《Intimancer》 Chapter 1.1 A Sudden Start ¡°What the fuuuuuuuUU- OOF!¡± Rick was awash in pain as all the air in his lungs was forcefully ejected from his mouth when he collided with the hard ground. As landings went, he had worse, although not by much. His lungs still struggled to regain the breath his belly flop knocked out of him. Eventually he recovered enough to breathe with some regularity, his hands reaching out to grip the sparse grass in front of him to help slowly pull himself on his arms and knees. He remained there on all fours slowly filling his aching lungs with the cool air when a soft breeze blew by and tickled him in a way that brought him back to more conscious thought. Looking down he noticed that his nethers were completely exposed. In fact, he was as naked as the day he was born. Another ¡°What the fuck?¡± escaped his lips as he scrambled to his feet and looked around frantically. He found himself surrounded on all sides by tall trees and dense foliage. His clothes, that he could have sworn he was wearing two minutes ago, were nowhere to be found. This situation was just too weird. Panic began to claw its way to the front of his mind. Rick shut his eyes and desperately tried to fight the urge to run screaming deeper into this mysterious forest. That certainly would not have helped. ¡°Take a deep breath. And slow down.¡± He breathed out, as if speaking the words out loud would cause them to manifest. ¡°Dad always said that even in the worst of situations there is always time to stop, breathe, and plan your next move.¡± He repeated the mantra several times, breathing slowly and deeply in and out in between each sentence. While Rick¡¯s father didn¡¯t always follow his own advice, when stuff hit the fan and things really mattered, the man became absolutely unflappable. Mentally picturing his father¡¯s stoic face during one of their first disastrous family vacations seemed to calm Rick down. He felt his heart rate slow and his breathing become more even. Slowly Rick opened his eyes again and looked around with a more critical gaze. ¡°Step one; Are you in immediate danger?¡± He looked down at his nude form again. ¡°Well, while my junk is hanging out, there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything trying to claw or bite it off, so I think I''m good there.¡± He gave a wry chuckle at that. Humor was good. If you could make a joke in a situation then things weren¡¯t quite at rock bottom¡­ yet. ¡°Step two; Confirm where you are, who you are with, and what tools you have available.¡± He laughed again ¡°I¡¯m in an unknown forest, I¡¯m alone, and I¡¯m naked so no tools for me.¡± But after a moment he realized that wasn¡¯t necessarily true. Yes he didn¡¯t have clothes, his phone, or even the pocket knife his dad gave him when he turned ten, but he wasn¡¯t in a barren wasteland with nothing to use either. A sharp rock could be used to cut and shape a tree branch or cut some strips out to make cordage. A large stick could be used for defense or even as a splint in case of a broken bone. The possibilities were endless. The knowledge that he had options finally tamped down on the last vestiges of panic into a far corner of Rick¡¯s mind. He now felt a budding sense of hope to replace the overwhelming fear. As he began searching for what he could use from his surroundings Rick tried his best to remember how he ended up in this absolutely ridiculous situation. How the hell did one find themselves swan-diving naked into a forest? Try as he might, he just could not remember. It was like a black void swallowed his most recent memories and desperately trying to dredge them up caused Rick to feel a slight headache forming. Deciding that further attempts on his more recent past would just be futile, he changed gears. I can remember my name, my family, and what seems to be 18 years of childhood. So that¡¯s something. He thought. He then started going through all the major events starting from his last birthday. Let¡¯s see, I turned eighteen then a few months later I graduated high school. After that I was getting ready for college, yeah! I remember packing and¡­ There was that void again. Rick remembered he chose and got accepted to a university far away from anyone in his family. He didn¡¯t have many friends where he grew up and figured that college would be a great chance to start something new. He wanted to forge something for himself and the prospect of striking it out alone with no support excited and terrified him in equal measure. ¡°And yet, here I am.¡± He chuckled wryly to himself. He was most certainly alone now, whether he wanted to be or not. He figured he was now mentally all caught up more or less, mysterious black void in his memories notwithstanding. With another deep breath he mentally switched gears once again, focused fully on the here and now. He used a somewhat sharp stone he found nearby to cut a decent sized branch from a nearby tree. He then cut away all the excess limbs and cut off most of the thin and brittle section of the front, leaving him with a somewhat straight wooden pole about as long as he was tall. Which admittedly¡­ wasn¡¯t much. He unfortunately inherited his height from his mother¡¯s southeast Asian heritage leaving him quite a bit under the national average for adult men. With a sigh he did his best to sharpen the tip of his makeshift spear and stood back up. While he would have loved to harden the speartip in a fire he didn¡¯t feel that he had the time. Based on the light that filtered through the trees it was about mid afternoon and that left him with precious little time to prepare.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Alright, Step three; try to secure water, shelter, and food. Mostly in that order.¡± His dad often told him that an average human could go a week without food but would die of thirst twice over before that happened. So finding a spring or a river was top priority. If he couldn¡¯t do it before it started to get dark then he would instead find a safe place to sleep and try again first thing when he woke up. With a deep breath and a grunt to psych himself up for the journey ahead, Rick set off deeper into the forest in search of a means to survive. ¡­ It seems that wandering around a strange forest looking for water was an extremely difficult task. While water had proven to be quite elusive, luck herself didn¡¯t completely abandon Rick as he padded along the forest floor. About an hour after setting off he found a bush with several bunches of berries nestled within its boughs. After sampling one Rick found they were blackberries and gleefully took another handful or two. Food wasn¡¯t as good as water but it was better than nothing at all. Plus they tasted divine. With the day coming to an end Rick decided to give up on his thirst for now and focus on finding a safe spot to sleep. It didn¡¯t take him long to find a fairly thick tree with low hanging branches. Using another sharp rock he cut away some limbs from the nearby trees and laid them down in a tent pattern against a low branch. His shelter complete, Rick laid down on a pile of leaves he lined the floor of his shelter with and did his best to fall asleep. He was emotionally and physically drained but sleep did not come easy. He kept thinking of home, of his family. His mother¡¯s warm smile and soft embrace, his father¡¯s tall and sturdy back, his little sister¡¯s bratty attitude. The possibility of never seeing them again crashed against his mind like a tidal wave. He bottled it all up and shoved it deep down into the forgotten recesses of his mind. He would survive. Only once that was achieved, could he worry about what was lost. He was still struggling to keep the emotions in their container when he finally passed out from exhaustion. When the pale light of dawn poked through the canopy Rick was eager to leave his shelter for good. To say that was the worst night of sleep he ever had was no exaggeration. The temperature of the forest, while fairly comfortable during the day, dropped considerably once the sun set and his shelter did little to stop the wind from flowing through the gaps in his makeshift walls. As a result he could only sleep fitfully at best leaving him, cold, miserable, and sore all over from the unyielding ground. Rick felt the walls of his dry throat rub together like a tube lined with sandpaper. The urgent need for water nearly caused all the panic and suppressed feelings to come bubbling back up from where he mentally shoved them away the day before. It took a bit longer, but Rick eventually got himself steady enough to think straight. He needed to secure something better and fast. Rick stood and pondered what he could do to maximize his chances of finding water, or better yet, civilization if it existed. He gazed around and examined the topography of his surroundings. The forest was fairly flat but there were some rises here and there representing slight hills. Water flows downhill, so if I could find out which direction that could be I probably would find water easier, right? He pondered. Lacking any other ideas, Rick ran to the top of the nearest hill and started to climb one of the trees on top of it. Poking his head out of the canopy, his view from atop the tree took his breath away. Virtually everywhere he looked he saw a sea of green gently rolling in every direction. Following the emerald waves further out from his position, Rick then gazed at the far horizon. After a few moments he found what he was looking for, the faint outline of mountains. If water flows downhill, then the opposite direction of the mountains should be the coast. And if there is a coast there should be people. It was by no means a perfect plan. But what else could he do? His life suddenly turned from a potential college drama story to quite literally ¡®Naked and afraid¡¯. He just had to survive until he found people. Where there¡¯s people, there¡¯s food, shelter, and hopefully, answers. Answers on where he was and why this whole debacle even happened in the first place. That was the part he hated the most, the lack of knowledge on why this was happening. Not knowing the how and why he was stuck in a random forest grinded his gears in a way that he just couldn¡¯t articulate. Something obviously happened to him and every time his mind tried to coax the information out he kept running into that emptiness where the memories of his most recent past should be. Either I somehow got the world''s worst blackout drunk on my last night before college or something else must have blocked or stole those memories. It was that last thought that chilled him the most. He couldn¡¯t think of any way it was possible to purposely block someone¡¯s ability to recall specific recent events, but something deep in his mind made him feel like that may indeed have been what happened. Rick shook his head to clear his thoughts. Survive now, questions later. Once again noting which direction the mountain range was, he descended the tree, picked up his spear, and began walking in the opposite direction of those distant peaks. Toward, what he hoped, would be people. He never really cared about being alone before, and the longer he kept walking around naked, the more comfortable he was beginning to feel in his own skin. But there was just no way he could continue to survive for long. He didn¡¯t have the skills, strength or training to last more than a week at most. Just one foot in front of the other. Just keep moving forward. He intoned over and over again. He had a plan. He just needed to stick to it. Several hours later, when his willpower was beginning to flag, his diligence was rewarded. Cresting a hill Rick saw that there was a sizable furrow that ran through the other side almost like a giant ran an ax along the ground and carved out a winding path through the forest. Or it could be a river! Rick quickly ran to the embankment and looked down. Sure enough he could see a tiny trickle of a stream running gently through what he now knew to be a mostly dry riverbed. It was then he noticed the body. Chapter 1.2 Body Issues Thoughts of quenching his thirst by guzzling down handfuls of water quickly fled Rick¡¯s mind as he half slid, half tumbled down the steep embankment to the person lying face down below him. ¡°Hey! Hey! Are you still alive?!¡± He loudly said as he gingerly shook a pair of slim shoulders. Probably not the best way to wake a potentially injured person, but Rick¡¯s mind was in too much turmoil to register that fact. A slight groan escaped from below him and slowly they rolled over before their eyes started to flutter open. ¡°Ugh¡­ who? What happened?¡± A husky but feminine voice croaked out as deep brown eyes flecked with a rich green began to focus on him. ¡°I was wandering around and found you lying in the dirt. Are you hurt anywhere? Is there anything I can do to help?¡± Rick said softly while trying to put every ounce of sincerity into his gaze as he met hers. ¡°I think I am fine, just sore¡­ all ov-'''' Shortly after answering him her senses fully came back online. Her eyes roved over Rick¡¯s body as her mind began to catch up with her mouth. Suddenly everything clicked and she practically jumped out of his arms and backed herself against the earth wall behind her. ¡°Who are you!? And why are you NAKED!?¡± ¡°I¡¯m naked? Well so are-¡± And that¡¯s when the reality of the situation also hit Rick like an eighteen wheeler. The woman, and there was no doubt in his mind anymore that this was certainly a woman, was indeed just as exposed as he was. He was so focused on helping a potential person in need that the simple fact that there wasn¡¯t a scrap of clothing between them completely passed his mind. His man brain quickly caught up to the situation and he gave the young woman a quick once over. Her skin was a rich brown with her face and limbs similar to dark chocolate with her tan lightening like adding cream to coffee when he looked at her torso. Her hair was jet black and so curly that it looked like there were two puff balls on top of her head where she had her hair tied back into buns. She was the very definition of petite, with slender and delicate looking limbs, and almost no body fat that Rick could see. Her narrow waist led up her chest where just the slightest hint of breasts stood proudly in the cool forest air. ¡°What are you talking ab¨C¡± She began before her own mind caught up to the situation and she looked down to see her lady parts proudly on display. And then she started to scream. ¡°eeeeEEEEEEEEKK!¡± It was like her voice started off low then swiftly ramped up to an ear piercing level. Unable to back away any further with an earthen wall already at her bare back she tucked in a pseudo fetal position where her arms and legs could block any further view of her naughty bits. ¡°Why am I naked?!¡± She screeched again. ¡°How am I supposed to know?!¡± Rick retorted ¡°I just found you like this a minute ago!¡± ¡°Why are you naked then?¡± She clapped back. ¡°I don¡¯t know either!¡± ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± Rick forced himself to take a deep breath. This woman was obviously scared and confused. It wouldn¡¯t do either of them favors to keep a panicked shouting match going. He took one more deep breath to steady himself before he raised his hands in a placating gesture and tried his best to smile. ¡°Hi, my name is Rick. I don¡¯t know where I am or how I got here. Last thing I remember was saying goodbye to my family and going on a trip. The next thing I knew, I found myself here stripped of anything personal, including my clothes.¡± He had to admit after saying it all out loud, this was indeed a strange moment. Hopefully the truth of the matter wouldn¡¯t be too far fetched for this young woman to believe him. ¡°Now,¡± He said, trying his best to move the conversation into a more productive avenue ¡°As I said, I just found you like this. What was the last thing you remember before I came along?¡± Hopefully she could tell him something. It would be really crazy if there was a group of people who just kidnaped people, took away their recent memories, stripped them, then dumped them in random places in a forest. Who would do that? ¡°I - I¡¯m- my name Sade¡± The now named Sade stammered out. She closed her eyes and adopted a look of intense concentration. ¡°I remember entering this forest in a small caravan. When things got dark we made camp by a river. Yes! Then I remember wanting to take a bath so I got ready and then swam in the river to get myself clean.¡± With each new sentence Sade¡¯s voice became stronger and more confident. Rick was relieved that she didn¡¯t seem to have experienced the same yawning void in her memories like he did. ¡°And then, and then I heard strange sounds mixed with shouting.¡± She continued ¡°I was on the opposite shore and when I walked around to see what was going on¡­¡± she trailed off, her eyes wide with fear ¡°We were being attacked! Those¡­ things chased me. I remember running through the trees, unable to see in the dark, and then I remember falling.¡± Rick looked up to the small cliff carved out of the hill behind her, the pieces of what happened quickly falling into place. ¡°And after you got knocked out from the fall, I came along and found you.¡± He finished for her. She nodded. Rick stood up and offered his hand to the woman curled up in front of him. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s see if we can get you back to the caravan. They may have survived the attack and I don¡¯t think either of us wants to stay bare assed for any longer than we have to.¡± Tentatively, she grasped his proffered hand and he helped her back to her feet. He was conscious enough to only look at her face as she stood in front of him. Rick took note that the woman¡¯s head topped off just above his nose, making her one of the few women he didn¡¯t look right in the eye or even up to. He secretly relished the experience. He coughed. ¡°Um, yeah, so is there anyplace sore? Anything broken?¡± Sade closed her eyes and seemed to go through a mental checklist. Her eyes soon opened back up and she replied ¡°A little bruised and a few cuts here and there but otherwise I am fine.¡± Rick gave a smile at the news then turned to the stream behind them. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you but I haven¡¯t had any water since I got here. Let''s grab a drink then head out.¡± He looked over his shoulder ¡°Do you think you can find your way back?¡± She closed her eyes again then gave a firm nod as a reply. ¡°Great!¡± He said ¡°It would suck to get even more lost in this place than I already am.¡± Bending over, Rick scooped up as much water as his cupped hands could carry and swiftly brought the cool liquid to his lips. Instantly he felt relief. The dull ache of thirst that had been plaguing his mind and body for the past day slowly died down to nothing. He quickly finished the first handful and promptly went in for a second. A voice in the back of his head warned him to pace himself, too much water was just as bad as not enough. He sensed Sade kneel down next to him and also reach for the refreshing liquid. ¡°Um, Rick, was it?¡± She asked after drinking her fill ¡°Yes?¡± He said softly. ¡°I, uh. I guess I should thank you. For helping me that is.¡± Rick shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t helped you much just yet.¡± He gave a slight shrug ¡°And if we meet up with your group then you will be the one helping me greatly.¡± He stood back up and Sade gave a slight yelp before her dusky cheeks began to darken. Rick gave a yelp of his own and used his free hand to cup his groin and turn to the side. Once again the fact that both of them were as bare as newborn babes slipped from his mind, and now he was waving his junk right in the face of a poor woman. How did he get used to being naked so quickly? He was barely holding on to the frayed edges of his sanity as is. ¡°Okay, um, yeah, let¡¯s go.¡± He stammered before walking away stiffly. He turned and saw Sade was following behind, a slight smile on her admittedly cute face. ¡°Oh yeah, here!¡± He called out before tossing the spear to her. ¡°I¡¯ll go and make another for myself real quick. You were attacked already and I want us to be as prepared as possible.¡± Spear in hand, Rick saw the curve of her smile replaced with a grim line. She looked up at him and gave a firm nod in confirmation. Rick was impressed with the look in her eye. She may have found herself in a bad situation but she seems to have the will to climb her way out. She¡¯s tougher than she looks. In no time at all both of them were armed with a pointy stick and Sade began leading the way with Rick following close behind. Once again Rick wished that he could make a fire to harden the spear tips, but he simply did not have that knowledge. I know dad could probably get one roaring in a jiffy. Why did I ever drop out of the scouts? This was not his first lamentation since waking up in this forest that he wished he had more wilderness survival training. But he never felt like he belonged with the other boys. The constant loneliness combined with the curriculum just not feeling fun or necessary saw him trying to drop out at thirteen. He stuck with it as long as he could and his parents, while a bit disappointed, respected his decision. His little sister on the other hand, well, that was a different story. Rick shook his head and cleared away the cobwebs of nostalgia gathering on his mind. What was done, was done. He made a decision and he just had to accept the consequences as his father was fond of saying. Okay, he really needed a distraction from his own mind. ¡°So, uh, Sade? Tell me a bit about yourself.¡± He said while trying with every fiber of his being to keep the desperation out of his voice. It helped that he was indeed genuinely curious about her. And perhaps he could subtly guide her into telling him where he was. Maybe she could give him some answers on why he was here. He doubted it, but there was no harm in trying. Worst that could happen is that he learns nothing new.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Oh!¡± She cried as if startled from her own reverie. ¡°Well I, um, I was raised in a small town near the mountains.¡± She pointed in a direction and Rick could have sworn that was the exact direction the peaks he saw this morning were. Either she¡¯s lucky or her sense of direction is worlds better than mine ¡°My father had quite a collection of books and would read to me often when I was little.¡± She continued. ¡°When I was old enough, I quickly tore through the entire library, twice!¡± Sade let out a slight chuckle and Rick found himself smiling at the mental image of an even tinier Sade sitting on a sofa surrounded by piles of books. Her little puffballs poking out from behind the leather cover of the tome she was voraciously devouring. ¡°I guess it''s no surprise that I wanted to head to Mya University after I came of age.¡± She turned her head to look him in the eye. ¡°What about you? You don¡¯t look any older than I am, and you said you left your family for something?¡± Rick scratched his head, trying to think of a tactful way to explain himself. ¡°Yeah. I was actually going to leave home for higher education myself.¡± His hand fell away as he recalled what he said to his family before heading out. ¡°They were a bit upset that I wanted to travel such a distance to learn. I, uh, I told them I wanted to be as far away as possible from them.¡± He let out a great sigh. He looked up and saw sadness in Sade¡¯s eyes, along with a stare that demanded he explain himself. ¡°Look, my family is very demanding. My mother expects great things from me, and my dad, well, my dad never resists an opportunity to lecture me on something. I know they mean well and they spared no effort to make sure I was loved. But I just felt so smothered by them!¡± Rick¡¯s voice began to rise as feelings he kept bottled up for years began to finally surface. ¡°All my life I just felt inadequate. How could I be the son of two smart and capable people?¡± He gestured at himself, the irony of being naked and baring his soul at the same time was not lost on him. It almost seemed to help in a way, nothing to cover up with. ¡°Look at me! I¡¯m short, plain, and way below average in just about every category. And then there is my ¡®little¡¯ sister.¡± He spat out those last few words with considerably more venom than he intended. But that didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t warranted. He could feel his eyes sting with emotion. His throat was beginning to tighten but he was not quite done venting. ¡°She is everything that I am not. She¡¯s as tall as my father, athletic, aced every class she¡¯s taken with flying colors, and is just so beautiful and popular, and I just couldn¡¯t stand it anymore!¡± His composure finally shattered into tiny, jagged shards that pierced his heart. All the fear, regret, and loneliness he had been barely holding back for the past few days came spilling out like a tidal wave of repressed grief. Raw emotion flooded his mind, seemingly spilling out from the edges of his eyes. It was too much. Rick¡¯s legs felt like jelly and he half collapsed at the foot of a tree and let the tears flow freely. He knew it was unsightly, having a breakdown in front of a woman he just met, and that shame of being unmanly just fueled his sorrow even further. ¡°I just wanted to get away from it all.¡± He sobbed. ¡°Be so far away that I could escape the shadow of my perfect family. Somewhere I could just be Rick and build something for myself from scratch.¡± He chuckled darkly. ¡°I didn¡¯t even pick a major. I just was so desperate to move out that I didn¡¯t even think about what I wanted to study!¡± Rick just sat there, curled into a ball, with his head in his arms to obscure the tears flowing freely down his cheeks. With each word uttered his voice hitched more and more until not even he could understand his own blubbering. He felt a warm arm drape across his shoulders and another hand cup the side of his head, pulling him sideways into a soft embrace. Sade didn¡¯t say anything, and Rick just let his emotions continue to pour out of him as he sobbed in her embrace. That small human gesture was his anchor. His lone rock of stability in this messed up situation he now found himself in. It finally clicked into place that Rick had just lost everything and everyone he had ever known or cared about. And he had absolutely no idea how it happened. He could only pour out his grief while a kind stranger held him steady. Eventually he ran out of tears to shed. He felt drained, like he was simultaneously raw and numb. He tilted his head up to blink away the lingering wetness and clear his sinuses with some last few sniffs. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He croaked out. ¡°It must be unsightly to see a man bawling like a child so soon after meeting him.¡± He turned to face her and was shocked to see twin streams of tears gently falling down her face in a mirror to his own not too long ago. ¡°Whoa! Did I hurt you? Is everything alright?!¡± Rick exclaimed, panicked that he somehow hurt this young woman in any way with his sudden outburst. Sade just shook her head and smiled slightly. ¡°No, I am not hurt. What you went through, what you carry, it must have been so hard for you.¡± She gave a slight chuckle and added ¡°It is not often I see a man weep so openly. I find it refreshing in a way.¡± Rick groaned. ¡°You sound like my dad.¡± ¡°Your father?!¡± ¡°Yep, ¡®There¡¯s no shame in a man crying¡¯ he would often say. Not that he ever followed his own advice.¡± Rick said, grumbling the last part. ¡°Did he ever admonish you for weeping?¡± Sade asked. Rick sighed, he was still drained and couldn¡¯t muster enough energy to be mad at his dad any further for the moment. ¡°No, he never did.¡± He admitted. ¡°It¡¯s just that the man is so god damned stoic and straight laced that I can¡¯t even remember a time he ever cried in front of us.¡± Sade shifted from her crouch position to sit next to Rick by the tree. "He might have not cried in front of you but he also didn''t punish or belittle you for crying in front of him, right? From the little you have told me, he seems both kind and wise, more so than most of the men I have known." "I guess." Rick relented. "Mom told me once that he cried in her arms a few times when they were just starting out but I never believed her." He was still unsure if he could ever let go of his issues with his father but he did feel better talking to someone about it. He felt lighter somehow, like a weight he didn''t know he carried was finally cut from around his shoulders. Sade nodded. "It feels good to know that I am not alone. That someone else feels a similar pain to me." Rick eyed the woman "How so?" He asked. She gave a lopsided grin and waved her hand at herself in a similar fashion to what Rick did earlier. "While you have been far kinder about doing so than most, I have seen you look at my body." Rick felt heat rush to his cheeks in horror and embarrassment but Sade continued before he could stammer out an apology "I am not mad. It is no secret that I look like a child rather than a woman of 18 summers." She sighed. "Like you, I also wished to leave my family and forge a new path. To escape the ridicule. That if I could learn-" Suddenly loud yapping could be heard around them. Rick was on his feet in an instant with his spear pointed forward. The sounds were coming from both the left and the right, constantly shifting, making it very difficult to determine where the creatures were and how many there were. ¡°Is this what happened to your group?¡± Rick asked Sade while he scanned his surroundings. ¡°No, what attacked us did not make sounds like this.¡± Sade called back. Rick noticed that she was back on her feet, slightly behind him, with her spear also at the ready. Without warning a shape charged out of the brush and went for Rick¡¯s leg. Either by luck or some sort of reflex, the shaft of Rick¡¯s spear found itself between him and the fangs aiming for his flesh. Before he knew it Rick saw a spear protrude from the beast''s neck. He looked up and saw Sade holding on to the other end of the stick with an expression that was equal parts determination and terror. The beast loosened its hold on Rick¡¯s spear and he gave it a swift kick in its fuzzy ribs just to dislodge it further. He heard panting from behind him and so he swung his spear downward just in time to have a second creature get the pointed end shoved down its open maw. There was a brief moment where Rick felt resistance and then the sharpened end of his stick erupted out the back of its thin neck. Impalement didn¡¯t cancel out momentum, unfortunately, and Rick found his knees give out as the thing skewered on his spear crashed into him, spasming before dying. He turned around and saw Sade remove her pole from the body of the first creature. She was shaking as if caught in a snowstorm and used her spear as a cane to keep herself upright. If Rick was not already on his ass, he probably wouldn¡¯t haven¡¯t appeared much better. ¡°Are you injured Rick?¡± She asked softly. Her voice was far steadier than her legs. Rick looked down at his shin where the thing tried to bite him earlier and saw nothing so he shook his head. Panting, his heart still pounding like the bass drum in a metal album, he tried to focus on what just happened. Seconds. Not even a single minute. The entire encounter lasted only seconds and now the forest was eerily quiet once again. Now that he was no longer in danger, Rick took a long look at what it was that attacked him. The thing was canine in shape with mottled brown fur and a bushy tail. It was too small to be a wolf and didn¡¯t look like any fox Rick could think of so he figured it was some sort of coyote. Examining both bodies revealed how gaunt the two of them were. ¡°These things must have been starving. No wonder they were desperate to attack us.¡± He observed aloud. ¡°Gah! I was so scared!¡± Sade cried as she too collapsed to the dirt, the adrenaline needed to stay standing finally spent. Rick could feel his own heart rate slowly come back down to a more manageable level now that they were not in danger of being eaten by wild coyotes. These last few hours were such an emotional roller coaster that he felt absolutely spent. He looked up and saw the sunlight was angling more to the side than straight down and it was noticeably darker than it was before. Standing up and brushing himself off he made a decision. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to look for things to build a shelter. It¡¯s getting late and the last thing we need is to be attacked again after dark.¡± Sade didn¡¯t argue and said she would take care of the coyotes while he was gone. Rick then spent the better part of two hours hacking away at enough branches to build a simple shelter for two and somehow he was able to drag the whole bundle behind him while he hoisted one end of the bundle over his shoulder. He was absolutely flabbergasted when he came back to where he left Sade and saw a small fire roaring away in a pit dug into the forest floor ringed by stones. The two coyotes were skinned and one leg was skewered by a long stick and roasted slowly over the fire by being propped up by two other sticks making a teepee of some sort. Sade sat down cross legged next to the warm embers with her eyes closed. In her hand was a leaf topped with blackberries and every few seconds had her pop another into her mouth. Rick thought the whole scene just felt so surreal. ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± He called out hoping not to startle her. ¡°Are you meditating?¡± She cracked open one eye and gave him a look. After a moment she sighed, put her snack down, and got up to help him with his burden. ¡°You took a long time to come back but now I can see why.¡± She said, eying all the branches in his arms. The two then worked together to build their makeshift shelter next to the fire. When they were done it looked only marginally more comfortable than what Rick slept in the first night. It was still better than nothing and the fire should help reduce the chill. ¡°I''m surprised you got everything so tidy. Especially the fire.¡± He said as they both sat down to cook their kills. ¡°Thank you.¡± She giggled. ¡°This is not the first time I have had to skin an animal. And conjuring fire is one of the first things I learned how to do.¡± Something about that last sentence tickled Rick''s brain. ¡°Wait¡­ Did you say you ¡®conjured¡¯ fire?¡± Chapter 1.3 Life is a Game Rick was struck by a thought that just wouldn¡¯t let go. Like a string of meat trapped in his mental teeth. Details from the earlier conversation popping in like pieces of a puzzle that didn¡¯t quite show a full picture. Sade was looking at him strangely. His mouth was dry but his voice came out clear and quiet as he rephrased his question. ¡°When you said before that you can ¡®conjure¡¯ fire¡­¡± As his voice trailed off, Sade lifted her hand and a small jet of flame shot out. ¡°It is as I said. I will admit that it¡¯s not the most impressive display of magic, but that is why I was going to study at Mya University in Shatak. I hoped to learn enough to gain the mage vocation.¡± Mage¡­ magic¡­ wha.? Rick¡¯s mind was skipping like a needle that fell off the record. He just saw fire shoot out from a naked person''s hand. He needed time to think. ¡°So what were you doing before I walked back?¡± He asked ¡°I was concentrating on my status, what else would I be doing after killing two vicious animals?¡± She said as if it were the most logical thing in the world to do. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ¡®status¡¯?¡± Rick asked, feeling like he was missing something and maybe clarification could help. Sade was looking at him like he hit his head just a tad too hard and now had to explain something extremely obvious. ¡°Yes, my status. The mental picture that shows you all your abilities and progress? Something that every sentient creature in Parva can call on. Did your family not teach you this?¡± Rick felt like he was hit by a truck. Wait, did I get hit by a truck? He knew that was a popular way for stories to send people to fantasy worlds where swords and sorcery ruled. Sade had just cast magic and was checking her ¡®status¡¯ after killing something. His mind absolutely whirled with the sudden implications and possibilities he now found himself with. There was the possibility that this was all fake, but the fire she casually threw out would have been extremely difficult for a naked conwoman to pull off. The question was, how best to get answers without coming across as a crazy person to the people here? An idea blossomed in his mind. It wouldn¡¯t be the most ideal solution, but it was the best he could hope to pull off. Rick clutched his head as if he had a headache. Which, to be honest, he could swear a real one was beginning to form from all the crazy thrown in his lap just that day alone. "Hey, you know how I said I have no idea how I got here?" Sade nodded and Rick continued. "Well it seems I''ve lost more than I thought. I can''t remember ever being taught these things." Her eyes grew wide. "Are you serious?" Rick nodded. "How? Why?" "If I knew I''d tell you." "Can you get your memories back?" "Maybe. But, uh, just...forgive me if I ask a stupid question?" "I will." She said, looking at him with more than a little concern. "Great!" Rick said. "I guess the first thing is to teach me how to summon my status." In ¡®other world¡¯ stories people who jumped worlds usually got an overpowered ability or item that they could use to great effect. Rick doubted his status would actually show anything of the sort, but just looking at his character sheet, with everything he could do quantified and labeled filled him with insatiable curiosity. ¡®To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom¡¯ after all. Sade had him sit down in a similar manner as she was and close his eyes. She began a long and confusing lecture on focusing inward and the information would flow out in a way that he could essentially interpret as a breakdown of who he was as a person. Rick did his best to follow along but he could honestly say that most of the information just went over his head. Still, he attempted to follow his new teacher''s instructions and mentally summoned his own status. It took a while but eventually the magical information flowed out from deep within his mind, from the very core of his being. Suddenly he knew himself in a way that few could ever dream.
Rick
Level 1 (38%)
Strength: 9 Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 9 Endurance: 9
Intelligence: 12 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 10 Attunement : 10 (1)
Charisma: 9 Luck: 15
Vocation: Intimancer (1)
There was a lot of information to parse with just this mental stat sheet alone. He could sense the essence of who he was quantified like a character in an RPG. It wasn¡¯t like a window screen appearing before his eyes. From what he could remember from Sade¡¯s lecture, it was more that this was the way his mind could interpret the information the magic provided. Organizing the information in a simple table was just one of the easiest ways to visualize the knowledge gained. He had a ton of questions bubbling in his mind. But there was one that he needed answers for immediately. ¡°What¡¯s an ¡®Intimancer¡¯?¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Sade perked up at his question. ¡°Come again?¡± She asked while tilting her head to the side. Rick did his best to organize his thoughts. ¡°My status says that my vocation is ¡®Intimancer¡¯ and I have no idea what that is.¡± He scratched his cheek in embarrassment. ¡°I know ¡®mancer¡¯ is a type of spell caster of some sort, but I¡¯m having difficulty discerning the first half.¡± Sade pondered the question some more. Her head tilted to the other side while her chin was cradled in between her thumb and forefinger. Eventually her shoulders sagged in defeat. ¡°You are right about the root word for magician, but I honestly never heard of Intimancy.¡± Rick¡¯s enthusiasm fell but Sade came over to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ¡°I may not have heard of it but I have yet to start my studies. With the knowledge gathered from centuries of magical study all gathered in one place, I am sure we can find information somewhere in or around the university.¡± She smiled and added. ¡°Regardless, you have a magical vocation at the first level. This means that you have an extreme innate talent for that branch of magic. This is very rare!¡± Rick could feel his mood pick up after her words. Yes, he didn¡¯t know the first thing about magic, let alone this unknown branch he suddenly found a talent in. But he could learn. He now had a tangible goal to work towards. His whirling mind began to settle at that thought. It was as though he was adrift at sea his whole life and finally found a hint of land on the horizon. For what felt like the first time, he knew what he had to do and how to get there. He smiled at Sade. Perhaps he also found a friend to join him on this journey of discovery. First they needed to reunite Sade with her travel companions. Hopefully they would allow him to join them on their way to the city and Sade could help him start a new life. Deep down, he secretly worried that the two would part ways. He had grown fond of the smart, capable, and fairly charming woman. He wanted nothing more than to spend more time with her. Sade then had Rick list out his stats so she could go over what each one represented. At his request, she didn¡¯t hesitate to explain like he was five. Most were self explanatory, especially for someone who played a role playing game or two as Rick had. Making assumptions was a bad idea most of the time, but sometimes it paid to be somewhat genre savvy. Strength was all about his physical power, how much he could lift, how high he could jump, how hard he could throw. Dexterity was all about his balance, coordination, reflexes, and speed. Intelligence was the ability to learn and store information, how quickly he could analyze and solve problems, and creativity. Wisdom was similar to intelligence but was more on proper application of what he knew. It was one thing to know how to cast a spell, but another to know when to use it, or if a situation calls for a spell at all. Charisma rounded out the basic stats with governing the ability for someone to influence others. It wasn¡¯t how pretty you looked but how your words, actions, or sometimes just presence just made people want to do what you want them to. Constitution was how tough and hardy a person was, how often they got sick, or could recover from injury. It most certainly affected how much a person could drink. Endurance was like stamina, how long a person could run without getting winded or a person''s pain tolerance. Resistance was all about a person''s ability to shrug off more magical effects, but it may also influence other more mundane things. While that explanation was somewhat vague, Sade mentioned that there were entire fields of study dedicated to understanding what each stat was for and how the numbers were quantified. Attunement was simultaneously one of the most straightforward and complicated stats. When a certain threshold was reached, the number of spells Rick could have at the ready for when he needed them. At ten points he had a slot for one known spell to be cast. This didn¡¯t affect how many spells he could learn, just how many he could use on the fly over and over again. Sade assured him that she would teach him exactly how attunement worked and how to cast magic once they got back to the caravan. Lastly there was luck. And both Rick and Sade were surprised at how large the number was. For most adults, a stat anywhere between eight and twelve was considered the average. For the most part all of Rick¡¯s stats fell in that range, but his luck was at fifteen! Looking back though, Rick could admit that there were more than a few moments where things went his way in an unlikely manner. He could even assume that finding Sade was a testament to his luck, and he did indeed feel lucky to have the young woman in his life. Sade shared her stats as well and they were quite similar to Ricks. Her strength was lower as was her constitution, but her wisdom, dexterity, and attunement were higher as if to compensate. What was interesting is that her intelligence and luck were flipped compared to Rick¡¯s making her still quite lucky but far, far smarter than him. Given how she was teaching him so much about this new and strange place, plus already knowing a few spells without being a mage of any kind really demonstrated her brilliance. The two chatted and ate until the sun finally disappeared and bathed the forest in darkness all around them. Eventually Rick gave a yawn and stretched. He was hit with a wave of exhaustion. The day had been one of the most emotionally draining days he had ever experienced, not even including being attacked by starving animals, and his tired mind wanted nothing more than to slip into oblivion. Sade returned the yawn with one of her own. ¡°Shall we retire?¡± She asked. Rick grunted in affirmation, threw a couple more branches into the fire and began to crawl into the shelter. As he was laying down and trying to get comfortable, Rick looked out to see Sade raise her arms over her head and stretch as well. Rick couldn¡¯t help but stare. The firelight lit up her bare torso with a warm glow that highlighted her flat stomach and gave just enough definition to outline the shape of her naked breasts. Her nipples were dark nubs that protruded out of the small charcoal circles of her areola. Rick could feel blood rapidly rush southward as his body finally began to react to the fact that he was staring at a naked young woman. How in the hell had he forgotten that they were both strutting around in their birthday suits? And why did his man-brain decide to wake back up at this incredibly inopportune moment? He seriously hated how his mind worked sometimes. Rick quickly rolled to the side facing the wall of his shelter and cupped his lower parts with both hands to hide his stiff member. He could sense Sade approach the wooden tent and stop. After a few tense moments she slowly crawled next to him, her warm skin brushing up against his back. When she finally plopped down, she also turned opposite him and Rick could feel something soft bump up against his rear end. He heard a slight squeak and then both were still and quiet. ¡°Goo-goodnight Rick.¡± ¡°Y-yeah, you too. Goodnight Sade.¡± He hated how his voice came out in a squeak near the end. Hopefully she didn¡¯t notice. Rick was desperate to hold onto the last remaining shreds of his masculinity. Not that it did him any good before all this happened. The two were back to back and butt to butt. Rick could feel every slight curve of her body as they pressed gently into him. She was so soft and warm, Rick just wanted to slowly caress her rear with his own, just to take in the shape and bask in how good it felt. He thought of turning around, having his body spoon her fully, taking every curve and inch against him and burying his erection between her soft cheeks. Rick banished the thought away with every ounce of his flagging willpower. He would not force himself on the poor woman no matter how much his inexperienced body yearned to caress and explore. His erection was absolutely throbbing, swollen to the point of pain like when he first went through puberty. But he would deny his urges. The thought of hurting Sade in any way far eclipsed the lust he felt in the moment and slowly, ever so slowly, he started to calm down. The blood flowing back up to his more rational brain. It was as he became close to drifting off completely, his mind briefly registered the subtle shifting of Sade¡¯s body against his. He could have sworn he heard some muffled sounds from behind him, but he paid them no mind as the day''s events finally took their toll on his mind and he slipped into dreamland. Chapter 1.4 Ends and New Beginnings When Rick awoke the next morning, he felt warmth all along his spine and down his backside. It was a soft and pleasant warmth that made him want to curl up and fall back asleep. A hand clutched gently at his chest and Rick¡¯s tired mind slowly realized that it was not his own. Turning, he saw that Sade must have turned over in the night and was spooning him with one arm around his chest and the other cradling her head pressed up against the back of his neck. His morning wood surged ever harder as he enjoyed the feeling of soft flesh enveloping his rear and he gingerly tried to extract himself before he did something he would very much regret. He relieved himself, in more ways than one, just a few short steps from the camp, making sure that he was positioned behind their shelter in case Sade woke up and began looking for him. Looking down at the remnants of their fire, he saw that the food they ate last night was crawling with ants. Rick¡¯s stomach rumbled with need and he briefly wondered if he could still cook some of the raw meat regardless. He figured the fire would burn away anything bad. He could ask Sade when she woke up if she knew it was safe to eat after that. With that thought he gathered some kindling to reignite the smoldering coals that remained of their cookfire. Sade began to stir after the hunk of meat Rick was cooking began to emit a delicious aroma. ¡°Good morning!¡± Rick called out to her. ¡°G¡¯morn.¡± She mumbled back. She slowly got up and stumbled behind their tree. Rick could hear the sound of water splashing and did his best to focus his attention elsewhere. When she came back to the fire he noticed she was considerably more lucid so he asked ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± Her face darkened slightly but she nodded her assent all the same. Rick asked her if cooking meat eaten by insects was safe and she confirmed that it should be fine. They needed the energy more than anything, and the mild risk from eating slightly bad food was far outweighed by that simple fact. After they ate, Rick resharpened their spears and put the tips into the flame to harden. The fact he was finally able to do this filled him with childlike joy. Their fight with the coyote¡¯s dulled their weapons considerably, so now that the tips were hardened, their next fight hopefully won¡¯t wear them down as much. They confirmed the direction the caravan was supposed to be and then the two of them set out once more. When asked how she knew which way to go so well, Sade explained that just like status, the people of this land have a sort of internal map of places they have been to. No wonder she didn¡¯t get lost, she has a damned magic mini-map! Rick thought. He was a bit jealous until he remembered that he now had the same ability. Quickly concentrating on opening it up, he was dismayed to find that his map was almost entirely blank. The only shape or color to it was a small snaking green line that was slowly getting longer as they walked. It dawned on him that the shape was where he explored in the forest and it was getting longer because he was traveling further into the unknown. With a sigh he dismissed the mental map. It would be extremely useful once they got to a city but for now he would just have to trust Sade. ¡°We are almost to the river I stopped at to bathe in.¡± She called out after a few minutes. Soon Rick could hear the bubbling of water over stones to confirm what she told him. Before long they cleared through a bush and the river came into full view. Rick was ecstatic. ¡°Whoa! So where¡¯s the caravan?¡± He asked while looking around. ¡°Should be just behind those trees over there." She said pointing to a spot across the water and slightly upstream. They crossed the cold waist high water and moved through the thicket on the other side. The scene that greeted them was one of carnage. Over a dozen bodies of men and women were scattered around a clearing, huge chunks of flesh torn away and scattered about. Three wagons were parked on the side of what looked like a road that followed parallel to the river behind them. One of the carriages was tipped over and Rick could see deep gashes carved into the hard wood on each of them. Several dead horses lay on the ground, some of them still attached to their wagons. Blood coated nearly every surface. ¡°When you said you were attacked, I honestly thought you were exaggerating.¡± Rick told Sade solemnly. After carefully examining the scene and keeping an eye for whatever did this, he asked ¡°Is this everyone who was in the caravan? Could someone other than you have escaped?¡± Sade stood off to the edge of the clearing as if she was terrified to enter the circle of carnage. She had tears lightly streaming down her face and she replied to his questions with a shaky voice, thick with emotion. ¡°This is everyone.¡± She pointed to a few bodies. ¡°These three were the coachmen.¡± She pointed to a few more, these ones had what looked to be better equipped. ¡°Those were the guards.¡± She then listed off the nine remaining passengers and a little about each of them. When spending several days in each other''s company, it becomes hard not to connect and become a little familiar. Rick walked over and embraced the distraught woman. There was so much death and destruction that he felt absolutely sick to his stomach. But Sade knew these people, talked with them, and shared meals together. To see their lifeless bodies torn and scattered about like this must be just devastating. Much like she did the day before, Rick held Sade close while she poured out her grief at her sudden loss. He didn¡¯t say anything, just let her get all her feelings out while he tried his best to convey as much comfort and empathy he could convey through touch. The episode eventually ran its course but the two just stood there holding one another. Sade eventually broke their contact and did her best to compose herself as the strong woman she was. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± She whispered softly into his chest. She gently pushed away and sucked in a great breath. She surveyed the bloodied camp with a stoic, more analytical gaze. ¡°I think some of the horses managed to run away in the confusion.¡± She said after tallying all the casualties. ¡°Maybe chasing after prey with more meat on their bones is the reason I was able to get away at all.¡± She faced him once more. She looked confused, lost. ¡°What do we do now?¡± She asked. Rick had an idea of what their next step should be but he had to make sure of something. ¡°We should put the people here to rest. Is it customary to burn or bury the dead?¡± Burying was his family''s preferred method but both were fairly common where he was from. Since he was now in a world with magic and game-like stat systems there could be an outbreak of undead if a body wasn¡¯t treated with care for all he knew. Sade confirmed that burial was preferred for most families so Rick made his way to the carriages to see what tools he could scrounge up. He found a couple shovels and the two began the long process of digging a shallow pit large enough to hold all the murdered victims. It was long and back breaking work leaving both with sore and blistered hands by the time they were finished with the trench. Then they began loading each person inside one by one. They did their best to lay the dead as respectfully as possible, with any recognizable chunks put back in place and all their clothes and effects straightened out. It was a horrible, smelly, and downright disgusting process, but Rick and Sade were determined to see it through to the end.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. All that remained of the attack were the destroyed carriages, the horses, and a large pile of turned earth topped with a few stones they found lying around. It was far from a fancy mausoleum. But hopefully the slain members of the caravan could rest easier. Rick and Sade then began to salvage what they could from the damaged transports. It seemed that whoever, or whatever, attacked these people didn¡¯t do it for plunder or wealth because nearly anything not attached to a formerly living creature remained virtually untouched. While they did their best to bury the dead with all their clothes and jewelry they had on their person, the weapons and tools like knives the guards and drivers had were far too useful to just leave behind. They had a small pile of jewelry and coins from the carriages, but with no idea who each item belonged to they decided to take it along with them. Rick was able to find a few sets of clothes that would fit him fairly well, if not a bit loosely, and Sade found nearly everything she left behind before her sudden flight through the woods while bathing. They even managed to find some preserved food to enjoy while they decided what to do next. ¡°How far is it to the next town?¡± Rick asked in between bites of dried meat. It was tough and overly salty, but was akin to five star dining compared to the skinny and unseasoned coyotes he had earlier. ¡°I do not know the exact distance but I think we can walk there in a day or two.¡± ¡°Should we risk the trip or stay here and hope someone else comes along soon and can help us?¡± ¡°Hrm, I think we should head to the next town.¡± She said after considering the options. ¡°We now have food, clothing, money, and several tools and weapons we could use to make the journey successfully.¡± It was about mid afternoon and the two wanted to be well on their way before it got dark but there was one last task that needed to be done first. Despite now owning several sets of clean clothing, both Rick and Sade were still sporting their birthday suits. Both of them were caked in dirt, sweat, dried blood, and who knew what else from their time in the forest and especially after they took care of the dead. The two desperately needed a bath or else any clothing they wore would be soiled beyond repair the moment they put the garments on. So with their bellies full and a new plan of action, Sade led the way to the very bathing spot that this whole episode began from. With a laugh, Rick found her discarded clothes still hanging from a low branch by the shore. Whatever chased after her was certainly not into soap and clothing. Wasting no more time, the pair jumped into the cool water and began to scrub furiously at the accumulated filth their bodies picked up over the last few days. Rick forgot just how wonderful it felt to be clean and started laughing as he scrubbed away. Sade joined him in his merriment and then started to playfully splash him. This inevitably devolved into a juvenile splash fight, with more and more water being thrown around until Rick nearly tackled Sade trying to pin her arms and stop any further splashing. The two were pressed in close, each of them staring into the other''s eyes. Rick could not help but notice just how cute she was, how her tight body was resting against his chest, how much he had grown to care for the woman. His face began to flush and his chest felt tight. Rick¡¯s thoughts were frozen, stopped dead as he gazed into those dark eyes. It was then that she leaned forward and crushed her lips against his, her arms breaking away from his loosened hold to clutch around his face and pull him in even closer. Rick put his arms around her tiny waist and reciprocated the action. Her lips were soft against his, but he could feel from her touch a desperate need behind the gentle suction. His lips parted and soon both of them were exploring each other''s mouths with their tongues while their hands explored outside. He could feel himself getting hard again, his manhood poking her in the abdomen as the passionate kissing continued. Her nipples were at full attention and poking him in return, driving Rick absolutely wild with desire. Her touch was electric, sending shivers down his spine. He never wanted this feeling to end. Eventually they broke apart, breaths panting with exertion. Sade looked up at him. ¡°Rick. I am so lucky to have met you.¡± He chuckled. ¡°You stole the words right out of my mouth.¡± ¡°I am being sincere.¡± She shot back smiling. ¡°You stumbled upon a woman who you did not know and have done everything you could to help her and asked nearly nothing in return.¡± Rick was about to respond when she put a finger to his lips, silencing him before continuing. ¡°I know you feel similar. I can see it in your eyes and felt it when we kissed.¡± She gave him another quick peck. ¡°I noticed how you look at me. Most men see me as a child and treat me like one. But you, you see me as a woman.¡± She shyly reached down and gently stroked along his length that was still jabbing her stomach. ¡°I can both see and feel how you desire me.¡± She was smiling now. The grin Sade wore was an odd mix of sultry and shy, like she knew that she had power over him but wasn¡¯t completely sure how to wield it yet. ¡°We may not be wed or even have known each other for long, but I desire you too.¡± Her eyes became downright ravenous. She leaned close to his ear and whispered like what she was going to say was a scandalous secret. ¡°I want you to be my first.¡± Rick didn¡¯t know what to think. The number of his carnal relations with the fairer sex was exactly zero. The odd date or two never went anywhere beyond a dinner and friendly conversation, so this was an entirely new experience. Never in his wildest dreams would he imagine that he would be sexually desired, let alone outright lusted after if he was reading Sade¡¯s hungry expression correctly. Sade wasn¡¯t exactly his type. Years of constant porn and various media depicting hugely exaggerated proportions disqualified virtually any real flesh and blood woman from hitting that perfect strike zone his fantasies had concocted. But Sade was smart, capable, and shockingly easy to talk to. He had begun to appreciate all the little features of her face and form that made her quite cute to look at. Most importantly of all, there was a woman who was standing right in front of him, naked, stroking his swollen cock, and saying she genuinely wanted him. The choice was obvious. ¡°I would love for my first time to be with you as well.¡± He said as he kissed her passionately again. They made their way to the shoreline, both blushing furiously and sporting wide smiles. The tightness in Rick¡¯s chest intensified, his heart beat faster than during the fight with the hungry animals. He felt so honored that this wonderful woman wanted to lay with him. To call their first coupling awkward would have been an understatement. Aside from the usual bumbling of two virgins who had at best more academic knowledge of how the whole process worked, their choice of venue to do the deed left quite a bit to be desired. Rocky pebbles were not a decent substitute for a bed, and every slight jolt in the wrong direction caused one or two of the more sharper rocks to dig painfully into Rick¡¯s back. It was a sacrifice he was more than willing to make however, since the alternative was to let his partner deal with all that in his place. While Rick was vaguely aware that a woman¡¯s first time usually involved some pain and a bit of blood, he wasn¡¯t fully prepared to learn just how much his precious erotica had downplayed just how bad it could be. The two companions took it slow, giving Sade as much time as she needed to fully adjust to the new and alien sensations she was feeling. Still, both Rick and Sade were far too lost in their passion for each other to let all the minor issues stop them. They were young and the budding relationship that had sprouted between them carried the two all the way to the finish line. Sade was still breathing heavily, her tiny chest inflating with each deep breath. She placed a hand on her abdomen and gently caressed her skin before bending down and kissing him lightly ¡°Thank you, Rick. For being so gentle and patient with me during my first time.¡± Rick chuckled. ¡°You keep stealing the words straight out of my mouth.¡± She extracted herself from his softening member and helped him up. Rick''s body became numb from all the sharp rocks digging into his back and so it took a bit more effort than normal. Sade laughed when a pebble that was lodged in his rear end fell off with a slight ping when it hit the ground. Turning around he saw that he was covered in dirt and small rocks from the top of his neck down to the bottoms of his feet. ¡°Looks like we should wash off one last time, shall we?¡± She giggled and held out her hand. Rick took the proffered hand and the two quickly cleaned up, then for the first time in what felt like weeks, got dressed with the clothing they set aside before jumping in the water. Rick contemplated what had just happened. His first time having sex was far from what he had expected and more than a little painful for both of them. But as they hoisted the packs on their backs and set off down the road together, Rick couldn¡¯t help but think that it was a first step to something truly grand somewhere down the road. And he for once couldn¡¯t wait to see what his new life had in store for him. Chapter 2.1 A Handy Tool It took four days to reach their destination. After the first hour of walking Rick was already sick of lugging his heavy pack of supplies around. He did his best to tough it out but was nearly at the limit of his meager strength when they stopped to eat a meal and rest their tired feet a couple hours later. Rick remembered something from the time his father tried to take him camping and, with Sade¡¯s help, attached thick belts to the lower portion of their packs to better accommodate their considerable weight by having it rest on their hips and not their shoulders. That successful bit of ingenuity earned him a blowjob from Sade when they made camp that night. Rick suspected that she may have given him one anyway. She had been intrigued by the prospect when the process somehow came up in conversation earlier that day, but he liked to think that having a modicum of ingenuity and being able to provide solutions to make their trip easier was a major factor in being rewarded for his efforts. If she don¡¯t find you handsome, she should at least find you handy. Rick chuckled at the obscure reference that suddenly popped into his mind that night. Sade sure seemed to have enjoyed herself, that was for sure. Something in the young woman must have been awakened after their first coupling. Because that night, and every night since, had her practically ache for sex like a person lost in a desert thirsts for water. She was borderline insatiable. Rick could hardly claim any different. He would often sneak sideways glances at her when they walked down the road each day. Something in him longed, no, demanded that he attempt to plow his newfound lover at every opportunity he could find. Thankfully they had acquired a tent and bedrolls from the various supplies found in the coaches. After the inadequate location that was the riverbank, they had glorious padding for their backs and butts to more comfortably engage in coitus. This newfound comfort allowed them the freedom to experiment with different techniques and positions each night when they rested. Most of the ideas came from Rick and his years of adult media consumption. Not everything was a success. Trying to penetrate Sade while carrying her in his arms proved to be impossible unless he gained nearly an extra third of his body weight in muscle. Sex in the river seemed like a good idea at first. But they quickly learned that the water, while a somewhat good lubricant, acted almost like a super thick condom and dulled the sensations both of them felt to the point of being useless. Whether each nightly experiment was a success or failure, the couple enjoyed the process of trying new ways to pleasure each other all the same. While the sex was a wonderful set of experiences, hiking along the road for hours at a time was brutal. Neither of the two were very physically fit, so the aches and pains accumulated during the day only compounded to the next. On the final night, they were so sore and tired that they almost decided to skip their nightly activities¡­ almost. And so, at around noon on the fourth day, the pair finally arrived at the town of Valmic. The wooden gates to the town were the most beautiful sight in all of Parva to the road weary travelers. There were no further attacks by either animal or mysterious monsters during their long trek. But they both were tired, bruised, blistered, and sick to death of preserved food, long before the end of the road came into view. There was a guard standing by a gap in the fence that Rick figured to be one of the main entrances to Valmic. Sade asked him where the nearest patrol outpost was after greeting the man. They were exhausted to the bone but Sade insisted that reporting the attack on the caravan was first priority. It was the least they could do for the poor folks who died. Rick conceded that having someone investigate and notify their families was important. Even if his feet felt like they would fall off if he took too many more steps. Any lingering doubts Rick had about him being somehow transported to a fantasy world died when he caught his first glimpse of the town. Rick couldn¡¯t help but stare as what looked like a bipedal mountain lion walked past him wearing an airy dress, the woman¡¯s swishing tail poking out a hole in the back. At a fruit stand to the side appeared a stocky dwarf sporting a braided soul patch and spiky blond hair cheerfully haggling with the vendor. There were humanoids of all stripes sprinkled everywhere he looked while the road weary companions continued to make their way down the main street. It was almost overwhelming for the ordinary human from Earth. When they passed by a sawmill of some sort Rick saw some people with pointed ears that he assumed could be elves. He wasn¡¯t completely sure though, since he wouldn¡¯t use the term ¡®fair folk¡¯ to describe those people in the slightest. In fact he would almost describe them as borderline feral. The elves¡¯ skin was a tan that lay somewhere between Rick and Sade¡¯s shades. Their hair ranged from light brown to black in intricate manes decorated with braids and beads. Both the men and women were tall and rippled with thick cords muscle that poked out of their hide clothing. One of them must have told a joke because one giant amazon looking woman gave out a roar of laughter. Rick got momentarily distracted by the biggest pair of breasts he ever saw bouncing with abandon at each raucous guffaw. That was until he noticed what appeared to be sets of sharp fangs poking out of her open mouth. ¡°Forest elves.¡± Sade said when she noticed where his eyes wandered. ¡°They are friendly enough. But you need to be careful around them all the same.¡± ¡°Oh? Why is that?¡± Sade gave a wry smile ¡°They like to get rowdy and sometimes forget to be careful around the more¡­ delicate tribes. And that is before they start drinking. Do not ever be around a pack of drunk elves unless you are wearing protection. Only people who can keep up with them and survive are the coastal dwarves and orcs, and even then only barely.¡± She warned. Rick did his best to stifle a chuckle. Her incidental double entendre reminded Rick that the two of them had spent nearly a week enjoying themselves without any contraceptives. He was about to speak up and ask Sade about it when she halted her steps in front of him. ¡°Here we are. The local patrol station.¡± She quickly resumed walking and made her way to the door before Rick could utter a single word. Ah well, I¡¯ll talk to her tonight. He thought and followed after her. The building looked considerably larger than the shops and homes that surrounded it. A yellow flag waved proudly in the slight breeze on top of its pointed roof. Inside they found a large hall with benches along the side walls and in front of them stood a large man sitting at a simple desk pouring over what looked to be a map of the area. He looked up and studied the pair of newcomers. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± He asked in a polite yet clipped manner. Rick could only assume that he was an orc of some kind. His skin sported a rich olive coloration, his body loaded up with dense muscles, and his jaw sported small ape-like fangs that slightly protruded out from his lips when his mouth closed fully. ¡°We are here to report a monster attack and the deaths of fifteen people.¡± Sade replied in the same business-like tone. The man¡¯s eyes grew wide and cleared out a space on his map. ¡°Where?¡± He demanded, apparently not bothering to waste time with pleasantries. Sade gave the rough location of the attack as well as list what names she could from the record of her fellow passengers, guards, and coachmen. The warrior wrote everything down and placed a thumbtack on the map where Sade pointed. ¡°How did the two of you survive?¡± He asked with sincerity. It was not accusatory, his tone conveyed that he simply wished to know. ¡°The night of the attack we were bathing in the river away from where the camp was set up.¡± Sade began. ¡°When we heard screaming we swam across and ran deeper into the woods as far away as we could and hid. When the two of us arrived back the next morning, everyone was dead and the things that killed them were nowhere to be found.¡± Most of what Sade said was the truth. They agreed beforehand that it was easier for everyone if they pretended Rick was part of the caravan from the beginning. It felt odd to lie, but explaining his odd circumstances would be difficult at best and invite the wrong kind of scrutiny at worst. ¡°And then we packed up what we could and walked the last four days to reach Valmic.¡± Sade concluded her story. ¡°Four days!? No wonder the two of you look dead on your feet.¡± The man scribbled a name on a note and handed it to them. ¡°Here is an inn I recommend. I will send out a patrol immediately to verify what you just told me. I will meet with you there or send some men to fetch you if we have any further questions for you.¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. He held out his hand. ¡°My name is Captain Foltig. I am grateful for the information you have provided me, and for laying the dead to rest. You have my gratitude.¡± Both of them shook Foltig¡¯s meaty palm, grateful that their efforts were appreciated, and set out to the inn he told them of. The captain was right, they could barely stand after nearly a week hiking through the woods. It was with great effort that they made it to the two story building that was one of the local inns in town. Rick¡¯s mouth began to water at the thought of eating a hot meal and then falling asleep on a soft bed. As much as he enjoyed their nightly sessions, Rick was seriously tempted to skip the romance and go straight into sweet, sweet oblivion. The front room of the inn had a pudgy man sitting behind a counter just a little ways from the front door. Rick assumed that the door and staircase behind him each led to the various rooms for rent. ¡°We would like to rent a room for the evening.¡± Sade said politely. ¡°Just one room and one bed?¡± The innkeeper asked. Rick could sense something off about his tone but Sade just answered in the affirmative without batting an eye. She must be even more tired than he was. The man gave a disapproving sniff at them but still handed them their key after they handed over their payment. The room was both small and sparse. The only furniture Rick could see was a small bed topped with a straw mattress and a wooden chest at the foot of the bed where they could store their things. No closet, no bathroom, just four walls and a bed. It was still far better than camping. After dropping their packs Sade pointed to a small bucket half filled with water and said that was for bathing. They decided to wipe themselves down with the cool water and change into a fresh set of clothes before they made their way back outside to look for something to eat. The inn didn¡¯t have its own kitchen, so if they wanted to eat, they had to acquire food from elsewhere. A couple hours later they returned happy and full to bursting from all the food they ate before collapsing on the straw mattress. ¡°That was the best meal I ever had.¡± Rick said contentedly. He didn¡¯t even remember what it was, he just had memories of something hot and delicious being devoured at record speeds. Sade gave a grunt in affirmation and closed her eyes. She shot back up almost immediately and stared at him. ¡°Rick, check your status. I want to confirm something.¡± Rick obeyed and mentally summoned his character sheet. ¡°Oh wow! I got an extra point in endurance.¡± He said happily. Leveling up granted a single stat point to spend however he wished. However, training a certain skill enough times could also see that stat being raised. Just like lifting weights at the gym would increase his actual strength. Sade gave him a slight smile ¡°My endurance increased as well. But I am more curious if you see another value that was not there before¡± Rick once again looked through his stats with a tad more scrutiny.
Rick
Level 1 (38%)
Strength: 9 Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 9 Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 12 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 10 Attunement : 10 (1)
Charisma: 9 Luck: 15
Vocation: Intimancer (1)
Coital energy: 5
¡°What in the balls is ¡®coital energy¡¯?!¡± ¡°I see. You have it too.¡± She said with a frown. ¡°Let me see if I can explore what that could be. Give me a moment.¡± She closed her eyes once again. Not long after she leapt up off the bed with an excited look on her face. "What did you figure out?" "Stand in front of me. I will show you." "Like this?" "Yes! Just like that." Rick stood in front of a still grinning Sade. She closed her eyes and seemingly selected something in her status. She then let out a slight moan of pleasure as she stood on the balls of her feet. Her eyes, now at the same level as his own, fluttered open again. Rick saw her gaze was slightly clouded with lust. "So, what do you think?" She asked. Rick was unsure what she was talking about. All she did was moan and stand taller. He looked down and saw her feet flat on the floor. Looking back up he saw that her eyes were still level with his. "Did¡­ did you just grow?" He asked, flabbergasted. Her grin turned feral "Indeed I did. It seems this energy can be used to enhance our physical features. I just poured all five points into my height!" "But how did we get these points?" Rick asked "Are these changes permanent?" Sade shoved him roughly onto their shared bed. "I do not know. I do not care." She began working to remove her garments "All I want is for you to spend your pool of energy before I disrobe completely." Her tone brooked no argument. Not that Rick could possibly refuse such a request in the first place. He simultaneously started to work on undressing himself and mentally focusing on his new energy value to see what it could be used for. Information flooded his mind as he became aware of all the different attributes he could modify. Height, weight, muscle mass, foot size, the list felt endless. It was hard to concentrate on something specific among the ocean of possibilities rushing through his thoughts. Finally freeing himself from his pants Rick looked down and had an idea of what he wanted to try. As if sensing his will focus, the list contracted into something considerably smaller and easier to choose from. The change he wanted to affect was indeed possible and there were even other categories related to his desire that also tempted him. Mentally he selected two attributes and allocated his pool of energy. His body flooded with euphoria as the changes took effect. His manhood surged with newfound vitality. It grew to full size then continued to swell well beyond its previous limits. He felt blood rush southward as his dick continued to expand longer and thicker. The feeling of growth ended quickly and Rick looked down to find that he had graduated from somewhat small to a respectable average. He was feeling an intense lust like never before, it was like his new tool was demanding to be used right then and there. He looked up and saw that Sade was just tossing the last piece of cloth away before she strutted over to him. She looked him up and down in a calculating gaze. She smiled as her delicate hand gripped his sex before starting to stroke it softly. Rick hissed as her fingers danced along his hyper-sensitive organ. ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡± She sighed in the most dramatic fashion she could. ¡°A man gains the ability to change any aspect of his person and he chooses to make his penis longer.¡± Her grip tightened right up to the line between pleasure and pain. She began to rub her thumb over the ridges and crest of his overly sensitive head. ¡°Lucky for you,¡± She leaned in closer to Rick''s face, her smile turning predatory. ¡°This was exactly what I wanted to happen.¡± Their coupling was hard and fast. Something about the mysterious energy coursing through their system had revved the two of them up straight to the red line. How Sade managed to last several minutes patiently waiting for him to make his decision Rick would never know. When the two of them achieved release, they both collapsed in a sweaty pile atop the bed, exhausted. ¡°Well that was intense.¡± Rick laughed and held Sade tight. ¡°Indeed.¡± She agreed. Her eyes began to droop and she snuggled up to him. ¡°Promise me one thing.¡± She said sleepily. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She looked up at him. ¡°If we ever get more coital energy, please pick something else.¡± Rick didn¡¯t say anything but his eyes urged her to continue with her reasoning. ¡°I know you are insecure about your¡­ ¡®height¡¯.¡± She smirked. ¡°But tonight you filled me so much that I do not think I could handle much more.¡± She held a finger to his lips to silence any response he could have given. ¡°I think I can handle maybe a single point more to your length. But that is it!¡± She gave out a laugh at the expression on his face. ¡°You are more than the thing between your legs Rick. I have a lot of ideas for when we get more energy to spend. I know you will love them. So explore all of what is possible and let us enjoy this wonderful gift we have been blessed with.¡± Rick considered what she just told him. For most of his life post puberty he was told that bigger is better and that women flock to men who are hung like horses. He almost didn¡¯t want to believe her. It flew in the face of every scrap of man logic he knew. But she accepted him for who he was. Without ever considering a time when he could be as big as he wanted, she accepted him and was satisfied with what little size he could provide. Besides, he could finally be taller than his little sister, be stronger than the biggest jock his old highschool could produce, he could sculpt himself to be the picture of male perfection. All they needed to do was figure out how to gain more coital energy. The prospect made his soft member twitch in anticipation. He smiled down at Sade. ¡°I promise. Only one more point to length for now.¡± She gave him a slight punch to the arm and they both laughed. Feeling the dampness leaking from Sade¡¯s core reminded Rick of something he had been meaning to ask. ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve been fucking like rabbits for a few days now. Are you on some form of contraceptive or something?¡± Sade, who had begun to doze off, fluttered her eyes open at his question. ¡°Contraceptive?¡± ¡°Yeah. Like the physical, chemical, or hell, even magical method used to prevent unwanted pregnancies from happening.¡± He began. ¡°It¡¯s just we¡¯ve been having so much sex that I assumed there was a reason you were not worried about me finishing inside you all¡­ those¡­¡± His voice trailed off as he looked at her face. Her eyes were wide with fear. Almost as if the consequences of unprotected sex completely slipped her mind. When she found her voice it came out in a loud hiss. ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± Chapter 2.2 Experimentation Rick awoke the next day with a groan. Now that he was finally sleeping on a mattress instead of the hard ground his body felt the past weeks worth of aches and pains all at once. His limbs were leaden, his joints locked up, and everything in between was in pain. He flopped his head around to look for Sade but couldn¡¯t find her anywhere. Did she go somewhere while I slept? He wondered. It was shortly after he began his attempts to force his sore body into sitting up when the door to their room opened up and Sade walked in and unslung her pack. ¡°Good, you finally woke up.¡± She said cheerfully. She started pulling out several items of food and laid them on a cloth she spread out on the floor. ¡°Are you ready for lunch before we head out?¡± ¡°What about breakfast?¡± He asked with a yawn. She playfully slapped his knee. ¡°It is already midday! Those days of walking must have been really difficult so I let you sleep and recover a bit more.¡± Rick thanked her for letting him rest and the two started on their meal with relish. ¡°So what were you doing while I was out and what¡¯s on the agenda for the rest of the day?¡± He asked after their meal was finished. ¡°Obviously I went to the market to get food.¡± She said then added. ¡°I also went to an apothecary to talk about what we discussed last night.¡± Rick could see that his lover was nervous so he scooted next to her and put a comforting arm over her shoulders. ¡°And what did they say?¡± She leaned into him and gave his side a slight squeeze. ¡°Apparently the process I used to better regulate my cycle when I was younger acts as a common method of contraception. I am not pregnant but both the apothecary and I agree that I was extremely lucky. She highly advised me that I should be more careful in the future. So I bought some pills the two of us can take to help lower the risk further.¡± She held up a small pouch that must have contained the medicine for him to see. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± He said as he picked up the medicine to give it a better look. ¡°I¡¯m glad we can be a bit safer from now on. I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t more careful.¡± He said sincerely. It took two to tango, so any problems that arrived because of their actions were just as much his fault as it was hers. He will have to ask how the pills worked later. ¡°You mentioned we have plans for the afternoon?¡± Sade gave a nod and took the pouch back from him and put it back in her pack. ¡°I think we have been unsafe in more ways than one. So I wish to take you somewhere quiet for us to train in using weapons to defend ourselves better. I also think teaching you a few household spells is a good idea.¡± Rick was ecstatic to be learning magic. The thought of making fire shoot out of his hands in great flaming arcs appealed to his more nerdy side greatly. He then had a sudden thought and then asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t learning other magic interfere with my intimancy?¡± Sade shook her head. ¡°Magic is magic. Our talents and vocations tell us what type of spells are easiest for us to learn but that does not stop us from trying to learn other branches of magic.¡± Rick was happy to know that he can learn other spells that were outside his mysterious vocation. ¡°So I can study and use any spell I can find?¡± ¡°Well, yes and no.¡± Sade began explaining. ¡°This is why attunement is such an important stat to improve. Our intelligence and wisdom show how difficult and complex the spells we can learn can be. And I believe those attributes have some control over how much mana we have to use spells. But attunement governs how many different spells we can wield simultaneously.¡± Rick sat back and enjoyed the sight of Sade slipping into her teacher mode. She had the brightest expression on her face when she was passing her knowledge on to him. He suspected that she would be a great teacher in the future. ¡°Now I have an attunement of twelve and you are at ten, correct?¡± Rick nodded and she continued. ¡°My value means that I roughly have the concentration and willpower to freely perform two spells I know. The higher the value, the more I can prepare simultaneously.¡± This was a mild review for Rick. She had explained all this before when he first learned how to look at his status back in the forest they met. But it never hurts to review and go over the basics. He did have a question for her this time. ¡°So if I level up and put a point in attunement I can use another spell?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Not quite. Ten points is the minimum one would need to wield a single spell. So right now that is all you can do. After ten, the amount of spells granted is every two levels in attunement. But eventually that number begins to increase exponentially. I am not sure if there is an upper limit but some great sages reported that at higher attunement it could take five or even seven levels just to use one more spell.¡± ¡°Got it! There¡¯s diminishing returns. Still, it kinda sucks that a person has to devote so many levels just to increase this one stat.¡± Rick contemplated out loud. ¡°Not entirely true.¡± Sade rebutted. ¡°Just like you can run to build endurance or study to increase intelligence, attunement can be trained.¡± She tossed some clothes his way. ¡°We should go. Just remember that anyone can improve themselves if they put in the effort. Leveling up by killing monsters is just faster, as well as more dangerous.¡± Rick quickly donned his clothes and followed her to the door. ¡°No risk, no reward.¡± He mused. Sade laughed. ¡°I believe you have rewarded me plenty these last few nights with hardly any risk.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that your medicine run this morning was proof enough that there was more than enough risk from our rewards.¡± Rick countered with a shit-eating grin. Sade blushed fiercely. Her entire face all the way up to her ears darkening. ¡°S-shut it!¡± She grumbled. It seemed she once again forgot about the consequences of unprotected sex. Rick chuckled and gave her a gentle elbow to the ribs before dropping the subject. He forgot too, after all. They made their way to the village gates. The guards gave polite greetings and the two of them wandered around for a bit until they found a clearing that could afford them some privacy. They decided that practicing with weapons looted from the caravan guards for an hour or two should be done first. Rick had a difficult time deciding what weapon he should pick. They had a decent variety but he eventually decided that a spear was probably the best for now. Axes and knives were great tools to have, but when used as weapons they required the wielder to be fairly close to their opponent and have more than a little skill in fighting to be much use, something Rick almost certainly did not have. Swords were very versatile and could be used in many different ways. Rick however, felt that the sword required the most training to get the most use out of when compared to other weapons, so it was also scratched off the list. The spear, however, was simple, easy to learn, and put the most distance between Rick and whatever wanted to kill him outside of a bow or magic. He just had to avoid small, enclosed spaces or else he would have to switch to something else. Not perfect, but certainly the best option available.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. It was hard not to feel foolish as Rick stabbed the air with his weapon over and over. His tired body gave protest with each movement. Like many things since Rick woke up in this new world, he quickly got used to the awkward feeling and just pushed forward. He could feel his muscles slowly begin to loosen with the light exercise, which helped. Rick started to visualize the attack from the wild coyotes. His high luck score probably helped him in that fight more than anything else, so he focused on remembering how they moved during that fight in an effort to beat them with only his own strength and skill. He fought the mental phantoms over and over until he worked up quite a sweat. After the time they allotted was up the two quit their practicing and sat down to discuss how they felt with their new weapons. Rick still felt foolish but Sade insisted that it was a necessary first step and that more practice like this will lead to results. Rick decided it was best not to argue with his friend and soon to be magic teacher. Especially if he wanted to have sex with her later that night. Priorities. ¡°I could spend the rest of the day explaining theory and formulas for magic.¡± Sade began before her serious expression broke and a slight upturn of her lips could be seen. ¡°But I feel that I would result in you taking a nap. So instead, I will simply guide you through all the steps to conjuring your first spell.¡± Rick was excited. He was going to learn magic! He did his best to school his features as Sade walked behind him and placed her arms over his. He did not want to screw up this opportunity. She twisted his wrist so that his palm was facing skyward then whispered into his ear. ¡°The cantrip I am going to have you do is called ¡®ember¡¯. The first step is to gather your internal mana into your palm. I will use some of my own to help you feel your mana flow and help guide it. Here we go.¡± Warmth flooded in from where her hand touched his. It raced along his veins and throughout his body, saturating him with its mild heat. He focused on the foreign mana. While it flowed through every part of his body he could feel that it did not flow to a central point like his circulatory system did with his heart. Instead he could sense several nodes that seemed to be where the mana pulsed to and from. ¡°You have inherent magic already. Even though we do not know how it works just yet, I can feel that all your sources are open. This will save us a lot of time.¡± Sade brought her free hand and placed it over his chest. ¡°Feel the source in your lungs? Imagine your breath flowing from there, along your arm, and bursting out of your palm.¡± Rick breathed in deeply and tried to do as she instructed. It took some time before the mana would budge. Rick could feel it start to move then fall back into the standard circuit before he took in another breath and tried again. Each time he nudged the magic it would flow further and further away from its source. Eventually his hold on the substance grew more firm and he was able to slowly drag it to his waiting palm. When he brought the flow to his hand he faced another barrier. It seemed that the mana wanted to stay inside his body and not burst through his skin. Once again Sade¡¯s voice guided him along. ¡°Let the mana burst forth. Have the breath you guided so far away from its source blow out from your palm.¡± He imagined the mana being exhaled out from his hand. With a roar a gout of flame shot up and nearly singed his eyebrows. The magic disappeared as quickly as it came but Sade hugged him and shouted out with joy. ¡°Yes! You did it! You just performed your first spell.¡± Rick felt like he just won the world cup. He did it, he actually was able to cast fire in his hand! He gave Sade the biggest grin he could muster. ¡°Thank you! I don¡¯t think I could ever have gotten this far without you.¡± She just snuggled him lightly before getting back into position. ¡°Try once more.¡± Rick tried to perform the spell a few more times at Sade¡¯s insistence. Each conjuring was easier than the last and Sade then had him try to control the size and shape of the flames the spell produced. It felt like exercising a muscle he didn¡¯t even know he had. After another hour he felt drained and oddly chilled. ¡°It seems that we have found your limit.¡± Sade commented while gathering their things. ¡°That should be enough magic for today. I will teach you a few more things while we walk back.¡± Despite her saying that she would refrain from discussing magic theory and formulas, that was exactly what Sade did as she guided Rick back to town. In essence a magic formula was the gathering of magic from one or more sources and the path of the mana flow throughout his body. ¡°Easier spells like Ember only have one source and a simple path, but more complex spells can require you to pull from multiple sources, have it pool in another source, then flow out to be used.¡± It seemed that being a mage was not the easiest thing to be in this world. Probably why some people choose to live as farmers or warriors despite anyone being able to cast. Plus those occupations were necessary for civilization to thrive. ¡°So how does this all tie into attunement slots?¡± Rick asked when Sade hit a good stopping point. He still couldn''t quite grasp how he would be limited in how many spells he could cast now that he knew how to do so. ¡°An excellent question!¡± Sade beamed. ¡°Have your mana flow from the source to its exit point again. But this time don¡¯t let it out, just hold it there.¡± Rick did so and she continued her lecture. ¡°Some spell formulas require a lot of time and concentration to set up. But once they are, they can be held indefinitely until the caster wants to use it.¡± Rick nodded in understanding and she continued. ¡°Now imagine holding a formula at the ready and then trying to make another one.¡± Now it was beginning to all make sense. ¡°And attunement is a representation of a casters ability to form and hold multiple formulas at the ready.¡± He said. Sade grinned. ¡°Exactly! Cantrips like ¡®ember¡¯ are easy to form so mages don¡¯t really hold them in place and just form them when needed. But reforming a cantrip while holding a more complex spell still requires enough attunement to store two spells.¡± Rick nodded along. He was beginning to understand just how complex this world and its magic really was. It was a far cry from running on video game logic like he expected. A thought occurred to him then. ¡°So If I can store more than one spell, would it be useful to have at least one slot free so I could cast any cantrip I want?¡± ¡°Yep! That is actually a common practice for many mages since it allows them to be more versatile for when things take an odd turn.¡± Rick couldn¡¯t wait to learn more spells and try them out. They continued to chat as the sun made its way to the horizon. They greeted the guards and got something to eat before retiring to their room. The innkeeper once again gave them funny looks as they entered but otherwise left them alone. Once they were inside their room Rick threw his pack to the side and fell back on the bed. He was exhausted to the point that his eyes began to drift closed. He shook himself awake and made to get ready for bed when he noticed Sade had not joined him. He looked up and saw her eyes were once again sporting their predatory gleam as he met her gaze. ¡°It seems I gained another point of coital energy. I think you should check and see if you received the same.¡± Rick obeyed and opened his status to find a mild surprise waiting for him. ¡°I have two.¡± Her eyes hardened and she stalked her way to the bed to sit next to him. ¡°I honestly wish Valmic had a library. If they did I would head down there this very instant and find every reference I could for ¡®coital energy¡¯ until the sun came up.¡± She muttered with exasperation. Rick gave a chuckle at her zeal. She really was the most studious person he had ever met. ¡°I bet that would be awkward when talking to the librarian.¡± She cocked her head in confusion. ¡°How so?¡± She asked with genuine curiosity. ¡°Well it may seem like you are trying to look up how to be better at ¡®coitus¡¯ since the two words are simi-¡­¡± His voice trailed off and they stared at each other, blinking. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°It does seem to make sense.¡± ¡°Could it really?¡± Rick clutched his head. Were they really that stupid? It seemed like the answer was staring them in the face all this time and neither of them had the cognitive power to put two and two together. ¡°It can¡¯t be that simple.¡± He moaned. Sade gave him a slight peck on the cheek then stood up. Like every night previous, she began to strip herself bare. ¡°Only one way to find out.¡± She said grinning. ¡°And since there is no way for me to research this conundrum with dusty old tomes, I will just have to experiment to find my answers instead.¡± Rick eyed his lover as she stood in a pile of her discarded clothing. This was certainly a style of research he could wholeheartedly get behind. Chapter 2.3 The Magic of Love When they left their room to explore the town the next morning they were met by two guards. ¡°Please come with us.¡± One of them said in a curt but polite tone. Rick couldn¡¯t think of anything that would have landed them in trouble so he figured this was about the report they made with Captain Foltig. ¡°Yes, take those filthy heathens away. Their presence has already stained the reputation of my fine establishment beyond repair.¡± Both the guards and their charges stopped and turned to face the man who spoke. The innkeeper was glaring at them. A look of triumph plastered on his pudgy face. Rick looked to Sade then to the guards. All of them shared the same look of confusion at the sudden vehemence thrown at them. From the beginning, the man seemed to have never liked the two travelers. Rick just chalked it up to personal opinion and put the matter aside. It seems this dislike ran a bit deeper than he thought. "Um, excuse-" "Be silent you filthy thing!" The man roared. "You two reeked of foul magic from the moment you walked in here. In that time the stench has only gotten worse. I should have refused your coin and kicked you out from the start. Now I will need a priest to exorcize the room you no doubt saturated with your taint!" The pudgy man had worked him up to a frenzy at that point. Veins bulged on his neck and spittle went flying from his mouth as he continued to spit curses at Rick and Sade. Never in his entire life had Rick ever encountered such open hatred for another human being, especially not aimed at him directly. Sure the internet exists, and the media liked to showcase the various hate rallies. But those situations always had a degree of separation from his life and the people in it. For some reason this man hated the two of them with every fiber of his being, and Rick, for the life of him, could not figure out what it could be. The two guards quickly ushered them out the door and back into the relative quiet compared to inside. "The fuck was his deal?" Rick asked. One of the guards spoke up. "I''m sorry to ask, but are one or both of you mages?" Rick tried to meet Sade''s eyes. She gave him a quick nod then looked down at her feet. "I am, I guess." He admitted. The man nodded his head. "That may explain it. It seems other than the increase in monster attacks, there is also rising violence against mages." He bowed his head low. "We are sorry you had to endure that. I''m sure my captain would agree with me that if he knew the man would react to you like that, he would never have recommended that inn." Rick gave the man a friendly slap on the shoulder. "From what little I''ve seen, you and your captain are all good men. I don''t blame you at all." He leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. "If it''s alright with you, could you send someone to pick up our stuff? I''d rather avoid dealing with that man anytime soon." The guards gave him thankful smiles and agreed to do just that. It seems that the good captain had good men under his command. Rick shuddered at the thought of other guards, let alone Captain Foltig treating him or Sade the same way the innkeeper did. Soon they found themselves at the patrol station once again. Inside the captain waited in the exact same spot as the last time they saw him. Rick wondered if he ate and slept at his desk as well. "You two certainly look a sight better than when you first walked in. I take it that your stay in Valmik was restful?" Rick shrugged. "For the most part." At the captain''s quizzical look, Rick gave a brief overview of the innkeepers rant. "From the bottom of my heart, I apologize for the way you were treated!" Foltig practically slammed his head down on the table with the force of his bow. Rick did his best to reassure the man. "Hey, hey, your men already said sorry on your behalf. They even agreed to get our things for us. You and your men are good people, we know you didn''t purposely send us there to be discriminated against." "So what did you need to talk to us about?" Rick hoped the captain would accept the change in subject and drop the matter. Foltig coughed to regain his composure and thankfully switched gears. "I received word that my men have found the attack site. They have corroborated your story and are attempting to track the creatures down.¡± Rick was happy that the guardsmen were taking their story so seriously. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I hope the hunt is successful¡± The big man nodded. ¡°I hope so too. Now where were you two heading before all this happened?¡± ¡°The caravan was heading to Shatak.¡± Sade piped up for the first time since the outburst at the inn. ¡°I was going to start my studies there. But I have yet to find any passage from here that would arrive before the semester starts.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Foltig folded his arms in thought. ¡°If you could, when would you prefer to continue your journey?¡± Sade blinked at his question. In an unsure voice she replied. ¡°Immediately?¡± The captain laughed. A great and powerful sound that rumbled out from his massive chest. ¡°I guess I should have anticipated that response. Here is what I will do, I will ask a friend or two to see if they can send you on your way. Meet me at the western gate in four hours. If I am successful, you will have transport to Shatak. Is this agreeable?¡± Rick was excited and Sade perked up as well. ¡°Thanks so much! But why are you doing so much for us?¡± Foltig chuckled at his question. ¡°I have a few reasons. One is that you two are good kids. My men noted how you treated the fallen. Not many would go to such lengths for relative strangers as you have.¡± His eyes grew sullen. ¡°And I still want to apologize for sending you to that inn. My honor demands I try to make amends, even if you do not hold it against me.¡± They thanked the captain and left. They had four hours to kill and a possible trip to plan for. And unfortunately, no room at the inn to go back to. I really hope that fat bastard didn¡¯t mess with our things before the guards could retrieve them. Rick thought before following Sade through the streets. This was Rick¡¯s first time actually wandering the various markets that dotted the main streets of Valmic. He still had a hard time adjusting to the difference in technical development his old life had compared to his new one. When they were walking through the woods, certain creature comforts like toilets were expected to be missing. But after spending a couple nights exploring a ¡®civilized¡¯ town, he had to face the reality that things like the internet, electricity, or even working plumbing were now behind him. Rick was no historian. Anything older than the industrial revolution was just a series of names and dates to him. Valmic was a town of maybe a couple thousand residents. Whether or not that meant that the town was large, small, or constituted a small city, he had no clue. All he knew is that this was a small town to him, in some developmental period similar to the early middle ages. Since magic was a thing in this world, Rick wondered if the city he and Sade were traveling to would have used it in its construction. He wouldn¡¯t really know until he got there he supposed. He would adapt, he had with everything else so far. It still concerned him how easily he got used to walking around naked in the forest. The two lovers wandered around and looked at all the various wares on sale in the market. They had many of the supplies they needed already from their looting of the doomed caravan, but a few more supplies couldn¡¯t hurt. Sade helped Rick pick out a few outfits that were a bit better fitting than his borrowed sets. He would still need to visit a tailor at some point to adjust the clothes to fit him properly but they would do for the moment. Thinking about fitting into his clothes had Rick¡¯s mind go down an odd path. ¡°So my magic is intimancy. A mix of ¡®intimate¡¯ and ¡®mancer¡¯, right?¡± Sade looked up from the row of various clockwork curios being peddled by a dwarf sporting dirty blond hair that reminded Rick of a surfer bro. ¡°I would not announce your magic so freely out in the open after what we experienced at the inn. But yes, I think your analysis is correct.¡± Rick nodded and continued to outline his train of thought. ¡°That just seems like a silly name for a branch of magic though.¡± She blinked in confusion. ¡°You think it is¡­ silly?¡± Rick smiled. ¡°Yeah, silly! I would go with something cool like ¡®Fuck magic¡¯ or the like.¡± She just looked at him for a moment then turned away with a curt ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh come on! How about ¡®Coital-crafter¡¯?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Fornigician?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Intercorcerer?¡± She stopped her walk down the street and faced him. ¡°Okay, I will admit that the last one was clever.¡± Before Rick could revel in his small victory she put a finger to his lips, shushing him. ¡°But I still would not change the name, even if I could.¡± It seemed that Sade was finally shaking off the funk from the situation with the innkeeper. Her expressions, while still calm and analytical, were starting to gain their previous vibrancy. Rick was just happy she was talking again. ¡°Oh? What¡¯s wrong with the other names?¡± She beckoned him to follow her. It was almost time for their meetup. ¡°All the other names sound selfish and crass. Like the magic they invoke is all about pleasuring yourself and taking what you want from others.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I follow.¡± Sade sighed and continued with her explanation. ¡°Your magic isn¡¯t just magic invoked during sex. It is about being intimate with another person.¡± Her hands were gesticulating around, as if mere words couldn¡¯t contain the full depth of what she was trying to say. ¡°Think of it this way. Your magic could give you coital energy for simply engaging in sex with a woman. Or every time you release, even if it was just by yourself. But that is not how it works, as we so thoroughly discovered.¡± She smirked and Rick returned the expression. They had indeed been thorough in discovering how to cultivate that special energy. ¡°Your magic activates only when your partner achieves release.¡± She continued. ¡°Both of us benefit when we take the other¡¯s pleasure into account. When we are intimate, rather than just seeking our own joy.¡± She hugged him fiercely then. The gesture somehow conveyed all the feelings she couldn¡¯t articulate otherwise. ¡°That is the reason I love you and your magic so much. It is just as kind and considerate as its wielder.¡± She said ¡®love¡¯. Rick¡¯s mind grinded to a halt at the words and he froze in place, all mental energy devoted to processing those simple words she casually uttered. Sade broke the embrace and began to move ahead of him, oblivious to the storm of emotions raging inside his skull. She turned and bade him to follow before continuing on her way. She said that she loved him. Rick didn¡¯t have much experience in romance or dating. But as he watched her petite form retreat into the distance he knew one thing. He would do anything to make her repeat that statement as many times as he could. He suspected that¡¯s what it meant to be in love as well. Chapter 3.1 Wild Company At the western gate they found two people waiting for them. The taller of the two, albeit barely, was of course Foltig. The other was a woman clad in furs and loose clothing. Her bare arms were tanned and well muscled, but not overly bulky like a weightlifter. From her mane of auburn hair protruded two sharp points where her ears should be. ¡°And you arrived just in time!¡± Foltig called out in greeting. ¡°Oi, these the ones?¡± The woman asked in a thick accent. The captain nodded and introduced everyone. ¡°Indeed. Sade, Rick, this is Tyrillian. Tyr, meet Sade and Rick.¡± Tyrillian crossed her arms and looked the two up and down with bright green eyes. ¡°I dun know Tig. They look a wee bit scrawny, can the lad even lift a sword?¡± Her voice had a husky timbre and her accent was close to a mild scottish brogue. While her voice was surprisingly pleasant to listen to, the contents of her words left Rick feeling a bit miffed. Foltig gave a chuckle and waved for everyone to follow him. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t underestimate those two.¡± He said. ¡°They managed to survive an attack that wiped out fifteen other people then hiked for four days all the way here.¡± The woman eyed Rick and Sade with a critical gaze. Her face said that she didn¡¯t quite believe the captain on their competence. If Rick was being honest with himself, he didn¡¯t quite have confidence in his abilities either. Not if they got attacked by anything more serious than a couple starving coyotes. ¡°Ya mayflies have far too much confidence in yerselves.¡± She sighed, shrugging her broad shoulders. ¡°But Da trusts ya Tig. So I¡¯ll do me best ta give ¡®em the benefit of the doubt.¡± ¡°How magnanimous of you.¡± Sade replied icily. Foltig placed an arm on her shoulder, his tone kind. ¡°Do forgive her tone. She means well. Tyr may be young for an elf but you would find it hard to spot anyone under my command who can protect you both from danger better than her.¡± Tyrillian¡¯s cheeks reddened and she sped up her pace. ¡°Yeah, well, they better pull their own weight! Ya got it?¡± She then sped ahead once more. ¡°Looks like we got ourselves a tsundere.¡± Rick said to Sade with a knowing smirk. ¡°A what now?¡± She asked in confusion and Rick mentally kicked himself. Why would a resident of a fantasy world know a niche japanese word? ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s a term that roughly means ¡®someone who puts on a tough front but is secretly very caring¡¯.¡± Tyrillian swung around to face them from several meters ahead of them, her face livid. ¡°I heard that!¡± Foltig just roared with laughter. When he recovered a bit he shouted back. ¡°Careful now girl, it looks like they already have your measure!¡± She just huffed in response and continued on her way. Foltig just kept chuckling and even Rick and Sade were smiling at the young elf¡¯s attempt to continue to put on a front. It really did seem that Rick hit the nail on the head. They all came to an uncovered wagon led by a single horse. Inside were three packs and a few sundry supplies. Two of those bags and one small pile of weapons looked familiar. ¡°So just the three of us are going in this?¡± The big man nodded. ¡°Ya got a problem with that?¡± Rick looked at the elf. ¡°Nope. Just confirming the situation.¡± He stuck out his hand. ¡°Hope we have a good trip together.¡± She just looked at his hand as if she was unsure how to proceed. Tentatively, like she was expecting Rick to suddenly pull his hand away at the last moment, she grasped it and gave it a firm shake. A very firm shake. The guard captain was pleased that the elf¡¯s initial hostility had already cooled down. ¡°Excellent. Now I believe Tyr will be taking you through the old road. It is not as patrolled, but it will take far less time for you to get where you need to go. I understand there is a bit of a time issue for you.¡± Tyrillian nodded her head at Foltig¡¯s confirmation on her route but Rick was slightly confused. ¡°If the journey is shorter, why is it patrolled less?¡± ¡°Oh, that is because the old road bypasses all the villages between here and Shatak. While the direct route is nice to have, most traders understandably want to avoid it.¡± The big man explained. ¡°So since we have less people using the road, there is less importance in maintaining or patrolling the old road.¡± ¡°I understand. Thank you for explaining and for arranging this for us on such short notice.¡± Rick said and shook Captain Foltig¡¯s hand. There were smiles all around and the three travelers were soon bouncing down the road to their next destination. Soon the town of Valmic disappeared behind the thickening line of trees leaving them alone on the shaded road. Their new companion seemed to visibly deflate like she was holding her breath the entire time and only now just released all the air. Sade moved up to sit next to her. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± The elf sat poised for a moment before she furiously ran her hands through her mane then audibly sighed. ¡°Yeah, everything is just¡­ ugh! I¡¯m sorry!¡± She gave them both a look of genuine regret. ¡°I just¡­ I dun know why I act like that around Tig.¡± ¡°So it was our dear captain¡¯s fault, eh? Do you have feelings for him?¡± Sade teased. Tyrillian looked thoughtful for a moment. ¡°Yes, no, maybe? Ugh! We¡¯ve known each other fer twenty years. I dunno what ta think.¡± The rest of the wagon blinked at her statement. ¡°Not to be rude, but how old are you exactly?¡± Rick asked as delicately as he could. ¡°Hm? Oh, Sixty-four summers. Why d¡¯ya ask?¡± Rick was dumbfounded at her casual age drop and struggled to find the right words. Thankfully Sade pipped in. ¡°He has not met many elves. I myself am curious on what age your culture considers an adult. Considering Captain Foltig called you young.¡± Tyrillian waved away their concerns about being rude. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s a good question. Unlike those prissy ¡®high elves¡¯,¡± She said the last part with a mocking high pitched tone. ¡°Which don¡¯t leave their mam¡¯s nipple ¡®till one hundred. My people decide fer themselves when they are of age.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. One hundred years until an elf could be considered an adult? Rick¡¯s head swam with the implication. He tried to imagine his whole life stretched out over the span of an entire human lifetime. Try as he might, it just seemed too unbelievable. ¡°Fascinating! How does that work?¡± Sade asked with eagerness, dragging Rick back to thoughts about forest elf culture. ¡°Oh ya can¡¯t just pop out between yer mam¡¯s legs and then go ¡®I¡¯m ready fer a pint!¡¯, there are a couple things that need doing.¡± She held out her hand and extended one finger. ¡°First, ya got to have yer body be all grown. That takes about fifty summers or so.¡± She counted a second finger. ¡°Then ya got ta show yer independence.¡± Rick blinked after she stopped talking. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± She threw her hands into the air. ¡°It¡¯s a might harder than it sounds! Ya can¡¯t just tell people yer all grown up. Ya got ta do it! Most elves try ta figure that out right when they''re grown. Some get it down right away, others take a while.¡± She sighed again and Sade put her arm over the larger woman¡¯s muscled shoulder. ¡°And it has taken a bit longer for you?¡± Tyrillian nodded and then seemed to wiggle herself free of Sade¡¯s embrace. ¡°Bah! That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. Both Tig and me Da think that a summer or two in the city would help me figure things out fer myself.¡± She seemed to compose herself and a bit of her earlier haughty attitude creeped back to her expression. ¡°Enough about that. What I want ta know if ya two are fuck¡¯n.¡± Her obvious attempt at changing the subject still worked like a charm. Both Sade and Rick¡¯s faces grew heated and Tyrillian cackled with glee. ¡°Oh, ya dun have to worry. The two of ya just reek of each other''s scent! I could smell the sex before ya even turned the corner!¡± The two humans'' faces flushed with embarrassment. The elf however, had the gall to actually wipe a tear from her eye from her laughter. She eventually calmed down enough to continue her inquiry. ¡°So if ya already found a mate, why are ya heading ta Shatak?¡± Both of the humans started blushing even more furiously at the implication they were married. Sade somehow recovered first and coughed as if to center herself. ¡°I am going to attend Mya University to study magecraft.¡± Tyrillian looked confused. ¡°I thought he was the mage.¡± She said, hooking a thumb at Rick. Rick was surprised she knew. But thinking about it for a bit longer he suspected that Captain Foltig must have confided in her, since he and a few guards were the only people who they told or were there when the innkeeper had his episode. ¡°I have some inherent magic, yes, but neither of us know much about it. What we do know is that my magic is not a combat focused branch. At least not that we could figure out anyway.¡± Rick felt that honesty would probably be best in this situation. He wouldn¡¯t tell her everything, but letting her know his limitations when it came to combat was good for everyone. The elf gave an ¡°Ah.¡± in understanding and then continued with another question. ¡°Well what can ya do?¡± Rick shrugged and picked up his spear that was laying on the floor by his pack. ¡°Stick them with the pointy end?¡± This caused all three of them to erupt in a fit of giggles. Tyrillian clutched her stomach ¡°Aye, fair enough. That¡¯s something at least. So no offensive spells?¡± Rick held out his hand and conjured fire with the only spell he knew. Before he could even blink, the tall woman whipped her hand out like a viper and slapped his hand with enough force that the flame winked out and his hand slapped back to his chest. ¡°Are ya daft! Why would ya ever use fire ta defend yourself in a forest?! Do ya want ta turn a fight into a funeral pyre?¡± Rick didn¡¯t quite know how to answer the question. So he just shook his head and remained silent. He looked at Sade, her expression looked as ashamed as he felt. It seems she didn¡¯t consider the consequences of reckless spellcraft either. Tyrillian sighed ¡°Look,¡± she began with a bit less anger in her voice. ¡°Fire ¡®n lightning in a forest is a very, very bad idea. If ya have ta use magic fer some reason, use something like this.¡± She tossed the reins to Sade then stood on the bench. Her arms shot out, fingers splayed and curled like claws. She then leaped into the tree boughs above them and swiped her hands through the thick wooden branches, as thick as Rick¡¯s thigh, as if through paper rather than solid lumber. She landed back in her seat. One of the limbs crashed down to the forest floor below to the side of their wagon. In between Tyrillian¡¯s fingers were a couple smooth wooden disks the size of small dinner plates. Sade gasped. ¡°Tyrillian, was that-¡± ¡°Bah!¡± The other woman interrupted ¡°Call me Tyr. Me full name¡¯s a mouthful.¡± Sade nodded and spoke again. ¡°Tyr then, what was that spell?¡± Tyr beamed as she tossed the disks to the back of the cart, took the reins back, and sat back down. ¡°If yer thinking that was the ¡®elven claw¡¯, ya be right.¡± Rick was excited to see more magic. ¡°Can you teach us that spell?¡± He asked with anticipation. ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll show ya both tonight and ya can practice tomorrow while we ride.¡± She said with no hesitation whatsoever. ¡°Elven claw is not a secret technique?¡± Sade asked and Tyr shook her head. ¡°Nah. The spell¡¯s no great secret, just few outside of the elf clans bother ta learn it.¡± Rick was curious. ¡°Why not?¡± She grinned and began to explain. ¡°The spell is like a very fancy dagger. So think about all the places that could be more useful than a sword, bow¡­ or even a fireball.¡± She added the last with a pointed look. He considered that for a few moments. While a fancy dagger would be nice and even useful, when compared to the other examples, it lost most of its appeal during combat. ¡°So it¡¯s a very situational spell that works best in places like a forest?¡± Tyr gave a hum in confirmation. The three of them continued to make small talk as they traveled through the day. Tyr was a treasure trove of information about the forest and the creatures that lived within it. Rick started to realize that his high luck stat was pulling double-time in order for him to survive those first nights in the wilderness. When the sun was nearly over the horizon they made camp on the side of the road. The plan was to set up a tarp over the wagon so that they had protection from the elements as they all slept inside. Provided that the weather was just as nice as the last week had been, they would tear it down in the morning before heading back out. Tyr set a watch rotation and took the first turn as the other two got comfortable inside. While the forest was relatively safe for Rick and Sade on their hike from the destroyed caravan, neither of them argued with the elf on making sure nothing nasty snuck up on them while they all slept. After all, they still didn¡¯t know what attacked Sade and the rest of her caravan. Rick didn¡¯t quite know what types of monsters lived in this fantastical world of magic, but even that scene of carnage was beyond the pale. Sade and Rick looked at each other before looking outside where they could see the elf standing sentinel by the fire. Rather than dealing with the potential horrors that lurked beyond the light of their fire, they faced an altogether different problem. For the past week, the moments just before sleep would normally be the time they made love to each other. Not wanting to make their new traveling companion uncomfortable, both silently agreed that having sex in front of company was probably not the best idea. And thus, Rick finally understood the concept of blue balls. Both he and his chosen partner wanted to screw each other silly, but couldn¡¯t. He briefly wondered just how they would handle four more nights of forced abstinence. Come on man! You went nearly your whole life without sex, you can handle a few days. He mentally chided himself. It was painfully ironic that he got so used to having sex after only a week since popping his cherry. Now, he couldn¡¯t imagine himself without Sade naked in his arms. Eventually he fell asleep, thinking of all the coital energy he would give Sade when they were finally able to be alone. Chapter 3.2 Slow and Steady The next morning Rick and Sade were both grumpy and dissatisfied with their situation. While Rick got the middle watch, Sade had the misfortune to be assigned the final assignment until morning. Tyr did her best to help build a makeshift bed for Sade to sleep in while they bounced down the road. Despite how uncomfortable it must have been, she managed to sleep for most of the morning. After Sade woke up from her nap they took a break for lunch. Tyr gave them both the formula for the ¡®elven claw¡¯ while they shoveled food in their mouths. ¡°This shares quite a few similarities to the ¡®cut¡¯ spell. Although quite a bit more powerful and complicated.¡± Sade commented. The elf laughed. ¡°Aye. The elves taught some human the claw spell a few hundred years ago and it was a wee bit much fer him. So he made the ¡®cut¡¯ spell instead. Quite clever honestly.¡± Sade was delighted to learn that little tidbit of magical history. The two women chatted a bit more about elven history and the various magic their people both learned and taught other races. Rick learned that the wood elves were the closest thing the land, that would eventually be designated the kingdom of Shivani, had to a native people group. When a new sentient race wandered in, either from the coast like the dwarves or from the eastern mountains like the humans and orcs, it was usually the wood elves that they encountered first. Many would-be tyrants tried to subjugate them and other races that called the land home over the centuries, but none of them lasted more than a few battles. ¡°Eventually everyone learned that trading and leaving us be was a far better option than getting an arrow up the arse.¡± Tyr said with a sadistic chuckle. While she had an obvious bias, Rick could certainly see why not fighting the wood elves was a smart idea in the long run. Tyr herself was a head taller than the two of them and was nothing but muscle, feral might, and feminine curves. Trying to fight a nation where the average citizen looked like her sounded like a bad idea. And if he remembered correctly from his short time in Valmic, she was on the small and weak end of the spectrum. ¡°Hey Tyr, you said that you were fully grown, right?¡± Rick asked the woman. ¡°Aye.¡± She replied with a bit of confusion. ¡°Well¡­ I saw a lot of other wood elves back in town and they were all really big. LIke huge!¡± He held his hands way out to the side and then above his head to demonstrate their broad physiques and towering height. A glance behind Tyr showed Sade placing her hands way out in front of her chest with a smirk and a raised brow. Tyr blinked for a few seconds before she registered what he was asking. ¡°Ah! An elf is considered ta have an adult body when they can start bearing children.¡± She laughed and continued ¡°We don¡¯t stop growing taller and busty¡¯er,¡± she cupped her fairly sizable breasts with both hands in emphasis, behind her Sade coughed and nearly fell over. ¡°Fer several hundred years after we pass the point where we can have little ones.¡± She pointed at the two of them. ¡°Like the two of ya. Both of ya look like wee ones by human standards. I¡¯m sure ya two will look quite sexy in a few more summers.¡± While she wasn¡¯t wrong in her assessment, Rick suspected there was a slight misunderstanding going on. ¡°Oh! You are talking about how a human can have children as early as ten but still can develop for many years after, right?¡± Sade piped up. ¡°Yeah, something like that.¡± Tyr said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know ya two were so young though.¡± There was an awkward pause until Rick cleared his throat. ¡°Um¡­ we both are full adults. We are each eighteen, and nearly at the end of our natural growth period.¡± At Rick¡¯s confession, the elf looked between the two humans, at their small and slender bodies that lacked many adult features. She looked crestfallen. It was obvious she didn¡¯t mean to be insulting. Sade quickly reached out and patted the other woman on the shoulder. ¡°Do not feel so bad. Exceptions do exist.¡± She looked over at Rick and they shared a private smile between the two of them. ¡°I actually grew a bit taller since starting this trip. I even grew ¡®busty¡¯er¡¯ too!¡± As she quoted Tyr¡¯s earlier comment, Sade cupped and jiggled her own breasts in the same way the elf did earlier. While not nearly the same size as their elven companion, her mounds were considerably more prominent than when they met in the forest. Courtesy of Rick¡¯s magic, of course. ¡°I have the feeling that both of us are not quite done growing.¡± Sade squeezed Rick¡¯s thigh and gave him a knowing smile. He returned the gesture. There was no way either of them were done spending coital energy anytime soon. He greatly looked forward to them both getting bigger in all sorts of fun and sexy ways. Tyr¡¯s mood seemed to lift at Sade¡¯s words. It was obvious to both humans that she had a difficult time choosing her words, so neither of them would hold that against her. Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt. The day passed by slowly as they bounced along the forested path. Tyr showed Rick how to drive the cart and Sade spent most of the afternoon pouring over some of the few books she brought with her from home. She said it was to help her learn something useful so Rick decided to leave her to it and concentrate on not hitting a tree.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Sade surprised them all when she suddenly stood up from her position in the cart a few hours later. Before anyone could ask what was wrong, she held out her arm and a long spike of ice shot out and embedded itself in a nearby tree trunk. ¡°There we go.¡± she said smugly ¡°That should be an offensive magic that would not burn the forest down, correct?¡± The elf just shook her head in amusement. ¡°That it won¡¯t. Now, why don¡¯t ya see if ya can hit what I tell ya. Until Sade¡¯s magic ran dry, she attempted to hit various targets Tyr called out to her. The targets varied by size and distance, from a tree trunk near the side of the road to a falling leaf that Rick struggled to even spot a dozen meters away. Her descriptions were precise, making it hard for either of the two humans to get confused on what exactly Tyr wanted Sade to aim for. It was a good reminder that their companion was exactly as capable as the guard captain assured them she would be despite her apparent youth. ¡°Ya aren''t an elf with a bow, but that ice sure has some kick ta it.¡± Tyr exclaimed after Sade collapsed to the cart bed, panting. It seemed that a dozen icicles was the limit of her mana reserves. She could hit most targets within a few meters with decent accuracy. What impressed Rick the most was the speed in which she could fire another ice spike after the first. He guessed the spell had only a couple second recharge time. Each spike hit with enough force to dig almost a quarter of its length into dense wood. So the spell was quite powerful. If she could increase her accuracy, Sade could probably wipe out an entire squad of soldiers before they even reached the wagon. And she¡¯s only level 1 without a magical vocation. Rick mused. He wondered just how powerful Sade was capable of becoming. He wondered if he had it in him to follow beside her on her path to becoming a full mage. Once Sade could stand up again she took a turn learning how to drive the cart while Rick practiced the elven claw spell. Despite his earlier success with the ¡®ember¡¯ cantrip, his progress in maneuvering his mana along the proper paths had met with little success. The problem was that the spell required him to split the flow evenly between both his arms then split the mana again along each of his fingers. Each separate flow had to be uniform and steady. Each time he focused too much on one area another would falter and he would scramble to correct, causing his focus to slip somewhere else, and ultimately the mana flow would break and the spell would fail to manifest. He felt like the meme guy holding too many avocados, just without the goofy smile. He groaned in frustration. ¡°Am I missing something? How did you master the ice spell so quickly?¡± He complained to Sade in the driver seat. She turned briefly to give him a knowing smile. ¡°I have yet to master the spell.¡± She said softly. ¡°In fact, today was the first time I was able to use it at all.¡± Rick shot her a disbelieving look and she continued. ¡°I have read and reread every spell in that book since I was a child. I have dedicated myself to learning to wield magic for half my life, finding success only relatively recently. It only looks easy when you see the result of all those years of hard work from the outside.¡± Rick groaned again. Nearly every one of Sade¡¯s lectures could be summed up with ¡®practice, practice, practice¡¯. He knew she was right in her thinking. He just didn¡¯t want to deal with the mountain of effort anything worthwhile took. If he wanted to master his magical gifts, there would be no easy route to take. Lacking anything better to do, he went back to practicing, grumbling inwardly all the while. The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Once more they drew lots for watch duty. Rick was once again in the middle and wished Sade a good night while she took the first watch. It was sometime later that he slowly became aware of a warm and wet sensation affecting a small part of his skin. It wasn¡¯t an unpleasant feeling. In fact, he could feel a growing sense of pleasure as the soft dampness continued its ministrations. Slowly his mind clawed its way out of sleep''s grip and he cracked open his eyes to see a mass of dark puffy curls bobbing between his legs. The mass shifted and Sade¡¯s eyes met Ricks, his dick dangling out of her mouth like a lollipop. Before he could make a sound her arm shot out and covered his mouth with her hand. He could feel something small and round being forced between his lips and he involuntarily swallowed. Her mouth slid off his shaft and she quietly moved to sit on his thighs, her hand never leaving his mouth. ¡°Shhhh, I just gave you some medicine.¡± She whispered so quietly that he struggled to remember if she spoke at all. Rick was now fully awake and gave her a questioning look from around her cupped palm. She flashed him a glimpse of her pearly white teeth and with her other hand lifted up the hem of her skirt. It seemed someone was even less patient than he was. They took their time, both trying desperately not to make too much noise, less they wake up their new companion. After a minute of this achingly slow lovemaking that neither of them found satisfying, they each began to feel the pressure building in their cores. Rick reached up and embraced Sade before they both shuddered with release. Once their high subsided Sade removed her hand from his mouth. ¡°I am sorry. I just could not help myself.¡± She said softly in his ear. Rick just gave his lover another slow hug to show he was far from mad by the way she woke him. ¡°It is also time for your watch.¡± She giggled and extracted herself from him so he could get dressed. He smiled and gave her a quick kiss before he grabbed his other spear, the one that had yet to be used that evening, and began his own lonely vigil. Rick and Sade sat next to each other in the driver''s seat the next morning. Their companion was still sleeping in the back of the cart after finishing the final watch of the evening while the two led the cart down the lonely forest road. Sade¡¯s head was resting on Rick¡¯s shoulder. He marveled at how content he felt in that moment. Despite being so very far away from his home, Rick felt an ease in his soul that he didn¡¯t even know had troubled him. He may never be able to go back home, and for the moment, he was okay with that. It may just be from finally getting laid after only a short bout of abstinence, but who really knew? He heard stirring from behind him and the two looked back to see Tyr shrugging out of her bedroll. The elf stretched her long and muscled arms over her head and gave a mighty yawn that showed off all her teeth. Her gaze met theirs. ¡°What, no waking me up by wrapping yer lips around me shaft like our friend here? I¡¯m mildly offended.¡± Her words hit them like a wave of ice water. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± she whispered with a knowing smirk before sauntering over to where they sat stunned. ¡°I got ta see the whole show.¡± Chapter 3.3 Thrown For a Loop She took in their frozen expressions and gave a casual wave. ¡°Dun worry! I¡¯m not actually mad ya jumped his bones.¡± Sade was the first to speak. ¡°I-I thought we were quiet.¡± She squeaked out. Tyr casually flicked one of her long ears poking out from beneath her shaggy mane. ¡°Oh ya were, ya were indeed. But me hearing is just a tad better than most.¡± She wrapped her arms over their shoulders and gave a gentle hug to show she was being friendly. ¡°Sorry for that.¡± Rick said earnestly. Tyr stood back up and walked back to her things. ¡°Relax! Ya would be surprised at how much public rutting happens back home. I¡¯m more surprised that Sade was the one ta crack first. It¡¯s usually the male who can¡¯t keep it in his pants for more than a day.¡± She finished stowing her things and then stood once more. ¡°In fact, maybe tonight we could-¡± Something large crashed into her so fast that it was little more than a blur. Both Tyr and the thing toppled over the side of the cart and thudded to the ground. ¡°Tyr!¡± Sade shouted and jumped off after her. Rick pulled on the reins to get the panicked horse to stop from bolting and stay still, then scrambled back to find his weapon. There was a roar from below and what looked like a humanoid bug was thrown to the trees from where his newfound friend fell. Tyr rose from the ground a moment later and faced the tree line. Rick finally got a look at the thing when it emerged from the greenery with a confidant gait. ¡®Bug like¡¯ was indeed a good way to describe the creature. From head to toe the thing was covered in an olive green shell that was streaked in tan scratches. It stood on two thick legs while four long arms jutted out from holes in its chitin armor, each of its fingers and toes were capped with wicked looking claws. Its plated head seemed only there to hold a giant mouth filled with needle sharp teeth. The thing opened up its giant maw and roared in challenge. From its eyes a red glow bloomed and the light traveled down across several cracks along its face, torso, and limbs. Tyr threw her head back and let out her own bestial cry, her fangs on full display. The two of them charged toward each other and met with a crash that would make a defensive lineman cringe. The monster swung its lower arms at Tyr¡¯s midsection and she caught them before those wicked claws could rip through her stomach. Undeterred, the thing swept its upper claws towards her head from either side while both her arms were each busy with half of its available weapons. Tyr managed to duck her head and the deadly limbs grazed past her auburn locks harmlessly. Tyr let out another roar and her mighty arms tensed. She pivoted her legs to the side. Twisting her back and hips, she used her prodigious strength and momentum to throw the thing once more. It crashed against a nearby tree with a thud that rattled every branch before hitting the dirt. A long spear of ice shot towards the thing from Sade¡¯s direction. As the tip of the missile connected with the creature''s carapace, it deflected off the rounded surface before shattering against the tree behind it. ¡°Balls!¡± Rick cursed as he scrambled out of the cart. Sade managed to launch one more ice spike before the giant bug thing got back up and charged at Tyr once more. This second projectile was just as effective as the first, bouncing off its armored thigh and impacting the ground with little more than a new scratch on the green surface. Tyr leaped towards the charging creature and extended out both her legs forward. Her drop kick connected right into the thing¡¯s chest, halting both of their forward momentum, and they both tumbled once more into the ground. Unfortunately for Tyr, her opponent recovered first. It scuttled forward on all six limbs and grabbed her by both the thighs and ankles, claws sinking deep into her flesh. The creature stood up, spun the elf around, and in an instance of payback, hurled her toward the nearest tree. Her head impacted the hard wood first and she fell to the earth in a heap. Rick was charging the creature now, his spear tip leading the way. He was aiming at the dark purple flesh that could be seen from between each armored section where the joints would be. He hoped it wasn¡¯t nearly as tough as its armored shell. At the last second his adversary turned to face him. Rick¡¯s spear rammed into its chest then skidded to the side, leaving only a thin scratch in its carapace for his effort. A shout came from directly behind him. ¡°Duck!¡± Rick obeyed the command almost on instinct. He practically dropped to his elbows in front of his monstrous opponent before his rational side noticed just how crazy a move that was. A watermelon sized ball of ice rocketed over his head and struck the thing square in its ugly face. Its head snapped back from the impact, a few teeth mixing with the flying chunks of ice that shattered against its maw. Dazed, the giant bug tipped back until it fell over on its back. Rick seized the opportunity and rammed his spear into the soft flesh of its lower arm pits from his position near the ground. The creature howled in pain as dark blood began to pool around the metal spear tip. Before he could react, the thing kicked him in the chest with its clawed feet, ejecting the wood and metal shaft piercing its side, and sending him flying back a short distance. Another ball of ice impacted against another armored limb. With a loud crack the arm went limp at its side. There was no time to celebrate though. The creature leaped on top of Rick, furiously clawing with its two remaining uninjured arms towards his face. Anger must have made it reckless, because many of the wild swipes not blocked by his spear shaft went wide enough for him to dodge out of the way. Time was not on Rick¡¯s side though. One good hit and he was finished. His frantic mind searched for something, anything, that he could use to kill the thing before it killed him. His magic surged. Without thinking the mana rushed down his left arm and erupted out from each of his fingers. On pure instinct Rick brought his hand up and raked it across the monster¡¯s neck. His clawed fingers met as much resistance as paper and he sank over two knuckles deep into the tender flesh with his desperate swipe. His claws easily ripped open the purple flesh like it was an overripe fruit. Dark, boiling hot blood poured from the wound onto Rick¡¯s face. The monster spasmed as its lifeblood drained away in a dark waterfall, and the red glow throughout its body dimmed then went out as it died. ¡°Rick!¡± Sade cried out as she ran to him. With both of their efforts they were able to shift the corpse of the creature off him. He coughed and spat out the things blood from his mouth. It tasted rotten, like meat that was left at the bottom of a trashcan in summer with just a hint of a copper taste. He could feel the need to vomit rising and just barely held onto the rations they ate for lunch. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he finally gaged out ¡°check on Tyr. I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡± She gave him one last worried look before she bolted off to check on their friend. Rick lost the battle with his stomach and hurled up what little contents it held onto the grass. He noticed a few dark splotches of color amongst the half digested food and figured that he must have swallowed some of the foul fluid while being doused in the stuff. He involuntarily began to dry heave at the thought. He eventually recovered enough to look around to find Sade cradling Tyr¡¯s head in her lap. Rick fought off the nausea, slowly got up, and stumbled toward the pair. ¡°How is she?¡± He asked when he got close. The elf looked roughed up. Her leather pants were torn, with the edges of the new holes stained crimson from where the monster¡¯s claws pierced her skin. Rick prayed that her injuries looked worse than they really were. Tyr¡¯s eyes began to flutter and she groaned loudly. ¡°Ow¡­ fuck.¡± Her eyelids eventually opened fully and her emerald gaze met theirs. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Sade asked with concern. Tyr groaned again then sat up. ¡°I¡¯ll live. Got one hell of a bump on me head though.¡± She reached behind her head and winced. She looked back at Rick ¡°Don¡¯t suppose your magic is healing, is it?¡± she asked with a small spark of hope. Rick couldn¡¯t help but let a chuckle slip though. ¡°No, no healing. Just sex magic.¡± The words hardly left his mouth before he realized what he just said. His eyes grew wide and he saw Sade mirroring his expression, equally worried about what his slipup may cause. ¡°Oh, that''s a might shame.¡± She chuckled weakly. It was then that she noticed the expressions they wore. ¡°Wait, ya were serious?! How in the blazes does that work!?¡± ¡°We¡­ aren''t really sure actually.¡± Rick admitted. He held out his hand to help Tyr to her feet which she accepted. She stood shakily for a moment or two but was soon walking on her own power. It seemed the cuts on her legs were not nearly as bad as he thought. Either that or the elf could shrug off a hell of a lot of pain. If he had to bet, it was probably both. She approached the dead monster. With one arm she grabbed it by its shell and with a mighty heave, threw it quite a distance away into their cart with pinpoint accuracy. Rick remembered being nearly crushed by the thing''s weight when he killed it. Tyr was most definitely stronger than she looked. ¡°We¡¯re keeping that as proof.¡± She said as an explanation then turned to face her two companions. ¡°Alright, what happened while I was out?¡± ¡°Um, well¡­ I tried to stab it right after it threw you. I wasn¡¯t able to get around its armor so Sade hit it in the face with a giant ice ball.¡± He turned to Sade. ¡°How the hell did you do that anyways?¡± Sade¡¯s skin flushed just a bit darker in embarrassment. ¡°Well, the ¡®ice spike¡¯ kept deflecting so¡­ I altered the spell a bit to change the shape.¡± Tyr whistled and Rick¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You can do that!?¡± He turned to the elf. ¡°She can do that?!¡± ¡°It is not completely unheard of. But I do remember you also altered a spell successfully during the fight, Rick.¡± Sade countered. And she was right. The normal formula for ¡®elven claw¡¯ required him to channel mana through both his arms to turn his fingers into magical claws. But in his panicked state of mind, he only used his magic on his left hand. Spells were more malleable than he thought. They then explained how Rick was able to successfully stab the thing and then Sade broke one of its arms before Rick got pinned and then used an altered ¡®elven claw¡¯ to finish the fight. ¡°Remember what I said about ya when we first met? How I didn¡¯t think either of ya could fight?¡± Tyr said while looking at the two of them. ¡°Well forget it. For once, I¡¯m really glad ta have been so very, very wrong.¡± She leaned down and wrapped the two of them in a tight hug. ¡°That thing would have torn me ta pieces. Thank you.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get back ta it.¡± She said after she was done squishing the humans to her large breasts. Both of them gasped for air while watching their friend hop back into the wagon. They checked themselves once more before hopping on as well. Once more they were trundling along the forest road. ¡°Alright, ya two got some explaining ta do.¡± Tyr said about an hour after the fight had ended. ¡°About what?¡± Rick demanded. ¡°Yer magic, duh!¡± She stuck out her tongue. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of sex magic. I wanna know what it does!¡± ¡°We do not actually know very much, Tyr.¡± Sade said quietly. ¡°Well, what do ya know then?¡± She demanded. ¡°I, um¡­ So far all we know is that if we make each other climax then my magic allows us to change ourselves slightly. She looked at Rick with confusion at his explanation. ¡°What, like getting a bigger cock?¡± Rick could only blush and look away from her. Tyr saw his reaction and a wicked grin split her mouth. ¡°Oh my! That¡¯s exactly what ya did!¡± She cackled with glee then turned on Sade. ¡°So is this how ya grew a pair of tits? Ya boned him and started ta sprout some milkers?¡± All they could do was nod and blush at their elven friend¡¯s teasing. ¡°Alright, one question then.¡± She asked, with a more reserved expression on her face. Rick nodded for her to continue, inwardly dreading what she was about to ask. ¡°So, if ya fuck me¡­ would yer magic let me grow a cock?¡± Sade had unfortunate timing by drinking from her waterskin when the elf spoke. She sputtered and coughed before uttering out ¡°W-what!?¡± Tyr had a slight crimson tint to her ears and cheeks. ¡°Well¡­ ya know. Have it so I could¡­ be with a woman in that way. And well¡­ keep me lady bits at the same time?¡± Rick was slightly confused. ¡°Wait, I thought you liked Captain Foltig. Is he into that sort of thing?¡± Tyr¡¯s blush deepened ¡°I thought I said that he doesn¡¯t see me in that way!¡± She hugged herself like she was genuinely scared to talk about this. This was an entirely new side to her that Rick had no idea even existed. ¡°Look¡­ I like both, alright? Men and women. To be able to lay with a woman the way a man would with me, it was always a thing I secretly wanted. When ya told me what yer magic does, the ability ta make people grow¡­ I just wanted to see if I could live out me fantasies, ya know?.¡± Sade finally recovered enough to speak. ¡°I think that may be a possibility.¡± Tyr¡¯s mood brightened considerably. ¡°Really!?¡± Sade nodded in response, a wry smile tugging at her lips. ¡°While I have not gone through all the options available, that was indeed one that I, uh, discovered while deciding what to change about myself next.¡± Sade¡¯s dusky cheeks hid any trace of color that would have shown but Rick had the distinct impression that his friend was blushing furiously as well. She held out her hand to stop Tyr¡¯s coming outburst at the news. ¡°It would cost five points of coital energy to grant you a small one. This means you would need to bring Rick to release that many times before you could get what you want.¡± She gave a cough and looked at him ¡°We uh, we each only last once a night. So¡­¡± The elf¡¯s shoulders drooped. ¡°So I can¡¯t just fuck him silly one night and be done with it.¡± It was Rick¡¯s turn to have his face go beet red at the turn in conversation then. He had only slept with Sade. As gorgeous and wonderful as their new friend was, he had no idea how to handle this situation. His tongue felt twisted in his mouth. What could he possibly say? What did he actually want to happen? Tyr looked down at the floor of their wagon. Her eyes seemed to fix on the dead creature in the back and she shot back up to her feet with excitement. ¡°Hey! Did either of ya gain a level?¡± Rick seemed shocked by the sudden change in subject, but he was willing to go along with it for now. He summoned up his character sheet and noticed that his level was now two. ¡°Yeah, I gained a level. How would that-¡± ¡°Vocational skills!¡± Tyr shouted back, interrupting his query. Rick looked to Sade for an explanation. He was still new to how this world worked and didn¡¯t see how leveling up and his vocation were related. ¡°Ah yes. So when a person first gains a level they can improve one of their stats and select a vocation based on what a person has learned up to that point.¡± Tyr was looking at her as if to say that this was all basic knowledge. It was, but Rick decided to ignore her for the moment. He was the one who needed Sade¡¯s knowledge, not the elf. ¡°But I already have a vocation.¡± She nodded at his comment and continued her explanation. ¡°Yes, for those who have a vocation each level after gaining one also grants a skill unique to that vocation.¡± That was interesting. ¡°But why does Tyr seem so excited for-¡± ¡°Ya have sex magic! There¡¯s probably a skill that would have ya last more than a single round.¡± Tyr shouted as if the answer was obvious. He had to admit that it kinda was, now that he thought about it. He mentally searched through his vocation on his stat sheet and a mental list sprung into his mind. After a moment he found an option that fit what she described to him. ¡°I think you¡¯re right. There¡¯s a skill that allows me to cum multiple times with a minimal refractory period.¡± ¡°Yeah! Do it! Tyr was practically jumping out of her seat with excitement. ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up.¡± Rick pleaded with both his hands up. He looked at Sade for her opinion. The last thing he wanted to do was screw up his build. Well, his life really, considering he may be stuck in this world forever. If he was going to advance, he wanted the smartest person he knew to help him. She gave a slight nod and smiled in her assent. He finalized his choice for vocational skill and then thought about what stat he could improve. He could feel the small chunk of magic within him, waiting to be used. It was peculiar, since Rick had only really delved into magic within the last few days. It was like discovering a way to flex a new muscle, once learned it was hard to ignore or even imagine his life without it. Focusing on his status, nearly all his stats were average to low, and each one had its own pro¡¯s and con¡¯s. Should he make himself slightly stronger so that he could overcome future challenges with physical might? How about intelligence to improve his mind and spellcasting ability? He was a type of mage after all. Then there was charisma or the other support type stats, each and every one could be considered essential for his continued prosperity in this new world. He considered his options for another minute or two before finally putting the point into luck. In his pondering he came up with a few reasons why Luck was something to focus on for now. First was that it was the only stat he knew of that would be the hardest to train up outside of leveling. Yes, wisdom and intelligence required him to literally get smarter to be improved, but it was still possible with study and a good teacher to guide him. Which he had. The second reason was that in both the fights he had been in so far since coming to this world, his luck was instrumental in preventing fatal injuries and allowing him to win when he really should not have survived at all. He also considered meeting Captain Foltig, Tyr, and especially Sade to be guided by fortune. He could just imagine what would happen if he raised his luck even higher. With that complete he browsed his status one last time.
Rick
Level 2 (62%)
Strength: 9 Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 9 Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 12 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 10 Attunement : 10 (1)
Charisma: 9 Luck: 16
Vocation: Intimancer (2)
Skills: Multi-orgasm
¡°Alright, I¡¯m done with skills and stats. How about you two?¡± Rick asked his companions. Tyr was practically jumping up and down in her seat from excitement. ¡°Ya got the skill? How many times can ya go? What else can ya do?¡± Rick held up his hands to ward off the rapid fire questions the elf fired off at him. ¡°Whoa, whoa! Slow down there. Yes I got the skill, and I don¡¯t know much else.¡± He looked to Sade who had taken over driving the cart while he was distracted. ¡°Most of what we know about my powers and how they work is through experimentation. I probably won¡¯t know my new limits until I test them.¡± Tyr seemed mildly disappointed in his answer but took it in good stride. She then announced that she also gained a level and new skill from the fight and shared her status with the group.
Tyrillian
Level 4 (12%)
Strength: 16 Constitution: 13
Dexterity: 15 Endurance: 14
Intelligence: 10 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 10 Attunement : 12 (2)
Charisma: 10 Luck: 10
Vocation: Ranger (3)
When Tyr said that she was basically better than they were in nearly anything physical, she was not joking. If the math for how stats worked the way Rick suspected it did, she was nearly as strong as the two humans combined. Little wonder she could toss a literal monster around like a sack of potatoes. Rick was surprised that Tyr''s level was so low. Then again, Sade was around the same age as him and was only level one when they first met. If one big fight was enough to gain a level, why were they not leveling up so much? He asked the two about it and they began to explain. ¡°Most people want to train themselves up as much as possible before their first level gain so that they can get their chosen vocation at the second level. The more you master beforehand, the better and more numerous the options will be.¡± Sade said ¡°Yeah! And in case it wasn¡¯t obvious, monsters are right deadly. Best leave it to those who want to take up a hunting vocation instead.¡± Tyr added. Rick nodded in understanding. Just because this world had a video game like system didn¡¯t mean that the people would act like players in his world would. There was no respawn timer or resurrection spell after all. People here only had the one life they were given, same as back home. Their explanation reminded him of something. ¡°Hey Sade, you leveled up too, right? Were you able to select a mage vocation? You were slinging magic around quite a bit back there.¡± Her eyes fell and she was silent for a few moments. ¡°Well, I have a lot to think about right now. Normally a student at the university would spend a semester honing their skills before being escorted to the wilds to gain their vocation. Many of the options available to me are magically inclined, but I want to do some research before finally making my selection.¡± She turned her gaze back to the road. ¡°This journey has opened my eyes to whole possibilities I never dreamed of until now.¡± She faced her friends once more with a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. ¡°But I am happy that events transpired the way they did. If I need help picking a path, I know I have good friends to guide me.¡± She shared her status with the rest of the party.
Sade
Level 2 (69%)
Strength: 8 Constitution: 10
Dexterity: 10 Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 15 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 12 Attunement : 12 (2)
Charisma: 9 Luck: 12
Rick observed that she gained a point in wisdom. Perhaps she wasn¡¯t going down a specialist or min-max approach. There is no way for her to respec after all. Perhaps he should spend some time and really plan his advancement. Ah well, nothing to do about it now. I¡¯ll just make sure to consult the girls on what to focus on when we make it to Shatak. Before long the sun began to set below the tree line. They had their horse pull over once again and the party made camp for the night. Chapter 3.4 Whos Asking? Dinner that night was, in a word, awkward. All three of them were silent and giving the others sly glances, unsure how to broach the subject of the night''s activities. Rick had no idea what to say. Based on comments after his slip up, a bisexual pseudo-amazon forest elf wanted to have sex with him. All so she can use his magic to grow a dick. Did he want to indulge her in this? He most certainly did. The young elf was tall, shredded, and curvy in all the right places. She was downright sexy. If a young woman like her approached him back in his old life, asking for a few nights of fun, he would have agreed on the spot. But that was his life before everything changed. Before Sade. ¡°Okay! I¡¯m just going to say this out loud. How the fuck is this going to work?¡± He exploded. When Rick didn¡¯t get a response from the two women, he let his frustration out with a giant sigh. ¡°Look, I was raised in a strictly monogamous culture.¡± He looked to Sade as he did his best to explain why this was so awkward for him. ¡°We may not be courting each other but you are the one I am currently with, your opinion and your happiness is important to me. If you say that I shouldn¡¯t have sex with Tyr for any reason, then that is final.¡± Sade looked flustered at his open confession of his feelings for her. Tyr looked pensive. Rick could just barely make out a few words that she muttered under her breath. ¡°So if I can get Sade ta join in¡­¡± Tyr took that opportunity to saddle up next to Sade. She wrapped her large arms around the smaller woman in an embrace that was more than a little intimate. Sade let out a squeal of surprise before the larger woman gently locked lips with her. Sade got over her shock fairly quickly, and even started to moan with desire. Her chocolate and pink lips shifted and parted slightly. Rick swore that the two were engaging in some sort of tongue duel. What the balls is going on?! He was more than a little confused. And more than a little aroused. Their hands began to rub and knead each other''s backs, softly at first, then with greater force and urgency. Low moaning escaped from their locked mouths before Tyr forced herself to break away from the deep kiss. Sade was panting slightly, her slender torso rising and falling with each breath. Rick was at full attention from the display, in a manner of speaking. Tyr fixed her gaze on them both. ¡°Rick, Sade, would the two of you like to fuck me until we all pass out?¡± The humans both gave enthusiastic nods. ¡°Good.¡± She purred. The elf unwound her arms from Sade and leaned down to give her a soft peck on the forehead. ¡°What ya decide ta do afterwards is of no concern of mine.¡± She stood up, sauntered over to the cart, and then turned to face them. ¡°But I guarantee this will be a night for us to remember.¡± With that, she proceeded to climb inside.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Sade moved to join but noticed Rick unmoved from his position on the rock he used as a seat for dinner. His mind just couldn¡¯t adequately process the current events. It was like the needle jumped off the track and was just skipping along the side of the record. His mental gears locked back into place when Sade grasped his hands and pulled him up to his feet. ¡°I, uh¡­ what just happened?¡± he asked with masterful eloquence. She let out a musical chuckle. ¡°If an elf asks for a fuck, why say ¡®no¡¯?.¡± Rick''s mind came back to full power at her words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. What did you just say?¡± Sade smiled and began to lead him to the wagon. ¡°Just some words of wisdom. There is not enough time to dive into the history of the phrase, but I will highlight the major points.¡± ¡°Would you consider our dear Tyrillian beautiful?¡± ¡°Yeah, of course. T-the same as you!¡± Rick answered, barely catching himself and squeaking a compliment Sade¡¯s way. ¡°I am quite flattered you would put me on the same pedestal as an elf.¡± She said in a mild teasing tone, showing that she knew full well of the hole he nearly dug himself into. ¡°My point is that forest elves are as sexy as they are powerful. They often ask the various single residents of the border towns if they would like to join them for some fun while they visit.¡± ¡°So they are as horny as they are sexy?¡± Rick asked ¡°Precisely!¡± She said with a soft rap of her knuckles on his chest. ¡°Most people who live close to elven territory even consider those wild trysts a rite of passage.¡± She tapped her finger against her lip in thought. ¡°Although, I have heard that in some rare instances they can sometimes be a bit¡­ pushy.¡± That was certainly a word that could be used to describe their new friend. ¡°I can imagine. But it looks like that kiss got more than a little heated on both sides.¡± He gave her a look of mild concern. ¡°And are you interested in¡­ other women?¡± She burst out laughing at his question. ¡°I honestly never thought I would be. But I felt a spark of something after the shock wore off. I want to explore that a bit more, I want to see where this takes us. Regardless of the outcome, an elf just asked us to fuck.¡± She shot him a knowing look. ¡°And if they ask, why say ¡®no¡¯?¡± He intoned. She smiled. ¡°I can not think of a reason, can you?¡± He chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t either. Let¡¯s see where this goes.¡± They passed by a large sack that they stuffed the bug monster in earlier in the day. Tyr told them earlier that most animals avoided the scent of monsters, even dead ones. So they didn¡¯t need to worry about the corpse disappearing in the middle of the night from a desperate scavenger. They parted the cloth covering their wagon and stepped inside. ¡°About time the two of ya came in ta answer me request.¡± She was sitting on the bench in a relaxed pose. ¡°I was about ta show ya the consequences of saying ¡®no¡¯.¡± Her smirk told Rick that she was more than likely just playing around after eavesdropping on their conversation outside. She really needs to work on her phrasing, someone could get the wrong idea about her views on consent. Rick inwardly winced at the poor choice of words. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, he decided to play along a bit. ¡°And what are the consequences exactly?¡± She shrugged her shoulders. ¡°No idea. I honestly never had anyone refuse me before.¡± Her hands moved to the ties on her leather vest. The armor fell away to the floor and she stretched her arms above her head with relief. Rick could see the outline of her nipples poking out from the thin shirt she wore underneath her leathers. He heard rustling to the side and saw Sade was in the process of disrobing as well. I guess it¡¯s time for me to strip as well. He thought wryly. The things he did for love. Chapter 4.1 Arrival The walls surrounding the city of Shatak came into view at about midday. ¡°Just got ta get past these hills. Almost there.¡± Tyr chirped happily from the front bench. ¡°Why, in every hell that exists, does this road have to be so bumpy?¡± Sade whined from her prone position in the back of the cart. She was lying face down on every pad and blanket they had, whimpering in pain with every bump and jostle the road provided. Hilariously, she conjured an icicle and gingerly shoved the end up her long skirts in an effort to ease her pain. Tyr winced. ¡°I really am sorry.¡± Sade sighed deeply before a sudden bump brought another long suffering groan back to her lips. ¡°I am not mad at you.¡± She paused. ¡°Well, not anymore I should say.¡± All three of them laughed at her attempt at humor. ¡°But I swear, whatever foul spirit that possessed you into thinking that the first thing you should do after growing a penis is to SHOVE IT UP MY REAR, I will personally hunt it down to whatever foul place it could hide and remove it from all existence!¡± ¡°I mean, anal sex isn¡¯t that odd to consider. Especially when the tool used is as small as Tyr¡¯s.¡± Before Rick could register that he just shoved his whole metaphorical foot in his mouth, his incensed friend turned her full fury on him. ¡°You be quiet! I do not care if the entire nobility considers it the highest form of pleasure. It is NOT something you just suddenly spring on someone unprepared.¡± Her tirade was thankfully cut short as the cart hit a noticeably deep hole in the road and Sade shoved her head into the blankets to scream out her pain and frustration. While she felt fine the night previous. It seems the shock of sudden penetration decided to visit Sade in the morning with extreme prejudice, and her body did not like what Tyr did to it. What was once a pleasurable and novel experience had then morphed into the most hated of actions once the sun¡¯s rays poked their way through the green canopy and Sade had registered the complaints coming from her aggravated behind. Sade¡¯s mood had understandably soured at the thought of letting either of them try anal play from that point forward. Neither Rick or Tyr could really blame her for the sudden switch. Icing her sore hole seemed to help somewhat, and that was thankfully one thing Sade could provide herself with ample supply. ¡°So tell me a bit about Shatak. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been.¡± Rick said, hoping the change in subject could distract his lover from her pain. ¡°Oh, uh¡­ Shatak is the second largest city in the kingdom of Shivani outside the capital. And the largest port city on the coast.¡± Sade began explaining. Rick suspected she was also grateful for the distraction. ¡°Aside from it being a center of trade, there is also Mya University, a school for the study of magic and all the myriad forms it can take. I believe it is the oldest university in the kingdom¡± Tyrillian gave a slight snort at that final remark. ¡°What? The school has been around for as long as the kingdom has existed.¡± Sade asked her. ¡°That is nearly five hundred years.¡± The elf snorted again. ¡°That''s not very long ya know.¡± Sade looked incredulous, but Rick stopped her upcoming rant short with a single word. ¡°Elf.¡± The young human gaped like a fish for a few moments, desperately trying to find a retort to his meager argument. She eventually just shut her mouth and shrugged. ¡°I suppose that is a fair point.¡± Tyr gave a loud laugh. ¡°Ta be fair. The land''s current overseers have kept things together a lot longer than most. The last lot only lasted a century before the idiot up top did something stupid and the whole thing collapsed.¡± Rick was intrigued. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°The dwarf emperor considered the elves ¡®impure beasts¡¯ and attempted to remove them.¡± Sade replied dryly. ¡°He marched an army into the forest and his head was returned in a pine box a few days later. Neither his body or the army that escorted it ever came back out.¡± Tyr started chuckling darkly while Sade continued her explanation. ¡°Due to the sizable written records that covered events before and after the¡­ invasion, the kingdom¡¯s historians were able to corroborate the account about the fall of the old empire given to our people by the elves when the kingdom was first formed.¡± She paused as another jolt from the cart sent another spasm of pain to run through her. ¡°Sadly, while the elves of the forest shared many tales of the land''s previous rulers with our first queen, ascertaining their veracity has been quite¡­ problematic.¡± ¡°Aye, I¡¯ve been told that lass that led yer people over the mountains made a good impression on mine.¡± ¡°What made her so good?¡± Tyr faced Rick and gave a smug smirk. ¡°Because she actually listened ta our warnings. Do ya have any idea how hard it is ta find a king, or empress, or what have ya, actually remove their heads out of their arse¡¯s and hear what someone with sense has ta say?¡± Rick could imagine that finding a leader like that would have indeed been rare. ¡°We only ask two things; Keep the peace between the tribes, and don¡¯t damage or invade our domain. How hard is that?!¡± ¡°You must also realize that for a short lived human, it is far from the most believable that the land of the elves was occupied nearly a half dozen times, and every one of them was wiped out by said elves.¡± Sade quipped. ¡°Even more so when it is those same elves who are telling the story. That is why having non elven records corroborate some of the details was so important.¡± ¡°Well okay then. Note to self; Don¡¯t piss off the extremely dangerous looking elves.¡± Rick joked and all three of them shared a chuckle at his statement. It seems that Sade really did need something to distract her from her ordeal. It was shortly after their impromptu history lesson ended that they entered within the shadow of the city walls. The sight filled Rick with a sense of awe and mild trepidation. Sade gingerly got up from her position on the floor and stood on her knees behind the headboard as Tyr guided them into the line of other carts waiting to cross the gates. Rick wondered where all the traffic came from. They encountered only a single monster on their journey from Valmik. He then remembered that Captain Foltig mentioned that their route would be less populated, Rick just didn¡¯t think it would be all but abandoned. Looking around he saw a network of various roads coming in from all directions, all feeding into the main artery leading to the gates of the city. Those must lead to the nearby villages. He thought. ¡°Welcome. And what is your reason for coming?¡± The bored guard asked the trio when it was their turn. He looked at their meager belongings with a raised brow. ¡°I doubt you are here to sell goods.¡± Tyrillian hopped out and moved over to the lone blanket covered pile in the back. She ripped off the cover to reveal the corpse of the monster they slew and the guard jumped back in surprise, his hand resting on his weapon.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°What is that thing?¡± He hissed at the elf. ¡°That¡¯s what we would like ta know.¡± She replied in a far calmer tone than the guardsman. ¡°The bloody thing nearly ripped our throats out, so we are turning the bugger ta the hunters ta find out.¡± ¡°You actually killed that thing?¡± The man asked, sounding impressed. ¡°Actually, he did.¡± Tyr replied, jerking her thumb at Rick and giving a knowing smirk. He turned to face Rick, who gave a slight wave, before doing a double take after Rick¡¯s features finally registered. ¡°Wha? This scrawny lad!?¡± Rick was almost offended at the remark, but he was well aware that it was mostly luck and a team effort to take the creature down. Plus, if he didn¡¯t get his lucky shot, Tyr most certainly would have torn its head off once her ¡®mild¡¯ bump to the head wore off. The woman was certainly as vicious as she looked. He could most certainly believe the stories of whole armies disappearing in their forests without a trace. ¡°Yep.¡± Tyr chuckled. ¡°Can we go in?¡± The guard nodded his head, gave them directions to the hunter garrison, and let them pass into the city. Now that he was no longer blocked by the large stone walls, Rick finally got a good look at Shatak. The rolling hills that dominated the landscape on the route to the city continued past the stone barrier that surrounded the city. Two or three story buildings rose and fell as the landscape undulated down towards sapphire blue waters. When the city lanes opened up again, he saw a spiraling complex rising over a cliff on the far edge of the city. The steep earthen walls fell straight to the ocean below. Beyond the cliff rose a large statue of a woman sitting on a throne, gazing at the horizon where water met sky. There were all sorts of decorations on the statue itself but details like her face were strangely absent. ¡°Fascinating.¡± he breathed out. Sade seemed to follow where his eyes were focused. ¡°Ah, the ¡®Goddess of the Ocean¡¯. She is indeed a fascinating relic of history.¡± ¡°Relic?¡± She shrugged her shoulders. ¡°She was here long before my people arrived. Many suspect that she was built during the first or second founding. That is, either when the first or second non-elf country was still in power. Why the statue was made and of whom, no one knows.¡± Rick turned to his other companion. ¡°Not even the elves?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Tyr said simply. ¡°There wasn¡¯t a city here when she got carved out of the island there. My people like ta keep to themselves most of the time. Unless something threatens us or the land as a whole, we let it be. So none of us were around when the madlads did the deed.¡± ¡°Fascinating.¡± He said again. The tantalizing scent of a good mystery tickled his nose. He was almost looking forward to diving into whatever library he could find for answers. Perhaps it was because he felt a sort of kinship with the stone woman. Both of them suddenly found themselves in this new world with no answers as to how or why. Hopefully I can find answers for the both of us one day. He thought as he gave the statue one last look before focusing on the rest of the city before him. The trio maneuvered their cart slowly through the city towards the hunter garrison. If Rick thought that Valmic was incredibly diverse, the city of Shatak made him realize what he saw in that rural town was merely a small taste. While humans of all shapes and colors still made up the majority of the crowds, they were still only a small majority. Dwarves could be seen manning many of the various shops and stalls. Centaurs were trotting through the streets or pulling carts of their own instead of horses. Beast people of nearly every type, from birds, to lizards, canines, and cats filled the streets. Some had more human features than others, but Rick couldn''t find a pattern on why that was. He would add that question to the ever-growing pile of things he wanted to research. Or just ask Sade. She was super adorable when she slipped into her teacher mode. Note to self; Try to find some empty glass frames for Sade to wear during lectures. It would be almost criminal to let the chance of a sexy/adorable teacher cosplay go by. Shaking his head to clear the mildly lewd thoughts, Rick continued to observe the various people around him. Unsurprisingly, he found very few other forest elves like Tyr wandering around. He would have to ask her a few more questions about her people. All he really knew is that they lived in the forest, mostly all amazonian in stature, were extremely carefree, and to never, never piss them off. Oh, and sex with them was absolutely mind blowing. A good start really, but his curiosity to experience even more was absolutely ravenous. He wanted to learn and explore everything. Eventually the crowds thinned and the party stopped before a large stone building. Unlike the small and well decorated houses and shop fronts they passed by earlier, this structure was almost brutal in its utilitarian purpose. Everything, beside the colorful banner by the front door, just screamed ¡®military building¡¯. Rick had seen plenty of those back when he would visit wherever the military had his uncle stationed. ¡°Wait here.¡± Tyrillian told the other two as she parked their cart under an overhang and headed towards the front door. After a few minutes she came back out with a slender man dressed in an official looking uniform. Tyr pulled back the tarp once more and the man recoiled in a similar fashion as the gate guard. ¡°By the hells!¡± He cursed. ¡°Where did you find such a beast?¡± ¡°On the old road, between here and Valmik.¡± She replied. ¡°Ya know what it is?¡± ¡°No, I do not.¡± He answered her gravely. ¡°This is the first I have seen. And to have found it so close to the city.¡± The man looked almost lost in thought for a moment before he turned back to Tyr. ¡°I will discuss payment for your services with my colleagues. I thank you for bringing this to our attention. There has been a great increase in attacks lately, but few if any survivors. Be safe out there.¡± Sade perked up at that new bit of information. After the body was taken to the building by a couple of attendants the man called over, she spoke up. ¡°Were any of the victims mages?¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°The increased attacks. Were a significant chunk of the victims people with a magical vocation or talent?¡± The man paused from his walk back to the garrison when Sade spoke and now he had a serious look on his face. ¡°I honestly do not know. I will look into it.¡± She thanked the man and the group set off once more. It was still early afternoon so Tyr was going to drop off the two of them at Mya University so Sade could register for the semester before meeting back up later for food and a place to stay. ¡°Okay¡­ Care to explain to the class what that was all about?¡± Rick said pointedly to Sade. ¡°To what are you referring?¡± ¡°That last question to the hunters about whether or not mages were attacked.¡± He gave her a pointed stare. ¡°You are the smartest woman I know. You don¡¯t just ask random questions out of the blue. What theory are you trying to confirm?¡± Sade was quiet for about a minute before she let out a small sigh. ¡°Nothing conclusive, just a feeling.¡± She let out another soft sigh as she gathered her thoughts. ¡°The caravan I originally was traveling with. Most of the passengers had a mage vocation.¡± ¡°And they were all attacked by something extremely vicious.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Sade confirmed. ¡°And then the three of us were attacked by that¡­ thing.¡± Rick was struggling to connect the dots. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I follow.¡± ¡°All three of us are able to cast spells. You have a mage vocation, Tyrillian is an elf and can cast spells as easily as breathing, and I have been training to become a mage most of my life.¡± ¡°That all sounds coincidental. How do ya figure that it was because of our magic that we got jumped?¡± Tyr pipped up. ¡°It is conjecture. But Captain Foltig mentioned that mages were being harassed or attacked. And now the hunters are also mentioning an increase in attacks to travelers. Then there was the event with the innkeeper in Valmik.¡± ¡°Where the dick got all pissed and complained about our magic literally stinking up the place.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Rick suddenly grew concerned. ¡°You think the innkeeper sent that monster after us?¡± Sade gave a nonchalant wave. ¡°Doubtful, but I would not rule out the possibility. There is too much we do not know. I just have this feeling. That is why I wanted to see if there was a pattern with all the attacks.¡± ¡°And If ya are right?¡± Tyr asked, her expression grave. ¡°I hope I am wrong with almost every fiber of my being.¡± Sade replied, her expression a mirror to the elf¡¯s. ¡°But if I am right, then someone or something is trying to cripple this kingdom by removing a core pillar of both military and technological might.¡± Chapter 4.2 A Tour All three of them were quiet after that heavy revelation. The ramifications of the kingdom losing its best and brightest were dire indeed. Rick knew enough about history to know about the long term effects of brain drain. It was an economic death spiral. One that would take a couple generations to get out of at least. Eventually the cart stopped in front of a large building near the city center. ¡°Welp! Here ya are.¡± Tyr said while holding out her arm to the building. Rick was shocked that he spent so much time trapped in his own head. After he and Sade hopped out, Tyr shouted back at them while driving away down the street. ¡°I got some people of my own ta meet today. Let''s meet back up at ¡®The Ocean¡¯s Embrace¡¯ later.¡± They stood on the side of the road until the sight of their large friend disappeared over the ridge of a nearby hill. ¡°Nothing stops her, does it?¡± Rick asked rhetorically. ¡°Indeed.¡± Sade agreed. She turned to face the building, an unreadable expression on her face. ¡°Shall we go in?¡± She eventually asked. Rick gave a nod and followed his friend inside. Is this where we part ways? He wondered. He started feeling a slight tightness in his chest at the unanswered question. They found themselves in a grand hall. Paintings of seemingly important people framed every wall in between hallways leading to the other parts of the campus. In the corner at the far end sat a woman behind a counter like a bank teller. Sade made a beeline straight for this woman. She raised her spectacled head from the book she was reading and gave a polite greeting. ¡°Hello there. Is there anything I can help you with?¡± ¡°I am here to register as a student.¡± ¡°Oh wonderful!¡± The woman beamed. ¡°Do you have your letter of recommendation?¡± Sade reached inside one of her many, many pockets and produced a sheaf of parchment. ¡°I am Sade of Kanho.¡± The attendant took the letter from Sade then grabbed an absolutely enormous book from under the counter and opened it up. After perusing the giant tome, she then examined the letter in great detail. Eventually she seemed satisfied with what the book told her and the parchment in her hands and handed it back to Sade. ¡°It seems everything is in order. I take it you have the initial tuition with you?¡± Sade nodded in affirmation and produced a bag from what Rick assumed was the same pocket. It clanked against the counter and the other woman quietly opened it and started counting. ¡°Very good. Is your friend here also a prospective student?¡± She asked once she was done. ¡°He is not. Is it alright if he joins me for the tour of the facilities?¡± The woman shook her head. ¡°That is no problem at all. Just remember that student facilities, including dorms, cafeteria, library, and the like are for student and faculty use only. Outside of the tour, he will not be allowed past this point, even if you are escorting him. Now, If you wish to be shown around, I will summon a guide.¡± Sade thanked the woman and before long another attendant led the both of them through the halls of Mya University. Rick was greatly impressed with the school grounds. While there was nothing overtly magical about the campus, not like a certain wizard school in the British Isles, but something about the architecture made him feel that there was more than just standard laborers involved in its construction. They were guided to a couple lecture halls, rows of seats each rising behind the other like an old amphitheater, then off to some smaller classrooms where students could have more personal interaction with their instructors on more specific subjects. This whole tour reminded Rick of the one of his own he took with his mother about half a year before he left home for the last time. The sudden wave of nostalgia at the thought of his mother hit him harder than he thought it would. He slowed down his pace just a bit, leaving Sade and their guide to continue while he hung back to be more alone with his thoughts. The thought of possibly never seeing his mother again was like a vice slowly squeezing his heart to pulp. Of his whole family, he was closest to her. His father taught him many things, which certainly helped when he was alone in a forest, but his mother was who he was attached to emotionally. They were so alike in both looks and personality. The biggest reason he hesitated in moving away was because of the distance it would have put between them. Ironically it was she who encouraged him to go, just like she crossed an ocean to study and eventually met his father while still at university. While swan diving face first into a new world was a bit more extreme than hopping continents, it helped ease the pain somewhat that he was still following the spirit of her footsteps. I really do hope I can see them again someday. He chuckled at himself at the thought of poor Sade having to deal with his mother¡¯s attention. His mother would just love her to death¡­ almost literally. She had a surprisingly fierce hug. He ran to catch back up to the unsuspecting woman in question, who was still enraptured by their guide''s explanation of the various facilities at students'' disposal, when his feet slowed once more. Sade was about to start her new life. She was going to have to deal with lectures, research, and homework. Her road was going to be filled with lectures, research, and homework. Was there room on her path for him? Should he try to find his own instead? He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He¡¯d deal with it later. He managed to catch up to the women just before they visited the library, Rick had to stifle a laugh over seeing Sade practically drool after crossing the threshold. He did have to admit that the sight was quite impressive. Every wall was lined with bookshelves filled almost to bursting with various tomes and scrolls. The center had several tables and chairs for students to study while every bit of floor space in between was crammed with rows and rows of books. The ceiling also opened up in the middle showing even more stories packed with knowledge at the library¡¯s disposal. Each new floor was located a bit further away from the center, like an inverted pyramid could be slotted from the roof to the floor. It was certainly a unique structural design. Unfortunately, the tour had to continue, and their guide practically dragged Sade out of the library and onto their next destination.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The women''s dorms were, understandably, left out from the tour. Having a man who wasn¡¯t a student walking around that building, even under escort, was just asking for trouble. Their guide brought them back to the main hall and Sade completed the rest of her registration back at the counter. With all that done, she would come back in a few days to get her dorm set up before her first classes began the day after. ¡°Are you excited to start your studies?¡± Rick asked his friend after they left the University''s main entrance. ¡°Yes. Although it is a shame you can not join me.¡± She said with all earnesty. That made Rick feel another twinge in his chest. He needed to get away from the school and the feelings it brought him. ¡°Hey, is there a beach we can visit?¡± ¡°A¡­ beach?¡± Sade seemed confused at the sudden change of subject. Her powerful mind was unable to adjust fast enough. ¡°Yes. A place filled with sand where the shore meets the ocean. Do residents of Shatak enjoy visiting a place like that?¡± ¡°I¡­ I have no idea actually. What would we do at the beach?¡± She replied with some bewilderment. ¡°Great! Let¡¯s see if we can find ourselves some waves and sand. Oh! And maybe find a public library on the way. Sounds good?¡± Sade just gave him an exasperated look. She then let out a small giggle and held out her hand for him to grab. ¡°Let us go.¡± ¡­ The gentle roar of the waves filled Rick¡¯s ears as he and Sade walked barefoot along the sandy shore. The first few times a wave would splash on the sand, Sade would give out a yelp of joy as the water rushed over her feet and ankles. Rick would laugh and hold onto her so she wouldn¡¯t fall into the soaked sand. ¡°Aren¡¯t you glad you visited?¡± Sade met his eyes and gave the brightest smile he had ever seen. The sight alone soothed his aching soul. ¡°Indeed! I never knew such a place could be so much fun!¡± She turned behind her and looked further up the shoreline. ¡°I can see why she would love to spend eternity gazing at such a wonderful view.¡± The statue of the goddess sat sentinel on her own island just a bit further away from where they now stood on the shore. Up close she was even more grand than Rick thought. He considered her size and figured that she was about as tall sitting down as a certain famous statue he visited when he was little of a woman standing on her own island overlooking an ocean, torch raised high into the air. The two were even the same color, but Rick didn¡¯t think the goddess was made of oxidized copper. He wondered what kind of stone was that particular shade of sea green. ¡°I¡¯m sure most people would get tired of seeing the same view after a while. But I think staying a few years wouldn¡¯t cause it to diminish just yet.¡± ¡°Oh? Are we finally going to continue our conversation from earlier?¡± Rick winced slightly. She really was too damn smart. He briefly considered telling her right then that he was from another world, that he lied about all his memory issues, among other things. But what good would that do him? Their destination had been reached, the journey concluded. They were probably going to go their separate ways. He just wanted to enjoy his time with Sade as much as he could, not talk about all the painful feelings dwelling inside him. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ You helped me out despite knowing nothing about me. The deal was to get you to Shatak for school.¡± He turned his gaze to the distant horizon. ¡°Now that I¡¯m here in the city, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do. You have your dream of becoming a mage, I won¡¯t get in the way of that. But, despite knowing each other for less than two weeks, I really don¡¯t want to leave your side.¡± At the edge of his vision he saw Sade stand beside him. What he completely failed to notice was her hand cocked back and ready to swing. Mild pain erupted in the back of his head as Sade¡¯s palm slammed into it. ¡°I know you are not stupid, so why are you acting like an idiot?¡± Rick turned and saw Sade¡¯s fierce glare of disappointment. ¡°I thought men prided themselves on their calm judgment and deductive reasoning.¡± ¡°So why are you not asking me important questions? Why are you making assumptions? Why didn¡¯t you trust me enough to talk about your feelings?¡± Each question uttered felt like another slap upside Rick¡¯s head. While his skull still stung physically from earlier, the realization that she was right and that he acted like a complete idiot stung even worse. He felt soft hands cradle both sides of his face and he stared into his friends'' warm eyes. ¡°Are you done being stupid and ready to have a conversation like an adult?¡± Rick nodded. ¡°Good. Now, we will need to talk to Tyrillian about our future plans together when we meet back up with her. Do you agree?¡± He nodded again. ¡°Wonderful. As I promised you, I will do everything I can to help you understand your magic and get your memories back. Since I have access to one library of knowledge, you will have to search the other one for answers. Then we can compare notes in the evenings.¡± On their way to the beach they did indeed find a public library. But Rick was still slightly confused. ¡°What do you mean ¡®In the evenings¡¯? Don¡¯t you have a room on campus that you need to stay in?¡± Her eyes widened slightly in understanding before she let out a slow chuckle. ¡°Ah. That is where you made your incorrect assumption. Mya University may give me a room to stay in, but there is no reason I actually have to use it.¡± She gave him a knowing smirk. ¡°Besides, whether one person or two stay in a room, the price does not change.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ wha?¡± Sade leaned forward and kissed him, quick and passionate. ¡°You are far too enjoyable in bed for me to just give that up. No, I am far from done with you. And I am assuming you feel the same?¡± He nodded enthusiastically. She smiled then broke contact with Rick and began walking slowly back to the city proper. With her slightly enhanced curves, Rick could have sworn her walk was more like a sashay. She leaned her head back over her shoulder to look at him. ¡°I am also sure our large friend is not done with you either. Her elven pride would never allow her to have a smaller cock than you.¡± ¡­ Tyr could not stop laughing. ¡°Oh come on! It¡¯s not that funny!¡± Rick whined. This caused the tall woman to just erupt into even more laughter. Both sets of her fangs flashing in the dim light. Even Sade had a slight smirk on her face as the elf continued to enjoy the story of Rick¡¯s blunder on the beach. The three of them sat in a corner booth at ¡®The Ocean¡¯s Embrace¡¯, a pub that catered to sailors and the more ¡®rough and tumble¡¯ type of people. When Rick and Sade followed the directions from the beach to the pub, they found Tyr already there, singing a jaunty tune with a mug of alcohol in one hand and a large bull of man in a headlock with the other. Several other, equally large men sat slumped in chairs or were laying prone on the ground. There were also more than a few dwarves in the pile of muscular bodies as well, if the short yet equally as broad statures were any indication. Rick wasn¡¯t sure if he stumbled across a party or a fight scene. He distinctly remembered Sade¡¯s warning about getting close to drunk elves, and shivered slightly. It turned out to be both, oddly enough. Sailors tended to be a tough and hardy lot, so whenever someone new shows up, the patrons like to have contests of might and establish a pecking order. Rick knew that Tyr was strong, just one glance at her biceps was enough to tell him that, but the body count she racked up in the pub was still quite impressive. ¡°My aunt Kar¡¯a told me these lads are good fer a tumble. Said if I ever found myself in the city I should visit.¡± She told the two as they sat down in the booth. ¡°So! What¡¯cha think the plan from here on out should be?¡± It was then that Sade, with the biggest ¡®I told you so¡¯ smirk Rick had ever seen, began their story, starting from when they left the university. A story that amused the elf greatly. ¡°All right, all right. I get it. I was stupid. Can we move on and discuss what we are going to do, like where we¡¯re going to sleep tonight?¡± Tyr wiped a tear from her eye and did her best to calm down. ¡°Actually, I already got it taken care of. Wanna see?¡± Rick and Sade both nodded and Tyr, still chuckling, led them through a side door and into another building attached to the pub. Chapter 5.1 Getting Schooled ¡°Hey Sade! Wait for me!¡± Sade slowed her pace and turned to face the speaker. Hattepaa, a coyote beastkin and fellow student, was jogging down the marble hallway to catch up with her. The young woman bent down and placed her hands on her knees to catch her breath. The way her legs were spread caused the dark blue robes to tent out in an amusing fashion. ¡°What can I do for you Hattepaa?¡± Sade asked her classmate. ¡°How¡­ ugh! How are you able to walk so fast?¡± She gasped out. ¡°I work out.¡± Sade quipped, ¡°But I doubt that is why you ran all the way here to chat with me.¡± Hattepaa finally caught her breath and smoothed out her robes. She was on the more human spectrum for beastkin, which was fairly rare. She was slender, with suntanned skin, and dark brown eyes. Her hair matched the few patches of fur found on her hands, feet, and back. It was an interesting pattern of blacks and browns, with natural blond highlights. Aside from the fur, the few traits that showed her lineage were the elongated canines in her mouth, the fluffy tail poking out the back of her robes, and the huge triangular ears on her head. ¡°You usually stay after class to talk with the professors.¡± She explained. ¡°Today you ran out the door the second professor Meswir stepped off his lectern.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Sade said with complete eloquence. ¡°Today is a bit special.¡± ¡°Oh? How so? Is it a hot date? Tell me you know a bunch of tall, muscular guys and one of them is single!¡± Sade could practically feel the wind from the beastkin¡¯s tail wagging at top speed. ¡°That is not entirely off the mark.¡± Sade giggled. She started walking back down the hallway, at a slightly slower pace so her classmate could keep up. ¡°My friends and I are registered with the hunters. We have been training since the semester started, and yesterday we found a perfect target for a new group to take on. Today is the day we set out.¡± ¡°No way! Why are you doing something so dangerous? We don¡¯t have to go hunting until we pass preliminary classes a few months from now.¡± Hattepaa whined. Sade didn¡¯t have the heart to tell her classmate that she had already been in a couple life or death struggles. She did consider how amusing it would be if she ever did talk about those encounters, especially when she would have to explain why her first fight was without any clothes. The look on her face would be priceless. ¡°I need to practice my magic, and they need a mage. We have a wood elf with us so we should be fairly safe.¡± The other girl¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°A wood elf! Those tall hunks? Oh I¡¯m so jealous! Is he your boyfriend? Please tell me! I need all the details!¡± Her tail was creating its own small tornado with its frantic motions. Sade enjoyed how excitable the coyote girl could get. ¡°Tyrillian is actually a woman. Rick, my other companion, is a human like I am.¡± She leaned in conspiratorially, and in an exaggerated whisper that in no way lowered her voice said, ¡°And both of them are my lovers.¡± ¡°B-both?¡± Hattepaa stuttered. ¡°Y-you¡­ um¡­ uh.¡± Sade could practically see the steam coming out of her classmates'' large ears. Oh, she was going to have fun with this one. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you actually fornicate with those beasts.¡± Both women turned to look at the intruder in their, admittedly not so private, conversation. Sade narrowed her eyes as they met with the haughty crystal blue ones glaring at hers. ¡°A-Ariwyn! This is a private conversation!¡± Hattepaa stammered. The newcomer tossed a handful of platinum blond hair over her slender shoulder. Her pale ethereal beauty highlighted all the more with the simple gesture. Two large bladed ears, a full handspan in length, was all the world needed to know that it was in the presence of a high elf. ¡°Talking loudly in a hallway makes any sense of privacy moot.¡± Ariwyn scoffed. Her glare returned to Sade in full force. ¡°Now tell me, do you really debase yourself by laying down with those creatures?¡± ¡°By ¡®creatures¡¯ I assume you mean wood elves?¡± Sade asked cooly. The pale woman made a disgusted noise from somewhere in the back of her throat. ¡°Those things are as close to elves as you are to being a noble. I suppose the filthy masses like you wouldn¡¯t care to learn the finer details.¡± Vitriol poured out her pretty mouth with such casual ease that it boggled Sade¡¯s mind. High elves were known for their superiority complexes, but the young heiress certainly put most to shame. The relatively young elf was unfortunately as brilliant as she was arrogant, and her position as the top student in their year was almost unquestioned. Except for Sade. Sade was under no illusions that she was the smartest person in the school. She couldn¡¯t spend decades with fully stocked libraries and the finest tutors money could buy while her mind was in the perfect development period to absorb all that knowledge and skill like the extremely long lived races such as elves. No, Sade had to make up the difference with extreme hard work and determination. Not a second passed by that Sade wasn¡¯t practicing magic formulas, discussing lessons with the professors for better understanding of the subject, or holing herself in the vast school library. In fact, the moments she spent nestled between her two lovers were probably the only time her mind was focusing on anything but magic. And when the first round of test scores were posted for students to see, Sade was rewarded for her dedication by seeing her name at the top of that list. Right next to Ariwyn¡¯s. Having someone she deemed beneath her be tied for the top spot in the rankings seemingly needled the elf to no end, and she wasted no time in doing her best to put her perceived rival in her place. Sade was no stranger to bullies. Even in her small village where she grew up, she had to deal with someone or other trying to raise themselves up by putting others down. Being small and bookish made her seemingly an easy target. But just like those stupid children, this arrogant woman would learn that they picked a fight with the wrong woman. Sade widened her lips into a cheshire grin. ¡°Oh, are you jealous?¡± She cooed. She slowly stalked toward her prey. ¡°Does it just eat you up inside to know that I have experienced what it is like to have my insides penetrated, over, and over, until they spill such delicious heat into my deepest core? To feel such strong and gentle hands caress all over my body, rubbing and kneading every sensitive spot until my back arches in pleasure?¡± The high elves'' ears were slowly turning a bright crimson with each word Sade uttered. She was working herself up too. She absolutely loved the carnal passions Rick and Tyr reaped upon her every night, and she always wanted more. She now stood face to face with the flustered elf, a picture of contrasts. Sade dark and calm, Ariwyn pale and fidgeting. ¡°I could show you, you know.¡± She whispered softly. ¡°I could show you exactly where my lovers rub and poke to bring me to the heights of ecstasy.¡± It was time to finish her off. ¡°So, do you want me to? I can do it right here if need be.¡± ¡°Y-you¡¯re disgusting!¡± And with that remark, the annoyance sped down the hallway like she was being chased by a hoard of monsters. Sade huffed at how easily the woman folded. She hoped that this would be the end of their little spat, but something told her that this was unfortunately only the beginning. ¡°Did you really mean all that? About doing it with her in the¡­ hallway?¡± Sade turned to her other classmate. Her face was also flushed crimson after her little speech. Oh yes, she was most certainly going to have fun with this one.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. She shrugged. ¡°It was mostly teasing. But if she had not run away, I would have meant every word. Why? Do you wish for me to show you instead?¡± Hattepaa spluttered something incoherent. It took everything Sade had to hold in her laughter. Eventually even her iron will failed her and she started to double over with fits of giggles. Regaining her composure, she reached out and patted her classmate on the head, right between her ears. ¡°Relax. I am only teasing. Come, I need to leave so I am not late.¡± The beastkin nodded and followed Sade towards the main hall. ¡°I wish I was as smart, confident, and beautiful as you.¡± She said after a moment. Sade eyed her friend. ¡°I have worked hard for everything I have. But do not sell yourself short. You are also a student of Mya University. This means you are among the best and brightest in the kingdom, do not forget that.¡± ¡°T-thanks. That means a lot coming from you.¡± She seemed to perk up at the reminder of her own strengths. ¡°Say, can you tell me about them? Your friends I mean.¡± Sade had to think about how much to tell the other woman. She supposed that a basic outline was probably the best option. She could always tell her more if they got closer. Maybe even add her to the nightly fun if they got extremely close. ¡°Well, Tyr is a young wood elf. Just trying to find her own way, same as us. Rick. Rick is¡­¡± How could she begin to describe him? Rick was simultaneously as simple and easy to read as a market sign, and as mysterious as the history behind the statue in the bay. The man wore his heart on his sleeve. Sade loved that about him. The way he looked at her, a combination of adoration and lust, just drove her wild simply because he only looked at her that way. Sure, he loved and fucked Tyr with similar enthusiasm, but the way he looked at Sade was special. But Rick had secrets. Sade could see that even if she was blind. Whenever the subject of his family or hometown came up, he would give vague, noncommittal responses or change the subject. It was more than obvious that he and his family had some sort of friction between them. He was also smart, earnest, capable, and educated. All things pointed to a life of some means. Which made his situation all the more puzzling. ¡°Rick is a kindred soul. I would not be here where I am now if not for him.¡± She finally said. He had his secrets, and she would not pry into them. After all, she had secrets too. By then the two had reached the main hall and Sade waved goodbye before heading towards the main doors. Idley, she called upon the most ancient and sacred magic known to all sentient life for as long as life existed. Her body tingled as faint traces of mana ran through her. She had been told once that few could feel the spell at work. And only the most magically sensitive could even hope to experience the sensations running through Sade at that moment. When the mana ran its course her mind was filled with the knowledge of who she truly was.
