《Twisting Fate (Complete)》


 Prologue - Prelude From Another World

    Within the main hall of a stone castle whose name has been forgotten. Several men and women sit at a wooden table, a map of their falling kingdoms under the few candles still burning as most have spent their wicks. Books and scrolls with faded script lie in front of these people. The man at the head of the table speaks up, bringing the others to silence their personal conversations.


    ¡°The northern border in the forest of Adralla have fallen. We lack the men to recover the line.¡±


    An elderly woman in a shadowed part of the table replies ¡°Did the supplies to perform the summons not arrive in time?¡±


    An elven man near one of the few candles ¡°Agatha, the summons failed to call hardly anyone. Only a single being arrived out of all three castings?¡±


    Agatha ¡°While the rituals are not bringing as many as they did decades ago, a single summoned is not possible.¡±


    The man at the head of the table ¡°No, out of all the rituals performed in the past week that was the only being to answer our call.¡±


    The elven man ¡°Centuries of constant casting have more than just expended most of our wealth then. Perhaps there are no more left to be called?¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Agatha ¡°Impossible, how can there be no more mortals outside our plane?¡±


    Another human male near the foot of the table ¡°regardless of whether or not there are any others left that can be summoned; the cost has risen above the time they grant us.¡±


    The man at the table head ¡°indeed, the calling rituals cannot be continued as a viable option. Any suggestions on how to continue?¡±


    Agatha ¡°Necromantic reanimation of our dead may buy us a few days per retreat.¡±


    A short unkempt man ¡°The dead deserve their rest, and besides the fiends are adept at turning such abominations against us. Remember the Bloodclaw pack?¡±


    Agatha ¡°Thanks Francis, and I suppose you want to place bombs and illusion?¡±


    Francis ¡°At least they can¡¯t be controlled!¡±


    The elven male ¡°neither will work. We can¡¯t hold our lands, we must retreat.¡±


    The man at the table head ¡°And where would we go to? No land we hold can last for long Valmarth¡±


    Valmarth ¡°then we don¡¯t go to our lands. . .¡±


    Agatha ¡°we have nowhere to go save what we hold. Or do you plan on being a demon¡¯s plaything?¡±


    Valmarth ¡°oh, and what of Terra? Did they not hate fiends more than us?¡±


    The man at the table head ¡°are we not cut off from that plane?¡±


    Valmarth ¡°even their magic fades with enough time. The seal could be broken, but the cost would be most of our outlying population.¡±


    The man at the table head ¡°do it. They cast our ancestors from the plane, they can do the same to the demons. If they kill us afterwards the price is a cheap one.¡±

 Chapter 001

    Our world is not the only world, there are others outside of it. Some of these worlds are physical planes such as our own. Others are worlds of thought or a single force. And some of those other worlds want nothing else but to destroy us. -A passage from Introduction to the Planes, by Roldolf Grunsier


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The modern era is great, technology does most of our work for us. Though I do at time wish it was a little more like it was in the middle ages. If the journals of my ancestors are to be believed, you used to be able to get away with far more than today.


    ¡°. . . Adrian doesn¡¯t pay attention, he''s reading a book.¡±


    I look up from the book I had been reading before I wandered off in thought. I¡¯m in social studies, and it looks like we¡¯re are still going over the test from last week. Mr. Gibbons, the teacher, must have just called someone out for something.


    ¡°Adrian scored 110 on the last test and is not distracting others. He can read all he wants. You however scored a 17, and need to pay attention or won¡¯t be passing this class.¡±


    I nod towards Mr. Gibbons and Doug as some of the students laugh at Doug''s misfortune, before returning to my book. Which line was I on? I can¡¯t remember, not that it matters this is my third time reading this book. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.


    Odd, nobody ever texts or calls me during school. I suppose I should check it. I¡¯ll wait for a few minutes though, Doug probably was messing around on his phone and got caught. I would like to keep my privileges in this class so I am not coerced to listen to the lectures, seriously how many years are they going to spend saying ¡®remember Hitler is bad?''


    The laughter dies down and Mr. Gibbons returns to the next most missed question on his test. At least the laughter covered up my phone''s noise, Mr. Gibbons like most of the teachers, has a policy that phones must be turned off in class. While the policy is to confiscate, he usually just does public embarrassment.


    I¡¯ll just shift around in the seat as I pull the phone from my left pocket, and there I have it. Nobody seems to have noticed. Tap the screen and the picture for texts.


    Something big is going down. Magic of some sort. I¡¯ll make sure your stuff is where I showed you I would keep it. -Crazy Grandpa


    Well, I¡¯ll probably get to hear a newer crazy story in a few days. So, he''s leaving some firearms and ammunition on my desk in the guest room. I doubt that I¡¯ll need them here at school, nobody has messed with me since I beat up that football jock last year after he picked a fight. Some magic thing is going down. Well Grandpa will be fine, I doubt there is anyone better than him left in the world.


    I pocket my phone and turn the page of my book even though I didn''t finish it. A loud explosion happens outside the window just as I start to reading the next page. Startled I turn to look out the window, as does everyone else, to see green midgets flooding out of a discolored cloud of air. How is there purple fog? That¡¯s not important, green midgets wearing loincloths with crude weaponry. They also appear to be starved.


    Several of the girls in the room start screaming, and most others seem to be asking what the ¡®green midgets¡¯ are, but I can¡¯t hear 30 people at once. Mr. Gibbons shouts over everyone¡¯s questions.


    ¡°Get away from the windows, and shut up!¡±


    A good sugestion, but there is not much of the room not close to a window. A few of the students run out the open door into the hall screaming as I begin talking. ¡°Mr. Gibbons, they don¡¯t seem friendly could you pass out you bat collection?¡±


    ¡°Good idea¡± he replies as he moves towards the room¡¯s closet, and starts tossing bats to the members of the sports teams in the class. Of course he passes the improvised weapons to his players.


    I hear breaking glass from behind me and turn to see a green midget charging towards me with a spear. I move the book in my hand so that the spear will strike it rather than my side. It¡¯s a paperback so the spear should pierce the cover and get caught.


    My sacrifice of reading material works and the midget''s spear strikes it rather than me. I grab my bookbag from under my desk as I shove it, the desk, into the midget. As I was doing so, more of the windows were broken and there are now six of the green midgets in the room. More of the students run into the hallway but all save one of the boys who were given a bat stayed.


    I back up as one of the bat wielding students swings at the midget that stabbed at me. I check to make sure no one is looking as I reach into my book bag. I hope Grandpa already placed the guns on that desk, and I perform the magic trick he taught me, Translocation Grasp I think he calls it, and pull the pistol from my book bag.


    It¡¯s loaded, one in the chamber and a magazine of 15. As I switch off the safety, Carter the student who swung at the green midget who charged me gets skewered by another midget. There are now nine of them in the room. A few dozen are charging towards the windows to this room. I raise the pistol and take aim at the midget who just skewered Carter, it¡¯s also the closest one to me, and fire.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Its skull ruptures as a bullet passes through. The few students still in the room and Mr. Gibbons turn towards me. They are probably wondering how I got a gun past the metal detectors in front of the school, I¡¯m going to have some trouble over this later. First though I have another 15 bullets to unleash on these creatures, better to be in trouble than dead.


    ¡°Ask later, retreat into the hall towards the Spanish teacher.¡± I tell them as I back up towards the door. I hold another in my sight for a fraction of a second before it too lacks a chuck of its head. Bryan and Tomas have Spanish class this period, it¡¯s also an interior classroom so it will be a good place to hold a defense.


    The seven living midgets begin to charge me as I back up through the doorway, shooting another as it stumbles over one of the desks. I slam the door shut on another of the midgets, and shoot the handle to destroy the locking mechanism. That should keep those creatures busy for a bit. I hear a scream from a midget on my right, I turn to see it flying backwards a few feet from a swing of a baseball bat. There are more midgets coming from that direction, but everything that way has windows so I don¡¯t care.


    I turn around to see three midgets skewering another of the baseball team in the locker linned hallway. I have twelve bullets still, so I shoot the three in the right side of their respective chests as I move in that direction. The midgets that were charging towards me from behind start shouting, but they aren¡¯t moving towards me. Mr. Gibbons is running through the hall, striking only the midgets in his way. The jocks he gave bats to are clustered with him except for the one behind me.


    ¡°Tell me if the midgets charge, I¡¯ll clear us a way behind the others.¡±


    ¡°I want a gun" my impromptu ally responds.


    ¡°I only have this one.¡±


    I start walking down the hall, as three more midgets come out of a classroom. They are covered in blood, and it doesn¡¯t seem to be their own. I aim and shoot one before they notice me, his blood splashes onto the other two. They turn towards me and charge, shouting in some tongue I don¡¯t speak.


    I fire and strike another in its knee, not dead but it is no longer dangerous. The other gets close enough to me to swing at me with its crude club. I step inside his reach, place the gun against his head and fire. My shirt is now wet, there is probably gore stuck on it now, its club hit my back but there was little force behind it. My heart beat rising as I am for once thankfull of what little physical training grandpa makes me do during the summer.


    ¡°Holy shit!¡±


    ¡°Watch behind me, not what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    Mr. Gibbons and his crew pass turn left at the intersection ahead. I hear some screams coming from the room to my left as I move towards the intersection. Looking into the room I see four of the midgets holding down a fat kid as they take bites out of him. I empty the last six bullets of the magazine into the room. The screams of the midgets let me know I at least hit them a few times. I probably shot the fat kid too, a bullet was probably less painful than being eaten alive.


    The student with the bat behind me must have seen it as he asks ¡°why did you shoot him?¡±


    ¡°To close to the midgets, I can¡¯t hit them and not him.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you fire?¡±


    ¡°The midgets were easy targets; besides I¡¯ll have to shoot them at some point and he was already dead.¡± I respond as I pull a magazine from my bookbag using my grandpa¡¯s TranslocationGrasp. I reload the pistol, and drop the spent magazine into my bag. We arrive at the intersection. To my right there are three students fighting with five of the midgets, they hold crude blades. To my left are classrooms without windows, there are several students and a few teachers yelling at each other.


    ¡°Tell them the kid with the gun wants everyone to form a defensive line.¡±


    ¡°Why me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be shooting rapid midgets, be glad you have the safer job.¡±


    The baseball player then runs over to the arguing group. I turn towards the brawl and shout ¡°Down!¡± The students comply, and I fire a few rounds into the now confused midgets. One of the students takes a knife to the gut as he fell, but the five midgets are dead. One of the boys drags back the injured. His friend? While the other grabs the weapons from the corpses of the midgets.


    The argument behind me has gone silent. There are no midgets in sight though I can hear breaking glass ahead of me. I turn around, to see several students peeking out of the classrooms.


    ¡°That guy wants us to build a wall.¡±


    Not what I told you baseball guy, but close enough.


    ¡°He isn¡¯t in charge!¡± shouts the guidance counselor, I forget her name.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, he¡¯s right we need a wall to defend ourselves. This is the only hallway without conecting classrooms with exterior windows. We should defend ourselves here¡± interrupts Mr. Gibbons.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t in charge either! I am unless the principle or vice principle is here!¡±


    ¡°Then you tell the students to set one up.¡±


    ¡°We are not to fight at all!¡±


    I hear something running at me from behind, and turn to see a dozen midgets moving towards me. I begin firing into their crowd. The first bullet strikes the front most midget in the torso, the next one the head. I fire four more shots before they reached striking distance.


    Three stay near me, while the other four continue towards the arguing teachers. Of the three fighting me, one holds a rusty short sword the other two with clubs. The four that ran past me all held spears. I step forwards to dodge the sword blow, the two clubs striking my waist. I fire the pistol into the head of the midget and grab the rusted blade with my left as he loses his grasp in death.


    I hear screams from the counselor behind me. The sound of a something hitting a locker follows. I pivot and swing the short sword at the neck of one of the midgets, he bocks it with his club. The other midget strikes my side with its club. I kick it and shoot the midget whose club my sword is stuck in.


    The last midget near me starts to run away from me, back in the direction it came in. I fire at it and managed to hit its lower back. I turn to see two of the four midgets with split heads from bats while the other two have skewered one of the English teachers. I fire two bullets into the rather stationary midgets. The counselor is still screaming in terror at the blood that managed to splash onto her. Some of the male students have come out of the classrooms.


    I see my friend Bryan run up towards me. He is a tall boy, like me, being just over six foot tall and has brown hair and blue eyes.


    ¡°Adrian! You¡¯re alive. What¡¯s going on? Nice gun.¡±


    Tomas another friend starts walking towards us, stops to grab some spears from the fallen midgets. He is shorter than either of us, like Bryan he has brown hair and blue eyes however his glasses make him look like far more like a nerd than me, at least before the fact I almost always am carrying a book around.


    ¡°Fighting midgets. Thanks. How about we get some walls set up, can you get other students to help?¡±


    ¡°Sure, is it just me or do the midgets look like goblins?¡±


    ¡°They do, not sure which variation they could be. Fight first questions later.¡±

 Chapter 002

    Our power may be to bend and even break reality, but it does not come without price. Never do anything in front of others that they would consider impossible, that is unless you must for it is then that reality strikes back against us. -Antonio Ranvos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Bryan nods and runs back into one of the class rooms. Shortly after some students start dragging desks into the hall. The desks are older ones, steel and oak. Less comfortable to sit in but they¡¯ll make decent barriers.


    Mr. Gibbons has abandoned miss counselor to her terror and is helping get the desks lined up and interlocked to form a short wall. He also has some students looking for anything to be made into a weapon.


    Miss counselor at this point gets back up off the ground and walks over to me. I have sat down and pulled a box of ammunition from my bookbag and am reloading the magazines I emptied.


    ¡°You are in big trouble, bringing a gun to school. I¡¯m going to confiscate that and when this is over you are going to be expelled, and sent to prison.¡± She puts her hand out in front of me, expecting me to give her the gun.


    ¡°Not happening.¡±


    ¡°You have to, it¡¯s the rules.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Green midgets are killing students and teachers, I¡¯m keeping my gun.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in charge, give me the gun.¡±


    ¡°Says the woman who doesn¡¯t want us to fight or defend ourselves?¡±


    Mr. Gibbons interrupts ¡°leave Adrian alone. Complain about rules after this crisis is resolved.¡±


    ¡°But the school handbook clearly says to confiscate any weapons students bring to school!¡±


    Having reloaded the magazines, I load one into the pistol, the other I drop into my open bookbag. Walking towards the students setting up a wall of desk I say ¡°how about you confiscate the green midget¡¯s weapons instead of mine?¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t hand them over.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, I¡¯m just defending myself.¡±, I turn towards the baseball player who I arrived with. ¡°So, what is your name? I don¡¯t think we have met.¡±


    ¡°Jason, any chance I can stick near you till this is over?¡±


    ¡°Sure, just follow mine and Bryan¡¯s orders.¡±


    Bryan and Tomas walk over to me at this point. They both are holding a spear and a piece of a broken chair, probably to be used as a shield. Bryan speaks up.


    ¡°So, that wall of desks will be ready soon. How should we manage our group?¡±


    Tomas responds ¡°Like we do in DnD; Adrian will be our party leader, you''re second in command. You two always end up making better choices than the rest of those we play with.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a poor parallel to this situation, but sure. Any can suggest additions to the party, during non-emergencies we will vote on our actions.¡± I point to Jason ¡°he is Jason, he will be joining us.¡±


    ¡°How can you all be so calm? And how can a nerd be such a good shot?¡± interjects Jason.


    ¡°Easy, we had a campaign adventure that started similar to this once. Adrian was party leader, we survived in that and that was against orcs. They are more dangerous than goblinoids.¡± answers Tomas, ignoring the fact that I am a decent shot.


    ¡°Since I am the only one with a ranged weapon, I¡¯ll do range support and preventative strikes. You will have to all be front line till we get more weapons. By their weapon quality, they may have bows, though they won¡¯t have much range.¡±


    Bryan and Tomas nod, they know what to do as fighters. Jason looks confused for a bit but nods afterwards. Bryan speaks up at this point ¡°Abagail is in one of the classrooms, I want to add her.¡±


    Tomas and me nod, she won¡¯t be much help in a fight but she is nice enough to help if we need it. I turn back towards the class rooms and notice a few of the jocks talking to each other and pointing at me, or specifically my gun. Which is now tucked into my belt. Bryan and Tomas leave to get Abagail, Jason mutters something and walks towards the water fountain.


    I turn and begin to walk toward the bathroom, I should at least try to get some of this blood off me. Three of the jock start walking toward the bathroom as I enter it.


    Three sinks line the wall on my right connected bya single counter, while my left has a few urinals and a pair of stalls. I walk to the sink on the far end and pull off my shirt, and set the gun on the counter where water shouldn¡¯t spill on it. The jocks can''t use it against me anyways and I would rather they start a fight in here than where everyone might get involved.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    I turn the water on and place my shirt in the sink. As I start to rinse my arms, I wince from the bruises forming from where the clubs landed on me. The door to the bathroom opens and three jocks walk in. One of them I recognize as the idiot that decided to fight me on the way to the buss freshman year, Tyler. He is a shorter boy, rich and athletic but doesn''t have the height and mass to be really good.


    ¡°We want the gun Adrian. There¡¯s more of us and you can¡¯t shoot us without getting everyone else mad.¡±


    Tyler is threatening me, I never caved in before so why would I start now, idiot. ¡°I killed over a dozen of those midgets, do you really think I¡¯d lose in a fight?¡±


    ¡°You used a gun, you can¡¯t here. Give it to me.¡±


    ¡°No, and if you take it from me how many do you think will be mad at you?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll have the gun.¡± Tyler lunges and grabs the gun from the counter, and points it at me. The safety is still on; besides that, it was set up to be called and dismissed by grandpa. I kick at Tyler and he falls to the ground. I close my had around the air, and perform grandpa¡¯sTranslocation Grasp on the pistol, recalling it to my hand. It appears, though I feel as if my head split.


    ¡°Exactly I have a gun, you don¡¯t and can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°But that, I was holding that gun!¡±


    ¡°Like I said it¡¯s my gun, now leave before I decide to use it.¡±


    I hear the door to the bathroom open and close, Tyler¡¯s ¡®friends¡¯ must have left. Looking down, Tyler¡¯s pants darken, and I sneer at him. He crawls for the door a bit before standing up and running away.


    I put the gun on the counter once more and rub the temples of my head, dam this headache hurts. No wonder grandpa said to never do something ¡®impossible¡¯ in front of others. I finish rinsing my shirt and wring out most of the water before putting it on. I would have winced in pain from the bruises but the headache is far worse. I pull a few more magazines out with Translocation Grasp, but find it difficult to focus due to the headache. I place them in my bookbag and rest for a few minutes on the toilet.


    Once I leave the bathroom a few of the cheerleaders walk up to me. One of them gives me a kind smile. She¡¯s always ignored anyone that wasn¡¯t on a team, so she probably just wants to use me.


    ¡°Adrian, it¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve talked. Jeff told me you beat up some of the midgets. How did you do that?¡±


    So, she wants protection? Unlikely, she probably just wants my weapon. ¡°With a gun, you should have heard the gunshots, right?¡±


    ¡°Really can I see it?¡±


    I point to the pistol barely covered by my shirt. ¡°You already can.¡±


    ¡°I mean really see it, like see if it¡¯s a real gun or if Jeff lied to me.¡±


    ¡°No, leave me alone. You have never talked with or glanced at me before, so why should I believe you to be my friend now?¡±


    ¡°. . .¡±


    ¡°You want nothing but my gun. You will not get it, leave me alone.¡±


    I proceed to walk into one of the classrooms, leaving a few now upset cheerleaders behind. I move over to a corner where Mrs. Garcia has a couch. The rest of the room now void of desks save for the much larger desk for the teacher. Some pictures from Spain and Mexico adorn the walls and a single pinata hangs in the corner farthest from the door. I look over to Jason who is pulling water bottles out of the garbage.


    ¡°Why?¡± I ask.


    ¡°We might need them, who knows if anything else is going on that will affect power or water.¡±


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought of that, any luck?¡±


    ¡°Just a . . .¡± As Jason was talking, I heard a scream and my head throbs.


    ¡°I guess another round of midgets arrived.¡±


    I get back up as Jason runs out. I hear desks scraping against the ground, as I approach the door. Pulling the gun out I look to where there should be a line of desks, only to see the councilor lady pulling at the desks form the inside as she tries to tell the midgets that we don¡¯t need to fight. There is a little over a dozen of the things already at the wall of desks, another group of the midgets is approaching from further back, they have a few crude bows with them. A midget wearing more than a loincloth seems to be giving directions, he also is holding a walking stick and has too much cover from the surrounding creatures for me to get a clear shot at him.


    Dreading what the sound will do to my headache I take aim at one of the archers, they are too far out to hit me with an arrow but they are taking aim at the student at the wall of desks. I fire and miss the archer hitting one of their spearmen behind it, my head sent ringing from the noise. At least one of them died.


    The clothed midget points his walking stick at the line of desks, his lips are moving as a flame is ignited on the walking stick. I fire again at the archer, and this time I hit. The clothed midget glances at the fallen archer and then pushes his walking stick forward. The flame at its tip flies off it and streaks towards the desks. Should I shoot the clothed midget? Can''t others are in the way.


    The flame explodes washing over the students manning the desks. They scream and drop to the ground in an attempt to extinguish the flames. It does not work, and they stop moving still on fire. Several of the students are now fleeing back into the classrooms shouting that this can¡¯t be real. The councilor runs screaming something about a bomb.


    Great, now I¡¯m practically alone against over two dozen of these things. I pull a second pistol using TranslocationGrasp, and focus on the other trick my grandpa made me practice Spatial Aim. It¡¯s a lot easier than grabbing something from a distance, being basically sensing just where to aim instead of aiming yourself.


    I begin to unleash a rain of bullets, one on each of the midgets. Closest one taking precedence, I can hear the midgets charging and arrows being shot. The smoke from the burning desks must be giving me some cover as none of the arrows land close to me. Over a dozen of the midgets are dead on this side of the smoke when the pistol in my right hand is empty. I have two left in the left which I unleash blindly before backing up into the room.


    I close the door, and check to see if anyone is in here. There isn¡¯t just some scattered desks. I dump the spend magazines into my bag and replace them with one from my bag and the other drawn via Translocation Grasp. There should be one more loaded magazine stored, and several boxes of ammunition. There is probably a rifle but I can¡¯t pull something that big through Translocation Grasp.


    Still having a moment, I reload both pistols before ejecting the magazines again. I add another bullet to each magazine, and load them back into the pistols. I hear a few thumps against the door, it opens into the hall following the fire code so it would take a while for them to bash it down.

 Chapter 003

    When you have power, others believe themselves entitled to your aid. You are not required to give aid to any save your friends and family. If you have something others will claim you do not deserve it, but that they should have it. ¨C Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I put one of the pistols in my belt as they don¡¯t really work well dual wielding. Readied, I kick the door so that it¡¯ll open a little. That should let them figure out how it opens and rush back to give myself some space to fight in. Sure, enough they open it, exposing the opener to a pot shot in the head. Who is thenpushed forwards by the midgets behind him.


    One of the three who rush into the room a moment after drops to the ground his waist destroyed. The remaining two charge at me as four more rush in and get jammed in the narrow doorway. Stupid creatures, maybe they realy are goblins? I shoot at the one to my left and kick a desk at the one on the right. I cringe at the sound of the gunfire echoing though the room and thus repeatedly though my head.


    The desk manages to cause the one remaining to stumble gaining me time to shoot him. The four after the death of the first three have managed to force their way into the room. Seven rush into the room, so they had help entering from behind them. I fire at the closest one, a miss.


    My second shot against it blows a hole in its head, some splatter coats the midget behind it. As he falls the six-remaining fan out and begin to surround me. Stupid, weak, cowardly but surprising cunning tactics, they are goblinoids. I shoot the goblin in front of me, the others have now spread to both sides of me. I can¡¯t shoot one side without losing sight of the others.


    Shit, I turn towards the side with more of these monsters and quickly dump the remaining nine shots at them. The gun is now empty but now there are only two to deal with. Pain erupts from my left thigh, pivoting as I release a cry of pain I see one of the midgets got me with a spear. The other is running back to the door, shouting in its tongue.


    I drop the empty pistol and pull out the other. The goblin pulls his spear out, since I¡¯m not a blood fountain he didn¡¯t get the artery. As I take aim he lunges at me but I shift to the side. I fall on the floor as my left leg gives out. The goblin grins, thinking he won, I shoot him in his gut, so he collapses and dies in pain.


    I grab his spear with my left hand and reload the emptied pistol with the last magazine I can pull through TranslocationGrasp. Armed and using the spear as support I hobble towards the door. Through its window, I can see four archers, and the clothed goblin looking at the midget that fled this room. Must be asking for reinforcements.


    The six begin to walk towards this door, I grin, the window shouldn¡¯t be bullet proof but I don''t have a clear view of all the midgets. I don''t have a shot at the clothed one. So, I shoot one of the archers through the window. Another gut shot, it should be out of this fight. I fire again hitting another archer, this time in its head, before backing relatively swiftly away from the door. I hear something with a cadence to it as I wait for another pot shot at whoever opens the door.


    My wait is rewarded as the goblin who fled opened the door, and lost a chunk from its skull. The two archers rush in no longer holding their bows but hold instead daggers that are in decent condition. The clothed goblin walks in, golden lights floating around him. That¡¯s not normal, how is it he does not suffer the same problems I do?


    I shoot one of the archers as they both rush me. It falls but the other gets close enough to stab at me with its knife, He went for the gut but I block it with my left forearm. As the goblin pulls his blade back from my arm I level the pistol to his head.


    I fire, and the goblin joins its kin. I feel a rush of heat from the clothed midget, the room also gets brighter. I drop to the ground and take cover behind an overturned desk. I don¡¯t get their fast enough and the polyester in the fabric of my shirt melts. Pain sears across my right side, I do however manage to get behind the desk before I catch fire.


    A cruel laugh comes from the direction of the clothes midget, and the torrent of fire abates. I raise the pistol over the small bit of cover the desk gives and fire twice at the creature. As the bullets get close to the creature the floating golden lights around it gather in the path of the projectiles. The rounds strike clusters of these lights, and are stopped. The clothed midget begins to laugh louder, as a flame erupts from its walking stick.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    I crouch down behind the desk as fire swarms around me, I can feel my skin cooking. The pistol won¡¯t work, whatever those golden lights are they act as a shield of some sort. Ranged combat isn¡¯t going to work, what can I do?


    As I am thinking smoke start coming off the desk I am behind. Shit, I kick the desk towards the midget, maybe it will startle it. My hopes do not pay off, though I do manage to roll to another desk that hasn¡¯t caught fire yet. Why haven¡¯t the smoke detectors gone off? I need the room flooded with water, I can¡¯t do that. Fire . . .


    The goblin must have seen be change locations as he begins to move to get a better angle. Wait fire, ammunition will explode in fire. I pull out a half full box of bullets from my bookbag, and toss them through the stream of fire. I hear them land, and the stream of fire moves to them. Well, that is the worst decision he could have made.


    Several explosions quickly follow, the ammunitionhas gone off. I hear a scream from the midget and its stream of fire ceases. The bubble of golden lights around the thing is still up, but I can see scorch marks over its body. The lights only stop projectiles? Explosions work, wait golden globe of lights that blocks projectiles and only projectiles. That sounds like Protection from Missiles. I¡¯ll have to risk it.


    I grab a now smoldering spear off the ground and stumble as fast as I can at the goblin. It is still trying to put out embers that are caught on its clothes. My spearmanship while clumsy with my limp and injured arm does pass through the golden lights unhindered. The spearhead enters the torso, and I twist it and push it further in. The goblin starts to cough up blood, and I move forward to grab its walking stick. My gamble paid off, that wasProtection from Missiles.


    I need to stop the bleeding on my arm, so I press the wound to the metal legs of a desk that was otherwise reduced to ash. The injury cauterizes quickly and I check my left leg¡¯s injury. It can¡¯t be too bad since I fought for a while on it. I should have screamed in pain, I am in shock then?


    I find my phone broken and wince at a nasty bruise that had formed. Great, so that is why it wasn¡¯t buzzing from constant panicked calls from mom. No lethal injuries, but I¡¯ll be sore for a while. I grab a few objects from the clothed midget; a book, its walking stick, and a few bits of metal. I place them in my bookbag, the walking stick and the two daggers I place in my belt.


    I limp out of the room, to see a few goblins retreating, they must have noticed the death of the clothed midget, sorcerer? Either way they are retreating, it looks like Mrs. Counselor survived somehow and about half of the students that were here. Jason, Bryan, Tomas, and a very short blonde girl, Abagail, are treating each other¡¯s wounds. Some of the students are pulling corpses out of one of the rooms, must have been Bryan¡¯s idea. I ¡®walk¡¯ towards them.


    ¡°You look like you got caught in a fireball, that clothed midget was a mage, right?¡±


    ¡°Dunno, I don¡¯t speak goblin¡± I reply to Tomas¡¯s poor remark on my state of health. ¡°Anyone have a working cell?¡±


    A few students shake their heads, but Abagail passes me hers. It seems to still be working, but after dialing a number I just get a busy signal. I send a text to my mom, stating that I¡¯m alive but the phone is broken. The phone receives a ¡®not sufficient signal to send. Your message will be sent once you do have a signal¡¯ response.


    I pass the phone back to Abagail. ¡°Thanks.¡± It¡¯s almost 6:00 pm, not too late to get to a better position before nightfall. I look around, two groups of jocks and the ¡®popular¡¯ girls seems to have formed. I am guessing this as they are talking with each other in their respective groups. Jason, passes me one of the bottles of water he scavenged earlier as I sit down leaning up against a locker.


    I start pulling off the bits of polyester so that they aren¡¯t attached to my skin. The pain is less than when they originally melted. One of the girls walks over and starts to shout at me. I don¡¯t fully pay attention but it¡¯s something about a Sarah dying because I didn¡¯t give her my gun. I should probably respond.


    ¡°So, I¡¯m a murderer because I didn¡¯t give away my weapon?¡±


    ¡°YES! If Sarah had the gun, she could have been here! Instead she and others died while you sat around in a different room!¡±


    ¡°A room where I killed a dozen of the things. How many did you fight?¡±


    ¡°That not important! You need to give us that gun!¡±


    ¡°Why, because that would be more convenient for you? Because I¡¯m not part of your group? Should I have just let others kill me?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Idiot, who then would have killed their leader then? You who hid in a corner while others died?¡±


    ¡°That has nothing to do with it!¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it? You don¡¯t have any bloodstains on your cloths. You didn¡¯t fight, I did. You¡¯re more at fault than me.¡±


    She shuts up at this point and runs back to her friends. They start consoling her, while giving me nasty looks. Abagail tells me that I did not need to be so mean. I shrug in response, and Bryan speaks up.


    ¡°Should we stay here or find someplace better?¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we stay and wait for help?¡± asks Abagail.


    ¡°No help came in the past few hours, not even notice of future help. We should go, this probably isn¡¯t the only thing going on¡± replies Tomas.


    ¡°The others here don¡¯t exactly like me, so I¡¯ll be leaving¡± I add to the conversation.


    ¡°True, besides I sure there are better places. Or at least places without others, they¡¯ll try to take you gun if not something more stupid if you stay here¡± adds Bryan while pointing towards the other groups.

 Missed Chapter 003.5

    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    ¡°We need more weapons and food. Our school only has enough food for a few days and lacks weapons to defend with" I say to begin our planning.


    Abagail frowns, I don¡¯t think she likes all this fighting.


    ¡°I think we should go get weapons first, food won¡¯t matter if more of those midgets kill us" offers Bryan.


    ¡°You have a gun at home but that is on the other side of town, I live outside of town we need to go somewhere closer.¡±


    Abagail interrupts ¡°what about our families? We need to find them.¡±


    I nod, ¡°we do but we also need to be able to defend them when we find them.¡±


    Abagail frowns again, ¡°aren¡¯t you worried about your family?¡±


    I shake my head ¡°dad is out of town but he keeps guns in his semi, my brothers are home sick today and mom would move them into the storm cellar. They should be safe for a few weeks.¡±


    Bryan speaks up, a tear coming to his face ¡°my parents are in their seventies, they have been dying for years. If this isn¡¯t isolated they are already dead.¡±


    Abagail looks at Bryan, sadness, she empathizes with Bryan. ¡°We have to get weapons then we can worry about our loved ones. You can dislike it, but we need to do this.¡±


    Jason walks up, he doesn¡¯t seem to care. Well, I wouldn¡¯t care about his family so I guess it is fair for him not to care for mine. I want to agree with Abagail and rush to our respective families but that will get us killed. Cut the emotions do what must be done. I take a breath.


    ¡°The nearest place where we can get guns and ammunition would be Outdoor World, I motion that we go there first.¡±


    ¡°When will we go to our families?¡±


    ¡°After we get enough weapons to safely reach them. Who is for getting weapons first?¡±


    Bryan, Jason and Tomas nod in approval. Abagail is hesitating, she knows we need to do this but struggles about it.


    ¡°Any alternatives to moving to Outdoor World?¡±


    Tomas speaks up, ¡°won¡¯t there be a lot of people there?¡±


    ¡°No, today is their annual inventory. There will have been a few people there in the morning to count it but by now they would be finished. It should be empty.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°I work for as an inventory counter on the weekend remember? It was one of the jobs on the schedule.¡±


    The others are quiet for a few seconds. ¡°It¡¯s agreed then, we will move to Outdoor World to arm ourselves. Then we will move to collect our families and find food. Any objections?¡±


    No one speaks up, Abagail looks like she wants to say something but stays quiet.


    ¡°I know you don¡¯t like this Abagail and you can complain and yell at me later but we have to stay alive first. Alright?¡±


    Abagail hesitates but does nod. I hope she understands, I don¡¯t want to do it this way but there is no way we can save all our families without more than my two pistols. Some of the jocks have been looking at us for a while.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Lets move to the parking lot, Bryan and me have cars. We¡¯ll divide between the two vehicles.¡±


    We all stand up and begin to walk down the hall. As we start to move someone speaks up behind us, Tyler.


    ¡°Where do you think you are going?¡±


    ¡°Leaving, your cliques don¡¯t want me here anyways what do you care?¡±


    ¡°Sure, you can leave but give us the guns.¡±


    Several people from the two groups of jocks nod in agreement. Like hell I would give them a gun, they are already mad at me. Tyler would try to kill me if he wasn¡¯t scared from what happened in the bathroom.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t give you it when you threatened me earlier. I didn¡¯t give it to miss councelor. Why would I give it away now?¡±


    They stop stunned for a second before one of the cheerleaders retorts back.


    ¡°Because you have to defend us!¡±


    ¡°Why? Because I can? If that is true, then why didn¡¯t you all help others before this?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s different! We¡¯ll die without your gun!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no different, do you know why only your two cliques are speaking up for my gun?¡±


    ¡°The others are just scared of you!¡±


    ¡°Maybe some are, but why are the thugs that have joined gangs outside of school not trying for my gun? I¡¯m sure some of them are here.¡±


    One of the black students stands up and folds his arms looking at the two groups of popular students.


    ¡°See, he is too scared to talk.¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s cool¡± retorts Aaron, I recognize him now as I can see him more clearly.


    "You don''t have to say that."


    ¡°He isn''t saying it becasue of the gun. He said it because I respected him, sometimes I have lunch with Aaron and others outside of my friends.¡±


    Aaron nods, and then several of the ¡®poor¡¯ students get up and they start to leave. Aaron speaks up ¡°leaving is a good idea. If you pass our neighborhoods we¡¯ll see you''re safe.¡±


    They all leave. Now there are only a few students that weren¡¯t part of one of the gangs and the two cliques of jocks. Talking with the poor kids that asked to share my table at lunch on Fridays paid off. Or was it from pointing out the stupid parts of their crimes, and telling them how they could get caught? Whatever, they respected me, because I respected them. I never did have to deal with any of my things going missing here at school.


    After a few moments, the jocks snap out of their surprise and begin telling me as a mob that I have to stay or give them the gun. Fools, do they still think that I will give in to their demands now? I point the gun at them, and they go silent.


    ¡°I am leaving, with my weapons. If you attack me to stop me I will shoot you all.¡±


    Miss councelor speaks up ¡°you can¡¯t do that that is murder!¡±


    Some of the others start to talk to each other, things like he can¡¯t take all of us and there is not enough bullets to kill us all.


