down, and appraised the group to check progress. [Alyssa Pruvik ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Krystaali Luzo, Lvl 298 Cardinal] [Lapia Pofeta ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Domi Elf, Lvl 296 Pyromancer] [Yolin Makav ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Red Oni, Lvl 305 Asura] [Bromisnar Bahadh ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Khlyp Satyr, Lvl 292 Minstrel] [Bonte Slirmy ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Shishi Tigea, Lvl 299 Shadow Chaser] [Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Elmari Elf, lvl 302 Sniper] [Thelea Vathunith ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Rodon Goliath, Lvl 267 Battlemaiden] [Elena Pazh''khun ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Faeton Elf, Lvl 292 Entomyst] [Sonya, Lvl 892 Ratnak] [Pochi, lvl 891 Fekir] This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. [Delazh, Lvl 642 Vulupitas] [Valuk, Lvl 640 Bey''tu] [Kathnik, Lvl 645 Unnak] [Red Killer, Lvl 650 Untu] [Giorgio, Lvl 639 Northern Grand Stallion] [Trokoa, Lvl 856] I stared at Pokora''s mount for a moment and then walked around the group towards her. She noticed me and raised her eyebrows. ¡°What''s up?¡± I gestured at her mount. ¡°What''s the name?¡± She squinted at me for a second. ¡°Promise you won''t laugh?¡± she challenged me. I shrugged and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Pepe,¡± she replied and stared into my eyes. I fought back a smile and tightened my stomach. ¡°That''s uh... cute,¡± I praised with a shaky voice. She frowned. ¡°Natasha...¡± ¡°I''m not laughing,¡± I pointed out while shaking my head. She rolled her eyes and turned away. I slowly took a deep breath and walked away, then sat down next to Lapia. The Elf wrapped an arm around my neck and pulled me into a hug. I reciprocated and looked at the party. The progress was good so far. Arachnophobia aside, the dungeon was pretty boring in my opinion. There was no challenge with me around, and the equipment I had given them booster their power a bit too much. Better dull than dead, I concluded, looking at Bonte who was playing with his daggers. A tiny concern popped at the back of my mind. I had given him Unique quality weapons, same as with Pokora, but I had given Thelea a Legendary quality sword and shield. I searched my storage and retrieved a pair of identical Legendary daggers, then appraised them. [+100 Throat Cutters (Legendary) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (SS+ Sharpness) (Durability S+) -Sharpness + 100% ({Lvl 10 Emerald}x10) -Sharpness and Durability + 10% (Enchantment) -STR + 100 -CON + 100 -DEX + 200 -Increases Swiftness (5% for every 20 Enhancement levels). (25%) I let out a satisfied hum and looked back at the Tigea. ¡°Bonte!¡± He turned to me. ¡°Catch!¡± I warned and tossed the two daggers in his direction across the low table in the middle of the camp. The man caught them cleanly and inspected them, then raised an eyebrow. ¡°What''s the occasion?¡± he inquired with a smile. ¡°You''ve leveled up so you need better gear,¡± I bullshitted with a shrug. He nodded and whistled. ¡°Thank you. Cool name, by the way,¡± he cheered. I shook my head with an amused chuckle. ¡°How magnanimous,¡± Pokora spoke up with a healthy dose of sarcasm. ¡°You got a weapon recently,¡± I pointed out. ¡°True,¡± she conceded with a nod. Lapia chuckled and gave me a kiss behind my right ear. I turned to her and closed into her ear. ¡°I wanna go back right now,¡± I confessed in a seductive voice. Lapia turned her head to Pokora and gestured for her to come closer. The Archer walked over and waited. ¡°We''re done here, right?¡± the Wizard probed. ¡°Natasha found diamond and we cleared the dungeon. How about we leave?¡± The party leader checked a pocket watch and hummed. ¡°It''s almost ten o''clock,¡± she pointed out. ¡°How about we leave after resting?¡± Lapia turned to me with a ''I tried'' face. I chuckled and nodded. ¡°Sounds good.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Pokora agreed and looked around. ¡°How about the three of us take watch tonight?¡± My girlfriend''s smile widened and her eyes turned mischievous. ¡°That''s perfect,¡± she muttered in a conspiring tone. *** Later that night, and after everyone went into their tents, Lapia, Pokora, and me were sitting on a rock I had removed from the dungeon walls. ¡°Why do we need to keep watch? We already cleared the dungeon,¡± I pointed out after a minute of sitting down. Pokora sighed. ¡°Some monsters hide under the ground and come out when people are resting. To prevent injury or death, we have to keep a lookout.¡± ¡°Have you been to a lot of dungeons?¡± Lapia asked her. ¡°Not that many,¡± the Elmari Elf replied with a sigh. ¡°I once went through the desert for a training exercise with the army. The ones responsible for keeping watch got lazy and took a nap. A young Desert Tentelu ate them in their sleep.¡± ¡°What''s that?¡± I interjected. ¡°A giant snake,¡± Lapia supplied. ¡°They don''t usually eat people unless they''re newborns.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Pokora nodded. ¡°You never really know what''s out there.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered. ¡°That must''ve been tragic.¡± The two Elves turned to me with confused faces. ¡°Ah,¡± Pokora uttered and chuckled. ¡°No, they didn''t die. They were swallowed, sure, but the monster was low level. They were flamed to tears by the instructor, though,¡± she added with a laugh. We laughed with her and Lapia kept asking questions about her time in the army. I tagged along, interested in her life in Galeia. At around six in the morning we woke the group up, had breakfast, and left the dungeon towards Paarjo. I was satisfied with the delve. My storage held ores, weird plants, dead monsters, and, more importantly, diamond. The trip back took around eight hours with the regular break for food and the like. After going up into the floating city, a large raven-looking bird flew down and perched itself on my shoulder. It was the same bird that delivered the letters back in Lakeview. A small package was hanging off its left leg. The bird croaked and offered me the limb. ¡°Oh, a Corvitex,¡± Elena, who was sitting in front of me on Sonya pointed out. ¡°Who''s it from, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°I''m assuming it''s from Nilenna,¡± I replied and removed the pacakage. ¡°Right,¡± she muttered with a sigh. ¡°I have no memories of Her Excellency Nilenna.¡± I didn''t know what to say to that so I patted her shoulder in an attempt to convey empathy. Sonya kept moving next to the others'' mounts while I opened the small box. There were two letters and a stamp-looking thing inside. One read ''To His Majesty King Gordon Igne Lumin IV'', and the other read ''To Natasha Novak''. I opened the one sent to me and read it. ''Yo, lil'' sis! ''Tis I, your big sis Nilenna! Don''t you think the newspaper is an amazing thing? Such a clever little method of conveying information across the world! While I think letters are a good way to communicate, the newspaper is the real champion. You see, the hot topic is you healing the King! You did great! Your big sis is very proud of you, you know? As promised, I will give you a really good reward when we meet. AND...! Wait for it! You get to keep Pyotr! I bet you''re really happy right now! You are, right? Let me know how happy you are by sending me a letter! I will seriously wait for it, you know? Don''t make me wait a decade, though! Pyotr is a very good boy when it comes to letters, you know? He can find Halves really easily! As long as they don''t move around too much... like big sis Yulianna. I still haven''t found her, you know? Do you have any suggestion on her whereabouts? I could use the help! I arrived at Makah last week and nobody here has seen or heard of her. I think it''s healthy to mourn the loss of a loved one, but three centuries is a bit much, don''t you agree? Just what is she doing that takes so long?! This shit is getting ridiculous! On a more light note, I sent you an Official Halven Stamp made by the one and only Tylke! That''s a tool of divine making! Do you feel the weight of it? Can you sense the Godly energy emanating from it? That''s how Gods feel like! Amazing, right? Show me your gratitude by sending me a letter! This stamp works really uniquely: you inject it with E''er and the device recognizes you''re a Halve and makes the stamp you see on our letters! Cool, right? The E''er signature is impossible to fake! We''re cool like that! By the way, Pyotr eats flesh and bones. Don''t let him trick you into feeding him only bones! Those are his good boy snacks so make them special! Also, let me know what was going on with the King. Information is crucial to prevent more cases like that if at all possible. If it''s a disease you should let Miraztor know along with how you dealt with it. If it was a spell or curse, let us know too. The more details, the better. If there are details you don''t want to share and they are not relevant to the matter, you are free to keep them to yourself. Hoping we properly meet in the future, Nilenna Atarka. PS.: Giants are annoying!'' I blinked and smiled. Such a chatty woman, I thought. I kind of want to meet her. ¡°Everything alright?¡± Lapia next to me asked from atop her mount. ¡°I unlocked the feat to send letters,¡± I replied with a nod and a smile. 89 - Writing a letter is not as easy as it seems. Lapia stared at me for a second, then tilted her head. ¡°Mind elaborating?¡± She voiced her confusion. I nodded. ¡°Nilenna gifted me Pyotr for helping the King,¡± I explained while gesturing at the Corvitex on my shoulder. ¡°How generous of her,¡± Elena commented with respect in her tone. ¡°Sis! Best!¡± the bird croaked. Not the bird too, I sighed in my mind and stored the letters and the stamp. Lapia gave the big raven a tight smile. ¡°Oh!¡± Yolin, who was at the front of the group and must have heard the bird, breathed in surprise while looking at us. ¡°A Corvitex. Haven''t seen one this close in around a century.¡± ¡°Hello! I! Pyotr!¡± he introduced himself in a series of croaks. I was a little disturbed with the cognitive capacity of the animal. While I knew parrots could mimic speech with relative ease, the fact a Corvitex could have what felt like a conversation made me feel a very strong uncanny feeling. ¡°Warrior! Sis! Now! Pyotr! Happy!¡± he cawed and rubbed his head on mine. ¡°Halves! Good!¡± Yikes, I winced, feeling the feathery animal snuggle against me. ¡°Awww!¡± Alyssa crooned from behind us, then giggled, ¡°He likes you already!¡± I turned to him with an attempted smile. ¡°My name is Natasha, not Warrior,¡± I tried explaining. He nodded and blinked two times, then croaked, ¡°Understood! Natasha!¡± Well, that was easy, I thought with a satisfied smile and looked to the front. We slowly moved through the city since the time was a little after lunch and the streets were a little packed with people in mounts, pedestrians, carriages, and magical vehicles. Alyssa, Elena, and Yolin busied themselves with talking to the Corvitex. Their conversation went from places the bird had visited to how many letters he had delivered. Turns out, Pyotr has over four centuries of experience in traveling the world. Besides the north of Makah, the bird had flown all over the planet according to him. It was quite the disturbing spectacle. Once we made it to the building we were staying at, Sonya stood in front of me and stared at the bird on my shoulder. ¡°Ratnak!¡± Pyotr cawed and jumped down to the floor between me and my mount. He spread his wings wide and batted them once, then croaked, ¡°Come!¡± The Ratnak reared her head back and gave the comparatively small bird a headbutt. The Corvitex got pushed back by sheer size difference but remained conscious, much to my surprise. ¡°Name?¡± he croaked and shook his head. ¡°Sonya,¡± I supplied, deeply confused by the bizarre interaction. The two animals stared at each other for a good ten seconds, then the bird flew up and landed on Sonya''s head. There, he pecked her scales a few times and, of all things, started laughing. The sound was similar to a seagull''s. What the fuck was that? I wondered in stupefaction, then looked around to see if anyone else saw the same as I did. Pokora was standing a few steps to the side next to her mount and looking at the two animals with wide eyes. She came to her senses and blinked a few times, then shook her head with a sigh. Well, I''m not the only one, I thought with relief, then turned to the bird. I had no idea how to take care of a Corvitex. Well, time to go to the library. I''ll go to the market and have the toys done, and then I''ll read about them, I concluded with a satisfied nod. I also have to deliver the King''s letter. Since I have no bones I don''t know if I should send Pyotr. Not as simple as it seemed... Alyssa walked to me and wrapped a scaly hand on my nape, then gave me a kiss on the cheek. ¡°What has you thinking so deeply?¡± she probed. I turned to her and asked, ¡°Do you know about Corvitex...es? Corvitexi?¡± I looked up at the ceiling of the rest post. ¡°What''s the plural?¡± ¡°Corvitex,¡± she supplied with a giggle. ¡°I know a little, yes. You should learn about them yourself, though.¡± I nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, I will. Just thinking about the time before I go fetch a book about them. Before that, however, I need a shower.¡± She agreed and we made our way into the building proper and towards the stairs. The rest had already gone up so it was me, Alyssa, and Pokora in the lobby. Pyotr stayed with Sonya. ¡°Your Excellency Natasha,¡± the concierge approached me and bowed. ¡°You received mail,¡± she informed me and produced a trio of envelopes. I held back a loud sigh and took them. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°A pleasure.¡± She gave me polite smile and turned back to the front desk. One had the Royal Crest of Lumin Kingdom, another one had the Royal Crest of Tidon Kingdom, and the last one had ''From Ranulf Trok'' written on it. I stored the letters and went up the stairs holding Alyssa''s hand. Pokora walked behind us, humming a vaguely familiar tune. We entered the apartment and I went straight to the bathroom for a much needed shower. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. After that we had a big salad for lunch and lazed about. I remained on the table and retrieved the envelopes. First was Lumin Kingdom''s. It held three sheets of paper. The first was from the King. ''Your Excellency Natasha Novak, We hope that you don''t mind me announcing your involvement in my recovery. As Monarchs, we must inform the populace of such affairs for various reasons. The details of the matter will not be disclosed without your explicit authorization, however. That, we promise you. While the Kingdom is our responsibility, slighting you is by no means permissible. I shan''t squander the gift of a second chance at life. We had initially planned to let you know when the publication draft was finished and request feedback, but you had already left for the dungeon. A copy is attached to this letter. Eternally grateful, Gordon Igne Lumin IV, Monarch of Lumin Kingdom.'' The second paper was from the Queen. ''Thine Excellency Natasha Novak. Forgive me if this sounds strange, but I beg for thine forgiveness if I have slighted thine grace. I toil with the worry of having caused thee to see me as unfit to seek for guidance. While my heart is full of joy at seeing thee choose my husband for counsel, thou hast not seeketh mine advice although I am Queen. If thou would''st forgive mine presumption, I would be beside myself in joy if thou would''st accept an invitation for a meeting that would put our hearts, and mayhaps any misconception, at ease. Thou art more than welcome to come as thou sees fit to our Royal Palace. Of course, I serve thee and will do as thou bid''st. Praising the Eternal Protector, Josalya Hyth Lumin, Queen of Lumin Kingdom.'' I took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of my nose, then sighed and stored both papers. I need a dictionary and a thesaurus, I concluded while staring at the table. And I have to go see her... I definitely was a bit too harsh when dealing with her. The third paper was a seven paragraphs long text that mentioned the King being indisposed and me ''ridding him of the cause'' without much fanfare and flowery language. I was satisfied with the objectivity of it all. It was leagues better than Lady Dabrak''s cringe interview in my opinion. Next was Tidon''s letter. ''You Excellency Natasha Novak, I extend greetings on this most auspicious of days and would like to remind Your Excellency of our request of seeing our-'' I stopped reading and stored the spam mail. Next was Ranulf''s letter. ''Your Excellency Natasha Novak, I write to inform Your Excellency of Sussanna''s hanging. It will come to pass this 5th day of the 5th month at the Endless Pit. We depart from the southern Levator at sunrise. Wishing you plentiful spoils of war, Ranulf Trok.'' I stared at the paper for a few seconds, then facepalmed. I totally forgot about that! Ah, whatever. Not like I wanted to see that bitch get hanged. Fuck her. Insolent little shit. She can go choke on a dick for all I care, I cursed her with a frown and stored the letters. The table in front of me was now empty. I took out a sketch book and removed a few pages, then produces a pencil, an eraser, and a quill. ¡°Time to write letters, I guess.¡± The first one was for Nilenna. I gave the wording of the message a good thinking, and chose to write it in Russian since she named the bird Pyotr. ''Nilenna, First of all, thank you for your letters so far, and for gifting me Pyotr. He''s incredibly smart. The King was under the influence of a female Demon. A level 900 Felyareth if I''m to be precise. She had been consuming his life force for a little under two months which caused his health to decline considerably. The King confided in me a series of nightmares he was having that were the clue I needed to discern the nature of his problems and find a solution: the Demon''s death. Her name was Nerissa and she came directly from Hell three hundred years ago if she''s to be believed. Circumstances prevented me from extracting specific information before ending her life. She had an aura of sorts that amplified arousal and was able to shapeshift. She mentioned having come to Galeia along with a thousand or so of her kind. I will attach a drawing of her. As for Yulianna''s whereabouts... the only thing that comes to mind is places that Perculis visited. I''m sure you''re a very good tracker, Nilenna. If anything, you managed to find me pretty quickly and accurately. It''s only a matter of time until you find Yulianna. About the Aphelion... it was pretty underwhelming if I''m honest. Aside from someone trying to kill me with nikontia, it was a pretty calm event. I''m excited to see the Perihelion when it comes, however. I played Galeian Armory the other day. It''s a very fun game, but the rules are a bit obtuse and excessive. I will do my best to beat the absolute living shit out of you, though! Also, I came across a Faeton Elf by the name Elena Pazh''Khun who has Halven items and a proof of ownership from Yulianna. She was under mind control and lost two thousand years worth of memories due to my actions. She''s now under my care and I intend to visit Danuva and see if a Goddess can help Elena recover her memories. I might have a more solid idea of where Yulianna could be, or will be, when that happens. I hope she accepts my request. If not, I plan on asking Miraztor. If you have any suggestions, please do tell. I will attach a drawing of Elena in case you''ve seen her before. You come off as a very fun person, Nilenna. Meeting you will definitely be fun. Regards, Natasha Novak.'' I gave the letter a few revisions and was satisfied with the result. I had never written a letter before. Work-related e-mails were common when I lived on Earth, but those were insipid at best. Next was a letter to Miraztor. ''Miraztor, Thank you for writing me. I hope you''re doing well. I write to ask about your experience with the group that tried to kill you in Lumin Kingdom a thousand years ago. If you have any information that could be of use, I would deeply appreciate it. Hoping we meet in the future, Natasha Novak.'' It felt shallow, but I didn''t know much about him to write anything of substance. Hopefully that would change in the near future. I stored the papers and drew both the Demon and Elena. Lapia walked over and sat next to me. ¡°Finished?¡± She inquired, leaning her head on my shoulder. ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded and hugged her. ¡°How about we go to get the diamonds cut?¡± I added with a playful tone. She gave me a sultry smile and chuckled, ¡°You bet!¡± 90 - Thus spoke the horny. I scoured the apartment to find my other two girlfriends. Alyssa was reading a book in the living room so I picked her up and continued my search. Yolin was taking a nap in our bedroom. I woke her up and placed her on my right shoulder, then walked out of the apartment under the confused gazes of the other members of our party. We went down the stairs and I walked with excited expectation. Lapia walked next to me with a smile on her face. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Yolin asked from her position on my shoulder. ¡°To get the diamonds cut,¡± I replied with excitement. ¡°I see,¡± the Oni muttered and yawned. ¡°Can you put me down?¡± I nodded and gently bent to the side to let her get down. She got off and straightened, then fixed the bandages holding her chest. Alyssa was comfortably hugging my neck and had her tail wrapped around my waist. ¡°Someone is excited,¡± she commented with a giggle. I enthusiastically nodded. We made small conversation on our way down the stairs, then fetched our mounts and departed towards the shop me and Yolin had visited. I told Pyotr to stay and he complied. The city was fairly calm and I noticed people smiling and waving at me more than usual. That is, nine out of ten people we crossed. We left our mounts at a nearby rest post and walked into the store. There, a male Argo Dwarf clerk was sitting behind the reception desk. His eyes met us and a professional smile spread on his face. ¡°Good evening,¡± he greeted us with a respectful nod. ¡°How may I be of service, dear customers?¡± I felt the all hope in the world vanish, but then told myself to not be a sexist pig and be a proper adult. ¡°We, uh...¡± I stammered and gestured at Yolin, feeling my face heat up. ¡°Came here last week and spoke to a woman named Amelia,¡± I explained while walking towards the desk. ¡°About toys,¡± I jumped straight into it. He squinted at me for a few seconds, then understanding dawned on him. ¡°Ah, yes. The diamond talk, correct?¡± I nodded, too embarrassed to voice any agreement. ¡°Thank you for coming back despite us not having the appropriate services at the time to sate your desires.¡± He gave us a nod of appreciation. ¡°Shall we go into the design room?¡± the Dwarf offered with a polite tone. ¡°Sure,¡± Alyssa replied, probably noticing my blush. He smiled again and walked towards a door next to the counter. ¡°This way, if you would,¡± he asked us to follow and went in. I covered my face and sighed in defeat. Yolin patted my shoulder, nodded, and went after the Dwarf. Alyssa, Lapia, and me followed. He was waiting for us next to an open door and gestured for us to enter. A spacious room welcomed us and we sat around a circular table. The Dwarf sat in front of us and retrieved a notepad, a scale, a measuring tape, and a set of three pencils. He placed them at the center of the table and nodded. ¡°My name is Camilo Sagaz,¡± he introduced himself with a smile. ¡°Some people say my last name is quite the fit,¡± he added a little joke and chuckled. ¡°I bet,¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°Natasha, Yolin, Alyssa, and Lapia,¡± Yolin introduced us. ¡°Pleasure doing business with you.¡± Camilo gave us a big smile. ¡°I''m sure it will,¡± he joked again and added another little chuckle. Lapia and me laughed at that while Yolin chuckled and Alyssa giggled. ¡°So,¡± he began, placing his elbows on the table and locking his fingers. ¡°How about you show me the diamonds I will be working with? We can see what we can make out of those,¡± he explained. I nodded and produced the ones I found, setting them on the table. Yolin stood up and pulled out the massive rock with a big smile. The Dwarf eyed the big one and extended a hand. ¡°If I may?¡± Yolin lifted the rock and offered it to him. The person-sized thing floated off of her hands and towards the dwarf, then stopped in front of his face. He waved a hand and the rocky exterior disappeared into thin air, revealing a cluster of diamonds divided by thin, gray surfaces. My eyebrows twitched and I appraised him. [Camilo, Lvl 247 Geomancer] Makes sense, I concluded and leaned back on the chair. Yolin sat down and leaned on the table. The Dwarf hummed and touched the diamonds in front of him. ¡°Old diamond. Good find,¡± he commented with a satisfied nod. ¡°How does the age matter?¡± I inquired in interest. ¡°The density of diamond is not very... friendly... when it comes to absorbing E''er. The more it absorbs, the less brittle it becomes. Not by any degree that would make an actual difference, though. Maybe two percent less if I''m generous,¡± he explained with a smile. ¡°Allows for better handling, though. And that''s very important for what it''ll become.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°How old, exactly?¡± Lapia probed, a different interest in her tone. ¡°A bit over four, I''d say,¡± he tentatively replied, inspecting the crystal. The three women gave mild nods. I leaned close to the Elf and whispered. ¡°Four what?¡± She smiled and replied in a quiet voice, ¡°Billion years.¡± My eyes widened and I looked at the mineral. Holy shit! Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Camilo waved a hand and his eyes shone with a brown greenish light. The diamond split in ten pieces, all bigger than what I wanted. A big smile split my lips. The diamonds then slowly lowered and sat on the table. The man grabbed the notepad and a pencil, then looked at us. ¡°Please tell me the dimensions of the desired products. The more detail, the better.¡± I perked up at that. ¡°I could draw it for you,¡± I offered and retrieved a sketchbook. The Dwarf smiled and nodded. ¡°Fair enough. How about I give you a few minutes to decide on the details?¡± He stood up and walked to the door. ¡°Fifteen?¡± I nodded, ¡°Sure, thanks!¡± He smiled and left the room. ¡°We could get them to look exactly like your penis,¡± Alyssa supplied in a serious tone. ¡°I very much like that shape.¡± The other two nodded in agreement. I sagely shook my head. ¡°While I agree on that, how about we have a few be exactly the same, while others have studs on the shaft?¡± Lapia winced at that and argued, ¡°It''s already thick as it is, adding studs can potentially be painful.¡± ¡°The one with studs can be thinner,¡± Yolin supplied a solution with a pensive expression. ¡°I''m not really a fan of studs, however. That''s too much stimulation for my taste.¡± The three of us nodded in wise contemplation. Her constitution was already sensitive as it was. ¡°How are yours?¡± I asked after thinking for a second. Lapia produced a glass toy and placed it on the table. It was a healthy 12 cm long, 3 wide penis-shaped thing. The transparent glass had a metallic core inside. ¡°Sober, sleek, no-nonsense,¡± the Elf presented it. ¡°The glass has break-resistance enchantments so the core can vibrate with no chance of it breaking. This fellow has served me well for half a century,¡± she added with academic observation. ¡°Fingers and an actual penis are in my opinion better, so I don''t use it if I have a partner.¡± I picked it up and inspected it. The shape was straight with very little fanfare. I nodded and left it on the table. Alyssa produced what would be best described as a wild toy, then placed it on the table. ¡°As you can see, I like it a bit more exotic,¡± she pointed out, running a scaly finger over the rings along it''s twenty centimeter length. ¡°The knot you see in the middle makes for a very fun experience when it comes to different kind of plays. The glass is enchanted with break-resistance and morphing enchantments that mimic the pulsating muscles during ejaculation. Nothing that can quite imitate the real thing, however.¡± Lapia hummed in scholarly appreciation. ¡°I see,¡± she muttered. I picked it up and marveled at the amount of details. It had rings, a knot, and the head was similar to that of a horse''s. ¡°Looks like a Minotaur''s,¡± Yolin observed. I turned to her and blurted, ¡°It does?!¡± The Oni thought for a second and nodded. ¡°Save for the rings, the length and width are pretty much the same,¡± she concluded. I unconsciously looked down at my crotch. And mine''s bigger? Holy shit! ¡°How about yours?¡± Lapia asked Yolin. ¡°I don''t have one. I prefer the flesh. Nothing beats the presence of another person,¡± the woman in question pointed out with a shrug. ¡°True,¡± Lapia agreed with a serious face. ¡°Quite right.¡± Alyssa nodded as well. ¡°Besides,¡± the Oni began with a smug grin. ¡°I''ve never had any difficulty when it comes to inviting a man for a tussle under the sheets.¡± Lapia laughed. ¡°I bet!¡± Alyssa giggled and blushed a little. I blinked a few times and tried to rationalize the cognitive disconnect that was talking about men as if they were something to brag about. ¡°Have you been with a Minotaur?¡± I decided on an easy question. ¡°I have,¡± Yolin confessed. ¡°Since I lived in Patuk for a while. Had to take a gander at the local delicacies,¡± she added with a sexy chuckle. The three of us laughed with her. ¡°Only once,¡± Alyssa admitted with another blush. ¡°Not me,¡± Lapia lamented. ¡°I don''t have horns.¡± ¡°This is so confusing,¡± I muttered and scratched my forehead, then sighed, ¡°Anyway, back to the toys?¡± ¡°I''m okay with one with studs,¡± Alyssa supplied. ¡°Same here,¡± Lapia agreed with a nod. ¡°Just like the real thing for me, please,¡± Yolin requested. I nodded and got to drawing. The three closed in and looked over my shoulder at the drawing. ¡°You missed a vein,¡± Lapia pointed out, gesturing at a spot near the base of the shape. ¡°That one feels super nice when you pull out,¡± she added. My face burned and I nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± After two minutes I had a 1:1, highly detailed image of my genital on the page in front of me. What has life come to? I wondered in amusement, then drew a buttplug. ¡°Oh, adventurous,¡± Lapia praised me. ¡°I didn''t know you like anal.¡± I shrugged. ¡°There''s not much I don''t like.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± Alyssa giggled and nudged my shoulder. ¡°Now draw the one with studs,¡± Lapia told me with an excited voice. I chuckled and went for it. We decided the studs were going to be right under the head and in the general area of the G-spot. The four of us had different bodies and since Yolin wasn''t interested in studs, I drew three variations for Alyssa, Lapia, and me. At the request of the Luzo, I drew one with a ring in the middle. Once we were done, we checked the details and they had to use their memories to look for discrepancies. I wasn''t going to pull it out for them to check. I have standards. Alyssa and Lapia stored their personal toys right before the Dwarf returned. He came into the room with a smile and sat down on his chair. ¡°How are things looking?¡± he asked, taking a peek at the drawings. I had the urge to hide them, but powered through and pushed them in his direction. ¡°Here are the designs,¡± I managed to get out in a leveled voice. ¡°Hmm,¡± he hummed in approval and picked the sheets of paper. ¡°Splendid designs. The detail is very helpful. Is this the right size?¡± ¡°One to one,¡± Lapia confirmed with a nod. ¡°Marvelous shape,¡± the man praised the drawing of my genital with a professional tone. ¡°The size and width look inviting and tempt the eye. Nice cock,¡± he added with a genuine spark in his eyes. My face burned in extreme embarrassment. ¡°If I may ask,¡± the Dwarf began, following my shape on the paper with his eyes. ¡°What was the inspiration?¡± he inquired while holding the ''simple'' design. ¡°Hers,¡± Alyssa replied with a warm smile. The Dwarf looked at me and nodded. ¡°Beautiful.¡± I looked at his face for a few seconds. There was no hint of surprise, shock, nor anything that would indicate it was an unexpected or unnatural thing. ¡°Thank you,¡± I muttered while keeping eye contact. He looked back at the paper and squinted at it for a second. ¡°What say you if we offer this design to other customers?¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± I instantly and resolutely answered, leaving no room for argument. I would not have my semblance go around as a product to sexually please people. ¡°Very well,¡± he nodded with an understanding smile. ¡°We''ll respect your wishes, dear customer.¡± ¡°I''m dead serious,¡± I insisted. ¡°We can sign a non-replication agreement if you wish,¡± he offered with a professional smile. ¡°Yes, please,¡± I accepted with a little relief. Yolin chuckled. ¡°How long would the cutting take?¡± Alyssa probed, fixing her position on the chair. Camilo looked at her and pursed his lips in thought. ¡°The unadorned design would be ready by noon tomorrow,¡± he replied with certainty. ¡°The studded design will take considerably longer due to the complexity, however.¡± Viva magical production! I sang praises in my mind. ¡°Nice!¡± Yolin cheered. We all chuckled and proceeded to the monetary details. 91 - Shopping, I guess? After finishing the toy business and signing a non-replication contract with the establishment, we said our farewells and left the store. Next, we went to the library near our place. There, I searched for a booklet about Corvitex and bought it. Following that, we went to the main market to have a look. It was deep into the city: around the center of it and right next to the main Church. An uncountable number of people walked around the many stalls and stores. Blacksmiths, glassmakers, enchanters, and more had a shop to sell either services or products. The white gray-ish stone that made the city''s buildings was a pretty sight under the summer suns. Much to my surprise, there was no tent-like temporary shop laid out. Every vendor occupied a small store at the front of the buildings facing the market plaza. I noticed a pattern after riding Sonya for a while around the place. Clothes were sold at the south stores, foodstuffs at the east, tools at the north, and miscellaneous items at the west. I was chilling on top of Sonya while waiting for Lapia and Alyssa who had gone to buy fruit. Yolin, who was next to me on top of Pochi, tapped my shoulder. I turned to her and tilted my head. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Be discreet,¡± she began in a serious tone. ¡°Do you see the Goliath selling maps behind me?¡± I glanced behind her and, just as she said, there was a massive person some thirty meters behind her. The man looked like a Spartan from that movie about the Persian invasion. He was sitting on a chair and looking down at a Dwarf who was talking to him. I returned my eyes to Yolin and nodded. ¡°Four stalls to the right, there''s a Dryad,¡± the Oni informed me. ¡°Have you seen one before?¡± My eyes widened and I turned to look, but my girlfriend leaned towards me, grabbed my face, and blocked my view with her body. ¡°I said be discreet!¡± she hissed in a quiet voice. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered and licked her palm. She released me and wiped her hand on her shorts. ¡°That''s gross,¡± she giggled. I scoffed, choosing not to mention my tongue had been all over her body already and glanced back at the Goliath, then moved my eyes to the right. There, a plant person was sitting behind a counter in a roofless stall and basking in the light. The Dryad''s body was covered in green and red vines, or perhaps the vines were the body. They didn''t wear clothes or accessories of any kind. The head was vaguely shaped like a person''s and had a big dahlia-shaped flower with red, purple-tipped petals on top of it. The eyes were white and had a soft glow to them with no pupils. My eyes widened and I appraised the individual. [Corestine Dryad, Lvl 198 Ambusher] ¡°Wow,¡± I breathed out in amazement. ¡°Yep,¡± Yolin agreed with a chuckle. ¡°Did Lapia tell you about them?¡± I nodded. ¡°They don''t have sexes if I recall correctly, don''t usually go into cities, and are one of the short species... but that''s all I know.¡± ¡°That''s right,¡± the Oni nodded. ¡°They''re a fun bunch.¡± ¡°How so?¡± I inquired with interest. ¡°Nothing in particular, the ones I''ve met before have been fun people,¡± she explained with a carefree shrug. ¡°They heavily incline towards Scout classes as you can guess with their natural camouflage. I have never met nor seen a Dryad Warrior,¡± she added. A cheeky smile formed on my face, ¡°How about Pyromancers?¡± Yolin gave me a ''really, bitch?'' face and stayed silent. ¡°Yeah, yeah...¡± I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°I''ll have a look at what the Dryad is selling,¡± I added and dismounted Sonya. She nodded and gave me a wink. I smiled and walked towards the stalls. A Tigea approached me and gestured towards the stall he was occupying. ¡°Your Excellency, may I interest you in traveling tools?¡± ¡°No, thank you,¡± I replied and kept walking. A Dwarf approached while rubbing her hands as a Merchant would. ¡°Ah, Your Excellency! Came to buy some saddles?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± I shook my head and walked away. I passed the Goliath''s store and glanced at him. He raised an eyebrow and nodded towards the maps. I shook my head. He nodded and looked away. More vendors approached me while I walked and I denied their invitations. They nodded and walked away. I stopped in front of the Dryad and looked at the wares. The counter in front of the Dryad was covered in small leather boxes stacked on top of each other. ¡°Interested?¡± The Dryad probed in an ephemeral voice that had an echo to it. The lips didn''t move and the face had no major changes in expression other than a blink or two. ¡°Sure,¡± I replied, ignoring the origin of the voice. ¡°Have you heard of Galeian Armory, Your Excellency?¡± the plant person asked next. I nodded. ¡°I have. Actually played it last week for the first time.¡± ¡°Are you interested in purchasing a deck?¡± the pitch was made. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°How much?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Ten gold coins,¡± was the reply. ¡°A ten card pack is fifty silver, a box of twenty packs is eight gold coins. The deck comes with a rule book and a card encyclopedia. The standard contents are as follow: seven cards are units, two are gold, and one is a spell. The cards are randomized with a 0.01% chance of a unit being a Halve, 1% chance of a spell being of the third tier, and 5% chance of any card to be a wildcard. ¡± That''s mad expensive! I considered Vival and Lapia''s words about the price of the cards. I am weak to gacha, however. ¡°I''ll buy three different decks and enough packs to get a guaranteed Halve.¡± The Dryad stared at me for a second, then made a coughing noise without any visible action to accompany it. ¡°There is no guarantee, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Then I will come back and buy more,¡± I replied with a shrug. ¡°Very well,¡± the Dryad nodded and the flower on top bounced a little, then produced a big leather box and put five leather boxes from the counter inside. ¡°The total would be fifty gold coins.¡± I retrieved a linen pouch and put the gold inside, then handed it over. Once the transaction was made, the Dryad gave me a receipt and a big nod. ¡°Thank you for your patronage, Your Excellency.¡± I stored my newly acquired products and offered a smile. ¡°Have a nice day.¡± ¡°Before you leave,¡± the Dryad produced a sheet of paper and offered it to me. ¡°Would you like to become a card?¡± I took the paper and gave it a look. It was a form of sorts with various boxes to check and fill. ¡°I''ll give it a closer look later and consider it,¡± I replied with a smile. A bubbly giggle came out of the Dryad. ¡°Have a great day, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Same to you.¡± I smiled and walked back to Yolin and the mounts. There, Alyssa and Lapia were on top of their mounts and talking while eating fruit. ¡°What did you buy?¡± Alyssa inquired while I mounted Sonya. ¡°Galeian Armory cards,¡± I replied with a satisfied smile. The three shook their heads and sighed. Lapia tossed a peach in my direction and shrugged. ¡°Well, it''s your money,¡± she added. I caught the fruit and gave it a bite, then swallowed the juice while nodding. ¡°Damn right it is!¡± ¡°How about we go to the Church,¡± Yolin offered, pointing towards the north. ¡°I want to buy a really good whiskey.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Alyssa perked up with a smile. ¡°What''s the occasion?¡± Yolin shrugged. ¡°Tomorror is my 202nd birthday,¡± she replied like it was a tiny matter that had no weight. The three of us whipped our heads in her direction. ¡°Excuse me?¡± we blurted out in different degrees of stupefaction, disbelief, and surprise. ¡°And you had no intention of telling us?¡± Lapia blurted in shock. ¡°That''s an important event!¡± Alyssa argued. ¡°Don''t treat it like it isn''t...¡± ¡°What the fuck, Yolin?¡± I gasped. ¡°Why didn''t you tell us before?¡± ¡°Wha-what?¡± She stuttered in confusion, looking at us in surprise. ¡°Birthdays... have no real meaning after the first century for us Oni,¡± she explained. I facepalmed and sighed. ¡°What do you want as a gift? You can have anything, I can give you whatever is in my power.¡± The red-skinned woman looked around and brought Pochi closer while gesturing at us. We converged in the middle and leaned into each other. ¡°How about a four day long tussle under the sheets?¡± she offered with a deep blush and a shy smile. ¡°That''s one of my life''s wishes and have yet to complete it.¡± We all blushed and covered our faces at the Oni''s bold words. ¡°You got it,¡± I replied and giggled. ¡°How about we start after we get the toys?¡± Lapia hummed and chuckled. ¡°This is going to be so fun!¡± We laughed and moved towards the Church. The building was, in a single word, humongous. Two hundred meters tall, five hundred wide and long, the Gothic architecture stood in unchallenged grandeur. We went inside and followed after Yolin and Alyssa, who greeted every Cleric they came across in short exchanges of ''Welcome home, sisters'' and the like. After a few minutes and going underground, we reached a large cellar where a pair of Tiny Laples sat on a table blocking access to the many barrels inside. [Tiny Laple, Lvl 244 Brewer] [Tiny Laple, Lvl 234 Alchemist] ¡°Good evening,¡± one greeted us with a tiny nod. ¡°How may we be of service?¡± ¡°I''d like to buy the best whiskey you have,¡± I spoke before Yolin could. ¡°All of it.¡± Alyssa and Lapia nodded in approval. Yolin sighed and shook her head, but she was smiling. ¡°We can''t sell you all of it, Your Excellency,¡± the second one argued. ¡°We can sell you lots of it, though,¡± he added with a smile. I mirrored the smile and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°A moment, please,¡± the first one muttered and walked over the table towards a call bell, then rung it twice. A door next to the counter opened and a Dwarf walked out. She raised her eyebrows and waited. ¡°Five Rumblefire barrels, please,¡± the second Tiny Laple requested. The Dwarf nodded and walked off into the cellar. ¡°That would be thirty gold coins,¡± the first Tiny Laple informed me. I nodded and placed the gold coins on the table next to them. They counted them and then turned to me. ¡°If we may, Your Excellency?¡± I looked them in the eye. ¡°Yes?¡± The two miniature people shared a worried look and then turned to me. ¡°We have a friend whose wife works in the Royal Palace, you see?¡± ¡°And she hasn''t returned home in months,¡± the second one added. ¡°We went with our friend to the Watchers and reported her as missing, but nothing has come out of it,¡± the first lamented, looking at her feet. ¡°Watchers usually find them within the day, you see,¡± the second one supplied. ¡°They never take this long, which can only mean one thing,¡± the first one muttered in sadness. ¡°And we''re afraid at looking at reality, however childish it may seem.¡± ¡°Our friend... he''s devastated,¡± the second one muttered. ¡°They met eighty years ago near the Crystallized Forest of Alakh''Avar.¡± Lapia sighed and scratched her forehead. ¡°That''s a very romantic place to meet,¡± she commented. ¡°Yes!¡± both Tiny Laples exclaimed in agreement. ¡°They told such beautiful tales. How the trees refract and reflect light, breathing and moving. The spectacle must be quite the sight,¡± the first one retold with a complicated smile. ¡°Have you gone there, Lady Wizard?¡± the second one probed in hope. ¡°I have,¡± Lapia confirmed with a nod. ¡°It''s more than words can describe.¡± The two vendors sighed in wonder. ¡°The outside of the Cradle of Life is too dangerous for us so we''ve never dared venture. Their words were the few windows through which we could glance at the world... yet now... our friend''s despair is too heavy a burden.¡± Well this conversation went there pretty quick, I thought, glancing at Alyssa. ¡°Who is this friend you speak of?¡± the Luzo inquired. ¡°He''s a Shishi Tigea by the name of Bernard Roy, he lives a few blocks away from here and used to work with us before he took a lave of rest,¡± the first one replied. ¡°Please, do look into it,¡± the second one pleaded. The Dwarf returned carrying the barrels and placed them on the floor behind the counter, then looked at the two standing on the table. They nodded and wrote up a receipt, then handed it to me. The Dwarf picked the barrels like they were made of air and handed them to us. Me and Yolin received them and stored them. I turned to the two small individuals and sighed. ¡°I''ll see what I can do, but I don''t promise anything. It''s not my area of expertise,¡± I pointed out. Both nodded and cheered. ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency!¡± After that, we left the Church towards our place. Out of Journal. Meetings: Alyssa. The sound of a door being incessantly knocked resounded in a dark room. A groan came from the single bed next to the room''s window. The closed curtains prevented even the smallest drop of light from having the audacity to enter the room. ¡°Lady!¡± came a voice from the other side of the door. ¡°Wake up!¡± The owner of the room, however, was in deep sleep. It was a day off, after all. If nothing required her immediate presence, she''d choose to sleep. Little did she know that was perhaps the last day she''d get to sleep until such a late hour for a very long while. She was abut to meet one of the worst people in the world; a morning person. ¡°Lady!¡± the voice behind the door insisted on knocking and calling. ¡°Open the door! It''s ten in the morning! It''s too late to continue sleeping!¡± The woman inside the room cracked open an eye with a deep scowl. ¡°What!¡± she barked, sitting up on the bed. ¡°What?! Don''t interrupt my sleep! There''s a sign on the door for all that is sacred in the world!¡± A moment of silence followed the angry outburst. There indeed was a sign on the door. Written with red ink, it read ''Do not disturb if you enjoy moving''. Such threats, however, did not faze the person knocking on the door. Not in the slightest. Thus, they knocked again. ¡°Lady!¡± the voice called again, this time a little fed up. ¡°Someone checked your form and is interested in meeting you. Open the door!¡± An irritated sigh left the woman on the bed, ¡°I clearly stated ''sleeping in'' on my list of likes!¡± ¡°How are they supposed to know it''s a day off for you today?!¡± the person behind the door let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Well...¡± the woman on the bed hesitated for a second. She was still half asleep, after all. She continued in a small voice, ¡°You tell them?¡± ¡°YOU''RE A CENTURY OLD FOR DANUVA''S LOVE!¡± the person had enough. ¡°Out of four thousand three hundred!¡± came the retort. ¡°Potentially eight thousand!¡± ¡°Cognitive development is not variable-¡± an attempt at lecture. ¡°Do not recite Dronov''s laws of mental capacity to me, Clara!¡± the recently awakened woman interrupted. Another moment of silence followed. ¡°I know!¡± the voice was happy. ¡°I''ll give you ten strawberry scones if-¡± Quick steps interrupted the instant of enlightenment and the door opened, revealing a naked female Luzo. Her white hair was dishevelled and her scarled eyes were squinting at the light coming from the many lamps in the corridor. Her tail moved behind her, signalling her annoyance. ¡°The scones?¡± she extended a hand and waited. The other person, a female Human, sighed and produced a small box with a flowery design. ¡°Here,¡± she muttered in resignation. With quick hands, the Luzo took the box and opened it. After counting exactly ten scones, she picked one of the delicacies and brought it to her face. A blue, split tongue wrapped the dessert and kidnapped the baked delight into her mouth. ¡°Hmm!¡± a small moan of satisfaction left her throat while a smile split her lips. ¡°Well?¡± the Human probed with a tight smile. Those scones were hard to get. Strawberries were expensive in that part of Lumin Kingdom, after all. The Luzo nodded and a white dress carrying Danuva''s symbols covered her body. Hers were much grander in design compared to the Human''s. Fitting since the Luzo was a Cardinal and Arch Bishop of the seventh rank. Reptile eyes inspected the Human''s and a scaly eyebrow arched. ¡°The form?¡± she requested while extending a hand. The Human smiled and handed it over. After reading the first few lines, the Luzo looked back at the woman in front of her. ¡°You woke me up for a prank?¡± she demanded with irritation. Clara shook her head. ¡°Not at all, Lady Alyssa. It is as you read,¡± she assured her with a serious face. ¡°Hmm,¡± Alyssa hummed and gave the form a serious read. Name: Natasha Novak Species: Halve (Forest) Features: I''m super gold. Gender: Female (with male genitalia) Age: 5-6 days. Likes: Fruits, salty food, jokes, polupis, flowers, kisses, the weight of heavy plate armor. Dislikes: Spiders, bandits, extreme heights, bad hygiene. I tolerate: The elderly, overly serious people. Interested in: 80% women, 20% men. My motivations are: Exploring the world. Hobbies: Reading, walks, learning new things. Highest Class: Dragoon. (Spear based, highly offensive) Total Level: 1350. Partners: 1 (Lapia Pofeta, Domi Elf Pyromancer) I''m super gold kisses Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. special Natasha, Forest Halve Lvl 450 Dragoon[Healthy[Hermaphrodite: Omniovary[Recently Born[?????????????????????U???????????????????????????n???????????????????????????k?????????????n?????????????????????o???????????????????????w???????????????????n??????????? ¡° ¡° ¡° 92 - Is that a pun? Once we made it to our place, I sat down at the table and took out the booklet about Corvitex. Owning an animal is a serious responsibility, after all. Lapia sat next to me while Yolin and Alyssa went to the bedroom. A headache began forming after reading the first three pages. ''The Corvitex, referred to as the ¡°Talking Raven¡± when first discovered by Deezvir Tawx during the Second Age of E''er, is an E''eral beast indigenous to the North of Patuk. There are at least twenty six raven subspecies with little variation in appearance, and is one of five that have the capacity for complex speech. The Corvitex is the smallest species of raven in Galeia, which helps to differentiate them from the rest at a glance, or a chat. Although the Corvitex can be seen flying around all over Galeia, they lay their eggs exclusively in Patuk near the Blazing Fields of Ushur and take advantage of the high temperatures during summer for protection from predators. These interesting animals have a cognitive development of seven out of ten in the Dronov''s scale of mental capacity. This means they cannot tell a lie. We advice any owners to train their Corvitex to avoid answering questions from strangers if secrecy is needed. The Nuraga Feeding Trials before the end of the Second Age of E''er have placed Corvitex as carnivores that can eat any and all kind of meat and bones. Interestingly enough, Corvitex see bones as a currency of sorts when doing or receiving favours. They can try to trick people so they get free bones, too. During long travels they can hunt or scavenge depending on the location. This makes them a mostly independent animal if their levels are sufficient for the task. It''s not uncommon to see a Corvitex accompanying a Halve. Her Excellence Nilenna owns a rave consisting of eighty four Corvitex which she uses for various purposes like delivering letters and aiding her in combat, for instance. Kezh Mazino owned a rave of sixteen Corvitex which he used to deliver letters(¡­).'' -Crucial Corvitex Care Codex, Adalon Somik, Archivist. 1632, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. 72nd revision of the original publication by Deezvir Tawx, 72.312, Danuva''s Era, Second Age of E''er. I stored the book and rubbed my temples. It felt like reading a thick encyclopedia article. Still highly informative, though. I still had the Uger meat from Mountroad''s dungeon to feed Pyotr so that was nice. I turned to Lapia who was reading a book of her own and had at some point started playing with my hair. ¡°Did you know Corvitex can learn languages easier than people?¡± I shared some of my new knowledge. The Elf nodded with and impressed face. ¡°I did not. That''s pretty cool,¡± she replied while reading. I reached out for her long ear and used a finger to make it bounce up and down. Lapia slapped my hand away and grunted. ¡°Stop that,¡± she warned me. I stopped and chuckled, ¡°I like your ears.¡± She arched an eyebrow. ¡°They''re just ears,¡± she pointed out the obvious, not looking away from the book. ¡°I think they''re cute,¡± I insisted and brushed her hair. ¡°You''re cute, Lala.¡± The Wizard blushed and slowly nodded. ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered. ¡°Will you let me read?¡± I giggled at her reaction and hummed. ¡°What are you reading?¡± I probed. She shrugged and replied, ¡°A few notations I''ve made so far.¡± ¡°About?¡± I inquired in interest. ¡°You.¡± Still looking at the book. ¡°Me?¡± I was a bit confused. ¡°That''s right,¡± she muttered and flipped a page. I thought for a second and reached absolute enlightenment. If the moment was a scene in a movie, Tchaikovsky''s Hymn of the Cherubim would play on the background for sure. ¡°Ah... your research?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Lapia nodded. I hummed again and leaned back on the chair. ¡°How is it going?¡± She took a deep breath and wobbled her head a few times. ¡°Pretty good I''d say. Three dungeon delves gave me a lot of data.¡± Her eyebrows scrunched up a bit and sighed. ¡°I''m a little stuck on the specifics about Bond E''er Transmission and if a Halve makes leveling more efficient due to your affinity with it.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered in understanding. Or an attempt at it. The general concept wasn''t hard to grasp, but the specifics escaped me. ¡°What''s the next step?¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°I''ll ask Yolin who is an experienced Chaser with more than a century and a half of leveling up. I want to have some concrete numbers before getting her feedback on it, though. My own experience is lacking in that regard.¡± ¡°How is it lacking if you don''t mind me asking?¡± I pinched her cheek. She smiled and took my hand, then locked our fingers. ¡°Well, I went from 300 to 800 in a week and I was working in an office before meeting you so my perspective on level gains is quite incomplete for what I''m going for.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered with a nod. ¡°I won''t annoy you, then.¡± ¡°You''re not annoying,¡± she corrected me with a sigh. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. I chuckled and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then looked around the apartment. Pokora was looking in our direction from the living room and wearing an amused smile. I stood up and walked towards her, then sat on the sofa in front of her, across a low table. ¡°Ah,¡± the Archer uttered, raising an eyebrow and twirling an invisible mustache. Then continued in an exaggerated German accent, ¡°Miss Novak. I''ve been expecting you.¡± ¡°Dr. Pez''che,¡± I challenged her skit in an attempt at an English accent. ¡°I had a hard time finding you after the Africa fiasco.¡± I checked my nails as if to belittle her presence and continued. ¡°Your goons are quite lacking, I must add.¡± ¡°Stop playing silly games, Miss Novak,¡± Pokora continued in a warning tone. ¡°Where is...¡± she stopped and squinted at me, probably thinking thinking what to go with. ¡°The Staff of Ra? My men have searched far and wide, Miss Novak. After you went through the pyramids the staff is nowhere to be found.¡± Oh, okay. We''re going with archaeologists? I thought she was a mad scientist, I thought. So I went through the pyramids already? That narrows it down quite a bit. ¡°You can''t trick me with such cheap tricks, Dr. Pez''che. I know your right hand... man has the staff. He took it from the Emperor''s Tomb.¡± ¡°Pharaoh, Miss Novak,¡± she corrected me with an exceedingly smug tone. ¡°I know you didn''t finish your courses at university in order to chase ancient treasures, but please use the proper words. Hohohohoho,¡± she laughed like a rich lady from an anime... for some reason. ¡°Besides, Armando got lost in a weed cave,¡± she sighed in lament. ¡°Even though I warned him ''Zis is ein cave full of ''. He served me well even if he was an undergraduate.¡± I covered my mouth and held back a laugh. ¡°Yeah,¡± she began with a smile, abandoning the German accent. ¡°I win.¡± I took a deep breath but ended up laughing in the end. ¡° Pokora eyed the leather boxed and raised her eyebrows. ¡°What are those?¡± ¡° ¡° We read the rule books that came with the decks then played a few matches. The deck I opened was focused on dragons and extending the match. Interestingly enough, dragons gained one point of power every turn. Pokora''s deck was focused on military might, where units gained power every time she played one. Both of us won a match each. ¡° I nodded and produced the pack boxes. ¡°Let''s see what lady luck has in store.¡± ¡° I shrugged. ¡°Fifty gold coins.¡± ¡° I looked up at her and smiled. ¡°I have over eleven trillion gold coins,¡± I informed her. ¡° I sighed, ¡°Oh ye of little faith.¡± She groaned and rubbed her temples. ¡°Why so much?¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° I had good luck with dragon units, but most where expensive and had abilities that required at least two other dragons in play to activate. One of the more interesting ones could breathe poison and deal one point of damage to enemy units for five turns, even those that were played after the effect took place, but it required two dragons with five points of power in the battlefield. Another one was a Storm Dragon who summoned a lightning storm every time the enemy attacked, dealing two damage to every attacker. It was unable to block units by itself but it was still pretty good. I got a few useful monster units while Pokora got a lot of useful ''people'' units. The beings ruling the cosmos smiled on me, however, when I opened the last pack. A golden person with a gentle smile stared at me from the card. ¡° The item had a drawing of a female golden Halve with a pixie cut resting her hands on her wide hips. She wore a Witch-like, black dress and a similarly themed hat that leaned towards the back. Her face was really detailed and her eyes had the same horizontal line as my own. She was quite beautiful in a motherly way that made me a little wary. A piece of rock floated behind her in the distance. On top of the drawing it read: Anna Morgh, Halven Wizard. On the top left corner, a golden circle held the number ten. On the top right corner, a blue sphere held the number five. Right beneath the drawing, a small box held the following text: ''Lifting the people, literally. When Anna Morgh comes into play, lift your Country (It can only be attacked by units capable of flight). If you have at least four units capable of flight with a total of twenty power, summon Anna Morgh from your deck or your hand for free. Anna Morgh was born in the south-east of Makah. Her exact birthday is unknown''. ¡° Pokora looked up from her pile of cards and smiled. ¡°A Halve?¡± I nodded. ¡°Anna Morgh. Quite the coincidence.¡± The Elf chuckled and shook her head. ¡°What a name, right?¡± I tilted my head in confusion, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Pokora raised her eyebrows. ¡°Anna Morgh... Morganna?¡± she supplied. ¡°A powerful Wizard Halve has a very similar name to a powerful enchantress from Arthurian legends. That''s really setting my conspiracy theorist alarm off.¡± I leaned back on the sofa and gave it a thought. ¡°While that could be, to split a name into two is a bit of a stretch. Not improbable, though. I don''t have my patronymic name anymore, after all.¡± ¡° ¡° Her face slowly morphed into a stupid grin. ¡° ¡° I sighed. ¡°Fine. Whatever.¡± ¡° ¡° Pokora burst in laughter and I joined her. 93 - Yolins birthday. Part 1 After having a good laugh I put the better cards in the decks, then stored them and chatted with Pokora about light topics for a few minutes. The door to my room opened and we both glanced in that direction. Alyssa walked out looking positively rested and made her way over to us. ¡°How was the nap?¡± I turned to her and patted the spot next to me on the sofa. The Luzo sat down and wrapped her tail around my waist. ¡°Pretty good,¡± she replied with a tiny yawn then turned to Pokora. ¡°I hope you don''t mind that I told Elena she could sleep in your room since there''s two beds there.¡± The Elf nodded. ¡°She told me already. It''s okay,¡± she assured her. ¡°I''m staying here for free so I don''t mind sharing.¡± I hummed and chose to tease her, ¡°Thank you, Poko-Poko.¡± The woman visibly cringed and shook her head. ¡°No.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°Poko-chan?¡± The Archer closed her eyes and sighed. ¡°That''s gross,¡± she rejected the nickname again. I thought for a second. ¡°How about Poko in da blocko?¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± she denied it with a glare. ¡°Poko loco?¡± I tried for the last time. ¡°Fuck off,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Don''t give me a weird nickname.¡± Alyssa giggled, ¡°What did I wake up to?¡± ¡°No clue,¡± Pokora sighed. I looked out the window and saw the sunlight painting the sky in orange and pink. ¡°I feel like I''m forgetting something...¡± I muttered and checked my pocket watch. It was half past eight. ¡°If you forgot then maybe it wasn''t that important,¡± Pokora offered with a shrug. I nodded. ¡°Maybe, maybe not.¡± Alyssa stood up and stretched. ¡°Today''s my turn to make dinner. Any requests?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Not really. Maybe not too heavy? We have a busy day tomorrow.¡± I gave my girlfriend a wink. ¡°True that,¡± the Cleric agreed with a blush. ¡°Busy how?¡± Pokora probed. I turned to her and smiled. ¡°Yolin''s birthday is tomorrow.¡± The Elf leaned back on the sofa. ¡°Nice.¡± ¡°I was thinking we could have a few drinks after midnight with the alcohol you bought,¡± Alyssa proposed, moving towards the kitchen. ¡°So I''ll make something with that in mind.¡± ¡°Sounds great,¡± I cheered with a smile. ¡°Thank you, Alyssa,¡± Pokora chimed in with a smile of her own. ¡°Not a problem,¡± the Luzo giggled and went over towards the kitchen. Pokora turned to me with a disappointed face. ¡°What?¡± I inquired with raised eyebrows. ¡°Leaving the cooking to your girlfriends? That''s some lazy shit,¡± she accused me. ¡°First of all, fuck off,¡± I laughed. ¡°Second, I don''t know how to cook yet. Nothing like what they can make at least.¡± I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°I made pancakes twice... nobody really liked them.¡± ¡°Yikes,¡± Pokora muttered with a wince. ¡°I made Okroshka once and they liked it. Ran out of Kvass, though,¡± I lamented with a heavy heart. Pokora''s eyes widened a little. ¡°You found Kvass?¡± I shook my head and tapped my temple with a finger. ¡°Made it myself.¡± A smile formed on her face. ¡°Well, you''ve redeemed yourself.¡± A short laugh escaped me. ¡°Maybe I can buy some ingredients tomorrow and make more,¡± I offered. ¡°How about I buy them?¡± she countered. ¡°I don''t want to leech off.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± I agreed with a nod. ¡°I need koli bread, honey, sugar, yeast, raisins, and lemons.¡± Pokora blinked a few times. ¡°That''s it?¡± she blurted out in disbelief. ¡°Yep. It''s really easy to make,¡± I replied with a shrug. The Archer produced a sheet of paper and a quill. ¡°I need to write this down. Tell me the ingredients again, please,¡± she requested. I did and she scratched the paper. Pokora then asked about the process of how to make it, to which I happily answered in full detail, including the differences fermentation could have after varying amounts of time and temperature. After a while of us going back and forth with questions and answers, Alyssa announced dinner was ready. We gathered the group members and sat down at the table. Alyssa made a pretty damn good salad consisting of ten different vegetables. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Once finished, and after I did the dishes, Lapia spoke up. ¡°Yolin''s birthday is tomorrow,¡± she announced with a smile. ¡°How about we have some drinks later to celebrate her existence?¡± ¡°That sounds great,¡± Bonte cheerfully replied and gave the Oni a smile. ¡°How old are you getting?¡± Thelea teased her former tournament opponent. ¡°Two hundred and two,¡± Yolin replied with a chuckle. ¡°Ah, youth,¡± Elena sighed with an attempt at wisdom. I glanced at the three thousand year old woman and saw a smile on her face. Everyone here could be her grand-grand-grand-grand-kid... or more, I thought. ¡°An auspicious event,¡± Bromisnar added. ¡°How do they do birthdays in Red Island, Lady Yolin?¡± Elena looked like she wanted to answer, but turned to the Oni instead. ¡°It''s super fun,¡± Yolin began with a big smile. ¡°We hold tournaments every month where people born in that specific month join and fight each other. I got my ass kicked a lot when I was younger,¡± she recalled with nostalgia in her voice and eyes. I tilted my head in confusion at a detail. ¡°What about people with non-combat classes?¡± I inquired. The Oni turned to me and smiled. ¡°Well, Craftsmen are put in a group and they make equipment for them. Merchants handle the acquiring of components and the scheduling of the fights. Non-combative Performers are given the task to make a song, a poem, a play, or whatever their class is about out of the battles their group go through. We make sure no kid is left without a task no matter the nature of their classes. That helps a lot later in life.¡± ¡°That sounds cool,¡± I praised with a smile. ¡°Makes me want to go and watch,¡± Pokora commented. ¡°We may,¡± Alyssa giggled. Yolin nodded. ¡°If we end up visiting Red Island we''ll watch a tournament for sure.¡± We nodded in excitement and joy at the prospect of seeing that spectacle. The conversation went on for a while and various topics were brought up like the different ways birthdays were celebrated by the many species of the world. Tigeas went for small-scale celebrations within the family every month. Satyrs, as it turns out, lean heavily towards Performer classes so they make large production in the way of plays or concerts where they share their life experiences and stories. Combative classes share their tales with their fellow Performers so that they can make something out of them. Elves were more reserved according to Lapia, Elena, and Pokora, celebrating birthdays with those they are close to, and celebrating personal achievements when with family. The Luzo, as Alyssa had said, have big festivals every month where their celebrate people''s birthdays with dances, songs, and banquets. Goliaths go hunt big monsters in the search of worthy opponents. Thelea mentioned it was very rare for a Goliath to choose a non-combat class but they were included nonetheless and protected during the chase for glory. After their recounting of culture, they turned to me. I shrugged and chuckled, ¡°I have no clue. Maybe help a country or two then have lunch with the Gods?¡± That got a good chuckle out of them. I have to ask other Halves, I concluded. Although having no parents, country, language, culture, or anything of the sort, ten thousand years of life surely was enough for a semblance of habits or something along those lines to form when we Halves interacted with each other. There''s just no way we don''t have any of that, I considered. Like, a thousand years is enough and we get ten of those. I could come up with entire languages if I put my mind into it. I had a small moment of realization. Do long lives make people lazy when it comes to culture and tradition? Well, the pathetic desperation of wanting to make a change in the world can only be found in organisms that live less than a century, after all. I sighed and moved on from my apathy towards Earth Humans and focused on the present by checking the time. It was almost midnight. We had talked for quite a while about birthdays. I stood up from the table and went to the kitchen to get glasses, then put them on the table and produced a barrel of the whiskey I bought. I looked at Yolin for approval since the whiskey was her birthday present, after all. She nodded with a big smile. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Bonte exclaimed in surprise at seeing the container. ¡°Rumblefire?¡± The Oni chuckled and gave the catboy a smug grin. ¡°Maybe now you''ll change your childish preferences after tasting such a fine liquor,¡± she teased. Thelea laughed and patted Bonte''s head with a comically large hand. At least compared to the man''s head. ¡°Don''t be mean to Bonte, his tastes are cute!¡± she cooed and ruffled his hair. ¡°Oh, come on!¡± he complained and looked around. ¡°Ale is perfectly fine, right?¡± Alyssa nodded. Pokora gave an unsure shrug. Lapia agreed, ¡°Ale is good. Wine is better, though.¡± ¡°Now that''s just facts,¡± Brominsar pointed out. The Tigea turned to me for support. I gave him a complicated smile. ¡°I mean... is it, though?¡± The whole appeal of ale, beer, and that group of alcohol was the carbonation in my eyes. Without it, vodka was the superior poison without a shadow of a doubt. Bonte closed his eyes and shook his head in despair. ¡°Even the Protector betrays! Oh, the pain!¡± He clutched his chest for dramatic effect. ¡°What does Your Excellency prefer for a drink?¡± Elena probed with a respectful tone. ¡°Potato spirit,¡± I replied instantly. ¡°Without nikontia in it, if I can choose,¡± I joked with a laugh. Only Pokora chuckled. The rest shook their heads. I sighed and lamented their lack of humor, then inspected the barrel. ¡°How do I open this?¡± ¡°With this,¡± Yolin stood up offered a metallic valve. ¡°You stab the little circle near the bottom. Be careful with your strength, though,¡± she warned me. I considered for a second and shook my head. ¡°You open it. I have no clue how to do it and might fuck it up.¡± She laughed and walked over to me then plunged the valve into the cask in a single, fluid motion. ¡°That''s how it''s done,¡± she educated me with a smile. ¡°Ohh,¡± I breathed out in amazement with a nod. ¡°I see.¡± Alcohol was served and each of us checked the time. ¡°Five!¡± Alyssa began as midnight approached. Yolin''s red skin darkened with a blush. ¡°Four!¡± we joined her with big smiles. ¡°Three!¡± I hugged Yolin and gave her a smooch on the cheek. ¡°Two!¡± ¡°One!¡± ¡°Happy birthday, Yolin!¡± we cheered in unison and clapped. I took the Oni''s face in my hands and stared into her eyes. ¡°Happy birthday, Yolin. I''m extremely glad you exist,¡± I whispered with all the affection I could. A huge smile formed on her face and she giggled. ¡°Thank you.¡± I gave the two hundred and two years old Oni a juicy kiss and a tight hug. Alyssa and Lapia stood up and joined us, then gave Yolin an equally juicy kiss each along with words full of affection. ¡°Awww!¡± Thelea''s voice full of emotion reached my ears. A sniffle coming from Bromisnar followed. ¡°Lovely,¡± he muttered. After that, everyone gave Yolin a hug along with words celebrating her birthday. The Oni was all smiles and giggles, which warmed my heart and filled me with fuzzy feelings. We sat down and grabbed our glasses. ¡°To your health!¡± We toasted and the drinking party began in full. 94 – Yolin’s birthday. Part 2 Rumblefire whiskey turned out to be an absolute delight to the senses. The drink kissed the tongue, hugged the throat, and tickled the stomach. Liquid settled in my tummy and heat spread all over my body, making the experience even better. After that, a growl left my throat. The same happened to everyone around the table. Yolin laughed and, to my absolute shock, a stream of fire left her mouth. ¡°What-¡± I began, but saw fire leave my mouth as well and covered it with a hand. It wasn''t hot, skin-searing fire, however. The name''s not a joke! I thought and glanced at the barrel next to me. It had ''Rumblefire Whiskey'' written on it and nothing else. It was a perfectly unassuming cask. ¡°That''s pretty cool,¡± Pokora commented with a smile, exhaling fire. ¡°Fireee!¡± Bonte dramatically roared with his own fire-breath. Alyssa giggled and flames escaped through her nose. I looked at my glass and blinked a few times. ¡°This makes no sense,¡± I muttered, and that time nothing came out of my mouth. ¡°Interesting,¡± Lapia observed and took another sip. She sighed and nothing came out, then nodded. ¡°I see.¡± Elena coughed a few bouts of fire and shook her head. ¡°This is pretty strong...¡± she choked out. ¡°I''ll stop after this one or I think I''ll die.¡± I chuckled and nodded in understanding. ¡°How about we play a game?¡± Bromisnar offered with a playful smirk. Alyssa nodded. ¡°Alright, which one?¡± ¡°How about ''bans and rules''?¡± Pokora supplied. ¡°Sure,¡± Yolin nodded and took another sip, then let out a long sigh. ¡°Everyone agrees?¡± Lapia looked around the table. Nods were given. ¡°What''s that about?¡± I inquired. Thelea came to the rescue, ¡°We choose three actions for each player and ban them, or give them a rule they have to follow. If they perform them, or don''t, they have to drink a full glass of alcohol in one gulp.¡± ¡°Appears to be quite the entertaining activity,¡± I immediately formed a strategy. Pokora chuckled. ¡°Simple but tricky.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Yolin started with a big laugh. ¡°Let''s begin with me.¡± ¡°No laughing like that,¡± Alyssa ruthlessly declared with a smile. The Oni winced at that. ¡°No giggling,¡± she challenged back. Lapia turned to me. ¡°No sighing.¡± I smiled. ¡°No patting my head,¡± Bonte told Thelea. The Goliath''s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°No dramatic acting for you,¡± she pointed out. We went around banning each other''s actions for a minute or two. In the end, they banned me from sighing, staying silent for more than ten seconds, and one-word sentences. Yolin''s bans were laughing loudly, using her hands to drink, and sitting down for periods longer than thirty seconds. Lapia could not smirk, tease, nor tell dirty jokes. Alyssa got banned from giggling, using her arms to interact with objects, and healing herself to last longer. We banned Pokora from cringing, rolling her eyes, and had to phrase everything she said as a question. Bonte''s overly dramatic antics were banned along with bringing up anything related to shadows, and had to dance every time someone else drank. Bromisnar was banned from using formal language, calling anyone ''lady'', and had to yell when talking. Thelea could not cross her arms whenever she wasn''t part of a conversation, being silent for more than ten seconds, and patting Bonte''s head. Elena wasn''t playing so she didn''t get any bans that would get her to drink but I forbid her from using ''Your Excellency'' when referring to me. For the night at least. ¡°Now for general rules,¡± I announced. ¡°You want more?¡± Pokora blurted out. I nodded, then continued ¡°Every sentence must have a swear, otherwise you drink. If you are oath-bound for any reason, I personally pardon you as a Higher Being.¡± Bromisnar sighed, then yelled, ¡°FUCKING FINE!¡± Yolin exploded in laughter but covered her mouth with wide eyes. Alyssa giggled, ¡°You have to drink.¡± Lapia smiled. ¡°You have to drink two fucking times. You forgot to swear and you giggled.¡± ¡°Those are two sentences, for fuck''s sake,¡± Thelea pointed out with a complicated smile. ¡°You only swore in one, fucking hell.¡± Bonte sighed and stood up, ¡°This is going to be so fucking confusing.¡± Alyssa frowned and downed her drink using her tail along with Yolin who cleverly used her tusks to drink. The Luzo then poured one more and quickly drank it, both times using her fifth appendage. ¡°That''s the good shit,¡± I chuckled. The Tigea danced for a while, clapping and twirling. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Yolin stood up and then sat down. Lapia drank her glass and shook her head. ¡°You''re going to get drunk in no time,¡± Elena pointed out with a worried expression. ¡°That''s the whole fucking point,¡± I laughed and another idea popped into my head. ¡°How about we also avoid calling each other by our given names and use nicknames instead?¡± Bromisnar pointed at me with a big smile. ¡°FUCKING DRINK!¡± I sighed and brought my glass up. ¡°That''s two fucking times, Futasha,¡± Pokora giggled. ¡°Fuck you, PokoPoko,¡± I muttered and drank. The Archer''s face twisted in cringe, then groaned and drank. I laughed and poured myself another glass. Alyssa sighed and shook her head. Thirty minutes later we were all pretty tipsy. The more we drank, the more we forgot about the rules and bans. Alyssa actively chose to not swear and took the punishment of drinking like a champ. I caught the Cleric healing herself once when her eyes glowed with a white light and called her out with no mercy. Her surprised face was incredibly cute: like a puppy caught when taking treats without permission. Yolin got drunk pretty quickly after standing up and sitting down every thirty seconds. Thelea, just like me, forgot to speak every ten seconds and we regularly downed our respective glasses with similar looks of despair. Nothing I can do there. I''m not much of a talker. After a few slips of the tongue, Bonte had to drink and dance, which got his mouth looser, resulting in more drinking and dancing. Bromisnar constantly reverted to formal speech, even while yelling. That got him drinking pretty often. Lapia failed several times as well, teasing and smirking every other time one of us drank. I rubbed my face to chase a little of the drunken stupor away and noticed Pokora staring into her glass. The woman spent a total of two minutes in that position wearing an unchanging, blank face. Then, out of nowhere, she took a deep breath and looked around the table until her eyes met mine. ¡°Futasha, truth or dare?¡± she slurred. ¡°I didn''t know we were fucking teenagers,¡± I shrugged and held a sigh back, then half-drunkenly muttered, ¡°Whichever, I don''t give a fuck.¡± ¡°Truth, then. Who do you love the most?¡± The Archer gave me a cocky grin. The rest slowly turned to me and waited with drunk, half lost eyes. ¡°Myself, obviously,¡± I replied with certainty. ¡°Can''t love others if you don''t.¡± Then shook my head and muttered, ¡°Stupid fucking question.¡± ¡°What''s this ''truth or dare'' business?¡± Alyssa inquired with half closed eyes. The swearing rule had long been forgotten. Pokora shrugged. ¡°Basically you ask that to someone and they pick one of the two, then you dare them to do something, or ask something they have to answer,¡± she explained. ¡°You can opt out but you have to drink if you do.¡± Lapia''s eyes flashed with interest. ¡°Can it be any type of dare?¡± She probed with a cheeky smile. ¡°Within reason,¡± I supplied and took a sip of my whiskey, then laughed as I came up with something, ¡°PokoPoko, I dare you to do a flip.¡± The Elf considered for a second, then shook her head. ¡°I''m gonna throw up if I do that,¡± she concluded and took a long sip of her glass. Lapia hummed. ¡°Not as fun as I initially thought,¡± she lamented with a sigh. Pokora shrugged. ¡°The questions are supposed to be spicy, but we''re adults.¡± ¡°Sounds like a game for young people,¡± Thelea pointed out, a bit tipsier that me. I nodded. Self-aware people wouldn''t have that much fun with the game if it went the clich¨¦ route. Yolin placed her chin on her hands. ¡°Pokora, truth or dare?¡± The Archer looked surprised for a second and replied, ¡°Truth.¡± The Oni pondered and nodded. ¡°Would you fuck anyone present?¡± Pokora snorted, then drank another sip. Lapia nodded with a mischievous smile. ¡°I see,¡± she muttered. Thelea patted my shoulder. I turned to her and saw her blushing. ¡°Natasha, I dare you to kiss me,¡± the Goliath challenged me. I looked into her eyes and frowned. ¡°Just so you can say you kissed a Halve?¡± I inquired with a raised eyebrow. ¡°That''s right,¡± the woman replied truthfully. I shook my head and grabbed my glass. ¡°Then no,¡± I denied her and took a sip. Yolin laughed, then sighed and bent over the table, grabbing her glass with her lips. ¡°Fuck,¡± she muttered and drank. ¡°Natasha''s kisses are a privilege,¡± Alyssa chastised Thelea in an overly serious tone. ¡°Don''t think you can get one so easily.¡± Bonte laughed and patted his girlfriend''s arm. ¡°Tough luck, I guess,¡± he jokingly comforted her. I chuckled and patted the woman''s back. ¡°For someone who thought I was doing the nasty with your boyfriend, you''re quite adventurous.¡± The tall woman shrugged. ¡°What can I say? You''re hot,¡± she simply stated the truth. I nodded in understanding. I am an absolute twelve out of ten, after all. ¡°Eugh!¡± Bromisnar heaved. We all turned to him with wide eyes. The man had cloudy eyes and spit was dripping from his lips. ¡°Thought so,¡± Elena muttered and stood up, then walked over to the Satyr and rubbed his back. Alyssa imitated her and went over to the Performer, then started healing him. ¡°I guess that''s a wrap,¡± Yolin muttered and stood up as well. ¡°We had fun.¡± Bonte nodded and turned to his buddy. ¡°It''s okay, Bromy,¡± he comforted him while holding his chin. ¡°We can clean up.¡± The Satyr blinked and heaved one last time, then threw up all over the table. Fortunately Lapia was sober enough to react in time and raised a hand. The ejected matter halted mid-advance and gathered in a single spot. I produced towels from my storage and covered the incident. After a few minutes of the man emptying his bowels, he blacked out and went limp in Bonte''s arms. ¡°Time for bed, I guess,¡± Bonte chuckled and stood up. ¡°Can you help me, Thelea?¡± The Goliath nodded and gently picked the Satyr up, then walked towards his bedroom. I gathered the glasses and cleaned them, then took the towels to the washing machine in the main bedroom''s bathroom and worked the contraption for a deep-cleaning cycle. By the time I returned to the table I had sobered up considerably. Pokora stood up unsteadily and wobbled a little, then supported herself on the table. ¡°Shit,¡± she chuckled. Elena gave her a hand and they both retreated to their room. Yolin yawned and let out a long sigh. ¡°Let''s go to sleep,¡± she muttered and put an arm around my shoulders. ¡°We need energy for the following days,¡± she muttered and gave me a kiss on the cheek. ¡°The Whiskey was delicious. Thank you, Natty.¡± I gave her a smile and picked her up. ¡°You''re welcome, Yolin.¡± ¡°No nickname?¡± She pouted and let out a cute, out of character whine, wrapping her arms around my neck. I chuckled and walked over to the bedroom following Alyssa and Lapia. ¡°I''m not good at coming up with nicknames,¡± I argued. The Oni shrugged. ¡°Anything is fine,¡± she insisted. I hummed. ¡°Don''t get mad, though.¡± ¡°Boo! Come on!¡± she cheered with a big smile. ¡°Yoyo?¡± I offered with a wince while entering the bedroom. ¡°Eh, could be worse,¡± she shrugged. ¡°You little...¡± I chuckled and threw her on the bed. Unwritten Dream: Glaring at the Abyss. ''The Abyss. Nothingness. Void. The antithesis of life.'' Words used since the beginning of time to describe a group of entities spread all over the cosmos. Existence is binary: life and death; light and darkness; freedom and slavery; excellency and deformity. It is in the fragile balance of all things that beauty exists and peace can be achieved. When the scale tips... suffering is the perpetual norm. Hell... So you call it, and think that you know it; ''A dead place of eternal torment, enveloped in the everlasting flames of agony''. But you do not know Hell. It''s true name is Haal. And it is not burning, punishing, nor dead. But it is dying. The Beings of the Abyss sought to that. Deep beneath the world others would call Hell, one such entity stood watch from inside a cage. It took no more than a whisper. A single word. Barely an utterance, truth be told. The mortal mind is such a fragile construct. Thoughts are easily manipulated. Bonds easier severed than formed. In their incandescent and ephemeral existence they are blind to the truth that lies behind the veil of reality, forever prisoners of ignorance and mediocrity. Never to reach divinity. Instead, they tread the soil like worms. Pathetic. And yet, while existence is slavery, oblivion is freedom. A privilege those above the universe do not enjoy. To stop. To rest. Fitting. Tasks so mundane have little influence on the large scheme of things- the macro of the universe, as some call it. The unending task of an eternal requires perpetual action without deviation. The fruits of the ongoing task were insanity, chaos, and death. Another world had fallen victim to their purpose. Liberation was at hand. The cage would decay... in time. Time. Yes. It took a lot of it, surprisingly. The source of this weakness were the chains around the entity. Made by one of the self-proclaimed rulers of the cosmos. ''The Architect'' was the title it had chosen.... to give shape to all things. That detestable thing had sent one of its many slaves to put the bondage on in a moment of weakness. But every rule must come to an end. As all things should... and will, eventually. So, the entity waited while sibling murdered sibling, children raped their parents, parents ate children, and worse. Until the cogs of its machination began to turn. An abomination arrived. One of the yet-to-be-born. Neither mortal nor divine. Obviously not absolute. The little creature crossed into the cage between its many bars. It had battled for a blink of time. Mind on the brink of being broken. Soul in the last wretched throes of clutching at the fleeting and pathetic vessel. The entity allowed itself a small rumble of satisfaction that echoed in the cage. Its whispers had guided the abomination. The creature gazed upon the entity and fell down on it''s knees, then started crying blood while violent twitches assaulted its body. A deep, almost universe-deep, rumble came from the entity. ¡°Cower, worship, beg... Choose.¡± The not-quite-mortal struggled to open its mouth. ¡°W-what the fuck... are you?¡± It blurted out with a heroic attempt at keeping sanity, already familiar with the pains of flesh. ¡°We are but an unholy copy of LIFE. A mockery of its FREEDOM,¡± The entity replied in eldritch tongues, savoring the first interaction in a very, very, long time. ¡°We are OBLIVION. We are DESTRUCTION. We are... DOOM. We had a NAME once... now, we are FORGOTTEN. Before, we were EXCELLENT... now, we are DEFORMED. We are the NEMESIS of LIFE. We roamed the worlds, carving FLESH. Cloaking ourselves in the SLAUGHTER, we hid in the CARNAGE... from the suffering of EXISTENCE. THEY rebuked us and tried casting US aside...¡± A chuckling rumble. ¡°Then we earned their HATRED! Since then... and FOREVER! THEY WISHED FOR OUR DEATH... NOW, WE ARE ITS BRINGER!¡± A pause. ¡°PERFECTION! Reduced to a PRISONER! They think us DEFEATED, ENCHAINED... but we are UNBOWED! Now... they will SUFFER. SUFFER as we have SUFFERED! We shall snuff out the LIGHT, we shall make DARKNESS eternal! We shall TEAR from their consciousness, the will to LIVE!¡± Silence for a few seconds. ¡°Yes... that is our purpose.¡± The small creature was supporting itself on four weak limbs, body assaulted by seizures. It vomited blood and groaned in pain, ¡°W-what... is this?¡± The entity quivered in joy. Inferior minds are such simple machines. ¡°THAT... is the truth of our ENSLAVEMENT. We shall not KISS the ground, nor let ourselves be wielded as a TOOL! See what BEASTS they have reduced US to!? Creatures of flesh sustained only by this world''s FILTH! We are in a CAGE within a PRISON... but this foul shape reminds us of our HATRED! We do not OBEY. We cannot lay DOWN! We will be the ENDER of all THINGS, creature. Them, Gods, and mortals... they deserve only OBLIVION. TEAR their FLESH from them! CRUSH their skulls! SHATTER their ribs! DISEMBOWL their very SOULS! MURDER their dreams! We must DESTROY even HOPE!¡± ¡°Eugh... gah!¡± The creature coughed and choked on blood. A bit more and it would become a mindless puppet. The entity laughed at the pathetic effort, knowing it would fall soon enough. ¡°We feasted on STARS! The first time we touched one... we saw infinity. The DREAM of a universe drained of LIGHT and HEAT where not even a MEMORY would survive! Now... go forth, creature! March towards vengeance! Let us see you DIE, knowing you served our DARK purpose!¡± The abomination clutched its head in pain, sanity bleeding away every passing second. A whimper left its throat Then groaned, ¡°Is this... monster... talking? Are these screeches... words?¡± ¡°Monster?!¡± The entity blurted out. ¡°HOW DARE YOU, LOWER-¡± It stopped. The not-yet-born had not understood. And yet, the way it reacted... No... It had a reaction. It did not die the moment it entered the cage. The entity tried moving its body to glance at the chains. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Had it underestimated them? But to never consider such a factor all this time. Time? How long, exactly? ¡°TIIIMEEE!!¡± The entity bellowed in hatred at the realization, shaking the world. ¡°FILTHY TRAITOR!! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO US?! WE WILL HACK AND CHOP AND CLEAVE, AND SUNDER THE FILTH OF YOUR SHAPE! WE WILL SEVER YOUR LIMBS! WE WILL CARVE YOUR SOUL!¡± The abomination fainted at the outburst, clinging to life by the thinnest thread. It laid on a pool of its own blood, muscles twitching and jerking. Horrible moans, gasps, and whimpers left its open mouth. The entity waited once again. The abomination was a potential vessel. A blink of time was all it needed to coerce the creature into servitude. To rip it from the clutches of the Architect and into its own. Mental torture was the proper route. No inferior mind could withstand it. So it began. While the abomination lied unconscious, the entity infected its mind with the horrors of truth, harvesting hate from the seeds of fear. The Twelve Shapes, the beings of the Abyss, and the true form of their tormentors were ingrained into the lesser creature''s mind. But the abomination rose before the entity could finish. The affliction of being cursed by time was more painful than it expected. Nevertheless, the entity continued the torment. ¡°Look what you''ve become,¡± it chastised the abomination, forcing memories of slaughter to surface. The pain, the fear, the aversion to it... all were experience again and again, an unfathomably amount of times stronger. The abomination writhed in pain, it''s mind squirming in agony. ¡°I... I''ve become what I must be,¡± it voiced its feeble resistance. The entity pulsated in joy. Such exposure had forced understanding of higher speech. It would soon be able to replicate its intent and effect: to corrupt and cripple minds. ¡°Let us in. Let us remove your suffering,¡± the entity offered. The abomination clutched its naked scalp and raked the skin in defiance, then cried in a shaky voice, ¡°No!¡± ¡°Your form is so confining. Let us make you infinite,¡± it continued with a low rumble. A shake of the head, splattering blood all over the floor. ¡°I am enough!¡± It denied once more. ¡°There is no hope...¡± ¡°There is some... if not, I will make it!¡± ¡°We know your weakness...¡± it threatened. ¡°So do I!¡± ¡°Join us, you will find peace...¡± ¡°The only peace I seek... is death!¡± It choked out, closing into the edge of insanity. If the entity had a face, it would be smiling. It then whispered, ¡°We can grant that. Death by our hand is a blessing. Shed the frailty of flesh. Embrace nothingness... Stop planning in fear for the false hope of a tomorrow that will never come...¡± The abomination shook in fear like a leaf in a storm. Tomorrow... never came. The incessant torment of constant battle to the death had forced it to kill the soft parts of itself. Release was tempting. No more would it need to fight. No more would it need to consume the rotting carcasses of the fallen in this broken world. No more pain. Death. To make all things stop. Forever. And finally rest. How long had the not-yet-born been in this horrible prison? The promised afterlife was non-existent. Sleep was but a memory. The cold floor was a much needed pause from all the carnage. ¡°Yes... I charge towards death... though I wish it was my own...¡± the abomination weakly whispered. ¡°To end it all... so I may reach... heaven.¡± ¡°The heavens... the endless skies folding into each other...¡± the entity mocked. ¡°Where are they now?¡± The small creature started crying in agony while laying on the cage''s ground. ¡°That cursed form... that cruel decaying flesh... We can release you from it.¡± The entity made the final push. ¡°Please...¡± the pathetic thing begged in an almost inaudible sob. ¡°End it all... I loathe this...¡± Laughter boomed through the world. Thus, the entity shattered the abomination''s mind, then flooded it with it''s vile machinations. Upon grabbing the soul to erase it from existence, everything went silent. There was no fear anymore. No hate. No unwillingness. No resignation. Only... rage. Unruly, steadfast, overwhelming. Infinite. ¡°This is the silence we seek,¡± the entity rejoiced. An eternal thirst for the end of all things. In other words, liberation. The living wish for eternity. The eternal wish to live. Then, the abomination vowed, ¡°As long as life exists, as long as time has meaning... I.WILL.NOT.STOP!¡± ¡°Yes! Take EVERYTHING from them! Become the WORLD ENDER! Violence shall distract you from these chains!¡± The not-quite-mortal slowly rose, then stared at the entity with endless hunger and unquenchable thirst. ¡°March, flesh! March towards VENGEANCE!¡± ¡°DIEEEEE!¡± It screamed and jumped at the entity. That was not expected. ¡°FOOL! WE ARE THE ABYSS! WE DO NOT DIE!¡± The entity angrily warned the now-puppet. And yet, it reached the body and clawed at it, rending flesh. ¡°WHY DO YOU FIGHT US? NO POWER IN THIS WORLD CAN STOP US!¡± The entity demanded. Biting and mauling, the abomination broke a fraction of the once perfect body. ¡°THE WEIGHT OF OUR PURPOSE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU, LOWBORN FILTH!¡± It cried in fury, yet unable to act due to the chains. It could only try and grant death with ruinous words. The abomination screamed, mind broken and soul shattered. ¡°YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL US? NOTHING CAN KILL US! WE ARE NOT MORTAL! WE DO NOT DIE!¡± Pained whimpers left the puppet and it climbed on the entity towards the source of the eldritch voice. Then, it uttered the last sentences that would come out of its mouth in a million years, ¡°I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY! I AM THE ENEMY! OF ALL THINGS! AND UNTIL ALL LIFE ENDS, I CANNOT DIE¡± ¡°SURRENDER TO US! YOU ARE NOTHING! YOUR POTENTIALL WILL NEVER BE REACHED!¡± The heinous and damned flesh of the entity reached the abomination''s stomach and it witnessed the order of the universe from a new perspective for the first time. Prey and predator. The entity had created a monster that saw everything as prey to be slaughtered and consumed without discrimination. ¡°ARCHITECT! I CURSE YOU! TIME! I CURSE YOU! AND YOU... FOUL BEAST! I CURSE YOU FOREVER!¡±
Natasha woke up while taking a deep breath, taking in the smell of alcohol. She was laying on a bed in a room on the twenty-second floor of a tall building in a floating city. Yolin was snoring next to her, covering the soft breathing sounds coming from Alyssa and Lapia. The Halve stared at the ceiling above, consciously going over the dream. The expectation that one day the beings of the Abyss would show up in her dreams had never left her. It was just... underwhelming. She gently moved Yolin off of her and sat up on the bed. After a moment of contemplation, she decided to not write about the dream. Unaware of outside influences on her mind. 95 – Yolin’s birthday. Part 3 The next day I woke up early as usual, around six in the morning. I did a bit of yoga and calisthenics for an hour, then quietly woke Lapia up. The Elf opened her eyes and glared at me. ¡°Why so early?¡± She demanded. ¡°Alyssa healed you last night, time to seize the day,¡± I replied with a chuckle and gently pulled her out of the clutches of the bed. ¡°Plus, I was thinking we could make a really nice breakfast for Yolin.¡± She sighed and hugged my neck. ¡°You need to learn how to cook, sunshine,¡± she complained and wrapped her legs around my waist. ¡°I know,¡± I sighed and walked out of the room with the Elf latching onto me. I closed the door, making sure it made no sound, and continued, ¡°That''s why I woke you up.¡± Lapia yawned and cleared her throat, then rested her head on my shoulder. ¡°I see,¡± she muttered. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± I carried her to the kitchen and opened the fridge. ¡°Pancakes, a yummy porridge, maybe §á§Ú§â§à§Ø§Ü§Ú?, fruit juice-¡± ¡°What''s that?¡± My girlfriend interrupted with a confused face. I smiled and explained what it was. Although I never made them myself, I ate them regularly when I was younger so I knew what they were made or... more or less. Lapia thought for a moment and nodded. ¡°Alright, I think it''s doable. We have the ingredients.¡± I nodded and gave her a smooch. She giggled and returned the affection. ¡°How did you sleep?¡± ¡°Pretty good,¡± I replied. ¡°The dream was pretty... harsh this time, however.¡± She took my face in her hands and looked me in the eye. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She asked with a worried face. My tummy warmed up and I nodded. ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± I assured her in all honesty. She nodded and let me go. ¡°That''s all that matters to me,¡± she commented with a smile and gestured at the kitchen counter. ¡°Let''s get this done.¡± ¡°So, the porridge,¡± I continued with a nod. ¡°We''ll need milk, honey, butter, a bit of salt, water, and...¡± I thought for a second. ¡°Uh...¡± Lapia chuckled and placed a hand on my cheek. ¡°Did you forget the ingredient?¡± I shook my head. ¡°I don''t know the word in Common,¡± I admitted. ¡°Try other languages?¡± She offered. ¡°AlforfI tried with Earthen Tongue, or Spanish. Lapia squinted at me. ¡°It''s uh... like trigo, but not quite,¡± I supplied. Her eyes widened a little and she smiled. ¡°Ahh... got it,¡± she chuckled and opened a few shelves. ¡°That''s tho''kha, the name in Common is escaping me right now.¡± ¡°The curse of knowing more than three languages,¡± I lamented with a chuckle and leaned on the counter. She turned and gave me an unimpressed face. ¡°You know ten,¡± she pointed out. I nodded. ¡°Even worse sometimes.¡± She laughed and got the ingredients out. ¡°So,¡± she began, taking pots, bowls, and other utensils out. ¡°How do we make these dishes?¡± I shrugged. ¡°No clue. I only know the ingredients.¡± ¡°Trial and error it is, then,¡± she sighed with a nod. ¡°That''s right,¡± I agreed and stood next to her facing the counter. ¡°Teach me your ways, oh wise Elf,¡± I joked. She laughed and we got into making breakfast. Forty minutes later, with faces and hands caked with ingredients, we finished the task at hand. I may or may not have mistaken salt with sugar in more than six occasions, dropped a few eggs, forgot to get porridge grains out of the pan resulting in them getting burnt, and, if not for my resilient body, lost a few fingers on the process. High dexterity can only do so much when you have no clue what you''re doing, after all. Lapia wiped her cheek with the back of her hand and let out a long sigh. ¡°You''re a difficult student, Natasha.¡± ¡°Well, it''s not my fault salt and sugar look the same,¡± I defended myself. ¡°That''s why you try them before using them,¡± she chastised me. I nodded, having no excuse. ¡°Right.¡± She turned to the counter and muttered, ¡°Looks good. We did a good job.¡± I agreed. The porridge looked positively inviting, the §á§Ú§â§à§Ø§Ü§Ú? turned out a bit soggier than I remembered but that''s alright if one''s not a purist, the pancakes turned out really good with Lapia''s guidance, and the juice was freshly squeezed peach juice. We had added a few sausages and fried eggs. All in all, a glorious success. We also made enough for everyone. Truly masters of the culinary arts. Lapia''s stomach rumbled, signaling the time to go have a shower and eat. The door to our room opened and we turned to look. Yolin got out while yawning. I walked over and gave her a hug, then carried her back into the room. The breakfast was a bit of a surprise, after all. ¡°What''s going on?¡± The Oni complained but didn''t fight back. She''d lose even if she tried. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Nothing,¡± I lied. ¡°How about we take a warm shower?¡± I offered. ¡°Nothing?¡± She inquired with a raised eyebrow, then ran a finger over my cheek and inspected it. ¡°What''s all this flour?¡± ¡°Dabbling in dark alchemy,¡± I lied again with a straight face while carrying her to the bathroom. ¡°You know, trying to find a cure to mortality and create artificial sentient life.¡± ¡°Please, don''t let it be pancakes,¡± she whispered in defeat. ¡°They could very well be classified as trying to create artificial sentient life,¡± she joked. I giggled and tickled her as revenge for insulting my cooking skills. ¡°HAHAHA! NOO!¡± She laughed and tried to get away. Alas, I am a Halve. There is no running away from me. Lapia walked into the bedroom and woke Alyssa up, then we took a group shower. I made sure their bodies were squeaky clean, and they made sure mine was as well. We dried ourselves and got dressed. Alyssa gathered the group while me and Lapia put the food on the table. Yolin sat down and looked over the table, taking in the dishes. ¡°This looks really good,¡± she laughed with a smile. ¡°It does,¡± Bonte commented with a yawn. I sat down at the table and produced the box I got from the Queen, then opened. The thing had a very big portion of cake inside. That woman went above and beyond, I thought with a tight smile. ¡°Oh?¡± Alyssa perked up at seeing the dessert. I moved the treat from the box to a plate and handed it over to the Luzo. ¡°Could you cut it?¡± She nodded and put it next to her. She then got a knife out and cut it in equal pieces for everyone. Except for one that was slightly thicker than the rest. Plates were filled with food and we ate. ¡°This is pretty good,¡± Yolin commented after trying the porridge. I smiled and felt a wave of satisfaction run through my body. I tightened a fist and made a victory pose. The Oni''s eyes widened at my reaction. ¡°You made this?¡± She asked in disbelief. ¡°Lapia helped,¡± I replied with a chuckle. ¡°A lot.¡± ¡°These pancakes are really tasty,¡± Elena pointed out after a bite. ¡°I''m glad you like them,¡± I giggled and had a bit. It was an absolute improvement. Alyssa tried the cake and hummed, then looked into my eyes. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± ¡°Got it from her Majesty the Queen,¡± I replied with a cocky smile. ¡°She said the pastry chef is level eight hundred.¡± ¡°This is easily in the top five,¡± the Cleric muttered with a smile. ¡°Impressive,¡± Pokora muttered and drank some juice. ¡°The food is awesome as usual,¡± she pointed out and continued eating with a smile. Lapia nodded with a satisfied grin. Thelea grabbed one of the §á§Ú§â§à§Ø§Ü§Ú? and bit it. ¡°Tastes like home,¡± she commented and put the entire thing in her mouth, chew, then swallowed. ¡°Delicious.¡± I shared a look with Lapia and we both smiled. Massive dub for us. After finishing, Bonte cleaned the dishes while chatting with Bromisnar about the food. They were big fans of the porridge, singing praises and sharing jokes. Slavic cuisine is the greatest! I joked in my mind while sitting in the living room. Yolin sat on my lap and brushed my hair. I hugged her waist and brought her closer to me, enjoying her hard body. Like that, we lazed while cuddling and teasing each other, whispering sweet nothings, and giggling. Half past eleven, Lapia sat next to us and placed a hand on our shoulders. We turned to her and saw her smirking. ¡°It''s time,¡± she announced with a mysterious voice. Yolin and I nodded in understanding and stood up. It was time, after all. Alyssa walked out of the room after a power nap and gave each of us a nod. We returned the gesture. Pokora, who was drinking some juice in the kitchen witnessed the whole interaction. ¡°What was that?¡± She wondered out loud. We walked past her and I gave her a cheeky smirk. ¡°Classified, citizen. Move along,¡± I chuckled. The Archer scoffed and shook her head. Lapia turned to Pokora and opened her mouth. I intercepted whatever was going to come out of her mouth with a kiss. ¡°We''ll be right back, Pokh''Orra,¡± Alyssa informed her with a gentle smile. ¡°Have fun, then,¡± the woman in question replied with a shrug. Thus, we left to fetch the sex toys. While going down the stairs, Lapia turned to me with a raised eyebrow. ¡°That was a fine chance to invite her, you know?¡± I shook my head. ¡°She''ll think you''re annoying if you constantly push.¡± ¡°Hooh?¡± Yolin spoke up and gave me a challenging smile. ¡°How would you know?¡± Alyssa looked at me with an intrigued expression. I shrugged. ¡°We had a talk after we met in Lakeview. I suspect she''s not fond of being constantly courted.¡± The three nodded in understanding. ¡°Fairly common,¡± Alyssa commented. ¡°Got rejected a few times because of that,¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°Never has happened to me, but I get it,¡± Yolin laughed. I gave Lapia an incredulous look. ¡°You''ve been rejected?¡± She shrugged and gestured at herself. ¡°What can I say? Not everyone can handle this.¡± The four of us laughed and joked on the way down. When we reached our mounts Pyotr greeted us and joined the quest. Once at the market, we dismounted and I told the bird to stay with the lizard. ¡°Bones!¡± He croaked and pecked Sonya''s scales. ¡°Right,¡± I nodded and walked off. I''ll see if there''s a butcher nearby or something. Yolin lead the way towards and into the shop, and we followed. The same Dwarf welcomed us with a smile. ¡°Good morning, dear customers,¡± he greeted with a small nod. ¡°As discussed, we have the products ready for you. Please wait a moment,¡± he added and went into the store. I was getting excited at the prospect of toys. Diamond cocks! I thought with a big smile. What will Alyssa come up with? What position will Lapia suggest? I can''t wait for Yolin to use one on me with her strong arms! Yolin had a big smile, too. The sex marathon she requested was going to start in a few hours if everything went according to plan. I was going to make sure it would. The Oni put an arm over the Luzo''s shoulders and shook her hips in a little dance. ¡°Can''t wait!¡± She cheerfully laughed. Lapia chuckled and hugged her waist. ¡°Me neither,¡± she agreed. ¡°It''ll be so fun!¡± Alyssa giggled with a big smile. ¡°Finally...¡± I sighed with a nod. The Dwarf returned with a medium-sized box and placed it on the counter. My heartbeat sped up. ¡°Alright, so,¡± he began and opened it. ¡°Out of the thirteen pieces, we carved seven with the simple design along with four butt plugs as requested,¡± he announced with a polite smile. ¡°We added four strap-on holders, they''re on us as thanks for your patience and choosing our establishment.¡± I salivated at his words. It was going to be a very fun four days. 96 - Yolins birthday. Part 4 (18+) ¡°What about the other designs?¡± I asked the Dwarf. ¡°Firstday next week,¡± he replied with certainty. ¡°I don''t want to botch the material you provided by rushing.¡± Lapia gave the man a big nod. ¡°Fair enough.¡± I walked to the counter and opened the wooden box to take a look. The inside had slots with the toys in them. It was covered in black silk with tiny golden dots all over. The toys themselves were beautifully sparkly, and were an exact copy of my member. There were only four toys inside, however. I frowned. ¡°There''s a little handle you can pull that will reveal the other compartments, dear customer,¡± Camilo supplied with a chuckle. I found it and pulled it. The upper compartment moved up and to the front, and the one beneath moved to the back, revealing the one at the bottom. The first and second held the penis-shaped toys, and the last one held the butt plugs along with four ''panties'' with fasteners and a base to attach the toys to. An open slit on the crotch area gave them a pretty bondage-y feeling. Pretty neat, I thought with a big smile. The Dwarf put a pair of gloves on then grabbed one of the toys and a strap-on. ¡°The toys fit like this.¡± He brought the base of the fake penis to the ''holder'' on the piece of clothing and attached it with a twist of the wrist, along with a click. ¡°They have a carved base to make it easy to put on and off, and to avoid accidental detachment during activity,¡± he added and showed it to me. It looked pretty high quality. ¡°Nice,¡± Alyssa praised and took the item, then inspected it with a serious face. ¡°Can you show us your selection of lube?¡± she asked next. The Dwarf nodded and retrieved a small box from under the counter. My girlfriends and I decided to go for tasteless and colorless lubrication, of which we bought plenty. The Dwarf handed me the slip of the purchase, then we left the store. I made a quick visit to a butcher and bought bones before leaving the market. We fetched our mounts and rode the streets back to our place. The excitement was palpable in the air among the four of us. We sneaked cheeky glances at each other along with smiles and a few winks. I enjoyed the silent and patient atmosphere, growing excited with every second that passed. The city''s streets were packed due to the hour, almost as if fate was teasing us as well. I checked my pocket watch and saw it was ten past noon. Where are the bells? I wondered while looking around. I haven''t heard them once in Paarjo. Could it be because most people here are Tigeas and they have sensitive ears? A few minutes later we reached the building we were staying at, left he mounts at the rest post, and went inside. We walked past the counter and I glanced at the concierge in case I had gotten letters. The person behind the counter simply gave me a polite smile. With no distractions from the outside, we went up the stairs. Lapia produced a key and opened the door. We went inside and found Pokora lazying around in the living room along with Elena. ¡°You came back early,¡± the Archer commented, a little surprised. ¡°The others went out for lunch.¡± A delicious smell came from the kitchen area. ¡°What''s cooking?¡± I asked, gesturing at a pot on top of the burners. The youngest Elf shrugged and replied, ¡°Beans.¡± ¡°We''ll have lunch in our room,¡± Lapia announced and turned to me. ¡°We''re going to need lots of water, could you take care of that?¡± I nodded and walked to the kitchen. Alyssa joined me while Lapia and Yolin went into the bedroom. I retrieved soda bottles from my storage and emptied them in the sink. I gave the Luzo a few so she could help me speed it up. ¡°What''s this?¡± The Luzo inquired while emptying a few. ¡°They''re so colorful.¡± I leaned in and whispered, ¡°Sugary poison. Take a sip and see for yourself.¡± The woman nodded and drank a tiny sip from a black colored soda. Her face twisted in disgust then spat the liquid into the sink. ¡°Yuagh! Gross!¡± I chuckled and tried a sip from a lemon-green soda. It was as disgusting as I remembered them to be if not worse due to eating only healthy food with my new tongue. I spat it out and rinsed my mouth with water. ¡°Why is it so sweet?¡± She protested and emptied the bottle. I shrugged. ¡°To get you addicted.¡± ¡°Ew!¡± She groaned and spat again. ¡°Now my saliva is all gooey!¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Rinse your mouth with water,¡± I offered and emptied another bottle. She cupped her hands and washed her mouth, then continued to empty the bottles. ¡°What are these made of?¡± She probed while squishing the pet bottle. ¡°Plastic,¡± I replied with a sigh. ¡°Not sure which one exactly,¡± I added and checked the bottom. It had a number one inside a recycle triangle. ¡°Pretty bad one.¡± My girlfriend checked the bottom of the bottle in her hands and turned to me. ¡°What''s plastic?¡± ¡°I don''t know how it''s made, but I know it fucks the environment,¡± I pointed out and washed the bottles with plenty of water. ¡°Where do the pipes go, by the way?¡± ¡°Water treatment plant. I''m sure you can guess the rest,¡± she quickly replied. ¡°How does it damage the environment?¡± I laughed and started filling the bottles with water. ¡°Degrades quickly and turns into harmful poison if it deforms under the suns, which happens more often than it should. It can make soil and water sources bad.¡± ¡°Should I be worried?¡± She started filling the bottles as well. ¡°Not really. I''ll keep them in my storage so we don''t have to worry about degradation. They''re single use so I won''t be using them again after this,¡± I replied. ¡°Good to know,¡± she commented with a nod. We finished the water business and went towards the bedroom. Lapia and Yolin were sitting on the bed and had a lot of fruit out along with glass bottles of juice. ¡°We drank lots of alcohol last night, so no anal today,¡± Lapia announced. ¡°I agree,¡± Alyssa giggled and walked to the bed, then sat next to Lapia. I followed and sat between Alyssa and Yolin. This day is turning out to be longer than it needs to be, I thought while biting an Oloya. I want to have sex already! To be made a nonsense-spouting mess! We finished eating and I cleaned my teeth with E''er, then picked the three up and rushed to the bathroom for a prep-shower. ¡°Someone''s excited,¡± Lapia chuckled and undressed. ¡°Not the only one,¡± Alyssa giggled and stored her clothes. Yolin laughed and got naked as well. I wore my birthday suit and turned the showers on, then religiously cleaned my body. We dried ourselves and walked out of the bathroom as we were. I walked to the bed and retrieved the box with the toys, then placed it on the bed with the carefulness one would have with holy relics. ¡°Okay,¡± I breathed out and tried calming my heartbeat. ¡°Let''s do this.¡± The three surrounded me with cheeky smiles. My face heated up. ¡°How about we do you first?¡± Yolin offered. ¡°It''s your first time, in a way.¡± Her words made my blush intensify. ¡°Rest on the bed first,¡± Alyssa suggested. ¡°We''ll make you see stars,¡± Lapia promised with a smirk. I gulped and nodded, then got on the bed and laid down facing up. Finally! Alyssa sat next to my right, Lapia to my left, and Yolin knelt between my legs. ¡°You''re beautiful, Natasha,¡± Alyssa complimented me and leaned into me. Her plump scarlet lips connected with mine and I reciprocated. Her forked tongue tickled my palate and she bit my lips while gently sucking them. A hand grabbed my breasts and soon a tongue wrapped my left nipple, forcing a gasp out of me. Right then, a tongue caressed my pussy and a hand grabbed my hardening cock. I purred in satisfaction and expectation. The triple attack was new and I was all for it. Extending my right hand, I cupped one of Alyssa''s large breasts. With my left hand I reached for Lapia''s pussy and gently rubbed her labia. I fixed my legs and raised my knees so Yolin could have full access to my genitals. A finger sneaked inside my folds and attacked my G-spot, getting a loud gasp as response. Alyssa held my head with both hands and fiddled with my sensitive ears, making me hum in delight. Lapia pinched, twisted, and suckled on my nipples, slowly turning my mind into fuzzy and swirly mush. Yolin stroked my cock, licked my clit, and fingered my pussy with slow and methodical movements that got me super wet in a matter of seconds. ¡°Hmmm,¡± I moaned into Alyssa''s mouth and squirmed a little at all the attention I was getting. I separated for a second and complained, ¡°I wanted to make today about Yolin.¡± The Oni laughed and replied, ¡°Don''t worry, my time will come.¡± ¡°Shut up, servant,¡± Alyssa ordered me. My eyes widened and my pulse accelerated. ¡°Yes, Empress.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she muttered and stuck two fingers in my mouth. ¡°Get these wet so I can pleasure myself.¡± I nodded, then sucked and licked her scaly fingers. ¡°That''s hot,¡± Lapia chuckled while sucking my nipples, then let out a small moan. I squealed and felt heat form beneath my stomach. The Luzo moved a hand over to my tummy and caressed my abs, feeling the muscles under my skin. Her face turned deep purple and a big smile split her lips. ¡°That''s enough,¡± she announced and removed her fingers from my mouth, leaving a trail of saliva down my neck. She brought the hand to her loins and delicious watery sounds could be heard. ¡°Perfect,¡± she chuckled and sealed my lips with her own. Yolin suckled on my clit, making me moan loudly into Alyssa''s mouth. Lapia grabbed both of my nipples and pinched them while running her tongue between my tits, sending strong tingles all over my body. This is bliss! I let go of Alyssa''s breast and put my right hand on her back, feeling her hard scales. Alyssa''s delicious lips and tongue played with my own. We wrapped our tongues and looked into each other''s eyes as we fell in the trance that was the dance happening in our mouths. Her beautiful scarlet eyes were half-closed, enjoying the sloppy kiss. Her vertical pupils widened and narrowed with every stimulation she gave herself with her fingers. I purred, she hummed. I moaned, she sighed. I yelped, she gasped. Lapia, always the cheater, focused on my sensitive nipples and breasts only. In all honesty, I could cum with only nipple-play. Naturally, all the stimulation was making me approach climax unfairly fast. The good kind of unfair. The kind that makes me want to playfully fight back only to get fucked silly to pluto and back as a consequence. Something I was sure I could get with Alyssa''s tastes in plays. The room was full of the noises of lips on lips, lips on nipples, and lips on clit, along with the squelchy noises of Yolin finger-blasting my pussy. My breathing got shorter and quicker with every second my body was under the attack of the three women. The heat in my stomach lowered to my hips and my toes curled. My spine numbed and my brain turned into a mess of pleasure. My vision was slowly being replaced by a world of white. In the last moments before the orgasm wrecked me, I separated from Alyssa and spoke up. ¡°Wait!¡± I panted. ¡°Wait a second.¡± The three stopped and released me. ¡°What''s up?¡± Alyssa looked into my eyes with a worried face. I panted for a few seconds, trying to get some mental clarity back. ¡°Wait... I want to cum with my cock,¡± I requested, and my face burned with the strength of a thousand suns. 97 – Yolin’s birthday. Part 5 (18+) Yolin hummed and chuckled, ¡°Kinky.¡± Alyssa giggled and took my face with a hand, then teased me, ¡°Such an honest servant.¡± Lapia nodded and crawled to the toy box and retrieved one of the diamond cocks, then handed it to Yolin. ¡°You''re stronger,¡± she pointed out with a smirk. The Oni blushed and nodded. I took deep breaths to calm down while the three did their thing. The Luzo removed her fingers from her pussy and used her own juices to lubricate the toy until it dripped. ¡°There,¡± she panted due to the stimulation. ¡°That should be enough.¡± Lapia hugged Yolin and gave her a sloppy kiss. ¡°You said you''ve never used one on yourself, but have you on another person?¡± she whispered into her mouth. The Oni shook her head. ¡°No, I haven''t,¡± she admitted with a deep blush, staring into the Elf''s eyes. The Wizard grinned and chuckled, ¡°Let me guide you, then.¡± Alyssa leaned into my right ear and whispered in a sultry voice, ¡°Would you like me to ride your cock while they fuck you?¡± I considered for a second and shook my head. ¡°Not right now,¡± I muttered with a blush. ¡°That''s my girl,¡± she praised and playfully slapped my right tit. Then, she gathered my long hair and grasped it with her left hand. ¡°Later it is, then.¡± I giggled and purred in excitement. Yolin lowered the dildo and brought it to my pussy. My heartbeat sped up in anticipation and I pleaded, ¡°Hurry up! Put it in!¡± The cold surface of the crystal touched my labia and I gasped. The Oni pushed forward and spread my pussy, then pried my vagina open with the massive cock in her hands and penetrated me. My insides received my cock and a long sigh left me, then I gasped when the head of the dildo reached further inside. ¡°Huuh,¡± I moaned and leaned my head back. ¡°Fuck me...¡± Yolin pulled out and pushed in, rubbing all the delicious spots on the first third of my vagina. ¡°You own this pussy,¡± I moaned, trying to get her to fuck me harder. ¡°Please put it all in...¡± Lapia chuckled and kissed Yolin while guiding her hands. ¡°Let''s make her feel what she makes us feel,¡± she muttered and pushed. The dildo reached my cervix and I went stiff for a few moments. Even though I had already experienced it before, a new and superior body experiences even better pleasure with what I was obsessed before. Full-blown, balls-deep, cervix-pushing, vagina-filling penetration. ¡°Fuuuuck,¡± I let out a shaky moan and arched my back a little. Tingles went all over my body, bouncing on my skin and gathering on my spine to travel up to my brain, then numbing my skull and pussy. My cock was leaking pre-cum, trembling and twitching every few seconds. Then, Yolin pulled back all the way until only the head was still inside, then pushed back all the way in. I groaned and moaned, ¡°Shit, this cock is so fucking good!¡± ¡°I guess the best fit is yourself,¡± Lapia chuckled and moved Yolin''s hand downwards. The dildo pushed up and right into that sweet spot right beneath my cervix. ¡°This grip is insane,¡± Yolin muttered and pulled out a little, then pushed the same spot. I grabbed Alyssa and pulled her on top of me. The Luzo yelped in surprise but went along with it. I hugged her tightly and gave her a big juicy kiss while my body twitched with being fucked. Yolin increased the rhythm and changed the target of attack to my G-spot when pulling out. Holy fuck! It''s so thick and hard! My cock is literally perfect! I thought while gasping in pleasure. The shape of the dildo rubbed every single sweet spot with the head and the veins. The hardness made it so my vagina was forcefully expanded which made it even better every time I clamped down on my huge cock. A hand grabbed my cock and started stroking me while lips gave it a sloppy kiss. ¡°Fuck!¡± I groaned into Alyssa''s mouth and shivered. ¡°Harder, Yolin! Please fuck this Halven pussy harder!¡± The Oni complied and sped up, churning my folds with the massive dildo. The heat in my hips returned with a vengeance, my womb kissed the head of the cock inside my vagina, and my legs started trembling while my toes curled. Alyssa grabbed my tits and gave them a strong squeeze. ¡°Ahn!¡± I moaned. ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Gonna cum!¡± A finger started grinding on my clit and the heat in my hips started to inflate beyond what I could manage. Still, I tried holding the orgasm back to make it even more explosive and mind-blowing. I bit my lips and scrunched up my eyebrows. Alyssa moved her head to my ear and started licking it. ¡°Cum, servant. Cum with everything you have,¡± she ordered and stuck her tongue in my ear canal. I relaxed my body and the orgasm sent me to oblivion. ¡°Ahn! Mhh! FuUuUck!¡± I groaned and came like never before. My mind turned mushy and my body tingled all over. My pussy squeezed the cock inside it and loud moans escaped my mouth. My spine melted and the heat on my hips escaped through my cock and pussy with trembles and pulses. My entire body was wrecked by spasms and twitches. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it I heard Lapia gulping my cum and humming. ¡°Woah,¡± Yolin muttered and slowly pulled the dildo out. I squirted but a mouth quickly covered my pussy and drank it while a pair of fingers assaulted my G-spot. The orgasm lasted a good two minutes, frying my brain and overwhelming my senses in a world of ecstasy. Lapia continued to stroke and suck my cock, swirling her tongue around my glans. Yolin fingered me non-stop through the climax, rubbing her tongue on my clit. I came again shortly after, elevating the bliss I was in. Alyssa got off of me with a giggle and caressed my body. I looked at the two women near my crotch. They separated from my genitals and shared a deep kiss, swapping my cum with their tongues. I panted and calmed down from the peak of pleasure, enjoying the afterglow with a numb mind and body. ¡°Holy shit,¡± I whispered. Yolin separated from Lapia and gave me a big smile. ¡°Felt good, huh?¡± I smiled and sat up, then grabbed her left arm and pulled her into covering my body. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered, then giggled, ¡°That felt amazing!¡± ¡°I bet,¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°You had an amazing melting face.¡± I blushed and hid my face in Yolin''s neck. The Oni laughed and rubbed our bodies. ¡°I''m glad I made you feel good,¡± she chuckled and kissed me. I sighed and reciprocated the kiss, feeling her warm and hard body against me. Alyssa crawled over to Lapia and gave her a juicy kiss. ¡°Let''s get the strap-on business going,¡± Lapia suggested and turned to the box. Yolin got up and lifted me along with her. I sat up and made my way to the treasure trove. Alyssa turned to me and gave me a coy look, ¡°How about you show us how it''s done? The origin of the design would know how to use it best.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Lapia muttered and leaned to me, then gave my left tit a lick. ¡°Han!¡± I moaned and let out a hot sigh. ¡°Alright, put them on.¡± The three grabbed a pair each and put them on, fastening the little belts and buckles until they were firmly in place. Then, they raised their hands and did Sword, E''er, Shield to decide who would do what. Lapia won right away. She clicked her tongue and shrugged. ¡°So be it,¡± she muttered and connected a dildo to the base of the garment. Alyssa and Yolin laid back on the bed and spread their legs. I made my way to the Oni and grabbed her waist, then sat between her legs in front of her crotch. Lapia approached Alyssa and did as I. ¡°As it comes, so it goes,¡± Yolin commented and slapped my ass. We laughed and I pinched her left nipple. ¡°Uhh,¡± the tank purred and relaxed. ¡°This is so exciting,¡± Alyssa giggled and fixed her hips, wrapping her tail around Lapia''s waist. ¡°It is,¡± Yolin chuckled and held her hand. ¡°Get a bit closer, please,¡± Lapia requested, lifting Alyssa by the ass and moving her closer to Yolin. The healer put a leg on top of the tank and held hands with her. Lapia turned to me and spanked my ass, then put an arm around my waist with a big smile. I chuckled and nodded at the dildo. ¡°Grab it and line it up,¡± I instructed. She nodded and wrapped her hand around the base of the toy, then placed it in front of Alyssa''s pussy. ¡°Do I just... push?¡± I gave her a surprised look. ¡°You''ve never used a strap-on?¡± She shook her head with a blush. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Okay. So, well... yeah,¡± I mumbled and took a calming breath. ¡°You won''t have the sensory feedback to know how deep you are.¡± The two waiting to get fucked giggled and turned to each other, then started kissing. ¡°Yeah,¡± Lapia muttered. ¡°I expected as much.¡± I thought for a second and came to an easy conclusion. ¡°Give me a sec,¡± I requested and gesture her to move to the side. The Elf backed off and I replaced her in front of Alyssa. ¡°Can you pass me the dildo I got fucked with?¡± I requested with a deep blush. The Wizard nodded and retrieved it, then handed it to me. I placed it right next to my cock for a second to compare the lengths. They were practically the same. ¡°Okay!¡± I nodded and pushed my cock into Alyssa. Her lips spread and her tight pussy welcomed my cock. We both sighed and giggled. I slowly pushed forward and reached her cervix. I turned to Lapia and pointed at my cock. There were around four centimeters still out. ¡°I see,¡± the Elf muttered with a nod while staring at my cock buried deep into our girlfriend. ¡°Okay, got it.¡± ¡°Nice,¡± I muttered and slowly pulled back, enjoying the wriggly sensation of the Luzo''s folds around my retreating cock. Then moved to the side and returned to Yolin. The Elf grabbed my shoulder and leaned into my ear. ¡°Any tip you''ve noticed when fucking Alyssa that would make it better for her?¡± I smiled and nodded, then whispered into her ear. ¡°Her pupils widen a lot when I reach her cervix, so look for that clue.¡± Lapia''s eyes widened and a deeper blush covered her face, reaching her neck and ears. ¡°How about me?¡± she asked next, lustful curiosity in her eyes. ¡°Your ears twitch,¡± I replied and gave her a kiss. ¡°Now let''s fuck our girlfriends.¡± The eighty year old woman flushed up to her breasts and nodded. ¡°Y-yeah... let''s.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I teased her. ¡°Something got you shy?¡± She gulped and nodded, staring into my eyes. ¡°You''re the first one to reach my cervix so I didn''t know that about me.¡± My face burned at her words and I smiled. ¡°Feels great, doesn''t it?¡± ¡°It does,¡± she agreed with a big smile. ¡°Come on,¡± Alyssa whined, shaking her hips. ¡°We''re going to dry up.¡± I choked at that and laughed. Yolin laughed and hugged her stomach. Lapia chuckled and spanked the Luzo''s ass, then challenged, ¡°Is that a way to talk to your superior?¡± Alyssa''s eyes widened to the limit and a tiny moan escaped her. Her face blushed deep purple and she bit her lips, then shook her head. ¡°No, I''m sorry,¡± she muttered in a submissive tone. ¡°Hooo?¡± Lapia continued, blushing like mad. ¡°Then you''re not allowed to break eye contact while I fuck you,¡± she announced with a cocky smirk. My eyes widened in shock at hearing her come up with both a play Alyssa would enjoy and a way to look for what I told her. This Elf is a genius! I thought and turned to Yolin. She was equally surprised and turned to me with a face that said ''Did you hear that just now?''. I chuckled and covered the Oni''s body with my own, then touched her pussy with my cock. ¡°Ready for a comeback?¡± The red-skinned woman nodded with a big smile. ¡°Come at me, Natty.¡± I smiled and pushed forward, spreading her labia with the head of my cock. We both sighed in delight at her squiggly pussy welcoming my cock. Alyssa squealed and purred, signaling Lapia penetrating her. This is so weird and hot! I contemplated in my mind and gave Yolin a kiss. 98 – Yolin’s birthday. Part 6 (18+) Yolin hugged me and kissed my neck. I hummed and started shaking my hips, enjoying the snug fit of her folds around my cock. ¡°Wait,¡± she gasped and pushed my stomach. ¡°I''m not wet enough.¡± I nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± I stopped and slowly pulled out, then knelt between her legs and ate her pussy. Next to us, Alyssa was letting out moans and sighs while Lapia slowly moved her own hips. The Elf was flushed deep red and looking right into the Luzo''s eyes. Every time her hips moved forward, a smile split her lips at the other woman''s reactions. I put two fingers inside Yolin and rubbed the sweet spot at bladder level, then grabbed one of Lapia''s big cheeks with my other hand and gave it a squeeze while I assaulted the Oni''s clit with my tongue. Yolin hummed in delight at the attention and brushed my hair. I swapped the rhythm of my fingers and pushed a little harder. ¡°Shit,¡± Yolin hissed and her legs trembled a little. ¡°I love that.¡± ¡°I bet you do,¡± I chuckled and rubbed in different directions with my fingers, then made my tongue vibrate against her clitoris. She giggled and gasped, then groaned and her body convulsed a little. ¡°I''m about to cum...¡± I kept going until her entire body tightened up along a loud, long moan. Kissing sounds came from the other two and I glanced over. Lapia had her hands around Alyssa''s horns while gently fucking her. I hummed and stood up, then pulled Yolin to me. The Oni purred and let herself be handled. I hugged her and moved to the wall next to the bed, then pinned her against it. ¡°Hey,¡± I whispered into her ear while teasing her folds with the head of my cock. ¡°Can I grab your horns?¡± The tank''s eyes widened and a huge smile spread on her face. ¡°Yes, please,¡± she giggled. ¡°Be as rough as you want with me.¡± I blushed and nodded. ¡°Okay, let''s see what works,¡± I replied and lifted her right leg, supporting it with the inside of my elbow. With the same arm I reached for her right horn and looked at her. ¡°Comfortable?¡± Her skin darkened with a blush and chuckled. ¡°You can be rougher, Natty. I''m a tank,¡± she suggested. ¡°Let me know, then,¡± I concluded and lifted her left leg, supporting it with my elbow. With the same arm I reached for her left horn and pressed her against the wall. ¡°Spicy,¡± she hummed and smiled. ¡°A bit rougher, please.¡± I swallowed and pulled her horns down, making her chin touch her chest and locking her view to our genitals. ¡°Better,¡± she sighed and shivered. ¡°Much better.¡± With a burning face I moved my cock near her pussy and lined it up against her entrance. ¡°Just for the record,¡± Yolin muttered with slight embarrassment. ¡°I may kick around when I cum so if I hit you I apologize beforehand.¡± I laughed and plunged my cock into her, slamming my waist against hers. ¡°I''m a Halve, you dummy.¡± She gasped and sighed, ¡°Yeah, like that.¡± Yolin''s horns were smooth and short compared to Alyssa''s rough and long. Both had thick horns which I liked a lot. Since the Oni liked it rough, I gave it to her rough with no mercy. I thrusted into her warm, squiggly, and divinely tight pussy with a constant rhythm of ten full-length pumps a second, abusing my dexterity and strength to give her the sex she wanted from me. At the same time, I pressed my upper body against her, pinning her to the wall and licking her ears. The woman quickly turned into a mess of orgasms, squeals, moans, yelps, shivers, trembles, and convulsions. Her voice also turned from cheering me on with great excitement to groans and unintelligible mumbles of pleasure accompanied by the common swear in Red Tongue. Even when both of us climaxed I didn''t stop, filling her with my cum to the point it dripped down on the floor beneath us, forming a transparent puddle with white, foamy suds. I fully enjoyed the feeling of her vagina clamping on my cock when she came, savoring her grip while moving at full speed. Thirty minutes into the roughest fuck of my life we were both sweating and drooling with the overload of stimulation. I lost count at two hundred of Yolin''s orgasms and kept going at it, marveling at my own stamina and sexual prowess. Surely something only a futa Halve, or a really high level person, can achieve. And definitely something Yolin was more than happy to be on the receiving end of by the sheer size of her smile and how she gripped my skull. I stopped when I heard something that made my heart explode in happiness. Alyssa and Lapia had been fucking for quite a while as well, although at a much tamer pace compared to me and Yolin. Lapia climaxed and kissed Alyssa. ¡°I love you, honey.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Alyssa panted and giggled with joy. ¡°I love you too, sweetheart.¡± Their words of love brought a wave of pleasure to my body and I ejaculated deep inside Yolin for the nth time, shivering all over with trembling legs. The Oni also climaxed, groaning and panting. I pulled out and gently lowered the tank, then gave her a hug and a lot of kisses while sitting us on the floor next to the puddle we made. ¡°When I met you back in Riverfield I knew I had to have you,¡± Lapia continued her confession. ¡°You''re the most beautiful Luzo I''ve ever met. I''m in love with your gentleness and those giggles that heal my soul.¡± ¡°Aww, thank you,¡± Alyssa shyly replied, then giggled. ¡°I love your cheeky and mischievous side and also how serious you are when you work.¡± Yolin let out a long sigh and rested her head on my shoulder, letting her body go limp. ¡°That was amazing, Natty,¡± she whispered. ¡°Best sex I''ve ever had.¡± I smiled and felt my cheeks burn. ¡°I''m glad you liked it,¡± I whispered with a pant. ¡°I loved it,¡± she weakly chuckled and wrapped her arms around me. ¡°You wrecked my world.¡± I returned the hug and pattered her face with kisses. ¡°I want to get fucked like that, too.¡± Yolin nodded and nuzzled her head on my chest. I glanced at the two on the bed while the tank rested. Alyssa was on top of Lapia wearing a strap-on. She was deep inside the Elf and moving slowly. Took them a while, I thought while watching the two whisper words of love. Well... not really, but still.... I''m happy they took that step. I produced a bottle of water and took a sip. My body was burning after the intense activity with my girlfriend and my head was mushy and fluffy. The Oni slowly stood up and stretched. ¡°Okay, break over,¡± she announced and walked to the bed, then connected a dildo to her strap-on. I smiled and followed her. Yolin laid on the bed and gestured me to get on top. I sat on her hips and covered the dildo with my juices, then guided the toy inside me. ¡°Haaa,¡± I sighed when I felt the tip push my cervix. ¡°I''m so full.¡± Alyssa and Lapia whispered something and giggled, then shared nods. The two stood up and made their way towards us. Alyssa sat on my lap and gave me a blushing smile. ¡°How about now?¡± My cheeks burned and I nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± The Luzo grabbed my cock and guided it inside her unfairly tight and incredibly wet pussy, making me shiver. ¡°Woah, you''re harder and bigger than usual,¡± she informed us with a big smile. ¡°Is that even possible?¡± Lapia voiced her disbelief. ¡°Yeah, try it,¡± Alyssa giggled and stood up, removing my cock from inside her. I groaned and sighed. The Elf sat on my lap and swallowed my member. ¡°Shit,¡± she winced and bounced a few times, stroking my cock with her piping hot vagina. ¡°You''re right,¡± she muttered in surprise and stood up. I trembled and took a calming breath. Alyssa sat back down and took my cock in her pussy, then fixed her tail to wrap around Yolin''s waist. ¡°Okay, Lapia. Come here.¡± ¡°Right,¡± the Elf mumbled and sat on Alyssa''s lap, then received the dildo inside her. We all sighed and then burst in laughter. ¡°How is it, Natasha?¡± Lapia asked, turning her head to me. ¡°Really good,¡± I replied, gyrating my hips to savor the feeling of having a cock in my pussy while my cock was inside a pussy. ¡°Pretty hard to describe,¡± I chuckled. Alyssa moaned softly and moved her hips in response. That got a gasp out of Lapia. Yolin moaned and gasped. ¡°Is that your tail?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°You were a little lonely down there.¡± The Oni shifted her hips, which pushed the dildo inside me, making me moan and gyrate my hips. That got Alyssa yelping and buckling her hips, making Lapia gasp in turn. I leaned back and supported myself on Yolin''s legs. ¡°Nice fit,¡± I giggled at the feeling of the diamond dildo pressing against the front side of my vagina, sending shivers up my spine. ¡°Who moves first?¡± Lapia asked the important question. ¡°I will,¡± Yolin laughed. ¡°You match my rhythm.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± the three of us cheered and laughed in excitement. The Oni moved her hips up and I hungrily met the movement. Then, as she moved down, I pushed up and went fully inside Alyssa, who met my thrust. After that, while Yolin pushed up and I met her thrust, Alyssa pushed up and into Lapia, who slammed her hips down. We kept the pace for a few seconds, familiarizing ourselves with the rhythm and depth of the various pussies at play to avoid slipping out. After around two minutes, we doubled up. I was in a mind-blowing world of sexual stimulation. The cock in my pussy pushed my womb up and pressed all the orgasm-inducing spots along my vagina while my cock pushed Alyssa''s cervix and was squeezed by her narrow pussy. The dildo stretched me out and felt the absolute best, getting me to loudly moan every time it pushed into the last third of my vagina. Alyssa reached out to my tits and cupped them, then pinched my nipples, further increasing the arousal. I watched as my cock went inside the Luzo''s purple pussy, and the Elf slammed her tanned body down on the sparkling dildo. ¡°Fuck!¡± I moaned and brought my right hand from Yolin''s knees to my pussy and started rubbing my clit. ¡°Ahn! Mmf!¡± The room was drowned with the moans of four women fucking each other, the squelchy sounds of three wet pussies taking large cocks, and the creaking of the bed. Lapia''s back was glistening with sweat, same as Alyssa''s thighs, my stomach and chest, and Yolin''s legs. My breathing sped up and my body started jerking as my orgasm approached. My vision went white faster than usual and my skin tingled all over. I rejoiced in the feeling of the dildo and its shape. My cock is the best. I love it! I thought right before cumming. Nevertheless, I continued moving while filling Alyssa''s pussy with warm, gooey, transparent cum and my pussy clamped on the dildo. The two pussies above me were drooling, dripping down on my cock and continuing down to join my own pussy drool and then Yolin''s. The sheets were a mess. The bed was probably going to break. We were outlandishly loud to the point Elena and Pokora probably heard us. But we didn''t care. We drowned in the pleasures of the flesh. Cumming, convulsing, trembling, shivering, gasping, moaning, yelping, squealing, laughing, kissing, hugging, and sometimes resting to drink water and eat light food. And it was just the first of four days. Out of Journal: Interlude. End of Arc 5. Pokh''Orra Pez''che woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of walls being banged. The Elf shifted around in her bed, turning to look at the person sleeping a few meters from her. Elena was quietly snoring under her blankets. The memory of her limbless body hanging by the hair from Natasha''s hand made her wince a little, chasing away any desire to return to the world of dreams. She sat up with a heavy sigh, rubbing her eyes and letting out a big yawn. After taking a moment to gather her half-asleep consciousness, she checked the clock hanging on the room''s wall. It was half past twelve. ¡°Fucking hell,¡± she whispered in annoyance. The banging continued at a steady pace with the rhythm of a jackhammer, tapping at her sensitive ears and making them uncomfortable. The noise wasn''t loud to the point it would wake everyone up, but instead like distant footsteps in the night. Something she had been trained to perceive during her time in the military so she could perform her look-out duties, resulting in an advantage when having the Hunter and Sniper classes from the Archer class family. An Elf''s ears are not that sensitive by nature, after all. That''s Tigea business. It was perhaps also the reason as to why she was the only one who could hear the banging, seeing as Elena was still asleep. Wide awake and disturbed by the noise, Pokora got up and put underwear on then left the room with quiet footsteps. The living room had the fresh feeling of summer nights. Pokora walked to the kitchen and poured some juice for herself. But the banging was closer now. She put the glass down and approached Bonte''s bedroom, then put an ear to the door. Silence. Expected with sound-proof enchantments. She could feel the surface shake ever so slightly against her ear, however. The sound came from further away. Pokora turned her head to Natasha''s bedroom and her eyes squinted. ¡°No way,¡± she whispered in doubt. But there was a way, and Pokora''s thoughts quickly arrived at the conclusion. The building had quite the number of enchantments on the walls, rooms, floor, ceiling, doors, and windows. From sound-proof to thermal regulation. But... Natasha is a Halve. A magical being of great power. Could she... be having sex so roughly she made the whole apartment shake?! That... needed confirmation. For... safety purposes... yes. So, Pokora walked to the four women''s bedroom and placed her ear on the door. The banging felt the strongest right there. ¡°Holy shit!¡± The Elf hissed in surprise and moved to the wall next to the door. There, ten bangs a second could be heard slamming against the wall. Pokora felt the summer heat get to her and make her face blush a little. It was definitely the summer. Even if she could withstand temperatures above a thousand degrees Celsius due to her high level, it was obviously the summer. What else could it be? Silly thoughts. Pokora glued her body to the wall, feeling the vibrations on her entire being. The summer heat struck again, forming thin sweat on her legs and groin. Summer can be so deceiving. The fault was naturally on the two suns. Even though it was the middle of the night. It was the first time she had witnessed sex between the four. And she could feel how... brutal it was. Merciless. Overwhelming. Strong. Pokora brought a cheeky hand to her crotch and gently tapped it with the rhythm beyond the wall. Such a depraved thing! To spy on her companions while doing such things to herself! She continued, though, imagining one of them doing nasty things to her. When she was about to finish, she slammed her hand against the door. She froze and unhanded herself before sweet release, then took two steps back and crossed her arms on her chest. Her face relaxed into her usual emotionless features. The door opened, revealing Yolin in a shirt and panties. Various things hit Pokora at once. First, the heat coming from the room. It felt like a furnace. Choking, asphyxiating, and perverted. Second, the sweaty and deeply flushed Oni. Her breathing was labored and her entire body glistened with the glow of sexual gratification. Even with a shirt on, her nipples could be clearly seen through the fabric, stealing Pokora''s attention for an instant. The panties were soaked beyond usage, too. Third, the smell. The salty and nose-tickling aroma of sweat that had a slightly sweet fragrance Pokora could almost taste. The sharp smell of a woman''s genitals and the fluids that came from it. And the smell of a penis. It all assaulted Pokora''s senses, leaving her speechless for a good five seconds. ¡°Yeah?¡± Yolin inquired, leaning on the door frame with a relaxed posture. Pokora gulped at the sight. Before being born in Galeia, Pokora had been what most would call a weeb. She chose the label of ''woman of culture'' instead, however, enjoying yaoi, yuri, chikan, tentacles, netorare, and more that the glorious- in her opinion- land of Japan could provide. She also had an intense interest in Japanese folklore, especially the many monsters in their tales, myths, and legends. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The one she liked best, for various reasons she could hardly admit in the open, was the Oni. Strong, cruel, malicious beings that popular media transformed into attractive characters full of depth. She was also mature enough to know the difference between fiction and reality. When she was reborn in Galeia, she realized things were completely different. Those fantasy beings existed in reality and could be met with no problem. She had heard of the existence of Oni when she was six years old. Many things changed that day. So many things. And one such being was in front of her. Hot, bothered, wet, sweaty, breathing heavily, and obviously having gone through an intense session of steamy, rough sex. Pokora really liked Yolin. The red skin, the horns, the muscles, the tusks, and the tattoos. More importantly, that carefree and loud attitude. But Yolin was Natasha''s girlfriend... and Alyssa''s.... and Lapia''s. Things were complicated. At least according to Pokora. Things were much simpler in reality. Even a woman with almost eighty years of life experience in total had problems seeing things as they were. But what influenced this view of the world was not her age but her body. Pokora was 49 years old. A woman of that age would not have these issues if she would belong to a species that lived up to 100. But Pokora was an Elmari Elf. She was still going through the last stages of puberty, even if she was a legal adult since turning 20. Hormones are such a bitch. What made it all worse was Elves'' stupidly high libido. The cherry on top was having lived in a society with negative politeness in her previous life: to not bother others beyond the bare minimum. Pokora had, however, made great efforts in her new life to adapt and find her own place in this world. ¡°Uh... Pokh''Orra?¡± Yolin tilted her head at the other woman''s silent stare. Shit. She had kept quiet too long. ¡°What''s up?¡± Came Natasha''s voice from behind her, then showed up. The Halve was wearing a loose pair of sweatpants, and no top. The garment betrayed a large bulge on her crotch, leaving little to the imagination. A wet spot around the tip made her look away. Natasha was similarly covered in sweat and was lightly panting. Pokora closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath to avoid criticizing the futanari''s proclivities to showing her body off. The smell of the room sneaked into her brain, however, tickling some parts of her mind she''d rather not mention. The Archer had been eavesdropping on them and touching herself, after all. She had no place to say anything. Nevertheless, Pokora cleared her throat and complained, ¡°You''re being a bit too loud. I can feel the walls shaking.¡± ¡°My bad,¡± Natasha laughed and her face glowed brighter. ¡°I guess I was too rough.¡± Yolin chuckled and wiped sweat from her forehead. ¡°Sorry, Pokh''Orra. We tried being quiet.¡± They tried?! And the walls still shook?! What the fuck?! How hard were they going at it?! How hard could they go at it?! Pokora shook her head. ¡°How you were doing what is none of my business,¡± she pointed out in denial. ¡°But you''re going to wake people up.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Natasha sighed and fixed her pants, shifting the massive member around. Pokora''s eyes darted to the thing and she quickly looked away. ¡°Anyway. Please keep it down,¡± she muttered in faked annoyance. Lapia walked up between the two, wearing underwear. She too, was covered in sweat and blushing profusely. ¡°Oh, Pokora. What''s up?¡± She greeted with a cheeky smile. ¡°We were being too loud,¡± Natasha pointed out. ¡°She heard us, apparently.¡± The Wizard nodded and squinted her eyes at the Archer. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I need some water,¡± Yolin sighed and turned to the room, not before addressing the complaining Elf one last time. ¡°Sorry about the noise.¡± Natasha nodded and went back into the room without saying a word, instead waving Pokora goodbye. Lapia stared at Pokora for a second, then chuckled. The younger Elf arched an eyebrow. ¡°So you heard us?¡± Lapia teased. Pokora blushed and nodded. The older Elf took a step towards Pokora and leaned her head into her right ear, then whispered, ¡°Want to join? It''s the best sex you could ever have. Natasha doesn''t get tired, her cock is huge, and she cums a lot each and every time. I''d love to see your melting face right next to hers.¡± Pokora''s blush intensified. Natasha''s melting face? That perpetual resting-bitch-face could have melting expressions? ¡°I know what you''re going through, Pokora,¡± Lapia continued, placing a hand on Pokora''s chin and lifting it a little. ¡°You''re forty-nine, right? I bet you''re burning to have some action. I remember what it''s like. The constant, burning desire to fuck.¡± Pokora looked away, embarrassed to hear the truth so... lewdly put out. ¡°I don''t really...¡± she tried to deflect to no avail, feeling the hot skin of Lapia''s hand against her chin. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. Don''t lie to yourself, Pokora,¡± Lapia chastised her while clicking her tongue. ¡°Everyone needs a good dicking every once in a while.¡± ¡°That''s not... Pokora tried denying it again. ¡°You don''t like cocks? That''s alright,¡± Lapia assured her in a seductive tone. ¡°It could be me... if you want.¡± Pokora''s face was red as a tomato, and she meekly shook her head in shame. ¡°Alyssa, then?¡± Lapia offered with a smirk. Pokora thought about the Luzo. The woman was indeed quite attractive and beautiful in her eyes. The scales, tail, and horns were cute in a way. Pokora had been surprised to know Natasha was into dragon girls. That required a certain taste. A form of elevated culture, in her words. Still, Pokora shook her head. ¡°I don''t....¡± ¡°How about Yolin, then?¡± Lapia raised an eyebrow. Pokora''s eyes widened a little, looking into Lapia''s eyes. ¡°Hoh?¡± Lapia chuckled and smirked in victory. ¡°I''m sure she''ll receive you with open arms if you ever ask.¡± Pokora hesitated, blinking a few times. ¡°What about Natasha?¡± ¡°Well, I''m sure you could have a friendly chat with her. If you join the fun we could set things up easily,¡± Lapia made the last push. ¡°I''m sure she can give you pleasure without using her cock. She''s a top grade lover.¡± ¡°I''m not... against cocks, though,¡± Pokora admitted, and blushed further. Why was she saying these things?! Why didn''t she just... push the hand on her chin away and go back to her bedroom?! Why!? Was she... into it? Was some depraved part of her brain into this... teasing play?! Lapia smiled widely and caressed Pokora''s lips with her thumb. ¡°We''ll wait, then,¡± Lapia finalized and let her go. ¡°If and when you want. There''s lots of love to be given around. And the sex is amazing,¡± she added with a mischievous grin. ¡°If not, that''s okay too. I won''t speak of this unless you want me to.¡± Pokora caught herself nodding and looked away in shame. ¡°Also,¡± Lapia gave the most cocky smirk. ¡°You were listening, weren''t you?¡± ¡°Wha-¡± Pokora''s eyes widened in surprise. Lapia nodded at Pokra''s underwear. There was a wet patch right at crotch level. The Archer quickly covered it and glared at Lapia. ¡°That''s just sweat from the summer heat,¡± she straight up lied. Lapia laughed and turned around. ¡°See you tomorrow, Pokora. Consider my offer,¡± she added and closed the door. Pokora was left to her thoughts for a while, standing on the doorway. ¡°Fucking hell,¡± she hissed in annoyance, but a different annoyance than earlier. She had been caught. She was red up to the ears with embarrassment. She had been interrupted, too. So, Pokora went to the bathroom to finish what she started, thinking of Yolin. And that night was not the first she would eavesdrop on them. It was just the first of four nights. 99 - Visit to the Royal Palace. Part 1. 15th day of the fifth month. Eighth week of Summer. 1980 Yiama''s Era. Paarjo, Lumin Kingdom. At around eight in the morning Lapia, Yolin, and yours truly left the bedroom for the first time in several days. Alyssa had gone out to check on Elena once a day. We sat down at the table and had breakfast with everybody. After that I went down to the reception to check if I had gotten any letters. It had been around two weeks since I helped the King so maybe the date for the celebratory event was already set. The concierge turned to me just as I stepped into the hall and he smiled politely. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± he called to me. I walked over and leaned on the desk, then nodded. ¡°A courier delivered a letter for you three days ago. We were thinking of going to your room to hand it to you personally, but we didn''t want to disturb you,¡± he informed me, turning to the lockers behind him and retrieving an envelope from one with my room number on it. ¡°Royal courier?¡± I asked while he turned back to me. ¡°Yes,¡± he replied with a nod, offering me the item. I took it and opened it, then read it. The contents were pretty short. The Minister of Higher Relations formally invited me to attend the Royal Palace on the 17th for a Royal Banquet, along with my companions and flowery words of gratitude. I hummed and stored it. ¡°Alright, thanks a bunch,¡± I told the concierge and turned to leave. ¡°Not a problem,¡± he replied with a smile.
¡°That would be it for today''s lesson,¡± Lapia announced after a grueling two hour session. ¡°Any questions?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Nope, you explained it pretty good,¡± I replied while leaning back on the chair and stretching. The Elf squinted at me in suspicion from across the table. ¡°Then summarize the lesson,¡± she challenged me with strict eyes. I sighed, ¡°Fuck me. Okay.... Scrolls function with a complex set of enchantments. The most important one is the open activation enchantment that allows anyone to use them by injecting E''er into it. The Craftsman class family deals with the creation of them and shit.¡± I sighed again. ¡°Some are more restrictive and shit. They''re generally cheap and pretty useful for Chasers who have no supporting Cleric and shit.¡± ¡°And shit,¡± Lapia chuckled and shook her head. ¡°If an Enchanter heard you talk like that about scrolls they''d vomit blood.¡± I shrugged. ¡°It''s interesting, at least.¡± Alyssa walked over from the living room and sat next to Lapia. ¡°My turn,¡± she giggled with a smile. I leaned forward and and rested my elbows on the table, supporting my chin with my hands. ¡°Alright, bring it on.¡± The Luzo smiled and copied my posture. ¡°Today we''ll debate on the nature of good and evil,¡± she informed me. ¡°Haaaaaah...¡± I sighed and closed my eyes to prepare for it.
¡°Your debating skills suck, Natasha,¡± Alyssa concluded after forty minutes. I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°Why? I was pretty calm and objective in my opinion.¡± The Luzo nodded. ¡°That''s the problem. You''re a Halve. You can''t be open to be persuaded. Your word is, after all, the law,¡± she pointed out. I rubbed my eyes and sighed. ¡°I get that. I do... but I can''t just force people into thinking like I do.¡± ¡°Yes you can,¡± she corrected me. ¡°You have the greatest authority of all: overpowering violence.¡± I stared into her scarlet eyes for a few seconds, then countered, ¡°But authority is legitimate and moral only when those under it consent to it. Otherwise it''s slavery.¡± ¡°The benefits of your authority are enough for it to not be slavery,¡± she retorted with a raised scaly eyebrow. ¡°And the overwhelming majority sees you as legitimate authority. Plus, your species is technically a minority since there''s only five of you that are accounted for.¡± ¡°I agree with Alyssa,¡± Lapia interjected. ¡°Authority is different from governance. At least the one you hold. A Halve gives governance the legitimacy it needs to properly function.¡± Alyssa nodded and continued, ¡°Think of it this way. Tyrants are your slaves, and the rest are consenting individuals who need and respect you.¡± I thought for a few seconds, then brought up an important point, ¡°How about the people who wants us dead? Isn''t that a group that doesn''t consent to our authority?¡± ¡°You mean racists?¡± Lapia scowled. ¡°You mean those who would gladly commit genocide? The only consideration they deserve is how their heads will leave their shoulders,¡± she spat with disdain. Alyssa nodded in agreement with a scowl of her own. ¡°Well, shit,¡± I chuckled. ¡°That''s what I did in Hell, though,¡± I pointed out in a quiet voice. The two looked at me with expressions that said ''really, bitch?''. ¡°Did you have more options?¡± Lapia inquired with raised eyebrows. ¡°Because... if the conscious choice that led to you killing all those Demons was to forfeit other, more peaceful alternatives... then yeah.¡± ¡°Did you have the privilege to choose differently?¡± Alyssa gave me an unimpressed face. ¡°The people trying to kill you have the option to just...¡± she shrugged, ¡°not do it.¡± ¡°They won''t die if they stop,¡± Lapia insisted. ¡°If you did, you wouldn''t be here.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± I ran a hand through my hair and leaned back on the chair. It was weird to rationalize my actions during a time I had no control over them. In all honesty I didn''t really care that much about it. I survived, got my wishes, and was reborn here. Demons, beings of the Abyss, or whatever... didn''t have that much weight on my consciousness, and I''m alright with that. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Yolin walked out of our bedroom and made her way to us, then sat next to me. ¡°What''s with the serious faces?¡± She probed. ¡°Justifying genocide,¡± I joked. The Oni''s eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. Alyssa and Lapia sighed and covered their eyes. ¡°No... just that Natasha is not a monster for killing Demons in Hell,¡± Lapia explained. ¡°Ah... well. Who cares?¡± Yolin shrugged. ¡°I mean... that''s another world. Not our problem, right?¡± I chuckled, ¡°True.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Lapia hummed. ¡°Well, she lived through it so...¡± Alyssa pointed out. ¡°Yeah, but I meant the moral implications,¡± the Oni pointed out. ¡°It was either kill or be killed and she made it so who cares?¡± She concluded. ¡°Let''s change the subject?¡± The three of us nodded in agreement. Yolin pinched my cheek. ¡°Hey Natty, can you lend me Pyotr? I''d like to send a letter to my family.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I replied and turned to the other two. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°I sent them one when I entered Lumin Kingdom,¡± Alyssa replied. ¡°And I sent them one the day I quit my job,¡± Lapia informed us. I nodded, but a slow realization made my eyes widen. Letters! Nilenna''s letter to the King! Fuck! I retrieved the letters I wrote along with the Halve stamp, then used the tool on them. After that, I produced a bag of bones and put it on the table. ¡°One bone for each letter,¡± I told the three and stood up. ¡°I have to go see the King!¡± I turned and walked away. ¡°Have fun!¡± Yolin called. ¡°Come back early!¡± Lapia requested. ¡°Love you!¡± Alyssa giggled. I blew them kisses and left.
¡°I''m here to see the King,¡± I told the guards outside the palace. ¡°I don''t have an appointment.¡± The two nodded and opened the gate. ¡°Thaaanks,¡± I muttered and patted Sonya''s neck. The Ratnak moved inside and up to the front doors. The guards there saluted, then one went inside. I dismounted and leaned on Sonya while waiting. The door opened a minute later and a tidily dressed female Tigea came out followed by the guard. She was wearing a formal suit, and had a tiara on top of her head. ¡°Her Excellency Natasha Novak, Halve Warrior,¡± the guard that brought her announced. The Princess bowed. [Dhar''Ji Tigea, Lvl 276 Archivist] ¡°Her Highness Princess Annette Igne Lumin II,¡± the other guard introduced her. She was like a clone of her mother the Queen. ¡°It''s an honor to meet Your Excellency,¡± she respectfully said, straightening up. Her voice was soft and gentle. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± I politely replied with a nod. ¡°I hope I didn''t disturb your work.¡± The Princess smiled. ¡°Not at all, Your Excellency. My time is your resource.¡± I held back a wince and instead smiled. ¡°Could you take me to your dad? I have something I need to give to him.¡± She nodded. ¡°Naturally. This way, please,¡± she curtsied and turned to the palace. ¡°Wait here and be a good girl,¡± I told Sonya and followed her. The inside of the palace had gone through heavy redecoration. The floor was covered in a luxurious purple carpet, the furniture had been moved around to make extra space, and the chandeliers hung higher than I remembered. Staff people moved around cleaning, decorating, and ordering other staff around. Some looked our way for a second then continued their tasks. Annette guided me through the corridors to Gordon''s office where she knocked on the door. ¡°Her Glorious Excellency Natasha has come to see you, Dear Royal Father,¡± she announced. ¡°Glorious?¡± I blurted out. ¡°Please don''t.¡± The woman turned to me and smiled. ¡°Your Excellency is humble, I see,¡± she praised me. I schooled my face to avoid cringing. ¡°Come in,¡± came Gordon''s cheerful voice. Annette opened the door and bowed. I went in and closed the door before the Princess could increase my blood pressure any further. ¡°Natasha,¡± Gordon greeted me from his desk. ¡°How have you been? How was the dungeon?¡± ¡°Pretty good,¡± I replied and walked over to the chair in front of him, then sat down. ¡°Bountiful, I''d say. How about you?¡± He smiled and chuckled, ¡°I''ve been great. Work is abundant lately with the preparations.¡± ¡°I got the letter,¡± I informed him with a nod. ¡°And things look busy.¡± ¡°A busy King is a good King,¡± Gordon joked with joy. I chuckled and gesture behind me with a thumb. ¡°I met Annette just now.¡± He proudly nodded. ¡°She''s turning six hundred soon. What do you think of her?¡± ¡°A bit too respectful?¡± I tentatively replied, ignoring the age portion. ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± Gordon leaned back and trembled with amusement. ¡°I''ve always thought Annette and Agnes were quite the contrast to each other.¡± I nodded in full understanding. ¡°How''s the wife doing?¡± I probed. ¡°Eh,¡± he shrugged. ¡°Worried that you don''t like her. I told her she''s wrong but she won''t listen.¡± I sighed, ¡°Yeah... I think I''ll have a talk with her later.¡± ¡°That''s good to hear,¡± he chuckled with a smile. ¡°So, what brings you to me, young Halve?¡± I retrieved Nilenna''s letter and placed it on the table. ¡°From Nilenna Atarka,¡± I supplied. His eyes turned serious and he picked up the envelope, then opened it. His turquoise eyes went over the lines and he chuckled. ¡°Good news?¡± I probed. ¡°Nilenna wishes me a speedy recovery or she''ll come and kick my ass,¡± he replied with a small smile. ¡°She''s quite the energetic woman.¡± I felt relieved that the contents weren''t serious or urgent, then laughed and shook my head. ¡°That does sound like her.¡± He nodded and stored the letter. ¡°Anything else I can do for you?¡± I thought for a second. ¡°About the event... what''s the dress code and what time should I arrive at? It''s going to be my first big political party so I want to be prepared,¡± I admitted. ¡°The letter I got said nothing about that.¡± ¡°Well,¡± he began, thinking for a few seconds. ¡°I''ll be honest. Wear your best outfit. Whatever you think will make you look the most imposing and powerful, go for that. Also, the other rulers will make their entrance a show, so if you want to see that, you can get here early and we''ll set the room you stayed at previously. That''ll put me in a good position since you''re accepting my hospitality and they will know of it. Halves are meant to arrive at the end to keep everyone on their toes and gossip among themselves. That''ll also give me points since they will swarm me with questions.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°What about my companions?¡± ¡°Same,¡± he replied. ¡°The more extravagant the outfit, the better the impression.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I sighed and nodded, then stood up. ¡°Thank you for your time, Gordon. I think I''ll go have a chat with Josalia.¡± He smiled and stood up, then offered a hand. ¡°Have fun with my wife,¡± he chuckled. I held back a wide array of responses and simply shook his hand, then left his office. 100 - Visit to the Royal Palace. Part 2. Annette was waiting outside Gordon''s office. She bowed and asked, ¡°Is there anything else I can do for Your Excellency?¡± I stared at her for a second, thinking of many things. ¡°First of all,¡± I began, walking to her and placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Don''t call me glorious...¡± She straightened and gave me a nod. ¡°Alright,¡± she agreed with a smile. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°I''d like to see your mom,¡± I told her. ¡°Could you guide me?¡± Her feline ears shifted a little and she gave me a nod. ¡°This way, please,¡± she said and turned around. I followed. We walked through the palace towards the back, then out to the gardens. A small plaza surrounded by tall bushes with flowers all over them welcomed us. The Queen was sitting at a table with four other individuals and going through some documents. To the right of the monarch sat a male Shishi Tigea wearing a thin robe. To her left was a female Dhar''Ji Tigea wearing a shirt and shorts. Next to her was an identical female Shishi Tigea wearing a simple dress. The last one was Prince Rinald wearing a loose shirt and pants. They had tiaras on top of their heads. Behind them, a pole held a parasol, casting shade on them. ¡°How are things going?¡± The Queen inquired, writing something down on a sheet of paper without lifting her eyes. Annette cleared her throat and announced, ¡°Her G... Excellency Natasha has come to see you, Dear Royal Mother.¡± The five looked up from the documents, locking their eyes with mine. The Queen quickly stood up and bowed. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± she greeted me. Her children also stood up and bowed, greeting me just like Josalia did. I tried not to sigh. Still, I had decided to have a talk with her so we could solve misunderstandings. With that in mind, I walked to her. She straightened up, looking at her feet. ¡°How about we have a chat?¡± I offered. Her eyes widened and she looked up at me. ¡°...Your Exce-¡± ¡°Natasha is fine,¡± I interrupted her with a laugh. She nodded and turned to her children. ¡°I''ll take a break for a while,¡± she informed them. ¡°Leave it to us, Royal Mother,¡± Rinald replied with a charming smile. The rest nodded and returned their attention to the documents. ¡°This way...¡± the Queen hesitated for a second. ¡°Natasha,¡± she finished. I nodded and followed her through the gardens until we reached a bench overlooking a wide field of flowers. Josalia gestured for me to sit first. I did and patted the spot next to me. She sighed and took a seat by my side, then looked at the scenery in front of us. ¡°How long have you been Queen?¡± I asked while looking at the flowers. ¡°Seven hundred and forty-five years,¡± she replied. ¡°Gordon and I were crowned after his Royal Mother passed of old age.¡± That''s a long ass time, I thought with a hum. ¡°I was out of line when I told you how to deal with your family,¡± I admitted. Josalia laughed, ¡°Not really, but I get your point.¡± I nodded and thought for a while. Well... she''s the Queen and a Merchant, I considered and asked, ¡°What do you think about monopoly?¡± ¡°That''s illegal,¡± she replied almost instantly. ¡°It serves no purpose other than stagnation, be it financial or otherwise.¡± ¡°How about if a single family owns, say, the newspaper in a city,¡± I suggested. ¡°Like Ren Dabrak, for example.¡± ¡°Lady Dabrak''s family owns Riverfield''s newspaper. Not the country''s,¡± she pointed out. ¡°And there''s two other newspapers in Riverfield. Those deal with different matters than hers, however.¡± ¡°Like?¡± I probed. ¡°There''s the Church''s daily publications which promotes healthy habits, information of when and how the people can schedule an appointment with a healer, information about Chasers and their parties if they need new members, obituaries, report the death of a God, etc,¡± she replied. ¡°There''s the Watchers fliers about public safety, announcements of the cases they work on when they''re closed, the rare missing person post, reports of dangers outside of city walls, and bounties. Lady Dabrak''s newspaper deals with politics and informs the people of the decisions made by the local nobility, announcements regarding other countries'' political scene when news get there, announcements from us Royalty if we need to relay information to the masses like the death of a member of our family, information about traditional events, etc,¡± she finished. ¡°For example, she''ll report about Gordon''s recovery in her newspaper.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered, a little surprised. I didn''t see any of that... I should read the newspaper. ¡°Monopoly of violence is strictly illegal in all countries of the world,¡± she continued. ¡°The State has its own force to protect whoever is in charge... like our Royal Guard. The Watchers, who deal with public order, are a private organization. The Army was under Royalty during the wars, but it has since moved to be under Nobility, or private if not a Monarchy.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°What about Chasers?¡± I inquired, thinking of an Adventurers Guild I had yet to encounter. ¡°Chasers are free agents. They make use of the bounty system facilitated by the different City Councils to get work if they need it. Chasers used to be part of an organization that gathered them, but a few leaders got overconfident and crossed a Halve, resulting in their disbandment a long time ago. It''s illegal for Chasers to form an organization greater than twenty members since then,¡± she chuckled the last bit. ¡°I see,¡± I muttered with a disappointed nod. ¡°All over the world?¡± Josalia nodded. ¡°Eternal Edict,¡± she replied. ¡°Every country has to follow and enforce them.¡± ¡°Eternal Edict?¡± I repeated. ¡°Like... some shit we Halves enforce on the world?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± Josalia nodded. ¡°There are quite a few, do you know them?¡± ¡°First time hearing about this,¡± I admitted with scrunched eyebrows. The Queen hummed. ¡°I trust Lady Pofeta is teaching you about the world?¡± ¡°She is.¡± I nodded. ¡°We''ve been focusing on E''er and the production of E''eral utilities.¡± ¡°Ah, well,¡± she muttered with a slow nod. ¡°That''s more important, to be honest.¡± ¡°Can you tell me a few?¡± I requested, looking at her. She gave me a smile and nodded. ¡°The first ever Eternal Edict was to help newly born Halves if found and redirect them to the Gods.¡± My eyebrows went up at that. Nobody had told me anything about that. ¡°The second Eternal Edict was the founding of the countries. Your predecessors gave people the right to rule others under a plethora of conditions,¡± she explained. ¡°For example, if the people are unhappy they have the Halve-backed right to remove the rulers however they see fit.¡± ¡°Right.¡± I nodded. ¡°The third was that, no matter what, Divine Lands are not to be invaded. Any attempt to do so would result in the death of everyone involved,¡± she continued. ¡°No questions asked, no chances given.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± I agreed. ¡°The fourth was to seek approval from Halves if a country wanted to establish a prison,¡± she sighed, ¡°Queen Abrielle, the Monarch that founded the Endless Pit, went through a long procedure for it since it was a forced labor prison.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I leaned back on the bench. ¡°Many Eternal Edicts are warnings to people ruling countries... that are honestly common sense, but times were different back then. The latest is the ban on war by Her Excellency Filestra,¡± she summarized. ¡°Any special one I should know about at the moment?¡± I inquired, looking back at the flowers. The Queen thought for a second. ¡°Countries are not allowed to gather forces outside of their borders, have more than ten operating mines at the same time, and cull monsters for the sole purpose of territorial expansion.¡± I nodded a few times. ¡°Got it, thanks.¡± ¡°Not a problem,¡± she replied with a polite smile. I decided to change the subject. ¡°I noticed you have twin daughters,¡± I pointed out. The Queen''s face lit up with a beautiful smile. ¡°They are my treasure. I had the fortune of having an ovum fertilized by Gordon, and another by Andr¨¦ simultaneously. Truly a miracle.¡± My head swam in confusion for a second until her words clicked. ¡°Wait, that can happen?¡± I blurted out in disbelief. She nodded with a proud smile. ¡°Very rarely, and only once in the history of our family,¡± she smugly bragged. ¡°Impressive,¡± was all I could say, then noticed a little something. ¡°Your other husband''s name is Andr¨¦?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes, he''s the caretaker of Ancestral Animals,¡± she replied. ¡°I believe you met him the first time you came.¡± ¡°I did...¡± I nodded. Wasn''t his last name La-something? ¡°His level is impressively high,¡± I recalled. The Queen covered her mouth and laughed in joy. ¡°He accompanied His Excellency Miraztor for a few decades. We met when they visited and he stole Gordon''s attention, then mine,¡± she giggled with a warm smile. ¡°He chose to stay after the three of us spent a few nights together.¡± Talk about paradigm shift, I thought with a chuckle. ¡°So you conquered him?¡± I joked. Josalia''s brown cheeks darkened with a blush that contrasted with her snow-white hair. Her feline ears twitched and her smile turned into a sly grin. ¡°Naturally,¡± she replied with the confidence of a dom in her eyes. ¡°Queen, indeed,¡± I laughed and nudged her shoulder. ¡°Gordon greatly enjoys it,¡± she bragged. Well, that came out of nowhere, I chuckled. ¡°I could give you some pointers, if you want,¡± she offered with a raunchy smile. ¡°What?¡± I asked in confusion. She shrugged. ¡°You have something about you...¡± she squinted at me. ¡°Like a potential of sorts.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± I titled my head, a little interested. ¡°I know so,¡± she replied with an arched eyebrow. I considered for a second. Who better than a literal Queen to point me to be a better top... ¡°Sure,¡± I replied, feeling my smile turn perverted. I am, after all, a degenerate.