Sade
Level 2 (69%)
Strength: 9 Constitution: 10
Dexterity: 10 Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 16 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 12 Attunement : 13 (2)
Charisma: 10 Luck: 12
Vocation: Intimancer (1)
And there it was, her dirty little secret. When all three of them leveled up after the monster attack, Sade had several options for her vocation. The simplest option was magician, a generalist spellcaster who learned several skills that would have enhanced her spells to be far more potent than they normally would be if she was a warrior or something similar. She could have chosen elementalist and worked to master fire, ice, and even the power of lightning, all at her fingertips. A specialist, but an extremely powerful and versatile mage regardless. She nearly gasped with shock when she saw that she could become a magus. A legendary vocation only found among the most powerful and talented spellcasters the world has ever known. She could have been among their number. But intimancy. Something in her being, her very essence, called for her to become an intimancer when she noticed that was an option. The siren song of her soul could not be denied. It was her destiny. It was her shame. With one decision she made her path of becoming a powerful mage considerably harder. From what little Rick could tell her about the various skills an intimancer had access to, very few of them related to spellweaving. This meant that as her time at Mya University went on, she would lack many of even the most basic skills her classmates would have. Which meant she could eventually fall behind even relatively average students like Hattepaa, let alone be a match for Ariwyn. Her decision was made. Her path set. Nothing in this world could allow her to undo the most important decision of her life. And she wouldn¡¯t change it even if she could. If she could not rely on vocation skills, then she would just have to make up the difference with hard work. Sade gave herself a wry smile as she made her way down the street towards the inn the three of them shared. She was no stranger to overcoming weakness with effort. Years of being small and frail compared to her peers had taught her how to use her keen mind and creativity to make up the difference. She would not fail. Her pride as a woman capable of becoming a magus demanded it. Sade received a few catcalls and more than a few appreciative glances from the men she walked past. She had changed quite a bit in the past month since they arrived in the city, in more ways than one. Sade now stood a full head taller than before she first met Rick. She and Rick were still the same height, but she was now considered to be above average for a human woman. Not quite as towering as Tyr, but still tall enough to look that willowy high elf in the eye without standing on her toes. Her bust jiggled slightly with each step along the cobbled streets. Her chest could still be cupped with one of her hands, but her new curves were still fairly large compared to what she had when she first left home. Rick mentioned something about ¡®C¡¯s¡¯ as he stared longingly at her chest when she last inflated them with several points of energy. She chuckled at the memory. His reactions to her growing and expanding never got old. Her hips could only be described as ¡®child bearing¡¯ due to their sheer width on her thin frame. At one point she had to stop widening her hips for fear of being unable to run anymore due to her shifting leg position. Sade didn¡¯t mind, it just meant she had more to spend on other things. One odd aspect of coital energy they found was that making the hips bigger, did not affect other parts of her body. Her buttcheeks had to be grown separately from her hips, same with her thighs, which had a considerable gap between them at one point. In fact her whole frame was ungainly thin due to her old stature being stretched around with coital energy. The result of a full month of enhancements had Sade take on a slight pear shape when donning her school robes. She was far from done, but it was a good start. Now that the term had begun, she had to be more judicious with her coital energy. She would be seeing the same people every day, people that would recognise her and know who she was if picked out in a crowd. Humans simply didn¡¯t sprout tits overnight, and she didn¡¯t want to bring unnecessary and troublesome attention to her and Rick¡¯s magic. She wasn¡¯t going to stop, she idly wondered if she even could at this point, but she was going to be a lot more slow and subtle. The past month wasn¡¯t all sex and magic though. True to her word, Tyr put all three of them in an intense training regimen. Every morning they would wake before the sun rose, run several leagues up and down the beach, then spend at least an hour training or sparring to get used to the feel of their weapons and the flow of combat. As a result of their hard work, and more than a little coital energy, their physical stats had gone up. Sade herself gained another point in both strength and endurance. This allowed her frame to fill out nicely with toned muscle, softening the more absurd proportions she had gained. Her latest glance at her stats also showed her improvements from her schooling as well. Hours of study and theorycrafting with professors was able to improve her already impressive intelligence. Her attunement also improved, not enough to gain another spell slot, but the stat gain showed that her training was indeed a valid method to improve that aspect naturally without leveling. Every moment she could spare, Sade would weave two separate spell formulas and keep them at the ready while also trying to trace a third. It was simple in concept, but extraordinarily exhausting in practice. She originally tried to hold the most complicated spells she knew for greater effect, but that proved nearly too much for her to even hold, let alone attempt to cast another spell. She slowly scaled back the complexity until she found the sweet spot, not too easy to hold the spells, but not too difficult for her to attempt to channel additional manna. Having her work on this while walking between classes, during physical training, even attempting to hold the spells while she slept, and the depths Sade would go to improve herself became obvious. What surprised Sade was the improvement to her charisma. That was certainly not there when she last checked the day before. Rick liked to joke that the stat improved as the size of her bust increased. But all three knew he wasn¡¯t being anywhere close to serious about that. Sade couldn¡¯t recall doing anything too different to warrant an improvement, but it was just one more mystery that she would eventually solve. She focused on the present as ¡®The Ship¡¯s Rest¡¯ came into view. She and her party were going on an adventure. Chapter 5.2 Adventure Begins ¡°I have returned!¡± She called out once she reached the door to their shared room. ¡°Welcome back!¡± Rick called as he opened the door. Even seeing the changes happen, Sade had to marvel at his transformation these past few weeks. He was still skinny, but what little baby fat remained had been replaced by lean cords of muscle. He now had more broad shoulders that gave his torso a pleasant upside down triangle shape. Sade loved tracing the lines from his bare chest down to his burgeoning abdominals. Even his voice had gained a slightly deeper timbre that tickled her ears every time he whispered sweet words of love to her. ¡°I missed you.¡± Sade said softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and brushed her lips against his. ¡°Oi! Time¡¯s a waste¡¯n!¡± The two humans broke off their kiss as the surly elf stomped her way out of the bathroom. Of the three, Tyr had changed the least, at least outwardly. Sade had to put her foot down on the size of both her lovers'' cocks, much to the larger women''s casternation. Sade even invested some energy to increase the depth of her vagina, but the average length of an elf was the most she could go at that moment in time. That meant Rick shared his height with Sade and penis size with Tyr. The problem was that the elf didn¡¯t really have anything else she wanted to invest coital energy on, and Sade was seriously worried what would happen if the young elf had a massive pool of points and decided to spend it all at once, so she gently suggested to improve her womanly half along with the masculine. Tyr reluctantly agreed. Her hips, rear, and bust all had been enhanced to bring her proportions to an even greater hourglass shape. She also poured some energy to grow half a head in height. She now had to duck through most doors not specifically built for the larger races, something she took great joy in at first but quickly grew sick of after bumping her skull against a doorframe for the umpteenth time. Tyr was probably the biggest proponent for natural strength training out of the three. But even she wasn¡¯t against augmenting intense workouts with some extra muscle mass. While she didn¡¯t get bulkier, her body grew more toned, her muscles more dense as they gained extra strength, further emphasizing the traits that made wood elves so terrifying. ¡°Let me change and I will meet with you both downstairs.¡± Sade said as she made her way to the closet. ¡°Aw¡­ I think your mage robes look amazing on you.¡± Rick said with mock sadness. ¡°This is my school uniform. Robes may be comfortable for everyday use, but no spellcaster in their right mind would wear such impractical clothing when dealing with a nest of monsters. Plus if these get damaged, I would have nothing to wear to school. These robes are expensive!¡± Sade was more than surprised when the topic of armor came up during their first week and Rick actually thought mages wore robes in combat. I truly wonder where he learned such a stupid notion. She mused at the memory. Not that she would have much choice in the matter. After being a tad¡­ overzealous with her modifications, finding a pair of pants that fit had been extremely difficult. So much so that they had to dip into their dwindling funds to commission a pair from scratch as opposed to finding a tailor to modify something to fit better. Sade wasted no time in putting on her clothes. Her new pants, a linen shirt, leather vest, belt, gloves, boots, and some leather pads that covered her knees. Rick was the one to suggest the knee pads. His reasoning was that the group may need to crawl in some tight spaces and that walking on their knees would be all sorts of unpleasant. He may have odd ideas about mages and armor, but he did know something about practical protection. Just one more oddity to the man known as Rick. Fully dressed, Sade grabbed a couple daggers and her mace to clip to her belt, grabbed her cloak, and rushed downstairs. The other two were already waiting for her in their wagon. Supplies for a week in the wilds were loaded in their packs along with some spare weapons and various tools they may need. Tyr felt that they were going a bit overboard but still went along with Rick and Sade¡¯s insistence on being as prepared as possible. After having to scavenge and even rob the dead for supplies without a single article of clothing to their names, the two humans would rather deal with, as Rick¡¯s father would say ¡®Better to have it and not need it, as opposed to needing it and not having it¡¯. Sade had some theories on why Rick had issues with his father, but the man sure did try to cram as much wisdom in his son as humanly possible. With more mixed results than either of them would have hoped for if Sade was being honest. Seriously, who thinks of walking into danger in nothing but robes? They left out the same gate that they originally came in. Rather than heading east back to Valmik, the party took a more north-east route. The rolling hills soon gave way to a deep valley littered with sparse tree cover that got thicker the deeper they descended. Before they were swallowed up by the valley completely, they came upon a hunters outpost. These waystations were scattered around in various wild places as safe havens for hunters to rest and recuperate while removing as many threats to the populace as possible. One of the outpost attendants met with them and took their horse and cart. Things would be too dangerous for the loyal animal from here on out. They hoisted their packs and readied their weapons before turning to the deepening woods and setting forth.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The garrison had received reports from its various scouts in the area about a sudden surge of invasive plants. While that itself was concerning, the local wildlife has also been disappearing in the affected areas. These two phenomena combined had led the hunters to conclude there was more than likely a tree blight infestation. This particular problem was when mana in the area somehow enters and mutates a local tree. This turns the plant into a sort of monster that will seep its own twisted mana in the surrounding area in order to spread its affliction. This causes a forest to start sprouting brambles and other weeds at an alarming rate. If left unchecked those plants will become blightlings, a humanoid plant monster, and will start killing off all local wildlife while spreading the tree blight infection in an even wider area. There were several reasons Sade and her companions were allowed to tackle this problem. First, while the spread of the blight could be devastating if left unchecked, the rate of its spread was fairly slow, so it would become a major issue after several months to a year, rather than a few days. In this particular case, the scouts spotted the infection fairly early in its cycle. Second, while blightlings were certainly dangerous to wild animals, this danger didn¡¯t quite translate to careful sentient creatures armed with weapons, knowledge, and magic on their side. This made blight jobs a great opportunity for novice hunters. Noobies could take their time, slowly clearing out any blightling¡¯s they found, and if they got injured or ran out of supplies, the problem would not recover nearly as quickly as they could. This did not mean the hunt wasn¡¯t dangerous. Like any job involving wild and unpredictable magic, complications could arise. Ultimately, they had no real idea what to expect. They were armed with as much knowledge on the situation that was available, but they wouldn''t know what exactly they were going to encounter until they ran face first into it. ¡°I see the blighters up ahead.¡± Tyr readied her bow, a massive thing that had a draw weight equal to Rick¡¯s whole body, and stalked forward with incredible stealth. Sade marveled at how such a massive woman could just move so smooth and silent. Wood elves were absolutely terrifying in their chosen environment. Rangers like Tyr were even more so. Sade started to channel her mana in the pattern of a frost spell. She looked to her side and saw Rick clench and unclench his left hand a couple times before holding his spear with both hands. The motions told Sade that he had readied his modified claw variant. He had since mastered the original spell that would have affected both hands, but even Tyr admitted that being able to hold onto a weapon while swiping at enemies with the off hand was more advantageous. The spell Sade could cast on command was more for utility than direct damage. She would shoot out a line of freezing mist that would slow or outright freeze their opponents in their tracks, giving her companions an easier time to smash the monsters to pieces. Since they were in a forest that was thick with undergrowth the chances of hitting the others with an ice spike was more than what Sade was willing to risk. With the ¡®freezing mist¡¯ spell, she could be a bit more liberal with her magic and the occasional friendly fire wouldn¡¯t be nearly as devastating. The blight was far more sensitive to cold than they were. They found that little fact when doing research for the hunt and incorporated it into their tactics. The party moved forward as silently as they could. Tyr leading the way, Sade in the middle, and Rick bringing up the rear, his eyes constantly scanning the area behind them. They passed the line of blighted growth. From here on out, they should expect attacks from the blightling¡¯s while they made their way to the center of the infestation. They didn¡¯t have to wait long. Tyr slowed down and signaled the others to stop. She drew back the arrow she had readied. The thing was massive, it looked more like a small spear with feathers on one end than whatever a human could use. She held her bow fully drawn and waited, still as a statue. Sade heard a faint rustling sound and peered around Tyr¡¯s crouched form. From a distance away she spotted a bush. There wasn¡¯t anything particularly special about said bush, except for the twisted branches that collected underneath it in the form of arms and legs. That was certainly a Blightling, and if the creature had not been moving, Sade would have never picked it out from the dozens of similar bushes infesting the forest all around. Tyr let out a slow breath and released her arrow. The missile rocketed forward at incredible speed and hit the monster right in the middle of the thickest concentration of branches. The arrow¡¯s momentum continued onwards and dragged the thing along with it until it impacted against the tree behind it. The blightling let out a shrill cry as fell limp from where it was impaled against the wooden pillar, dead. The first kill of the hunt. They crept forward to examine their prey. Tyr yanked her miniature ballista bolt out of the tree with a fierce tug and let the corpse fall to the ground with a thud. What Sade originally surmised to be merely a bush with limbs was proven to be mildly incorrect. What they saw was a stick thin humanoid monster made out of twisting branches, small beady eyes stared lifelessly from a small ball of wood where a head would be. Leafy branches poked out of any nook and cranny in between the various folds in the wood to give it that bush-like appearance. ¡°A twig variant.¡± Rick said, identifying the subtype of blightling they were examining. ¡°Aye. So far things are going ta plan.¡± Tyr grunted. Sade could only nod her agreement. With any luck, there won¡¯t be any nasty surprises waiting for them later on. Rick seemed to palm his face at her statement and muttered something about ¡®flags¡¯ under his breath. While they didn¡¯t encounter anything unexpected outside of what they had information on, they were still given a surprise during the next encounter. That surprise being more twig blights jumping on Rick after he walked a bit too close to where they were laying on the ground in wait. While the two monsters caught him off guard, he swiftly stabbed one with his spear while it was still in the air then slashed at the other with his prepared spell. Both monsters never made it to the ground alive. His daily training with Tyr had most certainly paid off in that moment. He turned to Sade and gave a goofy grin that made her heart flutter. She was proud of him and how far he had come. Before they could be reprimanded for getting distracted, he shook his head to focus and started scanning the environment once more. Sade chided herself silently as well. Now was not the time to flirt. All three steeled themselves for a long hunt and continued to head deeper. Chapter 5.3 A Tight Spot For the next hour they wound their way through the woods, slowly encountering larger and more varied groups of blightlings as they made their way deeper into the infection. Just when they thought they were getting close, they came across a large stone wall. The stone was old and choked with vegetation. Despite that, it was still extremely solid. ¡°Well then, how much do you want to bet our tree is somewhere in here?¡± Rick said as he tapped his spear against the stone. ¡°No bet.¡± Sade chuckled. ¡°I have no doubt that it is.¡± ¡°Now how do we get there?¡± Both the humans shrugged at Tyr¡¯s question. After a brief discussion, their options were to try to scale the wall or walk around it to find an entrance. Sade chose to walk around since she may not be able to climb back over once they reached the other side. They decided to go along with her logic for the moment. They found an entrance not long later, but none of them were happy about it. ¡°It¡¯s a fuck¡¯n gopher hole.¡± Tyr groaned. ¡°Oh come on. It¡¯s not the tightest hole you¡¯ve plundered.¡± Sade smacked Rick upside the head lightly for his crude joke. She had yet to try anal sex in any form after her first surprise experience. The soreness was not pleasant, and she was more than a little scared to take either of their significantly larger dicks in that hole anytime soon, especially since she was barely big enough to take them in the proper entrance. ¡°Alright, alright! To make things fair, I¡¯ll head in first to check it out.¡± Rick said while fighting a grin at her reaction. ¡°If I find a trap or dead end, we¡¯ll find another way.¡± True to his word, Rick ducked down and started to crawl through the tunnel. Both Sade and Tyr bent down to get a delicious view of his rear as it shimmied along the tight space. It was still fairly flat, nothing a few points of energy couldn¡¯t fix though. But even without the help of magic, it still had developed nicely due to all the training Tyr put him through. ¡°No traps that I can see. You two will certainly want to see this, though.¡± He called out a minute later. The women sighed and Sade elected to go first. She got down on all fours and started to crawl into the claustrophobic space. Then Sade felt her forward progress suddenly halt. ¡°Everything ok out there?¡± RIck called. ¡°It seems our girl needs ta shrink her arse before she can join ya!¡± Tyr snickered. Sade¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She knew full well that her hips were wide, but having them be an active detriment on their first hunt just made the situation even worse. It just felt so good to have them grow, though. Using coital energy was always extremely pleasant, especially if used in large batches, but something about her lower half made it feel even better. Maybe it was the way all her clothes hugged her rear even when the rest was fairly loose. Or how the way her gait changed so that each step she took was more of a sashay that made her pert and jiggling orbs bounce with every motion. Regardless of the pleasure, it seemed she overindulged more than she originally thought. She began to squirm and pull in the hopes that she could still crawl through the temporary blockage. Her efforts were rewarded. With a slight shift that caused one side to lower and the other raise slightly, she got past the narrow entrance. Thankfully, it seemed that the narrowest part was at the beginning, and she had no further difficulty moving through the tight enclosure. One more thing she was grateful for were the kneepads. She could feel the unyielding stone beneath her pound into the padding with each step. She would have to ¡®reward¡¯ Rick once more for his ingenuity. ¡°I am through! The tunnel is not as narrow as it is in the beginning.¡± Sade lowered her head to watch Tyr slide inside, or at least attempt to. ¡°...fuck.¡± Tyr was too tall to crawl on all fours like Rick and Sade, so she first had to get on her belly. Then the elf¡¯s broad shoulders slammed into the sides of the tunnel. Undeterred, she raised her arms forward to give herself some more room, only to have her own massive ass get stuck as well. The irony was just too rich. Sade collapsed to the floor in a fit of giggles, her arms clutching her sides as she rolled around on the floor, relishing in the schadenfreude. Even Rick found it difficult not to laugh at their trapped friend. He fished around in his pack and pulled out some rope. ¡°Here, grab on and hopefully we¡¯ll get you through this.¡± It took the combined strength of both humans plus Tyr shifting around before her rear was released with a faint pop. When the amazonian woman finally crawled to her feet, she glared at the two of them, daring them to continue laughing with her fierce gaze. Sade had long since lost any fear of this particular elf and smacked her on her muscular behind. ¡°Cheer up! You will get to kill something soon enough.¡± That brought a smirk to Tyr¡¯s face. She also gave a tap to Sade¡¯s rear before readying her weapons in preparation to finish the hunt. The party found themselves in a small room, sparsely decorated. Broken chairs and tables made with rotting wood was all that remained in the piles of dust. Whoever resided in this place had long since left. Sade circulated mana through her body. Within her palm a small orb of bright yellow fire bloomed before she gently tossed it over her opposite shoulder, just above her head. The orb halted its position in the air, its gentle glow brushing away the few shadows left in the room''s corners. The ¡®lantern orb¡¯ cantrip certainly living up to its name. ¡°The spell creates mostly light, very little heat. I can cut off the mana if we encounter dense foliage or anything else that has a chance of burning.¡± Sade said to Tyr before the elf could even open her mouth. Tyr shrugged. ¡°Aye, it¡¯s mostly stone here. Just be sure ta dim yer light so we don¡¯t get spotted.¡± Sade nodded. She didn¡¯t consider her spell from a stealthy angle. Perhaps she could find some lore on old spies or assassins and see how they tackled the problem. For now she would constrict the mana tether to adjust the brightness when needed. They continued exploring. Tyr bringing up the rear so Rick could get more experience in detecting threats. The building was a maze of corridors and branching rooms, leaving Sade to conclude that the builders just built what they felt like, or that the impractical layout was an intentional decision to confuse trespassers. Occasionally the sun would pour through a hole in the ceiling or two, but otherwise the stone halls were dark and dingy, choked in the blighted growth. Sometimes they would hear the rasp of wood scraping against stone and the party would wait in ambush for a patrolling blightling. Sade always either dimmed or outright canceled her lantern spell so they wouldn¡¯t alert their foes. Neither option was too strenuous, the mana needed to cast the spell was replaced within minutes. Every once in a while, they would fight branch or vine blight variants. These were larger and more dangerous than the twig blights, but not by much. Branch blights were simply a bigger version of the twigs, but the vine blights looked like shambling mounds of twisting green vines in the rough outline of a human. When the trio couldn¡¯t take those masses of vines out with stealth, the monsters would unravel several vines and use them like ropes or tentacles to trip up the party or simply grab them in an attempt to drag their victim closer so the blightling could enwrap and suffocate them.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The party didn¡¯t have too much difficulty all things considered. Tyr¡¯s bow usually took out any blightling in a single hit. Rick had had greater reach on most of the monsters, aside from the vine blights, with his spear. Every time he or Sade got grabbed by a vine, his claws would get them free fairly quickly. Sade¡¯s frost was devastating for the blight creatures to deal with. Her blasts of cold caused their joints to lock up or freeze entirely, making movement nearly impossible the moment the icy mist overwhelmed their paltry resistance. Twig blights were reduced to frozen statues in seconds, a quick tap of her mace shattering the monsters like green tinted glass. Eventually, their wandering around brought them to an expansive courtyard. The early afternoon sun filtering down through the canopy of a gigantic tree growing in the center. There was something off about the tree, something wrong. Unnatural. It¡¯s dark bark looked sickly, rivers of sap oozing from various fissures in the wooden surface. The branches were twisted in odd angles, like growing outward in a straight line went against their very nature. ¡°I¡¯m going to go on a limb here and assume this is the source of the blight.¡± Both Tyr and Sade could only nod and agree with Rick¡¯s assumption. ¡°So what is the plan?¡± Sade asked their most experienced member. Before Tyr could answer, the infected tree groaned. Vines snaked down from its boughs and plopped down in a great pile between its massive roots. Slowly the pile formed into a twisted humanoid shape, unfortunately this time the mass of vines stretched taller and taller until it towered over even Tyr. ¡°Balls!¡± Rick cursed and started to run to one of the walls to the side. ¡°Everyone split up! I¡¯ll try to whittle it down from its blind spots. Tyr, turn that thing into a porcupine. And Sade,¡± She saw the wolfish grin split his face as he continued to run. ¡°Time to cut loose!¡± Sade could feel her lips tug into an expression mirroring Rick¡¯s. Both her and Tyr started to bolt in different directions the second Rick started shouting. Long before the hunt they all discussed strategy on what to do when they encountered a powerful lone enemy. It was Sade¡¯s idea to have a rough plan for a wide range of scenarios, even outside this specific hunt. During their training they all practiced by someone shouting out a scenario and someone else shouting the plan to deal with it. Sade ran. Once she was a significant distance away she turned to see which of the three the large blightling would focus on. Whoever drew its ire would lead it on a merry chase while the others would attack its flank. If it changed targets, the new focus would run instead. This was also why Sade¡¯s ¡®frozen mist¡¯ was so essential. She couldn¡¯t run as fast as the other two, but she could slow it down enough to give her a fighting chance. For now it seemed Rick was the one to distract the thing. Sade suspected it was because he shouted and moved first. The blightling propelled itself after him by slamming its oversized arms to the ground. In no time at all it was galloping right behind Rick, an arm cocked back to slam him to the dirt. An arrow embedded itself into the area where the shoulder joint would be. It didn¡¯t appear to do much damage, but the slight delay was just enough for Rick to dive out of the way of the swing. Sade bathed the creature in a jet of super cold mist. She would not let it move with impunity any longer. Two more arrows hit the thing in the chest while Sade continued to pour mana into her spell. ¡°Shit!¡± She cried as she dove out of the way of a massive vine. She fought a shudder as she saw that the green appendage was covered in sharp thorns that dug furrows into the ground as it was reeled back in. ¡°Watch out! It has thorns!¡± Sade could hear faint curses from her companions at her announcement. None of them heard anything about a blight creature with thorns. This could prove quite problematic. Sade ducked under another swung vine while she continued to bathe the monster in ice magic. ¡°It has high resistance too!¡± She called out when she noticed the creature hardly seemed affected by the cold. Rick ran in and swiped at its leg before jumping out of the way of a brutal looking counterswing. He jabbed at the outstretched arm with his spear, hoping to deal at least a little damage. More and more arrows were sticking out of the thing''s body as Tyr continued to do as Rick suggested and make it look like a porcupine. Her own efforts were having about as much effect as Rick¡¯s spear. Sade needed to do something and fast. She quickly ran through the formula for her spell and cycled it throughout her body in a mirrored fashion. This was not very easy to do as ice spells, especially this one, were fairly complex to begin with. She doubted she had enough time to try again if it failed. With a warcry escaping her lips, Sade held out both her hands as she completed cycling her mana. Another jet of mist shot out of her palm and joined the first. She did it! Dual-casting was a subject her teachers touched upon in their lectures, but also warned that trying to cast two separate flows simultaneously could have disastrous consequences. Sade remembered asking after one of those lectures was over if casting two of the same spell would make it easier. She was told it was theoretically easier if the spells were the same, but trying to use two mirrored copies of the same spell or even spells from the same source had complications of its own. Something about crossing the streams. Even Sade couldn¡¯t quite wrap her head around the long and technical explanation given to her. Since she couldn¡¯t understand with one method, she considered attempting to try dual-casting on her own in the practice yard or another private location. She never thought her first attempt would be in the middle of a fight with a powerful monster. Or that it would be successful. Under the dual assault from her magic, Sade saw that her magic was finally starting to have an effect. The smooth motions of the vines became jerky, the fine control the creature had shown earlier beginning to slip. Her companions wasted no time capitalizing on the opening she created, each of their attacks breaking off chunks of partially frozen plant matter. The thorny blightling curled into a ball and started to expand. ¡°Take cover!¡± Tyr screamed. Sade ducked down and covered her head in her arms. Pain lanced all up and down her side as the monster''s thorns exploded out and dug themselves in any tender flesh they could find. Her concentration broke, mana snaking its way back through her body to its source like a snapped cable. She couldn¡¯t focus on anything other than the red hot needles of pain in her arms, legs, and back. A deeper, more masculine cry overrode her own. Sade opened her eyes to see Rick on the ground just behind the thorn blight. He was closer to it when the explosive attack went off and probably was more injured than she was. She saw the monster rise up and turn to him. She saw his eyes were still pinched shut with pain. She saw the thing raise its oversized arms high into the air, ready to crush him into bloody paste. She could only watch as its arms came down. Sade heard a roar erupt from her other side. Tyr bounded forward in front of their gigantic foe and caught its arms with her own. The force brought her down to one knee, but she just snarled in fury and grabbed it even tighter. The same spark of fury ignited in Sade¡¯s chest. It attempted to kill one of their own. It tried to kill Rick. It would not do so again. ¡°Tyr! Throw it!¡± The elf complied. Tyr darted farther in and sunk her fingers deep in the top and bottom of its torso. Completely ignoring the thorn blight¡¯s flailing limbs as it smacked and scraped against her flesh, creating punctures and tears in her skin that wept blood. She roared her pain and fury as she hoisted it over her head and threw the monster with all her considerable might. Right at the twisted tree that birthed it. Sade was already hard at work channeling her mana. Her hands traced the patterns in the air mirroring the pathways she was leading the magic on. There was no conscious thought to her actions, only the need to make the thing pay for its transgressions with its very life. She let out a roar of her own as flames erupted from her outstretched hands and bathed the monster and its tree in an inferno. Every scrap of magic her body possessed was thrown into the dual spells. There was no official name to the magic, or at least none they could find in any spell books they looked through, but Rick had called it ¡®flamethrower¡¯ after seeing her successfully cast it for the first time. He gave her the inspiration for the formula after they were discussing how her freezing spell worked. The spell eventually petered out and she collapsed to the ground, utterly drained. Tyr padded up to her, her arm around Rick¡¯s shoulder. It seemed the two of them were using the other for support. Both plopped down by her side and took in the view. The heat from the flames was hot enough to make their eyes sting. But none of them looked away. It was one of the most beautiful sights any of them had ever seen. ¡°Well¡­ that was fun.¡± Rick joked. Both women groaned weakly at his poor attempt at humor. Tyr fell back to the ground with a thud. ¡°Next time, we bring a healer.¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± the two humans said in unison. Chapter 6.1 Lucky Break It did not take as long as it should have for the tree to burn into a pile of ash. Rick couldn¡¯t figure out why. Perhaps the tainted plant was composed of something other than wood? It was probably filled with nothing but magic bullshit. That was his theory and he was sticking to it. The party was not idle while Sade¡¯s impromptu bonfire raged. They all took some damage in that fight, in one form or the other. ¡°Sit still!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying! It¡¯s just -ow! BALLS!¡± Rick squirmed in Tyr¡¯s iron grip. She held a small knife in one hand and was using it to dig out the literal thorns in his side. He greatly appreciated her help, he really did. But the process of cutting the wooden spikes away from his skin was far from a pleasant experience. Thankfully he had taken the worst damage from the blight monster¡¯s thorn explosion. He had been only a meter or two away when the attack went off. He was more than grateful to learn that Sade only had a few thorns pierce her skin deep enough to stick. And none of those had to be dug out with a knife. Rick would gladly jump in front of that monster¡¯s attack a dozen times if it meant she was safe. ¡°Alright, I can¡¯t stand it anymore! What¡¯s up with the way ya curse?¡± ¡°I am actually curious about that myself. It is quite odd.¡± And now they were double teaming him. Rick gave an audible sigh, talking about it would certainly be a welcome distraction from Tyr¡¯s attempt at surgery. ¡°Do you guys worship any gods?¡± He asked. ¡°What¡¯s that have ta do with it?¡± Tyr huffed and dug out one more thorn. RIck nearly bit his tongue to stop from shouting out in pain. He cleared his head and continued. ¡°My family worshiped a deity that emphasized love, mercy, and self betterment. One of the tenants was watching what you say. Worshipers took this to include foul language of any kind. So¡­ instead of ¡®fuck¡¯ my dad would shout ¡®balls¡¯ when he stubbed his toe.¡± This was a gross oversimplification of a highly sensitive and debated topic. He really, really didn¡¯t want to get into the history of religion on his world. Or to talk about it at all if he was being completely honest. ¡°That is interesting.¡± Sade mused. ¡°I am not too sure about the other races, but my people used to worship a god of the mountains in the time before they migrated here.¡± She looked to Tyr, who just shrugged before getting back to work with her knife. ¡°We have a sacred tree. It¡¯s the heart of our domain. But none of my people bow down and kiss its roots or anything.¡± ¡°So, does that mean there isn¡¯t any religion in the kingdom?¡± The idea was so strange to Rick. For as long as humans have existed, they have always found some form of higher power to fear or worship. ¡°Oh I am sure there are a few small temples here and there. Especially in Shatak, being a center of trade with other countries and all.¡± Sade replied. ¡°Well¡­ damn. Does that mean there are no priests or clerics to cast healing magic?¡± ¡°Why the fuck would we go ta some church ta find someone with healing magic?¡± Tyr asked like he just said the stupidest sentence in all of history. Rick supposed that he had. He had slipped into thinking this world ran on video game tropes. That was a dangerous mindset to keep. Random assumptions would only lead to misunderstandings or worse, fatal mistakes. He needed to check himself more often. ¡°Sorry. There¡¯s¡­ a lot of connotation between healing and the divine in my w-, uh, country. In the country I¡¯m from. God of mercy and all that.¡± It was true. Most early hospitals were developed by the church as far back as the Roman empire. Even in the far east, missionaries were the ones to set up the first houses of healing in the region. Rick vaguely remembered having to write a report about it in school once. The tropes of healers being priests had to start somewhere. He mused. Generations of people¡¯s perception building over each other until no one even questions why something is the way it is. Tyr looked like she was going to continue arguing but Sade put a gentle hand on her shoulder. ¡°We can discuss this at a later time. First I think we should either finish exploring or find a way back to the outpost.¡± She smiled softly. ¡°Rick¡¯s family had faith and it shaped him. Just as our cultures shaped us.¡± Tyr gave a large sigh. ¡°Aye¡­ yer right, as always.¡± She turned to Rick and gave him a gentle slap on the shoulder. ¡°Hey, ya did good today.¡± Rick smirked. ¡°Even though ¡®ya had ta dig thorns out¡¯a me arse?¡¯¡± He said in the best wood elf accent he could muster. ¡°You two were the ones to kill the monster this time.¡± ¡°You were the first to call out the threat and engage.¡± Sade reminded him. ¡°That helped us get organized quickly. And it was not like my ice spells were doing much at first.¡± ¡°Yeah! And me bow did fuck all in that fight.¡± Tyr finished the last of the bandages and helped Rick to his feet. ¡°We¡¯re a team. Our failures and successes are all shared.¡± ¡°Thanks guys.¡± Rick said softly. He really did feel like the luckiest man in the world to have met the two women. They all gave a quick hug then faced the smoldering pile of embers. Rick swore he saw something through the heat haze wafting up from the tree¡¯s remains. ¡°Is that a door over there?¡± The trio moved closer to where Rick pointed. They had to walk around the ash, as it was still too hot to safely walk over, and Sade was still too drained of mana to cool down a path with her spells. ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s a door.¡± Tyr said dryly. ¡°How helpful.¡± Rick griped. ¡°The question is; Do we want to explore what¡¯s on the other side?¡± ¡°I am curious about these ruins. Perhaps we will find something from whoever built this place.¡± The others decided to go along with Sade in this instance. The door was locked. A problem easily solved with a swift kick from Tyr. Sade recast her lantern spell to ward away the dark interior that greeted them, and they marched ahead to explore the rest of the ruins.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The long hallway soon opened up into a singular room. Sade¡¯s light brightened up to its maximum so they could perceive any threats that still remained in the inky blackness. It wasn¡¯t an enemy that awaited the party however. ¡°Are those¡­ elves?¡± Carved into the wall were depictions of lithe figures dancing around in some sort of forest. The features of the people were worn away by time, the only distinguishing feature left were the long ears poking out from the figures heads, their ends sharpened to fine points. ¡°They do not appear to be wood elves.¡± Sade said. ¡°They are too¡­ Well, not wood elvish.¡± ¡°Ya got that right.¡± Tyr scoffed. ¡°Too skinny.¡± She walked forward to get a closer look at the carved mural. ¡°They are rutting in public though. Can¡¯t imagine a high elf doing that.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong in her assessment. The other two were able to clearly see some of the elves depicted in various sexual positions. The whole scene felt surreal to Rick. Just what was this place? Why of all the things to leave behind, did the artist decide to pick this scene? He raised his hand and conjured his own flame to get a better look at the rest of the room. More carved murals adorned the walls. He tried to make sense of what the pictures were trying to tell him. There was a story here, he just had to put the pieces in place. ¡°This one over here seems to show the other elves and wood elves living together. See how these people over here are larger than the first group?¡± Sade moved over to where Rick was standing then moved on to the last mural in the room. ¡°It looks like the first group is walking away from the larger figures. Was there some sort of disagreement?¡± ¡°Hard ta say. My people don¡¯t build with stone. And I¡¯ve never heard of any other elves living here alongside us. Let alone leaving in a huff.¡± Tyr looked genuinely puzzled at the implications depicted. ¡°How far back do your records go, Tyr?¡± Rick asked. ¡°We don¡¯t really write a lot of books. I could ask me gran if she knows something.¡± ¡°How would asking your grandmother help?¡± Tyr gave Rick a stern look. One that screamed he just asked something stupid once again. ¡°Gran was there when the current rulers led their people over the mountains. She also was there when the previous two empires rose and fell.¡± Rick mentally kicked himself. Elves existed on a completely different timescale than his own. ¡°Right¡­ sorry. I guess that¡¯s as good a start as any.¡± ¡°I will also pose a few questions to my professors.¡± Sade said from her position by the middle carving. ¡°For now, I think we should look into what is inside this.¡± She pointed down by her feet at a large rectangular chest. Rick had no idea how he missed it on his first pass through the small room. He really needed to avoid tunnel vision the next time they went exploring. Tyr walked over to the chest and examined the lock on the front. It was a simple iron padlock rather than an internal mechanism. She drew one of her hand axes and brought it down hard on the surprisingly intact metal. The poor ancient iron didn¡¯t stand a chance. All three eagerly peeked inside when the lid was slowly lifted out of the way. Inside were several thick pouches and a few dusty leather tomes. Rick tentatively reached for one of the sacks and tried to remove it from the chest. It was so heavy that Rick had to use both hands just to lift the thing. Each movement of his hands caused audible clinks to resound from within. Rick had to bite back a curse when he opened the bag and saw the bright yellow metal gleam in the enchanted firelight. ¡°Are these all¡­ gold?¡± He breathed. Tyr hefted another bag and upended its contents into her palm. More coins spilled out, every one of them shone golden. ¡°We¡¯re fuck¡¯n rich!¡± She shouted and wrapped Rick in a hug that threatened to snap a few ribs. ¡°Not just rich. I think some of these are spellbooks.¡± Sade said while gently leafing through one of the tomes. She pointed to a diagram. ¡°Do you see this? I believe this is a spell formula. I have never seen anything like this though. It is not the most complex spell I have seen, but something about it feels off.¡± She closed the book and looked to Rick. ¡°It seems your luck has done us a favor once again.¡± Rick scoffed. ¡°Oh come on! My luck may be higher than normal, but finding an actual treasure chest filled with gold and spellbooks? That just sounds crazy.¡± Just for the hell of it he looked through his stats.
Rick
Level 4 (3%)
Strength: 11 Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 10 Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 12 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 11 Attunement : 10 (1)
Charisma: 9 Luck: 17
Vocation: Intimancer (4)
Skills: Multi-orgasm
¡°What the fuck!?¡± The two women jumped up and reached for their weapons as soon as he shouted. ¡°What is it?¡± Sade asked, hand resting on her mace. ¡°Crap, sorry! I was just surprised when I summoned my stats.¡± Rick felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. He knew better than to shout randomly when they had no idea where the next danger lurked. ¡°Well, what happened then?¡± Tyr asked. She was already back down to her knees and shoving the bags of gold into her pack. If anyone could handle the extra weight from the dense metal, it would be her. Rick struggled to find the proper words. His stats had improved quite well with all the training Tyr put him through. His strength, dexterity, and endurance all went up by one. And in a cruel twist of fate, his wisdom also improved after Sade smacked some sense into him back at their first visit to the beach. But there were still a couple surprises he had not expected in the least. ¡°I¡¯m level four now. And¡­ my luck just increased too.¡± ¡°Yer luck?¡± Tyr paused for a moment while she looked through her own status. ¡°Hey, mine too! I also hit level five.¡± ¡°It seems we all gained some luck.¡± Sade confirmed. ¡°I am also at four now.¡± ¡°So we can train luck by being lucky?¡± Rick asked. The others shrugged. It was common knowledge that luck was good to have, but too nebulous to count on. No one knew how to successfully train it with any consistency. ¡°We should go.¡± Sade said after stowing away the books in her pack. ¡°We can discuss our levels and skills once we are safe at the outpost.¡± Rick agreed with Sade¡¯s plan. They all had a lot to consider after this wildly successful hunt. They took their weapons in hand and slowly made their way back the way they came. It was slow going. While the source of the blight was gone, the blightlings were still around. They were severely weakened, many moving sluggishly or just outright frozen in place. Many others were just as alive and dangerous as before. They all would collapse and die eventually, their primary source of mana was gone, so it was only a matter of time. But until then, the group moved slowly, picking off targets when they could and avoiding the rest. They eventually found a pair of doors that led outside of the building, a rusty iron bar preventing them from opening. A swift kick from Tyr and the obstacle was no longer an issue. Once they oriented themselves properly, the trip back to the outpost was swift. Rick noticed that the further they traveled from the stone ruin, the more the underbrush looked brown and dying. It seemed the forest would recover far quicker than he thought. It was comforting to know that he and his friends did a good deed. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he felt like his actions mattered. Filled with anticipation, Rick eagerly awaited their next hunting assignment. Chapter 6.2 A Job Well Done The faint glow of the outpost¡¯s lanterns could be seen from between the gloom created by the trees. Night had already fallen and all three of them were exhausted. Even Tyr, with her monstrous strength and stamina, perked up noticeably when the small building became visible. Rick felt like he could collapse and sleep for a week straight. He couldn¡¯t remember ever feeling so drained after a single day¡¯s activities. ¡°Welcome back.¡± The lone outpost occupant said in greeting once they got close enough to the building. ¡°Hunt successful. Ya got a room we can use?¡± ¡°Aye, and I¡¯m glad you three came back in one piece.¡± He said in reply to Tyr. ¡°C¡¯mon ya mayflies.¡± Tyr grunted, ushering the two tired humans down the hall. ¡°Second door on your left. Oh, and please make sure to keep it down. I know how you elves like to go at it in bed.¡± ¡°Oh, fuck off!¡± Tyr chuckled. Rick wondered if she was being too lenient on the rude comments but a glance at the man¡¯s smile as they made their way to a spare room told him that the comments were all in good humor. I guess shit talking is a normal thing that elves deal with. Either that or the hunters are more like soldiers than I thought. Rick remembered all the nasty things the men in the army said to each other at a small party his uncle threw when Rick and his sister visited the man. The names they would call each other would have started a brawl anywhere else. His uncle said it was a way to let out some steam in a more safe and constructive manner, and that it helped build comradery. ¡°Can¡¯t be a soldier unless you can take a few hits.¡± He would joke before insulting another man¡¯s mother so badly that Rick swore to never repeat those words out loud ever again. Their room was just four walls, a ceiling, and a bed. At the moment, it was the most beautiful sight Rick had ever seen, aside from what happened next, of course. All three immediately dropped their gear and began to strip. They then collapsed on the mattress with the only cloth still on their bodies being bandages. ¡°So¡­ are we going to take his words as a challenge?¡± Both women laughed at Rick¡¯s question. He could feel the tension from the day¡¯s events slowly drain from them as they all laid there, enjoying the moment. Rick sat up and kissed both their foreheads. Even if they were all too tired for sex, he would still be satisfied. ¡°I could go fer a few rounds. If only to annoy that prick out front.¡± Tyr said as she wiggled into a more comfortable position on the bed. ¡°But if ya don¡¯t want ta, that¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t force ya.¡± ¡°A wood elf seeking consent?¡± Sade gasped theatrically. ¡°We have tainted you!¡± The elf in question raised her head to glare at the other woman. ¡°The fuck ya talking about? Consent is the most important thing when dealing with other races.¡± She then saw Sade¡¯s confused face. ¡°Wait¡­ that whole talk on the first night we slept together. Ya were being serious?¡± At Sade¡¯s silence, the elf shot up and gently cupped the smaller woman¡¯s face. ¡°Sade, my people have more¡­ wild views about mating than the rest. But to take a lover without their say so is rape!¡± She stared into Sade¡¯s eyes, the most serious Rick had ever seen. ¡°Has this happened in yer village, did an elf do something ta ya?¡± Sade shook her head. ¡°No. Even the times an elf has mated with a villager, there was always mutual attraction. There have been stories though. About a powerful wood elf being far too insistent to be comfortable. None that I know of in Kanho, thankfully.¡± Tyr let out the breath she was apparently holding at Sade¡¯s words. The larger woman practically collapsed back onto the mattress. ¡°Can you explain why this is so important?¡± Rick asked. Tyr let out a great sigh. ¡°Yeah, alright. So elves like me are not the most fertile. We live a long time. Things like a random fling are just mild bumps on the long road.¡± All three sat cross legged on the bed, giving Tyr their full attention to her explanation. ¡°We also live by a ¡®might makes right¡¯ way of life. The strong lead, the strong breed. Those are the rules, we know them, respect them. If ya can¡¯t defend yer claim on a mate, then it¡¯s worthless.¡± ¡°So other elves can just steal each other¡¯s spouses?¡± Rick inquired. ¡°Yes, no, maybe? Gah! This is so hard ta explain!¡± She was practically pulling her hair out in frustration. ¡°Like I said, we live a long time. A very, very long time. If an elf loses a challenge, it¡¯s just for a single night of fucking. One night among thousands, hundreds of thousands. We don¡¯t treat it as a big deal. If ya or yer mate have feelings for each other, one night won¡¯t change that. We take no vows to only have each other. Many spend a few decades together then split and be with someone else.¡± ¡°I think I understand.¡± Sade said. ¡°Sex is just one activity to do with each other, like fighting, or hunting. The possibility of children is low, so only serious couples really deal with that, right?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Tyr exclaimed, happy to know she was understood. ¡°I see why our cultures would clash a bit. But why were you so serious about consent with humans?¡± Rick said. ¡°Yer not elves. We may not care who we fuck and when, but ya do!¡± She was back to being serious. ¡°We pride ourselves as being the strongest and wisest people in the area. We let ya build yer cities and empires. Yer the caretakers of the land, but we are its guardians. The elves need ta set a proper example fer everyone else ta follow.¡± She took a deep breath and continued. ¡°We want all races to treat the land as their home. This means we need ta respect each other and the rules other races set. It would be all too easy ta become the very tyrants we have removed over the centuries. This is why we have extremely strict laws to punish elves who would abuse their strength and power.¡± She turned to Sade. ¡°We may want a casual fling or two, but never outright force ourselves on non-elves. Ta do so is the gravest of crimes¡± ¡°Does this mean you do not care if a high elf gives consent?¡± Sade asked with just a hint of humor. ¡°Bah! No self respecting elf of the woods would ever touch one of those self-righteous cunts!¡± Tyr huffed indignantly. ¡°They would snap like twigs the second we so much as breathe too hard around ¡®em.¡± And just like that, the spell was broken. The pall of seriousness evaporated away with the sound of their laughter. Rick knew about Ariwyn and her one sided rivalry with Sade. She even told him and Tyr about their last exchange before heading out earlier that day. Tyr had more than a few colorful remarks to say about the high elf. There was no love lost between the two species. Rick hoped he could curb his opinion if he met anyone else from that race, one bad person shouldn¡¯t color his opinion about everyone else after all. Tyr herself just admitted to some wood elves treating others as lesser creatures after all. Rick moved in to kiss the elf. ¡°Tyr, for what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m glad to have met you.¡± She gave the brightest smile he had ever seen on her and rushed back in to mash her lips against his. It was deep, passionate, needy. Their tongues danced around each other in a duel for the ages. Neither one wanted to cede ground and let the other have the advantage. Eventually they called a truce. Both of them separated from their engagement, panting heavily with a combination of exertion and lust. ¡°I¡¯m glad I met ya too.¡± Tyr curled one arm around his neck and drew close once more. ¡°Make love ta me.¡± She whispered.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°As you wish.¡± He whispered back. Tyr laid back so Rick could behold the elf in all her glory. There was a shortage of perfect breasts in the world, and Rick would have found it a shame if hers were damaged after that grueling fight with the thorn blight. They rested high on her chest, gravity slightly pressing them down until they spilled over the sides and pooled in the space between her torso and arms. Even when compressed, her breasts still formed large mounds that stuck out a full handspan from her pectorals. The pillowy flesh was not the only appetizing feature laid out before him. She was a beautiful mix of hard and soft, wild and controlled, bulging muscles and delicious curves, masculine and feminine. She was more the latter than the former, with those perfect breasts he previously admired. And hips just as wide as Sade¡¯s. Certainly wide enough to also get stuck in the ruin tunnel. But Tyr was more than that. Her tall and feminine frame, so much larger than his own, was covered in tight cords of muscle that stuck out nearly as prominently as her breasts. His eyes traveled south, to where her most favorite addition stood tall and proud. It was huge, on her it looked almost proportional, if not a bit on the large side. But as he drew himself closer, he could tell just what a true monster it really was. ¡°You are so beautiful.¡± He said with a sigh. Rick could see her fangs flash as she bit her lip, the pointed tips of her ears turning crimson at his words. He adored the rare moments she acted like the blushing maiden. It was such a contrast to her usual gruff persona, the mixing of the two just as tantalizing a treat as the duality of her body. Rick lifted her muscular thighs, nearly as thick as his torso, around his waist. He angled himself down and slowly started to saw his way inside her velvety tunnel. He took his time, there was no need to power through to the finish line. His manhood, just as large as hers but even more monstrous on his smaller frame, gently kissed the back of her vagina. He was just barely within the limits of Tyr¡¯s ability to take. Rick had to admire Sade¡¯s ability to satisfy both of them with her comparatively tiny body. He began to piston in and out. Each thrust accompanied by a muffled groan from Tyr as he filled her to capacity, emptied out, and then filled her again. ¡°By the great spirit, why does this feel so good?¡± She moaned, her hands clutching the sheets like they were her only lifeline to safety. Her back began to arch, her hips starting to rock softly in time to his motions. Rick saw her cock swing back and forth with their movement. The poor thing was engorged to capacity, he could feel its need for release just looking at it. He had avoided interacting with this part of his lover. It was like a void on her body that his mind refused to focus on when they engaged in their numerous lovemaking sessions. This struck Rick as something wrong, like he had neglected something important. Despite its magical origins, her penis was a part of her. It was just as integral to her nature as everything else. And he had yet to so much as touch it. Rick didn¡¯t consider himself gay. Just the thought of taking the beast inside his body made him feel deeply uncomfortable. But perhaps he could find a way to satisfy both sides of his large lover. He owed her at least that much. Tentatively, he reached forward and brushed the tips of his fingers against the throbbing shaft. Tyr bucked wildly upwards with a startled cry. ¡°Rick! What are y- ah!¡± Emboldened by her reaction, Rick began to run his fingers up and down her length. ¡°Do that! Keep doing¡­ that!¡± Her moans were turning into animalistic growls of pleasure. Her inner walls started to tighten and rub along his cock with almost as much dexterity as using her own hand. Even more so in some aspects. ¡°This feels so amazing. Please, keep going!¡± She was bucking against his hips, desperate to feel him hit ever deeper inside her from every angle she could find. Despite working her from two separate sides, Rick could feel himself getting ready to blow. He needed an edge, something to take her pleasure to the next level. He looked down from where his fingers were stroking and saw her clit, standing just as hard and proud from its hood as her cock was, eager for attention. With his other hand he reached up and gently pressed down on her pleasure button. Tyr arched back and gave a screech of ecstasy. Her velvet walls clamped down around him and her mighty shaft shot out ropes of seed with each convulsion. Rick did not stop. He kept pounding into her while one hand gently stroked her and the other rubbed circles around her clit as if he was trying to milk her orgasm for as long as possible. Her climax kept going. Rick was attacking her from three sides and she could just not handle all of it. Rick wasn¡¯t too far behind, he could feel the pressure building in the base of his dick with each thrust and stroke. He was so close. The dam broke and he flooded her insides with his creamy essence. Tyr gave one last shudder before they both dropped down to the sheets in a sweaty panting heap. ¡°Whatever that was, let¡¯s do that again sometime.¡± She chuckled weakly. Rick didn¡¯t have the energy to respond, but he was more than happy to fulfill her request. He extracted himself from Tyr and turned to his other lover. Sade stood just outside the bed with a dazed look in her eyes. Her chest rose and fell with great heaves of breath like she ran half a marathon. Her plump chocolaty thighs were squeezed tight and rubbing together softly. It took her a few moments to realize that Rick was paying attention to her, her eyes gaining a modicum of focus. ¡°Please do me like that.¡± She squeaked. Rick gave a slight huf of amusement. ¡°Are you planning on growing a cock too? After all this time?¡± Sade gave an unladylike snort before padding towards the bed. ¡°No, but I want you to treat me the same way you did our dear Tyrillian.¡± She brought her eyes level with his, still slightly glazed over, but no less piercing. ¡°I want you to kiss me like I am the first drink of water after crossing the desert. I want you to devour my body with your eyes, leaving no detail hidden from your gaze. I want you to take me slowly, stroking my sensitive areas until I- umph!¡± Her seductive speech ended when her hips gave a mild convulsion, her body wound tight before loosening back up. ¡°Did¡­ Did you just cum?¡± Rick asked, incredulous. Sade could only give out a high pitched squeak and nod her head. Rick could swear she was sporting the deepest blush imaginable. It had been quite a long time since he had seen her this flustered. The usual veneer of control and seduction finally peeled away in a moment of pure lust. ¡°Do you mind making a bit of room, Tyr?¡± The elf just chuckled weakly and shifted so there was enough room for Sade to lay down. ¡°Give it ta her, stud. I wanna see just what ya gave me that made her cream her pants.¡± She admired Sade¡¯s nude form, with a very distinct lack of pants. ¡°Metaphorically of course.¡± Rick opened his arms and Sade dove in with everything she had. Their lips locked together and Rick used her momentum to gently guide her down and pin her to the bed. Their tongues entwined like lost lovers, greedily hugging and sliding as much of the other as they could deeper into the embrace. When their tongues were satiated for the time being, Rick gazed upon his human lover, just as she requested. Sade had changed a lot since they first met in those woods, arguably even more than Rick had. She had grown quite tall. Rick himself had graduated from short to average in height, but Sade, starting out shorter than him and now sharing his same height, had gone from extremely small to nearly towering. Her skin tone had remained the same, darker face and limbs with a bit more cream color for her core. It was the physical changes that truly made her various shades and colors stand out. Her perky nipples were now two dark chocolate kisses nestled over great swells of coffee ice cream. Just the sight of her breasts made his mouth water. He wanted to bend down and run his tongue over the hard nubs, just to see if she tasted as delicious as she looked. But he promised to devour her whole body with his eyes, not his mouth. That will come later. He trailed the contours of her chest down to her stomach. It was fairly flat, but Rick could see the beginnings of true muscle beginning to poke their way out from underneath. Then came her glorious hips. Just watching them sway side to side while just walking down the street had him hypnotized. He looked past her thighs to glimpse the globes of her rear end resting on the bed below her. He felt drool begin to pool inside his mouth just thinking of that magnificent booty. Every time he saw her laying on her stomach he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to smack those great cheeks, sending them jiggling around like giant bowls of chocolate gelatin. The overall effect was still Sade, but not the Sade trapped in a child¡¯s body. Before him was Sade the woman. Sade, who wielded arcane might to torch any monster who dared stand in her way. His Sade. Rick grabbed his diamond hard cock and pressed it against her soaked petals. With just a slight amount of pressure, he slid all the way to the back in one slow, smooth motion. As his tip gave the slightest kiss to the entrance to her womb, he bent down and started to devour her dusky nipples after holding himself back for far too long. They both came undone in seconds. Rick could barely get in two thrusts before Sade gave a cry of delight and wrapped her long legs around his back as if begging him to dig into her deepest depths to plant his seed. His body responded to her silent request and he climaxed with as much fervor as Sade. Their shared orgasm seemed to stretch until seconds turned to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to an eternity. Panting, exhaustion from the day¡¯s events and the short yet intense lovemaking, Rick turned his head to the other side of the bed. Tyr lay on her side like a goddess observing her worshipers from her couch, her penis swollen once more with need. When their eyes met, she let out a small yelp, her body giving a small shudder. Rick saw a rope of cum shoot out from her dick and splatter in the great valley of cleavage her tits naturally created. ¡°Did¡­ did you-¡± She also gave a small, girly squeak and nod in affirmation. Her face was so flushed with blood she looked like an oni. ¡°That was¡­ Oh, hells, that was probably the sexiest thing I¡¯ve ever seen. The way yer eyes looked at us,¡± She gave a shiver at the memory. ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of spell ya cast, but I want that again when we get back.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Sade agreed breathlessly. Who was he to refuse such a request from such beautiful women? Chapter 7.1 What Happened Next Rick stepped into the great library of Shatak. While the whole structure was grand and impressive, with vaulted ceilings and great stone pillars, it no longer filled him with the sense of awe and mystery like it once did. It now felt like a third home to him, a place to relax and curl up with a good book. He figured anywhere would start to become comfortable if he visited it every day for a month straight. The hunt they returned from the day before was the first break in his routine since he arrived in Shatak. The cart ride back to the city was uneventful. It was, however, when he and Tyr went to the hunters garrison to give their report that things got interesting. One of the officials, thankfully not the same one they first met dropping off the bug monster, actually had the balls to call Tyrillian a liar to her face. There he was, a short mustachioed man with graying hair, glaring up at the elf with one finger pointed threateningly while she stared back impassively. As spittle flew from the increasingly purple-faced man, Rick wondered if the man knew how close he was to getting his spleen ripped out through his throat. Either he was incredibly brave, or was totally confident in whatever social protections he possessed. Tyr¡¯s expression got darker with each word spat out at her, but still she did nothing. Thorn blight creatures were exceedingly rare, and only appeared when a blight infestation had been left idle for far longer than what the hunters had estimated. Since the man trusted the words of his scouts over some newcomers, his reasoning was that they lied so they could collect a larger bounty. While the assessment was a fair one to make, Rick didn¡¯t think he needed to be such a prick about it. His reaction when Tyr loomed over him and produced a small pouch filled with the same thorns she dug out of Rick, still seeped in his lifeblood, was priceless. Rick would chuckle every time he pictured the man¡¯s stunned face, all words of condemnation stuck in his throat. Thankfully physical proof and the tale of the stone ruins where the tree was found helped calm things down. After the proof came the theories on how the blight stayed undetected for so long. It seems the ruins helped prevent the infection from spreading into the forest proper until it grew too strong to contain. Thus providing an excuse on why the blightlings weren¡¯t sighted until new ones grew outside the stone structure. They agreed to an investigation from another group to find the ruins and confirm their story before taking the increased payment. Rick and the gang set out with the original reward in mind anyways. Plus the gold they found, conveniently unreported, should help cover any unexpected expenses should they crop up. Sade elected to be in charge of getting their loot appraised. The coins were not like the ones currently in circulation. While that itself wouldn¡¯t be too much of an issue, Sade thought they may be worth more as historical finds or collectors items than just gold coins. It would take a while to get their full value, but it would still be more beneficial in the long run. The books would take a bit more effort. Sade assured them she¡¯ll get it all taken care of soon. Rick had no reason whatsoever to doubt her. If she said she could do it, then she will. With the subject of books back on his mind, Rick picked up where he last left off in his quest to plunder the library for the answers to his many, many questions. He started with the oldest books that covered history, magic, and even the history of magic. While most of those books were chock full of information he needed in order to better fit into his new life, answers to how or why he ended up in this world remained elusive. Equally elusive was any information of intimancy or any other type of sexual magic. He knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy, if his vocation was commonplace he wouldn¡¯t need to be desperately searching for answers in the first place. But so far he hadn¡¯t even found a single hint, not a clue. There wasn¡¯t even a passage like ¡®So and so boned a great sorcerer and grew a giant pair of tits!¡¯ It was like any trace, any mention of magic related to fucking was scrubbed out of history. Or he somehow gained a unique power the world had never seen. Who knew? Certainly not him. He found a history book detailing life in the old dwarven empire and made his way to the reading area. He may not have found answers yet, but there was no reason to stop now. Everyone was working hard, he could at least do the same. Rick raised his hand and waved to one of the library''s few regulars and sat down in a seat to absorb the ancient history. ¡°Hey, you mind if I join you?¡± Rick looked up at the person who spoke to him. It was the regular he waved to before he sat down. ¡°Not at all. What can I do for you?¡± He said while gesturing to the empty seat across from him. ¡°Thanks. I noticed you were gone these past couple days, I thought something may have happened.¡± The woman sat down with her own tome clutched in her arms. She was tall and pale, with ruby colored eyes, and short raven hair. The arm cradling the book was slender. In fact every part of her looked painfully skinny, like she hadn¡¯t had a good meal in her entire life. The most notable details about her features were the slightly pointed ears and the two small horns jutting up from the sides of her forehead. ¡°Didn¡¯t know I¡¯d be missed.¡± He joked. ¡°But my friends and I just got back from a job with the hunters. So I¡¯ll disappear from time to time from here on out.¡± Her eyes grew wide with amusement. ¡°Oh? What is a mighty hunter doing in a place like this? I thought words with more than two syllables were too much to handle.¡± Rick had to stifle a laugh from ringing out through the building. ¡°Do hunters really have such a poor reputation? My group did quite a bit of research before we even left the city.¡± The woman giggled. It was a soft yet pleasant tinkling sound. ¡°Not quite as bad, no. But also not too far off.¡± She propped up one thin leg and opened her book. ¡°So what brings a slayer of beasts like you here today?¡± Rick held up his book so the woman could read the title before answering. ¡°History. I¡¯m new to the kingdom as a whole and the best place to get caught up is to read through its history.¡± He copied her motion and got comfortable in his seat. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Nothing quite so grand. I just enjoy a good story. This place is a wonderful way to decompress after classes end.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re a student?¡± She smiled softly. ¡°Yeah, third year at Mya. I go there to study medicine and healing.¡± ¡°Oh really? I didn¡¯t know they had a medical program.¡± He gave a theatrical pause. ¡°I suppose I don¡¯t know a lot of things, being forced to catch up with hundreds of years of history and all.¡± She gave another one of her musical laughs and held out her hand. ¡°Lilithane. But you can shorten it however you like.¡± Rick returned the gesture. ¡°Rick. It¡¯s short for Richard, but I can¡¯t remember the last time someone used my full name outside of my mother being furious at me.¡± They shared another chuckle then lapsed into a comfortable silence as they each became absorbed in their respective books. The silence lasted only an hour or two before Rick¡¯s new reading buddy set down her story with a contented sigh. ¡°Thrilling tale?¡± ¡°It was. I always do love reading stories about the blue paladin.¡± ¡°Blue paladin?¡± She gave him a look Rick couldn¡¯t quite identify. ¡°Right, you did say that you were not from the kingdom. Still surprises me that you never heard of her though.¡± Rick set his own book down. He could already tell that he was unlikely to find what he was looking for in it. That wouldn¡¯t stop him from looking anyways, but having a chat with a fellow bookworm seemed like a better use of his time at the moment. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me about her then. Her title sounds interesting¡± She gave him that strange look again. ¡°How much do you know about us?¡± ¡°Us?¡± That question caused her brows to rise all the way to her horns. ¡°Yes, people of my tribe.¡± She let out a great sigh, like this was a conversation that was about to dredge up many unpleasant topics. ¡°People like me are called the shaytoni if people are being generous. Devil-born if they are not.¡± ¡°Because of your horns?¡± ¡°Horns, tails, teeth, there are many characteristics of my tribe that remind the other tribes of demons in some fashion.¡± ¡°What are the other tribes?¡± ¡°All the various people groups who live here. You are of the human tribe, yes?¡± It seemed Rick had once again stumbled upon a topic that was considered common knowledge. He thought he was doing fairly well so far, but this conversation just showed he had a long way to go. ¡°Ah, yes. I have indeed been accused of being human.¡± He said, trying to cover slightly for his mistake. ¡°Indeed. Well due to our appearance, the shaytoni tribe do not have the best of reputations. But that brings us back to the blue paladin.¡± She seemed to relax now that the topic was back to her story. ¡°She is a shaytoni, although her tribe are referred to as ¡®tieflings¡¯ in the stories. Despite this, and the scorn of some of the people she meets, she is a warrior for a mysterious goddess of justice.¡± Lilithane¡¯s eyes became distant as she was picturing the character she loved and doing her best to describe the divine warrior. ¡°She never once wavers in her duty, never compromises in her ideals, even when the very people she saves hate her just for being born different. And she is rewarded for her efforts. The people¡¯s hatred turns to love. She alone helped turn the hearts of the other tribes for the betterment of her own.¡± Rick could only chuckle at the woman¡¯s enthusiasm for such a relatable hero. ¡°I take it she was strong?¡± ¡°She killed dragons, tamed a mighty steed, held back armies. Yes, she was very strong.¡± Rick had no idea if this was based on a real person or just fiction. From his short time in the library, he mostly only found technical or historical texts. Perhaps I was just looking in the wrong spots. ¡°You said she was a paladin? I didn¡¯t think religion was that popular in the kingdom.¡± ¡°They are just stories. Some of the gods depicted share a few similarities with the few worshiped here, but it¡¯s all tall tales.¡± She sighed, as if saddened that the events depicted could never happen in real life. She looked back at Rick. ¡°Thanks for letting me gush. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve talked to someone about my hobby.¡± ¡°It was no problem. I¡¯ve learned a lot of new things since coming here, and you taught me quite a bit already.¡± He leaned in close and whispered. ¡°Between you and me, I¡¯m a sucker for a good story about a knight smiting evil dragons.¡± That caused her to burst into laughter before she quickly stifled herself. This was a library after all. ¡°Oh, you are dangerous.¡± She said after she calmed herself down to talk in a respectful volume. ¡°Are you this smooth with the healer in your group?¡± That made him pause. Was he being smooth? He didn¡¯t intend to be flirty or anything, he just wanted to be friendly and get to know someone. He mentally shrugged and decided just to continue as he was. ¡°We don¡¯t have a healer. After our last hunt, we all agreed that finding one would be a good idea.¡± ¡°Well that seems like a bold move.¡± She exclaimed. Her eyes then roved over Rick¡¯s body, as if clinically assessing him. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be injured too badly.¡± It was Rick¡¯s turn to stop himself from laughing too loud for their present location. ¡°Sorry, sorry. We didn¡¯t get too injured, but I did have to spend the better part of an hour getting thorns removed from my ass with a knife.¡± Lilithane snorted into her palm. ¡°What did you do?!¡± ¡°A big plant monster launched all its thorns and I was unfortunately standing right next to the thing when it happened.¡± Rick shrugged. It hurt like hell when it happened, but now that he was mostly recovered, even he thought the whole situation to be kinda hilarious. ¡°Well¡­ That''s a better excuse than what I thought you were going to say.¡± She chuckled ¡°And what did you think my excuse was going to be?¡± He shot back. ¡°Falling into some brambles while you were relieving yourself?¡± Rick winced at the mental image. That did not sound like a fun time. ¡°You don¡¯t have a high opinion of hunters, do you?¡± ¡°My opinions are justified based off experience.¡± She said in a way that led Rick to believe she was telling the truth. Just what kind of people did he and his friends sign up with? ¡°Tell you what. When is your next hunt? I¡¯ll join you for a small fee.¡± Rick was mildly surprised. ¡°You would do that?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Meh¡­ you can¡¯t be worse than most other hunters i¡¯ve dealt with.¡± She gave his shoulder a surprisingly firm smack before heading to the entrance. ¡°I¡¯ll be here when you¡¯ve talked with your group. See you then!¡± Rick was slightly dazed. He came in hoping to do some research, struck up a conversation with a book loving medical student, and somehow ended up getting an offer for an experienced healer to join them on their next hunt. The speed at which events unfolded dazzled him. He could only stare at where the shaytoni sat in puzzlement. ¡°The balls just happened?¡± Rick asked softly to himself. Chapter 7.2 What Is Going On ¡°Now, As discussed earlier, all magic comes from one of six sources. More often than not, a studious individual can discern the intent of a spell formula, or at the very least which school of magic the spell belongs to, by observing which source it is derived from. To give you an example; nearly every fire spell known comes from the lungs. Many healing spells come from the liver, but a few have been known to be from the stomach. By next class I want a report detailing what each of the six sources specialize in and why certain spells in the same school would differentiate from the norm.¡± The class filed out of the lecture hall. Within mere seconds only Sade and the professor who was previously speaking were left. ¡°Professor Armondo, do you have a moment?¡± ¡°Hey, just give me a bit of time to pack up and I¡¯ll be right with you chica.¡± ¡°Sade, actually.¡± She was slightly embarrassed. She didn¡¯t think she had left such a miniscule presence that one of her teachers forgot her name. ¡°What was that?¡± Professor Armondo said after he slid the last book off the lectern and into his bag. ¡°Oh, of course I know your name is Sade. I apologize, a bit of the old tongue slips out from time to time.¡± The old dwarf gave a chuckle that rumbled in his broad chest. The professor had an odd quality to his voice, that Sade couldn¡¯t quite identify. It was husky to the point of gravel, but not quite. Perhaps a sandy tone? Sade supposed the description fit, since it matched what color his long hair had that wasn¡¯t dyed gray. His voice was unique enough to make his long winded lectures somewhat entertaining. Few would suspect the laid back dwarf chuckling in front of her was one of the most powerful water mages in the kingdom. ¡°Alright, got everything all packed. Now what can I do for-...¡± He stared at Sade as if she was under dissection. He adjusted his spectacles further up his nose and stepped closer before suddenly exploding in anger. ¡°What in the blazes are you doing girl!? Are you channeling spells from the same source in my classroom?¡± He stepped even closer, looking at her chest as though he could see through her completely. ¡°And¡­ is that the same spell on top of that? Yes, I see the mirroring formula. Are you really trying to double-cast the same thing?¡± However Sade thought this conversation would go, being lectured for her attunement training was not what she expected. ¡°I-I am sir! This is mainly for training my attunement though.¡± ¡°Attunement? Ah, I see how this could be useful for training.¡± He shot a baleful eye at Sade. ¡°But I distinctly remember telling you in a conversation much like this one specifically why trying to hold, let alone cast, mirrored spell formula is dangerous.¡± She nodded. ¡°You did sir. But I feel that the benefits of training far outweigh the risks due to the extra layer of complexity involved. I have done a lot of experimentation before coming to this conclusion.¡± This seemed to modify the man. ¡°Should probably try it out myself. Very clever Sade. I¡¯m glad you aren¡¯t trying to actually cast two of the same spell at once.¡± Sade didn¡¯t want to correct her teacher for fear of being yelled at again. But a stronger, more proud part of her had to let the truth be known. She had accomplished so much in her short time at the university. ¡°I have been successful in dual-casting actually. Both mirrored copies and spells from separate sources.¡± Armondo looked deep into her eyes, as if trying to spot the lie to her words. ¡°Show me.¡± He said simply before a wave of water erupted out of his hand and formed a wall taller than Tyr a short distance from the two of them. She complied with his request. Twin streams of fire erupted from her hands and collided with the wall of water in a burst of steam. He looked at her with a new light. It was still calculating, assessing, but there was a hint of pride behind those pale blue orbs. ¡°Impressive. What else can you do?¡± Sade showed him everything. She alternated activations of her ¡®flamethrower¡¯, then used one hand to trace the formula for her mist spell, casting both at the same time. She tried to push herself to the limit. She twirled and danced in a magical ballet of sorcerous destruction, swapping between every spell formula she knew, all while casting a mirrored copy or in combination with another random spell. Modified ¡®elven claw¡¯, ¡®flame lantern¡¯, ¡®Ice spike¡¯, ¡®mage missile¡¯, ¡®fireball¡¯, ¡®ice ball¡¯, and more. After five minutes of constant spellwork, she cut off the flow of her mana and kneeled on the floor in exhaustion. The professor was stunned at her display. ¡°Only in your first year and already able to weave spells with such elegance and precision. Your vocation must be quite powerful to grant you a skill like that at such a low level.¡± ¡°I, huff, I am not using a, huff, skill.¡± Sade gasped out. The man¡¯s eyes bulged and he quickly sat down on a nearby chair. ¡°All that. And without a skill?¡± He stared at her in bewilderment. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder you can keep up with the likes of Ariwyn. I think you have what it takes to be the next great magus.¡± Sade had to hide her wince at his praise. What would he think if he knew she could have been a magus? What would he say if he knew she chose something else? She doubted he or anyone else at Mya University would understand her choice. And with some luck and a lot of hard work, they would never know. ¡°As much as I enjoy hearing compliments from you, I actually stayed behind to discuss something else.¡± She said once she recovered her breath. ¡°Oh? Something you need help with? What is it?¡± He seemed to have recovered his energy at the prospect of helping his student. Sade produced one of the books they found in the ruins. ¡°It is some sort of spellbook, I just can not read the descriptions and I have not seen spells like this before.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. He gingerly gripped the tome, as if it was a precious child. He slowly opened the cover to the first page. ¡°Let¡¯s see here¡­¡± Sade saw him slowly trace his finger along the delicate script, line by line, page by page. ¡°This is interesting.¡± He said as he got to the first spell form. ¡°In what way, if I may ask?¡± He looked up from the yellowed pages. He had a particular twinkle in his eye. One that Sade knew meant answers would not be easy to obtain. ¡°Tell me, what are the sources of mana in the body?¡± ¡°The mind, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, and the reproductive region. Called either the womb or groin depending on preference or gender.¡± ¡°As perfect an answer as if you transcribed it from one of my lectures.¡± He chuckled. ¡°It helped that you were discussing the same subject the moment before this conversation.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Armondo chuckled once more. ¡°I guess this will help you slightly with the assignment I just gave as well. Don¡¯t tell the other students. I would hate to be accused of favoritism.¡± Sade promised him that their conversation would not be repeated, so he continued. ¡°You see this symbol here? That is an old rune used to denote the source of the womb. The first spell in an old book, and it is sourced from the womb. That is why I found it interesting.¡± Sade was trying to follow his logic. She couldn¡¯t think of anything about a womb spell that would stand out to an accomplished mage like Armondo. She admittedly didn¡¯t know any spells that shared that particular source, but she also didn¡¯t know more than a dozen spells all told, most of them simple cantrips she found in her father¡¯s library. ¡°Why is that so interesting?¡± ¡°Because, dear girl, of the hundreds of spells I know, and the thousands I''ve at least heard of, there is only a single spell that is sourced from the reproductive region.¡± ¡°Only¡­ one?¡± That sounded impossible. There had to be as many spells as there were stars in the sky. Each spell was different from the other by its source, path, and outlet. Sade¡¯s ¡®flamethrower¡¯ shared a similar pathway and source as ¡®freezing mist¡¯, and the exact same outlet, the palm. The difference being that ice spells typically loop back around and touch their source, the lungs, a second time to invert the element. There were thousands of possible combinations and iterations on spells just using that same philosophy. So how had mages for thousands of years completely neglected to try one of the sources of magic? ¡°I see you have grasped the same conundrum I have.¡± The old dwarf said. ¡°The best explanation I could find is that because we have no idea how the source works, experienced mages are more hesitant to try. The last thing anyone wants is to cast a powerful spell of unknown effects. With all the other sources, much of the groundwork has been laid for millennia, we have a solid idea of what a spell could do based on previous examples.¡± ¡°But¡­ That¡­¡± That was just stupid! What mages would ever just disregard a sixth of all magic? She just couldn¡¯t understand. Her mind, unable to comprehend the sheer incompetence of her forebearers. ¡°Relax girl. I said it was the best excuse I¡¯ve heard. Not that it was even valid to begin with.¡± He put a broad hand on her shoulder. ¡°But now we have a chance to rediscover something grand.¡± He gestured to the open book in front of them. ¡°Someone had done the legwork. And maybe you can figure out why it was forgotten.¡± He was right. Just the first page of this book was enough to advance the study of magic by leaps and bounds. ¡°But we do not know what the spell does. I do not recognise the writing.¡± Her teacher laughed and reached into his bag for a scrap piece of paper. He scribbled a note on it and handed it to Sade. ¡°That¡¯s a problem that can be fixed quite easily.¡± Sade took the paper and he smiled warmly. ¡°My best guess is that you found a book written in old elvish.¡± ¡°Old elvish?¡± ¡°Indeed. Those prickly high elves switched their written and spoken language about, oh two, three thousand years back. No one really knows why, and they refuse to share the reason. But our library has a dictionary squirreled away somewhere.¡± His grin grew wide and a bit wild. ¡°Just hand this note to Jenkins and he¡¯ll find it for ya.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± He said almost as an afterthought. ¡°I think it will be in our best interest if you don¡¯t tell anyone about the dictionary or this little spellbook here.¡± ¡°You would just hand this back to me, and pretend you never saw it?¡± Sade stared at the book that lay right where professor Armondo left it. It was still turned to the first spell formula, as if begging for its myriad secrets to be uncovered. ¡°In case you haven''t realized, I¡¯m something of a ¡®specialist¡¯. I highly doubt many of the spells this book has are novel ways to use water.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Nah, this is something best left to some talented lass who has the potential to shake things to their core.¡± He grabbed his things and started walking towards the door. ¡°Oh, and Sade.¡± He said while turning around to face her. ¡°Yes professor?¡± ¡°Please be sure to finish the assignment I gave you in class. I know how a good project can just take over all aspects of your life, but do try to stay on top of your schoolwork. I would hate to be the one who caused my brightest student¡¯s grades to plummet.¡± Sade laughed. ¡°Of course professor Armondo. In fact, I think I should head to the library to research the topic immediately.¡± It was his turn to laugh. ¡°Good, good. I look forward to both the assignment and whatever you find in that spellbook in your spare time.¡± He began to walk towards the door once more. ¡°Good luck Sade!¡± A sudden thought struck Sade as she saw her teacher¡¯s back. ¡°That spell.¡± She said, unsure how to phrase her question. ¡°Hrm?¡± He asked, turning to her once more. ¡°That one spell. The only one you know that is sourced from the womb, do you know what it does?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡­¡± He scratched his chin. Is¡­ is he embarrassed? Sade couldn¡¯t fathom what kind of spell would provoke that sort of reaction. ¡°Contraception.¡± Sade could only blink in surprise at the word that just escaped his lips. Thankfully he continued explaining. ¡°The spell is one of contraception. Many of the whores down at the docks would cast the spell to prevent any unwanted pregnancies.¡± Before his words could fully sink in, he practically ran out the door as fast as his shorter legs could carry him. Sade¡¯s head swam. It may have been because of the mana drain she suffered from pushing herself earlier, but she knew deep down that the problem was more complicated than that. Something was wrong with the magical community. Public sentiment for mages was at an all time low and mages were potentially being attacked out in the wilds. Somehow a whole magical school has been abandoned from research, and she had only begun to scratch the surface of what was truly going on. Professor Armondo knew far more than what he shared with Sade, that much was obvious. But aside from the implications that her kind professor had visited ladies of the night, he had hinted that the information she found could potentially be repressed or outright erased if word got out. ¡°Just what is going on?¡± She whispered quietly to herself. Chapter 7.3 What Was Missed Sade sat alone on the bed all three lovers shared in their inn. Rick was a bit dazed after his encounter at the library. He sat down on the bed next to his lover and saw a similar faraway look in her own eyes. ¡°Something odd happened at school?¡± He asked. Sade seemed to snap out of her funk at the sound of his voice. ¡°Oh! Um¡­ It is hard to fully describe.¡± She wrapped one arm around Rick¡¯s waist. ¡°How was your day?¡± ¡°Probably not as crazy as yours, but still quite odd.¡± He said while hugging her back. She leaned into his embrace and laid her head on his shoulder. Sade no longer had her curly hair in two puffballs like when they first met. She now had her hair pulled back somewhat tightly before the dark strands trailed off the back of her head in a waterfall of twisted coils. It was a nice look. He greatly enjoyed playing with her braids as they lay in each other''s arms. ¡°Tell me about your day.