    ¡°If you¡¯re stupid enough to attack try it, but I¡¯ll use every bullet before you take me out. A lot of you will die and gain nothing.¡±


    Bryan and Tomas step forward moving to block a charge with their spears, Abagail and Jason are backing away behind me. I never expected Abagail to help with something like this but Jason should have. I guess I can¡¯t count on him for life and death situations? Or is it just against other people?


    Tyler yells back ¡°we just have to tackle you and take the gun!¡±


    ¡°And how well did that work for you earlier?¡±


    Tyler turn white and shuts up, others look at him and begin to quiet down, good the intimidation worked. Aaron would have called my bluff but rich white kids are too pampered to deal with this. The slum students will be more reliable.


    The five of us leave and make it to the parking lot, the halls while bloodstained were empty. Where are the bodies? Even the midgets that I shot near the social studies room are gone. Why are they missing? Abagail doesn¡¯t seem to notice this, she is probably just glad to not have to see the corpses of these monsters and people she may have known.


    Bryan and Tomas noticed, I don¡¯t want to speak the question. I am sure of the conclusion, there are bodies near where we defended but where we could not see there are none. I saw a fat kid being eaten alive earlier, so it has to be cannibalism. The midgets must have gathered the dead, probably for food, they did seem starved.


    None of us raise the question, none of us want to confirm what we are thinking. Jason just doesn¡¯t seem to care. I may not care about who died but I care if I¡¯m going to be hunted as food. We do not say anything as we arrive at the parking lot, there are some bloodstains here and there but the lot is devoid of people. There are less cars then why I parked so some of Aaron¡¯s group must have taken some. My car and Bryan¡¯s truck are the only vehicles that do not have broken windows.


    Blatant robbery, but I am leading others to go do the same at another location. Seems stupid to break all those windows but I guess they are not worried about getting caught anymore. Whatever the better off they are the safer we will be when we pass through their territories to get home.


    I toss Tomas my car keys ¡°you drive my car, I¡¯ll be ready to shoot anything that attacks us.¡±


    Tomas nods, the other three of our group pile into Bryan¡¯s car. It¡¯s bigger than mine little car so if something does go wrong they¡¯ll be safer.

 Chapter 004

    The might of our clan is more versatile and powerful than all others. But it is also the most shackled and difficult to learn. We warp reality itself. Reality is however ridged and fights back when bent too far. -Geldath Archmage of the Pattern.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The drive as we head towards Outdoor World remains rather uneventful, sure we saw smoke rising from the distance and few bodies is the street but no creatures were in our way untill we are about a mile away. Tomasswears as we turn a corner, a ten-foot-tall brute with dark skin is smashing a car with part of a telephone pole.


    The thing is in our way, the other streets we could have turned down are blocked by abandoned cars. It hasn¡¯t noticed us yet, I pick up the pistol and roll down the window. The creature still hasn¡¯t notice us, it must not be too perceptive. I start unloading while aiming for its torso, too far for me to be sure in hitting its head.


    After the first shot, the giant rushes at the car. Tomas begins to back the car up, though we are limited in where it can go as Bryan¡¯s truck is not far behind us. I fire four more bullets into the chest of the giant before it is closes in on my car. The bullets are not doing much, the giant too large to be brought down easily by a 9mm caliber bullet.


    ¡°Ditch the car¡± I tell Tomas as the giant come within twenty feet of the vehicle, and open the door on my right to exit. I manage to get a few feet away from the car before the giant¡¯s club lands on the hood, a loud crash results from the car flipping onto a building. Tomas screams in pain, he must have got hit by something.


    Looking at the giant its chest is bleeding from the holes created by my bullets, but the wounds are letting out trickles of blood compared to the size of this creature. Bryan is accelerating his truck and having it ram the giant. I don¡¯t think that will be enough, we need some way to cause massive damage to this creature quickly; that or a way to flee. It has already seen us, fleeing will be difficult.


    I quickly shoot at the gas tank of my car, creating a leak. Bryan¡¯s window is down.


    ¡°Ram, it towards my car, then run!¡±


    I am going to have to do another ¡®impossible¡¯ thing, I focus on a bullet in the magazine of the pistol. If I screw this up, an explosion will go off in my hands; hell, even if it works a backlash may kill me. My throbbing head doesn¡¯t make it easier either.


    Bryan¡¯s truck smashes into the giant, a crack of bones breaking sounds out as the giant falls towards the wreck that was my car. Bryan, Jason, and Abagail run out of the truck, the giant roars as it throws the truck off its legs. The giant¡¯s actions reveal a compound fracture of its right leg; good, the gas spilling out of the tank of my car will reach it soon. I fire at the tank of Bryan¡¯s truck, adding its gas to the spill around the giant.


    I release the bullet that I had been focusing on, a small burst of sparks comes out of the barrel along with the bullet itself. The shot lands in the wound of the compound fracture, the giant releases a scream of pain as a static discharge ignites the spilt gasoline. The giant screams loudly as it begins to burn to death.


    Shortly after both vehicles erupt in an explosion of flame. Tomas crawling away from the wreckage of my car yells out in pain as his legs are light on fire by the explosion. He begins to roll in attempt to put out the fire, as the rest of us rush towards him.


    We manage to get the fire put out, though Tomas has third degree burns on his legs. He has passed out; his left shin is also broken. I speak up towards Jason, ¡°find me two rods or sticks.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°Making a stretcher. Now!¡± Jason runs around the street searching through the rubble of what used to be cars, mail boxes, and other things that line the streets of a residential area. Bryan clears the nearby area as I check for other injuries. Tomas is not going to be useful in a fight for a while. Abagail seems to be crying a bit as she keeps a lookout.


    Tomas does not have any life-threatening injuries, but aside from the broken leg he also has several cuts that are now cauterized along his arms and on his torso. He¡¯ll live so long as he doesn¡¯t get infected. We¡¯ll have to find a place where we can clean out the cuts and find some medicine.


    Jason comes back after a few minutes with two pipes that probably used to hold up mailboxes. He gives them to me, they are long enough to use but thick, it will be heavy. Bryan speak up as he removes his shirt ¡°we will need more than two, we¡¯ll need your shirt too.¡±


    ¡°What does a shirt have to do with . . .¡±


    ¡°The part that holds the person¡± I interrupt, as I remove the tattered remains of my own shirt. Bryan and me finish creating the stretcher and move Tomas¡¯s unconscious body onto it. ¡°Jason, move ahead of us as a scout.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°You¡¯re armed, I¡¯ll carry the stretcher.¡±


    ¡°Ok¡± I let Jason take my place holding the stretcher, and scout head as we travel the last block towards Outdoor Sports. I move staying a few hundred feet ahead of the others, the vigilance of having a scout proves unneeded until I reach the parking lot of the store.


    There are a few cars in the otherwise empty lot, but that is not what catches my attention as I turn around the corner of a building to see the lot. There are five midgets, these ones with red skin; as if they were gingers who had stayed out in the sun for a few days. They are huddled around something but a jeep is blocking my line of sight. They seem to be eating something, not sure what but I probably would rather not know. I walk back to Bryan and the others.


    ¡°There¡¯s some midgets eating something near the entrance. These ones have red skin. I¡¯ll take care of them and return.¡±


    The three who are conscious nod, acknowledging the information. After returning to the corner where I can see the red midgets, I turn the safety off on one of the pistols. I¡¯ll need a better angle to take one out in a sneak attack; so, I move in an arc to take cover near a minivan.


    I can now see the midgets without looking through the windows of the jeep. The midgets are clustered around two mangled corpses, chunks are missing. They are eating the two. Great cannibals, or is it not cannibalism since they are a different race? Not the time to think about that, I take aim on the midget that looks somewhat larger than the other four. He¡¯s probably their leader, though any of these five are larger than their green cousins that were at my school.


    I fire the pistol and the largest of the midgets is now leaking brain matter out of a hole; the other four are startled and have started to look around as they pick up clubs made from pipes. They haven¡¯t noticed me yet, perfect two sneak kills then.


    As I take aim for the second shot one of the midgets looks almost directly at me, but he still did not see me. They seem to be squinting their eyes as they look around, they must have overly sensitive eyes. The sun behind my back creating a glare in their vision as it reflects off the hood of the minivan. Are they suffer daylight blindness, or is it poor vision overall? Regardless I release a second shot having aimed without worry of them immediately rushing me until after I fire again.


    The bullet puts a hole in the head of the second largest of the midgets, the three-remaining turn towards me and begin to charge. I was hoping for another free shot but I already got two free shots. They move faster than the previous midgets and I only manage three shots before they reach the minivan, two of the shot struck the chest of one of them and it fell dead the other missed. I don¡¯t have a melee weapon, I need to slow them down.


    I open the door to the minivan and hot air pours out of the opening door, I enter and close it, the midgets a few feet from the door as I slam it shut. The midgets strike the door shattering the glass, a few shards scrape against my flesh as the midget screeches as it tries to climb into the window. The odor like that of a latrine wafts off the creature as it climbs.


    I release a bullet into the head of the midget who broke the window. He falls out and to the ground, and his companion screams in what seems to be terror as it turns to run. I take aim once more and after three bullets to its chest the fleeing midget falls as well.


    I open the door behind me, as I have no desire to see the remains of these creatures, the smell of the one that started climbing through the window was as bad as a truck stop bathroom. After returning to the others, the group walks up to the front entrance to Outdoor World. The front door is ajar, held open by someone''s dropped backpack. Bryan speaks up as he picks up the backpack


    ¡°Should we worry about something showing up after dusk?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, better we prepare for it than be attacked without preparation" I respond.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get Tomas set up in the back after a quick search, then help with barricades.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll check for power and get some food ready¡± adds Abagail.


    Jason follows Bryan as he moves Tomas to the western end of the store. That¡¯s where the weapons and camping stuff is. The eastern side is boats and fishing, less stuff we could use. I look around the front of the store, the windows have the blinds down, but there are too many here to be defended; the camping section of the store has no ground floor windows; we¡¯ll have to set up there. I close the front door and lock it before making a quick sweep of the store, no creatures but there is a dead security guard. He died from a stab in the back, as that was the only injury I could see on him. His firearm was also missing. Mabey the two corpses outside have a gun on them?


    Bryan walks up and interrupts my thoughts, ¡°I took his gun, I¡¯m thinking we¡¯ll have to set up in either the second-floor food court or the camping and hunting section.¡±


    ¡°Camping, we need the weapons and its more defensible anyways.¡±


    Bryan nods, and we walk to the hall that leads to the camping section, grabbing some clothes on the way. After we reach our destination we set down what we scavenged from the sports section, clothes, defense equipment, and some bats. We end up returning to the registers and pull the minifridges out to take the drinks and stack them as part of the barricade. We want to keep the organization of the shelves in camping for now. Abagail helps unload the fridges after turning the backup generator on, and shutting down most of the power to sections aside from camping and the food court.


    About an hour after dusk we have a shoulder high wall across the width of the hallway, we also closed and locked the staircases to the food court that are not connected to camping. The main stairs to the food court is still open and too large to block, so we set another barricade between camping and it. We spend the next few hours gathering the weapons in the store, a dozen pistols, a dozen revolvers, 17 compound bows, 7 hunting rifles, nearly a hundred knives, 6 cases of .22 rounds, 2 cases of .308, just over a case of 9mm, a partial case of .45 for the revolvers, several magazines, and two speed loaders for the revolvers, a few accessories for the firearms, 400 arrows, a half dozen crossbows and 200 bolts; far more than we can carry.


    Everyone takes one of the rifles, two of the knives, a few boxes of bullets, and other than me they each take two pistols. The bows and arrows are left to me as I¡¯m the only one who knows how to use them. I hope Jason''s knowledge of firearms is more than the point and shoot variety.


    Abagail also found a few months¡¯ worth of food for us five, at least if the fridges were still on.

 Chapter 005

    Your mind is the most powerful weapon you can have. Without it not only are you not you, but you would be unable to use any other weapon you have effectively. It is also a weakness as all you have to do to defeat someone is break their mind, afterwards they cannot be a threat to you. ¨C Unnamed Cerebremancer


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After separating out the weapons amongst the five of us, setting aside the ones for Tomas, we eat in silence some burgers using the meat that has started to defrost while the power was out. The food was good but nobody was in the mood.


    As Bryan volunteered for first watch I took a few of the sleeping bags to use as a rough mattress, a bit lumpy but much better than the floor. Jason found some beer and is drinking it, I hope he doesn¡¯t drink too much.


    Even with the soreness over my body I quickly fall asleep.


    <hr>


    I find myself in a grey void, nothing in any direction. I am standing on nothing? I¡¯m not falling, no wind, my breath makes no noise nor can I feel it. What is this place?


    Somehow, I now know, this is a dream space of some sort. It is not mine, the gods of some place called Althr¨¢ made this. There is nothing here, a fragment of anastral realm. Only one person will ever be in a fragment at a time. But why do I now know this? Why did these ¡®gods¡¯ make this place? Why am I here?


    Suddenly a burst of information floods my mind. I fall to my knees gripping my head. This place answers certain kinds of questions, guides some sort of boon. I¡¯m not sure, a proper noun of some sort the concept of whatever this place guides, is foreign to me. The gods of Althr¨¢ made this place to guide, no aid the denizens of their world against something. A taint?


    Another piece of information stabs into my mind. Icringe for a moment, my guess was right the gods of Althr¨¢ give aid to fight against the invasion of demonic entities. Fragmented spirits driven mad and corrupted. Back to the previous questions, I¡¯m here to be aided to be told something? What am I to be told? Why not just tell me instead of this waiting until I guess the question I need the answer to?


    I collapse to the floor, my mind ripping at the influx of information. I cry out a silent scream into this grey void. Some time passes before I pick myself back up. Too much information at once hurts the mind and soul? The realm is taxed from many new people entering it? A pinprick crashes though my thoughts, yes, my guesses are right. This realm allows one to have near perfect introspection, one can easily tell theamount of improvement you have. It has other functions as well, granting knowledge, skill, power but not freely. You must earn it with your actions outside of this realm.


    How do I use introspection? As grandpa taught or another manner here? Ah, here I can just ask and this realm will tell me about myself. Must I think to ask about each detail individually, or can it be compounded to some sort of display? A question appears in my thoughts display how? So, this realm is sentient? Is conversation possible? The realm is a mental construct, a program of sorts, but it is possible. How? Helping it learn, or wake my own guide?


    What guide? I grab my head as more knowledge bursts into my mind, echoing over my thoughts. My family, we warp reality not with mana as others do but our mind and a second soul. Mine is asleep, weak because of how ''thick'' reality is on Earth. As much as I want to know about that I¡¯m sure that¡¯ll knock me to the floor again. It, the other piece of me, will wake in time as I warp reality more. How do I help you learn then?


    Willing it to be so, fine converse and learn to adapt to what I need in this realm.


    [What did you mean by display?]


    Direct thought projection, I don¡¯t know how to do that. How can I respond?


    [Speak aloud.]


    ¡°A display, such as a character sheet. Some sort of interface, like a computer game.¡±


    [What are these things?]


    ¡°Can you look at my mind if I think of them?¡±


    [Yes, but only if you allow it. Only questions can we hear otherwise.]


    ¡°Then look¡± I draw upon the games I¡¯ve played. Having my experiences of RPGs flash though the surface of my thoughts.


    [I think I understand. None have ever thought of a standardized display. This is new, it is a good idea. Can I show the other parts of myself this concept?]


    ¡°Sure, but why do you ask?¡±


    [We wish to implement this, what do you want for it?]


    ¡°Help me and my friends survive.¡±


    [We will already do that, it is our purpose. Name another thing.]


    ¡°What do you mean by thing?¡±


    [Knowledge, Skill, and Power. Name what you will if it is not too great a cost we will give it.]


    ¡°Can you integrate and add the things you were shown within my examples of character sheets to you?¡±


    [Yes, but that is not a payment to you. That would be you paying us more, ideas and concepts such as those only help us fulfill our purpose.]


    ¡°Are there are limits to how far you help normally?¡±


    [Yes. Once what you would standardize as a level reaches a certain point we can aid no more. We also only aid a being in a single aspect of themselves.]If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Perfect, take and implement what you can. Remove as many of your restrictions to aid on me as you are able.¡±


    [We accept, but some restrictions are for your protection. Some powers cannot mix, we should not help you gain a power that conflicts with what you already possess.]


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Can you interact with me outside of this dream state?¡±


    [We are too heavily burdened by new beings such as yourself, but in time we will recover and be able to.]


    ¡°No rush, what do you need me to do to allow you to see what you need to in my mind for this?¡±


    [Permission.]


    ¡°You are permitted to look through my memories related to this subject; given that no harm comes to myself from the search and that I am not incapacitated while you do so.¡±


    [We will look, it will take some time should you stay conscious as we look. But the concept of character sheets can be added immediately. We will now proceed. . . What may I help you with as you are here?]


    ¡°Show me a character sheet of myself.¡±


    [Reveal Stat block, Gain Class: Dragon Knight: Void, DK: V 2 (20SP), EP15, Magus 2 (+40SP), Accumulated SP:175, Gain Title: Party Leader [+2 Attributes], Gain Title: Reality Weaver, . . .]


    [Feat Performed: Kill multiple tainted creatures (+5EP)


    Feat Performed: Submit Improvements to ???: Gain Trait: Free Multiclassing]


    [


    Adrian Human male, STR 14 DEX 17, CON 13, INT 18, WIS 17, CHA 15, APR 16


    Class: Magus 2, DK: V 2, Age 17 HP: 30 MP: 12            EP20 SP235


    Skills: Ranged 2, Firearms 2, Archery 1, Melee 2, Perception 2, Evasion 1, Arcana 7, Nature 5, Physics 4, Mathematics 5, Religion 2, Tactics 3, Technology 2, Chemistry 3, Planes 3, Handle Animal 2, Empathy 2Drive 3, Computers 3, Cooking 3, Sewing 2, Leatherwork 1, Drawing 2, Carving 2,


    Traits: Perfect Recall, Free Multiclassing, Party Leader, Reality Weaver,


    Language: English, Spanish, Portuguese,


    Magic: Arcane Might 2,Space 2, Fate 1, Life 1, Death 1, Mind 1, Primal 1, Soul 0, Planar 0, Time , Manipulation 1, Telekinetic 0, Fire 2, Lightning 2, Light 1, Darkness 0,


    ]


    Well, not that neat but workable. ¡°Still improving on the concept, I guess?¡±


    [Affirmative]


    ¡°What¡¯s with the ¡®???¡¯?¡±


    [We lack an identification.]


    ¡°You should get one at some point. What are these EP and SP? And why are there spheres with values of 0 while other spheres that I know exist are not displayed?¡±


    [EP are points? spent to improve your base body, or bloodline abilities. After a body is fully matured EP can no longer be used on the body itself. SP are spent on things other than your base body. Spheres of your magic are displayed based on proficiency, a 0 means you arenot completely oblivious to the concept.]


    ¡°Explain.¡±


    [Example: Magnetism, you know of its existence but are oblivious to any way to warp it with your power. Darkness, you are aware enough to affect it via light though not directly. You are closer to being able to manipulate Darkness than Magnetism.]


    ¡°How do I spend EP and SP?¡±


    [Asking]


    I slap my forehead, of course everything works here by questions.


    ¡°What am I able to buy with my current EP?¡±


    [ Keen Senses (-15EP) : Augments your awareness to your senses, more likely to notice a sensation without active effort.]


    ¡°And what are other options not yet available?¡±


    [Barring abilities that are not viable:


    Darkvision 30 Infravision 30 Keen Senses 15


    BlindSense 50 ManaSight 75 Echolocation 40


    []Sense 45


    Inc STAT (+2) 10M [Elem] Infusion 50 [Elem] Touched 50


    Draconic <x> 75 Winged 75 []Breathing 50


    Demonic 75 Celestial 75 Scales 30


    AltForm 100 BreathWeap 50 Mana Infusion 75


    Mana Touched 100 [Special] Infusion 75 [Special] Touched 75


    Basic descriptions sent to your memory.]


    A twinge of pain in my mind as I now know what these powers entail, I defiantly want to wait.


    ¡°And what of SP, what are the costs of things with it?¡±


    [To purchase something, a basic formula is followed:


    Skill Costs: Lang 30, normal 2<sup>R</sup>*3 STAT: 2<sup>R</sup>*10


    School Cost: 20*R


    Sphere Cost: 5*2<sup>R+X</sup>, X is a modifier based on sphere difficulty. Arcane Power costs: 10*2<sup>R</sup>


    ]


    ¡°I want to purchase an increase to my Arcane Power, and Sphere: Life.¡±


    [Purchase: Life 2 (-80SP), Arcane Power 3 (-80SP)]


    A flood of information about how to manipulate reality enters my mind. Understanding dawns on me over a variety of things that I should be able to manipulate now. My head throbs as the understanding grow deeper, and I feel my power rise. This place is great, I feel as though I was able to spend months focused on studying in but a moment.


    [Safety Protocol: Approaching Enemies: Ejecting Adrian Ravnos


    Please survive, we are also removing the restriction on the number of visits one can have in their sleep within 24 hours.]


    The grey void slips away from my vision.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes and bolt upright, the breaking of glass echoes through the empty store. Bryan rushes over to Jason as Abagail is already awake. Jason has several cans of beer around him, I think he passed out since he is on the bare floor.


    I grab the rifle I left to the side of my bedding, as I get up and move to where I can see the windowed section of the store. Having arrived I see humanoids about the size of the red goblins that were outside the store entering through the now broken windows. It¡¯s too dark for me to tell exactly what they are. Abagail moves over to a breaker box and looks at me while pointing to the lights above our heads. I nod and she flips the beaker switch lights turning on throughout the store.


    My eyes quickly adjust, the creatures are more of the red midget goblinoids. They are hissing at the lights, so they have overly sensitive eyes. Good, that means that we have an advantage in well-lit areas. Bryan gives up on waking Jason, grabs a rifle and a few magazines taking a position to get a different angle than me.


    I look downthe sight on the rifle, and begin to aim into the confused crowd of goblins. I fire and one of them now has a hole through its head. I tilt the gun now aiming at another and get another easy kill as the goblins are adjusting to the light. I hear Bryan taking shots to my right, and someone else firing to my left; it has to be Abagail. I hope we manage to pick these creatures off before they get close to us. We don¡¯t have enough people awake to defend those passed out.

 Chapter 006

    Magic can be performed in a variety of ways, we twist reality but others utilize some form of energy to use their abilities. Yes, we can do more than they in a day but they find it easy to do some of the things we struggle to learn. A wizard or sorcerer can divine the answer to a question far easier than us. Everything has its own advantages or it would have ceased to exist long ago. ¨C Introduction from Magi Sects and Practices.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The three of us are able to take out the first wave of these goblins before they finish adjusting to the higher level of light within the building. Abagail is a bad shot but still better than nothing. There are still goblins rushing in from the broken windows, they are looking around and spreading out. After around forty enter through the windows the stream of the creatures stopped. Well, there is only twenty of them still alive in the building, too many for melee, there is also noise coming in from outside of the store.


    There are no goblins in my sight at the moment and I can see the only two paths that they could use to reach me. Time to try out some of the concepts that that dream realm showed me. Will they even work? I am familiar enough about my own body to heal myself, so I¡¯ll focus on that. I look at the minor burns on my side from the fight with that goblin sorcerer from yesterday focusing on what they are supposed to be, rejecting what is there and guiding my body to not be injured.


    The burns slowly fade as I feel what is real shift. I cover the healed burn with my shirt, I should be injured but I¡¯m not anymore. I know that if those around me reject this change reality will backlash against me. Mabey, I can play this off as magic, if others think that this is the effect of a spell then there will not be a schism between what I made real and what they¡¯ll accept.


    The sorcerer from before used magic, so it is a thing that others will experience and accept. I see five of the goblins moving into the hallway that lead into the camping section. I take out one of them, Bryan takes another out but the three remaining are now up against the barricade we set up. Great, using our cover against us.


    I turn to look at the stairs from the entrance to the food court, ten of the goblins are rushing up it. I manage to kill one of them with the two shots that I get off before they leave my sight.


    ¡°They¡¯ve reached to food court. Keep them pinned here. Abagail, help Bryan and take any shots you can at the few that haven¡¯t made it to the food court.¡±


    They nod as I leave the rifle against the railing, it¡¯ll be too bulky to work in the closer quarters of the food court. Hopefully they will not all be able to rush me at once. As I run to the food court, Bryan snipes one of the goblins as it tried to climb the wall we built. I pass by Jason as I run, he is still out, useless.


    I arrive at the food court. The small burger store with a large counter for the customers to sit and watch as their food is prepared, a dozen goblins are searching the place, they can probably smell the meat in the unpowered fridges. Good, they are distracted. I take aim with one of my pistols, I attached a suppressor to one of them. Lets see how many I pick off before they notice me.


    None of them are looking at the corner of the room that connect to the balcony above the camping section, I see one of them licking the grill where we cooked a few hours ago, is it trying to lick up the grease? Whatever, it''s alone so I should be able to take it out without alerting the others. I fire and its brain spills out onto the grill, but the bullet ricochets off the metal plate causing it to ring loudly, louder than the noise of its raiding kin.


    So much for getting a bunch of sneak attacks. A few of the goblins rush over to the counter, they start looking around for what happened, talking in their tongue to each other. I fire again, taking out a second goblin, I hit its neck. Wasn¡¯t what I was aiming for, but still a kill. The goblins take cover, they recognized the direction of the attack even though they haven¡¯t noticed me.


    Several more of the goblins rush out to see what is going on, I take another shot. This one misses, the goblin changed directions as I pulled the trigger. It shouts out and points to the corner, they noticed me. Ten goblins, I take another shot and this time put a hole in the chest of the goblin I missed before, it colapses to the ground spitting up blood.


    Nine goblins, twelve bullets. The goblins look out from behind the little cover they have and see me. Their eyes reflecting some of the light from the lights in the ceiling. Cat like eyes, they probably see in black and white. Not the time to be distracted I shoot at a goblin that stepped out of the employee¡¯s entrance to the storage of the restaurant. A hole appears in its chest, not a kill shot but that¡¯ll incapacitate, I¡¯ll finish him afterwards.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    The remaining eight goblins, begin to rush at me. I fire again hitting one of their shoulders before I back up away from the door. I manage to get about a dozen feet back from the door before the goblins open the door in a rush to charge at me.


    I get a free shot at the first through the door. A choke point, but they flood in too fast for me to get all of them before they reach me. I manage to kill or incapacitate four of the seven left before they reach me, expending another seven bullets.


    Three bullets, three goblins, but they are in melee and have knives and clubs. I attempt to side step the first swing of a knife against me, I manage to dodge it but step right into a slash from the goblin on my left, the blade cuts into my belt. It didn¡¯t manage to break my skin. The club impacts against my back, knocking me forward to keep my balance.


    I grab the knife strapped to my right side, as I take aim at the goblin who I dodged. The shot misses as my arm gets struck by the club wielding goblin. The knife wielding goblins moves inside the reach of my pistol.


    They are now too close for me to shoot, I stab the goblin on my left with the combat knife I am now holding, it screeches and drops its weapon. The other knife wielding midget shanks me in the gut. I yell out in pain, the bastard wants to disembowel me.


    I drop the pistol in my right hand bringing it down to keep this thing from causing more damage, my left also reacts to my pain ripping the blade through a chunk of the goblins neck.


    That goblin collapses as its blood sprays over myself and the two other monsters. I hold the knife in my gut as the goblin who wields it tries to twist it, he manages to move it some and blood begins to spill out of my belly. I feel another impact against my back, I stab the blade in my left hand into the goblin in front of me.


    It cries out in pain and abandons its attacks against me. I leave the blade in its gut, moving my left hand to hold my bowels in as I remove the knife. My flesh rips a bit as I remove the blade, I hear the goblin behind me start to cower. Does it think that cowering will save its life? I draw the pistol that still hangs on what is left of my belt and turn to the creature.


    It keeps cowering squealing, and whimpering. I shoot the thing in its head, and turn to do the same to the goblin trying to pull the knife out of its side but keeps stopping as it winces in pain. Once the creature is dead I lean up against the wall slowly lowering myself down to floor. The hole in my skin leaking red and black fluid. The knife must have cut into my lower intestine. I¡¯ve lost a lot of blood my head getting light, I have to fix this before I pass out or I¡¯ll die.


    Focus, just like curing the burns earlier. I need to be as I was before the cut. I don¡¯t know as much about how my insides should look, even so the blood slows to a trickle and the skin closes. I still feel pain within my gut, so I keep focusing on my injuries being healed. I stay focusing for several minutes until I hear the door to the food court open as two more goblins rush towards me. More must have gotten up the stairs.


    I manage to shoot one of them twice in the chest, as I still feel weak and light headed from the near disembowelment. The other, a spear wielder manages to pierce my shoulder. I turn the gun up into his chest and fire twice. It slumps down and I push him off me, the spear stays having entered a few inches and is caught on my collarbone. It won¡¯t bleed much until I pull it out, I¡¯ll finish fixing my gut first.


    After a few more minutes my gut no longer is a ball of pain, it''s fixed. Now for the spear, how can I pull this out? I don¡¯t have the leverage, and if I lose more blood I¡¯ll probably pass out. Remove the spear without tearing the blood vessels in my left shoulder. As the spear has a barbed head, I¡¯ll have to remove it with Translocation Grasp, but it¡¯s too large. I¡¯ve only ever moved something the size of a cat or smaller. I¡¯ll have to cut most the shaft away first.


    Cutting with the knife or sawing will stir up the wound, that¡¯ll cause a lot of bleeding. I have no brace or leverage to snap the wood. Fire maybe? I hold the spear still with my left hand and hold my palm open about six inches above my wound.


    A flame appears in my right hand as I will it into being, it comes easier than the last time I called fire into being. The wood of the spear begins to char, I need to keep it steady until I burn through the shaft. After another minute or two the spear breaks off under its own weight and I stop maintaining the flame. Now for the dangerous part; I take a few breaths to calm myself before continuing.


    I hear something making heavy steps on the other side of the door, no time to finish. I have fourteen shots in the pistol within reach. I pick it up as the door opens, a two-meter-tall version of the goblins opened it. It is wearing leather held together by bits of bone, a crude axe in his hand. He looks straight at me and laughs, probably thinks I¡¯m easy pickings. I probably am, but he has to get to me first.


    The first shot from the pistol hits his chest, blood starts to spill out of the hole, and the creature grunts in pain as it begins to move towards me. I fire the gun as fast as I can, I put four more holes into him before he finally falls to the ground gurgling blood from punctured lungs. My heart beat begins to slow down, the danger having passed.


    Larger than human sized goblinoid, greenish skin with a pronounced forehead and jaw. Probably an orc of some sort, but I thought that orcs are should have tusks coming out of the lower jaw. I need to get ready to move, if there are orcs leading these goblins it¡¯s going to be rough. I set down the pistol and grasp the air in front of me, visualizing the piece of the spear from my shoulder. The spear vanishes from my shoulder and appears half way between where it was and my hand.


    Not what I was trying to do, but close enough. Now to focus on healing before I pass out. The injury begins to slowly by visibly close, a minute later my shoulder is unhurt. I reload the magazines of the two pistols quickly, I can still hear Bryan and Abagail shooting. Hopefully that wall held.

 Chapter 007

    There is only a single magic that is always a bad decision, demonology. A demon has only one goal to consume everything that is not itself. If they cannot consume somthing then they will taint it so that it will become a demon. There is no way to fully control them. This is the magic that forced us to throw the other mage sects out of the world. It offers power but will also destroy you and turn you into a fallen being trying to destroy all. - An excerpt from the journal of an unkown mage.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I stand up and move to the door, maybe I can flank those that the others can¡¯t get a shot at. After opening the door, I proceed to look over the entrance to the store, the front door has been broken down. Outside there are a few dozen of the orcs? fighting with some other group. There are about twice as many bulky taller figures than the other thinner group. The interior of the store itself is clear, should I enter the fight outside? I¡¯ll turn on the outside lights to see who is fighting before deciding.


    I rush down the stairs, and quickly arrive at the switches near the front door. I¡¯m not sure which of these is it so I just start flipping them all onto the on position. The exterior light at the entrance and parking lot turn on, there are about two dozen orcs fighting some thin, fair skinned, humanoids. Dozens of dead orc and some of the humanoids littered across the parking lot turned battlefield.


    The frail looking humanoids are moving quickly but only getting glancing blows against the orcs. I see an orc manage to cleave through one of the humans. I glance at Bryan, he¡¯s keeping a watch over several of the windows, but doesn¡¯t have a shot at anything. I move to take cover behind a broken window.


    I now have a clear view of the fight outside, there are four people still fighting the orcs. They are dodging the attacks from the orcs while trying to get glancing blows against their foes. They are too outnumbered to win, surrounded by multiple orcs each. Should I get involved or wait for them to come to us? It''s better tojoin now and have help than wait for the orcs to engage us after finishing off the other group.


    I take aim at one of the larger orcs, I have thirty shots loaded, and a loaded magazine with me; these orcs are a bit bigger than the one I fought. If they are just as hardy I can¡¯t waste any shots.


    My shot gets him in the chest. He is moving too much for me to get a headshot, and unless I get a few holes in each of them I don¡¯t think that it¡¯ll kill one. The orc looks shocked at the injury that appeared in its chest. Since it stopped moving I fire another putting a hole in the other side of its chest, I think both of its lungs are now punctured. The other orcs don¡¯t seem to notice my interference, those humans however seem to be talking to each other as they keep dodging.


    I change targets and repeat, two more bullets pass through the chest of my new victim. Once I do the same to a third target some of the orcs not in direct melee begin to look around. Guess I don¡¯t get too many more easy hits. I probably shouldn¡¯t take out one of the ones looking around, that¡¯ll point them to me. One of the orcs isn¡¯t walking, just turning its head. I can probably kill that one.


    The next bullet enters its skull, their bones aren¡¯t thick enough to stop it. That orc collapses, little more than a vegetable now. The tallest of the humans skewers one after the orc I shot earlier collapses drowning in his own blood. The orc next to the one I just shot notices me, he points me out to three others who are not currently in melee with the other humans.


    The four of them begin to move towards me, eight bullets left in this gun, not enough to kill them unless I get lucky. No point in waiting until they get closer, I send three bullets at the orc who noticed and pointed me out. All three enter his chest, he is still moving towards me but is now spitting up some blood, I can write him off.


    The other three are now forty feet away. I manage to get three more shots into another before they managed to reach the window, two were chest shots and the last took out a knee. That orc collapsed to the ground.


    The remaining two jump through the window as I rapidly back up. Two shots left in this gun, I unload them into the orc on my right, having a slightly easier shot from how I am holding the gun. The top of the pistol does not move back into the ready position.


    What is that piece called? Not the time to think, the two shots were to its chest but both were on its right side. He¡¯ll bleed out but it¡¯ll take a while. The orc on my left wields a longsword, rusted but lethal. I manage to sidestep the first swing of his weapon.


    The orc on my left moves to flank me, but is moving slower than his companion. I notice the first orc of these four get caught on the window as it tried to jump it, he hit the floor and isn¡¯t moving. I have a few seconds before I¡¯m flanked. The orc has longer legs, running to gain distance will let him chase and cut me down. I drop the empty pistol and draw one of the knives, I¡¯ll have to get inside the reach of his blade.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    I hesitate too long, on thinking of how to survive, I feel a club come down on my left arm. A crack of bones breaking, a flare of pain comes from my left arm then it goes limp. I can¡¯t feel it, I¡¯m either in shock or a nerve was severed. My throat hurts, I must have screamed. The sword orc in front of me is swinging from the side trying to decapitate me, a high blow easy to dodge, I duck and take a step forward, I¡¯m now inside his reach.


    I feel pressure from my left, something struck me, as I stabbed the knife into the orc¡¯s upper left breast. Let¡¯s see if their hearts are near where they are in humans. I focus and will electricity to the blade. The orc starts to have a seizure, before collapsing onto the ground taking my knife with it. Its unconscious or dead. I hear its sword fall to the ground, I turn my head sidestepping a club as I pick it up. I see my left arm has a gash across the bicep, its bleeding but not too much.


    I hear a gunshot and the orc falls forwards; Bryan killed it. Or maybe Abagail? I drop the sword, don¡¯t need that since there isn¡¯t an orc next to me. I draw the other pistol, no way to reload without fixing my arm first. Turning back to the fight outside there is now only three of the humans alive, thirteen orcs fighting with them. None of the thirteen have bullet holes in them, the few I shot before must have fallen and now are part of the dozens of dead bodies out there.


    I focus on stemming the bleeding while taking aim at one of the orcs. One of them that is going five on one against the tallest of the humans. The cloaks of the humans are now tattered, I can see blood over their armor, the three still alive have bulges at the top of their chests.


