《Digital Me - Angels and Devils》 Chapter 1 ¡°I wish to congratulate you on your successful digital migration to the Epsilon System and am happy to inform you of the many different options we have for colonization. Currently, your balance after the migration is 1,734,528 UC and 193 karma. This amount is not sufficient to get our high-end plans, but there are many medium-range plans that are well within your means.¡± An ethereal voice said the moment I regained consciousness. Jerald felt strange as he heard the voice talking to him and it took him a moment to try to remember what was going on. A few moments later he realized where he was, and what he was doing there. He was an outcast who was exiled from not only his country but his world, and he was outcast because he dared to fall in love with somebody he shouldn¡¯t of. The woman was not a nice person either, but he couldn¡¯t help his feelings, and like clockwork, she betrayed him and threw him away when he became an issue. Jerald wasn¡¯t given a choice to die or not, because ever since the people of Earth were brought into the Altran Alliance of worlds they had found a better way of dealing with criminals. They would have them judged and sent to the digital crossroads. The process was extremely painful, but if the process was successful they would be sent to one of the hundreds of systems to a digital purgatory where they could work their way back into the good graces and they could even have their souls placed back into a physical body at one of the many Altran worlds in the alliance. He had no idea how it worked, but the pain was overwhelming, and he felt like his body and soul were compressed to the size of a grape and then burst. It was a horrible experience that no rational person would want to live through again. He had just survived that exact experience and his thoughts were interrupted by the voice again. ¡°Since this is the first time you have digitally transmigrated you have no digital body, and because of that we have provided a temporary body at no cost to you. The form will dissipate after 5 days, so I suggest you create a transitional body for any future digital transmigrations. Any further temporary digital bodies will cost 500 UC per day in the future.¡± Jerald felt a strange sensation as suddenly his senses appeared from nowhere. He raised his hand and saw a gray hand without any definition in front of him, and when he looked down, he saw he was in a gray body that looked to be thin and gangling in nature. The first thing he thought of was the alien movie about creatures in gray that abducted people to do strange experiments. He also noticed his hand only had four fingers longer than what he had before. Suddenly information about the form streamed into his mind and he knew that this species did not speak with vocalization, but with their mind. It was awkward but he could live with it, and even though he wanted to vocalize Jerald finally pushed the word out of his mind toward the voice and said. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Good, it seems you adjusted nicely to the body.¡± The voice stated. ¡°Now there are a couple of options for you. You could take the time to create a permanent body that will be held here and will be connected to your soul core, or you could just jump ahead and pick a path and complete your transmigration to your new sector in the Epsilon System. Whatever you choose you must bring up your soul interface by awakening the system in your soul core. This type of command is based on your intention and not the actual words you say, but to focus your intention you can use triggers as simple as thinking awake my interface with the intention being on doing just that.¡± ¡°Awaken interface.¡± Jerald thought focused on doing what the voice said. Suddenly a screen popped up in front of him, and there was information in a language in what looked to be English. On the left side of the screen in the box was the gray gangling form of the body he was inhabiting, and on the right were seven tabs that were arranged vertically in the box. The names on the boxes were Core, Personas, Financial, Followers, Seeds, Bloodlines, and Sanctuary. He looked at the screen and picked the first category which was core, and he opened the first thing it had was a picture of a small crystal that was rotating around, and to the right, It had some statistics, and he focused on them to see what was there.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Name: Jerald Mercer Title: Digital Transmigrater Age: Day 1 Soul Core: Base Level 1 [15%] Soul Energy: 123 Units Soul Sanctuary: None Personas: 0 (Temporary Persona Remaining time: 8957 minutes) Soul Talents: Charismatic Essence, Eidetic Memory Soul Shards: 0 Jerald looked at the information and didn¡¯t really understand much of it, and to be honest with himself the only true things he understood were his name and age, because those were obvious. The title he had some understanding of because the voice had called him that, but he didn¡¯t know what being a digital transmigrater truly meant. The other thing he noticed was that his temporary body had almost 9000 minutes, but 5 days would be 7,200 minutes at the start. If going by 9,000 minutes that would be 5 days at 30 hours per day, and then he was shocked at how easy that was to figure out. He would have been oblivious to it in his old life, but it was clear as day now. He backed out of the core category and then looked at the second one which was personas and he entered. Currently, his gray alien body was again on the left side, but on the right were some more tabs. The top one had Create Core Persona, while the second one had transient Persona. The third AI persona and the last box was the Persona Directory. Jerald had no idea what to do, but he finally decided to take things one step at a time and make a more comfortable persona. He was confused about what to do, but then the moment he asked the question of how to make a permanent form here the information seemed to flow into his mind. He blinked as the information settled there and he tried to pick through it Finally he, understood that this was currently his temporary core body, so he needed to create a core persona. He focused on the create core persona button and the screen changed and suddenly things became much more complex. There was so much detail in the creation of a persona, and every little detail cost money or reduced the cost. He wasn¡¯t sure the reason why, but the base male human model was 10,000 UC and that was without hair and pale as chalk. When he added color to the skin the price increased with each tint, and when he added hair, eye color, muscle mass, and so forth it kept on increasing. It didn¡¯t increase a horrible amount, but when he finally made a persona, he liked the total ended up being 84,230 UC. The issue was that the look of the persona wasn¡¯t the end of it, because there was an option that gives the core persona added traits and abilities. Jerald wasn¡¯t sure what the purpose of the traits and abilities but the moment he entered a message came up and it said that because this was the first core persona created there would be a one-time only 40% discount on traits and abilities. Jerald sighed because it truly interested him, and he spent the next day going over all the talents and traits and what they did. He wasn¡¯t sure if this was a carryover from his past life, but he felt excited when went over them. The problem there were just too many options, and they all cost some serious UC even with the discount. The lists were broken down into three different categories which included talent, abilities, and bloodline. The talents were knacks that the person naturally had and didn¡¯t require an action to do. They included things that made the person charismatic, intimidating, thrifty, and a hundred other types listed there. The abilities were different, and these things were things that you had to put into action or do. They included things like telekinesis, energy manipulation, communicating with creatures, invisibility, and many more. The last category of bloodline was different and why choosing one would give you some talents and abilities They were all racial abilities or familial abilities that opened certain pathways that would be unattainable otherwise. Jerald had no idea what to choose and he slowly went through the different lists listing a few that he wanted to have. The first time through he picked five talents, four abilities, and two bloodlines. He looked down at the list and sighed as these were the ones, he felt he truly wanted. Talents: Friendly Aura: 13,358 UC Advanced Comprehension: 14,627 UC Mental Fortitude: 7,334 UC Fortunate Attractor: 18,303 UC Unusually Lucky: 29,352 UC Abilities: Healing Touch: 72,934 UC Temporal Sight: 63,582 UC Body Control: 31,257 UC Shape Shift: 93,421 UC Bloodlines: Demonic Bloodline: 173,559 UC Belmarion Bloodline: 183,523 UC The total that came from his choices was 698,250 UC which was a huge chunk of his UC that he had. Though according to his understanding, these things being part of the core persona would always be in all other personas he created. He looked back over the list and thought about if there were any more that he wanted and sure enough, there were, but in the end, he only picked two more talents because he wasn¡¯t sure how much more UC he would need and how long the remaining UC would last. He added the Familial Bond and Danger Sense to the talents racking up another 23,128 making the total 721,378. Chapter 1 (2) Jerald hesitated and then pushed complete and it moved on to the next step in the creation of the core persona. The next screen was the historical part of the core persona and why it was cool to have a back ground. He was confused on the point of it. He had no history except the one from Earth, and to be honest, he didn¡¯t want to continue that one. The fact that he saw there was a continue button meant that it wasn¡¯t completely necessary, but he always did like to write and create. He decided decisively that it would be good to have a fresh start even though it was just a illusion. The more he thought about the more he was interested in having a fresh start and one he could control. The first thing that came to his mind was how lonely he was growing up with out a family and few friends. It was the main reason why he allowed himself to be used by the woman he loved, and the friend that betrayed him. It was a regret that nagged at him and why he tried to let it go. He knew deep down inside it was a knot that was so tight that it could never be untied. This opportunity to rewrite his past almost made him feel relieved in a way. He had to do it right, and make sure he was happy with it. To Jerald it was a exercise in freeing his soul, and the thought of it made him smile or at least as much as he could for a gray alien that had no lips. He let out a mental sigh and organized his mind and then with just a thought his new life story flowed on to the screen. When he was done, he weaved a story of young man that cherished his family and friends growing up and his wish to grow up to be strong of mind and body. He tried to depend on wisdom to always find a way to fight through any difficulties. He went through hardships, but as he grew, and his prowess grew and became more powerful. He had fallen in love with many woman and had several children with several loving wives that stood beside him. He wasn¡¯t overbearing but focused on invention and protecting his family and the people he had sway over. Jerald almost felt like he had lived that life as he finally passed away and ascended to where he was now. His core history moving forward and his previous life from Earth just a poor memory of dream he didn¡¯t truly enjoy. He truly felt happy as he looked at his history on the screen before him and surprisingly the history filled in with names of people he loved and children he raised and memories he had just created. He was satisfied and with out him having to press continue the screen moved forward to the last screen of the process, which had all his information on it and a simple phrase. ¡°Do you want to complete your core persona Jerald Mercer?¡± Yes or No Jerald didn¡¯t decide and looked over his information once more. ___ ___ ___ Name: Jerald Mercer Title: Digital Transmigrater Age: Day 3 Soul Core: Base Level 1 [15%] Soul Energy: 123 Units Soul Sanctuary: None Personas: 0 (Temporary Persona Remaining time: 4124 minutes) Soul Talents: Charismatic Essence, Eidetic Memory Soul Shards: 0 Karma: 193 Talents: Friendly Aura: 13,358 UC Advanced Comprehension: 14,627 UC Mental Fortitude: 7,334 UC Fortunate Attractor: 18,303 UC Unusually Lucky: 29,352 UC Danger Sense: 12,127 UC Familial Bond: 11,001 UC Abilities: Healing Touch: 72,934 UC Temporal Sight: 63,582 UC Body Control: 31,257 UC Shape Shift: 93,421 UC Bloodlines: Demonic Bloodline: 173,559 UC Belmarion Bloodline: 183,523 UC Core Persona total cost: Body: 84,230 UC Traits, Abilities and Bloodlines: 721,378 UC ¨C [40%] = 432,827 UC Total Cost: 517,057 UC ___ ___ ___ If it wasn¡¯t for the 40% discount it would have taken up over have of his total UC he had, but it still took up quite a bit. He had 1,734,528 UC at the beginning and after he accepted the core persona, he would only have 1,217,471 UC left. It felt like it was a huge fortune at the start, but more than a quarter was gone with the first persona he created. He couldn¡¯t do anything about it though and with a heavy heart he accepted by thinking yes at the prompt. Jerald once again felt the connections with his body dissipate and new connections form. It was only a few minutes he felt nothing, but he really didn¡¯t like the feeling. Soon he could feel his arms and legs again and when he reached up, he saw a human hand in front of him and he smiled. He looked down and was still naked, but at least what he saw was his body he just created. He looked down to make sure he was the right gender and saw that everything was in the right place and then he opened his interface again.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Name: Jerald Mercer Title: Digital Transmigrater Age: Day 3 Soul Core: Base Level 1 [39%] Soul Energy: 123 Units Soul Sanctuary: None Personas: 1 [Core] Soul Talents: Charismatic Essence, Eidetic Memory Soul Shards: 0 Karma: 193 Current UC: 1,217,421 UC Jerald looked around and there was nothing there not even walls where he was. He tried to think back to if there was anything there when he was given the temporary body and he couldn¡¯t remember anything but a screen after he awoken his interface. He blinked and smiled because he could blink now, and he looked around the mist filled room area. ¡°Hello, are you still there?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°I am.¡± The voice said. ¡°How may I help you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what I should do next.¡± Jerald said. ¡°To enter other parts of the Epsilon System you need a core persona which you have created, a sanctuary which has the proper portal pads to the systems you wish to enter.¡± The voice responded. ¡°So, the sanctuary should be next.¡± Jared cringed as he realized that there went more UC. Jerald opened the main page of the interface and opened Sanctuary tab, and like the creation tab there were numerous options. The base sanctuary was a 100,000 UC, and as he opened it up to look at it wasn¡¯t anything special. The human model came with a living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and two portal rooms could host portals that were F class portals. Jerald looked at the information and wondered what it meant by F class portals and decided to ask. ¡°Can you tell me the difference in classes for portals?¡± ¡°Each world in Epsilon System has a rating and to go to those worlds you have to have a high enough portal rating. A F class portal rating can only go to F class planets, but a S class portal rating can go to any planet in the system and take you to different systems within the nexus. Each portal spot can only go to a specific world and if you want to go to a different world you will have to add a F class portal pad and upgrade it or take one you have and upgrade it to the rating of that world.¡± The voice explained. ¡°So, the base sanctuary would give me everything I need to start and link two worlds to the sanctuary correct?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°That is correct it would give you the necessary things needed at the lowest cost, but like most base models it is highly inefficient.¡± The voice said. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°A sanctuary is the core of your powers and the more stable it is the more stable everything that follows is.¡± The voice said. ¡°In your human race a person lives a hundred years and then passes away, but here your life is literally eternal, but the condition you live your life is not. There are some that live there life humbly and are happy, but others in some worlds are thought of as gods.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t die?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°You can die, but not the same way as on your world. Your core is the most important thing and its health and stability is vital.¡± The voice said. ¡°The stronger your core the more you can do and the larger your sanctuary the more can be created. On the other hand though, if your core is weak and has no stability it can eventually weaken enough to collapse. If that happens your persona and life collapses with it and becomes destabilized spiritual energy that will never be able to hold a consciousness again. So yes, you can die if you do not care and solidify your sanctuary where you live. A base sanctuary is less costly, but quite a bit less stable too.¡± ¡°How can you tell how stable your sanctuary is?¡± ¡°Your sanctuary has a percentage that tells you how stable it is or how stable it will be to build in the interface.¡± The voice explained. ¡°It ranges from 0% to 100% with 100% being more stable. If you choose the base sanctuary it will be reasonably stable, but to make it more stable will cost more funds in the long run.¡± ¡°How do you earn UC then?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°Your sanctuary doesn¡¯t have the resources to earn UC or Universal Credits, but when you go to another world through one of your portals you can actually donate currency or items to add to your UC. It can be done through your interface or by ritual where others offer you it via donations or prayers.¡± ¡°What you mean like to a god?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°Yes, that is exactly what it means.¡± The voice said. ¡°You though are a long way from that.¡± ¡°Let me get this straight.¡± Jerald said. ¡°For me to survive I have to go down to convince digital people to donate to me so I can earn UC and make my sanctuary stronger?¡± ¡°Yes and No.¡± The voice said. ¡°Yes, you must go down and either donate the funds you earn or get people to donate to your name, but you are wrong about something. What makes you think the people in the worlds aren¡¯t as real as the ones in the place you came from?¡± ¡°I was digitized and sent here.¡± Jerald said. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a place created by artificial intelligence to house those that are thrown away by their worlds?¡± ¡°You did arrive here through a digitalization process, but Jerald this is real.¡± The voice said seriously. ¡°The only reason why you are in this position right now is because you had positive karma and thus have started out from a better position. Those that have negative karma are reborn on one of the worlds to live their life to balance out the negative karma they have. There death takes them right back in the reincarnation sequence, but you are having over 50 positive karma have been given an opportunity. It is an opportunity you can lose if you lose all your positive karma. Many that take the shape of gods have fallen because of they don¡¯t understand this.¡± Jerald was about to make a sarcastic remark, but then stopped when he realized he was standing in a body he just created, and he was about to make a comment on a world he really knew nothing about. He would be the fool in this situation, and he took a deep breath and realized he was sick and tired of being the fool. The momentary pause let him gain his train of thought and he finally said. ¡°Your right of course.¡± Jerald said calmly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t taking this serious enough, and I am going to try to not make the same mistakes I made in the previous life.