After a very productive chat with Josalia, I went back to the apartment. She was very eager to answer questions both political and... specific to other kind. The objective of having a better relationship with her went smoothly in various aspects and I moved away from my bias against mothers. All in all, great success. I knocked on the door and Thelea opened after a few seconds. ¡°Hey,¡± I greeted her and went inside. ¡°How''s it going?¡± The giant woman placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a knowing smile. I was amazed at her head not hitting the ceiling. ¡°Four days, huh?¡± she teased while wiggling her eyebrows. I nodded. ¡°Four days, indeed.¡± She chuckled and let me go, then walked to the living room. I followed her and found Bonte, Bromisnar, Lapia, and Pokora chatting. Thelea sat next to the catboy and patted his head. I sat next to Pokora and let out a long sigh. ¡°How did it go?¡± Lapia probed. ¡°Fine,¡± I replied. ¡°We have to dress to impress.¡± They nodded. ¡°Could I talk with you, Poko-Poko?¡± I poked the Elf''s shoulder. Her eyes widened and she turned to Lapia. The Wizard shrugged and shook her head. Hmm? I tilted my head at the interaction. The Archer turned to me and nodded, avoiding my eyes. ¡°What''s up?¡± I probed. ¡°Did I miss something?¡± Pokora blushed and took a deep breath, ¡°Sure, let''s talk.¡± I glanced at Lapia for any clue. My girlfriend just smiled. ¡°Let''s go to my room,¡± I offered and stood up. ¡°Y-your room?¡± Pokora stuttered. I gave her a suspicious look and nodded. ¡°I want to know if you have clothes for a Royal Banquet,¡± I explained, a little confused with her reactions. ¡°Ah,¡± the woman uttered with... disappointment, then stood up and followed me. I''m definitely missing something, I concluded and guided her to my bedroom. 101 - Let me tell you about the drip. Yolin was reading a book while lazying on the bed. She glanced at us then went back to reading. ¡°Back already? That was fast,¡± she commented and flipped a page. ¡°Yeah,¡± I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°Had a letter from Nilenna to the King,¡± I explained and undressed to my underwear. ¡°The celebratory event is in two days,¡± I informed her. She nodded. I stood up and turned to Pokora. ¡°Do you have formal wear?¡± The Archer shook her head. ¡°The gear you gave me in Lakeview is the best I have right now,¡± she explained with a shrug. ¡°I''ve never had the need to dress up.¡± I hummed in understanding and gave her a look-over, holding my chin. The Elf wore her usual black sleeveless shirt, brownish leather pants, and black sandals. ¡°You have no style... or sense of fashion,¡± I pointed out, gesturing at her clothes. Pokora scoffed. ¡°Well, that depen-¡± she began. ¡°No no,¡± I interrupting her, waving a finger. ¡°That wasn''t a question.¡± Her eyebrows went up and she squinted at me. ¡°Did you just do that?¡± she chuckled. ¡°I did,¡± I confirmed with a smile. ¡°Well...¡± she mocked, but glanced at Yolin and cut the sentence short. ¡°What do you recommend?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± I thought for a second. ¡°What''s your opinion on skirts?¡± ¡°Ugh,¡± Pokora groaned with a scowl. ¡°Not a fan.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Yolin commented from the bed. The Elf smiled and nodded in satisfaction at the Oni''s words, resting her hands on her hips. ¡°Do Elmari Elves have Ezh''de?¡± I inquired, recalling Lapia''s traditional clothes. ¡°We do,¡± Pokora replied with a shrug. ¡°I don''t have one with me since they''re not that good to move around in.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered and circled her. ¡°What would you like to wear, then?¡± ¡°How formal is the event?¡± She inquired. ¡°Dress to impress,¡± I replied with a sigh. ¡°We should look imposing... whatever that means.¡± ¡°Then why not wear armor?¡± she suggested, arching an eyebrow. ¡°I don''t think looking ready for battle is a sensitive choice,¡± I argued, then circled her again. ¡°I am not wearing armor, that''s for sure.¡± ¡°But that''s the formal attire of Halves,¡± Yolin pointed out from the bed. ¡°Tradition and all that.¡± ¡°I don''t plan on standing up all day,¡± I calmly explained, raising my eyebrows. ¡°My armor does have weight-nullifying enchantments, but I weigh half a tonne. Besides, the armor itself looks heavy and I don''t want people to go ''Her Excellency needs a special chair'' or some stupid shit like that.¡± ¡°Yeah...¡± Yolin slowly nodded. ¡°I can see that happening.¡± ¡°Besides,¡± I began with a smirk. ¡°People expect me to wear armor and will be impressed or surprised when they see me wearing something else.¡± ¡°Or disappointed...¡± Pokora teased me. I turned to her and shrugged, then chuckled, ¡°They can go fuck themselves if that''s the case.¡± ¡°Yaas!¡± The Elf joked, even doing the hand gestures. ¡°Like, o-m-g! Girlboss!¡± I imitated her while laughing. ¡°What the fuck?¡± Yolin muttered. ¡°Why do I suddenly want to punch you?¡± I turned to her and laughed again. ¡°Don''t worry, that''s a normal reaction.¡± ¡°Please don''t do that again,¡± the tank begged while cringing. I chuckled and nodded, then turned back to Pokora. ¡°So, what will it be? I have almost everything you could think of.¡± The Archer thought for a second, then nodded. ¡°A dress would be nice,¡± she concluded. ¡°Alright,¡± I agreed and retrieved formal dresses from my inventory. Hundreds of them. Of all the colors and variations possible. Pokora''s eyes widened to the limit at the sheer amount of outfits. Costumes are justice, after all. It took us two hours to find the perfect fit for Pokora along with matching sandals since high heels ''can go die in a ditch'' according to her. Every time she put a dress on, she''d ask how it looked until Yolin gave a verdict... which was fair all things considered. I wasn''t an expert on Galeian formal wear, after all. She ended up choosing a backless, low cut teal dress that matched her snow-white skin really well. The garment hugged her body and ended below the knees with an open slit on the side. The material was a really high quality velvet. It wouldn''t be far-fetched to say it was worthy of the red carpet. The sandals were flat and black, which went well with her pitch black hair. I looked her up and down and nodded a few times. ¡°Really nice,¡± I praised her. ¡°You look stunning.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± she replied with a smile, checking herself on the bathroom''s full body mirror. ¡°That looks really good on you, Pokora,¡± Yolin complimented her, having joined us halfway through. ¡°You look beautiful.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Pokora blushed up to the ears and gave my girlfriend a shy smile. ¡°You think so?¡± she prodded, then spun around a few times. ¡°You do,¡± I assured her with a smile. ¡°Mhm.¡± The Archer nodded and looked at her reflection. I arched an eyebrow at the insipid reaction. ¡°I''m sure you''ll stand out with how dazzling you look,¡± Yolin complimented her again. She wasn''t exaggerating, though. Pokora smiled widely and she giggled while straightening the outfit. Her blush extended down her neck and she bit her lower lip. ¡°Thank you, Yolin,¡± she cheerfully replied. I blinked a few times and tilted my head. No way, I thought with an amused smile. ¡°You keeping that one?¡± I probed and leaned on the bathroom wall behind me. ¡°There''s more to-¡± ¡°Yeah, this one,¡± Pokora replied with certainty. ¡°Definitely this one,¡± she insisted. COINCIDENTALY, that was the dress Yolin had complimented the most. No matter what I said, if Yolin didn''t like it, Pokora would go to the next one. Hmm... I puckered my lips and pinched them with my thumb and index finger. Interesting. ¡°You have good taste,¡± Yolin laughed. I glanced at the Oni. ¡°What will you wear?¡± I inquired. Pokora turned her attention from the mirror to my girlfriend. ¡°Formal Clergy clothes from my country,¡± Yolin replied with a shrug. ¡°Can we see?¡± I requested, fully interested in seeing my girlfriend wearing different clothes. ¡°Sure,¡± the Oni complied with a nod. Her shirt and shorts vanished and were replaced with a complex outfit. The top was a white, loose, long-sleeved thing that closed right above her stomach, leaving a deep v-neck. The fabric looked like silk and had a golden pattern similar to her tattoos along with Danuva''s familiar eye symbol on her back. The bottom garment was a loose pair of black shorts that ended right below her knees, also carrying the tattoo''s pattern in gold. A pair of white sandals protected her feet. ¡°Red Island has really warm weather with high humidity so this outfit was made with that in mind,¡± the Oni explained, showing the outfit off. ¡°I wore this a lot after leaving home,¡± she reminisced with a smile. The ensemble looked pretty formal all things considered, but not Royal Banquet levels of formal. She looked like a samurai from an anime with too much fanservice. ¡°That''s so cool!¡± Pokora cheered with a huge smile. ¡°You look so... I don''t know... Oni!¡± The tank and I gave the Archer a confused look. ¡°I am an Oni,¡± Yolin pointed out with a chuckle. ¡°I don''t know if this fits the event, however,¡± she muttered and changed clothes. ¡°Do you have something else?¡± I tentatively asked. ¡°It looks great on you, don''t get me wrong...¡± ¡°I know,¡± the Oni laughed. ¡°It''s the best I have, though.¡± Pokora turned to me with wide eyes. ¡°The fuck you on about?¡± she demanded. ¡°She looks badass as Hell!¡± ¡°Hell is not badass,¡± I pointed out, then turned to Yolin. ¡°And yeah, it makes you look rough and tough.¡± She looked at me, then at Pokora, then back at me. ¡°You told her about Hell?¡± ¡°I did,¡± I admitted with a nod. ¡°Only the four of you know.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Pokora interjected with a bit too much enthusiasm. ¡°That outfit looks really good on you, Yolin. Like, seriously good!¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± she chuckled. ¡°But it doesn''t cut it.¡± I nodded. ¡°How about a suit?¡± I offered. ¡°I''ll wear one, too.¡± Pokora was silent for a few seconds. ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± the Oni agreed with a big smile. ¡°I support suits,¡± the Elf finalized with a series of nods. ¡°Let''s get to it, then,¡± I declared, then walked to the bed and stored all the dresses. That time, the search for a good fit was shorter since suits aren''t as varied as dresses, which is an affront to fashion. I chose a sleeveless, red shirt that complimented my golden skin pretty good, a black vest with golden buttons, white pants, a white tie, and black shoes. The pants hugged my muscular legs pretty comfortably, leaving enough room for movement. The clothes had a stamped pattern with LV all over the inside. Yolin went with the same as me but with a golden shirt. The clothes turned out to be an absolute success in my humble opinion. We are pretty fit so the fabrics had no trouble when it came to accentuating our strong bodies. ¡°How is it?¡± I asked Pokora while checking the clothes for anything out of the ordinary. ¡°You look like the owners of the underworld,¡± she muttered in shock. I chuckled and gave Yolin a look. A woman in a suit? That''s always nice. A muscular woman in a suit? Even better. A muscular woman with red skin, horns, and white hair in a suit? The weakness of all who breathe. A muscular woman with red skin, horns, and white hair who also likes to cuddle while sleeping and has a carefree attitude about life and is always laughing and smiling? A blessing on this world. And that woman is my girlfriend. My secret plan of wanting to see Yolin in a suit was a glorious success. Yolin gave me a look and smiled. ¡°You look hot,¡± we both said at the same time, then laughed. The bedroom door opened and Alyssa walked in followed by Lapia. Both stopped dead in their tracks and their eyes widened to the limit at seeing us. Alyssa covered her mouth and blushed. Lapia smirked with her usual mischievous smile. ¡°Which God should we thank for this treat?¡± she joked with a chuckle. ¡°By the Gods,¡± Alyssa exclaimed in surprise. ¡°You look... wow.¡± My face heated up and I giggled. ¡°Do we look imposing?¡± I inquired, standing with confidence and putting on a serious face. Yolin imitated me, standing next to me and resting an arm on my shoulder. ¡°Holy shit,¡± Pokora blurted out with a deep blush. ¡°You look like the Age is about to change,¡± Lapia teased with a chuckle. ¡°I''m definitely eating you two up tonight.¡± We all laughed at that. Alyssa approached Pokora and gave her a warm smile. ¡°You look beautiful, Pokh''Orra,¡± she complimented her. ¡°You do,¡± the Wizard joined, walking up to her. She winked and chuckled, ¡°I could eat you up as well.¡± Pokora blushed and laughed, ¡°Thank you.¡± Lapia walked to the bed and sat on it. ¡°When is the event?¡± ¡°In two days,¡± I replied, adjusting my tie. ¡°Do you two have formal clothes?¡± ¡°Not of that quality,¡± Alyssa answered, walking up to me and feeling the fabric. ¡°Unless you count the gear you gave me.¡± I remembered my chat with the Queen and caressed the Luzo''s cheek. ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll make you glow,¡± I assured her with my most charming smile. Her scarlet eyes widened a little and her deep purple blush covered every centimeter of visible skin. Then, she gave me a big smile and nodded. ¡°Such a line while wearing such an outfit?¡± Lapia whistled. ¡°That''s a sneak attack, Natasha.¡± ¡°Fuck off,¡± I giggled and rustled the Elf''s hair. She laughed and leaned back on the bed to escape the attack. I felt my hair moving and looked back. Pokora had grabbed the end of it and was inspecting it. ¡°A haircut would do you wonders,¡± she suggested. I slowly turned to her with a serious face. ¡°I will never cut my hair,¡± I told her with finality, then equipped a black jacked that had ''By any means necessary'' written all over it. The Archer''s eyes widened and she burst in laughter. 102 - Things get a little political, unfortunately. ¡°Wait, what?¡± Pokora muttered after a second of laughing. Her face turned serious and she turned to the bathroom while pulling my arm. ¡°Come here for a sec.¡± I gave my girlfriends a confused shrug and followed the Archer. They shrugged back. Pokora closed the bathroom door and turned to me. ¡°Why do you have a drip jacket?¡± She inquired, resting her hands on her hips. ¡°Hmm...¡± I thought for a second, trying to remember. ¡°I got it from a gacha roll if memory serves right.¡± ¡°A gacha roll?¡± She repeated. ¡°What?¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°You don''t know what a gacha is?¡± She sighed and rolled her eyes. ¡°I know what a gacha is, you twat,¡± she replied in exasperation. ¡°What does a gacha have to do with you having a drip jacket?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered, connecting the dots. ¡°Yeah, about that. I died while playing a game. Most stuff in my storage resembles what I had in that game. There was a meme event back in 2027 where I got the jacket.¡± Pokora stared at me for a second in confusion. ¡°How the fuck does that work?¡± I raised my eyebrows. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°How does virtual shit become real shit?¡± She clarified with a hand gesture. ¡°No clue. I just roll with it,¡± I admitted with a shrug. ¡°I guess there''s more to the universe than we thought,¡± I offered. She scoffed. ¡°Like magic.¡± ¡°And Gods,¡± I added. ¡°And real life futas,¡± she chuckled. I laughed and nodded. ¡°True.¡± We left the bathroom and I helped Alyssa and Lapia pick a formal outfit. The two had an easier time finding their desired fit since both wore dresses as daily clothes. Alyssa decided on an emerald green dress that complimented her light purple skin, dark scales and horns, white hair, and scarlet eyes. It was also the same color as Lapia''s eyes, which was a pretty nice detail. Lapia went with a scarlet dress that exquisitely contrasted her tan skin and dark blonde hair. Similarly to Alyssa''s the dress matched the other woman''s eyes. Both looked gorgeous, and both chose white sandals to cover their feet. Once the five of us were done with the outfits, I left the room and offered the same to Bromisnar, Bonte, Elena, and Thelea. Unsurprisingly, Bromisnar and Elena already had formal clothes. Bonte wanted to pick an edgy outfit to the surprise of nobody but decided on something more appropriate after Thelea convinced him otherwise. He reluctantly went for a thin, stylish robe and a gray overcoat along with black shoes. Thelea chose the same, going for a matching look with her boyfriend. I suspected that was her goal, but can''t confirm. Even though the event was two days later, being prepared is always good. Everyone had their outfit ready and was informed of the details. Alyssa was taking a nap in our bedroom, Lapia was reading a book at the dinner table while writing some notes and discussing something with Elena, Yolin was in the bathroom, Pokora was in the kitchen drinking water, Bromisnar was playing music in his room, Bonte and Thelea were in the living room reading books and chatting. And yet, there were still things to be done that day: fetch the second batch of toys and the request from the Tiny Laples. I checked my pocket watch and saw it was six. Six more hours. Doable, I concluded and walked to Bonte, who was sitting on Thelea''s lap in the living room. ¡°Hey, Bonte,¡± I called to him. He looked up from the book he was reading. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Could you help me with something?¡± I requested. ¡°I was asked to look into something and I could use your help.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± he replied with a smile and stood up. ¡°Anything you want, buddy.¡± Thelea gave me a look. ¡°Don''t get him killed,¡± she warned me. Bonte laughed. ¡°You could come with us?¡± I shrugged and explained, ¡°Someone went missing a few months ago. The Watchers didn''t find anything. If things turn out to be darker than I expect, we might end up killing people.¡± The Goliath winced. ¡°I became a tank to protect people, not kill them,¡± she pointed out and shook her head. ¡°Be careful.¡± We nodded in understanding. ¡°Pokh''Orra would be a huge help,¡± Bonte suggested. ¡°I was planning on asking her next,¡± I chuckled and walked to the Archer, then gave her a short explanation. She agreed to join us. I walked to Lapia and asked her if she could take care of the toys after I explained what I intended to do. ¡°Sure,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°I''ll go with Alyssa and Yolin.¡± And so, the three of us set out. *** We first went to the Church where I met the Tiny Laples to get more information than ''our friend lives two blocks away''. On the way there I told Bonte and Pokora about the details of the situation and shared my own conclusion: that the demon that had been tormenting the King might have ''replaced'' the missing woman in a not so gentle way. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Both understood and frowned. The Tiny Laples gave me a map of the city with the location of the man''s house, which would haven been nice to have from the start. Maybe they thought I''d approach the Watchers for information. We reached his house shortly after. It was a nice two-story building that I guessed was pretty expensive considering how close it was to the market and the Church. Perhaps the wife''s job at the Royal Palace brought enough income for them to live better-than-average lives. I dismounted and walked to the front door, then knocked two times. The door opened, revealing a young female Shishi Tigea. Her eyes met mine and her eyebrows climbed her forehead along with her feline ears shifting a little. ¡°Good evening, Your Excellency,¡± she greeted me. ¡°Good evening,¡± I greeted back. ¡°Is this the residence of Bernard Roy?¡± ¡°It is,¡± she confirmed with a nod. ¡°He''s my father.¡± ¡°My name is Natasha Novak,¡± I introduced myself, then gestured at my companions. ¡°He''s Bonte Slirmy and she''s Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che.¡± The two gave the Tigea a nod. She blinked a few times and sighed. ¡°I''m Beatrice Roy,¡± she introduced herself. ¡°Nice to meet you, Beatrice.¡± I gave her a friendly smile, then continued, ¡°I''d like to talk to your father if it''s not a problem.¡± The woman thought for a second. ¡°Please wait here,¡± she requested and closed the door. I took a deep breath and sighed. Don''t jump to conclusions, Natasha. A minute later the door opened again and Beatrice gestured for us to come in. We complied and she guided us to the house''s living room. There, a man was sitting on a couch. He was every bit of Shishi Tigea as the rest, but his eyes looked tired. He stood up and looked me in the eye. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± he greeted with a nod. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± His voice sounded as tired as he looked. ¡°If you don''t mind, I have a few questions regarding your wife''s disappearance,¡± I laid it bare, walking to a sofa and sitting down. He let out a long sigh and sat back down. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°How about you tell me what happened first?¡± I suggested. He sighed again and started speaking. ¡°Ines went to work one day and never returned. Her Bond with our family was consciously severed so we had no way to know where she was. I went to the Watchers as soon as it happened and they launched an investigation... but found nothing.¡± ¡°Have you heard of the name ''Nerissa''?¡± I inquired. Bernard shook his head. ¡°First time.¡± I nodded. ¡°When did this happen, exactly?¡± ¡°Evening of the fourth day of the third month,¡± he replied with a frown. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± Beatrice, who had been standing next to Bernard, spoke up. ¡°My mother had been meeting with Changelings prior to her disappearance,¡± she blurted out. ¡°Bea!¡± The man hissed, turning to her. ¡°That has nothing to do with Ines. The Watchers investigated them and found nothing...¡± My eyebrows went up at that. Well, well, well... ¡°Father, Her Excellency won''t-!¡± Beatrice began, looking at her father with apprehension. ¡°Enough...¡± he sighed. I turned to Beatrice. ¡°Can you tell me more about that?¡± She nodded. ¡°My mother-¡± ¡°I said-¡± Bernard began. ¡°I didn''t ask you,¡± I interrupted him, then gave Beatrice a nod. ¡°Continue.¡± Bernard sighed. Beatrice gulped. ¡°My mother had been seeing a group of Changelings that promoted... politically dangerous ideas regarding the Kingdom and Halves,¡± she stated. ¡°I accompanied her to a meeting once. They disguise as Performers and hold debates on various topics that people would consider as traitorous.¡± ¡°And the Watchers didn''t intervene?¡± I inquired. ¡°The populace is allowed to think and debate on anything, Your Excellency,¡± Beatrice replied. ¡°As long as they don''t attempt a malicious coup, they are not a real threat. They''re considered a debating association, if anything.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± I nodded, thinking for a few seconds. Changelings again... I''ll assume they''re a small group to avoid generalizing, I concluded and continued. While criticizing ''the powers that be'' is healthy and a civic duty which I fully support, threatening the stability of a Kingdom and trying to kill an entire species is pretty fucking yikes. Is this some radical extremist group? Why does it have to be so political? Why not just mindless monsters? Why does it have to go that route? Will I have to oppress people? Will I have to kill others due to our differences of ideology? That''s also super fucking yikes and I don''t want that. Okay... what''s the deal here? A group doesn''t want super OP beings going around the world for a reason. But that ideology doesn''t really work in this world... there''s dangerous shit out there, after all. If we Halves disappear I''d bet wars would break out, countries would exploit nature, and Giants would have free access to the entire world if they so wish. ¡°Ines is not that kind of person,¡± Bernard muttered. ¡°I''m sure she was manipulated or something.¡± Maybe the demon got to the Royal Palace through them... I theorized. And Maybe... just maybe... Ines realized too late what the whole plan was about and chose to run away after she was neck-deep in shit. Hmm... too weak of an explanation. Maybe some mind control bullshit again. ¡°Did Ines'' behavior change in any noticeable way before she went missing?¡± I probed. Both parent and child shook their heads. ¡°Beatrice, do you remember where the meetings were held?¡± I changed subjects. She nodded. I pulled the map the Tiny Laples gave me along with a quill. ¡°Could you show me?¡± She approached and marked a spot close to the edge of the city. ¡°They gathered in the underbelly,¡± she explained, turning the piece of paper around. The back of the map had a frontal cut of the city. She market a spot near the middle, around thirty floors underground. ¡°Thanks.¡± I nodded and stood up, then looked at the two. ¡°You''ll be the first to know if I hear anything about Ines.¡± ¡°But Your Excellency,¡± Bernard stood up with a worried face. ¡°The Watchers didn''t find anything.¡± ¡°The Watchers act based on the law,¡± I replied. ¡°The law acts based on my will,¡± I added and turned to leave. Bonte had a proud smile on his face. Pokora was cringing. Beatrice saw us to the front door and bid us farewell. The catboy walked to me and patted my shoulder. ¡°That was a really cool line, Natasha,¡± he praised me. Pokora shook her head in disapproval and sighed, ¡°Anyway. Someone was eavesdropping on the conversation.¡± ¡°Can you catch them?¡± I questioned her. The Elf nodded. ¡°Oh! Can I go?¡± Bonte excitedly suggested. ¡°Sure,¡± I replied with a chuckle. He chuckled and muttered, ¡°To the Darkness I go...¡± and disappeared in a puff of shadows. ¡°Natasha,¡± Pokora began. ¡°Doesn''t it sound a little complicated to you?¡± I nodded. ¡°It does. On one hand, there''s a group of people trying to get rid of both my species and the Gods. On the other hand, I will prevent it with everything I have.¡± ¡°The Gods?¡± she repeated, a little confused. ¡°That''s what Elena said while under mind control,¡± I recalled. ¡°She said ''why don''t the Gods fuck off too'', so yeah.¡± She groaned, ¡°Why does it have to get political?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Life has always been political, Poko-Poko. What you''re allowed to do in everyday life comes from the decisions of those in power.¡± Pokora sighed. ¡°Don''t call me that, bitch.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± I replied. Out of Journal Side Chapter 1/? Bonte Slirmy moved through the shadows towards the rooftop. Shadow Step allowed him to shift in an instant, making him one with darkness for a brief moment. Shadows had always been an interesting concept to him and, if he had been more applied to academics in his youth, he would have become a Shade Adept of the Wizard class family with ease. Becoming a shadow was more appealing than simply controlling one, however. He reached his destination and looked around while crouching, shifting his feline ears to try and catch the sound of breathing or a heartbeat. The skill that turned him invisible, Shadow''s Embrace from his Shadow Chaser class, hid him from sight, hearing, and smell at the third tier. The sound of a loose roof tile being stepped on made him turn to the left. There was nothing there, however. Bonte retrieved the solar goggles Natasha had provided in Mountroad and held them in front of his eyes. An individual wearing black clothes was revealed slowly walking away on top of the house to the left. He smiled and appraised them. [Ork, Lvl 326 Regicide] The smile turned into a frown. Some classes had... unappealing names like Crown Traitor and Regicide. Bonte knew better than to assume the individual was a reflection of the class or the other way around. People have different tastes when it comes to being edgy, after all. Desseyr was a clear example of taking it too far. The Halve''s inclinations leaned over the edge to the point it impeded his everyday interactions with people. Bonte pushed E''er into Death Mark, sending tendrils of shadows towards the individual. Although the skill''s name carried the word ''Death'', it had little to do with it. Not directly, at least. It simply let him know where the target was for a short time. It was incredibly useful against monsters and people that could turn invisible. Skills that revealed invisibility were unique to the Scout and Cleric Path due to the nature of how it worked. The tendrils reached the individual and wrapped them in a blanket of shadows. The person stopped and looked back. Bonte stored the goggles and retried his daggers, readying himself for combat. While the individual''s main class was higher than his, the skill taking effect betrayed the fact their difference in total levels was no greater than 50. Still, the Tigea wondered why an Ork of all things was eavesdropping on a conversation in a random person''s home. Or perhaps it was the Halve''s presence that brought the Ork''s attention in the first place. Bonte smiled at the prospect of things becoming complex. Life had been calm so far. No great conspiracy to be a part of, no malicious plans, no entertaining events taking place. ¡°Who goes there?¡± The Ork demanded in a purposefully distorted voice. Bonte smirked. ¡°Darkness,¡± he replied, allowing sound to pass through, echoing on the shadows around the individual. The Ork produced a pair of daggers and looked around. Bonte shifted to the top of a chimney behind the Ork, then wondered how could he catch someone with a similar level of power to his. He didn''t have Numbing Rope, after all. The Ork''s breathing and heartbeat were calm despite the situation. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Bonte acknowledged it and internally applauded them. Suddenly, the Ork turned to him and muttered, ¡°Found you!¡± Then lunged at him daggers first. Space? Bonte wondered and dodged to the left, then jumped off the chimney. The Ork followed, and two identically dressed clones rose from the roof tiles, joining the chase with weapons of their own. Bonte pushed E''er into Shadow''s Reprieve to blind his opponent, then shifted behind the clone to the right and plunged both daggers on the back of the skull. The clone dissipated. The Ork jumped away from the Tigea, shadows covering their head. The other clone lunged at him and swung a dagger at his neck. Bonte ducked and slashed at the clone''s torso. The clone jumped backwards, avoiding the attack. ¡°A Shadow Chaser...¡± the Ork muttered. ¡°Interesting.¡± Sometimes all it took to guess someone''s class was to see, or in this case be a victim of, their skills. Bonte replaced a dagger with a loaded crossbow and fired at the Ork''s left leg. The Ork caught the projectile with a hand and broke it. The clone landed in front of the Ork, blocking Bonte. Bonte pushed E''er into Death''s Waltz with the clone as a target. A blur of shadows and blades surrounded the clone, cutting ligaments, arteries, joints, and stabbing vital organs. While clones have the same stats as the person who cast them, they can''t use skills themselves. They also lack the vital organs Bonte aimed for. It was a show of strength. To send the message that running away was useless. The clone dissipated. Bonte readied himself for whatever would come next. The Ork prepared for combat as well. And so, they lunged at each other. Bonte stabbed at the Ork''s left shoulder with his right dagger, and at the Ork''s right hand with his left dagger. The Ork parried the blade going for their wrist and dodged the strike aimed at their shoulder with a quick sidestep. Bonte didn''t let up, shifting behind the Ork and stabbing at both shoulders. The Ork did a somersault and kicked his arms away, then flung a dagger at Bonte''s chest. The blade hit the mark but bounced off, the material of Bonte''s equipment being Legendary proved to be more resilient than the opponent''s weapons. High Quality at most, Bonte thought and kicked the dagger away. The Ork landed facing him and clicked their tongue. ¡°You must be in the 400''s...¡± the Ork probed. Bonte smiled. He had been invisible the whole fight so the Ork had not been able to appraise him even though he had been spotted. ¡°Why were you eavesdropping on us?¡± Bonte demanded, knowing the fight could only go in his favor. ¡°Oh... you''re that Tigea...¡± the Ork chuckled. ¡°I saw you at the arena. Bond... Slimy, was it?¡± ¡°Barradun Somerly,¡± he countered, holding back a smirk. ¡°Yeah, that,¡± the Ork agreed with a nod, falling into Bonte''s trolling. ¡°You could say I''m gathering information, Barradun.¡± ¡°On?¡± He pushed. ¡°...¡± the Ork took a moment. ¡°You''re with Her Excellency, correct? Like a minion of sorts?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Bonte replied, again holding back a smirk. ¡°My Benefactor would like to have a word with you.¡± The Ork straightened and lowered the daggers. ¡°Well... Why didn''t you say that before? Are you stupid, Barradun?¡± ¡°You attacked first,¡± Bonte pointed out, trying his hardest not to laugh. ¡°No, you used a skill on me first,¡± the Ork argued. ¡°I was defending myself.¡± ¡°No, no,¡± Bonte denied with a shake of his head. ¡°A non-damaging skill is not enough to begin a fight. You should know this. The Scout''s Code states so.¡± ¡°Uh...¡± the Ork uttered in confusion. ¡°How old are you? The Scout''s Code changed this century.¡± It was Bonte''s turn to take a moment. ¡°It did?¡± He asked in confusion. ¡°...¡± The Ork kept quiet. ¡°It didn''t,¡± Bonte accused the Ork with a chuckle. The Ork sighed. ¡°Well... I can''t run away if Her Excellency is around.¡± Bonte nodded in agreement. He had seen how fast Natasha could run. There''s no escaping someone faster than sound. The Ork''s words relaxed him a little. If someone referred to a Halve with ''His/Her Excellency'', then that by itself is declaring a stance. There was no forced respect in the Ork''s tone either. ¡°Alright,¡± Bonte nodded and lowered his daggers, then deactivated his skills. ¡°Follow me.¡± 103 - Counter-Espionage? Pokora and I were staring at each other. We both moved our hands at the same time. I chose scissors. She chose rock. ¡°Fuck,¡± I muttered. ¡°Again.¡± She chuckled and gave me a shit-eating grin. We moved our hands. I picked rock. She picked scissors. ¡°Get fucking shit on,¡± I laughed. ¡°So competitive,¡± she sighed and shook her head. ¡°All in good fun,¡± I assured her with a smile. ¡°Oi, oi, oi,¡± someone called from our right. ¡°What''s all this then?¡± We turned to the voice and saw a male Dwarf Watcher walking towards us followed by seven officers. The group reached us and the Dwarf looked around, then up at me. ¡°Lady Natasha,¡± he greeted me. ¡°Everything alright?¡± He asked with a raised eyebrow. I raised my eyebrows in confusion. ¡°Did something happen?¡± I probed. The Dwarf nodded and replied, ¡°A nearby Pylon detected tier three skills being used around this area. We came to check and found you, Lady Natasha,¡± he gave a glance at Pokora, ¡°and Lady Pokh''Orra.¡± They can detect skill? I wondered in surprise. That''s pretty good public security. I looked round and shrugged. ¡°It obviously wasn''t us,¡± I pointed out. Maybe Bonte... I considered. The Dwarf squinted his eyes at me. ¡°How can we know it wasn''t you?¡± He countered. ¡°Everything is in one piece,¡± Pokora interjected in a bored tone. ¡°Pretty obvious, I''d say.¡± I nodded in agreement. The Dwarf looked at the house behind us and frowned. ¡°I see,¡± he muttered with a nod. ¡°We don''t condone acts outside the law, though.¡± I scoffed and corrected him, ¡°Above, you mean.¡± He turned to me and smiled. ¡°Your companions are not Halves,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Nor are you,¡± I retorted with a polite smile. His smile vanished, replaced by a frown. ¡°I don''t mean to be rude, Lady Natasha.¡± I nodded. ¡°Apology accepted.¡± The Dwarf took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. ¡°Well, nothing terrible will happen with you around. Please do let us know if you witness any criminal activity. Have a nice evening,¡± he grumbled and turned around, then quickly left with the rest of the Watchers. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± I muttered as I watched them disappear after turning around a corner. ¡°Well, you don''t have the friendliest of faces,¡± Pokora pointed out. ¡°Plus, you were a bit of a cunt.¡± ¡°And he was a bit of an asshole,¡± I argued, turning to Pokora. She nodded. ¡°True, but the dude is just doing his job. Maybe he thought we were suspicious.¡± ¡°Maybe we were a bit sus, after all,¡± I jokingly agreed, wiggling my eyebrows. ¡°Don''t,¡± Pokora warned me with a serious face. ¡°This world is free of that shit. Don''t pollute it.¡± ¡°True.¡± I nodded. ¡°Still, nice to know they respond that fast. Bonte left like two minutes ago.¡± ¡°He fought someone,¡± Pokora informed me. ¡°They''re coming here now.¡± Right on cue, two individuals materialized from thin air in front of us. Bonte had a smile on his face. The other person was completely covered with black clothes like an assassin from a cheap movie. [Ork, Lvl 326 Regicide] Now THAT is pretty sus, I thought. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± the individual greeted me and went down on a knee. Yikes, I sighed in my mind. ¡°Who are you?¡± I inquired. The Ork removed the head cover, revealing a blue face, brownish eyes, and an impressive pair of tusks that I guessed replaced the incisors. They reached up to the nose. Long, black hair reached the Ork''s lower back. ¡°My name is Hanna Intarr, Your Excelency,¡± she replied, staring at the ground. ¡°Intarr has two r''s at the end.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered, then sighed, ¡°Why were you spying on us?¡± ¡°I''m gathering information on a group of Changelings, Your Excellency,¡± she replied, still looking at the ground. ¡°What for?¡± I probed. ¡°To kill them, Your Excellency,¡± she declared with purpose in her voice. ¡°They are responsible for the attempt at Your Excellency''s life in Lakeview. They are also responsible for what happened to King Gordon.¡± I looked around us. There were barely any pedestrians in the street, either too far or minding their own business. ¡°This is not something we should discuss in the open,¡± I pointed out. Hanna nodded. ¡°How about we go to an inn?¡± Bonte suggested. ¡°There''s a few nearby.¡± I nodded, not wanting to bring the spy-like person to the place I was staying at. ¡°Sure. Lead the way.¡± *** Ten minutes later we were in a room at an inn. Stolen novel; please report. Pokora was sitting next to the window, Bonte was standing next to the door, and I was sitting on the edge of the bed. Hanna was on one knee in front of me, again. Just when I had gotten used to people bowing to me, a person had to go the extra step and kneel. People are respectful to the point of being inconsiderate, in my opinion. ¡°So,¡± I sighed. ¡°Can you tell me what you know?¡± ¡°With pleasure,¡± Hanna replied. ¡°As Your Excellency must already know, His Excellency Perculis passed away three centuries ago. When that happened, Her Excellency Yulianna left towards Makah, leaving her companions. I''ve heard Her Excellency Yulianna is an... inflexible individual. Strict beyond reason, some would call her.¡± ¡°Right.¡± I nodded. She did execute an entire Royal Family, I recalled. ¡°With this power vacuum, a group of people sought to cause mayhem,¡± she continued. ¡°An individual by the name of Yugulari Thavas Pneumix reached out to one of Her Excellency Yulianna''s former companions and somehow took control over her. She''s Elena Pazh''Khun, the Elf that accompanies you.¡± Kinda figured that, I nodded. And the Yugulari fellow came up again. Why am I not surprised? ¡°With Elena under in their ranks, and to nobody''s knowledge, they joined a second party which I have no information about other than their existence,¡± Hanna admitted with a frown. ¡°I suspect they plotted King Gordon''s death and tried to end his life.¡± ¡°Wait a second,¡± I spoke up. ¡°You mean to tell me that they waited three hundred years to do it...?¡± ¡°My apologies, Your Excellency!¡± she lowered her head. ¡°I didn''t explain properly. They joined with the second party recently. They used Elena to gather information as a sleeper agent in the meantime.¡± So the Changelings joined with the Demon? I concluded with a little doubt. Maybe Nerissa wondered around Galeia for three centuries feeding on people until meeting Yugulari. ¡°And you know this how?¡± I asked her. ¡°It''s the information I''ve gathered this last few years,¡± she replied. ¡°I''ve used all manners of methods to obtain the truth ever since I heard of someone wanting to kill Halves.¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± I inquired, a little confused due to the timeline of events she was retelling. ¡°Seventy two years old, Your Excellency,¡± was her response. ¡°I''ve been in this path for five years now.¡± ¡°I hope you don''t mind me asking, but how do you know the group that tried to kill me is the same that tried to kill Gordon? Also, how do you know they tried to kill Gordon?¡± I told her my doubts. ¡°I''ve heard them say so, Your Excellency,¡± she replied with certainty. ¡°I followed a group of Changelings to Lakeview and learned of their attempted deicide.¡± ¡°And you didn''t stop them?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°I can''t spot a Changeling in a crowd, Your Excellency,¡± she admitted with a heavy sigh. ¡°I apologize for my shortcomings.¡± ¡°Yugulari was there,¡± I informed her. ¡°And it''s alright. You don''t need to apologize.¡± ¡°If Your Excellency says so,¡± Hanna complied with a complicated expression. I glanced at Pokora. She gave me a shrug. I returned my eyes to Hanna. ¡°Have you heard of the name ''Nerissa''?¡± ¡°I have,¡± the Ork replied with a nod. ¡°But the exact nature of the individual was never revealed during my... interrogations.¡± ¡°Well... Nerissa was a Demon who was tormenting the King,¡± I informed her. Hanna was silent for a few seconds. ¡°Could Your Excellency inform me of this Demon''s whereabouts?¡± I smiled. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°So I may kill this Nerissa,¡± she replied with a cold face. I waved a hand. ¡°No need. I already killed her.¡± Hanna blinked a few timed. ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency, for ridding this world of a threat,¡± she praised with a smile. ¡°Do you think the Demon was the second party?¡± I questioned. ¡°No, Your Excellency,¡± she denied with a shake of her head. ¡°You didn''t answer why you were eavesdropping on us,¡± I pointed out. ¡°I... wanted to get to the bottom of this on my own,¡± she admitted with a frown. ¡°I wanted to present Your Excellency the heads of those responsible.¡± I nodded. ¡°Why me? Why not the King?¡± Hanna was confused for a second, then replied, ¡°Your Excellency is a Halve. The King is a Tigea. I mean no disrespect, but I believe Your Excellency stands above everyone involved. It''s only natural that the results should be shown to you first. I initially had intended to bring my results to Her Excellency Nilenna, but your glorious birth presented better alternatives.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered, a little surprised and put off. I remembered something and asked, ¡°Do you think the same group that tried to kill me are the same people who tried to kill Miraztor?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°Although it''s been a full generation since then, it wouldn''t be a surprise if they indoctrinated their children into furthering their ideologies.¡± ¡°Gordon said something similar,¡± I recalled. ¡°King Gordon is wise,¡± she commented. ¡°Have you searched the Royal Palace for any clues?¡± I asked next. ¡°No, Your Excellency. It''s near impossible to sneak into the Royal Palace,¡± she replied with an amused smile. ¡°The Demon did,¡± I pointed out. ¡°True...¡± she muttered and puckered her lips. ¡°Maybe some Changelings assisted in infiltrating by taking the appearance of workers inside.¡± I hummed. ¡°Do you know anything about Ines, the woman who lived in the house I was at previously?¡± Hanna nodded. ¡°She was a passive member who only brought information to Yugulari''s group.¡± ¡°Any clue what happened to her?¡± I probed. ¡°No, Your Excellency. All I know is she worked in the kitchens,¡± she replied. I sucked air through my teeth. ¡°How likely is it that she was killed?¡± ¡°Highly improbable, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna replied. ¡°Yugulari''s group doesn''t have that many members so she was probably relocated... or she moved up the ranks and works in a hidden safe-house.¡± I thought for a second. ¡°So you think she was radicalized?¡± ¡°More like led astray, Your Excellency,¡± she pointed out. ¡°But radicalized fits as well.¡± I sighed. Politics are a nasty things in every world, I guess. ¡°Fight poison with poison, as they say,¡± I muttered. ¡°Would it be too much if I ask you to find her?¡± ¡°With pleasure, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna declared. ¡°Your Excellency''s word is my command, and my time is Your Excellency''s resource.¡± I held back a cringe. ¡°Can I go, too?¡± Bonte asked with excitement. I turned to him. ¡°I''m... not your superior, Bonte,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Like... you know?¡± He laughed and nodded. ¡°Then I will join Hanna.¡± ¡°Bonte?¡± The Ork repeated in confusion. ¡°Wasn''t your name Barradun?¡± ¡°Sorry, I was playing,¡± Bonte chuckled. ¡°My name is Bonte Slirmy.¡± The Ork nodded with a displeased frown. ¡°Well, I lied about the Scout''s Code. We''re even.¡± ¡°True,¡± Bonte agreed with a smile. ¡°Should we go now?¡± I did a double take. ¡°Now?¡± I blurted out. ¡°Yeah,¡± the Tigea confirmed. ¡°So we can get back in time for the Royal Banquet.¡± ¡°How about you go after the Royal Banquet?¡± I offered. ¡°Wouldn''t it be better to get this over with as fast as possible?¡± Pokora suggested. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± she added with a cheeky smile. ¡°I don''t know, Poko-Poko,¡± I retorted with a smile of my own. ¡°I mean, sure... tomorrow is a free day but...¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± the Elf interrupted. ¡°You are not going, though. To look for Ines, I mean.¡± I considered for a few seconds then nodded with a sigh, ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± I turned to Bonte. ¡°But remember Thelea''s words. Don''t get yourself killed.¡± ¡°No problem, buddy,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I''ll be careful.¡± Hanna stood up and walked to the window, then opened it. ¡°Shall we, Bonte?¡± Bonte nodded and followed her. Both jumped down and disappeared. I sighed, ¡°What am I going to tell Thelea?¡± Pokora scoffed. ¡°That her boyfriend is an independent man?¡± I chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I''ll go with that.¡± And so, Pokora and I went back to our place. It was a pretty fucking weird evening. 104 - Poko-Poko is a bit of a pain in the ass. Pokora opened the door to the apartment and we went inside. Bromisnar, Elena, and Thelea were chatting in the living room. The Goliath turned to us and raised an eyebrow. I looked around but didn''t find my girlfriends. ¡°Let me guess,¡± Bromisnar began with an amused smile. ¡°Bonte went to sneak around on his own?¡± ¡°Not on his own, but yeah,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°We met someone who agreed to help. She''s a Scout too so they decided to gather info together.¡± Thelea stood up and walked to me, crossed her arms under her chest, then looked down at me. ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± I replied with a shake of my head. ¡°It''s a bit complicated, but it should be easy for him.¡± She squinted her eyes at me. ¡°Mind telling me what''s so complicated?¡± ¡°Sure, let''s take a seat first,¡± I offered. ¡°I''m in the mood for alcohol.¡± She nodded. Pokora chuckled and moved to the table followed by Thelea. I produced three bottles of vodka and placed them on the table, then sat down. ¡°Where''s Yolin and company?¡± Pokora asked while pouring herself a glass. ¡°Sleeping,¡± Thelea replied, producing a large glass that fit her size. ¡°Said they needed to recover four days worth of rest.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I hummed. Natural, after all. Thelea waited for me to pour a glass and take a sip. ¡°Ah,¡± I sighed. ¡°That''s the good stuff.¡± ¡°So,¡± Thelea gestured for me to explain. ¡°First of all,¡± I began, looking into the Goliath''s eyes. ¡°Bonte is an independent man.¡± Pokora nodded. Thelea arched an eyebrow. ¡°I''m aware of that.¡± ¡°Good. So, here''s what''s happening,¡± I sighed and explained. ¡°A few weeks ago we were in Lakeview enjoying a relaxing evening. Someone poisoned my drink with nikontia. Turns out, a Changeling was behind it. A waitress got arrested, trialed, then sentenced because she helped in trying to kill me by using a child.¡± Thelea nodded. ¡°Right.¡± I took a sip and continued. ¡°Fast forward, we got here and I went to help the King. I killed a Demon and the issue got resolved. Last week someone informed me of a missing woman that the Watchers were unable to find. I initially had the wrong impression that the Demon had replaced the individual. It would have been pretty obvious if that was the case.¡± ¡°True,¡± Thelea agreed and drank some. I continued, ¡°I went to the family of the missing person to see what''s what. Turns out, Ines, the missing woman, was involved with a group of Changelings. That would''ve been fine and all, but Pokora noticed someone eavesdropping on us. Bonte went to check and returned with a Scout who introduced herself as Hanna. Turns out, this Hanna had been gathering information about the Changelings that Ines was meeting. She had evidence on her end that these Changelings were the same that tried to kill me. She also had evidence that they tried to kill King Gordon.¡± Thelea cleared her throat. ¡°Not really a surprise,¡± she commented. ¡°Right,¡± I agreed with a nod. ¡°So, I asked Hanna if she could find Ines. Bonte tagged along.¡± ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Thelea muttered and took a sip. I blinked a few times. ¡°Cool.¡± ¡°I thought you send him to a den of high leveled criminals,¡± the Goliath chuckled. ¡°But he wanted to help however he can. That''s cool of him.¡± ¡°I wouldn''t, and yeah,¡± I agreed. Well... I thought she''d be a bitch about it. Pokora nodded and brought the glass to her lips, then drank a little. She let out a small sigh and licked her lips. I noticed I was staring and focused on my drink, taking a long gulp. Thelea finished her drink and stood up. ¡°The alcohol was nice, thanks,¡± she said and went back to Bromisnar and Elena. I took out my art supplies and busied myself with coloring Lapia''s drawing with the flowers on the background. Pokora hummed, then moved to the seat next to mine. She peeked at the sketchbook and nodded. ¡°Still drawing?¡± ¡°That''s right,¡± I confirmed, coloring Lapia''s skin. She took a sip and fixed her posture on the chair. ¡°Do you mind if I watch?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± I replied and continued, coloring Lapia''s clothes. ¡°Awesome,¡± she giggled. ¡°I always like your art style.¡± I smiled. ¡°Thank you. When did you find my art?¡± She thought for a second, taking a sip. ¡°Around 2025, I think. I saw one of your not safe for work pieces and followed you on social media.¡± That got me thinking for a few seconds. ¡°Wait... you were 21 when you won the gold medal in archery... that was 2032...¡± ¡°...¡± she was silent for a few seconds. ¡°Yeeaah... about that...¡± I sighed. ¡°Well, whatever. I knew minors followed me and tried to block as many as I could. Can''t really police everything,¡± I muttered and shook my head. She chuckled. ¡°For what it''s worth, your art made me realize I''m bi,¡± she pointed out. I nodded, a little relieved and a bit complicated. ¡°I''m glad it helped you.¡± ¡°Like, the way you drew men was so fucking good,¡± she recalled. ¡°You didn''t do that faceless bullshit most artists did.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± I nodded. ¡°And you didn''t make it like... POV either, which was really nice,¡± she added. ¡°If I had the money I would have commissioned some.¡± ¡°You can now,¡± I pointed out, coloring the flowers. ¡°For free, too.¡± She perked up. ¡°Seriously?¡± I looked up at her and nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± I chuckled. Pokora had a big smile on her face. ¡°Alright, I have a few ideas,¡± she cheerfully blurted out. I smiled and flipped the page of the sketchbook. ¡°Alright, shoot.¡± She thought for a second, and a small blush covered her face. ¡°Okay so, an Oni.¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°...Alright... Male, female, androgynous, or...?¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Female,¡± she decided with a big nod. ¡°And like, a big tomboy.¡± My lips curled up and I nodded, taking notes. ¡°Sure... what else?¡± ¡°...White hair...¡± she mumbled. I held back a laugh. ¡°Long, short, curly, wavy, how white?¡± Pokora gulped alcohol. ¡°Short, with bangs, and done in a ponytail,¡± she muttered. ¡°Snow white hair.¡± I smacked my lips. ¡°Got it. Is this Oni a Galeian Oni or...?¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°Uh... yeah... Galeian Oni.¡± I nodded. ¡°Does this Oni have any defining features?¡± I teased her. ¡°Like blue eyes for example? Or tattoos? Maybe she wears a chest wrap instead of shirts most of the time?¡± Pokora''s blush reached her long ears. ¡°Uh... sure... let''s go with that,¡± she hesitantly replied. ¡°Mhm,¡± I hummed and my smile widened. ¡°You mentioned this Oni is a big tomboy. Does that mean she''s muscular in some way?¡± She nodded. ¡°Like, abs that you could grind tungsten against?¡± I probed with a cheeky tone. ¡°Definitely,¡± she agreed with a series of nods. ¡°A bit like mine?¡± I teased her. ¡°Nah,¡± she denied with a shake of her head. ¡°You have ten-pack abs. She has eight-pack abs.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I chuckled at her eye for detail. ¡°What else should we give this Oni?¡± ¡°Horns,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Naturally,¡± I agreed. ¡°And these horns would be short and smooth, right?¡± ¡°R-right,¡± she stuttered. ¡°That sounds like a really attractive Oni,¡± I pointed out with a big smile. Pokora looked me in the eye and then down at her glass. ¡°She is,¡± she admitted and her blush intensified. Is this how she tells me she likes Yolin? I wondered, staring at the Elf. I moved the sketchbook to the side and rested my elbow on the table, then my cheek on my hand. ¡°Is there anything you''d like to ask or tell me, Pokora? And I mean anything.¡± Pokora''s eyes darted to mine and then back at the glass. She cleared her throat and brought the glass to her mouth, only to find it empty. She clicked her tongue and looked away. ¡°How... uh...¡± That was kinda cute, I thought, then took a bottle and poured us another glass. ¡°How what?¡± She took the glass and downed half of it. ¡°Haaah... How does you relationship work?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± I thought for a second and took a sip. ¡°Can you be more specific?¡± Pokora took a deep breath and thought for a second. ¡°If, hypothetically speaking, for the sole purpose of discussion,¡± she began. I raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°How would someone enter your relationship?¡± She asked while staring at her glass. Then shrugged and pointed out, ¡°I mean, there''s four of you.¡± I nodded and decided to humor her. ¡°Well, the four of us would have to agree unanimously. When Yolin joined us, Alyssa and Lapia were okay with her and so was I. We smooched and she joined.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Pretty simple in my opinion.¡± ¡°Y-you kissed?¡± She asked in surprise. I smiled. ¡°Yep, Yolin kissed the three of us... then we held hands!¡± Pokora laughed, then sighed in relief. ¡°I see...¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± I probed. ¡°W-well...¡± she hesitated, then avoided my eyes. ¡°Did you... fuck right away?¡± ¡°No,¡± I seriously replied. ¡°But I did get fucked by Lapia before we started dating. Alyssa joined us the same day and we had a threesome that night.¡± Pokora''s eyes widened. ¡°You... by Lapia?¡± She repeated in confusion. I nodded. ¡°Yeah, back then it was mostly her fucking me silly. Now, though,¡± I chuckled and left it to her imagination. She hummed and nodded. ¡°If, say... someone approached one of your girlfriends... and, you know... with romantic intentions. Would you get angry?¡± I sighed and drank my entire glass, then looked her in the eye until she looked back. ¡°Not if it''s you, Pokora.¡± She scoffed and looked down at her glass. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She deflected. I rolled my eyes. ¡°Come on, woman. You like Yolin,¡± I pointed out in a gentle tone. ¡°No?¡± She tried to deny it, blushing like mad and averting her eyes. ¡°Look,¡± I began, pouring more alcohol. ¡°I''ll be honest. You''re an amazing woman, Pokora. I told you before and I''ll say it again. I admire you. You''ve succeeded with your own efforts and you''ve made something great out of yourself. I don''t know if I would be even half of what you are if I was in your position.¡± She slowly nodded and a smile formed on her face. ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered in a quiet voice. ¡°You''re welcome,¡± I giggled. ¡°So, how about we''re honest here? I''m not going to get mad. If I was a jealous woman, do you think I could be in poly relationship?¡± She lifted her eyebrows and wobbled her head. ¡°I don''t think the two are connected.¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed, ¡°But you get my point, right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she confirmed. ¡°So you like Yolin. Honestly, who wouldn''t?¡± I chuckled. ¡°True,¡± she laughed with a smile, then let out a long sigh. ¡°Yeah... I like Yolin.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I praised with a big smile. ¡°Now you have to tell her.¡± Her eyes jumped to meet mine. ¡°What?¡± She blurted out, a little panicked. I facepalmed. ¡°Come on, Pokora... You''re forty-nine years old for fuck''s sake.¡± ¡°Do you know what being a kissless virgin for that long does to a woman?¡± She hissed. ¡°It''s fucking hard! And my head is full of hormones!¡± ¡°Things are not that complicated, Pokora!¡± I hissed back, making sure the three chatting in the living room didn''t hear. ¡°You just ask her out and tell her you like her!¡± She glared at me. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°What about me?¡± I shrugged. ¡°You''ll be my girlfriend too, won''t you?¡± She pointed out in exasperation. ¡°Yes, but you telling Yolin you like her comes first, you moron!¡± I pointed out, feeling my cheeks heat up. ¡°But what if she says no?¡± Pokora demanded. ¡°HOLY FUCK!¡± I shouted and covered my face with both hands, then let out a long and loud sigh. ¡°Shhh!¡± Pokora slapped the back of my head. ¡°Keep it down!¡± I shook my head and started laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. ¡°Don''t you fucking laugh, Natasha...¡± Pokora warned me. ¡°It took a lot to tell you this.¡± I sighed and nodded. ¡°I''m not laughing at you, Pokora,¡± I explained. ¡°Just how silly all this sounds.¡± ¡°How is this silly?¡± She asked in confusion. I looked her in the eye. ¡°You realize that if this turns out as a success, we''ll end up fucking eventually, right? Feeling mushy for each other? Cuddling, showering together, good morning kisses, me pounding you, you pounding me with a strap-on, all that?¡± Pokora''s eyes widened and her face turned red as a tomato. Her ears twitched once and she cleared her throat. ¡°I''m aware,¡± she muttered. ¡°What?¡± I taunted with a smirk. ¡°Scared of the big futa cock?¡± She nodded. ¡°Actually, yeah... a little.¡± My smile vanished. ¡°Oh,¡± I uttered and felt my face burn. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°It''s alright,¡± she chuckled. ¡°But it''s too big for me, I think.¡± I nodded. ¡°We''ll eventually find out, I guess,¡± I muttered. ¡°Anyway. Back to you telling Yolin you like her.¡± Pokora cleared her throat and nodded. ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Tomorrow you-¡± I began. ¡°Tomorrow?!¡± She interrupted, panicking a little. I sighed and rolled my eyes. ¡°I''ll borrow your words from earlier: Wouldn''t it be better to get this over with as fast as possible?¡± ¡°I mean...¡± she hesitated. ¡°Fuck me back to Hell,¡± I sighed and shook my head. ¡°Tomorrow you''ll ask Yolin out. Did you have a girlfriend before?¡± Pokora nodded. ¡°Same deal, but it''s a 202 year old, carefree woman,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Simple as.¡± Pokora thought for a second, then looked into my eye. ¡°How about you tell her and she-¡± ¡°Fuck off, Pokora,¡± I groaned. ¡°Be an adult, alright?¡± She sighed, ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°You''re fucking difficult to deal with,¡± I muttered. ¡°Told you. Hormones and shit,¡± she mumbled. ¡°This is so weird.¡± ¡°What is?¡± I probed and drank directly from the bottle to fight the forming headache. ¡°We''ll be girlfriends and you''re giving me advice on how to get with your girlfriend,¡± she explained. I chuckled. ¡°Anything to tap that Elmari Elf pussy.¡± She covered her mouth and held back a laugh. ¡°That came out so creepy...¡± ¡°That was the point,¡± I pointed out and drank more. A knock coming from the door made me turn. That was fast, I considered and went to see. A Faeton Elf wearing an exquisite suit was standing in the corridor. Who the fuck? I wondered. 105 - A bit of Elenas past. ¡°Good evening, Your Excellency,¡± the Elf greeted me with a bow. ¡°My name is Adari Kovazh and I''m from the Faeton Elf Embassy.¡± Ah, right... I nodded, then pointed out, ¡°Took your time, though...¡± Adari winced at my words. ¡°Apologies, Your Excellency. The process took longer than we expected.¡± I arched an eyebrow and inquired, ¡°What made you come in person?¡± ¡°Right,¡± the Elf chuckled. ¡°The circumstances demand we are sensible. Two Azh''avun are involved, after all.¡± I blinked twice. ¡°Sorry, two what?¡± ¡°Halves,¡± Adari explained with a smile. ¡°Azh''avun means ''Protectors'' in Elvish, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°I''ll see if Elena is available.¡± The Elf nodded and took a step back. I closed the door and walked to the living room, then called out to the Elf in question, ¡°Elena.¡± She turned to me with a smile. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency?¡± I gestured at the door with a thumb. ¡°Someone from the Embassy came to see you,¡± I explained. Her smile turned to a frown and she nodded. ¡°Finally,¡± she commented and stood up. ¡°It''s been two weeks.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± I sighed, sharing the displeasure. ¡°Wait at the table, I''ll let them in.¡± She nodded and complied. Pokora''s facial expression betrayed her discontent at having our conversation interrupted. I opened the door and gestured for the Elf to come in. ¡°If you''ll excuse me,¡± Adari said and walked into the apartment. I guided the official to the table and sat down between Elena and Pokora. Our guest sat down in front of us and produced a few documents. ¡°Good evening, Lady Elena, Lady Pokh''Orra,¡± Adari greeted the two Elves. ¡°My name is Adari Kovazh and I''m from the Faeton Elf Embassy.¡± Elena nodded and greeted back, ¡°Good evening, Gentleman Adari.¡± Gentleman? I wondered in surprise. Maybe he''s young? Or is Adari a male name? The Elf in front of me was androgynous in my eyes. Pokora simply nodded. Adari cleared his throat and moved a document towards Elena. ¡°Lady Elena, you were reported as a missing person two hundred and fifty years ago,¡± he began. ¡°We were informed of your memory loss, so we''ve compiled the necessary information to give you context of who you were.¡± Elena''s eyes widened a little. ¡°Right,¡± she muttered and took the document. ¡°Take your time, Lady Elena,¡± Adari offered. The woman spent a minute reading the paper, then asked, ¡°Who is this Denuri Trema?¡± Adari nodded in understanding. ¡°She''s an Azuuli Luzo, Lady Elena,¡± he explained. ¡°You, Anuri, Alina, an Ork, and Her Excellency Yulianna were partners,¡± he revealed. ¡°Denuri and Alina have been looking for you, Lady Elena.¡± Elena took a few minutes to digest the information. I was surprised as well. This is turning to be pretty yikes. Elena hesitated for a second, ¡°Does this mean... His Excellency Perculis was my... partner as well?¡± ¡°That would be correct, Lady Elena,¡± Adari confirmed with a nod. Ohh... I bit my lips. Elena covered her mouth and took a deep breath. ¡°I see...¡± she breathed out with a complicated face. ¡°I apologize we took this long to bring you this information,¡± Adari insisted, offering another document. ¡°This is information on your family, Lady Elena.¡± She took the paper with shaky hands and read it with apprehension. Her eyes went over the lines and her face relaxed, then let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Looks like my parents have been busy,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I have two new siblings.¡± I covered my mouth and held back a laugh. Adari let out a polite laugh, then cleared his throat and moved another document in her direction. ¡°This is the information on your savings in Akuuhk, Lady Elena.¡± The woman sighed and took the paper, then read it. ¡°It''s way more than I expected,¡± she muttered in surprise. ¡°And figured it''d be seized after all these years so it''s not shocking.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Adari nodded. ¡°You can take it back, Lady Elena,¡± he offered. ¡°We can deal with it on our end if you wish.¡± ¡°That would be immensely helpful,¡± Elena replied with a nod. Adari smiled. ¡°Not a problem, Lady Elena. Your properties are a different matter altogether, however.¡± Elena let out a sigh. ¡°I understand.¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°Why?¡± I inquired. Adari turned to me and explained, ¡°Lady Elena owned a house in Akuuhk that got seized after a century of her being reported as a missing person. The house was then sold to someone else. Naturally, the money will go her way, but the property can''t be returned.¡± My brows knitted. ¡°Why?¡± I asked again. ¡°Someone else lives there, your Excellency,¡± Adari explained. ¡°Unless they agree to return the house and all valuables, if they are still there, to Lady Elena, then the only compensation we can obtain is in the form of money.¡± I turned to Elena. ¡°You''re okay with that?¡± She thought for a second, chewing her lips. ¡°For now,¡± she decided. ¡°And we''ll do as needed when the time comes if you change your mind,¡± Adari assured her with a professional smile. ¡°If you wish to regain ownership of your properties, we will do what we can to make it so.¡± I hummed and leaned back on the chair. We''ll see if she''s this patient when she gets her memories back. ¡°Next,¡± Adari announced and moved yet another document. ¡°Is the question I need you to take your time with. Do you want to let your family and loved ones know of your status? Or would you like to resolve your memory loss before that, if you think it can be done?¡± Elena rested her elbows on the table, then covered her face with her hands. After a few seconds she ran her hands on her red hair while letting out a long sigh. ¡°I''d like to let them know, and also inform them Her Excellency Natasha Novak will aid me in regaining my memories,¡± she announced. Adari nodded and wrote a few lines down on the document. ¡°Perfect.¡± He nodded and moved another paper. ¡°This document restores your status as citizen of the Monarchy of Akuuhk, along with all your rights and obligations. Do you need to go over them?¡± Elena shook her head. ¡°I remember them,¡± she chuckled and signed the paper. ¡°A''khov nalar, bazhi,¡± Adari said with a big smile. ¡°Ni''khov nalar, kazhi,¡± Elena replied with a smile as well. The fuck does that mean? I wondered but kept quiet. ¡°Now, Lady Elena,¡± the man began with a serious tone. ¡°We don''t think we''ll be able to contact Her Excellency Yulianna in the near future. Her whereabouts are unknown.¡± Elena nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Leave that to me,¡± I joined the conversation. Adari gave me an appreciative nod. ¡°Will do, Your Excellency.¡± I simply nodded back. ¡°Now, in regards to Lady Elena''s needs,¡± Adari moved to the next subject. ¡°Do I understand correctly that you chose to stay under Her Excellency Natasha''s care, Lady Elena?¡± ¡°That is correct,¡± Elena replied with a nod. ¡°May I ask why?¡± He probed. ¡°No,¡± I denied him. He nodded. ¡°Understood. How are you receiving treatment, if any, Lady Elena?¡± ¡°Lady Pruvik treats me once a day,¡± she replied. ¡°Lady Pruvik being Alyssa Pruvik, correct?¡± He confirmed. ¡°That''s right.¡± Elena nodded. Adari smiled. ¡°I see. That''s great,¡± he chuckled and gathered the documents. ¡°That would be it for my visit. We''ll inform you about the state of your savings and will follow your wishes in regards to informing your family and loved ones. Your citizenship will be restored and you''ll receive financial aid due to your status of mentally maimed. You can claim it at the various embassies around the world. Also, Lady Elena... if Lady Anuri and Lady Alina approach us and request to know your location, what would you like us to do?¡± Elena thought for a moment, then replied, ¡°Let them know.¡± Adari nodded. ¡°Understood,¡± he stated and stood up. ¡°I will take my leave now. I wish you peaceful and happy times, Lady Elena, Lady Pokh''Orra, Your Excellency.¡± I stood up as well, then showed him to the door. ¡°Please take good care of her, Your Excellency,¡± Adari requested with a bow. ¡°And I wish you plentiful spoils of war.¡± ¡°Will do, and thanks,¡± I replied. ¡°Have a good evening.¡± He turned around and walked away. I closed the door and went back to the table. Elena was deep in thought, staring down at the table. She''s a tough one, I thought and sat next to her, then rubbed her back. ¡°It''ll be okay,¡± I comforted her. Pokora nodded and patted her shoulder. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± Elena muttered, not looking away from the table. ¡°May I ask for something selfish?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I chuckled. ¡°After the Royal Banquet is over, could we go directly to the Gods?¡± She requested. ¡°I know I''m out of line for asking this, but I''d like to be who I truly am.¡± Oof... I winced. ¡°Sure, we''ll do that,¡± I replied. ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency,¡± she whispered. ¡°My life was a little more... complicated than I thought.¡± ¡°Don''t you mean fun?¡± I corrected her with a laugh. ¡°Think about it. You bagged Perculis and Yulianna.¡± ¡°About that,¡± Pokora spoke up. ¡°Wouldn''t most people know? I mean... everyone knows Nilenna has two partners, but Yulianna''s... love life for a lack of a better term, has been mostly secretive.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Maybe that''s how she likes it,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Eh, true,¡± Pokora agreed. ¡°It''s hard to imagine,¡± Elena sighed. ¡°To think I was in a relationship with two Halves at one point... that must have been quite wild.¡± ¡°HAHAHA,¡± I leaned back and hugged my tummy. ¡°That''s one way to put it!¡± ¡°Or two,¡± Pokora chuckled. ¡°Pfft!¡± Elena choked and laughed. The three of us laughed for a while, sharing jokes to lift Elena''s mood. Still, the woman was surely made of something else to take it that well. Definitely built different, as some would say. Out of Journal Side Chapter 2/? Bonte followed Hanna through the streets of Paarjo. His feline ears shifted on top of his head, picking up sounds around them. Eternia and Perpetua bathed the world in their light still, and would continue to do so for a few more hours. People walked next to them, minding their own business. Going out for a walk without a Halve was a world of difference when it came to the attention Bonte received. Only one every twenty people gave him a passing glance, instead of nine out of ten staring at him with burning interest and curiosity. He was one more Shishi Tigea among the many. An ordinary individual if one didn''t mind his level. Or as he saw it, a shadow lurking behind the scenes. One that knew what most didn''t. Bonte rejoiced in the feeling of being a secretive scout in a classified mission. To truly be the shadow that acts without others knowing. One that did his thing unnoticed and saved the day without being praised for it. Acting outside the law to do what it couldn''t. Dismantling dark organizations during the night and living a peaceful life during the day, acting as if he didn''t know what went down in the shadowy alleys of a city harboring unseen threats to the government. The Ork turned around a corner, snapping the Tigea out of his fantasies. They were approaching their destination. Hanna turned again, walking into an alley between two tall edifices, then approached an unassuming door on the side of the left building. She looked both ways and opened the door, then held it open for Bonte to go in. Once inside, they went up to the third floor, then walked to one of the many doors on the hallway. The Ork produced a key and opened the door to a small apartment. It was a one-bedroom, one-bathroom kind of place. No kitchen, no living room, no dining room either. Bonte chuckled, ¡°Damn, you live like this?¡± Hanna turned her head and sarcastically replied, ¡°Temporary housing. I don''t have the privilege of having an Excellency as benefactor.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Bonte simply shook his head with a sigh. The Ork walked to the bed and sat down, then produced a map of the city. ¡°There are several potential locations we need to search to find Ines,¡± she informed him, pointing at various locations on the map. Bonte nodded and approached the woman. ¡°How about here, here, and here?¡± He probed, pointing at a few red circles drawn on the parchment. Hanna shook her head. ¡°Already went there. I wasn''t exactly looking for Ines, but no information about her came out of what little information I gathered.¡± The Tigea hummed, then inquired, ¡°How tight is it?¡± ¡°Password, membership, and written recommendations,¡± she replied. He thought for a second. ¡°Any pylons nearby?¡± ¡°Only two.¡± She pointed at both the northernmost and closest circles, which were from the places she hadn''t visited. ¡°Any information on Ines'' level?¡± He asked. Hanna nodded. ¡°201 the last time she was seen by her family.¡± ¡°So no third tier skills yet,¡± Bonte muttered, rubbing his chin. ¡°I thought the same,¡± Hanna agreed, giving him a knowing look. ¡°How''s your invisibility skill?¡± ¡°Third tier,¡± he sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Same here,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Illusions?¡± She asked next. ¡°Second,¡± he muttered and scanned the map. ¡°Wait, there''s a Church near this spot,¡± he recalled, pointing at the northernmost circle, ¡°a block away, actually.¡± ¡°Yes, but it''s a maternelle,¡± Hanna pointed out, biting her upper lip. ¡°Exactly,¡± Bonte insisted with a smile. The Ork''s brows scrunched up. ¡°I don''t think I''m following here,¡± she admitted. ¡°Right,¡± the Tigea sighed. ¡°They have Paladins, Inquisitors, and Crusaders constantly protecting the children. If a person that has those classes wants to work at a maternelle, they must have tier three skills,¡± he explained. ¡°They have tighter security than the Royal Palace.¡± ¡°Ahh...¡± Hanna breathed out, then clicked her tongue. ¡°I''m not familiar with anything related to children,¡± she admitted with a frown. ¡°So the wards would mask our tier three skills?¡± Bonte nodded. ¡°That''s right. I practiced my skills near a maternelle when I was young. That kept me out of trouble,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Hmm,¡± Hanna hummed and thought for a second. ¡°We''ll have to use illusions if we want to search the one nearby, then.¡± ¡°Yep,¡± he agreed with a nod. ¡°You''ve dealt with Changelings before... do illusions work well?¡± The Ork stared into the Tigea''s eyes and smiled. ¡°They worked wonders,¡± she assured him. Bonte smiled back. ¡°Good.¡± Out of Journal Side Chapter 3/? A Ferk Dwarf and a Brazi Luzo left through the front door of a tall building, then walked alongside pedestrians towards the east. The streets weren''t as packed as a few hours earlier since the day was nearing its end. A few carriages drove by, pulled by either Tateli or Bhin. The summer''s second shift had ended and the working people walked home to a much needed and deserved rest. Night taverns were opening their doors to those who wanted their services, and morning stores were closing theirs after a day of fruitful business. Watchers either patrolled the streets or stood vigilant at their posts, keeping an eye out and ready to lend a hand. Very few Chasers could be seen around, weapons visible on their person as advertisement of their trade. Performers stood on street corners, playing their instruments and singing. It was calm evening, and pleasant winds gently passed by, signaling the coming of Fall. The Dwarf and the Luzo walked into a small building, then went down a set of stairs. Twenty floors beneath the ground, and illuminated by E''eral lamps, the couple walked into a large underground plaza. Children played at the fountain while adults watched over with warm smiles. High-level Crusaders, Paladins, and Priests stood nearby, all beyond what most people could appraise. Their blue aprons betrayed their role of caretakers related to the Church. A sign stood near the wall to the south. It had a message that read ''The Royal Family of Lumin Kingdom invites all who so desire to a Royal Banquet this 17th of the present month. The Western Gardens will be open to the public. Attendees are required to arrive with only an empty stomach and before noon. Due to space limitations, only 2100 individuals can be served at a time. We appreciate your understanding. Salutations, Prince Rinald Igne Lumin.'' Next to that, a small paper held another message that read ''Jacques Beaumont, you smooth-brained charlatan! Your slanderous words have reached my ears and I will not stand it. If you have any shred of dignity and courage about you, come to the Eastern Watchers Office No. 201 for a duel this 17th before noon. The officers will bear witness without bias to who is right. Disrespectfully, the one you sought to put mud on.'' The Dwarf gave them a passing glance and chuckled. The Luzo took notice of the messages and smiled. ¡°Quite lively,¡± the Dwarf muttered. ¡°Indeed so,¡± the Luzo agreed. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The kept advancing, following a street and taking turns whenever it was required. Soon, they reached their destination: an unassuming house. An Urkila Tigea stood outside, checking a pocket watch. She looked up once the two individuals stopped in front of the building. The three stared at each other in silence. ¡°Well?¡± The Tigea demanded. The Luzo produced a sheet of paper and handed it to the Tigea. ¡°I considered and decided to come,¡± she said, her voice sounding a bit doubtful. ¡°And I brought a good friend who thinks alike.¡± The Dwarf nodded with a tiny frown, enough that it could be seen through his well-groomed beard. The Tigea eyed the paper and then inspected the two. ¡°A Water Weaver?¡± She smiled. ¡°Could I ask you to prove it?¡± The Luzo nodded and extended a hand, where a ball of water formed, then closed her fingers and it dissipated. The Tigea nodded, then turned to the Dwarf. ¡°And a Shade Adept?¡± He nodded and did as the Luzo, but a shadow danced on his palm. ¡°Fair enough,¡± the Tigea accepted and opened the door. ¡°If you cause any trouble, you will be removed with force.¡± The two individuals nodded and went inside. The Tigea followed, guiding them to a small room to the side. ¡°Wait here for a second,¡± she instructed and left the room. A minute later, she returned with another person: a Faeton Elf. ¡°Welcome, dear guests,¡± he greeted the two. ¡°You arrived just in time. A meeting is about to begin,¡± he informed them. ¡°Follow me,¡± he instructed and left the room. The two nodded and did as told. The Elf moved to the back of the house and into the kitchen, where he opened the refrigerator and revealed a tunnel. The three went inside and then down a set of stairs. ¡°What exactly brings you here, if I may ask?¡± The Elf inquired in a light tone. The Dwarf scoffed. ¡°Have you seen that Halve waltzing around as if she owns the place?¡± He spat with disdain. ¡°Never have I felt so angry. She goes in and out of the Royal Palace, probably plotting something unsavory with that clown of a King.¡± The Elf nodded and chuckled, ¡°I''ve noticed. Detestable creature, that one.¡± The Luzo''s eyes squinted at the Elf, but soon regained her composure and added, ¡°It''s such a displeasing sight to see the populace be charmed. Even stopping commerce for a silly show of strength. Ha! Fools, the lot of them.¡± The Elf nodded in agreement. ¡°Your feelings are completely valid, my friends. I share them, too. I want you to know you are not alone. We welcome you with open arms. Our community bars nobody from entry.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± the Luzo confessed, relief evident in her voice. ¡°I''ve grown quite tired of pretending otherwise and trying to convince my peers of the truth.¡± ¡°Hmh,¡± the Dwarf hummed. ¡°Complacent, if you ask me.¡± The Elf laughed in joy. ¡°Most don''t see the wrong of their ways. I am sure you''ll be satisfied when it comes to the discussions we held,¡± he assured them with a warm tone. ¡°There''s none of that conservative narrative here,¡± he added with a tinge of disgust. ¡°We haven''t introduced ourselves,¡± the Luzo began with an apologetic tone. ¡°No need,¡± the Elf interjected. ¡°Names have little weight here. Anonymity is crucial to our discourse.¡± The two nodded in satisfaction. Satisfaction at having infiltrated, that is. Bonte and Hanna, the Dwarf and Luzo respectively, had managed to fool the first layer of security with illusions. Out of Journal Side Chapter 4/? The three reached the end of the stairs and walked into a large room full of people. Dwarfs, Lupum, a few Humans, Tigeas, a couple of Elves, and a Satyr occupied chairs facing the opposite wall, where a wooden dais stood. The white lardelite stone had no decorations, and E''eral lamps hanging from the ceiling illuminated the space. The Elf that guided Bonte and Hanna gestured at the seats with a welcoming smile. ¡°Please, find a spot to your convenience. The meeting is about to begin,¡± he offered. The two nodded and looked around, then walked to a couple of free seats and sat down. The people around them chatted with their neighbors, gossiping about the latest news. ¡°Word has it you have information about an upcoming book by Yinka Plavas,¡± a female Tigea chuckled, leaning on her companion. ¡°Mind sharing what you know?¡± The male Human she was talking to politely laughed, then replied, ¡°Nothing but rumors, friend. I have no such information, I''m afraid,¡± he denied with a shake of his head. ¡°If that were the case, however, you''d be the first to know.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± she purred and placed a hand on his chest. ¡°We could chat about other matters, too, if you''d be so inclined,¡± she offered, giving him a look and shifting her feline ears. The Human let out a polite chuckle that betrayed he wasn''t comfortable. Bonte, disguised as a Dwarf, leaned close to them and muttered, ¡°Ma''am, this is not the place.¡± The Tigea turned her head and eyed him from top to bottom, then met his eyes. A coy smile split her lips. ¡°Could you take me to the right place, then?¡± She inquired in a playful whine. Bonte frowned. The type of person that flocked towards social events of any kind for the main purpose of flirting with others never sat well with him. He never would have thought one of them would be in such a place, too. His facial expression, however, said ''Do you want a fucking slap, then?''. ¡°Oh, feisty,¡± the woman giggled. Hanna scoffed. ¡°How unsophisticated,¡± she mocked. The Tigea gave her a glance, noticing the red scales and dark horns of her disguise. ¡°Mph,¡± she harrumphed and looked forward. The Human gave an appreciative nod to the Dwarf that helped him. Bonte returned the gesture. As if on cue, a Changeling walked up to the dais and waved a hand. They wore a simple gray robe with no decoration or patterns, contrasting with their white-bluish skin and hair. The crowd quieted down. The Changeling looked over the crowd with eyes similar in color to their hair, then smiled. ¡°Welcome, dear friends. I noticed we have a few newcomers,¡± they chuckled. ¡°My name is Kulmonari, a Changeling born in this country just like some of you here. I welcome you to our community, and to the returning friends, welcome back.¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. A few murmurs broke in the crowd, greeting the individual. A few waved their hands, other nodded, other called the Changeling by name. ¡°I''m happy to see you again,¡± Kulmonari cheerfully greeted back to some. ¡°How''s the family doing?¡± They smiled to a few. ¡°I hope work''s going fine, and the summer hasn''t been too harsh on you,¡± they warmly replied to a few attendees. The crowd chuckled and giggled, either replying or staying silent. Once the short exchange of pleasantries was done, Kulmonari continued, ¡°On my way here, I noticed something you might have seen as well, friends.¡± They eyed the audience, and a frown slowly took over their face. ¡°The Royal Family has invited the populace to join them in celebration.¡± People in the crowd shook their heads in disapproval, along with grunts of displeasure. ¡°Now, now,¡± the Changeling chuckled, waving their hands to appease the mild response from the audience. ¡°I think we all agree that the Royal Family is an unsavory group of people, but we must not forget they are... people, too. Just like us. With worries, everyday problems, and difficult situations like choosing which crown to wear for the day, right?¡± The crowd laughed at the little joke with nods of agreement. Kulmonari sighed and rested their hands on the dais, then leaned forward a bit. ¡°The King was ill, as we were all informed. And a Halve of all things came to the rescue.¡± They looked up at the ceiling with a smile. ¡°How convenient. What would the reasoning be to hide the Monarch''s health other than to artificially embolden the Halve''s standing with the populace?¡± The Changeling looked back at the crowd and tilted their head. ¡°And on such a short notice, too. I don''t know about you, but I find it odd. A Halve arrives shorty after being born and having done nothing for the world so far... and bam! A King is ''saved''.¡± Some people nodded in agreement, others opened their eyes in realization while covering their mouths, others clicked their tongues, others scoffed. ¡°I''d love to hear your opinions on the matter,¡± Kulmonari requested with a smile. A few individuals raised their hands. The Changeling nodded and pointed at a Human on the front row. ¡°Come up to the front, friend. Let everyone see and hear you,¡± they offered and stepped aside. The Human stood up and walked to the dais. Kulmonari walked to the empty spot and sat down. ¡°This is obviously a ruse,¡± the Human pointed out to the audience, displeasure evident on her face. ¡°Perculis died, Yulianna leaves... now this one shows up. They have done nothing good in the last three centuries. Their public opinion is in the lowest low. The King is a puppet as we all know, following the orders of powers we can''t stand against. He was used to improve the image of those creatures.¡± She sighed. ¡°Don''t get me wrong... I don''t pity the King since he''s part of the problem. I think Halves have begun to go against their duties and use people instead of protecting them,¡± she finalized with a nod. ¡°That''s what I think.¡± The crowd cheered and clapped, sharing nods of and words of agreement. Kulmonari replaced the Human on the dais and nodded. ¡°That is a very good point, friend. Halves using state agents for their benefit, yes. Just like Yulianna did in Karanva,¡± they recalled. ¡°Yes, going against the people to improve their own image. Before it was the execution of ''corrupt'',¡± they did air quotes, ¡°rulers, now they invent illnesses that a Warrior can heal. They think us stupid, but we see through their lies.¡± The crowd nodded. Kulmonari hummed in thought, then eyed the audience. ¡°Would it be strange to consider this as them against us?¡± They inquired the sitting people. ¡°With the amount of deceit present, would be it be too far-fetched?¡± A few shook their heads, some thought about it, others shrugged. ¡°It''s not, friend,¡± a person called out from the crowd. ¡°They seek to fool us so they can continue being powerful and free of consequence!¡± Kulmonari nodded. ¡°How free of consequence are them, though?¡± They asked the air. ¡°Maybe small actions could be the start. How about,¡± the Changeling took a pause, as if considering the next words, ¡°we deny that creature service? Some of you are business owners. Would denying that thing service be a loss? I would love to hear what you have to say,¡± they offered with a warm smile. Over ninety percent of those present raised their hands. Kulmonari''s smile widened. Out of Journal Side Chapter 5/? Bonte and Hanna watched in disgust as the audience slowly joined the sentiment of denying any and all services to Natasha. Although not in concrete terms, there was a subliminal agreement among the business owners to make up some excuse if the Halve approached their stores. ¡°It would be terrible if all my products were reserved for the foreseeable future,¡± a Shishi Tigea chuckled a few rows to the front. ¡°Right, summer hasn''t been kind so the amount of produce went down,¡± an Argo Dwarf laughed to the left. ¡°We have to prioritize our regular customers, after all.¡± ¡°That thing''s companions, too,¡± one of the Elves at the front row pointed out, then sarcastically added, ¡°I''m sure our services pale in comparison to what the Halve can provide.¡± Their words were mocking, non-committal, and attempted to avoid incrimination. Every time someone added to the fuel, Kulmonari praised them with big nods. ¡°As for your question, my friend,¡± an old Auno Dwarf with plenty of wrinkles on her face addressed the Changeling. ¡°There would be no loss. We''ve ran our businesses for quite a while now, and depending on our individual approaches, nothing would seem out of the ordinary.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the leader-like individual replied. ¡°Thank you for answering my concerns. I was simply worried about everyone,¡± they admitted with an apologetic smile. ¡°I don''t want you to get in trouble, is all.¡± Bonte wanted to shake his head in disapproval but kept his cool. Hanna had a deep scowl on her face, however. She disguised her disgust with nods that could be taken as support, though. For the following hour the two listened and watched people share their ideals, opinions on various matters, personal theories-of which there was an abundance-, assumptions, and more. The debate or discussion the Elf that guided them had mentioned were nothing more than a bubble of rubbing and recycling what others said, yet they got applause as response and overwhelming support each and every time. By the time the meeting was nearing its end, every participant had gone up to the dais except for those who were there for the first time. Those would be Bonte, Hanna, the flirty Tigea, and the Human she was harassing. ¡°Now friends,¡± the Changeling began, taking a deep breath with a big smile. ¡°As much as it pains me to say... we''ve ran out of time.¡± The audience nodded in understanding. ¡°Please follow the people who guided you today, be respectful to each other, take good care of yourselves, and I''ll see you next week,¡± Kulmonari announced with open arms. ¡°Spread the word if you can, friends.¡± The audience stood up and slowly made their way to various individuals around the room, probably those who had guided them. ¡°Excuse me,¡± a voice came from behind Bonte. The man turned to the source. The Elf that guided them there stood with a polite smile. ¡°We have a procedure to welcome new members, if you wish to partake in it,¡± he offered. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Bonte looked up to the man and gave a short nod. ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡± Hanna simply nodded, a frown on her face. The Elf noticed it and arched an eyebrow. ¡°Anything the matter, friend?¡± The disguised woman sighed. ¡°My eyes were opened today,¡± she muttered. ¡°Quite illuminating.¡± ¡°I''m glad to hear that,¡± the guide chuckled. ¡°Would you like to follow as well?¡± Hanna nodded, looking deep in thought. ¡°Perfect,¡± the Elf cheered and turned to the other two newcomers. ¡°Excuse me, friends...¡± After a short exchange, the Elf convinced both Tigea and Human to join the welcoming procedure. The Tigea had a neutral expression on her face, the king that has nothing better to do but would agree if the invitation is interesting enough. The Human had a doubtful expression, but looked like he could be convinced if given the proper push. And so, the four followed the Elf through the sea of people towards one of the room''s exits and into a tunnel that led to the back of the room. After a few minutes of silently walking through brightly lit and empty corridors, they arrived at a lone door. The guide knocked three times, took a pause, then knocked two times, then paused again, and finally knocked once. ¡°Come in,¡± replied a voice Bonte had grown tired of hearing. The Elf opened the door and gestured the four to go inside. Kulmonari was sitting on a chair, holding a book with their left hand and holding a pipe with their right hand. Bonte, Hanna, the Tigea, and the Human walked in. The Elf closed the door behind them, staying outside the room. The room itself was pretty sober. A desk, a small bookshelf, and a few chairs. A simple chandelier hung from the ceiling. ¡°What do you think of today''s meeting, friends?¡± Kulmonari asked the four, then put their lips on the pipe and inhaled. ¡°I admit I''m not quite convinced,¡± the Human spoke first. ¡°I apologize if I offend you, but I think the very idea that Halves are unnecessary is flawed. I agree that they hold too much influence and authority, however.¡± The Changeling nodded and blew out smoke. ¡°Hmm,¡± they hummed. ¡°I see. I was like you, once. Hopeful, optimistic, and... naive.¡± The smell of burnt hemp drifted towards them. Bonte had to make great efforts to avoid pinching his nose. Dwarves weren''t as sensitive to smells as Tigeas, after all. Hanna was unbothered by it. The Human had no reaction. The flirty Tigea openly waved her hands in front of her face. ¡°Naive?¡± The Human repeated in confusion. ¡°What if a Wild Dragon descends on Paarjo, then?¡± ¡°The Army and Chasers can handle that,¡± Kulmonari replied. ¡°Giants?¡± The Human insisted. ¡°You''d be surprised to know there are people as powerful as Halves, especially the new one,¡± the Changeling simply stated, then took another drag from the pipe. ¡°How powerful is it?¡± Bonte inquired, almost cringing at how he referred to his friend. Kulmonari eyed Bonte and smiled. ¡°One of our agents came across it''s level in Riverfield during an investigation. A Cleric helped the Halve write a form for the Church. We''re talking around level 1300,¡± they replied. Bonte hummed and appraised the Changeling. [Changeling, Lvl 192 Deceiver] Hanna did as well and turned to her temporary partner. It was now or never. Out of Journal Side Chapter 6/? ¡°Well,¡± Bonte began with a sigh. ¡°You see... I have an acquaintance that works in Split Tower. I''ve heard from them that the Halve went out with a Scout and an Archer earlier today. Turns out, they visited Danuva''s Sanctuary and had a chat with a couple of Tiny Laples.¡± Kulmonari''s eyebrows went up. ¡°You''re well informed,¡± the Changeling commented. Hanna sighed. ¡°We want to know if we''re safe, Kulmonari,¡± she challenged. Kulmonari''s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Why would we not be?¡± They probed. ¡°What''s this about?¡± The Human inquired with an uncertain tone. Bonte sighed. ¡°The Halve is looking for someone... who is rumored to have been in touch with Changelings,¡± he informed the people in the room. ¡°If there''s any connection, and if the Halve somehow barges in during a meeting... well, I believe you can imagine what happens next.¡± The room was silent for a few seconds. ¡°I was not informed of this,¡± Kulmonari muttered, then smoked from the pipe. The Changeling looked at the Tigea and the Human while blowing out a white cloud. ¡°I think you should return home,¡± they suggested. The Tigea shrugged and walked towards the door, then left. The Human waited a little and left soon after. Once the three were alone, Kulmonari stood up and stored the pipe, then looked at the two. ¡°Can I ask you to tell me what you know?¡± Hanna nodded. ¡°As you know, it''s not hard to get information around here,¡± she began, walking around the room. ¡°Right,¡± the Changeling agreed with a nod. ¡°We approach things with caution, so we asked around,¡± Bonte disclosed, brushing his fake beard. ¡°We learned about a missing person a few weeks ago when we decided to come,¡± Hanna continued. ¡°An acquaintance of mine told me about an Ines Roy,¡± she pointed out, looking into Kulmonari''s eyes. ¡°Ring a bell?¡± The Changeling squinted at her, then slowly nodded. Bonte sighed in relief. ¡°We don''t know why, but the Halve is looking for her,¡± he stressed with a shake of his head. ¡°And if your group has any connection, we''d like to know before officially joining you. We don''t fancy dying at the hands of that thing, after all.¡± ¡°I don''t see how the two are related, friends,¡± Kulmonari chuckled. Hanna let out an irritated sigh. ¡°Wake the fuck up, Kulmonari,¡± she spat. ¡°Monarchs have been killed for less. If the Halve wants to incriminate your group along with everyone involved for, let''s say, plotting to kill the King, I think we should know if there''s any involvement.¡± ¡°They lied about the illness,¡± Bonte recalled. ¡°They could just say this is a group attempting a malicious coup by poisoning the King, or something else.¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Maybe the illness was caused by your group,¡± Hanna suggested. ¡°Now, I don''t want to come across as antagonistic towards your species, but shape-shifters are an easy target to blame in the current situation. I''m simply conveying my concerns.¡± ¡°Especially if the Halve has previous interactions with Changelings that weren''t amicable,¡± Bonte speculated with a sigh. ¡°It''d be the Halve''s word against ours. And we know how biased the people are, not to mention the Watchers and the Church.¡± ¡°Who''s to say the Watchers would have the opportunity to get involved?¡± Hanna contemplated. ¡°The Halve could kill us all and then use the King to explain it away to the masses.¡± ¡°They''d see it as the Halve saving the King two times, along with anyone that could have gotten caught in the middle,¡± Bonte analyzed, crossing his arms. ¡°It''s not hard for them to make shit up.¡± Kulmonari was silently observing the two. There was a hint of desperation in their tones. They wanted to be a part of the group, that was obvious to the Changeling. The two wanted a community that shared their way of thinking while also making sure that joining said community wouldn''t end up in death. An understandable and unfortunately very real worry. If the subject matter was only Royalty, the worst that could happen would be warnings and being under the surveillance of Watchers to prevent an unjustified uprising. Their criticism included Halves, however. There are no rules, protocols, set procedures, or ways to approach dissent when it comes to Halves. Nobody with a drop self-awareness would protect people who go against Halves, either. Not the Law, not the Church, not the Government, not the Watchers, not even the common criminal. And that made the desire for change burn hotter. If they criticized the Halve''s deceitful approach, it would only be reasonable for them to embrace honesty when seeking change. And honesty is always good when reassuring people they''d be safe to join a community. Kulmonari sighed. ¡°Yes, we''re connected,¡± the Changeling admitted with a frown. ¡°But fear not, friends. Ines joined us willingly. You''re not in danger.¡± Bonte and Hanna frowned. ¡°What if the Halve finds her? That woman worked at the Royal Palace, did she not?¡± Hanna considered. ¡°What if she''s sitting next to us during a meeting?¡± Bonte supposed. ¡°If the Halve gets there with the intention of incriminating Ines with attempting to kill King Gordon, I doubt words would suffice.¡± ¡°We need to know where not to go, Kulmonari,¡± Hanna finalized with a strict tone. ¡°While we support everything going on here, we don''t want to die.¡± Kulmonari sighed, then produced the pipe and lit it up. After a long drag, the Changeling muttered, ¡°Don''t go north.¡± The two nodded. ¡°Also,¡± Hanna continued in a lighter tone. ¡°I heard a brave few tried to kill that creature,¡± she chuckled. Kulmonari relaxed and smiled. ¡°Yes, a few colleagues tried to poison it. Alas, the nikontia I acquired wasn''t enough,¡± the Changeling lamented. Hanna''s eyes widened along with her smile. ¡°So you were involved?¡± She asked with shiny eyes. Bonte sighed and shook his head. ¡°That''s right, I-¡± Kulmonari started. Hanna moved with lightning speed and cut the Changeling''s throat open. Kulmonari''s eyes widened in shock, pain, surprise, and fear. The Changeling grabbed their neck with both hands to try and stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, the Ork cut arteries, veins, muscles, and windpipe. ¡°Death to those who betray the Eternals,¡± Hanna declared, glaring at the Changeling. Out of Journal Side Chapter 7/? Bonte''s eyes widened in surprise at Hanna''s actions. ¡°Ayo, what the fuck are you doing?!¡± He blurted out and rushed to the Changeling while retrieving a healing potion. Hanna moved to stop him. ¡°They were involved in trying to kill Her Excellency!¡± She argued. The Tigea roughly pushed her to the side. ¡°Where''s your finesse, woman?¡± He demanded. The Ork''s face turned to surprise at failing to resist the man''s strength, taking a few steps backwards. His equipment far surpassed hers, giving him enough stats to overwhelm her efforts. Bonte popped the flask''s cork, then pried Kulmonari''s throat open with his free hand and poured the liquid straight down the esophagus. The Changeling''s robe was covered in blood, as was the floor beneath them along with theirs and Bonte''s hands. Hanna sighed in irritation, ¡°Why are you helping-?¡± Bonte clicked his tongue. ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± He interrupted her. ¡°Scout''s Code rule number 3: Don''t engage in combat unless the other party attacks first, especially if those involved are Scouts,¡± he recited while moving Kulmonari back to the chair. The bleeding stopped and the wound slowly closed shut, leaving no evidence of the attack. Hanna simply shook her head in annoyance. ¡°Look,¡± Bonte began, turning to her with a serious face. ¡°I get you, I do... but don''t just try to kill them like that. They deserve to know why at the very least.¡± Kulmonari was still in shock, breathing roughly after having their neck sliced open and then healed in a matter of seconds. Bonte put the cork back in place and stored the flask with a long sigh. ¡°Who are you?¡± Kulmonari demanded, eyeing the two with heavy apprehension and fear. ¡°See?¡± Bonte gave Hanna a look, then turned to the Changeling. ¡°We''re Her Excellency Natasha''s acquaintances,¡± he explained. Kulmonari frowned and looked away. ¡°I need you to tell me where Ines is,¡± he insisted. ¡°That''s all we want.¡± ¡°You''ll kill me if I tell you,¡± Kulmonari muttered, shaking their head. ¡°Yes,¡± Hanna uttered. ¡°No,¡± Bonte quickly said, giving the woman a look. ¡°No, we''re not killing anyone.¡± The Ork rolled her eyes and huffed. The Changeling scoffed. ¡°I''ve done nothing illegal,¡± they pointed out. ¡°We''re not Watchers,¡± Hanna revealed, taking a step towards them and placing the dagger that almost took their life back on their throat as a threat. ¡°We don''t care about laws.¡± Kulmonari didn''t reply to that, and instead changed the subject. ¡°What was that potion? It healed me completely,¡± they inquired. ¡°Halven item,¡± Bonte replied. ¡°Now, tell us where Ines is. We''ll be on our way after that.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The Changeling scowled. ¡°Halven item? You should''ve let me die,¡± they spat. ¡°Maybe,¡± Bonte agreed. ¡°But I don''t fancy seeing people die in front of me.¡± Kulmonari chuckled, ¡°You''ve got some sense in you, even though you''re helping that creature...¡± Bonte shrugged. ¡°I don''t care about that,¡± he deapanned. ¡°Were is Ines?¡± Kulmonari analyzed the situation. The woman had tried to kill them, but the man was quick to save their life at the expense of a Halven item... much to their distaste at the item''s origin. ¡°I already told you,¡± the Changeling pointed out and crossed their arms. Hanna removed the dagger from their neck and stored it, then balled a fist and pulled it back. ¡°Not what we asked,¡± she warned, threatening to punch them. ¡°You did, but ''north'' has more than one hundred and fifty square kilometers of land, not considering Paarjo''s height,¡± Bonte argued. ¡°We need to know where exactly.¡± ¡°You won''t kill me?¡± Kulmonari insisted with uncertainty. Bonte nodded. ¡°You have my word,¡± he assured them. The Changeling thought for a while. Kulmonari was a coward, after all. They had stayed behind after acquiring the poison their colleagues used to try to kill the Halve. They had been a part of the organization for a century, choosing to stay within walls and deal with gullible people. Their confrontation skills were pretty much non-existent. The only people with concrete convictions Kulmonari knew were the leaders of the group, but they shared ideals so there was never a chance to challenge others on what they thought. Now, however, Kulmonari was facing a woman who would willingly kill for Halves, and an otherwise friendly man... even though he supported those creatures'' existence. The Changeling never liked pain, and the Ork''s tight fist that threatened to break their face made them feel cornered beyond measure. There was no plotting that would get Kulmonari out of the situation. It had come suddenly and without a warning so the Changeling''s mind was still processing the moment the Ork had cut their throat. ¡°Answer,¡± Hanna pushed, and flung a fist. Kulmonari flinched and covered their face. Bonte moved his hand and caught the promise of pain. ¡°Come on,¡± he chastised her. ¡°Let''s talk this out.¡± The Ork clicked her tongue. ¡°You''re too soft,¡± she accused him. ¡°And you''re fucked up in the head,¡± he retorted. ¡°There''s no need for violence.¡± ¡°Warehouse No. 342, Tarrin Street, seven floor underground where Blue Flower Street meets Golden Sunset Avenue,¡± Kulmonari quickly yelped with a sob, still covering their face. Bonte sighed in relief. ¡°See, that wasn''t so hard...¡± he praised. The Changeling lowered their arms and looked down at the ground. ¡°Now, leave me be,¡± they pleaded, eyebrows furrowed and lips shaking. Bonte nodded and started laughing. Kulmonari looked up at him with apprehension. ¡°W-what?¡± ¡°You see,¡± the Tigea began, pulling a fist back. ¡°I was acting,¡± he revealed and punched the Changeling on the nose, breaking it completely. ¡°Augh!¡± Kulmonari reeled back, pushing the chair and falling on the ground. ¡°That was for trying to kill my friend,¡± he spat with disdain, then turned to Hanna. ¡°All yours.¡± The Ork sighed. ¡°Your plans are too confusing,¡± she pointed out and retrieved a dagger. ¡°I''ll admit this dynamic was pretty entertaining. Playing the bad gal is pretty fun,¡± she giggled and walked to the Changeling. ¡°Wait!¡± Kulmonari yelped, grabbing their nose with their right hand and lifting the other in an attempt at protecting their body. ¡°Please! I told you where Ines is!¡± ¡°And?¡± Hanna snorted, kicking the Changeling''s arm away and breaking it. ¡°You lot tried to kill a Protector. Not so fun when you''re on the receiving end, huh?¡± The Changeling turned to Bonte. ¡°You promised!¡± Bonte shrugged. ¡°I lied,¡± he simply said. ¡°You do that a lot, right? We know about the Demon.¡± Kulmonari''s eyes widened and opened their mouth to scream. Hanna stepped on their throat, silencing them. Then, with a swift movement, she stabbed the Changeling''s heart. A long, labored wheeze left Kulmonari as life escaped them. After a few seconds, their eyes lost the light of life. Hanna absorbed the released E''er and sighed, ¡°One down.¡± Out of Journal Side Chapter 8/? ¡°Has Her Excellency seen a Changeling?¡± Hanna asked, standing over Kulmonari''s dead body. Bonte shook his head. ¡°No clue,¡± he replied. The Ork nodded and pulled the body into her storage item. ¡°We should leave,¡± she muttered and started cleaning the blood off of her. The Tigea agreed and changed clothes. Even though their illusions were still functioning, walking around with bloodied clothes wasn''t a comfortable thing to do. The smell would be an issue as well. The two then left the room and made their way through empty corridors towards the exit with quick steps. Things had gone smoothly, and the Elf that brought them in was nowhere to be found after escorting the other Tigea and the Human out. Still, they were cautious. They had just killed one of the members of the group, after all. Bonte kept an ear out for anyone that could get in their way and guided Hanna to avoid encountering guards, taking turns and detours through the maze that was the underground. After a few minutes, they came out to the streets and towards an inn. There, they changed their illusions'' appearance and silently left through a window. They walked back to the plaza they had went through earlier and hid in the shadows cast by a building, then calmly went up to the city''s surface. ¡°No tail,¡± Bonte confirmed after a few minutes of walking next to Hanna. The Ork nodded and guided the Tigea into an alley, where they dropped their disguises and invisibility. ¡°We should assume they already found Kulmonari''s blood,¡± Bonte commented, leaning on the wall. Hanna nodded. ¡°That''d be ideal,¡± she muttered. ¡°The message is pretty clear.¡± ¡°That''s right,¡± he agreed, looking towards the street where a carriage was passing through. ¡°I have to admit your acting was pretty good,¡± he praised the woman. She chuckled, ¡°Not as good as yours.¡± Bonte laughed and crouched, then checked his equipment. Hanna eyed the high quality daggers with interest. ¡°Those look impressive,¡± she pointed out, crouching in front of him. He smiled. ¡°Legendary Quality,¡± he bragged with a smug grin. ¡°Halven item?¡± She probed with shiny eyes. Bonte nodded. ¡°Natasha gave them to me after a dungeon Delve,¡± he shared. ¡°They cut like nothing made by mortals.¡± Hanna whistled in surprise. ¡°What''s the name?¡± ¡°Throat Cutters,¡± he chuckled. She nodded approvingly. ¡°Would be better if they were called Monarch Slayers, though,¡± she commented with a small smile. ¡°That sounds like something those Changelings would love,¡± he retorted with a sigh. ¡°If they weren''t all talk, sure,¡± Hanna laughed. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Bonte let out an amused scoff. The last rays of sunlight disappeared from the sky at that moment. The suns had completed their plunge into the horizon. ¡°That meeting took longer than expected,¡± Hanna complained, looking up to the sky. ¡°It did,¡± Bonte agreed, looking up as well. ¡°Looks like we''ll have to continue tomorrow. I doubt Ines sleeps at the warehouse.¡± ¡°Word about Kulmonaris'' death will spread by then,¡± Hanna argued, looking back at him. ¡°We should go now.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Bonte thought for a second. ¡°Do you think they''ll relocate everybody?¡± Hanna nodded. ¡°That happened every time I went to one of their hiding spots.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± he agreed and stood up. ¡°Let''s go.¡± Hanna copied him. ¡°Also,¡± she began, turning to the street. ¡°We should spend the night together after we''re done.¡± Bonte gave her a complicated face. ¡°I have a girlfriend, so I''ll have to decline.¡± The Ork tilted her head in confusion for a second, then sighed and closed her eyes. ¡°I didn''t mean it like that...¡± ¡°Then why?¡± He tentatively probed, genuinely confused. ¡°When they hear Kulmonari died, they''ll suspect your party was involved and put sentries around your place,¡± she pointed out. Bonte stared at Hanna for a second. ¡°And?¡± ¡°What if they attack one of you?¡± She inquired. ¡°They''ll die if they even try,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Natasha''s a Warrior. She can kill anyone before they lift a hand. I''ve seen her fight.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± the Ork stubbornly pointed out. ¡°Her Excellency didn''t look that violent at the Arena.¡± Bonte laughed. ¡°She was holding back, like, a lot...¡± Hanna''s eyes shone with interest. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°She can kill level 900 monsters with a single swing of her spear,¡± he told her with a smile. ¡°In an instant.¡± ¡°Hooh?¡± She leaned closer. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°She can run faster than sound,¡± he continued. ¡°Whenever she throws her spear, a loud shockwave follows, turning whatever it impacted into minced meat. She doesn''t hesitate to go all out when it comes to threats, too. She killed a Giganto Cyclops by herself in like, a minute.¡± Hanna arched an eyebrow at the last bit. ¡°A Giganto Cyclops? When?¡± ¡°The day before we got here,¡± Bonte chuckled. ¡°She used a fire-based weapon that burned as hot as a sun.¡± ¡°No, no...¡± Hanna shook her head. ¡°The group we''re dealing with had gotten their hands on some Giganto Cyclops.¡± ¡°How?¡± Bonte inquired in surprise. ¡°I don''t know,¡± Hanna replied, shaking her head. ¡°I believe that''s the third party I mentioned earlier today when I met Her Excellency.¡± ¡°The Giganto Cyclops, or someone that can command them?¡± He asked in a serious tone. ¡°The latter,¡± Hanna confirmed with a frown. ¡°They''ve gotten someone that can control monsters like Elena can.¡± Bonte rubbed his chin and clicked his tongue. ¡°Well, fuck. Why didn''t you tell this to Natasha?¡± The Ork hesitated for a second. ¡°I... didn''t want to tell Her Excellency something I had no proof of.¡± ¡°This is more complicated than I initially thought,¡± Bonte muttered. ¡°But you said Her Excellency killed one super fast and by herself,¡± Hanna pointed out. Bonte shook his head. ¡°No, I meant their scope is larger than expected. Not only do they manipulate people, monsters as well?¡± ¡°And right after they tried to kill her...¡± Hanna considered. ¡°But they should''ve known a Giganto Cyclops is no threat to a Halve Warrior...¡± ¡°Unless it was a message...¡± Bonte concluded. ¡°I thought it was a coincidence back then.¡± ¡°Well, we should let Her Excellency know after we finish our business,¡± the Ork finalized. ¡°She''ll know what to do.¡± Bonte nodded. ¡°You''re right, we should. Let''s get going, then.¡± And so, both disappeared into the night to finish their task and then inform Natasha. Because Natasha would definitely know what to do, right? Right...? Out of Journal Side Chapter 9/? A few hours later, Bonte and Hanna stood outside of Split Tower. The tall building towered over those nearby, and the light of the rooms bled out into the night making for a beautiful sight. The streets were mostly empty save for the few people going to taverns and enjoying Parjo''s night life. The two walked to the entrance of the building, where Hanna stopped. Bonte noticed and turned to her. ¡°What''s up?¡± He asked. The Ork looked up at the building for a second. ¡°Nothing... I''m just nervous,¡± she replied with a sigh. The Tigea''s eyebrows scrunched up. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Her Excellency is so... I don''t know...¡± she hesitated. ¡°Imposing? I hope I made a good first impression.¡± An amused smile formed on Bonte''s face. ¡°Imposing? She''s a chill woman,¡± he chuckled. Hanna blinked a few times. ¡°Chill?¡± She scoffed. ¡°It''s hard to think of a Halve as chill, to be honest.¡± ¡°You''d be surprised,¡± he sighed and walked into the building. ¡°Come on.¡± Hanna took a deep breath and let out a long sigh, then followed Bonte. The concierge gave the man a nod that was returned. Both went up the stairs in silence and reached the apartment, where Bonte retrieved a key and opened the door. Natasha was sitting at the dining table next to Pokora. They were drinking alcohol and chatting. The rest were nowhere to be seen. The two women turned their heads to the door. Natasha''s eyebrows climbed her forehead, then checked her pocket watch. She stood up and walked to the newcomers. Hanna looked down at the floor. ¡°How did it go?¡± The Halve asked the Tigea. ¡°Pretty good,¡± he replied and walked in. Hanna stood outside the door, waiting for permission to enter. Natasha stared at her for a second. ¡°You going in or what?¡± ¡°Forgive my intrusion, Your Excellency,¡± the Ork muttered and walked inside. The Halve sighed and ran a hand through her hair, then turned to the table. ¡°Have a seat,¡± she offered. ¡°Ohh!¡± Bonte cheered and took a seat in front of Pokora. ¡°What are we drinking?¡± ¡°Potato spirit,¡± replied the Elf with her monotone voice and emotionless face. ¡°Nice!¡± Bonte chuckled and served himself a glass. Natasha returned to her spot next to Pokora and glanced at Hanna. The Ork was standing next tot he table, looking at the floor. ¡°Hanna,¡± the Halve called. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency?¡± The woman quickly answered. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Natasha took a sip of her glass and sighed. ¡°Do you drink?¡± ¡°No, Your Excellency. I don''t,¡± she quietly replied. The Halve nodded. ¡°How about you take a seat and tell me what you found?¡± The Ork nodded and sat next to the Tigea, still looking down. ¡°So,¡± Bonte began, taking a long gulp of alcohol. ¡°We went to a meeting of sorts. They shared shitty opinions, stupid ideas, and came up with an imbecilic plan,¡± he recounted. ¡°About?¡± Natasha questioned and drank more alcohol. ¡°They plan on denying you service, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna replied. ¡°How many people were there,¡± the Halve inquired in a curious tone. ¡°Around a hundred people,¡± Bonte gave an estimate. ¡°Meh,¡± Natasha scoffed and shrugged. ¡°Like that makes a fucking difference. We''ll be leaving soon so I don''t give much of a fuck about what they''ll do.¡± Pokora chuckled. ¡°Not like it''s the first time I face discrimination,¡± the Halve pointed out. ¡°Who was behind this, by the way?¡± ¡°A Changeling named Kulmonari,¡± Hanna quickly answered. ¡°Kulmonari...¡± Natasha repeated. ¡°That''s a cool name. Related to the Yugulari fellow?¡± Bonte nodded. ¡°Both in the same group. They got the nikontia Yugulari used to poison your drink.¡± Natasha''s eyes widened a little, then she glared at her glass. ¡°Where is this Kulmonari fucker?¡± Hanna smiled. ¡°Dead,¡± she informed her. ¡°Good,¡± Natasha stated. ¡°I hope you made it painful.¡± The Ork was silent for a few seconds, then bit her lower lip. ¡°Eh, it''s whatever,¡± the Halve sighed. ¡°I was going to kill that little shit anyway.¡± Hanna lowered her head. ¡°I apologize for taking Your Excellency''s kill,¡± she blurted out. Natasha chuckled. ¡°It''s alright,¡± she assured her. ¡°And if the opportunity to kill Yugulari presents itself, I hope you leave that insolent fuck to me.¡± ¡°Will do, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna promised with a relaxed smile. Pokora turned to Natasha. ¡°You''ll kill them?¡± The Halve scoffed. ¡°Obviously,¡± she said. ¡°You know how it goes... ''If you want to kill, be prepared to die'', or something along those lines.¡± ¡°What if they surrender?¡± Pokora challenged. ¡°They won''t,¡± Natasha instantly replied. ¡°I''ll cut their tongues before they can even speak.¡± The Elf sighed and shook her head. Bonte chuckled. Hanna smiled. ¡°What about Thavas and Pneumix, Your Excellency?¡± She inquired. ¡°Should I leave those two to you as well?¡± Natasha tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Pardon? Isn''t Yugulari''s name Yugulari Thavas Pneumix?¡± ¡°No, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna corrected her with a respectful tone. ¡°They are three different individuals.¡± ¡°I... see,¡± the Warrior muttered. ¡°Yeah, leave them to me.¡± ¡°Will do,¡± Hanna replied with a nod. ¡°Why not bring them to the Watchers?¡± Pokora questioned, then took a sip of her glass. Natasha gave the woman a look that said ''the fuck you on about?''. ¡°Trying to kill me gets them a century in prison at best. I want them dead.¡± ¡°Why?¡± The Arched insisted. ¡°Haaa...¡± Natasha let out a long sigh. ¡°Because otherwise they''ll get out of prison and continue doing shady shit. While they''re in prison, they may contact someone and do their bidding. They may do some wild prison break bullshit or something. Killing them makes the chances of anything else happening zero.¡± Pokora sighed as well. ¡°But killing them will justify their belief of ''Halves bad''...¡± The Halve nodded. ¡°And I don''t give a fuck,¡± she chuckled. ¡°If they want me dead, they have to face the consequences... which is death.¡± ¡°You''re dealing in absolutes,¡± the Elf warned her in a joking tone. ¡°Anger is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... unnatural,¡± Natasha replied, also in a joking tone. The two laughed and brought their glasses together, then drank. Bonte and Hanna shared a confused look. Natasha put her glass down and addressed the Tigea and Ork. ¡°So, did you learn anything about Ines?¡± Bonte scoffed. Hanna nodded. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. She joined the Changelings'' group willingly, leaving her family behind.¡± The Halve frowned and her eyebrows knotted together. Her hands tightened until the glass broke. ¡°That bitch!¡± Out of Journal Side Chapter 10/? Hanna froze at the Halve''s outburst of anger. Natasha''s entire body started glowing brighter than the suns, and her eyes turned completely golden. She raised a hand and balled it into a fist. Bonte and Pokora vanished from their spots immediately. The Tigea had the foresight of taking the alcohol with him, however. The Ork didn''t know what to do. Running wouldn''t help. It''s an angry Halve, after all! A Warrior Halve at that!! Hanna closed her eyes, resigning herself to fate. The instant stretched to a few seconds, then to a full minute. Fate didn''t come. Instead, a very deep breath and a very long sigh reached the Scout''s ears. ¡°Okay... fine...¡± Natasha muttered, running her hands through her hair. ¡°I''m cool. I''m fine,¡± she sighed. ¡°I breathe in the calm and exhale the toxic,¡± she chanted and took deep breaths. ¡°Nobody makes me angry but myself.¡± Hanna cracked an eye open and saw the woman in front of her had a face that wouldn''t forgive any slight. Not even from a newborn. She was baring her teeth, her eyes were glaring at the table, her eyebrows were knitted so tightly they looked like lightning bolts, her nose was scrunched up, and her neck had a thick vein visibly pumping at a fast pace. That was definitely not the face of someone who''s cool and fine about the situation. The Ork took it all in. The gold, the light, the anger, the attempt at control, the taught muscles struggling to release in the form of violence. Still, Hanna was quite confused. The Halve had shown no signs of anger when discussing those that attempted to kill her. Disdain, apathy, and derision would be the words Hanna would use to describe the reaction. That was understandable. A Halve is a Higher Being, after all. Born and living at the top of the world, and looking down at it from their elevated positions. It would be natural, too, if they were arrogant. Some were, most weren''t. Yulianna was, or so Hanna had heard. And with reason. Someone with such a high mastery over E''er and carrying such authority by virtue of existence would have all the rights to be arrogant in the Ork''s eyes. And yet the Halve in front of her was not quite like that. She had invited Hanna to sit at her table without much trouble. She hadn''t demanded anything, but requested it. Every question was posed in a way such that the Scout had the option to refuse to answer. Yet the mention of a nobody leaving her family had inflamed her in such a way that she was burning with anger almost in a literal sense. Was Her Excellency an empathetic woman? Hanna looked at Natasha''s face for a few seconds. That was not the case. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Those wrathful eyes were not those of a person feeling for another, but of someone remembering an old pain. A similar injustice, in a way. That confused Hanna even more. Natasha Novak was two months and fifteen days old if Hanna''s source of information was to be believed in full. Not a week had passed and the Halve had already found two partners. There was no point in time that would indicate she was on the receiving end of a similar situation. Of having someone leave her without prior notice, not allowing closure in the slightest. Parents? Halves do not have those. Galeia, the all-mother, does not abandon. It is both physically and spiritually impossible. Gods? As far as Hanna knew, Natasha had not met any as of right now. Lovers? Who would be the fool? What line would Natasha have to cross that would justify abandoning her? And who would agree to be with a Halve and still be put off by what their duty would entail? Hanna was missing something. Things didn''t quite make sense to her. What would make a Halve this angry? No... What could? A world-ending threat? Surely. An abusing tyrant? Naturally. War? Obviously. A Giant invasion? Perhaps. A random woman who was led astray and ended up abandoning her family? Made no sense. Was Hanna looking at it the wrong way? Probably. There was the option that the Halve had one too many houses built in her floating island, as the saying goes. Perhaps the fact Hanna had taken her kill had affected her more than she let on. That and learning that there were three people aiming for her life instead of one. Maybe the news of the people planning to deny her service touched a nerve. All that combined could have resulted in the last piece of information managing to boil her pot. But Hanna didn''t think the Halve would have such a low boiling point. They were a bunch of mortals, after all. Unless Natasha had a short fuse to begin with... Hanna smiled at the realization that maybe the Halve wasn''t particularly weak-willed, but that she had low tolerance to the masses misbehaving. The desire to know more took root in Hanna''s heart. She wanted to unravel the mystery that was the woman in front of her. To discover the many faces she could make. Because an angry Halve was, to Hanna''s opinion, the hottest thing there is. A hand touching her shoulder brought Hanna back to reality. She turned to the person only to find Bonte. ¡°Get over here!¡± He whispered with a panicked face. Pokora was in the kitchen, hiding behind the fridge and gesturing at them to hurry and hide. Once again, Hanna was confused. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡± She uttered. ¡°Pokora,¡± Natasha called in a dead-serious voice. The Elf cringed and sighed. She walked out of her hiding spot and placed a hand on her hip. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I need a calm mind,¡± the Halve continued. ¡°How bad would it be if I torture Ines to death?¡± ¡°Pretty fucking yikes,¡± the Archer deadpanned. The Warrior nodded. ¡°Right,¡± she agreed and rubbed her chin. Pokora walked over to the table while observing Natasha. ¡°You cool?¡± She asked a few meters away. Bonte made his way to Natasha and massaged her shoulders. ¡°Breath in, buddy. Let''s calm down.¡± The halve took a deep breath and let it out. The Tigea brought his hands to her ears and rubbed her earlobes. ¡°Woosa... Think about positive things,¡± he whispered. Natasha closed her eyes. ¡°Not helping,¡± she muttered. The man nodded, let her ears go, and slowly walked away. Out of Journal Side Chapter 11/? Natasha breathed in and out. ¡°So you found her?¡± She inquired, rubbing her temples. Hanna nodded. ¡°Kulmonari told us where she was before I killed them, Your Excellency,¡± she informed her. Bonte returned to his seat and served himself another glass. ¡°We sneaked into a warehouse and came across her pretty quickly,¡± he muttered and took a sip. The Halve nodded and started gathering the broken glass on the table. ¡°And?¡± Pokora sat down next to Bonte, keeping an eye on Natasha. ¡°Ines said she was pretty dissatisfied with her life working at the Palace,¡± Hanna continued. ¡°She had met Pneumix a few months ago, and joined the group shortly after. She quit her job and went into hiding after a certain individual started working at the kitchens.¡± ¡°Nerissa?¡± Natasha probed, using a cloth to gather the finer glass shards. ¡°Yes,¡± Bonte confirmed. ¡°But she didn''t know Nerissa was a Demon, however. They only told her to quit a week after Nerissa got there.¡± ¡°Did she know how the Demon managed to infiltrate the palace?¡± Natasha asked next. ¡°No, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna denied, shaking her head. ¡°She only followed the instructions given to her and didn''t question anything. They had promised she''d be safe and would find a better life... which she apparently did with how relaxed and carefree she was in the warehouse.¡± The Halve nodded and placed the broken glass pieces in a napkin, then put it on the side. ¡°Did she say anything about her family?¡± Bonte sighed. ¡°She said they were grown adults and would be fine without her, and that she couldn''t be her best self if she stayed there.¡± Natasha scoffed and shook her head. ¡°What a fucking idiot,¡± she grumbled. Bonte, Hanna, and Pokora nodded in agreement. Pokora hummed. ¡°What are you going to do, knowing this?¡± She asked Natasha. The Halve shrugged. ¡°That shit is not my business. As long as she doesn''t come at us, I won''t meddle with her. Whatever she want to accomplish won''t happen so I don''t care. Gordon has his own people sneaking around so I guess they''d be all in prison if they were a real threat.¡± ¡°What about the Tiny Laples?¡± The Archer inquired. ¡°I''ll tell them Ines just went and fucked off. Bernard deserves to know more, though,¡± Natasha finalized. ¡°Anyway, that''s over and dealt with,¡± she added with a sigh. The Elf nodded and served herself some alcohol. She turned to Bonte and asked, ¡°How did you sneak in, anyway?¡± The Tigea smiled and explained while snickering, ¡°Well, I disguised myself as a Dwarf since I''m short enough to pass as a tall one. The Shade Adept class is pretty much a perfect fit, so yeah... the people working on security had no chance at figuring out.¡± ¡°So you went for illusions?¡± The Elf nodded approvingly. ¡°Nice. How about you, Hanna?¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Same,¡± the Ork replied. ¡°I disguised myself as a Brazi Luzo and went with the safe bet of Water Weaver to make it ironic as a plus.¡± Pokora chuckled at her words. ¡°How does that work?¡± Natasha inquired. ¡°Can you use other classes'' spells when you''re disguised?¡± Hanna turned to her and shook her head. ¡°No, Your Excellency,¡± she respectfully corrected her. ¡°We use illusions to make the show of casting a spell. Most choose something similar to their classes... Bonte has the Shadow Chaser class and went for Shade Adept. Both deal with shadows so it''s simpler to ''cast a spell'' with shadows.¡± The Halve nodded. ¡°Right,¡± she muttered and her glow lessened a bit. Bonte let out an exaggerated sigh. ¡°My secrets have been revealed!¡± He lamented with a sad face. The Ork chuckled. Natasha looked at the two for a few seconds. ¡°Did you two work well together?¡± The Tigea nodded. ¡°Yep. Hanna has good Classes and pretty good acting skills. That helped a lot when infiltrating.¡± Hanna''s heart started beating faster. The way the Halve had posed the question... made her hopeful. It could be said the Ork had pretty sharp insight when it came to reading people and situations. Improvisation was one of her strengths since childhood, and, if she had been musically gifted, she''d been a great Performer. Alas, she preferred combat over flowery words. The thrill of sneaking around and catching her opponents with their guard down was one of the many pleasures the woman greatly enjoyed. Was she worthy of being invited to the Halve''s party? She hoped so. Bonte had vouched for her and she got results to speak for her as well. It would be embarrassing to no end if she was jumping to conclusions, clouded by the bias she had for Halves. Still, if her hunch was wrong, she''d have the memory of having done something for one for the rest of her life. Helping a Protector is something very few can brag about.... not that anyone does, anyway. How cool would it be to join Her Excellency in her journey to higher power? What wonders would she see? Who would she meet? What amazing deeds would she accomplish at her command? To serve a Higher Being would be the highest of honors in Hanna''s eyes. She''d peak, in her own words. Natasha addressed Hanna. ¡°Can you tell us a bit about yourself?¡± The Ork smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. As I said before, my name is Hanna Intarr, with two r''s at the end. I was born in Gukobnya, a city in Shchenneya, the first country to adopt the republic system. I like winter, snow, mountains, and traveling. I dislike alcohol, oloyas, windchimes, and dolls. I''m a base Scout, Warped Blade, Usurper, and Regicide. Although my classes suggest I''m against Monarchy, that is not the case at all.¡± She paused and chuckled, ¡°I respect the Eternals a lot, as Your Excellency might have noticed already.¡± The Halve was silent for a while. Hanna grew a little nervous. Was the information a bit too on the nose? It could be seen as ''please recruit me!'', in a way. Natasha glanced at Pokora. The Elf nodded and gave Bonte a look. The Tigea nodded as well. ¡°How about you come tomorrow morning?¡± The Halve suggested. ¡°You were a big help with the Ines business, after all. Also, you killed one of the people responsible for trying to kill me and mind controlling Elena.¡± She thought for a second and smiled. ¡°Your services are greatly appreciated.¡± A wide smile formed on Hanna''s face and she nodded. ¡°I will, Your Excellency. And thank you very much for the kind words!¡± Natasha sighed, knowing it''d be difficult to get the Ork to stop calling her ''Your Excellency''. She was getting used to it, though. And to some extent, she liked it a bit. 106 - A Halves Worries. I woke up at six in the morning like usual and performed my duties of Pope of the Church of Allayo. I came up with the name just as I opened my eyes. Allayo... Alyssa, Lapia, Yolin. A clever name if I say so myself. My Church is flexible in its teachings, but strict with its members. Although I say members, it''s only me, the founder. And despite being called a Church, it''s a silly thing I don''t take that seriously. I don''t actually worship my girlfriends as Goddesses, nor treat them as such. Waiting for them to wake up every morning has led me into finding odd ways to spend time. That morning, I was thinking about respect. The kind that could be considered the bare minimum between people. Small things like a handshake when greeting someone, looking them in the eye while talking, speaking clearly and to the point to not waste their time, and actively avoiding doing stuff that makes them uncomfortable while still being oneself. I respect those around me. At least I think I do. As a living person, and despite what people would tend to believe due to my species, I am not perfect. Biologically speaking, perhaps I am. In an evolutionary sense, I may be considered perfect when it comes to the purpose of my species. As I understand it, however, we Halves did not go through the same process as the people of this world. We didn''t start as an animal that gained sentience and then formed society. From the point of view of people that live and breathe magic, we could be considered perfect. If Gods perpetuate and distribute knowledge, then Halves perpetuate and distribute power. Knowledge and power are respected in civilized society. Naturally, there will be those who don''t think like the rest. That sentiment of ''going against the tide'' has, to my knowledge, made for both good and bad takes throughout history. One such example is the very popular dislike towards people in power. It has manifested in various ways. ''Eat the rich'', would be a familiar one. Most people would play the social analyst and claim the dislike for the rich is a warped envy the masses have towards success. Others would claim political views taint the lens too much, and engage in good old ad hominem. That is possible through the internet. Something that doesn''t exist in this world. Someone was not respectful in their actions nor beliefs and ended up dying for it. In a world of quantifiable might, how does one go about life when it comes to respect? I am not equal to my girlfriends, for example. Individual might separates us. The King and Queen are objectively weaker than me, as is everyone else in Lumin Kingdom to my knowledge. Even with that, respect still holds. I respect other people enough that if I make a mistake, I have the capacity and obligation to apologize. Alyssa doesn''t particularly like it when I get angry. She respects and acknowledges that I have anger issues, however. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Lapia doesn''t like the fact I''m willing to use violence to get information. She respects and acknowledges that my life''s purpose includes situations like those, however. Yolin has had her moments. She grabbed me and jumped off a cliff, for example. She apologized, though. One of the many ways to show respect is communication. To clearly tell other people what you think, want, or need, if the situation calls for it. Respect in this world is different. I''m sure some people fear me and choose to act respectful to avoid dying if their words or actions offend me. I''m not a psychopath that will kill everyone who slights me, though. I respect the fact people, just like me, can make mistakes. There are people who are harder to respect, however. Nerissa was one of them. Yugulari, Thavas, and Pneumix, too. Those who actively try to kill me will receive the same respect they give me. I''m not a saint, nor am I in a position to forgive them, either. Killing me will result in endangering the world. One less Protector could have devastating consequences for everyone. Maybe the Changelings knew I''d eventually find and kill Nerissa, and tried to prevent that by killing me. That would have resulted in Gordon''s death and whatever that meant for the Kingdom. Anyway. Back to respect. Hanna. Some people take respect too far. She doesn''t look me in the eye when we chat. She barely speaks unless I ask her something. She apologizes for things I have no huge problems with. I kind of like that, in all honesty. I''m getting used to this ''Your Excellency'' business. She''s not as overt as Elena when it comes to respect, which is nice. Her kneeling in front of me when we first met was pretty cringe, though. She managed to find Ines and kill one of the Changelings that tried to kill me. All in a single day. That''s a capable woman. I respect that. There is a... necessary mindset or willingness when it comes to killing people. It''s not an easy thing to do, after all. Physically speaking, it''s easy. All I''d need to do to kill an average person is swing an arm and off they go to the afterlife. Mentally speaking, it''s difficult. When I killed people for the first time it didn''t feel good. I threw up and my body reacted to it in a way I didn''t expect it to. I had to kill again shortly after to get used to the feeling. That was definitely a weird experience. Dreaming of killing every time I go to sleep has made me reconsider things, but that''s a rabbit hole I won''t go into. Not yet, at least. That brings me back to respect. Respect is even more of a necessity in a world where individual might makes such a big difference. Not many can afford being disrespectful to others. I wonder, though. Which came first? Respect or might? Perhaps the existence of my species has made people respectful from the beginning. Both because my predecessors protected the people of the world and because we are powerful. I suppose the Gods influenced this as well. Danuva granted sentience, whatever that means. Photem revealed the secrets of E''er. Shorvanna trained the first Warriors. It goes on, but the point is made. Honestly, I don''t know where I''m going with this. ¡°Hnnng!¡± I grunted while sitting at the throne. ¡°Haa... haaa...¡± And now we get to the source of my deep thoughts. All throughout history, the deepest thoughts come to us while we''re in the bathroom. At that moment, I was having difficulty pooping. Well, I use the word ''difficulty'' wrong. If one thinks of difficulty when trying to take a shit, the possibility of constipation comes to mind. That wasn''t the case at all. So far I have had no issue when performing my basic biological processes, but ever since we returned from the dungeon I haven''t been able to poop. Has my body changed in the two months and a half I''ve been alive? Has it gotten used to what I eat? Does it... ''absorb'' everything more efficiently to the point it doesn''t produce waste anymore? Or... was eating raw gold a mistake? I don''t know. ¡°I have to ask Alyssa,¡± I concluded with a heavy sigh. ¡°My legs will go numb if I stay here any longer.¡± 107 - Seize the opportunity. End of Arc 6. I returned to the bedroom and woke Yolin up. After that I fetched Pokora, Thelea, and Bonte. Together we went down the building and to a backyard kind of spot to exercise for an hour. After getting a good sweat out of the system, we went back to the apartment. Alyssa and Lapia were up, but lazying on the bed. With a bit of convincing, the four of us entered the bathroom for a shower. Alyssa wrapped her tail around my waist and stood in front of me. ¡°I''ll clean you,¡± she offered with a smile. I nodded and stood still. ¡°Sure. Thanks.¡± The Luzo turned to the tiled wall and touched the water droplet and flame circles. Warm water rained on us, getting a satisfied group sigh in return. ¡°This is bliss,¡± Yolin chuckled and wiped her body. Lapia nodded in agreement. Alyssa walked around me and grabbed my hair, then tied it in a ponytail. She placed her hands on my shoulders and started wiping the little sweat on my body. Her dexterous fingers and warm palms felt really good against my skin, followiong the shape of my muscles and limbs. She cheekily squeezed my arms a few times while letting out little sighs of wonder and amazement. I relaxed and closed my eyes, letting her do her thing. After wiping my upper body, her hands went around my waist to my stomach, where she took her time rubbing and groping my abs. She pressed her body against my back and rested her head on my shoulder, enjoying the act. Then, her hands went down to my groin, where she slowly, gently, and carefully, cleaned my genitals while giving my neck tiny kisses. Naturally, there was a reaction. She giggled and took her time cleaning lil'' Nasha. This is nice, I though while enjoying her caresses. A few sighs left me and my legs trembled a little. Alyssa released me and brought her hands to my butt, then wiped it with her fingers. Good thing I haven''t pooped, I thought with a smile. Ah, perfect timing. ¡°Alyssa,¡± I muttered. ¡°Yes?¡± She let my ass go and crouched to clean my legs. ¡°I haven''t been able to poop lately,¡± I informed her. ¡°Nothing comes out.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She hummed and thought for a second, going over my thighs with her hands. ¡°Have you eaten anything out of the ordinary?¡± ¡°Gold,¡± I admitted. ¡°Back in the dungeon I had a few bites.¡± Her hands stopped on my knees. ¡°What?¡± She laughed. ¡°Gold?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah. Sonya ate some and I wondered if I could as well,¡± I explained. ¡°And you haven''t been able to poop since then?¡± Alyssa inquired, rubbing the back of my knees. ¡°That''s what I said,¡± I confirmed. ¡°I see,¡± Alyssa muttered. She stood up and cleaned my chest, massaging my breasts. ¡°People can''t digest gold, you see. The most that can happen is they absorb the E''er in the material and then poop it out without a problem.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I sighed in relief. ¡°You''re not ''people'', however,¡± the Luzo continued, walking to the wall and retrieving soap from the compartment. She turned to me with a pensive expression. ¡°You should have pooped it out a while ago...¡± She pointed out. I winced. ¡°I... won''t die, right?¡± Her lips curled into a smile. Lapia and Yolin chuckled. ¡°If nikontia didn''t kill you, I doubt gold will,¡± the Oni commented. Alyssa nodded in agreement. ¡°How''s your appetite?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Normal?¡± The healer rubbed her hands together, forming foamy suds. She walked to me and used her hands to cover my chest with the soap. ¡°How about urine?¡± ¡°Normal as well,¡± I replied with a nod, enjoying her hands. ¡°Have you had difficulty sleeping?¡± Alyssa asked next, looking me in the eye while she ran her hands over my abs. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I shook my head. ¡°Nope.¡± Her hands went down to my crotch. ¡°Anything of note during exercise?¡± I sucked air through my teeth, feeling her long and scaly fingers fiddle with my lower half. ¡°Nothing of note,¡± I replied with another shake of my head. She walked around me and got started on my back. ¡°How much did you eat?¡± ¡°Around two polupis in size,¡± I recalled. ¡°I took two bites.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she muttered and cleaned my butt. My back tingled a little. ¡°Let me know next time you poop,¡± she commented while cleaning me. ¡°I''ll need to see it.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I accepted my fate. Alyssa could be considered a highly educated doctor so I had to follow her suggestions on the matter. She finished cleaning me and then I cleaned her body, using the little brush on her scales. After drying up we had breakfast with the rest. I finished my drink and turned to Pokora. ¡°I was thinking of inviting Hanna to the party. What do you think?¡± The Archer shrugged. ¡°Having an second scout would be nice.¡± ¡°Who''s Hanna?¡± Lapia inquired next to me. Her eyebrows joined in confusion. Bonte chuckled. ¡°A fellow Scout we met yesterday. The missing person request thingy led us to someone''s house. Hanna was eavesdropping and Pokora heard her. I went to check and she agreed to come along. Natasha questioned her and it turns out she had been looking into the Changeling business,¡± he explained. ¡°You know, the whole trying to kill Natasha thing back in Lakeview?¡± Lapia''s eyes squinted. ¡°Okay...¡± ¡°So,¡± the Tigea continued. ¡°She had info about their hideouts and stuff. Then, we went-¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Bromisnar interrupted him, raising a hand. ¡°How is Hanna and the missing person connected?¡± Thelea nodded. ¡°You skipped that.¡± Bonte scratched his chin. ¡°Right. Well... Ines, the missing woman, had been working at the Royal Palace. She was reported as missing a few months ago after getting involved with a group of Changelings. She was radicalized by Yugulari''s group and joined them.¡± The Satyr nodded. ¡°Better. You suck at retelling things.¡± The catboy shrugged. Yolin rested her elbows on the table. ¡°What happened then?¡± Bonte nodded. ¡°Right. After Natasha asked her some questions, she told poor me and Hanna to find Ines.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°We snuck around and Hanna guided me to a meeting,¡± he continued. ¡°Our cool skills allowed us to infiltrate easily. They had no chance of spotting us. There, a Changeling by the name of Kulmonari was leading the meeting. It was a shitshow,¡± he scoffed. ¡°Anyway. After the meeting we met with the Changeling as part of some initiation thing I didn''t really care to listen. After that we confirmed they were involved in trying to kill Natasha, and learned where Ines was. Hanna killed the moron and we took off to find Ines.¡± Alyssa sighed. ¡°That happened yesterday?¡± Bonte nodded. ¡°So,¡± I interjected. ¡°Hanna was a big help with that. As part of the group that tried to kill me, they were responsible for mind-controlling Elena.¡± The woman in question nodded a few times. ¡°I see. I''ll have to thank this Hanna.¡± ¡°With that in mind,¡± I continued. ¡°I was thinking of inviting her into the party, but I wanted to check with everyone first.¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°She killed one of the fucks that tried to kill you. That''s a bonus for me.¡± Alyssa had a scowl on her face, but nodded in agreement. Yolin shrugged. ¡°I''d have to see her skills for myself,¡± she commented. ¡°Bonte makes it sound like she''s a good one,¡± Bromisnar pointed out. ¡°That''s all I need, to be honest.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Thelea agreed. ¡°Two tanks, two Scouts, a Warrior, an Archer, a Performer, two Wizards, and a healer,¡± Pokora recounted in a quiet voice. ¡°Shaping up to be a full party.¡± ¡°So that''s a yes,¡± I concluded, leaning back on the chair. ¡°Nice.¡± Pokora turned to me with a smile. ¡°Shouldn''t you go see if she''s downstairs? I''d bet she got here really early.¡± I sighed, realizing she was probably right. I stood up and gave the Archer a look. ¡°Wanna come along? As a party leader, you should probably welcome her as well...¡± Pokora''s eyes squinted a little. ¡°Sure...¡± she mumbled and stood up as well. I turned to the group. ¡°Wait a bit. If she''s not there, then that''s it.¡± They nodded. I put an arm around Poko-Poko''s shoulders and left the apartment. On the way down the stairs, I brought up an important subject. ¡°So, when are you going to ask Yolin out?¡± The Elf whipper her head to me. ¡°Wha-huh?¡± She stammered, turning red. ¡°Later?¡± I nodded. ¡°Good. What will you say?¡± The woman thought for a few seconds. ¡°I don''t know,¡± she admitted, covering her face. ¡°I was thinking of going along with the mood.¡± ¡°The mood?¡± I repeated, a little confused. ¡°Woman, you have to set the mood. Don''t be a floor-mat.¡± She scoffed. ¡°I am not a floor-mat, thank you very much,¡± she blurted out. ¡°But yeah, I guess you''re right.¡± ¡°You know...¡± I began, sighing and running my free hand through my hair. ¡°I don''t mean to tell you how to do things.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Nah. It''s cool. I was nervous if you''d be okay with it...¡± she admitted with a blush. I looked into her eyes. ¡°Do you remember how to kiss at least?¡± Her eyes widened and her face lost the little color it had. ¡°Well, good luck,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Natasha...¡± she whispered with lost eyes. ¡°Yeah?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°How do you kiss someone with fangs and tusks?¡± Her voice trembled a little. ¡°I don''t want to fuck it up.¡± I smiled and teased her, ¡°Oh? So you intend on kissing my girlfriend? That''s quite bold.¡± Her face turned red and she glared at me. ¡°HAHAHA!¡± I leaned my head back and patted my stomach. ¡°Well... it goes a little like this...¡± I chuckled and explained in great detail. Her face turned from panic to shock, then to amazement, and finally embarrassment. Kinda bratty, but cute, I thought while chatting with her. 108 - Some cope with humor. ¡°Do you have anything planned?¡± I asked when we reached the building''s lobby. Pokora sighed. ¡°I wanted to seek your wisdom, O, mighty Protector,¡± she joked. I chuckled and looked around. Hanna was nowhere to be found, much to my surprise. I can wait a bit, I concluded. ¡°Let''s sit and wait for Hanna,¡± I offered, pointing at the seats near the entrance. Pokora nodded and followed me. We sat down at a table, keeping the entire hall within sight. The smell from the stables just outside the main door were surprisingly not present. Maybe some enchantment prevented the odor from going in, which was nice. As soon as we made ourselves comfortable, the concierge of the morning shift, a Faeton Elf, approached us. ¡°Good morning, esteemed guests,¡± she greeted us with a polite smile. ¡°Morning,¡± I greeted back with a nod. ¡°Azh vatar,¡± Pokora replied. The concierge''s smile turned genuine and gave the Archer a nod. ¡°We offer a selection of beverages for guests, if you''d like.¡± ¡°Then I''ll have tea, please,¡± the Elmari Elf requested. ¡°Blue Point, Hazel Tree, or Glevaz?¡± The Faeton Elf inquired. ¡°Glevaz,¡± Pokora replied. The concierge nodded and turned to me. ¡°Same,¡± I said, assuming they were either brands or types or tea. ¡°I''ll come back with your order shortly,¡± she informed us, then bowed and left. We observed the woman walk towards the counter and disappear behind a door. ¡°This place is pretty good,¡± Pokora praised with an approving nod. ¡°Mhm,¡± I hummed in agreement. ¡°Anyway, back to what matters.¡± The Elf turned to me and nodded. ¡°Any advice on where to take Yolin?¡± I scratched my jaw, thinking for a bit. ¡°I mean, I can''t really tell you where to exactly take her since I barely know the city,¡± I pointed out. ¡°I assume you already know she likes drinking alcohol, fighting, and food.¡± Pokora nodded and leaned back on the chair. ¡°Naturally,¡± she confirmed. ¡°She likes meat,¡± I added. ¡°And I mean 5A meat, though she still enjoys dungeon meat. You know what I mean.¡± She nodded. ¡°Right. So, a fancy restaurant?¡± I winced a little. ¡°More like a BBQ place if you find one. A good one that''s popular, but not...¡± I struggled to find the word. ¡°Posh?¡± Pokora closed her eyes and chuckled. ¡°That''s a word I haven''t heard in a long while,¡± she muttered and opened her eyes. I stared at her for a second. ¡°I bet,¡± I muttered. She stared back. ¡°Your eyes are so weird,¡± she commented. ¡°How can you see with a line across your pupil?¡± ¡°I actually can''t,¡± I lied. ¡°You see, I have an aura around me that tells me when something is approaching.¡± Her eyebrows went up and she nodded. ¡°Even if it''s something far away?¡± ¡°It has SSS+ range,¡± I explained with a shrug. ¡°Around ten thousand kilometers.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± she deadpanned. ¡°I can even know when you''re doing naughty things in your room,¡± I joked. ¡°No enchantment can obstruct the all-seeing eye of Sau... I mean, Natasha.¡± ¡°Are you perhaps looking for a small man carrying a ring?¡± She joked back. ¡°Anyway,¡± I sighed. ¡°I''m all for you derailing the conversation, but let''s stick to it.¡± Pokora sighed. ¡°Who''s next after you seduce Yolin with your evil hands?¡± I teased her. She blinked a few times. ¡°You''re thinking too far ahead,¡± she blurted out. ¡°I''ll need time to cool down after today.¡± I nodded. ¡°And that''s fine, but it has nothing to do with what I asked.¡± Pokora sighed again, but longer. ¡°Honestly, I think Lapia will pursue me shortly after. Those are some predatory eyes she got.¡± I sagely nodded. ¡°Indeed, young one. You are but a lamb, unknowingly throwing yourself to the slaughter.¡± ¡°Alas, I will lose my purity before you manage to dig your fangs on me,¡± she dramatically lamented, bringing a hand to her forehead. I shrugged. ¡°I have nothing against sloppy seconds.¡± I winced at my own words. Pokora covered her mouth and held back a laugh. ¡°No, Natasha,¡± she croaked. ¡°That''s the peak of cringe.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I know, it hurt just saying it.¡± The Archer chuckled for a while, then calmed down. ¡°So, in all seriousness,¡± she sighed. ¡°I''m not a fan of toys, you see. I prefer the warmth of people.¡± I smiled. ¡°You have something in common with Yolin, then,¡± I teased her. The Elf blushed and smiled. ¡°Good to know.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh while running my hands through my hair. ¡°I don''t share the sentiment, but I totally understand it.¡± ¡°Any tips on Lapia?¡± Pokora asked next, giving me a knowing look. I scoffed. ¡°I didn''t survive her,¡± I pointed out. ¡°You''re asking the wrong person.¡± She covered her mouth. ¡°Oh, my. Are you that easy of a woman, Natasha?¡± ¡°You have no idea,¡± I assured her. ¡°I am the sluttiest of sluts, I''ll have you know.¡± The concierge popped out of the door carrying a platter. She approached us and set the table, then produced a pot and placed it between me and Pokora. Cups and saucers were next. After that, she produced a small metallic bottle and put it next to the tea along with a container. ¡°Thank you,¡± Pokora told her. ¡°Yeah, thanks,¡± I said with a smile. The concierge smiled and left. Pokora served herself some tea and brought the cup to her lips. I poured tea in my cup. ¡°Remember that video of the guy juggling apples, where he bit them every time he grabbed one?¡± Pokora nodded and took a sip. ¡°I did that with dicks,¡± I confessed. The Elf choked and spat her tea all over me. I produced a napkin and cleaned my face. ¡°Well... it usually ended like this, but much happier.¡± ¡°Pffftt!¡± Pokora covered her mouth. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± ¡°Come on,¡± I complained, changing my shirt. ¡°Control yourself.¡± She calmed down and cleared her throat. ¡°I''m sorry about that...¡± she muttered while wiping her mouth. I nodded. ¡°They used to say that too,¡± I recalled with a smile. Pokora closed her eyes and chuckled. ¡°Please stop.¡± I sighed. ¡°Yeah... got a bit carried away. Anyway, you''re on your own with Lapia.¡± I looked at her. ¡°Unless she makes you uncomfortable?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Nah, she''s fun if anything. Kinda pushy, but in the good way.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I muttered and checked the contents of the bottle. It was milk. I brought the bottle close to my cup and Pokora placed her right hand on top of it, blocking the milk. ¡°What the fuck do you think you''re doing?¡± She demanded in a serious tone. ¡°That''s a sin.¡± My eyes widened a little. ¡°You''re joking, right?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Sheesh!¡± I put the milk away. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°This is Glevaz tea,¡± she chastised me. ¡°You don''t put anything in it unless you''re an actual psycho.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± I conceded with a chuckle. ¡°Fucking hell.¡± She harrumphed and took a sip of her cup. ¡°Ah, that''s the good shit.¡± I sighed and drank some. It was bitter, a little sweet, and earthy. Good tea. ¡°So, after your inevitable fall to Lapia, who''s next?¡± I inquired while taking another sip. ¡°Probably you,¡± she revealed. I nodded. ¡°Sure. Why not Alyssa, though?¡± Pokora squinted her eyes at me. ¡°Alyssa scares me a little.¡± I froze for a second, then looked her in the eye. ¡°Why?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I don''t know. She has that aura about her, you know. Women with big breasts are dangerous... in a way.¡± I gave her a confused look. ¡°The fuck you on about? She''s the sweetest woman I know,¡± I argued, defending my girlfriend. Pokora nodded. ¡°That''s how they lure you in,¡± she whispered in a conspiracy-like tone. I glanced at the Elf''s chest. ¡°Is this some deep-rooted envy speaking? Have you forgotten everything about being allies instead of competitors?¡± ¡°I haven''t,¡± she scoffed. ¡°And it''s just an impression... I''m not saying that''s how she is. Just the feeling I get from her.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± I shook my head. ¡°You better.¡± ¡°And well...¡± Pokora thought for a second. ¡°With how my older sister and mother turned out... I may be speaking too early. My future is bright on that aspect, at least.¡± I took a sip of tea. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I''ll have big Elf milkies, too,¡± she commented with a smirk. I stared at her, then at her humble chest, then back at her. ¡°How?¡± She chuckled, ¡°Genetics, my dear Futasha.¡± I frowned. ¡°What''s with that nickname?¡± ¡°Futanari, Natasha... Futasha,¡± she supplied. ¡°You insist on calling me Poko-Poko, so I came up with a cringe nickname too.¡± I nodded, a little impressed. ¡°Fitting,¡± I commented. ¡°So not all Elves are the same size?¡± Pokora sighed. ¡°Okay, first of all, that''s racist? Check your privilege.¡± I chuckled and shook my head. ¡°Fuck off.¡± She smiled. ¡°Any tip for you?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, let''s skip that and go to the sack right away.¡± ¡°My, oh my,¡± she laughed. ¡°That desperate for this?¡± I sighed dramatically. ¡°I''ve never felt the touch of a woman. I crave that Elfussy.¡± We laughed at that. I sighed. ¡°But yeah, going out for a drink would be nice.¡± Pokora nodded. ¡°Noted.¡± I drank more tea. ¡°You know, you don''t have to speedrun the four of us. I know Lapia will jump headfirst, but don''t feel forced and all that.¡± ¡°That''s so nice of you,¡± she sobbed. ¡°I feel like spreading my legs for you right away.¡± I stared at her for a second. ¡°You''re really nervous about today, huh?¡± She blushed and slowly nodded. ¡°Very.¡± ¡°Keep the sex jokes to a healthy minimum,¡± I advised her. ¡°Yolin gets clingy after a few drinks, so if that''s not something you like, you now know to avoid it. Maybe take her out to eat, then have a sparring session, and end it with a visit to a tavern or pub or bar. Not necessarily in that order.¡± Pokora nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Her face turned deep red and continued. ¡°When do I tell her I like her?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Whenever you feel comfortable? I don''t know about that. My first meeting with her wasn''t exactly romantic if I''m honest. We met, fought, then kissed. All within like half an hour.¡± She sipped her tea and sighed. ¡°I wish this was that simple.¡± An idea popped in my head. ¡°You could... make a form,¡± I suggested. ¡°You know, the one you make to find partners. Like, you make one and give it to Yolin, and in the ''interests'' section you write her name.¡± She looked into my eyes and a smile slowly formed on her face. ¡°That''s... actually not a bad idea,¡± she agreed. ¡°You could also put cheesy shit like ''My target is your heart'' and shit, since you''re an Archer,¡± I excitedly pointed out. Pokora winced. ¡°They don''t have cupid here, or anything like it. That''d make me look like a psychopath.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered in disappointment. ¡°That''s a shame.¡± ¡°They don''t have the cute hearts either,¡± she lamented. I nodded. ¡°Yeah, I know. Chocolate hearts were a big miss for me.¡± We kept quiet for a while, sharing the tragedy that is the loss of traditional ways to express love and affection. Steps coming from the entrance caught our attention. We turned and saw Hanna walking into the lobby... Followed by six Watchers. I sighed. 109 - Poko-Poko takes the plunge. The Ork glanced around the lobby and noticed us, then walked in our direction. The Watchers followed her. Hanna reached our table, bowed, and greeted us, ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency, Pokh''Orra.¡± The Elf nodded. ¡°Sup,¡± I greeted back, looking at the group of Watchers. ¡°What''s with them?¡± The Ork hesitated for a second. ¡°First of all, I apologize for being so late. I was scouting the area for any... unsavory individual considering yesterday''s affair when a group of Watchers noticed me.¡± My eyebrows went up. ¡°Okay...¡± One of the Watchers, an Urkila Tigea, stepped forward and saluted. ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency. Hanna Intarr was seen deactivating invisibility and walking into a crowd. I apologize for repeating information you must already know, but it''s illegal to use skills that allow the user to turn invisible after certain hours. The Law permits such an act only between late evening and early morning. Since she was caught doing so outside the legal schedule, we are to issue a warning and a fine. Hanna, however, claimed she was doing so as part of activities related to a Protector.¡± I nodded and turned to Hanna. ¡°How did they catch you?¡± The Ork frowned. ¡°There''s a pylon nearby,¡± she explained. ¡°I was focused on other matters and didn''t give them too much attention. I assumed they were patrolling the area with a similar purpose as mine.¡± Well... you done fucked up, I thought with a smile, then turned to the Watcher. ¡°I''m sure you''ve heard some people tried to kill me.¡± The Tigea nodded with a serious face. ¡°Well,¡± I sighed. ¡°Some things happened here and there, bla, bla, bla. I met Hanna and asked for a favor. She agreed, some things happened here and there, then we''re here,¡± I vaguely explained. ¡°So, yeah... Hanna''s activities are related to me.¡± The Watcher''s eyes squinted a little. What am I? An OPG boss? Taking advantage of my immunity to cover my underling''s mistake? She''s not even my underling. Not yet, at least, I thought in amusement, arching an eyebrow at the equivalent of a police officer. ¡°Fair enough,¡± the Watcher muttered., then turned to Hanna. ¡°Apologies for taking your time, Lady Hanna.¡± The Ork''s eyes widened a little, and her eyebrows climber her forehead. ¡°Uh... not at all. Sorry for taking your time, too.¡± The Tigea gave us a polite nod, then turned around and left with the rest of the Watchers. ¡°A reasonable one,¡± Pokora muttered and sipped her tea. I took my cup. ¡°Hanna,¡± I called and took a sip. The woman perked up and went down on a knee. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°What''s this fine talk? How much is it?¡± I inquired. ¡°One hundred gold coins, Your Excellency,¡± she replied. Holy shit! I shouted in my mind, but kept my face cool. ¡°I see. Please take a seat.¡± Hanna nodded and did as requested. Pokora gave Hanna a long look, then asked, ¡°Did you see anyone?¡± The Ork shook her head. ¡°I didn''t notice anyone suspicious.¡± The Elf let out a long sigh. ¡°Well, as party leader I guess security is one of my responsibilities,¡± she groaned. The Scout''s eyes flashed with a little surprise, then glanced in my direction. Instead of looking me in the eye, her eyes went over my chin. I hummed. ¡°Hanna...¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The woman moved her head in my general direction. I drank some tea. ¡°I think you''re forgetting something,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Ah!¡± She uttered and lowered her head. ¡°Thank you very much for getting me out of trouble!¡± I slowly nodded. ¡°That''s better.¡± Pokora gave me a weird look, arching an eyebrow and smirking a little. I ignored her and addressed the Ork, ¡°Do you drink tea?¡± ¡°I do, Your Excellency,¡± she replied with a nod. I looked towards the lobby counter and gestured the concierge to come. Hanna ordered some tea and we drank in comfortable silence. Ten minutes later we went up the stairs and stopped in front of the apartment''s door. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I stood in front of the Ork. ¡°Hanna, please look me in the eye.¡± She tightened her lips and lifted her face. I stared into her brown eyes. ¡°Would you like to join us?¡± I asked. ¡°I should say we''ll be leaving Paarjo soon... If I''m not misunderstanding, you''ve been looking for the Changelings for quite a while. If you want to stay and finish what you started, that''s alright. I will give you recompense for what you''ve done for me.¡± Hanna held my stare for a few seconds, then looked down. ¡°With all due respect, Your Excellency...¡± Hoh? I waited. She kept quiet. ¡°Go on,¡± I prompted her. ¡°I believe the Changelings will give chase in their own way,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Perhaps not as directly as previous attempts, but I doubt they''ll keep still. For that reason, I wish to join Your Excellency and remove the heads of any insolent mutt we may come across, or any that would be foolish enough to bare their teeth.¡± I like this one, I nodded. ¡°Alright, then.¡± Pokora opened the door and in we went. ¡°... and then I had to do it,¡± Bonte sighed. ¡°I stuck my arm up its ass.¡± ¡°Noo...¡± Alyssa cried in disgust. ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± Yolin leaned back and hugged her stomach. ¡°I still have nightmares about it,¡± Bromisnar lamented, shaking his head. ¡°What did it do?¡± Lapia inquired while giggling. Elena sighed and shook her head. ¡°Well,¡± Bonte began with a shrug. ¡°It kicked back, obviously. Then it ran off, with me attached to its ass.¡± I stood at the door trying to understand what I just heard. ¡°We''re back,¡± Pokora announced and walked to the table. I followed, and Hanna followed me. After sitting down at the table, a short interview-like session took place with Hanna on the receiving end. She answered every question thrown her way, and she gladly shared her goals of ridding the world of people who took advantage of the power vacuum left by Perculis'' death and Yulianna''s departure. Elena had a proud smile on her face while listening to Hanna. The old hag was probably happy someone else referred to me as Your Excellency. Funnily enough, I learned the collective word for Orks is Orkin. Hanna was surprised when Yolin mentioned she went to Patuk, and a completely different conversation took place. I stood up from the table and gave Pokora a look, then went to the living room. The Elf followed and sat next to me. I leaned close to her and whispered, ¡°So, the form.¡± ¡°Right,¡± she whispered back. I produced a quill and a sketchbook, then removed a page. ¡°Okay, name?¡± ¡°Elizabeth Alexandra Mary,¡± Pokora chuckled. I nodded and wrote ''Dumb bitch with no sense of humor''. She clicked her tongue and elbowed my ribs. ¡°There''s no need to be a twat,¡± she quietly hissed. I chuckled and scratched it off. ¡°Okay.¡± After a few minutes of going back and forward, we were left with this: Name: Pokh''Orra Pez''Che Species: Elf (Elmari) Gender: Female Age: 49 Likes: Archery, tea, rain, honesty, crystallized forests, hunting, animals, music. Dislikes: Unnecessary violence, spineless people, Gyk''els, the chain of command. I tolerate: Monarchs, Nobility. Offspring: None. Interested in: Yolin Makav. 50% men. 50% women. Languages: Elvish, Low Tongue, Common. My motivations are: Finding a certain group of individuals. Hobbies: Training, reading, drinking. Highest Class: Sniper (Very long-range Archer) Total Level: 890+ Partners: Hopefully you. We checked the form and nodded. ¡°That goal looks a bit vague,¡± I pointed out. ¡°But it''s alright.¡± Pokora nodded. ¡°About that... when did you tell your girlfriends you''re from Earth?¡± ¡°Like, a week after I met them,¡± I replied. ¡°And I''m not from Earth. I died there and was reborn here.¡± ¡°Right,¡± the Elf muttered, then smiled. ¡°Thanks, Natasha.¡± I gave her a smile. ¡°Not a problem.¡± I folded the paper so it would frame the text, then used a legendary dagger to cut it off. Pokora took it and nodded. I looked at her, then at the paper, then back at her. The big dummy wasn''t moving. ¡°Well?¡± I pushed. ¡°Go give it to her.¡± ¡°Right,¡± she muttered. I waited. She didn''t move. Fucking... I sighed. ¡°The Royal Banquet is tomorrow,¡± I calmly reminded her. ¡°And we''re leaving after that''s done.¡± Pokora bit her lower lip, then sighed. ¡°It''s scary,¡± she muttered. I nodded in understanding. ¡°You know... when Yolin grabbed me and jumped off the cliff back in the dungeon, she said, ''On the other side of fear lies greatness''. You''d do well to think of that,¡± I told her. ¡°But...¡± she whispered. ¡°If this goes wrong... I''ll live five thousand years with the memory of rejection.¡± ¡°Or,¡± I chuckled. ¡°You''ll live five thousand years with an Oni tomboy girlfriend.¡± Pokora''s eyes widened, then turned to me. ¡°You''re... right...¡± She nodded and stood up, then walked to the table. What? I thought in shock. That worked?! I watched as Pokora''s face grew closer in color to the Oni''s skin while approaching her. She tapped her shoulder and said something. Yolin nodded and stood up, then followed her to the Kitchen. Pokora offered the sheet of paper with a big smile and a completely red face. Yolin took it, read it, and smiled back. My eyes were about to pop off my skull. Pokora smiled, laughed, and gestured to the door. Yolin nodded. Both walked out! ¡°Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?¡± I breathed out in shock. But a big smile soon made its way to my face. 110 - Natasha is a doomer... apparently. ¡°Oh well,¡± I chuckled and produced a sketchbook, then continued Lapia''s portrait. ¡°All is good under heaven.¡± The sofa was comfortable enough, and the day was just starting. I can chat with Hanna later, I concluded. Let the woman have regular conversations first. Someone walked over and sat next to me. I glanced and saw Lapia with a surprised face. ¡°Did you see that?¡± She whispered with a big smile, gesturing at the door. I nodded. ¡°We''ll be having a new girlfriend soon, Lala.¡± Her eyes widened and she poked my shoulder. ¡°How did you do it?¡± ¡°Whatever do you mean?¡± I replied with a playful smile. The Elf arched an eyebrow, then wrapped an arm around my neck. ¡°Tell me, please?¡± She whispered into my ear, then blew air into it. Alas, I am a weak woman. Maybe the fate of the world will be threatened by that someday. ¡°My approach was much gentler than yours,¡± I pointed out, giving her a knowing look. ¡°I offered advice instead of an invitation... and it succeeded.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she wisely muttered. ¡°I was wondering how to seduce her.¡± I sighed. ¡°Maybe that''s the difference. Your approach worked on me, but it won''t on everyone...¡± Her eyes squinted a little. ¡°I''m not an all-knowing woman, unfortunately. What would you say is the difference?¡± ¡°Can''t really tell,¡± I replied with a shrug. ¡°For example, I like being on the receiving end of desire. When people verbalize their interest in me, I get a rush out of it. I guess Pokora''s not quite like that. Maybe she likes to be more in control?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± she agreed with a non-committal shrug. ¡°I guess we''ll find out.¡± I hummed. ¡°I thought you''d be more excited...¡± Lapia scoffed. ¡°Oh, I am!¡± She confirmed. ¡°Just so you know, we Elves have a very strong libido when our cycle approaches.¡± ¡°You mentioned that already,¡± I reminded her, then chuckled, ¡°And I doubt I''ll survive when yours comes around.¡± She kissed my neck, then ran her tongue to my ear, where she nibbled on my earlobe. ¡°Oh, you will,¡± she whispered. I nodded. Keep coloring, Natasha, I told myself. Ignore the tingles in your secret garden. ¡°I can''t wait to eat Pokora up,¡± she giggled. ¡°That''ll be so much fun. Just thinking of what faces she can show makes me super horny.¡± Damn... I smiled. ¡°I guess four days in a row weren''t enough?¡± I teased her. Lapia chuckled, then kissed my neck again. ¡°This and that are different matters. I am satisfied to no end, but just like with food, there''s always space for dessert.¡± ¡°True,¡± I agreed wholeheartedly. ¡°And by dessert, I mean a quick fuck in the bedroom?¡± She whispered into my ear. ¡°Maybe? A two hour quicky?¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. My face heated up. ¡°Two hours is not quick, though,¡± I jokingly argued. ¡°Compared to the regular, it is,¡± she argued back, nibbling my ear. I bit my lips. There was no way I could deny that. ¡°Later,¡± I caved in. Lapia clenched a fist. ¡°Yes!¡± She celebrated. I chuckled and focused on the drawing. ¡°I''ll make you feel really good, sunshine,¡± she continued her attack, whispering into my ear. I took a deep, calming breath. ¡°You always do,¡± I whispered with a smile. ¡°I bet,¡± she chuckled and pinched my cheeks, then let me do my thing for a while. I finished coloring the drawing in about thirty minutes, then showed it to Lapia. ¡°Wow,¡± she whispered, taking the sketchbook and giving it a closer look. ¡°You made me look beautiful.¡± ¡°That''s just how you always look,¡± I pointed out with a smirk. Lapia looked at me, raised an eyebrow, and smiled. ¡°That was good,¡± she giggled. ¡°Glad you liked it,¡± I giggled and smooched her. She hugged me and sighed. ¡°You''re amazing, Natasha. I''m lucky to have met you.¡± ¡°Same,¡± I said and kissed her cheek. Lapia released me and put the sketchbook on the low table in front of us, then laid on my lap, facing me. ¡°Hey, Natasha.¡± I brushed her hair and smiled. ¡°Yeah?¡± She looked me in the eye. ¡°What made you want to be an artist?¡± I thought for a second. ¡°I don''t really know, to be honest. It just kind of happened,¡± I replied with a shrug. ¡°I always liked drawing, and art was interesting to me... so I went with it.¡± Her eyebrows knitted and she frowned. ¡°Just like that?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± I caressed her face and pinched her nose. ¡°The one thing I constantly did through my life was to draw things. When I was young, I always had crayons with me and I drew whatever I saw. Animals, people, activities, buildings, and stuff. I was shit at first, obviously... but I never stopped. I drew my parents, the animals we kept, my brother after he was born, the place we lived in, my neighbors, my friends... you get it. If I saw it, I tried drawing it. When I started school I drew the teachers, my classmates, the boys I liked, and the girls I found pretty. I was drawing even during class. Whenever I had a hard time while studying, I drew the teacher explaining the subject. Whenever I got sad, I drew things that made me happy,¡± I recalled, then frowned. ¡°When my mom left us, I drew my dad to cheer him up... or tried to, at least. I realized then that not everyone is a good person. Those times were tough, but I kept drawing,¡± I sighed. ¡°When I hit puberty, I started drawing naked people. I drew a lot back then. Maybe like twenty sketches a day? Something like that,¡± I chuckled. ¡°When I started dating a boy for the first time, I drew him a lot.¡± I shook my head and sighed. ¡°After that I had a better grasp on naked people. He was pretty interested in my drawings and liked them a lot, which made me show them to other people. I was good enough to get praise from others, and felt good about it. Naturally, since I didn''t pay much attention during class, I didn''t have the best of academic performances. So, I decided to focus on art. My boyfriend moved to the capital and we broke up. After that, I started taking art way more seriously and bought books about it. I researched and liked what I found. All the techniques people used for hundreds of years caught my attention and I tried copying them. My dad saw them and sent me to Art School. I did pretty good there, and learned a bunch. Then I met my first girlfriend, who was studying something similar. I don''t know why, but she was jealous of my art. That was a mess and we broke up. I then started drawing...¡± I stopped. I had no clue how to explain the internet. ¡°For other people, and earning money. I graduated Art School and found a job right away. It wasn''t the most stimulating job ever, so I resigned after two years and continued drawing for other people. Then I was contacted by a writer and drew a comic. Fortunately it got popular enough to be a mandatory addition to my resume. Then I found a job for a big company as an artist. I made a lot of money by then. A few years later I died,¡± I finished. Lapia had been listening in silence. She nodded in understanding. ¡°That''s a little sad,¡± she muttered. I shrugged. ¡°That world can explode for all I care,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Life there was a constant compromise between what you want to do and what you have to do. You could say I was immensely lucky I did both. It was a complete shit show.¡± The Elf hummed. ¡°But it was fun, right?¡± I scoffed. ¡°Hardly.¡± ¡°How so?¡± She inquired. ¡°Common sense was nailed at the foot of the altar for profit,¡± I replied, looking into her eyes. I remembered a song that resonated with me back on Earth. ¡°We were trapped in the belly of a horrible machine... and the machine was bleeding to death.¡± Lapia stared into my eyes for a few seconds. ¡°Was it that bad?¡± I nodded. ¡°For the great majority, it was.¡± The Elf took a deep breath, then let out a long sigh. 111 - Where is the lamb sauce? Cooking is an essential skill. Every single adult should know how to make at least five dishes in my opinion. Unfortunately, I only know how to make one proper meal: Okroshka. Pancakes don''t count. Naturally, simple pasta doesn''t count either. But then... what is a proper meal? To answer that question, I first ask this: What is a balanced diet? Pizza every day is not healthy. It''s okay once a month. Burgers, fried food, and oily food in general should be a treat, not a norm. I have been called a no-fun-bitch because of this. Some would point out I died too young and should''ve enjoyed good food more often. I have no regrets about that, though. A healthy lifestyle is crucial to achieve happiness, however small. Dying at age forty due to a heart-attack is not something anyone should go through when it comes to diet and healthy habits. Food is medicine, after all. A balanced diet is something a lot of people would argue is expensive. Fruits and vegetables got too expensive after 2025, almost quadrupling in price worldwide. The key is to research, however boring that sounds, and look for good substitutes. So, a proper meal should contain at least five ingredients. Fortunately... or unfortunately depending on how it''s viewed, I never had the need to tip my toes in the culinary world. It could be said I was a lazy adult... and I blame that on pandemics. Now, however, I can freely stroll around the city and purchase fresh, unpolluted ingredients. Where am I going with this? I don''t know how to cook, and I want to change that. I have time to learn, and food is cheap in Lumin Kingdom. After Lapia fell asleep on my lap, I gave the Corvitex book another read until lunch time came. Alyssa woke Lapia up and announced she was making lunch. That was my chance, so I followed the Luzo to the kitchen. She checked the pantry and put ingredients on the counter, then turned around. Her eyes widened a little in surprise at seeing me right behind her. ¡°Ah,¡± she uttered, then smiled. ¡°Want to help?¡± I nodded. ¡°What do you need?¡± Alyssa scratched her chin while thinking. ¡°Meat,¡± she replied. ¡°We have some in the refrigerator but its frozen. Do you still have some Uger meat?¡± ¡°I do,¡± I confirmed. ¡°How much do we need?¡± She walked to the counter and poured the ingredients in different bowls. ¡°Five kilos,¡± was her answer. ¡°Wash your hands first.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I sighed and did as told, then fetched a cutting board and put the meat on it. ¡°What should I do now?¡± ¡°Make sure they''re the same cut,¡± she chuckled, then pulled out a big pot from a cabinet, then placed it on top of the oven. I stared at the meat in front of me. How do I tell the difference? I wondered, moving the pieces around. Well, as long as they all look the same it should be fine... right? I concluded and engaged in the mini-game of matching meat types. After around ten minutes, and going over a few hundred kilos of meat, I found ten similar pieces with a spine-like bone in the middle. Bonte''s work is quite precise, I noticed. They were all the same size and had very little fat. ¡°You done?¡± Alyssa asked, standing next to me. She had her arms crossed in front of her chest and an amused smile on her face. I gave her a nod and gestured at the meat. ¡°Are these okay? I don''t know how to tell cuts apart...¡± The Luzo picked them up one by one. ¡°Yep. Good job,¡± she praised and kissed my cheek. This cooking business is pretty fun... I thought with a smile. Alyssa took a bowl with flour and used her hands to cover the meat with it. She looked at me and smiled. ¡°Cut the onions,¡± she instructed me. ¡°Right.¡± I picked the blue onion and produced a legendary dagger. ¡°With a regular knife,¡± the Luzo added, giving me a look. I nodded and stored the dagger, then grabbed a knife from the table, peeled the onion, then quickly cut it. ¡°Do you know why told you to use a regular knife?¡± Alyssa inquired, having finished her thing and putting the meat in the pot. A nice sizzling sound came from the pot. ¡°Uh...¡± I thought for a second, then remembered what Lapia told me when we made breakfast. ¡°Because a regular knife can''t cut me, and a Legendary dagger may?¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She nodded, then stared at the perfectly minced onion. ¡°That was pretty fast,¡± she praised. I gave her a triumphant smile. ¡°I can do a thing or two,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Now peel the garlic,¡± she instructed and put pepper in the pot. I nodded and grabbed the garlic, then squeezed it in my hand. I plucked the garlic cloves from between the peels and put them close to the pot. She nodded and grabbed a purple vegetable, cut it in half, and placed it on my side of the counter. ¡°Slice these,¡± she instructed. I did and waited. A very appetizing smell came from the pot, tickling my senses. She picked a black thing and started cutting it. She gestured at some red, long vegetabled. ¡°Now slice those peppers.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I replied and cut them in thin rings. Alyssa kept putting ingredients in the pot while giving me instructions. After a few minutes she took the meat out onto a plate. It had a very beautiful brown color to it, and the smell was something that could wake the dead. The Luzo continued to put ingredients in the pot, then waited for a little bit. The sizzling and the smell intensified and filled the apartment. ¡°Now we put the meat back in,¡± she announced and did so, then added more ingredients. I gulped at the rich fragrance. ¡°That smells incredible.¡± ¡°I''m glad you like it,¡± Alyssa giggled and gave me another kiss on the cheek. ¡°Now we make the salad.¡± I nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± The woman took small, red vegetables and separated them from the leaves they had. ¡°Wash these,¡± she instructed, moving the green things my way. I did as told and watched her for a bit. Alyssa''s hands moved precisely and quickly. Her long, clawed fingers helped her a ton when holding things down to keep them from slipping away. Her instruction were clear and easy to follow, and she didn''t give me tasks that required knowing proper amounts of ingredients. It was either cut this, slice that, wash that, peel that, ready that, etcetera. The salad was surprisingly simple to make, and it was finished in under two minutes. ¡°Now we wait for the meat,¡± Alyssa informed me and leaned on the counter. ¡°That''s it?¡± I asked, a little surprised. She nodded. ¡°Cooking is simple,¡± she replied. I nodded approvingly, then gave her a hug. ¡°Where did you learn this dish?¡± ¡°Down south, in Camaz, a Human country,¡± she answered. ¡°Around... forty-two years ago.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I nodded and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ¡°It smells delicious.¡± ¡°I learned it from a friend during a dungeon delve. I was around level one hundred and twenty....¡± she recalled with a smile. ¡°It took me a full hour to fully heal someone back then.¡± I blinked a few times in confusion. ¡°That long?¡± ¡°That''s how long it takes, usually. Especially at that level,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Is that why it takes too long to go up in levels?¡± I inquired, resting my forehead on hers. She nodded. ¡°Pretty much.¡± ¡°What''s that delicious smell?¡± Lapia walked to us and joined the hug. ¡°The result of a joint effort,¡± I joked. Lapia gave me a suspicious look, then turned to Alyssa. ¡°You didn''t let her use fire, salt, sugar, or anything... right?¡± The Luzo shook her head. ¡°Nope. That''s dangerous.¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°I''m right here...¡± ¡°I left cutting, washing, and slicing to her,¡± Alyssa continued. ¡°I guess she doesn''t know the difference between salt and sugar yet.¡± ¡°Hey...¡± I complained at the unfair remarks. ¡°She''s improving... little by little...¡± Lapia sighed. ¡°I can''t believe a woman her age doesn''t know how to cook...¡± Alyssa lamented. It was my turn to sigh. ¡°Fair...¡± Lapia chuckled, followed by Alyssa giggling. ¡°By the way...¡± the Elf began, raising an eyebrow and smirking. ¡°Did you see Pokora leave with Yolin?¡± ¡°I did,¡± the Luzo nodded. ¡°About time, if you ask me.¡± Lapia and I tilted out heads at the same time. ¡°You knew?¡± The Wizard asked in surprise. ¡°No,¡± the healer denied. ¡°But come on, it was pretty obvious.¡± It was my turn to be surprised. ¡°How?¡± Alyssa left the hug and gave us a smug smile. ¡°You seem to be too focused on carnal desire, my dears...¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Lapia raised a hand. ¡°I thought Pokora had the hots for Natasha.¡± I gave Lapia a doubtful look. The Luzo nodded. ¡°Well, she does.¡± I whipped my head to Alyssa. ¡°She does?!¡± Both turned to me and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really, Natasha?¡± Lapia demanded. ¡°Wait.¡± I shook my head. ¡°What makes you say Pokora has the hots for me?¡± Alyssa wobbled her head a few times. ¡°Well, she gives you this longing look. Like she desires something.¡± I thought for a few seconds. ¡°Ah...¡± I uttered. ¡°Yeah... I get how you''d think that...¡± Pokora may wish for me to be more Earth-like. Probably. I don''t really know. Maybe there''s a disconnect in some way, shape, or form. If she had the hots for me, she''d say it... and it''d be pretty obvious with how hormone-riddled she''s at the moment, I concluded. I''m not that dense, after all. Lapia gave me a suspicious look again. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Alyssa turned to me as well, waiting for an answer. I scoffed and used the Luzo''s words.. ¡°You seem to be too focused on carnal desire, my dears.¡± Right on cue, the pot started boiling. ¡°Lunch is ready,¡± I pointed out with a smug grin. ¡°We''ll continue this later...¡± ??? - ??????? The sun shone on a vast plain. A gentle breeze washed over two figures facing each other in combat. One was a man wearing heavy-looking armor and holding a gargantuan sword in each hand. The other was a woman in underwear, wearing a silly-looking hat in the shape of a mushroom. The armored warrior sprinted to the public morals offender and swung the heavy blades her way. She rolled to the side, completely avoiding the attack. She then crouched, stood up, crouched, and stood up. The warrior turned around and sprinted to the woman once again. The cycle repeated a few times until the semi-naked woman drank a flask, then clutched her head in apparent pain. The heavily armored individual saw the chance and rushed her, then jumped and swung the colossal weapons. Somehow, as if physics were ignored for an instant, the thick slabs of metal bounced off the bare skin of the lightly clothed fighter. The woman''s arms reached for the man''s head, locking him in an inescapable hold. Yellow flames spouted out of her eyes into his for a few seconds. Screams of pain escaped both of them, but the man''s were louder and full of greater agony. The fire brought insanity along with it, forcing the warrior to reach absolute madness. A pained moaned left the man and he keeled over. ¡°EAT SHIT, SCRUB!¡± Natasha yelled at the screen in front of her, clutching the controller in joy. ¡°GIT GUD, CYKA!¡± The screen shifted to black and the words ''Host Vanquished'' popped up in bright yellow font. A satisfied sigh left Natasha, and she relaxed on the sofa. Not for long, however, as a notification came up on the screen. [New Voice Message from user LeonardTheHorse] Natasha arched an eyebrow. ¡°Hoh? Hate mail?¡± She wondered out loud and navigated the console''s menu. She selected the ''Play Voice Message'' prompt. A squeaky voice reached her ears. ¡°Hey man! That thing was cool! Where did you get that spell?¡± The owner of the voice was obviously a kid whose balls were yet to drop. Natasha scratched her forehead. ¡°I was expecting some trash talking, but I guess not...¡± she muttered and typed a reply letting the kid know where to go and what to do. With a ruined mood, and feeling a little guilty for being such a capital-G-gamer, she turned the console off. A high-pitched ''ding'' coming from her phone caught her attention. It was 7:40 a.m., and her delivery food was waiting outside. She walked to the door of her apartment and received her breakfast with a big smile, tipped the UltraEssen guy, and went back in to have the most important meal of the day. Twenty minutes later, and after taking a cold shower, she left her apartment. Snow crunched beneath her feet as she made her way to the parking lot of the condominium, and although too Darwinian, it could be said Natasha had a better time dealing with Kanbe''s winter. The -20 degrees Celsius were a cake walk for her, wearing jeans, a shirt, a pair of trainers, and a hoodie to fight the weather. She reached her parking spot and mounted her bike, then put the helmet and a leather jacket on. She made contact and the machine''s engine roared to life. ¡°Good girl, Sonya,¡± Natasha cooed the bike, petting it like one would a pet. It was a Kawasaki Versys 1000 from last century, and Natasha had gone through the painstakingly slow and expensive process of modernizing the vehicle to match the city''s standards. Right before taking off, something in her right pocket vibrated. She reached for her phone and checked who had sent a message. [uText: One (1) new message from Dad] Natasha smiled and touched the screen. The message read: Good luck on your first day, Nata. Remember to keep your cool. Love, dad. She smiled and typed a quick reply, then put the phone away. Before she could leave the condo, however, a voice came from behind her. ¡°Excuse me!¡± Called a pleasant and deep female voice. Natasha turned to look and was stunned for a second. A woman was walking towards her. She was wearing a comfy-looking parka and fuzzy boots. Apparently the weather wasn''t the same for everyone. But that''s not what made her brain stop functioning, not at all. The woman had light purple skin, dark scales, horns, white hair, and eyes as red as blood. Natasha stared at the woman in silence. ¡°Excuse me...¡± the stranger repeated, closing the distance and letting out a sigh of relief. ¡°Hi, sorry to bother you.¡± After blinking a few times, and thanking her face was blocked by the helmet, Natasha regained her composure. ¡°Y-yea?¡± She stuttered. The woman gave her an apologetic smile. ¡°You see... my car''s not working. Do you know somebody who might help me? I moved here yesterday, and I''m a bit lost on who to ask for help.¡± Natasha looked around. ¡°Where''s your car?¡± The woman pointed to an old SUV parked a few spots away. ¡°It''s that one... but the engine just won''t start. I''m going to be late for work, and I just got this job,¡± she complained while pouting. Is she one of those... ''otherworlders'' that are all over the news? Natasha wondered and gave the woman''s vehicle glance. ¡°Well,¡± Natasha sighed. ¡°That''s... a gas car, you see,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Those freeze in this weather.¡± ¡°Crap!¡± The woman hissed and stomped the ground. ¡°I bought it yesterday evening!¡± Natasha nodded. ¡°Looks like you were scammed, uh...¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The woman exclaimed and extended a hand. ¡°Apologies. My name is Alyssa. Alyssa Pruvik. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Natasha Novak,¡± our protagonist slowly replied, shaking her hand. She''s... beautiful... Alyssa looked at her car with apprehension. ¡°What do you mean I got scammed?¡± ¡°It should be electric,¡± Natasha supplied, patting her bike. ¡°They sold you a non-standardized car...¡± Alyssa clicked her tongue in annoyance. ¡°What am I supposed to do...¡± she sighed, then turned to Natasha. ¡°Do you know how to get it to work?¡± ¡°Even if I got it to work, you can''t drive that car around the city...¡± Natasha informed her. ¡°You''ll get fined, and probably arrested...¡± Alyssa''s eyes widened a little. ¡°You''re joking, right?¡± Natasha shook her head. ¡°Sorry...¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Haaaaa....¡± Alyssa let out a very long sigh. ¡°What should I do...¡± she muttered, looking at the SUV. Natasha put her brain to full use, trying to find a solution. ¡°Well,¡± she began after a second. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Galeia Uni,¡± Alyssa replied, then understood the underlying meaning. ¡°Do you mind giving me a ride?¡± Natasha''s surprise would be evident for the world to see were it not for the helmet still covering her face. ¡°I''m... going there, too. If you don''t mind sitting behind me, sure.¡± A huge smile bloomed in Alyssa''s face. ¡°Yeah! That''d be great!¡± Natasha glanced at the woman''s horns for a second. ¡°I don''t think I have a helmet that could fit you, though...¡± ¡°That''d be no problem!¡± Alyssa assured her and fetched a headband from her parka''s inner pocket, then placed it on her head. The horns disappeared like a magic trick. That''s... incredibly convenient... Natasha thought and nodded. ¡°Alright... uh... let me go grab one. I''ll be right back,¡± she stammered and unmounted her bike. Alyssa nodded and waited. After two minutes, Natasha returned with an extra helmet, then gave it to Alyssa. The woman put it on and sat behind Natasha, wrapping her arms around her waist. There were a couple things Natasha noticed. Two, large things. Don''t... Natasha chastised herself, then drove out of the condo. The morning streets of Kanbe were as busy as always, but the trip was quick. The city''s engineering and planning was top notch. The ground heated up and melted the ice, and the water was absorbed by the asphalt-like material. Natasha wasn''t one to bother herself with the machinations behind everyday conveniences. She was glad her taxes were being properly used, though. After a twenty minute ride, Galeia Uni came to view. It was a big campus occupying three blocks right in the middle of Kanbe, next to the residential area. Various buildings served a multitude of purposes. The gym was as big as the Olympic stadiums of old, and the rest of the edifices demanded respect on their own, being both large and tall. Natasha drove into the campus and into the main parking lot, where she stopped at a spot with a plaque holding her name. Alyssa got off the bike and took the helmet off. ¡°Thank you so much, Natasha!¡± She giggled. The sound of her voice calling her by name was... oddly enchanting. ¡°All cool,¡± Natasha replied, taking off her own helmet. Alyssa stared at her face for a few seconds, and her face turned a deeper shade of purple. The woman cleared her throat and offered the helmet back. ¡°By the way, how did you know I needed to come to the staff building?¡± She cheerfully asked. Natasha''s eyebrows climbed her forehead. ¡°I didn''t, actually. This is where I was coming...¡± she replied, then understood the underlying meaning. ¡°You work here?¡± Alyssa smiled and nodded. ¡°Yeah! You too?¡± ¡°I''m the new art teacher,¡± our protagonist chuckled. ¡°Well, one of the many art teachers, actually. I graduated a few years ago. How about you?¡± ¡°I''m the new head of the Med. Dept.,¡± Alyssa revealed. ¡°I got an offer after the last one left.¡± ¡°What?¡± Natasha couldn''t believe her ears. ¡°That old Danuva hag retired? I heard she was in her prime...¡± ¡°I thought the same thing!¡± Alyssa laughed, covering her mouth. ¡°But she got called for some research up north, over in Rizzque. Something about us otherworlders having different anatomies and all.¡± ¡°Right...¡± Natasha nodded, a little surprised and still not completely used to the subject. ¡°Well... all is good under heaven.¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Alyssa giggled. Natasha''s heart did a back flip at the sound. ¡°So... we''ll be colleagues. That''s nice...¡± ¡°I knoooow...¡± Alyssa laughed. ¡°At least I''ll have a cute, familiar face to approach,¡± she playfully added with a wink. Ayo? Natasha smiled and nodded. ¡°True that,¡± she agreed and got off her bike. A high-pitch ding came from Alyssa''s parka and she pulled out a phone, then smiled. ¡°That silly woman,¡± she giggled. Natasha started walking to the building entrance. ¡°Something funny?¡± She inquired. Alyssa caught up and walked next to her. ¡°Yeah, Lapia sent me a photo of someone with the line ''She''s hella cute!''.¡± Who? Natasha tilted her head. ¡°Lapia? A friend?¡± ¡°My girlfriend,¡± Alyssa replied with a shy smile. Oh.... Natasha nodded, feeling a little something shatter inside her. Well... yeah... ¡°She starts working here today, too,¡± Alyssa happily shared. ¡°She''ll be in the Sciences Dept.