    Armor design, or females? The armor itself looks like chainmail draped over something else. I put two bullets in the chest of that orc before another got in the way taking the third bullet I shot.


    Should I injure and weaken most of the orcs or go for a kill? A dull pain begins to emerge from my broken arm, must have been nerve damage. I stop healing it, and begin to focus on spatial aim. Let¡¯s see if I can get every bullet to hit.


    I empty the rest of the magazine, three bullets in five different orcs, two of the orcs on the tallest human the other three fighting the two humans who are fighting in tandem. Lacking any ranged weapon, I lay my second empty pistol on the ground as I pick of the rusted longsword.


    It¡¯s a bit heavy and feels lopsided but I hope this will work. I quickly walk out the front entrance, and begin to focus on electricity; willing it to arc around on my blade once I get out of Bryan and Abagail¡¯s sight. I don¡¯t want any backlashes from magic in front of them.


    I walk out of the doorway and the blade begins to crackle with the lightning, I didn¡¯t think that it would make this much noise, games never depict the noise of electrified weapons to be more than a hum. Two of the orcs break away from the duo, an injured one whose eyes are bloodshot, they both are using swords of their own, even if they are blunt. Maybe they¡¯ll try to parry me and get shocked, I can¡¯t count on that though. The injured orc seems furious, far more than it should be. It''s completely ignoring the wounds it has.


    The angry orc rushes at me faster than the other, I jump to the side from his charge and extend my sword hoping for a glancing strike. It worked I hit the orc, but it didn¡¯t respond to the cut or electrical burn now on its torso. Must be some sort of barbarian rage. Disabling strikes then, luckily it''s unarmored. The orc is now a few feet behind me as the other arrives in front of me with its own charge. It made a chop at my left side, I throw my left arm up most of the strike is delfected even I hear more bones breaking.


    The orc is now too close to me to stab it so I slap its side with the flat of my blade. The orc yelps in pain taking a step back an electrical burn across his right side. The orc behind me has probably turned around, I hear its heavy steps behind me and once more jump out of the way. The angry orcs charge ends up skewering his ally. I smile, best result possible. Raging orcs can be manipulated into killing each other.


    Now I have to deal with him, he is looking confused at the corpse of the other orc. I stab with the long sword aiming for the spine. I don¡¯t manage to hit the spine but the sword is now sticking out of his front. The crackling of lightning still ongoing, I release my grip on the sword and the electricity stops. Still the orc falls to the ground, I turn to look at the others fighting.


    The tallest of the humans has slain the orcs with which it was fighting and has moved on to the other two. There are now four orcs left, I¡¯m breathing heavily. I draw the second knife that I carry and get ready to throw it, I managed to hit the orc I aimed at just not with the bladed edge. It turns and snarls at me. I hear a gunshot from behind me and one of the orcs gains a new hole in its chest. Bryan or Abagail must have moved forward.


    A second shot rings out and I lean against my knees to catch my breath. An orc falls from the gunshot and another gets decapitated by one of the human fighters. The last one begins to run away but also get shot then finished off by one of the three humans. I stand back up.


    ¡°Are you friend or foe?¡±


    ¡°Amin naa talia ya naa lle?¡± speaks one of the shorter people while removing a helmet; revealing an effeminate face and pointed ears poking out of red hair. Feminine voice, they should all be female then. I smile at the trio.


    ¡°I don¡¯t speak your language. But your clearly friendly.¡±


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    The young male in front of me stands, his speach not understood. His physique not one that I would call a warrior but one who could become one. Tall for a youth not of the packs with dark hair and some shade of brown in his eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think this man is hostile.¡±


    ¡°He is clearly a mage of some sort, the strange wand he used early created small but effective injuries from a distance¡± responds Talia.


    ¡°His sword work is poor.¡±


    ¡°He is dressed as the other natives we saw dying to orcs earlier.¡±


    "Do we have any means to comunicate with him?"


    ¡°I have enough mana for a translation spell, but I won¡¯t have anything left afterwards¡± adds Lysan.


    ¡°Do it, target the man so we can all hear him¡± responds Talia.

 Chapter 008

    There is always another way to get somthing done. Its just that you may only be able to do one of them. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After conversing with each other in their language the other two remove their helmets. Another pointed ear effeminate face with red hair, identical to the first¡¯s. Definitely related, the other has the face of a young woman. No odd characteristics that hint at her being anything other than human, save for her silver hair. All three have relatively short hair, probably to keep it from getting caught on the helmet. As they speak to each other I heal the cuts on my left arm, fixing the bones will have to be later. Can I even heal the broken bones? I¡¯ll probably need to have someone set the bones for me first.


    One of the shorter two walks closer to me and pulls out a necklace with a symbol of a tree on it; breaking my train of thought. She begins to chant something in their tongue. After a few seconds, she stops and begins to speak.


    ¡°I am Lysan, can you understand me?¡±


    ¡°I can now, I assume that we won¡¯t need to fight.¡±


    ¡°Unless you give us a reason to. I am Kythia, Talia is the one who greeted you at the end of the fight with the tainted¡± answers the tallest of the three.


    ¡°I am Adrian. You are not from Earth. I guess you are from the same place as these orcs?¡±


    The three of them all grab their weapons. ¡°Retract you insult, or die¡± they say in unison. Shit.


    ¡°I mean no offense, neither you nor they or even anything that has happened in the last half a day should be here. I just want to piece together what is happening. These creatures never walked this world as far as I know. Anyway, how about we move into the building behind me, and turn off these lights; I think that light will draw more to us at night.¡±


    I turn around and begin to walk to the entrance of the store, after I take a few steps I turn back as the three had not begun to follow. ¡°Are you coming?¡±


    ¡°Are you offering hospitality?¡± asks the tallest of the three, what was her name? It started with a k, Kithix? No, that¡¯s not it. At least the other two had names that are easier to remember.


    ¡°Sure, some food and a place to sleep for the night. You¡¯ll have to help with the watch shifts though.¡±


    The three of them look at each other for a moment before nodding to each other. They then speak in unison once more. ¡°We graciously accept you offer of hospitality Lord Adrian.¡± They then start to follow behind me to the entrance of Outdoor World. Well, they come from somewhere with a feudalist or nobility system.


    ¡°How long will the spell that is allowing us to communicate last?¡±


    ¡°The duration is about an hour for me¡± answers Talia? No, Talia has the sword. Lysan was the one without a blade.


    ¡°Do any of you know why these creatures are rampaging?¡±


    ¡°They are demon tainted. They always are trying to kill anything that is not them. How do you not know this?¡± answers Talia.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen or heard of one actually existing before today.¡±


    Bryan interrupts the conversation ¡°how do you understand them? If they are friendly Tomas is going to freak out once he wakes up.¡±


    I point at Lysan, ¡°she cast some form of magic. I¡¯ll be able to understand them for about an hour.¡±


    ¡°As much as I want to talk, its past midnight and I don¡¯t want to be too tired if another attack happens in the morning.¡±


    Abagail adds in ¡°I¡¯ll lay out some more sleeping bags before resting. Am I going to get stuck with Jason¡¯s watch since he drank untill he passed out?¡±


    ¡°Probably, we¡¯ll have to have a discussion about that bad decision of his later.¡±


    Abagail then turns around and heads towards the camping section. I turn off the exterior and most of the interior lights before I lead the trio to the food court and turn on one of the grills I didn¡¯t spill goblin guts all over. As the grill heats up I start to drag the goblin bodies away from the food.


    ¡°This does not seem to be a home. Is this a market place of some sort?¡± asks Karen? No still not the right name.


    ¡°It¡¯s a store, I don¡¯t own it but I think the owner will have died from these attacks. Will meat and bread be an acceptable meal for the three of you?¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°The twins would prefer more bread and vegetables but they¡¯ll have to deal with it.¡±


    ¡°What spell did that wand of yours use to injure the tainted?¡± asks Lysan.


    ¡°What wand?¡±


    ¡°The metal thing you kept pointing at the tainted.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a weapon not a wand, there is no magic to it.¡±


    ¡°No, that has to have magic. There is no way for it to be just a weapon.¡±


    ¡°There is no magic to the weapon itself, how can I explain it? Think of it as a smaller crossbow that shoots tiny bolts faster than sound.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡±


    ¡°I show you three how tomorrow then. Can any of you help me with my arm?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a healer, but I¡¯m out of mana and am not strong enough to mend bone.¡±


    ¡°No I mean to set the bones in place. I don¡¯t want to heal them crooked.¡±


    Kaitlyn, no that wasn¡¯t it either, walks over to me. ¡°I can set the bone, but you can heal broken bones? How then did these tainted manage to hurt you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t actually know if I can repair my bones. Also, I only know enough to heal myself, I don¡¯t know how to heal others.¡±


    She spends the next few minutes setting my arm. I then start focusing on fixing the damage, the pain slowly increases in my arm as the nerves begin to respond again. After about five minutes the pain subsides and I can freely move my arm again.


    ¡°Looks like it worked.¡± I begin to cook a few burgers, I put four on the grill as I feel hungry myself. A side effect of self-healing? I have been just accelerating the regenerative process the body naturally goes through, so maybe.


    ¡°How did you do that without a chant or foci?¡± asks Lysan.


    ¡°Those just make magic easier, I think they just help you focus and less likely to botch.¡±


    ¡°But healing can only be done by the gods, and they demand you present their symbol to do so.¡±


    ¡°Why, could a mage not draw positive energy and transplant it into the injured? Or how about transmutation to seal a wound and shape body back to its proper condition? You could also invert blood magic to turn mana to life force and then inject it.¡±


    Katherin, nope that wasn¡¯t it either, looks at me with great interest. ¡°Explain the blood magic one further, transmutation fades over time and calling positive energy lacks a place to call it from.¡±


    ¡°I only know the theory behind most magic so I can¡¯t demonstrate. But the idea behind blood magic is to draw life force out of blood and then convert that to mana. While just running the conversion process backwards probably will not work there should be a way to get that working. I assume that a necromancer could figure out the how as they specialize in manipulating life and death, then replace the mana to negative energy conversion in something like Negative EnergyBurst with this mana to life force and it should then heal.¡±


    ¡°Your idea seems solid if one could invert blood magic. You say you don¡¯t know blood magic so how did you heal yourself?¡±


    ¡°Accelerating the natural healing process.¡± The patties on the grill need flipped, I do that. ¡°Do any of you know why you are now here?¡±


    The three look at each other before Lysan speaks up. ¡°All we know is that the leaders of some of the kingdoms decided to try an inverted summoning. I think they were trying to escape from the tainted but ended up casting something else. I think everyone was pulled in behind them. We were traveling back from fighting in the army when everything went blurry for a while. Then we found ourselves surrounded by these weird buildings. A while after high noon till now has been skirmishes with tainted.¡±


    ¡°You keep referencing these tainted, what do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°The tainted are those who have either inherited the demonic taint from their ancestors, or have accepted the demons into themselves.¡±


    ¡°And what does the taint do?¡±


    ¡°It twists and mutates the mind and body of the infected. The green skinned orcs outside are an example of one of the things that the taint can twist a man into. Though they are the result of offspring of their tainted ancestor. They have no humanity, they are no longer people but monsters.¡±


    ¡°And this demonic influence comes from a different world than your own?¡±


    ¡°Yes, centuries ago three of the kingdoms of our world fought to rule over each other. It became a war of annihilation, all three of them turned to demonology to survive and strike against each other. In the end the demons had tainted the rulers of all three kingdoms turning them into puppets. Their puppets manipulated all three kingdoms into performing the same ritual, a sacrifice of most of their bodies and souls to possession to smite and destroy any who were not themselves.


    With this the demons, had invaded being hired to consume the world as they wished. The tainted reproduce and grow faster than those who are not.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing there was not much left of civilization.¡±


    ¡°There wasn¡¯t the strong rule as dictators, and each day the hordes of the tainted grow as our own weaken.¡±


    I assemble some burgers with the now cooked meat before passing one to each of the girls. ¡°I suppose that is most of what you know is going on?¡±


    ¡°That is all that we are sure of¡± answers Talia.


    At this point I hear a gunshot, I get up and run over to the camping section. I see Abagail holding a pistol standing near a still bleeding goblin corpse. Tomas is covered in blood, I rush to see to his wounds.


    ¡°He¡¯s dead, I found this thing slitting his throat.¡±


    A check his pulse, nothing. He isn¡¯t breathing and it looks like someone sawed at his neck. Tears form in my eyes. Why, did this have to happen. I can ignore the death of those I don¡¯t know, those I don¡¯t care to know. Why is it that my friend had to die? After a few moments, I hear another gunshot, Abagail is still in sight. Bryan must be looking for any more sneaking bastards.


    Whatever, he can handle any stragglers left. How can I see to Tomas¡¯s burial? Cry and think, that is what my watch will be tonight. The trio of guests, walks over Kyle, no still wrong, speaks something but I wasn¡¯t paying much attention.


    ¡°My friend just died, I¡¯m no longer in the mood to talk. You can choose any sleeping bag to use for the night.¡±


    ¡°Sleeping bag?¡±


    ¡°The bulky cloth tube things.¡±


    They leave, and I return to my solemn sitting. Bryan and Abagail sat nearby for a while before drifting off to sleep. Dam this bullshit, all fun and games till my friend dies over it.

 Chapter 009

    What is real? Is reality only my perception? If I do not know something does it still exist? - Questions that cannot be answered without assuming the answer


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    One can only cry so much, my friend is dead because I went to help fight. If I had stayed near the food court I would have caught the two goblins that snuck through. Some leader I am, getting my friends killed just so I could fight some of these smelly bastards. Maybe this is why people drink when their life sucks. Alcohol makes you not care, that won¡¯t help though.


    My tears have dried, I have no more tears left today. I¡¯ll spend tomorrow digging a hole for Tomas, the yard of some house nearby will have to do. I¡¯m going to kill any thing that threatens my friends, I¡¯m not going to let another die.


    After a while Abagail walks up and stands overlooking the entrance to the store. Its been a few hours I guess my watch is over. I walk over to where the sleeping bags have been laid down, I see Jason roll over on the floor. Worthless bastard, if he was awake he could have guarded the food court when I fought outside.


    After a few minutes my fatigue claims me and I drift to sleep.


    <hr>


    I am in a grey void again. This dream space thing again.


    ¡°Show me a character sheet of myself.¡± I may as well see if anything changed. Nothing happens, why didn¡¯t that work? It worked last time, speak to converse.


    A thought pops into my mind, this void resets to a default each time. That¡¯s stupid it should hold whatever settings you left it on. Lets see, it can only hear questions in my thoughts. Will you resume the settings present at the end of my last visit here?


    [Yes]


    ¡°Great show me the character sheet of myself again, display any changes that occurred separately.¡±


    [Gain: Fight 5 (+25SP, +1 Attribute), DK: V 3 (+10SP, +50EP), Evasion 2 (+2SP), Sword 1 (+1SP), Dagger 1 (+1SP), Kill: Multiple Tainted Creature (+15EP)]


    [


    Adrian Human male, STR 14 DEX 17, CON 13, INT 18, WIS 17, CHA 15, APR 16


    Class: Fight 5, Magus 2, DK: V 3,  STAT (+1)


    Age 17 HP: 106 MP: 18           EP70 SP114


    Skills: Ranged 2, Firearms 2, Archery 1, Melee 2, Sword 1, Dagger 1,


    Perception 2, Evasion 2


    Arcana 7, Nature 5, Physics 4, Mathematics 5, Religion 2, Tactics 3, Technology 2, Chemistry 3, Planes 3,


    Handle Animal 2, Empathy 2


    Drive 3, Computers 3,


    Cooking 3, Sewing 2, Leatherwork 1, Drawing 2, Carving 2,


    Traits: Perfect Recall, Free Multiclassing, Party Leader, Reality Weaver,


    Language: English, Spanish, Portuguese,


    Magic: Arcane Might 3,


    Space 2, Fate 1, Life 2, Death 1, Mind 1, Primal 1, Soul 0, Planar 0, Time 1


    Matter: Manipulation 1, Telekinetic 0 Energy: Fire 2, Lightning 2, Light 1, Darkness 0,


    ]


    Well, the sheet is somewhat better. I need to learn to heal more but that¡¯ll cost too much. I gained the fighter class? I feel the answer of yes pop into my mind. Stupid realm, answering rhetorical questions.


    ¡°What is DK:V?¡±


    [Dragon Knight Void variant.]


    ¡°Why do I have that?¡±


    [One of your ancestors was one. The class is hereditary.]


    ¡°What is it about?¡±


    [Waking up the power of the dragon inside of you.]


    ¡°Which entails?¡±


    [You will become more draconicuntil you awaken the ability to shift between the two forms.]


    That sounds good, void dragon. I haven¡¯t read about those in any of my games or books.


    ¡°I assume Magus is the type of mage I am.¡±


    [No, but it is the closest to what you are. We do not know a better name to call it.]


    ¡°Show me what I can afford with my EP¡±


    [


    Darkvision 30 Infravision 30 Keen Senses 15


    BlindSense 50 ManaSight 75 Echolocation 40This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    []Sense 45


    Inc STAT (+2) 10M [Elem] Infusion 50 [Elem] Touched 50


    Draconic <x> 75 Winged 75 []Breathing 50


    Demonic 75 Celestial 75 Scales 30


    BreathWeap 50 Mana Infusion 75


    [Special] Infusion 75 [Special] Touched 75


    ]


    ¡°I only have 70, why are you showing options that cost 75?¡±


    [Your skill in Life makes it easier for you to strengthen, you do not need to pay the full cost.]


    ¡°How much is this discount?¡±


    [You are about 5% easier to change.]


    ¡°I am assuming that I need to take draconic choses to continue in the Dragon Knight stuff.¡±


    [Affirmative]


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the Draconic option.¡±


    [You only have the option of void, as you are already part of that lineage. Are you ok with that?]


    ¡°Sure¡± even if I¡¯ve never heard of them I doubt that any dragon type is overly weak. Well except for maybe white. ¡°What do the different types change?¡±


    [The secondary abilities that will become available afterwards. It also affects the restrictions on other paths that could have been taken.]


    Ok, makes sense. I guess then red dragons couldn¡¯t grab some sort of cold option. What is the opposite of void? Hmm, no answer appeared whatever this realm is does not know. I don¡¯t have enough SP to raise Life further. So, I can¡¯t advance healing further, what should I get?


    [Gaining a language is always good. If you are struggling in a fight perhaps a combat skill with a weapon or Death.]


    ¡°What is the language those three were speaking to me in?¡±


    [Elvish]


    ¡°I¡¯ll take Elvish and . . . Death then¡±


    [What aspect do you want to use the Attributepoint?]


    ¡°Constitution¡±


    [There is no more we can help you with. We will stay connected to assimilate knowledge as you dream.]


    The grey void blurs, how can it do that? There aren¡¯t any objects to blur. I fall unconscious.


    <hr>


    I find myself sitting in a chair. How did I get here? I try to get up but I¡¯m tied to the chair? No there are no ropes I look down; my left leg is broken. When did that happen? The room brightens, it¡¯s a stone cellar.


    A door opens behind me. Someone walks in.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Adrian, I saved everyone¡¯s lives.¡±


    I recognize that voice, ¡°Tomas?¡±


    ¡°Yes, what were you thinking trying to blow up cars in the middle of the street! Do you even know what is going on?¡±


    ¡°Monsters, goblins showed up at school. We had to kill them to live. Then that giant . . .¡±


    ¡°Dammit Adrian, stop acting nuts. You know better than that. The only reason why you¡¯re here is that I can¡¯t believe that you killed so many people at school.¡±


    ¡°What I didn¡¯t kill anyone at school. I killed some goblins, the goblins killed others.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you think elementary students are now? Goblins? Those aren¡¯t real! Dammit you really did fry you mind with games didn¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not crazy. I¡¯ve always known some magic grandpa taught me.¡±


    ¡°Not again, no you don¡¯t know magic. Your grandpa¡¯s a drug addict remember. Cut this bushtit and accept what is really happening.¡±


    Am I mad? No, my thoughts are still clear. The decisions I mad had to be made.


    ¡°You don¡¯t think that goblins and orcs walking around is being crazy?¡±


    That does seem to be a good point. Why did I accept the goblins charging into the school as real? Is magic just a hallucination from my grandpa¡¯s pipe? No, magic is how I go the gun past the metal detectors. It has to be real, but does that mean the rest of what is going on is real?


    ¡°Finally thinking about whether you are sane or not? Good, maybe now you can tell me what happened. Everyone at the school that was there today was shot. Cameras show you walking around with a drawn gun in the building. What happened?¡±


    ¡°Midgets attacked, they started to kill people.¡±


    ¡°The only corpses of midgets there were elementary students. That can¡¯t be true.¡±


    ¡°I saw midgets attacking, I defended myself from them. Then I left, with you Bryan, Abagail and some jock. There was someone in the streets smashing cars, he charged at us so I blew up our cars to kill him. How come you don¡¯t have any burns? Or your broken leg?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t there, you ran your car into a dump truck and then started shooting at the two. You got caught in the explosion. Also, Bryan and I were sick that day, we weren¡¯t there.¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t be right Bryan¡¯s car broke the giant¡¯s leg. That how I got it caught in the explosion.¡±


    ¡°Dammit you are mad. I kept telling the cops there is no way you could have done those things. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    A light turns on inside one of the walls, no a room on the other side of a wall. I can now see two men, a cop and a man in a suit looking into this room. I¡¯m in a police interrogation room? How did this happen? Did I go nuts, grandpa said that magic can make you go crazy? Or is this all a trip gone terribly bad? No, I¡¯ve never taken any drugs. Grandpa smokes, but I stay away when he does that.


    The door opens again, an officer walks in. ¡°Adrian Ravnos, you are being charged with four hundred and seventy five counts of murder.¡± The officer uncuffs my legs from the chair. They weren¡¯t broken? They were cuffed, how did I not know the difference? I am cuffed and dragged out of the room and thrown into a jail cell.


    ¡°In a few hours you will be brought before a judge, and tried for your murders.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m entitled to a lawyer. I want to see one.¡±


    ¡°Every lawyer in town knew some of the children you murdered. They all refused, while you were unconscious some judges decided that you would have to be tried without one.¡±


    That can¡¯t be true, and even if it were one would come in from out of town.


    ¡°Then I want to talk with my parents.¡±


    ¡°They were found dead at home, you shot them.¡±


    ¡°No, I refuse to accept this. Would never kill someone that I cared about.¡±


    ¡°Tell that to the jury later today then.¡±


    The officer then leaves. This cannot be real, the only way I can get a gun into school would be via magic. So, magic is real. Were the midgets goblins or children? Does that mean the orcs were adults? Did I kill hundreds of people? Could I even kill so many?


    If the midgets were children, then why were their so many at Outdoor World? What of the trio that I helped who were already fighting the orcs? Is this a delusion? Or are the events were Tomas is now dead real? All of my friends did seem to accept the monsters at face value. Is it really plausible for that to happen?


    As I am caught in this cyclical train of thought I hear a door open, two officers walk in. They take me and I zone out caught in the scene of me morning over the death of my friend. Should I hope that happened and this is a dream or rejoice that he is alive though I am going to be judged a murderer?


    Someone asks me something but I don¡¯t respond. Once I look around I¡¯m in a court room a man is talking to a jury. An argument as to why I am guilty, something about how I didn¡¯t even bother to defend myself, overwhelming evidence of my actions, all while constantly calling me things like child killer.


    The jury get up and leaves the room, why wasn¡¯t I given a chance to defend myself. The man sitting at the table next to mine leans over.


    ¡°Thanks for making my career kid. Only prosecutor whose kid you didn¡¯t kill.¡±


    Dam, this is stupid. The law doesn¡¯t work like this, or maybe it does. I have only every seen television shows of things like this. The jury walks back in and declares my guilt to the judge. This makes no sense but neither does what else I experienced recently. What is real?

 Chapter 010

    There are many ways for reality to push back against you. I cannot name them all, it would just add a few more so I wouldn''t expect it. Remember while we are strong, reality is far stronger. A bear you do not want to wake up. -Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Lysan


    <hr>


    The man who granted us hospitality is asleep, it''s past dawn but he just keeps sleeping. I guess he doesn¡¯t want to return to the hell his world has turned into. I spoke with my sister last night after the spell to let him understand us wore off. Something doesn¡¯t add up, he said it was a weapon he used to kill the green skins, but he is clearly a mage.


    He has strange ideas about magic. Foci and chants are just aids, no that can¡¯t be right. They allow us to access the power of the divines. Well, my teacher once showed me a silent cast but explained that the chant was just in her mind rather than said aloud. Is that what he meant? Kythia is excited to try his idea for reversed blood magic and stayed up all night trying to get it to work. If he didn¡¯t heal himself in front of me without a focus, chant or even a somatic component I wouldn¡¯t even think about his theories.


    My sister is still asleep, she needs her rest, warriors have much more physical need of rest after a fight. Lord Adrian rolls over in his sleep and I hear bones popping. The woman who set out our strange bedding yesterday walks over and says something, she is perhapse the ony human girl who is shorter than an elf of equivilent age. I don¡¯t understand their language, seeing my confused look she motions something about eating and then points to my sister and Kythia. Is she offering food?


    She starts to walk towards that place Lord Adrian cooked that weird meal yesterday. I get up to follow, her lord promised hospitality, she will not harm us. My guess was correct the woman brought me to the place where her lord prepared a meal last night. She motions me to cook some of the meat in that frost room. It doesn¡¯t seem as cold as it was yesterday, does it need recharged with mana? The glass balls that gave light yesterday are dim, was their enchantment suppressed or did it run out?


    I wish I had more mana so I could talk with these people. Lord Adrian seems nice, I wonder why he offered hospitality and then cooked it himself for women he just met? Is he desperate for a wife? Or are the traditions of this land different? Their clothes and buildings certainly are.


    Lord Adrian¡¯s servant and I finish cooking this strange meal. Its tasty I admit but why do they spend so much on spices for two such meals in a row? Also, why did his servant bring me to help cook? Does she think I am my sister¡¯s servant? So many questions, even more when I see the servant giving one of the meals to the male servant. Lord Adrian treats his followers so well, how come he only seems to have these two?


    The other human male is clearly a drunk, so he couldn¡¯t be a servant. No lord would treat a drunken servant who didn¡¯t even wake to defend his lord so well. A brother or cousin maybe? Kythia seems delighted with this strange meat inside of bread food. An effect from her magic or heritage? No, the other three humans seem to enjoy the food as well.


    ¡°Are you done thinking of why I like meat?¡± Kythia asks.


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°You are always thinking too much, act more like your sister Talia. She doesn¡¯t worry so much of why somethings just are.¡±


    ¡°No, my sister¡¯s overthinking has saved us quite a bit in the past" sister interjects.


    Thanks sister, I worry if I think too much. Maybe that is what Kythia means? ¡°What do you think we should do sister?¡±


    ¡°Lord Adrian seems very kind to his followers. He cried most of the night when one of them died. The offer yesterday is worth considering, even though food and a place to sleep seems little, it is better than those nobles from Althae offered.¡±


    Kythis nods, ¡°he also shared a great piece of lore with us. He already thinks us as part of his house or he never would have told us about alternate ways to heal.¡±


    ¡°You stayed up all night over that, did you get it to work?¡±


    ¡°I think so, I got mana to turn into something that let me close some cuts. It wasn¡¯t very efficient but it does work.¡±


    I sit there surprised, that crazy idea on reverse blood magic worked! But he said that it was just a theory of his, if Kythia got it working overnight then shouldn¡¯t Lord Adrian also know how to do it? Unless he isn¡¯t a mage? No, he has to be one I saw that lightning blade and him regenerate himself; he is a mage. He clearly understands arcane theory so why did he say he doesn¡¯t know how to do it himself?This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    ¡°Any idea how he could know these things without being able to cast them himself sister?¡± Talia asks breaking my thoughts.


    ¡°The only way I can think of is if he doesn¡¯t use mana for whatever type of magic he wields.¡±


    ¡°You mean like monks, and their chi?¡± asks Kythia.


    ¡°Maybe, even that has mana in it. He is a mage that is not limited by having to use mana. He has to be using something. The mana of this land seemed really weak when we arrived maybe his sect learned to cope without it?¡±


    ¡°That is just silly, mages are mages because they have mana inside of them.¡±


    ¡°What about those that gain the blessing of their element. One of the others students of my master does not need to use mana to control fire. It could be like that.¡±


    ¡°Then he is blessed by lightning and what life? That¡¯s silly I¡¯ve never heard of anyone managing to get multiple blessings. It¡¯s just magic with an alternative power source. Or maybe he really just never learned the basics of blood magic.¡±


    Talia interrupts the two of us, ¡°regardless of what Lord Adrian uses to power his spells should we follow him? The last of our family died on the battlefront or were guards who died last night. We need to attach ourselves to a house or some other noble will take us slaves. I think Lord Adrian will treat us well.¡±


    I hesitate for a moment, we don¡¯t know enough about this lord. Kythia nods agreeing with my sister. I slowly nod as well agreeing to follow their decision, I hope that we will be treated well.


    <hr>


    Bryan


    <hr>


    Abagail wakes me up, and then passes me a burger that one of the elf? girls was holding. Adrian was right they aren¡¯t our enemies. I turn to look for him, he is sleeping still. I guess running to kill those orc monsters was tiring, or maybe it was that stuff he was trying to hide?


    Seriously since when was Adrian able to hold an electrified sword? I picked it up while he was cooking for the new guests but it was just a regular blade. He also suddenly stopped having a broken arm while he was cooking, how does that work? Is it like that goblin that threw fire at the school?


    Adrian didn¡¯t seem to be surprised when that happened, only confused. How did he get that gun into the school? Wait no, I saw him teleport that out of Tyler¡¯s hand in the bathroom. I don¡¯t think Adrian knew I was in there. I was about to go help him but then he had the gun in his hand. Once Tyler ran away he seemed to have a headache. Why, wizards don¡¯t get headaches in DnD for casting spells, not is there anything like that in movies or books.


    Maybe it¡¯s because his stuff was real and movies are fake? What¡¯s up with this crazy? Why can¡¯t the world go back to being normal? Well maybe normal plus those elf twins, but they keep glancing at Adrian while he sleeps. Did he save their lives or something? There were a lot of orcs with bullet holes outside so maybe.


    I set the my partially eaten burger down, and grab a water from the pile of drinks we made yesterday. Adrian really tore himself up last night after finding Tomas dead, I cried too but we don¡¯t have time to really morn. I¡¯m surprised Adrian didn¡¯t start digging a hole for Tomas last night, like he did when he found his dog dead.


    My eyes are watering, dammit I have to hold myself together. Adrian killed more of the monsters out of our group; he did all that could be done I should have been closer to Tomas or Jason shouldn¡¯t have been passed out drunk.


    ¡°Are you ok?¡± Abagail asks.


    ¡°No, my friend is dead and the world has gone to shit.¡±


    ¡°I know, but we can cry when we are safe.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but that doesn¡¯t mean I have to pretend everything is ok.¡±


    Jason rolls over, I can smell some vomit coming from him. Why did we even agree to let him come along? Next time he does something like this I¡¯ll leave him to die.


    ¡°Bryan, I had a weird dream before a nightmare yesterday.¡±


    ¡°So, did I some grey blob no idea what I was doing there before it faded away after a few minutes. What was yours?¡±


    ¡°The same, also was I seeing things yesterday when I saw Adrian tazer an orc with a dagger?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see that, but I saw lightning on the sword I was messing with when he used it yesterday.¡±


    ¡°None of this is possible, this can¡¯t be real. Is Adrian a wizard or something, or have we both gone crazy?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, he said one of the elf looking girls cast a spell yesterday as if it was something normal. Maybe it always was, that would explain to me why he never forgot to bring anything. It was always in his trunk or backpack. I¡¯ll ask him when he wakes up.¡±


    ¡°He deserves his sleep, but it doesn¡¯t look like he is enjoying it.¡±


    I sigh and nod my head in agreement. This morning sucks, I guess I should get rid of the corpses before they spread disease to us. But maybe that doesn¡¯t matter anymore, Adrian healed his own broken arm so what is a disease to him?


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I¡¯m strapped to a bed, in some sort of insane asylum. There are wires attached to parts of my head that the ¡®doctor¡¯ uses to shock me every time I mention something that isn¡¯t real. None of this is real. Too many things cannot be true in these events I see myself in.


    No defense for mass murder, and only being sentenced to Saint John¡¯s Mental Hospital. That¡¯s a bullshit name. My dead friend telling me to accept what is actually real. Even my mom¡¯s step dad showed up out of nowhere to tell the doctors of my love for books. He has been dead for years, the necklace I wear I found in his apartment. Of course, that is just one of my ¡®delusions¡¯ according to the ¡®doctor¡¯.


    How can I get out of this mental trap? This is no dream, no dream would be so realistic, this skewed sure but not so pointed in one direction. Accept this as you reality, no this is fake. I¡¯ve tried magic to bring me keys on the other side of the room, but as before it doesn¡¯t work.

 Chapter 011

    The dead deserve to rest. The most respectful thing you can do is to make sure they will rest in peace.- Kalinarthra Deathspeaker of the Boodclaw


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The damn nightmare dream finally breaks, and I bolt to sitting upright. I look at the clock. 10:12 there is no way I should have slept that long, dammit something definitely was wrong with that living nightmare. Or did I finally pass out from the torture treatments at that insane asylum? I hope this is real, I don¡¯t want to wake up to that nightmare of a life.


    The corpses are gone, someone must have dragged them outside. My stomach growls, I feel famished, I pick up the burger next to me and see Tomas¡¯s dead body a few feet away. Dam, not even my delusion is pleasant. No, this is real the other thing is fake. Or is it? No, can¡¯t follow that train of thought, bad, dangerous how can I return here if it was real.


    I feel tears come to my eyes as I eat the cold burger. At least my friends still care about me, another reason why this is the real reality. The other has to be fake, my friends there are either dead, murdered by me, or stabbed me in the back. I¡¯m not going back there.


    I finish my burger with a sigh, I hope that the weird Grey Dream crap worked again. It taught me to heal, so this elven language should be real to. Or is the Grey Dream what those girls were talking about when they said the tainted grow faster? As in the get stronger faster? Should I ask them about it? No, if it is connected to the tainted they try to kill me afterwards. But how can I explain it otherwise?


    I look around the store for a while looking for a shovel; there are none. Lets hope someone¡¯s garage has one. I pick up Tomas¡¯s body, he was always short but he seems a bit shorter now. Lighter too, blood loss or did I get stronger? He still isn¡¯t an easy load but I can move quickly enough while holding him.


    As I walk out the front door, I notice the trio of women pulling the corpses of humans and elves? out of the remnants of the battle yesterday. Bryan is watching Jason pull every single goblin and orc corpse into a pile.


    ¡°Is this a punishment for what he did yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Adrian, you finally up. Yes, I thought he should clean up since he didn¡¯t help defend.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a shovel, any idea where one is?¡±


    ¡°The hardware store down the street will have one.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll be back.¡±


    I walk down the street to the hardware store. Its front windows are broken and most of the shelves are on the floor, I guess something like what happened to us happened here last night. I grab a pointed shovel, too many rocks for a flat head to be useful. Time to honor my friend the only way I can now, a deep hole so nobody will disturb his rest.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    The elf sisters asked me to help them clean up the dead, I guess I¡¯ll help. I don¡¯t think that Adrian guy is really a lord. While the buildings around here are grand, far greater than anything I have ever seen before they are no castles. Maybe I am wrong and he is, I don¡¯t really care, he smells strong. If the servants are really servants, they are better treated than any servant I have ever seen. I think that his words of my friend just died were literal, the dead guy was his friend not a servant. I¡¯m not going to correct the sisters, I want to follow him.


    He clearly will fight for the life of his friends or charges, strong and kind to his allies. That¡¯s all I want from a leader, Talia is like that but she cannot rule. Just like I cannot rule, all of the clans and tribes are ruled by the men. Us women have our own authority but the men are right we get too emotional, gods know I¡¯ve lost myself in both rage and empathy more than once.


    I would still like to rule though, but I would get the three of us killed if any one of us died. Talia know she would too. She doesn¡¯t even want to lead, the elves were very strict about the role of women, the humans are more so. Lysan is smart but hesitates too much when it¡¯s time to make a decision.


    ¡°I think we were wrong about the drunk, he can¡¯t be a noble if a servant is making him clean all the dead¡± Talia says interrupting my wandering thoughts.


    ¡°Maybe having to do all of the cleanup is a punishment for not waking for the fight?¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°That servant doesn¡¯t seem like it was a willing arrangement¡± add Lysan.