¡± Sade said from her apparently comfortable position. Rick never understood what it was that she liked about his bony shoulder, but he had long given up arguing when Sade had decided something. If she enjoyed that spot, then she did, it didn¡¯t have to make sense to Rick. ¡°Well, someone at the library approached me. We got to talking about books and hunting. Next thing I know, she is selling her services as a healer next time we go out.¡± Sade extracted herself from his shoulder to look at him, most likely to see if he was joking around or being serious. ¡°I agree, that was indeed odd. Could you please tell me the full story?¡± Rick recounted his tale about going to the library, meeting Lilithane, and their conversation that followed. He did his best to recount everything said, word for word. Sade gave him a playful slap when the subject of his apparent flirting came up in the discussion, but otherwise let him continue the tale. ¡°I have read a few of the blue paladin stories.¡± Sade said when he mentioned how much she gushed about the character. ¡°I enjoyed them, but they did not pertain to actual magic, so they were just something to enjoy before bed or on rainy days.¡± ¡°Why rainy days?¡± Rick asked. If you were in a library, there was no reason you couldn¡¯t read a book on magic, rain or shine. ¡°Because you should not practice magic indoors.¡± Sade giggled. Rick gave a grunt of understanding. ¡°I wonder if ¡®tiefling¡¯ was the original name for her tribe.¡± She mused. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Sade straightened her posture slightly. ¡°This is slightly tangential to how my day went, but ¡®shaytoni¡¯ is an old elvish word. One that means ¡®born of demons¡¯.¡± Now that was interesting. ¡°So they call themselves essentially ¡®devil-born¡¯, just in a slightly fancier way. Depending on whether or not they are aware of that, it could be impressive or just another cosmic joke.¡± ¡°How would it be impressive?¡± ¡°Think of it like this.¡± Rick began, already seeing parallels to certain people groups from his world. ¡°You spend all your life being called nasty names. So instead of taking the phrase an insult, you own it. Make it your identity. They call you a devil-born, a shaytoni, because of your looks? Fine then. You are a shaytoni. They can¡¯t insult you with it if you consider it a badge of honor.¡± ¡°Fascinating.¡± Sade breathed. Rick hoped she wouldn¡¯t ask where he got his information from. It would be incredibly awkward talking about racism in his world and the history involved. Especially considering his lover''s dusky complexion. He silently prayed to whatever gods were in this world that discrimination based on skin color wasn¡¯t a thing here. ¡°Anyways,¡± He began so the conversation could continue. ¡°She¡¯s a third year medical student, has some experience going out on hunts, and has offered to sell her services. Think we should take her up on that?¡± ¡°Hrm, I think we should wait for Tyr to get back first. She did not give you an actual price, and until our deal with the antiquity auction is concluded, we are getting a bit low on funds.¡± She gave him a warm smile. ¡°But, we could instead offer her a larger cut of the pay for the next hunt. That should at least encourage her to do a good job.¡± ¡°Indeed. So, why were you staring off into space when I walked in?¡± ¡°Ah, that.¡± She sighed. ¡°I talked to one of my professors about one of the books we found.¡± She went on to describe how her professor gave her a lecture, then tested her casting, to finally why the books they found were so strange. ¡°Well¡­ did he give you the formula for the contraception spell?¡± Sade did a double take at his words. ¡°What?¡± He said with a sarcastic tone. ¡°It would save us money on all the medicine we buy.¡± She laughed and tackled him to the bed. ¡°I was being serious!¡± ¡°I was too.¡± He quipped back, without a single hint of seriousness. ¡°You just said that money is tight right now.¡± Sade just shook her head in exasperation and leaned down. ¡°Thank you.¡± She whispered and kissed him softly on the lips. ¡°I got stuck in my own head. This just all seems too much to deal with.¡± Rick wrapped his arms around his lover, bringing her in close. ¡°I know. We¡¯ll have to be careful with who we talk to about what we found. For now we should focus on learning and growing stronger together.¡± Sade just hummed in acknowledgment and snuggled up between the crook of his neck. Rick absentmindedly massaged the back of her head with the pads of his fingers. ¡°So, how much have you translated already?¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Of what?¡± ¡°Of the books we found. You mentioned you studied the elven dictionary, so I assumed you already started translating.¡± She snuggled some more before answering. ¡°Nothing yet. I had to secretly pick up and drop off the dictionary with one of the librarians, so I have been transcribing the pages written with some spare paper. This way I can translate our books here where it is marginally safer.¡± ¡°Plus,¡± She added. ¡°I still had an assignment given to me. I needed to finish that first.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± He chuckled. Sade had priorities, and not even an ancient mystery or secret conspiracy could derail her from her goal of being the best mage she could be. ¡°How long do you think it will take you to copy the dictionary down completely?¡± ¡°Oh that is already done.¡± She said simply, as if it was the simplest thing in the world. ¡°I was debating on if I should continue down this path when you walked in.¡± Of course she did. Why am I not surprised? Rick thought as he kissed his not quite so little genius on her forehead. ¡°I say go for it then.¡± ¡°I will.¡± She said softly. ¡°But for now I would prefer to stay where I am currently.¡± The two kissed, long and slow. It had been quite some time since it was just the two of them alone. Aside from the first night alone in the forest, he and Sade have always been together in one form or another. She was his rock. The lone point of stable footing in this strange and somewhat dangerous world. He hoped she felt the same about him. That he was someone she could turn to when the pressures of school or city life became too much to deal with on her own. He really did worry if she was piling too much on her plate. He deepened their kiss, trying to pour every scrap of love and affection he had for the woman into that one simple act. Their connection became even deeper, more heated. Their limbs starting to explore more of each other''s bodies. They had seen each other naked since the day they met, but neither of them got tired of looking, touching, experiencing the other. Rick could feel his lower body react to her touch. How it swelled with the need to be inside her, to make two become one. No words were said, none were needed. Both lovers tore off their clothes and went right back to what they were doing before, a tangle of naked squirming limbs and greedy mouths. Rick could feel Sade slide her fingers along his shaft, the tips of her fingers tickling the ridge of his swollen head. He returned the favor and brought his own fingers to her hungry slit, lubricating the tips as he traveled up and down her sodden lips. Sade whimpered and started stroking harder. Her desperate need for release felt with every pull. She still had his hand loosely between her fingers, sliding herself up and down his length so that each centimeter of his skin felt alive with her touch. She knew if she gripped too hard it would feel like she was flaying his dick, and that wouldn¡¯t not have been fun. Few things killed the mood like unwelcome pain. That first attempt of hers at jerking him off that first week they met was certainly a night to remember. ¡°I still find it hard to believe I can fit this thing inside me.¡± She breathed after they separated from their kiss. ¡°It is twice as large as it was before. You have no idea how full this thing makes me feel. How even now, I can feel my insides stretch almost to the point of pain just to make room for you.¡± She slid down until her knees rested on the pile of clothes they threw on the floor. She pulled on Rick¡¯s legs so that he was sitting on the bed right in front of her. She curled her hand around his cock and lifted it up to her face. ¡°Look at this. I can barely take you in my mouth.¡± She laughed and began to demonstrate. Her thin lips opened wide to accept his manhood between them. The glands just barely made it inside before there became an apparent lack of room. She sucked and swirled her tongue round the sensitive folds, but it looked fairly awkward and it was obvious the other fifteen centimeters left would have to settle for her delicate hands. Not that he would complain about that. Her fingers danced and curled up and down him in a glorious display of skill and pleasure. He could feel himself getting close. The urge to erupt and flood her cheeks with his seed rising with every bob of her head. Sade must have sensed the impending eruption and slowed down, easing the pleasure bit by bit, until she stopped completely. One more stroke, one more lick, and he would have been done for. But she brought him to the final millimeter of the edge, and held him there. His dick throbbed with need. Red and angry at being denied its purpose, to paint that lovely dark skin in a shade of white. ¡°You are such a tease!¡± He croaked out. Her smile widened, stretching into a grin. And there it was, that cheshire grin she sported whenever she had come up with a way to bring him to the greatest of heights in a way that he would love and hate in equal measure. ¡°You know you love it.¡± She laughed. Nothing made Sade happier than to play with her meal. But she always made sure that her teasing was worth it in the end. Rick wondered what her devious mind had in store for him this time. She sat up straighter and placed his rock hard cock right between her delicious mounds. Her breasts were fairly big, but the flesh pole between them looked too big to handle. She started to rock her chest up and down along his length, both her hands resting at its base to keep it from slipping out. ¡°Oh darn.¡± She whined playfully. ¡°It looks like I will need some help to take care of this thing.¡± ¡°Wait! Sade, don¡¯t-¡± He was too late, his words drowned out by cries of ecstasy. He looked down and saw the sides of her breasts puff up slightly to cover more surface area. Sade started to rock her torso up and down with greater enthusiasm. At each peak and valley she would slow further to an almost painful crawl. Rick knew that each time she slowed, another point of energy would wrack through her body. With each point of energy, he could see her peaks rise and her valley deepen. She was not using large chunks of coital energy all at once, but one point at a time. Using coital energy at all was an absolutely orgasmic rush, and putting more energy in only added to it. But slowly drip feeding the magic and feeling that rush over, and over, and over? This could possibly be worse, far, far worse. Sade¡¯s breathing was hitched, her eyes completely clouded with lust. Her tongue stuck out of her panting mouth like a dog. ¡°I want to see if we can both cum with just my tits.¡± She slurred, a lurid smile on her face. Rick was horrified as he was turned on. Her breasts had expanded by at least two cup sizes, her newfound cleavage wrapped around his penis like a hotdog between the worlds softest buns. She moved her hands up to cup her expanded assets and squished them together. His whole shaft was swallowed by the pillowy softness, only the tip could be seen poking out of the fluffy tunnel Sade created. With one last stroke that made his manhood disappear then pop back out to poke her in her waiting mouth, Rick exploded. A geyser of white shot up into her mouth, then kept going to her face and hair. Some of his eruption flew up so high that it arced back down and landed on her naked back. Sade gave a cry of joy as her own climax ripped through her whole body. Rick fell back, utterly spent from the most erotic tit-job he had ever seen, let alone got to experience. Sade just sat there, leaning forward with only her gigantic jugs supporting her weight, his dick still pleasantly wedged between them. Her body twitching with orgasmic aftershocks. And then he saw that her eyes rolled up to the back of her head, a blissed out expression frozen to her cum splattered face. Her steady breathing told Rick she was unconscious. ¡°I¡¯m back ya mayflies!¡± Came a shout as the door opened. Tyr strolled into the room with a large sack over her shoulder. She paused as the smell of sweat and cum assaulted her nose. She then noticed the two humans in their rather precarious post-coital position. ¡°What did I miss?¡± Chapter 8.1 The Second Hunt There were four people on the cart as it rolled down the road along the coast. Lilithane looked at the group awkwardly. She had been fairly subdued and quiet ever since the journey started. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Rick asked in order to break the ice. She startled then relaxed when she saw it was just Rick being friendly. He hoped the others didn¡¯t say anything to her to make her so jumpy. ¡°Ah, well¡­ I¡¯m just surprised is all.¡± She admitted with a nervous hug to herself. ¡°I know Tyr may seem pretty scary, but she is just a big softie at heart.¡± Sade piped in with a friendly smile from her seat in the front. Her insolence earned her a gentle slap upside the head from the big softy in question, which elicited a chuckle from the smaller woman. ¡°What? Well yes, but no! Hold on¡­¡± Lilithane said as she scrambled to focus her thoughts. ¡°My point was that when you mentioned you were part of a hunting party, I didn¡¯t expect the rest of the group to be all women. Especially not ones so beautiful¡± She said that last part under her breath so quietly that Rick almost couldn¡¯t catch it half a meter away. Unfortunately for her, Rick¡¯s group had someone with exceptional hearing. ¡°Glad ta hear ya think I look beautiful. At least ya aren¡¯t like big tits over here, and had ta get a whole new wardrobe just before a hunt!¡± ¡°I said I was sorry!¡± Sade whined. She knew that Tyr was just venting. There was no real malice in her words. ¡°And my breasts are no bigger than yours.¡± She slapped the elf¡¯s orbs playfully for emphasis. Lilithane looked at the two women with curiosity. ¡°What happened? Why would you need a whole new wardrobe?¡± Rick decided now was the best time to intervene. After Sade¡¯s conversation with her professor, they all agreed to keep coital energy a secret between them. Granted, they weren¡¯t broadcasting that he had the power to make a woman grow tits the size of her head, but they were more willing to share the secret before the fateful meeting. To aid him in keeping the secret, he would rely on the three great bastions of Russian defense; Deny. Deflect. And shrug shoulders. ¡°It was nothing major. She just waited a bit too long before springing that on us. We needed to buy some new gear for all three of us for this job anyways. It all just cost more than we hoped. What can ya do?¡± He, of course, shrugged his shoulders at his own question. ¡°Eh, I can¡¯t say I can relate.¡± Lilithane shrugged back. Rick inwardly praised the greatest defense strategy his old world had ever known for helping him at that moment. She gestured at herself. ¡°I¡¯ve stayed the same size for the last decade, no matter what I do.¡± ¡°Wait, have you always looked like you desperately need a sandwich?¡± Rick asked. Sade turned and glared at him before she smacked him upside the head for the insensitive comment. ¡°What?¡± He asked, perplexed. Lilithane let out her musical laughter. ¡°While rude, you aren¡¯t wrong. I know what I look like. And I swear there¡¯s nothing I can do to change that. I¡¯ve tried stuffing my face until my stomach felt like bursting, eating lots of bread, not exercising for a month, just about anything to stop looking like a skeleton.¡± ¡°And nothing worked?¡± Tyr asked from the driver''s seat. ¡°Nope. Nothing.¡± She confirmed. ¡°Some of the things I''ve tried seriously messed me up, health wise. But I have remained skin and bones my whole life, and no one can figure out why. That was part of the reason I wanted to study medicine, to help people like me.¡± ¡°Admirable.¡± Sade said. ¡°I wish I was that selfless when I decided I wanted to become a mage.¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t go thinking I¡¯m some hero, here to save the day!¡± Lilithane laughed. ¡°I just said that was part of the reason. The other is gold, plain and simple.¡± They all chuckled at that. Healers made good money, none of the trio could fault the woman for pursuing a career that would allow her to make a good living. Rick just hoped that if things went well, they could continue to afford to have a healer with them on more hunts. True to her word, Lilithane agreed to a quarter share of the bounty. That was indeed a ¡®small fee¡¯ when she told the group how much she usually charged a hunting party for her services. When asked why she decided to give them a discount, she just shrugged and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t hurt to make a good first impression. I can always charge more for next time.¡± This was a good opportunity for all of them. Rick was sure his group was not going to squander it. It still bugged him how easily things fell in place, It had only been a few days after he had met the healer after all. Tyr had actually just found their next hunting assignment when she walked in to find Sade passed out after her overdose of coital energy. The conversation they had after that was the opposite of easy, however. ¡°Yer suppose ta be the smart one!¡± Tyr had shouted to the woman after she awoke some time later. ¡°How in the blazes did ya figure out a way ta almost literally fuck yer brains out?! Who does that?¡± If Sade had a tail, it would have been firmly tucked between her legs as she was getting a serious dressing down from her justifiably angry lover. The muscular woman had paced around their shared living quarters, hands running through her mane, as she tried to vent her frustrations in as safe and constructive a manner as possible. ¡°I thought we were going ta take things slow. Ta be careful with Rick¡¯s magic. And then I walk in and find out ya blew yer tits out so far ya don¡¯t have clothes that fit anymore!¡± The ranting eventually petered out, the worry and anger finally out of her system. She hugged Sade fiercely. Tyr wasn¡¯t the best at expressing herself, but both Sade and Rick knew she cared deeply for the two of them. Probably more than the elf even realized herself. What followed next was an intense shopping trip in order for them all, especially Sade, to get ready for their next hunt. They had to first and foremost find some way to bind or disguise her new bust. Her sweater puppies were close to double in size than the week previous and although her school robes could hide quite a bit of her form, the significantly larger bulge out the front would have been far too noticeable for comfort. After they found some suitable bindings to hide her assets at school, the next item on the list was some new shirts and something to support the girls during regular activity. Then they all moved on to finding some good weapons that would help crack open their targets just a bit easier. Tyr ended up grabbing a pair of axes that were larger than her old hatchet, but still could be used comfortably in one hand. One hand for someone of Tyr¡¯s prodigious strength of course, she had a way to make regular sized weapons look like toys in her hands. Rick picked up a one handed sledgehammer that had a decent heft to use as his secondary weapon. Some more essential supplies needed for a three day trip rounded out the rest of their shopping. The next day, after Rick made a quick trip to the library to inform Lilithane about the sudden job, was devoted solely to training. They had a couple new weapons to get used to, some tactics to try out, and at least one surprise for when their target least expected it. Rick turned to look at Sade. She was facing forward next to Tyr in the front of the cart. From behind he could see the laces of her new outer corset she wore over the long sleeve shirt. It rested just below her bustline, cradling her melons in just the most perfect way to show off their size and shape. The whole ensemble really emphasized her exaggerated proportions, with the tight leather hugging her slender torso before her hips flared out dramatically in her custom trousers. Rick couldn¡¯t blame the shaytoni for openly gaping when she was introduced to the whole group. Sade looked like a walking wet dream with all those delicious curves packed into near skin tight clothing. And Tyr, being a wood elf, was downright sexy and intimidating in equal measure. Rick felt more than a little out of place next to the women too. He chuckled to himself when the considered that all he needed was some eye-covering bangs and he could cosplay as ¡®Generic hentai MC #5¡¯. Thankfully he wasn¡¯t nearly as rotten on the inside as those lunatics. He was also extremely grateful his magic worked the way it did. He couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of damage someone could do if the rules of intimancy were less strict or the one using it had less scruples. Rick could use many, many different and expressive words to describe himself, but ¡®sociopathic¡¯ was not one of them. ¡°Are we there yet?¡± Lilithane asked politely. ¡°Nearly.¡± Tyr replied. ¡°Just need ta crest that hill over there.¡± She pointed to the spot in question some distance away. The shaytoni groaned after noticing how much further it was. ¡°At least you are not walking.¡± Sade chided gently. ¡°Walking?¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Yep.¡± Rick added. ¡°The two of us had to walk for almost a week through the woods to reach Valmik after the caravan was attacked. An unexpected days-long hike and camping trip is not something I would recommend.¡± ¡°Especially if you have to explore the woods with no clothes on.¡± Sade giggled. ¡°The fuck?!¡± Lilithane cried ¡°Now you have to tell me the full story!¡± Sade obliged the newcomer and gave a modified version of events, beginning with two scared humans running naked through the woods after their caravan was attacked while they were bathing. ¡°The trek was fairly exhausting, I believe both of us gained a stat point in endurance for getting through the ordeal.¡± Sade concluded her tale. ¡°Aye, ya two looked half dead when I first laid eyes on ya. Didn¡¯t help my first impression ta be honest.¡± Tyr commented. She knew the full unedited story of their meeting and trek to Valmic, as neither Sade or Rick felt right about keeping secrets from her after they became intimate. Well¡­ aside from Rick being from another world. But aside from that, she knew everything there was to know about her two human lovers. ¡°Okay then¡­ remind me not to complain about wagons in the future.¡± Lilithane said. ¡°Oh, you can still complain about how uncomfortable wagon rides are, because they most certainly are. Just remember that there are worse options when you have to get somewhere quickly.¡± Sade laughed. ¡°Yeah! And they¡¯re not the most comfortable place ta fuck either.¡± ¡°Tyr!¡± Rick groaned. Not even the greatest Russian defense could derail the questions that will come next. ¡°Wait, you fucked in a wagon before?¡± Came the first of many questions Rick really, really did not want to deal with at the moment. ¡°In this wagon.¡± She replied suggestively. ¡°Tyr!¡± Sade shouted and slapped the large woman on the shoulder. ¡°Have some tact!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that? Is it tasty?¡± She was fucking with them. Why now of all times was anyone¡¯s guess, least of all Rick¡¯s. She had the biggest shit eating grin he had ever seen while she watched her two lovers and the healer all squirm at her explicit remarks. Thankfully the line of questions he wanted to avoid were derailed by her asinine comment, but Rick vowed that he would get back at her somehow. ¡°Oh hey, we¡¯re here!¡± The elf chirped in a voice that was entirely too cheerful, completely ignoring both Sade and Rick giving her the stink eye. The cart crested the final hill and all four were greeted with the sight of a small fishing village nestled in a cove. Rick could see docks piled with small fishing boats along a bright sandy beach that stretched back quite a distance before the first of the small buildings began. Cliff walls rose behind the village with just a narrow valley between them acting as the sole exit on the eastern edge. The party rolled into the village proper after a few minutes. Rick was now able to get a closer look and found the town was built with what looked to be adobe in the mission style. Which felt fitting for the hot and dry coastal climate Shivani seemed to sport. ¡°Hey! Welcome to Gaviota! You dudes need any help with something?¡± Rick whipped his head around to look at the person who spoke. The man was short and broad, textbook dwarvish traits. His hair was shaved on the sides and the top pulled into a loose light brown bun. He had no beard at all to hide his easy going grin. His looks and voice told Rick that he was young, but that wasn¡¯t what surprised him the most. ¡°We¡¯re from the Shatak hunters garrison. Heard ya got a problem brew¡¯n soon.¡± Tyr said, taking the lead on introductions. ¡°Sweet! Glad you dudes got here in time. C¡¯mon, I¡¯ll show you to the big cheese and he¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s up.¡± What the fuck is a fantasy dwarf doing sounding like a surfer bro! What kind of bizzaro world have I ended up in? The young dwarf sounded like he was doing his best Bill and Ted impersonation. Of all the strange things Rick had seen since waking up in the forest, learning that magic was real, meeting other races only heard of in fantasy stories, this was what shocked him the most. ¡°If he starts using words like ¡®gnarly¡¯, ¡®tubular¡¯, or adding ¡®like¡¯ every other sentence, I will scream.¡± ¡°Oh, I see you have dealt with dwarves before.¡± Sade commented on Rick¡¯s muttering. He rounded on her. ¡°Are you telling me that all dwarves in this country sound like that?¡± He hissed quietly. ¡°Well¡­ Some like professor Armondo are more articulate in their speech, but the basic accent is essentially the same.¡± Rick couldn¡¯t take it anymore, the mental damage was too much for his mind to deal with. He curled up with his knees to his chest and his face in his hands and just sat there waiting for the shock to wear off. He studiously ignored the confused stares from the three women as their guide-bro led them to what Rick assumed was the village head, or ¡®big cheese¡¯ as the dwarf previously called the person. Rick had mentally recovered enough to function properly by the time the wagon stopped in front of a small building at the edge of the village. They all got out and the dwarf dude knocked on the door with loud meaty thumps. ¡°Hey big guy! We got some hunters to see ya, dude!¡± Before the youngster could back away from the door, it swung open with such force that he was sent flying back onto his rear. A sandaled foot came down from its position in the air. ¡°I told you to be gentle on my door boy!¡± The old man who emerged from the house was short and stocky much like the boy he knocked down to the ground. He wore no shirt. His suntanned skin hung slightly loose on his frame, as befitting his advanced age. What belied his years were the ropes of corded muscle that showed he was far from feeble. Thankfully, his accent wasn¡¯t nearly as jarring as the youngster he just booted to the ground. ¡°Kicking in yer door aint exactly being gentle either.¡± The chief glared at Tyr, his bushy gray brows rose when he saw who contradicted him. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since a tree hugger came all the way out here.¡± Tyr just smirked. ¡°Someone had ta show ya sandy folk how ta defend yer homes.¡± A smile split the chief¡¯s scraggly beard. ¡°And boy am I glad you did!¡± He reached out his hand, Tyr came forward, and the two clasped forearms. Rick was beginning to assume the best way to make friends with a wood elf was to have balls big enough to actually insult them to their faces. Which made some sort of twisted sense he supposed. The chief led the four hunters inside and brought them to a cozy living room. They all gathered around a table and the chief rolled out a crude map of the village and the surrounding area. ¡°I guess we should start with what you know about the situation. All we were told was that your village was expecting a swarm of monsters soon and what type of monsters you expected there to be.¡± Rick said as soon as everyone was seated and comfortable. Well, as comfortable as a two meter tall wood elf can be in a dwarven home in Tyr¡¯s case. ¡°Right, well around this time of year we get a migration of monsters that pass through on the way to their spawning grounds on the other side of the cliffs.¡± ¡°And you have to hire hunters every time?¡± Sade asked. ¡°What? No!¡± The old man said to her question. ¡°They may be monsters, but they are mostly harmless. They leave us alone and we do the same. Been that way for as long as I''ve lived here.¡± ¡°But now something has changed that dynamic?¡± ¡°Yep. We catch a few of them in our nets from time to time. But lately¡­ They¡¯re larger, angrier. We¡¯ve been seeing less and less fish in the area too. Something is wrong, none of us feel safe anymore.¡± He looked them each in the eye. ¡°That''s why we finally called for you.¡± ¡°I apologize.¡± Lilithane said. ¡°But I wasn¡¯t part of the original briefing. What are we hunting again?¡± The chief blinked and then laughed. ¡°Ha! Sorry about that missy. We were being a bit cryptic there. The monsters are a bunch of large crabs.¡± ¡°Crabs?¡± ¡°Crabs.¡± The whole room echoed back in confirmation. ¡°So when should we expect the buggers?¡± Tyr asked the chief. The old dwarf looked a bit uncomfortable at Tyr¡¯s question. ¡°It¡¯s kinda hard to tell, but we think as early as tomorrow.¡± ¡°And how do you figure that?¡± Rick asked. It was currently early in the afternoon, tomorrow didn¡¯t give them much time to prepare. ¡°The crabs usually come the day after a full moon. That¡¯s tonight. So if they don¡¯t come in the morning, it will probably be after the next cycle.¡± ¡°Well, glad we didn¡¯t come too late.¡± Rick said. The others agreed, and then they all got to work. The next few hours were filled by the party and the chief organizing the defense of Gaviota from a swarm of angry crab monsters. They were only four people. Even if Tyr and Sade alone were absolute beasts of destruction, they could only do so much. They all agreed that the villagers would have to defend their home alongside them in some form. The party would ensure they did the bulk of the work, that¡¯s why they were there. But having help to clean up the outliers or any monster that got past them was certainly appreciated. They debated procurement and placement of barricades to block or funnel the monsters, and to give added protection to the militia. Rick, Tyr, and Sade would be the first line of defense. A combination of spells and quick attacks from melee and range should hopefully brunt the main force of the assault. Lilithane would run between the three hunters and villagers, depending on where her healing or an extra weapon would be needed. Priority was to be given to the residents of Gaviota, none of the trio was too proud to retreat to safety if things go too dicey, so Lilithane could heal them there before they hopped back into the fray. All five people at the table contributed to the plan. The chief knew the area, who could help defend, and where to source the needed supplies. Rick, Tyr, and Sade knew their own capabilities inside and out, with the chief supplying information on the monster''s recent behavior and attack style, they had a good idea of what kind of outcome their involvement in the battle could bring and plan around that. Lilithane was also helpful. While not as experienced as Tyr when it came to overall combat, she was the most senior hunter at the table. Her role was the most fluid, so her input on what would be possible for her helped greatly in smoothing over the finer details. She would occasionally pipe in and offer contingencies to situations that impressed even Sade. Overall, all five of them walked away from the table with a plan they all were satisfied with. They split off into different directions; each of them had a part to play to ensure they had everything they needed to enact their plan once the sun rose in the morning. Chapter 8.2 Crab Battle The hunters sat on a log together in the pre-dawn light, spitting distance from the ocean waters lapping at the sandy shore. All of them were well rested and ready to face the hoard of crabs when they appeared. ¡°Hunters, the majority of Gaviota has been evacuated to the northern hills. The remainder are ready to defend our homes or are further back to support how they can.¡± Rick and company turned to face the woman who gave the report. The dark tipped white feathers along her arms and taloned feet told them she was a seagull beastkin. In the two fingers that poked out from the end of her wings where her hands would be, she held a tray of warm bread and some cuts of meat and cheese. They all ate light. They didn¡¯t want to be too full before the fighting began. ¡°Thank you for the food.¡± Rick said to the woman. ¡°Will you be joining the defensive line?¡± The grin the woman gave in response was vicious. ¡°I¡¯ve never met a gull who didn¡¯t fight claw and feather for what they feel is rightfully theirs.¡± They all shared her grin. They wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much if the ones staying to fight were like her. Rick looked to the lightening sky, their part to play will come soon enough. The waiting for things to start chipped at his willpower more than anything, like the slow climb up the first hill of a roller coaster. They had a plan, he just had to follow it. If things went south, they would call it out to each other and move on from there. Sade always did insist on several backup plans. They all stood and checked their gear one last time. Rick had his spear and new hammer all good to go. Tyr checked her massive bow and then the two axes at her belt. She still had her ginormous arrows to go along with the bow, but she also had several stashes of regular arrows to use in the coming fight. Her custom monstrosities were far too expensive to use against an army of monsters. Sade had her mace and her wits, one blunt and the other razor sharp, both deadly. Lilithane surprised the group when she first strolled up to them in Shatak with a full set of chainmail on top of a cloth gambison, a broadsword at her hip, and a small shield strapped to her arm. Their healer came for a fight, and she would certainly give one. Rick certainly felt naked compared to the shaytoni. He and the others wore only leather pants, vests, knee pads, and some recently acquired shin guards and bracers. Their group did not focus on protracted brawls. Speed and ambush tactics were where they worked best. But now they needed to play defense against waves of monsters. They will just have to make due, they wouldn¡¯t have taken the job if they all didn¡¯t agree they could pull it off. The first few rays of sunlight had begun to poke out from the tall cliffs behind them. It was time. ¡°Good luck.¡± Lilithane said as she began walking to her assigned position. Tyr snorted but Rick and Sade gave good natured waves before channeling their mana and moving to their designated spots. Rick would take the area by the docks, Tyr would take the opposite side and guard the whole southern shoreline, Sade would be in the middle. The sunlight was halfway up the shore when the first creatures arrived. Three long legs poked out of the water first, dragging shield shaped bodies with two huge pincers guarding their flat faces. They looked like every crab that had graced Rick¡¯s dinner plate, except these things were each the size of a dog. Each of its six legs must have been a meter long and the pincers the size of Rick¡¯s head. The crab monster in front of Rick paused when it saw him. The thing let out a terrifying hiss then started scuttling sideways at top speed, its pincers poised to snip him to ribbons when it got the chance. I guess this means they ain¡¯t friendly. Don''t know if this makes me nervous or glad. Rick thought as he dashed forward as well, his spearpoint leading the way. Rick hopped to the side just before he got close. The crab didn¡¯t anticipate his sudden movement and its swing with its claw impacted only air as it passed through where he would have been if he continued forward. He wasted no time in gloating and simply slammed his spear forward with every ounce of strength he could muster, right into the monster''s unprotected face. The iron slipped between the plates of its mandibles and sunk deep into the softer insides. The monster crab let out a screech of pain as it shuddered and convulsed, whether to shake him off or because its brain was destroyed Rick didn¡¯t know. He got his answer when all six legs gave out and its body crashed into the wet sand below, twitching slightly in its death throes. First monster and first weapon test down. He cheered to himself before hopping back to assess the situation. He could see red and brown shapes begin rising up from the water all up and down the beach. ¡°Their faces can be pierced!¡± He called out to his companions. ¡°Their shells are quite thick. Can only damage limbs with a mace or hammer without magic.¡± Came Sade¡¯s report after she disabled, but couldn¡¯t kill her first target with her melee weapon. ¡°Confirmed on piercing faces. Regular arrows are effective!¡± Tyr roared from her position on the opposite side of Sade. One of their first goals was to see how hard the crabs were to kill without any magic. While most people could learn basic spells, combat magic was considerably more difficult and the chief confirmed that few, if any, of the people of Gaviota were capable of casting anything that powerful. Hence the tests before the true waves of monsters began. If the monster crabs were too tough for the hunters to deal with, then Lilithane would run back and warn the villagers to stay clear, disable, or just buy time until she or someone with strong magic could come in and clear the monsters out. Thankfully it seems the proud people of Gaviota would be able to extract their pound of flesh just fine. ¡°The first wave is here! Prepare to cast on my mark!¡± Sade shouted and Rick faced forward. His mana thrummed in his veins, eager to be unleashed. He observed the line of brown shells and orange limbs shuffling out of the waves and selected his targets. He needed to be as efficient as possible, there was no telling how long his mana reserves would last. ¡°Now!¡± Rick unleashed the spell he had prepared. A geyser of freezing mist shot out of his hand and bathed the still dripping monsters in icy magic. While ocean creatures were resistant to cold temperatures, the water that was pooled in their joints however, was most definitely susceptible. The group of monsters got locked into place, unable to react when Rick brought the hammer down on their armored skulls. The frozen chitin shattered like glass when the heavy iron impacted it. Each swing of his hammer caused another unmoving monster to die without ever getting a chance to retaliate. Rick would alternate freezing a new line of crabs solid before running in and pounding them into crab cakes. He saw his wave of monsters was reduced to piles of broken bodies so he spared a quick glance at how his teammates were doing. Sade was twirling around and dual-casting her freezing mist with her arms outstretched to her sides. Once everything around her was coated in ice, she drew her hand in the air in a complex pattern. Small glowing blue spikes of magical energy collected above her head. She pulled out her mace and started smashing, in between each crunch of orange exoskeleton she would point at a different target with her off hand and one of the spikes would shoot off like a bullet. The missiles would bury themselves into their targets then erupt out the back of the monster''s shell and keep going with hardly any of its deadly momentum reduced. Sade chose her targets well, each time she shot her magic at a crab, there would always be another target right behind it. Tyr had her bow around her shoulder. In one hand, she held one of her new axes and was carving a wide swath of destruction through a mass of chitines bodies. Her other hand was also unleashing a stream of mist like the other two, freezing rows of crabs in place for her to dice into pieces when her axe came around again. Their line was holding strong, but it was not perfect. Every so often a crab would have a modicum of common sense and just attempt to run past the three freezing terrors. Tyr would occasionally twirl around with her bow drawn and snipe the occasional crab that left its face exposed to her. For those that were not facing her direction, she would try to hit in the vulnerable leg joints in an effort to slow them down. And then there was Lilithane. The few monsters left unmolested or crippled by Tyr met the angry healer and her sword. The few glances Rick could spare showed the shaytoni dispatching her foes with quick and efficient movements, no doubt born of countless hours of practice. She must have done more than just look up to the blue paladin when she was younger. Rick thought before getting back into the thick of things.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The rising tide of crab monsters felt endless. For each one Rick killed, it felt like two more took its place. The monsters scrambled over the ever rising pile of their dead and charged at him, as if hoping that they would be the one to end the hammer wielding menace. They died all the same. Rick¡¯s arms ached. He could feel his strength ebb with each swing of his hammer, but the enemies just kept coming. Where before there were only three or four crabs coming at him at once, at that moment there were close to eight. More and more of the things were running past his line of defense, he in turn, was unable to respond as new waves of giant crabs rose up from the depths to challenge him. With one last blast of freezing mist, he felt the spell sputter and die, the energy in his body needed to sustain it empty. ¡°I¡¯m out of mana!¡± He called out. ¡°I¡¯m out too!¡± Tyr shouted, now wielding an axe in both hands and acting like a cyclone of death and dismemberment. ¡°I still have some, but I am getting close to empty.¡± Sade said. ¡°We should fall back!¡± The trio made a fighting retreat back up the beach. Without the magic to turn the crabs into sitting ducks, they were significantly harder to deal with. Rick narrowly avoided getting his foot sliced off when one of the beasts came in from the flank while he was busy stabbing another one with his spear. ¡°They¡¯re thinning out!¡± Tyr called out when Rick and Sade were getting closer to her position. He looked around and saw she was right. There still was a veritable hoard of scuttling crabs, but there were far fewer reinforcements coming out of the water than just a few minutes ago. They just needed to hold on a bit longer. Rick¡¯s aching body protested at the thought, but he shook himself to ready for the final push. ¡°Anyone injured?¡± Sade asked. Tyr and Rick called back in the negative. Rick had a few knocks against his legs that were almost certainly going to turn into bruises later, but he had been exceedingly careful around those pincers. It was fortunate that none of them needed healing. The tide of monsters was still crashing around them and even was brushing right up to the barricades. The people of Gaviota were holding for the moment, but if the three hunters didn¡¯t stop the brunt of the swarm then the villagers would be overwhelmed. Rick could see Lilithane pulling injured people away from the fighting and working on healing the worst of their wounds. Rick hoped that there were no fatalities amongst the civilians. That would be a failure in itself. There was suddenly an explosion of water coming from behind the line of monster crabs. The trio looked up from the fighting for a moment to see gigantic orange pincers rise out of the tumbling white spray. Legs like lampposts carried an armored body the size of a small car, its pincers the size of motorbikes. All up and down its bright orange body its chitin sharpened into spikes. ¡°I think we found the king crab.¡± Rick laughed at his lame pun. It really did look like an oversized version of the species he knew from Earth. ¡°Aye. Hey Sade,¡± Tyr agreed then turned to the mage, grinning with malicious intent. ¡°Ya got enough ta give it yer little surprise?¡± Sade returned the evil smile. ¡°I think I do. I will need you to immobilize it for a moment or two. The last thing we want is for me to miss.¡± Tyr chuckled darkly and grabbed her bow. She then reached for the quiver with her ballista bolt sized arrows. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the ¡®little¡¯ guys off you!¡± Rick said as he rushed forward to intercept any of the dog sized crabs aimed her way rather than the village behind them. Tyr pulled back on the string, the muscles along her arms and back bulging obscenely. She let loose, the missile flying through the air as if launched from an actual ballista. The shaft buried itself in the soft meat of the joint in one of its many legs. The thing let out an ear piercing screech of rage and started to charge, the obstruction not even slowing it down. ¡°Fuck!¡± Tyr cursed and drew her two axes. ¡°Looks like I got ta get up close and personal.¡± She let out a roar and charged forward through the sea of shells and pincers, her axe heads leading the way and crushing or swatting aside anything in her path. Rick could see limbs and other pieces of crab fly into the air to mark her deadly procession. ¡°Start channeling Sade, I¡¯ll keep you safe.¡± Rick said as he moved to help his friend while she prepared their little surprise for the guest of honor. Sade¡¯s hands danced in front of her as she wove the spell into being. Rick found out that using his hands to trace the mana path through the body made spellcasting considerably easier after Sade taught him the technique. All three of them, though, considered it a crutch, an extremely helpful one when it came to learning new spells, but a crutch nonetheless. It wouldn¡¯t do to have observant opponents knowing when or even what specific spell they were trying to cast. But this situation was an exception. Sade was talented enough to dual-cast ¡®freezing mist¡¯ without so much as a twitch, a spell Rick considered to be one of the most complex formulas he had ever attempted, one he still struggled to form without aid. The spell Sade was now weaving put ¡®freezing mist¡¯ to shame in both the complexity and sheer power needed to even cast. She needed every advantage she could get to make sure she pulled it off. That giant enemy crab was about to regret all its life choices. Tyr had finished carving a bloody path through the hoard to her target. Before the spiked monstrosity could swing its arm to intercept her charge, she dashed to the side and buried an axe into one of its tree trunk sized joints. The injured limb jumped up in the air and tried to skewer the elf with its needle sharp tip. Tyr just roared with joyous laughter and jumped out of the way, swinging her other axe at another gap in the natural spike armor. The leg slammed into the soft sand with a sudden jolt that snapped the spike off completely where she previously weakened the joint. With a pained and confused screech, the whole side buckled and the monster fell down. ¡°Yer up!¡± Tyr called as she bolted away out of the line of fire, cackling all the way. She knew what was about to happen, and needed to be as far away as possible. Sade¡¯s eyes snapped open. She brought her right hand forward and made a fist. Her other arm extended out and cupped her enclosed hand from the side. Like drawing a sword her hands separated and Rick could see the magic arc between them. Electricity writhed and snaked from her palm to her enclosed fist, forming an electric blue spear out both ends. Rick could feel the air around Sade become charged with power. The hairs on his arms and head stood straight up with all the residual static electricity swirling around her. More and more spare bolts shot out from her hands as she drew them further out. Once her magical weapon was fully formed, Sade cocked her arm back, aiming at the still downed monster, and threw. The writhing mass of electricity that left Sade¡¯s hand erupted out as an actual bolt of lighting that flashed through the air towards its target faster than Rick could blink. The air boomed with the sound of thunder. The shockwave from the sonic boom rippled across the ground and kicked up loose sand and broken pieces of crab into the air as if Sade unleashed an artillery shell. The blue bolt of lightning crashed against its target with an explosion of plasma, ripping free from the other end in an explosion of gore and sparks. The giant crab wailed in pain and crashed down to the surf, twitching with electric convulsions. Tyr wasted no time and rushed back in. She swung both axes down on the arm holding one of its pincers, biting deeply into the tough flesh holding up the weapon. Without warning the monster reared up and backhanded the elf in the torso, sending her flying away and crashing among the few surviving crabs still making their way towards the village. Rick was already running toward the creature. That monster had just taken devastating attacks from both his companions, he doubted it had much more left in the tank. Even if it shrugged off a lightning bolt in just a few seconds. The monster¡¯s sheer tenacity was definitely worthy of respect if nothing else. ¡°Ya got this!¡± Tyr cried in encouragement from the pile of mangled and shattered crabs that broke her fall. The spiked monster faced his way as he got close. Rick noticed that the arm Tyr chopped was hanging limp at its side. He took a deep breath and started running as fast as he could. It had mangled legs, a bum arm, and had to deal with the aftereffects of being impaled by lightning, he could do this. The monster grabbed its injured arm with the other pincer. And fucking ripped it out of its socket. Before Rick could fully process the sheer brutality of that action, the giant crab threw its damn arm right at him. He dove forward to get out of the way of the flying limb the size of a harley, just barely coming away with minor scratches as the spikes brushed up against his back. He came out of his roll with only a meter or two between them. The monster already had its limb in the air, ready to flatten him before he could move out of the way. Thinking quickly, Rick hurled his sledgehammer with one arm at the creature''s face. The heavy iron weapon was deflected as the crab swung its arm down to block instead of crushing him to bloody pulp. He slid under the pincer and jabbed his spear straight into the eldritch horror it called a mouth. After burying the shaft all the way up to his arm, he kicked himself off of the shell to gain some distance, anticipating some sort of retaliation for the impromptu root canal he just provided. The two stared at each other, neither blinking, the crab¡¯s beady black orbs glaring hatefully at Rick¡¯s brown ones. He was panting heavily. He had used almost every scrap of strength to damage the thing in that last attack. Now he was tired, sore, and was out of both magic and mundane weaponry. Yet the crab never made its move. It took Rick more than a couple moments to realize that the monster was already dead, frozen in hateful defiance of those who brought it down. ¡°Woohoo! Great job Rick!¡± Sade cheered as she leapt into the air and swung her fist over her head. Tyr howled, actually howled, in congratulations from her position further away. The villagers were mopping up the last of the crabs so the three gingerly walked in close and hugged each other. ¡°Lets¡­ let''s wait a while before we do that again, eh?¡± Rick slurred. He was exhausted. Based on how high the sun was at the moment, Rick guessed they had been fighting for hours. He certainly felt like it. He could see Sade¡¯s eyes already drooping as her own extreme exhaustion began to show. ¡°Lets.¡± She sighed back. ¡°What the fuck was that?!¡± Came a shrill shout from behind them. chapter 8.3 A Hearty Meal The party turned to see Lilithane gawking at them. ¡°What the actual fuck was that?!¡± She said in disbelief. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Sade asked, confused. ¡°That! All that back there!¡± She said while pointing to the legion of dead monsters behind them. ¡°What, like the awesome lightning Sade threw?¡± Rick guessed. Even though he knew she could cast that kind of magic, it was still awe inspiring to see her use it. ¡°Well, yes. But no! But¡­ ARGH!¡± She screamed and clutched her head in frustration. ¡°Where was the arguing, the posturing, the arrogance? You guys made a plan¡­ and ACTUALLY stuck to it. Was that¡­ actual teamwork? How come none of you are shouting at Rick for stealing the kill? Where was all the running into danger and needing me to pull your sorry asses out of the fire? Why are you not blaming me for everything that happened to go wrong?!¡± Lilithane collapsed on her knees. Rick had no idea how other teams of hunters may have worked, but he was sure their healer had to deal with some pretty shitty ones to cause a mental breakdown like this. Sade reached the poor woman first, with the other two not far behind. She cradled the overwhelmed shaytoni¡¯s head to her ample breasts and hummed softly, as if to comfort a scared and confused child. Rick and Tyr crouched a bit away so they could be near but also give the healer some space. ¡°I¡­ ahem, I¡¯m sorry for that. I just¡­¡± Rick smiled at Lilithane¡¯s blush. ¡°You just are used to dealing with shitty people?¡± ¡°Y-yeah. Dealing with kind and competent teammates is a wholly new experience for me.¡± She said before she scrambled out of Sade¡¯s chest in embarrassment. Tyr chuckled. ¡°Remind me ta never take a job from the garrison that requires us ta interact with other groups.¡± Both humans nodded in agreement. If the average hunting party was dysfunctional enough to drive Lilithane up the wall, they didn¡¯t want anything to do with them. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere? How are the civilians?¡± Rick asked, hoping to distract her with the job that was still ongoing. ¡°What? Oh! Everything is fine. Everyone has a few minor cuts or bruises but I was able to heal any broken bones or severe lacerations before things could turn ugly. They actually sent me over to help when the big fucker showed up.¡± All three of them let out sighs of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Rick said and eyed the defensive line where the villagers fought. The last of the monster crabs were being massacred by people armed with simple spears, knives, and clubs. Some of them even waved cheerfully when they noticed him staring. ¡°Looks like things are all wrapped up. Which is good, I don¡¯t think Sade has enough mana to cast another lightning bolt.¡± Lilithane froze. ¡°Wait¡­ ¡®Sade¡¯. As in the Sade? As in the single greatest non-elf student Mya University has seen in decades, Sade?¡± Rick blinked at the unexpected reputation his lover had acquired in the short time she¡¯d been attending school. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that last part, but we did introduce you to each other before we left.¡± Lilithane blushed beet red and looked down. ¡°I was kinda too busy staring at her tits to connect the dots at the time.¡± ¡°Understandable.¡± Tyr said simply. Sade eyed the elf with an incredulous glare. ¡°What? They are distracting. Especially with that corset.¡± Tyr shot back. Sade¡¯s face darkened and she threw an arm across her chest in an effort to hide them from view. This attempt was less than successful since the act of trying to hide her knockers only called attention to them. Especially when her generous swells overflowed above and below her slender arm. ¡°Yeah¡­ I can see that.¡± Rick agreed. The Streisand effect was indeed a bitch. The four all made their way to Gaviota to see what still needed to be done, and eventually get some much needed rest. Thankfully, the villagers declined their hero¡¯s offer to assist with the cleanup. There were hundreds of bodies littering the beach, and around half were killed by Rick, Tyr, and Sade alone. Mostly Tyr and Sade, but Rick was fairly happy with his own contributions. When the people who evacuated earlier that day came back, they built a large pyre on the beach and got to work tossing the monsters on the flames. Not all the crabs were reduced to ash however. The giant king crab became food for the whole village. Cheers and laughter could be heard throughout the plaza and alleys between buildings. Alcohol flowed into mugs and cups. Everyone was just so full of life and cheer, happy that all those involved made it through a dangerous assault unharmed. Rick and Sade sat off to the side and enjoyed the scene. Sade had her head on his shoulder, enjoying how comfortable it made her feel. Both of them were nursing their cups of wine. Sade because alcohol made her sleepy, and Rick because he would rather feel buzzed than sloshed. ¡°HeeeeEEeeey!¡± Lilithane said as she drunkenly stumbled toward the pair. ¡°What¡¯chu two doing all alone in a corner?¡± She had changed out of her armor and wore a cute blue and white sundress that came down to her knees. ¡°Just enjoying the show.¡± Rick said as he tapped the seat next to him for her to sit down. The show in question was a drunken Tyr systematically arm wrestling every self-identifying strongman or woman in Gaviota. And since the village consisted of mainly dwarves, beastkin, and sailors, there were quite a few who thought they could take the young elf. They were wrong, so horribly wrong, but it was quite entertaining to watch them try. The shaytoni plopped down in the proffered seat and lay her head on his other shoulder. Sade gave a long exhale from her nose at the woman''s actions, but otherwise said nothing and stayed where she was. ¡°They just saw the woman cut down a swarm of monsters like a farmer harvesting wheat, in what universe do they think they have a chance to beat her in a contest of strength?¡± Rick asked the women, not really caring about the answer. ¡°I think it¡¯s less them trying to win and more to see how they measure up.¡± Lilithane said after a moment of observation. Sade hummed thoughtfully. ¡°I guess that makes sense. There is something wonderful in knowing where one¡¯s limits are, and to strive on until you have surpassed them.¡± ¡°Is that why you are so strong?¡± Lilithane asked. Sade shook her head. ¡°I do not think so.¡± She turned her gaze to the myriad of stars and constellations painting the night sky. ¡°My whole life has been full of limits that I could not overcome. Only now I feel like I have finally found the strength to rise beyond what was possible and seize my dreams.¡± Rick gave Sade a light squeeze around her waist. ¡°You work harder than anyone I have ever known. You haven''t just suddenly been able to do what you wish, that was in you all along. From the very beginning.¡± He turned his head and kissed her lightly on the forehead. ¡°It¡¯s you who brings out the full potential of those around you, including yourself. I¡¯m lucky to have met you.¡± ¡°Ugh! You two are sooo sappy! I¡¯m jealous.¡± Lilithane said, blowing a loud raspberry at the end. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Rick asked, turning to the drunk woman on his shoulder. He completely missed Sade palming her face and shaking her head at his question. ¡°I mean, here¡¯s this cute boy that always comes into the library where I like to read. When you waved to me I thought ¡®Maybe we can be friends¡¯ and then we started talking and I was like ¡®He¡¯s really nice, I hope he¡¯s single¡¯. And you just smelled sooooooo good! LIke If you could bottle your scent, you¡¯d be as rich as a noble!¡± Rick had no idea what to say to the woman. Unfortunately, she continued her drunken rant. ¡°And then I found out you needed a healer. How lucky for me that I could offer my services and see if something more happened.¡± Lilithane started to tear up. ¡°But then you bring out two of the most drop dead sexy women I have ever seen in my life! And they are your teammates. And THEN I find out you are most certainly not single, but you also fuck them both too! How is my skinny ass supposed to compete with that? All those muscles, giant tits, hips that could lure sailors to their doom! I mean, come on!¡± ¡°I do have some hypnotizing hips, I must admit.¡± Came a husky voice. Rick saw Tyr smirking as she made her way closer to their lonely corner of the plaza. Rick looked behind her and saw a sizable pile of the defeated left behind in her wake. They really didn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°They certainly cause things to get ¡®stuck¡¯, that is for sure.¡± Sade giggled and Tyr scowled. ¡°Ya must be tired. That wasn¡¯t nearly as clever as ya think it was.¡± ¡°Wha¡¯sat? Leaving already?!¡± LIlithane whined. ¡°And you, Lilithane, are drunk.¡± Rick said dryly. ¡°Ugh! I told you to shorten it! My name¡¯s a mouthful.¡± She turned and gave him drunken puppy dog eyes. ¡°C¡¯mon, please?¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Rick obliged and considered it. His first thought was thrown right out, a woman with demonic features named ¡®Lilith¡¯ was just a little too on the nose. And having to explain the origins of the name would bring about just a few too many uncomfortable questions he really didn¡¯t feel like answering. ¡°How about Lilie? Similar to the flower.¡± Lilie¡¯s ruby eyes grew bright and she wrapped her arms around his neck in a fierce hug. ¡°I love it! It¡¯s so pretty!¡± She nuzzled in close and gave a long, audible sniff. ¡°Did I ever tell you that you smell really, really good?¡± ¡°Alright! You are officially too drunk for this conversation.¡± Rick said and started to pry her off him. It didn¡¯t take much effort and Lilie was soon wobbling alone on her own seat. ¡°Psha! That¡¯sh an easy fix. Just need to¡­ whoop!¡± She waved her hand in the air and Rick could feel the magic pulse all around her body. ¡°See? No longer¡­ drunk¡­¡± With the sudden clarity, came sudden realization. Lilie¡¯s face bloomed an impressive scarlet and she looked ready to bolt like a scared rabbit the moment any of them made a sound. ¡°Well¡­ That¡¯s handy.¡± Tyr said with her usual tact. ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry. I d-din¡¯t think all that would come out a-and¡­¡± Sade¡¯s hand gently rested on the spluttering woman¡¯s head. ¡°It is alright. Even though you easily fixed the issue, you were still drunk. We¡¯ll forgive you for anything said while under the influence.¡± Tyr chuckled. ¡°Yeah, Rick and I have said some pretty stupid things too.¡± Rick winced. She wasn¡¯t wrong, but did she have to add his mistakes along with hers as well? ¡°Anywhoo, that crab bastard hit me hard in the dick. I think the smart one of us should take a gander and see if it still works properly.¡± The elf bent down and reached a hand for Sade to take. ¡°But¡­ you¡¯re a woman.¡± Lilie blinked at Tyr¡¯s fanged grin. Sade slapped a hand over the elf¡¯s mouth before that notion could be disputed. ¡°Yes, but I probably should check on her before we retire.¡± She tiredly turned to Rick. ¡°Maybe you should have a proper healer examine your own dick for injuries tonight. We would just hate it if our mutual lover developed any issues in bed after today¡¯s fight.¡± And with that not so subtle encouragement, the two walked off toward their shared room. Rick just chuckled and shook his head at how events unfolded in the last few minutes. He looked to Lilie, who was still as red as a tomato. ¡°Relax. Our relationship is both extremely simple, and unbelievably complicated. But that was as loud an approval I have ever heard from either of them. Trust me, Tyr is not very subtle if she dislikes something.¡± The shaytoni hugged herself and blushed an even darker shade of crimson. Rick didn¡¯t know exactly what to do, but he wanted to make sure she was comfortable before all else. ¡°Hey, nothing you don¡¯t want needs to happen, ever. But I honestly should get a checkup from an experienced healer anyways, we did just survive a battle with monsters together. We can see what happens after that.¡± ¡°I¡­ I think I can do that.¡± She said softly and took his proffered hand to stand up. The two walked quietly to her room, located right next to the trio¡¯s sleeping quarters. Rick seriously hoped that the walls were sufficiently sound proofed. Tyr could get quite loud whether she was giving or receiving. ¡°So, how does one assess injuries with magic?¡± Rick asked to break the ice. Lilie giggled in that musical way. ¡°Sit down and I¡¯ll show you.¡± Rick did as the doctor ordered. ¡°When the mana from a healing spell first enters the body, it runs a full circuit through the magical pathways of the patient and then reflects back into the caster. This allows the healer to know what parts of the body are damaged and what is wrong with them.¡± Her hand glowed a gentle golden white and Rick could feel the pulse of mana she described course through him like a magical sonar. ¡°I only sense a few cuts and bruises here and there. But your back seems to have suffered the worst of it.¡± ¡°Need me to take it off so you can see what happened?¡± He asked slyly. He could see her face flush slightly, but he didn¡¯t hear her tell him not to. He winced as his arms pulled the shirt over his head. Sly or not, it was probably a smart idea for Lilie to see the damage for herself. ¡°Oh wow!¡± She hissed as she saw what her magic sensed. ¡°That is one nasty bruise. I also see a few shallow tears in the skin. Do you know what caused this?¡± Rick mentally went over the fight from that morning. Most of the crabs couldn¡¯t reach up to his back, and he didn¡¯t fall down anywhere. ¡°I think that''s from when the big guy ripped off its own arm and threw it at me. I think it bounced off my back as I dove out of the way.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what would have happened if it actually hit you rather than just graze the skin.¡± She gently pressed her hands to the tender areas. Warmth spread from where she touched and bathed his back with soothing numbness. In only a few moments, he could feel the magic retreat back to where it came, taking the lingering feeling of pain with it. ¡°There we go. How does that feel?¡± She said as she wrapped her slender arms around his shoulders. Rick leaned in and hugged her limbs, enjoying the softness of her pale skin on his cheek. ¡°Much better, thank you. Maybe you could teach me that spell sometime?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t do you much good.¡± Lilie giggled. ¡°To fix a body with magic, you need to know how everything looks when whole on the inside as well as the outside. You have to study a lot. You need to study medicine, and most importantly¡­ anatomy.¡± She leaned in and pressed her chest against his bare back. Rick observed the softness against his newly healed skin. Could feel the two hard nubs rubbing against his shoulder blades. He could sense her naked heat warm where the two were connected. Blood rushed down south like a waterfall. He felt the pulse of magic thrum through him once more. Lilie leaned close to his ear. ¡°What¡¯s this? Was there some inflammation that I missed the first time around? As the party healer, it¡¯s my sworn duty to see that you are in the peak of health¡± She swung around and stood on the floor in front of him. She was as bare as the day she was born. Pale skin hugged her tall lithe frame. Rick could see the faint outlines of her muscles and bones in equal measure. Her flat chest flowed down to an equally flat stomach, then collected past her narrow hips to the pale mounds surrounding her entrance. She was shaved completely bare around her thin lower lips. After giving Rick an eyeful of her body, she knelt down so her head was level with his pelvis. Her hand brushed up against his groin. ¡°I can feel how bad the swelling is down here.¡± She whispered seductively. ¡°I¡¯ll need to examine this area thoroughly.¡± ¡°Lilie you-¡± ¡°Nothing I don¡¯t want needs to happen.¡± She said while interrupting him with a slender finger. ¡°But right now, I want this.¡± Her hands moved to remove his belt and lower his pants, and with a gentle tug the beast was freed. His swollen member swung upwards like a catapult, lightly smacking Lilie on the tip of her nose, before slapping against his bare stomach with a meaty thud. Lilie blinked as she took in the size of him. One of her hands reached out to grip him by the base and angled him skyward. ¡°This¡­ this is a lot of swelling.¡± She said, trying her best to get back into the roleplay. ¡°I¡¯m only average sized.¡± Rick joked. Lilie¡¯s head snapped to face him. ¡°This is average?!¡± He couldn¡¯t hold in his snicker. ¡°Well¡­ average for a wood elf. Tyr confirmed that personally.¡± She just continued to stare at him. ¡°The fuck is a man of your size doing with a wood elf sized cock? And the other two can take this thing?¡± She marveled at his fleshy pillar. ¡°Well, Tyr I can see, she¡¯s gigantic in every way possible. But Sade?¡± Rick nodded. ¡°Just barely if I¡¯m being honest. Size has certainly been an issue getting in the way of fun.¡± He didn¡¯t feel like mentioning that his cock was double its original size since Sade first took it inside her by the river. Lilie had been idly stroking his shaft since she first freed it. But now she gazed on the thing with a look of ravenous hunger. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I think I can find some other way to make this monster shrink back down.¡± She opened her mouth wide and let her surprisingly long tongue slide up from the root all the way to the tip. When her mouth crested his head, Rick saw that her teeth were slightly pointed. Not nearly as dangerous as a wood elf, but still sharper than a standard human. Her lips stretched over the head and she let out a happy moan as her tongue wrapped around the sensitive glands. Rick looked over her back and saw an adorable little tail, just barely long enough to stretch down to her knees, wagging back and forth like a pleased puppy. He could feel the suction increase around his shaft, Lilie pumping her head back and forth with a faster rhythm. She popped off with a squeal of delight. ¡°You taste so good! I need more!¡± She panted in excitement before slathering her tongue messily all up, down, and around his length before swallowing the tip once more. Both hands were gripping him then. Lubed by her spit, they twisted and pumped softly all over his girth while her mouth licked and nibbled, desperate to taste every part of him. Desperate for him to pour his essence down her waiting throat. Rick wasn¡¯t the biggest fan of blowjobs. There was something about how he was supposed to lay back and enjoy himself while his partner did all the work that did not sit right with him. But this, this was something completely different. Every millimeter of him was being caressed, massaged, or sucked that just fired off the pleasure center in his brain with every smooth and practiced motion. The audible slurps and moans Lilie gave out as she ingested his rod like it was the greatest delicacy she had ever tasted only poured fuel to the raging fire of his lust. He was getting close. Her moans were getting faster, more desperate. She furiously began to pump as if to draw out his seed with just the motions alone. Her efforts weren''t exactly misplaced, he was seriously getting ready to blow. As if sensing the time was near, she shoved as much as his gigantic cock in her mouth as she could. She wanted, needed, to be filled by him. And he would give it to her. He would give her everything he had. He grabbed the back of her head and roared with his climax. Wave after wave of creamy white shot down her throat with each mighty pulse of his balls. She nuzzled deeper while he continued to pump more and more cream into her eager tunnel. He was relishing the release when something tickled in the back of his mind, growing stronger. Something was wrong. His climax wasn¡¯t over, he was still ejaculating freely and showing no signs of stopping. Faintly, he could feel the pull of his mana. It was just like when he used his skill to last longer than a single shot, but this time it was happening all at once, making this one orgasim last indefinitely. Rick looked down and his eyes widened in surprise. Lilie¡¯s horns were growing. What once were little nubs were now as long as his hand, curling up and over her raven hair. With each swallow of his seed, he could see the dark bone climb ever higher. Her tail, once short and pinkish, had thickened so it was as wide as his arm at the base of her spine and was coiling down further and further towards her bare feet. The most surprising transformation was Lilie¡¯s body as a whole. The hard edges of her bony arms and legs had softened. She had filled out. What was before a woman who looked to be on the edge of starvation, now she looked better, more healthy. She was still skinny, but as more of Rick¡¯s mana drained, the more weight Lilie seemed to be piling on. Her wiggling rear plumped with round, jiggling cheeks. Her thighs became thick and juicy. Her shoulders rounded and broadened. And still she sucked away at his shaft, gulping more and more of his seed as if her life depended on it. Rick could feel the final reserves of mana flush away through his manhood. The edges of his vision began to turn black. He had never felt so drained of life and vitality. The room spun and he fell back onto the mattress, no more balance left to keep him upright. Before the darkness took him, he heard Lilie gasp and sigh as she released his softening manhood. The last thing he heard was her contented moan from between his legs. ¡°Thanks for the meal.¡± Chapter 9.1 The Morning After Rick emerged from their borrowed house early the next morning only to find Sade and Tyr already packing up the wagon for the ride home. Noticing there wasn¡¯t anyone else around, he motioned behind him for Lilie to follow. ¡°Well now! How did you two slee-'''' Tyr said as she noticed them walking outside. She froze mid question when Lilie¡¯s form stepped out from the shadows. She was wearing her gambeson and chainmail, which wasn¡¯t too out of place, but the hood pulled up to cover as much of her head and face as possible was a bit odd. Rick could see that the elf¡¯s sharp instincts were telling her something was off about their new companion. He headed off her questions with a sharp gesture and said ¡°We¡¯ll talk on the road.¡± Tyr said nothing, but then nodded her agreement and went back to sorting their limited gear. Thankfully the village was still recovering from the party the night before, and all four of them slipped out without any preamble. Even without the need for privacy, Rick would have preferred it this way regardless. Doing a good deed is one thing, dealing with all the people afterwards was something else altogether. ¡°We¡¯re alone now. Spill it.¡± Tyr said after half an hour had passed since they left. Rick nodded to Lilie and she lowered her hood so the other women could see her face. In the light of day, the larger horns and softer facial features were quite prominent. Lilie shifted in her seat. ¡°Ouch! Stupid tail. Sitting down was never this awkward before.¡± ¡°I take it that has grown too?¡± Sade guessed. ¡°Yeah. The horns and tail are different, but the rest of me just looks¡­¡± Lilie struggled to find the right words to describe her transformation. ¡°Like ya finally had a few good sandwiches?¡± Tyr quipped from the driver''s seat. It was Rick¡¯s turn to slap the rude elf upside the head. Not that it would change her behavior in the slightest. ¡°Now that you mention it. I feel like I have finally eaten a proper meal for the first time in my life.¡± Lilie admitted, not showing the least bit of concern for the elf¡¯s lack of tact. ¡°Could you elaborate?¡± Sade asked with clinical curiosity. ¡°Of course.¡± Lilie said and started to explain. ¡°All my life I¡¯ve had this hunger, this need, that would never go away. No matter what I did, what I ate, I would never feel ¡®full¡¯ so to speak. Even when I stuffed myself silly. Sure my stomach was full, but it was like my body didn¡¯t even register the food. It was almost like it was craving something I could never give it.¡± She looked at Rick and blushed. ¡°And then last night, after we¡­¡± She trailed off at the last sentence. Rick could only sigh and gave a full account of what he experienced when the two started to get more intimate. He left nothing out, from the way Lilie seductively roleplayed the concerned healer, to his mana being drained as though she sucked it right out of his dick like it was just a large fleshy straw. Which, he supposed, was basically what happened. ¡°Fascinating¡± Sade said once he was done explaining. Lilie was beet red at his completely unfiltered recollection of events. He felt sorry for dragging something private out into the open, but answers were more important than privacy at the moment. And he wouldn¡¯t have hid the truth from Tyr and Sade to begin with. ¡°Do you have any idea why your body reacted the way it did?¡± Sade asked the shaytoni. ¡°No. No one in my family has ever had to deal with this, not even my sister. But she also never had to deal with the same hunger or weight issues I did growing up.¡± ¡°Tyr?¡± Sade asked and the elf just shrugged. Rick let out a great sigh. He had some inkling about what was going on, but he really didn¡¯t want to bring it up. If he was right, then poor Lilie would be very, very uncomfortable. But he also felt she needed to know. They all did. ¡°I think I have an idea.¡± He said reluctantly ¡°Try to take my words with a pinch of salt, nothing is confirmed until we look into this more. But I may have heard something about this.¡± He waited for anyone to say anything else. But after a few seconds Sade just bade him to continue. He sighed once more. ¡°Okay¡­ so I¡¯ve heard of a creature who is known to suck the energy out of men through sexual acts.¡± He turned to Lilie. ¡°Have you ever heard of a succubus?¡± Lilie hissed at his question. The expression was full of anger at the implication. ¡°A demon?!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rick sighed. He held up his hands in a warding gesture to forestall any more anger from the woman. ¡°Hear me out first. As I said, big ¡¯ol grain of salt.¡± When he saw that he wasn¡¯t going to be attacked by an angry healer, he continued. ¡°Now, before I came to this kingdom I never heard of the shaytoni, but I had heard of ¡®tieflings¡¯. Like the blue paladin, tieflings were just stories, and so were demons. So I have to reiterate a third time; What I¡¯m about to say is pure conjecture based on stories and myth.¡± He held up three fingers. ¡°I have three ideas about what happened, some far more likely than others, or maybe the truth is some type of combination of all the possibilities. First, is that shaytoni exhibit more than just physical demonic traits, and that poor Lilie was blessed with something akin to a succubus constitution.¡± He lowered the first finger after he was done with that hypothesis. ¡°Second, like their name suggests, shaytoni are actually descended from demons and you just so happen to have gained recessive traits from your distant ancestor.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®like our name suggests¡¯?¡± Lilie said with a grunt, her arms crossed over her considerably fuller chest. ¡°I have recently been given a text to translate the old elven language.¡± Sade said. Her voice was calm, even, diplomatic. ¡°Shaytoni in old elvish means ¡®born of demons¡¯.¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Lilie looked crushed at Sade¡¯s words. Thankfully Sade swiftly continued to further explain. ¡°The first two hypotheses are only a matter of framing. Either the name is literal, or your tribe took the word people used to demean you and made it your own.¡± She turned to face Rick. ¡°But I believe we should all hear your final thoughts before we discuss further.¡± ¡°Oh that¡¯s simple. The final thought is that it''s all my fault.¡± ¡°The fuck?!¡± Lilie cursed. ¡°How is any of this your fault?¡± Rick could only shrug at her question. ¡°First, were you a virgin before last night?¡± The sudden change of direction caught Lilie off guard. Then she recovered and gave a sultry smirk. ¡°Would I have sucked your dick so well if I was?¡± From Rick¡¯s limited experience, she probably would not have. Lilie most definitely had some experience behind her belt. She could probably teach Sade a thing or two on the subject. ¡°Fair point. And I assume your partners never experienced extreme mana drain on climax?¡± She paused to consider. ¡°Not that I know of. And I certainly didn¡¯t transform into¡­ this afterwards.¡± She said while gesturing to indicate all of her. ¡°Then this might be a classic case of ¡®It¡¯s not you, it¡¯s me¡¯.¡± Rick chuckled. ¡°Can you check your status and see if you find anything related to ¡®coital energy¡¯?¡± He quickly checked his own and saw that it was unchanged since he last checked before the battle. ¡°Oh, and odd question; Did you orgasm last night?¡± Lilie¡¯s face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment at his considerably rude, and very public, question. ¡°Yes, I did.¡± She said after a few moments. ¡°And my status has nothing about ¡®coital energy¡¯ or whatever. What the fuck does any of this have to do with what happened?¡± The fact that neither of them gained any coital energy after they each climaxed was interesting. But ultimately didn¡¯t really matter in the long run. ¡°I ask because my vocation is an intimancer.¡± ¡°The fuck does that mean?¡± ¡°Sex magic.¡± Tyr said while turning around and grinning. ¡°What? That''s a thing!?¡± Lilie asked. ¡°No, seriously. What the fuck are you talking about?¡± ¡°It is as Tyr said, ¡®sex magic¡¯.¡± Sade responded simply. ¡°When an intimancer is¡­ well, intimate, coital energy is exchanged. This energy can be used for pleasure,¡± She leaned in close to Lilie, her expansive cleavage on full display. ¡°And enhancement of the body''s various attributes¡± ¡°I, ah, wha?¡± Lilie said with absolute eloquence. Rick couldn¡¯t blame her, Sade¡¯s body almost always left him tongue-tied, even after months of acclimation. She wielded her assets like a veteran warrior did with a sword. ¡°I was a lot like you. Not quite as tall, but small, skinny, flat. Most people in my village compared me to a child.¡± Sade admitted. ¡°But after being with Rick, I was able to improve myself. To mold my body into the form it was always meant to be.¡± ¡°And I grew a massive cock!¡± All three of them turned to the elf, who was grinning like she just told the greatest joke anyone had ever heard. It was just so stupid that Rick couldn¡¯t help but belt out his own laughter. Sade was next to crack, her chuckles sending her chest bouncing in all the right ways. Lilie eventually joined in and all four were enjoying the moment. Bless that goofy elf and her ability to keep things from getting too heavy. They all eventually calmed down and Rick spoke again. ¡°Getting back on topic. I asked those questions earlier because neither of us gained any coital energy, despite clearing the major conditions to earn some.¡± ¡°Hrm¡­¡± Sade hummed in thought. ¡°I propose the inherent magic of Lilie¡¯s tribe somehow commandeered Rick¡¯s magic and used it for sustenance.¡± ¡°And why do you think that?¡± Lilie asked. Sade looked up. ¡°Because you told us that a part of you was always hungry. Perhaps even starving. And today you said that for the first time, that feeling went away. Like that starving part of you was finally able to feed itself.¡± She gestured to the shaytoni¡¯s face and body. ¡°You look, for lack of a better phrase, well fed. Due to the growth of your horns and tail, I also believe being unable to feed this aspect of yourself stunted your growth somewhat.¡± Sade put her hand to her chin as several ideas popped into her head. ¡°In fact, since coital energy is often used to change the body, perhaps that¡¯s what resuscitated this aspect of yourself and sex with other people didn¡¯t trigger anything before. Hrm¡­ the problem is there is too much we don¡¯t know. I think more testing is needed before we can find some answers.¡± ¡°Testing? What, as in have me do that again?¡± Lilie looked on the verge of panicking. ¡°No, no! What I did was horrible. I hurt him! I¡¯m a-¡± ¡°That is enough of that!¡± Rick was not an angry person by nature. Anger rarely solved the problems he faced on a day to day basis. But he would not tolerate anyone thinking they were a monster, especially if there was no actual reason to believe so. ¡°I want you to drop that last thought and throw it away this instant!¡± He said, trying to channel as much command into his voice as possible. He leaned close, held her shaking hands in his, and looked her straight into those beautiful ruby eyes. ¡°All I lost was some spare mana in my body. You did not intend to cause me harm. You did not actually hurt me.¡± He softened his voice. ¡°You had no idea about my magic, and I am still trying to find answers about it myself. This was all an accident. Nobody got hurt, and no one should blame you, least of all yourself.¡± Tears were forming in her eyes. ¡°But I¡­ If what you said about the shaytoni-¡± ¡°¡®Born of Circumstance¡¯.¡± Lilie looked at Sade, confused. Sade merely stared at the distraught woman and repeated herself. ¡°¡®Born of Circumstance¡¯.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± Rick asked. Sade didn¡¯t look away from Lilie when she answered Rick¡¯s question. ¡°It is the title of a blue paladin story. The first blue paladin story if I remember correctly. I will not bore you with the details, but I do believe our resident fan of the stories should understand the themes found in the tale and understand my point well enough.¡± The fan in question nodded her head. Tyr gave a mild scoff. ¡°What, that¡¯s it? Just drop a title of a book and everything¡¯s fine?¡± She gave a mild chuckle to let them know she wasn¡¯t being too serious. She reached a great paw over and patted Lilie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hey, yer not alone. If ya want the help, we¡¯ll be there for ya.¡± Of course, Tyr being Tyr, the calm and serious demeanor did not last long. ¡°If ya want, we could pull over and kickstart the testing right now.¡± ¡°Tyr! Stop teasing the poor woman!¡± Sade said as she slapped the elf upside the head. ¡°But I wanna show off the surprise!¡± The elf whined playfully. Sade sighed. ¡°Then most certainly not. We should wait and see if Lilie¡¯s changes are temporary and if her other hunger returns at all after a bit of time.¡± She held up a warning finger. ¡°Then we can start the orgy, got it?¡± ¡°Yes ma''am!¡± Tyr said with a salute. Chapter 9.2 Stats and Skills, Oh My! ¡°So¡­ what now?¡± Rick asked ¡°Um, this may be kind of personal, but what are your levels?¡± Lilie said. She still had a slight shell shocked look in her eyes, but Rick thought the distraction would probably help get her out of her head for the moment. ¡°A good question. Let me check.¡± He said, then checked and read aloud his status.
Rick
Level 5 (20%)
Strength: 11 Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 10 Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 12 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 11 Attunement : 11 (1)
Charisma: 9 Luck: 17
Vocation: Intimancer (5)
Skills: Multi-orgasm
¡°Seventeen luck?!¡± Lilie cried. ¡°Did you pour all your bonus stat points into that? Why would you even do that?¡± Rick could only scratch his cheek in embarrassment. ¡°I, uh, actually only put a single point into luck. We did have a lucky find on the last hunt, so we all gained a point then. With this new level up, I think I got three free points to spend.¡± He had to admit, he had improved quite a bit with all the training and fighting he had been doing lately. He was faster, stronger, and could even manipulate the mana in his body with greater speed and accuracy. He briefly wondered if he would have studied harder or gone to the gym more if he could see his stats improve like this in his old world. ¡°Wait, you¡¯ve only spent a single stat point? Who does that?!¡± Sade chuckled. ¡°We do. It was my idea actually.¡± She adjusted herself to better shift to teacher mode. I swear I''m going to get her those glasses. Rick thought once again. She really would be sexy as fuck with a pair. ¡°I figured that raising a person¡¯s stats by training gets consecutively harder the higher the score. So why not train at the lower levels and then use the points when you have reached as far as you can go?¡± ¡°That¡­ that sounds like a good idea actually.¡± Lilie admitted. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t anyone ever thought of that before?¡± ¡°Oh, I have no doubt that someone has.¡± Sade laughed. ¡°But training anything to over 15 is quite the achievement.¡± ¡°And why train so hard when ya can kill a few beasties and get a point in only a few days?¡± Tyr cut in. ¡°So¡­ you''re saying that people are lazy and short sighted?¡± Lilie guessed. ¡°If my understanding of history and politics is correct, that has almost always been the case.¡± Rick laughed. ¡°Few people ever look for the best long term solution, especially if the short term gains are nearly as good as the harder road.¡± ¡°Then why do it at all?¡± Sade leaned in close, her eyes taking on a predatory light. ¡°Because, we do not want to be just good, we want to be the best. If that means we work ten times harder than the next best group, then we will do it. I will use every skill and advantage we can find in order to improve ourselves.¡± She looked to Rick, then Tyr. ¡°Well¡­ most advantages.¡± Tyr nodded. She had made her stance of using coital energy to gain extra strength painfully clear. It was an option, but not one they should ever solely rely on. ¡°That¡¯s, wow, just wow.¡± Lilie turned to Rick. ¡°And you are on board with this?¡± Rick looked at his hand. It was rough with calluses from holding his weapons for so long. The small and smooth hands he had before falling into the forest were no longer there. ¡°When I left home, I wanted to find my own way, to forge for myself a life worth living.¡± He closed his fist, reveling in the strength he felt behind such a simple action. ¡°For the first time in my life, I feel in control. I¡¯m not afraid of the hard road ahead. For the chance to be the best possible version of myself? I say bring it on!¡± Both Lilie and Sade looked surprised at his answer. Tyr only cheered. ¡°And you?¡± Lilie asked the elf. Tyr shrugged. ¡°Eh, why not?¡± Sade gaped at her answer, as if she couldn¡¯t not believe what just came out of her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that! Ya know full well I¡¯ll still be here when yer grandchildren have pups of their own. And then fer many long years after that.¡± She leaned in closer to the rest of the group, her smile growing wide, sharp teeth flashing in the early morning sun. ¡°But ¡®till then. Ta be by these two numbskulls when they achieve greatness. When they become so strong that they shake the very ground with their presence. I don¡¯t know any proper elf who would pass up the chance for some fun like that.¡± It figured that Tyr would look at the world differently than the two humans she hung around with, Rick supposed. ¡°Why don''t we continue sharing our levels and make a plan as a group on what to do next?¡± Sade coughed to center herself after listening to the elf¡¯s reasoning. ¡°Yes, I think that is a good idea.¡±
Sade
Level 5 (21%)
Strength: 9 Constitution: 10
Dexterity: 10 Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 16 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 12 Attunement : 14 (3)
Charisma: 10 Luck: 13
Rick silently noted that Sade opted to leave out her vocation. She had still refused to tell him or Tyr what it was, only that it was a magical vocation, and that it suited her perfectly. He decided it wasn¡¯t really worth the effort to push the issue, Sade had his trust, she could keep a few secrets. Shifting focus back to her stat sheet, it seemed that Sade¡¯s attunement training was paying off. She could now hold three separate spells at once. Not that Sade couldn¡¯t switch between spells with crazy speed already. He had seen her practice drawing and redrawing the mana pathways through her body over and over. She was not exaggerating when she said she would work ten times harder than anyone. ¡°I-I¡­ Just, wow.¡± Lilie said, awestruck. Perhaps if Sade wasn¡¯t such a magical powerhouse, she would have commented on what Sade left unsaid. ¡°Yep. She¡¯s as smart as I am lucky.¡± Rick chuckled at the over the top reaction to Sade¡¯s intelligence. Especially considering any stat over thirteen without level boosts was considered extraordinary. And stats between fifteen to twenty was considered the limit of what was possible for sentient life to achieve without magical aid. ¡°And you haven''t spent any points from leveling in anything?¡± Lilie said to Sade. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Well¡­ I did add a point to wisdom after I leveled up for the first time.¡± She replied, with just a touch of embarrassment. ¡°Whoo! My turn!¡± Tyr cheered and shared with the group.
Tyrillian
Level 6 (41%)
Strength: 17 Constitution: 13
Dexterity: 16 Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 10 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 11 Attunement : 13 (2)
Charisma: 10 Luck: 11
Vocation: Ranger (5)
Skills: Enhanced senses
Forest walk Rugged navigation
It had been a while since Rick had seen Tyr¡¯s stats. She had always been a beast of the physical realm, but to have over ten more points than either Rick or Sade while only being one level higher was just insane. ¡°I guess that explains how you were able to murder those crabs so easily.¡± Lilie said nervously. ¡°Are all wood elves like you?¡± Tyr¡¯s smile grew wider at her question. Before she could give her answer, Rick decided to head her off at the pass. ¡°Aside from having a cock, Tyr.¡± She stuck out her tongue in a way that totally showed off how mature she was as the physically oldest member of the party. ¡°Spoilsport.¡± She grumbled then sighed. ¡°Yeah, most of me kin have similar stats. There¡¯s some variation when it comes ta mages and the like, but otherwise this is what a wood elf ranger looks like.¡± ¡°You never mentioned your skills you got from being a ranger. Care to explain them a bit?¡± Rick wanted to distract himself from the lingering horror brought on by the fact that Tyr, easily one of the strongest people he knew, was in no way exceptional among her race. She shrugged again. ¡°Eh, sure. The enhanced senses is simple enough. Sight, smell, taste, touch, all of it more improved than it already was.¡± ¡°So you get super hearing on top of your superior elven ears?¡± Rick guessed. Tyr grinned. ¡°Yep! So ya had no chance of getting away with that little sneak fuck ya two did that second night on the road.¡± She giggled at Rick and Sade¡¯s embarrassed reaction to her comment. ¡°Forest walk lets me be fast and super sneaky while moving through the trees. Rugged navigation just makes it easier for me ta find a path through difficult spots, even outside of a forest.¡± ¡°Those are all quite useful.¡± Sade commented. ¡°But you should have at least one more skill. Did you pick one already?¡± ¡°Not yet. I wanted ta wait until we all talked about it.¡± She looked at Rick bashfully. ¡°Plus, I feel kinda bad about forcing ya ta take yer first skill for me selfish wish. So I thought mine would be yers ta pick.¡± Rick was touched. Tyr rarely showed her more vulnerable side, and for her to offer something so personal made Rick feel a great heat blooming in his chest. ¡°I would be honored.¡± He said softly with a smile. ¡°Um¡­ I guess I¡¯ll join in on the sharing circle.¡± Lilie said shyly.