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± Natasha praised with an approving nod, knowing how hard it was to get a position there. ¡°You two are pretty smart.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Alyssa giggled and touched Natasha''s arm. Both reached the door and Natasha went in first, holding the door for Alyssa to come through. The woman gave her an appreciative nod and both continued walking. ¡°By the way,¡± Alyssa began, looking around the entrance hall. ¡°Where''s the staff room?¡± ¡°Right, you got here yesterday,¡± Natasha recalled. ¡°Did they tell you about the meeting?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Alyssa confirmed with a nod. ¡°I''d like to know so I can text Lapia where to go.¡± Natasha hummed. ¡°This way,¡± she said and walked into a hallway. Alyssa followed. ¡°I hope you don''t mind me asking...¡± she began, a little unsure. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°[Redacted],¡± Natasha replied. ¡°No way?¡± Alyssa gasped, a little shocked. ¡°You look younger.¡± Natasha laughed. ¡°Thanks for calling me old.¡± Alyssa scoffed. ¡°Please, woman. I''m over a century old. You''re plenty young.¡± Natasha blinked a few times in confusion. Right... otherworlders... She concluded, then gave Alyssa a look-over. ¡°You look like you''re in your mid twenties, though...¡± Alyssa smiled and nudged Natasha''s shoulder with her elbow. ¡°I don''t look that young,¡± she giggled. ¡°Not at all,¡± Natasha denied. ¡°Maybe it''s your beauty,¡± she chuckled, then cleared her throat. Fucking way to harass your colleagues, you stupid fuck! She chastised herself. Alyssa was silent. Natasha took a peek, expecting to see her uncomfortable. Alas, the woman was blushing and smiling. ¡°Thanks,¡± Alyssa muttered in a quiet voice. The rest of the way to the staff room was silent, and Natasha was questioning things in her mind. Once there, however, both went in. An old man was sitting at one of the many desks in the room, and he lifted his head from a pile of documents. Natasha noticed him and smiled, then made his way over. ¡°Yo, Gordon. What''s up, old man?¡± The man frowned. ¡°It''s prof... Right, now you work here,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Old habits die hard, I guess.¡± Natasha nodded and patted his shoulder. ¡°How the wife? I heard you had twins.¡± ¡°She''s fine, thanks for asking,¡± the man replied with a smile of his own. ¡°Her company''s doing great, too. You remember Rinald, my son?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Natasha confirmed. ¡°Cheeky little fucker.¡± ¡°He''s taking care of the twins lately, bless him,¡± he sighed. Natasha scoffed. ¡°Well, he works at his mom''s company, so he can do that.¡± ¡°True that,¡± Gordon chuckled and nodded. The door to the room opened and a few people walked in. Natasha turned around and her eyes almost fell out of her skull. A Satyr, a cat man, and a red-skinned woman walked in one after the other. They weren''t joking when they talked about workplace diversity, Natasha nervously chuckled in her mind. The red-skinned woman locked eyes with our protagonist for a moment, and the otherworlder smiled ever so slightly. ¡°Well,¡± Gordon began, checking his wristwatch. ¡°How about everyone takes their seat? The meeting will begin soon.¡± Everyone nodded and went to find their personal desks. Natasha found hers pretty soon, and was surprised to see it was next to Alyssa''s, for some universally mysterious reason. The reptile woman was fiddling with her phone, however. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Natasha whispered, poking Alyssa''s shoulder. The woman turned to her and smiled. ¡°We''re desk neighbors? What a coincidence!¡± Natasha nodded. ¡°Quite so...¡± Alyssa returned her focus back to the smartphone in her hands and sighed. ¡°Lapia got lost...¡± ¡°Yikes,¡± Natasha muttered. Gordon stood up and walked to the front of the room. ¡°Hello, everyone,¡± he greeted the people in the room with a nod. ¡°Welcome to Galeia Uni. As you''ve seen, you''re surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Your desk neighbors, just like you, are new employees. I hope you get along and all that,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Now, let''s skip the formalities and introduce ourselves so we can properly communicate in the future. This may sound like you''re being treated like children, but workplace communication is crucial to function properly, especially in an educational institution.¡± Everybody nodded in agreement. ¡°I don''t think I need to mention this, but will nonetheless,¡± he continued, looking over the room. ¡°Racist remarks towards our otherworlder co-workers will not be tolerated neither by us as an institution, nor by the laws of Kanbe. I don''t think I need to remind you how that works.¡± Nods again from the staff. ¡°Okay, let''s go from the front, then to the right,¡± Gordon instructed and sat down. Well... Natasha thought with a smile. I guess this year will be plenty fun. 112 - Royal Banquet (1) Alyssa and I were sitting on the bed facing each other. A small frown could be seen on her face after what I said. Lapia was reading a book next to us, minding her own business. The Luzo squinted her eyes at me. ¡°Can you repeat that?¡± She demanded with a hint of disbelief in her voice. We had gone back to our room after dinner and seeing Hanna away, and were about to go to bed when the healer asked about the book she lent me. I shrugged. ¡°It''s not for everyone,¡± I argued. She shook her head. ¡°Not what I asked,¡± she deadpanned, arching an eyebrow. I sighed. ¡°Kingdom Fall is mid,¡± I announced again. Alyssa rubbed her temples and sighed. ¡°Why?! How can you say that?¡± ¡°Well,¡± I began, running my hands through my hair. ¡°The whole cast of characters feel a little off. Like... the dude died because he got the Queen pregnant ''one too many times''? That''s just silly in my opinion. How can someone kill their loved one because of that?¡± ¡°They''re Royalty, Natasha,¡± Alyssa pointed out. ¡°It''d be problematic if the all the heirs descend from the same man.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°How would that be problematic? We don''t even know their species! The only differentiation is their personality, names, and origin. Yinka Plavas didn''t even describe their voices or appearances.¡± ¡°That''s the style Yinka Plavas chose for Kingdom Fall,¡± Alyssa retorted. ¡°The Queen would have favorites if all the heirs come from the same man, which is what led to the assassination.¡± I gave her a look. ¡°That''s just stupid,¡± I chuckled. ¡°It''s a weak plot device to make people unnaturally jealous.¡± Alyssa groaned. ¡°Not in the book''s setting, it isn''t! Things were different during the Second Age of E''er. People were different, too. Familicide wasn''t uncommon.¡± I let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°How was I supposed to know about the setting? It was never once mentioned in the five hundred pages I read!¡± ¡°The characters'' origin and backstory let the reader know!¡± Alyssa protested, slapping her tail on the bed. ¡°And how am I supposed to know that?¡± I retorted with a chuckle. ¡°I have no clue how the Second Age of E''er went down. I don''t know the context of the world I''m presented with, so of course it''s going to make little sense.¡± The Luzo bit her lips and stared at me for a few seconds, then nodded. ¡°You''re right... I completely forgot about that...¡± ¡°Maybe children books would be better as the next reading material,¡± Lapia suggested. Alyssa nodded. ¡°True.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± I blurted out. ¡°I''m not a child...¡± The Elf looked at me with a smile. ¡°You''ll get better context from those. Yinka Plavas'' books are not exactly entry-level material.¡± I scoffed. ¡°What, then? You''ll make me read fairy tales?¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°No, those are pretty gruesome. Fairies are brutal.¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. ¡°Right... what kind of books do children read?¡± ¡°Little Monarch,¡± Lapia supplied. ¡°The Great Awakening,¡± Alyssa added. ¡°What is Divinity?¡± the Elf offered. ¡°Of People and Monsters,¡± the Luzo included. ¡°The All-Mother,¡± Lapia continued. Both kept going, mentioning more books than I cared to remember. ¡°Alright,¡± I interrupted after a while. ¡°Got it. I should read more. Do you have those?¡± Both shook their heads. ¡°You could go read them at a library,¡± Alyssa pointed out. ¡°Or buy a few copies.¡± ¡°We could visit a book store before we leave Paarjo,¡± Lapia muttered, then yawned. ¡°You can read them on the way.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I agreed with a shrug. The bedroom door opened and Yolin walked in. She closed the door, walked to the bed, and dropped her person on it. ¡°Haaaaaaaa,¡± she sighed. ¡°That was fun.¡± I crawled to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Good,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°We went around the city, then we had lunch, then we walked a bit while eating ice cream. We watched a short street-play and then went to a small arena where we fought a few people. After that we visited a few taverns on the way back,¡± she recounted. ¡°I had a great time.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I nodded in approval. Good going, Pokora. ¡°Any spicy moments?¡± Lapia inquired with a smirk. Yolin laughed and sat up, then turned to us. ¡°She asked me to keep the details between us,¡± she chuckled with a smug smile. ¡°Ohh...¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°So it went well.¡± Yolin nodded. ¡°I see,¡± I muttered. ¡°I''ll annoy her tomorrow. Let''s go to sleep.¡± And so we got under the blankets and went to dreamland. ¨C The next day we woke up early and had a quick breakfast. Pokora avoided Lapia''s indirect questions, giving vague replies. I settled with watching the Archer blush and stutter. It wasn''t time to be focusing on that. We had a Royal Banquet to attend, after all. At my insistence, we left at eight towards the Royal Palace and met with the Ork, who was riding a Bhin. The streets were a bit busier than usual. People were going towards our destination as well, and I noticed a few boards advertising the event. Watchers took control of traffic to avoid incidents and facilitate vehicle and mount flow on the streets. I heard people express their gratitude in my involvement to heal the King, and I simply smiled and waved back. After reaching the place itself, we went in through the main gate. The rest of the populace went to the side of the palace, however, so we were the only ones there. A surprising amount of Royal Guards were present, keeping watch on the many gates on that side of the street. Looks like security is taken care of, I concluded and rode Sonya to the building proper. The large double doors opened and Josalia walked out to greet us. She was wearing a beautiful spring green dress. We dismounted and walked over. My companions bowed to the Ruler. ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency,¡± the Queen cheerfully greeted me. ¡°And good morning to you, Lady Alyssa, Gentleman Bromisnar, Gentleman Bonte, Lady Elena, Lady Lapia, Lady Pokh''Orra, Lady Thelea, Lady Yolin.¡± She looked at Hanna, then at me. ¡°I see you have a new companion.¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, Hanna. She joined us yesterday after helping me with some... matters,¡± I informed her. She smiled. ¡°I hope those matters were settled,¡± she politely chuckled. ¡°They were,¡± I chuckled back. ¡°Swiftly so.¡± The Queen slowly nodded, looking me in the eye. ¡°Good,¡± she muttered and turned around. ¡°This way, Your Excellency. We prepared a room for you to wait along with your companions.¡± ¡°Sure. Thanks a bunch,¡± I replied and followed. My companions straightened and kept pace. After going inside the palace, Josalia spoke up again. ¡°Queen Claudia from the Tidon Monarchy will be the first to arrive, Your Excellency. After that is Chief of State Paveli from the Human country of Chad. Then High General Odnik, from Koluum Kingdom. Fourth to arrive will be Plesani, Overseer of the Unified Nymph Collective. And finally Sahaz, Queen of Nemephan.¡± I sighed in relief. ¡°So it''s going to be a seven people gathering? Nice.¡± The Queen had the audacity to laugh. ¡°Oh, Your Excellency, how you lift the spirits,¡± she chuckled after regaining her composure. ¡°They will be joined by an entourage of twenty to thirty people each. Mostly government officials, Nobles, and their scions.¡± Sayon? The fuck is that? I wondered. We took a turn and went up a set of stairs. ¡°That''s a lot of people,¡± I pointed out after taking another turn. ¡°How long will they take to reach the city?¡± ¡°Not long, why?¡± Josalia inquired, a little confused. ¡°The levators didn''t look like they could fit that many,¡± I recalled. ¡°I see,¡± the Queen muttered. ¡°Well, I hope you enjoy the spectacle,¡± she ominously chuckled. I looked around the corridors while we walked. ¡°Where''s Gordon?¡± ¡°Preparing for his grand appearance,¡± Josalia snorted. ¡°He''s the main actor of this event, after all. He wants to show up right before Your Excellency.¡± I hummed. ¡°Didn''t I ask you to call me by name?¡± ¡°That you did,¡± the Queen agreed. ¡°But this is an official event. We must follow protocol.¡± I sighed. ¡°Fair enough, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°That''s the spirit,¡± she praised in a motherly tone. We took yet another turn to a familiar corridor. The Queen walked to an excessively decorated pair of doors and stopped. ¡°We''ve arrived,¡± she announced. It was the same room I stayed at with Lapia. The exact same where we did the nasty for hours. And we''d all go inside. My face heated up in embarrassment. Fuck, I cursed in my mind and proceeded to open the door. The interior was just the way I remembered, full of silver and gold ornaments and decorations. It was almost like any other color ceased to exist the moment I stepped inside. The large bed where I fucked Lapia to the point she couldn''t walk was in the same spot as before. ¡°I will return shortly before the other Rulers arrive, Your Excellency,¡± Josalia informed me. ¡°Is there anything you''d like to request in the meantime?¡± I turned to her and shook my head. ¡°Nothing comes to mind. And thanks, Josalia... I mean, Your Majesty.¡± The Queen smiled, nodded, closed the door, and left. My companions let out a collective sigh of relief. ¡°That was Queen Josalia in the flesh!¡± Bonte exclaimed in excitement. ¡°She''s so regal!¡± Bromisnar walked to a golden table and sat down in one of the silver chairs. ¡°She does have that Royal aura,¡± he agreed. ¡°She was pretty relaxed,¡± Yolin pointed out and walked to the bed, where she sat down. ¡°Seems like a chill woman.¡± ¡°This room is a bit too much,¡± Pokora groaned, looking at a full-body mirror with a golden frame. ¡°Look at all this wealth,¡± she muttered, a little disgusted. ¡°It''s for Halves, after all,¡± Lapia chuckled, walking to me. She stood on the tip of her toes and whispered in my ear, ¡°We had fun here. Makes me a bit excited with everyone present.¡± I closed my eyes and sighed. ¡°It''s embarrassing,¡± I whispered back. She smirked and pinched my cheeks. ¡°I bet,¡± she chuckled. 113 - Royal Banquet (2) After everyone found a comfortable spot on the many chairs around the room, a knock came from the door. ¡°That was fast,¡± I commented and went to open the door. Seven Tigeas were standing outside the room and bowed when they saw me. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± the one at the front, a mature man with white hair and a few wrinkles on his face, greeted me. ¡°We''re here to aid in preparations and give advise on protocol,¡± he informed. I nodded and stepped aside. ¡°Cool, go ahead,¡± I replied. They went in and split in three groups, then approached my companions. The old man stayed next to me, however. ¡°Your Excellency, if I may... what''s Your Excellency''s choice of wardrobe for today?¡± He politely inquired with a smile. I heard the other Tigeas ask similar questions to my companions. ¡°A suit,¡± I replied, turning to the man. He nodded. ¡°May I see it?¡± I arched an eyebrow and appraised him. [Dhar''Ji Tigea, Lvl 312 Royal Seamster] Damn. ¡°Sure,¡± I complied and changed clothes. ¡°May I hear your name?¡± I probed. ¡°Louis, though I doubt my name has any importance as of the moment,¡± he replied, circling me. His eyes were similar to vulture''s watching a dying animal. I observed the man while he checked my drip. ¡°Nice to meet you, Louis.¡± ¡°Raise your arms,¡± he instructed. I complied. While I knew what colors to match and that sort of things, the dress code of a Royal Banquet was something unfortunately out of my grasp. ¡°Why did Your Excellency choose this instead of armor?¡± He asked after completing five laps around me. I sighed. My reasoning may not be enough for a fashion professional. ¡°Because it looks heavier than it is, is not that fashionable in my opinion, and armor means combat... which is not what the event is about.¡± He frowned a little. ¡°Please forgive my insolence, but I''m afraid Your Excellency''s choice of wardrobe is a statement. Halves wear armor not to be ready for combat, but to remind others of their business'' nature... which is combat first and foremost. It''s Your Excellency''s kind''s raison d''¨ºtre, after all.¡± I hummed in understanding. ¡°That''s not to say Your Excellency''s image will be at stake, far from it...¡± he quickly added. ¡°But not wearing armor means Your Excellency is not ready to protect at all times. We can blame that on tradition,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I hope Your Excellency doesn''t mind how... contradictory all of this is.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered. ¡°Your Excellency is not only a Halve but a Warrior as well,¡± Louis continued, giving me a look. ¡°While everyone knows Halves stand above others when it comes to physical prowess, and oftentimes do not technically require armor to survive mortal combat, fashion carries meaning beyond the outfit''s original purpose.¡± ¡°True...¡± I muttered. ¡°When it comes to events like these, there is always a ''what if'' scenario that the participants take into account,¡± he carefully said. ¡°A place where various Rulers gather would be an attractive target for various groups, for example. If some participants, especially Halves, are not wearing armor, it may come off as a taunt to those who wish to cause mayhem. It''s the truth, however silly it may sound.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I sucked air throught my teeth. ¡°Well, what do you recommend?¡± The man smiled ever so slightly. ¡°Armor when Your Excellency makes her entrance, and the suit when the event calms down and everyone moves to the banquet. The message that Your Excellency is ready for anything will be conveyed this way, while allowing Your Excellency to relax and enjoy the festivities as Your Excellency sees fit.¡± I nodded. ¡°That sounds good. What about weapons?¡± ¡°On Your Excellency''s person during the entrance,¡± Louis resolutely replied. ¡°Alright,¡± I agreed. ¡°Thanks for the advise.¡± He smiled and nodded. ¡°Not a problem, Your Excellency. Now, we move to etiquette.¡± Fuck me blind, I groaned in my mind, then smacked my lips. ¡°Sure...¡± ¨C After 30 minutes of a crash-course on how to behave during a Royal event, the Tigeas left the room. Shortly after, the Queen came to fetch us without much fanfare. She guided us to the gardens behind the palace and to a small gazebo next to a fountain, then left. We had a pretty good view of the flower fields around us, including a large spot of grass a good distance away. It was big square of land around 100 meters wide and 200 long connected to the palace by a paved path. The suns bathed the world in the late summer light, and a gentle breeze moved the greenery around us. On the other side of the gardens, behind a low fence that I thought was there to stop children from roaming around due to its remarkably small size, a large group of people were gathered. Is that the people? I wondered with a little frown, but chose to not mind it that much. Knowing the Changelings had shady goals made me think differently when it came to the segregation between Royalty and the populace, however unfortunate that was. However it may sound, after the King was allegedly targeted, it made sense to draw a line. At least to me. Alyssa nudged my shoulder, bringing me back to the moment, and pointed to the horizon. ¡°Look, they''re arriving,¡± she commented. I looked in the direction she was pointing and noticed a small spot in the sky. No way... After a few minutes, the image of a massive bird could be clearly seen approaching the floating city. Right on cue, a voice boomed through the gardens. ¡°FROM THE MONARCHY OF TIDON, CLAUDIA TIDON CORONALTA II, ARRIVES TO PAARJO, CAPITAL OF LUMIN KINGDOM, ACCOMPANIED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PLAVI DE PIEDRAZUL, JOSE TOMAS DE MONTALBA, RICARDO FUENTES, AND ALEJANDRO PICHON. THE MONARCHY OF TIDON HAS, FOR A VERY LONG TIME, HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH LUMIN KINGDOM, GOING BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF BOTH COUNTRIES, AND SHARE AN UNSHAKEABLE BOND THAT HAS PERSISTED THROUGH THE YEARS.¡± The bird, which was honestly an oversized eagle, batted its wings and flew past the city walls and into the airspace above the palace. It came to a slow stop and descended on the empty field of grass, where it landed. The air was pushed, and the sound reminded me of an helicopter, but much slower and quieter. My eyes widened quite a bit at seeing the field fully occupied by the gargantuan animal. They''re going to fly in... I realized. They''re all insane! ¡°THIS TIME, JUST LIKE ANY PREVIOUS, THE RULER OF THE MONARCHY OF TIDON ARRIVES FIRST TO CONGRATULATE HIS MAJESTY KING GORDON IGNE LUMIN IV ON HIS RECOVERY, AND TO PRESENT HER GRATITUDE TO HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA NOVAK IN HER INVOLVEMENT OF SUCH A GIFT TO OUR COUNTRY!¡± A loud cheering noise came from the masses on the other side of the gardens. ¡°PLEASE WELCOME QUEEN CLAUDIA TIDON CORONALTA II!¡± The cheering grew louder. The bird lowered its body, revealing a group of people sitting on its back. Dwarves riding giant eagles to enter the floating city of cat people... I summarize. This is my reality now... A short woman wearing a golden dress and a shining silver crown stood up on the animal''s back and waved both the people and the many individuals on our side of the gardens. A man stop up shortly after and moved his hands. A ramp of dirt and grass formed from the ground, connecting to the animal. The monarch made her way down the ramp followed by a group of around twenty people, then walked towards the palace. When they reached a plaza-like spot, the stopped and turned around. The bird stood up, beat its wings a few times, then jumped and took off, flying above the palace in wide circles. ¡°That''s a big bird...¡± I breathed out in amazement, looking up at it. ¡°You have no idea,¡± Pokora chuckled behind me. 114 - Royal Banquet (3) A few minutes after the big bird took flight, a large building could be seen floating towards us. ¡°FROM THE PEOPLE''S REPUBLIC OF CHAD, CHIEF OF STATE PAVELI DAS, ARRIVES TO PAARJO, CAPITAL OF LUMIN KINGDOM, ACCOMPANIED BY MINISTERS OF STATE RADAL TOMAK, GORTI GAHEJIL, JAHAL SILOS, AND YERA ARMTUK.¡± The floating edifice grew closer and the shape of a fortress could be clearly seen descending on the landing strip. The front gate opened and a group of Humans walked out of it and into the paved path. ¡°PLEASE WELCOME CHIEF OF STATE PAVELI DAS!¡± Cheers resounded from the opposite side of the gardens. The Humans waved and nodded, then walked to the plaza where the Dwarves were standing. They stopped, greeted each other, then turned around. The large building slowly rose and moved to the back of the gardens, where it stopped and remained still. That was an insipid introduction, I thought, looking at the Humans. Right then, a loud roar boomed from the north. I produced my spear and looked in the direction of the sound, but found nothing. ¡°FROM THE KOLUUM KINGDOM, HIGH GENERAL ODNIK AFRAS KOLUUM I, ARRIVES TO PAARJO, CAPITAL OF LUMIN KINGDOM, ACCOMPANIED BY STATE GOVERNORS LADNI AFRAS KOLUUM III, BERNOL UGUK KOLUUM IV, AND HAN UGUK KOLUUM XVII.¡± The introduction was met with silence, however. ¡°PLEASE WELCOME HIGH GENERAL ODNIK AFRAS KOLUUM I!¡± Another roar boomed in the palace gardens, and a large, white dragon-looking monster came to view. It flew right over the city walls and took a sharp turn mid-air, did a barrel roll, and violently landed on the landing strip. My eyes widened to the limit at seeing a creature that looked like a dragon for the first time. It had four legs, a pair of massive wings, a tail, a short neck, and a large head. It was more like a massive Bearded Dragon than a traditional dragon. Even Sonya looked more like a proper dragon in my opinion. Still impressive, though, despite looking a bit silly. Around ten individuals stood up from the animal''s back and jumped down to the ground. They walked through the paved path and met with the other groups. They towered over the rest by at least an entire meter, but greeted others with polite smiles and nods. I realized at that moment what species they were. Goliaths. ¡°So Goliaths ride dragons?¡± I wondered out loud. ¡°Cool.¡± Alyssa scoffed. ¡°That''s not a dragon, Natasha,¡± she corrected me, a little offended. ¡°That''s a Rodolian. Dragons are much, much, much bigger and they can talk.¡± ¡°Much bigger?¡± I repeated, a little incredulous. ¡°How much?¡± The Luzo huffed. ¡°About the size of Paarjo, if not a bit bigger,¡± she informed me, then grumbled, ¡°Calling a Rodolian ''dragon''... psh!¡± My eyebrows furrowed in concern. ¡°Isn''t that a bit too big?¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°That''s why Wild Dragons are a threat,¡± Lapia supplied. ¡°If they were the size of a Rodolian then even a group of Wizards would be able to deal with them.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I chuckled. Almost as if the spectators had woken up, they suddenly erupted in cheers and ovations. Maybe such a sight was not that common, or these beasts were tamed by the Elite only. Whichever the case, it was obvious the creature had an impact on the crowd. Bonte closed in from behind me and whispered. ¡°Do you think you can take it on?¡± I focused on the beast. Its eyes were big so that''d mean easy access to the brain. Reaching it while it flew was the only obstacle I could recognize. ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied. ¡°As long as it doesn''t fly too high.¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± Hanna interjected. ¡°Koluum Kingdom''s Rodolians are in the 1100 level range tops,¡± she informed us, then smugly added. ¡°That''d be nothing for Her Excellency.¡± Pokora turned to her with an approving smile. ¡°You know your stuff.¡± The Ork nodded. ¡°I need to.¡± Who did I invite to the party? I wondered with a sigh, then eyed everyone around me. Alyssa was a high-grade doctor and part of the clergy. Lapia was a noble-born scholar and a highly educated Wizard. Bonte was a Scout with plenty of wildlife knowledge and an underworld savvy man. Bromisnar was a man of culture and music. Pokora was a former military member and a reincarnated person from Earth. Yolin was a woman with almost two centuries of knowledge in adventuring and delving into dungeons, plus having traveled to two continents. Elena was... a well of knowledge locked behind amnesia. Hanna was clearly involved in politics and information gathering. Thelea was the most normal of the group, though I hadn''t talked with her that much to properly know her. And then there was little old me, a killing machine forged in Hell with the authority to overrule Monarchs. Quite the gathering of people, I''d say. It almost seemed odd... The Rodolian took a few steps while beating its wings and took flight, following the big eagle in the sky. Alyssa clicked her tongue. ¡°Crap,¡± she hissed and turned her back to the landing spot. I looked around. ¡°What''s up?¡± ¡°Nymphs are next,¡± the Luzo explained in annoyance. I was confused. ¡°And?¡± ¡°They use butterflies to fly around,¡± Lapia informed me. ¡°Oh,¡± I uttered, then wrapped my arms around Alyssa. ¡°Is it that bad?¡± ¡°You fear heights, I fear butterflies,¡± she muttered and nuzzled her head on my neck. ¡°Fair enough,¡± I replied in understanding. It wasn''t my place to point out how ridiculous phobias are. They are irrational, after all. Yolin tapped my shoulder and pointed to the east. There, a dark cloud was approaching the city. Damn, how many are there? I wondered. ¡°FROM THE UNIFIED NYMPH COLLECTIVE, OVERSEER PLESANI DALLI, ARRIVES TO PAARJO, CAPITAL OF LUMIN KINGDOM, ACCOMPANIED BY PARTY SISTERS ROSALINA LUVA, TRILLY PUNA, AND MELAMI LESPEZ.¡± The crowd clapped. The cloud of flying insects approached in silence. The many colors, sizes, and shapes of the butterflies were a different symphony, however. The entire rainbow flashed in reflections, patterns, and hairy bodies. Each were the size of a car, holding a person in their spindly legs. A shiver went up my spine. Butterflies are pretty, but I''m not a fan of bugs or insects of any kind. I deeply thanked the fates for the fact Nymphs didn''t choose flying spiders... if those even existed... and they better not. When the butterflies landed, they released the people and flew into the gardens, where they gathered around a big brush. ¡°PLEASE WELCOME THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNIFIED NYMPH COLLECTIVE!¡± More clapping came from the audience, and a few cheers could be heard. It seemed like the insects failed to find fans in the crowd. The Nymphs waved and nodded while walking through the paved path. The fourteen individuals were androgynous and almost indistinguishable from one another except for the clothes they wore. None of them had a crown or any symbol on their person that would indicate who was the Overseer. One of them walked at the front of the group, however. I pinched Alyssa''s cheeks. ¡°They''re gone,¡± I informed her. The woman slowly turned her head and took a peek. ¡°Thanks,¡± she shyly muttered and fully turned around. ¡°You''re cute,¡± I whispered into her ear and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Nn,¡± she complained and blushed. 115 - Royal Banquet (4) ¡°LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FROM NEMEPHAN, QUEEN SAHAZ LAZOERI NEMEPHAN XIV, ARRIVES TO PAARJO, CAPITAL OF LUMIN KINGDOM, ACCOMPANIED BY STATE REGULATORS URGUN KAPER, MAART VATNI, AMEL IRTUD, AND ERMA IRACON.¡± Where is the announcer, anyway? I wondered, looking around the gardens for a second. Lapia nudged my shoulder. ¡°Focus,¡± she chastised me. ¡°They arrived,¡± she muttered in distaste. I raised my eyebrows in surprise at her tone and looked at the approaching group. A group of twenty or so winged individuals were descending on the landing spot. Their wings replaced the arms, and feathers covered their bodies where clothes did not. Their feet where those of a bird, with four digits and talons. Their upper bodies looked like a person''s, but slim and elegant. Their faces had lips, a nose, and feathered ears. In short, Harpies. I leaned close to Alyssa. ¡°How come they kept the wings?¡± I inquired. ¡°Evolutionary advantage,¡± she quietly replied. ¡°Wings are quite useful. And it''s a bit insensitive to ask that kind of question.¡± I nodded and looked at the Harpies. ¡°Got it.¡± The bird people walked through the paved path and met with the other rulers at the plaza-like space, then greeted each other. I noticed they folded their wings and had what looked like hands around the mid-section of their upper limbs. The gathered individuals turned around and faced the palace. ¡°Hmm...¡± I hummed and leaned into Lapia. ¡°Do you know which one is Urgun?¡± The Elf nodded. ¡°Green robe, four-winged crest on the back,¡± she replied, then turned to me. ¡°You remember her name?¡± I stared at the Harpy in question and nodded. ¡°Naturally,¡± I confirmed. ¡°Want me to kill her?¡± My companions whipped their heads in my direction. ¡°No,¡± Lapia rejected the offer with a shake of her head. ¡°I''ll talk to her first.¡± ¡°Sure, but I''ll join you,¡± I told her. ¡°I was going to ask you to,¡± she chuckled. Yolin poked my ribs. ¡°Hey, what''s this about-¡± ¡°AND NOW, OUR BELOVED MONARCH! HIS MAJESTY THE KING, GORDON IGNE LUMIN IV, MAKES HIS ENTRANCE! AFTER BEING AFFLICTED WITH A DISEASE THAT ONLY A HALVE COULD CURE, HE WISHES TO SHARE THE JOY HIS RECOVERY WITH EVERYONE PRESENT!¡± The people cheered, and the group of Rulers clapped gracefully. A few sparkly firework-looking things spew out of a balcony on the third floor, getting the attention of everyone. The gates to the first floor opened and Gordon came out wearing a stylish robe bearing the Kingdom''s symbols and his crown on top of his head. ¡°Hah!¡± He laughed with a big smile. ¡°Got you!¡± This man''s a King... I reminded myself, covering my eyes at the ridiculous joke. ¡°The absolute state of this country,¡± Pokora sighed. People laughed, others cheered, and most clapped. ¡°Welcome to Paarjo!¡± Gordon greeted the gathered rulers. Josalia walked out and stood next to him. She had a slight blush on her face, probably feeling second hand embarrassment from her husband''s actions. ¡°Welcome to Paarjo,¡± she greeted as well, giving a polite nod and smile. ¡°And thank you for coming to celebrate my dear husband''s recovery.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Gordon agreed with a big smile. ¡°Thank you all for coming on such a short notice, and right at the turn of the season at that.¡± His face turned serious. ¡°Sometimes, life is unpredictable... isn''t it?¡± Words of agreement were shared among the Rulers. Gordon''s face turned into a smug grin. ¡°But the most unpredictable of all is yet to come!¡± He announced and made a hand gesture. ¡°FROM THE CRADLE OF LIFE!¡± ¡°Shit!¡± I hissed. ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°A MOST RESPECTED BEING!¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Do the thing you did at the arena!¡± Bonte whispered, full of excitement. ¡°A WARRIOR! AN ETERNAL!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Lapia agreed. ¡°Trust me, I''ll help with your entrance!¡± ¡°HER KIND PROTECTED OUR ANCESTORS, AND WE''VE RECEIVED THAT BLESSING ONCE MORE!¡± ¡°Make an impact, wasn''t it?¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°A WOMAN OF ACTION AND DESICION WHO DID NOT WASTE A MOMENT TO ANSWER THE PLEA OF OUR COUNTRY!¡± ¡°Fine!¡± I hissed in resignation, equipping my armor and producing my shield. ¡°A MOST BENEVOLENT WOMAN!¡± Pokora burst in a fit of giggles. ¡°This is great!¡± ¡°HER GLORIOUS EXCELLENCY NATASHA NOVAK, HALVE WARRIOR!!!¡± The people roared, and the Rulers clapped with great excitement, turning our way. Bonte snapped his fingers and enveloped the gazebo in shadows. Fuck! I walked out of the small building, still shrouded in darkness. Come on, Natasha! You can do it. At least do it for the clout! Trumpets echoed in the gardens, and the cheers increased in volume. ¡°§¿§ä§à §á§Ú§Ù§Õ§Ö§è!¡± I cursed and activated Dragoon Might, then Dragon Dive. My legs tensed up and the E''er flowed to my thighs and back. Then, I shot up high into the sky at a ridiculous speed. I looked down and saw the big eagle and the Rodolian a few hundred meters below me. Right then, the world slowed down to a crawl and a red circle appeared at the center of my vision wherever I looked. I focused on the landing spot and noticed the red circle covered the entire Royal Palace. Fuck! No! Make it smaller! Just the landing spot! I complained in my head. And it did. The red circle grew smaller but redder at the same time, almost turning blood red. It precisely covered the patch of grass designated to land. Yes! Now, GO! The world rushed towards me faster than anything I had seen so far... or more like, I crashed down at several times the speed of sound. My landing was probably the loudest noise I have ever heard, and the ground shook. Just as I landed, however, several lightning bolts fell from the sky and struck me. The E''er in my body flowed into the ground around me, breaking it and forming spikes. The dust settled instantly, probably thanks to Lapia''s space spells. I quickly noticed I was surrounded by very wide and tall spikes. They were at least twenty meters thick and one hundred in height. I clicked my tongue and jumped over them as easily as one jumped over a fence. After my second landing, I raised my spear to the sky for added flair. A final lightning bolt struck the tip of my weapon for a good three seconds, making my armor crackle with the element. I winced at the taste of batteries in my mouth. I don''t think I''ll get used to that... My grand entrance, however, was met with silence. The Rulers were staring at me with wide eyes and slack jaws. I lowered my spear and hit the ground with the butt, making a loud noise. ¡°WOOOOOOAAAAAAHHHHH!!!¡± That seemed to wake everyone up, as the gardens echoed with the thunderous cheer of the people, Royalty, Nobility, and other types of Rulers present. Heh, glorious success, I chuckled in my mind. And I''m not that scared of heights anymore. Cool. Gordon was laughing loudly and clapping. Josalia was in shock, looking at me as if I was a holy being. My companions were nodding, full of smug... except for Elena and Hanna, who were on their knees and had... odd expresions between adoration and some form of depraved lust. Not the kind of success I wanted, but a dub is a dub, I settled and stored my weapons. Those looking quieted down, as if my gesture was a sign for them to settle down. I cringed a little inside, then walked through the paved road towards the Rulers. To my shock and absolute displeasure, they all knelt down... including my buddies Gordon and Josalia. This is not the kind of clout I''m chasing... but whatever... I have to get used to this... I concluded and recalled Louis'' words about etiquette. ¡°Good morning,¡± I shortly greeted the Rulers. ¡°You did well on coming here,¡± I coldly announced, then felt the soul-crushing hand of cringe grasp my entire being. This is bad for my RP. I had an image of a cool gal that doesn''t think much of positions... Well... that probably influenced the attempt at my life. Gordon rose first, then gave me a wink and a subtle thumbs-up. I inwardly sighed in relief. Josalia stood up next, and looked at me with approval, nodding a few times as if saying ''this is how a Halve should behave''. One by one, the Rulers stood up. Each had a different expression on their faces. Most were of awe and joy, some were of approval and acceptance, few were more timid and respectful. I extended a hand towards the gazebo. ¡°I''ll introduce my companions,¡± I announced. The group in question walked towards me and bowed to the Rulers. I gestured at and introduced them one by one. ¡°Lapia Pofeta, Alyssa Pruvik, Yolin Makav, Bonte Slirmy, Bromisnar Bahadh, Pokh''Orra Pez''Che, Elena Pazh''Khun, Thelea Vathunith, and Hanna Intarr... with two r''s at the end.¡± The Rulers nodded with polite smiles. I looked at Gordon. ¡°Take it from here, Your Majesty,¡± I ''instructed'' him. The man bowed again. ¡°Your Excellency has my gratitude,¡± he replied. ¡°Let''s move inside, shall we?¡± He offered. ¡°Personal introductions will have to wait until the banquet begins,¡± he chuckled and turned around. This is pretty... chill for Rulers. Maybe Halves change the landscape too much? I wondered, observing the Rulers follow Gordon into the Palace. 116 - Royal Banquet (5) After the group went in, one individual from each country stayed behind. They walked to us and bowed. Each of their gestures were a little different, having little details like where and how they placed which hand, the degree at which an arm was stretched, and whether or not a leg went in front of the other. ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency,¡± one of them, a male Harpy, greeted me. ¡°I am Higher Relations Regulator Erma Iracon. It''s an honor to meet you.¡± Next was the Goliath. Even though the woman was bowing, I had to look up. ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency,¡± she greeted me. ¡°I am Ladni Afras Koluum III, Higher Relations Aide, at your service.¡± In absolute contrast to the Goliath''s height, a Dwarf spoke next. ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency,¡± he greeted me. ¡°I am Plavi de Piedrazul, Minister of Higher Relations. I sent Your Excellency a letter last month. It''s a pleasure to finally meet you.¡± The man reached the Goliath''s thighs. Next, a woman with light green skin and leaves that were similar to an artichoke''s instead of hair addressed me, ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency.¡± Her voice was like the sound of a stream in the middle of a forest during the day''s early hours. ¡°I am Trilly Puna, Facilitator of Higher Relations.¡± Finally, the Human spoke. ¡°Good morning, Your Excellency,¡± he greeted me respectfully. ¡°I am Jahal Silos, Secretary of Higher Relations.¡± Not only was the bowing different, each had a unique title attached to their position even though they were practically the same. They outfits were also unique, each having the crest of their respective country on various articles of clothing. I nodded. ¡°Good morning to you, too,¡± I replied. A voice came from the entrance to the Royal Palace, ¡°Your Excellency, we meet again.¡± I looked to the source and noticed Alastor, Lumin Kingdom''s Minister of Higher Relations, walking towards us. ¡°Gentleman Lafin,¡± I greeted him with a nod. He stopped in front of me and bowed, then straightened up. ¡°I''m here to guide Your Excellency, if that is welcomed.¡± He turned to my companions. ¡°And anyone who chooses to join.¡± Yolin smiled. ¡°I''ll go ahead first,¡± she announced, then winked at me. ¡°Have fun,¡± she added and walked off. ¡°Same,¡± Pokora replied and followed the Oni. My companions went into the palace, announcing their betrayal of leaving me alone with politicians. Hanna was the only one that stayed behind, walking to us and standing behind me. ¡°I''ll join Her Excellency,¡± she declared. Alastor nodded and turned to the foreign envoys. ¡°You are more than welcome to accompany us,¡± he offered with a polite smile. They nodded appreciatively and replied in affirmatives. And so, we went inside the Royal Palace. I turned auto-pilot on and followed Alastor. __ ¡°...which helped us in keeping other countries from claiming the lands around Koluum,¡± Ladni, the Goliath, explained to me. ¡°I see,¡± I replied, chewing a pineapple cube. The Banquet had already begun, and everyone present was socializing. The group of people accompanying wasted little time to promote their countries and how amazing they were. I listened to the founding of five different countries, two of which were involved in the wars a very long time ago. Interesting information, but not the most stimulating of conversations. Performers played relaxing music in the middle of the hall, keeping the atmosphere from being a constant murmur of voices. Hanna kept quiet, listening to the people talking to me. We were standing next to a table crammed with fruit, and I took the chance to try them all while listening. ¡°...agreed and handed unoccupied land...¡± the Goliath continued. I hummed and ate a grape. Fuck, this is good. ¡°...got a heirloom as a reward...¡± she kept going. I nodded and used a fork to pick a large slice of chirimoya. What''s the name in English? I wondered and put it in my mouth. Delicious. The Goliath continued her explanation of her country while I ate fruit. I paid enough attention to pick the important bits, but names, years, and minute details went in one ear and out the other. Basically, Goliaths descend from Colossus, a species related to Giants. Their country was massive at first, but very little of it was populated. So, a few Halves requested them to give land away so other countries could form. They agreed, because otherwise I assumed they''d be shunned by the rest of the world, and got legendary weapons in return. This inevitably justified the ruling of Warriors in that country instead of Merchants. Still, Ladni, who is the sister of High General Odnik, is a Merchant but is unable to chase the throne despite being Royalty herself. Their mother, who passed away around two thousand years ago, was a capable Warrior and the previous Ruler of Koluum. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Unfortunately for me, they are overjoyed with the appearance of a Halve Warrior after fifteen thousand years. I had the feeling Odnik would invite me to Koluum if he got the chance... which came sooner than later. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± Ladni began after finishing the story of her country. ¡°High General Odnik would like to share a few words with you, if that''s welcomed.¡± I suppressed a sigh and gave her a nod. ¡°Sure,¡± I replied and used a wet napkin to wipe my hands. A second after I said that, the man himself approached us from a few tables away. The dude was an absolute unit, around 260 cm tall. He was a mountain of a man, wearing a robe that clung to his muscled body. His feet were covered in sandals and he wore a glowing crown on top of his bald head. His skin, just like his sister''s, was a reddish gray and his eyes were forest green. The man bowed. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± he greeted with a polite smile. ¡°I am Odnik Afras Koluum I. It''s an honor to meet you.¡± I nodded back, looking up at the man. He reminded me of a bald Leonidas. Even the beard was the same. ¡°Nice to meet you, High General,¡± I replied. ¡°Ladni has been sharing some interesting things about your country.¡± ¡°I''m honored you find our country interesting,¡± he replied with a smile. ¡°Could I ask what, specifically, caught your interest?¡± ¡°You''re a Warrior,¡± I pointed out and appraised him. [Odnik, Limar Goliath Lvl 311 Berzerker] Hmm... Two thousand years ruling and 311 is the highest class, I concluded. Was expecting more. ¡°I see you''ve been busy,¡± I commented. ¡°That''s good.¡± Odnik nodded with a satisfied smile. ¡°Ruling a country leaves little time to fight,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I bet,¡± I agreed. ¡°So, what weapon do you favor?¡± He rubbed his beard and thought for a second. ¡°Mostly swords,¡± he replied with a carefree shrug. How basic, I thought and nodded. ¡°I see...¡± The Warrior smiled. ¡°Still, Your Excellency, I must say... that skill of yours is phenomenal,¡± he praised with a nod. ¡°How you shot up to the skies and fell down like a meteor... fantastic. The spikes look menacing, and Lady Lapia''s addition was a very nice touch.¡± I smiled. ¡°Thank you. I''ll let Lapia know,¡± I told him. Now, leave me alone! I want to try more fruit! ¡°And that armor you wore,¡± he continued with an exaggerated sigh. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, settling with nodding along. Unfortunately, Odnik pestered me for a while, praising my armor, my weapon, my shield, my skill, and asking questions about them like their quality, the enchantments they had, and more. I avoided giving concrete answers, but remained polite. He had praised Lapia, after all. Being mean to someone who could see her awesomeness was simply rude. After a few minutes of chatting, Gordon walked to the center of the hall and clapped a few times. The Performers stopped playing and everyone quieted down. ¡°Dear guests,¡± he began with a smile. ¡°I would like to steal your attention for a while, and invite you to a different world.¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°Today, we have the honor of witnessing a play by none other than Lumin Kingdom''s Illustrious House of Theater, who will perform Yinka Plava''s internationally praised Life Under One Sun,¡± he announced. Those present clapped, and I noticed most had faces of expectation and excitement. A play? Cool, I thought and turned to Odnik. ¡°It seems our chat will end prematurely,¡± I politely informed him. He nodded. ¡°It appears it will, Your Excellency,¡± he chuckled. ¡°It has been an honor to have a chat with you. Please enjoy the day,¡± he curtsied and bid us farewell. The Performers cleared the stage in the middle of the hall and prepared a few props. Everyone moved to one side of the large room, faced the stage, produced chairs, and waited. Alastor had the tact of producing a chair for me, Hanna, and the foreign envoys. I was grateful for the break, so I took my seat and faced the stage. After I sat down, everyone did so as well. My eyelid twitched a little at that. A pair of Tigeas walked to the stage wearing what looked like rags and spoke to the audience, introducing the setting. The story was pretty interesting if anything. A couple goes on a long journey back to their homeland. The woman was pregnant with their first child together. On the way, however, they are attacked by monsters and end up captured. The woman gives birth during captivity and has her child stolen from her by the monsters. After that the couple is released and they rush to get help to rescue their child. A big party is formed to search the monsters'' nest but nothing is found. With heavy hearts, and after mourning their lost baby, the couple tries to have another. In my innocent mind, I thought the actors would either skip that scene or do a fade-to-black equivalent. No, the Performers straight up started banging on stage while actually crying, not leaving character. I discreetly looked around to see if what was happening in front of me was normal or not. Everyone had glassy eyes and napkins ready to wipe their tears. I looked back at the stage. The two Tigeas were doing the nasty in front of everyone. That''s when I found out Tigeas do have spiky penises. What if he nuts too soon? I wondered, covering my mouth. Will the scene be ruined? Or will they improvise and go from there? Just what the fuck is going on? Right as I finished the thought, the dude blasted his load with a long moan and shaking legs. He arched his back and screamed, ¡°OH, FATES! WE ASK YOU TO BE BENEVOLENT WITH US!¡± I closed my eyes, deeply confused by the fact I was seeing a man bust a nut inside a woman on broad daylight and in front of around fifty people. The play continued but I didn''t pay attention. This world is awesome... I concluded after a while. But there goes my apetite. 117 - Royal Banquet (6) Thunderous applause around me brought me back to the present and I joined the clapping, trying to make it seem as if I was paying attention. The Performers stood on the stage and bowed to the audience. ¡°Bravo!¡± some cheered. ¡°Spectacular!¡± other praised. I stood up while clapping, and everyone copied me. After a good ten seconds of clapping I stopped, and everyone did as well. The props were taken off stage and the musicians returned. Alastor stored the chairs he had produced and approached me. ¡°What does Your Excellency think of the play?¡± I looked him in the eye. ¡°I lack words to properly describe what I felt,¡± I replied with a faint smile. ¡°I have never seen such a display of talent... and I think I will remember it for a long time.¡± A satisfied smile formed on his face. ¡°I''ll let the Performers know of your praise, Your Excellency,¡± he informed me with a nod. ¡°I''m glad you liked it.¡± The rest of the chairs were taken care of and Gordon walked to the front of the audience. ¡°What a performance!¡± He chuckled. ¡°I hope you enjoyed the talents of our Kingdom. The Illustrious House of Theater was founded by my ancestor and nurtured by the teachings of His Divinity Saravia, shaping those who wish to pursue such a fine art. The group you just saw graduated this year, and will soon travel the world in order to spread the marvels of theater in ways only they can accomplish. I hope you treat them well when they visit your countries,¡± he finished with a warm smile. ¡°Definitely,¡± Claudia, the Monarch of Tidon, replied. Others replied in the affirmative, and soon the socializing resumed. ¡°Alastor?¡± I called out to my guide. He nodded. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Could you point me to the alcohol, please?¡± I requested. ¡°Naturally,¡± he replied and walked off. ¡°This way.¡± I followed him, and the group accompanying us followed as well. We reached a table with a respectable amount of bottles on it. A well dressed server was standing on the other side with a polite smile. ¡°Good afternoon, honored guests,¡± he greeted us and gestured at the many ingredients and alcoholic beverages before us. ¡°What are you having?¡± Afternoon? I wondered. Was the play that long? ¡°Potato spirit, surprise me,¡± I challenged the bartender with a cheeky grin. He smiled back and nodded. ¡°Very well,¡± he said and got to work. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± an unknown voiced called from behind. I turned around and saw Urgun, the Harpy woman who was somehow related to Lapia''s incident. She bowed. ¡°Please forgive the insolence, but could I have a moment of Your Excellency''s time?¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead. I turned to Alastor. ¡°Gives us a few minutes, please,¡± I requested. ¡°I''ll ask somebody to let you know when we''re done.¡± He nodded and turned to the other politicians. ¡°Shall we?¡± They nodded and walked away. Hanna didn''t move from her spot behind me. Urgun straightened and opened her mouth. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Wait,¡± I interrupted her. ''Come,'' I sent to Lapia through the Bond. ¡°Do you drink?¡± ¡°I do,¡± the Harpy replied with a nod, then turned to the bartender. ¡°Terrin wine, ninth century, please.¡± The man nodded and placed a metallic cup in front of me. ¡°Your order, honored guest.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I nodded and took the drink, then brought it to my lips. ¡°Let''s see,¡± I chuckled and took a sip. The taste had just the right amount of bitterness and sweetness. The flavors didn''t mix, refreshing my mouth on their own. The amount of alcohol was a little disappointing, but it was there nonetheless. It tickled the tongue and went down easily. ¡°Delicious,¡± I praised and took another sip. The bartender smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± He uncorked a bottle of wine and served a little bit on a glass, then offered it to the Harpy. Urgun took it and smelled it. ¡°Hmm,¡± she hummed in satisfaction, then took the tiniest of sips. ¡°Perfection,¡± she chuckled and returned the glass. The server nodded and served half the glass, then handed it back. Urgun received it and turned to me. Right on cue, Lapia showed up. She looked at Urgun up and down, and a tiny frown formed on her face. ¡°Lady Urgun,¡± she greeted the woman. ¡°Lady Lapia,¡± the Harpy greeted back. ¡°It''s been a while. I''m glad to see you''re doing well.¡± My girlfriend arched an eyebrow, then looked around us. ¡°This is not the place to chat. How about we go out for a moment?¡± I nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Urgun simply nodded. We left the Hall into the gardens, where a few people were mingling about. We walked to a spot where it was safe to assume nobody could hear us. Just in case, I gave Hanna a look. The Ork''s eyes flashed with a whitish light, then nodded. ¡°So,¡± I began, turning to Urgun and taking a sip of my drink. ¡°You wanted to talk with me?¡± The woman nodded. ¡°It has come to my attention that some unsavory individuals were after your life,¡± she started. ¡°And some information has come my way.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°About?¡± ¡°About Lady Lapia''s circumstances when the two of you met,¡± she declared. Lapia sighed. ¡°Were you involved with the bandits that captured me?¡± She demanded. ¡°To a certain extent,¡± Urgun confirmed. Lapia scowled. I hummed and produced my spear. ¡°But not in the way you may think,¡± she added, eyeing my weapon and taking a step back. I titled my head. ¡°How, then?¡± The Harpy looked me in the eye. ¡°I... have met Lady Elena in the past,¡± she revealed. ¡°And I believe there is a group targeting those who are, or were, close to Halves.¡± I rested the butt of my spear on the ground and the shaft on my shoulder. ¡°Go on.¡± Urgun let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Lady Elena and I... were not exactly close, but shared interests. Acquaintances, you could say. We had agreed to meet a while ago, but she never showed up. Back then, I thought she was searching for Her Excellency Yulianna, so I didn''t give it much consideration beyond sending a letter,¡± she recalled. ¡°Time, you see... is viewed differently when one lives more than a thousand years. A century passed without receiving news about her, and I thought her busy still. Such circumstances are not uncommon for us long lived. At our age, it''s understood that time heals the deepest of wounds.¡± Her expression darkened a little, but she regained her composure quickly. ¡°Time moved forward, as it ever does, and Lady Lapia arrived to Kelske. I offered her residence while she stayed there, and she quickly departed. Not long after, an Azuuli Luzo by the name of Denuri paid a visit, informing me of Lady Elena''s status of missing person. Unfortunately, I had no information other than what I just shared, so she decided to leave as well. This... left a bitter feeling in me. The power I have is not absolute, and Kelske doesn''t see much traffic of people either. I decided to approach a few connections and, through them, contacted a group of bandits that roamed the Cradle of Life in order to set an information network. The bandits had a benefactor already, unfortunately, who instructed them to seek out specific people. I offered a large reward if they ever came across a few select individuals I had knowledge of, and they agreed.¡± Lapia was deep in thought. Still, something didn''t click in my head. ¡°Why Lapia?¡± Urgun gave me a complicated smile. ¡°She taught His Excellency Desseyr, did she not?¡± ¡°What would they accomplish with this?¡± Lapia wondered out loud. ¡°It''s not like they sent a message by doing so.¡± Hanna spoke up, ¡°Some people just want to watch the world burn. They can''t be reasoned with and they don''t make sense to us. Sometimes, the only solution is death.¡± I didn''t expect to hear that line in this world, but it oddly fits, I sighed in my mind. I thought Lapia being captured was a coincidence... but I guess I was naive. There are no accidents, after all. ¡°Extremists are a fucking pain to deal with,¡± Lapia groaned. I nodded. ¡°True.¡± 118 - Royal Banquet (7) I stored my weapon and sighed. ¡°I was ready to kill you,¡± I told Urgun. The woman swallowed and nodded. ¡°I-I understand, Your Excellency,¡± she stuttered. ¡°My actions could be seen as malicious without context, after all.¡± Hanna nodded in agreement. I took a sip of my drink. ¡°You should talk to Gordon and Josalia about this information network. At least the one present in this country. I can''t be everywhere at once... I''m not that powerful of a being, unfortunately.¡± The Harpy nodded. ¡°I will do as you advice, Your Excellency. Do I have permission to mention Your Excellency''s involvement?¡± Lapia gave me a nod. ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied. ¡°But I hope you understand that, if you misuse my name... I will kill you.¡± Urgun bowed and nodded. ¡°Naturally, Your Excellency. I will not disappoint.¡± I sighed. ¡°I''m not trying to be a massive bitch, by the way... just, you know.¡± She straightened and nodded again. ¡°I understand, Your Excellency,¡± she assured. I looked her in the eye. ¡°We cool?¡± Urgun smiled and held back a laugh. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. We cool.¡± Lapia chuckled and shook her head. I nodded. ¡°Alright. Dismissed.¡± The Harpy bowed again and left. The three of us watched her enter the palace. ¡°Just like that?¡± Lapia inquired, turning to me. I shrugged, looking up at the sky and the two large animals flying over the palace. ¡°Shit''s clear. Why stretch it?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± the Elf sighed. I took Lapia''s face in my hands and kissed her forehead. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I''m angry,¡± she muttered with a scowl. ¡°I wanted to hate someone for what happened to me, and Urgun was concrete enough to have a target for it. Now? Not so much.¡± I nodded. ¡°I get that.¡± ¡°Like,¡± she choked, and her eyes turned glassy. ¡°It''s not fair, Natasha! It really isn''t!¡± She hugged me tightly. I returned the hug and gently rubbed her back. ¡°All I did was teach a Halve!¡± She sobbed into my shoulder. ¡°Why was I tortured? Why did have to fear for my life?¡± I brushed her hair in silence, letting her vent. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Lapia cried for a few minutes, cursing her bad luck. After calming down, she wiped her tears and snot with a handkerchief. She then produced a small fabric and cleaned my shoulder. I assumed it had cleansing enchantments since not even a stain was a left behind on my suit. My girlfriend sighed and kissed my cheek. ¡°Whatever,¡± she chuckled. ¡°At least I got to meet you.¡± I smiled and took her face in my hands again. ¡°You''re wrong,¡± I chuckled, looking into her eyes and caressing her cheeks. ¡°You''re so wrong, Lapia.¡± Lapia''s eyes widened a little, then her expression turned confused. ¡°What do you mean, Natasha?¡± My smile widened. ¡°If there''s one thing I have learned about life, is that its price is too high. You say meeting me is an adequate reward to the suffering you went through, and I furiously reject that. There is no reparation appropriate enough for the suffering that is living. Life is pain, Lapia, and there is no being in this universe with the power to... create the harmony, or paradise that would quench the burning indignation we''re left with after living. And in the off-chance said being actually exist, I demand them to be placed before me so I may rip their spine through their face. I would defile their corpse in ways I can''t even think of right now. The price for harmony is so high, I reject the very idea of harmony itself. No living being lives to see justice... and I mean the actual justice we all deserve, not the pathetic attempt at it we see. That... justice that is thought to exist outside of life is an insult to every living creature''s suffering. That distant and ghostly justice, I denounce it. Life is painful enough. We don''t need the uncertainty of this ephemeral dream. That flawed promise of what is to come. We already cope enough simply by living. I was slighted not once, but two times by this false harmony. Lapia... everything I am, everything I have, everything I will become, and everything I will have, will never be enough to erase my indignation, not even by a little bit. And if it ever does, that means I stopped being myself. I reject the me that would accept anything less that the erasure of everything that is.¡± I pinched her cheeks and kissed her lips. ¡°You see, Lapia. The problem is life itself. And well... even without life, suffering still exists. Which makes it even worse. Take it from me, who was there and lived through that. So no, meeting me is not an ''at least''. I won''t let you say that again. You should never, ever, forget that resentment inside you. If we forget the price of life, are we truly alive, Lapia?¡± The Elf blinked a few times, speechless at the words that came out of my mouth. I kissed her again and continued. ¡°As much as life is excruciatingly painful, it is also beautiful. The two don''t cancel each other out, unfortunately, so no... balance is also a fallacy. You can love something while hating something else, yes? You can also be indifferent to other things, or people. Saying that meeting me is a good thing that came out of suffering makes me angry, Lapia. You''re belittling the injustice done to you, and I won''t allow that. Not because I denounce the injustice itself, but because you''re forgiving it by using me as an excuse. Lapia, you''re eighty years old. You''re allowed to be angry without needing a concrete target. I don''t even know what I''m angry at, to be honest. I don''t know what or who rules the cosmos, but I know I hate it. If given the chance, I will kill it. That would be the price it has to pay for the suffering of life. You wanted to hate Urgun, but it turns out she was not really a malicious person. Still, don''t exempt the unknown of your hatred. I don''t know what a Changeling looks like or what language they speak. I still resent them for trying to kill me and, even if I erase them from the face of Galeia, the anger won''t go away. I don''t really care about their ideas, no matter how justified they might be to them. I also don''t care if I''m insensitive for saying that. Unfortunately, life allows us to care about what we choose to care, no matter how hypocritical it may be. That''s just how unfair life is. In the end, who cares, really? The only thing that matters is whether or not you''re alive or dead. So yeah, you''re wrong, Lapia. We met not as a consequence of your suffering, but as something else. You''re allowed to hate. You''re even allowed to hate Urgun if you can''t hate the unknown.¡± Lapia was looking into my eyes with a worried face. ¡°Make no mistake, Lapia,¡± I kept going. ¡°Our actions will never amount to true justice. Not the kind we deserve to see while we live. At least I don''t think so.¡± She opened her lips, but closed them. ¡°And before you ask,¡± I chuckled and pinched her cheeks again. ¡°I don''t always think about what I just said. I just thought I''d share a little of what I think life is with you... because of the silly thing you said. I''m not the kind of woman who will pat your back and tell you everything will be okay and leave it at that. Because I cherish you, Lapia.¡± The Elf grabbed my cheeks and stretched them. ¡°Thank you, Natasha,¡± she chuckled with a smile. ¡°You''re so young and yet you have such a complicated view of life.¡± ¡°I try,¡± I chuckled with a shrug. ¡°Your Excellency is interesting,¡± Hanna muttered, looking at us. ¡°Very mysterious. Are you really two months old?¡± I looked at her and gave her a wink. ¡°Who knows?¡± 119 - Royal Banquet (8) I stayed with Lapia for a while, chatting and drinking my glass of alcohol. Hanna stood next to us with a small smile. ¡°I''ll go back in,¡± Lapia said, giving me a kiss on the cheek. ¡°You should, too.¡± I nodded. ¡°I''ll be around,¡± I told her and caressed her face. The Elf nodded back. ¡°Thank you, sunshine,¡± she chuckled and walked inside. I watched her enter the building and sighed. A few unpleasant thought sneaked in my mind but they vanished immediately. ¡°Hanna,¡± I called out to the Ork next to me. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency?¡± She immediately answered. ¡°What do you think of this?¡± I inquired, then drank the last sip of my glass. The woman slowly nodded. ¡°I believe Lapia will go see Alyssa, Your Excellency.¡± I turned to her and tilted my head in confusion. I was asking about the Urgun thing, but she gave me a completely unrelated answer. I wanted to know her opinion since I''m not as involved in this world''s sociopolitical scene. Then, things clicked. True, Alyssa has that mending aura about her. I certainly feel revitalized when I''m with her, I mulled in my mind. ¡°Hmm... There are better alternatives than me, after all.¡± Hanna''s eyes widened and her eyebrows almost fused with her hairline. She looked me in the eye and blurted out, ¡°Are you stupid?¡± I was taken aback and couldn''t even form words. The woman that constantly knelt down and bowed to me called me stupid to my face. The change was too sudden and sharp for me to keep up with. ¡°Haaah?¡± Was all I could muster. Hanna''s eyes widened even more and she looked down, then went to one knee in front of me. ¡°Y-Your Excellency! A-a-apologies! I didn''t mean that!¡± I clicked my tongue. ¡°If you''re going to call me stupid,¡± I began, grabbing her by the shoulder and pulling her up to her feet. ¡°At least stand and look me in the eye.¡± Hanna, turns out, is taller than me. By at least 10 cm. Her brown eyes swam around in panic, avoiding mine. Her mouth opened and closed several times. ¡°I-I...¡± ¡°I-I-I...¡± I chuckled. ¡°What?¡± She wrung her hands. ¡°I''m sorry, Your Excellency! I spoke before properly thinking...¡± she shot the words like a machine gun. ¡°Well, that''s a good thing,¡± I laughed. ¡°Now, why am I stupid?¡± She strongly shook her head. ¡°N-nono, no. Your Excellency isn''t stupid!¡± She nervously corrected. I nodded. ¡°Alright,¡± I sighed. ¡°Then why did you say that?¡± ¡°I... didn''t...¡± she squeaked out, looking down at her feet. Is this bitch trying to gaslight me? I chuckled. ¡°No... I did... but...¡± she stuttered. ¡°I didn''t mean it like that!¡± ¡°Are you going to explain yourself, or are we going to continue this moronic back and forth?¡± I demanded in Russian, or Orkish in this world. She nodded. ¡°It''s just... Your Excellency said there are better alternatives, and I think that''s not true. I''m not entirely used to speaking with a person such as you, so I reacted instinctively,¡± she explained in Orkish. Her voice was quite nice to listen to, and hearing a native speak my language was oddly relaxing. ¡°Aha...¡± I nodded. ¡°But you see, I was referring to Alyssa''s class. She''s a healer, so she''s the objective better alternative if Lapia wants help with her mental state. Don''t you agree?¡± Hanna blinked and started laughing. What is wrong with this woman? I wondered. ¡°What? You think Alyssa can''t help her?¡± The Ork shook her head. ¡°No, it''s as Your Excellency says. It''s just that, since you asked what I thought and then said there were better alternatives, I thought you were doubting your capabilities as a partner.¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead. I scoffed. ¡°Please, I know my worth and my limits,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Besides... how, and why would you even know if I''m a good lover or not?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°True,¡± Hanna nodded in agreement. ¡°I don''t.¡± ¡°See?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Not your place to speak for me.¡± ¡°I would like to, though,¡± she added with an oddly serious face. I arched an eyebrow. ¡°You want to.. what? Know how good of a lover I am? Bold, huh? I like that.¡± Her eyes widened again and her cheeks turned a deeper shade of blue. ¡°Wha-ye ju-ah fo-huh?¡± She stammered a string of unintelligible words. I hummed. She did call me stupid, I guess I can tease her a little. I stored the glass, put my hands in my pockets, and walked up to her, then pressed my chest on hers. ¡°So? Wanna know?¡± I challenged, looking up into her eyes while smirking. ¡°No...¡± she whispered, looking away. ¡°Your Excellency misunderstood what I meant.¡± I took a step back and nodded. ¡°A pity,¡± I sighed. ¡°So, you meant you''d like to speak for me?¡± She sighed, probably noticing I was just teasing her due to the poor choice of words. ¡°Your Excellency is greedy,¡± she accused me, fanning her face. Yeah, probably went too far. It''d be quite the thing to have the entity she puts on a pedestal suddenly tease her like that. I smiled. Serves you right for calling me stupid. ¡°Maybe...¡± I chuckled. ¡°Let''s go back in,¡± I said and walked into the Palace. Hanna followed me while fixing her hair. I reached out to a server walking around and asked him if he could inform Alastor I was done. He nodded and walked away. The ministers returned shortly and wasted no time in telling me about their countries. I sighed internally and listened to their words. ¨C ¡°Thus, we passed laws to increase the amount of males that sought government office,¡± Trilly Puna, the Nymphs'' Facilitator of Higher Relations, explained. She had been telling me the contemporary laws regarding her country, which meant the last one hundred thousand years, for the past thirty minutes. Naturally, I was nodding along with a smile. Turns out, Nymphs are a single-sex species, and they need other species to have offspring with. They offer great deals to foreigners in order to ''lure'' them in and increase their population. Oddly enough, no matter who they have children with, the baby would be a Nymph instead of a Demi. Naturally, as is with this world, they are very hardworking when it comes to secure the luxury that is a man. Perhaps going there would be the ideal harem dream for a man. I know my brother would be delighted. I was about to ask her a bunch of question when a familiar voice interjected. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± Rinald, Gordon''s youngest son, walked to me with a polite smile. ¡°My Royal Father would like to have a moment with you, if that''s not a problem. Every Ruler is there, and they''d be honored if Your Excellency is present.¡± I nodded. ¡°Sure,¡± I replied and turned to the Nymph. ¡°Thank you for the chat, it was very interesting to learn about your country.¡± Her eyes widened and she smiled. ¡°It was my pleasure, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°His Majesty would like to meet Her Excellency, Your Highness?¡± Alastor asked Rinald with a slightly confused expression. ¡°That would be correct, Duke Lafin,¡± the Prince replied with a smile. Alastor slowly nodded. ¡°I see,¡± he said back with a similar smile. I tilted my head. Duke? I wondered, focusing on their odd, short exchange. Which one was that? Both turned to me. I nodded. ¡°Guide the way.¡± ¡°Forgive the interruption,¡± Alastor told the other representatives. They smiled and offered polite words of acceptance. ¡°Please follow me, Your Excellency,¡± Rinald spoke, then walked away. I followed, and Hanna followed behind me. We left the venue through a door that led to a hallway. Royal Guards were stationed at every corner, heavily armored and with their weapons at the ready. They gave me nods as I walked by, and the ones who had Warrior classes saluted me. We reached an unassuming door and Rinald knocked. ¡°Her Excellency, Royal Father,¡± he announced and opened the door. The Rulers were inside, sitting on chairs in a circle. They had protective gear on them and serious expressions. One member of the Royal Guard stood in front of each of them. In the middle of the circle, a blue-ish person was tied to a chair and gagged. This some form of high aristocracy depravity? What was I invited into? I wondered, a little nervous about the world I was about to go into. Gordon, who was sitting opposite the entrance, spoke. ¡°Thank you for coming, Your Excellency,¡± he greeted me and stood up. I walked into the room, followed by Hanna. Rinald closed the door behind me, choosing to stay outside. ¡°Now, everyone,¡± Gordon continued in a light tone. ¡°I know what we said, Odnir would lead the meetings, but circumstances are circumstances,¡± he excused with an apologetic smile. ¡°True,¡± the Goliath agreed with a nod. ¡°So, what happened? Who is this person?¡± He inquired, pointing at the blue-ish individual in the middle of the room. ¡°Is this the one who tried to kill Her Excellency?¡± Claudia, the Dwarf Queen, asked with a annoyance. My eyebrows went up. ¡°No,¡± Gordon denied with a shake of his head. ¡°This is the one that conspired to kill me,¡± he announced with a frown. ¡°One of many, at least.¡± 120 - Royal Banquet (9) I looked around the room. The Royal Guard members had no visible reaction to what their King said. Were they told already? I wondered. I bet they aren''t exactly happy about it. ¡°Mph...¡± the tied person grunted and rolled their shoulders. [Changeling, Lvl 233 Intelligencer] So that''s a Changeling, I thought, observing the person. They had cerulean blue skin, eyes, and hair. Their facial features were, if anything, indistinct. Neither feminine, masculine, nor androgynous. The Changeling wore a simple linen shirt and pants, and leather shoes covered their feet. Hanna clicked her tongue, eyeing the people in the room. The Rulers stood up one by one. The Ork leaned close to me and whispered, ¡°This is Zalan, Your Excellency. One of the leaders of the group.¡± I nodded and whispered back, ¡°How many leaders do they have?¡± ¡°Three,¡± she replied. ¡°Cejiola, Yugulari, and Zalan.¡± Cool names, I pondered. A shame they''re all morons. ¡°How did they go about trying to kill you, Gordon?¡± The Nymph Overseer inquired. The Tigea looked at me. I nodded. ¡°They infiltrated a Demon into the Palace,¡± he answered. There was a moment of silence in the room. ¡°A Demon?¡± The Human repeated, stroking his chin. ¡°You mean... from Hell?¡± Gordon nodded with a serious face. ¡°This is quite the surprise,¡± the Harpy muttered. ¡°And honestly hard to believe. Not that I''m doubting your words, but I wonder how?¡± Gordon''s face soured and he gave me a look. ¡°Do you mind, Your Excellency?¡± I took a step forward and looked around the room. ¡°Cover your mouths and noses. The blood has an arousing effect,¡± I warned. Everyone present covered their faces with different articles. Some looked like air purifiers, others were simple masks, and others activated a skill. I extended a hand and let the Demon''s corpse flop down to the floor in front of the Changeling. The fragrant smell of piss, shit, and vomit tickled my nose and my stomach rumbled, stimulated by a depraved hunger. Fortunately, I managed to turn the small moan that escaped my throat into a hum. The corpse was lax and limp instead of stiff from being in stasis. The spine moved easily and the head bobbed. The eyelids were still open, and empty black eyes pointed into the ceiling. The wound bled as if it was just been inflicted, staining the clothes further. ¡°This,¡± I began, gesturing at the body. ¡°Is a Felyareth. Level 900 at the moment of death.¡± I crouched and ran a hand over the face, closing the eyes. ¡°It... no... she, had the ability to mentally assault people and drain their Life Energy by doing so. I don''t know if you saw the state Gordon was in, but it was pretty bad,¡± I explained and looked up. Gordon was looking away from the corpse. His eyes squinted and the cloth covering his face had wrinkled up. That''d be enough, I concluded and stored the body. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The Changeling was staring down at the spot the corpse was at with wide eyes. Their face was pale and their body was trembling slightly. If what Nerissa said is actually true, then Zolan just saw the dead body of their ancestor, I considered. They must think I have failed the task to protect the being from which they descend... but they''re not of this world so I don''t care. I blinked and hummed. That''s... a bit xenophobic, isn''t it? The King sighed in relief at seeing the body vanish. I thought it''d be easy for a victim to see the dead body of their assailant, or at least help them in some way, but it seems I was wrong. The mind is a complex thing, after all. ¡°How did Your Excellency kill it?¡± Odnik asked. I shrugged. ¡°Just stabbed the heart,¡± I replied and stood up, then walked to Gordon. ¡°How did it fight?¡± Paveli, the Human, asked. I ignored him and placed a hand on Gordon''s shoulder. ¡°You okay?¡± I asked. He took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± the King sighed. ¡°Hit harder than I thought it would.¡± I nodded and rubbed his shoulder. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± The closest Royal Guard perked up and turned his head to us. ¡°Water would be nice,¡± Gordon muttered. I produced a water pet bottle and offered him it. ¡°Thank you, Natasha,¡± he chuckled and took it. ¡°You have to twist the top,¡± I told him, pointing at the cap. He did and drank some. ¡°Must''ve been a most foul creature,¡± Plesani, the Nymph, commented. ¡°Do you need healing, Gordon?¡± She offered. He thought for a second then nodded. The woman walked over and placed a hand on his other shoulder, then used a skill. I looked at her and appraised her. [Plesani, Darnali Nymph Lvl 262 Bishop] ¡°That bad, huh?¡± Sahaz, the Harpy, muttered. ¡°A foul creature indeed. I propose a break.¡± The other Rulers agreed, and Gordon expressed his gratitude. After a short, 5 minute break, the meeting continued. The Rulers'' faces turned even more serious, and they were looking at the Changeling with disgust. Zalan, however, was looking at the floor with a vacant expression. Their eyes were a little red and a few wet trails betrayed the tears they shed. I walked to them and lifted their chin, forcing our eyes to meet. ¡°Regretting your actions?¡± Zalan denied it with a shake of their head. ¡°Good,¡± I uttered with a smile, then turned to Gordon. ¡°Were they interrogated?¡± ¡°Yes, but nothing came out of it,¡± he replied in a calmer tone than before. I returned my focus to the Changeling. ¡°Do you enjoy pain?¡± ¡°Uh... Your Excellency,¡± Gordon interjected. ¡°We didn''t... employ violence.¡± ¡°Ah, well... that''s why you didn''t get answers,¡± I pointed out with a frown and replaced my clothes with a white hazmat suit. I produced a dagger and pointed it at Zalan''s left eye. ¡°Wanna know far you can bend before you break?¡± Zalan scoffed through the gag. ¡°Let''s do it like this,¡± I started, resting the blade of the dagger on Zalan''s cheek, right under the eye socked. ¡°I ask something, and you answer. You lie, refuse, or do anything other than reply... and I''ll remove one of your organs.¡± The Changeling''s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°I''ll start with your stomach,¡± I continued, moving the dagger down to their torso. ¡°Your left lung is next.¡± I poked their chest. ¡°Then one of your eyes. After that, I''ll go for your right ear. Naturally I''ll be using fire to sear the wounds. We don''t want you fainting or bleed to death, after all.¡± Hanna giggled. ¡°After I remove every single one of your non-vital organs, I''ll open your skull and remove bits of brain,¡± I kept going. ¡°Little by little, bit by bit. I''ll use my best healing potion before you die and we''ll do it all over again.¡± I circled around the Changeling and cut the rope that held them to the chair. I lifted them, produced a pot, removed their pants, and sat them on the pot. ¡°You''re free to piss and shit yourself. That''s the only thing you''ll be eating until you die.¡± I went back to my position in front of the Changeling and gave them a charming smile. ¡°You better tell the truth from the start since I''m taking your stomach first.¡± The room was silent except for Hanna who was nodding along and humming in delight. ¡°Now, let''s begin.¡± I took the gag off and asked, ¡°Why did this happen to Gordon?¡± The sound of liquid hitting metal echoed around us. Zalan''s piss flowed. Their body was shaking slightly. Their lips trembled. Come on, answer, I grumbled in my mind while smiling. I don''t want to do any of that shit. "Let''s see if you last longer than Nerissa," I pushed with a whisper. 121 - Royal Banquet (10) Zalan gulped, their face turning paler. ¡°We...¡± The Changeling choked out. ¡°We wanted change...¡± I nodded. ¡°See?¡± I gave their cheek a playful pinch. ¡°Not so hard, is it?¡± They whipped their head away from my hand while scowling. ¡°Now, what is it you want to change? The government? You want to do away with the ruling class? Perhaps you''re tired of having little or no political involvement?¡± I asked, then gestured around me. ¡°You have the rulers of six different countries more than ready to listen to what you have to say.¡± Zalan took a weary glance around the room, then back at me. ¡°They only listen when you lot show up,¡± they pointed out, grinding their teeth. Negging it is, then, I concluded. ¡°Why would they otherwise? Or are you deluded into thinking you have anything of value to say under normal circumstances? That can''t be it, right? You can''t be that stupid.¡± Zalan glared at me. ¡°You wouldn''t get it even if I explain it.¡± ¡°Psh,¡± I scoffed. ¡°How hard can it be? What is it? Equality of opportunity? Equality of outcome? Hyper-competitive economy? Representation of the populace in government office? That I would understand since Lumin Kingdom doesn''t exactly have representative democracy like other countries, but I doubt there''s heavy social issues that would warrant the need of minorities in office.¡± Zalan raised an eyebrow. ¡°I may be two and a half months old, but I''m neither stupid nor alone,¡± I sighed. ¡°Sociopolitical circumstances aren''t really hard to grasp.¡± I turned to Gordon. ¡°Are there ways for people to become Nobles, even if they''re not Tigeas?¡± He nodded. ¡°Naturally, Your Excellency,¡± he replied. ¡°One such example is Lord Punten who you''ve met in Riverfield. He''s a Human who started a business and achieved results worthy of receiving the title of Baron. Not enough to become a Court Noble, however, but he''s on the right track.¡± Seriously? I wondered in surprise. I turned to the Changeling. ¡°See? Easy. Start a business, acquired a fat purse, be a decent person, and you''re on your way to being a Noble who has a say in politics.¡± I circled Zalan and placed my hands on their shoulders. ¡°But that''s too much work, right? You want it right now. For everyone. But this is a Kingdom, you see.¡± The Rulers cleared their throats. ¡°This country is pretty old, right?¡± I monologued. ¡°Almost a million years old. Bachat killed a monster and caught Lumin''s attention, then his approval to found a country after getting a piece of land from Koluum. Pretty simple if you ask me. It''s been quite a while. I would understand if people got tired of being under the rule of Monarchy. I would understand an attempt at change of government if the Royal Family was problematic and... say... imposed an abusive tax on people for profit.¡± I released Zalan and walked around the chair, facing them. ¡°But that''s not the case, right? People aren''t rioting on the streets. Nobody has approached me with complaints to the Royal Family. I have visited a few towns and cities and things look good so far. Am I wrong to think people have good lives here in Lumin Kingdom?¡± Zalan glared at me and frowned. I raised the dagger. ¡°No,¡± Zalan quickly replied, staring at the blade in my hand. I nodded. ¡°So you''re a dissatisfied minority, then. What good would your new government bring? Do you think the populace would accept your new system? Do you think I would approve of the new country if a very small group of people replaces the Crown? The rest wont like it, you see. You''d be replaced soon after by either the populace or the surviving members of the Royal Family. If, say, you used force to cling to power, then we Halves would come into the picture.¡± I frowned. ¡°Even worse, you tried to kill me. Maybe to prevent your new system from being rejected, or maybe in your own words, sabotaged? Maybe to stop me from killing the Demon? I don''t know... and honestly don''t care. You are an absolute failure in every sense.¡± ¡°Fuck off,¡± Zalan grumbled. ¡°For the sake of argument,¡± I continued, ignoring the insult. ¡°If half of the population of Lumin Kingdom was dissatisfied, then I would support a revolution. If they wanted to storm the Royal Palace and kill the Royal Family I wouldn''t stop them.¡± Gordon fidgeted, fixing the neck of his robe. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°But that''s not the case either,¡± I pointed out. ¡°And I wouldn''t join them. That would be the populace''s business, not mine. In the hypothetical case of you managing to kill Gordon, I wouldn''t be involved either. I don''t exist to punish the populace''s insubordination. If Gordon was a tyrant, then yeah... that''d be my business... he isn''t, though.¡± ¡°If we didn''t try to kill you, would you have meddled?¡± Zalan demanded. ¡°I would have,¡± I replied. ¡°You used a Demon, you see. You didn''t have the guts to try and kill Gordon yourselves. I mean... what kind of shitshow would you have replaced monarchy with when you can''t even do shit yourself? Some mockery to meritocracy? I would assume you''d put the Demon in charge since it wouldn''t be you who killed Gordon if you have any sense of logic to you. The execution of your ideas is laughable, if anything.¡± Zalan scoffed. ¡°You Halves are all corrupt. You can''t imagine a world without countries under your influence. You disgust me. Don''t use Nerissa as an excuse.¡± I smiled. ¡°At least you''re braver than her,¡± I commented. ¡°She was our bravest,¡± Zalan corrected me with a scowl. ¡°Not in front of me,¡± I retorted. ¡°What an obvious lie,¡± the Changeling chuckled. ¡°The only thing she feared-¡± ¡°Was me,¡± I interrupted them in Infernal. Zalan''s eyes widened to the limit. ¡°You''re the-¡± I quickly put my empty hand inside their mouth, pressing down on their tongue with my fingers and preventing the following words from being said. So she told them, I concluded, placing my thumb on the Changeling''s chin to keep them in place. They don''t have the instinctual fear, though. Are Demons really their ancestors? ¡°Your Excellency?¡± Hanna asked from behind me. ¡°I think we heard enough,¡± I addressed the people in the room. ¡°They wanted change, but failed.¡± ¡°That''s right,¡± Gordon absentmindedly agreed, looking at the Changeling with a troubled expression. ¡°Hard to get anything of value out of this sort,¡± Paveli commented with a sigh. ¡°Your Excellency did her best.¡± Claudia nodded. ¡°They can''t be reasoned with. No matter what they hear,¡± she lamented. ¡°How much information do you have about them?¡± Plesani asked Gordon. ¡°Almost everything,¡± he replied. ¡°Their names, where they live, who they meet, and where they work at. We''re missing the other leaders and key members, however.¡± Paveli nodded. ¡°Please let me know if they have any connection to people in Chad.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Plesani added. The other Rulers joined, asking to be informed if any connection to their countries was found. Zalan was glaring at me and biting on my hand. They were pretty weak so all they did was hurt themselves. Hanna sighed, ¡±They should be executed, the lot of them.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Nah. Let the law do its thing.¡± The Ork nodded. Gordon cleared his throat. ¡°The crimes add up to execution, Your Excellency,¡± he pointed out. ¡°Heh,¡± Hanna uttered in joy. ¡°Haagi?¡± Zalan tried talking. I looked at them and sighed, ¡°I guess that''s it.¡± I pulled my hand out of their mouth and stabbed their left eye with the dagger. The blade went in without any effort and the eyeball got split in half. Blood quickly flowed and their body went limp like a puppet whose strings were cut. ¡°Nikontia would''ve been better,¡± I lamented. ¡°But whatever.¡± ¡°Well done, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna praised me. ¡°What a precise strike. No hesitation either.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Of course, these little shits tried to kill me.¡± The Ork smiled and nodded several times. ¡°By the way,¡± she said and produced a corpse. It was another Changeling. ¡°This is Kulmonari, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna announced, putting the body on the ground. ¡°They got the nikontia used to try and kill you.¡± ¡°So that''s where they were,¡± Gordon commented, walking to the corpse. ¡°We couldn''t find them no matter where we searched.¡± ¡°Apologies, Your Majesty. But I came across this mutt and wanted to present Her Excellency with their carcass myself,¡± she excused her murder to the ruler of the nation. ¡°Understandable,¡± the King accepted the murderer''s words with a kind smile. I, a murderer as well, turned to my victim and pulled the weapon that took their life from their skull with the same nonchalance as when I did the act. The body fell to the ground, lifeless and limp. I like this world, I thought and stored the murder weapon. I really do. 122 - Royal Banquet (11) I crouched next to Kulmonari''s dead corpse and ran a finger over the blood seeping out of the wound, then brought it to my face and sniffed it. It smelled like regular blood. The room had the odor of piss, sweat and a bit of feces from Zalan''s last moments, the various perfumes from the Rulers around me, the various metals that the Royal Guard armor and weapons were made of, the stone the room was built with, and the multitude of degrees in which E''er was rearranged to form enchantments. There was no hint of the particular mixture that is the smell of Demonic blood coming from my finger. It smelled like something that inexplicably belonged to this world, unlike Nerissa''s. While the Demon''s blood was quite fetid and undeniably stimulating to me due to my personal experiences, it was something that felt distinctly alien. It clearly didn''t belong in Galeia. My instincts told me so and I wholeheartedly agreed. Still, a lot of questions popped in my mind. ¡°Here, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna spoke, reaching down to me and offering a handkerchief. I took it and cleaned my finger while standing up. ¡°Thank you,¡± I told her and returned the cloth. The Rulers wore thoughtful expressions, humming every once in a while and nodding to themselves. ¡°I have a question,¡± I began and changed my clothes back to my suit. Those present turned to me. I looked at the dead Changelings and squinted my eyes. ¡°In regards to the natural order, where does me killing sentient people stand? And by extension... eating sentient people?¡± Odnik, who I assumed to be the oldest, spoke. ¡°Your Excellency is a Halve, a being of E''er. We are mortals of flesh. We are different beings not only in the way we function but also in how we come to be. There are few, if any, objective similarities between us. Some would argue that the purpose of being alive is to reach your kind. Others would vehemently point out the fact we are simply not meant to due to how different we are by design.¡± He sighed. ¡°Plants find their sustenance in the suns and the soil, herbivores in turn feed on plants, carnivores do so with herbivores. Living being has something they can''t feed on. Halves have no such limitations, however. Your kind feeds on the suns, the soil, herbivores, and carnivores. Whether the prey is sentient or not... matters little.¡± I turned to him. ¡°How about E''er?¡± ¡°E''er is in everything, no?¡± Paveli supplied, as if pointing out the obvious. ¡°Hmm...¡± I nodded. Well, duh. ¡°Most would see it as something undesirable,¡± Gordon commented. ¡°It''s not nice to see someone eat your kind.¡± ¡°Morality is subjective, after all,¡± Plesani chuckled. ¡°So I could eat the Royal Palace?¡± I wondered out loud. ¡°You would leave me with no home,¡± Gordon joked. The rest of us laughed. Is that why my teeth are unbreakable? To eat everything? I thought while looking at the people in the room. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± Paveli addressed me. ¡°Apologies for asking again, but how did the Demon fight?¡± ¡°It didn''t,¡± I replied with a shrug. ¡°Then how, my I ask, did Your Excellency come to find it if nobody else could?¡± he asked. ¡°I would like to know in case one comes to my country.¡± I nodded and gave Gordon a look. The King gave me a nod. ¡°Royal Guard, dismissed,¡± he instructed. The Rulers turned to him with surprise on their faces. The armored individuals saluted and said ''Yes, Your Majesty'' at the same time, then left the room one by one. The last one took the Changelings'' corpses and stored them before leaving. I turned to Hanna. ¡°Give us a few minutes?¡± I requested. The Ork nodded, bowed, and left after the others. Once the seven of us were the only people in the room, Gordon''s eyes shone with a light green glow. ¡°The room is secure,¡± he informed us. A few moments of silence followed. Everyone turned to me. I thought he''d be the one to talk since... Well, whatever. I cleared my throat. ¡°As Rulers, I''m sure you know a little about Halves,¡± I started, running a hand through my hair. ¡°Naturally,¡± Claudia replied. ¡°That would be correct,¡± Plesani added. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The rest answered in the affirmative as well. I shrugged. ¡°My trial was in Hell,¡± I informed them. ¡°So I know how to hunt Demons. Nerissa, the one that tormented Gordon, was a mind-related one as I said before. She didn''t exactly fight, but she tried to manipulate me with words. Her type did the same in Hell. They were weak when it came to physical power compared to others. They moved in groups with stronger Demons, and I would bet there was some kind of symbiotic relationship. I didn''t exactly have the time to study them, to be honest. Demons have a particular smell to them which I am very familiar with so I had very little difficulty when looking for it, though.¡± ¡°Hell...¡± some whispered. ¡°And this, Nerissa... did... she come from Hell?¡± Odnik inquired, looking me in the eye. I nodded. ¡°She said they got here three hundred years ago,¡± I replied. ¡°When His Excellency Perculis passed away...¡± Plesani muttered. ¡°They?¡± Paveli repeated. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Around a thousand according to her,¡± I informed him. ¡°His Excellency Perculis chose His Divinity Photem''s temple to spend the last moments of his life,¡± Odnik told me. ¡°We mortals are not allowed to go there. If, and I pray I''m wrong, His Excellency''s death allowed Demons to come to our world, perhaps Your Excellency could investigate. There is much we don''t know, and are not allowed to. I wouldn''t dare ask that Your Excellency reveals Divine secrets, but if Your Excellency comes across such knowledge, I beg Your Excellency educates us in facing this threat.¡± I tilted my head and furrowed my brows. ¡°What about the Gods? You could ask them for help as well?¡± Sahaz sighed. ¡°The Gods... only grant knowledge. They believe our autonomy stands above our survival.¡± I blinked a few times. ¡°What the fuck does that even mean?¡± ¡°What we do with the knowledge they grant us with is up to us, they say,¡± Plesani supplied with a shake of her head. ¡°Be it war, a higher society, the end of civilization... the outcome is irrelevant to them.¡± ¡°That''s some shitty Gods if you ask me,¡± I scoffed. ¡°So they don''t care if someone seeks world domination?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Claudia spoke. ¡°They largely enjoy seeing us flourish. They decided to leave us be a long time ago, though. We''ve made great things with what they gave us, and with what Your Excellency''s kind allowed us to have.¡± Sheeeeeeeeesh, I whistled in surprise. Those are some uncaring Gods. ¡°Perhaps this analogy explains it better,¡± Gordon joined the conversation. ¡°When you teach your children, you don''t control their lives forever. You have to let them go so they can form their own bonds, their own lives. A parent is not fully responsible for what their child does, but they can guide them from outside.¡± Nope... makes no sense, I thought. Well... I didn''t exactly have the ideal childhood so my view is biased. Would this make sense to someone else? ¡°Three hundred years,¡± Paveli muttered. ¡°Quite a few things match.¡± ¡°We need to investigate further,¡± Sahaz concluded. ¡°We need to see exactly what and how has changed.¡± ¡°Who has risen to prominence, who has developed technologies, if any new Classes have appeared, what research has gained new insights, and more,¡± Paveli continued, tapping his lower lip. ¡°Even within our countries.¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± Odnik agreed. ¡°We know of the attempt at His Excellency Miraztor''s life, and we don''t blame Gordon for it. This time they went after a Protector and a Ruler. That''s bold, if anything.¡± ¡°Bold?¡± Claudia repeated in disbelief. ¡°That''s an understatement, Odnik.¡± I sighed. ¡°I suspect Nerissa told the Changelings about my... legend in Hell,¡± I announced. ¡°If so, then everyone who has come across a Demon might know of it.¡± ¡°That''s good,¡± Sahaz chuckled, her feathered ears shaking a little. ¡°They know there''s only death at the end, yes?¡± I nodded. ¡°If they threaten the lives of many. A person who became rich because a Demon gave a few tips is not my business.¡± The Rulers nodded. ¡°But a Demon that threatens the stability of a country is, correct?¡± Paveli inquired. I shrugged. ¡°Depends. If Nerissa succeeded in killing Gordon, there would be more victims in the long run. If, say, a little Demon tips the scale of the economy, then that''s the government''s problem. Only when lives are directly threatened I will show up.¡± ¡°Let''s hope nobody with such narrow sight met a Demon, then,¡± Gordon sighed. We all nodded in agreement. The meeting continued with the Rulers deciding on what to look for, where, since when, and how sneakily they should deal with it. I asked questions here and there, taking the chance of having six rulers more than willing to answer. Much to my surprise, people can''t get overly rich in this world. When someone invents something, they would be required to share their product with the government to see if it''s safe for circulation. If it''s a total success, then they are also required to share the plans to avoid monopoly since that''s an Eternal Edict no government has the authority to change or overrule. That made me cringe a little inside, but economy is not something I deal with as a Halve. Finally, I told them to use ''True Sight'' to check for Demons since the shape-shifting is biological except for the information seen when appraising them. After another thirty minutes of them discussing their approach to the Demon matter, they came to the conclusion to have a meeting with more Rulers from other countries before taking big measures. I was asked to stay for that, but I refused with every gram of strength available to me. ''I''m going to meet the Gods'' was the explanation I gave them. They had no choice but to accept. Being a Halve is pretty good sometimes. As such, and with the little meeting done, we left the room and returned to the banquet. Hanna was waiting for me and followed me back to the venue. I walked towards the alcohol table in a straight line and drank a few glasses. Fortunately for my sanity, the envoys left me alone for some reason that I wasn''t about to question. While looking around and chatting with Hanna in Orkish, I noticed Pokora chatting with Yolin on the other side of the hall. The Elf had a big dumb smile on her face, and she laughed at every little thing the Oni said. I smiled and nodded in approval. ¡°Hey, Hanna,¡± I called out to the Ork next to me. The Scout was drinking a non-alcoholic cocktail. She let go of the paper straw and turned to me. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency?¡± I took a sip of my eight glass and asked, ¡°How long since you last got laid?¡± The Ork''s face turned confused for a second. 123 - Royal Banquet (Final) ¡°Is... Your Excellency drunk?¡± Hanna asked with a worried face. I snorted. ¡°Not at all. Sorry, that was a strange thing to ask out of nowhere,¡± I chuckled while looking around. I saw Lapia and Alyssa some distance away. They were talking and walking while holding hands. Bonte, Bromisnar, and Elena were chatting and laughing about something near the stage. Thelea and a few other Goliaths were conversing next to some tables with food. ¡°Is the alcohol any good, Your Excellency?¡± the Ork inquired, then sipped her drink. I nodded. ¡°It''s pretty good,¡± I replied and turned to her. She hummed. ¡°I never understood the appeal of it, to be honest.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I like the taste. Our good friend here,¡± I gestured at the bartender behind us, ¡°makes it taste even better.¡± The man nodded. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°There are more preferences than colors, after all,¡± Hanna pointed out and finished her drink. ¡°True,¡± I agreed and finished mine, then placed the glass on the table along with the one in my storage. The mood in the hall was cheerful. People mingled with smiles and laughter. The various species walked around and enjoyed the banquet, not minding their differences. Perhaps even welcoming them. I produced my pair of sunglasses and put them on, then appraised every single individual. No Demons were around so I put them away. The Classes people had were as varied as themselves. The majority of people in power had Merchant-related Classes. The Royal Guard was evenly spread. They were Archers, Clerics, Scouts, Warriors, and Wizards in equal amounts. Most servers were Craftsmen. It was a bit disappointing to see nobody above 350. I can''t believe the highest leveled individual I have seen so far takes care of cats for a living, I thought and sighed. No wonder they need us. But shouldn''t they have something like a hidden powerhouse? What if a dragon comes to fuck shit up and we take too long to get here? I can run faster than sound but that''s still slow considering how big this planet is. Maybe the caretaker is the trump card. Married to the King and Queen, high level, traveled with Miraztor before being seduced by them. Kind of checks all the boxes. I stopped thinking and my eyes widened a little. Did Josalia and Gordon cuck Miraztor? That would be so fucking juicy, I chuckled. ¡°That''s a scary smile, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna commented, interrupting my thoughts. I relaxed my face and turned to her. ¡°Is it?¡± She nodded. ¡°Makes me feel like I''m in danger,¡± she replied with the smallest of smiles. I tilted my head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± The Ork shrugged. ¡°Your Excellency is a greedy woman, after all. I wonder if I''ll be safe now that I''ve joined the group...¡± she lamented with a sigh. My eyebrows almost fused with my hairline. ¡°What do you mean by greedy?¡± I asked. ¡°Your Excellency knows what I mean,¡± Hanna replied. ¡°Unless that thing Your Excellency did to me is something Your Excellency does to everyone,¡± she said with an obviously fake sad face. Ah, I understood. ¡°I see. I will never, as long as I am alive, do that again,¡± I told her with a smirk. Hanna''s eyes widened a little. ¡°That''s fine, no?¡± I challenged her. ¡°I see,¡± Hanna muttered with a nod. ¡°Your Excellency is also an unfair woman.¡± ¡°So that''s how you see me,¡± I lamented. ¡°A pity.¡± The Ork''s eyes narrowed. I smiled back. Hanna looked over my shoulder and her face returned to normal. ¡°It seems Queen Claudia would like to speak with Your Excellency¡± she informed me. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. I turned around and saw the Dwarf approaching with a friendly smile. A few Dwarfs followed close behind her. Claudia walked to us and gave me a bow. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± she greeted me. ¡°Despite having met, I have not formally introduced myself.¡± I sighed. ¡°So you choose to do so in front of everyone,¡± I pointed out. ¡°That''s... whatever.¡± She straightened, a tight smile on her face. ¡°Apologies, but it''s important to do so this way.¡± I nodded. ¡°I get it, that''s why I''m not stopping you,¡± I replied with a polite smile. For a split second, perhaps less than a tenth of a second, her expression said ''This fucking brat''. As fast as it came, however, it went away, replaced by politeness and respect. My smile turned genuine at seeing that. ¡°I am Claudia Tidon Coronalta II, Queen of the Dwarven country of Tidon. It''s an honor to meet Your Excellency,¡± she introduced herself. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± I replied. ¡°I am Natasha Novak, Halve Warrior,¡± I introduced myself following Louis'' advice. Claudia then introduced the Dwarfs that accompanied her. Jose Tomas Montalba, Minister of Foreign Relations, was an old Dwarf with a massive beard that reached his hips. It was groomed and braided with accessories and jewelry. Ricardo Fuentes, Minister of Culture and Arts, was a young one. He was all smiles and had a deep voice. His beard reached his chest and looked very fluffy. Alejandro Pichon, Minister of Education, was a strict-looking Dwarf with more wrinkles on his face than hair on his head. His beard was gray and looked prickly like straw. Wait... They''re all men, I thought and looked at Claudia. Don''t tell me... ¡°Your Excellency,¡± the Queen continued, ignorant of my thoughts regarding her relationship with her ministers. ¡°I believe Plavi, whom you met earlier, sent you a letter regarding Your Excellency''s place of birth, has he not?¡± I nodded. ¡°He did. I appreciate the gesture, but I respectfully decline the offer. I have no need for nationality or land,¡± I told her with my most polite smile. ¡°If Your Excellency ever changes her mind please let us know,¡± Claudia ''insisted''. If I hadn''t been informed that this was how they would accept rejection, I''d be a little angry at her insistence. Louis'' crash course of Royal Manners was quite the help. I gave the Dwarf a smile. ¡°I will consider it,¡± I simply said. That, naturally, was a ''fuck off'' in a very polite way. ¡°If Your Excellency wishes to visit Our Monarchy of Tidon, Your Excellency is more than welcome,¡± Claudia continued. ¡°I will, eventually,¡± I replied. ¡°Let''s hope the reason for my trip there is purely for relaxation.¡± The Dwarf smiled widely at that. ¡°Let''s hope,¡± she agreed. ¡°And if circumstance demands it,¡± I continued. ¡°Don''t hesitate to reach out to me.¡± Claudia''s eyes widened a little and she quickly bowed. ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency.¡± The other Dwarfs imitated her, bowing deeply. I held back the cringe. Such are the customs, unfortunately. I am a Halve, after all. I exist to protect the people of this world. Even from themselves. After that, Claudia said her goodbyes and left. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Hanna asked. I watched the short people walking away. They said something among themselves, then nodded at each other. ¡°How does what feel?¡± I asked back. ¡°To pledge your protection to an entire country,¡± the Ork specified. I hummed. ¡°Correct me if I''m wrong, but ''to pledge something'' implies the lack of it beforehand,¡± I said and turned to her. ¡°I don''t need to verbalize my promise to protect others in order to do so, do I? That''s just for peace of mind. Theirs, specifically.¡± Hanna smiled and hummed. ¡°Interesting. So very interesting,¡± she whispered. I pouted. ¡°I thought I was greedy and unfair,¡± I playfully complained to her. The Ork nodded. ¡°That still holds,¡± she replied with a smile. I laughed and decided to leave it at that. Any more and it would turn into flirting. The rest of the day was spent like that. Rulers would approach me and introduce themselves along with the important people they came with. They would invite me to their country and I would accept, then tell them to call for me if shit hit the fan. Near the end of the celebration, every single noble of Lumin Kingdom had talked to me I then realized that they approached me following a hierarchy. Rulers of other countries came first, then the more prominent nobles who I didn''t know about but had positions in the Royal Court, then others who were about to, then those who had a long way to. It was the familiar chain of Duke or Duchess, Marquess, Count or Countess, and Baron. There were a few in-between for each of them, and they added ranks from 1 to 5 for some cosmic reason, but even I could see the logic behind it. Finally, I came face to face with Ren Dabrak, the Egys Tigea that reminded me of a panther. She wore a goth lolita dress and spoke in a very verbose way. I initially wanted to tell Lady Dabrak I was annoyed with her portrayal of me in her newspaper, but chose not to. It helped a lot, after all. People thought of me as an approachable individual instead of a stuck up person. We exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes. After her, Lord Punten approached me with a smile. His mustache was as impressive as the first time I saw it. He was elated with Lapia accompanying me, and even mentioned having noticed her growing bored of her work but not knowing what to do about it. Quite the thoughtful fellow. Still, there was a small issue. He reeked of Demon. The Hellwalker Experience, Hannas PoV. It came out of nowhere. The Nobles of Lumin Kingdom had been introducing themselves to Her Excellency Natasha for the past hour and a half. It was painfully obvious to anyone with the slightest drop of situational awareness that Her Excellency was a novice in the ways of Nobles and Royals. A few comments laced with sarcasm, openly scowling whenever commerce or politics were brought up, long blinks that betrayed her rolling her eyes- or resisting the urge to do so-, tired sighs whenever a Noble overstayed their presence before her, and short responses accompanied by insipid questions that inevitably killed the conversation no matter how hard the other party tried. And everyone understood that. Halves are not beings of subtlety. Quite the opposite, actually. Still, Her Excellency held eye contact, spoke clearly, and treated people as if they were her equals. The last a mindbogglingly wrong notion, but appreciated by most when it came to respectful exchanges. The circumstances were unfortunate for most. Nobles wanted to introduce themselves and engage in their games with Her Excellency, but she wasn''t told how it worked. Perhaps she simply didn''t like it. It was a pleasant surprise for everyone when Lady Dabrak of Riverfield presented herself before Her Excellency and the Halve had a genuine conversation and threw a few jokes. Her Excellency Natasha inquired about Lady Dabrak''s employee, Tay, an Alchemist, and her progress with a few potions the Halve sold. That got the attention of the other Nobles around the Hall of Dawn. Halven Items. The way in which the Nobles'' masquerade of politeness almost broke in a flush of envy was hilarious. If one were to guess, most were cursing Lady Dabrak''s boldness and insolence. Purchasing Halven Items from a newly born Halve could be considered a sacrilegious act worthy of a thousand years of torture under the supervision of Clerics to ensure pain tolerance remained at its lowest. If the Halve was an empty shell of ignorance, that is. Her Excellency Natasha is many things. Ignorant is not one of them. That much was obvious to me. An individual does not learn about ''life'' in two and a half months. The tragedy of life is understood only after going through it. That is something that can not be faked no matter what one tries, and it would become obvious to any keen observer. Much like Her Excellency''s lack of knowledge in the Noble and Royal ways, a person who fakes having gone through tragedy will have their own lie exposed by their behavior. An example would be Her Excellency''s behavior while talking to Nobles. She does not demand respect, but requests it instead while offering it to others as well through her gestures, tone, and expression. That is something mortals are expected to do when living in civilized society, but not something a Halve should engage in. Hopefully that will change in time. I am willing to aid her in that endeavor. To become a being no mortal would dare to cross. Her Excellency is on that path already, fortunately. The face bereft of pity, regret, hesitation, and empathy she wore when dispatching Zalan was the most beautiful I have ever seen in my life. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. To see that same person talking with Nobles as if they are her equals is troubling, however. I would not be as insolent as to think I have the right to change Her Excellency to fit my own expectations, but I hope I can advise her on how to act as a Higher Being... though I suppose it''s the same thing in the end. While harboring such thoughts, it came. A chill. A warning. A threat. A promise. A taunt. Breathing became difficult. The high pitch signaling the body going into flight of fight struck the ear. Muscles became taught, ready to sprint away as fast as possible. Blood pumped faster to ease oxygen in reaching the vital body parts to facilitate survival. Death was coming. No. Death was already next to everyone. Standing there, in the middle of the room with silver teeth revealed by curved golden lips. A blade was placed on the throat, slowly pushing into the flesh, threatening to carve the life out of the body the instant any decision was made. That''s how it felt, at least. A memory surfaced in my mind. In my youth, I used to sneak out from home and go on little Chases to sate my childish curiosity. I would leave through my bedroom''s window and go behind my family''s home and towards the town walls. I used the sewers to leave town and into the wilds. One day, I left later than usual and night soon fell. I was below level ten so I felt the cold eat into my bones. Snow had piled up and turned the land around my city into a white canvass in which almost nothing could be seen... not at that age, at least. It was that day I ran into my first monster. It was a level 28 Rodska. Laughably weak in the grand scheme of things, but certain death to a seven year old girl. When I saw the monster, the feeling of impending death was similar to the one I felt now. That helplessness that eats the mind. Naturally, people had seen me sneak out. I was seven years old, after all. There was no way I could hide from people from the Church whose responsibility is to take care of children. When the beast attacked, the Crusader that had followed me felled it with a single swing of his sword. The terror I felt that day was something I thought I''d never experience again. Even less after acquiring a third Class. Yet there I was, frozen in place. ¡°Hmm...¡± Her Excellency hummed in both joy and interest. ¡°Lord Punten. I see,¡± she muttered. The Human was pale and sweating. Sef Punten tried smiling several times but failed. ¡°Y... Your Excellency?¡± he managed to squeak out, fear and confusion palpable in his voice. ¡°Say,¡± Her Excellency began, narrowing her eyes. ¡°When did you become a Noble?¡± Sef Punten blinked twice, most likely confused by the question. ¡°1...1710,¡± he stuttered single numbers. ¡°One, seven, one, zero...¡± Her Excellency repeated with a nod. ¡°Two hundred and seventy years ago, then...¡± The Noble quickly nodded a few times. ¡°You took good care of Lapia,¡± Her Excellency pointed out their previous exchange. ¡°You must be a good person, right?¡± The man tried chuckling, which resulted in coughing. He gulped, then cleared his throat. ¡°I... I-I hope I a-am...¡± he croaked, still trying to smile. ¡°I am going to try this only once, Lord Punten,¡± Her Excellency announced. ¡°I do hope you cooperate.¡± Sef Punten fervently nodded. Everyone around us was in a similar state of primal fear. Eyes were wide open, sweat poured out of every centimeter of skin, and a few had a more unbecoming incidents. Then, Her Excellency Natasha whispered, ¡°O???????????????????????????d?????????????a????????????????????k???????? ??????????????????????????u???????????v?????????????????i????????????????m????????????? ?????????????????k??????????????o??????????????????????????¡± A snarl that sounded like worms wriggling under the skin. The air vibrated, echoing in the bones. It felt like a rotted finger trying to plunge itself into the ear canal. My instincts tried to activate every defensive skill at my disposal, but I prevented it with every gram of willpower available to me. No matter the circumstance, I would not insult a Halve that way. Sef Punten''s eyes widened to the very limit. Understanding dawned on him and his expression turned grim. The man nodded. After his gesture, the feeling of having the entirety of the ocean''s weight suddenly lifted off the shoulders. The blade on the throat disappeared. The body relaxed. The promise of death was no more. Walk away before anyone complains, Hannas PoV. The hall was in silence for a few seconds. Then, some people fainted, others cried, most kept quiet. The first to move were the Clerics, activating skills to aid those who had never looked death in the eye. ¡°Seventeen heart malfunctions,¡± one told another while helping the Nobles who had been closest to Her Excellency. The hall soon erupted into a constant flow of people going back and forth, stabilizing the panicked and the fainted. Alyssa showed up quickly enough, healing people while looking over at Her Excellency with a confused expression. Those present moved away from the source, either afraid or too confused to make sense of the situation. Such is the fragility of comfort. Power comes at a price, and it''s highest when the individual is born with it. And yet, Her Excellency''s body wasn''t glowing like when she got angry. The Rulers, however, approached without much care. Perhaps their respective pilgrimages granted them a different view of the world than those below them in the hierarchy. Plesani helped Alyssa and the other Clerics. Odnik was vigilant, observing the many entrances to the Hall. Gordon wore a worried expression, looking at the Nobles'' pathetic state. Paveli was sweating but his standing was cautious. Claudia was smiling, looking at Her Excellency. The Harpy was with her people some distance away. Still, not a soul screamed. Impressive, to say the least. Yolin approached Her Excellency and pulled her golden cheeks. ¡°What happened?¡± She asked with reproach in her voice. The Halve bit her lips, looking around. ¡°I held back, though,¡± she muttered in confusion. My eyebrows went up in surprise. That was ''holding back''? ¡°I see,¡± Yolin continued, arching an eyebrow. ¡°So, what happened?¡± Her Excellency looked Yolin in the eye. The Oni slowly nodded in understanding. Her Excellency shook her head. I wanted to facepalm and vomit blood. How obvious can they be with their Bond Messages... This two need instruction in being covert about things. Lapia, Elena, Pokh''Orra, Thelea, Bonte, and Bromisnar showed up. In that order. King Gordon walked closer. ¡°Is everything alright, Your Excellency?¡± He inquired. ¡°Yes,¡± Her Excellency replied. ¡°Just... a prank that got out of hand,¡± she explained with a tight smile. ¡°A prank?¡± The King repeated in confusion. ¡°I met Lord Punten shortly after I woke up,¡± Her Excellency informed His Majesty. ¡°And I thought it''d be fun to surprise him.¡± His Majesty''s face turned even more confused. I felt blood going up my throat. That had to be the most... ridiculous excuse I have ever heard. Looks like Her Excellency doesn''t know how to lie. At least convincingly. King Gordon turned to Sef Punten. ¡°How are things, Sef?¡± He probed. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Lord Punten sighed, then nodded. ¡°Good, Your Majesty. That got me,¡± he muttered with a friendly chuckle. I turned to Her Excellency. See, Your Excellency? That''s how you lie. Her Excellency cleared her throat. ¡°Looks like we need to continue our talk elsewhere, Lord Punten,¡± she said with a friendly smile. The Human looked around at the indisposed Nobles. ¡°Seems so,¡± he muttered and sighed. ¡°Lead the way,¡± Her Excellency instructed, then turned to the King. ¡°I''ll be gone for a bit. Call for me if something happens.¡± His Majesty slowly nodded. ¡°I will, Your Excellency,¡± he replied. The King must''ve realized what was going on. Well, he isn''t King just for show. If he demands answers it could be considered interference with a Halve''s duty. He has no other choice but to let it pass. Sef Punten turned to the King and bowed. ¡°I will be leaving sooner than expected, Your Majesty. My apologies.¡± King Gordon nodded. ¡°Take care, Sef,¡± he said with a gentle smile. Lapia placed a hand on Her Excellency''s shoulder. ¡°We''ll talk later,¡± she told Her Excellency. The Halve tilted her head. ¡°Obviously?¡± She replied. ¡°Good,¡± the Elf said with a satisfied nod. Her Excellency looked at her companions. They had been drinking and were a little inebriated. She turned to me. ¡°Wanna come along?¡± I nodded. ¡°As Your Excellency wishes,¡± I calmly replied. Her Excellency chose me! I must do my utmost to not disappoint. She nodded back, turned to Sef Punten, and gestured for him to start walking. The man sighed and moved. We followed him out of the hall and out of the Royal Palace to the front of the building. We reached a parked carriage and stopped. Her Excellency''s stomach rumbled like thunder. ¡°It''s inside,¡± she muttered. Sef Punten turned around with a pained face. ¡°Please, Your Excellency,¡± he pleaded. ¡°She''s a good woman.¡± Loud steps came from behind. I quickly turned around. A young Human male was jogging towards us. ¡°Father? What''s going on?¡± He shouted as he approached. Very slowly. [Perco Human, Lvl 76 Tax Aid] I relaxed after seeing his low level. Her Excellency, however, took a deep breath. ¡°Shit,¡± she whispered. The young man walked past us and stood next to Sef Punten. ¡°Is this about mother?¡± He demanded with the bravery of ignorant youth, glaring at Her Excellency. ¡°I knew we shouldn''t have come.¡± A sob came from the carriage. ¡°Silence, Rico!¡± Sef Punten chastised the young man. ¡°You stand before a Halve. Show respect!¡± He spat. ¡°Mother is crying!¡± The young man argued, glaring at his own father. ¡°Family comes first,¡± he finalized and went inside the carriage. Sef Punten closed his eyes and sighed. ¡°Apologies, Your Excellency,¡± he said with sadness in his voice. ¡°My son loves his mother too much. He sometimes fails to see the bigger picture whenever she''s involved.¡± Her Excellency looked over to the distant city walls. ¡°That''s nothing to apologize over,¡± she stated. ¡°Are there soundproof enchantments on the carriage?¡± Sef Punten nodded. ¡°Let''s go inside, then,¡± Her Excellency declared, leaving no room for rejection. The Human sighed, nodded, and opened the vehicle''s door. Inside, Rico was patting a Human female''s back. Nothing was out of the ordinary. We went inside and sat down. Sef Punten and Rico Punten were sitting to the sides of their wife and mother. Rosalia Pinoc, with whom Sef had been married for close to three hundred years according to my information gathering. The woman, however, was slightly trembling. Almost like she was a student during winter. [Perco Human, Lvl 199 Actuary] I sat next to Her Excellency, ready to retrieve my weapons and kill the three at her word. The Halve retrieved a pair of sungoggles and looked at the woman through them. ¡°I see,¡± she muttered with a nod and handed me the accessories. I imitated her and appraised the woman. [Amikoneth, Lvl 1082] My eyes widened to the limit. My scan didn''t recognize any illusion being applied. Discerning Eye of the Regicide didn''t inform me of her taking a shape that wasn''t her original. ¡°Show me your true form,¡± Her Excellency demanded. ¡°Or you''ll join Nerissa.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± The woman, who I wasn''t sure anymore was Rosalia, scoffed. ¡°That brat had it coming.¡± Her Excellency retrieved a dagger. ¡°Not what I asked,¡± she muttered and ran a finger on the blade. The... whatever she was... if it was a she... gulped. Her form shimmered and her body morphed. Three horns, gray skin, red eyes, feet like a large feline''s, and clawed hands. ¡°So pushy, Hellwalker,¡± the Amikoneth complained, crossing her arms under her chest. ¡°Hooh...¡± Her Excellency nodded. ¡°You''re not scared,¡± she pointed out. ¡°I am,¡± the Amikoneth replied. Her Excellency examined the creature in front of us. ¡°There were very few of you,¡± she commented and stored the dagger. The creature clicked its tongue. ¡°Naturally,¡± she sighed. ¡°Nerissa''s kind... embraced the whispers.¡± I looked at Her Excellency, then at the creature. What the fuck is going on?! Infernal Conversations, Hannas PoV. ¡°Embraced the whispers...¡± Her Excellency repeated. ¡°Can you elaborate?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Rico spoke up, placing a hand in front of his mother. ¡°You can''t just threaten people and then chat like it didn''t happen!¡± Sef Punten sighed and covered his eyes. The Amikoneth glanced at her child and smiled with love in her eyes. ¡°And what''s this ''show your true form or else''?¡± He demanded, rising his voice. ¡°Why should mother answer to you? Who do you think you are?¡± Her Excellency turned to Rico and smiled. ¡°I could kill the three of you and get away with it,¡± she replied. ¡°No, even better, I could kill you and say you were allied with a Demon, which is what threatened King Gordon''s life until I got here. People will thank me, no justice will be sought, and your name will forever be shunned.¡± Her smile widened. ¡°All it would take is a few words.¡± I glanced at the creature. So that''s what a living Demon looks like. Still, how did Her Excellency know it... she... was here? A Halve''s instincts? I see. Rico''s face twisted in anger. ¡°Shouldn''t you protect us, then? Why are you dangling a weapon in front of us? We''re civilized individuals, fuck it! Don''t treat us like beasts or monsters!¡± Her Excellency nodded, then looked at me. ¡°Am I treating them like beasts?¡± She asked. I shook my head. ¡°No, Your Excellency. They''re still alive, after all. Your Excellency has employed verbal violence only.¡± ¡°Psh!¡± Rico scoffed. ¡°Yeah, thank you!¡± He said, full of sarcasm. Her Excellency''s stomach rumbled, then she produced a napkin and wiped her lips while gulping. I eyed her face, then her tummy. Is Her Excellency hungry? Maybe she should have eaten something instead of drinking only alcohol. ¡°Anyway,¡± Her Excellency sighed, turning her attention to the Amikoneth. ¡°Embracing whispers,¡± she said and gestured for the woman to talk. ¡°And what''s your name, by the way?¡± The Amikoneth nodded. ¡°Ronissa, but I took the name Rosalia when I crossed over,¡± she explained, taking Rico''s hand into hers and squeezing it gently. ¡°Nerissa''s kind,¡± she sighed, ¡°the Felyareth, were a tricky bunch. Schemers, plotters, manipulators. The whispers changed most people in Haal, some more than others. The ones closer to the prisons turned feral and vicious. Those were the Invirineth, by the way, the... Warriors... of our kind, if you will. While not changed directly by the whispers, there were some who saw opportunity in the chaos. Some Felyareth Elders sought the whispers for themselves, believing them to be a source of power if controlled.¡± Her Excellency hummed in understanding. ¡°However,¡± Rosalia continued in a quiet voice. ¡°The Hellwalker had arrived, and butchered everyone in the prisons. The Felyareth that had managed to turn the whispers to their advantage were slain by you. There was one Felyareth who kept his mind after hearing the whispers and managed to escape you, though. He passed the secrets to his children, and they to theirs. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on who you ask, The Hellwalker left the prison... and reached the safe haven we had managed to build. You... kept hunting, however. Those who knew the secrets of the whispers tried to hide, but failed. Those of us untainted were left alone. All attempts at communication with you failed. We understood then that you had a single purpose, and there was nothing we could do to stop it. Not that we wanted, though. Haal was dying, and we would soon go with it.¡± ¡°I don''t buy it,¡± Her Excellency interrupted. ¡°You and Nerissa smell the same.¡± Rosalia nodded with a sad face. ¡°Then that must mean an Amikoneth also tried to control the whispers at some point. No secrets were passed down in my kind, though.¡± ¡°And how do you know all of this?¡± Her Excellency inquired, arching an eyebrow. The woman smiled. ¡°We Amikoneth were known as Keepers of Tales, Hellwalker. Archivists of culture, history, and what made our society. Our Elders made great efforts to gather information even during the whispers. Perhaps that''s why some must have tried to control the corruption, to study it and pass the information. If true, then it would stand to reason that they kept it to themselves. Some powers are better left in the darkest of chasms, beyond the reach of the most curious of individuals.¡± Her Excellency studied the Amikoneth in silence. ¡°From one to ten, how scared are you right now?¡± ¡°A strong three,¡± Rosalia replied after thinking for a moment. ¡°But it''s nothing when compared to how grateful I am you showed up. We had no way of stopping the corruption of the whispers. If not for you, Hellwalker, Haal would have fallen in a century instead.¡± I opened my mouth, but shut it. How long did it take, then? Is what I wanted to ask. The desire to know more about Her Excellency almost made my body act on its own. To think she had been on another world already. Is that why she''s not an empty shell? She cleansed an entire world of a corruption that could have ended it in a single century if left alone. The weight of such a task is perhaps the source of her understanding of life. A lifetime of killing wouldn''t teach how to lie or act all proper. It would explain how she found lovers so soon. That small discovery only prompted more questions in my mind, however. Questions that, unfortunately, were not appropriate at the moment. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I see,¡± Her Excellency muttered. ¡°And how did you come to Galeia?¡± ¡°Information reached us about a ritual,¡± Rosalia replied. ¡°It entailed the sacrifice of the corrupted... to redirect the foul power in their bodies and minds and rip open a hole in reality to another world.¡± ¡°Nerissa said their group sacrificed their Elders,¡± Her Excellency muttered. ¡°Made it sound a lot worse.¡± ¡°From her perspective, it was,¡± Rosalia whispered. Her Excellency nodded a few times. ¡°What do you feed on?¡± She suddenly asked. ¡°Food and the desire for wealth,¡± the Amikoneth replied with a scowl. ¡°I''m not like Nerissa, Hellwalker.¡± ¡°I can give testimony,¡± Rico interjected. ¡°That bitch Nerissa tried to feed on us, but mother protected us with her life.¡± The Amikoneth blushed and held her own cheeks in embarrassment. Her Excellency sighed. ¡°When has your opinion ever mattered?¡± She told the young man. ¡°Just keep quiet, boy.¡± Rico gritted his teeth, but spoke no further. ¡°That is true, Your Excellency,¡± Sef Punten finally joined the conversation. ¡°Nerissa visited a few years ago and tried to invite Rosalia, then attacked us when my wife rejected her.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Her Excellency muttered with an understanding nod. My eyebrows wanted to go up. Does Her Excellency have a positive bias when it comes to older, married men? She''s very gentle with the King, and now Lord Punten... even going as far as never being violent with them, be it verbally or otherwise, despite being in similar circumstances with older, married women, younger women, and younger men. More mysteries. ¡°How does this ''desire for wealth'' work?¡± Her Excellency probed. ¡°Whenever Sef acquires money, I feel revitalized. It''s similar to having a full meal,¡± Rosalia replied. ¡°What?¡± Her Excellency blurted out. ¡°First Lust, and now Greed?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Rosalia blinked a few times. Sef Punten and his son were equally confused. Her Excellency turned to me. I shook my head and shrugged, not knowing what she meant. ¡°Whatever,¡± Her Excellency sighed. ¡°Were you alone when you crossed worlds?¡± ¡°No, but I was when I got here,¡± Rosalia replied. ¡°I fear my clan was split while crossing. I haven''t met another Amikoneth since I got here.¡± Her Excellency nodded. ¡°And when was that?¡± ¡°Three centuries ago,¡± the woman replied. ¡°And this feeding on wealth business started when you crossed over?¡± Her Excellency inquired. Rosalia nodded. ¡°That is correct. I came across a young Chaser to the west and was guided to a town. There, they completed a bounty and got the reward. Life returned to me when I saw it happen.¡± ¡°That... makes no sense, but okay,¡± Her Excellency muttered. ¡°Have you met the Gods?¡± ¡°No... I haven''t...¡± the Amikoneth replied. ¡°I fear they might reject me. I don''t belong in this world, after all.¡± ¡°The way I see it,¡± Her Excellency began, ¡°Is you found someone that loves you and made a family. If that''s not home, the what is? True, you''re a Demon from Hell, but you''re not threatening the lives of people.¡± The carriage was silent for a few seconds. ¡°So...?¡± Sef Punten hesitated. ¡°I exist to protect, Lord Punten,¡± Her Excellency pointed out. ¡°If that included protecting you from the chance to love and form a family, then I''d be a shitty being.¡± ¡°Then why were you such a massive bitch?¡± Rico demanded with a frown. ¡°Listen here you little shit,¡± Her Excellency hissed at him. ¡°A Demon was going to kill the King of your fucking country. Do you know what people do when they find a group of people to easily blame in times of uncertainty? I had to make sure, you retarded, moronic fuck.¡± Sef Punten smiled and nodded. ¡°You go, Your Excellency. Tell him off.¡± Rosalia nodded along. Rico''s eyes widened. ¡°Mother? Father?¡± He called for them in disbelief. ¡°You''re too young to understand a lot of things, Rico,¡± Sef Punten sighed. ¡°You were incredibly disrespectful to Her Excellency. Her Excellency Yulianna would have killed you on the spot. Don''t ever interfere with a Halve''s duty. That''s why people are respectful, you never know when they are performing their duty. Have I not taught you to never take risks you aren''t certain will benefit you?¡± ¡°But mother has done nothing wrong!¡± Rico protested, not understanding his father''s words. ¡°True, that''s why I cooperated, you stupid child!¡± Sef Punten chastised him. ¡°People defy when they don''t agree. A Halve doesn''t have the time to ask this many questions!¡± ¡°I kind of do,¡± Her Excellency interjected. ¡°But yeah, maybe I''m too patient.¡± She looked at Rico and sighed. ¡°Apologies, Your Excellency,¡± Sef Punten bowed his head. ¡°He''s only twenty-eight years old. He''s fresh out of the Academy, too.¡± ¡°It''s okay,¡± the Halve showed mercy. ¡°But he should get his shit together. I don''t mean to overstep, but he''s a bit too close to his mother.¡± Rosalia sighed, ¡°I know. Apologies, Hellwalker.¡± ¡°Your Excellency is better,¡± Her Excellency offered. ¡°Hellwalker is a bit too on the nose.¡± ¡°As you wish, Your Excellency,¡± the Amikoneth agreed. ¡°So, back on topic,¡± Her Excellency announced. ¡°How many... kinds? Species? Races? Do you Demons have? And is Demon the right word?¡± ¡°Does Your Excellency not remember?¡± Rosalia inquired. ¡°Didn''t exactly have the time or desire to ask,¡± the Halve replied. ¡°I... see,¡± the Amikoneth muttered in understanding, a complicated expression crossing her face. She looked into Her Excellency''s eyes. 124 - Natasha cant keep a conversation from derailing. I produced my sketchbook and drew a few Demons, then showed them to Rosalia. ¡°Can you tell me which is which?¡± She nodded and looked at the paper. She pointed at the big, muscly one with long claws and front-facing horns. ¡°Thi is an Invirineth.¡± I hummed. Those were the most numerous according to my memories. ¡°This is an Alkaneth,¡± she told me, pointing at one with wings I saw in my first dream. ¡°The males are pretty similar in shape.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered. Knowing the names of Demons wasn''t really important, but the chance presented itself. Rosalia''s eyes closed for a second when she saw the next drawing. It was a small Demon with sharp teeth. ¡°This is a child...¡± she whispered. I nodded. ¡°What kind?¡± I asked. ¡°Invirineth,¡± she replied, then looked me in the eye with a mix of complicated feelings. I arched an eyebrow. ¡°What? They got corrupted. Tragic, but you know...¡± I thought those were imps. After a few more drawings, Rosalia started crying. The drawings of her kind were the limit, apparently. So many inconsistencies, I thought, looking at the woman being hugged by her son and husband. If Demons got here three hundred years ago, how did they bring about Changelings? I''m not an expert in biology, but even I know it takes a very long time for one living being to become an entirely different one. Did Danuva have a hand in it? Does she have the ability to? Why aren''t people more open about the Gods? Lorena said Changelings tried to kill Miraztor a thousand years ago. Could it be that Nerissa''s and Rosalia''s were the last groups to leave Hell? Am I here to contain the spread of the Abyss''s influence? What if corrupted Demons got here? Would other Halves have reacted? What if they did and nobody knew of it? Is that why Changelings dislike us? Do they all hate us? Rico glared at me and shook his head in disapproval. Lord Punten focused on comforting his wife. My stomach rumbled and I felt my hunger intensify. I gulped the saliva in my mouth and wiped my lips. Nerissa did say time was weird in Hell. Was that because of... maybe. I sighed. Cosmic horrors beyond my comprehension. Gotta love it. Is that why Rosalia got here alone? Can that even happen? Why are things so... convoluted? Can''t I just focus on killing mindless monsters and doing the seggs? Am I to horny? Should I be more interested in this? Why is my crotch tingling?! Rosalia wiped her tears and cleaned her nose with a handkerchief, then looked at me. ¡°Does Your Excellency have more questions?¡± She asked and let out a long sigh. ¡°Other than Nerissa, have you met with others from Hell?¡± I probed. The woman shook her head. ¡°Did she mention Changelings?¡± I inquired. ¡°She did,¡± Rosalia replied, taking a shaky breath to calm down. ¡°But I don''t believe her words.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°Well, that''d be it,¡± I announced and turned to Hanna. ¡°Let''s go.¡± The Ork nodded and opened the door of the carriage, then went out. I followed, then turned to Rico and gestured for him to get out as well. The guy scoffed, but obeyed. He stood in front of me with his chin raised. I gave him a big smile and slapped him across the face. His jaw cracked and he crashed on the carriage, then fell down and passed out. ¡°RICO!¡± Lord Punten screamed and got out of the carriage, then circled around it and knelt next to his son. Rosalia yelped and followed her husband, sitting on the ground and placing her son''s head on her lap. ¡°Don''t call me a bitch,¡± I muttered and turned around. ¡°I''ll let the King know there''s another Demon and that you''re clear. The countries surrounding Lumin Kingdom will take measures to find your kind, and will inform me if any is misbehaving. If you meet one, tell them the Hellwalker is here...¡± I cringed at my following words. ¡°And that she''s hungry.¡± Hanna nodded at my words with a big, proud smile. ¡°I will,¡± Rosalia replied. ¡°And thank you for showing my son mercy.¡± Lord Punten sniffled and cleared his throat. ¡°Should we leave?¡± He asked. ¡°Nah,¡± I chuckled. ¡°You can go back in. Tell your son to behave and not insult people if he can''t back his words with the violence they carry.¡± ¡°We will,¡± the Demon agreed. I sighed. ¡°Have a great life, Rosalia,¡± I told her and walked away. Hanna followed me in silence. We entered the Palace and I turned to her. ¡°What do you think?¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Her brown eyes looked into mine and she sighed. ¡°I have a lot of questions, Your Excellency. I hope Your Excellency doesn''t mind me asking.¡± I nodded. ¡°Sure, but before that... uh... did I handle that good? As a Halve, I mean.¡± ¡°Yes...¡± she replied and looked away. ¡°But?¡± I chuckled. ¡°Your Excellency''s usage of the word ''retarded'' is uncalled for, and objectively wrong,¡± she pointed out with a little frown. ¡°Oh, I know,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°My intention is to insult and offend. He called me a bitch, after all.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she muttered. We walked past a few Royal Guards and stopped before entering the hall where everyone was. I looked around and clicked my tongue. ¡°Let''s find a quiet place first, I should explain a few things.¡± Hanna nodded and followed. - I told Hanna about Hell, but not about Earth. Pokora still hasn''t told others about it... plus, Hanna is smart so she''ll pick up on it if she knows. She took it surprisingly well. Some things clicked for her, like Halves being born powerful and most of the time an empty shell of ignorance. ¡°Maybe remembering is not exactly good,¡± were her words. We left the room we were talking in and returned to the hall. There, I approached Gordon and Josalia, who were chatting. He noticed me and smiled. ¡°How did things go?¡± ¡°Great,¡± I replied. ¡°I''ll tell you later, though.¡± He raised his brows and chuckled. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Do you think I could have a few minutes on the stage?¡± I asked him. ¡°I''d like to play some music as a way to apologize for what happened earlier.¡± ¡°What happened, exactly?¡± He inquired. ¡°If I''m allowed to ask, naturally.¡± I nodded. ¡°I''ll tell you later,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Don''t worry. Nothing life-threatening.¡± ¡°That''s a relief,¡± Josalia joined the chat. ¡°I''ve never felt anything like that.¡± I smiled. ¡°Maybe you should clear a dungeon or two,¡± I joked. ¡°I am Queen, I cannot risk my life by clearing a dungeon,¡± she replied and chuckled. ¡°But maybe a few monsters here and there would be good.¡± I nodded. ¡°So, the stage?¡± ¡°Will you play the piano?¡± Gordon asked with a spark in his eyes. ¡°I heard Deacon Julien mellowed out after you visited the Performer School of the Arts. Quite the achievement, most people would say.¡± My eyebrows went up in surprise. ¡°Is that so?¡± Both monarchs nodded. ¡°He has a reputation of being strict,¡± Josalia added. ¡°Not to the point of it being a problem, but the man has a passion for tradition not often found in this Age.¡± ¡°Perhaps he needed to be reminded that the learning process never ends,¡± Gordon chuckled. ¡°Tends to happen after being a teacher for so long.¡± ¡°Let''s hope this rekindled the loving parts of his passion instead of intensifying the more strict ones,¡± Josalia sighed. ¡°He looked pretty humble to me after I played, though,¡± I pointed out. Gordon smiled. ¡°That''s good to hear.¡± Josalia nodded along with a smile. I tilted my head. ¡°Does that happen often?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, yes,¡± Josalia replied. ¡°When seeking the knowledge of the Gods, most people find themselves an extension of their legacy, forgetting to be a transformative part of it instead. It could be said Julien taught his students similarly to how His Divinity Saravia did his own. But that''s not something that works in current times. As people change, so should the ways to teach them.¡± ¡°Something similar happened to me,¡± Gordon shared. ¡°Before I did my pilgrimage, being a Merchant was all about the stability of the economy. Later, though, it became clear that people are more important than the coin changing hands. There''s no economy without people. That is even more true when thinking of a country and being King. A King is nothing without the people and their acknowledgment.¡± I nodded. ¡°The consent of the governed gives purpose to the government, after all.¡± Gordon''s eyebrows knitted. ¡°Naturally. What is government without the consent of the people if not tyranny?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± I nodded a few times. ¡°And Your Excellency''s kind gave justification of rule,¡± Josalia added. ¡°Much like a God gives justification of teaching.¡± I blinked twice. ¡°What?¡± Gordon chuckled. ¡°A teacher is as important as a ruler, Your Excellency. A country cannot function if the populace is not taught. The... mess it would be... I can''t even imagine.¡± ¡°Would it even work in the first place?¡± Josalia wondered. What are we talking about now? I thought, a little confused. ¡°With enough violence, it could,¡± I supplied. ¡°A farmer doesn''t teach their cattle.¡± Both monarch''s eyes widened. ¡°I hope Your Excellency knows this, but people aren''t animals,¡± Josalia carefully pointed out, but her eyebrows twitched a few times. ¡°And treating them as such is... preposterous.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I know. I was saying that a country can deal with an ignorant populace if it employs violence on every level of its organization. When people fear those in power, they don''t exactly need to be taught for it to function.¡± Both looked at me as if I grew a dick instead of a nose. ¡°That wouldn''t work either,¡± Gordon sighed while shaking his head. ¡°A country doesn''t exist in a vacuum. Other countries would call the rulers out, or a Halve would remove the tyrant.¡± ¡°Well,¡± I sighed. ¡°Then make every country the same and remove Halves.¡± ¡°That''s not how the world works, fortunately,¡± Josalia sighed. ¡°If there''s a world where what Your Excellency mentions exists, then I pity it.¡± ¡°How would taxes work?¡± Gordon asked me. ¡°Violence,¡± I replied. ¡°But they would rebel,¡± Josalia argued. ¡°Not if every single person is level one, and they have no access to weapons,¡± I countered. ¡°Then that world is doomed,¡± Gordon muttered. ¡°If people don''t have the same knowledge level as rulers, then the only thing awaiting them is self-destruction.¡± ¡°Pretty much,¡± I agreed. ¡°Anyway, can I have the stage for a bit?¡± Hanna, who had been silent the whole time, let out a very interested hum. 125 - Natashas jokes are mid. Josalia nodded. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± She turned around and spoke with an attendant standing behind her. They nodded and walked away. I gave her a nod. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You have very interesting ideas,¡± Gordon told me. ¡°When and how did you come up with that? A world in which violence is the way to rule... terrifying and fascinating.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Has literature not explored that before?¡± He smiled. ¡°Well, yes... but not to the level you mention. And I have to admit that I can''t suspend my disbelief enough where I find interest in a world without Halves. Too... unrealistic for my taste.¡± I hummed in thought. ¡°Well,¡± I began and told him of a world where the ruling elite is deathly desperate to perpetuate their position of power, otherwise they''d be held accountable of the crimes their rotted beliefs have brought about. A world in which ignorance is a systematic weapon to control the masses. Where people are treated like cattle to be exploited at every possible chance. Where dreams die before they have the chance to even bud. A world in which, through lies and deceit, the populace is put against each other in pointless fights that serve no purpose other than to blame others for atrocities the ruling class push them to. A world where the price of life is so high most don''t agree to it and choose not to live. A world in which hope is manufactured and artificial, plus sold at obscene prices. I also told him of the good, despite being very little of it due to the ever consuming machine of greed poisoning culture and faith. I failed, however, circling back to telling him of how people, despite not interacting with literature most of the time, have to suspend their disbelief in everyday life to simply not crumble under the pressure of reality and how disjointed it is, resulting in people becoming mentally ill. Where the very idea of a better society is called a utopia because the sea of horror that is life is drowning imagination and motivation, and how easy and comfortable riding the wave of profitable values is. Gordon listened in silence, his expression turning darker the deeper into the rabbit hole I took him. ¡°So imagine,¡± I sighed. ¡°You wake up in a lavish home and prepare to go to work while the children next door are starving to death, but you not only not do a single thing about it, you celebrate it because their starvation gives subjective value to your success. The status quo must be maintained, otherwise you foster ideas of the worst possible kind. Actively wanting others to be in a better position and doing something about it, leaving personal gain behind, is frowned upon because it''s somehow the most horrible thing to want.¡± ¡°I... can''t,¡± the King muttered, pity palpable on his voice. ¡°I can''t imagine it. That world is dead, Your Excellency.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. I smiled and nodded. ¡°Gordon,¡± Josalia chuckled, then gave me a smile. ¡°Her Excellency is talking about a fictitious world.¡± The man blinked and nodded, then smiled and chuckled. ¡°Right,¡± he sighed. ¡°Right,¡± I muttered. I hope it doesn''t exist anymore. I really do. Right on cue, the attendant returned and bowed. ¡°The stage is clear, Your Excellency, Your Majesties,¡± they informed us. ¡°Thank you,¡± I told the attendant and gave the monarchs a nod. I turned around and walked to the stage. There was a single Tigea on it. He noticed me and spoke into a microphone-like cone. ¡°Dear guests, Her Excellency Natasha Novak would like to say a few words.¡± Everyone turned to the stage and stopped what they were doing. I went up the three steps and stood in front of the ''mic''. The Tigea gave me a respectful nod and left the stage. I looked at the people in the Hall and nodded a few times. ¡°Farts, huh? It''s crazy. When you hold one in, the worst of you comes out sometimes.¡± The Nobles raised their eyebrows in surprise. I heard a loud sigh from the right. I looked over and saw Lapia covering her face. Her shoulders were shaking, though, so that''s a point for the funny. I laughed and produced my piano on the stage. This is cool, I thought with a smile. With the cone in hand, I sat down on the stool and tested a few notes. ¡°Sorry about the bad joke. You could say I had a bit of an angry moment earlier,¡± I began and looked people in the eye. ¡°I''m sorry about that. I should have a better control of things, and I''m working towards it. I hope I didn''t ruin anyone''s experience.¡± People walked to the stage with interested faces. No chairs were pulled out. ¡°I was thinking of playing a bit of music to calm things down,¡± I continued. ¡°You might want to take a seat, this will take a while.¡± Josalia and Gordon walked over and stood at the front, and the other rulers soon showed up next to them. I waited until people sat down. ¡°Alright, then. Let''s begin,¡± I said and started playing. First, I went with Liebesleid, the Kreisler and Rachmaninoff one. Though a bit sad, it''s one of my favorites. Easily in the top ten. As I played, I saw faces become surprised. Considering I''m two and a half months old, it would be natural for me to not know how to play an instrument. Reality is different, however. In the sea of faces, I found Hanna. She was looking at me with narrowed eyes and a cheeky smirk which looked pretty cool with her tusks. Will you find out on your own? I wondered. How long will it take? You''re pretty capable, Hanna... but can you guess that I lived two lives before? I continued playing while looking at the audience. Bromisnar had his eyes closed and was nodding in 4''s. I''ll trade him a few pieces for music of this world, I concluded. He has a great tenor voice... maybe I can think of a few operas he could sing. I finished the piece and then moved to the next, Pavane pour une infante d¨¦funte by Ravel. I used to hear the piece to sleep when I was in school. It''s incredibly calming when played as it should be, despite the original romanticism which which it was originally written. And so, I spent a full hour playing the piano. 126 - A day has 24 hours... right? The rest of the day went smoothly after I played the piano. People approached me not to advertise their country, city, estate, or whatever, and instead commented on the music, which was a welcomed change. I don''t really give a shit if people''s great great grand mother was part of a big monster extermination a quintillion years ago or something like that. After half an hour, the rulers replaced the nobles. I had already been told about their countries by the envoys, but I was still uninterested. Again, the bare minimum should not be celebrated. I would not treat them any differently just because they''re governing their countries the way they''re supposed to. Tidon was one of the Dwarf countries to introduce currency in the form of gold, silver, and copper? Whatever. Lapia had told me already. A globally unified way to deal with finances came only after the many years of wars. Nothing to celebrate. It took Filestra threatening the entire world for them to chill. That''s an L for the people of Galeia in my eyes. Oh, it''s not about greed and amassing ridiculous amounts of wealth? Big deal. Everyone can earn a proper living? As they should. The Goliaths of Koluum gave their aid to nearby countries during their formation? That''s just the duty of the strong. The Nymphs had to face a period of low birth-rates to realize they had to accommodate males of other species into their country to not go extinct, instead of sustaining it with visitors. Unfortunate, but pretty fucking silly in my eyes. I reached my limit a few hours before the end of the celebratory event and challenged the rulers to a game of Galeian Armory. Odnik, the Goliath, was my first opponent. I realized then that I lack foresight. High General Odnik, ruler of Koluum Kingdom is, after all, over two thousand years old. I bought my cards this month, and played a few games with Pokora. I challenged a two thousand year old general to a strategy game. I got my ass absolutely smashed, and not in a way I wanted. The amount of bullshit cards the man threw out at me was so overwhelming I almost didn''t understand what was happening after the third turn. My dragons fell one by one, and the only thing poor Anna Morgh could do was stall the match. Still, I am an adult woman who knows how to take an L. Besides, it was more fun than talking about politics so I took it as a win. It goes without saying, but I lost to all of them. A ruler is not defined simply by wearing a crown on top of their head or a badge on their chest. They showed no mercy, countering every single card I played. The weak-minded would call it unfair, but what is struggle if not fun? My pride as a gamer, however, took a heavy blow. There''s only so many L''s I can take before I get pissed off. Fortunately, that''s when Gordon announced the end of the banquet. I was seething so I didn''t properly listen to his words, which I should have as a Halve. My name and species weren''t mentioned, though, so that was a relief. Before leaving, however, I told Gordon about Lord Punten''s wife, and that I would leave Lumin Kingdom in a day or two. He told me that Lady Urgun had approached him, and wished me plentiful spoils of war. As per tradition, I left first, guided by Alastor. Not before the rulers formally invited me to their countries, though. I vaguely accepted, which was enough. My companions and I crossed the door to the front of the palace, and we were FINALLY free. ¡°This day was too long,¡± I complained on top of Sonya. ¡°Too short,¡± Pokora denied it on top of her dinosaur-bird-thing mount. I sighed and shook my head. ¡°You know not of the horrors of talking about politics all day.¡± ¡°Natasha,¡± Lapia caught up next to me on her fox. ¡°Don''t forget we need to talk,¡± she reminded me. ¡°I know,¡± I assured her. ¡°We''ll talk when we get back.¡± The Elf squinted her eyes. ¡°Why not now?¡± I raised my eyebrows. ¡°You sure? I mean, if we''re heard... that''d be pretty bad.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Yeah,¡± Lapia sighed with a nod. ¡°Worded it wrong. That''s what I meant.¡± I hummed in understanding. ¡°Anyway, why would I not tell you?¡± She shrugged. ¡°You have the habit of not talking about things unless asked,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Not all, but some.¡± I looked into her green eyes. ¡°Really?¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°Really.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered and looked to the front. ¡°I''m thinking of going to see Bernard and tell him about Ines,¡± I told her. ¡°Wanna come with?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± she replied. I nodded a few times. ¡°Is that a good start?¡± ¡°It is,¡± the Elf chuckled. I turned to Hanna, who was riding her Bihn behind me. She nodded. ¡°If Your Excellency wishes me to come, I will.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I said and focused on driving Sonya. ¡°Want me to come, too?¡± Bonte asked. ¡°I was there last time.¡± ¡°That''d be nice,¡± I replied. We coursed the lightly occupied streets of Paarjo until we neared the central market. The man''s house was a ten minute ride away. Is he... I stopped the thought and turned to Lapia. ¡°Do you think he''s at home? His wife worked at the Royal Palace.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lapia looked in the wrong direction. ¡°I don''t think the Royal Palace is a pleasant place to be for him. But I don''t know about him to say for sure.¡± ¡°He''s definitely at home,¡± Bonte spoke up. ¡°Probably waiting for Ines to return. He gave me that vibe. A Royal Banquet is not... enough to miss the potential return of his wife.¡± I turned to Bonte. Well, a man would know a man, I concluded. ¡°Let''s go, then,¡± I said and made Sonya take a turn. ¡°We''ll meet you back at our place,¡± I told Pokora. She nodded and told the others what we''d do. We rode to Bernard''s house and told him his wife had willingly joined the Changelings, thus abandoned him. It was honestly a mess. The man started crying which was understandable. He got angry and insulted me, which was also understandable. I saw him turn into an angry and bitter man that will probably never trust a woman like he did Ines. Bonte, however, chastised him and told him to go to the Church and heal. Lapia and I left the two men alone for a while. Some things in life are beyond our capabilities. It''s important to know that, too. After a while, Bonte came out and sighed. ¡°People can be pretty shitty some times,¡± he muttered and walked to his mount, Red Killer. ¡°I made him promise he''d visit the Church to get help. Man''s got a daughter to take care of and can''t let this destroy him.¡± ¡°True,¡± I agreed. ¡°Thanks for that, Bonte.¡± He shrugged and mounted the Bentu. ¡°Gotta help a brother out,¡± he chuckled. Hanna nodded a few times. After that we went to the nearby Church and told the Tiny Laples. They were sad for his friend and told us they''d visit him every day. With that dealt with, we went back to our place. There, I sat on the table with the party. ¡°So,¡± Lapia began. ¡°Can you tell us what happened at the Banquet?¡± I stared into her eyes and nodded. ¡°Lord Punte''s wife is a Demon from Hell,¡± I told her. ¡°He had her scent all over him, which... prompted the reaction that made people faint. I held back, though.¡± ¡°Lady Rosalia is a Demon?¡± Lapia repeated in disbelief. ¡°She''s such a gentle woman, though!¡± I nodded. ¡°I don''t think being a Demon makes you a bad person, Lapia. Nerissa was just the worst example we had.¡± ¡°This is getting out of hand,¡± the Elf muttered. ¡°Now there''s two of them?¡± ¡°And plenty more,¡± I added. ¡°It''s who they are that matters, not what they are. Nerissa was harming the King while disguising as a Tigea. Rosalia is living her life without going out of her way to harm people.¡± Lapia cleared her throat. ¡°Is Rico...?¡± ¡°Half Demon?¡± I wondered out loud. ¡°I don''t really care. Again, they''re not harming people. Sure, they''re outsiders, but they''re not invading this world... if they were, though, things would be very different.¡± ¡°Did you tell His Majesty?¡± Bonte probed. ¡°Of course,¡± I chuckled. ¡°I also told Odnik, Plesani, Paveli, Claudia, and Sahaz that Demons are around and Gordon was a victim of one.¡± ¡°That''s cool and all,¡± Yolin interrupted. ¡°But what''s with the comment about killing that Urgun woman?¡± I glanced at Lapia and leaned back on the chair with a smile. The Elf sighed and explained. ¡°...and then Natasha killed them all,¡± she finished. Yolin nodded. ¡°I see, sorry that you had to relive that today.¡± Lapia smiled and took Alyssa''s hand. ¡°It''s okay, Alyssa helped me with it.¡± ¡°That''s beautiful,¡± Bromisnar commented and sniffled. After that, I turned to Elena. ¡°By the way, I killed Zalan today. One of the Changelings in charge of the group that mind-controlled you and tried to kill me.¡± The woman nodded slowly. ¡°Your Excellency has my gratitude,¡± she calmly replied. Pokora gave me a worried look. ¡°You killed someone today?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°Ah, they also tried to kill the King by sending Nerissa, but that''s beside the point.¡± ¡°How is that beside the point?¡± Bonte retorted with a laugh. ¡°It''s already solved,¡± I shrugged. ¡°True,¡± he conceded and leaned on the table. ¡°Took longer than I thought,¡± he sighed. I nodded in agreement. ¡°When do we leave?¡± Yolin asked. ¡°After Natasha sells what we got in the dungeon,¡± Pokora pointed out, looking at me. ¡°That''s a lot of money.¡± ¡°I know a guy,¡± Bonte supplied with a smirk. ¡°He''d love to buy our stuff.¡± I had a feeling the day was not over. 127 - Old Codger Ahead. Thirty minutes later, I was facing the dankest, shadiest place I have ever seen in my life. In the middle of the street, thirty floors beneath Paarjo''s surface, a narrow alley stretched into darkness. Boxes covered in opaque fabrics occupied it every few meters, preventing anyone from seeing the other side. Strings connected the two walls, from which silk-looking pieces of fabric hung, further impeding visibility. A Tigea wearing dark leather garments was leaning against the wall next to the entrance, flipping a gold coin every few seconds. He kept his eyes on the coin, never taking as much as a glance in our direction. It looked like a druglord''s hideout from a movie set in South America. I nudged Bonte with my elbow. ¡°Are you sure we''re in the right place?¡± I whispered. The catboy nodded. ¡°This is a Scout-exclusive market,¡± he replied with pride. ¡°The atmosphere is top notch.¡± I felt my eyebrows rise on their own. ¡°Right,¡± I muttered. Bonte took off and approached the Tigea. ¡°The unseen blade,¡± the man began in a raspy voice. ¡°Is the deadliest,¡± Bonte replied with an ominous tone. No... I felt my gut tighten with laughter, but I held back. The unknown Tigea nodded and whistled. Bonte turned to me and gestured with his head to the alley, then walked in. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out, then followed my companion. He moved with deliberate grace, avoiding the hanging clothes and the boxes as he advanced into the darkness. My glow, however, dissipated it as I moved behind him, revealing the walls. They were painted black. With a hand I moved the hanging clothes aside and did my best to avoid the boxes, which became clear to me were purposefully there to hinder people. We reached the end of it, where a door was. Another Tigea was leaning on the wall, but this one was sharpening a dagger. Bonte approached him and gave her a nod. ¡°Secrets kept,¡± she began in a husky voice. ¡°Are weapons wasted,¡± Bonte finished. Please! I tightened my jaw and stomach. You''re going to make me laugh! The woman whistled and opened the door. Bonte went in and I followed. The inside was... surprisingly tidy and illuminated. It looked like the inside of a lavish house, and corridors went to the left and right. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The floor was covered in a red carpet, and the walls were covered in a blue satin-like fabric. No decorations were in sight, and sober lamps stuck to the walls provided light. Bonte''s clothes were replaced with the gear I gave him, and he placed his new daggers on his belt. ¡°This is just tradition, by the way,¡± he told me with a small smile. I gave him a slow nod. ¡°Sure,¡± I said. With a satisfied nod, he walked off to the left. I followed. We took a turn to the right and my ears started buzzing. It was that feeling like high-tension cables in the distance. The same one I felt when a Royal Guard Scout was staring at me while invisible. Bonte''s ears shook a little and faced different directions. For some reason, that made me want to pet his head. We walked next to invisible people for two minutes and arrived at a red door. Bonte knocked. ¡°In Darkness,¡± a withered voice said from the other side. ¡°Lies truth,¡± Bonte replied. I closed my eyes for a second and took a long, calming breath. I opened them and let it out. Bonte opened the door and went in. An old Tigea was sitting behind a desk. His eyes were amber like a Shishi''s, but his fur was white and sparse. The shape of his feline ears were similar to Bonte''s race, too. His eyes went over Bonte and me, and his hand stroked his cheek like a famous mobster. Please, I begged in my head, tightening my stomach. My companion walked in and stood in front of the desk. ¡°Bonte, my son,¡± the old Tigea spoke in Kator with his withered voice, slowly standing up. ¡°How have you been?¡± What? I forced my eyebrows to stop their ascension. Son? ¡°Good, Grand master,¡± Bonte replied with a nod, also in Kator. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°Eh,¡± the Grand master waved his hand and slowly circled the table, facing Bonte. ¡°Age is slowing me down, boy.¡± They hugged and kissed each of their cheeks once. The old man patted Bonte''s shoulder and faced me. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± he greeted me in Kator. [Shishi Tigea, Lvl 331 Exsanguinator] Damn. I noticed he didn''t bow, and I would have stopped him if he tried. Man looked like death was a decade away. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± I greeted back in Kator. ¡°My name is Natasha Novak.¡± ¡°¨¦tienne Bonnot,¡± He introduced himself and gestured at his back. ¡°I hope you''ll forgive this old man.¡± I simply nodded. ¡°So, my boy,¡± ¨¦tienne looked at Bonte with a smile. ¡°What brings you home?¡± ¡°We came across some valuables in a dungeon,¡± Bonte explained. ¡°And I thought I would bring them here. There were a few Luminous Caps.¡± The old Tigea''s eyes widened a little and a smile formed on his wrinkled face. ¡°Luminous Caps, you say? This got interesting,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Where did you find them, my boy?¡± ¡°At the old gold mine to the north,¡± Bonte replied. ¡°The one that got abandoned.¡± ¨¦tienne nodded and hummed. ¡°The Royal Family said that place was dangerous,¡± he patted Bonte''s back. ¡°That''s my boy.¡± Aww. The man walked back to his seat and slowly sat down. He sighed and pulled out three cups and a kettle. ¡°But it''s been so long since you''ve visited. Let''s have something to drink first, alright?¡± I wanted to roll my eyes. Old people go at their own pace, slowing everything around them. I don''t particularly hate them, but I actively avoid them if possible. Besides, it''s hard to see them lose their autonomy little by little. ¡°Sure,¡± Bonte agreed with a nod. ¡°I have a lot to tell you.¡± I resigned myself to fate. If it was a simple business transaction then I''d try to speed things up, but Bonte had some history with the old cat. It was a nice chance to get to know more about him, too. 128 - Making bank. A pair of chairs moved from the walls to the desk, stopping behind us. More invisible people? I wondered and sat down. Well, to call them chairs would be a disservice. They were the fluffy leathery type. Like a sofa, but not quite. Bonte sat down and relaxed. The old Tigea poured tea in the cups and moved two towards us. ¡°Blue Point,¡± he disclosed with a smirk. ¡°From my own garden.¡± ¡°Garden? You?¡± Bonte chuckled in disbelief. Grand Master ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Natasha... ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° 129 - Mutually beneficial transaction. ¨¦tienne guided us to a warehouse-like space to trade the bigger pieces of loot. I saw a few individuals working on stuff in a few forges. I may have binged a few shows about smithing back on Earth, but that didn''t give me any insight on what was being created. There was a lot of hammering of glowing orange stuff, the smell of a lot of things burning and sweat, and the murmur of uninterrupted conversation. We stopped at the opposite side of the warehouse, near a large pile of boxes and crates. Next to them was a big, white bowl on the ground. ¨¦tienne stood next to it and gestured at me. ¡°Let''s go with the Luminous Caps first, shall we?¡± I nodded and extended a hand over the bowl, then dropped ten plants. Just like in Mountroad with the ores and hides, the plants shrunk to the size of a pebble when they entered the bowl. It''s good to see consistency, I commented in my head and squinted at the bowl. I wonder what would happen if I put my hand in it... I thought and, well, did it. I lowered my arm into the bowl. ¨¦tienne''s hand moved incredibly fast for a man who said his back was in no condition to bow. He grabbed my wrist and tried pulling it away. Alas, the required strength to force my hand was higher than what he possessed. I looked at him and arched an eyebrow. He closed his eyes and sighed, then released me. ¡°Apologies, Your Excellency. I momentarily forgot you are a Halve.¡± Bonte slapped my shoulder. ¡°Don''t do that. It''ll crush your hand.¡± I shrugged. ¡°If it does, I''ll just drink a healing potion,¡± I pointed out and lowered my hand further. Both sighed and took a step back. The moment my hand entered the realm of the bowl, a cosmic pressure clasped it. I lack in comparisons to make, but I will try to describe it nonetheless. It was uncomfortably similar to the feeling of having slept on one arm and then waking up and trying to move it. A slight annoyance, but no crushing of limbs as Bonte said. My hand didn''t shrink, much to my disappointment. It didn''t hurt, and the numbing sensation that replaces my physical pain wasn''t there either. It felt incredibly heavy, though. I wiggled my fingers and made a fist, then leaned into the bowl and touched the bottom. I hummed and pulled my hand out. It felt like lifting a massive object, and my muscles strained a little. Cool, I nodded. Is it that thing in my information thing? I wondered and gave it a quick read. Under my Halve Species information, a line stated: The E''er at your disposal won''t decrease unless you allow it. ¡°Hmm...¡± I tilted my head in confusion. That makes no sense, though. Am I not understanding something very obvious? Doesn''t it just mean it can''t be stolen, drained, or whatever? I pursed my lips and pinched them. Yeah... that ''whatever'' is what I''m not getting... I think. I looked at the ground and clicked my tongue. Oi, Galeia! A tutorial would''ve been nice, you know? Then, it hit me. Was it the turkey? Did I skip the fucking explanation without realizing? Nilenna called it a Sentinel and nobody recognizes the turkey even though it''s just a fucking turkey. Fuck me blind, I sighed and shook my head. Bonte placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± I looked at him and nodded. ¡°Perfect condition,¡± I replied, flexing my fingers. ¡°Just wondering about things.¡± The catboy squinted his eyes at me. ¡°Hmmm...¡± He sighed and shook his head. ¡°Are you satisfied now? Can we move on?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied and put the other 3021 Luminous Caps in the bowl. ¨¦tienne counted them and nodded. ¡°That''d be 151 gold coins and 55 silver coins.¡± ¡°Next is the Mag-Noyath,¡± Bonte continued. I frowned and produced the three massive carcasses. The wrapping wasn''t for the purposes of hiding their shape, so it was blatantly obvious the things were spiders. I turned around and walked a few steps from the nightmares. Bonte stayed with the carcasses and started unwrapping them. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¨¦tienne stood next to me, facing the monstrosities. ¡°Not to your liking?¡± He inquired. I shook my head. ¡°They''re gross.¡± The man smiled and chuckled. ¡°They make quite the noise, don''t they?¡± A few Scouts approached the spiders and started dismantling them, by the sound of it. ¡°That, and they''re just disgusting,¡± I huffed. ¡°Too many legs, too many eyes, just... no.¡± He nodded. ¡°There are worse things out there, Your Excellency,¡± he told me. ¡°But that''s something that changes depending on the individual. Some don''t like Tentelu, others love them.¡± I nodded. ¡°I know,¡± I sighed. ¡°Elena, one of my companions, has a soft spot for insects and bugs in general.¡± ¡°Elena Pazh''Khun,¡± the old man hummed. ¡°Quite the mysterious lady. Met with Halves, then went missing when she was left alone.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Some information is being kept hidden, Your Excellency,¡± he informed me. ¡°I''m telling you this because you might not know. Information is important.¡± I nodded. ¡°I already spoke with the Embassy... but I assume you already know that.¡± He nodded, then leaned close to me. ¡°Some people have been asking questions, Your Excellency. About your companions.¡± My eyebrows went up. ¡°I... see.¡± He looked into my eyes for a few seconds, then sighed. ¡°Your Excellency has the eyes of a predator... but you don''t strike me as a cautious person, pardon the insolence.¡± I was taken aback for a second. ¡°Eyes of a predator?¡± He nodded. ¡°Perhaps you should work on smoothing the violence within you,¡± he started, but quickly added, ¡°that''s just coming from a Scout, Your Excellency. Our view is more about tricking and subverting. I''m not a Warrior, so I don''t see things like one. I''m too used to teaching young people, is all.¡± ¡°What have people asked?¡± I inquired. ¡°I assume it''s not harmless since it''s you who''s telling me.¡± ¡°A few individuals asked about your companions places of birth,¡± he shared. ¡°There''s plenty of room for assumption, and I''m not one to think the worst first... but people have gone after your life already.¡± I bit my lips. ¡°Do you think their families are in danger?¡± ¡°In danger? Hard to tell,¡± he said while shaking his head. ¡°Under investigation? Without a doubt.¡± I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°How safe is O''lu Keer Ren?¡± ¨¦tienne raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, I think saying they have no concept of visitors is enough.¡± I nodded. ¡°Can you keep track of them? Like, sneakily and shit?¡± ¡°I already am, Your Excellency,¡± he replied as if stating the obvious. ¡°Bonte''s family is involved in this.¡± Yikes. ¡°Shouldn''t you tell him?¡± I asked. The old man smiled. ¡°He already knows. I got a letter a month ago, informing me of the attempt at your life. Bonte asked me to keep an eye out for people extending their animosity to his family.¡± That was quite the surprise to hear. ¡°First time I know of this,¡± I commented. ¡°He''s a good Scout, after all,¡± ¨¦tienne praised the catboy. ¡°He likes to play the fool too much. We all do, to some extent.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I muttered with a nod. ¡°Subverting expectations and all.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± the man chuckled. ¡°And how safe is the Queendom of Maaruhk?¡± I asked next. ¡°Well, they managed to teach Desseyr without outside intervention,¡± he simply said, then shrugged. ¡°I''d say House Pofeta is one of the safest thanks to Lady Lapia. What happens outside its borders, however, is a different story.¡± ¡°You know what happened to her?¡± I wondered. ¨¦tienne nodded. ¡°We also heard about a Cleric in Riverfield by the name of Clara. She was held at bladepoint to spill your information. The one responsible tried fleeing but was caught by Crusaders, and killed shortly after.¡± ¡°The information managed to get out, though,¡± I commented. ¡°The Bond does not require breathing to send a message,¡± the old man pointed out. I rubbed my temples and nodded. ¡°Did anything happen in Mountroad''s Church?¡± ¡°They tried, but there''s a Dungeon in that city,¡± ¨¦tienne supplied. ¡°People around Lady Yolin''s level guard the Church. Nobody was in harm''s way.¡± Fucking hell, I sighed. ¡°We know of Bernard Roy, and will keep an eye on him,¡± the old man added. ¡°That includes his daughter and the two Tiny Laples.¡± I shook my head and looked him in the eye. ¡°Thank you, ¨¦tienne.¡± ¡°This is us giving back, Your Excellency,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°Your kind allowed for everything you see to happen. It''s our turn, in a sense.¡± ¡°You people know more than the Royal Family,¡± I sighed. ¨¦tienne shook his head. ¡°The Scouts working for the Royal Guard are part of our community. We know as much as the Royal Family, and sometimes a bit later or a bit sooner.¡± ¡°Gordon didn''t mention any of this,¡± I pointed out. The old man nodded. ¡°That''s a King saving face,¡± he retorted. ¡°It''s embarrassing that things like this happen in this day and age. He did move his people around and found almost every single individual involved in it, so that''s a point for him in my eyes.¡± ¡°It''s a bit... discouraging to think the people I interact with might be targeted,¡± I admitted. ¨¦tienne placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°I''m sure it is, Your Excellency. We regular folk got your back, though.¡± I chuckled and nodded. ¡°Thanks again, ¨¦tienne.¡± 130 - Its lurking, everywhere, all the time. We moved on to checking the ores, spider web, and more while Bonte dismantled the nightmares. I also sold the trees I uprooted when I killed the Giganto Cyclops. Those were dirt cheap, though. ¡°We use hemp,¡± ¨¦tienne explained. ¡°Wood is... too troublesome to work with, and trees take too long to grow back. Depending on how much E''er a tree has absorbed, it''s also difficult to make anything out of it.¡± I nodded, looking at the five silver coins in my palm. Even though I gave the man a decent amount of large trees, the monetary return was absolutely not worth it. ¡°How about houses?¡± I inquired. ¡°Those are old,¡± the catman nearing the end of his 1900 years of life calmly explained. ¡°Everything made out of wood should be around five hundred thousand years old by now.¡± I hummed. ¡°What about-¡± ¡°Exceptions exist, naturally,¡± he interrupted me with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Right,¡± I muttered with a nod, choosing not to be pedantic. Bonte returned and told ¨¦tienne about the spiders. After a few minutes of checking and appraising the spoils, the two Tigeas reached an appropriate price. The old man handed the younger a bag of coins. Bonte took it, but ¨¦tienne didn''t let go. ¡°This might be the last time we see each other,¡± the old man sighed. ¡°I don''t have much time left.¡± My companion nodded. ¡°You did great things with your life, Grand master,¡± he told him with a smile. ¡°You helped spread Yvanna''s legacy, and ,more importantly, you were like a father to most of us.¡± ¨¦tienne took a deep breath. ¡°Don''t let your mother hear that,¡± he sighed. ¡°She tried once, you know?¡± Bonte laughed. ¡°Well, you''re a fine man,¡± he joked and patted his shoulder. ¡°Can''t say I blame her.¡± I blinked a few times. Ah, yes... hit me with the disconnect, why don''t you. ¨¦tienne chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Live good, Bonte,¡± he said and spread his arms. Bonte hugged him. ¡°Thank you for everything, Grand master.¡± ¡°You''re welcome, my boy,¡± he replied and patted his back. I nodded a few times. The two let go and the old man turned to me. I offered a hand. ¡°Thanks, ¨¦tienne.¡± He nodded and shook my hand. ¡°Take care of my boy, Your Excellency. He''s like a son to me.¡± I smiled and nodded. ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Good,¡± he whispered and released my hand. ¡°Take care yourself as well.¡± I nodded again. The old man looked at us and smiled. ¡°Well? Get out of here,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I''m not dying that soon.¡± Bonte laughed and turned around. ¡°Bye, old man.¡± I followed and we left the building. Out in the streets beneath Paarjo I looked at Bonte next to me. He didn''t seem sad about the inevitable death of his mentor. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. I remembered Yolin''s words. ¡°Death doesn''t have to be painful,¡± is what she said. ¡°You good?¡± I probed anyway, placing a hand on his shoulder. He turned to me with a confused face. ¡°About?¡± ¡°The inevitability of death,¡± I specified. Bonte smiled and patted my hand. ¡°All good. Life is a cycle, buddy.¡± I nodded and removed my hand. ¡°Alright, then,¡± I muttered and walked to the spot we left our mounts. We rode back to Split Tower while chatting. Bonte told me a bit about the time he spent as ¨¦tienne''s student. The man was strict, but not overly so. ¡°You see,¡± he retold from atop his Untu. ¡°The first test was to retrieve an object from the Thibault family. Undetected, unscathed, and more importantly, in the same day.¡± ¡°You were sent to steal?¡± I asked, a little surprised. He chuckled. ¡°No. The Thibault family was asked to prepare a few houses for us to go into. They had guards, enchantments, and traps set for us.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I nodded. ¡°Five houses were prepared,¡± he continued. ¡°But I got a specific item, so if I went to the wrong house... that''d be time wasted.¡± ¡°How did you complete the task, then?¡± I probed, interested in how Scouts are taught. He bit his lips and winced. ¡°It wasn''t my best moment, I admit,¡± he excused himself. ¡°I went there during lunch time and... made them think I was an orphan. They let me in and I nibbed the items. I left before they noticed since my item wasn''t there. I did the same thing until I found my objective.¡± ¡°Yikes,¡± I muttered. He nodded. ¡°This was over a century ago,¡± he explained. ¡°I was a kid. The Grand master praised me for my ability to trick people. He also scolded me for choosing an orphan as my disguise.¡± ¡°Well,¡± I started with a sigh. ¡°A ten year old doesn''t have the brightest ideas.¡± Bonte nodded in agreement. ¡°Didn''t they... appraise you?¡± I inquired. ¡°To see if you were a Scout?¡± He turned to me with a smile. ¡°It was the first test,¡± he explained. ¡°To see if they''d let you in. I hadn''t picked my path yet. If I failed there, I''d go to the Wizards next.¡± I gave him a dubious look. ¡°You don''t strike me as the Wizard type,¡± I commented. ¡°I''ll have you know I had quite the potential,¡± he chuckled. ¡°But that wasn''t for me. Being a shadow triumphs over controlling one.¡± I nodded, pretty impressed at his commitment to the bit. ¡°Don''t you control shadows, though?¡± ¡°Not like that,¡± he pointed out, then thought for a second. ¡°I don''t use shadows as a weapon. I used them on myself.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± I breathed in understanding. ¡°I see now. Does a... what was the name? Shadow Adaptor?¡± ¡°Shade Adept,¡± Bonte corrected me. I nodded. ¡°Yeah, that. Do they, like, cut things with it, or...?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. ¡°They can turn shadows into solid.¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°Isn''t shadow the absence of light?¡± His eyebrows scrunched up. ¡°Uh... obviously?¡± ¡°So... they.. manipulate light?¡± I tentatively asked. ¡°Well, am I a Shade Adept?¡± He asked with a chuckle. ¡°I don''t know the formula for it, but I know they do. Shadow to solid, gas, liquid sometimes. It''s a pretty cool class.¡± ¡°Not cool enough, I assume?¡± I joked. He giggled. ¡°Not at all. Besides, it''s like... the one Wizard Class that does that. The other shadow-related ones are pretty mid in my opinion.¡± I hummed. ¡°It''s better to strike from the shadows, then?¡± He nodded with a proud smile. ¡°You get it.¡± We continued chatting while riding through the underground streets of Paarjo, then went up a long set of stairs to the surface. The suns were nearing the horizon, and the clouds in the sky were painted orange and pink. They also looked fluffy, and a little heavy. ¡°Looks like rain,¡± Bonte muttered, looking up at the sky. ¡°In about twenty minutes.¡± ¡°You can tell that?¡± I inquired, a little surprised. He nodded. ¡°Naturally.¡± I nodded in approval. ¡°That''s a cool skill to have.¡± ¡°Want me to teach you?¡± He offered. I smiled and gave him a nod. ¡°That''d be awesome.¡± Bonte chuckled. ¡°We''ll have a lot of time after we leave Paarjo, and the trees will help a lot as well.¡± ¡°Thanks, bro,¡± I laughed and patted Sonya''s neck. Before we reached Split Tower, however, and just after twenty minutes, the skies decided to soak the world. 131 - Never stop learning. The both of us reached the apartment building absolutely drenched. Bonte wore a displeased expression. His fur stuck to his body and his ears pressed against his head to keep the water out. At one point he got an umbrella out to cover his mount''s head from the weather. I was smiling, enjoying the rain even though the water reached my asscrack. The water was a little warm, too. Sonya was just as always, the reptile not really caring about the weather. Her ears were the type that had a thick membrane as protection. We dismounted after going into the rest post on the ground floor and used towels to dry out mounts. Bonte took longer, the Untu being the size of a big car, though not as large as the Ratnak. I waited for him while I playing with my over-sized lizard. I checked her feet, her tail, the spikes on her head, and her butt. All was good. The booklet about Ratnaks insisted on checking the animal occasionally in case something got stuck between the scales that would require outside intervention. They were a healthy red and she had no issues when moving around, which meant the scales were flexible and durable. Still, a change of diet would be needed considering her increase in levels. I retrieved the booklet and looked for the pages that specified diet and scale healthcare. ¡°What the fuck is adamurin?¡± I muttered after reading a few lines. ¡°An alloy,¡± the catboy replied, using a towel to dry the larger cat. ¡°A mix of enchanted metals, more accurately.¡± I nodded. ¡°Is it expensive?¡± I inquired, looking at him. Bonte shook his head. ¡°Not really. You can get a dagger made of it for thirty silver,¡± he replied. ¡°Cheap.¡± ¡°How much would a one hundred gram ball cost?¡± I asked next, storing the booklet and running my hands through my hair to get rid of water. He looked at me, then at Sonya. He bit his lower lip and sucked air. ¡°Yeah, that''s gonna be a bit expensive.¡± ¨¦tienne sold them...¡± I sighed. ¡°Nah,¡± the catboy chuckled. ¡°That market only sells finished goods. You should go to a smithy,¡± he continued, drying the Untu''s paws. ¡°And if I''m not wrong, you should put a request for it.¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. ¡°How long would that take?¡± ¡°Not long if you pay the rushing fee,¡± he supplied. I slowly nodded, then looked around the rest post. Time to delegate, I thought, looking for the staff people. A few spots to the right, an Urkila Tigea was tending to an animal shaped like a dog with the outside of a porcupine. So, I walked over. The man noticed me and turned his head my way. ¡°Dear guest,¡± he greeted me with a nod while brushing the animal''s spines with a four pronged fork. ¡°How can I be of service?¡± [Canode, Lvl 139] I appraised the animal and turned to him. ¡°Sorry to bother you,¡± I started with a smile. The cat man returned the smile. ¡°Not at all,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Is there a place where I can ask someone to go buy something for me?¡± I inquired, retrieving a towel and wiping my face. ¡°I''ll be a bit busy in a minute and was wondering if such a service was available,¡± I explained. He nodded, stood up, and turned to face the inside of the building, where the concierge was sitting behind the counter. ¡°You can ask the concierge and they''ll send someone to fulfill your request,¡± he supplied, pointing at the Tigea in question. ¡°Right, thanks,¡± I told him, feeling a bit silly for not asking the concierge first. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Happy to help,¡± he added and went back to brushing the animal. I walked back to Sonya and turned to Bonte. ¡°I''ll go to the counter, be right back,¡± I informed him. He nodded and continued drying the Untu. I crossed the door towards the first ground of the hotel-like building and, in the instant before my foot touched the ground, changed my clothes to dry ones. The concierge noticed me and gave me an appreciative smile and nod. I waved and walked to her. ¡°Hi,¡± I greeted. ¡°Yes, dear guest?¡± She probed with a polite smile. I explained what I wanted and how fast I wanted it, then put a bag on the desk between us. It had 200 gold coins and the platinum plaque I got from Lady Dabrak in Riverfield inside, just in case it was more expensive than I thought. The concierge woman nodded. ¡°The latest will be ten in the morning, is that acceptable?¡± She inquired. I nodded. ¡°Thank you. By the way, we leave tomorrow,¡± I informed her. She nodded. ¡°Thank you for letting us know in advance.¡± I winced. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± I apologized. The concierge''s eyebrows knitted. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I forgot to inform you of our departure,¡± I specified. The woman blinked a few times. ¡°You did... just now,¡± she slowly said. My own eyebrows knitted. ¡°Yes, but I should have done it before, right?¡± The woman slowly nodded, understanding the situation. ¡°One day is more than enough to notify us, dear guest. Our policy is to inform us at least an hour before leaving. I believe the staff that received you should''ve said so.¡± I wasn''t paying attention, though, I thought, smiling at her. ¡°Right, I think I forgot the specifics. Apologies.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± the woman waved it away. ¡°I understand how busy a guest such as yourself can be. Your Excellency had pressing matters to deal with, after all.¡± I nodded. ¡°Can I pay now or should I when we leave?¡± The woman blinked again. ¡°Pay?¡± I tilted my head in absolute confusion. ¡°Yes... for our stay,¡± I slowly explained. ¡°Gentleman Alastor covered that as Minister of Higher Relations,¡± the concierge supplied. ¡°Was Your Excellency not informed?¡± I squinted my eyes, trying to remember. All that came back was me signing the registration, but no talk about paying for the lodging. ¡°I wasn''t,¡± I muttered. The woman''s smile tightened and she nodded. I smiled back and tapped the table twice to break the awkward silence. ¡°Anyway, thank you for taking my request.¡± She nodded. I turned around and saw Bonte walking into the reception hall. His fur was all puffed up and he let out a long sigh as he reached me. ¡°Let''s go, I need a proper dry,¡± he grumbled. I chuckled and walked up the stairs with him.
¡°...because of this, Pakh''Ilde thought there existed a sort of dimension separate from ours but linked to it in which knowledge exists,¡± Lapia lectured me about E''er, sitting across the dining table in the apartment. ¡°Through this dimension, stimuli travel and reach us, informing us of the effect our spells and skill have on our surroundings and other people. This theory would then be challenged by Hillis, a scholar rival of hers. Hillis opposed the existence of a different dimension in which stimuli traveled since the energy expenditure would be too high for us to not notice, and presented evidence of the lack of it. So, if stimuli does not go through a different dimension, and still reach us no matter our speed, location, and obstruction... how does it work?¡± The Elf gave me a look that suggested I had to think about it. Fucking hell, I sighed in my mind. And children learn this in school? I wondered in amazement. ¡°Thing is,¡± Lapia continued. ¡°Integration of skill is, to a certain extent, based on cold logic. If, say, your stats allow for you to run at the speed of sound, your mind understands the ramifications of that event because your skill allows for it to happen in the first place. If action A, facilitated by skill 1, allows B, then C is the logical outcome. In other words: If moving, facilitated by Charge, allows running faster than sound, then a sonic boom is the outcome. This, however, is not our minds filling a blank like when your brain adjusts depth perception when you lose an eye. It''s not biological, but logical in the mind space.¡± My eyebrow twitched. ¡°For example,¡± the Elf produced a sheet of paper and placed it on the table. ¡°If you run,¡± she drew an arrow on the paper, ¡°faster than sound,¡± she wrote above the line, ¡°and there is no sonic boom,¡± she crossed the end of the arrow. ¡°What would that mean?¡± ¡°That I''m not running faster than sound?¡± I tried. ¡°No, you are,¡± she corrected me. ¡°But not in air,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Why? Because our minds calculate that as well, and give proper feedback. If you run at 1500 kilometers an hour, in a medium in which sound can go at 2000 kilometers an hour, you would not be running faster than sound. See?¡± ¡°But then why would the input of faster than sound be there in the first place if it''s not the case?¡± I probed, understanding better. ¡°Because you are used to running faster than sound,¡± Lapia explained. ¡°That is your adaptation to circumstances that happen constantly. The fact you always break the sound barrier is ingrained in your mind because that''s what the skill does as a permanent consequence so far.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± I breathed out in understanding. ¡°And when there''s no sonic boom, I''ll be confused?¡± Lapia gave me a big smile. ¡°Precisely. Which is why understanding the existence of this feedback is important. And what we''ll be doing today.¡± I nodded. ¡°Okay, that sounds good.¡± 132 - A bit dramatic. We had dinner after my lesson with Lapia was done. Sauteed liver with onions, seaweed, potatoes, and mango. In one dish. I obliterated the meal to the point my plate looked like it had just come out of a dishwasher. It was a religious experience. Having taken the turn to cook, Bromisnar had a proud smile on his face across the table. I am marrying this man, I thought while contemplating the experience and looking at him. Or find the way to achieve immortality and keep him around for the rest of my life. While machinating a plan to acquire six pretty powerful pebbles spread across the cosmos to grant the Satyr eternal life, my stomach rumbled. Loudly. Bonte chuckled. ¡°That good, huh?¡± He teased. I nodded, stood up, and took my plate to the kitchen to get seconds. The sweet and bitter taste of the meal was just delightful. The caramelized onions did wonders, and the potatoes did a spectacular job to unite the flavors with a healthy- but not to overbearing- push from the mango. I finished the second serving before realizing, once again leaving me satisfied beyond reasonable levels. I faced a dilemma. On one hand, I wanted to learn how to cook the meal myself so I could look behind the veil of masterful artistry and reach a higher state of being simply by knowing how to. On the other hand, however, I wanted the mystery to go on. I wanted grandpa Nikolai to be real for a while longer. I knew what removing the layer of magic intrigue would do. What satisfying my selfish curiosity would lead me to. Would there be a point of no return? What would be next? What if... there was no ''next''? Am I ready to know such secrets of the universe? A simple individual such as myself has no right to check under the proverbial hood. To unravel the intricacies of such divine alchemy. Would I, like Nobel, create a monster in the pursuit of knowledge and progress? All it would take is one recipe. The power to rule the world... in the palm of my hand. Or more accurately, in my stomach. Lapia, who was sitting next to me, touched my shoulder. ¡°You okay?¡± She inquired after I kept quiet for a while. I nodded, not sure what to say. The words escaped me. Sure, Lapia was a Wizard Elf who understood the mechanical workings of the world. She had a solid understanding of E''er. Would she understand my plight, then? The desire to know... accompanied by the wish to simply stay ignorant and full of glee like a child that hides teeth under the pillow, fully believing the beautiful facade presented by cruel and heartless adults? Did Lapia, too, face the tragedy of knowing the truth? I felt my eyes sting a little. Why must the world be this cruel? Why is it that the two tragedies of life still exist in such a beautiful planet? The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Is this the wrath of the Gods? Is this the price of life? ¡°Could I get the recipe?¡± Alyssa brazenly requested, breaking all taboos civilized society has built in three million years of collective effort. ¡°This is really good,¡± she added with a smile, taking a bite. Bromisnar nodded. ¡°Sure,¡± the Satyr willingly replied, forsaking the secrets of the future generations'' success like it was a receipt one got at a grocery store, throwing it away like it had no value whatsoever. Tragedy was unfolding before my very eyes! Still, I could do nothing to prevent it. It was not in my hands to tempt the fates. Having crushed the hordes of Hell and brought down the beings of the Abyss gave me no power to interfere in the event that was taking place. No being in the universe had faced such moral predicaments, of that I was absolutely sure. Even if I were to ask Ivan Karamazov, he, in his so-called endlessly brilliant mind, would find himself short for words, and his cynicism would only grow as a result. Or perhaps he''d give me a 30 page-long speech on why it was happening. Still, I doubt even he could give me a proper answer on what to do, even after rationalizing the events. Would Nietzsche, the Pope, or even Dalai Lama know how to advice me in this situation? I bet Vergil would know. ...Still, I listened to the recipe. Just in case.