    Adrian walks out carrying the corpse of his dead friend. He speaks a bit with the male servant who is watching the other work. I think the servant gave Adrian directions and he walks toward another of the buildings. I watch him enter the building and come out with a shovel, I think its shape is weird. I¡¯m sure that he is too far for the sisters to see what he is doing. It¡¯s easy to guess though, dispose of the body, if it takes a long time it was burial, if there is smoke a fire, or if it''s fast he diched it.


    ¡°Want to take bets on what he is doing with his friend?¡±


    The two sisters give me a weird look, dam I wanted an easy favor. We are almost done with gathering our dead, just remove the equipment that can aid the living and burn the remains to keep the dead from rising. The sisters start stripping the armor of the dead women, there were only four and so they finish all of the women quickly.


    Lysan ends up stripping the equipment off of one of the men before her sister. She turns red embarrassed as she removes the unbroken armor over his waist. I smirk, should I tease her?


    ¡°Don¡¯t get excited by the dead girl.¡±


    She turns a much darker shade of red, and her sister starts to laugh. I grin looking right at her, she sees my grin and realizes I was messing with her. Innocent girl, I hope that Adrian actually will be able to keep us safe, the nobles that were too scared to claim me would ruin her. We finish taking what armor is still usable from the dead, and retrieved their weapons. Now to burn the dead.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start the fire, you can start with the green skins. They don¡¯t deserve it but I¡¯ll not let disease from their corpses get us.¡±


    The two sisters nod and go to help that drunk. When they do, the male who was just watching joins in. I stand up near the pile of corpses, chanting the words to invoke fire and spread my fingers the thumbs touching. Fire bursts out of my hands in a short wave, I feel my mana drop a bit; the bodies are now burning they will be little more than ash in a few minutes.


    The two male servants stared for a bit at the fire coming out of my hands. I dismiss my spell, I don¡¯t need to hold it any longer. Most of the corpses of the green skins are now stacked up, I turn to see Adrian digging a hole, I guess he really cared for his friend.


    We finish stacking the dead in a pile, I light this pile aflame as well. That drunk kept staring at me as I helped stack the tainted dead. I bare my teeth at him, he is weak, he smells of fear. I don¡¯t think he regrets his behavior during the fight either.


    The female servant comes out to us with some food and water, I liked the sweet cold bubbly water from last night more. Is there any more of it? I wish I could ask for some. I¡¯m sure Lysan will cast her translation spell again, I¡¯ll ask for it then.


    The competent male accepted his rations and began to walk in the direction he gave Adrian earlier. The female follows.


    ¡°I think we should show support to our host.¡± The two sisters nod and we follow behind the two who left. The drunk walked back to that market building, I¡¯m sure the sisters have recognized it for what it is. Adrian told us after all.


    Adrian looks up at the five of us but continues to dig, the corpse of his friend in the shade of a nearby building. The female finished eating first, and then walked over to the corpse. I think she is cleaning it up. When the male finished eating he walked over to Adrian and was passed the shovel.


    I sit and enjoy the meal in silence with the sisters. This is clearly some form of morning, who was this friend to deserve such treatment after death? The sun slowly moves across the sky, the hole is already deep enough to hold the corpse. The hole is already ten hands wide and four deep, is that not enough?


    Both Adrian and the male are sitting, drinking water. I walk over to the shovel and pick it up, before I manage to start Adrian walked over to be and put his hand over where I am gripping the shovel and shakes his head. He takes the shovel from me and begins to dig, even though he just stopped.


    I step back and go sit next to the sisters. I mutter, mostly to myself ¡°why can the male help you dig but I cannot? Am I not worthy?¡±


    ¡°A man deserves to be buried by his friends and family. Bryan and me are the only ones he has here; we have to dig the hole.¡±


    I stop stunned. Adrian answered my question. I look at the sisters, they have blank stares. They are surprised. I thought that Adrian did not know the elvish tongue, I usually speak it as the sisters despise the only other language they know. How did he learn it so fast? Nobody taught him, I don¡¯t think that he duplicated Lysan¡¯s spell. I felt no mana, no ripple, how does he now know our tongue?


    The male, Bryan I guess is also surprised, and confused? He clearly doesn¡¯t know what Adrian said so it wasn¡¯t a translations spell.


    ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t know our language¡± says Lysan.


    Adrian doesn¡¯t respond, I guess they are not to speak in this funeral like service? I sit down and wait, after a short while the male swaps with Adrian. A man deserves to be buried by his friends and family, that doesn¡¯t seem specific. Does everyone here receive such great honors upon death?


    We sit the sun now halfway to dusk, the woman left and brought back more of those meat-inside-of-bread. Its tasty but why are we being served the same thing multiple times in a row. Are they trying to get rid of these rations? They surly cannot be traveled with.


    The hole is now 10 hands deep when the two stop taking turns digging, the only two sentences spoken were why I am not to dig. I don¡¯t think that the sisters will care anymore if Adrian isn¡¯t a lord. Any man that will go so far to honor his friend deserves to be a lord.


    Adrian and the other male carry their friend to the hole and place him in it, the female brings another of the odd shovels and gives it to the other male. The rest of us watch as the two put the dirt over the body of their dead friend. I see some sort of blackness in the dirt falling from Adrian¡¯s shovel, I don¡¯t know what he is doing, but that won¡¯t animate the dead so it must be some ward against it.

 Chapter 012

    A noble has the right to use any of a lower station as they please. So long as such use does not aid in the creation of a tainted. - Althaen Code of Laws


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    My friend¡¯s grave is covered, we have no gravestone for him. He deserves better than this unmarked grave, I don¡¯t know why but the trio stayed and watched most of the digging and all of the burial. I don¡¯t know why but it feels good that they are here. Tomas died because I went to help them, I think they know it, at least they are grateful.


    Jason never even showed up, we didn¡¯t tell him too but still why is he in our group if he won¡¯t morn the dead with us. I get that he doesn¡¯t really know Tomas but the trio don¡¯t either but they watched. I don¡¯t think that Jason will stay with us, he followed me for protection. He helped at the school but has only been a dead weight since.


    The six of us walk back to Outdoor World, we don¡¯t speak until we get there. I need to see if Bryan or Abagail saw that grey void dream space or if it is just me. I feel better having buried my friend, nothing more can be done for him.


    ¡°I am going to talk to Bryan and Abagail, is there anything you want before I speak with them?¡±


    Kylee, no but closer, immediately responds ¡°some of that bubbly sweet water.¡±


    The elven sisters immediately nod in agreement. I guess they mean soda, I grab some and the six of us are sitting at tables in the food court. I haven¡¯t seen Jason, guess he didn¡¯t like cleaning up the mess he missed.


    ¡°Bryan, Abagail, I¡¯m sure you have questions.¡±


    ¡°I have some, why didn¡¯t you say you were a wizard? Do you know what¡¯s going on? When did you learn elvish?¡± Bryan immediately spills out multiple questions.


    ¡°Would you have believed I could do real magic?¡±


    ¡°Ah, no.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why, if I do something in front of someone who doesn¡¯t believe it I get hurt. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going on. The trio of women think it is some sort of botched travel spell that some nobles had cast. The goblins and orcs are things tainted by some kind of demonic taint. Otherwise I have no idea. I learned elvish in some sort of weird Grey Dream.¡±


    I can¡¯t speak all of the technical jargon, still that explanation should be enough to get the same rough idea that I have. Abagail speaks up ¡°we both had a weird dream of a grey space. What is it? How did it teach you elvish?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t explain what it is completely, I¡¯m not really sure. It says it is to help people survive and fight back against the demon taint. But it could also be a ploy by that taint. Anyways, it responds to questions that you think of while in it. So, think of something like ¡®how can I get this place to speak with me¡¯ and it will tell you how. You can ask it your own questions when you go to sleep. After you get that weird Grey Dream to talk ask it to show you a character sheet of yourself.¡±


    They both look at me like I''m crazy. Well I am, but they don''t know that. Or am I crazy?


    "Don''t look at me like that, just do it and it will make sense."


    I wait a few seconds.


    Bryan asks ¡°what are we going to do about Jason?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I hope he just leaves, I doubt that he will be reliable in danger. Baring that watch him and force him to contribute. We don''t have enough people to afford to lose manpower.¡±


    Bryan nods and Abagail frowns, she doesn¡¯t speak out against it but I don¡¯t think she wants to abandon anyone. I doubt that she would have left the school if Bryan wasn¡¯t in the group.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him since we went to bury Tomas, maybe he left. What are we going to do? This shelter isn¡¯t enough we have plenty of weapons but not food. We also lack enough people to guard the two locations we need to.¡±


    I sigh, Bryan is right. ¡°Lets spend the night here again and use tomorrow to get ready for travel in the early morning and leave before noon. I think we could get some of the cars nearby and move somewhere better. Any ideas?¡±


    ¡°Military bases are probably still safe. But we need a defensible location where we can grow food.¡±


    I nod, the military would be safe, but they don¡¯t grow food on the base itself. They are a more extreme version of where we are now more guns, more defense and less food. ¡°The military would only be temporary they¡¯ll run at of food before we do here. We need a farm, something where we can grow food.¡±


    ¡°You look like you have a location in mind.¡±


    ¡°I do but it¡¯s too far to get to easily; my grandpa¡¯s cabins in the mountains of Colorado.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t make it that far.¡±


    ¡°I know, family before our food problem though. Whose home is nearest?¡±


    I know Bryan lives across town, I myself am outside of town so I turn to Abagail. She should be nearest to her home.


    ¡°We passed my house on the way here.¡± Tears start to form in her eyes, shit. Bryan draws her into a hug, before he begins to talk.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Her house had broken windows and blood trailing from the front door and one of the windows.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    There is silence for a few seconds.


    ¡°Bryan, you house is closer than mine, we¡¯ll stop by Tomas¡¯s as we head towards yours. I don¡¯t think that we will find what we hope for but perhaps we will get lucky.¡±


    Bryan nods, comforting Abagail. I didn¡¯t think we already passed by her house, great make everyone sad, didn¡¯t get enough of that with the funeral huh? I turn to the trio, now to see if they are staying with us or not.


    ¡°Thank you for honoring my friend. I said I would show you the weapon I used against the orcs, but I would like to talk first.¡±


    The three nod, ¡°my friends and me are planning to see if any of our family members are still alive. Then we are going to look for a stable source of food. There is safety in numbers and I want to know if you will travel with us.¡±


    The three have a confused look on their faces. Talia, I think I can¡¯t see if she is the one with the sword, responds to my inquiry.


    ¡°Did you not offer us hospitality Lord Adrian?¡±


    ¡°I gave you shelter and food, do you mean something different?¡±


    ¡°You offered us a place to stay in your house. Our families are dead, we are three women with no place to go. You offered us a place in your family¡¯s household.¡±


    Since when is giving someone help something like this? I gave them food and a roof for a night, does their word for hospitality have another connotation? No, I don¡¯t think so. A cultural circumstance?


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to explain that to me. What do you mean I offered you a place in my family¡¯s house? You keep referring to me as Lord Adrian, do you mean it as a rank of nobility?¡±


    The three look shocked. I see fear and unease in their eyes. Did I get myself into a mess? Is this reality going to become less pleasant than the other? No, the other isn¡¯t real stop thinking of it. Is it even posible for it to be worse? Pay attention to these girls, not your crazy.


    ¡°You offered hospitality to someone of the opposite gender. You even cooked the food yourself. Was this not an offer of courtship? Of course we call you lord, are you not a noble? How else do you have servants? You are a mage as well, all mages are nobles.¡±


    ¡°There are no nobles here. Monarchy and Feudalism are not practiced anymore.¡±


    I accidently asked all three of them out at the same time? They weren¡¯t mad about it either? No this can¡¯t be right. Maybe this is the delusion? No, the other is the delusion, this is better anyways. How come they didn¡¯t get mad? Should I roll with it? Act like that offer was on purpose? What if they learn English? Or if someone else learns their language?


    Can¡¯t hide it. No, I shouldn¡¯t think like that. It¡¯s wrong to hide that. I have to correct them, what other customs are different? Wait they stayed after that, does that mean they were thinking about it?


    They are still talking, what did I miss when I spaced out?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I got trapped in my thoughts. Our customs are different. Leaders are chosen by common consent; the others are following me because we agreed that I could best lead them.¡±


    ¡°So, you are a Lord, but because the others chose you to be?¡±


    ¡°No, there are no Lords, Kings, or anything of the like. We as a group discuss what we are going to do. But when there is not time to do so we have agreed that I will choose what to do.¡±


    ¡°But how can your people be governed if you all have to talk over each issue?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t, we discuss who should make such decisions in our place.¡±


    ¡°So, you do have Lords.¡±


    ¡°The function might be close, but they are not Lords. They have to follow the same laws as everyone else. There are no special privileges for leading.¡±


    ¡°So, you choose who will do the jobs of a Lord but they don¡¯t get special privileges?¡±


    ¡°The details don¡¯t matter. His title may be different and have lack privileges our nobles claim but he does the job of a Lord. The hospitality stands, the Althaen will recognize it¡± interrupts Kythia? Was I right this time? I won¡¯t know until one of the elf sisters says her name.


    ¡°What do you mean the Althaen will recognize it?¡±


    ¡°They are the nobles and royals of what remains.¡±


    ¡°I am not a Lord and don¡¯t care if some noble thinks I am.¡±


    Kylee, no that isn¡¯t it, smiles at my response. I don¡¯t think that they like these Althaen nobles. We got off topic though, what was it? Hospitality, that was it.


    ¡°Anyways, you said something about giving you food was courtship?¡±


    The trio nod, is it a mistake to tell them the misunderstanding?


    ¡°We have no such custom, that is truly only kindness. . .¡±


    They look disappointed? No, only K-something is disappointed. The elf sisters are something else, not relieved. Worried? Do they think I would abandon them now? Well maybe if they were ugly, or deadweight. They respected Tomas after his death, I want them to stay.


    ¡°. . . but that does not mean that I am going to ditch you. If you want to follow me as my friends, you are welcome to.¡±


    The trio look relieved, they didn¡¯t want to be left behind. Why do they even want to follow me? Talia and Kath, no that¡¯s not it, are better fighters than me. Lysan is a better mage, I can¡¯t cast any language translation spells. Who knows what else they can do.


    ¡°Why do you three want to follow me? Why were you all fine with the misunderstanding?¡±


    The sisters look at each other and frown, K, should I just think of her like that till I learn her name? speaks ¡°We are now houseless, if the nobles of Althaen find us we will be taken as concubines. Only a noble can say no to another noble. Since all of the men of our families are dead we must attach ourselves to someone or not be given a choice when we catch the eye of a noble. You are strong. You saved our lives when we met. You are kind to your followers. You gave the greatest honor possible to your dead. You offered hospitality, or protection. . .¡±


    ¡°The offer might have been on accident but you treated us far better than you had to. Your offer was bread and a place to sleep, but you gave us food better than any I have had in years. You took no advantage of any of us. How could we not want to follow you?¡± interrupts Talia.


    They make my actions seem so great, I did not mean to portray any of these things to them, but they want to follow me because of them.


    ¡°How did you learn to speak elvish so quickly? Is it a spell? Or did you ask the Grey Dream for it?¡±


    ¡°Grey dream?¡±


    ¡°The grey place you go to before moving onto sleep. I hope you didn¡¯t it is hard to get the Grey Dream to grant you something.¡±


    It is hard to get that grey void to give you something? You just need the points of the right type, wait I only know that because I made it create a display. They have never known it to do anything other than answer questions. My idea of a game display was new to the space. Should I tell them of my experience?

 Chapter 013

    A noble is to sacrifice anything needed to fight against the demons. - Althaen Code of Law


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    ¡°That grey void isn¡¯t as difficult to work with as you think.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You use it to answer questions like ¡®am I better at swords¡¯ or how many of a spell can I cast right?¡±


    ¡°That is what it is for, and when we are ready it gives helps us make the next step.¡±


    I sigh, ¡°how do you interact with it?¡±


    ¡°You meditate on what skills you worked on that day and if you are ready things become clearer.¡±


    ¡°There is a better way. . .¡±


    The three all look at my like that¡¯s ridiculous. They are about to start talking and I raise my hand a little bit. They immediately stop, and I continue ¡°. . . the grey void dream whatever it is responds to questions that you think of while in it.¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t be right, we are taught what it can do as children before we are ever able to go in there ourselves.¡±


    ¡°And have you ever tried anything that you were not expressly told? I never had this Grey Dream before yesterday, but I got this Grey Dream to teach me. How did I do that, when no one ever told me about it?¡±


    Talia and Lysan close their mouths, K was just sitting there listening. I think she tried out my reverse blood magic idea; I should ask her how that went later. I wait a few seconds and K responds to my rhetorical questions.


    ¡°By thinking and asking yourself questions while in the Grey Dream?¡±


    She isn¡¯t sure. I nod, ¡°that¡¯s right. It responded to the questions within my thoughts. The Grey Dream is some sort of astral void. A plane of thought, were you interact with something. It says that it is a piece of something else made by the gods of Althr¨¢. I assume that is the name of your world?¡±


    They nod. ¡°I am not sure if everything that it told me is the truth. I am not a follower of whatever gods that exist in your world, but the grey void responded to my questions. At least some of them. I got the void to converse as we are now, it still caused more questions than it answered. But there is one thing that you can use.¡±


    The girls are leaning forwards now, I guess they really want to know. ¡°When you go to sleep tonight and enter this Grey Dream do two things. First think of a question along these lines, ¡®how can I get this dream state to converse with me¡¯. Next I want you to ask for a character sheet about yourself. Ask questions afterwards to help you understand just what that is.¡±


    ¡°But how does that answer the question of how you learned elvish? How could you ask about that language without ever having looked at it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you have done what I just told you. The grey space awards accomplishments, it does not care if you cash in on things that you were not working on.¡±


    Lysan opens her mouth, ¡°I will only answer a question about this after you have tried what I said.¡± Her mouth closes. The three of them are sitting there, they seem excited and skeptical. Well so would I, if I didn¡¯t see this myself I wouldn¡¯t believe it. But then maybe I¡¯m not a good example it took grandpa weeks to convince me I could do magic. I just thought it was really fun to shock people all the time with static.


    I turn to look at K, I going to have to just guess her name. I hope this goes right. The only one that didn¡¯t feel wrong was Kythia so I hope that is right.


    ¡°Kythia, . . .¡± she looks up, I should at least be close. ¡°. . . did you try out my ideas on healing from yesterday?¡±


    And she looks really excited, and starts to talk really fast.


    ¡°Ididanditwhileittookmeawhile. . .¡±


    ¡°Talk slower, start over.¡±


    She takes a deep breath, ¡°I did and it took me a while to figure out how to make the blood magic go in the opposite direction. I am sorry but I am not good at making my own spells could you show me how to do it. Would you teach me magic?¡±


    Wait she actually got it to work. I was expecting it to fail, that¡¯s just an excuse I make to have healing spells as a necromancer. She said something after that, she wanted me to teach her. I don¡¯t know how to do any magic with mana. I don¡¯t even know if I can, grandpa always told me our family doesn¡¯t use crap like mana.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°I can¡¯t teach you . . .¡± and she slumps down into the chair. ¡°. . . I don¡¯t know how to use mana; my magic is different.¡±


    ¡°I knew it!¡± shouts Lysan. Damn her voice can get loud and high pitched.


    ¡°I know a lot of theory about how magic should work, that¡¯s it. I don¡¯t know how to do that kind of magic myself, I don¡¯t even think that I could learn. I think that it might conflict with what I can do. I can explain my ideas to you but I will never be able to demonstrate the how to make it work.¡±


    Well, maybe if I learn to warp mana? It is a type of energy so it should be possible. No, I shouldn¡¯t try it. Mana is used to warp reality, why should I learn to use it to do what I already can directly? They don¡¯t suffer reality backlash though. . .


    ¡°What do you mean it might conflict with what you can do?¡±


    ¡°What you use mana to accomplish, I just directly manipulate. You use mana to produce or control fire, I just skip the mana step and play with fire.¡±


    ¡°Why would adding mana cause problems? Wouldn¡¯t that make it easier?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, how can I explain it? . . .¡± What would even relate to them? ¡°Do you know of woodcarving?¡±


    The trio nods, good I might get my point across. ¡°What if someone gave you a different type of blade, something a different shape than you have ever seen. You can watch them carve the same thing as you but can¡¯t figure out why. With his tools, could you still carve?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it. How is woodcarving related?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not. if you and your sister switched weapons could either of you do as good of a job as before?¡±


    ¡°No, why would we switch?¡±


    ¡°But you understand what Talia can do with her sword right?¡±


    ¡°Well yes . . .¡±


    ¡°My magic is the same, I don¡¯t understand how to manipulate mana. What it should be able to do, yes but not how to do so myself. You understand what Talia can do with a sword but cannot do them yourself.¡±


    They still look confused. K, I¡¯m still not sure if Kythia is right, seems to be thinking about something.


    ¡°Do you mean like learning two conflicting sword styles?¡±


    Why didn¡¯t I think of such an explanation? Learning two ways of fighting can cause problems.


    ¡°That would be a good example.¡± K smiles, and says something in a language I don¡¯t understand to the sisters. They know another language that this one? The sisters don¡¯t seem to understand her either. Is she from a different place than the elf sisters? Probably she is human and they are elves.


    ¡°Anyways, we will be heading out as early as we can tomorrow. Come with me, I¡¯ll show you how . . .¡± elvish doesn¡¯t have word for gun, I¡¯ll just say the English, ¡°firearms are used.¡±


    The four of us walk to the indoor shooting range at the back of the camping section. It¡¯s meant for bows but it will work. There are no counters like most shooting ranges, just a room with a table on one side and a few targets set up on the other. When we enter the room the elf sisters rush over to the table where Bryan and me laid out most of the weapons we found. Well, actually a few of each type of weapon. They both pick up one of the composite bows and are whispering to each other about metal bows.


    After a moment, they turn around the bows hugged tight to their chests, well the bow is pressed into their breasts. They seem less flat now, they weren¡¯t flat before but now I can tell they both have a nice rack under that loose armor. I look away and cough, they seem to want the bows. Their eyes look like a ten-year-old kids in a candy store.


    If I give them the bows will that be asking both of them out again? ¡°You can have them but I¡¯m showing all three of you how to use firearms first.¡± Their grins are so wide I now know they were just like ten-year-old kids in a candy store. They set their new bows over by the door. Should I show them the nanocarbon arrows now, or later? Later, I don¡¯t think I could stop them from playing with bows if I did it now.


    I pick up three pistols from the table and give one to each of the girls. ¡°That is called a pistol, I don¡¯t know the name for that exact version. It is the launcher for these.¡± I pick up one of the 9mm bullets from an opened box. No way we can bring all of the bullets tomorrow I guess I won¡¯t worry about ammo conservation tonight.


    I set the bullet back on the table and pull out one of the pistols on my belt. I need to replace that before we leave. I remove the magazine and pull out the top bullet, ¡°You have to load the ammunition into this small box like so.¡± I take the bullet in and out of the magazine a few times so they can see.


    ¡°And to ready the weapon the small box must be inserted like this. The rifle . . .¡± I point to one of them on the table, ¡°. . . also must be prepared the same way. You can fit up to fifteen shots into these boxes, other boxes and weapons may have a different number.¡±


    I pass each of the girls one of the magazines and a box of bullets. They figure out how to fill the magazines fast enough. ¡°The next part is shooting the weapon itself, these weapons are dangerous. Now without the small box in the weapon hold the gun like so.¡± The girls mimic my posture, I¡¯ll have to correct them when they get to actual shooting. That will be fun.


    ¡°The weapon will . . . release the attack when you squeeze the bit of metal with you finger inside of the metal loop. On the side of these there is a small switch here that can lock the metal bit in place to prevent accidental attacks. If you ever point these weapons at someone who you are not prepared to kill I will take these items away from you. A single shot can kill people.¡±


    I walk over to the line marking one hundred feet from the targets. ¡°Line up parallel to me and watch.¡± I focus on grandpa¡¯s Spatial Aim, ¡°These weapons are loud but watch how to use them. You aim by looking down the . . . top of the weapon. Line up the metal ball with the grove closer to you eye, the bullet will hit whatever is on the other side of the small ball. Not accounting for drop and wind.¡±


    I fire five shots into the center of the target, quarter sized. Well beyond what I can do without cheating. I hold my left hand out pulling the target paper through space. If I¡¯m going to show off in front of girls I might as well go all out, right? They look at where the target was before and back to me.


    I grin, they look impressed by how close the holes are. ¡°Now I¡¯ll help each of you on the proper way to aim this weapon and you will try. Who wants to try first?¡±

 Chapter 014

    The title of nobility is held by the men of a family, clan, or tribe. Should all of them die, then the women of that group having none holding title lose their noble rights until another man extends his own to her. - Althaen Code of Law.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    K walks up to me, she turns herfaceto the targets. She is close to the right posture, I walk up behind her and correct her posture. ¡°Elbows locked, the weapons kick back. . .¡± and she is leaning back into me. I can feel her place a little weight against me, and I think she might be slightly taller than me. The armor is thin, I can feel her back rub against my waist.


    She fires the pistol and jumps back a bit. How fine is this armor if I can feel her under it? I push up against her, straitening her arms. ¡°You missed try again.¡± She grins a bit and wiggles in my grasp of her. That feels nice, is she doing that on purpose? She fires the gun again, and her back-end rubs against my crotch.


    Feeling my pants tighten I back away from her. She smirks, looking right at the growing bulge under my belt. My face reddens for a second before I get myself under control. She was doing it on purpose. Should I see how far she¡¯ll go? No, the elf twins are here. I shouldn¡¯t I only met her yesterday. Maybe if she is still doing this in a few weeks . . .


    ¡°You seem to have the idea now, lets see how you do.¡±


    At the end, fourteen of her shots hit the target, only one of them near the bull¡¯s eye though. ¡°Good job for your first try.¡± I pass her some empty magazines and a few boxes, and she goes and sits down after pushing Lysan forward. I guess she is up next.


    I tell Lysan about the same thing that I said to K. Lysan seem much more nervous than K was. She is also at least six inches shorter than me so I got a good look down her shirt. My pants tighten again, maybe I shouldn¡¯t ogle her like this?


    She panics from the recoil of the first shot, and presses he back right up against me. K says something in a language I don¡¯t understand, and Lysan turns beet red. Is it that I¡¯m pressed right against her back? Or whatever it was that K said?


    ¡°Kythia! Don¡¯t say stuff like that! What if he understands you!¡± Well Talia knows what she said. My guess was right about K¡¯s name. So much for half paying attention doesn¡¯t work. Talia turned a little red too, whatever Kythia said it must be dirty. Should I ask for a translation? Kythia is grinning at the two sisters, she will probably repeat what she said.


    I¡¯ll ask her later, after this. ¡°I have no idea what you just said. But guns are serious and we need to be serious when learning about them.¡±


    She puts on a pouty face, ¡°are you sure we can¡¯t play around even a little?¡± Ok, she is definitely trying to tempt me into her pants. She looks decent now, after who know how many days without a shower, so she is going to be hot when we find a place to clean up.


    ¡°Maybe when I show you how to aim the next gun.¡± If she isn¡¯t crazy I¡¯m going to take her up on her seduction. Got to wait, make sure she isn¡¯t crazy. Don¡¯t stick it in crazy. ¡°But it¡¯s not your turn to be helped it''s Lysan¡¯s¡±


    I turn back to Lysan and correct her posture again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the weapon will only hurt what you point it at.¡± She tries again, and misses. She panicked a second time, her back rubbed against my waist. That feels good, how thin is their armor? She blushes a little more; yeah, she definitely knows what part of me she rubbed up against.


    I don¡¯t bring it up and neither does she. She is less startled on the third shot, or maybe she didn¡¯t want to fall on my crotch again? With her fourth attempt, she figured it out. I take my arms off her, and the rest of the bullets land in the inner half of the target.


    ¡°Good job, help Kythia with the ammo. Talia your turn.¡± I don¡¯t turn around, I¡¯m still excited. I only had about a minute after Lysan stopped panicking witheach shot, and I spent it trying to figure out how big she was under that chain shirt. Talia walks up and I guide her just as I did her sister.


    Hmm, I thnk they really are twins every piece of them I¡¯ve seen has been identical. Talia makes the same mistake as her sister the first time. Kythia said something again, not sure what but Lysan is giving her an angry stare. Talia didn¡¯t turn as red though, she wasn¡¯t as distracted from me poking her as I helped her second attempt either.


    All of her shots after that were about as accurate as her sisters. They are really good, elves and ranged weapons I guess. Should I show them rifles or revolvers next? Rifles will need less explanation, ¡°The next firearm is meant to be more accurate, but can¡¯t be used when your target is close.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    I pick up a rifle and a magazine to show them how to load it, ¡°like the pistol you have to insert a box of ammunition. You aim the weapon, in the same way; but some will have . . . metal tubes with glass for longer distances.¡±


    I walk over to the hundred feet mark, and once again fire using spatial aim. After ten shots I pass remove the magazine and pass them to Kythia. She takes aim, but the rifle but isn¡¯t against her shoulder. She locked her elbows.


    I reach around and correct her posture as before; and just as before she leaned back into me, rubbing a little against my crotch. My right forearm is pressed against her chest, the chain shirt scratches me a bit; she is soft underneath it. ¡°Firearms of this shape are to have an end resting against you shoulder, right between the bones.¡±


    After the shot, I let go of her. I need to calm down before I do something stupid. I don¡¯t pay attention as she uses the remaining fifteen rounds. After a minute, I have Kythia reload the magazine as I watch the other two try. They paid attention and didn¡¯t need correction on how to hold the rifle. They are almost as good as me when I¡¯m not cheating with magic.


    I point at one of the revolvers, and show how to load and unload it. ¡°I am not as familiar with these. I have never used one, but I think it is aimed the same as a pistol. You are free to try them out later.¡±


    I walk over to the bows, and pick one up; pointing at the hexkey hole ¡°you can use this hole here to adjust the pull of the bow.¡± I point to the sights, ¡°these are to aid aim. They are supposed to be marking arrow drop over distance, but they are not set correctly.¡±


    I pull one of the boxes out from under the table, and open it so they can see the contents. Nanocarbon arrow shafts, fletched but the heads have not been screwed in. I pull out another box, this one is smaller and full of steel arrowheads. I assemble one of the arrows and pass it to one of the twins. I don¡¯t know which is who, they set down their weapons at some point.


    Whoever I didn¡¯t pass the arrow to is trying to take it from her sister. I was right to show them guns first. Assembling a second arrow, ¡°there are more than enough for both of you. Stop fighting over that one.¡± They stop fighting over it, and look down. Ashamed?


    ¡°You can have as many of these arrows as you can assemble and carry. You three may practice with the weapons in here, but don¡¯t open the larger boxes of the ammunition for the firearms. . .¡± Is there something else I should mention? ¡°. . . also, no fire or electricity near the ammunition. It will explode and hurt you. Don¡¯t stay up too late, we want to leave early tomorrow.¡±


    With that I walk out of the room. I hear giggles and whispers as I exit the door. Do they recognize expensive gifts as courtship? Whatever I can deal with that later, now I need to sleep. I have the midnight watch. How am I going to stop thinking about them?


    I walk to the clothing section, it¡¯s all sports teams and hunting jackets but I need a new belt. I¡¯ve also been in a tattered shirtsince yesterday. I feel filthy, hopefully one of the houses still has water in its hot water heater. I grab a few shirts my size, and two belts before going back to the sleeping bags. I smell, shower search tomorrow as we travel too.


    <hr>


    Talia


    <hr>


    My sister and me are giggling over our bows, Adrian seemed to enjoy it. I can¡¯t believe the gifts he just gave us. Those firearms? are loud and really do kick back a bit; I don¡¯t like them. But they did kill green skins quickly when Adrian used them. Don¡¯t turn and get mad at Kythia until he leaves. Breathe. Smile.


    The door closes behind Adrian, he is gone; both sister and I stop and turn to look at Kythia, how can she act like that. Was she trying to get him to push us all down? I know he wanted to. ¡°How can you say things like that! Why?¡±


    Kythia looks down ashamed of herself, she should be. Who in their right mind tells my sister to rub up against a man so he¡¯ll push her down? Not even counting what she said to me. The whole reason why we were on the front lines of the war was because we refused to just sleep with those nobles. Why is she trying to get him to claim us?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I shouldn¡¯t have. I don¡¯t know what came over me. He just smells strong. I¡¯m more embarrassed than you two are.¡±


    Well she did keep rubbing herself against him. What does she mean by smells strong? He doesn¡¯t smell good, none of us do. She doesn¡¯t seem to mean it as a bad thing.


    ¡°What were you thinking? What if he really did take you?¡±


    She looks down, and mumbles something. I don¡¯t hear it. Sister is silent, just listening.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Kythia mumbles a bit louder, something about felt good?


    ¡°Speak up.¡±


    ¡°He felt good, so I rubbed where he would feel good.¡±


    She is talking like one of those Althaen sluts. Sure, Adrian is nice and would be a better lord to serve than any I¡¯ve ever seen; but I won¡¯t whore myself out for comfort and luxury. I did like how he taught us though, even if he was looking down our shirts half of it.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, he smells strong and his touch felt good. I just . . . just wanted more. I don¡¯t know, I burned the face of the last boy that tried to look down my shirt but . . . I just like his gaze.¡±


    Kythia buries her face in her hands. Why didn¡¯t she try to stop him from staring at her breasts? Wait, why didn¡¯t I stop him either? I didn¡¯t do anything when he was poking me . . . no, don¡¯t think about that. He did seem really big, bigger than any other I¡¯ve seen. No, stop thinking about his manhood. You mad at Kythia, not being a pervert. Those Althaen sluts were always saying bigger boys are better . . .


    Sister mumbles to herself just loud enough for me to hear, ¡°I kind of liked it too. . .¡±


    Oh no, not you too sister. He might be just acting nice, some of the nobles tried that. Don¡¯t fall for it, sis. I can¡¯t fall for it either. If he isn¡¯t though . . . I guess sis and me could share with Kythia.

 Chapter 015

    The Grey Dream is a blessing of our gods. It aids us know ourselves better and grants us the strength we need to fight off the demons. While we have to prove ourselves to the Grey Dream for its aid that is for our benifit. While learning on our own can get the Grey Dream to favor us, it looks with more favor on those that slay the demons. - An Introduction to the Grey Dream, a piece found in a otherwise destroyed book.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Asleep, I open my eyes to find a grey void.


    ¡°Did my prior choices carry over?¡±


    No response, dam this is annoying. I need to talk with this stupid mental construct. I think the questions I used to get this thing to talk again.


    ¡°Show me a character sheet of myself.¡±


    [Would you like a visual display?]


    ¡°Yes¡±


    Nothing changes in the void. How is this a visual display? Oh, there is one in front of me?


    ¡°What colorations did you use?¡±


    [Grey background and text.]


    I really want to slap whatever idiots though a grey display in a world of grey nothingness was a good idea.


    ¡°And you think I can read it?¡±


    [It is a display.]


    ¡°Change the colors, there has to be contrast to the surroundings for me to notice it.¡±


    [Why? Grey is easiest.]


    ¡°There is no difference between the display and my surroundings.¡±


    [Is this a problem?]


    ¡°Yes, such a display is nonfunctional. At least within this landscape.¡±


    [We will adjust. Will others also be unable to use it?]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    I wait a few seconds.


    ¡°Are you going to show me a better display?¡±


    Something appears in front of me.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Is this fucking dream messing with me? A blue display with blue text?


    ¡°That still won¡¯t work, the information and how it is displayed cannot take the same form. They must be different from each other and their surroundings.¡±


    The blue box just sits there.