¡± Jerald listened to the voice and didn¡¯t choose the base sanctuary, but he did use it as an example. He saw the stabilization rating on the base, which was 50% which made sense. I opened several human type structures and took the time to start to piece them together. The first one had a 102,352 UC cost, but the stabilization rate was less and had dropped to 43%. I frowned and broke it apart again and time after time again I built and broke down. The best stabilization rate I had received was 58% and the worst was 39%. He was frustrated and changed after a while he took off the filter and the multitude of other options were shown and in stead, Jerald broke them down in to room types rather than human types. The stabilization rate of my sanctuary rose, but so did the cost as well, and Jerald had lost track of how much time it took. He finally had a breakthrough and gained a stabilization rate of 81% and a cost of 312,934 UC. The sanctuary design used several alien races designs and, in the end, he only had two human rooms. The first was the bathroom and the second was the portal pads. Everything else was of alien design and to be honest the human portions really did make the house look blander than the alien designs. The living room was a semi garden with a circular pool that condensed into a data screen. The kitchen was similar and looked like a natural garden rather than the typical fridge and stone. There were a few natural stone surfaces for somebody to cook, and plants scattered located in different positions that had ingredients waiting to be plucked off the vine or pulled from the ground. The whole living area was shaped under a glass dome that allowed natural lighting in. There were three archways in the living room that turned into glass walled hallways that lead in different directions. A long hallway lead to two separate small glass rooms that hosted the two portal pads. Another hallway lead to the bedroom and to the bathroom that was the only room that had solid walls. The last hallway lead to the exterior of the house and another large garden area that had everything from fruit trees to a large pond. The sanctuary was more like a garden home that was surrounded in white mists looking more heavenly that the normal base setting. The house and ground were fully stocked with vegetation and daily necessities from cooking pans to simple clothes and shoes in the bedroom closet. Jared could only sigh at the look and he could now see how people could think of themselves as gods if they all lived in such beautiful places. He left open plans for expansion in the future but for now he accepted the sanctuary and confirmed the purchase. Soon he found himself in the sanctuary and with out hesitation he walked toward the bedroom his body still naked and toward the closet where he found a set of small clothes and simple white trousers and a shirt and put them on. Chapter 1 (3) Jerald fell in love with his sanctuary the moment he appeared in it, and he thought to himself it was well worth the credits he spent. The problem now was he had to earn more credits and he had been told they have to come from donations from a world. He still had no idea exactly how he was supposed to do that and even how it worked. After getting on clothes, he went to the center fountain and the moment he stepped close a holographic blueprint of his new sanctuary appeared hovering over the fountain. The three-dimensional illustration of the sanctuary spun around and with a thought one of the portal pads came up and grew so it was clear. The portal pad was almost like a stage with a giant archway on it, but currently the archway was empty, and you could see to the back side of the room as if was normal. The other portal pad was the same with nothing between the archway, and Jerald zoomed out and with a thought exchanged the three-dimensional image for the interface. Just like before his personal screen and the choice boxes were hovering before him. The Core, Personas, Financial, Followers, Seeds, bloodlines and Sanctuary boxes sat there, and currently he had only explored the core and sanctuary ones. He opened the financial and saw it had a breakdown of the UC and what he had used and paid, and he backed out and went to the bloodlines and it had the Demon and Belmarion bloodlines available. He clicked on demons and it had a list of different types of demons and the bloodline abilities they had, and he quickly went back and to the belmarion and it had a list of different types and abilities. These he didn¡¯t have a clear understanding and would have to go through and see what it gave him. He backed out to the start area again and hesitated a moment before going into the seeds section. The moment he entered found another selection of tabs and a frustrated look came over his face. The tabs that he saw were Seed Creation, Current Seeds, Seed Bloodline and Seed Resurrection. ¡°What are the purposes of the Seeds?¡± Jared asked out loud. ¡°Seeds are tools you can use with out going to the worlds yourself, and they cost .1 spiritual units. Any world you have access through your portals to can be viewed by you, and by creating a seed you can insert a seed into a person during the pregnancy period and that will create a bond with them. The bond will give the fetus a boon of one of your traits, abilities or bloodlines. This bond will grow the more you use it and pay attention to it, but in the end, you can only guide the seed you can¡¯t control it. The way you guide it could lead it to good or bad results, and there are many positive or negative consequences that can come from there lives.¡± The voice explains. ¡°The strength of the bond can carry over to offspring of the seed as well, but on a weaker scale. If you do not pay attention to the offspring and strengthen that bond, then the bond can eventually snap, and you will lose all connection with them.¡± ¡°So, in a way this is like playing Sims on a greater scale.¡± Jared mumbled and then asked. ¡°What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of the seeds?¡± ¡°A seed that does good things and brings positive change to others can gain karma, and you can gain karma too if you are guiding it. You can also gain UC from donations from them if you build an altar in your sanctuary. They can also spread the word about you to others and if your altar grows in levels you can affect those that pray to you buy giving out temporary boons as well. Only a seed can have a permanent boon though.¡± The voice said. ¡°The problem is that the good things you get can also turn bad if your seed brings negative changes, and you could lose karma and bring down wrath on your seeds or family of the seeds. The stronger your bond and influence also directs how much it will negatively effect you as well.¡± ¡°So, your saying that Seeds are a viable way to grow my UC and karma with out me spending a huge expense on creating a persona?¡± Jared questioned. ¡°It is and a well-placed Seed or two can help your persona as well if it is planned well.¡± The voice added. ¡°Though seeds can only get you so much, and to truly grow your personas are much more efficient.¡± ¡°What is the difference between seeds and followers then?¡± Jerald questioned.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Seeds are pretty much having freedom of choice, while followers you have control over, and their bond is permanent. A seed can become a follower of a persona that it meets in person or not depending on the seed.¡± The voice said. ¡°Followers also can ascend to your sanctuary if they meet the requirements and their bond is solid.¡± ¡°You said that seeds use up percentages of spirit units to create, but is there a way for me to grow my spirit units back?¡± ¡°Yes, depending on the devotion or faith of your seeds, there offerings or prayers may convert into spirit units.¡± The voice said. ¡°Just like a person that is converted and believes in you can form a bond and become a seed. The amount you gain depends on a number of variables.¡± ¡°So, making a few seeds might be a good choice so I can have a better understanding of the world I am going into.¡± Jerald mumbled. Jerald thought about the possibilities, but a question seemed to constantly nag pop up in his thoughts. Why was he here and how could this happen to him? He wasn¡¯t anything special and he wasn¡¯t god material at all. He had been a patsy that loved a woman and trusted a friend that stabbed him in the back and the sad thing was he knew it would happen deep down. Was he truly good enough to be a powerful figure like this or would he truly screw up others lives just like he did his own? ¡°Does everybody that is digitized become people with the ability to have a sanctuary?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°No of course not.¡± The voice said mockingly. ¡°Only those with a positive karma above 50 get this right. The contract with the governing body that sent you were for those that committed crimes that were destructive to society. These would have gone into the purgatory system and their souls would enter the cycle of rebirth. Your karma level and the truth of your actions was what gave you the high UC total and the compensation of where you are placed.¡± Jerald only nodded even though he wasn¡¯t sure it was correct it was where he was at. He had always been a realist at heart even when he was the pawn of his emotions. He took in a shallow breath making sure he was still alive, and this wasn¡¯t a dream and then started to create steps to what he could do. The first thing he needed before anything was to find out what worlds he was created and then he needed to create a seed and watch and explore those worlds. He needed to know about the worlds to go there himself. ¡°Where do I find out about the worlds attached to my portals?¡± He asked. ¡°Currently you have not been assigned worlds yet, but that would be done the moment you activate them.¡± The voice explained. ¡°Once activated they will randomly choose a world in that ranking.¡± ¡°I believe we went over this before, but do the rankings signify the development of the world?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°The worst ranking means that the world has no technology and is still in the stone age?¡± ¡°The rating of the world is more than that.¡± The voice stated. ¡°The rating primary depicts the location and potential of the world. It has partly to do with technology, but mainly to do with the potential of the world. If the world is in a highly populated part of space it would be a higher rated world than if it was the lone inhabited planet of a large section of space. Your planet of Earth was a D rated world, because it had quite a few other races near it, and it was high enough technology wise to enter the alliance of worlds. It has potential to raise to a higher rating, but not currently to the ratings of other planets around it.¡± ¡°How much does it cost to increase the rating of a portal?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°Currently the E rated portal pad is 100 million UC.¡± The voice answered. Jerald took in a deep breath at the amount and sighed and then asked. ¡°You said Earth could increase its rating. Does that mean that worlds can increase there rating naturally and then do I lose access to the pad if they do?¡± ¡°If a world increases its rating naturally your pad upgrades with it.¡± The voice answered. ¡°That is very rare to say the least.¡± ¡°How do I open the portal to have it choose its world?¡± ¡°You need to go down and step on to the portal pad and it will start right away, and once it solidifies it means the world has been chosen. Once the world is chosen your system will update with what type and the general information about the world that is known currently.¡± The voice explained. Jerald just nodded and walked away from the fountain and toward the hallway leading to the portal pads. He found the mist that was outside the glass hallways somewhat relaxing as he made his way to the end and had two choice to turn right or left. He smiled and turned right and walked another ten feet before he came to a sliding door to the pad. He walked into the small room and stepped on to the pad, and the moment he did he could feel energy start to ripple as small waves of energy started to move inside the archway. A small ball of energy appeared in the center of the archway as lines of energy arched outward toward the edges and as the ball grew the arches were expanding so it looked like a sea of energy in front of him. The energy ball started to spin and then it exploded the energy created a solid layer and turned from arches of energy to a smooth surface. The smooth layer of energy swirled around till finally it settled, and it now looked like a glass wall inside the arch still hiding what was beyond. ¡°Portal completed.¡± The voice stated. Chapter 1 (4) Jerald was surprised when a screen popped up in front of him giving him the name of the world, which was called Arctanlis, and the rating class of F next to it. He looked over the information and realized how much he had to change his mindset. Planet: Arctanlis Planet Size: Large Planet Statistics: 58% land, 39% Ocean and 3% polar Ice Caps. Land Mass: 6 Continents and 11 island chains. 59% Forests, 18% Plains and Flat Lands, 12% Mountains and 11% Rivers and Lakes. Underground: 45% Oceans, 33% Caverns and passageways, 13% Water ways and lakes and 8% Forests and Fauna. Sky: 74% Open Sky, 11% Floating islands, 11% Elemental Pockets, 3% Magnetic Polls and 1% Spatial distortion zones. Denizens: 49% Beast Kin, 21% Monster Races, 21% Alvanti, 7% Human and 2% Spirit Kin. Planetary Description: Arctanlis population are a mix of hundreds of beast kin races that vary in size. Most of these races live in the forests, sky and mountainous areas. The next plentiful are the monster races that populate the underground and actively compete with the beast kin and Alvanti for forested lands. The Humans live mostly on island chains and are a sea going people that sail the oceans while the spirit kin live in isolated areas away from many of the other races. ¡°Well this is a change.¡± Jerald said with a smile. ¡°Humans don¡¯t seem to be doing very well on this world.¡± Jerald moved back to the living room and sat down on a couch that a soft wood that was truly comfortable. He brought up the screen on Arctanlis and started to dig deeper into the population. The first one he went to was human¡¯s because they were the ones, he understood the most. He found that humans were mainly on the chains of islands and they were scattered across the planet. They were only a few island chains that they were the ruling council, and were typically ruled by beast kin or Alvanti. The Alvanti were like elven people with humanoid shapes but very distinct features and complexions. A majority of the Alvanti lived in the forested areas, and those that ruled the island chains were also in forested areas just not as huge as the main continents. He couldn¡¯t help but smile at elves being real and then moved to the beast kin. He expected more beast type creatures, but he was wrong. They were also very humanoid like except each beast kin could change. The number of changes was different for each one, but almost all of them had a humanoid form. There were distinctive features for many of the different beast kin races, but this shocked him. The monster races were the exact opposite, because most of them also can change into a mix beast/humanoid form but none of them could completely change into a human. There main form was a beast and their humanoid forms were predominantly bestial in nature. It was two evolutions that started from the exact opposite point. The last were the spirit kin and they were something all together different. They did have solid forms, but they wore them like clothes, which could be discarded at any time. They were truly made from spiritual energy and he didn¡¯t understand how they evolved and the information on them was the least of all the races. Jerald spent a lot of time going through the different races and was surprised when he found himself hungry. He didn¡¯t think that he needed to eat, but then again, he did have a kitchen and a bathroom, and he wondered if he needed to use them as well.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. He found his answer quick enough as the urge to go the bathroom came over him along with the grumbling stomach. He went to the bathroom and used the human style toilet and washed his hands before coming out toward the kitchen. He realized at that point that he had no idea on how to use the kitchen since it was alien in design. Jerald just stood there for a few minutes before he found a tomato that was growing on the vine and later found some grapes. He carefully picked them from there perspective vines and started to snack on them as he went back to the display and sat down. The grapes and even the tomato were really juicy and he couldn¡¯t help smiling at his current predicament. He went through information on the humans and found that were three different races of humans, which included the standard human, humans with inclination toward elemental arts and those that were geared more toward physical arts. The two art forms matched well with the ocean and their sea fairing culture. He thought that he would probably put a seed there, but what interested him more were the beast kin. There were hundreds of variations of beast kin through the sky, mainland and underground. The monster races were there main nemesis in many regions. There was a constant struggle between the stronger monster races and the larger numbers of beast kin. The underground and mainland were major battlefields, while the sky was predominantly controlled by the beast kin. There were many different types of flying beast kin that controlled the skies for the most part, and being able to fly seemed like an awesome thing. He had to truly consider beast kin for the first seed, but he wanted to check out the other major races as well. The monster races were very visceral and right away it turned him off, because a seed was to easily kill, and that would be a waste. The Alvanti were more peaceful, but they also had extended life spans that meant that it would take a longer time for the seed to grow and mature. In the end it came back to the beast kin and humans and with little hesitation he decided his first seed would be with the beast kin. Now, the big decision was which beast kin race would he attempt to plant his seed. He went through the different variations of beast kin and finally decided on one of the flying beast kin that lived in the sky. He felt they were safer and just a touch cooler as well. He opened his window to the Seed section and chose Seed Creation. In the creation, Jerald saw tabs for all the races including another tab that was listed mutated race. He was curious but he didn¡¯t hesitate much to choose beast kin. The next tab had all the variants of the beast skin and used the filter to choose those from the sky realm. That narrowed the number down quite a bit, and from them he started to filter through the three or four dozen variants. There were a few variants that were surprisingly familiar like the hawk, eagle, vulture, crow, sparrow and falcon. How could animals from earth be here and it just didn¡¯t make sense. He went back and found that quite a few of the beast kin species were animals he recognized, and many more that he didn¡¯t. ¡°Why are there species from earth here on this planet?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°It would seem that these species wouldn¡¯t be here because of evolution would be different?¡± ¡°They are not really species from your planet, but species that have similarities and are thus created by your consciousness. Others would see them as totally different species, but anything that is in your memories would be translated to you that way. The reason why there are humans and other similar races that you know are because your planet along with many others were actually seeded from the same stock, and that is why you came to this sector in the first place.¡± The voice stated. ¡°You didn¡¯t actually think that your race was unique, did you? Sure, there are some variations, but in the end that was only due to the environment not because you were the only one that were from the human genetic stock.¡± ¡°So, your saying that Earth was some type of experiment?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°No not an experiment more like a green house.¡± The voice stated. ¡°There are many different projects the higher beings of the universe put forward and Earth was one of many of them. They were left free to develop and now through the alliance of worlds they are being purged of undesirables and you just weren¡¯t one of them. You moved from one experiment to another and whether they were wrong in sending you here or if you were actually a bad seed and were just picked to soon will be shown in the way you move forward.