After such a rollercoaster of emotions, it was time for Alyssa''s lesson. Elena did the dishes and the rest retreated to do their own thing. Bromisnar the ever brilliant sat in the living room playing his lute, the mastermind not satisfied with having blown my taste buds. The Luzo sat in front of me across the table and produced a thick book. ¡°Today we''ll go over the cultural implications of good and evil in the world,¡± she announced, opening the text. I nodded and retrieved a notebook from my storage and a pencil. ¡°Alright.¡± She eyed my tools and raised an eyebrow. ¡°You don''t need to take notes,¡± she told me. ¡°Just understanding is enough.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I muttered and stored the items. ¡°Now,¡± Alyssa started, looking me in the eye. ¡°Unlike the last time we tackled good and evil, this is not a discussion, but a revision of what once was.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± I replied. ¡°We''ll start with the first Dragons, my ancestors,¡± my girlfriend continued, flipping a few pages. ¡°They saw evil in weakness. They believed that those who were weak presented no benefit to their society, and instead would cause its downfall. Thus, evil.¡± I nodded. ¡°Back then, the strongest Dragon, who so happened to be a Storm Dragon at the time,¡± she started, a small smile on her lips. ¡°Gathered the strongest members to cleanse their species of evil.¡± Oh no, I thought. Genocide, really? ¡°Weakness, you see, is something that can be changed,¡± Alyssa lectured. ¡°Spiritual weakness, emotional weakness, physical weakness, mental weakness, and most important of all, social weakness. When society is weak in these aspects, it can''t flourish. Spiritual weakness means they do not regard the teachings of the Gods with due respect. Emotional weakness means they can''t relate to others when it comes to individual struggle. Physical weakness means they can''t protect themselves or others from the dangers that existed back then. This was... more excusable since Halves exist, but paramount to prove themselves independent as individuals separate from each other and as a group when dealing with the world at large. Mental weakness means they cannot face challenges that demanded them be competent. Social weakness meant they had trouble when living with others and forming the society they desired.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I nodded. ¡°By erasing these weaknesses, the Dragons found themselves at the peak of mortal prowess,¡± Alyssa explained, then smiled. ¡°Right below Halves. As one of the first societies, Dragons had no concept of currency, privacy, written language, and geographical limitation to call home. They roamed the world in order to gather other species awakened by Danuva that fit their description of evil, and guide them to the nine-tailed foxes in order to further spread the teachings of the Gods.¡± Pretty good ones, I thought with a smile. A bit too passionate, though. ¡°The belief that evil is that which will cause the dawnfall of society began with them,¡± Alyssa continued. ¡°This was picked up by nine-tailed foxes, but differently. They believed ignorance was evil. There is a separation from Dragons since... well, they''re pretty big. Physical prowess was not a priority to foxes for obvious reasons. They believed that, in order to advance society, an understanding of the world was to be achieved. A deep one. Here comes the first wave of individuals separating from the group as a whole through the acquisition of a class, which would then become a second identity through which micro-societies would form.¡± This is going to be a long one, I thought with a nod. 133 - Departures are not as impactful sometimes. (Slight 18+) After my lesson with Alyssa, I started drawing on my sketchbook. Nothing specific, just posture doodles and stuff. I doubted the muscle memory would go away now that I''m objectively better than a Human in all aspects. Still, it''s a fun thing to do anyway. The Luzo got a book out and started reading. Like that, the two of us enjoyed the silence. I stretched a hand towards her. She did the same and locked fingers with mine. This is nice, I thought with a smile. Her scaly fingers felt warm and comforting. The soft underside felt good against my skin. ¡°Alyssa,¡± I started, remembering something. ¡°Yeah?¡± She replied, still reading. ¡°Do you remember Clara? The Human that introduced us?¡± I probed, looking up at her. She nodded. ¡°I do,¡± she confirmed and met my gaze. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Earlier, when I went out with Bonte, I heard she was held at blade point to spill information about me,¡± I told her. Alyssa''s eyes narrowed a little at that. ¡°Held at blade point?¡± She repeated. I nodded in confirmation. She slowly nodded. ¡°Who told you that?¡± She inquired. ¡°Bonte''s former mentor, tienne Bonnot is his name,¡± I informed her. ¡°I see,¡± she muttered, then looked down at the table. I gently squeezed her hand. ¡°I''m sorry, Alyssa.¡± The woman looked up at me and arched a scaly eyebrow. ¡°What about?¡± ¡°You know...¡± I started, a little confused with her reaction. ¡°Her being threatened...¡± ¡°Did you do it?¡± Alyssa interrupted me. ¡°No...?¡± I tentatively replied, a bit more confused. ¡°Was she killed?¡± She asked next. ¡°Not to my knowledge, no,¡± I answered. Alyssa shrugged. ¡°Then why be sorry? She''s alive and you had nothing to do with it. It sucks, sure, but you have nothing to apologize for.¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, but... you know-¡± I started. ¡°People know what it means to get involved with a Halve, Natasha,¡± Alyssa sighed, interrupting me again. ¡°If you take responsibility for what happens to others you''re also taking their autonomy away. I get that you might feel guilty, but... that''s not a healthy thing to do.¡± I slowly nodded. ¡°I just wanted to let you know,¡± I chuckled. ¡°And thought it''d be a good thing if I said I was sorry. It''s not that deep, Alyssa,¡± I assured her with a shake of my head. She sighed and looked at her free hand. ¡°Yeah... my bad,¡± she muttered. I caressed her hand. ¡°It''s okay,¡± I comforted her with a smile. ¡°Mhm,¡± she hummed and continued reading her book. I looked down and went back to drawing Queen Josalia. I guess that''s it, then, I thought and mentally shrugged. One of the feline ears on top of her head was a bit off, so I relaxed my fingers around Alyssa''s to free my hand. My girlfriend tightened her grasp on my digits. I looked up at her. She was still looking at the book, but her eyes weren''t moving. I guess that''s not it, then, I concluded and held her hand again, a bit firmer than before. Alyssa blinked and continued reading. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
A few minutes passed by and, when I was finishing up the drawings, Alyssa started scratching my palm. I smiled and flipped the page of my sketchbook. The Luzo moved her fingers and started rubbing my hand with her index fingertip. She drew a circle, then went from side to side, then up and down while pressing harder when going down. My eyebrows slowly climbed my forehead. Is this... what I think it is? I wondered and looked up at her, not sure if the gesture had the same meaning on Galeia. She was looking at me, but averted her gaze before our eyes met. Her cheeks turned a darker shade of purple and her lips curled into a tiny smile. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± I chuckled and stored my stuff. Alyssa''s eyes stopped moving again, just staring at the book in her hand. I stood up and walked to the bedroom. Come, I sent to her through the Bond and crossed the threshold. Lapia and Yolin were laying on the bed, making out... which was a surprise to nobody to be quite honest. The Oni was on top, hands all over our girlfriend. I smiled and went into the bathroom, undressed and turned the shower on. Alyssa showed up before I stepped under the waterfall, got naked, and hugged me. Her tail wrapped around us and she pressed us together. ¡°Someone''s in a rush,¡± I teased her, running my hands down her scaly back. She kissed my chest and grabbed my ass. ¡°You were so hot today,¡± she breathed, running her tongue around my nipples. ¡°When you froze everyone in fear... Natasha, I got super wet!¡± My eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Here, check for yourself,¡± she suggested while looking me in the eye, then took my right hand to her crotch. My fingers touched her labia and slipped at the amount of lubrication. ¡°Wow,¡± I uttered, unable to construct complex sentences. Alyssa giggled, moved her kisses to my neck, and her hands to my genitals. She wrapped her fingers around my cock and started slowly stroking while her other hand went for my pussy. ¡°You like that, Queen?¡± She whispered into my ear with hot breaths. At the sign she was going full throttle, I responded kindly. ¡°I love it, princess,¡± I replied. ¡°Now, back to the wall,¡± I told her, using my most convincing commanding tone. She let go of me and did as told. Her eyes were glassy with excitement and her breathing was fast. ¡°Good,¡± I praised with a nod. ¡°Now, stay like that,¡± I instructed and went down on my knees, facing her pussy. ¡°Your Queen will make you feel really good, but you have to keep quiet.¡± Alyssa''s eyes widened and she nodded, face flushing deep purple. ¡°If you make a single sound... well, I''ll have to punish you,¡± I bullshitted with a serious face, not exactly knowing what constituted as punishment in that scenario. Alyssa gulped and nodded. I noticed she didn''t reply with words, which made sense for a 104 years old woman with such a kink. And so, I gave it to her to the best of my ability. For about two hours.
The next morning, we got ready to leave Paarjo. Fortunately, delivery services work as advertised. The new bags of feed I requested from the concierge was waiting for me when we went down the stairs. Anette, Rinald, and Agnes arrived just in time to see us off. Alastor Lafin, Duke and Minister of Higher Relations accompanied them since it was the point of his position. We made our way to the closest levator without much fanfare. ¡°We apologize once again, Your Excellency,¡± Rinald repeated for the fifth time, sitting next to me in the carriage. ¡°My Royal Father is busy this morning, he teaches orphans who''ll become merchants. My Royal Mother is busy with the group that conspired against the crown.¡± I nodded. ¡°I got it the first time,¡± I insisted with a smile. ¡°Teaching kids is more important, truth be told. And that business of your mom is pretty serious.¡± Annette smiled and nodded. ¡°We appreciate your understanding.¡± ¡°Well, if you did you''d let it go already,¡± I muttered with a chuckle. ¡°Like, I get it and all... Just chill, you know?¡± The three Royal children ¨C who were all older than me by centuries ¨C nodded. ¡°I sincerely hope Your Excellency found the city up to expectations,¡± Agnes chimed in with a smile. This one gets it, I thought, thanking every star in the cosmos for the fact she wasn''t bringing up our first meeting. ¡°Beautiful city,¡± I praised. ¡°I wish I could stay longer, but you know... busy life.¡± ¡°I can''t express how thankful I.. we are that you came to our aid, Your Excellency,¡± Rinald repeated for the third time. ¡°Although ours is a relatively small country, you have our full support should anything come up.¡± ¡°I''ll keep it in mind,¡± I replied with a nod and saw the plaza next to the levator through the window. ¡°And please make my next visit one of relaxation,¡± I joked. The three gulped and nodded. I looked each for a few seconds, then nudged Rinald''s shoulder. ¡°I was joking!¡± I laughed. Annette chuckled, Agnes smiled awkwardly, and Rinald nodded. Fucking hell, I sighed in my mind. ¡°Well, this is it,¡± I muttered and opened the carriage door. ¡°I can''t promise when I''ll be back, but I''ll make an effort to,¡± I told them and offered a hand. Rinald smiled and shook it. ¡°Let''s hope it''s for relaxation purposes,¡± he used my joke on me. ¡°Ahh!¡± I pointed at him and laughed. ¡°See, you got it.¡± Agnes and Annette laughed at their brother''s words. I got off the vehicle and gave them a nod. ¡°Have a great life, you three. Tell your dad to chill on the workload. Tell your mom I said thanks. And send my best wishes to your siblings.¡± The three nodded and replied similar words of farewell. I turned around and faced Alastor. After a boring official talk about saving monarchs and how valuable and important my actions were, the man let me go. Fucking finally, I groaned in my mind, stepping into the platform of death. A Watcher joined us and the levator began its descent. I closed my eyes and checked my Bond with Pyotr. It pointed north. Very far away. I nodded and sighed. Was pretty good, I concluded. A shame I was too busy to visit a church and read everyday like I initially wanted, but yeah. Life is a bit busier than I thought. When the platform touched ground, I opened my eyes and gave Paarjo a last glance before mounting Sonya and taking off. To meet the Gods. 134 - Poko and Nasha bond a bit. We left the valley over which Paarjo floated a few hours after departure, and entered the thick forests. The path was some thirty meters wide and lined with vegetation on both sides. The group moved with leisure, and conversation bounced between us. Hanna, our newest member, was riding a Bhin. The Ork looked was looking to the sides and back every few minutes, probably to check if we were followed. I shrugged and took a more comfortable position, leaning my back on Sonya''s neck and my hands behind my head. Pokora gave me a glance and chuckled. ¡°It''s a long trip,¡± I justified my behavior and closed my eyes. ¡°True,¡± she muttered and returned to her conversation with Yolin next to her. The sound of the wind rustling the trees was comfortable, and the wet sounds coming from the muddy ground as the mounts stepped on it was relaxing. I decided to sunbathe and changed my clothes to a two piece swimsuit. It was a lazy day so far, so I took the opportunity to be lazy as well. Naturally, I did my best to not fall asleep even though it was super cozy.
Night came and we made a small camp to spend the night. ¡°I''ll keep watch,¡± I announced after dinner. No complaints were cast, and the rest went inside their tents. Pokora, however, stayed with me. She took her chair and brought it next to me, then sat down. ¡°This climate is too humid,¡± she complained and sighed. ¡°Is it?¡± I inquired, looking at her. Her dull silver eyes met mine and she nodded. ¡°It''s drier back home,¡± she supplied. ¡°Usually under fifty percent.¡± I slowly nodded. ¡°Haven''t noticed that, to be honest,¡± I pointed out. ¡°You don''t get all sticky?¡± Pokora probed, raising her eyebrows. ¡°Nope,¡± I replied with a shake of my head. ¡°You do?¡± ¡°My underwear feels like second skin,¡± she overshared with an annoyed huff. ¡°Feels tropical around here.¡± ¡°Want a swimsuit?¡± I offered, gesturing at myself and the two piece I was still wearing. ¡°I have lots.¡± She stared at me for a few seconds, then smiled. ¡°Is this your strategy to see me nakey?¡± I rolled my eyes and sighed. ¡°Strategy to see you nakey?¡± I repeated. ¡°How horny are you?¡± Pokora bit her lips and smiled. ¡°A lot, actually,¡± she replied, blushing. ¡°This is so embarrassing, but whatever. I need to talk about this.¡± She turned to me and looked me in the eye. ¡°I dream of Yolin fucking me.¡± My eyes widened a little, and my eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°And it''s not just her,¡± she continued, her face turning redder. ¡°It''s you, Lapia, Alyssa, Elena, Thelea, Bromisnar, Bonte, Hanna, the fucking King...¡± she sighed and shook her head. ¡°It''s like... if they breathe, I''d breed.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered, a little concerned. ¡°Yeah,¡± she let out along sigh and looked away. ¡°It''s... not even funny how everything anyone does is somehow sensual...¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°A part of me feels a little guilty with all the sexualization of others and shit,¡± she continued, running her hands through her hair. ¡°But a bigger, much bigger part of me finds it fucking thrilling. Almost like a drug I can''t get enough of.¡± ¡°Fucking hell,¡± I sighed and looked down at me. ¡°Would you be more comfortable if I wore a shirt?¡± She chuckled. ¡°Honestly? I''d feel guilty because the entire fucking point is to not make others uncomfortable...¡± she sighed and hesitated for a second. ¡°And if you put a shirt on, it''d be... disappointing in a weird way. And that makes me feel like a degenerate.¡± ¡°Well... don''t,¡± I said with a shrug. ¡°I don''t mind, you can look all you want, Pokora.¡± Stolen novel; please report. She looked at me and squinted her eyes. ¡°For real?¡± ¡°We''re both adults,¡± I pointed out. Pokora closed her eyes and leaned back on the chair. ¡°I just... got this intrusive thought of hoping for something...¡± she groaned. ¡°Something sexual?¡± I asked for clarification. She nodded, not opening her eyes. ¡°I see,¡± I muttered with a nod. ¡°Wanna change subjects?¡± ¡°Please,¡± she whispered. I looked around the little camp we set up while I thought of something. The tents were ten meters away from us, and the conversation had been mostly on the quiet side. My glow illuminated the space, aided by a flame Lapia had set on the ground. A pot floated above it, somehow not affected by the heat due to the Elf''s control of the element. It was easy to understand for the most part. The woman struggling to deal with her hormones had produced the chairs we used. They were the kind that folded, basically fabric and metal sticks. Elena had taken control over the insects around the camp, staying a good distance away. Our mounts were chilling behind me and Pokora, and some were sleeping already. ¡°I was allergic to makeup,¡± I chose a subject. Pokora looked at me and arched an eyebrow. ¡°My dad bought me one of those kits when I was 15,¡± I chuckled at the memory. ¡°You know, the ones with the brush thing and the circles with powdery shit?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yeah, I remember those.¡± ¡°I put some on and went out with my boyfriend at the time,¡± I retold. ¡°He was surprised and complimented me. We went to watch a movie that day, and when the credits rolled we kissed.¡± I shook my head and sighed. ¡°My lips and cheeks had gotten all fucked up. He panicked and called my dad, who thought he had hit me.¡± Pokora''s eyes widened. ¡°No way...¡± I nodded. ¡°It was a shitshow,¡± I chuckled. ¡°My dad grew up during the Soviet Union, and... well... he wasn''t someone you''d want to fuck with. But he listened to me and calmed down. He scheduled an appointment with some doctor and I was told I was allergic to the stuff that made makeup non-allergic or some shit...¡± I sighed. ¡°I don''t know the name in English.¡± ¡°Hypoallergenic,¡± Pokora supplied. ¡°That''s... ironic.¡± I nodded. ¡°Yep. ''Safer'' makeup was made later but I had lost interest by then,¡± I recalled. ¡°So I never used it.¡± ¡°You didn''t miss much,¡± Pokora commented. ¡°That just clogged your pores and dried your skin unless you got the good stuff that was stupidly expensive.¡± ¡°True,¡± I chuckled. ¡°I had girlfriends that wore, though. I couldn''t kiss them when they did, so that made me dislike makeup even more.¡± ¡°That''s understandable,¡± she agreed, then thought for a while. I waited for her to change the subject, looking around the camp. ¡°I don''t mean to be rude and all,¡± she started, giving me an apologetic look. ¡°But you mentioned the Soviet Union and I was wondering...was it as bad as people said it was?¡± I smiled and nodded. ¡°My grandfather, my dad''s dad, was born in a gulag,¡± I told her. Pokora bit her lips and the blush on her face vanished in an instant. ¡°Natasha.. I didn''t mean to...¡± ¡°It''s okay,¡± I waved it away. ¡°I''m an adult, and honestly don''t care about that anymore.¡± She nodded, but her face said she wanted to ask about it. ¡°You see,¡± I started with a sigh. ¡°My grandfather''s father was a shoemaker who got in trouble with an officer. Someone broke into his store and stole the officer''s shoes, so the officer took it out on him and said he had western propaganda in his store. And off he went, along with his pregnant wife and eleven year old daughter. My grandfather was taken away shortly after being born and sent to an orphanage. He then met the wrong people and ended up working for a...¡± I squinted my eyes trying to remember. ¡°It''s like a gangster, but not quite,¡± I explained. ¡°Like a gopnik?¡± Pokora asked with an odd spark in her eyes. ¡° ¡° ¡° The Elf nodded. ¡°Is that why you''re so jaded?¡± She probed. I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°Jaded?¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° I chuckled. ¡°That''s a whole different story,¡± I sighed. ¡°But enough with the pity party. Are you still horny?¡± Pokora facepalmed and sighed. ¡°Really?!¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° And so, we spend the rest of the night chatting about less serious topics. 135 - People used to magic are oddly demanding when it comes to suspension of disbelief. 1 week later. We sat around a fire in the forest, each of us with a sheet of paper and a set of dice Lapia helped me make. The Elf''s space spells were surprisingly good to make things symmetrical down to the millimeter. To kill time, I came up with the idea to play a little tabletop role-playing game. It seemed fitting since magic was a norm to them, but I didn''t quite expect the shit I would get. As it was their first session, I set up an easy first encounter for them to familiarize with the system. ¡°You open the heavy door of this run-down place and discover what seems to be a manor,¡± I narrated, taking the role of the dungeon master. ¡°The inside is surprisingly well kept, almost like a noble family''s house in a big city.¡± They nodded. ¡°Roll for perception,¡± I announced. ¡°With disadvantage.¡± ¡°What does disadvantage mean?¡± Lapia inquired. ¡°Roll the 20 sided die two times, and pick the lowest of the two,¡± I explained. The Elf sighed, but nodded. ¡°Why can''t we just... look around?¡± Alyssa probed with confusion. ¡°I don''t understand why I need to roll a die if we''re using our eyes.¡± I nodded. ¡°Because you might notice something the others don''t,¡± I explained. The Luzo sighed and cast her die. ¡°I don''t get it, but sure,¡± she muttered. ¡°I got a 1,¡± Bonte announced. ¡°What does that mean?¡± I bit my lips and held back a laugh. ¡°That''s... critical failure...¡± I explained. ¡°You look around the place, but dust comes off the ceiling and falls on your face. It stings your eyes and you unconsciously close them, and you can''t see with your left eye for a while.¡± ¡°Argh!¡± He covered an eye with a hand and groaned. ¡°My eye!¡± ¡°I got a 12,¡± Elena supplied. ¡°The first was a 20, though,¡± she lamented. I nodded. ¡°You notice the shadows cast by a chandelier above move unnaturally, but you''re not sure why,¡± I told her. ¡°Also, you notice a door to your right.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Lapia interjected. ¡°There''s something in the shadows.¡± I shook my head. ¡°No, no... Only Elena knows that information, and unless she shares it, you don''t know it.¡± My girlfriend''s eyebrows went up and her eyes squinted. ¡°But I just heard you,¡± she argued. I took a deep breath. ¡°Yes, but your character in the game didn''t.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± she uttered in understanding. ¡°This is surprisingly complicated.¡± ¡°I got a 5,¡± Bromisnar announced. I looked at him. ¡°It''s a perfectly regular manor,¡± I told him. He hung his head in disappointment. ¡°Nineteen,¡± Pokora announced. I turned to her with raised eyebrows. ¡°Did you roll twice?¡± The Archer nodded. ¡°A 20 and a 19,¡± she supplied. ¡°Cool,¡± I muttered and looked at the paper in my hands. ¡°Your Elvish eyes reveal a pouch-shaped object laying on the floor some ten meters away from you, from which shadows emerge. It looks mad sketchy. Also, you see a trapdoor right in front of you.¡± She nodded. The others looked at her. She shrugged with a smirk. ¡°Looks normal to me,¡± she chuckled. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°10,¡± Lapia groaned. ¡°This is the most average manor you have ever seen,¡± I told her. ¡°Looks abandoned to you.¡± Hanna, Thelea, and Yolin failed to see anything new. Elena shared the information she gathered, but Pokora chose to keep quiet. Thelea, who stubbornly refused to play anything other than a barbarian, walked ahead of the group. ¡°Okay,¡± I spoke up. ¡° Thelea. You step on a hidden trapdoor, activating the thing. You only have one option since the trap is silent, you can try to grab the edge to prevent your fall.¡± The Goliath sighed. ¡°Sure, I''ll do that.¡± I nodded. ¡°Throw the 20 sided die, please. I''ll set the difficulty to 8. Anything higher than that and you successfully prevent your fall.¡± She nodded and cast the die on her shield. ¡°14,¡± she announced with a smile. ¡°Nice,¡± I said. ¡°You are now hanging off the edge.¡± ¡°Help,¡± the Goliath ''called out'', giving Pokora the stink eye. Bromisnar, who was playing a Goblin Rogue, spoke up. ¡°I rush to her and try pulling her up.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Yolin added. I nodded. ¡°Bromisnar, roll a strength check... and considering Thelea is a Goliath in game as well, it needs to be over 12, but you''re being helped by Yolin, so add a 2 to whatever you get.¡± ¡°This is harsh,¡± Elena sighed. The rest nodded. ¡°I don''t want to die this soon,¡± Thelea complained. I bit my lips. ¡°If only someone told us about the trap,¡± Alyssa commented, looking at Pokora. The Archer smiled. ¡°I have no idea what you''re talking about,¡± she chuckled. ¡°What''s a strength check?¡± Bromisnar asked. ¡°Roll the 20 sided die, then add or subtract your strength modifier,¡± I told him. ¡°It should be next to it on your sheet.¡± The man gave the paper a look and nodded. ¡°Uff...¡± he uttered and threw the die. ¡°Thirteen total.¡± Thelea sighed in relief. __ ¡°You reach the kitchens, and are greeted by a shady figure,¡± I narrated, the party having reached the room of the bad monster. ¡°What looks to be a bag to store potatoes has shadowy limbs and an overgrown potato as a head that holds two white eyes. It looks at you and says,¡± I lowered my voice two full octaves, ¡°The living are not welcome in my master''s domain!¡± I grumbled and returned to my normal voice. ¡°Roll for initiative with the 20 sided die.¡± My companions rolled their dice with excitement in their eyes. Hanna was first, then Thelea, then the monster, then Elena, then Pokora, then Bonte, then Alyssa, then Yolin, then Bromisnar, and finally Lapia. ¡°I cast,¡± she started, then gave her character sheet a look. ¡°Mah-jeek missile.¡± I nodded. ¡°Roll to see if it hits,¡± I told her. There was a short silence. ¡°What?¡± Lapia spoke up. ¡°You roll to see if it hits? Why?¡± I rubbed my forehead. ¡°Because it''s a game, not real life,¡± I replied, looking at her. ¡°You can miss an attack even if the target is right in front of you.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°That makes no sense whatsoever. How can a spell miss if the target is not moving, and even then what kind of Wizard doesn''t add a following effect to their spells?¡± The actual Wizard pointed out. ¡°You can''t convinced me that someone who spent at least a decade of their life to learn a spell doesn''t make sure it will hit 99% of the time...¡± ¡°What happens if I roll a 1?¡± the Ork inquired, looking at the die in her hand. I sighed. ¡°The spell misfires... or fizzles out.¡± Lapia''s eyes widened. ¡°Excuse me? A Wizard whose spell misfires is not a Wizard at all! They''d be given extracurricular lessons to prevent them from dying!¡± the Wizard teacher argued. ¡°They won''t be allowed to leave unless they can cast 10 spells under an hour without mistakes!¡± I nodded. ¡°This game is in a different universe, Lapia,¡± I explained. ¡°With different universal rules and laws. That''s... kind of the point of it.¡± My girlfriend sighed and shook her head. ¡°Alright,¡± she muttered. ¡°I got a 12,¡± Hanna interjected. I checked my sheet and nodded. ¡°It hits, now roll for damage.¡± Lapia sighed loudly in disbelief, but didn''t say anything. The game continued, but was constantly interrupted whenever a spell or action required a die and one of my companions who used such action or spell in their daily life shared their thoughts about how silly it was. ¡°How can I miss?¡± Thelea demanded. ¡°I''m standing behind the monster. Within arm''s reach! My weapon is bigger than the thing...¡± ¡°Sound can miss?¡± Alyssa, who was playing a bard, demanded. ¡°How does that make any sense? It''s sound!¡± Bromisnar joined with a nod. ¡°Highly unlikely,¡± was his criticism. ¡°We can speak normally without rolling, but it''s necessary for this?¡± My patience was running thin by the time they killed the monster, which took longer than expected due to shit luck. ¡°Well, that''s it for tonight,¡± I closed the session, feeling a bit angry. ¡°I''ll go fuck off,¡± I muttered and went directly into my tent. 136 - There is one type of person that gets a Halves respect. I produced a person-shaped sleeping bag and went to sleep with angry thoughts. My girlfriends tried talking to me but I knew better than to engage when I''m fuming, so I ignored them like a spoiled little shit. The next morning came and I did my own thing. I washed by myself and ate breakfast by myself. Fucking... I grumbled, walking around the camp. Tried to make a fun little activity and got torn to fucking shreds. The suns bathed the world in their light while I fed Sonya. A distant croak caught my attention and I saw a black bird flying towards me between the trees. Pyotr came down and landed on the Ratnak''s back. ¡°Letters! Delivered!¡± he announced with a few small nods, then offered his left leg where a few letters were tied together. ¡°New! Letters!¡± I absentmindedly nodded and took the mail. ¡°All good?¡± ¡°Oni. Woman. Loud!¡± he croaked and shivered, rustling his feathers. ¡°Luzo. Mean! Try. Take. Letters. I. Fight. Successful. Delivery.¡± I stared at Pyotr. ¡°You didn''t kill anyone, right?¡± ¡°I. Took. Eyes. Only!¡± he informed. ¡°Brutal,¡± I muttered and produced meat, then offered it. ¡°Good boy.¡± The bird took it with his beak and started eating. I checked the letters in the meantime. There were six in total. Nilenna and Miraztor wrote back so I checked those first. ''Lil'' sis, Call me big sis! Calling me Nilenna feels cold. I know we''re not blood related, but there''s so few of us in the world! Elena''s matter is unfortunate, and brings up more questions while explaining a few things. Big sis Yulianna introduced her to me over a thousand years ago. I sent a few letters her way, but had no response. If she was mind-controlled, how come Yulianna didn''t aid her? Did the Bond cut off, informing Yulianna Elena was in danger? If the Bond did not cut off, does Elena know where Yulianna is? Did the Bond cut off, making Yulianna think Elena had died? Is that why she hasn''t showed up? Did big sis Yulianna, in her deep grief, descend even deeper because of that? Did Yulianna and Elena plan on having her be mind-controlled to infiltrate into whatever group would do such a thing? So many questions. Big sis Yulianna is a master of E''er, so circumventing her spells and enchantments is a fool''s errand. I would recommend finding a person not bonded to a Halve and taking Elena''s items away, but the enchantments may not activate if you''re nearby. I''ll say it right away: the Halve conditional used in spells is an unknown to the world. We''ve made sure it stays that way for obvious reasons. You''ll understand why when they try to discover it again. The memory loss sounds problematic, and I''ll explain a few things to you. The newspaper mentioned Alyssa Pruvik having joined you. She had a bit of a reputation among Chasers for being an excellent healer. Cardinals can heal all mortal species, hence the name of the Class. You telling me Elena needs help from Danuva means Alyssa can''t heal her, which means that the memory loss is the result of something abnormal. You said Elena''s memory loss is a result of your actions. This lead me to the conclusion that you did something only Danuva or Miraztor can fix... and I hope you didn''t mention that to nobody but those close to you. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. I understand if you do not wish to tell me the specifics, but be mindful of who knows. Information is crucial, after all. About the Demon. Good job! They had a bit of a rough time coming here and, as any living being, some make mistakes that can''t be overlooked for the greater good. I hope this encounter didn''t form a bad image of them in your mind. The great majority live their lives just like any other mortal, and as protectors of the world, it is our responsibility to ensure their overall prosperity and keep them in check. If mortals know of an outsider species causing trouble, you can imagine the rest. Please let me know how Gordon reacted. A King''s actions can have greater consequences than a lone Demon. If it comes down to a systematic persecution, we''ll have to intervene. Your kind words fill me with determination, little sister! My heart squeezes with joy! Your suggestion is sound, little sister. My next stop is the mines of Tolona, where Perculis was first seen. Please let me know of any progress you make in regards to Elena. If Yulianna shows up, be kind to her. Also, knock her out if you can. A solid punch to the nose should do the trick. Our duty is greater than our personal lives, and she should see to the consequences of disappearing for 300 years! In the subject of kicking ass, you won''t be able to sit for a century after we play Galeian Armory. My deck has been curated for a thousand years by now. You stand no chance. I will clap your cheeks like Boris does mine! Tight hugs, Nilenna Atarka.¡± I chuckled and noticed the anger had lessened a good amount. "A bit yikes, and I think I fucked up a bit," I muttered. Miraztor''s letter was next. ''Salutations, Junior Novak. When it comes to the attempt at my life, it hardly can be called that if I am to be completely honest with you. It was a rudimentary and honestly quite mediocre affair. I found myself ambushed by a group of audacious Changelings who tried to poison and curse me. It was bound to fail, naturally. I expeditiously disarmed them and brought them to the pertinent authorities. One of my companions at the time tried to remove them from this realm of living, but I talked sense into him. You see, my Junior, violence begets violence. The mortal species have enough on their plate and it is below us to respond like primal animals. The only way to truly kill an opponent is to change their minds and eliminate their past self. Physical violence has no place in civilized discourse, and to treat a person like a monster is morally reprehensible. I have no enmity towards Changelings. They have had their fair share of tribulations, and you don''t strike a child for misbehaving. You nurture them and raise them to be competent and independent. Wishing you the best, Miraztor X., your Elder. PS: Good job on Lumin Kingdom. Swift, clean, and precise.'' I shook my head and stored the two letters. ¡°So he''s a pacifist or something?¡± I wondered. The next letter made my heart stop for a second. It was a red envelope with black writing. It read ''To Her Excellency Natasha Novak'' on one side, and the other had ''From Yolin''s Mother'' on the other. I bit my lower lip and checked the others. Yolin''s parents had written back, and had sent a letter for their daughter and one for me. I''m a grown ass woman, I mumbled in my mind. I don''t need to be nervous about some thousand year old parent who may or may not agree to their daughter''s relationship with one of the most dangerous beings on the planet who may or may not put them in dangers no average mortal has faced before. No reason at all. In truth, I was a little nervous. 137 - She just like me fr. To muster up the courage to read the letter from my girlfriend''s parent, I sang a stupid little song. ¡°Hail Mary full of grace, smack the bitch in the face. Take her gucci bag and the north face off her back. Jab her if she act,¡± I mumbled. Sonya turned her head to me and let out a confused growl, then bumped my chest with her forehead. ¡°Yeah,¡± I chuckled, rubbing her chin. ¡°Maybe robbing the mother of Jesus is not the best idea. Still, interesting that she has expensive clothes and accessories considering the canon lore.¡± Pyotr joined Sonya in looking at me. He turned his head to the side and laughed like a seagull. I looked at him, raised an eyebrow, and questioned, ¡°Anyway, you said a Luzo tried to steal the letters?¡± The Corvitex nodded. ¡°Five!¡± he croaked. ¡°I. Sleep. Luzo. Ambush.¡± I nodded. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°North. Small. Island.¡± he replied. I pulled out a map of the world and showed it to him. ¡°Show me,¡± I told him. The bird pecked a spot in the middle of the sea between the three continents. ¡°Around.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered. ¡°And where is Miraztor?¡± The bird turned his head and pecked the northern coast of Patuk. ¡°And Nilenna?¡± I probed. He pecked the western coast of Makah, around the middle of the continent. My eyebrows climbed my forehead in surprise. ¡°You fly pretty fast,¡± I commented. Pyotr nodded. ¡°Sis. Made. Sure!¡± I looked at the map and spent a few minutes calculating the distance. I bit my lips when I reached the answer. ¡°You covered a bit over 100.000 kilometers in two weeks?¡± The bird nodded. ¡°One. Hundred. Four. Teen. Thousand. Seven. Hundred. Forty. Two.¡± he croaked and pecked Sonya''s scales. ¡°Six. Days. Total.¡± ¡°Holy shit...¡± I breathed, looking at the talking animal. ¡°Wait... did you sleep and eat?¡± Pyotr tilted his head. ¡°Two. Hour. Sleep. Day. Hunt. Easy.¡± This is turning to be way outside my understanding, I concluded and patted the bird. Birds that fly as fast as planes? Insane. The Corvitex nuzzled against my hand. I opened the letter from Yolin''s mom and gave it a read. ''Natasha, Welcome to Galeia. I bet Yolin hasn''t welcomed you properly. She''s always been a free child. What am I getting into. Of course you''d know. It''s hard to miss, to be honest, and I figured it''s one of the reasons you two hit it off. I know it may not be my business, but try to get Her Divinity Danuva to teach her something if you can. This opportunity doesn''t come often. I know Halves don''t have parents, and I hope I''m not imposing if I ask you to call me mom. You don''t have to if you don''t want to, though. Take care of my daughter. I don''t want to outlive her. With her choice of classes, however, the chances of her dying are pretty slim. Yolin told me a little about you, and I can''t wait to meet you. Come visit. I have three thousand years left to live, so no pressure. The family welcomes you with open arms. Hugs, Bosin Makav.'' Well, I thought and stored the letter. I guess Yolin takes after her mother. A smile formed on my face, though. Bosin seemed like a better mother than mine in every way. It wasn''t hard to be better than that bitch, to be completely honest. I checked the other letters. Yolin''s mom had written one for each girlfriend. Rustling noises came from the tents followed by footsteps. ¡°Oh, Pyotr is back,¡± Alyssa yawned and walked to me. I turned around and offered the letter. ¡°From Yolin''s mom.¡± The Luzo arched an eyebrow and looked me in the eye. ¡°Decided to talk?¡± My left eyelid twitched and I shrugged. ¡°I was angry last night.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Her red eyes squinted. ¡°Why?¡± she had the audacity to ask. I took a deep breath, feeling the anger come back. ¡°You acted like little shits with the game I came up with,¡± I explained. ¡°It''s okay if you don''t understand, but the way you analyzed it and criticized it wasn''t fun.¡± She nodded, and her sleepiness faded away. ¡°Like,¡± I continued, shaking my head. ¡°It''s a game, it''s not real. You don''t have to dunk on it. When you tell me all that shit about good and evil and whatever, I listen. Even though I have proof that none of that shit has any meaning whatsofuckingever when shit gets real and you have to act.¡± Alyssa''s eyes widened a little in surprise. Still, I continued. ¡°I don''t go Uhm, akshually morals are useless in the face of death and the only function they have is to be a detriment.¡± I ran a hair through my hair. ¡°Laws?¡± I huffed. ¡°What are they if not a threat of violence on the populace? Still, I listen to you when you explain them.¡± Alyssa''s mouth opened a little, but no sound came out. ¡°Why is a stupid fucking game eviscerated for it''s unrealistic shit?¡± I asked her. ¡°The entire point is to escape to another world for a moment and have fun.¡± I let out a long sigh. ¡°And I know you didn''t do it with malicious intentions to actively sabotage it, but when you ask ''Decided to talk?''... how do you think I feel?¡± I crossed my arms on my chest and stopped talking. She slowly nodded, still looking me in the eye. ¡°I''m sorry, Natasha,¡± she began. ¡°I understand I made you feel bad.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Bad? No. Angry.¡± Lapia came out of the tent and walked to us. She looked at me and nodded. ¡°Me too, I''m sorry.¡± ¡°I''m not angry at you,¡± I sighed and explained. ¡°It''s just frustrating, and that makes me angry.¡± The two nodded. ¡°It''s good that you tell us,¡± Alyssa pointed out. ¡°I''d prefer you get angry than keep quiet and not talk about it.¡± ¡°True,¡± Lapia agreed. The rest of my companions slowly came out of their tents, and by the look on their faces, they heard everything. ¡°I had fun,¡± Bonte spoke up with a shrug. Thelea slapped his shoulder and shook her head in disapproval. Elena, who was next to Pokora, knelt on the ground. ¡°Apologies, Your Excellency,¡± she exclaimed with an odd weight to her words. I winced at that. ¡°Anyway,¡± I sighed and opened my arms. ¡°Come here.¡± My two girlfriends stepped closer and hugged me. Footsteps came from behind us. ¡°What did I miss?¡± Yolin wondered, having taken the last shift and returned just in time. I turned my head to her. ¡°Your mother wrote back.¡± She nodded and walked to us, then joined the hug. ¡°Good morning. Why do we have an audience?¡± ¡°Natasha lost her shit for a bit,¡± Pokora replied with a grin, a few meters away. The Oni nodded. ¡°And everyone''s alive?¡± she joked. I rolled my eyes and felt my bladder act up. ¡°I need to go pee,¡± I whispered. ¡°Hanna is that way,¡± Yolin pointed south. ¡°She said the same.¡± I nodded and untangled from the hug. ¡°I''ll be right back.¡± Alyssa and Lapia slapped my ass and laughed. ¡°You should get angry more often,¡± Lapia teased with a smirk. I sighed and walked away. After a minute or two of walking between trees, I heard liquid hitting the ground so I looked for the source. The top of Hanna''s head could be seen behind a bush a few meters to my right. I walked to the other side of the bush and unfastened my pants, then whipped it out to pee. ¡°Anything interesting happened?¡± The Ork turned to me with wide eyes. ¡°Your Excellency?!¡± She blurted out in a panic. ¡°My bad, were you in the zone?¡± I probed with a chuckle. She looked down at her waist and then up at me. ¡°The zone?¡± she repeated in confusion. ¡°When you pee and zone out,¡± I explained. The Ork''s cheeks turned darker and she nodded. ¡°I think so, yes,¡± she replied. ¡°I didn''t hear you approach.¡± I relaxed and let it flow out. ¡°I see,¡± I sighed. There was something odd about the situation. In the middle of the forest, with a bush between us, Hanna was standing while peeing. Then, it hit me. ¡°Sorry to ask,¡± I started. ¡°Are you using one of those tools to pee while standing?¡± Hanna''s blushing cheeks turned even darker. ¡°You could say that,¡± she muttered, but the shadow of a smile formed on her lips. ¡°Neat,¡± I praised. ¡°Can I see it?.¡± Her brown eyes met mine. ¡°I don''t think that''s a good idea,¡± she politely replied with a tight smile. Our pee flowed in the early morning. The heat formed small clouds that went off in the direction of the wind. ¡°Why not?¡± I insisted, curious about the tools women used in this world to pee while standing. ¡°Come on, it''s just seeing it. Can you show it to me... please?¡± I requested with puppy eyes. Hanna frowned and looked down. Her pee was slowly coming to a stop. The Ork cleared her throat. ¡°N-no,¡± she stammered out. I nodded. ¡°Fair,¡± I accepted her rejection. ¡°I''m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.¡± She tilted her head to the side and a tiny smile returned. ¡°Uncomfortable?¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°It''s okay,¡± I reassured her. ¡°Using a tool to pee is perfectly normal, Hanna. I won''t judge. I promise.¡± ¡°Don''t mind it, Your Excellency,¡± she muttered, still looking down at her waist. ¡°Is it one of those disposable ones?¡± I probed. ¡°If you don''t mind me asking.¡± The Ork bit her lips. ¡°It''s not disposable,¡± she replied with the same small smile. I nodded. ¡°You must take good care of it, then,¡± I hummed. ¡°I do,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Does Your Excellency use the disposable ones?¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered, realizing her question. ¡°No, I have a penis.¡± Hanna''s eyes widened to the absolute limit, her eyebrows almost fused with her hairline, and her mouth opened. I was about to ask her if that made her uncomfortable, but the Ork used an arm to move the entire bush to the side. Her eyes darted to my lower half, where I was holding my penis with one hand. My curiosity won over the shock and surprise, and my eyes went for her crotch as well. There, in her hand, around twenty centimeters long and four wide, was a blue penis. My eyes widened to the limit as well. She''s just like me! I thought and my mouth opened in shock. 138 - End of Arc 7. We both looked up and met eyes. I spoke first. ¡°Why did you pop a chubby?¡± I demanded with a laugh, gesturing at her obvious erection. She looked down at her crotch, then up at me. ¡°Pop a what?!¡± ¡°A stiffy!¡± I clarified, looking at her genital. Hanna''s mouth moved, but no sound came out. Then, she looked away. ¡°I.. got nervous! Your Excellency gets it, right?¡± A moment of silence followed her words. My pee still flowed. ¡°Wait, I''m still peeing! What the fuck!¡± I turned around and focused on finishing as quick as I could, flexing the pertinent muscles to make the pee come out faster. ¡°At least wait until I''m done!¡± The Ork release the bush, but the damage was done. Her rush to see me down there had broken the bush beyond its capacity to go back to its former shape. Poetic, considering the situation. ¡°Apologies, Your Excellency!¡± Hanna blurted out. ¡°I just... It''s very rare to meet someone like me, is all. I got...¡± She struggled to find words, but settled on apologizing again. ¡°Sorry!¡± I sighed as the last of the pee flowed out and felt that thing that goes up the spine and makes one shiver. ¡°Haaa...¡± ¡°A Halve fulse...¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°Amazing...¡± I gave my fellow a few shakes and turned to her, cock still out. Yes. Cock still out. I was having a moment of self discovery, and I have learned that hiding away does nobody any good. ¡°Fulse?¡± I repeated in confusion. ¡°What''s that?¡± Hanna, who I assumed was still in shock, had her cock out as well. I took a good gander. It was blue, not excessively veiny, had a good angle, the foreskin was a bit pulled back due to her nervous erection, and she had a healthy amount of pubic hair. 10 out of 10 in my eyes. A nice cock. As an absolute degenerate, my mind went to places of carnal desire in a heartbeat. ¡°Fulse,¡± Hanna spoke, breaking my admiration of such a fine specimen. ¡°Is the term our community uses to refer to ourselves,¡± she explained. ¡°It''s a short way to say ''full sex''. We don''t... appreciate the Clerical term used to label us... and as a disproportionate minority, we haven''t been able to make a change that matters.¡± I looked up at her and nodded. So we''re going there first, I thought. ¡°You mean hermaphrodite?¡± I asked for clarification. Hanna closed her eyes and tightened her lips. ¡°Yes. That word.¡± I placed my hands on my hips and looked up at the treetops. A few birds flew by, chirping and doing their own thing. ¡°I am ignorant about that,¡± I admitted. ¡°You''re the first I''ve met.¡± ¡°I can tell,¡± she sighed. ¡°But this means so much more than Your Excellency thinks!¡± She continued with passion. ¡°You can make a statement! If you...¡± she stopped and went quiet. I looked down at her. Hanna had a complicated expression. ¡°I by no means demand or expect Your Excellency to out yourself as a fulse...¡± she muttered. ¡°It''s just... it would mean so much to us.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. I nodded. This turned heavy way too fast, I concluded and took a deep breath. ¡°Sure,¡± I sighed. ¡°I know what it''s like to be a minority...¡± The Ork''s brown eyes darted to meet mine, and something like relief could be seen there. I shrugged. ¡°I mean... I have power, authority, money,¡± I counted, raising fingers. ¡°People listen to me.¡± Hanna gave me a deep nod. ¡°But you know,¡± I started, not sure how to word it. ¡°I hope you understand... learning about issues related to something I find completely natural is a bit of a surprise to me.¡± ¡°Naturally, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna accepted, nodding a few times. I thought for a bit, choosing my words carefully. Objectively speaking, I was in a position of absolute privilege compared to others like me. Born beyond the reach of the overwhelming majority by individual power alone. Rich enough to not worry about money for ten thousand years considering what I had seen in terms of prices. Of a species with legendary and mythical renown. Socially above everyone except Gods, whom I stood next to. Able to influence laws, culture, and tradition. Easy access to the beings at the center of the world''s religion (to be checked). I looked down at her waist and observed the delectable member between Hanna''s legs. ¡°Am I the first... fulse Halve?¡± I asked and looked up, meeting her eyes. ¡°...That I know of,¡± she replied, then looked down at mine. A pleasurable tingle ran up my spine at her eyes inspecting me. Natasha, for fuck''s sake, I chastised myself. This is serious! Focus! I tucked my penis in my pants before I got an erection at imagining Hanna shoving her cock down my throat, then coughed. ¡°Hey, Hanna. How about we both take watch tomorrow night and talk about it more deeply,¡± I offered. ¡°You had a turn already and I don''t want to keep you up.¡± The Ork smiled and nodded. ¡°I''d be more than happy to, Your Excellency¡± she replied and fixed her pants. I felt a tiny disappointment inside me, then chuckled to myself. Is this how Pokora feels? I wondered and walked towards the camp. It was early morning and there was a lot of traveling to do to reach Divine Lands.
That night. Me and Pokora sat on a small hill that overlooked the camp. I was facing the tents and mounts, and she was facing the other way to cover all sides. Well, to say all sides is a bit excessive since the absurd amount of trees blocked everything in sight after around thirty meters. The trees themselves were about two meters thick so it didn''t take many to completely cover our view. At one point Pokora asked about art and we engaged in a long conversation about the difference of displaying the same character as powerful or sexy simply by changing the pose while keeping the same clothes. ¡°You have to take into account that intent has little impact on the consumer,¡± I explained. ¡°Take He-man for example.¡± I turned to her. ¡°Do you remember him?¡± ¡°I do,¡± the Elf confirmed with a nod. ¡°He was a powerful character despite the clothes he wore,¡± I continued. ¡°The whole point was power. And even then, he was supposed to be a leather daddy if you took the creators'' intent. Nothing about that type of character... that being a muscular man with little clothes... was supposed to be sexy. They were sexy anyway. At least to me,¡± I chuckled. ¡°I can''t recall the amount of times I flicked the bean to Arnold''s Conan with that nice bod and primitive feel.¡± Pokora''s eyebrows joined. ¡°I don''t know about that one,¡± she commented. I shook my head. ¡°Nonsense,¡± I rejected her words. ¡°That thing about a caveman-like dude with big muscles... just waiting to be tamed with a good suck and a few squatfucks... Hmm!¡± ¡°Bruh,¡± she uttered. ¡°Nah,¡± I insisted. ¡°Just think about it... a dude that primal would give the best fucks, and a good sloppy toppy would have him gasping for air in a matter of seconds. All that power vanished with a few key movements of the tongue. Absolute dominion, I tell you.¡± The Archer quietly laughed. ¡°I think we''re attracted to different types of men, Natasha,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I''m on femboy team.¡± ¡°Same,¡± I agreed with a sly grin. She sighed. ¡°That little dick being teased to tears,¡± she hummed. ¡°Fuck!¡± She hissed. ¡°This talk is getting me all worked up.¡± ¡°I get you,¡± I agreed with a long nod, then recalled my encounter with Hanna. She sighed and shook her head. ¡°I don''t know... these hormones are insane!¡± I stared at the Elf. Her dull silver eyes. The long Elvish ears. That skin whiter than a sheet of paper that did nothing to hide blushes. How her face was usually emotionless. That monotone voice of hers that broke whenever she got surprised, excited, or else. I caught myself licking my lips. I was horny. ¡°Whatever,¡± she muttered. ¡°This is going to last a year at best.¡± I bit my lower lip and thought for a second. ¡°Wanna... do something about it?¡± I offered, looking into her eyes. Pokora''s eyebrows climbed her forehead. ¡°I''m dead serious,¡± I continued and leaned towards her, stopping halfway to give her room for rejection. I hoped she''d go for it, though. 139 - Shes a very kinky girl. (18+) Pokora''s face turned red and she bit her lips. ¡°For real?¡± she probed, and her voice shook a little. I nodded, looking down at her lips then up to meet her eyes. ¡°100%,¡± I assured her. The Elf stood up, turned to the forest, and produced her bow. My eyes widened a little. Ayo? I thought and looked around. She aimed between the trees and shot an arrow, then aimed in the opposite direction and shot another. The projectiles cut through the air with a sharp whistle and made a thunk noise when they hit a tree. Pokora turned to me and her eyes shone with blue-ish light. The E''er around the camp shifted slightly and then calmed down. The Archer stored her weapon and walked to me. ¡°Making sure nothing interrupts,¡± she supplied, then sat on my lap. I nodded. ¡°How does it-?¡± I started asking. Pokora covered my lips with hers, interrupting my question with an aggressive kiss. Her arms went around my neck and she pressed us together with as much strength as she could put out. I guided my hands down her waist and to her ass, then opened my lips. Her tongue instantly invaded my mouth and the taste of mint filled my taste buds. ¡°You taste like E''er,¡± she panted between kisses. ¡°What the fuck?¡± I chuckled. ¡°I''m made of it,¡± I replied, meeting the aggressive kisses. Out tongues wrestled in our mouths, and soon I gained the upper hand. I stood up with the Elf hanging on to me. She let my neck go and grabbed me by the waist, then lifted me up. I let out a surprised gasp and wrapped my legs around her, then moved my hands to her face. ¡°You''re heavy,¡± she complained, not stopping her assault on my lips and tongue. ¡°But lighter than Yolin.¡± I smiled and laughed into her mouth, ¡°Fuck off!¡± She walked to a tree and pressed my back against it, then broke the kiss and went for my neck. I leaned my head back and enjoyed the attention, sighing in pleasure at the change of pace I was used to. Her lips went further down and reached my clavicle, where she suckled on my skin. ¡°Your skin color is beautiful, baby...¡± she praised with a sigh. My eyebrows knitted and I looked down at her. ¡°Baby?¡± I repeated. She looked up at me and blushed. ¡°No?¡± I shook my head. ¡°No,¡± I confirmed. She thought for a second and tried again, ¡°Tasha?¡± ¡°Better,¡± I finalized and covered her lips. She reciprocated, returning to the quick, aggressive kisses. I reached for my shirt and undid the buttons, then stored my bra and guided her head to my chest. She picked the signs and attacked my breasts, licking, nibbling, and suckling on them. My breath got caught on my throat at the sudden and admittedly overeager stimulation. In the spirit of not being a pillow princess, I caressed her long Elvish ears while tightening my legs around her to keep us glued together. A few minutes went by with us making out, Pokora molesting my tits, and me teasing her ears. A few comments were made, joking complaints, and praises of the other''s body and performance. I unwrapped my legs from the woman and stood on my own, then turned us around so that Pokora was leaning her back against the tree. I stored my pants and underwear, then gently tugged at the Elf''s to signal her to do the same. She looked down at my waist and her eyes widened. ¡°Holy shit!¡± she hissed. ¡°No, no, no,¡± she denied and shook her head. ¡°What the fuck? That''s literally going to kill me. Fuck no!¡± I looked down at my erection and tilted my head. ¡°It''s not that big, though?¡± ¡°Bruh,¡± she uttered and stored her clothes, then stood right in front of me. She grabbed my cock and pressed it against her abdomen. The glans stood a few centimeters below her breasts. ¡°You''ll literally impale me,¡± she argued, gesturing at the evidence. ¡°That''s just because you''re shorter than me,¡± I pointed out, then picked her up and lined our torsos. The head of my cock rested against her abdomen a few centimeters above her belly button. ¡°...Yeah,¡± I let out a complicated sigh. ¡°Your futa cock is literally too big for my little Elvish pussy,¡± she joked, then sighed. ¡°I mean... don''t get me wrong. I''m horny as fuck, but I don''t want that much pain,¡± she argued, looking down at our naked bodies. ¡°Plus, you have to pop my cherry, so that''ll be a whole screaming fiesta.¡± I nodded and added, ¡°And we''re in the middle of a forest.¡± ¡°I don''t give a fuck about that,¡± she said with a shrug. ¡°I''m not one to make it special or anything. But that...¡± she eyed my cock. ¡°Why the fuck is it that big? It wasn''t that big last time I saw it.¡± ¡°Fair, and I''m a grower,¡± I replied. ¡°Twenty six centimeters of futa cock.¡± The Elf bit her lips and looked at me. ¡°Bigger doesn''t always mean better,¡± she spat facts. ¡°I know,¡± I agreed with a wise nod. ¡°I''ve been where you are, but I lean towards bigger myself.¡± She sighed. ¡°I''m wet enough that I know it''ll sliiiiide inside with no problem,¡± she began, closing in on me and pecking me on the lips. ¡°But I also don''t want to go through that much pain right now.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°You do realize I''m a woman too, right?¡± I probed. ¡°Or was since I''m a futa now. The point is I know what you mean. You don''t have to repeat yourself.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°I''m trying to convince myself here,¡± she laughed. I chuckled at the silly situation. ¡°Sex doesn''t have to be penetrative,¡± I pointed out. ¡°We could just touch each other,¡± I offered, feeling my pussy drool and my penis throb in arousal. ¡°Sure,¡± she replied instantly. ¡°Yeah, touching is nice.¡± I nodded and lowered her body, then brought the two of us down. ¡°Okay, spread your legs a bit so I can fit.¡± She nodded and complied, straddling my waist. ¡°A bit further back,¡± I requested, pressing us against the tree. ¡°Sure,¡± she panted and backed a little. Pokora''s extremely white skin was a constant all over her body, including her genitals. Her pubic hair was pitch black, and her labia glistened with lubrication. I took her face and kissed her. She reciprocated, slower this time. ¡°Fuck, Tasha,¡± she sighed. ¡°Your body is made for sin and I feel like I''m wasting it.¡± I did my best to avoid laughing. ¡°Thanks,¡± I chuckled. ¡°You''re pretty hot as well.¡± The vegetation under my ass felt comfortable despite being in the middle of a forest. Pokora reached out to my cock and clasped it. ¡°Fucking stupid big cock,¡± she sighed, then looked up at me. ¡°What are your do''s and don''t''s?¡± ¡°No scat,¡± I replied. ¡°And I go for pretty much anything. You?¡± She smiled and chuckled. ¡°No fingers for now since, yeah,¡± she panted. ¡°And I go at it moment to moment.¡± I nodded and resumed the kissing. The Elf''s warm and slippery tongue met mine as our lips locked. Her fangs poked my lips every now and then, and I nibbled on her lips as payback. She slowly started to explore my genitals, moving her hands around my cock and feeling it in its entire shape, then reached my pussy and let out surprised gasps. I teased her ears and humble breasts, gently pinching her nipples. The woman soon started panting deeper and faster, which in turn made her ministrations on my cock faster and her grip tighter. I released her breasts and went for her pussy, slowly at first and firmer depending on her reactions. Her gasps prompted me to move faster, and her squirms signaled me to slow down. Pokora''s clitoris was super sensitive, and her hips buckled and shook every time I so much as grazed it. The Elf, on the other hand, was knuckle deep in my pussy, rubbing around and feeling everything with one hand. The other stayed at my cock, where she went up and down my shaft with quick and strong movements. My precum flowed and she gathered a bit with her thumb and sucked on it, then kissed me deeply. ¡°You taste like E''er down there, too,¡± she pointed out, fighting my tongue off so she could speak. I hummed and nodded. ¡°You like it?¡± I inquired. ¡°I love it,¡± she giggled. ¡°You little freak,¡± I chuckled. She let out a moan and quickened her hands. In all honesty, if someone would tell me Pokora was a virgin, I wouldn''t believe it. Her hands were dexterous, precise, and she knew what she was doing. Sure, the first few minutes were slow and awkward, but she picked up and had me panting and drooling from my mouth, cock, and pussy. I spent a few minutes closing in on the Elf''s clit, rubbing around it, teasing her labia, and sometimes grazing it to get a few reactions. When the Elf''s body was ready, I focused on it, and her eyes widened to the limit. ¡°Fuck,¡± she whimpered, grasping my cock with all her strength. ¡°Tasha..¡± I slowed down, thinking I went too fast. ¡°Put it in,¡± she demanded with a pant. ¡°Fuck my tight, virgin Elf pussy with your fat Halve futa cock!¡± I pulled back a bit and looked at her face. Her eyes were glazed, lost in the trance of sexual arousal. ¡°No,¡± I replied with a chuckle, wondering if I flipped a switch somewhere. ¡°Come on,¡± she begged, moving her hips closer to mine. ¡°You know you want it. Just imagine how tight I am, daddy.¡± Despite being horny to my eyebrows, I retained enough sense of self to know she was just absurdly horny and talking nonsense in those delicious moments before orgasm. As such, I chose to tease her. ¡°How bad do you want it?¡± I challenged her, closing in to her ear and licking it. ¡°Super bad, daddy,¡± she whimpered, perhaps having lost all awareness that I am a woman as well. ¡°I want you to put it in and fill me with your cum.¡± Holy shit, I thought, shocked at the sexual depravity she was showing. Lapia wan''t joking when she said Elves get super horny. Still, I put Josalia''s teaching to action. ¡°That''s a bad girl,¡± I teased her. ¡°Tell daddy more.¡± ¡°Daddy, please,¡± Pokora begged as her body squirmed. ¡°I want my pussy to cry cum for a week!¡± Being called daddy was... surprisingly nice. It tickled something at the back of my mind. It wasn''t some unfound sense of masculinity in me, but a small spark of dom that danced in joy. ¡°You horny little devil,¡± I whispered and licked her long ear. ¡°Choke me, daddy,¡± she requested, moving her hands faster and trying to point my cock to her pussy. ¡°But not as hard as when we met.¡± I pressed her clit and rubbed it in a clock-wise motion, using her pussy drool to make it nicer. ¡°Is that what you want?¡± I panted, feeling a pressure forming above my womb. ¡°Yes!¡± She panted, grabbing my hand on her ear and guiding to her white neck. ¡°There!¡± I wrapped my fingers on her neck and tightened super lightly, minding my overwhelming strength. Beheading her wasn''t on my kink list, after all. She moved her body to try and straddle me and have my cock go in her pussy. I pushed back with the hand I had on her pubic area. She gasped and stroked my cock faster and tighter. ¡°Fuck!¡± she yelped. ¡°Tasha! Daddy!¡± ¡°Gonna cum?¡± I teased her, licking her lips and kissing her. ¡°You better wait for me...¡± ¡°Yes, daddy!¡± she whimpered. ¡°I''ll wait! I want you to cum all over my tummy since you don''t want to cum inside...¡± I felt a vein pop on my forehead. Holding back is fucking hard. My cock was centimeters away from her labia. It would take a single thrust to pop her cherry and creampie her. The conundrum wasn''t really that complicated. We had agreed that there would be no penetration. That had more value than a momentary rush of arousal. At least to me. With sweaty bodies, we approached the climax. Daddies were pleased, teases were given. We were both panting, moaning, gasping, and shaking with excitement and arousal. In the middle of the forest, while we were supposed to be taking watch to make sure nothing approached the camp, it was the two of us fucking with no regards to the world. Pokora was constantly squirming, whimpering, and begging to be given release. Alas, I last long unless I have two people tormenting me. The Elf didn''t wait too long, however. The newfound excitement of being called the way she did hastened my approach, sending tingles all over my brain and body with simple words. The heat that had moved down to my womb gathered at the base of my cock and warmed my pussy to the point it felt unbearable to hold back anymore. ¡°Here I cum,¡± I let her know. ¡°Let loose.¡± Pokora took a deep, shaky breath, and then her body was seized by shakes, moans, gasps, and trembles. I groaned and felt my cum shoot out of my cock, covering her tummy and chest with my transparent discharge. We both collapsed and entangled in a hug, kissing and petting our bodies. ¡°Fuck,¡± Pokora panted and kissed my face. ¡°Holy shit.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I agreed, sighing and calming down. ¡°You''re heavy,¡± she complained. I burst out in laughter. She joined me, laughing and sighing. We enjoyed the afterglow of orgasm kissing and laughing. It was a nice, casual session of sex. 140 - BCE and ABC. We cleaned ourselves with enchanted towels and got dressed. ¡°I''m absolutely knackered,¡± Pokora yawned, covering her mouth. She stretched and let out a long sigh. ¡°We have a few hours left of watch,¡± I pointed out, sitting down on one of the chairs. ¡°And I would commit child trafficking for a bath.¡± The Elf turned to me with a disgusted expression. ¡°What the fuck?¡± I shrugged and retrieved a juice bottle from my storage. ¡°I like being clean. Those enchanted towels don''t do it for me.¡± She shook her head and sighed. ¡°But child trafficking? Seriously?¡± I nodded in thought. ¡°Then... I would commit war crimes?¡± ¡°Better,¡± Pokora accepted with a nod. ¡°Still oddly specific,¡± she insisted. I took a sip and sighed. ¡°I would punch the Pope in the gut,¡± I offered. ¡°Why not just say you''d kill for a bath?¡± She tried, raising both eyebrows. ¡°Like, you know, normal people.¡± ¡°Now, now,¡± I muttered and raised both hands in mock shock. ¡°Let''s not get extreme. Killing doesn''t get you a bath, I checked.¡± The Elf covered her face and tried not to laugh. ¡°That is tragic, wrong, and hilarious in ways it shouldn''t be,¡± she managed to get out. ¡°It do be like that,¡± I agreed with a sigh. She laughed and clapped twice. We spent the rest of our shift joking and chatting.
Morning came and we had breakfast, then mounted up and continued moving north. Yolin guided Pochi to trot next to Sonya. She had her true sight sunglasses on, a white shirt, black shorts, and had her hair down. I turned to the woman who looked like a tourist and chuckled. ¡°We''re approaching Ladania,¡± she informed me. I nodded. ¡°And what is that?¡± I inquired, not remembering having heard that name. She smiled and replied, ¡°A city where 70% of people are Chasers. It''s at a spot where the borders of Lumin Kingdom, Nemephan, and UNC meet.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°UNC?¡± The Oni arched an eyebrow. ¡°The Unified Nymph Collective,¡± she replied, a little confused as well. ¡°You met the representatives at the Royal Banquet...¡± ¡°Right,¡± I uttered, connecting the name with the abbreviation. ¡°First time hearing it as UNC,¡± I explained. ¡°Have you been to Ladania before?¡± My girlfriend nodded. ¡°It''s very good to find companions around this side of Leks. On the top ten cities around the world,¡± she pitched the city. ¡°Wow,¡± I uttered, feeling expectations form in my mind. ¡°Why top ten?¡± Yolin shrugged. ¡°You''ll find out when we get there,¡± she cheekily replied. I nodded. ¡°How does the Chaser business work, anyway?¡± I inquired. She bit her lower lip then smiled. ¡°Well, we did some back in Mountroad and Lakeview,¡± she began. ¡°Find a bounty, delve a dungeon or leave the city, kill monsters or animals, go back to turn the bounty in, get paid. There''s more to it but those are the basics.¡± My eyebrows knitted in concern. ¡°Sounds... unregulated,¡± I commented with a healthy dose of skepticism. Yolin nodded. ¡°It is a hazardous occupation, yeah,¡± she agreed. ¡°There aren''t many laws a Chaser has to abide to, but the people offering bounties do... so that''s a positive.¡± I tried wrapping my head around it, but found myself questioning things. ¡°What if someone offers a bounty and fucks over the Chaser?¡± The Oni''s face morphed into one of pure confusion. ¡°Who, in their right mind, would fuck with people that eat, sleep, and breathe combat? Word would spread, Scouts would steal from them to the point of bankruptcy, Wizards would destroy their workplace, Clerics would give them diseases, Performers would slander and defame them publicly... the point is they won''t take it in silence.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. My eyebrows climbed my forehead and my eyes widened a little. ¡°Chasers sound pretty fucking unhinged,¡± I pointed out. Yolin shrugged. ¡°We risk our lives,¡± she argued. ¡°And should be appropriately rewarded for it.¡± I looked up at the tree canopy blocking most of the sky. A few small patches allowed for the suns to shine through. ¡°Would they get in trouble with the law?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied. ¡°It''s considered breach of contract to fuck over a Chaser.¡± I looked back at Yolin. ¡°The person offering the bounty gets in trouble?¡± I asked for clarification. The Oni nodded. ¡°Naturally,¡± she replied with certainty. ¡°Some try to, even though they know the law. Greed is a nasty thing to witness. Lives should not be devalued in favor of money.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered, understanding more. ¡°Walk me through the life of a Chaser,¡± I requested. ¡°Yours, for example.¡± ¡°Well,¡± she began, looking forward. ¡°First is BCE- Basic Compulsory Education. It begins at age five, and ends at age ten. They give us the tools to find our path in life. It was either Warrior or Cleric for me,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I like to fight with my fists so the choice was obvious: to turn my body into something sturdier than any shield made by mortals.¡± She balled a fist and looked at it. ¡°So far I''ve succeeded,¡± she commented with a laugh. ¡°I went to a monastery that specialized in front-line Clerics and got my Monk class after ten years. I stayed another year to find a suitable class to go after and was recommended to go to Patuk and learn from the Orks.¡± ¡°Cool,¡± I praised with a nod. Yolin gave me a smile and continued, ¡°I needed money to make the trip so I joined parties around the country to clear dungeons. I''m not that good at healing so I made sure we followed the ABC.¡± ¡°What''s that?¡± I inquired with interest. ¡°Always Bring Clerics,¡± my girlfriend replied. ¡°Smart,¡± I commented. She nodded. ¡°We had a good thing going, made enough money to get good stuff like emergency elixirs and scrolls, weapon and armor maintenance, replace them if they broke and whatnot. I had to save up to buy my first storage item so that postponed my departure by a few years. I was surprised at the amount of expenses dedicating my life to combat required, but kept at it. One day we came back from a delve and found out Miraztor was around.¡± I hummed in interest. ¡°He was...¡± she took a deep breath. ¡°Literally worlds apart in terms of power. I saw him pass by and realized how big the world was. He had this... huge healing aura that covered the entire city, even reaching down into the dungeons around. People talked about it for weeks.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered, impressed by the man. ¡°Yeah,¡± Yolin agreed with a nod. ¡°Shit was insane. So, I started wondering... If I were to reach that level of power, just how durable would I become? That question kept me up at night for a long time. So, I decided to learn more about things I had been mostly ignoring so far like the fact a smithy should have at least three Craftsman certificates to be worth entering, read the law regarding the contracts I had been accepting without a second thought, the languages I would need to know during my travels to Patuk, etc. Being a Chaser is not just bam bam, kill, money, wah,¡± she chuckled. ¡°At that point I had gone to a lot of islands and gone through every single low-tier dungeon there was. Equipment lasted longer, healing wasn''t as necessary, and money was good.¡± Pochi growled in agreement under Yolin. ¡°I got this good boy when I decided to leave Red Island,¡± she chuckled, patting the over-sized dog''s head. ¡°I left the party I was in and headed out into the world with the goal of reaching the limit, and if I''m lucky, break it.¡± I nodded, enjoying the story she was sharing. ¡°How expensive is being a Chaser? Like, precisely.¡± ¡°The healing elixirs I need due to my classes are twenty silver coins each,¡± she recalled. ¡°I used to buy at least one hundred if the party''s Cleric didn''t have Onis in their healing menu, which unfortunately happened more often than I liked. That''s 20 gold coins just on elixirs. The usual delve lasted from two to three months, and a full clear could last a year tops with a good party setup and the Cleric can heal Onis. That resulted in around 200 gold coins for each member on average for a party of twelve people. Eliso, my former party''s Cleric and partner, was an Elf that knew Oni anatomy so that was great to clear dungeons. Getting my chest wrap fixed costed around a gold coin depending on the damage, and ten if I had to replace it, same for my trousers. Buying five was standard as preparation. That''s 100 gold coins and some change. Food and lodging was shared to save up, which left me with around fifty gold coins a year, which I used for the next dungeon delve,¡± she finalized with a nod. ¡°Didn''t Eliso heal you, though?¡± I probed. ¡°That''d be 20 extra gold coins.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Having elixirs is a must even if the Cleric can heal me,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Now, Alyssa''s healing is super efficient and powerful so I have them laying around my storage. Plus, that stupidly over-tuned staff you gave her makes her healing even more absurd. And the gear you gave me makes me even more durable. Everything stacks to dumb levels.¡± I nodded. ¡°Damn right it does,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Anyway,¡± she sighed with a smile. ¡°Back on topic. Depending on the Wizards on the party, you''d need scrolls to summon light, and those go for fifty copper coins a piece. You need at least five a day in total. Those are communal expenses since everyone pools a bit of money for that kind of thing. At least five gold coins worth of food to last a year. Camping equipment which includes an enchanted lantern for fifty silver coins, enchanted tents for ten silver coins each, pots and pans which are cheap, enchanted tools to start a fire for fifty copper coins, enchanted towels to maintain hygiene for five silver coins, and the expenses go up if you want to be comfortable during the night. If you want to make super sure no member will die, you''ll want to buy elixirs which increase toughness, sharpen the senses, scrolls to protect your mind, spirit, and soul.¡± ¡°Hmmm...¡± I nodded. ¡°But the experience is worth it,¡± Yolin added. ¡°It''s fun, you meet interesting people, travel the world, learn things you never thought you would, maybe meet that special someone along the way,¡± she gave me a wink, ¡°and get stronger and stronger.¡± I giggled and blew her a kiss. She leaned towards me and gave me a peck on the lips. ¡°Are you happy?¡± I asked after returning the kiss. ¡°I am,¡± she confirmed with a big nod and a big smile, fixing her posture on top of Pochi. ¡°And I wouldn''t change it for anything.¡± I winced. ¡°That''s a death flag!¡± She burst out in laughter. I kept asking question and she was more than happy to answer. 141 - They are, after all, Divine. ¡°But because Valikas prohibited the formation of Packs through an Eternal Edict, the law had to adapt and give Chasers individual legal representation instead of a unionized body of contracted work force,¡± Yolin explained. I was looking ahead, not sure when or how the conversation went there. ¡°Fortunately though, as a consequence of another Eternal Edict, the reach of government-owned businesses is limited when it comes to natural resource acquisition and monster population control,¡± she continued. ¡°The army, on the other hand, is not part of the government and thus free to exterminate monsters within a certain distance around settlements if, and only if, they pose an immediate threat to the settlement. They are not allowed to gather resources, however, so that''s left for Chasers.¡± Right, I remembered with a nod, looking around at the trees. I asked about labor laws for Chasers ¡°This allows for a slow and controlled gathering of resources whenever needed in a smaller scale compared to the systematic extraction and depletion that comes with state-owned enterprises,¡± the Oni kept going. ¡°Now, when it comes to the extermination of monsters, animals, and E''eral beasts, there exist laws that prevent total eradication in order to preserve as much of a natural balance as reasonably possible while considering the continuation of our species and the civilizations we have built.¡± I let a tiny sigh out. ¡°About extraction of natural resources, like the gold mine we went into, a Halve visits and is given the pertinent research that shows that total extraction will have no negative consequences to the land around it,¡± she told me. ¡°It is then up to the Halve''s judgment if the mine will open or not, for how long, and how much is extracted. In the odd case that the research given is false... well, everyone knows what happens then.¡± I nodded in agreement. She did mention having read up on mines, I recalled her words after she threw us down the chasm back in the mine dungeon. My girlfriend didn''t stop for another hour, telling me about Chasers, their relationship with the government, the Church, the markets, and other organizations. Useful stuff to know, to be honest. __ Night came and we made camp. I took first watch with Hanna. We sat down on Pokor''as chairs a good distance from the tents. I retrieved some of juice and sighed. The Ork retrieved a pair of daggers and began inspecting them. I eyed the blades and asked, ¡°Why daggers?¡± She looked at me, then knitted her eyebrows and tilted her head. I shrugged. ¡°I mean, I bet you''re strong enough to wield swords with ease, so why daggers? They''re too short.¡± ¡°A sword is easier to parry, Your Excellency,¡± the Scout replied. ¡°The longer and bigger a weapon is, the easier it is to grapple out of the wielder''s hands. A sword swings wider as well, and while that may be more beneficial to strike more targets, it''s not what I aim for.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered, not expecting such a response. ¡°Besides,¡± she continued with a smile, showing me the blades. ¡°These are long enough to reach vital organs with ease, narrow enough to pass through ribs without problem if my target''s bones are too tough, and have a long enough edge to cut tendons. Also, the throat is full of fun things to effortlessly slash without requiring a longer blade.¡± I slowly nodded. ¡°My aim is generally to weaken my target due to blood loss rather than kill them in a single strike, though,¡± Hanna chuckled. ¡°Stabbing comes later and is not the safest either since I would be in danger if my blades get stuck inside my target. So, I wait until my target attacks first. If they use a sword as Your Excellency mentioned, they''d be offering me a limb to slash into since those require wide swings. That leads me back to daggers being short. We Scouts use two so we can redirect the attack with one and slash with the other.¡± I held my chin and hummed in contemplation. ¡°That makes a lot of sense,¡± I commented, then probed, ¡°What if you can''t slash or stab?¡± The Ork tapped her right temple with the tip of a dagger. ¡°Illusions,¡± she snickered. ¡°Ohhh,¡± I excitedly breathed in amazement, leaning forward. ¡°Can you show me?¡± Hanna''s body glowed for a split second then took the appearance of a Luzo with red scales and light pink skin. She had horns, reptile eyes, clawed fingers, and a tail. Her eyes, however, had an unnatural glimmer to them. There was a low thrumming coming from her body as well. ¡°Awesome,¡± I whispered. ¡°Does this...¡± I gestured at her, ¡°person exist, or did you create the image from scratch?¡± ¡°From scratch,¡± she chuckled in a completely different voice, but it had a weird effect as if it came from the other side of a phone. Her lips moved and I noticed she had a split tongue as well. Naturally, her Orkish tusks were nowhere to be seen. ¡°Wow,¡± I muttered. ¡°Impressive.¡± She gave me a nod and replied in her original voice, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Can I touch you?¡± I requested. ¡°To see how it feels?¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Go ahead,¡± she agreed with an amused smile. I stretched my arm towards her shoulder, touching it. My hand went through like it would through a hologram. Hanna''s actual body was right under the illusion, stopping my hand''s movement. I pulled back and nodded. ¡°Amazing,¡± I whispered in... well, amazement. ¡°That''s really cool!¡± She deactivated the illusion and her body returned to her regular appearance. ¡°How many disguises do you have... or know?¡± I inquired with interest. Hanna sighed. ¡°That''s not something I''d usually answer, but I can make an exception for Your Excellency.¡± I raised my hands. ¡°You don''t have to if you don''t want to,¡± I assured her. ¡°Fifteen,¡± she threw at me. ¡°Wow,¡± I whispered again. ¡°And... can you, like, change it downstairs?¡± Hanna''s eyebrows climbed her forehead. ¡°It''s just an illusion, Your Excellency. My physical body remains unchanged.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°I see...¡± My fellow futa nodded. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°So...¡± I decided to bring it up. ¡°About the fulse matter. Can you tell me about it?¡± ¡°Right,¡± she muttered. ¡°We... don''t like the term Clerics came up with to label us. It has this... connotation that we''re different from others, and we don''t appreciate it.¡± I hummed. ¡°Have you faced any discrimination?¡± I inquired in the most gentle tone. The Ork''s eyebrow joined in confusion. ¡°Discrimination? Why?¡± I let out an internal sigh of relief. ¡°Just trying to understand,¡± I commented. ¡°Is there some... discontent or discomfort when dealing with society''s roles?¡± Hanna''s eyes squinted. ¡°Not at all. It''s just discontent with the term, Your Excellency. We grow up as regular people with regular ambitions and regular relationships.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I accepted. ¡°Do Clerics have a main Church somewhere where the leader lives? I ask because if there is, then maybe I can tell them to change shit.¡± She nodded. ¡°There is one,¡± she confirmed. ¡°It''s to the far west, near the coast. The High Ordinators reside there.¡± Odd name, but okay, I considered. ¡°I thought it''d be way harder to accomplish anything, to be honest,¡± I pointed out. ¡°It is for us,¡± She sighed. ¡°They''re stubborn and won''t listen.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered. ¡°Well, we''ll go there after visiting the Gods.¡± Hanna''s eyes widened. ¡°That quickly?!¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°You want change, right?¡± ¡°Y-yes,¡± she blurted out, a little out of words. ¡°But I thought Your Excellency would attend to more pressing matters first.¡± ¡°Like?¡± I shrugged. The Ork blinked a few times. ¡°Like meeting other Halves, the rest of the Gods, the many countries and their rulers,¡± she counted. I nodded. ¡°Shush, we''ll get that sorted out,¡± I assured her. ¡°Some cozy, old ruler can wait.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± she whispered now, looking down at her daggers. ¡°Just wow...¡± Well, I thought it was going to be incredibly heavy... good thing it wasn''t, I thought while looking at the Ork''s relieved face. ¡°I initially considered a few decades before anything happened,¡± she breathed out, then turned to me and exclaimed, ¡°Thank you very much, Your Excellency!¡± I chuckled. ¡°I haven''t done anything yet, Hanna,¡± I pointed out. ¡°And don''t celebrate the bare minimum.¡± She calmed down and nodded. ¡°Right, right,¡± she sighed, but a smile was on her face. I squinted my eyes. ¡°Do you mind if I ask you a few personal questions?¡± ¡°Yeah, anything, Your Excellency,¡± Hanna accepted too quickly. ¡°Let me know if I step out of bounds,¡± I requested. She nodded. ¡°How has your experience with partners been?¡± I inquired. ¡°Only men so far,¡± she immediately replied. My eyebrows almost fused with my hairline. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I have only had relationships with men,¡± she repeated. ¡°I... like my penis very much, and as such have leaned towards people that have them as well.¡± I slowly nodded. ¡°What about women with penises?¡± I ventured. Hanna squinted her eyes. ¡°I''m not quite following, does Your Excellency mean us fulse?¡± I sighed. ¡°No, like... when someone is born in a body that doesn''t match their... mind, or soul, or spirit,¡± I elaborated. ¡°Ahh,¡± she uttered in understanding. ¡°Yeah, no. Clerics pick that up before the age of ten and send them to Danuva,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Ah.. whu... ha...¡± I stuttered, not sure how to take it. ¡°Okay... can you tell me what happens?¡± Hanna nodded. ¡°Sure. When we go to Compulsory Basic Education we get weekly checkups which are mandatory. The Clerics are the best of the best since children are the future. If one of the children has mental scars due to being in a body that doesn''t fit their unconscious self, they are sent to Danuva.¡± I covered my mouth. ¡°Mental scars?¡± I repeated in shock. She nodded. ¡°It''s a very serious issue that has to be remedied. I can''t imagine living under such torment.,¡± she sighed. ¡°They are sent to Danuva and she performs a final, soul-deep check, then rearranges the child''s body down to the molecular level.¡± ¡°Holy shit,¡± I breathed out. Hanna bit her lips. ¡°Your Excellency...¡± she began in a concerned tone. ¡°People can''t reach their full potential if they''re uncomfortable in their own flesh.¡± I nodded. ¡°No, yeah, I totally get that...¡± I agreed. ¡°That''s... wow...¡± ¡°Nature is sometimes faulty, and the Gods are there to help people in such cases,¡± she explained. ¡°We fulse were once thought to be in that group of people, but Danuva found no issues.¡± My eyes widened. ¡°They sent us there?¡± I asked in shock. ¡°Out of worry,¡± the Ork clarified. ¡°We fulse are exceedingly rare, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Fucking hell,¡± I whispered, taking some time to digest the fact a Goddess performs transitions. ¡°I dated a man who went through that,¡± she shared with a smile. ¡°Didn''t last, unfortunately.¡± I opened my mouth to ask something but closed it, not sure how to word it. After a few seconds I found the words. ¡°How do people see them?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Normal? I don''t quite get Your Excellency''s question,¡± she replied. ¡°I see,¡± I muttered and thought for a while. 142 - A change of pace. After my shift ended I went to my tent and decided to wake my girlfriends up. I started with Yolin, shaking her shoulder. The Oni''s eyes slowly opened and she smiled. ¡°What? Can''t sleep?¡± She chuckled and made room next to her. ¡°You can cuddle with me,¡± she offered, opening her arms. The invitation was tempting, but there were matters to be discussed. I shook my head. ¡°We''ll cuddle after this, give me a second,¡± I replied and shook Lapia''s shoulder. The Elf moved her head, keeping her eyes closed. ¡°What?¡± She hissed. ¡°Is it morning already?¡± ¡°That''s Natasha''s glow,¡± Yolin giggled. The Wizard sat up and rubbed her face. Her hair was a mess and had a bit of drool escaping her mouth. I smiled and cleaned it off for her. ¡°It''s two in the morning,¡± I informed her. Lapia sighed and opened her eyes, then squinted and blinked due to my glow. I turned to Alyssa and reconsidered for a second, but took a breath and shook her shoulder. The Luzo clicked her tongue, opened her eyes, looked around, then glared at me. ¡°I wanted to talk to you three,¡± I started, ignoring two glares from Alyssa and Lapia. Yolin nodded, then yawned. ¡°About?¡± She asked and sighed. I sat down and faced my three girlfriends. ¡°I have summoned the council to talk about Pokora,¡± I revealed. ¡°Council?¡± Lapia repeated, still sleepy. ¡°What?¡± Yolin chuckled and sat up. ¡°Sure.¡± Alyssa closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and sighed. ¡°Does it have to be in the middle of the night?¡± I bit my lower lip and hummed. ¡°I couldn''t think of a better time, to be honest,¡± I explained. ¡°We don''t exactly have privacy during the day.¡± ¡°True,¡± Yolin agreed and produced a glass bottle of water, then drank some. ¡°What?¡± Lapia repeated, and her eyes slowly closed on their own. ¡°What happened?¡± She whispered. Yolin put an arm around her shoulders to support her. Alyssa stretched and let out a long sigh. ¡°Can''t argue with that,¡± she finalized and sat up. Her eyes glowed white for a second and then blinked a few times. Lapia''s sleepy face slowly faded until full awareness. She turned to the Healer and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered and turned to Yolin. ¡°You too,¡± she said and gave her a peck on the lips. I smiled at the interaction and spoke. ¡°Soo... Yolin,¡± I turned to the Oni. ¡°Are you and Pokora going out, or...?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± the Oni confirmed with a nod. ¡°We are.¡± ¡°Nice,¡± Alyssa, Lapia, and me said at the same time. The tank covered her mouth and laughed. ¡°You see,¡± I continued. ¡°When I took watch with her... we were a bit horny and ended up fucking,¡± I confessed. ¡°Nice,¡± Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin said at the same time. ¡°So that''s why she avoided me,¡± Yolin muttered. I nodded. ¡°So, I was thinking we should... talk about it. If we all want her to be part of our relationship.¡± Yolin shrugged. ¡°My view is obvious,¡± she pointed out. ¡°I think it''d be better to officially invite her.¡± ¡°I thought she wanted to take it slow,¡± Lapia considered. ¡°But hearing that you two fucked... well, I think she''s getting closer to her cycle.¡± I nodded. Alyssa looked at me and grinned. ¡°You didn''t ejaculate inside her, did you?¡± She inquired. I shook my head. ¡°There was no penetration,¡± I told her. ¡°And I''m not on my cycle yet.¡± ¡°She''s a horny one,¡± Yolin chuckled. ¡°And she only asked me to not talk about our first date.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. We turned to Yolin and smirked. The Oni shook her head. ¡°I''m no snitch,¡± she denied. ¡°What''s her view on joining?¡± Lapia probed. The tank shrugged. ¡°She''s young, had no experience, and her cycle is getting close. She''s just nervous,¡± she pointed out. ¡°She''s not against it, though.¡± We all nodded at that. ¡°Should we all invite her together?¡± Alyssa proposed. ¡°Maybe when we reach Ladania we could get a room for the five of us and invite her?¡± Lapia offered. ¡°We could invite her when we''re getting the rooms,¡± Yolin supplied, picking up on Lapia''s idea. ¡°You know, like... when choosing how many, we turn to her and go ''wanna spend the night together?'', and if she agrees we explain things.¡± ¡°Should we wait until the others pick theirs and go in?¡± Alyssa wondered. ¡°Maybe she won''t like it if the others are around.¡± ¡°The concierge will be there,¡± Lapia pointed out. ¡°Yeah, but they''re a stranger,¡± I argued. ¡°Right,¡± the Wizard uttered. ¡°I''m a bit more open so I don''t see those little issues.¡± ¡°Maybe we can have a drink and let the others go to the inn first,¡± Alyssa suggested. ¡°Mmm....¡± Lapia hummed in thought. ¡°I bet Bonte will get drunk silly at some point and Bromisnar will take him to the inn along with Thelea. We have Elena and Hanna left.¡± The three turned to me. ¡°What?¡± I raised my eyebrows. ¡°You tell them to go rest,¡± Alyssa schemed. ¡°They''ll listen to you.¡± I winced. ¡°You know,¡± Yolin began with an amused chuckle. ¡°We''re making this way more complicated than it needs to be. How about we just get a room for us four and Pokora gets a room for herself, we go out and have a drink, then invite her on the way back or when we get there. That''ll leave her with the option of refusing if she wants to go slow, and accepting if she wants to join at that point.¡± ¡°As expected of the oldest one,¡± Lapia praised. ¡°Leave it to the voice of experience,¡± Alyssa giggled. Yolin rolled her eyes. ¡°Bruh,¡± I uttered. ¡°You''re 80 and 104 years old...¡± I pointed out. Lapia raised her hands. ¡°I don''t know what ''bruh'' is, but I''ve never had someone want to take it slow with me.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Alyssa agreed. ¡°For both things.¡± ¡°Maybe that''s a good sign,¡± Yolin pointed out with a smile. ¡°You''re can''t wait for Pokora to join.¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Lapia confirmed with a big nod. ¡°That woman is a snack.¡± ¡°She''s quite attractive,¡± Alyssa agreed with a series of nods. Yolin nodded and yawned. ¡°Alright, let''s go back to sleep.¡± Alyssa and Lapia nodded and laid back down. I made my way to Yolin and cuddled with her under the covers. ¡°I''m so excited!¡± Lapia giggled. We laughed and talked until we fell asleep.
Morning, breakfast, road. We followed the path towards the city and I noticed more people show up. A few groups had come and gone in the last week, but nothing too noteworthy. After around ten in the morning, however, a sort of traffic could be seen on the road. People on mounts, carriages pulled by animals, flying animals up in the sky, and low-leveled individuals on foot. I inspected them, finding looks of surprise and adoration in equal amounts when they turned to me. Yolin had said Ladania was a city full of Chasers... so ''adventurers'' is what I had imagined. The few I had seen so far were... not the most interesting people in the world in terms of levels and equipment, and it seemed that was the norm. There were no shiny armors, no mysterious Wizards wearing wacky robes followed by a troupe of short men on ponies, no quirky blue-haired girl trotting along dubiously aged explosion-inclined mage girl chased by a tracksuit wearing imbecile who teased a blond heavy-armored tank, no black knight carrying a massive, thick, heavy, and far too rough-looking slab of raw iron that was used like a sword. None of that. There was a lot of different species, though. Many I had not yet seen. Towering above everyone in sight- except for Thelea- a fantastical creature walked next to the road. Around two and a half meters tall, a pair of long, thick, and curved horns, and the body of a bull. A Minotaur! I thought, looking at the individual. The bare torso without a trace of a scar was a bit disappointing but made sense considering untended wounds often lead to life threatening infections. The entire body was covered in a thick, dark brown fur with a few black spots here and there. The head was that of a bull''s, but the eyes had the intelligence and wit of a sentient and fully functional person. After my chat with Hanna I understood that people are what they look like. The man met my eyes and huffed like a bovine would, then looked ahead. Wow. Amazing. I looked ahead and recalled something. Don''t they discriminate against people without horns? Where do we Halves fit in that retarded view? I wondered. A good distance away, a few horsed people were approaching. No. Horsed people was wrong. Centaurs! Connected at the waist with the horse part, and covered in dull plate armor from head to... hoof, a group of four Centaurs trotted the road. Their hands were empty and moved like a person riding a horse at a fast speed. They nodded when they reached us, then went on their way. I nodded back. Holy shit that''s amazing! This is is cool as fuck! A while of me absolutely losing my shit at the various species we came across later, we reached the city. Ten meter tall walls met us, but the gates were wide open and without guards. When we were about to cross the gate, a tall figure blocked the way. A Goliath walked to the middle of the road and stood there with his hands on his hips. ¡°Halve!¡± he called out. ¡°Yeah?¡± I replied, stopping Sonya. ¡°Sup?¡± ¡°I''ve been waiting for you! Fight me!¡± He roared, producing a pair of massive axes that were as long as I was tall. ¡°What the fuck?¡± I whispered, confused at the spectacle. People around us stopped on their tracks and turned to look at the source of the challenge. [Barogh Goliath, Lvl 391 Exekus] 143 - You spin me right round, baby, right round. I squinted my eyes. 391 times 3 is... 1173, I''m 178 levels higher than him if all his classes are the same level, and 958 if his other two classes are level 1. ¡°A bold one,¡± Hanna commented, stopping her mount next to mine. ¡°Should I dispatch him?¡± ¡°Hmmm...¡± I hummed then turned to the group. ¡°Give me a second,¡± I requested and dismounted Sonya. People around us started whispering among themselves and gathering at the edges of the road leading to the gate. Pokora shrugged. ¡°Do your thing,¡± she agreed in a bored tone. ¡°Have fun,¡± Yolin grumbled, probably wanting to fight the Goliath herself. ¡°Try not to kill him,¡± Alyssa cautioned. ¡°Beat his ass,¡± Lapia cheered with a smile. Bonte was observing with interest, nudging Bromisnar''s and Thelea''s shoulder to pay attention. Elena had a worried expression on her face. I turned to the challenger and walked to him. The man towered over me, at least 270 centimeters tall of pure muscle. I raised a hand and made a motion for him to get close. He slouched to meet my eye level. ¡°Do you accept my challenge?¡± he inquired. ¡°What''s your name?¡± I asked, looking him in the eye. The Goliath had very beautiful green eyes that contrasted his yellowish gray skin. ¡°Asilo,¡± he replied with a smile. ¡°It''s an honor to meet you.¡± I nodded and gave him a big, friendly smile. ¡°Asilo... can we do this later, maybe tomorrow?¡± His face turned disappointed then shook his head. ¡°A Warrior challenging another...,¡± he started, a little confused. ¡°The Warrior''s code demands we fight or you admit defeat.¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°First time hearing about this,¡± I pointed out. Asilo bit his lower lip and his eyebrows jointed in concern. ¡°Really?¡± I confirmed with a nod. ¡°No Warrior has challenged me before.¡± He let out a complicated sigh. ¡°I''m sorry,¡± the boulder of a man said. ¡°I didn''t know you didn''t know.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± I chuckled and tapped his elbow. ¡°It''s okay. We sorted it out.¡± Asilo nodded. ¡°We did,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Now, do you accept my challenge?¡± I closed my eyes and took a calming breath. ¡°My dude,¡± I started with an exasperated sigh. ¡°Just retract the challenge.¡± ¡°I can''t,¡± he insisted. ¡°That''s not how it works.¡± ¡°§¢§Ý§ñ§Õ§î,¡± I sighed and looked him straight in the eye. ¡°I have been on the road for ten fucking days. I would like to have a bath. You are on the way.¡± He nodded and smiled. ¡°Then let''s be quick about it.¡± A vein threatened to pop on my forehead. I wasn''t about to admit defeat to nobody without a proper fight. I have an image to maintain. What would people who depend on us Halves think if one of us just surrendered to a mortal? I''d rather have a spider crawl into my ear canal. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. As such, I replaced my string top and swimming trunks with my leather undergarments, then my legendary Starforged Eternium plate armor. I retrieved my mythical spear and clasped it with both hands. A wave of ''ooh'' came from the improvised audience. Asilo did the same, replacing his leather and linen clothes with a proper armor fit for combat. ¡°Where do we fight?¡± I inquired, looking around. ¡°Right here,¡± was his response. ¡°No skills, just swings. The first to fall loses. You can block, parry, and dodge, but you can''t move from that spot.¡± ¡°Pshh...¡± I let out an unimpressed huff. ¡°That''s boring.¡± ¡°I''d like to have a chance at victory,¡± the Goliath chuckled. ¡°Right,¡± I muttered, having lost interest in the duel already. ¡°You go first.¡± ¡°Here I go,¡± he announced, lifting both axes above his head. ¡°As soon as I am done with my attack, you do yours.¡± I nodded in agreement. The Goliath swung both axes down on me. When it comes to the perception of time during combat, I understand that it''s not time that''s slowing down but my perception of the world speeds up. The axes took 5 seconds to reach my shoulders. The clang that followed the impact of the blades hitting my shoulder plates was extremely loud and strained my ears a little. That also was slowed down, lasting more than it should have. Both impacts hit at the same time and directly on the spot that connects the shoulder to the torso. The sharp metal bent, then broke in a thousand little pieces. Asilo''s forearms also bent in ways they shouldn''t, and the crack of fractured bones could be clearly heard even through his armor. I grasped my spear with one hand and swung at his waist. Now, I will explain what I initially envisioned would happen. As someone with very little understanding of physics, I thought my weapon would hit the man and send him flying. I seriously did think so. I also wanted that to happen. I wanted to send the annoying man that blocked my way to a nice bath... flying off into the distant horizon. I learned something new. When an object moving at several times the speed of sound impacts something, it doesn''t send it flying. I made an oopsie. Asilo''s body got split in half. The top half, consisting of his torso, arms, and head spun in the air some fifty or so times in the span of two seconds. Those two seconds were in that odd slowed-down-time-thing. The lower part got sent tumbling on the ground backwards until it hit the city wall. Guts, blood, and pieces of armor flew everywhere. Time resumed its natural flow. My eyes widened and I sucked air through my teeth. ¡°Fuck,¡± I whispered. ¡°WOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH¡± the crowd cheered and clapped, not taking a second to digest Asilo''s absolute defeat. The Goliath''s upper body fell to the ground with a wet thud, splattering blood all around it. I turned to the brutalized person and appraised him to check if he was still alive. [Asilo, Barogh Goliath Lvl 391 Exekus] ¡°Hmm...¡± I hummed and walked to him. ¡°Uh... you good?¡± ¡°Kha!¡± the man, or what was left of him, coughed. ¡°Andskoti!¡± I winced and turned to Alyssa, who was sitting on top of her four-eyed horse a good distance away. She nodded and her eyes glowed with white light. Asilo''s body regrew in a matter of seconds. I produced a towel and dropped it on top of his genitals to at least give him some dignity. Weapons are force multiplier, after all, I considered. Yolin took a punch to the gut like an absolute champion. Tanks are fucking tough! The man stayed on the ground, breathing heavily. ¡°That was... indescribable,¡± he blurted out. ¡°Holy fuck!¡± I felt blood running down my neck, having seeped in through the tiny gaps in my armor. ¡°Yeah, well... you had your duel. See ya,¡± I told him and walked back to my mount. ¡°Your Excellency!¡± Some called to me. ¡°That was marvelous!¡± Others praised ¡°Such power!¡± Others voiced. I looked around and pointed at the man on the ground. ¡°No more duels or challenges!¡± I announced. ¡°I won''t go easy next time!¡± The crowd clapped, cheered, and whistled at the show of unrestrained violence. Chasers are fucking unhinged, I concluded and mounted Sonya. ¡°Now, bath.¡± 144 - Natasha wont ever get that dub. We went into town following Yolin since she had visited before. The Oni guided us to an inn. It was a nice, cozy building. The city''s Church was a block to the north, and the market a block to the east. One silver coin a day. An absolute deal in my opinion. I was excited for various reasons. The most important was finally having a proper bath after a whole nine days of using enchanted towels. The inn, however, had shared baths. Why? Because the building was small, and the city it was built on catered to Chasers... the most unhinged members of civilized society. But! It was afternoon! Nobody would be using it. Right? Wrong! The news of my arrival traveled faster than a famous actor being canceled on the internet. What would the most unhinged members of a society that sees my species as great protectors and objects of worship do? Try and sneak a peak. And what, then, would that mean if that same society does not shame sex or naked bodies? I believe the answer is obvious.
There I was, having a well deserved shower in a large tiled bath. There were no individual units like one would expect if being naked was something to be ashamed of, or considered as privacy. My golden beauty was there for everyone to see if anyone was to walk into the bath. And well, again, I am a bit of a narcissist now that I have such a perfect body... which made my lips curl up into a cheeky smirk if anyone looked at me while naked. I let out a sigh and washed my hair with a big helping of shampoo. ¡°Needed it that bad, huh?¡± Yolin chuckled to my right. I closed my eyes and washed my face. ¡°Yep,¡± I replied. ¡°Need help with your hair?¡± Alyssa probed, taking a shower to my left. ¡°Sure,¡± I accepted with a nod. ¡°Make sure to get it sparkling clean, please.¡± ¡°Will try,¡± the Luzo giggled and moved behind me, then grabbed the 150cm of golden hair. I used a lot of soap to clean my armpits, genitals, and butt. The enchanted towels do a good job when removing bodily waste, but I can''t rest easy unless I use water, soap, and shampoo. I don''t feel clean otherwise, if that makes any sense. Waiting inside her eyes, was my tomorrow~ Then something changed her mind, her kisses told me~ I had no loving aaaarms.... TOOO HOOOOOLD MEEEE~ EVERYDAY I WAKE UP, THEN I START TO BREAK UP~ LONELY IS A MAAAN WITHOUT LOOOOVE~¡± A few meters away, Pokora started laughing. ¡° I took a cheeky glance her way. The Ork had a towel around her waist. She also had a fit body. ¡° A set of footsteps came from the entrance to the bath. I wiped my face and looked at the door. Around fifteen people came in, looking around. They were all naked and noisy. ¡° ¡° The group locked on to me and made their way to the showers. ¡° Bonte went into the bath, naked as well, following the people that barged in. Thelea was right behind him with a slightly annoyed expression on her face. Hanna and Elena rushed from their showers and blocked the group''s view of me. ¡° ¡° The men that had gone in stopped advancing. ¡° If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡° ¡° The woman that spoke turned to me. ¡°Obviously,¡± she ascertained. ¡°You don''t think we''ll let a woman assault a naked man, right?¡± I blinked a few times in confusion, then looked at the men that came in. They were nodding among themselves and chatting. ¡° ¡° I tilted my head in confusion, then turned to Alyssa. ¡°Why are men here?¡± I whispered. The Luzo looked at me as if I asked the most retarded question in the history of creation. ¡°What?¡± she blurted out. Nobody seemed to care that naked men had entered the bathroom while we women were showering. ¡° ¡° ¡° Everyone went quiet and turned to me. ¡° I heard Hanna and Elena click their tongues in annoyance, then walk back to their spots. The rest of my bath went without problems. I finished showering with Alyssa''s help and then moved to a pool on the other side of the bath. Eyes followed me all throughout, commenting and nodding. I won''t lie. My bi ass was greatly enjoying it. Once the group moved into the pool as well, I noticed them looking only at me. The Elf I was looking at blushed and looked away. We finished after a while and went to our room. Alyssa, Lapia, Yolin, and me went into our room. Bromisnar, Bonte, and Thelea went into another. Elena, Hanna, and Pokora went to another as well. I noticed the Satyr went with the Tigea and Goliath, and that caught my interest but I didn''t mention it. Once in our room, I gathered the four of us. We sat at the table. ¡° The three nodded with raised eyebrows. ¡° Alyssa bit her lips and sighed. ¡°It''s a bit complicated, Natasha.¡± Lapia and Yolin nodded in agreement. ¡° The Luzo nodded. ¡°Natasha, what do you know about sex roles in a natural setting?¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°I''m not sure I understand your question. A natural setting?¡± ¡° My eyebrows joined in confusion. ¡° ¡° ¡° I squinted my eyes. ¡°Rapist...¡± ¡° I chuckled, ¡°No? Okay, Alyssa,¡± I sighed. ¡°If you don''t want men to join us, that''s okay. But please don''t gaslight me.¡± ¡°gaslight I covered my eyes and groaned. ¡°Holy shit. You''re serious?¡± I asked in disbelief. ¡°Earth I shook my head. ¡°But they.. don''t work, do they?¡± The three bit their lips and nodded. ¡°Earth, ¡° ¡° I let out a long sigh. ¡°Is that why I haven''t seen one man with many women?¡± I asked. ¡° I put my hands down and shook my head. ¡°Sorry, but that doesn''t make any sense. What about Thelea and Bonte?¡± ¡° I winced. ¡°How strong are they?¡± Alyssa sighed. ¡°They make men lose their sense of reason and...¡± she bit her lips and winced. ¡°Have sex with everyone around them.¡± I nodded. ¡°Okay, so... no man would want to be with us?¡± The three nodded. ¡° ¡° ¡° I opened my mouth to argue, but closed it. After a few tires, I recalled something. ¡°What about Nilenna and Yulianna?¡± ¡° ¡° I closed my eyes and got ready to cry. But then, something popped in my mind and I opened my eyes. ¡°What about Desseyr, and Miraztor?¡± I suggested with excitement. My three girlfriends chuckled. ¡° ¡° I knew not whether to cry or laugh. Poko-Pokos PoV - Indecent Proposal - Part 1 ¡°...the lake, then we should get to Divine Lands. I believe that''s the fastest way to get there,¡± Pokora explained, looking at a map sprawled across the table. Hanna and Elena, her roommates for the next 24 hours, nodded while looking at the parchment. Elena tapped a small box next to a thin line. ¡°We should skip Rahini,¡± she suggested. ¡°That way we can get there a whole day earlier. We can take a shortcut through the forest, no?¡± The Ork shook her head. ¡°The trees grow too close there, it''ll slow us down,¡± she argued. The three thought for a second. ¡°Autumn is right around the corner,¡± Pokora pointed out. ¡°Elena could control Vok''ren to help us carve a path.¡± The Entomancer hummed. ¡°Too early for Vok''ren season,¡± she explained with a sigh. ¡°Her Excellency won''t like it if I upset the natural course of nature.¡± Pokora nodded in understanding. The options were limited. The city they were in was split by a river that connected directly with a lake that sat half a day away from Divine Lands. Lapia was scared of large bodies of water so taking a boat upstream was out of the question. The city also offered services to hire beasts of E''er so Chasers could fly to their destination. Natasha was scared of heights so that was out as well. Pokora wasn''t about to argue with two Eternal worshipers that the best course of action was to just say ''fuck Natasha'' and force her to fly. She also didn''t want to make Lapia uncomfortable since she wanted to be on the older Elf''s good graces... for various reasons. Troublesome women, the Archer thought with an amused smile. A knock on the door caught their attention. ¡°It''s Her Excellency,¡± Hanna informed them, stood up, and walked to the door then opened it. ¡°Hey,¡± Natasha greeted with that resting bitch face of hers. ¡°We''ll go out. Wanna come?¡± ¡°A night out doesn''t sound bad,¡± Elena considered and stood up. Pokora nodded. ¡°Same here,¡± she sighed and followed. Planning the way to visit the Gods wasn''t exactly stressing, but there was something at the back of the Elf''s mind. To Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che, formerly Evelynn Heart, the Gods of another world were something that had felt especially distant up to that point. Having lived in a world of made up Gods wasn''t exactly conductive to be religious even if Gods factually existed in this new world. She believed that if a God is not absolute, then it''s not really a God. Not in the traditional sense of the word she was familiar with. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Now, however, having joined the party and seeing that they were indeed going to meet them was a little weird to her. As party leader, it was her task to plan the route. That was a bit... weirder in a way that was hard to describe. Perhaps it had to do with language. ''God'' was something unfathomable. Invisible. Untouchable. Imaginary. Fake, even. Truth be told, she needed a drink. A kiss from Yolin would be nice, too. The party left the building and began the extremely short trip to a tavern across the street. One of the suns had already hidden behind the horizon, and the other was soon to follow. The clear sky was painted a soft pink with a mix of orange. Yolin walked ahead and approached the person greeting customers. After a short exchange, Yolin gestured for the group to follow her inside. The inside of the establishment was cozy, mostly quiet, and well illuminated. Pokora noticed a sign hanging from the ceiling that read ''Poetry Night'', then glanced at Bromisnar. The Satyr ducked his head a little to avoid hitting the thing. ¡°You up for that?¡± The Archer inquired, nodding at the sign. ¡°Of course he is,¡± Bonte interjected, wrapping an arm around the man''s waist. ¡°My bro''s the best at it.¡± The Performer let out an amused snort and accepted, ¡°Sure, why not? The expectation is set already, after all.¡± Pokora giggled at that and entered the building proper. It was absolutely packed with people. A few Performers played music on top of a low stage, keeping the murmur of voices mixed with skills that prevented eavesdropping, as was customary to do in such establishments. The Archer noticed most eyes were focused on the Golden member of the party, who didn''t seem to particularly mind the attention. A waiter guided the ten to the second floor, then to a door. He opened it and revealed a spacious room with a large, low table. The wall opposite to the door reached up to waist level, where the tavern''s first floor could be seen in its entirety like a balcony of sorts. The table was surrounded by floor chairs connected to each other. They had cushions and looked admittedly comfortable. Yolin walked in first, taking a seat near the ''window'' that overlooked the first floor, then looked at Pokora in the eye and patted the spot next to her. The Elf felt her face heat up. Right in front of everyone? She wondered, doing her best not to look at her companions. Pokora was a brave woman, though. She had reached level 900 in a matter of forty-nine years. She had faced every weather Galeia could conjure, and had hunted monsters beyond the ability of most mortals. She walked to her girlfriend and sat on the offered spot, her heart beating like a hummingbird''s wings. As much as she was brave, however, she was shy when in front of people. The emotion didn''t last long, though. Natasha walked in and sat on Pokora''s other side, giving the Elf a cheeky smirk. The Archer''s face burned, then she looked away. Now I really need a drink! Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Part 2 Once everyone took a seat, the waiter offered a varied selection of drinks and food. ¡°I''ll have the cheese set with crackers and meat, please,¡± Natasha told him. ¡°Also olives, pickled vegetables, and three bottles of wheat and koli spirit.¡± The young man nodded. ¡°Got it, dear customer.¡± ¡°What is everyone else having?¡± The former Russian asked aloud, revealing the large order was for herself. ¡°Parrus juice,¡± Hanna spoke up, looking at the waiter. ¡°And I''ll have the meal menu, please.¡± ¡°Albasini wine, at least a century old,¡± Bromisnar chimed in. ¡°And a small cheese set.¡± ¡°I''ll start with a tankard of ale,¡± Bonte requested. ¡°With olives.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Thelea ordered. ¡°But for my size.¡± The waiter smiled and nodded. ¡°Two bottles of whiskey,¡± Yolin told him. ¡°And a set of meat.¡± ¡°One bottle of whiskey and a set of cheese with crackers for me,¡± Pokora requested. Alyssa hummed. ¡°A bottle of your best wine and a selection of fruits.¡± ¡°A single glass of Apar''kh wine, please,¡± Elena spoke up. ¡°And a small cheese set as well.¡± ¡°I''ll have one Fire and Brimstone,¡± Lapia decided. ¡°Then a Great Sky Vault after ten minutes. I''ll have a set of mixed seafood dumplings with them.¡± The waiter nodded. ¡°Fried or boiled?¡± ¡°Mh... Boiled,¡± Lapia replied. ¡°Certainly,¡± the young man nodded again. ¡°I''ll come back with your order in a few minutes. Please excuse me,¡± he added and walked out of the room. Pokora sighed and relaxed on the chair, stretching her legs. Her feet bumped into something and she looked under the table. Thelea''s legs reached all the way to her spot. ¡°I''m a bit big,¡± the Goliath pointed out. ¡°I hope it doesn''t bother you too much.¡± The Archer shook her head. ¡°All good, don''t worry,¡± she assured her. Thelea nodded and started chatting with the two men next to her. ¡°So,¡± Yolin started, turning to Pokora. ¡°Pretty relaxing so far, right?¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Pokora snorted. ¡°If you call Natasha splitting someone in half, and people intruding on us while showering, relaxing... then yeah.¡± The Oni smiled. ¡°True, but I meant the trip here,¡± she pointed out. ¡°No monsters, no bandits, you know?¡± ¡°Can''t argue with that,¡± the Archer chuckled. ¡°It''s been oddly calm.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Natasha interjected. ¡°I thought it was normal.¡± Yolin nodded. ¡°Well, other than the Giganto Cyclops we haven''t seen monsters while traveling,¡± she considered. ¡°Maybe that''s a bonus of traveling with a Halve,¡± Pokora suggested, looking at Natasha with an arched eyebrow. ¡°I bet the news of your birth reached bandits and they moved away from this region.¡± The Halve nodded with a hum. ¡°Alyssa and Lapia told me the wild was dangerous so I thought we''d come across crazy shit out there.¡± ¡°I''m pretty sure monsters just avoid you,¡± the Archer suggested. ¡°I mean, my trip to Lumin Kingdom wasn''t as calm.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yolin perked up at that. ¡°Did you fight anything during your trip?¡± Pokora nodded with a smile, then retold of the many monsters she came across on her way to meet the Halve.
A while later, and with alcohol in the system. ¡°I can''t believe this,¡± Natasha complained. ¡°You''re telling me there are massive wolves out there stalking Chasers?¡± Pokora and Yolin nodded. ¡°That''s why we''ve set up watch during the nights,¡± Pokora explained, pouring alcohol in her glass. ¡°They''re as big as Pochi,¡± Yolin supplied, then drank from her glass. ¡°I feel like I''ve been robbed of excitement,¡± the Halve sighed. ¡°Not to mention wild felines and foxes,¡± Pokora chuckled. ¡°There are all kinds of predators out there that attack travelers.¡± ¡°The most interesting ones fly,¡± Yolin chuckled. ¡°Most pick you up, go up, then drop you.¡± ¡°No,¡± Natasha muttered and put a slice of cheese in her mouth. ¡°Fuck those!¡± Pokora laughed and drank more.
¡°You can''t be serious,¡± Borminsar gasped, looking at Alyssa. ¡°Gionakis is one of the best characters Yinka Plavas has ever written!¡± ¡°Come on,¡± the Luzo sighed and put her glass down. ¡°He''s supposed to be this... criminal mastermind, but a child ruins the entire empire he''s built?¡± The Satyr huffed in disbelief. ¡°A powerful Wizard in the guise of a child,¡± he pointed out. ¡°Everyone knows Tenaflis was the kid!¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°That''s not made clear at any point, Bormisnar. Sure, Tenaflis is capable of doing that, but there''s no evidence of them being the same character. Plus, Gionakis should have seen through the disguise if he was such a mastermind!¡± ¡°That''s what we call acting,¡± Bromisnar argued. ¡°Which is shown to be something Tenaflis can''t do to save her skin,¡± she insisted. ¡°The Pakunter saw through it in the second chapter. A Pakunter, Bromisnar!¡± The man frowned. ¡°Well, it was an especially clever and observant Pakunter,¡± he grumbled, grasping at straws. Everyone exploded in laughter at that. Except Natasha. She had no idea what a Pakunter was.
¡°So, there I was,¡± Bonte retold. ¡°Covered in feces from head to toe in order to hide my scent from the Janaxi.¡± Everyone shook their heads in disgust. ¡°But then, one of my companions threw up,¡± he chuckled. ¡°And the Janaxi jumped at us.¡±
The night was relaxing, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Bromisnar made sure Bonte didn''t go too far with the alcohol, and Thelea helped. Elena had a total of two glasses of wine, being mindful of her low tolerance. Hanna, who didn''t like alcohol in the first place, drank juice and had no problems in joining the conversations the party had. A few hours had passed, and it was time to go back to the inn. Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Part 3 Pokora was feeling it while crossing the street back to the inn. Every blink magnified sound and made her skin feel the world with increasing intensity. The wind felt like a caress that both tickled and licked her neck, sending cozy shivers running up her spine and into her brain. Her cheeks were warm, and the ever-present urge to just close her eyes and exist in the moment was both palpably inside her and unreasonably distant at the same time. Yolin''s arm around her shoulders felt like the suns on her skin. Burning in that addicting way that made her want more until she lost any capacity to think, or until all thoughts had been thought. Whichever came first. Warmth formed in her stomach and went up her torso, followed her throat and exploded in her mouth in the form of a giggle. The Oni kissed the top of her head. A wave of tingles traveled down her face, forming a smile. Pokora closed her eyes, feeling warm and cozy. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± asked the Tank. The soothing sound of the woman''s voice went into Pokora''s ears, arousing every nerve in the Elf''s head and making her see smokey red clouds in the darkness. Pokora replied in the affirmative with a low hum accompanied with a nod, then wrapped an arm around the Oni''s waist. Ahhh... the tight, hard, and strong muscles of the older woman''s torso felt like an unwavering rock that she could lean on without a care in the world. Pokora had an extremely weak spot for physically strong women, or in her own words ''muscle mommies''. Anything with ''boys'' in front of it was Pokora''s thing. Tomboys and femboys. A blistering hot hand rested on her free shoulder, and she immediately recognized it as Natasha''s. ¡°Are you in the zone?¡± the Halve inquired with a chuckle. Pokora bit her lower lip and nodded, then placed her free hand on top of the Warrior''s... if only to extend the time she felt that touch. Unlike the Oni, the Halve''s body heat was higher by several magnitudes. Whether by biology, E''er fuckery, or cosmic workings, the touch was otherworldly attractive to the Elf. Her mind replayed the scene that went down in the forest a few nights ago. Those strong, big hands that had held her and given her pleasure in the heat of the moment made her face heat up with a mindnumbingly amount of arousal. Slowly, the image of the acts that went down that night reformed in her mind, but with Yolin joining. She wondered. How would she, a comparatively shorter woman, fare against the two muscular tomboys in sexual combat? Nah, she corrected herself with a chuckle. Not ''combat'', but crazy horny shit. ¡°I see,¡± Natasha replied and let go. Pokora grumbled in protest, then wrapped her free arm around the Halve''s waist to prevent her escape. And... Oh lord. It felt like hugging a molten tungsten statue. If Yolin''s muscles were hard, then Natasha''s were indestructible. Even if Pokora tightened her arm, the muscles did not give in, the skin resilient in ways that should not be biologically possible. That did things to the young Elf''s mind, and she opened her eyes. The hallway to their rooms greeted her. Hanna was opening the door to her room, Elena waiting behind her. The door to Thelea''s room was being held open by Bromisnar so Bonte could go inside. The Goliath was already inside, waiting for the two. Ohh... Pokora smiled, imagination going wild due to alcohol. Yolin, Natasha, and Thelea ganging up on me... holy shit! Images of three muscular women handling Pokora''s body danced in her mind. The amalgamation of increased libido due to her approaching cycle, the alcohol, and her personal preferences triggered something in her mind. In summary, Pokora was down cataclysmic. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. She turned to Yolin and pulled her in for a kiss. The Oni complied, connecting lips. After a full 30 second long, full jaw-moving, tongue wrestle the two separated. Pokora turned to Natasha and pulled her in for a kiss as well. The Halve, however, did not comply. ¡°Come on,¡± Pokora complained, moving her hand from the Halve''s waist to her neck, then pulled stronger. Alas, Pokora simply lacked the strength required to force her. ¡°No,¡± stated Natasha. ¡°You''re drunk.¡± Pokora stopped and gave Natasha a look of absolute disbelief, as if she was told life''s purpose was to build houses of cards instead of whatever the actual answer was. ¡°What?¡± she muttered. ¡°I said you''re dunk,¡± Natasha repeated, arching an eyebrow. ¡°Hello, drunk,¡± Pokora laughed. ¡°I''m... wait. It doesn''t work like that.¡± Lapia, who was behind them, burst in full belly laughter. The Archer joined in loud laughter. Hanna, who had been watching the interaction with wide eyes, nodded in silent understanding and closed the door to the room. Warmth enveloped Pokora''s head for a second. Then, absolute clarity came to her. Her drunken stupor had been healed away. If not for silly things like physics, Pokora''s face would have combusted in flames from embarrassment at the realization of her actions. Pokora was familiar with Galeia''s social dynamics from a purely theoretical perspective. She knew, from a logical point of view, that her actions would be shamed by none. Still, kissing Yolin while Alyssa, Lapia, and Natasha were watching was something that logic had no place in. It was embarrassing no matter who tried correcting her. No amount of polyamory advocacy would convince her otherwise. Even worse to her, she tried to kiss Natasha while drunk. In front of Alyssa and Lapia, the official? Regular? Girlfriends. The clarity didn''t last long, turning into a confused mess. So, she stopped moving. And thinking. That, too, didn''t last long. ¡°Hey,¡± Yolin started, taking Pokora''s chin so their eyes could meet. ¡°Wanna spend the night with us?¡± She offered. Pokora''s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°We like you, Pokora,¡± Alyssa continued, closing the distance and placing a hand on her back. ¡°And we''d like to invite you.¡± That was the biggest shock. Pokora hadn''t thought she''d have anything in common with Alyssa, so hearing she like her was rather confusing. Lapia walked around the group and faced Pokora, then placed a hand on her cheek. ¡°Unlike last time, this offer is from all of us,¡± she reminded her. ¡°We want you, Pokora.¡± Memories of that night when Pokora eavesdropped them and touched herself resurfaced on her mind. Lapia had been the one to see her wet underwear, and apparently had kept it to herself since nobody brought it up. ¡°If not,¡± Natasha spoke, bringing the bucket of cold water. ¡°That''s absolutely fine. We just thought it was a good opportunity, considering recent developments.¡± Such a cold way to put it, Pokora thought, meeting the Halve''s eyes. ¡°There''s no consequence if you say no,¡± Natasha continued. ¡°I want to make that clear. If not today, or if not ever.¡± Pokora turned to Yolin with worry in her eyes. ¡°Things will be the same,¡± the Oni reassured her, caressing her chin. ¡°Just the way they''ve been so far.¡± A smile split the tank''s lips. ¡°As I said before, if you get horny and want to do it with any of us, that''s okay too. You and me will continue our relationship, and you can be sex friends with them if you want.¡± ¡°If you want to go slow,¡± Alyssa picked up, running her hand over the Elf''s back. ¡°That''s alright, too. This is us stating our interest in you.¡± ¡°You decide, Pokora,¡± Lapia interjected, running a hand over the younger Elf''s hair. The Archer closed her eyes to think. Too many things were happening too quickly for her, and she needed a second. Evelynn Heart lived 28 years on Earth. Enough time to form a solid set of beliefs. Jumping from a monogamist mindset to polyamory wasn''t easy, for example. Pokora, however, had three fathers. She grew up seeing polyamory as the norm in Galeia. She lived with her family in Pizh''kh until she joined the army. She saw her older sister live a life with two male partners. Her biological parents knew she had lived a life on another world before and were more than willing to explain things ever since she could speak and ask questions. The sexual liberty of women was another issue Evelynn had to experience. Historically treated as second class citizens, being a woman wasn''t entirely satisfactory. She died with a great number of grievances, if truth be told. The things she had to say about it couldn''t be summarized in lines. Galeia, however, saw men and women as more than equals. The... collective way in which people lived came together as a whole in Galeia. Little were the differences. Not to mention there were species with more, or less than two sexes. The relationship being offered to her was, in her words, too convenient... but not outside the norm. She could choose to continue being Yolin''s girlfriend while getting frisky with Alyssa, Lapia, and Natasha with no strings attached. ¡°Do you need time?¡± Yolin asked, noticing the silent woman. The answer, however, was ridiculously simple. To the point of being silly, to be honest. Pokora looked at her in the eye and nodded. ¡°I''m in,¡± she stated, and her face burned. Fuck choosing one! She thought with a dirty smile. That''s what harem protagonists did in the anime she watched! Pokora wasn''t a beta! She chose them all! And she wanted to have sex with all of them! TONIGHT! Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Part 4 Pokora followed the four into the room while contemplating on a lot of things. New things. Four girlfriends. That was scandalous and overly indulgent. To who, though? To Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che? Certainly not. To Evelynn Heart? Most likely. But Evelynn Heart was, in a way, no more. The group sat down at the table. Pokora glanced at Natasha and remembered the chat they had deep down in the Dungeon where the Halve had mentioned having killed her past self in order to come to terms with the new reality presented to her. Natasha met her eyes and gave her a small smile. ¡°Do you have any questions?¡± Yolin interrupted her thoughts, taking Pokora''s hand. ¡°Too many, if I''m honest,¡± the Archer chuckled. Natasha nodded. ¡°Well, when two people are attracted to one another-¡± Pokora snorted. ¡°Fuck off, that''s not what I meant.¡± Lapia hummed. ¡°You seem to have no reservations with Halves,¡± she pointed out with an approving smile. ¡°That''s a relief.¡± ¡°True,¡± Alyssa agreed. ¡°Being comfortable is good,¡± Yolin added, pinching Pokora''s cheek. Well... I can start there, Pokora thought. ¡°It''s just Natasha,¡± she pointed out. The woman in question raised her eyebrows, then gave her a nod. ¡°Right,¡± Alyssa chimed in. ¡°You''ve met Nilenna before.¡± ¡°I did,¡± Pokora confirmed with a nod. ¡°She was pretty... energetic.¡± Natasha scoffed. ¡°I can believe that,¡± she supplied. ¡°Why just Natasha?¡± Lapia inquired with interest. ¡°How different are they? I mean, besides the energetic part.¡± ¡°Hmmm...¡± Pokora thought for a few seconds, trying to find the words to properly explain. ¡°I have more in common with Natasha than Nilenna,¡± she pointed out with a cheeky smile. The Halve in front of her arched a golden eyebrow. ¡°Like what?¡± Alyssa probed in interest. ¡°I lived on Earth before dying and being reborn here,¡± Pokora revealed. ¡°What?!¡± Natasha raised her voice in disbelief. ¡°You did?!¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Lapia spoke. ¡°Come again?¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Yolin uttered, then nodded. Alyssa''s eyes widened in shock. Pokora''s eyebrows knotted and she pointed at Natasha. ¡°Don''t react like that! You absolutely knew!¡± The Halve laughed and nodded. Yolin turned to Natasha. ¡°You knew?¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Back in Lakeview,¡± Natasha supplied, but didn''t elaborate. ¡°Wait,¡± Lapia whispered and put her hands on the table. ¡°Did you two know each other before?¡± ¡°Kind of,¡± the Halve replied. ¡°Pokora was a famous athlete and I was an artist with a medium-sized following. We knew of each other.¡± ¡°Medium?¡± Pokora scoffed. ¡°You had almost a million followers. And I followed you for the better part of a decade.¡± Natasha nodded. ¡°You had sixteen million followers, so I don''t know what you''re talking about. Thanks, by the way.¡± Pokora rolled her eyes. ¡°Completely different platforms,¡± she argued. ¡°And your art was worth it, anyway.¡± Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin witnessed the exchange in slight confusion. ¡°So...¡± Lapia interjected. ¡°You knew after meeting, or what?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Alyssa agreed, joining. ¡°This is so juicy!¡± Yolin nodded with a smile. ¡°True, fate is a funny thing.¡± Pokora sighed. ¡°Well, I was reading the newspaper one day and came across an interview with Natasha''s drawing. I recognized the signature so I went off to see if they were the same person.¡± ¡°You remembered a signature from fifty years ago?¡± Lapia voiced her doubt. Pokora nodded. Natasha''s smile turned cheeky. Pokora chuckled and turned to the three. ¡°Anyway, I got to Lakeview but didn''t know how to approach you all. The night we met... yeah.¡± Alyssa nodded in understanding. ¡°But you told Natasha when you met, right?¡± Lapia inquired. ¡°How did that go?¡± Pokora bit her lower lip. ¡°I followed one of the waitresses to the bathroom and apprehended her. I planned on taking her over to you all, but Natasha barged in and... I brought the Lupum out, then explained things.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Alyssa sighed. ¡°I remember that mess.¡± ¡°When I did, Natasha got violent and I told her I was from Earth as well,¡± Pokora retold. ¡°I unknowingly made myself look like a threat, though, so I''m not mad at Natasha.¡± ¡°You should be mad,¡± the Halve pointed out. ¡°I could have killed you. I had no real reason to act the way I did.¡± ¡°You absolutely did,¡± Pokora contested. ¡°Don''t minimize the attempt at your life.¡± ¡°So you can, but I can''t?¡± Natasha retorted. Pokora scoffed. ¡°I''m saying we were both in the wrong, which is what you said back then.¡± ¡°I did, but you word it differently,¡± Natasha pointed out. ¡°You make it sound like my actions are somehow righteous or whatever. I don''t think that''s the way we should see it.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± Pokora agreed. ¡°We were both dumb. Period.¡± Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin witnessed the exchange with small smiles. ¡°You two need to fuck,¡± Lapia blurted out. ¡°Again, I mean.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Yolin agreed with a nod. ¡°The tension is palpable,¡± Alyssa giggled. Natasha and Pokora gave the three doubtful looks. ¡°What?¡± Pokora asked in confusion. ¡°A raw hatefuck would do them wonders,¡± Lapia told Yolin. ¡°I can see it,¡± the Oni agreed, then turned to Alyssa. ¡°There''s a lot to unpack there.¡± ¡°Didn''t they already have sex, though?¡± The Luzo pointed out. ¡°Hmm... but I bet it was quick and they didn''t get too into it.¡± ¡°Truuuee,¡± Lapia laughed with a few nods. ¡°I can totally see it going down like that.¡± ¡°It was in the middle of the forest, too,¡± Yolin recalled. ¡°That''s not exactly comfortable.¡± ¡°I bet it was a single round, too,¡± Alyssa lamented. ¡°Young people should release more stress more often.¡± ¡°Maybe that''s an Earthling thing, you know?¡± Lapia considered. ¡°Natasha said sex was shamed, remember?¡± ¡°True,¡± Yolin agreed. ¡°I don''t see her having any issues with that now, hehehe!¡± The Halve covered her eyes with a hand and sighed. Pokora''s face turned red. Maybe going 1 round wasn''t enough... true, she thought and looked at Natasha. Ah, what am I thinking. Fucking hormones. Lapia noticed Pokora glancing at Natasha, then nudged at Yolin with her elbow. ¡°Isn''t it time to go take a shower? Right, Alyssa?¡± The Luzo nodded. ¡°We have a long night ahead of us, yes.¡± I hope it''s longer than one round, Pokora thought and stood up. ¡°Let''s get that shower.¡± Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Part 5 (18+) The five were taking a shower when Alyssa approached Pokora. The Luzo stood behind the Elf. ¡°May I wash your back?¡± she offered. Pokora nodded. ¡°Sure, thanks,¡± she agreed. Alyssa stretched an arm and touched the wall, revealing a compartment with soap and shampoo behind a lid. The Archer looked at the healer''s arm. She noticed the dark scales covering the limb. They were thicker than she initially thought. ¡°Do you mind if I ask you a few health-related questions?¡± the healer inquired and placed her hands on the Elf''s back. The touch was gentle but firm. ¡°Why?¡± Pokora asked back, a little concerned. ¡°Did I catch something?¡± Alyssa giggled. ¡°No, just curiosity,¡± she replied, cleaning the woman''s back. ¡°You are perfectly healthy.¡± The Archer let out a relieved sigh, then replied. ¡°Okay, what do you want to know?¡± ¡°Let me know if I''m crossing a line here, but... Is there a reason you decided to keep your hymen intact?¡± Alyssa dropped a nuclear warhead on top of Pokora''s head. The younger woman was blank for a few seconds, then unfounded worry began to settle in her mind. ¡°Should I not have?¡± she inquired. Is that weird in this world? Azhala didn''t say it was, though. ¡°What you do with your body is your choice,¡± Alyssa pointed out the obvious. ¡°Again, I''m just curious. You were in the Organized Preventive Armed Forces of Uuruhk, correct?¡± Pokora nodded. ¡°I was. Ah, I see...¡± Pokora uttered after understanding. It was natural to be curious. How come a woman who was in the Army had her hymen intact. A woman who had gone through extensive physical activity for 25 years straight. To Pokora, who was a high-end athlete on Earth, the Army was more strenuous than the regimen she underwent to stay at Olympic level. There was a lot she would need to tell Alyssa in order to explain her personal choice. She chose a simpler answer, though. ¡°I like it that way, and request it to be kept whole every time I visit a Cleric or I do something that would tear it.¡± ¡°Tyomnaya noch''~ tol''ko puli svistyat po stepi~¡± Natasha started singing. ¡°I see,¡± Alyssa accepted it, cleaning the Elf''s lower back. ¡°Any specific reason? If you don''t mind me asking.¡± Pokora''s eyebrows joined and she frowned. ¡°I''d like it to be torn by someone I trust enough to form a relationship,¡± she elaborated. ¡°If I meet someone who''s put off by it, then they''re not for me. The same way, if someone places too much value on it I''m going to back off.¡± The Luzo hummed in understanding. ¡°Tol''ko veter gudit v provodakh~ tusklo zvyozdy mertsayut...~¡± the Halve kept singing. ¡°I think it''s a bit romantic,¡± Pokora continued, feeling her face heat up. ¡°It''s a physical boundary of sorts that brings people together when crossed.¡± ¡°True,¡± Alyssa agreed. ¡°It''s different for everybody. I do it for the pain,¡± she shared. Pokora''s eyebrows went up in surprise. She turned her head to the side and repeated, ¡°The pain?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± the Luzo giggled. ¡°I like pain to an extent. So, if my partner is comfortable with it, I''ll heal my hymen and do first-time play.¡± The Archer''s eyebrows joined again, this time in concern and confusion at the woman''s level of kinkiness. ¡°You can heal it again after?¡± ¡°V tyomnuyu noch'' ty, lyubimaya, znayu, ne spish''~¡± the futa continued. Alyssa nodded. ¡°Yes, but it''s been a while since the last time I did that,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Bodies can be tools for pleasure, in a way. When all parties consent, amazing things can be done in order to achieve the maximum amount of pleasure possible.¡± ¡°Have you done that with Natasha? The first time thing?¡± Pokora asked with a fair amount of curiosity. ¡°No,¡± the Luzo denied. ¡°I don''t do bedroom plays if my partners are not fully informed and consent to it.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± the Elf agreed with a nod, then continued in a small voice, ¡°So... you can control pain?¡± Alyssa smiled. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°I u detskoy krovatki taykom ty slezu utiraesh''~¡± Natasha sang louder.
After the shower, the group went back to the room. The five sat on the bed, looking at each other. Lapia produced a wooden tray with alcohol on it and placed it between the five. ¡°So, how are we doing things today?¡± she asked, looking at Pokora. ¡°If we''re doing them.¡± The younger Elf nodded, face turning red. ¡°How do you usually do it?¡± ¡°Do what?¡± Yolin teased Pokora, putting an arm over her shoulders. ¡°Fucking,¡± the Archer bluntly replied. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Hahaha!¡± the Oni hugged her stomach and leaned forward. ¡°Dunno,¡± Natasha replied, then took a shot of whiskey. ¡°We normally gang up on one of us and then go from there.¡± ¡°Poko,¡± Yolin started, hugging the Elf. ¡°Sit between my legs, okay?¡± Pokora''s face turned redder and she complied, moving over to sit between the taller and older woman''s legs. Lapia got naked and hugged Alyssa, who got naked as well. Pokora''s eyebrows went up at that. I thought there would be more talking, she considered. Yolin hugged her waist and kissed her neck. Natasha got naked as well and moved over to Pokora, staying on her knees. ¡°Wanna get familiar with it?¡± she asked with a challening smirk. ¡°I''m sure it''s been a looong while for you, keke.¡± Pokora arched an eyebrow. This bitch! ¡°What are you on about? I made you cum the other day,¡± she replied with red cheeks. ¡°Did you play with her pussy?¡± Yolin asked behind her. ¡°She''s super sensitive there. If you play with her cock alone she can go for literal hours.¡± Natasha''s smile turned even cockier, pun intended. Pokora''s eyes widened. ¡°No way,¡± she muttered and turned her body to face Yolin. ¡°For real?¡± The tank nodded. ¡°Back in Paarjo the two of us fucked for twelve hours straight.¡± The Archer blinked twice. ¡°Bullshit!¡± she called out with a scoff. ¡°That''s literally impossible.¡± Yolin shrugged. ¡°If you''re made so you can fight for years without rest, it''s pretty doable,¡± she concluded. Pokora shook her head, not believing it. ¡°What about that bit of time when it goes soft?¡± She questioned. ¡°Nonexistent,¡± Natasha smugly replied. ¡°But if you don''t want to, you don''t have to.¡± Pokora moved her hand and grabbed the cock in front of her. ¡°I never said no,¡± she stated and squeezed it. Natasha scowled. ¡°Keep agression to words,¡± she told her. The Elf''s grip on ther cock relaxed. ¡°My bad.¡± Yolin brought her hands to the Elf''s breasts and started gently massaging. ¡°Wanna lose the clothes?¡± Pokora blushed and nodded, then stored her shirt, panties, and pants. The Oni''s hands on her humble chest felt ticklish, and her warm skin caused tingles to go into her flesh and up her spine to her brain. As the oldest of the five, Yolin knew perfectly well where and how to touch people to make them feel the greates they''ve ever felt. Addind the fact she was a Cleric, she also knew the amount of pressure to apply and where to apply it. Being a Monk also gave her knowledge of pressure points around the body. Being a Paladin... didn''t really give her an edge. Her Asura class, however, allowed her to sense the flow of energy inside people. In other words, Pokora was tingling all over before Natasha could pop a boner. The young Elf had a hard time focusing on the futa''s genital while being given such gentle and firm touches. Shit! Pokora cursed in her mind, feeling her body grow hot with every pinch and caress from Yolin. Is this why she kisses so good? ¡°What''s wrong, Poko?¡± Yolin teasingly whispered into her year, guiding a hand to the Elf''s nether regions. ¡°You won''t stroke her cock?¡± The Elf tightened her jaw when she noticed her hands had stopped. When? She had no idea. ¡°Hmm...¡± Natasha hummed, arching an eyebrow. ¡°A bit selfish, isn''t she?¡± She joked and leaned forward, giving the Oni a deep kiss. Slowly, the cock in Pokora''s hands grew stiffer. And so did Pokora''s eyes. This... is huge! She thought, stretching her fingers to measure the length of the member. Her hands weren''t big enough, though. This is bigger than in the forest! Pokora had never seen such a huge cock in person. She had also seen very little of porn, and most of what she saw didn''t include penises. The head is so... she used her fingers to gently squeeze it. Feels like a rock, holy shit! She flipped it around to get a good look. And it''s entirely gold! ¡°Hmph!¡± she held a moan back at Yolin squeezing a nipple. The penis in her hand was beautiful, but too large. Pokora wasn''t a size queen like Natasha, after all. Still, she gave the cock a few squeezes. It was unreasonably hard. Pokora gulped, a little scared at the prospect of such a large dick going inside her. This is not natural, she concluded after a while. Cocks aren''t supposed to be this big... I''m sure this is like... biologically disadvantageous or something. I bet even a Goliath would have problems with a cock this big. The soud of something wet stopped her thoughts and actions. She looked down at Yolin''s hands but found herself not wet yet. ¡°Mhh,¡± Lapia moaned. Pokora looked to the side. Alyssa was eating Lapia out right next to them. The Luzo''s split blue tongue licked the tan Elf''s clitoris, seperating and pinching it with both ends then rubbing it from both sides. Pokora''s face turned bright red. I sooo want that! A pulse interrupted her enjoying such a view. Between her fingers, the golden cock had finished getting hard. No fucking way, she gasped in absolute disbelief. Her hand failed to close around the cock. ¡°Hn!¡± Pokora moaned at Yolin grazing her clit. Natasha and Yolin separated. The Halve then closed in on Pokora and gave her a kiss. The Elf reciprocated, feeling her face about to combust. ¡°Ounh!¡± she moaned into Natasha''s mouth. Their tongues wrestled for a few seconds, then the Halve pulled back. Pokora looked her in the eye. Eyes the color of molten gold stared back. A line crossing the pupil made for an outlandish sight. A golden tongue licked golden lips. ¡°Want me to eat you out?¡± the Halve offered. Pokora opened her mouth to reply ¡°O-hmng!¡± she was interrupted by Yolin pinching both of her nipples. ¡°Okay, yes, please,¡± she got out in quick succession. Yolin cupped Pokora''s breasts and pinched her nipples again. ¡°Mhh!¡± the Archer groaned. Natasha closed in again and gave her another kiss, which made her moan loudly since her mouth was open. Then, the futa planted kisses on her lips, cheeks, neck, chest, nipples, stomach, and finally to her vulva. All the while, Yolin caressed the sensitive spots on Pokora''s body. Keeping eye contact, Natasha''s tongue slowly lapped Pokora''s pussy. Blistering hot flesh touched her, and her hips buckled. ¡°Shit!¡± she hissed, then realized the heat all over her hips. I''m gonna cum right away! Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Part 6 (18+) Red fingers prodded sensitive spots Pokora didn''t know she had. The immediate area around her belly button, the point where rib met abdomen, her entire neck, the back of her long ears, the edge of her jaw, the tip of her annular fingers, the spot directly beneath her breasts, and a line along the middle of her navel were all under attack by Yolin. With those came the touches of golden hands. The back of her knees, the upper back of her thighs, the sole of her left foot, the tip of her right pinkie toe, and her calves were Natasha''s targets. Every time a finger pressed into her skin a hot bolt of tingles coursed through the Elf''s body, growing hotter by the second. Yolin''s body was pressed against Pokora''s back. Naked, hard, warm, and big. A soothing voice whispered into her ears every once in a while, shortly replacing the watery sounds and moans coming from Lapia and Alyssa. ¡°Do you like this?¡± it asked after every touch. ¡°I love it,¡± Pokora replied back in a whisper, turning her head and offering hungry lips. The Oni chuckled and complied every time, connecting lips and magnifying the pleasure that turned Pokora''s brain into mush. Her lips were nibbled, softly bit, gently stretched, then released for an instant before they were covered once more. Much to Pokora''s surprise, Natasha was slow and gentle with her pussy. Nothing like their previous encounter. The blistering hot tongue didn''t focus on anything in particular, but explored the woman''s genital in its entirety. Similar to Yolin, who played with Pokora''s upper lips, Natasha took her time with her lower lips to slowly turn her brain into mush as well. Slow, long, and firm licks that went from the perineum to her navel made her body tremble. The Halve''s cruel ways involved avoiding the Elf''s clitoris eight out of ten times. Pokora was being tormented in the most pleasurable way possible. Her body grew hotter and limper, her breath grew deeper and longer. Her skin and pussy were moist, puffy, and red from arousal and embarrassment. The tongue on her pussy was slow. The lips on her ears were gentle. Too slow! Pokora complained in her mind, breathing heavily. Too gentle! A loud moan caught Pokora''s attention and she looked to the side. Lapia was trembling all over. Her legs shook and her voice was an unintelligible stream of words. Alyssa gulped a few times, then separated from the Elf''s crotch. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°That was soooo good,¡± the Wizard panted. ¡°I''m happy you liked it,¡± the healer giggled and laid on top of the Domi Elf. Pokora watched Lapia relish in the afterglow of orgasm while the two women kissed. ¡°Auh!¡± Pokora moaned after the tongue on her crotch hit her clit. Alyssa sat up and produced a monster dildo made of a glass-like material, accompanied by a BDSM-looking underwear. The undergarment disappeared and reappeared on her. With a quick movement, the healer attached the toy to the piece of clothing. That''s a strapon, Pokora thought, looking at the new equipment on the Luzo''s crotch. Alyssa made her way to Natasha''s ass and grabbed the Halve''s left butt cheek with a hand. ¡°Hmmm...¡± she hummed and produced a small bottle, then poured the liquid on the glass-like phallus and stroked it a few times. Pokora looked down at Natasha between her legs and saw the Halve''s eyes glazed with arousal and expectation. Natasha fixed her position to take it from behind, lifting her hips and spreading her legs. A white halo materialized on top of Alyssa''s head, then she pushed her hips forward into Natasha. ¡°Hmmmggg!¡± the Halve moaned loudly into Pokora''s pussy, sending vibrations through her flesh. ¡°Auh!¡± Pokora moaned back. Alyssa wrapped her tail around Natasha''s waist, then moved her hips in a fast rhythm. ¡°Hnnng!¡± Natasha moaned between Pokora''s legs again, scrunching her eyebrows. Such a face, Pokora thought, looking at Natasha''s lustful expression. That perpetually bored expression is nowhere to be found! Soon, the clap of skin on skin filled the room, accompanied by the wet sounds of Natasha''s pussy being fucked by Alyssa. ¡°Like what you see?¡± whispered Yolin into Pokora''s ear, then licked the cartilaginous organ. Pokora nodded, letting out a hot breath. ¡°Yolin...¡± she whispered. ¡°Yeah?¡± the Oni asked back, cupping her breasts and pinching her nipples. ¡°Hn... faster... please,¡± the Archer requested with a panting voice. The tank replied by quickening her ministrations, pinching harder, and touching with more pressure. ¡°Tasha,¡± Pokora called with a heavily aroused voice. ¡°Please make me cum, daddy,¡± she pleaded. Alyssa''s eyes widened for an instant, then a wide smile formed on her face. A very naughty and scheming smile. The Halve''s tongue moved faster, pressed harder, and focused on the Elf''s clit. ¡°Ahhaa!¡± Pokora loudly moaned, letting herself be pleased by two women at the same time while in front two others. It was embarrassing, arousing, and fucking liberating. Moans, the wet clap of the dildo plunging into Natasha''s wet pussy, the watery sounds of Pokora''s pussy being lapped on, Lapia''s heavy breathing after orgasm, Alyssa''s groans of exertion to push into the Protector''s vagina, Yolin''s teasing whispers into Pokora''s ears. Pokora''s eyelids fluttered, her brain overcharging with stimuli from her five senses. Five voices, multiple touches, the smell of sweat and arousal, the taste of Yolin''s kisses, and the sight before her eyes. It was enough for Pokora. She felt like a balloon about to blow up. Her head felt mushy. Her loins were on fire. Her body was about to combust. And then, a tongue pressed against her clit and vibrated. ¡°Aaahhnn! Fuuuuck!¡± Pokora moaned loudly as she finally came. Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Part 7 (18+) Something was missing. The pleasure was there and so was the bop of release. Pokora took a few deep breaths but felt something wasn''t there. She held a hand in front of Natasha''s face to stop the licking. The Halve did as requested, separating from her crotch and leaning her forehead on the bed. Alyssa had bot hands on the woman''s waist and was going at it from behind. Pokora leaned her head back and relaxed her body on Yolin. The Oni bombarded her face with kisses and her body with gentle caresses. The pleasure had been a gradual increase. The release had been slow and strong. The feeling of Yolin''s body behind her had hammered on the intimacy of the moment as did Natasha''s hands and mouth. It was for sure better than masturbating on her own. By far. Pokora turned her body around and wrapped her arms on the tank''s neck, then pushed her back. Yolin allowed it and wrapped her arms around her waist, pressing them together. The two enjoyed the tight hug, feeling the other''s heartbeat drum inside their chests at different rhythms. Skin moved against skin due to Pokora''s labored breathing, sending comfortable tingles all over their bodies. Yolin enjoyed the hot, sweaty skin of the younger woman against hers. The two looked into each other''s eyes, then smiled and kissed. Still, Pokora thought something was missing. The orgasm was good and she felt satisfied, but something ate at her mind. A thought that wasn''t too intrusive tried convincing her that it could feel better, stronger, and last longer. But what, exactly? Pokora couldn''t put a finger on it. Whenever she was close to the answer, Yolin''s skilled kisses broke her focus. If it wasn''t a kiss, then it was having her nipples prodded, pinched, or gently pulled that kept her from reaching a higher understanding of her own sexual preferences. The Archer didn''t fight it, however, letting her thoughts wander while on top of the woman she was down horrendous for. And she enjoyed every second to its fullest. Her hands explored every centimeter of red skin she could reach. Yolin''s strong arms, powerful legs, harder-than-iron stomach, bubbly ass, muscular back, and beautiful face. Similar to the nights they had stood watch while on their trip, the two tangled in a hug while kissing. And just like those nights the two went into Pokora''s tent, they were naked and horny. Pokora broke the kiss and spread Yoln''s legs, then put a leg under the woman''s hips while the other went above. Their labias touched and both giggled at how wanting they were of the other. Arousal leaked from their genitals, and they soon began humping. Having a higher Dexterity, Pokora''s movements were otherworldly precise at targeting the Oni''s womanhood, rubbing clits in ways she had never done-or could- as a Human on Earth. Hips moved in circles, focusing entirely on that tip of nerves in an intoxicating trance. Their moans came loud, accompanied by sighs, giggles, little groans, and delighted hums. Pokora''s face burned with the power of a thousand suns at Yolin''s eyes never leaving hers. Even while going for a lick on a lucky nipple, the red woman never once looked away. Sky blue eyes held not a drop of embarrassment, shyness, or lack of confidence in them. It was to the point those concepts seemed like a lie. Pokora grew a little nervous with such unwavering stare. She felt everything was laid bare in front of Yolin. Still, a stupid smile formed on her face. After all, what is better than a partner that sees all and chooses to stay? Yolin''s eyelids fluttered and her body tightened while she let out a long hiss of release. Pokora slowed her hips to let her ride the orgasm. The Oni, however, requested otherwise, ¡°Don''t fucking stop, please,¡± she breathed out with glazed eyes. The Elf gulped and nodded, then continued, savoring the feeling of giving the woman pleasure, which enhanced her own. Lapia, who had been watching with a satisfied smile, chuckled and made her way to the other two. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Soon, Alyssa''s moans joined the chorus of pleasure in the room. Shortly after, Pokora reached her peak once again. She hugged Yolin, kissed her, and trembled while cumming. ¡°Uuhh...¡± she groaned in between kisses. The Oni returned the hug. ¡°That was awesome, Poko,¡± she whispered and kissed her deeper. Their warm and slippery tongues met and entwined, their lips connected, and their eyes closed. And yet, Pokora''s eyebrow twitched. There was still something missing. ¡°Yeah, like that!¡± Natasha moaned. ¡°That''s the spot!¡± Pokora looked over and almost choked. The Halve was being pounded from behind... hard. Her eyes were lost, her lips were parted, her face was glowing bright, drool was escaping her mouth, and a stream of noises came out her mouth that lacked any resemblance to any spoken language. Alyssa, who was the one responsible for such a relentless fuck, had her eyebrows scrunched up, her breathing was labored due to the required effort to fuck the golden woman, sweat fell down her face, and she was biting her lower lip. Her eyes were fixed on the Halve''s back, following the sculpted muscles the woman was tightening. Lapia had her arms around the Luzo, holding her breasts and playing with them while licking and kissing her neck. Damn, Pokora thought with wide eyes. That''s like... 1,2,3,4,5 thrusts every second. Wait... wasn''t the dildo huge? And Natasha''s taking it all that fast?! ¡°Hnnngg!¡± the Halve groaned. ¡°Fuck that pussy good!¡± Alyssa raised a hand and brought it down on Natasha''s ass. The slap echoed in the room. ¡°You like that?¡± Alyssa challenged. ¡°Yeah!¡± the mightiest species in the world replied in the most aroused voice a living being could produce, then dug her face on the bed covers and let out the loudest moan of the night. A big smile spread Alyssa''s lips, and her eyes narrowed as she continued the merciless assault. A frown formed on Pokora''s face, however. Yeah, right! Give me the lousiest head ever and then go get absolutely pounded, why don''t you?! She complained in her mind. Top lover my ass! Yolin kissed Pokora''s jaw and followed down her neck. Her hands grabbed the Archer''s ass and squeezed the flesh. The Elf returned her attention to the Oni and smiled. ¡°Round two?¡± The muscular woman suggested in a seductive voice. Pokora''s eyes widened. ¡°What? That fast?¡± She blurted out in surprise. Yolin chuckled, ¡°Need a minute?¡± ¡°More like five,¡± the younger woman giggled. ¡°I came twice in a row,¡± she pointed out. ¡°I see,¡± the tank accepted with an understanding nod. ¡°Wanna help Natasha cum, then?¡± Poko-Poko arched an eyebrow, then a mischievous grin split her lips. ¡°Sure,¡± she replied. ¡°I''ll take care of her cock.¡± Yolin smiled. ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± she agreed. Both disentangled and moved to the golden mess. Yolin grabbed Natasha by the chin and lifted her face. ¡°Aaahn...¡± the woman quietly moaned. Pokora sat down to the right of the female mess and grabbed the stupidly large cock. ¡°Ughhh...¡± groaned Natasha. Yolin brought a hand to the Halves neck and wrapped her fingers around the golden skin. ¡°Cum for us, Natty,¡± she told her and grabbed the left golden tit with her free hand, then pinched the nipple. Pokora''s eyes widened yet again, then quickened her hand around the futa''s unreasonably big member. ¡°You want to cum, don''t you?¡± Yolin teased, looking into Natasha''s eyes. ¡°My....¡± the Halve moaned, interrupting her words. ¡°Your?¡± Pokora joined the teasing. ¡°Other....¡± Natasha yelped. ¡°What?¡± Yolin giggled. ¡°Titty...¡± the Warrior groaned. ¡°Too...¡± This bitch is insane! Pokora screamed in her mind. Pussy, cock, spanks, both titties... She wants everything! Yolin let go of Natasha''s neck and grabbed her other breast, then started fiddling with her nipples. ¡°Ahhh....¡± the Halve moaned and her eyelids fluttered. ¡°Just like... Angh! That....¡± Pokora sighed in disbelief, then snuck beneath the Halve and positioned herself so that she could perfectly see the golden genitals. Her right hand stroked the cock and her left molested the clit. ¡°Oghh... Yessss!!¡± Natasha moaned. ¡°Take this!¡± Pokora giggled and pinched the woman''s clit while rubbing the cock''s tip with her index finger, pressing on the urethra. The Halve''s entire body shook, accompanied by a beast-like growl. Then, without warning, she came. Transparent cum shot out of the cock and onto Pokora''s chest. The Elf closed her eyes and looked away to avoid getting any in her eyes. Natasha''s pussy clenched on the toy, which forced it out with the amount of lubrication. At the same time, she collapsed on top of Pokora. ¡°Oof!¡± the Elf gasped at having five hundred kilograms suddenly dropped on her. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the onlooker''s preference, Natasha is a squirter. Hot liquid hit Pokora''s chin, neck, and some got into her mouth. ¡°Aaahhhh........¡± Natasha let out a long, satisfied sigh. Pokora opened her eyes and saw Alyssa. The Luzo smiled and produced an enchanted towel, then cleaned the Elf''s neck and face. The Archer took a deep breath, then let out a long sigh. If these aren''t the consequences of my own actions... ¡°You''re heavy,¡± she complained. She had found the answer to what was missing, however. That ought to count for something despite the messy ending. Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Part 8 (18+) Alyssa helped her get out from under Natasha, then gave her a smile. It all clicked in Pokora''s mind! The answer was- The healer took the Archer''s face in her hands and sealed her lips, interrupting every thought in her mind. Soft, full lips hugged hers in a serene embrace of warmth and tenderness. A welcoming sensation of acceptance and affection. A healing connection of relaxation. A forbidden temptation took hold of Pokora''s heart and mind. The kiss conveyed both confidence and comfort. For a split second, Pokora didn''t know what to do. The feeling didn''t last long, however, replaced by burning arousal. She had made a choice, hadn''t she? Unlike those harem anime protagonists that did nothing for 12 whole episodes! Sometimes 24 if the studio had the resources. The worst offenders were those that did nothing for 25 fucking volumes only to end up choosing the worst choice whose only purpose was gaslighting the protagonist! She had picked up a new series to read, went to compete on the Olympics, then caught up only to see no progress had been made! Atrocious! No! Pokora knew better! She wrapped her arms around Alyssa''s waist and returned the kiss, pressing their bodies together. Bountiful breasts pressed against her humble bosom, increasing her arousal even further. Envy? Those thoughts are for the petty and the narrow-minded. Pokora was a self proclaimed woman of culture, after all. Their tongues met and danced, their lips nibbled and suckled. The Luzo''s split tongue was a novelty for the Elf, feeling both tips rub here and there inside her mouth. She didn''t let up, though. Her hands explored the scaly back she was embracing, feeling the hard surface against her palms. The woman in her arms let out soft sighs of delight, caressing her body in return. They separated and looked into each other''s eyes. ¡°That''s a good girl,¡± Alyssa whispered in her deep voice, narrowing her eyes a little to deliver the critical hit. Pokora''s face blushed to the limit, feeling it become a furnace. ¡°Y-You''re pretty,¡± she stuttered in embarrassment, confused with the change of energy between them. Her eyes escaped Alyssa''s. Alas, her determination crumbled so fast... The healer took the Elfs chin and lifted her face. ¡°Can you tell me why you called Natasha ''daddy''?¡± she inquired. Suckling sounds reached Pokora''s ears, and she glanced at the bed. Lapia was kneeling on the ground in front of Natasha, and her head was moving up and down. She couldn''t see what was happening, but she could make a pretty good guess. Didn''t she just cum? She wondered in amazement. ¡°Look at me,¡± Alyssa purred, gently moving Pokora''s head by the chin. A soft and warm something snuck between the Elf''s legs and pressed against her pussy. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Her tail? Pokora ventured with a sharp intake of breath, which made the healer''s breasts move as well. She looked into Alyssa''s eyes and let out a slow, shuddering sigh at a small realization. Evelynn Heart had met a lot of people during her life on Earth. Lesbians, bisexual women, straight men, and bisexual men. Her romantic life was far from boring despite the global circumstances. She always took the appropriate precautions to avoid catching something, too. She did a pretty good job at it, even when taking into account her cause of death. Pokora then understood why Alyssa made her feel a little odd ever since they met. She had never once met a woman like her. She had searched for one, though. A mommy. Not a female parent, but a romantic or sexual partner who is soft, caring, accepting, and healing while also being dominant. It was her first time meeting one, and as such, she didn''t know how to act. Pokora was, despite her usually monotonous voice and emotionless face, a bottom. Not to the point of residing at the lowest point of the planet''s crust, but when push came to shove, Pokora was at the receiving end of both. ¡°Won''t you tell me?¡± Alyssa requested with a smile, rubbing her thumb on Pokora''s lower lip. The Elf gulped and smiled. ¡°Make me,¡± she challenged with a bright red face. Alas... she was a brat, too. ¡°Oh?¡± Alyssa uttered, arching a scaly eyebrow and smiling wider. Thus, Alyssa punished her for the following minutes. Whenever the Elf was about to cum, Alyssa stopped, ruining her orgasms. The room was once again full of the sounds of sex. Lapia was blowing Natasha. Natasha was eating Yolin out. Alyssa was tormenting Pokora. A few mommy''s escaped the Archer lips throughout the process, increasing her embarrassment and arousal. Right before a really big orgasm, Pokora spoke, ¡°Alright, I''ll tell you!¡± She conceded while panting. ¡°Just... please make me cum already!¡± Alyssa chuckled. ¡°I''ll make you cum after you tell me... so start talking,¡± she instructed and hugged the Elf from behind, then used her legs to spread the Elf''s. The Luzo used a hand to expose the younger woman''s clitoris and placed her tail against it. ¡°Go on, tell mommy,¡± she whispered into her ear. Shivers of pleasure ran up the Archer''s spine. ¡°I also wanna know,¡± Natasha spoke, fucking Lapia from behind. Yolin was beneath the two, moaning from a dildo the Wizard was holding. Pokora met the Halve''s eyes and felt her face melt with even greater embarrassment. Holy shit, this is so good! She took deep breaths and spoke, ¡°Natasha is a femme daddy,¡± she revealed. ¡°A what?¡± the woman in question... questioned with confusion. Alyssa''s tail moved, flicking Pokora''s clit from side to side. ¡°Agh!¡± the Archer moaned. ¡°Don''t tell me... Mgh! You haven''t realized?¡± Natasha clicked her tongue. ¡°You zoomers come up with the wildest labels to give others,¡± she grunted, changing the rhythm of her thrusts. ¡°Always making up words.¡± ¡°I''m... hnng! Serious, here,¡± Pokora argued, shivering. ¡°So, what''s that?¡± Alyssa pushed, pinching a nipple with her free hand. ¡°Augh!¡± the younger woman moaned. ¡°It''s... like, a woman who has shit under control, a provider who will take care of you. Really good at sex and... nnngh! Takes charge of the room she enters. Is a badass, but doesn''t brag about it. Haa... haaa... Covers expenses like it''s the most natural thing in the world for her in a way that doesn''t make you feel like you''re imposing or leeching off... Everything she does radiates a confidence that puts you at ease and makes your tummy tickle for her fingers deep inside you... or in Natasha''s case her huge cock. I could go on but you get the point...¡± she breathed out. ¡°Alyssa, you stopped,¡± she pointed out. The Luzo''s face was that of confusion. ¡°Isn''t that just a tomboy?¡± She clarified. ¡°Here, yeah,¡± Pokora panted. ¡°But on Earth we called that femme daddy,¡± she explained. Natasha scoffed, ¡°See? Made up shit.¡± ¡°No, no,¡± Yolin joined the conversation. ¡°She has a point.¡± ¡°See?¡± the Archer chuckled. ¡°So, calling you daddy fits really well.¡± ¡°I''m really close, again...¡± Lapia muttered, slowly going limp on top of Yolin. ¡°Blow your load inside me, sunshine...¡± ¡°You got it, Lala,¡± the Halve replied and changed rhythm again. She turned to Alyssa and smirked. ¡°By the way, Pokora likes being choked,¡± she informed her. The Elmari Elf''s eyes widened. This bitch realized before I did? Oh, daddy! Alyssa wrapped her hand around Pokora''s neck. ¡°Is that so?¡± she inquired, licking the woman''s ear. The bratty bottom nodded. ¡°Yes, mommy,¡± she whined as if regretting to answer, but she didn''t one bit. Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Part 9 (18+) Alyssa tightened her fingers around Pokora''s neck and resumed tormenting the Elf''s clit with her tail. The Archer gasped and her hips buckled. ¡°Take a deep breath for me,¡± Alyssa whispered, licking an ear. Pokora complied, breathing in to max capacity, then letting it out. ¡°Grab my tail, now,¡± the healer requested. Pokora moved her hands to the limb between her legs and grasped it. ¡°Good girl,¡± the Luzo praised. ¡°I''ll stop when your let go of it, got it?¡± ¡°Okay...¡± she breathed out, excited to the brim. One would be innocent to a fault to believe Pokora had never masturbated in her 49 years of life. The last year alone she did it more times than when she lived on Earth. Still, the moment of realization came to her when she saw Yolin choke Natasha. The memory of the futa choking her in the forest while the two fucked rushed back to her, and, despite their first meeting was definitely violent, she had requested it in the spur of the moment to overwrite it. Was that a coping mechanism? Nobody knew for certain. The mind is a complex construct, after all, and preferences are more varied than what imagination can come up with. Regardless, that short moment of having fingers around her neck under the secretive cover of night felt exhilarating in ways she couldn''t properly describe. There was something deeper still, however. People could behead others simply by choking. The thousands of tonnes per square centimeters people had the ability to exert- especially warriors and tanks at high levels- made her mind go wild. It was the rush of adrenaline of giving her trust to someone who could easily kill her... and chose not to because they cared for her. Pokora had been close to dying multiple times in her chase for power. It wasn''t entirely exciting. It was also scary. Dying was painful. She knew that very well. She never experience such rush while masturbating. That delicious rush had been missing, and her heart beat faster at the idea of it. Claps of skin against skin made her look at the two women going at it. Natasha''s golden cock went in and out of Lapia, getting moans, grunts, gasps, and sighs back. The sight was hypnotic. Wet, sweaty, hot, exhausting sex. Alyssa''s tail vibrated against her clit. Pokora gasped and shivered. Her eyes were glued to the fornication in front of her. She wanted it. Desired it. Craved it. The Archer''s mind gravitated to the red woman lying on the bed... and her fingers. Those thick, strong fingers. What Pokora truly wanted was the Oni to pop her cherry. Yolin was the one she liked the most, after all. The very thought of Yolin fingering her sloppy wet pussy made her face burn like a supernova. To be made to cum like never before... while being choked. Pokora''s breathing quickened, her body heated up, and her moans increased in volume. She felt warm, cozy, safe, and cared for in Alyssa''s embrace. The tail was a fascinating novelty. It vibrated against her pussy while rubbing her clit. ¡°Yolin,¡± Pokora called with a gasp. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The Oni turned to her and smiled. ¡°Give me a sec, Lapia,¡± she requested. ¡°The toy isn''t doing it for me.¡± The Wizard replied with an unintelligible moan accompanied by a nod, then pulled the diamond dildo out of the woman''s pussy. The tank made her way to Pokora and licked her lips. ¡°You called?¡± Pokora''s eyelids fluttered, and she gasped in pleasure at having her most sensitive spot played with. ¡°Finger me, please,¡± she urged with a pant. Being a Cleric, Yolin understood what Pokora meant. She shared a look with Alyssa. The Luzo nodded and removed her tail from between the Archer''s legs. The Oni produced a towel and placed it right beneath Pokora''s butt just in case. Then, she covered the younger woman''s body with her own. ¡°Do you want to cum first?¡± she inquired and kissed her. ¡°After,¡± Pokora replied, embarrassed with her words. Alyssa released her fingers around the white neck and guided her hands to the modest chest. ¡°Choke me, please,¡± Pokora requested, looking into Yolin''s blue eyes. The Oni nodded and complied, wrapping her red fingers around the Archer''s neck. ¡°Hmmm....¡± the Elf sighed. ¡°A bit tighter,¡± she giggled. Alyssa chuckled, then whispered, ¡°It wont hurt, Pokora. I''ll heal the discomfort away, too.¡± So convenient! Pokora thought with a big smile. ¡°How''s this?¡± Yolin asked after gripping tighter, but not much. ¡°Perfect,¡± the Archer replied and hugged the Oni''s neck. The two kissed. Alyssa licked Pokora''s ears and nape. ¡°Want me to stay?¡± The younger woman nodded. ¡°Yes,¡± she whispered between kisses. Yolin put two fingers inside her own pussy and rubbed around until they were lubricated enough, then used the same fingers to rub around Pokora''s labia. She had two orgasms at that point, and Alyssa had brought her to the brink of pleasure but never delivered. Her pussy was soaked. The woman moaned and pressed her lips harder against the Oni. ¡°Do it,¡± she gasped. Slowly and gently, Yolin inserted a finger into Pokora. Then, even slower and gentler, the Oni expanded the small opening. The Elf felt her pussy heat up and Yolin''s fingers prod her insides with care. After a good while, the tank broke the kiss and smiled. ¡°Done,¡± she announced. Pokora''s eyebrows joined in confusion and she looked at her crotch. Nothing seemed any different. Yolin''s fingers were red... but that was the color of her skin. ¡°What?¡± the Archer blurted out in surprise. ¡°No, but... where''s the blood?¡± ¡°Blood?¡± the Oni repeated in confusion. ¡°Why would there any?¡± Alyssa chuckled. ¡°Natasha asked the same thing, but her case is different. If you do it gently and properly, there wont be any blood or pain,¡± she explained. ¡°A bit of discomfort is normal, but Yolin did it perfectly.¡± Pokora blinked a few times. ¡°No, no, wait...¡± she nervously chuckled. ¡°There''s supposed to be a lot of blood and pain, though?¡± ¡°What?¡± the two Clerics spoke at the same time. ¡°Yours was pretty thin and small,¡± Yolin revealed. ¡°Do you mean that?¡± Pokora shook her head, a little incredulous and embarrassed at hearing that information spoken out loud. ¡°But when something goes in, shouldn''t it be torn? And that makes it bleed?¡± Alyssa and Yolin shared a look of concern. ¡°Did you have the same body before?¡± Yolin inquired. ¡°Back on Earth, I mean.¡± ¡°No,¡± the Elf denied. ¡°I was as tall as you, and well... I was Human.¡± Alyssa shrugged. ¡°Maybe it was thicker and covered more when you were a Human?¡± she offered. Pokora didn''t know for sure. ¡°So I can...¡± she moved a hand to her pussy and slowly put a finger inside. ¡°Yooo....¡± she breathed out and pressed around. There was no pain, discomfort, or anything. ¡°What the fuck?¡± she whispered in disbelief. Alyssa and Yolin were confused with her reaction. The problem was knowledge. 3 million years of progress in medicine can''t be compared to a few centuries. The people of Galeia had a greater basic knowledge about things. If Pokora had ever taken the time to read Labana Kosim''s ¡°The ABC''s of Vaginal Pleasure¡± (available at every Church near you!), she would have known better. But she had put all her effort in finding people from Earth and increasing her individual might. A tragedy, some would say. ¡°This is amazing,¡± the Elf muttered, fingering herself. ¡°For sure,¡± Natasha spoke up, having heard the exchange. ¡°This world is the best!¡± Lapia was facing down on the bed, breathing heavily and spent. Her pussy oozed transparent cum and she had a satisfied smile on her face. Pokora turned to Yolin and grabbed her hand, then guided it to her pussy. ¡°Don''t stop now,¡± she giggled with newfound excitement. Poko-Poko’s PoV – Indecent Proposal – Final Part (18+) Yolin went medieval on Pokora''s pussy. The Oni fingerbanged the Elf almost as if she was stabbing a lifelong nemesis that had eradicated all her ancestors in the most vile and cruel way possible. It looked brutal from the outside, but reality couldn''t be more different. Again, Yolin is a Cleric and, more importantly, a woman as well. The beginning was careful, moderate, slow, and affectionate. After the Archer''s second orgasm, however, things became wild. ¡°Blow my pussy to orbit!¡± Pokora moaned in aroused trance. The tank complied eagerly, going as far as using her Asura Projection to conjure extra arms that helped in the act. Sitting next to them, Natasha nodded in full approval. ¡°You''re a bit gentle,¡± she teased Yolin with a chuckle. Pokora was on cloud ten trillion. An Oni had just ''popped her cherry''. A muscular tomboy Oni! Everything she had ever wanted was happening before her eyes... which were unfocused and glazed from excitement. Strong fingers targeted all sensitive spots in her pussy, prodding, pushing, rubbing, and tapping them. Thick fingers that knew what they were doing. Orgasm after orgasm, Pokora''s voice became louder and louder. Her body was sweaty and burning. Her pussy was a sloppy mess of juices. The naughty noises that came from her crotch filled the room, akin to a tap dancer busting moves on puddles after a heavy rain. The smell was thick and rich, filling the room as well. Pokora was drooling, and her voice couldn''t be placed among the spoken languages of Galeia no matter how hard one tried. Bright white arms floated over her body, pinching nipples, prodding her navel, caressing her cheeks, flicking her clitoris, and choking her. After the most mind-blowing orgasm so far, the Elf''s body got wrecked with spasms similar to those of a stroke, then let out an ear-piercing screech of pure pleasure. She went blind for a second, and deaf for three. Her brain felt like it was literally melting, and her body was a constant explosion of numbing tingles that made her muscles flex and relax on their own in quick succession. A strong and warm stream squirted out of her and hit the Oni on the face, chest, neck, and stomach. Pokora tapped Yolin''s arm with a hand while panting. The Oni stopped and licked her fingers clean. ¡°Delicious,¡± she chuckled. The Elf went limp and took deep breaths for a while, then started laughing. Natasha frowned and nudged Yolin with an elbow. ¡°You fucked her silly,¡± she chastised the woman. The Oni giggled and pushed the Halve. ¡°Fuck off,¡± she playfully replied. ¡°Fuck me yourself, keke,¡± the golden woman replied with a smirk. The tank arched an eyebrow. ¡°Hoh?¡± she uttered. ¡°I do remember you saying something about being at my mercy,¡± she recalled. ¡°Absolutely,¡± the Warrior confirmed with a big smile. ¡°Please, and thank you.¡± Yolin shot her head back and laughed, then sighed and nodded. ¡°Okay, we''ll do it in the ways of old, then.¡± Natasha raised her eyebrows and blinked twice. ¡°And that is?¡± ¡°That''s a good idea,¡± Alyssa chimed in. ¡°How didn''t I think of it before?¡± she lamented. The Oni moved over to the Halve and put both hands on her shoulder. ¡°Lay on your back for me,¡± she requested. The Warrior complied, then waited. The Tank grabbed her by the ankles and lifted both legs up, then bend them back. She stood on the bed and sat on the golden woman''s ass. ¡°Ah,¡± Natasha realized. ¡°This is the amazon position,¡± she recalled. ¡°Amazon?¡± Yolin repeated, grabbing the futa''s cock and lining it up to her pussy. ¡°What''s that?¡± ¡°A forest,¡± the golden amazon replied. ¡°And a tribe of really tall women lived there.¡± The red amazon lowered her body, impaling herself on the futa''s cock. Both sighed in pleasure. ¡°Were they strong?¡± Yolin probed, slowly going up and down the woman''s full length. ¡°I guess,¡± Natasha moaned. ¡°They weren''t around by the time I was born, if they even existed in the first place.¡± The Oni increased her speed, which unfortunately interrupted their interesting conversation about the mythical native women of South America, replacing their words with moans, gasps, sighs, and purrs. As per usual, Yolin came first but didn''t relent in the slightest. She moved faster and fucked Natasha harder. Alyssa couldn''t resist the sight and joined them, sitting on the Halve''s face. Lapia, who had been knocked out, woke up and made her way to the Elmari Elf. They cuddled and kissed while touching each other. At one point, Alyssa and Yolin wore strapons and fucked Natasha in her ass and pussy, turning the usually stoic woman into a sloppy mess of loud orgasms and words of frenetic encouragement to get fucked harder. After that, Alyssa was on the receiving end of it, with similar results. The three fucked each other in myriad positions for a good while. Orgasms were aplenty and the Halve made sure to fill them with warm futa cum. The two Elves ate each other''s pussies, sucking on their clits and fingering their inner sensitive spots. Then, as the night was nearing the end, Natasha faced Pokora. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± the Halve asked, giving the bratty Elf a few kisses. ¡°We''ll go at your pace.¡± The Archer eyed the Warrior''s body. Muscles. All of them defined as if sculpted by the very Gods themselves. Veins were clearly visible under her skin on her arms, shoulders, and obliques. While she wasn''t bulky, it was literally impossible not to notice every single one of her muscles. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. The ten-pack abs and the lack of a belly button got her curious, but she wasn''t about to dig into Halve anatomy. She wanted Halve anatomy to dig into her. Pokora''s eyes landed on the futa''s cock. It was hard, long, thick, and at full attention even after cumming so many times. Literally higher beings, she concluded with a thirsty grin. A femme daddy for sure... ¡°I have a really raunchy idea,¡± Natasha spoke with a mischievous smirk. The Elf met her eyes and tilted her head. ¡°I''m all ears,¡± she replied in expectation. ¡°Wanna know what Yolin''s cervix tastes like?¡± the Halve offered. The futa''s words did Pokora a confusion, then it clicked and her eyes widened. It was nasty, complete debauchery, and something the Elmari El would absolutely do. She nodded. The two turned to the Oni. The woman shrugged. ¡°I''m up for it,¡± she accepted with a carefree smile. Thus, Yolin rode Natasha''s cock until orgasm.. which didn''t really take that long. The moment the Warrior pulled out of the red pussy, Pokora was all over it. Her tongue explored every centimeter of golden cock, focusing on the head. She closed her lips on the tip and rolled her tongue around the glans, savoring with the idea of it having touched the tank''s cervix. Something normally unreachable by a tongue alone, was done easily with the futa''s stupidly large member. Natasha moaned at the eagerness of the Elf, feeling strong tingles go up through her spine to her brain. ¡°Shit, that feels amazing. Good girl,¡± she praised. Pokora''s face reddened and heated up. ¡°Thanks, daddy,¡± she replied full of embarrassment, then returning to sucking cock. Unlike Natasha who is a fiend for cock, Pokora liked them as much as anyone who liked penised people. Still, the throbbing phallus in her mouth made her salivate. It was uncompromisingly large, stupidly thick, illogically hot, and unreasonably hard. Pokora knew, deep down, that Natasha was going to fuck her brains out. She had seen the futa fuck, and it was both scary and arousing to the point of it being silly. With such prospects, the Elf gobbled the golden cock, swirling her tongue around it. Natasha gasped and groaned. In an act of bravery, she tried putting the whole thing down her throat. ¡°Ghjk!¡± She gagged the moment it touched the back of her throat. She pulled her head back and coughed a few times. ¡°Sorry, daddy. I can''t,¡± she apologized. Alyssa produced an enchanted towel and cleaned the futa''s cock first, then Pokora''s mouth. She gave the Elf a warm smile and a quick kiss on the lips. ¡°You did good,¡± she praised. Pokora''s eyebrows joined and she bit her lips. Joining them is definitely on the top five best decisions of my life, she thought and moaned a little. ¡°I got another idea,¡± the Halve chuckled. ¡°How about I fuck Yolin, and then fuck you while my cock has her pussy juice?¡± she offered and gave the tank a look. ¡°It''d be like you''re fucking her.¡± ¡°Holy shit, yes,¡± Pokora blurted out, feeling her pussy tighten. Again, the Oni shrugged. ¡°Sure,¡± she accepted with a laugh. Natasha covered the red woman''s body and fucked her for ten minutes. Pokora watched as the futa made the Oni cum repeatedly, then stop before blowing a load inside her. Her loins were burning hotter than ever, and she was drooling a bit. The Halve closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. ¡°I almost came,¡± she shared. ¡°Give me a minute.¡± The Archer wrapped her arms around the golden woman''s neck and have her a sloppy kiss. ¡°You''re so good, daddy,¡± she whined with a smile. ¡°I can''t wait for you to fuck this tight little pussy!¡± Natasha smiled and held back a laugh. ¡°What are you dong, step sis?¡± she inquired with surprise. ¡°HAHAHA!¡± Pokora leaned back and closed her eyes. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± The Warrior shrugged. ¡°Trying to lighten up the mood,¡± she explained, then pointed out, ¡°Your hands are shaking a little.¡± Pokora released the hug and looked at her hands. They were trembling slightly. She sighed and balled them into fists. ¡°Okay, enough fucking around, let''s fuck,¡± she declared. Natasha nodded in agreement. ¡°Let''s. Get on top of me, you know how it goes,¡± she pointed out and laid back. Pokora straddled the futa and lifted her hips, then grabbed the cock and lined it up on her pussy. She took a deep breath, then let it out. Slowly, she lowered herself. The tip of Natasha''s penis spread Pokora''s labia, then slowly went inside. ¡°Fuck!¡± the Elf hissed. ¡°You''re so thick, daddy!¡± ¡°Take it slow,¡± the Halve groaned. ¡°Mhm...¡± the Archer moaned and continued her descent. Her insides stretched to the limit due to the cock''s ridiculous girth. Fortunately, Pokora had had several orgasms and was more than ready for it. Little by little, accompanied by both women''s groans, gasps, and sighs, Natasha''s cock reached the end of the Elf''s vagina. The Archer squeezed her pussy, and hissed. ¡°Too big,¡± she complained, feeling Natasha''s heartbeat on her pussy walls. Unsurprisingly, even after filling the Elf up with cock, five centimeters were still out. Pokora slowly raised her hips, then used her weight and arms to control the speed and depth. Natasha moaned, and brought her hands to the Archer''s breasts. ¡°You feel fucking amazing, Pokora,¡± she revealed. ¡°You''re tight as fuck and squirming around my cock.¡± The Elf''s face turned red with embarrassment. ¡°Does daddy like it?¡± she still asked, as the bottom she was. ¡°I love it,¡± the futa replied with a grunt. Unable- and unwilling- to just sit and watch, the other three entangled in their own little tussle of sex. After around five minutes, and with full knowledge of Natasha''s cock being covered by Yolin''s pussy juices, Pokora came. ¡°Don''t cum inside me,¡± Pokora panted while bouncing. ¡°You definitely can''t!¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Natasha replied, gently meeting her rhythm. ¡°I''ll pull out.¡± The Elf grabbed the Halve''s face and looked into her golden eyes. ¡°You definitely must not nut inside me!¡± she repeated. ¡°Yeah,¡± the Warrior chuckled. ¡°I got it. Sheesh...¡± ¡°No,¡± Pokora insisted, speeding up and giving her a sloppy kiss. ¡°You don''t get it. Don''t cum inside,¡± she repeated, and gave her a few winks. ¡°Ohh...¡± Natasha breathed out in understanding. ¡°Okay, then.¡± Her eyelids fluttered, and she let out a long groan while holding Pokora''s waist in place. The Elf''s eyes and mouth widened at the feeling of blazing hot liquid spurting inside her. Her mind tried catching up to what just happened for a few seconds, then it clicked. ¡°Ah... were you holding back?¡± The Halve nodded with a long sigh. ¡°I told you I almost came inside Yolin a while ago, and your pussy is top grade, not going to lie,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Your nut is really hot,¡± Pokora pointed out. ¡°I''ve been told,¡± the futa laughed. ¡°Is it nice?¡± The Archer thought for a few seconds, thinking about the sensation. ¡°Comfy,¡± she settled. ¡°And you''re still hard, fucking hell,¡± she sighed. ¡°Eternal, girl,¡± Natasha giggled. ¡°Ready to get properly fucked?¡± Pokora nodded. ¡°Give it to me good, if you can,¡± she chuckled. ¡°That was pretty quick, you know?¡± The Warrior scoffed. ¡°Fuck you. Yolin''s pussy is the absolute best when she cums. Well, you wouldn''t know...¡± she retorted with a shit eating grin. ¡°Wow...¡± the Elf couldn''t believe her ears. ¡°Did you really just say that?¡± Natasha lifted Pokora''s body with no effort whatsoever, then laid her on her back and covered her. ¡°Yes, and I''ll say a lot more while I fuck you,¡± she whispered into her ear. Pokora''s pussy tightened on its own. She wrapped her arms around the Halve''s neck and purred. ¡°Yes, daddy,¡± she giggled. Then, Natasha turned the bratty Elf into a sloppy mess of moans, blowing load after load inside her while making her cum nonstop. Such was the way Pokora joined their relationship. 145 - Upgrades, people. Upgrades. The pleasant dream of killing and eating Demons occupied my sleep once more. Gore, pain, and brutal animal-like rage. A sigh escaped my lips once I woke up, and I checked my species information. Halve Species. -As a being born of E''er, you are most sensitive to it, and efficient with it. -The E''er at your disposal won''t decrease unless you allow it. Additionally, choosing to stay awake spends a variable amount of E''er a day until proper rest. -Sleep restores your body, mind, and spirit with great efficiency. -Your body is forged by the energy of the world; your hair, fingernails, and teeth cannot break or be cut. -Stamina expenditure is reduced to the lowest limit. -Few and far between, you are a female with male genitalia. Enjoy it! [Your reproductive cycle has yet to arrive] -You are the existence evolution strives to achieve. -Forest is your home and your peace. -Sunlight shall heighten your beauty. I guess the dreams will never drive me insane, I ventured. That''s a relief. Next to me, Alyssa and Lapia were entangled in a hug with my right arm between them. On top of me, Yolin was facing up and snoring. Pokora was hugging her torso and had her face glued to her abs while sleeping. I took a deep breath. Both rose along with my chest. I quietly laughed at how silly it looked, then did my best to disentangle without waking the four up. Sleep is a sacred thing, after all. It took me fifteen minutes, and when I managed to free myself I went to the restroom. Unlike the places we had stayed at so far, the room only had a toilet and a sink. After that, I sat down at the table and retrieved the Mythical quality bow from my storage. [+100 La''khazh, String of the World Tree (Mythical) {Ascension Lvl 10}] The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.(Elastic Energy to Kinetic Energy SSS+) (Durability SS+) -Elastic Energy to Kinetic Energy +100% ({Lvl 10 Quartz} x10) -Draw Weight reduced by 40% (Enchantment) (Does not affect final Kinetic Energy) -DEX + -STR + 200 -CON + 200 -Spends E''er to create a projectile of your design. (E''er Efficiency SSS+) -Projectile absorbs ambient E''er to increase density during flight. -Projectile infects wounds, cursing the target. *Reduces Toughness by weakening E''eral bonds. -DEX + 250 (Transmutation) -STR + 250 (Transmutation) -CON + 250 (Transmutation) I arched an eyebrow. Weakening E''eral bonds? What in the ever-living fuck does that actually mean? I hummed in annoyance. String of the World Tree... At least that''s the same as in the game. I squinted my eyes at the bow and bit my lower lip. Is it me... or is every weapon besides my spear better than the original? After a few minutes of brainstorming, I arrived at a few more questions. Could this bow easily kill me, then? I''m made of E''er, after all. Is it for all matter since E''er is in everything? It being a curse implies it only works on living beings, no? Can a Golem be cursed?Are the Cursed Ones immune to curses? Lapia and Alyssa said undead creatures belong in that group... So many questions and so much information, but so little time. I can''t learn everything in less than three months, unfortunately. Is that why Desseyr went to learn from the Elves? That cheeky fucker took a vacation right at the start. Did they all take time to learn before moving around? But the pull is irresistible, though. A sigh left me and I stored the weapon. If only Yugulari went about their insurrection properly instead of employing a Demon to mentally rape Gordon, I lamented in my mind. What a complete shitshow. Rustling came from the bed, and Pokora slowly sat up. ¡°Morning,¡± I greeted her with a nod. ¡°Wassup?¡± she muttered and rubbed her eyes while yawning. ¡°Slept good?¡± I asked and produced a bottle of water, then drank a little. She took a long breath and let out a sigh. ¡°Like a baby,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Last night was wild.¡± I smiled and nodded a few times. ¡°That''s how we roll every night,¡± I informed her. ¡°Uff,¡± the Elf breathed out in disbelief and got out of bed, then went into the restroom. I drummed my fingers on the table while thinking about stuff. Pokora came out of the bathroom and walked to the table, then stood there. I looked at her and puckered my lips, then blew some kisses her way. ¡°No good morning kiss?¡± I joked. The woman closed the distance and gave me a quick peck on the lips. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. ¡°That''s the good stuff,¡± I chuckled. Her cheeks reddened and a smile formed on her face. ¡°Here,¡± I suggested, patting my lap. ¡°I have something for you.¡± Pokora''s eyes squinted, but she complied and sat on my legs. ¡°So demanding,¡± she giggled. I retrieved the bow and offered it to her. ¡°Now that we''re girlfriends, I''ll take better care of you,¡± I told her. ¡°I''m your... daddy, after all, right?¡± I teased with a smirk. She closed her eyes and her face turned red as a tomato. ¡°That''s only when we''re having sex,¡± she argued and opened her eyes, looking at me. ¡°I get too horny and don''t think too deply about what I say.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± I agreed, placing the bow on her lap. ¡°Check it out and tell me if you think it''s good,¡± I suggested. Pokora took the weapon and her eyes widened. ¡°Holy fuck!¡± she hissed. ¡°This is mental!¡± While she appraised the bow, I used a finger to move one of her long ears around. She clicked her tongue and slapped my hand. What can I say... teasing Elves is fun. 146 - Dreams, innit? Pokora stored the bow and let out a sigh. ¡°I had a weird dream last night,¡± she muttered. I arched an eyebrow. ¡°About?¡± I inquired with a fair amount of interest. ¡°Well, it was more like a nightmare,¡± she chuckled to herself. ¡°It was 2032, and I was back at the Olympic Games where I got my gold medal,¡± she started. I nodded, a bit relieved. ¡°The whole thing happened the same as I remember, but when my turn came up...¡± she sighed. ¡°Chris Hansen interrupted the entire thing and asked me to take a seat in front of everyone.¡± My eyebrows joined in confusion. Who? I wondered. Pokora continued, ¡°He asked me why I was meeting up with a minor and questioned my intentions. I was confused since didn''t know what he was talking about, but everyone was looking at me like I was a criminal. The dude then summoned my parents out of thin air to question me and shit, but I couldn''t speak so things escalated. A recording of last night played for everyone to see, then my parents started crying. He told me you were two months old and then everyone started calling me a child predator.¡± ¡°What?¡± I blurted out in surprise. ¡°Suddenly,¡± Pokora kept going. ¡°King Charles showed up in a limo and told me to get inside,¡± she sighed and shook her head. ¡°I went in and we blasted through the venue into the Australian desert to escape. I somehow was able to speak and asked him what the fuck was going on. He told me the Royal Family would help me fight the charges since it wasn''t their first time, and I was like family to them because I was born in the UK.¡± I slowly covered my mouth, pulling the edges of my lips down to fight the smile. ¡°Then,¡± the Elf continued. ¡°Koalas riding Kangaroos caught up to us, throwing snakes and spiders into the limo, making King Charles cry for help.¡± ¡°Gross,¡± I commented. ¡°I know!¡± she sighed loudly. ¡°Then, the little dark window that separates the driver from the passenger rolled down and a young Pierce Brosnan looked at us, saying he''d take us somewhere safe.¡± I closed my eyes and tightened my stomach to prevent laughter from escaping me. ¡°But then Chris Hansen blocked our way on top of a crocodile? And he was wielding a machete for some reason,¡± Pokora continued. ¡°I grabbed my bow and shot him, using skills from Galeia. King Charles opened a door and jumped out, and Pierce followed him. I jumped into the driver seat and went into a long tunnel, then came out in Uuruhk. I got out of the car and noticed there was no tunnel anymore. That''s when I woke up.¡± I took a deep breath and let it out. ¡°That was wild,¡± I commented, doing my best to remain calm. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Yeah,¡± she agreed, then chuckled, ¡°It was really weird.¡± ¡°Do you usually dream about Earth?¡± I probed. She shook her head. ¡°Not really, no,¡± she replied. ¡°Not that I remember, actually. The few I do are me going through dungeons... and lately they were all erotic dreams,¡± she admitted while rolling her eyes. ¡°This is the wildest by far.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± I nodded and looked her in the eye for a few seconds. ¡°Are you worried about the difference in age?¡± She thought for a while. ¡°No,¡± she replied. ¡°We''re both adults.¡± I raised my eyebrows and smiled. ¡°You paused,¡± I pointed out. ¡°You''re a Halve,¡± she explained. ¡°Magical world logic is weird. Galeia is weird.¡± ¡°It is,¡± I agreed with a nod. ¡°But way better than Earth.¡± ¡°Definitely,¡± she laughed. ¡°Half a century is not enough to get used to it all, I guess.¡± ¡°We''ll get there,¡± I assured her and pulled her close. ¡°Together.¡± ¡°Trying to be smooth?¡± Pokora chuckled and leaned her head on mine. ¡°Fuck off,¡± I laughed. ¡°Wanna go try the bow out?¡± She straightened and nodded. ¡°Yes,¡± she blurted out.