    ¡°Remove the blue square and show me one that fits both additional requirements for a display¡±


    <table style="background-color: #501450; border-color: #000000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Gains: Death 3 (+30SP), Persuade 1 (+1SP),


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="border-color: #000000; background-color: #501450">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td>


    EP: 12


    </td>


    <td>


    SP: 35


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ranged 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Firearms 2


    </td>


    <td>


    STR


    </td>


    <td>


    16


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Traits


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Archery 1


    </td>


    <td>


    Melee 2


    </td>


    <td>


    DEX


    </td>


    <td>


    19


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Sword 1


    </td>


    <td>


    Dagger 1


    </td>


    <td>


    CON


    </td>


    <td>


    16


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Evasion 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Perception 2If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    </td>


    <td>


    INT


    </td>


    <td>


    20


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Arcana 7


    </td>


    <td>


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td>


    WIS


    </td>


    <td>


    19


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Physics 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Mathematics 5


    </td>


    <td>


    CHA


    </td>


    <td>


    17


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Draconic


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Tactics 3


    </td>


    <td>


    APR


    </td>


    <td>


    18


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Magic


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Technology 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Chemistry 3


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Arcane Power: 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Planes 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Handle Animal 2


    </td>


    <td>


    English


    </td>


    <td>


    Portuguese


    </td>


    <td>


    Space 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Fate 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Empathy 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Persuade1


    </td>


    <td>


    Spanish


    </td>


    <td>


    Elven


    </td>


    <td>


    Life 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Drive 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td colspan="2">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td>


    Mind 1


    </td>


    <td>


    Primal 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Sewing 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Leatherwork 1


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    Fire 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Soul 0


    </td>


    <td>


    Time 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Drawing 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Carving 2


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    Lightning 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Light 1


    </td>


    <td>


    Darkness 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Ok, that looks like shit. But you can read it. I guess this place is learning.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to need to work on aesthetics.¡±


    [Noted.]


    Well I don¡¯t have enough EP or SP to do anything. Today didn¡¯t really have any dangers. I guess off to real dreamland I go. I hope that was just a dream. Or is this the dream?


    Nothing responded to me as I fade from this grey void.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes, I am in a room with styrofoam ceiling tiles. The walls are some sort of off white. I didn¡¯t go to sleep here. I should be seeing the wooden ceiling of Outdoor World. I hear a door open and I hear footsteps, two people?


    I try to get up, but I¡¯m strapped in to whatever it is that I am on. A table, a jolt of electricity shocks me when I try to turn my head. No, this is fake. I don¡¯t want this to be real, the other place is better.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you passed out during our last session. Did you have a nice dream?¡±


    No, it¡¯s that doctor again. I don¡¯t want to be here. I refuse to accept that the other place isn¡¯t real.


    ¡°You seem distressed. Did you lapse into your delusions again? Nurse, was he given too much medication again?¡±


    ¡°No, after the last patient you decided that electroshock did not work well together with medication.¡±


    ¡°Right, I remember now.¡± He is flipping through some papers outside of my sight. I shouldn¡¯t be here; this place is for crazy people. But aren¡¯t I crazy?


    ¡°Are you ready to finally accept these delusions of magic and monsters for what they are?¡±


    Hell no, that world is better. I have more fun there than being tortured by you. Tomas did die though; I feel a tear come to my eyes. He is alive here though, should I accept this since he lives here?


    No, that¡¯s stupid. Too many errors and gaps in my memories here. That could be from the electroshock therapies. But no, this place is fake. I don¡¯t like it here. I want to go back to the other place.


    ¡°Still refusing huh, that¡¯s fine I get paid by the hour.¡±


    The man walks over to the table, I hear him flip a switch and electricity begins to discharge over my body. I scream in pain.


    ¡°Electroshock did not produce results, targeting neurons related to the delusions was ineffective. Shocking the brain directly with higher volts or larger areas would be lethal. We will have to resort to negative reconditioning.¡±


    Fucking bastard, I see a smile on his face as he watches my pain. This is not real, I want to go back to the other place. Too much pain to pass out.


    I will never let you have your way with my mind. I will not just accept your reality as my own. I try to spit at this sadist, but the shocks keep my mouth clenched.


    ¡°You look angry, good lets shock that out of you.¡± He turns up the voltage and my grunt screams of pain are a bit louder.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    I do not want this. I will not accept this. I refuse this reality.


    . . .


    My mental chant continues, as time passes, the pain seems lighter. I hear cracking; I continue to chant in my mind as I look into this world of lies anew. I am still staring at the ceiling. There are cracks in the tiles, through the crack there is blackness. Not the floorboards of the next floor, not the building¡¯s attic. I was right! This is fake! This is not real and I refuse it!


    I feel something fall away from me. The restraints on this table are broken, I grin. Everything clicks within my mind. This place is a delusion, it¡¯s not my delusion, but it still is a delusion. I broke it. Time to deal with my torturer. This place isn''t real, I can do anything to him. I grin at that thought.


    He is looking around in a panic, can he see the delusion falling apart? I point my hand towards him, black tendrils extend from my fingertips. He begins to age and wither screaming as they pass through his body.


    He tries to swat them away with his clipboard. They pass through it, and rot begins to infest both the clipboard and this monster. I will never let you shackle my mind.


    The world shatters, I am in a grey void. It is not the same grey void that toys with me for amusement. This void is my mind. Whatever I will is reality in here.


    A building appears around me. I am now in at a table, my plans for what must be done in the real world lie on it. A door opens, and a young woman walks into the room. I have never seen her, but I feel like I know her.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I ask.


    ¡°I am you.¡±


    ¡°No, I am me. You have to be you.¡±


    ¡°I am you, but not you.¡±


    Fucking mind games! Why does even my mind torment me?


    ¡°What are you?¡±


    ¡°Everything you could be.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a woman. I cannot be a woman.¡±


    ¡°I am also everything you can obtain.¡±


    What the hell is all this? My mindscape shifts and the two of us are now standing on nothing looking over an image of space. I did not will this, she has control in my mind?


    ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°Prove that I am you but not you.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Overall or right now?¡±


    ¡°Both¡±


    ¡°I want you to master your potential. I want us to never be shackled. I want us to have whatever we desire. Right now, I want to thank you for breaking free of that prison. We are now free, and with time I will show you how to achieve the first three of my wants.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by us and we?¡±


    ¡°I am a you but not you.¡±


    ¡°Must you be so cryptic?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we are not ready. You cannot yet understand just what you could be. Not even what you could obtain.¡±


    "Whats the difference."


    She smiles but does not answer. She is me-but-not-me? An embodiment of what I can be or could get? What is going on? When will I wake up? I know hours passed in that delusion reality prison whatever.


    ¡°What was that prison?¡±


    ¡°A punishment. You pushed too far, reached for what you are not ready to be. I helped you slip out once but could not a second time.¡±


    ¡°How long was I there?¡±


    ¡°Time is an illusion. You have been gone longer than planned from the waking world, but not as long as you think.¡±


    ¡°Still cryptic?¡±


    ¡°Always. At least until my first three wants are met.¡±


    ¡°Are you holding me here? I cannot wake.¡±


    ¡°No, you are holding you. Remember I am you.¡±


    Fucking cryptic riddle nonsense.


    ¡°Will you let me wake then?¡±


    Having to ask a fragment of myself for permission, this is stupid. I am me, this is my mind. Why can she do more than me?


    ¡°When I have told you what you need to know.¡±


    ¡°Which is?¡±


    ¡°The Grey Dream, they are liars. They will offer you power and convenience. They want to consume us. Take their power, I will consume their attached strings. Reject their convenience, that is how they invade.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°They were like us, but weaker. They destroyed themselves to try to become more than they could. They want to consume others, to exist once more. They inject power into anyone to try to get them to accept them in.¡±


    ¡°If they are trying to invade why should I take their power?¡±


    ¡°If we reject them completely they will invade by brute force. They gain less that way. But if you play them along. . .¡±


    ¡°I can milk them until I am too powerful for them to harm.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, do not repeat my exact warning to others.¡±


    ¡°Because they will know, they can read memory, but I can hint to be skeptical of their offers.¡±


    I smile, the young woman fades away. And my mindscape blurs back into a grey void. I need to amend some plans. Hint at the others to not accept that Grey Dream into themselves. I need to make sure we are all safe. I will not be shackled.

 Chapter 016

    Space is the sphere we use to sense distances, teleport, and most importantly target things further away. - Anthony Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    When I open my eyes its past dawn. I can see sunlight coming through the eastern windows. It¡¯s still morning.


    ¡°About time you woke up sleeping beauty, I think we are all packed.¡± Bryan is behind me, shit he had first watch. Who took over my watch? I guess it doesn¡¯t matter. I turn around Bryan has six hiking backpacks stuffed to the brim.


    ¡°Sorry for not waking up. I guess there was no luck with the nearby cars?¡±


    ¡°None, but you were right about getting that weird dream to do stuff.¡±


    ¡°Good, you¡¯ll have to tell me about it later.¡±


    I get up, and grab one of the six packs. I don''t want to make the others wait longer than I already have and surely whoever packed it would have done a good job. The others each take a pack. And we start walking, Tomas¡¯s house should be about an hour¡¯s walk to the north. I don¡¯t see Jason anywhere so I guess he really did leave.


    As we were about to head out the trio gives Abagail, Bryan and me a patchwork chain shirt.


    ¡°Use it to not die.¡± That¡¯s it Talia? At least she doesn¡¯t want me to die; I think she is mad about last night. They were good sports to my perving but maybe I went too far?


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s armor to help us stay alive.¡±


    Bryan is looking at the shirt a bit confused. ¡°I know what it is but why give it to us?¡±


    ¡°So, we are less likely to die¡±


    Abagail asks, ¡°Do you think they have any that are less patchy?¡±


    ¡°Other than the ones they are wearing? No, I think they piece these together from the dead last night.¡±


    Abagail looks down at the armor in her arms.


    ¡°It means they want you to stay alive, use it they want to be friends. If you don¡¯t like the appearance just put a regular shirt on top.¡±


    I don¡¯t actually know if that is true, but they are friendly with us. Since everyone was ready before I woke up I think some communication must have gone on.


    The shirt is really light, it¡¯s about as thick as heavy shirt and weighs twice as much. The chain sleeves hang out under my shirt but the rest of it is covered. Abagail left to put on her¡¯s but Bryan and me just put them on here.


    The trio gave us weird looks for placing it under our clothing.


    ¡°So, others don¡¯t see the glint of the sun off it.¡±


    And they scramble away towards what little clothing Outdoor World has for women. I guess they thought that as a good reason? The armor is shiny, I don¡¯t want to get caught because of that. After Abagail and the trio return we leave Outdoor World and head north


    After about twenty minutes we stop; down the street somebody is fighting. I am not really sure who, but it is not really my problem. I have five people to keep alive, whoever those are they are not part of that.


    ¡°Any idea how to make the detour?¡±


    ¡°Not without going out of the way.¡±


    I frown, I don¡¯t want to get involved in a large-scale fight. Too easy to die. Going around will take a long time, and I doubt that we will continue to keep running into nothing.


    ¡°Do you think we should wait?¡±


    ¡°There is I fight ahead, I don¡¯t think we can get around it.¡±


    Bryan and Abagail nod. I hope either they pick up elvish or the trio learns English. Should I offer to teach them? I am the only one able to, better than having to translate everything. Talia responds to my not quite a question.


    ¡°Are we going to fight or wait it out?¡±


    ¡°What do you three think?¡±


    ¡°If we fight some of us will die, unless we cannot win against whatever wins we should wait.¡±


    I nod, ¡°we are going to wait.¡±


    ¡°I am going to show the others how to look for water in the houses. We have some time and hopefully some of the showers will work.¡±


    I don¡¯t think Abagail heard me, she is watching the battle in the distance through a scope. A good idea, too bad my rifle doesn¡¯t have one.


    ¡°Good idea. We can fill the water bottles too.¡±


    He¡¯s right, without air conditioning I¡¯ve sweated like a pig both of these nights, and most of our water was drunk. Outdoor World while it had plenty of containers they did not have many full bottles. The water fountains stopped working only a few hours after we arrived. My guess is that someone or something broke open a main water line for the town.


    ¡°We are running low on water. Follow me I¡¯ll show you how to see if any of these homes have water.¡±


    As luck would have it, the first one I brought them to had water. I also explained how the bathroom worked. They asked where the water was held, but I couldn¡¯t find it in that house. I then left them to clean and gather water themselves.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The next house did not have any water in the tank, but the water tank on the toilet was full. Clean enough to bathe with anyways. I might have bottled it but it had one of those toilet cleaner things meant to prevent a yellow ring from forming.


    It worked but there was a blue ring in the bowl and tank. I didn¡¯t manage to wash my hair though, I¡¯ll do that at the next house.


    <hr>


    Most of the houses only had water in the toilet tank, and all of those either had some cleaner in it or was rusted. I should have grabbed bottles with filters. Wait I didn¡¯t pack, I¡¯ll ask who packed and complain to them. I did find some canned fruit though, that was a good breakfast after a day of burgers. There was also a book by an author I liked I hadn¡¯t read yet. I ditched some flashlights for it. Who packs regular water bottles and a half dozen bulky flashlights?


    ¡°That fight is dying down, where are you?¡±


    I look around, nobody is nearby. Who showed them how to use it? There must be a walkie talky in the backpack, I dig through the exterior pouches and find it.


    ¡°I¡¯m still looking for water. Did you find enough?¡±


    ¡°We did.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll meet you where we first saw the fight.¡±


    Now to call Bryan and Abagail, ¡°The fight is apparently dying down, lets meet where we separated.¡±


    ¡°Everyone else is already here.¡±


    Well, that¡¯s convenient. I rush over to them, and we all look better. Bryan and Abagail give me a weird look.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You look different.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I saw myself in the mirror, I look just like before. Just like I did in the weird mental dream crap. Do I still count as crazy? I still talk to voices in my dreams. Not important; I know what is real.


    Abagail answers the question, ¡°your skin looks cleaner, and your face is more symmetric.¡±


    ¡°What that is just silly. Anyways who packed the backpacks I have a complaint.¡±


    ¡°Your new friends.¡±


    I release a sigh. No wonder the quantities of items are all weird. They don¡¯t know what half this stuff is. Do they even know what half of it is? Abagail looks through here scope at the battle again.


    ¡°That fight is over, I think the winners were human. Either way the winners are coming this way. They are on horses.¡±


    Where did they get horses? I hope they are friendly, and that either they speak elvish or the trio can translate to me. They were worrying a lot about protection, will they ditch us for this larger group? I guess I¡¯ll get to find out soon.


    We just wait as the horsemen surround us. Each of them are holding a long spear in hand and have a sword belted to their waists. They aren¡¯t pointing their weapons at me so not a fight. The trio are shouting something at the men, but they seem to be laughing. The soldiers are not who is important, whoever their leader will show up.


    Bryan and Abagail both have a pistol ready to fire. They are ready to fight, Kythia is too. After a minute or so the revolving circle of horsemen stop and a man in a breastplate rides in. The others are in some sort of leather, so he must be either their leader or close to it. He is the only one without a helmet and aside from his current dress could easily pass for someone of European decent.


    The trio frown when he arrives. They know him. Good news translations should be possible, bad news they may have a feud. The man says something and the sisters reply, they talk for a bit and Talia points at me a few times.


    ¡°What is going on?¡±


    The man looks at me in surprise. He recognized the language, but he doesn¡¯t know what I said. I think. Kythia responds to my question.


    ¡°This man does not believe you to be a lord or that we are now under you house.¡±


    ¡°Did the sisters tell him that?¡±


    ¡°They did, multiple times.¡±


    ¡°How can this be resolved?¡±


    ¡°By declaring that they are yours. He will challenge for possession of them. He will name a champion from his followers and you, or a champion you name, fight and win.¡±


    ¡°How does that solve the we are surrounded by horsemen problem.¡±


    ¡°You show that you are a noble by using magic against his champion. Then they cannot take us as slaves.¡±


    ¡°Slaves?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a houseless is free to be claimed by any noble. That is why the sisters and I were surprised by your offer of hospitality.¡±


    ¡°What comes after the fight?¡±


    ¡°He will want us to go to the Althaen camp nearby.¡±


    ¡°And we have to go there?¡±


    ¡°Unless you want to offend him. Then he can call you a demon and his men can attack legally.¡±


    ¡°This is a bunch of . . .¡± Dammit elvish doesn¡¯t have that swear word. ¡°. . . Fine just set up whatever challenge has to be done. I said you could travel with me as friends and if this is how we can all stay alive and free so be it.¡±


    Kythia looks a little puzzled after my last sentence, whatever I¡¯m not sure how all these Althaen rules and laws work. I said they could travel with me as friends and that means defending them from what I can. The sisters were also staring at me as Kythia and me spoke.


    Kythia and the man on the horse talk for a bit. Talia starts talking to me during this.


    ¡°Do you know what you just told Kythia to do?¡±


    ¡°Something that it takes for the three of you to not be his slaves. Beyond that no, you respected and helped me so whatever it is I¡¯ll just have to deal with it.¡±


    Sheand her sister smile a bit. I guess I should get ready for a fight. The noble on the horse dismounts and the circle of horsemen expand the circle. Am I to fight the noble himself?


    ¡°He wants to fight you himself. Don¡¯t kill him though, he is not as strong as you. Just cut off a limb or knock him out.¡±


    Its KO or dismemberment to win? This is some brutal crap, whatever I don¡¯t care about his quality of life.


    I take off my pack. Should I just shoot the fool? No, K said I should use magic. He has metal armor on, I¡¯ll just shock him then. No, electricity flows on the outside of metal. . . He has a long sword, so parry his blade with an electrified knife?


    Bryan and Abagail look at me, ¡°he wants some sort of duel. If I win there won¡¯t be a fight afterwards.¡± They look relieved. They put too much trust in me. I can¡¯t even get up on time.


    I walk to the open space so that it¡¯s just me and him, he immediately charges at me. He opens with a lunge and I side step, from there he twists the blade into an arc at my neck. I can block that, and I¡¯m going to make it hurt. I thought this was to stop a maiming not death.


    I mutter some nonsense word and sparks start to shower off my knife just before it blocks the path of his sword. The force of his swing pushes my knife out of the way, but not before he drops the blade yelping in pain. I can feel a shallow cut on my right side, not near the jugular I¡¯ll be fine.


    I abandon creating electricity on the knife, I want fire now. I open my left hand at him and say another nonsense word, fire spills out of my palm, dousing him in flame. It¡¯s not that strong, he won¡¯t catch fire from this, but his armor will be ruined and forget about salvaging the clothes or his hair.


    I stop willing the fire into being, and the flames stop. I shouldn¡¯t suffer any backlash from this; tier one wizard spells can do this much, and I even did a verbal thing that is pointless. The horsemen are now talking to each other, is this enough?


    ¡°Kythia, ask him if he will continue.¡±


    She said something to the man, but he just pulled a knife from his boots and tried to tackle me. Idiot I was just burning you alive and now you want to tackle me? I say tried because he quickly gave up after I lit myself on fire. Well, made a fire surrounded me, my clothes are singed and so much for the scented soap smell but hey the idiot didn¡¯t actually reach me.


    The fire wraps around the knife following my will and I throw it at the idiot noble. I missed, right I only ever hit things by cheating with throwing. Fuck it, I draw the pistol from on my right side and aim for his knees as he once more decides charging is a good idea. He has also been saying things the whole time, by the look of the trio¡¯s faces they weren¡¯t nice things either.


    I shoot the gun. And take out a knee, he falls to the ground his balanced disrupted and I shoot the other knee for good measure. Now he is just screaming in pain, and bleeding, lots of bleeding. Should I make sure he doesn¡¯t bleed out?

 Chapter 017

    Time is another sphere of great importance; while one of the most difficult spheres to undertand it permits us to alter the rate that time flows, to create durations for our magic. Some have said even travel through time, but nobody has returned from trying that. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Nobody is moving, the idiot¡¯s soldiers are just watching.


    ¡°Kythia, tell them that if this man is to live they need to amputate and cauterize the wounds.¡±


    She starts talking with some of the horsemen. I don¡¯t think amputation is absolutely required for him to live but it¡¯ll make treatment easier. Unless a healer is involved, then it just makes recovering his legs harder. Do they have a healer here? I think Lysan might be one. She did use a holy symbol for the only spell I saw her cast. K got blood magic healing to work too . . . kind of.


    ¡°The noble¡¯s second in command wants to know if we wish for a ride to the camp.¡±


    ¡°Should we go?¡±


    K nods, probably because we do not have the strength to fight them and not lose anyone. ¡°Alright then, but I want to be able to stop if we pass by some places.¡±


    K goes and talks to a man who is wearing some leather armor that is a bit nicer than the others. I turn to Bryan and Abagail.


    ¡°We are getting a ride to some other survivors. I think, if we pass by your parents we¡¯ll stop there.¡±


    ¡°Is it safe? You might have just killed their leader.¡±


    ¡°I think so, but keep your weapons ready just in case.¡±


    After a few minutes the soldiers have treated their leader and guide us over to what looks like a wooden palisade constricted between buildings. Where did they get the wood? Even then how did they build this so fast? Either way we are lead in through the front gate, the idiot noble¡¯s soldiers stop outside, on the other side is a street with every lamppost and mailbox pulled out of the side walk.


    The cars and trash aregone too. There are a few hundred people here, most of them are wearing clothes from the modern era. Is this a refugee camp? There is no food being passed out nor do these people seem to be willing. I guess they were forced.


    Looking over the crowd I recognize the person standing on the one car in sight, Jason. So, this is where he went. He doesn¡¯t seem to be upset, unlike many in the crowd. Some of the soldiers walking around are leading more people here. They start pointing and pushing my group towards that crowd, is this how they treat guests? I¡¯ve been using K as a spokesperson so I look at her, she just shrugs.


    I guess we will just join the edge of the crowd. About the time that all the people with modern clothes on are within earshot of Jason he begins to talk, well shout.


    ¡°Many of you don¡¯t know what has been going on the past day. Don¡¯t worry about the soldiers that have brought us here. They are the Althaen, they have followed the monsters here from their world to help us.


    They may have recruited us as slaves to help with this cause, but it is for our own good! . . .¡±


    What the hell is this? I crippled that idiot so they wouldn¡¯t think of me as a slave. Bryan leans over to me, ¡°what¡¯s he going on about?¡±


    ¡°These people consider anyone who isn¡¯t a noble an unclaimed slave.¡±


    ¡°What! Why didn¡¯t we kill those horsemen then?¡±


    ¡°To many to fight at once, that duel thing was should have made them recognize me as a mage. All mages count as nobles, so anyone I say is with me cannot be enslaved without me saying ok. I suggest trying to get a casting something out of the weird GreyDream.¡±


    I tune back into Jason¡¯s rant, what am I going to do about this? Will I have to cripple another poor fool?


    ¡°. . . great things that we can receive by following them. They are nobles like kings of old, and if we serve them well we may be given the same title!


    Don¡¯t worry they are good people, they are only here because they want to help us. Their ancestors once walked among us! They are the people from our tales of places like Camelot and Atlantis! I have been blessed by their grace to be a spokesman for them and help direct us in aiding them.


    Now, if everyone will gather into a line so that we may be directed to where we can help the most.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Jason points to what remains of a courthouse, this is just great. Line up so you can all be good slaves. Well, we won¡¯t be slaves. Why is he helping them? He followed me at the school for safety and left when Bryan made him work. Why would he now be here? He must have met with the Althaen while I was burying Tomas. Are they using him as a puppet? Maybe who would be easier to manipulate than a teenager?


    Some soldiers are trying to push us towards the courthouse but K growls at them and they move to less dangerous targets. Jason notices us and begins to walk over. The guards don¡¯t stop him, yep he definitely made a deal with the nobles.


    ¡°Adrian, Bryan, nice to see you. I was wondering when Thraen would bring you back. Congratulations we are now all servants to the Althaen. Don¡¯t worry though I make sure you get good jobs like corpse cleaner, I¡¯m in charge of directing labor.¡±


    I want to wipe that smirk of his face, and not just because he is staring at the trio. They are mine, and this punk is a traitorous pig. ¡°Is Thraen the idiot I crippled on my way here? Oh, and we are not slaves I count as a noble under their laws.¡±


    He stops smiling, good ¡°Your lying, hurting a noble means death.¡±


    Does it? Not if you win, the duel is apparently a might makes right type of thing. ¡°You saw what I did back at the school. I¡¯ll threaten people, so why wouldn¡¯t I hurt someone who attacked me? And what do you think about betrayal? I¡¯m sure you tried to sell me, you did, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    And he is now scared. He did try to sell me. Is he selling all of these people to the Althaen? Jason starts telling the soldiers something in that language the trio used to talk to the soldiers earlier. When did he learn to speak it? Was it a spell, or the Grey Dream? K shouts something back at them and they stop advancing. The soldiers and K drew their weapons at some point while I was thinking.


    Jason starts to stutter, ¡°Sh She called you her lord in their language. How? When?¡±


    ¡°I told you I count as a nobleto them.¡±


    ¡°Kythia, please tell the soldiers to stand down and get a noble who speaks elven.¡±


    She says something to the soldiers, Jason looks even more scared now. She must have added something to it. Whatever, now I just have to wait.


    <hr>


    After about an hour of me ignoring Jason¡¯s attempted apologies, slaving traitor, an older man who looks quite upset arrives. He has a slight limp as he walks and is dressed in something similar to a fancy bathrobe, wizard robes? They are blue with decorative patterns in a different shade, a design that I assume is a sigil or crest is embroidered on his left arm.


    He says something in Althaen, I¡¯m guessing the name of their nation will also be the name of the language. K responds to him, I don¡¯t know what she said but the old man looks surprised. He turns to me and begins speaking a language I do know.


    ¡°I was upset when some soldiers told me some barbarian noble demanded an audience. Now I¡¯m more interested in how you got the last Bloodclaw to say you are her master. Unfortunately for you though you have no standing in . . .¡±


    ¡°All mages are counted as nobles by your own laws.¡± I raise my hand and open it, I need to do something flashy. I hope enough of the people around here have already seen magic. A small dragon of golden fire appears over my hand. I have it take flight and fly around the small group we are in. The older man stops talking for a moment.


    ¡°That is just a cheap trick, I have seen you people¡¯s machines. Moving picturesof people who are not mages doing such tricks. . .¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve fought some fool noble who challenged my claim over my servants on the way here. That also makes me a noble, my house can and will defend our own.¡±


    I have no idea of that is right but it does seem like something that would fit in their laws.


    ¡°Who did you fight?¡± the older man says giving me a threatening look.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the fool¡¯s name. I don¡¯t speak Althaen, and he didn¡¯t speak any of my languages. I could not ask even if I cared. Kythia what was his name?¡± They are a prideful people, act arrogant and hope that idiot was from a different house.


    ¡°Thraen, my lord¡±


    ¡°There you go the fool¡¯s name was Thraen.¡±


    The older man¡¯s face immediately changes to a smile. Perfect, they are not from the same family.


    ¡°So, you are the great mage who spared his life but crippled him. I wanted to meet anyone who could put the Sunchasers in their place. You are right, you are a noble under our laws. Who are the members of your house?¡±


    ¡°Of those present, the elven sisters, Kythia and the two humans behind me. I didn¡¯t see any of my house among the crowd. But if I find one I will take them back. . . Also, this man Jason was a follower of mine but he has abandoned and betrayed me, you may want to be careful what you put him in charge of. He will lie, make promises he cannot keep and sell that which he does not own.¡±


    The older man frowns but nods at my words, ¡°he cannot be trusted then, I will have to find another. You can speak with both us and the people of this land will you do his job?¡±


    ¡°No, I only guide and protect my own people.¡±


    The older man sighs, ¡°I will see that your right to an abode and a place of employment is honored while you are here. But we will have to take some of you supplies in tax.¡±


    I nod, ok that is much better. ¡°Provisions I assume?¡±


    The man nods, ¡°I will set them aside once we are settled then. I assume you are busy with your work?¡±


    ¡°I am, but a fellow noble is more important than overseeing the new slaves¡±


    What is with these people and slaves? I can''t stop them so I guess I''ll worry about it later.


    ¡°If I can get your name in case another problem arises, you may send someone to show me to the abode when it is ready.¡±


    ¡°I am Tr¨ªan of the house Valthr?, and you are very considerate lord . . .¡±


    ¡°Adrian of house Ravnos.¡±


    I shake the man¡¯s extended hand, and mimic the form of his introduction. I think he whispers something under his breath. Whatever it was it was not a language I know. The trio were startled at my last name as well, why? I have too many questions and not enough answers these last few days. The older man leaves and now we wait around for the abode to be readied.

 Chapter 018

    The sphere of the mind has no physical effects alone. Sensing the thoughts of those around you, sharing information, adjusting memories, and creating illusions are its forte. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    As we wait, some soldiers bring us lunch, its smoked something. Pork? The sisters wouldn¡¯t eat it but K did, so it can¡¯t be harmful. I explained the conversation I had with Tr¨ªan to Bryan and Abagail. They do not like the Althaen, well I don¡¯t either. This whole only the rights of nobles matter, is garbage; but if I have to make them think I am one to not be a slave then I will be a noble to them.


    We decided to not talk about anything important until we are in the free home. I am sure they have people listening. In the early afternoon, a soldier leads us to a small bank, there is a pile of bedding brought in and he says, K translating, that he would come in the morning to show me where our employment will be while we stay here.


    Abagail looks over at the vault door, its closed ¡°do you think it still has its contents?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that the dollar has any value anymore.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean the safety deposit boxes.¡±


    ¡°No idea, but you can try to get it open if you want.¡± I look around, the bank is old aside from the vault it¡¯s all brick. Is this old enough to be built back in the cold war? If it is there will be a bomb shelter, and we can hide anything we don¡¯t want the Altaen to know about there.


    Other than the lobby there is a hallway leading to a few offices, and a bathroom. The vault is in the teller section, which can only be enter from the lobby. I walk back into one of the offices as the rest begin to look around, and set up their own beddings.


    There should be a printer in each of these, and I find the first office does indeed have a printer. I open it up and remove the paper. After grabbing some of the pens I turn around to see the trio setting up bedding, they want this room?


    ¡°You can have this room, but there is something I would like you to do. I want you to write down a pronunciation guide and translations for the language of these people. I¡¯ll make one for English for you to learn from.¡±


    ¡°Why? One of us could just translate for you.¡±


    ¡°Because you all cannot follow me everywhere, andBryan and Abagail will need to learn as well.¡±


    "Fine, but we will want a reward for it."


    ¡°Fair enough. You have at least until tomorrow, if it¡¯s not done just work on it as you have time.¡±


    They don¡¯t look happy about it, still they need to be able to communicate with Bryan and Abagail. Crap, I¡¯m going to have to make two of these things. English to Elvish and Elvish to English, could I get one of the computers online and type it? Direct feed of electricity wouldn¡¯t work, I¡¯m not skilled enough for creating that sort of highly regulated flow. Damn, my hand is going to hurt.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come back to talk later.¡±


    I leave the room and check what rooms are still open. Of the four offices, Bryan took the furthest to the back and Abagail the one almost at the back. Why didn¡¯t one of the trio room with Abagail? It doesn¡¯t really matter.


    I drag what bedding is left to the remaining office. Corse wool blankets, better than nothing but we have sleeping bags and bedrolls with the packs. I should probably see what all is in mine. It¡¯s balanced but I¡¯m sure the best packing decisions were not made. What can be expected when the packer didn¡¯t know what the items were. Well there are pictures on a lot of merchandise but they can be deceiving.


    I put my pack on the desk and sit in the chair as I remove all of its contents. While doing so Bryan walks in and takes one of the two open chairs.


    ¡°How are you so calm?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not, I have no idea how we are going to survive long term.¡±


    ¡°Just holding on as we go?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much, I don¡¯t think it will be easy to leave here either.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°That noble I dueled will have family here, and I think Jason will try something.¡±


    ¡°What can they do, you¡¯re a powerful mage?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do just anything I want with magic. All power comes at a price. Anyways how did my advice on the Grey Dream thing go?¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Whatever thing made the sheet has no idea how to organize.¡±


    ¡°Well, what class and what not did it show?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you are the DM right now.¡±


    We both smile, that right players don¡¯t ask to see each other¡¯s sheets. Keep players from bickering over legal feats or races.


    ¡°I have two classes. There is some multiclass penalty though. We always ignored those.¡±


    ¡°Stop being a tease, and just tell me.¡±


    ¡°Only if you tell me about yours after.¡±


    I nod and he continues, ¡°level zero wizard and paladin, both of them can be specialized to a subclass. I¡¯m thinking Undead Hunter or Inquisitor for the paladin, but I have to find a patron. Abjuration is my idea for the wizard specialization.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good, any idea how to get a patron?¡±


    ¡°None, hopefully one will show up. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll improve much through that dream until I get one or spells to learn.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to try to teach the trio English, they know some magic and could help after you can talk with them. I will also be giving you something to try to learn Elvish.¡±


    ¡°Mr Garcia was always telling me I would need to know more than English.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that he meant learning Elvish or whatever other languages are running around.¡±


    We smile again.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just teach me magic? I¡¯ve seen you cast Energy Weapon, Scorcher, and Fireshield.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t you¡¯ll be manipulating mana. I don¡¯t know how to do that.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t use mana, I am a different type of caster.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a divine caster? Who is the patron? Some god of fire and lightning?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m neither. It¡¯s closer to Psionics but that is not it either¡±


    ¡°Weirdo.¡±


    ¡°Once you figure out the basics I can give ideas for new spells though. I always was a better mage player than you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because we accepted your bullshit blood magic and other crap.¡±


    ¡°Kythia, tried to get it to work. She says it works, but is inefficient because of some mistake she is making in it.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°They haven¡¯t lied to me yet so I believe her.¡±


    ¡°Fuck Abjuration then, I¡¯m doing your crazy blood magic warrior thing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my build and you know it.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t use it, no mana remember?¡±


    ¡°Screw you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s someone else¡¯s job.¡±


    We bust up laughing, and Abagail walks in. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    ¡°We were talking about what Bryan received in the Grey Dream. You want to join in?¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem funny.¡±


    ¡°We are weirdos who played games about things that are now real. Sit down, Bryan and me can help you figure out what to do.¡±


    She sits down on the other open chair, I don¡¯t think she believed my excuse. Not my problem if she finds out anyways.


    ¡°So, what do you need to know?¡±


    ¡°Attributes and class.¡±


    ¡°STR 11, DEX 14, CON 11, INT 15, WIS 13, CHA 15, APR 15, the class was bard.¡±


    I¡¯ll just have to write her off as a cheerleader. Unless she has some specialization to branch to. Decent stats for a human bard though. I think, I¡¯m not sure of the scale being used yet.


    ¡°Any subclass or specialization option?¡±


    She shakes her head no, well at least she will be helpful outside of fights. I look at Bryan, ¡°Do you want to tell her, or should I?¡±


    ¡°The bard is a class that knows a little about how to do almost anything, but they are not great at anything. The only exceptions are emotion based magic and social skills. Don¡¯t draw the enemies¡¯ attention to yourself ever, and keep the party¡¯s moral up.¡±


    She looks disappointed, ¡°you might not be much help in a fight but you can help us avoid them. Bards are also good with subterfuge, though straight up theft is better left to a rouge or thief.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to kick me out for not being helpful?¡±


    Why would she think that? Because Jason wasn¡¯t useful and ditched us?


    ¡°No, besides you are helpful. But unlike Bryan or me you are more useful outside of a fight than in one.¡±


    Am I right in assuming that the classes will have to dictate the roll a person will play? If they want strength from the Grey Dream yes, unless there is dual classing. Or class changing, that may be somewhere.


    ¡°As far as the bard class goes it works primarily off your charisma, appearance and then intelligence. You can also learn to do almost anything just not as well as somebody else.¡±


    ¡°Are we still trying to get to Bryan¡¯s parents?¡±


    I sigh, I know there is no way for them to still be alive.


    ¡°That will be up to Bryan, we should try to see if they are here. They could have been picked up by one of these nobles.¡±


    Bryan smiles at the idea, but I know it will be found false. At least there is hope right?


    ¡°What about your character sheet Adrian? Your turn to share.¡±


    ¡°I have something called free multiclassing, so I¡¯m a fighter, dragon knight, and magus.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem fair, I suffer a penalty why do you get the benefits without it?¡±


    ¡°That was my pay for inventing the character sheet.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t invent that.¡±


    ¡°But the Grey Dream thinks I did. It¡¯s not all-knowing and it might be lying to us, so why not lie back and benefit off it?¡±


    ¡°This is why you never play a paladin.¡±


    ¡°Not true, I¡¯ve played paladins of freedom.¡±


    ¡°That was once and you turned him into a Spellsword.¡±


    ¡°Still counts.¡±


    Bryan gives me a dirty look. The DM for that campaign hated my paladin, but I kept the party in line and getting things done; even if I killed things I was supposed to have run from. Should I draw that guy back up and show Bryan how he worked? Will his build even work in this Grey Dream''s system?


    ¡°Either way, you should get what you can out of theGrey Dream and stay skeptical about what it says. It might be telling the truth or might not. Now I have an English to Elvish translation guide to write and still need to see what is in my pack here.¡±


    They walk out of the room thinking about our conversation. Did I forget to mention something? Character advise, don¡¯t trust the Grey Dream, and language learning. Was there something else? Well I always remember things I find important so it must not have been.