¡± Jerald felt that there was a change in the tone and emotion behind the voice that was a little condescending, and now his trust for the voice waivered some. He wondered if was on purpose or if the voice was just stating the truth. There was no reason for the voice to lie to him, because he really was at her mercy. Chapter 1 (5) ¡°I have to admit that being just a garden plant really doesn¡¯t give me much feeling of happiness, but I actually can¡¯t disprove anything so until I can I have to just accept it.¡± Jerald said slowly. ¡°I do appreciate your help though.¡± ¡°Your welcome.¡± The voice said more softly. Jerald blinked and wondered if he had said something to irritate her before because she was back to her polite voice now. He could only sigh and move forward and he again started looking at the types of beast kin that were in the sky realm, and as he went through each one, he finally decided on one called the Sentrua. They were a silver winged beast kin that lived on multiple floating islands and were respected as a neutral party within the beast kin but a fierce supporter of the war against the monster races. He accessed their tab and suddenly several different boxes appeared with names he didn¡¯t recognize. There were names of those that were Sentrua and those that were other flying beast kin. Jerald was confused at what he was seeing and whether the voice took mercy on him or was annoyed by his lack of understanding. ¡°Those are bloodlines of the parties that are in the process of having children. There is a certain time period during the process that you can put a seed in safely, and these are the possible candidates. If another puts in a seed, they are taken off the list of possible options.¡± The voice said. ¡°The information in the box next to the unions show the current acceptance and status of the couple as it is now. By looking more closely at that information you will get the idea of whether you think it will be a good match for your seed and whether that couple is up to you as well as the blessing you give.¡± Jerald marveled at the fact that he had so much information about such things that were happening on the world. He could understand how people could think they are a god with such power, but it was a bit to overpowering for him now. He would focus on this seed and see how it turned out, but he still couldn¡¯t help wondering if it was right to interfere in others lives or now. He started looking at the different matches reading the information and a few times matches disappeared and new ones appeared. He truly felt rushed and finally he found one that he considered a good match. The father was a merchant of high regards in the are he was at, and his information was that he was a good person. The mother was of the same beast kin species, and came from a low noble house and they were truly in love. The child was a male and was healthy and both of his parents were healthy as well. Jerald was decisive and he started the process because he was afraid, he would lose the chance. The moment he picked the couple all his options for blessings came up. His personal blessings were on the left side and ones he could purchase were on the right. He would have to sacrifice .1 spirit units for each blessing, and he paused for a moment and highlight unusually lucky and then decided to add one more costing him another .1 spirt units and adding fortunate attractor. Jerald hoped they both complimented each other and then with a hopeful prayer he submitted it and watched as a two small dots of energy left him and disappeared and on the screen the pick he made disappeared as well. Jerald panicked a little thinking he may have wasted his seed, but he remembered the main menu and backed out and entered the Current Seeds and there he saw the seed again. Next to it had a timer that was running quickly, and he realized it was the timer of his birth.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Jerald highlighted the seed and suddenly options appeared before it and when he looked at them, he truly felt like this power was truly god like. The options that were listed was whisper, sign, act, buff, boost and dream walk. He started looking through the different information on each and a shiver ran down his spine, because these things were fully interactive. He could intervene depending on how much UC he decided to spend with the seed. He could see with hundreds of seeds that it could be quite costly if you micromanaged them. One seed though wouldn¡¯t be to bad at all. He looked at the time remaining till the birth of the child and he thought about his options and wondered since he was able to have options while it was in the womb of the mother could he use his powers. ¡°When the seed is in the womb can you talk to the mother or will it go directly to the infant in the womb, and is it dangerous?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°That is a good question.¡± The voice said. ¡°You can¡¯t use act, boost or buff on the seeds parent you can use sign, whisper and dream walk. Most don¡¯t realize that till they are much farther along.¡± ¡°How does dream walking work?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°If I dream walked wouldn¡¯t they find it suspicious that I look like this or do I have to change persona to do it?¡± ¡°When you enter the dream, you can change your form to anything you like, but the more powerful you are the more it costs you.¡± The voice said. ¡°Though remember that what you do in dreams can have a real effect in the persons real life. You can enter a dream not just your own seeds, but others as well, but that costs more UC depending on what you actually do.¡± Jerald sat back and thought and wondered if it was worth going in the seeds mother¡¯s dream, and if he did what would he want to communicate. He sat back and thought about it and then realized it all came down to UC and spirit in the end. He also laughed because before he could gain anything he would have to have a alter and he found himself backing out of the seed screens and back in to the sanctuary screen where he used the filter to check on the price of the alter. Jerald could only groan when he saw the prices of the alters, because they started at 50,000 UC for the cheapest alter and for, the middle of the ground alter it was almost 200,000. The high end alters cost almost 500 million UC, which was a pipe dream. Could a seed be worth the 200,000 UC or even 50,000 UC. There was quite a gap in efficiency between the 50,000 and the 200,000 altars, and that would leave him with just over 700,000 UC left. He could feel his eye twitch at the price, and his hand hovered between the 50,000 and the 200,000 and finally he quickly chose the 200,000 price and found a stone altar that was surrounded with a golden pond that fit the decor of his sanctuary. He placed the sanctuary in a separate room just off the living room still with in the dome and almost cried as the UC lowered once again. The reason he bought the altar now was because he truly did have a plan, and he hoped it will work out since he already paid for the altar. He looked in his interface and was happy to find the altar tab now available in his sanctuary and he gathered read the information it had there. The information was straight forward and told him everything he needed to know about how the altar worked. He had to infuse his energy into the altar and the person would either have to be marked by him leaving this rune internally or they would have to have some type of item with the rune on them when they donated or made offerings. The rune was specifically connected to the altar and was surprising not very complex. He could mark those he wished with the seal and that would give them a link to him and his altar. Those that hold the seal in things like medallions could channel through them to offer or pray. The alter was truly a very versatile item. He looked and saw each mark he put on a person it would cost him 100 UC, but it cost him nothing for them to have a token or medallion of his alter rune. Jerald was excited but he also was a little fearful, because he had heard so many times of people that got power and went mad with it. He had to do things right because if he had a negative effect on the world his karma would decrease as well. He admonished himself and then sat back and decided what he was going to show in the dream walk to the mother of his first seed. --- --- --- --- --- Chapter 1 (6) Alusha Kravistall was the second wife of the Erio Dezamoor the first son of a merchant family that was rising in the standing of the houses. She had been betrothed to him when she was only 16, and at first she thought it was a death sentence, but soon she found she started to have real feelings for Erio, and as a dream sage she could help him in his business and also raise the status of her his household and her parents family as well. She reached down to her stomach which was pregnant with Erio and her first child. She truly felt blessed, and about three months into her pregnancy she could feel something wonderful had happened to her and her unborn baby. Every night she would do a dream forecast and look for signs of good or ill omen and tonight was not different. She laid down in her bed and cradled her stomach as she closed her eyes, and with in minutes she was asleep. Dream sages slept much deeper than most and because of that they were able sense the fragments of foretelling. It wasn¡¯t a prophecy, but a dream and from those dreams she could see the ebb and flow of land around her. Like every dream Alusha entered the dream scape, where she would walk through a distorted view of the real lands around her. She could use her ability to travel faster than normally possible and even though she was pregnant in the real world her shape was typically of herself in top physical form. This time though she realized right away that it was different. She looked down and saw every growing bump there and the normal distortion was gone, and it felt like a crisp clear view of the land. She wondered what was going on and that was when she saw another figure sitting on edge of a fountain not a hundred feet away. She was startled at aura of peace that came from the figure. He had a masculine feeling about him that was likeable and alluring and he was clearly of the Sentura race. Though surprisingly when he looked up and the peaceful smile crossed his face his wings extended and unlike the silver wings that there people had. One wing was a dark ebony black and the other a beautiful ivory white. ¡°Hello Alusha.¡± The Sentura said with a hypnotic voice. ¡°I have been waiting for you.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Alusha said with a worried tone. ¡°I have many names.¡± The man said. ¡°You though can call me Mercer. I am the embodiment of karmic luck and intuition. I have come to see and your unborn child, to both give you blessings and warnings.¡± Alusha had never heard of Mercer, but she just knew that he had no evil intent because of his golden aura. He came to see her for what he said and even though she still held fear. She reached down instinctively and touched her belly. ¡°My lord please let me hear your words.¡± Alusha said as she went to a knee in front of him. She looked up and he was not sitting at the fountain but was in front of her and she didn¡¯t even notice his movement. She took her hand and she felt a warmth of his intent and brought her up to her feet again. She felt a trickle of energy flowing into her and it felt wonderful and now she felt her child move. ¡°Your child inside you has received my blessing and is given to your child wit good intentions, but I must warn you karma and fate are fickle things and even if you have good intentions you must always caution yourself and others on the results of the effects of those around you. I will be watching over you and your family, but it up to you to mold the character of your child and make him understand that these gifts enrich the lives of him and his family, but also can harm them if he uses them unwisely.¡± The man said. ¡°I will leave you now with a gift too, and this gift will let me hear your voice if you are in doubt. If it is ordained, I will try to help as long as it doesn¡¯t affect the balance.¡± The man placed his finger on hand and a mark appeared on it. The mark was a rune and it glowed the same as his glow. ¡°This will only show in the dream realm, but it is my mark and through it wither connected to them or a talisman if you have faith the words will reach me.¡± The man as he let go of her hand and turned and faded away. Alusha was frozen in place looking down at the mark on her hand blushed at his touch. His touch was so kind and gentle, and why his energy and voice were alluring it did tempt her emotions but made them feel stronger. She felt her powers were stronger as well as the dream realm looked less fragmented. She would never forget his words because she knew they were true. She went over and to the fountain where he was at and she noticed that in the middle was a statue of him as clear as what she saw just before him and she bowed before him twice felt blessed to meet the god of karmic luck and intuition. Alusha finally left the dream realm and finally awoke in her bed, and with out hesitation she got up and went to take a bath and put on new clothes. The meeting with the god really frightened her and made her exhilarated. She looked down at her hand and could see the rune glowing there and she knew that she had to honor the rewards that the god had bestowed on her and her unborn child. She knew with out a doubt that she had to spread the word of his power to her people. She walked to the salon and with out hesitation she drew out the rune. The rune should be spread because he was her and her family¡¯s benefactor. She could feel the bond with him pulse and would strive to not disappoint him. ---- ----- ----- ----- Jerald sighed as he returned from his first dream walk, and to be honest it wasn¡¯t like he thought. He imagined there would be some strange incoherent accidents like every dream. Like finding your self naked in the girl¡¯s locker room or having to go the bathroom and finding all the stalls were locked. The embarrassing stuff, but to his surprise everything was crystal clear. He was there when the mother of the seed appeared and at first, he thought she would panic.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The woman was beautiful be he could tell she was a good person by her aura. He read the speech he had prepared and was worried she would question him, but everything went smoothly. When he put the mark on her he felt the bond form, and from her touch and energy the feeling was quite erotic in a way. He could see how people with bad intentions could really miss use the dream walk. The meeting with the mother of his seed was pleasant and even though she seemed scared at first, but went better than he thought it would. The seed process seemed enjoyable and he believed he picked the right family to have a seed born from. With a thought the screen popped up with the information about the seed¡¯s mother. He would have to keep track of her and the child to make sure things went in the right direction in the future. He decided he would make a second seed, but not quite yet. He still had quite a bit to learn, but before he could do anything, he felt his stomach rumble, so he decided to first learn how to use his kitchen and make something to eat. Then he should get some sleep because he was feeling a little fatigued after that dream walk. He took a deep breath and started to learn more about how to use his kitchen and how his sanctuary worked, because until he really got some UC coming in. He had to make do with what he currently had. It took Jerald some time, but he finally figured out the stoves and how to cook on it. He only had ingredients for fruit and vegetable dishes, but he was ok with that for now. He eats his fill and took a shower before heading to bed. The shower seemed to shake a little of the tension from him and soon he fast asleep. When he woke up, he felt refreshed and after going through many of the help manuals on the interface. Jerald started to feel a little more comfortable with the system he was working with, and thus set up alerts for important issues with his seed. The screen let him find out that Alusha the mother of the seed had started to pray to him on a regular basis. She had asked his advice several times and sometimes he answered her with a whisper, and this seemed to make her even more devoted. He had been trying to make guide or manual to tell her, but he wrote it a few times, but it just didn¡¯t seem to be right yet. She currently just prayed to him and because of that no UC had been earned, but he had earned 2 faith points that had helped his altar grow with experience. So far it was still 24 days till she would give birth according to the system, and surprisingly she is still active. He had kept track of her, and she had done several things that pleased him. She had created over a hundred small necklaces that had my altar symbol on them. Jerald had a somewhat clearer picture of the altar and its uses. The necklace was a channel to the altar and if somebody paid homage or prayers to the alter, he could possibly receive more faith points and it would increase the level of the altar. With each level came more benefits and that a step in the right direction. He felt he couldn¡¯t just ignore genuine prayers and would have to in some way reward those that aided him. He also knew right now he could afford to do that, but after a while it would become very troublesome to have to react to every prayer or request. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Jerald said. ¡°Is there a way filter out insincere requests or prayers using the altar?¡± ¡°Yes, there are those options when the alter raises to the third level.¡± The voice said. ¡°Is there something I could do before the third level?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°You could also bring a follower from the pool of souls to serve you, but that would cost UC and spirit units.¡± The voice stated. ¡°How exactly does that work?¡± ¡°I did think you were improving when you were learning on your own, but I expected to much.¡± The voice stated rather sarcastically. ¡°Under the followers tab there is a tab that lets you bring a soul in the pool of souls to your sanctuary and part of the agreement is they will serve you unconditionally. What benefits you give it is up to you. The contract is a one-sided slave contract, but the soul will benefit from it. The type of soul you get is up to fate though so be careful because not all souls in the pool are inherently good.¡± ¡°Will they be a risk to the sanctuary then?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°They will be totally loyal to you and can not knowing harm the sanctuary, but whether they will be happy or disgruntled about carrying out the orders isn¡¯t as clear cut.¡± The voice said. ¡°That is all I am going to help you with because it is important you figure many things out on your own.¡± ¡°That kind of sounds freaky.¡± He muttered. ¡°I guess I will have to look into that, and to be honest it wouldn¡¯t hurt to have another person I could see and talk too as well.