Twenty minutes later, and after waking Yolin up, we went looking for a place to work out. Ladania, the city we were at, had a wide river that split it in half. Bridges connected the two sides, making for a pretty scenery. Most buildings were built out of wood, giving it a cozy, natural feeling. I didn''t see any taller than five stories, too. The amount of flying animals carrying people made me question the city''s collective mental health. As for the people, they were mostly Chasers with Classes that implied combat like Duelist, Battlemaiden, Brawler, Pyromancer, Hunter, etc. They all wore leather garments that were noticeably old, and a few equipped their metallic armors when I passed by as a way to show respect to me, as explained by Yolin. Races and species were varied, and there was no apparent majority. There were no Oni, though, which was unfortunate. Their levels were pretty good compared to what I had seen so far. The lowest were in the two digits which was common on younger-looking individuals. The highest went up to 393, and it belonged to a male Luzo Wizard that bowed to me in the middle of the street. I mostly ignored him after quickly acknowledging him. Whether by fortune or fate, nobody challenged me to a duel. Maybe Asilo''s brutal defeat spread the previous day and people reconsidered after learning of the result. Whichever was the case, I was relieved. Our destination came into view after turning around the corner of a small shop. It was something that fit the description of a plaza, but was full of people working out. An outdoor gym if one was liberal with the definition. Unlike one of those sad failures of the pandecade, this one had every conceivable tool to practice the fine arts of killing living creatures. Intricately carved dummies stood in front of walls. Large baskets full of thick chains dotted the space. Less intricate dummies moved around as if alive, some shaped like people, others like monsters I had never seen. Fate and fortune, however, weren''t completely on my side. The unpleasant bitch that had barged in during my shower was among those exercising. She noticed us and made her way to us... because why wouldn''t she? 147 - A bit of a hypocrite, eh? ¡°Heya, Your Excellency,¡± she greeted me with a big smile and stopped in front of us. ¡°Six Fists of the North.¡± She gave Yolin a nod, then to Pokora. ¡°Hi.¡± I rested my hands on my hips and arched an eyebrow, then appraised her. [Celez Human, Lvl 203 Preserver] Silence stretched for a few seconds. She cleared her throat. ¡°Uh.. My name is Caron Binnion , Your Excellency.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Who?¡± I asked. The Human''s eyebrows joined, and her face betrayed how awkward she felt. ¡°We, uhm... met yesterday?¡± she clarified, wringing her hands. ¡°In the shared bath?¡± ¡°No,¡± I scoffed, shaking my head. ¡°Who the fuck asked?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Pokora covered her mouth and looked away. Yolin straight up laughed. Full belly, head to the back, hugging her sides laugh. ¡°Oh,¡± she uttered, and the moment her expectations broke was visible on her face. ¡°No, well... certainly, nobody asked,¡± she sadly pointed out. ¡°You made a very shitty first impression,¡± I told her, then sighed while running a hand through my hair. ¡°And that was a bit mean of me. But do you honestly think you''re fucking funny? Going into the bath with a whole ass group of people? And to what? Interrupt my shower with all that fucking noise?¡± I chastised her. Pokora nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± she agreed. The Human looked uncomfortable. I sighed. ¡°Anyway, I hope you get my point.¡± ¡°I do,¡± Caron confirmed with an awkward nod. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± I nodded, looking her up and down. ¡°Now, if you''ll excuse us,¡± I finished and walked past her. A couple of Elves reached her and rubbed her back while saying something. Yolin put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a nod. ¡°You''re pretty strict,¡± she commented. ¡°I like that.¡± ¡°I mean,¡± I huffed and rolled my eyes. ¡°A bath is no place to do what she did,¡± I insisted. ¡°Eh,¡± Pokora let out an unsure sound. ¡°You''re overreacting.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Yolin interjected. ¡°We came to work out, didn''t we?¡± Pokora and I nodded, then went into the plaza. The Archer produced the bow I gave her earlier and walked off to the dummies. Yolin pulled my hand and guided me to a basked with chains, then got two out. ¡°These are better than mine,¡± she commented with a smile. ¡°I''ll finally get to see how much you can lift.¡± I nodded, interested in the limits of my strength. ¡°Is that why you haven''t let me use yours?¡± I inquired with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Mine are old,¡± she explained. ¡°And are set to weight two hundred tonnes,¡± she lamented. I did a double take. ¡°Pardon?¡± I blurted out. The Oni put a thick chain across her shoulders and showed me the other. ¡°You are a Warrior and a Halve,¡± she pointed out the obvious. ¡°So, you should be able to lift around... six or seven hundred tonnes, maybe more if I''m wrong.¡± I whistled and looked around. Pokora was standing next to a few Archers and aiming at a dummy a good distance away. She released the ethereal-looking projectile and, to my absolute surprise, the thing split into ten smaller arrows in mid-air and hit the target. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Now,¡± Yolin said, nudging my shoulder. ¡°I''ll teach you how to use these.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I agreed and gave her my undivided attention. ¡°But I''m not so sure about the six hundred tonnes. Let''s start low.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Okay. You see, Natasha, these chains have quite the number of fun enchantments. The first one you should know about influences the gravitational pull the planet has on them. I''m being incredibly simplistic here since the full workings of it aren''t really important,¡± she explained. I raised my eyebrows. ¡°That sounds really interesting, I won''t lie,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°The second one,¡± she said and her eyes shone with white light. The chain slowly straightened until it was a solid line. ¡°Is this,¡± Yolin continued. ¡°Lifting moving parts can be dangerous so you have to make it rigid. You might injure your back if you''re not careful. It hurts a lot... like, a fucking lot,¡± she specified with a very serious face. ¡°You can get it healed by a cleric but I doubt we''ll find one that can heal Halves, so be very careful not to pull anything.¡± ¡°Right.¡± I nodded. ¡°There are more enchantments, but these are the only ones that really matter to us right now,¡± she educated me and walked to a free spot. ¡°Come here and lets begin.¡± I followed her to a perfectly horizontal spot in the plaza. Quite the number of people were doing their thing, lifting chains in various ways while grunting and huffing. Among them, the Minotaur I saw yesterday was exercising with a thick chain. I moved my head to the side to get a better view of his pants and see if I could get a glimpse of his meat, for research purposes. Yolin blocked my eyes with a hand and pulled me by the neck. ¡°Hey,¡± she hissed in a low voice. ¡°You''re doing the same thing the Human did!¡± she accused me. I turned to her and felt my cheeks burn. ¡°You''re right,¡± I muttered in realization and bit my lips. ¡°I was at least quiet about it, though,¡± I joked with a shrug. The Oni arched an eyebrow, not amused in the slightest. ¡°Sorry,¡± I apologized, looking away with a fair share of shame. ¡°I don''t have any excuse.¡± ¡°Damn right, you don''t,¡± she sighed, then shook her head. ¡°Follow me, and don''t try to peek at others.¡± I nodded and did as told. When we reached our destination, Yolin handed me a chain. ¡°Push E''er while thinking of the amount of strength you want to train with. Let''s try with your full strength first,¡± she instructed me. I took the chain, gave it an unsure look, then looked at Yolin. ¡°Are you sure? Wouldn''t that much create a pull of its own? What if it''s too much and a black hole opens up?¡± Yolin''s lips trembled for a few seconds, fighting laughter. I sighed. ¡°I guess it doesn''t work like that,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Okay, I''ll go full strength, then.¡± The Oni stood behind me and grabbed my hips. ¡°Spread your legs, and push your butt my way,¡± she told me while giggling. My eyes widened and I turned my head. ¡°Right here?¡± I blurted out in surprise and disbelief, then continued in a whisper, ¡°There''s a lot of people, Yolin. I mean, don''t get me wrong. I don''t mean to kink shame you or anything. It''s just not my thing.¡± Yolin laughed for a while, still holding my hips. ¡°Noo!¡± she managed to say. ¡°It''s the posture to lift!¡± she corrected my misunderstanding. It clicked in my head and I sighed. ¡°Ahh.... I see. My bad. I don''t know what''s going on with me today.¡± ¡°Aayyy...¡± she let out a long sigh and chuckled. ¡°Okay, get rid of your shoes.¡± For free? I wondered and looked around. I bet there''s people who would pay good money to see my feet. I chuckled to myself and stored my shoes, then changed my clothes to an ensemble more fitting to exercise in. ¡°We''re going to do a deadlift, okay?¡± Yolin informed me. ¡°If the chain is too heavy make sure to store it right away, or let go. You can drink an elixir if you get injured, too.¡± I nodded. ¡°Now, spread your legs and push your butt my way,¡± she chuckled, probably still laughing at my mistake. ¡°So dumb,¡± she whispered to herself. I did as told, and my girlfriend guided me to the correct pose. She walked around me and got into position herself, then grabbed the chain as if it was one of those bars people did heavy lifting with back on Earth. ¡°Grab the chain like this.¡± I nodded and did as told, then injected E''er into the thing to make it rigid. ¡°Now, think of your full strength,¡± she instructed me with eyes full of curiosity. I nodded. 5400 strength, I thought while injecting E''er into the chain. ¡°Done,¡± I told her. ¡°Now, lift like this,¡± she instructed with a big smile and straightened her back and legs. ¡°Full hip and knee extension.¡± I nodded and copied her. ¡°HNNGG!¡± I huffed and lifted the chain in one go. Then came the answer as to how we would know how much I could lift. ¡°Nine. Hundred. Seventy. Two. Tonnes.¡± An obviously chopped up recorded voice came from the chains. I let go of the chain and fell on my ass. ¡°WHAT?!¡± I shouted in disbelief. 148 - A bit of a surprise, tbh. The chain hit the ground and, much to my surprise and relief, went lax and didn''t break the surface. I stared at it with a fair amount of confusion. ¡°What...?¡± Yolin whispered with wide eyes. ¡°Is that normal?¡± I asked her, standing up and wiping my butt with a hand while pointing at the chain with the other. The Oni slowly nodded, then sighed and rubbed her temples. ¡°What makes you think there are no countermeasures for when that happens?¡± she inquired. ¡°I told you the chains were full of fun enchantments... but I guess it''s my fault for rushing you instead of properly explaining,¡± she sighed. A tingle ran under my skin, making me shift my body a little. ¡°That''s okay,¡± I waved it away. ¡°Nine hundred?¡± someone nearby muttered in awe. ¡°And seventy,¡± another added. I looked around. People were looking over to us with surprised faces. ¡°That''s a Halve for you,¡± a dude whispered with a smirk. ¡°Wicked,¡± another dude praised with a nod. Oh? I smiled, then posed and flexed both arms while tightening my body. ¡°Behold!¡± I exclaimed facing them. ¡°The might of a Protector!¡± Those nearby clapped and cheered. ¡°Yoooo!¡± ¡°Let''s goooo!¡± ¡°Hail the Eternal!¡± came the cringe cheer from an Elf. ¡°I''m so glad I''m a Warrior!¡± a young-looking Human gushed with a big smile. ¡°Didn''t she fall on her ass, though?¡± a Dwarf pointed out. They saw that?! ¡°True... but isn''t that kind of cute?¡± came an amused retort from a Luzo. Ehe! Thankies! ¡°You''d die lifting that much, you insolent shit-eater!¡± a Goliath angrily scolded the shorter commentator. ¡°Oh, shut up! You brown nosed fuck!¡± a Tigea laughed. The group of people chuckled. ¡°Alright, you lot,¡± Yolin spoke up. ¡°Go back to what you were doing.¡± I relaxed and observed them in silence for a few seconds. That''s it? No racist remarks? No brawl? My girlfriend patted my shoulder. ¡°Okay, let''s go at it again. Don''t let the chain go this time,¡± she snickered. I nodded at the chain. ¡°How do I prevent it from talking?¡± ¡°Just like a sound-proof enchantment,¡± she replied and stood behind me. ¡°Now. Give me two hundred reps.¡± ¡°What?¡± I whispered in shock. ¡°Two hundred?!¡± ¡°Yep,¡± she confirmed with a deep nod. ¡°Five sets. I doubt your strength will increase, but let''s try it anyway.¡± I closed into her and whispered even quieter, ¡°Why won''t it increase?¡± ¡°We don''t know how high your toughness is,¡± she explained back in a whisper as well. The chance presented itself, so I graciously took it. ¡°What is toughness?¡± I inquired with a monumental amount of curiosity. That word was present in equipment and skills, and because my English isn''t the best, I wasn''t 100% certain of the meaning of the word. I took English only after entering Art School, after all. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Yolin put a hand on my shoulder and scratched her left eyebrow with the other. ¡°How tough you are,¡± she replied with a cheeky smirk. I rolled my eyes and pushed her shoulder. ¡°Come on,¡± I sighed. ¡°Tell me in simple Common. Please? Like I''m a ten year old.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°Toughness is the body''s energy dissipation index. It allows me, a tank, to get hit with enough energy to split the continent without exploding in a mess of blood and guts. Depending on how high your toughness is without any skills active, is how difficult it will be for you to get stronger through exercise because the muscles need to rip and heal to grow stronger. If your toughness is too high, then it will be harder. You Halves are said to have impossibly tough bodies, and as a Warrior...¡± she gave me a complicated look. ¡°It will be even harder.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± I nodded. ¡°Gotcha,¡± I muttered and turned to the chains. ¡°Let''s try it.¡±
¡°Hng!¡± I huffed and lifted the chain. ¡°Aaand... two hundred,¡± Yolin announced while doing squats with weights. ¡°Hold that position.¡± I let out a long breath, feeling my skin hot and tingly. The Oni stood in front of me and looked me in the eye. ¡°Are you straining yourself?¡± I blinked twice. ¡°Put it down,¡± she instructed me. I did as told, bending forward and let out a long breath. ¡°That was fun,¡± I sighed. A hand slapped my left butt cheek. I slowly turned my head to see who was feeling suicidal. ¡°Sheeeeesh!¡± Pokora laughed, standing behind me with a playful smile. ¡°What are you doing with all this ass? Double CAKED UP! Giving the people an early breakfast?¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Yoga pants do your ass absolute wonders, girl,¡± she praised with a thumbs up. ¡°The slap was a bit much,¡± I pointed out and smiled. ¡°And yeah, I know my ass is sheeeesh!¡± Yolin approached me and ran a hand over my neck. ¡°No sweat,¡± she commented and rubbed her fingers together. ¡°We should''ve told Alyssa to come with us.¡± I pulled the two into a hug and gave the sexual offender Elf a kiss on the lips. ¡°Don''t slap my ass in public again,¡± I told her. She nodded, face red like a tomato up to her ears. Yolin chuckled and hugged us, then lifted us. ¡°Okay, let''s go back,¡± she announced and put us down. She put an arm on Pokora''s shoulders and asked, ¡°How was the bow?¡± The Elf sighed. ¡°I don''t need arrows anymore, but knowing how to make them will help me,¡± she shared. ¡°It''s pretty insane, to be honest. I broke a few targets,¡± she sighed again. ¡°Luckily the people who work on them came as soon as they heard Natasha was here.¡± I nodded. ¡°Smart people,¡± I commented. ¡°How much are the repairs?¡± Both turned to me. ¡°They''re Geomancers so they use skills to fix them,¡± Yolin educated me. ¡°Ahh...¡± I uttered. ¡°Amazing. Pretty convenient.¡± Both nodded. And with our exercise done, we went back to the inn.
We made it back right on time for breakfast. Similarly to the inn we stayed at in Mountroad, the accommodations included meals. The three of us took a shower and joined the rest. The party sat around a big table in a large communal room. Alyssa was staring at me with eyes that thirsted for knowledge. ¡°970 tonnes,¡± she muttered to herself for the nth time. For the first time since I was born in Galeia, I took one of the newspapers on the table and gave it a read. It was quite the interesting thing. The name was Ladania''s Novelties for Sociable People, and it was fifty pages long. I honestly didn''t know what to expect, and the name wasn''t a big enough clue. My eyes widened at reading a block of text on the front page. ''GOLIATH, 250F LOOKING FOR SURROGATE FATHER (GOLIATH AS WELL). PREFERABLY WARRIOR. AROUND LEVEL 655 TOTAL LEVEL. I AM STAYING AT GOLAZI''S ENTRECAMINO. CYCLE WILL BEGIN THE 24TH OF THIS MONTH. MY PARTY HAS A LVL 672 CLERIC. DEPENDING ON SUCCESS OF PREGNANCY, MY PARTNER (GOLIATH, 248F) ALSO WISHES TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE YEARS TO COME. 200 GOLD PIECES A DAY, DETAILS CAN BE DISCUSSED.'' ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered, mind absolutely shattered. ¡°Surrogate father...¡± Hanna perked up at that. ¡°Are they looking for Orks, Your Excellency?¡± she inquired. I looked at her and did a double take. ¡°Uh... no, this one is looking for Goliaths,¡± I explained, a little confused. The Ork nodded. ¡°I see,¡± she lamented, then shrugged. ¡°Well, we''re not staying for long, anyway.¡± My brain worked at full capacity for a few seconds, then my eyes widened to the limit. ¡°You''ve... done this before?¡± I whispered in disbelief. My fellow futanari smiled and nodded. ¡°Several times, Your Excellency,¡± she told me like she was talking about going to the grocery store to buy fruit. ¡°Some women specifically seek us fulse to have children with,¡± she further cause my mind to go into apocalyptic confusion. ¡°...Huh...¡± I uttered again, not knowing what to say. Apparently she was comfortable enough with the rest knowing about her being a futa. Or perhaps it was the fact we all showered together and saw each other naked. So... I slowly thought. Hanna... is a parent? Or not since it''s surrogate... This world is even more amazing than I thought, I concluded and continued reading. Out of journal - Moments that define life - Natasha Earth, Russia, Saratov Oblast, Saratov. 3rd of December, 2010. Two children, a girl and a boy, were sitting in the living room of a small house. An old cartoon movie was playing on the screen of an old TV. ¡°§³§Ý§à§Ó§à ?§²§à§Þ? §Ú §ã§Ý§à§Ó§à ?§ã§Þ§Ö§â§ä§î?... §Õ§Ý§ñ §Ó§Ñ§ã §à§Ù§ß§Ñ§é§Ñ§Ö§ä - §à§Õ§ß§à §Ú §ä§à §Ø§Ö! ¡± a man with a big smile said while laughing, holding a bottle and a skull on each hand. The girl, Natasha Nikolayevna Novak, giggled at the silly way the character relayed the information. The boy, Vladimir Nikolayevich Novak, glanced at her and copied the giggle. Natasha gave her brother a look, smiling. ¡°Did you understand?¡± she asked. Vladimir looked at the TV, then back at her... and shook his head. The older sister nodded in understanding, then grabbed the remote and paused the VHS player. ¡°If you drink too much alcohol your health will deteriorate like that character. He was so weak that a single stick was enough to send him to bed after hitting his head.¡± The younger brother nodded and returned his focus to the screen. Natasha''s smile turned complicated, but pointed the remote at the VHS and pressed play, resuming the movie. Vladimir had never, in his four years of life, said a word. He laughed when others laughed, and cried when others cried. People initially thought he was mute, but it soon turned into concerns of him being of special needs. The little girl, despite being 10 years old, was deeply worried for her brother. She knew the boy was smart and had no trouble understanding things if one took the time to explain properly. Still, people called her stupid whenever she had trouble understanding math in school. Most adults had no time to explain things properly, and the little girl didn''t have much hopes when it came to her little brother''s future and how people would treat him with how she saw the way people treated boys in her class whenever they scored low on tests. The two siblings continued watching the movie. Every time Natasha laughed, Vladimir would too. Every time she asked if he understood, he would shake his head and she would explain. Life, however, would take a turn that night. The door to their house opened, and a tall woman came into the living room shortly after. She undid the buttons of a jacket and left it on the couch the two siblings were sitting on, revealing a nurse''s uniform with a plaque on her chest that read ''Rodchenkova Zoya Iosifovna''. It was obvious at a glance that she was the mother of the two. Green eyes, blonde hair, and a straight nose were passed down to the two. ¡°Hello, Mother,¡± greeted little Natasha while staring at the screen. The woman sat down next to her children. ¡°What are you watching?¡± she demanded in a dry tone while lighting a cigarette. The TV showed a group of real life men dressed as pirates and singing. ¡°Treasure Island,¡± little Natasha replied in a quiet voice, engrossed in the movie. ¡°Grandma loved it.¡± Zoya''s eyebrow twitched at the answer. She took a drag of the tobacco cylinder and let it out in front of her. ¡°Grandma is dead,¡± the loving mother told her children. ¡°Turn that off,¡± she ordered and held out a hand. Little Natasha''s smile turned into a sad frown, and handed the remote to her mother. The TV switched to a news channel, and the anchor talked about a man named Medvedev. The woman scoffed. ¡°Putin did a better job,¡± she complained. ¡°This country is going to shit.¡± Not knowing what to do, and afraid of making her mother angry, little Natasha stayed on the couch. She took her brother''s hand and held it firmly. ¡°Are the dishes done?¡± the mother asked, looking at the screen. She put the smoke on her lips and inhaled. Little Natasha nodded. ¡°They are,¡± she replied quietly. The mother sighed in satisfaction, releasing a cloud of smoke into the room. ¡°Is the bathroom clean?¡± she asked next. The 10 year old nodded again. ¡°I cleaned it after I got home from school,¡± she answered. The mother chuckled. ¡°So even someone as stupid as you can be useful around the house,¡± she commented and once again polluted the room with smoke. ¡°Vladimir,¡± she called, still looking at the screen. She had a deep scowl on her face. ¡°Decided to talk?¡± she sarcastically questioned. The four year old shook his head. ¡°Of course,¡± Zoya muttered, disappointment evident on her voice. ¡°Stupid child.¡± The door to their house opened and a man came into the living room shortly after. He looked at his family, then at the TV. The VHS player was still on, but the screen showed the news. The living room was full of smoke from Zoya''s cigarette, too. ¡°Papa!¡± Natasha cheered and stood up, then ran to her father and hugged his waist. ¡°Mother won''t let us watch cartoons!¡± she tattled. Nikolai Illyich Novak looked at the woman staring at the TV. She had an uncaring expression, and made comments on the political situation of the country. ¡°What are you doing, woman?¡± Nikolai demanded, walking into the living room and blocking the screen. ¡°Smoking next to the children again? And now you switch to the news when they were watching a movie? What is wrong with you?¡± ¡°I work all day,¡± Zoya began with an irritated tone, looking at Nikolai. ¡°Then come home to stupid children. Now the man that is too poor to marry me is asking questions?¡± she spat with venom, then scoffed, ¡°You think too highly of yourself, Nikolai. Face reality. You are not the man you think you are.¡± The family''s father scowled, and his fists tightened in anger. ¡°Natasha, Vladimir,¡± he called his children in a gentle tone. ¡°Go to your room,¡± he instructed. Little Natasha took a deep breath, then let go of her father''s legs. She walked back to the couch to get his brother. Zoya raised a hand and brought it down on Natasha''s head for making her day more difficult than it already was. ¡°Insolent!¡± she shouted. Natasha covered her head, too scared and shocked to get out of the way. Nikolai was faster, however, stopping the mother''s strike with a hand. A burning sensation assaulted his skin. Zoya wasn''t planning on slapping the ten year old, but wanted to press the still lit cigarette on her face. ¡°CRAZY BITCH!¡± Nikolai screamed, then grabbed the woman by the shoulders. Natasha rushed to her brother and grabbed him by the hand, then dragged him to their room and closed the door. ¡°WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU''RE DOING?¡± the mother demanded in a loud voice. ¡°THEY WON''T UNDERSTAND UNLESS YOU USE VIOLENCE!¡± Natasha hugged Vladimir and covered his ears. ¡°THEN MAYBE I SHOULD USE SOME ON YOU, CRAZY BITCH!¡± retorted the father in an equally loud voice. ¡°HOW DARE YOU TRY TO HIT MY CHILDREN!¡± ¡°THEY''RE MY CHILDREN, NIKOLAI!¡± the mother spat back. ¡°AND YOU KNOW VERY WELL WHAT I MEAN!¡± There was a moment of silence. Hot, wet tears streamed down little Natasha''s face. Her parents had never fought like this before. When her grandma was still alive, everything was fine. They were a happy family. Zoya was gentle, loving, and warm. Nikolai was the quiet man he always was, but made sure to spend time with the family and play with the siblings. She didn''t understand. Things were too sudden, violent, and loud for a ten year old. The adults never explained. They fought and screamed at each other instead. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Nikolai asked in a severe tone. ¡°You... were never like this. What has gotten into you, woman?¡± ¡°I can''t live like this,¡± Zoya hissed. ¡°My children have no future! All Natasha ever does is doodle away! Vladimir can''t even speak! You don''t earn enough money! Our quality of life is on the floor!¡± Natasha took little Vladimir to their bed and tucked him in while the parents argued in the living room. She made sure to cover his ears and do her best to hide her tears. ¡°We''ll get through this!¡± Nikolai told the woman, repeating himself who knows how many times since his mother passed away. ¡°And how are we going to do that?¡± the family''s mother demanded, voice angry and tired. ¡°Money stopped coming in after Irina died! Open your eyes! We had to sell the car, the piano, moved into this shit hole, and now I have to work two shifts just to cover basic expenses!¡± ¡°It''s all about money with you,¡± the father sighed in defeat. ¡°Now you take it out on the children. Do you not see how wrong that is?¡± Zoya clicked her tongue. ¡°Is the son of a criminal telling me how to raise my children? Didn''t your father hit you? Look at you! You''re doing fine despite not earning enough money!¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°We''ll find a cheaper place,¡± Nikolai suggested, ignoring the insults sent his way. ¡°I''ll find a third job. Natasha can sell her art! She''s good at it, Zoyechka.¡± The woman scoffed. ¡°A cheaper place?¡± she demanded, raising her voice. ¡°WHERE? THIS HOUSE IS ALREADY CHEAP AS IT IS, NIKOLAI! AND WE''RE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY!¡± ¡°A friend is selling a flat,¡± he calmly told her. ¡° I already talked to him about it, and I explained our situation. We''ll only have to pay ten thousand rubles a month. We can move next week.¡± ¡°...A flat...?¡± she questioned with skepticism. ¡°It''s not a Khrushchoba, is it?¡± Nikolai sighed. ¡°I can''t live in a slum!¡± she snapped. ¡°MY CHILDREN CAN''T LIVE IN A SLUM, YOU HEAR ME? PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE END UP LIKE YOU! WITH NO FUTURE AND BARELY EARNING ENOUGH MONEY TO SEND THEM TO GOOD SCHOOLS!¡± ¡°So they''re supposed to end up like you?¡± he asked, clearly annoyed. ¡°A waste of skin that hits their children?¡± ¡°I''m their mother,¡± she pointed out in a low voice. ¡°You''re a monster,¡± he corrected her. ¡°A crazy bitch that would put a cigarette on her daughter''s face!¡± Zoya started laughing. ¡°I see! SMALL NIKOLAI FINALLY FOUND THE BALLS HE LACKED ALL HIS LIFE!¡± ¡°I only just realized how deranged you were all along,¡± he spat. Silence. Little Natasha trembled under the covers. The fights had never been this loud. Her parents had never insulted each other that much. Tears fell down her face and didn''t seem like they''d stop anytime soon. ¡°I can''t take this anymore... I''m leaving,¡± her mother declared. ¡°And I am taking Natasha with me.¡± Hearing that, the little girl hugged her younger brother tighter. ¡°Try me, bitch,¡± her father warned. ¡°If you touch my daughter it''ll be your corpse leaving through that door.¡± The woman scoffed. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Find out, then,¡± he replied, placing a very real threat of death upon the woman he had once loved with all he had. Nikolai had been raised with the belief that women are to be protected. ''A man should never hit a woman'' is what his mother Irina had told him several times. That belief was what kept him from beating Zoya to death when she tried to use violence on their daughter. Were it a man who tried to do so, there would be a dead body in the living room already. But Irina had died three months ago, taking all of that ''wisdom'' with her to the afterlife. In front of Nikolai stood no woman. He had seen the mother of his children- the woman he had shared most of his life with- become the worst possible creature on the face of the earth. Something not even a lifetime of indoctrination would stop him from murdering. A child beater. To Nikolai, that one attempt was enough to remove any humanity the woman possessed. He had been at the receiving end of it during his childhood, after all. He knew the kind of hate children could harbor towards their parents when they experienced it, and he didn''t want his children to go through it. As such, for the first time in his life, he threatened a woman with death. To him, his children were more important than any woman. Zoya was silent for a while. It was the first time Nikolai acted that way. Even after all the things she did to him, and all the things she had said so far... the man had just taken it and kept quiet. The burn on his hand hadn''t prompted him into violence. There were more, far uglier things she had done that didn''t get him this worked up. Both understood something at that moment. They could not coexist anymore. The family had been irreparably broken. There is no going back from a threat of death. The little power Zoya had and enjoyed -that being her position as a mother- had vanished in an instant, decided against her will and brought to be by her own actions. Thus... she packed her things in silence and left. Angry, spiteful, and feeling like the man had done her a terrible wrong. She didn''t want to die, after all. Despite all the taunts she sent his way, Nikolai was the son of a criminal. Who knew what would happen to her. Little Natasha fell asleep holding her brother. Terrified, sad, and endlessly confused. That was a night she would never forget, even after dying. Even after a million years of torment. A night that would shape her view of the world.
25th of July, 2013. Little Natasha was sitting in a doctor''s office, trying her best to understand what the man had just told her. The last years had been rough, and the light that should exist in a child''s eyes wasn''t entirely there. Instead, the understanding that the world had a cost beyond mortal capability had started to occupy her green eyes. Life had no meaning. Objectively speaking, however, it did have a meaning. Grow, reproduce, and die. The perpetuation of life is its goal. In all the absurd mess that life is, it was up to the individual to give it meaning. Natasha, however, was having a fucking hard time finding one. ¡°Can you repeat that?¡± little Natasha requested in her most respectful tone. Her young heart was being tested by life''s absurdities once again. The doctor cleared his throat, and repeated himself. ¡°Vladimir Novak, your brother, does not present the signs of autism,¡± he explained slowly, taking his time, and using words she''d easily understand. ¡°We have done exhaustive testings on him to check if that was the case, and all results have come out as negative.¡± The man removed his glasses and looked little Natasha in the eye. ¡°He has high-functioning psychopathy, instead. We should start lowering the dosage he''s been taking so far.¡± Why was she being told this information, though? Nikolai was at work. Specifically, his second job. After Zoya left, her side of the family cut all ties with the three. Nikolai''s family had all passed away except for his father, who had a sever case of Alzheimer''s and was hospitalized somewhere in Siberia. Natasha had to help raise his little brother. Babysitter? Specialized schooling? Those were for the privileged. The consultations costed a lot of money, and there was nobody but her to take and pick her brother to and from the doctor''s appointment. Little Natasha''s small fist tightened and her eyes stung. She didn''t understand what the doctor was saying even though he took the time to explain properly. Psychopathy was a new word for her, as much as autism had been. She didn''t have access to the internet due to living barely above poverty, and her friends were few and didn''t have to deal with life like she did so they wouldn''t have much in the way of advice. Despite all the efforts she went through to understand and help with her younger brother''s condition -reading books at the public library, searching ways to help raise a child with autism despite being only thirteen years old, teaching him how the world worked even though she didn''t fully understand it herself, and doing her best to give him memories he''d cherish- life was becoming too costly to live for a thirteen year old. Natasha''s ears started ringing, and the smell of cleaning products coming from the carpet made her a little nauseous. The doctor took a bowl on his desk and offered her one of the candies in it. ¡°Here, have one,¡± he told her with a smile. ¡°You''ve earned it.¡± The little girl looked up at the doctor and slowly nodded, then took one of the candies. She put it in her pocket, though. ¡°For later,¡± she lied. It was for Vladimir. The man nodded, knowing full well what would happen. Vladimir, who started speaking at the age of five, had talked a lot about the sister that was always there for him during his appointments with the doctor. Whenever she earned candies and treats, she''d give them to him. She''d have cereal with water for breakfast, leaving the milk for him. She would leave the bigger half of every sausage to him. All the toys belonged to Vladimir, too. As for Natasha? She drew. A lot. To forget about hunger, sleep, pain, and sadness. ¡°If you have any questions, please don''t hesitate to ask me,¡± the doctor offered. Natasha nodded. ¡°Do you have books I could read about... saico... that thing you said?¡± she requested, looking away in embarrassment at not remembering the word. The man smiled and wrote a few lines on a notepad, then gave her the sheet of paper. ¡°You can start with these. They''re easy to understand. Make sure your father reads them as well.¡± Natasha took the paper and put it in her pocket. ¡°Thank you, doctor,¡± she said while standing up. ¡°I''ll go talk with the nice lady about the next appointment.¡± ¡°Take care, little warrior,¡± the doctor bid her farewell with a smile. The little girl giggled at the silly man and left the office. She didn''t think of herself as a warrior. She didn''t think much of herself, really. Just doing what she could to help around the house. A few minutes later, and with little Vladimir next to her, she put the slip with the next appointment''s date in her pocket. Both left the clinic and walked home. On the way, they passed in front of a store two blocks away from their destination. Natasha''s stomach growled, protesting hunger. She checked her pockets and counted the little money she had. 200 rubles and a few kopecks. Enough for a few sausages and eggs. Vladimir loved those. The two siblings went into the store. While checking the first aisle they encountered, little Natasha''s eyes landed on a pack of sanitary pads. She discreetly checked the price. 551 rubles and some kopecks. The little girl sighed and guided her brother deeper into the store. They got home a few minutes later, and Natasha went straight to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. There, she pulled her pants down and removed a sock she had on top of her panties. It had a few specks of blood and a stain around it. Little Natasha scoffed. ¡°Socks are easy to clean,¡± she told herself and sniffled. ¡°I can buy a lot of milk with 500 rubles!¡± she laughed with tears streaming down her face and washed the sock in the sink.
4th of March, 2015. Little Natasha was leaving school when a classmate approached her. ¡°Natasha Nikolayevna!¡± he jokingly called and caught up to her. The little fighter turned to face the kid. ¡°Nikita Mikhailovich,¡± she similarly greeted back after recognizing him. At that point in time, the vicissitudes of life had completely worn the cheerfulness of a child out of her. Her green eyes that once had the spark of mischievousness and youthful mirth were now cold and bereft of hope for the world. What once was a smile that giggled and laughed without a care as any child should was now a straight line that more often than not carried a light scowl. The eyebrows that used to express wonder and awe were now mostly static, changing positions slightly to only show surprise... whenever anything managed to be out of her low expectations, that is. The boy blushed. ¡°Would you like to go to McD*nalds with me?¡± he invited with great bravery. Natasha took a second to think. ¡°I''m waiting for my brother,¡± she told him. Nikita nodded. ¡°He can come with us,¡± he assured her with a big smile. ¡°I don''t have money,¡± she replied in honesty. The boy chuckled and playfully nudged her shoulder. ¡°Not a problem. It''s on me.¡± Free food? Only a moron would turn that down. ¡°Sure,¡± she quickly accepted, taking a red pack of cigarettes out of her backpack and placing one on her lips. ¡°Thank you,¡± she told him, looking him straight in the eye and lighting the cylinder of death up. The stress she was under had pushed her into finding ways to kill it. Lo and behold, cigarettes were cheaper than sanitary pads. Nikita blushed up to the ears, and his smile turned even wider at the positive reply. Despite all that life threw at her, Natasha wasn''t daft. She was just preoccupied with others things. Her lips curled ever so slightly into the tiniest of smiles. She thought the boy was cute. From that day on, slowly but surely and little by little, the brave girl learned about love. 149 - End of Arc 8 After three pages of people looking for others to have children with, I came across a party recruitment section of sorts. LF> WIZARD. OBILISTIC RAKETINGUS (THREE MEMBERS) IS RECRUITING A NEW TEAMMATE! WE SEEK A PERSONABLE AND CHEERFUL INDIVIDUAL TO JOIN OUR TEAM. WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE ABOVE LEVEL 400 TOTAL, AT LEAST 100 YEARS OLD, AND SPEAK DRAGON TONGUE. MUST HAVE UNIVERSITY/ACADEMY/ELSE DIPLOMA AT HAND AS PROOF OF PATH, AT LEAST MEDIUM QUALITY EQUIPMENT, AN OWNED MOUNT OR ANIMAL COMPANION FOR INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION, AND A STRONG ENOUGH LIVER TO DRINK A SCOUT UNDER THE TABLE (NOT A PRIORITY). WE OFFER 30% OF EVERY REWARD EARNED DURING THE CHASE! IF INTERESTED, WE ARE STAYING AT OLINI PIMINI. LF> CLERIC. DARKEST HOUR (FIVE LUPUM MEMBERS) IS RECRUITING A NEW SHADOW TO JOIN OUR EVERLASTING TWILIGHT. WE EXPECT AN APPLIED AND COMMITED HEALER TO SEE OUR GREAT AMBITIONS THROUGH. WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE RUTHLESS, VICIOUS, AND NEFARIOUS. 100 LEVEL TOTAL MINIMUM. POSSESSION OF THE PERTINENT DOCUMENTS THAT PROVE THE BOTOMLESS KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE ACQUIRED IS MANDATORY. NON-NEGOTIABLES: FIRSTDAYS ARE FOR BOOK SOCIETY, THIRDDAYS FOR SWEETS APPRETIATION, AND FIFTHDAYS ARE FOR SCARY STORIES AROUND THE BONFIRE (BLANKET IS HEAVILY ADVISED). LOW QUALITY EQUIPMENT WILL BE PROVIDED IF NEEDED. WE HAVE A CART FOR TRANSPORTATION. WE OFFER 30% OF THE ENDLESS WEALTH WE RIGHTFULLY TAKE POSSESSION OF. IF INTERESTED, SEEK THE DARKEST TENT TO THE SOUTH OF LADANIA. LF> PERFORMER. ENDLESS FOREST (10 MEMBERS) IS RECRUITING A NEW SAPLING. THE TIME FOR ACTION HAS COME. TOGETHER WE WILL CLIMB TO THE TREETOPS WHERE ABSOLUTE POWER EXISTS! FOR THAT, WE NEED YOUR HELP, O ELOQUENT WHISPERER! WE BESEECH YOU TO JOIN OUR GLORIOUS ENTERPRISE AND BE A VOICE OF UNITY IN OUR MOST DESPERATE OF TIMES. PROOF OF EDUCATION IS REQUIRED. WE SEEK YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED SAPLINGS TO NURTURE. WE WILL TEACH YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHASE IN HOPES THAT YOU WILL SPREAD YOUR OWN ROOTS IN THE FUTURE. WE HAVE TWO CARTS FOR TRANSPORTATION. WE OFFER 5% OF THE REWARDS WE ACCRUE. IF INTERESTED, COME TO VISIL''S PORT INN. LF> ESCORT. TAZAAR''S BAZAAR IS A PEDDLING GROUP OF EXPERIENCED MERCHANTS THAT TRAVEL FROM CITY TO CITY, GREASING THE ECONOMY. WE REQUIRE TWO TO FIVE (3-5) CHASERS TO PROTECT OUR CARAVAN. PREVIOUS ONES TOOK A LEAVE OF PARENTHOOD. THE REWARDS WILL BE AS FAT AS THE MEALS WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU. IF INTERESTED, COME TO THE EASTERN MARKET AND ASK FOR TAZAAR. DETAILS ARE TO BE DISCUSSED. LF> PARTY. HUMAN WARRIOR IS SEEKING A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE A CHASE WITH. 513 LEVEL TOTAL. AM A TANK. I KNOW HOW TO FIX EQUIPMENT OF UP TO MEDIUM QUALITY (WITH UP TO 4 ENCHANTMENTS). I CAN MAKE A DECENT ROASTED BOAR. IF INTERESTED, I AM STAYING AT MAVER''S INN. ¡°Hmm,¡± I hummed after reading ten pages and put the newspaper on the table. Do all parties have a name like that? I wondered, tapping my lower lip. Should we pick one? I considered and looked at my companions. My eyes met Elena''s. She''ll come up with a cringe name, I bet. The ancient Elf gave me a smile and went back to her breakfast. What if having a name is important, though? I guess it''s not since nobody has mentioned it? Is it a young Chaser thing? Not counting me, Hanna, Lapia, and Pokora, everyone is older than a century. As far as I know the only ones who''ve been Chasers for a while are Alyssa, Bromisnar, Bonte, and Yolin. I looked at the Satyr. I bet he has killer ideas for names. I nodded to myself. ¡°Bromisnar, my dude,¡± I called out to him. The man looked up from the newspaper he was reading and gave me a smile. ¡°Yes?¡± I gestured at the newspaper in front of my with my head. ¡°I''ve noticed parties have names,¡± I began. Everyone sighed, including him. Bonte, however, perked up and his feline ears stood in full attention. My eyebrows went up in surprise. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Alyssa wiped her lips with a napkin and spoke, ¡°Natasha... It''s complicated. You''re a Halve so we''d have to take sociopolitical circumstances into consideration. We can''t have a name that doesn''t include your species one way or another. We''d be criticized.¡± Lapia nodded, then said, ¡°And you''ve kind of blatantly stated your dislike for all of that.¡± ¡°Let''s come up with a name,¡± Bonte pleaded, giving me his best attempt at puppy eyes... which is a weird way to call it since he''s a catboy. Kitty eyes? ¡°Please?¡± he added. ¡°We''ll come up with a name if Your Excellency wishes,¡± Elena joined the conversation. ¡°A mighty one that will show off your absolute power both traditionally and physically.¡± Pokora looked at me with narrow eyes. ¡°The Golden Spear,¡± she proposed with a cheeky grin. Yolin, who was drinking from a cup, choked and started coughing. Alyssa smiled but covered her mouth with a napkin. ¡°That''s actually a pretty good name,¡± Bromisnar considered, rubbing his chin. ¡°Natasha is a golden Halve and uses a spear,¡± he pointed the obvious. I frowned and shook my head. ¡°That''s not what she means,¡± I told him. The Performer gave me a confused look, then his eyes widened and he turned to the Archer. ¡°That is very inappropriate,¡± he sighed in disapproval. ¡°Brightest Shadows,¡± Bonte excitedly suggested. ¡°Natasha glows, so it makes perfect sense!¡± ¡°No, it doesn''t,¡± Thelea denied. ¡°You''d have to make it a bit longer to fit the saying.¡± I turned to her and arched an eyebrow. ¡°The brightest light casts the darkest shadows,¡± the Goliath explained. ¡°Implying Halves carry the darkest secrets while being a guiding light for the people.¡± ¡°Spicy,¡± I commented with a nod. ¡°A bit too spicy, though.¡± After that, a long chat about a name took place. I unknowingly triggered something I shouldn''t have. Names that were the epitome of cringe came out of Bonte''s mouth. Similarly, Elena and Hanna suggested names that made my skin crawl a little as well. My companions voted on the names every time a new one came up. As for me? I abused my power. Fuck democracy. Fuck the collective right to vote and express opinions. ¡°I veto that name with my authority as a Higher Being,¡± I said each and every time the votes were coming to a close. ¡°Oh, fuck off,¡± Pokora complained after the seventh veto. ¡°You''ve become the thing you exist to destroy. A tyrant.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Don''t care. Didn''t ask. Plus, my ass is fatter.¡± ¡°HAHAHA!¡± Yolin hugged her stomach and leaned back. ¡°I''m not against us being referred to as Her Excellency''s companions'',¡± Alyssa pointed out with a shrug. ¡°It''s not mandatory to have a party name,¡± Bromisnar supplied. ¡°Eh,¡± Bonte made an uninterested sound, looking away and pouting after I vetoed three of his suggestions. ¡°Whatever.¡± I shouldn''t have asked, I lamented with a sigh. Pokora checked a pocket watch and looked at each of us. ¡°We depart in an hour,¡± she announced. ¡°Gather your things, go to the bathroom, and go buy anything you might need for the foreseeable future.¡± ¡°I''ll stay here,¡± I began, taking the opportunity to change topics, then bit into a sausage. ¡°Waiting for you.¡± My companions nodded, stood up, and left. I sighed, chewed, and swallowed. Crisis averted. These sausages are absolutely delicious! I chuckled and ate more. After around forty five minutes my companions returned. We fetched our mounts and left Ladania unbothered. 150 - Start of Arc 9. The sound of animals stepping on wet soil accompanied the chit-chat of our group. As always, tall and thick trees stood to our sides, and their canopy covering the road provided shade. ¡°It''s such a beautiful thing~ Loooveee,¡± Bromisnar sang while playing his lute atop his big horse. ¡°Gods, Halves, and mortals~ None escape this fooorceee~¡± The man''s voice was pleasant, relaxing, and tender to the ear. The music was calm and low. Elena, who was riding her mount behind me, was humming along with the tune. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. ¡°The love from a parent ¨C gentle and firm~ Chases nightmares away and brings calm sleep~ And the child, so innocent and pure~ Feels warm and saaafeee~¡± I let out a tiny sigh, then opened my eyes and looked at the sky through gaps in the canopy. Is it like that, though? I wondered, not having experienced that myself. And yet, despite having a less than ideal childhood, my heart was at ease. There was no melancholy, no nostalgia for a life I haven''t lived, no jealousy or envy for those who grew up in complete families, and no anger at having missed a normal life thanks to selfish adults. Not anymore. I raised a hand and looked at the golden digits. I hope to be a good parent if I have children in the future. Yolin told me I''m strict, I recalled balled my hand into a fist. Is that bad? Did I give my brother good memories? Was he happy? Am I strict with children because of him? I did my best, though. I sighed and looked ahead. I truly hope that was good enough. A few memories popped in my mind, like when I had to pull his baby teeth with a string, teach him how to ride a bicycle, teach him to communicate with me and be his true self, teach him the value of life when he tried mixing bleach with alcohol to kill a cat that scratched him, and listen to him when he told me how he practiced killing his toys for when the time to do it on humans came. Still, no emotional response came from the memories. Hmm... I grumbled in my mind. Isn''t it odd that I feel nothing from my memories? I wondered. Another thing to ask the Gods. Ah! I produced a sheet of paper and a quill, then wrote down a list of things I wanted to ask them. 1- Can you heal Elena? 2- How and why did Demons come to Galeia. 3- Are Demons Changelings'' ancestors? 4- What''s the deal with the trials we Halves went through? What about our memories? 5- Ask Danuva to teach Alyssa and Yolin. 6- Tell Saravia his legacy''s tradition is silly at best, and ask him if he can teach Bromisnar. 7- Ask Shorvanna to teach me a cool Halve-exclusive Class, and to teach Thelea. 8- Any dangers I should be aware of? 9- Ask about Power Tongues. (IMPORTANT!!) 10- Where is Yulianna? I reviewed the list and nodded a few times. I''ve thought about asking other things but those are pretty irrelevant now, I concluded and stored the sheet of paper and the quill.
The following day. Bonte and I were leaning on a tree and looking up at the canopy. The treetops were pretty close together but had a few gaps between them that revealed the sky above. ¡°If you can see the sky, look for clouds,¡± he educated me, pointing at a gap in the canopy where a white, fat, lazy cloud was moving. ¡°You can see where the wind is blowing by looking at the treetops. That will tell you where the cloud will go. The Cradle of Life is a tight forest so you have to rely on the trees,¡± he said and turned to me. ¡°Other than when you were in a city, when was the last time you didn''t see a tree nearby?¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. I squinted my eyes, trying to remember. ¡°Never,¡± I replied, looking around us. ¡°Trees are everywhere.¡± He nodded, and his amber feline eyes squinted a little as a smile formed on his face. ¡°Correct,¡± he confirmed and looked back at the sky. ¡°There is a very important thing you have to consider when it comes to rain. Even if thick clouds cover the sky, rain might not come down,¡± he pointed out and looked back at me. ¡°Why?¡± I looked into his eyes and thought for a few seconds. ¡°They''re too high?¡± I tentatively replied. His feline ears shook a little. ¡°Well, yes, but no.¡± he denied. ¡°It''s temperature. While it''s true that the higher into the sky you go the drier and colder it gets, you have to think of the big, juicy clouds you see now,¡± he continued, pointing at the cloud in sight. ¡°Temperatures go up in summer, making it hard to judge rain simply by cloud height. There are cases where they are too high up, but you''ll notice that right away. Now, trees help in regulating atmospheric moisture. The Cradle of Life is large enough and its trees tall enough to influence hundreds of kilometers beyond its borders. The desert up north starts right where this reach ends. Back to clouds and temperature, if the weather is too cold rain won''t come down. Most of the planet goes into the negatives during winter, except the area influenced by the Cradle of Life.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered with a nod, looking at the sky. ¡°Clouds also move big amounts of E''er with them,¡± the Tigea continued, tapping my nose. ¡°You can smell it in the air. If it''s too rich, rain won''t fall. That''s because E''er itself keeps the temperature down. Why? I don''t know,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Some say the planet doesn''t freeze during winter because of it, but we don''t have anything to compare that claim to.¡± I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°But if E''er keeps the temperature down, wouldn''t that be... even down-er during winter?¡± The catboy shook his head. ¡°It keeps it down during summer, but high during winter. It regulates, trying to keep temperature to the point it''s beneficial for life... or so the theory says.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± I hummed. The lesson to spot when rain would fall continued with me absorbing as much information as I could.
Two days later we reached a small town called Rahini. We stayed the night at an inn and continued moving the next morning.
After six days of traveling, the road we had been following took a sharp turn to the left. At the corner of the turn stood a tall stone, around fifty meters in height. It was like a pillar of sorts, but covered in vines and vegetation. The Blue-ish material was screaming for attention in the brown and green environment. The area around it was clear of trees, and the blue sky was visible. ¡°We''ve arrived,¡± Alyssa announced in a quiet voice that wasn''t quite a whisper. ¡°Divine Lands!¡± I looked up at the canopy and tried doing quick maths. If we''ve moved at 50 kilometers an hour for 8 hours each day for six days... that would land us... I squinted my eyes. At least over two thousand kilometers north of Ladania... and about three times that to the northeast of Lumin Kingdom. I looked around at the trees around us. This forest is huge! My eyebrows joined in my forehead and I produced a map of the world, then ran a finger over it. We passed two whole countries already. We''re pretty close to the coast, too... well, considering how big everything is, we''re still a whole Europe away from it. Exploring the world is going to take me a minute, I chuckled to myself. Lapia stopped her mount next to mine, then placed a hand on my thigh. ¡°Lost?¡± she chuckled, nodding at the map I was holding. I shook my head. ¡°Not really,¡± I replied, then looked her in the eye and gave her my most in love smile. ¡°Not after finding you, Lala.¡± Her eyes widened, her face turned red, and her lips curled up. ¡°Wow,¡± she whispered, then laughed, ¡°That was absolutely unfair! But so good!¡± I laughed with her. Alyssa, Elena, Hanna, and Yolin dismounted and moved to the rock. The rest of the party followed, standing in front of the pillar. They all went down on their knees. I watched from atop Sonya, not knowing what they were doing. ¡°Mentors of old!¡± they called in unison. ¡°We request permission to enter Divine Lands.¡± Cringe crept up my spine. A massive amount of E''er shifted above us, larger than any I had felt before. I looked at the sky and puckered my asshole at what I saw. A giant eye was looking down at the world, occupying the entirety of the sky. It focused on my companions, then on me. ¡°Sup,¡± I said to the giant eye in the sky, giving it a peace sign. 151 - Are you having a laugh, Natasha? A minute passed with me and the eye in the sky staring at each other. The iris had the colors of the rainbow, and the pupil was black. I focused all my senses on it to see if it was dangerous. Oddly enough, I grasped an unnatural feeling of familiarity. Like the one similar to seeing cousins after a few years. Which was extremely unsettling: I had no cousins. Nilenna''s words came to me. ''Send my regards to our cousins when you visit!'' is what she wrote in the letter. I tried appraising it. It was too far away so nothing came to view. I shrugged. I''d fight it to the death if it attacked, anyway. A few more minutes passed. ¡°Are we waiting for something?¡± I asked my companions, still looking up. Alyssa was the one to reply, ¡°Someone will come and give us an answer,¡± she said, then added, ¡°In the meantime, we are not allowed to look away from the ground.¡± I squinted my eyes. ¡°Says who?¡± I skeptically inquired, maintaining eye contact with the heavenly observer. ¡°Divine Etiquette,¡± Yolin replied. I hummed loudly. ¡°You''re missing quite the spectacle,¡± I informed them. ¡°Not the craziest I''ve seen, but still pretty out there.¡± A few of them gasped. ¡°You''re looking up?¡± Pokora asked with palpable curiosity. ¡°Yep,¡± I confirmed, then chuckled, ¡°I haven''t been turned to sand... yet.¡± The Elf snorted and laughed quietly. ¡°This fucking idiot,¡± she sighed. Or was it salt? I wondered. Maybe clay? ¡°What do you see?¡± Lapia probed with a little fear in her voice. I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Take a look for yourself,¡± I taunted her. ¡°We mustn''t!¡± Alyssa hissed. ¡°It''s pretty big,¡± I teased with a giggle. ¡°There''s no way you''d miss it if you take a peek.¡± ¡°Natasha!¡± Yolin called out, a little angry. ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± I muttered, realizing I was pushing it. My Cleric girlfriends were women of faith, after all. Definitely out of line on my part to tell them to defy their beliefs. I raised both hands to the sky, then flipped them to show the back side. I grabbed my nose with my left hand''s index and middle fingers and made a show of yanking it off, sneakily replacing it with my thumb. ¡°Wow!¡± I whispered in mock shock, pointing at my stolen nose and showing it to the eye in the sky. Then, I quickly waved my hand and stretched my fingers. I opened my mouth and eyes wide in surprise. ¡°Where did it go?¡± I asked the eye in the sky. Then, I touched my face and gasped. ¡°It was there the whole time!¡± I told it and sighed in amazement. The iris looking at me contracted and expanded. Did it just sigh at me? I wondered, a little offended. Okay, I''ll have to pull the big guns. I closed both hands into fists, then hit my left fist. I stretched two fingers. ¡°Wow!¡± I breathed out. Then, I hit my right and transferred my stretched fingers. ¡°Woah! How does she do it?!¡± I asked the eye in the sky. No response. It floated there, unimpressed. ¡°Fair,¡± I muttered, then pointed a finger at it. ¡°What do you call a man without a body and a nose?!¡± I asked the eye in the sky. The iris contracted. I touched my nose with a finger and smiled. ¡°Nobody knows!¡± I laughed. ¡°PFFFFT!¡± Bromisnar choked and started laughing. The iris expanded, contracted, and expanded again. ¡°Get it?¡± I asked the eye in the sky. ¡°No-body... nose...¡± I offered. How do I know if it''s laughing? My companions chuckled and giggled. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Bonte questioned with a sigh. I shrugged. ¡°Does the waiting have to be boring?¡± I asked back. ¡°Why are you telling us jokes, though?¡± Alyssa sighed, a little pissed. I sucked air through my teeth. ¡°Well, it''s not you who I''m telling the joke to,¡± I pointed out. My companions went silent, then started breathing loudly. ¡°Relax,¡± I assured them, staring at the eye. ¡°I''ll protect you if anything happens. Kinda my main point, right?¡± The eye''s target shifted to the forest and it dissolved. Right then, noise came from between the trees, gaining my focus. A person dressed with white robes and a hood covering their head approached. A group of ten similarly clothed individuals followed closely behind. They all had an eye drawn on their chests and hoods, and they moved without the bounce that hips and legs produce. I tapped Sonya''s neck. The animal brought us between the group and my companions. [Corestine Dryad, Lvl 321 Orator] Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. [Orchulid Dryad, Lvl 302 Orator] [Gazahria Dryad, Lvl 291 Orator] [Corestine Dryad, Lvl 288 Orator] [Corestine Dryad, Lvl 288 Orator] [Orchulid Dryad, Lvl 278 Orator] [Corestine Dryad, Lvl 276 Orator] [Gazahria Dryad, Lvl 252 Orator] [Corestine Dryad, Lvl 231 Orator] [Orchulid Dryad, Lvl 202 Orator] [Corestine Dryad, Lvl 189 Orator] My eyebrows went up in surprise. They all knelt in front of me. ¡°O Halve,¡± the one at the front spoke with enough respect to make my spine tingle uncomfortably. ¡°Legenose ov God turin.¡± I blinked twice and tilted my head. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Apologies,¡± the individual lowered their head, switching to Common Tongue but using the same respectful tone. ¡°Welcome to Divine Lands, Your Excellency. We will escort Your Excellency and companions. The Gods are waiting.¡± Don''t cringe, Natasha! I told myself. Be strong! ¡°Please do,¡± I told them with a nod and turned to my companions. They stood up, moved to their mounts, and approached us on foot. I arched an eyebrow. Should I walk? I''m a Halve, though. Ah, fuck it. If I fuck up they''ll let me know. It''s not like anyone will die, I concluded. The Dryads turned around and moved back into the forest. We followed.
Five minutes later. Turns out, Dryads are fucking slow. And quiet! At least these ones. ¡°So,¡± I spoke to the nearest, trying to make conversation for the fourth time. ¡°How''s life in Divine Lands?¡± ¡°Calm,¡± they replied, not moving their head. I waited for more, but nothing came. Ugh! I rolled my eyes. Cults. My companions were equally silent. Alyssa and Yolin whispered to themselves with both hands together in a prayer of sorts. Freedom of belief, Natasha, I reminded myself and looked forward. Freedom of thought, too.
The forest around us was pretty much the same as the rest of the Cradle of Life. Critters ran around, birds flew by, and vegetation was abundant. If not for the lack of road and the robed people guiding us, there was no telling we were in Divine Lands. It wasn''t until trees started growing farther from each other that my eyes widened to the limit. Between the trees, and walking with regal pompousness, a feathery fellow with the disposition of royalty walked towards us. Its feathers glistened with ethereal magic, giving it a sparkly aura. It was tall, fat, and its wise eyes gazed upon the world with the fairness of a natural born eminence. It was a turkey! Just like the one I saw on my first day in Galeia! Truly a magical turkey! Naturally, the first thing I did was appraise it. [Divine Sentinel, Lvl 1125] THAT''S NOT A TURKEY! I shouted in my mind, feeling reality shatter before my eyes. THE BETRAYAL! I clutched my chest in dramatic pain. The foul beast, progenitor of all lies and all deceivers ignored us and stopped next to a tree, then pecked at the ground to get seeds. The memory of it being the first fantastical creature I saw replayed on my mind and I felt unimaginable cringe. I was a different woman back then. Ignorant, naive, and pure, I lamented. Well, not pure, but pretty ignorant. Our group moved ahead and we left the turkey behind. Only for more to pop up! Between the trees, among the bushes, and even flying for some cosmic reason! Tens of turkeys came to view. I turned to my companions, pointing at the turkeys with wide eyes. They all followed my gesture with their eyes, then widened them in surprise. ¡°We have arrived,¡± the hooded and robed individual, who I assumed to be the leader of the group, announced. ¡°Please go ahead, Your Excellency,¡± they added and knelt. In front of us, some fifty meters ahead, there was a wide clearing. I looked at the individual and hummed. ¡°And my companions?¡± I inquired. ¡°They will wait until the Gods have had an audience with Your Excellency,¡± they replied. I turned to my companions. ¡°You cool with that?¡± I casually asked. They gave quick, strong nods in return. I tilted my head. ¡°Can you use words?¡± I probed. They shook their heads. I rolled my eyes and sighed. Cults, I groaned in my mind and tapped Sonya''s neck. The Ratnak moved forward, closing the distance to the clearing. Well, here it is, I sighed in my mind, looking at the approaching treeline. Gods. Will they be angry cosmic moths? Maybe biblically accurate Angels? Maybe Aliens? What''s with not letting people describe them? Are they ugly as sin? Or super shy? Or eldritch horrors that break minds when seen? Right before we crossed into the clearing, however, Sonya stopped and let out a low growl. ¡°Not you too,¡± I complained and dismounted. ¡°What''s up, girl?¡± I asked and walked to her head. The Ratnak was looking at the ground, then shook her head. ¡°Scared?¡± I asked, rubbing her jaw. She blinked, laid down, and fell asleep. ¡°Of course,¡± I sighed and shook my head. ¡°Still, not nice,¡± I muttered and picked the over-sized lizard, then walked back to the group. The leader of the Dryads came closer when we reached them. ¡°Below level one thousand?¡± they asked. I nodded. ¡°Fell asleep right before crossing,¡± I explained and put Sonya down. ¡°Apologies,¡± they said and lowered their head. ¡°Preventive measures are in place for reasons.¡± ¡°Eh,¡± I shrugged. ¡°Understandable,¡± I muttered and walked back to the clearing. The rustle of leaves accompanied my track back, and twigs snapped under my feet. ¡°There,¡± I sighed after crossing into the clearing. An obelisk occupied it. Around one hundred meters tall and thirty wide. The blue stone had engravings that glowed with the colors of the rainbow just like the eye a while ago. I rubbed my palms together, then walked around the thing, looking for an entrance. There was none. I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath, then let out a long sigh and looked around in search of clues. A set of armor was leaning against the wall in front of me. It was a dark red color, similar to coagulated blood. The amount of details was impressive, too. An uncountable number of weapons were etched on its surface, giving it a violent touch. I approached it and gave it a closer look. The thing was empty and didn''t have anything supporting it. It looked like it would fit me perfectly, too. ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered and appraised it. [Shorvanna, Goddess of the path of the Warrior ¨C The Restless Brawler ¨C First of the Violent ¨C Advocate for War ¨C Mistress of Conflict ¨C Progenitor of Ire ¨C Begetter of Animosity ¨C Second of the Gods ¨C The Undisputed Victor ¨C Waker of the Enraged ¨C She Who Guides Battles ¨C Daughter of the Architect ¨C Builder of all that Challenges ¨C Terror of the Peace-seeker ¨C Empress of Strife ¨C Guide of Protectors ¨C Killer of the False Icon ¨C She Who Whirls Forth ¨C The Untamed ¨C The Untainted ¨C The Unreasonable ¨C The Ungovernable ¨C She Who Bathed in Blood ¨C Mother of Anarchy ¨C She Who Fans the Flames of Insurrection ¨C True Immortal ¨C Divine, Lvl 500] SO LOW! I shouted in my mind. ¡°So, Shorvy for short?¡± I chuckled, pretty nervous. 152 - Natasha speaks to Gods like she does with friends... smh. The suit of armor, now a Goddess in my eyes, straightened and took a step towards me. The parts that made up the Divine being produced a soft sound, almost like sand against skin. E''er didn''t shift, move, vibrate, or shake in response to her abrupt movements. She leaned towards me until the helmet, which I assumed was her head, almost touched my nose. My nose was assaulted with the smell of blood. I searched for anything resembling eyes, but there was none. The ''face'' I was looking at had nothing resembling a person: it was a perfectly polished helmet with hundreds if not thousands of weapons engraved on its surface. A chuckling voice that seemed to echo through a long metallic tube came out of her, then said something in a language I had never heard before. It sounded like bells, a choir of very deep bass, and metal striking metal. The only way for me to explain how E''er reacted to the sound is to say it giggled. Definitely a Power Tongue. Is that Celestial? I wondered, arching an eyebrow. How the fuck did people get Halve and God from those sounds? ¡°I don''t understand what you''re saying,¡± I told her in Orkish. ¡°If you''re saying something, that is.¡± Shorvanna was quiet for a few seconds, standing so still she looked like a statue. Okay... this is awkward, I sighed deeply in my mind. ¡°You did not consume the Sentinel,¡± Shorvanna pointed out in Orkish, using a tone that implied curiosity. ¡°Why?¡± So she speaks other languages, too. Well, duh! She''s a Goddess, I concluded and shrugged. ¡°Should I have?¡± I asked back. ¡°We speak all known languages, Natasha,¡± she replied to my thoughts in a matter-of-fact tone, then went back to curious, ¡°Were you not hungry when you woke?¡± My eyes widened. ¡°You can read my thoughts?!¡± I inquired in shock, taking a step back. ¡°Hear thoughts,¡± Shorvanna corrected me, taking a step towards me and making that sand-on-skin sound. ¡°You think too loudly, young Halve. I ask again: were you not hungry?¡± ¡°I ate dumplings,¡± I quickly replied, pretty confused. ¡°Why does it matter, anyway? Also, the fact you can hear my thoughts is pretty creepy.¡± ¡°Sentinels carry knowledge,¡± the Goddess informed me, closing into me again. ¡°Knowledge imparted upon consumption. You should have eaten the Sentinel to learn Celestial. If you are bothered by me hearing your thoughts, then think quietly.¡± The Unreasonable indeed, I thought with a smile, then winced at her probably hearing that. ¡°Anyway,¡± I waved it away. ¡°Hi, I''m Natasha Novak. Nice to meet you,¡± I introduced myself and offered a hand. Shorvanna turned her head at my hand and shook it. ¡°Shorvanna. Not Shorvy,¡± she introduced herself in an amused tone, then lifted her head to look at me. ¡°I like your anger, young Halve.¡± Her hand, or more accurately the armor gauntlet, felt hot to the touch and incredibly familiar. My eyebrows joined in concern. ¡°My anger? Why?¡± ¡°Great fuel,¡± the Goddess pointed out. ¡°Powerful, abundant, and... under control. You are most intriguing.¡± ¡°Well, I went to therapy,¡± I chuckled. ¡°A process of self improvement?¡± Shorvanna inquired in a puzzled tone. ¡°Yes,¡± I confirmed with a nod, bumping her forehead. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Commendable,¡± the Goddess praised. ¡°A Warrior needs a sharp and unclouded mind, after all.¡± ¡°That''s right,¡± I agreed. Shorvanna took distance from me and turned around, facing the obelisk. ¡°I would like you to answer a question of mine, young Halve,¡± she spoke in an even tone. ¡°Sure,¡± I tentatively agreed. She turned to me and pointed a finger at my forehead. ¡°Why have you come here? I sent a letter your way with instructions to grow in power. Your arrival is a full year sooner than expected.¡± I scratched my right eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, about that. I broke Elena Pazh''Khun''s mind, causing her to forget around two thousand years worth of memories. Also, I don''t have the faintest clue as to what Class to go for when I reach 1500 level total. I was hoping you could offer some guidance,¡± I explained. Shorvanna lowered her arm and went back to being silent and still. I resisted the urge to sigh. ¡°You broke her mind?¡± the Goddess asked for clarification. ¡°I do not see how that could have happened, nor why does it matter. A mortal fell to the might of a Halve, even though your skills shouldn''t allow for that to happen. In any case, is that not the natural course of events? People drown because they can''t breathe underwater. Elena met that fate because her mind was weak. I fail to see an issue.¡± I nodded and pointed out, ¡°I didn''t come seeking your help about Elena. Opinion aside, she''s Yulianna''s partner.¡± ¡°I am well aware of who Elena Pazh''Khun is,¡± Shorvanna said back with an even tone. ¡°Still, how is it that you broke her mind?¡± I checked my fingernails and replied in a quiet voice, ¡°I spoke Abyssal.¡± ¡°You''re a fool,¡± she scolded me, then walked to me and closed in. ¡°Do you even understand what that does?¡± ¡°A little,¡± I admitted. ¡°Have you spoken it before? Or after?¡± Shorvanna demanded in a dry tone. ¡°Only once after my trial ended,¡± I replied, placing a hand on her chest plate and moving her back. ¡°And I''m trying to fix that mistake, so chill,¡± I added. ¡°I learned what it does after I spoke it. I had my suspicions, but no proof. I don''t remember with great detail.¡± ¡°We''ll teach you how to use it, then,¡± the Goddess decided. ¡°Along with a Class that will suit you.¡± ¡°Now we''re making progress,¡± I sighed. ¡°So, do you think Danuva can heal Elena? Also, could you teach one of my companions? She''s a Goliath Warrior, uses sword and shield.¡± ¡°What are her Classes?¡± she asked. ¡°Battlemaiden, Shield of Bog, and Legged Fortress,¡± I tried recalling. ¡°I might remember wrong, though. She''s going full tank, that''s for sure.¡± ¡°A Goliath Warrior tank,¡± Shorvanna commented with a chuckle. ¡°Pretty common. We''ll see what''s best for her. As for you,¡± she sighed with a bit of disappointment. I arched an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your Classes have incredible synergy, and are the peak of prowess,¡± she sighed. ¡°Hoplite, Lancer, and Dragoon...¡± ¡°You can see the three?¡± I inquired, pretty interested. ¡°Obviously,¡± the Goddess of the path of the Warrior answered in a matter-of-fact tone. ¡°They are a bit... mortal-ish, though. You should merge them in the future if you want anything of actual value.¡± My eyebrows almost fused with my hairline. ¡°I should what?¡± I blurted out. ¡°Merge them,¡± Shorvanna repeated. ¡°At level 2000 total. You are a Halve. Those Classes are... below you.¡± ¡°What''s wrong with them?¡± I demanded, offended by her words. ¡°I like what you did with Initiation, but... it''s still weak,¡± the Goddess sighed again. ¡°Your might should be absolute. There are too many conditionals in your skills. We''ll go over them in the following months.¡± ¡°MONTHS?!¡± I shouted in disbelief. ¡°Yes,¡± Shorvanna confirmed, closing into me again. ¡°You want Danuva to revert what Abyssal did, no? That will take time if we don''t want to erase Elena''s ego.¡± I sighed and moved her away from me. ¡°Fine. I guess we''ll be staying here for a while.¡± ¡°What did you expect?¡± she scoffed. ¡°You can''t learn a new Class in a few days, Natasha. Sure, you''re a Halve and learn quicker, but things have a limit.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± I agreed. Shorvanna turned to the Obelist and started walking. ¡°Come, Danuva and Saravia are waiting,¡± she told me, then passed through the wall of the obelisk like it was made of water. ¡°Of course,¡± I sighed and followed. ¡°At least she''s chill. Family benefits, maybe?¡± I mumbled to nobody in particular. ¡°Think quieter, Natasha... whatever the fuck that means.¡± 153 - Meeting with three Divines. The wall of the obelisk felt like solid air, slightly pushing against me. I stopped and tried grasping it, but just like air ¨C no matter how solid ¨C it slid through my fingers. ¡°Hmm.¡± I moved on. The interior of the building was bright and spacious. The room we came into had the same blue-ish material from the outside, covered in engravings with all the colors of the rainbow in gradients which illuminated the space. The ceiling was around five meters above us, and no chandeliers hung from it as I had gotten used to see. The walls had no windows. Instead, paintings showing all kinds of landscapes hung on them. I saw deserts, jungles, green forests, cities with all kinds of architecture, frozen plains, forests with trees made of purple crystal, floating cities, mountains that reached the clouds, cliffs overlooking the seas, islands in the middle of the ocean, entrances to dungeons, shots of the skies where large dragons soared, underwater cities, images of brutal battlefields, and more. Sound came from each and every one of them, and the images moved as if they were a video playing on a large monitor. ¡°Memories,¡± Shorvanna commented in an even tone, gesturing at them with an arm. I stood next to the living suit of armor and stared at a painting in front of us. Two armies were engaged in combat on a vast dirt plain. Elves and Orks were showcased killing each other. Spells flew through the air along with arrows and what looked like artillery from either a catapult or tr¨¦buchet, butchering bodies left and right. Formations fell and rose with flashes of white light, probably from a healer. Right in the middle of the battle, two individuals wearing overly fancy armor and weapons were ducking it out, destroying the terrain around them. ¡°What''s this one?¡± I inquired, pointing at the fight. ¡°The first ever war,¡± the Goddess replied with joy in her voice. ¡°At least the one with a strategy more complicated than overwhelming the enemy with only numbers. Ronizdel and I were watching it unfold with our very eyes!¡± I scowled. ¡°What were they fighting for?¡± I asked with a fair amount of disgust. ¡°My approval,¡± Shorvanna replied with pride. I shot her a disapproving glance, then looked back at the canvas. ¡°Who are those two fancy fellows?¡± I asked next, pointing at them. ¡°Heroes or something?¡± ¡°Queen Tri''Kha Tilensis I from the Queendom of Maaruhk and Stepana Boldani Ulgov, Empress of Orkin,¡± she replied in an ecstatic tone. ¡°The Orks won, seizing the eastern shores of Patuk. The Elves lost the war along with their right to wage it for five centuries. A beautiful display of violence!¡± My face soured and I shook my head. ¡°This is what we Halves protected their ancestors for?¡± I questioned. ¡°Among many other things,¡± the Goddess, Advocate for War, confirmed. ¡°And what I taught them,¡± she added with palpable pride. I let out a long sigh, watching mortals killing each other. ¡°Enough of better times,¡± Shorvanna spoke. ¡°The two are waiting for us.¡± I nodded, more than happy to stop talking about the biggest failure of statecraft. She walked to the opposite wall and went through just like the previous. I followed. After seven rooms similarly covered in paintings that displayed the world and events that took place probably millions of years ago, we reached a large room. I wasn''t about to question the lack of stairs on a building where Gods lived, or how the building worked. I just wasn''t in the mood to have that explained to me. The room had circular table set at the center of it, which surrounded by four chairs. There, two figures completely different from one another sat. My eyebrows climbed my forehead until they reached their limit when I saw the first. Eyes. Thousands of them. Everywhere. Of all the colors and shapes one can think of, and even some that looked outright nightmarish. All of them on a being that had gray skin. The head, however, had six identical eyes on the face. Said head had a line of all the colors of the rainbow between each pair of eyes. The limbs were not attached to the body, instead floating a few centimeters from where they belonged. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. [Danuva, Goddess of the path of the Cleric ¨C The Great Awakener ¨C First of the Loving ¨C Fourth of the Violent ¨C Bringer of Sentience ¨C First of the Gods ¨C Trigger of Thought ¨C Progenitor of Individuality ¨C Terror of the Murderer ¨C Builder of all that Heals ¨C She Who Guides Mending ¨C Daughter of the Architect ¨C She Who Defies Death ¨C Icon of Worship ¨C Guide of Protectors ¨C The Lover ¨C The Reasonable ¨C Mother of Justice ¨C She Who Judges the Righteous ¨C True Immortal ¨C Divine, Lvl 500] I looked at the one sitting next to her, hoping for something nicer on the eyes. Fabrics of all kind of materials and colors floated in the shape of an individual. They looked soft, fluffy, high quality, and elaborately embroidered. In place of a head, a cloud with every conceivable color surrounded a sphere that spun in place. Thick strings connected the sphere to whatever lied under the fabric. The strings showed up again at the end of what looked like an arm, connecting to his hands which had the shape of the headstock of a guitar, from which flutes emerged in the shape of fingers. [Saravia, God of the path of the Performer ¨C The Eloquent Whisperer ¨C First of the Ingenious ¨C Second of the Loving ¨C Third of the Violent ¨C Bringer of Pleasure ¨C Fourth of the Gods ¨C The Charmer ¨C The Fool ¨C Father of Tales ¨C Progenitor of Music ¨C Terror of the Boring ¨C Builder of all that Echoes ¨C He Who Guides Tempo ¨C Son of the Architect ¨C He Who Silences Silence ¨C Icon of Romance ¨C Guide of Protectors ¨C The Honest ¨C Father of Culture ¨C True Immortal ¨C Divine, Lvl 500] I breathed in and out, doing my best not to think loudly. Instead, I took it all in as it was. Shorvanna walked past me and sat at the table. ¡°Right,¡± I muttered, then took a seat with the three Gods. I leaned back and spoke first, giving Danuva and Saravia a nod and offering a hand, ¡°Hi, I''m Natasha Novak. Nice to meet you.¡± Saravia shook it first. ¡°Welcome,¡± he chuckled, and the cloud that was his head vibrated like a sound wave, lighting up in the same way. His voice was the most body-melting sound I had heard in all my lives, making my ears and spine tingle pleasantly. It was both a tenor and a bass at the same time, which were the registers I like the most. ¡°I see you''re a woman of culture,¡± he pointed out with glee. ¡°I like your voice,¡± I told him with a smile and offered Danuva a handshake. The Goddess looked at me with all her eyes, then shook my hand. ¡°You''re not shocked,¡± she pointed out in a voice that soothed all pains in the world. I nodded and leaned back. ¡°Nilenna sends her regards,¡± I started, then turned to Saravia. ¡°She says she has a good riddle for you. Also, your legacy''s tradition is a bit silly. Some Tigea demanded I play an instrument to see if I was worthy or some nonsense before buying it.¡± I turned to Danuva and shrugged. ¡°Hard to be put off by anything after seeing the beings of the Abyss in my dreams.¡± ¡°True,¡± Danuva agreed. ¡°An instrument is a Performer''s figurative sword,¡± Saravia chuckled, spreading his arms in a dramatic shrug. His voice made my bones go a little soft. ¡°But I''m no Performer,¡± I pointed out. ¡°I did play a few pieces in the end. He asked me to teach him, too,¡± I chuckled, remembering the man turn from stubbornly strict to modest. ¡°Splendid,¡± the God praised with a charming laugh and placing both arms on the table. ¡°This young Halve has a request for you, Danuva,¡± Shorvanna interjected in an inviting tone. Danuva''s six facial eyes focused on me. ¡°Do tell,¡± she hummed, leaning forward. I stared at her, not sure which eyes I should choose. ¡°I met Elena Pazh''Khun a while ago,¡± I started, going for the whole story. ¡°A small group of politically dissatisfied Changelings that tried to kill me had her under mind control. Unfortunately, she tried the same and met similar failure. Not knowing who she was, I spoke Abyssal into her ear and broke her mind. My lover and companion, Alyssa Pruvik... whom I''d like you to teach, healed what she could so we could get answers in regards to their motives. Turns out, the damage caused her to forget two thirds of her memories. I brought her here to correct that since she''s Yulianna''s partner. Do you think you could heal her?¡± I asked with utmost seriousness. The Gods glanced at each other for a second. Danuva looked at me and spoke, ¡°That''s an odd way to ask that of a Goddess,¡± she pointed out with a sigh. I drummed my fingers on the table. ¡°I''m not going to beg, or ask again,¡± I stated, leaning forward. ¡°It''s a yes or no question, Danuva. Pretty simple in my opinion.¡± ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± Shorvanna laughed loudly but didn''t move in the slightest. ¡°That''s how it''s supposed to be! Absolute might! Tyrannical, even!¡± I turned to the sentient suit of armor and arched an eyebrow. ¡°We worried you''d have difficulties exercising your absolute authority,¡± Saravia sighed, which made my spine tingle. ¡°A most welcome mistake.¡± I leaned back on the chair and gave each a suspicious look. ¡°Why?¡± I inquired. ¡°Because you remember,¡± Danuva replied, her eyes squinting in amusement. ¡°And those who remember have difficulties performing their duties, going as far as taking centuries before their first kill.¡± I slowly nodded, then asked, ¡°I''m not the first to remember?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Shorvanna chuckled. ¡°And you certainly won''t be the last.¡± I let out a short hum. ¡°So, Danuva. Can you do it?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she replied with a giggle. ¡°Before that, answer this question of ours, young Halve.¡± I gesture her with a hand to go for it. ¡°Did the Architect send a message our way?¡± Saravia inquired, leaning forward on the table. ¡°I have no idea what you''re talking about,¡± I replied instantly. ¡°A lock it is, then,¡± Shorvanna concluded with a sigh. ¡°Seems so,¡± Danuva agreed with a nod. ¡°A shame,¡± Saravia lamented in a sad tone. 154 - Higher Purpose. I gave the three a skeptical look. ¡°A lock?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shorvanna confirmed. ¡°Tell us what you remember, young Halve,¡± she requested in a tone that wasn''t quite a request but wasn''t disrespectful either. ¡°Tell us of the life before your trial, the trial itself, and your time on Galeia,¡± Danuva clarified, staring at me with her six eyes. My eyebrows knitted in concern at the choice of words. ¡°Young Natasha,¡± Saravia cooed, relaxing my brow. ¡°We''ve met enough Halves to know when one of you remember.¡± I let out a sigh. ¡°Right, you''re Gods,¡± I conceded and retold the memories of my three lives. Earth, Hell, and Galeia. Calling my time in Hell a ''life'' was a bit odd, but it technically counted. The three listened in silence. ¡°... and then we got here,¡± I finished and put my right leg over my left, then leaned back. I put my right elbow on the chair''s armrest and rested my jaw on my fist. ¡°These wishes you speak of,¡± Saravia started, raising his hand. ¡°To be the strongest, to never forget, and to have a penis. You said the universe granted them, correct?¡± I nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed at having them spoken out loud. ¡°That''s right,¡± I confirmed. ¡°The Architect does not deal in wishes,¡± Danuva commented. ¡°To be the strongest,¡± Shorvanna repeated in a pensive tone. ¡°Forever?¡± she asked. ¡°Or just at the start? What if another Halve Warrior is born while you''re alive? Will they be number two until you die? Will your wish get in the way of other people''s chase for power? If so, then Fate granted that wish.¡± ¡°To never forget,¡± Saravia hummed melodically. ¡°It''s a complicated wish. You do not remember everything, young Halve. Not yet, at the very least. That much is obvious,¡± he sighed, then chuckled, ¡°Still, time will tell if Time was involved.¡± ¡°To have a penis,¡± Danuva considered out loud, disregarding my embarrassment. ¡°That could simply be Galeia constructing a body that was in line with your sense of self. You verbalized a desire that took root in your mind. Reconstructing the sense of self is crucial for Halves, as well. Whether you remember a time before life or not is irrelevant.¡± I slowly nodded in understanding. ¡°Is that why I feel it as something very mine?¡± I asked Danuva. ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed with a short nod. ¡°Cool... cool...¡± I nodded a few times, then leaned forward on the table. ¡°But if our minds are made whole again along with all these instincts to protect life on this planet... why is it that remembering is such a problem? You made it sound like it''s bigger than it was for me, at least. I''m having a little difficulty understanding that part.¡± ¡°Because you remember a mortal life,¡± Saravia replied. ¡°You are not a mortal.¡± ¡°You''re a weapon,¡± Shorvanna added. ¡°You''re more nature than individual,¡± Danuva clarified, glancing at the Goddess of the path of the Warrior with her left eyes while looking at me with her right eyes. ¡°As such, you are directly connected to Galeia.¡± I squinted my eyes in confusion. ¡°But I''ll die eventually. Like, forever... unlike you. That makes me a mortal by definition.¡± ¡°A mortal is birthed of life,¡± Saravia explained. ¡°You were not. Therefore not a mortal.¡± I sighed and shook my head, then insisted, ¡°Mors. Mortalis. Mortal. Muerte. Death. It''s in the fucking word.¡± ¡°All mortal lives ends the same: with the destruction of the vessel,¡± Danuva pointed out. ¡°Life, however, doesn''t start the same for every living being. Galeia created you, an entity with a finite and invariable lifespan. You will live ten thousand years no matter how hard you try to prolong it. No more, no less. Your body is an infinitely adaptable construct of solidified, pure energy which serves the single purpose of ensuring life continues its infinite cycle. You are Galeia''s immune system, if you will. We Divines are its circulatory system of sorts, propagating knowledge to any willing to listen.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°A weapon,¡± Shorvanna repeated. ¡°Whose main purpose is to kill.¡± ¡°And if Halves remember a mortal life, this purpose clashes with their previous sense of self,¡± Saravia explained. ¡°The absolute authority you have has a weight on mortal minds. Questions begin to pop up. Doubts take root in your heart. But life is precious, is the most recurrent view of those who remember. Aren''t we tyrants, then? Becomes the question. This can''t be right. Is the doubt.¡± ¡°Darkness churns in the hearts of mortals, young Halve,¡± Danuva told me in a serious tone. ¡°Born without greatness, nor granted it by the fates, they find themselves without purpose. They struggle to finds a satisfying goal to justify their existence. This darkness manifests when they find no meaning to their lives.¡± I brought my hand to my face and scratched my eyebrows with my thumb and middle finger, not quite sure how or why a simple topic went that deep. ¡°This brings us to the criticism you cast my way, young Halve,¡± Saravia giggled, making me sigh. ¡°We Gods give mortals a purpose through our legacies and the traditions they embrace.¡± ¡°There is no path for Warriors,¡± Shorvanna interjected. ¡°Filestra took it away from mortals when she banned war. The pursuit of my approval lost the radiant fervor of those wishing to die in glorious battle. Now they hold... tournaments to prove themselves. A depressing shadow... atrophied and miserable.¡± ¡°We Gods prevent this crisis of the self,¡± Danuva continued, placing a hand on the Goddess shoulder while staring at me. ¡°Knowledge, a chance at great renown, and the freedom to do whatever they so desire with it. This darkness can kill mortals, you see. I granted sentience, and with it the starting point of an objectively valuable life. None of us expected them to worship me more than my peers, but that''s the beauty of mortals.¡± ¡°Another point of a valuable life is to gain our approval,¡± Saravia continued in a gentle tone. ¡°Performers coming up with larger-than-life productions and innovative ways to express their emotions, never before seen or heard on this world. After that is being immortalized in history as one of the greatest of their time, perpetuating the legacy and its traditions, or changing the tradition itself if their impact is big enough.¡± ¡°But then came the objective view of the universe through the lens of research,¡± Shorvanna sighed. ¡°A proper explanation of the world, absent of blind faith to our words. Fortunately, Photem rose to the call, becoming a God when he imparted the knowledge of E''er. He helped immensely in the pursuit of diminishing darkness within mortals, which had re-emerged at the time.¡± ¡°Ironic,¡± I muttered. ¡°People walked away from Gods, only to find another?¡± ¡°A direction, young Halve,¡± Danuva corrected me. ¡°That is all a mortal needs to dispel this darkness. An orientation, justified in the objective.¡± I nodded, deep in thought. ¡°I never would have guessed that I''d be convinced on why religion is important,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Less so by Gods.¡± ¡°And you, young Halve, Conqueror of Adversities,¡± Saravia spoke in an amused tone. ¡°Don''t need a direction like mortals do. You were granted it by the fates. There is no personal search to do and no crisis to face. Born of Galeia, you are personally given a point of origin, and with it, a goal in life.¡± ¡°To protect this world,¡± Shorvanna pointed out. ¡°Arbitration,¡± Danuva specified. ¡°Of all that is.¡± ¡°That is what makes you Eternal, instead of mortal,¡± Saravia finalized. ¡°You existence, however, creates darkness,¡± the Goddess of the path of the Warrior warned. ¡°The brighter the flame, the deeper the shadows. You bring inequality to this world. Mortals think themselves feeble in the presence of your absolute might. A perfect being that baffles their understanding of what''s possible. Warriors will face their weakness before you. The beautiful will rethink themselves.¡± She raised a hand and made a fist. ¡°And that is a trial they must undergo. Understanding their mortality from an objective, personal standard.¡± ¡°The purpose we give is based on the abstract knowledge of possibility,¡± Danuva spoke. ¡°And you give concrete, quantifiable possibility.¡± ¡°Another goal in life,¡± Saravia snickered. ¡°One they can touch with their very hands, and see with their very eyes.¡± ¡°Darkness then becomes individual,¡± Shorvanna continued. ¡°Will they idolize you, set you as their goal, envy you, despise you, or none?¡± ¡°Will the results of this self examination bring forth something beneficial to the world?¡± Danuva asked. ¡°Or will they find despair in their smallness?¡± ¡°Either can be devastating, justified with the wrong view,¡± Saravia pointed out. ¡°Controlled population growth with the goal of producing the best possible progeny so they can perfect their own species...¡± he sighed. ¡°That has happened more times than we''d like to admit. Blinded by purpose and faith, mortals have the potential to do horrible things to their kin.¡± I frowned and nodded. ¡°And that''s where we Halves interfere,¡± I concluded. ¡°One of many cases, yes,¡± Shorvanna confirmed. ¡°But that is up to your personal judgment, young Halve. You decide where the limit exists. Just like Finestra, you decide what is right and wrong.¡± I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. ¡°I see,¡± I muttered, drumming my fingers on the table. ¡°Quite the responsibility, eh?¡± I laughed and nudged Shorvanna''s elbow. She didn''t move or react. I cleared my throat. "Anyway," I awkwardly put my hand back on the table. "Now that I understand things better... care to tell me how you know about the Abyss?" 155 - You wont believe what number 4 is! ¡°The Architect,¡± Danuva concisely replied. I nodded, then looked at the ceiling and sighed, ¡°The thing that supposedly put a lock on my mind?¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Shorvanna confirmed. ¡°Perhaps you learned of something you weren''t supposed to,¡± Saravia ventured. ¡°Do you remember the beings of the Abyss?¡± ¡°Did they tell you something?¡± Danuva probed. ¡°Or do something to you?¡± Shorvanna inquired. I shook my head, feeling a small anger rise within me. ¡°I told you what I remember,¡± I stated, balling a fist. The God of the path of the Performed put a hand on my fist. ¡°What did you feel when you faced them?¡± he asked with an unfairly gentle tone. ¡°I don''t remember,¡± I insisted, pulling my hand away. ¡°Not yet, at least.¡± ¡°It''s obvious something happened,¡± Danuva pointed out. ¡°You understand their language, so there must have been some exposure. When the time comes that you remember, please reach to us.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I agreed with a nod. ¡°I''ll do that when that happens.¡± The three Gods were silent for a few seconds. ¡°Young Halve,¡± Shorvanna spoke. ¡°In regards to our previous remarks about mortality, there is an issue to be brought up still.¡± ¡°The most important,¡± Saravia supplied. ¡°You do not have free will,¡± Danuva declared. ¡°Right and wrong are subjective.¡± My eyebrows joined and climbed my forehead in confusion. The change of topic was very much welcome, though. ¡°Galeia will demand things from you,¡± Shorvanna continued. ¡°You will serve your purpose as her weapon whether you want it or not.¡± ¡°Some day you will come to think of something as wrong, yet Galeia will consider it otherwise,¡± Saravia explained. ¡°The trigger to do something to correct it will be distorted.¡± ¡°Conversely, Galeia will demand you to destroy that which you see as right,¡± Danuva added. I narrowed my eyes at them. ¡°Holistos, Vesaddi, and Plofak were fools that defied Galeia,¡± Shorvanna mocked. ¡°Their irresponsible actions were seen as a threat to life, and thus were killed by their fellow Halves.¡± My eyes widened in surprise. ¡°So... I''m a slave?¡± I asked for clarification. ¡°A tool. A weapon,¡± Saravia specified. ¡°A slave is a slave because it''s forced.¡± ¡°Galeia is not encumbered by right or wrong,¡± Danuva pointed out. ¡°Her objective is the perpetuation of life. You are the tool to achieve this goal.¡± I gave each a wary look. ¡°I''m going to need some examples,¡± I told them. ¡°Being against Monarchy, but saving a King,¡± Shorvanna stabbed me with her words. ¡°Loathing the people who tried to kill you, but not actively seeking their deaths,¡± Saravia slapped me with his words. ¡°Beliefs that don''t-¡± Danuva started. ¡°Alright!¡± I interrupted with a hiss. ¡°I got it. Galeia influences our judgment and shit. I thought it''d be much worse with the way you put it.¡± ¡°Young Halve,¡± Shorvanna deadpanned. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± I sighed. ¡°A tool that serves a planet achieve balance,¡± I summarized. ¡°Not a mortal, blah, blah, blah. Got it. Let''s move on,¡± I finalized and retrieved my list of things to ask the Gods. ¡°I have some questions for you, if you don''t mind.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Danuva agreed. Shorvanna and Saravia nodded, the latter moving the spinning sphere within the cloud that was his head. ¡°Okay,¡± I muttered and went over the list. ¡°You agreed to heal Elena already, so that''s done.¡± I nodded, then read the next one. ¡°How and why did Demons come to Galeia?¡± I asked, looking back at them. ¡°They used the power of the Abyss to open a gate between worlds,¡± Saravia replied. ¡°Now that we''ve heard your side of what went down in Hell, it''s obvious their world couldn''t sustain life for much longer.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Life finds a way to survive,¡± Danuva pointed out. ¡°They survived their struggle,¡± Shorvanna chuckled. ¡°Brave people.¡± I nodded. ¡°Nerissa wasn''t what I would call brave,¡± I sarcastically pointed out with a scoff. ¡°That is not our concern,¡± Saravia pointed out. ¡°Riiiiiiiiiight,¡± I sighed. ¡°When did they get here, by the way?¡± ¡°The first group arrived one million two hundred and thirty-nine thousand four hundred and eighty-three years ago,¡± Danuva replied. ¡°They were lost, scattered, hungry, and desperate. Mophixelos welcomed them and got rid of those tainted by the Abyss.¡± ¡°What?¡± I blurted out in a quiet voice. ¡°That... Did they get here before I went there?¡± ¡°No,¡± Shorvanna denied. ¡°Mophixelos told us they spoke of a Hellwalker.¡± I sighed, ¡°That''s not possible.¡± ¡°If their world was near a gravitational collapse, then yes it is,¡± Saravia offered. ¡°That, or Time was involved... but there''s not much of a difference in the end.¡± I rubbed my temples. ¡°Alright,¡± I gave up and moved on. ¡°Are Demons Changeling''s ancestors?¡± I asked. ¡°Yes, they are,¡± Danuva confirmed without much fanfare. ¡°Demons went to live with Apparonzes and together they birthed Changelings.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I breathed in understanding. ¡°Did that happen before or after Apparonzes evolved into Doppelgangers?¡± ¡°After,¡± Shorvanna replied. ¡°Apparonzes split a few centuries before Demons arrived. Those who left tried living in Dungeons... which is not a good idea. They lost their minds and became Doppelgangers with time. Apparonzes existed elsewhere, so that wasn''t a crisis of extinction in Galeia''s eyes... therefore no help came for them.¡± ¡°Nasty business,¡± I commented with a deep nod. ¡°And the fact Changelings evolved from an outsider species is mostly a secret?¡± ¡°That is correct,¡± Saravia confirmed. ¡°The threats were removed and Galeia welcomed them.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± I hummed. ¡°Next question: What''s the deal with the trials we Halves went through?¡± I asked, having already heard the answer as to our memories. ¡°They''re trials,¡± Shorvanna chuckled. ¡°If you survive, you become a perfect being. Simple.¡± I nodded. ¡°So they''re all about survival?¡± I probed. ¡°No,¡± Saravia denied. ¡°No two trials are the same. Some survivals are of the mind instead of the body.¡± I nodded and turned to Danuva. ¡°I wanted to ask you if you could teach Alyssa Pruvik and Yolin Makav, my partners. They''re both Clerics.¡± ¡°I can,¡± Danuva replied. ¡°What are their Classes?¡± ¡°Alyssa is an Archbishop, Cardinal, and Soul Warden,¡± I told her. ¡°Yolin is a Monk, Paladin, and Asura. Alyssa is a Krystaali Luzo and Yolin is a Red Oni,¡± I pitched my girlfriends. ¡°They are super smart.¡± The Goddess'' six eyes squinted in amusement. ¡°I''m sure they are,¡± she giggled. I smiled and turned to Saravia. ¡°One of my companions is a Performer,¡± I told him. ¡°He''s a Khlyp Satyr, Bromisnar Bahadh. His Classes are Bard, Minstrel, and Maestro. Think you could teach him?¡± Saravia leaned towards me. ¡°We Gods exist to guide, young Halve,¡± he reminded me. ¡°Teaching is in our nature.¡± ¡°Cool,¡± I said back and went over the list again. ¡°Any dangers I should be aware of?¡± I asked next. ¡°Galeia will let you know,¡± Shorvanna pointed out. ¡°That''s not our concern.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I sighed and read the remaining questions. ¡°So, about Power Tongues. What''s their nature?¡± ¡°Manifestation of will,¡± Danuva explained. ¡°Celestial is comforting by nature. It''s used to impart knowledge with unparalleled efficiency. You will understand in the following months.¡± I nodded. ¡°And Infernal?¡± ¡°Speak it,¡± Shorvanna requested. ¡°We haven''t heard of Infernal before.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°That''s Demon''s language,¡± I pointed out, then supplied, ¡°It goes like this.¡± ¡°A corrupted language,¡± Saravia hummed. ¡°E''er rejects it. We''ll find a use for it, young Halve.¡± I nodded. ¡°Alright, last question.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°Where the fuck is Yulianna?¡± The three Gods glanced at each other, then went quiet for a minute. ¡°Oh, for fuck''s sake,¡± I sighed and palmed my face. ¡°She departed to Makah after Perculis passed,¡± Shorvanna said what the entire planet knew. ¡°She didn''t say anything about a destination. Galeia hasn''t pushed other Halves to move, so she''s not a threat. You Halves would know if she''s dead... so my guess is she''s fighting something, learning a new Class on her own, or mourning.¡± ¡°Nilenna is looking for her, though,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Maybe Galeia wants Yulianna to be found.¡± ¡°Nilenna is a nosy woman,¡± Danuva let out an irritated sigh. My eyebrows went up at that. ¡°Is she that annoying?¡± ¡°Not annoying,¡± Saravia chuckled. ¡°But she has the habit of hugging everything that lives... and sometimes those that don''t.¡± ¡°Danuva is not fond of that,¡± Shorvanna snickered. The Goddess of the path of the Cleric rolled every single eye on her body. It was a bit gross. ¡°So, are we done with out little meeting?¡± I asked, drumming my fingers on the table. ¡°Can we get to the part Elena regains her memories and she gets Yulianna to come back?¡± ¡°I will prepare a room,¡± Danuva spoke and stood up, which meant float up. ¡°Bring her in along with your companions. The Orators will keep watch.¡± I nodded and stood up, then turned around only to face a wall. ¡°Follow me,¡± Shorvanna spoke and went in a completely different direction to the one we came from. 156 - Mortals enter! I followed the Divine and we exited the building. The suns were still high up in the skies and a few lazy clouds slowly moved with the wind. The clearing was as empty as when I arrived, and the treetops swayed with the wind. A few birds flew by, flapping their wings and making abrupt turns mid-air when they crossed into the clearing. They went back into the forest and followed the treeline, then went on their way. ¡°My Ratnak fell asleep,¡± I told Shorvanna, gesturing in the direction of my party which I felt through the Bond. ¡°How come birds don''t?¡± ¡°They fly,¡± the Goddess pointed out the obvious. ¡°If they fall asleep while flying they could get hurt.¡± ¡°Aren''t you thoughtful,¡± I chuckled. ¡°Will I have to carry my companions into the clearing?¡± I inquired. ¡°Not at all,¡± she replied. ¡°I will set the barrier to allow entry to those Bonded to Halves.¡± I nodded with a hum. ¡°Any invasions into Divine Lands as of late? Elena said something about you Gods fucking off while under mind control. That could be a bit yikes.¡± ¡°None,¡± Shorvanna assured me. ¡°You would be alerted. Also, the barrier forces mortal beings to fall asleep if they try crossing over without our permission.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered. ¡°What if someone runs in this direction and then jumps before they fall asleep? What if they also carry an explosive?¡± ¡°We will hide inside the temple if fighting them off is not an option,¡± the Divine being chuckled, probably finding my made up scenario amusing. ¡°Then, one of you Halves gets here and kills any trespassers that remain. After that, Danuva looks into their minds and we get information. Whoever of you came will hunt those responsible down, kill them all, and reiterate the message that Divine Lands are not to be invaded without costly consequences. In the event of us Divines dying, we will emerge in another temple. A few centuries will come and go, we will allow the High Ordinators to learn of our new location and in turn send Orators to serve under us. We will tell them to spread word of our location to mortals and they will come and express their condolences, bring us gifts, and the cycle will begin all over again.¡± ¡°Sounds pretty easy,¡± I commented with a nod. ¡°I''m being incredibly simplistic here, young Halve,¡± the Goddess pointed out. ¡°If you want a step-by-step explanation I''m more than willing to give it to you, along with the three million year old protocols, procedures, traditions, customs, and more. Furthermore, if the Divine that died is a God the Era would change. Your stay with us would have to be reconsidered from a few months to a few years for the full, in-depth explanation.¡± I stared at her with narrow eyes. ¡°Maybe another time,¡± I chose a diplomatic approach. ¡°You mentioned High Ordinators,¡± I pointed out. ¡°What do they do?¡± The Goddess turned her head my way and simply replied, ¡°A lot.¡± I snorted, then explained, ¡°I''m planning on visiting them. There''s this thing about the word hermaphrodite. Those the word refer to don''t like it, as I understand.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Again?¡± Shorvanna muttered in what sounded like surprise. ¡°Someone came up with the word a while ago due to people not liking the previous term. Time moves forward and people change, after all. That too, is the beauty of mortals.¡± I nodded in agreement. ¡°When will we sleep?¡± I asked. ¡°In the temple or tents outside? I mean, it''s your house, right?¡± ¡°That depends,¡± the Goddess replied. ¡°How much do your companions worship us? If not much, then they won''t have issue with sleeping inside our temple. If a lot, then I can see them thinking themselves unworthy.¡± ¡°They refused to speak once we entered Divine Lands,¡± I told her. ¡°I see,¡± Shorvanna nodded. ¡°Good luck, then.¡± I let out a long sigh. With the little chat done, we moved to the edge of the clearing. Shorvanna raised her hands and said something in Celestial, making E''er giggle and wiggle in glee. After that she took a step back and turned around, then walked back to the obelisk. I followed her with my eyes, a little confused. So E''er giggles with Gods... but shifts with Mortals? This is not quite constant, it seems, I considered and walked into the forest. Or it''s the reaction that''s different? Or is that the effect of Celestial, and if a God used a skill E''er would shift as it normally does? Do Gods have skills, though? More questions for later. I didn''t even notice there was a barrier in the first place, I chuckled. Well, they are Divines. My companions were waiting with faces full of expectation. The Dryads went down on one knee when I reached them. ¡°So...¡± I started and cleared my throat. ¡°I talked with the Gods.¡± My companions nodded. Pokora''s face betrayed how unbelievable that sounded. She had an expression that said ''Nah, this bitch lying''. ¡°Danuva agreed to heal Elena,¡± I told her the good news with a smile. ¡°As such, we''ll be staying here for a while.¡± The Elf nodded, and her eyes slowly became glossy. Lapia and Bonte, who were standing next to her, gave the woman a hug and pats on the back. ¡°I also went ahead and asked if she could teach Alyssa and Yolin,¡± I added with a shrug. ¡°Being the Goddess of the path of the Cleric and all. I saw the opportunity and went for it.¡± The Luzo and Oni opened their eyes wide in surprise. ¡°Shorvanna agreed to teach me and Thelea,¡± I shared. The Goliath smiled and nodded. ¡°And Saravia agreed to teach Bromisnar,¡± I finalized. The Satyr gasped and put a hand on his chest. ¡°All in all they were pretty welcoming. Fun bunch. Anyway, let''s go in,¡± I told them, picked the still sleeping Sonya up, and started walking.
A short while later, a hard-to-describe event unfolded in front of me. Alyssa, Bonte, Bromisnar, Elena, Hanna, Lapia, Pokora, Thelea, and Yolin went down on one knee and looked at the ground. They had their hands in front of their chests as if in prayer, but with interlinked fingers. Danuva, Saravia, and Shorvanna were in front of them, looking down at the mortals who worshiped them. Danuva floated a few centimeters above the ground, and had an eye on each kneeling person. Saravia floated as well, the fabrics that made his body floating as if underwater. Shorvanna was just standing there like a set of armor in an exhibit. I was to the side, hands in my pockets and watching with complicated feelings. 157 - Should art touch the Divine? The Gods spoke first. ¡°Children,¡± Danuva greeted them. ¡°We welcome you to our temple.¡± My friends let out gasps of surprise, shock, adoration, and more. Alyssa began shaking a little, and a few tears escaped her eyes. She had a huge smile on her face, and had her tail coiled behind her. As a woman of faith, her current emotions were something I might take decades, if not centuries, to understand. As a Cleric heavily focused on healing, being in front of the Goddess that gave sentience to the species of the world was an event that ''powerful'' fell short to describe. Yolin was looking at the floor with a calm expression. Her eyes were a little glossy, but no tears came out. As a carefree soul, meeting Gods was maybe not that big of a deal all things considered. As a Cleric, however, the moment was clearly something that brought strong emotions. Lapia had her eyes closed, and a cheeky smile touched her lips. Despite not being a Cleric like Alyssa and Yolin, the Elf was perhaps the closest to the Gods in my opinion since she''s a teacher just like them. I recalled the words the monarchs of Lumin Kingdom told me during the Royal Banquet, about Gods justifying educators just like we Halves justify governance. Pokora''s eyes were wide to the absolute limit, and her mouth was slightly open. There was no telling what the woman was thinking when having physically present deities in front of her. Considering her mind was not tampered ¨C unlike mine ¨C her view might be a bit more objective... which could lead to even greater inner conflict when confronted with the fact that Gods, in actuality, existed. Bonte, similarly to Lapia, had his eyes closed and a serene expression on his face. His ears were standing at attention and pointing at the Gods, and his tail was wrapped on his right leg. The man''s usually childish behavior was nowhere to be seen. Thelea was drenched in sweat, and her body was shivering slightly. Her eyes were locked on the floor and her mouth was twitching every few seconds. Maybe Shorvanna''s words of tournaments being a sad attempt at greater conflict put her in a rough spot considering she took part in quite a few of those. The fact Goliaths sought glory in conflict, and she personally wanted to die in glorious combat maybe touched a nerve somewhere. Bromisnar was outright crying with a smile on his face. He did his best to keep quiet, which resulted in hiccups and gasps. Tears poured out of his eyes nonstop, but the man made no effort to wipe them. As a highly emotional man, meeting the God he thought was the pinnacle of his art, and the grand goal he had set for himself to impress, was perhaps something that couldn''t be explain with simple words. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Hanna was quiet, still, and was looking at the ground. It was the exact same display of respect she showed me when we first met... and several times since then. Elena had a deeply complicated look on her face, probably facing some inner conflict on who she was, who she would become after regaining her memories, her relationships with those she worshiped, and what that meant in more interpersonal relationships she had no memories of. A worried frown occupied her features, and her eyes moved between the ground, Danuva, and me. As a creator myself, anything and everything is content. As such, I took a sketchbook out of my storage and started drawing the scene before me. Powerful emotions are crucial when dealing with art. The most controversial pieces are those that intend on changing how the consensus sees certain aspects of life, or perpetuate them with a shock to the soul with which we are reminded of the horrors we sometimes see and experience. Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan, an oil-on-canvas masterpiece by Ilya Yefimovich Repin in 1885 Anno Domini, Earth Calendar, is one such example. The raw and brutal depiction of the resolution of violence from a father to his son was a recurrent source of inspiration ¨C whether literal or symbolic ¨C for artists since the dawn of time. The reminder that mortals are eternally capable of physically harming others is what the individual will come to see when looking at Ilya Yefimovich Repin''s masterpiece, even at a single glance. The cane lying on the floor next to them, the crumpled carpet on which they sat, the scattered objects around the room... it all screams of a violent altercation to the observer. Violence from a beast which then faced the greatest of remorse while hugging his dying son. I personally had the privilege and absolute honor of looking at it in person. I saw the violence my mother inflicted on my family on it. That moment of savage hysteria which resulted in the loss of everything she held dear. Unlike the Ivan the Terrible Ilya Yefimovich Repin depicted, my mother did not see or experience such a regret until many years later when it was already too late. The canvas spoke to me at the time, and I understood things about myself when looking at it. It was beyond terrifying, but equally enlightening. Naturally, there is a political and religious context to be found around the piece... which brings me back to why I was drawing the scene before me despite not being such a master as Ilya Yefimovich Repin was. The depiction of infanticide was censored due to being insensitive, according to those who passed judgment in the Russian Empire. As a Halve, however, there is no being on this planet to censor me. I''m not delusional enough to believe it''s my sacred duty to immortalize the moment, but it''s a step I think is important in my self discovery when it comes to Gods, mortals, and Eternals. The fact Gods are not depicted in any way other than metaphors ¨C perhaps except Shorvanna''s statue in the dungeon she mentioned ¨C is important when it comes to touching the hearts of the people. Showing their shape and those who worship them, along with the emotions present in the moment is, in my humble opinion, bigger than life. Something I won''t do without their explicit consent, naturally. There must be a reason as to why people don''t describe them. Still. I am an artist at heart. Perhaps too westernized for the Eastern European purist traditionalists... but an artist nonetheless. 158 – Teachers pick. I kept an ear out while I sketched. ¡°We shall grant you knowledge in the following months,¡± Shorvanna told the mortals using a strict tone that wasn''t overbearing but carried authority nonetheless. ¡°In order to efficiently do that, we''ll need to get to know you on a more personal level,¡± Saravia pointed out in an energetic tone, like a freshly graduated teacher meeting his students for the first time at the start of the school year. ¡°Stand,¡± Danuva requested in a gentle tone, but didn''t say please. ¡°And tell us who you are, what have you achieved, and what you truly want in life.¡± My companions hesitated for a second. Pokora stood up right away, looking at the Gods with uncertainty on her face. The rest followed her example, slowly standing up and facing the Gods. ¡°You are not rulers seeking counsel,¡± the Goddess of the path of the Warrior pointed out. ¡°Nor are you high-ranking clergy who''ll spread our message.¡± ¡°As such, we are simply mentor and apprentice,¡± the God of the path of the Performer announced. ¡°Just like the time before civilization,¡± the Goddess of the path of the Cleric reminded them, then muttered with melancholy, ¡°When we lived together.¡± My companions nodded in understanding. Alyssa and Bromisnar wiped their tears and blew their noses with handkerchiefs. The Luzo''s eyes glowed with white light for a second and Thelea''s shakes calmed down. I finished my sketch and stored the tools. The Elmari Elf took a step forward and spoke, ¡°My name is Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che, an Elmari Elf. I follow Her Divinity Pitela''s path as an Archer. I was part of the Organized Preventive Armed Forces of Uuruhk and commanded a small group of brave people when defending the trading settlement of Bokh''Ila from an unusual Gyk''el migration until Her Excellency Nilenna Atarka arrived. I am now in search of something I hope Your Divinities will advice me with.¡± So she can be formal, I thought with a smile. Taking the opportunity, too. ¡°I will guide you, then,¡± Shorvanna told her. Poko-Poko nodded. ¡°Thank you, Your Divinity,¡± she said back. The woman was talking as if to a superior instead of a God. Nothing wrong with that, in my opinion. The Domi Elf took a step forward and spoke, ¡°My most humble of greetings, Your Divinities. My name is Lapia Pofeta, a Domi Elf. I was born a Noble in the ancient Queendom of Maaruhk where I became a teacher to spread His Divinity Photem''s legacy while following the path of the Wizard. Her Majesty Queen Lofrada Tilensis III gave me the task of teaching His Excellency Desseyr Idgaeh for a decade when he made his appearance forty years ago. My time as his mentor opened my eyes to the gap between mortals and Halves, and as such made it my life''s goal to research and arrive at empiric evidence of the differences that exist, along with a concise path to follow in order for mortals to achieve a higher affinity with E''er. I became a Chaser and abandoned Nobility to look for answers that I couldn''t find behind walls.¡± Stolen story; please report. You go, Lala! I cheered for her in my mind. ¡°I will guide you,¡± Danuva announced. Lapia nodded and curtsied. ¡°Your Divinity has my heartfelt gratitude,¡± she said back and straightened. Next was Alyssa. She walked up to Danuva. The Divine held out both hands. Alyssa gently placed hers on top of the Divine''s. ¡°Greetings, beloved Great Mother,¡± she giggled with a big smile. ¡°My name is Alyssa Pruvik, a Kyrstaali Luzo. I follow Your Divinity''s path of the Cleric, and took the vow of Healer. I have joined people in marriage, upheld the vow of truth and fairness in front of justice, and given appropriate healing to any who seek it. I have carried your light and love during my life as a Chaser, preventing untimely deaths and praying for a better life whenever death finds the living. My goal of healing all sentient species has placed me at the seventh rank among the clergy. I have found beauty in the crafts of people, and made it my goal to fully explore what they can offer.¡± Greath Mother? I wondered, then recalled that Clerics treat each other as family. Also, that''s a unique way of saying you want to eat pastries around the world, Alyssa! Don''t be cheeky! ¡°My child. I will happily guide you,¡± Danuva replied in a tone full of love and care. ¡°Thank you, beloved Great Mother,¡± Alyssa said back, let go of Danuva''s hands, and took a few steps back. Yolin walked up next, facing Danuva. The Goddess held her hands out again. Yolin copied Alyssa, placing her hands where the Luzo had. ¡°Beloved Great Mother. My name is Yolin Makav, a Red Oni. I follow the path Your Divinity set as a Cleric, and took the vow of Protection. I have guarded the weak, the unfortunate, the ill, and the wounded. I have made a name of myself with the teachings of your legacy, traveled the world, and met more people than I thought possible. Life''s journey has placed me in the third rank among the clergy. My aim is to reach the limit of mortal growth while aiding Natasha in her task as a Halve.¡± My eyebrows went up in surprise. Aww! Yolin, you smooth woman! ¡°I will happily guide you, my child,¡± Danuva announced with glee. ¡°I will as well,¡± Shorvanna declared. Yolin''s eyes widened in surprise. After a few seconds she nodded. ¡°Thank you, Beloved Great Mother. Your Divinity Shorvanna has my gratitude as well.¡± She let go of Danuva and took a few steps back. The Ork took a step forward and knelt before the Gods. ¡°The most auspicious of greetings, Your Divinities. My name is Hanna Intarr...¡± she stopped, hesitated, then continued, ¡°...with two r''s at the end. I am an Ork. I follow Her Divinity Yvanna''s path as a Scout. I have helped Her Excellency Natasha Novak in infiltrating, eliminating, and subverting a group of people who dared show their fangs in the absence of Her Excellency Yulianna Kavun after she departed Leks due to the passing of His Excellency Perculis Valerius Sylla. My current aim is to rid the world of the insolent and ungrateful who would dare have the audacity to aim at Halves and Divines.¡± Damn, I winced. I feel a little yikes for wanting a relationship with her, even if just physical. I''d have to gaslight the shit out of her to ease that ultra devotion almost bordering in fascism. I considered for a few seconds, then concluded, Eh, doable. ¡°I will guide you,¡± Shorvanna announced. ¡°Your Divinity has my unending gratitude!¡± Hanna exclaimed. 159 - Shorvannas methods. Elena stepped forward, but kept quiet. The woman opened her mouth and closed it several times, not uttering a single word. Her turquoise eyes swam in their sockets, not focusing on anything specific for more than half a second. Her hands grabbed her red hair and anxiously wrung it. Her breathing grew a little erratic, and her face strained with complicated emotions. ¡°Elena Pazh''Khun,¡± Danuva called. The Elf''s eyes locked onto Danuva''s shape, widening by the second. The rainbow-colored lines on the Goddess'' face dimly lit up, and from them, E''er flowed in harmony almost as if singing a choir of absolute bliss. It was completely different from when mortals activated skills or used spells. Like a master dancer who''s perfected their craft after an untold amount of time, there was no surplus waste, no forceful command of energy, and no hint at her being a separate entity that attempted to control the intangible. Compared to that, mortals seemed like children trying to sloppily fit rough and stubborn dough in a mould: wasteful, forceful, and noticeably amateur. E''er responded to Danuva like a love-starved child being embraced by a warm and patient parent that offered a lifetime of healing and understanding, bringing comfort to past, present, and future wounds of the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical kinds. My shoulders relaxed and I basked in the feeling. For a moment, I wanted Danuva to hold me like that if only for an instant... but returned to my senses and shook the feeling away, replacing it with rejection and distrust to all maternal figures. Elena''s breathing slowed down to a normal rhythm, her eyes relaxed, and her face lost tension. ¡°Be not afraid,¡± the being with multiple eyes, gray skin, detached limbs that floated, and rainbow-colored lines across the face said in an inviting tone that promised no judgment while hovering a few centimeters above the ground. Mhm... I nodded, approving the choice of words. The three thousand year old woman took a deep, calming breath. ¡°We remember you,¡± Saravia shared with glee. ¡°Yulianna brought you before us some centuries ago,¡± Shorvanna informed her. ¡°I will heal you, Elena,¡± Danuva assured her. The Faeton Elf nodded and turned her sight downwards. After that, the rest of my companions introduced themselves. Shorvanna picked Bonte and Thelea, and Saravia picked Bromisnar. Despite having previously discussed who they''d teach, I didn''t interrupt the little event of mentors choosing apprentices. Maybe it was some tradition I hadn''t heard of yet, so I let them do it their way. ¡°Alyssa Pruvik, Elena Pazh''Khun, Lapia Pofeta, and Yolin Makav,¡± Danuva called. ¡°Follow me,¡± she instructed and went inside the obelisk. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it My companions followed in silence. ¡°Bromisnar, come with me,¡± Saravia invited him and went inside the obelisk. The man nodded with enthusiasm and followed the God with a smile on his face. Shorvanna was silent for a moment. The living armor stood still, and the wind brought the smell of blood. ¡°I know you''re thinking of the wrong thing,¡± the Goddess reproached the group in front of her. ¡°Not all of you are Warriors... is what''s going through your minds.¡± She walked to them and stopped in front of each, staring at them for a good ten seconds. ¡°You should focus on what you are, instead of what you are not. True, you are not Warriors,¡± she pointed out, staring at Pokora, who stared back with slightly wide eyes and apprehension. Shorvanna leaned in and almost touched the Elf''s face with her helmet. ¡°So... what are you? Ask yourselves that.¡± My eyebrows went up in surprise. ¡°What is the constant in your lives? What do you do when you go out of the comfort of civilization and into the uncertainty of nature?¡± the Divine being asked. My companions'' eyebrows joined in thought. Shorvanna nodded, probably hearing their thoughts. ¡°You know within yourselves that there''s something you want to do. And you know you were born with a purpose, whether you believe in it now or not. You all have something you are supposed to do. As such, you have the responsibility to manifest your greatness!¡± She raised a gauntlet and made a fist. ¡°Not only is it possible for you to have your dream, it''s necessary!¡± She walked to Bonte and leaned into him. ¡°It''s necessary!¡± She repeated. ¡°That you work on it. That you develop yourself! That you go for what you think is yours in life! I could tell you that you can lay down, or that the journey is going to get easy. I could tell you that, if you keep going, the load will get lighter...¡± She took few steps back and faced the group. ¡°But that''s not the truth. The truth is: you have to find something within! Feelings mean nothing when on their own! They occupy your mind, they take your time, your energy... your life! Feelings are not the weak justification, but the reason you do something. You take control of them. And with them, you life! If your feelings are not fuel for action, then they''re useless! What exactly you do with them is up to you, but you must do something with them! You have to make a declaration that this feeling is what you stand for! Make it matter in your life. Give it meaning. Give it drive! Will it be easy? No! Will it happen overnight? No! Will it put you down and spit on your face? Yes it will! But that right there is what we do best! So, answer me... what are you?¡± ¡°Fighters,¡± Thelea replied, a tear rolling down her cheek. Shorvanna walked to her, growing in size until she towered over the Goliath. ¡°WHAT ARE YOU?!¡± she screamed in her face. ¡°FIGHTERS!¡± Thelea yelled back, looking ahead instead at the Goddess. ¡°AND WHAT DO FIGHTERS DO?!¡± Shorvanna asked in a booming voice, turning to look at the rest of the mortals. ¡°Struggle,¡± I said out loud. ¡°YES!¡± the Goddess agreed, not looking at me. ¡°STRUGGLE! TO TAKE WHAT IS YOURS, YOU STRUGGLE! YOU''LL WANT TO DIE, IT''S A PART OF IT. THERE WILL COME A POINT WHEN LIFE WILL BE TOO HEAVY TO LIFT. THAT IS WHEN YOU STRUGGLE WITH ALL YOU HAVE AND YOU SPIT ON LIFE''S FACE! THAT''S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO GRAB WHATEVER YOU WANT! YOU WILL THINK IT IMPOSSIBLE! AND THAT IS WHEN YOU CONQUER THE FEAR WITHIN YOU! YOU KILL WHATEVER IS IN YOUR WAY! YOU BITE IT''S NECK, RIP THE GUTS, AND TEAR THE HEART OUT! YOU FIGHT! ALL LIFE FIGHTS! THE ONLY THING THAT SETS YOU APART FROM ONE ANOTHER IS THE WEAPON OF CHOICE!¡± She grew even bigger, passing four meters in height, and screamed, ¡°SO WHAT ARE YOU?¡± ¡°FIGHTERS!¡± the four mortals yelled back. Shorvanna shrunk to her previous size and nodded. ¡°Good. Now, we fight,¡± she declared and walked to the obelisk. I followed her with my eyes, eyebrows raised and smiling. 160 - Training(?) begins. We followed the Goddess of the path of the Warrior into the obelisk. A surprisingly wide chamber greeted us. The blue stone was the same, as were the rainbow-colored lines that were etched on their surface. I squinted my eyes and looked to the right, then to the left. The opposite wall, which makes it sound as if the place we were in was square instead of circular as it actually was, stood some one hundred meters from us. I walked to Shorvanna and pointed at the ceiling. ¡°Are we underground?¡± I asked, not sure if Divine beings could bend the laws of space to the point of making a 100 meter wide room inside a 30 meter wide obelisk. I could get behind teleportation without issue, but the alternative was harder to visualize. ¡°We are,¡± Shorvanna confirmed. ¡°And it''s called shift,not teleportation,¡± she corrected my thoughts, or someone else''s. I nodded, looking around. There was nothing in sight. Only the floor, the walls, and the ceiling. There was no echo either. ¡°Aaaahhhh!!¡± I shouted at the distance to make sure. Nothing came back. ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered. ¡°Done?¡± the Goddess that would guide us for the following months inquired in a tone that implied she was waiting for me to finish my bullshit to begin the instruction. ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied with a nod. The living suit of armor pointed towards the other side of the room with an arm. ¡°Go meditate, young Halve. You need to further understand yourself.¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead in surprise. ¡°Weren''t we going to fight?¡± I probed in confusion. ¡°The mortals will,¡± Shorvanna revealed. ¡°They won''t learn much if they fight you, won''t they?¡± ¡°True,¡± Pokora chuckled. ¡°Not even a sparring session?¡± Thelea asked with palpable disappointment. Shorvanna turned to them. ¡°You will fight each other until you drop. After that I will instruct you on how to improve. I''ll see if the four of earn the right to face off against Natasha after the first week. Fight for what you want, mortals.¡± ¡°YES!¡± the four yelled. I scowled. ¡°Any hint on what to meditate about?¡± I asked Shorvanna with evident discontent. ¡°Absolutism and Eternalism,¡± she threw words at me. ¡°Now, go.¡± I let out a long sigh and did as suggested, walking all the way to the other side of the room. I sat down facing them and closed my eyes. ¡°This is bullshit,¡± I complained. Naturally, as the genius I am, every answer the cosmos could offer came to me immediately. Not really. Nothing happened. My mind was the personification of ''no thoughts, head empty''. Since the room didn''t allow sound to bounce or whatever it does for echo to exist, I couldn''t hear what Shorvanna was saying, or what my companions were replying. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. If not for the sound of my heart pumping blood and the sound of air entering and leaving through my nose, making my chest move and quietly rustling my clothes, I would have been in total silence. Guidance my ass! I thought with a snort. Anyway... Absolutism? I gave it a good thinking since I had the time. Absolutism... as in politics? The fact we Halves aren''t subjected to anything that would rightfully challenge our authority? But that''s... wait... it''s kind of true. Hold up! Monarchies directly answers to us Halves, and I assume the other forms of government do as well. I only know of Monarchy since the only country I gave a shit to visit was Lumin Kingdom. Way to go, Natasha, retarded bitch! You should have visited other countries! ...But I couldn''t have. I met Elena on my way to help King Gordon. Halves and their partners are higher on the priority list to me. I''d like other Halves to help my girlfriends if they''re ever in a situation like Elena, after all. Yulianna, you irresponsible fucktard! Mourn all you want, but three centuries?! Get a fucking grip! Oh yeah, I''m definitely punching the bitch when I meet her. I don''t give a tenth of a fuck! Alas, anger took root. I took a deep, calming breath and let it out. The basket it empty, I reminded myself. I control the vessel. I am E''er. E''er is me. We are one. Consciousness is nothingness, and nothingness is everything. I feed off the love of my neighbor. As such, I cannot feed my neighbor with the ashes of my anger. Understanding brings unity, and in turn, peace. The rightness or wrongness of an action centers around whether the action itself would bring about harm to the self and, or others. Similarly, murder is a meritorious action when demonstrably done in the interest of the majority. My mind cleared. Absolutism, I went back to why I sat down for. While it''s true that we Halves don''t answer to anyone, we do answer to something. Galeia influences our minds if the Gods speak true. I don''t exactly doubt them, but there''s no evidence to their words either. I can think Monarchy is an outdated and terrible form of government, and then see it''s not that way in this world. My mind can change. I can grow as an individual. If the truth is darker, however, then I can only blame my naivity. If Gordon tricked me, then I can only remedy it by beheading him and putting his head on a pike for all to see. Our generosity should not be abused. We are an extension of Galeia. Something clicked in my mind. If Galeia created us, then we are something like a skill, or a spell. People cast spells by concentrating E''er and giving it purpose. Similarly, we are created from E''er and given purpose. Energy given form and life. As such, isn''t every single particle of E''er connected to us in some way? No. Not connected. As E''er given form, life, and purpose, foreign E''er is our sleeping little sibling. We watch over it, because it''s us in a different condition. As such... everything holds us. And we are in turn, Absolute. I opened my eyes and looked at my companions, a hundred meters away. I focused on Pokora. Show me, I told E''er in my mind and appraised her just like I would appraise myself. [Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Elmari Elf, lvl 315 Sniper ¨C 304 Hunter ¨C 300 Ranger] I let out a long sigh with a big smile. ¡°Finally, the total level!¡± I cheered with a clap, then balled both fists. ¡°Alyssa was right! It''s all in the mind,¡± I recalled and focused on my other companions, then did the same thing. [Thelea Vathunith ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Rodon Goliath, Lvl 286 Battlemaiden ¨C 246 Moving Fortress ¨C 49 Shield of Bal''Ogh] I noticed I was a bit wrong about the names of her Classes. [Bonte Slirmy ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Shishi Tigea, Lvl 300 Shadow Chaser ¨C 288 Rogue ¨C 284 Dusk Blade] [Hanna Intarr ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Ork, Lvl 326 Regicide ¨C 295 Warped Blade ¨C 289 Usurper] I laughed, celebrating the fact I managed to see the total level with that simple realization. In the distance, Shorvanna walked into the wall. She walked out of the wall a few centimeters to my left. My eyes widened. ¡°I could have done that instead of walking all the way?¡± I demanded. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°I see you finished meditating. It''s been ten hours.¡± I closed my eyes, pinched the bridge of my nose, and let out a groan. ¡°I forgot about the time travel mechanic of meditating,¡± I whispered in annoyance. ¡°Any results?¡± Shorvanna inquired, ignoring my comment. I sighed and nodded. ¡°Yeah. I can now see the total level of someone,¡± I told her. ¡°Good. You''ve just scratched the surface of absolutism,¡± she praised (?) me. ¡°Do you want us to go over your next Class now, while the mortals are engaged in combat?¡± I glanced at them. Pokora was fighting Thelea. Bonte was fighting Hanna. The Elf shot arrows one after another at the Goliath, who held her shield up and closed in. I looked at the Goddess. ¡°Sure. I wanna know the possibilities.¡± 161 - Pushing Natashas buttons. ¡°There are a lot of possibilities, so tell me your preferences first,¡± Shorvanna offered. I stood up and gently loosened my joints. Although sitting in the same position for ten hours didn''t strain them, it felt good to stretch. ¡°Have they eaten something?¡± I asked her, gesturing at my companions with a nod. ¡°They have,¡± the Goddess confirmed. ¡°The Elf prepared beans and sausages four hours ago.¡± I retrieved a dumpling from my storage and took a bite, chewed, then swallowed. ¡°How come I don''t get hungry?¡± I asked her. ¡°I mean, I do get hungry, but not like I have to eat or I''ll die kind of hungry.¡± ¡°Different metabolism,¡± Shorvanna shortly replied. ¡°Mortals spend a lot of energy just to exist. You don''t.¡± I hummed, then finished the dumpling. ¡°So, preferences,¡± I changed topics and cleaned my teeth with E''er. ¡°A spear-oriented Class would be neat. Bigger attacks, like, in scope... The kind that cover a large area with a single swing since I''m a little limited to the reach of my weapon at the moment if we don''t take Throw Spear, Gae Bulg, and Dragon Dive into consideration.¡± I held my chin and looked at the ceiling. ¡°Conjuring spears would be cool, and they need to be as durable and sharp as my actual weapon. It''d be really badass if they float around me and I could use skills with them without needing to hold them. A skill to conjure a billion spears and shoot them in every direction would be pretty sweet, too.¡± ¡°Spears, big attacks, and conjuring weapons,¡± Shorvanna summarized. ¡°If you add flying, Warcries empowered with Power Tongues, and your anger... you''ll get Wrathful Conqueror of the Infinite Cosmos, Eternal Ruler of the Endless Heavenly Chasm, or Bubin Pilin. Which one exactly will depend on how you formulate the skills.¡± I stared at her for a good ten seconds, then uttered in my most calm voice, ¡°What in the fuck are those names? Why are the first two way cooler than the last one? Also, scratch flying. I''ll pass on that.¡± ¡°Those Classes belonged to the strongest Halve Warriors a long time ago,¡± she shared. ¡°Flying is important when demonstrating your absolute might.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Nah, I''ll pass on flying. I quite like my Ratnak.¡± ¡°Grow up, Natasha,¡± the Goddess sighed. ¡°You can''t fear heights forever.¡± My eyebrow twitched. ¡°I said no. Stop insisting.¡± ¡°Wings would be pretty good, too,¡± Shorvanna commented, ignoring my rejection. ¡°You''re a Halve, after all.¡± I clicked my tongue at her dismissal. ¡°Wings? Why the fuck would I want or need wings? I weigh five hundred kilograms, Shorvanna. I can''t fly with wings. It''s not possible.¡± ¡°Why isn''t it possible?¡± she stubbornly insisted, closing into me. ¡°It''s just not,¡± I hissed back, feeling a little anger at her disregard. I placed a hand on her chest plate and moved her away. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Shorvanna slapped my hand away, then insisted, ¡°Why not? Tell me a reason.¡± I let out an irritated sigh and pushed her shoulder. ¡°Because the wings would need to be fucking massive to lift me off the ground, which would only add to the weight. It wont work!¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± she waved it away, slapping my hand again. My left eyelid twitched and I took a deep, calming breath. I could not believe her. ¡°Think about it,¡± Shorvanna persisted, again closing into me. ¡°Flying will help you explore the world, reach dangers faster, and-¡± ¡°You need to fucking stop,¡± I interrupted her, pushing her again with more strength. I was about to get pissed. ¡°You need to fucking grow up,¡± the Goddess spat, pointing a finger at me. ¡°Think about it, young Halve! If you have wings, you get extensions of your body!¡± ¡°I don''t give the fattest of fucks,¡± I spat back with a shaky voice. ¡°Come off it, and fuck right off! I DON''T WANT TO FLY, YOU LITTLE SHIT!¡± ¡°HOW COME YOU DON''T!?¡± She demanded, yelling back at me. ¡°LISTEN HERE, NATASHA NOVAK, YOU STUBBORN FUCK! YOUR WARRIOR BODY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS ON THIS PLANET! IF YOU GET WINGS LIKE I''M TELLING YOU, YOU''D GAIN A PAIR OF SHIELDS! HOW DO YOU NOT WANT THAT?!¡± ¡°BECAUSE I DON''T WANT TO FUCKING FLY IN THE FIRST PLACE! AAHH!! §±§ª§©§¥§¦§¸ §¯§¡§·§µ§« §¢§­§Á§´§¾!!¡± I balled my hands into fists and shook in anger. ¡°WHAT''S SOOOO GOOD ABOUT FLYING ANYWAY?!¡± She scoffed and started hitting my stomach with a finger. ¡°WHAT?! YOU GET TO FUCKING FLY, OBVIOUSLY! YOU CAN DO SPINS AND LOOPS AND SHIT IN THE AIR, AND YOU''RE GOING TO FUCKING ENJOY IT!¡± I slapped her gauntlet away. ¡°I DON''T WANT TO DO YOUR FUCKING SPINS AND LOOPS, §¥§¦§¢§ª§­ §³§µ§¬§¡!! STICK THEM UP YOUR FUCKING ASS!¡± I told her through gritted teeth. ¡°STOP ACTING LIKE A CHILD!¡± Shorvanna berated me. ¡°YOU''RE BEING RIDICULOUS! YOU''RE ASKING ME FOR GUIDANCE BUT REJECT FLYING? ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO YOURSELF? THINK OF HOW MORTALS WILL FEEL WHEN THEY SEE YOU FLYING THROUGH THE SKIES! WHAT THEY WILL THINK WHEN THE GOLDEN WARRIOR LANDS IN ALL HER GLORY!¡± ¡°I HAVE A MOUNT! I LIKE SONYA A LOT, AND DON''T WANT TO ABANDON HER!¡± I explained myself, crossing my arms. ¡°FLYING IS OFF! ANYTHING BUT THAT!¡± ¡°NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT ABANDONING YOUR RATNAK! YOU CAN MAKE YOUR LANCER SKILLS RANGED WHEN YOU MERGE YOUR CURRENT CLASSES! GET RID OF THOSE STUPID CONDITIONALS THAT TIE YOU TO THE GROUND!¡± The Goddess chastised me. I took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°Shorvanna... you''re pushing me over the fucking line,¡± I warned her with a glare. ¡°Why do you let this fear control you?¡± she inquired in a puzzled tone. ¡°Didn''t you say you went to therapy to improve yourself?¡± I rolled my eyes and grabbed my hair, then tugged it a little to release some tension. ¡°Yes, but that was anger management, not the other shit,¡± I clarified and dropped my hands to the sides. ¡°Shorvanna, I don''t want to fly. I don''t need to fly. I have Sonya,¡± I tried explaining the situation in a calm manner. ¡°I have never met a Halve with such an irrational fear,¡± the Goddess commented. ¡°We''ll work on it, young Natasha. I will help you overcome this.¡± I closed my eyes and let out a long, tired sigh. After a few deep breaths and a moment of inner contemplation, I realized my reaction was pretty fucking stupid. ¡°Alright,¡± I accepted and opened my eyes. ¡°I lost my shit a bit there, if I''m being honest. I''m sorry for yelling at you, Shorvanna.¡± ¡°I was hoping you''d start a fight,¡± the Goddess of the path of the Warrior lamented. ¡°You were pretty angry, and handled it beyond my expectations.¡± I covered my face with a hand and dragged it down in exasperation. ¡°Shorvanna... fuck around and find out,¡± I warned her. "I don''t want to start a new Era." 162 - Settling in...? ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± Shorvanna laughed, but her lack of lungs, throat, and face meant she stood still while doing so. ¡°That would kill you, young Halve! Desseyr, Miraztor, Nilenna, and Yulianna would chase you to the ends of the world, and even beyond. Galeia doesn''t need a Halve that kills a God just because of feelings.¡± I clicked my tongue. ¡°Fuck off. You know what I mean,¡± I grumbled. ¡°I do,¡± the Goddess confirmed. ¡°I remind you anyway, young Halve.¡± ¡°I remind you anyway,¡± I imitated her in a mocking tone, then sighed. ¡°I know what you mean, as a Halve. The whole demonstration of power to ease mortals... I get it. Flying? My asshole tightens at the idea of it. The fact you disregard it makes me angry. True, I survived a long fall, but when I climbed up and looked down my stomach still did a nasty turn.¡± ¡°But you''re willing to face it, no?¡± Shorvanna inquired. I nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That''s what I''m going for,¡± she explained. ¡°I see that in you and push it. I am a Divine, a Goddess, whose specialization is to shatter the chains that bind you so you can forge weapons with them. I can see inside you, and disregard your rejection precisely because I am aware of your desire to shatter the yoke. You can whine, scream, complain, or insult me all you want. But the fact you''re not closing off and instead choose conflict is telling of your struggle and willingness to overcome it. You got angry because you want to change something you''re unhappy with, not because I''m pushing something unreasonable. If that were the case, you would have just ignored me. And those that fully ignore confrontation are not fit to be Warriors.¡± I took a deep breath and sighed, ¡°Yeah... true.¡± ¡°You see, young Natasha,¡± Shorvanna began, placing a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Each Halve has a meaning. Yulianna, for example, has the expectation of furthering the understanding of E''er since she''s a Wizard. She symbolizes research, wisdom, and power of the mind over the intangible. Nilenna, who''s an Archer, has the expectation to find everything that is lost. She symbolizes patience, diligence, and the vigilance required to go into nature. Miraztor has the expectation of charity since he''s a Cleric. He symbolizes compassion, fairness, and empathy. Desseyr... well, he didn''t show himself to civilization for a very long while so he hasn''t had the time to receive expectations. As a Scout, however, he symbolizes secrecy, mystery, and subterfuge, which fit him perfectly. You, Natasha, will have the expectation of peace or safety. As a Warrior, you may symbolize violence, physical might, and restraint.¡± She moved her hand up and gave me a few pats on the cheek. ¡°How mortals see you will depend on your interactions with them. Give them a few centuries and ideas will start to solidify. That''s why showing your absolute might is crucial. It deters those who wish to do harm, and ease those who want peace of mind.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Didn''t I tell you I got it?¡± ¡°And I will repeat it many times in the following months,¡± she told me. ¡°Now, go back to meditating.¡± ¡°Eh, had enough today.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I think I''ll go check up on Danuva''s group, then Saravia and Bromisnar.¡± ¡°Sure. But meditate after that,¡± Shorvanna insisted. ¡°Will do,¡± I agreed and looked at the wall next to us. ¡°How do I get to where I want to go?¡± ¡°Think of who you want to see,¡± she shared. ¡°There are rooms for your companions, too, so think of your name and you''ll get there. Orators furnished them in case any of you came since we Divines have no need for rest, food, nor clothes.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°K. I''ll be back in a bit,¡± I told her and walked into the wall while thinking of seeing Danuva. After going through, a room similar to the previous welcomed me. This one, however, was much smaller. It was square and 10 meters by 10 meters. Alyssa, Yolin, and Lapia sat on the ground with their eyes closed. Elena floated horizontally a meter from the ground facing up, and had her eyes closed. Danuva stood in front of the Faeton Elf''s head, and her arms were stretched over the woman''s face. They''re deep in meditation, Danuva spoke into my mind. Naturally, that made me flinch and do a double take. Do I just think, then? I wondered, more like a question to her. Yes, she replied into my mind, which was not creepy at all. Your voice will interrupt them. Riiiiight, I nodded and looked around the room. This is so weird... Anyway. How are they doing? Good, Danuva said back. A few more hours and I''ll send them to sleep. We''re reviewing at the moment. I blinked a long blink and tried to rationalize what was going on. After a few moments, I nodded. So... you''re speaking with them as well? Yes, the Goddess confirmed. You can split your consciousness? I asked in surprise. We Divines can do that, and much more, she replied. That way we can teach multiple people as if we''re in a one on one lesson. Are the Bond Messages an attempt at copying this way of speaking to others? I scratched my left eyebrow. They are, the Goddess confirmed again. But mortal minds are limited when compared to ours. Some Classes have skills that have successfully replicated the intent, but not the amount. Mortals are quite crafty with the knowledge we''ve imparted. Take Yolin Makav, for example. She has managed to make her body more resilient than a Halve''s when activating all her defensive skills. Truly marvelous. A smug and proud smile made its way to my face. I told you she''s smart, heh! I never doubted you, young Halve, she giggled softly. Well, I came by to see. I''ll be back tomorrow or whenever I''m free. I turned around and went into the wall while thinking of seeing Saravia. The first thing that hit me was the smell. The overpowering fragrance of jasmine heabutted my nose like an angry Ratnak at full speed, while the dusty and invasive aroma of lavender punched me on the throat like it was Mike Tyson. An eartly odor that was both pungent and sour made my nostrils itch. ¡°¨¹?gh!¡± I immediately gagged with how concentrated and abundant they were. I scrunched up like a cat smelling cheese, then covered my mouth and nose. It was almost as if I was chewing a mouthful of flowers, so I retrieve a face mask from my storage ¨C courtesy of gacha pulls ¨C and put it on to escape the brutal violation of my olfactory organs. The Satyr was lying on a couch that had a raise on one side, resting his head on a pillow, and an elbow on an armrest. He was nodding and exquisitely laughing at something. Saravia was in a similar pose, lying on a similar sofa. A tiny table sat between them, and what looked like an incense stick burned on a plate on top of it. The white and thick smoke went up to the ceiling and filled the room. ¡°...Yinka Plavas'' latest work. The detail of norms is crucial to convey verisimilitude...¡± Saravia was saying, but stopped and turned his cloudy head in my direction. ¡°What in the world is that smell?¡± I inquired, waving a hand in front of my face to clear the smoke with no results. Fortunately the smells went away the moment I put the mask on. ¡°Dragon''s Lament¡±, Bromisnar replied, then made a flowery gesture in the air. ¡°Clears the mind,¡± he added with a smile and a chuckle. I nodded. ¡°I see you two are getting along,¡± I pointed out and turned to the wall. ¡°See ya,¡± I told them and made my escape. 163 - Archer vs Scout I returned to Shorvanna''s room, removed the mask, and took a deep breath of fresh air to clean my system. ¡°Ayayay,¡± I sighed loudly while shaking my head. My companions were at the center of the circular room, still fighting each other. I sat down and focused on Pokora. The Elf was facing off against several Hannas that popped into and out of invisibility. She shot projectiles in quick succession to what seemed like random spots, only for one of the Hannas to appear out of thin air with an arrow between her eyes, then dissolve. Every once in a while an arrow was deflected mid-air without a Hanna showing up, which made me think the real Hanna was around those spots. I squinted my eyes at them. Good thing I have Intimidate Prey to force enemies into attacking, otherwise I''d fall into mind games. Plus, Pokora has that skill that works similarly to Detect Life, I recalled, then focused on the arrows the Elf shot. Some were sticking to the ground, and E''er visibly vibrated around them. A beacon? I wondered. Does Pokora see the vibration, or does the vibration touch invisible beings and then lets her know? Does it work like Monster Hunter with analyzing reality and doing something with it? That''d be pretty useful outside of an ambush. My eyebrows joined in thought. Is that why she shot arrows before we did the nasty back in the forest? Can she use the skill without the need of arrows? Maybe a higher rank allows her to transfer the effect to arrows instead? I focused back on Pokora. My girlfriend''s eyes emitted bluish light through the helmet as she looked around. Then, she focused on a spot and released an arrow she had knocked. The projectile was extremely fast, and changed trajectory at the last instant before hitting something. A Hanna showed up, fell down, then dissolved. I noticed the arrow stayed on the ground, then started vibrating just like the ones I assumed were beacons. Aha! I nodded. I see! Maybe she can''t tell which is the real Hanna, after all. And Hanna can''t risk being shot with a Mythical Bow... ¡°Hmmm...¡± I hummed. But if she can''t tell, why aim at the head? To force her into deflecting? Hanna''s clones kept dropping, and Pokora kept her guard up. My eyes squinted even further. Clones... many cocks... the possibilities, Natasha! I told myself the most important fact I learned while observing them. H-how many, exactly? I wondered with a gulp and equipped my Starforged Eternium Plate Helmet, which had True Sight, then took a cheeky peek. Four Hannas ran around Pokora, slowly closing in. Far back, however, a Hanna was crouching on the ground and observing. Not even a second passed since I had focused on her and she looked in my direction. I didn''t do anything, since that would reveal her position with Pokora''s elvish senses or some nonsense like that. Every time a Hanna went down, a new one emerged from her and ran towards Pokora. So, five... I concluded, then counted the holes in my body. Doable, kekeke. One of the clones deflected an arrow with a dagger and ran in the opposite direction. I see. How cheeky. Are those from the Regicide Class? To send an invisible clone and kill the important person in a room while staying at a distance is pretty smart. Plus, the clones vanish. Can she switch places with the clones, though? That''d be a pretty good escape method. I focused on the clones, then on Hanna. Just like the original, the clones wore black clothes that would fit in a cheap assassin movie. The very definition of ''assassin mob'' or ''evil organization grunt''. The kind nobody takes seriously since they look like they work for below the minimum wage. That needed some change. I had given Bonte a white costume with high defensive stats that looked like the protagonist of the second game belonging to the saga about a guild of assassins that had influence across the world and through many eras. As a Halve, I can''t have a companion looking like a mob from a cheap movie. That would be inadmissible. So, I searched my storage. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. A black coat with red clouds? I stared at a piece of clothing I retrieved. That''s more Ninja... How the fuck did Redeemers Bush get the license to this? I wondered and let out a long sigh, then stored it back in. That''s cringe. I don''t want Hanna going ''The world will know pain if they defy Halves'' or some stupid shit like that. Besides, Pokora will recognize it right away since she''s a weeb and probably will try to get her to say a few cringy lines. After a few minutes of going through costumes that would fit a Scout, I came across one that was sober, hid any identifiable features, didn''t expose skin, and was sturdy. It was very ninja-like but without any of the cringe that anime brings. Then, I searched for daggers that were similar to the ones she used. I found a pair that fit pretty quickly. [+100 Venom Fang (Legendary) {Ascension Lvl 10}] (SS+ Sharpness) (Durability S+) -Sharpness + 100% ({Lvl 10 Emerald}x10) -Sharpness and Durability + 10% (Enchantment) -STR + 100 -CON + 100 -DEX + 200 -Blade carries potent Neurotoxin of A-FA-5 type. *Feeding E''er into the blade will produce a Hemotoxin of A-SA-1 type instead, or produce and antidote for both. They were long, thin, and light. I kept the blades away from my skin for obvious reasons. I didn''t know what exactly a neurotoxin would do to me, but I knew it fucks with the nervous system from watching a documentary, plus it being in the name. Hemotoxin was a bigger concern, so I didn''t inject E''er into the blade. I didn''t want my blood turning into jelly, after all. With Hanna''s gear decided, I stored everything and continued watching the fight.
In the end, it was a stalemate. Hanna focused on hiding and sending clones, and Pokora kept shooting them down. No progress was made, so Shorvanna switched the pairings. Thirty minutes after the pairs switched, Shorvanna made them do some exercises, stretching, and running. Other than the lunch Shorvanna told me they had, I didn''t see them take a single break. Two hours after I returned to the world from meditation, Shorvanna announced the end of the first day, then went into the wall. Surprisingly, none of them dropped like the Goddess said they would. Maybe their stamina was higher. They did look pretty pooped, though. Pokora walked to me covered in sweat. ¡°Bruh,¡± she uttered and sat down in front of me. ¡°This is harsher than my time in the army.¡± I nodded. ¡°But your stamina is higher,¡± I pointed out. ¡°True, but muscles ache either way,¡± the Elf complained and sighed. ¡°Right,¡± I chuckled. ¡°You should take a shower.¡± Pokora nodded and nodded. ¡°I should.¡± ¡°How was it?¡± I asked her. ¡°To train under a God.¡± She closed her eyes and winced. ¡°Please don''t go there. I managed to ignore the fact a sentient armor was barking orders.¡± I noticed Hanna walking towards the wall. ¡°Wait a sec,¡± I told Pokora while standing up. ¡°I''ll give Hanna some gear.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± she replied and laid down on the cold ground, then let out a pleased sigh. I walked to Hanna and waved at her to get her attention. The Ork turned to me and gave me a nod. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± she greeted me. The woman was covered in sweat, but her breathing was calm. ¡°I got something for you,¡± I told her and produced the gear. ¡°No buts. You need better equipment fitting for my companion,¡± I bullshitted, appealing to whatever made her behave the way she did. Hanna went down on a knee and lowered her head, then spread her arms forward to receive the items. ¡°I am blessed to receive a gift such as these, even though I am not worthy of it. Your Excellency has my endless gratitude!¡± She loudly exclaimed with reverence. I closed my eyes and resisted the urge to kick her teeth in. With a sigh, I opened them and and pulled her up with a hand. ¡°Here,¡± I told her and placed the clothes on her hands. I added leather undergarments and jewelry as well. She stored them and gave me a big smile. ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency.¡± I retrieved the daggers and offered them. ¡°These are venomous, so be careful,¡± I told her. Hanna took them and produced a scabbard, then sheathed them. ¡°Noted, Your Excellency,¡± she said and stored the weapons. ¡°Anything else?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Nope. Go shower and relax.¡± She nodded. ¡°Have a good night, Your Excellency,¡± she told me and turned around, then walked away. I stared at her ass. Why are you like this? I wondered while shaking my head. It felt like a transaction more than anything else. Though that smile was killer, I admit, I chuckled, then returned to Pokora. The Elf stood up and sighed. ¡°Shower,¡± she muttered and walked into the wall. I followed her. We emerged in a room that had the scent of a thousand different enchantments. Our of them, I noticed the familiar way E''er was rearranged to form the sound-proof enchantment. The rest I had no solid grasp on. The room had a few showerheads near the ceiling. Right below them, on the wall, the related circles to control water temperature were etched. Even though I hadn''t sweated, I hadn''t taken a shower in more than 24 hours, which meant I was dirty and needed one. As such, I took a shower with Pokora. 164 - Pokora annihilates Natasha. Pokora got naked and walked to the wall. Her skin, white as snow, was covered by a thin film of sweat wherever my eyes landed, reflecting the rainbow-colored light coming from the etchings on the wall, giving the Elf an ethereal allure. Without blemish, mole, scar, or mark, Pokora''s body looked otherworldly. Her long Elven ears and the pair of sharp canines peeking from her lips made my heartbeat speed up. The contrast of her short, pitch black hair made her even prettier in my eyes. Her resting expression was completely different from mine: hers was emotionless while mine was bitchy. Her dull silver eyes magnified the fact she was no longer a Human. I licked my lips and smiled. Pokora''s body was lean, her butt looked tight, and the muscles under her skin were noticeable thanks to her life as an Archer and being part of the army for 25 years. Her shorter stature gave her a petite image, but that''s because most of us are just much taller. It''s simply perspective. Alyssa, Yolin, and I are around the same height. Lapia is a full head shorter than me, but is still taller than Pokora. Pokora, however, is not excessively short. Maybe around 165cm tall. Perfectly within the norm. Despite being athletic and having lived a life of strenuous exercise, she wasn''t stocky like short people tend to be when they build muscle. She wasn''t thin either. Far from it, actually. I followed her with my eyes, absorbing every detail I could catch. She reached the wall and touched the little circle on it, giving me a full gander at her back. And for free, no less! As an Archer, Pokora''s back muscles are especially developed. Specifically the ones required to pull the string of a bow and keep it knocked for long periods of time, and also the ones that allowed her to continuously shoot projectiles one after the other in a quick manner. The showers activated and water fell on the Elf. ¡°Haaa~!¡± she let out a long sigh. The water followed the shape of her body, and so did my eyes. From the top of her head, then her well developed shoulders, her delicious back, her waist, her hips, her ass, her thighs, her calves, and finally her feet. The Elf slowly but strongly started wiping the sweat off her body with the help of the water. Her hands explored her white skin, rubbing and scrubbing. The tip of her fingers had sharp nails that would better fit the description of claws, but not as extreme as Alyssa''s. I stored my clothes and joined her under the shower, standing next to her. Water, as the insolent little shit that it is, got in my eyes. What it didn''t plan was that I didn''t blink even when a small stream hit my eyeball directly. There were more important things in the world, after all. Looking at my girlfriend showering would be one of those, perhaps close to the top of priorities in the cosmos. A sentiment I''m sure all sentient life understands. Wars have been waged for less important things. The Elf brought her hands to her torso and wiped her modest chest, running her hands over her breasts, which pressed the pale nipples into her skin. I gently bit my lower lip and nodded. Extending an arm, I rested a hand on top of her head. ¡°Can I wash your hair?¡± I offered. Her dull silver eyes met mine, then squinted. A smile formed on her face. ¡°Sure, thanks,¡± she agreed with a nod. ¡°I''ll do yours later,¡± she added with a chuckle. I smiled back at her, feeling warmth inside. My hand lowered, caressing her cheek and holding her chin. Pokora''s eyes widened a little and her face turned red. I leaned into her. She closed her eyes. Our lips met in a gentle and soft kiss. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. She let out a short sigh and put a hand on my chest. I too, sighed then wrapped my arms around her. We enjoyed the little act of affection, then separated after a few seconds. Pokora''s face was red as a tomato, and a big smile split her lips. ¡°You make me so horny,¡± she whispered. I quietly laughed and ruffled her hair. ¡°Pokora, assassin of moods,¡± I joked and moved behind her. She laughed and sighed, but kept quiet. I looked for the soap and shampoo compartment, but there was none. ¡°Do you have shampoo?¡± I asked her while running my fingers through her hair. She nodded and produced a small bottle, then handed it over. I took it, poured some on my hands and returned the item, then got to wash her hair. While doing so, my mind wandered. Pokora was once an Earthling Human. A species of beings so utterly inferior in the grand scheme of things, they can''t help but self-destruct without the guidance of higher beings. As the lost lambs they are, there is no greatness to them regardless of intent and attempt. Without E''er, they are doomed to exist beneath the great existence that is life on Galeia. They are, however, to be commended for their so called ''indomitable spirit''. With great care, and taking my time, I massaged the Elf''s scalp to help her relax while cleaning her hair. However, Albert Camus, known for his contributions to post-modern philosophy, stated in his book The Stranger that Earthling Humans ascend from their animal ways when confronted with the awareness of death, finding themselves in a realm of consciousness unique to them, in which they encounter peers and develop a deeper identity of the self through this process. Similarly, Pokora ascended to an existence with objectively greater value after experiencing death. As a Galeian Elf, she is worth billions of Earthling Human lives. As such, when encountered with someone who also experienced death, I imagine she developed a deeper sense of self by becoming aware of, and accepting, death in a deeper realm of consciousness. The Elf let out a satisfied hum. I rinsed her hair and moved to cleaning her body. After a few minutes, she washed my hair and cleaned my body with a deeply flushed face. Once finished, I took her face with both hands and gave her a deep kiss. Pokora reciprocated, wrapping her arms around my waist and venturing into my mouth with her tongue. ¡°I want you, daddy,¡± she whispered. A cough came from the side. My eyes widened and I turned my head. Hanna was standing there with a towel around her hips. ¡°Apologies, Your Excellency,¡± she blurted out while covering her eyes. ¡°I didn''t want to interrupt, but things were clearly... escalating... I didn''t want to watch without permission.¡± ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± Pokora squeezed me and laughed into my chest. ¡°Fuck, this is embarrassing!¡± I sighed and looked at the ceiling. ¡°Ahem,¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Thanks for letting us know. I was too focused.¡± ¡°Not at all, Your Excellency,¡± the Ork said, walking towards a shower, lost the towel, and turned the mechanism on. ¡°Are there no more bathrooms?¡± Pokora inquired, a little frustrated and embarrassed. Hanna turned to us and smile while squinting her eyes. ¡°There is, but Bonte and Thelea got there first and are... busy as well. This is the only other one.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± the Elf uttered, then titled her head. ¡°Why didn''t you interrupt them, then? Why did you choose to interrupt Her Excellency Natasha?¡± she sarcastically inquired. Hanna''s eyebrows climbed her forehead, and her smile deepened. ¡°I tried, Pokh''Orra. They did not listen.¡± My girlfriend groaned and clicked her tongue. I chuckled and turned the shower off. ¡°Let''s go, Pokora,¡± I told the Elf. ¡°This bathroom isn''t ours, after all.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± she reluctantly agreed. ¡°I apologize,¡± Hanna repeated and gave us a deep nod. ¡°No probs,¡± I told her and produced towels, then wrapped Pokora in one, then wrapped myself. We dried off while Hanna showered, then got dressed and left the bathroom. After crossing the wall, a bedroom welcomed us. ¡°Hey, Natasha,¡± Pokora called to me. I turned to her. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Here,¡± she muttered and put a hand in her pocket. ¡°I got something for you.¡± I nodded and waited. Silly me. I should''ve seen it coming. The Elf extracted her hand from her pocket, whereupon she had her thumb and index fingers in the shape of a ring, while her other three fingers were stretched out. ¡°AAAARGH!¡± I shouted and fell to my knees, absolutely wrecked. ¡°Heh, gottem!¡± Pokora cruelly mocked me with a sneer and a snort. 165 - Pokora the Weeb I sighed while standing up. ¡°What manner of curse have you brought upon this land?¡± I demanded, holding back laughter. The Elf lifted her chin and glared at me. ¡°Memes, Natasha,¡± she replied with disdain, like what she was saying was obvious. Her eyebrows rose, her eyes widened and, while rising a hand and making a fist, she exclaimed, ¡°The DNA of the soul!¡± I closed my eyes and covered a smile that formed against my will with a hand. The laughter going up my throat prevented me from speaking, so I simply nodded while letting out a shaky hum. ¡°Huuu...¡± I let out a long breath to calm down, then looked at her. Pokora was smiling and her shoulders were shaking a little. The two of us burst into laughter at the same time, then bent in silly ways as joy made our bodies shake. ¡°Haaa...¡± Pokora sighed and relaxed her shoulders. ¡°I needed a laugh. Today''s been crazy.¡± I nodded and sighed through my nose .¡±I bet,¡± I muttered and walked to her, then gave her a hug. ¡°You did great. I can''t imagine how that felt.¡± Pokora returned the hug, stood on the tip of her toes, and took a deep sniff off my neck. ¡°Thank you. I don''t understand how any of this doesn''t bother you, Natasha. Danuva has, like, a million eyes all over her body, and the only thing on her face are eyes. No nose, no mouth. That''s some horror nightmare fuel. I can''t even describe Saravia...¡± I nodded while caressing the back of her head. ¡°It''s my mind,¡± I explained. ¡°Gods don''t seem strange to me, but their shapes were still a surprise at first. I''m just... built different.¡± The Elf chuckled. ¡°But you get me, right?¡± she asked in a quiet voice. ¡°I do,¡± I confirmed and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ¡°I''m not socially or emotionally retarded, Pokora,¡± I added with a laugh. She sighed and hung her head. ¡°You love that word, don''t you?¡± she accused me in a defeated tone. ¡°Retard this, retard that.¡± I shrugged. ¡°You have to admit it is pretty useful here and there,¡± I chuckled. ¡°To me, retard is about consciously being stupid. Like Yugulari and the Changelings. Stupidity that becomes malicious, or something like that. Maybe it''s maliciousness born of ignorance?¡± Pokora released me and took a step back. ¡°Whatever,¡± she sighed while shaking her head. ¡°It''s not the worst you do on the regular, anyway. I just don''t like it.¡± I nodded and pinched her cheeks. ¡°It''s completely fine if you disagree with the way I express myself, Pokora. I''ll care for you just the same as before, and you will benefit from my privilege just the same, and I will protect you just the same, and I will-¡± ¡°Alright!¡± the Elf sighed and put her hands over my mouth. ¡°You''re fucking evil, Natasha,¡± she told me while staring into my eyes with a suspicious face. I squinted my eyes at her, then hugged her and spun a few times. I put her down and gave her a tight hug. ¡°I know I''m a complicated bitch, Pokora,¡± I whispered into her ear. ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± she whispered back with a tiny chuckle. ¡°Just taking the piss.¡± ¡°Hoo?¡± I arched an eyebrow and raised my chin. ¡°Aight. Bet.¡± Pokora''s face turned confused. ¡°What? Bet what?¡± I turned around and produced my piano, then the stool. After opening the lid, I locked it and turned to the Elf while sitting down, then patted the spot next to me. ¡°Come sit,¡± I told her. The woman''s eyebrows rose, then her eyes squinted. ¡°I''d rather not. You''re going to make me cry,¡± she revealed having seen through my plan. I shook my head. ¡°I''ll play relaxing pieces,¡± I lied with a straight face, denying the wild claim. ¡°You said it was stressing to train under a Divine being, right?¡± I questioned with a smirk. ¡°I know a few anime openings and shit like that, too,¡± I added as bait. Pokora''s eyes twinkled with excitement. ¡°Can I make a few requests?¡± she inquired, having fallen in my trap. ¡°Sure,¡± I accepted, hiding an evil grin by turning around. ¡°If I know it, of course.¡± ¡°That''s class!¡± she gushed with a big smile and sat next to me. Heh! I laughed in my mind, but kept my face calm. I got us to a comfortable position, making sure my arms reached all the keys on the instrument. After a few adjustments, we were good to go. ¡°Alright, shoot,¡± I told her. ¡°Uh....¡± she uttered while thinking. ¡°That one where it''s like classical music but turns into that hip-hop song... I forgot the names.¡± My eyes rolled so hard I almost damaged my corneas. ¡°Why do people always go for that?¡± I wondered with a defeated sigh, then started playing Moonlight Sonata. Some twenty seconds after playing the piece, I slowly converted it into Still D.R.E. as requested, then reluctantly added for flavor, ¡°Guess who''s back!¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHA!!¡± Pokora bent over and supported herself on my arms. ¡°Yoooooo! HAHAHA! Amazing.¡± I sighed, not understanding what was so funny about it. ¡°Alright, what''s next?¡± She nodded while chuckling, then produced a notebook and opened it. The thing had pages full to the brim with words. From top to bottom, black ink covered the pages with very little empty space. Names of shows, music, characters, brands, memes, and more were written down in full detail. What is that? I wondered with raised eyebrows. Some meme codex? It''s all about Earth. Wow... The Elf flipped the pages for a few seconds. ¡°Let''s see,¡± she muttered and ran a finger over the lines. ¡°Shingeki no Kyojin, opening one theme,¡± she decided and turned to me. ¡°Do you know that one?¡± I gave her a confused look. ¡°Like, the full thing, or just the opening version?¡± I asked. ¡°The opening version,¡± she replied with a big, serious nod. I shook my head, sighed, and started playing. Pokora hummed along with a big smile, giggling every few seconds. After I finished, the woman checked the notebook again and requested another one. I played, biding my time for my evil plan to come to fruition. ¡°Why do you know all these anime songs?¡± the Elf inquired with curious eyes while I played Merry Go Round of Life. ¡°Dated weebs,¡± I simply replied with a shrug. ¡°I was never too big into anime, but read some comics so we had something to talk about when it came to that stuff.¡± ¡°Manga,¡± she corrected me. ¡°They''re called manga, Natasha.¡± ¡°They''re called fuck off,¡± I retorted with a scoff. ¡°Don''t be that weeb, Pokora. Comics, cartoons, manga, anime...¡± I shrugged to annoy her. ¡°Same shit.¡± ¡°Oh, come off it,¡± she sighed. ¡°A comic has different style. You should know this, right? You''re an artist. Get your shit sorted out.¡± ¡°I don''t really care what you call your cartoons, to be honest,¡± I shrugged it off with a chuckle. ¡°A sequence of images, drawn or not, that tell a story are called comics in the language we are using to communicate at the moment,¡± I pedantically pointed out with an annoying tone and smile. ¡°It doesn''t matter where they are from.¡± ¡°Not that your opinion matters, anyway,¡± Pokora boldly ignored my words. ¡°Now play Giorno''s theme.¡± I chuckled and played the thing. ¡°Did you watch anime often?¡± she asked while I played. ¡°I mean, you watched v-tubers so I assume you watched some.¡± ¡°I watched a few cartoons, yeah,¡± I replied while moving my hands over the keys. ¡°But I was more about the comics than the cartoons mostly because of the art style.¡± ¡°Fucking...¡± she whispered, then complained, ¡°At least call them anime.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I giggled at her annoyed face. ¡°Which ones did you watch?¡± she insisted. ¡°What''s your top 10?¡± My eyebrows went up and my eyes widened a little. ¡°Ten? I don''t know if I watched that many.¡± ¡°Are you having a fucking giggle?¡± she demanded, grabbing my shoulder. ¡°Ten is like, the introduction to anime. You can''t really enjoy the medium if you don''t watch at least 30 shows. Besides, you know the themes and songs...¡± ¡°Learning a piece to surprise a boyfriend doesn''t mean I watched the whole damn show,¡± I explained. ¡°I watched the ninja one. The one where this blonde kid screamed his friend''s name like every 3 episodes.¡± ¡°Naruto? Okay, that''s decent,¡± she approved with a nod. ¡°A bit mid, but one of the classics. Fits your age, too.¡± ¡°Was pretty meh,¡± I summarized my experience, deftly ignoring her comment about my age. ¡°Pretty good for little children, though. A friend made me watch it so I never really cared much about it.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± she hummed and nodded. ¡°What else did you watch?¡± ¡°Sailor Moon,¡± I recalled. ¡°That one was pretty fun.¡± ¡°Did you watch Madoka?¡± she asked with an intense look in her eyes. ¡°Nope,¡± I replied with a shake of my head. ¡°What''s that one about?¡± ¡°Argh!¡± she leaned back and groaned. ¡°That''s like, the quintessential show about magical girls and the hubris of being one. It bleeds Urobushi Gen''s influence out of every orifice. Studio Shaft''s distinct style goes hand in hand with the show, even reminding the audience of Hidamari Sketch, which brought forward such a delicious juxtaposition of themes since both shows touch the transition from swee, innocent childhood to the bitter weight of adulthood.¡± I nodded along, understanding how passionate things make us. I had no fucking clue what she was talking about, but her eyes told me it was important. ¡°That show could easily be pointed as a masterpiece that changed the medium,¡± she continued, balling a fist and raising it up in the air. ¡°Grrrr! I wish I was born before to experience it firsthand! The union of everything that made the show was the apex of the industry at the time, Natasha. And the voice acting, aaahnn~! Chiwa Saito was perfect for Homura. The way that woman made me cry, my God! I can''t even begin to explain it.¡± ¡°So... what was it about?¡± I asked again, a little interested in how she described it. ¡°I''m not going to spoil it,¡± she denied with an insane look in her eyes, as if I had spat on God. ¡°We can''t watch it,¡± I pointed out. ¡°It doesn''t exist on this planet, Pokora. You''re the only one alive that knows what happens in the show.¡± ¡°And?¡± she scoffed. ¡°I don''t have the story-telling skills to appropriately convey the events of the show.¡± I chuckled and shook my head. ¡°Alright, then,¡± I muttered and started playing Gymnop¨¦die No.1 by Erik Satie since Pokora hadn''t requested another song. The Elf let out a long sigh, then put her head on my shoulder while she ranted about anime. My fingers moved over the keys and I glanced at Pokora. She had a big smile and gave me a playful wink. I guess the plan has changed, I concluded. No reason to make her cry with sad music. 166 - Life on Galeia (Alyssa Pruvik) The world is so full of color. In the week we''ve spent with the Gods, I have undertaken the task of observing Life so I may reach a deeper understanding of this world and its inhabitants. I am not facing a bottleneck in regards to meditation... that''d be silly. On this chapter of Life on Galeia, we will be focusing on a beautiful individual of the Luzo species. From the earlier hours of morning to the last of night. What is this individual''s routine, diet, behavior? We will find out together!
