《Critical Misclass》 Chapter 1 - Got the Axe
You gotta be shittin me. The tone of voice, more than the words themselves, made my mind snap back to attention and focus on Mr. Tillings, my boss. Sorry, could you repeat that last part? The upper-middle-aged man rubbed his temples, his eyes shut tight. You completely zoned out while I was talking. I wish I could say that was abnormal for me. My mind had a habit of distracting itself whenever I was in a stressful situation, which often only made things worse. No, no, I was just, uh, really considering what you were saying, I lied, as I moved to get out of the chair that was facing Tillingss desk. Was there anything else, or should I get back to my cubicle? Dodd, the man grumbled, as he opened a drawer. I had just finished explaining why I was firing you. Tillings took out some pills, and swallowed them dry. Youve got ten minutes to clear out your desk. What? Whatever happened, I can do better. I just think that Im not being challenged enough. With more responsibilities, IC Five minutes. Unsure who might have overheard any of that, I avoided all eye contact on my way back to my cubicle. I placed my satchel on the desk and filled it with what few personal belongings I kept at work, along with as many office supplies as I felt I could get away with stealing. A face popped up behind one of the cubicle walls. Jeremy! Were you really just fired? I turned to see Haley, my cubicle neighbor. At 28, she was just a year younger than me, but had been working in this office since she was an intern just out of high school. Shed probably work there until she retired. She was kind of cute, at least in comparison to most of the other office drones I worked with, and nice enough to chat with on slow days, but she didnt seem to have much of a life outside of the office. I got the impression that she was more than a little interested in me, but we had yet to have a conversation that didnt find its way back to work. The fact that I had just been fired should tell you how much I cared to chat about work. Yyyup. I scanned the rest of the cubicle for anything else that wouldnt be missed. Oh, no, she frowned. Need any help updating your resum? Im free this weekend. My satchel was already around my shoulder. Uh, maybe. I might have some things lined up, so Ill let you know. In truth, I wanted to sever all ties to this place, like I had done with every other place that had fired me. No need to dwell on the past. Oh! Okay Haleys head disappeared behind the wall. Stepping out of the cubicle, I nearly bumped into her. What, did she run over here? Haley looked up at me with a deathly serious expression. Youve got my contact info, right? I looked back into the cubicle, grabbed a sticky note that had the desk numbers for some of my coworkers, and pocketed it. Got it. Maybe once this place was fully in my rearview mirror, Id consider calling her. For now, I just wanted to get out before Tillings made a scene. If Id left anything behind, it was good as gone, as far as I was concerned.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Not wanting to have to explain the situation, or even just make smalltalk, with anyone else, I walked with a purpose out of the office. Good luck, Jeremy I only turned my head slightly and gave a single wave as I exited. *** Making a sort of combination sigh and groan sound, I closed the browser window. Not sure why Im looking for another job in an office when I could barely stand the easy one I just got fired from. There had been some truth in what I told Tillings earlier: I tended to do better when challenged, and that job had been anything but challenging. The pay wasnt much, but I felt overpaid for the amount of work I had to complete. In retrospect, I probably should have at least put in some effort to make myself look busier. Then there was the other part of my earlier talk with Tillings: if things got too challenging or stressful, I would mentally disengage and end up either rushing things or not finishing them at all. It was difficult to find the right balance, so I honestly didnt bother most of the time. Deciding that I wasnt going to magically find the right job for me in one night, I booted up the fantasy MMORPG I got hooked on about a year ago. Probably gonna have to unsubscribe until I find another source of income. Of course I would have just completed the surprisingly-long free trial part of the game. It had taken me longer than average to reach this point because I struggled to commit to a job class, and ended up leveling most of them to the free trials level cap before moving on. No, the irony had not been lost on me. Unfortunately, within ten minutes of playing, I reached a point where I needed to party up with other players to complete a mandatory boss fight. I preferred playing solo as much as possible, but did enjoy the camaraderie of taking down a difficult boss with other people once in a while. This was just not the right day for that. Brilliant move, Jer. Playing a massively multiplayer game when youd rather avoid all human contact. I pulled myself out of my chair and - even though it was 8:32 at night and I had been fired at around 10:00 this morning - changed out of my bland office casual getup and into a t-shirt and shorts. My parents had always made sure I was participating in some kind of sport or athletic activity in school. It was one of many things I liked to argue about at the time, but as I crept closer to my thirties, I was glad that I enjoyed jogging. It was getting foggy out, so I knew I wouldnt be able to stay out too long. I locked up my apartment behind me and jogged down one of my more familiar routes, in case the fog thickened faster than I anticipated. The route went from the apartment complexs parking lot to a well-worn trail that, after about five minutes of light jogging, led to a small park. The plan for tonight was to reach the park, do a lap or two around the perimeter, then head back. Within a couple minutes of stepping onto the trail, it felt like the temperature had dropped. Normally, at this time of year, my shirt-and-shorts combo was plenty sufficient for night jogging, but I found myself starting to shiver a little. Between the temperature and the fog, Ill probably just head back home once I reach the park. And order a pizza. Makes perfect sense, athletically and financially. Despite hoping to get my mind off of work, it was all I could think about as I continued along the path. Should I try to find another job working in an office as quickly as possible, no matter what it was, so I could look for something better without worrying about money? Was this an opportunity for me to find something else I enjoyed doing more than watching the clock all day? Would it be smarter to reconnect with my estranged mother after all these years, move in with her, and finish college? Shuddering at the thought, I regained my focus, noticing that the fog had grown thicker while I was in my own head. On top of that, the ground felt too hard, and not like the somewhat-softer trail I was used to. I was about to make a one-eighty and head back the way I came, when I jogged into a wall. Chapter 2 - Tunnel Vision
My instinct was to play off the incident as casually as possible, as if there was even a chance that anyone happened to be around. Watch out for that last step, I chuckled awkwardly to no one in particular. How far off the trail did I get? There arent any buildings near the park. I touched the wall and it felt craggy and uneven; definitely not man-made. As if revealing a secret, the fog seemed to fade out a bit but in its absence was only darkness. I pulled out my phone to use its flashlight, and was confused to see a rock wall in front of me. Knowing full well that it couldnt lead to any good surprises, I slowly turned around. I wasnt anywhere near the park. I wasnt even outside. I was in some kind of cave. Its happened. Shit. Ive finally gone from zoning out to full-on disassociation. The overwhelming silence of this place hit me all at once, and I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a single drop of water hit the ground. The ceiling barely exceeded my own six-foot height. Seriously where the fuck am I? I moved the phones flashlight slowly from one side of the cave to the other, fully expecting to find something that would proceed to attack me. The reality was almost worse: at one point, I thought I saw a tiny bit of movement right at the edge of the light that was gone in an instant. Just like when you spot a spider on the wall and then lose track of it, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my body was in a heightened state of alertness. I checked the room from side-to-side again just to make sure I didnt miss anything. Sure enough, on my first sweep, I hadnt spotted what appeared to be a way out from this relatively small chamber while I was busy thinking about the movement I thought I saw. Next, I shined the light at the ground to make sure there werent any animals or even just something I could trip over. Good thing I did, because I definitely would have tripped over the body that lay several feet ahead of me. It seemed to be wearing a black cloak that was stained with dirt, so I only noticed that something was there because the light reflected off of something metallic. The body was laying on its front, with just one hand barely sticking out from under the dark cloak. In its grasp was a small dagger. Seeing the cloak made me realize just how cold I was - a different sort of cold than the weather outside of my apartment. I only considered the pros and cons of taking a dead persons cloak before deciding it was better than having two corpses in this cave. Are they actually dead, though? Maybe theyre unconscious. Or sleeping awkwardly in the worst place ever. Taking a closer look, the body appeared to be that of a young man - maybe even in his late teens. He didnt appear to be breathing, and once I got the light onto his face, I could see that his skin was had turned blue and his eyes were wide open (at least, the one eye I could see from this angle). I had to turn the body over just slightly to reach the cloaks clasp, and gasped when I saw that the young mans neck had been torn open. The blood was smeared around the lower half of his face and all over his chest, and stained the ground beneath him. The blood hadnt dried out yet. He definitely hadnt been dead for long. My first instinct was to avoid touching the body again. With each passing moment in the cave, however, the cloak seemed like more of a necessity. I muttered a quiet apology as I cautiously removed the cloak from the corpse. Clasping the cloak around my neck instantly made me feel a little better. The material was unfamiliar to me (not that I could easily tell one sort of material from another), but felt a bit coarse and heavy. I could now see that he was wearing of set of simple leather armor. Part of me wished I could borrow that armor, too, just to cover up the bare parts of my legs and arms, but I didnt feel comfortable enough trying to remove it from a corpse. The cloak would have to be enough for now. My eyes moved back to the dagger, and soon I crouched down to gently remove it from the corpses hand. As long as Im cosplaying to save my life, I may as well go all the way. Expecting the skin to be cold, I was kinda freaked out to find that it was still a little warm.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Wearing an old t-shirt, pair of shorts, and a dirty black cloak, I felt like the worlds worst trick-or-treater in his homemade Dracula costume. Actually, with the dagger, I was more like a mall ninja on a severe budget. I turned it around, inspecting it from all angles. It didnt seem to be exceptional in any way, but definitely sturdier than something youd find in a mall, and not nearly as flashy. Alright, whats the safest way to carry thC FUCK! My curse was drowned out by snarls that echoed through the small chamber. Pain, increasing with each passing second, shot through my left leg. I fumbled with my phone while thrashing my leg to remove whatever it was that had latched on. Even with the flashlight, it was hard to get a good look because of all the movement. It was a filthy creature, with large clumps of its matted fur missing, revealing scabby skin. About the size of a corgi - an especially well-fed corgi - its jagged teeth were clamped shut on my flesh. Shaking and kicking my leg seemed futile, and only made it start scratching wildly with its thin claws. Get the hell off me! I dropped my phone so I could move the dagger to my left hand, but the creature was still out of reach. In the moment, it seemed that my only choice was to bend my knee, moving the leg closer to the blade. The creature made a gurgling squeal as I flailed the dagger around wildly, cutting its skin, but not particularly deep. In retaliation, it swiped its claws at me, tearing part of my shirt as well as some of my skin beneath. Gritting my teeth, I turned the dagger slightly in my hand and stabbed it down onto the creatures back as hard as I could. It stopped clawing at my waist in shock. I pulled the dagger out and thrust it back in, then started repeating the motion faster. Finally, after several more strikes, the disgusting thing stopped making noise, and I felt the grip of its jaws loosen slightly. I growled in pain and continued stabbing it again and again just to make completely sure it was dead. I pulled its teeth off of my leg, then turned enough to kick the beast away with my other foot. Panting and shaking, I retrieved my phone and took a good look at my leg. Its teeth had really dug into me, and I needed to do something about the bleeding. On the plus side, its claws hadnt managed to cut into me that much. My waist was bleeding, but it was minor in comparison to my leg. Unsure exactly how to deal with the wounds, I settled on tearing off some of the cloak before giving my brain a chance to overthink the situation. I tied it around my leg, but I knew it wouldnt do much for me in the long run. Thinking back to first aid classes I had taken as a teenager, all I knew was that tourniquets could be used as a last-ditch effort to stop bleeding, but that it came with different drawbacks. Lets see how bad it gets first. I just need to get the fuck out of here. I took a deep breath. There were times when it was wisest to stay where you were if you got lost, but ending up in a mystery cave when I should have been ten minutes from my apartment felt like a rare exception. I pointed my flashlight at the dead creature to get a good look at it. With its bulging eyes and long, hairless, tail, it looked like a deformed cross between an opossum and a rat, but much bigger. Rising shakily to my feet, the pain in my leg increased, but it wasnt so bad that I couldnt move. Just gonna have to deal with it for now. The cave had returned to its previous eerie silence, broken only by my slow steps. I made my way to the exit I spotted earlier. The chamber I was in appeared to be connected to a long passage that led well, I wasnt sure, but it definitely didnt lead directly outside, as Id hoped. I sighed. That would have been too easy. So long as it doesnt lead me deeper into wherever-this-is. You know that feeling you get in-between turning off a light and fully exiting the room? I was feeling that times ten; worried that there was something right behind me in the dark. My hands clutched my phone and the dagger tightly, my body tensed up, and I made short-but-speedy steps into the passage. The adrenaline had the bonus effect of distracting me from the pain, so things were looking up! The narrow passage twisted and turned often, and I kept getting my hopes up that Id see a way out around each bend. I was careful about shining the flashlight ahead of me for too long. There was no need to alert anything to my presence if it could be avoided, but I made sure to check the ground ahead of me every so often. My breathing quickened when the ceiling - already too short for my comfort - got lower, and I had to crouch down uncomfortably to proceed. Shit is it going to be like this the rest of the way? What if it gets even tighter? I began to relax as the ceiling rose up again a few minutes later, until I realized the passage had opened up into another chamber. Anything could be in here. Gotta stay cautious. As I was wondering what would be the best way to get a feel for the chambers layout, inspiration hit me. With my flashlight turned off, I opened up my phones camera, turned it to landscape orientation, and snapped a photo. The flash lit up the room momentarily, and now I could refer to the photo instead of constantly shining the light around or trying to rely on my memory. While I was proud of my idea, I still tried to keep my expectations in check. Id seen enough horror movies to know that this would be the moment in which something even worse than the rat-thing would be revealed. What I actually saw in the photo, however, was worse. Chapter 3 – “Didelphimorodentia”, maybe?
I turned up the brightness on my phone to make sure I was seeing things right. Unfortunately, I was. The chamber I had just entered was like some sort of junction: in the photo I could see at least four passages. For all I knew, there were even more outside of the shots frame. To say that my mind started to distract itself by thinking about other things would be an understatement. At first, my thoughts were still somewhat related to the situation. Scenes in movies involving elaborate mazes, video games with or without convenient in-game maps, Greek myths, video games inspired by Greek myths It spiraled from there, and took a sharp pain to snap me out of my reverie - I had started to shift my weight onto my injured leg. Using that pain to help me focus, I looked at the photo again to see if any of the passages looked more promising than the others. There was something odd at the bottom of the image that was only partially in frame. It appeared small and lumpy, but had a slightly different color than the rest of the cave. Zooming in didnt help. I would have to check it out with the flashlight. I turned on the light, keeping my thumb over it so I could reveal more or less as-needed. I kept it pointed at the ground directly in front of me and took a few cautious steps into the chamber. After a minute, I felt confident enough to angle my phone to shine the light further ahead. The odd shape from the photo was another one of those big rat-opossum-things. Opossrodent? Ratsupial? Ill settle on something eventually. Fortunately, it was dead - nearly cut in half, and it seemed like it happened somewhat recently. The wound was something only a weapon could make unless there were other strange creatures here with that sort of capability. Okay, lets assume that an actual person went through here not too long ago. Maybe I can track them down? Not sure what kind of person goes around in caves, slicing up animals, but Id probably be safer with them than alone. Much less concerned about being attacked by any rats in this chamber, I started shining my light down the various passages to see if anything stood out. Sure enough, maybe fifty feet down one of them, I saw two more dead rats. Okay, they went this way or is this the way they came from? As if answering my question, I saw a light moving from left to right at what must have been an intersection even farther down that passage. It was only for a moment, but it was good enough for me. What are the odds that Im being lured by the cave-monster equivalent of an anglerfish? I tried to avoid dwelling on that possibility. Wanting to catch up to the person with the light, and feeling safer seeing the dead rats, I practically jogged down the passage. Only the pain in my leg prevented me from running. The silence was interrupted by echoing sounds coming from somewhere ahead, sounding like clanging and possibly voices, although it was hard to tell. The sounds stopped as quickly as they started. I reached the intersection at the end of the tunnel before long, and shined the light down both the left and right sides to be safe. There was nothing of note on either side, so I went in the direction I saw the light move. A minute later, I passed another dead rat or mostly dead, as it was still twitching despite having its guts spilling out. I gave it as wide a berth as I could, given how narrow the passage was which seemed to be getting even more narrow the further I went. Thoughts of being literally stuck in a cave while monstrous rats started eating me alive were unavoidable, but I knew that someone had just passed through here. My wishes for the passage to widen were soon granted, in an ironic genie sort of way: it forked into two separate tunnels. Fuck it - just pick one and go. Only a few steps into the left tunnel, however, I heard the same kind of sounds as before, coming from the opposite tunnel. I doubled back and took the right tunnel, as the echoing noises grew louder. There was the clanging of metal on stone, the snarling of one of the rat-things, and the unmistakable sound of voices yelling out. At least two people were fighting another rat up ahead. I planned to get as close as possible to actually confirm what was happening, and then wait until it was over. Barring that, I would just stay out of harms way. By now, I could see torchlight flickering as it reflected off of the damp cave walls, as well as the occasional shadow. The light seemed to blur, and then everything went a little blurry, and I felt light-headed. I pointed my light down at my left leg. The strip of fabric I had tied around the wound was already dark, but it was obvious that it had become completely soaked in my blood. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. If I hadnt been already leaning against the cave wall, I would have collapsed. Continuing to use the wall for balance, I Maybe it was the blood loss, or maybe I was just that curious, but I dragged myself the last few feet towards the chamber. Just as I peeked around the corner to get a good look, another snarl filled the room, much louder than before. Two people were fighting an absolutely enormous rat monster. The smaller rats had been disgusting enough, but at the size of a sedan, this mother-of-all-rats was significantly worse. Warty growths bulged from various parts of its body, while the rest of it was covered in fur that was caked in various disturbing substances. Its tail was at least as long as the rest of its body, whipping back and forth threateningly as the creature snapped at its opponents. Spit sprayed from its long snout with each snap, and Im not kidding when I say that sometimes I can still smell it. The closest figure was in front of the rat: a petite young woman, around five feet tall, with tan skin and golden blonde hair. She was wearing a breastplate, as well as some armor on her arms and legs, all of which looked a little too big for her. Brandishing a sword in one hand and holding up a small wooden shield in the other, there was an unmistakable look of fear on her surprisingly attractive face. Scared or not, it was impressive. Holy shit - shes right in that things face! Occasionally, her expression would turn from fear to pure determination - and then right back again. The rat swiped its claws at her, but the petite warrior raised her shield at the last second. The creatures claws slammed into the shield, and the young womans cry of pain made it clear how much that had to have hurt her arm. The other combatant was as far back as possible from the armored girl and the rat, and was holding the torch that I had been following. It was harder to get a good look at her, between the distance, poor light, and my occasionally-blurring vision. Her occasional groans of frustration made me fairly confident that she was a woman. She was wearing baggy white robes that reached the ground, with the hood pulled up. The robed woman had one hand raised in the direction of her companion. I thought I saw a tiny bit of flickering coming from her palm - probably just embers from the torch - before she closed her hand into a fist and angrily shook it. What theC THIA! Thia, as the blonde woman was apparently called, made another attempt to move away from the giant rats jaws. Instead of smaller steps, Thia sprinted around to the monsters side, putting the creature between her and the other woman. Dont move out of my range! Growling in frustration, the robed woman dashed in order to reposition herself - or that seemed to be the plan. Almost immediately, she fell hard to the ground, dropping the torch. It clattered and slid out of her reach, but fortunately, remained lit. Fucking robes! This caught the beasts attention. Instead of turning after Thia, it moved to face the prone woman. Now it was fully facing away from me, but I could see that it was slowly opening its jaws, its long, slimy, tongue sliding out, with buckets of drool oozing onto the cave floor. Breathing heavily, Thia ran towards the rats flank. She swung her sword - a direct hit - and the monster let out an ear-piercing screech. Some blood splattered on her face, not even coming close to marring her beauty. In retaliation, the creatures long, hairless, tail whipped through the air and struck Thia, knocking her over. I saw a pale blue glow in my peripheral vision and looked towards the robed woman. She hadnt moved off the ground, likely trying not to draw the creatures attention again, but her hand was slightly raised. There was no mistaking it this time - the glow was coming from her palm, but was flickering in and out. The woman groaned with exertion. Suddenly, the glow filled her entire hand, then shot towards Thia, who was struggling to stand. None of this seemed to concern the giant rat. After screeching, it seemed angrier than ever. The woman tried to roll away, but the rat grabbed her with its paws, which held her down as she struggled. Its snout moved in for the kill, but then started to shake. Tiny, but numerous, sparks of light were flashing directly in the creatures eyes, distracting it. Even in just the span of a few seconds, the sparks seemed to be fading out. The fact that my mind hadnt started thinking about anything else felt like proof that none of this was real. I didnt want this to be real. I was obviously imagining it! But the pain, not to mention the terror, I was feeling those felt genuine. I was going to die here, either from my wounds, or from the monster. Another surge of pain made me tense up. I felt the dagger in my hand. It wasnt much, but If Im going to die anyway, I may as well do something. Give them a chance to get out of here. My heart was pounding. Holding onto the wall, I pulled myself to my feet. The pain, the dizziness, the fear - it all became white noise in my head. There were barely any more sparks around the rats head, and I could hear the woman panting and grunting. The creature emitted another piercing shriek, which helped muffle my footsteps as I ran into the chamber. With as much strength as I could muster, I stabbed the dagger into its back, next to the base of its tail. The monsters head shot up, gurgling and screeching even more. I was shocked at how easily the small blade pierced its flesh, and stabbed it again, and again, and again. The sound of a woman screaming in rage drowned out the rats squeals of pain. I turned my head just in time to see Thia thrust her sword fully into the monsters side. Grunting, she pushed down on her blade. It slid through the rat, spilling blood and guts all over the floor and herself. The creatures cries turned to gurgles, and then its head fell onto the robed woman with a thump. She gasped as the wind was knocked out of her. The adrenaline wore off all at once. I couldnt stand any longer, and I slumped against the now-dead body of the giant rat-thing. Its upsettingly moist fur squelched as it broke my fall, and I hoped to pass out as soon as possible. Chapter 4 - A Tale and a Tail
It turns out that a slimy giant rat corpse doesnt support adult bodies well. Too exhausted and dizzy to do anything about it, I slid down its backside and onto the hard ground. I could hear the young swordswomans shaky breaths, followed by the echoing clang-ang-ang of her sword being dropped. Thia ran in the direction of the robed woman, and grunted as she pulled her body out from beneath the monsters head and paws. There was a small pop of a cork being removed from a bottle. Please please, Vestele. You must drink. Thias voice was soft - I could only hear her because the cave had returned to its eerie silence - but full of concern. At that moment, I just wanted to tell her that everything would be okay. Who better to hear words of encouragement from than a dying man smeared in rat grease? Why, Thia sniffled. Why did you heal me? Why didnt you move out of the way when you when you had the chance? For the next ten seconds, the only thing that broke the silence was the occasional sniffle from Thia. The next thing that broke was an empty glass bottle, which landed just a few feet away from me. Thia gasped and the robed woman - Vestele - scrambled to her feet with surprising energy. I didnt move because I wouldve died! But if you hadnt moved, IC oh, crap! She ran around the enormous corpse towards me. Hey! You! Are you okay? She kneeled, and while my vision was still blurry, I could tell that she was absolutely beautiful. As her face became clearer, however, I saw that she was looking down at me with disgust. Ugh. Gotta do something about this, first. The woman held her hands several inches above me, and a familiar glow slowly filled her palms. It wavered and flickered a bit, but then I felt my skin grow warmer. All of the dirt, blood, and grime I had accumulated in my time in the cave lifted off of my skin and clothes, rose a few inches into the air, and then vanished completely in a pleasantly colorful burst. My clothes had become cleaner than they were when I put them on, back at my apartment. Unfortunately, the spell - it had to have been a magic, no matter how stupid it felt to think that - left behind a smell that reminded me of bleach. I couldnt dwell on that, because my skin started to go from warm to hot and felt like it was about to reach scalding. I grimaced uncomfortably. Itll stop soon, Vestele muttered with a mix of embarrassment and frustration, and she was right: the sensation faded away almost immediately. A nervous smile formed on her face once it was clear I was no longer uncomfortable. There. Thats a big improvement. She gently placed a hand on the side of my head. Uh, anyway, she removed her hand, thank you. If you I mean just a moment later, I never mind. Ill help you now. Uh, Ill try. I saw Vestele reach out to place a hand on my wounded leg and instinctively flinched. Fortunately, she was gentle, and her hand once again filled with the pale blue light. A pleasant sensation flowed through my skin briefly. Suddenly, the bite and scratches on my leg gave off a sharper sting than ever before, and I found myself yelling out in pain. Dont move! Im almost done. Beads of sweat were forming on Vesteles forehead. There. That wasnt so bad. That hurt like hell, I groaned, finally feeling strong enough to speak. Was that some kind of healing magic? I thought that would feel better. What are you doing to The words caught in my throat as Vestele wiped her forehead with one of her robes baggy sleeves, then pulled down her hood and shook her head gently. I wasnt lightheaded or foggy anymore, and my vision seemed to clear up, but I was unprepared for what I saw. First of all, the act of wiping off her sweat was ridiculously sexy. I was right: she was a beautiful woman, with full lips and green eyes. Secondly she had cat ears on top of her head. The fur matched her (for lack of a better term) regular hair, which was patterned in three colors: black, white, and orange. Like a calico, I realized. Thats when I noticed that her pupils were slightly oval-shaped, similar to a cats. An actual cats, that is. She furrowed her brow, and I realized I had been staring. ...What? I almost died a minute ago. She wiped her face again, more thoroughly this time. (It was still pretty sexy.) Uh, your ears. I raised my hand to point at her, as if she didnt know what I was referring to. Whats wrong with my ears?? Vestele ran her hands over them nervously, and turned her head. THIA! What happened to my ears?! There was no response. I turned my head; Thias back was turned and she was still over where Vestele had been laying. Vestele looked at me again. Whatever. Time for this one. She placed a hand over the cuts on my waist. Your ears are - AHHdammit - theyre fine. The surge of pain hit me as it had when she had touched my leg. I mean, theyre nice. Never seen that before. Feeling a lot better, I shifted myself into a sitting position. Vestele gave me a look like I was crazy, but I could have sworn she was blushing a little. Hard to tell when the only light was coming from a single torch, several feet away. Youre delirious. Never seen that before. Okay. I dont sound like that And then those clothes youre wearing oh. Thats got nothing to do with your injuries. Guess youre just weird. Hiding in caves wearing a cloak and hardly anything else. Not even with a party. How many other women have you conveniently saved today? This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. She stood up, keeping her eyes on me as she took a few steps back, then returned to Thia. This wasnt the first time I had accidentally offended someone, but I wasnt sure how much of her reaction was because of the life-or-death situation and how much was because I seemed to be some kind of cave-dwelling pervert. Thia, come on. Hes all healed, so lets get the tail and then get our tails outta here. Ignoring the catgirl, Thia stood up swiftly and marched over to pick up the torch, then approached me. I was caught off-guard by how close she stood, which made the full foot of height difference much more noticeable. What was even more noticeable from this angle was something I had missed entirely during the fight: she had a pair of black horns poking through her golden tresses. I started to feel self-conscious about being the only one in the room with only hair on top of my head. Its deeply unfortunate that you were injured due to our inexperience. Her words quavered slightly as she craned her neck to look at me, the torchlight reflected in her sparkling blue eyes. Be cool just because youd do anything she asked right now doesnt mean you need to look overeager Whatever your reasons for being here, your timing was truly ideal. The bronzed beauty took my hands in hers, not breaking her gaze. I pray that we might meet again, good sir. Should that time come, I would very much like to converse with you. Removing one hand, she beckoned me closer. Although I wasnt sure how much closer we could get in that moment, I obliged, and lowered my head slightly. Thia rose on her tiptoes and gave me a small kiss on the cheek. Dont encourage him, Vestele scolded, her arms crossed. Hurry up so we can go. Thia spun around and I pulled back my face, narrowly avoiding her horns. Im sorry that I, in the heat of battle, positioned myself away from your magics reach. She strode towards Vestele, her body tense. Im a complete novice at this. Youre a complete novice at this! We only joined forces because of our lamentable circumstances, but clearly, all we accomplished was doubling our misery. Vesteles ears flattened as the petite blonde glared at her. I didnt meanC I-I thought we understood one another. I sought you out because no one else would help me. Thia sniffled. It seems I should have continued searching. And I recommend you do the same. A tear falling down her face, Thia turned on her heels again and stormed out of the chamber, taking the only light source with her. Before Vestele or I could react, we were engulfed in darkness. The calico woman cleared her throat. So, uh whats your name? Jeremy. Did she really just leave us without the torch? My phone was still in my pocket, but I was hoping not to use it around Thia or Ves until I knew more about what was going on with me. Not to mention that the battery was already lower than I was comfortable with, since it hadnt been charged since I woke up that morning. Well, Jeremy, Im Ves, and she needed it more than I did. A mote of light faded into view. As it slowly intensified, I could see Vess face frowning in concentration. Once the light was able to illuminate a radius of a few yards around her, she exhaled in relief and her eyes darted in my direction. Dont laugh. ...At what? That wasC A clear, loud, voice interrupted me. CONGRATULATIONS, CHILD FROM BEYOND MY GRASP. It sounded like a hundred voices, young and old, high and low, speaking in unison, but leaning somewhat more towards feminine voices. I looked frantically in every direction, but Ves just stared at me in confusion (and probably some annoyance). The voice seemed to be speaking directly into my mind - another tally mark in the Ive gone insane category. FOR YOUR DEEDS, YOU WILL BE GRANTED THE ROGUE CLASS. LEARN AND UTILIZE YOUR NEW SKILLS WELL, AID THOSE IN NEED, AND RIGHT THAT WHICH IS WRONG. YOUR BONDS WILL BE YOUR STRENGTH, AND YOU, THEIRS. The voice - voices? - went quiet. Just when I thought it was over, it added: YOU HAVE GIVEN YOURSELF A SECOND CHANCE. USE IT WISELY. At that, I was nearly blinded by an intense burst of light all around me. I could feel something wrapping around me; it was tight, but not uncomfortable. The light faded as quickly as it had appeared, and Ves stepped closer with an appraising look on her face. I looked down at myself. I was now wearing a new set of dark brown leather armor, just like I saw on the corpse when I first found myself in this cave. A cloak was still around my shoulders, but had either been replaced or repaired - the part that I had torn off to tie around my leg was intact. Rogue, huh? I guess you were being helpful. The corner of Vess mouth raised a little, giving me a sly grin. I was wondering what the hell you were doing just now. You got the whole congratulations, my child speech? It, uh I was still trying to comprehend everything that was happening. It was confusing enough even before a symphony of voices spoke to my brain and then magically dressed me. Kind of? They said child from beyond my grasp. Her head cocked slightly and she looked almost disappointed, as if she had finally started to trust me until I told an obvious lie. Really. What does that mean, exactly? I sighed. There was no easy way to get through this, and I didnt even like to think about it, much less try to explain it to someone. I think that I might be from a different world. My face made a I know, right? kind of expression. Her ears - as well as eyes and mouth - flattened. This - whatever this whole thing is youve got going on - it wasnt cute to begin with, and now its getting annoying. Surprised you didnt become a bard, or jester, or one of the other ridiculousC She paused. Who am I to talk? The Goddess doesnt seem to give a damn about who gets what class anymore. I didnt know what she was talking about, but it confirmed my suspicions that her frustrations were less about me and more about something else in her life. That was just my best guess. I honestly dont know what happened to me. Without waiting for an invitation, I launched into an explanation of everything I had experienced, starting with leaving my apartment to go for a jog. While I thought that Ves might not hear me out, she didnt interrupt - but her eyes widened a bit when I mentioned the corpse I found. By the time I finished my story, Vess expression had softened considerably. Okay. I believe you I think. Your story wasnt interesting enough to be made up, and you dont seem to want anything from me, so it doesnt feel like a scam. And I suppose you did help us out. It looked like she was trying to suppress a grin when she said that, which was cute. Your Goddess spoke to me and gave me a class. Thank you, video games, for giving me the context to understand what that even meant. Close enough, anyway. Does that say anything about my character? Ves considered that for a moment. Yeah, kinda. People tend to be granted a class when they perform a deed that demonstrates their true nature, or something like that. Its never been spelled out, and sometimes people are granted a class that they didnt expect. They usually learn something new about themselves when that happens. She kicked a small rock. Real heartwarming shit. And rarely, someone will earn a class by doing something theyve never done before, and then theyre terrible at it and never get better. Do you want to talk about that? ...Not in here. Why are we just standing around? Lets get the hell out of here. Wait! The stupid tail. Could you cut it off? That tail? I pointed to the enormous corpse. Not the whole thing. Just two, maybe three, feet, to be safe. Enough to prove that we killed it. May as well earn a little money after all this, right? And youre the only one here with any kind of blade, so hurry up! I couldnt help but wonder how Thia might have asked me to do something like that. She had her own sword, though, so it wouldnt have been an issue if she had still been there. Crouching down, I pulled out the dagger and began sawing at the warty tail. Oh yeah! Vess eyes lit up. Where exactly did you find that corpse? Chapter 5 - Sanguinary Secret Returning to the room with the corpse felt like a bad idea, but Ves explained that we had to backtrack a bit to reach the exit anyway, so a little detour wouldnt make much of a difference. Still, I felt anxious to leave, and concerned about getting lost, so I picked up a rock and started scratching marks onto the walls to mark where wed been. Its too bad the little ones arent worth anything. Ves kicked one of the dead rats that I now knew Thia must have slashed on their way to fight the giant one. Some of its guts fell out as it slid along the ground and hit a stalagmite, and I could tell she immediately regretted kicking it. Eh carrying this tails bad enough as it is. I had it slung over my shoulder so I didnt have to touch it as much, and had already made a mental note to buy some gloves as soon as possible. What are these things, anyway? We dont have them where Im from. Not exactly. No cave rats in your world? Ves looked a little amused at this. There are other kinds of rats, but most arent anywhere near this size. And none are NEARLY as big as the giant one. I shook the tail for emphasis. Weve got other kinds of rats, too. Including the kind youre talking about, it sounds like. Huh so no cave rats or cave rat queens. She scoffed. What do new adventurers kill as part of their training? Kobolds? We dont have those either, and we dont really have adventurers. Not in any way that would seem familiar to you, I guess. No classes, no Goddess, no monsters apart from, yknow, other people. Ves chewed on that concept for a moment. Sounds kinda nice. Yeah, well Ill tell you more later. I need to learn a lot about this world first. But not too much all at once. Despite the thrill of actually being in a fantastical new world, I had a feeling that my mind wouldn''t be able to focus on an information overload. Okay, sure. The catgirl smirked and shook her head as if she were humoring me. Our world is called Fielende. Were in the Treosett Empire. Do I need to slow down? Ill just let that sink in for a minute. We entered the chamber that connected to several passages. It was easy to remember which way I originally came from, because it was on the opposite side from where we now stood. Ves walked around and looked down some of the other tunnels. Her expression did not fill me with confidence. Hmm which was oh, here it is! She pointed down one of many dark passages. Theres one of the rats we, I mean, Thia and I, killed on our way in. Looking in the direction she was pointing, I couldnt see anything but darkness beyond the range of her magical light, and told Ves as much. She gave me a smug grin. Netharri, like me, can see very well with just a little bit of light. Im not extremely jealous or anything... Nice. Cats are the same way back home, so thatC oh wait, do you have cats here, too? Uh, yeah. Is it offensive to compare you to a cat? Her ears twitched and her eyes narrowed subtly. No. Theres a lot of similarities. As long as you remember that Im not a cat or a human, okay? I agreed, wondering what other things she had in common with cats, and showed her which way to go if she still wanted to find the corpse. I led the way this time, and told her I wanted to learn more about classes. Without trying to explain what role-playing games are, I told Ves my understanding of the concept: they were a way to classify people with various skills and talents, not unlike a job. More or less. So what did you want to know? Does everyone get a class? She lowered one ear in mild confusion. Or incredulity. Do you know about classes or not? Eh, a lot of stuff from your world only exists in my world''s fiction. I don''t know how to explain it any better than that. At least, not without taking a couple of days and sounding like an absolute dork. Ves sighed and shrugged. Oh-kay. Uh, no, not everyone gets a class. Most don''t. Maybe about one in twenty people? Or thirty? Im from a small village, and if anyones ever gone around and surveyed the rest of the Empire, I havent read their report. Fair enough. Well, how many different classes are there? I know there are Rogues, I pointed to myself, then motioned to Ves. As well as Healers? Vitality Mage, but yeah, most people just call us Healers. Um, well, there are some that are more common, like Defenders, Warriors, and Element Mages, but Ive heard stories about really rare classes. Dunno if any of those are actually real, though. Before I could ask anything else, we reached our destination. Although it had only been less than an hour since I jogged out of my world and into the cave wall, it felt like ages since Id been back here. Theres the body. So, uh, why did we have to go back here? I had been so caught up in learning about this world that I forgot to ask why Ves wanted to see it. If we can find some kind of identification, then we might be able to get a reward for returning it. Puts peoples minds at ease, and its hard enough to make money as a fledgling adventurer, so we gotta take any opportunity we can! I crouched down next to the corpse. Guess this guy was a beginner Rogue, too. Shit, this really could have been me if things had gone slightly worse. Still could be, if Im not careful. Since the body was laying face-down, I hesitantly touched its arm to roll it over. Not sure what Im looking for, but lets seeCThe story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The body hadnt even finished rolling all the way over when I saw a cave rat sticking out of what was once the stomach. It seemed that I had interrupted its meal. I cursed in shock as it hissed and scratched at me. Kill it! Kill it! Ves scrambled backwards, nearly tripping on her robes again. I drew the dagger from my pocket in a fluid motion. The rat swiped its claws, and I moved my arm out of the way faster than I expected. Is this an effect of being a Rogue? Unfortunately, thinking