¡± Jerald continued to research his interface and spent quite a bit of time researching the follower interface tabs and finally understood what the voice meant by the pool of souls. The pool of souls were fragmented souls that weren¡¯t complete and could not enter the rebirth cycle. They would work in his sanctuary as a slave to get an opportunity to repair their souls to a complete state. There souls would never be what they were, but they could become something new. There loyalty was 100%, but each soul had a personality that could be difficult to work with. Each soul also had retained some of there karma otherwise they would have dissipated long ago. A soul could survive with negative karma and could gain karma with there actions under there master. The pool of souls had souls from many different parts of the universe and they usually retained some of there originality they had life if they were lucky. The cost in UC was pretty much set, but the cost in spirit units could vary and it depended on how much it took to return them to a conscious state. It was truly a chance for them to come back from the brink of total annihilation. It was a big step, but it also could be a huge help in managing the sanctuary, and eventually allowing him to go down personally with out worrying about everything falling apart. He would have to think about it more as he looked up again and saw that soon the birth of the seed would occur. He saw that Alusha had done an amazing job as many of her clan and family had started to pray to his altar. They were small at first and many of them had lacked any sense of faith, but it was start. He decided that he would bless her with a boon for her effort, and he really should get started on making some type of doctrine for others to follow. He truly believed he should set some rules for what his views are, and what things that he is against. He felt somewhat restless about making a bible, but leaving it in the hands of others seemed much more dangerous. So, He decided to do his version of the ten commandments with a little more subtly, and Alusha seemed to be the right person to approach for this and the dream world seemed to be the best landscape to publish it. He decided to spend a few more UC to visit Alusha, and the only thing he had left in that regard was to pick her boon he would give her. He at first thought about giving her a friendly aura, but thinking about it. He decided to give her something that benefit the seed as well as her. He finally decided and waited till the right moment, and that moment came after she gave birth to the seed. ----- ----- ------ chapter 1 (7) Alusha felt weak and exhausted as they placed the child wrapped in silk blankets in her hands and she looked down on him. The little boy that her husband and her had decided to be named Darius laid there fidgeting as it looked at her. The moment they placed the child in her arms the baby stopped crying and seemed to be satisfied. She looked up at her husband Erio and couldn¡¯t help but smile and cry as she could give him a son. Her husband was an important person in the merchanting field and as she gazed on his smiling face, she couldn¡¯t help but feel truly blessed. She looked down to his neck and saw he was wearing one of the necklaces she had made herself that had the rune of the God of Karmic Luck and Intuition on it. She wasn¡¯t sure that he truly believed in what she told him of her dreams, but he supported her and never forbid her from talking about it. She was truly happy as she the fatigue finally took hold and she started to fall asleep. The moment her eyes closed she found herself in the courtyard again and surprisingly she saw the person she met so long ago sitting once again at the edge of the fountain. He looked at her and smiled and she couldn¡¯t help but smile back. Alusha stepped toward him and then faltered and then fell to her knees to kowtow to him, but with in a moment he was there bringing her up to a standing position still with a warm smiling expression on his face. She couldn¡¯t help but be happy with his touch as her whole body seemed to warm with it. She didn¡¯t know what to say, but she wanted to thank him for giving her purpose and meaning along with a healthy boy. ¡°It is alright Alusha I understand your feelings and I wanted to congratulate you on the birth of you son.¡± The deity she knew as Mercer said. ¡°Your son has received my blessings, but I am here because of all the work you have done on my behalf. Please receive my blessing to you and know that I have appreciated what you have done. I know your faith is true, and even though I do not answer all your prayers I do hear them. If you so wish it I will through you share my words and doctrines, but regardless I wish to give you a blessing for what you have done.¡± Alusha¡¯s eyes widened as she saw his hand move to be placed on her forehead and suddenly a river of warmth entered her and with it came knowledge and understanding. She had been blessed with the ability to heal with a touch those souls that have done good in their lives. She knew that with a touch her god would judge those and though her would heal those worthy and following the right path. She also knew that she could now see those worthy of the healing touch briefly. ¡°I will place my doctrines at the base of the statue here in the garden of dreams for you to see. I do not dictate what you do with them, but want you to understand these doctrines are who I am.¡± Mercer said as he took his hand off her forehead. ¡°I have given you the ability to heal those that are weary and sick but have taken the right path in life. Some have taken a darker path and why they can still turn to the right one. That is something they must decide themselves. Alusha take care of young Darius and lead him down the right path, because I have faith in you that you can.¡± Alusha felt wonderful as his hand left her head and she heard his words and then as she looked up, he was gone. She stood up and almost staggered toward the statue in the bond and etched on the base were words and she looked at them trying to understand there meaning. ¡°In everything there is flaws, but in those flaws the unique beauty or ugliness is seen. Just as a holy man can cause chaos to others based on his actions. A criminal can cause harmony through a misdeed. A person must understand what their actions will truly do to those around them and not just what they will receive or lose because of them. Even good intentions can cause horrible consequences if you force your views on them and judge in doing so, but if you let them discover their own path then the consequences lay with them and not your intentions.¡± Alusha read the doctrine and started to memorize it. She wanted to make sure it was correct before she wrote it down when she woke up. She still felt the energy inside her and after memorizing it she woke up the baby laying in a small cradle next to her. She looked at little Darius and smiled and felt blessed by so much knowing that she must achieve for her family and the person that blessed them. ____ _____ _____ Jerald leaned back and really marveled on how exhausting entering the dreams were. It really didn¡¯t matter how long he was in them it seemed it took the same amount of energy to dream walk. So, he wondered how long he could stay and how much could he move around in the dreams. It was something he should find out, but he had to enter the dreams to give Alusha the doctrines that he had created. The first doctrine he tried to sound a little mystifying, but he felt he was a little long winded instead. The other seven doctrines he had created seemed a little more practical but who knows he was a rookie at this anyway. He knew he was bound to make mistakes and must correct them the best way he could. He also could now feel two solid bons to Alusha and Darius now and even a few signs of other bonds that had to be the small necklaces that Alusha had given out. He looked over the information on both and found they were both in good health. He could only smile, but then he frowned because he remembered he had so much to learn still. The few faiths point he earned from Alusha weren¡¯t very much in consideration to everything that he needed to raise the level of the altar. He always was a preparation type of person, so he put aside Alusha and Darius for now and started to study.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Time was something he didn¡¯t understand enough and when he discovered that in the sanctuary, he could manipulate it he felt truly stupid. Currently the sanctuary was sitting at ten times the speed of the portal world he had connected too. He reversed that and at first, he set it to match the time of the world he then changed it to 25 times of the world. That meant for every 25 days in the sanctuary only 1 day happened on the world where Alusha and Darius were. This wouldn¡¯t be ideal in many ways, but he wanted to learn and understand his sanctuary, so it was good option for now. So, he lost himself in learning about the sanctuary and over the next 100 days, which was only 4 days world wise. He discovered so many things that he could do and why the need to make UC, spiritual units and faith points was so important. He also learned the makeup of the races more clearly and how his race humans were so far behind in every aspect. Jerald truly wanted to give humanity a chance, but he knew personally how horrible humans could be. He also knew how horrible all the races could equally be, and he decided to choose the humans as his first persona that would descend to the world. He had a few thoughts on how to do this, but first two things had to occur. The first was that he had to solidify Alusha and Darius in the sky kingdom, and second he had to create a follower to watch over his sanctuary while he was gone. The first part he could do over time since the time difference now between the sanctuary and the world, but creating a follower wasn¡¯t as simple and was quite costly. He had now gotten use to all the tabs on the interface and he brought up the follower section. The interface of the follower¡¯s section was simple like the others, and it had its tabs for the both creation, development, evolution and tracking. The creation was unlike a normal persona development and more like a seed. The pool of souls was like the seeds because in the pool of soul¡¯s different souls constantly battled to survive. There were some that were stronger, and they would take much less spirit units to retrieve, and then the weaker ones that would take more spiritual units but would be bonded much tighter to the him. Jerald didn¡¯t really want to give up a lot of spiritual units, but to be honest his first follower had to truly be willing to follow him. He knew they would be trustworthy, but would their soul truly seek his best interests, or would their soul only do what was necessary and ordered. He watched the swirls of souls only able to get the root information, and wouldn¡¯t truly know until he summoned and bound them. He ended up not choosing by the power of the soul, but by his instincts and luck. He watched the pool for a long time before he picked, and he winced a little as he saw a truly weak soul being pulled from the pool. 4 spiritual units were taken by the follower, and as the process played out the soul would be drawn to his sanctuary where the 4 spiritual units would be integrated with the soul to stabilize it. The process took almost 14 hours, and he figured that was because it was lacking so much spiritual energy. When it was finally done the information from the soul was finally given to him, and he brought it up. Origin Name: Zigesti Betrovin Coratis Venu Name: None Sex: Female Race: Demon Class: Elemental Succubus Current Soul Level: Level 0: 68% Loyalty: 100% Affinity: 84% Mood: Grateful Jerald frowned because he was clear what a succubus was, but unsure what an elemental succubus is. He knew he could speak to the soul and he focused on it and thought. ¡°Speak of yourself and what is your origin!¡± He said. A soft voice responded in a respectful tone. ¡°I am Zigesti Betrovin Coratis Venu of the Venu clan. I was once a courtesan of the demon imperial palace, but in the games my side lost, and my demonic soul was ripped asunder. I was an elemental succubus that was raised to serve and extend the bloodline of my master.¡± ¡°What is an elemental succubus?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°Elemental Succubus are concubine that are used to strengthen the spiritual and bloodlines of our masters. Our bodies channel the energy with in them and returns it in a more natural and pure state. By nature, we are not powerful, but are only are used to enhance our master¡¯s capabilities.¡± The demoness said. Jerald had some reservations to a demon working for him, but then again, he had himself picked demon bloodline as one of his bloodlines. She would be 100% loyal too, and her affinity was good. He didn¡¯t know what an elemental succubus would look like or what talents and abilities one would have either. ¡°You have been summoned to become my follower, and to support me in all things do you understand?¡± Jerald said. ¡°I understand and am willing master.¡± The demoness said. ¡°You saved me from my soul scattering and being consumed. I will follow master¡¯s will.¡± Jerald almost choked at the comment, but took in a deep breath and went to the interface where he would create the persona for the follower. He thought about hand crafting the persona, but he didn¡¯t know enough about form, so he decided on allowing the succubus to build her form. The only parameters he set was that she had to have a human form and that she had to prioritize on what was best for him and his sanctuary. He also added the restrictions that she could not harm directly or indirectly those important to him. Jerald could only hope for the best when he started the process and the demoness started to create her body, abilities and talents. The moment he started it he felt the bond appear in him and felt a tingling feeling on his skin. The tingle sensation only lasted a few moments before the succubus started the process fully. Jerald turned away from the process when he felt a tug on his mind and when he checked to see what it was, he felt a prayer whispered to him. He immediately thought it was from Alusha, but it wasn¡¯t instead it was from somewhere else in the world. It was still in the sky kingdom, but it was on another floating island and as he narrowed the tug, he zoomed in on it and he saw a small girl about ten or eleven years old with dark hair and muddy brown eyes. She was dressed in rags and she looked like she was starved as her body was thin and weak looking. He saw that she was clutching one of the medallions that Alusha had made, and she was halfway between wakefulness and unconsciousness. He frowned and the moment the girl fell still and went unconscious. He made a move and entered her dream. _____ ______ _____ Chapter 1 (8) _____ ______ _____ Ziara found herself in the alley she knew so well, but something was different. The streets that were always alive with people were silent, and the first thing she thought was that she might have died. She looked around and then at herself and felt the pains in her stomach and bruises on her body radiate. ¡°You have had a difficult life young one.¡± A kind voice said. Ziara looked around and saw male with his wings extended one white and one black. He walked toward him as his wings disappeared in a shower of lights. The man walked toward her, but she didn¡¯t feel scared. She was used to sensing danger, but there was none of that feeling here. The man squatted down beside her and gave her a smile and nod. ¡°Who are you?¡± Ziara asked. ¡°Well I am called many names, but because you wear my rune around your neck you can call me Mercer.¡± The man said. ¡°Mercer?¡± Ziara repeated knowing she had heard that name and then she looked down at her neck and saw the necklace and pendant with the rune and her eyes went wide. ¡°If you truly have faith your voice can be heard little one.¡± The man said with a gentle tone. ¡°I know life has been hard for you, but you always strive to endure. I know that often it seems life isn¡¯t fair, but breath you take gives you an opportunity to regain karma from your previous life and truly change. Your hard work and your pleas have brought me here to give you a chance to do just that.¡± ¡°You really listened to me plea?¡± Ziara sniffled as tears ran down her cheeks. ¡°Everybody says I am nothing but trash, but you listened. You really listened.¡± ¡°You are not trash little one.¡± The man said. ¡°I will give you a chance, but it is up to you to take advantage of it. I will give you two boons, but what you do with the opportunity is up to you.¡± Ziara watched as the man reached down and placed his hand on her head and a sudden burst of energy flowed into her. The energy seemed to flow through her, and she had never felt so empowered before. She it flows through her bones as they started to feel a warm river run through them, and then her skin seemed to tingle all over her body and the hunger pains and bruises seemed to fade away. The moment the energy started to settle a new type of energy seemed to flow into her body and the sensation made her feel truly good. She had always felt that a shadow had been cast over her soul, and people could see it, but now that shadow seemed to totally dissipate, and she felt lighter somehow. She finally felt the energy stop flowing and she looked up to see the man standing over her again. ¡°The first gift I gave you is that your body and mind have been completely restored to what they should be if you were at your peak, and the second boon is something you will have to find out for your self. I can not help you with coin, goods or even your standard of living, but take this opportunity to find a path and follow it and redeem the negative karma your previous lives have saddled you with. Good luck little one and if you truly do follow the right path then we might see each other again.¡± Ziara watched as the man faded away and disappeared in front of her and she wondered if this was but a dream. She felt no hunger or pain and as she looked down on the ground where it was caked with mud was a rune and a simple sentence under it that read ¡®Trust in your self and the path will become clear.¡¯ She sunk to her knees and kowtowed to the spot where the words were formed. She kowtowed three times and said. ¡°I will devote my life to repaying your kindness and my heart and soul wishes only to serve you.¡± Ziara words echoed and soon she awoke and could hear the bustling sounds of the city. She stirred from her position and found that she had no hunger or pain like the dream, and she looked down to ground and saw the rune emblazoned in the ground before her. She knew then it wasn¡¯t a dream, but she was visited by the gods and her oath she said in that dream was repeated as she moved and kowtowed. She stood up and felt stronger than she had ever felt before. She looked at her hands and saw they were firm and even though the grime caked her body still. She knew she was changed now, and she knew she had to find her path like the man she knew was a god had suggested.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. _____ _____ ______ ______ Jerald felt another drain on his energy and knew that he would need a good sleep to recover. The fact that he felt tired made him feel somewhat happy, because it was a normal reaction in this crazy situation, he was in. He leaned back in his chair and let his eyes close and thought about sleeping there and now, but that thought was instantly changed when he heard a voice. ¡°Master please command me.¡± A sultry voice said. Jerald looked up and saw a beautiful woman that looks had an Asian or Native American look to her. Her body looked to be around 5¡¯9¡± tall with a petite body and voluptuous chest. Her eyes were slightly slanted with emerald green irises. She was wearing a gray pants and tunic that left her shape to be displayed clearly. Her hair was long and black and hung over her shoulders and she had a small gem that was round the color or forest green on her forehead. Jerald looked at her knowing he was slack jawed, and it took him a moment to remember what he was doing before he dreams walked. He recognized her as the demoness that he pulled from the soul pool, and tried to calm himself and then finally asked. ¡°What would you liked to be called?¡± ¡°Please master name this humble servant.¡± She said. Jerald thought back to the name and it was way to long to say, and as he traced it, he quickly decided and said. ¡°I will name you Cora.¡± ¡°Thank you master.¡± Cora said. ¡°Is there something you want me to do?¡± ¡°Cora how much do you know about sanctuaries and how they work?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know much, but my previous master had dealt with some of the sanctuaries before.¡± Cora stated. ¡°The person that claimed his life was a sanctuary owner on the devil path.¡± ¡°Can you access the system information here?¡± He asked. ¡°If you give me permission then I can access most systems here, but even with access there are some things I can not alter or use.¡± Cora stated. ¡°Like what?¡± He asked. ¡°The creation and destruction tools I can not use, but once something is created, I can interact with it and aid you with it. I can not create seeds or other followers, but once they are bonded to you, I can interact with them and if you build me a persona I can even go down to the world with limited power.¡± She explained. Jerald focused on her for a moment and her screen appeared and he went directly raising her permissions up to the max. He paused at the restrictions tab and changed it so she could have free will to be herself, and hoped that she wouldn¡¯t do anything that caused a negative effect. He was her slave for all things, but he wanted her to be happy or at least content since she was the only person he would be in contact with in the sanctuary for a while. He confirmed the status change and he saw her eyes widened but she still stood at attention. He smiled and said. ¡°When you¡¯re not doing something that I order your free to learn and enjoy the sanctuary, and give your opinion if you think it will make things better here.