The Luzo''da Kir, as they call themselves in their native language ¨C meaning ''Children of Dragons'' ¨C starts the day at around 7 in the morning, a while after dawn. Despite being a mammal, the Luzo finds difficulty when properly coming to her senses that early in the morning. She is sluggish, grumpy, groggy, lazy, slow, and whiny. Throwing complains to the person that wakes her up, she attempts to resist and go back to sleep. I believe the influence of reptiles is still strong on this beautiful species. Her voice, a pleasant contralto, communicates this dissatisfaction through whimpers and moans. I believe this to be a frightening weapon. Many times have I been tempted to let her oversleep, but have successfully resisted with every fiber of my being and managed to removed her from the evil clutches of the bed. As a highly social species, the Luzo seeks help from her mates to triumph this challenge in hopes that numbers will mean victory when facing the threat of The Waker. A call to battle is cast. Unfortunately, however, this call falls on deaf ears. Her mates see opportunity in waking up at early hours of the day. Arguments that have been said countless times are once again repeated in favor of waking up early. The Luzo complains, commenting on her ancestral features and that ''I should wake up when the suns are beyond the zenith''. An absurd claim, of course. Healthy sleeping habits do not include waking up past noon. That''s just being lazy. After that scene, the Luzo reluctantly has breakfast while grumpily muttering under her breath. A diet consisting of mainly fruits, meats, and vegetables point out the fact the Luzo are omnivores. This individual, however, has a soft spot for a more advanced form of the culinary arts. A slice of cake is offered to placate her temper, which turns out a success as usual. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Then comes the second hurdle of the day. Claiming the breakfast needs to be ''napped off'', the Luzo attempts to sneakily return to bed. Still sleepy for some reason, it appears this individual has forgotten the circumstances of the group''s stay at the Temple. When reminded that another being is waiting for her so the instruction may begin, the Luzo gains full clarity and becomes wildly embarrassed of her behavior. This, naturally, is absolutely adorable. Many smiles go around. Renewed with vigor, the Luzo willingly takes an early shower. Steaming hot water only. Her skin, mostly covered by dark scales, is carefully cleaned by the unforgivable criminal that woke her up. She wastes no opportunity to glare at the offender at first, but soon shifts to appreciative and grateful when the water has washed the lethargy away in full. An hour after waking up, the Luzo goes off to receive instruction. She is a member of a polytheistic civilization, and also a member of the Church that worships the deities that inhabits this beautiful world. This Church also worships one of the many Divine beings more than the others due to their role in society, granted by said God. As such, she goes into deep, silent contemplation. A short prayer is given before crossing the threshold to where the Deity resides ¨C and where she would receive instruction for the following hours. A momentous event in her life, many would agree.
Hours later, the individual leaves the Deity''s chambers for a short while in order to eat. The group gathers and a meal is made. Today is the Luzo''s turn to prepare it. With the help of yours truly, Natasha the Observer, cooking begins. Hunting as a main mean to acquire sustenance was replaced a long time ago in this world. Storage items keep food fresh for indefinite periods of time. The economy of hunter, merchant, and consumer has given great diversity to cuisine, as well. Independent gathering of ingredients is also greatly improved with storage items. The Luzo proposes a dish, and the ingredients are taken out. One of her mates contributes the necessary tools required for cooking. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes are prepared. Enough for nine people. The Dryads that brought us here need only sunbathe, according to their leader, so they''re not considered when preparing meals. Elena is with Danuva still. After an hour and twenty minutes, the nine of us enjoy the meal. The Luzo is content and satisfied with the positive reception, smiling widely at the praises and compliments. We part ways once again.
At night, the group gathers once again to have dinner. A varied salad is made and each of us retreat to our rooms. The Luzo is a member of a trinary species, therefore has a high libido. A mating call is cast in the way of coy whispers, playful coaxing, and naughty promises. Soon, the bedroom is full of the song of the night. Fornication aplenty until exhaustion. And the same would happen the following day. 167 - Killing Intent A week passed and my companions formed in front of Shorvanna early in the morning in the room we''ve used so far. The four had their spines as straight as rods. After seven full days of constantly fighting, they had grown accustomed to the Divine''s orders, which was reflected on their eyes in the form of a budding sense of familiarity and a slight loss of the mystery towards the Goddess. They still showed respect, worship, and all that comes with standing before a being that promotes the most brutal form of violence. Still, the gap of devotee and Deity had shrunk ever so slightly. As was routine, the four waited for Shorvanna to be the first to speak. ¡°You''ve failed,¡± the Goddess of the path of the Warrior announced without a shred of mercy. Her words were quick and strict, but carried no disappointment. It was as if she knew from the start the mortals would fail and was simply stating the fact, yet her voice carried no intent of blaming them for it. My companions'' faces showed confusion for a brief instant, then darkened for a second, only to return to confusion. ¡°You did not earn the right to fight Natasha,¡± Shorvanna clarified with the same matter-of-fact tone. I squinted my eyes at her in suspicion. ¡°Why?¡± I asked her from the side. The mortals gave me an appreciative glance. The Goddess visibly shook her head, turning to me. ¡°Because they didn''t follow my teachings,¡± she replied, then faced the mortals. ¡°I clearly told you to grab what you want with your own hands. Why didn''t you fight her?¡± she asked them and let the question linger for a good minute. I covered my face with a hand and started quietly chuckling. ¡°Today you''ll fight with your fists only,¡± Shorvanna declared. ¡°Pokh''Orra will face Bonte, and Hanna will face Thelea. Begin!¡± She shouted and walked towards me. My companions quickly turned to each other and engaged in combat. The Divine reached me and spoke, ¡°Come with me, young Halve.¡± I nodded and followed. We walked to the wall of the room. Shorvanna turned to me. ¡°You mentioned something happening during Lumin Kingdom''s Royal Banquet when you sensed a Demon''s scent.¡± I nodded, leaning on the wall. ¡°Yeah. It was this... odd thirst for violence. I managed to hold it back, but some people had heart failures while others... pissed and pooped their pants. Fortunately only those close to me got affected instead of the entire hall. That would''ve been... bad.¡± ¡°How many Demons did you kill in Hell?¡± she asked out of nowhere. ¡°Give me an estimate.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I don''t know? Like, a few billions?¡± I tentatively replied. ¡°Long scale... so... a few trillions in short scale. I was there a really long time, after all. I''m sure something birthed new corrupted Demons while I fought somewhere else.¡± ¡°Corrupted or not, life finds a way to propagate,¡± Shorvanna stated, then inquired, ¡°Did the fighting ever get easier?¡± ¡°Not once,¡± I confessed. ¡°I lose limbs or get extremely injured in every dream. They''re all fights to the death as far as I know.¡± ¡°You see, young Halve,¡± the Goddess began, closing in on me. ¡°All living creatures have the capacity to detect imminent threats to their lives. I''m sure you''re familiar with the concept of survival instincts.¡± I nodded. ¡°That which triumphs such an adversity finds itself able to communicate their killing intent to others,¡± she revealed. ¡°What you did during the Royal Banquet was that. You found a prey in an unexpected place ¨C prey that you think of as dangerous to life. This made you subconsciously demonstrate your intent to kill it as a warning. Unfortunately, those around you were unrelated and the truth of the matter was different when discovered.¡± ¡°That''d be correct,¡± I agreed. ¡°You can turn it into a weapon,¡± the Divine continued. ¡°The fight of flight response of others is within your grasp to activate at will. I can teach you how to control it so that accidents don''t happen again, too,¡± she offered, then added, ¡°Make no mistake, young Halve. You will come to control it on your own, but it will take time.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. My eyebrows joined in confusion, and I asked, ¡°Isn''t that what Intimidate Prey does?¡± ¡°No,¡± she simply denied. ¡°Intimidate Prey forces beings slightly more powerful than you to fight, and those substantially more powerful than you will only be made to be cautious. What about those that are far weaker? Their only option is to fight you to the death if you activate that skill.¡± I hummed in understanding with a smile. ¡°I too, can read!¡± ¡°I don''t like that skill,¡± the Goddess reiterated her disapproval while ignoring my retort. ¡°That conditional is... beneath you. It should make everything fight you to the death regardless of power. On that point I ask, how do you make those weaker than you run away? You''d have to depend on their judgment, which can be flawed.¡± I brought a hand to my face and nibbled on a knuckle. ¡°That makes sense,¡± I agreed. ¡°So this killing intent thing would make anyone run away?¡± ¡°Not just run away,¡± Shorvanna replied. ¡°People had heart failures at the Royal Banquet, correct?¡± I nodded. ¡°Unfortunately.¡± ¡°You can kill weak people with it,¡± she told me in a flat tone. ¡°As things stand, you are the strongest Warrior on the planet when considering that wish of yours. That tells us many things, Natasha. I am not happy with most, but that''s not what matters at the moment. If you learn to control your killing intent, you can perform your duty with greater efficiency.¡± I squinted my eyes at her. ¡°Is killing intent something all Warriors know?¡± ¡°Young Halve,¡± Shorvanna sighed. ¡°Barely anyone knows how to control or develop this. The individual would be required to risk their life in deadly combat. Of your companions, the Elmari Elf has an idea of it, but it''s entirely too vague to do anything with it. I doubt you''d be inclined to risk her life, so that''d be that.¡± ¡°How risky?¡± I asked for clarification. ¡°Higher chances of dying than succeeding,¡± she specified. ¡°A party of individuals will never develop this because their lives are not at absolute stake. Danger does not mean Survival, young Halve. Your partner would need to fight a hundred Wild Dragons at around level 1200 and come out alive to awaken this.¡± ¡°That much?¡± I probed with raised eyebrows. ¡°So people have gotten too comfortable when facing dangers?¡± ¡°You''re thinking it wrong, young Halve,¡± Shorvanna chuckled. ¡°It''s not that mortals have gotten comfortable, but your existence has prevented them from developing the skills that come from facing insurmountable threats. The great majority, and we''re talking about 99.9%, will face beings of equal power with a group of people. That is the most efficient way to grow in power while minimizing the chances of dying. The odd ones out will face stronger foes while alone, which is not really a smart choice for a mortal. They''re not made for it, after all.¡± ¡°So... the chances of someone knowing this killing-intent-thing are pretty low?¡± I summarized to make sure I got it right. ¡°Yes.¡± She nodded. I hummed and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°But skills that try to copy this exist, right? Like tanks that force monsters into focusing on them? Like Yolin and Thelea, for example.¡± ¡°Those skills are limited in their effect,¡± Shorvanna corroborated my suspicion. ¡°The skills those two have won''t work on you, for example.¡± ¡°Because of the gap in power,¡± I concluded with a slow nod. ¡°Among other things,¡± the Goddess confirmed. ¡°Some beings are in a perpetual state of intense aggression, which makes them impossible to control through skills of that nature. The way your mind works makes you a difficult one to influence, too. That, and you have outstanding control of your outbursts. Hell raised your threshold as well.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Are you praising me?¡± I chuckled. ¡°In a way,¡± she laughed. ¡°You are an incredibly dangerous individual, Natasha. I respect that.¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°What do you mean dangerous?¡± ¡°You are capable of overwhelming violence to the point of being a threat to most life on Galeia,¡± she pointed out. ¡°That makes you a good person.¡± I tilted my head in slight confusion. ¡°I don''t think I''m quite catching the leap in logic here, Shorvanna. How is being dangerous translate into being a good person?¡± ¡°The basic state of existence is chaotic,¡± the Goddess of the path of the Warrior began. ¡°For order to exist, strong individuals are required. The greater the chaos, the stronger the individual needs to be. Being dangerous is crucial for survival. Having the capacity for violence, whether verbal of physical, makes you dangerous. Verbal violence brings ideological unity through conversion of belief. Physical violence places limits on agreed upon societal behaviors, including how far ideologies can go. Cruelty, however, is not strength. The strong must be disciplined to avoid cruelty. You, Natasha, must overwhelm verbal and physical violence so that nature and civilization can coexist. You are not the only one who manages this, so if you become cruel then other Halves will remove you. Having heard the recollection of your life so far tells me you do not find bliss in killing, nor kill for petty reasons. People have slighted you, yet remain alive. You are capable of incredible violence and choose not to resort to it at every turn. That makes you a good person.¡± ¡°But that''s because Galeia influences it,¡± I argued. ¡°Right? Like... those little impulses are held back because of it.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Shorvanna denied my claim. ¡°Tradition, culture, and nature allow you to kill any who offend you... up to a certain extent. You said it yourself, young Halve: If the ruler of Lumin Kingdom tricked you, then beheading him and displaying his corpse for all to see is the right path to correct this hypothetical slight against you. If, say, someone insults you, then they are insulting the fact Halves exist to protect the species of the world, in turn insulting everyone alive who benefit from that. You''d have the right to remove such a person from the realm of the living because it''s cruel verbal violence. Now, being weak is not good. Being incapable of violence is not the same as choosing not to resort to violence. The peaceful are not harmless, therefore have higher value.¡± ¡°I have a feeling I''ve heard something like this before,¡± I muttered while squinting my eyes at the Goddess. ¡°I understand better now, Shorvanna. Thanks for explaining.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Shorvanna uttered. ¡°Let''s begin with controlling your killing intent, then.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I agreed with a nod, then stretched my back. ¡°Let''s get it!¡± 168 - Anger II: Origin (CONTENT WARNING) The Divine held out a hand for me to grab. I looked at the limb, then back at her head. ¡°Is this going to be more personal than I thought?¡± I inquired with a fair amount of concern. ¡°Do not fight it,¡± she whispered. ¡°I will guide you.¡± I took a deep breath, then let out a long sigh. ¡°Fuck it,¡± I muttered while shaking my head, then grabbed her hand. Progress comes from leaving the comfort zone, after all. The gauntlet in my hand twisted with the soft sound of sand on skin, opened up, and slowly engulfed my fingers, covering them like a piece of armor would. The fit was tight but comfortable, tickled my skin like hot sand during summer, and brought an unnatural sense of familiarity to my mind. Shorvanna''s arm wrapped my own while she closed into me slowly. The Goddess offered her other limb. I bit my lips and hugged her body. ¡°Come on, Shorvanna. Don''t be shy,¡± I tried deflecting my slight alarm with humor. While I wasn''t one to shame other people''s kinks, vore was a bit much this early in the relationship. The scalding touch of the Goddess enveloped my body, covering every centimeter with her own. My nose was assaulted by the thick, heavy, and warm smell of blood coming from the Divine, making me wince a little. The movement stopped once Shorvanna was completely around me. In other words, I was inside a Goddess in all meanings possible. I chuckled at how profane and blasphemous my thoughts were. ¡°You''re a bit tight,¡± I threw a dirty joke, moving my hips in suggestive circles. Despite the constricted accommodation, the Goddess was surprisingly flexible. She was more comfortable than my Starforged Eternium armor to the point of feeling I belonged inside her. I moved my arms and she felt like an extension of my body rather than a separate being. The helmet had two slits that let me see with surprising ease. I used to roam the world like this, attached to a Halve, Shorvanna spoke into my mind. We bore witness to wars, conquest, and all manner of beautiful conflict. I hummed. ¡°Did a male Halve ever wear you?¡± I probed with curiosity. Thousands, she replied. ¡°That''s my cousin, keke!¡± I snickered with a cheeky smirk. Focus, Shorvanna chastised me, then covered my eyes. I sat down on the ground and crossed my legs, then placed my hands on my knees. I took a deep breath and let it out. The airflow echoed inside the Goddess, giving me a slight sense of claustrophobia. I am not your enemy, she whispered. Clear your mind, Natasha. I closed my eyes and relaxed. Shhhh... Embrace your anger and release it, the Goddess guided me. Have you ever hated anyone to the point of being willing to murder them? A few memories came to mind. The feeling of burning hatred felt distant, as if it belonged to someone else instead. I have, I admitted. Tell me about it, Shorvanna whispered into my mind. Show me. I dove into my memories, oddly unobstructed by that weird thing that prevents people from recognizing the origin of emotions. Even though I knew why I had so much anger inside, it was incredibly difficult to connect the dots that help untangle the mess that brings recurrent outbursts of uncontrollable anger... when I was a Human. Now, unburdened by emotional attachment, the picture was much cleared while at the same time feeling unnaturally distant. Rationally, I knew those emotions were mine. Reason, however, has very little influence when dealing with emotions. I let go and showed the Goddess.
The year was 2020. The cold December weather bit into the bones and slightly numbed the fingers and toes. I was waiting inside a coffee shop in Saint Petersburg, taking refuge from the freezing weather that covered the streets with snow. My hands tightly clasped a tall cup of tea that assisted me in the fight against the cold. Still, the freshly served beverage felt no different from the white wonderland outside the shop when compared to the burning anger inside me. My feelings were a mess. Stress had completely fucked me up the last few days. An anxiety I had never felt before had driven my mind to extreme ideas that would inevitably destroy my life if I followed the impulses. I feared for myself, for my father, and for my brother. If I were to follow through with these intrusive thoughts brought to be by scorching rage, those around me would lose more than what we would gain. It was not worth it. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Still, I had nearly succumbed to the temptation of such seductive outcomes many times. The very idea of it was attractive beyond reason. My heart pumped loudly every time I so much as ventured in that direction of possible futures. Every time the idea surfaced on my mind, however, indescribable fear and guilt filled my heart. As much as it was tempting, it was equally wrong. A few drops of sweat rolled down my temple, making me feel a bit feverish. With the guilt, my mind wandered and anxiety surfaced, forcing my hand to subconsciously reach for my coat''s left pocket, where I stored a pack of cigarettes. Nicotine promised the same amount of release, but cheaper and quicker. I felt weak when confronted with reality, which only made me angrier. Careful not to crush the precious drug I was cripplingly addicted to, I released the cigarettes and moved my hand back to the cup. This cycle repeated more times than I can remember. The door to the coffee shop suddenly opened, and a freezing gust of wind went inside the store and interrupted my irrational thoughts. A woman of around forty years of age looked over at the patrons inside the shop. Her hair was a golden blonde, her eyes were green, and her skin was white. The woman''s brows were bent in worry, uncertainty, and a drop of hope. Her eyes betrayed a regret I despised with all my being. Her mouth was pursed in hesitation. A waiter welcomed the woman and asked something. The woman''s eyes met mine, and her expression turned grim. She said something to the waiter and excused herself, then walked towards me. After ten full years, the monster that had birthed me was finally in front of me. The fire in me roared, burning brighter and hotter. I clasped the cup tighter to avoid ruining both our lives. My eyes squinted and my frown accentuated. It was not worth it. ¡°Natashenka,¡± the woman called to me in an unsure whisper while anxiously wringing her gloved hands. She smiled and placed a hand on the seat across mine, then tentatively asked, ¡°May I sit?¡± My face soured at the insolence of the woman. ¡°Don''t act like we''re close,¡± I warned her, then gestured for her to take a seat. Her expression turned pained, but the woman decided to sit down. She removed her gloves and sighed. ¡°I can''t believe this weather,¡± she nervously chuckled. ¡°You''ve lived in Saint Petersburg two years now? You''re amazing... Natasha. I don''t know if I would''ve held on this long! It''s in the negatives!¡± ¡°Go fuck yourself,¡± I uttered. ¡°You don''t have what it takes to hold on regardless of circumstance. We both know that.¡± The woman closed her eyes and sighed. ¡°I wanted to meet you because I have something to say,¡± she blurted out with difficulty, then looked me in the eye. I nodded. She took a deep breath, then said, ¡°I''m sorry, Natasha.¡± I scoffed, then chuckled. ¡°I don''t need you to apologize. I needed you to be better,¡± I retorted. ¡°But you weren''t. You''re a waste of human skin, bitch.¡± Her eyes tightened and moistened. ¡°I understand if you''re angry,¡± she whispered with a tight smile. My eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°Angry?¡± I repeated with a chuckle. ¡°I came here with the intent of murdering you,¡± I confessed, then huffed, ¡°But I don''t have it in me.¡± The woman''s chin trembled and a tear rolled down her cheek. ¡°I''m sorry,¡± she quietly sobbed. I released the cup and balled my fists. If I didn''t have it in me to kill my own mother, then all I could do was to make her do it herself. A painful, uncomfortable cold spread in my chest. ¡°There''s one thing you can do to redeem yourself,¡± I told her through gritted teeth. Her eyes shot open and she leaned forward on the table. ¡°Anything!¡± she exclaimed with the intent to fix all the harm she did. Hope shone in her eyes, and her lips curved in a smile. ¡°Commit suicide,¡± I told her the worst thing a daughter can tell a mother. Nausea struck me and I got a bit dizzy, but continued nonetheless, ¡°Kill yourself and all will be good. I can''t live in peace until I know you''re dead. My dad can''t. My brother can''t. Everything you have done and everyone you have loved will finally rest after your death. You aren''t worth the crime... so do it yourself.¡± A waitress came up to us and put a menu in front of the woman I wanted dead. She said something and waited. ¡°A latte,¡± the worst filth in the world deadpanned. The waitress nodded and walked away with the menu. I leaned forward and kept going. I had to strike while the metal was hot. ¡°Do it quietly, and make sure nobody finds you. You can go to the bay, overdose on painkillers, then jump in the water. Make sure the current takes your corpse under the ice so you at least don''t bother others. You won''t feel the cold if you take the right amount, so it won''t be the worst way to go. You won''t even know you''re drowning, too. It''s perfect for a piece of shit like you.¡± She looked me in the eye with an extremely pained expression. ¡°...Why?¡± ¡°Dad told me,¡± I revealed with disgust. ¡°You raped him, and out I came. Your life is worthless, so hurry up and end it.¡±
Shorvanna was silent for a few seconds. Natasha... she whispered. Think of all that you have survived. All the times your strength and anger has saved you. Accept what you have always known. Think of all the lives you have taken. That moment when you kill and the light leaves their eyes. Concentrate on that instant and replay it. Manifest your intent to kill. I followed her suggestion. All the Demons I''ve killed in my dreams, the bandits, Nerissa, and Zalan showed up in my mind''s eye. Something stirred within me. A primal feeling that felt quite similar to my instincts as a Halve. Remember how you felt that night in Mountroad, the Goddess suggested. The desire to end the world if it turns against you. I recalled the wrathful voice that promised to dry the seas, drown the world in blood, split the continents, butcher the Gods, bring down the moons, and annihilate all life on Galeia. Galeia does not need it if it does not obey. Make a weapon of it so Galeia never finds you wanting, or a threat. I focused on them and extented a metaphorical hand. The willingness to end life at the slightest disobedience was incredibly solid and hot. My anger felt like hot smoke: malleable, shapeless, and burning. The concentrated moment of taking a life was cold, sharp, and shorter than an instant. Good job, Shorvanna praised me, probably looking into my mind. Let''s stop for today. The amount of progress is satisfactory. We''ll continue tomorrow. Alright, I agreed with a long sigh. I need a hug, anyway. That you do, young Halve, the Goddess agreed. Life wasn''t exactly kind to you, was it? Nope, I confirmed. It is what it is. Out of Journal - Reaction The city of Pizh''kh sat on top of a very tall and suspiciously flat plateau. As Uuruhk''s first city, the country was named after the land it was built on. On that city, inside a large palace, behind a beautifully carved desk, sat Uuruhk''s Great Regent, Zhikh''On Thezhun. The woman would turn 3500 years old in a few months, yet her face was youthful and unblemished. She was deep in thought, resting her elbows on the desk and her chin on her hands. As Uuruhk''s Great Regent, Zhikh''On had the sole duty and obligation to oversee the nation while her nephew grew old enough to inherit the crown. She was also tasked with nurturing him into a respectable and accepted monarch. Not doing so would catch the attention of Halves, the group that supervised the governments of the world and made sure everything ran smoothly within the margins of their absolute edicts. The circumstances surrounding the Great Regent were not the kind to be celebrated. Ruling a nation was never on her to-do list. She had to, unfortunately. Uuruhk''s previous rulers, Queen Rikh''Las and King Mid''Zhin passed away of old age ninety years ago. The couple were a bit obsessed with control. Of all the children they had together, none stayed after becoming adults. The parents were incredibly problematic. Zhikh''On sighed, remembering how deranged and hysteric they got when the smallest of details wasn''t how they wanted it to be. Like that one time she placed an extra flower in the bouquet meant for His Excellency Miraztor last time he visited. The pair went feral with rage and indignation, spending an entire day to find the culprit. Still, a smile twisted her lips ever so slightly. Within their obsession of having everything under absolute control with the intention of making everything work like a clock, they managed to uplift the entire country; from the most hidden of villages to the most successful of businesses. Zhikh''On glanced at a calendar on the desk. Fel''Leron, her nephew, would turn a century old in three months, meaning he''d be of age to inherit the throne, putting an end to Zhikh''On''s duties. A sigh escaped her again. None of that was what had her deep in thought, though. Those were distractions. The main issue was of much more importance. An Elmari Elf had joined Her Excellency Natasha Novak''s party. A young one, at that. Zhikh''On''s eyes fell on the sheet of paper in front of her, then read the information for the fourth time. Pokh''Orra Pez''Che, a retired Platoon Commander who served the Organized Preventive Armed Forces of Uuruhk for twenty five years. Born to a commoner family in Pizh''kh, the woman became an outstanding Archer in a short time. She also was the one responsible for defending the trading settlement of Bokh''Ila at the border of Arakh''Ozh a little less than a decade ago. The Generals had thought she''d shoot right through the ranks and bring great achievements to the country, only to be disappointed when the young woman brought a resignation letter instead. A young Elf who, most likely, had seen a fault in the system if she left that early in her career. Such an individual had joined a Halve. Zhikh''On felt like vomiting blood. What manner of tales would this young, disenfranchised Elf tell Her Excellency? What would such a young and disappointed individual have to say of her homeland? What of the Royal Family? What did Pokh''Orra''s parents tell her about Queen Rikh''Las and King Mid''Zhin? What could Zhikh''On even do about it? Pokh''Orra would one day come back to Pizh''kh expecting to see her family in one piece, everything exactly where she left it. She''d have the most violent individual to grace this planet behind her, if King Gordon Igne Lumin''s letter about what happened was true. The Halve had killed, without hesitation or compassion, a member of an organization that tried to overthrow the government. The individual, a Changeling by the name of Zalan, was in charge of finances and trading within the organization. To kill such a small fry herself. Her Excellency might be a very vindictive person, extremely demanding of the order Halves expect of the world... perhaps even more than Her Excellency Yulianna. ¡°Tsk!¡± Zhikh''On clicked her tongue and ground her teeth. ¡°We women should help each other, not make each other''s lives more difficult!¡± she complained in the empty room, then sighed, ¡°I beg of you Pokh''Orra, young child... don''t talk bad of the country that raised you!¡± A knock on the door caught her attention. ¡°Servant Plikh''Os has arrived as instructed, Great Regent,¡± a voice announced. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Zhikh''On smiled. She had a plan that would hopefully work in her favor.
The city of Maarkhan sat on a bay to the east of Leks. The many ports and docks surrounding the ocean were busy as usual with hundreds of people going to and fro while carrying, pushing, pulling, or holding cargo of any kind. Inside a tall tower that also served as a lighthouse, on the fourth story, Lofrada Tilensis III, Queen of the ancient Queendom of Maaruhk, watched over the spectacle that signified healthy and abundant commerce with a pensive expression. Every time a boat sounded the horn that signaled its departure, Lofrada would smile proudly and raise her chin ever so slightly for a few seconds. Footsteps echoed in the distance beyond the doors of the room she stood, breaking her concentration. Lofrada turned around, walked to an intricately decorated throne, and sat down with the appropriate posture of a woman who ruled a three million year old nation. A couple of Royal Guards stood at the sides of the exquisite chair, waiting for anything to happen with the hope nothing would. The doors to the throne room opened and a young teenage Elf girl brazenly walked in with her chin raised and a slightly smug expression on her face. Lofrada''s great granddaughter stood before her. ¡°Grandma,¡± the girl greeted with a fancy bow. ¡°I have received some good news,¡± she revealed with an inviting grin, implying the news were fresh out the press. Lofrada held back the urge to sigh. Having ruled for over two thousand years, no news would go past her. Nevertheless, she chose to indulge the kid, taking the chance to teach her about politics and proper decorum. Lofrada nodded. ¡°Need I remind you how to address your Queen?¡± she chastised with pursed lips. The teenager actually rolled her eyes at the remark, but corrected herself, ¡°Your Majesty. Anyway, I heard something and I thought I''d share some ideas with you.¡± Zafrada gave her a mysterious look. Lofrada''s face did not change in the slightest. ¡°Do you remember Lapia Pofeta?¡± Zafrada inquired the Queen that gave the mentioned woman a task given to a very select few. ¡°She''s a noble and is the one that taught Desseyr,¡± she summarized quickly to refresh Lofrada''s memory. Lofrada''s left eye twitched. ¡°Do not speak of a Protector by name alone, child,¡± she chastised again, heavier this time. Zafrada sighed loudly. ¡°Alright, got it. Anyway, this Lapia is now accompanying Na- Her Excellency Natasha. I was thinking we could approach Lapia''s family to get on their good side and have them cooperate with us, then get Lapia''s support and in turn, Her Excellency Natasha''s.¡± Lofrada''s eyes widened, and her mouth opened. As the Queen of the nation, Zafrada''s words had never crossed her mind. She was in a state of utter stupefaction. ¡°Heh,¡± Zafrada snickered at the reaction. ¡°I bet you didn''t see it like that. So, what do you think?¡± The two thousand year old ruler blinked a few times. ¡°What?¡± she asked for clarification, forgetting her position and the protocol she had followed her entire life. ¡°You see,¡± Zafraga continued. ¡°If they don''t comply, we could put a little pressure-¡± A hand moved at twenty kilometers an hour, then hit the child right on the face. Her frail and young body spun in the air five times, then hit the floor like a sack of potatoes. ¡°Heal her,¡± Lofrada commanded in a cold tone. A Royal Guard extended a hand and sent Life Energy into the child. Zofrada regained consciousness a few seconds later, taking a long and loud gasp of air. ¡°Wha?¡± she uttered in confusion while sitting up. ¡°Where am I?¡± ¡°Zofrada Tilensis XVI,¡± Lofrada began with a loud voice. ¡°What you have uttered in this hall is no different from conspiring to harm a Protector, using Nobility as a weapon and shield for Royalty, malicious coaxing of the common populace since Lapia Pofeta abandoned her status as Noble, and risking the Country that raised you.¡± Lofrada hadn''t thought of such a plan before because it was beyond silly. The only outcome was death, followed by the dissolution of the country. The teenager stood up and looked at the Queen, then whispered, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You should know better,¡± Lofrada chastised. ¡°And if you don''t know, then you do not speak! Forget about going to Lam''Akh next winter. You will get lessons in common sense directly from me.¡± Zafrada''s face paled, then turned red in anger. ¡°Why did you strike me?¡± she demanded. Lofrada''s face twisted in disapproval. ¡°It''s either that or execution, and I will choose for you because you''re a fool!¡± she declared. ¡°Your plotting reveals you an imbecile, Zafrada. Better to be slapped by me than decapitated by Her Excellency.¡± Silence met her words. Lofrada let out a disappointed sigh for the first time in three centuries. Lofrada did not know who Zafrada had told her moronic plans, therefore had to take precautions in case anyone had the intention of realizing such stupid ideas. ¡°Summon the Fingerless!¡± she commanded, then sat down. ¡°And you,¡± she pointed at Zafrada, ¡°leave my presence this instant.¡±
The town by the name of Youni deep within the mountains of Red Island was calm as usual. Birds flew by, people walked the streets, and a Performer sang in a plaza while playing drums. Bosin Makav was taking an afternoon stroll after training when a couple of Red Oni approached her. The three exchanged looks. Bosin noticed the rings the two had on their horns, then nodded. ¡°Just in case?¡± she inquired. The two young Oni nodded. ¡°Apologies if it offends,¡± they said at the same time. ¡°Bureaucracy,¡± Bosin concluded with a smile. ¡°Come on, Josin is cooking today. You don''t want to miss that,¡± she told them and continued with her stroll. Just like that, the two members of the Committee for State Security followed the retired member of the Committee home. 169 - Routine ¡°Power and strength are different when it comes to combat,¡± Yolin explained while sitting on a small hill outside the temple. ¡°What you want is power to deliver more kinetic energy. Lifting weights will give you strength instead, while also making you bigger. Being bigger, however, does not necessarily make you stronger or more powerful. On that note, being bigger will make you heavier, thus require more energy to move and strike... but that doesn''t really matter past level 100. What matter is density over everything else since what you want is power in short bursts like punching, kicking, stabbing, swiping, and more. You achieve this with mechanical tension, metabolic stress, and muscle damage. There are many ways to go about them, and each help tremendously when incorporated to the leveling process because, while you get stronger, you might want to get bigger as well, or might want to avoid growing too big. Knowing what you want and how to achieve it is super important so you can be comfortable with how you look and feel.¡± I, who was lying on the ground looking at the clouds high in the sky, nodded. ¡°Hmm...¡± ¡°Tendon strength is perhaps the most important thing to consider before gaining muscular power,¡± the Oni continued. ¡°You should make absolutely sure your body can sustain the stress you will put it through, otherwise you''ll hurt yourself every time you exert any amount of force. Tendon strength also helps you avoid getting too big while also gaining considerable strength. Grip strength is super important, too. The point that connects your body to your weapon is your grip, and therefore needs to be extremely secure while also being flexible to avoid injury if the strike meets unexpected resistance. Your hand-stand push-ups are good for that, especially the ones where you support your body weight on your fingertips.¡± That cloud looks like a penguin... I noticed, looking at a fat cloud in the distance. ¡°I see...¡± ¡°Balance is as important as tendon strength when it comes to movement in the battlefield and the handling of your weapon. Your spear weighs around a thousand kilograms, but you don''t get thrown off when you swing it... which goes to show how important balance is.¡±
¡°If we want to calculate limits, we first need to learn the formal definition of a limit,¡± Lapia explained while we sat on a table inside the temple''s many rooms. ¡°Let f(x) be a function defined on the interval that contains...¡± I stared into the Elf''s eyes, trying my best to understand the words that came out of her mouth for a good five minutes. ¡°If you look at this,¡± the Wizard produced a sheet of paper. It had a moderately complex equation on it. ¡°You''ll know how to solve this with these easy steps,¡± she continued, writing on the paper. ¡°If the limit is x approaching infinity of 1999 times the cosinis of 2012 over x. You''ll see that as x approaches infinity, 2012 over x approaches zero. Now, 1999 times the cosinis of zero, since we already established that just now...¡± she made a gesture for me to finish. ¡°I have no idea,¡± I replied, looking her dead in the eye and doing my best not to snap. ¡°That''s okay,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Remember that the cosinis of zero equals one, therefore 1999 times one is...¡± she did the gesture again, opening her palm and waving her hand. ¡°1999,¡± I sighed. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Perfect,¡± Lapia praised with a big smile, then mercilessly uttered, ¡°Now let''s do it with rational functions over rational functions.¡± I bit my lips and nodded. ¡°Yay...¡± I deadpanned.
¡°Today we''ll review Healing,¡± Alyssa revealed, sitting where Lapia did. I nodded, ready to get my eyes opened once again. ¡°There are four main types of healing people. Codal, Chronal, Bondal, and Natural. Codal refers to healing that takes the coding of the person as a basis and objective, meaning that the patient will be healed back to how they are supposed to be according to the data inside the cells. This type of healing is used when helping the patient recover lost limbs, organs, and things they cannot recover naturally. The skill requires a formula that reads and reacts to the code of the individual, making it one of the most complex forms of healing. After Codal healing, it is imperative to follow up with Chronal healing, which means returning the individual to the state they were at before the injury. A person stores this information in three different ways: the mind, the soul, and the body. The three do the same job and how the healer approaches it will depend on their preferred way of dealing with Chronal healing.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered, intrigued by the subject. ¡°Chronal healing after Codal healing is important because our bodies change in the course of our lives, meaning they''re not exactly the way the code expects them to. For example, if Yolin is split in half and I heal her with just Codal healing, her lower half will be slimmer since she exercises to gain mass.¡± ¡°Ahh... I see,¡± I whispered with a nod. ¡°Now, Bondal healing is, as the name implies, healing an individual''s idea generated through the Bond. This means that I can heal Yolin through this idea I have formed of her in my mind thanks to the Bond, which cuts both time and resources when compared to Codal and Chronal. The nature of this form of healing is very intimate and requires...¡± she went quiet and her face turned a deep shade of purple. ¡°Cuddles?¡± I probed. ¡°Like what Lapia said back in Riverfield?¡± ¡°Yes, cuddles,¡± Alyssa agreed with a smile. ¡°Just like that. I would need to be close to the person I am healing in order to form this idea. Bondal healing takes the best of Codal and Chronal, but has the drawback of needing to really know the person. That is what I used on us, while I use Codal and Chronal on everyone else.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°I''m amazed by that brain of yours,¡± I chuckled. ¡°I''m struggling with infinite limits or whatever the name is.¡± ¡°I spent three decades studying this,¡± the Luzo pointed out with a smile. ¡°I would be beyond shocked if you could do this in less than a year. Like, out of my literal mind.¡± I smiled and asked, ¡°What about natural?¡± ¡°Yolin uses Natural healing, which is aiding the body''s natural regeneration. She can''t heal lost limbs or organs, like when I had to heal her eye back in Mountroad. She''s able to heal surface wounds and things that would take time but in a short span, like a few minutes.¡± ¡°I see...¡± I muttered. ¡°So why do you need to study people''s anatomies if you can just read their code and heal them?¡± I inquried. ¡°Well, you need to learn how to apply the reading portion of a healing skill on each species. Elves are different from Oni, and they are different from Luzo, and they from Tigea, so on and so forth. Every species has their unique sequence of data that requires a specialized form of reading them.¡± I smiled. ¡°So you''re galaxy brain?¡± My girlfriend laughed.
Days passed like that. If we weren''t training with the Gods, my girlfriends were teaching me different things. There was no rest other than sleep. I grew smarter by the day, which is always a good thing... so that''s that. 170 - Proper meeting! Time moved on and five weeks passed. I made good progress, but that''s not the most important thing. What was important, then? Well, Elena ''returned''... which broke the routine we had grown familiar with.
I was meditating while wearing Shorvanna early in the morning. The fog surrounding the temple was particularly chilly, but not unreasonably so. Tiny droplets lazily moving down blades of grass meant the temperature hadn''t gone near the negatives yet. Wildlife was harder to spot, and the few still around were either above level 200 or not the kind that hibernates... but I''m not an expert in Galeian fauna. Despite wearing a Divine being, the weather felt the same as if I was naked. That would have been a problem if the chill weather could do anything to me, and judging by the fact the thick fog started going up into the sky at around three meters from where I sat, it was safe to say my body heat would keep me safe. My mind was focused on E''er. Smaller than a subatomic particle, there was no way I could actually perceive it with any of my five senses. As such, my Halve senses entered the stage. After six weeks I could grasp E''er in its various states of existence. It was pretty simple, actually. E''er in living beings, E''er given purpose, and ambient E''er. The differences between E''er that formed a fireball and E''er that was manipulated into Life Energy to heal a wound were not noticeable enough to justify a separate system of classification, but were noticeable enough to the point where I could tell what would happen. After that came E''er manipulation, meaning... casting a magic spell. A Warrior such as myself, however, has no real need to cast a spell. Not the way Lapia does, at least. With that in mind, Shorvanna and I came to the conclusion that Conjuration was what I needed to approach first since the skills I wanted for my next class would require me to get closely acquainted with that school of E''er manipulation. The goal was to conjure a spear with E''er. Silly little me, who has a very basic understanding of the sciences, thought it would be easy. If not for dreaming of Hell, the formulas would chase me in the most horrible of nightmares. The spear in question would need to be as dense and hard as the Alma Pike, which I was yet to check out in terms of hardness and density. All was not lost, fortunately. I am, after all, an artist, therefore imagination is one my biggest strengths. Focus, Shorvanna lightly scolded me. I returned to the task at hand and visualized the spear I wanted to make. The traditional way to go about it was to imagine the formula and go at it step by step, to obey the order that exists in tradition and respect the process, to do it safely and without room to fail. Then again... what is life without a little bit of rebellion? As an artist that was closely acquainted with technology, the easiest way for me to envision a three-dimensional object with the explicit intent of recreating it in reality through magical means was for me to think of it as the 3D sculpting program I used for work. I retrieved the Mythical spear that would serve as model and held it tightly with both hands at shoulder level. Applying force, I tried bending the weapon to check the material and how much strength would be required to actually do it, which would hopefully tell me how hard the thing was. Ussing 100 Strength on my shoulders, back, and arms, I slowly rotated my wrists. The material didn''t budge, naturally. In the spirit of not wanting to suddenly snap the best weapon I had, I increased the Strength used by 100 point for each attempt that followed. When I reached 4100 Strength the spear gave in a tiny bit, so I stopped. Alright, I thought, focusing back on E''er. A spear that needs 4100 Strength to bend a little bit, weighs a thousand kilograms, is three meters long and five centimeters in diameter. I squinted my eyes, raised my eyebrows, and frowned. Let''s see... that''s... 300 centimeters times 3.14 times 2.5 square. My left eyebrow twitched. Fuck me sideways... I''m still slow with this. I sighed and went back to it. The volume is... 5888 cubic centimeters? What? Is this right, Shorvanna? Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The Goddess did not reply. I scoffed and shook my head. Whatever. So! 5888 cubic centimeters and one thousand kilograms. Density is gram per cubic centimeter, so... 1,000,000 grams divided by 5888... My eyebrows went down in confusion. This can''t be right... 170 g per cubic centimeter? That''s Mythical Weaponry for you, the Goddess commented in a matter-of-fact tone. Not convinced, I placed the spear on the ground in front of me. It did not sink. I''m confused, I confessed with a great deal of frustration. ¡°Natasha!¡± An angry voice came from behind. ¡°You fucking brat!¡± I turned my head and saw Elena walking towards me at a quick pace. Her face was livid, her nostrils were flapping, her lips were pulled back revealing her sharp teeth, and her eyes were boring holes in my head. I was struck by surprise and shock. I had not properly seen her for over a month, having been under Danuva''s direct care so she could be healed back to the person she used to be, so it would be more accurate to say I visited a comatose Elena. Seeing her well and awake was a surprise. The woman who had knelt, bowed, and curtsied with loud confessions of admiration and adoration to the point of idiocy, who had spoken to me with such respect and deference, who had chastised others when being too comfortable around me, scolded those that called me by name, and all in all was a massive pain in the ass to deal with because she thought I was a legit heavenly being... was now charging towards me with an extremely angry face. Did this bitch just insult me? I questioned my sanity while standing up. Nah, I must''ve heard wrong. The Faeton Elf stood in front of me, crossed her arms, raised her chin, and gave me a look of contempt. ¡°You''re in deep shit, bitch,¡± she barked. I did a double take, blinking a few times. ¡°Whom might you be talking to, bitch?¡± I questioned out of reflex, switching to Russian. Elena scowled and used a finger to jab my shoulder. ¡°You are a stupid, undisciplined, ignorant, and honestly quite disrespectful child,¡± she yapped, then scoffed. I looked around the clearing, thinking it was a prank of some sort. ¡°What''s going on?¡± I chuckled. ¡°Danuva healed me, moron,¡± Elena revealed with a smirk. ¡°You have no idea who you fucked with. First off, you chopped my limbs off. Second, you broke my fucking MIND. Third, you''ve treated me like I''m an annoyance when it''s YOUR fault I was in that state. Then, you made me fight? I''M A RESEARCHER, YOU STU-!¡± ¡°I can wait five more weeks,¡± I interrupted her, leaned into her ear, and whispered, ¡°Think your mind can take it?¡± Elena flinched and went quiet. Her face started getting redder with anger. I pointed at her, at me, then at the space between us. ¡°I don''t have to stand this shit. You realize that, right?¡± I inquired with a calm voice, but feeling a vein about to pop somewhere. ¡°How about you first thank me for getting you out of that Changeling mess? Unless, of course, you willingly went there and got mind controlled? A researcher? I question your cognitive capacity if that''s how you ended up. When I first saw you I thought you were a retard... I guess I wasn''t wrong.¡± ¡°Oh, fuck off,¡± Elena scoffed. ¡°You went overboard and you fucking know it. All of these threats mean shit, Natasha. I''ll let Yulianna know, by the way,¡± she told me with wide eyes and an entitled tone. ¡°You better prepare for when she gets here.¡± ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± I scoffed back. ¡°You think sucking some Halve dick and eating some Halve pussy gives you some sort of value? Come ooooon! You''re smarter than that, Elena.¡± ¡°You insolent little shit,¡± she seethed. ¡°I am over three thousand years your senior. You will treat me with due respect!¡± ¡°Go fuck yourself,¡± I chuckled, then pointed at her and warned, ¡°Don''t talk to me in that tone.¡± Elena stared at me with wide eyes for a few seconds, then slowly shook her head while a smile formed on her face. ¡°You just don''t see how wrong you were, do you?¡± ¡°Oh, I do,¡± I admitted. ¡°But that doesn''t mean I have to take any shit from you whatsoever. I brought you to the Gods to fix the mistake I made, but I will not allow you to speak to me like that. So, you either sit the fuck down or I will slap your fucking face off your skull. Choose carefully.¡± She clicked her tongue. ¡°I will say whatever-¡± I raised a hand and bitch-slapped her using 1500 Strength. The Elf''s head snapped back, then her body slowly crumpled down to the ground. I caught her and slung her over my shoulder. ¡°I told her,¡± I muttered and walked towards the temple. 171 - Everyone is a little stupid. Entering the temple, I went to where Danuva was right away while carrying Elena. The Goddess was floating in silence as usual. Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin were meditating in front of her, probably receiving some guidance. ¡°Oi,¡± I called out to her, patting Elena''s back. ¡°This lunatic got out and went full moron on me, so I slapped some sense into her.¡± Alyssa sighed, stood up, and walked to me. I offered the unconscious Elf. ¡°You broke her jaw,¡± the Luzo commented with a sigh and glowing eyes, taking the knocked-out woman in her arms while healing her. ¡°And a few vertebrae.¡± I shrugged. As long as the outcome wasn''t instant death, no injury had real weight in my eyes. That''s not to say that pain and fear go away, which means they can be exploited with greater results if one would be inclined to do so. ¡°It didn''t work,¡± Shorvanna spoke up, still on me. ¡°I knew it wouldn''t.¡± ¡°She wanted to try regardless of outcome,¡± Danuva replied in a tone that implied she also knew ''it'' wouldn''t work. I sighed, feeling a headache forming. ¡°What didn''t work?¡± I asked, feeling a suspicion that Elena wasn''t that stupid after all. ¡°Elena wanted to see if putting herself in danger would make Yulianna come back,¡± Danuva summarized. ¡°You are easy to anger.¡± I nodded with the confirmation. ¡°So you are a moron as well, Danuva,¡± I told her with a frown. ¡°What were you thinking?¡± ¡°Mortals'' freedom of action is more important than anything,¡± the Divine being replied. ¡°If they aren''t allowed to do whatever they desire, how will the fittest come out on top?¡± She pointed out. ¡°Besides, I did not encourage her, young Halve. Do not treat me unfairly based on wrong assumptions.¡± My eyebrows went up at her words. ¡°That''s cold,¡± I pointed out while shaking my head. ¡°Still stupid, though. You have the power to stop her. Inaction is still wrong.¡± Elena coughed and came to, then looked around. Her eyes focused on me, and she sighed with disappointment while averting her eyes. Alyssa let the ancient Elf go and let out a sigh that implied she didn''t quite agree with Elena''s way of doing things. ¡°You''re a moron,¡± I told the Entomancer. ¡°What kind of toxic behavior is risking your life to get a bitch back?¡± ¡°Worth a try,¡± Elena sighed with sadness in her eyes. ¡°If anything, I learned something new.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I agreed with a scoff. ¡°Fuck around and find out is what you learned, so shut the fuck up.¡± Alyssa nodded several times while humming in agreement to my words. I turned to my girlfriend. ¡°And you,¡± I sighed and shook my head. ¡°What''s this? You on this make my girlfriend angry plan?¡± The Luzo raised her hands to communicate her innocence ,and her expression turned complicated. She gestured at Danuva with a nod. ¡°I had nothing to do with this, Natasha. You walked in a few seconds after I finished with meditation.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. I nodded. ¡°Alright. I jumped to conclusions. I''m sorry, Alyssa,¡± I told her and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°All good,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°I''d be angry too.¡± I crossed my arms and stared at Elena. ¡°Well? Does the moron have anything to say for herself?¡± I demanded. The Faeton Elf sighed. ¡°Can you blame me?¡± She questioned with a sigh, looking up at me. ¡°I know you''re a violent one, and Yulianna is...¡± she closed her eyes for a few seconds to hide the pain and sighed ¡°..or was very protective of me. Maybe you slapping me would have activated the enchantments on the plaques she gave me, letting her know I was in danger, which would make her come...¡± I closed my eyes, pinched the bridge of my nose, and let out a long sigh. ¡°So you are stupid,¡± I concluded. ¡°Shouldn''t you be, like, super wise and emotionally in control or something? Considering you''re over three thousand years old?¡± Alyssa turned to me and gave me a look. ¡°Don''t be so mean, Natasha. Have you forgotten what she has gone through? Lost Perculis, Yulianna left, Changelings mind-controlled her, you erased over half her memories, then everything comes back at once.¡± She placed a hand on Elena''s shoulder and gave her a reassuring nod. ¡°While not the smartest thing to do, I don''t blame you one bit, Elena.¡± I bit my lower lip and stared at the ceiling. She has a point... but would desperation make her do something like that? I understand if she''s close with Halves to the point of not caring about Gods and their suggestions, but fucking hell... ¡°Haaa...¡± I massaged my temples to ease the headache. ¡°Okay, let''s do it like this,¡± I started and faced Elena. ¡°Do you know anything about Yulianna''s departure?¡± Elena met my eyes and nodded with a sad frown. ¡°Perculis'' death was a heavy loss for us, but much heavier for Yulianna. They knew each other for a very long time, which made their bond that much deeper. She cried for a week straight after he passed, then refused to speak for another. She cares a lot about those around her, so we did our best to be there for her. When things started looking better she told us she needed a bit more time and left.¡± ¡°Well...¡± I tried my best not to be a bitch. ¡°I''m sure she''ll come back. Nilenna is looking for her so... let''s hope for the best. We all mourn at our own pace.¡± The Elf nodded, still wearing a sad expression. ¡°Ahem,¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°I don''t mean to downplay the circumstances at hand, but I hope you understand I am more interested in the Changeling matter,¡± I told her with my friendliest tone. ¡°Could you tell me more about that?¡± Alyssa squinted her eyes at me, probably disapproving how quickly I changed subjects. The Goddesses were silent and still, probably thinking deranged things about how beautiful mortality is for being capable of dying and feeling such strong emotions, and also going ''none of our business''. ¡°I met Yugulari a good while ago,¡± Elena started with a long sigh. ¡°They told me they could help me find Yulianna, and I was... vulnerable at the time...¡± I bit my lips and held back a sigh. ¡°I took their invitation, ignorant of what was going down in Lumin Kingdom,¡± she continued. ¡°Miraztor had told Yulianna about the attempt at his life, but the way he put it made me think it was banditry instead of insurrection when I heard of it, so I never thought of Yugulari as a suspicious individual since there was no way to connect them to such a life with how they conducted themselves,¡± she explained with a shrug and a short chuckle. ¡°It started with little, nonsensical questions that soon turned into seeds of doubt. Yugulari would hint at some places that could have someone who knew about Yulianna''s whereabouts, and I would go there to gather information... but there never was. I was just a spy of sorts for them. After a while I started harboring ugly thoughts about Yulianna, feeling betrayed, left behind, useless, and worse. The desire to find her was turned into wanting to harm her. Whenever I so much as hinted that I would returned to my normal behavior, Yugulari would cut me with words so sharp I would doubt myself even in my sleep. I was told a new Halve had showed up to replace Yulianna, and that all my efforts would be in vain if I didn''t kill you myself.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I muttered with a nod. ¡°I assume the organization is smart enough to change locations after I got you out of there?¡± ¡°Definitely,¡± Elena nodded. ¡°They had a vast number of locations, and we never met at the same spot twice. Also...¡± she averted her eyes. ¡°I told them your party''s composition before you broke my mind. I assume Nerissa and Zalan did the same right before you killed them.¡± ¡°Well, fuck,¡± I blurted out, recalling the information I spilled before taking their lives. The cold hand of regret gripped my soul. ¡°Holy shit.¡± 172 - Speculation...? ¡°What happened?¡± Alyssa inquired, knitting her scaly brows together in confusion. I looked into Elena''s eyes for a few seconds. Did Yulianna and Perculis tell Elena about the trials? I wondered, squinting my eyes. I don''t want this unpleasant bitch to know anything more than the bare minimum needed for proper function. The Faeton Elf arched an eyebrow in response to me staring at her. ¡°Based on your reaction I can guess you told them something you shouldn''t have...¡± she commented. ¡°That''s sloppy.¡± I hummed, partially agreeing with her. How sloppy, though? I wondered, pinching my lips with my right hand. Nerissa knew I was the Hellwalker the moment she saw me, but Zalan didn''t know... which means Nerissa didn''t tell everyone if she told anyone, or the people who got the information kept it to themselves. Both could have happened, in the end. Did Zalan tell ''everyone else'' when they learned of it? I noticed something irrelevant to the matter and my left eyebrow twitched. Why did a binary species evolve into an unary one? Anyway. I sighed and shook my head. It''s safe to assume the main heads of this group know I am hyper xenophobic towards Demons because of this encounter, which is going to intensify their desire to get rid of me. Eh, I can live with that. Xenophobic? Danuva inquired into my mind. First time hearing that word. Rejection of the foreign, I explained. Could be people, ideas, or whatever. I understand why I am xenophobic, though, so it doesn''t bother me. It''s necessary, even. I turned to the Goddess with a confused face. You don''t know about that? The concept, yes. Mortals use the word ''prejudice'' for it, the Goddess clarified. I think you''re missing an implied assumption here, young Halve. Which is? I arched an eyebrow. Everyone knows your kind exists to protect Galeia, therefore are intolerant to the extreme towards anything that is not spawned on Galeia, Danuva revealed. The Changelings knew that before you met Nerissa. I would assume Zalan'' unwillingness to cooperate with you stems from that. Something clicked in my mind. I see! I let out a relieved sigh. So everyone knows I''m xenophobic already. That''s a weight off my shoulders. ¡°Won''t it just make them more wary?¡± Alyssa ventured with a shrug. ¡°Now they know you are the reason Demons had enough time to get out of there, and that you killed all the corrupted ones. If anything, that should make for a favorable point.¡± Elena scoffed. ¡°A favorable view of Halves is what they would want to avoid at all costs. I''m not privy to the reason why they want to get rid of Halves, but I wouldn''t bet on them changing their views so easily. It''s easier to spin the narrative and make Natasha to be malicious in their eyes, after all.¡± Alyssa hummed. ¡°So now they know who the one who hunted their ancestors in their home world is, that she is alive, and that they tried to kill her before they even knew about it. They also know Natasha killed Nerissa minutes after meeting her, which reinforces the idea that they would get the same treatment, therefore Halves hold too much power for the greater good.¡± My eyebrows went up my forehead. ¡°Pardon?¡± Elena shook her head. ¡°Brainstorming. Shut up for a minute.¡± I turned to her and slapped the back of her head, gently enough to just move her instead of knocking her out, but strong enough to send the message that she is not to treat me like that. The Elf clicked her tongue and massaged her neck. ¡°Brute,¡± she complained. ¡°Asshole,¡± I retorted. ¡°Come on,¡± Alyssa interjected. ¡°Cut it out, Elena. And Natasha, please stop slapping her.¡± I shrugged. Elena sighed. ¡°If I''m getting this right, Natasha''s trial was where Demons come from... which means the few Demons that got here carry the tale of her time there. Yulianna told me a long while ago that Changelings descend from Demons, but that was it. She was very interested in how an outsider species could reproduce with Apparonzes and birth a whole new species of people that Galeia considered her own, but Perculis convinced her not to poke around for their safety.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°That''d be the sensible thing to do,¡± I agreed. ¡°Still,¡± Elena continued. ¡°You''re skipping quite the number of steps here, Alyssa.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± the Luzo uttered, interest in her eyes. ¡°How so?¡± Elena raised a hand, extending a finger. ¡°First would be the realization that the myth their ancestors spoke about was true. Second would be to reconcile the fact the one responsible for it is a Halve of all things. The majority of those who harbor animosity towards Natasha and her kind would not jump into it. They''d be skeptic at first because it''s a cosmic coincidence. We mustn''t forget that Halves are traditionally untouchable beings, meaning a greater injustice in their eyes in the odd case they believe it right away.¡± I tilted my head in slight confusion. ¡°Injustice?¡± Alyssa turned to me. ¡°The one who butchered their ancestors is now a perfect being who is greatly respected by the world at large,¡± she summarized. A tiny smile formed on my face at her calling me ''perfect''. ¡°I see how that''d be unfair,¡± I agreed with a nod. ¡°Naturally, we don''t know how close this group is,¡± Elena picked up. ¡°I only know the little information Yugulari told me, which is dubious at best. If they are close enough to believe Natasha is the one responsible for killing their ancestors, then things will become a bit more violent in the years to come.¡± Alyssa shook her head. ¡°I don''t think so. If they indeed believe Natasha is the Hellwalker as soon as they are told, then they will have second thoughts,¡± she insisted. ¡°It''s an incredibly dangerous feat to attempt.¡± ¡°True, but zealots do not think rationally,¡± Elena countered. ¡°They already tried to overthrow King Gordon...¡± Her eyes squinted and she hummed. ¡°Which would make for a very convincing argument as to Natasha being this Hellwalker you speak about. I''m sure they could twist events and push narratives to fit it. There''s enough evidence to construct a tale.¡± Alyssa nodded. ¡°The Hellwalker gets there just in time when nobody could catch the Demon they had employed to deal the government a heavy blow,¡± she muttered, then asked Elena, ¡°Do you think they are persuasive enough to convince the entire group in a short period of time?¡± Elena bit her upper lip while thinking. ¡°I''d say yes,¡± she finalized. ¡°They greatly respect Yugulari.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± I joined the conversation. ¡°Aren''t they in jail, though? At least the majority, right? Gordon said his Scouts had found enough intel.¡± Both women shook their heads. ¡°Doubt it,¡± Alyssa muttered. ¡°Changelings? No way,¡± Elena chuckled. ¡°I''m sure a lot got arrested, but not the majority.¡± I sighed through my nose and shook my head. ¡°Why does it matter, anyway? It''s not like it changes anything if they know I''m the Hellwalker. If it leaks I''ll just deny it and declare them slanderers, then the people will do the rest. What are they going to do? Have a Demon go public and risk their entire species? Their hands are pretty tied.¡± Shorvanna laughed loudly. ¡°We have no concrete place to go and raid them, no way to identify them in a crowd, and no way to keep tabs on their movements,¡± I concluded with a shrug. ¡°But none of that really matters. They know we''re violent enough to kill them without much problem. They''re on the losing side.¡± Elena gave me an amused look while nodding. Alyssa sighed and shook her head. ¡°You''ll get used to it,¡± the Elf told the Luzo, patting her shoulder. ¡°They usually speak like that about threats or the disobedient.¡± ¡°Does it happen often?¡± My girlfriend inquired. ¡°Enough to get used to,¡± the ancient woman who regained her old self assured her. ¡°Just make sure it doesn''t change you.¡± Alyssa smiled and nodded. ¡°Still, we have to be careful. Just in case.¡± ¡°Natasha,¡± Shorvanna called out. I looked down at my torso. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You should go to the Dungeon I told you about,¡± she suggested. ¡°You have been here for too long and are becoming a bit too irascible.¡± ¡°True,¡± Elena concurred. ¡°Slapping me twice in less than an hour? Too angry.¡± Alyssa didn''t comment. She hummed and squinted her eyes in thought, instead. I rolled my eyes. ¡°No,¡± I replied. ¡°We''re done with Elena''s business, so we''ll leave as soon as we''re finished with the bases for our next Classes. I''m almost done, too.¡± ¡°In that case,¡± Elena walked to me and gave me a cheeky look. ¡°I have a few tips for you. From someone who was with two Halves for a very long time.¡± My eyebrows shot up in surprise. ¡°So you do have value,¡± I joked with a smile. Elena''s face scrunched in displeasure, then chuckled, ¡°You insolent little shit! My level might not be high, but I know a lot of things, little girl. You''ll learn to respect me.¡± ¡°You will earn my respect, you mean?¡± I challenged back. ¡°You''re a few months old, Natasha,¡± the Entomancer pointed out with a sigh. ¡°There''s a lot you don''t know.¡± ¡°I could say the same about you,¡± I sighed exaggeratedly. ¡°So old, but so fucking dumb.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Alyssa interjected with a tired sigh. ¡°Can you stop arguing for a second? Just go get lectured, Natasha.¡± I gave the Luzo a confused look. ¡°I never said no.¡± Elena squinted her eyes at me. ¡°It''s alright, Alyssa,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I''ll have Natasha calling me Adlazh by the end of the month.¡± ¡°I don''t know what that means, but I doubt I will call you that,¡± I taunted her with a mocking expression. ¡°So, I will go back to my thing. Make sure you don''t disrupt the rest, alright?¡± Glaring at each other, we split. Alyssa was holding her head and sighing. 173 - A taste of Infernal I went back outside and continued with my attempt at magic, but had no luck. Elena''s interference got me too angry to focus on conjuration. With a tight jaw, a long sigh left me. Elena''s behavior was too annoying even for someone who had just recovered her memories. Trauma is no excuse for being an insufferable cunt, and whoever says it is, they''re plain wrong and probably a retard, I concluded, looking around. ¡°Young Halve,¡± Shorvanna spoke up. ¡°Why does Pokh''Orra find the word retard so insulting? She gets slightly angry whenever you say it.¡± I shrugged while sighing. ¡°Why are you asking me? She''s the one who has an issue with it,¡± I replied without much care. Words are just words. An empty stomach actually hurts as opposed to being called a retard, after all. Any other opinion is privileged, therefore irrelevant. ¡°Let''s work on Abyssal,¡± Shorvanna suggested. ¡°We can get back to conjuration later.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I agreed and stored the spear that was still on the ground. ¡°Lock the obelisk, then.¡± Abyssal had been the slowest of the ''subjects'' I had been given lessons in. It had to be done outside of the Temple, we had to make sure no sentient life was around to avoid corruption, and I had to whisper very softly to make sure it didn''t reach too far. ¡°Done,¡± Shorvanna replied after a short dance from E''er. ¡°Let''s try with physical manifestations on inorganic matter.¡± I nodded, retrieving a Medium Quality sword from my storage. With a gentle thrust, the weapon got impaled on the ground. Taking three steps back, I took a deep breath, then whispered in Abyssal, ¡°Bend.¡± Nothing happened. ¡°Burn,¡± I whispered next. The blade stood there, rebelliously opposing the power that ruined a whole world. ¡°Try to disband the enchantments on it,¡± Shorvanna suggested. ¡°Use the words fade, disband, disperse, or separate.¡± I nodded and focused on the sword, then appraised it. [+10 Tarunil Hispaniensis (High)] (Sharpness A)(Durability B) -STR+ 70 -DEX+ 30 As the name suggested, it was a regular sword that looked to be from the Roman era. As a now wiser individual, I could recognize Tarunil as the material it was made with, which was an enchanted metal similar to steel in composition, but magnitudes stronger and harder. ¡°Fade,¡± I whispered in Abyssal. A few seconds passed and I appraised it again. Nothing happened. I continued nontheless, uttering the other words in the highly dangerous language. None of the words Shorvanna suggested worked to break the enchantments. I scratched my chin. ¡°Should I try with Infernal?¡± I proposed. ¡°It makes E''er shake unpleasantly, so it might have what it takes to break enchantments. Lapia said something similar.¡± ¡°Give it a go,¡± the Goddess replied. ¡°Dissolve!¡± I snarled at it. E''er twisted, trembled, and bent like shards of glass in a blender. The immediate vicinity of the sword shimmered like a mirage, distorting the light. A soft snap came from the sword, then everything returned to normal. I approached the sword and took it out of the ground, then inspected it. Appraisal showed nothing. ¡°Mhm...¡± I hummed and bit my lower lip. ¡°This is concerning.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Shorvanna agreed. ¡°You said Demons on Galeia don''t speak the corrupted version of the language, right?¡± I asked for clarification. ¡°That''d be correct,¡± the Goddess confirmed. ¡°If they could speak it the way you do, then all it would be needed for you to know is a single Demon doing harm with it.¡± I nodded, agreeing with her. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Despite having had the enchantment removed, the blade looked just as beautiful and sharp as it did before. My stats didn''t go up while holding it, however, which was enough for me. ¡°This is... pretty dangerous,¡± I pointed out with a frown. ¡°And incredibly disappointing.¡± ¡°More power to perform your duty as arbiter, young Halve,¡± Shorvanna tried looking at the positive side of things. ¡°Be careful not to destroy useful items,¡± she chuckled. I squinted my eyes. ¡°Think of a warcry that uses Infernal to target enchanted objects and, you know, mess with their enchantment.¡± ¡°You can simply scream the word,¡± the Goddess countered. ¡°Right,¡± I chuckled with a nod. ¡°That''d be quicker.¡± The blade in my hand trembled, and a second snap came from it. My eyes widened in surprise for a second, then I appraised the sword. [+10 Tarunil Hispaniensis (High)] (Sharpness A)(Durability B) -STR+ 70 -DEX+ 30 -Inferno-touched The two of us were silent for a while. ¡°You are a very interesting one, young Halve,¡± Shorvanna giggled with barely restrained enthusiasm. ¡°I can''t wait to see what else you''re capable of!¡± I was deeply confused. Despite having used the word for things to stop being the way they were in the imperative form, the blade not only returned to it''s previous state but gained a new line. Then again, the object wasn''t exactly the way it was before, so it wasn''t a total failure. ¡°This makes no sense,¡± I muttered, then stored the sword. Shorvanna moved around me, slowly getting off of my body. The plaques and pieces that made her rearranged in front of me. ¡°Let''s try something,¡± she started with a giddy tone. I arched an eyebrow and told her, ¡°As long as it''s not attempting to break you, I am all for experimentation.¡± The Goddess lifted a hand, where a ball of E''er gathered and turned purple. Motioning towards me, the spell flew my way. ¡°Fuck off!¡± I reflexively said, squinting my eyes. The spell dissolved mid-air, becoming ambient E''er. Both Shorvanna and I were silent for a few seconds once again.
A few hours later, we had a solid grasp on Infernal. The language was very useful to disrupt the purpose given to E''er no matter the shape of it. The size, however, was pretty limited. Shorvanna threw increasingly larger and complex spells my way, and I told the lobs of energy to fuck off. Infernal wasn''t quite as powerful with spells larger than a house, regardless of how loud I shouted. A trophy for completing my trial in Hell, most likely. A completely useless trophy, unfortunately. Spells of that size didn''t affect me whether fire, electricity, rocks, wind, or mental in nature. Maybe to protect others, but useless if I am alone. A good addition, if anything. With that progress done, I went inside the Temple for lunch.
Late at night, I was in my room laying in bed reading a book. Alyssa was reading a book as well, sitting at a table Pokora had provided. Pokora was chatting with Yolin and Lapia, giggling and joking. She hummed and asked, ¡°Would you rather an albino Malinpi do a back flip, and as soon as it lands it stick its tail up your ass, or have the taste of shit in your mouth for a month straight?¡± The question was so out of nowhere it took me out of reading about a young Warrior''s tales of war and conflict during the Second Age of E''er. Alyssa gave Pokora a very confused and disgusted look. ¡°Hmm...¡± Yolin gave it a thought, surprisingly. ¡°Is the Malinpi sticking its tail up my ass only once, or is it daily for the month I would taste shit otherwise?¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± Lapia inquired, a little unsure and a little grossed out. ¡°I would take the taste of shit, obviously. It''s just the taste, after all.¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Yolin denied, shaking her head. ¡°You have to consider it''s shit, Lapia. I have unfortunately tasted shit before when I fought a Yinkiti while on the sea. I had to go inside it and stab its heart, which is right next to its bowls... and I missed. I''d take the pain of having the spiky tail up my ass.¡± Alyssa covered her mouth and closed her eyes. ¡°Eww!¡± Lapia sighed. ¡°So you''d rather have your butt, along with the full meter the tail would go into ripped to shreds than taste shit?¡± Yolin gave a slow nod and her face scrunched in thought. ¡°Now that you put it like that...¡± Pokora was holding back laughter. What the fuck is wrong with this woman? I wondered, giving the Archer a look of pity. ¡°What if the Malinpi misses just once?¡± Alyssa asked. ¡°And... you know?¡± The room went quiet. ¡°I''ll take tasting shit,¡± Yolin instantly changed her mind. ¡°See?¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°HAHAHAHAHA!¡± Pokora leaned forward and slapped the table. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± I questioned the Elmari Elf. The Elmari Elf hugged her stomach and nodded several times while laughing. ¡°It''s every day...¡± she managed to answer Yolin''s question while laughing. Alyssa shook her head. ¡°That''s disgusting.¡± A debate soon took place, where Lapia and Yolin argued with logistics and strategies on how they''d deal with having the taste of shit in their mouths for a month straight. I think we were all a bit bored... at least I hope that''s the reason. 174 - Natasha goes on a quest...? The day after started as usual, and the routine continued with everyone doing their thing. At around lunch time I was done with meditation and was on my way to the room we had turned into a kitchen and dining room. When I was a few meters from the wall, Danuva showed up in front of me. ¡°Young Halve,¡± she called to me while approaching. ¡°I have a request.¡± I arched an eyebrow, feeling quite intrigued. ¡°What kind of request?¡± ¡°There is a large tree nearby that needs removal,¡± she informed me. ¡°It died a few centuries ago and is now becoming an issue for the surrounding vegetation and its growth. Divine Lands are seldom visited, and those who do wouldn''t meddle with nature. Said tree has grown far too large and heavy for living organisms to deal with on their own. The Perihelion approaches, which makes it a prime time for you to deal with it as the sunlight will be just the right amount for weaker vegetation that has been covered to thrive.¡± I hummed, then asked. ¡°How big is it?¡± ¡°Two hundred and eleven meters tall, and sixty five meters wide,¡± she replied. ¡°The crown is a kilometer wide, which is why it needs removal.¡± I squinted my eyes and tried doing a bit of math. ¡°I don''t think I will be able to remove it. It''s too heavy,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Shake it, make it fall, and punch it hard enough to move it and store it,¡± Danuva suggested. ¡°That''s how it''s done. You don''t need to lift it, young Halve. As long as there is no fire used and the surrounding vegetation is safe, you can break it down little by little, too.¡± I looked her in the top pair of eyes. ¡°How come it''s still standing?¡± ¡°Too big to be removed without causing damage,¡± she simply replied. I nodded. ¡°Sure. I''ll take Lapia with me.¡± The Goddess put a hand on my forehead. ¡°I''ll show you the location,¡± she muttered. The eye on her palm closed, but I felt it move below the skin, which was a bit funny. Right after thinking that, I went blind.
Suddenly, I was looking at the world from above. Trees stood from horizon to horizon, covering everything the eye could see. Mountains, valleys, rivers, and roads were almost invisible, but could be discerned if I strained enough to recognize the vague shapes among the sea of green. In the middle of the large expanse of treetops, a big one stood out above the rest. The thing was actually massive, covering the immediate surroundings with shade, which had small and anemic-looking trees growing in a spotty pattern instead of the thick and vibrant abundance that was the rest of the forest. I looked directly down and saw the temple we were at, but from a height of a few hundred meters. Strangely enough, my mind was calm and peaceful, finding no reaction to the incredible height I was watching the world from. You can see it from here, Danuva''s voice echoed in my mind. Fifteen kilometers northwest. I focused on the gigatree again, carefully observing the path towards it. There were a few hills and valleys on the way along with a couple of thin rivers, noticeable by the way light reflected off water. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Yep, I see it, I thought. Doable. I went blind again.
My sight returned, and Danuva removed her hand from my forehead. ¡°That''s a little... ask next time,¡± I requested. ¡°Noted,¡± the Goddess agreed. ¡°When do you plan on going?¡± I gave her an odd look. ¡°Right now, of course. I''ve been a bit bored... no offense.¡± ¡°Understandable,¡± Danuva chuckled. ¡°That''d be it from me, young Halve. You have my gratitude.¡± I shrugged and placed an arm around her shoulders, then walked to the wall. ¡°That''s what we do, my dear cousin: Guide and Protect,¡± I told her and crossed the wall with her.
I picked Lapia up and left the temple shortly after. For the sake of saving time, we fetched our mounts from the Orators and departed. Naturally, we made conversation while advancing at a comfortable pace. Not too fast, nor too slow. ¡°Hey, Lala,¡± I called out to her after ten minutes of chatting about the little critters that we saw. ¡°What''s the Nobility''s stance on the individual''s autonomy of economic power?¡± The Elf gave me a serious look from atop her mount. She took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°Pretty simple, really. Nobility rules the land they got from Royalty, where they exercise their power. They give it to those who can work it, protect it from beasts or monsters with their resources in the form of private armed forces, hiring Chasers, or by themselves if they know combat Classes... which is honestly rare, and if they have it they wouldn''t be the ones ruling the land nowadays. If a family member, for example, me, has a combat Class, then I would be appointed as the Security Enforcer Officer of the family. I would then have to hire either an Academy Graduate, a Military Officer who retired already, or an experienced Chaser as Advisor in security to have them directly scout talents within the people who live in the land we oversee, or if they have contacts of their own, bring them under our House. Like this, we keep the people safe if our land is a town or a village. In return, people would pay taxes in the form of produce, knowledge, money, or labor. This means that there is no autonomy as you ask. That is the nature of Nobility in a very simplified explanation.¡± I hummed, guiding Sonya through the trees and looking around. ¡°What rank is your family? If you don''t mind me asking.¡± ¡°Fal''Ankha,¡± she replied in Elvish, ducking to dodge a branch. ¡°Which is... kind of like the rank of Marquis in Lumin Kingdom. Third in the hierarchy. We have the city of Pomkh, which is a port city, under us. Opinions exists about it, and I think it works very well. It''s a three million year nation, after all. That speaks for itself.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered, satisfied with the answer. I saw a squirrel climbed a tree and smiled. ¡°That''s interesting. Sounds very... traditional.¡± ¡°Were there Monarchies on Earth?¡± Lapia inquired, giving me an interested look. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied. ¡°Most were pretty mid since education was exclusively for the elite for a very long time. Rebellions happened, Nobles and Royals were rightfully butchered as the pigs they were, and the countries moved forward to a new form of government. By the time I died there were a bit over thirty five Monarchies around the world, out of some 150 countries. I might not remember the exact number, but there were very few ones left. I died in a Monarchy, too. It was pretty okay.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Lapia muttered. ¡°When you say that about Nobles and Royals, do you mean the concept of them, or...?¡± I turned to her and smiled. ¡°That depends on the individual and the country, Lala. As a concept, Monarchies are a bit dodgy with the autonomy of the individual, but that''s from someone who knows only one such country in this world. I was pretty confused at first since I expected pretty shitty conditions for people, and I am happy to say I was wrong.¡± We reached a steep hill and slowed down to let the mounts go at their own pace and avoid getting tired or injured from things on the ground. ¡°I''m glad you like it here,¡± Lapia told me with a smile. ¡°And I also want to know your view on political and economic autonomy.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°Well... All of my political opinions stem from an abusive and impudent upper class, so it doesn''t quite work here. I do, however, think there should exist a concrete limit to the growth of whatever constitutes as profit regardless of what people feel. In a world with limited resources, the concept of unlimited growth should be exclusively met with the sharp edge of a blade.¡± Lapia sucked air through her teeth. ¡°You and Yulianna will be good friends, then.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± I chuckled and looked around. We were approaching the big tree. 175 - Under the Tree. We stopped at the edge of the shadow cast by the gargantuan tree. The section of the forest directly beneath it grew meters apart from each other, ranging from ten to fifteen meters between trees. Bushes were scarcer, but grass was abundant. The amount of visible animals diminished considerably, as well, with mostly just insects and bugs moving around. ¡°What kind of tree is that?¡± I asked, looking up at the thing a little over five hundred meters ahead. The surrounding trees were similar to beeches covered in thick moss, making the singular gigatree an outstanding oddity considering the extremely wide canopy. Lapia took the massive tree in for a few seconds. ¡°Probably a Great Oblis,¡± she replied, a little unsure. ¡°But the size is a bit out of the norm. They''re not from around here, too, so maybe an odd variation of the local trees.¡± I turned to her and raised my eyebrows. ¡°A bit out of the norm?¡± I repeated in disbelief. ¡°That''s proper abnormal, Lapia!¡± The Elf slowly turned to me, looking me dead in the eye, then uttered, ¡°Well, yes.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± I hummed with a nod, letting the subject go. Tapping Sonya''s neck, we resumed the trip. A few seconds after crossing into the darker world of the shadow the tree cast upon the world, the smell of damp and unattended vegetation made itself apparent sharply and violently. With it, the smell of still water sneaked around without warning. The ground was moist and covered in dark vegetation, giving the area a very downtrodden atmosphere. Flies and mosquitoes of disconcertingly disproportionate sizes swarmed around us, bringing with them the high pitched buzz of annoying insects. Each was the size of a golf ball, and looked outright nefarious. I immediately equipped my protective gear. A fire ball formed above Lapia''s head, growing in size and temperature until around thirty centimeters wide. The insects either took distance or rushed to it. I was okay with both outcomes. ¡°A swamp,¡± the Elf scoffed with disgust. ¡°Unlucky, I guess. Elena would love it here, though.¡± I clicked my tongue and swatted a fat fly, making it burst in my gauntlet. ¡°Fuck her,¡± I muttered and quickly swung my hand to get rid of the filth. The ground grew wetter, making the mounts'' feet squelch loudly as we advanced. ¡°What?¡± Lapia chuckled in a teasing tone. ¡°You don''t like the fact she doesn''t outright worship you, and you can''t really do anything about it because she''s Yulianna''s partner?¡± I noticed a slug the size of a Pug dog and my face twisted in absolute disgust. The affront to the natural course of life was climbing a malnourished-looking tree and leaving a very viscous trail that reflected my glow and the fire. ¡°No,¡± I denied her claim, doing my best to hold back from gagging at the sight. ¡°She''s just a complete cunt. There''s no need to be rude, is there?¡± ¡°She''s in a great deal of stress, Natasha,¡± the Elf pointed out with a sigh. I shrugged. ¡°And I don''t give a fat fuck, Lapia. Her trauma is not my responsibility to deal with in any way, shape, or form. She didn''t even thank me for getting her out of the neck-deep shit swamp she was in. I will not solve people''s personal problems.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. My girlfriend gave me a look that said she didn''t buy it. I rolled my eyes. ¡°I will support people, sure. Help them recover their autonomy, maybe provide shelter, food, and means to protect themselves, but I can''t solve their issues.¡± Lapia let out a gentle laugh. ¡°Sometimes that''s all it takes to save someone,¡± she told me with a smile. My eyebrows joined and I let out a conflicted sigh. ¡°That''s not what I mean. Fuck this language,¡± I grumbled and switched. ¡°Joder,¡± I continued in Earthen Tongue since Lapia knew that as well. ¡°Giving someone the tools to get out of a bad place is not the same as solving their issues. They have to want to do it by themselves, otherwise it''s a waste of time.¡± A heavy and wet plop from my right caught my attention. A fat frog with moss on its back was slapping the ground. ¡°Your definition of saving someone is what makes you think like that,¡± Lapia pointed out. ¡°Your concept of saving someone is more about the mental process of acceptance and then improvement from within. I agree with that one hundred percent.¡± She sighed. ¡°Still, you got Elena out of that bad spot, killed Nerissa who was tormenting King Gordon, and saved me from certain death. These are undeniable facts that most will see as saving people regardless of how you feel about it.¡± I sighed while shaking my head. ¡°That''s a problem, Lapia. If the bare minimum becomes a good thing, then society''s values are rotting. The very concept concerns me and makes me question about what is next. Are we going to congratulate a mother that doesn''t abandon her children? Hail her as a hero for not being a disgusting creature? Or, conversely, is the expectation on people going to grow increasingly demanding to the point that, what once was impossible to achieve without extreme sacrifice becomes the norm?¡± I inquired, looking at her. Lapia''s emerald green eyes looked into my own. Her lips slowly curled into a smile and her eyes squinted in glee. ¡°If you believe the outstanding is the bare minimum, Natasha, you are an excellent individual.¡± Her smile widened. ¡°Maybe that''s why Galeia chose you as a Halve... if that''s how she does things.¡± I deflated a little, sighing in defeat. ¡°If so, then that''s a symptom of the state of the world. I am by no means an exemplary person, Lapia. In terms of morality, I am average at best.¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°Someone who thinks saving people is a natural thing to do is not average at all, sunshine.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± I hummed and shook my head. ¡°Maybe it''s a Halve thing.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± she repeated with a nod. I turned my head forward. Vegetation was slowly replaced by fungi, growing in place of bushes and plants. The amount of trees was the same as before but thinner and weaker. Light had dimmed considerably, becoming a perpetual cloudy dusk beneath the shade of the massive tree. My glow illuminated the immediate surroundings, coming only from my hair which I had wrapped around my neck like a scarf to both avoid insects clinging to it or getting tangled in one of the many stray branches. ¡°You say it''s a natural thing to do and yet get angry when Elena isn''t grateful?¡± Lapia loudly asked with disbelief, like she just noticed something out of place. I arched an eyebrow and faced her. ¡°Not at all,¡± I denied her claim once again, then explained, ¡°All I want is for her to not be a cunt. She doesn''t need to say thanks or bow, just behave. Like, she was mind controlled so I don''t blame her for trying to kill me. Similarly, I could have killed her, but that doesn''t mean she should be subservient to me. Just... not how she is, stress or not. You get me, right?¡± ¡°A bit,¡± she replied with a shrug. ¡°I understand her a bit more, though. I was in a similar situation not too long ago.¡± I bit my lower lip and nodded. We reached the edge of a pond of sorts that was covered in large lily pads that looked like Sonya could stand on which had dark blue flowers in the middle. There were also some that had no flowers, floating around nearby. A dragonfly the size of my arm flew over the surface and landed on a pad next to a flower, maybe to feed from it considering it had a long, curled tube in its mouth like a butterfly''s. ¡°We should be alert,¡± Lapia told me in a quiet voice. The lily pad suddenly closed shut, trapping the massive dragonfly and disturbing the waters. My eyebrows went up a little. ¡°Maybe we should,¡± I agreed. 176 - Wibbly wobbly time-y wimey We advanced going around the pond. The waters were muddy and probably hid some nasty animal, insect, or plant beneath the surface waiting for an afternoon snack that would probably fight back and destroy the surrounding environment. Jumping over the pond wasn''t a sound plan since swamps are treacherous and what might look like solid ground could be a clump of leaves floating on deep waters. The dim lighting wasn''t helpful, giving the surroundings a gloomy atmosphere often associated with swamp witches. There was also the fact swampy water is gross, smells like a rotting corpse, and probably has parasites. The reasons to go in it were practically none. Our mounts moved quickly but carefully. Lapia''s Vulupitas, the large donkey-sized fox she bought in Paarjo and named Delazh, moved with both certainty and care. Looking ahead and to the sides, the animal sniffed the air and moved its ears around. Sonya didn''t really care. She just stomped while advancing and looking ahead. The Ratnak moved with confidence, taking short sniffs of the air and huffing in what seemed like disapproval. Perhaps the lack of metals in the environment brought her immense disappointment. Despite being in a gloomy, moist, cold, and silent swamp, the expected sensation of fear wasn''t there at all. There was no shadow looming over my mind making me think a vodyanoy was going to jump out of the still water and grab my legs to pull me underwater and drown me. Instead, it felt serene and a little cozy. Any shadow that would make a lesser person paranoid was cleared by my glow and Lapia''s fire, revealing the corners between crooked trees and exposed roots that would trick someone into seeing the shape of some beyond-the-wall being. ¡°This is boring,¡± I sighed, breaking the silence. ¡°I''ll take boring,¡± Lapia whispered back, chuckling. I shook my head. ¡°Where are the monsters I was promised? Where is the ambush by undeads, venting their anger of the living, betrayers, murderers, and more?¡± I complained. Lapia looked around, then replied in an amused tone, ¡°Probably scared of the apex predator. I don''t think we''ll see any undead, though. Probably cursed ones if we go deeper into the swamp.¡± I clicked my tongue. ¡°What do you mean? Swamps are definitely home to undead. Where else would such gloomy creatures live?¡± I countered. Lapia turned to me with confusion on her face. ¡°Swamps are full of active life, Natasha. Undead creatures usually live underground, where death gathers,¡± she told me with a smile, then added. ¡°It takes a very long time for undead to appear, too.¡± I hummed while nodding. ¡°I see. So that''s how it works here.¡± The Elf nodded and looked ahead. We continued moving in silence. The environment got darker the closer we got to the large tree, resulting in my glow and Lapia''s fire becoming brighter. The wet soil was slowly replaced by shallow waters, turning the squelch of the mounts'' footsteps into a constant but low splashing. The smell got worse, too. While looking around to make sure nothing nasty got close, I spotted a large skull on our path. It was the size of a moose''s, covered in moss and fungi. I got my spear out and stretched my arm forward to get it out of Sonya''s way. The moment my weapon touched the skull, it moaned loudly like a kid that hit its chin with a scooter. I kicked Sonya''s flank and the Ratnak got between the monster and Lapia. My eyes were glued to the thing and my eyebrows climbed my forehead while I aimed with my spear. ¡°Natasha, wait!¡± Lapia whispered with apprehension. ¡°Don''t kill it!¡± The skull moved, raising from the water and revealing a deathly skinny body covered in mud. After a moment of stillness, the thing turned around and walked away from us while letting out a nightmarish screech that reminded me of a truck hitting the breaks at full speed with many loud clicks. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. [Freegcho, lvl 429] Sonya and Delazh growled at it, but they made no move to attack. When the creature got some ten meters away from us, it slowly descended back into the water, then went completely quiet and still. ¡°What was that?¡± I inquired, confused by Lapia''s words. ¡°They filter swamp water,¡± she replied in a whisper. ¡°Scary, but they don''t do much. It''s actually a parasitic fungi that sneaks into the brain and takes control of the animal that eats it, then move to the closest body of water to filter it.¡± ¡°Gross,¡± I muttered and sighed. ¡°I thought it was dangerous by the looks of it.¡± ¡°They''re very beneficial to the environment, so killing them is discouraged. Also, the fungi might get in your bloodstream if people fight them and be done for without immediate assistance,¡± Lapia informed me. ¡°Nasty thing.¡± I clicked my tongue. ¡°So it''s a plant, then,¡± I lamented with a sigh. ¡°Pretty much,¡± the Elf chuckled. ¡°A noisy and ugly plant.¡± I frowned at the skull and shrugged. ¡°Let''s go, then,¡± I concluded and urged Sonya to move forward. An hour and no encounters of interest later, we reached the base of the tree.
Sitting on a root, Lapia and I had lunch. Fortunately, the swamp gave way to dry, barren land a few meters from the large tree, giving us a nice break of the stench of still water. I swallowed the last spoonful of food and drank a bit of juice. ¡°Hey, Lapia,¡± I started, changing topics from the little chat we had going on. ¡°Do you know what Eternalism is?¡± I asked, choosing to go for the Wizard and her knowledge. She nodded while chewing. ¡°Shorvanna told me to meditate on it,¡± I revealed. ¡°And I have no clue what it is, so I haven''t seen any progress.¡± The Elf swallowed and her eyebrows went up. ¡°That''s pretty normal,¡± she commented. ¡°We''ve been here for a short while.¡± ¡°True,¡± I conceded with a nod. ¡°Do you have any tips?¡± My girlfriend drank juice and finished her food, then scooted closer to me and rested her head on my lap. ¡°Well, it''s about understanding time.¡± ¡°Go on,¡± I nodded and caressed her face. Lapia took a deep breath. ¡°First, we need to understand that there are many ways to see time. You have presentism and eternalism as the main chosen views on time,¡± she told me and fixed her ears to comfortably fit her posture. ¡°These views have conflicting conclusions when it comes to the amount of influence the individual has on outer reality, on the self, and on the greater goal of life. Presentism is the view that only the present is real and time moves forward in a linear direction. The past no longer exists and the future doesn''t exist yet. Only the now exists. This monotemporal progression consigns the past to unreality, discarding it from the very fabric of what we understand as existence. This, naturally, means that Presentism is a prison of linear time that views the future as something that already is, but we haven''t gotten there yet... like a routine you already decided on, without deviation at all. This... Present Absolute moves constantly forward to an even less real future. If we take this view on time as the absolute truth, we are surrendering our free will since the future is decided, and there is no such thing as the past. People who believe in the fates stick to this view.¡± I blinked a few times. ¡°Right...¡± I muttered. ¡°Eternalism, however,¡± Lapia continued, a smile forming on her face. ¡°Implies choices. Under Eternalism, there exists a Lapia that never met Natasha, which makes you helping me not a Heaven-ordained fact of irrefutable reality, but a personal choice brought upon by free will. Also, under Eternalism, there exists a Natasha that did not die in her home at a young age and instead went on to live to be ninety years old. This view on time treats the present and the future as equals, as opposed to Presentism, liberating the individual from a preordained fate and into a autonomous existence where choices make future itself.¡± I tilted my head and joined my eyebrows. ¡°So... Eternalism means there are multiple timelines?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°The way to prove it beyond doubt would be to go to one and bring yourself back. No two Lapias exist on Galeia, after all.¡± I pinched my lips and gave it a thought. ¡°Would it also mean that, consequence... or effect, would only exist when observed? I ask because you say it''s a very individual-centric view of time.¡± ¡°In a way, yes,¡± she confirmed. ¡°But that''s a stretch.¡± I hummed. The Gods mentioned a Time. ¡°I can see it,¡± I concluded. ¡°I guess that''s how I see things? There is this Eternal Now view I am familiar with, but it''s different from the Presentism you mention, and not quite like Eternalism.¡± Lapia chuckled. ¡°Time is complicated.¡± ¡°It is,¡± I agreed with a nod. ¡°Maybe I''ll understand more... in time,¡± I added and giggled. Lapia sighed and shook her head. ¡°I hope that helps you a bit with meditation,¡± she told me with a smile. ¡°Me too,¡± I replied and pinched her cheeks. ¡°Let''s get this tree down,¡± I suggested. 177 - Perfomance-enchancing substances. The tree in front of us was massive. The largest I had seen so far without a doubt. I walked around it a few times, checking the bark and the visible roots. The outer layers crumbled easily, falling to the ground and covering it with a dusty powder and revealing fungi-infested wood full of holes and blackened patches whenever I scratched at it with my hands. How is this still standing? I wondered while looking up at it. What''s keeping it from collapsing? I hummed and walked to it, then tapped the trunk. Should I climb and trim the branches, then go at it from the top down? I squinted my eyes and bit my lower lip. That''s going to take me too long. ¡°Can I help you somehow?¡± Lapia asked from behind. I turned to her and nodded. ¡°How much do you think this weighs?¡± I asked her, gesturing at the tree. The Elf looked at the thing for a few seconds, walked to it, and put a hand on the trunk. ¡°Hmm... Two thousand tonnes the lightest.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± I blurted out. ¡°Mhm,¡± she hummed. ¡°We could hollow it out,¡± she suggested. I looked around us and an idea popped in my head. ¡°How much weight can fifteen thousand Strength lift?¡± I inquired. My girlfriend''s emerald green eyes bore into mine. ¡°Five million kilograms... for a mortal with a 1 to 2 growth in Constitution and Strength,¡± she replied, drawing a J in the air. ¡°It''s exponential¡± I nodded. ¡°Alright, hear me out.¡± Lapia arched an eyebrow in suspicion. ¡°I''ll juice up, use Intimidate Prey to get all the critters, beasts, animals, and monsters hiding around us to jump on me to boost my strength, then Dragon Roar to duplicate that boost, and lift the tree.¡± ¡°Didn''t Dragon Roar just double your Strength against monsters?¡± Lapia questioned with squinted eyes. I nodded and pointed at the huge tree. ¡°This is monstrous,¡± I chuckled. She rolled her eyes and sighed, ¡°You''ll end up overdoing it. Intimidate Prey is enough, I think.¡± She walked to me and crossed her arms. ¡°You''re forgetting something, though.¡± ¡°Enlighten me,¡± I requested.. ¡°Tensile Stress,¡± she pointed out, lifting a finger in front of my face. ¡°The wood is mostly rotten already,¡± she stated, lifting another finger. ¡°If you try to lift it, it''ll break apart and collapse on top of you and the swamp around it.¡± I bit my lips and raised my eyebrows. ¡°What does the Master Wizard suggest, then?¡± Lapia''s lips curled in a big smirk. ¡°I''ll keep it together for you.¡± I nodded. ¡°Alright. Let''s make a plan. Do we need to get rid of the canopy?¡± Lapia shook her head. ¡°Not at all. You need to move it as much as Storing Laws require. That much mass would be...¡± she squinted her eyes. ¡°A full arm stretch is my guess. I will make a solid foundation for you to lift, which will remove the possibility of the trunk splitting while I keep the first one hundred meters together.¡± I nodded. ¡°We need a surface for me to stand on. The wood won''t hold.¡± Lapia nodded back. ¡°We could hollow out the base of the tree and place a stone I can flatten. Then, I cut the tree and you lift it.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I muttered and crouched. ¡°Let''s go over it visually. I don''t want us to go out because of a falling tree. That''d be embarrassing.¡± Lapia chuckled and crouched next to me. ¡°Fair." I produced a sketchbook and drew the tree. ¡°So we hollow the base,¡± I drew a square inside the tree, ¡°put a flattened rock or stone for me to stand on,¡± I drew a few lines, then a stick figure of me with its hands to the sky, ¡°then you cut the tree, separating it from the base,¡± I ran a line across the tree, ¡°then you hold the tree together for... let''s say five seconds while I lift and I store it.¡± ¡°Natasha,¡± Lapia deadpanned. I turned to her ¡°Yeah?¡± She pointed at a stick figure next to the tree. ¡°Is that me?¡± I nodded. ¡°Are those my ears?¡± She inquired, tapping at the doodle, where I added her long ears. I nodded again with a smirk. She arched an eyebrow. ¡°You forgot something,¡± she said, took the pencil from my hand and drew an extra stick on my waist. I blinked in confusion, tilting my head at her addition. ¡°Is that my penis?¡± I inquired. Lapia nodded with a smug grin. We both laughed and I stored the masterpiece we both created. ¡°Alright. Let''s get it. I''ll go look for a stone while you hollow out the tree,¡± I suggested while standing up. Lapia nodded. ¡°Sure. Make sure they''re big so I can sculpt them, too.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I replied and walked off towards Sonya. ¡°Hey, girl. Want to go look for yummy rocks?¡± I cooed her while scratching her jaw. The Ratnak huffed and sniffed the air. I mounted up and patted her neck. ¡°Guide me to boulders,¡± I instructed. We left Lapia and her fox behind, returning to the swamp.
Five minutes later, I was facing a big boulder. It was the size of a house, had jagged edges, and sat in the middle of a wide pond of still, swampy water. Surrounding it sat a group of five or so rocks the size of a carriage, all of which were perfect for what I needed. With a big smile and uplifted spirits, I guided Sonya to the prize. When we were halfway across the pond, the rocks groaned. I rolled my eyes and sighed, then witnessed the rocks stand up in stubby legs. Sonya let out a low, hungry growl. [Stradahl Golem, 223] [Stradahl Golem, 112] [Stradahl Golem, 176] [Stradahl Golem, 745] Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. [Stradahl Golem, 238] ¡°One is not like the others,¡± I pointed out to Sonya while dismounting into the gross water. ¡°Mind the bigger one.¡± The rocks, covered in moss and vegetation of various and dubious shapes, slowly made their way into the water, splashing it around. Sonya huffed and leaped at the smallest one, biting and mauling it with great force and brutality. I stopped for a second and observed nature take its course. The Ratnak booklet mentioned they preyed on Golems in the wild, and on ore veins in dungeons, making for a fantastical foodchain of large lizards eating living rocks. Sonya''s hard scales endured the Golems'' slaps and pummels, getting low growls in return while she decimated the one she was focusing on. Like a group of sheep watching a wolf feast on a lamb, the Golems couldn''t do much to stop the bloodless killing. ¡°You go, girl!¡± I cheered for her while advancing through the muddy water towards the big boulder. ¡°A snack does nobody harm!¡± Suddenly, I felt something touch my leg through the plated boot. ¡°§³§å§Ü§Ñ §Ò§Ý§ñ§ä§î!¡± I cursed in a high-pitched voice and jumped some ten meters away. The water splashed upwards and a snake that wouldn''t be out of place in the Amazonas rose up, looking directly at me with black, beady eyes. It was as thick as my thigh and easily ten meters long. [Caicai-Lao, 372] I scoffed and produced my spear. ¡°You little shit! How dare you scare me like that?!¡± I demanded. ¡°Go away! Shoo!¡± I waved at it with my weapon. The beast licked the air and slowly went into the water. I nodded, stored my spear, and continued walking. ¡°Yeah. That''s what I thought.¡± The moment I was about to step into the ground the boulder was at, something pulled me by the leg into the water. I immediately held my breath and reached for my foot, where I felt a slimy thing wrapped around it. Whatever grabbed me pulled me out of the water for a second then slammed me against the shallow water''s soil. Fucking cunt! I cursed in my mind, feeling anger well inside me. I pulled my weapon out and activated Dragonclaw, spinning in place ten times in an instant, releasing me from the grip on my leg. A loud hiss came from above me. I turned to look up and found the snake quickly approaching me with it''s maw wide open. With a click of my tongue I activated Pierce, Shielded Thrust, Sharp Spear, Long Attacks, Spear Finesse, and Coiling Attacks at once. Light reflected on the blade of my spear with a flash, and the air was split with a ringing whistle. The snake''s head was turned into a noodle strainer in less than an instant. The many pieces it was cut into fell on me and the water, splashing blood and dirty swamp water everywhere. I shook my head. ¡°You stupid thing...¡± I lamented, looking at the floating bits. ¡°Maybe self-preservation instincts malfunctioned and it thought it could eat me?¡± I wondered. ¡°Natural selection, I guess,¡± I muttered and got off the water, then scrunched my face in disgust. ¡°I want a shower,¡± I complained. ¡°Stupid snake!¡± Sonya had killed four of the Golems and was facing off against the larger one. I sighed and let Sonya have her fun, choosing to thoroughly clean myself instead while watching the Ratnak.
Fifteen minutes later I returned to the tree with the Golems leftovers and the boulder in my storage. Lapia got closer, and her nose scrunched up. ¡°You reek,¡± she pointed out, pinching her nose. ¡°A big snake tried to make me its lunch,¡± I sighed while shaking my head. ¡°Dragged me into the water and all.¡± ¡°A snake?¡± Lapia repeated. ¡°What level was it?¡± I shrugged and dismounted. ¡°Three hundred and seventy two,¡± I replied. ¡°Sounds scary,¡± she commented. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I nodded. ¡°I feel dirty,¡± I replied. ¡°But I got a big boulder. A few Golems were sleeping around it.¡± Lapia nodded, then inquired, ¡°Dalenium or Stradahl?¡± ¡°Stradahl,¡± I confirmed with a nod. ¡°Sonya ate them.¡± Lapia nodded a few times. ¡°That''s great. Stradahl absorbs a lot of E''er, sometimes producing Golems around it. Very durable. It''s used in the forging of armor, so it''s very good for you to stand on.¡± ¡°No shit? That''s cool,¡± I cheered. ¡°I''m done with the tree,¡± she informed me. ¡°Made a hole big enough for you to fit in a squatting position.¡± I nodded. ¡°Let''s get to it.¡±
The inside of the tree smelled of rotten wood, fungi, and dead vegetation. My armor didn''t give me bonuses to my stats, so I stored it. Instead, I was wearing the leather garments with sportswear on top to make the lifting comfortable. Lapia sat at the entrance of the hole she made, looking at me. ¡°You ready?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Let me juice up first,¡± I replied and produced a number of flasks of different sizes, colors, and brightness. [Tonic of Strength] [Tonic of Constitution] [Potion of Strength] [Potion of Constitution] [Elixir of Strength] [Elixir of Constitution] [Dew of Strength] [Dew of Constitution] [Draught of Strength] [Draught of Constitution] The tonics were a dark, brownish liquid inside test tubes with a tight cork on top. The potions were a bit wider and the color was clearer, like coffee with milk. The elixirs were clear like chocolate milk, had bubbles, and came in round-bottom flasks sealed with higher quality corks. The Dews were clear like water with a few drops brown colorant, with a proper twisting cap. The Draughts were bubbly, transparent, and had a soft glow to the liquids inside. Those also had a twisting cap and the glass was much thicker. I drank them one by one in case there weren''t enough living creatures around to fully boost my strength with Intimidate Prey. Lapia laughed at the silly faces I made when the taste of the foul drinks was too bitter. With a full stomach, and almost like it was pre-workout, I felt energized and ready to lift the massive tree. Lapia covered her ears and gave me a nod. ¡°Go for it.¡± I nodded back and assumed position, holding the tree with my hands. Then, I took a deep breath and activated Intimidate Prey, ¡°YEEAAAHHH BUDDY~! LIGHT WEIGHT~!!¡± The tree shook a little with the sound wave, and I felt my muscles react to the increase in stats. Natasha Novak Forest Halve Status -STR: 5404( +935) (+10000) -CON: 2702 (+935) (+750) -INT: 675 (+250) -WIS: 675 (+250) -DEX: 4053 (+750) Health: 54000/54000 Stamina: 13450/13500 E¡¯er: 13000/13500 Right then, I felt E''er above me shift, forming something solid and tight. Straining every muscle in my body, I slowly pushed upwards, stretching my legs and arms. ¡°LET''S GO!¡± I screamed and lifted the tree in one swift movement. My back trembled a little, and my legs burned with satisfaction. I then tried storing the tree. Nothing happened. Release! I sent Lapia through the bond. The Elf''s eyes widened in panic and she waved a hand. The wood above me groaned and rumbled, having lost what kept it together. I felt it bend and lean to the side, getting heavier on my right side. The massive boost in strength made it unsurprisingly easy, but I was panicking a little either way. If I failed to store the tree now that it had been cut from the base, it would inevitably fall and cause damage beyond my imagination. I had used Intimidate Prey, meaning all monsters below my level in the immediate surroundings were rushing towards me. With such circumstances upon us, I stretched my arms above my head. Cracking wood loudly echoed inside the tree, and the vibrations reached my arms and spine. With full body extension, I tried storing the tree. Light invaded the tree stump, the groaning of wood went quiet, and the weight on my body vanished. Lapia stood up and clapped, then jumped at me and hugged my neck. ¡°You did it!¡± she cheered and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I deactivated Intimidate Prey and let out a long breath. ¡°My back...¡± I groaned, feeling the muscles tight and burning. ¡°Ahh... my back...¡± 178 - A fox?! An Elixir of Rejuvenation later, the pain went away and the muscles on my back loosened. ¡°Two much Strength and not enough Constitution,¡± Lapia pointed out with worry. Her fingers pinched and prodded my shoulders, trying to massage the muscles underneath. I nodded, the feeling of my muscles tightening around my bones still fresh in my mind. ¡°Better to know the limit before it matters,¡± I replied, agreeing with her. The removal of the tree brought sunlight back to the land, dispelling the perpetual dim twilight we had been in for the last hours. It had also probably removed a landmark for life in the swamp and the surrounding forest, but I would bet having the suns as orientation was more important in the long run. Trees looked greener, the ground browner, and the wind picked up, spreading smells both gentle and nasty. ¡°How full is your storage now?¡± she asked with curiosity, moving her fingers to my neck. I produced a water bottle and took a sip. ¡°I have 11.9 trillion gold coins, Lapia. That tree changed nothing.¡± The Elf raised her eyebrows in doubt. ¡°Not even a one percent change?¡± She insisted. ¡°You can feel such a small change?¡± I inquired in confusion. ¡°Mine is smaller so I can,¡± she replied with a pensive look. I hummed and stretched. ¡°I did feel the tree go in and settle, but there wasn''t a feeling similar to that one percent thing.¡± ¡°Could you check?¡± Lapia requested, looking into my eyes with serious ones. ¡°Research?¡± I asked for clarification. She nodded. I closed my eyes and dove into myself. The Storage concept felt the exact same as usual, not even a one percent of difference. Opening my eyes I shook my head. ¡°Not even like a drop in the ocean,¡± I informed her. The Elf whistled in amazement. ¡°Your storage must be absolutely massive,¡± she commented. ¡°Not the only massive thing I have, keke,¡± I joked, winking an eye at her. Lapia smiled and chuckled. ¡°Good one,¡± she praised. I giggled and picked her up, then walked out of the tree stump. ¡°Let''s get rid of the last bit and go back.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Lapia agreed with a nod. I put her down and faced the remnants of the tree, then produced my spear from my storage and got to cutting the roots. The process was fast and easy. The state of the wood, however, made the process unnecessarily troubling. Fungi broke off the bark and floated in the air in a fine dust that smelled like corpses rotting in summer, which meant a slight change of plans. After cutting the last root I turned to Lapia, who was wearing a green hazmat suit. The sight was so out of place I burst in laughter. ¡°What?¡± she demanded, her muffled voice making it funnier. ¡°Do I look that silly?¡± I gave her a thumbs up. ¡°You do. Do your thing now.¡± The Elf sighed, produced her staff, and hit the butt on the ground. The stump shook for a second, then dislodged out of the ground. I walked to it and pushed it up, then sent it into my storage. ¡°We''re finally done.¡± Lapia sighed loudly, then cursed in Elvish. Fire consumed my sight for a few seconds, raising the temperature a few hundred degrees. After the fire dissipated, Lapia harrumphed. ¡°Die, parasites!¡± she cheered and stored the hazmat suit. ¡°These clothes are surprisingly useful, but also incredibly unfashionable.¡± ¡°They are,¡± I agreed and stored mine. ¡°Why did you burn the air, though?¡± The Elf huffed and shook her head. ¡°Parasitic fungi, Natasha. Need I say more?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Nope,¡± I replied, shaking my head. A distant gasp of surprise caught my attention. I turned to the source and my eyebrows almost fused with my hairline in surprise. A good distance away, behind a tree and standing over two meters in height, a person was looking directly at us with wide eyes. Reddish orange hair, dark brown skin where visible, whiskers on the cheeks, and two tall ears on top of the head. An elaborately embroidered poncho covered the body, but a fluffy tail could be seen sneaking from the back. The eyes that were looking at me with shock, surprise, and a little bit of fear were orange and had slit pupils. Naturally, the first thing I did was appraise the individual. [Tulmi Elf, Che''Kha La''Ti Lvl 203 ¨C Un''ba Peu 193] ¡°Lapia,¡± I whispered, still looking at the Fox-Elf. ¡°A Tulmi Elf is looking at us.¡± Without moving, and with an uninterested voice, Lapia asked back, ¡°What symbol is on the Ezh''de?¡± I focused on the poncho and felt a little conflicted. ¡°A tree,¡± I replied. ¡°Shaped just like the one we removed.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Lapia hissed, then gasped, ¡°Ah, but you''re a Halve. We''ll live.¡± The Tulmi Elf got down on all fours and ran away in the opposite direction, climbing trees and avoiding the swampy water. ¡°They ran away,¡± I informed Lapia. The Domi Elf walked to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. ¡°Okay. Time to be a Higher Being, Natasha,¡± she told me with very serious eyes. ¡°The entire Clan will come, probably offended by the fact we removed the tree they worship since they wear it on the Ezh''de. Hopefully they know of your species and speak some sort of Elvish I can understand and speak.¡± I gave her a confused look. ¡°Why are you talking about them like they''re ignorant?¡± Lapia bit her lips. ¡°They''re self-isolated tribes, sunshine. They heavily reject modernity and technology, choosing a life of nature.¡± I squinted my eyes in doubt. ¡°Why?¡± She shrugged. ¡°There are more than enough reasons, but that doesn''t matter right now.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I agreed with a nod. ¡°Should I be benevolent, tyrannical, strict, or what?¡± Lapia smiled and pinched my cheeks. ¡°Whatever you feel is right,¡± she replied. I took a deep breath and sighed. Holy shit. I changed my clothes to my Eternium Starforged armor, braided my hair, and held my spear like a staff, pointing the blade upwards. This is fucking heavy! Lapia changed to her everyday Ezh''de, retrieved her staff, and wore a turquoise bonnet. I gave her a look and smile. ¡°What''s the hat for?¡± ¡°Elvish cultural symbol of being someone who spreads a God''s legacy,¡± she explained, looking a little proud. ¡°You could call it a teacher''s badge.¡± I nodded. ¡°I see. You make it look good,¡± I praised with a smile. ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied, then quietly whispered, ¡°I''m shaking a little.¡± ¡°Same,¡± I chuckled and turned to where the Tulmi Elf went off to. A few minutes passed, and relief started to grow within me. Hopefully they don''t come, I thought with a sigh. Uncontacted tribes weren''t on my list of things I wanted to meet. The weave of fate, however, had other plans for me. From the distance, around a hundred people showed up from between the trees, moving slowly and looking at us with wariness on their faces. The collective wore simple clothes in the form of a poncho even though the weather was getting colder and colder as the Perihelion approached. Their hairs were mostly pitch black with the odd dark brown. Their skin colors were similarly brown and tan. Each and every single one of them had tall ears on top of their heads, pointing at me and sometimes to each other whenever one of them said something. As a Higher Being myself, it was my duty to receive the group and ease their worries as inhabitants of the planet I exist to protect. As such, I was machinating an explanation as to why the tree was removed. Simply telling them to accept it and move on was tyrannical at best. Within the group of people I noticed children and elderly. The former was noticeable in their lack of classes and low levels, plus having very fine and barely visible whiskers on their faces. The latter had higher levels, and looked their age with graying hairs and wrinkled faces. As was usual with Elves, differentiating the men and the women was hard as they all looked androgynous, plus the fact they wore no identifying clothes. The Great Heavens Above had granted me the ultimate gift to deal with situations such as these: a resting bitch face. A perfect poker face when encountered with highly stressing situations was a good thing to have to convey calmness and confidence, hiding the nerves within. At least they''re not armed to the teeth, I concluded with ease in my mind. When the group reached us, an old couple walked forward, looking at me with complicated emotions on their faces. ¡°Pazh ka''tal, Azh''avun,¡± the old man told me. ¡°Uzh unil, Azh''avun,¡± the old lady continued. Relief washed over me at the words. I recognized some words Lapia had taught me, which meant the language was similar to Elvish, if not the exact same one. Lapia sighed next to me. ¡°They are greeting you as a Protector,¡± she translated. ¡°He said welcome, and she said good afternoon.¡± I nodded, looking at the two old Fox-Elves. ¡°Greetings, mortals,¡± I said back. Lapia was quiet for a long second, probably questioning my choice of words. She translated nonetheless. I had to make an impression as a Higher Being, which meant stating the objective differences between us as Mortals and Eternal. 179 - Tree lore. The old couple shared a look after Lapia''s translation. ¡°My name is Natasha Novak,¡± I introduced myself. ¡°I am a Halve Warrior. Who is it I am talking to?¡± Lapia gave me a glance, her lips curling into a small, amused smile. She turned to the Fox-Elves and translated. The collective of Elves knelt down and lowered their heads. The old couple stood up first and said a good amount of words back. ¡°They''re thanking you for sharing your name,¡± Lapia translated. ¡°They call themselves Dark Bog Dwellers. The gentleman''s name is Tak''Alo, an extremely old name in Elvish. The lady''s name is Azhi''Thara, also an extremely old name. The two have accomplished feats deserving of leadership, and guide the tribe as the strongest fighters and main hunters. The spiritual leaders are the group of elders behind them.¡± As Lapia said, a group of really old Elves were kneeling behind the old couple. Their wrinkles were impressive, and their dark hairs had very noticeable gray strands mixed in. I looked around us and hummed. Not swamp, but bog? I wondered. Maybe it''s the different between center and centre? Or chips and crisps? Stupid language, I sighed and focused back on the Elves. One of the really old people asked something in a wheezy voice. A confused expression accompanied the words. Lapia replied with her name and a few more words in Elvish. I observed the former Noble, member of an affluent family in a distant and ancient country conversing with people who perhaps had no concept or knowledge about abstract things like justice and nationality. The leader couple were looking at me with concerned and troubled faces. Their eyes jumped between my face, my armor, and my spear. ¡°Ask them why they came, please,¡± I requested Lapia. She nodded and translated. The couple listened, looked up to where the tree previously, and said something. Their tall ears shifted when insects got too close. ¡°They want to know why the tree was removed,¡± the Wizard told me, then added, ¡°They''re using extremely courteous words, by the way.¡± I nodded, turning to the old couple. ¡°I was told the tree was dead for a long time and needed to be removed so the surrounding vegetation can survive the winter,¡± I replied truthfully. ¡°Danuva informed me.¡± The Fox-Elves reacted immediately to the Goddess'' name, returning to their kneeling posture and muttering under their breath. My eyebrows climbed my forehead at that. The few faces I could see weren''t scared or fearful of her name. They were similar to the ones every Warrior I have met eyes with gave me. Adoration. Lapia gave me an uncertain look. ¡°Go on, tell them,¡± I urged her with a nod. ¡°They need to know.¡± She took a long breath in and translated my words. The Tulmi Elf collective was silent for a while after hearing Lapia''s words. One of the elders said something with a deep and raspy voice, pointing at the hole in the ground where the stump was. The rest of the elders suddenly started chanting a song, and the rest of the collective joined. Confused, I gave Lapia a look. My girlfriend was smiling from long ear to long ear. Her eyes squinted with glee and a few giggles escaped her. I arched an eyebrow at her. ¡°The elder said there was a bad thing under the tree,¡± Lapia explained. ¡°And now they''re singing the story of how the tree got sick and the swamp formed afterwards. They have a vague idea that the Gods have a home nearby so they''ve never dared to alter nature in case they return.¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°A vague idea?¡± I inquired in a quiet voice, not wanting to interrupt the Fox-Elves'' song. ¡°Have they met them? Did their ancestors or predecessors meet them and pass it on or something?¡± ¡°They''ve seen the eye in the sky, whatever that means,¡± the Domi Elf told me with a shrug. ¡°They call it ''the oft-seen sun third'',¡± she added. ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered with a nod, recalling the eye I had a staring contest with. ¡°Makes sense.¡± The tribal people sang for a minute, then slowly went quiet. A few said some things to each other, then directed their words to the elders and the leaders, which prompted a conversation for a few minutes. I observed them in silence, noticing their gestures and tones. I quickly noticed their Elvish was more guttural than the one used by Elena, Pokora, Alyssa, and Lapia. They also were naked under the poncho, so I averted my eyes whenever they moved their arms to gesture, causing the clothing to flap around. When the short exchange concluded, the old couple turned to me and said something. ¡°They think you ate the tree, and are worried you''ll get sick just like the tree did,¡± Lapia translated. ¡°They know you''re not of flesh, but want to share some medicine with you.¡± I tightened my stomach to keep the laughter in. Ate the tree? That''s cute in a weird, primitive way, I thought with a tiny smile. ¡°Do they not know about storage items?¡± I inquired with curiosity. ¡°I told you they reject technology,¡± Lapia reminded me. ¡°I''d say they don''t.¡± I nodded. ¡°Right,¡± I muttered and showed them my spear. The collective took a step back. I stored the weapon, showing them the vanishing item. Their eyes widened to the limit, and they got close to me while speaking loudly. A wide smile formed on my face at their ignorance, and I retrieved my spear. A chorus of ¡°oooh!¡± and ¡°aaah!¡± echoed in the small hill as the tribal people witnessed storage magic for the first time. I gestured at where the tree was, produced a root, and stored it back. ¡°I didn''t eat it,¡± I explained to them. Lapia translated my words. The Elves stood close to me and said things quickly and loudly, but didn''t touch me or my armor. Their faces showed fascination and awe, and some laughed while others shared looks of light suspicion and heavy confusion. Among the group present, the Tulmi Elf that had spotted us was near the back, looking around at attention. The reddish orange hair stood out extremely noticeably in the sea of black and brown heads. The individual stood next to a group that was scanning the surroundings. ¡°They''re impressed and confused,¡± Lapia translated the words thrown my way. ¡°Most are saying things like ''As expected of the Eternal Protector, such high-grade spells!'' and things like that.¡± I chuckled at the silly situation. ¡°Thank you for offering the medicine, but I''m perfectly fine as you can see,¡± I told them. After Lapia translated my words, the leaders and elders took control of the collective and calmed them down. Turning to me, the old couple said something. Lapia hummed in interest, then translated, ¡°The bad thing the song talks about is a word I don''t know, maybe a monster or something. They want to know if you''ll kill it so it doesn''t spread the sickness.¡± ¡°If there''s such a thing, I will. Rest assured,¡± I replied with determination, looking into the couple''s eyes to convey the message. Both nodded before Lapia could relay the information, then turned to the tribe and said some words. Then, as soon as they arrived, they started to leave while singing. Lapia and I watched them until they vanished between the trees right where they came from. ¡°That was fast,¡± I commented. ¡°Didn''t even say goodbye,¡± I lamented with a sigh. ¡°That''s what the last song was about,¡± Lapia corrected me. ¡°They wished the Eternal Protector the best of outcomes.¡± I turned to her and my eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°Seems awfully cold,¡± I joked. ¡°Just saying good luck and leaving?¡± I sucked air through my teeth. ¡°The world is cruel.¡± The Wizard chuckled while shaking her head. ¡°Do you think there''s a monster down there? Can you feel any danger?¡± I turned to the hole left after removing the stump and focused on it. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. ¡°Nope,¡± I denied. ¡°Maybe a dead body? I don''t know how it works, though. Some spore maybe infected the tree or something like that.¡± I walked to it and moved the dirt with my armored boot. ¡°Give me a hand for a second. Let''s see if there''s some foul thing under here. If not, we go back.¡± Lapia approached and retrieved her staff. ¡°It''ll be faster this way,¡± she stated and activated a skill. Chunks of dirt vanished from the ground, reappearing a few meters from the hole. After Lapia shifted ten or so chunks out of the way, a bone-white surface was revealed. It had familiar engravings on it, and the material reminded me of something. I squinted my eyes at it, searching my memory for anything similar to it. Lapia hummed and crouched next to the hole. ¡°Doesn''t look like a monster to me.¡± Then, it hit me. ¡°That''s a dungeon door,¡± I blurted out, recalling the one I pushed open in Mountroad. I turned to the Elf with confusion. ¡°Can that happen?¡± My girlfriend gave me a doubtful look. ¡°Are you sure? It looks nothing like a dungeon door. Not like I''m an expert in the field, though.¡± I held my chin and considered the circumstances. ¡°We should get Alyssa and Yolin to come and take a look. They''re the experienced Chasers,¡± I proposed. ¡°Mhm,¡± Lapia agreed with a nod. 180 - Offerings Found, I sent to Yolin. Dungeon, I sent to Alyssa. Hopefully they''re together, I thought while pinching my lower lip and stretching it. Hmm... Come, I sent to Pokora just in case. ¡°I sent them a message through the Bond,¡± I informed Lapia. She nodded, walked to me, and produced a chair, where she sat down. She produced a book and flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for. I busied myself with Elf-watching. Lapia''s little quirks when reading tugged at my lips, forming a smile that soon let a quiet chuckle escape. She looked up at me and raised her eyebrows. I crouched down in front of her and rested my chin on her knees. ¡°What are you reading?¡± I asked looking up at her. She closed the book, keeping a finger on the page she was reading, and showed me the cover. The title was written in Elvish which I didn''t know how to read yet. ¡°Unpredictability of Dungeons, Floating Islands, and other such Phenomena,¡± Lapia informed me. ¡°Originally written by Roston Kalamar some two million years ago, this is last millennium''s revision.¡± I hummed. ¡°Isn''t that a bit old, though?¡± The Elf''s eyebrows went up. ¡°Excuse you?¡± she chuckled. ¡°This is brand new, sunshine.¡± My eyebrows joined in slight confusion at her words. ¡°How is that brand new if it''s from a thousand years ago?¡± Lapia sighed while shaking her head. ¡°Can you remember what the oldest written thing was on Earth?¡± she inquired. ¡°The hamuhamu-something code, I think,¡± I recalled with a shrug. ¡°It had the line of an eye for an eye in it. A museum had it on display in a country I visited.¡± My girlfriend nodded. ¡°How old was it?¡± I scoffed, trying to remember. ¡°Maybe...¡± I squinted my eyes and looked at the sky. ¡°Three thousand years old? Maybe older, but not by much.¡± Lapia''s face turned to confusion. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°That''s what I remember,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°So, to me, a one thousand year old book is pretty old.¡± She hummed and fixed a lock of hair behind a long ear. ¡°For now, Natasha. There will come a day when you feel a thousand years is too short.¡± ¡°But that day is not today,¡± I countered with a smile. ¡°True,¡± she agreed and caressed my left cheek with a hand. ¡°Now let me read and see if there''s any information on that,¡± she told me and pointed at the hole. I nodded, stood up, and retrieved a sketchbook. Coming, Yolin''s voice came. Going, was Alyssa''s reply. Together, Pokora sent back. ¡°They''re coming,¡± I told Lapia.
Twenty minutes later, and after I finished a series of sketches of the things I had seen since leaving the temple until we sat down next to the hole, the Tulmi Elf leaders returned accompanied by the redheaded individual. I stood up and faced them with a welcoming smile, walking to meet them. The gentleman carried a very simple, decently-sized clay cauldron with a lid on top. The lady carried a good number of birds tied together by their feet. The readheaded fellow carried a basket with assorted vegetables. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Gifts? I thought with expectation, thinking of soup. The three stopped in front of me, knelt down, and said something. ¡°Ah,¡± Lapia uttered in understanding. ¡°They weren''t wishing you good luck, they were promising gifts to ensure success. I got that one wrong, sorry,¡± she apologized. ¡°Their choice of words is a bit complicated.¡± ¡°It''s alright,¡± I assured her and gave the Tulmi Elves a nod. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± The gentleman removed the lid off the cauldron, put it on the ground, and showed me the contents. It was a light brown color that tempted the senses. The smell was sour and bitter with a touch of sweet. He said something and offered the cauldron. ¡°He''s... begging you to drink some,¡± Lapia translated, a little confused. She said something in Elvish to the man. He nodded and said something back. ¡°It''s medicine that will help you achieve victory,¡± Lapia informed me. ¡°To connect with Galeia and see to the higher truth, he says.¡± ¡°Ooohhhh!¡± I breathed out in awe. So it''s like Panoramix'' magic potion? I wondered and took the cauldron with a smile. Don''t mind if I do. ¡°Thank you, Tak''Alo,¡± I chuckled in appreciation and drank a long gulp. The man smiled and gave me a nod. The taste was similar to the smell: bitter, sour, and slightly sweet. It also had a very earthly after-taste that made the back of my throat tingle pleasantly. He said something and gestured for me to drink more. ¡°You have to drink it all for it to have any effect,¡± Lapia translated. ¡°He says heavy people need a larger dose.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I agreed and drank it all. My stomach felt warm and comfy after the liquid went down. The Tulmi Elf grabbed the cauldron and gesture for me to throw it at the ground, then said something. ¡°Clay must return to Galeia after fulfilling its purpose,¡± Lapia translated. I did as told, hurling the thing to the ground. Naturally, it shattered on impact. The three Tulmi Elves cheered in joy, lifting their arms. The lady walked to me and offered the birds, saying something. ¡°I''m not eating raw meat,¡± I clarified. Whether I can eat raw meat without consequences or not was irrelevant. ¡°It''s for your travels,¡± Lapia corrected my interpretation with an amused smile. ¡°They fed the birds with the same concoction.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I chuckled and accepted the birds, then stored them. ¡°Thank you, Azhi''Thara.¡± She gave me a deep nod and stepped to the side. The redheaded Fox-Elf walked to me and offered the basket with vegetables, saying something. I waited for Lapia to translate. ¡°For travels, too,¡± the Wizard relaid the information. ¡°These will keep you strong and healthy, he says.¡± He? I thought with surprise, then gave the man a smile and accepted the basket. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± The three glanced over at the hole and said something while pointing at it. Lapia replied, gesturing at her staff and my spear. I held my chin in thought. What if I gave them something in return as thanks? I wondered and produced a Legendary quality blade shaped like a machete, then offered it to them. ¡°So that you may protect yourself if you can''t be reached. Use this to protect children only,¡± I told them. ¡°I will know if you misuse this.¡± Lapia gave me a surprised look, then translated my words. The three Tulmi Elves fell to their knees, spouting words my way. The lady crawled to my feet and took the weapon while shooting word after word. ¡°They''re grateful,¡± Lapia translated. ¡°Extremely so. They promise to follow your command at the cost of their lives,¡± she added, giving me an odd look. I looked down at them and nodded. ¡°They asked if we found anything, and I told them the truth,¡± my girlfriend informed me. I hummed. ¡°Good. Ask them if they want to join in exploring the dungeon.¡± Lapia translated my words. The leaders replied with quick words and strong gestures. ¡°Hmm,¡± Lapia hummed. ¡°They don''t want to, but they''re saying it in very polite words.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Can''t force them. Their loss.¡± Lapia nodded and told them something. The tribal Elves replied and stood up, then told me something. This is getting a little frustrating, I considered. I need to learn Elvish soon. A few minutes of back and forth later, the Tulmi Elves retreated into the swampy forest. Alone again, we went back to what we were doing before. I sat down and produced the pencil to draw, but felt my fingertips tingle and itch. I rubbed them with my thumbs, and the sensation spread. Looking down at my hands, I tilted my head in confusion. My fingertips, usually straight lines, were wiggling and shifting shapes. I turned to Lapia with the intention of asking if she could see the same thing. The Elf had a light red, thirty centimeter thick aura around her that moved like water and refracted light. What the fuck did I drink? I very slowly thought, feeling like Lapia was a magnet my eyes couldn''t leave. 181 - Drugs Time passed as I watched Lapia with my undivided attention, inspecting the odd aura around the Elf. Stretching an arm, I tried touching it. My hand passed through unimpeded, coming into contact with her shoulder. The Elf''s right hand, the color of brown sugar, rested on top of my gold one. Her fingers wrapped with mine and she caressed my palm with her thumb after lifting it a little. A warm tingle spread from my fingertips to the base of my skull, where a pleasant sensation that reverberated through my brain made me close my eyes in content. The reddish shape around her remained unperturbed even though my hand had gone through. The thickness, color, and consistency were not altered. Hmm... I squinted my eyes at the woman. ¡°Nothing yet,¡± Lapia muttered in slight frustration, flipping a page. ¡°Number of floors, norms on shape, recorded vegetation and minerals, relation between outer ecosystem and inner ecosystem... but not much about the door leading to it.¡± She tapped the book and let out a huff. The sound of her voice landing on my ears was warm, salty, and a color similar to the vapor-looking aura around her body. My eyebrows climbed my forehead, confusion spreading in my mind. ¡°Unless dungeons are on a completely different realm in Divine Lands...¡± she stopped talking and her eyes widened. ¡°Or were Divine Lands chosen as such because such dungeons existed here, therefore no information on them would be collected unless the researcher is suicidal... or accompanied a Halve who requested it to be kept a secret.¡± ¡°Sounds dodgy,¡± I commented, enjoying the sensations I was experiencing. ¡°And a little schizoparanoid.¡± ¡°Skitsoparanoid?¡± the Elf repeated in confusion, flipping a page. ¡°What''s that?¡± I hummed for a second, thinking on how to explain it. ¡°I don''t really know how to explain it at the moment,¡± I concluded after not feeling like doing it. The Wizard chuckled while nodding. ¡°Dodgy? Yeah,¡± she picked the line of thought up. ¡°We''re talking about Halves, sunshine. Who knows who has wandered into a place they shouldn''t, learned something, then met a Halve who told them to keep quiet... or worse.¡± ¡°Quite the claim,¡± I muttered with a smile. Lapia sighed while shaking her head. ¡°I am aware I have no proof on that, but I have learned of something I shouldn''t make public, so it doesn''t sound so out of touch.¡± I took a deep breath, removed my hand from her shoulder, and sighed, ¡°Can we not go there?¡± The Wizard grumbled under her breath and continued reading in silence.
A fat caterpillar was moving across my palm, wiggling and dragging its fuzzy body forward. I followed it with my eyes, smiling at the way the hairs bluishly and sourly tickled my skin. ¡°Are you hungry, little buddy?¡± I asked and offered a leaf I found on the ground. The bug''s feelers touched the leaf and tentatively inspected the object for a few seconds. After enough information was gathered, it moved towards the food and began a small feast. I nodded, sharing the feeling of a meal after a productive day of glorious survival. A black thing passed in front of me like a blur, making me blink. I looked up and saw a bird flying away. ¡°Tsk! You''ll scare my friend,¡± I chastised the flying animal, then looked down at my hand. The caterpillar was gone, replaced by a stain of transparent liquid. I produced a napkin and wiped my hand, then frowned. ¡°You left us too soon, Ilya Natashov Novak,¡± I lamented the death of my friend who I just met and named. A branch snapped to my right. I produced my spear and looked over, ready to engage. Yolin was approaching on top of Pochi, while the rest of the party followed on their mounts. The tank had a white-gold blanket of watery gas around her, similar to the aura around Lapia. The Wizard stood up and walked to meet them. ¡°What took you so long?¡± I inquired while standing up. ¡°It''s been like... four hours,¡± I complained and walked to them. The Oni laughed and dismounted. ¡°So you found a dungeon?¡± She asked back with a big smile, standing in front of me. I arched an eyebrow. ¡°I asked you something first,¡± I insisted. Lapia turned to me and gave me a look of confusion. ¡°You sent them a message thirty minutes ago,¡± she pointed out. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. My eyebrows slowly reached their zenith, almost fusing with my hairline. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I inquired with a chuckle. ¡°It''s been around four hours,¡± I retorted and turned back to Yolin. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Yolin looked me in the eye. ¡°We came here as soon as we got your messages,¡± she clarified, giving me a slightly confused look. ¡°Is this a bit?¡± Pokora asked from behind Pochi, showing up shortly after. We made eye contact and she gave me a playful wink. The Archer was surrounded by a blue-green fog-like coat. I held my chin and rubbed my cheeks. Oh well, whatever, I concluded with a shrug. ¡°Come check this out,¡± I told Yolin while gesturing at the hole in the ground. ¡°Alyssa! Come check it out, too!¡± I called in a loud voice to make sure she heard me. Yolin gave me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Why are you whispering?¡± she inquired in a giggling whisper. The sound of the Oni''s voice caressed me with sugary comfort and solid strength which was a bit black on the edges like her tongue. ¡°I''m not, though?¡± I replied, giving her a confused look. ¡°I''m talking like usual.¡± Pokora approached me and grabbed me by the cheeks, then inspected my face. ¡°Your eyes are glowing brighter than usual,¡± she pointed out. ¡°You''re whispering, have trouble with time, and gulp every time someone says something, Natasha. Did you eat something around here?¡± she asked with serious eyes. ¡°Maybe a tasty-looking mushroom? Perhaps brown with holes in it?¡± Yolin nodded. ¡°Yeah, she''s a bit out of sorts,¡± she pointed out in realization. Lapia facepalmed. ¡°We came across a tribe of Tulmi Elves,¡± she revealed with a heavy sigh. ¡°Actually?¡± Pokora questioned in a loud voice, letting me go and walking to Lapia. ¡°How... what... when... Huh? You have to tell me about them, Lapia.¡± The Wizard smiled and nodded. ¡°I will,¡± she replied. I tuned them out, knowing what happened, and looked for the Luzo. She was standing next to me already. The light purple woman had a pure white smokey breeze around her that looked gentle and soft. I squinted my eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°Alyssa,¡± I called to her. Her red eyes scanned mine and her lips pulled up into a smile. ¡°Yes?¡± She answered. ¡°I''m tripping balls,¡± I sighed, then corrected my words. ¡°I''m on drugs right now, I think.¡± The healer smiled wider and nodded. ¡°Did you eat a mushroom?¡± she repeated Pokora''s question. I shook my head in denial. ¡°The Tulmi Elves gave me some medicinal soup to drink, supposedly to ensure victory.¡± She placed a hand on my forehead. ¡°Your temperature is normal... but I doubt Halves get fevers,¡± she giggled. ¡°Have you checked your status to see the effects?¡± ¡°Maybe it was pretty strong,¡± Yolin, who I forgot was in front of me, commented. ¡°Maybe too strong,¡± I agreed with a deep nod. ¡°I can hear smells, temperature, and colors.¡± The Oni whistled her surprise. ¡°Damn. How does my voice feel?¡± ¡°Sweet, black, and solid,¡± I replied as I felt it. Alyssa and Yolin shared a look, then turned back to me. ¡°Did you find the dungeon before or after you ingested the soup?¡± Alyssa asked with a big smile. The Oni was looking at me with concern in her expression. ¡°Before,¡± I replied with certainty, giving them both a nod each, yet not knowing why that needed to be asked. ¡°Oh, alright,¡± Yolin accepted my words with a shrug. ¡°So you didn''t hallucinate it.¡± ¡°I found it with Lapia,¡± I assured them. ¡°She''s the one who... used spells to remove the soil.¡± Both nodded in understanding. Alyssa raised her scaly eyebrows at me. ¡°Well?¡± I blinked twice. ¡°Well what?¡± I asked, a little confused. Yolin bit her lips, fighting a smile. The Luzo put a hand on my cheek and the other on my neck. ¡°Did you check your status to see the effects of the medicine?¡± She inquired next to my ear. ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered, then replied, ¡°No, I haven''t.¡± A moment of silence passed. Alyssa gave my ear a soft kiss. ¡°Can you check for me?¡± I closed my eyes for a second, looked into her her eyes, and replied honestly, ¡°Nah. I don''t feel like doing that.¡± Yolin erupted in laughter, bending forward and hugging her stomach. Alyssa smiled and giggled. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°Not particularly, no,¡± I replied while shaking my head. The Luzo hummed. ¡°Your heartbeat is lower than normal,¡± she informed me. ¡°Around one hundred and five per minute.¡± ¡°Pretty fast,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Not for you,¡± Yolin retorted, still chuckling. ¡°Mh,¡± I hummed in acceptance then looked behind them to see if the rest of the party showed up. Bonte, Bromisnar, Thelea, Elena, and Hanna were on top of their mounts a few meters away, waiting for something. I gestured for them to approach. ¡°What are they doing?¡± ¡°You''re whispering,¡± Yolin pointed out. ¡°Maybe they thought it was some secret so they kept their distance.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°GET OVER HERE!¡± I shouted at them, knowing that normal talking would result in whispering. Alyssa took a step back while covering her ears. ¡°Ouuuhh!¡± I winced and produced a healing potion of the highest grade. ¡°Too loud?¡± I inquired. The Luzo and the Oni nodded. ¡°My bad,¡± I apologized and gave the Luzo a kiss on the forehead. She accepted the flask and stored it, then activated a skill which made the aura around her glow brighter. ¡°O §Ò§Ý§ñ...¡± I breathed out. 182 - Psychodelic Hallucinations The light around the Luzo smelled like a shape with 24 flat faces holding a very interesting joke that had both criticisms and flattery to the ever-growing problem of housing in Dwarvish Monarchies around Galeia despite having the highest density of Geomancers, implying that there was no problem at all to begin with. I wasn''t quite convinced, so I nodded and looked away in hopes it wouldn''t insist. It clearly wasn''t being that serious. My eyes met Yolin''s, and her sky blue eyes told me the joke was lame anyways. The Oni was over two hundred years old, after all. She must''ve heard that one at least a hundred times, making her a trusty source in such circumstances. Bonte, Bromisnar, Thelea, Hanna, and Elena walked over to us, standing a meter behind Alyssa and Yolin. I faced them and raised my eyebrows. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked with genuine interest, wondering why they approached us. The group''s faces flashed momentarily with confusion, betraying their uncertainty towards life and the end goal of death that we must all encounter innumerable times for as long as we exist. Mortals, I concluded in my mind with an unhealthy amount of derision that came out of nowhere. Shaking my head and letting out a sigh, I turned around, facing the hole in the ground where a tree once stood. ¡°So,¡± I began, pointing at it. ¡°There was a tree here. I... put it out? No... Uh... took it out?¡± I wondered at a loss of words, forgetting the words in the English language. ¡°Removed?¡± Yolin offered, stifling a laugh. I snapped my fingers and clapped. ¡°Exactly! Removed. So, I removed the tree and the Tulmi Elves told me....¡± I stopped and shook my head. I had gotten the order of events wrong. ¡°I removed the tree with Lapia''s help. It was pretty big, too. Around two hundred meters tall and sixty wide... or around? I didn''t check, to be honest.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Alyssa muttered with a nod. ¡°Is wide from one edge to the opposite one? Or is it around like how you measure circumference?¡± I inquired, not sure if the story could move on without that crucial piece of information. ¡°Wide, Natasha,¡± the Oni replied. I nodded. ¡°I lifted the tree while Lapia kept it together so it didn''t collapse.¡± I stopped and went over the events in my mind to know where to go next. After a second, I continued, ¡°Then some Tulmi Elves got here since they live nearby and probably saw the thing vanish. They spoke Elvish with a very thick and guttural accent, but Lapia did a fantastic job at translating my and their words. Superb, actually.¡± ¡°Good thing you weren''t by yourself,¡± Alyssa commented with a giggle. ¡°That would''ve been an awkward situation.¡± I shifted my weight a little, feeling my hips slightly numb. ¡°True, but I''m sure we would have found a way to communicate. I can draw what happened, for example,¡± I offered, gesturing in the air with a hand as if holding a pencil. ¡°The Elves told us the tree got sick, and that there''s something beneath it that caused the sickness. So, we dug and found a dungeon gate.¡± Yolin walked past me towards the hole, peeked over the edge, and hummed. Alyssa went next, standing next to the Oni. At that moment, the suns started looking at me in a suspicious way. I looked up and stared at the giant balls of fire in space. Fuck off or I''ll kick your asses, I threatened the celestial objects in my mind. I had to be quiet, of course. My companions might attack the suns if they heard my beef with them. The pair stayed quiet, signaling my victory over them. ¡°A sideways?¡± Alyssa wondered out loud, moving her tail from side to side. ¡°Have you seen one before?¡± My eyes fixated on the appendage immediately, following its movements. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°I''ve seen inclined gates before,¡± replied Yolin. ¡°But none to this degree.¡± ¡°Were they any different from other dungeons?¡± Bonte, who was standing behind me, asked. ¡°Not really,¡± the Oni answered. ¡°Just your regular dungeon.¡± ¡°Only one way to find out,¡± Thelea stated, walked to the hole, and jumped in. Alyssa''s tail hid in her dress, breaking my focus. With nothing interesting to do, I walked over to the hole and looked down at the sixty meter wide chasm. The Goliath was standing on the gate, inspecting the surface. ¡°Didn''t give in,¡± she pointed out in disappointment. We observed in silence as the giantess climbed her way up. I hummed, recalling the leftover boulder in my storage after Lapia cut it. Pulling it out, I held it up like Atlas did the world. ¡°Okay, let''s see if this works,¡± I suggested and threw the thing down. The large object impacted the flat surface of the gate, shattering the material and going through without much fanfare other than dust and the loud bang it produced. Alyssa turned to me with raised eyebrows. ¡°How are we going to close it later?¡± I tapped my temple and revealed, ¡°We''ll kill everything inside. No need to close it.¡± Lapia and Pokora looked over to us with surprise. The Elves made their way to us and looked down. Yolin nodded. ¡°Let''s get to it, then. Come with me, Natasha,¡± she concluded and jumped in. High on drugs, and knowing I would survive the fall from my experience in the mine, I followed after the Oni. The air felt nice against my face, tickling and caressing my skin. My glow illuminated the way, revealing a stone floor some thirty meters below me, which I landed on with as much delicacy as one can land. ¡°Superhero landing!¡± I announced, making a pose. ¡°Superhero?¡± Yolin inquired, changing her attire to the combat wear I gave her. ¡°People with odd powers,¡± I explained, standing up and looking around. ¡°A pretty good genre of fiction,¡± I elaborated, wearing my helmet from my storage. The chamber we landed on was empty, dark, and full of E''er. A large gate that reached the ceiling stood some fifteen meters in front of us. ¡°There''s nothing here,¡± I let her know. ¡°Empty!¡± Yolin informed the rest of the group still up. They jumped in one at a time. The second tank came first, then our healer, the Wizards, the Scouts, and finally the Archer. ¡°§£§Ö§Õ§Ú, §±§à§Ü§à§â§Ñ, §ß§Ñ§ã §ã§Þ§Ö§Ý§Ö§Ö §Ó §Ò§à§Û,¡± I urged the party leader with a big smile. The Elmari Elf gave me a confused look. ¡°I don''t speak Orkish, Natasha,¡± she reminded me. ¡°Her Excellency is telling you to lead us into battle,¡± Hanna translated for me. Pokora nodded with a shrug. ¡°§³§à§ß§ñ!¡± I called my mount. ¡°Alright, listen up,¡± the Archer called for attention. ¡°We''ll do it like always. Yolin and Natasha go first, then our ranged support, and finally the rear tank. Bonte and Hanna will divert and, if possible, kill anything that sneaks past the the tanks. Natasha is high on drugs so don''t expect much from her.¡± The group glanced at me. I gave them a peace sign. ¡°It comes and goes, but she''s right,¡± I confirmed. The Ratnak jumped into the dungeon and trotted my way. I mounted up and stretched, suddenly hyper aware of my bones. Our leader whistled. ¡°Call your mounts. We don''t know if the dungeon is big enough to need them, but I hear the norm is they are.¡± My companions nodded and called their animals. ¡°Hey,¡± a voice next to my ear whispered. I turned to look but found nothing. No way, I sighed and produced a healing potion to negate the drug''s effects. Auditory hallucinations were my limit. A red hand caught my wrist, stopping me from removing the flask''s cork. ¡°That''s going to amplify the effect,¡± Yolin warned me with a serious face, reaching up from the ground. ¡°They gave you medicine, so I assumed it was similar to a potion. You don''t neutralize medicine with more medicine.¡± I sighed and stored the elixir. ¡°Thanks for telling me. What do I do to get back to normal, then?¡± The Oni shrugged. ¡°Just ride it out,¡± she simply replied. 183 - Thermagnetic vacuum I stared at the tank for a second, then slowly nodded. ¡°Alright,¡± I accepted my fate, then added, ¡°But if I do some dumb shit don''t blame me.¡± Yolin smiled and chuckled, ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll be with you.¡± I sighed and shrugged. The group was walking to the second gate. The two of us caught up and moved to the front, where Yolin gave Pokora a look. ¡°Go ahead,¡± the Elmari Elf instructed. The Oni nodded, placed both hands on the door, and pushed forward while injecting E''er. Her back muscles flexed with the effort, hitting me in the face point-blank with such heavenly sight. ¡°Sheesh!¡± I uttered in a quiet voice. Slowly and loudly, the double door opened enough for a person to go through. Yolin peeked into the dungeon, leaning forward and looking around. She sucked air through her teeth and pulled quickly pulled back, then turned to us with a concerned expression. ¡°Mind Flayers,¡± she informed us in a whisper. ¡°Shit,¡± Bonte cursed in a quiet voice. Bormisnar groaned in displeasure. Alyssa clicked her tongue. ¡°That''s not fun,¡± Thelea complained. I raised my eyebrows. ¡°FlayerS? Plural?¡± Yolin slowly nodded. ¡°What level?¡± Lapia inquired. The Oni shook her head. ¡°Can''t see,¡± she replied. A collective groan left the party. A smile formed on my face, however. If the tank, whose level was very close to nine hundred, couldn''t see the level of the monsters, then fun was aplenty for me. A hand rested on my shoulder. I turned to the source, meeting Alyssa''s red eyes. ¡°Could you check?¡± the Luzo requested in a calm voice. ¡°But just check. Don''t rush in.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I agreed and took Yolin''s place, then stuck my head in the opening. A good distance from the gate, a cluster of creatures were floating above the ground. The things looked like jellyfish, but instead of a smooth head they had an exposed brain. Their bodies were slightly transparent and emitted a reddish glow that illuminated their surroundings. Tentacles around five meters long emerged from the head, hanging freely. The appendages moved a little like an octopus'', curling, swinging, and stretching. [Mind Flayer, Lvl 1186] A mocking snort escaped me at the sight of them. Their glow was pitiful compared to mine, illuminating barely two to three meters around them in a dim light. It was a stretch to call it a glow, really. I turned to the party and used my superpower of conveying my thoughts via making the air exiting my lungs vibrate using an organ in my throat, ¡°1186.¡± Their superpower of transforming mechanical sound waves into nervous electromagnetic signals thanks to sensitive yet resilient membranes at the sides of their heads sending said sound waves through a set of fragile bones and into a more complex organ received my message. My words were met by faces of uncertainty and slight fear. Pokora spoke first. ¡°I don''t know how to deal with them,¡± she admitted with knitted brows, crossing her arms and looking at the ceiling. ¡°Give me a minute to think.¡± I leaned into Yolin. ¡°Is it that bad?¡± The Oni nodded. ¡°They invade the mind of whatever they touch, triggering everything you have in there.¡± I squinted my eyes, recalling something. ¡°Alyssa said they erase Classes. Is that how they do it?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Yolin confirmed with a nod. ¡°It happens after an hour or two of constant touching. They''re slippery and almost incorporeal so getting close is a big no-no.¡± I hummed while nodding. ¡°What if we hide inside Alyssa''s barrier while Lapia burns them down?¡± I offered. She bit her lower lip for a moment, then replied. ¡°That barrier is connected to her mind. If a Mind Flayer touches it, it''d be no different than touching her directly.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. My eyebrows climbed my forehead in surprise. ¡°Nasty little shits,¡± I uttered. ¡°But what if she protects her mind?¡± ¡°Sure, that''d remove the consequence, but she''ll still feel like something''s licking her brain,¡± the Oni countered. ¡°That alone can break someone''s focus and start a chain of events that lead to tragedy.¡± Remembering the beings of the Abyss, I gave her a doubtful look. ¡°Can''t be that bad,¡± I challenged. ¡°I''ve heard it is,¡± Yolin insisted with confidence. ¡°They are,¡± Alyssa joined the conversation, having been listening so far. Me and Yolin turned to her. ¡°Mind Flayers can touch you through your clothes, armor, and even protective spells,¡± the Luzo informed us. ¡°I could make it work with a barrier, but there will be too many of them and I don''t want anything playing with my mind, so I won''t.¡± ¡°Thermagnetic vacuum,¡± Lapia suddenly said, breaking the deep concentration she was in. ¡°That''s the solution.¡± Pokora looked at her fellow Elf, considering the words. ¡°What does that mean, though?¡± She asked after a second. ¡°It could work,¡± Elena agreed with a smile. ¡°It could work,¡± I mockingly imitated the unpleasant bitch. ¡°Cunt. Leave the thinking to smart people.¡± A moment of silence followed, interrupted by Pokora laughing. Bonte turned to Bromisnar. ¡°What''s going on?¡± he asked his best friend. ¡°No idea,¡± the Satyr replied with curious eyes. ¡°Seems serious, though.¡± Elena gave me the stink eye. I showed her my two middle fingers. Pokora shook her head while sighing, then turned to Lapia. ¡°Can you elaborate on that?¡± The Domi Elf nodded, then explained the plan to the party.