Lilithane
Level 6 (15%)
Strength: 10 Constitution: 10
Dexterity: 14 Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 13 Resistance: 14
Wisdom: 13 Attunement : 12 (2)
Charisma: 9 Luck: 9
Vocation: Mender (5)
Skills: Self-cast
quick-scan harm siphon
Lilie seemed to struggle with her words as she slowly read out her most personal information. Her face looked almost stunned when the final word finally left her lips. ¡°That is fairly impressive. You must have worked really hard to get so strong.¡± Rick said. He meant every word. While none of her individual stats was as high as each of their strongest attributes, she had several skills slightly above average in strength. Her resistance was also fairly surprising, as Rick hadn¡¯t seen anyone who had more than ten in the stat. ¡°W-w¡­ WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!¡± Everyone, even Tyr jumped at Lilie¡¯s exclamation. She looked stunned, confused. Like what she read out loud was wildly different from her own expectations. She turned her ruby gaze in Rick¡¯s direction. An accusatory glint forming in her eyes. ¡°What the fuck did your magic do to me?¡± Rick gulped. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Sade asked the woman with her usual stoic calm. ¡°It¡¯s my stats! They¡¯ve changed.¡± She ran her fingers through her dark hair, until they collided with her considerably more prominent horns. ¡°How is this possible?¡± ¡°Please,¡± Sade asked softly. She maneuvered so that she was sitting on Lilie¡¯s other side, a hand resting on her armored thighs. ¡°Explain what changed so we can help you figure it out, together.¡± Lilie sucked in a great breath then blew it out slowly. She did this two more times before she looked at Sade and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s my constitution. It was at seven before.¡± Sade raised her brows at the revelation. ¡°That is surprisingly low. Did you not try to raise it after leveling?¡± ¡°Of course I did!¡± Lilie shot back. ¡°It was the first thing I tried to change. But I couldn¡¯t! It was like the magic refused to stick, I tried so many times, and every level I gained since. All just to see if this time, this level, would finally be when my curse ends.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ Yer constitution couldn¡¯t be raised. Then ya suck his dick and all of a sudden it jumps three points?¡± Tyr asked in disbelief. ¡°YES!¡± Lilie shouted. ¡°And my luck also bumped up by one for some reason. Like, what the fuck?¡± Rick had a sneaking suspicion on where that extra luck came from. More specifically, what event caused it to bump up. He really had to wonder just what kind of effect his best stat had on those around him. Sade bit her lip, as if the thing she was about to ask was not something the healer would prefer to hear at the moment. ¡°Lilie, there is something I would like to confirm. You just leveled up and have a free point to spend, correct?¡± The healer nodded. Sade took her own great breath to settle her nerves. ¡°I know there is probably something more important to improve.¡± She said in a very soft and diplomatic tone. ¡°But I would like to test and see if you can finally raise your constitution.¡± Lilie paused, unsure how to answer Sade¡¯s request. Rick could only imagine the emotional roller coaster these last few days had been for her. And to ask for her to spend a precious stat point to test something? Rick had no idea what he would have done in her situation. Finally, Lilie nodded her head once. She closed her eyes in concentration then froze. ¡°I¡­ I did it. It went up. It went UP!¡± Her eyes shot open and she had the purest expression of joy Rick had ever seen. ¡°I can raise it! Whatever was wrong with me is gone. It¡¯s gone! FUCK YEAH!¡± She gripped Sade in a fierce hug that made the dark skinned mage gasp and start tapping Lilie¡¯s arm in surrender. Lilie let go with a faint blush to her pale cheeks. ¡°Sorry! Sorry. I¡¯m just so happy and overwhelmed.¡± She reached an arm around Rick¡¯s neck and kissed him on the cheek with a quick peck. ¡°I¡¯m super glad I talked to you at the library.¡± Rick smiled warmly and hugged the woman right back. ¡°I am too.¡± ¡°This mean we got another person for our nightly orgies?¡± Tyr asked, wiggling her auburn brows suggestively. ¡°You know what, fuck it! If it means I can find out what happened to me and have some fun along the way, let¡¯s fucking go!¡± Lilie cheered. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Rick asked, surprised at how little resistance Lilie had to joining them in a more intimate form. She just turned her ruby gaze in his direction and scoffed. ¡°Rick, last night was probably the most pleasurable experience I¡¯ve had in my entire life. And all I did was suck your dick. If sex with a¡­ sex magician-¡± ¡°Intimancer¡± Sade corrected. ¡°-Intimancer, yeah that! If having sex with an intimancer is half as good as last night, I¡¯d be a fool to turn it down.¡± She smiled brightly. ¡°Plus you guys are hands down the nicest and most capable group of novice hunters I¡¯ve ever met. No way am I working with a bunch of rando¡¯s after finally finding you guys.¡± Rick chuckled and held out his hand and Lilie grasped it firmly. ¡°Then welcome to the team!¡± Chapter 10.1 Windfall The building was small and unassuming. Sade supposed that was almost entirely the point. It would not do to have common rabble try to take up the valuable time for Shatak¡¯s most premiere antique broker. The money gained from their more select clientele was more than adequate to provide for their means. She knocked on the ordinary wooden door lightly. Barely a few moments later, a well dressed gentleman opened the door and welcomed her inside. Sade was led to a familiar office where a short beastkin man in a well made suit was sitting behind a large desk loaded with papers. ¡°Ah, Miss Sade! I¡¯m glad you came, please sit and we can discuss a few things in regards to the artifacts you brought to us.¡± The man said, gesturing to the empty seat in front of the desk. Sade did as asked and rested her weight on the cushioned leather. Once she was comfortable, the man spoke again. ¡°Now, If I may ask, the antique coins that you wanted auctioned off this past week, do you perchance have any more that you would be willing to sell to us?¡± Sade could feel her hackles rise at the man¡¯s question. Eager questions like his led to dangerous situations. She would have to choose her words carefully. ¡°I take it the auction went well?¡± If her minor deflection bothered the man, it did not show on his dark, furry face. ¡°Indeed it has! We of course brought in an appraiser to verify your claims that the coinage was minted prior to the current founding. Once that was confirmed, the coins were auctioned off individually just yesterday.¡± The broker¡¯s face practically glowed with joy at the news. ¡°After we, the auction house, and the crown of course, all took our modest cut of the earnings, here is what you have earned.¡± He slid a small paper over the desk towards Sade. She carefully opened up the folds and read its contents. She had to forcefully stop herself from shouting when her eyes glanced over the number written on the sheet. Sade hoped her features were schooled enough to not show any surprise, but she doubted that her efforts were completely successful. ¡°That is quite a sum. I can see why you would wish to acquire a few more.¡± Five. Out of the hundreds of coins they found in those sacks, she had only given the broker five gold coins to bring to auction. She looked down at the number written on the paper, there were more than five zero¡¯s in the sum. Her heart hammered in her chest, this was an absolutely beautiful number. This was an absolutely deadly number. She took a deep breath with as much subtlety as she could muster. With the exhale she tried to adopt a bored expression, as if the amount of gold wasn¡¯t enough for people to murder her and her lovers on the spot just to obtain. ¡°You have a copy of the appraisal for me, I assume?¡± ¡°Oh! Yes, yes, of course!¡± He beamed and handed over a small stack of paper bundled together with string and sealed with embossed wax. ¡°Now, about my earlier question.¡± Fuck! Sade wanted to scream. She was completely out of her depth. Nothing about this situation was going to plan. She just wanted to turn a few coins into a few hundred, not a few thousand! Now the broker¡¯s earlier exuberance made more sense. She was extremely grateful she didn¡¯t answer him right away. But how to answer? If she told the man she had more coins and word got out, she would have a giant target on her back for anyone looking to score a huge payday. On the other hand, if she told him she didn¡¯t, that would close the door to further business and she would have to find someone else to deal with the ancient gold if they somehow needed more funds in the future. Her powerful mind processed all the decisions and consequences in the span of an eyeblink. She smiled politely. ¡°I am actually not too sure if there are any more. I inherited an old estate out in the countryside and while cleaning it out, we found the handful you have seen so far, but there could be more hidden in all sorts of nooks and crannies.¡± She shrugged. ¡°If any more are found, or some other odd trinket, I take it you would still love to do business?¡± The lies tasted bitter on her tongue. It disgusted her how they poured out from her mouth with sickening ease. Disgust with herself grew with each word uttered, but it was necessary. By keeping the option for more rare gold open, she could acquire more capital for her and her lovers. By keeping the possibility both ambiguous and difficult to acquire, she hopefully created a shield that would protect her from would-be treasure thieves. If only the gigantic number written in her pocket didn¡¯t burn with malicious implications. The man nodded his head with great enthusiasm. ¡°Yes! Please do!¡± The two shook hands and moved on to the matter of payment. ¡°It will take a bit of time for the auction house to collect all the gold from the buyers. I estimate about a week at the earliest. I will write you a promissory note so that you can collect your earnings from them when they are ready.¡± Sade nodded and he started drafting the letter. Once that was complete both of them signed it and added a drop of their blood to the verification seal to imprint their mana into the document. This meant that if anyone other than her presented the document, they would be detained and questioned immediately. Mana seals were only for the most important of documents, and were treated as such. ¡°Thank you. I do hope I can count on your discretion on the matter of the source of the artifacts?¡± Sade asked with the most pointed stare she had. The information she gave the man would help protect her and her friends, but his silence would protect her even more. He gave her a wide grin. ¡°Naturally. Client trust is paramount. It would be exceedingly bad for business if that trust was broken for any reason.¡± Satisfied, Sade bade the broker a good day and made to leave. It was only after she was led out the door by the manservant and several turns down random streets and into a side alley later that Sade finally let out the breath she was holding. She collapsed against a stone wall behind her and rubbed her face with her hands. She hoped that she made the correct choices back in that office. The lies still made her gag, but it was too late to take back the words. What happened, happened. With luck she could get Rick alone with her for a few minutes so he could pound the feelings of terror and trepidation right out of her while laying on the sheets of their shared bed. A warmth tickled through her loins. A pounding was indeed in order. Perhaps she could even bring Tyr into the mix and demonstrate the new spell she discovered. She licked her lips in anticipation. Sade brushed away the pink tinted thoughts with a mental wave of her hand. She needed to reach home safely before any sort of fun could be had. While her magic was a great equalizer, she was still a lone woman walking the streets, and unless she shared quite a few of Tyr¡¯s magnificent features, she would always be considered a target. With a sigh, she removed herself from the wall and started walking towards the coast and where her companions were waiting. Perhaps she was being paranoid. The stress from school, hunting, and now this sudden windfall were all affecting her mental state. She needed some way to decompress. Maybe have someone press up against her, hard. She stopped. Those thoughts were indeed insidious. Perhaps Rick¡¯s worry about addiction was warranted. Or she really was just pent up. It had been a couple days. And the past events at the antique broker were not doing her mental state any favors. Movement caught her eye. Sade whipped her head to face the possible threat, mana surging through her veins. There was no one. Blood was roaring in Sade¡¯s ears, nearly drowning out all of the nearby sounds. Yet nothing came close, no danger to her became apparent. Her heart was beating like a war drum, her breath coming in great gasps. Still, she held her magic at the ready. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Sade moved through the alley towards the main boulevard. She needed to get lost in the crowd, she needed to get home, she needed to be with her friends. The sound of her boots rapping against stone echoed within the narrow passageway as she strode boldly to her destination. If anyone was to follow her, there could only be so many places to do so. There! Sade whipped around once more and let the magic finally spring forth. A ball of fire formed in her open palm, steadily growing as she pumped more and more mana into the spell. Both she and Rick were still deciding what vocational skills to choose, but when Sade saw that ¡®overcharge¡¯ was on the list available for them, she immediately recommended they both take it. While dual-casting seemed to come to her almost naturally, finding a way to feed a spell with more than intended mana for greater effect remained elusive. But after selecting the skill her body knew what was needed. The final bit of insight sprang forth in her mind, granting her even more tools to ply her trade. And right at that moment, her new ability was intimidating whoever it was that decided to follow her. The spell she was channeling was a simple variation of the ¡®flame lantern¡¯, almost completely harmless. But with the glowing ball of fire swollen to the size of her head, even mages knowledgeable in the spell would think twice before approaching. The moment Sade turned, the figure ducked into a side alley. Even with her overblown lantern¡¯s light, she couldn¡¯t pierce the shadows that lurked around the corner. She let the magic fade. The message was sent, if they continued to harass her, she would retaliate. With a huff, she turned on her heels and stormed into the rushing river of bodies that slowly meandered its way to the coast. After taking the long and winding way back to her inn, Sade finally let out another large breath. There had thankfully not been any further trouble to plague her before she could jump into the strong arms of her lovers. She practically ran up the stairs before throwing open the door to their humble abode. ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± She was greeted by Rick, Tyr, and to her mild surprise, Lilie. The shaytoni still looked a bit nervous around the group. Understandable, joining an already ongoing sexual relationship with three current members would always be awkward. Sade made sure to give the other woman a friendly smile. Sade had no real feelings of jealousy towards her. Both Rick and Tyr had been amazing lovers these past few weeks, and adding another wasn¡¯t the worst thing to deal with. She knew full well Tyr didn¡¯t care. Her tribe had no concept of exclusivity or even monogamy. Rick was apprehensive, much like when Tyr first barrelled into their lives and relationship. Perhaps soon Sade will develop similar feelings like she did with the pointy eared menace. She eyed Lilie¡¯s form. The young woman was most certainly beautiful, especially after she filled out and no longer looked like skin and bones. She was cute even then, if Sade was being honest, but she was certainly stunning at that moment in time. Sade ran to Rick and nearly tackled him to the bed. ¡°Whoa now! What¡¯s up?¡± He asked into her hair. ¡°Today has just been a bit too much to handle.¡± She sighed and nuzzled deeper into his embrace. It was warm and snug, her perfect place, where all the problems of the world melted away when he wrapped his increasingly stronger arms around her body. ¡°Would you like it if I rubbed your shoulders?¡± He asked softly in her ear. ¡°Oh, yes please!¡± She purred and slid off the bed. She parked her large rear on the floor between his legs so he had easy access to her back. Rick chuckled behind her and got to work. Sade couldn¡¯t help but stiffen as his strong fingers pressed and kneaded every tense cluster of muscles along her spine. The group started to talk again, but she couldn¡¯t focus on anything other than the bliss of tension slowly leaving her body with each delicious caress of his fingers. She may have been piling too much weight on her shoulders, and not just the oversized breasts. It was when his thumb found a particularly dense knot that he couldn¡¯t help but let a low moan escape from her throat. Both the voices and his magical rubbing stopped. Sade had no desire to be embarrassed, to fall back on the defensive, she had been doing that all day. She turned her head and looked up to Rick¡¯s flustered face from her position between his legs. ¡°Harder¡­¡± She begged in a soft, sensual tone. He could see her eyes, see the glint of mischief smoldering within, he knew she was teasing him like always. And yet, his face flushed scarlet all the same, he quickly went back to his wonderful work on her sore muscles. She smiled to herself as she turned and faced the others. ¡°So¡­ what do ya think?¡± Tyr asked with a quirked eyebrow. ¡°No idea, I honestly was not listening to a word anyone said.¡± Sade admitted with no shame whatsoever. ¡°I do apologize, could you start from the beginning?¡± ¡°We were just discussing what we should do moving forward.¡± LIlie said with mild trepidation. ¡°Ah¡­ well I may have something to contribute to that discussion.¡± Sade fished out the folded paper she was given and handed it to Tyr. ¡°This is also why I am a bit stressed at the moment.¡± The elf opened the tiny slip in her massive paws and saw what was inside. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°That,¡± Sade replied simply. ¡°Is how much money we now have.¡± It was quite comical seeing the gigantic woman¡¯s eyes bulge out of her head at the news. For what felt like the first time Sade could remember, Tyr was too stunned to speak. It would be a memory she would cherish forever. Rick gestured to see what was written for himself, and his reaction was nearly as overblown as Tyr¡¯s. ¡°T-this¡­ this is¡­¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Sade said. There were only six little numbers written on the note, but they represented a catastrophic change in their lives from this moment forward. ¡°Um¡­ can I?¡± Lilie asked. Sade snapped the note out of Rick¡¯s frozen fingers and passed it along to their newest member. ¡°You are one of us now. No reason to hide something that affects all of us like this.¡± While the shaytoni looked at the not so small number, both Tyr and Rick exploded with shouts at the same time. ¡°This is amazing!¡± ¡°This is trouble!¡± Tyr rounded on the man. ¡°Why the fuck would all this money be trouble?¡± Rick stood his ground, figuratively speaking of course, he still was pleasuring Sade with a wonderful massage from his position at the front of their mattress. ¡°There is quite a difference between having a bit of spare money and having too much money.¡± Before Tyr could retort with something silly, Sade raised up her hand. ¡°He is right. The situation has become more dangerous than advantageous.¡± At the ranger¡¯s disbelieving expression, Rick tapped Sade on the shoulder. ¡°Mind if I try to explain?¡± She nodded, eager to see how he would go over such a complex problem. ¡°So, have you guys ever heard of the ¡®lottery curse¡¯?¡± As all three women shook their heads, Rick continued. ¡°Right, so where I¡¯m from, the government runs a small gambling game called the lottery. Essentially anyone who wants to join, pays a small fee for a ticket with some numbers. At the end of the week, random numbers are drawn. If they match your ticket, you win. If no one wins, then the money collected is added to the next drawing. This usually adds up to a gigantic prize pool by the time someone usually wins.¡± ¡°Why would the rulers of your country do this?¡± Sade asked. The whole concept seemed absurd to her. ¡°No clue.¡± Rick shrugged. ¡°The point I¡¯m trying to make is that around one in three winners end up dead or in a worse situation than before they received a ridiculous amount of money.¡± ¡°Dead?¡± LIlie gasped. ¡°Yes.¡± Rick affirmed. ¡°See, when a person, usually poor, receives a huge sum of money all at once, everyone around will try to get a portion of it by any means necessary.¡± He turned solemn. ¡°The deaths are often at the hands of loved ones too. When enough money is involved, even those close knit bonds can¡¯t hold back the greed in people¡¯s hearts.¡± ¡°That¡¯s disgusting.¡± Tyr spat. Everyone nodded their heads at her assessment. ¡°Yes. Winner¡¯s usually have to give out their names and appear in person to collect, so many people have started to wear disguises or find other ways to hide themselves from friends, family, and neighbors alike.¡± He looked each of them in the eye. ¡°We, in essence, just won the lottery. This means that every scammer, criminal, or two-bit entrepreneur with a ¡®big idea¡¯ will do their best to separate us from our newfound wealth the moment they realize we have it. And that¡¯s assuming we don¡¯t spend it all trying to live like kings for a few years.¡± He chuckled at his last sentence, but then grew a tad more serious. ¡°We¡¯ll have the wealth of nobles, but none of the power or protections that title offers.¡± Sade was impressed. Rick had essentially the full grasp of their situation. If she didn¡¯t know any better, she would guess he was from some noble house. But the facts just didn¡¯t line up, and there were hardly any human nobles left in the kingdom. Sade was all too aware of that fact. ¡°Well¡­ guess my name fits my station at least.¡± He joked. ¡°Yer name?¡± ¡°Ah, right! Richard, my full name, means ¡®a wealthy man¡¯.¡± Rick smiled. It was indeed fitting. In many, many different ways, Sade had to admit. She wiggled her shoulders against his knees to get him to resume his delicious rubbing of her back. ¡°I have a proposal for what we should do next.¡± She said once he returned to his duties. She had to bite back a contented purr at his touch. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± Lilie asked. Sade noticed a small glimmer of envy pointed her way. She ignored it, Lilie will get her turn soon enough. ¡°Simple¡­ we go shopping for a house.¡± Chapter 10.2 Aquisitions ¡°Wait, what?! Didn¡¯t you just warn us of the dangers of spending money recklessly?¡± ¡°Yeah! What she said!¡± Tyr pipped in after Lilie¡¯s outburst. Even Rick was looking at Sade like she suddenly grew a second head. She sighed. ¡°Let me explain my reasoning. If you all still feel that it is not enough, then we will move on to something different.¡± At the nods from everyone, she began. ¡°Rick was right, we have no protections. While suddenly spending a lot of money all of a sudden would be noticeable, having a group of hunters pool their wages together is not that uncommon.¡± She looked around their small room. ¡°Plus we have outgrown this room some time ago. We need our own space to call our own rather than paying to use these thin walls.¡± ¡°And you think the benefit of moving is worth the risk?¡± Rick asked her. ¡°I do.¡± She nodded. ¡°In addition, it would be easier to hide our wealth from prying eyes in a building we own and can modify rather than trying to hide it here in this small inn.¡± ¡°Aye¡­ that makes sense.¡± Tyr said with a sigh. ¡°We will try to find something close to the coast. We know how much you love wrestling with the sailors next door.¡± Sade turned to Lilie. ¡°I assume you are living in the dorms at Mya?¡± ¡°Oh, um, yes! Yes.¡± She looked down at her feet. Tyr moved in and wrapped the smaller woman in a fierce hug. ¡°Ha! Living with us is gunna be fun! Just ya wait!¡± Sade smiled. It was good that Tyr was making the effort to make Lilie feel as part of the team. ¡°While all we have is a promissory note instead of a wagon load of gold to haul around, that should be enough to at least stake our claim on a building. Plus, looking to see what is available does sound like a fun group activity. I am ready to depart when you are.¡± Hours later the four found themselves standing before a quaint wooden building perched along a small road that ran atop a cliff overlooking the coast. It was square and two stories tall, with several windows all spaced neatly around its circumference. There was a ring of trees around the property line that separated the land the building rested upon from its neighbors. This had been the latest of several homes for sale in the city that the realtor had shown them. The story went that it had once been a small inn that catered to the more affluent before falling into disuse when the previous owners had passed on with no one to take up the trade in their place. Sade felt it had almost everything they wanted; Several large bedrooms for them and possibly guests to all sleep in, a fully equipped kitchen to cook meals, some space for recreational activities outside the bedroom, and some land around the property for them to stretch their legs. Sade especially liked the interior courtyard garden that took up the centermost space of the building. ¡°I really like this one. What do the rest of you think?¡± She asked the other three. Tyr just shrugged her broad shoulders. ¡°Could use a few more trees, but otherwise it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s close to the coast, if a bit hard to actually walk down to it. And considerably closer to the university than ¡®The Ship¡¯s Rest¡¯ was. I like it a lot more than the shack in the middle of the pleasure district, that¡¯s for sure.¡± Rick said as he crossed his arms. ¡°Oh come on! That would have been a great place ta lay down some roots.¡± Tyr said with only half seriousness. ¡°Regardless of the location, the building itself was falling apart. It would have cost us a fortune to make it fit to live in.¡± Sade countered. Tyr just stuck out her tongue in response for ruining her fun. ¡°Lilie?¡± Sade asked the final member. The pale woman hugged her arms in thought. ¡°I do agree this location is the best we¡¯ve seen. But can we really afford a place like this? It would take veteran hunters years to save up enough to buy such a property.¡± Sade nodded. ¡°It would be somewhat costly, but far cheaper in the end than if we would have to furnish or hire labor to build or fix any defects ourselves. So while the price listed is high, the real cost and hassle in moving in is far lower.¡± Indeed the building was left in almost pristine condition with most of the original furniture remaining. ¡°So, we doing this?¡± Tyr asked. Everyone nodded, if they were going to be anywhere, this would be preferable. Sade had Rick join her when finalizing the purchase. This caused him to act slightly flustered for reasons Sade couldn''t quite figure out, but the process went by quickly. Before long a contract was signed in his name and mana that designated the plot of land and the building on top of it as rightfully his. ¡°That''s it? They just let us walk off with the deed to the property, just like that?¡± He asked, in a disbelieving tone. ¡°It is a provisional deed for now.¡± She giggled. ¡°Large sums of money are cumbersome to transport at the best of times. So the contract is finalized first and payment comes later.¡± ¡°And they just take us at our word?¡± ¡°Oh, no. The contract has heavy penalties for fraudulent activity. That is why you had to register your mana. If payment is not delivered by the time specified, including an agreed apon grace period, the magic will cause a mild backlash within your body to disable you, then authorities would be notified of a breach of a magical contract, and your identity as the perpetrator.¡± ¡°And you had me sign it?!¡± He shouted while growing as pale as Lilie. ¡°Why didn''t you do it? You''re the one with all the money! I never wanted that kind of sword dangling over my head!¡± Sade wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him softly to help calm her lover. It seemed to have worked like a charm since she could feel the tension in his spine ease with each gentle caress of her hand along his back. She really should have explained the situation to him properly. It often slipped her mind that he was not of the kingdom and still suffered from that strange memory loss. ¡°My money is your money.¡± She whispered softly once their lips no longer touched. ¡°Forgive me for being overly cautious, but I do not want to leave potential enemies an easy trail to follow.¡± At the confused tilt of his brow, she elaborated further. ¡°Only my name was on the documents for the auction. It would be easier for someone to connect the sale of ancient and valuable coins to a purchase of a large property if both records had the same given name.¡± Understanding bloomed in his expression. He still looked worried, but not nearly to the same degree as before. ¡°That¡¯s a good point. But do you really think it''s necessary though?¡± Sade bit her lip. It was a smart move, but there was one more reason for all the caution. She didn''t tell him and the others yet because she didn''t know if it was a legitimate concern, or something brought on by stress-induced paranoia. She looked into his deep brown eyes, he needed to know, she couldn''t bear keeping even more secrets from him. And better prepared for the worst than being caught flat footed. ¡°On my way back from the broker¡­ I thought I saw someone following me.¡± His brows shot up all the way to his hairline. Before he could ask or say anything she placed her finger to his lips for silence. ¡°No, I do not know who it was or why. Yes, I think I lost them in the crowd before I returned to you. Yes, it all could have been a misunderstanding. I was extremely stressed after seeing how much we received, same as you. Did I miss anything?¡± Rick shook his head to clear it before sighing. He looked at her with an interesting mix of love and exasperation. ¡°Nah, you got all the major points.¡± He looked to where the other two women were chatting while enjoying the cliff side view. ¡°We should discuss the possibilities with the group as a whole though.¡± Sade hummed in agreement. She was glad Rick was mostly keeping a level head in the situation. It helped clear her own mind and focus on what was most important. ¡°Regardless of if you were followed,¡± He said as if reading her mind. ¡°We need to pack our things.¡± He turned to her with that goofy grin of his. ¡°We need to test if our new beds can handle our nightly sessions after all.¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Sade''s laughter could be heard all the way to the cliff''s edge. That was certainly an experiment she was looking forward to conducting in the evening. ¨C ¡°Hey, um, Sade?¡± Sade turned to face Lilie while they walked together down the street. ¡°What is it?¡± The other woman flushed slightly pink at her attention. ¡°I, um, thanks¡­ For everything. I''m still not sure why you agreed to let me join.¡± Sade sighed inwardly. Where was that self assured shaytoni that had walked into battle against monsters with hardly a blink? She wasn''t sure just how much assurance she could give the healer that she was part of the group in full. Perhaps after tonight''s activities she''ll finally relax and stop stressing about her place amongst them. ¡°Would you prefer I act like a territorial bitch?¡± Lilie''s crimson eyes widened at Sade''s question. ¡°What? N-no. No no nononono!¡± Sade gave a grin to show she was just teasing. ¡°Then relax. Even if you were not romantically involved, we all would support you joining our party and moving in with us.¡± ¡°But why?! I just can''t wrap my head around it. How are you all so kind and understanding?¡± ¡°You mean aside from the fact that you have terrible luck with people?¡± Sade asked and Lilie nodded. She let out a breath to organize her thoughts and continued. ¡°It is because of Tyr.¡± This caused Lilie to look at her in confusion. ¡°I''m not sure I follow.¡± ¡°In the beginning it was just Rick and me. For one glorious week it was simply the two of us trying to survive during the day and rutting like animals every evening. Then Tyr comes in like an unstopable whirlwind and before I could even blink, there she was between us, naked.¡± Sade chuckled at the memories of those first few nights together. ¡°My point is that my exclusivity with Rick has long since expired. And looking back on it, I honestly feel that my life is better for it. What was originally meant to indulge in a selfish elf¡¯s wish steadily transformed into a partnership where I honestly can not imagine myself without either of them. I placed my trust in the fact that neither Rick nor Tyr would ever do anything to hurt me.¡± She stopped walking and faced Lilie, a calm but serious look affixed to her face. ¡°The wood elves do not believe in things like monogamy or even marriage. So instead of being jealous and trying futility to control our love life, I think taking a leaf out of Tyr''s book is the wiser option. I choose to trust those my heart belongs to.¡± She smiled and patted the shaytoni¡¯s arm. ¡°I love Rick. And I honestly think I love Tyr as well. One thing that I am starting to realize is that the amount of love I feel for someone is not finite. The more people you love, the more love you have to give. If Rick starts to have feelings for a beautiful and spirited shaytoni, why should I get in the way of that? Who is to say I can not come to love you as well?¡± Lilie''s eyes began to water. Before Sade could anticipate what happened next, she found herself wrapped in a tight embrace. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Lilie sobbed softly. ¡°Just¡­ thank you.¡± Sade recovered quickly from being suddenly grappled. She gently returned the gesture and let the other woman pour all her feelings out. Sade felt a mild sense of nostalgia from once more having someone cry into her breast. Her heart warmed at the thought that she could ease Lilie¡¯s burdens, even if only a little bit. The shaytoni had no doubt lived a hard life. It was admirable to see her achieve so much on her own. Once Lile¡¯s tears had finally run dry, the two women continued on their way, chatting about more simple topics in an effort to get to know each other better. In no time at all, the gates of Mya University loomed before them. After passing through the main entrance, both women made a beeline for the women''s dorms. The goal was to help Lilie pack her things so she could move in with the rest of the group in their new abode. Sade also wanted to grab a few odds and ends from her own dorm as well. So the two of them decided to help each other while the members of the party with trouser snakes stayed behind to clean up their recently acquired accommodations. Sade quickly ducked into her dorm. She just needed to pick up a couple books she borrowed from the library and then she could join back up with Lilie in her own quarters. ¡°Well hey there roomie.¡± Sade fought to suppress the flinch. This was her own room, why did she feel like a thief in the night? She turned to the one who spoke. ¡°Tess. It has been a while.¡± Tess chuckled from her position on the other bed. Her dark hair and pale complexion somehow helped her to blend into the gloom that seemed to congregate on her side of their ¡®shared¡¯ space. ¡°Indeed it has. So what brings our dear star student back to her humble abode?¡± she asked in her scratchy, languid voice. ¡°I just wanted to pick up a few things. I will be off shortly.¡± Sade replied as she started to reach for the items in question. ¡°Aw, going to leave me all by my lonesome?¡± Tess pouted in a teasing manner. Sade narrowed her eyes. While they were technically roommates, the two of them had only spent a handful of hours together at most. They barely shared any classes. But Sade knew her gloomy looking roommate reveled in being able to have the room all to herself. Even teasing, this conversation felt off. ¡°What are you plotting Tess?¡± The other woman had the gall to act mock offended. ¡°Me, plotting? Oh no, no, nonono.¡± She lazily swung herself off the bed and walked towards Sade, that ever present smirk never leaving her face. ¡°Why would you think I¡¯m doing something like that?¡± ¡°Because you do not like talking to people, ever.¡± ¡°I talk to you sometimes.¡± ¡°This conversation has had more words exchanged between us than the entire school year so far.¡± Tess tisked in annoyance. ¡°Damn¡­ You really are as smart as people say.¡± Her easy smile returned. ¡°Ah well, my job was to distract you long enough for the others to show up. Hope this was enough.¡± ¡°What are you-¡± A pounding at the door interrupted Sade before she could interrogate her scheming roommate further. The knocks got louder until some genius decided to check and see if the door was actually locked. It wasn¡¯t. Several figures spilled out onto the floor when the door suddenly swung open from the released pressure they were putting on it. ¡°We got your message. Is she still here? Are we too late?¡± ¡°... Hattepaa?¡± Sade asked one of the fallen figures. ¡°Sade? Sade, you¡¯re here!¡± Hattepaa shouted and jumped up to hug Sade fiercely. ¡°What are you doing here in my room?¡± Sade asked. Looking around the woman grappling with her, she recognized the rest of the group as her fellow classmates. ¡°Well, we wanted to ask you something.¡± The beastkin woman said as she finally released Sade. ¡°It¡¯s well¡­ All of us think you are super smart. And your advice has helped me so much before. Plus you¡¯re not¡­¡± Her voice trailed off near the end, unable to find the right words. ¡°A prick?¡± Tess offered. ¡°Yeah, that.¡± Hattepaa said with mild uncertainty. ¡°You are smart, kind, and well¡­ we all want to start a study group with you!¡± ¡°A¡­ study group?¡± Sade looked to the near dozen other students crowding around her. ¡°And you all want this as well?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± A young man shouted from the rear of the pack. ¡°We¡¯d be stupid not to.¡± Someone else piped up. The whole room was filled with murmurs of agreement. Sade turned to her roommate. ¡°And I suppose you wish to join as well?¡± Tess just chuckled. ¡°Duh! No way I¡¯d pass up an opportunity to get stronger.¡± Sade groaned. She could already feel the little amount of spare time she had dwindling away to nothing. Those few precious moments of freedom were set aside for getting stuffed by Rick, Tyr, or possibly both at the same time. She needed those! But her classmates also needed help. Sade was a somewhat selfish person, even she could admit that, but she knew she would regret telling her fellow students ¡®no¡¯. Plus, Hattepaa¡¯s puppy eyes were just so damn compelling! That girl had a unique magic all on her own. ¡°Fine.¡± She agreed. ¡°But I will need to find some spare time in my schedule. Got it?¡± Everyone nodded their heads. ¡°Maybe we can meet right after classes, when you usually head to the library?¡± Hattepaa suggested. Sade had to agree, that was a good time to meet. It would cut into her own study time, but she figured the tradeoff would be worth it. ¡°Very well. Let us meet at the library after the end of the day¡¯s classes the day after tomorrow.¡± The group cheered, happy that they managed to peer pressure one of the top students into helping them. It was then that a certain shaytoni walked in on the crowd from the hallway. ¡°Hey Sade, I¡¯m all packed and ready-¡± She paused, taking in the scene before her. ¡°Oh? What¡¯s this? Already getting the orgy started?¡± ¡°O-o-orgy?¡± Hattepaa stuttered. ¡°Oh ho! Does our little Sade enjoy things like that?¡± Tess laughed. Sade¡¯s face flushed. She looked at the group gathered and saw more than a couple hopeful faces. This was not how she wanted her reputation at this school to go. It was better to cut this out from the roots. ¡°Really, Lilie?! Really?! You are just as bad as Tyr!¡± She turned to the group, giving an especially fierce glare to the ones who looked a little too into the idea of a study/sex party. ¡°Anyone who actually believes I would condone that sort of behavior within school grounds will be my own personal target for me to demonstrate all the various attack magic we study.¡± Her words seemed to cow the eager fools. It helped considerably that she meant every word. While her heart always had room for more people to love, she still preferred to be selective in who she slept with. Lilie still snorted with amusement. She gave Sade a look that said she caught the glaring loophole in her threatening statement. While she thankfully didn¡¯t say anything, it seemed that Sade would have to teach their new companion exactly what happens when their teasing goes too far. And Sade had no problems in waiting for the perfect moment to enact her revenge. It was one of the reasons she attended Mya University after all. Chapter 11.1 Meanwhile Rick wiped his brow and surveyed his work. He and Tyr had spent most of the afternoon cleaning the massive building that was now their home. Home¡­ The peculiar word rippled through him, leaving behind a strange cocktail of emotions for him to process. He could hardly wrap his head around the fact that he and his friends had just purchased a house to live in. I still can¡¯t believe we got a borderline mansion for such a low price. He thought with a wry smile. If Rick was actually drinking anything when he saw the price tag, he would have most certainly done a spit-take, Sade certainly caught on to his severe reaction at least. After nearly two months living in the kingdom of Shivani, he had a fairly good grasp of the value of its currency. By doing some mental math, a subject he was fairly proficient in, he could reasonably convert the value of the various gold and silver coins used in the kingdom to the price of paper currencies from his old world. And there was a wild discrepancy between many goods and services both worlds offered, and especially the price of housing. Maybe it just goes to show how over inflated the housing market is on Earth. He chuckled to himself. While he had absolutely no hope of ever owning a home in his old life, the market in Shatak was actually affordable. The four of them would have had to bend and scrape every last coin they could for several years, but even this old luxury inn was possible to save up for without the equivalent of winning the lottery. But he was still grateful that they actually did acquire their large windfall, danger be damned. It just made some things easier. Shifting back to the present, Rick checked the floors for any signs of streaks or dust he missed. The hardwood floors were spotless. He grinned, the numerous sailors in his family line would be proud of what he accomplished. ¡°I¡¯m done with this last room over here!¡± He called out down the hall. Tyr was somewhere on the property, but Rick had no doubt her doubly superior ears could hear him. He just hoped that the woman didn¡¯t make a bigger mess than when they started. Tyr was many things, but tidy was not one of them. Living with the rambunctious elf had hammered that poignant fact home several times over. Rick padded over on bare feet down the hall. One rule he insisted be followed was no shoes in the house. They were going to get some carpet laid down or at least some type of house slippers for everyone to wear when the temperature dropped so they could still be comfortable, but there was absolutely no way he would tolerate tracking mud and who knew what else all over their floor while he was responsible for cleaning everything. Not even his father¡¯s side of the family wore shoes in the house. Just one of the reasons they got along with the in-laws so well. It was the little things where people from vastly different cultures could bond after all. Rick made his way to the former Queen suite that they designated as the master bedroom. Well¡­ Tyr referred to it as the ¡®orgy room¡¯, but none of the other¡¯s were acknowledging that silly name in the vain hope to not encourage her. Jury was still out on whether or not it would work in the end. He found the troublemaker in question hanging up their meager collection of clothes in the closet room. ¡°Hey¡¯o!¡± She called out, not even bothering to glance in his direction. RIck padded forward and started helping her work. ¡°How are you taking all of this?¡± He asked after a moment. She gave her customary shrug of indifference. ¡°Better than ya are, that¡¯s fer sure.¡± ¡°Oh come on!¡± Rick whined. ¡°How in the balls do you figure that?¡± Tyr put one last garment away. All three of their clothes combined barely took up any of the space they now had in the gigantic closet. She turned to Rick, her smug smile plastered on her face. ¡°Ya don¡¯t need eyes as good as mine ta see how ya flipped out when ya signed those papers.¡± Rick groaned, he didn¡¯t think he was being that obvious. But at least he had Tyr to tell him when he was acting silly. ¡°Yeah, I guess you¡¯re right.¡± He admitted. ¡°It¡¯s just, my whole generation has been locked out of homeownership. I honestly never thought I would be able to get this far.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t ya be able to get a home?¡± Rick let out a sigh. Once more, he found himself discussing a long and complicated topic he barely understood but had to do his best to explain. ¡°Mostly because they are too expensive for anyone but the wealthy to buy.¡± ¡°Then where would ya sleep?¡± Tyr asked, confused. Rick gave a snort of derision. ¡°Either with my parents or renting.¡± He waved away her followup questions. ¡°The point is, even if we didn¡¯t find those coins, it just caught me off guard how easily we could have scraped together enough to buy a modest home for ourselves.¡± ¡°Bah!¡± Tyr said with annoyance. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand how ya mayflies make these things so complicated.¡± ¡°Oh? How do the vaunted wood elves handle housing?¡± Rick asked. Elven culture was so strange to him, but he enjoyed noting all the various differences. ¡°Ya find a spot and build a house. Simple.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± She confirmed. ¡°We got lots of space in the forest. Just find a nice spot that isn¡¯t already claimed, and then start building.¡± Rick shook his head. He shouldn¡¯t have been surprised that it was just that simple with the wood elves. Tyr hardly ever took anything seriously, unless it was something that somehow damaged her elven pride. He had a sudden urge to visit his tall lover¡¯s homeland one of these days. He could only imagine what kind of trouble he would get caught up in, but that didn¡¯t sound too bad in the grand scheme of things. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Must be nice.¡± He said honestly. ¡°I¡¯m still glad you¡¯re here with us.¡± ¡°I am too.¡± She smiled back. ¡°The whole place is fuck¡¯n daft, but ya make for some good company. So it all evens out.¡± ¡°Plus all the amazing sex?¡± Rick asked as we waggled his eyebrows suggestively. ¡°Mmmmm¡­ indeed.¡± She purred. She then eyed him in a way that made him feel like a small animal about to be hunted. Rick tried his best to hold her piercing gaze, but nearly every instinct he had was screaming at him to look away and run to the hills. His dick on the other hand was telling him something completely different. The term ¡®scaroused¡¯ flashed through his mind. It was amazingly apt to feel such seemingly contradictory emotions at the same time. He had yet to decide if he liked it or not. ¡°A-anyways, I think Sade and Lilie are due back any moment.¡± Tyr looked at him in that predatory way a moment longer before she chuckled and slapped his shoulder. ¡°Yep, I think yer right.¡± She said while wiggling her long ears. When the two of them made it back to the stairs leading to the main entrance, Rick saw the other two women were in the process of removing their boots by the door. ¡°Welcome home!¡± He called out. It struck him right then that those words felt more right than ever. Warmth suffused his chest at the notion. ¡°Indeed. We have returned.¡± Sade giggled. She quickly moved in and wrapped Rick and Tyr into a tight embrace. ¡°It is good to be home.¡± Rick saw Lilie still standing at the door, surrounded by her luggage, looking downward awkwardly. Before he could even say anything, Tyr swung one of her free arms wide and beckoned the shaytoni over. ¡°Welcome home too.¡± She said softly. Lilie¡¯s face lit up like a firework and she rushed into the group hug with great enthusiasm. ¡°So, how was getting everything packed at school?¡± Rick asked once everyone had their fill of hugs. Sade¡¯s face soured somewhat. Rick was confused, wasn¡¯t it Lilie who had to pack her things? ¡°I seem to have been roped into something.¡± Lilie let out a chuckle then patted Sade on her head. It would have been funnier if Sade was still small and childlike in appearance, but now that the two women were nearly the same height, it lost some of its impact. ¡°We separated for a bit and I found her mobbed by the underclassmen.¡± ¡°And why did they mob you?¡± Rick asked Sade palmed her face and groaned theatrically. ¡°They wanted to start up a study group, with me as the primary tutor.¡± Rick blinked. Of all the reasons for Sade to be mobbed by her fellow students, he wasn¡¯t expecting that. ¡°Well then¡­ That¡¯s kinda smart.¡± Sade sent a glare his way, so he decided to elaborate. ¡°You are a good teacher. I highly doubt that either Tyr or I could have gotten close to mastering ¡®frozen mist¡¯ without your help. You know more about magic than most people could learn in a lifetime. And you learn even more with each passing day.¡± The others enthusiastically nodded at Rick¡¯s claims to Sade¡¯s magical prowess. She still didn¡¯t look quite convinced at the notion, so he tried one more tactic. ¡°There¡¯s a famous quote from my country; ¡®Those who can, do; Those who can¡¯t, teach¡¯. And while there¡¯s a wrinkle of truth to it, I believe it to be mostly false.¡± He smiled at his talented lover. ¡°Every teacher I¡¯ve studied under has told me that teaching others has helped improve their mastery of that given subject greatly. Even more than when they were learning in school themselves.¡± ¡°That does not make sense. How would reiterating what the professors said help me if I already understand the subject?¡± Sade asked. ¡°Think of it this way.¡± Rick replied. ¡°Different people think and learn in different ways. By having to explain a solution from multiple angles, you reinforce your own understanding by guiding others to their own path.¡± ¡°Like hiking through the woods.¡± Tyr added. The others turned to her, curious on where she was going with her off-beat example. ¡°Ya may know one route through the forest ta get ta the mountain peak. But by accompanying others on different trails, ya eventually map out the whole forest, and may even find a more efficient path through than what ya started with.¡± All three of them were dazed at the elf¡¯s analogy. ¡°That¡­ That¡¯s a surprisingly apt way to put it.¡± Rick said. While their tall friend was young, brash, and rarely cared about scholarly pursuits, they all had to occasionally remind themselves that she was far from stupid. Tyr had more practical life experience than all of them combined, and it showed itself in odd ways from time to time. The elf preened at the compliment, her usual smug expression only deepening. They would have to be careful with feeding her ego any further. Last thing they needed was a wood elf with a big head. Hers was big enough already. ¡°I believe I understand the benefits of working with my classmates. I honestly was going to work with them anyways, but having something in it for me certainly makes the exchange less lopsided.¡± Sade¡¯s stomach gave an audible growl. ¡°Perhaps we should focus on sustenance instead?¡± All of them eagerly agreed that food was the next order of business to take care of. ¡°I got just the thing! Come on, let me show you.¡± Rick excitedly told the group of women. They all followed him to their new kitchen. Rick and Tyr had the foresight to gather ingredients to stock the pantry at least partially. The space was built to feed dozens, they were just four people, they wouldn¡¯t be able to justify fully stocking the pantry even if they all ate as much as their giant friend. Rick quickly set aside some roasted meats, assorted veggies, and several long rolls of bread that looked like mini baguettes. He sliced the bread rolls along the sides then coated one half with mayonnaise and the other with a basic beef pat¨¦. He then loaded up the meat and vegetables before handing each of the women one of his creations. ¡°Uh¡­ What¡¯s this?¡± Lilie asked. ¡°B¨¢nh m¨¬. A simple anytime food that my family often made.¡± Rick said, grinning. While he loved the more European fare that the kingdom sported, he was beginning to really miss the type of recipes the other half of his family enjoyed. Tyr wasted no time and dug her fangs deep into the eastern sandwich. It only took her a few gigantic bites to reduce her meal to crumbs. ¡°Not bad.¡± She said while reaching for a second that Rick already had prepared. ¡°A good balance of meat and greens.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I put more meat in that one for you.¡± Rick laughed. He knew Tyr would never complain about a meal, but her tastes leaned heavily toward the carnivore end of the spectrum than what elves were usually depicted enjoying. He didn¡¯t know if that was a personal choice or just how wood elves were built, and he wasn¡¯t about to force his views about dietary balance on her. They all chatted while enjoying the simple meal together. Sade supplied more details on how she got cornered by her classmates and the other two went over what they did while the two women were at the university. ¡°Okay,¡± Tyr said while patting her muscular stomach. ¡°Time fer the bedroom.¡± Sade gave the larger woman a firm nod of her head, the smile on her face turning mischievous. ¡°Indeed. Time to work off this meal and break in our new bed.¡± Chapter 11.2 Getting Competitive ¡°So, uh, how is this all going to work?¡± The four of them were standing just inside the entrance to their master bedroom suite. Sade turned to Lilie and smiled. ¡°It is simple really. We agreed to have you and Rick do some¡­ experimentation. So, I think we all should be present to observe.¡± Lilie¡¯s face somehow got a shade paler. ¡°This is because of the orgy comment, isn¡¯t it?¡± She grumbled under her breath. Sade¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°This is most definitely because of the orgy comment.¡± ¡°Sade, stop teasing the poor woman.¡± Rick sighed. Whenever things start to get heated in the bedroom, Sade would start to dip into her more sadistic side. Thankfully, that mostly manifested in an increase of teasing comments and coming up with ridiculous sex games to play in the bedroom. ¡°Bah! Any orgy comment is appropriate when we¡¯re in the ¡®orgy room¡¯.¡± Everyone else pointedly ignored Tyr¡¯s silly comment. They would not encourage her. ¡°Do not worry Lilie, Tyr and I will be having our own fun while you and Rick enjoy each other.¡± Sade chuckled while disrobing. She gently helped the blushing shaytoni out of her own robes and guided her to sit on the edge of their extremely large new bed. The thing was a four post style monstrosity, wide poles of wood as thick as Rick¡¯s thigh rose up from each corner to connect to a large canopy held in place by a boxy wooden frame. There was easily enough room for all of them to sleep side by side comfortably on its surface. Rick and Tyr also started to remove their clothes. Rick could not help but admire Tyr¡¯s amazonian physique. He had seen the woman naked nearly every night since they met, and he never got tired of admiring her chiseled artistry. ¡°Oh fuck! Is that what you really look like under that vest?¡± Rick turned to see Lilie actively gaping at Tyr¡¯s torso. Her eyes roamed around the broad shoulders, to the heavy breasts resting atop defined pecs, to the exaggerated washboard that was her stomach. Her eyes boggled when they gazed further down and beheld what lay between her tree trunk sized thighs. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ I know you said you had one. But, wow, yeah. It¡¯s something else.¡± She looked up to meet the elf¡¯s eyes. ¡°But compared to the rest of you, I was expecting something completely oversized, even when flaccid.¡± Rick¡¯s head snapped to where the shaytoni was looking. ¡°Tyr¡­ did you make yourself¡­ smaller?¡± Sure enough, the fleshy tube was noticeably shorter than when he last laid eyes on it. ¡°I could have sworn you had just as much of a trouser snake to wrangle as I do.¡± Tyr huffed in amusement. ¡°Aye, and that was starting ta become a wee bit of a problem.¡± She held her member, no bigger than her thumb, and began to slowly stroke it to life. Rick saw the thing pulse and grow larger with each beat of her powerful heart. Her shaft steadily swelled, poking out of her curled fist, causing her whole hand to slide up and down the length with increasing distance. And still it grew. Her dick had reached what Rick assumed was its full size, and just kept going. Further and further out its head pushed, the girth too thick for her fingers to comfortably wrap around completely. Rick gaped openly when, at last, the elf¡¯s dick stopped at its monstrous full size. Thirty centimeters. A full mother fucking imperial foot of throbbing girlcock. He rounded on Sade. ¡°How in the unholy balls can you fit that thing inside you?!¡± Sade was no longer a small woman by any measure, but there was being able to take a large penis, and then there was an ability to take a hentai sized flesh hose. ¡°Y-y-you¡¯re not that small either Rick.¡± Lilie stammered out. She was looking at Tyr¡¯s mighty rod like the elf was about to use it like a weapon. ¡°But I agree. That¡¯s not a cock, it''s a fucking colossal bitch-breaker!¡± Tyr just beamed like she was given the greatest of compliments for her mighty member. Sade only chuckled at everyone¡¯s reactions. It was her, after all, that somehow managed to fit that thing inside her. ¡°Well, to answer your question, do you remember the spellbook I had to translate?¡± Rick nodded his head and she continued. ¡°While I have not finished interpreting everything written, the very first spell form listed has proven quite¡­ useful for us.¡± She lowered her hand until her pointer finger rested just above her pink petals, right over her womb. With casual ease, she traced her finger up and around her body with slow, languid motions. It took Rick a few moments to realize that she was tracing a spell formula. Sade shuddered as she finished forming her spell and the magic seemingly took hold. With both hands, she stuck her fingers into her slit, and pulled her lips apart. Rick could only stare in amazement as Sade soon had a gape wide enough for him to slide his fist in. ¡°It is difficult to give a direct translation for the spell''s name, but I like to call it ¡®stretchy¡¯.¡± Her hands let go and her lower lips clapped shut with a barely audible slap. Any evidence that her hole was reached to over twice its usual capacity disappeared the moment the folds connected. Sade moaned loudly as she caressed up and down her body in euphoria. ¡°There is¡­ a bit more to the spell than increased elasticity.¡± She panted. ¡°Any perceived pain from being stretched beyond normal limits is instead converted to pleasure.¡± Her eyes were starting to take a lustful gleam. ¡°All the joy of being filled to the brim, but then magnified when those limits are exceeded.¡± ¡°Is that just your hole or¡­¡± Sade turned to Lillie and pinched her own cheek. She pulled out her dusky skin further and further out from her face. ¡°My whole body is affected.¡± She released her skin and it snapped back into its proper place. ¡°Tyr and I had quite a bit of fun testing things out while you two got to know each other back in Gaviota.¡± ¡°Now, I assume that you have yet to sleep with a man as large as Rick?¡± Sade asked the naked woman beside her. Lillie nodded her head, her cheeks flushing at the question. ¡°That is perfectly fine. I would recommend casting this spell even if you had. It never hurts to be prepared after all.¡± Sade once more extended a finger down to her most sacred source and traced the pathway throughout her body. The pattern she traced across her dark skin differed near the end, and Sade finished the spell with a light tap on Lillie¡¯s nose before the horned woman started to shudder much like Sade had. ¡°Wow- that¡­ just, wow!.¡± She said when the magic took full effect. ¡°Indeed.¡± Sade smiled and kissed Lillie gently on the forehead. ¡°All that is left is taking our medicine, and then we are ready to begin.¡± ¡°Fuck¡¯n finally!¡± Tyr groused. She stomped over to the jar of medical pills and gathered the needed amount. ¡°Still don¡¯t understand why I have ta take these.¡± ¡°Because we are dealing with sex magic. Something no one has dabbled with for centuries. We can be certain of nothing.¡± Sade answered dryly. ¡°Yeah, you may not have any balls, but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you had some little swimmers hanging out in your spunk.¡± Rick added. ¡°Little¡­ swimmers?¡± Tyr asked. Her head was cocked to the side in confusion. Rick palmed his face. ¡°Right¡­ okay! So if you take male ejaculate and use a device to look extremely close to it, you will see thousands of these little tadpole looking things.¡± He looked around the room and saw three confused faces staring at him. Rick sighed, despite having quite a high level of education, this was still a fantasy world. Of course they wouldn¡¯t have microscopes to see sperm or other types of cells. They probably didn¡¯t know what cells even were. ¡°It¡¯s complicated, but that¡¯s how a male fertilizes a female. Those little swimmers race to find a female egg in her womb and when the two combine, they start forming a child.¡± ¡°How do you know all this?¡± Rick looked at Lillie and did his best to answer her question. ¡°Where I¡¯m from, some people decided to find out how everything works. It¡¯s an ongoing project, but some people figured out the more technical aspects on how babies are made.¡± He waved his hand to forestall any further questions. ¡°Anyways, I think we should move on to the main event. I think Tyr will blow if she has to wait any longer.¡± The woman in question had a more pensive expression on her face than what Rick described, but Sade got the idea that he wanted to get things back on track and spoke up. ¡°Well I for one am tired of waiting. I need a tall and burly elf to come over and fill me up. Immediately.¡± Tyr shook her head to clear whatever thoughts were clouding it and focused her attention on the needy woman in front of her. She gave a large, fanged grin. ¡°Yer right. I think it''s high time I plugged up one of those needy holes of yours.¡± She turned to Rick with her signature smug grin. ¡°And someone has ta demonstrate that bigger is most certainly better.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I doubt having a third leg is really an advantage in the bedroom.¡± Rick shot back. ¡°And even now, you wouldn¡¯t be able to have sex with any non-elven women if it wasn¡¯t for that spell of Sade¡¯s.¡± Was his argument logical? Yes, yes it was. Did he mostly argue because he was jealous that Tyr got the jump on cock size when he wasn¡¯t looking? Also yes. Still, size envy or not, he was extremely grateful to Sade in finding a way for all of them to enjoy the ludicrous sizes his magic allowed them to reach, even if the desire was completely impractical. It was a good thing that they all exercised a modicum of self control when they were first experimenting with intimancy, otherwise they probably would have all seriously hurt each other. And nothing killed the mood faster than unintentionally hurting a lover. Sade just chuckled at the two¡¯s antics. ¡°How about we make a little game out of it? Which one of you two can make us climax first?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Lillie complained. ¡°What about us? I¡¯m sure I can make Rick explode faster than you can with Tyr.¡± Sade¡¯s eyes lit up with mischief. Lillie was speaking her language. ¡°That does sound like a fun little competition.¡± She turned to the two members still standing, in more ways than one, in front of the naked beauties. ¡°Let us see who can make who gush first, shall we?¡± Tyr and Rick shared a look of confirmation between the two of them and got into position. Rick had to chuckle inwardly at the predicament he found himself in. Welcome to Sade¡¯s sex games; Where the points don¡¯t matter and everyone is thoroughly fucked. Lillie lay in front of him, legs splayed wide, a clear and open invitation to dive right into her depths. He took a moment to look her over. Lillie had gained a good amount of weight from their first coupling. She was still what many would consider thin, but no longer all skin and bones. Her thighs had some plumpness, just enough to add softness and a bit of jiggle. Her stomach was at the point just before true flatness gave way to bulge. Her breasts had the largest improvement, with generous handfuls that Rick considered would be a C, rather than the AAA ironing board he remembered. Rick looked up at her face. That had changed the least from her sucking out his magic. The angular chin, high cheekbones, button nose, and those inviting ruby eyes were all there. But she was now softer, less tense. Like all the hard lines of her life she wore on her face had been smoothed away. She was gorgeous. ¡°Yer doing it again. Eating a gal alive with yer eyes.¡± Rick looked to find Tyr and Sade looking at him. The former wore a somewhat jealous expression, while the latter was biting her lip hungerly. ¡°I can¡¯t help it.¡± He replied. ¡°When I see one of the most beautiful women in existence before me, I just have to stop and admire every little delicious detail.¡± ¡°You really mean that, don¡¯t you?¡± Lillie asked, raising her hand to cup his face. ¡°Of course.¡± Rick said softly. ¡°You had this charisma around you, even when we first met. I just feel that now that inner beauty has now come fully to the surface. How can I not admire that?¡± ¡°Oh, you are such a sweet talker.¡± She purred. ¡°Now shove that dick in me and I¡¯ll show you how much I enjoy sweets.¡± Her hand wrapped around his shaft and gently started pulling it down towards her eager folds. Lillie was skilled with her mouth, really skilled, but her lower lips were on a whole nother level. Rick gasped as his shaft was devoured in almost its entirety in just a few quick bites. ¡°Fuuuuuuuuck!¡± Rick couldn¡¯t tell if it was him that said it aloud or Lillie. All he knew was being smothered in delicious heat as Lillie¡¯s tunnel greedily sucked him in deeper, trying to swallow him whole. He almost came right then and there, he could feel her desire for him to do so, to let all his essence pour forth until she was satisfied. The thought that maybe she really was a latent succubus crossed his mind before euphoria washed all thought away completely, like writing on a sandy shore when the tide came in. His hips rocked on their own volition, each swing pushing him deeper into that cloying embrace. Her undulating motions served only to bring his desire to even greater heights. It was then that Rick felt his lower head bump up against something soft. Lillie howled and her whole body lurched up. ¡°Balls! Are you okay?¡± RIck asked as he woke up from his stupor and slid out. He lay next to her, careful not to give her enough space to recover from whatever he bumped. Was that her cervix? She just laid there, panting for a few moments before her eyes cleared and she glared at him. ¡°Why¡¯d you stop?!¡± ¡°Ah-du wha-?¡± Rick said eloquently. He shook his head to shake the fuzz out and tried again. ¡°Because I thought I hurt you.¡± With surprising strength, Lillie shifted Rick back to his previous position and wrapped her legs around his waist. ¡°I¡¯ve never been fucked so hard before in my life.¡± She snarled and brought him closer to her flushed face. ¡°And I want you to go in harder. I want that cock to knock down the door to my womb like a fucking battering ram, ya got it?¡± ¡°Ya heard the lass.¡± Tyr said while leaning in close. ¡°It¡¯a be rude otherwise.¡± Sade looked like she was drunk while the elf continued to pulverize her pelvis. ¡°She can take it.¡± She slurred. ¡°You would be hard pressed to hurt her while the spell is still in effect.¡± ¡°What the fuck are you waiting for?!¡± Lillie bit out. ¡°You want the blasted elf to show you up?¡± Rick looked down to the horny healer, back up to the elf in question, and back to Lillie. If the lady insists. With that thought, he plunged down hard. Lillie roared in triumph when he started knocking on her door as instructed. Rick tried to slide out of her sodden tunnel as far back as possible before bringing his full length straight to the end with a loud slap of flesh smacking together. Curious, he looked over to the other pair and saw Sade using one arm to keep her chocolate mounds from slapping herself in the face. Each thrust of Tyr¡¯s battering ram forced the twin peaks of chocolate to jiggle violently from under their restraint like rogue mounds of gelatin. The other hand, was gently caressing the obscene bulge caused by Tyr¡¯s flesh pillar taking up far more room than what should be possible. The amazonian woman causing such a display gave Rick a knowing smirk. Rick felt a surge of annoyance at her smug face. If that¡¯s how you want to play it, then fine. He thought before altering the way he was thrusting into Lillie. Making love was about more than pounding as hard and deep as he could, it was about ensuring your lover''s womb felt every little corner get its due attention, it was about figuring out what made your partner experience the most pleasure you could possibly give. He leaned more forward so that his angle of attack was almost straight down. His dick slowly scraped along her back wall on its way to her secondary entrance in her furthest depths, he did promise to batter it until it came down after all. ¡°Oh yes- right there! That feels amazing! Yes, yes, yesyesyes!¡± Rick¡¯s efforts seemed to bear fruit as Lillie started bucking in order to let him scratch just the right spots as he tunneled even deeper inside her. While Rick was glad that she was enjoying herself more, he was at his limit. The better angle also caused him to feel more stimulation as well. Hearing her sensual moans while he pounded her into the sheets really didn¡¯t help either. With a cry, he hilted himself fully inside her softness and sprayed his seed into her hungry maw. Lillie added her own musical voice to his own, creating a chorus of rapture. He then felt the tug of mana as it began to shoot out his dick alongside his creamy essence. With his climax still going strong, Rick felt her grow beneath him. The pressure around his waist increased as her thighs and calves swelled around him, her rear inflating with extra cushion, causing her hips to raise slightly with each pulse of his magic. Her features grew softer and more round as she continued to feed on him. A few heart stopping moments later, he could feel the pull on his reserves slow then stop, his dick no longer spraying inside her like a firehose. The two panted as they came down from their shared bliss. Reality beginning to reassert itself properly. ¡°Tha- that was¡­ oh¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever cum so hard in my life.¡± She looked up at him, realization of what just happened hit her like a lightning bolt. ¡°I fed on you again! Are you hurt? How is your mana?¡± Rick shushed her with a soft kiss to her plump lips. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He chuckled when he broke contact. ¡°Yes, you did drain me. But I think you only took about a quarter or third of my total reserves.¡± He smiled again. ¡°Let¡¯s instead talk about you. How are you feeling?¡± ¡°I feel¡­ good, actually. I was starting to feel slightly hungry- no, not the right word¡­ peckish? Yeah, I was starting to feel peckish before we started.¡± It was amusing to see her train of thought stroll through one station after another. Lillie¡¯s enhanced body jiggled enticingly while she worked her way through her feelings. ¡°And now I feel full. Like, I just came back from a holiday feast sort of full.¡± ¡°I am glad that things have turned out for the better when it comes to the subject of your condition.¡± Sade said while reaching out and clasping the healer¡¯s hand in hers. ¡°Perhaps one day you can even control the exact amount you feed.¡± ¡°That would be nice.¡± Lillie said and wiggled around to get comfortable. She paused, then started to flush pink slightly. ¡°Hey, uh, Rick?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± She bit her lip. ¡°You¡¯re like, still really hard inside me.¡± Her face became a shade darker. ¡°Can¡­ Can we go again? You felt amazing, and my pussy is still begging to be plowed.¡± Rick¡¯s cock throbbed from inside her at the prospect of more. Despite the seemingly endless ropes of cum he already sprayed and a good chunk of his mana being devoured, he was looking forward to continuing their coupling. He didn¡¯t say any words, he let his bucking hips do all the talking required. Lillie moaned lewdly as he picked up the pace. She was still so freaking tight, her folds gripped and squeezed him like they were trying to milk a dairy cow. Rick started to pant with effort. Despite only going at it for another minute, he could feel the pressure building once more for an explosive finale. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ gonna¡­ CUM!¡± His balls hitched and he stuffed Lillie full of jizz and mana while the two entwined in shared passion and release. Lilie inflated under and around him while they both shared their high. When he felt the drain on his magic lessen, Rick broke out of her fluffy leg lock and took several steps back. He was woozy from all the exertion and burning through over half his magic reserves. Lillie greatly expanded form bucked and shuddered with continued climax, her face a mask of pure satisfaction. Her body gave one last heave before a small squirt of liquid shot out of her slit, and then she laid still. Lillie had changed considerably after feeding on him twice in a row. She had probably doubled her original weight since first meeting him. Most of that extra padding went to her hips, thighs, butt, and especially her breasts. She had become the definition of thick, but her shape was easily more in the voluptuous column, rather than obese. ¡°Fuck¡­ I feel so full!¡± She sighed happily from her prone position on the bed. ¡°Uh, Lillie. There¡¯s something glowing on your belly.¡± The shaytoni shot up in an instant to stare down at what Sade was looking at. She had to part her gloriously huge breasts to see properly, but there, right over her lower stomach, a pulsing pale red symbol glowed against her skin. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Chapter 12.1 Role Reversal Chapter 12 The overladen cart rumbled through a lonely mountain pass. Rick scanned the surroundings carefully from his spot in the driver''s seat. The only thing his senses picked up were the echoes of their cart¡¯s wheels as the sound bounced back from somewhere in the mist that surrounded them on all sides. How they were expected to find anyone way up in the clouds was anyone''s guess. Sade patted his shoulder gently. She was far calmer than he was, but she didn¡¯t really rely on weapons to defend herself as much as he did. The two of them were dressed as a young farm couple. Ones that are on their way back to the countryside after acquiring a whole wagon load of supplies from selling their unusually productive harvest. Rick hoped that their quarry would fall for the simple ruse. They were trying to lure out a gang of bandits who had marked this lonely stretch of road as their hunting grounds. After the report from the chief of Gaviota came in, filled to the brim with gratitude and praise for the party¡¯s efforts, their reputation with the hunters skyrocketed. Both of their missions were considerably more difficult than originally estimated, and the fact they were able to still accomplish them with no fatalities to themselves or any civilians was nothing short of commendable. After the shell of the giant king crab was analyzed by the garrison for study and authenticity, the party proudly hung the spiked carapace like a trophy in one of the rooms of their home in commemoration of a job well done. It would hopefully be the first of many decorations to their home to showcase their skill and teamwork. Rick was happy that Lilie was finally recognized for her efforts with the hunters. Her luck with previous groups was so atrocious, it was almost comical. While almost all of the various parties she partnered with eventually broke up and the individual members washed out before they could truly damage the reputation of the garrison, it unfortunately meant that they also dragged her name in the mud along with them, since they all almost universally blamed her for their own failings, which unfortunately made it hard for her to pair up with better groups or receive help. All four of them were now considered prime rookies. This meant they were now able to be given more difficult and lucrative jobs reserved for teams that had considerably more experience and proved themselves capable. They were trusted a bit more, but mistakes would invoke stricter scrutiny. They had finally risen above the chaff as it were. Lilie walked alongside the cart as it made its way through the mist. She was the only one in the group that could be seen wearing any form of arms or armor. Her hood was up, obscuring her features, but Rick could see her scan the surroundings just as much as he was. Her part to play in this little charade was as their hired guard. Tyr was, unfortunately, too high profile as a forest elf to play that role. So having the giant woman anywhere in sight would scare off their prey before they even got close. ¡°Halt!¡± Rick looked around to find the source of the voice. Up ahead stood a lone man in the middle of the road. He was armored in mismatched plate and in his hands was a large, cruel looking axe. As they drew closer, Rick saw two proud horns jutting out from his blond hair. ¡°That is far enough!¡± He called out to them. Before they even registered his last command, several figures leaped out and surrounded the cart, forcing Rick to pull back on the reins so they wouldn¡¯t run over anyone. He did a quick headcount, there were nine men and women, including the blond fellow with the axe, covering them from every angle with their weapons drawn. It seems their ridiculous plan actually worked. He owed Tyr a drink when this was all done. Lilie had her sword out already, but before she could even think of using it, a dirty silver saber tapped lightly against her shoulder, its keen edge pointed towards her neck. ¡°Now, now. Put that thing away before anyone gets hurt. We are here for the goods, not your lives.¡± Lilie scowled at the man from under her hood, but slowly angled her broadsword back into its sheath. The handsome bandit just smiled roguishly and tucked a long lock of brown hair back behind one of his dark horns. Looking around, Rick noticed that every one of the bandits was a shaytoni. A curious, if irrelevant, detail. ¡°Very good sister.¡± A female bandit said as she passed by Lilie and took note of the horns under the hood. ¡°We are sorry it had to come to this. Be assured we won¡¯t take everything. We will try to leave enough for you.¡± She apologized while moving towards the back of the cart. She lowered the tailgate for easy access to what looked to be a large pile of goods. ¡°With all this we¡¯ll be able to last until winter.¡± She reached for the large tarp that both covered and secured their cargo and ripped it off with one smooth motion. ¡°Hey¡¯o!¡± Tyr said cheerfully from her seated position amongst the cargo. The bandit¡¯s eyes grew wide, but before she could react any further, a powerful kick sent her flying away. Like a tiger pouncing on helpless prey, the forest elf leapt out from her hiding place and tore into the surrounding crowd with her bare hands. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The other three wasted no time capitalizing on the distraction carnifex that was their pointy eared friend and jumped into the fray. Rick hit a skinny blond pretty boy with a flying elbow after leaping off the cart. He took no small amount of pleasure in feeling the man¡¯s jaw crunch against the hard bone of his forearm. He quickly shifted to kick a small woman in the stomach before rounding on another shaytoni with similar dusky skin as Sade. ¡°I told ya it would work!¡± Tyr laughed while holding two women in a headlock with each arm. ¡°Ya owe me a beer!¡± ¡°I am well aware of that fact, good job!¡± Rick called out while ducking a sword swing from the woman he kicked. ¡°Will you two focus!¡± Sade roared from her position high on the cart. Blue arcs of electricity were shooting out of her fingertips, causing any bandit hit by her magic to start jerking like they were being tased before Lilie would round on the stunned bandit in a bid to finish them off. Sade was unintentionally doing her best to look like a cross between a farmer and a sith lord, and he found it absolutely hilarious. Rick would love to have sat back and watched the show if he wasn¡¯t occupied with his own fight. There was a feral screech from behind them. Everyone turned to see the first bandit Tyr punted off the road back on her feet, looking none too happy about it. Power coalesced around her, and several spears of ice formed in the air, their sharp points aimed right at the ensuing melee. ¡°Everybody duck!¡± Rick screamed and hit the deck. ¡°Fuck!¡± Tyr yelped. She tossed aside the bandits she was suffocating with her tits and dove for her life. The ice mage threw her arms forward and her ice spikes shot forward like they were fired from a machine gun. Sharpened lances of ice slammed into the cart, sending items and wood splinters flying in all directions. Hunter and bandit alike were all scrambling out of the line of fire, less they wanted to be turned into frozen pin cushions. ¡°Go fuck her up!¡± ¡°Yeah! Turn that beast into an elf-sicle!¡± The two women Tyr threw aside cheered on their comrade from their position on the ground while the mage continued to form and launch ice at Tyr¡¯s position. The elf dashed away from the fight, a trail of icy impacts on the hard ground following just behind her heels, and swiftly disappeared into the mist. Sadly, that meant the rest of the hunting party was outnumbered three to one against the pissed off highwaymen, not quite the best odds if Rick was being honest. Sade made a dash towards the ice mage. If anyone could counter enemy magic, it would be her. Her actions didn¡¯t go unnoticed. The big guy with the axe bellowed a warcry and charged after her. With a simple flex of his powerful legs, he scaled the remains of the cart then leaped off, a somewhat sonorous yell escaping from his lips and a wicked weapon poised above his head. Sade stopped her momentum with a stomp of her leg and twisted around to face her flying opponent. In one smooth motion, her arms whipped around and the earth rose with her movement. The large bandit slammed into the triangular wall of dirt that suddenly formed in his path and was deflected aside, his momentum causing him to tumble and roll harmlessly away from his initial target. Rick sighed inwardly, that bandit was extremely lucky. Sade could have easily formed a giant spike for him to impale himself on. While terrifying and powerful, an aerial attack makes it extremely hard to dodge out of the way if things go wrong. Sade activated her earth spell once more to form stone bindings over the bandits arms, legs, and torso to prevent him from getting back up and trying anything else for the rest of the fight. Sade had just been taught about elemental manipulation spells the past week in one of her classes. These were types of spells that allowed the caster to manipulate the element in question in all sorts of ways, as opposed to just performing a single task like most other spells Rick had been taught. While their versatility was incomparable, one of the main reasons they were hardly ever used was because the spell formula to cast was ludicrously complicated. Oh, and the mana cost to use a manipulation class spell for a few seconds was equal to Sade¡¯s ¡®thunder spear¡¯. So yeah¡­ not something a typical mage would think of using in the middle of a brawl with bandits. The ice wielding bandit focused her attention on Sade. She had taken too long to deal with the axe guy and could now no longer close the gap fast enough to stop the enemy mage from casting again. A triumphant grin spread across the bandit woman¡¯s face as her spell took shape once more. But she completely failed to notice the hulking form standing right behind her. The poor mage¡¯s body crashed into the wooden remains of the cart she destroyed in an explosion of wood chips and dust. Tyr once more charged into the fray to cause maximum confusion. Sade rushed to secure any and all opponents who were thrown to the ground by the wild juggernaut with her earthen shackles. For some reason the two women who Tyr was previously fighting never got up from their prone positions. They swiftly realized their mistake when the decision to get up and actually do something was forcefully taken from them a moment later. Rick was still stuck in a three on one. None of the bandits were skilled enough to pin him down, but every time he tried to attack one, the other two would rush in and force him to back off and stay on the defensive. Thankfully around half their number was now incapacitated with no losses on his side. Lilie was engaged in a duel with the handsome saber wielder. They shuffled back and forth along the rocky ground, neither side truly gaining an advantage over the other. This bandit was good. Over the past week, all of them had been pooling together their fighting knowledge in preparation for their mission to take on the bandits. Lilie had shown Rick all the finer points to swordsmanship, and despite being a healer, she was incredibly skilled with a blade in his humble opinion. Metal rang through the air as their weapons clashed together over and over. The bandit¡¯s easy smile never wavered while Lilie¡¯s was set in a hard line of concentration. After she ducked under a horizontal swipe, she rushed in with her shield leading the way. The solid barrier crashed against his torso, causing his breath to rush out of his mouth in a great burst. He tumbled backward, falling down right next to the big blond guy, and Sade secured him with a simple flick of her wrist. The final group of bandits surrounding Rick started to look scared. Their advantage of numbers was now gone, and Tyr started to stalk toward them, her fangs glinting in the dim light. A sudden rush of dark flames bloomed around the bandits, creating a burning wall to block the elf¡¯s path. A new voice cut through the roar of the flames like a knife, strong and deadly. ¡°Who dares attack my minions?!¡± Chapter 12.2 Boss Battle ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Yeah! The boss is here!¡± ¡°Y¡¯all are fucked now!¡± Many of the secured bandits started to cheer when the dark flames erupted around their fellows. One even started throwing taunts in their general direction now that their supposed leader was making an entrance. Tyr backed off and stood next to Rick and the others. The only one armed with any weapon besides magic was Lilie, and she was standing tall, her weapon drawn but hanging loose at her side. Rick checked to make sure ¡®frozen mist¡¯ was locked and ready to go. They encountered an ice mage already, due to the burning curtain before them, it was safe to assume this bandit leader knew a few fire spells. The flame wall died down to smoldering embers. The three bandits who were behind it were staring off to the side of the road. Rick followed their reverent gazes and saw a woman standing on the rocks above. Her long, straight hair was the color of blood. The parts of her skin showing between the gaps of her dark leather armor were a striking pale shade, like she never knew the feel of sunlight. She leaped from her perch and landed just behind her followers. She was tall, almost as tall as Tyr was when she first met Rick and Sade, and towered a full head above her underlings. The bandit trio bowed low and backed away to clear a path for their leader to stride forward. Rick couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something about all this just seemed staged. Are they bandits or a theater troupe? The crimson shaytoni scowled at them, her hands resting on the sword hilts on either hip. ¡°It seems my loyal minions have fallen for your schemes.¡± She hissed dramatically. ¡°I guess it just means I¡¯ll have to take care of you myself.¡± She tilted her nose up into the air, as if dealing with them was completely beneath her station. ¡°Do you know who I am? I¡¯m th-¡± ¡°The demon lord of all that is snarky and sarcastic.¡± The bandit leader was thrown off by the comment and glared at the party. ¡°Who said that?!¡± Lilie stepped forward. ¡°I thought that was your title Rayna? Was I mistaken?¡± She lowered her hood so that her face could be revealed in full. The redhead looked confused for several seconds. Suddenly recognition bloomed in her eyes. ¡°Lills? Is that you? You¡­ you look¡­¡± Lilie gave a musical chuckle. ¡°My curse has finally been lifted, after all these years.¡± She raised her sword, pointing the tip at Rayna. ¡°And now I have been issued a quest to subdue an errant demon lord. So will you come quietly, or will we have to settle our old grudges?¡± The supposed demon lord got over shock quickly and adopted a confident smirk with no delay. ¡°A bold claim little hero. Let us see if you have grown more than just a pair of tits since last we met.¡± With those words she leapt back to gain some distance and drew her twin swords, ready for a fight. Rick was honestly surprised she could see any womanly features under Lilie¡¯s armor. He did suppose that the changes were obvious for those who knew her before that fateful blowjob as this woman seemed to imply. Lilie wasn¡¯t as big as she was a few days ago, but she was still considerably more bulky than when they first talked in the library. Rayna scanned the battlefield. ¡°Minions! Back off and do not interfere.¡± She looked at Lilie. ¡°I trust your companions will do the same?¡± Lilie nodded and turned to the group. ¡°They will stand aside.¡± She gave Tyr a pointed look. ¡°Right?¡± The elf just shrugged, stomped over to the cart, and plopped her giant rear down on the surprisingly intact front seat. Rick and Sade turned to each other, also shrugged, and went to join their friend on the bench. If Lilie wanted to join this odd stage play with this overly dramatic bandit, they weren¡¯t going to stop her. Both women got into a ready stance. Lilie with her shield out front, and her sword pointed forward. Rayna with one sword pointed forward, the other at the ready on her side. They stood there, frozen, waiting for some invisible signal for their duel to commence. A groan emanated from behind Rick and the others. As if that was the starting pistol she was waiting for, Rayna shot forward with surprising speed, a wild grin splitting her pale face. She slammed her blades down with a crushing blow, only for Lilie¡¯s shield to intercept them with a resounding clang of metal on hard wood. Lilie wasted no time and stabbed her own blade towards the other woman¡¯s neck with a fierce thrust. Rayna cackled and deflected the blow with a casual wave of her sword while leaping back once more. Lilie followed, not willing to let her opponent dictate the pace of the fight. ¡°Ugh¡­ what happened?¡± Rick turned to find the ice bandit had finally woken up from her short flight and started crawling over the ruined cart towards the front. ¡°Are you referring to when you got tossed like a sack of potatoes, or that your leader arrived and challenged our healer to a duel?¡± The bandit looked at Sade with a thoroughly confused expression. ¡°Why would the boss do that?¡± Rick shrugged. ¡°No idea. But we were all ordered to sit back and watch.¡± ¡°Speaking of, I can¡¯t see jack shit!¡± ¡°Yeah! We want to see our boss pound that woman into the dirt, not look at the stuff the whole time!¡± Many of the bandits anchored to the ground started to grumble their assent with the complainers. They were pinned where they fell, which was not exactly among the best places to view the fight. Sade gave a theatrical sigh and started to wave her hand. The ground rumbled and then started to flow like water as all the bandits on the ground were dragged forward by the earthen waves and brought to sitting positions where they could view the duel properly while still properly restrained. The ice mage¡¯s eyes bulged at the casual display of power and control Sade just performed. Sade simply looked the woman in the eyes, as if daring her to start something. The bandit thankfully was smart and just plopped her rear down on the seat next to her, content to watch the show as seemingly ordered rather than risk pissing the dusky woman off. The fight was still in its testing phase. Despite Lilie constantly trying to keep the pressure up, Rayna just kept dancing around and occasionally throwing an attack or two from odd angles. This forced Lilie to turtle back up and hide behind her shield or deflect with her sword. What few attacks she couldn¡¯t block or dodge, her thick armor was there to absorb the damage from the glancing blows. ¡°You¡¯ve improved!¡± Rayna said gleefully. ¡°But this much is far too little to best me.¡± ¡°Just making sure you haven''t started to rust away out here in the wilds.¡± Lilie shot back with a smirk. ¡°Can¡¯t have our long awaited reunion cut short because you got sloppy.¡± ¡°Oh you cheeky little-¡± Her retort was cut short by Lilie suddenly exploding forward with a knee to the gut. Her breath rocketed out of her mouth as she stumbled backward. Before she could even let in a gasping heave, Lilie¡¯s shield swung around and smashed against her face with the steelshod edge. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Cheeky enough for you?¡± The healer taunted. Rayna sucked in a breath, then spat out a glob of blood. The glare she returned was fierce enough to kill, but soon her smirk returned to its rightful place. The bandit lord stood up to her full height and readied her twin swords once more. ¡°Fine then. No more holding back.¡± Once more, Rayna rushed towards her opponent. Unlike the last exchange, there was no testing or teasing, this was them going all out. Whatever Rick could say about the bandit chief, she was fast. Her feet blurred as she danced all around Lilie, her arms writhing like angry snakes as she struck repeatedly to wear down the healer¡¯s iron defense. Lilie was no slouch. Her counterblows came down hard, forcing the taller woman to brace herself with the impact or jump out of the way entirely. Both women showcased an extraordinary amount of skill and strength that Rick could only hope to match one day. ¡°Whoo! Get her love!¡± The bandit beside them on the bench cheered. All three of the hunters gave her odd looks. ¡°What?¡± She asked. ¡°We warm each other¡¯s beds. Nothing wrong with that.¡± Rick and his lovers remained silent and went back to watching the fight. ¡°Amazing!¡± Rayna panted. ¡°At long last, I have finally engaged with a worthy opponent. Maybe you can survive my demon arts.¡± ¡°The only demon arts I know of are ones of seduction.¡± ¡°Is that how you gre- GAH!¡± Rayna¡¯s question was cut off by Lilie¡¯s underhand swipe that would have split her from crotch to collar. In an impressive display of athleticism, Rayna continued her backwards dive and performed a handspring to flip back several times like an anime character. ¡°Fine then hero, keep your secrets.¡± She hissed after finally stopping. ¡°But let me share with you some of the one¡¯s I have uncovered.¡± She gestured around to herself and those around. ¡°We are shaytoni, but do you know what that truly means?¡± Lilie nodded. ¡°Born of demons.¡± Rayna almost tripped at hearing Lilie¡¯s answer. Her fierce expression shifted immediately and she instead wore a look of utter shock. "Wait. Hold the fuck up. How did you-¡± She paused as if realizing she suddenly had dropped her demon lord act. ¡°I mean, uhhhhh yes! That is correct! It appears you aren''t just a pretty face.¡± Rayna carried on as if she hadn''t just broken character, and resumed her villainous monologuing. ¡°We are indeed born of demons. This means their legacy, their power, flows through our veins.¡± Her hands ignited in that strange black fire she used to stop Tyr in her tracks. ¡°I have delved into the mysteries of our bloodline. I have cast aside the petty guise of mortality and embraced our tribe''s true nature!¡± ¡°Behold!¡± She bellowed. ¡°Our true form!¡± The dark fire erupted all around her, encasing her in a roiling cocoon. Twin shapes pierced through the top of the flames, long and sinewy, with a thick membrane draped along their undersides like a fleshy blanket. The shapes tore down on either side, dispersing the magic with a great gust of air. Rayna stood there, a feral grin plastered on her face, great bat wings extending out of her back, near the shoulder blades in a glorious display of her demonic heritage. Fire still burned at the tips of her horns and tail, creating a wholly intimidating presence. ¡°This is who we are, who we are meant to be.¡± She said softly. Her voice carried through the silence like a fell wind across the plains. ¡°If I have learned anything about our people, it is not what we are, but who.¡± Lilie said in defiance. ¡°Oh? And what makes you so confident about that, little hero?¡± ¡°Because I have friends who love me.¡± Lilie said with just a hint of emotion. ¡°They don¡¯t see me as a monster, simply a person who is different. The shaytoni are only demons because other¡¯s label us as such. We can simply be¡­ us. Nothing more.¡± Rayna was frozen from Lilie¡¯s impassioned speech. After a moment, she shook her head and scowled fiercely. ¡°Pretty words! But you know as well as I that strength is what matters in this world. Are you capable of backing up your statements?¡± Lilie closed her eyes and a soft glow of magic suffused her being. Every little cut and bruise she had acquired over the duel started to slowly mend and fade, leaving her pale skin clear and pristine. She raised her eyelids, exposing her bright ruby orbs full of confidence. ¡°There is only one way to find out.¡± Rayna howled in fury. Her wings beat against the air and she flew towards her opponent like a ballista bolt. Flames gathered along one of her blades and she banked to the side right when she swung her immolated weapon, creating a wave of dark fire that threatened to crash against the healer and consume her with its baleful heat. Lilie dove out of the way, barely avoiding being singed. She quickly angled her shield to block a high speed slash as Rayna sped past. The winged woman landed on her feet and skidded on the ground a short distance. With a single flap of her wings, she leapt into the air and somersaulted forward twice before crashing down upon Lilie¡¯s upraised shield with both swords. Fire bloomed where the blades struck, engulfing the wood and most of Lilie¡¯s arm in black flames. ¡°How do you like this taste of my power?¡± Rayna taunted. Lilie gritted her teeth and shoved the demon woman away. She stood tall, defiant to the end. She hefted up her burning arm and swung it wide. The flames sloughed off like she was flicking away foul sludge rather than magical fire. Her arm radiating that soothing magic of her healing. ¡°Somewhat spicy, but could use some more kick.¡± She said with a smirk. The two resumed their clash. Rayna furiously trying to overwhelm Lilie with her lightning quick attacks and fire, Lilie with careful rolls and liberal use of her healing to tank the oppressive flames. Rayna gave out a frustrated screech. She once more took to the sky, circling around for another high speed pass. Her whole body erupted with her dark magic, streaking towards Lilie like an ebony comet. At the last moment, she angled her turn so that she flew around the healer in a tight circle, the tip of her sword digging a deep groove the whole way. ¡°Burn you miserable creature!¡± Before Lilie could react, Rayna slammed her palms to the ground and the circle she created erupted in an inferno. The demonic woman stared at the roiling pillar of darkness. After a few moments she started to chuckle, then her laughter started to grow. Before long she was howling with mad glee, tears streaming down her face as a full on fit of hysterics had her fully within its grip. RIck saw a soft light emanate amongst the darkness. It grew until a small burst of magic blew a hole out of the inferno and Lilie dashed out, seemingly unharmed. Rayna looked up just in time to see the healer¡¯s sword coming down towards her skull, and she brought up both of her blades into a cross to catch it. But that was just a feint. Lilie¡¯s boot stomped on the ground. Her other foot swung up in a glorious arc, landing squarely between the bandit lord¡¯s legs. The force of the kick was so strong, that the woman¡¯s feet momentarily left the ground. Rayna¡¯s pained voice peaked so high, she could probably shatter glass. Both Rick and Tyr felt phantom twinges of sympathy pulse between their legs. ¡°That was¡­ a fucking low blow.¡± Rayna panted from her position on the dirt where she fell, clutching her groin. Lilie chucked darkly and bent down so the two could look eye to eye. ¡°I can¡¯t disregard all of my demon heritage, now can I?¡± The redhead let out a pained chuckle. ¡°Ha ha- Ow! Fuck! That¡¯s fair. But did you have to kick me in the dick sis?¡± ¡°Yes, yes I did¡­ sister.¡± ¡°Wait, sister?!¡± Both the other bandits and hunters cried out at the sudden revelation. Lilie just looked at her friends sheepishly. ¡°Oh, uh, didn¡¯t I tell you that I had a sister?¡± ¡°Ya did. But ya failed ta mention she was the bandit chief we¡¯ve been hunting fer.¡± Tyr said indignantly. ¡°And what¡¯s this about her having a dick?!¡± ¡°Well¡­ Rayna was born with all her womanly parts¡­ and a dick.¡± She explained, a small bead of sweat dripping down her pale cheek. ¡°Did I not tell you?¡± ¡°NO!¡± All three companions shouted at once. The ice mage had jumped off the cart as soon as the fight appeared to be over, and ran towards the fallen demon lord. She turned to the group after seeing that her lover and leader wasn¡¯t too badly injured anywhere but her pride. ¡°So what happens now?¡± ¡°Oh, that is simple.¡± Sade said, being the first to recover from her shock at the unexpected family reunion. She looked over the whole group of prisoners they had subdued, including their leader still clutching her crotch in pain. ¡°Now you come with us and accept the conditional pardon the crown is offering you.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Now it was all the bandits¡¯ turn to cry out in surprise. Chapter 13.1 Watch Your Step ¡°It is as I said. You all have been offered a pardon, provided you agree to certain stipulations.¡± Each of the bandits were staring at Sade, as if they couldn¡¯t believe the words coming out of her mouth. She sighed inwardly, this really was a job for the army, not some low level hunters. But the job was theirs, so they would see it through to the end. ¡°So¡­ what are the conditions?¡± Rayna asked. ¡°Actually, no, why the fuck are we even being offered a pardon in the first place? We¡¯re bandits!¡± The rest of the ruffians started to murmur and not their heads in agreement. It seemed that Lilie¡¯s sister had a good head on her shoulders. And since she had dropped the whole ¡®demon lord¡¯ persona after getting her dick kicked in, Sade could notice a few similarities in their speech and mannerisms. ¡°There are a few reasons why the crown is extending this offer to you.¡± Sade began to explain. ¡°The first is that your group''s reported body count is exactly zero. None of the people who have encountered you have been killed. Which is honestly remarkable in and of itself.¡± ¡°We could have killed some people and stashed their bodies away where no one could find them.¡± The bandit leader said indignantly. Sade gave her a piercing stare. ¡°Did you?¡± She flinched. ¡°W-well¡­ no. But we could have!¡± Sade sighed again. ¡°Which brings me to my second point. Every reported robbery has told how your gang always had left your victims almost entirely unharmed, even when they attacked you first.¡± Sade couldn¡¯t believe it herself when she read through the testimonies. The interaction between Rayna¡¯s gang and the people they robbed could almost be considered cordial. ¡°In addition, you always left a significant amount of goods behind rather than robbing them blind and penniless.¡± Rayna looked a bit sheepish. ¡°Okay¡­ yeah. We did kinda do all that. But everyone needs to eat! Can¡¯t just leave someone to starve out in the middle of nowhere.¡± She glared up at Sade once more. ¡°But that still doesn¡¯t explain why we are getting off scot free!¡± Sade agreed. ¡°And normally it would not. If it were not for several reports of you and your band defending your would-be victims from unforeseen monster attacks and even going out of your way to make sure the people made it back to their villages in one piece.¡± She chuckled at their shocked expressions. ¡°Ya are seriously the worst bandits I¡¯ve ever heard of!¡± Tyr laughed. ¡°But we have heard of them.¡± Rick retorted with his own chuckle. ¡°But seriously though, sis.¡± Lilie said. ¡°Who the fuck escorts to safety the very people you were previously trying to rob?¡± Rayna and the rest all looked like they were going to retort, but thought better of it. Sade assumed they all had a modicum of self awareness to realize they were pretty awful at being bandits. They were so notorious for being such good people that villagers in the area had started carting around goods they could spare in the hopes they could ¡®donate¡¯ to the band of misfits if they ever got waylaid by them. ¡°Thus, on the condition that you turn yourselves in and swear never to rob or steal from the populace again, you all would be granted a full pardon. Any actual crimes committed in the past would be wiped away and forgotten.¡± Sade said, concluding her little speech. ¡°So¡­ Will ya take the deal?¡± Tyr asked sweetly, only adding a mild dash of her inherent intimidation for flavor. It was completely unnecessary, Sade could see that every single one of them would agree. When she was inevitably proven right, Sade decided that it was then a good time to get everyone moving. ¡°Alright, we all need to pack up what we can and get ready to leave.¡± She looked to the broken cart, Tyr¡¯s horse still attached and miraculously unharmed from the ice storm that the mage bandit unleashed. ¡°But first, we should probably repair our transport.¡± ¡°Um¡­ Sade?¡± Lilie piped up, looking quite nervous. ¡°Could, uh, could Rick and I break off for a bit so I can¡­ top off?¡± ¡°What do you mean by- oh shit! Lills, you¡¯re skinny again! Are you okay? Did your curse come back?¡± Lilie could only look down at herself and shrug at her sister¡¯s outburst. She had indeed slimmed back down to nearly her original size. She hooked a thumb through the top of her shirt and looked down though the wider neck hole. ¡°Oh hey, I still got some tit left! That¡¯s a relief.¡± Nearly all the bandits were sputtering at the random display from the healer, Rayna especially. Lilie smiled at their antics. ¡°I¡¯m fine sis! We¡¯ve found a way to break my supposed curse. I just need to¡­¡± She trailed off, as if trying to find the best way to explain her new urges. But then their large friend got involved. ¡°If ya need a cock ta suck, why not finally give mine a try?¡± Lilie looked to Tyr, who was waggling her eyebrows suggestively, and started to fidget. Her sister looked between the two of them with an increasing amount of confusion. ¡°The fuck is she talking about?¡± Sade could see their pale friend start to flush a shade nearly as bright as her sister''s hair. It seems talking about her ¡®eating¡¯ habits was a soft spot. She really wanted to let Lilie squirm a bit more, as payment for her own teasing back at the dorm, but revenge would come later. Sade decided to step in and cut the awkward conversation short, but first, she needed to get a certain elf¡¯s mind away from the lower half of her body. ¡°Tyr, darling, do you really want your first time with her to be out in the middle of the woods?¡± The large woman just turned to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± She asked simply. Right, forest elf. Sade thought wryly. She needed to change tack. ¡°Fair enough. But I think Lilie would prefer a more intimate setting, with a soft bed, and possibly a certain spell cast for comfort.¡± She could see the pieces mentally click into place on the elf¡¯s expression. ¡°Ah¡­ right. Yeah, that would probably be better fer her.¡± ¡°Indeed it would.¡± She gestured for Rick and Lilie to find somewhere private. ¡°I will explain to your sister, go and do what you need.¡± ¡°Thank¡¯s Sade, we¡¯ll be quick.¡± Rick said softly to her ear and the two of them set off for a bit of fun. ¡°That¡¯s, uh, yeah¡­ okay.¡± Rayna said eloquently. ¡°Can you please tell me what the fuck is going on with my baby sister?¡± She looked at Tyr. ¡°And did the forest elf just admit she has a cock like me?¡± Both remaining hunters chuckled. ¡°To answer your second question first, yes, our dear Tyrillian has a functioning penis. I have not studied your particular physiology, so I can not attest if it is exactly like yours though.¡± Sade explained. She tapped her finger to her lips in thought. ¡°If you were referring to its size, it is most probably not the same. That thing is as long as my forearm.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Rayna looked to Sade, then Tyr, then back to Sade. She was probably debating on whether or not they were joking. They weren''t. In fact, Sade suspected that she was slightly underselling Tyr¡¯s true size. ¡°You¡¯re fucking with me. How the fuck can you walk straight taking something like that?¡± Sade gave a coy smile. ¡°Magic.¡± She said and wiggled her fingers. ¡°Speaking of, we could use your help in putting our transport back together. Your ice mage was not very gentle with it.¡± The redhead laughed merrily. ¡°Yeah, Jamie can sometimes go a tad overboard. We¡¯ll get it all fixed up for ya.¡± She gave a shrill whistle and everyone stood to attention. ¡°Faris! You, Glaive, and John will go see what you can do to fix the cart. Jamie, you¡¯re with me. The rest of you, try to pick up all the supplies scattered about. I want us to be ready to go in ten minutes!¡± Like a fire was lit beneath them, everyone jumped up and went to their assigned duties. Despite all the drama and silliness, it seemed Rayna was actually a competent leader with good subordinates. The ice mage, Jamie, stepped up next to her leader and lover. Now that Sade had a chance to look properly, she was incredibly beautiful. Her hair was short and dark, her eyes a pleasant almond shape, and her chest was fairly large for her slender frame. She actually bore many similar traits to Rick, despite being a shaytoni. The two exchanged a quick kiss and a fierce hug. ¡°You doing alright?¡± Rayna asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a little bruised from being thrown around like a childs toy.¡± Tyr chuckled at that, but didn¡¯t bother to comment. ¡°I am glad we avoided seriously injuring anyone. You are a fairly powerful mage.¡± Sade said. ¡°Both of you.¡± Rayna seemed to blush at the complement but Jamie¡¯s eyes never left Sade¡¯s. ¡°I could say the same about you. Are you an earth mage?¡± Tyr made an amused sound with her throat once more and Sade shook her head. ¡°I am not. I am simply a student at Mya University like Lilie.¡± ¡°Ya forgot ta mention the small fact that yer still the top student in yer year.¡± The two other women looked shocked, but Sade merely glared at her lover while her face flushed a shade darker. ¡°The school year has just started. An early lead is no indication of how things will play out in the end.¡± Tyr just scoffed once more. ¡°If ya say so.¡± Sade was in no mood to deal with the topic for the moment. ¡°Gah! Where is Rick and Lilie? I will go and fetch them. They should have finished up their business by now.¡± She growled and stormed off towards where the two other members of their party went. Abandoning the conversation entirely. She knew she was being petulant. Tyr was only trying to prop her up in the eyes of those former bandits. But that wasn¡¯t what she wanted or needed in the slightest. The adoring adulation from the masses did nothing to further her goals, not when compared to the opinions of those who truly mattered. She was right in saying that things were too early for her to rest on her laurels. She had not learned enough, worked hard enough. Her goal was still a long way away but she had time. She would soon have so many accomplishments to her name that no one could deny her greatness, no matter how hard they tried to downplay them. She would not be denied. Sade shook her head to clear away her thoughts. It would not do to dwell on her family¡¯s past troubles, not when there was still so much to do. Right then, she had a pair of lovers to find. She heard muffled groans from beyond a section of undergrowth. Moving a bit closer Sade could spot her two companions a short distance away. Lilie was squatting low in front of Rick, who had his back against a nearby tree, neither of them were paying much attention to anything besides each other. ¡°Gah-! Lilie¡­ you¡¯ve been edging me for the past five minutes. We-ugh! We should probably- oh balls- we need to finish and head back.¡± The shaytoni extracted his extensive member from her mouth with a pop. ¡°C¡¯mon, don¡¯t you want to see just how much you fill me after all this teasing?¡± Her hands never stopped stroking, only slowing down when they felt he was close to release. She opened her mouth and started running her tongue up, down, and around his shaft in a sloppy manor before plunging it right back into her hungry maw. Rick could only gasp and moan at her expert handling of his manhood. Sade felt her loins start to heat at the sight. While usually tamped down to smoldering embers, in moments like these the ever burning fires of her lust would rise in intensity, no matter what she did to try and calm them. She took a position behind a stout tree. Far enough away to not be noticed, but close enough for her to see everything happen with exquisite detail. She hitched up her skirt, enough to expose her underclothes that were already becoming damp with desire from the unexpected show. She snaked one arm down and slid it underneath the thin fabric. While that hand played with the small nub above her petals, the other started to play with a different engorged and sensitive button on her chest. She remembered telling Rick at that inn in Valmik that she got off to him pleasuring himself in the woods. He had thought she was just teasing him at the time. It was true, she took great pleasure in seeing his reaction to her words. But she never lied to him. Sade had indeed crawled out from their makeshift shelter and watched as Rick stroked himself until his seed splattered the bushes with dots of pearly white. All the while, she had enjoyed the show from afar. So much so, that she was able to bring herself to a shuddering orgasm at nearly the same time, and quickly dashed back before he became none the wiser. Lilie had tired of teasing poor Rick, and had started to suck his great length in earnest, one hand stroking up and down his shaft, the other resting on her knee for balance. Sade did her best to keep pace, her upper hand switching to kneading her giant breast. She was not going to finish in time. Sade could tell from Rick¡¯s body language that he was on the precipice. She needed to find some way to enhance her pleasure and close the gap. Her mind flicked to her pool of coital energy, she had so much saved up. The combined efforts of two intimancers caused their energy output to double. Every climax allowed their magics to feed off each other, allowing them to reach even greater heights in half the time. The problem was in deciding what to enhance. Sade still had the silly desire to keep up appearances at school, so she couldn¡¯t balloon her breasts to double their current size, no matter how much she wanted to. Every day was a struggle to not give in, to not indulge her desires and just let her true self out. But she desired self control above all, and she would not bend to temptation in a moment of weakness¡­ again. Remembering the time she lost herself to the feeling of her flesh pillows growing while wrapped around Rick¡¯s member gave Sade an idea. She stopped mauling her poor breast and covered her mouth with the free hand to muffle any inadvertent noise she would make. Her other hand was still furiously rubbing her painfully swollen clit. She made her selection and poured ten units of energy into her body. ¡°Lilie! I¡¯m-I¡¯m-'''' Rick couldn¡¯t finish his sentence. With a primal grunt, he unleashed his load while Lilie greedily sucked and swallowed every mouthful of his creamy essence. Sade watched on through bleary eyes as the changes to Lilie¡¯s body took effect. With each gulp of seed, her form swelled out in a quick pulse. While it was hard to see what was happening under the armor other than seeing the chanmail push out slightly farther with each swallow, her pants were a different story. Sade watched with fascination as the loose leather started to fill out, then become taut. Lile¡¯s thighs didn¡¯t stop there, they continued to thicken until the stitching was nearly at their breaking point before finally stopping. The entire time Sade watched the spectacle, her own orgasm wracked through her with thunderous force. The euphoric rush of coital energy coursing through her body was enough to push her over the edge right when Rick lost his hold over his own release. Her body shuddered and convulsed while she watched Lilie¡¯s swell and expand. The view was so enticing, It nearly caused her to climax a second time. ¡°Oh muscle mass. Were ya finally getting sore from lugging those great tits around?¡± Sade would have screamed if she didn¡¯t already have her hand firmly clamped over her mouth already. Once the shock ran its course, she gave Tyr a death glare. The sneaky bitch had an infuriating grin plastered on her face. Sade did her best to compose herself before speaking, this included taking her hand out of her soaked undergarments. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare do that again.¡± She hissed quietly. She took a moment to calm down a bit further. ¡°And yes, my back was starting to hurt with the weight of my chest.¡± Tyr¡¯s toothy grin grew wider. ¡°But yer still gonna make ¡®em bigger?¡± ¡°Among other things.