¡± ¡°Thank you master.¡± Cora said with an emotional tone. ¡°Alright I need to get some sleep and something to eat.¡± Jerald said as he groaned a little as he had to get up. ¡°Let me cook something for you master.¡± Cora said. ¡°Alright.¡± Jerald agreed as he was just to exhausted after the dream walk. He sat there with his eyes closed and may have even dosed off when Cora came to him and nudged him into wakefulness. She had made him some type of stew or soup and something that looked like bread. The food smelled good and he picked up and started eating it and it tasted terrific. He finished it quickly and felt satisfied and even more sleepy. ¡°That was great.¡± Jerald said as he pulled himself off the couch and headed for his bedroom. He made it there and didn¡¯t even undress before getting into bed and falling asleep. ----- ------ ------ ------- Cora looked down at her sleeping master and could only smile, because unlike her last master this one had gained her respect. She was very close to her soul dispersing permanently, and her hopes that somebody would pull her from the hell she was in was remote at best. Her life before was made up of abuse and mistreatment. She was one of hundreds of succubi under his control, and she had died as a pawn of one of his scams gone wrong. As a succubus, her and the other succubus mainly were used as intelligence and manipulation operators that used their sex appeal and ability of illusion to gather information or turn who ever they could. She had done that as well and why she felt an incredible rush of energy from sexual acts she always had to worry about if her master was happy with what she did was good enough. She looked at her current master and still felt the power keeping her faithful, but it was different than her past masters. He did not restrict her at all, but gave her freedom to do what she thought was right. She knew that he was attracted to her, and as her master he had every right to do what ever he wanted, but he held back, and she could tell that even though he had lust in him. It was pure emotion and not the overbearing lust that most masters had for demonesses of her kind. She sat down next to him on the bed and reached out but hesitated before finally pulling a lock of his hair out of the way so she could see his face more clearly. She felt a trickle of energy enter her finger and go up her arm and spreading through out her body. It was warm and felt good to her, and was overjoyed at getting a good master. She would make sure that he was happy with her and she would serve him well. A person like him would obviously take more than one person as his wife, servant or concubine, but she was the first and she would make sure that she at least made a good impression on his heart so she would never be abandoned again. _____ _____ _____ ______ Chapter 1 (9) Jerald woke up and he felt refreshed after his dream walks, and he thought about what he should do today. He thought about the little girl that he healed and gave the aura of friendliness, and then he remembered Cora and he quickly sat up in bed. He didn¡¯t have much time to think about it because he had been so tired, but Cora¡¯s image popped into his head and his heart started to beat faster at the fact she was so beautiful and a succubus. He felt himself aroused just thinking about her and he wondered how he was going to deal with such a woman serving him. She was truly everything that he was attracted to in a woman, and was even more alluring than anybody he had ever seen before. He thought about it and even though he could practically do what ever he wanted he didn¡¯t feel good about forcing somebody that had no ability to resist doing such things. He wasn¡¯t overly wholesome, and if it was her choice, he would ready and willing to make have sex with her. The was problem was that he couldn¡¯t make the first move and even if her motives weren¡¯t pure it was her choice if she did, and it wouldn¡¯t be him forcing her to do it. He got up from the bed and walked into his living room, and Cora appeared from the kitchen and got to her knees to kowtow. Jerald sighed and then said. ¡°Cora you don¡¯t need to bow every time I see you. It isn¡¯t right and not practical. So, can you rise and stop doing that?¡± Cora got up and gave him a nod and asked. ¡°Master do you have any need of me?¡± Jerald was startled at that leading question and coughed lightly before saying, ¡°Can you tell how your studies are going and if there are anything of note I should know?¡± ¡°I have gone over many of the functions of the sanctuary and I it is like others I have been introduced too. The line between gods and demon lords is rather thin, and number of sanctuaries like this have taken that step.¡± Cora explained. ¡°I have never had this much access before, but I do have a general understanding of how it functions. As for alerts, currently have 25 to 1-time ratio so not long has passed since you went to sleep.¡± ¡°Any suggestions?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°I suggest that you change the time ratio, so time here goes faster than the world.¡± Cora said. ¡°You have seeds and have done some actions, but you need to give them time to grow. I suggest putting up restrictions allowing you to stop to normal time when events happen, because it takes time for you to grow worshipers in the moral worlds.¡± ¡°I will do that after I take some time to figure out where I am going to place my persona.¡± Jerald agreed with her thoughts. ¡°I want to take this time to have everything set before I go down personally, and I think I still need some more time understanding the sanctuary more.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Cora said with a smile. ¡°Do you wish anything to eat?¡± ¡°Please.¡± Jerald said. ¡°Do wish anything special master?¡± Cora asked. Jerald¡¯s mind startled at what he believed was a simple question, but he had less wholesome thoughts and calmed himself and said. ¡°I will let you surprise me.¡± ¡°I will try to do that master.¡± Cora said and bowed her head and went to the kitchen. Jerald still felt unsettled and thought it might be troublesome to have a succubus as a servant. He sat down and started to do what Cora suggested and made markers on what type of events should cause the time to go into normal mode so he could take care of them. He then decided to also put a marker for precognition events, where it would alert him if those he was bound to and the seeds would enter a state where they might come into danger. This way either him or Cora can act to try to help them with in the restrictions he had here in the sanctuary. ¡°What should I do first?¡± Jerald asked himself as he brought up the interface. ¡°Should I go down myself and where should I go? Should I help the seed personally and how should I use Cora to be the most effective?¡± Jerald took a deep breath and let it out and then decided to take a little time to figure it out. He can¡¯t rush things especially since the time ratio was set so high to give him time to learn things completely. He finally decided that he had to plan and figure out the rest of the doctrines he needed to pass along to Alusha. A little over two months in the sanctuary passed by rather quickly and he had already decided on the nine doctrines that to relay to Alusha. Only three days had passed in the world, but his grasp of the sanctuary and what he needed to do had increased by leaps and bounds. The hardest part of the two months was keeping his word to himself and not touching Cora even though his thoughts almost got the better of him a few times. He hadn¡¯t been idle in those two months and he made some important decisions. The first was that he wasn¡¯t going to go down to the world quite yet, but instead he was going to send Cora. She would help guide the people he had bonded too and work to gain more people favor and trust. He had watched Cora quite a bit in the last two months, and it wasn¡¯t just his overactive wishes to have sex with her, but how also how she was struggling a little with her new freedom.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. She was always looking to him and asking him what he wanted, but she wasn¡¯t doing that much for herself. He wanted to change that and sending her down to the world and letting her get a true taste of freedom and making decisions for herself would help her a lot he thought. It also would give him time to focus on what he had planned, because to be honest she was quite distracting. Every little thing she did was to fuck sexy and his concentration was suffering for it. Jerald¡¯s eyes showed a decisive look to him and he brought up the interface and purchased a persona, but he didn¡¯t alter it. In stead he left alone, and he started writing a mission request for the persona. The mission request was a way for him to give his followers missions in the sanctuary and the worlds that were opened to him. He had been thinking about what he wanted and how much UC he was going leave open to a lot for its success. He had been thinking over the last month or so what he wanted, and why sending help to Alusha was the safe route. He decided to send her to aid the young female beast kin Ziara instead. Her path would be much more difficult, and he couldn¡¯t just abandon her after he helped her. She had enough need for him to hear her prayer, and that was worth the help. The UC¡¯s could be converted to items that could be sold in the worlds he traveled, and he decided to spend a little more to give Cora the means to help Ziara grow. He was just finishing up the mission parameters when Cora entered from outside and he looked up and smiled and waved her over. Cora quickened her pace and bowed to him and Jerald couldn¡¯t help but smile and motioned to the seat across from him and said. ¡°Sit down please.¡± A little bit of surprise was seen in her eyes as she did what he asked, and Jerald tried to calm his mind before finally continuing his task in front of him. He smiled again and asked. ¡°Cora how is your knowledge of the people bonded to me and the area around them?¡± ¡°I have fully explored the areas around both cities of the sky islands, and mostly understand the political and social structure of them.¡± Cora responded. ¡°That is good.¡± Jerald smiled. ¡°Because in the next few days you will complete the persona that I have just created, and I will send you down to support the young beast kin girl Ziara. I have created a mission with the parameters in it and have given you tools you have to work with in.¡± ¡°Master?¡± Cora asked. ¡°You want me to go down to the world and serve you there?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jerald said as he nodded his agreement with her question. ¡°Can I ask you some questions?¡± Cora asked. ¡°Of course.¡± Jerald said. ¡°Did I do anything wrong that you are sending me away?¡± Cora asked. ¡°No not at all.¡± Jerald said a little startled at her question. ¡°There are a few reasons why I am sending you down instead of going my self. I am sending you down as a reward for how well you have done, and, she truly needs some guidance. I have explained in the mission how I prefer you approach it, but how you achieve the goals is completely left up to you.¡± Cora looked a little conflicted and Jerald only could sigh and said. ¡°One of the reasons why I am sending you down is for your own training as well. I have noticed over the last two months that why I have given you complete freedom. You have looked hesitant to fully embrace it, and I realized that you might not have ever had a chance to have freedom. So, I want to give you an opportunity to live a life of freedom as your persona, and that will give you a chance to understand more what it means.¡± ¡°A test?¡± Cora asked. ¡°You can think of it any way you wish.¡± Jerald chuckled. ¡°I want you to be happy while you work under me, and to achieve that I think you have to understand what freedom truly is. I can not give you that true opportunity until certain conditions happen, but I can give you the closest thing to it possible. So, while your down on the word I hope you can truly explore what freedom means to you while you help your charge to grow.¡± ¡°I understand master.¡± Cora said. ¡°You will find the persona in the system, and like your own persona here. I want you to create one that will blend in with the culture where Ziara currently resides.¡± Jerald said. ¡°I have allotted you UC, but I do ask you to use it sparingly. Good luck Cora and above all enjoy your life and think about what you want from it instead of only what you think I want you to do. If you make a mistake learn from it, and grow stronger and above all try to enjoy your freedom.¡± ¡°Yes Master.¡± Cora said as she gave him a smile that reached her eyes this time. Jerald monitored closely as Cora did as he asked her and started the process of making a persona. She was thorough and researched the area which he wanted her to go, and he was surprised at her planning. He learned quite a bit from watching her control the system, and he mentally took notes on it. When she finally started to finish the persona, she created a very demure Sentrua woman, with wings that elegantly spread out from her back. She changed from winged form to humanoid form altering slightly before she seemed satisfied. Her natural abilities and the ones she chose were mainly gave off an influence and manipulative vibe rather than intimidation. Jerald almost felt like a voyeur as he watched her change different clothes to get the right image, and when she was completed, she was the perfect mixture of beautiful and elegant. She would be a watched figure wherever she was he thought. She finished her persona and came back in front of him and bowed and then stood still in front of him. ¡°Are you already ready?¡± Jerald asked. ¡°Yes Master.¡± Cora said. ¡°Follow the goals, but how you reach them is up to you to find. If you have any questions, I am but a prayer away. Good luck on your goals and above all enjoy your freedom and I hope you understand more what it means after this.¡± Jerald said with a grin. ¡°Thank you master.¡± Cora said. ¡°Good luck and I hope you find your way.¡± Jerald said as he gave her a dismissal gesture. Cora bowed again and quickly went toward the portal room, where the moment she stepped on the platform she walked through the portal with out a thought. Her form changed as she was entering from her normal body to the one, she just created. He was happy and hoped she would find something on her trip and a little depressed seeing her figure disappear in the portal. She was just to damn alluring, but he still had work to do so he started to plan out his own future trip. _____ _____ ____ _____ Chapter 2 (1) Cora¡¯s body appeared with the sunrise sitting on carriage pulled by two tamed creatures. The carriage was made of wood from the tona tree, which was a sign of power because of its expense. The animals pulling the carriage were called zetu, and were also high-quality beasts common for nobility to use. She didn¡¯t plan on living the life of a pauper, and she noticed her master didn¡¯t ask her to either. His only words were that she should discover herself and he asked her to help a lost soul here in the city. She knew she was told to live her own life, but she couldn¡¯t stop from being extremely grateful to her master for saving her from oblivion. She wanted to create a firm foundation for her master in the world, but also follow his suggestions about living her own life. This was her decision and how to do it was hers as well, and she wanted to do it well for him and herself. The zetu pulled the carriage and soon she saw the gates to the city in front of her. The city was called Renwick, and the second largest city on this floating island. There was a line of people at the gate going in, and she could see several other races of beast kin in that city. She looked up and saw the glitter of a dome shield over the city preventing people from flying into it, and she waited patently in the line of carts till it was her turn at the gates. The gates of the city were connected to high stone walls that reached at least fifty feet high, and the gate was made of a black colored metal. There were ten guards at the gate that were around a small stone building and there were three guards checking the wagons and carriages going through. Cora¡¯s had two phantom servants, which were part of her abilities. The one driving the carriage looked to be a muscled beast kin of a bear race, and the other a smaller female beast kin that looked to be of one of the feline races. There names were Ket and Simala, and summoned creatures that could only stay if Cora had enough mana to keep them there. If they weren¡¯t fighting, she could keep both there permanently, and would have to increase her mana before she could do more. She had always had so much power, but her persona only reflected her abilities and not the growth she had gained over the thousands of years. The carriage pulled up the gate and Ket set the breaks, and through the window in the carriage door Cora saw a guard dressed in bronze armor walk toward the door. She slid open a sliding panel, so it was a larger window and she waited for the guard to speak. ¡°City pass please.¡± The guard said. ¡°I am new to the island and arrived at the port of Sedgewin six days ago.¡± Cora said calmly. ¡°Eight silvern for entrance and the carriage fee.¡± The solider said. ¡°You will receive six of them back if you register if you become a resident of the city. Here is your temporary pass. It will last for two weeks and it will have to be renewed or you will have to leave Renwick. You can find the official to register for residency at the high square, but carriages are not allowed there with out proper passes so you will have stable your beasts and carriage. There are a number of places along the outer wall to do that.¡± Cora looked to Ket and the man handed down 8 silvers to the solider, and the soldier handed up the pass to him, and nodded to her and walked away. She felt the carriage move and they moved inside the city and the carriage turned letting her see the building sitting about forty feet away. The buildings were made of stone and were sturdy, but they gave the air of age. They didn¡¯t look run down but they definably looked worn a little especially the wooden doors that marked many of the entrances and window coverings. The number of beast kin traveling through out the city was massive and there were large crowds walking on cobbled walkways next to the streets. Her carriage moved along the streets until it finally came to stop near a large stone building with wood barn doors. There was a wooden fence creating an area before the barn door, and a break in the fence where they could take in the tamed beasts. Ket and Simala both got off and why Ket took care of the carriage and beasts housing. Simala guarded Cora as she stood quietly as Ket negotiated and soon Ket came out and took her two bags and they all started to head toward the central part of the city to find a place to stay. She had done quite a bit of research on the city of Renswick, and she had picked an upscale place to stay for the time being. The streets were wide for the most part but there were places it narrowed and she knew they were choke points in case there was a battle in the city. The continued to walk past the sea of stone buildings until they reached a bridge that went over a river. The bridge marked a difference in lifestyle and class in the city, and the moment they crossed it. The buildings became were of better condition and stone, and the type of people on the street were also higher in look and standing. They continued down the street until finally they reached the inn that she had picked. The inn was named the Golden Dove, and it was four stories tall and covered almost a quarter of the block of buildings. The moment she reached the entrance she lowered her hood showing her long silver hair and piercing blue eyes. She walked up the six steps of the entrance and the two guards paused a moment before stepping in front of her. ¡°Do you have business here?¡± A large guard in silver colored armor asked as he slid his hand to on top of his sword hilt slowly.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Yes, I am here to book reservations for me and my servants.¡± Cora said directly. ¡°The Golden Dove is a highly extravagant place to stay.¡± The guard said with out menace in his voice. ¡°Indeed, that is why I wish to stay here.¡± Cora said bluntly but with out any anger or emotion. ¡°Welcome to the Golden Dove.