《Mind Exploiter's Path to Dominance》


 Chapter 1 - New World

    Not everyone lives the life they want. Someone has to suffer so that others can enjoy life as much as they can. Andrzej was one of those people who was not spoiled by fate. However, this could partly be attributed to his own choices, as he decided there was no point in fighting and had to accept whatever life brought him. It could even be described as vegetation rather than real life.


    Andrzej had no friends who cared about his fate. He had lived alone since his parents kicked him out of the house five years ago. They didn''t even phone on his birthday or holidays. They didn''t give a damn about him, just like the rest of the world.


    He was forced to endure such treatment since his school days. He was used to being invisible. Sometimes he was also a punching bag for class monkeys looking to impress nearby females. He hoped that after he left a four-year school with sadistic peers and started working, something in his life would change.


    Did that happen? Absolutely not.


    He worked at a chemical plant in a nearby town in southern Poland. Despite promising beginnings, things slowly started to get back on track. Insults, harassment, exploitation. Was he doomed to this? He was treated in a similarly despicable manner everywhere.


    He was a smart guy, but no one appreciated his feedback. His manager was the person who always knew better, and the co-worker with whom he shared a position wasn''t even fit to hold a flashlight. He was permanently drunk. Vodka was drawn from him at all hours of the day. When something went wrong, all the blame fell on Andrzej. So did the consequences of mistakes he didn''t make, or even warned against. He was blamed for everything that went wrong.


    Was he ever praised for something he did right? Absolutely not. Rewards for good work were raked in by the manager and sometimes even by his perpetually drunk teammate. What was left for Andrzej to do? Clenching his teeth and stoking his hatred for the people around him.


    He always wanted to somehow get back at everyone, to repay everyone for everything he had to endure. He dreamed of revenge for the treatment he had suffered.


    The world hated him, and he hated the world just as much. One of his escapes was to fantasize about some kind of superpower. He wanted to gain such power to take revenge in a big way, using secret abilities, magic, or supernatural skills.


    Today he celebrated his 30th birthday. His only dream was to get something that would help him take revenge on an unjust and wicked world. Although he should rather leave it in the realm of dreams, deep down he hoped that someday such a day would come.


    Returning from his second shift at the plant, he stopped by the turkey bar for a kebab. He ordered a tortilla with mixed meat to go. At this hour he could only count on the scraps left over from the day. He didn''t mind, though he would have preferred to avoid the old meat from the back room. Even on his birthday, he couldn''t count on a bit of luck. Hard as it was. He''ll survive. He took a liter of vodka from the local ?abka store and returned to the apartment.


    He absorbed the kebab in a moment. Its taste was a bit strange, but the vodka that accompanied the meal effectively neutralized the aftertaste of questionable fast food. Not an hour had passed, and Andrzej was already lying totally drunk on the couch. A colleague at work would certainly have been proud of him.


    When Andrzej decided to go to the restroom, a hard-to-control helicopter knocked him off his feet. Excess alcohol numbed not only the fall but also the severe abdominal pain that signaled progressive food poisoning. Andrzej''s body lay on the floor for several days before anyone noticed his disappearance.


    [ Configuring the system for a new user ]


    [ 30% ]


    [ 60% ]


    [ 90% ]


    [ Completed: transfer successful ]


    [ You have been transferred to a new body after death on planet Earth ]


    [ For more information, use the Help Menu ]


    Several windows appeared in front of Andrzej''s face as he opened his eyes in a momentary flash of consciousness. His vision was severely blurred, making him unable to see anything. He ignored the windows, mistaking them for the TV screen he had in his room.


    As he looked around, he noticed a soft light from the corridor that fell on the metal bars of his cell. That''s when he realized he wasn''t in his own room.


    ¡°I must have screwed something up."He thought.


    He was convinced that he had ended up in solitary confinement at the police station or another sobering chamber. He sometimes woke up in such places, so it didn''t make much of an impression on him.


    ¡°I''ll worry about it later."He turned to the wall and fell asleep. The message windows disappeared.


    A man appeared at the bars with a bowl in his hand. He had messy brown hair and a slightly overgrown beard. He had come to make sure their cursed fortune was still alive.


    "Hey, baby doll" he chuckled.


    The person lying against the wall paid no attention to his call.


    "I''m talking to you, elf whore!" he shouted.


    Andrzej had been sleeping there for several hours. Hearing the cries, he turned toward the bars. His eyesight had improved since the last time. He looked around again and found that he was neither in a police station nor a sobering station. The room looked more like a medieval dungeon than a modern cell.


    "Well, it''s good that you''re alive."Said the man, seeing the woman rising.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Then Andrzej noticed something unusual. He was dressed in jagged rags, and his hands seemed smaller. His thighs were softer and more delicate. His whole body was bruised as if he had been beaten several times a day. He experienced the biggest shock when his long blond hair fell over his round, grown breasts.


    "What the fuck!" yelled a shocked ex-Andrzej.


    He remembered well that before he fell asleep, he lay collapsed on the floor of his apartment. At the time, he was a brunette with short hair. What he saw now blandly matched his memories. Somehow he had woken up in another body, in an unfamiliar place.


    "Don''t talk back, you bitch, or you won''t get any food," growled the man behind the bars.


    Ex-Andrzej looked at the man behind the bars. He was dressed like a typical bandit from the RPG games he often played. For a moment he wondered if he had accidentally been transported into the game.


    "Who are you? Where am I?" she asked nervously.


    "Do you have amnesia or what the heck? You are the fortune we will make from your sale. I came to see if that moron Carl had finished you off. You''ve barely breathed lately. Apparently, elves are not as weak as they seem. And that''s a good thing. Do you know why?¡±


    The woman took her time answering.


    "The fact that you are a virgin will allow us to make a lot of money.¡±


    That''s right. Andrzej, somehow, moved to a new body. To make matters worse, he became a slave to some shady types. Worse. A female Slave. An elven woman. This was confirmed by her oblong ears, pointed at the ends, which he felt with his fingers.


    "Let me out of here!" shouted the elf woman.


    "Yeah, sure. Maybe I should lay out the carpet for you as well? Have grub and don''t die" he put down the bowl and went up the stairs.


    The contents of the bowl could hardly be called food. There were some cattle scraps soaked in water. Then he remembered that the kebab he was eating tasted somehow strange.


    ¡°Did I poison myself with this? My luck. I ended up in an even worse reality than the one I knew on Earth." he wondered.


    Loud footsteps sounded in the dungeon. Someone was approaching, but you could tell by the sound of the footsteps that it wasn''t the same guy as before. A blond man with short, standing hair stopped by the cell. He was dressed similarly to his previous figure but stood out with a better physique and an angry face that drew attention.


    He opened the lock from the cell with a key he pulled from his pocket and stepped inside. The elf tried to get up, hoping that maybe they had changed their minds and would let her out.


    *Boom*


    The bang of a punch to the face rang through the cell. The elven woman fell back to the ground with a mark as red as a tomato on her face.


    "You whore, you want to play dead? I should fuck you up like a dog for that" shouted the angry blonde.


    "Please leave me," she muttered.


    "Leave you? Oh no. Definitely not. You have to pay me back for your stupid ideas. ¡±


    "What do I want...¡±


    *BOOM*


    "Shut your fucking mouth!" he yelled, slapping her once again."Today you will again experience the honor of being my lady" he added, taking off his pants, to the terror of the elven woman, whose current owner was thirty-year-old Andrzej.


    "No, stop, don''t d... ¡°


    *BooM* *BooM*


    "I said shut your mouth!" he shouted to the woman lying on the ground.


    The blond man took out of his pocket a small metal container with some greasy oil and lubricated his torpedo with it. His specimen of manhood flexed proudly at the sight of his victim.


    Andrzej, trapped in a foreign body, couldn''t even move anymore. The body was too weakened to do anything. After a moment, he was grabbed by the leg, and something slippery drove into his cocoa-like depths without warning. Fortunately for him, he didn''t feel the tunneling in its full glory, as he lost consciousness from fear and weakness just a moment later.


    Several hours later, Andrzej woke up in the same cell, in the same body. It wasn''t a dream, though he wished it was. He could then wake up and forget what had happened. His lower body still pulsed from unwanted activity.


    She lay motionless on the ground. She didn''t know what to do. At the thought that she would have to live like this, tears came to her eyes. She thought her old life had been bad, but compared to the present one, that old life seemed actually pleasant. All she could think of was to die or wait for help. Not knowing what to do the only thing she could do was wait.


    "He... lp..." muttered the woman.


    [ Help Menu ]


    [ 1. System principle ]


    [ 2. Explanation of skills ]


    [ 3. Types of classes ]


    Several other options appeared in a semi-transparent window in front of the elf''s face. They looked as if they had been taken straight out of games or some VR that was beginning to gain popularity.


    ¡°System? Am I really in the game?"Andrzej thought.


    "Rules."She said quietly.


    [ Hello user. This system is designed to help you master your newly acquired abilities. You come from a world where magic was not an everyday occurrence. This program will help you get acquainted with your new reality. Controlling and navigating the system is intuitive and responsive to the user''s thoughts and intentions. ]


    ¡°I must be crazy," she thought. ¡°Maybe I should see my stats or something?¡±


    [ Status ]


    [ Name: Elrianthe Atlanta ]


    [ Age: 30 ]


    [ Race: Highborn Elf ]


    [ Level: 1 (0/100xp) ]


    [ Class: Charlatan ]


    [ Life points: 4/130 ]


    [ Magic Points: 20/160 (Regeneration of magic withheld due to critical level of Exhaustion) ]


    [ Exhaustion: 92/100 ]


    What Andrzej immediately noticed was that she was also 30 years old here and really was an elf of some sort. He had never been attracted to elves. He was repulsed by those elongated ears.


    The next thing that interested him was his class. He didn''t recall choosing anything. Perhaps it had been assigned before?


    ¡°What is a Charlatan?¡±


    [ A Charlatan is a magic class that specializes in dominating weak and confused minds with its strong will. A Charlatan can force any living being to cooperate and follow his instructions. ]


    ¡°Is it some kind of mind control?¡±


    [ Skills: ]


    [ Domination - allows you to take control of the mind of a living being, which becomes your puppet. Success depends on your level, as well as the level, race, and mental state of the target. Consumes 100 points of magic when used. ]


    ¡°Just that much?" he thought. ¡°And this much.¡±


    He may have only had one skill, but it was a powerful one. ''Allows you to take control of a living being''s mind,'' it sounded awesome. This was his chance to escape this godforsaken hellhole.


    ¡°I''ve got to try this out on that bastard!" he thought, recalling what the blond man had done to him. ¡°I''ll take control of him, have him castrated by his own hand, and finally kill him!" he decided, full of rage.


    [ New task ]


    [ Take control of the first target ]


    [ Reward: 100 XP and 1 random skill ]


    ¡°Perfect.¡±

 Chapter 2 - The beginning of a new path

    Elrianthe lay on the ground, semi-conscious after a brutal beating and humiliating stretching of her sphincters by a blond thug named Carl.


    ¡°Why doesn''t it work...¡±


    It has been three weeks since the first attempt to use the < Domination > skill. Since Carl showed up once a day, she could easily determine how long it had been. At the time, she was full of hope and plans on how to get revenge on him. It soon became apparent that her extraordinary ability was not so easy to use, and every attempt failed. She had to pay a high price for each failure, experiencing a severe beating and the unpleasant consequences of having her intestines pumped with male pleasure fluids.


    This did not affect her psyche well. Waiting in hopelessness for a miracle, and being humiliated on a daily basis could have broken many, although a desire for revenge still smoldered in the head of ex-Andrzej. Elrianthe had already decided that she would repay all the wrongs done to her. Carl, by performing daily cardio workouts with her, had already managed to increase her revenge multiplier to up to 65. So why did she stop using her < Dominance >?


    Thinking back to her first attempt, Elrianthe tried to understand how she should use this ability. When Carl came that day, he brought with him a bowl of food. She had already eaten the previous portion, and after a short rest, her exhaustion dropped below 50/100. Then her magic regeneration was restored - an insane 1 point per minute. This was enough to accumulate the required 100 points to use < Dominance > before her test subject appeared.


    As Carl was putting away the food, Elrianthe decided to use the skill, but she didn''t expect this turn of events.


    [ Using < Domination > failed ]


    [ The target''s mental toughness threshold is too high ]


    [ Suggestion: strong emotional states make it easier to influence the target''s mind ]


    [ +1xp ]


    The thug then noticed that the elven woman was trying to use a skill on him.


    ¡°Are you casting charms on me, you elf slut?¡° He raged, and then inflicted severe punishment on her, beating her into unconsciousness.


    It was because of this that she was still stuck in her cell, and Carl dealt with her with impunity at his will. She tried to use her skills in other situations, but the result was always the same, and she knew the consequences very well.


    Returning to the present moment, Elrianthe, lying on the ground, had completely given up resisting. Even the rat that was circling her face could afford to rally freely around her cell. Not surprisingly, the previous owner of this body had let go of her spirit. Andrzej, trapped in that body, also wanted the same thing.


    ¡°Will my skill work on animals?¡± She wondered, watching a rat eating leftover food from a bowl. He had already forgotten the description of the class he possessed.


    [ A Charlatan is a magic class that specializes in dominating weak and confused minds with its strong will. A Charlatan can force any living being to cooperate and follow his instructions. ]


    The term ''force any living being'' implied that < Domination > could work on anything living.


    [ Domination - allows you to take control of the mind of a living being, which becomes your puppet. Success depends on your level, as well as the level, race, and mental state of the target. Consumes 100 points of magic when used. ]


    It says ''take control of the mind of a living being'', just like in the class description. Does this mean that it doesn''t work only on humans? There is only one way to find out.


    Elrianthe reached up and took the rat in her hand. It wasn''t too shy. She had let him run around the cell for quite some time.


    ¡°Domination.¡° She said, looking at the rat.


    [ Using < Domination > successfully ]


    [ Successful acquisition of a new puppet ].


    [ +5xp ]


    [ Rat Level 1 ]


    [ 100% Control ]


    This was just what she needed - a spark of hope in an abyss of pain and doubt. Her eyes shined again, and she picked herself up off the floor.


    [ Task completed: ]


    [ Take control of the first target: 1/1 ]


    [ Reward: 100 XP and 1 random skill ]


    [ Received the skill < Daze > ] [ +100xp ]


    [ Promoted to level 2 ] [ 5/200 xp ]


    [ Received 1 development point ]


    [ Would you like to go to the Development Tree ( Yes ) ( No ) ]


    ¡°Relax! Who designed this?¡± She became indignant as pop-ups suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.


    ¡°One by one... Let''s check this tree first¡° She whispered to herself. ¡°Yes¡±


    [ Development Tree ]


    [ Select one of the available options. Available choices: 1 ]


    [ +10 points of life ]


    [ +20 points of magic ]


    [ +5% chance to successfully use < Domination > ]


    [ Random effect from the available pool ]


    ¡°Not a very impressive choice.¡± She thought. ¡°That 5% could come in handy, but what difference does it make at this level? Probably none. Magic? To use domination twice in a row, I need 200 points. But will it be useful to me now?¡± She wondered.


    ¡°Fuck it. Random.¡° She said, making her choice.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    [ Received an increase in magic regeneration of 4 points ]


    [ Current magic regeneration: 5 points/min ]


    ¡°Not too bad. This will greatly reduce the magic recovery time, and I will be able to use the skill more often.¡° She mumbled under her breath.


    ¡°Wait a minute¡­ I''m even starting to talk like a woman already...¡° She remarked, catching herself at her own words.


    Although his body was getting into more feminine habits, he had no intention of forgetting who he really was. His true self still remained a man from another world.


    The next step was to test a new skill.


    [ Daze - the target loses cognitive function and control of his own body for 2 seconds. Requires eye contact. Consumes 40 mp per use ]


    While Elrianthe was looking through the boxes of information and stats, someone else was watching her and what she was doing. Her new puppet. The rat, which she had taken control of, stared at her as if she were a goddess who had descended from heaven.


    The elven woman noticed that the rat was sitting motionless, dully staring at her.


    ¡°What am I going to do with you?¡± She thought out loud.


    ¡°Fetch.¡° She said, throwing a pebble to the other end of the cell.


    The rat jumped off and ran for the thrown object. After a while, he returned with a pebble in his mouth, placing it in front of Elrianthe.


    She picked up the pebble and threw it again. The rat did not react. It sat still, staring at the elf.


    ¡°Fetch.¡° She repeated, and the rat darted off to fetch the thrown pebble.


    ¡°Wise mice.¡± She said softly, stroking the rat, which returned with the pebble in its mouth.


    ¡°Now you will get something more difficult."


    Elrianthe was well aware that she was not alone here. There were other slaves in neighboring cells, sharing a similar fate with her. Though they could count on a quicker ransom than she could.


    For some reason, no one liked elves here, and the sheer price the slave traders charged was too exorbitant. And solidly so. The fact was that elven women made excellent material for bed slaves. Their beautiful faces and perfectly built bodies attracted attention. They were very healthy, they didn''t even catch venereal diseases, and what''s more, they couldn''t interbreed with other races, which made unwanted pregnancy impossible in their case.


    She was not even that lucky. From what she casually heard, they had been trying to find a buyer for her for six months, but with no success. She was planning to escape from here anyway, so she didn''t bother. Instead, she was curious to see how many other slaves shared the dungeon with her. She will take the opportunity to see if the rat will be suitable for her plan.


    ¡°Go to the cell next door and bite the person you find there. Do so in each of the next ones, and then come back to me.¡° Elrianthe ordered and the rat ran to do its job.


    A moment later, she heard a gasp, then a squeak, and finally a growl. The rat returned to her cell.


    ¡°So that means there are three besides me.¡± She said.


    ¡°Very good job.¡± She praised her pet, petting its head until it began to squeal with joy.


    ¡°I''ll tell you now how we''re going to handle this blond trash.¡±


    Elrianthe explained in detail how she was going to take control of Carl and what role her pet would play in this. After finishing her description of the plan, she wanted to make sure the rat understood. This was a one-chance action, so everything had to work out.


    ¡°Stomp your foot twice if you understand what you have to do.¡° She commanded.


    The rat stomped twice in confirmation. For some unknown reason, this rat understands what she wants from him.


    ¡°Wise mice.¡±


    Carl showed up with food, as usual. His good humor could be heard already on the stairs as he whistled to himself under his breath. After opening the cell, he set the food down on the floor and looked at the elf.


    Elrianthe didn''t hesitate long and spread her legs in front of him, signaling that she was ready for her daily training. Not that she had to accept it - she had no choice. By accepting her fate, she spared herself suffering. Carl always beat her when she tried to defend herself.


    ¡°I see that you have already learned. It''s good that you know your role.¡° He said.


    He took off his pants and proceeded nimbly to lubricate the piston that would be about to push through the elf''s guts. Elrianthe lay on her back and, keeping her legs spread, watched the thug kneel beside her, moving closer.


    He then leaned over the elven woman. He always started with kisses, even if they were artificial and forced. That was the key moment.


    < Daze >


    Carl stopped and his eyes lost their luster, as if they had become dead. His whole body began to slump as his muscles stopped working.


    Elrianthe grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the side. She didn''t have much time. In the blink of an eye, she jumped on top of him, wrapped the chain around his neck, and started choking him.


    ¡°Now!¡° She shouted behind her.


    The rat, hidden in the shadows behind the cell door, ran toward her and threw himself at Carl. His goal was to inflict unimaginable pain on him while Elrianthe held him on the ground.


    ¡°Aaaaaaaa!!!¡±


    Carl began to scream as he regained control of his body. He felt the rat bite into his testicles, tugging and tearing at the bandit''s precious jewels like a thief stealing a rich man''s purse in the market.


    ¡°Aaa- aa- aaa!¡±


    The man''s screams echoed throughout the dungeon. Fortunately, he was behind a double door, and the sounds from just below did not reach the top, where the rest of the group was staying. In addition, Elrianthe was choking him with her chains, so his scream was muffled from the start.


    ¡°Shut your mouth, you fucking trash! You deserved a much worse fate!¡° Shouted out Elrianthe.


    [ New task ]


    [ Take control of a man named Carl when his mental resistance is low ].


    [ Reward: 100xp and 1 random skill ]


    ¡®Strong emotions¡­¡¯ She thought.


    ¡°Rip him apart!¡° She shouted to the rat, which, like a possessed maniac, began to tear apart the area of the man''s virtue, using its sharp teeth and claws.


    ¡°Aa- aa¡­¡±


    Carl began to drift off into the abyss from the strong grip on his neck. Elrianthe, noticing this, loosened the chain and slapped his face to wake him up. Then the process started all over again.


    The man was completely powerless, and the paralyzing pain and suffocating pressure broke his will to fight.


    < Domination >


    [ Using < Domination> successfully ]


    [ The < Domination> skill reaches level 2 ]


    [ Successful acquisition of a new puppet ].


    [ +20xp ]


    [ Carl Rig Level 4 ]


    [ Control: 60% ]


    The rat stopped biting the man as he was recognized as an ally, and Carl gave up trying to free himself.


    [ Task completed: ]


    [ Take control of a man named Carl when his mental resistance is low: 1/1 ]


    [ Reward: 100 XP and 1 random skill ].


    [ Received the skill < Persuasion > ] [ +100xp ]


    Seeing the changes on Carl''s face and his attempts to catch his breath, Elrianthe finally stopped choking him. That was the end of her suffering. The hell this man had put her through was over.


    ¡°My lady...¡° He said, barely catching air.


    The elven woman, without thinking for a moment, punched Carl in the face. Then she dealt him another blow, and then another and another. She was furious. She had suffered more than anyone else because of him.


    ¡°My lady, why are you hitting me?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡° She shouted as tears began to run down her cheeks.


    She beat him amok until her delicate hands began to bleed from the skin she had taken off. Her rage for all he had done to her made her want to at least partially repay him for the pain he had inflicted.


    [ Carl Rig''s control drops to 55% ]


    [ Excessive aggression towards puppets lowers control over them ]


    Seeing the message, she hit him one last time and then walked away to the wall, where she scowled and tried to control her uncontrollable crying. Emotions dominated her mind, and she took a moment to calm down.


    At this time, Carl stood up from the ground. He wrapped his torn pouch, from which blood was oozing, and dressed himself. He then turned to the elven woman, bowing before her.


    ¡°How can your humble servant redeem his sins?¡±


    ¡°Kill yourself.¡± Elrianthe replied with coldness.

 Chapter 3 - New ally

    ¡°Kill yourself.¡± Elrianthe replied coldly.


    ¡°Forgive me, my lady, but I can''t do it. Can I get forgiveness any other way?¡± Carl replied, trying to be as respectful as possible.


    Elrianthe was still under the influence of emotion when she gave him the first order, but fortunately, Carl''s control was not strong enough for him to carry out such an order.


    Carl''s suicide would get her into even more trouble than she was already facing, and her main goal was to escape. She could not afford to make mistakes that could have dire consequences. She had to put her hatred for him aside.


    ¡°Tell me who you are, how many of you there are, and where you are.¡± She demanded.


    ¡°We are one of a group of slave traders that was formed after the breakup of our main organization. There are six of us working in this hideout. We are located in the Crow Forest, under the Kaparte Mountains, which are the natural boundary between the empire to the north and the theocracy to the south.¡±


    ¡°Why do you call it the Crow Forest?¡± She asked.


    ¡°According to local residents, the forest is haunted, and numerous crows in the region spy for the witch hiding here.¡±


    ¡°Is that true?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. The forest is indeed home to many monsters and wild animals, but we have never encountered any witches or signs of haunting. The locals are afraid of the dense forest because there are often attacks on people by monsters. So they made up a myth based on some rumors.¡±


    ¡°Good. I need to know a few more things.¡±


    By taking control of Carl, Elrianthe learned the roles of the various bandits. Two of them are responsible for the safety of the hideout, standing at post and patrolling the area. Another two are in charge of keeping the slaves alive. In this role is Carl, and his companion is Jim, who usually goes to the rest of the slaves. They also have one mage, responsible for communicating with the other groups they work with, as well as calling for help when needed. The last person in the group is the leader, who usually stays in the main hall, but once a week goes to a nearby town on business.


    ''They are well organized.'' She thought.


    She had to come up with a plan to get out of there. ''Maybe I should take control of the slaves?'' She thought.


    ¡°Lead me to the strongest slave you keep here.¡± She instructed.


    ¡°Yes, my lady.¡± He replied, bowing.


    After unchaining Elrianthe, they went to a cell closer to the dungeon exit. The elf''s cell was at the very end of the corridor, so no one but Carl could see her. Along the way, passing other cells, Elrianthe looked inside them.


    This was her first opportunity in a very long time to see some other face. In one of the cells she spotted an elderly man, barely alive, and in another a young woman whose attire resembled that of a priestess.


    When they reached the actual cell, Elrianthe saw something shocking. She thought it was an animal, but it had a very human-like silhouette.


    ¡°What is it?¡± She asked uncertainly.


    ¡°A cat-man, my lady. Haven''t you ever had a chance to see one?¡±


    ''Where would I see such a thing? I''m not from this world.'' She thought.


    ¡°No... not yet.¡± She replied.


    ¡°This race is already rare on this continent.¡± Carl explained.


    ¡°Then why are you asking if I''ve ever seen a cat-man when you yourself say they are rare?¡±


    ¡°Elves are long-lived, so I thought... ¡° He began, but Elrianthe suddenly interrupted him.


    ¡°Idiot, I''m only 30 years old.¡±


    ¡°Please forgive me. I didn''t know, my lady.¡± He replied, bowing in a gesture of apology.


    ¡°And yet you knew I was a virgin!¡± She shouted, enraged.


    ¡°I''m sorry, my lady.¡±


    ¡°Get out of my sight.¡±


    Carl moved away from the cell entrance and stood at the door, behind which led the stairs upstairs. Elrianthe approached the bars, behind which lay a cat-man.


    In appearance, he resembled a Siberian tiger. He wore only pants and was naked from the waist up. His thick fur hid his tough skin, and his figure revealed that he had spent his entire life in hard labor. He was huge, measuring about two and a half meters tall, and must have been incredibly strong.


    Elrianthe, looking at him, noticed his powerful arms ending in thick hands that resembled animal paws, but at the same time allowed for efficient and precise manipulation of objects, as in humans. The hands ended in sharp claws, capable of tearing a person apart in one movement if he wanted to. Its legs, also thick and strong, ended in tiger-like paws.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Despite his enormous stature, the cat-man lay on the ground, barely alive. He was chained up with several chains and had a belt around his neck that limited his strength. He didn''t even pay attention to the elven woman who was looking at him.


    ¡°Do you want to get out of here?¡± Elrianthe asked.


    The cat-man turned and looked at her.


    ¡°Who wouldn''t want to...¡± The cat-man replied. ¡°I''m already doing it on my own.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I don''t want to live like a slave. The moment I was captured, I made the decision that I would take my own life at the first better opportunity.¡±


    ¡°And how does that work out for you?¡± She asked innocently.


    ¡°Slowly but effectively. Every day I''m getting closer and closer to my goal.¡±


    ¡°Starvation is a miserable death.¡± She remarked, pointing to a full bowl of food.


    ¡°That''s all I have left.¡±


    ¡°What if there is another way out?¡± She said, trying to get his interest.


    ¡°Other? I could provoke people to fight, but they won''t make money on me when I''m a dead man. They will try to defeat me without killing me.¡±


    ¡°I''m not talking about death. I want to escape from here, and you could regain your freedom if you help me.¡± She persuaded.


    ¡°Escape? From here? Haha... Good luck.¡± He laughed, then turned back to the wall.


    Elrianthe looked at Carl and nodded toward the cell lock. Carl walked over to open the door for her, and she stepped inside.


    ¡°Can you uncuff him?¡± She asked loudly.


    ¡°Yes, my lady. Shall I do it now?¡± Carl asked.


    Hearing this, the cat-man turned around again and saw the elf standing right behind him, while the guard was following her orders for some reason.


    ¡°What''s going on here?¡± He asked confused.


    ¡°This man... He is under my control and will help us escape if you want him to.¡± She declared.


    ¡°You... Are you serious? Can we do this?¡±


    ¡°I have a plan, but I need your help. Otherwise, it won''t work. Do you want to try to escape with me, or would you rather die slowly of starvation?¡± She asked, leaning over him.


    Her gentle smile beamed with hope, and the smooth, small hands with which she stroked his head showed her care and compassion.


    ''He has a nice fur coat,'' she thought. ''I''ve never petted a tiger.''


    The cat-man finally snapped as she continued to pet his furry ears, the tips of which looked more like a cat''s pointed shape than a round tiger''s.


    ¡°Okay. I''ll help you, but how are you going to do it?¡±


    ¡°I''m not going to lie to you.¡± She said, standing up. ¡°My skill is mind control, which is how I got this trash to serve me.¡± She explained, pointing at Carl.


    ¡°I will use the same on you. I only ask you to trust me. It will make me stronger, and together we can get out of here. I''ll take the spell off you when we get out of here.¡± She added.


    ¡°Since you put it that way, I agree with your plan. I was planning to starve to death anyway, so what choice is left for me?¡±


    Elrianthe smiled. Not only because she had gained a strong new ally, but also because of the message she saw in the conversation.


    [ New task ]


    [ Enlarge your puppet group: 2 / 5 ]


    [ Reward: 200 XP and 2 development points ].


    ¡°Do you agree to let my skill take control of you?¡± She asked again.


    ¡°Yes. I put myself completely in your hands, boss.¡±


    < Domination >


    [ Using < Domination > successfully completed ]


    [ Successful acquisition of a new puppet ]


    [ +20xp ]


    [ Taygeer Breezetail Level 4 ]


    [ Control: 80% ]


    [ Task: Enlarge your puppet group: 3 / 5 ]


    ''Only two more people.''


    [ Level 2 ( 145/200 XP ) ]


    Taygeer was freed from his chains and the belt was removed from his neck. The cell remained open, and Elrianthe told him to eat and get back to strength so he would be ready for her every call. Carl returned upstairs after informing the elf that he had been staying here too long and that they might send someone to check on him soon. Elrianthe suggested that he act naturally, as he always did, so as not to raise suspicion, and she herself returned to the cell, which Carl closed behind her.


    ¡°Damn, we could have still taken over the priestess. Eh. Next time.¡±


    The next day, while Elrianthe was still sleeping, a guard came to her cell with food.


    ¡°Oi, wake up!¡±


    Elrianthe jumped up, still tormented by the memories of the past weeks. Although Carl was under her control, the trauma he had inflicted on her would torment her for a long time to come. Something didn''t add up, however. Would Carl yell at her?


    When she turned around, she didn''t see Carl, but Jim - the other dungeon guard, the one who spoke to her at the very beginning when she woke up there.


    ¡°What about the other one?¡± She asked arrogantly.


    ¡°I just came to find out.¡± He replied, looking at her suspiciously.


    ''Fuck, did he sell me out?'' She thought.


    ¡°I can see by the look on your face that you know something after all.¡±


    Although Elrianthe tried to remain calm and control her nerves, her shocked expression briefly betrayed amateur acting.


    ¡°What did he tell you?¡± She asked after a moment.


    She no longer saw any point in hiding that something had happened, but first, she had to find out what Jim knew.


    ¡°Actually, he doesn''t say anything. He usually brags about what he''s been doing with you, and yesterday when he came back, he went without saying a word to himself and didn''t come back until breakfast today.¡±


    ''Idiot. He was supposed to behave normally! Was it so hard for him to lie now? He could have said he was banging me into unconsciousness and that was it. Moron. How to explain it now...'' She thought.


    ¡°Are you going to tell me what happened to your mate, or are you going to pretend to be deaf like that?¡± Sneered Jim.


    ¡°Call him my mate again, and I''ll smash your face so badly that you''ll beg for a quick death!¡± Elrianthe threatened.


    Calling a degenerate like Carl her mate was a blow below the waist, especially since the memory was still vivid.


    ¡°Yeah, right. You can''t do shit to me, slut. Since you won''t say anything, I''ll get you an extra beating from him every day.¡±


    ¡°Why don''t you go get him right now? You''ll see with your own eyes what went on here.¡± She suggested, covering a devious smile.


    ¡°Sure. I can go get him if you miss him so much.¡± He replied, provoking Elrianthe, but she didn''t let on.


    She already had a plan.

 Chapter 4 - Expanding influence

    Jim, wanting to understand why Carl was acting strangely, agreed to Elrianthe''s proposal and went upstairs to get him. After a few minutes, they returned together and stood before the elf''s cell.


    ¡°So? I''m going to find out what''s going on? I brought Carl, as you wanted.¡± Said Jim, not realizing that Elrianthe had already planned everything.


    She got up from the cold floor and approached the bars, facing Jim.


    ¡°Taygeer!¡± She called out, and a moment later a giant cat-man with the physique of a strongman was heading in their direction.


    Jim, in quite a confusion, watched the approaching tiger.


    ''How did he manage to get out of his cell? He was bound with chains and was wearing a belt with a weakness spell on it. It''s impossible for him to free himself.'' He thought.


    ¡°What are you doing? Go back to your cell! Immediately!¡± He ordered, but Taygeer ignored his commands.


    Jim didn''t have a weapon on him, and threatening faces and a raised voice wouldn''t do much.


    ¡°Did you call, boss?¡± Taygeer asked.


    ¡°''Boss? What the fuck is this all about?¡± Mumbled Jim under his breath.


    Carl stood next to him as if nothing had happened. He showed no fear of the huge cat-man who stood next to him. What was different about Jim, who, not knowing what was going on, began to get nervous. He was cut off from the exit, and Carl seemed to be cut off from his sanity.


    ¡°Hey, explain to me what this is all about!¡± Shouted Jim in Elrianthe''s direction.


    ¡°With pleasure, my friend.¡± She replied with a mocking smile, seeing the panicking thug.


    ¡°Trash...¡° She pointed at Carl. ¡°Open the cell.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lady.¡± Carl replied, pulling out the key.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Shouted Jim.


    ¡°Now throw him inside.¡± Said Elrianthe, pointing her finger at Jim.


    They immediately proceeded to follow her order.


    ¡°Oi, wait! What are you guys doing!¡± Yelled Jim as the cat-man and his former colleague grabbed him by the arms.


    The elven subordinates were not at all cautious of Jim, who tried to break free. It would have ended up breaking a few bones sooner than freeing himself from Taygeer''s grasp. Pushing him into the cell, the cat-man accidentally used too much force, and Jim hit the wall opposite, breaking his nose, from which blood began to ooze.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Yelled Jim, grabbing his face.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Asked Elrianthe with a smile.


    ¡°You fucking witch! You''ll pay for that!¡±


    Jim tensed all his muscles and, tearing himself off the ground, dashed toward the elf who was leaning with her back against the side wall. He knew that she had some degree of control over Carl, who was certainly behaving strangely for the same reason. Freeing the cat-man also had to be her doing.


    He was convinced of one thing: the elf woman had spent the last six months here, and he was well aware that she posed no threat on her own. If he can press her against the wall and threaten her life, he will gain the upper hand in negotiations.


    He counted on a stroke of luck. A risky move on his part could have brought him multiple benefits if everything went his way. The moment he ran toward the woman, he expected her to panic and make his task easier, helping him take control of his hopeless situation. To his surprise, he saw only a smile on her face.


    < Daze >


    Immediately, his mind switched off and his body dropped to the ground, stopping under the elven woman''s feet. Elrianthe, unfazed by the situation, walked over Jim''s numb body, heading toward the cell exit.


    ¡°Taygeer. When I return, he is meant to beg for mercy. Don''t hold back.¡± She demanded, stepping out into the corridor.


    She knew that Jim liked to take it out on him. Now the roles would be reversed. She then turned to Carl.


    ¡°Trash, you''re coming with me.¡±


    Elrianthe stopped in front of the cell of a woman wearing white priestly robes with gold stitching. The outfit was already badly soiled and damaged from her prolonged confinement. Carl opened the door, and she stepped inside.


    Kneeling against the wall was a woman with long black hair that fell freely to her shoulders, some of which were pinned back in a braid at shoulder height. Her bangs fell loosely over her forehead, reaching up to her grayish-green eyes.


    The priestess was praying, and frustration was painted on her face. It was not, however, due to the elf interrupting her prayers. When she spotted her in her cell, she paused her prayer and bowed respectfully.


    She felt abandoned by her gods and left helpless in this burrow. She didn''t count on ever seeing the light of the sun again, much less the Chapel of the Five Supreme, where she had spent a lifetime serving and healing the sick.


    She got betrayed and sold like cattle to the invaders by the head priest, who ransomed the chapel from being robbed and destroyed by this. She could consider herself a hero and a martyr for a higher cause, but she was not naive; she knew that the priest had sold her out of cowardice and had not the slightest resistance to save his life at her expense.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Her savior may have been Elrianthe. She was neither deaf nor blind; she was well aware of what was going on in the dungeons and had seen Elrianthe go to Taygeer yesterday. She was ready to put herself at her service if there was even the slightest chance that she wouldn''t end up dead in a cell or as someone''s plaything. She also had knowledge that was not obvious to others.


    Elves were not from this world. When they arrived here two thousand years ago, they were extremely powerful. They could easily overthrow the gods she worshipped. Their magical knowledge surpassed all understanding at the time.


    The priestess suspected that Elrianthe was a direct descendant of those elves. The description in the old books perfectly matched the woman who stood in her cell. Now all that remained was for her to buy into her favor as best she could.


    ¡°Hello, Fairest Lady. The pinnacle of perfection that you represent should not be revealed to such a hideous race as we humans, who do not deserve to admire your ideality. What, then, did I deserve to be blessed with your divine majesty?¡± She began.


    Elrianthe was struck by the flowery greeting, which shocked her enough that she froze in place motionless for a long moment. The priestess noticed it and freaked out, fearing she had said something inappropriate.


    ¡°I apologize to you, ma''am, I did not mean to offend you with my disrespect or conditions that are unacceptable to your dignity.¡± She said shyly, bowing even lower.


    ¡°Didn''t you overreact a little?¡± Elrianthe asked.


    ¡°Absolutely not. Every word I say is honest and comes from the depths of my heart.¡± She assured.


    The priestess was bent so low that her forehead was already denting the floor. This perplexed Elrianthe, as she had never been treated with more respect than the trashcan in the corner of the room.


    ¡°Raise your head. Shouldn''t you worship your gods instead of me?¡± Elrianthe asked.


    ¡°My gods abandoned me when the chief priest sold me to invaders who wanted to rob our temple. Prayers no longer bring relief, and my life depends solely on the decision I made when I saw the angelic figure pass by my cell. I want to place myself in your absolute power and be a support in every situation.¡± The priestess vowed.


    ''I didn''t think it would be so easy. The priests from my former life were completely brainwashed.'' Elrianthe wondered.


    She expected more resistance, and she practically gave in without hesitation.


    ''To my eye, she''s about my age. She''s even my type. It''s a pity I have a woman''s body myself...'' She remarked, looking at the priestess.


    ¡°What''s your name?¡±


    ¡°My name is Alison Roseberg.¡±


    ¡°What was your role in the temple?¡±


    ¡°In addition to my priestly service, I was a healer.¡±


    ¡°Are you willing to give up your previous life to come under my rule?¡±


    ¡°I desire it with my whole body.¡±


    Alison kept her eyes closed for most of the conversation, and when she opened them, she looked no higher than her feet. Her willingness to surrender herself to the elven woman was downright fanatical. Elrianthe had quite a problem understanding this.


    ''I think she''s completely crazy, but I could use a healer.''


    < Domination >


    [ Using < Domination > successfully ]


    [ Successfully acquiring a new puppet ]


    [ +25xp ]


    [ Alison Roseberg Level 5 ]


    [ Control: 60% ]


    [ Task: Enlarge your puppet group: 4 / 5 ]


    ¡°Welcome on board.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my lady.¡± The priestess replied, full of gratitude.


    ¡°Let''s go back to our guest. Alison, come with us.¡±


    Elrianthe, approaching her cell, heard louder and louder screams, cries, and begging requests. Not even twenty minutes had passed. As she got closer, she saw Jim hanging on a chain. He was hooked up by his legs in such a way that his head was not floating in the air, but slightly bent, resting on the ground. This way, rubbing against the rough floor caused him additional pain.


    Jim hung there completely naked. His clothes lay on their side so as not to dirty them. His fingers were broken, his teeth were knocked out, and he was bruised from hard blows and ragged from sharp claws. Blood was running down his face, making it even more difficult for him to breathe as the liquid flowed into his mouth and nose.


    ''Taygeer isn''t fucking around.'' She thought.


    ¡°Are you having fun with your ''friend''?¡± She asked Jim, particularly emphasizing the last word.


    ¡°Please... stop... ¡° He mouthed back.


    ¡°Oh, do you really want to stop already? You still have so much time to develop your friendship.¡± She mocked him with a smile.


    ¡°I''m begging... I''ll give everything.¡±


    ¡°Then why don''t you give me your life, huh?¡±


    ¡°Please don''t kill me. I''ll do anything for you. Spare me.¡± Jim begged.


    Elrianthe felt a slight satisfaction watching Jim ask her for mercy. Not long ago, he was convinced that he had everything under control and that he couldn''t do anything to her. And now, less than an hour later, he is hanging bloodied, with his head hanging toward the ground, begging to be spared his life.


    ''Frankly, I''d rather see Carl like this. Maybe later.'' She thought.


    ¡°Unfortunately, I can''t kill you at the moment. You are all necessary to me.¡± Elrianthe said.


    < Domination >


    [ Using < Domination > successfully completed ]


    [ Successful acquisition of a new puppet ]


    [ +15xp ]


    [ Jim Utter Level 3 ]


    [ Control: 100% ]


    ''As many as a hundred? I need to check something.''


    [ Task completed: ]


    [ Enlarge your group of puppets: 5 / 5 ]


    [ Received 200 xp and 2 development points ]


    [ Promoted to level 3 ] [ 190/400 xp ]


    [ Received +10 HP and +20 MP ]


    ''I didn''t receive any more development points? Hmm, maybe the level bonus is different each time?''


    Jim was freed from his chains and healed by Alison. Once he was dressed, there were no signs of the torture Taygeer had inflicted on him.


    ¡°You did pretty well. Where did you learn that?¡± Elrianthe asked, turning to Taygeer.


    ¡°Thank you, boss. I''ve dealt with all sorts of things in my clan.¡± He replied.


    ¡°Okay, I want to check something. Jim...¡± She turned to the newest puppet. ¡°When I give you the order to take your own life, will you carry it out?¡±


    ¡°As soon as I am able, my lady.¡± Jim replied while confirming Elrianthe''s suspicions.


    With full control over the target, you can demand anything, and the puppet will not object. The less control, the more independent they become. Control affects the willingness to follow orders.


    Elrianthe, realizing that puppets are not completely mindless machines, concluded that < Domination > encodes in the minds of targets loyalty to her, but does not deprive them of their minds. Still, watching Carl, she had some doubts.


    Elrianthe was not yet sure to what extent her ability affected the behavior of the puppets. Carl''s attitude has changed 180 degrees - from a ruthless sadist to an apologetic servant. Perhaps he is guilty of remorse and wants to redeem himself for the harm he has done? Taygeer seems to be the same, and the priestess was willing to serve from the beginning, so it''s hard to judge. Not to mention the rat - how could she see the changes in the puppets by watching the rat?


    ''I''ll learn more with time.'' She thought.


    ¡°Good. Time to plan the big event.¡±

 Chapter 5 - Going upstairs

    In the largest room of the stronghold sat the red-haired mage, Mitta Hermet. It was here, in the center of the entire building, that tables and benches were located for dining. In one corner stood a wooden bed, lined with furs, perfect for a short nap and rest. At the opposite end of the room, one could see a modest bookcase, whose main occupant was the mentioned mage. The entire room was warmed by a fireplace placed in the center of the wall.


    Three corridors led from this room. One led to the main entrance, another to the living area, and the last led to the storerooms, behind which was the entrance to the dungeons.


    Mitta Hermet kept the place clean, which stood out from most bandit groups. People of their kind usually didn''t pay much attention to the cleanliness and coziness of their hideouts, having much more interesting activities on their minds.


    Our Mitta, however, came from minor nobility and did not grow up on the streets like the vast majority. Although he was thrown out of his home and privileges were taken away, old habits remained.


    This was his domain, his place. He wanted everything here to be arranged according to his taste. Although not everyone shared his aesthetics, they eventually relented when Mitta created a cozy place for himself to hang out.


    He acted as a contact person, and his job was to communicate quickly with other groups and call for help when needed. His role in the team was not very engaging, which meant that he had a lot of free time. Unfortunately, being bored got on the nerves of the other members of the group, so he was allowed to take care of passing the time in his way, giving the others a break from his annoying whining.


    ¡°Jim, are you okay down there?¡± Asked Mitta, putting the book down.


    ¡°Sure, why do you ask?¡± Jim replied.


    ¡°You guys were a bit held up downstairs this morning. What did you and Carl do down there?¡±


    ¡°Nothing of the sort. The pet didn''t want to eat, so I asked Carl for help.¡± Explained Jim.


    ¡°Oh, well. And how is our princess doing?¡±


    ¡°Elf girl? Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow the leader is going to the city. He will certainly also look for a buyer for her. We wouldn''t want her to be in bad shape, would we? I''m already leaving aside the fact that Carl rarely mentions her lately.¡±


    ¡°Everything is fine with her. No worries. She''s definitely more alive than before.¡±


    Elrianthe sat in her cell on a fur-lined bed. She was eating roast chicken while sipping on red wine.


    ''Ah, this is the best day I''ve had in this burrow.'' She thought.


    Immediately after discussing the next steps, Elrianthe ordered Carl and Jim to give her their food, and they themselves were to feed on what she was getting. The same applied to their comforts and clothing.


    The consultation was brief and focused mainly on determining the best strategy for attack. The first target was to be the mage in charge of communications, who, it was thought, would not cause much difficulty. With the leader and the guards leaving the stronghold, the mage would be left alone for some time, which presented an ideal opportunity for action. After a moment''s thought, Elrianthe presented her plan, and each participant was assigned a role. There were no discussions or objections.


    However, in the face of unquestioning acceptance of her idea, Elrianthe began to worry whether such in unison would do her more harm than good. If everyone follows her plan without hesitation, there is a risk of making a fatal mistake that could be avoided if someone dared to voice their opinion. This is especially important because Elrianthe was unfamiliar with this world and had to rely on the knowledge of others.


    ''If only I could read minds or... learn someone''s memories? That would be extremely helpful.''


    She needed someone who could advise her, but with little choice, she decided to trust Alison.


    ¡°Alison, come to the side for a moment.¡± She whispered after consultation.


    ¡°Yes, my lady?¡±


    ¡°I would like to appoint you as my advisor. I encourage you to express your opinions and comments on my activities. Your job will be to ensure that we don''t make catastrophic mistakes, and to ensure that I''m always up to date.¡± Elrianthe declared.


    ¡°Thank you for your trust. I will do my best.¡± Alison said, bowing.


    ¡°So... What is your opinion of my plan?¡±


    ¡°I don''t have any objections. The plan you proposed is very good and should not be a challenge.¡±


    ¡°Good. It remains for us to wait for the signal. You can leave.¡±


    ¡°Can I warn you about something first?¡± Alison asked as she was about to leave.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Your power. Is it mind control?¡± She asked quietly.