¡± She said unable to respond without adding a small grin of her own. The whole party, including her, was fully in the grips of the ¡®bigger is better¡¯ mentality, she could at least be honest about it. After making sure she removed all traces of her voyeuristic episode, Sade and Tyr rounded the tree to fetch the other two members of their group who were still recovering from their session. They still had an escort mission to complete after all. Chapter 13.2 Meet the Gang When the four hunters came back to the road where they left the former bandits, they were greeted by the site of their cart fully repaired and ready to go. ¡°Damn sis, you and your ¡®minions¡¯ work quick!¡± Lilie said appreciatively. Rayna looked back from the impressive work of her underlings with a smug grin. She then proceeded to do a double take when her eyes fell on her ¡®little¡¯ sister. ¡°Okay seriously, I¡¯m going to need a fucking explanation right the fuck now! I¡¯m not letting myself get distracted this time!¡± Lilie¡¯s face flushed a deep crimson. She tried a couple times to open her mouth to speak, but it was as though the words got caught in her throat on the way out. Sade patted her on the shoulder. ¡°I did promise I would explain properly for you. Just jump in and comment if I fail to give proper context.¡± Lilie nodded and gave a grateful smile. ¡°Alright.¡± Sade said, locking eyes with an expectant Rayna. ¡°To start, you were aware of your sister''s condition, how her constitution was permanently locked and she always felt hungry even when she ate a full meal?¡± The crimson bandits'' eyes grew wide. ¡°I knew about the eating thing, but what do you mean her constitution was locked?¡± ¡°As in, no matter how she leveled or trained, her constitution score on her status could never be raised.¡± Sade raised her hand to forestall further comments. ¡°Please let me catch you up to what we learned about all this before you ask further questions.¡± Sade then gave a brief overview of the night after the battle with the crabs and their conversation on the ride home. Lilie commented occasionally, but otherwise remained quiet and still blushing furiously, especially when Sade started to describe their first night in their new house. When the subject of the glowing mark came up, Rayna couldn¡¯t help but interrupt. ¡°Wait, you found your aspect?¡± She dashed forward and hoisted Lilie up by her armpits. ¡°You found your aspect!¡± She proceeded to twirl around with her poor sister still trapped high in the air. All the shaytoni around them started to give great cheers and congratulations to the thoroughly confused healer. ¡°There was a bit more that we discovered, but I believe it is time for you to explain a few things.¡± Sade said as Rayna finally set her sister down and enveloped her in a fierce hug. Rayna grunted in agreement. ¡°Right, so! What we¡¯ve found out is that all shaytoni are born with a part of themselves that develops separately from the body. We consider it a seal that needs to be unlocked before we are allowed to become our true selves. This is our aspect, our true calling. Once we discover our aspect, we can cultivate it to develop new abilities we never dreamed about!¡± She stood proudly, her head tilted upwards and her hands on her hips. ¡°I was actually the first in the group to discover my aspect.¡± ¡°It¡¯s using your dick to plow a girl''s pussy, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lilie asked dryly. Rayna flinched at the accusation. ¡°And you discovered it by accident in the bedroom.¡± Rick added. Rayna stepped back as if struck. ¡°Specifically the first time you and Jamie got together.¡± Sade concluded, looking at the woman in question. ¡°Oh come on! It shouldn¡¯t have been that obv-¡± Jamie coughed and Rayna froze up mid rant. ¡°I-I mean, I h-ha-have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!¡± ¡°So, is everyone¡¯s aspect all about sex like ya and yer sister¡¯s?¡± Tyr asked dryly. ¡°What? No!¡± The former bandit leader shouted back. ¡°Jamie found her¡¯s after practicing some advanced ice spells, Glaive got his when he fought a strong monster in single combat, Anders¡­ well we don¡¯t talk about his aspect much.¡± ¡°I showed her a live crab I bought at the market and she freaked the fuck out.¡± The young blond man shouted out with a chuckle. ¡°I thought we agreed to never speak of it ever again!¡± Rayna snarled, her hands erupting with that interesting dark fire. ¡°Or do we have to reenact what happened right after that incident once again?¡± ¡°Nope! All good boss!¡± Anders said as he quickly ducked behind one of his larger companions. ¡°Perhaps this is a good time to introduce everyone. We¡¯re about to set out together and I only know a few of your names.¡± Rick said diplomatically. Rayna huffed at her cheeky subordinate one last time before turning back to the hunters. ¡°Good idea, but we should do it while we head back to our base. We left Kitten there alone to watch over things.¡± ¡°Kitten?¡± Tyr asked. ¡°The youngest member of our group.¡± Jamie answered. ¡°She drew the short straw today and had to guard our meager hoard while we were out.¡± ¡°And is her aspect related to kittens?¡± Rick joked. Rayna snorted. ¡°Nah, lightning actually. But she¡¯s just so damn cute and feisty that the nickname just fits. She¡¯s almost as strong as me and Jamie, so don¡¯t underestimate or piss her off or you¡¯re likely to get fried.¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. With that comment, they all loaded up on or near the cart and started to set off towards the bandits hideout. Rayna assured them it was nearby and wouldn¡¯t delay them much to gather all their things from the base before marching back to Shatak. While they traveled, she started to point out all their companions and gave a brief description of each. ¡°The big blond lug is Glaive. Don¡¯t ask why he uses an axe instead, it''s just a running joke at this point.¡± She pointed to the handsome man with the saber. ¡°That¡¯s Faris. He and Glaive are hopelessly in love, so don¡¯t try to get with him.¡± She seemed somewhat serious, but none of the hunters had eyes for anyone but each other, so Faris¡¯ charms were not a factor to consider in the least. ¡°A-anyways, that¡¯s John, Jamie¡¯s twin brother. He¡¯s a fan of spiders for some reason, keeps a big fucker as a pet.¡± John gave his boss a rude gesture in response. ¡°You leave Mallie alone, she¡¯s never hurt anyone.¡± ¡°She tried to lay her eggs in my fucking hair! You¡¯re lucky I didn¡¯t burn her alive for that!¡± She shot back. ¡°Moving on! The dusky lass is Willa, and the small lady next to her is Bai. They¡¯re another one of our lovey dovey couples.¡± The couple in question were the two mouthy women who had the misfortune to have wrestled with Tyr during the earlier scuffle. They nodded to Sade, Rick, and Lilie, but shot Tyr slightly dirty looks. The elf just gave them a toothy grin in response. ¡°You all know Anders.¡± She said pointing to the smaller blond man. ¡°Next to him is Reed, our scout, and Davie, the closest thing our group has to a healer.¡± Rayna concluded while pointing to the tan woman with a bow and a dark skinned man with a quarterstaff respectively. ¡°You four must be pretty high level to have taken us all on like you did. Do you mind if I ask how high?¡± Jamie said from her position on her lover¡¯s lap. Sade didn¡¯t quite know how to best respond to the question. Sadly, the choice was taken away from her nearly immediately with a loud bellow of laughter. ¡°Ha! I¡¯m tied for highest in the group at level six. The two humans are both five.¡± ¡°No fucking way!¡± Rayna shouted. ¡°I¡¯m level ten, and my little sister beat me at half that?!¡± ¡°To be fair, these madlads can¡¯t be measured just by level.¡± Lilie cut in. ¡°Each of them have at least one stat at sixteen or higher. And Tyr¡¯s just a beast who walks on two legs.¡± ¡°Aww, thank you!¡± Said beast replied, genuinely touched by the compliment. Jamie looked from Sade, to Rick, to Tyr, then back to Sade. ¡°I can believe it.¡± She said, giving Sade a wary look. ¡°I could probably learn quite a lot from you, if you would have me.¡± Sade nodded politely. ¡°Perhaps. My classmates have unfortunately already asked for my tutelage, and there are only so many hours in the day.¡± She looked at the two shaytoni sisters. ¡°Speaking of magic, I honestly could not tell if your duel was staged or not. Those looked like real blows and lethal spells you two were throwing around.¡± ¡°Well¡­ um.¡± Lilie said hesitantly. ¡°Aside from that last blast of fire, Rayna wasn¡¯t really holding back.¡± ¡°What?!¡± The three hunters shouted in unison. Lilie held out her hands in a placating gesture. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine! The two of us practiced fighting together for years. While we were actually trying to beat each other, most of our moves were slightly choreographed, so it looked far worse than it really was.¡± ¡°And the flames?¡± Sade asked. Lilie scratched her cheek nervously. ¡°Well¡­ there¡¯s a reason my resistance is so high.¡± ¡°You burned your sister over and over until she became resistant to your magic? And you let her do that to you?!¡± Rick growled at the sisters with a surprising amount of vehemence in his tone. ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up! Let me explain.¡± Rayna said with her arms out in warding from the heat of his words. ¡°First of all, shaytoni are mildly fire resistant, even for the magical kind.¡± When this somehow didn¡¯t seem to make Rick¡¯s mood improve in the slightest, she quickly added. ¡°And she asked me to use my magic on her! Lill¡¯s wanted to become a healer so she had me burn her just enough for her to practice her healing spells.¡± To no one¡¯s surprise, Rick was far from mollified at her words. He glared daggers at the two crazy shaytoni, causing both of them to look chagrined. Sade was merely wondering how their tribe gained the previously mentioned fire resistance, and why that was something two little girls knew about, let alone could exploit for their own gain. ¡°It seems that Lilie was a better fit for our group than I thought.¡± She said idly. Rick rounded on her. ¡°You¡¯re not helping!¡± Sade did her best to remain calm and composed while she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. She knew his anger stemmed from being told someone he cared about was hurt repeatedly by a close family member. She tried to pour calm and soothing thoughts though their physical connection and eye contact. ¡°While I do not wholly agree with the methods, we do have to work on resistance training ourselves eventually. We could learn from their experience in the matter.¡± He stared at her, disbelieving what his ears had told him. It was several tense moments of him staring her down before he hung his head in defeat. ¡°Y¡¯all are fucking insane. I¡¯m just calling it out now.¡± Tyr slapped him on the back gently. ¡°Took ya long enough ta figure that out!¡± While Sade felt mildly offended in being lumped in with the giant elf¡¯s antics, she didn¡¯t have the heart to really deny the allegation. It was somewhat true, in a sense. ¡°Um¡­ there¡¯s something I still don¡¯t quite understand.¡± Rayna said tentatively. When no one stopped her, she turned to her sister. ¡°Why the fuck did you get all skinny after our fight?¡± Lilie jumped at the question suddenly directed at her. ¡°Oh! Well¡­ all this,¡± She said, gesturing to her enhanced assets. ¡°When I feed on Rick¡¯s mana, it''s all stored like you see here. But we¡¯ve found out that I can tap into all that magic to enhance my physical attacks or bolster my spells. While that big ass pillar of fire was hollow, so I wouldn¡¯t get hurt if I just stayed put, it was still strong enough to burn through most of my remaining reserves to forcefully break out of it.¡± Lilie gave a satisfied sigh. ¡°That fight was so nostalgic. I remember we used to put on shows for our family and neighbors when we were kids. They had no idea that aside from the dialogue, we were actually sparring.¡± It was Jamie who burst out laughing from Lilie¡¯s confession from her comfortable spot on Rayna¡¯s lap. ¡°Sorry, I guess it shouldn¡¯t be surprising that our dear overlord was overly dramatic, even in her childhood.¡± ¡°S-shut up!¡± Rayna stuttered, her cheeks and ears doing their best to match the shade of her long hair. Everyone around them laughed good naturedly at her embarrassment. Jamie reached up and gave her blushing lover a sensual kiss in apology. Everyone¡¯s mood was high when the cave the former bandits used as a hideout came into view not long after. Chapter 13.3 Monster Mash The moment the group came close to the cave entrance, everyone heard a shout. ¡°BooooooooOOOOOOOOOooooOOOOOSSS!¡± A pale streak shout out of the darkness faster than anyone could blink, and collided with Rayna and Jamie with enough force to send both tumbling backwards into the bed of the cart with a loud ¡°Fuck!¡± escaping from the leader''s lips before she was sent tumbling heels over head. ¡°And this is the infamous Kitten, I presume?¡± Rick asked, thoroughly amused at the turn of events. Sade had to admit, the nickname was extraordinarily fitting. The young shaytoni was on her side, snuggling her leader¡¯s chest with her face. She had long snow white hair that cascaded in waves down her back and her cheeks had three blue marks each that could be interpreted as whiskers. Completing the image was her long tail swaying back and forth in those same languid undulations that cat¡¯s do. At Rick¡¯s words, her eyes shot open, and she leaped up from her prone position in a flash. ¡°Who are you? What have you done with the boss?¡± Arcs of blue power gathered around her splayed fingers and spilled from her glowing eyes. It was indeed an impressive display of power, especially considering her apparent youth and environment. ¡°Calm your tits girl!¡± Rayna said while sitting up and bonking Kitten on the head with her fist. ¡°If they did something to me, they wouldn¡¯t have let me sit on the fucking bench beside them.¡± ¡°But, but¡­ You said that any stranger that approaches the base should be considered an enemy unless you give the all clear.¡± The girl whined, clutching her head in pain. ¡°And you came running out and tackled me before I even had a chance to utter a single word! Next time, hide and wait until I give the all clear before you do that.¡± Her tail drooped at the harsh reprimand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°If I may ask, how old are you exactly Kitten?¡± Sade inquired. ¡°Wha-? Oh, I just had my eighteenth summer celebration.¡± ¡°How interesting.¡± Sade smiled. She flooded her internal pathways with mana, creating a particular pattern she had been dying to try ever since she learned it existed. Since that day on the beach, she had enjoyed the way this particular branch of magic coursed and writhed around her. These bandits all had a flair for the dramatic, she was sure they would appreciate her efforts. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± The bandits all cried out as thick bolts of electricity surged around Sade¡¯s body, her eyes glowing a faint blue as sparks ignited around them. The effect was a mirror of Kitten readying her magic a few moments earlier, just at a larger scale. ¡°It is not often I meet someone my own age who can wield electricity spells with such proficiency.¡± Sade purred and held out her hand to the girl. When Kitten managed to pick up her jaw off the floor from the shock, her expression morphed to a feral grin as she started to channel her own mana once more. The two young women clasped hands, bolts of power arcing around them in an elemental fury. ¡°I think a bit of a spar is in order, especially since Lilie got to enjoy a special duel with your group already.¡± Sade said while grinning madly. ¡°Now that does sound like fun.¡± The young shaytoni purred, as befitting of her name. ¡°Uh, Lills, Rick¡­ just how strong is Sade exactly?¡± Jame asked tentatively from her position next to a still stunned Rayna in the back of the cart. Rick tapped his chin in thought. Completely unbothered by the flashing spectacle the two women in front of him were putting on. ¡°Hrm¡­ If I had to guess. I would say she¡¯s as strong magically as Tyr is physically.¡± Everyone around them visibly gaped at the estimation, even Kitten faltered in their electrical contest after glancing at the imposing elf then looking back to Sade. Tyr nodded her head. ¡°While I would love ta disagree with anyone being compared favorably ta elves on principle, fer once I agree. Perhaps ya even undersold her a bit there.¡± She commented without a hint of sarcasm. Sade¡¯s heart warmed at the praise her lovers were freely giving. Neither of them, especially Tyr, were prone to excessive compliments or exaggerations of skill. To say that she was as powerful as a forest elf was the highest honor any of their tribe could bestow. ¡°Fucking monsters, the lot of you! The damned crown sent mother fucking monsters after us.¡± Rayna cursed in the hunters direction. She also shot Kitten an irritated glare after dodging a stray spark that nearly zapped her outstretched hand. Sade¡¯s retort was cut short when a roar cut through the silence of the area like a knife. All fifteen people jumped to attention and drew their weapons, ready to fight at a moment''s notice. Whatever made that sound was going to regret messing with this group of fighters. A shape emerged from the ridge atop the cave entrance to the hideout. Sade¡¯s eyes widened as she saw a familiar set of green armored plates covering the things bug-like body. It was not the same creature, not exactly. This thing was smaller, leaner. Instead of clawed fingers at the end of its four arms, long scythe blades extended out from the wrist. The monster had a more hunched posture, balanced out by the long, lizard-like tail that stuck out its rear. The shaytoni around them shivered at the sight. ¡°That thing¡­ It feels¡­ wrong.¡± Raya said. Despite the tremor in her voice, her arms were solid as stone, ready to run the monster through when she deemed it necessary. The other bandits all murmured their agreement. Even Lilie looked unnerved at the sight of the creature. ¡°What is that thing?¡± She whispered fearfully. ¡°Trouble.¡± Sade spat. The giant insect gave off the same feeling as the one that attacked them back in the forest. While she originally thought that was simply because it was a monster, she had soon learned from experience fighting with the hunters that her initial impressions were misplaced. Now that others had pointed it out, her sensitivity to the mana around the creature felt off, unnatural, like the things mere existence was an affront to reality. A telltale red glow suffused its eyes, and the monster reared back its head to roar into the sky. The red seeped down from its sockets and began to pool in the cracks between the green armor and purple flesh. Sade¡¯s heart sank to her stomach when she heard answering roars come from all around them. Another plated head full of sharp teeth poked out from a position next to the first, then another, then two more on the ridge to the left. They just kept coming, more and more green monsters piled in around the group from all sides. Sade did her best to sort through the stalking figures and counted twenty. ¡°Have you seen these things before?¡± Rick asked. ¡°What? Fuck no! We¡¯ve been up in these hills for nearly a year and never saw anything like this!¡± Rayna shot back. ¡°They¡¯re smaller than the little shite we fought on the old road.¡± Tyr growled ¡°But I¡¯ve been wanting ta kill one of these bastards fer what happened last time. Guess these fuckers are as good as any.¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Everyone, the green plates are thick and can block most physical attacks. Aim for the joints in between or use magic that can bypass those defenses.¡± Sade called out. ¡°Oh, and Jamie, either hit them with an ice spike with enough force to crack stone, or shift to more crushing attacks. Maybe pure cold will work too, but I am not sure. Having my magic bounce off its armor was not a pleasant experience.¡± ¡°You got it!¡± Jamie confirmed. ¡°But why aren''t they attacking?¡± She was indeed correct. Sade could see the monsters around them had not moved more than a few steps closer since they were initially surrounded. They were waiting for something, and the people they had surrounded were probably not going to like it. Another roar echoed throughout the rocky terrain, louder than all those previous. One last figure stalked forward and stood beside the first bug creature that appeared. This new monster looked extremely similar to the ones next to it, but the thing was considerably larger and stood taller than most people who weren¡¯t orcs or forest elves. Its head was covered in a large crest of dark green armor, a horn the size of Sade¡¯s arm poking out from where its nose should be. ¡°I think their dad came out to play too.¡± Rick said in his best attempt at humor. He looked back to the rest of the large group. ¡°So, mages blast our way out and we book it to the nearest town while fighters guard our rear?¡± Rayna cackles. ¡°Not a bad plan kid, but I got a better Idea. Do you mind If I lead this dance tonight?¡± Rick and Sade shared a look together. She could see his fear and unease at the situation. But she could also sense his determination and resolve. He gave a slight nod of his head and she returned the gesture, they would fight together. ¡°Just leave the big one ta me.¡± Tyr growled while glaring balefully at the pack leader. ¡°Perfect! Now Sade, which elements can you conjure?¡± Sade shot Rayna a hard look. ¡°All of them.¡± She said simply. Like she would ever neglect a specific branch of magic for any reason. ¡°Of course you can. Such a stupid question¡± Rayna muttered. Sade had to agree, it really was. Before any more words could be exchanged, all the monsters around them roared in unison and charged as one. Sade estimated they had just under a minute before the hoard would be upon them. ¡°Oh fuck- ok, we ball!¡± Rayna cursed. ¡°Sade, you and Jamie build some ice walls to funnel the bastards in and protect our flanks. Glaive, you and I will take point to stop the tide. Kitten, hit them from the outside of the encirclement with your speed and wait for the signal to pair up with Glaive. Lills, you and Davie stay in the center and patch anyone up who needs it. Rick, Faris, and John, you three protect our butts and healers. Anders, try to trip them up with your magic. Reed, snipe away. Willa and Bai, try to do something useful this time, eh?¡± The two women she singled out returned their orders with rude gestures, but otherwise got ready for a fight. ¡°And Tyr¡­¡± Rayna paused, briefly. ¡°Smash!¡± The look of pure joy that broke upon the elf¡¯s face was something Sade had rarely seen, and more often than not, led to dangerous outcomes. Those poor, unsuspecting monsters had no idea what awaited them. Rick cackled at the sight before he joined up with the rearguard as ordered. Sade had already been channeling her mana the moment her instructions were given. She looked to Jamie. ¡°Ready?¡± The other woman nodded and both of them unleashed their magic. Walls of ice erupted on either side of the group. The barriers were not perfectly parallel, with the opening in the front being wider than the gap in the back. Neither of the mages stopped there, with Jamie forming her ice lances and firing them at the charging hoard of teeth and claws that were just reaching the end of the icy funnel. Sade decided to see just how much she improved since her last fight with the beasts. She held out her palm and a boulder of ice the size of her whole body, blasted forward. The colossal chunk crushed the first bug to paste and kept on rolling, its deadly momentum reduced, yet still effective. A handful of the things died within the first few seconds of the whole group''s opening salvo. Sade, Jamie, and Rayna being the most effective with their magic, but Sade noticed more than a few monsters stumbling around or tripping due to arrows suddenly sprouting from their joints. This brought the numbers on both sides to even. When the creatures managed to finally close the gap, they were mercilessly cut down by the three fighters in front. Glaive and Rayna were holding their own quite well against their otherworldly opponents, but Tyr was a pure force of nature. The elf gave a roar of challenge and charged forward, knocking away several of the smaller bugs on her way to the supposed leader. Those unlucky enough not to get out of her way were ripped open by her magical claws. It really did seem that leaving her bow and axes behind didn¡¯t hinder her ability to rip and tear monsters to pieces in the slightest. Her clothes were stained a dark purple as the slit throats left in her wake sprayed their contents like macabre fountains. ¡°Glaive! Mount up!¡± Sade spared a glance to Rayna. Her wings suddenly erupted out her back and she quickly started to run towards the big man, her extra limbs flapping furiously to give her lift. Glaive broke away from his fight with one of the creatures and grabbed her outstretched hands. Rayna quickly banked to the side, Glaive holding on for dear life below her, and made a narrow loop. Once she gained enough centrifugal force from the maneuver, she hurled her cargo high into the air. The man flew higher than the ice walls and raised his axe skyward. There was a loud clap of thunder as a bolt of lightning hit the weapon at the apex of his leap. ¡°Fag aaaaaaattaaaaaaack!¡± He bellowed as he came crashing down on top of a cluster of enemies. The energy stored in the head of his weapon exploded outward, causing monsters and chunks of dirt flying away from the point of impact. Even in the midst of a real fight with actual stakes, they just can not refrain from being overly dramatic. Sade thought with a chuckle. She would have to ask Kitten how she managed to store her spell in his weapon like that, and why they thought it would be a good idea to even try it out in the first place. While not the most practical, Sade had to admit there was just something inspiring about the spectacle of it all. Looking back, she saw that Rick and the others were standing above a small pile of monster corpses. None looked seriously injured, and Lilie was herself engaged with one of the things while the rest looked on and cheered for her. Glancing back to the front, it looked like things were just about wrapped up. The only monster still alive was the leader facing off against the mighty Tyrillian. It was a surprisingly close match, all things considered. The beast was swinging its deadly limbs with an agility that belied its large size. One of its lower limbs was cut off at the elbow, a bony scythe chipped and jagged from blocking her counter assaults, scores of deep gouges ran up and down its armored body, dark blood oozing from where her claws cut completely through the chitten. Tyr, while not missing any limbs, wasn¡¯t much better. Her clothes were little more than rags after being ripped and sliced to pieces. Her limbs were stained red from her own legion of cuts and gashes where she was unable to dodge fully. Sade had never seen Tyr pushed to her limits to such an extent before. She felt her heart tighten at the thought of the goofy giant being unable to come out of the fight alive. The monster leaped forward, arms outstretched in an attempt to grapple with the elf. Tyr ducked down and tumbled backward. Her legs kicked out and caught the creature in the chest, sending it flying harmlessly over her prone position. She used the momentum of the maneuver to flip back on her feet and go back on the offensive before her prey could recover from the throw. Tyr grabbed hold of its leg and pulled with all her might. Sade could see the elf¡¯s arms bulge with the effort. No, that was incorrect. Sade¡¯s eyes widened when it dawned on her that Tyr¡¯s muscles were visibly growing before her very eyes. Is she insane?! Using coital energy in the middle of a fight with a monster?! Sade¡¯s blood ran cold. A scenario like this, where Tyr decided to greatly enhance herself, consequences be damned, was one the whole party feared. And, to cause such a dramatic effect meant that her companion had indeed used a significant amount of energy all at once. Tyr¡¯s lips were pulled back in a silent snarl. With one last heave, she yanked the monster high above her head. And slammed it right back down with great force. Back and forth she lifted and swung the monster from one side of her body to the other. The impacts were so strong that the ground cracked beneath the monster as its face and back met the hard and unforgiving ground over and over. Tyr held the thing up to her eye level to check on its condition. Seeing that it was still alive, she threw the monster down face first with every scrap of her prodigious strength to finish it off. Sade heard a sickening snap with that final collision. She could see its head jutting out at an unhealthy angle. Tyr slammed one of her feet on top of the creature and roared in victory. ¡°Fuck¡­ that is, um, quite impressive.¡± Rayna coughed. Looking slightly southward, Sade could see that a different part of the elf was also standing tall and proud, completely free from its battered confines. Jamie turned around and shot Lilie a dirty look, pointing at the wild elf. ¡°Oi! I thought you said she was a beast that walked on two legs?!¡± Chapter 14.1 The Chase ¡°We are finally back.¡± Rick groaned as he beheld the main hall of their gigantic home in what felt like weeks. ¡°Indeed. We have not had it long, but I really have missed this place terribly.¡± Sade agreed. After their encounter up in the mountains Rayna and her crew still had to be escorted back to Shatak for them to begin the process of receiving their pardon. While the soon-to-be former bandits were able to load up all of their meager possessions from their hideout, there were many who refused to leave without bringing other things with them. The sight of the guards¡¯ faces as they beheld the group pushing the poor, beat up, overladen cart towards the city gates was one Rick will remember for a long time. Every single monster they killed was piled high onto the heavily abused wood. Tyr stood proud atop the ludicrous pile of bodies like a conquering lord returned from campaign, Rayna just a few steps down beside her. Due to the fact that her usual attire did not survive the fight, and that she was nearly head and shoulders taller than everyone else, she had little more than tight strips of cloth to give the barest hint of modesty for their return to civilization. After they were let through beyond the walls, they had paraded down the crowded streets all the way to the hunters garrison. Every gasp and stare along the way only egged the two troublemakers on. The duo of redheaded women roared in victory and whipped up the crowd into enthusiastic cheers. Thankfully the city guards didn¡¯t take issue with this behavior and left them all alone until they reached their destination. After that little performance, the bodies and bandits were left with the garrison, leaving just the four of them and their incredibly lucky horse to make the trek back to their property. Rick would miss that wild and crazy bunch, he hoped that everything would work out and they all would have some fun together down the road. He also hoped that Lilie would be able to see her sister again, they had just reunited after a long time after all. The whole party kicked off their boots except for Tyr, since she didn¡¯t have any. She did at least wipe her feet as best she could, so Rick couldn¡¯t really fault her if he had to clean the main hall a bit more than he would have preferred. The whole group was tired and sore from the whole ordeal. All Rick wanted to do was strip down, have a relaxing bath, then fall asleep surrounded by the women he loved on their giant bed. ¡°Well¡­ That was fun.¡± Tyr said as she gave a great stretch, nearly bursting her thin wrappings right off her body. Rick made to move past his large friend, eager to scrub away the past day¡¯s activities, but Tyr¡¯s heavy palm came down on his shoulder, holding him down with enough strength to prevent him from moving another step. ¡°Where do ya think yer going?¡± She purred into his ear. ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling a tad ignored by ya these past few weeks. So now we¡¯re gonna have a bit of fun together.¡± Rick was once again paralyzed by the intensity emanating from her deep green eyes. They held a hunger beyond anything he could accurately comprehend, and they looked at him like he was the perfect meal to sate her ravenous desires. A cold sweat started to form on his back as Tyr continued to exude her predator aura in his direction. ¡°Sade loves ta come up with all sorts of little games for us ta play, but I think we should play one of our own. Just the two of us.¡± ¡°A-and what do you propose?¡± Rick asked, barely able to squeak out the words. Tyr chuckled darkly, slow and deep. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s quite simple really. That last scrap left me feeling a bit¡­ unfulfilled.¡± She started to prowl around him, raking all over his body with her fierce gaze. ¡°Yes¡­ This should be fun. The game is simple, I want ta hunt more filling prey.¡± ¡°Y-you want to h-hunt me?!¡± Tyr only gave a feral grin in response. She closed her eyes, momentarily releasing Rick from their strange hold over him. His heart sank when he saw what she had planned to make the game a bit more interesting. The bindings around her chest grew taut as her whole body swelled in size. Up and up her head rose, with each second the coital energy stretched her frame ever higher. The tiny strips of cloth that held her modesty quickly gave up the ghost with the faint sound of ripping fabric, leaving the amazonian beauty on full display for everyone to see. Rick angled his head upward, trying to gauge just how much taller the elf had become. She was nearly two meters tall before the spurt, but her new size rivaled the tallest of professional basketball players. Rick¡¯s blood ran cold when he estimated she spent twenty whole points of energy all at once. Tyr¡¯s mighty weapon was as hard as steel and aiming straight at him. If she took a single step forward she could stab him right in the heart. The whole situation felt like a deadly premonition of things to come. Before he could make his escape, Tyr opened her eyes. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Rick stood there, pinned in place by the piercing glare shooting from her emerald irises once more. Her whole body was tense, coiled tightly and ready to pounce at a moment''s notice if he so much as twitched. Her chest was vibrating, low and deep like a diesel engine while the unimaginable pleasure coursed through her veins. The sound sent every instinct in his brain alight with fear¡­ and more than a small dose of arousal. She bent down low until their faces were at the same level. Her deep green eyes looked like they were practically glowing in the dim light. It took him several moments for his mind to process that somehow, the terrifying growls emanating from the woman in front of him had shifted into actual words he could understand. ¡°Now¡­¡± she whispered, flashing her sharp fangs in a wolfish smile. ¡°Run.¡± His feet were already pounding on the wood before his brain even fully registered the command. Tyr¡¯s terrifying laughter chased him all the way down the hall. He didn¡¯t want to look back. The last thing his fragile mind needed was to see just how much, or how little, of a head start she gave him for this twisted game of cat and mouse. And the sight of a seven foot tall naked futanari coming at him at full tilt, and full mast, was enough to send an uncontrollable bout of shivers down his spine. He dashed past the dining room and kitchens just off the main hall, those area¡¯s wouldn¡¯t offer him much in the way of hiding, Tyr wasn¡¯t a velociraptor after all. The hallways and bedrooms wouldn¡¯t help much either, so he chose to duck around a corner into the old servants halls. These were a maze of corridors that ran between many of the various sections on the upper and lower floors. They were not perfect, but they were the best bet he had in trying to evade his horny huntress. Her mad cackles echoed through the narrow space from just behind the last corner. It seemed that his time was running out. ¡°Balls!¡± Rick cursed under his breath. He needed to come up with a gameplan. Out of everyone in the group, Tyr was by far the most unpredictable. Actually¡­ That wasn¡¯t exactly true. His elven lover was as wild as can be, but even she had her patterns. Trying to kickstart his mind into overdrive, Rick searched through every fight he could remember her being in, including sparring sessions. She confronted issues straight on, with everything she had, every time. In fact, Rick couldn¡¯t not recall a single instance of Tyr ever using a feint or subterfuge while in combat. While that made her straightforward, her use of those feral instincts threw a major dose of randomness into the equation. But he wasn¡¯t trying to beat her, only delay the inevitable for as long as possible. Rick dove to the side right when he exited out the passageway. Tyr growled in frustration as she barely missed the tackle and started to slide across the smooth floor away from him. He took the opportunity and bolted straight for the nearest door to the central courtyard. He would only have one shot at executing the crazy plan that had half formed in his head. Rick slammed the door behind him and raced towards the garden area. The central garden was a large courtyard that provided a pleasant view for the rooms that happened to be located on the inner side of the building. Rich people did pay good money to stay there after all. And getting a room without a nice view, or any windows at all, would probably not have made them happy. The area was designed like a mountain spring, with a bubbling waterfall that fed into a small pond and surrounded by assorted greenery like trees and flowers. Rick¡¯s bare feet hit the dirt and soft gravel that littered the garden. Unfortunately, his ears picked up the telltale crunch of a second pair of large feet hitting the terrain a split second after. He dashed to the side and aimed towards a group of large rocks that were so large, they nearly reached the second level balconies. Right when he could hear the heavy breathing of his pursuer behind him, Rick jumped and kicked off the nearby boulder. He let the momentum of his jump send him tumbling backward through the air in an acrobatic flip. Just before he landed, he saw Tyr rushing past where he just was, her eyes wide with surprise at the unexpected maneuver. He nearly stumbled when his feet impacted the uneven ground. He didn¡¯t, however, and he immediately set course for the waterfall. Or more specifically, the large, angled slab of stone that the waterfall spilled from. Up the steep grade he climbed, hoping desperately that he had the strength and ability to pull off the stupid stunt his mind concocted. When he reached the crest of the stony hill, he leaped off. ¡°Baaaaaaaaaaallllls!¡± He screamed as he flew through the air. He almost cried in relief when his feet sailed over the banister of a nearby balcony and he tumbled onward into the bedroom attached. He had done it! The sudden juke and subsequent escape to the second floor had probably bought him enough time to find a decent place to hide from the lust-crazed elf. Smiling, Rick dashed out of the room and made for the nearest servant corridor that would lead him back downstairs. She would never suspect him of doubling back that way, not with all the effort it took to even get upstairs in the first place. He felt like the sneakiest git in the whole damn world at the thought of tricking her so thoroughly. He was still grinning when he turned the corner and impacted face first against a hard wall. He let out a yelp of surprise and pain as he bounded off the barrier and fell back onto his rear end. His dazed mind tried to sort out what had just happened, he didn¡¯t remember there being a wall or door blocking that particular hallway. Once his mind cleared up somewhat, he looked to see exactly what was blocking his way. He saw large feet, tipped with thick nails that were almost sharpened to points. Further up, those feet were attached to wide, muscular legs, each the width of a small tree. His heart sank as his gaze continued to climb up along several familiar features that he was intimately familiar with. Wide hips, abs that could be used to grind stone, heavy breasts that defied explanation. With a final gulp, he locked eyes with the feral beauty that looked back down at his sitting form, a triumphant smirk twisting her lips. ¡°Got¡¯cha!¡± Chapter 14.2 Death by Snu-snu Before Rick could scramble away, Tyr lunged forward and grabbed him, a feral snarl ripping out from her throat. His vision swirled as she hoisted him over her shoulders and stomped forward towards the nearest bedroom. Rick let out a somewhat unmanly cry when the gigantic woman tossed him like a sack of potatoes onto the soft bed a moment after she nearly kicked down the door in her haste. Tyr pounced on him once more, all but tearing his clothes off in a blink of an eye. She let out another deep and rumbling chuckle when his cock flopped out in front of her face after divesting him of his pants. Despite the terror of the situation before him, and from being hunted in general, Rick had been rock hard ever since her hungry gaze fell on him when they were standing at the front door. The elf smiled, showing off every one of her sharp and deadly looking teeth. Her mouth opened wide and she plunged his shaft deep into her terrifying maw. Rick closed his eyes, but the anticipated pain never came. Instead, a pleasant warmth softly wrapped around his length, it was a feeling that made him feel comfortable and safe. He met Tyr¡¯s gaze and the elf stopped shoving his dick down her throat to give him a smirk. ¡°Fucking damn it¡­¡± Rick groaned as he fell back onto the bed. ¡°I fell for your bravado again, didn¡¯t I?¡± Looking back, it was obvious that Tyr was never lust-crazed or out of control for even a moment. She would never have concocted such a silly game of tag in the first place if she was. Much like their very first meeting, Rick had gotten tricked by the front she puts up in front of others. He knew that deep down, the muscular woman was still the same awkward girl who sought genuine love and affection, but was absolutely terrible at showing it. Tyr slid her meal out from between her lips with a small pop. ¡°What was that?¡± Rick smiled softly. ¡°I just underestimated you, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Yer damn right ya did!¡± Tyr snarked. ¡°But ya surprised me quite a bit back there. That flip over me head and then jumping upstairs took me by surprise.¡± He laughed at the praise. ¡°In all honesty, I surprised myself too. I guess you provided quite the motivation for me to try my best.¡± ¡°Yes, yes I did. And now, it¡¯s time fer our reward for such a magnificent hunt.¡± Tyr purred. Then she went right back to gobbling his cock with every ounce of ferocity she could muster. Rick couldn¡¯t help but groan as the intense pleasure shot up his spine from the amazingly intense yet gentle blowjob. Despite his fairly impressive girth, he barely even felt her teeth scrape along his shaft. Her long tongue even felt like it was wrapping around him like an anaconda, gently stroking and squeezing in tandem with her lips as she continued to gulp his length in and out. This was just like her. Tyr appeared to be wild and rough at a glance, but for those who scraped beyond the surface, she proved to be extraordinarily gentle and caring. Despite looking like she was absolutely devouring his dick, he could feel full well that she was just making a show of it and was being very careful with his most delicate of organs. Rick was starting to pant more heavily, he was getting really close to exploding. As if sensing his imminent release, Tyr slid him out of her mouth and sandwiched his pole between her fluffy tan breasts, the softness giving just enough stimulation to feel nice without making him crest the wave of pleasure. Rick was fairly positive that the elf had slightly larger sweater puppies than Sade, but compared to the genius magician Tyr¡¯s chest was considerably more proportional to her giant body, especially after that earlier round of growth. The auburn haired amazon gave one of her signature smirks before she began to slowly slide his length up and down the great chasm between her luscious mountains. Rick hissed with pleasure. Her cleavage just felt so incredibly warm and velvety soft, and he could feel his peak quickly rising back to eruption status with just a few languid pumps of those magnificent mounds. Tyr¡¯s smirk deepened into outright smug territory, then slowed her strokes even further, stopping completely right before he careened over the edge. Gentle or not, Rick was completely at her mercy and they both knew it. He would climax only when she wanted him to, and not a moment before. Her hungry gaze returned as the two locked eyes. Her lips still quirked up in a satisfied smile, she let her tongue roll out of her mouth and fall atop the swollen tip of his shaft. She resumed stroking him, eyes never leaving his as her tongue danced and lapped at the small beads of pre-cum leaking out of his slit every time it poked out from between the pillowy softness wrapped around it. ¡°I-I¡­ I¡¯m a-about to blow!¡± At his announcement, Tyr plunged the whole cockhead between her lips. She greedily sucked the fresh cream that poured out of him like she was enjoying a fresh milkshake with an extra thick straw. It had been a while since he had received a blowjob from anyone aside from Lilie, and while he didn''t¡¯ feel any of his mana being drained, it still felt like his soul was leaving his body as the greatly teased climax ran its course down his large lover''s throat. She happily swallowed everything he gave her, not spilling a single precious drop of his milky essence. ¡°H-... Holy fuck woman.¡± Rick panted once he could finally string two thoughts together. ¡°Where did all that come from?¡± She just chuckled softly. ¡°Ya forget, I got a shaft of me own. And Sade is very enthusiastic on trying new ways ta make it happy. Can¡¯t help but learn a thing or two with a lover like that.¡± ¡°No kidding¡± Rick agreed. He made to sit up but Tyr stopped him with a hand against his chest. ¡°Ah, ah, ah. I ain¡¯t done with ya yet.¡± She gently pumped her fist around his manhood, still primed and ready to go. ¡°I¡¯m still hungry, and this little guy still has plenty for me ta feast on. Although¡­¡± Her eyes lit up with mischief. ¡°Perhaps ya could use a meal yerself.¡± Before he could even register her words, Tyr swung around and positioned her dripping slit right over Rick¡¯s face. ¡°Enjoy!¡± She sang happily before plunging down. ¡°Wait, Tyr! I don¡¯t thi-mmmph!¡± Rick could barely get a few words out before his entire head was enveloped by the giant woman¡¯s groin. Darkness subsumed his entire vision. It felt like his entire upper half was completely entombed between Tyr¡¯s colossal thighs. Rick could already feel air becoming a scarce resource, it seemed he really had been sent to the ultimate nether realm and it was somewhat disappointing. Here he had a chance to have a literal death by snu-snu, and he would suffocate without being able to experience his pelvis being crushed? Unacceptable. Joking aside, he did actually find himself in a predicament. He trusted his large lover to not take things too far, but didn¡¯t mean she wouldn¡¯t come dangerously close accidentally. If Rick wanted to breathe more than love nectar in the near future, he would need to get creative. He started to lap up her sodden folds, which sent a mild tremor coursing throughout his fleshy prison. Faintly, he could feel his groin being enveloped in something warm and moist once again, so he redoubled his efforts in order to make sure his captor finished before he could. It was only fair that he got to enjoy a meal before she feasted on seconds after all. He slid in and out between her petals, caressed all along her lips, and danced around her pearl, but Rick still felt that his efforts just weren¡¯t enough to set himself free. A slight shift in Tyr¡¯s position allowed some much needed air to flow past his face, but it also brought attention to something that just might even the score. Tyr¡¯s monster cock stretched from his chin all the way down to nearly his navel. He briefly wondered why he didn¡¯t pay any attention to it before, especially when it felt like a molten steel pole against his chest, but he was no psychoanalyst. Freud would have an absolute field day observing this particular situation, that was for sure. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Thankfully his arms were also buried with him, so he snaked his hands up and wrapped his fingers around her considerable girth. She was so thick around, he could barely get his thumb and middle finger to touch. She really is a walking hentai tag list. Rick thought with a snort. But he supposed that was just part of her charms. He started to slide his fists to either end of her pole before meeting back up in the middle. That little maneuver caused Tyr to jump in surprise, so Rick increased the tempo and added a slight twist to his wrists for good measure. In response to him going down on both her sexes, his wonderful amazon took it upon herself to start playing with his family jewels along with thoroughly polishing his royal scepter. Rick groaned into the tunnel he was still in the process of excavating, he could feel his limit rapidly approaching. But what more could he do? He was already using everything he had to bring the woman to climax first. Wait a tick¡­ Isn¡¯t my magic literally made for situations like this? Aside from gathering coital energy and using it to cultivate their bodies, nothing about Rick¡¯s vocation really stood out as all that geared towards sex. Sure, there were his vocational skills, and the myriad uses of coital energy made it an incredibly powerful resource. But in terms of actual magic he could cast, he didn¡¯t really have a spell specifically used for lovemaking. Perhaps he could attempt to change that. Sade had spent no short amount of time lecturing Rick on the dangers of experimenting with magical formulas. Even Lilie had added a few anecdotes here and there on recorded fatalities from people who did not approach the subject with the appropriate amount of caution. But Rick didn¡¯t have the strange idea to experiment out of nowhere. Firstly, he wasn¡¯t going to try anything more complicated than a cantrip. Those spells were the most basic of basic, nothing too complicated. And less complexity, meant that less things could go tits up if the spell effect wasn¡¯t exactly desired. His second reason was because he was going to use a spell source that so far hadn¡¯t produced any sort of offensive magic that either he or Sade could observe. Rick focused inward, towards the font of mana located just behind his crotch. Unlike the first time he tried to manipulate mana way back in Valmik, the magical energy pouring out of his reproductive source practically leapt at the chance for him to guide it. There was no struggle, no contest of wills, in fact it almost seemed harder for the magic not to be controlled. Rick would have to talk with Sade about this discovery once he was no longer trapped in a deadly sixty-nine. He formed two streams within his body, each a mirror of the other. He led the excitable magic around his other sources and then down each of his arms. His hands felt warm as they became saturated with energy. ¡°Fuck!¡± Tyr yelped and nearly bucked off him entirely. Rick continued to stroke lovingly along her member, enjoying it immensely when her whole body started to shudder at his touch. Oh, he was so going to use this spell again. But still she held on. An idea sprung forth, and without any deliberation, he created a third channel of mana from his new favorite source. This third strand snaked up through his center, still avoiding any cross contamination from the other branches, and traveled up through his throat to the flexible muscle still lapping up her delicious nectar. The moment he felt the magic take hold, he gently flicked his tongue across that ever so sensitive nub at the top of her slit. Like he just pressed the magic button, that was the final thing needed to throw Tyr completely over the edge. She screamed and clenched her mighty thighs together as the pleasure overwhelmed her. Unfortunately for Rick, he was still trapped below and between those thighs. While many things other than his pelvis were getting crushed, he was also being drowned in fluids as the amazon reached her explosive climax. Cum rocked out of her cock with enough force to leave the atmosphere, drenching everything in its path with her warm seed. Her other hole was no less prolific, wave after wave of pussy juice flowed out, making Rick feel like he was being waterboarded alongside having the life squeezed out of him by the thick walls of his prison. Eventually, Tyr¡¯s shuddering and flood of fluids came to an end. She fell to the side and released a gasping Rick from underneath her. ¡°W-wha¡­ what the fuck was that? I¡¯ve never came so hard in me life!¡± Her voice came out somewhat slurred. Rick imagined her eyes turning into little swirls to show she was still out of sorts. He honestly felt the same for the moment. Rick hacked a bit to clear his lungs from the last bit of fluid that made its way inside from being submerged under a veritable waterfall. ¡°I take it you liked it?¡± He asked in a horse voice. She reached over and gently brought his lips to hers in a slow and sensual kiss. When they broke apart, she shot him a dazzling smile. ¡°I absolutely loved it. I don¡¯t know nearly enough words ta explain how that all felt. But moments like this are why I love ya so damn much.¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth, than her face immediately flushed red, all the way to the tips of her pointed ears. Instead of giving in to his first instinct, which was to tease her mercilessly for the verbal slip, Rick moved back in for another kiss. Both their tongues and bodies wrapped around each other in silent communication of their shared feelings. ¡°I love you too, Tyrillian.¡± He whispered softly once they both came back up for air. Neither of them were big on showing their feelings, let alone state them out loud, but some things just needed to be said to make them official. He couldn¡¯t place a specific moment in time where his feeling for her crystalized, but somewhere along the way he began to genuinely care for the young elf. And it seemed that she felt the same way. Rick felt a fullness in his chest, like the joy from confessing their love for each other caused a flood of happyness to fill him up until it overflowed. He beamed at his wild lover, causing her blush to deepen even further. ¡°Alright! Enough with the sappy crap!¡± She shouted and threw him off her. She quickly rolled off the bed and stood back up, her face still flushed with embarrassment. ¡°There¡¯s still one last thing I want¡¯cha ta do.¡± ¡°Oh, and what¡¯s that?¡± Rick smirked from his position on the bed. Tyr yanked him back to his feet with a growl. Once she placed him down behind her, she bent over the mattress and presented him with her fabulous rear. She angled her head so she could gaze at him longingly. ¡°I want ya ta fuck me like a true mate. Make me yours forever.¡± God¡­ damn. If Rick wasn¡¯t already rock hard, those words would have sent his blood rushing southward like a fucking tsunami. He rushed forward and sheathed himself inside her without delay, making Tyr moan with satisfaction. ¡°Mmmm¡­ yes, just like that.¡± She started to buck back herself in an attempt to push him ever deeper. ¡°Rick, there¡¯s one more thing I need ya ta do.¡± Rick paused his furious thrusting in order to hear her request. Her usual smirk slowly crept back onto her face when she saw she had his undivided attention. ¡°Grow inside me.¡± She purred. ¡°Fill me up and stretch me out so thoroughly that no male could ever dream of satisfying me ever again.¡± Her voice rose in pitch until she was nearly pleading with him by the end. As to emphasize her desire, her hips swelled outward to fully encase his pelvis in the glory of her soft cheeks. Some deep and primal part of him awoke at that moment. His wild woman wanted him bigger. And by the magic coursing through his veins, he would do everything in his power to grant that wish in its entirety. Not even considering the consequences of his actions, he dumped every last point of coital energy he had saved up into giving her exactly what she wanted. His body seized up as the magic coursed through his system, leaving not a single millimeter unaffected. He reached out and grabbed ahold of her waist so he could slam himself as deep as possible and then roared in ecstasy. And then he grew. First and foremost, his dick extended deeper and deeper into her drenched cavern, swelling longer and thicker with each beat of his heart. She was squeezing him like a vice grip, and each passing moment made her feel all the tighter with his unstoppable expansion. Eventually he felt himself bump up against something soft at the furthest depths of her warm tunnel, and then he grew just a bit further. When he had knocked up against the door to her womb, Tyr joined in and started to roar right along with him as her body shook and convulsed in climax. He had assigned ten whole units of energy into his length and another eight into his girth, bringing him right up to the same size as her. And it. Was. Glorious! He didn¡¯t spend everything on his dick, he had way too many points for just that. Nearly every part of him was undergoing some sort of transformation. His limbs lengthened, giving him newfound height, his shoulders broadened, his muscles bulged and became even more defined, and his balls swelled with newfound size and potency. Once the magic had run its course, Rick started to furiously hammer himself into his eager mate. There was no room for conscious thought, he was little more than a rutting beast, and from the sounds that Tyr was making, she was enjoying every second of it. It wasn¡¯t long before he could feel the pressure rising in his groin. Several powerful pumps later, he erupted inside her, flooding her womb with whiteness. Tyr herself joined in and sprayed the bedsheets with her own baby cream while her insides squeezed every last drop out of him. Rick fell backward onto the hard floor, utterly wrung out. Groggily, he looked up to see a river of cum gently pouring out of Tyr¡¯s slit while her body twitched with aftershocks from her own orgasm. His vision started to blur after that, and within moments he was whisked away to dreamland, the vision of Tyr¡¯s utterly satisfied face echoing through his mind all the way. Chapter 14.3 Confession Lilie and Sade watched in macabre fascination as Rick bolted down the hall, Tyr chasing after him with an evil cackle a few seconds later. ¡°Well then¡­ He¡¯s fucked.¡± Lilie commented on the situation. ¡°Indeed.¡± Sade replied dryly. The shaytoni turned to her companion. ¡°So¡­ what do we do now?¡± She jerked her thumb in the direction where they could faintly hear Rick screaming. ¡°Should we at least try to help him?¡± Sade let out a soft chuckle. ¡°If I have learned one thing about our wonderful elf, it is that nothing is truly as bad as it first appears with her. She is playing a game with him, nothing more.¡± She released a disappointed huff. ¡°But you are correct in wondering what the two of us should do. I doubt we would be welcome once that little game of her¡¯s reaches its inevitable conclusion.¡± ¡°You just want to get fucked yourself.¡± Lilie laughed. ¡°I will not deny it. And Tyr would no doubt make sure that I would be completely satisfied, especially the way she is right now.¡± Sade shot back. The pale woman shook her head. ¡°I bet she would. Anyways, do you have any idea of how we will amuse ourselves in the meantime?¡± Sade bit her lip. ¡°Well¡­ um, we could have a bit of fun between the two of us.¡± That seemed to surprise her companion. ¡°Wait, like the two of us fucking?¡± Sade nodded, and Lilie let out a great sigh. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ opposed to the idea. But why the fuck are you suggesting this now?¡± ¡°It is because I am curious.¡± ¡°Curious?¡± ¡°Yes, I am curious on how your body would react with a female partner as opposed to a male.¡± Sade¡¯s skin darkened further as her face flushed. ¡°And¡­ I am curious about what it would feel like between two women as well.¡± Lilie blinked at the final statement. ¡°Hold up, don¡¯t you have sex with Tyr, like all the time?¡± Sade shifted her gaze. ¡°Yes, I do. But she prefers to use her more masculine aspects with me and save her feminine parts for Rick.¡± The shaytoni sighed once again. ¡°I guess that makes sense.¡± She turned to Sade, the determination in her eyes hardening to steel. ¡°Ya know what, fuck it! Let¡¯s see how this turns out.¡± Sade admired the conviction in which Lilie decided on things in her life. It was one thing to declare to do something, it was something else entirely to actually follow through on it. Conviction or not, Sade could still see the nervousness on her friend¡¯s face, the faint tremor in her limbs. ¡°We do not have to commit anything if we do not want to. If you ever feel uncomfortable, we can stop and find something else to occupy our time away from our friends.¡± Lilie snorted. ¡°Funny. Rick said the same thing that first night my aspect awoke.¡± Sade giggled and held out her hand. The other woman looked at it a moment before giggling herself and reaching forward to clasp her own hand around Sade¡¯s. Together the two of them made their way to the master bedroom. Neither of them expected Tyr to drag Rick all the way back there after their little game was done. They fully expected her to just fuck him right there on the spot once she caught her prey. The two of them sat together on their large bed and Lilie glanced around nervously. ¡°So, uh, how we doing this?¡± ¡°First of all, relax. We have seen each other naked several times already.¡± Sade said calmly. A thought then struck her. ¡°In fact¡­ I believe I even gaped open my vagina right in front of you as well.¡± That sent Lilie into a fit of coughing laughter. Every time the woman looked like she would recover, one glance at Sade¡¯s deadpan face would undo any progress and Lilie would double over once more. After several minutes, she finally calmed down enough to speak somewhat normally. ¡°Oh fuck, Sade. You really do have a way with words. Nothing breaks the ice like reminding a girl that she¡¯s already seen the inside of your pussy.¡± She said, wiping a tear from her eye. Sade just shook her head and started to remove her clothing. While she didn¡¯t think what she said was that funny or out of place, she was still glad that Lilie no longer seemed nervous at the prospect of the two of them experimenting together. If she was being honest with herself, Sade would admit that she was also a bit nervous at the prospect of sleeping with another woman. Tyr didn¡¯t count. For a variety of reasons. Before long both women lay naked next to each other. Each of them drinking in the sight of the other. ¡°You¡¯re really beautiful.¡± Lilie breathed after a few moments of staring her up and down. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Thank you. But my looks are almost entirely artificial. You, however, are quite stunning.¡± Sade shot back. ¡°Stop it you!¡± Lilie said while flushing scarlett. ¡°So, what should we do first?¡± Sade moved closer to the other woman and laid a hand on her shoulder. ¡°How about we start small?¡± She then leaned forward and gently brought their lips together. Lilie was plush and soft. Even just a simple peck had Sade wanting to chase the feeling of their mouths brushing together once more. Lilie must have felt the same because when Sade pulled away, the other woman pursued and locked lips with her once more. Sade became light headed as Lilie continued to explore the taste of her mouth. When the first slip of tongue snaked its way inside, she nearly melted on the spot. Everything was so soft and gentle, despite the healer''s apparent need to explore deeper inside with each passing moment. Sade lost the strength to hold herself up and fell back onto the bed, Lilie falling right along with her. ¡°I-I thought you were not into other women.¡± Sade gasped once their connection was broken. Lilie seemed to have woken up from a trance at the comment. She looked down at the naked woman underneath her and blushed furiously. ¡°You, um¡­ I don¡¯t know how to describe it, but you just taste so good! About as delicious as Rick.¡± That got the fire of Sade¡¯s intellect roaring. There were only a handful of similarities between the two of them. One of which could be easily proven or disproven with just a bit more information. ¡°And what about Tyr? Does she smell or taste similar?¡± ¡°Huh¡­ I never really thought about it.¡± Lilie said, tapping her finger to her lips. ¡°I¡¯ve not really ¡®tasted¡¯ her before, but she does have a pleasant scent. Now that I think of it, her smell did get a bit stronger after that last fight up in the mountains.¡± She nuzzled Sade¡¯s neck and inhaled deeply. ¡°But you two humans are like the bouquet of a professionally prepared feast, while Tyr is like walking in a scented candle shop. Both smell nice, but only one makes my mouth water and my belly rumble. I¡¯ve been around and even slept with quite a few people, but nobody has made my senses light on fire the way you two do.¡± So being saturated with coital energy is noticeable, but is not the main reason for our particular allure. That eliminated one hypothesis. That just left their shared vocations. Lilie had pointed out herself that she had multiple partners before meeting them, but only Rick had caused her to absorb mana from her partner during intercourse. There were so many questions buzzing around Sade¡¯s skull that she didn¡¯t know where to start to calm them down. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There would be plenty of time to figure out how the shaytoni worked and the full scope of their abilities. In fact, they were still naked and on the bed for precisely this reason. She opened her eyes to see the healer looking back at her with concern. ¡°I apologize. My mind is still trying to process what you just told me.¡± She said and cupped the pale woman¡¯s cheek. ¡°But we can theorize all we want later. I, for one, also enjoyed your taste and want to keep sampling it while we are still here in bed.¡± ¡°I thought you wanted to experiment?¡± Lilie said pointedly. Sade giggled. ¡°We already are. I just tested to see if we enjoy each other¡¯s flavor. We do. So we can continue to collect data and see if there is any discrepancy, or we can move on to the next experiment.¡± She waggled her eyebrows. ¡°Like if your lower lips taste just as sweet as the ones above.¡± ¡°You horny bitch! Those are my lines!¡± Lilie shouted playfully. She attempted to shove a nearby pillow into Sade¡¯s face but the dark skinned woman quickly countered by suddenly rolling the two of them over so that their positions were reversed. They stared into each other¡¯s eyes, both breathing heavily. Sade felt small electrical tingles every time the subtle rise and fall of their chests caused their smushed breasts to rub against each other. She could feel her nipples stiffening while they dragged against the other woman¡¯s exquisitely soft skin. And judging by the subtle poking sensation against her own chest, she wasn¡¯t the only one who was feeling aroused at the situation. ¡°I believe it is fair to assume we both are comfortable enough to proceed with further testing.¡± She smirked. Lilie rolled her ruby eyes in an exaggerated motion. ¡°Yeah, I guess. I¡¯m still fucking surprised about how okay my mind seems to be about the situation. Not once in my life was I ever attracted to another woman. Seriously, not a single fucking time. And then you kiss me and all I can fucking think about is slobering all over your fantastic tits until we both cream the sheets.¡± Sade¡¯s blood froze in her veins at those words. Lilie¡¯s admittance to the sudden and unexpected attraction to her could only mean that Sade¡¯s vocation was to blame. Nothing else made sense. Somehow, intimancy drew people with Lilie¡¯s particular constitution like a moth to a flame. That was deeply concerning for a multitude of reasons. For a brief moment, she considered coming clean. To confess that she was an intimancer and that her vocation was causing all these strange effects. It was the right thing to do. Her mind fought hard against the notion, her secrets were dangerous, they had kept her and her family safe when all else failed. But her vocation was not a deadly secret, not even close. Sade had kept herself from talking about her vocation openly primarily out of habit and embarrassment. She was probably one of the most magically talented humans in a century, and she chose sex magic as her specialty. The scorn and ridicule from her peers would be brutal, that was nothing to say about her actual enemies. All her hard work and accomplishments would be undone in an instant, and no one would take her seriously ever again. But Lilie was more than a fellow student. She was part of their group, part of their growing family. They all knew about Rick¡¯s magic and none of them, especially Lilie, had judged him harshly for it. Sade¡¯s rational mind knew all of this, but her heart was still scared to take the leap, to trust in her friends and lovers to see the real her. But she had to try. She owed her friend that much. ¡°Lilie¡­ I-I uh-¡± The words caught in her throat. Why was this so damned difficult? Lilie was a trusted member of her party, her friend. The two of them were entwined on a bed without a single scrap of cloth between them. Mere words were nothing compared to that. She just had to open her mouth and tell her that she was an intimancer. ¡°I t-think that¡­ that it is my f-fault for the¡­ the sudden change.¡± Good. She had managed to get the first half of the confession out. Lilie quirked her brow as a way to let her continue. ¡°I think it is because I¡­ because I¡­¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re also an intimancer?¡± Chapter 15.1 New and Improved Meeting up the next morning was, in a word, awkward. When all four companions stumbled upon each other at the entrance to the baths, it became obvious at a glance that they all had gotten a bit carried away the night before. Amusedly, it seemed that none of them had any coital energy left in reserve aside from the few points they gained from their escapades that evening. Which Rick supposed was probably for the best. Tyr was the least physically changed in the group since she spent most of her banked energy on the muscle mass she needed to finish the fight with the big bug monster and on growing taller right before her little game of cat and mouse. The rest went straight to her hips. They gave each other embarrassed greetings before washing the night''s events away from their heavily modified bodies. Tyr nearly drowned herself from laughing so hard when the two other women had to explain why they looked like they got doused in a bucket of jizz. Sade looked like she wanted to curl into a corner and disappear when Lilie recounted how the curly haired woman got a bit too carried away with her experimentation¡­ Again. While it was a bit disappointing, Rick didn¡¯t really blame Sade for her overzealousness, especially when he had essentially done the exact same thing when Tyr assumed the position and started asking sweetly. It was, however, quite interesting to learn about the potent taste and side effects from ingesting Lilie¡¯s secretions. Tyr found the spell that Sade used to grow a temporary dick endlessly amusing, especially when Lilie mentioned how ¡®tiny¡¯ the thing was initially and how easily Sade rankled at the teasing. He would have to talk to her about that, if only to let her know that she wasn¡¯t alone in dealing with inferiority complexes. Which was a silly thing since both humans had finally cleared the online dating minimum height requirements after their respective spending sprees, neither of them would be considered small in any category anymore. Due to some strange cosmic coincidence, Rick and Sade somehow remained the same height even after dumping nearly a hundred units of energy between them. Rick felt it was just one more little thing that tied his first lover and him together. After stories were exchanged, bodies were washed, and the laughter at everyone¡¯s antics finally died down, the next issue to be addressed became immediately apparent. They had all outgrown their clothes. The amount of stares the party garnered from the local populus on the way to the nearest tailor made Rick want to pack up his things and run away to live up in the mountains like Lilie¡¯s sister did. The one silver lining was that however much his own clothes looked undersized and ill-fitting, it was nothing in comparison to what the women had to endure. Tyr, ever the ¡®naturalist¡¯, simply tied some pillowcases together and a spare bed sheet to fashion a tube top and long skirt to keep her modesty. Rick saw many men, and more than a few women, stop and stare at the curvy amazon and her washboard abs as she strolled through the crowded streets. While the elf drew many gazes to her, she didn¡¯t command all of the attention. The two relatively smaller women were wearing actual clothes, just ones that had seams ripped in odd places and buttons that were holding on for dear life in order to keep the overtaxed fabric from letting everything all spill out right there on the street. While those little round soldiers held the line valiantly, there were still significant gaps in their defense that gave anyone who looked at their front a pleasant view of the fertile valleys beyond the fabric wall. ¡­ Rick shook his head to clear the unpleasant memory of their personal walk of shame from his mind. The four of them were jogging along one of the more secluded sections of the coastline for training. After the fight with Rayna and her crew, the four of them had made it a priority to get back into training their stats with as much zeal as they could muster. While they held their own far better than their levels would suggest, if the reformed bandits had not been there when those strange monsters attacked, things could have turned out wildly different. They all needed to get stronger. And so, since they didn¡¯t really need to work and do missions to pay their bills any longer, they decided to spend the next month undergoing the harshest training any of them could conceive. Plus they also needed to acclimate to their new bodies. Rick looked behind him to check on how the others were doing. Lilie and Sade were puffing along right behind him with Tyr lagging a bit behind. Rick wasn¡¯t too surprised by the positioning. While he had weights tied around his arms, legs, and torso, Tyr had all of that, plus her own ¡®little¡¯ wooden log to lug around while she ran. That piece of wood probably weighed as much as the four of them combined, so the fact that she was able to keep pace for the past ten kilometers was downright impressive to say the least. Sade and Lilie didn¡¯t have any additional weight strapped to their bodies. It was deemed that the massive swaying weights already attached to their chests was more than adequate to serve their purposes. Getting those oversized pillows of flesh to stay in place while moving around had proved quite the hurdle for the first few days of training. Thankfully Parva was a world with significantly advanced magic, and after asking around, they were introduced to enchanted chest wraps that were able to keep the bouncing fun bags in place while doing vigorous exercise. Those had cost a small fortune to acquire, but had proven more than worth the exorbitant expense. All four of them continued their run down the coast, all the way to the cliffside that their home sat atop. Once they reached the rock wall, they all took a small break to catch their breath. Tyr took her log and slammed one end straight into the damp sand, embedding the wood like a fencepost deep enough so that it wouldn¡¯t shift or go anywhere until she retrieved it later. ¡°So¡­ any improvements today?¡± Rick asked no one in particular. ¡°My strength and endurance finally went up.¡± Sade said weakly. She had the hardest time adjusting to the new training out of anyone since she also had to focus on her studies and maintain her top rank at school. She lightly stretched her back and gave Rick a wonderful view of her burgeoning six pack that hid below her impressive bust. Those points into muscle mass really were well spent in his humble opinion. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Just strength for me.¡± Lilie added. ¡°Nothing yet.¡± Tyr commented after checking her own progress. ¡°Really? That sucks.¡± Rick said earnestly. ¡°Even I managed to get a point of strength after all this.¡± The large woman lazily waved off his concerns. ¡°Me stats are much higher than yers. Takes a might longer ta improve when near the peak than at the bottom.¡± ¡°Speaking of.¡± Lilie interjected and pointed up the cliff. ¡°Are we ready to climb?¡± Everyone nodded in agreement then reached for the ropes that hung against the rocky walls. Scaling the cliff would be the final leg of their daily physical training and would take them right back to their front door. Thankfully the climb wasn¡¯t a full ninety degree slope and the party could just use the rope for extra stability. Rick didn¡¯t think he could ever pull off a ¡®Cliffs of Insanity¡¯ type of stunt, he was neither a giant nor an infamous pirate captain on a mission. That being said, it was still an utterly brutal workout. Hand over hand, foot over foot, each of them slowly made their way up the incline. Rick¡¯s whole body burned with strain. Once or twice he even felt his feet slip out from under him, causing his chest and arms to slam hard against the rocks while he clung onto the rope for dear life. Just before his willpower began to flag, he spotted the patch of green that signaled the finish line. With a roar of triumph he crested the lip and rolled to the side to clear the way for the others. He reached out his hand to help each of the women coming up behind him onto a safe patch of grass beside him. Tyr gave a grateful nod to him when her large frame was the final one to come into reach, signaling the end to their self-imposed trial. ¡°Thank goodness that is over.¡± Sade whined from where she lay sprawled out on her back. ¡°Ya did good everyone. I¡¯ve seen elves struggle with doing something similar.¡± Lilie looked at Tyr incredulously. ¡°So you¡¯re saying we¡¯re more insane than forest elves?¡± That caused everyone to give out tired chuckles. Once they were done, she waved them all in. ¡°Ok, let me get you all patched up.¡± One by one, the healer¡¯s magic flowed through them and soothed the various aches and pains they¡¯ve accumulated throughout the morning. Rick and the others had spent many long nights talking with the shaytoni about how exactly her healing operated. It turned out, there were several techniques that all approached the subject of repairing the body in different ways. As the spell coursed through his body, Rick was glad Lilie knew how to adjust her magic to boost the body¡¯s natural recovery as opposed to normally reversing damage outright. This was going to be the key to their success. If they would use the more widely used form of healing magic, the kind that simply put everything back together the way it was before it got damaged, it would have undone any and all progress towards their goals. But by speeding up what the body was already going to do itself, then the natural process of repairing and strengthening muscles would continue at an accelerated rate. Essentially, they got all the gains with hardly any of the pain. Well¡­ There was still pain, a lot of pain. But by utilizing their healer effectively, they didn¡¯t need to spend a full day groaning in pain while their bodies recovered from the abuse. They could just work out as hard as they could every morning and then go on with their day like nothing happened. It had only been a few days since they started and the results had already started to show themselves. Granted, the occasional dose of coital energy here and there also helped. ¡°Mmmm¡­ Thank you Lilie. I do not know what I would do without you.¡± Sade said, giving a sensual moan after her treatment was done. ¡°Ha! Knowing you, you would be doing the exact same thing as we are right now. The only difference would be the days where you all would wallow in agony before going right back to it.¡± Lilie replied with a snort. She held up a palm and stared at it for a brief moment. ¡°Still¡­ I feel like we¡¯re cheating somehow.¡± ¡°It does feel like that, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Rick agreed. The healer shot him a peculiar look. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this whole thing your idea in the first place?¡± ¡°It was a team effort on that front.¡± He shot back while raising his hands in surrender. ¡°Besides, the two of us going to university should know the difference between theory and practice. I¡¯m more surprised no one else has thought of this method before.¡± ¡°I suspect people have, but the reason why it is not widespread lies along a similar vein to our discussion some time ago about leveling versus training.¡± Sade said casually. ¡°While this method is extremely effective, having a skilled healer on hand is far too costly for most people to even attempt. Especially when raising their strength by leveling is a cheap and effective alternative.¡± ¡°Heh, imagine the look on that prissy cunt¡¯s face when she finds out yer strength is just as high as yer intelligence.¡± Tyr chuckled darkly. Rick was morbidly curious on what kind of fireworks would happen if Sade¡¯s high elf rival and the wild amazon ever met. While he had yet to even meet the woman, accounts from both Lilie and Sade didn¡¯t paint her in the best of light. He especially hoped that the rumors were exaggerated. He supposed he would find out for himself eventually. ¡°The last thing any of us need is having someone like Ariwyn looking too closely in our direction.¡± Sade said pointedly. ¡°It is best we keep our secrets for now. We will need to be as strong as possible with as many commendations and honors as we can get. If her family or someone else like them decides to come after us, we need to be as unassailable as possible.¡± ¡°You really think that¡¯s likely?¡± Rick asked. Sade turned her fierce gaze in his direction. ¡°Nearly all high elves in the kingdom are nobles or are in key positions of the government. If we are deemed a threat to their sovereignty in any way, then they would come at us from all sides, attacking our honor, reputation, and scrutinizing everything we or our families have done with a fine toothed comb for any blemish they could use against us. Even other noble houses with storied histories and strong ties to the royal family have been brought low by inopportune scandal.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re just being paranoid.¡± Lilie said while crossing her arms. ¡°Perhaps.¡± The dark skinned woman admitted. ¡°But it is best to be as prepared as possible when dealing with such people. Since I have already caught the attention of one of their scions, I hope they just see me as a minor issue for her to deal with on her own, and not an upstart that needs to be taught a lesson for challenging her betters.¡± Rick suspected there was a lot more to the story than what Sade had revealed. But that was talk for when they were home, fed, and bathed rather than standing outside next to a cliff. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough heavy topics for now, I feel we¡¯ve been carrying heavy things all morning. Besides, aren''t we having guests over for the evening?¡± ¡°Indeed. I need to get ready for the study session.¡± Sade said and quickly made her way towards their home. ¡°Think they¡¯ll like the outfit ya picked out?¡± Tyr whispered conspiratorially into his ear. ¡°Even if they don¡¯t, I know I will.¡± Rick said with a smile. Chapter 15.2 Study Time ¡°Wow! This place is amazing!¡± The young beastkin woman exclaimed with wonder. Nearly twenty first year students had filed into the main hall of Rick¡¯s shared home, each of them mirroring the same sentiments as the girl who spoke up. Apparently the little study session Sade had been roped into had grown considerably once her tutelage had proven incredibly effective in raising the overall grades for those who participated. This became a problem when the amount of students became too much for the library where the sessions were being held to simply ignore any longer. ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it. Now, follow me and I¡¯ll take you to the dining room so we can have some snacks while we wait for things to start.¡± Rick said while gesturing to the proper door. He led the gaggle of excited scholars through the double doors and towards the large dining tables where they saw that Tyr had just set down the last tray of snacks. When the group got close, the elf stood to her full height and arched her back in a long stretch. The excitable coyote girl at the front of the pack stopped dead in her tracks when she beheld the amazon before her. ¡°Hello there.¡± The elf said, giving the girl a fanged grin. ¡°Ya can call me Tyr.¡± She held out her hand for the beastkin to shake. The young woman gulped audibly before taking Tyr¡¯s meaty palm in hers. ¡°H-H-Hattepaa. N-nice to m-meet you. Y-you¡¯re a lot b-b-bigger than I e-expected.¡± Rick decided to help the poor girl out a bit. She was stammering so hard from nervousness that he was honestly impressed she was able to talk at all. He leaned down and whispered loudly beside her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much. Tyrillian may look all scary and intimidating, but I¡¯ve yet to meet another woman who is as much of a blushing maiden as she is.¡± ¡°R-Rick! Don¡¯t say things like that!¡± Tyr said while unintentionally proving his point exactly. Her cheeks all the way to the tips of her pointed ears were doing their best to match the color of her beautiful mane. Hattepaa giggled at the sight as well as a few others who overheard Rick¡¯s declaration. ¡°That being said,¡± Rick continued, no longer whispering so that the crowd could hear him clearly. ¡°I¡¯ve also seen her rip a monster in half with her bare hands. So I guess it all evens out.¡± The entire room went silent as his words sunk in. He wasn¡¯t exaggerating in the least either. The bisection in question was such an impressive kill that they hung up both halves of the bug monster¡¯s body alongside their leader¡¯s skull in the trophy room once the hunter garrison was done examining the corpses for clues on what they were. The hunters still had no idea, but they did learn that the bugs were indeed the same species as the thing that attacked Rick, Tyr, and Sade on the old road. So that was something at least. Tyr shot him an annoyed glare. ¡°Open up with that first next time. Don¡¯t want people ta think I¡¯m weak.¡± Rick snorted. ¡°Anyone who takes one look at you and calls you weak is simply blind.¡± He clapped his hands together. ¡°Alright everyone, find a seat and get ready to learn.¡± ¡°Where is our dear girl anyways?¡± A spooky looking woman asked while everyone found a chair. ¡°We had a long and hard day earlier so she had to take some time to get cleaned up.¡± Rick answered simply. ¡°Oh I¡¯m sure she had to deal with something long and hard all right.¡± The woman snickered. ¡°Tess! Behave yourself!¡± Hattepaa hissed. Tess simply shot Rick a knowing smirk and sat down without any further innuendo. He didn¡¯t mind, she wasn¡¯t exactly too far off the mark. All four of them had a bit of fun in the baths before getting the house ready to receive guests. How she could have possibly known that was anyone¡¯s guess, but he assumed she was just the type to make lewd remarks without any basis in fact. After a few minutes, Lilie slipped in from the back door while wheeling in a mobile chalkboard. Sade still insisted they try to keep their growth spurts a secret as long as possible, so the latent succubus had expended much of her stored energy to slim back down to a more recognizable size so she wouldn¡¯t freak out any guests who knew her personally at Mya. She was undoubtedly still pretty curvy, and she demanded that all three of them would fill her back to capacity together that evening when everything was over in exchange for her cooperation. A short time later the door opened again and the whole room immediately went quiet when they beheld Sade. Her long legs and curvy hips were squeezed into a black knee length pencil skirt. She wore a long sleeved blouse that struggled to contain her sizable bust. Her hair was pulled back into a single puffy bun on the back. And of course, she wore a novelty pair of glasses that Rick finally made time to acquire for her. The whole ensemble was a tantalizing combination of sexy and serious that fit Sade to a tee. Tyr adjusted herself in her seat right next to him. ¡°Damn¡­ ya sure know how ta pick an outfit.¡± Rick only chuckled in response. He had to be careful in controlling his own ¡®standing ovation¡¯ at the sight of his brilliant lover in that sinful skirt. Looking around, he could see that he and the elf weren¡¯t the only ones having issues with their pants suddenly becoming a tad too tight. ¡°Whoa¡­ you look a lot different outside our uniforms.¡± Hattepaa whispered. Rick could tell Sade was doing her best to keep a straight face at the remark. ¡°Yes, well, they are just robes after all.¡± ¡°Oh yes, because robes are soooo good at concealing one¡¯s figure.¡± Another student said, each word absolutely dripping with sarcasm. Sade fixed the one who spoke with a fierce glare and hiked up her glasses with a long finger, the simple motion nearly caused the beast in Rick¡¯s pants to break containment right then and there. The whole attitude and costume was really, really doing something for him. He heard a soft, keening whine from right next to him and realized that he was not alone in thinking this way. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°I have been undergoing a bit of a growth spurt and utilize devices known as chest wraps to curtail these kinds of pointless discussions while I am busy trying to study magic.¡± She said pointedly. ¡°Now! Rather than continue commenting on the size of my chest, we can instead focus on the main reason we are all gathered together in the first place. So, who has a question about what was last discussed in professor Armondo¡¯s last lecture?¡± Like waking up from a daze, the mood in the room slowly shifted to a more studious and focused attitude. The collective blood gathered back into the upper brains for those in attendance as it were. One of the girls raised her hand and started to go over what she didn¡¯t understand from the very lecture Sade mentioned. For the next few hours, Rick watched in rapt amazement as the smartest woman he had ever known patiently answered every question her fellow students had about the nature of magic and spellweaving. She used nearly every teaching technique in the book; different metaphors to simplify complex concepts, diagrams on the chalkboard, and more than once she just casted the magic outright so everyone could simply see the spells in action. While most of what was discussed went right over Rick¡¯s head, he was still able to follow along somewhat mainly due to Sade often repeating many of the same concepts and theories that she used to teach him magic all the way back on their first day in Valmik. The students of Mya were not stupid, and more than once the question they asked was of such a high conceptual level that Rick had absolutely no clue on what they were even talking about. Just because some of the subject matter was beyond him, didn¡¯t mean that the time spent listening and taking notes was wasted. Rick was from a world of advanced science, not magic. Parva functioned on a fundamentally different channel to Earth, and at the heart of it was mana. He didn¡¯t have the full picture on how everything fit together, but with each question answered by Sade or another student, he could feel another puzzle piece fall into place as his understanding grew. More than once however, he caught himself not fully listening to the conversation going on and instead focusing on Sade¡¯s face. She was in her element and reveling in it. Her gentle smile had been steadily growing the more she talked with her classmates. Once or twice she came across something that she had no ready answer for, and when she and the others put their heads together to puzzle it out, that¡¯s when her radiant smile shined the brightest. Rick could feel himself falling in love with the brilliant and dedicated woman all over again. An elbow to his gut jolted him out of his reverie. ¡°Time ta cook.¡± Tyr whispered with a knowing smirk. The two of them snuck out of the dining hall and went into the kitchen together. There was at least another hour of the study session to go, so there was plenty of time to whip up something quick for everyone to enjoy before they had to make their way back home. Once the two cleansed their hands, they got straight to work. While the city of Shatak had next to nothing resembling the ingredients necessary to make a lot of the asian dishes Rick had grown up with, there was still a bright silver lining to the culinary situation he had found himself in. With a grin, he counted the pile of tortillas in front of him. He may not be able to make ramen, but at least he could still enjoy taco¡¯s. ¡°Hey, Rick,¡± Tyr said softly from the grill behind him after a minute or two of food prep. ¡°Do ya¡­ do ya think I should work on me magic more?¡± Rick couldn¡¯t help but notice something odd about the hulking elf¡¯s tone. She sounded almost lost, unsure. That was the exact opposite of the cheerful and rambunctious ranger he had grown to know and love. He set down what he was working on and turned to her. ¡°What brought this on?¡± He asked softly, doing his best to keep his voice calm and even. The large woman sighed and scratched her cheek. ¡°I just¡­ Seeing what Lilie and Sade can do, how they bring so much ta the group. I just feel like¡­ like a simple brute in comparison.¡± She said quietly, her voice hitching near the end. Rick swiftly wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug. ¡°Not once have I ever considered you ¡®a simple brute¡¯.¡± He said firmly. He then looked up into her mesmerizing emerald eyes. ¡°You are strong and fierce, that is true. But if it wasn¡¯t for you and your guidance, then Sade and I would probably have died many times over by this point. You have given us insights we would never have considered, and your strength has carried us all back to safety more times than I can count. Even if you focused on nothing else besides what you already have, neither I nor anyone else would have any reason to complain about it.¡± Rick attempted to stand up on his toes to give his lover a kiss on the chin, but the height difference just made that prospect too difficult. He opted instead to plant his lips in the center of her broad chest, just over her sweet and caring heart. Tyr wrapped her arms around him in a gentle cocoon of hard muscle. ¡°Thanks.¡± She whispered softly, the simple word laced with emotion. ¡°I dun know why I¡¯m like this right now. I just¡­¡± She coughed to clear her throat. ¡°Thanks, just thanks fer reminding me about all that.¡± ¡°Anytime Tyr. I¡¯ll always be here in case you need to talk and clear your head for any reason.¡± He tapped her side gently. ¡°But do you mind chatting while we work?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry!¡± Tyr apologized and released him from her hold. ¡°No need for that.¡± Rick laughed and went back to his station. ¡°So tell me, do you honestly think your fighting style could be improved with magic?¡± Tyr tapped her chin in thought. Rick was glad that she seemed mostly recovered from her sudden wave of emotion. Her eyes still glistened with excess moisture, but otherwise the episode had passed just as quickly as it came. ¡°Hrm, I¡¯m not too sure honestly. I got the mana and attunement. So why not try ta use it?¡± Rick nodded his head in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s a good point. Honestly, if we got a dedicated mage like Sade doing strength training, we should probably add the more cerebral pursuits on the docket as well. All of us can cast, so why not try to min-max our skills to the limit?¡± ¡°Min-max?¡± Tyr asked. ¡°Ah, right, sorry. It¡¯s shorthand for ¡®minimize weaknesses, maximize strengths¡¯.¡± He laughed. ¡°Although some people consider it to mean ¡®put minimal effort into what you¡¯re bad at, and maximum effort into what you are¡¯ but I prefer the first interpretation.¡± Tyr grunted her agreement. ¡°Aye, same. Yer people seem ta be quite wise.¡± Rick couldn¡¯t help but let a snort escape from his throat. ¡°Maybe. But spouting off wisdom you randomly read somewhere and actually following through are two separate things. Still¡­ at least there¡¯s the chance that someone doesn¡¯t fall into the same pitfalls our ancestors did since they were smart enough to write it down.¡± ¡°Ya don¡¯t sound confident.¡± He just sighed at that. ¡°I¡¯m just a cynic. Had to learn a few hard lessons myself since waking up in that forest.¡± Rick felt strong arms gently drag him into a warm embrace. ¡°And ya came out stronger for it. We all have.¡± ¡°Thank you Tyr.¡± He said softly, leaning into her body and taking solace in her sturdiness. After he had his fill he gave the elf a smack on her plump rear. ¡°Okay! That¡¯s enough cuddling for the moment. Let¡¯s get this food ready for our ravenous scholars.¡± ¡°Ya got it.¡± Tyr chuckled. Chapter 15.3 Triple Stuffed ¡°Bye bye! Thanks for everything Sade. Oh, and thanks for the food too!¡± All four of them stood in the doorway waving at the last of the energetic students as they made their way back to the university dorms. It had been a very productive night, not even considering the fact that a couple of the students even saw an actual increase to their intelligence over the course of the evening. Rick could see Sade still wore an extremely proud and satisfied smile as she watched her classmates disappear into the twinkling lights of the city proper. ¡°You look like you had fun.¡± He said warmly. ¡°I did. A lot more than I originally thought I would too.¡± She leaned to the side and gently brushed her plush lips against his cheek. ¡°Thank you for pushing me to help them. And also for suggesting we use our home. I feel they were considerably more receptive to my guidance than before.¡± Lilie chuckled at that last remark. ¡°Not having to constantly be on the lookout for angry librarians and some free food was probably what did it.¡± She leaned in and gave a loud, conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Plus seeing our busty, big brained, beauty in that special outfit you picked out probably added to their¡­ enthusiasm.¡± Sade gave the mender a light smack on the arm. ¡°It did not!¡± ¡°Sade.¡± Rick said in a complete deadpan to his brilliant lover. ¡°The second you took the stage, although we were sitting down, we were all giving you a ¡®standing ovation¡¯.¡± Although her complexion hid it well, Rick could tell that Sade was blushing furiously at his innuendo. She turned to the elf, who nodded enthusiastically in agreement to his statement. Lilie snickered at Sade¡¯s embarrassed expression. ¡°Come on, you erotic educator.¡± She said while grabbing the dusky skinned woman by the shoulders and leading her back inside. ¡°Lets finish cleaning up so I can get my own reward for the evening. I for one am looking forward to this particular¡­ experiment.¡± The last word was nearly dripping with insinuation. Rick suspected that her tone wasn¡¯t the only thing that was dripping at the thought of their upcoming bedroom activities. Sade¡¯s eyes flashed with the same ravenous hunger that showed in the lustful shaytoni¡¯s own gaze. Rick didn¡¯t mind their enthusiasm, he just hoped they all didn¡¯t get too carried away while indulging in their carnal desires¡­ again. He sighed inwardly. The one silver lining is that none of them were sitting on a hoard of coital energy to spend all at once anymore. They were rapidly working to refill it, of course. But for the moment, they didn¡¯t have enough to cause such widespread and drastic changes for at least a little while. Rick himself was actually saving up to purchase two ¡®upgrades¡¯ to deal with the fallout of his previous actions. While he hardly regretted giving himself such a mighty manhood, he had quickly realized that the thing was more than a little¡­ unwieldy at times. Even when casually walking he could feel the flaccid shaft slapping against his thigh and taking up an absurd amount of room in his trousers. Therefore the first thing on the list was to do what Tyr did and make himself more of a ¡®grower¡¯. The second purchase he planned on obtaining was similar to the first. What differed was instead of making his flaccid length smaller, he would be able to adjust how big he would be when fully erect. His maximum size wouldn¡¯t change in the slightest, but not accidentally ripping his pants to shreds every time he popped a boner would certainly take a load off his shoulders. That was to say nothing about safely having sex without the need for specialized spellcraft. He loved how much the stretchy spell has enhanced their wild nights together, but sometimes he missed the more slow and sensual lovemaking from their early escapades. Still, Lilie had specifically asked for what was going to happen next. And Rick couldn¡¯t help but be excited to see how it all played out. The mender practically dragged the rest of the party up to their shared bedchamber once the last of the evening¡¯s mess had been cleaned up. Her eager smile burned through the other three¡¯s hesitation with its infectious energy. ¡°Whoo! Alright everyone; clothes off, cocks out! That means you too Sade!¡± Lilie ordered while practically ripping off her own outfit the moment she crossed the threshold. ¡°And how big do you want me to be?¡± The dark mage asked while unbuttoning her blouse as requested. Lilie made a show of considering the question for a few heartbeats. ¡°Since the other two are roughly the same size now, why not shrink yourself down to match?¡± She said with a sultry smirk. ¡°As you wish.¡± Sade said while returning the expression. ¡°We would not want our friends to feel inadequate, now would we?¡± Rick snorted in amusement at the notion and shook his head. Tyr was also grinning. ¡°That sounds fair. Although¡­¡± She paused as if considering something. ¡°Yer gonna have ta teach me that spell sometime. I¡¯m curious if it would cause me ta grow a second shaft or just make the one I already got even bigger.¡± ¡°That is¡­ actually a good question.¡± Sade admitted. ¡°But that is for us to answer another time.¡± ¡°Yep! Now less talking, more stripping!¡± The healer snapped. That statement caused chuckles to erupt from all around. It wasn¡¯t long before they had finished removing all their clothing then looked to Lilie for further instructions. The horned woman raked her gaze across their bare bodies with eyes filled with ravenous delight. Looking down south, Rick could see that at least one pair of lips was drooling at the sight of so much exposed flesh. The clear liquid formed a glistening trail along the inside of her creamy thighs. From the corner of his eye he saw Sade trace a pattern in the air with her finger. With a final tap to the top of her pubic mound Rick was treated to the sight of a penis emerging out from under the carpet of dark curls like a timelapse of a sprouting bamboo shoot from fertile soil. The dusky shaft surged higher towards the ceiling with every heartbeat, each pulse causing it to swell with profound girth to match its expanding size. ¡°Mmmmm¡­ Is this satisfactory?¡± Sade moaned sensually once the spell was done with its task, leaving the curly haired woman with an oversized dick on par with all the others in the room. Lilie gulped audibly and could only give a nod in response. Rick was hardly better in being able to articulate how he felt of Sade¡¯s latest transformation. She already had proportions that could best be described as ¡®pornographic¡¯, with those long, muscular legs, hips and ass worthy of a fertility goddess, and then the new, throbbing cock standing proud over her toned stomach, pointing a thick black line straight up towards the impossibly large and perky melons that sat full and heavy over her entire sternum. Sade had become the living embodiment of his deepest fetishes, ones honed from over half a decade of copious consumption of adult content. It came as no surprise that his own beastly manhood roared to full awakeness at merely a glimpse of her impossibly voluptuous form. He didn¡¯t even have to look at Tyr to know she was equally smitten at the sight as he was. The rumbling purr from beside him told him everything he needed to know on that front. Lilie was the first to break out of her lustful daze and she squealed with joy while running over to one of their nightstands. She riffled through one of the drawers before producing a small, unassuming bottle. ¡°Ah-ha!¡± She cried, cradling the small object lovingly. ¡°And what do we have there?¡± Rick asked. Lilie gave a mischievous grin and gestured for the group to join her beside the bed. ¡°This, my friends, will assist us in ensuring the night''s festivities go¡­ smoothly.¡± Something about the way she emphasized that last word tickled a corner of Rick¡¯s brain. He had more than a sneaking suspicion he knew exactly what that bottle contained and what it would be used for in a few moments time. The eager shaytoni tossed each of them a contraception pill and swallowed one of her own before she pointed to the largest one in the group. ¡°Tyr. Would you be a dear and lay on your back with your feet on the floor for me?¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The elf lowered her fist from her mouth before smiling and doing what was so politely asked of her. ¡°Great! Just sit so that you¡¯re right on the edge.¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°Perfect!¡± Rick crossed his arms and smirked at the enthusiastic mender. ¡°Care to explain to the class what your plan is?¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± She said while tracing a now familiar spell formula in the air. ¡°Being super stretchy allows us to- OOOooooooh, fuck yes- to fit overly large things inside safely that we normally shouldn¡¯t. But even if we can insert a massive fuckstick anywhere we want, it doesn''t mean that shoving it in there would be easy.¡± She moaned sensually in the middle of her explanation as her body became ready to take each of their ¡®massive fucksticks¡¯. Lilie then cradled her pillowy mounds with one arm so that they puffed up and pressed close together like twin globes of rising dough. With her other hand she theatrically popped the cork of the bottle and tipped a small stream of its contents right in the crook where the valley of her impressive cleavage met with her pale torso. Lilie knelt in between Tyr¡¯s tree trunk legs and in front of her turgid tower. She set down the resealed bottle then used both her hands to cup each breast above the elf¡¯s glistening crown. ¡°Here, let me get you all ready for what¡¯s to come.¡± She whispered seductively. The horny healer then lowered herself down so that the enormous shaft became sandwiched between her soft mounds. She took her time, dropping down, rising back up, and twisting all around Tyr¡¯s length with deliberate yet sensual slowness. Each time the twitching rod poked out from the valley of her pale peaks, more and more of the elf¡¯s ridgid pillar became coated in the viscous substance. Tyr herself whined with need as Lilie continued to tease her with the unique form of fluid application. Beside him, Rick saw that Sade had her thighs rubbing tightly together as she watched the erotic display before them. Her hand would occasionally reach slightly forward towards her new appendage before she would catch herself and force it back to her side. Even without any extra stimulation, her cock was giving slight spasms while a steady stream of clear fluid dribbled from its tip. ¡°That should do it.¡± Lilie purred when she was satisfied with how she painted the elf¡¯s dick in transparent fluid. She turned around and hovered her ass over the slick shaft. The pale woman wiggled her hips from side to side just to tease the amazon a bit more before lining the head up with her puckered hole. Even with the lubricant and magical elasticity added to the equation, Rick could tell it still took more than a little effort to fit the gigantic thing inside her. ¡°Ooooohhh- fuck. There we go!¡± Lilie cheered once Tyr¡¯s glans were fully engulfed and she could slide more smoothly down the pole. ¡°At least you have the benefit of magic to make this absurd experience painless.¡± Sade grumbled under her breath. Rick slid an arm over her shoulder and brought his lover close for a sideways hug and a quick peck on the cheek. He wisely decided not to open his mouth and just let his feelings of love and comfort transfer into the woman through his touch. ¡°Oh wow, ok, now this is an interesting sensation.¡± Lilie gasped as she looked down to see herself fully impaled upon Tyr¡¯s spike. She rubbed the spot where an almost imperceptible bulge showed just how deeply the elf was speared through her insides. ¡°You want to just stop here and enjoy the wonders of anal for the time being?¡± Rick asked. The healer was already taking quite a lot of cock meat and he wasn¡¯t too sure adding more to the mix was the best idea. Lilie broke out of her reverie and snapped her head towards him. ¡°Fuck no! I specifically requested that all three of you will ravish me until I¡¯m satisfied, and that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m going to fucking get!¡± She waved the two humans over. ¡°I¡¯m going to lay back onto these amazing elven pillows so you can stuff my pussy and Sade can ram that bitch breaker down my throat. Any questions?¡± Neither of them did, so they both got into their assigned positions. Lilie leaned back so her head rested right between Tyr¡¯s fleshy mounds. She looked down at Rick and spread her legs wide in invitation. ¡°Fill me up.¡± She begged softly. Rick didn¡¯t hesitate and plunged himself deep between her pink petals. She was so soaked inside that he met virtually no resistance as he burrowed deeper and deeper inside her. Knowing it was exactly what she wanted, he didn¡¯t stop when he felt himself reach that final doorway and just shoved himself harder inside until he was fully sheathed within. All three of the current participants moaned in pleasure. Lilie herself had her head thrown back and her eyes fluttering madly. Rick knew she would have climaxed at that moment if she was able to do so, but her unusual constitution prevented her from doing so until either he or Tyr did first. Rick certainly felt like he was about to blow. She was just so warm and tight. He had grown since he last delved her depths and having another cock just as monstrous as his own pressing against him from the other side of her thin walls only added to the sensation. The way Lilie squirmed and moaned at just being filled to the brim by the two of them simultaneously was nearly enough to tip him over the edge right then and there. ¡°Well, that is certainly impressive, I must admit.¡± Lilie opened her eyes to find Sade looming above her head from the opposite side. The tip of her drooling girlcock rested just a few centimeters away from the shaytoni¡¯s mouth. ¡°Are you ready for me?¡± The mage asked sweetly. Lilie didn¡¯t speak but nodded her head enthusiastically. ¡°That is good. Although¡­¡± Sade said before her hand locked around one of Lilie¡¯s horns and forced the woman below her to be still. ¡°That little show you put on earlier has gotten me all worked up.¡± She leaned down and her voice became darker. ¡°And I am not a fan of being teased.¡± At those words, Rick could feel his dick get squeezed by her walls like it was trapped in a vice grip. That short contraction nearly made him lose what little control he had left. Sade sat back up straight while still holding Lilie¡¯s head in place by her obsidian horns. Her next words were softer, more caring, but still held an edge of command. ¡°Take a deep breath Lilie. Because once I am inside you, I will not stop until I flood your stomach to bursting with my essence.¡± Lilie sucked in a breath in surprise at the sudden dirty talk. Unfortunately for her, that was all the time Sade gave her before she plunged herself down the healers throat as promised. ¡°Start bucking Tyr!¡± Rick exclaimed as the race to finish before their friend ran out of oxygen suddenly began. The amazon below wasted no time in grabbing Lilie¡¯s hips with both hands and sliding her up both their shafts before bringing the pale woman right back down to be impaled once more. Everyone was groaning in ecstasy by that point, and Rick knew this would be a relatively short affair. He looked down to see one of the most bizarre and erotic sights he had ever beheld outside of some hardcore porn animations. Each time Lilie¡¯s body slammed into their hips, her whole stomach stretched and deformed all the way to her ribcage from the two colossal intruders filling up both ends. Looking upward, Sade was cradling the healer¡¯s head so that her mouth and throat stayed steady as the curly haired woman stuffed that end full with all twelve inches of her girlcock. It was amazing to see Lilie¡¯s mouth stretched impossibly wide as the dark intruder burrowed its way past her ruby lips. As Sade¡¯s shaft slid inside, Lilie¡¯s throat bulged obscenely, marking Sade¡¯s trail all the way down into her torso. The pale woman was stuffed with a full yard of dick between the three of them, and judging by the blissed out expression on her face and the way her inner walls gripped and massaged him with every jerk of her body, she was loving every second of it. It wasn¡¯t too long before the whole lude situation became too much for him to contain. ¡°I¡¯m-I-I- aaaaaaaaAAAAA!¡± Like setting off a line of dominoes, his release was enough to set off everyone else. Lilie thrashed and convulsed as her long denied orgasm tore through her like a lightning bolt. Tyr was next, shouting off an elvish curse as she buried herself as deep inside Lilie¡¯s ass as possible before flooding her guts in pale cream. Sade threw back her head and howled in victory as her dick swelled even thicker inside Lilie¡¯s abused throat before erupting like a geyser herself. Rick watched in fascination as Lilie¡¯s belly distended from what looked to be gallons of cum all rushing inwards from three virile sources. He could feel the inward rush as his mana drained away with the rivers of ejaculate pouring into their pale friend. As expected, her body ballooned in size all over as the mana and cum was rapidly absorbed and stored for later use. What wasn¡¯t foreseen, however, was that her belly was being filled just as swiftly as it was being assimilated. In a matter of moments she had reached her ¡®full size¡¯, and yet Rick could still feel his magic being greedily sucked out of him as his extended climax refused to abate. Before he could wonder what would happen next, a gush of liquid splashed against his belly and chest. He knew Lilie was a squirter, but something felt a bit off about the waterworks this time. Looking down, he noticed a white substance painted across his chest. Looking back to the shaytoni he saw that her breasts were bloated and stiff to the point of being nearly solid and a thin stream of white spraying out of her swollen nipples. Is she¡­ lactating? He wondered, dumbstruck at what he was seeing. He scooped up some of the watery substance and brought it to his mouth to taste. The moment the liquid touched his tongue his whole body jerked with a sudden burst of energy and an even greater pulse of cum rocked out of his shaft from the pleasure. Thankfully he and the others were released from the succubus¡¯ hold a heartbeat later and he fell back onto the wooden floor. He groggily looked up to see Lilie continuing to douse the bed in increasingly larger fountains of white as her gravid belly emptied itself of its contents. ¡°This is my life now.¡± He said, his tone a combination of amusement and exasperation at the utter strangeness he had found himself surrounded by. Chapter 16.1 Results Sade carefully watched Lilie and Rick spar while sitting on a nearby bench. Her body twitched slightly with every dip, dodge, and thrust her human lover performed. Ever since the harrowing chase throughout their mansion, Rick had slowly come into his own. It seemed that using acrobatics to outmaneuver their hulking elf had awakened a latent talent even he didn¡¯t know he possessed. As she watched in fascination as he cartwheeled around a fierce thrust from Lilie¡¯s training sword, Sade had to admit that Rick was a considerably better fighter than her. Granted, that would be in a purely physical fight. Sade was still the undisputed magical master in the group, but she was happy to observe that the gap between them was steadily closing. It had been two weeks since they moved her classmates'' study sessions to their home. After that first night, Rick and Tyr had approached Sade in an effort for her to add magical study to their training schedules. Sade, of course, was more than happy to help in that respect. The hardest puzzle to figure out was how best to incorporate spells into everyone¡¯s individual fighting style. Yes, they all performed magic and weapons during the crab invasion, but that was an event with a known enemy, with predictable reactions, and they had ample time to prepare for nearly every contingency they could imagine. This was about changing how they fought on a fundamental level, not pre-planned tactics. Lilie arguably had the best grasp on this concept by using her healing to shore up any gaps in her defense, further augmented by utilizing the vast stores of power provided by her aspect to hit harder or increase the potency of her magic. The problem was that the rest of the group didn¡¯t have the training or knowledge needed to use healing spells. Nor could they utilize an ability that was solely unique to Lilie, even amongst fellow shaytoni. While Tyr had probably the most knowledge of the subject, due to elves being inherently magical in nature, it was surprisingly Rick who came up with the best solutions to their problem. While most of what spewed forth from his mouth was utter nonsense that had no basis in magical theory, like short range teleportation, there were more than a few gems of ideas that were quite novel and unique. The sheer weight of random ideas presented was downright overwhelming if she was being honest. ¡°Hey. How are they doing?¡± Sade looked behind her to see a half naked Tyr absolutely drenched in sweat. Her tan skin shone in the noonday sun and her wild mane was plastered to her scalp in places. Her broad chest deeply rose and fell as her great lungs struggled to supply her body with air. Sade¡¯s belly clenched with desire at the sight, but she tamped it down to focus on the more important matters for the moment. There would be plenty of time to enjoy the more carnal aspects of their ¡®training¡¯ later. ¡°Both are refining their movements nicely. They will be adding magic to their spar shortly.¡± Sade informed her lover. Tyr sighed happily and plopped down on the seat next to Sade. ¡°That¡¯s good. Should give me time ta cool off.¡± The musky scent of the elf¡¯s sweat wafted into Sade¡¯s nose, nearly causing her iron will to not mount the amazonian woman right then and there to crumble to dust. In an effort to distract herself she asked ¡°So have you been able to make any progress with your extra training?¡± Tyr¡¯s eyes lit up with pride. ¡°Ya bet I have!¡± She exclaimed and shared the details.