¡± The guard said and stepped back. Cora only smiled and nodded before stepping into the inn, and into the extravagantly decorated central room. There was a desk ten feet into the room and there was a female feline beast kin with long blond hair and dressed in an incredibly styled gown. She had her hair up in a bun and had a silver earring dangling from each ear. The room itself was decorated in wood paneling that had intricate designs across it that showed murals of beautiful scenic views. The floor a polished stone and that lead up to the desk. Cora moved slowly toward the desk and smiled back at the woman. ¡°How may I help you today?¡± The woman at the desk asked. ¡°We would like to stay here at the Golden Dove.¡± Cora said calmly. ¡°Would you like a single room or one that your servants can stay in as well?¡± She asked. ¡°One where my servants can stay in as well.¡± Cora confirmed. ¡°That would be a gold mark per night for the normal room or 3 gold marks for the more stylized rooms.¡± The woman said. ¡°Both come with room service for food, but higher priced room comes with a bathing room as well.¡± ¡°For now, I plan on staying around 20 days so that would be 60 gold marks then.¡± Cora said. ¡°Ket please pay her.¡± The large bear kin moved forward and took out a pouch and took out six stacks of ten gold marks and placed it in front of the woman. The woman smiled broadly at him and then bowed her head to Cora before placing the gold marks in a pouch of her own and pulling out small metal key that was covered in runes. She slid it across to them and Ket took it and then she rang a bell and a large bear kin with black skin and a body a little larger than Ket came through the door. ¡°Musko please take the lady and her servants to room 41.¡± The woman said. ¡°Right away mistress.¡± Musko said as he stepped up and said. ¡°Please follow me.¡± Cora was led to another room where she saw a large set of stairs leading up to another floor. The slowly walked up the stairs and reached a landing and saw another set of stairs heading up to the next level. They went up three sets of stairs before the reached a hallway that was borne by a large stone door. The man pulled out a rune key like the one just given to her and he pressed it to a matching rune. The door slid open showing a wide hallway that was carpeted. He led them down the hall to another door with a 1 on it and stopped. ¡°Please put your key next to the rune.¡± Musko said. ¡°This rune key will open your floor and your room and there will be two sub rune keys in the room that you can give to servants to enter. You need to touch the master rune key to them to activate them. They will work for one day and then you must reactivate them.¡± Cora looked to Ket and he placed the key to the rune and the door slid open. The door led to another hallway and which was also carpeted. She nodded to Musko and then led the way into the room. After all of them entered Ket touched the rune with the key shutting the door. The room was truly extravagant, and it was good enough for her. Simala unpacked her bags while checked the security in the room and looked for weaknesses. ¡°Master the room seems very secure.¡± Ket finally informed Cora. ¡°Do you have any instructions?¡± ¡°We have to first address the issue or residency and it is still early in the day. Ket I need you to find out the procedures that we need to go through to gain it. The sooner the better.¡± Cora said. ¡°Simala can stay to take care of things until you return.¡± ¡°Yes master.¡± Ket said as he handed the master key to her. Ket also had the two slave keys with him and she pressed the master key to one of them and there was a soft glow. The glow transferred to the slave key and Ket gave her the other slave key. He didn¡¯t hesitate to leave, and Cora turned to Simala and doing the same giving her the other slave key. Cora checked out the large room and like the woman at the desk said. It had a the small are in the front, but had a larger sitting room with a dining area just off it. There was a small kitchen area with mana driven stoves, and on the other side was the living spaces that had one larger bedroom and three smaller ones with the bathing area just off to the side with entrances from hallway and her master bedroom. She went into the master bedroom and was happy with what she saw, and she turned to Simala and said. ¡°Go out and see what options they have for getting food and wines. First ask through the inn and if they can not help you. Hire a porter and go out and get them yourself. I will be resting and do not with to be disturbed.¡± ¡°Yes master.¡± Simala said and immediately left. Cora watched her leave and then walked over to the bed and smiled before sitting on it and then going in to a cross legged position. She reached into her cloak and took hold of the chain that was around her neck and the small rune symbol that was attached the chain. She placed the symbol between her hands and prayed. ¡°Master I pray to thee and ask you to hear my prayer. I have arrived in the city and seek guidance.¡± Cora prayed. Cora sat there for a moment before she felt a wave of warmth in her that filled her body. It was a gentle feeling that made her quiver a little because of the sensitivity and her body¡¯s reaction. She heard a whisper in her mind. ¡°You have a life to live and I will not dictate how you live it. Learn from it and understand the freedom you have. I only wish the best for you and that no matter if you find happiness or sadness that you feel how it is to be free. Only then can you understand yourself and what you truly want.¡± A soft whisper said. ¡°I will try my best master.¡± She responded in the prayer. ¡°Whether you do great things or nothing at all it is your choice.¡± The soft whisper responded. ¡°I don¡¯t want a slave that only does what I want, but one that wants to do things because that is what her heart and soul want to do.¡± Cora felt a wave of warmth on her head and she felt that Jerald placed his hand on her and she reveled in it. Her body quivered as she didn¡¯t want him to every leave, but soon the hand was gone, but the warmth was still there inside of her. Tears started to slowly trickle down her cheeks but these tears for once were born of happiness and not despair. _____ _____ _____ ______ Chapter 2 (2) Ziara looked down at her body and was still surprised at the changes that occurred. She had a complete transformation from her previous emaciated body to one she didn¡¯t recognize anymore. She had grown almost five inches in height and legs and arms had grown stronger and more defined. Her chest had grown larger so much that she had to steal a blanket and use it as a cape to hide the growth. Her body was still covered with muck so her facial features couldn¡¯t be fully disclosed, but one thing hadn¡¯t changed and that was she still bore the cursed clan¡¯s mark. She had been living out on the streets for so long, and no matter how she tried to survive. The marks made her a target of gang bullies and the residence of the city wouldn¡¯t lift a finger to help her. She admitted it had been a little better in the last few days, because even with the cursed marks people had shown less disdain for her, but was still an open prey of the gangs. She just had been strong enough now to avoid them for the most part. She had been constantly on the run especially now that her body had changed, and she seemed like a new person. The gangs hadn¡¯t ignored her cursed markings and several them followed looking for an opportunity to corner her and steal everything she had. She had been targeted a few times by a specific group previously, and it was one of the reasons she had been left almost dead in that alley before he had come and healed her a little over two days before. She still wasn¡¯t sure if it was a passing spirit or a god that had healed her, but she did know that it was the first to aid her when she called out in need. She had almost given up hope of living at all when he put his hand on her and healed her completely. She still remembered that warm and comforting feeling she had and Ziara couldn¡¯t help but wished she could stay with him forever. She wanted to feel loved and wanted, and he had given that to her even if it was for only a short time. She had run into the gang that personally hunted her just earlier that morning when she went to steal some food to keep up her energy. The gang was led by Bruel a intimidating wolf beast kin and members of his pack. She had taken numerous beatings at his hand, and was lucky that they seemed to be looking for her in her previous form and didn¡¯t catch her in an alleyway she frequently stayed. She currently had found a spot-on top of the roofs, and nobody had spotted her up there. Ziara had stashed a few dried pieces of bread and some fruits she had stolen from a vendor while they were distracted the day before and she had almost got caught. She wasn¡¯t as small and unnoticeable anymore, but she could run faster and climb the sides of the building much easier. She was currently perched on the roof as night was starting to descend on the city. She had decided tonight was the night she would try to pray to the spirit or god that had helped her and thank him. She had spent the last two nights deciding what she wanted to do, and a little fearful that if she started praying to him that she would tie herself to a being she truly didn¡¯t know was good or evil. She finally decided it didn¡¯t matter, because if that being was evil then that being was still the only one that ever did something for her and saved her life. This meant that her current life was that beings already, and now she was determined to thank him whether it was good or evil. She only knew that he had not only given back her life but her dignity as well. As the night slowly overtook the city and the lamp lights were lit. Ziara lay on a slanted tile roof near a chimney and took out the rune necklace she found after he had healed her. She placed it between her hands and closed her eyes and whispered. ¡°Merciful god. I a lowly and cursed person thank thee for saving my life and giving me strength. I have nothing to repay you with, so I give you my heart and soul to take into your hands to do with what you wish. Never in my life has anybody ever taken mercy on me and given me a spark to live, and that spark now belongs to you to do with what you desire.¡± Ziara pledged. Ziara laid there trembling knowing that such pledges, especially to high sprits or gods, were not light things. Her race had once been cursed by a god because they had broken a pledge so she knew that she might be causing herself a horrible outcome. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how she was given a new life even if it would be brief and that feeling had stoked the fire of wanting to live for something rather than dying for nothing.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. She was just about to give up on being responded too, when suddenly she felt a warmth on the top of her head that spread through out her body down to the toes. It was a gentle and loving feeling that she had first felt only a few days before. The feeling was something she longed for and she felt somebody was holding her warming up her cursed soul. ¡°I have heard you and will not abandon you. I have sent somebody to find you and to help you. Both of you can live your life the way you desire, and can chose to help each other. I will not tell you what to do, but let you choose your own life, wants and needs. She will come soon and whether you go with her or not is your choice.¡± A warm whisper entered her mind. ¡°Your life is for you to decide what you wish to do with it and I only wish it is a fulfilling one. I will be watching.¡± Ziara couldn¡¯t help but revel in the feeling of his touch, because it gave her the love and caring she had never had before the last few days. She felt the warmth right down to her soul, and tears couldn¡¯t stop from rolling down her cheeks. Even when the warmth slowly faded, she could feel it still stay in her heart and soul warming it, and she didn¡¯t want to give it up. She realized at how empty her heart and soul were before and her determination rose once more. He had told her that somebody would be finding her, and it was her choice if she wanted to go with that person or not. She was determined to go with her if it meant she was doing something for him. She knew him as Mercer, and knew the rune that was given to her was her way of talking to him. She gently touched the rune and could only smile as she cried in the dark. _____ _____ _____ _____ Cora could feel the energy of her master flow into her rune necklace, but this time it was different than before. She felt the connection between her rune necklace and another in the city farther to the west from where she was at. She knew instinctively that it was the person her master requested her to help, and why he left it up to her she wasn¡¯t going to deny her new master that request. She had been cultivating since she had spoken to her master before, because her mana was still to low to effectively do what she wished to do. The interface helped gauge her progress, which truly helped during cultivation. She could manage using up and growing her mana pool, and yet have enough to sustain her two servants from returning. She looked out and saw it was dark in the room, and knew Ket and Simala must have already returned. She was starting to feel a little hungry now and she rose from her cultivation position and slowly walked to the door and opened it. The living room was lit with lamps and the moment she came out and Ket and Simala came to her immediately. She smiled at both and said. ¡°Report!¡± ¡°The paperwork for residency is actually quite simple with enough coins.¡± Ket said. ¡°The paperwork is being processed and should be completed with in the next few days. Our pass has already been updated allowing us to stay, but to purchasing of buildings can not be completed until the process is done.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Cora said. ¡°Were you able to get the other things Simala?¡± ¡°Yes, master I was able to get most through the inn, but the things I couldn¡¯t I was able to go out and get with a currier. The cloth and materials you requested are already in one of the spare rooms.¡± ¡°Excellent.¡± Cora said. ¡°Lets all have something to eat and tomorrow morning Ket and I have to go look for the little one that master has chosen. It is vital we contact her and offer her aid.¡± Cora walked over to the fireplace which was lit with a low flame and sat down closing her eyes as she waited for meal. She knew that her master wanted her to follow her own path and choose what she wanted to do and how. She had never had the option to choose her path, and honestly didn¡¯t know how. She grew up one of tens of thousands of elemental succubi, which only goal was to be used as tools. She was used only as a tool using sex and manipulation to gain intelligence for her master. She never had a choice who her target was, and none of her children she bore in the process could be with her after she birthed them. She had no attachment except for obedience to her master, but now it was different. She had no underlining order to fulfill, and she was able to choose her path. He only asked her to do some things for him, but never ordered it. He just wanted her to live her life out and make decisions for herself, and by doing that he surprisingly won her heart completely. She truly wanted to please him and make him proud of her, and for the first time it wasn¡¯t a compulsion set by her master, but a need set by herself. She still wasn¡¯t sure what she was going to do, but no matter what she was going to make sure her master gained at least as much as he spent to give her this opportunity. She knew how the game was played, because she slept with many from sanctuaries during her time in her previous life. She would do what ever she could to promote his name and gather a following here in the city. She wasn¡¯t sure about how she was going to do that, but before she left her master would have followers in both bloodline and faith. Chapter 2 (3) Ziara opened her eyes remembering feeling the sunlight warming her body as the sun was just coming up over the horizon first landing on the tiles of the rooves of the city. She remembered the night before and still felt the warmth of night before and she smiled. The fact that anybody whether it was a beast kin or a god would help her was a miracle in her eyes. Ziara stretched as she rose from the tiles of the roof and made her way toward edge. She lowered herself down the drainpipe toward an alley. She could then make her way in to one of the markets and see if she could get some food. She slowly used her feet and hands to shimmy down the pipe using the brackets holding the pipe to the wall as hand holds and foot holds. She reached the alley when she heard a noise and turned around and saw three wolf beast kin standing there holding pipes and pieces of wooden crates. The lead person was the one she was least wanting to see, and the grin he had on his face showed he was not thinking pleasant things. She knew him as Bruel, and he was the one that beat her up on a regular occasion. She recognized him clearly and two of his pack mates. ¡°Looky hear, looky hear.¡± Bruel said in a sarcastic voice. ¡°We didn¡¯t find that snot nosed bitch, but we are lucky to find one of her cursed kind. I guess we can have our fun finally.¡± Ziara froze out of habit at the three and knew that she couldn¡¯t possibly climb back up in time before they reached her. She wasn¡¯t in any condition to fight all three and she was in the alley and trapped against a dead end. Her natural reactions were to shiver and get down and plead for them to have mercy, but she remembered that she was not that same pitiful crow kin anymore. She was sixteen years old and she was in the best fitness she could be in. She didn¡¯t think she could win, but she would definably cause some harm to them. ¡°You seem to be a fierce piece of cursed crap.¡± Bruel said flatly. ¡°Though I have to say if you weren¡¯t cursed, I might invite myself to allow you to pleasure me a bit.¡± Ziara fear suddenly dissipated at that comment and she felt an anger in her heart. Normally she wouldn¡¯t be treated like that because it was taboo to have sex with a cursed beast kin, because they say that the curse might spread. It still didn¡¯t sit well with her, because Bruel had always tortured her more aggressively because of that. ¡°If you attack me, I will make sure that you will pay for it.¡± Ziara spat out. ¡°Feisty.¡± Bruel laughed and then his face turned cold. ¡°Nobody is going to save you and believe me when we are done with you. You will have wished you could become my bitch.¡± Ziara looked around the alley for something to protect herself and finally saw something that looked like a broken spoke from a wheel. It would have been something she couldn¡¯t have handled in the past, but now she had the strength to handle something that heavy. She slid over and reached down and picked up the spoke while keeping her head forward not letting the three out of her view to attack. All three of them chortled as they started to move forward the other two of his pack spreading out to attack her from the sides. Ziara gripped the spoke tightly as she decided to try to use speed once they spread out to get by Bruel and escape the alleyway, but as if he knew her plan he smiled and stepped back making sure to be able to block her path if she tried. The two wolf beast kin lackies attacked at the same time but just as they struck out Ziara stepped back quickly and then struck down hard at the arm of the one coming from the right. She heard a crack sound as the beast kin dropped his metal bar and screamed in pain holding his hand. The second beast kin adjusted quickly and struck with his wooden club and hit Ziara in the stomach causing a flash of pain to explode and the air was nocked out of her. She could only gasp as the wooden club came down for another strike. She was able to move her head, but her shoulder was struck causing her to crash down on her knees. A kick came next knocking her back on her ass as she still tried to gasp for air from the strike to the chest. Her shoulder had a sharp pain as well but as she was finally able to gain her breath another strike came in but this time it was from the other guy using his metal bar in his other hand. She knew she was going to get severely hurt but just at that moment a hand grabbed the back of her rags and pulled her away from the strike. She looked up and saw a female feline beast kin standing over her. She was pretty and was in her beast form her body full of dark fur and her eyes red with anger. She was a second-tier beast kin and had already gained her combat form. Her face was elongated a little showing her blackened nose and silver whiskers coming from both side of her face. The two wolf beast kin looked stunned at her form and started to back away. Bruel also looked a little shocked at the new beast kin. He gave snarl as he backed away and said. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but you are interrupting our business. You maybe have a second-tier form, but can get five the same level as you.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. He was just backing away when Bruel suddenly stopped and turned and swung his steal pipe backwards, but the pipe stopped halfway when a hand grabbed it. He looked up to see a huge bear beast kin with a very frightening smile looking down at him. The bear beast kin pulled the iron bar away in one motion also his other hand shot forward sending Bruel flying forward to the ground landing five feet away. Bruel turned around and screamed. ¡°She is a cursed one. If you just leave now, we won¡¯t hold what your doing against you.¡± ¡°What makes you think that we aren¡¯t holding this against you?¡± A feminine voice said. The voice was light and airy as another figure walked out of the darkness. The figure was in a black cloak and there was a soft glow around her. Ziara was somewhat shocked by the woman as she walked in from the shadows. She looked at the gang members and then over toward her. She gave a beautiful smile and then her gaze turned to Bruel and her eyes turned cold. ¡°I was going to spare you, but then you went and threatened me and my people.¡± The woman continued walking toward Bruel with even steps. She took out a small bag from her waist and tossed it over to the large bear beast kin. The bear beast kin grabbed the bag and for the first time he smiled showing his sharp teeth. He looked down at Bruel and then over to the two other pack members and with out hesitation he stepped forward tossing the metal bar to the side and grabbed the Bruel and raised him up to his height. With a flued motion he took a small pill from the bag and placed the bag in his pocket. He then clamped his hands on the bridge of Bruel¡¯s nose and shoved the pill his mouth. Bruel took a deep breath and then his body started to shake, and the bear beast kin tossed to the ground. He did the exact same thing with the other two pack members and all three were now still convulsing on the ground. Ziara was shocked and looked up at the large bear beast kin but her attention was drawn when the woman that gave the man the bag stepped into her view. She looked at her with a smile that reached her eyes and then said. ¡°I was sent to help you. My master allowed me to find you by using this.¡± She pulled out a chain and it had the same rune that she had around her neck. Ziara was still in pain but for some reason seeing it made it feel better. She tried to get up but cringed and the feline beast kin behind her quickly caught her, so she didn¡¯t fall back to the ground. The woman looked worried a little and then asked. ¡°Would you be willing to come with me so we can talk. It probably wouldn¡¯t be a good thing when these three wakes up.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ziara stammered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of my curse?¡± ¡°Curse?¡± The woman said. ¡°A person my master helps are never cursed she is blessed. My name is Vespa and if your willing I can show you things that you have never seen before.¡± _____ ______ ______ ______ Cora watched as the Ket placed the dark cloak over the girl and couldn¡¯t help but smile. She truly was lovely, and she thought that her master truly had a good eye for females. She hadn¡¯t seen Alusha, but he knew she was married currently and why her master could alure her to be his. She didn¡¯t think he would, but this young woman was beautiful and good candidate for him. As they traveled through the city the girl¡¯s steps became more stable and Ket had to help her less, but Cora could see her master¡¯s aura in her. By the time she came back and had the girl in the room at the Golden Dove she had already decided on how she wanted to act to best benefit her master. She had already planned to open a temple here, but it wouldn¡¯t be an easy task. She had to plan everything out very carefully, but first thing was first. ¡°Simala please prepare some breakfast for us.¡± Cora said. ¡°Yes master.¡± Simala said. Cora turned to the young woman and asked. ¡°How are your wounds? I am sorry we couldn¡¯t get to you sooner.¡± Cora watched as she seemed to struggle with something before, she slid down the cloak hood and looked back at her. There was pain in those eyes and a spark of hope as well. She must have had a very hard life before this, and Cora saw much of herself in this girl. It also included the hope she had because her master had saved her just like she just did for this girl. ¡°The wounds still sting, but they are healing faster than I thought could happen.¡± The young woman said. ¡°The rune you have around your neck is the same as mine. He said somebody was coming to me, and even though you did I wasn¡¯t sure if his words would come true or not. He saved my life twice now and I doubted him. Do you think he will be mad at me?¡± Cora felt a wave of sorrow in her soul and it was an emotion she knew well. She gave her best smile and said. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. He believes in free will and following the path you want. Even those like me that don¡¯t really know how to do that. He wants to give me a chance for freedom from my previous fate, and I think he wants to give you the same chance. I personally want to be with him and don¡¯t want to be apart from him, but I know to do that I have to overcome this hurdle and show him how much I freely love him. So even if I die here, I can join him, but before I go I must make my mark here and leave something behind that can grow and let people know that they can follow him as well.¡± ¡°So, he is a god?¡± The woman said. ¡°In my heart he is, but he is so much more.¡± Cora said with a smile in on her face and eyes. ¡°What you want to do is up to you, and he is giving you this chance I believe. You say your cursed, but I don¡¯t believe he thinks that way, or at least he doesn¡¯t think your soul is that way.¡± ¡°What do I need to do?¡± The young woman asked. ¡°Nothing if you wish or anything if you wish that as well.¡± Cora stated. ¡°He asked me to help you have that chance and that is all. I think everything else depends on what you want and desire. Thought first I think you should eat something and then we can get you cleaned up. We have plenty of time to talk about what you want in the future.¡± _____ ______ ______ ______ Chapter 2 (4) Ziara heart pounded at the words that came out of Vespa¡¯s mouth, but in a way, she knew she was telling her the truth. The person she saw in her dream and the voice he heard in her mind seemed gentle and didn¡¯t give her any commands. He had always suggested and seemed somewhat respectful to her in the dream and his voice was calming and gentle when he spoke to her. It didn¡¯t sound like the behavior she had heard in the stories about any of the other gods. She also saw a hope in Vespa¡¯s eyes that she found encouraging rather than sincere. Her servant brought her a basin of water and she had washed her face and hands the best she could. The aroma of the food was amazing to her as the dishes that were served were simple and it made her feel so hungry. The problem was that even though there was food in front of her she was afraid because she didn¡¯t want to offend Vespa because of her poor habits. She looked at the food on her dish and then over to Vespa. Vespa looked over to her and smiled but instead of using the metal utensils beside the plate. She reached out and took it right off the plate with her hand and popped the small piece of meat into her mouth. Ziara couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved as she did the same. The food¡¯s taste was amazing and the bowl that had the liquid brown stuff was great as well. There wasn¡¯t a lot, but there was much more than she had ever had in one sitting before. Even though she felt stuffed she couldn¡¯t help but have a warm feeling in her heart. ¡°Is it enough?¡± Vespa asked. ¡°Yes, I am not used to eating so much.¡± Ziara said meekly. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°If you want to stay with us then you should get used to it.¡± Vespa expressed softly. ¡°I am guessing that to much food will be bad for you, but eventually you should get used to the textures and amounts.¡± Ziara could only nod as Vespa raised from the chair and gave her a smile again before saying, ¡°Now let me take you to the bath so you can clean up. We also have lotions that will help after you finish that will help soften the skin.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Ziara said again her voice breaking up again with emotion. ¡°I am truly happy to help you and want to give the same chances my master gave me.¡± Vespa said as she walked around the table. Ziara stood up and followed behind her and she took her toward a room that had a set-in bathtub that had small red crystals set in the bottom of it. The water was already in the bathtub and she felt a little steam in the air. She saw Vespa turn and smile, and when she entered the room, she saw the other female servant lay inside the bathroom a few cloths towels and two robes. She also placed a small tub with different types of bars and a glass jar of something white. ¡°Please come over here.¡± Vespa said breaking Ziara out of her thoughts. ¡°I will show you how to use this type of bath properly.¡± Ziara followed her and saw two small stone benches and in front of them were two stone tubs with water in them. There were also small holes that had thin metal plates over them with places cut out of them near both stone benches. Vespa walked over to the small tube with the bars and jar in it and brought it over with a soft bristle brush and some clothes. She smiled again and then pointed to the stone bench. ¡°This is the actual washing area.¡± Vespas explained. ¡°Here you remove your clothes and use the small cups and ladles to soak yourself after you have removed your clothes. I will show you how to do it and help you if you wish as well.¡± She saw Vespa moved to the stone bench and slowly start to remove her clothes. She put the clothes in a basket near the wall. She seemed to be perfectly alright with being undressed and Ziara realized just how beautiful this woman was. Her body was thin, and she looked like she had no fat on her at all, and was in peak shape. Her long silver hair rested down to the middle of her back, and her breasts were firm and large. She was enchanted by her immediately and she looked like some sort of angel as she walked over to the stone bench and took the ladle and dipped it in the hot water. She slowly raised it and started to pour the water over her shoulders and back. The water steaming down her body to the floor and the excess water heading to the holes in the ground and draining away. She continued putting water on her covering every part of her body until she was completely soaked. She then put down the ladle and reached over and took a bar from the small tub and slowly moved it over he hands until small bubbles stated to form. She then started to rub the bar over her body making her body be covered with those suds. She also slowly ran the bar over her hair and slowly created a thick layer of suds on it as well. She then put down the bar and started using the ladle and started pouring it over her body again rinsing the suds away. She continued to do that putting water through her hair till there seemed to be no suds left. She took a towel and soaked it and started wiping herself down until she was satisfied and then stood up and turned toward her. ¡°The first step is to drench your body in water and then used the soap bar to clean your body. If the dirt is to difficult you then can put the soap on the brush and use it to clean as well. Then your rinse your body until most of the dirt is gone, and do it over again until your clean.¡± Vespa explained. ¡°Then you use the towels to wash away any of the residue and then you go into the bathtub and do a final rinsing and relax your body. Is there anything else I need to explain?¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Ziara just looked at her and felt her heartbeat faster. The water seemed to still be slowly dripping from her hair on her head and the hair on her private parts. She realized she was rude for not answering and she shook her head and said. ¡°No, I understand.¡± ¡°Good then let me help you this time, because there is a lot of dirt and grime to get off you.¡± Vespa said with a mischievous smile. ¡°Is that ok?¡± Ziara just nodded yes and Vespa walked over and slowly brought her over to the other stone bench. She slowly started to remove the tattered clothes that Ziara had on her. Her touch was gentle, but the clothes were stuck to her skin. She felt Vespa¡¯s hand reach down and get some water and used it to turn the solid grime into a paste. Then she started pulling off Ziara¡¯s clothes piece by piece placing the tattered remains in the basket next to hers. Ziara was ashamed because she had no undergarments on, and she hadn¡¯t bathed in a long time. Vespa didn¡¯t say anything and slowly guided her to the stone bench and said. ¡°Turn away from the water and I will help you rinse your back. It may be a little painful, but I will be as gentle as I can.¡± Vespa guided Ziara to the right position and then started to slowly pour water over her letting her body get used to it. She took one of the soft cloths and started to wiper her down trying to get rid of the caked grime and mud on her body. She truly was gentle and Ziara appreciated it and as she touched her back quivered a little. The process was slowly and tedious as she went over each part of her body once and then used the ladle to rinse her off, before starting all over again. When she was able to get much of the mud and grime off her back, she came around the front and started all over and cleaned everything from her face and around her breasts. She even cleaned the area around her private parts and again her touch made Ziara shutter, but she knew that Vespa was not doing anything inappropriate even though it was the first time anybody had touched her there. After she washed away most of the grime and mud, she went made sure her legs and feet were clean and then started with the hair. She rinsed it thoroughly and then slowly moved along her hair trying to clean away much of the mud that had been clumped in her scrawny packed hair a as possible. She rinsed it several times, before she started using the bar and cleaned her body all over again. She must have been doused two dozen times before she had finished and used the soft small towel to wipe her down one last time. She saw Vespa rinse herself once again and then then came around to the front and took her hand and led her over to the large bath that was still warm enough to let steam vapor rise. She stepped down into the bath and pulled Ziara with her. The water was warm but not to hot and at first there was a little bit of sting when her skin came in contact, but then the pain went away and hot water seemed to truly help relax some of her tenseness that she didn¡¯t even realized she had. ¡°I know this is new to you but when my master asked me to help. He asked me if I could see you as a sister to help guide you and you help guide me. I wasn¡¯t sure at first, but my master was right. I feel like our fates are tied together and at first it was a small string, but I feel that it is strong.¡± Vespa said. ¡°My master asked me but didn¡¯t order me, but now I know he was right. I can see my master¡¯s power in you and even as I washed you, I knew if you wished it, we could become true sisters.¡± ¡°But I have cursed blood?¡± Ziara said, ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± Vespa said as she slowly moved through the water to hug Ziara. Ziara felt the same warm and gentle touch she did from the person who spoke to her the night before in the woman before her. She tensed for a moment her body awkward and then she put her arms around Vespa and leaned into her hug and started crying. The tears started to flow, and she couldn¡¯t stop them as her cries turned in to sniffles and sobs as she felt Vespa¡¯s arm hold her tightly and pat the small of her back in comfort. Ziara didn¡¯t know how long she sat there being held by Vespa but as if hearing her cries a sudden rush of warmth entered her body and her eyes widened as she raised her head and saw Vespa¡¯s eyes were also wide in awe. The warmth bath water seemed to swirl around them as Ziara could sense somebody was speaking to Vespa and her shocked look softened and she looked content. Then suddenly a soft voice entered her mind. ¡°Ziara I am glad the she found you and you two are safe.¡± The tender voice she heard the night before said. ¡°If you trust in each other both of you can hopefully find the path you seek. I know the black marks of fate have left you worn and tired, but if you can believe that can changed. The dark karma that flows in your bloodline can be overcome and you can be set free if you follow the path with faith in your actions. I believe you can break the hold the dark karma has, and once you do then maybe you can truly choose your own destiny for lifetimes to come.¡± Ziara quivered at the words and tears once again started to fall from her eyes. She realized these weren¡¯t tears of hopelessness or curses. They were tears of hope and feeling a spark that might lead to her freedom from the curse everybody in her clan bore. She buried her chest into Vespa¡¯s and whispered. ¡°Thank you.¡± It was a while before both finished their bath, and left the bathtub. Vespa lead her to the towels and slowly dried her off with one before helping her put on a robe. She did the same and with Ziara in tow she led her out of the bathing room and to a room that was elegant in design. It had a lush rug and the walls were of wood, and there was a large clothes cabinet on the side near a large bed. Vespa led her over near the bed and then turned her to face her. ¡°You have a good sleep and let some of the fatigue fade, and later we will have some clothes for you, and we can discuss what you want to do from here.