    ¡°Yes, how did you know that?¡±


    ¡°I guessed when Jim changed right after the conversation during the torture. That''s why I want to warn you. Please keep your power a secret.¡±


    ¡°I understand that this is not a welcomed skill.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°This is more important than it may seem. You are an elf, which in itself causes fear among weaker people who may be afraid for their lives. In addition, your power poses a serious threat to entire kingdoms and their rulers. If someone finds out about it, you could become the number one enemy in the entire world, and letters of pursuit will be posted in every settlement on the continent. We cannot allow this to happen. Even with your power, such a situation could be a death sentence.¡± Alison warned, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.


    ''She''s overreacting again, but maybe she''s right.'' Elrianthe thought.


    ¡°Good. I''ll keep that in mind. Can other people also find out my power as easily as you do?¡±


    ¡°It seems to me that if they witnessed its use, they might be suspicious. The best precaution would be to avoid onlookers while using your abilities or hide them behind an illusion.¡±


    ¡°An illusion? Interesting idea.¡±


    Elrianthe sent Alison away when she remembered that she had two development points at her disposal that she hadn''t yet used. Maybe with a little luck, she''ll be able to get some useful skills.


    [ Do you want to go to the Development Tree ( Yes ) ( No ) ]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    [ Development Tree ]


    [ Choose one of the available options. available choices: 2 ]


    [ +10 points of life ]


    [ +20 points of magic ]


    [ +1 skill level < Domination > ]


    [ Random effect from the available pool ]


    ¡®I can raise the level of < Dominance? > It''s tempting, but I''ll take more mana this time.¡¯


    [ Received an increase in the maximum amount of magic points by 20 points ]


    [ Current amount of magic points: 200 ]


    ¡®Now I can use < Domination > twice if necessary. Good. The next choice will be¡­¡¯


    [ Choose one of the available options Available choices: 1 ]


    [ +10 points of life ]


    [ +30 points of magic ]


    [ +1 skill level < Persuasion > ]


    [ Random effect from the available pool ]


    Elrianthe stared at the window for a long moment, when suddenly something came to her.


    ¡®Wait a minute. Do these options change? I picked Magic this time, so next time I''ll get 30 points already. Hmm, now I understand. Life and magic increase after each selection... The skill option changes each time but is always based on the ones I already have. Okay, I would take +1 level if it involves < Dominance > as before, but in that case, I will choose randomly.¡¯


    [ < Master''s Doping > skill received ]


    [ Master''s Doping - the selected puppet will receive a bonus that boosts its physical stats by 50% for 15 minutes. Cost: 30% of maximum magic for the duration ]


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    The rest of the day was spent in intensive preparations. Carl and Jim secretly smuggled in food, clothing, weapons, and armor, although there were few options for the latter. Elrianthe especially insisted on the support of Taygeer, who was her main strike force.


    The weapons they brought consisted of two daggers and two short swords, which were nowhere near suited to his fighting style. As for the armor, it was far too small for his posture. Alison, with typical sharpness, suggested redesigning a few pieces so that Taygeer could benefit, if only slightly, from the extra protection. Nevertheless, Elrianthe was of good cheer, thinking that no one upstairs expected an attack from within.


    The next day, over breakfast...


    ¡°Do you want anything from the city?¡± Gaz asked, preparing to leave.


    He was a tall man with short brown hair and a beard, and the many scars on his hands and face testified to the many battles he had fought - not just with humans. He''s the leader of this entire gang.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Mitta snapped. ¡°Will you bring me something new to read?¡±


    ¡°Sure. How about a newspaper?¡° Gaz mocked.


    ¡°Never mind...¡± Mitta reflected, clearly disappointed.


    ¡°In that case, I''m leaving.¡± Declared Gaz, throwing his bags on his back and heading for the exit.


    ¡°Well, then we''re off too.¡± Matt said.


    Matt and Duncan were on guard duty, keeping an eye on the hideout and making sure it was safe. After breakfast, they always went out together, since no one stood outside at night, which could expose them to attack if they went out individually. Although such a risk seemed unlikely, this was the habit. Usually one of them returned after less than an hour.


    When they left also Carl and Jim got up from the table. Mitta then noticed something unusual that caught his attention.


    ¡°Carl?¡± He called out, leaning out from behind his book.


    ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°Why are you carrying a weapon?¡± Asked Mitta.


    ¡°Oh, the slaves have been nervous lately. It''s such a precaution so they know who''s in charge.¡± Carl replied, scratching his head.


    ¡°I understand. Let me know if you need help. Sometimes I start talking to myself out of boredom.¡± Mitta lamented, returning to his reading.


    Jim and Carl nodded to each other and separated. Walking down the corridor toward the entrance to the keep, Jim made sure they were left alone, then locked the door, preventing the guards who had gone out on patrol from getting inside. Carl went downstairs, where Elrianthe, Taygeer, and Alison were already waiting.


    ¡°It''s time to take over.¡± Said Elrianthe, unable to hold back a smile.


    Upstairs, Jim, turning back to Mitta, called out, wanting to get his attention.


    ¡°Mitta, come here for a minute.¡± He called out from the hallway.


    ¡°I''m busy!¡± Mitta shouted back.


    ¡°Mitta, come here. I''ll show you something interesting.¡± Convinced Jim.


    ¡°Fuck... Okay, I''m going.¡± He replied, standing up.


    He put the book down on the table and with a slow step headed toward the exit.


    *Boom*


    Mitta turned suddenly when he heard a loud bang on the door from behind him. A huge cat-like creature ran out of the corridor, rushing toward him with incredible speed.


    ¡°Jim!¡± He called out in panic, pulling out the magic wand he always carried in his belt.


    Transferring magic to his weapon, the tip of the wand shined, and a fireball began to form in front of it.


    ¡°Die, you damn-¡±


    *Bang*


    Jim, running up to Mitta, hit him with all his strength with the plank in the head, which caused it to break, but most importantly interrupted the activation of the spell that could seriously injure Taygeer.


    *Boom*


    As Taygeer rammed into the mage with momentum, battering him, Mitta flew like a ball, hitting the wall behind him with such force that the old brick-lined grout sprinkled to the ground.


    Laying semi-conscious on the floor, Mitta became completely defenseless. His wand fell out of his hands and was picked up by Carl, who emerged from the corridor to the dungeons, right behind Taygeer.


    Before Mitta managed to wake up and comprehend what had happened, he was already being held by the cat-man and Carl, and the organizer of the show was approaching him.


    ¡°Hello, handsome.¡± Elrianthe said, leaning toward him.

 Chapter 6 - Checkmate

    ¡°Hello, handsome.¡± Elrianthe said.


    Mitta, held by Carl and Taygeer, was recovering from being knocked out by a wall with the assistance of a piece of wood. Jim searched his pockets, looking for anything that could still be used against them. He had already taken the weapon from him and handed it to Alison, standing by Elrianthe''s side.


    ¡°What''s going on here?¡± Asked a confused Mitta, trying to make sense of the situation.


    ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± Retorted Elrianthe.


    Her advantage over Mitta was overwhelming at the moment, but she wouldn''t tempt fate. The point of showing the mage that he had no control over what was happening was crucial. Searching his pockets was going to make him realize that they could do whatever they wanted with him, which should have a significant impact on his weak character.


    ''I wonder how quickly he''ll shit himself.'' She thought, recalling what Jim had said earlier about Mitta.


    He was young and inexperienced. He was kicked out of the house for proving useless to the family. Gaz took him on the team when they were looking for someone with magical abilities, and Mitta caught on. He was not the thuggish type like the rest. He covered up his fear and insecurity behind a fake mask of a confident guy. Although everyone knew that when the time came, he would be the first to flee, Elrianthe wanted to take advantage of that.


    ¡°Jim. Jim! Explain to me...¡±


    *Slap*


    Mitta was slapped in the face by Jim.


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe told you to shut your mouth!¡± Shouted Jim.


    ¡°Now listen carefully, tomatohead.¡± She began. ¡°You''ve kept me here for six months, and when my patience ran out, I decided to put things in order here. I will repay each of you equally, but first, we must establish a proper hierarchy.¡±


    ¡°You''re scr... AAaa!¡±


    Before he had time to finish, Taygeer snapped a few fingers in the hand he was holding. Mitta began to howl in pain as Taygeer began kneading and bending them. This was not a pleasant activity for him.


    ¡°You have two choices, tomatohead. Either you voluntarily come under my control, like the rest of them, or you face a long and slow death in agony. What do you say?¡± She asked, knowing that it had nothing to do with voluntariness, but perhaps she could hide her true intentions from the rest.


    If Elrianthe had been able to read minds, she would now have witnessed the horror that was playing out in the young mage''s head. Mitta was unable to formulate even a single rational thought in his mind, which was consumed by fear and pain. Wailing and moaning were all that could come out of his mouth.


    ¡°Pathetic.¡± Mumbled Elrianthe under her breath. ¡°Alison, you...¡±


    *Bang, Bang, Bang*


    Everyone heard banging on the front door.


    ¡°It''s Matt. He must have come back from patrol. The door is locked, but now they''ll know something''s going on inside.¡± Explained Jim, who had earlier bolted the door.


    ¡°Fuck. Too bad we don''t have more time. Alison, heal him.¡± Elrianthe said.


    < Domination >


    [ Using < Domination > successfully ]


    [ The < Domination > skill reaches level 3. It is now possible to use the skill on two targets simultaneously. Cost 100 points of magic per target ]


    [ Successful acquisition of a new puppet ]


    [ Mitta Hermet Level 5 ]


    [ Control: 60% ]


    [ +25xp ]


    [ New Task ]


    [ Achieve the maximum number of puppets for your current class 6/10 ]


    [ Reward: immediate level increase ]


    [ Achievement completed ]


    [ High-five - you have taken control of the minds of five sentient humanoids ]


    [ Reward: random skill for your current class ]


    [ Received skill < Silent suggestion > ]


    ''Oh shit, this window spam again.'' She thought.


    After dismissing all the messages that appeared before her eyes, she crossed her arms under her chest, thinking heavily about her next move.


    *Bang, Bang*


    The banging on the door, combined with muffled shouts, continued relentlessly.


    ¡°Duncan came too.¡± Informed Carl from the hallway. ¡°Matt must have called him.¡±


    ¡°My lady.¡± Alison approached. ¡°We can''t fight two thugs at the same time. If they''re as strong as Jim said, even if they''re outnumbered, we could lose this.¡±


    ¡°I know, Alison. We have to separate them somehow. Mitta.¡± She turned to the mage, who was massaging his healed fingers. ¡°It''s time for you to prove you''re worth something.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Outside, Matt, holding a massive stone in his hand, pounded on the front door.


    ¡°Fuck, what the fuck are they doing in there!¡± He shouted.


    ¡°I don''t know, Matt. What the hell did they lock the door for?¡± Duncan wondered.


    ¡°Shit. It''s too bad Gaz has already gone.¡±


    ¡°Why do we need Gaz? Would he magically open the door?¡± Duncan asked dumbfounded. ¡°You know he wouldn''t do anything more than we would.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but maybe he knows some other entrance.¡± Matt replied.


    ¡°We might not have buried the one leading to the chambers. I said that a second entrance would be useful.¡±


    ¡°Now it''s too late.¡±


    Behind the door, something suddenly began to happen. After unlocking the entrance, the door opened and Mitta showed up to the guards.


    ¡°Fuck, what the fuck are you doing you idiot?¡± Growled an angry Matt.


    ¡°Sorry, Matt. You have to help us. The slaves attacked Jim downstairs!¡± Wheezed a terrified Mitta. ¡°I locked the door so no one could escape.¡±


    ¡°If you had called me instead of blocking the door, we would have solved your problem a long time ago, you cunt! Let''s go!¡± Matt shouted.


    The three went inside and with a swift pace headed for the main room.


    ¡°Jim and Carl are downstairs, but I don''t know what''s going on with them. Should we leave someone behind?¡± Asked Mitta.


    ¡°You guys stay.¡± Duncan said. ¡°I''ll go downstairs, and you guys guard the passage just in case.¡±


    ¡°Okay, go.¡± Matt replied.


    Walking down the corridor toward the dungeons, Duncan drew his short sword. He was an archer, but his main weapon wouldn''t do much in the narrow corridors, where an ambush might be waiting around every corner.


    ''Finally, I''ll show you that I can do something, too.'' Duncan thought.


    He had always been standing in the shadow of Matt, who was the strongest right after the group leader. Matt''s skill gave him an advantage over anyone who was at an equal or lower level. Duncan thought this was unfair. Matt should not be judged by his skill alone but by his combat experience. Duncan was a seasoned old fighter and former soldier, while Matt in his eyes was just a youngster who liked to beat up the weak.


    ¡°It''s always just Matt and Matt... As if I can''t do anything better.¡± Mumbled Duncan under his breath.


    He opened the door and hesitated when he saw the stairs leading down.


    ¡°It''s too quiet. Don''t tell me they died...¡± He said to himself in disbelief.


    He clenched his hand more tightly on the grip of his sword and carefully began to walk down, trying not to make a sound. Another door stood in his way - the entrance to the dungeons where all the slaves were kept. Carl and Jim should have been behind them, but were they still alive? He didn''t hear any screams or sounds of battle.


    ¡°Here goes nothing.¡± He muttered to himself, then kicked in the door, bursting inside.


    He looked around carefully, searching for opponents or the bodies of his comrades, but found nothing.


    ¡°Huh? There''s nothing here.¡± He said in disbelief, turning toward the exit.


    Placing down his weapon, he ran nimbly up the stairs and grabbed the door handle.


    ¡°You''re not going to make me a fo- What? Locked?¡± He asked himself, surprised when the door didn''t move, despite his attempts to open it. ¡°Fuck...¡±


    Duncan was cut off from the rest.


    Meanwhile, in the main hall...


    ¡°Tell me, how could slaves chained and sitting in cells attack Carl and Jim?¡± Matt asked, staring curiously at Mitta.


    ¡°None of your fucking business.¡± Elrianthe replied, walking out of the side door, followed by Alison and Taygeer.


    ''Haha. Now that just made me sound like a boss.''


    At the same moment, Jim emerged from the hallway leading to the front door, and Carl, who had locked Duncan in the dungeon, also appeared in the main room.


    ¡°Duncan locked up.¡± Carl informed.


    ¡°Door bolted.¡± Added Jim.


    Elrianthe smiled and sat down in a bookcase chair, intent on displaying her confidence.


    ¡°Do you understand the situation, or do you need me to explain?¡± She asked sinisterly, glancing at Matt.


    ¡°Of course. Wicked elven tricks. If someone had to organize all this, I would bet on you. But your luck is out. I won''t be fooled, elven bitch!¡± Matt replied.


    The atmosphere became tense. Mitta moved closer to Carl, but they both knew they could not defeat Matt alone.


    ¡°Watch your mouth, Matt.¡± Said Carl, which surprised not only Matt but also Elrianthe.


    ¡°And you what? Did you fall in love during your adventures down there? Or did you have a crush on her from the beginning?¡± Matt sneered.


    ¡°None of what you''re thinking. I''m simply warning you of the consequences.¡± Carl replied calmly.


    ¡°Traitors end up worse!¡± Shouted Matt, drawing his sword.


    Matt jumped back, securing himself against a surprise attack. He was well aware that he would have to face many opponents at once.


    [ < Master''s Doping > was used on Taygeer ]


    ¡°You have 15 minutes.¡± Declared Elrianthe, turning to Taygeer.


    Taygeer, Carl, and Mitta were facing Matt. Under normal circumstances, it would have been an easy win, but Matt still had the advantage. His < Brute > skill ensured his dominance over weaker or equal opponents. His stats increased depending on his opponent, giving him a distinct advantage in combat.


    Combat experience and fencing skills were irrelevant when Matt could always be stronger, faster, and more durable.


    The sides clashed, and an open exchange of blows began on the battlefield. Carl dropped out of the fight early on, when, after a counterattack, Matt cut through his sword and eliminated him from further confrontation with a powerful kick. Mitta, using his fire magic, tried to harass Matt with unexpected attacks, but due to the fact that they were inside a building, he had to take into account his surroundings. This severely limited his options, and his magic quickly ran out on useless attacks that Matt could easily dodge. Taygeer, thanks to Elrianthe''s skills, was able to match Matt, but not for long. His conditioning and inexperience quickly took their toll.


    ''It doesn''t look good.'' Elrianthe thought, anxiously watching the fight.


    As the combatants stepped away from each other for a moment, Elrianthe stood up and began her applause.


    ¡°A very exciting display of skills.¡± She began. ¡°This was to be expected from the strongest member of the team, right after the leader. But as you have managed to notice, everyone here is on my side, and you were left alone, without the support of a mate.¡±


    Matt looked at Elrianthe out of the corner of his eye, keeping his main attention on the three opponents. He wondered where this monologue was going, but there was only one answer - she wanted to convince him to switch sides, just as the rest had done.


    ¡°I am not in favor of pointless bloodshed.¡± Elrianthe continued. ¡°I have no such need. Instead, I want to offer you a simple solution. You are a good fighter, and I need such people. Join me.¡±


    Matt started laughing, not believing what he had just heard.


    ¡°I neither think of serving an elven whore.¡± He replied loudly.


    Elrianthe sighed, wondering why everyone had to insult her. Seeing no way to resolve the conflict peacefully, she decided to change her approach.


    ¡°And so you will be.¡± She replied.


    < Daze >


    Matt wobbled, momentarily losing his balance.


    ¡°Taygeer.¡± Elrianthe called out, and the cat-man dashed toward Matt in a split second, knocking him out.

 Chapter 7 - Alisons suggestion

    Matt woke up on the cold floor. Pain pulsed in his temples, and all he could remember was laughing at the elf''s proposal.


    ¡°Fuck, my head.¡± He muttered, grabbing his head. As he rose from the ground, he noticed someone familiar sitting across from him. ¡°Duncan?¡±


    ¡°''Hi. You got smacked hard, huh?¡± He said.


    ¡°I don''t know. What are you doing here?¡± Matt asked, still holding his head.


    ¡°The same as you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Matt raised his head and looked around. The shadow of the bars cast on the wall by the soft light of the torch did not bode well. They sat together in a cell at the end of the dungeon.


    ¡°Duncan, what happened? Did they beat you too?¡± He asked confused.


    ¡°No, I surrendered.¡± Duncan replied.


    ¡°What the hell did you do?¡±


    ¡°They locked me downstairs for a while. I guessed that they planned to separate us, and I let myself be drawn into their trap. Later I heard someone unlocking the door. I went over to check and found it was open. I got out of there and ran into the main hall. All the slaves were there. Even Carl, Jim, and Mitta were standing by them, and you were lying unconscious and bound on the ground. What was I supposed to do? Fight alone against everyone?¡± Duncan asked, recounting events from his perspective. ¡°How did it even happen that you lost?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. I quickly eliminated Carl and Mitta, but the tiger was really strong. During the break, an elf woman came up to me and tried to convince me to change sides. I laughed at her, and I don''t remember the rest.¡± Matt replied.


    ¡°Well, now you know not to mess with elves.¡± Duncan giggled. ¡°Maybe that''s why the rest went over to her side.¡±


    ¡°But... How is that possible? I don''t believe Carl and Jim just started helping her like that.¡± Matt wondered.


    ¡°Our only chance will be to wait until Gaz returns.¡± Duncan replied.


    ¡°What if they can handle him too?¡±


    ¡°I doubt it. They don''t stand a chance with Gaz.¡± Assured Duncan.


    At that moment Taygeer and Carl appeared. They opened the cell and without a word took the bound Duncan with them.


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± He asked angrily but received no answer.


    They took him to a locked room, and after opening the door Duncan saw Elrianthe and Alison. The elfin woman was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, and opposite her was another chair, on which they sat Duncan and tied him up. The men left, leaving him alone with the two women.


    Matt wondered where they had taken Duncan and what they intended to do with him. He recalled Carl''s warning to him earlier about the consequences of inappropriate words when addressing their new leader.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Matt shouted.


    He knew that due to Carl''s ruthlessness, his warning about the elfin woman''s anger had a point. It was likely that through his insolence they would both suffer the aforementioned consequences.


    ''If they took Duncan to be tortured, they will soon come for me too.'' He thought, fearing what awaited him.


    It wasn''t long before the escort came for him.


    ¡°Will I survive this?¡± He asked Carl, trying to dispel his doubts.


    Carl remained silent, which only added to the fear that was beginning to overwhelm Matt. They took him without a word, just as they did Duncan, and escorted him to a room.


    They sat him in a chair and tied him up. Matt, looking around, saw no sign of Duncan. There was neither his body nor even blood. Panic began to overwhelm him as the darkest scenarios began to infect his thoughts.


    Elrianthe stood up as Taygeer and Carl left the room. Matt looked at her in horror, but then he noticed something he had previously ignored as he panically searched for Duncan. Her appearance was gorgeous.


    Long, neatly washed and groomed blonde hair wrapped around her exposed shoulders, falling lower and accentuating her perfect figure. Her clothes were clean, brightly colored, and laid freely over her body. The deep cleavage largely revealed her two powerful assets and the shorter cut of the lower part of her outfit exposed her smooth, luscious thighs.


    Matt was mesmerized by the view. He didn''t even notice when Elrianthe came close enough to him to smell her wonderful scent.


    Watching him, she did not say a word. She moved closer to his face, staring deeply into his eyes, waiting for a reaction.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ''God, what a view.'' Matt thought.


    When Elrianthe leaned in to get closer to his face, her clothes revealed two previously hidden objects with perfect shapes. Unlike human ones, her elven arguments did not lose their firmness, and they did not droop; they were springy and even under their own weight retained their perfect shape.


    Willing or not, Matt looked in that direction and saw this wonder of nature with his own eyes. However, he began to avoid the woman''s gaze, which seemed to pierce his soul to the core. Despite his strenuous efforts, he couldn''t stop his eyes, which glanced at her chest now and then.


    Something twitched in his lower body, and his face momentarily took on a red tone. The elven woman noticed this and smiled at him.


    ''I''m going to die. She''ll kill me for sure.'' Thought a terrified Matt, feeling the cold sweat running down his forehead.


    Elrianthe straightened up and began circling him. She gently moved her finger along his arms, circling him from his left side until she reached his right shoulder, ending at his visible triceps. This simple movement further affected his body, which had not been in contact with any woman for months.


    She then returned to her chair with an elegance worthy of the queen herself and sat down, throwing her leg over her leg. With a nod, she let them know that the meeting was over. Alison called Taygeer and Carl, who carried out Matt, who was in complete shock.


    When they were left alone, Elrianthe leaned back in relief and turned her head toward the priestess.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Elrianthe asked.


    ¡°He was completely distracted. You have a natural talent for seduction.¡± Alison replied with a smile.


    ¡°I''m going to have to get seriously drunk to forget about it...¡± Said Elrianthe under her breath.


    Matt was again escorted to the place from which he was taken. Inside, Duncan was already waiting for him. Safe and well. He was no less surprised than Matt by what had happened to them. As the men escorting them left, they began to discuss what had happened.


    ¡°Were you at the meeting with the elf too?¡± Duncan asked.


    ¡°Yes, but I expected torture rather than this... What was it?¡± Matt replied.


    ¡°I don''t know. I also thought she was going to try to break me with some kind of torture, but she just looked at me for a while and left.¡± Duncan recalled. ¡°Matt. Did you see that too?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You know... Her milk bags...¡±


    ¡°If only I could touch them then... She has an amazing body.¡± Matt said, closing his eyes as if trying to relive the moment.


    ¡°I''ve looked at a lot of women in my youth, but she... This is a whole different level. I couldn''t contain myself around her.¡± Duncan said.


    ¡°Fuck. I was so lost in her tits that I didn''t even pay attention when I became hard! Fuck man! How much I would give for even one time with her...¡± Matt confessed.


    ¡°I''ve had that too. I can''t stop thinking about her since I left that room. Do you think Carl really did what he said he did with her?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. I think he would have been capable of it. Although she didn''t seem to be molested, and Carl always listens to her.¡±


    ¡°It''s possible that she convinced him to cooperate, and he made up the stories for the sake of disguise. He and Jim were the only ones going down. Gaz hasn''t been down there since we locked up the priestess a month ago. But why just now?¡±


    ¡°The more important question is what happens next. Gaz is coming back tomorrow night. We have to think about it.¡±


    ¡°Are you thinking the same thing as me?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I''m sick of this standstill.¡±


    Alison walked down to the dungeons, carrying two large bowls filled with wonderfully fragrant food. When she stopped in front of Matt and Duncan''s cell, they both looked at her curiously, and one of them nodded to the other.


    ¡°Alison, right?¡± Duncan began. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°Yes, what is it?¡± She replied.


    ¡°How did you manage to take over our base so easily?¡± He asked.


    ¡°This is all the work of Miss Elrianthe. She is like an angel stepping on scorched earth, leaving flowery, vibrant fields behind her with each step. Like a star in the sky that delights generations, inspiring them to reach higher and higher until they finally reach her. Her brilliant strategy and divine nature meant that you had no chance of stopping her when she began to put her plan into action.¡± Alison replied, praising Elrianthe without hesitation.


    ¡°And why did you go to her side? You''re a priestess, aren''t you? What about your gods?¡± Matt asked.


    ¡°My gods mean nothing compared to her. Miss Elrianthe is my savior, a walking ideal amid overwhelming abomination, like a flawless diamond that was thrown in the garbage because someone was stupid enough to mistake it for broken glass. I abandoned my faith for her and will serve her to the end, no matter what the circumstances.¡± Alison replied.


    Matt and Duncan looked at each other, shocked by the former priestess''s confession.


    ¡°We want to talk to her.¡± Said Duncan, after a brief discussion with Matt.


    Alison entered the room where Elrianthe was resting. She was lying comfortably on the bed. Deep in thought, she stared at the ceiling. Of course, that''s how it looked from Alison''s perspective since no one could see the windows from the system Elrianthe had.


    ¡°My lady, Matt, and Duncan have made a decision.¡± Alison announced.


    ¡°You''re brilliant, Alison! I didn''t think it would work any better than the torture I planned.¡± Elrianthe replied with enthusiasm.


    ¡°It''s all thanks to you. I just shared what came to my mind.¡± Alison said, bowing.


    Earlier, when Elrianthe was conferring with her on how best to break the defeated guards, she mentioned a new skill called < Silent Suggestion >.


    This skill allowed her to implant a seed of an idea in someone''s subconscious that would grow to influence the victim''s actions and behavior more and more. The idea reached the subconscious through whispered words, inaudible to the ear, but going straight to the brain.


    At her current level, Elrianthe could only use three words before running out of magic, which she considered useless since they needed something that would produce quick results.


    However, Alison saw the potential and organized the whole show for Matt and Duncan for that very purpose. She stylized Elrianthe into a living image of the goddess and suggested that their natural attraction to her body would interfere with their logical thinking, which should make it possible to instill a simple idea, even though they were limited to three words. When they are distracted, their mental resilience will decrease and the thought will more easily take deeper root, quickly bearing fruit.


    For better results, they should first be separated. When they talk about it later, they should start changing their minds. If that fails, they can always try later with torture.


    ''Alison is a genius.'' Elrianthe thought, heading toward the dungeons.

 Chapter 8 - New puppets

    Elrianthe entered the dungeons and stood in front of the cell where Matt and Duncan were staying. They instantly announced that they wanted to come over to her side. Without thinking long, Elrianthe used the < Domination > ability on both of them at once.


    The recent advancement of this ability allowed her to take such an action, and this was the perfect time to test its effect on multiple targets.


    [ Magic points: 0/200 ]


    [ Exhaustion: 20/100 ]


    A sudden headache came along with new messages.


    ''I probably shouldn''t use up all the magic at once...'' She thought, grabbing her head.


    [ Using < Domination > successfully completed ]


    ¡°Are you all right, your prettiness?¡± Matt asked


    ¡°Yes, I''m fine... What did you say?!¡±


    [ Successful acquisition of 2 new puppets ]


    [ Matt Naln Level 7 ]


    [ Control: 45% ]


    [ Duncan Zienn Level 7 ]


    [ Control: 45% ]


    [ Difficult takeover bonus received ]


    [ +210xp ]


    ''I received three times the usual amount?'' She thought, somewhat surprised.


    ¡°Is everything-¡±


    ¡°Be quiet for a moment.¡± She said, silencing Duncan.


    [ Promoted to level 4 ] [ 25/800 xp ]


    [ Received 1 development point ]


    [ Reach the maximum number of puppets for your current class: 8/10 ]


    ''I need to gain almost 800 XP to advance to the next level... With each new level, the required number of points doubles. Hmm. I''ll get an instant promotion for completing the mission. It would be a shame to waste it at such a low level, but on the other hand, I don''t recall gaining any XP except through puppeteering and missions. I guess I won''t have any other way.''


    Elrianthe realized that she had to gain as much advantage as possible over their leader before he returns from the city and put an end to her rebellion. She would not miss out on wasting her prize.


    ¡°Let''s go take over that last slave.¡± She said, heading toward his cell.


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe...¡± Alison accosted her.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°He died tonight.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    Alison nodded in confirmation.


    ''This messes up my plans.'' She thought, recalling the task description box. ''Actually... They don''t have to be people, do they?''


    [ Achieve the maximum number of puppets for your current class: 8/10 ]


    After confirmation, she returned to the cell, where Matt and Duncan were waiting.


    ¡°Okay, this will be your first task. You will carry out the corpse of that dead man Alison mentioned, and then you will catch two pets and bring them to me. It doesn''t matter what kind.¡± She ordered.


    ¡°Yes, your prettiness!¡± They shouted simultaneously.


    ¡°Your... what?¡± Elrianthe asked, but the men had already set about pulling the corpse out of the cell.


    When Elrianthe was left alone for a moment, she summoned the window and selected the Development Tree. It was time to decide what to spend the point she had received on.


    [ Development Tree ]


    [ Choose one of the available options. available choices: 1 ]


    [ +10 points of life ]


    [ +30 points of magic ]


    [ -10 points of magic when using < Silent Suggestion > ]


    [ Random effect from the available pool ]


    ''Damn, I wanted to raise the magic limit, but -10 mana per word is too good an opportunity. Normally each word of < Silent Suggestion > consumes 60 mana, which limits me to just three words. I don''t know when I''ll get such a chance again.''


    Without thinking long, Elrianthe chose the third option.


    Several minutes later, the elf sat at the table with the rest of the team. Duncan and Matt returned with the captured animals. Matt brought a squirrel that was stuck in a snare, and Duncan held an injured raven with a broken wing that could not fly.


    ''A raven? They are said to be smart birds. Maybe it will become my mascot. Once, on Earth, I had a parrot, but my father kicked it out of the house because it was too noisy.''


    They set the bound prey down on a table in front of Elrianthe. After a long enough recuperation break, she used < Dominance >, taking control of the animals.


    [ Raven of the Crow Forest Level 3 ]


    [ Control: 100% ]


    [ Squirrel Level 1 ]


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    [ Control: 100% ]


    [ +20xp ]


    Once resolved, the raven immediately stood up and, hopping, approached Elrianthe. The woman, with a smile on her face, began stroking the bird.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± She asked.


    *KRAA, KRAA*


    ¡°Well, come on. Here you go. Enjoy.¡± Said Elrianthe, slipping the raven a bowl of food. ¡°Alison.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± The priestess replied, proceeding to treat the starved bird, which busied itself as never before.


    Most importantly, Elrianthe completed her task, and another set of notifications appeared before her eyes.


    [ Task accomplished: Achieve the maximum number of puppets for your current class 10/10 ]


    [ Promoted to level 5 ] [ 0/1600 xp ]


    [ Received +10 HP and +20 MP ]


    [ Unlocked a new feature ]


    [ Daily challenges - three random tasks are assigned each day based on user activity. The tasks reset at midnight. ]


    [ First challenge: Perform 50 jumps ]


    [ Reward: 20xp ]


    ''What the fuck? I''m supposed to do jumping jacks like a kid in gym class?'' Elrianthe was outraged, reviewing the content of the challenge.


    After thinking about it for a while, she moved slightly away from the table and jumped up, still staring at the challenge window.


    [ First challenge: 1/50 jumps ]


    Seeing that the jump was registered, she performed another one, but half as big.


    [ First challenge: 2/50 jumps ]


    ''So it''s enough to have both legs in the air for it to pass.'' She thought.


    With not much to lose, she started hopping, trying to complete the task as quickly as possible and move on to the next one. In addition to creating puppets and missions, this was her next source of experience.


    [ First challenge: 3/50 jumps ]


    [ First challenge: 9/50 jumps ]


    [ First challenge: 16/50 jumps ]


    The whole show was watched by Matt, Duncan, Carl, and Alison, as they had no idea why Elrianthe suddenly started hopping. Even Raven moved his head up and down, following the movements of his new mistress.


    Along with Elrianthe, her large breasts and glutes began bouncing, creating an interesting spectacle for the male part of the audience, who mesmerized, stared at her chest.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± She growled.


    [ First challenge: 34/50 jumps ]


    [ First challenge: 35/50 jumps ]


    ¡°We were¡­ eem¡­ admiring your physical condition.¡± Duncan panicked.


    [ First challenge: 36/50 jumps ]


    ¡°Yeah, right. Turn around. Immediately.¡± She commanded.


    [ First challenge: 37/50 jumps ]


    ¡°Yes, ma''am.¡± All the men responded simultaneously.


    [ First challenge: 44/50 jumps ]


    [ First challenge: 50/50 jumps ]


    [ +20xp ]


    ''Okay. What''s next?¡¯


    [ Second challenge: Run 1000 meters ]


    [ Reward: 100xp ]


    ¡°Fuck, I guess not!¡± Shouted Elrianthe.


    Moments later, in front of the fortress...


    A woman with long blonde hair runs back and forth in front of the ruins of the old keep. Her forehead is damp with sweat, and there are clear signs of fatigue painted on her face, interspersed with dissatisfaction.


    [ Second challenge: 780/1000 meters run ]


    ''Even this body is not made for running... Maybe it has lost its stamina over the past six months?'' Thought Elrianthe, panting as if she had run at least a few kilometers.


    [ Second challenge: ran 890/1000 meters ]


    ¡°I swear I''m doing this one last time...¡± She said to herself, gasping.


    [ Second challenge: ran 970/1000 meters ]


    ¡°Just a little more...¡±


    [ Second challenge: ran 1001/1000 meters ]


    [ +100xp ]


    Passing the task, Elrianthe slid to her knees. Supporting herself with her hands on the ground, she began breathing heavily. Her moment of rest was interrupted by an announcement as she tried to regain her strength.


    [ Exhaustion: 10/100 ]


    ¡°Damn, I''ve just reduced it...¡±


    ¡°Your prettiness, are you all right?¡± Duncan called out, noticing the elf on his knees.


    Worried, he ran up to Elrianthe, ready to help her, but before he could do so, she raised her hand to stop him.


    ¡°I''m fine. I''m just a little out of breath.¡± She replied, standing up slowly.


    ''I was so close...'' Lamented Duncan in his mind.


    Elrianthe stood up and looked around after calming her breathing. She was on an elevated mountain chain that stretched across much of the continent. The four highest peaks in the world belonged to this particular band.


    She recalled what Alison had told her about the area earlier. She mentioned that four ancient dragons lived on the tops of the mountains, which had not yet been reached by humans. The fifth has settled in the south, on the border of the Burbotian Theocracy and the Salnian Holy Kingdom.


    ''The Salnian Holy Kingdom is the equivalent of our Vatican City.'' Elrianthe thought. ''But I''m more interested in these dragons.''


    They were standing at the bottom of the mountain on which one of them lived. Elrianthe gazed intently at the peak. Another of the hills could be seen to the west, but due to the great distance, only the tip of the mountain was visible.


    ¡°I''d like to meet them someday.¡± She muttered under her breath.


    The entire hill on which the keep was located was surrounded by a dense forest, hiding numerous dangers. Although the forest covered most of the terrain, from the tower of the fortress one could see the road to it, twisting and turning like a river. Its slope was smooth enough to allow a cart to pass through. Unfortunately, for the same reason, the road to the nearest town lengthened by tens of kilometers.


    *Wrrrrrrrr*


    The distinct sound of a growling wolf attracted the attention of everyone present.


    ¡°Attention!¡± Shouted Matt, running out in front of Elrianthe to shield her from the incoming attack.


    A whole pack of brown wolves jumped out of the nearby bushes. Elrianthe retreated, and Taygeer, Matt, and Duncan, who had accompanied her as protection, came to her defense.


    Duncan instantly drew his bow and began shooting at the flanking wolves with extreme precision. Together, Matt and Taygeer moved to attack, decimating the pack. Suddenly, one of the wolves squeezed between them and ran straight toward Elrianthe.


    ¡°You underestimate me!¡± She shouted in his direction.


    < Daze >


    The wolf fell to the ground, paralyzed, and Duncan pierced its head straight through with a deadly shot, enhanced by his < Mighty Draw > skill.


    [ Taygeer Breezetail promoted to Level 5 ]


    ¡°Damn wolves, it''s been a long time since-¡±


    ¡°Taygeer! Did you just raise your level?¡± Exclaimed a surprised Elrianthe, interrupting Duncan, who was commenting on the sudden attack of the wolves.


    ¡°I think so, boss. I feel a little stronger.¡± Taygeer replied.


    ¡°Is it from killing the wolves?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I think so. I killed three.¡± He replied.


    Suddenly one of the most obvious mechanics came to Elrianthe''s mind.


    ''Fucking hell. Of course! You can gain experience by killing animals, monsters, and other creatures. Since we need to raise levels as quickly as possible, we should go to the forest and eliminate everything we encounter.'' She thought, catching herself in disbelief that she could have forgotten such an obvious strategy.


    ¡°Forgive me, Duncan, what did you say?¡± She asked, coming back to reality.


    ¡°Gaz often organized wolf hunts with us. It''s quite a problem in the area, and their population needs to be thinned out now and then. Please forgive us for our laziness.¡± Duncan said.


    Elrianthe delved into her thoughts again, but one thing was clear to her.


    ¡°No problem. We''ll do it together.¡± She assured Elrianthe.


    ¡°Boss, the evening is approaching. Maybe it''s better to delay it until the next day? Just to be safe.¡± Taygeer suggested.


    Elrianthe looked around at the sky and noticed that the sun was slowly hiding behind the mountains. Soon it might be completely dark here.


    ¡°We''ll wait until tomorrow, but we''re leaving very early in the morning. Get ready now.¡± She announced enthusiastically.

 Chapter 9 - The Hunt

    Elrianthe, returning to the keep after running and clashing with wolves, was struck by another important aspect to consider.


    ¡°Alison, do you know alchemy?¡± She asked Elrianthe quietly, placing a hand on the shoulder of the priestess, who was sitting alone at the table.


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe.¡± Alison replied, blushing at her touch. ¡°I can make basic potions.¡±


    ¡°And how do you handle poisons?¡± She whispered, leaning in and bringing her close to her ear.


    ¡°I''ve never tried it.¡± Alison replied timidly.


    Jim and Carl, who were sitting nearby, exchanged puzzled glances. Although they had not heard the content of the conversation, Elrianthe''s unusual behavior and Alison''s shy reaction made them suspect.


    ¡°Hey.¡± Carl whispered to Jim. ¡°Do you think Miss Elrianthe is interested in women?¡±


    ¡°After her experience with you, it wouldn''t surprise me at all.¡± Jim replied. ¡°Besides, Miss Alison is very attractive.¡±


    ¡°Fact. Do you think she''ll ever forgive me?¡± He asked wasted.


    ¡°Forget it. Most of us aren''t even a third as well treated as Miss Alison, and you especially have fucked yourself over.¡± Replied Jim, reminding Carl of the reprehensible things he had committed against the elven woman.


    ¡°Alison, wouldn''t you perhaps like to try it?¡± She whispered further in her ear.


    ¡°I can try, but I need the exact recipe and ingredients, which may not be easily available.¡± Alison replied quietly.


    ¡°Hmm. That could be a problem.¡± Elrianthe replied, sitting down next to her, her back to the table.


    Looking around the room, her gaze finally stopped on Mitta, who was reading a book in his small library.


    ¡°Tomatohead!¡± Elrianthe called out.


    Mitta immediately got up and walked over to the table without even putting the book down.


    ¡°How can I help you?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Do you have something about alchemy and potion-making in your collection?¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure. It wasn''t a topic of interest to me. I''ll go through the cabinets and bring back anything that fits your description.¡± Mitta replied, then left, searching through the books.


    Elrianthe, turning to face the priestess, noticed her blushing cheeks.


    ''Does she have a fever? Did she catch a cold? It seems that her healing doesn''t work on illnesses.'' She wondered.


    ¡°Alison, could you teach me your healing skill?¡± Elrianthe asked after a while.


    ¡°I can, but I don''t know how long it will take. Skills like my healing or your ability to control people manifest naturally or are attributed as a gift or blessing. Learning it alone can take years, unless we''re dealing with a magical genius.¡± Alison explained.


    ¡°It doesn''t sound encouraging. We''re going hunting tomorrow morning, and your power would be very useful to me.¡±


    ¡°I''ll go with you.¡±


    ¡°No, I don''t want to risk your health. You''ll stay here and focus on the potions.¡±


    ''Miss Elrianthe cares so much about me? I can''t let her down!'' Alison thought, motivating herself to act. She got up from the table and bowed to Elrianthe.


    [ Alison Roseberg''s control increased to 65% ]


    ¡°I will devote myself wholeheartedly to this.¡± She vowed.


    ¡°Take it easy. I just want to have something in case the situation gets worse. I know I can trust you.¡± She said with a smile.


    ''Increasing control? It''s good to know it''s possible, but I don''t understand why... Is it because I spoil her so much? Oh, that''s right. I need to check something else.'' Thought Elrianthe, heading for the storage room.


    Standing in front of a pile of junk, she began to pick through it and look for something that would suit her. She needed to pick out some weapons before the hunt.


    ¡°A sword? Nah, I''d have to fight close. I have no experience in fighting.¡± She said, tossing the weapon aside.


    ¡°A bow? By the time I learn to shoot with it, I''ll be dead... A big sword? I don''t even have the strength to swing it! Oh, this will be good. The perfect weapon for a woman inexperienced in fighting who doesn''t feel like tiring herself.¡± She muttered to herself, grabbing the two-meter-long spear.


    The spar of the spear itself was about 180 centimeters long and ended with a 30-centimeter cross-shaped blade. Mounted crosswise, the blades prevented the spear from penetrating too deeply into the target. The other end was equipped with a pointed metal casing that provided better balance and additional attack capability. Thanks to its length, it could be used to support an ally in close combat from a safe distance.


    Elrianthe did not want to fight in the front line. The spear was an ideal solution for her, allowing her to defend herself while keeping her distance.


    ''As long as I don''t get the skills to fight, this should be enough for me. I won''t be alone, after all.'' She thought, reaffirming her choice.


    The next day, first thing in the morning, the team consisting of Elrianthe, Taygeer, Mitta, Carl, Duncan, and Matt set out to hunt.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Excuse me, Miss, what is that bird doing on your shoulder?¡± Carl asked, pointing at the raven.


    ¡°Shut up and don''t ask stupid questions. That bird is more useful than you.¡± Elrianthe scolded him. ¡°Look.¡±


    *Kraa, kraa*


    The raven darted into the sky, beginning to circle the area. After a while, it returned, cawing, and took to the air again, circling over one spot.


    ¡°Did you see?¡± She asked. ¡°That''s where our targets are.¡±


    ¡°Since when does the boss lady know how to talk to animals?¡± Taygeer asked.


    ¡°I didn''t talk to him, but ravens are very intelligent. He quickly understood that we were on a hunt and he had to look for prey.¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ''I used < Silent Suggestion > to tell the raven what I want, but they don''t need to know about it. Ah, I wish I could communicate telepathically... Using this skill is tiring.'' She thought.


    A piece further on, they encountered a pack of brown wolves. Moving immediately to attack, the pack stood no chance against the five armed attackers. Elrianthe then noted that she was not receiving any experience.


    ¡°Leave me something to kill!¡± She called out.


    ¡°That wolf is still alive!¡± Mitta shouted.


    The woman approached the animal lying on the ground. Its mouth was covered with blood, and red liquid was oozing from its cut side. Elrianthe gripped her spear tighter and pressed the blade to the dying wolf''s mouth.


    ¡°Forgive me. Kill or be killed.¡± She whispered.


    ''The world is too cruel to wonder if what I''m doing is right. If it allows me to survive, I won''t hesitate.'' She thought, thrusting the spear into the animal''s body and ending its suffering.


    [ +60xp ]


    [ Third challenge: kill first time 1/1 ]


    [ +150 xp ]


    [ Level 5 450/1600 xp ]


    ''This will take some time. Even with the daily tasks I''ve already managed to complete.''


    When she saw in the morning that she had received new challenges ¨C Do 10 push-ups and 20 sit-ups ¨C she immediately set about completing them. The third task was to kill something for the first time. It could even have been a fly, but at the time none was circling nearby.


    *Kraa, Kraaa*


    ¡°Let''s go in that direction.¡± She called out to Elrianthe, pointing to a circling raven. ¡°Don''t kill anything.¡±


    ¡°No killing? Why?¡± Matt asked.


    ¡°I want Taygeer to take care of it. You are supposed to leave the victims barely alive. Only he can kill.¡± She ordered.


    The men didn''t understand why they should act in this way, but they couldn''t ignore their mistress'' order, so they followed her command. Only the person who struck the last blow would receive experience points, and Elrianthe intended to take advantage of this.


    ''Power leveling. If only Taygeer kills, he will quickly reach level seven. Then I''ll start killing to get experience for myself.'' She thought.


    They reached another pack and decimated it in the blink of an eye. A few more stray wolves came to help, but they all shared the same fate.


    ¡°There are quite a few of these wolves.¡± Elrianthe said.


    ¡°Thankfully, they are just ordinary wolves and not deviated wolves.¡± Replied Duncan, joining the conversation.


    ¡°Deviated?¡± She asked, intrigued.


    ¡°Some individuals that can''t process the magic that accumulates in them undergo forced mutation or die. Those that survive sometimes change in very bizarre ways. Some even gain new abilities.¡± Mitta explained.


    *Grrrrr*


    From behind their backs, they heard a loud growl. Three red wolves came out of the bushes, they were over twice the size of the ones they had just fought. They had long, sharp fangs protruding from their mouths and eyes that seemed to glow red. On top of that, they each had two tails.


    ¡°You fucking predicted it.¡± She turned to Duncan.


    The red wolves rushed at the unprepared team. One of them aimed a blond elf with a spear. He was extremely fast. The team would not have had time to come to Elrianthe''s aid, but she had an ace up her sleeve.


    < Daze >


    [ Using < Daze > failed ]


    ¡°What?¡± She shouted in surprise.


    The red wolf ran toward the woman and, using the momentum, jumped straight at her. However, before he could reach her throat, something with very sharp edges stood in his way. The blade of the spear that Elrianthe was wielding pierced right through the upper part of her mouth and stopped at the cross blades.


    Not even a quarter of a second later, the wolf''s head was separated from the body by one powerful blow of the huge axe. The body fell to the ground and the head hung from the spear it held. Taygeer reached Elrianthe, eliminating the threat.


    The rest confronted the remaining wolves and, thanks to their numerical superiority, managed to defeat them without serious injury.


    [ Taygeer Breezetail promoted to Level 6 ]


    ¡°It was close, we should go back.¡± Commented Matt.


    ¡°That''s not enough.¡± Elrianthe replied firmly, making a sweep with her weapon to knock off the wolf''s head.


    She counted Taygeer''s casualties, who only reached the next level after killing nearly twenty wolves. It wasn''t enough, but they still had plenty of time. Elrianthe wanted to find a better area to farm XP for Taygeer. The raven returned to her after he couldn''t find any more wolves and sat on her shoulder.