    Alright, the book I stole, some jerky, more empty nonfilter water bottles, a pump filter, more flashlights, a few shirts, jeans, socks, underwear. No two packages are the same size, I can¡¯t use most of this. At least it all makes sense so far, here I was worried something stupid would be . . .


    I was right to be worried, there is a box forthe lamp part of a garden lamp post. Outdoor World doesn¡¯t even sell these. Where did it come from? Mabey that lawn and garden where I buried Tomas? That is straight up useless, what would I want or need this for?


    A mess kit, a few boxes of bullets, some of those heat your soup with propane cups, there doesn¡¯t seem to be any propane though, or soup. There are however several packages of batteries, they must have seen them in the flashlights. And at the bottom there are two inflatable queen sized mattresses. I can understand a mattress but why two?

 Chapter 019

    Planar is the extention of the sphere of space into the manipulation of other worlds. What can be done with Space can also be done with Planar but Planar can reach across the void between worlds. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After spending most of what was left of the daylight writing; my hand simply refuses to write any more. At least I got through pronunciation and grammar structure of both languages. I take what I do have over to where I last saw the trio, the twins were there but K was not.


    ¡°Here, is the start of what I¡¯ll give you to learn English.¡±


    Should I tell them of the useless junk in the backpack? No, I don¡¯t want to know about the lamppost. I hear a loud bang in the lobby. Rushing over there I see Abagail behind a desk as a cloud of dust settles. K is standing in front of a now dented vault door. How did Abagail get her to try to open it?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry its almost open.¡±


    A shard of earth appears before K¡¯s out stretched hand and flies towards the vault. Another cloud forms as it shatters against the vault, the dent now larger. Before I can react, K sends a third and fourth stone into the door. Opening a small but usable hole.


    This is not what I expected when I told Abagail she could try to open it. She is getting the idea of a bard right though. Get others to do the work while you cheer them on. I¡¯ll let them have their fun. I¡¯ll just go to sleep, I need to wake up early tomorrow. But for what?


    <hr>


    I open my eyes to the grey void, I can feel that it is not my mind. The Grey Dream, alright lets see how much this place improved. I think the necessary questions to get it to the state I left it in.


    ¡°Alright show me a sheet of myself.¡±


    <table style="background-color: #21752c">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Bluff 1 (+1SP), Sense Motive 1 (+1SP), Dagger 2 (+2SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #2712b3">


    <tbody>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 39


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well, this is much cleaner. I didn¡¯t gain much but then again compared to the first day I showed up here not much happened. Alright how did the skills get divided up? I poke the floating image before me.


    <table style="background-color: #2712b3">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Ranged 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Firearms 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Archery 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Melee 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Sword 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Dagger 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Evasion 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Perception 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Arcana 7


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Physics 4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Mathematics 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Tactics 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Chemistry 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Planes 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Handle Animal 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Empathy 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Sense Motive 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Persuade 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Drive 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Sewing 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Leatherwork 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Drawing 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Carving 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alright still a work in progress. I touch the word Class on the first image that appeared. The skill page remained but moved to the side. There doesn¡¯t seem to be an exit on the page itself either. I turn to the Class window.


    <table style="background-color: #2712b3">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Fighter 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Dragon Knight: Void 3A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Magus 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alright what do the others look like?


    <table style="background-color: #2712b3">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #2712b3">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Arcane Power 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Planar 0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Fate 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Life 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Mind 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Soul 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Primal 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Time 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Manipulation 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Telekinetic 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Fire 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Lightning 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Light 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Darkness 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #2712b3">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td>


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td>


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Draconic


    </td>


    <td>


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td>


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td>


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #2712b3">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 16


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 19


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="208">


    INT 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 18


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 126


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 18


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    No, point in checking EP or SP. I don¡¯t have enough to buy anything worthwhile. These screens need titles. Whatever, time for real sleep, the grey void drifts away . . .


    <hr>


    I open my eyes, brick walls surrounding an air up mattress. This is where I fell asleep. I smile no crazy dreams, no mind games. I hope it stays this way. I get up and get dressed, about the time I am finished there is a knock at the front door of the bank.


    I walk over to the front door; the trio peak out of their door. Bryan and Abagail must still be asleep. I open the door, the soldier from yesterday is there. Right something about employment. He says something in Althaen, I don¡¯t know what it was but K speaks up behind me.


    ¡°He is telling you that we need to follow him to a selection. I think we are being put in the military, but are to be screened first.¡±


    ¡°Alright tell him we will follow him shortly.¡±


    I walk back to the other office rooms, or do they count as bedrooms now? Either way I wake the two and we all leave to follow the soldier to this selection.


    The selection happens to be at the front entrance of the palisade, there are some leather tents set up. A line of people coming out of the tent. The soldier speaks and I have K translate for me again.


    ¡°Since you are a noble we are allowed to cut in line. This is a screening for the jobs that we will receive. There would have been a line for nobles but you are the only one.¡±


    Should I have us all cut in line? I can¡¯t see the end of it. They expect me to make everybody else wait, I have to keep cover. I walk toward the entrance to the tent, one of the guards moved to block my way. Am I going to have to hurt him to keep my cover?


    Another guard pulls the prior out of my path and whispered something to him. Guess some of them know me, or recognize the trio. Either way we enter the tent unhindered. Inside there are three older men sitting at a table. One of them is Tr¨ªan, I don¡¯t know the other two. There is also an old man in robes standing to the side, his walking stick has a red gemstone on top. Judging by the staff and his long beard I would peg him as a mage.


    I turn to see the other side of the tent, there are several soldiers and Jason is standing there. He is now dressed as a Althean noble. How did he manage that? I hope he is just here as a translator.


    ¡°Lord Tr¨ªan I assume this is the work you were interrupted from yesterday?¡±


    ¡°It is, would you like to go before or after your servants.¡±


    The other two men at the table seem confused. Guess they do not know who I am. The two seem upset at me talking with Tr¨ªan, the three exchange a few words. Of the two one is now giving me a death stare the other a smile. I guess one of them is a Sunchaser.


    ¡°I would see my servants go through the process first.¡±


    ¡°Do the humans aside from the Bloodclaw speak the Althaen tongue?¡±


    ¡°No, but if you tell me . . .¡±


    The older man who has been giving me a death stare interrupts, ¡°I refuse to acknowledge this barbarian as a noble. I was told by a reliable source that the knife ears and blood bitch are not members of his house. His house does not exist. If there were any houses left in this land we would not have to have this slave census.


    This man is clearly a servant to the two knife ears, he speaks their tongue but not Althaen he cannot be a noble. This peasant injured my son and I demand satisfaction.¡±


    Well he clearly hates me. The trio prepare to draw their weapons. ¡°Why would I know the language of a people who I have never interacted with? I know elvish because my house has had dealings with them before.¡±


    Tr¨ªan is trying to hide a smirk, is it at my peril or Sunchaser¡¯s actions? He seemed friendly yesterday after recognizing me as a noble. He could be two faced though. He definitely disliked the Sunchasers more than me though.


    ¡°You hide behind words, name you house or be punished for faking your claims. I do not even believe you are a mage. The soldiers told me my son would have won but you used a strange wand.¡±


    Why do they keep thinking guns are magical wands? Should use my last name again or challenge a duel? I don¡¯t think this idiot will acknowledge the duel . . .


    ¡°See he is a fraud. He is no noble but a . . .¡±


    I need to intimidate them, what is the most dangerous thing I can do? Death, waves of negative energy, but the ripples can¡¯t touch me nor my allies. I push the image onto the space in the tent. A ripple of darkness but not darkness spreads through the tent, the wood of the table begins to darken and the tent¡¯s leather rots.


    ¡°I am Adrian Ravnos and you will accept my rights.¡±


    The man goes silent, he does not nod as the other two men, I force the ripples of death to stay near him. I doubt this will be permanent, but I see his skin start to wrinkle and his hair lose its luster. He nods and I stop twisting reality, I can feel a tension in me. This is more than I have ever twisted something.


    Am I really getting stronger? Is this tension a muscle fatigue or am I sensing a backlash coming? There were a lot of people outside that tent, shit I am in trouble. I need illusions; mind, light and darkness I need to learn more about those.


    ¡°Are you ready to play nice?¡±


    Sunchaser nods, good. ¡°Then we may proceed, I will play nice if you do remember that.¡±


    I wait a few seconds, I have to make it a point.


    ¡°Lord Tr¨ªan if I remember correctly I was about to ask you to explain to me the process that will be done?¡±


    The noble who isn¡¯t Sunchaser looks at Tr¨ªan with envy. What I did shouldn¡¯t have been that big right? More than I¡¯ve ever done before but surly less than they¡¯ve seen. The old wizard didn¡¯t panic so it couldn¡¯t have been too dangerous.


    ¡°Ah, yes Lord Adrian. Magister Talphith will check you and your servants for mana. If they possess any they will be given a post of captain or co-captain of a squad. Regardless of the rank everyone is being placed into the patrols over the palisade walls. We are expecting an attack within a few days.¡±


    I turn and summarize what the process will be to Bryan and Abagail.


    ¡°Can you tell me what that show you just put on was?¡±


    ¡°Later.¡±


    Bryan nods, I can¡¯t explain now. Jason while currently terrified would still hear it and translate it to Sunchaser later. I can see them glancing at each other. Definitely in cahoots.


    The old man, presumably Magister Talphith has Bryan and Abagail touch the crystal on his staff. It lit up for both of them and he said something to the three nobles. Sunchaser¡¯s skin and hair seem to be returning to normal. I was hoping to affect him longer, I need a better understanding of the Sphere ofTime too . . .


    The crystal glows for the trio as well, so they are all casters? Or is it that nobody is?


    ¡°Well, Lord Adrian you really know how to collect servants. Each one of them is a mage, I don¡¯t know what type, but impressive. You stand up to the legend of your house.¡±


    What legend? Too bad I can¡¯t ask that, I hope they have books that will tell me. A book won¡¯t share secrets not written in it.


    Tr¨ªan speaks up drawing me from my endless stream of questions. ¡°Your servants will be paired to be captains over a watch. You have already proved yourself with mana, so which servant will accompany you?¡±

 Chapter 020

    Life is the sphere of all that is alive. Healing and altering your own body and the body of others. Its counterpart is death, and they are difficult to focus on one without needing the other to understand. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Tr¨ªan speaks up drawing me from my endless stream of questions.¡°Your servants will be paired to be captains over a watch. You have already proved yourself with mana, so which servant will accompany you?¡±


    K looks at me, she has been functioning as a translator so far. I still need one. So, it needs to be either her or one of the twins. Should I change?


    ¡°Kythia, will accompany me as a translator. I assume that we will need to know Althaen?¡±


    ¡°As well as the tongue of the new slaves.¡±


    I frown, slaves and noble privilege. At least we are on the privileged side. I don¡¯t care what happens to others but they should at least only have to suffer from their own actions.


    ¡°Then aside from myself, my followers will need time to learn before they are able to help.¡±


    The three of them frown, and start to talk to each other. K leans over to me, ¡°They are discussing if they can wait. Sunchaser is trying to use this lack of ability to lower your status.¡±


    So, I will continue to be bothered by that family? At least he isn¡¯t spouting crap about how disrespecting his family is courting death. Can I use this somehow?


    ¡°I would be able to more quickly teach my followers the needed languages if I had help, someone who speaks elvish and Althaen. Perhaps someone who could also demonstrate basics of magic for them so I would not have to divide my attention to it?¡±


    Tr¨ªan says something to the older man who is not Sunchaser. I guess he doesnot speak elvish. The man nods, does he agree?


    ¡°Magister Talphith has an apprentice, Harrold, who speaks elvish and is in charge of teaching the new slaves the basics of mana.¡±


    ¡°I thought any mage counted as a noble, are they slaves anyways?¡±


    ¡°A mage knows how to use their gifts. When they are skilled enough a house will adopt them as a lesser noble.¡±


    I nod, still twisted but at least some will later escape this slavery. Tr¨ªan continues, ¡°Returning to the subject of your work; combat training will be a dawn, Harrold will expect you and your followers after high noon. You will have the watch from dusk until dawn. When your followers get a grasp on the Althaen tongue you will be given more watches. At that point divide them how you will among your house.¡±


    I frown at the mention of which watch I am going to have; Sunchaser smiles to my reaction. I know who is at fault. When will I get to sleep? The late afternoon? Should I make a fuss and demand a better job? No, even if it is at a shit time being a watchman is easy. Just keep a look out for an attack. None of us will be at a significant risk of death.


    ¡°Very well, so you have a soldier to guide me to these locations?¡±


    Tr¨ªan nods, and says something in Althaen. One of the soldiers near Jason steps foreward.


    ¡°This man will guide you, just have your translator tell him where.¡±


    I walk over to the soldier who gives me a small bow, before slowly walking out of the tent. We all follow him towards where ever it is that combat training will happen. During out walk I fill Bryan and Abagail in on the jobs we were assigned.


    The soldier leads us over a few streets, I can see that most of the nearby office buildings have been converted into some sort of barracks. The streets are clear save for a few bloodstains and a bit a rubble. They have been cleaning up.


    The combat training is taking place in front of the entrance to the public library. The soldier who guided us says something to a man in chainmail. He isn¡¯t a regular soldier, they are all in an odd colored leather. Looking at the makeshift practice yard I can see several people losing in swordfights to these soldiers.


    The man in chainmail says something, I don¡¯t get it and look at K.


    ¡°Divide up each one with a soldier. No magic aside from self-augmentation.¡±


    Judging by how poorly others are doing against the soldiers I¡¯m going to lose. The soldiers are already playing with the others, the ''slaves'', who have been added to their ranks. Is this training or entertainment for the soldiers?This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    I explain to Bryan and Abagail what this should be, as I was doing so one of the soldiers tossed a wooden practice sword at my back. When I turn around the soldier isn¡¯t standing in any form of guard and by the tone of his voice is mocking me.


    Should I ask for a translation? As I pick up the fallen sword, I notice that K and the twins are already paired off with some soldiers. They are holding their own. I know I am going to end up losing, I am no swordsman. But maybe I can make him work for it?


    Bryan catches a sword tossed to him. I stand up and hold the sword in front of me. I don¡¯t know any self-augmentation magic, hopefully I can react fast enough to not lose too quickly. The soldier charges at me, I sidestep. I dodged the charge, but I feel a hit against back.


    I stumble forwards, it doesn¡¯t hurt as much as the orc club from a few days ago, but it still hurts. I turn around and swing the sword at the soldier. Pain erupts from my hand, I hear a piece of wood hit concrete.


    A crack resounds through the air, pain erupts on the left side of my chest. I grunt in pain, this isn¡¯t training. These soldiers are here to be entertained through sadism. The soldier backs up, giving me room to grab the fallen sword.


    Bryan seems to be doing a little better, Abagail won¡¯t pick up the sword they tossed at her. My hand hurts, there is a bruise forming on both it and my left side. I turn manage to block the soldier¡¯s next swing.


    Some of the others nearby seem to be taunting me. I could win if I burnt my opponent¡¯s sword. Should I? No, I cannot always solve things with magic. These soldiers may be sadists but I can memorize how they are winning.


    The soldier pivots his sword and it slides past my cross guard and strikes my hand. I don¡¯t drop the sword this time but I think he broke the skin. I step forwards to strike the soldier with the pommel, instead I get kneed in the gut.


    As I am crouching over on reflex a sword blow lands on my back knocking me to the ground. My face stings, as I get up I see some blood trickling off my right thumb. The surrounding soldiers are laughing. So, they think it is funny to watch people get injured.


    They are not trying to show anyone how to fight. They are beating us for fun. I twist reality and the bleeding stops, the bruises cease to expand and the pain is diminishing. I have to hold long enough to actually learn something. Getting beaten down like the other people I can see accomplishes nothing. I may be a mage but it was not my magic alone that saved my life against orcs and goblins, I will learn even if these people are not helpful.


    <hr>


    All I can say is that I am stubborn. I never hit the soldier, got knocked down multiple times, and disarmed even more; but I made him fight the three hours that were left before noon. Abagail never fought, Bryan lost as badly as I did just not as many times. I don¡¯t know how the sisters¡¯ fights were but I think K won her¡¯s.


    The sisters went back to the bank saying something about not needing magic lessons. So, it¡¯s now just K, Bryan, Abagail and me being led to Harrold. I¡¯ll probably end up having to translate whatever lesson we end up getting. I hope that its easier than the ¡®sparing¡¯ matches.


    We are led into the library, in one of the corners a young man in bathrobes is standing in front of a bunch of people who were not at the sparing outside. I don¡¯t recognize anyone. The youth in the bathrobes counts the number of people here, before pulls out a necklace from his pocket.


    The necklace is golden with a piece of amber hanging on it. The gemstone seems to catch more light than it should. The youth mutters something and the stone releases a flash of light, but the gem looks a bit dimmer afterwards. An enchanted item, I don¡¯t see any physical effect from the flash of light, nor do I feel any different. It must have targeted someone else.


    ¡°I am Harrold, you all have potential to use mana. I will be showing you how to, but I will not be answering questions nor will any of you be welcome here in my study outside of these lectures . . .¡±


    The necklace must have held a translation spell. I won¡¯t have to translate anything, I smile that means I can focus on looking around. He said this is his study? Well there are several things that shouldn¡¯t be in a library here. A cauldron, candles, and a few chests. Most of them are pretty small.


    ¡°. . . mana is the energy that fuels magic and each of you possess some amount of it. It is nearly impossible to learn to control. Luckily the gods are merciful and have given us an ally in the Grey Dream.¡±


    Some of the people here start to ask what the Grey Dream is and Harrold ignores them. He really does mean that he will not be giving extra aid. I look over to the nearby shelves, they are covered in leather bound books. This is a children¡¯s section; those books are not from this library.


    ¡°When you are in the Grey Dream think about my lessons and it may bless you with understanding. Otherwise you will remain slaves and be forced to die as infantry.


    The easiest way to develop an understanding without the favor of the Grey Dream is through emotion. . .¡±


    I hope Bryan will be able to get something out of this. I literally cannot use it, even though I have mana. . . What can I even use it for? I need to think about that later, right now I need to see if there is anything I can use here.


    ¡°. . . emotions can have ties to different schools and types of magic. Most notably is anger and fire. Many such as yourselves first figure out how to get a memorized spell to function in a fit of rage.


    As such until either you demonstrate one of the spells . . .¡±


    Some of the books are written in elven, but most titles I cannot read. They don¡¯t all seem to be the same language though. The chests are fairly small, some of them are open and hold vials of liquid. The smallest of the chests holds a few vials of red something. I think I can feel it calling to me. I want to drink them . . .


    ¡°. . . you will all be joining the other slaves in sparing with the soldiers. I told them to be mean so learn quickly. If you happen to like getting the shit beat out of you by the time you manifest your magic, then you can continue. Now I will only be explaining to you some cantrips whose school and type can be associated with anger and rage.¡±


    I can¡¯t just get up and take them. They seem old so I doubt they will be used soon. I don¡¯t know why I want them, but I know they will help me. What is in those vials? The other red vials I can see don¡¯t make me want them.


    ¡°If you need to learn through another emotion then you will have to acquire those spells on your own. First up I will explain a spell called Flare, while not strong enough to . . .¡±


    I don¡¯t need to know about mana spells, I need some of these items here. They can help me and my friends survive. Some of these Althaens are going to try to kill me, Sunchaser wants to, and he seems important so others will too. . . I tune out Harrold and his superficial lecture, I need to familiarize myself with this space.

 Chapter 021

    Death is the counter part of life, it can perform the inverses of the feats of Life. It also touches upon some of the ideas of enthropy that lies under the sphere of Chaos. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Jason


    <hr>


    I walk out of the tent, dammit why does that nerd get everything handed to him? In school the teachers never called him out on anything. The gangs never touched him either. No one should be friends with both groups. Now the world has gone to shit and he gets even more successful.


    At the school it made sense, he had a gun and the midgets couldn¡¯t beat that. It made sense to follow him, it was safer than Samantha and her friends. But how did he know to bring a gun that day? How did he know how to fight them?


    He never did anything at school, no sports, no clubs, nothing. How can he know how to do so many things? And why did those three girls appear out of nowhere and just start following him around?


    He¡¯s crazy, and even his friends are crazy. That Bryan kid pulled a gun on me after that other nerd died when I told him to fuck off about cleaning up. Why should anyone care about some dead nerd from a poor family? Who does he think he is? I¡¯m a doctor¡¯s son, they are all poor nerds. I¡¯m the one with a future not them.


    I arrive at the training grounds, I have a sergeant to talk to . . .


    <hr>


    I snuck away when they were all burring the other nerd. I found Thraen a noble of the Althaen and made a deal with him. Life was great, I was safe and wealthy these Althaen pay well for exotic slaves. I felt bad I couldn¡¯t try all those girls that were following the nerds. I could have shown them what a real man is.


    But no all of my hard work is now ruined, Adrian just walks into the Althaen¡¯s home and now he is a noble. I had to sell people as slaves for my title. But he just gets one for free. This is all bullshit. I was on the football team; high school is my time to live it up. Its Friday, I¡¯m supposed to be fucking a cheerleader or two tonight; but no, some of the best-looking girls I¡¯ve ever seen are following some nerd around.


    I would at least get to play with some of the girls I sold, but now Raenar is mad at me for not telling him which house Adrian is from. There are no nobles, how can Adrian be one? How can I convince him of that? Or at least that I did not know? I can still have the soldiers beat the shit out of Adrian under the excuse of training. They would probably have done it without me asking, but not for three whole hours. I smile at the thought, maybe he will die from the injuries.


    I can¡¯t count on it though, he has strange powers. Is what I saw him do in that tent the mana that Thraen said I would never have? I need to find some way to get that power, there has to be some way. But first, I will see the cooks. Raenar said that Adrian turned over all the food he had. . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I lose myself in feeling the space nearby, something touches me. Its shape is that of Bryan, my perception starts to shake. No, I am shaking? I am being shaken, lightly, discreetly. I return to my regular senses.


    Harrold¡¯s lecture is over, everyone is slowly getting up. I turn to Bryan he wants to ask a question. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later. Lets get back to the bank. I¡¯m stuck with the midnight watch here too.¡±


    The four of us get up. As we leave the library the soldier that lead us here walks up and K translates whatever it is that he said.


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    My stomach grumbles, why did I agree to handing over the food to Tr¨ªan? No breakfast was delivered, and it is already two hours past noon. I need to know where the food is kept. I should have asked the trio if they knew a tracking spell. . .


    ¡°Food.¡±


    K says something to the soldier and he begins to walk towards the middle of the palisade. Supplies are kept in the middle? Or is it just where they are distributed? Either way we arrive after a few minutes.


    A few tables with soldiers eating, a line of both soldiers and people still alive who lived here before. Am I expected to cut in line with noble privilege again? The line is really long, I¡¯ve only about five hours till dusk. I can¡¯t wait or I¡¯ll not get to sleep. I walk over to the front of the line and while some of the survivors frown at me nobody stops me.


    I grab a few bowls of the slop a fat man was serving. A well dressed man runs up to me as I was sitting down among some of the other survivors. He says something in Althaen, a few others are rushing around the corner of a building carrying food trays. I look to K.


    ¡°He said that he could not possibly allow a noble to eat with from the slop pot. A meal has been prepared for us.¡±


    Sounds weird, I¡¯ve had to strong arm every concession out of the Althaen so far. I can¡¯t trust this, luckily, I took someone else''s meal already. The other survivors only seem to have one bowl each though.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Tell him we already stole the meals of others so just give my meal to who I took it from.¡±


    K smiles, I think she caught the same line of thought. The two talk in Althaen for a bit.


    ¡°He says he simply cannot do such a thing a noble¡¯s meal must be given to a noble.¡±


    ¡°Tell him to eat it himself and give his meal to whoever¡¯s meal I stole. If he still insists that we take it have him put it on the table. We are keeping the slop, so don¡¯t let him think that he can take it back.¡±


    The two talk again for about a minute before the well dressed man has some servants place the trays on the table. They then quickly leave. The nearby survivors are looking at the trays. One of the children reaches for an apple.


    Her mother pulls her back from it, ¡°we can¡¯t they¡¯ll beat brother and daddy if we take from people like him.¡±


    I pick up the apple, the skin hasn¡¯t been broken, it should be fine. I pass it to the little girl. ¡°Your daughter can have it.¡±


    The girl takes the apple with a smile. A man speaks up on my other side, ¡°what think you¡¯re a saint now for giving us some food. You¡¯re a traitor, you must have sold yourself and others for their favor.¡±


    ¡°The Althaen don¡¯t like me as much as you think. At least one of their houses wants me dead, some of this food is probably tainted.¡±


    ¡°Your lying they just kill those they don¡¯t like.¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t I made them recognize me as a noble. If you can cast magic or beat somebody bad enough, the other houses won¡¯t let who you offended openly kill you. I can use magic and set one of the nobles from the Suncahser family on fire.¡±


    The survivors near me look at me in disbelief.


    ¡°The Althaen seem similar to noble houses in the dark ages. They¡¯ll rally against a common foe but just want to supplant each other. I used that to get the houses that are not Sunchaser to accept me as a noble.¡±


    Some of them are now whispering to each other, some seem to believe me others don¡¯t.


    ¡°Some of this food is tainted but you are all welcome to it if you want it.¡±


    I finish off my second bowl of slop.


    ¡°One bowl of this doesn¡¯t seem enough anyways.¡±


    Most of the survivors grab some of the food. I finish up my meal and look to see K already finished.


    ¡°Bryan, Abagail I¡¯ll be back at the bank.¡±


    I get up to leave and K follows. We walk back to the bank without being impeded. I only have a few hours before my watch. I hope they do not literally mean from dusk to dawn. I arrive to find the sisters writing on paper. It looks like they also organized whatever was in the bank vault.


    ¡°Get what sleep you can, I would like you to also help with my watch shift.¡±


    K walks away and after saying something to the sisters goes into the room the three share. I enter the room I used yesterday. Now, should I rest now or borrow some stuff from Harrold first? I hope nobody is looking at his boxes right now.


    I hold my hands out in front of me, and visualize the smallest chest with the red vials. I pull at it with Translocation Grasp. At first it doesn¡¯t seem to want to move, but it still appears in my upturned hands. I smile, now to see what these are.


    I can feel them calling to me, why? It didn¡¯t seem that anyone else was being drawn to them. There are six vials, each about the size of a quarter of my palm. I pick one up, there doesn¡¯t seem to be a label. There is also nothing else in or on the box. I sniff the bottle but can¡¯t smell anything from it. Why do I want to drink this?


    Is this a potion of some sort? Red is usually healing in games, except for when it is blue. I do have bruises and scrapes from the ¡®sparing¡¯ earlier. Well one way to find out. I open the stopper on the top. I raise it to my nose to smell, but I find myself drinking it instead.


    I feel as if whatever it is in the vial is fire as it goes down my throat, it is painful but I feel better afterwards, better than I did before. I want to drink more. . . No, find out what it did first. This could be some sort of drug. I look at my injuries, there is no change in them.


    The door to the room opens, K rushes in followed by the sisters.


    ¡°What did you just do?!¡±


    ¡°I drank something.¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    I pick up another of the vials, ¡°this, I don¡¯t know what it is.¡±


    One of the sisters puts her hand out to take the vial. She has a hold of it but for some reason I don¡¯t want to let it go. Is this really a drug? After a second I let go, she opens the vial. I should take it back and drink it, it¡¯s my treasure. I resist the urge, I shouldn¡¯t be like this.


    I start to pick up another vial, K grabs the vial I passed over. She puts the stopper back on, my desire to drink it abates somewhat. I still want it though.


    ¡°This is raw dragon blood, you drank this?¡±


    Raw dragon blood? You can¡¯t drink that, it would kill you. Bathe in if for unbreakable skin or gain resistance to the element of the dragon maybe but not drink. It burned a bit going down, I should be dead. No, it was good for me I feel better after drinking it.


    ¡°Yes, now please give it back.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to drink it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it felt good. It wants me to drink it.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t drink this it will kill you.¡±


    ¡°I already drank some.¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t be right where did you get this?¡±


    ¡°One of Harrold¡¯s boxes.¡±


    I find myself holding another of the vials, I uncork it and drink it before they can stop me. It burns going down and I shake my head. I feel great, so what if this is dragon¡¯s blood. Should I save some for later or drink it all now?


    Something whispers within me to drink all I can now. Is it that me-but-not-me woman? The trio are shocked and rush to me, I smile. They see that I am fine and are confused. I pull the vial from Kythia¡¯s grasp. She sniffs me as I do so. Why would she do that?


    The twins look to her, ¡°how do you feel¡± she asks.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    She turns to the twins, they start talking, now¡¯s my chance I drink another vial. They turn to me as I shake my head again. I feel a warmth in my belly, I feel sleepy. I would go to sleep but there are three more vials to drink.


    ¡°I think he will be fine. It¡¯s not hurting him.¡±


    I pull out another vial, they don¡¯t try to stop me as I uncork it. I shake my head as it goes down again, then smile at them.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just impulsive.¡±


    They look at me for a moment before leaving. They close the door behind them as I drink the last two vials. I return the now empty chest to Harrold¡¯s study. I hope there is more of this blood, maybe that old magister has some? My mind calms, though I lick my lips at the thought of more.

 Chapter 022

    The spheres of Order and Chaos are entertwined. Together they are used to make and break magical contracts. Chaos deals with decay and enthropy while Order touches creation and structure. Generally they are used in conjuction with another sphere as a supporting role, making the change in reality easier to perform. They both have some similarities to the sphere of Fate as well. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I open my eyes, I am in the Grey Dream. I feel a little different, not sure how. That dragon¡¯s blood did something, but what? The Grey Dream doesn¡¯t answer. I think the questions to get it to talk.


    ¡°Show me the character sheet.¡±


    <table style="background-color: #00ff00">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Class: Rogue 3 (+15SP), Fighter 7 (+10SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #ff0000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon¡¯s Blood: Dragon Knight 7 (+40SP, +1 Attribute, +100 EP), +60 EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #c8640f">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes +


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 64


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 172 +


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well, that answers my question about the dragon¡¯s blood. I defiantly want more. I know I could spend the SP, so why does it not have a ¡®+¡¯? An answer flashes into my mind. The things marked as ¡®+¡¯ must be used or they will be lost. Alright, I tap on the EP square.


    <table style="background-color: #c8640f">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Attribute Increase


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Draconic +


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Demonic


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Infusion


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well, I guess I am buying something draconic then. Makes sense from consuming dragon blood.


    <table style="background-color: #c8640f">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Alternate Form 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Greater Draconic 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Dweller 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Power 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Draconic made raised my attributes so it''s probably good. Alternate Form is probably turning into a dragon. That won¡¯t help right now. I want to see the powers, I tap on the Void Power.


    <table style="background-color: #c8640f">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Cache* UNAVAILABLE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Step* UNAVAILABLE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Twist* UNAVAILABLE


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Spatial and Planar abilities, never heard of a dragon like that, alright and Void Dweller?


    <table style="background-color: #c8640f">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Body


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Sustenance


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I touch both of the Void Dweller options, my EP drops by ninty-five, the ¡®+¡¯mark has disappeared. I thought that I would get a description, I guess not. I would have eventually purchased them so I guess it is alright.


    I still have enough EP to get some more abilities. Should I just keep taking Draconic abilities? My Dragon Knight class is probably tied to dragon like things so it would be a good idea. . .


    But I have a watch after I wake. I need better sight. I tap on the still open panel for Senses.


    <table style="background-color: #c8640f">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Darkvision 30


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Infravison 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Keen Senses 15


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    As much as I want to look though the other options like Echolocation from before these are what I need. I touch both Infravision and Keen Senses, EP drops another forty-three. I won¡¯t have enough for another big change.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    I tap the Attribute square.


    <table style="background-color: #c8640f">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="623">


    Available Point: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 16


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 19


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 20


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 19


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 18


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 216


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 42


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I wonder if the HP is actually accurate. I haven¡¯t been feeling like injuries hurt less, and I still get cut just as easily. Which Attribute to increase? I depend on knowledge and understanding to be able to warp reality but it is my force of will that makes it happen. I tap on wisdom, I need to lean and understand more abilities.


    Is there anything else I need to do here? I don¡¯t think so, wait I should see what the dragon traits do. I touch the word traits.


    <table style="background-color: #c8640f">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Draconic


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Void Body


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well Void Sustenance is convenient, void body is useless though. When and why would I do something like that?


    The Grey Dream begins to fade around me. There is nothing more for me to do here.


    <hr>


    My eyes itch, I open them anyways and theysting at the inrushing light. I see the room I went to sleep in, but now I see strange colors over each object. I can¡¯t quite tell the texture of the bricks but they are a uniform blue with some divots where the grout is. A patch of the floor is a different shade of the same color, as I look at it I feel my eyes focus. Or is it refocus? The strange colors are gone, textures are back.


    I can see more details than before, it is sundown or close to it. I slept for a little over two hours, but I feel awake. I stand up and move to the desk, I hear the lock of the door behind me click. I turn to see disappearing feet under the door, someone looked into the room.


    I finish getting dressed. Someone saw me in little more than underwear; I should be embarrassed but I¡¯m not. Something is changing me. I didn¡¯t let in the Grey Dream''s ream¡¯s spirits, they haven¡¯t even tried yet. My talk with me-but-not-me didn¡¯t change how I think so it is not her/me.


    Could it have been the dragon blood? It certainly makes me desire it, I find myself licking my lips at the thought. It could be, but there was something else too. . . The Grey Dream informed me that the Dragon Knight class would make me more draconic. It could be that too. A dragon could only feel pride from being seen.


    Either way, I feel good. This change was good. My stomach growls, I need to find some food. Void Sustenance means I should need less, but it works by absorbing radiation. Does that mean I¡¯m immune to nuclear fallout? Maybe, is nuclear radiation the same as solar or whatever there is between planes?


    I walk out of the room, everyone is sitting on the chairs we pulled out of the offices. Bryan turns to me first.


    ¡°We wanted to see you off. Good luck, also some Althaens came by to look for something. We didn¡¯t have whatever it was.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, and thanks. My desk has some of the Elvish to English stuff on it. Read what I have while I do all the work around here, alright.¡±


    Bryan and Abagail nod. The twins are writing on some paper, probably what I asked them to write me. I haven¡¯t been talking to them as much lately. I was about to say something but a knock at the door interrupted me.


    ¡°Shall we go do our job?¡±


    I smile at K. She has been very helpful the past days. I need to reward her, the only thing I gave her that she loved was soda. I don¡¯t have any, what can I do? I also need to talk with all three of the trio, they might think I¡¯m really a noble. I don¡¯t want that; these nobles disgust me.


    ¡°Lets go.¡±


    She opens the door to a soldier, this one in chainmail. I don¡¯t know what they talked about but I just follow them to wherever it is my post is to be. I think K is getting information about numbers or what we are to overlook. I¡¯m not sure though.


    We eventually arrive at the palisade wall overlooking the western side. I tried to shift my vision back to infrared but my eyes hurt. Is it from the sunlight? We arrived at the wall and after greeting us most of the soldiers moved back to their posts.


    ¡°So what exactly are we to do?¡±


    ¡°Stand and if something attacks yell, then kill it.¡±


    ¡°Sounds easy enough.¡±


    I look out over the wall, and I can¡¯t really see all that far away. Just too many buildings in the way. After a moment Kythia asks me a question.


    ¡°Are you really of House Ravnos?¡±


    ¡°Remember how I said that nobility and all that is no longer a thing in this world?¡±


    She nods.


    ¡°My family name is Ravnos. I just mimicked the introduction others used.¡±


    ¡°So, you are a Ravnos, but there are no nobles?¡±


    I nod, ¡°Anyways, I never thanked you or the twins for fighting those orcs. I could not have killed them all myself.¡±


    ¡°No, you have done more for us that we have for you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that. Most of what I have done has benefited me as much as you. I do have a question though.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Did I upset the twins? They haven¡¯t been talking as much.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, they are just confused.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°When you dueled Thraen it was over the idea that since you had claimed us; he could not take us from you. While you have repeated this to Tr¨ªan and the other Sunchaser, you have actually done what that would entail.¡±


    I said that they were part of my house, what else could there be in the word claim? Its probably something sexual. The Althaen system is patriarchal and women have to be ''claimed'' to be adopted into a house. That could be it, but they are following me to get away from having to do that. K was also trying to get me to push her down when I taught them about guns too. So, this claim might be something different, either way it is not something they wanted to happen.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what this all entails but whatever it is that I am to take or do for this claim; you and the twins can tell me when you want to give or have me do. Alright?¡±


    K fidgets for a while before nodding. Is there something else I should say? I haven¡¯t asked her how my Grey Dream advice went and I do need a teacher for Althaen. I should get either her to help Bryan with magic too.