about that instead of paying closer attention meant I was a split-second too late to avoid another swipe. The creature''s claws nicked my arm. Frustrated, I retaliated with a flurry of slashes. The rat paused, and then blood oozed out from all over its disgusting body. It fell over, dead. Ves looked over my shoulder. Not bad. Did it hurt you much? Not really. Had it been able to reach any further, it probably would have done some serious damage. I held out my arm to show her. Okay, good. If you needed healing, it would mean stopping the light spell for a bit. Oh, and lemme borrow your dagger for a second. I held it out. Okay. What for? Ugh, not that one. Your other dagger. This is the only one Ive got. Ves crossed her arms. You already had that dagger when you attacked the cave rat queen. When someone is granted a class, they get a basic set of gear, she waved her hands around her robes and my leather armor, and a weapon, or focus. I patted myself down and felt something on my right hip. Pulling back the cloak, I found a small sheathe, complete with dagger. Huh. Hadnt even had a chance to check out this new gear. I removed the dagger and held it out to Ves, remembering at the last second to turn it so the blade faced away from her. Ves started to cut into the lower part of her robes. Having to explain everything is a little annoying, but I guess its kinda nice feeling like the smartest person in the room. She trimmed off two feet or so of cloth. It was uneven and she had to tear it in a couple places, but she seemed anxious to just get it done. Stupid robes, she muttered. Now I gotta spend what little money Ill earn on something functional. My eyes were drawn to her legs. I could see the white (underneath all of the dirt) boots she wore, and just a hint of her legs above those before the remainder of the robes got in the way again. It really wasnt much, but that almost made it sexier. Reminded me of the time I was in junior high and a friends older brother told me about what it was like growing up without the internet. Is this my life from now on? Living from glimpse to glimpse of a bit of leg? As Ves returned the dagger, she must have noticed that I was about to ask a question about that. Lets just find some identification and get outside, okay? The gaping hole in the young mans corpse was - to put it mildly - upsetting, but I gingerly checked his pouches and pockets. There were a couple of lockpicking tools, a tiny spool of thread, and a few other items that seemed appropriate for a new rogue to have. I wonder if any of these came with my armor, too. Finally, I found a small leather pouch with some coins. Oh, yes! Ves grinned widely. How much did he have? How much does stealing from corpses play into adventuring? Her ears flattened again. I felt like that was going to become her default expression when talking to me. Officially, its frowned upon. If anyone found out, they might think that you killed the person you took it from. Then rumors spread She trailed off. So well just have to be really careful! Now it was my turn to glare at her disapprovingly. Ves rolled her eyes and held out her hand. Just give it to me. I gotta check something. With slight hesitation, I tossed her the pouch. She looked through its contents and removed a single copper coin. There we go! See, this ones not a real coin. Like I have any context for that. It shows that hes a member of a guild. Oh! Ive heard of this guild! Sterling Seekers. No idea why one of their members would be way the hell out here, though. Or by himself. Sterling Seekers youd think their coin would at least be made of silver. I pocketed the miscellaneous gear I had found so I could return it along with the coins. Seemed like the right thing to do. Ves scoffed. If they did that, folks would sooner sell them than return them to the guild. All right. Lets get outta here. I got up and wiped my hands on my armor before looking down to make sure I didnt leave anything behind. Other than the corpse, I only saw the cave rat that I had just killed, its blood seeping onto the ground. Good riddance. I did a double take. Something seemed off but what? Ves was already stepping out of the chamber, but turned back to find me. What now? Come here; I need the light. Crouching down again, I inspected the rats blood. A small amount seemed be filling a faint scratching on the cave floor, but what was more interesting was that the scratching didnt look natural or accidental. Does this look like anything to you? The catgirl - or netharri, as she had mentioned - sighed and stood next to me. I pointed out what I was seeing, and she looked it it with disinterest. But then her eyes widened, and she crouched down to get a better look. Is that She placed one gloved hand onto some of the blood that had flowed onto the ground, then wiped it around the area with the scratching. The red stain revealed that it was part of a carving, like A rune? Ves stared at it quizzically. On the ground. It was only the size of a coaster, and while it was somewhat crudely carved, it was undeniably an intentional design. I take it that''s unusual here, too? Ves turned to face me. This was the closest wed been, without me laying on the ground. She was truly a captivating woman. Under other circumstances, this kind of lighting in a quiet and private place like this could be just right for a special moment between two people. As it was, we were hunched over two corpses and she had a bloodstained glove. A rune in a cave? Nah. A rune in this cave? Oh yeah. This place is pretty much just used to help new adventurers train. All of those other tunnels lead to dead ends. There''s not much else here. What could it mean? ...Not sure. Wish I knew more about runes. I smirked. Not even the smartest person in the room can figure it out? She ignored that, but her ears twitched. Might be worth looking into. But don''t tell anyone. If it is something interesting, then the last thing we want is to draw a lot of attention. I nodded. I''ll take your word for it. We returned to the junction chamber without incident, and mostly in silence. It felt like it would be best to give Ves a break from the constant questions, and she seemed to be lost in thought. I used this time to check my own armor for any useful items, but didnt find anything. Guess most people dont get their class in the middle of a cave, and get to actually buy supplies before leaving town. I followed her down the passage she had pointed out earlier, and past a few more dead cave rats. Finally, around one last bend, we could see sunlight up ahead - an unmistakable exit. Cutting part of her robes seemed to give Ves enough confidence to lightly run towards the light. She turned back to me with a wide grin before stumbling over some loose rocks. Shit! Im fine. Against my better judgment, I laughed out loud. She turned back long enough to stick out her tongue playfully, and continued towards the exit going slightly slower. Chapter 6 - The Chronicles of Zurax The magical healing had fixed my wounds and the effects of blood loss, but I felt mentally drained. The sight of sunlight was throwing me off: I had already been up for a full day in my own world before dealing with everything in this cave. Despite that, I still felt more aware of my immediate surroundings than before. Another benefit of the Rogue class? Will it feel stronger when Im rested? Part of me wanted to take it slow, and avoid being caught off-guard again. The rest of me wanted to get the fuck out of the cave. Fortunately, my concerns were (for once) unwarranted. Come oooon! Ves yelled from outside, leaning into the cave. I picked up the pace and stepped into the sunlight. And damn, it felt brighter than I expected. But once my eyes adjusted, I saw that the cave was part of a rocky hill, surrounded by dense forest. A well-worn path led from the caves entrance off into the woods, as far as I could see. I was grateful that the trees were there to block out at least some of the sunlight. What felt especially great was being able to take a deep breath of fresh air. Id been jogging in my local park for a while, but I hadnt made it out to a real forest in years, and forgot just how nice the air could be. It was cool outside, which was comparitively warmer than the cave. I wondered if the armor might start feeling uncomfortable after spending some time out here. It hit me just then that I hadnt discussed any kind of plans with Ves, beyond leaving the cave. Id already been feeling like I was taking up too much of her time and energy - literally, in the case of her magic healing. Normally, I wouldnt have a problem just asking for help, but this was such an alien situation for me. Ves was stretching, her eyes closed and a content smile on her face. It made sense that she would especially enjoy the sunlight. Hey, Ves, thanks - thank you for all your help. I seriously dont know what I would have done without you. She waved it off. What? No, I didnt do anything. Thanks for your help with the rat queen, though. And especially for helping me find the guild coin! I seriously would have died without your healing. I dont know if I could ever repay that. Ves cracked a small smile and tilted her head slightly. She seemed lost in thought. After a few moments, I cleared my throat. Uh, anyway, any suggestions where I should go next? She snapped out of her reverie. Arent we going back to the village? It felt easiest to just act absentminded and agree. Ves set off on the path, and I followed. Any suggestions as to what a guy from another world should, uh, do for probably the rest of his life? Ves shrugged. Guess I assumed you were going to continue being an adventurer. Its gotta be easier than learning a trade and settling down in a totally unfamiliar place. ...Huh. That actually sounds really cool. I tried to sound casual, but I think my excitement shone through a bit. Also sounds like an easy way to get killed in a totally unfamiliar place. Is it difficult to join a guild, or a party, or find a partner, or what? Joining a guild is easy. Most arent choosy, but joining one doesnt mean youll get assigned to parties and actually get to do anything, yknow, lucrative. Well seeing as I lack even the basic knowledge that your average beginner might have, Id be lucky if a guild grouped me with their worst parties. Ves smirked. Yeah, but youd be safe while youre stuck at the guild hall on permanent cleaning duty. I scratched the back of my head. Sounds like Ill need to find someone nice enough to take me on as an apprentice, or something. Maybe theres a Big Adventurer, Little Adventurer program I could join. A sly smile formed on Vesteles face, making her look even more cat-like than before. Jeremy are you trying to ask if you can partner up with me? My face felt a little warm. Like I said, youve already helped me out a lot. I didnt want to assume that youd do anything else once we reached the village. Uh-huh. She seemed to be trying to avoid her smile turning into full-on laughter. Her eyes inspected me from top to bottom. But sure, lets give it a shot. Its not like it can be any worse than being on my own. Maybe Ill surprise both of us. I felt different when I killed that last rat. Who knows what kind of potential I have with my class? Im not worried about you. Except for, you know, she motioned at me, not knowing anything about anything. IC Ves appeared to be choosing her words carefully. You should be more worried about working with me. I couldnt tell if Ves was threatening me or just being modest. What do you mean? I dont know how obvious it is to you, but Im a terrible Healer. I never expected to get any class, but this one, least of all. The painful healing spells, the inability to maintain her magical light while casting something else it all started to make sense. What doC I stopped in my tracks. Actually, first of all, Ill repeat this as many times as I need to: you saved my life. Your magic could hurt twice as much and it would still be worth it. Its amazing! She stopped walking and rolled her eyes. Not like you have anything to compare it to. I wouldnt be here to argue about this if not for you. Thats all Ill say. I thought Id be on my own once we left the cave, so the idea of you having my back in this world, and especially in fights, sounds great. Putting a hand on her hip, Ves stared at me for a few seconds, then continued walking ahead of me. I guess I already agreed. And leaving you on your own is a guaranteed death sentence.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Staying quiet for a while felt like the best decision. As a pleasant bonus, it was easier to hear birds chirping. Damn, this is idyllic. I felt calmer than I had in ages, both physically and mentally. It would be too easy to forget that there were creatures like the cave rats in this world, and most of them were surely much more powerful After only ten minutes, I could see the village up ahead. Is that it? Told you it wasnt far. Welcome to Perrenbrook, and get ready to learn why I wanted to become an adventurer, despite Anyway, well go to the village hall first, and drop off the tail and the coin. Then we can get something to eat. Food sounds nice, but Ill see how Im feeling after turning in the items. Ive been up for a while and could use some sleep. Ves turned and gave me a curious glance. ...Yeah, okay. Ill have to figure out where youre gonna be sleeping. At this point, my only real preference is indoors, if possible. Perrenbrook was almost exactly what I pictured when thinking of the word village. Rustic homes, unpaved roads, folks farming on the outskirts, the occasional clopping of horses being ridden, and a smell that - while not absolutely terrible - made me glad that games had yet to tap into that particular sense. Overall, it was a quaint, charming place. I had known people, particularly some at various jobs who were close to retirement, who would have given anything to live in a village like this. As for me I started to think that I should get comfortable with the idea of living here, or somewhere similar enough. While I never expected to become an actual adventurer, maybe one of the benefits would be to visit new locations and find something that felt just right. We crossed the brook that gave the village its name, and were officially within the village proper. There werent many people out and about now; most of them were probably busy working indoors or in the fields. Of the few I saw, one had pointy ears that made me wonder if they were an elf, another appeared human, and there were two I saw at a distance and couldnt tell if they were human children or another, shorter, humanoid species. Ves led me to the village hall, which was a bit larger than the other buildings surrounding it. As we entered, she explained that the village hall also served as the local post office and Adventurers Network. The Network is like a middleman between people who need help and adventurers. They manage rewards for completing quests, and can help put adventurers in contact with other adventurers. I was very familiar with the concept from the vast majority of games I had played. The building was quiet, other than the ticking of a clock on the wall. Wonder how busy this place gets. Maybe it gets kinda crazy here whenever the mail arrives. We approached a counter, but only found an empty chair on the opposite side. Above the counter was a list of various services related to the mail service (it was much more expensive to send a message by magical means than by horseback) and the Adventurers Network. Ves called out Hellooo, after which I could hear shuffling footsteps, but couldnt see anything. Then there were faint sounds of effort, and I gradually saw a diminutive, wrinkly, green being as they slowly climbed onto the chair. They had only the faintest traces of wispy gray hair on their head, and were wearing dark maroon robes. I knew immediately that this had to be a goblin or that I was about to learn about the mystic energy that binds everything in the galaxy. Either way, I was excited. The goblin slapped their hands onto the counter, making me flinch. They leaned forward, their big, bloodshot eyes squinting. Just as I thought they were going to demand that we leave at once, the goblin reached into a pocket and placed a pair of tiny pince-nez glasses onto their equally-tiny nose. When the goblin spoke, the last voice I expected to hear was a sweet old ladys. Oh, Vestele, so lovely to see you. Are you already back from your quest? Hello, Mrs. Zurax. Yeah, were all done! Ves looked at me and pointed at the counter. Once I registered what she was suggesting, I took the huge rat tail off my shoulder and placed it down. This should be enough proof, right? Mrs. Zurax adjusted her pince-nez and looked at the tail. My, yes. You did a lovely job, dear. The reward was oh what was it twenty coppers, thats right. She slowly, excruciatingly, climbed down her chair and shuffled towards a large safe on the back wall, between some shelves filled with books and parchments. The elderly goblin reached into the neckline of her robes and pulled out a key that was kept on a chain around her neck, then her shaking hand moved it towards the lock. It took her a couple of attempts to get it in. Finally, she turned it and the safe creaked open just a couple of inches. Mrs. Zurax reached inside, and I could just barely hear her counting. One two three now where was I oh yes four I instinctively reached into a pocket to get my phone, but as soon as my hand was on it, I remembered that it would be useless here. Oh my god, even doomscrolling would be better than this. Once Mrs. Zurax was finished counting, she reversed the arduous process, locking the safe and climbing back onto her chair. A sack containing the coins was placed onto the counter. Here you are, dear. Oh! She leaned forward again. What happened to that sweet aevrana girl? Ves looked uncomfortable. Well, you seeC And who is this tall, handsome Rogue? I awkwardly pointed at myself. Yes, you. Please, come closer. Making sure to avoid looking at whatever expression was on Vess face, I stepped closer to the counter. Oh, yes. Mrs. Zurax hummed in approval. Why, if I were three years younger This is Jeremy. Ves had absolute joy in her voice. He was separated from his people, so Im going to help him out. I made the mistake of looking at her and seeing that mischievous cat grin. Mrs. Zurax chuckled softly. My, my. Im sure youll help him quite a lot. I wanted nothing more than for this experience to end. Thinking of some way to at least change the subject, I remembered the other reason we were here. Oh! Uh, we also wanted to turn in an identification coin. Hey, yeah! Ves took out the coin and placed it on the counter, then slid it towards the goblin. Oh my does this mean some poor adventurer died in that cave? We told her about the body of the young man that we found. Such a pity. But, you know, I dont recall anyone else accepting the rat queen hunt. She picked up the coin and held it close to one eye. Sterling Seekers now that does sound familiar. Let me check. I realized that this fantasy world was actually some kind of ironic hell as Mrs. Zurax began the process of slowly climbing down her chair again. Was I rude to a DMV clerk in the past? She shuffled back towards the shelves. I had to do something to move this along. Using the same loud-but-friendly voice I had to use when speaking to my grandmother in her later days, I asked Is there anything I can do to help? Mrs. Zurax turned back to me and winked. Dont tempt me but its against Network rules to let anyone behind the counter. Ves, biting her lip, nudged me with her elbow. Yeah, Jeremy, you know better! ...Im going back to the cave. Snickering, Ves grabbed my arm to hold me back. I pulled myself free and continued to the door - I just wanted to step outside until this was over. However, the door swung open suddenly, nearly hitting me. Deepest apologies, my good man! Oh, I dont believe weve had the pleasure of meeting you! The voice was deep and commanding, yet friendly. It belonged to a man who was at least four or five inches taller than me, and looked like he stepped off the cover of a classic womens romance novel. His shiny white smile contrasted with his warm brown skin. The large man was clad in gleaming golden armor that matched his shoulder-length, wavy hair on top of which was a pair of black horns. Chapter 7 - The Hard Sell The handsome man held an arm in front of his chest and bowed politely. Kaelition Xyrosia IV, at your service. I could only nod in return. Jeremy Dodd at yours. A fledgling Rogue, I see! Tell me, good sir, have you yet to join a guild? Mrs. Zurax found the information she was searching for and spoke before I could respond. Yes, yes, here we are representatives from the Sterling Seekers came to the village recently. Perhaps theyre still in the areaC Lady Zurax! Kaelition held out his hands as if seeing an old friend for the first time in years, and moved towards the counter. Ever so wonderful to see you again, madam. Are you taking good care of my new friend Jeremy, here? Mrs. Zurax squinted and her lip curled. Oh its you again. My timing seems quite fortuitous! Jeremy, were you, he bowed to Ves, and your enchanting companion here interested in speaking to the Seekers representatives? Why, we are those very representatives! My eyes widened as I noticed the other person that Kaelition was talking about. With her tall, slender figure, her flowing, silvery hair, and - most notably - her long, pointed ears, she was unmistakably an elf. Most likely some kind of mage, by her outfit. She wore a tight dress that was low-cut enough to put an ample amount of cleavage on display, and had a long slit that revealed little more than a tease of her shapely legs. This was capped off with a shimmering cloak that seemed to billow ever so slightly, despite the lack of a breeze in the village hall. Ves and Thia were both beautiful women, even while in a dark cave, fighting a giant rat monster. This elven woman looked like she had put a lot of work into her appearance, with sensational results. That said while she was undeniably sexy, her body language and cold expression gave the immediate impression that she had no interest in interacting with anyone in this village. Ves responded, making me worried that I had been staring at the silver-haired elf. Yeah, we found one of your guild members in a nearby cave. She held out the coin to Kaelition, who took it and clutched it in his fist, a pained expression on his face. And so ends the mystery of our missing comrade He was a new Rogue - like you, Jeremy - and joined our assignment to Perrenbrook as part of his training. He insisted that he could train on his own. Poor lad. We should have been there for him. A tear ran down Kaelitions face, and I was a little caught off-guard by the fact that his feelings about the loss of the beginner adventurer were genuine. The elven womans expression hadnt changed. Kaelition cleared his throat, and somehow stood up straighter. Ullun, let us never forget the lesson imparted unto us today. Even those with extensive potential can fall unexpectedly. There is a reason why we form parties, and none should take even the simple act of training lightly. The broad-shouldered man took a deep breath. What happened to young Gev will never happen to another member of the Sterling Seekers; not if theres anything that I can say about it. Jeremy, I would consider it a personal failing if I didnt at least converse with you about the many benefits of joining our humble guild. Fuuuuck. Ive accidentally made eye contact with the guy working a kiosk and now Im getting a sales pitch. Actually, uh, I just got into town and I need to settle in, rest, you know, eat something. Then a meal you shall have! Courtesy of the Seekers, of course. Kaelition bowed to Ves again. My lady, I would be honored if you would join us, as well. No fuckin way. Then I shall only borrow your companion for a short while! Until we meet again, my dear Mrs. Zurax. The elderly goblin made a meh sound and turned away. Jeremy, Ullun, let us make our exit. Kaelition put a burly arm around my shoulder and escorted me out of the building. I tried to ignore the fading sounds of Vess snickering. The guild representatives took me to a nearby inn that also served food and drinks. Kaelition loudly ordered the soup of the day, and the middle-aged human innkeeper seemed more than happy to comply. Right away, Lord Xyrosia. Please, madam, were all friends here! Call me Kael. And that goes for you, too, Jeremy. I sat down at the opposite side of the table from the others. The handsome, horned man immediately dove into his speech, talking about the benefits of joining the Sterling Seekers. Most of it went over my head, as he talked about elements of adventuring that sounded too mundane to include in a typical game, amounts of money that meant nothing to me yet, and types of magical items that I had never heard of before. The expressions on his face implied that everything he was saying was meant to be impressive, though. The innkeeper set down a bowl of piping-hot soup for each of us. Since I wasnt able to get a word in anyway, I started eating. It wasnt half-bad - not something I might order back home, given the chance, but the feeling of warmth it gave me was very comforting. Ullun, the sexy elf, only took tiny spoonfuls and sipped them elegantly. And, of course, youll have the opportunity to train with seasoned adventurers like our own Ullun, here. Kael gave me a quick wink, and thats when it hit me: Ullun was there for marketing purposes. She reminded me of a bored model working a trade show. I wasnt sure how I could tell, but something about her gave off the impression that she really was a powerful mage - maybe the sheer force of her magic was radiating from her. How much of her attitude had to do with her having to present as a sort of eye candy to recruit new members, and how much of it was just her personality? Kael perked up, noticing something behind me. Speaking of lovely adventurers! Jeremy, allow me to introduce you to my younger sister, Aralithia. I turned to see none other than Thia, who looked truly pleased to see me, giving me a warm, but composed, smile. Ive already had the pleasure of making his acquaintance, brother, although we did not have the opportunity to properly introduce ourselves. Thia bowed deeply as I quickly rose to my feet to return the gesture. Aralithia Xyrosia. Its an honor. The honors all mine I moved over so Thia could sit at the table next to me. The first thing I thought when seeing Kael was that his hair, complexion, and horns reminded me of Thia, but I didnt want to assume any kind of relation between the two. Kael was also significantly taller and, well, beefier than Thia, so if I had learned that they werent actually related, I wouldnt have been all that surprised.