    ¡°Miss, the wolves have already been-¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else alive here?¡± She interrupted Duncan.


    ¡°Quite a few bears are living in the steeper part of the forest.¡± Duncan replied.


    *Kraa, Kraaa*


    Raven set off on another scouting mission.


    ¡°Let''s go.¡± She ordered.


    [ The skill < Silent Suggestion > reaches level 2. Cost reduced by 5 points of magic ]


    The group reached an area inhabited by bears and began hunting. These animals rarely moved in groups, making them easy targets, despite their impressive endurance.


    Attacking the bears one by one, they finally came across a pair with a slightly different coat color than the rest.


    ¡°Deviated?¡± She asked Mitta, watching them from behind the bushes.


    ¡°Probably, but they shouldn''t be too strong.¡± He replied.


    ¡°Okay, let''s go.¡± Elrianthe said.


    *Wrrrawrrr*


    The bears wailed, noticing the attacking humans.


    < Daze >


    One of them fell to the ground, paralyzed, allowing Taygeer and Matt to quickly eliminate it from the fight.


    [ The < Daze > skill reaches level 2. Eye contact is no longer required. The target must be within 4 meters. ]


    ¡°Finally. It''s awfully slow to raise the levels of these skills.¡±


    While Elrianthe was happily reviewing the messages, the rest of the group managed to seriously injure the second bear. Unfortunately, not enough to defeat it and the animal ran away.


    ¡°What are you guys doing? Chase it!¡± She shouted, noticing her precious experience fleeing toward a nearby cave.


    ¡°Should we go in there?¡± Carl asked, staring at the dark entrance.


    ¡°Why not? Are you afraid of the dark?¡± She scoffed, awed by his doubts.


    Without further hesitation, everyone went inside. The cave was spacious, and the sun''s rays coming through the entrance slightly illuminated the interior. The group walked a few dozen meters into the cave, but before they reached the wounded bear, Elrianthe suddenly stopped.


    [ Special Task ]


    [ Survive the ambush ]


    [ Reward: instant level up and a random rare skill ]

 Chapter 10 - Ambush

    [ Special Task ]


    [ Survive the ambush ]


    [ Reward: instant level up and a random rare skill ]


    Elrianthe paused, surprised by the content of the task.


    ''Special? An ambush? What the hell!'' She wondered.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Elrianthe spoke up, her voice sounding confused. ¡°Something''s not right here.¡±


    ¡°What is it, boss?¡± Taygeer asked, walking beside her.


    Elrianthe looked at him, wondering how to explain it to him.


    ¡°I have a bad feeling...¡±


    *WRRRAAAWWWRRR*


    A powerful roar coming from the direction of the cave entrance interrupted their conversation. Everyone turned around in horror, unsure of what could have made such a loud sound.


    Elrianthe spotted a huge black bear, covered with numerous marks of deadly battles that it had probably won due to its powerful strength. It was so big that it measured more than three meters, not standing on its hind legs.


    ¡°Run!¡± Shouted Elrianthe to the rest, who, like her, were shocked by the encounter.


    ¡°Where?¡± Asked Duncan loudly, realizing that the only way they had was deep into the cave.


    ¡°Forward, dammit!¡± She called out, breaking off into a run.


    They all started running ahead as much as they could. Elrianthe, running slightly ahead, nervously looked for some kind of branch, tunnel, or anything that could help them escape or fight the black beast chasing them.


    The beast did not give way, but eventually the structure of the cave allowed the group to gain distance. The twisting nature of the tunnels, which worked against the monster''s sizable size, allowed them to temporarily lose the chase. When they reached the next larger chamber, a new problem appeared before their eyes.


    ¡°More bears!¡± Duncan shouted.


    The wounded bear they had chased earlier was standing there in the company of another, enraged, large individual. Although it was not as imposing as the black giant, it still posed a serious threat.


    ¡°Fuck, we have to get rid of them before the big one gets here.¡± Said a breathless Elrianthe. ¡°Matt, Taygeer! Block the entrance!¡±


    ¡°With what?¡± Matt asked.


    ¡°With anything!¡± She exclaimed.


    ¡°What are you planning?¡± Asked Mitta.


    ¡°I''ll take care of the wounded one. You, Duncan, and Carl attack the other one.¡± She ordered Elrianthe, after which they went on the offensive.


    ''Let''s hope it''s worth it.'' She thought, running toward the bears.


    < Daze >


    The wounded animal, watching the approaching enemies, lost control of its body for a moment. Two seconds later, when it regained its sight, it saw an elven woman holding her hand on its head.


    < Domination >


    [ Using < Domination > successful ]


    [ Successful acquisition of a new puppet ]


    [ Brown Bear Level 6 ]


    [ Control: 70% ]


    [ +30xp ]


    Elrianthe, pointing her finger and issuing a command using < Silent Suggestion >, ordered the wounded bear to attack her companion.


    Carl and Mitta were facing the hostile animal when suddenly another bear ran between them and pounced on him. Surprised, the larger bear took a few steps back.


    ¡°Attack all together!¡± Elrianthe called out.


    Mitta moved in pursuit of the wounded bear, getting close enough that the animal''s massive body shielded him from their common opponent. Carl ran up from the other side, trying to approach from the side, while Duncan, standing on a nearby rock shelf, fired precise shots.


    The bear finally reached the wall and put up a fight, having no other choice. Carl''s sword, Mitta''s fire, Duncan''s arrows, and the sharp fangs and teeth of the elf-controlled bear determined its fate - it soon dropped dead.


    *Stomp, stomp, stomp*


    Meanwhile, louder and louder footsteps were coming from the tunnel leading to the chamber. Vibrations spread over the ground as if someone were pounding it with a hammer.


    ¡°He''s finally arrived.¡± Matt said. ¡°Look out, here he comes!¡±


    *WRRRAAAWWWRRR*


    < Master''s doping >


    ¡°Taygeer, I''m counting on you!¡± She called out to Elrianthe, using the leftover magic to use the skill.


    [ Magic points: 6/154(-66) ]


    [ Exhaustion: 24/100 ]


    ''I can''t do anything else.'' She thought, reviewing her status. ''I could run away, but I don''t want to leave Taygeer. I promised him freedom after all this and I want to keep my word. I''m not like my old boss.''


    The beast rushed to attack Matt, who barely avoided being hit by a huge paw. From the other side, Taygeer came running, delivering a powerful sweep with a heavy two-handed axe. The blow penetrated deeply and stopped only at the femur, leaving a bleeding wound behind.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    The rest of the group joined the fight, taking their turns attacking the huge black bear. Duncan and Mitta aimed for its eyes, limiting the beast''s visibility, while Carl and Matt inflicted minor slashes on it, opening the way for Taygeer''s powerful strikes. The bear under Elrianthe''s control, supporting Matt and Carl''s efforts, tore open wounds that were already open and used its mass to ram the beast, often stopping its attacks.


    ¡°They''re not doing badly...¡±


    *Bang and crackle*


    [ Puppet Brown Bear was killed ]


    A sudden turn of events interrupted Elrianthe''s praise. The black giant hit her pet so hard that it flew to a nearby rock, shattering its head and dying on the spot.


    ¡°Fuck... You fought well.¡± She whispered.


    *Crack*


    ¡°Aaaa!¡± Shouted Matt, grabbing at his shattered arm.


    The last few minutes of the fight had consumed a considerable amount of the monster''s energy, and the incessant bleeding had robbed him of even more. However, before he completely saps his strength, he still manages to injure Matt, who now requires the care of a healer.


    Taygeer struck again, leaving another deep wound. The beast fell. The worst was finally over when, with another swing, the axe blade dived into the black bear''s thick neck, ending its life.


    Everyone could breathe a sigh of relief and, exhausted, fell to the ground to rest for a while.


    [ Special task completed: ]


    [ Survive the ambush ]


    [ Promoted to level 6 ] [ 0/3200 xp ]


    [ Taygeer Breezetail promoted to Level 7 ]


    [ Received the skill < Scholar > ]


    [ Scholar (S-class) - A supporting skill that enables one to obtain information about the objects on which it will be applied. It is an invaluable ability for anyone who wishes to explore the world in which they live. This skill has three sub-skills of its own, which are unlocked by increasing the level. It works passively, allowing you to display more information. ]


    [ Available sub-skills:


    < Research > - use this skill to obtain information about an object.


    < Analysis > - ( Level 5 and above) - use it to conduct an in-depth analysis of an object, allowing you to obtain more accurate information, properties, and hidden features. Requires physical contact.


    < Simulation > - ( Level 9 and above) - use this skill to simulate the effects of changes you can make based on already learned properties.


    Next level: +10% to experience points received. ]


    Elrianthe immediately took notice of the phrase ''S-class''. She had not previously come across it in any of the descriptions she had studied. In addition, she noticed what the next skill level would bring her.


    ¡°A very useful feature.'' She thought, quickly reviewing her list of skills.


    [Skill List: ]


    Domination (S) Level 3


    Daze (A) Level 2


    Persuasion (C) Level 1


    Master''s doping (B) Level 1


    Silent suggestion (B) Level 2


    Scholar (S) Level 1


    ''Good. I''ll take a look at more of that later. Now, how does this skill work?'' She mused, staring at the carcass of a black bear.


    < Research >


    [ Giant bear Level 8 ]


    [ A monster that dominated the heights of the Crow Forest ]


    [ Rank: C ]


    [ Life Points: 0/3200 ]


    [ Status: Dead ]


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe.¡± Mitta called out. ¡°I found a mushroom from the list of ingredients for Miss Alison. Now we have everything.¡±


    ¡°Let me see.¡±


    < Research >


    [ Green dwarf dunghill - a mushroom that grows deep in caves and, depending on how it is prepared, can have medicinal or poisonous properties. ]


    ¡°Okay, let''s go back before something bigger shows up.¡± Elrianthe said.


    In a nearby town...


    Gaz was sitting in an inn at a table at the end of the hall, waiting to speak with a customer''s intermediary who was about to make a decision on the purchase of one of his slaves.


    It wasn''t long before a well-dressed older man, resembling a butler of the rich aristocracy, sat down across from him. He had gray hair and a graying mustache under his nose, but confidence and professionalism shone from his blue eyes.


    ¡°You, from my understanding, are the trader?¡± The butler asked.


    ¡°That''s right.¡± Gaz replied.


    ¡°My master has heard of a rare specimen in your possession.¡± Said the butler.


    ¡°That''s right. I have some rare slaves. Which one caught your master''s eye? That beautiful priestess from the Temple of the Five Supreme? She would make an excellent bed slave. I also have a big cat-man who would be great for...¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap, with apologies.¡± The butler interjected, interrupting Gaz. ¡°My master is a collector. He collects only rare women. From all over the continent. Do you understand? He''s not interested in abducted priestesses or animals he can buy at the market. I''m here for the elven woman you claim to possess.¡±


    ¡°An elf? No kidding...¡± He asked surprised.


    ¡°I''m not in the habit of joking. Tell me more about her.¡± The butler replied.


    ¡°Well. She is an elf. She has blond hair, smooth, fair skin, a beautiful face... and she''s a virgin.¡±


    ¡°What is her name?¡±


    ¡°Elrianthe.¡±


    ¡°And the last name?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. She didn''t say...¡± Gaz replied, scratching his head. ¡°Is it relevant?¡±


    ¡°Very.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Elves are like demons among humans. They can turn entire cities into ruins if they want to. Especially the strongest ones, who are very proud of their lineage. After all, we don''t want to bring a demon to our domain waiting to be released, do you understand?¡± The butler warned.


    ¡°I don''t recall there being any problems with her...¡± Gaz wondered. ¡°Which families do you have in mind?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know about your knowledge of world history, but three names we should be wary of. Kanari and Azory are two of the strongest elven families that serve the royal family.¡±


    ¡°And what is the name of the royal family?¡± He asked curiously.


    ¡°Just don''t mention it in front of anyone. According to records, members of this family were supposedly slaughtered down to their feet, but in fact, some managed to escape and are still hiding today. Elves will do anything to find the missing members of the royal family. The name of the royal family of the elves is... Atlanta.¡± The butler replied, pronouncing the last word especially quietly.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Gaz replied.


    ¡°Well. Are you sure she''s a pure-blood?¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt. You can see that at a glance.¡± Gaz assured.


    The butler glanced over, but in the end, decided that he wasn''t the one who would make the decision, so it was a waste of his time to talk with criminals.


    ¡°So be it. My lord likes to evaluate the specimen himself before buying, but he''s very busy at the moment. So I propose this: since we''re talking about an elven woman, we''ll sign a preliminary deed of sale, but the final decision will be made by my master when he personally shows up and sees the woman.¡± The butler suggested.


    ¡°Sure, of course.¡± A delighted Gaz replied. ¡°And as for the price...¡±


    ¡°Don''t worry about that.¡± The butler replied. ¡°We''ll pay as much as you wanted, but I must warn you. My master doesn''t buy garbage. You have one week. Bring it to a suitable condition so that it can present itself well. Do we understand each other?¡±


    ¡°Sure. Thank you very much for your trust.¡± Said Gaz, taking the paper with the purchase agreement from the butler.


    The butler left the tavern, and Gaz ordered another drink.


    ''I''ll finally get rid of her! Nothing will mess up this day for me anymore.'' He thought, full of joy.


    He took another look at the contract.


    Buyer: Marquis Sigismund Beg


    Price: 500 gold coins


    ¡°Now I understand why it went so easily. Oh, naughty Mr. Beg. I hope she will serve you longer than your average toys.¡±


    Gaz bought another bottle of expensive whiskey and set off towards the keep to share the good news.

 Chapter 11 - The leaders return pt.1

    The evening had arrived, and the sun lazily slipped from the high sky to hide behind the horizon. A merchant''s cart, pulled by a single horse, climbed the twisting road, taking advantage of the last rays that showed him the route.


    ¡°Na nana, na, na nana na... ¡° Gaz hummed under his breath a tune heard in the tavern.


    ''I wonder what they will say when I announce that I have struck the bargain of a lifetime. Ha! Their jaws will drop,'' he thought with a satisfied face.


    ''Hahaha! I''ll finally be able to abandon this burrow and these losers. With such a fortune, I can head to the Principality of Malelia and live like a king for the rest of my life.¡± Gaz mused.


    ''But that''s later. First I have to bring things to an end,'' he thought, noticing the watch tower of the fortress.


    Gaz stopped the cart in the square and got down from the coachman''s seat. A moment later, he emerged from behind the cart with a bottle of expensive alcohol. He didn''t even bother to unload the rest of the things he had brought with him.


    ¡°Yoo! Duncan!¡± Gaz called out.


    ¡°Hey, what''s up, Gaz?¡± Exclaimed Duncan, leaning out of the tower.


    ¡°Did something happen?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Nothing in particular.¡± Duncan replied.


    ¡°Come to the main hall. I have something important to tell you.¡± Said Gaz, heading toward the entrance.


    ¡°Na nana, na, na nana na...¡± He hummed to himself.


    Plunged into dreams of living in a luxurious house by the sea, he carelessly grabbed the handle, injuring his finger on the sharp edge.


    ¡°Ouch! Fuck, they were supposed to finally do something about it.¡± He burbled under his breath, watching the blood flowing from his thumb.


    Without paying too much attention to the wound, he pushed the door open with his elbow and stepped inside, holding his finger in his mouth and licking it until the blood stopped oozing.


    ''Strange taste this blood has... Hmm, maybe the door handle was dirty with something? Never mind,'' he thought, heading down the corridor to the main hall. Such a small thing couldn''t spoil his good mood.


    He entered the room where the rest of the team should be sitting and called out:


    ¡°Guys, I have an awesome...¡± He suddenly paused when he saw something he would never have expected.


    Sitting at the table where they usually ate were two bears. They were wearing vanilla pants with embroidered pink bunnies, and wearing caps with pom-poms on their heads. If that weren''t enough, they were playing cards, but the moment Gaz entered the room, they turned toward him.


    ¡°What the fuck...¡± He was about to say surprised, but something even more bizarre caught his attention.


    Among a pile of books, he spotted a red snowman. But it wasn''t the kind of ordinary snowman made from snow that children make in the winter. It was made of three giant tomatoes, stacked one on top of the other. Instead of branches to serve as hands, he had long green leeks in which he held a book about cooking. He had an oblong radish attached to his nose.


    ¡°What the fuck is going on here!¡± Shouted a shocked Gaz.


    He grabbed his forehead and, looking at the floor, tried to stay on his feet, which were slowly beginning to soften. He felt as if he had been plunged into a wild dream. There was a slight hum in his head, and his surroundings were lightly swirling.


    ¡°Welcome back.¡± Someone spoke up in a booming voice.


    Gaz raised his head, and his eyes immediately widened in surprise, while his face turned pale, as if he hadn''t had a chance to step out into the sunlight in years.


    A massive dragon emerged from the hallway leading to the bedroom. Its scales glistened gold, and its eyes blazed with an intense purple fire. The size of the beast barely allowed it to move freely, and its head reached all the way to the ceiling, against which thick golden horns curved upward. A thick vapor of purple glow escaped from its mouth, spilling over the floor.


    Terrified, Gaz dropped the bottle, which shattered on the ground, and then started running toward the exit. However, he was stopped by another unusual creature.


    A horse, resembling a Dalmatian dog, was walking on its back legs with wellingtons on its hooves. On his head he wore a shark mask, and in his forelegs he held a guitar, on which he played a tune that Gaz had hummed not long before.


    Gaz fainted and fell to the ground when the horse came close enough that its torpedo in full erection almost touched his face.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Half an hour earlier, in Elrianthe''s room...


    ¡°Finally, after so many weeks...¡± Mumbled Elrianthe to herself, dragging behind her a two-meter rectangular flat object wrapped in dusty white cloth.


    ¡°I spent so much time in the dark, so much time I endured to finally get out of the hole. Finally, after so much time, I was able to get out and see the world I would come to live in. Thanks to this skill...¡± She continued.


    < Research >.


    ¡°Thanks to it, I will finally discover the biggest secret. Nothing will hide from my sight anymore. Since I have < Scholar >, I can no longer be deceived. This object...¡± She said, grabbing a corner of the canvas, ¡°It will show me the whole truth!¡± She called out, pulling the cloth, which slid off the object leaning against the wall, revealing it to Elrianthe''s eyes.


    [ Mirror ]


    [ An everyday object that allows you to see your reflection ]


    ¡°Aaaaa, how beautiful I am...¡± She marveled, blushing.


    She walked closer to the mirror to examine her face more closely. This was her first time to see herself since her soul was in this body.


    ¡°You really are beautiful...¡± She whispered to herself.


    Her violet eyes attracted attention with their unique beauty, harmonizing with her perfectly shaped eyebrows. A small nose and shapely lips blended perfectly with the rest, together creating a living masterpiece. The pointed ears stood out slightly more than humans, and their length reached above the long blond hair that flowed freely over her body.


    ¡°Aaa, I could become a top model with a face like that!¡± She exclaimed enthusiastically. ¡°Wait a minute...¡±


    Elrianthe turned around as a thought crossed her mind and shed all her clothes. Standing completely naked, she turned to the mirror again. Her face turned all red momentarily. She knew she had an attractive body, but what she saw exceeded her expectations.


    ¡°If it weren''t for those ears, you''d be a walking ideal.¡± She said to her reflection.


    Deep down she still felt like a man. No longer the same as before, but the way she perceived and understood the world hadn''t changed much. She had learned to pretend to be a woman, and it was going very well. Her body already had its habits, which, like muscle memory, were encoded in her mind.


    However, when she saw her body in the mirror, her male memories and instincts began to dominate. She began to touch her large pots with curiosity, and pleasurable impulses coursed through her body as she circled her protuberant, pink nipples.


    ''It has always wondered me...'' thought Elrianthe, sliding her hand slowly down between her thighs.


    Her experience with Carl was nothing pleasant. All she felt then was pain, humiliation and hopelessness. There was nothing about it that she could like. She thought that for the rest of her life she would no longer be able to take pleasure in a similar activity. However, after what she had accomplished over the past few days, everything changed.


    She began to massage between her legs and a pleasant feeling began to dominate her entire body. She saw the beautiful woman in the mirror, with her wide smile and red cheeks happily sinking into pleasure.


    ¡°Aaah!¡± She moaned.


    Before she knew it, her hand began to make faster and faster movements, and she dropped to her knees in front of the mirror and, staring into it, let her fingers sink deeper and deeper into her virtue. Lifted by emotion, she went all the way and began kissing the woman in the mirror.


    ¡°Aaa... AaaaaH!¡±


    *Tssssstttttt*


    *Haaa*


    *Haaa*


    Elrianthe''s heavy breathing could be heard all the way at the door on the other side of the room. Her hand was completely wet, as was the floor on which she lay.


    ''Did I get wet when I lost control?'' She wondered, not realizing that she had experienced her first orgasm in a female body. ''It was amazing...''


    ¡°M-miss E-elrianthe...¡± A timid voice sounded from the open door.


    Elrianthe sprang up from the floor, and fear appeared in her eyes as she turned toward the door.


    ¡°A-a-Alison! What are you d-doing here?¡± She asked terrified, her voice breaking every other word.


    ¡°Because, because I wanted to tell you something... ¡° Alison replied, blushing and looking away.


    ¡°Ha, hahaha... H-have you been here l-long?¡± Elrianthe asked, draping herself over the canvas.


    ¡°M-minute?¡± She replied timidly.


    ¡°Y-you stayed there a minute? Why?¡±


    ¡°Because... I was wondering...¡±


    ¡°Ha, haha... It must have looked pathetic. Ha, haha...¡± Replied Elrianthe, trying to control her emotions and laughing at the whole situation.


    ¡°I could... help if you... want.¡± Whispered Alison timidly.


    The two looked at each other for a moment, holding their breath. Elrianthe was still sitting naked on the ground, covering herself with a cloth, while Alison stood in the open doorway.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Again there was an awkward silence.


    ¡°Alison! Close the door!¡± Elrianthe called out.


    The priestess obeyed, but did not go outside, but remained inside. Elrianthe looked at her in embarrassment, but suddenly a solution came to her mind.


    ''I''m an elf, right? She can''t know all the elven customs. If I pretend that nothing out of the ordinary happened, she''ll think it''s normal for me and will quickly forget. Yes, that''s it. Pretend to be your usual self'' thought Elrianthe, getting up from the floor.


    ¡°So? What did you want to tell me?¡± She asked, getting dressed as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Duncan gave the signal,¡± Alison replied quietly.


    ¡°The signal? Wolves again?¡±


    ¡°No. Gaz is coming back from town.¡±


    ¡°Oh fuck!¡± Elrianthe snapped.


    She grabbed the vial filled with the concentrate they had been working on together and ran out toward the main entrance.


    Alison was left alone in the room. With curiosity piqued, she approached the mirror. Just below it she noticed a puddle, covered by a white cloth. She scowled and dipped her finger in the liquid.


    ¡°Still warm...¡± She whispered under her breath and put her soaked finger in her mouth.


    ''Mmmmm... I could even become a guy for her...'' thought Alison, holding the finger in her mouth and clenching her legs from ecstasy.


    [ Alison Roseberg''s control increased to 75% ]


    ¡°What the...¡± Reacted Elrianthe to the message window that suddenly appeared before her eyes as she lubricated the handle with poison.

 Chapter 12 - The leaders return pt.2

    Gaz was lying on the floor, unconscious after a failed escape attempt that ended in fainting. None of those present in the room had any idea what might have caused his strange behavior.


    Elrianthe looked at the lying man, and after a moment turned to Alison.


    ¡°Did we use a good poison?¡± She asked with uncertainty.


    ¡°Yes, ma''am,¡± replied Alison.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± mused Elrianthe, crouching beside Gaz to look more closely at his finger, where the sting was located.


    The finger was still moist, and there were no traces of blood around the cut.


    ''Hmm. He must have wiped his finger or... licked it? That would explain why it''s moist. There are traces of poison on the hand, but the finger itself remains clean...'' thought Elrianthe.


    < Research >


    [ Gaz Prum Level 9 ]


    [ Class: Warrior ]


    [ Health Points: 478/490 ]


    [ Magic Points: 50/50 ]


    [ Status: unconscious, under the influence of a drug ]


    After analyzing Gaz''s stats, she appreciated the advantage her strategy with poison brought her. Although she couldn''t see his abilities, the sheer amount of HP gave her goosebumps.


    ''He has more health than Taygeer and Matt combined... No wonder no one has been able to take away his leadership,'' she thought.


    His status suggested that he was allegedly under the influence of a drug. This seemed odd since she didn''t recall the poison she and Alison had created having such properties.


    ''Maybe when he licked his finger...''


    < Research >


    [ Vial of poison ]


    [ The vial contains a concentrated poison created from the green dwarf dugong. Once it enters the bloodstream, it causes dizziness, sluggishness, and balance problems. ]


    When she used the skill on the poison vial again, she saw nothing unusual.


    [ The < Scholar > skill has reached level 2. The experience points you gain has been increased by an additional 10%. The sub-skills now show additional information. ]


    ''Just in time. Maybe I''ll see more now?¡± she thought, reviewing the message. Ever since she returned from the cave, she had been using the skill on everything she encountered, so the increase in level was no surprise to her.


    < Research >


    [ Poison Vial ]


    [ Rank: C ]


    [ Additional effect: When ingested orally, it can cause severe hallucinations and lead to unconsciousness. ]


    [ Creator: Alison Roseberg ]


    ¡°So Gaz was high? Hahahaha,¡± she began, laughing like a hysterical lunatic.


    The next day...


    Gaz woke up on the floor of the main hall, in just his pants. He was lying tied up and had not yet fully recovered. His attention was drawn to a lively conversation.


    Elrinathe, along with Alison and Taygeer, were sitting at a table. They were in a good mood and ate their meal in a friendly atmosphere, while the others stood by and served them.


    ¡°Oi, what are you guys doing?¡± shouted Gaz in their direction.


    Everyone turned toward him.


    ¡°I should be the one to ask you this. You''re lying high in my room as if you were at home. You broke a bottle of good alcohol with which I was supposed to celebrate recent successes, and now you''re interrupting our meal. Have you lost your mind?¡± asked Elrianthe provocatively.


    ¡°What the fuck are you... What actually happened here? Why are you sitting at the table with the rest of the slaves... Hey, you guys! What the fuck are you guys doing?¡± he called out in the direction of his associates, but no one answered him.


    ¡°Isn''t it obvious? I have taken charge. You''ve been reduced to the role of a mere servant, Gaz,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    ¡°You overestimate your abilities, elf. When I get out of here...¡±


    Elrianthe started laughing and got up from the table.


    ¡°I''m overestimating? Hahaha. I beg you. Who overdid the drugs yesterday and flew drippy down the hallway? You had quite a trip, huh?¡± she mocked, approaching slowly.


    ¡°What did you do to me? What was that?¡± asked Gaz nervously.


    ¡°Oh. Do you want some more? Sure! Jim...¡±


    Carl and Jim approached the former leader. Carl grabbed him by the jaw and opened his mouth so Jim could pour in the liquid from the vial.


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    ¡°Ugh... Wait... Aaa... No...¡± Gaz tried to defend himself but to no avail.


    ¡°Have a wonderful time boss. We''ll see how long you last,¡± Elrianthe said goodbye, winking at him.


    In Gaz''s vision, Elrianthe took the form of a terrifying black demon, causing him to faint. He was carried into the dungeons and locked in a cell.


    ¡°Your prettiness!¡± Exclaimed Duncan, running out of the corridor.


    ¡°Will you ever stop calling me that?¡± Shouted an enraged Elrianthe.


    ¡°Please forgive me, but I found something important,¡± he said, holding a document in his hand.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°A bill of sale.¡±


    ¡°Whose?¡± asked Elrianthe, but Duncan merely handed her the document.


    Preliminary deed of sale of a slave


    The parties signed in this deed agree to sell the slave listed below within a week. The final decision will be made by the buyer, and the slave cannot be sold to another buyer during this time.


    Purchaser: Marquis Sigismund Beg


    Slave: Elrianthe


    Price: 500 gold coins


    Signatures:


    Gaz Prum, the Beg family''s butler Garret Beg


    A disgusted expression appeared on Elrianthe''s face when she noticed her name, but she couldn''t understand the rest of the text.


    ''Didn''t this elf learn to read in this language? Since I can talk, I should be able to read too...'' she thought, feeling her irritation growing.


    ¡°Who is it about?¡± asked Mitta.


    Elrianthe handed him the paper and sat down at the table. Mitta read the document and froze.


    ¡°Does it concern...¡± Alison began.


    ¡°It is about me¡± interjected Elrianthe immediately.


    ¡°Then we have a problem,¡± stated Mitta.


    ¡°Continue,¡± said Elrianthe.


    ¡°Such agreements are usually made when you want to reserve an acquisition, but you can''t finalize the purchase right away. The contract bears the signatures of Gaz and the butler, which means that the buyer himself was not present when the contract was drawn up. And this man...¡± explained Mitta.


    Elrianthe nodded, signaling him to go on.


    ¡°The Marquis of Beg is quite famous in our circles... He is disgustingly rich and influential. And extremely despicable... He treats everyone like vermin and has a weakness for women of rare races. Few of them... survive with him for more than a few weeks. If they signed such a contract, it means that he is determined to buy, but could not appear in person. We have no room to maneuver...¡± he added.


    There was a grave silence in the room as those present realized what this meant.


    ''Can''t I just run away? That''s what I wanted to do anyway,'' Elrianthe thought.


    ¡°We should kill Gaz and throw him to the monsters to eat!¡± Said Alison furiously.


    ¡°Haha. Relax, I don''t think...¡± laughed Elrianthe.


    ¡°We need to hide Ms. Elrianthe in the forest,¡± added Duncan, interjecting her words. ¡°In these mountains, we will be able to survive long enough until they withdraw the search letters.¡±


    ¡°Search letters?¡±


    ¡°A slave has no right to make any decisions. Slave traders and owners have full power over slaves and can even kill them with impunity. If one escapes, he is treated as a criminal. Running away is certain death if you get caught,¡± Taygeer said.


    ¡°There''s sure to be some...¡± began Elrianthe, when suddenly Matt interjected with his idea.


    ¡°Why don''t we just kill the Marquis? He''s a jerk anyway, so we''ll do people a favor,¡± suggested Matt. ¡°We''ll poison him the next time he shows up.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy, Matt? Do you think he won''t have bodyguards with him? He put up 500 gold coins with a light hand! His protection is probably tighter than in the emperor''s court!¡± appalled Duncan.


    ''I wonder how much these gold coins are worth in terms of Polish zlotys,'' wondered Elrianthe.


    ¡°And what, should we just hand Ms. Elrianthe over to him?¡± reflected Matt.


    ¡°500 gold coins...¡± mumbled Mitta on the side. ¡°You can live on such a sum for at least 15 years...¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± shouted Elrianthe at last. ¡°I will decide for myself what we will do about it. Whatever we want to achieve, we must become stronger. Starting today, we will start a long hunt. Prepare yourselves accordingly. Alison...¡±


    ¡°Yes, madam?¡±


    ¡°We need to test a few things together,¡± said Elrianthe, making Alison turn momentarily all red.


    ''Does she always blush when I speak to her?¡± wondered Elrianthe, noticing the redness on Alison''s face.


    Then she remembered what had happened the previous evening in her room and turned red as a tomato herself.


    Around noon, they went hunting. Elrianthe, using her new skill, helped Alison create some concoctions that would give them an advantage in battle.


    ¡°Here!¡± cried Duncan, pointing to a group of bears nearby.


    ¡°Okay, let''s go,¡± said Elrianthe.


    They were again hunting in an area inhabited by bears. The experience gained from them allowed her to gain rank after killing just ten.


    [ Promoted to level 7 ] [ 7/6400 xp ]


    [ Received +10 HP and +20 PM ]


    ''Just that much?'' she thought, dismissing the message with disappointment that she received nothing more. ''It may soon become increasingly difficult to raise levels... Although it''s good that < Scholar > is granting me additional experience. I''m also not getting any new tasks...''


    [ Task list ]


    [ Reach level 10: 7/10 ]


    [ Free yourself from slave status ]


    ''This one will not be a quick task.''


    ¡°Silence. Hide,¡± Duncan said in a muffled voice, noticing three figures nearby.


    The group hid in the tall bushes and looked out for the mysterious figures. They were about two meters tall and physically resembled humans. Their green skin and muscular physiques caused concern. Their faces were reminiscent of Elrianthe, a race often seen in fantasy games and movies. Their protruding fangs and elongated ears gave them a menacing appearance that inspired fear and uncertainty in the minds of weaker people. However, neglected weapons and shabby clothing gave Elrianthe hope.


    ¡°Are they orcs?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Duncan replied.


    ¡°Can we come closer?¡± She asked.


    The distance prevented her from studying their stats and deciding whether to attack or whether it was better to retreat.


    ¡°Shh! They''re coming toward us,¡± whispered Mitta.


    < Research >


    [ Oglub Level 9 ]


    [ Race: Orc ]


    [ Olaugh Level 8 ]


    [ Race: Orc ]


    [ Status: Looking for clues as to who killed the Bear King ]


    [ Slog Level 9 ]


    [ Race: Orc ]


    ''The King of Bears? What the hell is that? Hmm. They don''t have a great advantage in terms of levels. We should be able to handle it,'' thought Elrianthe and reached into her bag.


    She pulled out a green vial of poison - an improved version of the specific she used to neutralize Gaz. Once the liquid enters the blood, it should cause chaos in the victim''s nervous system, effectively depriving her of the ability to defend herself for at least a dozen seconds. At least in theory, since she hasn''t yet had a chance to test the effects on a live target.


    The orcs heard something suspicious and began to approach the extremely loud rustling bushes, which were moving even though there was no wind.

 Chapter 13 - Meeting in the woods

    The orcs heard something disturbing - an extremely loud rustling of bushes that moved, despite the lack of wind. As trained hunters, they were not going to ignore it.


    As they approached the source of the sound, two arrows were fired in their direction. One of the orcs fell to the ground as the poison took effect. The other was also hit but managed to stay on his feet.


    ''What''s going on? Olaugh thought, grabbing his mace.


    Before his eyes, a cat-man, larger even than themselves, jumped out of the bushes. His powerful axe split Oglub, his kin, in two in one motion.


    ¡°Ha!¡± He screeched at the sight.


    His cousin Slog was also already lying dead, with two people standing over his body. Olaugh took a step back, tightening his grip on his weapon. More people began to emerge from the bushes, among them a blond-haired woman holding a spear. Their gazes met, and the orc''s head spun.


    Unintelligible screams sounded in his ears. When he opened his eyes, he saw the woman saying something to him, while putting the spear to his neck.


    ¡°What do you want, white female?¡± Olaugh asked.


    The woman muttered something to herself and then pierced his throat with the spear. Blood momentarily began gushing from the artery, and in the blink of an eye, Olaugh became a corpse.


    [ +400 xp ]


    ''You''re no use to me if I can''t understand what you''re saying.'' Thought Elrianthe, looking at the dead orc.


    Defeating them was surprisingly easy, thanks to the poison used on Duncan''s arrows. Elrianthe began to wonder if she could find more such monsters in the area.


    ¡°Where can we find more of them?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Hmm. Since their hunters appeared here, there must be their stronghold nearby.¡± Duncan replied.


    ¡°A stronghold?¡±


    ¡°Orcs form groups around a strong leader and settle in camps they build themselves. The ones here were hunters who hunt game and patrol the area.¡± Mitta explained.


    ¡°A camp? I wonder. How many of them can there be?¡±


    ¡°Usually up to thirty. There is a high mortality rate among them, and the camps themselves rarely expand.¡± He replied.


    This answer satisfied Elrianthe, which betrayed the smile on her face.


    ¡°You''re not planning to attack this camp, are you?¡± Duncan asked inquisitively.


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    The dungeons of the keep...


    Gaz sat in a cell on a wooden chair to which he was tied. His hair was wet from drops of water that fell on his head every few seconds. His forehead was sweaty from fighting terrifying visions and persistent thoughts.


    As prescribed by Elrianthe, he was watered with a diluted poison, the effects of which he knew very well.


    ¡°I-i want to g-get out of h-here, please...¡± He mumbled under his breath, staring at the green eye bubbles floating from the ceiling.


    All he wanted was to get out of this horrible place, full of disgusting creatures and ghosts that were messing with his head.


    ¡°I want to get out of here... I want to get out of here... I want to get out! Fuck! I want to get out of here! Let me out!¡± Shouted Gaz, but no one came to release him.


    He had no idea how long he had been sitting here. It felt like an eternity had passed. The effects of the poison not only caused severe hallucinations but also disrupted his cognitive abilities, making the sense of the passage of time elusive for him.


    ¡°I beg of you...¡± He choked out before losing consciousness again.


    Elrianthe was returning with the rest of the team from a hunt. She did not look happy. The bears were getting fewer and fewer, and she remained at level 7.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ''What if I get rid of the trash and the jug, and put someone stronger in their place?'' She wondered.


    She planned to make her group stronger so she could hunt more powerful animals and monsters. She also wanted to find the orc''s stronghold, but for that she needed strength.


    ''I can only use my skill after 24 hours. There is no other option. I have to put them in a cell. She thought.


    She had already checked the time needed to retake control of the rat, which immediately went back to ignoring her after breaking the influence of her magic. She was left only with a message indicating the remaining time.


    ''Hmm. Alison is unlikely to refuse me service... In fact... There will be no need for that if Gaz joins us. We''ll find something else on the way and we''ll be ready.'' Elrianthe decided.


    Immediately after returning to the hideout, she took Taygeer with her and they went down to the dungeons to check on Gaz. Already on her way down the stairs, she heard his groans. They both stood in front of the cell, watching with embarrassment as Gaz slipped into the depths of madness.


    ''My little brainwashing is having an effect.'' Elrianthe thought.


    Gaz finally noticed the two figures watching his torment.


    ¡°AAH! Go away! Go away! AAH!"


    Gaz was still under the strong influence of the poison. Elrianthe pulled a vial of antidote from her bag and handed it to Taygeer.


    ¡°Give it to him to drink.¡± She said.


    ¡°Ah, leave it! Leave it! Leave me!¡±


    Taygeer entered the cell and, using force poured the liquid contents of the vial into Gaz''s mouth. Having no choice, the man swallowed the liquid, and after several seconds his mind began to return to normal, and the hallucinations disappeared completely. When he raised his head, he saw an elf and a cat-man watching him.


    ¡°Elf woman... Let me out, please. I can''t take it anymore.¡± He choked out.


    ¡°Really? It''s only been a few hours.¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ¡°I beg. Fuck! I can''t take it anymore!¡± Gaz began to shout.


    ¡°Hahaha. Look at you. A pathetic example of human stupidity. Did you think about that when you threw me in that cell? Did you think about it!¡± She said, raising her voice.


    ¡°I''ll do any-¡±


    ¡°Did you have mercy for me too? Did you stop that fucking piece of trash while he was raping me and beating me into unconsciousness? Did you do anything fucker?! I''m asking you, you fucking bastard!¡± Shouted Elrianthe as the disgusting images of her enslavement began to return.


    ¡°Forgive..."


    ¡°Shut your mouth. I will never forgive you for this. You will die here. You''ll never get out of here alive. You''ll starve to death, forever high on drugs that I''ll stuff you with. You will die in such a cruel way that your soul will carry the trauma for the rest of its existence.¡±


    ¡°Please. I will do everything. I will set you free. I can set you free. You will no longer be a slave. I beg you.¡±


    ¡°Free me? From what I''ve heard, I''ve already been sold to some marquis.¡±


    ¡°I will cancel! I''ll break the contract and help you escape. I really will. Just let me get out of here. Please. I''m begging you!¡± Promised Gaz, limping in his chair as much as his bonds would allow.


    ¡°Have a nice death.¡± Elrianthe replied, walking out of the cell.


    ¡°Wait! I''ll do whatever you want! Just tell me what I have to do to get out, alive!¡±


    ''Bingo.'' Thought Elrianthe, trying to hide a smile.


    ¡°There is only one option. Swear allegiance to me and become my servant. If you can''t afford to serve me by giving your life as an apology, then you might as well die here and now in vain.¡± She said coolly.


    ¡°Fine. I pledge allegiance to you. I will serve you like the rest. I will do my best to repay you for what you have experienced.¡± Gaz pledged.


    Elrianthe, no longer hiding her satisfaction, approached him and, placing her hand on his head, used her skills.


    < Domination >


    [ Gaz Prum Level 9 ]


    [ Control: 70% ]


    [ Class: Warrior ]


    [ Life Points: 278/490 ]


    [ Magic points: 32/50 ]


    [ Status: physically and mentally exhausted by the torture you prepared for him ]


    ''Gosh, poor boy.'' She thought, reading the contents of the status.


    [ +45xp ]


    Orc stronghold in the hills....


    The chief of the tribe, Narzagul the Strong sat in a chair in front of his house, accompanied by his second wife, who served him. One of the guards approached the chief, bowed, and reported.


    ¡°My chief, our three hunters have not returned to the fortress for the night.¡± The orc announced.


    ¡°Were they the ones I sent personally?¡± Narzagul asked.


    ¡°Yes, chief.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what happened to them?¡±


    ¡°No, chief.¡±


    ¡°If they encountered the slayer of the Bear King, we may not see them again.¡± Said Shaman Urguluk, approaching slowly.


    He was an old orc, but because of his knowledge and magical abilities, Chief Narzagul kept him in the village under his protection. Urguluk also served his father, who was his brother.


    ¡°You told me to check it myself.¡± Replied Narzagul.


    ¡°I know, my chief. We need to send someone stronger to find out what happened to the king and our hunters.¡± Urguluk suggested.


    ¡°Marguz!¡± The chief called out.


    A tall and well-built orc approached them. Sweat trickled down his body, and dark blood flowed from numerous cut wounds. He was in the middle of sparring with another orc.


    ¡°Yes, father.¡± Marguz said.


    ¡°Tomorrow first thing in the morning, together with your cousin Struka, you will set out for the territory of the Bear King. Find our hunters and find out what happened there and who is responsible.¡± The chief ordered.


    ¡°Yes, father. I will avenge our kin.¡±


    ¡°Don''t get into a fight. You are to return and report back. I will decide what to do next.¡±


    ¡°Yes, father. We will set out at dawn.¡±

 Chapter 14 - A new challenge

    Five days until the meeting with the marquis...


    The next day, the orcs set out on a quest. Marguz, the son of Chief Narzagul, and his cousin Struka went to the territory of the Bear King.


    After two hours, they finally reached the cave where the Bear King usually stayed. They did not find any live bears in the area. The only thing they came across was a corpse. Same thing in the cave.


    When they reached the larger chamber, the stench of decomposing bodies hit their nostrils. One of the bears lay with its head torn open against a rock, while another, covered with numerous cut wounds and fire marks, rested against the wall.


    In the middle lay their king - a black, overgrown bear. Even his lifeless body caused awe and caution in the orcs.


    ¡°I never thought I would see this monstrosity dead,¡± Struka said.


    ¡°True,¡± replied Marguz. ¡°Let''s look for our hunters.¡±


    The orcs left the cave, continuing their search.


    Meanwhile, in the keep...


    ¡°Carl, Gaz will take your place.¡± Announced Elrianthe over breakfast.


    ¡°Why? I can be useful!¡± Carl asked, trembling nervously.


    He wanted to prove his worth to the elf at all costs, to redeem himself for the harm he had done to her.


    ¡°Shut your damn mouth!¡± Elrianthe thundered.


    ¡°I''m sorry, my lady.¡±


    ¡°I''m sick of looking at your ugly face.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± Carl wanted to interject but was immediately silenced.


    ¡°One more word, and the first task I''ll give Gaz will be to rip out your tongue!¡± Elrianthe threatened him.


    Carl fell silent, and a sullen mood took over the table. Alison silently ate next to her, guessing why Elrianthe''s mood was so bitter today.


    ''She must have had that nightmare again.'' Alison thought.


    Trauma had plagued Elrianthe for a long time. She often screamed and talked to herself at night. Alison tried to talk to her about it, but Elrianthe countered that she shouldn''t worry about it.


    ¡°One more thing, Carl. If you touch her, even once,¡± she pointed at Alison, ¡± even by accident, I will personally break all your bones, from the tip of your finger to your collarbone. After Alison heals you, I''ll do it again. And so on over and over again until you take your own life. Do you understand?¡± Elrianthe said.


    Carl horrified nodded in confirmation.


    ''Why is she so brutal? Is the pressure forcing her to act more forcefully?'' Alison wondered, looking at the elven woman.


    Elrianthe only smiled in response to her questioning look. Alison, once again, blushed, realizing how much Elrianthe wanted to protect her against a similar fate. In a few days, they could be gone forever, and she is doing everything to protect her.


    ''I won''t let anyone hurt her. She is a perfect woman. If I can free myself from the Marquis'' power, together with her as my assistant, we will together create the strongest organization on this continent.'' Elrianthe thought.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Good. It''s time to leave. Since Gaz has decided to support us, we will split into two groups and hunt independently. Taygeer,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes, boss?¡± He said.


    ¡°You''ll take Matt and Mitta. I''ll go with Gaz and Duncan.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I''d like to go with you,¡± Matt interjected.


    ¡°Don''t argue with me.¡± She answered him firmly.


    ¡°All right, Miss.¡± Replied Matt, resignedly.


    ¡°Yes, boss lady.¡± Added Taygeer.


    *KRAA, KRAA*


    Elrianthe''s raven flew over and, perched on her shoulder, tried to get her attention.


    ¡°Yes, yes. You will also come with us.¡± She said to him, stroking his back.


    Two hours later...


    The orcs were searching the area for the bodies of their hunters. Suddenly Struka came across footsteps and, following them, came upon their corpses.


    ¡°Marguz!¡± Struka called out.


    ¡°What happened? Did you find anything?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They are here.¡± Struka replied.


    Marguz approached his cousin and saw the bodies of his relatives. Olaugh was lying on his back with his throat pierced. He had no other signs of struggle or wounds on him. A piece further away lay two other orcs.


    Slog was lying in front of a bush. An arrow was lodged in his exposed abdomen, and numerous stab wounds were visible in the neck and chest area. Oglub, on the other hand, was in a completely different situation. Like Slog, he had been hit by an arrow, but his body was in two parts.


    ¡°What could have had such force to cut him in half?¡± Marguz wondered.


    ¡°I don''t know. It wasn''t the bears'' fault.¡±


    ¡°I know, bears don''t shoot a bow and leave untouched corpses behind,¡± Marguz replied.


    ¡°How about another tribe? For example, the Khargun tribe from the south? We don''t have the best relations with them.¡± Struka speculated.


    ¡°They would have to pass through our area to get here. It''s not them.¡± Marguz said.


    ¡°Then who?¡±


    *Wrrrawwr*


    The orcs heard the bear roar, but it didn''t roar because of them.


    ¡°There!¡± Cried Struka, pointing in the direction from which the sound came.


    Marguz and Struka moved in the indicated direction and after a while approached the escarpment. Below them stretched an even denser forest than on the hills, but the scattered treetops on the edge allowed them to see the fight between the bear and the strange figures.


    ¡°Are those people?¡± Struka asked.


    They both noticed that the bear was fighting with human-like figures. One of them was wielding a sword, and another was shooting a bow, but the biggest surprise for them was the third person - a woman with fair, long hair and a spear. She was not directly involved in the clash but kept her weapon on standby.


    ¡°Look at this female! It''s not a human. She has long ears.¡± Perceived Marguz.


    ¡°People don''t have long ears?¡±


    ¡°She is an elf. We must tell my father about this.¡± Marguz declared.