Tyrillian
Level 6 (75%)
Strength: 18 Constitution: 13
Dexterity: 16 Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 12 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 12 Attunement : 14 (3)
Charisma: 10 Luck: 11
Vocation: Ranger (5)
Skills: Enhanced senses Forest walk
Rugged navigation
Sade gave out a low whistle as she recorded down the information provided. While all her physical stats had predictably improved with all the training, Tyr had proved just as dedicated in bettering her mental faculties. Her intelligence, wisdom, and attunement all had been raised by two points in just as many weeks of training. This was nearly unheard of, and really showcased how serious the large woman was in being the best she could possibly be. Sade couldn¡¯t have been more proud for her part in helping Tyr reach her full potential. ¡°I think I speak for everyone when I say that you are an absolute monster my love.¡± Sade teased. Tyr merely scoffed at that. ¡°Speak fer yerself.¡± She said while eying the relatively tiny human beside her. ¡°I¡¯ve shown ya mine, now ya show me yers.¡± Sade giggled at the suggestive turn of phrase, then focused inward.
Sade
Level 5 (63%)
Strength: 11 Constitution: 10
Dexterity: 11 Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 18 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 14 Attunement : 15 (3)
Charisma: 12 Luck: 13
Vocation: Intimancer (4)
Skills: Overcharge
She relayed out loud and wrote down everything except her vocation. Despite promising Lilie that she would share that with everyone else, she still couldn¡¯t find the courage to open her mouth. Thankfully Tyr either didn¡¯t notice, or more likely, didn¡¯t care enough to ask about the omitted details. ¡°Damn¡­ Yer spells have ta be powerful. How many free points do ya have again?¡± ¡°I have three saved up right now.¡± Sade answered. The elf just shook her head. ¡°And ya call me monstrous. Yer a mage who can probably lift up and throw around all the other pointy hatted coots in that school, and yet ya still are at the top of yer grade.¡± Sade could feel her cheeks heat up at the compliments. She really had improved her speed and strength beyond what was typical in her chosen field. While exceptions did exist, very few were able to achieve this without sacrificing their magical potential. And hers was already considerably higher than many of her peers if her grades and professors were to be believed. ¡°I am curious how far the others have come.¡± Sade said in an effort to shift the subject of their discussion away from her. ¡°Aye. Probably less specialized, yet no less terrifying.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Sade giggled at that. All of them were working hard. She was looking forward to finally going on another mission for the hunters just to see how much stronger and more capable they had all become. The semester was nearly coming to a close, so they would have a bit more freedom in what sort of missions they could take while Mya University was out on break before the second half of the school year started back up. The two of them sat back and enjoyed the final moments of the sparring match. While Lilie¡¯s defense was second to none, Rick was able to outmaneuver her with his speed and the long reach of his spear to secure the win. He reached down to help up his opponent off the ground before the two of them noticed their audience and walked over to join them. ¡°All done with your training Tyr?¡± Rick asked when they got close. ¡°Nah, just resting before I get back ta killing myself.¡± The elf said with a casual wave. ¡°I have been compiling our latest progress. Would you two care to share your stats so we can compare how well you have grown?¡± Sade asked politely. ¡°Sure!¡± Lilie said excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I last checked to be honest.¡±
Lilithane
Level 6 (69%)
Strength: 13 Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 14 Endurance: 13
Intelligence: 14 Resistance: 14
Wisdom: 13 Attunement : 13 (2)
Charisma: 11 Luck: 10
Vocation: Mender (5)
Skills: Self-cast quick-scan
harm siphon
¡°See? It¡¯s exactly as I said.¡± Tyr laughed while elbowing Sade softly in the ribs. It was hard to argue with the proof right in front of her. Most adults still at level one fell between eight to twelve for their stats, and very few had more than two attributes in the teens at all outside of specialized professionals. Lilie was a trained healer, and even accounting for her training and level, her intelligence, wisdom, and attunement all were considered above average. The oddity was that all her stats were at that range. The shaytoni truly was exceptionally well rounded in terms of her attributes. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll round things off then.¡± Rick said casually.
Rick
Level 5 (62%)
Strength: 13 Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 14 Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 13 Resistance: 10
Wisdom: 12 Attunement : 12 (2)
Charisma: 10 Luck: 18
Vocation: Intimancer (5)
Skills: Multi-orgasm Overcharge
¡°You really have come a long way Rick.¡± Sade said after writing down the last of the information. ¡°That¡¯s for sure. Not quite as impressive as Lilie, but still a decent improvement.¡± He said with a boyish grin. Lilie scoffed. ¡°You forget that you¡¯re a couple years younger, a full level behind me, and you have yet to spend all your points from said levels!¡± She gave the slightly younger man another playful glare before continuing. ¡°I honestly wouldn¡¯t be surprised if we all have our attributes at fifteen at the bare minimum by the end of the year the way we¡¯re going. This is all honestly insane!¡± ¡°And we couldn¡¯t have done it without you Lilie.¡± Rick said, patting the woman on the shoulder. ¡°Agreed.¡± Sade added. ¡°But we have yet to find a relatively painless way to raise our resistance, and I can not think of any way to raise our constitution outside of mildly poisoning ourselves. That is nothing to say about luck and charisma, so while we are all improving rapidly, we will not have everything at such a ridiculous level.¡± Rick laughed. ¡°Funny enough, I¡¯ve heard a story about a king who was so afraid of being poisoned by a rival that he did exactly as you suggested and slowly built up an immunity to common poisons.¡± ¡°And what happened to him?¡± Lilie asked. ¡°Oh, instead of trying to kill him with poison, his enemies simply stormed his castle and overthrew him. He tried to commit suicide by poison so they wouldn¡¯t be able to capture him alive, but his tolerance was so high that it didn¡¯t work and it just made him too sick to fight back.¡± ¡°An interesting cautionary tale.¡± Sade mused. ¡°I suppose we could try it if we find an apothecary or alchemist we could trust, but I worry about attempting to do so with our one and only healer.¡± ¡°I have the skill that allows me to heal myself, remember?¡± Lilie laughed. ¡°But messing around with deadly concoctions is no joke, I agree to wait for someone we could trust before we try it out.¡± ¡°Speaking of things we should be careful with, have you decided what you are going to spend your coital energy on Lilie?¡± The shaytoni giggled at the unexpected tangent Rick threw her way. ¡°Not quite yet.¡± She said after her musical laughter died down. ¡°As you said, it¡¯s definitely something I should use carefully.¡± The group had learned from all the various ¡®experiments¡¯ they had performed that Lilie¡¯s aspect activated even if she didn¡¯t have sex with an intimancer. The question was; where did the coital energy go when she brought Rick to orgasm? While they all proposed several explanations, it wasn¡¯t until after the shaytoni had reached her ¡®maximum size¡¯ did they sort of figure it out. Her aspect could use both the expended mana and coital energy as fuel for her growth. This meant that once Lilie had reached the threshold of how much her body could safely store magic, the coital energy could then be cultivated like usual. And this made Lilie very, very happy to say the least. Thankfully, after expending a single point on her height as a test, she found out just how intense the side effects really were and eagerly agreed to take her time in exploring all her options before spending any more. ¡°Actually, once we wrap up our training for the day, I was thinking of going out to visit my sister.¡± Lilie said. ¡°Oh, she and the gang have all been pardoned?¡± Sade asked. ¡°Yep! Everyone is all cleared to re-enter polite society.¡± ¡°Do they have a place to stay?¡± Rick inquired. ¡°We have quite a bit of room here-¡± He paused. ¡°That¡¯s if all of us are in agreement after all.¡± ¡°I would not be opposed. But I would prefer if their stay would not be a permanent one.¡± Sade said gently. ¡°Meh, why not?¡± Tyr shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ thank you guys so much. I¡¯ll pass that along and see what she thinks.¡± Lilie said softly. ¡°Just be safe when traveling alone.¡± Sade cautioned. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll make sure to not wear my robes when I head out. Just to be on the safe side.¡± Lilie agreed. It seemed that the public sentiment against mages had finally wormed its way into the larger cities like Shatak. Thankfully, that anger and distrust had yet to be focused on the students of Mya University for the moment, but they still preferred to exercise caution all the same. Even the hunter garrison had issued a warning for all its magically inclined members to avoid visiting the more rural areas where the hatred was more concentrated. Tyr had been invaluable in gathering information by prowling around the taverns and local businesses while chatting up the patrons within. Her cheerful demeanor along with the forest elves reputation for being neutral observers in kingdom politics had made people less guarded with their thoughts and opinions. Something about this whole situation stank, and Sade was determined to, if not find the source, at least figure out the scope of the problem. ¡°Come to think of it, I believe it is about time for a shopping trip.¡± Sade added. She turned to face the woman sitting next to her. ¡°Would you care to escort this helpless mage through the dangerous city?¡± Chapter 16.2 Stalker ¡°So why¡¯d ya really bring me along? I think we¡¯ve established yer more than capable of punching someone¡¯s face in.¡± Sade gave a mild sigh. ¡°I was mostly serious about you coming along for deterrence.¡± ¡°Deterrence?¡± Sade gave her friend a side eye and gestured toward the elf¡¯s imposing figure before pointing back at herself. ¡°Even taking my status as a mage out of the equation, my¡­ proportions are not the best in convincing random strangers that I am capable of defending myself. You, however, do not possess this problem in the slightest.¡± She giggled as a man nearly dove out of Tyr¡¯s path when he finally looked where he was going and saw just who he would collide with. It was a perfect example of the point she was trying to make. ¡°Few people would ever want to accost a forest elf. Fewer still would ever wish to become an enemy of someone of your size and apparent strength my love. Thus, you are the perfect deterrence from potential trouble for as long as you are by my side.¡± She grabbed the elf¡¯s arm and leaned up against it for emphasis. Tyr let out a booming laugh. ¡°Aye, fair enough.¡± She looked down at the human beside her, her mouth twisting up into a fanged grin. ¡°And the other reason? Also, ¡®my love¡¯?¡± Sade tisked in mild annoyance. She really did need to stop underestimating how observant the brutish ranger could truly be. ¡°I suppose the two answers are somewhat one and the same.¡± She looked up into those enchanting emerald eyes. ¡°You are just as important to me as Rick is and¡­ I feel I should outwardly show those feelings in an effort to be more honest with all of you¡­ and myself.¡± Tyr was silent at the heartelf confession, no doubt trying to parse through her own feelings on the matter, so she continued. ¡°I know you like to act aloof and detached most of the time. Probably in an effort to spare yourself when the day we pass on eventually comes, leaving you behind. I do not blame you for it. It is just one of the issues that arise from interacting with us ¡®mayflies¡¯.¡± The elf couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort when one of her favorite words to describe non-elves was thrown back at her. Her expression quickly sobered and she opened and closed her mouth several times as if the words she wished to say were stuck in her throat. Just before it would seem she could get the words out, there came an unexpected interruption. ¡°My, my, you two are just muy lindo together, but I¡¯m going to insist I step in for the moment.¡± The two turned to see a dwarven woman staring back at them with her hands on her hips. While she wore a long coat that was popular with higher ranked officers on ships, it did nothing to hide her broad and muscular features. She brushed a lock of dirty blond hair out of her sun tanned face and fixed them a piercing look with her bright blue eyes. ¡°Well, well¡­ It¡¯s nice to finally talk, Sade of house Fulani.¡± The newcomer said with a smirk. Sade¡¯s eyes narrowed but otherwise kept up a calm and peaceful facade. ¡°Oh, and wherever did you hear a name like that?¡± Tyr looked between the human, the dwarf, and back again. ¡°Ya have a family name?¡± Sade hugged the elf¡¯s arm tighter. ¡°No, I do not. I have never in my life possessed any name other than Sade of Kanho Village.¡± That seemed to have amused the short woman. ¡°Si, that¡¯s technically correct.¡± She chucked then bobbed her head towards the side of the street. ¡°While I don¡¯t really give a shit, I believe you and el toro grande next to you would prefer we have this conversation in a bit more private setting, si?¡± Sade gave a slight nod of ascension and the dwarf led the two other women into a shaded courtyard just off the busy street they previously occupied. Even with the bustle of the market still in view, the noise of the crowd had died down to a dull murmur, making it considerably easier to have a quiet conversation. The blond woman turned around and took a seat on a bench located on the far wall. ¡°I believe we should start with who you are and why you used that name to get my attention.¡± Sade said, crossing her arms. ¡°Hey, whatever works, right?¡± The short woman snickered. ¡°But it¡¯s not every day one finds a noble masquerading as a plebeya.¡± Sade glared at the stranger. ¡°That does not answer my question. And there is nothing in my background that would suggest I belong to a noble house.¡± ¡°True, true.¡± The dwarf admitted. ¡°But it''s written all over you in other ways. The way you talk, politely concealing the truth without ever outright lying. The way you sit all prim and proper like you had a spear shoved up your culo since birth. Us bluebloods can always smell the reek of our own kind, and you my dear, definitely have that unique stench about you.¡± ¡°And what does an imperial scion from across the sea want with me?¡± Sade repeated, getting more and more annoyed with the conversation with each new sentence she heard. ¡°Ah! My apologies, I suppose I should still show basic courtesy, even if those present couldn¡¯t care less.¡± The blond woman stood up on her stout legs and gave a graceful bow. ¡°I am Daniela Mayte Graciela de Montoya. I¡¯ve come to this kingdom in hopes of settling a grudge my family has held for generations.¡± She flashed the most wicked and bloodthirsty grin Sade had ever seen on anyone aside from an elf. ¡°And I hope that you, my dear, have the means to help me do so.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°And how would ya be settling things?¡± Tyr asked, speaking up for the first time since the conversation started. Daniela¡¯s cruel smile never wavered. ¡°With a knife between the fucker¡¯s ribs, how else?¡± While the elf scoffed at the statement, something else stuck in Sade¡¯s mind. Suddenly, the pieces fell in place. ¡°You were the one who shadowed me from the antique dealer.¡± The dwarf clapped her hands together. ¡°Si, muy bien! Sure caught me by surprise when you found me that first time. Had to be extra careful after that. Especially when around the knife ear.¡± ¡°I would refrain from insulting my love that way if I were you.¡± Sade snapped coolly. ¡°Especially if you wish to keep your arms attached to your body.¡± Behind her, Tyr briefly flexed her muscles and flashed her fangs to emphasize Sade¡¯s warning. Daniela raised her hands up in surrender. ¡°Hey, hey! No need for that. I¡¯m here to have a nice chat, so let¡¯s all keep it that way.¡± ¡°Get to the point.¡± Sade growled. She didn¡¯t like this woman. She knew far too much than she should have. To top it all off, ever since the conversation had started, she had not once dropped her easy going smile. That kind of confidence in the face of certain danger frankly unnerved Sade. Either the dwarf was incredibly stupid, dangerously suicidal, or she had some sort of plan to get out of danger if things went south. All three of those options were troublesome in their own right. Daniela gave a mild pout. ¡°Fine¡­ I want to join your little group.¡± ¡°The fuck!?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Both of them let out their own exclamations of surprise at the unexpected request. Out of all the things the dwarf could have asked for, neither of them would have guessed she wanted to join them. Thankfully Daniela proceeded to clarify her reasoning somewhat. ¡°Look, those coins you found are the first clue me or me familia has had in decades. I need information only you have and I¡¯m willing to work to get it.¡± Her familiar grin bloomed once more on her tan face. ¡°Plus, the next time you four stumble upon something valuable, I want to be right there when it happens.¡± Sade was the first to break out of her shock. She crossed her arms under her sizable chest. ¡°And why should we agree to bring you on? What would you bring to the table? If you have watched us for any length of time, you should know just how capable we are.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked!¡± Daniela exclaimed and withdrew a small bag from somewhere. ¡°I¡¯m an expert in sneaking and information gathering, as I have already demonstrated. I am also very proficient in trap detection, wards, and moving objects from one location to another without anyone being the wiser.¡± She jiggled the small pouch in her hand while talking about that last qualification. The faint sounds of clinking could be heard from within. Recognition bloomed in Sade¡¯s mind, she knew that bag. She quickly searched her person for her purse, not the decoy purse she had on her hip, but the real one she usually hid under her clothes to hold enough coin for major purchases. It was nowhere to be found. ¡°How did you-¡± She started to ask before the dwarven woman tossed the small bag of coins to her. Checking inside she found nothing missing, but her blood ran cold at the implications. Sade, as a habit, rarely ever paid anything less than her full attention to her surroundings at all times. And she was still blindsided by an unknown party, seemingly on a whim. Tyr snorted in derision. ¡°So yer a thief. I doubt that little trick of yers would work on me.¡± Daniela¡¯s smile grew wicked. ¡°Oh, but it already has gigante. Would you care to play a little game with me?¡± She placed a hand into her pant pocket and wiggled it around inside the fabric. ¡°I¡¯ll give the two of you three chances to guess what item of the elf¡¯s is in my pocket.¡± ¡°Beside yer hand?¡± Tyr shot back, but Daniela was faster in extracting her appendage from her pants before the guess had finished being uttered. ¡°Oh, so close! But that is not the answer!¡± She taunted. Tyr growled slightly at the provocation, but otherwise went into thought on what the answer could be. Sade¡¯s own mind was whirling around like a cyclone on the myriad of possibilities. Her large lover rarely carried anything of value on her person other than a few coins for drinks and a few hidden weapons when not actively on a hunt. But coins were already stolen previously, and even the smallest of Tyr¡¯s weapons would be quite oversized when shoved into the dwarf¡¯s pants. ¡°Is it our house key?¡± The elf asked. ¡°Nope! That¡¯s still tucked away in the left breast pocket on the inside of your vest.¡± Tyr¡¯s hand unconsciously traveled to the spot indicated and her eyes grew wide in surprise. That emotion almost immediately morphed into anger. Her lips pulled back to expose her fangs and her hulking body crouched low into an aggressive stance. The fact that the dwarf even knew where the key was hidden and just didn¡¯t bother taking it made her dangerous. And a danger like that, Sade knew, was something Tyr would never allow to live. ¡°Calm down my love, she has not truly harmed us yet.¡± Sade cooed softly while slipping between the wild woman and her would-be prey. Her voice seemed to work in calming the elf down, Tyr¡¯s hackles no longer raised, but she still let out a low, threatening growl rumble from deep in her chest. Sade turned towards the thief, who still had not moved from where she stood, nor had that infuriating smile even once left her lips. ¡°I have to admit, your fearlessness is almost admirable.¡± ¡°Why thank you.¡± She said while bowing at the compliment. ¡°And your next guess?¡± ¡°I guess the reverse fertility pills Tyr has not been taking as of late.¡± The smile on Daniela¡¯s face bloomed into a full on grin. She reached down and extracted several small medicinal pills that Sade and her lovers had become incredibly familiar with over the past few months. ¡°Well done! I wasn¡¯t expecting you to be the one to figure it out. She was hiding these after all.¡± Tyr stiffened at the sight. She looked down to Sade with an expression that was a mix of guilt and shame. ¡°Sade I-¡± ¡°Shhhhhhh¡­.¡± Sade silenced her lover softly with a gentle finger to her lips before bringing the large woman in for a soft and sensual kiss filled with passion. ¡°I am sure you have your reasons. We can sit down and discuss everything later if you wish. I trust you my love.¡± She then turned towards the Dwarf. ¡°You have indeed shown some impressive skills, but the decision to add you to the group is not entirely up to me. I will give you an opportunity to talk with the others and then we shall decide. Understood?¡± The other woman nodded her agreement. ¡°Good.¡± Sade said. ¡°And if you fail, I will let Tyr maul you.¡± At those words, the dwarf nearly tripped and a look of utter horror flashed across her face. Tyr merely grinned at the prospect. Chapter 16.3 Plot Twist ¡°Alright, let me get this straight.¡± Rick was sitting down in one of the comfy sofas in the room Tyr had chosen to hang up all their trophies. Sade and Tyr had come back from their shopping trip with an unexpected third person along with them. Stranger still was their reason for doing so. He could feel himself get more and more confused after the two women proceeded to recount the series of events that led up to that point. Even without the backstory, Rick would have been wary of the stranger. Something about that ever present grin on her face just rubbed him the wrong way. It was like an aura of falseness permeated her entire being. ¡®A conman¡¯s smirk¡¯ his father used to call it. Never before had the name seemed so fitting. He massaged his temples, feeling the first signs of a headache building behind his eyes. ¡°So, you let a self-confessed thief, who personally stole from you, into our home after she cornered the two of you in the market.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sade said succinctly. ¡°And said thief wants to join our group so that she can get revenge, and more than likely perform murder, on someone who¡¯s somehow connected to those coins we found.¡± ¡°Also yes.¡± Rick¡¯s eyes twitched and he could feel the pounding in his skull steadily getting more intense. ¡°And now you want my opinion on whether or not this is a good idea?¡± ¡°That pretty much sums it all up.¡± Tyr confirmed with a grunt. Ever since they had come back, she had been far more quiet than usual, more subdued. He wanted nothing more than to hold her head in his arms and whisper that everything would be okay while running his fingers through her thick mane. After this business with the dwarf was concluded, he would do exactly that and eventually ask about what was troubling her Lilie was doing her best to hide her amusement at Rick¡¯s pain, and failing miserably. ¡°So, uh¡­¡± ¡°Daniela,¡± The woman added. ¡°Right, Daniela. Are you aware that our group is a bit¡­ closer than most hunting parties?¡± The shaytoni said, twirling her fingers about in a vague gesture. ¡°Uh, well you all live together. And I know that those two chika¡¯s are all doe-eyed for each other since one of them kept going ¡®me amor¡¯ every few sentences.¡± Daniela said while jerking a thumb at Tyr and Sade. This bit of information caused all the other women in the room to smile in amusement, some more than others. Rick palmed his face with both hands and leaned back with a groan. Tyr opened her mouth, no doubt to say something crass, but Rick beat her to the punch. ¡°All four of us are that close, Miss Montoya.¡± He said, his hands doing their best to hide the flush of his cheeks. ¡°Every member of our party currently shares the same bed, in both a metaphorical and literal sense.¡± Whether he liked the woman or not, she deserved to have that sort of information before joining up at least. From between his fingers, he could see the blond woman''s own face start to redden. ¡°A-are you fucking serious?! I¡¯ve heard of some talented men, but I¡¯ve never heard of a dick good enough to keep three ravishing beauties like you lot satisfied enough to keep coming back for more.¡± Sade¡¯s smile widened to a dangerous degree. Rick knew that smile, and it spelled trouble for whoever it was aimed at. A part of him wanted to speak up, to warn the poor dwarf about how much danger she was in. But the words died in his throat when Tyr shot him a warning glare, it seems Sade¡¯s ire was warranted, there would be no stopping what would happen next. ¡°Oh, you did not know those details about us?¡± Sade purred as she stood up and stalked towards her prey. ¡°After all that time stalking and spying, just so you could impress us with your knowledge. The details of our love life are what escaped you?¡± ¡°Well, you know¡­ I didn¡¯t want to cross any lines. I-I just needed to know who you were and if you were w-worth teaming up with.¡± The thief stammered. It seemed she saw the danger within Sade¡¯s cruel gaze and was doing her best to talk her way out of trouble. Sade¡¯s hand gripped the dwarf¡¯s chin and forced the smaller woman to look her right in the eye. ¡°You stalked me and my lovers. You dug up secrets that were best left buried. You forced my lover to reveal something private that she wasn¡¯t ready to talk about. So do not try to argue the moral high ground, puta.¡± Rick¡¯s ears twitched as Sade all but spat out that foreign insult. He couldn¡¯t remember a single time that his dusky lover had ever insulted another person in such a way, and especially not to their face. Looking close, while her mouth was smiling, her eyes screamed murder. She was absolutely furious, and that thought alone chilled his blood more than anything he had ever encountered in this strange and dangerous world. Before another venomous tirade could begin, a heavy hand clapped down on Sade¡¯s shoulder, stopping the woman in her tracks. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Tyr whispered. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡± Sade gave the elf a questioning stare and the giant woman sucked in a great breath of air before blowing it back out. ¡°The fact that she left our love life out¡¯a her search means that there are some lines she refuses ta cross, and that¡¯s something. Besides, It¡¯s me own damn fault for not talking ta all ya in the first place.¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. The anger in Sade¡¯s eyes burned away and the dark skinned woman stepped back so she could collapse on one of the other sofas with a great sigh of her own. She looked as tired as Rick had ever seen her. All the accumulated stress from the past few weeks finally becoming too much to bear. ¡°Let¡¯s table this current discussion for the time being.¡± Rick said diplomatically. ¡°Lilie, did you talk to your sister?¡± ¡°What? Oh, yeah. Yeah I did.¡± The shaytoni said with a slight jump at suddenly being addressed. ¡°She and the rest of the gang would love to crash for a few weeks until they can get back on their feet again. All of them were really grateful for the offer.¡± Rick smiled. ¡°That¡¯s good. I kinda missed that rowdy bunch while they were gone.¡± He turned to Daniela who was still staring wide eyed at Sade. ¡°Since we¡¯ll have a bunch of former bandits staying with us, that means we would have more eyes to watch over you if you still wish to join our group.¡± That snapped the woman out of her daze. ¡°Wait, does that mean I¡¯m in?!¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± Rick said with a shake of his head. ¡°It means that I¡¯m willing to give you a shot. I propose we organize a trial run and see if you fit in well with the rest of the group. I know there¡¯s already some friction, but I feel that training and fighting side-by-side would be a good way to move past that. Any objections?¡± ¡°I just have one question. Does this mean she will be joining us for our more in depth training?¡± Lilie asked. That was honestly a good question. ¡°Sade?¡± He asked the mage. ¡°Knowing the special method we use to train, and actually having the will and means to even attempt it are two separate matters.¡± She said with a lazy wave of her hand. ¡°It would be a good test of her mettle in addition to teamwork, so I have no issues with it.¡± Looking to the others, they each gave him their own nods of approval. ¡°Very well, it seems we¡¯ve come to an agreement.¡± Rick said. ¡°I trust you will play nice for the time being?¡± ¡°Y-yes! You can count on me!¡± Daniela shouted out with enthusiasm. ¡°You know¡­ I¡¯m honestly a bit surprised my plan actually worked.¡± ¡°You expected us to reject you?¡± Lilie asked. ¡°Well¡­ kinda. After nearly getting roasted in that alley, I wracked my brains for weeks on how to actually approach you.¡± The thief shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I just¡­ I don¡¯t know. I never thought I¡¯d get this far.¡± ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡± Rick snorted. ¡°Oi! It takes real cajones to waltz up to a damned forest elf and personally demonstrate how good you are at stealing and uncovering secrets!¡± The blond woman whined. She turned to look at Sade. ¡°And you really were going to kill me for that stunt, weren''t you? You had real fucked up loco eyes a moment ago.¡± Sade slowly opened her eyes and locked her gaze straight at Daniela¡¯s blue orbs. ¡°Yes, I would have.¡± She stated flatly. Everyone in the room, save Tyr, was thrown by the simple declaration. Sade had only uttered four little words, yet the steel and certainty behind them left Rick with no doubt that she was not lying. He knew Sade was more than capable of killing monsters, but murder? His mind reeled at what could drive the sweet and caring woman to such an extreme reaction. The dwarf snorted after a moment, seemingly the least intimidated by the casual threat. ¡°Big talk coming from a mage who is skilled at memorizing books.¡± If those taunting words had any effect on the mage, it didn¡¯t show on her face. ¡°I freely admit that high grades are not everything when it comes to magecraft. But have you ever once considered that I could possibly be underplaying my skills?¡± She said without a hint of emotion. She held her hand outstretched before her. ¡°I believe a demonstration is in order.¡± Power swirled around her as an icy whirlwind formed right where she sat, still as a statue. Intricate blades of ice formed in an arch over her head with a singular icy dagger materializing just above her open palm, its rounded pommel pointed downwards. As soon as the weapon was fully formed, Sade¡¯s hand reached up and gripped its frosty blue handle. The instant she held it firmly in her grip, every ice blade was instantly wreathed in wriggling bolts of electricity as thick as Rick¡¯s thumb. The power and menace emanating from Sade¡¯s emotionless expression was downright terrifying. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough of that!¡± An enormous hand reached over and gripped the magical weapon by the blade. With a flex of the fingers the ice instantly shattered into a dozen pieces in an impressive display of strength. Rick saw the coils of lightning shooting up the offending arm before dissipating away at the shoulder like a bad dream. ¡°TYR!¡± Sade screamed in panic and shot to her feet, the rest of her magical constructs fading away as her concentration snapped. ¡°There was enough electricity in that blade to kill a man instantly!¡± ¡°Then ya better thank yer lucky stars I aint a man.¡± The elf joked softly while shaking her arm to get rid of the sting. From his stunned position on the chair, Rick could see the skin on Tyr¡¯s arm slowly fade back to her regular smooth, tan shade from what appeared to be a dark, bark-like texture. A drop of crimson fell from her palm. Tyr held up her hand to look and saw a long gash all along the inside of her hand. ¡°Huh¡­ ya still managed to cut me even through the ¡®bark skin¡¯, that¡¯s impressive.¡± Sade looked on the verge of a panic attack. Tyr merely patted the frantic woman on the head with her uninjured hand and pulled her into a tight one-armed hug. ¡°I thought I told ya ta drop the whole thing. I was in the wrong fer hiding things from ya.¡± ¡°But¡­ but-¡± Sade sniffled from her position between Tyr¡¯s breasts. ¡°But nothing.¡± Tyr admonished. ¡°Stop trying ta scare the poor girl and lets move on.¡± She slowly released the distraught mage and wiped away her tears before turning to Lilie. ¡°Do ya mind giving me a check up? I think ya need ta be as thorough as possible, just in case.¡± Lilie nodded her head and sent a pulse of her magic through the elf¡¯s body the moment their hands touched. Slowly, her look of concern transformed into one of confusion. ¡°Tyr¡­ is-is that what I think it is?¡± ¡°Aye. I thought so.¡± The large woman said with a single nod of her head. She slowly turned around to address the room filled with concerned onlookers. ¡°It seems I¡¯m pregnant.¡± Chapter 16.4 Story Time The silence in the room was deafening. ¡°Y-you¡¯re pregnant?¡± Rick eventually croaked out. ¡°How?¡± The elf turned her piercing emerald gaze to him. ¡°I think ya know how.¡± She smirked. Okay¡­ I ran into that one. He thought wryly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware of that. What I meant was how could you be pregnant when we¡¯ve been so careful with all the birth control?¡± Tyr strode towards him on her impossibly long legs and placed her large hands on his shoulders. ¡°We were careful. But, me brave little rabbit, don¡¯t ya remember the time ya evaded me for so long before we made love ta each other?¡± Rick froze. He remembered being hunted by Tyr throughout their house in vivid detail. But upon further review of the events after getting unceremoniously caught, one lack of detail stood out. ¡°Are you saying it was all because we forgot to use the medicine a single time?¡± Tyr bent down and gave a gentle fanged smile. ¡°Aye. And now yer the father of my first child.¡± Rick¡¯s mind swam. He had knocked up one of his dearest friends. What were they going to do? They were all so young, they had their whole lives ahead of them. He had no idea how to raise a child. What sort of tools would they need for the baby? No, forget that, how were they going to even deliver the thing? Panic raced through his mind at a breakneck pace, nearly causing his knees to buckle under the strain. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± He whispered, his eyes filling up with moisture. Suddenly he was housed up by his armpits and Tyr¡¯s face dominated his view. ¡°Oi! What in the blazes are ya apologizing fer?!¡± She growled. ¡°This is a blessing!¡± ¡°A¡­ blessing?¡± He asked, his mind still reeling from the sudden jolt out of his downward spiral. ¡°Aye, a blessing.¡± Tyr repeated. ¡°Do ya have any idea how bloody difficult it is fer an elf to get pregnant?¡± Rick shook his head and the amazon holding him up arched a brow in confusion. She sat him back down on the sofa chair and crouched down in front of him. She reached out and cupped his face gently. Her eyes shone with love and affection. ¡°An elf couple could rut themselves into a coma every day fer an entire year without any protection and still not make a child.¡± She said with surprising softness. ¡°The odds are that low?¡± Sade gasped. ¡°I knew that elves had an abysmal fertility rate, but no source I have found had ever gone into specifics.¡± ¡°Yep. Which is why we don¡¯t get too hung up about mating like ya mayflies love ta do. It¡¯s all fer fun, and if we get a baby, we celebrate. Nothing more, nothing less.¡± ¡°I¡­ I guess this is all just incredible.¡± Rick said simply. He was still numb to everything that just happened and couldn¡¯t think of anything else to say. Tyr hummed in agreement. ¡°And I even got an extra point in luck after Lilie confirmed it just now. I suspect yer own luck jumped when ya gave me this little miracle.¡± She said while rubbing her lower belly tenderly. So that¡¯s what that was. Rick mused. There were so many fortunate events that had happened recently that he couldn¡¯t even guess which one caused his luck to jump once more. My luck¡­ It was just as high as Tyr¡¯s strength and Sade¡¯s intelligence. Both made them monsters in their respective fields. It made a sick sort of sense that his luck was equally monstrous in its ability to bend and warp reality around him in his and his friends'' favor. ¡°Wait, you already suspected you were pregnant, and still grabbed a magical construct that had enough lightning inside it to kill a person outright ANYWAYS?!¡± Everyone flinched when Sade¡¯s voices rose to near screeching levels by the end of her rhetorical question. If Tyr had a tail, it would have been firmly tucked between her legs as she grimaced and held her hands up in surrender. ¡°I did cast ¡®bark skin¡¯ on meself. That spell is known ta defend against lightning.¡± As Rick himself could attest from personal experience, that explanation in no way helped calm the angry mage down in the slightest. For the next ten minutes, Sade bombarded Tyr with every conceivable argument imaginable on why her actions were idiotic and unnecessarily dangerous for the unborn child. While it was quite painful to watch, Rick also felt a small spark of satisfaction that it was someone else who put their foot in their mouth for once. Once the tirade had finally run its course, Sade lay in Tyr¡¯s arms, sniffling loudly inside the crook of the larger woman¡¯s neck. The elf was simply smiling gently as she rubbed her curvy human¡¯s back. The scene made Tyr look like a doting mother already. ¡°Hey, uh, odd question. Will the child be a half-elf or¡­?¡± Rick asked awkwardly. ¡°I can answer that!¡± Lilie said with an enthusiastic clap of her hands. ¡°When two tribes intermingle, the resulting child typically has a higher chance to be of the same tribe as the mother but still with a healthy mix of the father¡¯s traits. While the opposite could still happen, the chances are much lower.¡± That was interesting to learn. ¡°So our child will most likely be a forest elf?¡± ¡°Most likely.¡± Lilie confirmed. ¡°But to answer your question about half-elfs, hybrids do occasionally crop up from time to time. This is even more rare than the child being the same tribe as the father, but it has been observed that unions with humans often increase the likelihood, although it is still considered unlikely.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Fascinating.¡± The healer nodded her horned head. ¡°It really is. There¡¯s a whole section in the library that is just filled with research on the subject. I think I also had to take a couple classes going over it too.¡± She tapped her chin in thought. ¡°Come to think of it, almost all the material focused on all the different ways elves could reproduce with other tribes. Maybe it was because it¡¯s normally so difficult for them to conceive.¡± ¡°I suspect it is an avenue that the school¡¯s financial backers would be greatly interested in.¡± Rick looked to Sade, who was still firmly wrapped up in Tyr¡¯s arms but had turned around at some point to lean back into the elf¡¯s massive breasts and pay attention to the conversation. ¡°And why would you say that Sade?¡± He asked. ¡°Mya University is funded by many varied and influential parties alongside the crown and the city itself. As you know, almost all key positions of power and influence are controlled by high elves. Like their woodland cousins, they too suffer from a low birth rate. So it comes as no surprise to me that they would fund research into magically improving that shortfall.¡± She said simply. ¡°Bah! Of course those pricks would want ta have as little sex as possible. I bet their womenfolk just lie there like dead fish while their mates struggle ta figure out which hole their suppose ta use.¡± Tyr scoffed ¡°Is that your take on the situation?¡± Rick asked rhetorically. He shook his head in amazement at his wild lover and her incredible leaps of logic when their cultural rivals were ever mentioned. He wondered briefly what would happen if Tyr ever crossed paths with a high elf. No matter what, it was bound to be entertaining. ¡°While many of their contributions to societies at large are considered a net positive, their culture and attitudes towards the other tribes more often than not leaves them generally disliked on principle.¡± Sade added with a shrug from her position in Tyr¡¯s lap. ¡°Are evenings with your group always this¡­ chaotic?¡± As one, the room turned to look at Daniela, who was still sitting quietly on the chair across from where Rick sat. In all honesty due to the veritable roller coaster of events, he had completely forgotten she was even there. Probably not the best idea when dealing with a professed thief, but the circumstances were indeed quite compelling. ¡°Not really. There¡¯s usually a lot more groaning and fucking involved.¡± Lilie snickered from her own seat. When nobody contradicted the lewd statement, Daniela was left staring at the four of them with her mouth open in surprise and a faint flush to her cheeks. She eventually caught herself and slapped her cheeks to refocus her mind. ¡°Nope, not important! Anyways¡­¡± She said with a shake of her head. ¡°Tyr, Sade¡­ I¡¯m truly sorry for my actions. It wasn¡¯t my inten-¡± She stopped herself. ¡°No, no excuses. I simply wish to apologize and vow to do better.¡± Sade looked up into her lover¡¯s eyes. Tyr merely smiled and nodded her head once. The human gave one last dramatic sigh and turned towards their guest. ¡°Apology accepted. I suppose I must apologize as well. I overreacted. The stress from the pas-¡± She caught herself, and smiled. ¡°You are correct. No excuses. Let us move on and start anew.¡± Daniela returned the grin. ¡°Let¡¯s!¡± It was nice to see everyone attempt to give peace a chance. ¡°So in the interest of moving on and also returning to the topic that brought us all here this evening. How is it that a person with your background got into the revenge business and sneaking about all the time?¡± The blond woman grinned and leaned back into her chair. ¡°Oh you know, growing up in a hacienda much like this one, being forced to study from sunup to sundown. What¡¯s a ni?a to do but try to sneak away?¡± It was Sade¡¯s turn to gape in surprise at the simple admittance. ¡°Sade, I can absolutely guarantee you that mandatory education from a young age almost always produces the same result.¡± Rick said with a wry smile. ¡°Most people are not like you, and children will always prefer to run and play rather than sit through lecture after lecture.¡± Daniela chuckled as the human woman struggled, despite her vast intellect, to form a coherent reply to that. ¡°I don¡¯t know about other children, but that was certainly true enough for me. The problema was that after the first few times, the staff started to employ trained hunters to track me down. Turned into an impressive game of gata y rat¨®n after that. And I loved every minute of it.¡± Rick shook his head in amusement. ¡°They created their own worst enemy. And the stealing?¡± The thief grinned even wider. ¡°Few things piss off a dwarf more than nicking their stuff. Mi familia all wore an entire market¡¯s worth of jewelry on themself at all times. I¡¯m talking two or three rings per finger, a couple bracelets, gold chains on their necks, and even a few earrings or two. And since they insisted on forcing me to do things, I thought it would be fun to see what happens if some of that¡­ took a walk so to speak.¡± ¡°You stole from your own family?!¡± Sade gasped, completely scandalized. ¡°Hey, I made sure to give it all back! I would have been beaten black and blue if they found out it was me who took their precious things. So I would usually leave the loot on a table where I knew they would walk past, drop the item off by their feet when they were at the dinner table, or even just put it back in their room to make it look like they forgot it before they left for the day.¡± Daniela laughed at the fond memories. ¡°I even made it a game to swipe something off them and then attempt to sneak it right back where it was supposed to be after they made a whole fuss about it being missing. The whole clan thought they were going loco by the time I was fully grown and allowed to leave.¡± ¡°Wait, that¡¯s it?¡± Lilie asked. ¡°You got good enough to pickpocket a freaking elven ranger by swiping jewelry off your parents?¡± ¡°Well¡­ don¡¯t get me wrong, they didn¡¯t make it easy. After the first few times, they started enchanting their things with wards, tracking spells, and the like. It downright tickled me to watch them constantly throw gold at the problem, only for it to eventually stop working and they would have to buy another solution.¡± ¡°You must really hate learning.¡± Rick said in exasperation. Daniela must have been an absolute hellion growing up. He hoped to whatever gods would listen that his own child wouldn''t be half as difficult. His child. Just the thought that he would soon be a father filled him with an indescribably mix of joy and terror. Remembering the strange and somewhat antagonistic relationship he had with his own father caused his gut to churn with anxiety. He had no idea what to do, and that made the impending countdown feel like he was awaiting execution. ¡°Oh, I love learning. I always enjoy trying to puzzle out a good mystery. It¡¯s why my grandfather¡¯s death is something I can¡¯t just let go. I have to know what happened.¡± Daniela said, mercifully distracting Rick from his increasingly bleak train of thought. ¡°I just don¡¯t like being forced to learn something, even if it actually interests me. All the stuck up tutors, the endless exams, and the feeling that it would just never end drove me up a wall!¡± ¡°While your story baffles me to no end, I suppose agreeing to disagree would be prudent for now.¡± Sade said with an expression so sour, it looked like she swallowed a lemon whole. ¡°We will let you join us for training and go on a mission for the hunters together once the semester ends. We will trust you not to do anything that will make us regret that decision.¡± Her voice grew even more serious. ¡°Don¡¯t make us threaten you again.¡± Daniela laughed and held up her hands in surrender. ¡°Si, comprendida!¡± Chapter 17.1 The Talk ¡°Well now, aren¡¯t you all a diverse group.¡± The old orc sat behind a well worn desk, his arms folded across his chest as he watched the five hunters file into his office. His tone implied that his words were more a statement of surprise than accusation. RIck looked between himself and his companions. ¡°Is this really that odd?¡± He asked. Lilie gave one of her musical chuckles and plopped her large, armored rear into one of the chairs in front of the chief¡¯s desk. ¡°It¡¯s not entirely unheard of, but most tribes tend to stick to their own. More often than not I would usually be the only member who wasn¡¯t a human or beastkin since they are the majority of Shatak¡¯s population.¡± ¡°Aye. That¡¯s a better way to put it. I didn¡¯t mean to cause any offense to the people who¡¯ve come to help us.¡± The village chief said with a slight bow of his head. ¡°No offense taken.¡± Sade said before taking her own seat. ¡°We are indeed an odd group, in more ways than one. The only thing that would be even more surprising is if we had a high elf with us as well.¡± That caused the wizened old orc to erupt into a fit of wheezing laughter. ¡°Indeed! Indeed. That would certainly be something to see.¡± He gasped out while trying to catch his breath. He eventually recovered from his laughing fit and adopted a more professional demeanor, albeit with a small smirk still curling the corners of his mouth. ¡°Right, on to business. I take it you were given the details of our problem?¡± ¡°From what we were told, your local mines have been overrun by monsters after an incident occurred.¡± Came Rick¡¯s reply. The chief nodded his head. ¡°Aye. One of our teams was digging a new tunnel that seemed promising and somehow hit a natural cave system. Shortly after exploring the caves, the boys were nearly swarmed by the monsters that live in there.¡± ¡°And ya want us ta kill them all?¡± Tyr asked. ¡°Well yes, but actually no.¡± He replied while stroking his beard. ¡°We primarily need that tunnel closed to stem the tide of beasties. This is why I specifically asked the hunter garrison for a mage skilled in earth magic. One of you fits that description, I hope?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Sade said, raising her hand. ¡°Good good. Once that hole is sealed up tight, then we can focus on clearing out the mines of anything dangerous.¡± ¡°Easy enough.¡± Daniela commented. ¡°Do you have a map of the tunnels we could use? Won¡¯t help anyone if we end up getting lost down there.¡± ¡°Oh, certainly. I¡¯ll have one of the boys bring one up. Anything else you need from us before you head out?¡± RIck nodded his head in thanks. ¡°Once we have a map with the location of the breach, we can start formulating a plan. If we need anything else, we¡¯ll let you know. Thank you sir.¡± ¡°Such a polite lad. A rare trait in a hunter I¡¯ve found.¡± The old man said with a chuckle. He got out of his chair and said a few words to one of the people waiting outside the door to his office. Much like their time in the beachside town of Gaviota, the party spent several hours asking questions about what kind of monsters they would face, where the hole to the underground caves was located, and which areas were the most crucial to clear out first once they were done plugging up the hole. Eventually they all retired to rest for the evening before planning to set out first thing in the morning. ¡°Ugh¡­ man, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever get used to those planning sessions of ours.¡± Lilie groaned while raising one arm over her head in a big stretch. The action caused the chainmail links wrapped around her bust to creak in protest. Rick wasn¡¯t exactly complaining about the view the tighter clothing provided though. ¡°I for one am just glad we aren¡¯t waking up to more training.¡± Daniela sighed before dropping onto one of the beds. ¡°I never thought I would ever meet people who would make mi familia actually seem tame.¡± ¡°But it was still worth the effort, right?¡± Rick teased. ¡°You bet your cute little ass it was!¡± She said with glee.
Daniela
Level 8 (23%)
Strength: 12 Constitution: 14
Dexterity: 17 Endurance: 14
Intelligence: 13 Resistance: 13
Wisdom: 14 Attunement : 13 (2)
Charisma: 14 Luck: 13
Vocation: Thief (7)
Skills: Reduced presence Silent steps
Treasure sense Magic-sight
Critical eye Sea-legs
She started cackling like a supervillain after reading aloud her stats and skills for everyone¡¯s benefit. ¡°Seriously! I¡¯ve only been with you for a couple weeks and nearly everything has gone up by one! I thought I was the baddest puta on the streets before, but fuck!¡± Stolen story; please report. Rick had to admit that Daniela¡¯s attributes were quite impressive, even before the hellish training. Her Strength had the most improvement, jumping up by two after repeatedly tearing her muscles and then being healed by Lilie so she could go back and do it all over again. What surprised everyone was that their enterprising thief had jumped wholeheartedly into Sade¡¯s magic lessons despite her self professed hatred of studying. ¡°Your improvement is entirely your own doing. We merely provided an opportunity for you to succeed.¡± Everyone gave Sade a sideways glance. She was being far too humble in regards to her role in ensuring everyone''s success in raising their wisdom, intelligence, and attunement. She looked around at everyone¡¯s accusatory stares. ¡°What? That is the truth.¡± Rick shook his head in exasperation. ¡°Regardless of who may or may not have contributed the most in our successful training, it¡¯s true, we all have worked hard these past few weeks. So now it¡¯s time to put it to the test. Everyone confident in the plan?¡± There was a chorus of affirmations at his question. ¡°I fer one can¡¯t wait ta smash some monster heads in!¡± Tyr exclaimed with her usual savage grin. ¡°Oh no. You are not going to go rushing off naked into a hoard of monsters again while you are carrying Rick¡¯s child.¡± Sade admonished. ¡°Wait, did she really do that?!¡± Daniela asked. Rick palmed his face at the memory. ¡°Essentially, yes, yes she did. We got ambushed by a group of bug monsters while we were out collecting Rayna and the rest of the gang. While she still had clothes on before the fight, she did charge in without any weapons on her at all. She¡¯s just lucky that her clothes were the only casualty of that fight.¡± ¡°And that is why you need to stay in the back with your bow this time.¡± Sade said, pointing her finger threateningly at the massive elf¡¯s chest. ¡°I refuse to let your bloodthirst threaten the life of the little one inside you.¡± Lilie snickered. ¡°She¡¯s right, Tyr. Healing is hard enough, and I¡¯m not confident in my skills to save the child if you take a shot to the gut. Let Rick be the one to rip a monster¡¯s dick off with his bare hands and present it to you as a trophy this time.¡± The elf grumbled slightly, but untimely relented. She turned to Rick. ¡°I¡¯ll be holding ya to that promise. There better be a monster cock fer me ta hang on the wall by the time we¡¯re done, ya got it?!¡± Everyone chuckled heartily at the odd demand. The fact that Tyr¡¯s face conveyed that she was completely serious in her desire to hang up some poor monster''s dangly bits on the wall only made them laugh harder. ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Rick chuckled, holding up one hand and doing his best to adopt a solemn tone. ¡°By my honor, I swear to present to you only the finest monster genitals I can forcefully remove in glorious combat.¡± That caused everyone else to erupt into furious laughter once more. Even Tyr was doing her best to fight a smirk from showing on her face. ¡°Good.¡± She sniffed. ¡°I still think yer all getting too worked up over me babe, but I¡¯ll let it pass fer now.¡± ¡°We appreciate your sacrifice, Tyr.¡± Rick said with a slight pat on her meaty shoulder. Daniela looked around the room somewhat nervously. ¡°So, uh¡­ are we all spending the night together in this room?¡± Sade waved her hand nonchalantly. ¡°We are. But we have multiple beds and I promise you there will not be any intimate activity this evening. The last thing we wish is for you to be uncomfortable around us.¡± Lilie booed at the announcement but the dwarf gave Sade a grateful smile. ¡°Thanks. I know how much you all enjoy your nightly activities.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it.¡± Rick said. ¡°We can survive without sex.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Lilie cried. ¡°We can survive without sex for a little while.¡± Rick corrected. He turned to the horny healer. ¡°I¡¯ll personally top you off in the morning once everyone else is ready to leave.¡± ¡°Whoo!¡± She cried out in joy. ¡°A good dicking and some coital energy, you really know how to treat a girl nicely.¡± ¡°Coital energy?¡± Daniela asked. Lilie winced at the slipup and gave Rick an apologetic look. He merely sighed and shook his head. Due to her still being on her ¡®trial period¡¯, they had all elected to not divulge the details of his vocation to their newest member for the time being. They of course told her about Lilie¡¯s aspect and the rough details on how it worked, something that amusedly caused Daniela to blush furiously when she spied the mender jiggling about for the first few days, but it seemed the cat was finally out of the bag about the other sexual aspect of their group dynamic. Rick didn¡¯t really mind, the thief had proven herself trustworthy in his eyes already. ¡°It¡¯s part of my particular vocation. I¡¯m an intimancer, so my skills primarily focus on being¡­ intimate with people.¡± ¡°Hold up, hold up. Your magic is all about having some quality coito with these beautiful chicas?!¡± Rick nodded his head. ¡°Yep, pretty much.¡± ¡°How the fuck does that work?¡± Daniela cried. ¡°Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much¡­¡± Lilie started to tease before Rick waved her off. ¡°It means that when I have sex, a certain energy is cultivated. We can spend that energy for a variety of uses.¡± ¡°Yeah, like giving us both cocks that¡¯re as big as yer forearm.¡± Tyr snickered. The dwarven woman looked flabbergasted at the elf¡¯s announcement. Her mouth kept opening and closing, as if she had suddenly lost the ability to talk. She kept looking from Rick, to Tyr, down to the elf¡¯s crotch, then back to Rick. Every time her face would get just a shade or two more red than before. Lilie was clutching her belly in laughter at the whole scene, Tyr had the biggest shit-eating grin Rick had ever seen, but thankfully Sade had her arms crossed and was glaring at the other two troublemakers. At least someone in the group had a modicum of tact. Rick could only sigh. ¡°Please disregard anything lewd those two might say. Yes, we used the energy to make ourselves larger. Yes, there¡¯s a lot more options than that. No, I won¡¯t go over all the various things we changed.¡± He stood up and gently tapped the blond woman lightly on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s a lot to take in, I know. But, the most important thing right now is for all of us to get some rest. We have a mission to complete. If you wish to ask more about how all the craziness works, I would happily answer any and all questions you have once we are all back home and safe. Sounds good?¡± He asked. ¡°I, uh¡­ S-si! That sounds bueno.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Rick said happily and walked over to the furthest bed. There were thankfully three beds in their shared room, so they could have two people sleep together comfortably while their thief could get one all to herself. He turned to his three lovers, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. ¡°So who wants to sleep with me?¡± Chapter 17.2 Delving By the time dawn¡¯s first light broke over the mountains, the party already stood before the thick wooden doors that led right into the mines. Each of them was armed and armored with everything they could need for a protracted campaign. Daniela and Tyr wore the least amount of protective gear, opting to wear boiled leather or simply light clothing so they could be as stealthy as possible. While everyone agreed that the elf knew what she was doing, they still insisted that she at least try to protect the budding life within her. So, as a compromise, the large woman wore an armored girdle over her usual hide vest and pants. The overly large leather belt had a metal plate sandwiched inside which covered most of her abdomen. Her maneuverability would take a slight hit, but that was a small price to pay for peace of mind. Rick and Sade both had acquired a matching set of chainmail hauberks and thick cloth gambesons. Neither of the humans needed to be stealthy, so having as much protection as they could get was the number one priority. To help protect their limbs, they also bought shin guards and bracers that had metal inserts similar to Tyr¡¯s girdle. To round things off, Sade also carried a small buckler on her arm for when she ran out of magic or had to switch to her mace. Lilie¡¯s gear was the least improved of the group. Due to her ever shifting size during intense combat, it was extremely difficult to acquire more solid armor that would fit her properly without some extensive enchantments. While they had a considerable amount of coin still saved up, getting a full suit of armor, let alone one heavily modified by magic, was still far out of their price range. She did however manage to put in an order for a custom helmet that was specially made with her horns in mind. Rick had to admit that their healer cut quite an intimidating figure while striding forward into battle in her full gear. ¡°Alright everyone, it¡¯s time.¡± Rick said while looking over his companions. ¡°We all know the route we¡¯re going to take to get to the breach. Daniela will scout ahead for any danger or to let us know if we need to take a detour. Tyr¡¯s in the back in case anything tries to be smart and sneak up on us from behind. Lilie will take point, Sade and I will be in the middle to jump in where needed.¡± Everyone gave a quick nod in confirmation and as one, they strolled to the doors. ¡°Good luck.¡± One of the miners called out to them as they passed by. The rest of the workers waved to the party before they heaved the massive wooden doors closed behind them. The town couldn¡¯t risk any of the creatures infesting the mine to escape into the wilds outside. If that happened, there would be no telling what kind of damage would ensue. Rick cast ¡®lantern orb¡¯ so they were no longer completely shrouded in darkness. Normally Sade would be the one to throw out cantrips, but they all agreed that Rick could use the practice. Plus if things got serious, they would need every drop of mana Sade could spare. ¡°Well then, time to do my thing.¡± Daniela cackled before fading away into the shadows like a wraith. Rick shook his head in disbelief. ¡°Am I the only one who saw her disappear like that?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Tyr said with an appreciative whistle. ¡°Fooled even my eyes.¡± ¡°Fuck¡­¡± Lilie said, summing up everyone¡¯s feelings on the subject quite succinctly. Sade was the first to recover. ¡°Come. We have no time to waste.¡± She said while pointing towards the first tunnel they would need to take. They all readied their weapons and set off into the darkness in the previously agreed formation. The first ten minutes or so was uneventful, just endless stone walls, cart tracks, and the soft echo of their steps to keep the hunters company. ¡°On your left.¡± Rick and the others nearly jumped when they heard the soft voice suddenly call out to them. Sure enough, just off to the left was their wayward scout casually leaning against the wall. She looked like she had been there the entire time, but Rick was doubly sure that he or anyone else would have spotted her if that were the case. There wasn¡¯t even another passage for her to hide in, it was all just a straight tunnel for as far as the eye could see. ¡°Is there an issue ahead?¡± Sade asked. ¡°If by ¡®issue¡¯, you mean a pack of giant ratas coming this way? Then yes.¡± ¡°How much time do we have and what can you tell us about them?¡± Rick asked. Daniela¡¯s ever-present smirk dropped and she adopted a more professional aura. ¡°Not long, so I¡¯ll sum up as best I can. Eleven of them, nearly all as tall as my hip, are muy fea, with these mushrooms growing out of their backs. They are also moving really strange, almost like marionetas.¡± ¡°Right¡­ That sounds exactly like zombie-shrooms to me.¡± Rick grumbled sarcastically. ¡°What is a ¡®zombie¡¯?¡± Sade asked, her head slightly cocked in confusion. Rick internally smacked himself. ¡°Fuck, forgot you guys whouldn¡¯t know that one. Important bit is that the rats are probably dead or dying and the mushrooms are controlling them.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Ya fought these things before?¡± Tyr asked. He shook his head in the negative. ¡°Not exactly, but I¡¯ve heard of something similar from back home. We should hit them at range and be careful about breathing in any lingering spores. No telling what something that nasty could do to us if we let that happen.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d rather not deal with that shit, thank you very much.¡± Lilie chuckled. ¡°Agreed.¡± Sade added. ¡°Rick, Tyr, and I will pick them off from here. The question is how to deal with the spores. I am hesitant to use fire in such an enclosed space.¡± ¡°Aye, too little air to breathe down here. Best not let the fire eat it all and replace it with smoke.¡± Tyr laughed. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just hold our breath or cover our mouths?¡± Their resident medical expert raised a finger, ready to say something that would counter the elf¡¯s argument, but stopped. ¡°Actually¡­ That might just fucking work.¡± Everyone else shrugged their shoulders. ¡°If it works, it works. Once we¡¯re done we should definitely warn the miners of the potential danger so they could deal with it later, but otherwise the idea seems simple and effective.¡± Rick said. ¡°That¡¯s great and all, but we¡¯re out of time.¡± The blond woman said while peering down the tunnel. The party quickly assumed their positions, the three ranged attackers in front, Lilie and Daniela guarding their backs. It wasn¡¯t a moment too soon. A heartbeat after Rick started to channel his mana, several shambling figures came into view from deeper within the darkness. Daniela wasn¡¯t kidding about the rats being ugly. Whole patches of the monster¡¯s matted fur was missing from their bodies, the skin underneath looked diseased, almost as if parts of it were turning to liquid and sloughing off with each stumbling step. The eyes were milky and lifeless. The sight of those pale orbs made Rick feel quite unnerved. ¡°Fire!¡± Tyr shouted. As one, bolts of arcane power and arrows pummeled the first row of monsters into twitching heaps of gore. ¡°Aim for the skulls, or at least the legs to slow them down!¡± Rick shouted while doing his best to follow his own advice. ¡®Mage missile¡¯ was a fairly straightforward spell. Create several bolts of pure arcane energy in the air, aim, and then send a number of them flying towards the target at great speed. Rinse and repeat as necessary. While not even remotely close to the most complex formula he had memorized in his short tenure as a mage, casting the spell and actually hitting your target were two completely separate things. Much like using a bow, it took actual skill to guide the bolts to where you wanted them to go. Thankfully, Rick had some of the best teachers he could ever ask for. Both women started adjusting their shots almost immediately. It wasn¡¯t much of a change, truth be told, just a shift from anywhere on the monster¡¯s body to direct center mass. The infected rats didn¡¯t get riled up when their comrades in front fell, nor did they retreat, squeal, or react in any way to the barrage of ranged firepower. They just kept slowly shambling forward, heedless of the death that awaited them. After a few minutes, not a single enemy remained standing. Rick mentally checked his mana levels, he was still mostly full even after casting ¡®mage missile¡¯ several times. It still amazed him more than he would ever admit that he could feel the raw power coursing through his veins, let alone shape it into actual magic like fireballs and lightning. His elated mood soured when he saw the destruction he and his lovers had wrought. While literal magic was a dream come true for someone like him, he had to remind himself that the power was still a weapon. He would need to treat his abilities with all the respect that the classification deserved. This wasn¡¯t a game. ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± He called out. ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± ¡°Yep!¡± ¡°Buena.¡± Rick laughed at the colorful set of replies that came his way. ¡°I figured, but it never hurts to be sure.¡± He jerked his thumb over to the field of gore. ¡°Shall we try and get past all that now?¡± They all agreed and Sade fished out a few spare cloth from her pack while Tyr and Daniela instructed the rest on how best to tie them so that there wasn¡¯t any way for the spores to slip past and into their lungs. Once ready, Daniela led the way carefully around the field of corpses while Tyr hastily retrieved as many of her arrows as she could before bounding after them. They had brought plenty, but without knowing how many monsters they would have to fight, they would need as many as they could. After they had retreated a ways, Sade called a stop. ¡°That should be sufficient. Lilie, could you give us a quick once over?¡± The healer nodded and got to work sending quick pulses of magic through each of them to see if anything needed attention. ¡°We¡¯re all clear for now. I¡¯ll try to check back up when possible just in case I missed something.¡± Everyone nodded in gratitude and resumed their trek. The next several hours were much the same. Their thief would scout ahead, come back when she spotted something, then the party would deal with the threat. The variety of creatures they encountered was quite impressive. There were insects of all shapes and sizes, more rats but minus the zombie-shrooms on their backs, and even this weird snake thing with four mandibles and an octopus beak instead of a face. That last encounter came as a complete surprise. The group passing by a seemingly innocuous crack in the wall when suddenly Tyr stopped, her pointed ears twitching. Before anyone could ask what was wrong, the part of the wall where the crack was exploded outward and something flew out towards Sade. Both the human and monster crashed to the ground. Sade had managed to get her shield up in time to block the thing¡¯s lunge. It had all four of its mandibles clamped over her buckler and was thrashing around like it was trying to tear it off her arm. Her eyes were wide with fear and pain as she desperately tried to hold the monster¡¯s assault back. Rick had already rushed in to help. He carefully stabbed his spear forward into the snake monster¡¯s body, careful not to aim too close and hit the prone mage with his attacks. He managed to dig his weapon deep into the creature''s wriggling body, causing it to shriek in pain but not let go of its prize. ¡°Rick, duck!¡± Tyr shouted and he obeyed the command instantly. He saw the elf¡¯s massive boot collide with the monster and sent it, and Sade¡¯s shield, flying over his head and against the nearby wall. The odd snake wriggled around before lifting its head back off the ground. It thrashed the shield in its pincers one last time before flinging it away with a sudden jerk of its serpentine body. Its eyeless gaze bored into the group before it opened its mandibles wide and let out another screech of fury. A flash of steel from the side caught in the light of Rick¡¯s lantern spell and passed straight through the monster¡¯s neck, causing the head to fall unceremoniously to the ground with a dull thud. ¡°Whew! That takes care of that.¡± Lilie said happily from beside the monster she just decapitated. ¡°Thanks for the assist guys!¡± Chapter 17.3 Ambush ¡°Not funny Lilie.¡± Rick groaned from his spot on the floor. ¡°Gave me a chuckle.¡± Tyr said from beside him. Sade just rolled her eyes at her lovers¡¯ antics. ¡°You two are incorrigible.¡± The elf proudly tapped her hand to her chest. ¡°I don¡¯t even know the meaning of the word.¡± ¡°Figured.¡± Rick sighed and shook his head in exasperation. ¡°It means you¡¯re unable to change in any way.¡± Lilie chuckled at that as she bent down and examined Sade¡¯s condition. ¡°That is certainly one way to describe an elf.¡± She let her magic do its thing. ¡°Well then. The good news is that nothing¡¯s broken. Your arm just got sprained a little, an easy fix.¡± Sade gave a sigh of relief when the healing spell seeped into her battered and bruised arm. She gave it a shake or two once the shaytoni was finished to test its range of motion. ¡°As skilled as ever. Thank you darling.¡± ¡°Darling?¡± Lilie asked with one brow arched. Sade smiled and kissed her lovely healer on the tip of her pale nose. ¡°Just a little something to remind us all that I love you. Do you like it?¡± Lilie¡¯s face flushed a deep crimson. She quickly stood back up and faced away from the group, her actions speaking far more than words could ever express. Rick leaned in close to Sade. ¡°You are dangerous, you know that?¡± ¡°Yes. Yes I do.¡± She preened at the compliment. They looked up to see Daniela dashing back into view. She skidded to a halt and scanned the area with her sword drawn. ¡°I heard fighting, what happened?¡± Tyr pointed towards the monster corpse. ¡°Had a sneaky git pay us a visit.¡± The thief looked at where Tyr was pointing. ¡°Where the fuck did that thing come from?¡± Sade groaned as she stood up and dusted herself off. ¡°It was hidden inside the tunnel wall over there. Not even Tyr sensed it until it was already upon us.¡± ¡°Shit! I¡¯m sorry about that.¡± Daniela said, her shoulders slumping in defeat. ¡°Hey, she just said that it snuck up on us, no need to beat yourself up over it.¡± Rick said reassuringly. ¡°Actually, I think it''s about time for a quick break, were there any good spots to rest up ahead?¡± The thief looked momentarily thrown by the sudden change of subject, but quickly recovered. ¡°Come to think of it, I believe I have. S¨ªgueme.¡± She led the group down a series of tunnels until they ended up in a fairly spacious side area that had only one way in or out. Rick felt more than a little apprehensive about being in a position with no escape, but the thief insisted that she knew what she was doing. Once they were all settled, Daniela trotted over to the opening. She looked left and right, checking to make sure that the coast was clear, before pulling small metal disks out of her pocket and placing them to either side of the entrance. Rick could feel a thrum of energy pulse through the area, a feeling like TV static behind the eyes that he had come to learn was his body sensing a massive draw of the ambient mana around him. ¡°Are those little things enchanted?¡± He asked. ¡°Huh? Oh¡­ uh si, no, tal vez? It¡¯s kinda hard to explain.¡± She replied. ¡°Those are wards.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Rick eloquently asked, turning to face the rest of the group. Sade¡¯s eyes were shining with delight and intellectual curiosity. ¡°Those are portable wards. I heard the concept was being researched, but I had no idea they had already been produced.¡± The gleam in her eyes dimmed and she cocked her head to the side. ¡°But how did you acquire them?¡± Daniela idly scratched her cheek and refused to meet Sade¡¯s gaze. ¡°Well¡­ heh¡­ that¡¯s kinda a funny story.¡± Rick sighed. ¡°You stole them, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± She retorted. ¡°They were made by mi familia, and I just borrowed them¡­ without permission.¡± When she saw the dirty looks she was getting she quickly threw out her arms and added. ¡°Espera, espera, espera! Before you all get mad, they had a ton of these things just lying around collecting dust. I also only took the simplest ones with me so I could practice with them, okay?¡± ¡°Practice? How?¡± Sade asked, her tone flat. Daniela took a deep breath to calm down and straightened out her clothes. ¡°Best way to learn how to bypass wards is to learn how to set them up in the first place.¡± She jerked her thumb at the small metal disk set into the wall. ¡°These are enchanted to set up an illusion barrier and to warn when something gets too close, real simple stuff. I could set it all up myself in an hour or two the more traditional way.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m confused.¡± Rick said. ¡°What exactly are wards, and why is their portability such a big deal?¡± ¡°Oh! I can answer that one!¡± Lilie said excitedly. ¡°Wards are an odd branch of enchanting. This is because they have a very specific use, and because they don¡¯t have to be imbued into an item to work.¡± ¡°So¡­ what, they sorta enchant an area instead?¡± He asked. ¡°Essentially, yes.¡± Sade confirmed. ¡°The biggest drawback to casting a ward is the considerable amount of time needed to set one up. Being able to cast even the most basic ward in two hours is a considerable achievement.¡± She said, looking to Daniela with an appreciative gaze. ¡°The other major issue is one of portability. Since it is the general area that has the enchantment, the ward can not be moved once placed.¡± Rick looked at those unassuming metal disks in a new light. ¡°Then those things right there are pretty amazing. But what¡¯s the catch?¡± Daniela¡¯s smirk returned to her face and she sat down to join the rest of the group. ¡°The problemas with them is they cost a lot to make, degrade quickly, and suck up all the nearby magic.¡± She waved her hands to gesture to the area around them. ¡°This place is pretty dense, so the wards will last about an hour or so.¡± ¡°Some hefty drawbacks, but still pretty useful all things considered.¡± Lilie observed. ¡°Indeed.¡± Sade said with a nod of her head. ¡°I would love to sit down and discuss the intricacies of how they are made.¡± ¡°After we¡¯re out of here and safe?¡± Tyr asked, a knowing smirk twisting her lips. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°After we are out and safe.¡± Sade promised with a chuckle. They spent the next few minutes simply relaxing and having a shared meal of bread and jerky, then washing it all down with water. It wasn¡¯t the most luxurious of meals, but it was the best they could do given the circumstances. Rick hardly minded. Good company could make even the blandest of food taste good, and the women around him were most certainly the best company he could have asked for. Once they were fed, watered, and had caught their breath from their last encounter, Daniela removed the portable wards and the party once more resumed their journey. While still slow going, their pace picked up considerably once their tactics for dealing with the myriad of threats became more solidified. Daniela took her scouting duties very seriously. After the ambush, she had started to pay even more attention to any strange formations or cracks in the tunnel walls. Tyr stayed as the rearguard, a position that paid off when another swarm of giant rats burst in from an adjacent tunnel shortly after the group passed by. Her timely warning allowed everyone enough time to get into position and ambush the ambushers. Lilie and Sade were still doing their jobs as an iron wall and magical artillery respectively. Lilie would pick the biggest and baddest enemy she could find and simply get in its way, blocking punishing hits with her sturdy shield and countering with quick swipes of her sword that forced her opponent to either back off or get disabled. For swarms of enemies, she would merely step back and guard the front while Sade did what she did best, overwhelming firepower. The human mage was still holding back considerably in their engagements, doing her best not to cause the whole mountain range to come down upon them because of a careless spell. But even with such restrictions, she was still a one woman army with waves after waves of magical missiles and bolts crashing down upon their foes. While Rick wasn¡¯t an expert in any of these various fields, his help was still invaluable during all the fighting. While he had no real specialization, what he did have was intimate knowledge of everyone¡¯s preferred fighting styles. While Lilie was engaged with a large monster, Rick would focus on any enemies that would slip past her or even join in and keep the pressure on the big bad. If enemies came in from the rear, he would funnel the chaff into Tyr¡¯s waiting axes. Sometimes, like their first encounter with the zombie-shrooms, he would join in and lend his magic into pounding their foes from a distance with Sade. All in all, he felt like he was finally starting to find his own niche to occupy. A few hours later, and finally getting close to their destination, Daniela called the group to a halt. ¡°I can¡¯t explain why, but something up ahead just feels wrong.¡± She said. ¡°How so?¡± Sade asked. ¡°How the fuck should I know? I¡¯m a damned dwarf, I¡¯m meant to be sailing the seas, not stomping around in these t¨²nels under a mountain!¡± Rick did his best to suppress a smirk. Once more, Parva had proven to buck certain fantasy tropes he had come to rely on. Now that she had pointed it out, he did notice that the further away from the coast they went, the fewer dwarves were found living there. He would love to sit down and discuss the cultural reasons for why that was after they got home. But for the moment, they had a problem to solve. ¡°I say we move forward.¡± Tyr grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m just as tired of being trapped down here as ya are. We¡¯ll keep alert, same as always, and deal with whatever nasty thing comes our way.¡± Sade pursed her lips, but didn¡¯t contradict the large woman. By all estimates, they had spent nearly a full day fighting their way to the end of the mines. They were all tired, sore, and missing the light and warmth of the sun terribly. Rick readied his spear and gave the rest of the group a nod. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this.¡± He declared. They continued forward, Daniela crouched low beside Lilie to get a closer look at anything suspicious before it hit their vulnerable backline. When the light from Rick¡¯s lantern spell illuminated the suspicious spot in question, he couldn¡¯t argue with their rogue¡¯s assessment. ¡°Stalactites? In a mine?¡± ¡°Is that what those things are called?¡± Daniela asked. ¡°I just thought stone spikes hanging from the ceiling was an odd design choice.¡± Tyr snorted at the comment. Rick himself was honestly unsure if she was being genuine or sarcastic. Her husky latin-like accent and her odd sense of humor often made it difficult to tell the difference. He often thought Daniela sounded like Selma Hayek, if the actress had a penchant for cursing like a sailor when bored or drunk. ¡°It is quite odd, I suggest we avoid standing under them while we head to the breach.¡± Sade suggested. ¡°I second that notion.¡± Rick said. He¡¯d played enough video games to know that stalactites were always a hazard to be avoided. The dwarf looked up to the ceiling and then plotted a course that would take them through the potential death trap. The rest of the group carefully followed in her nimble footsteps, those with shields holding them above their heads just in case. It was slow going, but the end soon came into sight. None of the party noticed a slender shape stealthily sneaking behind them. Without warning, Tyr felt something wrap around her arm and start to tug. She roared in fury, grabbed the slimy appendage holding her, and yanked back with all her prodigious strength. There was a sound like tearing fabric as the rock colored tentacle suddenly went limp. Unfortunately, ten more fleshy ropes took its place and came after her. Rick saw the confusion on his large lover¡¯s face as she reached for the axes at her belt, only for the arm still bound in the unknown monster¡¯s limb fumbling around her weapon¡¯s handle. Her good axe only managed to get one solid swing before it too was wrapped up alongside her legs and torso. Her weapon clattered to the ground as the strength was sapped away by whatever poison or magic the tentacles employed to subdue their prey. ¡°Tyr!¡± Rick screamed as he ran forward to help the fierce mother of his child. He swung the bladed edge of his spear at the nearest limb, hoping to cut through the rubbery flesh and free their ranger from the monster''s clutches. His weapon passed through with only minor difficulty and the tentacle flung backward like a snapped rope under too much tension. ¡°A-above!¡± Tyr rasped out, barely heard over his own heaving breaths. He instinctively dove to the side and rolled, just as one of the stalactites crashed down right where he previously stood. The rocky spike hissed in disappointment at being unable to impale its prey. Rick recoiled in horror as a fleshy pink body oozed out of the hollow cavity of the fallen stone and began to crawl towards him, the stalactite dragging behind it like a shell of a hermit crab. He stabbed the monstrosity right between the glowing green eyes with his spear. There was no way he was going to let that thing get close. ¡°The stalactites are monsters! Don¡¯t let them fall on you!¡± He shouted out at the top of his lungs. ¡°Also, those tentacles have some sort of paralyzing effect on them, so be careful!¡± Rick looked around for Tyr and nearly screamed. While he was distracted with the other monster, his elven lover had slowly been dragged closer to a stone pillar that seemed to be the source of all the tentacles. A section of the rock lifted away, revealing a slitted eyeball glaring balefully down at its struggling captive. ¡°Chingar a tu madre!¡± Daniela cursed before her sword sliced through one of the tentacles holding on to Tyr¡¯s legs. ¡°Yeah! Fuck you, asshole!¡± Came Lilie as her sword finished the job in freeing her friend. Both women reached down and did their best to haul the elf¡¯s bulk away. Rick rushed forward to help, careful not to touch the severed monster parts still clinging to Tyr¡¯s body. All three of them looked up to see a horizontal crack split just below the cyclopean eye, then grow wider and wider. Soon a cavernous mouth filled with rows of razor sharp teeth yawned wide before them. The terrifying maw was so large that it nearly split the rocky pillar of its body in half. The thing screeched in rage, and another swarm of tentacles poured out from its body, aiming to ensnare the whole group in its foul grip. Rick and the gang were forced to unceremoniously drop Tyr, who let out a weak grunt of surprise as she hit the ground. They drew their weapons and furiously hacked away at any monstrous limb within reach. Chunks of monster meat fell all around them, writhing around at their feet in an unsettling display of carnage. ¡°You keep your disgusting hands away from her!¡± Sade roared. The furious mage dashed inside the monster¡¯s reach and held up her hand directly in front of the gaping maw. A jet of flame, so hot that Rick could feel his face burning from the other side of the cavern, poured down the monster¡¯s gullet like a molten waterfall. The tentacles attacking the group started to flail around wildly as the monster was being cooked from the inside out by Sade¡¯s fury. The thing let out an ear piercing shriek that forced everyone to their knees with its intensity. The noise and flailing limbs caused all the remaining stalactite monsters to be thrown from their perch and plummet to the floor below. Rick saw that Sade was too stunned from receiving the monster¡¯s sonic attack at point blank to notice the cluster of earthen spikes right above her. A small figure collided with Sade, pushing them both away from the falling debris. Daniela did her best to help Sade off the floor, but then a loud crack echoed throughout the tunnel. Below them, a fissure formed, then another, and then the whole floor underneath where they stood split into pieces and started to fall away into the newly formed chasm. ¡°What, no! Get out of there! The whole place is going to collapse!¡± Rick screamed, but it was too late. With an earth shattering crunch, the floor beneath the two women disappeared, and they began to fall into the yawning abyss. ¡°No¡­ Sade! SADE!¡± Rick cried, as the beautiful mage he loved plummeted away from him and was swallowed up completely by darkness. Chapter 18.1 Despare Sade¡¯s face haunted him. The look of fear and confusion twisting her perfect features burned itself into Rick¡¯s memory forever. His eyes stung with moisture. He felt like his chest was being squeezed by a giant. The roaring in his ears eliminated all conscious thought, except one. Sade was gone. No. He would not accept it, refused to accept that possibility. ¡°...¡± Rick stood up. He glared down at the hateful abyss that devoured his woman. The darkness within fighting back against the light emitted from the small orb of flame floating over his shoulder. ¡°...-ic.¡± He would go after her. Sade needed him. The climb would be a bitch, but what was the point of climbing up and down the cliff in front of their house if not for situations exactly like this? ¡°RIck!¡± RIck was yanked suddenly out the side of his runaway train of thought at the sound of his name. Lilie was still beside Tyr, desperately trying to haul the elf¡¯s mass away from the scene of the battle. ¡°RIck! Help me! This whole place is coming down!¡± Lilie cried and pointed up to the ceiling. He turned around, trying to find exactly what she was indicating. To his side, he saw several of the wooden support beams cracked and splintered. It seemed that the other monsters weren¡¯t the only casualties of the tentacle bastard¡¯s death throes. Then he noticed that the rumbling he was hearing wasn¡¯t just in his head. Lilie¡¯s warning finally sunk into his thick skull. ¡°Shit!¡± He swore and dashed toward the other women as fast as his enhanced legs could carry him. The first boulders started falling all around him right as he reached his companions. Tyr was still immobilized, but thankfully most of the tentacle pieces had been removed from her body. Rick crouched down and started to roll her onto his shoulders. ¡°Help me get her up.¡± He ordered the healer. ¡°But-¡± ¡°MOVE!¡± He roared. Lilie shut her mouth and helped shift the elf¡¯s incredible weight so that Rick held the pregnant woman in a fireman¡¯s carry. As he stood up, it felt like his spine was on the verge of snapping like a toothpick. Tyr made most professional basketball players look small and as a result, was really, really heavy. Plus, due to her amazonian physique, she was heavier than most people her size, and more than likely weighed twice as much as he did. Rick welcomed the pain. The complaints from his overtaxed bones and muscles gave him the focus needed to do what needed to be done. With one last look back at the chasm behind him, he ran. Boulders the size of construction vehicles and other bits of the ceiling rained down around them as Rick and Lilie sprinted through the mine tunnels. The sounds of the mountain crumbling down were deafening. They took a corner right when a choking cloud of dust rushed out and flooded the tunnel they had just vacated. With one last earth-shattering kaboom, all was silent. The party slowed down and took a moment to rest. Behind them was an impenetrable wall of stone where there one was a series of carved tunnels. There would be no going back that way. Rick lowered Tyr to the ground as gently as he could. ¡°Heal her. We don¡¯t have much time.¡± He demanded. Lilie looked at him with wide, blood red eyes. ¡°W-w-wha?¡± ¡°Heal her! We will need all three of us in prime condition if we are going to go after them.¡± ¡°Rick¡­¡± Lilie whispered softly. ¡°Sade¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Rick spat. ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking dare finish that sentence. She¡¯s alive, and she needs our help. I know it!¡± ¡°Rick.¡± ¡°NO! You both love her just as much as I do! We can¡¯t leave her down here. We have to try and find Sade, we owe her that much.¡± Tears were streaming unbidden down his face. The image of his beautiful mage scared and alone in the darkness, unable to find her way out burned in his mind''s eye. His heart tightened in his chest, it felt like the muscle was being crushed in a vice. ¡°And where do you propose we fucking do that?!¡± Lilie snarled, her own anger at the situation finally bubbling to the surface. She stood up and glared at Rick. ¡°The only entrance to wherever the fuck Sade and Daniela fell is behind that mother fucking rockslide we barely survived. So how in the EVERLIVING FUCK are WE going to find them?!¡± ¡°The caverns.¡± Both Rick and Lilie looked down to see Tyr doing her best to sit up. ¡°Oh shit! Tyr, I¡¯m so sorry! Let me help you.¡± The healer said while hurrying to the elf¡¯s side and casting her magic. ¡°What was that you were saying?¡± Tyr groaned as her system was purged of whatever foulness gunked it up. She gave a mighty cough to clear her throat. ¡°The caverns.¡± She repeated. Rick¡¯s eyes grew wide with understanding. ¡°That¡¯s it! The whole reason we¡¯re down here is because there¡¯s a bunch of natural caves underneath the mines.¡± Lilie looked at the two of them dubiously. ¡°And how is that going to help us?¡± ¡°If the ground was hollow, then they must¡¯a fallen into a part of those caves.¡± Tyr explained. Lilie froze. ¡°Y-you mean¡­¡± ¡°It means there¡¯s a chance.¡± Rick said with a nod, clutching his weapon tightly. ¡°Aye. I¡¯ve got ta make up fer that fuck-up back there.¡± Tyr growled as she got back to her feet. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Rick rounded on the large woman. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare start talking like that! We all fucked up during that fight. Shit happens. Right now we have two of our own who need our help. So instead of whining about our mistakes, let¡¯s go out there and get them back.¡± The two stood there, glaring into each other¡¯s eyes, as if daring the other to back down. Surprisingly, Tyr blinked first. ¡°Bah! Of course I had ta fall fer the one mayfly who¡¯s just as stubborn as an elf.¡± She said with a chuckle. Her eyes hardened once more, filling with determination. ¡°Yer right though¡­ Let¡¯s go get our friends.¡± ¡°And woe to anything that stands in our way.¡± Lilie intoned. Her voice absolutely dripping with anger and bloodlust. ¡°Aye!¡± The other two replied in unison. They had a job to do. The three hunters stalked through the tunnels like people possessed. All the despair and sorrow at seeing two of their number fall had instead been converted to raw fury and determination. The few monsters who crossed their path were ruthlessly cut down in a storm of steel and righteous indignation. Even while carving their way through packs of monsters, they never once stopped their relentless march towards their destination. It came as no surprise that the group soon found themselves in front of the breach that started it all. The hole was simple, almost unassuming in its mundanity. But to the hunters, it represented so much more. ¡°So¡­ we go left or right?¡± Rick asked. The miners had dug perpendicular to the subterranean cave tunnel, creating an odd t-junction with two options on where to go forward from there. Tyr knelt down and examined the floor. ¡°Most of the tracks come from the right. We go there, we¡¯ll get in ta more fights.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck if we have to cut down an army.¡± Lilie growled. ¡°The right heads back towards where Sade and Daniela fell, so that¡¯s where we should go.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Rick asked the shaytoni. He was no slouch when it came to keeping track of which direction was where. He had played quite a few older games where all the walls shared the same low-res texture, and the concept of a map was a luxury. But something about the gradual twists and turns of the mine tunnels had him feeling all turned around. ¡°Aye, it¡¯s what me own map shows as well.¡± Tyr said while brushing off her pants. ¡°Wait, what? Map? What are you¡­¡± Rick asked before trailing off. ¡°Oh, son of a bitch!¡± He shouted while clutching his head in frustration. ¡°Hold on, you never learned how to use your map?¡± Lilie asked incredulously. ¡°I forgot about it, okay?¡± Rick said in shame. He really had forgotten that it was a thing that the people of this world could just do. ¡°H-how?!¡± ¡°Drop it Lilie. We have more important things ta do.¡± Tyr said with finality. The healer immediately obeyed once she saw the look in the elf¡¯s eye. Rick sighed. ¡°Thank¡¯s Tyr. We can discuss my odd quirks after we find our girls. Can you find us a path?¡± The big woman glared down the right hand tunnel. She looked down at the myriad of monster tracks leading deeper into the underground maze then stood straight and drew one of her axes. ¡°Aye. I¡¯ll find one.¡± They followed her down the cave system. Unlike the smooth and uniform walls of the mine, these series of tunnels were uneven, carved not by hand but time and other natural forces. Well, perhaps not entirely natural. Rick was still unsure how to classify mana and its effects on the world around them. Every time they came upon a new path, Tyr would spend a few moments to examine the area, consult her map, and even sniff the air a few times in order to determine the best way forward. Neither Rick nor Lilie questioned the elf¡¯s methods. They were not specialized in any sort of pathfinding and had complete faith that the ranger would come through in the end. Eventually, they ended up in an open cavern the size of an amphitheater. Tyr halted the group on a shallow ledge just a few steps from where they entered from. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. Somethings off.¡± She growled. Rick scanned the surroundings for anything unusual. The light from his magical lantern flame couldn¡¯t pierce the gloom around them in its entirety, but it was enough to get a general idea of what they should expect. The area was barren of life. In fact the group had yet to face a single monster since stepping out of the mine proper, a fact that only heightened the tension they all felt. All that decorated the room were stalagmites and stalactites of various sizes, some even meeting up to fuse into stone columns that stretched high into the dusky ceiling above them. ¡°Ah¡­ That would do it.¡± Rick said as he realized what could have set off the elf¡¯s senses. ¡°It seems you may be getting a rematch against a few more of those ropers.¡± ¡°Ropers?¡± Tyr asked. ¡°Well, it¡¯s better than calling them ¡®hentai tentacle monsters¡¯, right?¡± Lilie merely shook her head. ¡°Sometimes I have no idea what goes on in that pretty head of yours.