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Kael was overjoyed. Marvelous! Pray tell, sister, how did you happen to encounter our potential new recruit, Jeremy? I thought I might take an opportunity to practice with my new class while we were here. I partnered with a local Vitality Mage, and we sought a cave rat queen in a cave, outside of the village. My head whipped in Kaels direction as the man gasped dramatically. The very cave in which young Gev met his gruesome end? He brought a clenched fist to his chest and lowered his head as Thia covered her mouth with her hand. W-what happened to Gev? I leaned closer to Thia. Ves and I found his body in the cave and brought back his coin. Thia nodded, looking saddened by the news. Actually, that reminds me. I retrieved the items he had on him so that I could hand them over with the coin. I started to pull the lockpicks and other equipment from my pockets, but Kael held up a hand. Please - they will find much more use with you, my friend. Thank you, Kael. Oh, and Ves has his actual coin pouch. We can give that to you when we go back. No, no, you may keep that as part of your reward for returning his identification. As for the rest Kael opened a pouch and withdrew some coins, placing them in front of me. But please continue your story, sister. Yes, of course. Thia wiped away a tear. The Mage and I progressed into the queens den, but it managed to claim the upper hand. She turned and smiled at me. Thats when Jeremy struck from the shadows, distracting the beast long enough so that I could finish it off. Ullun actually cocked an eyebrow at me, and Kael looked back and forth between us, his smile beaming. I was right to extend an invitation to this hero! Thia placed a hand on my leather armor and my heart skipped a beat. And it seems your actions inspired the Goddess to grant you a class. It is well-deserved and its a good look on you. Kael grinned. Our family is quite proud of Aralithia. Not only do we have two adventurers in one generation, but the Goddess saw fit to grant her class at the age of twenty - a good five years before I was granted my own! And since you have also just recently received a class, the two of you could undergo training together. Before long, perhaps you could even form a party of your own. That was the strongest case he had made for me to join the Seekers. My problem was that it was all just overwhelming. Id barely been in this world, had no idea what I could really do with my class, and I needed some sleep. I wasnt about to sign up with an organization right away. But Thia definitely made the idea tempting. Of course, I had no idea if anything would ever happen between us. On the other hand, two out of the two women Id met from the Seekers were exceptionally stunning. Hell, I had no problem admitting that even Kael was an attractive guy, and he wasnt my type at all. Even if only a small percentage of the other guild members were as attractive as these three And then there was Ves. She wasnt as charming or cordial as Thia, but she was every bit as beautiful, and had been an enormous help to me so far. I was also having a good time getting to know her better, and I knew there was a lot more to learn. All I knew was that I couldnt make a decision on the spot. Kael, youre a hell of a salesman. Your guild honestly sounds great, but Im going to need some time to think about it. He flashed me another big smile. Thats more than I can ask for. Youre a good man, Jeremy. Lets enjoy the rest of our meal, shall we? The conversation turned much more casual as we finished our soup. I offered some to Thia, but she politely declined, saying that she would be eating later. It was difficult avoiding questions that would reveal that I was from another world, but I said that my family were nomads and that we rarely spent time around civilization. (That would explain why your accent is unfamiliar to me, Kael remarked.) Once the food was gone, Kael stood. Ah, how time flies! I should be returning you to your companion. Brother, if you dont mind, Ill escort Jeremy. Thia turned to me and smiled gently. Kael clapped his hands together. Not at all! Jeremy, you were too gracious with your time and company. I pray that you consider our offer, and that well see you again before we leave Perrenbrook. I believe well only be around two, possibly three, more days. He looked to Ullun for confirmation, but her expression didnt change. Ill absolutely think about it. Thank you for the meal. It was nice meeting you, Kael, Ullun. I thought I saw the corner of her mouth curl slightly before I turned and left the inn with Thia. It was getting warmer outside, but there was still a pleasant breeze. Aralithia- Please, call me Thia. Thia, can I ask you a question about the guild? She looked somewhat apprehensive, but nodded. Why the hell is it called Sterling Seekers when the coins are copper and Kaels armor is golden? Your armor is closer to silver, at least. She laughed cheerfully. Its sterling as in excellent. I thanked her, but tried not to think about how languages worked between our worlds, and decided to chalk it all up to magic. Thia . Did you return with Vestele? How is she? Oh, Ves is alright. She wasnt upset, if thats what you mean. Thats good. I wanted to apologize for how I conducted myself when I departed the cave. I smiled. Theres nothing to be sorry about. Ves told me a little about her situation, you know, as a Healer. It sounds difficult. And stressful. Throw in a near-death encounter with a giant rat, and tensions can run high. Yes, well said. Did she happen to mention anything about my own situation? I shook my head. Based on what she said when she stormed off, Id assumed that it was similar to Vess. With what I just learned from Kael about their family, she must have had even more stress piled onto her. I, too, have had difficulty endeavoring with my class. Defenders tend to be more like my brother. I thought it would be wise to train independently of him, so that he wouldnt have to see my at my utter worst. So you and Ves decided to could help each other out. Indeed. And you saw the result. I dont want to try and fix something I, uh, dont really know anything about, but maybe it would go better with the three of us? I have no idea if my class is a good fit for me or not, but even if its not, theres strength in numbers. ...Perhaps. Im unsure about how I wish to proceed from here. She suddenly stopped in her tracks. Jeremy. I turned to face her. What is it? Dont join the Seekers. I may not know what I will do next, but I do not feel like that would be the right path for you to take. Knew it sounded too good to be true. Why? Whats wrong with the guild? No, its not the guild itself. I just feel that it would stifle you. There are those who thrive in that kind of environment, but theres something about you thats different. Her body seemed to tense as she looked up at me. Meeting her gaze, I decided to be honest with her. Telling her the truth about what happened to me today felt like the best action, especially as it could confirm her feelings about me being different. Thia, can I tell you a secret? Her big eyes widened slightly, and she spoke quietly as she stepped closer. Yes, of course. Looking around, I noticed more villagers on the street than earlier. We were getting the occasional side-eye - presumably because neither of us were locals, more than anything else. Is there somewhere more private we can speak? Thia touched her chin. Were not far from the edge of the village, and theres no farmland on this side; only woods. How does that sound? Yeah, thats more than enough. We stepped into the woods and behind a thick tree. This is going to sound weird, but I need to say this sooner than later. Thia touched my arm. Please, dont worry. I just had to pull off the bandage. Im from another world. I dont know how I ended up here, but I found myself in the cave not long before I first met you. Thia looked less surprised by my admittedly-weird confession and more taken aback, as if she were expecting something else. Truly? Yeah, I nodded. I know that it sounds crazy Then my feelings were accurate! And for the Goddess to grant you a class so soon after arriving on Fielende mayhap you have a destiny to fulfill. Now that was something I hadnt thought about. To be fair, I knew almost nothing about the Goddess that at least some of the people in this world believed in. Until this point, Thias smiles had been mostly gentle and a little reserved. But now she gave me a radiant smile that filled me with happiness. Youve given me a lot to contemplate. Im glad our paths crossed again, Jeremy. My face felt warm as I grinned. Yeah, me too! Thank you for hearing me out. Its, you know, not easy to tell someone about this. I understand. Thank you for sharing your secret. Oh, right, now that Ive told you, we can go back to town. Thias hands were behind her back and her shoulders were gently rocking back and forth. Before that, may I admit something, as well? Of course. Anything. She moved closer, and my back pressed against the tree trunk. Id very much like to pleasure you with my mouth if you would permit me. Chapter 8 – Decisions & Dalliances (R18) What- excuse me? Just my mouth, this time. Im still wearing my gauntlets, so it would not be ideal if I used my hands. She giggled enticingly. Are you sure? Thia slid her hand down, past my armor. Truly. Over your clothes is one matter, but its not worth the risk of harming you. I mean, you really want to do this? I couldnt help but smile in anticipation. Of all the things I never expected to happen today, this definitely seemed less likely than being granted a boon by a literal Goddess. Ever since you helped me exterminate the rat queen. Her hand started stroking my crotch. It had been too long since it had received that kind of attention from someone else. At the time, the idea of servicing you was thrilling. Right there, in the cave. I shuddered with excitement; both at the thought of that, and from the feeling of Thias hand. Even with Ves there? Especially with Vestele there. Can you imagine it? Showing my appreciation to the one who turned the tide of battle in such a way? Now it was her turn to shudder. Ill definitely be imagining it later. Thia gave me a mischievous smile. Meeting you again only heightened my interest. And yours, as well, it seems. I groaned lightly in agreement as she sank down and unbuttoned the cloth trousers that had appeared with my leather armor. They were tighter than the jeans or slacks I was used to wearing, and my dick needed release in every sense of the word. Unable to wait any longer, Thia pulled down my trousers with more haste than I expected. My cock practically sprang out, nearly at full mast. The lovely blonde placed a gentle kiss on the head, and I reached maximum hardness almost instantly. She looked up at me with a craving in her big, blue eyes. I wish I could savor this, but it is neither the time nor place I pray you dont mind if I perform quickly. I - ahh- I dont mind if you dont Something to look forward to later, maybe? Mmm, yes Maintaining eye contact, Thia licked my stiff cock from base to tip, then swirled her tongue around the head. She slid the tip between her soft lips, closed her eyes, and moaned lightly. Oh my god, that I groaned appreciatively. Thia released me from her mouth and licked the shaft again, with the occasional kiss. Does this feel good, Jeremy? Yes. Fuck, yes. She giggled again. I think Im enjoying it even more. My cock was soon in her mouth again, and she moved her head back and forth as her tongue worked its magic. I was glad - thrilled, really - that Thia suggested this location, because her loud slurping would have been impossible to hide anywhere in that sleepy village. The petite, golden-haired beauty worked her way further down my rigid length. She only made it about halfway, whimpering faintly, as if she were desperate for more. Thias expression, a mix of determination and pure lust, told me that she knew exactly what she was doing. I had no doubt that she could take the whole thing if she tried, but right now, she was focused on making me cum. And she was close to achieving that goal. She pulled back a little, then bobbed her head quickly, not breaking her eye contact. Her moans were almost as effective at bringing me close to completion as her mouth itself, but the hottest part of all of this was how much she wanted it. Maybe Ves was onto something - should I hang out in caves, waiting to save thankful women? My hands gripped the tree behind me as Thia sucked harder. It was just about time. I-Im almost there Thia moved her head back until only my tip remained in her wet mouth. Her moans of arousal sounded more like she was pleading begging for my cum. I groaned as I gave into her desires. She swallowed as each shot landed in her mouth, coaxing out as much as possible with her tongue. Once she was satisfied that I had nothing left to give, she gave my shaft a quick tongue washing, and ended with another gentle kiss on the tip. I could have gone again after that. Thia, that was wow. Youre amazing. Id love to return the favor She stood up and brushed off her greaves, a look of satisfaction on her stunning face. You do not owe me anything but I hope that the opportunity arises. Oh, I think it will. I chuckled. Ive never known another woman who is so enthusiastic. Thia rested her head on my chest. When we aevrana yearn for something, we tend to do so with great intensity, or passion. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. I imagine it may have seemed strange to you. Only in a good way. I put an arm around her, holding her against me. Now that youve, uh, achieved that goal, would you be interested in this leading to something more? Mmm, deeply interested. Its a pity that we have so little time now. I mean, leading to more of a relationship. Oh! Thias eyes sparkled as she flashed me a radiant smile, then she buried her face against my armor. I heard some shy, muffled giggling, followed by That would be my preference, as well. So now she gets shy? Its cute as hell, though. She continued: But with my future plans still uncertain it would not be right to make promises I cannot keep. If only all this armor wasnt between us. Yeah, I get it. I wish there was something I could do to help. Thia raised her head and looked up at me. You have too much to concern yourself with as it is, whether or not the Goddess has grander plans for you. My feelings regarding you not joining the Seekers are stronger than before, now that I am aware of your circumstances. Ill think about what you said. I kind of hope I dont run into Kael again, though. He seems to be the type who doesnt take no for an answer. My brother means well, but what I said about aevrana is especially true for my family. He is eager for you to join the guild, which means youre correct: he will not easily relent. I sighed. Okay. Thank you for the advice, and, well, everything. I couldnt help but have a wide grin on my face. Good luck with making your decision. Part of me wanted to tell her that if she chose to remain with the Seekers, I would strongly consider joining them in spite of her warnings but I didnt want her decision to be based on what she thought was best for me.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. We realized that it would be best to get back into town before anyone wondered where we had gone. After putting my pants back on, I looked around, but didnt see anyone in the vicinity. Thia led me to the village hall, bowed formally, and bid me farewell. Just for now, I hope. Thia only took a few steps before turning around. If you wouldnt mind, could you please give Vestele my apologies? In regards to my behavior in the cave. I nodded, but before she could go, I grabbed her hand. Pulling her close, I leaned down and kissed her. She returned the kiss, but even though she was the first to pull away, I could tell that it had been difficult for her. Watching her step backwards, as she tried to maintain her composure, was the cutest thing Id ever seen. I took a deep breath before entering the building. Ves didnt seem to be around, so I approached the counter. Mrs. Zurax was using a quill to write on a piece of parchment, so I cleared my throat to announce my presence. She smirked and wagged a finger. Two visits in one day? Jeremy, youre spoiling me. Although I had concerns over whether Id ever see Thia again, I was feeling very confident thanks to our unexpected encounter. Overconfident, even. I winked at the old goblin. Jeremy Dodd knows how to make the ladies happy. Look, Im not proud of saying that, but Mrs. Zurax appreciated me playing along with her. Speaking of which, do you know where I could find Vestele? Mrs. Zurax chuckled. Well, the poor thing was starving, and didnt want to wait any longer, so she left to get something to eat. Im sure shell return soon, if youd like to get comfortable. Thanks, but Ill wait outside. Maybe Ill be able to spot her before she gets back. See you later! I only had to wait outside for a few minutes, but it was the longest Id been alone since arriving in Fielende. So much had happened in just a few hours. Thankfully, before I could overthink any of it, Ves turned a corner, carrying what looked like a couple of small, grilled animals on skewer-like sticks. She took a bite out of one as she approached. There you are. Got you a branchskimmer. She offered one of the sticks, but I declined. Thanks, but Im full from lunch. Was hoping youd say that! Ves quickly chomped the rest of the first creature before starting on the next, but didnt wait to speak until her mouth was empty. So, how was it? Did they talk you into joining the guild? Nah. Id like to at least find my bearings before I consider making any big decisions like that. Makes sense. She took another big bite. But youre also being really generous with your help, and time, and I dont want to take advantage of that. Maybe it would just be easier if I joined? Then I might not have to worry about making any other major decisions. Thias words echoed in my head, but the guild was the only backup plan I knew about. The thing they dont like to tell you about at those lunches is that they expect you to bring in a certain amount of money. If you arent good enough to get assigned to an actual party well, remember what I said about permanent cleaning duty? I nodded. That wasnt a joke! And apparently, it takes forever to earn enough just to quit. Oh. I was thinking that, if I had to, I could just try it out for a while. What does this mean for Thia? Her brother is in some kind of position of authority. Does that mean its easier for her to just leave, if she chooses? Yeah, it doesnt work like that. But who knows? Maybe together, we could make a decent living. I might not have made it out of the cave at all without your help, or you without mine, and we earned some money on top of that. Oh, damn it! I forgot to ask that guy about getting a reward for the coin. I held up the pouch and chuckled. Guess who got the reward and the money we found? Vess green eyes lit up. Jeremy, you lucky bastard! Nice work! Unexpectedly, she hugged me tight, but quickly pulled back. Hmm. Okay. First thing we need to spend it on is a bath. She sniffed again, furrowing her brow slightly. Oh man, that would be great. As we walked to the baths, I noticed Ves giving me some side-eye. So they gave you an extra reward and a free lunch. Sounds like that guy really wants you to join them. I scoffed. Right? He even let me keep the other items I found on the body. It feels a little too desperate. Huh sounds like they really treated you well. Was that elf there, too? Kind of? Pretty sure she never said a word the entire time. Ves raised an eyebrow. So she was preoccupied? Just didnt seem like she wanted to be there. It was a little off-putting. Oh, but, uh, I did see Thia. Turns out that guy, Kael, is her brother. Her ears flattened, and her nose twitched. Thia was there? For some of it, yeah. She said she wanted to apologize for earlier. ...I see. I wasnt sure how to respond to that, so I didnt. With the message passed along, Fortunately, soon after, we arrived at the bathhouse. The bath ended up being uneventful, but (mostly because of that) it was satisfying. The baths were small enough to only comfortably fit one adult, and each one had a curtain