    ¡°But were they the ones who killed our hunters?¡± Struka asked.


    ¡°They have a bow. The one with the sword is also strong. See, he cut off the bear''s head.¡± Marguz added.


    ¡°And the king?¡±


    ¡°All we know is that he''s dead. That''s enough. We''re going back to notify the chief.¡± Marguz stated and they set off towards their fortress.


    Elrianthe studied the message. During the fight with the bear, her skill level increased.


    [ The < Daze > skill reaches level 3. Range increases to 6 meters. ]


    ''Six meters is not so bad anymore, right?'' She thought.


    *Eagle''s scream*


    ¡°Look!¡± Called Duncan, pointing to the raptor that was flying toward them.


    Elrianthe looked up into the sky and spotted a huge eagle that was not only heading in their direction but had even begun to dive.


    ¡°Quick, hide between the trees!¡± Elrianthe shouted.


    The eagle landed with a bang on the ground. Its size resembled at least a large elephant. The force of the impact spread across the ground, tearing it apart.


    ''Does everything have to be so huge here?'' Elrianthe wondered.


    The predator turned toward them and made a shrill sound, forcing the group to hide behind the trees to cover their ears.


    Although they were its target, the eagle decided to deal with their prey. He grabbed the dead bear in his powerful claws and took to the air, launching himself into the sky as a whirlwind-like vortex of air lifted him dozens of meters into the air.


    ¡°What the fuck was that supposed to mean?¡± Shouted a surprised Gaz.


    ¡°I don''t know, but I accept the challenge,¡± Elrianthe replied.

 Chapter 15 - Clash with the Eagle King pt.1

    Taygeer, Mitta, and Matt faced the altered brown bears. Their skin was thicker and their claws were longer and sharper than a razor.


    The bear wailed and swung. Matt, wielding a two-handed sword, blocked the attack and inflicted a wound on the animal while counterattacking.


    ¡°Now!¡± Matt called out.


    Mitta immediately launched a fireball in his direction, hitting the bear in the head. Taygeer completed the job as his huge axe dived into the beast''s body, leaving a deep, fatal wound.


    ¡°It''s getting better and better,¡± Taygeer commented.


    ¡°You''ve got a fucking strong punch with that axe,¡± added Matt.


    As they were catching their breath after the fight, a raven flew to their company, sitting in front of the cat-man.


    *Kra, Kraa*


    ¡°Is that Miss Elrianthe''s raven?¡± asked Matt.


    ¡°Yes. I think she wants to call us, that''s why she sent him,¡± replied Taygeer. ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    The raven took to the air and led the group to Elrianthe, who was already waiting with Gaz and Duncan on the path leading to the nest.


    ¡°Good. We''re all together,¡± Elrianthe said.


    ¡°Did you call us, boss?¡± asked Taygeer.


    ¡°We have a big chicken to slaughter,¡± replied Elrianthe with a smile.


    ¡°And those bears?¡± asked Matt, pointing his finger at the two individuals behind her.


    ¡°They will have a key role in this clash. Let''s go. I''ll explain on the way.¡± Said Elrianthe, moving toward the hill.


    The eagle lay in its nest, its belly filled with a freshly hunted snack - a wild mammal, captured from surprised humans.


    Although the meal was tasty and nutritious, it greatly increased his sleepiness, so the bird decided to take a nap for a while.


    During his rest, a party of Elrianthe hid behind a nearby rock, preparing to attack. They spread out around their target, each taking their position and waiting for a signal.


    ''Okay, little deuce coupe.... show me what you got'' thought Elrianthe.


    < Research >


    [ Great Mountain Eagle Level 13 ]


    [ The predatory bird that dominates the skies above the Crow Forest. Over the long years of its existence, it mastered wind magic, becoming a living legend among monsters. He was the target of many adventurers, but their fate was sealed the moment he took to the air. It is said that he was one of the favorite pets of a witch who once lived in the forest. ]


    [ Rank: B ]


    [ Health Points: 6690/7200 ]


    [ Status: Weakened after eating poisoned meat ]


    The eagle was under the influence of the poison Duncan used on the arrows while hunting. However, the dose proved too small to have a stronger effect. Elrianthe, analyzing his stats, wasn''t sure what strategy to adopt in fighting him.


    ''I don''t even want to think which monsters are assigned ranks above A. Our only chance is to keep it on the ground, and then we have a win. I wanted to use the bears as bait, but I have a better idea,'' she thought.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    She approached the bears and whispered to them in simple words what to do. She then gestured at Taygeer, but as he took a step toward her, he kicked a stone that made a loud enough sound to wake the eagle from its slumber.


    *SKAAAAAA*


    The eagle gave a loud shout, noticing danger near its nest.


    ¡°Quick, run!¡± Shouted Elrianthe to the bears.


    These rushed straight for the bird, larger than them, which was rising from the ground, and grabbed it by the right wing.


    ¡°Taygeer! Run to chop off his wing! We can''t let him take to the air!¡± Cried Elrianthe.


    < Master''s doping >


    Using her skill on the cat-man, she bet everything on this one chance. Taygeer, not wasting a second, moved to attack.


    He was now at level eight, and the enhancement with Elrianthe''s skill gave him a surprising increase in strength and speed. The axe he wielded had lost some of its weight, and his sprint was faster than the wind, despite all the equipment he wore.


    *SKAAAAAA*


    A lightning-fast, extremely powerful blow separated the bird''s wing from the rest of its body.


    *SKAAAAAAAAAAA*


    The eagle was furious when, despite his best efforts, he could not fly up from the ground. Flapping one wing did not bring the desired effect.


    Matt, taking advantage of the moments of confusion, ran up to the monster and, making a full turn, hit its paws with all his strength.


    *Dingggg*


    The sword bounced off the hard, reinforced skin of the eagle, making a distinctive sound.


    ¡°Fuck, why is it so hard?¡± Shouted Matt.


    The enraged monster summoned its magic, and a powerful vortex began to form around its body.


    ¡°Wo, wo! Move away from him!¡± Cried Elrianthe.


    After a moment, the eagle finished charging its attack and, issuing a loud scream, directed the vortex toward Elrianthe.


    ¡°Oh, shit-¡± she called out but didn''t have time to finish.


    *BOOM*


    A loud bang reverberated throughout the area. A sphere of compressed air rushed toward her. Elrianthe, unable to dodge the impact in time, was swept away by the blast and hit the rock behind her with tremendous force.


    Due to the momentum of the impact, her consciousness was blacked out for a moment. Blood began to flow from her mouth, and she gave no signs of life.


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe!¡± Shouted Mitta, running up to the unconscious woman.


    They all witnessed what had happened, and their rage propelled them to attack the eagle together.


    ¡°You fucking bastard!¡± Yelled Matt, throwing himself at the bird.


    At the same time, Mitta tried to help the elf.


    ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck!¡± He shouted.


    He searched through her bags, looking for healing potions. Most of the vials Elrianthe was carrying were broken, but he finally came across one intact vial. He quickly removed the cork and carefully poured the healing potion into Elrianthe''s mouth.


    [ Health Points: 15/160 ]


    *


    [ Health Points: 16/160 ]


    *


    The concoction was not of the highest quality, but it slowly and effectively began to heal the elven woman''s injured body. After a while, Elrianthe woke up, and after opening her eyes, she saw Mitta leaning over her, looking out for signs of life.


    *Khu, Khu*


    Elrianthe leaned to the side as she began coughing and spitting blood.


    ¡°Fuck...¡± she mouthed.


    ''I didn''t think I would be so close to death,'' she thought.


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe, Miss Elrianthe!¡± Cried Mitta, even though he was right next to her.


    ¡°What are you shouting...¡± she muttered in reply.


    ¡°We have to get out of here!¡±


    ¡°No. First, we''ll kill this fucking bird,¡± she replied, rising from the ground.


    She looked ahead and saw Gaz, Taygeer, and Matt fiercely fighting the monster.


    < Research >


    [ Great Mountain Eagle Level 13 ]


    [ Health Points: 5157/7200 ]


    [ Status: Weakened after consuming poisoned meat. Grounded after losing a wing. ]


    ''You''re about to be fucked up some more by an angry woman,'' thought Elrianthe, reading the status.


    ''Even though his wing was chopped off, he still has a lot of life points. A tough motherfucker. But I''m not going to play by the rules to worry about that.''


    ¡°Duncan!¡± She called out.


    ¡°Yes, lady? Are you all right?¡± Replied Duncan, arriving at the call.


    Elrianthe, digging through a bag full of shattered potions, searched for a highly concentrated poison for special occasions. Out of three vials, one remained. It was a paralyzing poison that Alison had spent an entire day and night working on, repeatedly purifying and enhancing the mixture.


    ¡°Duncan, use this,¡± she said, handing him the bottle. ¡°You have a chance to prove yourself. You have to hit the eye."

 Chapter 16 - Clash with the Eagle King pt.2

    ¡°Duncan, use this,¡± she said, handing him the bottle. ¡°You have a chance to prove yourself. You have to hit the eye.¡±


    ¡°In the eye? Why?¡± Duncan asked, surprised.


    ¡°Wait until I give you the signal and shoot. Mitta, you go around him from the side and hit him in the head with a fireball. Here we go,¡± informed Elrianthe.


    Taygeer, taking turns attacking the monster with both Matt and Gaz, managed to keep it occupied enough to prevent it from reaching Elrianthe. In all the confusion, they themselves did not notice when she joined them.


    ¡°Boss! Are you okay?¡± asked Taygeer, jumping away from the monster in her direction.


    ¡°Nothing serious. I came to straighten things out,¡± she replied.


    ¡°You''re covered in blood! We should retreat,¡± cried Matt, dodging the attacks of the furious eagle.


    *SKAAAAAA*


    The monster let out an ominous scream at the sight of the woman standing in front of him. Unexpectedly, a fireball came from its right flank, exploding on its beak.


    < Daze >


    [ The target''s immunity is high, and the effect has been weakened. ]


    ¡°Duncan, now!¡± Shouted Elrianthe, and momentarily a poisoned arrow flew towards the monster.


    Duncan missed the monster''s eye by a few centimeters, but the arrow penetrated deep enough for the poison to spread quickly through its body. The eagle fell to the ground after a few seconds.


    ''The poison has reached the brain. This is your end,'' she thought.


    < Research >


    [ Great Mountain Eagle Level 13 ]


    [ Health Points: 3957/7200 ]


    [ Status: Weakened. Grounded. Temporarily paralyzed (approximately 220 seconds remaining). ]


    ¡°I should have treated you like this right away,¡± she said, approaching the immobilized monster.


    Elrianthe made a strong thrust with her spear, driving it into its body. The blade penetrated deeply, but the damage was not satisfactory.


    [ Health Points: 3907/7200 ]


    ''I dealt a measly 50 damage... There are still 190 seconds left.''


    ¡°Taygeer. Beat him until I say enough.¡±


    The cat-man began to strike the defenseless monster with his axe. His sweeps were confident and powerful, but the level difference worked in the bird''s favor.


    [ Health Points: 1705/7200 ]


    [ Status: Weakened. Grounded. Temporarily paralyzed (about 90 seconds left). ]


    ¡°Matt, help him,¡± said Elrianthe.


    ''1604... 1340... 923... Quick, 30 more seconds. 727... 391... 169... 32!''


    ¡°Stop!¡± cried Elrianthe. Without wasting time, she thrust the spear into the monster''s body again, dealing the final blow.


    [ +12,000 xp ]


    [ Promoted to Level 8 ]


    [ Received 1 development point ]


    [ New quest ]


    [ Defeat the Big Three of the Crow Forest: 2/3 ]


    [ Achievement gained: Doom of the Eagle King ]


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    [ Doom of the Eagle King - the achievement is awarded for defeating the Great Mountain Eagle from the Crow Forest, having a level lower than 12. ]


    [ Prize calculation...


    High-level difference...


    The fight was completed in 10 minutes...


    Handing out rewards... ]


    [ Promoted to Level 9 ]


    [ Received +10 HP and +20 PM ]


    [ The following rewards were received:


    - instant promotion,


    - expansion for the selected skill,


    - opportunity to choose one of three rare skills. ]


    ¡°It was definitely worth it,¡± Elrianthe said, sliding on the ground as the adrenaline wore off.


    The orc fortress in the hills...


    Marguz and Struka reached the settlement and headed straight to the chief to report on the expedition.


    ¡°Father, we found the bodies of our hunters and confirmed the death of the Bear King,¡± began Marguz.


    ¡°You have done a great job. Do you know who defeated the beast?¡± Narzagul asked.


    ¡°No Father, but we know who killed our hunters,¡± said Marguz.


    ¡°Who was it?¡±


    ¡°Humans.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha. A bunch of random humans wouldn''t have defeated our guys. They probably died in battle with some powerful beast like Sornek,¡± laughed Narzagul.


    ¡°My chief, that old troll doesn''t venture into those areas,¡± remarked Urguluk, the orc shaman.


    ¡°This forest is full of various beasts.¡±


    ¡°My chief, Marguz speaks the truth. We saw them with our own eyes,¡± Struka added nervously.


    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Asked Narzagul with a serious face.


    His pride did not let him accept the possibility that his orcs would lose a clash with humans. Another thing was that they didn''t meet many of them and didn''t realize what potential they could hide under their seemingly weak bodies.


    ¡°Yes, father. We saw those humans,¡± Marguz added, defending Struka from the chief''s wrath.


    ¡°Ha! They must have fallen into their trap. Humans are weak and always resort to such tricks. A weak race.¡±


    ¡°There is something else. These humans were led by an elf. More precisely, by an elven woman,¡± Marguz said.


    ¡°That explains everything. It was thanks to her that they were able to defeat our hunters. Elven curses and tricky magic are too much even for us,¡± added Shaman Urguluk.


    ¡°An elven woman, you say? Marguz, do you know what you have to do?¡± Narzagul asked.


    ¡°I will avenge our kin and bring you the heads of these people and the elf.¡±


    ¡°The elf you will spare. She is a woman. Bring her here and I will make her my toy,¡± said Narzagul with a satisfied face.


    ¡°Yes, father.¡±


    Elrianthe''s room...


    After Elrianthe lost consciousness after fighting the great eagle, she was immediately taken back and left in Alison''s care.


    When she opened her eyes, she looked around the room and momentarily realized what had happened. Her health level had already exceeded 70%, but exhaustion still reached more than 80/100. In such a state, her regenerative abilities were blocked.


    ¡°I wouldn''t come back on my own, huh?¡± burbled Elrianthe under her breath.


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe, are you alright? Is something hurting you, or is something bothering you? I''ve used up all the mana for healing, but I still have some potions,¡± said a concerned Alison, hurriedly approaching the bed.


    ''True wife material...''


    ¡°I''m fine. I''m just a little battered and tired,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    ¡°A little? Matt said you almost died!¡±


    ¡°I went All In and won. I think it was worth the risk.¡±


    ¡°Alin? What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Never mind. I need power, and beating this eagle brought me closer to my goal. Alison, I know you''re worried, but believe me, I wouldn''t have done it if it wasn''t necessary. We have a few days left until we meet this nobleman, and I need to be able to carry it out according to my plan,¡± Elrianthe said, getting out of bed.


    ¡°Good. I believe you have an important reason, but please take care of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± replied Elrianthe, smiling.


    ''It wasn''t the first time I was close to death. Since I died on Earth, it stopped bothering me. Death itself is not so scary.''


    ¡°I''ll be in the next room if you need me,¡± replied Alison, heading for the door.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Alison went out, and Elrianthe was left alone. She sat down on the bed again and opened a window from the system. She saw three skills to choose from.


    < Spiritual medium > (Class A, Black Magic) - A skill that allows communication with the dead, regardless of the date of their death. Allows you to make contracts with souls, enabling you to draw power from their energy.


    ''Ugh, creepy. That''s definitely not what I want. Still, though...''


    < Team Manager > (Class S, Support) - A skill that allows you to oversee the development of your team members. Those with this skill are invaluable support for those who wish to develop their abilities and reach the heights of power. It provides insight into their current level and class, allowing you to add, remove, and develop the skills of others.


    ''It''s not bad. If I wanted to create an elite group, I could easily manage their abilities. Not everyone has a system like mine,¡± she said. Alison mentioned that few people are offering such services.


    < Hybridization > (Class S, Forbidden Magic) - A skill that allows two or more beings to merge into one. Hybrids created with this skill retain their characteristics and are fully functional. Depending on the mentality of the creator, they can serve him or turn against him, wreaking havoc.


    ''I could create my own army of monsters! Like some mad scientist. Hahaha.''

 Chapter 17 - Strengthening the team

    Elrianthe had been sitting for a good ten minutes, unable to decide which skill to choose. Her main dilemma was choosing between < Team Manager > and < Hybridization >. After a long analysis of the pros and cons of both options, she finally decided on the first one.


    She had at least two major reasons why this choice seemed more reasonable. First, her main strength was the people under her control. The stronger they were, the better group she could organize. She could find some promising candidates and turn them into real super-agents who would work for her.


    The second reason was a logistical issue. If she wanted to create an army of hybrids, where would she hide them? How many times could she use them and in what situations? Her goal for the future was to blend into society and control it according to her needs. Betting on humans seemed a much better choice than playing at creating an army of monsters.


    Having made her choice, Elrianthe immediately went to work. A new window appeared before her eyes, associated with a new skill.


    [ Managing character development:


    Select a character from the list:


    - Taygeer Breezetail,


    - Carl Rig,


    - Jim Utter,


    - Mitta Hermet,


    - Matt Naln,


    - Duncan Zienn,


    - Raven from the Crow''s Forest,


    - Gaz Prum,


    - Brown Bear,


    - Brown Bear. ]


    ''Interesting. All my puppets showed up. Funny that Alison hasn''t changed her attitude, even though she''s no longer influenced by my skill. Okay, we''ll start with him.''


    [ Taygeer Breezetail:


    Level: 8


    Class: Warrior


    Skills: None


    Available development points: 4 ]


    ''Interesting. Others also get development points, but without a system, they can''t use them right away. Let''s check something.''


    [ You can''t perform actions without the character in question being present.]


    ''''Dammit. Do I have to call him out to do anything? Alis-¡±


    The door of her room opened immediately, and Alison stood on the doorstep.


    ¡°Did you call, miss?¡±


    ¡°Um, yes... You were standing there the whole time?¡± Elrianthe asked, surprised.


    ¡°No, I was just passing by.¡±


    ¡°O-okay. Call Taygeer to me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, miss.¡±


    While she waited for the cat-man, she remembered that she still had a choice of expansion for a skill. Without thinking long, she opted for the expansion of the < Scholar > skill, which, thanks to the synergy with her new skill, converted the extra experience into free experience points.


    The free experience points could be used in any way she wanted. She could use them to raise her own level, the level of any of her puppets, or even for skill progression. This way she didn''t have to use the skills repeatedly - all she had to do was use the free points and transfer the appropriate amount.


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    Taygeer appeared after a few minutes, unsure of what awaited him. Elrianthe was not in the habit of calling anyone to her room.


    ¡°Sit down. I''ll try to find some skills for you, but you have to be present, that''s why I sent for you,¡± Elrianthe explained briefly.


    ¡°The boss used to be an oracle?¡± Taygeer asked.


    ¡°An oracle? Where did that question come from?¡±


    ¡°Oracles show the way to new heroes and reveal their hidden abilities. Since you can do that too, I thought you used to be someone like that for the elves.¡±


    ¡°No, I wasn''t someone like that. By the way... Which heroes are you talking about now? Can you further elaborate?¡±


    ¡°I once heard that the Church of the Five Supreme appointed someone as the Chosen of the Gods when the oracle saw his potential. From an ordinary adventurer who was curious about his skills, he suddenly became the hero of an entire empire.¡±


    ¡°Interesting story. Do you happen to know his name?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, no. Perhaps Miss Alison will know.¡±


    ¡°I''ll ask her later. Is there anyone else who can discover potential like these oracles?¡±


    ¡°I think the richest guilds have such people in their ranks, but they usually wouldn''t offer their services to the public. Anyone who has the money to do so can go to an oracle.¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, and I do it for free...¡±


    ¡°I can pay my boss, just not now.¡±


    ¡°I''m kidding. You don''t have to pay me anything. You do enough for me. At this point, I''m the one repaying you for it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, boss. I never thought that in slavery I would meet such an outstanding person as you.¡±


    ¡°Come on. I''m just an ordinary woman who has learned a few tricks.¡±


    ''In our medieval times, I would have been burned at the stake for this... I wonder how they treat such people here.''


    Elrianthe proceeded to exchange development points. Taygeer had as many as four of them. The choices she could make were not too different from her own.


    [ Choose one of the available options. Available choices: 4 ]


    [ +20 health points ]


    [ +10 magic points ]


    [ Random skill for the current class ]


    [ Random effect from the available pool ]


    ''Since Taygeer doesn''t have a skill, I''ll choose one.''


    [ Taygeer Breezetail received the skill < Acceleration > ]


    < Acceleration > (Class B, Physical) - A skill that allows you to accelerate the movement of your own body to a level that would be impossible even with years of intense training. The range of acceleration reaches up to four times, regardless of the body''s limitations. Passively improves reaction time and speed of thought processes.


    ''Cool skill. It should be a big asset for him. Now maybe I''ll pick something random from the pool.''


    [ Taygeer Breezetail received the skill < Goliath > ]


    < Goliath > (Class A, Reinforcement) - A passive skill that increases strength by 1% for every 50 health points you have.


    ''It may be.''


    ¡°Boss, I feel strange,¡± Taygeer spoke up, grabbing his head.


    ¡°Strange?¡±


    ¡°Strangely... well. It''s like I''m stronger and faster, but I''m a little dizzy.¡±


    ¡°This is normal when you get two new skills. Wait a while and you''ll get used to it.¡±


    ¡°As many as two? Amazing! How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°A trick,¡± she replied, smiling. ¡°One increases your speed, and the other increases your strength.¡±


    Elrianthe had two more points to distribute. After a short thought, she decided to invest them in health points, increasing his pool by an additional 50 points.


    ¡°Good. We''re done.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much, boss. I''ll try to make the best use of these skills,¡± Taygeer said, bowing.


    [ Taygeer Breezetail control increased to 85% ]


    ¡°Now let''s see what I can do for Alison.¡±


    Alison was working on new concoctions when Elrianthe entered her room. Since she was not on the list, Elrianthe had to get her permission to do anything.


    ¡°Alison, do you mind if I take a peek at your skills?¡± She asked.


    ¡°No, you can do whatever you want with me,¡± replied Alison, correcting her hairstyle.


    ''Why am I a woman!?'' Cried Elrianthe in her mind.


    ¡°Good. It makes me very happy. By the way, you''re no longer under the influence of my magic, you know that?¡±


    ¡°I know, which doesn''t change the fact that I still want to be your assistant,¡± said Alison.


    ¡°I''m just asking out of curiosity. I had to release a place, and unlike others, you''re the one I can trust.¡±


    ¡°I will do everything in my power to never lose that trust.¡±


    ¡°Well, speaking of powers, I''d like to see if I can get you some more skills.¡±


    ¡°Let''s get started then.¡±


    Alison put everything away, walked over to Elrianthe, grabbed her hands, and waited.

 Chapter 18 - The hunt continues

    Alison put everything away, walked over to Elrianthe, grabbed her hands, and waited.


    ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Asked Elrianthe, surprised.


    ¡°That''s what you do,¡± replied Alison with determination.


    According to tradition, when one went to the oracle, one should kneel before her and wait with his head lowered. By placing her hand on the kneeling person''s head, the oracle had insight into his soul. The very act of kneeling symbolized respect, while making it easier for the oracle to interact.


    Only physical contact was required. Alison wasn''t lying, but she changed this custom slightly to get closer to her goddess.


    ¡°Taygeer didn''t have to touch me,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ¡°Taygeer is influenced by your magic,¡± remarked Alison.


    ¡°Actually. That makes sense.¡±


    Elrianthe looked at Alison''s statistics. She was 298 experience points short of reaching level six, but even if she wanted to give her some of her experience, she only had 150 points. Instead, she found one unused development point.


    ''We''ll see what it draws,'' thought Elrianthe, selecting a random effect.


    [ Alison Roseberg received the < Magical Subsidy > skill.]


    < Magical Subsidy > (Class A, Manipulation) - A mana manipulation skill that allows you to enhance your body or objects.


    The description was not comprehensive, leaving plenty of room for her own interpretation. Elrianthe read it aloud and asked Alison if she could try testing her new skill. Of course, both were curious about the results.


    Alison decided to take this opportunity in the process of brewing potions. After a few minutes, she handed Elrianthe two vials.


    One of the concoctions was prepared under standard conditions, while with the other, Alison applied < Magical Subsidy > in the final stage of production. Elrianthe examined both vials, and her jaw dropped from the impression.


    The regular concoction healed 200 health points in 60 seconds. The second one, on the other hand, restored as many as 300 points in just 30 seconds and further reduced exhaustion by 5%.


    ¡°I can''t get out of amazement sometimes when it comes to your genius. How did you come up with that?¡±


    ¡°Well, I thought that if magical items gain their properties from being infused with the enchanter''s mana, then a similar method should also work for potions. I simply infused it with mana at the right moment,¡± Alison explained her thinking.


    ¡°You have a unique talent for finding ways around, you know? Couldn''t you just try to create some kind of protective barrier around your body, or strengthen your hand enough to crush metal bars?¡±


    ¡°I could, but why would you want to test something obvious?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, but it doesn''t hurt to discover as many uses as possible.¡±


    The two spent the rest of the evening researching their options.


    Four days until the meeting with the Marquis...


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    Carl and Jim were hanging around the table, preparing breakfast for the rest of the group. Suddenly, Elrianthe, accompanied by Taygeer, rushed into the room and turned toward them.


    ¡°You two. Follow me,¡± she called out.


    Slightly surprised, they put everything on the table and followed Elrianthe. She led them to the dungeons and then, standing in front of one of the cells, opened the door.


    ¡°Inside.¡±


    Jim didn''t think much about it, he simply followed the order. Carl, on the other hand, hesitated.


    ¡°Why? What did we do wrong?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Did you really ask me that question? I could understand if it was Jim asking it, but you? You''ve done me enough harm that I could kill you on the spot. Get inside!¡± Said an annoyed Elrianthe and her voice was full of hatred.


    Carl went inside as Taygeer stood behind his back. Elrianthe closed the cell door behind him and then deactivated the magic controlling their minds, restoring their freedom.


    ¡°Oi, what is the meaning of this?¡± Carl shouted as he regained full control of his body and mind.


    ¡°Oh, well, there you go. Are you finally back to your senses, you pathetic twit?¡± Elrianthe mocked.


    Carl clenched his fist but did not answer. He knew that if he got carried away by his emotions again, it would not end well for him.


    ¡°Don''t worry. Soon you''ll be my dog again and I''ll take you out for a walk,¡± Elrianthe said with a fake smile.


    Elrianthe left the dungeon and Taygeer followed her. He didn''t question her decision, knowing that she always had a reason for it.


    In this situation, one reason was obvious. Elrianthe now had two free spots for new puppets who would do better in battle than Jim at level three and Carl at level four.


    Less obvious was the opportunity to earn free development points. By ''free'' she meant one point, which belonged to Jim.


    During yesterday''s session with Alison, Elrianthe discovered that not only can she exchange development points for others, but she also has the right to take them away. The same is true of skills. Since Jim was a puppet, she could take away a development point from him without his permission. The only requirement was adequate control - from 60% she could take away points, and from 80% she could also take away skills.


    For this reason, she did not take points away from Carl, as her control over him was below 60%. Elrianthe had no intention of wasting time. After using < Domination > again in the future, his control would surely reach 100% without any problems.


    Taking away points had no risk, but taking away skills had serious consequences.


    Sooner or later she would take everything away from him. And not only him. The whole group was going to contribute to Elrianthe gaining even more power.


    She exchanged the dev point gained from Jim for an additional 30 points of magic, raising her limit to 290.


    ¡°I guess it''s time for another hunt,¡± she said to herself.


    Despite being near death yesterday, Elrianthe was in great shape thanks to Alison''s help. She wasn''t going to give up or slow down, at least for a while.


    At the moment, she resembled an impassioned gamer taking on a difficult challenge in her favorite game. She had a goal, a plan, and the right skills. Her determination ensured that she was going to use everything she had to finish this challenge with the best possible result.


    [ Level: 9 (850/25600xp) +150 ]


    ''It''s time to finally hit that level 10.''


    Elrianthe went hunting with the rest of the group. To increase their combat capabilities, she took control of two level 6 wolves and a level 8 bear along the way.


    This time they took the direction south, toward the rocky hills. From her gamer experience, she was convinced that she would meet stronger creatures there than those in the green forest.


    And she wasn''t wrong. Raven quickly located the target, and the group moved to the indicated location. To their surprise, the monsters they found there were already fighting among themselves.


    On one side stood a creature that could be described as a mixture of ogre and minotaur. It was about 3 meters tall, wore two thick horns on its head, and its heavily muscled body was covered with black fur. His legs stood out in particular, resembling those of a bull.


    On the other side stood a huge lizard with brown scales, resembling a Varanus from Komodo. Its long and sharp claws posed a deadly threat to anyone who dared to oppose him.


    ''We''ll wait and see who is stronger,'' thought Elrianthe.

 Chapter 19 - Elrianthe vs Orcs

    The clash between the monsters had been going on for several minutes. Neither of them was going to let go, and both sides were clearly exhausted. The numerous wounds on the bodies of the beasts were a testament to their prowess and unyielding spirit.


    Elrianthe and her team, hiding behind nearby rocks, carefully watched the battle. After only a few minutes, the bets began. Gaz and Matt bet on the ogre-minotaur hybrid, while Duncan and Mitta decided on the lizard. Taygeer couldn''t make up his mind and was cheering for both sides, wanting to see an exciting clash. Elrianthe, on the other hand, ignored all the fun; she was just waiting for the right moment to step in and claim both prizes for herself.


    When, after another few minutes, the huge minotaur began to totter on its feet, the group finally decided to join the fight. The monsters were so exhausted that it didn''t take any trouble to bring them to the edge of their endurance. Finishing them off by Elrianthe was just a formality.


    ¡°It''s good for once not to be the one they fucked up without a soap,¡± she said to herself, pulling the poisoned blade of her spear from the lizard''s body.


    [ +2800xp ]


    [ +3200xp ]


    [ +600 bonus xp ]


    [ Level: 9 (6850/25600xp) +850 ]


    ''Make money, and don''t mess yourself up. I like that.''


    Meanwhile, not far away...


    Marguz led a group of eight orcs, aiming to capture an elf. On his left was walking Struka. They were heading toward the place where they found the corpses of their hunters, but to shorten their journey, Marguz decided to cross the hills.


    ¡°Are you sure it''s better to climb these hills than to take the easier route?¡± Struka asked.


    ¡°I don''t want to waste time on that. I know this path because I often came here to hunt. Soon the climb will become more gentle, and then it will be downhill,¡± replied Marguz.


    ¡°If you say so...¡±


    ¡°Marguz, look over there!¡± Called out one of the orcs walking behind.


    Marguz turned in the indicated direction and spotted two monster carcasses and a group of people. Among them stood an elven woman.


    ¡°It''s them! It''s those people,¡± Struka said.


    ¡°What are they doing there? Did they fight the beasts?¡± Marguz asked.


    ¡°We should attack right away,¡± suggested one of the older orcs.


    ¡°That''s right. Since they fought the beasts now, they must be tired. We have an advantage in both strength and numbers,¡± added another.


    ¡°Wait, we can''t underestimate them. Thanks to the elf, they are stronger than ordinary humans,¡± Struka said.


    ¡°In that case, let''s give them a chance to give up on her without a fight, and then we''ll kill them anyway,¡± the older orc suggested.


    Marguz thought for a moment, but the old orc''s idea fell to him.


    ¡°That''s what we''ll do. It''s a good plan. Let''s go,¡± decided Marguz.


    Elrianthe stood next to Taygeer, inspecting her skills, while the rest of the group looked closely at the fallen monsters. Few of those present had the opportunity to see such creatures with their own eyes, which aroused great curiosity in them. But more than the monsters'' corpses, Elrianthe was preoccupied with thoughts about where to spend the experience she had gained.


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    ''Maybe it''s better to leave it for later,'' she thought.


    She turned around, intending to look for her next target, but she didn''t expect to find a group of nine orcs behind her back.


    ''Where did they come from?'' She surprised herself.


    All the members of Elrianthe''s group immediately drew their weapons. Then Marguz, one of the orcs, took a step forward.


    ¡°Put down your weapons, humans. You don''t stand a chance against us. We can do without a clash,¡± announced Marguz.


    < Research >


    [ Marguz ]


    [ Race: Orc ]


    [ Level: 12 ]


    [ Status: Seeks revenge for his kin ]


    The levels of the other orcs ranged from 8 to 11. Elrianthe, however, felt confident. She knew something that her opponents could not guess.


    ¡°What do you want then?¡± Elrianthe asked.


    ¡°Two days ago you killed three of our hunters. Our shaman believes that if it weren''t for your elven magic, you would never have defeated the orc in battle. Their deaths are your fault, so our chief, Narzagul the Strong, has decided that if you surrender and come with us, we will spare the rest,¡± announced Marguz, making his generous offer.


    ¡°Are you serious? Will you let the rest go free? You won''t kill anyone after I surrender?¡± She asked, not hiding her curiosity.


    Marguz nodded.


    ''He''s lying. He will attack us as soon as we lower our guard. Since he wants to play such a card, I''ll play a similar one.''


    ¡°Taygeer,¡± whispered Elrianthe, after which she exchanged a few words with him and handed him her spear.


    Taygeer nodded and Elrianthe walked toward the group of orcs.


    Matt and the others, not knowing what was going on, did not hide their surprise when they saw their leader surrender without a fight. They had managed to get to know her well enough that her current decision was completely out of line with her previous behavior. Seeking an explanation, they looked at Taygeer, and by his calm and confident expression, they understood that something was up.


    Marguz, on the other hand, was convinced that the elven woman was sacrificing herself for the rest of the people.


    ''Stupid woman. Not only did she willingly give herself up as a slave for the people, but on top of that she will let us kill them later. Elves are extraordinarily stupid,'' thought Marguz, with a visibly satisfied face.


    Then Elrianthe stopped about two meters in front of Marguz.


    ¡°I don''t like your face look,¡± she said.


    ¡°Haha. I''m just laughing at your stupid...¡±


    *WHISTLE*


    Elrianthe put her fingers in her mouth and whistled with all her might. Two wolves and a bear ran out from behind a rock and instantly rushed at the orcs standing in front of her.


    ¡°You fraud!¡± Shouted Marguz, swinging his axe.


    < Daze >


    [ The target''s immunity is high, and the effect has been weakened.]


    ''Fuck, I must finally invest in this skill,'' thought Elrianthe.


    However, the effect was enough to interrupt his attack, and Elrianthe gracefully moved aside.


    *Swish*


    The swish of a flying object sounded in the elf''s ears as Taygeer threw the spear at her with all his might. Thanks to his new skills, the throw gave the spear such energy that if it weren''t for the cross blades, it would have pierced the orc through straight away. It hit Marguz in the chest, and the force of the blow knocked him over onto his back.


    Gaz and Matt immediately attacked the surprised enemies, who turned to face the oncoming animals. Duncan began to shoot at the orcs, like Polish hunters at their comrades on the hunt.


    Mitta also tried to do something with his flames, but the key factor for victory in this battle was not magic, but careful preparation.


    All their blades were coated with a poison that caused partial paralysis. Duncan''s arrowheads were no different. This was a lesson learned after the battle with the great eagle.


    Taygeer, after throwing a spear, grabbed his axe and went into battle. In the blink of an eye, the orc''s advantage was completely crushed by the coordinated attack of Elrianthe''s group. According to the old rule, none of the orcs were killed.


    ¡°Lay them out in one place,¡± she called out, approaching Marguz.


    The huge but no longer so confident orc was lying on the ground with broken ribs. Blood was oozing from his chest, and the effects of the poison prevented him from even raising his head.


    Elrianthe grabbed her spear and, with a smile on her lips, said something that none of those present expected.


    ¡°Now, in exchange for the lives of your fellow warriors, you will tell me all about your fortress.¡±

 Chapter 20 - The Interrogation

    ¡°Now we will play by my rules. You tried to trick me and kill all my subordinates, so I''m not going to show you any mercy,¡± Elrianthe said.


    ¡°You won''t learn anything from me. I''m not as weak as you and your people,¡± replied Marguz.


    ¡°Really? Do you think I''m weak? Maybe I should lock you in a cell for six months with a rapist... But I don''t have time for that. So...¡± she added, pointing to a group of defeated orcs, ¡±.... I''ll use your buddies. I''ll ask you questions and you''ll answer. You lie, one orc bites the dust. You won''t answer, one bites the dust. If we run out of your mates, we''ll start chopping off your fingers, then your hands, your feet, and so on, until we turn you into pet food.¡±


    Marguz remained silent, staring at the sky. He couldn''t even assess the condition of his companions, as the poison was still working. Elrianthe noticed this and came up with an idea.


    ¡°Let me help you see your buddies,¡± she said, pulling the spear from Marguz''s body.


    Blood immediately poured from the wound. Elrianthe reached for the vial of paralyzing poison she had put on the blade earlier. After opening it, she pressed it into the deep wound, stopping the bleeding somewhat and sustaining the paralysis as the liquid slowly seeped into his body.


    She approached the group of orcs who were gathered in one place, and looking at each one individually, she assessed their condition.


    ¡°This one is about to bleed out,¡± Elrianthe stated, stabbing the orc right in the heart.


    She approached another. He had his hand cut off and was already unconscious.


    ¡°You''re practically dead either.¡±


    She finished him off and approached the next one. The orc in front of her was old, but his face wore the confidence of a veteran. Fear was definitely not in his eyes.


    ¡°Shouldn''t you have died of old age long ago?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Proud orc... to die... on the battlefield... only,¡± the old orc answered her, crippling the human language.


    Elrianthe paused for a moment as a sudden memory from the old world hit her.


    ''That''s it! They remind me of the orcs from that one game I loved in my former life. His behavior is reminiscent of those dull and prideful, randy orcs. I wonder if there is an ebon mine hidden in their fortress too.''


    Without thinking long, she ended his life with one cut, opening the artery like a packet of potato chips. The old orc fell to the ground lifeless.


    "I hate them," she mumbled under her breath.


    ''I don''t know if it''s because I''m an elf, or if it''s because they once again wanted to make me into a sperm bag, but I honestly hate orcs. I''ve always bullied them in the game, so maybe this feeling has passed with me from the old world... All I know is that I hate them and I will burn this shithole of theirs to the bare ground.''


    She felt no resistance to killing. Everything around her was so foreign that she could not identify with this world as her new home. She felt no attachment to humans or orcs. The only people who evoked any feelings in her were Taygeer and Alison. She also became quite fond of the raven, which often sat on her shoulder or nearby. He was her favorite pet. The rest of them didn''t matter. Whether it was Matt or Gaz, they were just tools.


    Elrianthe had the orcas'' bodies stacked one on top of the other so that Marguz could lean against them with his back and watch the fate of the other relatives.


    ¡°Good. The preparations are over. We''ll start with something simple. Where is your settlement located?¡± Elrianthe asked.


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    ¡°In your ass, you sick slut,¡± replied Marguz, clearly aggressively.


    At the same moment, Elrianthe pierced one of the orcs through the neck outright.


    ¡°Four orcs have already died because of you. Whether you want to or not, I will find out where you are hiding, and I will come to knock you out. Don''t be so stubborn, okay? You have a chance to survive, save your kin, and prepare for our arrival. I was going to let you go when you answer all my questions.¡±


    ¡°I don''t trust you, and we''re not afraid to die for our brothers.¡±


    ¡°And here lies your problem. You will all die in vain. Not for your brothers, not in defense of the fortress, not for honor and pride. You will die out of stupidity because I will still get out of you what I want to know.¡±


    ¡°Keep trying.¡±


    ¡°Good. Another question. How many of you are in this fortress?¡±


    ¡°Enough to rip your ass apart and flood you like a bucket.¡±


    ¡°Eh...¡±


    Another orc fell under the blade of Elrianthe''s spear.


    ¡°You have three wrong answers left before we start playing with your fingers,¡± she announced.


    ¡°Do what you want.¡±


    Two more orcs were killed by Marguz''s silly talk. Elrianthe, disappointed by his stubbornness, turned and headed for the last living orc. She noticed that he began to shake with fear when her gaze fell on him.


    She approached him, putting the blade to his neck, and asked another question.


    ¡°How many capable fighters are left in the settlement? Will you answer me? Or should I ask this question to him?¡± She asked, clipping the orc named Struka with her blade.


    Before Marguz had time to respond with some insulting line, Struka spoke up.


    ¡°Wait! Don''t kill me! I''ll answer your questions,¡± cried the terrified orc.


    ¡°I want to hear it from him, not from you,¡± she answered him.


    ¡°TRAITOR!¡± Shouted Marguz. ¡°Traitor! Coward and a stupid weakling!¡±


    Struka showed the least courage. The other orcs died without a word, pretending to be tough. Struka, however, could not withstand the pressure. He was the youngest in the group and lacked character like Marguz or Chief Narzagul. He didn''t want to die, at least not like this.


    ¡°Marguz, listen! We can go back to the fortress! We can help them fight the humans! They won''t avoid fighting, and we can help them!¡± Persuaded Struka.


    ¡°Idiot! Even if they let us go, you will die at the hands of the chief for your cowardice! The chief is strong enough to do without us¡± replied Marguz with evident contempt.


    Elrianthe, observing this pathetic scene, came up with an idea on how to solve the problem of the stubborn interlocutor.


    ¡°So, Struka... Where is your fortress located?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Do you know my name?¡± He asked dismayed.


    ¡°Answer me!¡±


    ¡°In the hills...¡±


    ¡°Moron! Don''t tell her anything!¡± Shouted Marguz.


    ¡°Don''t listen to this idiot. If you answer my questions nicely, you can go home. You want to go back, don''t you?¡± She assured Elrianthe.


    ¡°I''ll answer...¡±


    ¡°You stupid cunt! She''s lying to you!¡±


    ¡°Don''t pay attention to him,¡± said Elrianthe, standing in front of him and obstructing the view. ¡°You''re a reasonable boy, not what this stubborn selfish guy is. How many orcs are left in the settlement?¡±


    ¡°Eleven.¡±


    ¡°Are they all warriors, like you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°And more precisely?¡±


    ¡°I''m about to kill you myself, you fucking coward! Answer her again, and I''ll quarter you myself!¡± Marguz shouted.


    ''Just a little more. Get more furious,'' thought Elrianthe.


    ¡°Besides the chief, only the shaman and three young warriors remained. The rest are Narzagul''s wives or daughters,¡± replied Struka timidly.


    ¡°You''re dead now! You are dead, do you hear, Struka? Elf woman! Release me! I''ll kill him myself!¡± Shouted an enraged Marguz.


    Elrianthe approached Marguz with a smile on her face and happily granted his wish.


    [ Successful acquisition of a new puppet ]


    [ Marguz ] [ Level: 12 ]

 Chapter 21 - A visit to the orc village

    Marguz was definitely a tough contestant. His character was firm and ideally suited to be the next chief. The only thing he still lacked was the strength to defeat his father in battle. Someone like that doesn''t give up easily.


    Elrianthe knew from experience that taking control of someone with a strong character is not easy, and she should first work on his resilience. Some she has to bring to the brink of desperation, others in awe, and some others, like Marguz, she has to make them angry. The key is to trigger strong emotions that drown out common sense and cool calculation, making it easier for her magic to penetrate deep into the mind.


    Marguz getting mad at his cousin for talking out was so unstable that Elrianthe could easily take control of him with her < Domination >. Of course, this wouldn''t have worked without the help of a few other skills.


    Elrianthe pulled the vial of paralyzing poison from his chest and inserted the vial of antidote. After just a dozen seconds, the paralysis subsided and Marguz was able to move again.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Elrianthe said.


    As soon as Marguz regained control of his body, he dashed toward the last living orc.


    ¡°Marguz, wait-¡±


    Struka didn''t make it. His head was separated from the rest of his body, with one powerful axe cut, and the carcass settled to the ground, staining it scarlet.


    Immediately after, Elrianthe asked Marguz for some details about his village. This time he could no longer lie or spit on her. During the conversation, she looked into his skills some more and picked up three development points, which would be more useful to her than to him.


    ¡°You should be rewarded for your good behaviour,¡± she said, after getting all the information she needed.


    She then took off his control and pierced his heart with her spear. Marguz fell to the ground dead.


    The upside for Elrianthe was that humanoid creatures like orcs had a similar physical structure to humans. Inflicting critical damage was not a problem. In contrast, in battles with monsters, she often had to make use of Taygeer, who could inflict powerful damage with just an axe blow.


    [ +18000xp ]


    [ Promoted to level 10 ]


    [ Received 2 development points ]


    [ Class change available ]


    [ Unlocked a new feature: Shop ]


    [ Task completed ]


    [ Reach level 10: 10/10 ]


    [ Reward: 3000 free experience points ]


    Elrianthe earned a total of about 35,000 experience points and about 6,000 free points. The promotion to level 10 opened up several new opportunities for her, which were too many in the current situation to comprehend them all.


    Noon was approaching, and Elrianthe wanted to attack the orc fortress later that day. She ordered a short break to sit down and review the system in a calm place.


    Taygeer and the rest of the group busied themselves with the roasted meat of a deer hunted by Duncan, while Elrianthe, pretending to nap, quickly assigned development points.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    She chose a total of +90 MP, a level increase in the < Domination > skill, an increased chance of successfully using < Daze >, and a random skill.


    [ Received a new skill < Deep Pocket >]


    < Deep Pocket > (Class B, Spatial Magic) - This skill allows you to hide any item in a private space that acts as a storage area. Inside it, time does not pass, and the capacity depends on the host''s magic resources. Maintaining the skill requires reserving 5% of the maximum magic pool available to the host, with each 10 MP of this reservation equivalent to 1 cubic meter of available space. Current space: 1,9 m3.


    ''Finally, I can stow my stuff and stop lugging around a heavy bag with me!¡± she thought with satisfaction, tossing everything she had with her inside.


    The next step was to use her free experience points to advance her skills. With nearly seven thousand points, she could afford to go pretty crazy. The obvious choice for her was to upgrade the < Scholar > skill to level four. This made the skill more effective, and increased the previous 10% extra XP to 20%, which meant even more free points to use.


    As < Scholar > enabled her to see the future benefits of skill advancement, Elrianthe opted for < Team Manager >. The second level of this skill allowed her to share experience points. She no longer had to personally kill to gain experience - on the contrary, she could be completely absent. Of course, with ordinary team members, it wouldn''t work that way.


    Since the rest of the group were her puppets, experience points were shared regardless of location or status. She could comfortably sit in the stronghold with Alison while the others ran around the forest.


    ''A truly ideal solution,'' thought Elrianthe.


    Both skills were S-rated, which meant that she had to spend almost all of her available experience points, leaving her with not enough left to advance other skills.


    ''That''s okay. I''ll get a lot more soon,'' she thought with a sinister smile.


    Putting the rest aside for later, she set off toward the orc settlement.


    Chief Narzagul sat in front of his house, watching two young orcs practice fighting each other. One of his four wives served him, handing him apple alcohol, prepared according to their recipes.


    Narzagul took a deep sip from a wooden mug and contemplated how best to use his future toy.