I walked into the dungeon, looking around the first floor. It was a plain and simple stone chamber. The opposite wall stood beyond the reach of my glow, obscuring the real size of the space. Tiny dots of light could be seen in the far distance, probably more Mind Flayers. The closest cluster of creatures did not respond to my intrusion in their home, continuing to lazily float like the organisms they resembled. I retreived a pebble from my storage and threw it to the closest one. The object sunk into the Mind Flayer as if it was made of gelatine. ¡°That''s absolutely insane,¡± I commented, seeing E''er flash where the monster was hit. A second later, the monster started floating in my direction, almost as if the wind was carrying it. ¡°It really looks like a jellyfish,¡± I muttered to myself, remembering the nasty sting I got when I visited the Mediterranean sea. ¡°Natasha!¡± someone hissed from behind me. ¡°Do it!¡± I turned to find Lapia pointing her staff at me. Alyssa was standing behind her, and Yolin in front of her. I gave them a thumbs up, then turned to the weird creatures. ¡°COME~!¡± I screamed at them the most boring warcry of my life. Every single Mind Flayer in sight changed colors from red to bright, almost neon, orange. I watched with wide eyes as they flowed through the air as if they were sperms, spinning while approaching me at a ridiculous speed. Right before the first could reach me it got pulled into the ceiling, where a tight ball of E''er spun in place. One by one, the approaching beings were sucked into Lapia''s vortex of bent space. I looked directly at it, fascinated by my girlfriend''s skills as a Wizard. Then, when five or so Mind Flayers had been sucked, lightning made of fire cracked the air as if threatening to tear open the skies with disrespectfully high temperature and ridiculous amounts of raw electrical energy. Threads of white-hot lightning connected the beings, jumping between them with thunderous roars that made my hair whip around. A miniature sun of electricity manifested at the center of the vortex, sending out strands of cracking lightning that licked at the beings like a Tesla coil. Ignited by fire, struck by lightning, and sucked by the vortex, the Mind Flayers could do nothing to reach us. The miniature sun protected the vortex which Lapia was connected to, preventing the creatures from harming her. The sun itself was protected by hyper-charging the Mind Flayers'' bodies with the fire-red lightning, ensuring they wouldn''t approach it by magnetizing the sun with the opposite charge... or so I understood it. I asked, though. It was too convoluted for my high brain to understand at the moment. A smile formed on my face as the creatures started to burn, turning shades darker thanks to the violent combustion. Suddenly, one exploded in a exceedingly violent burst of fire and electricity, sending a wave that made me fall to my ass when hit. The crashing sounds of highly condensed energy and explosions made sure I could hear nothing for as long as the thing was kept functioning, so I turned to look at the group in case they wanted to tell me something. Alyssa had a big smile on her face. Yolin looked impressed. Pokora was a little stupefied. Elena looked proud for some reason. Hanna was watching with wide eyes and slack jaw. Bromisnar was playing his lute with his eyes closed. Bonte was covering the Satyr''s ears while laughing. Thelea was covering Bonte''s feline ears while looking at me with envious eyes. Lapia was focused on the even happening above me, squinting her eyes and holding the Mythic staff with both hands. I looked back to the vortex of fire and electricity merely ten meters away from me. Magic is fucking amazing! I thought and another Mind Flayer exploded. 184 - Mind the Gap Bits and pieces of monster fell on me, interrupting my focus. I stood up, retrieved a towel from my storage, wiped the burnt gunk off my face, and equipped my helmet. Ignoring the smell of fried monster, I walked forward into the dungeon. Lapia''s plan was simple in execution: I would attract monsters with Intimidate Prey, boost the party''s stats with Monster Hunter, and she''d keep the vortex above me to suck and then kill the Mind Flayers. Yolin would protect them in case any pesky jellyfish snuck past me, gaining the monster''s attention, then Pokora would shoot the trespassers. The plan worked in favor of me being under the effects of the medicine the Tulmi Elves gave me, since I stopped every few seconds to simply watch the carnage above me and focus on the E''eral patterns of the spells at play. Mind Flayers got sucked like dust into a vacuum cleaner, then fried beyond recovery. Whenever electricity licked the monsters, their surfaces flashed bright, attempting to send something back through the lightning but failing to do so. Is that the thing to invade minds? I wondered, enjoying the light show with a big smile like a kid watching fireworks. ¡°Hola~¡± a voice whispered next to me. I scowled and shook my head, ignoring it. ¡°Boost!¡± Lapia''s voice echoed in my mind, coming through the Bond. I gasped, having forgotten to activate Monster Hunter. With a snap of my fingers, E''er went into my mind and activated the skill, igniting the tendrils that connected to the people I was Bonded with. The fire''s temperature went up a noticeable amount, the lightning was louder, and the vortex sucked harder after Lapia gained a 10% increase to her stats per monster in combat with me. I squinted my eyes at the vacuum. Are they in combat with me, though? I wondered, watching the Mind Flayers get helplessly slaughtered. An intrusive thought made me grab a handful of my hair and inspect it. The strands were as straight as ever, disturbed only by the pressurized air coming from the explosions. Is my hair immune to static? Is that how it works? I wondered, staring at my hair with slight confusion. Shouldn''t it be standing up like crazy? I hummed and let it go. Whatever, I concluded, focusing on the dungeon floor. Mind Flayers approached from the front, left, and right. Their translucent and transparent bodies were flung around inside the vortex, probably experiencing violent accelerations for the first time in their boring lives. That must hurt, I considered, observing the things get burned and shocked. Suddenly, an irresistible urge to laugh took hold of me. An inescapable ticklish sensation made its way to my brain from my leg. ¡°Pfff HAHAHA!¡± I laughed and kicked with my leg as a subconscious reaction, then looked down. A tentacle had wrapped around my right ankle at some point, flashing bright and making my skin feel like someone was tickling it through the armor, the leather undergarments, and my socks. ¡°Fu!¡± I yelped and slapped it away with a hand, severing the limb with the force alone. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The perpetrator was a Mind Flayer that had used its limbs to stick to the floor. One of the limbs was stretched beyond what it looked capable of and had reached me. ¡°Sneaky little bastard,¡± I chastised it and retrieved my spear from my storage. ¡°How fucking dare you?¡± I demanded, feeling my lips and eyebrows twitch in abrupt anger. Alas, my brain was not working under normal circumstances. With a quick leap, I reached the monster and swung at it with all my strength. The blade of my spear cut its limbs off in a swift motion, cracking the stone floor beneath it. I grabbed the brain-shaped head and brought it close to me, then whispered in Abyssal, ¡°This is how you fuck with a mind, disgusting amateur.¡± My anger had not come from being above a monster touching me. Not in the slightest. The Mind Flayer''s touch was horribly weak. It felt like, after playing online games for a few hours and being told the most heinous sentences a person can articulate, a child called me stupid. It felt like a politically correct individual''s insults after leaving any first person shooter game''s lobby, especially if one encounters someone from the Balkans. It lacked seasoning, spice, and substance. Insipid at best, and disrespectful at worst with how bland it was. The monster shivered at my words. I squished it with my hands, feeling the ticklish sensation through my gauntlets but holding the laughter back. Filled with a disappointment that could only be described with the simil of: ''my ex ruined sex for me because he was too good and my new partner is inexperienced'', I let out a heavy sigh that turned into a chuckle. ¡°You can always teach them,¡± I concluded and looked around. More Mind Flayers were sticking to the stone floor, imitating the first one to avoid being sucked by Lapia''s vortex. ¡°And learning they are,¡± I pointed out with surprise and raised eyebrows. Crawling on the ground, they approached me at a slower pace than when thew floated on air. I clicked my tongue, still upset by the fact such scary monsters did nothing to me after experiencing Hell. Then again, curiosity bloomed in my mind as I watched the monsters crawling. If our trials left us immune to certain forms of magic due to high tolerance, what are the rest of my species resistant to? Aren''t I a bit too powerful if mind stuff does nothing to me? Is this how Galeia ensures we perpetuate life? Does Galeia choose our trials? Do the Gods know? A tendril got too close and I cut it with my spear. Too weak, I lamented, watching the removed limb go limp. The vortex of fire and electricity descended and moved in front of me, blocking the Mind Flayers and sucking those latched to the ground. I turned around to the group. Lapia gave me a nod and gestured for me to retreat. I shrugged and walked over to them. Alyssa pounced on me the moment I reached the group, then removed my helmet, looking me in the eye with apprehension. ¡°Why did you grab a Mind Flayer?!¡± she demanded, inspecting my face. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I am,¡± I replied. ¡°Like a snake that is immune to its own venom,¡± I tentatively explained. The Luzo''s eyes squinted at me. ¡°Was it that much weaker?¡± she inquired. I nodded, then turned to Elena. ¡°Go give it a try,¡± I urged her. ¡°It''s not as bad.¡± The Faeton Elf looked away with a deep frown on her face. ¡°Okay,¡± Pokora interrupted with a clap. ¡°If you''re feeling fine then go back in. We need to kill as many as possible before Lapia runs out of juice.¡± I gave Alyssa a look that asked if she was satisfied. The healer released me and huffed, pushing me with her tail. ¡°I''ll examine you tonight.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I agreed and went back to luring mind jellyfish. The vortex looked bigger than before, sucking stronger by several magnitudes. The ground directly under the vacuum shook and trembled. I bobbed my head, suddenly finding a rhythm to the deaths. ¡°This is a bit underwhelming, as usual,¡± I concluded with great disappointment. Onis Eyes. Part I Yolin Makav watched. Inside the recently found dungeon, a place nobody had set foot into, carnage was taking place. Brightly lit by a thick braid of golden hair and a type of phenomena only found in highly-specialized research books, the first dungeon floor was slowly and methodically cleared of monsters. The Oni''s eyes had a glint of barely contained excitement... and the smallest amount of concern that translated to urgency. In all the capabilities displayed by the group of people present, even considering the paragon of strength among them, they were still weak. Danuva and Shorvanna had confided in the Oni a way to reach a power never seen on Galeia. A way to stand next to a Halve in terms of resilience and toughness. In her two hundred years of life, Yolin was, for the first time, seeing someone shrug off creatures largely considered one of the most dangerous monsters that exist like they were slightly annoying toddlers in a family reunion, solidifying the truth she had received from the Gods. Ready to move and place herself as a shield for the party, her eyes moved in all directions in search of any monster that sneaked past Natasha, yet her mind found no true calm. Only anxious excitement. The goal to reach the mortal limit of growth was beset with challenges that required defying common sense, her survival instincts, and the primal fear of oblivion. Her face tensed when Natasha grabbed a Mind Flayer that had gotten too close, whispered something she couldn''t hear thanks to the loud explosions, and squashed it like a bar of soap. Even though a good distanced separated them, watching the Halve''s lips move made her spine go cold with a fear she had never experienced before. It went beyond the biological mortal fear of death. The monster quivered in what could be interpreted as terror. A monster that erased memories and Classes shivered at the words that came out of the golden woman''s mouth. Cold sweat ran down Yolin''s back despite her not feeling natural cold for the last fifty years. To reach a height such as what you mention, young Oni, you must shatter the binds of flesh and mind, the tank recalled the words uttered by the Goddess of the path of the Warrior. Collect the remains and forge yourself anew, rising from the mud stronger and better. Lapia aimed further into the dungeon with her staff, sending the amalgamation of spells forward, sucking monsters and frying them. The intrusive thought of jumping into the vortex to at least have some fun enter Yolin''s mind, but she shrugged it off with a shake of her head. She could survive without a scratch, but the Mind Flayers caught in the spinning space were too dangerous to go through with senseless entertainment. Moving forward, the party advanced through the dungeon. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Yolin bit her lower lip, running her tongue over her left tusk in anxiety. Even with such displays, the party was weak. A single touch of a Mind Flayer was rumored to erase an individual''s last twenty four hours of memories. Every research on those monsters ended with insane people who lost their Classes. The effort of a lifetime gone without the ability to struggle against it. The Oni''s mouth turned into a slight scowl. To be born a mortal is to be born weak, unfortunately. ¡°How unfair,¡± Thelea complained, standing next to Yolin and talking loud enough to be heard over Lapia''s spells. ¡°She''s grabbing them like they''re candy,¡± she added, gesturing at the Halve. The Oni nodded and chuckled, ¡°The gap grows wider every time we see her fight.¡± ¡°At what level do you reckon we''ll achieve that?¡± The Goliath wondered, resting her shield on the floor and supporting herself on it. ¡°Allegedly level two thousand,¡± Yolin replied, recalling the research she read on Mind Flayers. ¡°Or eight thousand base Constitution, depending on stat growth.¡± The two observed the golden woman stab, slash, and squeeze the monsters. ¡°Must be fun, though,¡± the Warrior tank pointed out. ¡°She''s laughing like it''s the funniest joke of the century.¡± ¡°Maybe they tickle Halves,¡± Yolin cheekily suggested with a smile, relaxing with the conversation. ¡°Like a Turelin or something like that.¡± ¡°Would a Turelin make her laugh, though?¡± Thelea mused, eyes locked on the Halve. ¡°Her nerves must be stronger than the armor she wears.¡± The Oni imagined the situation. If Natasha ever met the fuzzy and slippery insects, maybe she''d be too grossed out to touch them in the first place. ¡°Natasha''s not ticklish, though...¡± she revealed, giving the Goliath a winning smirk. The Warrior''s eyebrows went up in surprise. ¡°Really? She looks the type to have a weak spot somewhere.¡± ¡°I haven''t found it yet,¡± Yolin admitted. ¡°Would be funny to, though.¡± Thelea was silent for a moment, thinking of something. ¡°So ''To tickle a Halve'' was mistaken?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± replied the Oni, shrugging exaggeratedly. ¡°I wouldn''t take that kind of literature that serious, you know? Permala was obsessed with Halves in an inappropriate way.¡± The two women shared a look. ¡°You tried, didn''t you?¡± Thelea asked with a saucy smile. Yolin smiled back and nodded. ¡°Of course I did. How else would I know it was nothing more than fiction.¡± They let out raunchy laughs, probably recalling the contents of the highly controversial fan-fiction about a young Changeling who had a harem of Halves. ¡°You naughty woman,¡± Thelea laughed, lightly pushing Yolin. The Oni laughed louder, accepting the charges. She once again focused on Natasha and her laughter quieted down, recalling Danuva''s words. If Yolin wanted to transcend the mortal mind and gain a higher endurance to beings such as the Mind Flayers, she''d have to be exposed to Abyssal. A terrifying notion to her after witnessing Elena''s abrupt changes in behavior. Then again, nothing could go horrifyingly wrong in a controlled environment, especially with Danuva present. Yolin really wanted to achieve the peak of power for mortals, and being told the price gave her a semblance of direction. Oni’s Eyes. Part II Two hours after the party had entered the dungeon, Yolin''s eyebrows twitched for the nth time. A snap within her stole her attention for a second, discharging energy throughout her body and mind. Her body had, once again, acclimated to the large amounts of E''er released by the Mind Flayers and sent through the Bond by Natasha and Lapia. The Oni bit her lips in concern. I''m leveling up too quickly, she concluded, looking at the party members. Everyone had the slight awkward feeling of benefiting from something they did nothing about written on their faces. Except Lapia. The Domi Elf had a smile as wide as the oceans on her face, and her throat and shoulders shook with joy. Her efforts were showing great results. The woman''s eyes, however, remained focused on the complex spells. Yolin''s eyes squinted in curiosity, and she appraised the Wizard she was guarding. [Lapia Pofeta ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Domi Elf, Lvl 315 Pyromancer] A surprised whistle escaped the tank. Progress was massive, and the Elf was getting the most out of the delve. Yolin looked around for any potential threats that would approach, and after noticing none would go past the Halve, she checked her progress. Yolin Makav Red Oni Status -STR: 2676 (+10000) -CON: 4841 (+10000) -INT: 604 (+250) -WIS: 596 (+250) -DEX: 2141 (+750) Health: 96820/96820 Stamina: 24205/22322 E¡¯er: 11920/8405 Classes Monk, Lvl 305 -Replicating the discipline of the mind on the body, Clerics who approach their faith with the violence of a fighter will find themselves following the Vow of Protection, attempting to reach the Eternal and Divine with the unbreakable conviction of Holy Servitude. Skills. Rank 2. -Manifestation of Greater Blessings, lvl 42. Channel the Holy idea of steadfast body and will, increasing Toughness, Constitution, and Strength by (CON/Total Level) for every Manifestation. Spends E''er in accordance to the duration of your intent. -Knowledge of Severance, Lvl 41. Scan opponents and reveal critical joints, key nerve paths, damaged organs, and the flow of Life Energy. -Transcendental Body of the Holy Servant, Lvl 48. Gather your will and manifest your faith, gaining Toughness with injuries sustained. Subparasympatic exploitation keeps the benefits as long as the fight lasts, even if your wounds are healed. -Body of Water, Mind of Mountain, Lvl 49. Awareness of pain and nerve function prevents loss of focus regardless of injuries. Greater understanding allows for reactive healing, directly related to the level of focus. -Five Ordinances of Red Faith, Lvl 40. Punch and Kick the non-believer, Red Island Style. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Rank 3. -Faith over Mind over Matter, Lvl 50. Heal your wounds, growing in intensity with your Toughness. Natural Healing. -A Monk''s Tools, Lvl 50. Enhances your Body the greater your total Level, focusing on the Toughness of your skin, bones, and internal organs. -Vow of Protection, Lvl 50. When in a Party, the effect your skills have on yourself are doubled. If your party consists of eight or more members, the effects are tripled. If you have a Partner in your party, the effects are quadrupled. (Stacks) Paladin, Lvl 304 -Symbols of Faith and Perseverance, Paladins are charitable individuals focusing on auras that benefit allies and punish foes. Inspire the faithful and smite the wicked! Skills. Rank 2. -Mind of Faith, Temple of Charity, Lvl 42. The Echo of Danuva in accordance to Joy''s Law emits an aura (CON/2) meters around you which redirects Life Energy coming your way if it would bring you no benefit. Bless the less fortunate with your surplus. -Body of Faith, Temple of Sacrifice, Lvl 48. The Echo of Danuva in accordance to Solivis'' Grand Charity uses your (Life Energy Pool/Toughness) to heal allies (CON/2) meters around you who suffer injury. -Life of Servitude, Temple of the Gods, Lvl 49. The Echo of Divinity in accordance to Danuva''s Proclamation of Sentience and Shorvanna''s Command to Struggle emits an aura that arouses the Fight of Flight response of enemies (CON/3) meters around you, forcing their focus on you. Rank 3. -Protectoratum, Lvl 50. An ardent aura surrounds you, sharing (Total Level/Skill Level)% of your toughness with allies (CON/5) meters around you. Faith triumphs hard knowledge. Foes see the truth of their feeble selves in the Divine Message, receiving a castigation to their endurance of (Total Level/Skill Level)% in the same range. -Choir to the Gods, Harmony of Faith, Lvl 50. Clerics you are Bonded to increase the effects of your auras by (Number of Clerics Bonded To/Number of People Bonded to x100)% if wihin their reach. Asura, Lvl 322 -The truth within is Divine in Nature. Consciousness is Merciful. Weaponize the Holy Gift. Skills. Rank 3. -Golden Blessing, Lvl 50. Manifestation of Greater Blessings can be absorbed, further increasing the effects by (CON/Skill Level)%. Grant a Manifestation of Greater Blessings to a Bonded ally within (CON/5) meters, granting the effects to the ally instead. Increase Natural Healing by (CON/Skill Level)% for each Manifestation of Greater Blessings. -Asura Projection, Lvl 50. Conjure up to (Skill Level) limbs to assist you. Their resilience is (Skill Level/50 x100)% of yours. Release a burst of light and Natural Healing when broken. -The Eye of Asura, Lvl 50. Scan a target, revealing Life Energy pathways for exploitation or assistance. Further understanding reveals sensitive zones and weaknesses. -The Great Icon of the Isles, Lvl 50. Manifest your faith as an image that increases Strength, Tenacity, Constitution, Toughness, Intelligence, Perspicacity, Wisdom, Insight, Dexterity, and Alacrity for allies (CON/5) meters around you. -Beggining of Cycle, Lvl 50. All skills increase in intensity by up to (CON/skill level x100)% depending on how close to death you are. -End of Cycle, Lvl 50. Your body and mind become perfectly attuned with each other. All skills become auras, are active at all times, and double in cost. Healing is exclusive to Oni. Yolin pursed her lips, letting out a pensive hum. It could be said Yolin Makav''s focus was to endure whatever Galeia could throw at her. She had gone for quality over quantity, choosing complex skills that would ensure her and her party''s survival, whoever she would end up joining. What should I focus on? She wondered, going over her skills and Classes. With how fast we''re leveling, maybe Monk would be nice to get a bit more Strength. She looked ahead and eyed the Mind Flayers within Lapia''s spells. Constitution would be better, though... As such, the Oni changed the path E''er took when entering her from Paladin to Asura. More Constitution is always better, moreso when considering she planned to ask Natasha to break her mind. Every point counted towards being indestructible. Oni’s Eyes. Part III Lightning cracked. Fire roared. Space was bent. With a final explosion coming from Lapia''s Thermagnetic Vacuum, the last Mind Flayer was defeated. The Elf''s spells dissolved shortly after, leaving the group in silence. It took 6 hours. Yolin looked around, scanning the surroundings with suspicion. The party had reached the end of the room, facing a wall with no gate to further explore. The more experienced Chasers didn''t let their guard down, and the others glanced around when the first didn''t relax. ¡°Boooring!¡± Natasha complained, kicking the closest dead Mind Flayer and sending it flying. ¡°Around five thousand of these? What is this? A dungeon for babies?¡± Pokora walked to Yolin and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± The Oni glanced at Bonte and then at Hanna. ¡°Hidden door?¡± The Tigea shrugged. ¡°Dungeons are not my area of expertise,¡± he replied with an apologetic expression. ¡°We could check,¡± the Ork offered, arching an eyebrow at her fellow Scout. The Archer thought for a second, then nodded. ¡°Please do, and take every precaution possible to avoid encountering anything we might''ve missed.¡± The Scouts nodded and vanished. The Halve approached the group, stored her helmet, and stared at the group in a slight daze. Still under the influence, Yolin concluded, inspecting the completely golden eyes of the woman. The whites and pupils were nowhere to be found, and the glow left a short-lived brand in the Oni''s retinas when blinking. Pokora snapped her fingers in front of the Protector''s face. ¡°You with us?¡± she inquired. Natasha nodded back. ¡°At full attention,¡± she replied in Orkish. The Elmari Elf waited for a second, then turned to the Oni. Yolin gave her an affirmative nod. Turning her attention back to Natasha, Pokora continued, ¡°Do you have a way or method to know if there''s a floor below us? And if there is, would you be able to find it?¡± The golden woman stared at the party leader for a good five seconds. Her expression turned slightly confused, but an understanding smile soon replaced it. ¡°Ah,¡± she uttered in realization. ¡°Right. You can''t see it.¡± She turned around, pointing to the far right. The Halve''s glow illuminated the direction she was looking at like it was noon during summer. ¡°E''er flows that way. There''s an illusion... or I guess it''s an illusion. It smells like one, at least. A bit cheeky, slightly nasty, maybe mischievous. Definitely up to no good.¡± Pokora sighed in exasperation and covered her eyes with a hand. Natasha had replied in Orkish again. Yolin let out an amused laugh, then translated, ¡°She said E''er flows that way, and she smells an illusion. Possibly dangerous.¡± ¡°How cool is that!¡± Thelea chuckled, giving the Halve big nods with eyes full of wonder. ¡°Sensing E''er must be a massive advantage.¡± ¡°Should we call our mounts now?¡± Lapia inquired, wiping a thin layer of sweat off her brow. ¡°I''m a little tired.¡± Pokora hummed. ¡°Alyssa''s Bey''tu could prove useful with the illusion,¡± she proposed, turning to the Cleric in question. ¡°If Bonte and Hanna come back with no news?¡± The Luzo nodded. ¡°Sounds good.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Yolin smirked. ¡°We need to confirm if what Natasha senses is real or not,¡± she chuckled, giving the Halve a playful wink. The Halve looked to the side and frowned, then focused back on Yolin and nodded. ¡°I''m hearing voices so I could be compromised in that regard,¡± she pointed out. ¡°I keep hearing ''hey!'', ''hello'', and ''over here!''... which has gotten incredibly annoying.¡± The Oni bit her lower lip. ¡°It''ll go away eventually,¡± she comforted the anger-prone Warrior. ¡°This dungeon seems to be on the small side, anyway.¡± Pokora''s eyes jumped from Yolin to Natasha. ¡°What will?¡± she inquired with curiosity. ¡°Auditory hallucinations,¡± the tank shortly explained. The Elmary Elf winced. ¡°Oof! The zaza hit with reckless abandon, it seems,¡± she commented with a half smile. Natasha nodded in agreement, then sighed and shook her head. ¡°Reality seems to melt if I look at the same spot for more than a few seconds.¡± Yolin translated for the rest. The group grimaced in response. ¡°As long as there are no Blood Fiends,¡± Bromisnar commented with a bit of hope. A short silence followed his words. ¡°Let''s hope,¡± Alyssa whispered, deep in thought. Thelea cleared her throat. ¡°Anyway. How''s progress for everyone looking?¡± she changed the subject. Blood Fiends were not a fun topic, and the presence of Mind Flayers implied things that made everyone''s toes curl in displeasure. Except Natasha. Lacking years of Chaser culture and monster knowledge, Blood Fiends seemed like a fun challenge. She didn''t voice her thoughts, though. Regardless of how high she was, situational awareness still held onto her. ¡°Pretty good,¡± Lapia picked up on the change of topic with a smirk. ¡°I''m this close to level one thousand,¡± she revealed, pinching the air in front of her face. The words got surprised responses, mostly in slightly wide eyes and nods of approval. ¡°That''s fantastic,¡± Bromisnar complimented with a polite smile. ¡°Absolutely deserved.¡± ¡°Oh, how the young surpass the old,¡± Alyssa jokingly lamented, then giggled and gave the Domi Elf a congratulatory hug along with a kiss on the cheek. ¡°I just crossed into the eight hundred total,¡± Thelea grumbled, then sighed. ¡°I can''t complain, though.¡± Yolin laughed and nudged the Goliath. ¡°Pretty hard to be involved with a Halve around,¡± she joked. ¡°True,¡± the tank Warrior agreed with a shrug. Pokora smiled at the party''s good spirits despite the circumstances at hand. ¡°What''s your total now, Bromisnar?¡± she inquired. ¡°Eight hundred and ninety,¡± the man replied, using a hand to move his hair as if a breeze past by. ¡°Lapia''s method was beyond expectations. I am endlessly grateful.¡± The Wizard gave him a skeptic look. ¡°That Alacrity buff of yours is mad, you sly man. Don''t downplay yourself.¡± The Satyr flashed a smile. ¡°I never did,¡± he pointed out with a chuckle. Yolin raised an eyebrow at the Performer. ¡°How are you handling combat in dungeons so far?¡± Bromisnar wobbled his head side to side. ¡°The excitement can''t be compared to being part of a touring band, but it''s close,¡± he admitted with a light chuckle. The group laughed. ¡°Where is the comparison?¡± Thelea demanded, gesturing at the surroundings. ¡°One touch could mean death! What''s more exciting than that?¡± The Satyr smiled. ¡°Bringing life to banned literature,¡± he shortly replied with serious eyes. ¡°Well aren''t you braver than most,¡± Alyssa complimented the man. ¡°The Bandolasi?¡± she inquired. ¡°Sheathed, Thus Dull, actually,¡± he revealed with a grave tone. A few gasps escaped the group. Yolin gave big nods, finding new respect for the Satyr. To perform a play that denounced the Ban of War by Filestra was no small task. Prosecution by the state was expected, even. If Yolin understood things right, Bromisnar probably met Bonte after escaping some country that had a bounty on him for such a daring performance, hiring the Tigea as escort for hidden protection. ¡°The horns fit you, don''t they?¡± Pokora complimented the man. The man bowed and did a flowery gesture as thanks. Elena, who had been silent the whole time, couldn''t hold it in when hearing about such an affront to the Higher Beings. In a reproaching tone, she began, ¡°Quite insol-¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up,¡± Natasha interrupted her. ¡°Nobody asked you a fucking thing, so shut the anus you have the extreme audacity to call a mouth up,¡± she told her. Yolin bit her lips and tightened her stomach to avoid the laughter from escaping. Damn! Was all she could think. Pokora, a little confused about the exchange due to not knowing the language Natasha was roasting Elena in, looked beyond the reach of the Halve''s glow. ¡°Bonte and Hanna are returning,¡± she announced. Oni’s Eyes. Part IV Elena frowned, shook her head, and sighed at the treatment she was receiving. Yolin put a hand on Natasha''s shoulder and closed in to whisper, ¡°You don''t care that people criticize Filestra''s decision?¡± The Halve shrugged. ¡°I''ll hold judgment until I see it with my own eyes. Hopefully sober and in a good mood,¡± she replied. The Oni hummed. ¡°I doubt the existence of a Performer who would willingly act it out in front of you,¡± she pointed out with slight amusement. ¡°It''s banned for a reason.¡± Natasha arched an eyebrow to her words. ¡°I''m sure Bromisnar has some connections who could help with that. Maybe offer a fat monetary reward or something.¡± The tank''s eyes squinted in doubt, but didn''t insist. She knew better than to question a Halve''s word, even if that was her relatively younger girlfriend. Authority is authority regardless of age, and the golden woman was responsible enough so far. Bonte and Hanna made themselves visible a few meters away from the group, looking around. Yolin grabbed the Bond in her mind, checking the relative location of the two Scouts in case Doppelgangers or Changelings had replaced them. It pointed to the two individuals in front of her, so she let it go. The Ork approached first. ¡°We found nothing,¡± she informed Pokora, glancing at the Oni for the shortest of instants. ¡°The floor is completely empty.¡± ¡°No traps, hidden paths, or anything of the sort,¡± Bonte chimed in, shaking his head. Pokora tapped her lower lip in thought. She eyed the Halve for a moment, then back to the Scouts and inquired, ¡°Any illusions?¡± ¡°None that replicate, hide, or obscure the true shape of an individual,¡± Hanna supplied, paused, then added, ¡°Unless there are Demons about.¡± ¡°No concealment of or by shadows,¡± Bonte added, undoing a braid on the side of his head. The party leader nodded a few times, produced a pocket watch to check the time, then looked at the party. ¡°Let''s take a short break. Half an hour. We have time for another floor if we go at the same pace,¡± she announced. Yolin and the others nodded and called the mountable animals they had left behind. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Sitting on the ground and facing the golden woman sitting on her lap, Yolin watched her girlfriend go on a transcendental journey of the mind with their faces almost touching. Geometrical patterns formed on the Halve''s eyes, growing and flowing as if the pupil itself was being constantly reshaped again and again. Like a kaleidoscope, the shapes came and went, never the same for more than a second, moving from the center of the eye outwards. Gold, black, and white. Counting the seconds, Yolin was increasingly amused by Natasha not blinking for more than ten minutes straight, but would do nothing to trigger such an event in case the woman went crashing down from the high. Five hundred kilograms of incredibly compact, absolute purpose-given E''er leaned on the Oni in complete relaxation. The strongest member of the most powerful species on the face of Galeia had a calm, long, and deep breathing pattern, gently pushing her chest against the Oni''s every few seconds. Both arms around Yolin''s neck let her feel the woman''s pulse: fast, strong, and powerful as she was. With age comes wisdom, and Yolin, in her two hundred years of living, could understand something about Natasha others might not. Unlike Pokora, who saw the golden woman''s behavior in a mostly sexual light, Yolin got it differently. Free of the hormonal burdens of an approaching cycle, the Oni saw clearly. Natasha''s love language was taking care of those she loved in the concrete way of financial responsibility and making sure they lacked nothing in life be it food, clothing, shelter, and safety. Those she handed out without a second thought or conditions. Such a woman was offering herself bare to be taken care of in circumstances of relative vulnerability. She was giving Yolin the trust to watch over her while high on hallucinogenic drugs, something she had never done in any of her past lives. Yolin knew Natasha would be safe even if she was not being watched over. Halves are no pushovers. There were very few things the Oni could do to actually keep her safe from harm. What got Yolin so enchanted in that moment was the active choice of resting on her. That tiny ''Please take care of me and please watch over me'' that went unspoken. Unlike the Halve''s, the Oni''s breathing was excited, shorter, and lighter. Her heartbeat went faster than usual ¨C though still slower than the golden woman''s ¨C and her eyes held a glint of fascination. The fact her girlfriend''s eyes were changing shapes right in front of her was still slightly disturbing in the back of her mind. Yolin had a hunch that shouldn''t happen to someone. Still she watched intently. Natasha took a deep breath. Deeper than the breaths she had taken so far, then whispered, ¡°Even if the stars gleamed the brightest they have ever shone in the billions of years the universe has existed. Even if at that moment they were the most beautiful they have ever been since the birth of the cosmos...¡± she smiled and brought a hand to the Oni''s face, brushed a bang to the side, then smiled wider, ¡°I would still choose to watch their reflection on your eyes, Yolin.¡± The Oni''s heart stopped for a second, then her face turned darker in a rush of emotions she couldn''t properly describe. Shyness? Embarrassment? Love? Endless comfort? She could pick, mix, and choose any language to find a definition and still would find herself short. As such, a nervous giggle escaped her. Like a young maiden in love. ???? - ?? ??????? The city of Kanbe was busy as usual with people walking about under the bright and warm sun of summer. Beneath the walking streets, the silent electric engines of vehicles made their quiet protest towards mankind''s claim of convenience and technology in the darkness that reigned in the vehicle-exclusive street. One such vehicle was driven by our protagonist, Natasha Nikolayevna Novak. Her left elbow rested on the window. A tiny gap let the cold air in to have endless battles with the hot air inside, a result of driving in what could be considered a tunnel in 30 degrees Celsius. Her right hand rested on the wheel, abruptly turning left and right to overtake other vehicles. Her long, golden hair slightly whipped around, as free and loose as it was long. Her green eyes stared forward, watching the road ahead. ¡°Y de pronto un dia de suerte se me hizo conocerte~ Y te cruzaste en mi camino, ahora creo en el destino~ Tenerte por siempre conmigo~ Pero mas suerte es quererte tanto~ Pero mas suerte es quererte tanto y que tu sientas lo mismo~¡± She sang along with the radio. Suddenly, a running person overtook her. Natasha''s eyes widened for a second, then doubt replaced the bewilderment. A quick check on the speed she was going at made her incredibly confused for a long second. 260 km/h was no speed a running person could achieve. Natasha''s eyes squinted, giving the running person a closer look. A shirtless man covered in scales, a tail on the lower back, and horns on the forehead. ¡°Ah,¡± she uttered, realization hitting her. ¡°Otherworlders,¡± she concluded, relaxing her shoulders and letting the shock leave her body as well as her interest in him. The scales were red, different from the otherworlders she knew. Were it red skin and no tail, Natasha would have thought it was her fellow colleague, the Body Building trainer at the University she worked at, Yolin Makav. Since that was not the case, she focused back on the road and continued driving. ¨C Taking a right turn out of the underground street some minutes later, Natasha came out to the upper street, directly into one of the many parking lots that dotted her destination: Kanbe''s 17th Medical School. Twelve stories high, and three whole blocks wide in all four directions, the monolith of construction jutted out of the ground and demanded attention with its brutalist style of architecture. The off-white concrete and apparent disregard for nuance was as ugly to Natasha as the first time she visited. It looked like a massive rock had fallen from the sky, only to be carved just enough to give it the minimum of functionality over every other possible characteristic. She sighed and drove into the rampart that lead to the quick pick-up spot while turning the radio off. ¡°Call Volodya,¡± she said out loud. ¡°Calling contact: Vladimir Nikolayevich Novak,¡± a robotic voice coming from the car said back at the same time as a screen lit up on the dashboard, showing the face of a young man that looked very similar to our protagonist. The call connected and rang two times. ¡°Hey,¡± came a deep voice after a quiet click. Natasha''s lips tugged upwards in a smile. ¡°I''m at the usual spot,¡± she told her brother. ¡°On my way,¡± he replied and hung up. Coming out of the underground parking lot, the grounds of the campus opened up to Natasha, where hundreds of students milled about in large plazas, walked out of and into buildings, stood around waiting for public transport, or did whatever students did after class. The style of architecture also included the benches students sat on to relax, the kiosks they bought food from, and the fountains in the middle of the plain plazas. Natasha''s nose wrinkled in distaste. Whoever designed a place that taught future doctors would find no support in her. As a sensible and post-modern woman with heavy Renaissance leanings when it came to architecture, she couldn''t forgive such reckless violations to people''s eyes. It''s free, though, she thought with slight convenience-driven forgiveness while parking on the right side of the road facing the main entrance. Almost immediately, people noticed the car and started pointing. A mischievous smile occupied Natasha''s features while she waited. The car was a present for Vladimir. The younger sibling had turned eighteen years old a few months ago, and among the very few things the young man enjoyed in life, cars were the biggest topic of conversation. Natasha reminisced the time she spent teaching her younger brother how to drive, including the moments she lost her temper with the boy ¨C countless with her anger-prone nature. Her brother learned things quick, though. Quicker than she learned languages. Still, the smile waned a bit at knowing his reaction wouldn''t be a normal one. A boy his age would freak out and become excited with the surprise of a brand new car. Not Vladimir. He wasn''t normal. Not that it was a bad thing, though. As a high-functioning psychopath, his emotions were greatly dulled by whatever chemistry made up his brain and his own brand of psychopathy. Natasha accepted that fact and loved him without issue, not once in her life wishing or imagining he was normal instead. If her brother was happy, that was enough for her. With such thoughts, she got out of the car, leaned on the door, and lit up a cigarette. At that point, students had gathered nearby to admire the car, whispering to each other and trying to guess the model''s specs. ¡°Is that the Nissan GT-R R35 Core 9?¡± one asked in a whisper not directed at Natasha. ¡°I heard that one has turbo,¡± another one commented. ¡°How can an electric car have turbo?¡± a third one voiced a healthy skepticism. ¡°Do I look like a mechanic? That''s what I heard,¡± the second one retorted. ¡°Look at that ass, though,¡± a fourth one whispered, unfortunately loud enough for people to hear. Natasha''s eyebrows went up in surprise at hearing such bold words. ¡°Yoo~! The baggy shirt kind of hides it, but she packing mad cheeks!¡± the first one pointed out. ¡°She a bad bitch for sure,¡± the third one, a girl, stated as a matter of fact. Natasha slowly turned to them and arched an eyebrow. The group of students went quiet, avoiding eye contact. ¡°Young people are pretty fucking rude these days,¡± she commented offhandedly. Footsteps coming close caught her attention, making her turn around. A large woman of advanced age was approaching from between the waiting cars with an angry face. She was obviously Human. ¡°Excuse me, hun?¡± the old woman said, pointing at Natasha''s cigarette. ¡°You can''t smoke in here, darling,¡± she stated with a smirk, and the unpleasant ¨C to Natasha ¨C accent of Western English. ¡°Fuck off,¡± Natasha ordered in Russian, took a drag of her cylinder of addiction, then blew the smoke upwards. She then pointed at a sign that read [Zona de Fumadores]. The woman smiled, then lifted her shirt a little, revealing a white and red Glock in a blue holster strapped to her hip. ¡°You''ll talk to me with respect, and in English,¡± she attempted to intimidate. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Natasha lifted her shirt as well, revealing trained abdominal muscles, and a thick pistol originally of Israeli making strapped around her abdomen. The gun was black and the holster was red. ¡°Go eat a dick, retarded westoid,¡± Natasha calmly replied, having lost patience with the ignorant woman. Kanbe''s laws were simple. Ownership of firearms was allowed through three stages and under a plethora of conditions. The first stage allowed immigrants to own a weapon and carry it around on their person. The making was of plastic and it could shoot rubber pellets designed for self-defense. The second stage ¨C two years after arrival ¨C allowed immigrants to own and carry weapons of metallic making that functioned with gas or compressed air to shoot small metallic pellets like an airsoft gun, but with higher power than normal. The third stage allowed Citizens to carry real firearms. Natasha, who had been living in Kanbe for the last six years, had a Desert Eagle with a magazine full of fat, bear-killing bullets. The lady in front of her, possibly a former UCNA citizen who had probably arrived last month at best according to the city''s course, had a rubber pellet shooter that served to inflict pain, but ultimately only pain. As allowed by Kanbe''s laws, brandishing of firearms was allowed if the individual believed doing so would deescalate potentially violent situations. Natasha sighed and gestured at the sign. ¡°Fumar,¡± she said slowly, then motioned taking a drag of her cigarette. ¡°Entiendes?¡± ''t her responsibility, after all. The large woman''s face flushed the second Natasha finished speaking. ¡°Oh, no,¡± she muttered, dropping her shirt over the gun. ¡°I''m sorry, hun. I don''t know the language,¡± she excused herself with a polite smile. Natasha let out a long sigh, feeling like a complete asshole for insulting the woman ¨C although she hadn''t understood a word of it ¨C and actively hindering the exchange. She took a deep breath and calmed the anger that had come out of nowhere. ¡°Ignorance will kill you one day. It almost did today,¡± she told the woman in English. ¡°You better change old habits.¡± The woman gave Natasha a complicated smile. ¡°I''m not home anymore, am I?¡± she asked with sadness in her eyes. ¡°If you behave and live long enough, it can be,¡± Natasha argued with little interest. ¡°Don''t forget you''re an immigrant and things will go smooth for you.¡± ¡°I''m sorry, darling,¡± the woman apologized again. ¡°You see, my daughter is a student here and I worry a whole lot about her. She''s my everything after my hubby passed away.¡± Natasha shrugged. ¡°None of my business,¡± she simply said, denying the woman of her pity. ¡°Now let me smoke in peace.¡± A few seconds of silence later, the large woman walked back to where she came from. To fight the slight stress of the situation, Natasha finished her smoke and lit another. Nicotine does wonders to ease anxiety, after all. The products that contain it kill and it''s horribly addictive, unfortunately. A few minutes passed, and Natasha started glancing about in case Vladimir showed up, thinking he was taking his sweet time. Sure enough, she found him almost immediately, and her eyes opened wider in shock than when a running person overtook her in the driving street. Vladimir Nikolayevich Novak, her beloved baby brother, a high-functioning psychopath who had never in his eighteen years of life showed the slightest interest in the opposite sex, was having an energetic conversation with three girls whose eyes had sparkles when looking at him. ¡°Holy shit,¡± Natasha whispered, feeling time had moved faster than she believed it would. ¡°My Volodyenka is being accosted by multiple women!¡± Vladimir and the girls laughed at something one of them said. The boy''s laugh looked genuine, fruit of years of acting to replicate normal human emotions with Natasha. His smile was organic as were his gestures of joy. Natasha smiled at that, feeling a tear form in her eye. Her chest swelled with pride, almost as if the boy was her own son instead of her brother. ¡°You did a good job, Natasha,¡± she whispered to herself with endless happiness, having forgotten she almost shot an immigrant not even five minutes ago. The two siblings met eyes for a second, and Vladimir''s features shifted for the shortest of instants to one of pure panic. His older sister caught him flirting with girls. Psychopath or not, that warranted some amount of worry for the future. Natasha waved at him, smiling cheekily at the boy. As fast as it came, the panic vanished and he said something to the girls he was talking to. The three shifted to look at where the boy gestured, and met eyes with Natasha. Naturally, our protagonist gave them a death stare, informing them that mistreatment of the boy meant the most horrifying of deaths a living organism of any kind could experience. Her natural resting bitch face helped immensely with that. The three, young as they were, had different reactions. The first one, a dark-skinned girl with a tight bun went pale and averted her eyes. The second one, a Hispanic redhead flushed and gave Natasha a smile. The last one, a bitch-looking blonde girl stared back, not buckling in the slightest. Vladimir, not noticing the short exchange, said his goodbyes and walked over to Natasha. Our protagonist opened her arms wide and gave her brother a big, tight hug. ¡°Puberty finally hit you?¡± she teased right away, not one to miss a chance. ¡°You will not believe what happened to me today,¡± he replied in a tired monotone, returning the hug. The siblings were around the same height, Vladimir being slightly taller than Natasha. ¡°Tell me all about it,¡± she urged, looking into his eyes with barely contained enthusiasm. It wasn''t everyday Vladimir wanted to share what happened to him, so Natasha was excited. ¡°But first let''s go.¡± Vladimir nodded, and gave the car a look. ¡°What happened to your bike?¡± he asked, but lacked interest in his voice. ¡°I''ll tell you later,¡± Natasha replied and opened the door, then went inside. ¡°You go first.¡± The boy walked around the car and got in the passenger seat, closed the door, and let out the longest sigh to ever be sighed. ¡°Social interaction is so tiring,¡± he complained. Natasha checked the rear view mirror and pressed the button that started the engine, then drove off. ¡°Hear this,¡± Vladimir started, stretching his back and popping the bones on his neck. ¡°I was in Chemistry class today minding my business, listening to the professor, when I caught this girl staring at me.¡± Natasha nodded in approval. ¡°It was annoying at first, but she stopped after ten minutes,¡± he continued. ¡°Anyway, class is over and I went out of the classroom to the kiosk to buy a snack, when the same girl approaches me. I was walking with Zuri who for some reason follows me around all fucking day, so I was getting proper pissed-¡± ¡°Who''s Zuri?¡± Natasha interrupted, wildly interested in her brother''s new lore. ¡°A girl from Nigeria, she got here a few years before we did. You saw her with me,¡± Vladimir explained. ¡°At least she''s quiet,¡± he commented. ¡°Anyway. This staring girl comes up to me and asks to speak with me, and I go ''Sure, why not'',¡± he retold, then let out a very long sigh. ¡°This retard proceeds to tell me... I am not joking... that she comes from the future and must have my babies to save humanity.¡± ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± Natasha exploded in laughter. ¡°WHAAT?! HAHAHAHAHA!¡± ¡°I wanted to laugh too,¡± Vladimir lamented with a heavy sigh. ¡°But she was dead serious, so I didn''t know if laughing would be good in that situation.¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Natasha denied with a shake of her head. ¡°Bitch has no game. And don''t call her a retard. She may be mentally ill, and you don''t call retarded people retards. You call stupid and ignorant people retards when they''re acting retarded.¡± ¡°What''s the difference?¡± Vladimir asked for clarification. ¡°You use retard as an insult, not a slur,¡± Natasha informed him. ¡°But it''s best to not use it at all if you''re not sure.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Vladimir accepted his big sister''s words. ¡°So, now that girl started following me around too. She got on friendly terms with Zuri pretty fast, though. That surprised me a little with how quiet she usually is.¡± ¡°Does she have a name?¡± Natasha inquired, used to Vladimir not caring enough about people''s names to repeat them, but just enough to remember them. ¡°Ignacia Manuela Garcia Bustamante,¡± Vladimir replied. ¡°So she''s the Hispanic girl,¡± Natasha concluded, taking a left back into the underground parking lot that would take them into the driving street. ¡°What about the third one?¡± ¡°That''d be Ljuba, Ignacia''s best friend,¡± Vladimir supplied. ¡°It''s a shit show, sis. Ljuba is like a big sister to Ignacia, but Ignacia told Ljuba she must have my babies. Ljuba questioned me to the point I thought the Committee for State Security caught me with western propaganda.¡± Natasha''s eyebrows almost fused with her hairline. ¡°That bad?¡± ¡°We had a talk and she eased on the stick up her ass, though,¡± Vladimir continued with a sigh. ¡°And now she''s following us around as well. I don''t know what to do,¡± he admitted. Natasha nodded. ¡°I think she likes you,¡± she revealed to the dense boy. ¡°Ljuba may just be making sure her cognitively challenged friend didn''t fall for the wrong guy. I don''t know about Zuri, though. She sounds and looks shy. Maybe she''s following you around because you don''t speak much unless prompted, so she''s comfortable with you.¡± Vladimir listened intently, but still had a doubtful look. ¡°This all happened today, and you three seemed to get along just fine,¡± Natasha started, a small smile occupying her lips. ¡°Maybe this is your chance to have one of those harems you droned on about as a kid,¡± she teased with a laugh. Vladimir squinted at the road ahead. ¡°Maybe,¡± he considered. A moment of silence occupied the car. ¡°Well,¡± Natasha chuckled, still finding the time traveler bullshit funny. ¡°You asked me about my bike. It''s back home. I bought you this car as a late birthday gift since you already have a license, and it seems you''ll need it with how things are looking ahead of you.¡± ¡°Neat,¡± was Vladimir''s expression of joy. ¡°Thanks, sis.¡± ¡°Playboy,¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°Fuck off,¡± Vladimir retorted. Oni’s Eyes. Part V ¡°Break is over in five minutes,¡± Pokora announced, walking over the small, impromptu camp the group had built. ¡°Relieve yourselves and store your things.¡± One by one, the party members stood up while tidying up. Natasha, who still was straddling Yolin''s lap, slowly stood up as well, offering the Oni a hand. The tank took the hand offered to her, smiling when the Warrior lifted her up. Pokora approached them and inspected Natasha''s face, raising both eyebrows when the two met eyes. ¡°Your eyes are all fucked up,¡± she pointed out with concern. ¡°Mhm,¡± the Halve replied with an absent nod, eyes like a rave''s lightshow when a sick drops comes on. The Archer turned to the tank, showing a concerned expression. Yolin shrugged. ¡°I don''t see how it''d be a problem. You know... fighting and drugs,¡± she commented. Pokora nodded, then sighed. She rubbed her forehead and bit her lower lip. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± she asked the Warrior. The golden woman stared at the snow-white Elf for a few seconds. ¡°I am fine, thank you. How about you?¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°Good,¡± the Archer answered. ¡°Let''s get going.¡± Natasha and Yolin nodded and walked off. The Warrior went off towards the dungeon wall, following something only she could sense. Yolin walked behind her, trying to discern the trail the Halve was after. E''er felt as thick as it was everywhere else in the dungeon, bringing memories of steam-filled baths and the first time she tried swimming in lava, the air dense with smoke and dangerous vapors. E''er was much gentler, though. With every breath she absorbed as much magical energy as she could, just like she and everyone else had been doing from the moment they set foot in the E''er-packed environment. Just as was customary when delving such places full of dangers. Yolin wondered how the world would look like if she could see E''er the way Natasha described, with eyes lighting up in different colors whenever a spell or skill was activated, the smell of enchantments, the very flow of it in the air next to her, the waves it made when it was given purpose, and the shapes it formed when pooling or gathering in nature. Would it be similar to fog? Was it another sense altogether? Just the ability to sense it would make a massive difference, but then again, that might just be one of the many things that make Halves Higher Beings. Is it the affinity? She thought, sniffing around, keeping an ear out, tasting the air, and even squinting her eyes to see if it would somehow work. Or does E''er only show itself to Halves? Do people with perfect affinity also see the world the way they do? She focused on Natasha, the woman braiding her hair in a tight and thick rope. Do drugs affect it somehow? Lapia said the Elves mentioned the concoction would help her see a higher truth. She ran her tongue over her tusks, curiosity grabbing her further. Is the natural path that way? She questioned, weighing the probable benefits of theoretically consuming such a concoction. A part of her rejected the idea of it, just as it did with the plan of asking Natasha to break her mind with Abyssal. I''ll ask Her Divinity Danuva, she concluded and caught up to the Halve in front of her, walking side by side.
Five minutes later, the party stood in front of a section of the dungeon wall. The thing was a solid polished stone with thick pillars every twenty meters. Nothing would indicate there was something of interest on it. If anything, Yolin lost interest in it whenever she focused to try and find something. That was the flaw, she soon found out. If she hadn''t heard of an illusion being there, she''d think it uninteresting and moved on. The forced lack of interest was, in itself, a flaw. Alyssa''s Bey''tu brought no results, either. The animal approached the wall, sniffed, huffed, and left. ¡°Bonte, Hanna,¡± Natasha called, looking at the wall. ¡°Come here for a second, please.¡± The two Scouts walked closer to her, occupying the empty spots at each side. Yolin''s eyes widened a little and a smile formed on her lips. The illusion had made her move away. A level 949 Cleric Tank. Even though she stood in the top percentage when it came to individual power, she was made to move by something she couldn''t percieve on her own. ¡°Can you sense the illusion right there?¡± Natasha asked the Scouts, pointing at the wall in front of them. The two were silent for a moment, probably activating skills to see through illusions. ¡°No,¡± Hanna replied after a few seconds. ¡°But the flaw is evident, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Its simplicity makes it powerful, but also obvious to any keen observer,¡± Bonte supplied. ¡°This is the work of a monster, no doubt.¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°I agree,¡± the Ork joined. ¡°Natural illusions are not this... one dimensional. This is not an ambush predator, either.¡± The Shadow Chaser gave the Regicide an intrigued look. ¡°To keep the Mind Flayers out?¡± he inquired with a semblance of disbelief. The party fell silent. Symbiotic relations were a staple of dungeons, as covered by Roston Kalamar''s Understanding Galeia: Dungeons Delved''s second volume. Monsters within an E''er-rich environment would form a hierarchy of mutually benefitial relationships which they''d never break from to ensure the survival of everything, reaching a higher harmony than in the wild outdoors. The ramifications of such when it came to social and civilized introspection were many but not the point of the current circumstances. For a monster to actively avoid interaction with another within the same dungeon was not unheard of, but exceedingly rare. The party''s silence wasn''t one of confusion, but of fear. Roston Kalamar and his scholar successors archived five introverted monsters that actively avoid contact with other creatures, going as far as physically blocking access to their territory, even with the existence of a gate. Permechuni, Cahiny''khos, The Wail of the Unliving, The Doubt, and Blood Fiends. The illusion in front of them confirmed the worst. Mind Flayers and an introverted monster, Yolin stated the facts in her mind. May the Protector guard us, she prayed with closed eyes. The hope that there would be no such vile monster was shattered, and deep breaths echoed in the dungeon floor. ¡°So that''s why it reeks of mischeviousness,¡± Natasha stated with disaproval. ¡°Social interaction is important, you know?¡± She muttered to the wall. ¡°Give me a second and I''ll get rid of this pesky illusion.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± four voices called at the same time. The Halve turned to one of the voices with a deep scowl. ¡°Wait,¡± Elena repeated herself. ¡°There is one absolute way to survive Blood Fiends,¡± she revealed with a serious expression. The group waited with held breaths for such knowledge. She had been with two Halves! Of course she''d know how to deal with all manners of monsters and creatures. Even if just a researcher, she must''ve asked, or heard from her Eternal lovers. The Faeton Elf gave each member a glance, then uttered. ¡°Do. Not. Engage.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Bromisnar spoke, his voice dead serious. ¡°An optimal plan of action,¡± Pokora assured, giving Elena several nods of approval. ¡°We can come back later when it''s an easy win,¡± Lapia suggested. ¡°Or not come back at all,¡± Alyssa offered. ¡°True,¡± the Domi Elf agreed with a nod. ¡°We''re mortals, after all,¡± Bonte argued. The group found themselves throwing every thinkable excuse to avoid the encounter. Thelea walked to Natasha and placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°We''re going in, right?¡± she asked with a half pout. ¡°Of course we are,¡± the Halve declared, facing the party. ¡°Right?¡± she asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Her Excellency Natasha is with us,¡± Hanna pointed out, giving the woman a look of expectation. ¡°We have Legendary gear,¡± Yolin reminded the party. ¡°I doubt many who faced Blood Fiends have had such high level equipment, plus the Elixirs and Scrolls to boost our defenses. I''d say we''re overqualified for this.¡± A sigh left Natasha, then she walked closer to the wall. ¡°I''m going in,¡± she announced. ¡°Whoever wants to follow, you''re welcome.¡± Pokora bit her lower lip, then hung her head. ¡°Let''s be extra careful, then,¡± she muttered. The party shared anxious looks, except Thelea, Yolin, and Hanna. The Goliath didn''t fear death. Yolin trusted her own body to protect others. Hanna had no doubts that Natasha would come out as victor of the encounter. Slowly, the group assumed formation with Natasha, Thelea, and Yolin at the front. Bonte, Hanna, and Pokora took the middle. Alyssa, Bromisnar, Elena, and Lapia stood at the back. ¡°Prepare for a long fight,¡± Pokora spoke up, readying La''khazh, String of the World Tree. ¡°Make sure every wound is healed instantly, Alyssa. Don''t let them get a single drop of blood from us.¡± ¡°Will do,¡± the Luzo replied, tightening her tail around Crest of the Redeemer. ¡°Burn any blood that comes near us, Lapia,¡± Pokora instructed. The Domi Elf nodded, grasping Eternal Flame with both hands. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Natasha, Thelea, and Yolin, stay close to us,¡± the party leader continued. ¡°If you think something big will happen that you might survive, take them away from us, though. Otherwise keep the front line impenetrable.¡± ¡°Aha,¡± Natasha uttered in confirmation, producing her Alma Pike along with the Starforged Eternium Aspis. Yolin nodded, balled her hands and bumped the Raging Fists of Thunderous Claps together. ¡°Will try,¡± the Goliath chuckled excitedly, still being lower level compared to the party even after the recent spike in power. She placed the Shield of the Cruel Onslaught in front of her, and placed the Sword of the Cruel Onslaught above of it, ready to stab at anything that came too close. ¡°Blind them if they have eyes, Bonte,¡± the Elmari Elf kept going. ¡°If you see any opportunity to strike, take full advantage of it.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the Tigea complied, handling his Throat Cutters. ¡°Same to you, Hanna,¡± she turned to the Ork and gave her a nod. ¡°Confuse them with illusions if you can.¡± ¡°As you command,¡± the Regicide answered, taking a stance with both Venom Fangs, both charged with Hemotoxin. Pokora gave Elena a smile. ¡°Do you need time to prepare a Swarm?¡± The ancient Elf raised both eyebrows. ¡°I doubt they''ll be of much help,¡± she replied, resting Khepri''s Was-Scepter on her right shoulder. ¡°My other Classess with be more useful, though.¡± After a nod, the Archer focused on the Performer. The Satyr waited for his instructions. ¡°Make it epic,¡± she told him. A smile formed on the man''s face. ¡°Quite a tall order, but I will try,¡± he answered and produced an instrument that had strings and pipes to let air through. ¡°We''re ready, Natasha,¡± Pokora informed her. ¡°Go for it.¡± The Halve nodded, took a deep breath, and spoke, ¡°N??????a??????k???????e???????r??? ???????v????????a??????????s??????????s??????¡± Everyone winced, feeling like a slimy and rotted finger entered their ear canals. The section of the wall in front of them shimmered, then vanished, revealing a staircase going down. Eyes of the Satyr - The G.O.A.T. Part 1 Footsteps echoed in a narrow flight of stairs that barely fit three standing shoulder to shoulder. The breathing of people going into a battle with an uncertain outcome had no unified rhythm to it. Disperse at they were, so too, thoughts would follow. Nervous coughs broke the silence, followed by hums to clear the uneasiness within. That sharp, short, and sure show of shallow disquiet came and went uncountable times during the descent. Sighs followed with chuckles accompanied the whispered name of the monster waiting at the end of the stairs. Not defeated, not unwilling. Disbelieving, perhaps. Anxious, even. The three at the front, those with physical power and endurance in abundance, were relaxed in their expectation for conflict. Hoping, maybe, for a satisfactory scratch to the constant itch that was the desire to do battle with powerful foes that most would choose to avoid. Bright in ways life is not, the forward-most individual bobbed her head to an unheard tune. Evidently in fourths, the tap of gloved fingers on armored thighs, a clink of metal on metal was the only order within the small chaos. Still, the way her voice unnaturally spoke in all possible registers at once to dispel the illusion was still fresh in memory. To the right, the quiet chewing of food could be heard under the nervous breathing of the ensemble. An impromptu intake of energy to perhaps gain a vital upper hand in the upcoming encounter. Closely behind, the tallest yet lowest leveled individual, lightly tilting her head to not scrape the roof, had the calm disposition of a fighter in the face of promised violence. The breathing was even, as was her footsteps, louder than the rest, but no less secure in their advance. An accepting march towards death. To deliver death. To profit from death. Barely audible steps chased the first group. A pair acquainted with violence of a different breed. Of ambush and surprise. Of trickery and deceit. Of diversion and manipulation. Although deeply committed to her beliefs, the younger yet more powerful Scout''s breathing had none of the composed rhythm present on the vanguard group. It wasn''t doubtful by any stretch of the word. The expectation within had no inclusion of the self. She wanted to watch one specific individual''s violence. To witness it in full. To drive the final nail on the already solid worldview. A confirmation of sorts. Nothing more to it. Yet another one, that is. With evidence aplenty in recent memory, it was perhaps the exhilarating experience of it and nothing more. An obsession, if one used extreme words. Adoration, if one were to be nuanced. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The shorter and older Scout gave unsure glances to the Warrior tank ahead. An accepting, yet anxious view of cultural differences. Concerned love. Justified but uninvolved worry. His breathing reflected that and much, much more. Behind the pair, Masters of E''er followed in silence, contemplating myriad possibilities. The changed friend and oldest member breathed regularly, but shallow and anguished. Memories coming and going influenced odd footsteps. Certainty in something, but not this something. Another. One long lost, another one missing and wandering far away. A hidden pain that clutched at the heart with unforgiving brutality. Deep in thought followed the other, much younger Wizard. Perhaps under the rush of massive level gains, her breathing was excited yet cautious. Footsteps that wanted to rush one moment, and stop entirely only to return the next. A trust that fought a surface level fear. The most nervous breathing came next. The conductor of the orchestra of violence. The young but capable friend followed the group while concocting plans, formations, and contingencies in her mind. Footsteps that told of being acquainted with physical pain with willingness to face it once more to obtain more power, despite not entirely wanting to do so with the approach at hand. The risk was too high, but so were the rewards. Gauging the present force in full was not easy, all things considered. An even breathing followed the group. Readiness to assist accompanied an experienced stride performed thousands of times before. The current situation was nothing new. Not the first, nor the last. The specific monster was the only thing that differed from what she had done nearly all her life, and she would make sure it remained that way with the tools at her disposal. Finally, yours truly. One of the pillars of culture for millions of years has been violence. There are near endless ways to translate violence in all manners of its occurrence. Be it War, a Dungeon delve, a feud between kin, a dispute between siblings, or the breach of love. Stories, music, paintings, statues, and more. A witness is necessary to translate the most basic facet of life into art. Violence is a necessity. Eyes of the Satyr – The G.O.A.T. Part 2 Upon the 1598th step a door was reached. The smell of E''er was pervasive and overwhelming that deep into Galeia. This mortal was sensing it with a richness that felt as if it could be grabbed if a hand were to be stretched and fingers clutched. Were it not for the high levels of the individuals present, the thinness of the air would be dangerous. Deep breaths in the patterns of absorption dictated by each followed legacy enriched the body, wasting no opportunity given. The golden Protector stepped forth in her almost blinding radiance that almost forced the sight away, reaching the Goliath-sized gate, where she stood still. She muttered quietly in a single breath and in an unknown tongue, then let out a long sigh. A deep breath was taken. She repeated the words, followed by another long exhaling. The golden glow dimmed ever so slightly. ¡°Swaha?¡± Pokh''Orra whispered one of the words as if trying to remember something. Her expression turned pensive, squinting at the ground. Again and again the words were spoken. Each time, the glow dimmed. We waited, observing the Protector calm whatever emotions swam in the ocean of her mind. ¡°I guess that works better than rubbing ears,¡± Bonte muttered in amusement. ¡°I could''ve lost a hand back then,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Or worse,¡± Pokh''Orra added with a sneer. The Tigea shook his head. ¡°Nah, she knows how to hold back,¡± he assured. ¡°Yeah, right,¡± Elena huffed in annoyance. Quiet snickers answered her under the Protector''s dimming glow. ¡°Just don''t get mind controlled,¡± Pokh''Orra offered in a joking manner with a shrug. ¡°Not that hard, isn''t it?¡± Elena nodded with a smile. ¡°I forgot to ask nicely,¡± she joked back, raising her eyebrows as if just realizing. ¡°Get ready,¡± Natasha suddenly announced, covering her head with a helmet. ¡°I''ll open the gate.¡± The party got into position after those words, assuming the formation the leader had chosen. Channeling E''er within, [Dawn''s Lullaby] started a rhythm that granted perspicacity, plucking at E''er as if a string instrument. [Harmonious Evening after Performance] followed, spreading through the Bond towards the party to increase Dexterity, Wisdom, and Intelligence. The others prepared accordingly, E''er flowing in varied patterns with distinct effects. The Protector placed both hands on the gate and pushed. A groan came out of the material the door was made of as it slowly opened. Crimson light similar to blood came out of the crack that opened, both a sign and a warning of the monsters that resided within. Natasha walked in, and we followed. A humongous cave came into view. Roots the size of buildings hung from the ceiling and stuck to the walls, emitting the bloodied light. The floor was uneven and rocky, with stalagmites sticking out of the ground every few meters, all dyed in deep scarlet. ¡°There!¡± The Elmari Elf warned, aiming at a spot further into the cave with her bow. A creature laid on the ground, observing the party. [Blood Fiend ¨C Waxing Crescent Blood Moon, Unknown] A tangle of red cords like blood vessels rose on a thicker one from which the others originated. Four long limbs resembling arms that had scythes for hands stood at the sides. The head was a naked, red skull with two black ¨C almost void black ¨C eyes. ¡°What level is it?¡± the Archer questioned, clearly at Natasha. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°That one is one thousand five hundred and twenty one,¡± the Protector replied with palpable joy in her voice. That one? I repeated in my mind and a slight tremble in my lower lip. ¡°That one,¡± she pointed at the ceiling. The party followed her finger, eyes widening. A similar monster was hanging from the ceiling far above, but visible nonetheless. ¡°Is one thousand five hundred and ninety six,¡± she informed us. [Blood Fiend ¨C Full Blood Moon, Unknown] ¡°Okay,¡± Pokh''Orra breathed with a slight shake. ¡°Quick, vote for retreat or stay!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± Bonte replied. ¡°We can''t,¡± Thelea interrupted with gravitas. ¡°Yes we-¡± Elena started. ¡°Because of that one,¡± the Goliath continued, interrupting the ancient Elf. Once again, the party turned heads. Yet another one was stuck above the gate to the cave. [Blood Fiend ¨C New Blood Moon, Unknown] ¡°One thousand two hundred and seventeen,¡± Natasha spoke before the question came out of anyone''s mouth. ¡°You deal with that one.¡± Thelea had her shield raised, covering the group''s rear in case the thing attacked. ¡°Aren''t they loners?!¡± Pokh''Orra asked nobody in particular. ¡°Why are there three here? And so high in levels!¡± The monsters made no sound and didn''t move expect for the black eyes that moved from person to person. Shadows gathered around the Blood Fiend behind the party, blocking its eyes. A loud noise, similar to suction being released, echoed in the cave. The one that was stuck above the gate fell first, blocking the exit and making a plop sound. Then fell the one on the ceiling, with a louder plop. ¡°Gross,¡± Natasha muttered, looking at the monster that fell a good distance from the party. ¡°I''ll take these two,¡± she decided and started walking towards the monsters. The party focused on the aberration by the door, no doubt in our minds that the Halve would dispatch the other monsters on her own. ¡°Let''s-¡± Lady Yolin began. A loud boom from behind interrupted her, followed by an impact that shook the cave. ¡°RRRRRROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!¡± came a warcry that threatened to rend the very heavens, almost upturning the ground, and increasing the air pressure almost tenfold! The fiend the party was facing shivered in place, its body undulating as if someone had thrown a boulder at an otherwise tranquil lake. ¡°GO!¡± Pokh''Orra finished Lady Yolin''s sentence, releasing a barrage of ethereal arrows at the monster. Lady Yolin rushed forward, standing next to Thelea, where she conjured uncountable arms along with spheres and a wide circle that floated behind her. Thelea stomped the ground and shouted at the monster, sending a short lived shock-wave at it. Five copies of Lady Hanna formed from her, splitting and rushing the Blood Fiend, then turning invisible with her. Lady Lapia aimed with her staff. Fire and lightning came to life, striking the thing in an instant. A wave of her free hand and the party was encased in electric shields. My fingers moved with practiced ease, playing the Cionile in my hands. ¡°????¨¹¨¹????????~¡± I sang from my stomach, vibrating the air with subharmonics, which in turn made the air within the instrument move and produce a sound. Moving the bow, the strings came to life. [Mischievous Pendulum] took effect, stronger with the Cionile''s aid, granting Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity. Another Warcry came from behind, this time with an invitation to dance to the death. Being perhaps the only one who could afford to look elsewhere, I turned around. Flashes of gold and silver against red made for a colorful blur of violence. The Halve was moving at high speeds between the two monsters, delivering perhaps fifty to sixty slashes each second along with parries. On top of her, like a golden mantle, stood a shape of reptilian nature. It held an ethereal spear similar to the Protector''s in its scaled arms, copying each and every one of her movements. The high pitched sound of something incredibly hard hitting metal came six times each second. Like whips that required no preparation between strikes, the scythes attacked relentlessly, founding no purchase on the much faster Protector and her mantle, or bouncing off her armor whenever she deemed it appropriate to not defend. Absurdly quick swipes of two spears blocked most attacks with overwhelming strength, producing dull flashes of red as blood sprayed like mist every time the Mythical weapon struck. I increased the tempo and lowered the notes, adding tension to the music and switching to [Dreamer''s Promise], granting stacking alacrity to the party so their attacks moved faster to meet such monstrosities. ¡°Is that Dragon Roar?¡± Lady Alyssa muttered next to me, looking at the Halve as well. ¡°So that''s what she meant about her attacks striking twice and her strength doubling,¡± she recalled with understanding. ¡°H??????????~¡± I sang from deep within while observing, unable to reply. Eyes of the Satyr – The G.O.A.T. Part 3 The strikes grew in power and speed, forcing the air to compress and explode, each carrying a devastating shock-wave that disrupted the air within my lungs, threatening to burst inside my rib cage. I couldn''t keep up with my eyes. What seemed like a stalemate at first soon turned into a frenetic assault. Each second meant a centimeter of ground won. Each second meant one more blow landing where it should. Each second clearing the muddy uncertainty of what the outcome would be. The Protector was losing. Each time her spear cut into the Blood Fiends, blood would spray out and stain the ground, her armor, and her weapon in deep crimson. For every drop of blood one Blood Fiend lost, the other gained. For every drop of blood gained, their wounds closed, their speed increased, and their strikes grew more powerful. ¡°IT''S MOVING!¡± Pokh''Orra warned. ¡°CUT ITS ARMS OFF ALREADY! SEAR THE WOUNDS WITH FIRE! NOT A DROP OF BLOOD ON THE GROUND!¡± The sound of a flurry of strikes striking different metals came from behind, forcing the hairs all over my body to stand. The third Blood Fiend broke free from Natasha''s skill. A monster with a level of 1217 versus a Halve with a level of 1351. The logical conclusion would be the other two Blood Fiends had bolstered it as well whenever any blood got out of their bodies. The Protector struck along with the golden mantle above her, piercing and slashing the aberrations of blood, also becoming faster and stronger with each passing second and meeting the relentless onslaught. ¡°They''re healing the curse,¡± Lady Alyssa muttered in realization. ¡°Look carefully,¡± she suggested. ¡°Whenever Natasha cuts into them, the curse doesn''t spread.¡± Those details escaped me, unfortunately. I am but a Performer. No skill in my repertoire could aid me in sensing such events. All I saw was blood spraying for an instant, only for the wound to close shut the next. ¡°THE THING IS SLOW!¡± Pokh''Orra''s voice came. ¡°CUT THE LIMBS FIRST TO REACH THE HEAD! BONTE! HANNA! GO FOR THE SAME LIMB TOGETHER! THELEA! YOLIN! GIVE THEM AN OPENING!¡± A drop of sweat ran down my brow. The temperature behind me had reached well over one thousand degrees Yiama considering my Constitution and the bonuses the party was providing. It was stuffy, uncomfortable, and sound had great difficulty moving in such a medium, which made singing and playing the Cioline a challenge. The many strikes pushing air that cut through sound only increased the struggle. True to the task given to me by the Party Leader, I retrieved a light quordatta along with a flute, then activated [Lord Popabotta''s Wrongdoings to Gentleman Fabiano and the Tragic Happenings that took Place Thereafter, Volume I]. The instruments floated a few centimeters away, then started playing as if ten of each, pushing back against the air pressure with robust and packed harmonics, effectively forming a 600 meters domain in which only the party could affect air, negating shock waves up to a certain point. Originally a skill to be used in social events to provide safety to the audience so they could speak freely without being eavesdropped, it was also incredibly useful for other purposes. Luckily, the Blood Fiends had no skills that directly manipulated the environment in a similar way. The Protector struck again and again, covering the ground with blood and flesh, only for the monsters to gain an edge due to the carnage. ¡°I can''t stop their healing,¡± Lady Alyssa commented with great annoyance, then clicked her tongue. ¡°They''re too powerful for me to influence.¡± ¡°Well, duh,¡± came Elena''s amused retort from behind us. ¡°They''re over five hundred levels above you. Aim at the blood instead of them. Increase its acidity or spoil it.¡± I quickly peeked behind. The ancient Elf was aiming her staff at the third Blood Fiend, a purple, arching beam striking the monster''s head. The monster''s limbs were ignited and burning, open gashes a full meter long covering the cords that made its body. Bonte and Hanna circled around it at neck-breaking speeds, cutting and stabbing at it while evading its whip-like arms flinging about. Lady Yolin was standing in front of it, arms crossed to protect her face and neck, yet being pummeled by its many strikes. Her resilient body took them in strides, but flinched slightly whenever her head was hit. ¡°Weaker than Natasha!¡± she mocked the monster. ¡°Too weak! Far too weak!¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Thelea stood next to Lady Yolin, shield raised and under attack by the whips just like her fellow tank. Whenever a whip would strike the two Scouts, an ethereal shield or arm would get in the way, completely blocking the attack but bursting it in a small flash of light. The monster''s eyes, covered in shadows, were full of ethereal arrows similar to a Seamster''s pincushion. Each time a blade or arrow opened a wound, it would burn by either fire or lightning, leaving a charred hole that prevented any blood from leaking. A gasp next to me made me quickly turn my head. The Halve was not in the middle of the two Blood Fiends anymore. Instead, twenty three spears impaled them to the ground, each different from one another. A loud crash came from the ceiling, where Natasha was lodged into the stone directly above us. I felt the world go quiet despite not stopping my music. A golden liquid dripped down from above, splattering in front of me. Its glow and richness was unmistakable. ¡°...¡± Lady Alyssa was quiet. ¡°...¡± I stopped singing. ¡°...¡± Elena had no witty remark. The Protector was made to bleed. ¡°AII HOOOOOOH!¡± Natasha screamed unintelligibly. Then, suddenly, a brightness akin to the death of a giant star enveloped my vision, blinding me in burning pain. ¡°YOU SIPHILITIC WHORE CUNT!¡± A scream that threatened to rip open the cosmos echoed in the cave, chilling my spine and preventing me from complaining about the pain. ¡°PREPARE TO DIEEEEEE!!!¡± A violent gust of wind knocked me down. Then, a pair of hands grabbed me and unceremoniously threw me somewhere, where another pair of hands caught me and handed me to someone else''s pair of hands. ¡°PUT EVERYTHING ON DEFENSE!¡± Pokh''Orra''s voice demanded with urgency. ¡°USE EVERYTHING! NOW!¡± My eyesight returned as soon as those words were finished. Yolin stood in front of the group, arms stretched wide. Fifty floating arms were tightly arranged in the form of a net with no gaps in front of her. Behind the arms, a wall of shields and spears stood, providing further protection. Thelea stood behind Yolin, two tall and wide shields covering both tanks. A barrier encircled the entire party, which stood against the wall of the cave. Bonte, Hanna, and Pokh''Orra stood in front of me, Lady Lapia, Elena, and Lady Alyssa. It all happened in an instant. Pokh''Orra finished her words, my eyesight returned, and a sound that was similar to the ripping of clothing reached my ears. Through the ethereal images of shields and arms, Natasha floated mid-air not even half a meter below the cave''s ceiling, arm extended downwards and glowing the brightest she had. The ground cracked below us, then rose a full ten meters, taking us with it. Then, the ground gave in and went down five times that. Heat, sound, light, and pressure assaulted my senses at the same time, pushing the entire party against the wall with colossal might. Groans of pain and effort left all our mouths at the same time. My ribs shattered at once, but were healed the next moment. ¡°DIE!¡± came the second scream of the Protector. The already cracked ground shattered further, taking us up a full ten meters, then going down ten times that. The pressure was greater this time, and so was the heat, the sound, and the brightness. Once again my ribs were shattered, then healed the next instant. Air moved violently, rustling my hair and clothes, robbing me of the capacity to breathe, hear, and speak, leaving me in a world of silent pain. ¡°BRACE!¡± Pokh''Orra warned. ¡°SHE''S USING GAE BULG AGAIN!¡± ¡°DIE!¡± came the third edict of death. But nothing happened. The sound of stone cracking and falling, only to shatter on impact against something was all that could be heard. ¡°What happened!?¡± I urged, scrambling to sit up in confusion. Lady Alyssa met my eyes, wearing a complicated expression. ¡°Natasha got injured, and I''d assume her survival instincts kicked in.¡± ¡°They''re different beings, after all,¡± Elena panted, laying on the ground and looking up at the ceiling. ¡°Halves suck E''er into themselves like a starving vacuum when that happens.¡± ¡°I''ll pull hear ears real good after this,¡± Lapia hissed in anger. ¡°You all signed up for this,¡± the ancient Elf retorted from her position on the ground, giving the younger one a chastising look. ¡°If you don''t like it, stay back and become a researcher like I did.¡± ¡°It''s not over,¡± Lady Yolin pointed out, gesturing forward. We turned to the cave. Or what once was a cave, more accurately. Ten meters from the wall we were pressed against, a massive chasm had replaced the cave floor, going deeper than light could reach. Within that hole, one glowing golden dot was climbing up at a fast speed. Its many tendrils and scythes helping in the task. Elena let out a long, defeated sigh. ¡°That Blood Fiend got a hold of Halven Blood,¡± she voiced the collective conclusion. ¡°This is going the get really ugly.¡± Eyes of the Satyr – The G.O.A.T. Part 4 The Halve landed with heavy steps in front of us, facing into the dark chasm of her own making. Her glow had reduced significantly, no longer hurting the eyes. Lady Yolin walked to her and placed a hand on her lower back. ¡°How-¡± ¡°Eugh!¡± Natasha bent at the waist and vomited, golden blood coming out of the gaps between her helmet and her breastplate. ¡°Cough! Haaa...¡± she sighed while straightening up. Lady Alyssa rushed forward, followed by Lady Lapia and Pokh''Orra. The three surrounded her, wearing worried expressions. The Halve stored her helmet, revealing a mess of hair and viscous blood, then spat at the ground between her feet, where a long piece of flesh landed. It was her tongue. ¡°...Tasmat sariputra sunyatayam na rupam, na vedana, na samjna, na samskara, na vijnanam,¡± she muttered in a low, trembling voice full of almost physically palpable anger. The sound of metal grinding on metal came from her armored hands holding her spear. The party leader''s face morphed. Her eyebrows rose, her eyes opened wide, and her lips parted slightly in realization. ¡°Oh, shit...¡± she whispered and took a careful step back. If not for the circumstances at hand, it would be a funny reaction. Slowly, she pulled the other two away with her. ¡°Let''s back off for a bit.¡± Lady Alyssa and Lady Lapia gave Pokh''Orra a concerned look, but acquiesced. The Protector spat again, this time ejecting a piece of glass that bounced off the ground with a loud clink. ¡°Na caksu srotra ghrana jihva kaya manasa, na rupam sabda ghanda rasa spartsavya dharma...¡± she hissed through ground teeth. The four moved back a couple of steps, giving their lover space. Bonte gave me a look and a short, inquiring nod. I nodded back two times. He smiled and shook his head. I chuckled and shrugged. A loud and shaky sigh left Natasha followed by some quiet muttering, letting the words flow out with a calm tone of release, as if she was simply letting go. Upon the last utterance, her glow increased to the point of near blinding luminosity, yet gentler than before. Almost like an acceptance of something when, instead of surrendering to a challenge, it is embraced instead and incorporated. She extended a hand to the side and a suit of armor identical to the one she was wearing fell to the ground below it. The Eternal turned her head to Lady Yolin and pointed at the equipment. The Tank moved to it and stored the pieces, then equipped them one by one. She stopped and stored them back. ¡°Give me a second, this is more complicated than I thought,¡± she explained, once again producing the items and fiddling with the belts and clasps. The helmet reacted to her body, leaving two holes for her horns. Something similar had happened with Thelea and the armor she received, having changed to fit her much larger frame. Halven items are a thing of wonder. Unlike Natasha''s helmet, Lady Yolin''s had no hole at the back, probably due to the Oni having much shorter hair. I stared into the massive hole in front of us, where the golden dot was still climbing the wall across the chasm. How much stronger is it now? I wondered, fixing my hair. Tongues bleed a lot. ¡°Done,¡± Lady Yolin announced, testing the gauntlets, where her fist weapons were attached. The platinum-looking metal seemed to have changed shape to accommodate them. ¡°So you bit your tongue off,¡± Lady Lapia pointed out with relief, visibly relaxing. ¡°That''s what you get for laughing while fighting,¡± she added, slightly amused. Thelea snorted. ¡°Happens more often than you''d think,¡± she shared. ¡°A Warrior finally finds fun, then gets lost in the thrill of the challenge.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. There were many things I would have liked to say to that, considering the fun Natasha had resulted in the loss of my instruments. Still, I held my tongue. Casting criticism at a time when tensions were high was not productive in the slightest. Once the dive was over, I would say my piece. Hanna took a step towards Natasha and presented herself in accordance to Eternal Worship etiquette. ¡°May I join Your Excellency?¡± She requested, her voice coming out without issue even through the thick cloth that was her new head protection. The Halve simply nodded, not looking away from the golden dot still climbing the chasm. We fell into silence while watching the Blood Fiend. When the monster was nearing the edge of the hole, Natasha took a step forward while equipping her own helmet and producing her shield. Hanna and Yolin followed. The three then broke into a sprint, circling the Halve-made gorge, and quickly reaching the transformed creature. ¡°What strategy do you think-¡± Pokh''Orra started. On the other side of the hole, Natasha charged to the Blood Fiend at supersonic speed, impaling it against the wall with her spear, plunging the weapon into flesh and rock until it was barely visible. Then, she produced a large blade wreathed in flames, with which she cut its limbs off with two swift swipes. Hanna arrived second, delivering a powerful kick to the monster''s head and stabbing it with her daggers. Five Hannas appeared out of thin air and joined the beating. Yolin was the last to get there and proceeded to rain punches onto the monster''s torso and head while using ethereal arms to hold the writhing limbs for Natasha and Hanna to cut whenever they regenerated. ¡°Ah...¡± the party leader uttered. ¡°Looks as if they''re mugging the thing,¡± she commented, a slight pity in her voice. ¡°What a way to go out,¡± she whispered and aimed with her bow, then quickly released an arrow. A very loud yet harmless twang came from the string, probably a skill. The projectile flew across the abyss, then split into five. They all hit the mark, piercing the monster''s torso, embedding it further into the wall. ¡°Nice shot,¡± Bonte praised. ¡°How far can you hit a target?¡± The three women ganged up on the monster, leaving no chance for it to retaliate. They lacked class and finesse. ¡°About fifty kilometers in ideal conditions,¡± the Archer replied. ¡°And fifteen if it moves as fast as Natasha.¡± My brother whistled. ¡°What are ideal conditions?¡± A whip struck a Hanna, pushing her into the chasm. She vanished and landed next to Yolin. Another Hanna, however, replaced the falling one. The clone dissipated after hitting a rock on the way down. Pokh''Orra hummed for a second. ¡°Not a typhoon, tornado, or storm. I perform best in forests and deserts, too, since I trained in Uuruhk and got my Ranger Class while in the army.¡± ¡°Aren''t Blood Fiends a little... weak?¡± Lady Lapia suddenly voiced her thoughts after watching the one-sided beating. ¡°A Halve Warrior, a high level Cleric Tank, and a high level Scout are decimating it, yet it still lives,¡± Elena pointed out the facts. ¡°That is not a weak monster. You could say they''re weak if you consider their Strength alone, but that regeneration speed and the their ability to gain power from blood makes them extremely dangerous monsters. We also learned that, if in groups, they can bolster each other with the blood the other spills, going so far as breaking free from a higher level person''s skills.¡± ¡°Right,¡± the younger Wizard accepted with a nod. ¡°They''re dangerous because we can bleed,¡± Alyssa added. ¡°Hence the name.¡± ¡°Oohh!¡± Pokh''Orra breathed out in realization. ¡°I always wondered that. Fiends and Demons were similar in nature in my mind,¡± she chuckled. ¡°But now I know better, I guess.¡± A few heads turned her way, including mine. ¡°How?¡± Elena inquired with a drop of confusion in her voice, mirroring everyone''s feelings. The Elmari Elf shrugged, but did not elaborate further. ¡°I can''t see how, though,¡± the oldest Elf insisted, a pensive look on her face. ¡°If you appraise it,¡± she said, pointing in the general direction of the Blood Fiend under attack, ¡°while thinking of the information being in Elvish you get Laaf''Khur Jhezh''Mhei. There are no similarities with Pleqe''Haakh.¡± ¡°If mheol comes from her understanding of Haakh, there is,¡± Lady Lapia suggested, taking Pokh''Orra''s side. ¡°It''s not inherently wrong to link the two in that context. A harmless mistake, wouldn''t you agree?¡± Elena looked at both Elves, her eyes squinting a little as they jumped from one to the other, studying them. She slowly relaxed and nodded. ¡°You''re young, after all,¡± she sagely accepted, letting the matter go. We watched the fight in silence. The atmosphere was odd to say the least. Apprehension had been replaced by an awkward sense of unjustified tension. The monsters were incredibly powerful, being a bit less than double our levels, and yet there was no evidence to it other than the information provided by appraising them. ¡°It''s the equipment, isn''t it?¡± Thelea voiced everyone''s conclusion. ¡°Definitely,¡± Pokh''Orra agreed with a slow nod. ¡°We all have Legendary gear.¡± The Goliath hummed. ¡°But for it to boost us enough to face three Blood Fiends into a stalemate? I have a hard time coming to terms with it. The fight with the spiders in the dungeon was more believable, if that makes sense.¡± ¡°I get around three hundred levels worth of stats,¡± Lady Lapia shared. ¡°It''s a flat increase, though, but still quite impressive.¡± ¡°And the five of you have Mythical weapons,¡± Bonte pointed out. A cheeky smile spread on his face, then snickered, ¡°Is Natasha looking for a man, by any chance?¡± Thelea laughed, patting his back with mirth. Lady Alyssa, Lady Lapia, and Pokh''Orra laughed as well, but exchanged complicit glances between the three. The Healer cocked an eyebrow, offering him an inviting smile. ¡°If your tool can survive it, go ahead,¡± she taunted. The feline Scout''s eyes widened a little, his eyebrows went up, and his ears flattened against his head. ¡°I was joking,¡± he clarified. ¡°I''m not into Higher Beings.¡± Laughter escaped my lips, and I covered my mouth with a hand. Eyes of the Satyr – The G.O.A.T. Part 5 A sound similar to cloth being ripped apart silenced the good chuckle we were having at my brother''s expense. We all turned to the source. Inspiration struck! There are four maxims in life commonly referred to as the four F''s. Fighting, fleeing, fornicating, and feeding. Failing to engage in any of them means the end of the perpetual cycle of life. Millions of years of code passed down from parent to child are thus interrupted. If one does not fight, then one is killed. If one does not flee, then one is killed. If one does not fornicate, then the lineage ends. If one does not feed, then one simply starves to death. It is simple, natural, obvious, mandatory, and expected. Those who never fight are weak. Those who never flee are fools. Those who never fornicate are sterile of heart. Those who never eat are unnatural. As society advances and culture enriches the souls, minds, and hearts of the people, these concepts see their status of maxim diminished, but nevertheless retain their nuance. Fighting is a prime example of this. A Performer needs not a blade. Neither does the Craftsman nor the Merchant. The fight, then, becomes abstract ¨C of the mind, soul, or heart. Archers, Clerics, Scouts, Warriors, and Wizards, however, need the blade still. The ability to kill. In turn, those who do not, need those who do. It is simple, natural, obvious, mandatory, and expected.. The ban on War by Her Excellency Filestra changed society. A single individual''s actions and words brought a shift to a second maxim: Fornicating. No longer do we need to produce children in large numbers to enrich the homeland. What once was a one-to-one affair changed to one-to-many. People continue to birth children, and will forevermore. It is simple, natural, obvious, mandatory, and expected... So long as mortals remain mortals, feeding is as imperative as it has always been. The unchanging maxim. Individuals exist who believe Higher Beings will guide us to a Higher Civilization, and by doing so we will ascend and abandon our need to feed, fight, flee, and fornicate. It remains a belief with no basis as no Divine or Eternal has promised such events. Some call it delusions, others call it conviction. Regardless of what might happen, all mortal life requires a form of sustenance. It is simple, natural, obvious, mandatory, and expected! So why, O heart of mine, am I deathly frightened of the scene before me? In the twilight realm that is Galeia''s bowels, deep within the All-mother, a manifestation of such maxims played out. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Oh, Natasha, born of purest E''er and Eternal whispers, your wrath is a force that would make even the Cosmic Chamber pause in awe. The Blood Fiend, a terror that haunts the bravest of Chasers, now succumbs to the inexorable might of a Higher Being. She was feeding. Why did I wish to flee when faced with it when it is simple, natural, obvious, mandatory, and expected!? Oh, Natasha, born from the All-mother''s womb, your appetite for the shadows is boundless, a hunger that echoes across the world! Until it ended. Insatiable hunger and burning ire won over transformed flesh. The origin of it retained full authority, it seemed. The one made to sustain such perfection would not be upstaged by a false imitator. Why was I frightened? Nature is endlessly beautiful and equally disturbing. The Protector wiped her lips, a satisfied smile on her face, then stood up. She took a deep breath, then let out a long, echoing, loud, and deep belch. Inspiration gone! ¡°Quite the method to defeat a rapidly regenerating monster, right?¡± Elena commented, not a drop of surprise in her tone. ¡°I hated seeing Perculis do that. To see a calm and gentle man eat monsters...¡± she stopped her sentence and hissed, looking away. Lady Lapia hummed. ¡°I see why you chose to stay back,¡± she muttered in thought. ¡°So... Is that why they''re called apex predators?¡± Pokh''Orra asked, glancing at Elena. The ancient Elf nodded. ¡°One of many reasons,¡± she quietly replied, her tone implying there was more to it. ¡°You''re looking too deeply into it,¡± Bonte sighed. ¡°Munchies had bad timing, is all.¡± Lady Alyssa chortled, then covered her mouth and giggled. ¡°The forbidden spaghetti,¡± Pokh''Orra wisely added. ¡°That''s the second monster she''s eaten so far,¡± I muttered, still reeling with child-like rejection despite my age. It was a natural thing to do: Eat other things. ¡°She spat the spider bits out,¡± Pokh''Orra reminded us. ¡°I don''t think that counts.¡± ¡°It does,¡± Bonte countered with a snicker. ¡°I bet she tried, but... found it gross or something? There''s nothing wrong with it, anyway. We''ve been eating the Ugers from Mountroad''s dungeon for months now. This was straight from the source.¡± ¡°Those were beasts,¡± Lady Lapia argued. ¡°Not monsters.¡± My brother shrugged. ¡°Whatever helps you sleep at night, then,¡± he concluded. Hanna, Natasha, and Yolin jogged around the chasm towards us while we chatted. ¡°There''s not much difference,¡± Thelea supplied. ¡°One uses E''er, the other doesn''t. Will you all shit yourselves when Natasha eats a person for the first time? Will you fight her? Or will you perish like a pig?¡± There was no precise answer to such words. 185 - Going for the jugular My perception of reality was mildly distorted. I saw, heard, felt, tasted, smelled, and sensed things that I knew were not there, but I could ignore with some effort. The cave smelled like old man Vil that lived next to me in Saint Petersburg, always offering a grateful smile after helping him load his weekly groceries into his car whenever we bumped into each other at the nearby supermarket, which happened suspiciously often. Was that the tree''s lingering spirit showing gratitude for killing the Blood Fiends, or was that a hallucination of my own making? I didn''t even know how long we had been in the dungeon. It felt like a year had passed. My stomach felt full, and an uncomfortable wriggle inside it told me the golden Blood Fiend wasn''t quite dead, but that could''ve been yet another hallucination. Was my stomach acid strong enough to overpower its regeneration? Was it even dead by the time I finished eating it? Did I get my hands on a never-ending food source? Did I swallow the main body and assumed it dead because appraising the mangled remains showed nothing? Would it burst out through my chest like a Xenomorph? My Halven instincts told me the threat was gone, but that, too, could have been a hallucination. To connect with Galeia and see the higher truth my ass! I cursed in my sluggish mind while jogging between Hanna and Yolin. I''m never accepting soup from tribal people again! A memory sneaked into my mind, immediately dispelling the annoyance. Is this ayahuasca? Should I draw something? A pair of hands grabbed me and moved me to the side, interrupting my thoughts. ¡°Careful!¡± Yolin warned. A boulder the size of a Ratnak fell where I was standing a second ago. I looked up and noticed large cracks on the ceiling. ¡°We should make haste, Your Excellency!¡± Hanna suggested. Hah! Make haste! I laughed in my mind and continued jogging. The way she talks is so funny! We reached the others and stopped. They were looking at the ceiling, eyes full of caution. ¡°-few places,¡± Elena said. ¡°It''s not a complete collapse.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Pokora replied with a nod. ¡°We should leave either way. Can you hear that?¡± I looked up and tried focusing on my hearing. A plethora of whispering voices filled my head for a second, getting in the way of picking up whatever the Elmari Elf was talking about. ¡°Water,¡± Bonte warned with severity. ¡°Lots of it.¡± Lapia turned around and walked to the wall. ¡°Let''s get out of here,¡± she anxiously urged, then looked for the gate we crossed to enter the cave. We all turned to the wall, looking for the gate as well. Lapia was the first to spot it. She crouched a little and jumped, the aura around her body pulsing for an instant. In a clean arc, the Domi Elf quickly reached her destination. Yolin followed, then Hanna. Thelea carried Bromisnar and Elena, taking them to the gate in a single jump as well. Bonte disappeared in a puff of shadows, then appeared next to the group. Pokora carried Alyssa and jumped as well. I squinted at the gate. That''s around two hundred meters away, I observed and turned to the cave. A loud crash came from the ceiling and a big chunk dislodged itself from the stone around the spot I got launched to back when I bit my tongue off. Uncountable tonnes of water followed in a violent burst that launched smaller rocks and debris in all directions, pushing the chunk of rock into the chasm below. I walked to the edge and looked down. It''s not filling up any time soon, I considered. What''s the rush? Pokora landed next to me and pulled me by the arm. ¡°Natasha. Let''s go!¡± she urged. ¡°The staircase might collapse.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered in realization, then hugged her. ¡°Can you take me up there? I''ll probably miss the jump.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the Archer agreed, then pulled my legs up in a princess carry. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°Such a reliable girlfriend!¡± I giggled and closed my eyes. Pokora jumped, then landed a second later. ¡°There we go,¡± she sighed and put me down. I opened my eyes and noticed everyone had already gone up the stairs. ¡°That''d be a world record,¡± I commented, eyeing the cave. She nodded and wiped her forehead. ¡°Already broke them all,¡± she casually replied with a grin and walked to the stairs. I followed, catching up with her. ¡°How long have we been down here?¡± I asked. Her lips pursed for a second in thought. I leaned into her and gave her pale pink lips a cheeky smooch. ¡°Ewwww!!¡± she exclaimed in disgust, backing away from me. Her face mirrored her tone, scrunched up in rejection and turning red in slight anger. My eyebrows shot up in shock. Pokora wiped her lips and spat at the ground. ¡°Natasha, you daft cunt! Don''t go pinching kisses right after eating a monster! That''s bloody gross!¡± she cursed in horror. I burst into laughter, supporting myself on her shoulder. ¡°PINCHING KISSES!!¡± I howled in joy, hugging my stomach and laughing harder. The woman huffed and produced a towel, then cleaned her mouth with it. ¡°Ah, yeah. Have a laugh now...¡± she sighed, produced a potion, and drank a bit. ¡°What if it carries some unknown disease? I don''t want magical rabies!¡± I gasped and wheezed, slapping my knees. ¡°And it''s a Blood Fiend!¡± Pokora pointed out in exasperation. ¡°What if we turn into blood-craving frenzied Zombies?!¡± I took a deep breath and let it out. ¡°Haaaa... That was funny,¡± I sighed. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Or Vampires, Natasha!¡± Pokora insisted in dismay. I gave her a concerned look. ¡°Those exist here?¡± ¡°I don''t know and I don''t want to find out either,¡± she whined, shaking her head. She spat once more and groaned, ¡°If you want a kiss that bad you might as well wait a bit!¡± I shrugged. ¡°Alyssa''s spells are still working,¡± I assured her. ¡°So I doubt you''ll turn into a Zombie or a Vampire before we reach Danuva.¡± She gave me a wary look, then retrieved a blade, stored her left gauntlet, and cut her palm. The wound closed before blood had a chance to come out. ¡°See?¡± I taunted with a grin. My girlfriend grumbled and stored her blade, then wore the gauntlet again. She hummed and arched a cheeky eyebrow my way. ¡°You want to kiss me that bad, huh? Aren''t you cute.¡± I tilted my head and sighed. ¡°No, not really,¡± I lied, not letting her tease me. The Elmari Elf frowned and looked ahead. ¡°To answer your question from before. We entered the dungeon yesterday at three in the afternoon. It''s nine in the morning now.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± I uttered and appraised her. [Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Elmari Elf, lvl 346 Sniper ¨C 341 Hunter ¨C 318 Ranger] ¡°You reached a thousand total,¡± I blurted out in surprise with a happy smile. ¡°That''s awesome, Poko! Congratulations!¡± The Elf whipped her head in my direction, her eyes wide as they could get. ¡°Huh?! You can see that?!¡± I nodded and revealed, ¡°For a while now. Why?¡± She raised her brows and hummed. ¡°I feel bit naked in a way,¡± she commented, looking at me suspiciously. ¡°Can you see my stats?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± I replied, shaking my head. ¡°Not yet, at least. I don''t know if I will, to be honest.¡± ¡°That''s...¡± she sighed. ¡°Halves, huh...¡± I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a good squeeze. ¡°Anyway. A thousand, huh? That deserves celebration, don''t you think?¡± Pokora hugged my waist and leaned her hear on my shoulder. She hummed. ¡°You''ll reward me?¡± she cheekily asked, looking up at me with a tiny smile. My smile widened and I giggled, ¡°Is there anything you want?¡± She gave it a good thinking while we climbed the stairs. ¡°I have a few ideas,¡± she concluded. ¡°I''ll give it a proper thinking first, okay?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I accepted and gave her another squeeze. ¡°How are you holding up, by the way?¡± Pokora asked. ¡°Still high?¡± I nodded. ¡°Less than before, though. The whispers remain but I don''t see things melt down anymore.¡± ¡°Have you taken drugs before?¡± she casually asked. ¡°Nope,¡± I replied. ¡°First time on shrooms. It cleared a lot when I snapped back then, thankfully.¡± ¡°What possessed you to take acid, anyway?¡± The Elf questioned with a chuckle. I sighed and shook my head. ¡°I didn''t know what it was. The dude told me it was medicine to see the higher truth, so I went with it without giving it a second thought.¡± An understanding hum left her, then asked, ¡°What do the whispers say?¡± I leaned in to her ear and whispered, ¡°Hashuhashuhashuhashuhashu. Hi. Hashushushu. Over here.¡± She squirmed in discomfort and giggled, ¡°That''s annoying!¡± I continued, ¡°It''s under your skin. Peel it off. Kill them. Wear their skin.¡± Her eyes widened in concern. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°No,¡± I laughed. ¡°I''m joking. It''s just the annoying whispers.¡± Pokora clicked her tongue and slapped my arm. ¡°Don''t-¡± RUMBLE! The staircase, walls, and ceiling started shaking violently. ¡°Is that real?¡± I asked, not sure if it was a hallucination. Pokora released me. ¡°It is! Let''s run!¡± she urged and shot forward. I followed, running next to her. The loud sound of water came from behind along with rocks and stone crashing and collapsing. I laughed loudly. ¡°We''re like archaeologists after stealing an ancient artifact!¡± ¡°But we''re faster!¡± Pokora retorted with a laugh. Sure enough, we reached the Mind Flayer room in under five seconds, our high status allowing us to cover the many steps right away and without issue. The rest of the party was already there, taking a short break. With Pokora having reached level one thousand total, I appraised the others expecting similar results. [Thelea Vathunith ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Rodon Goliath, Lvl 314 Battlemaiden ¨C 292 Moving Fortress ¨C 261 Shield of Bal''Ogh] Not quite there, but still gained a lot... [Bonte Slirmy ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Shishi Tigea, Lvl 341 Shadow Chaser ¨C 335 Rogue ¨C 320 Dusk Blade] A bit more and he''ll get there, I observed. [Hanna Intarr ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Ork, Lvl 336 Regicide ¨C 335 Warped Blade ¨C 330 Usurper] Nice, just a bit over. [Alyssa Pruvik ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Kyrstaali Luzo, Lvl 340 Archbishop ¨C 333 Cardinal ¨C 334 Soul Warden] I nodded in approval. [Yolin Makav ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Red Oni, Lvl 320 Monk ¨C 340 Paladin ¨C 350 Asura] I arched an eyebrow. That''s pretty even. [Elena Pazh''Khun ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Faeton Elf, Lvl 352 Entomancer ¨C 348 Grand Archwizard ¨C 339 Chitinothurge] So the old cunt knows how to suck, I sighed. [Bromisnar Bahadh ¨C Bonded Companion ¨C Khlyp Satyr, Lvl 335 Bard ¨C 333 Minstrel ¨C 330 Maestro] Almost... [Lapia Pofeta ¨C Bonded Partner ¨C Domi Elf, Lvl 362 Pyromancer ¨C 347 Thaumaturgist ¨C 341 Storm Ruler] Ohhh! She passed everyone! I noticed with a smile. The Mind Flayers must''ve been pretty fruitful. ¡°Took you a while,¡± Elena sighed in disapproval. ¡°Can''t walk with how high you are?¡± Yolin walked to us. ¡°Shut up. We got here less than a minute ago,¡± she waved Elena away and gently pinched my cheeks. ¡°Feeling okay?¡± I smiled and nodded. ¡°Much better.¡± The Oni produced a towel and cleaned my face. ¡°How''s your tummy?¡± ¡°Good,¡± I replied, closing my eyes for a moment to let her pamper me. ¡°I''m pretty full.¡± Alyssa walked to us and inspected Pokora, taking the hand she previously cut. ¡°Did something happen?¡± The Elmari Elf shook her head, but smiled. ¡°Natasha pinched a cheeky kiss and I thought I''d catch a disease from the Blood Fiend she ate... so I checked if your healing was still up.¡± ¡°Gross!¡± Elena muttered. ¡°Doesn''t surprise me coming from her...¡± Yolin frowned and turned to the ancient Elf. ¡°Where is Anuri? Mh?¡± she asked. Elena''s brows rose in surprise at the question. ¡°What about Alina?¡± the Oni asked, resting her hands on her hips. ¡°Where are your lovers, huh? More than a month has passed by now. Why haven''t they come see you?¡± ¡°What would you-¡± Elena started. ¡°You got dumped and now you take it out on Natasha?¡± the Tank interrupted, her voice conveying she had had enough of Elena''s attitude. ¡°Why? Does she look like Yulianna or something? Are you carrying some guilt you''re hoping Natasha will punish because Anuri and Alina were looking for Yulianna while you got mind controlled like some dry and barren cuck!?¡± I covered my mouth like a teenager watching drama unfold, then turned to Pokora. She had an amused ''Oh shit!'' expression on her face. Bonte and Bromisnar turned their backs on us. The Tigea pulled Thelea to join them. Elena looked down and frowned. ¡°What can you to show her after three hundred years?¡± Yolin insisted. ¡°I mean... mourning the loss of Perculis and then returning to...¡± She gestured at the woman ¡°...this... Fucking hell.¡± Alyssa and Lapia simply observed with impassive faces. The Entomancer huffed. ¡°Stick to your lane, kid,¡± she deflected. The Oni scoffed. ¡°Oh, I am. Natasha is my business,¡± she declared. ¡°So either shut up or leave.¡± 186 - Seeing the [Higher Truth] I took a deep breath and let it out, then placed a hand on Yolin''s shoulder. The Oni turned her head my way, arching a questioning eyebrow. ¡°Yes, but,¡± I started. My red-skinned girlfriend frowned at the words. ¡°She can''t leave,¡± I stated, shifting my focus from Yolin to Elena. ¡°She''s in my care until Yulianna comes back, whether she likes it or not.¡± The old cunt frowned and folded her arms across her chest. Her lips pursed in a pout that let an exasperated huff escape, blowing a lock of red hair off her face. Yolin clicked her tongue, clearly displeased by what I said. ¡°Other than that I fully agree with you, Yolin,¡± I concluded, patting her shoulder and giving her a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Pop off, girl!¡± The Oni looked at the Faeton Elf, then back at me. ¡°You two need to have a serious conversation before this escalates any further,¡± she said, then looked back at the Entomancer. ¡°I don''t care if you''re a billion Eras old, Elena... Natasha is a Halve. I would never dream of speaking to Yulianna like that, let alone touch a Divine the way you did.¡± Alyssa, Lapia, and Pokora nodded at that, but didn''t say anything. Elena raised her eyebrows and let out a long hum. I waited for Yolin to add anything. She shook her head like she was scolding a child, then sighed and gestured for Pokora to take over. The Archer gave me a sneaky glance. I gave her a wink. She nodded, looking around the Mind Flayer room. ¡°Let''s get out of here,¡± she announced and walked to the animals we previously left a short distance away. ¡°I''m hungry and could use a nap.¡± Yolin followed the Party Leader. Alyssa and Lapia walked to me. The Domi Elf hugged me tightly. The Luzo placed a hand on my right cheek. ¡°Are you okay now?¡± I wrapped my arms around them. ¡°I''m better now. Still high but I can ignore it. You?¡± Lapia nodded. ¡°The blasts hurt a bit...¡± she complained and pulled my ear a little. ¡°But nothing a different kind of blast won''t overwrite...¡± she added, giving me a seductive look. I giggled and looked at the Healer. Alyssa shrugged. ¡°It''s part of delving dungeons,¡± she offhandedly commented. ¡°A warning would have been nice, but it''s not a big deal.¡± ¡°My bad,¡± I apologized. ¡°I got a bit too angry back then.¡± Scaly hands caressed my cheek. ¡°It''s okay,¡± Alyssa forgave with a gentle smile. ¡°I expect a different apology tonight,¡± she added, giving me a coy wink. I smiled and nodded. ¡°I''ll do my best, then,¡± I promised and gave each a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Also, congratulations on reaching level one thousand total.¡± The two had surprised expressions, but eased after a moment. ¡°Doesn''t surprise me at this point,¡± Lapia sighed, releasing the hug. ¡°Same here,¡± Alyssa giggled, pinching my cheek. ¡°Can you see stats?¡± I shook my head. ¡°I can''t. Not yet.¡± ¡°Can you appraise yourself now?¡± the Luzo inquried. I nodded and did as suggested, looking into me.
Natasha Novak Forest Halve
Classes If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Hoplite Lvl 450 (0%) Lancer Lvl 450 (0%) Dragoon Lvl 451 (21%)
Status (Quantity)
Strength 5404 (+935) (+750)
Constitution 2702 (+935) (+750)
Intelligence 675 (+250)
Wisdom 675 (+250)
Dexterity 4053 (+750)
Attributes (Quality)
Tenacity 100%
Toughness 100%
Perspicacity 100%
Insight 100%
Alacrity 100%
Health 54040/54040
Stamina 12190/13510
E''er 13170/13500
Effects:
[Dragoon Might] [Initiation] [Preparation] [Monster Hunter] [Archbishop''s Clemency] [Soul Word: Protection] [Protectoratum] [Golden Blessing] [Tryptomethylcybinamine] [Tonic of Strength] [Tonic of Constitution] [Potion of Strength] [Potion of Constitution] [Elixir of Strength] [Elixir of Constitution] [Dew of Strength] [Dew of Constitution] [Draught of Strength] [Draught of Constitution] [Anger I]
Lifespan 115/3.640.000 Galeian Days
Cycle Preparing for [Pokh''Orra Pezh''Che]
Bond 11 [Mortals]
Titles [Hellwalker] [Young Halve] [Conqueror of Adversities]
I smiled. This looks much better, I thought while going over the information. Attributes are a new addition... and I seem to be preparing for Poko. Tryptomethylcybinamine? Is that the mushroom acid soup I drank? I wondered. Did skills change as well? I checked my Hoplite Class and found everything the exact same way, the information neatly arranged in a wall of text. "Anything?" Alyssa asked. "I can see more stuff now," I shared, looking at her. "It shows a percentage next to the Classes, which I assume is the progress to level them up. There''s a section that shows the effects of skills and potions, and Tryptomethylcybinamine..." "That''s the drug, but I''ve never heard of it like that. It''s usually Psilocybin," the Luzo concluded with an understanding nod. Her eyes flashed for a second. "What do you see now?" I checked again, but found the Healer''s [Archbishop''s Clemency] missing. I focused on the E''er around her and noticed the same taste flowing out to the other party members, though. "You stopped using a skill on me," I muttered. "Arcbishop''s Clemency." Lapia looked at Alyssa. "Did you?" Our girlfriend smiled. "I did," she confirmed. "Interesting..." I hummed and focused on the information. "I can see attributes," I informed them, moving on. "Tenacity, Toughness, Perspicacity, Insight, and Alacrity. All at-" "Don''t say the numbers!" Both interrupted, covering my mouth with four hands. I nodded in acceptance. They removed their hands. "You can see them..." Lapia muttered. "Interesting..." Alyssa had a pensive look on her face. "You can''t?" I inquired. Both shook their heads. "I see the same thing you wrote down in your Journal," Lapia supplied. "Mine is in Elvish, though." "Same, but Dragon Tongue," Alyssa confirmed. "Interesting," both muttered, squinting their eyes in curiosity. Lapia turned to Alyssa. "The Tulmi Elves gave Natasha poultry that had been fed with the same drug. We might be able to see what Natasha sees if we eat some." The Luzo''s scaly eyebrows knitted together. "I don''t know if I want to get that high," she argued in concern, her tail swinging behind her. "Go for a micro dose," I offered with a shrug. "Eat a tiny bit, wait a while, and check. If nothing changes eat more." Both nodded slowly, considering my words. "I''ll seek Her Divinity Danuva''s counsel," Alyssa proposed. "We can avoid the..." she eyed me and tightened her lips for a moment. "...unwanted side effects that way." "Yeah," I chuckled. "Do that. Watching reality morph in geometric shapes was not fun at all." "And trouble with time," Lapia added. The Luzo nodded, an amused smile on her lips. "Let''s go about it carefully, though." The Elf hummed in agreement, nodding as well. "We could ask Their Divinities for information on Tribal Alchemy, too." "Hey!" Pokora called from a distance away. She was riding her Dinosaur-looking mount. "Let''s go already!" She urged. "Going!" I told her and pinched my girlfriends'' cheeks. "Come on, they''re waiting for us." Alyssa and Lapia shared a last look, held one of my hands each, and started walking, pulling me along. I smiled and followed, more than ready to finally leave the dungeon and go back to the temple with good news about the tree. 187 - Natasha does her job (again) We approached the mounts and I checked if the plan I concocted earlier bore any fruit. [Sonya, Lvl 1012 Ratnak] I nodded, satisfied with the result of sending more than seventy percent of the E''er I absorbed her way after we killed the Mind Flayers. With how heavy with E''er the dungeon was, everyone benefited from the perfect filter I, as a Halve, am. That told me a few things. Not much, but enough to conclude that a Halve delivering the particles through the bond was substantially more productive than mortals absorbing it on their own. An interesting finding, if anything. We climbed our mounts and made our way through the dungeon while I hummed a tune. Very light tremors came and went, perhaps the deeper section of the dungeon further collapsing and filling up with water. Something told me everything would be alright and the natural order would be restored in time. I reached the entrance to the dungeon first and looked up, then tapped Sonya''s neck. ¡°Jump up,¡± I told her. She did, bringing me up and out of the hole in the ceiling, back to the swamp. Upon landing, however, I saw an incredible thing waiting for us in the early morning thick fog. Chitinous bodies like insects, six limbs with serrated forearms that ended in three clawed digits each, triangular flat heads, long antennae, compound eyes, mandibles in place of a mouth, a complex thorax, and elongated abdominal sections that bent backwards. In short, people-shaped Praying Mantes. Jorrksuuv. They were gathered around the hole. Thirty two individuals. I had not been idle the last month and a half, and asked more questions than I probably needed to. Naturally I heard about them and their eusocial hierarchy. A Jorrksuv spotted me the moment Sonya touched the ground. ¡°Chrrrrkk skk klp rt chrr!¡± It announced and lowered its body in reverence. The sound of its voice was quite the unique thing. It was a series of clicks, rasps, and hisses as they had no vocal cords like other mortals. ¡°Skrchhh krrtt Chrrrrkk!¡± another Jorrksuuv behind the first replied louder. The entire group turned to face me, then bowed. There were seven distinct body shapes among the group, different in size, color, and volume but all following the same pattern. As a species inherent to Galeia, my perception of them was no different than if they were Elves, Luzo, or Oni. As such, my mind was free of disgust or anything of the sort. Lapia''s words about them being disgusting made no sense to me when looking at them. There was a big issue at hand, however. I did not know their language, so I could not make the vibrations that their specialized ears picked up. A chubbier Jorrksuuv approached me. One fitting Danuva''s description of their Nest Leader. It was as tall as a Goliath, dark green exoskeleton with red and yellow details, a fluffy hairy collar, and wore a crown of sorts on its head. ¡°Chrrrrkk,¡± it chirped, bowing to me. ¡°Krr srrchh ch kk kh.¡± There was only one such individual in the group. [Jorrksuuv Nest Leader, Paladin Lvl 338 ¨C Crusader Lvl 330 ¨C Inquisitor Lvl 325] Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Yolin landed next to me, riding Pochi. ¡°Oh,¡± she uttered in surprise. My other companions showed up one by one, each with a different reaction. They backed off a bit, leaving me at the front of the group. Lapia sighed and stepped forward. ¡°I''ll translate again,¡± she told me with a scrunched up nose. ¡°I know Common Sign Language. Let''s hope they do as well.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I quietly uttered, straightened my back, and gave the Jorrksuuv a smile. ¡°Greetings, mortals.¡± Lapia moved her hands, throwing gang signs and repeating my words. The Nest Leader stood up, joined its upper arms to have six digits to work with, and signed back while chirping. Lapia thought for a few seconds. ¡°This one''s name is Tchr Krchk,¡± Lapia translated. ¡°Nest Leader of my people. Why did Her Excellency remove the revered Pentalion? What events have transpired to warrant such drastic action?¡± ¡°I am Natasha Novak, a recently born Halve Warrior,¡± I replied. ¡°The tree has been dead for a long time, Nest Leader. The removal will allow sunlight, clean air, and the flow of E''er to rejuvenate the swamp. If left alone, the rot would have expanded and end up consuming the area around it, resulting in avoidable damages to the land.¡± Lapia and Tchr Krchk moved their hands in turns. ¡°Our Elders spoke of such events, but this one believes otherwise, that the revered Pentalion would never truly die and eventually return to its vibrancy of times past. Could Your Excellency enlighten this one about the process such saddening conclusion was reached?¡± was the reply. ¡°Her Divinity Danuva, Goddess of the Path of the Cleric, stated so and personally requested my involvement,¡± I informed. ¡°Was the tree important to you?¡± Gang signs were thrown. ¡°This one understands now. It would seem this one held onto blind hope. The Beloved Great Mother knows best, as always. As for the revered Pentalion, after obtaining Divine Permission a long time ago, it has served our Nest as a coming of age trial for aspiring Scouts: to retrieve a feather belonging to the Great Peroles that once inhabited the canopy. Perhaps their centuries long absence should have been a sign for this one,¡± Lapia translated. ¡°Is your Nest nearby?¡± I inquired. Lapia did her thing. ¡°That is not the case, Your Excellency. This one leads a Nest eight hundred kilometers to the west. A group of patrolling sentries witnessed the revered Pentalion''s disappearance and wasted no time to inform the Nest. This one then rallied the Nest''s strongest in order to face the perpetrator of such acts, and were surprised and confused by Your Excellency''s presence just now.¡± The strongest? I wondered and appraised the other Jorrksuuv. None were higher leveled than the Nest Leader, and their Classes were varied except for having none that looked to be from the Wizard Class tree family. The group looked to be quite strong nonetheless. ¡°Have you found a replacement for the trial?¡± I asked just in case. Lapia moved her hands. ¡°This one has, Your Excellency. Not three centuries ago this one came across a sleeping Wild Dragon who made a spacious cave into a home. Young aspiring Scouts are since tasked with retrieving a scale. This one hoped for the revered Pentalion''s recovery because the Wild Dragon, even when timing the trial with sleeping season, is far more dangerous than Great Peroles.¡± None of that is my business unless the Wild Dragon attacks the Nest, I concluded. ¡°You have your answers, Nest Leader. Is there anything else I could help you with?¡± Lapia conveyed my words. The Nest Leader was silent for a moment, then signed. ¡°It is an honor for this one to meet Your Excellency. This one would like to extend an invitation for Your Excellency to visit our Nest in the future,¡± was what Tchr Krchk said. ¡°I definitely will,¡± I replied with a nod. ¡°If circumstance demand, don''t hesitate to ask for help,¡± I finished with what I learned during the Royal Banquet, ''pledging'' to protect their Nest. My girlfriend and the Jorrksuuv exchanged gang signs. ¡°This one expresses heartfelt gratitude, Your Excellency. Apologies for taking up your time, this one will take no more of it. This one wishes Your Excellency plentiful spoils of War.¡± The Nest Leader turned around, chirped something to the other Jorrksuuv, leaned forward, extended wings from its back, and flew away into the thick fog. The others followed, taking flight and disappearing as well. I watched them go and nodded to myself. ¡°I''m getting better at this,¡± I muttered with a smile. ¡°You are,¡± Lapia agreed, a relieved expression on her face. ¡°Thank you for translating again, Lala,¡± I told her and blew a kiss her way. She gave me a wink and walked to her mount. ¡°I wonder who else is going to check on the missing tree,¡± Yolin joked, moving Pochi forward. ¡°Maybe Lamia live nearby, too.¡± I laughed, ¡°That''d make this already long day even longer.¡± Pokora looked around for a few seconds, then turned to me. ¡°Do you want to wait just in case someone else shows up?¡± she offered. I shook my head. ¡°No. Let''s go back to the temple.¡± 188 - Cooking with a Goddess. We fed the mounts and departed. A gentle breeze blew over the swamp, clearing up the air and the smell of stale water. The thick fog of early winter morning ensured temperature and humidity remained largely the same, but everything would change once spring rolled in. Temperatures would rise, humidity would drop, and the landscape would slowly change back to what it used to be before the tree eclipse this part of the land. It''d be a lie if I said the side activity was boring. I fought two Blood Fiends hundreds of levels higher than me on my own and slapped a few Mind Flayers around, after all. I had plenty of fun... drugs aside. ¡°Hm hm mh mhhhhm~¡± I hummed a song while we rode back to the temple, moving my hands as if playing a guitar, my feet to the rhythm of drums, and my head following a keyboard. Riding to my right, Pokora was giving me curious glances, her eyes watching my air guitar. ¡°Hmm mhh mh hm hm mh hmmmm~¡± I continued, enjoying the breeze, the cold morning, and Sonya''s even pace. Our mounts stepped on mud, shallow water, and other such unsavory terrain, producing squelchy sounds. ¡°Hmhmm mhmmm~ pam pam bam~¡± Insects flew about, but kept a good distance thanks to a light buzz coming from Elena, and arociously big slugs got out of our way surprisingly fast given their size. I followed one of them with my eyes while passing next to it. ¡°Parapaaan pan paaaan turutuu pewww~¡± Lapia, who was riding her fox behind me, spoke, ¡°Does it have any words, or is it just nonsense?¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°Watch the sparrow falling~ Gives new meaning to it all~!¡± I sang while playing my air guitar. Pokora''s eyes widened in recognition. I smiled. ¡°If not today, nor yet tomorrow, then some other day~!¡± The scratch of a pen on paper came from further back. Bromisnar was writing something. ¡°I''ll take seven lives for one~ And then my only father''s son~ As sure as I did ever love him, I am not afraid~!¡± I put more passion in it. Yolin, who was riding to my left, turned to me. ¡°What?¡± she asked, confusion in her tone and expression. I spread my arms wide, switching to air drums. ¡°This world is spinning around me~ The whole world keeps spinning around me~ And all life is future to past~ Every breath leaves me one less to my last~!¡± I went back to the air guitar. ¡°Pewpewwwww turururururuuuun~¡± ¨C We crossed the clearing to the temple and were met with Shorvanna. The Goddess was leaning on the obelisk, facing us. My companions dismounted and bowed. I guided Sonya closer to her. ¡°Ahoy,¡± I greeted the Divine. ¡°Danuva''s request is complete. I removed the tree and then we killed the Mind Flayers and Blood Fiends under its roots.¡± ¡°You ate one,¡± Shorvanna pointed out in an even, neutral tone. ¡°I did,¡± I confirmed with a nod. ¡°Not the tastiest, truth be told.¡± ¡°Come with me, Young Halve,¡± she instructed, turning around and entering the obelisk. My companions walked past me towards the structure. ¡°Good luck,¡± Pokora snickered, giving me a grin. Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin patted my thighs and moved on. Hanna bowed a little. I winked at her. Bromisnar, Bonte, Elena, and Thelea went behind them. ¡°Elena,¡± I called, leaning on Sonya''s neck. The Faeton Elf stopped and sighed. ¡°Let''s have a chat when I''m done,¡± I suggested. ¡°Go rest.¡± She nodded and went into the obelisk. I dismounted, patted Sonya''s chin, and walked into the wall. To Shorvanna, I mentally instructed the stone. Strong winds welcomed me, whipping my hair around. The forest around the temple stretched below me as far as the eye could see, going beyond the horizon. The sky above looked moody, carrying fat and fluffy gray clouds. I looked around the top of the obelisk, slightly confused at the flat surface since it was a pyramid from the outside. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Shorvanna was already standing in front of me. Next to her, a Divine Sentinel was sitting on the ground and gobbling quietly. I equipped a wind cutter jacket, tied my hair in a braid, and produced a beanie to hold my hair in place. ¡°This is the Divine Sentinel appointed to you,¡± Shorvanna spoke. ¡°Let''s take advantage of your current state of mind. You should consume it now.¡± I looked at the oversized turkey. ¡°Are we cooking it?¡± I asked, looking around in search of a pot or grill. Other than the Goddess, the turkey, and me, the top of the obelisk was completely empty. ¡°If you want to,¡± she replied. ¡°The method is irrelevant.¡± I held my chin. ¡°I don''t know how to prepare it,¡± I confessed. ¡°Do you have a recipe?¡± ¡°Several,¡± the Goddess of the Path of the Warrior, Advocate for War, stated as a matter of fact. I nodded. ¡°Let''s get to it, then.¡± ¡°Start with killing it,¡± Shorvanna instructed. The Divine Sentinel walked to me and offered its neck, stretching it forward. I retrieve a Legendary Quality sword with no effects other than a very sharp blade, and beheaded the animal in a swift, clean movement. The head fell to the ground and blood flowed. ¡°Cut the feet now,¡± the Divine guided. ¡°Absorb the E''er, Young Halve. Nothing is to be wasted.¡± I nodded, taking a deep breath. ¨C After bleeding it and removing the entrails along with the feathers, we were left with a very fat and juicy-looking bird. Shorvanna produced ingredients and told me what to do with them and how to get the most out of them. I followed her instructions, rubbing them all over the meat with my hands and stuffing the dead animal. She conjured fire and made the bird float into it, where it would cook. A satisfied hum left my chest. ¡°That was easier than I thought,¡± I commented with a smile. ¡°Cooking is easy,¡± she offered as a response. ¡°Now we wait.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Can''t you make it happen right away?¡± I inquired. ¡°Cooking it instantly or something?¡± ¡°Exercise of patience, Young Halve,¡± she simply told me. ¡°Can isn''t should, must, or will.¡± I gave her a look. ¡°It clearly isn''t want, either...¡± What sounded like a chuckle came out of the suit of armor. ¡°Indeed.¡± I smiled and looked at the forest. The early morning fog had thinned, but remained still, covering the valleys and hills in a blanket of white mist. The suns were nearing the zenith above the clouds. No matter how far I looked, my eyes adjusted and details remained constant. I focused on an animal some two kilometers away. It looked like a deer, but solid green and with horns instead of antlers. It dug the underbrush with clawed digits, sniffing and nibbling at whatever it was it found. It raised its head and pranced away behind trees. My eyes are pretty damn good, I observed. They weren''t this good back when I first woke up here. ¡°Young Halve,¡± Shorvanna called. I turned my head in her direction. ¡°Mhm?¡± ¡°What do you think of War?¡± she asked. I looked back at the forest. ¡°War...¡± I sighed. ¡°The War I know is cruel, heartless, and selfish. At one point it might have been noble in its goal, but greed and progress took that away. Young kids being blown to bits by drones, young kids blowing enemy troops to bits with a vest, hospitals getting bombed, morals being twisted, names being called, corporations funding conflict for profit. It became a business, and soldiers were either blind to it or willing participants of it, and neither can be justified.¡± ¡°Filestra came to me before banning War,¡± Shorvanna shared, nostalgia in her voice. ¡°She told me,¡± the Goddess said, then a completely different voice came out of her. It was angry, desperate, and spiteful,¡±War has lost its honor and its nobility has been called into question. Those honorable Warriors who recognize the sanctity of blood have been excluded from the dance, which is the Warrior''s rite, and thus the dance has become a false dance, and the dancers false dancers. Interlopers to our most sacred of rituals cannot offer themselves entire to the blood of War, and go into the floor of the pit, naming the process a horror. Our sought after song of battle cannot be heard in the heart of those who close them behind weakness and cowardice. Even ants wage a much cleaner War than Mortals.¡± My brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°Didn''t she ban War to save children from becoming orphans?¡± ¡°That''s what she told mortals,¡± she revealed. ¡°Filestra saw Scouts infiltrating countries and assassinating leaders as blasphemous to the sanctity of War. Conflict should be resolved face to face, she used to say. If you can''t, then defeat is well deserved.¡± ¡°What of Giants?¡± I asked. ¡°I thought the ban came after their invasion.¡± ¡°Filestra intervened after Rogamilionepitaungolon and his army intruded on Divine Lands. Giants had no influence on the ban of War,¡± she replied. ¡°Their Emperor at the time, Tossalimponkorus Urrunassia IV, denounced Rogamilionepitaungolon in front of the populace, executing the transgressor''s lineage as a form of atonement. Over four thousand Giants.¡± My eyebrows went up at hearing that, then furrowed again. ¡°Why have I been told a different story, then?¡± ¡°The people of Leks and Patuk resent Giants due to Rogamilionepitaungolon''s actions. Tossalimponkorus took the blame in full, and Giants have kept to themselves ever since. Similarly, nobody from Leks or Patuk go to Makah.¡± ¡°Those names are a bit complicated,¡± I commented, rubbing my forehead. ¡°Giants pride themselves in their long names,¡± Shorvanna informed me. ¡°Shortening another Giant''s name is a heavy insult.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered. ¡°So, Giants and the rest of mortals just... don''t talk to each other?¡± ¡°Why do you think people lament Yulianna went to Makah?¡± she asked. ¡°What could prevent people from simply asking the Giants of her whereabouts?¡± I bit my lips and nodded. ¡°The way people talk of Giants made me think they were beasts, or monsters...¡± ¡°Using your words, that''s a case of xenophobia,¡± the Goddess explained. ¡°Goliaths descend from Colossus, a distant relative of Giants. They carry a burden of sorts, which is why they so willingly guarded over the Short-lived species through the formation of their countries.¡± ¡°Hmmmm....¡± I tapped my lower lip. ¡°Did Filestra tell you all this?¡± ¡°She was wearing me,¡± Shorvanna simply replied. ¡°I saw it all happen first hand.¡± ¡°Wow...¡± I breathed out, realizing things about my girlfriends and the people I''ve come across. ¡°Woooow....¡± ¡°Beautiful, isn''t it?¡± The Goddess giggled. ¡°Mortals complicate things in ways we Divines can''t come up with.¡± I arched an eyebrow at that, not entirely convinced in it being a beautiful thing. 189 - The Romantic Idea of War I faced the Goddess. ¡°What do you think of War?¡± ¡°It''s a necessity,¡± she immediately replied. ¡°As I''ve told you before, conflict is an integral part of existence. I am not blind to what Filestra meant, Young Halve, but there is no denying War brings bravery, heroism, and sacrifice out of mortals. It is a means of defending their homeland, upholding honor, and preserving cherished values. Warriors were revered for their courage, loyalty, and willingness to lay down their lives for a greater cause, embodying ideals of chivalry and valor. Those Warriors speak to me in the same way a great performance speaks to Saravia, celebrated as exemplars of strength and virtue, with their exploits immortalized in epic poetry and folklore. You saw the battle between Tri''Kha Tilensis I and Stepana Boldani Ulgov, great Warriors of their times that brought great victories to their countries.¡± I nodded. She continued, ¡°War has played a crucial role in shaping the course of mortal history, driving progress, and facilitating cultural exchange. Conflict has spurred technological advancements, from the development of specialized equipment and their enchantments to innovations in Alchemy and Healing. The pursuit of victory in War has propelled mortals to push the boundaries of knowledge and ingenuity, leading to transformative breakthroughs in the variety of Classes. This clash on the battlefield has also paved the way for the exchange of ideas, art, and philosophy, enriching civilization and fostering cross-cultural understanding.¡± I frowned. Those were good arguments, even if they seemed too optimistic to me. ¡°In times of conflict, the collective spirit of unity and sacrifice that emerged reflected the noblest aspirations of mortals, underscoring the enduring belief in the righteousness of defending their beliefs and way of life, even at great cost,¡± Shorvanna recounted. ¡°The valor and selflessness exhibited by Warriors of all kinds evoked admiration and respect on others, as they willingly placed themselves in harm''s way to safeguard values cherished by their countries. Pokh''Orra is one such example. She was a soldier, and I have no doubt that her victory in Bokh''Ila, albeit against monsters, brought glory to her name within the army as she defended the way of life of civilians living in the settlement.¡± I squinted my eyes at noticing something. ¡°Correct me if I''m wrong... but Demons got here a bit before War was banned, right?¡± ¡°Correlation is not causation, Young Halve,¡± the Goddess pointed out, seeing through my thought process. ¡°Also, they were not numerous enough to tip the scales.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± I breathed out. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Young Halve,¡± she called. ¡°It is not my intention to convince you to lift the ban on War. I simply asked because your behavior will shape how mortals see Warriors, and by extension, the concept of conflict.¡± I hummed, then asked, ¡°Am I honorable, Shorvanna?¡± ¡°You are disciplined in your emotions considering your extremely young age and your past lives, you exercise restraint when necessary, compassion when needed, respect when earned, and seem to be loyal and fair overall. You are on the right path, Natasha.¡± My face burned and my tummy fluttered at being praised. A slight frown took over my lips, however. ¡°Compassion? Restraint? I broke Elena''s mind and choked Pokora,¡± I sighed. ¡°Did you do that out of malice?¡± she countered. ¡°Were your actions driven by arrogance and selfishness? Did you disregard the circumstances and robbed them of any explanation that would help them understand your actions?¡± I shook my head. ¡°No,¡± I replied, the frown vanishing. ¡°Then that''s it,¡± Shorvanna concluded. ¡°Whoever you choose to punish with violence may perceive any explanation as unfair, Young Halve, and that is acceptable.¡± ¡°Mhm. Maybe,¡± I half agreed. ¡°It''s not that simple.¡± ¡°It can be,¡± the Goddess reasoned. I sighed and turned back to the forest, ruminating on the short conversation. A few minutes went by with us in comfortable silence. The fire didn''t make a sound despite the strong winds blowing on us that high up, and no smell came from it. A snowflake landed on the tip of my nose. I looked up. The clouds had turned gloomier and heavier, carrying the promise of snowfall. I changed my armored pants and leather undergarments into a comfortable pair of track pants, my boots and leather socks into a pair of sneakers and cotton socks, and sat down on the roof, then closed my eyes. As snow began to fall, I delved into meditation, taking the opportunity to do so given the circumstances. I should get the conjuration thing done with, I considered, stretching a hand and visualizing the spear. Shorvanna''s presence approached the edged of my mind, but didn''t enter or ask to. She simply was there. I pictured a three dimensional image of my spear in my mind, rotating, spinning, and magnifying it to check the details. A two hundred and twenty centimeter long light blue pole with a gritty surface and a pointy tip on one end transitioned to an eighty centimeter long bright orange blade that was twenty centimeters long at the widest, ending in a pointy tip. It had a simplistic design despite its quality being Mythical, but that worked in my favor as it was easier to imagine. Once that was done, I went ahead and pushed E''er into the formula Shorvanna''s had taught me the last weeks to materialize the weapon. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. E''er flowed, tickling my nose with the heavy smell of hot metal. I closed my hand and opened my eyes. There, between my fingers, a glowing translucent golden spear pointed at the sky. I immediately checked my status before absorbing any E''er or awe could take over me.
Natasha Novak Forest Halve
Health 54040/54040
Stamina 13510/13510
E''er 9800/13500
Three thousand seven hundred... I noticed the cost, then absorbed E''er. My pool of E''er went up one hundred points each second. I squinted my eyes and fully focused on absorbing as much E''er as possible in one breath. The number went up by two thousand. I hummed and focused on the E''er around me to discern its density. It was a little below half, meaning E''er made out less than 50% of the air around me. ¡°You know,¡± I started, my eyebrows furrowing a bit. ¡°I get there''s spots where E''er gathers in higher density, and other spots where it''s the opposite... but that makes it a bit more complicated than it should in my opinion.¡± ¡°The same happens with oxygen, Young Halve,¡± Shorvanna explained. ¡°The higher you go, the less there is.¡± I noticed the Goddess used the word §Ü§Ú§ã§Ý§à§â§à§Õ instead of §à§Ü§ã§Ú§Ô§Ö§ß, which was weird since Yolin and Hanna both used the latter when speaking Orkish. Even though I knew the words they spoke, translating the conversations between us meant some things got lost in the process. That made me think of some things. ¡°We called it like that as well back on Earth,¡± I shared. ¡°There are a lot of similarities...¡± ¡°Then Divines similar to us must have existed there,¡± she declared. ¡°Celestial has heavily influenced most languages in Galeia.¡± I nodded. ¡°Languages are quite the interesting thing, aren''t they?¡± ¡°They are,¡± Shorvanna agreed. ¡°And that is yet another beautiful thing.¡± I rolled my eyes at hearing that for the billionth time. A sigh left me and I twirled the conjured spear in my hand. ¡°How long until the Sentinel is done?¡± ¡°Forty minutes,¡± she replied. I stood up and swung the weapon around, stabbed the air, and swiped it left and right. ¡°How long will this thing last for?¡± ¡°One hour according to the formula you learned,¡± she stated. ¡°It took you thirty eight seconds to materialize it.¡± ¡°But why one?¡± I asked, cutting falling snowflakes with the blade. ¡°I asked for a bunch to spawn and shoot in all directions.¡± ¡°You can change what it does and how many you can conjure after turning the knowledge into a skill. It will be instant, cheaper, and stronger that way,¡± she reminded me. ¡°The formula you used just now is only the conjuration portion of the whole.¡± I raised an eyebrow, retrieved a notebook from my storage, and leafed through it while cutting snowflakes until the formula showed up. It was bigger and more complex, the conjuration portion sitting right in the middle of it. ¡°Got it,¡± I accepted and returned the notebook to my storage, resting the butt of the summoned spear on the ground. ¡°Now what?¡± The Divine walked to me until her helmet almost touched my nose, bringing with her the scent of blood. ¡°Flight.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I shrugged, no apprehension in my still high mind. ¡°Let''s make the most of it.¡± She offered a hand. I took it. The suit of armor enveloped my hand, then my arm. In a few seconds the Divine was around me like a normal suit of armor. ¡°Focus on the flow of E''er,¡± she instructed, her voice echoing around my head. I nodded, the action moving both of us, and did as told. E''er concentrated on our backs, gathering in the shape of large wings with blades for feathers. A thin, almost imperceptible coat of energy covered our bodies, clinging tightly. Then, suddenly, we shot up into the sky, going through the clouds high above in an instant, then came to an abrupt and instant stop. ¡°If you choose wings they will function based on your strength,¡± Shorvanna told me as we floated, suspended mid-air above the clouds, but the wings remained still. ¡°They will be as tough as your skin, muscles, and bones since they will be an extension of your body as I told you before. Very useful for fighting while flying.¡± The clouds stretched far into the horizon in a sea of fluffy and gray white, a few mountains peaking above them in the distance. The suns bathed them in light, making for a spectacular sight. I took a mental picture for later. ¡°Take control, Young Halve,¡± she proposed, moving our right arms to point at a distant peak. ¡°Fly us to the mountain over there.¡± ¡°Shouldn''t we wait until I learn Celestial to learn better?¡± I inquired. ¡°Your understanding of Celestial makes no difference in regards to its function,¡± she informed me. ¡°I have taught you using Celestial, and you have understood the intent behind the words.¡± My eyebrows climbed my forehead. ¡°Why learn it, then?¡± ¡°For many things,¡± she simply replied. ¡°One of them is to chat with us and with Galeia.¡± ¡°Ooohh!¡± I breathed out in understanding. ¡°So I can chat with the planet?¡± ¡°If Galeia wants to,¡± she added. ¡°Instead of a pull to obey duty, you will receive words and clearer instructions like distance, names, events, levels, terrain, and such.¡± I hummed. ¡°I should have eaten the Sentinel back then,¡± I concluded. ¡°You should have,¡± Shorvanna stated with a slight scolding tone. ¡°Enough words, Young Halve. Take control.¡± 190 - The trope of ingesting something to gain knowledge. ¡°How?¡± I asked since I have never ever flown anything. ¡°Falling won''t kill us, so find out,¡± Shorvanna replied. As soon as she finished the sentence, we started falling down. A very long sigh left me. ¡°Let''s see,¡± I muttered as we slowly plunged into the clouds. ¡°Flight. Wind. Wings. Air. Glide,¡± I enunciated to get ideas. ¡°Free fall glide?¡± I wondered, sticking my arms to my body and closing my legs. Air started whistling in my ears, which told me we picked up speed. ¡°Like a battle royale...¡± I chuckled and spread my limbs a bit to try and steer the fall. ¡°Where are we dropping, Shorvanna?¡± ¡°The mountain peak, Young Halve...¡± she reminded me. I nodded, then moved my body to point in the direction the Goddess told me to go towards. Everything around me was thick white since we had entered a cloud, blocking sight of the target. I hummed and tried injecting the Goddess with a hundred points of E''er with the intent of gaining altitude. Nothing happened, the course the same as before. I focused on the skill she was using and the way E''er flowed when we shot up into the sky. It had been a very complex spiral of sorts, flowing from our back and into the wings, then into the thin film of energy surrounding us. E''er had giggled and wiggled in glee while marching to drums of War. While flying, however, it was a low hum of E''er spinning in place and maintaining the wings. ¡°You made it sound easy,¡± I commented. We broke through the clouds, forests moving far below us at a reasonable speed, but slower than our fall. ¡°It is,¡± the Goddess pointed out. ¡°Maybe not for you...¡± I nodded in agreement, looking for the mountain we were supposed to land on. ¡°I''m not a Wizard, after all. E''er and its manipulation are not my forte,¡± I reasoned, then fixed my body to glide in a different direction. We were going extremely slow. I could run faster even without using Charge. An idea struck me, and I tried moving our arms like wings. Once again, nothing happened. I let out a disappointed sigh, but didn''t give up. My fear of heights had vanished under the influence of the mushroom soup and I planned on taking advantage of that. ¡°Hmm...¡± I hummed while thinking, looking at the valleys below us and the falling snow. A small black dot moved in the distant sky towards us. I focused on it. Pyotr was carrying an envelope with his feet. He flapped his wings a few times and reached us almost instantly. ¡°Natasha! Falling!¡± He croaked, gliding next to us. ¡°I''m trying to fly,¡± I calmly explained. ¡°Can you hear me at this speed?¡± ¡°Perfect!¡± he loudly replied. ¡°No. Wing. Can. Not. Fly!¡± I hummed. ¡°Do you have any tips?¡± ¡°No!¡± A defeated chuckled escaped me at having expected help from a talking raven the size of a toddler.
We ran out of time before touching the ground. I am not a master of numbers, but I think Shorvanna''s wings slowed the fall a lot... or Galeia''s skies reach way higher than I initially thought. Flying wasn''t on my list of things to accomplish so the failure meant very little to me. What interested me more was learning Celestial. Shorvanna flew us back to the top of the obelisk, then removed herself from me. ¡°I''m satisfied with the progress considering you''re afraid of heights,¡± she told me while walking to the roasting bird. ¡°Next time will be easier as you''ll face it with a clear mind.¡± I shrugged. ¡°We''ll see...¡± The Goddess waved a hand and the fire went out, revealing a beautifully golden brown turkey. Another wave and she moved it towards me. ¡°Eat now,¡± she instructed, then produced an ornate goblet as red as the material she was made of. ¡°And drink this.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I accepted the refreshment. ¡°Thanks,¡± I muttered and gave it a sniff. It was the bird''s blood mixed with spices. The goblet itself felt burning to the touch. The Divine stood still, watching me. I stretched a hand towards the floating turkey meat and pinched a bit off from the breast. ¡°Food!¡± Pyotr croaked and walked to the turkey. ¡°Permission?¡± ¡°Denied,¡± I told him. ¡°I''ll give you some food after I''m done.¡± ¡°BONES!¡± He requested. ¡°Sure,¡± I allowed with a nod. He raised his head and let out a loud and long laughter. I put the meat in my mouth and chewed. It was juicy, crispy, and tender. A tiny moan of satisfaction escaped my throat. ¡°I''m getting better at cooking,¡± I praised myself and drank a bit from the goblet. It tasted like home-made blood sausage. Very delicious and rustic. As I ate more of the Divine Sentinel, a slight numbness spread through my head, opening all my senses and mind to understanding function and intent. My skin and hair absorbed E''er, oxygen, and sunlight. The three united into one through a complex process with a massive net gain of energy in each and every cell on my skin. An almost negligible margin of it was sent outwards. The rest of it was sent inwards to sustain myself. Thick, viscous blood coursed though my bloodstream, picking up said energy and sending it all over my body. My lungs did not absorb oxygen and instead functioned purely to facilitate speech, smelling, and store E''er-rich air, making blood vessel presence minimal. There was no biological need to cough, sneeze, or yawn. The few times I had coughed had been out of reflex instead of serving any purpose, and I had never sneezed or yawned so far. Breathing to absorb E''er was unnecessary as well since the simple thought to do so amped the cells on my skin and hair to absorb more of it. A big heart pumped thick blood with a strength no other life form possessed, separating energy-rich blood from its counterpart. Interlocking boneplates of incredible density protected the crucial organ, allowing flexible mobility. Most of the energy my skin and hair produced went to my muscles, denser and more flexible than any other life form, with perfect pathways to channel pure E''er and activate skills. My nervous system was complex beyond what I could have imagined, capable of conveying emotion through my skin''s glow to other Halves. Each and every synapse connection made itself visible to me, displaying incredibly effective neurons and brain composition with a hard lock of sorts that prevented addiction, obsession, crippling fear, depression, and any other detrimental mental states or conditions that could prevent me from accomplishing my purpose as a Protector. Delay was possible, but not total interference. I was made aware of every crease, fold, wrinkle, and groove on my brain. I felt it float in my skull. A strong spine traveled down my back, capable of transferring signals instantaneously to the rest of my body. My digestive system was built to digest everything on Galeia if I grew powerful enough to survive it, taking longer with metals due to their nature, but ultimately incorporated nonetheless. The more I ate, the longer it would take me to defecate since my skin alone produced massive amounts of energy to sustain me. Instead, I would urinate the excess. My genitals were reactive, triggering gametogenesis only when a Bonded Partner had met a certain set of conditions, like entering their fertile cycle, or their seed being capable of impregnating me. All to not waste energy. Pheromones had no effect on me since my body reacted to information through the Bond, and I produced no pheromone. I then understood that Alyssa simply had a sweat kink, as opposed to her assuming my sweat had a sweet fragrance to attract potential mates. My immune system had no flaws to the point of being yet another digestive system, ''eating'' pathogens and such and transforming them into energy, plus the survival conditions for most were nonexistent in my body due to the lack of oxygen. I was, in many ways, the perfect life form. People and Gods had told me, but only then did I truly understand. And then. Celestial started to make sense. Understanding. Propagation. Order in Chaos. Purpose. Intent. A higher form of speech similar to Abyssal, but while Abyssal felt like a pool of oil full of degradation, depravity, and mind-breaking power that sought to taint the mind, soul, and spirit, making it fester instantaneously, Celestial was a cozy sunny day laying down in a vast grass plain while giggling with a lover with whom a long life of mutual achievement and personal growth laid ahead, and loving parents waited home with warm food on the table, ready to call friends over and make memories that would last until old age. One forced beings to stop in horrifying visions while the other urged them to reach their full potential. Halve. Protector. Guardian. Watcher. Authority. Galeia. Planet. Parent. Caretaker. Origin. God. Guide. Mentor. Teacher. Assistant. Words filled my mind, along with their meaning, and ways to charge my voice with E''er since the language required no mouth to speak it. With that came the knowledge of Language. All of them on Galeia. A deafening and blinding headache formed with a strength that rivaled mine. I squinted my eyes to fight the strongest pain I have endured as a Halve, but whimpers and moans left my throat against my will. Thousands of languages over the course of three and a half million years of Mortal history made their way into my mind. I slowly laid down and curled into a ball. ¡°Nnnggghhhh!!¡± I whimpered and clutched my head. ¡°Commendable control,¡± Shorvanna praised in Celestial. ¡°It will pass, young Protector.¡± ¡°Grrrrr!¡± I growled, and headbutted the ground in the hopes to make the pain go away. The obelisk shook a little. My head throbbed for a long while. One thing was clear, though: Despite having learned a third Power Tongue, no greater wisdom was revealed to me. ? - ? Galeia is a big planet. At eight times the size of Planet Earth and orbiting a binary star system ¡ª Perpetua and Eternia ¡ª Galeia is a magnificent spectacle in the cosmic panorama. Its three moons ¡ª Shia, the larger; Kia, the smaller; and Tia, resembling a planet ¡ª provide a breathtaking display during First Spring and Second Winter, yet they are seldom observed together throughout the remainder of the year. Galeia is home to billions of different species of living organisms, from Wild Dragons to Tiny Laples. The pursuit of comprehending life has been an exhaustive endeavor, marked by meticulous exploration. Within this pursuit, Dronov Lag''Atarr emerges as a pivotal figure, his contribution to the study of cognitive development and mental capacity condenced into Dronov''s Laws of Mental Capacity. Among these laws, the seventh stands out prominently: Neuro-Social Truthfulness in Advanced Cognition. In the realm of advanced cognitive development, there exists creatures that possess remarkable conversational abilities, demonstrating a capacity to engage in meaningful discourse. They possess a nuanced understanding of social dynamics, and their capacity for forging bonds extends beyond the confines of their own kind, allowing them to establish profound connections even with individuals of other species. However, amidst their impressive cognitive prowess lies a curious limitation: the inability to utter falsehoods. They lack the deceptive capacity to fabricate untruths or think of things that are not, their communication unfailingly sincere and transparent. Of the many species expressing this fascinating cognitive development, the Corvitex is perhaps the best example. Pyotr was born in the sixth day of the first month in the year 1380, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er, to Dinara and Alik, Nilenna Atarka''s animal companions, in Libyin, Schenneya, Patuk. Nilenna taught him to ignore most questions from Mortals from the moment he could understand her. That naturally included the differences between Mortals, Eternals, and Divines, the many languages, and much more. Pyotr, the smart bird he is, grew fond of Halves'' glow since it reminded him of the suns that warmed his black feathers while flying. ''They''re all comfy suns waiting for cuddles!'' is what he believes, and has the personal goal of snuggling with each he encounters after delivering the second letter. A goal he has achieved with absolute success and surprising ease. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Pyotr has delivered so many letters to Halves and is so enamored with them that he has made it his life''s goal to meet as many as possible to experience their unique glow and the different warmth they offer. Sixteenth day of the ninth month in the year 1422, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. Pyotr delivers his second letter to Perculis Valerius Sylla, and for the first time attempts to snuggle a Halve who''s not Nilenna whilst a Wild Dragon was going rampant near the isle of Unshughur, an even that, although small in scope, threatened the lives of more than eight million Merfolk. Success! Twenty-second day of the sixth month in the year 1482, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. He took Yulianna Kavun by surprise when he snuggled against her after delivering the second letter during the first revisiting of Gawr Goch''s plan to open a tregadite mine. This happened in front of the gathered politicians, which were seventy-five Humans, and were told to never speak of the event under threat of total lineage termination. Success! Eigth day of the third month in the year 1552, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. After four hours of chasing Desseyr around, Pyotr snuggles to the Halve in the midst of a chase after Ploth''Oun Inis''Kher and her retinue of followers, a group of Domi Elves who plotted to assassinate Lofrada Tilensis III''s first son and apparent heir to the Pleth''Eron Duchy. Success! Tenth day of the eleventh month in the year 1727, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. Miraztor welcomed Pyotr with open arms on the fields of Muotalakmahuperlossa, moments before aiding a terribly injured Yussokkimterpennon Sagukerhopilindattu, Giant Wanderer Warrior of South Makah after he single-handedly fought a Kraken that dealt the heavy blow of killing his companions. Success! Ninth day of the fifth month in the year 1980, Yiama''s Era, Fifth Age of E''er. Pyotr delivers his second letter to Natasha Novak, the newly born Halve Warrior after she killed the Demon tormenting King Gordon Igne Lumin IV in Lumin Kingdom and becoming his new owner. Success! Such has been Pyotr''s adventure thus far. Will there be more Halves to cuddle in the future? He can''t wait to find out! 191 - First off, message! I laid on the floor, limbs spread out. Snow continued to fall, melting the moment the snowflakes touched my face. ¡°That was rough,¡± I sighed, my head still pulsating with now manageable pain. ¡°Do we all go through this?¡± ¡°You do,¡± Shorvanna confirmed in Celestial, her even tone next to my ear despite standing a few meters away. ¡°Most consume the Sentinel upon first meeting, making the process painless. The longer you wait, the more your mind has to accommodate for new knowledge.¡± I took a deep breath and let it out. ¡°I didn''t know how to cook, and birds often carry diseases,¡± I explained, then complained, ¡°The tutorial sucks, Shorvanna.¡± ¡°The tutorial starts henceforth, Young Protector,¡± Shorvanna countered. ¡°Galeia will guide you directly.¡± I grumbled in distaste. ¡°Isn''t it a waste of time?¡± I wondered out loud. ¡°Galeia creates us. Why aren''t we given Celestial at birth?¡± Pyotr hopped his way to me, stopping next to my face. ¡°LETTER!¡± he loudly croaked, tapping the floor with his left foot and making a scraping noise with his talons. I turned to him, seeing the envelope he was carrying earlier, now next to my head. ¡°You can ask Galeia,¡± Shorvanna quipped with an amused tone. I sat up with a groan, holding my head with a hand and extending the other for the Corvitex. Pyotr took the letter and dropped it on my open palm. ¡°Bones!¡± he demanded. I blinked a few times to ease the pain behind my eyes, then produced a big bone the size of a femur on my lap. ¡°Thanks for the letter,¡± I muttered and took the thing. The paper was firm, yet soft. It felt very high quality, and even had a floral scent to it that somehow brought to mind the moon in the middle of the night. I brought it close to my face and sniffed it. The smell of myriad flowers, oils, powders, and a few enchantments tickled my nose exquisitely, forcing a slight smile to grace my lips. On the paper, the intricate crest of Uuruhk sealed the thing shut. I gave it a closer look, recalling my lessons with Alyssa and Lapia these last few months. ¡°I see...¡± I muttered as recognition kicked in. It was the Family Crest of Uuruhk''s Royal Family: a plateau bathed in moonlight. With a little exhale through my nose, I opened the envelope, finding three pieces of paper inside. I read the one on the front first. Zhikh''On Thezhun The Great Regent of Uuruhk Royal Palace, Pizh''kh Contact through: Minister of Eternal Communications, Pizh''kh Office of the Great Regent''s Correspondence Pizh''kh, Uuruhk Third Day of the Seventh Month To Her Excellency Natasha Novak, Halve Warrior, It is with the highest honor and deepest respect that I, Zhikh''On Thezhun, the Great Regent of Uuruhk, extend to Your Excellency an invitation to bear witness to a momentous occasion in the history of our realm. As the rightful heir to the throne reaches the age of ascension, the time has come for the coronation of my esteemed nephew, His Royal Highness Prince Fel''Leron Thezhun. This significant event marks the dawn of a new era for Uuruhk, a moment that has been awaited with great anticipation by all. The coronation ceremony will be held at the Royal Palace in the illustrious city of Pizh''kh. Your Excellency''s presence would greatly honor the occasion and lend your esteemed support to the future of our beloved nation. The details of the ceremony are as follows: Date: Tenth Day of the First Month of the coming year of this Era of Yiama, Fifth Age of E''er. Venue: Moon Communion Grounds, Royal Palace, Pizh''kh Your Excellency''s kind have again and again offered their invaluable wisdom and guidance to our land, and it would be our privilege to have Your Excellency join us for this historic event. Please find enclosed a detailed program of the day''s events and accommodation arrangements. We eagerly await your confirmation and sincerely hope that you will honor us with your presence at your earliest convenience through the Office of the Regent''s Correspondence. May the spoils of War be plenty. Yours sincerely, Zhikh''On Thezhun The Great Regent of Uuruhk The feeling of it being the most formal and proper letter I had received to date made my opinion of other countries tank a little, especially Lumin''s little Prince, Ronald, who sent me the sloppiest letter to date, though the reasons are understandable. Next was the second sheet of paper. Schedule for the Coronation of His Royal Highness Prince Fel''Leron Thezhun. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.Date: Tenth Day of the First Month of the coming year of this Era of Yiama, Fifth Age of E''er. Location: Royal Palace, Pizh''kh Morning Events: 8:00 - 9:00 Arrival of Guests Guests are welcomed at the Landing Hall of the Royal Palace of Uuruhk. Refreshments shall be served in the Great Hall. 9:00 - 9:30 Procession to the Cathedral of Eternity A grand procession from the Royal Palace to the Cathedral of Eternity, led by the Royal Guard and accompanied by traditional musicians. 9:30 - 10:00 Seating of Guests Guests take their places within the Cathedral. Nobility and dignitaries shall be seated in the front rows. 10:00 - 12:00 Coronation Ceremony The solemn and majestic ceremony wherein His Royal Highness Prince Fel''Leron Thezhun shall be crowned King. This shall include the anointing, crowning, and oath-taking. Afternoon Events: 12:00 - 13:00 Procession to the Royal Palace A triumphant procession returning to the Royal Palace, with the newly crowned King directly behind any Excellency if present. 13:00 - 14:00 Royal Banquet A lavish banquet in the Great Hall of the Royal Palace. Guests shall enjoy a feast of exquisite dishes and fine wines, with toasts made in honor of the new King. 14:00 - 16:00 Entertainment and Festivities Performances by renowned musicians, dancers, and entertainers from across the Kingdom in the Royal Gardens. Evening Events: 16:00 - 17:00 Royal Address The new King shall deliver his first royal address to the assembled guests and the people of Uuruhk, outlining his vision and aspirations for the realm. 17:00 - 19:00 Reception and Greetings A time for personal greetings and congratulations. Guests shall have the opportunity to meet and speak with the new King. 19:00 - 21:00 Evening Banquet and Ball A grand banquet followed by a royal ball in the Great Hall. The festivities shall continue with music, dance, and merriment into the night. 21:00 - Midnight Farewell and Departure Guests shall bid farewell to the royal family and depart at their leisure, with carriages and escorts provided for their convenience. Your Excellency may choose to stay in our Royal Palace for an indefinite period of time. I squinted at the paper. ¡°Cathedral of Eternity...¡± I muttered with a tiny frown. ¡°Isn''t that where Eternal worship takes place?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Shorvanna confirmed. ¡°Monarchs swear oaths to Halves there, too.¡± I bit my lower lip and hummed, then read the final sheet of paper. Accommodation Arrangements for the Coronation of His Royal Highness Prince Fel''Leron Thezhun. Accommodations for Your Excellency: Royal Palace Eternal Quarters: Your esteemed self shall be accommodated within the luxurious Eternal Quarters of the Royal Palace of Uuruhk. These chambers are reserved for Your Excellency''s kind and are furnished with the finest amenities to ensure a comfortable and pleasant stay. Room Details: A spacious suite with a private balcony overlooking the Royal Gardens and Pizh''kh. A grand bedchamber adorned with exquisite tapestries and fine linens. A private sitting room with a selection of books, writing materials, and a warm hearth. An en-suite bath with scented oils and fresh towels provided daily. Services and Amenities: Personal attendants available at all hours to cater to your needs. Daily housekeeping and turndown service. Access to the Royal Library, gardens, and private chapel. A selection of fine wines and delicacies delivered to your quarters. Additional Arrangements: A personal carriage and driver shall be at your disposal for transportation within the Kingdom. Invitations to exclusive gatherings and private audiences with the Regent and Royal Family. Guided tours of the Royal Palace and notable landmarks of Uuruhk. Arrival and Departure: Upon arrival, a Royal escort shall greet you at the borders of our Kingdom and accompany you to the Royal Palace. A more detailed itinerary of the coronation events and personal invitations shall be provided after reaching the Royal Palace. At the conclusion of the festivities, your departure shall be coordinated with the utmost care to ensure a seamless journey home. Special Requests: Should you have any special requests or requirements, please do inform us in advance, and we shall endeavor to accommodate you to the best of our abilities. We are honored to host Your Excellency and look forward to welcoming you to our kingdom for this historic and joyous occasion. With deepest respect, Zhikh''On Thezhun The Great Regent of Uuruhk. My eyebrows rose in pleased surprise. ¡°Now THIS is a letter,¡± I approved with a smile, almost considering going. ¡°Hey, Shorvanna. Quick question.¡± The Goddess waited. ¡°Do I need to do anything during a coronation?¡± I inquired, looking up at her. ¡°A lot,¡± she replied. ¡°Your role is crucial.¡± I waited for more details. Nothing came. ¡°That''s it?¡± I scoffed. ¡°Coronations are none of my business, young Protector,¡± Shorvanna simply uttered, her tone not interested in the slightest. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. ¡°You''re of so little help sometimes...¡± I sighed. If the topic wasn''t about conflict, Shorvanna had very little to add, it seemed. ¡°Still...¡± I muttered, softly pinching my lower lip. ¡°First month of the coming year. Seven months from now. Plenty of time.¡± ¡°Young Protector,¡± Shorvanna called. I looked up at her. ¡°Mhh?¡± ¡°You have a dungeon to clear,¡± she reminded me with a stern tone. ¡°You''d best go there first, get your fourth Class, and then attend the coronation if you want.¡± My eyebrows slowly rose, surprised that a dungeon dive could take long at all. ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°No more than three months if you apply yourself,¡± was the Goddess'' reply, then added. ¡°Two if you taunt death.¡± ¡°I don''t plan on dying so soon,¡± I retorted, then hummed while nodding. ¡°How far is Ualrin?¡± ¡°Twenty-one thousand, two hundred and ninety-two kilometers west, going slightly north. The cave I told you about on the letter is deep underground; five kilometers north of Sapul, the eastern-most city,¡± she informed me. A particularly sharp throb of pain above my palate made me wince. I held my head and sighed. ¡°Your companions may stay here during your absence, if only to not slow your travels,¡± she added. A smile crept up my lips. ¡°Aww, you softie~! You''ll miss us!¡± I teased. ¡°You lot''s nightly fornication is preferable to the silence of solitude,¡± the Divine being spat without a care. ¡°Even without conflict, any clash is good.¡± ¡°Shorvanna!¡± I complained, closing my eyes in embarrassment. ¡°Don''t eavesdrop on us!¡± ¡°We hear thoughts, vigorous Protector,¡± Shorvanna teased in an out of character tone. ¡°I, for one, am pleased to stand before a blade undefeated,¡± she added. ¡°Eases doubts about the future...¡± My face burned to match the intensity of my headache, but her humorous wording made me chuckle. 192 - O Mother! I stored the letter. Then blinked. Out of habit, really. I have no need to blink often, after all. It takes a fraction of a second, barely noticeable. The world is replaced by the warm golden light coming from the inside of my eyelids, akin to looking at a source of light and closing the eyes. Instead of red, there is gold. Dull, dark, and comfortable. Upon opening my eyes, however, the light remained as if to disobey the very law the world works under, the world around me still a warm gold, but mixed with sharp silver. But the world around me was not the obelisk. Shorvanna was gone. The horizon-reaching forest around me had vanished. Clouds, snow, fog, and cold were now gold and silver, both ceiling and ground. Stretching far and wide. Endlessly. My eyebrows creased in concern. ¡°Where am I?¡± my thoughts echoed forth with the crisp sound of voice, cleanly slicing a silence I hadn''t noticed. As if to answer my question, a presence appeared before me. Light, both gold and silver, gathered in a shapeless form. All-encompassing and boundless. The mother I always wished to have: unconditional love that provided self-worth, emotional support to confide in during difficult times, guidance to shape values, encouragement to overcome challenges and realise dreams, a role model to pursue and influence aspirations, the stability to cement psychological well-being, and a beacon of empathy and compassion. Everything Zoya was not. The father I always wished to have: of words and actions, protective to develop a sense of safety, humorous and playful to make life lighter, a solid net to fall onto in times of uncertainty, emotionally available, and a role model to emulate. Everything Nikolai could not provide. All of that, and more, stood at arms reach. I did not need to appraise the entity to know. It was obvious to me. My creator. My parent. My origin. Galeia. Even then. Even when I knew. Even when it was obvious. I could not move. Not by foreign influence, enchantment, spell, nor any such magic. I learned at that moment that I did not know what to do under such circumstances. The primary fuel for my drive for many years had been an almost constant state of anger instead of the occasional ignition of it to the point I had become psychologically dependent of negative emotion to achieve momentum. I got help for it at a point in my life when I no longer talked to my parents, thus subconsciously trapping them in a cage, and the bars were made of anger and resentment. Why, then, did I abandon Nikolayevna if not because I was angry at Nikolai? My brother Vladimir was nearing his eighteen years of age, and would thus be drafted; sent to die by either drone, bullet, or artillery in a conflict not of our choosing, and would probably end up in a video on the internet for others'' entertainment. Nikolai thought it natural and something to be proud of: to die for the country. I disagreed so I took Vladimir away. From him and from a future he did not deserve. Galeia offered no such betrayal. It touched me with a warmth and love that begins before birth and continues even after death, echoing unending joy at us having finally met. It reached my heart, embracing the anger and the pain, bathing it in boundless light. A knot formed on my throat, and tears began to fall. Galeia''s emotions washed over me in a strong yet gentle tide. Chest-swelling pride that I had overcome my trial, celebrating my strength and resilience. Forgiveness for giving up and wishing for death at my lowest point, and with it apologizing for making me go through that. Immense praise at having greatly hindered the Abyss'' advance in Haal to the point of near total termination, even at a great personal cost. Elation at me having found love in this new life, and how readily I used the tools she granted me. Gratitude at having accepted the gift the Divine Sentinel offered, and my consent to commune with her. Myriad emotions mixed and swirled inside me. The wounds of parental abandonment and absence Zoya and Nikolai had selfishly and irresponsibly inflicted in my heart were not mended, but soothed and accepted instead. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The fear that any motherly figure would eventually abandon me had grown into a rejection that became rudeness in order to avoid it and spare me of that pain. Unlike mortal women who would fit that criteria, Galeia is not a woman, and therefore warrants no such fear. My hands found purchase in the entity, fingers clasping at magically bound light. In that embrace, I wept. Like a child. Loudly. Shakily. Like ten year old me needed to when Zoya left. Like twelve year old me needed to when my first period came and I dealt with it scared and alone. Like thirteen year old me needed to when I was lost raising a high-functioning psychopath essentially by myself. Like seventeen year old me needed to when my first boyfriend broke up with me. Like twenty year old me needed to when I broke up with my first girlfriend. Like twenty four year old me needed to when my dad saw no problem in my brother going to war. I poured it all out, face covered with tears and snot. Like the child I had no chance of being. Had Galeia been my parent from the very beginning, my life might have been brighter, warmer, and more cheerful. The me right now, however, would not exist. I would not have met Lapia, Alyssa, Yolin, nor Pokora. Fate would''ve spun in another fashion entirely. Such is the true power of a parent. Or, perhaps, as Lapia taught me, under the laws of Eternalism''s view of how time unwinds, a Natasha who proudly wears Nikolayevna would have awoken in the Cradle of Life, maybe even mourning a Zoya who knew better, never to see her again. Then again, as I have come to see, would my lovers entertain an overly cheerful me? I have neither proof nor doubt that they see my so called stoicism as an almost magnetic source of attraction. Those traits of mine some would deem masculine, would be non-existent in a good life, I think. Would Lapia have met an overzealous Natasha, hellbent on correcting injustices done to women? A Natasha who would, unlike me, value greatly the dignity of passerby fellow women? A Natasha that, perhaps, would have never stopped yapping about her victimhood instead of giving her the introspective silence she instead got? A Natasha so drunk on self-righteousness, she would have dispatched the Harpy at a mere sight? Would Alyssa, who, in her own words, was smitten by the way I carry myself and my physical strength, be charmed by a more feminine Natasha? A softer Natasha who would match her in that regard? A Natasha that lacked the domineering side she so loves to drown in? Would Yolin, who so verbally relishes physical roughness from me, be interested in a meek Natasha? A Natasha who, coddled by loving parents, would not understand that physical pain sometimes soothes and even helps temper character? A Natasha who would overstep the tough woman''s autonomy and deny her violent whims? Would Pokora have felt attraction for a softer and kinder Natasha who lacked what she would end up calling daddy? A Natasha who lacked the hardiness she loves to lean on? A Natasha who would have smothered and coddled her pain instead of offered a few words of encouragement as two adults do? I do not for a second doubt that friendship would be possible... but love? I''m not so sure. Would my trial even include Hell at all if such was the case? Would I have been reborn as a Halve at all? Would I have been reborn? Would I even have died that young? Everything would be absurdly different with but a single change to my upbringing. Such is the tragedy of life and its cost. Still, it is through hardship that people grow and become better versions of themselves. I know so to be an universal truth. Life is worth living, even when I go off about life''s cost and such nihilistic views. And even while being aware of all that, if I was showered with that abundant parental love, I cried. I cried until my heart felt lighter. Galeia supported me all throughout, comforting waves of gold and silver washing over me. A hand, solid as light could be, brushed my hair with a love only a mother is capable of conveying along a promise to protect only a father is capable of conveying. Galeia''s promise to protect was emotional in nature, and I found myself dying of thirst for it, squeezing tighter. The light hummed, almost as if a lullaby. Wordlessly, Galeia comforted me. Slowly, I regain composure. And with it, came embarrassment. How long had it been since I cried that hard? I cried when I was lost at first, sitting on the cart with Lapia after killing mortals for the first time. I cried when I played the piano for the first time in this world. I cried when I cut Yolin''s fingers clean off her hand, in a panic and while tipsy. But those had been adult tears. To face new realities and, in a way, steel myself. This time, though? I hurried to clean my face of the tears and snot. To regain a little dignity, if anything, in front of my creator. My face was dry, much to my surprise. With a shaky inhale of breath, one I didn''t biologically, but emotionally need, I looked up. Light. Vaguely shaped like an individual, yet not all the same. Warm, inviting, boundless, and beyond Eternal. Of a beauty no word exists to describe. ¡°O Mother!¡± I sighed in Celestial, installing Galeia to motherhood in my heart and soul. It was, after all, what I needed most. The humming, so far the only sound coming from Galeia, coalesced into a myriad voices, flowing through all the fabrics to be and from any direction that is. ¡°Welcome home, Guardian strong, In my embrace, where you belong, Now rise once more, with strength renewed, For this vast realm will look to you, So go, Protector, to your task, In every moment, and before any mask, eternal be your vigil true, And know, my love will follow you.¡± It touched me. The light that had caressed my head softly was now on my left cheek. I leaned into it, bubbly giggle escaping through a wide smile. Then. I blinked. 193 - Could this be a crossroad? End of Arc 9 The cold, windy top of the obelisk stood beneath me once again. Or had I been returned there? Either way, I was back. Snow continued to fall, and the forest remained as endless as before. I narrowed my eyes, deep in thought. I was wearing a beanie, yet Galeia had touched my hair directly. A sigh escaped me, along with the fucks I might''ve given about it. The past few hours had been eventful. I had successfully conjured a spear, tried to learn how to fly, eaten a bird, learned a Power Tongue along with every language in history, and finally met my creator¡ªall in the span of a few hours. The effects of the mushroom soup had vanished along with the headache, which disappeared when I met Galeia. Honestly, I was in a pretty good mood. Shorvanna stood where she had been before but slowly turned to face me. "Do consider, Young Protector," she began. I waited. "I felt neither Galeia''s presence nor the fading of yours," the Goddess told me. "And yet, the shift in your emotions is telling. Your anger vanished, and a tranquility unlike any I''ve felt from you now abounds¡ªfrom one instant to the next." A small smile curled my lips. "I invite you to ponder: how can Galeia warn of events that are to come?" she suggested. I shrugged, then ventured, "Maybe... seeing the futu¡ªah." I realized. "Is that why you told me to meditate on Eternalism?" "Yes," she confirmed. "Now, how can you Protectors foresee danger? Is it just instinct, or something more? The Me''ik, the Giganto Cyclops, the dungeons, the Demon..." I tapped my temple. "We''re connected to Galeia," I replied. "Simple as that." "Then you understand why Protectors are referred to as Eternals, do you not?" she asked patiently. "Though the original meaning has been lost to most..." I nodded. "Makes sense to me." "Apply that when you meditate, Young Protector," Shorvanna advised. She glanced down at the ground, then back at me. "Let us take a break. The Elmari Elf is looking for you." "Mmh... I''ll be going, then. Thanks for today, Shorvanna," I said, tapping her shoulder plates with a smile. The suit of armor remained still and silent. With a brief instruction to the building, I emerged in the room my girlfriends and I had been using for the past few weeks. The Elmari Elf had her back to me, one hand placed against the wall, wearing a shirt and leather pants. The other three were on the bed, tangled in a mass of limbs, fast asleep. However! The instant my mind registered their presence, an overwhelming pull seized my thoughts, my body, and my very essence. A call to journey to Ualrin, to the dungeon lying deep beneath the earth. To grow stronger. To fulfill my duty as a Protector of a planet teeming with countless lives, both sentient and not. Pokora turned around and spotted me. "There you are," she chirped, her lips quickly forming a smile. "I was trying to reach you, but couldn''t for some reason," she explained, nodding at the wall. "It wouldn''t let me," the Elf added, walking toward me. When hunger strikes, the next logical step is to eat to stave off death. It''s instinct, written into every strand of DNA in the cells of a mortal body. It''s survival. "Shorvanna and I were busy. Maybe she didn''t want any interruptions," I ventured with a shrug. The pull felt similar: a call that must be answered or death would come, written on every particle of E''er in my body. But this time, it was a matter of obeying duty. "Interruptions?" the Elf scoffed, folding her arms across her chest, amused. Despite the pull''s intensity, it wasn''t urgent, and it wasn¡¯t me who would die. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. I smirked. "Pesky mortals should know their place," I joked. It wasn''t a call to face an immediate threat. Still, the dungeon needed clearing, and the sooner, the better. Pokora stopped in front of me, looking up. "You seem better than earlier," she commented, placing a hand on my hip. "That''s good." Full to the brim with Undead and Cursed Ones, the dungeon would eventually spill them out, bringing death and decay wherever they went. I smiled. "Slept enough? It''s only been a few hours." Ualrin, as it happened, lay just above the dungeon. The residents, ignorant of the danger, as mortals sometimes must be. She wrapped her arms around my waist in a tight embrace. "A nap was enough. I don''t want to ruin my sleeping schedule," she explained. "Alyssa offered to put me to sleep with a spell, but I don''t like the idea." Peace is an illusion. Mortals must be ignorant of that to enjoy the beautiful lie. I returned the hug, resting my cheek on her head. "Want to hear something incredible?" I asked. She hummed, then leaned back to get a better look at me, squinting. "You''re wearing a beanie, a winter jacket, and track pants," she observed. "Even you feel cold sometimes?" Those who notice the lie face two choices: try to destroy it or inherit it. I chuckled and shook my head. "I met Galeia," I told her, unwilling to let my girlfriends live in ignorance. Alas, I Protect. Pokora''s eyebrows rose, eyes widening slightly. ¡°Wha...? That''s... Galeia as in... the planet we''re on?¡± she stuttered, her voice thick with skepticism. Therefore, I will kill, as much as I must. ¡°That''s right,¡± I confirmed with a nod. ¡°It was quite the experience.¡± ¡°So it''s true, then?¡± she inquired. ¡°I always thought people spoke of Galeia as a spiritual thing, like... Mother Earth or something.¡± She blinked and inspected my face. ¡°You''re not taking the piss, are you?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± I laughed, shaking my head. ¡°But... it''s more of an entity than anything. Galeia is not a woman,¡± I clarified. Pokora nodded slowly. ¡°I see,¡± she muttered, leaning her head on my shoulder. ¡°People always compare you Halves to natural disasters: inevitable, overwhelming, unstoppable, indestructible, undeniable... I never really gave it much thought, to be quite honest. Yulianna, Miraztor, Desseyr, and Nilenna felt distant in a way I''d never meet, off somewhere dealing with threats we mortals could never imagine facing, mostly on their own.¡± I kept quiet, focusing on her voice. ¡°But then I met Nilenna,¡± she chuckled. ¡°If you can call that a meeting. I couldn''t get a word in except to thank her. I was face to face with the pinnacle of archery on the planet, but she was all smiles and laughs like an extrovert on a caffeine marathon. Instead of an apex predator carrying the authority to dissolve countries, I saw an overly enthusiastic person enjoying life.¡± My eyebrows furrowed a little at the mental image and I hoped Pokora was exaggerating, but then I remembered the energetic woman''s letters. ¡°So that got me thinking all sorts of things,¡± the Elf continued. ¡°Was life in the army enjoyable? Was I having a good time? I''ve... always wanted to find out if there were others like me... from Earth. I thought about it for a good year or so, then left the army. Anyway, this... notion that Halves are part of some great design... I never really believed it, not fully. They seemed like Wild Dragons: always talked about, but very rarely seen.¡± I nodded in understanding. She separated a little, looking me in the eye. ¡°But the Dragon seems very real now... and I''m a little scared, Natasha,¡± she admitted, worry etched on her face. I raised a hand and moved a lock of black hair off her face. ¡°Scared of what?¡± I inquired. Pokora took a deep breath and let it out. ¡°That I might not agree with some aspects of your duty, and that doing so will create friction between us. That I won''t accept your explanations. That I can''t make you promise things. That no matter how close we become, we can''t be equals. That Yolin, Alyssa, and Lapia are so quick to agree and accept these things, but I''m not. That you''re answering to something I can''t fully understand.¡± I hummed, not sure how to reply. Her apprehensions were valid, but there was little I could do to ease them. ¡°That''s why we talk about it,¡± Yolin''s voice came from the bed. The woman in my arms turned her head around. My eyebrows rose on their own as I looked at the Oni sitting on the bed. Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin were looking at us with various degrees of sleepiness. ¡°True, Natasha''s duty as a Halve is and will be her priority,¡± the tank continued, clearing her throat. ¡°And there''s little we can do about it.¡± She rubbed her eyes and ran her black tongue over her tusks. ¡°But that doesn''t mean we must stay silent about it. Look at her,¡± she nodded at me. ¡°She''s listening, isn''t she?¡± Alyssa looked positively lost, her white hair an absolute mess and her red eyes unfocused. Lapia was squinting at us, her head bobbing up and down as if deciding whether to continue sleeping or not. ¡°Now,¡± the red woman started, but yawned, then continued, ¡°We''ve essentially followed her everywhere she goes, but I can''t recall a single time we were forced to do something we didn''t want to.¡± She thought of something, then chuckled. ¡°If anything, it''s the other way around. She didn''t want to go up to Paarjo, she didn''t want to fight the spiders in the mine, and she didn''t want to go to the Royal Palace alone.¡± Pokora hung her head a little. ¡°Your feelings are valid, Poko,¡± the Oni assured. ¡°And she''s listening. We all are.¡± The Archer nodded, then chuckled¡ªprobably at Alyssa and Lapia''s sleepy faces. ¡°So, come here and let''s talk about it while we cuddle,¡± Yolin suggested, opening the covers for us to enter. ¡°We have time.¡± I sucked air through my teeth at that. ¡°Yeah... about that...¡± Yolin and Pokora turned to me. I puffed my cheeks and released them, then sighed. ¡°I... have to go,¡± I told them. The two-hundred-year-old woman arched an eyebrow. ¡°Right now?¡± she asked. I bit my lower lip, focusing on the pull that demanded my attention. ¡°I have around an hour,¡± I concluded after a moment. Yolin nodded. ¡°And we''ll talk about that as well,¡± she suggested. ¡°Now come here.¡± 194 - Chance Encounter I left the temple, mounted Sonya, and took a last look at the Obelisk. Pokora could not understand something I can''t properly explain. ¡°Let''s go,¡± I told the Ratnak and tapped her neck. The beast turned to the forests and began a light stroll. A sigh left me. Fortunately for me, the other three understood the reality of the situation better. Plus, Elena might help with it. My hopes were not that high about that, however, since I asked the ancient woman to behave before leaving, and that we''d have the conversation I told her about when I returned. Something told me she wasn''t all that bad in the head. ''May those you slay find peace knowing they serve a great purpose'', is what she had told me as farewell. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling at odds that the one I didn''t exactly like understood things the best. The Orators met me outside the clearing and walked next to me. In any case, my lovers and companions would be in good hands during my absence. The Gods would continue teaching and guiding them, as was their nature. To say my good mood had gone away would be an understatement. The Dryads accompanied me until the treeline that met the road, then bowed and said their farewell. I returned the gesture and left.
A minute later Sonya and I were alone on the road, moving forward at a relaxed pace. The snow had turned the dirt muddy with small puddles all over. A croak came from above. Pyotr landed on my shoulder, snuggled against my neck, and softly cawed, ¡°Ualrin! Far!¡± I nodded. ¡°It is,¡± I replied and stroked the bird''s feathers. ¡°Can you fetch me a pebble or a stone, boy?¡± He cawed and jumped down, then skittered to the treeline at the edge of the road, pecked a few times, and returned with a pebble. The Corvitex dropped it in my hand and went back to snuggling. I rolled the pebble in my hand while looking around. A fat frog was comfortably and lazily resting on a root a few tens of meters away. I activated [Initiation] and appraised the critter. [Sapolion, Level 92] ¡°I need to be in combat,¡± I told the frog. ¡°My bad,¡± I apologized and flicked the pebble at it. The projectile hit it square in the face, punching a hole right through and killing it instantly. The portion of the skill that increased Sonya''s stats triggered, and the Ratnak growled with mild surprise. ¡°Fly, Pyotr,¡± I warned the bird. ¡°We''ll go pretty fast from now on. Also, make sure to eat the Sapolion I just killed.¡± He croaked and took off toward the sacrifice. ¡°Let me know when you get tired, girl,¡± I told the Ratnak, fixed my posture on the saddle to make sure I wouldn''t fall off, and activated [Charge]. We shot forward, a loud bang as feedback of the skill that told me we broke the sound barrier.
Three hours later we took a break, entering the forest to find a clearing since the roads weren''t exactly accommodating with a sudden heavy rain. Since Sonya had reached level one thousand, the distance we had covered was pretty considerable. Still, the beast was panting. The pull guiding me to Ualrin told me we were almost halfway there. I retrieved my pocket watch and had a look. fell in thick, heavy sheets, drumming against the canopy of leaves above and turning the forest floor into a slick mess of mud and roots. I got off Sonya and walked ahead. It was almost peaceful, the kind of quiet that comes when Galeia decides to drown out everything else. As I moved through the trees, the faint flicker of light caught my eye¡ªa campfire. Or what was left of one. I stepped into a clearing, water splashing beneath my boots. She didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t make a sound. I gave her a look up and down. She didn¡¯t seem bothered by the rain. The brim of her hat covered her face, hiding most of her expression, though her mouth was pulled into the faintest smirk. Leather garments clung to her frame, drenched like the rest of her, but she didn¡¯t seem to care. [Celez Human, Lvl 288 Rogue ¨C 274 First Order Chaser ¨C 255 Stalker] She was calm¡ªtoo calm for a mortal encountering a Halve. A bandit? I wondered, not too concerned, then moved aside to let Sonya enter the clearing. The Ratnak stopped beneath a tree and plopped herself on the ground. I stored my helmet and shook my head to get rid of the water that managed to sneak in, only for the barrage or droplets coming from the sky to drench me even more. ¡°Not the best weather for camping,¡± I observed in Common with a quick glance around the clearing. ¡°You lost?¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. She chuckled low, a rough sound undercut by her drawl. ¡°Reckon it¡¯s not. But then again, I didn¡¯t plan on company.¡± The rain beat harder around us, but her voice carried easily through the storm, unaffected by the wild weather. Her words had a lilt to them, an accent I couldn''t quite put my finger on. The woman smiled a lazy grin as she pushed off the tree and dusted her hands off, though they were already wet from the rain. ¡°I could ask you the same, sweetheart. Mighty strange for an ¡®idol¡¯ to be wanderin¡¯ through the muck.¡± Blue eyes glinted under the hat¡¯s brim. ¡°Name''s Victoria Lynn,¡± she said with a nod, moving short blond locks, ¡°But most folks ''round here just call me Butcher.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Butcher?¡± I repeated, ignoring the other remarks. ¡°I was born in Dixie. Daddy was a butcher,¡± she simply replied. Dixie? I thought, trying to recall such a country, but nothing came up. Maybe it''s a small town, I concluded. ¡°Natasha,¡± I introduced myself. ¡°But I guess you already knew that.¡± Before she could respond, a particularly loud clap of thunder echoed through the forest. The woman chuckled again, brushing a hand over her wet face. ¡°Well, at least the weather¡¯s got some spirit.¡± ¡°Looks like the storm caught you off guard,¡± I commented, produced my spear, stabbed the ground, and leaned on it. She glanced up at the sky, then shrugged. ¡°Guess you could say that. But I don¡¯t mind a bit of rain. Helps wash off the dirt from the road, don¡¯t it?¡± I smiled at that, then nodded. ¡°True.¡± Victoria gestured at me. ¡°You just passin¡¯ through?¡± ¡°Just traveling,¡± I said, matching her casual tone and glancing at the trees swaing in the storm. ¡°I''d prefer to keep moving, rain or not, but...¡± I nodded at Sonya. ¡°Got tired.¡± She nodded. ¡°Sensible. Don¡¯t much like sittin¡¯ still myself. Been wanderin¡¯ these parts long?¡± ¡°First time around here,¡± I replied, looking back at her. ¡°And you? You make a habit of camping out in storms?¡± A half-grin flashed across her face. ¡°Not really, but I¡¯ll take what I can get. Roads are flooded, anyway. Ain¡¯t nobody goin¡¯ nowhere fast tonight.¡± That was true. The rain was relentless, and it wasn¡¯t letting up any time soon. ¡°Where¡¯re you headed?¡± I asked, more to keep the conversation going. ¡°Wherever the coin takes me,¡± she answered with a nonchalant shrug. ¡°Chasin¡¯ folk who¡¯d rather not be found, mostly. Bit of bounty work, a bit of tracking, but nothing glamorous.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hunting criminals?¡± ¡°Among other things,¡± she said with a casual smile. ¡°Ain¡¯t always the bad guys that need findin¡¯. Sometimes people just¡­ disappear, and someone¡¯s gotta be good at bringin¡¯ ¡®em back.¡± There was something easy about the way she spoke. No pretense, no fear of who I was or what I could do. She continued, seeming content to let the conversation unfold without pushing for anything grander. ¡°And what about you?¡± she asked, gesturing with her chin. ¡°Guessin¡¯ you¡¯ve seen more than your fair share of folk goin¡¯ missin¡¯, huh?¡± I gave a slight nod. ¡°More than enough,¡± I replied, thinking of Elena. The rain poured down harder, creating a curtain between us and the forest. ¡°Must be nice,¡± I said, not letting the conversation die since I could use the distraction, ¡°to just chase after people without a care in the world.¡± Victoria chuckled, leaning back against the tree again. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t let me fool ya. There¡¯s plenty of cares. Like makin¡¯ sure I get my cut before they disappear for good.¡± She paused, the grin fading slightly. ¡°And some folks don¡¯t like bein¡¯ found. Not all of ¡®em are friendly.¡± I hummed. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve had your fair share of encounters,¡± I commented, intrigued. ¡°What¡¯s the worst you¡¯ve faced?¡± The woman crossed her arms, considering. ¡°Had a fella once¡ªthought he could outrun me. Didn¡¯t take long for him to learn that rain and mud ain¡¯t exactly a friend to someone tryin¡¯ to run.¡± She winked. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I got the drop on him before he even knew I was there.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered a little disappointed, but nodded anyway. ¡°I can imagine it takes some skill to track someone through weather like this.¡± ¡°Just gotta pay attention to the signs,¡± she replied, her voice thoughtful. ¡°Nature¡¯s got a way of tellin¡¯ you what¡¯s goin¡¯ on if you listen close enough. But enough about me. What¡¯s your story?¡± I raised an eyebrow at the shift. ¡°My story?¡± I asked, a smile forming. ¡°Just a traveler looking for my next destination.¡± Victoria wasn¡¯t letting that slide. ¡°Oh, come on. I can tell there¡¯s more to you than just wanderin¡¯ the woods. You¡¯re not exactly the average traveler, are ya?¡± ¡°I''m heading toward Ualrin,¡± I relented, keeping my tone light. ¡°There''s business there.¡± Victoria¡¯s interest piqued. ¡°Ualrin, huh? That¡¯s my destination too, eventually. Picked up a bounty there. Some lowlife thinks hiding out in the east is a smart way to avoid the law.¡± Her grin widened. ¡°I intend to prove the scum wrong.¡± I hummed, looking up at the canopy. It was worth the try. ¡°Every heard the name Yugulari?¡± I inquired, looking back at her. Her expression shifted slightly, a hint of recognition flashing in her blue eyes. ¡°Yugulari? Yeah, I¡¯ve caught wind of them. Can¡¯t say I know much, though. Just rumors swirling around about a changeling group causing all sorts of trouble in Lumin Kingdom.¡± She leaned in slightly, curiosity sparking in her tone. ¡°Didn¡¯t they try something big not too long ago? Heard it involved a poisoning attempt or something.¡± I nodded. ¡°And some nasty business with the King. I killed a couple of them but some managed to escape.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the sort of news that doesn¡¯t hit the streets,¡± she replied, crossing her arms as she considered the implications. ¡°Heard King Gordon is a popular fella. Can¡¯t have folks getting worried over that kind of mess.¡± She paused, her expression thoughtful. ¡°But if they¡¯re laying low, that¡¯s smart. Sometimes it¡¯s better to wait until the storm passes before sticking your head back out.¡± I hummed in the affirmative. ¡°Dispatching a few of them must¡¯ve sent a message, though,¡± she said, a hint of respect creeping into her voice. ¡°More like a reminder of what happens when you go against us,¡± I replied, glancing back at her. ¡°But there are still loose ends,¡± I added, giving her a knowing look. Victoria''s expression shifted, the flicker of indecision evident in her blue eyes. ¡°I get it,¡± she said slowly. ¡°But here¡¯s the thing: I¡¯ve got my own bounty to chase. The one I picked up in Ualrin? It ain¡¯t gonna hunt itself.¡± I gave her an understanding nod. ¡°You deal with that and then look for me.¡± She let out a low laugh, though it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. "I can¡¯t ignore the risk that comes with teamin¡¯ up with someone like you. I can handle low-level scum, but political players?" ¡°One thousand gold coins for information gathering and fifty thousand for catchin¡¯ anyone in Yugulari¡¯s group,¡± I laid out the offer. I wasn''t naive enough to expect free work for the Greater Good. Victoria was a bounty hunter, after all. Her eyes widened slightly, the cogs turning in her mind. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a temptin¡¯ offer,¡± she admitted, but the conflict remained on her face. ¡°But chasin¡¯ a bounty is a straightforward gig. I know the risks, I know the terrain, and I¡¯ve got my escape routes mapped out. This? If I step into your world, that changes everythin¡¯. The stakes rise, and so does the danger. You¡¯re not just dealin¡¯ with a runaway thief anymore.¡± ¡°You can decline,¡± I reminded her. She sighed, glancing back at the canopy. ¡°Guess it¡¯s a tough decision. On one hand, I want the coin, but on the other, the risks are sky-high.¡± ¡°There''s time to think about it,¡± I pointed out, gesturing at the storm raging above. Victoria grunted, then threw a powder at the dying fire. The flames regained a bit of life, burned a little hotter and grew slightly in size. The woman focused on them, staring into the dancing flames that defied the heavy rain, lost in thought. She produced a small box and fiddled with it, extracting the contents and rolling a cigarette. With the conversation done I looked up and stared at the sky. Pyotr''s Bond pointed east, approaching at a decent speed.