that could be closed for a bit of privacy. The proprietor, a young dwarven woman, placed a small stone inside each tub. Ves explained that they had a simple enchantment on them that would heat the water, but the stones themselves remained cool. It was so relaxing that I ended up dozing off, but only for a minute, which made me feel more tired than ever. Ves, fully dressed, slapped my shoulder to wake me. Unless you wanna pay for another bath, lets get going. She held a hand to my clothes and armor, which were laying on the floor next to the tub, and frowned in concentration. The increasingly-familiar glow appeared in her palm, and the dirt lifted off of my belongings before vanishing, leaving behind the bleach-like smell. That spells gotta be extremely useful. Whats it called? Vess eyes avoided my own. I can never pronounce it right. I just call it the cleaning spell. With that, she left so I could put my clothes back on. I gotta spend some of this money on something else to wear. We stepped out into the brisk afternoon air. Vestele counted the rest of our money and gave me half. This should be enough for you to stay at the inn for about a week. Maybe two, if they let you help with the cooking and cleaning. Hmm. Whether or not I join the guild, Im going to need to make money as an adventurer. I cant ask you to do any more for me, but tomorrow Im going to go back to the village hall and see if Zurax has anything thats, uh, beginner friendly that I could do. Ves crossed her arms, looking a little annoyed. Stop thinking that Im helping you for no reason. You know we can help each other. Or give it a try, anyway. Dont want to end up like that Rogue in the cave. Both Kael and Ves were right about that. Partnering up, or even joining a party, was necessary for survival here. Okay. Id like that. But lets be extra cautious, at least at first. I have no idea what Im doing yet. Yeah, probably for the best, considering my own lack of talents. Your healing has already been ridiculously helpful. If Rogues work anything like I think they do, I might be able to kill things before they even know Im there. If that doesnt work, then you can focus on keeping me alive. Well see how it goes from there. Ves nodded, looking more confident than before. Alright, good thinking. Think youll be ready to start tomorrow? Doesnt matter Ill have to be. Which means I should get back to the inn. Do you want to meet there tomorrow? Ill buy you breakfast. Ugh, dont waste your money. Just sleep at my place for now. Really? You sure? Ves tried to hold back a laugh and ended up snorting, which resulted in her actually laughing. Wow, can you just accept the offer? She walked right up to me and poked me in the chest, then practically whispered. I already told you to not worry about it. Were helping each other out. Stop making such a big deal out of everything and just try to settle in. She paused. Sorry I poked you. I couldnt feel it through the armor. But, okay. I wont keep asking if youre okay with helping me, but promise that youll be honest with me if Im being an imposition or whatever. She smirked. Gladly. When we arrived at Vess house, my first thought was about how small it was. My second was about how lucky she was to actually own a house. On the outside, it looked pretty much like every other house in the village. When we entered, I got the impression that it might be the sparsest house in the village. There were very few belongings: an old bed in one corner, a wooden table by a window, and a rusted stove were the most prominent objects in the house. Ive never spent much time here. I traveled a lot until recently. And well be out training and adventuring, so just think of this as a place to rest up in-between! Sounds perfect. I could sleep basically anywhere right now. Any preference? Nah. You can use my old mattress wherever. Ves pulled out an old, dirty mattress from under the bed. In reality, it was barely a mattress in the way I knew them: it was more like a long beanbag chair, only stuffed with straw. Ves, youre the bes. She rolled her eyes, and then I thanked her more sincerely. I dragged the mattress to the opposite side of the room, placed my cloak over it, and flopped down. It was a little more comfortable than I expected, which was enough. I fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes. When I woke up, I gasped like I had been unable to breathe. Maybe I was having a nightmare, maybe I reacted to the unfamiliar setting before I had a chance to process it, or maybe I just slept too hard. The reason is unimportant, but the sound made Ves stir. She rolled over, and wrapped her arm and leg over me. Chapter 9 - Starting, Again To say I was disoriented after waking up would be an understatement. Vess small home was dark - almost as dark as the cave had been, if not for the one window with the curtains partway open that allowed a sliver of sunrise through. Compared to my bedroom back on Earth, in which there were countless lights from my alarm clock, computer, power strips, and various other electronics, the difference was well, practically night and day. And then, of course, there was the catgirl that was currently spooning me. It wasnt unpleasant at all, but unexpected. I shifted a tiny bit, and felt Vess arm and leg hold me tighter. My mind started to overthink the situation: why is she doing this, why am I concerned about it, does this mean she likes me, is this a cultural thing, how can I make sure I dont embarrass her or myself While my brain was working overtime, I instinctively reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone to check the time. That was a mistake: the time was still about fourteen hours ahead (or ten hours behind?), and the movement made Ves stir and groan. Nnh whatre you doin... Ves? Whats going on? I noticed that the battery was nearly in the single digits, so I shut the phone off completely. Thanks for your help in the cave, old friend. Tryin to sleep I tried to sound as casual as possible. Uh why here? She yawned (right next to my ear) and released me. You just fell asleep right away. Didnt even take your armor off. Her voice became even quieter than before. You looked kinda uncomfortable. And I thought you might get cold, but I didn''t have a blanket, so You don''t have a blanket? Ves sat up and stretched. I saw that was wearing a simple brown nightgown that nearly reached her ankles. I have a down quilt that I use in the winter, but the rest of the time, I don''t really use a blanket. It would have been too warm for you. Especially with your armor on, dummy. Oh, okay Thanks, Ves. Just makin sure you got enough rest. Feeling better? After a good yawn, I got up and stretched. A little sore, but yeah, a lot better. A genuinely happy smile grew on Vess lovely face. Good! Were going to see what you can do with your class today, and get in some practice for me, too. She checked some cupboards, but didnt find anything. Ugh. Is your offer to buy breakfast still on the table? Hell yeah. Least I can do. Okay, great. Id pay, or split the cost, but I need to use my reward money to get some new equipment. She picked up her robes, which were just piled on the floor. These just arent working for me. Uh, turn around for a minute. I did as Ves asked, and heard her changing into the robes. It was definitely nice that she could use magic to almost instantly clean our clothes and gear. One less thing to worry about. Once she was ready, we left her house. It was still in the early stages of sunrise, but there were already people working, including carpenters, farmers, and bakers. The smell of bread was tempting, but it felt like a better idea to get some protein and not fill up on bread and sweets before our first real day working together. It was much colder than it had been the previous afternoon. Wonder how the seasons work here. Might need to get some cold-weather clothes before long. We walked to the inn where I had been treated to lunch - one of the tradeoffs for having a pleasant, quiet village seemed to be a lack of dining variety. The kind innkeeper who served me the day before wasnt around, but a stocky, bald man with a thick beard, a scar across his face, and an apparently permanent frown emerged from the kitchen when we arrived. Ves, a pleasure as always. His expression and tone didnt fit his words at all. Guessing you stopped by to pay off your tab? Ahhh, right, that. She gave me a brief embarrassed look. Uh, Tabur, if we can pay for breakfast now, can I pay the rest back later? The irritated man only replied with his consistent frown. I grabbed my coin pouch. How much does she owe? Ves tried to stop me, but Tabur interrupted her and told me the price in copper coins. I looked into my pouch and asked Ves about the conversion rate between copper and silver coins. No, Jeremy. This isnt your problem. Well, even if Tabur here lets me pay for my own breakfast His unchanging demenor made me unsure of that. ...I still need my partner to eat something before we get to work today. Tabur answered for Ves. Ten copper to a silver. Same with silver to gold. I had enough to cover Vess tab, but wouldnt have a whole lot left afterward. I rounded up and handed over just silver coins to Tabur. Keep the change. Will that cover breakfast for us today, too? One side of Taburs mouth actually curled up just the tiniest amount. I half-expected his skin to crack. And then some. Well, keep it. Well be coming back here a lot, I think, so consider it a reward for your patience. Tabur told us to take a seat, and it wasnt long before he brought out some plates filled with eggs and bacon. Ves still hadnt said anything, and looked a little uncomfortable. You really didnt have to do that. I swallowed a bite of food. What was it you told me yesterday? Were helping each other out, stop making such a big deal out of everything, et cetera? She smirked. Cute. You said you needed the money for your gear, which is important to me, too. Ah, right - can you explain the whole deal with your robes? Ves replied in-between mouthfuls of bacon and eggs. Theyre the same as your armor there. Got em when the Goddess gave me the class. Theyre supposed to act as a focus for my magic, but to me, theyre just uncomfortable and a pain to move around in. She squirmed in her seat.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. So you need something else to wear that can still work as a focus, right? Right. So its gonna be more expensive than regular clothes, especially since theres not a lot of demand for that sort of thing in Perrenbrook. Hopefully I can find something decent here, so we can make some more money, and maybe buy something better elsewhere in the future. I could get behind that. Buying lower-end gear to essentially level up and farm some cash to afford better gear? Id been practicing that for years, and I didnt even know it. We finished our food and I stood up from the table. Alright, which way to the shop? Ves motioned for me to sit back down. Hey, Tabur! I turned to see the stocky man approach, carrying a couple of plates for another table. He grunted at Ves, who continued. Im looking for some new gear. Got some time this morning? Tabur glared at Ves briefly before walking past her. He dropped off the plates at a nearby table with an elderly pair of long-bearded dwarves, then returned to ours. Free now. Cmon. Ves told me to wait for her, and followed Tabur out of the dining area and around a corner. Guess he runs a clothing shop on the side? The other innkeeper, the middle-aged woman, appeared a minute later and offered me some tea. I learned that her name was Yrin, and we chatted for a bit, before she had to take care of some other business. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, as I was taking another sip of tea, I heard Ves behind me. Hey, time to go! I turned and coughed up some of my tea. Vess bulky robes had been replaced by a very form-fitting, halter neck white dress that clung to her skin in ways that seemed impossible - it had to have been some kind of magic or enchantment on the clothes. Other than a pair of long, white gloves, her arms and shoulders were bare. Her generous breasts were fully covered, but prominently displayed. I could see her trim waist flare out into her shapely hips. Below that, the dress was shorter than I ever expected, revealing a few inches of her thick, creamy thighs. The rest of her legs were encased in a pair of stockings and thigh boots (both white, of course; there was definitely a theme to this outfit). Something else was impossible to not notice: Ves had a calico-furred tail swaying behind her. It made sense, but this was the first time Id seen it. And it was really cute. She was trying not to laugh. You okay? I cleared my throat. Wrong pipe. That looks amazing. How do you feel? is it comfortable? Surprisingly, yeah. Id heard rumors about Tabur having some kind of class, but didnt realize he was some kind of enchanter, or clothes-mancer. I thought hed just take my measurements for now. Normally, I never leer or stare at women, but my resolve was being tested with the sexy calico woman in front of me. I wanted to go find Tabur and give him a hug almost as much as I wanted to give one to Ves. I like your tail, by the way. The tail swished back and forth. That was the worst part about the robes! Not to say anything bad about the Goddess, but having one type of robe for every Vitality Mage is just ugh. Tabur was able to add an opening, and it feels so much better. Ves spun around to show me. The bottom of her dress barely extended past the bottom of her perfect ass. I desperately had to change the subject. Its been a good morning so far, so lets see if we can keep it going. Where to next, the Adventurers Network? Ves crossed her arms, pushing up her breasts slightly. Actually, is it okay if we go back to the cave for a bit? I wanted to check out that rune again. I wasnt looking forward to returning to that place, at least, not so soon. However, as an adventurer, I knew Id have to spend a lot of time in undesirable places - may as well get used to that sooner rather than later. Sure. Hey, are there any maps of the cave? Might be nice to have just in case. Dont think so. You already saw most of it, anyway. Theres not much. Still is there a place I could buy some paper and charcoal? Not just for a map - I could use it to make a rubbing of the rune. Wed be able to reference it anywhere we want. What I really wanted to do was just take a picture of it on my phone, but while there was enough battery to do that, we wouldnt be able to look at it much. Not to mention the fact that itd be hard to explain if we wanted to show the picture to anyone else. Ves needed to get a new torch anyway, since she didnt want to have to focus on magical light in case she needed to cast anything else. She led the way to the general store, where I got the parchment and charcoal. As I looked around at the other items on display, I wondered what else might be useful for adventuring. Probably a lot of stuff Id never thought of. Stuff that gets ignored or glossed over in games and movies. It was irrelevant, anyway, since money was tight after paying off Vess tab. It was time that we got going. *** As we traversed through the cave again, I stopped every so often to add to my map. It looked awful, especially as I was having to hold the parchment up against the cave walls to draw. Ves looked kind of annoyed at the frequent stops, but didnt say anything. By the way, does this place have a name? If it ever had a real name, I dont know it. People just call it the Starting Cave, since its where the new adventurers go first. I wrote Starting Cave at the top of my map, and then nearly laughed at how bad it looked. The first tunnel was so much bigger than the others, because I didnt plan ahead and ran out of parchment. I would have just made a quick second draft, but didnt want to keep Ves waiting any longer. Do you think that the Seekers came here to get the corpse? It had just hit me that it must be in especially bad shape now, and since it was so close to the rune, thered be no avoiding it. Not a chance. Youll see. Soon, Ves entered the chamber with the rune - where I had first appeared - and held the torch out. All that was left of the adventurer named Gev was some dried blood staining the cave floor, including the blood that had revealed the rune. The cave rats work fast. They eat like crazy, so when there are too many of them, they leave the cave and attack animals in the forest. Ignore that for too long, and theyll start going after farm animals and unlucky people who are outside at night. Damn. We should try to take some out before we leave. I drew one of my daggers, just in case I was caught by surprise again. Good idea. Who knows when therell be new adventurers here. The only time the Network pays for killing regular cave rats is when they need to send a request for adventurers to another town. Ves crouched down by the rune and held out her hand. She furrowed her brows as she focused, but soon relaxed as a light appeared in her palm, followed by the bloodstains. They quickly vanished, leaving no trace. Wonder if its easy for Healers to get away with murder, or if that would make a crime scene look too clean. How was it? Casting a spell with your new outfit. Ves stood back up and pumped her fists. Better! Not, like, significantly, but better. Being comfortable helps. I sniffed the air - the bleach smell was barely noticeable. Hey, that is better. Nice work! She grinned widely. Its still supposed to be a basic spell. Something I should be able to do without even thinking about it. Ive got a ways to go, but man, making any progress feels great. Her excitement was infectious, and her smile was a thing of beauty. But as lost as I was in her eyes, something caught my attention. Ves I pointed to the rune. It was glowing, but so faintly that it was almost impossible to tell even with just the torchlight. Taking the torch from Vess hand, I stepped out of the chamber so that the glow might be more visible. Whoa. Ves crouched down again, but by then, the glow had faded entirely. I stepped back into the chamber. Was that a lingering effect of the cleaning spell? I dont think so. Let me try something else. Ves held out her hand once more, and focused on the rune carved into the ground. Her palm filled with light, and her expression grew more and more intense as she continued sustaining whatever spell she was casting. Or trying to cast. I backed up again, and soon we could see the pale glow on the rune again. A bead of sweat ran down Vess face. The light in her palm flickered, and she growled with frustration, then stopped casting altogether. Fuck! You okay? This has to be an actual rune. Its reacting to my magic. I just I cant damn it! She rose to her feet and slammed the nearest wall with the sole of her boot. The sound echoed around the small chamber. Ves, for all we know, it can only be activated by some kind of elite wizard. You know, maybe its impossible for all but the one who created it, or something like that. ...Maybe. I knew she was thinking along the lines of or maybe I just suck, but it felt best to leave it alone or just leave the cave entirely. Then I remembered to make my charcoal rubbing first. With that done, I asked Ves what she wanted to do next. Lets just kill some stupid rats and get outta here. Chapter 10 - Cave Creeping I decided to take the lead in order to take some pressure off of Ves, and because I was excited to see what I could do with my class. Ves already knew to stay at a distance, whenever possible, only moving closer to me if I would otherwise be out of her line-of-sight. She couldnt stay too far back, however, because I still needed some torchlight to see. It was a tricky balance. The main thing I was worried about was getting surprised by another rat, and most likely getting injured in the process. Even though Ves could heal me, my preference was to avoid the pain of the attack and the pain of her magic altogether. Thats what made me remember how my senses had felt heightened the first time I left the cave. I hadnt felt anything like that in Perrenbrook, making me wonder if I had subconsciously activated a Rogue feature when I was concerned about danger. That wouldnt be good enough. If I really did have enhanced senses to some degree, that would be especially useful in situations in which I didnt expect any kind of trouble. I had to figure out a way to tap into this, somehow. Unfortunately, clearing my mind and trying to focus was not even close to being one of my strong suits. Instead of trying to think about nothing, I tried to think about everything: the feel of the cave wall, the smell of the musty air, and the absolute lack of sound. I suddenly felt a presence close to me, but far too late to do anything about it. Its a good thing that it was only Ves, placing a hand on my shoulder. Whats going on? Whyd you stop? I hadnt even realized that Id stopped moving. After explaining what I was doing to Ves, she crossed her arms and gave me a half-hearted smile. A Rogue who cant focus. Maybe you were sent here so we could form a party of adventurers with the wrong classes. Well maybe youre onto something. That voice in my head - uh, the Goddess - told me something like my bonds will be my strength. One of Vess ears lowered and she slightly cocked her head. What? She doesnt say anything like that. Its not unusual for me to misremember things, but this was recent enough and unique enough that it still stood out in my mind. I told Ves as much, and she asked me to repeat what the Goddess had said when she granted me my class. Okay, now Im on the spot, and Im not going to remember it word-for-word, but it went like: For your deeds, youll be granted the Rogue class. Um, learn and use your skills well, help those in need, and oh, right that which is wrong. Then she said the part about Your bonds will be your strength, and you, theirs. And then as I was trying to process all that, she said something about how Ive given myself a second chance. Ves was looking at me like I was crazy, and sighed. Okay, I only believe you because everything about you has been weird. I crossed my arms. Whats weird about it? The Goddess has never said most of that stuff. All I heard was For your deeds, you will be granted the Vitality Mage class. Learn and use your skills well. As far as I know, thats all anyone hears from the Goddess when they get a class. That was information that I didnt know what to do with. ...Huh. Maybe its because Im from another world? Like, I needed some extra guidance? Ves shook her head gently. No idea. Weird or not, youre a special guy, I guess. Maybe you should join a guild. I smirked at Ves, which felt great, considering how often she had been doing it to me. We havent even found a single rat today and youre already trying to get rid of me? Her other ear flattened, as did her expression. Yeah, okay. Just saying that you might excel with proper training and resources, since the Goddess loves you so much. That still didnt make me want to join the Seekers, or any other guild, but I wasnt ready to tell Ves that it was largely because of what Thia had told me. I still think you had it right: we have to help each other. Thats what the Goddess was telling me. With everything thats happened, Im not about to assume that this is all just because of random chance. Vess expression softened a bit, and she just looked at me for a few seconds. Okay, are we going to train, or what? I feel like an idiot having another conversation in this damn cave. Grinning, I turned back around and slowly made my way further down the tunnel. I couldnt stop thinking about how Ves seemed kind of jealous of the attention I was getting from the Goddess, the Seekers hell, maybe even Mrs. Zurax. Combine that with how great she looked in her new outfit, and I was finding myself drawn to her more and more. There was a faint squeal coming from farther down the tunnel, and I stopped in my tracks. Did you hear that? Ves moved closer. No. What was it? I think theres a rat ahead. Im going to see if I can sneak up closer. The last time I moved with any kind of stealth was probably when sneaking out of my bedroom to get a midnight snack as a kid. Just like I did back then, I started moving as slowly as possible. It seemed effective: I wasnt making any noise, but it was also excruciatingly slow. There was a good chance that the rat would be long gone (or worse, notice me) before I got to it. Ive killed a couple of these things already. Ves has got my back. This is the time to experiment. I picked up the pace a bit, and still wasnt making any kind of sound. Even as I continued increasing my speed, my movement remained silent. It seemed that this was another part of the Rogue class. Ves gets to use healing magic, and I get to move without making a sound. It hit me that I hadnt drawn my daggers yet. I did so, a little too fast, nearly dropping them. Catching my breath, I motioned for Ves to move up closer so I could make my way around the next bend. As the torchlight got closer to me, I started to make out a vague shape not too far ahead of me, just around the bend. It was definitely a cave rat. I held up my hand to stop Ves, then waved it a few times to have her take a step or two back. I couldnt see her face, but I hoped she wasnt too annoyed. I crouched down and stepped quietly towards the rat, which still hadnt noticed me. It seemed to be cleaning itself, and less aware of its surroundings. This was an opportunity I couldnt afford to miss. Holding my breath, I thrust a dagger into its back and killed it instantly. I exhaled. Oh shit.