    ''I should take her first. I have to show her who''s in charge. Later I''ll give it to Marguz for fun. It''s better for the boy to play with this elf than to have him make a bastard with his sister,'' the chief pondered.


    Guards were roaming around on the walls made of wooden stakes, vigilantly on the lookout for threats to the fortress. They included his two daughters and one of the warriors.


    In orc culture, women were just as powerful as men, so it was not unusual for a woman to engage in male activities such as fighting, hunting or even blacksmithing.


    Most orcs treated both sexes equally, benefiting from their strength and endurance. The exception was the wives of the chief, who were exempt from heavy tasks. They focused on serving their husbands, bearing and raising children, and other ''domestic'' activities. The orcish stronghold was, after all, one big family - albeit a somewhat strange one, but still.


    *Swish*


    Suddenly, one of the orcs standing on the fortress walls was hit by an arrow and momentarily fell to the ground behind the wall. Not even five seconds had passed when another guard, one of the daughters guarding the main gate, was also hit by an arrow and slumped to the ground.


    ¡°Intruder-¡±


    Narzagul jumped from his chair, and the two young orcs ceased sparring when one of the chief''s daughters fell from the wall, hit by an arrow. However, she managed to alert the rest of the settlement.


    *Boooooom*


    The gate shattered into tiny splinters as a fireball hit it from outside. Three wild beasts burst inside through the destroyed gate, pouncing on the ?rst individual and starting the slaughter. Along with the beasts, Gaz, Matt, and Taygeer rushed to the attack.


    The settlement began to burn, under the fire of Mitta''s fire missiles, and Duncan''s accurate shots disabled the orcs, who fell to the ground one by one, hit by strong poison. They were standing not far away, on a rocky hill, from which they had the entire fortress as if on their hands.


    The three guards, two young orcs, and Narzagul''s two wives fell dead in a swift and perfectly organized assault.


    Before Narzagul had time to draw his weapons and face the invaders, all three were already standing in front of his small relaxation area, where he had been sipping alcohol a while ago.


    ¡°Who are you? What do you want? Speak up before I kill you!¡± Shouted Narzagul, followed by his two wives and the Urguluk shaman.


    ¡°Knock, knock, is anyone home?¡± A woman at the gate called out, pretending to knock on an invisible door.


    ¡°It''s you...¡±

 Chapter 22 - Chiefs challenge

    ¡°It''s you...¡± Narzagul said.


    ¡°Yes, it''s me. I heard you wanted to invite me to your residence, so I came,¡± she replied with a dark smile on her lips.


    ¡°Damned elf! What happened to Marguz? Did you kill him too?¡± Asked a furious Narzagul.


    ¡°Wo, wo, easy. What is this aggression towards guests? Is this how you show hospitality? I thought you were more than just primitive monsters...¡± she replied, disappointed by his attitude.


    ¡°What did you do with Marguz?¡± He asked again.


    ¡°And what was I supposed to do with him? He kindly handed me an invitation, showed me the way, and was no longer needed, so he''s dead. The same thing will happen to you.¡±


    ¡°You cursed long-eared witch... Although it''s also their fault that they were too weak to prevail. But don''t think you''ll get away with it,¡± Narzagul warned, his voice menacing.


    ¡°What are you going to do? Intimidate me? Where I come from, every day I had to face threats and rough individuals who were able to destroy you in the blink of an eye if you just looked at them wrong. Do you think I would be frightened by a green moron like you? Think again,¡± replied Elrianthe leaning on the shaft of her spear.


    ¡°I don''t know the land you come from, but in mine, there is a rule. When you come to an orc chieftain with a weapon in your hand, it means you challenge him. In our tradition, only the strongest has the right to rule, and when two chiefs face each other, the victor decides the fate of the defeated one and his subordinates.¡±


    ¡°It sounds perfectly obvious. So you want me to fight you in a duel for everything, right?¡±


    ¡°That''s exactly what I had in mind. Unless, of course, you''d rather put down your weapons now and rely on my mercy. You can''t refuse to fight,¡± Narzagul declared, strutting proudly.


    ¡°I don''t give a shit about your rules and traditions, but so be it. Gaz will fight on my behalf.¡±


    ¡°Haha! So you''re a coward after all? You''re putting up your man because you''re afraid to fight yourself?¡± Narzagul mocked.


    ¡°No. I''m a princess,¡± replied Elrianthe, winking at him.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I am a princess. It is obvious that my knight fights on my behalf. It will be no different now. Why should your traditions be more important than mine?¡± Elrianthe asked, enraged, as befits a true princess.


    The rest of the company looked at this verbal clash, not knowing what to think about it.


    ¡°Agreed, but know that this is your end. I have never lost a fight with any human,¡± announced Narzagul.


    ''Phew, that was close.''


    < Research >


    [ Narzagul Strong ]


    [ Level: 14 ]


    [ HP: 1120 MP: 100 ]


    ''He''s strong. After all, that''s what his nickname suggests, but Gaz should be able to handle it if I cast Doping on him,'' thought Elrianthe.


    She turned back to her group and looked at Gaz. He stood indifferently, listening to the conversation. When she turned toward him, he felt a surge of immense strength. It was as if his veins were filled with pure energy. His pulse quickened and his muscles tightened.


    < Master''s doping >


    ¡°Don''t let me down,¡± said Elrianthe after using the skill.


    Gaz nodded, grabbed his sword, and faced the chief. He showed no nerves or fear, even though in front of him stood a more than two-meter tall, powerful orc with a large two-handed sword. Deep down, the only thing he feared was disappointing the person who had spared his life.


    Narzagul smiled and prepared his weapon. A duel with a human was a fight beneath his dignity, so he intended to end it quickly.


    ¡°One blow is enough to defeat a man!¡± Cried Narzagul, launching an attack from behind his back.


    *BANG*


    Narzagul''s heavy sword hit the ground with full force as Gaz shielded himself with his weapon. The angle at which he placed the blade allowed the orc''s sword to slide over the edge. At that moment Narzagul had become convinced that Gaz was no amateur.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°We''re in for an interesting fight,¡± he concluded.


    Meanwhile, Duncan and Mitta joined Elrianthe. They decided to descend the hill, seeing that the duel had already begun and support from a distance would no longer be needed.


    *Clank*


    *Crash*


    *Clank*


    The fight had been going on for several minutes. The orc''s strong blows began to give Gaz a hard time. Nevertheless, he fought with full commitment, demonstrating his years of experience. His evasions were confident and his attacks were well thought out. However, something was beginning to happen...


    ¡°Wow, Gaz is doing great,¡± remarked Mitta, who rarely had the opportunity to see him in action.


    ¡°That''s true, but if that doesn''t change, we may have a problem,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    *Clank*


    *Cut*


    Gaz was unexpectedly wounded on the cheek. Although there was nothing unusual about it, as time passed, his movements seemed not to react appropriately to his opponent''s actions.


    *Cut*


    Another cut. Gaz was wounded in the leg. Fortunately, the blade cut shallowly. This began to raise doubts. He shouldn''t have been hit.


    ''What''s going on with his attacks? It seems to me that he attacks from the left and the cut comes from the right. I can''t counter his strikes. They are kind of unpredictable,'' Gaz wondered.


    Elrianthe came to similar conclusions as she watched the two of them. From her perspective, it looked as if Gaz was starting to make more and more amateurish mistakes. His blocks were ineffective, his attacks missed, and he was falling into traps more and more often. It was as if someone was fooling his eyesight.


    ¡°Something is wrong,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°You noticed that too?¡± Asked Taygeer, who was also confused by something in the clash.


    ¡°Could it be his skill? The orc tricks Gaz into making mistakes? Sometimes I see as if his shadow does not match his movements...¡±


    ¡°Quite possibly. I''m afraid Gaz might lose this,¡± Duncan stated.


    Of course, Elrianthe was not satisfied with this answer. So she decided to use a little help.


    < Research >


    [ Narzagul Strong ]


    [ Level: 14 ]


    [ HP: 820/1120 MP: 100/100 ]


    ''His MP has not changed since the beginning of the battle. Could it be that his skill doesn''t require mana?'' She wondered nervously.


    She couldn''t let Gaz lose. That would be the end for them all. Of course, if they were going to keep their word and surrender after losing, which was not in her plan for today. She wasn''t going to show courage or honor for the sake of some stupid orc tradition she hated.


    Trying to find a reasonable explanation, her gaze wandered around looking for answers. She looked at the two women who were standing a little further away and also watching the fight. To Elrianthe, however, calling them women was a misunderstanding. They looked like ordinary orcs with long hair, breasts and dressed in women''s clothes. A truly disgusting sight.


    A little closer to the fight stood an elderly orc with a staff in his hand, making small movements. They didn''t look suspicious, but Elrianthe, watching him for a long while, saw that they were not random.


    ¡°Hey, Mitta. Look at that old orc,¡± whispered Elrianthe.


    ¡°He''s probably their shaman. What about it?¡±


    ¡°See what he''s doing with that stick,¡± she said, pointing to a clue.


    The shaman then noticed that he was being watched by the two and stopped his activities for a moment. It must be said that they were not very discreet, watching him in this way.


    ¡°He''s using magic against Gaz!¡± Mitta snapped out.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Elrianthe asked.


    ¡°I''ve been feeling the subtle influence of magic for a long time, but it wasn''t until he panicked and stopped that I clearly felt it was coming from him,¡± explained Mitta.


    ¡°You can sense the magic being used?¡± She asked surprised.


    ¡°And you don''t?¡± Asked Mitta, even more surprised.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Really? You''re an elf. You should be able to do it too.¡±


    ¡°It''s possible that I escaped from a lesson at the elven school that day,¡± she joked.


    ¡°In any case, a shaman helps an orc win a fight. If he uses some illusions, he could easily fool Gaz, which would make him start making mistakes.¡±


    ''An illusion would be very useful to fool the marquis,'' thought Elrianthe.


    ¡°Taygeer, come with me.¡±


    Shaman Urguluk did what he could to support his chieftain. The opponent Narzagul faced had a lot of experience in combat, and the sheer brute strength of the orcs was not enough.


    ''''Damn elves. I bet she has something to do with it. Maybe this man is strong, but with my magic, he will be defeated quickly,'' thought Urguluk, confident in his abilities.


    ¡°Emm, excuse me?¡± A female voice sounded behind his back.


    Urguluk turned around and saw an elven woman accompanied by a huge cat-man. The shaman became instantly frightened, realizing that his sabotage had been discovered.


    ¡°What you-¡±


    < Daze >


    Before he had time to say anything more, Elrianthe overpowered him with her skill. Urguluk fell to the ground, and Taygeer broke his staff into tiny pieces with a powerful kick.

 Chapter 23 - Nothing will happen

    Narzagul took another swing, but he clearly felt fatigued from the prolonged fight, and his movements were no longer fast enough. When the shaman''s interference was interrupted, his opponent began to resist again.


    ''How can a human be so strong? Fuck. If Urguluk hadn''t gotten caught, we would have had victory in our pocket,'' Narzagul thought.


    "Aa! Die already, I want to take your elf!¡± Shouted the orc.


    *Dodge*


    *Cut*


    Gaz did what he could to avoid being killed. Now that no one was trying to trick his senses anymore, he could fully concentrate on the fight.


    The orc swung, his stamina was on the wane. Gaz, dodging the attack, took a step forward and cut off his opponent''s hand, ending the duel by putting the blade to the opponent''s throat.


    ¡°I lost,¡± Narzagul said, disappointed.


    ¡°I didn''t expect anything else,¡± replied Elrianthe, walking up to him.


    Gaz stepped aside to let Elrianthe judge the Orc.


    ¡°Kill me at once. I don''t want to speak with you,¡± replied Narzagul, kneeling on the ground.


    ¡°You don''t have to tell me twice. That''s why I''m here-¡± began Elrianthe, when suddenly the orc broke off and reached out his hand, trying to grab her.


    ¡°HA! Gotcha-¡±


    *CUT*


    The massive green arm flew up several meters as the heavy axe suddenly came between the orc and Elrianthe.


    ¡°Aaa, you fucking cat!¡± Shouted the orc in pain.


    ''How could he be so fast! Did that witch put the weakest of the group into battle to laugh at me?!'' Thought Narzagul, lying on the ground and holding his severed stump at the elbow.


    ¡°Thank you, Taygeer. I didn''t think this idiot was going to break his own rules.¡±


    ¡°You whore! You planned to break the rules yourself when you lose!¡± Shouted Narzagul. ¡°Be cursed!¡±


    ¡°Will you shut up already, you filthy scumbag!¡± She answered him.


    ¡°Boss, you need to be more careful,¡± said Taygeer.


    ¡°Forgive me. Sometimes I forget that I''m not immortal,¡± replied Elrianthe with an innocent smile.


    ¡°May Morana, the Goddess of Death personally doom you to hell!¡± Blasphemed Narzagul, bleeding on the ground.


    ¡°SHUT THE-¡±


    *stab*


    ¡°FUCK!¡±


    *stab*


    ¡°UP!¡±


    *stab*


    Narzagul died, pierced by a spear blade.


    ''I hate orcs.''


    [ +52600xp (x2)]


    [ Promoted to level 11 ]


    [ Received +100 HP and +200 MP ]


    The number of experience points she earned for defeating the chief left her stunned. Narzagul was level 14, so she expected a significant gain, but thanks to the level difference, she received double the amount as a bonus. The stat points awarded for advancement also increased after she passed level 10.


    [ Level: 11 (46450/102400xp) +20740 ]


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ''Just a while ago I was only six thousand short of level 10. I love to farm XP,'' she thought with satisfaction.


    ¡°What about the rest?¡± Matt asked.


    Two of Narzagul''s wives and a shaman who lay unconscious on the ground remained in the settlement.


    ¡°We take the shaman with us. Kill the rest and burn the village,¡± decided Elrianthe.


    According to her will, the orc fortress was burned to the ground.


    Three days until the meeting with the marquis...


    The next morning Elrianthe woke up in a great mood. Everything was going her way, and with her new skills, she didn''t even have to leave her comfortable hiding place to gain experience.


    The obvious decision was to send the boys alone while she could rest in a comfortable bed. While this vision was tempting, she had to take a moment to catch up.


    She appointed Taygeer as team leader, to be supported by Gaz, and sent them on a hunt. While farming XP, Taygeer would have the opportunity to brush up on his leadership skills. Elrianthe was well aware of how valuable allies are good and resourceful comrades. She hoped that Taygeer would become a fully independent and strong subordinate.


    ''Oh, I forgot to change their XP sharing. I hope they will quickly advance to level ten,'' thought Elrianthe, modifying the settings in the system.


    ''Good. Let''s check what classes we have to choose from,'' she said in her mind, clicking on the window in front of her.


    [ Changing class ]


    [ Available classes to choose from:


    - Puppeteer (Class A) A class that has the advantage of being able to control the bodies of its puppets. A Puppeteer can transfer part of his mind into the body of a puppet to wield it as if it were his own body. Experienced Puppeteers are even capable of controlling the bodies of those outside their sphere of influence, but only for a brief moment.


    - Manipulator (Class A) A class whose abilities specialize in manipulating the minds of their victims. The impact of the abilities and their power is increased several times but at the expense of the number of puppets, which is limited to two.


    - Grim Shepherd (S-Class) A class whose main strength is the number of puppets it can maintain under its rule. The Grim Shepherd has weaker control over the puppets, but the available number of puppets is increased. The Good Shepherd has a strong bond with his herd, so in this case, the host is given the ability to communicate telepathically with his puppets to ensure their care and welfare. ]


    Elrianthe carefully studied the descriptions of all the characters. Each was unique and specialized in different areas. The choice proved difficult, as it had a significant impact on the way she would have to make decisions.


    ''Honestly, I would like to have everything in one. Aaah! On the other hand... I want telepathy so much... I think it''s the perfect class for infiltration,'' she mused.


    "Wait a minute! How could I be so stupid!¡± She shouted in disbelief.


    Elrianthe suddenly realized that she had missed an opportunity to acquire cheap labor. If she had decided to change classes before attacking the fortress, she could have made the entire village her loyal laborers, who would have worked day and night, earning her the money she would need in the future.


    ¡°Fuck! Fine! I choose the Shepherd!¡± She decided in the end.


    [ Warning: Changing class involves a level reset. The choice can be delayed until later. ]


    [ Do you want to change your class to Grim Shepherd?]


    ¡°No!¡± She shouted suddenly, changing her mind. ¡°I can''t lose everything now and go back to the first level...¡±


    There was still a lot to do in her plans, and she needed her current level for most of it. The effectiveness of her skills was based on the level difference, and while she could advance quickly by hunting dangerous creatures, the risk of not being able to complete her plans before the day of the sale was too great for her.


    [ +40 XP bonus ]


    [ +28 XP bonus ]


    Elrianthe noticed that despite setting 100% XP for Taygeer and Gaz, she still received bonus experience points that added to her pool of free XP.


    ''Interesting. I didn''t notice it before. Never mind.''


    ¡°That''s right!¡± She exclaimed suddenly, remembering another important change.


    She recalled the status and started searching through the bookmarks. She went into Daily Challenges and read the contents of one of them.


    ¡°What the fuck is an essence?¡± She asked herself, looking through the list of challenge rewards.


    Previously, she had received modest amounts of XP for completing these simple tasks, but now something had changed - instead, she was being awarded some kind of strange essence.


    ¡°System, what is an essence?¡± She asked.


    .


    .


    No response was received.


    ''I should really learn to use it...''


    ¡°Oh, I remembered. I should check the store.¡±


    The store was another new feature she unlocked after being promoted to level 10. When she selected the tab, a new window opened, and a long list of the categories of ''goods'' it offered appeared. There were weapons, clothing, armor, rings, magic necklaces, wands, and even skills and passive effects. The selection was huge, but the prices - ridiculous.


    ''This is some kind of an overpriced Admin Shop,'' stated Elrianthe rightly.


    She entered the skill category and began to search through the available options. She quickly unraveled the mystery of the enigmatic essence, which turned out to be the main currency in this store. Most of the low-end skills could be purchased for the right amount of essence. Others required certain conditions, and still others required additional rare currency.


    ''I could use something that would allow me to command people who are not under my control. Something that could even work on a whole crowd at once...''


    In her search, she came across one skill that meets her requirements.

 Chapter 24 - Guide

    At the top of the mountain, in a place inaccessible to humans, resided a prehistoric dragon. Its colossal size was incomparable to that of any other living creature, and its pitch-black scales not only caused terror but also effectively discouraged attacks due to their extraordinary strength. Razor-sharp claws, reminiscent of obsidian in color, decorated its powerful paws, capable of taking down a two-story building in one fell swoop. Its head was also decorated with numerous horns, among which two on the sides particularly stood out. Larger than the tallest man, and curved upward, these two great horns were a true symbol of power.


    The majestic dragon goddess of legends, Ruler of Death, and Guide of Souls in the Underworld, the Death Goddess Morana Vel, in her original physical form, resided in the company of three souls, one of whom had a human form.


    That soul was a once fear-inducing witch. An old friend of the dragon, the witch Sybil La Vexx, whose activities five hundred years ago contributed to the present-day infamy of the Crow Forest.


    ¡°Morana, that''s enough. The forest is dying. You must do something before it''s too late,¡± Sybil pleaded, trying to convince the dragon to act.


    ¡°Five more... minutes...¡± muttered Morana, lying on her back with her muzzle open.


    *loud snoring*


    ¡°Eh...¡±


    Despite many attempts, the dragon would not let herself be woken up and only mumbled that she still wanted a short nap. She was extremely stubborn when it came to sleeping. Finally, Sybil decided to try more firmly.


    ¡°Yesterday they slaughtered a whole village of orcs. They killed their leader. Didn''t he ask you for help? Don''t you care about the fate of your worshippers?¡± Sybil asked.


    ¡°Aaauh! Can''t you even give me a moment to sleep? What kind of a friend are you?¡± Morana was outraged.


    ¡°What kind of a goddess are you? Instead of helping your worshippers, you sleep all day. We have to do something about it.¡±


    ¡°I had the night shift, okay? You think being a guide is such an easy job?¡± Replied the annoyed dragon.


    ¡°You sleep almost non-stop. You haven''t moved from this mountain in a good two hundred years,¡± Sybil reminded her.


    ¡°You know very well that I don''t have to move from here. This body is only part of my form, I can be in many places at the same time. Besides, it could only lead to panic and chaos,¡± Morana replied, laying down on the other side.


    ¡°Maybe that''s what we need? A group of people led by an elf is killing everything that lives in this forest. Even my beloved pets couldn''t handle them,¡± said a worried Sybil, stroking the two balls of light floating beside her.


    ¡°Everything dies someday, Sybil. Get used to it. It is not my role to take life, but to lead after it is over,¡± Morana replied in a monotone voice.


    ¡°I was supposed to protect the forest for you. You wanted me to keep death away from you so you could rest. Why are you indifferent to this now, as death draws ever closer?¡± Sybil asked.


    Morana raised her dragon head from the ground and looked at Sybil.


    ¡°You have another guardian,¡± she stated, noticing only two balls of light next to Sybil. ¡°Send him to them.¡±


    ¡°Well, Sornek is not very suitable for this task...¡±


    ¡°If he can''t handle it, I''ll take matters into my own hands,¡± decided Morana.


    ¡°Let''s just hope he doesn''t go crazy...¡±


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Elrianthe Room...


    < Siren Speech > (Class A) A powerful spell that absorbs 90% of the caster''s mana, allowing him to give orders with his voice. When imposed on the target, the ''Last Command'' effect will make him or her absolutely compelled to obey the command, regardless of his or her own will. The impact of the ''Last Command'' will be registered in the target''s mind and will persist until his death. This effect cannot be canceled or interrupted, and the person casting it himself has no way of revoking it.


    Price: 5,000 essences, 3 gold tokens.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I have 1,567 essence pieces and two tokens, although I don''t even know where from... Maybe for this eagle and bear? Then I''ll have to hunt for one more monster of that ilk,¡± Elrianthe planned.


    The skill she found will be crucial to her plans, so raising the currency to buy it will become a priority in the near future. Although there isn''t much of it left.


    [ Gaz Prum promoted to level 10 ]


    ''You''ve had enough,'' she thought, changing the receiving of XP by Gaz.


    ¡°I wonder if the shaman is ready to cooperate yet...¡±


    In the dungeon, in a dark cell, hung on a chain an old orc - the shaman from Narzagul''s fortress, Urguluk. To his misfortune, he possessed something that was extremely important to Elrianthe.


    Illusion magic. His ability < Illusory Aura > allowed him to use his magic aura, circulating around his body, to manifest illusions. Urguluk used this ability to fool Gaz''s eyesight during a duel with an orc chieftain, and Elrianthe had a plan to use it to confuse the marquis'' vision.


    As in most cases, the shaman had to be ''persuaded'' to submit to Elrianthe''s magic, so he was hung by his feet. Hanging in his new abode, he had a wide bowl of water under his head. Nothing unusual?


    The bowl was placed centrally under the hanging shaman, and his head was partially submerged in its contents. The shaman couldn''t lean back enough to drink from the bowl, and his thirst was intensified by the destructive thoughts that Elrianthe had instilled in him. Needless to say, the effect of such a test of will was highly effective.


    To take away his skill, Elrianthe had to gain at least 90% control over the orc. Although skills could be picked up as low as 80%, < Illusory Aura > was an S-Class skill, which involved higher requirements and greater risk.


    Elrianthe went down to the dungeon to check on Urguluk. Already on the stairs, she heard lamenting and babbling in the nasty orc language. As she walked through the dungeon, she had to pass the cell where Carl and Jim were staying. When Carl heard approaching footsteps, he came to the bars, and at the sight of his favorite slave burst out in aggression.


    ¡°You fucking slut! Let us out of here! How much longer do we have to sit here? I swear I''ll fuck you up when I get out of here!¡± Carl shouted.


    ¡°Have you forgotten how you should address me, trash?¡± She replied with deadly seriousness.


    ¡°Elf whore.¡±


    Elrianthe stopped in front of him and pulled out a spear from her magic stash.


    *clang*


    The bars rang, and sparks of colliding metals sprinkled around.


    ¡°Ay!¡±


    Carl barely stayed on his feet as Elrianthe thrust the spear toward him. The metal bars stood in the way of the crossed blade, stopping it just inches from his throat.


    ¡°You pathetic idiot. I should have killed you the moment you opened that nasty mouth of yours, but for you, such a death would be salvation. Enjoy it while you can live behind bars because you won''t get an ounce of mercy from me,¡± Elrianthe said contemptuously as if trying to stop every cell in her body from tearing Carl to pieces like a wild animal.


    ''Fuck! If it wasn''t for the grating, I''d be dead! Fucking lunatic!'' Thought a horrified Carl, not realizing that Elrianthe''s move was deliberate and there was no mistake in it.


    Standing in front of the next cell, Elrianthe looked at the orc hanging his head down, who was mumbling something under his breath. He was already on the verge of insanity, but he still managed to resist. At the sight of the woman, he began to shout and mumble something about the wrath of the goddess, but Elrianthe ignored him completely. Unsatisfied with the effects of the torture, she wondered how to make it better.


    ''Maybe I''ll try to induce some strong desire in him, and then let him satisfy it? What could work on an old orc, though? She thought.


    As Elrianthe pondered a suitable object of desire, the shaman twitched from side to side in an attempt to break free from his bonds. His efforts, however, were unsuccessful. Elrianthe noticed that from his loose-fitting clothes, a green snake was beginning to emerge.


    ¡°You like smooth blondes, huh? You may hate me, but you can''t fool your body,¡± she said with laughter.


    ''Wait a minute... blondes? Carl also has blonde hair...''


    ''YES! THAT''S BRILLIANT! HAHAHAHHA!¡±

 Chapter 25 - Revenge on Carl

    ¡°Alison! I need your help!¡± Cried a breathless Elrianthe, rushing into Alison''s room.


    ¡°What''s wrong? Why are you so drowsy?¡± Asked Alison, surprised by Elrianthe''s sudden arrival, as if a fire had broken out in the room.


    Elrianthe approached her and whispered in her ear what she needed, unable to hold back a wild smile.


    ¡°No. No, absolutely not. I won''t do it,¡± Alison firmly refused.


    ¡°Why? Don''t you have the ingredients?¡± Elrianthe quipped.


    ¡°I won''t let you start riding half the guys in this den with a wild frenzy,¡± replied Alison, standing firm.


    ¡°What no. You misunderstood. It''s not for me. I''ll give it to that orc to drink,¡± Elrianthe explained.


    ¡°What, you want to do it with an orc? Are you crazy?¡±


    ¡°Alison, listen to me carefully,¡± said Elrianthe, coming closer and whispering to her explaining everything one by one.


    ¡°Oh. That makes a difference. I can try, but I don''t know if it will be strong enough for him,¡± replied Alison.


    [ Taygeer Breezetail promoted to level 9 ]


    Elrianthe, noting the promotion announcement, recalled that Alison was still at level 5 and was one step away from being promoted.


    ¡°I think I know how to solve this,¡± she replied.


    Opening her system, Elrianthe saw that she had more than 23,000 free experience points available. To support the crafting of the concoction, she decided to raise the < Scholar > skill to level five.


    [ The < Scholar > skill has reached level 5. The < Analysis > sub-skill has been unlocked, which allows you to conduct an in-depth examination of an object, enabling you to obtain more accurate information, properties, and hidden features. Requires physical contact. ]


    The next step was to raise Alison''s level. Using about 3,500 XP, Elrianthe increased her level to seven and spent another 2,000 XP to raise the < Magical Subsidy > skill to level three. This doubled the effectiveness and gave Alison better control over mana manipulation. Along with the extra development point for the sixth level, Alison gained an additional 60 MP, enabling her to create more strongly infused potions.


    The girls got to work. Alison, using her knowledge and skills, worked on the concoction, while Elrianthe, using < Analysis >, evaluated the effectiveness of her wares.


    Several hours later, as evening fell and the valley began to darken, Taygeer returned to the keep with his team. Elrianthe was waiting for them in the main hall. At the sight of the entering team, she stood up and took Taygeer aside.


    ¡°I need you for a moment,¡± she said.


    ¡°Sure, boss. Shall I take this opportunity to give you a report on the expedition?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Sure. You''ll tell me on the way,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°To the dungeons,¡± she replied with a mysterious smile.


    Taygeer became a little quiet after hearing the answer. As they walked down the corridor, taking advantage of a moment of privacy, Elrianthe asked about today''s expedition.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°I think it went pretty well,¡± began Taygeer. ¡°Gaz often interferes with my decisions and corrects me. We''re doing well as a team, but there''s a little chaos because of it,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°Don''t worry about it. That was his role. I wanted you to be able to act independently and lead the group. It''s a valuable skill,¡± Elrianthe countered.


    ¡°Why? Shouldn''t you be in charge?¡±


    ¡°I''ll tell you something that others shouldn''t hear. You probably know that there is no avoiding a meeting with the Marquis. If it wasn''t for the paper Gaz signed with his butler, he could have simply bought my freedom by bailing me out at the authorities. I wasn''t so lucky, but there are some advantages. The Marquis will pay enough for Gaz to bail you out, and Alison, and hide with you for a while.¡±


    ¡°And what about you? Do you want to live as a slave to such a degenerate? What about the rest of Gaz''s group?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Haha. Who said I would be his slave? The moment I enter his domain, the process of taking over will begin. Under the appearance of a weak, innocent servant, I will make the most important decisions in the house. I may even be able to subjugate the Marquis himself, who will personally free me from slavery. And don''t worry about those bandits. I will send them on a lifelong mission deep into the forest.¡±


    ¡°I believe you are capable of doing it. You have taken over practically a whole group of slave traders. By yourself. Are you sure you still need us?¡±


    ¡°You''re overestimating me. Of course, I need you guys. When we leave for the city, I will give you a choice. I will cancel my magic completely and let you decide for yourselves. I will respect any decision you make. Although I think Alison wouldn''t leave even if I wanted her to,¡± she concluded, joking.


    ¡°My answer remains the same. I will stay with you,¡± Taygeer declared.


    ¡°Don''t be in a hurry. I promised you freedom. Wait with your decision until I keep my word. When you are free and you are still willing to work with me, I want you to start organizing a group that will serve as my support. That''s why I want you to improve your team leadership,¡± she said, pointing her finger at him.


    ¡°I understand. You always have some greater reason than I imagined.¡±


    ¡°My only reason is revenge,¡± she replied in a low tone, grabbing the handle of the door leading to the dungeons.


    They went downstairs and stopped in front of the cell where the old orc was staying. Elrianthe opened the door and asked the cat-man to release him.


    The orc was in such a deplorable state that he barely made contact. His gaze wandered along the walls, paying no attention to what was going on around him. Exhausted from the torture, he didn''t even react to being pulled from the chain and placed on the floor.


    Elrianthe summoned two vials of potions from her storage space. One was to restore the orc''s health and get him back on his feet, and the other was to stimulate his will to do things, despite his advanced age. As the specifics were handed out, Elrianthe fed his mind with new thoughts, trying to steer him in the right direction once the potions took full effect.


    ¡°I think he''s ready. Take him away. We''ll move him to another cell,¡± she said, rising.


    Taygeer grabbed the orc and threw him on his back. Elrianthe opened the cell where Carl and Jim were sitting.


    ¡°I brought you a friend. Play with him if he wants, okay?¡± She said, like a babysitter to her darling little ones.


    ¡°What the fuck are you doing? Why the fuck are you locking him in here with us?¡± Asked an angry Carl.


    ¡°Carl, stop it. It doesn''t make a difference,¡± Jim reassured him.


    ¡°You''re right. Resistance doesn''t make sense in this case,¡± said Elrianthe, endorsing Jim. ¡°Taygeer, knock Carl out.¡±


    ¡°What, wait! Wait! I didn''t mean-¡±


    *Bang*


    Carl''s loud protests quieted under a powerful swinging right blow that knocked him to the ground. His head was swirling like never before, and his legs refused to obey him. Elrianthe pulled out a thick rope from her storage space.


    ¡°I''ll fucking teach you good manners,¡± she threatened.


    With Taygeer''s help, she tied Carl to the bars in such a way that his hands were pulled outside the cell between the metal bars and, after bending at the elbows, tied parallel around his wrists. Carl had no chance of untying himself, and the position itself was so uncomfortable that he would sooner smash his head against the bars than get out on his own.


    "Jim. First, you have no right to untie him, under any circumstances. Second, help the orc,¡± ordered Elrianthe.


    ¡°Help? With what?¡± Asked Jim uncertainly.


    ¡°You''ll soon find out,¡± she replied, tossing him a metal box.


    When they both left, Elrianthe closed the cell and headed for the exit.


    ¡°Don''t leave me like this,¡± said Carl in a pleading voice, coming back to reality after the knockout.


    ¡°Have a good night,¡± she replied briefly.

 Chapter 26 - Its only an illusion

    Two days until the meeting with the marquis...


    First thing in the morning, Elrianthe again went to the dungeons to assess the effects of her actions. As usual, Taygeer accompanied her as a bodyguard, but this time, his presence seemed unnecessary.


    There was a grave silence in the dungeons. Already on the stairs, they smelled a repulsive odor, and the scene that unfolded before them below was even more disgusting. The floor looked worse than a barn, covered with liquids of various colors and consistencies.


    Jim was shaking, huddled in a corner of the cell. Carl lay unconscious against the bars, in torn clothes, and next to him slept an orc. They were both covered in the same mix that had been present on the floor.


    Elrianthe, covering her nose from the stench, approached the bars to check the orc''s condition.


    [ Shaman Urguluk ]


    [ Level: 11 ]


    [ Status: Deep sleep. Very happy to finally be able to satisfy his needs after many years of forced abstinence. ]


    ''I am convinced that this much is enough. I won''t even wake him up,'' she thought, reaching between the bars to the orc''s head.


    < Domination >


    [ Using < Domination > successfully ]


    [ Successful acquisition of a new puppet ]


    [ Urguluk Shaman Level 11 ]


    [ Control: 93% ]


    Her eyes momentarily shone when she was allowed to grab a new skill. This is another huge step forward.


    [ Would you like to take away the < Illusory Aura > skill from the ''''Shaman Urguluk'''' puppet? ]


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied.


    [ Calculating... ]


    [ The action you are undertaking has an 80% chance of success. To continue? ]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    [ There is only a 16% chance that the puppet will survive the process. Continue?]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    [ Puppet: Shaman Urguluk has been killed ]


    [ A new skill < Illusory Aura > has been obtained]


    ¡°YES!¡± She shouted exultantly, not caring one bit about the orc''s death.


    < Illusory Aura > (Class S, Illusion Magic) - A skill that allows you to create illusions using the host''s magic aura. The effectiveness and quality of illusions depend on the density of the aura and the host''s magic power, which also affects their short range.


    Elrianthe immediately wanted to try out the new ability. Placing her hands side by side, she imagined that a flame was being born inside them. At the same moment, the aura gathered around her hands began to form sparks that shot in all directions, transforming into small flames that extinguished, falling to the ground.


    ¡°Amazing, although difficult to control,¡± she said under her breath.


    Without hesitation, she used all her free experience points to upgrade her new skill. With 9,000 more points at her disposal, she developed it all the way to the fourth level.


    [ The skill < Illusory Aura > reaches level 2. Mana intake has been halved. Illusions are more stable and require less concentration. ]


    [ The skill < Illusory Aura > reaches level 3. The range of maintaining illusions has been increased. Illusions beyond the host''s range can hold in place for up to 3 seconds. ]


    [ The skill < Illusory Aura > reaches level 4. Illusions created can cover the entire space within the host''s range, provided the host is able to power their maintenance. Illusions created close to the host''s body have a reduced maintenance cost and are more stable. ]


    She decided to try again. The flame in her hands burst into a bright glow. Elrianthe, unprepared for such a realistic effect, was frightened, as if she were about to burst into flames herself.


    ¡°Now that''s something!¡± She exclaimed with joy.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Continuing to play with the flame in her hands, she managed to transform it into a flaming bird that began circling around her and then flew deeper into the corridor, dissipating more and more until it disappeared completely.


    ''I won''t say it out loud, but attacking this orc settlement was probably the best decision of my life so far,'' she thought, delighted with her new abilities.


    ''Something must be done about these two...''


    ¡°Jim,¡± she called out, after cutting the bonds on Carl''s hands.


    Receiving no response, she looked in his direction. He was sitting there further away, shaking like a jelly.


    ¡°Jim!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Moaned Jim, jumping up nervously.


    ¡°Wake up your friend and clean up the cell,¡± said Elrianthe.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You can sit in the mess, too, if you like,¡± she reflected at his lack of response, then left the dungeons, and Taygeer followed her.


    When they got a bit further away, Taygeer, intrigued by Elrianthe''s actions, decided to ask.


    ¡°Was that in your plans too? To take away his power?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Elrianthe.


    ¡°I thought you just wanted revenge on Carl,¡± he replied surprised.


    ¡°Revenge was just a bonus. Remember how that shaman tricked Gaz during the duel? I want to do the same with the Marquis,¡± she explained.


    ¡°But... won''t he gain absolute power over you? You won''t be able to resist his orders once the pact is signed,¡± Taygeer wondered.


    ¡°That''s why we won''t sign the pact,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    ¡°I don''t understand,¡± he said, pausing.


    ¡°See this?¡± Elrianthe asked, showing him the inside of her right hand.


    Taygeer looked closely and saw a string of illuminated letters that made a circle. They looked like tattoo, hidden under the skin, the contents of which came out as light.


    ¡°It''s a ¡®slave mark.¡¯ Gaz mentioned it to me when we talked about ways to falsify the pact. This mark only becomes visible when imbued with magic and reveals information such as the name, age, and current owner. This data is entered at the time of signing the pact, based on its contents. This means that my tattoo should change when I confirm the pact with my blood. This is where my new skill comes in,¡± she said, again showing him the tattoo, which now bore the name Taygeer Breezetail in place of the owner.


    ¡°That is, you will continue to be a slave, but he will have no power over you. All you have to do is pretend to obey.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I will be a slave without a master, just like now. Traders don''t sign any pacts with us, they only brand us with a mark. The pact will be false, the blood will be false, and the mark will also be false. All thanks to this skill,¡± she replied with a devious smile.


    ¡°Haha. In that case, I guess I have nothing to worry about. Nice plan, boss lady,¡± laughed Taygeer. ¡°By the way... How did you master it so quickly? Me, it took me a whole day to learn to use the skills I got from you.¡±


    ''Damn. I can''t tell him that the system does it for me,'' she thought.


    ¡°Well,... maybe... it''s because I''m an elf? I think I have a natural talent for magic,¡± she replied uncertainly.


    ¡°That may be so. I''ve never met an elf before, so it''s hard for me to judge,¡± replied Taygeer, accepting her explanation.


    ¡°Okay. I''ll see you later. I''ll look in on Alison now,¡± she said, heading toward the bedroom.


    As she approached Alison''s room, a thought occurred to Elrianthe. Is she capable of completely changing her appearance to fool someone''s eyesight?


    The door opened and a man entered the room. Alison, absorbed in her experiments, did not notice someone approaching her from behind.


    *Grab*


    The man''s hand firmly grabbed her buttocks, causing Alison to instantly jump away, grabbing a short sword.


    ¡°Matt! What are you doing here? What do you want?¡± She called out, shielding herself with the blade.


    Matt did not answer, but slowly began to approach, staring at her with a smile that did not bode well.


    ¡°I warning you! Don''t come near me and get out of this room!¡± She warned, filling the sword blade with her aura.


    The sword began to glow gently, emanating a bright radiance. This was her last warning before using it to cut off Matt''s hands.


    ¡°It''s okay now, Alison. Relax,¡± Elrianthe called back, dispelling her illusion.


    ¡°Elrianthe! What''s that supposed to mean?¡± Alison asked, surprised by the situation.


    ¡°I was testing a new skill. Now I know it works just fine,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Eh. Did you have to do it this way? I almost used that sword against you...¡±


    ¡°Who would be a better target than the most intelligent and cunning person in this hole? The surprise was my only advantage,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    Alison sighed deeply, not being a fan of surprises. Elrianthe, however, was not about to stop at pranks.


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    An arrow came from the direction of the open door, heading straight for Alison.


    *Cut*


    The arrow vanished into thin air. With one clean sweep, Alison cut it in half.


    ¡°Wow, you can do something like that?¡± Asked a shocked Elrianthe.


    ¡°I learned a few things recently. Please don''t do it again,¡± replied Alison, putting the sword down against the wall.


    ¡°Fine, fine. I won''t anymore,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    Just then Matt rushed into the room. Out of breath and scared, he took a moment to catch his breath.


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe! We are under attack! It''s bad,¡± cried Matt.


    Alison looked at Elrianthe with a new measure of suspicion.


    ¡°Are you still playing with your new magic?¡±


    ¡°No. It''s real,¡± she replied with considerable shock.

 Chapter 27 - Assault

    The team, consisting of four adventurers, laboriously moved along the twisting stone road leading to the mysterious ruins in the highlands.


    At the head of the group was the leader, the warrior Mirek. His equipment was sturdy, though not among the best. An elaborate helmet covered half of his face but failed to stop a few black hairs from escaping into the fresh air. Reinforced armor effectively protected his chest, and a sword rested at his side, while a shield dangled on his back.


    Behind him followed a woman with light red hair. Her clothes and equipment suggested she was a sorceress. However, she is probably not one of the top magic adepts, even in the immediate area. Her name is Kanra.


    ¡°Oi, Mirek. How far yet?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Beyond that hill, the ruins should already be visible,¡± Mirek replied.


    ¡°And then what? Do we report to the guild master that we found nothing but a pile of rubble on the hill?¡± She asked yawning.


    ¡°Fuck. Have you listened at all to what this mission is about?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, not very much. This grandfather is terribly boring.¡±


    ¡°Who am I working with... We''ve been sent to assess why more and more monsters are leaving the Crow Forest and attacking the nearby villages they encounter on their way. The master suspects that a dangerous predator has appeared in the forest, forcing the rest to emigrate,¡± Mirek explained.


    ¡°So what am I doing here then?¡± An elderly man in priestly robes, walking behind them, called out.


    This is Anton - a grumpy old priest who constantly threatens the villagers with punishment for their sins and judgment over the wickedness of this world.


    ¡°This forest is haunted, isn''t it?¡± Kanra asked blithely.


    ¡°What does that have to do with anything? I''m a priest, not an exorcist. I don''t expel ghosts,¡± appalled Anton.


    ¡°Oh, save your frustration for preaching to the villagers. We need your holy protection and that''s it. You are the only priest in the area,¡± replied Mirek.


    ¡°Yes, because the rest died in stupid expeditions like this one,¡± added Anton maliciously.


    ¡°Silence. I see something. It''s a troll. There, under the trees,¡± pointed out Hunter Neitor, the last of the team.


    ¡°Hmm. Let''s get closer,¡± decided Mirek.


    Alison''s room... Fifteen minutes later...


    Elrianthe and Alison exchanged glances. There had already been attacks by wolves or minor monsters, but Matt''s behavior indicated something more serious. He was not one to panic easily.


    ¡°Matt, what''s going on? What''s attacking us?¡± Elrianthe asked.


    ¡°I don''t know. It looks like a troll, but it''s extremely strong. He ran out of the forest and chased some two people straight towards us. We stopped him with Gaz and Duncan, but it didn''t...¡± choked out Matt.


    [ Puppet: Mitta Hermet was killed ]


    Elrianthe''s face lost all color when a new announcement told her of Mitta''s death. Although he and his team were only tools for her, she felt the situation was spiraling out of control. Lowering her guard at such a critical moment could cost her too much.


    ¡°We have to go, quickly! Alison, stay here,¡± cried Elrianthe, running out of the room.


    She headed straight for the exit of the fortress, and Matt followed her.


    ¡°I called everyone for help,¡± informed Matt as they ran through the main hall.


    She ran through the main entrance, and a shiver ran down her spine. Against the wall, near the entrance, lay Mitta''s body. His abdomen was ripped open by sharp claws, and his bones were shattered from a hard blow against the stone wall. Blood was oozing from his mouth, and bloodshot eyes stared toward the entrance. Although he had been dead for several minutes, his expectant gaze made Elrianthe feel as if she had failed his expectations by not coming to his aid in time.


    *Boom*


    *GRRRRUHH*


    A more than three-meter tall, enraged troll with a dark brown coloration wailed, and its huge paws shook the base of the tower from which Duncan was shooting at it with his bow.


    Elrianthe, looking around nervously, noticed that behind the wall Gaz was treating Taygeer''s wounds. Taking advantage of the moment when the monster was busy climbing the tower, she ran up to them, eager to learn more.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°Taygeer, are you okay? What''s going on?¡± She asked, approaching them.


    ¡°It''s just a scratch. This beast has sharp claws. I''m sorry, we didn''t manage to defend Mitta,¡± replied Taygeer.


    ¡°Don''t worry about it now. We have to do something about this monster before it gets Duncan,¡± stated Elrianthe.


    ¡°I don''t know if we can. That beast is incredibly strong. Mitta was killed by one blow. His arms are so long that I can barely dodge his sweeps, and their strength is so great that Taygeer can''t block them completely,¡± countered Gaz.


    ¡°Besides, he has some kind of regeneration ability, because his wounds start to heal after just a few seconds,¡± added Taygeer.


    ¡°Fuck. Where did that damn thing come from...¡± mumbled Elrianthe under her breath.


    ¡°I don''t know, but those two didn''t manage to escape from him,¡± Gaz noted, pointing to the body of the elderly priest lying on the road and the sorceress under the tower. ¡°The rest of their team is probably dead, too.¡±


    *Bang*


    The troll had already climbed almost to the very top of the tower, and his paws slammed into the walls, causing the tower to start shaking and slide sideways.


    ¡°Don''t tell me that-¡± began Elrianthe.


    *Boom*


    The rumble of the collapsing tower reverberated through the neighborhood. The ground trembled and the air was filled with dust and the debris of fallen bricks. A cloud over the rubble momentarily obscured their view, but Elrianthe was well aware of what had happened.


    [ Puppet: Duncan Zienn had been killed ]


    ¡°Fuck!¡± She shouted.


    ¡°We have to attack now! As long as it''s covered with rubble. This is our chance!¡± Matt called out.


    ¡°Let''s go!¡± Elrianthe decided, pulling a spear from her stash.


    The troll was already crawling out of the debris when the group ran up to him. Although almost the entire tower had collapsed on him, his injuries were minimal, and his wounds had already begun to regenerate. Nearby lay the corpse of Duncan, who unfortunately did not prove to be so durable.


    ¡°Son of a bitch... You''ll pay for this!¡± Shouted Matt, throwing himself at the beast with his sword raised.


    Matt reached the monster and, taking a strong swing, aimed at its left shoulder. However, the troll managed to recover in time; despite feeling slightly wiry, he managed to shield himself from the attack. The sword stuck in his paw, and with his free hand, he decided to retaliate with a gesture - his claws, razor-sharp, drove into Matt''s stomach.


    Blood shot out of his mouth, and the shocked, pain-filled expression on his face stayed with him until he died. The troll tossed his body onto the pile of rubble behind him.


    [ Puppet: Matt Naln was killed ]


    Elrianthe stood as if she were stunned, overwhelmed by shock and disbelief. She couldn''t believe that everyone was starting to die one by one. Her confidence vanished and her fears began to grow, interfering with her stern assessment of the situation. Even before, facing death, she had never felt as powerless as she did now.


    ¡°Is this... the end?¡± She mumbled under her breath.


    ¡°Boss. Boss!¡± Taygeer called out, trying to bring Elrianthe back to reality.