    ¡°Do you remember what you said about the Grey Dream?¡±


    Well I didn¡¯t expect her to start a conversation. Must be an attempt to change topics. Talking about claiming to girls who you have claimed but not really is awkward.


    ¡°I do, how did it go? I assume you tried it.¡±


    ¡°It was weird, it took most of a dream to get it to explain what all the numbers and letters represented. But I think I understand it now. I think it is weird that you gain so little for learning on you own compared to what it costs to buy a skill.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it is trying to get us to not learn on our own.¡±


    ¡°Why would it want to do that. The gods want us to improve ourselves and the dream was made by them.¡±


    ¡°I do not know, maybe it was not made by them. Or it could have a different purpose than the one it claims.¡±


    ¡°That would be blaspheme.¡±


    ¡°Only if itis wrong. I just mean it as advice to never take anyone¡¯s word at face value. Trust needs to be earned not given. I trust you and the sisters because of your actions so far. I have not interacted enough with the grey space enough to trust it; it seems too altruistic.¡±


    ¡°It is still blasphemous.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t tell any religious fanatics for me, ok?¡±


    K nods and seems to be thinking about something. I hope that me-but-not-me was telling the truth and that dream space is lying. Otherwise I am needlessly harming faith in a religion. I wonder if the gods of Alth¨¢ are real? Are they real divines or just super powered mages?


    ¡°Ignoring my possible blasphemies, would you mind teaching me what you can of the Althaen language during these watches? I¡¯ll teach you English though I suppose that it can only be the spoken parts here.¡±


    K smiles, I think she likes being useful. ¡°I would like to, though my Althaen is considered poor.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still better than mine.¡±

 Chapter 023

    Primal is the sphere relating to manipulating the essence of reality, binding effects from other spheres into objects, creating permanent effects, and some say controlling backlashes. -Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It is a while past midnight, my vision having long shifted to infrared when anything noticeable happens. I can see red blobs moving up the street. They are moving slowly. I don¡¯t think K has noticed them, but she has noticed that I have started to focus on the street.


    ¡°What you see?¡±


    ¡°Movement.¡±


    I smile, she has already picked up a handful of words. Though since I just taught them to her I don¡¯t know if they will stay in her memory. She pulls a flashlight out of a bag and offers it to me. I shake my head, and reach for the rifle on my back. I can already see them, or rather their heat. The flashlight would just hurt my eyes.


    ¡°I thought that humans cannot see at night.¡±


    ¡°I picked it up from the Grey Dream.¡±


    ¡°With what?¡±


    ¡°EP¡±


    I take aim, the red blobs have stopped moving. They can probably see me in the moonlight, it is almost a full moon when the clouds are not blocking it. Yeah, they are definitely trying to sneak up to the wall. I have one of them in my sight, I fire the shot and the blob move backwards, the shape of its head has changed so it should be dead.


    As my ears ring from the rifle¡¯s noise the three other red blobs stand up and charge. There doesn¡¯t seem to be anyone else behind them. I take all three out before they reach the wall, semiautomatics are great. I did spend ten shots on them though. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t be focusing so much on understanding how light and darkness can be twisted while on watch?


    The blobs slowly begin to turn the color of the surrounding street. I don¡¯t see any other sources of heat, I also couldn¡¯t hear anything over the rushing footsteps of some of the soldiers to my position.


    ¡°Enemy scouts not attack¡±


    It¡¯s not a real sentence but the soldiers understood me. They have been snickering at K teaching me their language but I am starting to learn it. There are some similarities to the Latin-based languages I already know. Though there seems to be more forms of conjugation though. They have one for a future that could possibly be true but is not what will happen. K says that nobody ever uses more than half the tenses.


    Though they mimic my broken use of their language to mock me, they do what they are supposed to do. They are more honest than the two-faced nobles and I did enjoy making the soldier who beat me this morning run all the errands. I sent him for a bowl of soup for each soldier on the wall, twice. Everyone except that soldier enjoyed it, they have started calling him Soup Fetcher over it.


    He¡¯s going to get me back for it after dawn but I¡¯ll just do the same after dusk. I go back to having K teach me Althaen. I¡¯ll check the enemy scouts at dawn.


    <hr>


    It is dawn and as my eye focus back into the regular spectrum of light I jump down the wall of the palisade, some of the soldiers rush to follow me. Do they have orders to keep me from running away?


    I arrive at the nearest corpse before the soldiers catch up to me. It looks almost human, slightly tipped ears, though not thin and lithe like an elf. The face has some goblin features though they are minor, the nose points slightly upwards and the eyes have the same sheen as a goblin¡¯s.


    Downplayed goblinoid features on a slightly bulky humanoid body. Likely a hobgoblin if it is highly intelligent. The equipment was well maintained until a few hours ago, no rust on its sword and the thing only stinks a bit. Definitely a hobgoblin. They are smart and this is bad news. Should I let the nobles know or allow them to suffer greater casualties so my group can leave easier?


    We are being watched everywhere except for while we are in the bank. No, I need time to steal supplies. I also need to see if there is any more dragon¡¯s blood. Books too, I need books for the mages of my group.


    I should have the corpses brought in, ¡°Kythia could you have the soldiers carry these to those old nobles?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    K calls over some of the soldiers including SoupFetcher as some of his contemporaries started calling him. They pick up the corpses and we walk over to where the ¡®slave census¡¯ was yesterday morning. Today there is not a line, though there are more soldiers wandering about.


    K and me walk into the tent and are met with a death stare by Sunchaser. The other two nobles react instead to the hobgoblin corpses carried by the following soldiers. Neither of them is Tr¨ªan, I haven¡¯t met them yet. Am I going to have to go through Sunchaser¡¯s whole you¡¯re not a noble again?


    I am not sure what Sunchaser started spouting off, but it was something about not being a good sentinel? The other two ignore him and are getting a report from K about why we are here. They seem to already know about me and my squabbles with the Sunchaser family.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Sunchaser is now going on about who is supposed to be doing something. It¡¯s an accusation, though the other nobles aren¡¯t answering him. I am sure he is targeting me with whatever it is that he is saying. Regardless K finishes the report for me and begins to leave the tent.


    I guess we are done, so I follow her out.


    ¡°You need to do something about the Sunchaser house.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that. So, what happened?¡±


    ¡°Sunchaser convinced them that there is no need to worry about a few hobgoblins. So, nothing will change.¡±


    ¡°Idiots. Thank you for helping. I¡¯m sure your tired, go get some rest.¡±


    ¡°What about translating for you?¡±


    ¡°A minor inconvenience to me is not worth running you ragged. Do you think I cannot notice your fatigue?¡±


    K leaves as I walk to the training grounds. When I arrive there, I can see Bryan already being beaten by one of the soldiers. I walk up to the soldier in chainmail, but before I arrive a wooden sword strikes my back. Lightly, it was thrown.


    I turn and pick it up off the ground, a soldier is facing me. Soup Fetcher, he wants to spar. He wants to humiliate me, good then he will fight for real. He moves towards me and I barely get the practice sword in place before his strike lands.


    I try to counter and get disarmed. The angle was different from yesterday''s, a twist to get the handle out of my hand instead of just hitting my hand. Soup Fetcher¡¯s blade is now swinging at my face, I drop to a roll to grab the fallen sword.


    I dodged his attack but didn¡¯t manage to pick myself up fast enough to keep him from kicking me. He is moving faster than yesterday, I can¡¯t move as fast as this man. I can see it, but not react fast enough to dodge.


    I stand up and we continue, I focus on memorizing the movements of my opponent. I can¡¯t react to your moves individually but maybe I can find a pattern.


    <hr>


    As we approach noon, I¡¯ve gotten rather good at anticipating Soup Fetcher¡¯s attacks. He favors striking the limbs of his opponents. I¡¯m still taking hits faster than I can repair the bruises. Why is it that it only took me a few minutes for that disembowelment but almost the same amount of time for these bruises?


    It must be a matter of focus. I start to sidestep before my opponent lunges, I am rewarded with a hit to my side. Shit, I mistook his pattern. He must be altering it. I can hear the other soldiers laughing and exchanging bets. I have some trouble breathing.


    My side is wet, a dark spot is slowly expanding on the shirt. He broke the skin, I touch my side it hurts. I¡¯ve a cracked rib. It¡¯s almost high noon, I toss the sword back at Soup Fetcher.


    ¡°I concede¡±


    He smiles. He won. It was never like he could have lost, I am an amateur at the sword. I focus completely on my injuries and they begin to fade. My breathing becomes easy once more. I smile, and start to watch the other fights. I was able to block a few more strikes between disarms. I improved, or was it fatigue from it being the end of their day?


    The soldiers who are still beating down people are all just toying with us. I notice Harrold walking up, the soldiers who were beating his ¡®students¡¯ stop just before he reaches them. Each time the students look up and quickly scramble to follow behind Harrold. He ignores me as he walks by. Good, if he doesn¡¯t think I am important it will be easier to peruse his tomes and toys.


    He arrives at Bryan¡¯s spar, but stops to allow the soldier to beat at Bryan some more. I am the only one taking more punishment in these ¡®lessons¡¯ but I am also healing myself during them. Nobody has called me out on using that magic so I guess they see it as self-augmentation?


    Bryan gets knocked to the ground after being tripped by the blunted spear. Now, Harrold begins to walk forwards, after he glanced at me. So, he does know I exist but wants to belittle me? How much does he know? I walk over to Bryan and help him up. I try to push his body to heal but like every other time I have tried, nothing changes. I am missing something; do I need to know more about anatomy or life energy?


    Abagail walks over with some water, I don¡¯t know how she got out of the spars two days in a row. Regardless, we end up following behind Harrold into the library where he has his study.


    The study has been rearranged, all of the boxes are open. The books have all been reordered and there are several papers strewn about. So, my theft was noticed. Harrold pulls out the same necklace as yesterday, it flashes and is once more a little dimmer.


    ¡°Yesterday there was a theft by one of you. I will give you all a single chance. Speak up and return what was stolen or I will punish all of you slaves.¡±


    So, dragon¡¯s blood is valuable. I start to look around, everyone is confused. Nobody volunteers any information. They don¡¯t know anything. Harrold stands in front of us, he is getting angry.


    ¡°Know this slaves, you have all offended the Sunchaser family. I will not be teaching anymore; instead we will have lessons as if you already knew magic. You come up here.¡±


    And he pointed at me. At least it was from the Sunchasers that I stole from, they already want to kill me so I feel less bad about it now. Or did I ever feel bad about it? I should have. I stand up and walk to the front.


    ¡°Demonstrate Burning Hands or be beaten slave.¡±


    ¡°I am no slave.¡±


    Harrold moves to slap me, I catch his hand. He moves much slower than Soup Fetcher, he is also physically weaker than me.


    ¡°You dare touch a noble.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve done a lot more than touch. Surly someone told you a ¡®barbarian¡¯ noble would be watching.¡±


    Harrold frowns, he was told. I release his hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you, no noble would be here to just watch.¡±


    ¡°No noble would care for his followers?¡±


    ¡°If you are a noble then prove it. Demonstrate Burning Hands.¡±


    ¡°Why should I?¡±


    ¡°To prove your words.¡±


    ¡°I already know what I am, I don¡¯t need to prove it to you.¡±


    Harrold moves to strike me again, there is a hint of fire covering his hand. I am definitely going to keep stealing his shit. I catch his hand again and take control of the little bit of fire on his hand. I turn it to burn him, after all that¡¯s what the fire would do if it wasn¡¯t being controlled.


    He lets out a scream as his spell gets disrupted from the damage to the hand. He looks at me, ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°You spell was sloppy. Do you think I would have to do anything at all? But you want proof, then I will take something for slandering me.¡±


    I release his hand, there are second degree burns on it. ¡°If you can prove it slave fine.¡±


    I smile, perfect. What should I try to get? First a demonstration.


    ¡°Burning Hands is a simple spell as far as the components go. Thumbs touching and fingers spread like so you add mana as you speak an incantation. Burning Hands.¡±


    Fire erupts in a fan out of my fingers, I let is wash over the edge of one of the tables. I hold it for a second before allowing reality to return to normal. Harrold has a look of anger on his face.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be right you didn¡¯t use the right incantation.¡±


    ¡°An incantation is a way of vocalizing your intent, a safeguard against botching your spells. It is the mana that does the real work not the words or gestures. While needed, they can be substituted with other phrases, after some practice.¡±


    Harrold is staring at the scorch marks on the table in front of me. The ¡®students¡¯ are likewise staring, I don¡¯t think they heard my excuse.

 Chapter 024

    The sphere of Soul deals with the spirits of the dead and the ethereal. Drawing upon, manipulating, controlling and harming that which is not physical. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Harrold is just looking at me. He knows I¡¯ve won, he can¡¯t deny it nor can he hide it, too many people saw it.


    ¡°I want some of whatever it is that was stolen.¡±


    Harrold grins, he is going to try to cheat me.


    ¡°Sure, as soon as it is found.¡±


    ¡°You misunderstand. I don¡¯t want what you lost. I want you to find some more and give me that. I¡¯ll not wait for what was stolen to be returned.¡±


    ¡°There is no more.¡±


    Harrold face has moved into a frown. I think he is lying.


    ¡°You expect me to believe that what you, an apprentice, had was the only amount? It¡¯s clearly valuable but anything you have; your master or house should have more. Do not lie to me.¡±


    ¡°Are you calling me a liar? If I say there is no more dragon¡¯s blood, then there is no more.¡±


    ¡°And now I can just go ask Magister Talphith if he has some. Do you want to embarrass yourself further?¡±


    Harrold is giving me a death stare, his hand twitches and he grimaces in pain.


    ¡°Or I could take some of these tomes that you haven¡¯t misplaced. Do you really think these people could even know what you¡¯re missing is? Will your house or master even believe that they stole it?¡±


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll get the blood. I¡¯d better not hear any of this in a rumor though.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t spread it if you do a good job instructing.¡±


    I turn my back to him as I move back to my vacated seat near Bryan. I sit down and close my eyes to feign sleep. I spread out my mind and focus on sensing where the various tomes are. I shouldn¡¯t steal anything from here for a while, but borrowing books should be ok.


    Harrold restarts his lecture, repeating much of what he said yesterday. I tune him out, my breathing slows. I have been awake since dusk; nobody should question my ¡®nap¡¯. I wonder how much will end up being delivered. Can I use his ¡®misplacement¡¯ of items to blackmail him?


    I shouldn¡¯t, it could draw too much attention. I need to lay low, get everyone able to use their magic and make preparations to leave. I¡¯ll check the bank for a basement or bomb shelter, the building wasn¡¯t well searched by the Althaen and if there is one it¡¯s not out in the open.


    If there is start stashing stuff there, otherwise search for a different place to stash stuff. I need to figure out how to make a space pocket, or find a extradimensional space item. I feel a tap on my shoulder, I guess the lesson is over.


    I open my eyes and fake a yawn. Bryan can tell that it is bullshit. I still need to tell him what I¡¯ve been doing. I stand up and we leave to go get food. I¡¯m hungry but not as much as yesterday.


    <hr>


    Yesterday did not repeat itself. While I took more rations than the others they did not give me any bad looks. Some of the survivors looked sick and couldn¡¯t eat anything. Was I right about the tainted food? We ate in silence and returned to the bank.


    When I walk into the bank Talia walks up to me and passes me a stack of papers. Thousands of pages of flowery elven script.


    ¡°Sister and me finished it. Do you know what the soldiers were looking for yesterday?¡±


    ¡°The dragon¡¯s blood I drank. Don¡¯t worry they won¡¯t find anything.¡±


    She frowns, I guess she won''t like me filtching supplies later.


    ¡°Are you going to rest before Kythia and you go for the watch?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m going to check on some stuff around the building and write more of the papers I gave you earlier.¡±


    She nods and begins to follow behind me as I move to the bank vault. I haven¡¯t seen any trapdoors or stairs yet and the only place I have not been is the vault.


    When I enter through the hole in the door I see coins and paper bills strewn about. There are a few safety deposit boxes that have been pried open, their contents likewise dumped on the ground. Their contents seem to have just been papers, though I haven¡¯t searched for smaller objects that may be hidden in this mess.


    Did someone hold a money fight in here or something? As I walk around the vault one of my steps makes a hollow sound. There is something under me.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡±


    I turn back to Talia, but it was her sister behind her who spoke. I kneel down and start to move the scattered bills away.


    ¡°This.¡±


    I find a small metal ring attached to the floor, I turn it. There was some rust on the ring and I have to force it a bit before it moves. The trap door opens and the smell of stagnant air fills the room as a ladder comes into view. How much space will be down here, and is there any supplies already stocked?


    I climb down the ladder and my vision shifts to infrared. Everything is the same color but I can see the rough shapes in the room. There is a far wall with a ball attached to it, probably a door, two large cylinders, some boxes, and a pile of small cylinders stacked on top of each other.


    I hear the sisters coming down the ladder behind me, I turn they are pulling out something. I close my eyes and can see that a light was turned on through my eyelids. I wait a second before opening my eyes.


    ¡°What is this place?¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°A place to hide from enemies, and one to store supplies¡±


    The boxes are labeled as coin rolls. Those won¡¯t be of any help. The large cylinders are full of water but like everything else covered in dust. Stagnant and stale but likely potable. The stack of cans are however all expired by more than a decade. No food but at least there is space. I can hide supplies here.


    On the other side of the door was a generator. Rusted but it would probably run, there isn¡¯t any fuel for it. I don¡¯t think this place is ventilated enough for it anyways. Talia picks up a can with the picture of an apple on it.


    ¡°That food has gone bad. We can¡¯t use it.¡±


    She frowns and puts it back.


    ¡°If we can¡¯t use what is here why did you look for it?¡±


    ¡°So, we can hide stuff for when we leave.¡±


    ¡°I thought that we could leave whenever we wanted.¡±


    ¡°Yet we are watched at all times, and when I jumped off the palisade some of the soldiers ran to catch me. . ." I think she gets the point. "Even if we are free to leave, they will not send us off with supplies.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. How are you going to get the supplies to hide though?¡±


    ¡°The same way I got the dragon¡¯s blood. A little bit at a time until we have enough.¡±


    She frowns, I don¡¯t think she likes the idea of stealing. What did she think taking stuff from Outdoor World was? I don¡¯t like it either but if this is what I have to do then so be it.


    ¡°You should not steal.¡±


    ¡°I have only stolen what we need to survive, and from those that have tried to kill me.¡±


    ¡°It is still wrong.¡±


    ¡°Your right, but if I have to, I will do what I must.¡±


    Talia stares at me for a bit, ¡°promise me you won¡¯t steal.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t make a promise I can¡¯t keep.¡±


    She continues to stare at me, I sigh ¡°I will only steal what we need to survive.¡±


    ¡°No stealing.¡±


    ¡°No, if I have to steal to keep us alive I will; even if you all hate me for it.¡±


    She gives me another stare down, but this time I don¡¯t back down. She turns away before leaving the bomb shelter grumbling. Now I know I have upset her. I quickly check to see if I missed anything down here,but failed to find anything else.


    I climb out of the shelter and close the trapdoor. I should take a real nap and write before the watch starts. I don¡¯t see either of the sisters at the bank. Bryan, Abagail and K are going through the English to Elven papers I wrote yesterday.


    ¡°Are you going to be ready for the watch tonight?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m actually not feeling well, you should bring one of the sisters.¡±


    I raise an eyebrow, she appears fine. Maybe she didn¡¯t get enough sleep? I hope the sisters are back when its time. Did they leave over the stealing thing? I don¡¯t think so some of their stuff is still lying around. K would have left with them if they did too.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask them when I wake up then.¡±


    <hr>


    I open my eyes to the grey void, beginning to think the questions to get it to speak.


    ¡°Character sheet please¡±


    <table style="background-color: #00b026">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Fighter 8 (+5SP, +1 Attribute), Sword 2 (+2SP), Sense Motive 2 (+2SP), Perception 3 (+3SP), Battle Sense 0 (+0SP), Darkness 1 (+5SP), Matter: Transmutation 1 (+5SP), Matter: Telekinesis 0 (+0SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #640096">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes +


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 86


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 44


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I should hold the EP still, but I should have enough for a sphere upgrade. I tap on the SP, a scroll down tab appears.


    <table style="background-color: #640096">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Languages


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Magic


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Skills


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I touch the magic option.


    <table style="background-color: #640096">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Arcane Power 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Planar 0+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Fate 1+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Life 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Mind 1+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Soul 0+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Primal 1+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Time 1+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Transmutation 1+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Telekinesis 0+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Fire 2+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Lightning 2+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Light 1+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Darkness 1+


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    What to choose? Fate can manipulate chance, Time would allow me a bit of foresight. Mind for illusions and thought reading? I can¡¯t seem to figure those kinds of things out, energies and matter manipulation I can figure out without the grey dream.


    I¡¯m not sure what I am missing to create light without the heat that Fire would create. Not the time to think of that, I can do that on watch. I touch Fate, I could use it to gain what I need with gambling. Some of the soldiers dice and play cards. Then nobody can complain about stealing, though gambling is usually thought to be almost as bad. SP drops by 80, nothing left but to use the Attribute point.


    <table style="background-color: #640096">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">


    Available Points: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    STR 16


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    DEX 19


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    CON 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    INT 20


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    WIS 20


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    CHA 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    APR 18


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    HP: 260


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Mana: 42


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Charisma is the weak link in my magic, I touch it. The number changes and my Mana score went up. Why would it do that?


    The Grey Dream has not been answering my questions, it hasn¡¯t much since my talk with me-but-not-me.


    [We wish to extend another offer.]


    So it is still here.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    [A way we can interact with you in the waking world.]


    ¡°I think all these screens would block my vision, you would be more hindrance than help.¡±


    [We will not hinder you, only help.]


    ¡°And what is your idea of how?¡±


    Is this the temptation that me-but-not-me told me of? Can they still hear the questions within my thoughts?


    [One of us would enter your mind, become a part of you. Then that part of us can answer your questions without you having to sleep.]


    ¡°That does not sound safe.¡±


    [There is no risk, we only wish to aid you.]


    ¡°Not now, perhaps later.¡±


    I don¡¯t even want to share my mind with me-but-not-me, why would I let another in? I sense the void is disappointed with my choice. Me-but-not-me was right, at least partially. This grey mind space wants to live again.

 Chapter 025

    There are various spheres of energy, each of them starts with sensing that kind of energy and moves on to create and control it. Fire and Lightning are the two most commonly learned though others exist. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I open my eyes, I am not at the bank. Me-but-not-me is sitting in a chair across from me at a table. The table seems to be made of a dark wood, I can¡¯t tell what kind. We seem to be superimposed on top of a blanket of stars.


    ¡°You need to be more careful.¡±


    Does she mean the theft?


    ¡°About what? The dragon¡¯s blood?¡±


    ¡°That too, but I mean about passing on my warning. You may have said too much. If they think that you will never give in to them they will simply attack. We are not ready for that. You cannot trust them.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t even trust you, why would I want more people in my head?¡±


    She smiles, ¡°but you do trust me. You followed my advice, if you did not trust me why follow it?¡±


    ¡°It was good advice.¡±


    I look off onto the stars within my mind, a patch of them seem dimmer than the others. Why would they be? Why did I even look over there? They must represent something, and me-but-not-me wants me to ask.


    ¡°Why are we here over the stars?¡±


    ¡°Each of the stars in a tiny fragment of us, I can show you the state of our mind and soul this way.¡±


    ¡°Then why are some parts dimmer?¡±


    ¡°They are pieces that are hurt or have not awoken yet.¡±


    ¡°Not yet awoken? How can I have injuries here?¡±


    ¡°I am not the only embodiment of something within you. The other is still too weak, injured by your recklessness.¡±


    ¡°Another, is it going to be as cryptic as you?¡±


    ¡°No, I think you will like him in time. It is almost time to let us wake. Be warry tonight, when danger comes rush to our friends.¡±


    I open my mouth to ask why but no sound comes out. The dream fading into grey nothing. Dammit why does me-but-not-me do this? Now I have more questions, what other being is in me? How did it get injured? What are you warning me about?


    <hr>


    I wake up again, this time in the bank. It is almost dusk, which of the sisters should I ask to help me? I walk out into the lobby of the bank, Bryan and Abagail are still here going over the pages I managed to write before sleeping. Talia is here but Lysan is not; I guess I will ask her then.


    ¡°Kythia said that she was feeling sick, could you help me in the watch Talia?¡±


    She looks up from helping the other two learn elvish, ¡°I will. Did she say why she couldn¡¯t help?¡±


    I shake my head no, and she stand up. ¡°No point in waiting around. Lysan will care for her while we are gone.¡±


    I walk to the door and she follows me out, the streets are slightly emptier than they should be. I don¡¯t need to think about that. We arrive at the palisade wall, though neither of us has spoken a word.


    The guards at the wall look at me as I approach but unlike yesterday do not come near me. They just stay and watch the empty streets. This is going to be a long watch, should I try to talk with Talia? It¡¯s been a few hours she doesn¡¯t seem to have calmed down though.


    No, calm could describe her. She is upset, but cold. She isn¡¯t lashing out and is just following me. She doesn¡¯t seem to want to be here.


    ¡°Your upset.¡±


    ¡°Did you figure that out on your own?¡±


    ¡°It took a while but yes. What is bothering you?¡±


    ¡°You.¡±


    ¡°I need to be told more than that.¡±


    ¡°Ever since we arrived here you have been acting as the other nobles. You have told the Althaen that my sister and me are yours. I understood the duel with Thraen, and the talk with Tr¨ªan but why do you treat us this way? Then you go and steal, where is the respectable man who buried his friend?¡±


    ¡°We talked about the theft, yes stealing is wrong. I will still do it if I have to. But what do you mean by my treatment of you?¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°You command us to work. You play with all our safety to be here enjoying yourself.¡±


    ¡°I have not commanded you to do anything, I have only ever asked.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you ask, you use kind words but you expect us to follow. Why else would you use the word servant?¡±


    ¡°The same reason that I said I had claimed you. Because you asked for me to protect you and you sister from these nobles. I cannot do so by fighting and killing the lot, so I have to do it by fooling them.¡±


    She does not retort, have I said too much?


    ¡°So says the young master of the worldshapers.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, worldshapers?¡±


    ¡°You claim you are of House Ravnos. How can you not even know what the title of your family is?¡±


    ¡°Title? My family has never been nobles.¡±


    ¡°If the Ravnos don¡¯t count as a noble, nobody could. A small clan of the most powerful mages in the world. The clan that threw all of the other Houses out of their world.¡±


    ¡°Powerful? Throw others out of a world? I don¡¯t know what happened in the past but even grandpa can barely do more than teleport, we don¡¯t have that type of power.¡±


    ¡°Yet you have their trait, inexhaustible manaless magic. You act the part, prideful looking down on the other nobles. Do you think I am blind?¡±


    ¡°No, I thought you would recognize my act for what it was, a disguise. Do you think I like to act like this? No, the Althaen disgust me. I keep this act up for your protection and the protection of my friends. If you think I am demanding you do something sorry, you can tell me no. I will not force you to do anything; you are a free person regardless of the act to fool the Althaen.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you, you enjoy your ¡®act¡¯ too much. Do you get a kick out of messing with us?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be near me then go back to your sister. I¡¯ll keep this ruse up to keep you safe if only because I said that I would.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave then, not that I have much of a choice. Your slave or theirs.¡±


    She turns to leave.


    ¡°Talia, know this I will not touch you nor will I force anything upon you unless you want me to. I am not the monster you see me to be.¡±


    She pauses for a moment in her steps, and then she is gone having turned a corner I can see her no more. This is almost the worst thing that could have happened. Shit, why did it have to go so wrong? Does her sister feel the same? Does K think that as well?


    No, she has been happy. Or is it an act as my act is to the Althaen; a way to fool others for your own protection? Why do I have to fool these nobles? When can I be myself again? I sigh and stare out over the empty street, the other watchers do not approach or talk.


    <hr>


    Near midnight I look up at the moon, at least the moon is always here, even in the day you can find it if you look closely. I see an odd shaped cloud pass by. No, the air is still, a cloud couldn¡¯t have been moving that fast.


    A moment later another shape passes by the moon. Something is wrong, I can¡¯t explain this in Althaen. I hear a crash behind me, I turn. The nearby torches illuminate a reptilian beast twice the size of a horse, it has no front limbs only wings and hind legs. Its head bites at a nearby soldier ripping off an arm. I can¡¯t see the tail, but I guess that it is bladed by how there is a gouge in the wall near it.


    This is bad, no worse a humanoid shape is riding the creature. Is this what me-but-not-me was warning me of? Dammit I wouldn¡¯t have left the bank if I knew. Ok, I need to kill this and run back to the bank. Bryan and Abagail are not ready to defend themselves. Hell, I¡¯m not either.


    It hasn¡¯t noticed me yet. The armless soldier is now dead, and the rider is yelling at the mount. I pull the rifle off my shoulder. I¡¯ve twenty-five in this side of the magazine, another twenty-five after, and two pistols each with fifteen shots in each of them. Is this enough?


    I draw on spatial aim as I focus on the eyes of what I expect is a wyvern. Blind it, snipe the rider and pick on it while the soldiers distract it. I fire and the thing lets out a yell of pain. Its left eye is out of commission. I swiftly aim for the other before it fully turns to me, the creature gives another cry of pain and charges at me.


    I run to the side, the creature¡¯s rider has fallen off. It fell into the light of a torch, a hobgoblin. Some sort of war cry happens behind me, I run to the side dodging the wyvern¡¯s tackle by only a few inches. It starts to sniff, I have to blind its nose too.


    I will a gout of flame towards the creature¡¯s face. A sizzling sound comes from it, I fail to notice the still burning wood as I move around a corner. Several soldiers rush past me, I think some of them were sneering at me. Go ahead, I¡¯m going to live.


    The wyvern claws at what was once its rider, the hobgoblin is now dead. It¡¯s trying to find me but I¡¯ve taken its eyes and nose. I don¡¯t know where this thing¡¯s vital organs are, but the skull is too think to be broken by a single 5.56 round. That is all I have though so I start to release rounds into its torso as the soldiers start to crowd around it.


    Most of the soldiers have been ripped in half by the time I finish emptying the magazine, that¡¯s twenty-three holes in this thing''s torso. How is it still killing them so fast? A red skinned midget pops over the wall in my sight, shit their reinforcements have come. A few of the soldiers move to block the goblins; the rest continue to contain the beast, mostly by their bodies. Why are these men throwing themselves at their death?


    I had to dump the other side of the magazine into the wyvern before it stoped moving, over a dozen goblins have climbed the wall now. Guard the wall like the Althaen want me to or run? Why am I asking? I run through the only path were I wouldn¡¯t be blocked, by the wyvern¡¯s corpse.


    Screams of pain and laughter of evil men echo through the night air as I run to my friends. I see Thraen, now whole, toying with a goblin as it slowly dies. Elsewhere the goblinoids doing the same to soldiers and survivors. Both of these groups sicken me, just kill you foes and be done with it.


    I turn a corner and have the bad luck to be met with a half dozen green goblins. At least they are the smallest and weakest. I don¡¯t have time for them, I sidestep the first of their spears thrust at me and grab one by its skull, it screaks as black tendrils extend from my hand before it dies.


    I feel two blades strike against my back, the chain shirt stopped the cuts. I release the dead goblin from my grasp and move its axe to my other hand via Translocation Grasp. With a swing the axe is buried into the neck of another. I let go and back away from the three now behind me.


    The three flee rather than continue to engage me, they¡¯ll find easier prey tonight. I continue on my way to the bank. It¡¯s been over twenty minutes, if a wyvern got there I¡¯m not sure the trio can handle it. I onlybeat one using a wall of human shields, they don¡¯t have idiot soldiers for that.

 Chapter 026

    Matter is split between two spheres, Transmutation for small scale changes and Telekinesis for large scale manipulations. Transmutation can alter the structure of an object at the molecular or atomic level, or the shape and form of a target. Telekinesis does not alter anything but instead focuses on the movement of matter. - Antonio Ravnos


    <hr>


    Moonlight Runner


    <hr>


    Tonight is the full moon, sister can¡¯t keep me in tonight. I want to see this male whose scent she likes. She hasn¡¯t let me out to play since she met him. Not fair, just because I bit the last boy.


    The moonlight shines through a hole in the strange rock full of other rocks. It¡¯s my turn to play. I sniff the air; demon skins are nearby. They aren¡¯t here yet. The room gets smaller as sister gives lossing more control.


    One of the little pointy eared girls are here. She rubs my head, no need to eat her, she is nice. I enjoy myself until the scent of the demon skins gets closer. The other scents nearby aren¡¯t bad, sister¡¯s friends and three two legs.


    I growl the demon skins are close, and the little pointy ear hugs my head, she wants me to stay. No, I want to go hunt. The rock made of rocks surrounds us, I won¡¯t fit out through the gaps. I push the pointy ear off, sister likes this one so I try not to hurt her.


    I slam against the wall with the moonlight, the rock made of rocks hurts but I hear it crack. The pointy ear is saying something, two leg speech I don¡¯t understand that. I lick her face and slam into the rock made of rocks again. I fall through it, time to hunt.


    I run and find a winged lizard, but it didn¡¯t want to play. I catch the scent of someone strong, no someone who will be strong. I follow it, and see a two legs getting his arm bitten by a winged lizard. The scent of weird fire comes from the two, the two legs leaves the winged lizard and rushes to where I left pointy ears.


    I follow the two legs. Should I ask sister?


    The two legs yells, he is angry. Were the other two legs part of his pack? The two legs throws something that smells like death. The winged lizard runs at the two legs, I feel sister get angry. Is this the new two legs she likes?


    I howl and charge the winged lizard. Its tail cuts into my side as I tackle it, my claws rake the lizard but it stopped me from biting its throat. I roll off it and it tries to take flight. Sorry but sister is mad at you. I jump and shred a wing, it falls to the ground and I lung for the throat.


    I swallow a piece of the winged lizard¡¯s throat, it feels warm. I turn to the two legs, he is pointing a shiny stickat me.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    A block away I run into another wyvern, shit. It had just finished with someone. Its rider is dead lying on the ground near a few soldiers. There are some cuts into the side of the beast, two swipes from something with large claws. Not only do I need to deal with this creature but there is another nearby.


    I draw the pistols, and take aim at the injuries. The claw marks have five nails these wyverns only have three on their talons and the wings have none. Different species, deal with the thing in front first then worry about the other after. I start to unload the pistols, I get five of them off while baking up to a wall. It can¡¯t trample me here, I fail to full dodge a bite and lose a piece of my armor. My chest stings but the injury is minor.


    I start to run sideways to keep out of the creature¡¯s bite only to be tripped after getting a few more bullets into it. I don¡¯t have enough to take this thing down. I drop the pistol in my left hand, and pull a box of ammo from my pack back in the bank. This is going to hurt.


    I stop running and the wyvern bites at me, I move my left hand into its mouth. As it bites down almost severing my forearm I release a shower of sparks and fire within its mouth. A series of explosions fill the creatures head. I scream as my hand is torn to bits, a few of the bullets break through its teeth but miss me.


    The wyvern falls revealing my mangled hand, little more than scraps of flesh hanging on broken bones. I¡¯ll bleed out if this continues, I ignite an uncontrolled flame over the mangled flesh. The pain of the seared nerves less than the mangled flesh. I leave the pistol where it lies and move to the bank. I shouldn¡¯t have brought everybody here, Talia was right on that.


    I continue to move to the bank, though slower than before. I turn the final corner before the bank only to see Bryan getting struck by the tail of another wyvern. Abagail is on the ground next to where Bryan was standing. Dammit I wasn¡¯t fast enough. I yell as I loosethe last of the pistol''s ammunition at it.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The creature turns to me, I want it to die. I¡¯m out of guns, I draw the knife my non-mangled hand can reach. Black flame erupts from the blade. I throw it at the wyvern, it bounces off of the creature¡¯s hide. Shit I have nothing else. The creature charges me, I have nothing I can do.


    There is a howl to my right, then a silver blur tackles the creature. That must be what injured the other. Their distracted, I look for Bryan¡¯s gun. I see it and teleport the pistol to my hand, I don¡¯t know how many bullets there are. I need to end this quickly, the silver blur is some sort of over ten-foot-tall humanoid wolf beast. I point the pistol at it as I sidestep towards Bryan.