¡± Vespa said as she gave Ziara another hug and then squeezed her hands before turning and leaving through the door shutting it behind her. Ziara was still lost in what happened, but she looked around the room and made her way on to the bed. She pulled the blanket over her and a strange feeling came over her. She thought for a few moments and realized it was a comfortable feeling and suddenly she felt exhausted and before she knew it, she was shrouded in the darkness of sleep. Chapter 2 (5) Jerald could only smile as he pulled his consciousness out of Ziara. He knew she with Cora now and after he heard her sobs, he hoped that she was on the right path. Negative karma was a difficult thing to overcome, because once you have it. Things like luck and fate tend to push you deeper in to despair. She just needed a chance to earn some positive karma to offset the negative and once she did. The negative effects she thought was a curse would fade away and she could try to earn a path with out the side effects of the negative karma getting in her way. Cora had no karma at all when she left the soul pool, but now she had an opportunity as well. He had studied more about the effects of karma and found it truly was one of the most important things to surviving. Ziara on the other hand had was in negative karma by 2 and it would take much more effort for her to regain those two karmas back. He had Cora there to give her the best chance to regain her freedom from the dark fate she currently had from her past. Her karma wasn¡¯t far in the negative, but even 1 point in the negative would cause harsh treatment. His blessing of her with a friendly aura would help, but not enough. He found that there was a better chance of gaining or losing karma if they followed their own path. So that was what he suggested, and he would truly help them if he could. He was still at work plotting his own turn that would happen when Cora returned. He was currently monitoring several island chains looking for the right one to descend at. He currently had picked twelve different locations to monitor. He wanted to make sure there were all the right requirements for him to succeed. He had decided that he needed to build his own power base with the humans and then and only then could he truly steer the humans in the right direction and gain acknowledgement from them at the same time. The three major purposes of his attempt to improve the human race¡¯s lot on the planet were as followed. First, he would find a place to build a settlement and a place of power. Second, he would have to introduce a bloodline to humanity that could help them balance the disadvantage that they currently had. The third thing he had to do was create a unique type of mana manipulation that would help the humans defend themselves from the other races on the planet. If he could do all three of those then he would consider this experiment a success, and hopefully as he did all that he would gain a few followers for himself to help build up his sanctuary. He knew the other races already had several deities they worshiped, and were dedicated to them. The humans though had no deities at least openly dedicated them, and even though he didn¡¯t think of himself as somebody that would be powerful. He could create a win/win situation for both the humans and his sanctuary. He still had to figure a way of doing it with the least amount of help, but with the options open to him it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t. It was if he could afford it or not, because currently he still had not earned any UC. The next two weeks he worked hard and only stopped when he heard a prayer from Cora, and he took the time to listen and respond. He smiled as he heard from Cora that everything was doing well, and they would become residence in a few days. That was almost a month in his time because the ratio was still so large. She was contacting him each night, and Alusha and Ziara. Alusha¡¯s prayer was one requesting a blessing for her family, and Ziara¡¯s prayer was thanking him for Cora¡¯s help, which she knew as Vespa. He hadn¡¯t spent the UC to respond to them, but he couldn¡¯t do that every time even if the cost wasn¡¯t much. He was starting to fully understand small his UC was as he continued to plan his descent. He hadn¡¯t even spent anymore on improving his sanctuary. He hadn¡¯t planned to do anymore improvements, but Cora had suggested he create a dreamscape. He looked it up and discovered that the dreamscape was a private dream space that he could enter with out cost. If he didn¡¯t go into other peoples dreams it would be free for him. He could though permit others like his followers to go into his dreamscape if they had permission and were attuned to him. Jerald had to admit it wasn¡¯t that costly to buy a good-sized dreamscape and it could pay for itself. It was also a place that he could meet Cora and talk with out costing and UC. It wasn¡¯t quite cost effective yet, but in the future, it would be, and he could enter it after he descended. He could meet Cora as well by going there when he needed help and to give her orders if needed. He saw the need for it and two days later he purchased it. The dreamscape could be designed to what ever he wanted, and if he left blank spaces of mist. The person that entered the dreamscape could form something that was comfortable to them as well. He realized that the fact he could change things so easily that it could be useful. He had been making plans to build his own powerbase in the human world, and he could use the dreamscape to design what he wanted to make in the real world. ¡°It really was a great idea.¡± Jerald said with a smile. ¡°I will have to give her a reward later.¡± Jerald added the dreamscape to his routine, and every night he would go to sleep. He would go to the dreamscape and slowly alter and create slowly over time. He was slowly making his dream palace and garden while getting a good night¡¯s rest. He decided he was going to create it first and let Cora come to it if she so chose. He figured she wanted to because she was the one that suggested it, but he decided he wouldn¡¯t do it until he changed the ratio to 1 to 1 from his current ratio setting. ¡°Now all I have to do is find an island that will match this, and everything will be set.¡± Jerald said excitedly. ¡°Forty more days should do it I think.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Jerald had already worked for 140 days, and to the outside world only 7 days had passed. The fact that he didn¡¯t even notice how time passed Jerald thought how his whole psyche had changed since he was a human back on Earth. He always enjoyed learning new things, and the world before him was totally new. The culture, laws and how people thought were new to him at first, but at least on this planet the ratio of females to males is almost double. This made the family dynamic a little different from what it was on Earth. Humans was even more skewed in this regard that lead to a male dominant political and social structure. The opposite was for many of the other races, but that was because that the bloodlines made females in the other races as strong as or even stronger than male humans. It was for that reason the human races were so low in the world states and were often though of as slaves at best and vermin at worst. It was for this reason that he had to be well prepared for his descent, and the fact that Cora¡¯s suggestion of the dreamscape helped so much. He smiled and knew that he had quite a long way to go before he completed his plan. He then would make a location just for Cora in the dreamscape as a present for her help. _____ _____ _____ _____ Cora looked over at Ziara and could only smile at her quick progress and how eager she was to learn. She found that it was a pleasant feeling to do things because she wanted too and not because she was following orders. She was helping Ziara because of the request of her master, but she soon realized it was mostly because she wanted too. It wasn¡¯t his order, but her choices that led to this point, and she started to understand a little what her master was trying to teach her. Ziara was a perfect example because she had negative karma she was treated so poorly. She had only a negative 2 karma and it has caused her all sorts of pain. She had been blessed which reduced her negative karma by one temporarily, but still people feel uncomfortable around her. Cora has lived with negative karma but in the past her powers allowed her to overcome it. Ziara doesn¡¯t have that talent or ability but in Cora¡¯s eyes she is truly has remarkable willpower. The last ten days she had seen it and every night she prays to her master and Cora could see her true faith grow with each passing night. Cora walked over to Ziara which was in a meditative state increasing her own mana pool. She only eats, meditated and prayed pledging to get stronger to serve the one that helped her with out asking anything in return. Cora also did this routinely leaving the task of preparing everything to Ket and Simala. Over the last week Ket had confirmed their residence status and that included Ziara¡¯s new status. He also was in negotiations with he purchases of two plots of land near the central rise of the city near the merchant district. The first one was there residence, which was a small villa just off the main merchant street, and the second was the location where Cora planned to build the temple for Mercer. Simala had on her orders went to a few the orphanages or children¡¯s workhouses. Her goal was the gather a dozen or so young girls to be trained as temple maidens and at least a half dozen young boys to be trained by Ket as protectors. All of this was being funded by her and the location near the merchant district was perfect, because he was the god of luck and fortuitous intentions. She hoped the construction would be starting in less than two months, and as for the Villa. Ket and Simala would be furnishing it and making contacts as they go. It had only been ten days and things were going smoothly for now, but she expected at some point in time things would get a little rocky. The gods typically didn¡¯t like others taking away from their flock, and would be only time before things would start to happen. Cora walked over to where Ziara was meditating and sat down beside her. She waited patiently and then finally Ziara came out of her meditation and looked at her. She gave Cora a smile and just waited patiently for her speak. ¡°I just wanted to see how you were doing and what your thoughts on what we talked about earlier?¡± Cora asked. ¡°Is it alright though for me to become a priestess of Mercer?¡± Ziara asked with a serious tone. ¡°The only requirement to become a priestess is for Mercer to accept you.¡± Cora stated. ¡°He is not a rigid god as you know and believes in freedom. On the other hand, I think Mercer also believes that those should take responsibility for there actions as well. In some ways it might be more difficult to serve him.¡± ¡°My life was a living hell before he and you saved me.¡± Ziara muttered to herself and then resolve seemed to grow in her eyes before she said. ¡°I want to try to become a priestess of Mercer in the future. What do I need to do to serve him?¡± Cora smiled. ¡°The true important factor is what you are showing now. The fervor and honest want to serve him. He can see into your heart and if what he sees in true then I believe he will accept you. You know the doctrines he has put forth, and I personally believe it is important to stay close to them. I would suggest for now grow stronger and take his doctrines seriously, and then act freely on your understanding of them. Your actions will be seen and weighed in his eyes and heart and if they are true then that is all he askes I believe.¡± ¡°I will try my best.¡± Ziara said with a determined voice. ¡°I am sure you will and so will I.¡± Cora said as she stood up and walked away from her so she could go back to her mediation. Cora walked out of her room and went over to check on everything with Ket and Simala. In the next ten days they would move to the small villa and then things would truly start. She could only smile to herself as she walked toward them, but then she paused, and she realized something. She in her old life had created the best opportunity for her master, but in the past life she always felt a bit of hatred for what she was doing, but now none of those feelings were here. She truly was making her own choices and the weight of those choices were equally heavier than in the past. She started walking and thinking that maybe she would have to do things a little more differently now. In the past life she didn¡¯t have to feel worried about the result because she was being ordered to do things. Now since it was her own choices, she realized that she had to take other people into consideration. Her conversation with Ziara was exactly that, because it was her choice to suggest Ziara devote herself to her master. She still thought that was right, but maybe she should let Ziara come to this on her own instead of rushing it. ¡°Having freedom maybe be tougher than having none at all.¡± Cora whispered to herself. ¡°Though it sure does feel better.¡± Cora couldn¡¯t help but smile brightly as she headed off to make sure things all went smoothly. She had pushed Ziara toward her master, but what did she truly want herself. This persona was here to learn about freedom. Maybe that meant she could get what she truly wanted as well, and her smile grew wider as she started to realize what that truly was. _____ _____ _____ _____ Chapter 2 (6) Jerald felt the land change naturally according to his willpower, and the final design of his future base was now completed, and he changed the dreamscape to a simple house and surrounded by gardens and pathways. It resembled something he had once read and saw pictures about on Earth, and it was a beautiful castle type manor and the colors of the flowers seemed to give it a charm that seemed to calm his mind. The only thing missing were animals and people, and he hoped to resolve that soon. With a thought the time ratio changed from it being skewed in his favor to a balanced ratio of 1 to 1. It meant that now every day in his dream realm and sanctuary was a day in the world Cora was now located in. He made sure the sun and dark mirrored the location she was in, and currently it was daytime in his dreamscape. He walked through the dreamscape changing things here and there and adding personal items and decorating the inside of the manor. He wanted to show Cora a aspect of the place he came from in hopes she would learn more about him with out him telling her. It was still painful to talk about his past, but sharing it with her was a better roundabout way of letting her see a little more of his soul. The day slowly ended, and the night begin and as he followed his bond with Cora, he saw her enter a dreamlike state. He smiled and with a thought a large mirror opened, and it connected with her dreams, but he didn¡¯t go through but waited on the other side. It took her a little time, but eventually he saw a silver haired woman wrapped in in a cloak walk through the mirror to his dreamscape. She looked around and saw him and his heart shook a little when she smiled back. She truly had so much charisma it was unfair to anybody that saw her. ¡°Master you finished your dreamscape.¡± Cora said with an enchanting voice. ¡°Yes, it was a wonderful idea and I thought it should be you that first had the chance to enter it.¡± Jerald said. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I have not seen this design before, but what I see looks really enchanting.¡± Cora said as she came and bowed to him. ¡°No need for that.¡± Jerald chided her. ¡°This place is just as much a home to you as it is to me.¡± Jerald saw Cora¡¯s eyes twinkle at his words and nodded her head understanding. Cora started to walk around the garden and then followed the path to the manor. She stood in front of it and looked up at the three-story manor and nodded her head in approval. Jerald walked behind her as she went in and searched the manor room by room before finally ending up on the main floor again. ¡°I like it a lot.¡± Cora said. ¡°It has a feeling of home to it. Is this the style from where you came from?¡± ¡°It is.¡± Jerald confirmed. ¡°It has a sense of peace to it that isn¡¯t on the world you sent me.¡± Cora said. ¡°I don¡¯t feel as guarded here and that makes me feel relaxed.¡± ¡°I feel more relaxed here as well, but I still have to get used to a different environment if I wish to be successful when I descend.¡± He stated. ¡°I agree.¡± Cora said and then smiled widely. Jerald couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and he sat down on a couch and Cora didn¡¯t even hesitate and sat downright next to him. Jerald heartbeat quickly but he gained control fast and asked. ¡°So how are things going. I changed the ratio to 1 to 1 now so each day will be a day here and in the sanctuary.¡± ¡°Are you going to change it to be faster here than your sanctuary?¡± Cora asked. ¡°Not yet. I want to enjoy watching myself and speeding up the ratio might cause me to make some stupid mistakes.¡± Jerald stated. ¡°I have been really busy and haven¡¯t been able to focus on how all those that are seeded to me and have a growing bond are doing. I want to get to know everybody more before I fast forward.¡± ¡°I can understand that.¡± Cora said. ¡°As for things where I am at. It is going well and soon I will be moving to a villa and will start training people for the temple to you I plan on building.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°It sounds like you have a plan.¡± Jerald said. ¡°I do and the girl you asked me to find has volunteered to be part of it. You know she seems really smitten by you. I make me a little jealous.¡± Cora added. ¡°I think she just probably is thankful for what I did to help.¡± Jerald said with a chuckle. ¡°I hope she can wipe away the negative karma she has, and can live a good life and make her own choices, and why would you be jealous?¡± ¡°Your kind of dense for a god.¡± Cora sighed and patted his leg. ¡°It is a good thing and a little frustrating as well. As for Ziara don¡¯t take lightly her feeling for you, because I can sense her bond with you growing stronger by the day.¡± ¡°I hope she can find happiness and somebody to treat her right.¡± Jerald said with a sigh. ¡°Have you forgotten what I am?¡± Cora said. ¡°I can sense your longing for me, and I understand you wanting to not order me to do things. I have known others that have similar powers to you that have taken that moral high ground, but all of them ended up doing more evil things in the dark because of it. My suggestion is do not play the saint and try to forgo everything, but except your own feelings, but understand that being extremely good or evil only opens weaknesses. It is the emotion and purpose behind your actions that are important.¡± Jerald thought about Cora¡¯s words and realized he was falling into the same old trap he had when he lived on Earth. He was raised to be good and to confront evil, but not fall into to evil acts. It had caused him to fall in love with a woman that didn¡¯t have an ounce of true feeling for him. He looked at Cora and couldn¡¯t help but feel good. She had spoken out and told him what she thought, and to him that was a positive step. She was also right that he tended to be sort of prudish in nature, and he really should break out of that train of thought. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Jerald said. ¡°I should stop being so narrow minded. Thank you for speaking up.¡± Jerald watched as Cora blushed at his words and he realized it only made her more attractive. He was about to reprimand himself, but he stopped and realized he shouldn¡¯t. He still won¡¯t let his lust and emotions out, but if it was truly mutual, he wouldn¡¯t deny it. He let out a sigh and though to himself he could do it in baby steps. He focused his mind back to the previous conversation about Ziara. ¡°So, are you and Ziara going to work together?¡± He asked. ¡°I believe so.¡± Cora said with a smile. ¡°It looks like she will become one of your priestesses if you accept her. I hope that she will be able to shed of the negative karma in time as well, but the blessing you put on her definitely helps.¡± ¡°I hope so too. I don¡¯t know what her previous reincarnations did, but I felt no malice in her.¡± Jerald agreed. ¡°I think in time you should bring her in to the dreamscape.¡± Cora suggested. ¡°I think you should allow that other one in too. She could truly help spread your teachings as well. You are a perfect god for merchants, because most derive luck with earning profits.¡± ¡°Maybe, but fist I want you to go through the dreamscape and give me your impression and what I can do to improve.¡± He said. ¡°Sure.¡± Cora said with a smile. ¡°I think it will be an ideal dream paradise in the future and whether you are in your sanctuary or descended you can enter it when it is set up.¡± ¡°I saw that, but there are quite a few things that can only done in my sanctuary though.¡± Jerald said. ¡°So, before I descend, I have to make sure everything is set perfectly.¡± He could see Cora sigh visibly and then nod to him and he thought he did something wrong. Jerald smiled and knew what she was getting at, because he understood that is a succubus. He also understood what she was getting at, but he felt he couldn¡¯t get sidetracked yet. He understood that it was every mans dream to have a life of wealth, women and power and he wasn¡¯t different. He just wanted to do things right and not mess up this life too. ¡°I will tour your dreamscape and tell you what I think.¡± Cora said with a sigh. ¡°Why don¡¯t I give you the tour then.¡± Jerald said as he took her hand. He saw Cora look at his hand and then smile brightly and she placed it in it. Jerald held it as he took her on a tour of the dreamscape. Jerald had first showed her an expanded area of his sanctuary and a preview of how he wanted it to grow, and then took her to the small city that he was planning to build when he descended. He also showed her a small piece area that was dedicated to Earth and an island vacation area he once loved to go too. He had to admit that it felt good just holding Cora¡¯s hand and relaxing and talking and as they walked Cora gave suggestions and he noted them. Some were much better than his and some he thought were a little over the top. The suggestion he found most appealing was using a ghost society, which was an option to use the persons memories to create people, animals and culture. It was one of the best ways to make people feel more comfortable in the dreamscape. As the tour ended and he knew it was time for Cora to go, and him to head back to the sanctuary. He realized that he truly was lonely, and even though he had sent Cora to descend because of his attraction to her. He regretted it a little and found the dreamscape could truly be a great place to regain a sense of society. Cora finally disappeared which meant she woke up in the real world, and he thought about what she said. He felt he had to stop running from things, and should live a little. He decided to watch and take a more active role in helping them as he continued to plan his own descent. He smiled at it and started to go through the list of suggestions Cora had made with a smile.