    ¡°Ha?¡±


    ¡°You need to run inside. We''ll stop him!¡± He called out.


    *GGRRUUUUUUUH*


    The troll wailed, noticing the three opponents, but unexpectedly began jumping and waving his arms, as if in a joyful dance.


    ¡°Wait...¡±


    < Research >


    [ Lonely Mountain Troll ]


    [ Level: 15 ]


    [ HP:? ]


    [ Status: The sight of women excites it. ]


    ''The what?''


    The beast sprang from its seat and rushed like a wild thing toward Elrianthe. Previously it had only been enraged at the people attacking it, but now it had found a new target.


    ¡°Run!¡± Cried Gaz, standing in the way of the speeding monster.


    Elrianthe finally turned around and ran toward the entrance. Her heart was beating like crazy, her muscles tensed up like a bow ready to shoot, and only one thought circulated in her head - to survive. She even forgot about her skills. She found herself again at the point where survival was her only goal.


    *Bang*


    *Bang*


    ¡°Ahh!¡±


    The speeding beast rammed Gaz, knocking him aside. Taygeer, standing right behind it, used his skills to block the attack, which was coming at him in time from the troll''s side.


    *Punch*


    Taygeer blocked the blow with his axe, but the energy he took was too powerful. Breaking through his defenses, the troll managed to seriously injure him with its claws. This, however, did not matter. The beast had only one goal - to catch the woman.


    ''What is this? What am I doing? I can''t concentrate. I can''t control myself,'' thought Elrianthe, as she closed the front door of the fortress behind her.


    Her hands were trembling and her knees were like cotton wool. Her rapid and irregular breaths were not helping her calm down. Something came back to Elrianthe that she hadn''t felt in a long time. Something that had been deafened by a barrage of successes and happy coincidences. That element was fear.


    *Slam*


    The beast crashed inside along with the door and frame, shattering them into tiny pieces. Because of its size, it could barely fit through the cramped corridors, but it wasn''t about to give up its pursuit of the woman.


    Elrianthe burst off and began running deeper into the keep. Running into the main hall, she ran into Alison, who was not yet aware of the approaching danger. She only heard some noise and came to check what had happened.


    ¡°Alison! Run to the room! Quick!¡± Shouted Elrianthe.


    The troll made his way into the room, bumping up against the wall. With two women now in front of him, he couldn''t help but express his excitement.


    *GGRRUUUUUUUUUUUUHH!*

 Chapter 28 - Really bad day

    The beast roared, demonstrating his male dominance in front of the two females, but to his surprise, both began to run away. Knowing that the blonde woman didn''t get caught easily, he decided to try with the other female.


    Elrianthe ran toward the corridor leading to the dungeons. There were only three exits in the hall, one occupied by a monster, so she had no other choice. She had to drag the beast away from Alison. She headed for the passage and intended to run on, but stopped momentarily.


    ¡°The bastard prefers brunettes!¡± She shouted, realizing she was no longer the object of interest of the troll chasing her.


    She turned around and ran to the living area. There she saw the troll trying to force the door closed. He was furious, unable to destroy them or even scratch them. Alison, hiding on the other side, fortified the door''s durability with her mana, effectively stopping the monster.


    ''I envy you that giga brain, Alison. But you won''t last long,'' thought Elrianthe.


    Then she pulled from the storage space one of the failed potions she had forgotten to dispose of. The contents of the vial should have healing properties, but when it came into contact with the skin, it caused severe skin irritation.


    "Hey, ugly! Catch this!" Cried Elrianthe, throwing the vial in the direction of the monster.


    The glass bottle shattered in its face, and the contents splashed over its body. Momentarily, everything began to burn and pinch him.


    *GGRRUUUUUHH!*


    The monster roared, and in a panic began to pounce on the walls, which only added to the chaos.


    ''It''s even worse than before!'' She thought, achieving the opposite effect.


    She wanted to attract his attention again when she suddenly remembered how she had changed her appearance to resemble Matt. She took a stone in her hand, taking the form of Alison, and threw it at the rampaging beast.


    ¡°Oi, you abominable shit-sniffer!¡± She called out, throwing the stone.


    The troll turned and, spotting the black-haired priestess standing in the hallway, dashed toward her.


    Elrianthe began to run toward the dungeons, recognizing this as the only place where she could keep the monster for longer. The thick doors and solid walls should pose quite a challenge for him.


    With a slight advantage over the troll, Elrianthe managed to run downstairs. Hugging her back to the wall next to the entrance, she waited for the monster to descend.


    "Alison?" Jim asked, surprised.


    "You''d like that," she replied and used her skill.


    < Domination >


    [ Successfully acquiring a new puppet ]


    [ Jim Utter Level 3 ]


    [ Control: 100% ]


    [ Carl Rig Level 4 ]


    [ Control: 100% ]


    By taking control of both men, she had a slightly better chance of succeeding with her plan. She approached to open their cells, when suddenly a troll roared, running down the stairs.


    *GRRUUUUUUUUUH*


    "Stop him!" She called out, creating an Alison-like illusion in front of the cell, and then backed up against the wall.


    The troll, impetuously running down the stairs, spotted the woman and, charging inside, launched himself at the illusion, which disappeared just before contact. The speeding beast crashed into the metal bars, which failed to withstand the impact, and its head stuck between them.


    Elrianthe took advantage of the moment to run back upstairs. Closing the door behind her at the top of the stairs, she gained a moment to breathe and think about how to defeat this creature.


    "Miss Elrianthe! Are you all right?" Alison called out, clearly worried.


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    She walked out into the main hall a moment after Elrianthe dragged the threat away from the door of her room.


    "I''m fine, but I don''t know what''s going on with Gaz and Taygeer. They were outside, and Matt and the others..." she replied.


    "What about them?"


    "They''re dead. They died before my eyes," confessed Elrianthe, drained of energy.


    "It must have been difficult."


    "It''s not that I cared about them, but... I felt then how powerless I was. I ran away from there when they stepped to my defense. I ran filled with fear, like a child. I don''t want to live like that..." she lamented, sitting at the table.


    [ Puppet: Jim Utter was killed. ]


    ''This doesn''t help,'' she commented in her mind.


    "We have to do something about it, Alison. We can''t handle it in a typical clash. He is too strong to be defeated in a fight. He can regenerate instantly and is unpredictable, although one thing is certain - he loves to chase women... I don''t know what I should do," Elrianthe said.


    "You managed to drag him away, didn''t you?" Alison asked, sitting down next to her.


    [ Puppet: Carl Rig was killed. ]


    "I had to illusively take on your appearance to get him to pay attention to me..." she replied, ignoring the message.


    "But it worked, didn''t it? He started running after you. Take advantage of that. And as for regeneration..." Alison pondered. "He must have some kind of core that allows him to do that. I would bet on the heart, but you''ll have to check it yourself and attack that point."


    "How? My ability doesn''t even show his life level," replied Elrianthe.


    "But you have a second, more accurate ability that will work if you touch something," suggested Alison.


    "I doubt he''ll let me touch for that long..." she countered, reminding herself that it takes at least a few seconds to analyze concoctions, and the larger and more complicated the sample, the longer it takes.


    "He won''t have a choice," Alison stated, getting up from the table.


    Elrianthe looked at her with a questioning gaze. In the rush of thoughts, she didn''t notice that Alison had come up with an idea that had a real chance of success.


    "Elrianthe! Elrianthe!" A voice called out from the hallway.


    "Here!" She called out in response.


    "Elrianthe!" Cried Gaz again, running into the hall.


    "Why the hell are you shouting... I''m thinking. Can''t you see?"


    "Taygeer," choked out Gaz. "He''s badly injured. The potions don''t work."


    "No. No, no, no..." howled a terrified Elrianthe, before getting up and running out of the room.


    Elrianthe had only two people she could call friends: Alison and Taygeer. Losing anyone from Gaz''s gang didn''t matter much to her, but losing one of those two would be a real nightmare that she would prefer to avoid.


    As the troll moved to chase Elrianthe, it rammed Gaz, who fell nearby. Taygeer, trying to block the strike, failed to do so, and the monster''s sharp claws sunk into his body, causing deep wounds that were almost impossible to heal. The modest armor was unable to stop them.


    Taygeer lay on the ground, bound with rags to stop his bleeding wounds. Next to him lay empty vials of a healing potion, unfortunately, ineffective in his case. He was losing more and more blood by the minute.


    Gaz tried everything at his disposal to help him survive, but time was working against him. Finally, he decided to run for help.


    "Taygeer! Taygeeer!" Cried Elrianthe from a distance.


    ¡°Boss...¡± he mumbled.


    Elrianthe ran up to him, knelt beside him, and moved closer to assess his condition.


    "Taygeer, can you hear me? Taygeer, you will be fine. Hold on, please. Alison will heal you, okay? Stay with me. I beg of you," Elrianthe said nervously, recognizing the seriousness of the situation.


    ¡°Boss... I''m glad... You''re... fine...¡± he replied, barely making a sound.


    "Hold on a moment longer, okay? Alison is already running. Just a moment more," whispered Elrianthe, stroking his head gently.


    "Elrianthe. Thank you ... for ... what you did ... for us," mumbled Taygeer.


    Soon, Elrianthe kneeling by her companion, who was at death''s door, was joined by Alison and Gaz. As an experienced healer, Alison quickly assessed the injuries and knew she would not be able to help him. His lungs were damaged, his internal organs were crushed, and his major veins were ruptured.


    ¡°Alison, help him!¡± Elrianthe called out, in a shaky voice.


    "His wounds are too deep. I won''t be able to heal it. Only someone at the level of a Saint could help him," Alison declared.


    ¡°Please... Try,¡± asked Elrianthe as tears began to gather in her eyes.


    Alison moved closer and attempted treatment, but as she had already determined, it was not working. Her skills and the concoctions she created only supported the body''s natural regeneration. To force Taygeer''s body to rebuild, she would have to reconstruct most of the damaged tissues, which is beyond her capabilities.


    "Don''t worry... It''s fine. You gave me... freedom and... I wanted to... repay you," Taygeer said, looking with cloudy eyes at the weeping girl who had changed his life when he had lost all hope.


    "Taygeer... please. I don''t want to lose you," begged Elrianthe, wiping her cheeks wet with tears.


    "I will... follow... and support... you... always. Thank you... for everything."


    [ Puppet: Taygeer Breezetail was killed ]


    Elrianthe lost five puppets and a friend that day.

 Chapter 29 - Lament

    ''Why is this happening to me? Why does the world have to be so cruel to me? I have gained a new life, a new chance. But the evil fate from the past still weighs on me,'' lamented Elrianthe in her mind.


    Death. What is death? Not even death can separate me from the curse that rests on me. Wasn''t death supposed to be the end? It seems not, since I was reborn as an elf. What will happen if I die once again? I don''t want to think about that. I don''t want to end up in a world worse than this.


    So what about my friends? What about Taygeer? Will they have a chance for a better life?


    Even though my life on Earth was hell, I''m used to it. But... why do I have to experience it again? To endure the death of a friend once again?


    Is this what you want from me, you shitty universe? Fuck you!


    Before my life began to fall apart, I was privileged to meet two people who showed me more interest than I ever deserved.


    The first of these people was my school friend, Rafa?. He was the youngest of his siblings and by far the most ignored. Strange, isn''t it? Usually, the youngest are the most pampered. Well, in his case it was the opposite.


    His parents ran a catering business, and their goal was to prepare their children to take over the business, or at least to help it grow. His older brother was a true genius - at the age of just 17, he helped double the value of the company. His sister, on the other hand, was an excellent cook, and her original recipes and sense of customers allowed her to make a fortune in restaurants.


    And here was Rafa? - a complete counterbalance to his talented sibling. He poured over science, had no interest in the company, didn''t help, or even wanted to hear about the business. He was a strange guy who completely stood apart from his family.


    This brought our paths together. On the first day of middle school, he sat down with the most isolated student in the class - me.


    He didn''t want attention. And I completely ignored him at first. Since I was perceived as a freak at the time, others limited contact with me, and he, hoping for similar treatment, stuck close to me. That''s how we became friends.


    We went to classes together, met after school, and he even took me to dinners at a restaurant run by his sister when my wonderful parents forgot about me. Raphael was a good friend, albeit a bit detached.


    So why did the world decide to kill him?! My only friend! Raphael was stabbed to death in some kind of brawl in front of a restaurant. We were both fourteen years old.


    After I graduated from middle school, I met a girl named Natalia. She was a modest brunette with glasses who spent most of her day reading books and online novels. I met her on the train when she was forced to sit next to me because the rest of the seats were taken.


    She started reading a book about some monster hunter with two swords. This allowed her to ignore the people around her and that was a great idea, I have to admit. So I started reading along with her because I was bored of staring at the glass and had nothing else to kill the boredom.


    I did something unbelievable - I asked her about the book. I was interested in the content, and the desire to know it better only increased. It turned out that this shy girl can be extremely open when talking to someone with similar interests.


    A month later, we accidentally met in the library. In the meantime, I had managed to read two books from the series she read on the train that day. We talked for so long that the librarian had to kick us out because she was going to close the place, and we kept discussing the adventures of the monster hunter.


    As time went on, we started seeing each other more frequently, and I got to know her better and better. Our relationship developed so much that at one point we could already refer to each other as a couple. Sounds wonderful, doesn''t it? I had finally found my other half, who gave me honest affection.


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    However, one evening Natalia stopped hearing from me. After a few days, I found out that she didn''t even leave her room. Her parents did not know the reason for her behavior, accused me of hurting her, and would not let me talk to her. Finally, after all, Natalia opened the apartment door herself. She looked terrible, like a wreck of a person. Crying and with great difficulty, she confessed to me what had happened.


    She had been raped by some drunken thugs and was now pregnant.


    Fuck. It was like a slap in the face.


    I loved that girl. Even if it came to raising her child, I would do it for her. After all, I can''t fail more than my parents, right? I was ready for it.


    The next day I received only a short message:


    ¡°Thank you for everything. I don''t want to make your life more difficult with my problems. Maybe we will meet in a better world.¡±


    She died under the wheels of a truck. Suicide. She was only 16 years old.


    I thought I was cursed. Did they die just because we started a good relationship? I don''t know. Why do I still think about it?


    Taygeer. Friend. Another person who lost his life because of me. It reminded me why I haven''t had anyone close to me for the past 14 years.


    ''Will the same thing happen to her?'' thought Elrianthe, looking at Alison, who was sitting across from her in a carriage heading to the city of Pershore.


    ''No. I will do anything to protect those close to me. I will kill anyone, even if the goddess of death herself stands before me!'' she vowed.


    The top of the mountain...


    ¡°Huh? Someone call me?¡± Morana snapped out of her place, awakened from the sleep she had been enjoying in her dragon form.


    ¡°I''ve been trying to wake you up for hours,¡± replied an irritated Sybil.


    ¡°And it was so good to sleep...¡± sighed Morana, yawning.


    The dragoness turned around, standing on her paws in a wide stride, and began to stretch like a cat. Only then did she look in Sybil''s direction, at which not two, but three balls of light were already circling.


    ¡°Oh? Your guard didn''t make it?¡± Morana asked surprised.


    ¡°That''s why I tried to wake you up...¡±


    ¡°So? How did things go?¡±


    ¡°He certainly managed to drive them out, but he doesn''t want to confess to me how he died,¡± replied Sybil, looking suspiciously at the third ball of light.


    ¡°Good. I gave my word, didn''t I? What kind of goddess would I be if I broke my own promise?¡± stated Morana, turning toward the ruins of the stronghold.


    ¡°Do you want to go there?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I could use a little muscle-stretching. And you,¡± Morana pointed with her claw at the troll''s soul, ¡® you''re coming with me.¡¯


    The dragoness spread her mighty black wings and, thrusting out with them into the air, raised huge amounts of snow fluff enveloping the mountain. Gliding in a circle around the forest, she finally landed in front of the stronghold.


    *Bang*


    Settling to the ground, she shook the foundations of the rocky structure, from which several stones fell. Had it not been for her efforts to brake before landing, she might have contributed to the collapse of the stronghold, which was already in a deplorable state.


    ¡°Oh, you''ve really stiffened up from lying on that mountain,¡± she muttered to herself.


    Coming closer, she spotted the collapsed tower, around which lay the corpses of the people the guard had confronted. Her attention was drawn to the bodies lying farthest from the walls.


    ¡°The priest of the Five Supreme? What was he doing here? There is also a sorceress. I doubt they belong to a group led by an elf. Why did you kill them?¡± Morana asked the troll''s soul.


    However, the troll was not eager to answer. He was afraid of his master''s reaction.


    After the death of his partner, he was left alone, endowed with immortality by his master. After many years of loneliness, his obsession with women grew to the point that he went crazy even at the sight of a human woman. He longed to have someone for himself, longed to have a partner again. So he began kidnapping women, for which he was severely punished by Sybil, who kept watch over her guards even after her death.


    ¡°I see that you are afraid to answer. I understand. You don''t have to be afraid. Sybil won''t find out,¡± Morana added, but the troll remained silent.


    ¡°That''s okay. I''ll find out from them,¡± she said, approaching the body of the fallen sorceress.


    < Death''s Domain: Summoning the Fallen >

 Chapter 30 - Retrospection

    Morana, using her divine privilege, reached for an ability that allowed her to extract the remnants of a fallen person''s shattered soul to learn the circumstances of his death. It was not the true soul of the deceased, but only an echo of it.


    < Death''s Domain: Summoning the Fallen >


    A black mist began to surround the sorceress''s corpse, and when it completely covered it, the mist lifted, forming a cloud that resembled the body lying beneath it.


    ¡°Tell me, Kanra, what were you doing here and how did you die?¡± Morana asked, with a loud dragon voice.


    Kanra''s echo bowed to Morana and began answering her questions.


    ¡°We were sent out as a reconnaissance group to investigate what causes the monsters in this forest to migrate outside its borders. During our expedition, we came across a troll. Our leader decided that he must be the mentioned culprit, and decided to attack,¡± replied the echoing Kanra in a monotone voice stripped of any emotions.


    ¡°So you all died through your own fault?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We did not properly assess the threat posed by the troll, which ended in the deaths of the leader Mirek, and the hunter Neitor. The priest and I tried to take cover in the ruins, but we failed to escape the troll,¡± the echo replied in one breath.


    ¡°Another reckless amateurs. Leave,¡± ordered Morana, and the cloud dissolved into the air, with no trace left behind.


    The dragoness looked around the square in front of the ruins, where the fight with the elf group had taken place. Not spotting the troll''s corpse anywhere, she looked at the rammed entrance.


    ¡°They dragged you inside? You should know that''s a bad idea,¡± Morana commented, lecturing the troll. ¡°We''ll have to go inside.¡±


    Of course, in her dragon form, Morana was too big to fit through the narrow corridors.


    Her body began to blur as if disintegrating into finer particles, forming a cloud. Once all of it was covered in a black fog, she began transforming into human form. This was an extremely rare ability; only dragons at the very peak of power could adopt human form.


    When the fog descended, her figure appeared. Glistening black hair with purple accents fell to her exposed shoulders. Two thick braids, forming at neck level, dangled freely, reaching past her waist. Loose bangs, with single strands falling over perfectly shaped black eyebrows, covered her forehead. The cold, judgmental gaze of her violet eyes, highlighted by black makeup, pierced through soul and body. Fine lips, accented with dark purple lip gloss, added to her mysteriousness. Her pale, delicate facial skin looked very young, and her short height, not exceeding 170 centimeters, did not reveal an age counted in thousands of years.


    She was dressed in a high-quality gothic court dress with a corset and a deep-cut neckline that clearly emphasized her abundant breasts. She wore an ornate necklace of black silk, also in the Gothic style, which wrapped around her entire neck. Long wide sleeves draped over her arms, ending mid-shoulder, but not merging with the dress. The whole look was complemented by black leather, heeled shoes.


    ¡°Shall we go?¡± Asked Morana, turning to the accompanying ball of light that led her inside the fortress.


    Following the troll''s soul, Morana looked around, remembering how powerful this fortress was 250 years ago when a garrison of Salnian troops was stationed here. The mighty walls and solid reinforcements were filled with followers of the ancient Salnian pantheon, in which Morana played a key role, worshipped by all social classes.


    ¡°Ah, those were the days,¡± she sighed as the nostalgia of years gone by overwhelmed her.


    ''I''d like to get it all back someday,'' Morana thought, feeling weakened after losing many of her followers.


    Her former power faded away when the Salnian Kingdom was conquered by the Newigdon Empire, and the truce terms adopted a new religion within the kingdom''s borders.


    The ball of light passed the main hall and stopped at the corpse of a troll that lay next to the exit of the corridor leading to the dungeons. He was lying in a pool of stagnant blood that had drained out through a large wound on his back. Interestingly, he also had a deep cut on his neck, as if someone had tried to decapitate him, but the blade had stopped at his spinal cord.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Interesting. Do you want to tell me how it happened?¡± Asked an intrigued Morana.


    ¡°They. Cheated. Me,¡± she heard in reply as the bullet flashed by.


    ¡°They cheated?¡±


    ¡°Don''t know. Don''t understand,¡± the sphere replied.


    ¡°That''s too bad because I''m really curious about it. I think I need to use my power again.¡±


    Morana approached the troll''s corpse, placing her right hand on its head, and summoned a thick book with her left hand.


    < Death''s Domain: Life Review >


    The book opened, and a strong light swept Morana along with the troll''s soul into another reality. It was an artificial dimension, created as a record of all the experiences of the fallen troll''s life, which were preserved in the form of a book. Morana, as the goddess of death, could open this book and relive his last moments with him.


    ¡°We''ll start from the beginning,¡± Morana said, rewinding the scenery to when the troll emerged from the forest, heading toward the ruins of the stronghold.


    A group of adventurers began walking toward him. The troll was attacked, and although they posed no threat to him, the extremely severe fire spells cast by the sorceress Kanra only enraged him.


    ¡°It must have hurt, right?¡± Morana asked.


    ¡°Yes. Hurt. A lot,¡± replied the ball of light.


    The leader of the group died trying to control his rage. The troll tore apart his body in one fell swoop, then dashed toward the sorceress.


    ¡°Okay, we know how it started. Go on...¡± acknowledged Morana, scrolling forward through the events.


    She saw that after killing the hunter who stood in his way, the sorceress and the priest began to flee, but the troll caught them at the walls of the fortress. Then an archer from the tower called for help and started shooting at it. In a moment, others appeared.


    Morana watched the events with great attention until an elf finally appeared on the scene. Then she understood why the troll was afraid to admit to Sybil why he had lost his temper.


    ¡°I don''t blame you. I have to admit that she is really beautiful. Many would probably go crazy over her,¡± Morana stated.


    ¡°Me. Stupid.¡±


    Moving in pursuit of the elf woman, he ran inside and, meeting the other woman, changed his target of pursuit.


    ¡°Hmm? And why is that?¡±


    ¡°Black. Like fur. My female¡± recounted the troll soul.


    ¡°I see. You were reminded of your partner.¡±


    ¡°But this one. Do not want.¡±


    The elven woman, changing her appearance, dragged the troll to the dungeons, where he was locked up with two men who also died by his hand. When he finally freed himself after being stuck in the bars, he went back upstairs after the scent. The thick door, however, proved to be a difficult obstacle, and it took him a long while to force his way through.


    He finally managed to get out of the dungeons and stood in the corridor. At the end of it, the elven woman was already waiting. The troll roared and dashed off to charge at the woman. The end of the corridor seemed to be moving away, which Morana noticed, but the troll ran at full speed on four paws.


    *Bang*


    The beast hit the wall with momentum and, stunned, fell to the ground.


    Suddenly, a voice rang out from the depths of the room, calling the troll. Turning in that direction, he saw a black-haired priestess.


    *Bang*


    The troll banged his head against another wall with all his might. Morana, looking around, noticed that the elven woman was circling the hall, changing her appearance like a chameleon among the flora. She entered the corridor from which the troll had just run out and set up another illusion there, then called out to him, attracting his attention.


    ¡°Don''t tell me you''re going to fall for it again?¡± commented Morana, in disbelief.


    ¡°...¡±


    The troll sluggishly rose from the floor and ran toward the illusion, hitting the wall once again. Stunned from the impact, he fell on his stomach. The elven woman called out to the man for help, and he, running up to the troll, slammed the axe into the troll''s neck, paralyzing his body as the spinal cord was severed.


    The elf woman walked up to him and put her hand on his back. At this time, a second woman appeared and handed the elven woman a sword covered with a strong magical aura. The elven woman pressed the sword against the troll''s body, trying to target a specific spot, and then, in one swift movement, sank the entire blade into his body.


    ¡°So that''s how you died. I understand. They must have destroyed your magical core responsible for regeneration and taken advantage of your weakness for womens to achieve this. An interesting strategy. This elf... is an interesting case,¡± Morana stated.


    ¡°Elf?¡±


    ¡°She is a pure-blooded elf. An extremely rare race these days. But she is incredibly, hmm, weak. I can''t say more. What we''ve looked at are only memories. I can''t see through her body or soul to get to know her better. It remains for me to meet her in person,¡± she decided, closing the book, which brought them back to reality.


    Morana stretched and yawned.


    ¡°This session was very demanding. I think I''ll take a nap for a while,¡± she said to herself, noticing a bed in the corner of the room.

 Chapter 31 - Road to town

    [ Achievement Received: Conqueror of the Crow Forest ]


    [ Conqueror of the Crow Forest - achievement awarded to the person who defeated all three Crow Forest guardians in a direct clash. ]


    [ Reward: 50,000 free XP and the ability to choose any Class A passive skill for free ]


    Elrianthe browsed through the backlog of messages, wishing for a moment to take her thoughts away from her grief over the loss of her friend. He certainly wouldn''t want her to lament his death endlessly.


    Although she felt that she could have prevented all this, she did not want Taygeer''s decision to sacrifice his life in her defense to be considered a waste. She believed that his soul would follow her, just as he had promised before he passed away. She had to accept his choice and move on.


    [ +16,500 XP ]


    [ +3300 free XP ]


    Killing the troll also gave her a significant increase in experience points, but it didn''t matter much anymore, since the class change would reset her level anyway. Knowing that switching to the Grim Shepherd class would give her telepathic communication with her puppets, she didn''t want to delay any longer. If she had decided to make this change earlier, she could have affected the outcome of the clash with the troll. With that, she was in danger of hesitating. The world would not wait for Elrianthe to finally make a decision. She convinced herself that she needed to be more decisive and always ready for anything.


    [ Would you like to change your class to Grim Shepherd?]


    ''Yes,'' she thought, approving her choice.


    [ The class change has been successful. The host level was reset and the system was adjusted to the new conditions. ]


    [ A new skill < Tie with the herd > has been received ]


    < Tie with the herd > (Class B, class skill) - the host receives the ability to communicate telepathically with his puppets.


    ''I have to try it out somehow,'' thought Elrianthe.


    Tie: ''Gaz? I''m testing the ability. Can you answer me?'' she asked, using telepathy.


    Tie: ''God, I thought I went crazy. Suddenly I heard your voice in my head. You could have warned me that you have this ability.''


    Tie: ''I changed my class. I just received it.''


    Tie: ''It will probably come in handy more than once. Do you need anything?''


    Tie: ''How much distance do we have left to the city?''


    Tie: ''Three hours drive.''


    ''Doesn''t he address me too casually?¡± thought Elrianthe, somewhat surprised by Gaz''s directness.


    [ Puppet Management: ]


    [ Gaz Prum ]


    [ Level 10 ]


    [ Control: 25% ]


    ''I forgot. Reduced control by new class.''


    With a long journey still ahead of her, Elrianthe decided to review the system, available upgrades, and new skills.


    [ Status ]


    [ Name: Elrianthe Atlanta ]


    [ Level: 1 (0/1000 XP) +53,760 ]


    [ Class: Grim Shepherd ]


    [ Health points: 270/270 ]


    [ Magic points: 568/580 ]


    [ Exhaustion: 9/100 ]


    ''With so much free XP, I can advance to a higher level again, but why do I need as many as 1,000 points to be promoted? Did the conditions change after the class change?''


    After transferring the required number of XP, Elrianthe advanced to the second level.


    [ Level: 2 (0/1500 XP) +52,760 ]


    [ Received 1 development point and 2 stat points ]


    ''Oh, great. Even more numbers...'' she sighed, noticing a new kind of points to give out.


    Elrianthe went to a new tab, and a window with statistics appeared on the screen.


    [ Host stats:


    Strength: 1


    Agility: 2


    Condition: 0


    Intelligence: 6


    Knowledge: 1


    Perception: 1


    Presence: 4


    Mentality: 8 ]


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    The numbers alone didn''t say much, so Elrianthe decided to explore the definitions of each statistic to find out what they were responsible for. Although they didn''t look complicated and resembled basic RPG mechanics, a brief moment of study never hurt.


    The first three statistics were responsible for the body:


    Strength, in addition to its obvious role, also affects the number of health points, the body''s resistance to damage received, and its regeneration.


    Agility, on the other hand, facilitated better control of the body, increasing athletic agility, precision of movement and speed.


    Condition allows one to perform activities for a longer period of time before the body began to feel fatigue and Exhaustion increased. It also helped reduce this state.


    The next three statistics dealt with senses and magic:


    Intelligence was a basic statistic for magic users and skills using mana. It increased the effectiveness of spells and facilitated the assimilation of information and the mastery of complex spells.


    Knowledge influenced the efficiency of spells and skills, reducing the consumption of magic resources and accelerating their regeneration.


    Perception made it possible to perceive threats earlier, detect the presence and attitude of others, and assess their power.


    The last two statistics concerned personality:


    Presence influenced how others perceived our persona. It facilitated conversation, persuasion, intimidation, and the general perception of our presence, as did charisma.


    The last statistic is Mentality. If Presence shaped the way our surroundings perceived us, then Mentality influenced how we ourselves perceived our surroundings. It played an important role in mental resilience, reducing stress, pain and negative influences on our psyche. It also defends against mental attacks.


    After reviewing all the definitions, she took another look at her statistics and found them to be quite accurately arranged, especially her condition, which was at zero.


    ''A high level of mentality probably allowed me to survive this hell,'' she reflected.


    Spending nearly 20,000 experience points, she managed to advance to level 7, gaining more points to hand out in the process.


    [ Level: 7 (0/11391 XP) +32,979 ]


    [ 3 development points and 12 stats points available ]


    [ Stats:


    Strength: 1


    Agility: 2


    Conditioning: 0


    Intelligence: 10


    Knowledge: 3


    Perception: 1


    Presentation: 8


    Mentality: 10 ]


    ''That should be fine,'' she concluded after the points were distributed.


    Now all that was left for her to do was to choose one of the passives for free and invest 3 development points. Elrianthe opened the store tab and browsed through all the passives available to her for a good quarter of an hour. Finally, she decided to choose.


    (Class A, Illusion) - A passive skill that supports spells and illusion-based skills, it involves the emission of an odorless volatile substance through the skin. A target who is under the influence of pheromones becomes more susceptible to the effects of illusions and is less likely to detect them. In addition, the host can mask illusions in the area of the effect of pheromones more effectively, and by surrounding himself with a high concentration of pheromones, he lowers the cost of maintaining illusions and prevents them from being neutralized in conditions that block the use of magic.


    ¡°Miss Elrianthe,¡± spoke up unexpectedly from Alison.


    ¡°What is it?¡± replied Elrianthe, putting off rummaging through the system.


    ¡°When we get to the town, please hide your identity,¡± suggested Alison.


    ¡°You mean my ears? Are you worried that people might recognize me?¡±


    ¡°I don''t want you to face unnecessary aggression and potential danger,¡± replied Alison.


    ¡°Do people really hate elves that much?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You could cause quite a stir in the city.¡±


    ¡°I never asked that. Tell me, why? Where did this prejudice against elves come from?¡± asked Elrianthe.


    ¡°History,¡± replied Alison briefly.


    ¡°Tell me. I don''t know much about history and people.¡±


    Alison, after a moment''s hesitation, began to tell the history of her world:


    ¡°About two thousand years ago, spatial distortions began to appear in various places on the continent, transforming into breaches between dimensions. When such a breach was opened, our world collided with the world on the other side, which often resulted in disasters in which many people died.¡±


    ¡°From what? From the mere merging of the two worlds?¡±


    ¡°No. From meeting the inhabitants on the other side of the passage. Monsters, who mercilessly murdered dozens of people. The opening of the gate between the worlds could not be avoided, and when enough people died to feed the gate; it opened permanently. Many cities fell after such an invasion. However, people discovered that it was possible to close the passage by defeating monsters and destroying a core called the Abyssal Crystal. Soon, large groups of adventurous fighters began to form at the places where the breach appeared, in order to close the passage and seize the black crystal. These heroes often gained great glory and wealth. They became idols for ordinary people, who admired their courage and thanked them for protecting them.¡±


    ¡°You mean to tell me that the elves also came out of such a breach?¡±


    ¡°It''s not entirely clear that they did.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Some historians believe that it was not a breach, but rather a portal that allowed the elves to move to us from their world, which was a coincidence. Others, on the other hand, claim that the elves were responsible for all the commotion with the breach, in order to weaken the humans and attack at a convenient moment. The fact is, however, that they showed up prepared and armed in numbers as high as 50,000. The heroes who arrived recognized them as invaders from another world and clashed with them, which started the First Continental War, in which some 600,000 warriors fell. From that day on, the elves were considered mortal enemies.¡±


    ¡°I understand. It''s not easy to forgive an eternal enemy. In both cases, the elves chose this planet. Is it known why? Why did they want to leave their home?¡±


    ¡°Hardly anyone was interested in it, but the books mention that their home planet was about to be destroyed, which could have led to the extinction of the entire species. In desperation, the elves decided to open a portal to another inhabited world to save themselves.¡±


    ¡°Fleeing misfortune, they themselves became misfortune for another world, which hated them for it.¡±


    ¡°If it had all ended in one war, maybe in time they could have reached an agreement with the natives. The elves sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, the humans refused to give up and united against the elves in the Second Continental War. The effects of this several-year struggle were felt for centuries to come. Many people died, too many... Losses were estimated in the millions. A third of the continent''s population died in this merciless war, and its aftermath killed another half. Human civilization was on the verge of collapse, and monsters began to dominate over larger and larger areas. I can''t even imagine how difficult life must have been in those days.¡±


    Elrianthe silently contemplated the story told by Alison. With the history of the world from her previous life in mind, she was able to imagine the difficulties the people of the planet had to face at that time. Finally, Alison interrupted her thoughts again.


    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    Elrianthe nodded in confirmation.


    ¡°Your name... I mean... which family do you belong to?¡± asked Alison timidly.


    ¡°Atlanta,¡± replied Elrianthe, glancing at the name appearing on her status.


    Alison felt confused after hearing the answer. She didn''t expect to ever meet someone from the very top of the elven hierarchy. Although the name of the elven royal family was a taboo subject, Alison, thanks to her stubbornness, arrived at this information while she was still serving in the chapel.


    A smile finally dawned on her face. She stood up from her seat, knelt before Elrianthe, and pledged her lifelong devotion.


    ¡°I place myself fully at your disposal, Your Majesty,¡± she said.

 Chapter 32 - First time in the town

    A surprised Elrianthe looked at the kneeling Alison.


    ''Your Highness? Please...'' she thought, recognizing that Alison was exaggerating again.


    ¡°Stand up, please, and listen to me carefully. I am neither a goddess nor any queen. I am a person just like you. Enslaved and trying to survive, do you understand?¡± said Elrianthe.


    ¡°But after all, you are-¡±


    ¡°Shh. There are no ''buts''... I want to be your friend, Alison. I want to be able to rely on your support and care, do you understand? I value my friendship with you. I don''t want to treat you like a subordinate, nor do I want you to treat me like your mistress. That''s not what friendship is about.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I''m glad you put it that way. From the beginning, I wanted to form a strong bond with you. You gave me hope and lent me a helping hand when others turned away. I want to be close and support you as much as possible,¡± Alison confessed.


    ¡°I''m glad to have met you. You are really a great help,¡± replied Elrianthe with a smile.


    ¡°I''m happy to help you in any situation,¡± added Alison.


    The road to the town of Pershore passed them in the blink of an eye. However, before they reached its borders, the cart passed two more villages that looked deserted. The fields were empty, even though the harvest season was underway. The doors and windows of the huts were closed, some boarded up to prevent anything from getting in. There was no light in the immediate area, even though the evening was approaching, and any moment now, everything would be shrouded in darkness.


    Gaz didn''t pay any attention to it, and Elrianthe didn''t have the faintest idea about this world, so she decided to ignore it. Why should they care about the lives of villagers when their own fates were headed in an unknown direction? Don''t get involved if it doesn''t concern you. This principle saved Elrianthe from trouble many times in her previous life.


    Finally, Elrianthe caught sight of the town''s walls. Several meters high fortifications stood proudly on the outskirts, defending the residents behind them.


    Gaz stopped at the southern gate, one of three leading into the inner city. A guard in armor with a stitched badge on his chest, armed with a sword and shield, approached Gaz and asked for documents.


    After a routine inspection, the cart moved on. Although a tarp covered the compartment behind the wagon driver, they entered the city without checking the cargo. Gaz steered the horse toward the inn, where they hoped to spend the next two days. Eventually, they stopped, and Gaz let the others know they could get off.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Alison stopped Elrianthe as she took her leave.


    ¡°I remember,¡± Elrianthe replied, putting the illusion on her ears so they were no different from human ears.


    ¡°It''s about something else,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Forgive me if you find this inappropriate,¡± warned Alison, then gave Elrianthe a big hug.


    Surprised by the sudden approach, Elrianthe didn''t know how to respond properly.


    ¡°I know it''s hard for you. I can see how you are suppressing all this inside you. You will be fine. You''re strong and I believe you''ll make it through. If you need anything, I''m here for you,¡± Alison said quietly.


    Elrianthe embraced her and snuggled in even tighter. Her pleasant scent and sensitive touch reminded Elrianthe of the care and closeness of another person that she missed so much. The tears that ran down her cheeks testified to how much she needed it.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Girls, I told you that you can already leave- Oh,¡± Gaz, tilting back the sheet, saw Elrianthe cuddled in Alison''s arms. ¡°I''m sorry, I''m not bothering you anymore.¡±


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    ¡°That''s okay. We''re on our way,¡± Elrianthe replied, rubbing her wet cheeks.


    Elrianthe got out of the cart and was finally able to look around to see what the town from another world looked like. What she saw resembled nothing out of the ordinary.


    A wide main road stretched through the city, leading to the market in its center. Tall, gray buildings of stone and wood surrounded her on all sides. Narrow alleyways encroached between them, leading to less secure corners.


    From Elrianthe''s perspective, the city looked very typical of medieval imagery, especially from games and movies.


    ¡°It doesn''t look... extraordinary,¡± Elrianthe commented under her breath.


    ¡°It''s one of the smaller cities in the region. There''s nothing to expect,¡± replied Gaz, puzzled by her comment. ¡°Have you ever been to a human city?¡±


    ¡°I think not,¡± replied Elrianthe, clearly confused.


    ¡°In that case, let me arrange what you need, I have some connections here,¡± assured Gaz.


    Immediately, Gaz headed for the inn, and the girls followed him. As they went inside, they heard a bell ring as the door opened.


    Elrianthe looked around the interior. Numerous tables, benches, and armchairs suggested that the premises also served as a tavern or bar. Even so, she didn''t see many customers.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Prum. I wasn''t expecting you until tomorrow at the earliest. What brings you to town so early?¡± asked the tavern owner, who emerged from the back room.


    ¡°Hello, Roland. I had to change plans,¡± Gaz replied.


    ¡°Did you get hit by monster attacks, too? Working as a traveling merchant is a dangerous business. I told you that you should settle here and open a store,¡± remarked Roland, an older man who seemed to be on good terms with Gaz.


    ¡°I prefer... to travel,¡± Gaz replied nervously, looking for an excuse.


    Elrianthe''s gaze shook him as he realized that by hiding his real ''job'' from Roland, he had reduced her to a mere product on display at a stall.


    ¡°Oh, I understand. Traveling is definitely more worthwhile for you. Finding such beauties in our city would border on the miraculous. I''m glad you''re doing well after all, Mr. Prum,¡± Roland added with a smile.


    Alison and Elrianthe exchanged glances, barely holding back a burst of laughter, but managed to contain themselves so as not to raise unnecessary doubts in their innkeeper. It''s better that they don''t have to look for another cover.


    ¡°Yes, haha. I think I''m lucky,¡± replied Gaz, swallowing with a struggle.


    ¡°I''ll assign you one of the larger rooms with thick walls. You''ll be able to enjoy your privacy to your heart''s content,¡± Roland decided, reaching for a key tucked in the reception counter.


    Tie: ¡°I''m not going to sleep in one room with you,¡± protested Elrianthe.


    ¡°In fact, I''ll take two separate rooms. Next to each other. With access to a private bath,¡± replied Gaz to Roland''s suggestion.


    ¡°Oh, this way. Well, all right. Here are the keys,¡± replied Roland, placing three brass keys on the countertop, which were tied to small plates with door numbers.


    ¡°Thank you, Roland. By the way, you mentioned monster attacks. Could you elaborate on that?¡± asked Gaz, referring to Elrianthe''s request.


    ¡°Don''t you know? Some kind of unusual plague of monsters began to occur in the areas bordering the Crow Forest, causing people to have to leave their homes and flee,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Do you know the reason?¡±


    ¡°The guild claims that some stronger monster has appeared in the forest, causing others to start leaving the forest in search of new territories. I don''t know the details. You would have to ask them directly.¡±


    ¡°Thank you in any case, Roland. Have a good evening,¡± replied Gaz.


    ¡°Have fun,¡± replied Roland, following the blonde with his eyes. ¡°Ah, the young ones.¡±


    Elrianthe took the key from Gaz and entered her room. For obvious reasons, she decided to share it with Alison. Although she didn''t suspect Gaz of having a tendency toward aggressive sexual politics, she preferred to make sure he didn''t have any opportunity to do so. She would rather give herself to Gaz alone and satisfy his desire, just so Alison could sleep peacefully. On the other hand, thinking about it made her body start to react, demanding it to some extent.


    As nasty as it sounds, Carl has contributed in some ways to Elrianthe getting used to her new body and identity. Of course, she would never forget who she was before, which was a major blockage against accidentally falling in love with another man. However, she wouldn''t turn down good sex, especially after seeing how intense her sensations could be. The thought of it aroused desire in her, but every time she remembered life in the cell, which destroyed her mood. She wanted to change that to get rid of the trauma. Experiencing new and powerful sensations that would bring her pleasure should largely help replace the pain left behind by Carl.


    ¡°Should I try it?¡± said Elrianthe under her breath, pondering the right choice.


    ¡°Go ahead. You deserve it,¡± replied Alison.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I see you''re tired. You should rest. There''s nothing to think about.¡±


    ¡°Ah, well, yes. Good. That''s what I meant.¡±


    ¡°I''ll wake you up before breakfast,¡± Alison added.


    ¡°Thank you. Close the door for the night,¡± said Elrianthe, then fell asleep momentarily.

 Chapter 33 - Morning at the inn

    The last day before meeting the Marquis...


    Elrianthe woke up early in the morning. The first rays of sunlight came through the uncovered window, illuminating the interior. After rubbing her eyes and a few yawns, she noticed that Alison''s bed was already made up and her friend was absent. Seeing no alarming signs, she decided to lie back on the bed.


    However, she didn''t want to fall asleep again, so she opened the system and checked today''s challenges. They were remarkably unusual, and one of them required her to do some shopping. However, the task did not specify what the shopping was to be about. Elrianthe wasn''t going to spend the whole day in her room; she had already thought about exploring the city yesterday. She could complete this fun challenge on occasion.


    She reminded herself that she still had 3 development points to use. Turning to the [ Development Tree ], she noticed that even here there were changes after selecting a new class.


    [ Choose one of the available options; available choices: 3 ]


    [ +2 any stat points ]


    [ +1 level for any skill ]


    [ Expansion for any skill ]


    [ Random effect or skill from the available pool ]


    Elrianthe already knew what she wanted to invest in. She first raised the level of < Illusory Aura > to 5. She then invested +2 points in Presence, raising it to 10. She spent the last point on getting a new expansion for < Pheromones of the Deceiver >.


    < Blind eavesdropping > - When the host closes his eyes, he gains the ability to eavesdrop on the thoughts of those within range of the pheromones.


    ''Hey, this is terribly excessive! I can read people''s minds? This is a violation of people''s basic right to privacy! But I''m not human anymore... The ability to read minds can save my life more than once,'' thought Elrianthe, recognizing the enormous potential of this ability.


    Without any hesitation, she spent nearly 8,500 free XP to develop the < Pheromones of the Deceiver > skill to level 6. This gave her an increased amount and speed of pheromone emission, reduced sensitivity of targets under their influence, higher efficiency of pheromone-assisted illusions, and a further reduction in the cost of using these skills.


    There was the sound of footsteps in the corridor. Elrianthe''s room was at the end of it, so it wasn''t hard to guess that it was Alison or Gaz. She decided to test her new ability.


    She released pheromones which quickly filled the entire room like a fog. They were invisible to anyone except Elrianthe, who was frankly surprised at how quickly she could spread them.


    The door handle moved, and Elrianthe turned to face the wall, still lying on her bed.


    Wire: ''Ah, how cute she looks when she sleeps. But she shouldn''t stick her butt out like that. She provokes guys. It''s a good thing she''s here with me.''


    ''Alison...'' thought Elrianthe, holding back a laugh at her remarks.


    Wire: ''I brought my favorite breakfast. I hope she''ll like it.''


    ''Okay, that''s enough. I don''t want to invade her privacy,'' thought Elrianthe, pretending to wake up, and turning on the other side.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± said Alison with a smile.


    ¡°Hey, Alison. Did you bring breakfast?¡± she asked, stretching out on the bed.


    ¡°Of course. Please enjoy,¡± Alison replied, placing a wooden plate on the table.


    Elrianthe got out of bed and sat down at the table. There were two portions on the plate - for her and Alison. In a wooden flat bowl lay an omelet of eggs, fried sausages, some beans in sauce, and a few slices of bread. Everything was fresh and prepared by the owner himself.


    ''I didn''t think I''d eat better here than in my previous life,'' thought Elrianthe, then set about to eat.


    The huge smile on Alison''s face betrayed how happy she was to see Elrianthe, who was clearly pleased to try everything one by one.


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    ¡°This is the best breakfast I''ve ever had in my life,¡± Elrianthe commented, pushing the empty bowl away.


    ¡°I''m glad you enjoyed it. It''s my favorite breakfast,¡± replied Alison proudly.


    ¡°Really?¡± asked Elrianthe, faking surprise. ¡°Then I want to know more of your favorite dishes,¡± she added.


    ¡°I''ll be happy to prepare them! As soon as we''re free...¡± replied Alison.


    Her enthusiasm quickly cooled when she remembered the situation they were in. Both were still slaves, and Elrianthe was to be sold to the marquis as early as tomorrow. Although Alison did not know the detailed plans, she trusted Elrianthe unconditionally. She was confident that she had everything thought out and was pursuing the best course of action.


    ¡°I was thinking of visiting some stores, but I don''t have a broken penny with me. Do you think someone will buy back some of your potions?¡± asked Elrianthe.


    ¡°I think they will. I don''t have the faintest idea how much they''ll offer for them, though. If you want to go out on the town, take Gaz with you. I don''t want you to be alone,¡± replied Alison.