¡± ¡°At least you think I¡¯m pretty.¡± Rick shot back. ¡°Anyways. Remember how the roper disguised itself as a pillar of rock and the little guys as stalactites?¡± Tyr¡¯s eyes practically glowed with predatory glee. She quickly drew her bow and scanned the room with a more critical eye. ¡°Oh, ho! I think I found a few of the nasty buggers.¡± She said with a cackle. ¡°Well then, let''s see if their hide can handle your big girl arrows.¡± Rick said with a matching evil grin. He mentally cycled through a short list of spell formulas he had memorized and started to channel his mana in the appropriate patterns. ¡°You may fire when ready.¡± Tyr drew back her monstrous bow until the ballista bolt sized arrow she had nocked barely had its deadly tip resting on her finger. With a deep thrum that Rick could feel in his gut, the bow launched the oversized missile straight towards the nearest pillar at blinding speed. The shaft buried itself inside the stone column all the way to the fletching. For a single heartstopping moment, Rick was worried that his guess was wrong, and that he just encouraged Tyr to waste one of her precious siege arrows. But then the telltale split of a toothy maw opened up and the monster screamed in agony at being impaled by a giant wooden spike. Tyr had already aimed and let loose another arrow into a different target. Her arms were a blur as she quickly drew and released her payloads into the monster filled cavern. In less than thirty seconds, four unlucky ropers were turned into oversized pincushions and were wailing in agony, their noodly limbs flailing around them helplessly. It was all music to their ears. While the hunters enjoyed the lamentations of their enemies, it seemed that there were those who preferred the silence instead. Rick looked up to see the ceiling roiling above them. A few seconds later, and the sound of dying ropers was drowned out by a cacophony of flapping and high pitched squeaks. And then the swarm of bats descended upon them. ¡°Ah crap! Looks like repel¡¯s effect wore off.¡± Rick groaned. He then held out his hand and grinned madly. ¡°But Rick used flamethrower!¡± With that, he let some of the magic he had been holding back inside release. A river of flames erupted from his outstretched palm and bathed the oncoming swarm in incinerating heat. He swept his arm back and forth, causing more of the flying rodents to plummet to the floor as charred husks. Eventually, the bats got the hint and flew away as fast as their wings could carry them. ¡°It was super effective!¡± Rick cheered as the swarm dispersed down other connecting tunnels. Tyr gave him an appreciative clap on the back for a job well done. ¡°While all that was entertaining and all, did you two forget why we¡¯re fucking down here in the first place?¡± Lilie¡¯s words snuffed out Rick and Tyr¡¯s elation like a blanket soaked in ice water. The reminder of their lost friends sobering them both instantly. As if sensing that they were now focused, Lilie¡¯s expression softened and she strode over to give them a hug. ¡°I know you didn¡¯t mean to get carried away. It¡¯s not in either of your natures to be so serious all the time.¡± She said softly and kissed Rick lightly on the nose. Tyr was simply too tall for the shaytoni to do the same. ¡°But we really do need to find Sade quickly. When she¡¯s not here Rick, you get really weird.¡± She joked. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m not going to argue with you on that one.¡± Rick agreed with a small chuckle. ¡°Let¡¯s go get her back!¡± Tyr said with enthusiasm. ¡°Aye!¡± The other two shouted back. Chapter 18.2 Regret His face haunted her. As the floor gave way and Sade began to fall, the look of shock and horror on the face of the man she loved became forever burned into her memory. She watched helplessly as his form grew smaller and smaller until there was only darkness. The sensation of falling in an endless abyss was an odd one. There wasn¡¯t that feeling of her stomach slamming into her throat, no tingling in the back of her knees as the blood rushes to her torso. It was more akin to floating. A feeling of weightlessness amongst the void, only the rushing of wind to indicate any movement at all. It was such a strange thing for her to note in her final moments. For once, her powerful mind, carefully honed over a full decade of practice and study, had failed to fully process her situation. She felt strangely numb. There were just too many things that happened all at once. Rick¡¯s face flashed through her mind once more and she was filled with a profound feeling of regret. She had hid so much. She should have told him how much she loved him. She should have told everyone her vocation. She should have explained why she had worked so damn hard. She should have told them her name. It came as little comfort to know that soon her fall would come to a sudden stop, and all her regrets would disappear forever. Sade ground her teeth in frustration, tears torn away from her stinging eyes by the relentless wind as she hurtled towards her doom. She hated how many regrets she had before the end. But she never once regretted falling in love. She recalled the nights she shared with her lovers. Each of them panting, covered in sweat and all sorts of other bodily fluids. How they would each cuddle close together and bask in their shared warmth before falling asleep. Those were some of the happiest times Sade could ever recall. A smile broke over her face. She hoped to see them one day on the other side. Suddenly, her whole body impacted against something cold and wet. Sade tumbled around, the breath knocked out of her lungs. The chilly wetness enveloping her just as thoroughly as the darkness had. Why was she soaked all over? Was she in water? Her mind lit up like a forest fire. She was in water! She had survived! The ache in her empty lungs told her that the situation could easily reverse back if she didn¡¯t get out soon. Her mind raced to come up with a solution quickly. She was underwater, she had no idea which way was up, it was pitch black, and she was running out of air. A flash of light broke through the gloom just off to her side. Sade turned to its source and saw a shadowy silhouette clawing its way through the depths. Recognition dawned on her and Sade knew what she had to do. Her mana twisted throughout the channels of her body at a breakneck pace. The moment the pattern was complete, Sade let the magic take hold of the liquid around her. The water within her vicinity writhed and shoved her body forward, guided by the manipulation spell she had just cast. Sade poured more energy into the magic. Her body flew through the water, aiming for the struggling figure up ahead. Sade wrapped her arms around Daniela and willed the currents to push them both towards the surface. The two broke through, sucking in great wheezing lungfuls of delicious air. ¡°?Mierda!¡± Daniela hacked out between coughs. ¡°I thought we were fucking dead.¡± ¡°So did I.¡± Sade agreed, her own throat horse from expelling copious amounts of fluid she had swallowed. ¡°But we still may unless we can find a way out of here.¡± The blond woman raised her arm and pointed straight up towards the ceiling. Another bright flare of light erupted from the tip of her finger and shot up into the air, bathing everything around them in white. ¡°Not my first time flung overboard so to speak.¡± She chuckled then pointed somewhere off in the distance. ¡°I see a shore over there.¡± Sade did her best to blink away the spots in her eyes then focused on where Daniela indicated. She commanded the currents to once again carry them both along the surface until their feet pounded against the sandy edge of the underground lake. The two stumbled forward, collapsing down and shivering in the cool air. Sade¡¯s clenched fist erupted in flame and she slammed it down into the dirt beside her. Instantly, a roaring bonfire sprung up from where her hand impacted, already bathing the two sodden women in life saving heat. ¡°We need to g-get out of these c-clothes.¡± Sade said through chattering teeth. She could already feel the first symptoms of hypothermia setting in. The icy cold from the lake had seeped into her bones. Her mind felt sluggish, making it even more difficult to maintain the ¡®hearth fire¡¯ spell that was vital to their survival. ¡°Let me h-help you. Then you c-can assist m-me in removing all t-this armor.¡± Daniela didn¡¯t protest. The two of them fumbled through undoing the buttons and clasps then removing the few layers of damp clothing altogether. Sade was considerably harder to undress. The thief¡¯s nimble fingers stumbled around the ties of the chainmail and thick undercoat due to her constant shivering. Once Sade¡¯s bountiful chest was freed, the boots and pants were quickly sloughed off. The two sat together. Both completely nude and embracing each other tightly while the fire did its best to warm them. Daniela chuckled with dry humor. ¡°O-of all the ways I d-dreamed of having you naked in my arms, I never imagined t-this would be how it happened.¡± Sade felt her lips quirk upwards slightly. ¡°Oh? W-would you have preferred to have s-seduced me properly first?¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The blond woman shivered in Sade¡¯s arms, but the mage had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn¡¯t entirely due to the cold. ¡°You have no idea. The moment my eyes fell upon you, I was enamorada. Getting to know you these past few weeks has only made those feelings grow.¡± Sade had no idea how to respond to that. Being suddenly confessed to while in their current predicament was certainly not something she had considered, let alone prepared for. ¡°I¡­ do not know what to say.¡± Daniela hugged her tighter. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. Even if we survive, there¡¯s no way the others would let someone like me stick around.¡± Sade leaned back so she could look the smaller woman directly in the eyes. ¡°Daniela, you saved my life!¡± ¡°But inmediatamente after, we both ended up down here!¡± Daniela shot back, her eyes brimming with moisture. ¡°I failed to spot the danger before we went in. I didn¡¯t catch that monster that almost bit your face off. Fuck! I even screwed up our first meeting!¡± She buried her face into Sade¡¯s shoulder. The mage could feel the fresh tears carving blazing hot trails down her skin. ¡°I¡¯ve always been like this. I always manage to find the perfect way to fuck up a good thing!¡± Her petite body shuddered as her crying transformed to full on sobs. ¡°Fuck, I¡¯m pathetic. Not even mi familia wanted to deal with a failure like me. I should have just let myself drown to save everyone the trouble.¡± ¡°Daniela Mayte Graciela de Montoya!¡± The dwarf visibly flinched at Sade¡¯s harsh tone. She tentatively glanced up and winced when she beheld the fury burning in the human woman¡¯s eyes, her own depressive episode forgotten in the shock. ¡°How dare you speak like that!¡± Sade snapped. ¡°Yes, you made some mistakes. But guess what? We all have! Me most of all.¡± Daniela could only blink in confusion at the sudden outburst. Sade didn¡¯t relent. ¡°I will admit that our first meeting could have gone a lot better. But the most important thing, the very reason we even bothered to let you prove yourself, is that you acknowledged your mistake, vowed to do better, and then actually did so!¡± She placed a gentle hand on the thief¡¯s cheek, her voice softening slightly. ¡°From the moment we let you into our home, we have adopted a doctrine of ¡®trust, but verify¡¯. We have watched your movements, cataloged our belongings every day, asked probing questions, all to see if you were being genuine with us.¡± She smiled. ¡°And you have. These past few weeks allowed us to peel away the veneer and see the earnest, hard working, young woman you truly are. You, Daniela, are a part of our group. And when one of us falls, the others will be there to pick us back up.¡± The shorter woman sniffed. ¡°I-I never knew.¡± Sade gave a soft chuckle. ¡°You were not supposed to. Not until we victoriously came back after completing this mission.¡± Daniela¡¯s face gained a faint hint of pink and she hurriedly averted her gaze. ¡°Anyone ever tell you how sexy you are when you outsmart people?¡± Sade let out an involuntary snort. ¡°No, you would be the first.¡± ¡°Well you are¡­ so fucking sexy when you use that brain of yours. Makes mi coraz¨®n flutter like a caged bird every time I see it.¡± She said before resting her head on Sade¡¯s chest. ¡°Oh, and your tetas are to die for.¡± She added while nuzzling her face deeper inside Sade¡¯s cleavage. The human woman grinned wolfishly then heafted her colossal globes and then smashed them together over Daniela¡¯s head, nearly drowning the woman in a sea of boob flesh. ¡°Well then, it seems that someone is feeling better. I am proud of my tits as well.¡± She said while jiggling her bountiful bosom to and fro. Daniela eventually managed to free herself from the pillowy prison. ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re not shy about using those oversized weapons, are you?¡± ¡°And why should I? I spent a lot of time and energy to grow them. I have no qualms in using my breasts to help a friend feel better.¡± Daniela couldn¡¯t help but smile at the gesture. ¡°Thank¡¯s, that means a lot to¡­. Hold up! What do you mean by spending energy to grow them? Did you fuck Rick so you could have huge tetas?¡± ¡°In essence, yes.¡± Sade said simply. The blond woman¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°Seriously?! His vocation can do that? How extensive are the changes?¡± Sade merely smiled. ¡°Yes. Yes. And just about everything but my face and skin tone.¡± She said, gesturing to her form. ¡°Mierda. That¡¯s quite impressive. Hrm¡­ Could that have been why you didn''t quite fit the characteristics of your house?¡± Sade narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°Come to think of it, you never did explain why you thought I was a member of house Fulani.¡± ¡°What? Oh¡­ Well, it¡¯s not that complicated. I saw that you carried yourself like a highborn but lived more like a plebeya. So I simply looked up a list of fallen noble houses who specialized in magecraft and fit your general description.¡± Daniela explained. ¡°House Fulani fit the best, but I wasn¡¯t completely sure, since members of that familia tended to be more¡­ waifish.¡± Sade palmed her face and groaned. Waifish was certainly a word that could be used to describe her before meeting Rick. ¡°And did you happen to learn why the Fulani¡¯s became a fallen house during your research?¡± She asked, dreading the answer she knew was coming. The thief scratched her chin sheepishly. ¡°Ah, uh¡­ not really?¡± The human let out a great sigh of disappointment. ¡°Of course¡­¡± She mumbled under her breath. She fixed the blond woman with a firm stare. ¡°They were removed from the nobility because evidence emerged that implied house Fulani, among a few other minor houses, were making moves against the crown. In other words, treason.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Daniela said dumbly. Sade nodded her head. ¡°Indeed. All members of that house were hunted down and executed, down to the last man, woman, and child.¡± She paused to let that little tidbit fully sink in. ¡°So in light of that information, you can see why someone would prefer not to be accused of being a survivor of that house.¡± ¡°Mierda.¡± The dwarf breathed. Then her eyes grew wide. ¡°Wait, fuck! That means I doubly fucked up that day! I¡¯m so sorr-¡± Sade stopped the other woman in her tracks with a finger to her lips and a sharp stare. ¡°As I have said, I have already forgiven you. Thankfully, as you previously stated, I no longer have the ¡®waifish¡¯ characteristics of my house. Just remember to look deeper than surface level next time.¡± ¡°S-si!¡± ¡°Good.¡± Sade said and kissed the young woman on the top of her dirty blond head. ¡°Frankly, I am tired of these caves. Let us find our friends and go home.¡± Chapter 18.3 Acceptance Daniela reluctantly extracted herself from Sade¡¯s nude body. ¡°S-sorry. I, um¡­ Yeah, t-that¡¯s a good idea.¡± Sade merely giggled at the dwarf¡¯s adorable reaction and then turned her focus to drying her soaked clothing. ¡°Hey, um, Sade?¡± Daniela asked from behind her after a few moments of silence. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°D-do I n-need to have coito with Rick to c-c-change my body?¡± Sade turned around to look at her. The thief was staring at her, trepidation written all over her face. But there was something more hidden in the dwarf¡¯s crystal blue eyes. Sade saw the faint spark of determination deep in those sapphire pools. ¡°Standard intercourse would allow both parties to benefit from the magic. But all you really need to do is just make him reach climax several times if you prefer.¡± Sade explained. Daniela gave a resigned nod in understanding. ¡°Or¡­¡± Sade continued, a ghost of a smile on her lips. ¡°You could fuck me instead.¡± ¡°??QUE??!¡± Daniela shouted, nearly stumbling to the floor in her surprise at the lewd proposal. Oh, she is just adorable! Sade laughed inwardly at the dwarf¡¯s reaction. I wonder if she will be as fun to tease after she has spent a bit more quality time with us down the road? She licked her lips in anticipation. The other¡¯s had long since gotten used to Sade¡¯s more forceful tendencies, and merely played along for her benefit. Sade was perfectly content with that, but the prospect of someone unaware, an innocent lamb walking inside a lion¡¯s den, made the fire in her belly roar with desire. Yes, she will have her fun with this one. ¡°H-have sex with you?! D-does that mean¡­?¡± Daniela trailed off after recovering from Sade¡¯s statement. ¡°Yes. I am also an intimancer.¡± Sade confirmed. The dwarf ran her nimble fingers through her blond locks. ¡°Really?! But you never once mentioned it. Plus Rick isn¡¯t a pure mage. While you¡­ you are just amazing. I almost pegged you for a magus.¡± Oh no¡­ she should not have said that. Sade giggled. The thief had set herself up perfectly. ¡°I could have been. A magus I mean.¡± ¡°??QUE??!¡± Daniela shouted once more. She cradled her head in her hands, unable to process the surprises Sade kept bombarding her with. ¡°You have got to be fucking with me.¡± ¡°Oh no, that will come later.¡± Sade purred teasingly. At the look on the poor girl¡¯s face, Sade couldn¡¯t help but double over and let out a great belly laugh, arms around her stomach and her bare breasts bouncing wildly. ¡°You¡¯re fucking mean!¡± Daniela pouted. She crossed her arms, causing her own generous swells to puff out enticingly. ¡°Sorry, sorry¡­ I will stop.¡± Sade gasped out once she had recovered. ¡°Teasing aside, I was being truthful to you.¡± The thief looked at her dubiously. ¡°About being a magus and¡­ the coito?¡± Sade did her best to adopt as serious an expression as she was able. It was quite difficult with the thief still sporting an adorable pout. ¡°While I do tend to rely on half-truths, omission, and other forms of obfuscation when dealing with my secrets. I am not in the habit of outright lying. I really did choose to become an intimancer over a magus. While I do not regret my choice, I was¡­ ashamed of it. Thus, I fell back on old habits and simply avoided talking about my vocation. That decision, I do regret. So now I choose to be more honest with those I trust.¡± She walked forward and gave the shorter woman a quick hug. ¡°As I explained earlier, this includes you. And since you have all but outright shouted your preferences on the matter, I thought you would be more comfortable cultivating coital energy from a member of the fairer sex.¡± ¡°But.. I¡¯m not part of the group. Won¡¯t the other¡¯s be mad? And would¡­ would I have to sleep with Rick?¡± The blond woman asked hesitantly. ¡°I believe Rick himself has consistently told you that nobody has to do anything they are not comfortable with.¡± Sade chided gently. ¡°I am sure the others would welcome you to our bed if that is what you desired. We could simply be together privately from time to time. Or we could simply treat this as more a business transaction, albeit a pleasurable one. The point is that however you wish to proceed from here, we will all try to accommodate.¡± ¡°Although¡­¡± Sade said, giving the dwarf a critical glance. ¡°You are incredibly lovely already. What is it that you wish to change?¡± Daniela¡¯s sun tanned skin flushed pink while she gathered up her soaked clothes. She mumbled something under her breath that was far too low for anyone aside from someone like Tyr to discern. ¡°I am sorry, what was that?¡± ¡°I said I want to be smaller!¡± Daniela shouted before she realized what she just blurted out and then buried her face in her shirt. Sade blinked. Of all the various answers she had anticipated, the desire to become smaller was something completely unexpected. ¡°... Smaller?¡± She asked dumbly. The already petite woman squirmed in embarrassment. ¡°Gah! You probably think it''s an est¨²pida thing to want. But look at me!¡± She said while gesturing to her body. She stood tall, arms spread wide, giving Sade an intimate look at every curve of her supple body, and even slightly more. ¡°I know dwarves tend to be husky and all, but I¡¯m just so tall and broad! My tetas are always getting in my way when I¡¯m trying to work. I just wished I was slender and tiny, like a fairy. Right now I feel like mi culata would just get stuck while I¡¯m trying to crawl through a hole.¡± It took a few heartbeats for Sade¡¯s mind to register what the beautifully naked dwarf in front of actually said. She quickly shook her head to dislodge both the improper thoughts and to outwardly show her incredulity on the subject. Daniela was absolutely gorgeous! She had a body that Sade would have dreamed of a year ago. ¡°The grass really is greener on the other side¡­¡± She murmured. ¡°What¡¯s that about grass?¡± The blond woman asked. Sade sighed and reached for her clothing once more. ¡°An expression Rick once told me. In essence, it is referring to how people always long for the things they do not have. I was short and child-like, and wished to become tall and curvy. You wish for the reverse. We are on opposite sides of a fence, thinking the other side is the greener pastures.¡± She explained while casting a cantrip to dry out her various garments. ¡°Huh¡­ I never thought of it like that. Makes me seem kinda silly, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The dwarf mused while doing the same. ¡°It would be highly hypocritical of me to suggest wanting to change yourself into your ideal form as silly.¡± Sade shot back with a hint of sass. ¡°Besides, Tyr and I can personally attest at how annoying it is to have our rear ends be too big to crawl through tight spaces.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The thief¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°Nooooo¡­ That actually happened?!¡± She asked in disbelief. ¡°You HAVE to tell me the cuento!¡± Sade happily regaled her companion with the tale of their first mission for the hunters. The embarrassment from the situation had dulled considerably with time, causing Sade to only giggle at herself in those long lost days of only a few months ago. She greatly enjoyed the irony that her hips were even larger than they were during the incident. Tyr herself would probably not even fit in the tunnel if she attempted it currently with her greatly enhanced body. At the thought of her elven lover, Sade¡¯s mood dampened slightly. Their friends were no doubt worried sick about them. Her heart ached at the thought. They needed to quickly finish drying out their things and be on their way. There was no time to waste. It wasn¡¯t long before both women had their clothes dried, armor and weapons checked, and their supplies stowed away. Sade was the only one with a pack, since Daniela had to ditch hers to swim in the underground lake. The mage took one last look at the dark waters they had crawled out of after their sudden decent. ¡°How did we even survive?¡± She asked softly. ¡°Even into water, the fall should have killed us.¡± ¡°The rocks.¡± Her companion stated simply. Sade gave the petite woman a quizzical look. ¡°I am not sure I follow.¡± The confident smirk that used to always be on the thief¡¯s face slowly reappeared. It didn¡¯t have the same air of smugness as before, but the indomitable confidence was still there all the same. ¡°When the floor fell out from under us, all those rocks hit the water before we did. This broke the surface tension and even made some happy little burbujas too. Thus, the water didn¡¯t behave like a sheet of bedrock when we hit it. Cliff divers do something similar before they jump off really high places that would otherwise maim or kill them.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Sade replied. ¡°I did not know that.¡± Daniela giggled softly. ¡°Oh? Our busty big brained mage openly admitted she didn¡¯t know something?¡± Sade lightly smacked the teasing dwarf on the arm. ¡°Yes, yes I did.¡± She said with a laugh. ¡°I could never compete with Lilie when it comes to the study of the functions of the body or even healing magic. You and Rick are both quite knowledgeable on a variety of subjects as well, which helps cover my personal blind spots.¡± ¡°And Tyr?¡± Daniela asked, a hint of teasing in her voice. ¡°Never underestimate Tyr¡¯s intelligence or experience in worldly matters.¡± Sade replied with complete seriousness. ¡°She may occasionally play the fool, but she has lived almost as long as the rest of us combined and has more than once demonstrated incredible insight when she feels like sharing.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I guess you¡¯re right about that. She really does play el buf¨®n quite well.¡± The thief said after a moment of consideration. ¡°Yes. Far better than the ¡®tough girl¡¯ front she adopted when we first met, that is for sure.¡± Sade laughed. The two continued to slowly explore their surroundings. Daniela stuck close to Sade, scouting ahead meant nothing if either woman was left alone to fend for themselves in an emergency. Plus they enjoyed each other¡¯s company, even if they spent long periods in complete silence for safety. And then they ran across something¡­ odd. Sade stared at the stone face embedded in the wall. Its surface was worn and stained with age, but the surviving features were of a person holding a serene expression. The object they both assumed to be a statue was odd not only because it was a sign of civilization in the otherwise unexplored depths but also because it wasn¡¯t carved out from the same type of stone that composed the tunnel wall. Underneath the grime, the statue was of white marble, which contrasted greatly with all the dull brown and dark grey the two of them had been subjected to ever since descending into the mountain. It almost looked to have been buried before the cave walls hardened around it. ¡°Should we just ignore it?¡± Daniela asked. Sade reluctantly nodded her head. ¡°We should.¡± She made to move but hesitated. ¡°But I really want to dig it out and see what else is there.¡± The dwarf gave the human a flat look. ¡°We don¡¯t exactly have the proper tools or time for this.¡± Sade grimaced. ¡°I know! But the curiosity is killing me! Ugh¡­ damn my inquisitive mind! I have some mana to spare for a quick spell, this should not take long.¡± Before her companion could object, the mage internally drew the pattern for the earth manipulation spell within her body. She winced at the rate her mana drained away as she directed the rock before her to shift aside like clay. As a dedicated spellcaster, her reserves were vastly higher than most people, but they had no clue what hidden dangers awaited them further ahead. Every drop was precious. Rapidly, the rest of the statue was freed from its prison and began to topple over. Daniela dove forward and managed to save it from shattering against the ground. ¡°Thank you for that.¡± Sade said while swiftly cutting off the flow of mana to the spell. ¡°No problema.¡± Her friend replied with a smile. The two examined the newly uncovered artifact. The carving was of a woman dressed in simple clothes, kneeling down with her hands clasped together in front of her chest. Her head was tilted upwards, as if basking in the warmth of the nonexistent sun. ¡°How curious.¡± Sade said softly. Daniela eyed the taller woman. ¡°I¡¯ll say. Who sits like that?¡± Sade chuckled at the minor joke. ¡°You are right about the odd posture. But I was referring to something else. What do you notice about her features?¡± Her companion glanced over the statue with a more discerning gaze. ¡°Well¡­ She¡¯s pretty tall and slender and isn¡¯t dressed all fancy.¡± ¡°All true.¡± Sade admitted. ¡°What strikes me as odd is that she is too tall to be a dwarf, but obviously is not an elf either.¡± While the face¡¯s features had been worn down from exposure, the rest of the details had been miraculously preserved. The two women could see clearly each individual finger of her clasped hands, the subtle details that showed her clothing was a simple one piece dress, and a waterfall of long hair pouring behind her upturned head. There were even a few chips of faded paint along the stony surface. ¡°And how¡¯s that odd?¡± Sade pointed towards the hairline. Prominently displayed between the carved strands was the woman¡¯s ear with a distinctly rounded tip. ¡°Because she is human.¡± She explained simply. ¡°And? Humans aren''t exactly unheard of.¡± Daniela scoffed. Sade¡¯s smile widened. ¡°True. But humans like me only arrived in these lands a few hundred years ago. The dwarves several centuries before that. And the elves for as long as anyone can remember.¡± She petted the statue lovingly. ¡°If she had been buried long enough for the area to become stone, then our girl here is considerably older than most known civilizations.¡± The blond woman¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Mierda¡­¡± Sade nodded. ¡°Indeed. Quite the mystery. It is a shame we can not take her with us.¡± She stepped forward, trying to memorize every detail of the kneeling woman from every angle she could before they inevitably moved on. Her eyes caught something odd in her periphery. The light from her lantern spell seemingly swallowed up by a blob of darkness from where the statue previously rested. She quickly readied herself in a defensive stance, ready to attack anything that came her way. Daniela had reacted to Sade¡¯s surprise almost instantly. She was crouched low and had her sword drawn and ready. ¡°What is it?¡± She hissed while looking around wildly. Sade paused as her mind finally caught up to her reflexes. ¡°It is¡­ a hole.¡± She cautiously stepped forward. With a mental command, the tiny orb of bright flame floated forward through the opening to illuminate the other side. Both women were shocked when the glowing ball slipped inside and was nearly devoured by the darkness within. Only when Sade urged her spell a bit further did the soft glow finally reveal a feature beyond the gloom. It was another face. The mage raised her spell above where they could see it through the hole then forced more mana through the invisible connection between her and the cantrip until the room was bathed in a false daylight. Both women let out quiet gasps at what they saw. Several more statues littered the vast cavern before them, each figure depicted slightly different from the other, yet all had the same upturned face filled with serenity and contentment. Behind the rows of carved bodies stood several stone buildings. They were strange, unlike any architecture Sade had ever seen. The buildings were stepped pyramids, with steep stairs that went straight up the middle towards the top. Stone doors barred entry to their interiors from either side of the stairway. ¡°What is this place?¡± Daniela muttered. Sade was unsure how to answer. She looked towards the top of the structures to spy what looked to be either stone benches or tables topped with what looked to be¡­ crystal? She once more observed the statues in an attempt to glean more insight. Many were facing the pyramids, all were kneeling down, clasping their hands in¡­ ¡°This is a temple!¡± She gasped breathlessly. The stone figures were all kneeling down in supplication, in worship, while staring up in rapture at the crystal tops of each temple building. The realization sent an excited shiver down her spine. Her inner scholar was salivating at the prospect of discovering a new chapter of their nation''s prehistory. She unconsciously took a single step forward into the temple cavern. It was then that the two women heard loud thumps echoing throughout the tunnels. Chapter 18.4 Reunited Tyr was the first to hear the roar. She was jogging down a tunnel, her chest bent down and her nose pointed forward, sniffing the air like a great auburn bloodhound, when her large ears perked up and she froze. While the others were still catching up to her loping gait, she closed her eyes and began to listen intently. Eventually, her head snapped towards a side tunnel and she bared her fangs in a snarl. ¡°What is it?¡± Rick asked breathlessly after he finally got close. ¡°This way.¡± She growled in answer. Rick and Lilie gave each other a shrug then dashed after the wild elf. Whatever it was, they would soon find out. They ran for several minutes through the twisting passages before they heard it. A monstrous bellow of rage followed by the sounds of heavy stomps and the crumbling of stone as something heavy crushed the surrounding rock into gravel. There was something else too. Something that sounded almost like¡­ They turned a corner and skidded to a halt. In front of them was a deep ravine that Rick could never hope to see the bottom of. The area on the other side of the gash in the rock was wide and open. One of the tunnels leading away had a suspiciously bright glow emanating from deep within. Rick¡¯s heart soared into the stratosphere when he saw Sade and Daniela burst out of the tunnel at a dead sprint. The two women were whole and healthy, if a bit harried in their haste to get the hell out of the tunnel. Rick raised his hands to call out to them but was interrupted by a deafening roar that shook the whole cavern. It was then he saw the giant monster that was chasing them. ¡­ Sade cursed her rotten luck as she ran. When the thumping sounds echoed throughout the underground passageways, she and Daniela quickly placed the statue back in front of the hole leading to the temples and dashed in the opposite direction they heard the noise. While running, Sade prepared her favorite lightning spell and the ever reliable ¡®flamethrower¡¯ alongside the earth manipulation spell for utility. She was confident in her ability to take down any serious threat with those three spells taking up all her attunement slots and a few simple cantrips she could cast at will. She didn¡¯t have her usual reliable lovers to shore up her weaknesses, but Daniela was exceptionally competent, so Sade was not too worried. The two of them could handle anything this crazy mountain could throw at them. It was when they paused to catch their breaths did they finally spy the creature that was following them with such ferocity. The thing was humanoid in shape, in the fact that it had two arms, two legs, and stood upright. But those were where the similarities abruptly ended. Its head was a misshapen lump of pale flesh with a too wide maw filled with jagged yellow teeth. The three fingers on each hand were little more than joints to hold wicked curved claws. The thing was lean, almost skeletal if not for the hard cords of muscles that criss-crossed under its warped gray flesh. The most unsettling feature, aside from the horrifying, dangling proof that the naked monster before them was a male, was the pale blue cluster of crystals poking out of its shoulder. The shards didn¡¯t look so much like they were growing out of the monster, but burrowing inside instead. Great rents in the creature''s flesh that looked to be where it scratched itself in irritation showed areas wet with dark blood, but other lacerations only further exposed the faint blue glow of something solid instead. It took another step with its oversized feet, the claws at the end of its toes gouging the stone beneath like a knife through soft cheese. It bent down low so it could sniff the ground, looking for prey to feast upon. Even when it was close to being on all fours, the monster was easily as tall as Tyr. Sade shuddered in thought of what would happen if it got close enough to use those dagger sized claws. The mage decided she would take no chances in letting it get close. Electricity writhed around her arms as she formed a magical lightning bolt in her outstretched hands. The second the spear was formed, she leapt out of the cover they were hiding behind and launched it straight for the things face. Thunder boomed in the confined space as the lightning ripped through the air like a blinding white tear in reality. Strangely, the lighting suddenly veered off its deadly course slightly and instead impacted the strange crystal rather than the monster''s ugly mug. The strange blue cluster drank up the deadly lightning greedily until there was nothing left of the spell other than the spots floating in her eyes from the flash. Sade was stunned. One of her single strongest attacks was just nullified in the blink of an eye. She was almost going to try again, when the crystals began to glow and pulse with a baleful light. Like a twisted heartbeat, the crystals pumped the stolen magic into their host. Veins of pale blue shone through the creature¡¯s thick skin as more and more energy saturated its being. Faster and faster the light pulsed until the glow was just a constant stream. And then the monster began to grow. The thing bellowed in pain as every muscle in its body swelled with power. The claws on its hands and feet lengthened until they looked like jagged swords. The monster¡¯s relatively thin frame broadened and expanded as the stolen magic piled greater strength upon it. It almost looked like a twisted parody of every time they used a large amount of coital energy all at once. Sade¡¯s heart sank to her stomach as the glow from the crystals faded and the monster began to rise, its face aimed right towards where she stood. Daniela was the one who summed up Sade¡¯s feelings perfectly. ¡°Oh¡­ Fuck me sideways!¡± Then they ran. The two women sprinted down the tunnels and away from the horrifying monstrosity as fast as their legs could carry them, the monster howling and crashing through the rocky obstacles in its way while following close behind. They burst into a large cavern with a steep drop-off on one side. Desperate, Sade unleashed a quick burst of flames behind her in hopes that she could at least blind the creature if not hurt it outright. The small ember of hope died when she saw that even that small burst of magic was absorbed into the cursed crystals jutting out of its skin. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. The two women were backed against a wall. The monster slowed down, small pulses of blue from Sade¡¯s failed attack giving the thing just that much more strength to crush them into paste. The monster stalked forward, as if savoring the smell of their terror before it could feast on them properly. There was nothing she could do. Neither of them could fight the thing with the weapons they had. They would need actual siege weapons to even have a hope in hurting the thing, not a glorified butter knife or the tiny hunk of metal she called a mace. They were going to die down here, and there was nothing Sade could do to stop it. And then out of nowhere, she saw Rick soaring through the air like a bird, straight towards the back of the unaware monstrosity. ¡­ Rick watched helplessly as the monster came into view. The thing didn¡¯t so much as step out of the tunnel as it fucking smashed through the rocky wall like a mutant hulk. The monster was as massive as it was ugly, and Rick noted the odd glowing crystals growing out of its arm like a strange tumor. The sight set off his gamer senses like nothing else in this strange world. He watched helplessly as Sade, still taking off at a dead sprint, cocked her hand behind her back and unleashed a torrent of angry red flames towards their pursuer. He then saw how the strange blue growth sucked up all the magical fire like vacuum into its blue glowing structure. ¡°The fucker is immune to magic!¡± He cried out in realization. No wonder Sade couldn''t handle him on her own. His beautiful mage was as deadly as she was brilliant,, but the ability to negate magic was easily the greatest advantage something could have when facing his amazing lover. He wanted to run in there and save her. But even if he pumped all his saved points from leveling into strength, he still wouldn¡¯t be able to make the leap across the chasm to get to them. Adding the creature''s resistance to all his ranged attacks, and he could only shout and glare from where he stood. Suddenly, he had an idea. ¡°Throw me!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Tyr asked, confused at the sudden demand. Rick fixed the amazonian warrior with a determined stare. ¡°Pick me up with those wonderfully strong arms of yours, and chuck me as hard as you can towards that mother fucker who¡¯s trying to kill the woman we love.¡± The large woman looked almost stunned at the sheer insanity that came out of his mouth. But then she gave a wide fanged grin as shock transformed to understanding. ¡°Aye, I can do that.¡± She scooped Rick up like a small child and positioned his body so that she had one hand on his rear and the other stabilizing his chest. ¡°Get ready!¡± She called as she cocked her arm back and began to sprint forward like she was about to perform an olympic javelin toss. When Tyr hit the edge of the ravine, she yeeted her lover with every ounce of her incredible strength. Rick wanted to scream in terror as his body flew at incredible speeds over the deadly descent, but his fury at the monster in front of him caused his mouth to let out a bellowing warcry instead. He slammed, spear first, into the creature¡¯s broad back. His weapon sunk deep into the rubbery flesh between its shoulder blades. His elation was short lived, as the cruel bitch known as momentum forced his body to slam into the broad back of the monster after his weapon, causing the breath to explode out of his lungs with violent fury. I should have thought through the landing¡­ He groaned inwardly in pain. He thankfully was able to hold onto his weapon as he started to fall towards the hard and unforgiving ground. It gave him no small amount of sadistic glee to watch as his body weight caused the sharp metal to carve a bloody line all the way down to the creature¡¯s hip before popping out with a wet squelch and a spray of dark blood. The monster, unsurprisingly, bellowed in pain as its bulky arms desperately tried to reach behind itself to staunch the gaping wound along its spine. Rick had to quickly roll out of the way to avoid being flattened by the feet of the thrashing giant. He ducked a wild swing of its claws before standing back up and facing his foe. He was no expert on monster¡¯s facial expressions, but it was safe to assume that whatever face it was making meant it was royally pissed off. He smiled and let out a wheezing chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s what you get, asshole.¡± The thing quickly rose to its feet and roared in a defiant challenge, its arms spread wide to expose its gigantic barrel chest like an enraged gorilla. The effect would have been absolutely terrifying if one of its elbows didn¡¯t explode in a shower of gore as a wooden spear with feathers on one end suddenly slammed through the joint. Before the creature could react, another siege arrow ripped a hole in its other arm. There was the sound of a strange yelp coming from its malformed throat as a third sprouted from its rear end. ¡°Suprise ya boggin eejit!¡± Tyr shouted with a shit-eating grin splitting her face. Next thing anyone knew, Lilie came up behind the monster¡¯s leg and slashed at the sensitive area behind the knee with her sword. The giant crashed down to the floor as its leg could no longer support its immense weight and buckled. ¡°?Come mierda!¡± Came a scream from beside Rick. Daniela¡¯s tiny body flew forward and buried her sword all the way to the hilt into the monster''s chest. She let fly another string of curses strong enough to make a sailor blush as she twisted the blade savagely. Rick, not even remotely done venting his fury either, leapt back into the frey. This thing had the gall to go after one of their own, and it would regret that decision for the rest of its tragically short life. He ducked and weaved between the massive flailing limbs and he zeroed in on his target. His free hand reached out and seized the ugly mass of flesh between its legs and yanked with all his might. The screams of the dying monster rose several satisfying octaves as its whole body curled into itself to escape the intense pain. Rick merely gripped his spear near the metal head, then began to saw away to remove his prize. The huge monster¡¯s thrashing grew weaker as all the damage the hunters inflicted finally caught up to its brain. When Rick was done excising the grisly trophy, the creature seemed to flop lifelessly to the ground, all the fight finally drained out along with its vital fluids. It was then Rick beheld Sade¡¯s approach. The magnificent mage stood imperiously above the giant¡¯s skull, like a queen ready to pass judgment upon a convicted criminal. Her eyes betrayed no emotion, she merely stared down at the monster before raising her mace high above her head. Like the gavel of a judge, the blunt head of her weapon came crashing down to enact her sentence. The metal rang with a dull thud, and the deed was done. Rick rushed forward to grab Sade as her legs gave out from under her. He hugged the love of his life close as tears began to form in both their eyes. He had thought her lost forever. Then when they were close to being reunited against all odds, he nearly had to watch her die in front of his eyes all over again. ¡°Sade.¡± He croaked out, doing his best to speak though the sudden rush of emotions. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Chapter 19.1 Rest and Relaxation The village chief quirked a lone eyebrow at the hunters. When the exhausted party finally managed to reach the sealed gates to the mine and give the proper signal to those on the other side to open the great doors, they quickly learned from the surprised miners that it had been nearly two full days since they first descended into its depths. The sight of the warm sunlight glowing ever brighter from the distant horizon nearly brought all five of them to tears. The miners standing guard by the heavy doors could only watch awkwardly while the party slowly composed themselves and asked how things were in their absence. Once the party was finally caught up on everything that happened while they were away, the hunters shuffled their way back to the village proper in order to give a proper report. They were all physically and emotionally drained. ¡®Dead tired¡¯ was a completely inadequate descriptor for the sheer numbing exhaustion that had seeped all the way to their bones from everything that happened down in the darkness. They decided that once the chief had been briefed, they would retire for the rest of the day and pick things back up in the morning. ¡°I suppose I should welcome you all back.¡± The chief said after the surprise of seeing the five young people shamble into his office like a pack of undead. ¡°I hope things were not too difficult.¡± Tyr held up a large sack and plopped it down on a small part of the chief¡¯s desk that was free of clutter. The contents inside thudded loudly against the sturdy wood. The old orc once more raised a brow at their antics, but decided to simply play along. Opening the top of the sack and peering inside, he hissed and visibly recoiled as if bitten by a snake once he uncovered what was inside. ¡°A cave troll?! You lot actually encountered one of these in the mines?!¡± He shouted while looking at the severed head of the apparent troll they brutalized together. The lumpy skull was frozen inside a thick block of magical ice for ease of transport and to prevent various fluids from seeping where they were not wanted. ¡°Thankfully not inside the mine itself. But we did encounter him in the caves your miners managed to stumble upon.¡± Rick added dryly. The chief looked at the group with a new, more appreciative light. ¡°And the caves are sealed up again? We won¡¯t have to worry about monsters like this pouring out anymore?¡± HIs voice had steadily rose in pitch with each word uttered, gaining a slightly desperate, pleading edge near the end. ¡°The initial breach is sealed.¡± Sade confirmed. ¡°But we discovered that the whole area runs next to and above many of the natural tunnels and caverns. I would recommend that the whole section of the mines near the breach be sealed off to reduce the likelihood of opening a new hole in the system.¡± The old man sunk into his chair and groaned into his wrinkled hands. ¡°Those new tunnels held such promise¡­ Months of work and profit, gone! All of it, reduced to ash simply due to bad luck!¡± He shook his head ruefully before letting out one last great sigh. ¡°You are right though. The risk of getting wiped out in another monster hoard is just too great.¡± He looked down at the monster¡¯s severed head once more, almost transfixed by its gruesome visage. ¡°That is the single largest troll skull I have ever seen. I can¡¯t imagine how harrowing the fight must have been.¡± Rick coughed a bit. ¡°Yes¡­ Well, we are more than a little tired. We¡¯ll give a full report on everything we encountered in the mines and what to look out for after we¡¯ve gotten some sleep. This work for you?¡± ¡°Wha-? Oh, yes, yes of course. Take all the time you need to recover.¡± The chief said after tearing his eyes away from the grisly trophy. Rick idly wondered how he would react to their other trophy from the apparent cave troll they brought back. Tyr nearly laughed herself silly after he and Sade broke their hug after being reunited and Rick noticed that he was holding severed troll genitals in his hand the whole time. His dark skinned lover thankfully found it almost as amusing as the elf and gladly preserved the appendage in ice as well. Tyr was almost giddy at the prospect of taking the thing home and hanging it on the wall next to all the other various monster bits and pieces they¡¯ve collected so far. Back to their room, the five of them grabbed a clean change of clothes and immediately hit the communal baths shared by the villagers. Rick, being the only man in the group, was left by himself with the other male patrons in the bath house. He didn¡¯t mind too much. The hot water soothed his sore muscles as he lounged in the large bathing pool. It felt like he was scrubbing away all the pain and anguish alongside all the accumulated sweat and grime from his time below the earth. The emotional highs and lows from their adventure, all of it just felt so soul crushing. Rick eagerly tried to cleanse the confusing mix of emotions with each scrub along his skin. Eventually he just dunked his head under the scalding water and just held his breath until his mind could finally calm down. Thankfully his head gave in before his lungs did, and he splashed back up with a jubilant inhale of sweet oxygen. ¡°Feeling better lad?¡± Rick wiped the water away from his eyes and turned to the man who spoke. A burly orcish man was lounging right beside where he stood and eyeing him with a concerned gaze. ¡°I believe so.¡± Rick answered honestly. The large man nodded sagely. ¡°That¡¯s good. You walked in here looking like a soldier who just returned from a brutal campaign.¡± Rick considered the man¡¯s words for a few moments. Could what he felt be something like shellshock? He merely shrugged. ¡°Maybe. My friends and I just got back from clearing the mine. Things got¡­ hairy for a bit down there.¡± He felt a large hand slap him on the back. Another bear of a man with a shiny bald head grinned at him through a thick tangle of a beard. ¡°But you and the rest all came back whole ¡®and hearty, yeah?¡± He said while eyeing Rick up and down as if looking for any obvious wounds. ¡°Y-yeah¡­¡± Rick confirmed. As if those words themselves were magical, the tension in his back loosened ever so slightly. ¡°Yeah, we did all make it out in one piece.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear lad.¡± The first man said with a gentle smile. ¡°We appreciate the service you and your fellow hunters provided.¡± The bearded man let out a boisterous laugh and clapped Rick on the shoulders one more time with considerable force. ¡°Ain''t that the truth! You and your friends really helped us out. It would be a shame if something happened to those who did so much for us simple folk.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± RIck chuckled and stood up fully to leave the tub. Both men gasped in shock. ¡°What in the blazes?!¡± The boisterous one exclaimed. Rick looked down and inwardly winced. Somehow his relaxed state had allowed a modicum of his true length to become more apparent. He had acquired both the traits needed to keep his size more manageable, but it seemed that sometimes the beast within refused to be contained. Even at a quarter chub, he was still longer flaccid than most men were in total. ¡°This may be a bit rude, but do you perhaps have some elf blood in you?¡± The orc asked, doing his best not to snicker at his openly gaping companion. ¡°Nope.¡± Rick said simply with a smirk. He got out of the pool and started to dry, then dressed himself. ¡°But my child certainly does.¡± He added with a wink right before he turned to leave the baths. The two men were stunned for a moment, looking at each other then back to Rick. They then erupted in raucous cheers. Rick shook his head in amusement as their calls of encouragement followed him through the door. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit lad!¡± ¡°Go and give the lucky gal a great time!¡± His good mood persisted as he made his way back to their shared room. He felt like a new man, scoured clean from all the trauma and hardships he had recently endured. They had all survived what could have been a horrible travesty relatively intact. Perhaps that fact was only just sinking into his thick skull. Rick collapsed onto one of the beds. It seemed that the girls were taking a bit longer to clean up. That was perfectly fine, they could take as long as they needed. If anyone deserved a moment of warm relaxation after what they just went through, it was the four of them. His eyelids grew heavy. While the bath woke him up slightly, the feeling of his freshly cleaned and cooling skin while he lay on the exquisite softness of the bed was causing his exhaustion to swiftly return with a vengeance. He couldn¡¯t help but let go, and drift in the realm between sleep and wakefulness. He was roused from that strange limbo by the sound of a door opening. He looked over and saw the four girls walking inside, each of them looking quite refreshed and considerably more relaxed than before. ¡°Welcome back. Enjoy yourselves?¡± He asked while groggily sitting back up. Tyr gave a wide, toothy grin. ¡°Ya bet yer arse we did.¡± The girls all exchanged looks and Sade rolled her eyes. ¡°The bath was indeed wonderful. Although getting fondled a bit by strangers was a new experience.¡± Rick sat up straighter. ¡°You got groped?!¡± Sade raised up her hand to forestall his worry. ¡°Nothing quite so egregious. It is all a long story, but the important part is that it was consensual.¡± ¡°They even asked permission twice before juggling around those fun bags.¡± Lilie snickered. ¡°Thank goodness!¡± Rick sighed. ¡°These townsfolk seemed quite nice, if the two burly men ogling my dick were any indication.¡± ¡°You serious? Are your cajones just as impressive too?¡± Daniela joked. Rick merely shrugged. ¡°They seemed to think so, or at least that I had a bit of¨C wait, why are you stripping?¡± While he was in the middle of talking, Sade had begun to remove her thick outer coat, leaving only a loose shirt and a small pair of shorts to cover her nakedness. Beside her, Tyr was also casually removing her garments as well. The other two thankfully didn¡¯t feel the need to start taking off the remains of their clothes as well, but neither did the other womens¡¯ actions seem to surprise them either. Sade¡¯s breasts were obviously unbound, jiggling softly from under her shirt due to their immense weight but hardly sagging at all in their impossible perkiness. Rick could feel his mouth water and his blood begin to flow southward with just a glimpse of the hypnotizing motion. He never got tired of looking at those dusky peaks. With each orb nearly the size of her head now resting over what he knew to be a flat and well muscled stomach, he couldn¡¯t blame those village women from wanting to touch them. ¡°You girls weren¡¯t kidding. He really does look like a starving lobo ready to feast.¡± Rick snapped out of his lustful daze at Daniela¡¯s words. ¡°Wait, you didn¡¯t answer my question.¡± He said while desperately trying to look each woman in the eyes without drifting too far south. ¡°Something we should have done for a long time.¡± Sade replied ominously before striding towards his position. Rick gulped as those great hips swayed from side to side with each purposeful step she took. Even after the time they all got carried away, she had never stopped making herself grow. Oh she, like him, had slowed herself down considerably, but never outright stopping in her desire to become bigger for even a moment. The bed creaked as her weight settled atop it. Sade then crawled her way forward until she plopped her magnificent rear right on his lap. ¡°Um¡­ So are you finally going to tell me what this is all about?¡± He asked.. Sade sighed. ¡°When I fell¡­ when I was almost forcefully torn out of everyone¡¯s lives forever, I lamented all the things I never shared with you.¡± She reached up, cupped his face, and gave him a tearful smile. ¡°I love you, Rick. Almost from the moment we met, I have grown to love the quiet, caring, and brilliant man who dropped into my life when I thought all was lost. You have encouraged me to live out my dreams, to seize a future worth living with my own two hands. You allowed me to be happy.¡± Sade bent forward and kissed him. It wasn¡¯t a slow, gentle peck on the lips, but a full mouthed embrace. Her tongue reached inside and coiled around his own, desperate, needy. Rick wrapped his arms around her and brought her whole body close until she was pressed flush up against him, the sides of her enormous knockers spilling out like chocolate pudding from where the two lovers pressed together. He held onto her, unwilling to let this beautiful moment end. Rick felt Sade¡¯s hand gently pull their mouths apart. ¡°I am here, I will not leave your side ever again.¡± She said breathlessly At those words, Rick could feel his entire body go lax and flop down on the soft bed, taking the dusky woman along for the ride. Sade quickly sat back up and turned to the rest of their audience. ¡°Is the ward set up?¡± Daniela snapped back to attention. ¡°Whoops! Just give me a sec!¡± She said before zipping around and placing those familiar metal disks around the room. ¡°Annnnnnnd¡­ Done!¡± The air thrummed with the activation of the magical devices. Sade beckoned the others to come closer. She wiggled a bit in apparent nervousness at what was going to happen next. Rick found this odd, considering the show they had just put on, but he was curious enough to let this all play out. She sucked in a deep breath. ¡°Sade Nala Fulani¡± She stated simply. ¡°That is the full name I would have if my family was still counted among the nobility.¡± Rick was stunned. Sade was of a noble house? In hindsight, that sorta made sense, but it opened up the door to so many more questions. As if sensing that he was about to speak, Sade placed a finger to his lips. ¡°Not yet my love.¡± Her eyes grew hard as she looked at each other person in the room right in the eyes. ¡°That name can never leave this room. House Fulani is dead, and must remain that way. So to you and everyone else, I am simply Sade. Understood?¡± Everyone nodded their agreement. ¡°Thank you.¡± She said with a sigh. ¡°Secret knowledge like that is dangerous, but I feel that keeping important information about myself from all of you is wrong. I am tired of keeping secrets, especially from those I love.¡± Her smile turned wry. ¡°And speaking of love¡­ I suppose it is about time I discuss my vocation with all of you.¡± Another deep breath, another slow exhale. ¡°I am an intimancer.¡± The room once more became quiet. But the silence wasn¡¯t one of shock and surprise, but more the kind of quiet when people just don¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Huh¡­ I guess that explains a few things.¡± Rick said in an attempt to break the ice. ¡°Wait, what?! ¡®That explains a few things¡¯. Just that?¡± Sade nearly shouted with incredulity. ¡°Well, I sorta figured that already.¡± Tyr said with a shrug. ¡°Kinda hard ta think otherwise when sex between the two ¡®a us still gives coital energy.¡± ¡°Plus you already told me.¡± Daniela stated simply. Lilie merely grinned smugly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why you thought you should hide it, but I¡¯m still glad you decided to finally tell us.¡± Rick chuckled and cupped her cheek softly. ¡°Care to tell us why?¡± Sade¡¯s dusky cheeks flushed a shade darker. She let out a mumble that was so soft, Rick questioned if he heard anything at all. ¡°Sorry, what was that?¡± ¡°I said I was ashamed of it!¡± Sade whined. ¡°I could have been a magus! But I chose intimancy instead. The whole situation was just embarrassing!¡± Rick was confused. ¡°What¡¯s a magus?¡± This time the whole room became quiet. Not in the awkward moment sort of way, but in shock at the words that just came out of his mouth. ¡°Wait, you seriously don¡¯t fucking know what a magus is?¡± Lilie asked. The rest of the girls all stared at him with the same look of shock and puzzlement, even Tyr. Rick groaned. It was just his luck to ask the one question everyone in the world knew as common knowledge except him. Still, now was the perfect time to rip the bandage off if there ever was one. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. But I guess it all ties to the secret I¡¯ve been keeping from you all too.¡± He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the storm of questions that were about to follow, and exhaled. ¡°I¡¯m from another world.¡± Chapter 19.2 A Questionable Q&A I Words failed Sade as she tried to process what her love just told her. I am from another world. Of all the things he could have possibly been hiding from her and the rest of the group, she would have never suspected that. What did that even mean? How was that possible? Would that mean he would eventually leave her? The questions swirled around in her mind like snowflakes in a blizzard, too numerous to count and far too chaotic to focus on any individual piece. ¡°Yer gonna have ta explain that a wee bit more.¡± Tyr mercifully asked. That was a good tactic. More information meant more answers to the maelstrom raging in Sade¡¯s skull. ¡°Of course.¡± Rick said before moving to get up from underneath her. Sade¡¯s hand lashed out to grip his arm tightly to stop him from moving. She felt so lost, vulnerable at the sudden revelation that the man she loved was not who she thought he was. That didn¡¯t change her feelings for him, but she was still rocked to her core and needed something, anything to keep stable. Rick¡¯s hardness pressing up against her shorts was like an anchor keeping her grounded to reality. If she let him go, she would just float away and be adrift in the void. ¡°Please¡­¡± She whispered, barely able to concentrate enough for her to get the word out. Rick¡¯s surprised expression softened. He reached up and brought her down into a gentle embrace. ¡°Sure thing.¡± He said warmly before gingerly adjusting both their bodies until he was sitting up against the headboard of the bed and Sade was on his lap. ¡°Thank you. I¡­ I have no idea what is wrong with me right now. Please¡­ Just stay like this for a few moments.¡± Rick smiled once more and kissed Sade lightly on the tip of her nose. ¡°I just blindsided you all with something I¡¯m pretty sure none of you thought possible. I¡¯m honestly surprised that nobody¡¯s freaking out even more.¡± ¡°I withhold my right to freak the fuck out until after you elaborate on that particular issue.¡± Lilie groused. ¡°So hurry the fuck up so I can decide on how irrational I should be about all this!¡± ¡°Right¡­ where to begin?¡± Rick said with a theatrical pause, his finger tapping on his chin. ¡°I suppose we should start with my amnesia.¡± ¡°So you didn¡¯t have it?¡± Daniela asked. Rick shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s the thing, I kinda do have some form of it. Even now, I have absolutely no clue how I ended up in that forest or why. Every time I try, I come across this odd¡­ void, for lack of a better term. I honestly suspect that I have some sort of magical block on that highly specific part of my brain.¡± He took a deep breath to center himself. ¡°But aside from how I got here. I remember everything.¡± ¡°Everything?¡± Tyr asked. ¡°Everything. Aside from when I was really young, I have eighteen years worth of memories of my time in a world different from Parva. Only thing I''m missing are the moments between there and here.¡± ¡°And how do you know you come from another world and not some odd corner of ours? There are a lot of places still unexplored by the various kingdoms and empires.¡± Sade asked. Even she could sense the desperate edge to her tone of voice. It was all just too unbelievable. And yet¡­ the idea of him being from a different world altogether would explain some of his eccentricities. ¡°That is a good question.¡± Rick replied, not even a hint of anger at her attempts to disprove his way of thinking. ¡°I know my world is separate from yours because we fully explored ours. Every poll, every continent, every ocean has been mapped extensively. We even had people set foot on our moon and see the world in its entirety.¡± He paused and gave a small chuckle. ¡°Although, despite the mountain of evidence, there are those who still refuse to believe that little event ever happened.¡± Sade and the other three women were stunned. Walked upon their moon? How was something like that even possible? And he said it like it was the simplest thing imaginable. One does not simply fly onto massive celestial bodies. Rick held up his hand to forestall their questions so he could continue. ¡°I also know that the only sentient people who lived on my world were humans. Elves, dwarves, tieflings¡­ they only existed in our stories and legends.¡± ¡°Really? There¡¯s no amazing elves like meself out there to show ya mayflies how ta have a good time?¡± Everyone couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort of laughter at the sheer audacity coming out of Tyr¡¯s mouth. Sade patted the large woman on the arm in gratitude. Her silly statements were exactly what she needed to feel somewhat normal again. ¡°Huh¡­ It sounds a bit crazy. Just what kind of magic do your people have to make it all the way to the moon?¡± Lilie asked. Rick avoided everyone¡¯s expectant gaze sheepishly. ¡°Well¡­ Uh¡­ We kinda don¡¯t¡­ have any?¡± That statement woke Sade out of her strange daze immediately. She gripped his chin and turned his head until he was looking right into her eyes. ¡°What do you mean, you do not have any magic? How would your people accomplish amazing things like walking on your moon if not utilizing some form of spellcraft?¡± Rick sighed. ¡°I¡¯m being serious. We studied the natural laws of our world and utilized them to accomplish amazing things. No spellcraft necessary.¡± Sade blinked. ¡°I can not believe it.¡± ¡±Meh, some of our tech would seem like magic to you anyways.¡± He placed a hand on his temple and winced. ¡°I can already imagine the headache I would get if I tried to go down the rabbit hole just trying to explain how my old phone worked.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a phone?¡± Tyr asked sweetly, her eyes betraying just how much she was screwing around with him. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Fuck you Tyr!¡± Rick laughed. ¡°Nah¡­ I¡¯d rather fuck her at the moment.¡± She said with a nod towards Sade. ¡°I was promised a chance ta plow that tight back hole ¡®a hers while ya worked on the front. She even cleaned herself out just fer the occasion.¡± It was Sade¡¯s turn to look sheepish as he stared at her incredulously. ¡°I¡­ Uh¡­ Did promise that.¡± She said with a nervous titter. ¡°You seriously want to get over your issues with double penetration now? After Tyr is nearly six times as large as she was during that first time?¡± Sade sat up and gestured to a particular spot on her abdomen, just above her navel. It was precisely where he had personally witnessed his own massive dick bulging out so far it nearly touched her sternum. ¡°I think I am more than used to having my insides rearranged by the two of you.¡± She said to emphasize the point. ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± Rick winced a bit at the reminder of his sheer size, but Sade could also feel the pale spear below her twitch deliciously at the sight as well. Her core warmed at the thought, the embers of desire kindling back to life after nearly being snuffed out by the strange tangent their conversion took. She wiggled her hips a bit to stir the exquisite hardness around. Rick¡¯s answering inhale of breath at the motion brought her no small measure of glee. ¡°How about this; We have a proper question and answer session, then we can make love together like originally planned.¡± Sade purred. ¡°We can make a little game out of the whole ordeal, what do you say?¡± Rick simply stared at his fellow intimancer for a few heartbeats before shaking his head. ¡°You and your little games, I swear.¡± Without warning, he thrust his hips up, driving that beautiful tower of fertility even deeper into her crack. Sade couldn¡¯t help but let a gasping moan slip out before she clasped her hands over her mouth. Oh, he was going to pay for that. She will have him writhing underneath him in no time, she would make sure of it. ¡°I¡¯m game!¡± Tyr chirped before grabbing Rick¡¯s legs and giving a gentle pull. Sade and Rick each gave a little yelp of surprise at the sudden motion before she fell forward, back to laying on Rick¡¯s chest. The bed sagged and groaned as the gigantic woman got on her knees right besides the two of them. Sade could feel the heat of the elf¡¯s massive body as it curled around both her and Rick. The thought of Tyr forcing her extra appendage inside her, stretching out her already overtaxed organs to the limit and then continuing onward once they were finished interrogating Rick, thrilled and terrified her in equal measure. Sade had performed quite a number of ¡®unladylike¡¯ actions with the people surrounding her in that room. But deep down, there was always this token hesitation. While she was a commoner by right, she was raised to be a noble. She was supposed to claw her family back to their rightful place in society. But with each new day, each new depravity she indulged in, that facade crumbled away like cheap plaster. At the moment, there was only one last thing holding it all up. She knew that getting over her hang-up with anal play would sever the final string holding up Sade Nala Fulani. And once it was all gone, all that would remain would be Sade the intimancer. Her true self. But for the moment, she needed answers. There was a gentle clap from beside them. Both humans turned to see Lilie sporting a wide grin. ¡°I¡¯m glad you are enjoying yourselves and all, but how is this little game supposed to go?¡± Sade laughed then did her best to give Tyr a kiss as well before she answered. ¡°It is quite simple. We all will each take turns asking either Rick or myself questions until we are all¡­ satisfied.¡± She punctuated that last word with a low moan and a wide grin. Lilie shrugged. ¡°Works for me. Who¡¯s first?¡± ¡°Let us have you, Daniela, Tyr, Rick, then myself as the order. Seem fair?¡± The healer nodded her head and then pulled up a chair so she could get comfortable. ¡°Fine then. Sade, why don¡¯t you want your name to be known?¡± Sade was somewhat surprised that the first question would be for her. But rules, even arbitrary ones, were still rules. ¡°House Fulani was charged with treason and hunted down for immediate execution several generations ago. Anyone claiming to be from that house would no doubt be rounded up, interrogated for information on other survivors, then summarily killed.¡± Lilie¡¯s eyes grew as wide as saucers. ¡°Oh¡­ well fuck!¡± Daniela patted the woman on the shoulder in solidarity. ¡°I didn¡¯t know either, which is why she was so furioso with me at first.¡± ¡°Honestly, I would think a bear would be less dangerous than a furious Sade.¡± Rick chuckled from his position beneath Sade. The thief narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°That reminds me. If you¡¯re from another world, how do you know enough dwarfish to make puns?¡± All eyes turned to the otherworlder laying on the bed. The man in question sheepishly scratched his cheek. ¡°Well¡­ Dwarfish is extremely similar to one of the more popular languages on my world. I just happened to study that one in school since my mother¡¯s tongue wasn¡¯t an option.¡± ¡°How many languages do ya know?¡± Tyr asked. ¡°I¡¯m fluent in two, since I grew up in a bilingual household. But I¡¯ve picked up a few bits and pieces from a few others over the years. Especially the curse words. You always have to know if someone is sneakily insulting you behind your back.¡± Daniela nodded sagely at his explanation. Sade herself didn¡¯t know how to speak anything outside the common tongue. She only knew dwarven curses because of their time at ¡®The Ship¡¯s Rest¡¯ and listening to the patrons inside insulting each other. ¡°Fascinating¡± Sade mumbled to herself. She would have to ask him more details about all that at a later date, but she had other, more burning questions queueing up in her mind. ¡°I guess it¡¯s my turn to ask something. Sade, why do you work so hard?¡± Sade was about to answer his question, when Rick suddenly bucked his hips. She let out an involuntary gasp of pleasure before she rounded on him. He had the gall to look innocent under her intense glare. Sade poked him in the side, hard. It drew no small measure of satisfaction to see him squirm underneath her. ¡°I work so hard, because I was supposed to earn enough power and influence to raise my family back up into the ranks of nobility.¡± She said imperiously. ¡°You see. If one has proven themselves to be exceedingly capable and has contributed greatly to the kingdom, then they could be awarded an honorary noble title. It may not be a full return to prominence, but it is a first step. Other members of my family or even my children would have greater status than before, and their own achievements would be weighted more heavily.¡± ¡°So you were raised as a tool for your family to rise back into prominence?¡± Rick gasped from beneath her, finally managing to pry her fingers away from his kidneys. ¡°That is two questions Rick, but I will allow it since it is related to your first one.¡± Sade chided jokingly. ¡°We were once a premier family of mages, second only to the high elves in our mastery of the arcane. My ancestors helped found many of the magical universities around the kingdom, including many of the smaller and more remote institutions that have since closed down in the intervening years. We were betrayed, set up, framed for a crime we would have never perpetrated.¡± Her voice took a much darker tone. ¡°Only when I rise back to those lofty ranks would I have the power to bring those bastards low. Never again will they conspire to bring innocent families to ruin like they did mine.¡± Chapter 19.3 A Questionable Q&A II Rick stared at the woman sitting imperiously above him. Despite only wearing a simple pair of nightclothes, she practically exuded the aura of a fierce queen. Rick suppressed a shudder at the sight. ¡°Yeah, no¡­ We¡¯re done with this. No more questions for you¡± He stated simply before looking towards his other partner in the festivities. ¡°Tyr, care to help me make our girl comfortable?¡± The muscular elf flashed a feral grin in response. Before Sade could protest, the two of them tackled the mage to the bed until she was practically cocooned between her lovers, completely unable to escape. ¡°Wh-why?¡± She finally gasped out. ¡°You had a dangerous look in your eye. I didn¡¯t like it. I would rather we talk about something less serious for the time being.¡± While Rick wasn¡¯t exactly lying about his reasons for suddenly deciding her part of their Q&A session was over, he didn¡¯t divulge the entire truth. As she explained what had happened to her family all those years ago, how they were hunted down like dogs, Rick saw something in his lover''s gaze, something dark. Her eyes conveyed the kind of hardness that he didn¡¯t expect to see on anyone, let alone the young woman he met in the middle of the forest. It was a look reserved for the type of person who didn¡¯t care who they hurt on their road to revenge. It was the sort of darkness that spoke of trampling over mountains of corpses to achieve their goals. It was the most terrifying thing he had ever seen. Rick would do all he could to ensure that was not her path. He would refuse to let that happen to her. ¡°Sorry for the brief interruption. Lilie, I believe it was your turn to ask me a question.¡± He said while doing his damndest to keep his tone light and jovial. ¡°Right, uh- you said there wasn¡¯t magic in your world?¡± Lilie asked after the spotlight turned to her. ¡°None that I know of. It took us several thousand years, but we eventually learned how to create items that would help us perform amazing feats just by utilizing the natural laws of the world.¡± Daniela perked up at the mention of items. ¡°What kind of things did your people make?¡± ¡°Oh, lots of things. Horseless carriages to transport people and things long distances, portable devices to talk to people wherever you are, and we even have machines to print hundreds of copies of books for everyone to read.¡± ¡°And no magic?¡± The dwarf asked in a disbelieving tone. Rick laughed. ¡°Nope! I could go over some of the basics of how it all works, but that¡¯s not what I was going to school for.¡± ¡°Could ya make some of those things here?¡± Tyr asked from her position behind Sade¡¯s head. He considered the question for a few moments. ¡°A few things, yes. But for the vast majority of devices my world had, I wouldn¡¯t even know how to make the tools to make the tools needed for manufacturing the technology.¡± Rick paused to give Sade a bit more love before adding. ¡°And the last thing I want is to be the indirect cause of the dreadnought effect.¡± ¡°The¡­ what now?¡± Sade inquired, determined to still have her turn despite being effectively caged on the bed. ¡°What I mean is introducing a leap in technology that is an order of magnitude better than what came before. These things always cause history to drastically change from what came before, especially when the items in question are weapons of war.¡± Lilie looked intrigued. ¡°Care to give us a couple examples?¡± Rick groaned, only partially in annoyance. He should have figured they would want to probe him for details. ¡°Most of the examples I know of are weapons, since studying wars is kinda a thing young boys like to do.¡± He explained sheepishly. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± She shot back. ¡°Fine, fine. You win.¡± He grumbled. ¡°A big one is a device that replaced bows. It had quite a few disadvantages at first when compared to firing regular arrows or even crossbow bolts, but it had one key advantage that the competition could not. It made armor virtually useless.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking!¡± Daniela spat. ¡°I may be embellishing a bit, that¡¯s true, but for the most part, I¡¯m completely serious.¡± Rick countered. ¡°It took a while before the weapon became more accurate or could be manufactured en masse, but within a couple hundred years they became the primary weapon of war for the entire world. They even replaced swords, spears, and almost all other forms of melee combat. Only relatively recently has armor finally started to catch up and be used by soldiers again.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s possible fer ya ta make these weapons?¡± Rick looked over to see Tyr frozen in place. Her tan skin was several shades paler than usual. His heart sank when he saw her with the most terrified expression he had ever seen. The sight unsettled him greatly. Tyr was always this indomitable force of nature. Seeing her actually scared of the possibility of weapons from his world leaking into theirs seemed almost wrong, unnatural. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Thankfully, no. I can not.¡± He lied. While he was no expert, he did know the basics of how a firearm worked, as well as the rough composition of gunpowder. But he had absolutely no desire to ever see that knowledge see the light of day if he could help it. Plus, there was one more wildcard to consider too. ¡°The good news is that magic changes everything.¡± He said. ¡°How so?¡± Sade asked. ¡°As I said before, my old world doesn¡¯t have magic. No spells, enchantments, wards, none of it. It¡¯s entirely possible a skilled mage could completely invalidate the more advanced weaponry I¡¯m used to. While the magic I¡¯ve encountered since coming here isn¡¯t omnipotent, someone with half the skill you all possess would be quite dangerous to the people of my world.¡± Tyr visibly deflated with relief at his words. All the built up tension from his earlier explanations rushed out of her in one great sigh as she slumped over onto her side. Unfortunately, her sheer size meant that there were at least two people directly in her path of destruction. ¡°Gah! Tyr! Can¡¯t¡­. Breathe.¡± Rick groaned. Sade also made a strangled cry, but her position between the two of them prevented any proper words from escaping. ¡°Oh! Sorry, sorry! Didn¡¯t meat ta crush ya there.¡± The oversized elf apologized to the two of them. ¡°Ya just scared me fer a wee bit there.¡± He and Sade coughed a bit to clear their airways before they gave reassuring pats to their large lover. ¡°It happens. How about we agree for the next few questions to be a bit more lighthearted?¡± He proposed while looking over to the next person in line. Lilie simply shrugged. ¡°Works for me. Could you tell us a bit about what it was like growing up? You never talk about your family.¡± Rick sighed. Even if he wasn¡¯t from another world entirely, the subject of his family was still a sore spot for him. Still, it was what he had asked for, even if the subject wasn¡¯t exactly ¡®lighthearted¡¯ for him. He was going to bite the bullet eventually. ¡°Well, my parents grew up in separate countries. Opposite sides of the world in fact. Mom met Dad while she was studying abroad, they fell in love, and then she immigrated and they got married before having me and my little sister.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s just something your countries allow?¡± Daniela asked. Rick gave a wry chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s a sensitive subject actually. But it''s allowed as long as the proper fees are paid and certain promises are kept. The hardest part for them was simply adjusting to the different cultures and ways of thinking. Plus there was the fact that during my grandfather¡¯s time, the two countries were at war.¡± ¡°And she was still allowed ta live there?¡± Tyr inquired with a raised brow. ¡°Humans don¡¯t live nearly as long as elves do Tyr.¡± Rick chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll skip a lot of the history, but many of my country''s greatest allies were those who they previously fought against.¡± ¡°Sounds like my kinda people.¡± She remarked with a grin. ¡°Maybe. But I think you would enjoy the Australians more.¡± RIck shot back. ¡°They live on a giant island filled with some of the deadliest creatures imaginable and are always down for a scrap before dusting themselves off and going out for drinks together.¡± Stars glowed in the elf¡¯s eyes at Rick¡¯s description. ¡°They sound amazing! Who knew there were a bunch o¡¯ mayflies who lived like elves?¡± ¡°Would¡­ would you wish to go back?¡± Rick looked over to the woman he loved. Sade¡¯s posture was slightly hunched, as if she was making herself as small as possible. Her question was so quiet that he barely heard the words. It took him only a heartbeat to realize that she was probably scared of his answer. He sat up and kissed her softly on the lips. His arms wrapped around and brought her into a loving embrace. ¡°Maybe one day.¡± He whispered into her ear. ¡°But not unless I could bring you with me.¡± He locked eyes with Tyr, who nodded in silent agreement. Rick was glad the two of them understood each other so well. It was like they shared the same single horny braincell. As one, they once more wrapped the dusky skinned mage in a cocoon of warmth. ¡°To circle back to Lilie¡¯s question.¡± Rick said after a moment. ¡°While my childhood was fairly normal, I was unhappy. I grew up small, struggled to make friends, and was constantly compared to my younger sister by others.¡± He could feel those bottled emotions threaten to come spilling out with each word. His throat was already starting to feel tight, and his eyes began to moisten. Rick didn¡¯t care anymore, he needed to finally let it all out into the open. That was the entire point of this odd game in the first place. ¡°Every day was just the same old drudgery. Wake up, go to school, go to sleep. Rinse and repeat every fucking day for years! Mom and Dad loved me, I always knew that, but there was always a strange distance between us that I never saw with their treatment of my sister. Dad was always training me in anything he could think of, always pushing me to be better. But always there was this wall he put up to prevent me from getting too close. I just never saw the point to it all. When I finally became an adult, I took the first opportunity to escape I could find.¡± Tears were streaming freely down the sides of his face. He took a moment to catch his breath and give Sade another passionate kiss. ¡°But then somehow, I ended up here, with you.¡± He said softly. ¡°We survived our time in the wilds together, you taught me magic and how to thrive in this strange world. Then we met Tyr, then Lilie, and now Daniela. We made a home together, a family! I don¡¯t know how I got here or why. But even if the gods themselves offered me a chance to return, I would flatout refuse.¡± Sade¡¯s eyes were wide at his declaration. The words of his impromptu speech flowed out of his mouth like a waterfall, Rick was partially surprised to realize that he meant every word. Until that point, he had never tried to crystalize his feelings on the subject. The more he thought about it, the more the idea of simply living out his new life with his new family appealed to him. ¡°My home is here, with all of you. And I wouldn¡¯t exchange that for anything.¡± Rick wiped his eyes to clear them before staring lovingly up to his fellow intimancer. ¡°If it¡¯s alright with you, my dear, I would like to ask you one last question.¡± Sade¡¯s eyes took a few moments to focus on him. ¡°I will allow it, just this one time though.¡± She joked softly. Rick sucked in a great breath to steady himself. Despite all the things he had learned over the past several months, he was still a stranger in a strange land. He didn¡¯t know the full ritual involved for what he was about to propose next, but he had no doubts that the handful of women in the room would be more than happy to help him perform it properly. ¡°Sade of Kanho village.¡± He began. ¡°Will you marry me?¡± Chapter 20.1 The Challenge Sade was in a complete daze. After Rick had proposed to her, the rest of the women in the room rushed in to congratulate the couple. There were hugs, cheers, and even a few drops of tears all around. Surprisingly, Tyr was the most enthusiastic about the situation. ¡°I¡¯m just so happy fer ya two. I can¡¯t wait fer the little one ta have siblings!¡± She had said while wiping away gigantic teardrops away from her eyes. The sight of such a fierce and imposing warrior sobbing like a young girl was certainly an odd one to say the least. The following weeks after their return to Shatak passed by in a blur. Everytime Sade would start to come down from her emotional high, she would glance at her betrothed, and the numbing giddiness would return in full force. Her betrothed. Just thinking of the word made her legs weak and her head feel fuzzy. She knew in her head that she would one day marry. Her heart however, had resigned itself to thinking that it would all be a marriage of convenience. Her plan required power and political connections. Those rarely came with love and affection beyond certain filial duties. Rick had come into her life like a meteor and blew all her plans to bits. And she couldn¡¯t have been happier for it. Sade¡¯s odd mood had persisted even when her studies had resumed for the semester. The gentle numbness brought on by pure joy was nearly enough to make her attention slip and her grades to drop¡­ nearly. It was close to a full month after the second half of the school year began when events conspired to finally come together and ruin her mood. ¡°Sade of Kanho!¡± An imperious voice shouted from down the hall. ¡°I would have words with you.¡± Sade flinched at the harsh and commanding tone aimed her way. She turned to find Ariwyn jogging after her with the kind of determination usually reserved for avenging the death of a loved one. This is not about the results of the last test, is it? She whined inwardly. While both women had passed with flying colors, Sade had managed to score slightly higher than the high elf. Thus, Sade was once more the top student in her year. The two of them had been trading the honor of first place in the school rankings back and forth all year. Each time Sade managed to squeak ahead slightly, Ariwyn would glare balefully at the upstart human every time they crossed paths until their positions reversed. Sade, while an enjoyer of many odd games, opted not to play along with the uptight noble. Rather than sulk or glare at those she perceived as lesser, she celebrated every time her marks were anything less than full. An incorrect answer meant she had more to learn, and her discussions with her professors about what she got wrong allowed her to build an even more solid foundation of knowledge. But the high elf actually confronting Sade about test scores was new. For all her arrogance, Ariwyn had never disputed the results or labeled Sade as a cheat. So the sheer oddity of the situation caused the human to slow her steps and wait for the blond woman to catch up, curiosity far outweighing the mild annoyance at being stopped. ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± Sade asked. She did her best not to sound too sarcastic. There was no love lost between them, but it was still foolish to provoke the ire of a noble unnecessarily. It was better to wait and see how the situation would develop before exchanging venomous words. Sade glanced at her friends who all stopped to stand around her in a sort of protective ring. ¡°And do you wish this conversation was more private?¡± Ariwyn waved her hand dismissively and cleared her throat. ¡°It does not matter if they overhear since it somewhat pertains to them.¡± She took a moment to give each of them a cursory glance. ¡°I must say, your followers have all certainly made names for themselves in recent months.¡± ¡°Friends.¡± Sade corrected. Ariwyn blinked. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°These are my friends. Not followers, lackeys, underlings, or even minions. We have all struggled together in our shared quest to become the best mages we can be.¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°And if I am being honest¡­ I simply enjoy their company.¡± Sade was somewhat stunned by her own words. For most of her life, she had only her family to rely on for counsel and comfort. Upon moving to the city and starting her education, that had all been turned on its head. Sure, she wasn¡¯t nearly as close with many of her classmates as she was with Tyr, Lilie, or even Daniela. But she had found that Hattepa, Trish, and several of the people walking beside her at that moment were still near and dear to her heart. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°I¡­ I see. That was my mistake.¡± Ariwyn admitted. Sade noted that those words weren¡¯t quite an apology. But considering the source, it was as close to one Sade would ever get. She shrugged her shoulders and crossed her arms under her sizable bust. ¡°Regardless, I believe you were trying to tell us something?¡± The elf swiftly regained her composure. Standing tall, she did her best to look down her nose at her rival. That was an impressive feat, considering Sade stood a full head and shoulders above the blond woman. ¡°Sade of Kanho. Due to your impressive feats here at Mya University, I have personally come to invite you to compete in a grand mage tournament being held in one month¡¯s time.¡± Her arm swung out and pointed a slender finger right at Sade. ¡°For too long the question of who is the best between us has been unanswered. This is a golden opportunity for us to finally settle the score!¡± Sade could hardly believe her ears. The woman wanted to settle their one sided rivalry by essentially challenging her to a duel? She pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. ¡°Ariwyn¡­ I never once cared about being better than you. Why would I want to forsake my studies and participate in a pointless tournament?¡± She made to walk away but the high elf jumped in her path. ¡°Wait, wait! Please¡­ You have to come.¡± Sade quirked a brow. ¡°Do I?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The shorter woman cried. ¡°Without you, the whole thing is pointless! No one else will put up a proper challenge.¡± Sade made a show to look over her shoulder to where her friends still stood. ¡°I think you would be pleasantly surprised. I have learned quite a bit from studying alongside our fellow classmates. Far more than I ever thought I would. I have no doubt they would put up an incredible fight.¡± The noble in front of her didn¡¯t seem convinced but chose not to argue the point. She sighed. ¡°Look, the whole thing will be announced next week by the professors. While my family will be hosting the event, it is co-sponsored by the school. All the top students of each school year are allowed to participate in three separate tourneys.¡± She glanced once more to the croud around Sade. ¡°This also naturally includes all your¡­ ¡®friends¡¯ since they have all risen significantly in the ranks.¡± Her eyes turned once more to her primary target. ¡°In addition to the fame and honor for placing high in the tourney, the finalists will each be given a prize or private lesson with the professor of their choice. ¡± It was Sade¡¯s turn to blink in surprise. ¡°Why did you not simply say that from the beginning?¡± If this had the backing of the university, then that changed everything. Plus, the chance to get personal tutoring from one of the greatest mages in the kingdom was just too tempting to pass up. Ariwyn looked conflicted for a moment. ¡°I¡­ I thought you would want to prove who was the best between us¡­ Rather than winning some prize.¡± Sade didn¡¯t know what to say to that. In all her time at the academy, she had never seen Ariwyn look so down. So vulnerable. She had the sneaking suspicion that this may be the true face of the high elf underneath all that haughtiness. ¡°To tell you the truth, you were not exactly wrong.¡± Sade admitted. ¡°I can not say it has not crossed my mind once or twice on which of us would be stronger in an outright duel.¡± ¡°So you will do it!¡± Ariwyn¡¯s bright blue eyes grew wide with excitement. Sade held up her hand. ¡°I would prefer to confirm the details you just told me when the official announcement is made before I make a decision. But¡­ Yes, I am highly considering the proposition.¡± The blond¡¯s grin grew predatory. ¡°Excellent! I eagerly await the day I put you in your place.¡± And with that cryptic statement, she turned on her heel and headed off to presumably make trouble elsewhere. ¡°Ariwyn.¡± The high elf stopped and turned to face Sade. ¡°What is it?¡± She demanded. ¡°Once we have our duel,¡± Sade began. ¡°That is it. We will have finally learned who is stronger. The mystery will be solved. There will be no turning back from that point forward.¡± She paused just long enough for her words to sink in before asking. ¡°Are you sure you wish to find out now?¡± Ariwyn hesitated for a few moments, as if she was truely unsure if she wanted the little game between them to end. Eventually she looked back up, her usual arrogance on full display. ¡°Nice try! But I will show you and everyone else in this city why we elves are superior. Enjoy your time in the limelight while you can.¡± Once more she turned and left, leaving Sade and the rest of her group to mull over her words. ¡°What a bitch.¡± Tess scoffed. ¡°Yeah, for a moment I was starting to feel sorry for her!¡± Hattepa added. ¡°You¡¯re not seriously thinking of fighting her, are you?¡± Sade didn¡¯t answer. She was staring at the spot where the noble woman previously stood. She wasn¡¯t lying when she told Ariwyn that she didn¡¯t care about which one of them was the best in the school. It was just a silly ranking, she was simply trying her best and it just happened to be equal to the bratty noble. No, she didn¡¯t care about rank. But the tournament offered something else; The opportunity to trounce a noble. Sade¡¯s grin widened into something sinister. She had waited nearly her whole life for a chance to spit in the face of the ruling class. And now a chance to publicly slap one of them around while the whole kingdom watched had just fallen into her lap. She could care less about Ariwyn, but that brat was more than just an arrogant mage. Sade couldn¡¯t wait to show her and the rest of her ilk just what an intimancer was capable of.