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Ves, also crouching down, moved up right behind me. What happened? I one-shotted it. I mean, killed it with one stab. Well, yeah. Sneak attacks are your bread and butter. That matched what I knew about Rogues, but it was weird to experience it in real life. Not a bad start. Wonder if there are any more nearby. I continued around the bend to check. This part opened up into the junction chamber. I whispered for Ves to hold out the torch a little more so that I could get a somewhat better look into the chamber, then quickly had her pull it back. I was really missing my phone at this point. During that brief glimpse, I didnt notice any rats, so I closed my eyes and made another attempt at focusing on my hearing. Naturally, my attention wandered, but I managed to just barely make out a scratching noise coming from my right. There were a couple of passages in that direction, but I was reasonably sure that it was coming from the one furthest to my right. I hadnt been down this tunnel yet, but remembered Ves saying that most of these passages were dead ends. On one hand, it meant it would be harder for the rat to escape. On the other, it meant that the rat might be more likely to turn around and notice me before I could attack. After holding up a hand to let Ves know she should stay back, I held up my daggers and crept through the chamber. The stress of the situation helped me focus, and I could feel my senses opening up in a way. It was nice to have this ability at all, but it felt like it would take a lot more practice to have it active whenever I wanted. As I got closer, I could hear more scratching sounds and faint squeaks, confirming that I was headed towards the correct passage. Unfortunately, by this point, I couldnt see anything. Something told me that even if I became some kind of master Rogue, my heightened senses wouldnt be the same as having darkvision. In situations like this, the best I could do was make an educated guess. Just like before, I thrust out a dagger but this time, I didnt make contact. The rat didnt make any moves or noises, so it seemed that I had another chance. I thrust once more, in a different direction, but still only struck air. Now I was getting frustrated. I thrust both daggers repeatedly in front of me, and soon felt one of them hit something. This was followed by a screech, and then the rat leapt at my face and latched on while furiously biting me. The shock of this happening was almost worse than the pain itself at first. I yelled as I tried to pry it off, but the rat only dug its claws deeper into my flesh. It felt like the rat had completely chewed off my nose and its jagged teeth were too close to my eyes. I was worried about accidentally stabbing myself, but it was clear that this thing was going to do a lot more to me if I didnt kill it soon. Trying to angle the daggers away from me as much as possible, I stabbed at the rat monster until its horrid noises came to a shuddering stop. Its claws were still stuck in my face. Jesus FUCK- Blood was pouring down my face and into my mouth. I fell over as I tried to spit out as much as I could. There was a sudden burst of light, and the rat was knocked off of my face, its claws tearing out of my skin. Before I could even process what was happening, more light filled my vision. The pain quickly faded away, and when the light faded, I could see Ves standing in front of me. Concern filled her beautiful face. She cautiously reached out to touch my nose, and I gasped reflexively. Surprisingly, my nose seemed to be there again, and her touch didnt hurt. Jeremy, are you okay?! I think so. It doesnt hurt anymore. Hey, it doesnt hurt! I pulled her into a hug, which Ves only allowed for a couple of seconds before pulling away. If you hug me every time I heal you, well never get anything done. No, Ves, it doesnt hurt! I mean, your magic! I didnt feel anything! Ves blinked. Wait, what? Really?? That was amazing! Holy shit. That little bastard really got me. Uh, yeah, how the hell did that happen? It would have been nice to come up with a good excuse, but I could only admit that I messed up. I expected Ves to tell me how stupid it was to put myself into a situation like that, but she looked relieved. We need to be more careful. I think we need to risk having more light so you can actually see. If that means you cant sneak attack, then well just have to face them head-on. I agreed, but didnt like the idea of fighting like that, if I could help it. We decided to move on before multiple rats converged on us. Soon we encountered another rat, and even with Ves keeping herself and the torch a bit closer, it didnt seem to notice my presence. I was able to get in another one-hit kill. Do these rats have bad eyesight? I thought it would have noticed the light for sure. Ves looked embarrassed. Maybe? All Ive ever heard is how weak they are compared to other monsters. Never thought to ask about anything else. I was just glad that we found out sooner, rather than later. Ves kept the torch closer to me as we moved deeper into the cave. While in the passage that led directly to the chamber where we fought the cave rat queen, I was able to easily hear the sounds of at least a few rats. I quietly informed Ves, and began sneaking ahead. Two of the rats were at the enormous queens corpse, and appeared to be eating it. There were already huge parts of the body that had already been fed upon. Didnt think that thing could look or smell any worse. At least theyre distracted. It looked like there were bits of bone scattered throughout the chamber, as well. I could also spot a third rat further back in the cave, and it appeared to be sleeping. The occasional squeak confirmed that it was still alive, in any case. Without making a sound, I approached the first two rats. I was feeling pretty confident at this point, and used both of my daggers to kill them at the same time. Then I crept over towards the third one, but when I was just a couple of feet away, I heard a muffled crunch beneath me. I must have stepped on a bone fragment or something, but I didnt understand why it had suddenly made a sound. Even though it wasnt loud, it was enough to alert the cave rat. Its beady eyes opened as it hissed at me, sending specks of drool into the air. The creature lunged at me, but I moved my arm in front of me just in time. Its jaws latched onto my arm and I stabbed it repeatedly with my other hand. Once it was dead, I pried it off of me, and drop-kicked it as far as I could. Ves rushed into the chamber. Oh damn, are you okay? Yeah, that wasnt nearly as bad as before. Would you mind healing me, though? Ves nodded, and focused on her spell. Once it kicked in, the increasingly-familiar pain of the healing magic filled my arm, but it only took a few seconds to heal the minor wound. Ah, shit. Hey, your spell is hurting me again. Why didnt it hurt last time? That was a lot more healing, too. Ves shrugged. Hell if I know. I thought about this for a moment. You blasted the rat off of my face with a spell, then healed me right after. I wonder if it didnt hurt because you were acting without really thinking too hard about it. Huh, could be. Kinda hard to intentionally do stuff without thinking about it, though. Tell me about it. Im still trying to figure out how this basic Rogue stuff works. I think Im making some progress, though. Yeah! The stealth and sneak attacks are super useful. We gotta figure out how to handle the times when you get noticed and attacked, though. If we keep going, monsters are only going to get tougher. She was right, of course. Having Ves heal me up was insanely helpful, but if a monster was especially strong - or just got lucky - I could die. Maybe shed be able to heal that eventually, but at the time, I doubted that was an option. Ves looked over at the rat Id kicked. How did that one notice you, anyway? Not sure. I was sneaking up to it, and then it was like my stealth just wore off oh. I bet I can only do it for so long each time. A lot of stuff in Fielende, at least stuff related to the various classes, seemed to operate on a sort of game logic. Having a stealth ability on a timer made perfect sense when I thought about it like that. I wouldnt be able to just stay quiet forever without having to take breaks. Id been using stealth frequently in the cave today, so I knew whatever cooldown it had couldnt have been long, at least. I explained my theory to Ves as best as I could without mentioning games, but she seemed to get what I was talking about. She crossed her arms and pursed her lips. Okay, so theres a limit to how much you can sneak around at once. I was wondering if we could fight something big, like the rat queen, and have you strike, sneak around it, strike again, and so on, without getting hit. Yeah, definitely not. Rogues arent typically known for taking a lot of hits. Uh, at least, from what I understand. Ves sighed. Were going to need another party member before long, arent we? That made sense - there was a reason why people formed adventuring parties, after all. We needed someone who could withstand more attacks maybe someone who could keep the enemy focused on them, instead of me, or Ves. We need a tank. With that realization, the choice became obvious but it wasnt going to be easy. We need Thia. Chapter 11 - Silver and Gold
Even if she was still in town, and even if she had decided to quit the Seekers hell, even if she was allowed to quit the Seekers there was still more to consider. Thia had asked me to pass along her apology to Ves, but I didnt know how Ves felt about it. And then there was, well, Thias very gracious act of gratitude. She had expressed interest in doing more together, if she could, and I had brought up the idea of possibly beginning a relationship. One way or another, Ves would find out about that, and I didnt want it to be by accident. While I hadnt known either woman for long, there was already an undeniable connection between me and them. Ves wasnt as affectionate as Thia, but our fast friendship and playful banter made me feel like it was possible for our relationship to blossom over time. Or was I just hoping for that, because she was so beautiful, and I was in such an unfamiliar setting? Hello? Jeremy? Ves snapped a finger in my direction. Oh, I was just thinking about what you said. What are our options for finding another party member? You said there arent many adventurers in Perrenbrook, so does that mean we need to go somewhere else? Ves sighed. Probably. Maybe. Its not like were in any rush, so I guess we could just try to stick to really easy tasks and try to survive off of that money until another adventurer comes around. And hope that theyre the kind that we need. Right shit. Vess green eyes looked around as she thought about this problem. And dont forget about the rune. Now that I know it reacts to magic, I really want to figure out what its for and if I can activate it. She had been so upset when she couldnt trigger it that I thought shed had enough of that rune. Whys that? Because it could be hiding treasure, of course. Why else would someone use such a strong rune? I shrugged. Ves, I dont know the first thing about runes. She scoffed, but with a smile. Theres all kinds of runes, but many are used to seal and protect things. I dont know what other reason why someone would put one in a cave. Anyway thats something to worry about later. Lets go back to the village for now, and check the Network. I felt a lot better about leaving the Starting Cave now that Id spent more time exploring it, and had my crude map with me. We didnt run into any other cave rats, which made the trek even easier. Once we were outside in the cool, fresh air and midday sunlight, I decided to just ask Ves the question that had been on my mind. What do you think about the possibility of Thia joining us? Ves gave me side-eye and continued on the trail. Not sure. What do you think? Well, she told me that she was considering leaving the Seekers, so the idea might be moot. I think she said her class was Defender, which sounds exactly like what we could use in our party. Did she also tell you that shes as bad at her class as I am? There was more than a little acid in her words, to my surprise. Ves hadnt seemed especially upset at Thia when she stormed off, but the resentment had apparently been growing. She didnt want to talk about the apology, and now this. Yeah, she did. All the more reason for us to work together, right? Ves stopped in her tracks and put a hand on her hip. Because that worked out so great last time? I held up my hands a little. Okay. Obviously there might be more to this than I know, so Ill just say one thing: What happened yesterday looked like a mistake made by a beginner, like us. Theres a reason why were trying to train and improve. Its not just that she moved out of my range. Even when she managed to block with her shield, it looked like she nearly broke her arm. A Defender who has trouble with defending and a healer who has trouble with healing is a recipe for disaster. As much as I didnt want to admit it, she had a point. Its one thing for a party to support one member who is struggling to keep up, but if everyone is struggling Just as I was about to reply to Ves, I heard a loud voice in the distance. We looked in the direction of the village, and I could see a couple of familiar figures heading towards us: the golden-haired and golden-armored Kael, and the slender, stoic Ullun. At first, I wondered if Thia might be just behind them, but it soon became apparent that she wasnt. Probably for the best, right now. Kael noticed us, as well, and held out his arms in delight. Jeremy, my good friend and future companion! He was still a good distance away as he spoke, so there was an awkward pause while I waited for them to get closer, since I wasnt about to shout my response. Hi Kael, Ullun. Were you looking for us? No, good sir - it seems we were destined to meet again. Ullun and I had intended to inspect this so-called Starting Cave. Not only did Gev find an untimely demise in that cursed cavern, but my dear sister nearly met a similar fate. Fortunately, the brave Jeremy was there to lend his aid! Kael looked at Ves, his eyes widening. In fact, I believe she mentioned that the Vitality Mage she had partnered with was also responsible for keeping her alive. Ves looked uncomfortable. No, uh, it wasnt much. Jeremy and Thia were the ones whoC Kael bowed. My lady, may I ask you for your name? Ves. Ves. I offer my deepest apologies for not insisting that you join us for our meal yesterday. Had I known that you aided Aralithia in such a way but no matter. Whats done is done, and today is a new day! Perhaps you two could accompany us to the cave so that we could continue our conversation? Ves and I shot each other a nervous glance, although I dont think it was for the same reason. I cleared my throat. Could I speak with my partner alone for a moment? The tall aevrana happily agreed, and I took Ves aside and out of earshot. She looked like she had eaten something sour. Theres no way Im spending another minute with that guy and his creepy arm candy. Trust me, I get it, but what if they find the rune? I dont know if they plan to inspect the entire cave, but I bet they at least want to see the place where Gev died. Vess ears flattened and eyes narrowed. Dammit, youre right. I bet that elfs magic is powerful, too, if shes with the leader of the Seekers. Ugh. Were going to have to go with them and try to keep them from noticing the rune. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. I agreed, so we returned to the pair of experienced adventurers and said that we would love to go to the cave with them. Kael wasted no time in talking to Ves about the advantages of joining the Sterling Seekers, repeating the same points he had made to me. While I followed behind them, feeling bad for Ves, I was surprised to notice that Ullun had moved next to me. I hadnt noticed that she nearly matched my height, as she was usually right next to the much-taller Kael. Her tall and slender build, combined with her icy demenour, gave off an intimidating aura. (I wasnt hating it.) The gorgeous elven woman, keeping her eyes on the road ahead, spoke for the first time in my presence. Her voice was soft and luscious, but somewhat disdainful at the same time. Kaelition truly believes that you will be joining us in the Seekers. He definitely seems excited enough at the possibility. I believe that Aralithia would be quite pleased, as well. My face got warm. Oh, uh, you think so? Ullun face formed the barest hint of a smile, but still didnt look at me. I dont envy the man who has caught the interest of both Xyrosia siblings. If she suspected anything about me and Thia, she wasnt giving anything away. They seem like the kind of people who always get what they want. But what do you think? Should I join the guild? The silver-haired beauty turned her head slightly and I could see her amber eyes inspect me from top to bottom. While Im sure the Xyrosias would give you preferential treatment, that wont guarantee you a spot in one of the guilds parties. Consider that before you make any decisions. I thanked her, appreciating her candor. Even if Thia chose to - or had to - stay with the Seekers, I dont think it would be the best choice for me. Maybe if I didnt have someone like Ves to help me out, and I was completely lost and alone, it would be a different story. Ullun also made me think about Thias place in the guild. Despite being the leaders sister, she wasnt showing the kind of aptitude at her class that she was expected to. The Xyrosias seemed like an important family, at least within the Seekers, so I couldnt imagine her ending up doing some kind of housekeeping work at their headquarters. The image of Thia greeting me at the door while wearing a revealing maid uniform entered my mind, and I filed it away for another time. In any case, I could understand why Thia wanted to leave the guild, and why it would be a difficult decision for her. We hadnt traveled far from the cave entrance, so it was a quick walk back. Kael drew an enormous sword and a shining, golden shield, then insisted on taking the lead. No arguments here. Ves handed me her flint and steel, then held out the torch so I could light it. I thought I saw Ullun arch an eyebrow, but it might have been my imagination. Unsurprisingly, we had barely made any progress through the cave before Kael asked me where I found Gevs body. Just keep to the right and you cant miss it. I should also say that theres nothing left in there the rats did most of the work, and Ves cleaned up the rest. Kael lowered his head. I appreciate that, and I know Gev would feel the same way. It was clear that he was trying to keep his voice down, but it still echoed throughout the passage. We still wish to inspect the area. If this cave is as unsuitable for novices as it seems, I will be reporting it to both the Perrenbrook village elder and the Adventurers Network in the hopes of having it permanently sealed, or at least, restricted to more experienced adventurers. Ves sneered at the idea. What happened to that Rogue was a freak occurrence. Ive lived around here for my whole life, and Ive never known anyone to die in this cave. Theres nowhere else for beginners to go for miles. Ves, your hometown pride should be commended! As someone who feels as strongly as you regarding fledgling adventurers, I pray you can understand why I only desire their safety. His words, while patronizing, also sounded sincere. It made a lot of sense why he was granted the Defender class. Ves was not impressed, but looked like she didnt want to start an argument. We soon found ourselves back in the rune chamber yet again. Trying not to look suspicious, I moved around Kael so I could keep my foot over the rune. I found Gevs body over here. I pointed to a spot a few feet away from where he actually was - it felt more believable to tell a half-truth than to completely lie. Kael knelt down, presumably in prayer. It was hard to be annoyed at the guy when he to genuinely care about his guild and everyone in it. Meanwhile, Ullun was scanning the room with her usual emotionless gaze. I sense the presence of mana. Ves healed me in here not long before we ran into you, so that tracks. Ves crossed her arms and nodded in agreement, but Ullun didnt react to either of us. As soon as the elf wasnt looking in her direction, I saw Ves roll her eyes. Standing back up, Kael moved to the center of the chamber and looked around. Ves, my good lady, would you be so kind as to fully illuminate the area for but a moment? Uh-oh. Ves kept her cool, but I could tell from her body language (including her ears and tail) that she was not at all pleased about this request. I didnt know if she would find a way to decline, respectfully or otherwise, or attempt a stronger version of a simple spell that didnt come easy to her. On top of that, if Ves succeeded, it could increase the chances of Kael or Ullun finding the rune. It would be weird as hell if I just stood in one spot until everyone else left the chamber. I guess Ves must have weighed the options, and thought it would be less weird if she just did her best to cast the light spell. That, or she didnt want to admit that she had difficulty casting anything. She nodded at Kael and approached me, offering the torch so she could have her hands free. I beckoned her closer. As a way of showing my support, I put my other hand on her back, which seemed to put her a little more at ease. The netharri took a deep breath and focused, her arm outstretched. The