    ¡°Sure. I don''t want to get lost, after all. It will be faster with Gaz,¡± assured Elrianthe, getting up from the table. ¡°Don''t you want to come with me?¡±


    ¡°We''ll attract too much attention. I''m still walking around in my priestess outfit,¡± replied Alison.


    Elrianthe glanced at her own clothes, which she had borrowed from Mitta. His pants, shirt, and a few other items of his clothing were in much better condition than the rest of the gang. Still, Elrianthe had to adjust everything to fit her figure.


    ''I should also look around for something new,'' she thought, looking at the shirt that barely contained her abundant breasts. Since she had started eating properly, her body had taken on an even sexier shape.


    ¡°Thank you for the delicious breakfast, Alison. I''m going to take this day to the limit,¡± she said, waving goodbye.


    Gaz appeared after a short while. Elrianthe was already waiting for him at the front door of the inn.


    ¡°Do you have money?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I do, but why are we spending my savings?¡±


    Elrianthe measured him with a stern look.


    ¡°Aren''t you supposed to make a fortune on me tomorrow?¡± she threw in response to his doubts.


    ¡°Right, but now it won''t be my fortune anymore,¡± he said.


    ¡°The savings aren''t just yours anymore either. They are ours,¡± she replied, pushing open the door.


    ¡°That''s right, my lady,¡± sighed Gaz, and they headed toward the market.


    ¡°What were you planning to do later?¡± asked Elrianthe suddenly.


    ¡°Later?¡±


    ¡°After you sell me,¡± she specified.


    ¡°And what would I do...¡± burbled Gaz, avoiding an honest answer.


    ¡°You mentioned about savings yourself. I doubt you''re collecting to rebuild your hideout. Am I wrong?¡± asked Elrianthe, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°No... Well, the others are dead, so they won''t find out that I planned to abandon them. It''s been going on too long. If it weren''t for you, I might have bolted long ago,¡± he replied.


    ¡°What about Alison?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Alison? What does she have to do with this?¡± wondered Gaz.


    ¡°Don''t pretend you have nothing to do with her.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know what you''re talking about,¡± he insisted.


    ¡°Alison spent a whole month in that cell and not a hair fell off her head. Were the ruthless bandits afraid of divine punishment for hurting the priestess? Or did someone at the head of this group forbid it? Hmm?¡±


    Gaz did not answer this question.


    ''I can read your mind, Gaz. I know you have a crush on her,'' thought Elrianthe.


    ¡°I can see how you look at her. I also noticed that she is not comfortable in your presence. You wanted to take her with you, didn''t you? You tried to talk to her, but she refused. She wasn''t interested in you. Even though you let go, the others were afraid to approach her anyway, because they knew they could lose their fingers for it,¡± Elrianthe said.


    ¡°How do you know all this?¡± he asked shocked.


    ¡°I''m neither blind nor stupid. I put the facts together,¡± she replied with a devious smile, then entered one of the stores.


    The place they entered was empty. Most of the merchandise offered by the store hung freely on the walls or was spread out on elongated countertops.


    Tie: ¡°Aren''t they afraid of thieves?¡± she asked Gaz.


    Tie: ¡°The shopkeeper probably has protection, but why is there no one behind the cash desk...¡±


    Elrianthe browsed through the items for sale like shoes, gloves, necklaces, and rings.


    Then they both heard a fierce argument in the back room. The shopkeeper was shouting at some thug who wanted to force money from him. In the end, the bandit snatched his pouch with the last coins and, threatening him with consequences in the future, made it clear that he should pay for security on time and didn''t care what business he had with other groups.


    ''Apparently, this is the protection...'' thought Elrianthe, watching the thug and shopkeeper coming out of the back room.


    The thug only gave them a threatening glance as he walked past them, and headed for the exit.


    ¡°Ouch! I''m very sorry. Clumsy of me. Ha ha,¡± Elrianthe said timidly, after bumping into the man.


    ¡°Fuck! Look where you''re going!¡± yelled the man.


    ¡°Sorry, my fault,¡± she repeated, bowing.


    The man squirmed with displeasure and left the place.


    Tie: ¡°What did you do?¡± asked a confused Gaz.


    Tie: ¡°Now I can buy whatever I want,¡± replied Elrianthe, smiling.


    In her hand, she held a pouch stuffed with coins.


    ¡°Fuck...¡± muttered Gaz.

 Chapter 34 - Shopping

    ¡°Why did you do that? I took the money with me, after all,¡± Gaz said. Elrianthe''s risky move made Gaz slightly paranoid, and he expected trouble at any moment.


    ¡°It was an accident. My hand wanted to grab onto something, triggered my skill, and Poof... Suddenly I had a pouch in my stash,¡± Elrianthe replied jokingly.


    ¡°Will you tell him the same thing when he returns?¡± he asked, clearly stressed.


    ¡°Don''t shake your pants, Gaz. Taking from a thief is not stealing. I am just returning the stolen property to the owner. For some reward in return, of course,¡± she replied, winking at him.


    ¡°Too bad he will never know about it...¡± sighed Gaz.


    ¡°Hey, mister! Could I ask for a little help?¡± Elrianthe called out, waving her hand at the shopkeeper to get his attention.


    Tie: ¡°This is not going to end well. I know the people in this gang,¡± Gaz said, anxiously.


    Tie: ¡°Then go stand by the door and watch for them coming,¡± she replied irritably.


    The shopkeeper approached after a moment, measuring Elrianthe with his eyes from top to bottom, then asked with a smile: ¡°Can I help you, young lady?¡±


    Elrianthe leaned slightly over the accessory countertop.


    ¡°How much does this ring cost, sir?¡± she asked in a soft voice.


    ¡°This ring is an expensive item that is not just for decoration. It has a support spell for wizards and anyone else who relies on magic,¡± the shopkeeper replied.


    ''I know, moron. I''ve already checked half of this display using < Scholar >,'' thought Elrianthe.


    The ring she liked so much had a spell that increased the maximum mana level by an additional 25% and accelerated its regeneration by 10 points per minute. She expected that the high quality of workmanship and powerful spells would give it a high value, but she didn''t think the shopkeeper would consider her a person who couldn''t afford such a purchase. After all, as a merchant, he should be interested in sales, not the appearance of his customers, right?


    ¡°Of course, sir. That''s why I ask, how much does it cost?¡± she said with a smile that hid her irritation.


    ¡°Oh, so you want to buy it after all? It was on sale for 8 gold coins, but for you, I can go down to let''s say... 6 gold. What do you think?¡± the shopkeeper offered, smiling friendly.


    ''Now he thinks I''m stupid! We''ll see who turns out to be the real fool soon,'' thought Elrianthe, confident in her skills and ready to take risks.


    She crossed her arms under her breasts, gently lifting them to make sure the shopkeeper noticed her every move.


    "Phew, six golden coins? That''s nice of you. But what would you say to 5 plus a favor on my part?¡± asked Elrianthe, trying to sound as seductive as possible.


    ¡°Ah, hmm, I think we can get along somehow...¡± replied the man, fascinated by her persona.


    ¡°Right? I think 5 golden is still too much. Why don''t we go down to 3 gold and a bigger favor, hmm?¡± she suggested, and all the man''s attention focused on her.


    ¡°Yes, beautiful young lady...¡±


    ¡°Oh, and what''s this? May I try it on?¡± she pointed to a leather jacket.


    ¡°The black one will fit perfectly, plus it has a few spells-¡± the shopkeeper stammered as Elrianthe suddenly began to remove her clothes.


    After a moment, she was standing naked from the waist up, covering her breasts with one hand and trying to put the leather jacket on with the other.


    ¡°I''ll be happy to help,¡± the shopkeeper replied, approaching timidly.


    ¡°Oh, thank you. You''re very kind,¡± Elrianthe admired, accepting his helping hand.


    ¡°It''s a small thing. I always offer customers the best service they deserve,¡± the shopkeeper assured, but Elrianthe heard something else.


    Wire: ¡°Squeeze those breasts, I want to see them, I want to touch them.¡±


    Elrianthe began to tightly strap her jacket with the belts so that it fit snugly around her body. The chest area, however, proved troublesome. Despite great effort, she was unable to zip it all the way up.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Turns out nature has gifted me too generously,¡± Elrianthe remarked with a smile.


    ¡°Oh, definitely... Emm, I mean, everything is perfect, no, I meant that-¡± he began to fumble with his words, clearly trying to hide his natural reaction.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Elrianthe replied, loosening her belt a bit, which exposed her breasts a bit more. ¡°Now let''s talk about the price.¡±


    .


    Fifteen minutes later...


    Gaz walked down the street and shook his head in disbelief.


    ¡°I can''t believe it...¡±


    ¡°What''s the matter?¡± asked Elrianthe, who pleased with her newly acquired valuables, followed him in a great mood.


    ¡°About what you did! How did you mess with this guy''s head so much that he agreed to trade you things worth 50 gold for his stolen purse...¡± Gaz said this with a lot of shock, but also a hint of admiration.


    ¡°You should have seen how Matt was salivating at the sight of me when I ¡®convinced¡¯ him to come over to my side. Besides, I need these things,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I will never go back to that store again. We''ll be in a lot of trouble...¡± muttered Gaz. ¡°However, I can''t deny your talent,¡± he added.


    Abusing her skills could risk her imprisonment or, at best, a hefty fine. However, Elrianthe managed to obtain the following items:


    - a ring with a magic spell (+25% MP, regeneration +10 MP),


    - black jacket (Strength +2, HP +30),


    - leather boots (Dexterity +2, Condition +3),


    - fist fighter''s gloves with a spell that remained active as long as she didn''t hold a weapon in her hands (Dexterity +1 for every 100 MP of the maximum limit, taking into account bonuses from other items).


    ¡°You could have chosen something for yourself, too,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ¡°No, thanks. There''s no need for that. Where do you want to go now?¡± he asked, stopping at a road crossing near the town square.


    ¡°Why don''t we take a look at that guild your friend was talking about?¡± she suggested.


    ¡°We could, but why? You won''t find anything there except hangover losers who hunt single wolves to have something to get drunk on in the evening,¡± replied Gaz, unhappy with the proposal.


    ¡°Dear God... Why are you like this? You''re ruining my day, you know that?¡± she pointed out to him.


    ¡°Forgive me, but I just don''t want to put us in danger.¡±


    ¡°Hey, come here for a minute,¡± she called out.


    Gaz stopped, and Elrianthe embraced him around the neck. She pressed her chest so that he could clearly feel her shape, and then whispered in his ear: ¡°If you will be a good boy, a special reward will be waiting for you in the evening.¡±


    Gaz got tense and remained silent until they reached the guild building.


    As soon as they stepped inside, several adventurers turned their eyes in their direction. It wasn''t a friendly greeting.


    The guild in this area had a bad reputation. Most troublemakers from this town and surrounding settlements ended up as criminals or guild members. Young, honest, and ambitious people usually fled to friendlier corners of the empire.


    Elrianthe looked around and for a moment she had the impression that she was in the bar of the local motorcycle gang, if such a thing existed in this world. Menacing faces, bold hairstyles, scars on their faces and hands, leather clothes with armor elements, and omnipresent weapons. Such a sight did not encourage one to take another step.


    However, Elrianthe was used to ominous stares from her previous life, and now, thanks to the system and new experiences, her psyche got an extra kick, as reflected in her Mentality level.


    Disregarding the menacing stares of the tough guys, she approached the board where the jobs were posted.


    Elrianthe still couldn''t read the contents of the pieces of paper that hung on the board, but she handled this problem with a clever trick. She used <Analysis> when touching the paper, and the system provided her with a translation into a language she knew.


    [ Analysis results:


    spruce wood paper,


    dimensions; 12 cm x 7 cm,


    weight; 20 grams,


    Ink arranged in words with meaning; ''Order from a village east of Pershore, kill a group of bears near the Crow Forest, Reward of 2 silvers,


    Ink composition; grated charcoal, vegetable oil. ]


    ''No wonder no one picks up this job. Who would want to take the risk for a poor sum of money?¡± thought Elrianthe. ''I''m beginning to appreciate a little that someone wants to pay as much as 500 golden coins for me. After all, that''s a mountain of money!''


    Just as Elrianthe and Gaz were browsing the contracts on the board, a sizable bald man appeared behind their backs.


    ¡°Hey, blondie! What are you doing? I don''t know you,¡± he spoke up in a threatening tone.


    Elrianthe turned to him, not even flinching at the sight of him.


    ¡°Me? Nothing special. I was about to leave, to be honest,¡± she replied.


    The bald man crossed his arms. ¡°You''re not going anywhere until you explain what you''re up to here,¡± he threatened.


    ¡°Sorry, I''m in a hurry,¡± replied Elrianthe, dodging the man.


    ¡°Hey!¡± cried the bald man, trying to grab her hand.


    To his surprise, his hand swept through her body, which in the next moment was at the exit.


    ¡°We''ll talk some other time!¡± cried Elrianthe and went outside.


    Gaz, confused by her sudden move, ran out after her, just after the bald man turned toward him with a surprised look on his face.


    Moments after Elrianthe and Gaz left, the team came inside, having a lively discussion.


    ¡°I''m telling you what I saw! I have no problems with my eyesight!¡± shouted one of the Sorceresses.


    ¡°Be quiet already, you nut. If anyone hears that you saw a dragon flying around the mountain, they''ll think we''re all crazy,¡± the warrior replied.


    ¡°But I really saw him!¡±


    ¡°Shut up already,¡± he said.


    ¡°You''ll see. If he comes here and kills us, you''ll see for yourself.¡±

 Chapter 35 - Tail

    Elrianthe strolled through the town''s market, jumping from one stall to another. With hope, she browsed the goods on offer, counting that one of them would give her a significant advantage. Unfortunately, luck didn''t favor her - most of the products turned out to be just mere junk.


    Gaz followed her, looking around anxiously every now and then. He tried to hide his concern so as not to disturb her focus but eventually had to break the silence.


    Tie: ¡°Forgive me for interrupting you, but I have a problem,¡± he informed telepathically.


    Tie: ¡°What problem?¡±


    Tie: ¡°Just don''t look around. We''ve been followed for a long time.¡±


    Tie: ¡°Guild guys?¡±


    Tie: ¡°Someone worse, I''m afraid. We should get out of here,¡± Gaz suggested.


    Tie: ¡°Okay, grab my hand.¡±


    Holding hands, Gaz and Elrianthe blended into the crowd of people who were squeezing between the stalls.


    Elrianthe knew very well that just blending into the crowd would not make them disappear from the eyes of their pursuers, so she decided to use her skills. Thanks to the fact that she held Gaz''s hand, she was able to surround him with a layer of pheromones and put the illusion on him in the same way she did on herself. This way, they took on the appearance of random passersby walking past them at the market.


    Elrianthe emerged from the crowd and, passing between crates of merchandise, headed down a side street between townhouses.


    ¡°I think we''ve lost them,¡± she said, dispelling the illusion.


    ¡°Possibly, but we''d better get out of here. There are still in the area,¡± Gaz replied, peeking out from around the corner of the building.


    ¡°I wanted to visit some kind of alchemist still, but maybe I''ll do that later,¡± she sighed.


    ¡°It would be better if we kept our heads down today. I know you''re in a good mood and this trip makes you happy, but-¡± interrupted Gaz.


    ¡°But?¡± queried Elrianthe.


    Tie: ¡°Wait. In front of us. Two people at the end of the alley,¡± relayed Gaz.


    Tie: ¡°Oh, I didn''t notice. Two appeared behind us, too,¡± noticed Elrianthe, looking around.


    ¡°Stop!¡± shouted one of the mysterious pursuers.


    As he approached them, two more joined him.


    Tie: ¡°Ah, it''s the guy from the store...¡±


    Tie: ¡°I told you we''d have problems!¡±


    Elrianthe looked around. All escape routes were cut off, and at least seven people were already heading in her direction.


    Tie: ¡°It''s not likely we have a chance to escape,¡± she concluded.


    Tie: ¡°I doubt you''ll wrap him around your finger like a shopkeeper, so you''d better have your weapon on standby,¡± replied Gaz.


    A thug with an escort approached them and, with a furious expression on his face, called out, ¡°Don''t think you can play with us as you please.¡±


    ¡°What do you want? I don''t like to waste my time on taunts,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ¡°You know very well what I want! Give back the cash you stole!¡± shouted the thug, with anger in his voice.


    ¡°I didn''t steal anything. The purse went back to its rightful owner,¡± replied Elrianthe, not letting herself be intimidated.


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    ¡°Are you kidding me, you moron? Maybe I should cut off your fingers to teach you something!¡± cried the thug, reaching for his sword.


    ¡°Don''t even try to get close to me,¡± she replied firmly.


    Tie: ¡°What are you doing? Are you playing tough now?¡±


    Tie: ¡°Quiet. I have to keep up appearances,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    The thug exchanged a look with his mate, and both started laughing.


    ¡°Ha ha ha! Do you think you can do anything? You don''t even have a weapon, and your boyfriend won''t defend you,¡± he mocked.


    Elrianthe extended her hand in front of her, and a black cloud appeared in front of her, into which she put her hand. A spear began to emerge from the cloud as soon as she grasped its handle. The cloud moved along the weapon until it revealed it fully.


    Around the spear was a black flame that seemed to consume the surroundings. Elrianthe took a sweep to the side, causing the fire to splash onto the sidewalk and the walls of the building.


    Later, she began spinning the spear with a speed that the human eye could not grasp, further confusing her opponents.


    ¡°Try it if you think you''re lucky today,¡± said Elrianthe, grabbing the spear with her other hand and aiming it at the man.


    ''That was quite a dramatic scene,'' Elrianthe thought, hoping to discourage her opponent.


    The thug swallowed spit, tightened his hand on the hilt, then said: ¡°First I''ll test you in battle, and later in bed.¡±


    The thug raised his sword and was about to rush forward to attack, when suddenly a woman''s hand grabbed his arm, ¡°Stop, you idiot. Can''t you see that this is going nowhere?¡± she said, interrupting his urges.


    [ Achievement Earned: Warning Shot ]


    A woman with dark blond hair tied in a high ponytail emerged from behind the thug.


    ¡°Oh fuck, not her...¡± mumbled Gaz under his breath.


    Tie: "Who is she? I didn''t even see her when she came in.¡±


    Tie: ¡°She''s their leader. I was hoping never to meet her again,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Will you lower that weapon already? You''re not thinking of attacking any of my guys, are you?¡± asked the leader.


    ''There will be no jokes with her. She''s terribly confident,'' Elrianthe thought.


    < Research >


    [ Alice Rotten-Heart ]


    [ Level 15 ]


    ¡°Shit,¡± muttered Elrianthe, lowering her spear. She felt that this meeting would not end well, plus Gaz seemed to have some sort of unpleasant past with her.


    ¡°Gaz, my dear, you have found yourself a very... troublesome girl, you know?¡± said Alice nonchalantly.


    ¡°She-¡±


    ¡°I''m not his girlfriend,¡± interjected Elrianthe.


    Alice raised an eyebrow in surprise, ¡°Really? Then who? I doubt Gaz would walk around town with a slave girl by the hand.¡±


    ¡°I''m... his sister,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Oh, really? You don''t look a bit like each other, am I right, Krek?¡± addressed Alice to the thug standing next to her.


    ¡°Right.¡±


    Tie: ¡°Forgive me for that.¡±


    ¡°We had different mothers...¡± replied Elrianthe, feeling slightly awkward.


    ¡°Hmm, maybe,¡± burbled Alice.


    Gaz then stepped in front of Elrianthe, ¡°What do you want, Alice? I doubt you''ve bothered to come over here to retrieve a few coins, am I wrong?¡±


    Alice laughed and clapped her hands a few times. ¡°Sharp observation, Gaz, even for you. I''m impressed. Of course, I wouldn''t have shown up here if it weren''t for your lovely little sister. You see, in my town, few people seem to have the courage to mess with Coyotes, but your little sister is different. Plus those intriguing skills...¡±


    ¡°Will you get to the point?¡± interrupted Gaz.


    ¡°To the point? Fine. I see you''re not in the mood for games. Here''s a proposition: you will give back ten times what your sister stole, or you will do a certain favor for us. The choice is yours,¡± Alice replied.


    ¡°What if we don''t have the money?¡± asked Gaz.


    ¡°In that case, there is nothing left for you to do but to fulfill my demands,¡± replied Alice, not hiding the confidence pouring out of her.


    ¡°What favor do you have in mind?¡± asked Elrianthe.


    ¡°Don''t interfere in the talk. I''ll sort it out,¡± growled Gaz.


    ¡°You won''t get shit done. Tell us what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Now you two look like siblings. Perfect! I want to use your skills to catch the spies from another gang that is messing up our business in the town,¡± said Alice.


    ¡°Why don''t you try it yourself?¡± asked Elrianthe.


    ¡°We tried. The problem is that their folks are well-informed and know our faces. But, they don''t know yours. I''m sure that with a face like that, you would manage to seduce more than one of them and draw them right into our trap.¡±


    Elrianthe thought for a moment.


    Tie: ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Tie: ¡°You''re quite capable, though I wouldn''t trust her word for it.¡±


    Elrianthe finally hid the spear in a stash and decided to do Alice a favor, ¡°I''ll do it.¡±


    ¡°Great. Follow me,¡± Alice replied.


    Tie: ¡°Gaz... forgive me for what I said about your father, you know...¡±


    Tie: ¡°That''s okay. Knowing him, I could believe you. If you weren''t an elf.¡±

 Chapter 36 - Favor

    Elrianthe and Gaz left the alley, following Alice. Gang members surrounded them on all sides, ready for any eventuality in case it occurred to them to try to escape.


    Despite the presence of the guards, who theoretically served the town''s authorities, they preferred to look the other way, figuring it wasn''t their problem.


    ''Seemingly very different worlds, and the law enforcers here are no different from those in my previous life,'' thought Elrianthe.


    Tie: ¡°Hey Gaz, will you tell me what you have in common with her?¡±


    Tie: ¡°Do I have to?¡±


    Tie: ¡°You totally should.¡±


    Tie: ¡°In short, nothing pleasant. This gang was founded by her ex-husband, Serek. Both of them used to be adventurers, and you found out for yourself that it''s not a very profitable job. My previous organization did business with them, and I was present here for that purpose.¡±


    Tie: ¡°That''s it?¡±


    Gaz sighed.


    Tie: ¡°No. You see, now she is the gang''s leader, but not because she was better. Serek held the group together well and made everyone a profit, better than in the guild. However, she felt they might have made more money if he had been more ruthless. Serek didn''t want his gang to get a reputation as violent monsters, which could provoke the authorities to eliminate them. Alice then killed him and took the lead, setting the gang on a new path.¡±


    Tie: ¡°What do you have to do with all this? Did you help her?¡±


    Tie: ¡°No, absolutely not. It''s just that after her husband died, Alice was looking for a new...¡±


    Tie: ¡°There you go. You had a chance to place yourself well, and she doesn''t look so bad at all. You just have to watch out for an accidental backstab.¡±


    Tie: ¡°You don''t understand. She''s crazy! I refused her proposals and dismissed her for a long time, but she wouldn''t let go. She threatened me and invaded me at night. Several times, drunk, she forced me to have sex... You know very well that it''s not a pleasant experience if you don''t want it.¡±


    Tie: ¡°You don''t have to convince me.¡±


    Tie: ¡°She is a real tyrant. She holds this town by the throat, thanks to her harsh policies and exploitation. People are afraid to stand up because they know the payback will be painful.¡±


    Tie: ¡°I hope we can settle this quickly.¡±


    A few minutes later, they arrived at the largest inn in town. Of course, it was under Coyotes'' control. Outside, as well as inside, it was swarming with gang members, which convinced Elrianthe that Gaz was not overreacting at all.


    The watchful eyes of the menacing men followed her as she passed through the main door. If it weren''t for the fact that Alice was leading them, she would probably have had several of them on her back by now. Charms of the life of an extraordinarily beautiful woman.


    Alice walked past the counter, behind which stood someone like a bartender, and opened the door, inviting them inside. A moment later and a floor higher, Elrianthe found herself in a private part of the inn, which Alice used for business as her meeting room.


    In the center of the room stood a round table on which was spread a map of the town and its surroundings. Along the walls were numerous cabinets, filled with a variety of ornaments, liquor, and weapons. Under the window, facing the main street, was a desk with a comfortable armchair. The room was illuminated by an ornate gold chandelier, suspended above the table. There were no candles, and electricity seemed to be unknown to the inhabitants of this world; the light came from crystals infused with magic.


    ¡°Since you''re here, I''ll fill you in with the details,¡± Alice said, approaching the table. ¡°A certain group of hotheads from Garharren have sent some of their men to our town. Their goal is to undermine our fundaments and turn the people against us, thus weakening our position.¡±


    ¡°What is a group from a city 200 kilometers away doing in our area?¡± asked Gaz.


    ¡°I don''t know if you know, but they have already managed to take over cities such as Conovati and Wisfield. We''re next in line. Back on topic, their action of bouncing our customers has hit us the most in the pocket. We have a deal with most of the merchants, offering them protection in exchange for money.¡±


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    ¡°We saw it in action,¡± Elrianthe interjected.


    Alice measured her with a cold stare. ¡°Of course, there were idiots who let themselves be tricked into buying their cheaper protection package, causing them to abandon our services,¡± she explained.


    ¡°Let me guess, you''re still collecting money from these traders even though they don''t want your protection?¡± asked Gaz.


    ¡°You know very well that I do. I''m not going to take pity on the morons who thought they''d cut corners, thanks to this. Now they are paying double for their stupidity,¡± replied Alice.


    ¡°So... what will my role be?¡± asked Elrianthe, putting her finger on the corner of the map.


    ¡°I have eyes on the whole town. The spies meet in two places,¡± she pointed to the map. ¡°You go there, find one of them, and bring them to us, or you follow them so my people know who to follow.¡±


    ¡°If you have your people everywhere, why doesn''t anyone know what they look like?¡± asked Elrianthe.


    ¡°It turns out that they are smarter than you, and they immediately replace their agents when they are exposed. We don''t have that option, so I have to rely on you,¡± mocked Alice.


    ¡°There is another problem. There are two meeting places, and I am alone. If I alternate trying at one and the other, it will take me at least a few days to hit the right moment,¡± Elrianthe pointed out.


    Alice straightened up and crossed her arms over her chest, ¡°So? You''ll keep trying until you get it right.¡±


    ¡°I have a better idea,¡± Elrianthe said, looking straight into Alice''s eyes. ¡°Send someone else to the second meeting.¡±


    ¡°And why is that?¡±


    ¡°There''s a higher chance that someone will show up at the place where I''ll be waiting,¡± Elrianthe argued.


    ¡°Or they''ll go to another place we don''t know yet,¡± Alice reflected.


    ¡°In any case, that will be a better and faster solution,¡± added Gaz.


    ¡°Good. I also want to get it over with as soon as possible. We''ll try it your way,¡± replied Alice.


    Two hours later...


    Approaching the door of the inn where the enemy faction''s spies were to meet, Elrianthe felt a little tremor.


    ''Why am I so stressed? I need to find some activity to occupy my thoughts. But first...''


    Elrianthe pushed open the door and went inside. The inn wasn''t as big as the one Alice had set up, but many troublesome types were hanging out in this one as well. Already at the first step, she began to arouse considerable interest. Whistles and bawdy comments began as if on cue. All in all, she should be used to it by now. Surely, if she revealed her identity, half of them would crap their pants.


    Unfortunately, she won''t check it out today.


    Ignoring the horny herd, she walked up to the counter and ordered something to drink from the waiter. She didn''t have to wait long before one of the daredevils approached to try to pick her up.


    ¡°Sorry, I have a boyfriend,¡± Elrianthe replied, even before the brunet had time to say anything.


    ¡°I don''t see him here,¡± he replied.


    Elrianthe looked at him, ¡°And you wouldn''t want to. You''d have your legs broken right now,¡± she stated.


    ¡°Okay, relax, girl. I just wanted to talk,¡± he stepped back.


    ¡°But I don''t want to talk to you,¡± Elrianthe replied, flushing him away.


    < Research >


    < Research >


    < Research >


    After scanning the entire room, Elrianthe saw no one who fit the list of suspects.


    ''I guess I''m still too early. I''ll check something,'' Elrianthe thought as she opened the system window. She hadn''t had a chance to review the achievement she had earned before.


    [ Achievement gained:


    Warning shot - perform an action that discourages an opponent at least 5 levels stronger. ]


    [ Reward: +1 level for the selected skill ]


    She was awarded this achievement for her creative use of illusion to set a small scene in an alley, so it was a natural choice to invest the reward in this particular skill.


    [ The < Illusory Aura > skill reaches level 6. You can reserve a percentage of the magic limit to create a permanent illusion that covers a part of the host''s body or equipment. Maximum number of illusions: 5 ]


    [ Achievement gained:


    Let''s join forces - gain an ability that requires four skills to use. ]


    [ Reward: 10,000 XP ]


    [ A new combination of skills has been obtained:


    < Acquired Psychosis > - the host has the ability to create illusions inside the target''s mind that affect all his senses, completely disrupting his perception of reality. Physical contact is required. ]


    ''Holy shi-''


    ¡°Hey, baby,¡± another bolder interrupted her.


    ¡°Fuck off.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± asked the surprised man.


    ¡°I''m busy!¡± growled Elrianthe.


    She couldn''t control her emotions because she had just gained the ability to completely capture someone''s mind. She needed as many as four skills at the right level to gain this ability. Illusory Aura was responsible for illusions, Pheromones of the Deceiver was responsible for facilitating deception, Analysis was responsible for insight into the brain, and Silent Suggestion was responsible for transferring everything into the victim''s mind.


    However, the growing interest in the lone woman drinking beer at the counter only grew, and Elrianthe had to find another place to chase away the men. She noticed that a hooded man had just moved away from another lone woman. She was sitting at the end of the room, too far away for Elrianthe to reach her with her skills. However, something caught her attention - the reason why people avoided contact with her.


    ''She''s an elf! No, she doesn''t look like me. She''s a half-elf. Perfect,'' she thought, heading in her direction.

 Chapter 37 - Half-elf

    ¡°Oi, where are you going?¡± called out the man to leaving Elrianthe.


    ¡°I have a bad experience with blondes,¡± she replied, without even turning toward him.


    For a moment, she began to regret that she wasn''t as ignored as she had been in her former life. There she was treated like air, while here she aroused interest like a celebrity. It was too late to change her appearance now, but thanks to another woman she had a chance to ward off suitors for a while.


    < Research >


    [ Half-elf Cornelie ]


    [ Level: 11 ]


    [ Class: Magic Thief ]


    [ HP: ? MP: ? ]


    Cornelie had light green hair, resembling the pulp of a kiwi fruit. Long and straight, it was partially tied back in a large ponytail. In front, it flowed freely down to her shoulders, covering part of her face and ears, which were shorter than Elrianthe''s.


    Her eyes - also green, but darker than her hair, with a blue accent - could be seen from behind her bangs.


    She was dressed in light armor that provided a compromise between protection and freedom of movement. A black hooded cloak covered the whole thing. She did not stand out in any unusual way; half of the criminals in the city wore similar clothing. However, meeting a half-elf is an unusual occasion.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Elrianthe greeted, taking a seat at the table across from her.


    Cornelie looked at her ominously, trying to pressure the woman, but Elrianthe did not let herself be intimidated.


    Wire: ¡°Brave. What could this doll want? Maybe it''s an undercover Coyote? Time to leave.¡±


    The half-elf got up without a word and was about to leave when she heard the blonde''s strange statement: ¡°It seems to me that it''s more profitable for you to stay.¡±


    Cornelie stopped, confused. ¡°What do you want from me, human?¡±


    ¡°You piqued my interest,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I am interested in the elves. I saw you sitting alone and wanted to talk to you,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    Cornelie scowled, ¡°I don''t eat human kids, I don''t kill virgins and I don''t put curses on infertility. That''s what you need to know about us. The rest should not interest you,¡± she replied unceremoniously.


    Prejudice against elves was strong, and not just for those of pure blood. Elves were reduced to one category and treated with equal contempt, regardless of species or origin. It didn''t matter much to ordinary people; they often couldn''t tell them apart.


    ¡°I know, that''s why I don''t like how elves are treated,¡± Elrianthe said.


    Cornelie laughed. ¡°Seriously? Why do you care? You''re a human. You are the source of these slanders in the first place!¡±


    ¡°I know a certain elf. One of pure blood. And I don''t like people''s attitude toward her,¡± Elrianthe replied, taking a sip from her mug.


    ¡°Haha! You think I''ll believe you- Wait. Do you really know anyone of pure blood?¡± asked Cornelie.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The half-elf stood like a statue for a brief moment, shocked by the answer. She was even more stunned by her own skill. Cornelie couldn''t believe what her ears had heard, even though she knew very well that it wasn''t a trick.


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    Wire: ¡°She is serious. My skill didn''t detect any lie,¡± Elrianthe heard, eavesdropping on her thoughts.


    This complicated a situation that was already precarious. The half-elf seemed to be falling for her bait, but Elrianthe had to play it out in a way that would allow her to gain trust.


    ''I have to choose my answers carefully...''


    Cornelie returned to her seat. ¡°Let''s say I believe you. However, it''s unlikely to me that a pureblood elf would trust a human enough to reveal themself. I never met a true elf personally, and I think I have a better chance of doing so than you do.¡±


    ¡°You can think what you want. The truth is what it is,¡± Elrianthe added.


    Cornelie''s curiosity didn''t let her ignore the opportunity and she decided to check Elrianthe again, ¡°Tell me... Do you know the last name of this elf? If she decided to trust you, it shouldn''t be a problem.¡±


    Elrianthe smiled. Elves attach great importance to their name, much like medieval noble families, proudly emphasizing their membership in the upper ranks of society.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she replied.


    Cornelie raised the corner of her mouth in a devious smile. She grabbed the dagger attached to her belt and, playing with the blade between the fingers of one hand, turned to the blonde: ¡°Reveal it to me. If you lie or hesitate, I will slit your throat.¡±


    Elrianthe, completely unfazed by the attempted intimidation, took another sip from her mug.


    None had asked her name before. It held no meaning for her and she had never identified herself with it. Indeed, she revealed it only once, at the request of Alison, who almost fainted upon hearing it. From her reaction, Elrianthe understood that it had some value, but Alison was obsessed with her and would have reacted the same way, no matter how much the name meant in the elven world. But how will someone who has more in common with elves than a random priestess react?


    ¡°Atlanta,¡± replied Elrianthe briefly.


    At that moment, Cornelie''s dagger hit the tabletop, bounced off it, and fell to the ground, making a distinctive sound.


    The chatter in the room quieted, and people turned toward a table at the end of the room. They expected an argument or a fight, but the women sat in silence, staring at each other.


    ¡°What happened there?¡±


    ¡°Did she paralyze that elf?¡±


    ¡°I knew she was crazy. No normal person would sit down with an elf.¡±


    ¡°We''d better leave before there''s a bigger brawl here.¡±


    The murmurs of onlookers timidly made their way to Elrianthe''s ears, who looked Cornelie straight in the eyes.


    The half-elf froze after her answer, her hand still hovering motionless in the air.


    ''At least she''s not screaming,'' thought Elrianthe, taking another sip of beer.


    Cornelie, still in severe shock, slowly rose from her seat to pick up the dagger lying on the floor.


    After tucking it back in its sheath behind her belt, she bowed her head to Elrianthe. "I behaved inappropriately towards you, but I ask you to forgive my behavior due to my ignorance and suspicion. If I had known that you were the messenger of such an important person, I would certainly have shown you proper respect and manners.¡±


    Elrianthe seemed to ignore her words, still sipping her beer.


    The awkward silence and lack of response made Cornelie begin to tremble, not from fear or anger, but from the realization that she had probably wasted the biggest opportunity of her life.


    Listening to Cornelie''s thoughts gave Elrianthe an advantage in manipulating her behavior. At that moment, she was convinced that the half elf had always wanted to meet a true pureblood elf, and would have done anything to fulfill that dream.


    ¡°I am not a messenger. You don''t have to apologize to me. Sit down before people make a laughing stock of us,¡± Elrianthe said to the bowing Cornelie, who sat back down at the table with trembling legs.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Why what?¡±


    ¡°Why did you come to me?¡± asked Cornelie timidly.


    ¡°I said before,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    Cornelie sat with her hands folded, which she tucked between her clenched legs. She felt stupid after what she had done and, although the blonde was not angry, she felt annoyance and embarrassment coming from her. Finally, she gathered her remaining courage and asked: ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡±


    ¡°I would like to know why you work for criminals. Spying, intimidating... You are a tool in the hands of the people you hate so much. You are destroying the reputation of elves with your actions. Does that suit you?¡± asked Elrianthe, recognizing that it was time for the more serious part of the conversation.


    ¡°So you know... I''m not proud of it, but it''s the only thing I have left. I need money. Nobody wanted to accept me anywhere when I was looking for a job. Human beings are afraid of elves and they despise them whenever the opportunity arises. Thanks to the gang, I was able to take it out on you- them, and earn a few coins in the process,¡± Cornelie confessed.


    Elrianthe saw the guilt in the girl, not for the harm done to the people, but for disappointing her expectations and contributing to the tarnishing of the elven reputation.


    ¡°Let''s make a deal. You help me, and I''ll lead you to an elf,¡± she proposed.

 Chapter 38 - The Agreement

    Elrianthe''s proposal was absurd. Her goal was to bribe Cornelie by arranging a meeting with the person who sat across from her in exchange for the surrender of a member of her gang.


    ¡°Deal,¡± Cornelie replied instantly as if the future of her immediate family depended on it.


    ¡°I haven''t said what it''s about yet,¡± replied a surprised Elrianthe.


    Cornelie bowed, folding her hands as if to pray, and swore: ¡°Please. I will do whatever you wish.¡±


    ''I guess the desire to meet the elf was stronger, though,'' Elrianthe thought, smiling triumphantly.


    ¡°Even if it involves betraying your group?¡±


    ¡°If by doing so I benefit the royal family, I won''t hesitate,¡± Cornelie confirmed.


    Elrianthe wrinkled her eyebrows. Although most of her reaction was hidden by illusions, the surprise caused by Cornelie''s words about the royal family made her face uncorrected.


    Cornelie noticed her reaction and immediately added: ¡°I''m sorry. I shouldn''t mention it in a place like this.¡±


    Elrianthe, however, was too thoughtful.


    ''Does this name really belong to some elven family of rulers? I need to find out. Just how? I can''t just ask her. What will happen if they discover that I''m not a real elf? I have to confirm it on another occasion,'' she wondered.


    She looked at Cornelie and noticed her questioning gaze.


    ¡°Forgive me, I was thinking for a moment. I am sure you will be useful to us in the long run. The elven woman is looking for talents who are ready to serve her, and I think you would be suitable. But first, we have a problem to solve,¡± Elrianthe finally replied after a moment''s thought.


    The vision of serving under what was probably the last legitimate elven ruler filled Cornelie with new energy. ¡°Tell me what to do,¡± she asked.


    ¡°You will help me catch the spy,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ¡°Catch? I don''t understand,¡± she said confused.


    Elrianthe wondered if she should tell her, but she had no choice if she wanted Cornelie to trust her.


    She sighed after a moment, ¡°Eh. I made a mess with a local gang and now I have their leader on my back. She forced me to catch a spy from your group and bring him to her as compensation. However... I didn''t think I would end up with a half-elf. I''d rather avoid giving you into her hands,¡± she added reluctantly.


    ¡°No problem. I''m tough!¡± replied Cornelie, flexing her biceps, which looked funny in contrast to her skinny arms.


    Elrianthe smiled. ¡°We can give her someone else. You don''t seem to have much attachment to these people, do you?¡±


    Cornelie thought for a moment, ¡°That''s true, but I don''t think I''ll be able to point out the other spy operating here beside me.¡±


    ¡°What about the man who talked to you?¡± asked Elrianthe.


    ¡°He''s just a runner. He passes information between me and the gang. Besides, we won''t be able to catch him,¡± replied Cornelie.


    ¡°Not good. If you knew him, it would be easier. I don''t have that much time to look for him all over the city.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. We are kept in the dark so that if caught, we won''t give away the rest,¡± Cornelie replied, and Elrianthe, reading her thoughts at the time, confirmed the truth of these words.


    ¡°I don''t know if Alice will be happy about this,¡± burbled Elrianthe under her breath.


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    ¡°Don''t worry. You can safely hand me over to this Alice. We are secured for such an eventuality,¡± assured Cornelie with a smile.


    Elrianthe wondered what provided the half-elf with such confidence. Courage, recklessness, or perhaps the insurance she mentioned was so effective?


    ¡°You have to survive,¡± Elrianthe pointed out, dreading the ¡®cyanide capsule¡¯ security measure.


    ¡°Relax, I''ll survive," Cornelie replied.


    ¡°Alice won''t be nice to you,¡± Elrianthe added.


    ¡°Like everyone else in this city. I think it''s worth it anyway.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you want to go there?¡± asked Elrianthe again.


    Cornelie pounded her fist vigorously against her chest. ¡°I''m sure!¡±


    ¡°Okay. We''ll have to split up later, so before we leave here...¡± Elrianthe put her finger on the tabletop, and the mist began to form something like a sheet of paper. She created an image that showed a brunette man with short, standing hair and a beard. The delicate use of color helped her faithfully render his appearance. ¡°This is Gaz. Find him tomorrow night at Roland''s inn.¡±


    Cornelie jumped up with excitement. ¡°Wow! It''s amazing. How did you do that?¡±


    Elrianthe looked at her with slight embarrassment, ''I swear he''s acting more and more like a kid.''


    ¡°A secret,¡± she replied with a forced smile.


    Moments later, Elrianthe was leading Cornelie toward the agreed interception site. She couldn''t say she was happy about it, but at least she had one trouble settled.


    As they entered the alley, they were surrounded by Alice''s thugs, and Cornelie was momentarily grabbed and tied up.


    ¡°Great job,¡± Alice congratulated her.


    ¡°It was not an easy task. I hope we''re all square,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    ¡°Of course. It was certainly a challenge. I didn''t expect them to hire a fucking elf,¡± she added and spat at Cornelie, who was bound on the ground.


    Elrianthe instinctively wanted to clench her fist out of anger but refrained at the last moment.


    ''Would she have treated me exactly the same way if she had known? Let''s just hope Cornelie isn''t mad at me for this,'' Elrianthe thought.


    ¡°Something wrong?¡± asked Alice, noticing the doubt on her face.


    ¡°No. Since we''ve got it sorted out, I''m going back to Gaz,¡± she said, heading toward the road.


    ¡°Wait. There''s one more thing,¡± Alice stopped her.


    Elrianthe turned around angrily. ¡°I did everything you wanted, after all.¡±


    Alice laughed, seeing her reaction. ¡°Ha ha, take it easy, girl. I can see that you did great, that''s why I would like you to come with me.¡±


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°We have a spy to question,¡± replied Alice.


    ¡°Then good luck.¡±


    ¡°Don''t try to dispose of me. I want to see how you handle getting information out,¡± Alice replied. ¡°I might even offer you the chance to join the gang. How about that?¡±


    ¡°Will you take no for an answer?¡±


    ¡°Not likely. You are much more useful than your stupid little brother. It would be ridiculous to let such a promising talent go.¡±


    Elrianthe really wanted to leave there, but even then she would have to go back with Alice to get Gaz, who stayed at the inn. They wouldn''t let him go without the gang leader''s permission.


    ¡°Fine. But I''m in a hurry, so let''s do what needs to be done and I''m going back to my place,¡± Elrianthe replied.


    ''At least I''ll make sure Cornelie doesn''t get beaten to death.''


    Half an hour later...


    Alice and Elrianthe stood facing Cornelie, who was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room. She was tied up with strong ropes, and all her belongings were put aside. Only a thin undershirt and worn pants covered her body.


    There were no windows in the room, and a reinforced door led inside. Thick walls blocked the sound from getting out. The only piece of furniture besides a chair was a table, on which an entire arsenal of torture tools was spread out.


    ¡°Well, get started. On the table, you have everything you need. In ten minutes I want to hear her confess even the slightest wrongdoing,¡± Alice said, then walked to the door and leaned against the wall next to it.


    Elrianthe walked over to the table and looked around at the available devices for loosening a tongue. She stood there for a long moment, thinking about whether she would end up in a similar situation to Cornelie if she revealed her identity. The thought that someone would take pleasure in inflicting monstrous pain on her made her furious.


    She did not consider herself a saint, recalling how much harm she had done to others. However, she justified it as punishment for the harm done to her and a higher necessity.


    However, Cornelie did absolutely nothing wrong to her. The whole situation was Alice''s sick game, which Elrianthe did not want to take part in.


    She finally approached the half-elf. Took nothing with her. Looking at the woman, she noticed that Cornelie was avoiding her gaze, which didn''t surprise her at all.


    ''Where''s that security thing of yours...'' thought Elrianthe.


    "Will you get down to it today? You didn''t take any tools,¡± burbled Alice.


    Elrianthe took a deep breath. ¡°I have my methods,¡± she said, starting to release large amounts of pheromones.

 Chapter 39 - The Torture Chamber

    Elrianthe filled the room with a thick cloud of pheromones. When ready, she grabbed Cornelie by the chin, lifting her face upward.


    Looking at her, she regretted that she had earlier rejected the idea of puppeteering her at this stage. She felt that a later official meeting would benefit her more. Although she could do it now and explain everything later, Alice''s watchful gaze could alert her that something was wrong. They were both in a difficult situation and needed to find a way to communicate without Alice finding out.


    ''I hope this works...'' she thought and, closing her eyes, began listening to the thoughts.


    After activating < Acquired Psychosis >, she tried to create the illusion of her voice in Cornelie''s head with which she wanted to communicate with her.


    She started sending impulses, trying to get her brain to play her words like an echo.


    Wire: ¡°What''s that? Someone talking behind the wall?¡±


    Elrianthe''s efforts began to yield results, but the message was unclear, so she kept trying.


    ''~Hey. Can you hear me clearly?¡± resounded a voice in Cornelie''s head.


    Wire: ¡°What the fuck is going on? Is she the one doing this?¡±


    ''~Listen carefully. We''ve both gotten into a swamp over our heads, and we have to work something out to get out of it.


    Wire: ¡°That''s her voice! How does she do it? How do I answer her?¡±


    ''~Just think what you want to answer. I can hear it,'' the voice replied, but Cornelie couldn''t tell if it was a lie or not. Elrianthe''s mouth remained closed, and her ability did not work in this case.


    Wire: "Fine. I trust you. You haven''t lied to me once before.¡±


    ''~Have you checked before if I''m lying?¡± asked Elrianthe, taking advantage of the situation to confirm her assumptions.


    Wire: ¡°Yes, my skill can detect lies. You only started lying after you met Alice. That''s how I know I can trust you.¡±


    ''~I don''t like that you verified my truthfulness. Are you going to verify an elf too?


    Wire: ¡°No. Sorry. I needed to know if you were trying to deceive me. That way I avoided more than one trap.¡±


    ''~Never mind. Where is your security?''


    Wire: ¡°They should be here in a few minutes-¡±


    ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± growled Alice suddenly, who had been watching the whole situation.


    Elrianthe frowned. ¡°You are disturbing me. I''m trying to break her by showing her frightening visions and things she fears.¡±


    ¡°You''re showing her visions?¡° she asked suspiciously.


    ¡°It takes a long while, but then she''ll have had enough, she''ll start to sing like a canary without resistance.¡±


    "Bullshit. You can''t do something like that,¡± scolded Alice, walking up to her.