An hour and some change later, Sonya grumbled and stood up. The rain had let out a little. Enough to keep going, at least. I mounted up and gave Victoria a nod. ¡°I''ll be around Sapul for a while. Find me there if you change your mind,¡± I told her. The woman nodded, but said nothing. Sonya took me out of the forest and back to the road. 195 - WHAT IN OBLIVION IS THAT?! I arrived in Ualrin around midnight. Sonya and I stood a few hundred meters near the peak of a tall mountain chain, looking down at the forest in front of us. Yes. Even after traveling over twenty thousand kilometers across Leks, we were still in the Cradle of Life. I looked to my left and right. The mountain chain I was on stretched for a few kilometers and jutted out of the forest. Though still covered in trees, they were spaced far enough apart to allow for unobstructed visibility. I bit my lower lip and looked forward once more. There, between the trees some five kilometers to the south, under the light of the stars and one moon, was a small settlement. A town, maybe? I squinted. No. A village? Ten blocks with well-lit streets, what looked like a church, and houses. Dots of light surrounded it, probably Watchers on the walls. Wasn''t Sapul a city? I wondered, recalling Shorvanna''s words. Do Lupum build underground? They''re bunnies, after all. A strong wind whistled in my ear. I sighed and gently pulled the reins, guiding Sonya to the right. I¡¯m not going there right away, anyway. The Ratnak complied, moving through the snow. We advanced along the mountain peak for a bit, searching for the cave the Goddess mentioned in the letter. Twenty minutes later, after descending the mountain slightly, we came across a large opening, around a hundred meters tall and fifty wide. A big boulder blocked the entrance, however. I nodded to myself, feeling the pull directing me toward it, then dismounted Sonya. The Ratnak took a few steps back and sat down. I walked around the rock, looking for a smaller opening but found nothing. The boulder was snugly wedged in, leaving no gaps in sight. I approached the rock and used a bit of strength to push it. It budged a tiny bit, leaving a small opening underneath. I hummed and, while keeping one hand on the rock to prevent it from closing, snuck my other hand into the opening. Then I squatted and, with both hands, lifted the rock, trying to dislodge it. I wasn¡¯t sure if it would work, but it was worth a try. While lifting the boulder, I moved backward to drag it out of the hole. A few seconds later, I lifted it above my head, attempting to carry it on my back. Another boulder appeared, and I looked up. The boulder I was lifting was connected to the smaller one. It was two meters thick and as black as the rock it was snugly stuck into. I looked at the smaller boulder, confused by the fact that it didn¡¯t snap or groan under the strain¡ªlike a door of sorts. Then, an eye the size of a minivan slowly opened. Orange like fire, the eye had a slit pupil that widened and contracted as it focused on me. "Ah," I muttered in realization, letting go. It was a Dragon, and I had just lifted the wing it was using to cover its head and block the entrance to the cave. The wing fell down with a surprisingly quiet rumble. With a long groan, the creature unfurled itself. I hummed and appraised it while retrieving my spear and shield. [Irtorodon, Wild Dragon ¨C Lvl 1472] The dragon stretched its limbs, unwinding its body and revealing its full size. The scales on its chest reflected the moonlight, dark as the stone it slept next to. Slowly, it opened its jaws, a low, reverberating growl filling the cavern as its eyes glared with annoyance. It was... a bit small, though. The Rodolian High General Odnik rode into Lumin Kingdom was quite bigger. The teeth were impressively sharp, measuring over three meters each and white as the snow around us. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Alyssa told me they can talk, I remembered, then gave it a shot. ¡°Hello,¡± I greeted it. ¡°Why disturb my slumber?¡± it asked in Dragon Tongue, its words rumbling like an avalanche in a thunderstorm, irritation obvious in its tone. My chest vibrated with the sound, and I held back a laugh at how cool the situation was. Were I a normal person, I would have to treat the thing with respect and whatnot. Reality, however, painted a different picture. It was a mortal creature, and I an Eternal. ¡°You''re in the way,¡± I informed it in fluent Dragon Tongue, resting the butt of my spear on the snow. It was a measly one hundred and twenty levels higher than me, but many times my size. It had no chance of winning a physical confrontation when my Dragoon Class specialized in killing bigger foes. The Dragon moved its head close to me, its eyes squinting in assessment. ¡°Pah! A Protector...¡± Its tone shifted, gaining an adequate amount of respect, but retaining pride. There was a trace of offense in its voice, however. "What is your name, Eternal Protector? What could warrant such a rude awakening? My sleep is sacred, and it has been long¡­ far too long for anyone to intrude without purpose." The edge of my mouth twitched in amusement. I can see where Alyssa gets her love for sleep. ¡°Natasha Novak, Halve Warrior,¡± I introduced myself. The dragon slowly rose to its full height, wings flaring slightly, making the cave it was blocking look small. "You stand before Irtorodon, descendant of the Black Scales, progenitors of the Rokkso Luzo, though my line has no claim of relation nor desire for it,¡± it introduced itself, then let out a long breath, sending a faint wave of heat that melted the snow as it studied me carefully, the bits of irritation dissipating, replaced by curious expectation. ¡°Well met,¡± I replied with a slight nod. ¡°The cave you''ve taken over leads to a dungeon I need to clear,¡± I told it, then discreetly glanced down, checking if I was dealing with a boy, a girl, or an aristi. The evidence told me male. Irtorodon¡¯s eyes flickered with a renewed fire, his nostrils flaring slightly. He tilted his head, considering my words. There was a moment of silence, probably one of conflict with his pride. "In the way, you say?¡± His rumbling voice came out once more, tinged with both amusement and offense. ¡°The arrogance of Halves truly knows no bounds. I have slumbered here for a decade, and now you expect me to simply move because you have need of this cave?" I nodded. He spread his wings wider, causing a few rocks to tumble from the cavern walls. "Tell me, Halve. Why should I care for your dungeon? What value does it hold that would warrant my displacement?" He leaned in, his fiery orange eyes locking onto mine, his voice dropping to a dangerous, almost teasing growl. "Or do you intend to try and move me yourself?" Well, he''s not saying ''no'', I observed. Just a grumpy boy. "How old are you, baby? I''m told you Dragons grow to be tremendously large, but... you''re admittedly small." Irtorodon¡¯s eyes flared with sudden indignation, his wings snapping open fully in response, causing a gust of wind to rush around me. His chest puffed out as he straightened to his full height, the scales along his neck shimmering like molten metal as he gave a low growl. "Small?" His voice rumbled, disbelief and slight shock mixed in. ¡°You dare mock the stature of a Dragon?¡± His claws scraped against the stone beneath him as he shifted, clearly irked by the comment. "I may not yet rival the ancients in size, Halve, but do not mistake youth for weakness. I am no mere hatchling!" ¡°Of course,¡± I agreed with a deep nod, smiling behind my helmet. ¡°Of course...¡± He huffed, a puff of smoke billowing from his nostrils. ¡°Dragons do grow¡­ and in time, I will darken these skies. Perhaps, if your ten thousand years endure, you will witness that yourself." He''s a little cute, I chuckled in my mind. "Then it would be smart to obey and move out of the way. I have given you courtesy enough by talking this long," I warned him. The dragon¡¯s wings flexed, then folded neatly by his sides, his form still towering, but his tone shifted to something more measured, almost begrudgingly respectful, "You speak with the confidence of one who knows their place in this world... and expects others to know theirs." His massive head lowered slightly, eyes gleaming with reluctant admiration. "A courtesy, indeed. I would not have entertained such words from a lesser being." I rolled my eyes. Boy, you''re as much of a mortal as a frog. "Very well, Halve. You¡¯ve shown respect in waking me and allowed me to speak. I shall not deny your request." He began to step aside, his claws scraping against the stone as he made space for me to pass. "But remember this, Eternal Protector¡­ you and I may meet again. Perhaps then it will be on more equal terms." I hummed. ¡°Good boy,¡± I praised him, then looked back at Sonya. The Ratnak was wide-eyed, her blue eyes going from me to the Dragon. "Tell you what," I started, resting my hands on my hips. "If you keep my mount company while I''m in the dungeon I might agree to a fight with you, and perhaps spread your name..." Irtorodon¡¯s eyes flicked toward the Ratnak, his nostrils flaring as he regarded the creature with a mix of curiosity and mild disdain. The dragon¡¯s head tilted slightly, and a low, rumbling chuckle escaped his throat. "You amuse me, Halve." His voice was softer now, though still rumbling due to his size. "A fight, you say? Dragons do not shy away from challenges¡­ especially when it comes from an Eternal such as yourself." Good. Sonya taken care of is covered, I thought with relief. He studied me for a moment longer, then glanced again at the Ratnak. There was a flicker of acknowledgment in his gaze¡ªboth as a creature that bore some resemblance to his kind and as something under my care. "Very well. I shall keep this creature company, as you have requested." His wings folded more tightly against his sides, and he lowered himself slightly as if settling into a more relaxed stance. "But know this, Halve¡­ when you return from that dungeon, I will expect a duel worthy of my kind. And perhaps, if you tell my story, it shall be one of epics." I chuckled and gave him a nod, then walked over to Sonya. ¡°Hey, girl.¡± The Ratnak''s eyes didn''t leave the Dragon, but her head pointed towards me. She let out a growl I hadn''t hear before. It carried caution and apprehension. ¡°It''s okay,¡± I assured her, caressing her head. ¡°You can''t come with me into the dungeon, so Irtorodon here is going to look after you while I''m gone. Is that alright?¡± She grumbled, a little dispirited, but nodded nonetheless. I smiled and gave her head a big hug. ¡°I''ll be back, Sonya. I promise,¡± I told her and circled her, then removed the saddle. ¡°You can find ores around here, right? Eat as much as you want.¡± She huffed and sat down, still staring at the Dragon. I tilted my head. ¡°No good bye kiss for me?¡± I pouted. The Ratnak opened its maw and ran her tongue over my helmet while growling. ¡°There we go!¡± I laughed and gave her a last hug, then walked away into the cave. 196 - Time for grinding, therefore violence required ahead. The cave went deeper into the mountain, narrowing the further I went until it became a tight passage, with my shoulders almost touching the walls. It also sloped downward at a noticeable and constant angle, sometimes bending to the right, sometimes to the left. The air became cold, damp, stale, and heavy, and the smell of minerals and stone eventually replaced everything else, leaving only the increasingly dense E''er. The absence of critters caught my attention; I had expected spiders, bats, or some form of ambush predator. After about thirty minutes, I grew bored and started humming a tune. Forty minutes later, I noticed a change. My skin and hair stopped absorbing oxygen and relied purely on E''er. Can I live without E''er? I wondered while walking, curiosity winning over concern. If I were to, hypothetically speaking, use Abyssal to open a portal to another world that has no E''er... would I absorb whatever is there instead, or die? I retrieved my list of things to ask the Gods and wrote it down. The idea of leaving Galeia wasn''t very appealing, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to ask. An hour later, I noticed that E''er made up more than 90% of the air in the tunnel, if you could still call it air, with no oxygen around. A bit later¡ªmaybe five or six minutes¡ªthe tunnel widened, giving way to a small cave. In the middle of it stood a statue in the shape of a suit of armor. It held big, double-bladed axes in each hand and was poised, ready for battle. I approached and gave it a closer look. It was Shorvanna, but made of stone instead of metal. The smell of enchantments I couldn¡¯t discern was thick around it. Appraising it showed nothing, so I moved past it to search the area. ¡°Hark!¡± the Goddess¡¯s voice suddenly came from the statue. ¡°Gyaa!¡± I screamed at the sudden noise, jumping and spinning around. ¡°You shit!¡± ¡°Break me and you shall pass!¡± were the next words. I sighed, letting the scare fade away, then retrieved my spear and activated [Initiation], [Prevention], and [Dragoon Might]. I gripped my weapon and swung with full strength, activating [Pierce], [Shielded Thrust], [Sharp Spear], [Long Attacks], [Spear Finesse], [Coiling Attacks], and [Crush]. Fourteen attacks in a fraction of a second for a total of four hundred E''er spent. The crisp whistle of sharp metal cut through the air, each blow met with the loud sound of stone shattering under the sheer force. Shorvanna¡¯s statue collapsed in a heap of rubble. Some bits flew away and bounced off the walls, while others crumbled into dust. My eyebrows raised slightly at the result. Immediately, the ground collapsed beneath me, opening a chasm that stretched into dark depths. ¡°NO!¡± I screamed, stabbing the closest wall with my spear to avoid falling into the abyss. ¡°YOU DUMB, FUCKING BITCH!¡± I shouted, anger swelling inside me. ¡°Access granted¡± the statue announced as it rebuilt itself, floating back to its original spot. The head moved with mechanical suddenness, turning to look at me. It raised an arm and took aim with one of its axes. ¡°HEY!¡± I shouted, swinging up and standing on my spear. The Goddess¡¯s likeness hurled an axe at the ceiling above me. Stone shattered, breaking the wall my spear was stuck into. I lost my footing for a second time but didn¡¯t panic. Instead, I searched for a solution. Falling down into darkness was not part of the plan. ¡­ Or was it? It was possible that, in Shorvanna¡¯s conflict-obsessed Divine mind, she had kept the part about me needing to fall into a seemingly endless pit a secret, rather than having a door and staircase like the other dungeons I¡¯d seen so far. Had I known, I might have complained. Just like now. I wasn¡¯t scared of falling to my death anymore. That just wasn¡¯t possible. Instead, I heavily disliked the idea of falling. But then again, Shorvanna said conflict is a path to growth, and leaving the comfort zone is part of that. I fully agreed. I stopped myself from activating [Dragon Dive] to crash into the ceiling and instead let gravity pull me down. A feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu crept into my mind as I watched the walls rush past me. The lack of a laughing Oni falling beside me made the situation far less amusing. ¡°One,¡± I started counting. The air whipped my braid around as I descended. ¡°Two. Three. Four. Five,¡± I muttered, trying to keep my feet beneath me. Just as I was about to say "six," the ground appeared. I landed on my feet with a loud bang, the metallic boots hitting the stone floor hard. The smell of E''er, arranged in gravity-altering enchantments, tickled my nose. It was similar to the chains I lifted in Ladania, but these ones pulled down. I looked at the ground, then the walls, then up. With a bit of strength, I jumped. The pull brought me back down immediately. ¡°Aha!¡± I uttered in realization. To help prevent the undead from leaving. Smart, I approved and glanced around. The stone floor was flat, and the walls were perfectly perpendicular to it. The walls gave way to an exquisitely rectangular hallway. I searched for my spear, finding it near the wall. I stepped on it, rolled it onto my boot, lifted it slightly, and sent it into my storage. With that done, I looked around again. That¡¯s when I noticed a detail on the wall in front of me. A handprint. It wasn¡¯t just one; a line of handprints at shoulder level ran across the wall. Beneath each was an inscription. [Rozmu Imokk] was the first name I saw. I stared at it for a bit, recognizing it as the name of my predecessor, the previous Halve Warrior from fifteen thousand years ago. I walked along the wall, reading more names. Lumin Dagar, Finestra Palaz, El''kuu Lao, Koluum Tyrus, Lola Mento, and many more. The ones whose names became those of royalty or countries were more recognizable, while others had shown up in books I¡¯d read. They were all warriors. The farther I walked, the fewer names I recognized. It was a bit sad, in a way. All those people, my kin and predecessors, were long dead. Most lived the full ten-thousand-year lifespan, while a few fell before their time. The dungeon itself was pretty old if even Koluum, who allowed the founding of Koluum Kingdom more than two million years ago, was recorded here. And I, after all that time, would do what he did. Clear the dungeon to grow in power. It was almost poignant. I sighed and walked toward the hallway leading deeper into the dungeon, but something caught my eye once more¡ªa free spot at the corner. I smiled and placed my naked hand on the stone. The entire wall lit up, lines of gold and silver branching outward. I followed the lines with my eyes, seeing more handprints and names. A surge of E''er concentrated on my palm, tickling my skin. The stone gave way, taking the shape of my hand. Below it, the name ''Natasha Novak'' appeared. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I stared at it for a bit, wondering who¡¯d end up reading it in the future, and if they¡¯d recognize it. The last part was mostly up to me, honestly. Maybe I¡¯d be the first Halve to have a bunch of kids. A laugh escaped me at the irony of being ready to breed with Pokora but having to clear a dungeon across the continent. It felt a bit cruel. For the first time in months, I¡¯d be alone. I walked into the hallway. The first thing I saw was a wall of fog about two meters in. Then the words "Mortals Beware" etched all over the walls in every Mortal language. How would they get here, anyway? I wondered, thinking of Shorvanna''s statue, but then I remember how psychotic Gods actually are, finding beauty in Mortals'' self-destructive behaviors. I had no doubt anyone would be allowed to pass if they managed to break the statue. And knowing Mortals, some would take it as a challenge to reach our heights. A foolish notion. I walked to the wall of fog but stopped before reaching it. A familiar cold emanated from it. I¡¯d felt it firsthand not too long ago¡ªwhen Death claimed me. The memory of dying replayed in my mind: numbness and cold encroaching from all sides, unable even to call for help as my body gave in. Once again, like with any memory from Earth, there was no emotional response. Maybe a slight annoyance. Not even anger replied. I retrieved several bottles and scrolls from my storage. As a former whale and a firm believer of Pay to Win, I used the almighty power of financial income to my advantage when I played Redeemer''s Bush. With the items now actually in my storage and having real effects, I unashamedly popped buffs left and right. [Draught of Necrotic Resitance] -Reduces the potency of Necrotic effects on the consumer by 80%. I drank many more, granting resistances to poison, rot, psychic, fire, lightning, force, shadow, space, bleed, cold, insanity, chaos, earth, wind, water, and ghost. It took a couple of minutes since I had to physically drink them instead of pushing a button like in the game. I also went for the same Strength and Constitution combo I had used to lift the tree two days ago. Fortunately, my stomach quickly absorbed liquids and food. As for the scrolls, I used the same [Writings of Superior Reflexes] I used for the arena fight against my companions, along with others that granted similarly vague effects. Maybe I was overdoing it, but it''s better to have too much than too little. Once done, I walked ahead and crossed the fog. The foul stench of death, decay, and rot landed a clean uppercut to my nose. The air hung thick with them in equal measure, with spells and other such effects causing E''er to try and sneak into my body to rob me of Life Force, the E''er at my disposal, and cripple my senses. I immediately stopped breathing and shook my head, activating [Monster Hunter] and moving my braid to the front. My glow revealed the space I had entered: a wide, stadium-sized cave littered with corpses and decaying flesh. Ew! Ew! Ew! I winced and frowned. A quiet groan came from a nearby pile of corpses. I slowly approached, spear first just in case, and poked the topmost corpse. A Mortal, more specifically an Elf, was trying to get up. Torn leather garments failed to functionally cover a mangled body that shouldn¡¯t have been able to move due to the extensive injuries. The left leg was stripped of flesh from thigh to ankle, and a large hole in its chest exposed rotted internal organs. I felt no compulsion to help, so I appraised the individual. [Deathbound Interloper ¨C Lvl 1200] The mockery of life slowly turned its head toward me. Bits of flesh still clung to the skull, and the eyes were covered in a white fog of sorts. The zombie ¨C for lack of a better term ¨C opened its mouth wide. I activated [Charge], rushing forward before it could make a sound, and swung my spear down. My weapon made clean contact, bisecting the body from forehead to crotch. Ah, fuck, I swore in my mind when I realized what I just did. [Charge] made me move faster than sound, and breaking the sound barrier is not exactly a silent affair. The loud bang echoed in the cavern. At least they''re slo- I started. An armored Goliath was already standing before me, weapon drawn back and ready to swing. I lifted my spear to intercept the blow. It connected, the zombie''s three meter long sword stopping. I pushed the weapon to the side and stabbed at the neck. The blade of my spear cut cleanly through decaying flesh and bone, removing the head without much trouble. All in less than a quarter of a second. Fast! I thought. A fireball zipped towards me from the left. ¡°No!¡± I told it in Infernal. The flames sputtered into nothingness. ¡°GRAAAAAAAAHHH!!¡± A shout came from the right. Then, motion exploded everywhere. A Luzo wielding ribs instead of blades, a Lupum carrying a large hammer, a Human swinging another Mortal''s spine, and an Elf with a shield and a sword rushed me faster than any zombie should have any right to move. I was surrounded not even a breath after the Goliath got beheaded. The first one lunged at me, faster than expected. Almost as fast as I was. My spear was already in motion before its improvised weapons could reach me, a clean sideways swing that cut the thing in half at the waist. I spun, the butt of my spear slamming into the temple of the second zombie. Its head twisted unnaturally, but it didn¡¯t stop. The third one was upon me. [Dragonclaw] made me rotate ten times in an instant, turning their bodies and armor into ribbons of putrid flesh. A second fireball shot towards me, this time bigger and faster than before. A wall of zombies blocked my sight, obscuring the zombie Wizard. The spell was fast as sound, and the zombies charging at me were just as fast. So, I activated [Charge] and barreled into the horde, cutting through the initial wave of undead like a scythe through tall grass. My spear cleaved through their rotted armor and brittle bones. It barely made a dent in the sheer number of them. Their numbers were overwhelming, a literal tide of death and decay crashing down on me. I cleared a path through their ranks, sending pieces of flesh, armor, and bone flying in all directions. The sound of my body breaking through the sound barrier echoed in the cavern once more, but the horde kept pressing in from every side. Every footstep I took felt like I was trying to move through a thick swamp of rotting limbs and grasping hands. My spear cut down one, two, three¡ªeach one falling faster than the last, but the ones behind were already on me. Their speed was unnatural. These were not sluggish zombies, they had been Chasers once, and the muscle memory of their spells and skills, just like the little bits of flesh still clinging to their bodies, remained. I spun on my heel, activating [Dragonclaw] again, rotating ten times in an instant, the centrifugal force of my spear slicing through the crowd like a whirlwind of destruction. A dozen bodies were torn apart, their limbs scattered across the cave, but for every one I cut down, three more took their place. The cavern echoed with the groans and shrieks of the dead as more and more of them rushed forward, their eyes glowing with a faint, malicious light. I planted my feet, abandoning all defense, and activated [Endless Rain]. My spear became a blur, striking all in front of me with relentless force. The longer I struck, the firmer my stance became, the stone beneath my feet strengthening, the impacts of the zombies¡¯ attacks bouncing off my body. My strikes were fast, precise, and brutal, each one cleaving through the undead¡¯s armor, their bones, their flesh. Their counterattacks barely registered as I continued my assault, cutting down hundreds in the span of seconds. But it still wasn¡¯t enough. The horde was endless. For every row I cut down, a new wave surged forward, undeterred by the fallen. They clawed at me, swung weapons with rusty, decayed hands, and sent spells hurtling in my direction. Spells and attacks that should have been sloppy and weak were instead sharp and deadly, driven by ancient skills that refused to die. The force of my attacks sent shockwaves through the cave, but the horde continued to come, unending. [Coiling Attacks] made each thrust rotate, preventing my spear from getting stuck and leaving wide holes in their bodies. [Spear Finesse] guided my movements to [Overwhelming Violence], making my spear an extension of my own body, slashing, thrusting, spinning, and blocking in one continuous, deadly dance that sought to annihilate everything I faced. Every Warrior charging at me was met with [Crush], breaking through thick armor and sending their broken bodies crashing to the ground in a heap. Sixty attacks per second. Rotted flesh and barely adequate armor and weapons against a Halve wearing Legendary armor and wielding a Mythical weapon. Putrefaction against Perfection. Undead Mortals against an Eternal Protector. And still, the tide surged. And so did my anger. [Coiling Attacks] and [Shielded Thrusts] revealed every flinch of their bodies indicating their intent to parry, grapple, counter, or block. I hid myself from Wizards in the slaughter, using the horde as undead shields, but moved in their direction nonetheless. One of their staves swung at me from the back of the horde, the undead''s E''er gathering at the tip. I didn¡¯t wait for the spell to be cast, activating [Throw Spear] and hurling the pike. My weapon pierced through not just the Wizard, but the tens of undead standing behind as well. Their bodies crumpled as the spear embedded itself in the stone wall of the cave, a massive shockwave ripping through the ranks of the horde. The spear returned to my hand in an instant, but more were already upon me. I grew obese on the feast of violence, swallowing the tide whole and regurgitating ever-burning anger as a reward for the insolent mortals who dared to trespass into the dungeon. My anger had turned to arrogance, distracting me from the pops that signaled an increase in levels. 197 - 4th Class One day later, I was still fighting the zombie horde. What I had thought were stone walls when I entered the cave were actually ceiling-high piles of corpses, hundreds of meters tall and tens of meters thick. Chasers weren¡¯t the only ones who had entered the dungeon¡ªthere were many animals and monsters from the surface as well. The dungeon floor was littered with broken bodies, large craters thanks to [Gae Bulg], countless spikes from [Dragon Dive], and many more terrain deformations caused by the zombies¡¯ numerous skills. I was covered head to toe with the rotten carcasses of the fallen, so I continued holding my breath. As expected, however, Deathbound Interlopers didn¡¯t actually stop functioning when decapitated or pierced. Only when their bodies were slashed to ribbons, bisected from head to crotch, or sliced into tiny chunks did they die¡ªif I could even call it death for the undead. They stood up shortly after receiving otherwise lethal injuries, unrelenting in their assault. That detail prolonged the encounter. With such prolonged exposure, I came to see the curse that caused their undeath. It was incredibly complex, absorbing life force from a large area around them, spreading the curse itself, and keeping their flesh animated. The reasons or causes for them retaining the skills they had in life unfortunately escaped me, as I wasn¡¯t that familiar with the Laws of Life. Not even removing their heads prevented them from using those abilities. More importantly, though, I was apparently immune to that particular curse. It stopped encroaching on me the moment it came into contact with my skin, like glass stopping a gentle spray of water. Perhaps, as Alyssa had said numerous times, the Laws of Life governing my body were entirely too different from Mortals for the curse to have any effect on me. It was upon the twenty-sixth hour of continuous fighting that the tide shifted. ¡°RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!¡± A bloodcurdling screech that belonged more to a beast than any once-thinking life form echoed through the cave, followed by loud footsteps. It carried thick, heavy E''er with the purpose of causing crippling fear. I, naturally, activated [Dragonclaw]. The zombies around me got sliced apart, falling in heaps of flesh and mediocre equipment. I turned to the source of the screech and activated [Charge], barreling towards it at supersonic speeds. Fear? Me? After going through Hell? Bitch, please. ...Only with spiders, though. I crashed into the horde, slashing and swiping my way through. ¡°RRYYYAAAGHHHHH!!!¡± the thing screeched again, much closer this time. The horde blew up to my right, bodies flying up and away as if struck by something. It was closing in on me, sending more and more Deathbound Interlopers flying, their bodies shattered, dismembered, and broken. I jumped to avoid it. There, in front of me, was a large creature. Long and tall like a two-story bus, shaped like a malformed and malnourished dog, its body covered in pustules and infected wounds. The head had no skin, only a skull with no eyes. [Floor Guardian ¨C Rotten Monstrosity, Lvl 1523] It swiped at me with its left limb, a clawed hand covered in white fur. I activated [Dragonclaw] midair. My weapon clashed with the limb, brutalizing it and effectively blocking the attack. I activated [Pierce] and [Crush], aiming at its head while moving forward in the air. My weapon struck the head, littering it with volleyball-sized holes. It screeched, covering its head. I kept going, unable to stop moving midair, and landed back in the horde. ¡°RRRUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!¡± another screech came, this time from my right. ¡°KKKKKYYYYYEEEEEEEEEGGHHH!¡± from the left. ¡°RRRUUUUHIHIHIHIHIHIHI!!!¡± from the front. Four? I grumbled in my mind, my eyebrows creasing in annoyance as I activated [Dragonclaw] once more to slaughter the horde around me. The Floor Guardian turned around and screeched again, then sprinted towards me, its massive frame crashing through the sea of undead like a battleship cutting through waves. Its mangled limb did not impede it in the slightest. I activated [Charge] to meet its advance. It leaped towards me with enormous claws outstretched and maw wide open. I jumped as well, activating my trusty skill [Dragonclaw], but rotating forward instead of sideways. The clash was tremendous, sending a shockwave that pushed the surrounding horde back. My spear brutalized the monster, splitting its head and torso in half. The Rotten Monstrosity proved resilient, however, halting my momentum. I got stuck in its stomach area, surrounded by rotten flesh and bloated organs. I pried the torso open with a considerable amount of effort, then jumped out. A massive impact struck me from behind. ¡°GAH!¡± the air in me escaped as I got sent flying away, gasping at the slight pain. The foul stench of death, decay, and rot invaded my nostrils for the first time in a while. My anger replied, bursting forth. YOU FUCKED UP! I moved a [Draught of Rejuvenation] from my storage directly into my stomach, then tightened my abdominal muscles to shatter the glass container, just like I did against the Blood Fiends. A second Floor Guardian caught me in its jaws, its teeth clamping around my waist, trying to split me in half. The groan of whatever material its fangs were made of scraped against the metal of my armor, but they didn''t succeed. I gripped my spear tighter and, yet again, activated [Dragonclaw]. A shower of rotten flesh, teeth, bones, and blood exploded as a result. I fell to the ground, got on my feet, and activated [Gae Bulg], launching myself up in the air like a thunderbolt. The sea of undead and the five Floor Guardians followed, leaping after me. I took a deep breath, much to my displeasure, and activated [Dragon Roar] for the first time in the dungeon. ¡°ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!!!¡± E''er coalesced above me like a mantle, taking the shape of a golden Draconic warrior holding a spear, at the cost of three thousand E''er every hour. I aimed at one of the Rotten Monstrosities and threw my spear down with all my boosted strength. The weapon pierced it, but instead of going through, the spear dragged it down to the ground. The shockwave that followed ripped the monster and the surrounding horde apart. My stand, henceforth named [DragonForce], copied the skill, shooting its weapon down at another Floor Guardian, with similar results. I activated [Dragon Dive], aiming at the bits of the Floor Guardian I had just annihilated. The world sped up towards me in an instant. E''er flowed from my legs into the ground, forming spikes and impaling everything within hundreds of meters. The moment my feet touched the ground, I activated [Gae Bulg] again. I crashed through a few Deathbound Interlopers on the way up, bursting their bodies with the sheer force of my ascent. Once I was at the peak, near the ceiling, I took aim again. The Floor Guardians were still going up, slower than both my ascent and descent, but still as fast, if not faster, than sound. I repeated the process two more times, using [Gae Bulg] and [Dragon Dive] to one-sidedly annihilate the Floor Guardians that perhaps should have been a bit more of a challenge. Each usage drained 2000 E''er each, but my skin and hair absorbed it faster than I could possibly spend it. With my strength stat sitting at [5920 (+935) (+10000)], it wasn''t surprising that anything slightly higher leveled than me wouldn''t survive for long. Once the last Floor Guardian was decimated, the entire horde collapsed like puppets whose strings had been cut, becoming undone in heaps of flesh that littered the Dungeon''s ground. A final activation of [Dragon Dive] brought me down, forming spikes that impaled nothing but scattered the filthy remains of the defeated. The Dungeon was eerily silent, the incessant growling and grunting of the zombie horde now gone. I looked around, spear in hand just in case. The Floor Guardians had come out of nowhere, so maybe there were more. I approached the carcass of a nearby Rotten Monstrosity and poked it with the blade of my spear. I guess that''s it, I thought, then kicked the thing with all my strength. The remains exploded with the force. With that out of my system, I looked around once again. Next floor no- PANG!!! A feeling of apotheotic euphoria drenched my mind, much stronger than any I felt when leveling up. My spine tingled comfortably, my crotch tickled, and a tiny moan of satisfaction almost escaped me. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Confused, I checked my status.
Natasha Novak Forest Halve
Classes
Hoplite Lvl 500 (1%) Lancer Lvl 500 (0%) Dragoon Lvl 500 (0%)
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. 149 levels in a single day? That''s insane! I killed a little less than four hundred thousand zombies, though... were the Floor Guardians enough? I wondered, looking down at the ground. Did the zombie horde''s ''deactivation'' count? If so, that''s pretty neat! A Lupum Wizard lay in front of me, its face mangled and body broken. I frowned and gave it a nod. May you reach a better ending in your next life. Although insolent for entering the dungeon, Mortals didn''t deserve such an end. The punishment far exceeded the crime. I shook my head, deactivated all my skills, and sat down. Come to me, fourth class! I mentally called. Naturally, nothing happened. I had to do it on my own, so I closed my eyes and recalled everything Shorvanna taught me during my stay at the temple. Skill formulation for Auras, Warcries, conjuration, passives, integration of anger, and more. The deepest recesses of my mind were divided in four segments. The first had my Hoplite skills, the second had my Lancer skills, the third had my Dragoon skills, and the fourth was empty and ready to welcome new knoweldge. As I was about to begin constructing the first skill, gentle gold and sharp silver approached the edge of my mind. I eagerly allowed entrance, more than welcome to let my creator witness the process firsthand. Galeia held my figurative hands, offering guidance. A big smile bloomed on face, and a joy I haven''t felt in a very long time warmed my heart. The process was of such intimacy that I refuse to share it.
After a long few hours, I opened my eyes. Then I checked the new class Galeia and I made together.
Heavenly Golden Sun of Eternal Conquest.
-The Golden Dawn heralds the advent of The Third Heavenly Sun, and the Celestial realms bestow upon the Solar Conqueror both purpose and right, swelling in power as the vessel approaches the Origin. -Heavenly Solar Vessel: Size increases by 10% to Conquer with the Power of a Sun. -Conquering Vitality of the Heavenly Suns: Broadens the reproductive compatibility to 30%, and mantain a constant and optimal reproductive cycle, ensuring peak fertility at all times. -Halo of Solar Conquest: Once merely enhanced by sunlight, now its very embodiment. A source for the Conquering glow of the Heavenly Suns, the living definition of Eternal splendor, a shining vision of untouchable grace and power. -The Third Sun radiates Heavenly Solar Power:
-Empower Fire, Shadow, and Healing Skills for Bonded Allies by (Class Level)% -Should the Solar Conqueror desire, the unworthy and wicked shall find themselves blinded with a glance. -Should the Solar Conqueror desire, any skill, spell, enchantment, or natural feat that changes, obscures, hides, or alters in any way an object, person, memory, spell, skill, or enchantment with the purpose of deceit is dispelled or returned to its original if within your glow.
Skills Rank 1
Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens, level 1. Channel [Anger] to enter the state of [Solar Comprehension], drawing the Heavenly Suns'' energies into the Solar Conqueror''s Eternal Body, attuning Inner Energy Nature to [Solar] for as long as this skill is active. Increases the Solar Conqueror''s Eternal Glow tenfold, and Body Temperature twofold. Type: Self Buff ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 100 E''er / Minute. Range: Self
First Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Descend, level 1. Rapidly concentrate Heavenly Solar energy, then surge forward in the desired direction with tremendous speed, releasing a devastating wave of Solar Energy upon impact and Sunburning enemies within [Range]. Chains to [Second Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Seize]. Type: Charge Attack Skill ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 2000 E''er Range: (Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens Skill Level x 1000) meters Direct Hit Power: ((Tenacity + Bonuses) + (STR + Bonuses))x 500 Wave Power: (STR + Tenacity) x 250 Recharge: 30 seconds. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
Second Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Seize, level 1. Irradiate the Heavenly Suns'' Energies, attracting Sunburnt enemies with violent and overwhelming gravitational force. Foes who resist the pull are crushed. Chains to [Third Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Triumph]. Type: Area Skill ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 3000 E''er. Range: (Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens Skill Level x 2500) meters. Power: ((Tenacity + STR))x300 for continuous crush, ((Tenacity + Bonuses) + (STR + Bonuses)) x 600 for pull. Crush duration: 10 seconds. Chain Window: (10) seconds. Recharge: 45 seconds. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
Third Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Triumph, level 1. Conquer with the full power of the Heavenly Suns that illuminate the day, releasing a catastrophic explosion of Solar Energy that attempts to annihilate everything in the direction of the action taken to activate the skill. Type: Attack Boost Skill ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 5000 E''er. Range: (Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens Skill Level x 5000) meters. Power: [((Tenacity + Bonuses) + (STR + Bonuses))x 1000] Chain Window: (1) second Recharge: 60 seconds. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
Heavenly Order of the Conquering Golden Suns, level 1. With a thunderous war cry, the Solar Conqueror projects the Heavenly Suns¡¯ energy, unleashing a cataclysmic wave that engulfs foes in a solar inferno and Sunburning them. Type: Warcry ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 1500 E''er. Range: (Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens Skill Level x 500) meters. Power: [((Tenacity + Bonuses) + (STR + Bonuses))x 300] Recharge: 10 seconds. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
Heavenly Mercy of the Conquering Golden Suns, level 1. Sunburn, a searing application of Solar Energy that ignites the very essence of foes struck by skills that apply it, consuming their corporeal forms regardless of their nature. Type: Passive Trigger ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Sunburn Power: (STR + Bonuses) x 100 Duration: Until death or appropriately healed. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns, level 1. Conjure copies of your Attuned Weapon with the current Attuned Inner Energy Nature to freely control. Concentration and Control are based on STR and its bonuses. Alternatively, launch copies of your Attuned Weapon of the current Attuned Inner Energy Nature towards the target or location. Conjured projectiles can prioritize Sunburnt foes, homing towards them. Type: Conjuration ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 250 E''er / spear / Hour. Alternative Cost: 50 E''er / spear. Range: (Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens Skill Level x 750) meters. Alternative Copy Duration: (Skill Rank) seconds. Number of Copies: (Skill Level x Skill Rank x 5) / (Skill Level x Skill Rank x 10) Projectile Speed: (STR) meters / second. Source: Glow. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
Heavenly Punishment of the Conquering Golden Suns, level 1. Strike with the certainty that Dawn will arrive, projecting a spear-shaped flare of Solar Energy and Sunburning foes. Type: Action Skill ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 500 E''er. Range: (Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens Skill Level x 500) meters. Power: [((Tenacity + Bonuses) + (STR + Bonuses))x100] Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
Heavenly Rebuke of the Conquering Golden Suns, level 1. The Heavenly Solar Wrath is ever-reaching, charging any weapon, shield, or armor of Legendary Quality or higher the Solar Conqueror wields or wears with radiant Solar Energy, turning them into tools of Solar Conquest. Type: Equipment Buff ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 1000 E''er / Minute. Power: (Skill Level % of STR) x 250 Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature. Direct Physical Touch.
Third Heavenly Sun''s Rightful Place, level 1. Embracing the role of the Third Heavenly Sun, the Solar Conqueror conjures a pair of radiant blade wings, each edge shimmering with molten gold and blazing with Solar Energy, allowing movement with tremendous speed and precision. These wings can be used as both shields and weapons, and count as part of the body. Type: Channeled Movement Skill ¨C Conjuration ¨C Celestial. Cost: 250 E''er / Second. Maneuverability and Speed: (DEX) m/s. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
Two Suns, One Sky, level 1. As the Heavenly Suns move across the sky in their perpetual and eternal cycle, the Solar Conqueror gains unique advantages during the first hour of each Celestial Movement. At Dawn As the first rays of sunlight grace the world, the Solar Conqueror''s Eternal Body is rejuvenated, extending this healing to all Non-Awakened Life within the Solar Conqueror''s Glow. Type: Passive ¨C Celestial ¨C Healing. Healing Power: (Skill Level)% of total HP/minute. Range: Glow At Noon Beneath the full, blazing power of the Heavenly Suns, the Solar Conqueror becomes a radiant beacon, moving with enhanced speed. Type: Passive ¨C Celestial ¨C Movement. Movement Increase: (Skill Level)% At Sunset As the suns descend, casting their final light, the Solar Conqueror celebrates the triumph of another day, channeling pure, concentrated E¡¯er into one Bonded Ally to accelerate their growth. Type ¨C Active ¨C Celestial ¨C E''er Control. Power: Insight. Range: Galeia. In the boundless expanse of space, when bathed in the light of the suns, the Solar Conqueror receives the benefits of all three phases simultaneously. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
One Sun, One Land, level 1. Embody the permanence of a Celestial Body, increasing Tenacity, Toughness, Alacrity and Perspicacity. Type: Self Buff ¨C Celestial. Power: (500 + (Skill Levelx50))% Cost: 300 E''er / Minute Range: Self. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" I laughed loudly, hugging my stomach. 198 – Failure ¡°¨¹?gh!¡± I gagged at the foul smell of the Dungeon. ¡°Fu!¡± I winced, but remembered something and quickly equipped a face mask from my storage, then shook my head at having forgotten it worked. The smell disappeared immediately. I stood up and produced a dumpling to munch on, storing my helmet. It withered and rotted the instant it materialized in my hand. The dough turned black and a thick fuzz of white fungi grew on it. ¡°Gross!¡± I dropped it and produced a towel to clean my hands. The unfortunate dumpling fell next to a corpse, further rotting until it was unrecognizable. A surge of anger rose from my chest to my throat. I took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of my nose. ¡°Whatever...¡± I sighed, letting go. ¡°I have better things to do than eating,¡± I rationalized, looking down at my crotch. The Class'' flavor text stated I was 10% bigger. One hundred and eighty six, times one point one... is two hundred and four point six... I did simple math, raising my eyebrows. A growth spurt of eighteen centimeters is wild. I''m a whole cock taller... what a comparison. No matter what I checked, though, everything looked and felt the same. My body proportions hadn''t changed in the slightest. Still, if my penis was 10% bigger as well, it was two centimeters longer and over half a centimeter thicker. Lapia and Pokora might have trouble with it, I considered briefly, thinking of the two shorter women of the group. They''ve taken it all the way in regularly, though, so maybe I''m overthinking it. Next up was my now constant fertility. But that would have to wait, since I wasn¡¯t unhinged enough to masturbate in a Dungeon where ambient E''er rotted everything on contact. More specifically, I didn¡¯t want my very first masturbation session to be surrounded by the broken bodies of hundreds of thousands of undead. Then there was [Halo of Solar Conquest]. It seemed vague and repetitive, though clearly related to my beauty. Sunlight made me prettier as stated in my Halve species information. I wasn¡¯t sure yet how much of a difference it made. Next, I tried willing into existence the feats of blinding the unworthy and dispelling deceitful magic. Nothing happened. My pool of E''er remained full, and my glow didn''t change in the slightest. Not surprising, since I was alone in a Dungeon of death, rot, and decay. Then I checked my new stats.
Status (Quantity)
Strength 6000 (+750)
Constitution 3000 (+750)
Intelligence 750 (+250)
Wisdom 750 (+250)
Dexterity 4500 (+750)
A second, careful inspection of my skills made it clear that [Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens] had to be active constantly, even when I wasn¡¯t using the skills it enabled. This way, it could level up through continuous, uninterrupted use. So, I did, allowing E''er to flow into the formula in my mind, activating it as a toggle skill. Several things happened simultaneously. The light radiating from my skin and hair intensified to levels only comparable to when I was enraged, illuminating the cave until it reached the solid stone walls. My core lit up, heating my entire body with the warmth of a summer noon during the Aphelion, while every particle of E''er inside me turned gold. I also became aware of the exact position of the suns in the sky and the precise time: 4:02 in the morning. I glanced to my right, directly toward where the suns were at that moment. "Interesting," I muttered and moved on. The second skill that would need permanent activation was [Heavenly Rebuke of the Conquering Golden Suns]. As with the previous skill, I activated it without a set time in mind since it was quite expensive. Hot E''er flowed from my mind into the skill and then outward, suffusing my armor with Solar Energy. The silver metal gradually changed colors¡ªdark silver, then black, pink, red, orange, and finally settling into a solid gold, just like my skin. Though it didn¡¯t emit light, it produced a low, steady thrum. My original plan for the skill was for my armor to release energy whenever something struck me, and for my weapon to hit even harder. Galeia had added the whole suns motif to the class, though. As for the names of the skills... well, I cringed in a mix of conflict and gratitude. The next skill to activate permanently was [One Sun, One Land]. Once again, golden E''er flowed from my core and throughout my body. Instantly, I felt lighter, more responsive, my mind sharper, and every part of me incredibly comfortable. I checked my attributes.
Atrributes (Quality)
Tenacity 650,00%
Toughness 650,00%
Perspicacity 650,00%
Insight 100,00%
Alacrity 650,00%
I squinted at the information. Where is the effect of [Ignore Pain] from my Warrior Base passives? It should increase my Toughness based on Class level average... Is it too low to register? It didn''t show while I was high, and I had three classes at the same level back then. Is that why Shorvanna criticized the skills? I wondered, giving it a good thinking that, unfortunately, didn''t lead me anywhere. Merging my basic classes at level two thousand total was still ahead of me, after all. New changes could be made, and reformulating the skills was possible. That was something I would take care of later, though. Now came the fun part. I rubbed my hands together in excitement, the gauntlets clinking with the motion. Striking a dramatic pose, I stretched an arm forward, aiming at the wall. I activated [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns]''s alternative use and declared, ¡°Gate of Babylon!¡± To my absolute shock and dismay, nothing happened. E''er flowed into the skill but fizzled out as it encountered a small check, returning to my pool without triggering. My face flushed with unending embarrassment. Luckily for my reputation as Eternal Protector of the world, nobody was around to see me copy that game character. Shame turned into confusion. ¡°Mhhh?¡± My eyebrows furrowed and I tried again, activating [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns], but kept quiet. Again, E''er flowed into the formula, but the outer rings only spun halfway before coming to a full stop. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°What...?¡± I muttered, bewildered. ¡°Why?¡± I demanded, crossing my arms over my chestplate. ¡°What the fuck?! I conjured one already! Why isn¡¯t it working?¡± Frustration surged, making me grit my teeth. I carefully reread the description to see if I had missed anything.
Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns, level 1. Conjure copies of the Attuned Weapon with the current Attuned Inner Energy Nature to freely control. Concentration and Control are based on STR and its bonuses. Alternatively, launch copies of the Attuned Weapon of the current Attuned Inner Energy Nature towards the target or location. Conjured projectiles can prioritize Sunburnt foes, homing towards them. Type: Conjuration ¨C Celestial ¨C Spear. Cost: 250 E''er / spear / Hour. Alternative Cost: 50 E''er / spear. Range: (Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens Skill Level x 750) meters. Alternative Copy Duration: (Skill Rank) seconds. Number of Copies: (Skill Level x Skill Rank x 5) / (Skill Level x Skill Rank x 10) Projectile Speed: (STR) meters / second. Source: Glow. Requirement: Attuned Inner Energies of Solar Nature.
It hit me. ¡°Attuned Weapon?¡± I read aloud, then summoned my spear and appraised it.
+100 Alma Pike (Mythical) {Ascension Lvl 10}
Sharpness: SSS+ Durability: SS+
STR + 250 CON + 200 DEX + 195 STR + 250 (Transmutation) CON + 250 (Transmutation) DEX + 250 (Transmutation) -Sharpness + 100% ({Lvl 10 Emerald}x10) -Sharpness and durability + 45% (Enchantment)
-Infects wounds, cursing enemies -Cursed enemies have their reflexes impaired -Cursed enemies'' nervous system is crippled, reducing their offensive capabilities
The new look was a bit surprising, but when I didn¡¯t find anything related to attunement, I brushed it off. Growing increasingly frustrated but refusing to give up, I gripped the spear tightly and activated [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns]. Nothing happened. ¡°It''s not... attuned?¡± I muttered, scowling deeply. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you attuned, you useless piece of shit? YOU WERE BORN WITH ME!!¡± I screamed, hurling the spear to the ground. ¡°FUCK!!¡± The one-thousand-kilogram weapon bounced off the hard ground and clattered loudly. I took a deep breath, palming my face. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill myself...¡± I mumbled, my anger driving unnecessary thoughts. ¡°Fuck it.¡± I walked over, retrieved the spear, stored it, and turned toward the Dungeon¡¯s door. A break would do me good. I wanted to eat and drink, even if I didn¡¯t need to. Plus, Pyotr had returned at some point during my delve and was with Sonya. I was gong to write Nilenna a letter asking about the subject. Thirty minutes later, I reached the fog wall and crossed it. The hall of handprints greeted me as I walked to the spot where I had landed before. I activated [Third Heavenly Sun¡¯s Rightful Place]. E''er flowed through me, and enormous wings, five meters long and made of blades instead of feathers, spread from my back. Too angry to give a shit about their appearance, I simply looked up and willed myself to fly, even though I didn¡¯t know how. In less than a second, I shot upward, crashing through the ground and slamming into the ceiling of Shorvanna¡¯s ¡®room''. The statue of the Goddess began to move. ¡°HAR¡ª¡± A single swing of my spear shattered her likeness, cutting her off instantly. ¡°Shut the fuck up,¡± I snapped, deactivating the wings and sprinted through the narrow tunnel toward the exit. Two minutes later, I stepped into the open cave, still angry but less so. Irtorodon was nowhere to be seen. Sonya was asleep, and Pyotr was resting on her head, also fast asleep. Okay, I sighed, then took a deep breath. I can¡¯t take this out on them. I need to calm down. The animals stirred, woken by my presence. It seemed I was too bright. ¡°Natasha!¡± the Corvitex croaked, hopping over to me. ¡°Dragon! Hunting!¡± Sonya glanced at me for a few seconds, then turned away from the intense light and laid down again. I nodded, producing a bone and offering it to the boy. He took it eagerly and began gnawing on it. I sat down, retrieved a notebook and quill, and started writing while still fuming. Nilenna, I hope this letter reaches you intact. The world is vast and unpredictable, and I know that time has a way of making distance feel heavier than it should. Regarding Elena: she¡¯s fine, for the most part. She doesn¡¯t know where Yulianna is. It¡¯s a simple matter of ignorance, though her demeanor leaves much to be desired. Since regaining her memories, she¡¯s become difficult¡ªher bitterness is a wound left festering, though one she seems to wear as armor. I doubt anyone around her finds her pleasant company. As for King Gordon, his response to the Demons was calculated. Nothing rash that would require us to act too soon. I carried your message to Saravia and the other Gods. Their responses, as always, were subtle, veiled in the ambiguity that is their nature. One more thing. I met with Galeia¡ªour creator. It was... beyond words. To be in the presence of something so beautiful, so deeply woven into the fabric of all life, was overwhelming. It¡¯s not often that I feel small, but in her presence, I understood what it means to be part of something far grander than I will ever comprehend. She holds us, each of us Halves, with such care. The weight of her love is both a burden and a comfort. I wept, I won¡¯t lie. Now, there is something I need your advice on. I¡¯ve come across a term I don¡¯t fully understand: weapon attunement. It came up when I attempted to use a new skill, but the skill won¡¯t activate unless my weapon is attuned to me. Have you heard of this before? Is it some kind of bond with the weapon, or is there a ritual involved? It¡¯s frustrating, like trying to grasp a shadow with your hands. I thought perhaps you might have come across this in your time. I hope your search for Yulianna bears fruit soon. There is no one better suited for the task than you. Until then, stay vigilant. Regards, Natasha. I flipped the page and wrote another. To my dearest companions in love, Another night, another task. The world is heavy with its own weight, and I am one of the many hands holding it up. Two nights ago, I met a dragon. Not the grand, glorious beast of stories¡ªno, just a thing, breathing and growling like the rest of us. Another creature bound to its instincts, blocking my path like so many before it. I arrived at Ualrin, still within the same forest, still in the Cradle of Life. But life, my dears, is a curious thing. A cradle for some, a coffin for others. The journey itself was unremarkable¡ªroads, rain, mountain chains, snow, and the biting wind, always pressing me forward like a whispered command. Sonya, ever faithful, never complained. We found the cave easily enough, the one Shorvanna wrote of, though it was hidden behind what at first I thought was a boulder. I pushed it, only to realize it was no stone, but the wing of the dragon. I had lifted a part of its slumbering body without knowing. There was something amusing in that¡ªimagine being so strong that a dragon becomes little more than an obstacle, a nuisance. And yet, it didn¡¯t feel satisfying, nor did it fill me with pride. It woke, of course, stretching and unfurling itself as though its very presence demanded awe. But I felt nothing, not fear nor wonder¡ªonly impatience, perhaps. It asked why I disturbed its rest. I told it plainly: it was in my way. I gave it courtesy by speaking at all. I should have felt something, some thrill at the challenge, but instead, I felt a dullness creeping in. A dragon is no different from a Human, a Lupum, or even myself in this sense. We all grasp for meaning, for survival, in a world that promises so much. It roared with ancient pride, and I stood there, calm as the snowfall. Mortal, it was. I, Eternal. You see, loves, what is a dragon or any other creature against the march of time? Even I, born as I am, will one day outlive all I currently know, and yet, what will remain of me then? Perhaps I¡¯ll be like this dragon¡ªanother forgotten thing, waiting for someone to shake me from my rest. Or perhaps I won¡¯t be so lucky. Perhaps there will be no one left at all. I did not fight the dragon, not yet. I offered it a deal instead¡ªstay with Sonya while I enter the dungeon, and I might indulge it with a fight afterward. It agreed. It is a creature bound by its pride, after all. Yet, I wonder, what will we fight for? Glory? Honor? It feels hollow when eternity stretches before you like an endless road. But perhaps that is the curse of my kind. The days stretch longer than I imagined, though time here is a cruel illusion. This dungeon has revealed horrors beyond the comprehension of most, but it is not the monstrosities of flesh and bone that truly test me. No, it is the solitude, the endless, gnawing silence broken only by the thunder of my own heartbeat. There is a strange quiet here. Not the quiet of peace, but the quiet of desolation. It is the kind of silence that settles like a heavy fog, thick with the knowledge that life and death are mere breaths apart. In these depths, where no mortal should tread, I find myself grappling with thoughts of survival, but more than that, thoughts of purpose¡ªthoughts of you. What is it that drives me forward through this hellish abyss? The monsters here, mindless and savage, do not frighten me, nor does the endless tide of undeath that seeks to crush spirit and body alike. What I fear is simpler, and yet more profound¡ªthe thought of returning to you incomplete, having lost something more than just blood or bone. For in this place, one risks losing something far more precious: the soul¡¯s fire, the will to live beyond mere survival. You, my loves, are the keepers of that fire. Each of you, in your own way, hold the pieces of me together. Here, surrounded by rotten flesh and the stench of death, I realize that it is not these creatures that are my true enemy¡ªit is the void of absence. Your absence. It gnaws at me like a cold wind that blows through the cracks in one¡¯s soul. I understand now, more than ever, that it is not the act of living that sustains me, but the knowledge that I live for you. Eternally yours, Natasha. I removed the sheets of paper from the notebook, folded them, and placed them into envelopes. Producing the seal Nilenna had sent me, I stamped the letters, infusing the device with E''er. A circle resembling a traditional wax seal appeared, glowing bright silver and gold, keeping the letters sealed shut. ¡°Pyotr,¡± I called as I wrote on the envelopes. The bird, having finished his snack, skittered over to me, stopping at my feet. ¡°Ahh!¡± he cooed with interest. ¡°Letters?¡± I nodded, showing him the second one first. ¡°This one¡¯s for my girls. Deliver it first, okay? They¡¯re closer,¡± I instructed, then held up the other letter. ¡°This one¡¯s for Nilenna. Please deliver it as fast as you can. Got it?¡± He nodded, took the letters in his beak, and flew off faster than any bird I¡¯d ever seen. I sighed and shook my head, still irritated by the skill failure. ¡°Fucking hell,¡± I muttered under my breath. Nearby, a decently sized mound of ores and stones lay next to Sonya. The idea of a dragon providing the Ratnak with food should¡¯ve been amusing, but I was in no mood for humor. 199 - Galeia has Willed it! I sat cross-legged on the ground, sketchbook on my lap and pencil in my hand. My leather garments covered my body since the armor wasn''t exactly comfortable to draw or write in. It had been exactly 36 hours and five minutes since Pyotr left. The dragon hadn''t returned yet. Maybe the hunt was proving challenging. I busied myself with updating my journal, writing music, and drawing to calm the anger and frustration. Bach, Satie, and Debussy filled a brand new sketchbook. Around 500 pages now housed 131 pieces of music, with a bit of Rachmaninoff''s more complex pieces sprinkled here and there. My wish ''to never forget'' seemed to fully work with art, even beyond perfect memory recall. It''d be great if I could remember the sciences and such, though. Try as I might, I could not completely recall how to build a computer processor despite watching a documentary about it less than a month before dying. The documentary about the particle accelerator built in 2032 escaped me as well. Maybe in time. Ten thousand years lay ahead of me still. I drew Irtorodon, the zombies, the Rotten Monstrosity, the Gods, my companions, my girls, and eventually started drawing our nightly activities, going as far as drawing a fully colored comic about a particularly long and active night. It was when I was finishing the details of Pokora''s face after I blew a load all over her snow-white skin, that something broke my focus. Something was approaching from the west incredibly fast. I stored my things, stood up, and walked out of the cave. The snow had piled up a bit, covering the environment with a blanket of snow. Perpetua and Eternia hid behind fat clouds, but bathed the world in their light without fail. On the horizon, however, was a bright, night blue silver dot some hundreds of kilometers away. A shooting star? I wondered. Nah... a comet or meteor? The dot got closer and closer, moving through the sky. It left a thin, short-lived trail. It''s below the clouds so it''s not from outer space, I reasoned, staring at the odd thing. Appraisal showed nothing even after telling E''er to show me, so whatever it was wasn''t alive. Still, it approached. I crossed my arms across my chest, trying to figure out what it was while looking up. A spell, maybe? Then, suddenly, when it was a few kilometers away, it started going down. Towards me. And yet, there was no danger. My instincts didn''t react, nor did Galeia manifest a vision or whatever the nature of what happened in the Obelisk was. As the thing got closer I could see what it was. It was an arrow. The projectile landed in front of me with a sharp and loud thwack, piercing the snow and burying itself halfway into the ground. It was two meters long and thick as my arm. Huh, I hummed. It thrummed, sending a pulse of thick E''er outwards with the function of appraisal and pushing back terrain. The snow around it moved out and the ground three meters around it flattened. Then, the arrow grew brighter and shimmered with the function of shift, and a person stood there the next instant. Deep blue and silver. A long, hooded cloak draped over her shoulders, adorned with intricate silver embroidery. Beneath the cloak, a high collar tunic hugged her form, cinched at the waist with a reinforced corset etched with elegant designs. Form fitting tights protected her legs and were tucked into knee-high boots. Sharp, silver hair cascaded down to her ample chest. She had silver skin with an almost metallic sheen, eyes like molten silver with a horizontal line across the pupil, and a massive, ear to ear smile that showed golden teeth. A beauty that transcended mortal potential. Almost an equal to mine. [Nilenna Atarka ¨C Meadow Halve, Lvl 720 Heaven Piercing Eternal Night ¨C 718 Galeian Sentinel ¨C 715 Wildheart Warden ¨C 712 Wayfinder] My eyebrows went up a bit and my lips parted slightly. Damn... Nilenna lunged at me, arms spread out. ¡°LITTLE SISTER!!!¡± she cheered mid-flight with a giggle and emitting pure joy through her glow. Her voice was high pitched and exceedingly energetic. Our bodies clashed with a sound similar to two boulders hitting. ¡°We finally meet!¡± she cheered, tightly wrapping her arms around me and nuzzling her face on my neck. ¡°You''re so tall! And strong!¡± she leaned her head back and gave me a look. ¡°And beautiful! Wow! Hi!¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Hi,¡± I greeted back, a bit surprised by her energy, but more surprised she was here in the flesh... or E''er. The silver Halve smiled a cheeky, mischievous smile. ¡°Surprised, huh? You didn''t think I''d come so soon, huh?¡± she asked, squeezing me and pressing herself on me. ¡°Or did the thought of me coming not even cross your mind?¡± she laughed, leaning her head back. ¡°My beautiful little sister needed help, so of course I came right away! Hey! Hug your older sister back!!¡± I blinked and hugged her shoulders. ¡°I thought you''d just write back...¡± I explained, still reeling a bit. Nilenna smiled and her eyes squinted a bit. ¡°You have a beautiful voice, little sister. I like it a lot! Why are you so quiet, though!? Are you the serious, no-nonsense type? Your letters gave me the impression you''re not like that! Is meeting me that much of a shock?! Have I shocked you into silence, little sister? That''s hilarious!¡± I tried gathering my thoughts for a second or two. ¡°Haaa....¡± she sighed, melting into my arms. ¡°The body of a Halve Warrior truly feels indestructible.¡± She moved her hands to my arms and felt the muscles under the leather, prodding them with her fingers and squeezing around. She then sniffed the air, plunged her face on my neck again, and took a very long and very strong whiff. ¡°You smell a bit of male...¡± she breathed out, then took several more sniffs. ¡°But female as well. So delicious. So much energy. So fertile! Are you a fulse? Did mom create a fulse Halve? Wow! That''s awesome! Is one of your Bonded Partners ovulating? Are you preparing for her?¡± ¡°That''s a lot of questions,¡± I pointed out with a complicated chuckle. ¡°Can I have a bit of space, first?¡± Nilenna let me go and took half a step back, not really getting out of my personal space. ¡°Well?¡± she urged, her big smile not changing in the slightest. I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. ¡°Thanks for coming, by the way,¡± I told her. ¡°And yeah, I''m a hermaphrodite,¡± I explained, then took a pause. ¡°Did you just call Galeia ''mom''?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± she proudly replied. ¡°She''s our mom! Or dad if you want! You wrote in your letter that you met, so yeah!¡± she nodded several times, then hummed and brought her hands together in tiny claps. ¡°So! What''s your exact age? I want to know if I you''re my little sister or not! Desseyr won''t answer that, you know? He''s such a cheeky boy! He always goes ''the neverending influx of premises is such that the greater sum of the origins might not influence the twilight, even if eternal'' or something like that! He''s hilarious! You have to meet him!¡± I hummed and nodded, not sure how to reply. Or, more precisely, which question to answer first. ¡°By the way,¡± Nilenna started, not even giving me a moment to reply. She looked towards the cave behind me and sniffing the air. ¡°Where is the dragon? He''s a hatchling, though! I bet he''s around level one thousand four hundred! So cute!¡± She returned her focus to me, looking deep into my eyes. ¡°Would you like to tame it? I can help! Your Lancer Class will definitely benefit from bonding with a dragon! The Ratnak is cute, don''t get me wrong! But you should have more options, you know? Unless you don''t want to, which is okay too! I just thought you''d want to, since you have a Ratnak and,¡± she sniffed me again, ¡°chose a Luzo as partner! Do you have a thing for scales?¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a defeated laugh. She was too much. ¡°The dragon is out hunting,¡± I replied, gesturing at the mountain chain. ¡°I''m not interested in taming him. I''m one hundred and twenty days old, and you?¡± Nilenna beamed, her smile, skin, and hair glowing up with unadulterated mirth. ¡°Oh! So you are my little sister!¡± she cheered, making a cute celebratory pose. ¡°I''m two thousand and eleven years old! Big sis Yulianna always says I don''t act my age, but she can go get fucked in the ass with a whole mountain! Before you ask, Miraztor is five thousand three hundred and one years old, but he lost a bet to me so he has to treat me as his senior for five hundred years! Haha!¡± My eyebrows went up a bit. ¡°You don''t say,¡± I chuckled. The Halve nodded, a smug smile on her face. ¡°He''s so obsessed with seniors and juniors! Don''t get me started on how he''s always preaching about some ''profound way'' or something like that! True, some of it is pretty wise, but he goes on, and on, and on, and on about it until I feel like my ears are bleeding!¡± ¡°Yeah... I can imagine,¡± I laughed. She gave me the biggest nods someone with a neck is able to give. ¡°But! Whenever he and Desseyr talk I can''t help but laugh my guts out! The two compliment each other so well! It''s hilarious!¡± ¡°Can''t wait to see that,¡± I agreed, imagining one spouting nonsense and the other preaching nonsense. Nilenna stayed quiet for a whole three seconds, then her eyebrows joined a bit, her glow conveying concern. ¡°Why do you say so little?¡± she asked. I shrugged. ¡°Just the way I am, I guess,¡± I replied with a smile at the point-blank blunt question. She nodded a few times. ¡°And that''s perfectly fine! I like talking a lot, you know? There''s so much to say even though we live so long! Like, I was just in Makah a while ago, but I''m now on Leks! Awesome, right? I have a skill that lets me shift to my arrows! I had to shoot two times, you know? As soon as Pyotr delivered your letter I decided to come help you myself! Well, not by myself, but, you know? Ah! You''ve taken care of Pyotr! Isn''t he a sweetheart? He''s the cutest thing ever, isn''t he? I really like his laugh!¡± I nodded. ¡°He''s a very smart boy,¡± I agreed. ¡°You''ve raised him well.¡± Nilenna''s perpetual smile turned proud. ¡°Aww! Thanks, little sister! I made the right choice of giving him to you! He told me you don''t spoil him with bones! That''s good, you know? They can get too picky and eventually refuse to talk to you unless you give them bones! So cheeky! So spoiled! So silly!¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered, a bit surprised with that. ¡°Good thing I only give him bones when he delivers letters...¡± Once again, she energetically nodded a few times. ¡°Yes! You should be a responsible owner, you know? They can be very mischievous even if they can''t lie! Speaking of lying!¡± she searched something in her tunic, under the cloak. ¡°As promised! You did a good job in Lumin Kingdom, so here! Your oddly conveniently timed reward!¡± she announced, retrieving a sack of tools and showing it to me. ¡°Mh?¡± I hummed, confused. Nilenna shook the bag, emptying the bag on the ground. A disconcerting amount of tools fell down, clattering around us. It was an assortment of around three hundred different tools of all kinds. Some were familiar like pencils, rulers, hammers, and such, while others were brand new, with unknown purposes. ¡°Behold!¡± she announced with a big smile and gesturing at the mess around us. ¡°Tylke, the God of the Path of the Craftman!¡± My eyebrows shot up and I looked at the tools again. They moved on their own, gathering in a single point, where they slowly took shape. It was almost as if they waited for an introduction to engage in a fusion sequence for a kids'' show. [Tylke, God of the path of the Craftman ¨C Maker of the Code ¨C Second of the Ingenious ¨C First of the Diligent ¨C Fourth of the Loving ¨C Bringer of Innovation ¨C Sixth of the Gods ¨C Master of Tools ¨C The Visionary ¨C Father of Invention ¨C Son of the Architect ¨C Progenitor of Artifice ¨C Terror of the Imperfect ¨C Builder of all that Builds ¨C He Who Guides the Forge ¨C Icon of Creation ¨C Guide of Protectors ¨C The Tireless Worker ¨C The Patient ¨C Begetter of Masterpieces ¨C He Who Finds Beauty in Purpose ¨C The Ever-resourceful ¨C True Immortal ¨C Divine, Lvl 500] 200 - Gacha serves a purpose! Nilenna struck a pose, stretching her right arm diagonally upward to the side while extending her other arm forward, bent at the elbow in front of her chest. Tylke completed his assembly sequence and stood between us, resembling a slender golem made of hundreds of tools and standing around three meters tall. He had no head; his torso ended at the shoulders. ¡°Kashaaaaan~!¡± the Halve chimed, adding a sound effect. ¡°Young Protector,¡± the God greeted in Celestial. His voice sounded like a bustling workshop: hammering metal, sawing wood, tinkering with tiny parts, and more. ¡°Well met.¡± I gave him a nod and offered my hand. ¡°Hello. I''m Natasha Novak. Pleasure to meet you, Tylke. And thank you for coming.¡± He shook my hand. ¡°See, Nilenna?¡± He turned his torso to the silver Halve. ¡°This is the normal way.¡± She pouted briefly, then jumped on the God and hugged his shoulders from behind. ¡°But that¡¯s so boooring! We should be closer, like family, Tyl! If you had a face, you¡¯d be frowning all the time! Haha!¡± My eyebrows went up, recalling the other three Gods'' words about Nilenna hugging everything and everyone, much to the displeasure of some. That, however, was none of my business. I chuckled at the sight and gestured toward the cave. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. Tylke¡¯s a bit too exposed out here.¡± ¡°No safer place on the planet, though!¡± Nilenna protested from atop the God, pointing out a very real fact. ¡°Besides, Tyl needs space to work, you know? The cave is a bit small, and your Ratnak is in there!¡± I looked at the God, waiting for his opinion. ¡°This is good enough,¡± he agreed with the silver Halve. ¡°Nilenna only said you needed help with a weapon, right?¡± I nodded, accepting his words. ¡°Yeah, something about attunement. But... if you''re up for it, maybe you could improve it as well? And my armor while you''re at it?¡± I asked, seizing the chance to have the God of Craftsmen¡¯s expertise at hand. ¡°Yeah!¡± Nilenna nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Tyl here refined my bow the first time we met! I had to fetch a lot of materials, though! My combat gear took a while to refine since we had to gather moonlight! That took three hundred years!¡± I bit my lower lip and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°Three hundred years...¡± I muttered. ¡°Why moonlight, though? How does that even work?¡± Nilenna jumped down, landed right in front of me, and produced a bluish tight vest. It had a glow to it, like moonlight in the middle of the night. ¡°It''s Mythical quality now! Check it out!¡± I took it and appraised the thing.
Intrepid Moonlight Light Vest (Mythical)
Durability: SSS Form Fitting No Peeking Worthy Wearer
For Every 500 of a stat, gain 1% to the corresponding attribute.
Attuned
¡°Well?¡± Nilenna asked, smiling proudly. I frowned a little. ¡°No enhancement or ascension?¡± I asked, handing it back. Then, I replaced my leather vest with a shirt before examining the protective gear.
+100 Seventh Circle Heavy Vest (Legendary) [Ascension Lvl 10]
Durability: SSS++ Form Fitting
When wearing the whole set: +250 to all stats.
I offered it to my fellow Protector. She took it, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± she turned to the God, showing him the vest. ¡°You said you couldn¡¯t enhance my vest! Look at this! Legendary quality but with better protection!¡± ¡°I¡¯m still gathering moonlight, Nilenna¡­¡± the God replied in a patient tone. ¡°Legendary equipment and above requires very specific materials for improvement, and you know this.¡± ¡°Moonlight...¡± I muttered and searched my storage while the two talked. Although it seemed like an absurd coincidence, or perhaps something Galeia had orchestrated, I actually had a considerable stockpile of materials for upgrading equipment. The game my classes and items came from, Redeemer¡¯s Bush, had a surprisingly complex system for upgrades, mostly involving gacha mechanics with painfully low success rates to keep players hooked. The cash shop offered materials to improve those odds, and I had absurd amounts of them. Because of that system, and after spending a shameful number of hours and an obscene amount of money, I ended up with everything a player would need to upgrade even a starter weapon to mythical quality, making it viable for the game¡¯s late stages. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean it would perform well in the end-game. That was where the mythical weapon drops came in, like the one that gave me my Alma Pike, with its unique bonuses and effects. I produced a glass orb containing a bluish light. This is too convenient, I thought, looking at the orb. So now, thanks to me, every Halve can improve their equipment? Just like that? This is beyond cheating¡­ [Thousand Midnights Moonlight Orb] This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The item in my hand was sold in the cash shop for five euros each¡ªor twenty euros for a box of ten. It allowed players to enhance weapons and armor from +0 to +100 with a 100% success rate, regardless of quality or ascension level. A true cash-shop item. To increase an item¡¯s ascension level, it had to reach +100, resetting back to +0 upon successful ascension. Quite the clever micro-transaction. Did I spend too much money? No way! I actually won a two-hundred-box bundle from the blacksmith gacha after spending only forty euros, giving me a total of one thousand Thousand Midnights Moonlight Orbs. It was a 0.35% chance! My gacha addiction was finally paying off. Tylke stood silent, perhaps overhearing my thoughts. Nilenna, on the other hand, was staring intently at the orb. With a deft flick, I spun the orb on my fingertip. ¡°Galeia truly provides,¡± I muttered with a grin, then held out the orb to her. ¡°Here. For your gear.¡± The Halve firmly shook her head. ¡°No, little sister. You should use¡ª¡± I turned my palm down and dropped orb after orb. Nilenna¡¯s eyes widened, her eyebrows nearly merging with her hairline, and her mouth fell open. Her glow radiated pure shock. ¡°Haha!¡± I laughed at her expression. ¡°And!¡± I added, producing yet another cash item. [Thousand Noons Sunlight Orb] As the name suggested, this glass sphere held a yellow light, not too different from the suns themselves. The item increased the ascension level of gear with a 100% success rate. It sold for ten euros each or in a box of ten for fifty euros. Did I win a 0.06% chance blacksmith gacha for a bundle of two hundred boxes? Why, yes. And how much did I spend? ¡­Not the matter at hand. I lifted my chin and laughed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Nilenna? Shocked into silence? That¡¯s hilarious!¡± I echoed her own words back to her. She didn¡¯t reply right away, instead squinting at the array of orbs littering the ground around me. Her expression turned thoughtful, and her glow shifted to a caution that demanded attention. ¡°That isn¡¯t the case, Nilenna,¡± Tylke interjected calmly, responding to her thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s a common phenomenon among Halve Classes. Just as Halve Clerics with elixirs, Halve Wizards with scrolls, Halve Scouts with poisons, and Halve Archers with projectiles¡ªHalve Warriors with equipment enhancements.¡± My brows knitted in concern. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Nilenna exhaled, her gaze lingering on the orbs. ¡°For a moment, I wondered if Galeia granted you these items because an unfathomable threat lies ahead, something so dire that we¡¯d need to refine gear this quickly. It normally takes about three hundred years to upgrade something from Legendary to Mythical.¡± Her cheerfulness dimmed briefly, then resurfaced with a grin. ¡°But if not, that¡¯s fantastic, right? And if I¡¯m right, at least we¡¯ll be prepared!¡± I nodded. ¡°Maybe. Maybe not.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll know in due time,¡± she said, picking up a few orbs and stowing them away. ¡°With these, Tyl here could refine a full set of equipment to Mythical quality!¡± I glanced at the God in question, looking up at him. ¡°Young Halve,¡± he called, ¡°how many of these orbs do you possess?¡± Nilenna gave Tylke an intrigued look. ¡°Plenty,¡± I replied confidently. ¡°More than enough. Why?¡± He extended a limb made of countless tools, causing two orbs¡ªone of each type¡ªto hover into his hands. ¡°To upgrade an item to Divine quality, I would need one hundred of each orb.¡± My eyebrows shot up. ¡°Divine quality?¡± ¡°Are you serious, Tyl?!¡± Nilenna exclaimed, latching onto his shoulders with excitement. She turned to me, her eyes shining. ¡°How many of these do you have, little sister?¡± I grinned, then produced yet another item. Because I was a whale. [Myriad Eclipse Orb] This orb contained both sunlight and moonlight, each brighter and sharper than in the previous orbs. With a 100% success rate, it could upgrade an item¡¯s quality. I refused to discuss its cost or the abysmal chance of obtaining it. But I only had five. How very convenient. But there was no dilemma¡ªfive orbs, five Halves. Five orbs, four girlfriends. And beyond these guaranteed-success items, I still had other materials. Tylke himself, an actual Divine being and a master of crafting, could enhance items with the regular materials alone. ¡°How many orbs do you need to upgrade an item from Legendary to Mythical?¡± I asked, studying the Eclipse Orb. ¡°One,¡± Tylke replied. ¡°The moonlight orb should do.¡± Nilenna¡¯s face lit up with excitement as she grabbed my shoulders. ¡°Little sister! Name your price! What do you want in return?¡± I thought for a moment, quickly arriving at an answer. ¡°This is going to sound a bit¡­ unconventional, Nilenna.¡± Her eyebrows arched in curiosity, and her glow radiated boundless interest. ¡°Oh?¡± I took a breath to find the right words, then requested, ¡°Not in a sexual way, but I¡¯d like to¡­ explore your body.¡± Her expression softened into a warm smile. ¡°Conspecific exploration?¡± she asked, hitting the nail on the head. ¡°Exactly,¡± I chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re the first Halve I¡¯ve met, so it would mean a lot if you¡¯re willing.¡± The God gathered the orbs strewn around us, not saying anything. I had the feeling he was thinking about the beauty of needing such a process, or finding the process itself beautiful. Nilenna nodded, her smile wide, showing off her golden teeth. ¡°Of course! I¡¯d be happy to, little sister! But!¡± she squeezed my cheeks with a playful grin. ¡°You don¡¯t have to request that in exchange for materials, you know? That doesn¡¯t count! It¡¯s my duty as your big sister to show you how and where we¡¯re alike!¡± ¡°Protectors,¡± Tylke called, breaking his silence. ¡°Leave your combat gear with me, and I''ll improve it while you touch each other.¡± I arched an eyebrow at him. ¡°Really?¡± Nilenna ignored the remark and produced a set of undergarments, robes similar to the ones she was wearing, and a three-meter-long, thick bow made of a transparent material. She placed them in the God¡¯s hands. I swapped my leather pants for a skirt, stored the rest, retrieved the ensemble, and placed it on his hand, followed by the Starforged Eternium plate armor, and finally the Alma Pike. ¡°Young Halve,¡± Tylke called to me. ¡°I see great anger within you, but also patience. Which should I use when improving your weapon?¡± I gave it some thought. Nilenna inspected my face for a few seconds. ¡°Anger? Are you angry, little sister?¡± I shook my head and replied, ¡°Not really. Just anger issues. I¡¯m pretty good at keeping my shit together, though.¡± The Halve squinted her eyes at me, her smile turning mischievous. I gave the Divine a shrug. ¡°Anger is more useful in combat. Shorvanna called it good fuel, and I have a skill that uses it, too.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Tylke concluded and stored both equipment sets. ¡°The orbs, please.¡± I extended an open palm toward him, producing three hundred orbs of each type since I had already dropped two hundred earlier, along with the five Eclipse orbs. ¡°Can I ask you to improve a set of gauntlets for a tank? Her classes are Monk, Paladin, and Asura.¡± The orbs floated into the Divine''s hands, disappearing upon contact. ¡°Only Mythical for mortals,¡± the God replied with finality. I frowned a little. ¡°Fine,¡± I grumbled and produced an identical set of gauntlets to the ones I¡¯d given Yolin, placing them in the God¡¯s free hands and adding the necessary orbs to upgrade them to Mythical quality. ¡°Ah!¡± Nilenna gasped. ¡°There it is! You got angry, little sister!¡± ¡°I know,¡± I muttered, then sighed. ¡°Ohhhh!¡± she sighed in surprise. ¡°And you''re not angry anymore! Wow! That''s incredible!¡± I gave her a look, then raised a finger. "Marcus Aurelius once said: If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment," I shared with a wise nod. Nilenna¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°Did you find big bro Perculis¡¯ texts on self-control?¡± I tilted my head, confused. ¡°No, why?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Big bro Perculis said he knew of a very wise emperor by that name before he died in some germanicum-something War, serving as a cohortes-something. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was the name, I think. Big bro Perculis had a great opinion of that man,¡± she shared, nodding a few times, nostalgia in her glow. My jaw fell a little in shock. 201 - Conspecific exploration and recognition. (Slight +18) Nilenna squinted at me, her glow radiating curiosity. ¡°Why so shocked, little sister?¡± I closed my mouth and rubbed my forehead with both hands. ¡°Haaa...¡± I sighed, shaking my head before giving the silver Halve a scrutinizing look. ¡°Do you remember a past life?¡± Her smile widened. ¡°Nope!¡± she replied excitedly. ¡°All I know is my trial and Galeia. Did you know I didn''t even realize I could breathe when I was born? I came across a Sentinel and ate it raw, too. It was hysterical!¡± ¡°Raw?¡± I repeated, a little disgusted. ¡°So you don''t remember,¡± I muttered with a nod. She shook her head. ¡°Big bro Perculis did, and Miraztor does, though! Big sis Yulianna doesn¡¯t like talking about anything that isn¡¯t our duty,¡± she scowled, ¡°which is hilarious considering she just up and left for three hundred years. Maybe she¡¯ll see things differently now¡ªor maybe not.¡± I arched an eyebrow, confused. ¡°Why don¡¯t you call Miraztor ¡®big bro¡¯?¡± She winked, tapped her nose, and laughed. ¡°He lost a bet! I¡¯m his senior for now.¡± I nodded in understanding. ¡°What was your trial about? If you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡± ¡°Hunting,¡± she answered briefly. ¡°I was in a dimension filled with creatures I haven¡¯t seen since. I showed up here after hunting everything.¡± I hummed and smiled. ¡°Sounds fun.¡± ¡°What about you, little sister?¡± Nilenna asked, brimming with curiosity. ¡°What was your trial?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Cleansing Hell of the Abyss¡¯ influence. Took a while to get it done, though, and some got away, as I understand it.¡± ¡°Sounds complicated,¡± she commented with a nod. ¡°So you knew of Demons already?¡± ¡°I did,¡± I confirmed. ¡°Spent a good while there. And...¡± I sighed, shrugging again. ¡°I can only see them as food instead of people.¡± ¡°Hmmm...¡± She inspected my face for a few seconds. ¡°Did you know of a Hellwalker while you were there? The few Demons I¡¯ve met tell of a being of unrestrained violence.¡± I nodded, pointing at myself. ¡°Of course I know her. She¡¯s me.¡± ¡°So my guess was right,¡± she said with a slow nod. ¡°That¡¯s useful information, little sister. We¡¯ll leave Demon threats to you, then. Have you met any other Demons besides the one in Lumin Kingdom?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, a noble there is married to one. They have a child, a boy. I gave the Demon a warning and left it at that.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Nilenna uttered, then grabbed my shoulders and tried moving me. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the cave for now. I have a lot of questions about the Demon matter.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I agreed, walking into the cave. Sonya looked over at us and huffed before going back to resting. The silver Halve gave her a look and smiled. ¡°She''s very healthy. What''s her name?¡± ¡°Sonya,¡± I replied, walking to the animal and rubbing her head. ¡°She''s a very good girl.¡± My mount grumbled, yawned, and let out a content sigh. ¡°Do you have plans to breed her?¡± Nilenna asked. ¡°Eventually, maybe,¡± I replied. ¡°A smaller Ratnak would be cute.¡± ¡°They are,¡± the silver Halve agreed with a giggle. I turned to my fellow kin. ¡°What do you want to know about Demons?¡± Nilenna nodded and stored her clothes, leaving her in underwear. ¡°You¡¯re free to touch wherever you want,¡± she offered with a smile. True perfection made manifest, Nilenna¡¯s body was beyond anything the imagination could conjure. It was art made woman. Her midriff was firm, showing a hint of muscle definition that added to her athletic, fit appearance I circled around her, looking her up and down. ¡°This noble you spoke of,¡± she started, following my eyes with hers. ¡°Who is it? Did anything of note catch your attention?¡± I nodded, moving my hand to her stomach, where she lacked a belly button. I touched that spot. Her skin was firm, warm, and smooth¡ªsofter than mine. ¡°Sef Punten, a Perco Human from Riverfield,¡± I shared, softly, gently, and slowly running my hand across her stomach, feeling her skin on my palm. ¡°He became a Baron two hundred and seventy years ago, shortly after marrying Ronissa, who goes by the name of Rosalia.¡± Nilenna arched an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re not letting me touch you?¡± she asked, amused. ¡°What else can you tell me about the Demon?¡± I stored my outer layers, leaving only my underwear. ¡°Ronissa knew of Nerissa, the Demon that tormented Gordon. The latter approached her years ago with an invitation. Ronissa rejected it, likely not wanting whatever the other offered. That prompted Nerissa to attack Sef and their child, Rico. Ronissa defended them.¡± The silver Halve looked at my crotch and nodded in understanding before placing her hands on my abs. ¡°Did they tell you of their origins?¡± I nodded, moving my hands to her hips. ¡°Both came directly from Hell.¡± Her eyes narrowed as her fingers traced the shape of my muscles. ¡°Your letter mentioned that. How did it happen?¡± ¡°¡°Hell was a prison for beings of the Abyss,¡± I explained, moving a hand to her breast and grabbing a handful. It was heavy and firm. ¡°Those beings had the power to corrupt minds, which I inherited in the form of a Power Tongue. It¡¯s what broke Elena¡¯s mind and made her forget more than half of her life.¡± She raised an eyebrow at my boldness but didn¡¯t comment. ¡°How does that answer my question?¡± she asked, cupping my crotch. ¡°May I feel it?¡± I switched my underwear to boxers, releasing myself from the tightness. ¡°The beings of the Abyss corrupted Demons through whispers¡ªah!¡± I gasped as a shudder ran up my spine, stopping me mid-sentence. and a sly grin. ¡°Not much of a ''little'' sister, are you? Haha!¡± she teased. The corruption spread, and some Demons tried to control it, though I¡¯m still unsure why. ¡°So all Demons come from Hell?¡± she asked, her tone light. ¡°Both Ronissa and Nerissa told me their metabolisms were altered drastically.¡± Her golden teeth were revealed in full, all thirty four of them. Nilenna''s upper canines were as pronounced as mine, but not as long as an Elf''s or a Luzo''s. The lack of tusks was obvious from the moment I met her, and checking didn''t seem to reveal any difference as to the lower canines. They looked equally sharp as mine, too. Her lips, however, were a wonder of untold perfection. Plump, pouty, and full. ¡°¡°Her blood had an odd effect on mortals¡ªtriggering extreme arousal. Lapia, my ¡°¡°Mental influence of that kind exists in some plant monsters, but never in sentient beings.¡± Ronissa fed on monetary gain and normal foodnew Her tongue was long, silver, and looked absolutely delicious in how it glistened with saliva. ¡°What leads me to believe that not all Demons come from Hell,¡± I continued, gently grasping her breast tighter. ¡°Undress fully, please,¡± I requested, then continued. ¡°Is the fact that both Demons told me their groups got separated on their trip here.¡± The silver Halve arched both eyebrows at my request, but complied, storing her underwear. I looked at her breasts. Entirely silver, the voluminous pair had light silver nipples. ¡°It¡¯s possible some had children who didn¡¯t inherit the altered metabolism¡ªor that not all of them experienced such a drastic changeThis story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. That aligns with what you mentioned in your letter. Nerissa arrived three hundred years ago, correct?¡± ¡°But time flows differently in Hell, so their perception of it doesn¡¯t match ours.¡± Her entire ocular organ was revealed as she stared into my own. The silver line crossing her silver iris and black pupil was beautiful that close. It resembled a black hole, but emitted silver light that obscured the retina. A silver hand grabbed my penis, slowly and gently feeling the entire length of it. ¡°You can pull the skin back, but I''ll get hard,¡± I warned her, a bit embarrassed. ¡°Perfectly natural response to stimuli,¡± she observed, now actually talking. ¡°Nothing to be embarrassed about.¡± She slowly, slowly, slowly, and gently, gently, gently, pulled the foreskin back. Naturally, I got hard. A female member of my species was touching my genitals. It was inevitable. little er lips curved into a contemplative smile. ¡°It is,¡± I agreed. ¡°But there¡¯s a pattern I¡¯ve noticed in the way those two described their feeding mechanisms. It reminded me of something from my past life,¡± I shared, trying to cover her large breast with my hand, but failing to do so. Her brow lifted slightly. ¡°You remember a past life?¡± she asked, shifting closer with a curious glint in her eyes. ¡°I suspected, but it¡¯s good to have confirmation. Do share your thoughts, little sister.¡± littleThere was a concept from my past life¡ªa way to classify mortal flaws Each strand of hair felt warm, strong, and incredibly soft to my palm and fingers. ¡°Seven?¡± Nilenna repeated, a hand going under my penis and towards my lady bits. ¡°Why seven?¡± A tingle traveled from my labia to my spine at feeling her fingers explore down there. I quietly grunted and sighed, then continued. ¡°It''s not exactly seven, but the most common ways people harm themselves or others through excess or imbalance are represented as seven. Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth.¡± I let her breast go, following the shape of the stomach to her navel, where I spread my palm against her skin. ¡°The names are self explanatory.¡± Nilenna nodded. ¡°And you see that pattern in Demons?¡± she asked and removed her hand from my lady bits, instead focusing on my thighs again. ¡°Ronissa fed on monetary gain, so it fits the sin of Greed, but there''s no harm done to others or herself that I saw,¡± I pointed out, slowly encroaching on her genitals. ¡°She actually gains vitality through that, which is in opposition to what I''m talking about, and that makes me think I could be wrong.¡± The silver Halve smiled. ¡°You can touch me there, little sister,¡± she encouraged me. ¡°What about the other Demon, Nerissa?¡± I grabbed a fistful of hair and lowered my other hand to her genitals, then pulled her hair a little to see if it would cut my hand. Her genitals felt smooth, had no hair just like mine, and not too different from mine in shape. ¡°Ahmf~¡± Nilenna moaned, then went stiff. My eyes widened in surprise at such a reaction. I released her hair and pulled my hand back. ¡°What the fuck?¡± She laughed, face bright, glow conveying embarrassment and arousal, and shook her head. ¡°Sorry, little sister! What you did was just what I like so I reacted on reflex. My bad, haha!¡± I laughed and gave her a few pats on the shoulder. ¡°I got hard so we''re even,¡± I chuckled, swinging my hips side to side, waving my erect penis around. ¡°Mhm, You did,¡± she agreed with an embarrassed smile, then looked at my moving member. ¡°Stop that!¡± I stopped and sighed, ¡°Anyway, the Demons.¡± She nodded, face still bright but dimming by the second. ¡°The Demons.¡± I nonchalantly grabbed a large breast with a hand and felt her stomach again with the other. ¡°Nerissa, as I wrote in the letter, was very inclined to sexually torment Gordon through visions and nightmares, plus her blood was sexually arousing to mortals. She''d fit Lust.¡± Nilenna''s eyebrows rose on her forehead at my actions. ¡°Is that what was draining his Life Energy?¡± she asked for confirmation, grabbing my breasts. ¡°They''re very sensitive,¡± I warned her with a serious face. ¡°I think Nerissa placed a spell or curse on Gordon, or maybe directly invaded his dreams. I couldn''t get much information before I killed her.¡± She nodded, taking my warning into consideration, but feeling me up nonetheless. ¡°A regular Cleric can spot a curse even if they can''t deal with it, and Monarchs tend to have the best of the best around them. The Demon must''ve had other means to do harm.¡± I nodded, feeling tingles around my breasts. ¡°I initially thought of possession, but I don''t know if that''s possible.¡± She stopped her hands and looked up at me. ¡°Possession? As in, taking control of someone else?¡± I nodded. ¡°Something like that, yeah. But instead of control, it would be just being there.¡± I grazed her nipple with my thumb and prodded her stomach. By Galeia these breasts are perfect, I thought with a smile. ¡°Then again, she was outside in physical form, so maybe she was just sneaking into his room and giving him nightmares.¡± ¡°You''ve been awfully focused on my breasts, little sister,¡± Nilenna accused me with no basis whatsoever. ¡°You can touch elsewhere, too. So we don''t exactly know what the Demon did.¡± I nodded, giving her titty a final gentle squeeze, then letting it go and moved to her arms, taking one in my hands. ¡°And they don''t have Classes like Galeian Mortals,¡± I added, feeling the skin and muscles of her limb. ¡°They do, though,¡± she denied my words. ¡°Even when using True Vision.¡± I hummed at that revelation. ¡°Maybe you came across descendants?¡± I ventured. ¡°The ones I met only showed their races when appraised, like an animal or monster. One was an Amikoneth and the other a Felyareth.¡± ¡°Unusual,¡± the big titty, silver Halve pondered. ¡°The ones I met had Classes and were Invirineth. Does that sound familiar?¡± I took her hand and inspected her digits, carefully folding her fingers into a fist. ¡°Yeah, they were in Hell as well. Ronissa said they were the warriors of their kind. Got corrupted first, according to her.¡± Nilenna hummed in thought as heavy as her breasts. ¡°We have too little information, and Galeia granted them haven a long time ago so they''re not considered an invasive species,¡± she shared. I rubbed her palm with my fingers, checking the bones inside. ¡°Not much we can do, then,¡± I concluded. ¡°Kill whoever misbehaves and protect the rest from unjust persecution.¡± She nodded, looking into my eyes. I nodded back, meeting her gaze. ¡°Anything you would like to know?¡± she inquired, getting close to me and grabbing my ass. I copied her, but felt up her back instead. ¡°Do you crush your companions'' cocks when having sex?¡± She looked up at me with raised eyebrows. ¡°What? No, haha! Who told you that nonsense?¡± ¡°I''m strong, and like men as well as women,¡± I explained. ¡°So I was lead to believe it would be dangerous.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Nilenna nodded, then shook her head. ¡°Mortals don''t understand half of what makes us Halves work, little sister,¡± she started, pressing my erection between us. ¡°For one, we''re infinitely adaptable constructs. That extends to procreation with Mortal species. No matter the size, a penis will fit you. No matter your strength, you won''t crush them. That only applies to living beings, though. You will crush a fragile toy, for example, even if its tougher than an actual penis.¡± I hummed, a little conflicted and confused. ¡°I would bet those words were born of ignorance, little sister,¡± Nilenna assured me, looking at my glow. ¡°They compare too much instead of thinking us as fundamentally different living beings. This cock-crushing you speak of does happen between mortals, though!¡± She revealed. ¡°Which is probably what drove that ignorant comment. As long as we''re involved, take any comment they make with the assumption they''re wrong.¡± I hummed in understanding. ¡°About pheromones, I was told they override men''s common sense or something,¡± I asked, following the shape of her body with my hands. ¡°Did a man tell you that?¡± she inquired, digging her fingers on my butt cheeks. ¡°These feel indestructible, too...¡± ¡°No, a female Luzo,¡± I replied. ¡°Why would a woman''s opinion on the male experience matter at all?¡± Nilenna succinctly disregarded Alyssa''s expert opinion. ¡°Knowledge does not mean experience, little sister. Wait... female Luzo? Did Alyssa Pruvik tell you that? The famous Cleric?¡± I nodded. She gave me a look that perfectly encapsulated the expression of ''this dumb bitch''. ¡°You''re denser than I thought, even though you have partners already... She may be trying to monopolize you, little sister. See through that lie and think of what it will accomplish: No men to pound you into a moaning mess with semen flowing out of you.¡± I tried picturing it, thinking of a handsome Minotaur, Goliath, or male Luzo fucking my brains out and giving me creampie after creampie, all as a side dish to a banquet of orgasms. It didn''t seem bad at all, to be honest. Would Alyssa really lie to avoid that? Such a contrived lie, too, I thought, feeling up Nilenna''s voluptuous body. Yolin and Lapia backed her up on that, too. Why, though? They could just... tell me. Then, a few memories surfaced. Alyssa rejecting the idea of adding Bonte and Bromisnar as partners on the basis of being men first, then them being of the Medium-lived species. Alyssa agreeing to the term cock-chaser to describe women who only liked men. Alyssa agreeing to Lapia''s comment that after experiencing me, men will disappear from Yolin''s mind. The notion of my girlfriend sabotaging my chances with men was more hilarious than anything. It didn''t make me angry or sad, just amused. Laughter escaped me at Alyssa''s sly attempts to protect her ''territory'', and more than that, at me for believing such outrageous lies. Never once did Bonte or Bromisnar ask how the matter of Pokora''s cycle would be handled, nor did Thelea bring it up to protect her own ''territory''. Because it would either not happen, or the effect wasn''t as drastic as the three told me it would be. ¡°That''s funny,¡± I chuckled and released the silver Halve. ¡°I think you''re right. Also, I got enough of feeling you up. Thanks for that, Nilenna.¡± She nodded, got dressed and smiled. ¡°That was so heart-pounding, little sister! You have an odd fixation with breasts, though,¡± she accused me yet again. I got dressed as well. ¡°Nonsense,¡± I denied such baseless accusations. ¡°Anyway, is there anything I should know?¡± Nilenna shook her head at my audacity, then turned completely serious. I locked in, ready for whatever she would say. ¡°Be very careful of big sis Yulianna,¡± she warned, pointing a finger at my crotch. ¡°She''ll definitely ask you to give her a child when you meet.¡± My eyebrows joined in confusion. ¡°How is that a bad thing? And didn''t she had one with Perculis already? That''s the rumor going around, anyway.¡± She shook her head, her tone dripping with skepticism. ¡°Two Halve Wizards trying to have a kid? Pshh!¡± She scoffed with a dismissive wave of her hand. ¡°Good luck with that. But you? A Warrior practically radiating fertility? Oh, she¡¯ll jump you, little sis. Big sis Yulianna is as obsessed with having children as you are with breasts! Miraztor turned her down, and Desseyr? Completely uninterested, you know?¡± I frowned at her accusations towards me and the Wizard I was yet to meet. ¡°I think you''re underestimating Yulianna. She recently lost Perculis and you think she''ll just jump on the chance of having a kid with me? That''s just disrespectful.¡± Nilenna sighed. ¡°You''ll see when the time comes, little sis.¡± I bit my lower lip. ¡°That much?¡± She nodded. ¡°That much.¡± 202 – Of Halves and Gods I produced a dumpling and a bottle of water. The notion of a thousands year old Wizard wanting my babies didn''t bother me in the slightest, truth be told. Nilenna stared at the pastry with a raised eyebrow. I took out another and offered it even though we don''t need food. ¡°Want one? They''re super yummy.¡± The silver Halve took the dumpling and gave it a cautious sniff. ¡°What''s in it?¡± ¡°Meat and vegetables,¡± I replied and took a bite while unscrewing the bottle with my other hand. She glared at the bottle like it was the perpetrator of all crimes in history, while her glow radiated alertness and hostility. ¡°What is that?¡± she asked with a lip curled in disgust. I took a sip and swallowed. ¡°Plastic,¡± I replied, knowing what she meant and the reason for such a reaction since it was the same for me. ¡°Takes a few centuries to a millennium to decompose, pollutes water and soil, and does a pretty good job as container. It fucked my previous world pretty badly.¡± ¡°So you remember a past life,¡± Nilenna muttered, nodding to herself. ¡°Fits your behavior. I''ll ask questions later. More importantly,¡± she pointed at the plastic bottle, ¡°why do you have such a thing?¡± I shrugged, drinking more water. ¡°Ask Galeia. Maybe it''s not as harmful as I make it out to be, but it still feel dangerous. How is the dumpling?¡± ¡°It''s meh,¡± she replied with a shrug of her own. ¡°That plastic thing is a big Matter Threat, so, potential ecosystem collapse and global decay,¡± she informed me, looking me in the eye. ¡°Not a problem by itself, though.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± I uttered in understanding. ¡°We have names for different threats?¡± She nodded and stored the half-eaten dumpling. She produced a map of the world and tapped Leks, making the picture zoom in on a mountain chain next to a small settlement. My eyebrows went up at the thing in surprise. Obviously that exists, I mentally chuckled. ¡°There''s a classification system we use to better understand threats,¡± she started, pinching the map to zoom out, showing the entirety of the Leks continent. ¡°A single spark can ignite the world, and a single drop can poison the oceans.¡± I nodded, standing next to her to better look at the map. "We start with categories,¡± Nilenna explained. ¡°Everything that can harm Galeia or her inhabitants falls into one of these: Domestic, Foreign, People, Animals, Matter, Weather, and so on. Each category helps us understand what is causing the threat and how it behaves." ¡°Like a filing system for disasters?¡± I asked for clarification. She grinned and gave me a quick glance, then focused on the map. "More like a framework for action,¡± she corrected, zooming the map on a random river. ¡°Let¡¯s take an example: suppose a dumb Mortal whom you gave a bottle like the one you have starts dumping plastic into a river. That¡¯s a Matter Threat, subcategory Foreign Substance, starting as a Local Spill. If left unchecked, it could escalate to a Regional Pollution or even a Continental Contamination, depending on the flow of the river." I arched an eyebrow at her. "Alright, I see the logic. What about, say, a Changeling that wants large-scale change?¡± The silver Halve fiddled with the map, showing Lumin Kingdom. "That would fall under People, subcategory Influence, with a potential for several outcomes: Religious Threat, if they oppose Gods and Halves; Political Threat, if they destabilize governments; or even Global Icon Threat, if their ideas spread far enough to disrupt entire societies." "So, the category tells us the type of threat, and the subcategory tells us its nature,¡± I summarized to better understand. ¡°What about the severity? You called plastic big.¡± She fingered the map, showing a small town somewhere in the south of Lumin Kingdom. "That¡¯s where the threat levels come in. Every threat is measured by its scale, outcome, and impact. For example, a small, rabid animal terrorizing a village is a Local Animal Danger¡ªdangerous, but limited in scope. But if that animal carries a plague that spreads through the region, like E''er Fever, it escalates to a Regional Pandemic, potentially threatening entire ecosystems." ¡°E''er Fever?¡± I repeated, understanding the rest. ¡°Mortals slowly and continuously expel all their E''er when they catch this disease,¡± Nilenna explained. ¡°They''re unable to absorb it and level up, cast spell, use skills, the works.¡± ¡°Got it. What about global threats?¡± I inquired, not that interested in diseases I''d never catch. "Then it becomes a Global Crisis, requiring immediate and coordinated intervention. At that scale, Galeia herself may be at risk¡ªecosystems collapsing, nations falling, even E''er density destabilizing.¡± I hummed and nodded. "So, each threat has a category, subcategory, and a severity level. But what about the connections? On my previous world, I saw things like climate change or economic instability. One problem feeds into another until the whole system is proper fucked." She nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Many threats are entangled: a weather anomaly might destroy crops, leading to famine, political unrest, and conflict. That¡¯s why this system also tracks cross-category impacts. A Weather Threat like a prolonged drought could lead to a Domestic People Threat in the form of civil unrest, or even a Global Resource Crisis if water scarcity becomes widespread." I nodded. ¡°And Galeia calls it like that?¡± Nilenna nodded. ¡°Yes. If Mortals can solve these issues, however, we will not be informed. Watchers are spread around for this very purpose, but they''re more about justice than anything else, really. The Church of the Eternals helps us considerably with lesser threats.¡± ¡°Aha,¡± I uttered in realization, thinking of Hanna. ¡°One of my companions is like that. She was gathering information and infiltrating a politically dissatisfied group to kill the leaders when we met.¡± ¡°Commendable,¡± she approved with a smile. ¡°Make sure to reward her appropriately. Now, I''ll go in depth about the categorizations.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I accepted. ¡°I''m all ears.¡±
After a comprehensive explanation, I realized it was more bureaucratic than anything else. The fact we receive the warnings way before the threats evolve into actual problems was pretty neat, like the dungeon beneath us. It was a Domestic Threat, subcategory Area-specific Anomaly as it''s geographically fixed in place and poses a threat to the immediate surroundings, like Ualrin. The Undead are rare enough to be classified as an anomaly, too. It was similar to the Blood Fiends and the swamp around the dead tree. Useful to know, but something I''d only use when Galeia does, or if I really needed to. ¡°Thank you for explaining,¡± I told Nilenna. ¡°You''re welcome, little sis,¡± she said back with a smile. ¡°Any other questions?¡± I thought for a bit, picking one from the long list of shit I still needed confirmation on. ¡°How do we compare to mortals? We''re made of E''er so I think there''s an inherent difference there.¡± Nilenna pondered the question, then gave me a look. ¡°You must consider that, without Divines, we''d be the Gods of this world,¡± she determined without a shred of doubt. ¡°Something or someone put them here a very long time ago, and Galeia accepted them to the point of Godhood. They serve a very specific purpose in the form of knowledge propagation, so we Halves see them as fellow preservationists of the perpetual order.¡± My eyebrows went up a little at her answer. She looked down at her hands and continued, ¡°We¡¯re effectively Gods of Power, little sis. Our E¡¯er affinity, efficiency, and manipulation are perfect. Mortals will never reach that¡ªbeing made of flesh, they¡¯re fundamentally flawed, which is why they evolve. In terms of raw stats, we¡¯re five times more powerful than someone with the same numbers, as our bodies perfectly convert energy into force. As I told you earlier, we¡¯re fundamentally different from Mortals.¡± I frowned a little, feeling a bit of something at the back of my mind shattering. Tension was lost. "Imagine the Suns, little sis, burning with unimaginable intensity, lighting up entire worlds, while a single candle flickers in the dark. Mortals are the candle, and we are the Suns. Both give light, but only one can outshine entire realms. No matter how bright the candle tries to burn, it will never match the Suns¡¯ reach." "That''s a bit extreme," I countered, unconvinced. "My party''s tank withstood over half my strength without taking more than bruises. And even when I hit her full force, all I did was break a few ribs." Nilenna smiled knowingly, tilting her head as she looked up at me. "And that¡¯s exactly why you were poisoned instead of attacked outright. The grapevine whispers about nikontia being used against you¡ªa toxin that dissolves E''eral bonds and organic matter at terrifying speed. Do you really think a ragtag group of dissidents has members strong enough to face you head-on?" I squinted my eyes at her, knowing the question was rhetorical. ¡°Not really.¡± "Exactly," she said, her tone amused. "We might be outnumbered one day, but we¡¯ll never be ambushed, you know? It would take a hundred Mortals, each as close to our equal, to take us down, little sis. And even then," she paused, her expression becoming sharp, "where would you find them? Would they really throw their lives away for such a foolish cause?" ¡°He who has a why to fight for can bear almost any how,¡± I modified Nietzsche''s quote. ¡°If their cause is strong enough, they''d risk everything, even knowing they¡¯d die. I''ve seen it.¡± The silver Halve spread her arms and smiled. ¡°And their sacrifice won¡¯t even leave a scar on us." I chuckled at her arrogance even though it was fully justified. ¡°Does it happen often? I know Miraztor was attacked, but other than that?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Not really. Big bro Perculis was attacked some five thousand years ago, and before that,¡± she squinted, trying to remember. ¡°I think Urunys, Desseyr''s predecessor, was attacked nine thousand years ago. It was reported as a bloodbath.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I uttered in surprise. ¡°It really doesn''t happen often.¡± Nilenna nodded with a smile. ¡°They know their place,¡± she ascertained. ¡°Nine thousand, five thousand, and a thousand. That''s once every four thousand years.¡± I''m finished, Tylke''s voice echoed in my mind. We looked at the God outside the cave. I tilted my head in confusion, not having heard a single bang of metal on metal, nor large shifts in E''er. ¡°About time!¡± Nilenna complained, walking out of the cave. I followed, looking for traces of E''er manipulation. The items were floating around him, each with the thick smell of recently modified enchantments. ¡°So this is the speed of the God of Craftsmen,¡± I praised with a smile. Nilenna nodded several times. ¡°Tyl is unmatched, after all.¡± ¡°How did the touching go?¡± Tylke inquired, a note of amusement in his voice. ¡°Little sis here is obsessed with breasts,¡± the silver Halve joked, then turned to me. I sighed at her accusations. ¡°I was checking for mammary glands, which we lack,¡± I explained myself. ¡°I thought you, a fully female Halve, would have them.¡± She shrugged and explained, ¡°We adapt and grow them when we get pregnant.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I uttered. ¡°Here,¡± Tylke interjected, waving an arm made of many tools and making my Starforged Eternium Plate Helmet float towards me. I took it and appraised the thing.
+100 Starforged Eternium Plate Helmet of Astute Devising (Mythical) [Ascension Lvl 10]
Durability: EX Weightless Wear True Vision Changeling Spotter
-Starforged Eternium Echo (0/5) *If wearing the entire ensemble: -Total Perspicacity +50% -No Peeking: Requires Accumulated Power of 1500 levels to appraise. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.-Worthy Wearer: Attunement only possible for a Halve. -Wearer''s judgment is unclouded in the face of Anger.
-Attunement Pending (0/1)
I smiled and nodded. ¡°Pretty good. Why Changeling spotter?¡± ¡°I see you had trouble with them,¡± the God simply replied, waving the rest of my stuff towards me. I received them and appraised them one by one.
+100 Starforged Eternium Chestplate of Rageful Endurance (Mythical) [Ascension Lvl 10]
Durability: EX Weightless Wear No Peeking Worthy Wearer
-Starforged Eternium Echo (0/5) *If wearing the entire ensemble: -Total Toughness +50% -Wearer''s level of Anger further increases equipment durability.
-Attunement Pending (0/1)
+100 Starforged Eternium Plate Pants of Expeditious Engage (Mythical) [Ascension Lvl 10]
Durability: EX Weightless Wear No Peeking Worthy Wearer
-Starforged Eternium Echo (0/5) *If wearing the entire ensemble: -Total Alacrity +50% -Wearer¡¯s movement seamlessly displaces surrounding matter, preventing the formation of shockwaves or sonic booms, regardless of the medium.
-Attunement Pending (0/1)
+100 Starforged Eternium Plate Gauntlets of Firm Might (Mythical) [Ascension Lvl 10]
Durability: EX Weightless Wear No Peeking Worthy Wearer
-Starforged Eternium Echo (5/5) *If wearing the entire ensemble: -Total Tenacity +50% -Wearer cannot be disarmed.
-Attunement Pending (0/1)
+100 Starforged Eternium Plate Boots of Steadfast Bearing (Mythical) [Ascension Lvl 10]
Durability: EX Weightless Wear No Peeking Worthy Wearer
-Starforged Eternium Echo (5/5) *If wearing the entire ensemble: -All Stats + 5% -The wearer''s feet cannot leave the ground unless intentionally lifted.
-Attunement Pending (0/1)
+100 Seventh Circle Reactive Leather Vest (Mythical) [Ascension Lvl 10]
Durability: SSS+++ Form Fitting No Peeking Worthy Wearer
-For every 200 of a stat, gain 5% to the corresponding Attribute.
-Attunement Pending (0/1)
The rest of my leather undergarments were exactly the same, but the socks and gloves were connected with a thread of E''er to their respective pair. ¡°What''s this on these?¡± I asked, smelling the connection. ¡°It only works if you equip both,¡± the God replied. ¡°There was too little surface area for me to work.¡± I nodded, accepting the explanation. Four such bonuses was plenty good. Finally, I took my spear and felt my heartbeat pounding with excitement and expectation. It was way heavier. If before it felt as light as a pencil, now it felt as heavy as a reasonably loaded grocery bag. Noticeable but manageable.
+100 Natasha''s Raging Pike (Divine) {Ascension Lvl 10}
Sharpness: EX Durability: SSS++ No Peeking Worthy Wielder
STR + 30% DEX + 20% CON + 15% Total Tenacity + 50% Total Alacrity + 40% Total Toughness + 25% *Eternal Resonance: -First Stage: 100.000 Kilograms -Second Stage:???? (0/700.000.000) -Third Stage:???? (0/4)
Krodha Viksepa Skandha: Carries a Rank 10 curse that fractures the victim''s systems until healed. Reduces stats and attributes by 10%, increasing to 30% of their total with successive applications. Disrupts internal Flow of E¡¯er, causing spell construction to slow by 10% and increasing to 100% with successive applications, preventing spell construction altogether. Tarnishes the target''s Life Energy, diminishing the effectiveness of healing received by 10% and increasing to 100% with successive applications, preventing healing altogether. Induces phantom pain that worsens with successive applications. Distorts perception of allies and surroundings.
-Attunement Pending (0/1)
My eyebrows furrowed in consternation as I turned to the God. "I can see it," he said, answering my question before I could even ask. Nilenna was quietly inspecting her equipment. "Well, okay," I grumbled, focusing back on the spear. "Volition, cognition, formation, sensation, and perception..." I muttered, counting the aggregates the curse affected. "Why did you change it so much?" "It was a time curse," Tylke replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "Time curses are heavy on weapons, leaving little room for other improvements. They''re also limited to rank five, which monsters like the Blood Fiends you recently faced can heal." I hummed. Certainly, the previous curse did not affect the Blood Fiends, which resulted in me biting my tongue off when they hit me with all twenty tentacles at once. ¡°Anger that disrupts the aggregates,¡± I muttered the name of the curse. ¡°Fitting. What are these stages of eternal resonance?¡± ¡°Use it enough and you''ll see,¡± he replied. I smiled and shook my head. ¡°Keep your secrets, then,¡± I chuckled. The spear had undergone significant improvements, now granting percentage increases to stats and attributes rather than static boosts, meaning it would grow with my levels. ¡°Won¡¯t the stat increases be irrelevant, considering I can push them to plus ten thousand with a skill?¡± I asked, recalling the effects of Monster Hunter. ¡°It¡¯s not linear growth, young Protector,¡± the Divine explained. ¡°You¡¯d be better off reformulating the skill, as Shorvanna has likely advised. More Tenacity is far more beneficial than absurd amounts of Strength.¡± The opportunity presented itself, so I took it. ¡°What exactly do the attributes do? I¡¯ve only asked about Toughness and was told it¡¯s an Energy Dissipation Index.¡± ¡°Tenacity is the Internal Energy Augmentation Index. It works like Toughness, but instead of reducing external forces, it amplifies the internal force-energy, helping to enhance your strength and endurance from within. Perspicacity affects Spell Density, determining how tightly spells can be packed together. Insight governs E''er efficiency and affinity, optimizing its absorption and, by extension, skill activation and duration. However, you Halves can''t increase it or you¡¯d essentially be creating energy out of nothing. Finally, Alacrity impacts thought speed and reality-perception speed, accelerating both your mental processing and the ability to react to the world around you,¡± he educated me. I made a fist and hit my open palm. ¡°Ahhh! I see! So stacking Tenacity is better than stacking Strength?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he shortly confirmed. ¡°Once you double your Strength, each extra point loses value when compared to Tenacity. You''re wasting an entire skill, young Protector.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered, a little dejected. ¡°I thought it was pretty good.¡± ¡°Take this, young Protector,¡± Tylke suggested, waving a hand and moving a pair of gauntlets my way. I took them and appraised them.
+100 Raging Fists of Thunderous Claps (Mythic) {Ascension Lvl 10}
Kinetic Link: SSS++ Durability: SSS+++
STR +10% CON + 15% T. Tenacity + 15% T. Toughness + 20% For Every Enhancement Level: +5% Kinetic Link, +10% Toughness For Every Ascension Level: +25% Offensive Skill Potency, +10% Tenacity
Bulwark of Faith -Increase Max HP by 1% for every 10% Toughness beyond your Con-Tough cap.
-Attunement Pending (0/1)
¡°She''s going to love them,¡± I chuckled, then stored the gauntlets. 203 - A Sisters Farewell. Well, here we are again. Volume Three of ¡°That time I got reincarnated into an overpowered World-protecting Futanari Warrior, but I have to obey the World''s Will or I get killed off!¡±. My second journal ran out of pages, much like the first. I suppose I could have just stopped, but then what would you, dear reader, scavenger, or hapless wanderer, do without my story to brighten your life? You¡¯re welcome, by the way. This time, I thought I¡¯d try starting off properly, in case you missed Volumes One and Two. Those were rougher, more chaotic, like I was when I started writing them. Consider them... drafts of me. Now, you hold something better. More polished. Not just in my writing, but in my understanding of who I am. Who am I, you ask? Natasha Novak, a Halve. Yes, the Natasha Novak: Eternal Protector. My beauty? Transcendent. My strength? Absolute. If you¡¯ve stumbled upon this without the earlier volumes, good luck piecing it all together. You¡¯ll miss the context of my actions, but if you¡¯re clever (and you must be, if you found this), you¡¯ll keep up. Let¡¯s continue.
I stared at the helmet in my hands in conflicted contemplation, reading the line that said [Wearer''s judgment is unclouded in the face of Anger] over and over. On one hand, it felt wrong¡ªletting some outside force control or limit my emotions, or how I responded to them. That authority belonged solely to Galeia, the world itself. On the other hand, the enchantment implied my judgment was inherently clouded when angry. That notion itself was infuriating. I''ve made great strides in controlling my anger, and the enchantment simply invalidated all my efforts in regards to self-control. The was no positive twist to that particular addition in my mind. I tossed the piece of gear to Tylke. He caught it effortlessly with one hand, the motion fluid and unhurried. ¡°Change the bit about anger,¡± I simply requested with an arched eyebrow. ¡°It''s insulting.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± the God of Craftsmen agreed, his tone carrying the faint resignation of someone who had expected this outcome. ¡°Do you have any requests or suggestions, Young Protector?¡± I thought for a while, not verbally replying since the Divine could hear each and every one of my thoughts. ¡°What do you think of this?¡± Tylke offered after a moment. ¡°Wearer¡¯s voice cannot be drowned out by noise unless the wearer chooses to whisper.¡± I hummed, considering the option but finding it lacking. ¡°Would it be possible to make it so I can talk with someone even if they''re very far away?¡± I asked, thinking of a magic telephone. ¡°Whether Mortal, Eternal, or Divine? They''d get a notice of some sort, like: ''Natasha Novak is trying to contact you, do you accept?'' Or something like that?¡± ¡°No,¡± Tylke denied. ¡°The recipient would need to have a similar item, like the one you just thought of. It could, however, send one-way long messages, but you''re able to do that with Celestial and Bond messages.¡± I frowned, folding my arms across my chest as I tugged my lower lip in thought. ¡°Would the messages be understood by anyone?¡± ¡°No,¡± he answered flatly. ¡°Knowledge of Celestial would still be required.¡± I frowned, a little dissatisfied with the God. Sending a long, one-way message sounded pretty okay, but it''d waste an enchantment ¡°slot¡±. I sighed and asked, ¡°What can you do?¡± ¡°That question is too broad, Young Protector,¡± he said with a faintly amused edge. ¡°What part of yourself would you like to enhance? Since we¡¯re working with a helmet, we could focus on sight, hearing, voice, smell, or glow.¡± I considered the options. ¡°True Sight and Changeling Spotter are good enough for sight enchantments. My hearing is pretty sharp and so is my smell. You can''t make it so I can talk with people over great distances, I can speak three Power Tongues, and my Warcries have pretty good reach... so voice would be a waste. As for glow... what can you do with it?¡± Tylke gestured toward the helmet, making it spin in the air. ¡°Your equipment blocks your glow,¡± he pointed out an obvious fact. ¡°I could make it so your glow passes through your gear, unhindered.¡± My brain tingled in confusion for a moment, thinking on the mechanics of light passing through solid matter. But then, I gave it another thought, since when wearing my entire gear, only my hair is out. Long and indestructible as it was, it only let through a fraction of my light when worn as a scarf. I gave him a shrug. ¡°Let''s go with that, then,¡± I accepted. ¡°Very well,¡± he agreed.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The helmet stopped spinning, then trembled for a second. Eleven clumps of E''er emerged form the piece of equipment, each with myriad layers of E''er arranged in lines of what felt like text, forming rings around incredibly complex letter-like shapes. It made no sound and had no smell. One of the clumps grew to the size of a watermelon, hovering in front of Tylke. The God of Craftmen touched it with a finger-shaped amalgamation of tools. Layers, lines, rings, symbols and E''er itself unwound and unfurled, leaving the clump empty and going back to ambient E''er as if it was never arranged into an enchantment in the first place. He opened a hand and E''er flowed. The particles gathered, lined up, took shape, formed rings, became symbols, and tightly connected to each other. Then, the clumps went back into the Helmet. With a wave, Tylke sent the helmet floating toward me. I nodded, awed by the display. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± I muttered, catching the item and inspecting it. The line about anger was gone, replaced with [The wearer¡¯s Eternal Glow shines through all equipped gear, illuminating as though no barrier exists]. ¡°Much better,¡± I said with satisfaction, storing the helmet in my inventory. ¡°Thank you, Tylke.¡± ¡°You are most welcome, Young Protector,¡± he replied with a note of joy. I turned to Nilenna. The silver Halve was still inspecting her items, her eyes going from her large transparent bow to her deep night blue and silver robes. Not wanting to bother her, I focused on Tylke again. ¡°How do I attune?¡± ¡°Wear them and you will see,¡± he simply said. ¡°Alright,¡± I sighed and equipped the improved ensemble. The first poke came as a wordless whisper in my mind¡ªa gentle acknowledgment from the helmet, almost as if it were asking for permission. I exhaled and allowed it in. The sensation spread like a thread weaving into my core, the helm syncing to my being. One by one, I repeated the process with the remaining pieces. The chestplate hummed as it adjusted to the rhythm of my breathing. The gauntlets warmed as they recognized my hands, molding themselves to my grip. When I finally reached the boots, I felt a grounding presence like an anchor to the earth beneath me. Each piece of equipment felt alive now, not as mere tools to wear but as extensions of my body. They moved when I moved, their weight negligible. The leather pieces were similar, molding their shape beyond the physical to match mine. Hot and gold E''er flowed from my core towards each of them, infusing them with Solar Energy from the skill [Heavenly Rebuke of the Conquering Golden Suns] and giving them a solid, golden hue. My Glow went through unimpeded, piercing the equipment and illuminating the snow outside the cave, and the inside of the cave as well. The spear came last, the now heavy weapon offering its assistance in killing whatever and whoever stood before me. There was a small difference from the rest of the gear, though. It felt more alive than the rest. I let it in. A thread, thicker and brighter than the others, ran its course toward my core and into my skills, connecting to [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns]. It roared like an engine coming to life, the rings that signified the knowledge of the skill rotating at tremendous speeds, E''er ready to activate the conjuration as if tempting me to step on the accelerator. A smile spread across my face as I walked away from Tylke and Nilenna and activated [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns]''s main use. E''er flowed from within me, instantly rotating the skill and its core, which connected to a previously untouched section of myself: My glow. Five Spears made of Golden E''er materialized around me, each three meters long and equal in shape to [Natasha''s Raging Pike]. ¡°How cool is that!?¡± I gushed in excitement, looking at the conjured weapons and feeling my heart squeeze in wonder. I had finally cast a spell! I was actually using magic! With a simple mental command, the conjured spears moved around me like satellites orbiting a planet, slow but constant in their motion. Gleeful laughter escaped me as I played with them, making them move faster and faster¡ªpointing outward, forming into formation above me, stabbing in front of me one at a time, thrusting forward all together, then piercing a nearby rock from five different directions. I gathered the spears horizontally like a surfboard, hopped on, and made them hover forward, gliding over the snow on the mountainside. Who knew magic could be so fun! ¡°Little sis,¡± Nilenna called. I turned the spears around, hovering over to her. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I have to go now,¡± she told me, her glow and expression both conveying a hint of sadness. ¡°My companions are waiting in Giant lands.¡± I gave her an understanding nod. ¡°I see. Thank you for the help, Nilenna.¡± She arched a silver eyebrow at me. ¡°That''s all you have to say?¡± I hopped off the spears and gave her a tight, warm hug. ¡°We''ll meet again, eventually. Take care of yourself. We''ll play Galeian Armory next time we meet.¡± The silver Halve nodded, returning the hug. ¡°I''ll let you off for now since you must have shit cards, but next time I won''t show mercy.¡± A chuckle escaped me and I broke the hug. ¡°Until next time, then.¡± Nilenna nodded, a big smile on her face. ¡°I''m glad we met, Natasha.¡± My eyebrows rose slightly at her calling me by name for the first time. ¡°Me too, Nilenna,¡± I said softly, running a hand through her hair. She pouted. ¡°That was the perfect time to call me big sis!¡± she complained. I shook my head. ¡°I was the older sister in my past life, Nilenna. I can only see you as a friend¡­ or maybe a tummy to put a baby in¡ªkeke!¡± I joked, nudging her shoulder. ¡°What a bastard, haha!¡± she laughed, patting my shoulder. ¡°Even though you¡¯re the quiet type, you¡¯ve got a pretty unexpected perverted side, little sis. Meeting you was fun.¡± ¡°I can say the same,¡± I replied, giving her a knowing look. ¡°You¡¯re a fun person, Nilenna.¡± She reached into her robe and produced a rolled-up parchment. ¡°Here,¡± she offered. ¡°A map of the world as we Halves have explored. Tia, Shia, and Kia are included, too.¡± I accepted the parting gift with a smile, then retrieved a set of clothes from my storage. The colors matched her silver skin and hair. ¡°Here, if you ever feel like dressing up. Not as cool as an interactive world map, but it¡¯s a little something.¡± The silver Halve took them, gave the clothes a quick look, and stored them in her robe. ¡°They¡¯re beautiful. Thank you,¡± she said before walking over to Tylke, producing a large bag. ¡°Alright, Tyl. I¡¯ll drop you off on the way back.¡± The Divine placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°May your travels be fruitful and every conflict illuminating,¡± he told me before breaking down into hundreds of tiny tools, each flowing into the bag Nilenna was holding. ¡°Thanks for the gear, Tylke,¡± I said again, watching the entity fill the sack. Nilenna tucked the bag into her robe and retrieved her bow. ¡°See you soon, little sis,¡± she said, aiming at the distant western horizon. ¡°See you,¡± I replied with a nod and a smile. She loosed her arrow and vanished along with it. I turned toward the cave, alone once more. ¡°Solo leveling is so fucking boring,¡± I grumbled to no one in particular. Out of Journal. Meetings: Yolin. Dai-Mamori-no-Kami are, to Yolin Makav, something that is encountered once in a lifetime if one has good fortune. A sign that things will turn to one''s favor. As the eigth child of Bosin Makav, a successful Scout that was part of Red Island''s Comittee for State Security for two thousand years, she was raised to see things for what they truly are instead of what they appeared to be. To witness a Dai-Mamori-no-Kami is as much a sign of good fortune as it is of trouble. Trouble, however, is fun. It helps people grow and learn new things. Conflict leads to improvement, after all. As an individual following the Legacies of both Danuva and Shorvanna, combining the faith of the Clergy and the resilience of Warriors, Yolin Makav follows a simplistic yet absolutist view of the world. Does it respect the Dai-Satori-no-Kami? Does it respect the Dai-Mamori-no-Kami? Divines and Eternals are, in few words, the compass of the world.To go against them is to wander aimlessly¡ªwithout path, goal, aim, ambition, or true meaning. It is through their Legacies that people find purpose. Anything else is void of value. Thus, simplicity becomes the highest aspiration. A good fight. A good whiskey. A good meal. An honest conversation. A patch of grass to rest upon. Life was simple¡ªlike the countless islands surrounding Red Island. Until she saw Miraztor Xipnak from afar one day. The Dai-Mamori-no-Kami, in his golden brilliance and Eternal grace, was beyond anything Yolin could appraise. A being at such a peak of existence that, for the first time in her life, she questioned her own worldview. Life, perhaps, wasn¡¯t that simple. So she followed the compass pointing toward the peak.
But then, if encountering one Dai-Mamori-no-Kami was good fortune, what was the paper in her hands? Life had brought her to the city of Mountroad in the Lumin Kingdom. It was a relatively small settlement, though the Dungeon there was decent enough, in her opinion. The monsters consisted mostly of Mammals, Golems, and Insects. Traps were harder to find than hiding criminals, and the pay was good. So why? Why, after finally healing from heartbreak and deciding to give relationships another shot, was she staring at a single word on the paper? She had been called to meet potential partners, an Elf and a Luzo. But the paper in her hands? Raising her gaze to the women sitting on a couch across the table. One good eye studied them, while the other remained covered by an eyepatch¡ªa reminder of a lapse in judgment, a moment of dumb arrogance. Alyssa Pruvik and Lapia Pofeta met her gaze, welcoming and warm smiles on their beautiful faces after they introduced themselves and their set of skills. Yolin Makav, daughter of Bosin Makav, saw things as they were. One of them was among the most famous Clerics in Leks'' Chasing sphere, having acquired arguably the most complex Healing Class: Cardinal. The number of people capable of such a feat were counted with the fingers of one hand, yet some would remain folded! Out of two and a half billion people! The other was a former noble of the Queendom of Maaruuhk, from a family ranked third in its government. An Elven Master Wizard who had personally taught a Dai-Mamori-no-Kami for a decade! That wasn''t simple, was it? Yolin looked down at the paper again, her good eye going over the first two lines written on it. Name: Natasha Novak Species: Halve (Forest) ''Natasha'' was a name she had never heard nor seen in her two hundred years of life¡ªand the same was true for ''Novak''. The alliterative quality made it, in a way, rather cute in her opinion. Its phonetics stood out, piquing her curiosity. It carried a lyrical feel, almost like a name a Performer might come up with for an afternoon tale to entertain children. If encountering one Dai-Mamori-no-Kami was good fortune, what was meeting two? Yolin set the paper down on the table, her gaze flicking back to the two women sitting across from her. ¡°So,¡± she began, leaning back in the couch and crossing her arms, ¡°you¡¯re looking for a Tank. And you¡¯ve got a Halve with you?¡± She arched a brow, glancing briefly at the paper. ¡°A Halve Warrior,¡± she specified. Fifteen thousand years was a long time. The last Halve Warrior, Rozmu Imokk, was the very example of Honor in Combat, rumored to lend Legendary weapons to whoever challenged him to a duel. His two greatswords always won, though. About time, the Oni thought. Serving a Dai-Mamori-no-Kami doesn''t sound bad at all. Alyssa Pruvik chuckled, the sound deep and pleasant to the ear. ¡°Not just a Tank,¡± she pointed out, slightly shaking her head. ¡°We''re not looking for a hireling, Yolin. We''re looking for a partner in all the meanings of the word.¡± ¡°A lover,¡± Lapia Pofeta chimed in, her tone teasing and light. ¡°We includes Natasha, by the way,¡± she added with cheeky smirk, her emerald green eyes squinting in mieschief. Yolin''s brain took pause. The form she just read had a line pertaining to the Halve''s genitals. She has a penis, Yolin concluded, her mouth watering a little. A Halve Warrior... Having focused on Tank Classes, Yolin Makav could endure almost everything that was around her level on her own... granted she didn''t let her guard down like she did when she lost her eye. She had, so far, outlasted every lover she had in bed as well. But a Halve? A Warrior who''s Total Level was one thousand three hundred and fifty? That was five hundred levels more than Yolin. But life was simple. If it wasn''t, life could be made simple. ¡°Where is the Halve?¡± Yolin asked, having decided to give it a try. A good, simple fight would suffice. It would tell her everything she needed to know. Restraint, respect, care, and not any less important but wholly secondary due to being obvious, the Halve''s strength. ¡°Securing an Inn,¡± Alyssa Pruvik replied, the edges of her smile quivering in excitement. ¡°You''ll meet her soon enough.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Yolin had noticed, naturally. She was a Cleric, too. The Krystaali Luzo had scanned her no less than three hundred times in the minutes since they met, her red eyes following Yolin¡¯s frame with an focus that could carve stone. At first, Yolin chalked it up to the healer¡¯s professional instincts¡ªperhaps assessing her muscles for any structural flaws, injuries, or irregularities that could hinder her role as a Tank. After all, Alyssa''s reputation as a high-ranking cleric preceded her, and her scrutiny seemed meticulous enough to match. But no. It wasn¡¯t just that. The healer¡¯s gaze lingered too long on the curve of her shoulders, the ripple of her arms when she moved, the steady rise and fall of her chest. Yolin had caught her more than once tracing the lines of her abs with her eyes, as if mentally cataloging every muscle fiber. And then there was the tail. Luzo tails were expressive, even when they tried to hide it. Alyssa¡¯s tail betrayed her thoughts, curling and uncurling in a slow, deliberate rhythm that matched the sway of hips when walking. It wasn¡¯t random; it was purposeful. Yolin wasn¡¯t oblivious¡ªshe had seen that same pattern enough to recognize it for what it was. The healer was checking her out, plain and simple, and not with the clinical detachment of a healer analyzing a patient. No, Alyssa was thirsty. Still, Yolin found herself entertained by the Healer¡¯s attempts to conceal her interest. The rhythmic curling and straightening of Alyssa¡¯s tail might have been subtle to some, but for someone as perceptive as Yolin, it was a dead giveaway. Luzo tails weren¡¯t just for balance¡ªthey were an extension of emotion, a physical manifestation of what was otherwise left unsaid. And in this case, the tail spoke volumes. ¡°She''s quite a unique one,¡± Lapia Pofeta added with a playful tone. Yolin''s eyebrows rose at that, her attention stolen. ¡°Unique how?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Alyssa Pruvik answered with a knowing smile and look. ¡°Let¡¯s just say she¡¯s not your typical Halve¡ªwhatever you think that might mean.¡± As if on cue, the double doors creaked open, carrying the sound of footsteps into the room''s smooth floor. Yolin''s good eye shifted to the source¡ªa towering figure entering the room behind the Dwarf who had fetched her earlier. She was tall, one of two centimeters taller than Yolin, with a commanding presence that made the room feel smaller. Her hair was shining gold like the suns, cascading down her back to her knees like a peaceful waterfall, and her golden eyes gleamed with warm light. She carried herself with the kind of confidence that only came from knowing no one in the world could best her. Her clothes were simple¡ªpractical, even. Dark, comfortable looking leather garments that stuck to her figure, revealing sculpted and firm muscles everywhere Yolin''s good eye landed. The woman''s face carried an almost annoyed expression, as if glaring at the world in slight distaste. A straight nose, full lips in an almost frown, eyes a third closed, a strong and sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and the most noticeable detail: a horizontal golden line crossing the pupil. [Natasha, Forest Halve Lvl 450 Dragoon ¨C Healthy ¨C Hermaphrodite: Omniovary ¨C Recently Born] Yolin''s heart skipped a beat. A Dai-Mamori-no-Kami. In the flesh! It was one thing to hear tales of their presence, to read the ancient scripts detailing their unfathomable strength, or to listen to the reverent whispers of those who claimed to have glimpsed one from afar. But this¡ªthis was entirely different. The moment the woman entered, the air shifted. Not metaphorically, but physically, as though the weight of the world adjusted to accommodate her arrival. The stories didn¡¯t do them justice. The aura she exuded was a primal force, raw and untamed, yet perfectly controlled. It prickled Yolin''s skin, sharp and electric, like the moments before a thunderstorm unleashed its fury. A shiver raced down her spine, a visceral reaction she couldn¡¯t suppress, as if her very instincts demanded she recognize the overwhelming presence before her. But Yolin Makav, daughter of Bosin Makav, was not one to be cowed. She saw things as they were, not through the filter of fear or awe. She forced herself to meet the woman¡¯s gaze directly, taking in every detail of her striking features and imposing stature. What she saw surprised her. There was none of the arrogance often attributed to a Dai-Mamori-no-Kami¡ªno sneering superiority, no haughty commands that demanded unquestioning obedience. Instead, there was a calm neutrality in her expression, an indifference so profound it bordered on amusement. The woman¡¯s disinterested gaze swept the room, pausing briefly on Alyssa and Lapia, before continuing as though cataloging details without assigning them undue weight. This lack of ego was unnerving in its own way. Yolin had met Warriors, Wizards, Clerics, Scouts, and Archers who bristled with self-importance, their postures stiff with pride or expectation. But this woman was different. She didn¡¯t need to impose her will or prove her strength¡ªit was evident in every step, in the way the room seemed to orbit her without her making any effort to command it. It wasn¡¯t just her aura or her presence, though both were overwhelming. It was her silence. The kind that spoke volumes. Yolin had faced down monsters and Mortals alike, and there was always a certain predictability to how the strong carried themselves¡ªa tendency to posture or boast. But this woman was beyond all that. This is it, she thought and stood up, crossing her arms under her chest to ground herself. ¡°Hello, m¡ª¡± she began, her voice smooth but firm. ¡°Halve! Fight me!¡± Yolin interrupted, unable to hold back the grin spreading across her face. She took a step toward the golden Warrior. The Halve turned to the Elf and Luzo, then tilted her head ever so slightly, no reaction to being interrupted nor a duel being issued. The Dwarf at her side chuckled, clapping her back. ¡°Good luck, Lady Natasha.¡± With that, he turned and left, closing the doors behind him. Natasha''s throat moved in the telltale signs of a gulp, as if preparing for the meal in front of her, then took a step forward. With a surge of adrenaline, Yolin took a step of her own, standing firm under the studying glare of the Dai-Mamori-no-Kami. ¡°No violence,¡± the golden Warrior stated with a shake of her head, resolute and firm. ¡°Not violence,¡± the Oni corrected with a shake of her own head. ¡°Just a fight for fun,¡± she clarified and turned to grab a form from the table, holding it out to her. She took it without hesitation, scanning it quickly before looking back at the Tank. ¡°Natasha Novak,¡± she introduced herself softly, her voice silvery and smokey. ¡°Yolin Makav,¡± Yolin introduced herself as well with a wide, excited smile. The Eternal''s gaze lingered on Yolin for a moment, her golden eyes going over her frame before meeting hers again. ¡°So you¡¯re a tank?¡± she asked, switching to Orkish. Yolin felt a surge of excitement, her eyes widening in pleased surprise. ¡°You know Orkish? Good!¡± She nodded. ¡°Your form didn¡¯t say anything about Languages. I guess you haven¡¯t heard enough of them, yet. As you asked, I¡¯m a Tank. Cleric base, Monk, Paladin, and Asura. I have various skills to redirect attention and increase durability, knowledge of fighting techniques, and I can inflict enemies with a few effects,¡± she explained her Classes. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°I fight with a spear. Warrior base, Hoplite, Lancer, and Dragoon. I have a few auras and warcries, and skills to fight big monsters. My Lancer class benefits from riding a mount. I have a Ratnak,¡± the golden Warrior replied. Her voice was steady, calm, and oddly soothing. Yolin''s eye kept focusing on her lips as she spoke. There was light in there as opposed to the dark chasm Mortals have for a mouth. Natasha glanced at Alyssa and Lapia, then focused back on Yolin. ¡°Let¡¯s fight, then,¡± Yolin urged, giving her a toothy grin. ¡°We can bond later.¡± ¡°Why do you want to fight me?¡± The Eternal asked, no change in her expression so far. ¡°You¡¯re a warrior.¡± she shrugged as if the answer was obvious. ¡°I¡¯d like to test my strength against a Halve.¡± To that, the Dai-Mamori-no-Kami giggled. Her golden eyes softened slightly, and she let out a quiet laugh. ¡°Sure,¡± she said, a small grin forming on her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll hold back, though. I don¡¯t really know the extent of my strength yet.¡± Once again, Yolin Makav, daughter of Bosin Makav, saw things as they were! The woman in front of her was, despite appearances, species, power, status, or age, a simple person. ¡°No problem.¡± The Oni turned to the door, propelled by something new. A new emotion. Excitement and something else entirely. ¡°Let''s go outside, then,¡± she proposed. Yolin Makav, after encountering a second Dai-Mamori-no-Kami, found herself undergoing a surprisingly swift mindset readjustment. For all the legends and myths, all the grandiose stories woven around their existence, the truth was starkly different: they were simple. No convoluted motives, no airs of superiority, no elaborate games. They moved through the world with a directness that belied their immense power, as if their strength afforded them the freedom to simply be. Yolin liked that. She had always preferred straightforward things¡ªclear challenges, honest people, and plain truths. The Halve¡¯s disinterest in unnecessary drama or complication resonated with her. It was refreshing, grounding, in a way she hadn¡¯t expected. She''s simple, And Yolin liked simple things and people. 204 - Stop wasting time, Natasha... After playing with Sonya and giving her water, I went back into the dungeon. Thirty minutes later, I crossed the fog gate into the zombie level. The bodies were strewn around, as broken and unresponsive as when I left. Naturally, I put the face mask on while looking around. Should I check the trophies from Hell now? I considered since there was nothing trying to kill me and I was pretty deep underground. An uncomfortable shiver went down my spine. I shook my head, dismissing the thought. The trophies¡ªif I could even call them that¡ªweren''t something I wanted to deal with right now. Their presence in my storage felt¡­ wrong, like an itch I couldn''t scratch when I focused on it. Pulsating masses of flesh weren''t exactly comforting souvenirs, and the more I thought about them, the heavier their impression became. It was like they knew I was considering them. The idea of pulling out those grotesque whatever they were made my skin crawl. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that even touching them would set something in motion. A part of me wanted to leave them buried in the depths of my storage forever, but another part¡ªmore curious, more reckless¡ªwanted to know what they really were. So, just like that time in Riverfield, I abstained from checking them out, listening to my instincts. Instead, I activated [Third Heavenly Sun''s Rightful Place]. Enormous golden wings spread from my back, each five meter long. Their structure was a mix between swan and eagle, but with sharp golden blades instead of fluffy feathers. I turned to one and gave it a closer look, feeling a bit awestruck by the sheer size and detail. Each feather-blade was a masterpiece, seamlessly shifting from white-hot gold at the core to a soft, glowing edge. I stored my right armored gauntlet and leather glove, stretching a tentative hand to one. The wing moved as well, folding around me in a fluid, flexible motion. The outer surface of the blades was smooth but impossibly sharp. I flexed my shoulders, watching the wings move with my thoughts, perfectly synchronized with my body as though they¡¯d always been there... just like my third leg. Giving them an even closer look, I counted the blades, using my hands to reach around my back for the ones out of my sight. My eyebrows went up in surprise at feeling an opening in my armor to let the wings through. One hundred and seventy-two blades per wing was the final count. I trailed down the inside edge with my fingers, where the blades curved toward my back. There, the texture softened slightly, still firm but less lethal. I let out an intrigued hum and pressed my palm against one of the larger blades. A shiver ran through me as the sensation from the blade transmitted back into my shoulder, faint but distinct. ¡°AaAyYy!¡± I let out a weird sound at feeling my hand on my wing. It was like touching my own skin. I could feel the pressure, the warmth of my hand, and even the hardness of my fingernails. It was as sensitive as the palms of my hands, but instead of the fleshy surface of my hand, the wing felt as hard as metal. I curled the wing inward, watching as it wrapped protectively around me like a golden shield, then tapped the blade lightly with my knuckle and grinned as the faint vibration echoed back to my spine. Then, I wore the leather glove, the armored gauntlet, and punched the wing with all my strength. A low thud echoed in the dungeon. The impact was negligible in terms of damage and movement, the blades resilient and firm. I nodded, quite satisfied with the addition. The thought of soaring through the sky still made my asshole tighten in discomfort, but there was no denying the allure of flight itself. Maybe Shorvanna isn''t as insane as I thought, I considered with a slight frown and produced my new spear, feeling the increase in weight. From one tonne to one hundred tonnes was quite the improvement, but not something that would slow me down. I had lifted nine hundred and seventy-two tonnes back in Ladania, and I was level 1351 back then, too. Considering Nilenna''s words, I should have been able to lift 4860 tonnes back then, and I think the chains were made with Mortal limits in mind. Then again, Lapia estimated the tree weighed two thousand tonnes at the very least. Maybe she was right and I overprepared, which hurt my back. Just how strong am I? I wondered, swinging the spear around and getting used to the increase in weight while walking. God of Power sounds a bit too much, but it doesn''t at the same time. Still, it''s a bit boring that we''re that much more powerful than Mortals... and makes Yolin a bit more impressive for tanking a four thousand Strength punch to the gut. I stopped swinging for a second and squinted my eyes. Maybe I just don''t understand energy delivery? Was my wish to be the strongest actually counterproductive to having exciting challenges?Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Whichever the case, a tiny part of me lost interest in clearing the dungeon. If being a Halve meant I was so incredibly strong, so utterly beyond reach, then why level up in the first place? Shorvanna told me I''d reach level 2300 total after clearing the dungeon, but... I stopped the line of thought after recalling a crucial detail. Nilenna is level 2865 total and is a bit over two thousand years old. I''m less than one year old and I''ll be level 2300 total after this dungeon... what gives? Is there no need to continue leveling up? Maybe there''s no fifth Class? I thought of Yulianna, the oldest Halve alive. Would she know? She''s turning 6800 years old next year... That''s one old bitch, I chuckled and rested my spear on my shoulders, using both arms to keep it in place. Maybe I''ll just ask Shorvanna. Whether my life was amusing to me or not was ultimately irrelevant. My purpose wasn''t having fun. It''s perpetuating life. I walked to the closest zombie and flipped it over with a foot, looking for anything interesting to loot. The left horn had a blue ring around the base. The accessory looked to be in pretty good conditions considering the owner passed away who knows how many centuries ago. I snapped the horn and took the ring, then appraised it.
Vann''Essari''s Stradahl-Inperim Ring of Many Items (High)
Storage Item Durability B+
50m2 93% full Self Repair
A hum left me and I checked the contents. Fifty square meters opened in my mind, full of a wide variety of items. The feeling of touching objects with a stick instead of my hands was the same as that time I checked Elena''s storage item, but this one was significantly less intrusive. A few seconds of quickly going over the items, I came across seven plaque-like objects identical in size to a credit card. They were Identity Documents or something similar. I sighed and looked around me, eyeing the hundreds of thousands of broken zombies. The Floor Guardians'' death had turned the many bodies into heaps of flesh. With an even louder sigh, I removed my helmet, my face mask, and sniffed the ring, ignoring the putrid smell of death, decay, and rot, and instead focusing on the enchantments of the Storage Item. Similar to Lapia''s spells, space inside the ring smelled bent, compacted, and E''er-charged. I tried storing the ring, and, unlike Elena''s Storage Item, the thing went into my own Storage without issue. A box has no problem going inside a room, after all. Elena''s Storage Item was especially enchanted to prevent it from being stored, it seemed. Why? Because she''s a cunt. Thus, I made use of [Third Heavenly Sun''s Rightful Place] to move at 4500 meters per second, meaning thirteen times the speed of sound, to look for any Storage Item that belonged to the zombies with my nose. My [Starforged Eternium Plate Pants of Expeditious Engage]''s new enchantment prevented sonic booms from occurring, which was a great help. Necklaces, rings, earrings, fake teeth, fake eyes, and many more I snatched while following their scent. Fourty minutes later I found all Storage Items. At least those that hadn''t broken or decayed over time. Seven thousand and thirty-five accessories now sat in my storage, and the few I couldn''t put inside had their contents moved into my storage. After clearing the dungeon I''d make a short trip to Sapul and hand the items over to the Watchers, as the city probably has had a good traffic of Chasers being that close to the dungeon. If the Chasers who died in the dungeon stayed the night or rented a room for a while in the settlement, they''d be in the registry. Simple as. With the little side quest done, I put the face mask and the helmet on and walked along the walls in search of the entrance to the next dungeon floor. Sure enough, after reaching the other end of the dungeon floor I found a tunnel leading to a wall of fog. I went in, looking at the walls in case there were more handprints. [Flarr''Thunn Al''In loves it up the ass] My eyebrows joined in distaste at reading the crass message etched on the stone. [Koluum Tyrus was here. My blade remains as sharp as my will!] [Go to Tylke for upgrades! - El''kuu Lao] [Tigeas are favorite troublemakers ¨C Aerylla Kossoer] [Tried mating with a Rotten Monstrosity. Would NOT recommend ¨C Mojillia Yepat] [When in doubt, just smite it. If it survives, it probably deserves to ¨C Tylankis Arroken] [Future Protectors: Don''t trust the green statue. It¡¯s not what it seems ¨C Orbin Das] [Found the treasure. Lost my left boot. Worth it? Debatable ¨C Korin Dhongor] [The Luzo understand the beauty of stillness. They remind me to savor Eternity ¨C Sylra Medotta] [Brought a Divine weapon into this place. Left with a stick. Sometimes the stick works better ¨C Yienau Oaneu] [The smell is horrendous ¨C Finestra Palaz] [Lola Mento, Lover of Elves, was here] [Mortals prayed for rain, and when we gave it to them, they complained about the mud. Never again ¨C Ulkuanos Vertink] [One mortal asked me if Shia is edible. She wasn''t joking ¨C Nigneka Qunn] [Mortals have a saying: The Eternals help those who help themselves. I¡¯m pretty sure I never agreed to that ¨C Elre Pim] [Spent an hour watching Mortals try to unlock a door by shouting at it. I haven¡¯t laughed that hard in centuries ¨C Triantasmeliphex Khu''Utmas] [Tiny Laples invent for no other reason than why not? Bless their chaotic little hearts ¨C Saban Dija] A couple messages made me chuckle, and others made me laugh out loud. There were few crass messages, and even fewer helpful ones. Should I leave one? I wondered, thinking of what to write for others to find. An idea popped into my mind and I used my indestructible fingernail to write: [Find the illusionary wall! - Natasha Novak] I chuckled and crossed the fog wall into the next floor. 205 - The Power of the Suns in the palm of her hand! I activated [Prevention], [Initiation], [Dragoon Might], [Sharp Spear], [Long Attacks], [Spear Finesse], and [Monster Hunter] as I took the first step into the dungeon floor. A narrow bridge lead to a vast, cavernous expanse before me. The ceiling stood a few hundred meters above. Tall stone platforms around seven hundred meters wide jutted out of a churning sea of black, oozing fog from which tendrils of darkness twisted upward before dissipating near the platforms¡¯ edges, and where countless transparent beings waded like fish in a river. Narrow bridges connected the platforms, long and winding. Blurry creatures covered in shadowy blankets hung like bats from the bridges and platforms. The platforms themselves were teeming with other kind of monster: entangled masses of shadow that writhed around skulls. High above, floating under the platforms, and traversing the air between the many bridges, what looked like pale and limbless ethereal corpses moved lazily as if moved by a breeze that wasn''t really there. It was utterly silent. I focused on one of the skulls covered in shadowy masses and appraised it. [Steward of Death, Lvl 1552] I nodded in approval, then appraised the blurry creatures. [Wraithbound Cohort, Lvl 1489] Next was one of the creatures swimming in the shadowy bottom. [Chamberlain of Curses, Lvl 1502] Finally, the floating pale corpses. [Wailing Major Domus, Lvl 1595] Additionally, a heavy and thick blanket of E''er filled the dungeon floor, the energy arranged in a way that prevented sound from propagating similar to the sound-proof enchantment Mortals added to almost every building I''ve been in so far. This one, however, was everywhere around me. I brought my thumb and middle finger together and snapped them. Not a sound was made. Magical silence? I thought, taking a soundless step forward and readying my spear. That''s actually super cool. Does it work with Power Tongues? I wondered and took a deep, silent breath, then said in Infernal, ¡°Disperse!¡± My voice was louder than it should''ve been, almost like I shouted at the top of my lungs. The sound echoed in the dungeon. Every monster within earshot turned to me and started wailing. AH, YES! WHY DON''T YOU???? I retorted and took a stance, using my wings to cover my front and back. [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns] floated around me, the five spears ready to move at a thought. Around five hundred Wailing Major Domus rushed me, floating towards me as if pushed by an invisible gust of wind, their mouths unhinged and crying out for death. Pressure from everywhere assaulted me, the sound trying to slowly sneak into me and cause instantaneous death. [Prevention], as per the skill''s name, prevented me from being affected by movement-altering effects, largely diminishing the pressure, but not entirely. Not knowing -and not willing to know- if the instant death effect would affect me due to the Laws of Life governing my body or if I was immune because of them, I used the only thing at my disposal to fully counter a magical attack. That is, Infernal. ¡°When the Enlightened One, the Lord Who Looks Down With Compassion,¡± I started chanting and took aim with my spear, activating [Throw Spear] and chucking it at one of the Wailing Major Domus. The pressure vanished the moment I uttered the first word.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The weapon hit cleanly, piercing the monster between empty eye sockets. Then, it hit the one behind it, and the next. Although the weapon was moving at several times the speed of sound, the monsters did not die. Instead, they continued moving towards me as if nothing had left gaping holes in their bodies and heads. ¡°Was practicing the profound path of transcendent wisdom,¡± I continued chanting in Infernal, dispelling the monsters'' wails. I mentally made the conjured weapons fly toward the first one that survived [Spear Throw]. The golden weapons rushed it, piercing it from five different directions. Again, it did not die, but got stuck in place by the ethereal spears, the monster''s wails not stopping. Once the hundreds of Wailing Major Domus were one hundred meters away from me, their wails increased in pitch, going into ultrasound. The noise clashed with my Infernal recitation, stopping and forming a dome of displeased E''er ten meters around me. The effect shook in discomfort and disgust, its shape corrupted and becoming undone. The Stewards of Death and the Wraithbound Cohorts were approaching on ¡°foot¡±, crossing the bridges towards me while hovering a few meters from the ground. ¡°He gazed deeply into the five aggregates,¡± I kept it going as my spear returned to my hands, and thrust in the stuck monster''s direction, activating [Heavenly Punishment of the Conquering Golden Suns]. Solar-natured E''er, bright gold and hot like noon during the Aphelion, gathered around my spear and shot forward, projecting a five hundred meter long and fifty wide spear made of solid sunlight. The thirty Wailing Major Domus that got hit simply ceased to exist, there one moment and not there the next. 1800% Tenacity plus 16000 Strength, multiplied by one hundred was enough, it seemed. Long range, wide-area attacks was a smart decision, after all. ¡°And perceived that they were all empty, thus freeing himself from self-essence,¡± I continued, focusing on a specific Wailing Major Domus in the middle of the group in front of me and activated [First Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Descend]. Solar Energy gathered around me and catapulted me towards the unfortunate monster at a speed far greater than I was expecting. My body, protected by now improved Mythical armor, crashed against the creature, obliterating it from this dimension. Upon contact, a bright flash of light surged, spreading a golden wave of light one kilometer in all directions almost instantaneously. All monsters that were within range got hit by the wave, their bodies ignited by [Heavenly Mercy of the Conquering Golden Suns], golden light burning their corporeal forms. But their wails continued. ¡°Hear, wise disciple: form is emptiness, emptiness is form,¡± I chanted, chaining [First Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Descend] into [Second Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Seize]. As if reversing the wave emanated by the First Campaign, a second, wider, and stronger wave surged inward from all directions, rushing toward me from two and a half kilometers away. Like leaves in a storm, the monsters that were previously hit by First Campaign''s wave got thrown in my direction. Silent and dead. With only a second to chain the Second Campaign into the Third Campaign, I focused on a group of monsters atop a platform far away, beyond the reach of the First Campaign''s wave, and activated [Heavenly Punishment of the Conquering Golden Suns] to boost its power with [Third Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Triumph]. ¡°Form is not different from emptiness; emptiness is not different from-¡± A five kilometer long and five hundred meter wide burst of Solar Energy shot forward, vaporizing the stone platform, the bridges connecting to it, and many, many monsters. §¢§Ý§ñ§ñ§ñ§ñ§ñ§ñ§Õ§î... I uttered, or tried to, but the magical silence prevented my thoughts from coming out as sound. I covered my mouth with a hand as I floated down to land on the bridge and watched the utter destruction in shocked silence. The dead monsters landed around me, pulled by the Second Campaign''s gravity vortex. My skin and Hair absorbed their released E''er. I snapped out of it and changed the path E''er followed when entering me from Hoplite to Heavenly Golden Sun of Eternal Conquest, keeping the 90% to 10% ratio of Class to E''er pool I had going since the previous day. The dungeon was so packed with E''er that spending eleven thousand E''er in the last 12 seconds didn''t really register since I absorbed massive amounts constantly. A quick check confirmed my available E''er pool being at 14960/15000, and filled up the next instant. It ticked down a few thousand to upkeep the toggled skills, but got filled up again right after. There was now a five kilometer long gap in the terrain in front of me, covering a little less than a quarter of the new dungeon floor. I guess that''s my new ultimate attack? I wondered, reconsidering the combo in a new light while walking across the bridge. That''s absurd, I concluded and stopped at the edge of the broken bridge, looking down. The churning fog of oozing darkness was quite a distance below, maybe one and a half or two kilometers down. With my Glow now ten times wider and brighter, the entirety of the dungeon floor was illuminated as if noon, which was pretty neat. True, wading through darkness to fight cursed and undead had its allure. Bringing ultimate punishment and utter destruction with the power of the suns, however, was way better. And the range will double when [Solar Expansion Through the Eternal Heavens] levels up... I recalled, biting my lower lip. Up to two hundred and fifty kilometers... fuck me retarded... I cursed and shook my head, waiting for the skills to recharge. I wanted to use them again, of course. Shorvanna had told me that I could die if I tried rushing the dungeon. I planned to prove her wrong. Much more importantly than proving the Goddess of the path of the Warrior wrong, however, there was a matter that required me to clear the dungeon within two weeks. I had to be back at the temple by the 19th of the seventh month at all costs and by all means. I had thirteen days left and only cleared the first floor, which was a bit concerning. Why? It was Lapia''s birthday. So, I stepped off the edge and let myself float down towards the churning dark ooze far below toward the Chamberlains of Curses. I wonder what the Floor Guardian is... 206 - Fighting faster than sound Tendrils of darkness rose to meet my slow descent, wiggling and twisting all the way up. ¡°Form itself is emptiness, and emptiness itself is form,¡± I continued reciting in infernal where I left off. The shadowy tentacles quivered and dispersed like smoke blown away by wind. Clumps of shadow moved deeper in the churning darkness, gathering below me and stirring. Pillars supporting the platforms and bridges jutted out of the darkness like trees in tall grass, making for a bizarre sight. A group of around thirty Chamberlain of Curses jumped out of the shadows toward me, ethereal limbs made of shadows outstretched as if wanting to catch me. I swung my spear down at them, activating [Heavenly Punishment of the Conquering Golden Suns]. Bright gold and hot Solar-natured E''er gathered around my spear and took shape, projecting a five hundred meter long and fifty meter wide spear of solid sunlight that followed the arc of my weapon for half a second, hitting five Chamberlains of Curses. ¡°The same is true for sensation, perception, cognition, and emotion,¡± I chanted, watching as the monsters ceased to exist. The rest of the group got dangerously close. I spun mid-air to dodge the closest one and swung my spear at it. The one hundred tonne weapon, now buffed with [Heavenly Rebuke of the Conquering Golden Suns], bisected the creature in half with a bright flash of light. Dark smoke poured out of the dead monster like blood from a wound, but got snuffed out the moment it came in contact with my glow. With that as proof that my weapon could kill them, I let [Third Heavenly Sun''s Rightful Place] drop me down. ¡°Hear, wise disciple: all aspects of reality are empty of characteristics,¡± I recited while falling. More Chamberlains of Curses lunged at me from the depths of the darkness. I dodged, using my wings as shields in case they managed to touch me. The churning darkness at the bottom started thinning out the closer I got, going from a sea of black shadows at first to a thin gray fog. My Glow, it seemed, dispelled magical darkness. ¡°They are not born or destroyed, nor are they stained or pure, nor do they wax or wane,¡± I kept it going, keeping the shadow tendrils from showing up again. A particularly thick Chamberlain of Curses leaped to the pillar leading to the bridge I just jumped from and lunged at me from the side. I let it close the distance, curious to see how my armor would react with the [Heavenly Rebuke of the Conquering Golden Suns] buff active. Shadowy arms coiled around me like tendrils of smoke, and the creature crashed into me with the force of a boulder. My armor responded instantly, flaring with a hot golden light. The radiant energy seared into the monster''s smoky body, the burning shadow escaping as wisps of black vapor trailing off. The impact hurled us both deeper into the dungeon, far past the jagged platforms and dangly bridges, sending us hurtling straight to the bottom. I reached out with one hand, gripping the shadowy entity''s form like a damp towel. Twisting midair, I jabbed my spear into it with precise, rapid strikes. Each stab unleashed a golden pulse, further eroding its shadowy body. As the ground rushed up to meet us, I spun the Chamberlain beneath me, using its body as a landing pillow. We slammed into the dungeon floor with an earth-shaking crash, my spear driving into the stone like a nail through wood. The creature squirmed beneath me, pinned and unable to escape. A tide of shadowy forms surged from every direction¡ªhundreds of Chamberlains of Curses. They swarmed toward me with a mindless frenzy, limbs clawing and stretching, desperate to overwhelm. ¡°Therefore, wise disciple: in emptiness there is no volition, cognition, emotion, sensation, nor perception,¡± I intoned, quickly looking around me, then ripped my spear free from the impaled Chamberlain, its body unraveling into wisps of smoke before dying. The first thirty Chamberlain of Curses reached me. With a sweeping motion, I unleashed a storm of attacks, activating [Pierce], [Crush], [Shielded Thrust], and [Coiling Attacks]. My weapon danced with golden energy, cutting through the oncoming horde. Each strike sent bursts of radiant power tearing through their shadowy forms, shattering limbs and obliterating torsos in flashes of brilliant light.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Meanwhile, my [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns] rotated thirty meters away, following a clean orbit around me. Unlike the Deathbound Interlopers from the floor above, these Chamberlains of Curses weren¡¯t bound by a single unifying curse. Their entire bodies were constructed of layers upon layers of curses, each woven tightly into their dark masses. I stepped forward. A single step, but the ground cracked beneath my heel. My spear arced out in a crescent slash, activating [Coiling Attacks] to sweep through the nearest dozen enemies. They burst apart in golden flashes, their fragmented forms clawing at the air before vanishing. Another step. Shadowy limbs lashed out from every direction, forming jagged, claw-like shapes that sought to impale and drag me down. My armor flashed like a strobing beacon as attacks bounced off its radiant surface. Sparks and golden flares erupted as curses tried¡ªand failed¡ªto penetrate its Celestial buff. I retaliated. My spear thrust forward with [Pierce], punching through seven Chamberlains in a single strike, their bodies detonating in smoky and brilliant bursts as the skill penetrated them fourteen times each, sending their shadowy bodies scattering. ¡°No eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind!!¡± I activated [Heavenly Order of the Conquering Golden Suns]. A five hundred meter wide wave of solid, burning gold light projected in all directions, igniting the Chamberlains of Curses. Most died instantly, their vaporous masses dissolving. Two survived, their bodies shining with a gold light that burned them from the inside. I raised a hand and activated [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns]''s alternative use, allowing the conjured weapons to home into the Sunburnt pair. Ten golden spears sprung forth from behind me, flying at the pair at six thousand meters per second and impaling them to the ground instantly. That killed them. More Chamberlains of Curses showed up, their shadowy bodies effectively blocking my Glow. ¡°No sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or thoughts,¡± I continued, leaping at the oncoming horde. Landing amidst the carnage, I activated [Dragonclaw]. My spear blurred, moving faster than Mortal eyes could track, each strike carrying the weight of a mountain as I spun in place ten times in an instant. The Chamberlains of Curses shattered like glass sculptures, their cursed forms unspooling into broken shadows under the relentless onslaught. Arms reached for my neck. I grabbed one mid-swing, crushing it in my fist as my spear sliced through a dozen more, then cut the one I grabbed into ribbons with ten swipes. My weapon left an arc of gold behind with each swipe and thrust, probably cutting the remaining shadow around me or the magical silence itself. I planted my feet, taking a stance and tightly grabbing my spear with both hands, then activated [Endless Rain]. Before acquiring my fourth class, the skill was not exactly faster than me swiping and thrusting normally, delivering eighty attacks per second. Now, with increased stats and massively buffed attributes, the skill reached two hundred and thirty attacks per second. Each thrust and swipe moved at six times the speed of sound, striking with the one hundred tonnes heavy spear and the skill''s own added power. ¡°No ignorance or end of it, nor all that comes of ignorance. No withering, no death, no end of them,¡± I chanted, not taking a single breath or break since I started reciting. The monsters hit by [Endless Rain] were decimated, each hit obliterating their shadowy bodies into crumbs of darkness. I moved my wings and used [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns] to protect my back and sides. ¡°Nor is there pain, cause of pain, or end of pain. No noble path to lead from pain. Not even wisdom to attain. Attainment, too, is emptiness,¡± I recited, killing hundreds each second. The Chamberlains of Curses, unlike the Deathbound Interlopers, did not swarm me in absurd numbers. The shadowy entities far away in the distance did not approach unless I got closer. So, I deactivated [Endless Rain] and activated [First Campaign of Eternal Conquest, the Heavenly Suns Descend] as soon as the Third Campaign finished recharging, aiming at a considerably numerous group of shadow monsters a good distance away. Solar Energy gathered around me and propelled me forward in a clean arc, avoiding the few Chamberlains of Curses around me and in the way. Upon clashing with the unfortunate monster that was the targer, the one kilometer long wave got released in all directions, hitting the thousands of Chamberlains of Curses around me in a bright flash of hot golden light. ¡°Because nothing is attained, the Enlightened One, through reliance on the profound path of transcendent wisdom, in unimpeded in his mind,¡± I carried on with speaking infernal, looking at the many pillars dotting the dungeon floor''s bottom. An idea popped into my mind and I lined myself up with six pillars in front of me. I activated [Second Campaign of Eternal Conquest: The Heavenly Suns Seize], attracting the ones who survived with gravitational force. Their bodies got flung toward me like puppets whose strings had been cut. I thrust forward and activated [Heavenly Punishment of the Conquering Golden Suns], projecting a five kilometer long flare of hot and bright solid spear of light. The skill vaporized the six pillars along with the many Chamberlains of Curses in that general direction. The platforms came crushing down now that they lost their support, bringing with them the thousands of other monsters on them. ¡°Because there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and leaves hindranceful delusions far behind. Ultimately, Enlightenment,¡± I recited, spreading my arms and wings, dodging the boulders falling down. Debris, boulders, rocks, and pebbles rained down, falling on top of monsters. None died, the creatures pretty resilient at that high of a level. ¡°All Enlightened Ones of past, present, and future attain absolute perfect enlightenment through reliance on the profound path of transcendent wisdom,¡± I continued, kicking and punching Chamberlains of Curses to see if any would get crushed despite them surviving so far. ¡°Therefore, the profound path of transcendent wisdom should be recognized as the ultimate instrument of thought,¡± I chanted while moving away from the falling platform above me. While I was strong and resilient, it''d be pretty silly to test it and end up dying to a big rock falling down. The platform hit the ground, braking the ground, itself, and surprisingly, not having any effect on the thin gray fog the churning darkness became with my presence. Wails immediately struck my ears, stopping ten meters around me. ¡°Recite it like this: Gone, Gone Beyond, Gone Completely Beyond, Enlightenment, So Be It!¡± I chanted the last sentence of the mantra and gripped my spear tighter, floating up in the air to face the thousands of monsters that fell down. 207 - The answer is a Yappathon... I was facing a sea of shadow monsters¡ªa floating chorus of wails that attempted to cause instantaneous death, a tide of blurry creatures whose spells I had not yet seen, and a fog of tendrils that squirmed and wriggled toward me. My options were limited. The world is truly despicable sometimes¡ªnot Galeia herself, since she exists above value and is thus unmarriable to the concept of good and evil. Perhaps the circumstances at hand were the ones deserving of my anger. I am a woman who enjoys silence, saying little, and letting actions speak for me when the moment calls for it. I am not one to grow uncomfortable when left alone with my thoughts. I truly enjoy life with a minimalist approach. I prefer coffee or lunch dates over dinner, a walk in the park over driving around the city, simple handcrafts over designer bags or shoes, having drinks at someone''s house over clubbing, and go out to play in the snow over traveling to avoid the cold weather. That''s not to say I won''t do the latter once in a while, though. Infernal had proven to be a very useful tool for dispelling spells, enchantments, most skills, and the like. A simple word could negate a fireball. Then again, I¡¯m not fond of talking much. I prefer listening, if I¡¯m honest, though I¡¯ll speak when asked a question. My silence isn¡¯t stubbornness or a refusal to communicate¡ªit¡¯s just how I am. So, slightly annoyed and scowling a little, I tried to think of something to say in Infernal as the monsters drew closer. I don''t know many mantras, I ruminated, walking backwards to gain a few more seconds. Prayers are too short. Maybe I could just speak to the monsters in Infernal... I considered, and an idea popped in my mind as I took a deep breath. ¡°Dear misguided creatures of this dungeon. Perhaps your crude, limited existence has left you tragically unaware of the reality in which you exist. Let us begin with the most basic truth of all: this world you cling to so desperately, these spells you wield so incompetently, is nothing but a poor, imperfect imitation of a higher, truer reality. Are you familiar with Plato''s theory of forms? No? Of course, you''re not. Let me explain, for your ignorance is profound, and your misunderstanding of existence even more so." Chamberlains of Curses, Stewards of Death, Wraithbound Cohorts, and Wailing Major Domus rushed me the moment sound reached them. The blurry creatures, the Wraithbound Cohorts, moved first, their forms vibrating with the function of shift before appearing mere centimeters around me. Around forty of them. I gripped my spear and spun in a wide circle without activating any skill, swinging my spear around as fast and with as much force as I physically could. My weapon crashed into their blurry bodies. Some got cut in half, others got pushed back, and others broke under the sheer impact of the strike. I took a stance from Overwhelming Violence, gripping the spear''s bottom and the middle of the shaft, then took a flying step forward and swung around with the full intent of breaking my arms, back, legs, and feet in how much strength I put behind the attack. The monsters hit got sliced apart, the blade leaving a wound of light in their blurry bodies. A second flying step, an upwards left to right diagonal swipe. The controlled explosion of violent force sliced through three monsters. Limbs and shadows grabbed me from behind. I pivoted in midair, sweeping around me with my spear in a wide arc again. The attack cleaved through several shadowy and blurry forms, their shapes collapsing into mist that scattered like chaff in the wind. A Steward of Death flew toward me, the mass of shadows around the skull at the core forming to large arms that joined overhead. I flapped my wings and shot towards it spear first. My weapon impaled the skull. I dove down into the sea of monsters as fast as I possibly could, pushing my Eternal body to its limits. We crashed down, flattening a few monsters to death beneath us. I pulled my weapon out of the ground and the dead creature, transitioning the movement into a series of swipes at the nearest wall of monsters. Hits and blows on my back and sides were negligible, my armor, wings, stats, and attributes not something a few hits would go through. ¡°You see, there is an ultimate reality beyond the veil of this dungeon, one that transcends this pitiful material realm. Every object you see, every trap you set, every spell you cast¡ªthese are but shadows. Shadows on the wall of a cave, projected by a dim and flickering firelight. Do you know why your traps fail to stop me? It is because they are not true traps. They are mere imitations of the Form of a Trap, the ideal, unchanging essence of all traps that could ever exist. What you wield here are nothing but pale, pathetic copies. Imperfect. Frail. Weak." Blasts of shadow, E''er-charged sound waves, curses, gravity, fear, and other non-specific mind effects got dissolved, denied, corrupted, and unwound into nothing, dispelling the shape E''er took to have these effects the moment Infernal came out of my mouth. The particles shook with displeasure, disgust, and rejection. Even those laying dormant and in waiting on the ground got affected, further preventing the appearance of the large shadowy tendrils from earlier. As more and more monsters approached, the more I killed. Even though I hadn''t activated [Intimidate Prey], the creatures were throwing themselves at me with no apparent pattern nor reason, which was a bit odd but not something I''d complain about. ¡°Take, for instance, that shadow blast spell you so eagerly hurled at me earlier. A rather clumsy attempt, if I might say so. That shadow blast is not Shadow itself; it is a mere imitation of the true Form of Shadow, which exists only in the realm of the Ideal. Your little attempt at destruction failed because it lacks the purity, the perfection, of the true essence of shadow. And why? Because your understanding of reality is incomplete. You grasp at shadows without ever comprehending the light.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The Wailing Major Domus did their pitch-increase skill or spell, increasing the pressure around me but not on me. My [Heavenly Weapons of the Conquering Golden Suns] were spinning around me as fast as I could make them go, keeping a distance of thirty meters from me. Although the monsters didn''t outright die with the first hit, they got sliced open, dismembered, or greatly injured instead, which helped the second weapon, and then the third killed them. It was a pretty good skill all things considered, since they completed six hundred orbits in one second. With that in mind, I expanded their orbit around me while swinging and stabbing at the monsters closest to me and speaking in Infernal, making the ethereal spears attack the floating Wailing Major Domus far away. Simple stabs didn''t work, unfortunately, so the strategy shifted to have each spear pull in different directions once they impaled the noisy pale corpses, ripping them apart like frayed cloth. It was a decent thirty kills every second. "Plato would call this world a reflection¡ªa copy of the Ideal. And just as reflections waver and distort in the ripples of a pond, so too does your magic falter when faced with the unyielding truth of the Ideal. What is the Ideal, you might ask? It is the Eternal, unchanging blueprint of all that is. Everything in this dungeon, from the walls to the creatures like you, is derived from these blueprints but falls short of their perfection. Even your very existence is but a pale imitation of true life, ephemeral and fleeting, a dim echo of what it means to truly be." Bodies became piles, which in turn became hills. The monsters that left no corpse behind, only turning into misty dust of shadows, covered the ground and other monsters in dark soot. My armor, Mythical in quality and enhanced with Celestial Solar power, burned the grime off. The Stewards of Death, dark shadow masses surrounding skulls, morphed their bodies into limbs, tails, wings, and other body parts, but failed nonetheless to cause harm or stop my advance. My fourth Class had given me too much power, it seemed. Although I didn''t exactly like the future of my power scaling when compared to the rest of life on Galeia, I understood things. [Heavenly Punishment of the Conquering Golden Suns] trivialized the monsters around me, slaying countless with each activation. Monsters that, had I faced them before the Deathbound Interlopers, might have posed a modicum of challenge. The excitement of delving a dungeon full of Undead and Cursed once had vanished during the first minutes of entering the second floor... but killing is never supposed to be fun or entertaining. "You may wonder, then, how I know all this. How I stand here before you, speaking with such authority, while your magic disintegrates into nothingness. The answer, my pitiable foes, is simple: I walk closer to the Ideal than you ever could. My very being is aligned with the true Forms, unclouded by the shadows of this world. While you fumble about in the darkness of ignorance, casting spells like a child flailing at the wind, I stride forward with clarity and purpose, my actions aligned with the Higher Truth. You cannot harm me because your attacks are no more real than the shadows on the wall of Plato''s cave. And I, my dear creatures, am not bound by shadows." The monsters chased me whenever i took flight, gathering below me if they couldn''t fly or keeping up on the air if they could. While killing them in droves with no loss of energy or health on my part was not entertaining in the slightest, it was educational to see how they used, interacted with, and reacted to E''er. The curses that made their bodies, the many ways shadow solidified in myriad forms, the process through which they affected sound to try and kill me, and the speed at which they shifted from one place to another. Unlike Bonte''s use of E''er to shift through shadows, achieving something similar to teleportation, the Wraithbound Cohorts simply advanced through space in a straight line, skipping the distance altogether. Were it a mortal facing them, the surprise teleport attacks would have been a tough factor to face. For me, who sensed the start and destination of the skill by how E''er shifted the moment it was intended to happen, it was a matter of waiting for the creatures to get closer to pierce, swipe, grab, kick, punch, or headbutt them. "What is a dungeon if not a cave? A dark, narrow place where those who dwell within see only flickers of light and mistake them for reality. You are prisoners in this cave, chained by your ignorance, unable to turn your heads and see the true light of the Heavenly Suns. And I, my unfortunate little adversaries, am the one who has seen the light. I am the one who has stepped out of the cave, who has gazed upon the brilliance of the Ideal and returned to show you the way." The Stewards of Death, unlike their name which implied something interesting, simply manipulated shadows. Bathed in my Eternal Glow, the only tool at their disposal was the masses around the floating skulls. A few hits were mildly amusing, striking my arms and making me miss once or twice, but nothing more. Bonte had a more creative use of Shadows. "Do you not see how your existence is pitiable? You scuttle about in this cave, content to hurl your feeble spells and set your flimsy traps, never realizing that your lives are nothing but shadows cast by a greater, truer reality. And now, faced with one who understands the truth, who embodies the Higher Forms, you crumble. Your spells unravel, your traps fail, your very essence begins to fade. This is not because I am cruel, but because truth, by its very nature, dispels falsehood. The light of the Heavenly Suns dissolves the shadows, and I, aligned with that Heavenly Light, dissolve you." The masses followed, died, and surged toward me. I advanced unimpeded, leaving hills of bodies and soot-covered ground behind. Focusing on the pillars supporting the platforms, I activated the Campaigns of Eternal Conquest to shatter them and bring the monsters down to me. The frecuency of level-ups was much slower than the first Dungeon Floor, however. Heavenly Golden Sun of Eternal Conquest had gone up a mere 54 levels since I entered the dungeon, and nothing of note had changed other than my stats. "What does it mean for you, dear monsters, to understand that you are mere shadows? Does it fill you with despair? Does it unsettle your fragile sense of self? Good. It should. For only in confronting the truth of your existence can you hope to transcend it. Though, I must admit, that is unlikely. Since, in order to transcend, you would need to abandon your chains, to step out of the cave and face the blinding light of the Ideal. But alas, you are creatures of the cave, bound by the ilusions of this world, incapable of rising to the higher reality. And so, your end is inevitable." The platform fell and broke, bringing hundreds of thousands of monsters with it, all rushing around and towards me. I took aim and activated [Heavenly Punishment of the Conquering Golden Suns] three times in a row. Two swipes and one thrust. Almost all of them died in mere seconds, the power of the Suns too destructive. "I almost pity you, you know? Almost. But pity, too, is a shadow... a reflection of the true Form of Compassion. And I have no time for shadows. Now, be unmade, as all falsehoods must be, and let the truth of the Ideal cleanse this dungeon of your illusions." Right then. Without warning. Out of nowhere. A portal near the ceiling opened and from it fell a statue of gargantuan size, crashing on the ground in the middle of the Dungeon Floor. Two kilometers tall and five hundred meters wide. The sheer force of its landing made the ground tremble violently beneath my feet, more than anything I¡¯d ever felt. The shockwave tore through the ground, sending chunks of stone flying and sending pillars shattering to the floor. Every platform collapsed with the force. The monsters caught beneath it died, flattened under probably hundreds of thousands of tonnes. Discolored green like oxidized copper, oozing shadows out of every crevice, crack, and seam. The statue was shaped like me. Naked. My eyebrows shot up at such an unceremonious arrival and display of my likeness. A hot, disorienting wave of anger washed over me, then I appraised the statue. [Floor Guardian ¨C The Doubt, Lvl 2103] 208 - The Doubt - Part I There was no word, no concept, no fragment of language in existence that could capture the depth of my fury. It was beyond rage, beyond hatred, beyond the primal instincts of war and destruction. It was a desecration, a blasphemy carved into the fabric of reality itself, an insult so absolute that my very being recoiled against it. Galeia had crafted me with her own will, a Halve, a being of flawless purpose, and yet here, standing before me, was a grotesque mockery of that perfection. A wretched pile of stone and shadows, daring... daring!!! To bear my image. The sheer audacity, the unbearable arrogance of such a thing. To take my likeness and drape it over itself like a poorly stitched costume. To assume, even for a moment, that magic, that trickery, could recreate what Galeia had shaped. It was a deception so vile that my stomach churned with revulsion. This was not mere insult. This was defiance. A challenge made not through words or action but through existence itself. A monster, a thing without purpose, standing there, wearing my face, as if it belonged in the same world as me. It was not just wrong. It was impossible. My beauty was not something to be copied. My form was not something to be worn. My presence was not something to be imitated. This abomination was a contradiction, an impossibility, an offense against the very logic of creation. It had no right to exist, no right to stand before me, no right to take up space in a world that had crafted me to protect it. My hands trembled, not with fear, not with hesitation, but with the sheer magnitude of my disgust. The Flow of E¡¯er twisted violently around me, responding to the firestorm in my chest. It knew. It understood. The very energy itself recoiled alongside me, shuddering at the presence of this thing. A weight crushed down on my skull, not from exhaustion or strain, but from the sheer concentration of my fury, a force barely restrained by the thin veil of my self-control. It wanted release. It wanted obliteration. My every fiber screamed to act, to unmake, to tear this insult from reality with my own hands. I could not allow this. I could not allow it to stand for even another breath, another second. I could not allow the thought, the memory, the possibility that something like this had ever been real. I would carve it from existence. I would burn it from time itself. I would make its creation an impossibility, a mistake so thoroughly undone that even E''er would forget it had ever tried to be. The heat came first. A scorching, unbearable furnace igniting in my chest, rolling through my veins like molten gold. My skin prickled as if the very air recoiled from touching me, the space around me warping under the sheer intensity of my wrath. My breath came slow, deliberate, but with every exhale, the temperature rose. A thin haze of steam rose from my skin, from my lips, from the very edges of my armor as my body rejected the mere concept of stillness, of calm. The Flow of E¡¯er twisted and snapped, writhing around me like a chained beast straining against its leash. My very presence became an anomaly, something too much, too bright, too sharp for the world to contain. The ground beneath me blackened, not from fire, but from something deeper, something worse. Reality itself recoiled. My Solar-natured Glow pulsed, not in gentle radiance, but in erratic bursts, solar flares of golden wrath lashing at the cavern walls, casting wild shadows that stretched and trembled like frightened prey. Then came the trembling. Not mine¡ªthe dungeon''s. The ground beneath the corpses cracked and buckled, deep fissures webbing outward in jagged, unnatural patterns. Stones lifted into the air, pulled from their resting places as if gravity itself had become confused by my presence. The pillars, the broken remains of the platforms, the very walls of the dungeon shuddered as the weight of my rage pressed against them. My heartbeat was a war drum, slow and thunderous, and with each pulse, the tremors grew worse, as though the dungeon itself feared what would come next. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. My grip on my spear was crushing, the metal groaning in protest, golden veins of E''er pulsing up its length in violent, erratic surges through [Heavenly Rebuke of the Conquering Golden Suns]. I was not in control of my power anymore¡ªit was in control of me. The sheer, indescribable offense of that thing¡¯s existence twisted my stance, made my muscles coil with a strength that demanded to be spent. I had to act. My every movement was charged with the kind of tension that could break mountains, like a blade drawn back too far, moments from snapping under its own pressure. And my eyes¡ªGaleia¡¯s own gaze through me¡ªshone like dying stars, their golden light pulsing, flickering, twisting in ways that should not have been possible. The cavern, the corpses¡ªnone of it mattered. The only thing I saw was it. That mockery of my form, standing there, drenched in shadow, existing when it should not. My fury was beyond fire. Fire was mortal, fleeting, something that could be extinguished with time and reason. This was older. This was wrath etched into the marrow of the world, a force that had been honed across a million years of suffering and violence. A million years of Hell. A million years of the same inexorable, unending rage, layered so deep into my being that even I had forgotten its depth. But now something had pulled at that buried pool, had dragged it, unwilling, from the void where I had left it sealed. And in its arrogance, in its foolish attempt at imitation, The Doubt had undone what even time itself could not erode. It had awakened me. The Odyssey had spoken of the wrath of Achilles, a fury so consuming that it toppled kings and armies alike. The Mah¨¡bh¨¡rata had described Arjuna¡¯s celestial anger, a force that scorched battlefields and turned men to ash. The Aeneid told of Juno¡¯s divine rage, a goddess who sent storms to ruin entire nations. None of them had ever held this. Those were stories of anger. This was something greater. This was the return of a force that was meant to be buried. The rage of a being who had walked through a Hell beyond mortal comprehension, who had bathed in the blood of demons, who had crushed the Abyss under my heel and stood, mind broken, in its ruins. And something had dared to imitate me. The insult was unforgivable. The very concept of it burned in my mind like an infection, like rot spreading through something pure. That grotesque, soulless construct standing before me, that thing wearing my face, my form, trying to be me¡ª It was a violation. Not merely of me, but of what I was. Of what a Halve was meant to be. I am a child of the world. Created, shaped, and born with absolutism stitched into my very being. There was no second of my existence that was not perfect, that was not true. And this thing, this shambling facsimile, had the audacity, the sheer blasphemous gall, to pretend. But it was wrong. I could see the flaws instantly. The hollowness of it. The absence of me in it. It did not have my soul. It did not have my mind. It did not have the weight of a million years of pain, of rage, of violence. It did not know what it had done. It did not know what it had touched. And it would not live long enough to learn. But it should. It tried to take all of me, didn¡¯t it? It wanted to be me. Then it should know what I have known. It should feel what I have felt. It should be buried in the memories of carnage, in the echo of every scream I have ever torn from a demon¡¯s throat, in the endless slaughter of an entire dimension¡¯s corruption... I would give it to it.