tiny mote of light soon materialized, but wasnt increasing in size. I could feel her body tensing, so I tried rubbing her back with slow, gentle motions. That appeared to help: the tension eased up, and the light gradually expanded. I had to look away from it as it filled the chamber, giving it a much different feel than before. Looking in Kaels direction wasnt really a better option, as the light was reflecting off of his gleaming golden armor. The ball of light hovered towards the center of the room, then up towards the ceiling. Ves exhaled and a drop of sweat fell from her forehead. She looked at me, her lucious lips slightly parted, and my hand on her back felt something unexpected. A faint sound soon accompanied this sensation; something I might have missed if not for the caves natural silence, and it hit me. Ves is purring My calico companion seemed to realize what she was doing at the same time. Vess eyes widened and she took a few steps away, avoiding my eyes. Kael was looking in another direction and didnt notice any of this, but Ullun was somewhere behind me, so Im not sure what she saw or heard. Regardless, the sound soon faded and I was back to worrying about the rune. Logically, this felt like a low-stakes situation: if someone else found and activated the rune before Ves, would that be the end of the world? But I wanted to help her enough so that I could feel my heart beating faster with each passing minute. Thank you, my lady. That will be enough for now. There doesnt appear to be anything of note here, so we should continue inspecting the rest of the cave. Ves didnt react to Kaels words immediately, but they sunk in a moment later. Oh, Ill just sustain the light. Maybe its easier to keep it going than to cast it from scratch. Kael beamed at Ves, his teeth nearly as shiny as his armor. An excellent notion! Its a pity that it will undoubtedly keep any small creatures at bay - my blade has thirsted for even a morsel of action. I gave him my best Oh well! shrug. At least well be done sooner, right? Indeed, my friend! Kael took the lead and stepped out of the chamber, with Ves following close behind him - most likely to get the light away from the rune as soon as possible. Ullun was next to leave, and I made sure to move right after her, so it didnt look like I was up to anything. However, as soon as we were in the connecting passage, I bumped into Ullun. She had suddenly stopped, for some reason, and quickly (and gracefully) spun around. Her breathtakingly stunning face was inches away from mine, and I felt an alluring and intimidating aura. Whether it was a magical effect, an elven trait, or just her natural presence, I had no idea. She only looked at me for a second with her cold eyes, then slid past me, back towards the rune chamber. Vess ears perked up as she heard this, and she turned around, concern on her face. Before any of us could say or do anything, I heard Ullun speak from the chambers entrance. Kaelition. You must see this. Chapter 12 - Rot and Roll Chapter 12 - Rot and Roll Kael politely maneuvered past Ves and me on his way back to see what Ullun was talking about. The elf simply held out her hand in the direction of the rune chamber to direct his attention, after which Kael crossed his arms and had a pensive look on his chiseled face. So, it would appear that this cave was hiding a secret just beneath our very feet. If I wasnt sure that Kael was talking about the rune, what he said next confirmed it. The mana from our own Vitality Mages spell must have caused this reaction. Ullun, would you mind? Without any kind of acknowledgement, Ullun began casting a spell. Colorful glowing lights flowed from her extended hand, into the chamber. I moved closer to Kael. What is it? Twould seem my suspicions were founded - this cave holds much potential for danger. There is a rune engraved upon the ground, illuminated by lingering mana. Well, fuck. All I could do was play dumb. Oh, wow I cant believe we didnt notice that. For it to go unnoticed by many over countless years is concerning. I can only assume that most fledgling adventurers, even if they had seen it, lacked the ability to understand precisely what it was. The area around me and Kael grew brighter as Ves approached. She also acted surprised. Will she be able to activate it? Kael chuckled. If Ullun cant do it, it must be a terribly powerful rune, and the Goddess only knows what it could be sealing. Vess catlike pupils practically turned into dollar signs - or gold coins, anyway. I thought that if Ullun wasnt immediately able to activate the rune, she would spend a good deal of time attempting it, but she stopped in under a minute. Her arm lowered and she gave Kael a subtle shake of her head, her expression still mysteriously inscrutable. Kael hardly looked upset about this. Poor fortunes be damned. No matter. Ill mention the rune in my report to the Network, and it may be evidence enough to have them seal this wretched cave permanently. My eyes met Vess. Well, lets keep checking the rest of the cave. I doubt theres anything else like this, and who knows, maybe that rune is just broken, or has a specific trigger. Kael clapped an armored hand down on my shoulder, which hurt more than I would care to admit. Your positivity is an inspiration to us all, Jeremy. We should not dally any more than necessary! With that, he marched past us (with Ves and I having to quickly press our backs against the cave wall), followed closely by Ullun. Ves looked frustrated, so I rubbed her back a couple of times. I didnt want to push it any farther, and I knew I made the right decision to keep it to a minimum when I saw her blushing but she did relax a bit. When we returned to the junction chamber, Kael asked me where we had fought the cave rat queen. I pointed out the correct passage, but then Ves spoke up. We were just there before we ran into you. Theres nothing to see but a half-eaten rat queen. Your knowledge is appreciated, Ves. However, for that creature to nearly slaughter you, Jeremy, and my sister, I suspect that it may have been stronger than the average rat queen that so many adventurers start their journeys by slaying. And now, Aralithia I got the impression that Kael was still unaware that Thia didnt possess his own natural aptitude for the Defender class. Before I could say anything, Ves asked him a question. What? Is Thia okay? Kael stopped in his tracks, and Ullun did the same almost at the exact same time - the two of them were clearly in sync. She Kael sighed. There is no need to concern yourself. Proving that this cave is far beyond what is expected of beginners will benefit us all. Ves had a mixture of confusion and annoyance on her face. I thought it was nice that she was concerned about Thia, and Kaels response had connected some dots in my mind. Thia must have told him about wanting to quit the guild, and he thought that it was because she nearly died fighting the rat queen. Add that to the actual death of another guild member, and it was no surprise that Kael would hold a grudge against the Starter Cave. The increasingly-pungent stench of the dead rat queen hit me as we entered its chamber. Killing those other three rats in here earlier didnt help the smell. While Ves had her ball of light float towards the center of the ceiling, Kael marched up to the giant corpse with a look of absolute disgust. He asked Ullun to begin, and she held her hands over what remained of the body. Waves of faint magical energy emitted from her fingertips and across the corpse, as if she were scanning it. Im not sensing anything unusual about it. Thats right. Ves stepped closer to Kael and Ullun. It was my faultC What is this?! Ullun was continuing to magically scan the corpse, and actually looked concerned. She gasped and ran towards the nearest wall as the rotting carcass suddenly twitched. Not missing a beat, Kael held up his shield and carefully took a few steps back, keeping his eyes on the rat queen. What the fuck?! I shouted Ves, over here! The disgusting remains shifted and moved shockingly fast, getting onto its four legs which were mostly just bones, with some tattered scraps of flesh hanging off. Like Kael, Ves didnt look away from the monster as she backed up. What was once the cave rat queen faced me and Ves, one eyeball dangling out of its skull. It made a horrible gurgling screech, which expelled some maggots from its insides. Undead abomination face me! Kael hit his greatsword against his golden shield, making a clanging noise. The zombie rat didnt react at first, making me wonder if it was unable to hear him, and it took a shaky step in our direction. Fortunately, the sounds finally seemed to register, and it turned towards Kael. With each passing moment, it seemed to have less trouble moving. I felt an intense heat fly past me as Ullun conjured a fireball. It hit the exposed ribcage of the creature, leaving behind some burn marks, but otherwise not having much effect. Dropping the torch and drawing my daggers, I dashed behind the rat queen. I could see the festering wounds I gave it in our previous encounter, and stabbed it in the same spots. Unlike last time, the rat didnt so much as flinch. I thrust my daggers into its back over and over, faster than I thought was possible for me, but it all seemed to be ineffective. There wasnt even any blood left to leak out. Kael yelled and swung his sword, slicing off one of the monsters front legs. It teetered a little, but bizarrely managed to keep its balance. Just like with my attacks, that one didnt slow the rat down at all - in fact, its speed was still increasing. This must have caught Kael off-guard, as the rat lunged and bit his sword arm, piercing the gauntlet. Kael growled in pain and nearly dropped his weapon. Lucky for him, Ves was prepared, and cast a ranged healing spell at Kael. Jeremy. Hold up your daggers. Doing so, I looked at Ullun, who pointed at me. Bolts of fire shot from her finger, first to one of my blades, then to the other. They were radiating heat as flames flickered from the metal. I thrust them back down into the zombie, making long cuts and leaving behind burned flesh. Now that was more effective maybe too much, with Kael temporarily out of the fight. The creature spun around - good thing we had cut off the tail so it couldnt whip Kael in the process - but stopped before facing me. It had noticed Ves first, and scampered frighteningly fast at her on its three remaining legs. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Just before reaching her, Ves leapt out of its way with remarkable swiftness and proficiency. Holy shit, I didn''t know she could do that! She rolled a few feet away, and held out her hand towards the creature. I could see her fingers making subtle movements as they glowed. The undead rodent thrashed its head from side to side while making the most grotesque squeals yet. The same kind of glow around Vess hand surrounded the monster, and pieces of flesh, innards, and bone started falling off of it and onto the cave floor. Its body was shaking and its movements were more erratic and unstable than before, but it tried to close the distance between it and Ves again. The rat queen made one step with its only front leg, but its bones fell apart like a machine with its screws loosened. With a series of slimy and crunching noises, the creature collapsed to the ground in front of Ves. She ceased her spell and staggered backwards. Brandishing my flaming daggers, I rushed over to the monster and slammed them into its still-twitching head. It made what I hoped was its final, final, gurgle, and then there was no more movement at all. I pulled the daggers out and heard Ullun casually say Step back. Doing so, I noticed that my weapons no longer had the magical flames surrounding them. Ullun threw another fireball at the corpse, and this time it actually caught on fire. Ves, are you okay? I let her lean on me so she wouldnt fall over. Yeah yeah, Im fine. That was pretty fucking badass. Her face was pale. She looked up and gave me a weak smile, which quickly faded. I dont How did I do that? Kaels booming voice interrupted the moment. Were done here. He reminded me of Ullun in that moment, with very little emotion on his face. I didnt know what had caused the rat queen to rise as an undead creature like that, but I was sure that he would be furious as well as even more confident about wanting the cave to be sealed. Not waiting for a response from anyone, Kael picked up the torch I had dropped, and left the chamber. Definitely reminds me of Thia. Ullun almost looked surprised by this, as well, but followed him out. It was then that I realized that Vess magical light was still illuminating the chamber, and hadnt so much as dimmed when she cast the spell that incapacitated the monster. I spoke to her quietly, not wanting my voice to echo throughout the cave. What was that? The color was returning to Vess skin and she seemed to be having less trouble standing, but I didnt want to stop her from holding onto me just yet. I dunno. Hes always weird. I mean the rat. Is that normal? No I mean, Ive heard about necromancy, but I have no idea how anything could just reanimate like that for no reason. We looked into each others eyes, and it felt like we were thinking the same thing: Maybe Kael was right. Ves definitely didnt want to admit that, and I didnt want to suggest it. Oh, the way you dodged the rat was pretty damn cool. Jealous of your cat-like reflexes. Ves looked uncomfortable and her eyes moved away from mine. Ah - is that okay to say? Jeremy She looked around cautiously, although we had both seen Kael and Ullun leave the chamber. My reflexes are alright, but Ive never jumped like that before. And Ive definitely never done a- a dive roll before. Really? I kind of assumed that it was a netharri thing. No, Jeremy, listen. That sort of thing is what Rogues do. You should be able to do that, at least, sooner or later. How the hell did I do it? Its possible that I had been misremembering exactly what she did in the heat of battle, but the image of her dodging the attack felt clear in my mind. Vess movements had looked so professional and well-trained. If she had never done it even once something weird was definitely going on. Even for a magical fantasy world I knew very little about. You know a lot more about how classes work than me. Do classes not share any skills or abilities? I was thinking about cross-classing, or even different variations on the same basic class concept. I guess Ive heard about some classes that overlap a bit with others, but Vitality Mage doesnt share anything with Rogue. Nothing that I know about. Huh. Okay. Of course I would be sent to another world just in time for crazy stuff to start happening. In truth, I only said that because I didnt want to admit my actual theory: that all this weird stuff was happening because of me. Or maybe my unexpected arrival was part of the weirdness going on in Fielende. Ves didnt say anything, and was deep in thought. Ves, we should catch up with the others. I want to know exactly what Kael is going to do. Right shit. We hustled down the passage, and I wondered if Kael had planned on inspecting the rest of the cave before leaving. From the junction chamber, however, I could easily hear the clomping of his armor echoing from the passage that led outside. He hadnt been trying to be quiet before, but now he was in a rush to leave. When we made it outside and could finally take another breath of fresh air, we saw the Sterling Seekers duo a short ways away. Ullun was facing us, and Kael was staring off in the distance in another direction. He spoke without turning to look at us. Jeremy, Ves. I dont deserve to have companions such as you. You have my deepest thanks for aiding us today. While I wouldnt describe his voice as quiet, it was the least loud and bombastic I had heard from him to date.He took a deep breath. The events that have just unfolded in that cave were beyond my expectations. I shall be reporting this immediately, and I pray you two can offer your testimonies, if necessary. I had to think of something. It was true that the Starting Cave was becoming more dangerous than it had apparently ever been, but I couldnt stop wondering if it was connected to me in some way. Of course, I also wanted to help Ves learn about the rune. Regardless of whether it was protecting treasure or sealing something dangerous, it would be good to know and that felt like the right angle to take with Kael. I called out to Kael so that I knew I had his attention. The tall aevrana turned, and Ullun crossed her arms. Its obvious that this cave is more than just too difficult for fresh adventurers. From what Ive heard, generations of beginners have used it as a way to practice their new classes. But in the last, what, twenty-four hours or so, a strange rune has been discovered, a monster came back to life, an adventurer died, and at least a few others have nearly died. Kael put his hands on his hips, looking resolute. Precisely. You should say as much to the Network, when the time comes. No, no, listen. If the cave just gets sealed up, then the mystery behind whatever is causing all of this can never be solved. Today, the cave rat queen was reanimated. Tomorrow, it could be someones family member. Or even a bunch of monsters set loose on an unsuspecting town. And what if the source of all this is hiding somewhere in the cave, and even if its sealed, keeps getting stronger until it can break free? It could have been stopped before it got to that point. What are you suggesting, my friend? You told me yesterday that your time in Perrenbrook was limited. Let me and Ves figure out exactly whats going on in the cave. If it turns out that its something we cant handle, well report it. Kaels eyes narrowed. And what if the danger is such that you do not have a chance to report it? I put an arm around Ves and pulled her to me, her eyes widening. Weve survived everything the cave has thrown at us so far. The handsome man burst into laughter. Indeed you have! I should not have doubted you for a moment, Jeremy. Ullun, do you have any objections? He looked at the elf, who merely shrugged. Very well. I was hoping the two of you could join us on our journey back to Headquarters, and formally enlist with the Seekers. However, under these circumstances Ah! I shall provide you both with a stipend while you perform this important duty. Im pretty sure Ves started purring a little at that. I marched over to Kael and held out my hand. He cocked his head at the gesture, but clapped his armored palm against mine, and we shook on the arrangement. After some more discussion about how we would send him progress and receive our stipend, Kael excused himself and Ullun, and they headed back towards Perrenbrook. Leaning towards Ves, I whispered Uh, Kael got bit. Is he going to turn into a zombie? Ves suppressed a laugh. No, hed have to die before I healed him. Although, he might want to have another Healer check it out sooner or later. Once they were out of sight, Ves bounced up and down. Holy shit, Jeremy, that was amazing! We can get paid as we train, and try to find out if the rune is hiding some treasure! She gave me a tight hug, which felt better than I could have expected. Thanks, but do you have any idea where we should even begin? Ehh no. Not really. Guess well have to ask around. Chapter 13 - Stewing Over It Ves and I remained in the vicinity of the Starting Cave for a while, partially so we could discuss our plans, and partially because Ves was tired, but mostly so that we wouldnt have to walk back to Perrenbrook with Kael and Ullun. I decided it was time to start walking when Ves couldnt finish a sentence without yawning. Are you okay? Its I looked up at the sun to estimate the time, once again feeling the loss of having a phone on hand at all times. ...Only about noon. Im wiped out from casting all that magic. All the healing was one thing, then I had to sustain that light at max strength, and then we fought that damn zombie. Ves stretched her body all at once. Oh man, thats right - how did you hurt it so bad? Did you use healing spells on it? Ves looked at me quizzically. No, that wouldnt do anything, except maybe repair some of its flesh and bone, and thatd just make it tougher. Damn you, years of playing video games! Okay, then what did you do? She yawned yet again. Okay, you know how I said that some classes overlap a bit? Well, I dont know a lot about being a Vitality Mage, but its pretty common knowledge that it overlaps at least a little with the Necromancer class. Because both deal with life and death. Makes sense. Right. So while were usually just called Healers because we do that a hell of a lot more than attacking, were supposed to be useful against undead. Its like taking them apart instead of putting them together. That made sense from what Id seen her do against the rat queen, and honestly sounded a lot like the healing hurts undead concept I was so familiar with. It wasnt worth arguing semantics. We made our way back to town, and Ves was having trouble staying on her feet by the end of the walk. I led her back to her small home while she was leaning against me with an arm around my shoulder, reminding me of times when a friend would have one too many at a bar. I helped Ves onto her bed and she curled up. Are you gonna rest, too? Nah, if I nap now, Ill be up all night. I think Ill just walk around town for a bit. There was no response from the already-sleeping Ves. Its true that I wanted to get to know the layout of the town better, but there was more that I wanted to do; namely, speak with Thia. Part of me had been debating whether I should tell Ves about that beforehand, so I was glad she fell asleep before I had the chance. A couple of friendly-enough, but somewhat standoffish, townspeople confirmed my suspicions that the inn where Id had my last two meals was the only one in town. Unless the Sterling Seekers kept a guild house in Perrenbrook, which felt extremely unlikely, Id find Thia at the inn sooner or later. Thinking about meals made my stomach gurgle. I might not have been tired from using mana, but sneaking around a cave all morning and fighting rat monsters had worked up an appetite. Checking my remaining coins, it looked like I wouldnt have any problems paying for a meal by myself. Oh, I should also make sure to get something that Ves can eat later. Ullun was standing outside the inn, with her eyes closed and her hands together, as if praying or meditating. Maybe shes tired from spellcasting, like Ves. As I approached the door, I could hear loud voices, making me wonder if the inn got especially rowdy at this time of day. The elfs eyes opened, and she subtly shook her head. I almost didnt notice it at all, but I was so hungry that I would have considered entering the building if it was actively on fire. The situation within was almost as uncomfortable as that. Not far from the front desk, which was currently being staffed by the friendly human woman from the previous day, were Thia and Kael having a heated argument. Over in the nearby dining area, there were only a few patrons, all of whom kept stealing glances at the aevrana siblings and seemed to be gossipping about them. There was also a beleaguered bard, who looked like a halfling or maybe a gnome, trying his best to play a lively tune on his fiddle loud enough to drown out the raised voices. For my sake? I was abandoned without warning for my sake? Despite being almost a foot and a half shorter than Kael, Thia looked like more than a match for him at that moment. Hardly abandoned, Aralithia. We simply made a quick jaunt over there for the briefest of inspections. Kaels naturally-booming voice was barely louder than normal, but the much softer-sounding Thia had to yell in order to match his volume. A brief inspection that resulted in your gauntlets being pierced? I am uninjured now, as you can see, and the cave is in good handsC Pray tell me why I accompanied you to Perrenbrook, brother. Was I to receive training, or was I simply to draw more eyes towards the Seekers? I felt it best to leave you behind for your protection, after what happened yesterday! My protection? Do you doubt your talents as a Defender as much as I do? Mayhaps I am not the only one in need of trainingC YOU CANNOT TRAIN IF YOU ARE DEAD! The fiddle music came to an abrupt stop, along with any hushed conversations. Kael looked as shocked as the rest of us at his thunderous outburst. He cleared his throat, nodded first to Thia, and then the innkeeper, and marched towards the door. I moved out of the way as he gave me a surprisingly cordial Jeremy! and exited the building. I watched him leave, and when my head turned back, Thia was already right in front of me. I am sorry that you had to witness our altercation, but it pleases me to see you again. Seriously, dont worry about it. I actually wanted to talk to you, if you have time? Thias face lit up. Oh, of course! Have you eaten? Ill buy you lunch. I have not, but I insist on paying. The guild covers our meals, and there should be no issue with considering this a business expense. I thanked her, and we sat down at an available table. Do you want to talk about what just happened? The beautiful horned woman took a deep breath. Yesterday, after our encounter She briefly averted her eyes and suppressed a smile. I attempted to converse with my brother about my wishes to leave the Seekers. I felt it best to use subtlety, at least at first; describing how it felt to combat the cave rat queen. Unfortunately, Kaelition only took that to mean there was something wrong with the cave, and not with me. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Not looking forward to telling her that Kael ended up being right. I nodded for her to continue. He decided to perform an inspection of the Starting Cave, under the belief that it should be restricted or sealed, and chose not to bring me, nor so much as tell me of his plans. Leaving you wondering if he thinks youre not strong enough to be in the guild, and if so, why he wont understand that you want to quit. Essentially, yes. You understand how frustrating this has been for me. The time for subtlety is over, and Ill need to be more direct with Kaelition when I see him again, although I am not excited about that conversation. Well, Ive actually got an idea I told Thia all about how Ves and I ran into Kael and Ullun near the Starting Cave, participated in his inspection, and ended up having to fight the rat queen again as a zombie. Thia placed her hand over mine while I was talking, and gripped it tight as I described the battle. I felt that it was best to leave out the stuff about how the Goddess said something different to me than she said to everyone else, and how Ves had somehow been able to suddenly dodge an attack like a Rogue. There would be time to get into all of that later, if she ended up joining our party. This explains why my brother was so confident in his decision to not include me. I never would have guessed that the cave held such secrets. Thia sighed, her shoulders slumping. Which brings me to my idea. After the fight, I convinced Kael to let me and Ves research the cave, and the rune inside, in case theres anything to worry about that wouldnt be stopped by just sealing the cave. Thias eyes widened. He agreed to that? Hes even going to be paying us a guild stipend. So, I was wondering if you might want to join us? Truly? She squeezed my hand again. Maybe you could do it as a representative of the Seekers, and it could be a stepping stone from the guild to joining our party permanently. Thias face was glowing, and she grinned at me with half-lidded eyes almost hungry eyes. But! Ves was being a little cagey about the idea, and Im not sure why. She didnt seem upset at all when you left us in the cave. Is it not obvious to you, Jeremy? Vestele is jealous, because we She trailed off, as the innkeeper approached. Since I was caught up in the whole sales pitch from Kael yesterday, I wasnt able to properly meet the innkeeper. She had a plump, friendly face, and exuded sweetness. Oh, Brinn, I would like to apologize on behalf of myself and my brother. The older woman waved Thia off, still smiling. Think nothing of it, Lady Xyrosia. Oh, and its nice to see you again, young man. Thia giggled. Please, I told you to call me Thia! Oh, Ill try, but its a force of habit, you know. I still remember when your mother would visit on Seekers business. An amazing woman, but she definitely preferred the more formal titles! Mm, yes, that certainly sounds like Mother I stood up. Im sorry I didnt get the chance to introduce myself yesterday. Im Jeremy. Sit, sit, Jeremy. I hope youve been enjoying your time in our village. Now, what can I get you two? As there didnt seem to be a menu, and I didnt want to look ridiculous asking for something they didnt have (or had never heard of), I ordered the same stew as Thia. Once Brinn had walked away, I quietly jumped back into the discussion. How would Ves even know about us? Women have ways of knowing these things netharri women, especially so. But she neednt be jealous. My heart sank a bit - I thought there had been something more between me and Thia. No? Thia leaned closer. You are not married, nor in a committed relationship with anyone yet. Is there any reason why a man should not spend time with women in order to know them better? Mayhaps Vestele is hoping for you to take the first step. I once had a friend who drew women to him effortlessly, and he had said something similar to me about dating multiple women until a relationship became serious. He never seemed to actually reach that stage, and I never had more than one woman interested in me at a time, so I had no idea how much truth there was to that concept. The way that Thia was touching my hand and smiling told me that she, at least, had no issues with me getting closer to Ves. Well, I guess theres only one way to find out. It is likely to come up sooner or later, with the two of you in a party together, but taking initiative is likely to benefit you. What do youC I had wanted to ask her what she meant about me and Ves being in a party, but cut myself off as our food arrived. It ended up being much spicier than I had expected, but it didnt seem to bother or even affect Thia at all. As we ate, our chat turned much more casual, and I really enjoyed talking to her about topics other than classes, parties, and destinies. When we finished our meal, I ordered a couple of different sandwiches for Ves - not knowing exactly what she preferred. Despite my insistence on paying, Thia was resolute about charging it to the guilds tab. You may tell Vestele that the sandwiches were my treat, should it aid her decision regarding me joining your party. However, I believe the only subject the two of you should be discussing today is each other. With that, the petite blonde rose up on her tiptoes, put her hands on my shoulders, and moved in for a kiss. I was more than happy to lean down and meet her halfway, and wrapped my arms around her. Thia did the same, and we embraced for several seconds, even after the kiss had ended. Okay, I guess Ill just go flirt with another beautiful woman now. Since I actually did want to familiarize myself with Perrenbrook, it felt like a good idea to do that now while also walking off the meal. The village was only slightly bigger than I assumed, as there were some homes that were further away from the centralized area. Overall, though, it was pretty easy to get the lay of the land, and it felt comfortable knowing at least one tiny part of this wholly unfamiliar world. At least, I felt that way until I heard a voice say You look lost. There hadn''t been anyone around - or at least, that''s what I thought - so the voice startled me. I turned and saw an old man leaning up against a house. He was wearing simple clothing, like most of the other villagers, but with a cloak around his shoulders. Before arriving in Fielende, I wouldnt have thought twice about the cloak, but somehow - presumably because of the Rogue class - I just knew that it was more valuable than it might have looked to the average person. Valuable or not, the cloak clearly looked old. Not quite as old as the man himself, but probably close. This guy had clearly gone through some rough times. His pale, wrinkled, skin had a number of scars along his neck and face at least, the part of his face that I could see. There were bandages wrapped diagonally across much of his head. Spots of still-fresh blood stained the bandages at a few points. He spoke in an exhausted, wheezy voice. You look like you''re in another world. ...What? There was a series of wet coughs. You were just starin at me like you were deep in thought. Oh. Sorry. Its justC I wanted to ask about his wounds, but he interrupted me. I saw you walkin up and down the streets, lookin everywhere. Thought maybe you got into a fight with the missus. Got kicked out of the house. Then I realized Ive never seen you before. Figured you were lost. Yeah, Im new here, and was just getting to know the town - hey, do you need help? Youre bleeding. More wet coughs, which turned into gurgling chuckles. Farming accident. Mfine. Survived worse. I know a Healer - she could fix you up in a second. A laugh burst from the man, followed by even harsher coughs than before. No, no, nothin a Healer can do for me. As he spoke, he slowly pushed himself off the wall, and took a few steps towards the houses front door. Youd best get back to the missus. He opened the door, entering the house on steadier feet. At least let her try The door slowly closed as the man chuckled again. Trust me. I am a Healer. Click. My eyes darted all around the area, suspiciously. ...What the fuck? Ves hadnt mentioned any other Healers in Perrenbrook. Considering her struggles with the class, it would have made sense for her to at least talk to one for advice. But then, the guy seemed pretty damn weird and possibly out of his mind. Even if he actually was a Healer, there could be a good reason why Ves wouldnt want to talk to him. I entered her home as quietly as possible, and saw her still asleep on her bed - uncovered, like she had mentioned that morning. After looking around for somewhere to store the sandwiches, I found a cupboard that felt oddly cold. Within was only a small stone, similar to the ones used to heat the bathwater. This one was ice cold, however - presumably, another simple enchantment used to good effect. Seemed like the best place to keep food. I walked over to Ves, using my stealth ability to prevent accidentally waking her up. She looked so cute curled up on her mattress, still wearing her arousingly form-fitting outfit from earlier. I noticed that she appeared a little cold, and tried to find her quilt, but it wasnt anywhere obvious and I didnt want to risk waking her up. Remembering what Ves had done for me in this situation, I made a decision. I removed my leather armor and boots, and was back to just wearing the t-shirt and jogging shorts I brought with me from Earth. Calming myself - and hoping I was making the right move - I slowly climbed into Vess bed and wrapped an arm around her. Chapter 14 - Neck Romancer (R18) Despite my best efforts to stay awake, I was just too comfortable spooning Ves, and drifted off within minutes. It felt like no time passed at all - I blinked, and then the house was completely dark. So much for keeping a decent sleep schedule. Apart from Vess gentle breathing, all I could hear was the sound of crickets. It was so different from being back home, and hearing the sounds of the nearby freeway at all hours. I instinctively reached for a blanket before remembering that there was none. My movement made Ves stir, although I didnt know if I had woken her up, or if she had already been awake. Jeremy? Why are you Returning the favor. I didnt know where you kept your quilt, and, well, I probably wouldnt have used it anyway. I like this better. Mm, Ves acknowledged. Me too. A shiver ran down my back, making me realize that I should probably have her pull out the quilt later, if only for my sake. Too bad she cant be the big spoon and the little spoon at the same time. My overactive imagination kicked in, as a vision of Thia climbing into bed and wrapping an arm and a leg around me played in my head. The fantasy of such a thing, coupled with what Thia had said during our lunch date, was ridiculously exciting and my body reacted in an unsurprising manner. Ah-ha, I guess you really do like this. Ves shifted her hips against me lightly, bringing me from half mast to full hardness in record time. That obvious, huh? I held Ves tighter, and she giggled - something I hadnt heard her do before, and it was cute as hell. Well, downright sexy, given the circumstances. She continued wiggling her hips gently against my crotch, eliciting a light moan from me. The gorgeous catgirl rolled around to face me, and put her arms around me. I couldnt see her, but I could just barely feel her breath on my lips. Im sure Ive missed more than my fair share of signals from women, some more obvious than others. At that moment, however, I knew that Ves wanted me to kiss her. God, I wanted to kiss her, too but I had just enough wisdom to know that it would be a bad idea if I wasnt honest with her. Can I tell you something? Yes, she breathed, and it nearly gave me chills. I hope she takes this well. Its about Thia. I swallowed, unsure if she would respond to that. She and I weve kissed. And we also - I mean, sheC Gave you a blowjob? Uh, yeah. HowC? Ves squirmed, which felt wonderful. I could smell it. It was really obvious that youd cum recently. It was?! Okay, it was obvious to me! Ive got a better sense of smell than most people. So this is what Thia meant. Oh, got it. Anyway, at first it didnt really bother me. I kinda assumed that Kael or that elf had done it, you know, to try and get you to join their guild. And then I mentioned Thia. Thats when I knew. It made more sense, she muttered, lowering her head. So she knew and yet, here we are. Are you jealous, Ves? No. Kinda. Didnt think shed be the first. Me neither. Sorry, this is stupid. I held her tighter. Whys that? I havent had any luck with men, and even when a handsome guy appears from another world, something happens before I can make the first move. Seriously? No luck with men? Have you seen this village? Theres barely anyone at all, much less anyone around my age. When I was a kid, there was a guy who was maybe ten years older than me. I had - this is so embarrassing - I had such a big crush on him. What happened? Im guessing he got married or something before you were old enough? Or something, yeah. When he was in his early 20s, he was granted a class. Before long, he left Perrenbrook, and I never saw him again. I guess that means he was either very successful, or very unsuccessful. Either way, it just made me want to leave the village myself, class or not. Just to get outta here. But my uh, one thing led to another, and I ended up staying here for longer than I expected. Eventually I thought that maybe I should settle down. That was around the time Tabur moved into town, along with his son, who was a few years younger than me. Oh yeah? Did you have a thing for Tabur? Honestly? Something about that guy does kinda work for me. Probably a good thing that he and Brinn got together so quickly. But his son wasnt too bad, even if I prefer guys who are at least a little older than me. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. And what happened with him? We chatted a bit, here and there, but hes well, he was a lot like his dad. Seemed more interested in work than anything else. Maybe he just wasnt interested in women, or romance of any kind? Thats what I thought until a yrrven came traipsing out of the woods one day. The two of them were gone by sunset. Yrrven? Whats that? Oh the short explanation is that they are to rabbits what netharri are to cats. Theyre all female I think? Either way, they rarely ever leave the wilderness, and usually only to find a partner. And this one took the only eligible bachelor in town. Ves sighed. Yup. Neither of us spoke for a short while, leaving me time to think about what Ves had just said, and especially what Thia had told me. It felt like the right time to pet Vess back, knowing that she enjoyed that. I knew that this situation would be easy to mess up, so I wanted to lean into the Im a confused guy from another world angle as much as needed. I lowered my voice even further, adding a hint of playfulness. Thia was under the impression that you might be interested in me Boom - the purring started. Not sure if it was my words, my hand, or both, but there it was. Her voice was soft, almost a whimper. ...Yeah? My forehead touched hers. She wasnt bothered by it at all. Hell, she seemed to like the idea. The purring intensified and Ves lightly moaned. I want to know how you feel. If youre hesitant about Thia joining the party because you think she got a head start with me uh, no pun intended theres nothing to worry about. Id still like to find out how compatible you and I are. Its not like anyone is getting married anytime soon. Ves was breathing heavier and raised her head. I took the cue and closed the tiny distance between us. Our lips met and our grip on each other tightened. The hand that I had petting her back moved down, eager to caress and especially squeeze the pert ass that had been calling to me ever since she put on her new outfit. My hand reached her tail first, which I had almost forgotten about with everything else going on in her bed. As soon as I touched the base of her tail, her hips jerked, thrusting back to push against my hand before slowly moving back towards my own hips. I lifted my hand, then stroked the bottom of her tail again. Her physical reaction was smaller, but Ves moaned louder as we kissed. Ive never done anything like this She seemed embarrassed at her lack of experience, but in the heat of the moment, it was one of the sexiest things she could have said to me. Youve been doing nothing but helping me, I whispered between kisses. Let me help you, now. Another moan escaped her lips. I released her from my embrace and brought my hands to her full breasts. Starting off slowly and gently, I cupped them to feel their size through her nightgown. My hands greedily touched every inch, soon arriving at her erect nipples, which I lightly teased. A series of faint gasps came from the beautiful netharri. While my hands were occupied with her breasts, I kissed her neck. From the way her body tensed and her breathing quickened, I could tell that her neck was absolutely a major erogenous zone. I gave it a gentle bite. Ves gasped, pulling back suddenly. I was about to ask if I had done something wrong, or gone too far or too fast, but she practically tore off her nightgown. After internally cursing the darkness, I wrapped my arms around her again, bringing her bosom to my face. The smell of her bare skin was intoxicating, and I could have stayed pressed into her soft mounds forever. I kissed her chest, moving my lips all around her wonderful breasts. My tongue only gave her nipples the briefest lick in-between kisses, eliciting lustful moans from Ves. Having had enough teasing, she pulled my head firmly onto a nipple, which I hungrily took into my mouth. Her sounds of pleasure drove me crazy with desire as I licked and occasionally nibbled on first one nipple, then the other. I made sure to give her tail plenty of attention during all this, as well. My other hand moved down, between her legs. Her thighs clenched. J-just touching for now, okay? Yeah, of course. I kissed her again, and her tongue slid between my lips. Id like to do more, but its just Its a lot, all at once, right? I get it. Ves embraced me tightly. Yeah sorry. Theres no rush. Want me to continue what I was doing? In response, she moved my willing hand back down to her damp folds, and I chuckled. All right. By the way, Im having a great time. She laughed, and then her lips were on mine again and our tongues were exploring each others mouths. I could feel her fingers pressing into my back and was thankful that she didnt seem to have retractable claws but her nails were likely to leave a mark if she kept this up. I guided one of her hands down to my groin, and Ves cooed upon touching my rigid cock through my shorts. My finger slid easily into her damp entrance, and Vess breath hitched. After a moment, she eagerly moved her hand into my shorts so she could wrap her fingers around it. I helped her by pulling the clothes off entirely. Ves began delicately stroking my shaft, as though she were worried about breaking it. Placing my free hand over hers, I demonstrated the best way to handle my cock, and she excitedly followed my lead. Vess enthusiasm was exhilarating, feeling almost as good as her hand itself. As if rewarding her, I slipped in a second finger. We moaned together, and then I returned to kissing and nibbling her smooth neck. If it hadnt already been obvious that Ves was enjoying herself, she began purring again - feeling especially interesting to my probing fingers. They soon found what they were seeking, as proven by an especially loud cry of pleasure from Ves. Caught up in the sensations, Ves had stopped moving her hand, but soon regained her bearings and resumed. As wonderful as her soft hand felt on my member, it felt even better making her feel so good, especially knowing that she had never experienced anything like this before. Her thighs squirmed and squeezed my hand as her breaths became faster and shorter. I felt Vess body tense up, and I knew she was close. Yes, yes, just like that, she whimpered. Her grip tightened as my fingers did exactly as she wished. I kissed her face and neck as she was brought closer and closer to orgasm. She stroked my cock faster and faster, so I wasnt far behind her. Jeremy, Jeremy The only thing missing for me was being able to see her face, thanks to the darkness. Therell be other times. Ves cried out in ecstasy as the orgasm hit her, and was soon panting. That had me right at the edge. Im ready - where should I? Anywhere; just cum for me. She smooched my cheek and her hand sped up. The combination of that and her words did the trick, and I moaned and came onto her thighs and the mattress. I breathlessly thanked Ves, and she giggled. Thank you. That was amazing! We wrapped our arms around each other and kissed deeply, and I felt a pleasant, warm feeling by my legs. I looked down and saw a faint glow - Ves was magically cleaning up the mess. As interesting as that was, it paled in comparison to everything else that had just happened, and it took a few seconds for a thought to register. Hey, the spell - its not hurting. Ves grinned. I wasnt even really trying to cast it, but I was thinking about whether we should clean up normally or just deal with the discomfort of the spell. Huh. I feel like your magic works better when you dont focus on it too hard. My thoughts went back to when she had quickly healed me after a cave rat chewed off my nose. Maybe. Lets not focus on it at all for now, though. Her lips softly pressed against mine, and we held each other until the sun started rising.