    Elrianthe let go of Cornelie''s chin for a moment and asked Alice, ¡°Do you want to try?¡±


    ¡°Sure. Show me something!¡±


    Elrianthe grabbed her hand, and the next moment Alice sprang to the other end of the room, drawing two daggers in a split second and assuming a defensive position. Her heart was pounding like a sledgehammer, and her anxious gaze sought out threats from every direction.


    ¡°What the fuck was that?!¡± shouted Alice after instinctively jumping away. Her body reacted on its own before she even realized what had happened.


    ¡°Something dreadful that you didn''t expect,¡± Elrianthe replied.


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    Alice looked at her distrustfully. ¡°Did you know him? Do you know what happened to him?!¡± she called out aggressively.


    ¡°Who? I have no idea what you saw,¡± Elrianthe defended herself, trying to keep up the appearance of coincidence.


    ¡°I saw ... my husband. He appeared out of nowhere and threw himself at me,¡± mumbled Alice, loud enough for Elrianthe to hear.


    ¡°Forgive me, I have no control over what you can witness. I forced your mind to show you... something. I thought you would see some spiders or something like that,¡± Elrianthe replied awkwardly.


    ''So your last victim was your husband... I hope this jumpscare will keep you awake at night,'' she thought.


    ¡°Okay, whatever.


    Do your own thing. I need to... cool off a bit,¡± Alice replied, hiding the daggers.


    Wire: ¡°Fuck. My hands are shaking. It looked so real,¡± Alice thought.


    Wire: ¡°It was awesome though! Do it to her again,¡± she heard from Cornelie''s side.


    For the next few minutes, Elrianthe and Cornelie, in secret agreement, acted out the interrogation stage. Elrianthe asked questions that Alice wanted to know the answers to, and Cornelie answered, faking reluctance and horror. Sometimes her reactions and impulses had to be tweaked by illusions to make them look better in the leader''s eyes.


    It also happened that Elrianthe had to show the half-elf something unpleasant to add a realism that she could not replace with her skills.


    By directing her mind to various fears, she was able to create real fear, which was reflected in her voice and behavior. One such trigger was the death of her ailing mother, for whom Cornelie chased money so hard.


    Despite all the drama, Alice had learned nothing that would give her an advantage over her opponent and decided it was time to end it.


    ¡°We won''t learn anything more important. Let''s go,¡± Alice said, grabbing the door handle.


    ¡°Wait. What are you going to do with her?¡± asked Elrianthe.


    ¡°I''ll tell one of the boys to get rid of her. We won''t need her anymore,¡± replied Alice.


    ¡°Are you sure that''s the right decision?¡± Elrianthe questioned the leader''s choice.


    Alice turned around with a sour face, ¡°Do you think I''m making a mistake?¡±


    ¡°You might piss off the people she works for,¡± Elrianthe pointed out, trying to dissuade her from killing Cornelie for concern of possible retaliation.


    Alice crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°And you think I care? I don''t give a fuck what they do. I can even quarter her and send her to them in the mail in five packages.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t it better to have a contact at the enemy''s door than to give them more motivation to fight you?¡± she suggested.


    ¡°And you think this nasty elf will be suitable? I doubt it,¡± Alice replied maliciously.


    ¡°I think it''s better-¡±


    Before Elrianthe had time to finish, an intense light flashed from behind the chair, blinding the arguing women, and thick smoke filled the entire room.


    At the same time, a portal appeared, and two masked men grabbed Cornelie and pulled her in with them. By the time the ladies regained their sight, there was no trace of the half-elf.


    Elrianthe breathed a sigh of relief that Cornelie had managed to escape before Alice got any sick ideas.


    *cough*


    ¡°What are you so happy about?¡± asked an exasperated Alice, coughing because of the thick smoke.


    ¡°I''m glad we''re okay,¡± replied Elrianthe.


    Alice opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. ¡°Sure. Come on, before we suffocate.¡±


    Despite the poor visibility, Elrianthe noticed that Cornelie''s belongings rested untouched against the wall, so she decided to take them, throwing them into the magic stash.


    Gaz sat at the table, waiting for Elrianthe to return. They had locked him in the meeting room, where they had previously discussed plans to capture the spy, and he was accompanied by Krek, who was to oversee him on the boss''s orders.


    After a while, the leader entered the room along with Elrianthe. Alice''s presence made him uncomfortable, but Gaz could finally relax, seeing Elrianthe unharmed.


    Alice walked over to the cabinet, took out a bottle of stronger alcohol, and turned to Elrianthe: ¡°It''s a pity that in the end, she escaped us, although it wouldn''t matter much if we didn''t learn anything more. I must admit that you impressed me with your abilities. What bothers me is your morality, but that can still be worked on.¡±


    Gaz got up from the table. ¡°So it worked?¡±


    Alice took a big gulp from her glass and turned back to him. ¡°Not the way I would have wanted it to, but it did what I expected it to do.¡±


    ¡°So can we leave?¡± asked Gaz.


    ¡°You can, although I want to ask one last time,¡± she replied, looking at Elrianthe. ¡°Would you like to join us? It won''t take long before you become my right hand. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I''ve refused before and now I''ll refuse a second time. I''m not interested in it,¡± Elrianthe repeated. ¡°Forgive me, Alice, but I want to rest, so let me take Gaz and we''ll go,¡± she added, trying not to sound annoyed.


    Alice sat down behind her desk, throwing her legs over the countertop. ¡°That''s too bad. It didn''t hurt to ask though. You can go. Krek, lead them to the exit and call Simon for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma''am,¡± replied Krek and left with the guests.


    Elrianthe and Gaz were escorted to the exit door and immediately headed toward Roland''s inn.


    Alice watched them from her office window as Simon went inside. ¡°Send someone discreet behind them. I want to keep an eye on them 24 hours a day,¡± she ordered.

 Chapter 40 – Bath (+18)

    In the evening at Roland''s inn...


    Elrianthe was relaxing in a tub filled to the brim with warm water. Thick foam floated on its surface, covering everything except her head leaning against the edge, from which her long, straight hair fell freely outside the barrel, reaching the smooth planks of the floor.


    The bath with soothing oils and aromatic scents, prepared by Alison, definitely had a positive effect on her body after a hard day full of stress, unwanted responsibilities, and wandering around town.


    Then she remembered the promise she made to Gaz as they left the store. It took her a moment to decide what to do about it. She was in a playful mood at the time and hadn''t thought about how exactly she wanted to reward him.


    ''Hmm. Maybe I should practice some mind influence. A pretend blowjob would definitely be a good exercise,'' she thought, seriously considering such a solution, which would be an important asset to her in the near future.


    She couldn''t imagine taking a real penis into her mouth. No matter who it might belong to or how clean it might be. That option was out of the question. Her past when she was a guy had a huge impact on how far she could go. It was a thick red line that she did not intend to cross for a long time.


    On the other hand, it had been more than a month since she had been stuck in this body. She was used to long blond hair, small, delicate hands, huge breasts, and shapely legs. It wouldn''t hurt her to feel even more feminine in the act of getting intimate with a man. For sheer pleasure, of course. As with giving a blowjob, kisses or any other romantic gestures were out of the question.


    ''A promise is a promise. I just hope it stays between us,'' she finally decided.


    Tie: ¡°Gaz. Come to me. To the bathhouse.¡±


    Tie: ¡°To the bathhouse? What for? Can''t you get out of the tub?¡±


    Tie: ¡°Come here before I change my mind and revoke the reward I promised you.¡±


    Tie: ¡°I''m on my way...¡±


    Gaz walked timidly inside, looking away from her whenever he could. It wasn''t that he was ashamed to look at her, he was just afraid of her reaction.


    ¡°Close the door and sit down,¡± Elrianthe said, and Gaz turned the key in the door and sat down in the chair next to her.


    ¡°W-what prize y-you have in mind?¡± he stammered, feeling uneasy for some reason. Elrianthe''s intentions were often a mystery to him.


    ¡°Don''t stress so much. This was supposed to be a pleasant moment,¡± she replied, stepping out of the water. Foam ran slowly down her smooth skin, revealing her naked body.


    Elrianthe stepped out of the tub and stood in front of Gaz, who was shrinking and growing at the same time. He looked like a young virgin who was afraid of his first close contact with a woman, but he couldn''t stop his body''s reaction. There was no way to hide it, which prompted Elrianthe to have an idea.


    ¡°I can take on the appearance of Alison if that helps you,¡± she offered with a pinched smile.


    ¡°No. Please. I just didn''t think you''d choose to thank me like that,¡± he replied nervously.


    ¡°Come on. Matt and Duncan would be jumping for joy if they were you. Show a little more as their former leader.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡±


    Elrianthe walked over to a chair, knelt in front of Gaz, and removed his pants and underwear. To her eyes appeared at least a twenty centimeter thick penis with a pink head. It looked like Gaz had taken care of his friend''s hygiene, not letting it become overgrown and repelling with a repulsive odor. Elrianthe breathed a sigh of relief, thankful in her mind that he had enough personal culture.


    ''Good. It will be fine. Don''t worry about it. You''re a woman, remember? It''s not a bad thing,'' she repeated in her mind, taking his fighter in hand.


    She started with slow movements with her hand, and while doing so, a thought came to her mind. She had always wanted to have a penis like this, in the sense, of her previous life. It was almost perfect in shape and size. Such a specimen definitely gave a man a lot of confidence. Gaz was certainly pleased with it.


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    Despite her many attempts, though, she failed to take it into her mouth. She touched the tip of the head with her lip, rubbed lightly with her tongue, but ultimately decided to cover this part of the foreplay using < Acquired Psychosis >, which bailed her out of the internal conflict.


    Gaz felt her moist lips begin to suck in, swallowing more and more of his friend. After only a short while, he could see Elrianthe vigorously working her head between his legs.


    ''Fuck. She''s really doing it. Holy fuck,'' thought Gaz, further disbelieving what he was seeing.


    "Ah-" gasped Gaz, unable to stop himself from squirming in his chair. The pleasure Elrianthe was providing him was beyond his threshold of endurance, making it impossible for him to sit still.


    Meanwhile, Elrianthe, playing with his penis, was deep in thought.


    ''I miss it, although mine was not as impressive as this one. Maybe it''s possible to somehow ... grow it? Futa is not my vibe, although it has its advantages. Maybe I should see what it''s like to have it inside me? I wanted to try it anyway. God, I can''t stop thinking about it. If I let go now, it will haunt me all night. I won''t be gay if I decide to sit on it, right? I''m a woman for fuck''s sake!''


    Her mouth finished its work, and Elrianthe, rising from her knees, sat down in a spread on his legs. Gaz knew perfectly well where this was leading, but he didn''t expect it to come to this.


    ¡°We shouldn''t. You''re still a virgin. If they find out-¡±


    Elrianthe put her finger on his lips, ¡°Shh. No one will find out.¡±


    She gently grabbed his penis and, rubbing it against her labial lips, slid it deeper and deeper. A strange but pleasant sensation spread through her body, which reacted with goosebumps. Moving up and down, Elrianthe finally felt an unpleasant impulse when Gaz''s penis went deep enough. A fine amount of blood appeared at the edges.


    ¡°It broke...¡± he said frightened.


    Elrianthe put it back inside. ¡°No matter anyway. Fuck me while we have time. I want to feel like I''ve never felt before,¡± she whispered.


    The slow sliding on Gaz''s legs began again and after just a moment she was moving faster and faster.


    ¡°Mmm-¡± she moaned.


    ''Why does it feel so good? His penis is stretching across my pussy, I can feel it reaching almost to my belly. It''s strange, but I want him even deeper. I want him to push even more.''


    Gaz, unable to hold back any longer, grabbed her glutes and an even more intense scene than before began.


    ¡°Ah!¡± moaned Elrianthe as Gaz began sucking on her nipples.


    *Squeak*


    *Squeak*


    *Squeak*


    The chair they were sitting on creaked louder and louder to the rhythm of their moves. Gaz was beginning to sweat from the stuffiness they were in, as well as the hot atmosphere they were creating together. Elrianthe was in a similar situation.


    ¡°Come here,¡± she whispered, then stood up and, leaning against the table, stuck out her ass encouragingly. Gas didn''t need another invitation and made himself comfortable in her moist hole. He grabbed her hips and started pumping as if his life depended on it. He had already completely forgotten the anxiety he felt at the beginning, indulging in blissful ecstasy with the beautiful woman.


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes, Mmmm-¡± Elrianthe began massaging herself with her hand between her legs. She was getting closer and closer to the peak, which she now wanted to reach at all costs.


    Gaz, seeing her reaction, quickened his pace, charging her with more force. He knew exactly what to do to help the woman reach. This was not his first rodeo.


    *Clap*


    *Clap*


    *Clap*


    ¡°Yes. YES. AGH!¡± Elrianthe squirmed from the intense feeling, which, from its magnitude, caused all her major muscles to tense and her entire body to spasm. Her legs began to shake, and fluid shot out of her vagina, splashing over the man''s belly and legs.


    She slid to her knees, no longer able to stand on her feet. Her face flushed as she looked lustfully, her hastened breathing temporarily preventing her from getting any words out. She turned and, positioning herself on all fours, telepathically sent Gaz a single word.


    Tie: ¡°MORE!¡±


    She was so wet that his hard penis slid like on ice, penetrating her hole to the farthest depths. It didn''t take long for Elrianthe to reach the next peak, leaving another puddle on the floor.


    They didn''t hold back for a moment. Gaz grabbed her hands and pulled her to him, resulting in loud clapping as her glutes collided with his body.


    Finally, Gaz felt uncontrollable pleasure and, slapping the last few times, pushed his warrior as deep as he could and spilled the entire load of his balls inside her.


    Elrianthe, having no strength left, slumped to the ground and lay on her back, and Gaz did the same next to her.


    ¡°Did you cum inside me?¡± she asked, feeling something thick pour out of her vagina.


    ¡°Sorry. I couldn''t hold back,¡± he replied with a loud gasp.


    Elrianthe raised herself and sat apart. ¡°That''s okay. Fortunately, I''m an elf.¡± A thick, murky liquid leaked onto the floor between her legs. ¡°Fuck. I have to wash myself a second time.¡±


    Elrianthe pulled her hand in front of her and two vials appeared in her hand. She drank the contents of both, then stood up and walked back to the tub.


    ¡°What was that?¡± asked Gaz.


    ¡°The energy drink. Would you like some too?¡±


    When Gaz finally left the bathhouse, a flap moved behind the wall, covering a small crack in the wall.

 Chapter 41 - The Marquis Arrival

    The day of the meeting with the Marquis...


    Elrianthe had been preparing for the arrival of an essential guest since early in the morning. Immediately after a nutritious breakfast, she chose a suitable room and began arranging its interior.


    The round, low table where they would be signing the contract stood right next to her chair so that she would have a good view of the document. Two chairs, no more, so that the guests wouldn''t feel too comfortable and drag out a meeting that would cost her a lot. The furniture and decorations were removed - all attention should be focused on her.


    Alison took care of preparing clothes for her. Yesterday, while Elrianthe was walking around town with Gaz, she went out to a clothing store and bought new clothes for herself and her friend.


    The money Gaz had left her was insufficient, so she decided to sell her priestess outfit, which she no longer needed. Thanks to the enchantments it possessed, supporting her as a healer, the price of such an outfit fluctuated around a few gold coins. In addition to its high market value, it also had a high emotional value. However, in contrast to truly valuable heirlooms, Alison was relieved to finally get rid of the robe. Her new life began when Elrianthe first entered her cell, and the priestess outfit only reminded her of the betrayal and abandonment she had experienced during her years of service. Not wanting to stand out, she bought ordinary city clothes for herself, opting for quality and comfort.


    For Elrianthe, she chose a bright dress that stood out from the crowd. She thought this would enhance one''s first impression of her, although she herself believed that no clothes could enhance Elrianthe''s natural beauty.


    ¡°Do you really want to do that? Maybe we can still avoid it...¡± she muttered grimly, arranging the elf''s hair.


    ¡°Alison, it will be fine. Before you know it, I''ll have half of their house under my orders. You have nothing to worry about,¡± Elrianthe replied confidently, seeing as a milk-thick cloud of pheromones filled the room. If it weren''t for her ability to ignore its visibility, she wouldn''t have been able to see anything further than an arm''s length away.


    ¡°I hope everything goes your way.¡±


    The forenoon...


    A column of richly decorated carts, escorted by a dozen armed cavalrymen on armored mounts, stopped at the eastern gate of the town of Pershore.


    The town guards opened the gates, noticing the crest with a griffin on the carriage and the cavalrymen''s armor. They were expecting visitors from the Beg family that day.


    The column moved on, arousing great interest among the locals, who rarely had the opportunity to see a carriage decorated with silver, gold, and jewels. Many dreamed of throwing themselves at the glittering pieces and taking them for themselves. Vigilant cavalrymen deployed themselves around the carriages so that no one would even think of approaching at the length of their spears.


    The carriages reached Roland''s inn and stopped at the entrance. Butler Garret got out of the first carriage and approached the carriage in the middle to open the door for the marquis. The cavalrymen took up new positions, and four of them dismounted from their horses to accompany their Lord.


    Marquis Sigismund stepped out of the carriage. He was a middle-aged man who had never known hunger or pain. Dressed in a warm coat of fur in a shade of dark purple, with a crimson belt slung over his shoulder, he looked dignified. His balding head was adorned with a thick cap with a brooch and eagle feather, and an ornate saber gleamed at his belt.


    Sigismund squirmed, and his mustache twitched in disgust. With a determined step, he approached the door of the inn, trying not to soil his elegant leather boots with the dirt of this town.


    Two cavalrymen went inside, and two more stood at the entrance, opening the door for the marquis, who entered the inn accompanied by his butler and court medic.


    ¡°Greetings, dear lord,¡± began Gaz, bowing slightly to the marquis.


    ¡°Hmm. Are you the trader? You don''t look like someone who disposes of valuable goods,¡± assessed the marquis, looking at Gaz.


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    Gaz smiled slightly. ¡°My appearance doesn''t matter compared to what awaits you in the next room.¡±


    ¡°Good. Lead the way.¡±


    The man guided the guests into the room, where Elrianthe was waiting. She was sitting in a chair with her hands tied. The discomfort was painted on her face, but it did not detract from her beauty. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to pay no attention to the fact that someone had entered the room.


    An old trick that she had mastered to perfection allowed her to hide the satisfaction that came from listening to the thoughts of these people. From the moment Gaz opened the door, Elrianthe could hear their inner monologues in crystal quality.


    The soldiers who entered the room right behind Gaz began to get anxious as soon as they saw who they were dealing with. They had never come into contact with a pure-blooded elf before, but they immediately noticed that she was no mere hybrid from the street. The butler also had similar concerns, but his knowledge of certain elven customs allowed him to remain calm.


    The greatest excitement came from the marquis, whose face hosted a devious smile from his first glance at the elf.


    Wire: ¡°Perfect! As if painted by a world-famous artist. Wonderful golden hair, beautiful face, perfect figure, and those breasts... I can''t wait for her to join me in the bedroom. I''ve had enough of this smelly she-wolf!¡±


    Gaz turned to them, ¡°Do you have any questions or objections?¡±


    Marquis approached the elf, ¡°I must admit that I did not expect you to impress me so much with your merchandise. I was too quick to judge you, and you deserve my appreciation for keeping her in such excellent condition. Most of the traders I''ve dealt with don''t take care of their slaves,¡± he replied, still admiring her looks.


    ¡°Nevertheless...¡± the marquis gently grabbed the elf by the chin. ¡°Not everything can be seen at first glance and requires deeper analysis to avoid deception,¡± he said, and Elrianthe turned her head to the side.


    Gaz furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing much. You pointed out that she''s a virgin, right? My trusted medic will take a look at her and judge it himself according to his years of experience. There''s no need to worry. It''s just a formality, am I right?¡± asked the marquis.


    Visible drops of sweat began to form on Gaz''s forehead, ¡°Yes, of course. As much as possible, honorable sir.¡±


    The marquis nodded and the elderly man approached the elf. He began first by looking at her face. Ordering her to open her eyes, which he looked at closely, he then looked at her mouth. Finding no defects or signs of illness, he checked her arms and then her legs. Everything looked healthy and well-cared for.


    Gaz watched the process with concern. When the old medic demanded that she pull back her underwear to check the condition of her hymen, his heart began to pound in panic.


    Tie: ¡°Calm down, Gaz. I can''t concentrate because of your nerves.¡±


    Tie: ¡°Forgive me, I''m afraid that-¡±


    Tie: ¡°You don''t have to be afraid of anything. He won''t find out.¡±


    The old man massaged her intimate areas with a rough finger, clearly enjoying the moment. His hand had been exploring her panties for quite some time, but despite this, the old man refused to stop playing. It looked more like a fingering than an inspection of her hymen. Elrianthe, reading his thoughts, heard him wondering if her delicate elf pussy could cure his impotence, if only he could take her here and now.


    Her irritation grew, and having had enough of being touched with impunity, Elrianthe growled: ¡°Could you hurry up?¡±


    *Slap*


    Marquis slapped the woman as soon as she opened her mouth. ¡°How dare you speak like that! I''ll have to teach you manners first!¡± he shouted angrily.


    Gaz instinctively took a step toward them, wanting to stand up for her, but the soldiers immediately grabbed their weapons. He then returned to his place.


    ¡°Please forgive me, but I would like your dignity to refrain from hitting my slave girl until we make a deal,¡± Gaz said, trying to remain calm.


    ¡°You have not taught her not to speak without her master''s clear permission. I''ll forgive you, though, because it''s just a matter of a minor adjustment. Don''t worry, I won''t give up on buying this woman. It''s only a few minutes before she becomes my property, which doesn''t mean I''ll tolerate her peasant behavior,¡± he thundered.


    ¡°With the greatest respect, for a successful exchange you need both sides to agree,¡± Gaz replied.


    ¡°Oh, truly? I wouldn''t even think that you would turn down such an opportunity to enrich yourself. It would be a shot in the knee, especially since she is not suitable for anything more than a bed. You won''t find anyone else willing to buy her for mere whim, except me,¡± the marquis stated.


    Tie: ¡°Let it go. We''ll come out on the plus end, one way or another.¡±


    Tie: ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Tie: ¡°Look now.¡±


    Elrianthe looked at the nobleman, straightening up and puffing out her chest. The Marquis intrigued, walked over to her and grabbed her chin again.


    Creating very subtle visions, Elrianthe showed them to the Marquis in such a way that he could not suspect that they did not belong to him.


    Flashes of scenes about passionate sex with a beautiful elf from his imagination made him feel better, and he began to think about what a treasure he had been given.


    ¡°I think... I''ll pay you more as an apology,¡± acknowledged the marquis.

 Chapter 42 - Its official now

    ¡°I''ll give you 50 gold coins on top of the amount you proposed,¡± said the marquis, turning to Gaz.


    ¡°My lord, are you going to pay 550 gold coins for this woman?¡± the butler asked.


    The marquis thought for a moment. ¡°You''re right, Garret. I still need to think it over,¡± he replied, and his gaze fell on the medic, demanding a report.


    ¡°I would assess her health condition as very good. She is healthy, with no markings, imperfections, or skin defects, and no signs of underlying disease. Her condition is excellent. She has not been starved, there are no signs of beatings or other physical traumas,¡± the medic concluded.


    Marquis then asked: ¡°What about her maidenhood?¡±


    ¡°The hymen remained intact. She has not yet had sexual contact,¡± the old man added.


    "Exquisite! I think we can safely offer 600 coins!¡± declared the marquis, full of enthusiasm.


    ''That''s still not enough,'' said Elrianthe in thought.


    ¡°My lord-¡± began Garret, but the marquis interrupted him.


    ¡°You''re right! It''s too low a price for such an outstanding quality. I don''t want you to think of me as an extortionist, so I''m offering 700 coins!¡± he called out to Gaz, who stood like a pillar, with his mouth open in surprise.


    ¡°My lord,¡± repeated Garret. ¡°We have no prepared funds for such an expense. Please consider this offer,¡± he pointed out politely.


    ¡°Very well. We will divide the payment into two parts. You will receive the agreed rate now, and an additional 250 coins at a later date. A total of 750 gold coins,¡± the marquis offered.


    Gaz stood stupefied. Glancing at Elrianthe, he saw her smirk and realized - it was her doing.


    ¡°Well, I have no choice. I agree,¡± he finally replied, feeling the marquis'' expectant gaze.


    ¡°Excellent! Splendid! Let''s proceed to sign the contract then,¡± exclaimed the delighted marquis. His behavior was indeed strange, but Garret and the other subordinates knew that Sigismund often gets carried away by his emotions when he is in a good mood.


    Gaz approached the elf and pulled a knife from his pocket. He needed her blood and the signature of her new owner to seal the slave contract. He put the knife to her finger, but didn''t cut - the blood was already there. He pressed her finger against the paper, leaving a drop of blood on the material.


    The document was moved to the other side of the table, where the marquis sat. He endorsed it with his name, and his signature was remarkably stylized.


    When he finished, the mark on the elf''s hand lit up, and the marquis'' name was revealed under her own. The contract was completed, and Elrianthe officially became the slave of Marquis Sigismund of the House of Beg.


    At least, that''s how it seemed to the unwary.


    Garret approached the table, wadded the contract into a roll, then placed it in a tube and sealed it. ¡°Gentlemen pardon me,¡± he called back after taking a bow, then left the room.


    Marquis was still looking at his new toy when he was suddenly intrigued by a detail. ¡°Gaz, am I saying right?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, your dignity,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Do you know anything about her past? Family, friends, place of residence? To be honest, I haven''t heard of a pureblood elf being seen in these lands for the last three hundred years. Where did you find her?¡± he inquired.


    Elrianthe looked at Gaz. She adopted a hostile expression, but was actually curious if Gaz had any information about ¡°her family.¡± She never asked about it, thinking that she didn''t need the information and the truth would come to her on its own sooner or later. But what if the elves related to her also have strong abilities? She should reach them as soon as possible and take them under her control.


    Tie: ¡°May I?¡± hesitated Gaz.


    Tie: ¡°Speak up. I''m curious myself how much you know,¡± she replied.


    Gaz sighed. ¡°She was found by the Explorers in a dense forest near the borders of the Grand Duchy of Vicremia. She lived there with her younger brother, sister, and parents. I don''t know many details, but I can guess what might have happened to them,¡± he replied.


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    Marquis got up from his chair and corrected his outfit. ¡°It''s a great disappointment. I would have bought her sister for a company as well, but gods know where she is now and if she is even still alive.¡±


    ''I should look for them or at least find out something about them,'' thought Elrianthe.


    Garret stood in the doorway again, carrying two heavy pouches filled with gold. ¡°Your share of the payment,¡± he turned to Gaz.


    Two soldiers, who were not cavalrymen, entered after him. The marquis ordered them to handcuff the elf and lead her out. One of the soldiers approached the woman, put on the metal shackles he had brought, and handed the key back to the marquis. Elrianthe''s face filled with rage as the effect of the anti-magic handcuffs took effect.


    ''Those bastards blocked my magic!''


    Meanwhile, outside the inn...


    A crowd of people was beginning to gather in the street. The gawkers murmured among themselves, trying to figure out the reason for the foreign nobleman''s visit.


    ¡°Why would he stay with that weirdo Roland?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. Maybe he owes him money?¡±


    ¡°I heard that this suspicious type brought him a slave.¡±


    ¡°That merchant? I saw him walking around town with some woman yesterday. She looked more like his girlfriend than a slave.¡±


    ¡°And the other one who came with them?¡±


    ¡°Look, they''re leaving!¡±


    The soldiers left the inn, leading the woman with them. Shock and anxiety penetrated the crowd like a rushing arrow. People could not believe their eyes.


    ¡°She was there the whole time?¡±


    ¡°She''s the same one who used to walk around town with that guy! But then she didn''t look like an elf...¡±


    ¡°A witch!¡±


    ¡°Look, she has chains on her hands. He''s a criminal!¡±


    ¡°Get the fuck out of our city!¡±


    ¡°Elf rag!¡±


    The first people in the gathered crowd began to call out. Their rage grew more and more, and the shouts became louder and louder. Finally, someone picked up a stone from the ground and threw it in the direction of the elf woman.


    ¡°Fucking elf!¡±


    More people picked up the idea and started throwing everything they had at hand in her direction. As a group, against a defenseless woman, they felt strong.


    ¡°Move back!¡± shouted one of the cavalrymen.


    ¡°Get the fuck out! Get the fuck out! Get the fuck out!¡± chanted the crowd in unison.


    Alison spent most of her time alone in her room, but the loud shouts coming from the front yard prompted her to look out the window.


    She clenched her fist angrily as she heard the crowd of aggressive people making hostile comments to Elrianthe.


    ¡°Hoarders! They don''t even have a clue what a loving person she is!¡± she raged.


    At the same time, the marquis left the inn and encountered people chanting and throwing stones. He immediately summoned the commander of the cavalrymen, Captain Oswell of the Softcloud family.


    ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± shouted the marquis.


    ¡°Several instigators have incited the assembled onlookers to be aggressive toward the elf you purchased, and they are currently very unruly,¡± the captain reported.


    ¡°I''ll force them to calm down at once!¡± growled the marquis. ¡°Catch these instigators and bring them here, immediately!¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord!¡±


    The captain gave the orders, and the soldiers began to pull out from the crowd the people who were the first to shout and throw stones. A total of seven - five men and two women - were pulled from the crowd and lined up in front of the entrance, where a nobleman was waiting.


    ¡°On your knees!¡± ordered Captain Softcloud, and several of them obeyed. The rest were forced to obey the command.


    ¡°What did we do?¡± asked one of the braver men.


    ¡°What have you done? You miserable worms... You are in the presence of a nobleman, and you behave worse than animals! Do you want to carry out self-judgment? Get out into the woods!¡± thundered Sigismund.


    ¡°But she''s an elf! She has no right to stay here! She''s a criminal, I saw the chains!¡± shouted a woman in self-defense.


    ¡°That''s how stupid you are! This is my elf and my property! Do you know what that means, stupid woman? An attack on my property is an attack on me. I think you know what an attack on a noble means,¡± replied the enraged marquis.


    One of the men fell on his face, realizing where this was going. ¡°Please spare us, my lord! We didn''t know.¡±


    ¡°This does not exempt you from responsibility! This act of assault will be punishable by death. I hope that based on your example, the rest will come to their senses!¡± he said to them, then turned to the captain. ¡°All of them receive the death sentence. Execute at once,¡± he ordered.


    ¡°Yes, my lord!¡±


    Alice''s office...


    ¡°They killed the seven on the spot and left,¡± Simon concluded, reporting back to Alice.


    ¡°Ha ha. I can''t believe it... I almost appointed an elf as my right hand...¡± mumbled Alice under her breath. She leaned her elbows on the desk and held her forehead in disbelief.


    ¡°What shall we do about it?¡± asked Simon.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± she raged, slamming her fist on the tabletop. ¡°Fucking piece of shit! That whore worked with that fucking spy! They''re both fucking elves. They had to cooperate. We''ll catch her! I''ll show that motherfucking slut where she belongs!¡±


    ¡°Should I organize people?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but don''t attack the carriage. Catch Gaz. He also worked with her. I''ll entrust the capture of the elf to someone outside the city,¡± she decided.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Simon replied and left the room.


    Alice opened the closet and took out a magic scroll. Filling it with a bit of mana, the scroll glowed softly, signaling that it was ready to release the stored spell. Alice tossed it, the scroll unrolled activating Telepathy.


    ¡°Chris, I have a well-paid deal for you.¡±

 Chapter 43 - Alice never forgives

    Alison was sitting at the table in her room. On the tabletop in front of her were two large bags filled with gold coins.


    ¡°I''ve never seen so much gold with my own eyes,¡± she muttered, and the amazement in her voice gave way over to sorrow.


    Gaz stood by the door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.


    ¡°What now?¡± he asked, contemplating his next move.


    ¡°I don''t want to leave her. I can''t. I promised to support her,¡± she replied firmly.


    ¡°You''re right. We were supposed to come here in a larger group, but a troll messed up our plans. It doesn''t change the fact that we should follow her as decided,¡± Gaz said. ¡°Pack your bags. We have a three-day journey ahead of us to Wethoz.¡±


    Alison nodded.


    Later...


    Gaz stood at the entrance to the inn, loading supplies into his carriage, preparing for the long journey that awaited them.


    ''I never thought I''d be chasing an elf...'' thought Gaz, tossing another bag inside.


    ¡°Idiot. She spared your life. You have no choice but to serve her,¡± he burbled under his breath. He didn''t know where fate was leading him, but he hoped he wouldn''t be disappointed by her.


    Gaz turned toward the entrance as a group of bandits emerged from behind a cart. They were armed and definitely prepared for resistance on his part.


    ¡°Where do you think you''re going?¡± the red-haired young wanker asked.


    ¡°Maybe we''ll go with you?¡± joked another.


    Gaz drew his sword, it was impossible to avoid a fight with them. ¡°None of your business,¡± he replied coolly.


    ¡°You won''t escape us!¡± shouted the brunet, raising his sword and throwing himself in his direction.


    Gaz took a stance. ''Amateur. Slow, clumsy. A kid showing off in front of his buddies,'' he thought.


    *clang*


    Gaz blocked the hooligan''s sword.


    ¡°You''re asking for it yourself,¡± he added, and his blade moved to counterattack, bypassing his opponent''s amateurish defense. Gaz delivered the fatal blow, slitting his throat, from which blood gushed.


    ¡°Ugh! U- u!¡±


    The man fell to the ground, choking on his own blood.


    ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± cried the red-haired man, running towards him along with another guy.


    *bang*


    ¡°You should all attack together,¡± he said in an instructive, low tone, before cutting off the youngster''s hand with which he held the sword.


    *stab*


    The second thug, intending to attack Gaz from behind, thrust his blade toward him, but ended up piercing his friend''s stomach.


    ¡°Pathetic.¡±


    The thug''s heart was stopped with a decisive thrust of the sword.


    Both fell to the ground, laying next to the body of the first bolder.


    ¡°You''d better put the weapon down if you want to get out of this alive!¡± called out the woman, stepping out from behind the building.


    Gaz turned in her direction, knowing perfectly well whose voice it was. Alice was standing there with her guys - at least nine of them were standing next to her, and another five had taken up position by his cart.


    ¡°Fuck...¡± growled Gaz, holstering his weapon. ¡°What do you want from me, Alice?¡±


    The leader furrowed her forehead. Her face was full of hatred. ¡°You know very well that I hate being tricked. You and your... fake sister have overstepped the line,¡± she thundered.


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    ¡°I have no idea what you''re talking about,¡± Gaz replied. He knew full well that this wasn''t going to end his way, but maybe Alison would be able to escape if he dragged out this unfortunate encounter.


    Alice squirmed, and more veins of rage appeared on her forehead. ¡°Don''t make a fool out of me! I know who she is! Do you think you can lie to me? I''ll make sure you regret it...¡± she spat venom in his direction.


    ¡°What do you want to do about it? She''s not here anymore,¡± he replied.


    ¡°I know about it. You apparently sold her to that nobleman. I don''t know why. I don''t know what kind of deal you had. It''s not important now. I''ll find out from her personally,¡± she replied, relaxing a little at the thought of their next meeting.


    ¡°Personally? I doubt you''ll get to her,¡± Gaz stated defiantly.


    A devious smile appeared on Alice''s face. ¡°Don''t underestimate me. You don''t know what I''m capable of when someone gets under my skin,¡± she replied.


    At that moment, the door of the inn opened, and Krek came out, leading another woman - Alison - behind him.


    ¡°Boss, this one here also worked with them,¡± Krek announced.


    Alice applauded with her hands in satisfaction. ¡°The stakes have risen once again! Do you think your long-eared lover will be able to say no to me when I put your lives on the line?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Lover?¡° muttered Alison under her breath.


    Gaz realized he was in a no-win situation. In addition, Alison was piercing him with a penetrating stare. ''Has she already guessed what happened in the evening? I''m dead.''


    ¡°Listen, Alice-¡± began Gaz, ¡°Elrianthe has been sold, that''s the end of our business relationship. We have nothing in common with her anymore. She had her reasons and goals. We are victims of her scheming, just like you.¡±


    Alice laughed at his trivial explanation. ¡°You have no idea how moronic that sounds. I guess she didn''t teach you to lie before she left, did she? Elrianthe is an elf. So is the Garharren spy she brought to us. Do you think it''s a coincidence? I don''t. They worked together. Even during the questioning, they played theater to deceive me. She indeed has some strange abilities, but a hair did not fall off that woman''s head. They worked together from the very beginning. Do you know what this means? Her debt to me has not been paid, and now she still has additional obligations that I will not let her off the hook, do you understand?¡±


    ¡°What do we have to do with this? I didn''t even know she had met another elf,¡± Gaz replied angrily, overlooking the fact that Elrianthe had informed him about Cornelie and the arranged contact with her.


    ¡°It doesn''t matter whether you knew about it or not. You cooperated with the enemy, which means you are also the enemy. And you will be treated as such,¡± Alice declared, signaling her men to capture him.


    Gaz was tied up, as was Alison. The bodies of the fallen gangsters were loaded onto his cart, and then someone spotted the hidden fortune.


    ¡°Boss! I found something!¡± he shouted in Alice''s direction, holding out his hand with a pouch full of gold. Then he showed the other one.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± growled Gaz. He tried to contact Elrianthe, using their telepathic link, but received no response.


    ¡°Excellent!¡± exclaimed Alice, checking the contents of the pouch. ¡°This will definitely make me feel better. I will gladly accept it as compensation for the theft. The only thing that remains is the question of the fraud.¡±


    Meanwhile, outside the town...


    It had been at least two hours of driving, at least that''s how it seemed to Elrianthe. Her companions, the soldiers who led her out of the inn, were not eager to talk. They had been assigned as her guards and traveled with her in the same carriage.


    If her magic had not been blocked, she might have forced them to talk. However, Elrianthe was a confident woman and decided to rely on her charisma.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Shut your mouth, elven abomination. We can''t or don''t want to talk to you!¡± one of the guards barked back at her.


    A little support for her skills would be useful...


    Testing all available options, Elrianthe discovered that her system was working as usual, but she was unable to activate any skill and her interactions with it were limited.


    Surprisingly, although her contact with Gaz was cut off, she saw a message that he had received experience points and had been promoted to level 11. A class change was also available, but she couldn''t do anything about it because of limited interaction with the system.


    ''I hope they can manage there...''


    Looking on the bright side, she noticed that her pheromones were still naturally produced by her skin, although the amount was greatly reduced. By keeping close to her body, they allowed her to maintain permanent illusions, one of which was used on the ring to hide it from the eyes of the guards.


    The carriage stopped violently and a barking guard bumped into Elrianthe. He was unprepared for the sudden braking and grabbed her thigh in an attempt to keep his balance.


    ¡°AH! Not so fast! I''m not ready for a man!¡± cried Elrianthe, playing on their nerves for fun. They made hilarious faces when they were upset.


    ¡°Shut your mouth, wench,¡± growled the guard, approaching the side door of the carriage to see why they had stopped.


    Outside, there were screams and sounds of a fight. The guard drew his sword and leaned out.


    *swish*


    An unleashed arrow lodged in the knee of the man, who fell back inside in horror.


    ¡°AAa! Fuck!¡± he shouted, rolling on the floor in pain.


    The other guard quickly closed the door and approached his injured comrade, trying to help him.


    ¡°Quiet, everything will be fine,¡± he said.


    ¡°Aa! I don''t want to end up in the White Peak City Guard!¡±


    ¡°Relax, they''ll heal you!¡±


    The guard snapped an arrow close to the body, ignoring the man''s screams, and then wrapped a bandage around the wound to stiffen it and reduce bleeding.


    In the meantime, the sounds of fighting quieted down, and the carriage door opened on its own. Outside stood two men resembling bandits, backed by several archers.


    ¡°We''re just going to borrow this girl, okay?¡± they said.


    ''No room for boredom, eh...'' thought Elrianthe.

 Chapter 44 - Chris

    Elrianthe left the carriage in the company of her kidnappers. Her fate rested in the hands of yet another occupant. Once again she was at the mercy of the bandits. She hated it. She had been shuffled from hand to hand, never, ever, truly free, and it was getting annoying.


    Her irritated face seemed to express thoughts: ¡°When will this end?¡±


    The kidnappers led her to their boss, Chris, who at the moment was eye-wrestling with Captain SoftCloud. Oswell and his remaining cavalrymen shielded the enraged nobleman.


    The area where they were attacked was a textbook example of the perfect place for an ambush: a tight, uneven road, little room for cavalrymen, no detours. Rocks, hills, dense thickets - all these created perfect conditions for hiding and getting close to the carriages.


    ''Shouldn''t they follow the main routes to the next town?'' wondered Elrianthe, carefully observing her surroundings.


    ¡°Oh?¡± responded Chris, noticing the elf. ¡°Nice plaything. It must have cost a lot, right? Sigi?¡±


    Marquis exploded with anger. ¡°How dare you call me that!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Don''t be like that. We''re friends, right?¡± laughed Chris.


    ¡°You filthy thug! I''ll ensure that your head hangs on the walls of my hometown!¡± threatened the marquis, trembling with rage.


    A man from the band of kidnappers stepped out of the carriage, holding a tube with a contract in his hand, and handed it to Chris.


    ¡°Where does this aggression come from, Sigi? I''m just making sure everyone follows the same rules. Your new girlfriend is subject to a tax of 15-¡± Chris paused for a moment to look at Elrianthe again, ¡±-actually 25%, because she qualifies as a luxury good. Such elves are rare,¡± he sneered.


    ¡°Damn thieves! You have no right to demand such a thing!¡± cried the marquis, red with anger.


    ¡°Three days,¡± replied Chris briefly, then left.


    The black bag was thrown over Elrianthe''s head, and she, dragged by the hands, was escorted into the depths of the forest, where the transport was waiting.


    Sometime later...


    When the sack was removed, she found herself in an empty room that resembled an isolation room. There were no windows or openings in the walls or floor. A single door at which sat a fat guy, designated as a guard. His beleaguered stare disgusted her.


    ''I''m back to where I started again,'' she thought.


    Three days. After how long had she endured in the dungeons of the Crow Forest ruins? It didn''t seem like much. However, the very thought of being locked inside four walls again made her anxious. She decided that she would not wait patiently until they let her out on her own. Just how to do it?


    [ New task ]


    [ Free yourself from the influence of the magic-blocking item ]


    [ Reward: 5,000 free XP ]


    The task message caught her attention. But why hadn''t she received a task before? She wondered if the system itself chooses the moment to grant one, or if she can trigger its reaction herself. Previously, she had received them every now and then.


    ''Do I really have to risk my life to get your support? Maybe I have to take the first step for the system to think it will be worth rewarding my actions?¡± she tried to understand the rules of task formation.


    Elrianthe sat on the ground, leaning against the wall. From time to time she glanced at the fat man at the entrance, who did not take his eyes off her. The way he looked at her was driving her crazy. In his imagination, he had probably already undressed her and raped her several times. The damned filth. If she could use her powers now, she would destroy his psyche, bombarding him with the worst nightmares he could imagine.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The door opened wide, and Chris walked in. Elrianthe couldn''t use her skills to check his stats, but by his attitude, it seemed he was strong and confident in his abilities.


    Now she could get a better look at him. His brown eyes matched his medium-length dark brown hair, styled back like that of some nouveau riche arselicker. His clothes were clean and stylish, but already bore signs of wear and tear. He must have made a good living from kidnapping. And he was good at it. Maybe something could be learned from him.


    ¡°You can leave for an hour,¡± he said to the fat man, who got up and left. Chris closed the door behind him.


    ¡°What is this kidnapping for? I doubt it''s just for money. What do you want from me?¡± asked a nervous Elrianthe.


    Chris raised his eyebrows, surprised. He had not expected such a question. ¡°Beautiful and bright, huh? Someone wants to talk to you,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Really? I''m not in the mood to talk,¡± she threw back arrogantly.


    ¡°That''s okay. I''ll fix it for you right away. We still have a few hours before she arrives from Pershore,¡± Chris replied carelessly, walking up to her.


    ¡°From Pershore?¡± Elrianthe suspected who it might have been.


    And she didn''t like it.


    But why? What else might she want?


    ¡°Don''t bother with that. You''ll find out everything soon enough.¡± Chris stood in front of her, smiling.


    ¡°And what do you want now?¡± Even without being able to read his mind, she knew perfectly well what was on his mind.


    ¡°You see, normally I only take money, but I wouldn''t be myself if I let the fun pass with a pretty girl like you. I think I''ll add a bonus to the Marquis'' bill in the form of a test drive. The old man often throws money around, buying toys blindly without even knowing if his new model drives well. That''s why I''ll test-drive you. Just out of care for him, obviously,¡± whispered Chris, leaning toward her.


    A suspicious smile dawned on Elrianthe''s face. ¡°I don''t recommend it. The last guy who tried to take me by force ended up with his balls ripped open. Not even to mention that he died a few days later,¡± she praised.


    Chris laughed ominously. ¡°Perfect! I absolutely adore you! I like sharp ladies, you know? Risk is also part of the fun,¡± he said and started kissing her.


    Elrianthe turned her face to the side. She had no intention of kissing a strange man who was picking on her without her consent. In addition, she smelled the scent of alcohol from him. He wasn''t drunk, but the alcohol definitely motivated him to act.


    Chris wasn''t too concerned about her rejection and proceeded to kiss her cheeks, then her neck, going lower and lower as time went on.


    He slid the thick straps of her white dress off her shoulders, freeing her luscious breasts as if he were unwrapping a birthday present. Delighted by the view, he grabbed her left breast and began to play with it. It was huge, unable to fit in one hand.


    ¡°So smooth and firm, despite their size... It''s as if they weren''t real,¡± commented an amazed Chris, before he began kissing them, licking and sucking the nipples.


    Elrianthe''s breasts had become his favorite part of her body, and he dreamed of sinking into them for the rest of the day. However, there was one more place waiting for him to sink into.


    Starting at her knee, he kissed her thighs, moving closer to her crotch. It was hard for Elrianthe to admit that his sensitivities were beginning to affect her. Mainly because she was reminded of the evening with Gaz.


    That''s when Chris started getting into her panties. He was not prepared for what he found there.


    The horror on his face was hard to describe in words. He jumped away from Elrianthe as if burned. ¡°W-what the hell is t-this thing the f-fuck?!¡±


    Elrianthe was also surprised by this sight but decided to use it to her advantage. ¡°What, you don''t like it?¡± she asked, wobbling her hips from side to side.


    ¡°No! My g-god! It''s bigger than mine! W-why is it h-hard?! You''re sick!¡± Chris cried out, stepping even further away from Elrianthe.


    A 22-centimeter-long cock stood between her legs, swinging from side to side as she moved. Identical to Gaz''s, but bigger.


    For some reason, the illusion of his penis she had played with after the bathhouse encounter remained active, as did the camouflage on the ring, so she decided to pretend it was real. Chris did not like this.


    ¡°Are you a dude? Fuck! How is that possible? Couldn''t you have told me earlier instead of threatening to tear my bag? Does this fucker know that?¡± mumbled Chris.


    ¡°I''m half a guy, okay? It''s your fault for starting to get to me.¡±


    ¡°Holy shit, what a sick thing,¡± Chris said under his breath, walking up to the door.


    "Oi, wait! Where are you going? I thought you liked risks and rough ladies?¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°Holy fuck, I almost fucked a guy with tits... I''m not gay, I''m not gay, I''m not gay,¡± he mumbled under his breath stupefied.


    ¡°At least help me get dressed!¡± shouted Elrianthe, but Chris was no longer around.