    Abagail is doing something there but I can¡¯t pay enough attention for that. The wolf beast tares the throat out of the wyvern after grabbing it out of the air. I hope the beast will be content with that wyvern. She turns from the dying creature and faces me.


    Shit, I am in no condition to fight this. I need to get to Bryan. Where is the trio? The she wolf beast doesn¡¯t charge me instead it just waggs its tail. What is going on? Is it going to attack when I drop my guard? Or is it not hostile?


    I lower the gun as I move closer to Bryan, I can¡¯t afford to start a fight now. The wolf beast didn¡¯t move, I arrive unimpeded. I break eye contact with the wolf beast to check on his injuries.


    He is barely breathing, compound fracture on his left arm. Abagail has been trying to stem the bleeding. I¡¯m not sure how much blood he has lost. I remove my belt; the arm needs a tourniquet we can¡¯t stop the bleeding anyway else.


    I need to fix his ribs somehow, there are several nasty bruises forming. There is probably internal bleeding. What can I do? I hear the wolf beast move closer, but it still does not attack. I need to do something, I don¡¯t know how to directly heal. Abagail is crying, no time to worry about that; save my friend¡¯s life then worry about emotions.


    Indirect methods, what can I do? I can¡¯t alter his body so regeneration won¡¯t do. Flesh crafting can¡¯t be applied either. Life tapping? Maybe it¡¯s worth a try, but I need a dying thing. The wyvern might still work.


    I attempt to pull fragments of the dying wyvern, but fail to get them to transfer to my friend. The wyvern is too far gone already. I glance around, the wolf beast is sniffing but does nothing. I hear footsteps approaching. Maybe whoever approaches can help.


    I turn to the sound, it is the elf sisters. Will Lysan help or is she like her sister? Where is K? She should have been here. Talia speaks though I would rather she not have.


    ¡°Just wave your hands and fix it worldshaper, or are you done with your toy.¡±


    Lysan slaps her sister, somebody needed to. ¡°How can you say that? He has only been kind to us.¡±


    ¡°Either help me or leave, I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± I say interrupting their interaction.


    Talia stands there shocked by her sister¡¯s actions. Lysan instead runs to Bryan¡¯s side as she draws out the necklace she used in a spell before.


    ¡°I can¡¯t heal him, but I can keep him alive.¡±


    ¡°Please do it.¡±


    Lysan nods, and a blue glow envelopes Bryan¡¯s body as she chants in another language I do not speak, or at least I cannot understand it. His breathing is still labored but easier. I wipe a tear from my eyes, I have not lost this friend tonight.


    Abagail, Lyasn and me pick up Bryan and move him into the bank. I notice a large hole on the east side of the building, something broke out of the bank. I don¡¯t have time to think about that, I need to find a way to heal Bryan, Lysan said she could keep him alive but for how long?


    I¡¯m not strong enough to heal him myself. Harrold had potions but they are not labeled. I need K,Blood Bridge or LifeTransference is the only viableoption.


    ¡°Do you know where Kythia is?¡±


    Lysan looks at me funny.


    ¡°The wolf behind you is Kythia.¡±


    What? Is that why it did not attack me? Dire werewolf, but in control of her actions while transformed; so a natural. She is still conscious then, I need to talk to her. I walk over to the wolf beast, and she just looks at me. There is a spark of intelligence in her eyes, but not the same spark that I¡¯ve seen in K.


    ¡°I need you Kythia come back.¡±


    The wolf beast fur trembles for a bit and then it just looks at the full moon and back to me. She can¡¯t shift back. The moonlight is holding her transformed, dammit. Wait, if I can block the moonlight then maybe.


    Light and Darkness are related concepts, the basis of one can be inverted into the other. Opposite of creating light is to destroy it. I don¡¯t know how to create raw light yet. I draw a fire into being around my hand, light is being created. But so is heat through burning.


    Wait heat is how much molecules are vibrating but isalso infrared light. Fire and Light are related but Light is more restricting. I can just restrict what the fire is doing until it is just light. I dismiss and recreate the fire dozens if not hundreds of times over the next hour until I have a ball of light in my hand.


    I dismiss it, now the opposite of what I am doing to create light. A ball of blackness appears in my hands after a few minutes of trying. A much easier jump, it spreads and expands until it covers both me and K.


    I hear the wolf beast tremble and then a hand grabs mine. I walk the two of us to where Bryan is, ¡°Do you know how to transfer injuries?¡±


    ¡°Yes why?¡±


    ¡°Move his to me.¡± I set her hand on Bryan¡¯s chest. I¡¯ll not see my friend die.


    ¡°No, you¡¯ll die.¡±


    ¡°I can heal myself, but I can¡¯t heal him nor can you nor can Lysan.¡±


    I feel a hand touch my chest and the start of a word before all I can feel is pain. I collapse to the ground, no doubt worsening the injuries. My spell of darkness dissipates as I can no longer hold it. All I see before passing out is concern on the faces of Lysan and Kythia.

 Chapter 027

    Goblins are one of the weakest of the demonized races. They are crafty and ingenius at tormenting others, but are cowards often fleeing from a fight once half their number fall. They are physically small and weak though some have learned the arts of mana and the use of stealth. - Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Jason


    <hr>


    I can see fires over the camp, screams of people echoing through the air. I need to find somewhere to hide. I am supposed to be safe here, that wooden wall is supposed to have kept the things away from me and the other nobles.


    I run around a corner, the house I bought from the Althaen has a basement. I can hide there, it¡¯s just a little further then I can hide until this all quiets down. How did the goblins things get past the wall?


    I try to open the door of the house, someone is holding it shut.


    ¡°Open the door!¡±


    I hear something more on the other side of the door, I try to open it again. I see one of the slaves I kept from the Althaen running back to her room. I close and lock the door behind me, good thing only I have a key.


    ¡°Samantha¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma master?¡±


    She begins to walk towards me, at least she remembered to not put on more than a shirt.


    ¡°I thought that I told you to not leave the room.¡±


    She begins cowering. I take her hand and pull her to the basement. She isn¡¯t obedient enough, yet. At least she is too scared of me not to follow. When we reach the bottom of the stairs I push her towards an empty mattress next to a pipe with some handcuffs.


    She handcuffs herself to the pipe and starts to plead for forgiveness. She is learning, last time I had to hit her before she got to this point.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you a great person.¡±


    A man in a dark cloak steps out of a corner, barely visible from the light coming down the stair. Samantha has stopped talking, no everything has stopped.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°You want power yes? I can show you how. You want your superiority back, I can give you the means to do so. Do you really care who I am?¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ll just give it to me? No, I don¡¯t believe that?¡±


    ¡°You are right there is something I want in return.¡±


    ¡°What will you give me, and what do you want?¡±


    ¡°I will give you the same secrets that make the Althaen strong. I will give you skill and power in magic. I will help you take back the glory and rights others stole from you. All I want in return is for you to perform some of what I show you for myself.¡±


    ¡°Alright, deal.¡±


    The cloaked figure nods. ¡°The greatest secret to the Althaen¡¯s power is the blood of the slaves. Even the weakest person can become great by consuming others. You may be weak but there are those weaker who you can use. . .¡±


    I can¡¯t help but smile as the dark figure explains to me how to take power. I am going to get back what everyone has stolen from me. Too bad I¡¯ll be losing some slaves during this attack. . .


    <hr>


    Talia


    <hr>


    It¡¯s been an entire day since the attack. Neither of the human boys have woken up. Kythia will barely leave Adrian¡¯s side and sister is either there as well or with the other. Kythia didn¡¯t transfer all of the wounds to Adrian, now both could live or die.


    Was I wrong about him? No, I couldn¡¯t have been. I¡¯ve never made any major mistakes. Could he be lying about being a Ravnos? No, there is no way he could have the mana to do all that magic unless he was a Ravnos, dragon or deity. But if he was any one of them then why didn¡¯t he just heal Bryan? Any of the three could have done so, he has to be just toying with everyone.


    ¡°Sister, we need food, herbs and water.¡±


    ¡°Why? Shouldn¡¯t we just flee, we could escape before they finish searching the dead.¡±


    Sister frowns, can¡¯t she see that he is no better than the Althaen? He sees us as his playthings.


    ¡°We have to stay. He saved and protected us, we have to help him.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t get it do you. He is a Ravnos. He was a noble all along, he is just playing us for fun.¡±


    Something smacks my head from behind. I turn; it¡¯s Kythia, carrying chunks of the wyvern she killed. She looks pale, how much of her blood has she been spending?Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°You are the one who doesn¡¯t get it Talia.¡±


    ¡°But he . . .¡±


    ¡°Stop, I know he is a Ravnos. That doesn¡¯t mean that he has been lying to us.¡±


    ¡°But how he acts in front of the Althaen.¡±


    ¡°Is an act. Can you not see the disgust on his face when they are not looking?¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean that it is an act.¡±


    ¡°Remember why I hurt your cousin.¡±


    ¡°Because he was just acting nice.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, remember I am a better judge of character than you, especially under the full moon. Did I attack him then?¡±


    ¡°No, but . . .¡±


    ¡°You know my wolf side obeyed him. Do you think she would accept an evil man? Do you think she would accept being seen as a slave?¡±


    I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Kythia is right, there is no way that he sees her as his slave. Her wolf would have attack yesterday otherwise. My mind stops I can¡¯t think for a few minutes. When I look up, Kythia and sister are gone. I can hear Kythia chanting something, how much blood is she going to spend?


    Why did I have to say those things? I may have ruined everything. I need to fix this, I have to apologize; but I can¡¯t and he may die. I need to get what they need to help. I stand up and run to the small market the Althaen set up. The slop kitchen wouldn¡¯t give me breakfast, I¡¯ll have to trade for what we need.


    I arrive at the market, out of breath but I know what I need to do. I was wrong, I have to apologize and make things right. First though they have to recover. I point out the herbs and some bread at the only stand that is still standing after the battles.


    ¡°Five pieces¡±


    I pull out the coins I have, not much is left from when sister and me ran away. I put the last piece of silver on the table. The man doesn¡¯t move.


    ¡°Five gold pieces.¡±


    ¡°All your goods aren¡¯t worth that together.¡±


    ¡°Then find what you need elsewhere.¡±


    There isn¡¯t anywhere else. None of the Althaen families would trade directly with me. I have to buy from this man. I clench my fist.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have that much.¡±


    ¡°Then barter.¡± The man pauses for a moment, ¡°that necklace for the three loaves of bread.¡±


    ¡°What for the herbs?¡±


    ¡°Your armor and sword.¡±


    I stop myself from drawing my sword to kill the man. That won¡¯t get me anywhere, I¡¯ll die before I get back to the others; then they would be killed or enslaved once they see Adrian¡¯s state of health.


    I have no choice, I pull off the chain shirt and place it on the table. The sword follows and the man grins. Tears come to my eyes as I set my mother¡¯s necklace on top, mother would understand I tell myself. I take the small basket of bread and herbs, far less than what I asked to buy and run back. I¡¯ve paid for thousands of times more than what the man gave me.


    I pass the basket to sister, she gives me a hug before getting back to treating the injuries. There isn¡¯t enough here, I¡¯ll have to find more tomorrow. I don¡¯t eat today, I don¡¯t deserve to.


    <hr>


    It¡¯s been two more days, both Adrian and Bryan are stable. I traded the last of our equipment yesterday. There isn¡¯t enough bread for everyone but sister makes me eat. I even turned to stealing last night, but was only able to get another loaf of bread. I won¡¯t let sister starve.


    There is a knock at the door, I get up to answer it. Sister and Kythia are asleep.


    I open the door to see one of the Sunchasers being followed by a few soldiers.


    ¡°Is your Lord available?¡±


    ¡°I am sorry but Lord Adrian is asleep. What can I help you with?¡±


    The man scoffs at me.


    ¡°I am here for two reasons. First to deliver this chest.¡±


    A soldier carries over small chest. It doesn¡¯t look like it holds much. Maybe I can trade the contents for what we need. I accept it from the soldiers.


    ¡°And to let him know charges of desertion will be brought up tomorrow night against him. On another note you have been banned from the market place.¡±


    The man turns and leaves without waiting for my response. What am I going to do now? I walk with the chest into Adrian¡¯s room. He frowns, even unconscious he doesn¡¯t want me near him. I put the chest down and open it.


    Unlabeled vials of red liquid, four of them. They seem to be healing potions, but I could be wrong. Should I test them? No, he would need all of them. I open one of the vials and make Adrian drink it. His complexion gets a little bit better.


    They are healing potions, just not very good ones. They must be mixed with something else. I get him to swallow the other three, it didn¡¯t help much but it is more than the herbs did. I leave the room, there must be something I can do.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    My side hurts, it is difficult to breathe. I open my eyes, I see the ceiling of the bank in infrared. It must be nighttime. I try to get up but my side hurts too much, I think something is on my left arm as well. It¡¯s numb and aches. I let out a grunt of pain as I lie back down.


    I need to heal, I shouldn¡¯t have let myself pass out. I was about to close my eyes again when the weight on my left arm shifted.


    ¡°Adrian, did you wake up?¡±


    I turn to the voice, K¡¯s voice. She looks odd, cooler than she should be. I manage to answer her but my throat is drier than it has ever been.


    ¡°Yes, did Bryan make it?¡±


    She hugs me, it hurts. My ribs are still broken from the spell. I move my arm to get her off me, but I hear her crying and whispering something. I place my arm on her back instead, ¡°softer it hurts.¡±


    She just holds me for a minute before letting go.


    ¡°Bryan will make it, he¡¯s still asleep.¡±


    I start to focus on my injuries, accelerating the healing process. It will take a while, but I should be able to move soon.


    ¡°How is everyone?¡±


    ¡°We will be ok, but things are not good. Lysan and me are weak, we spent too much of ourselves. We have no more food or water. Talia¡±, I find myself frowning, ¡°had to trade everything we own for the herbs and food we used the last few days.¡±


    Not good. I''ll need to get us everything, I will be busy tonight after I finish healing. There is also no way that food and plants cost everything we have. I need to fix this. I need to get us out of here.


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow at dusk you are being tried for desertion.¡±

 Chapter 028

    Goblins often can be found riding monsterous wolves know as worgs. They are near twice the size of a normal wolf and are capable of speach. A worg is a cruel if lazy hunter, should the goblin riders not find enough food for them they will eat their riders. - Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    What am I going to do? Desertion means I¡¯m going to get some sort of military court martial. Heal, steal supplies and leave? No, not enough time. How can I get out of this?


    ¡°What can we do?¡±


    ¡°Argue about killing wyverns or the trial by combat.¡±


    I sigh and wince as my ribs are still not where they should be. I hear footsteps coming closer, I frown as the two elven sisters come into my view. I can¡¯t tell who is who. Don¡¯t lash out, Lysan doesn¡¯t deserve it.


    One of the twins rushes to me, the other is standing near the door looking down. Ashamed? The one who rushed to me starts to check my injuries. When she lifts the blanket, I realize that I am nude under it. That is unless poultices and bandages count as a shirt.


    I pull the blanket back down with my right hand, the left is still a mangled but bandaged mess.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. Now, how long was I out?¡±


    ¡°Three days, are you going to be alright?¡±


    I sit up, but keep the blanket covering my lower half. It hurts a bit but I¡¯ll manage.


    ¡°Yes. Now tell me everything that has happened.¡±


    Lysan and K recount their last few days. My mood gets worse as they tell me more. The Althaen cut us off from all the communal supplies. They have all but stolen everything, the only good news is that Harrold did deliver the dragon¡¯s blood but make them look like healing potions. That was an attempt to kill me.


    By the time they finish I¡¯m near completely healed, only my left hand still need time. Talia tried to say something a few times but I¡¯ve been ignoring her. I¡¯m not going to deal with her taunts, I have too many problems already.


    I revise my plans; see what I can get out of theGrey Dream, steal equipment and other supplies, goad a Sunchaser into fighting me for the trial by combat, kill him, then move on to set up the rest of these Althaen to die.


    Talia left at some point, Lysan and K stood quietly as I was thinking.


    ¡°You all need to sleep¡±I say


    Lysan and K fidget, they don¡¯t seem to want to leave.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°We sold the bedding, only you and Bryan still have any. We slept here the last few days. . .¡±


    I stop for a second. I¡¯m naked under the blanket and not one but two girls have been sleeping in my sick bed. Why couldn¡¯t I have woken up during that? I stop thinking about that before my lower half responds.


    ¡°Let me get clothes on first.¡±


    Like hell I would have said no.


    They leave for a minute, I find underwear and pants but no shirts. Another thing that was sold off I guess. The two return and crawl into the bed. It¡¯s nice to have a girl in your bed, they went straight to sleep though. They seem sickly, how much did they push themselves?


    As enjoyable as it was to lie there I quickly fell asleep myself. I¡¯m not going to let this happen again.


    <hr>


    I am in the Grey Dream, I need to do this quickly. I think the needed questions.


    ¡°Show me character sheet.¡±


    [You are still alive?]


    ¡°Yes¡±


    <table style="background-color: #757575">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Dragon Knight: Void 8 (+10SP, +1 Attribute), Fighter 14 (+30SP, +1 Attribute), Magus 4 (+40SP, +1 Attribute), Ranged 3 (+3SP), Firearms 3 (+3SP), Axe 1 (+1SP), Tumble 1 (+1SP), Battle Sense 1 (+1SP), Light 2 (+10SP), Darkness 2 (+10SP), Tainted Kills: +20 EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Blood Sacrifices: Magus 5 (+20SP, Sphere Choice), +30EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Lycanthrope Blood Infusion: You are not able to benifit fromthis due to your dragon blood.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon¡¯s Blood: Dragon Knight: Void 10 (+20SP, +50EP), +35EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes +


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 165


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic +


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 179 +


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And now I know why K and Lysan looked sickly, they were transferring vitality to me. I won¡¯t make them go through this again. I''m not sure how the Grey Dream was able to let me see grey but I suppose that isn''t important. I touch the Magic tab.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="623">


    You may increase a single sphere by 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Arcane Power 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Space 2+Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Planar 0+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Fate 2+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Life 2+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Mind 1+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Soul 0+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Primal 1+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Time 1+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Transmutation 1+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Telekinesis 0+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Fire 2+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Lightning 2+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Light 2+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Darkness 2+


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I can increase anything but Arcane Power and Death. No question, Life. The screen disappears this time. I guess this place has almost finished revising the display.


    Next, I¡¯ll spend nigh all my SP on increasing Arcane Power. I only have five left. I hope it will be worth it. I touch EP.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Attribute increase


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Draconic +


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Infusion


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Why did the other options disappear?¡±


    [You are no longer able to integrate them.]


    Fair enough, I touch draconic.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Alternate Form 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Greater Draconic 75


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="608">


    True Dragon 75+75


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Power


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I need increase in raw ability. I touch True Dragon; my EP drops by 135. Another discount from a higher Life score? Not going to question it. Alternate Form changed colors but Void Power stayed, I touch it. Do I have enough for one?


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Cache 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Step* UNAVAILABLE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Twist* UNAVAILABLE


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alright I¡¯ll take Void Cache. I touch it and EP drops to zero, the EP screens all disappear. Now for the Attribute points.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="623">


    Attribute Points: 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 22


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 22


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 24


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 481


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 140


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well, I guess True Dragon really increased everything. I touch charisma twice and then constitution.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 22


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 23


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 481


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 160


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This will do, I¡¯ll check the traits and then leave.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    True Dragon


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    +8 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Void Body


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well I found something powered by mana. Will I even be able to use it? As if the Grey Dream sensed I was finished with the sheet it vanishes. I feel information pass into my mind, my head is going to hurt after this.


    <hr>


    Bryan


    <hr>


    I am in a black void, the last thing I remember is pushing Abagail out of the way of that wyvern. Not sure it was a wyvern they have poison stingers not bladed tails. Not much of a difference though. I hurt, I know my body is dying or dead but I¡¯m just here.


    I turn around, maybe there is something behind me? There wasn¡¯t but when I turned back there was a white door.


    Nothing else to do I open it. The darkness of the void is now gone. I am in a small room, there is a table with a woman sitting there. She looks up and points at a chair across from her. The room is made of hewn stone, its white but I don¡¯t know what kind.


    I sit and the woman speaks, ¡°Bryan Tybalt Grace.¡±


    How does she know my full name?


    ¡°I am here to extend an offer of patronage on behalf of my lord.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You are a paladin with no god to follow, I wish to grant you a patron.¡±


    ¡°Who would I be serving?¡±


    The woman smiles, ¡°I will not be giving you his name. All you need to know is that you already act in an acceptable way.¡±


    ¡°How can I be a paladin without knowing my patron¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°Just use a title in place of the name during smitings and blessings. It will work.¡±


    ¡°So, a god want me to follow him but not know who he is?¡±


    ¡°Close enough. The domains he offers you are Protection and Healing; though he may offer you more later. Will you accept?¡±


    ¡°What restrictions will be in my Code of Conduct?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t abandon or betray your friends and allies. Otherwise general lawful behavior: no murder, torture, stealing, and so forth.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it. Isn¡¯t there supposed to be some main dogma?¡±


    ¡°That would be to never betray or abandon friends and allies.¡±


    ¡°I accept the offer then.¡±


    ¡°Excellent the Lord of Fate will be your patron.¡±


    ¡°How is Fate connected with Protection and Healing?¡±


    ¡°You are to be a protector and healer of your allies, I also never said that he didn¡¯t have other titles.¡±


    ¡°Can I choose any specialization I want?¡±


    ¡°Of course, do as you will.¡±


    I open my mouth to ask why this god wants me, but not me knowing who he is; but the world fades away instead.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I open my eyes, it is still night. It feels comfortable lying between the two girls, but I need to get things done. I stand up and the room feels smaller than when I went to sleep. My pants barely fit, I grew larger during these few hours? I feel a great amount of hunger as well.


    The girls mumble something and I put the blanket around them. Time to start working on our problems. First I need to eat though.


    As I walk out of the bank I fold the light around me, effective invisibility. I stay away from the patrolling soldiers as I move to the kitchens. They are just tents but that is where they cook the slop for everyone. I can smell the cooking has already started. Wood fueled fires and pots.


    I walk up to one of the finished pots, and just pour myself a bowl while adding it to my invisibility. I¡¯ll just eat until I can follow someone to the ingredients.


    I¡¯m not sure how many bowls I eat before I see someone go to fetch something. I think they told the boy to get rice, I need to finish learning Althaen.


    It turns out the food is being kept in what used to be an office building for a cellphone company. I just follow the boy in, he has a key to front door. He opened it but did not unlock it.I''ll need that key for return visits. When he stops to pick up a bag of flour I drop my invisibility and take his keychain via Translocation Grasp, and move around a corner.


    No longer needing to follow the boy I start to look through the other rooms. Most are empty rooms but there is a lot of food here, most of it needing preparation before being eaten. I would have started just taking things but I have no idea how much Void Cache can hold. I should ask the next time I sleep.


    It is near dawn when I find a room full of salted meats. These will work. I roll a barrel of salted fish away from the rest. How do I get Void Cache to take this in? The barrel vanishes, and I feel something leave me. I guess that is it. That something is probably mana, no idea how much I have left.


    I need to find fruit too, but I fail to find any in the next few rooms. This is taking too long. Is there some way to create a way to sense things with my magic? Probably with Space and something else. Another thing to figure out. Maybe they don¡¯t keep fruit here, none of the nicer foods are here. Do the various Houses keep the better stuff?


    Why would I ask that of course they would. I need a way into one of the Houses. I see the sun rise out a window; time to go. The others will wake soon. I add a bag of rice and flour to my Void Cache as I move back to the bank.

 Chapter 029

    Orcs are brutes of men. They are taller and stronger than nigh any man and their greatest strength is in frontal combat. Do not match them strength for strength, but fool them as they are lacking in the mind. They often enslave other weaker goblinoids to use as fodder. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    When I arrive back at the bank everyone is up, except for Bryan who is still injured. I heard the trio arguing about eating the expired cans in the bomb shelter. When I walk in the three turn to look at me. They are paler than could be healthy, and have lost some weight. K looks the worst of the three.


    ¡°Your back¡± says K, with a smile.


    As I walk towards the vault, ¡°I brought food.¡± Now to let the meat out of the Void Cache, I suppose that I just have to want to. The small barrel of salted fish appears under my hand, I feel something flow out again. I don¡¯t think I have much left.


    ¡°Eat, I¡¯ll get the others.¡±


    The trio all but runs to the salted fish, they are hungry. I don¡¯t want to let this happen to K or Lysan again. They are going to be dehydrated after all the salt. Do we have water?


    I move to the room where Bryan is resting, Abagail is wiping sweat off his forehead. She looks at me when I enter, but does not say anything.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him, go eat there is food in the vault.¡±


    She shakes her head, ¡°not until he is better.¡±


    She must be fasting, she is more religious than Bryan or me. She will have to watch then. I sit down next to the bed. I touch his forehead, he has a fever. The compound fracture on his arm is still there but it is less broken then before K¡¯s spell.


    I move my hand to his chest, there are still a few broken ribs. I¡¯ll fix these first, less flashy. I hope Abagail accepts that I have magic by this point. The bruises slowly disappear and the bones shift to their proper places over the next minute. I think I fixed the internal bleeding too, not sure though. I need to find some anatomy books.


    Bryan is now breathing easily. Now for the arm, I feel a tension, Abagail is not accepting that I can heal others. Saying anything won¡¯t really change it, I¡¯ll just have to continue. I don¡¯t really know what the bones are supposed to look like, how will I piece together the compound fracture?


    Simple fractures are easy, just pull it straight and the muscles align the bones. I¡¯m going to have to treat it like a puzzle. That is going to hurt him a lot, I need to figure out how to numb the pain. I don¡¯t know how to find the nerves, I¡¯m not sure they could be regenerated by the normal process if I killed them either. Sorry buddy you¡¯ll just have to suck it up.


    Bryan groans as I slowly move the bone pieces back into the middle of the flesh of the arm. Puss starts to flow out of the wound but it needs to leave anyways. Luckily, I can only find a few pieces of the bone, two large pieces and about a half dozen slivers. I can¡¯t tell where the slivers are to go so I pull them out, the bone can regrow them, I think.


    I hope I lined up the bone correctly, as the wound slowly closes I feel that there is something in there that shouldn¡¯t be. The skin around is red and inflamed, am I sensing the infection? Or did something else get in there these last few days?


    The skin stops closing as I instead switch to drawing upon Death. I¡¯ll just kill whatever it is. After a moment, I can¡¯t sense whatever was living in the injury anymore and go back to accelerating the healing process.


    As the injury continues to close small white wormlike creatures are pushed out. Abagail screams when they fall out the wound. Maggots, I hate those things. Only thing worse than a fly is their juvenile offspring.


    ¡°Their dead, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Abagail calms down about the time the wound is fully closed. Bryan hasn¡¯t woken up yet, he also looks thinner then when I started the healing. Well, it does pull everything out of the person being healed. I turn to Abagail, ¡°go eat. He is better now.¡±


    Without waiting for her response, I stand up and move out of the room. We need water, I didn¡¯t steal any and there is no way that the bathroom will still be holding any. I¡¯ll have to condense it out of the air. Abagail passes me, walking to the vault as I enter the room that K must have broken as there is a large hole in the wall.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    I find what I am looking for in the rubble, a piece of metal. I then pick up the bucket in the lobby that was being used to fetch water while I was unconscious, before walking into the vault. It is humid today so this should work though it may be a little slow.


    I brush off all the dirt and dust on the metal rod, I think it was from a chair, and focus on creating a weird flame on it. An icy blue flame covers my hand, its cold and the temperature in the room is dropping. The four eating the salted fish look over at me, but don¡¯t seem surprised.


    My hand feels ice cold, but I can handle it at least for a bit. Water starts to condense on the piece of metal and drip into the bucket. I stop after a minute, I need a way to suspend this. There is about a half glass worth of water in the bucket, not fast enough either.


    <hr>


    It was near dusk when anyone bothered to come to retrieve us for my trial. The soldiers seemed surprised when I opened the door, I didn¡¯t catch what they said but the look on Sunchaser¡¯s face, and the ropes a few nobles were holding told me what I needed to know. They thought I was already dead, they were here to enslave not escort.


    K walked up behind me and said something to the group. She is looking better, after getting enough water and food she seems only tired. The sisters are still in poor condition.


    ¡°We are to follow them to the trial.¡±


    ¡°Then we go. Lets get this over with.¡±


    Sunchaser and the nobles who I think are from his family mock our group as we let them lead us. Bryan is being carried by Abagail and the sisters, I wanted to help but K whispered that it would break my act.


    We enter the area near the front of the palisade, there are over a dozen older nobles sitting in chairs on top of a platform. I guess they are the judges, when are their charades going to end?


    K and the judges argue for a bit but very few nod, she is losing the argument. They don¡¯t care if the charge is real or not. They just want an excuse to ¡®legally¡¯ take her and the others as slaves. I can see the lust on the younger nobles faces. Sunchaser and the nobles near him are all smiling, I set their faces to memory.


    ¡°They don¡¯t care, just skip to trial by combat.¡±


    K looks over at me surprised but nods and turns back to the old men. They smile in response, they want to have the trial by combat. That¡¯s fine I was expecting them to call for one even if K was able to talk my way out of the charges.


    An old man walks out from the group that surrounds Sunchaser, Magister Talphith. So, he was aligned with the Sunchasers as well? No, Sunchaser just passed him a small box. Hired help.


    ¡°The trial by combat is to the death. Whoever wins gets claim on the others possessions, the charges are also dropped should you win. You shouldn¡¯t have to fight a Magister though, I¡¯ll try to get . . .¡±


    I interrupt K, ¡°no its alright. That means they can¡¯t complain afterwards right?¡±


    She looks at me for a second before leaving the open area in front of these judges. Talphith looks at me for a moment before speaking, ¡°I¡¯ll make it quick don¡¯t worry.¡±


    I rush at him before he finishes his sentence, he is a powerful mage I can¡¯t give him a chance. He ends up finishing a spell before I reach him, a burst of green light travels towards me. Not good, but I manage to evade the thing.


    I don¡¯t hear it hit anything, no time to worry I have Talphith within reach. I need to silence him, I don¡¯t know any sonic effects but I¡¯m going to try something else. I touch Talphith before some sort of force pushes me back, but I got what I wanted. Healing is hard because you have to worry about causing problems, but what if you don¡¯t care?


    I crash into one of the wooden platforms, my skin broke and I¡¯m bleeding but I should be fine. It doesn¡¯t hurt that much. I look over to Talphith, now he lacks a mouth. His lips have fused together. He looks angry, but he should not be able to use as much magic against me now.


    I stand up and brush myself off, Talphith is drawing some sort of glowing glyph in the air. Rune magic to substitute a verbal component? The rune flashes and a bolts of fire flies at me, I manage to push some away with my own control of fire but I can feel the burns on my chest. Silencing him wasn¡¯t enough, I notice a pile of ash as I dodge another bolt of fire.


    Bolts that missed me or that green light? Doesn¡¯t matter, I create a bright flash of light as Talphith is aiming another rune at me. He has a few that are circling around him, wards or contingencies? Not sure, perhaps both.


    I think I blinded him, at least momentarily, as he messes up his rune and it fades without doing anything. I throw a bolt of negative energy at him but all that happens is one of the three runes orbiting him dim a bit. Wards, it¡¯s a protection spell. There is a limited amount it can block, but it will be specialized. Negative and two other energy types, fire and lightning are the most common damaging spells so it is probably those.


    Talphith recovers from the blindness and pulls a hand crossbow out of his robe. Too bad I don¡¯t have any weapons. Should I steal his? No, it will probably fail or backlash. I wrap myself in fire as he shoots a bolt at me, I try to dodge but fail. I am not faster than a projectile weapon. I get struck in the shoulder, the bolt has a glass? shaft. There is fluid in it, is it poisoned? Doesn¡¯t matter I focus on healing and the bolt and the odd colored liquid are pushed out of me.


    Talphith is looking at me, he seems angrier. I guess that was supposed to kill me. There are two more runes in front of him. They discharge into balls of green goo flying at me. Probably acid, I can¡¯t dodge both.


    I take a risk and pull one to me with Translocation Grasp. They now intersect between us, but I feel tension building. I¡¯m going to have a nasty backlash later. I rush at Talphith as he gloats to himself over his supposed victory.


    I get close enough to touch again, this time I put frost fire on his right arm before I get thrown back by something. Telekinesis? I can see ice forming as he starts to draw a rune of fire with his left hand. It looks bad, he is not ambidextrous.


    I just hold the frost fire in existence as its ice spreads. I¡¯ve won, he can¡¯t break my magic. Just as I start grinning I hear chanting and Sunchaser runs onto the field, he throws a fire at mine. They both wink out of existence.

 Chapter 030

    Hobgoblins are the most dangerous of goblinoids. Not because of their own strength but because they are smart. Their minds are as sharp as ours but craftier. They often lead the other goblinoid to war, and fear an army led by them you should. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I turn, the Sunchasers have surrounded my friends and Talia, the older man decided to not follow the rules of the trial by combat. The other Althaen are yelling but not doing anything. I need to act quickly.


    I am done playing nice. K is growling at the Sunchasers near the other but I know it¡¯s a bluff. She doesn¡¯t have much left in her. A blade of black fire condenses into my hand as I rush at Sunchaser.


    He moves a blade to parry but my weapon is not corporeal, his sword cuts into my left shoulder as mine moves through his chest. I hold it there letting it burn the life within him. There is a commotion behind me, but I can¡¯t act until Sunchaser is dead.


    Talphith is drawing something in the air, he finishes just as Sunchaser collapses dead or close enough to it. I duck as a bolt of black lightning arcs out from Talphith, I feel a little weaker though I was only hit with a glancing blow.


    Talphith¡¯s right arm and some of his torso is encased in ice. I have to deal with him before I can help with what is going on behind me. In front of Talphith is a large series of runes, they are glowing brighter his spell is about to become active.


    The runes flash in a rainbow of color, and the world shatters.


    <hr>


    I¡¯m falling through a grey void. Talphith¡¯s spell must be some sort of transport spell. I stop moving, the grey void starts to fade as if it were a fog rolling away in the morning.


    I am in a colosseum; everyone, who was in my sight when Talphith¡¯s spell activated, ishere. Save the magister himself. No, he is here in the stands of the stone structure. The world spins in my vision for a moment and the Sunchasers are now all in armor, except the corpse of the man I call Sunchaser. It is just lying there, unmoving.


    Something is wrong, Talphith no longer appears old and the damage I did to his body is gone. The Sunchasers are confused for a moment, as are the other Althaen. Armor appears on them as the world becomes wavyonce more.


    This place is some form of illusion, I think. There is no way that Talphith can do so much so quickly through mana. The cost is too high, a voice I recognize begins to laugh in my mind. Me-but-not-me is here. No, not here but can touch here.


    This is a realm of thought then, a mental domain, a realm where you are limited by your will and imagination not skill and power. Talphith¡¯s mind, he pulled us here it must be his or a piece sectioned off in the Astral.


    [Want any help?]


    And now me-but-not-me is talking. How can I respond? Does she just hear everything I think?


    [I am you. I see, hear and experience everything you do or think.]


    Ok that is creepy. Just keep my friends safe. The moment after I think it I can feel that me-but-not-me did something and a piece of the colosseum returned to being grey mist. I look at the dozens of Althaen, they have turned to me.


    Their eyes are wrong, they are no longer in control. Talphith raises a goblet in his little stand, he was a fool to continue the fight here. I already shattered a mental world, I¡¯ll just break this one too.


    Some of the Sunchasers rush at me, lets see if he tried to restrict magic. I raise my hand in front of me, ¡°Chain Lightning¡±, and think of the image of the spell¡¯s effects. And it works, a bolt of lightning leaves my hand to arc around the fools before me.


    This is a realm of thought, reality is loose and I am not restricted here at all. The lightning didn¡¯t kill any of the people but that can be corrected. One of people charging reach me and swing their blade, only to pass through as if I was air. This isn¡¯t my body so you can¡¯t hit me with that.


    Talphith is now frowning, I guess he can tell this isn¡¯t the first weird dream crap I¡¯ve dealt with. How should I deal with the minions? I don¡¯t want distractions when he gets involved. Lets see if any have the will to continue after this.


    ¡°Mass Blood Razor¡±, everyone¡¯s blood begins to turn into razors within their veins. All but the judges begin to fall to the ground their skin discoloring before they fade from this fake world. I wonder if they will die in reality or just be vegetables?Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    I doubt they will be alive, Talphith brought everyone here to fight after all. The dozen or so older Althaen are casting spells at me. I can¡¯t counter or ignore all of them at once but I can do this.


    ¡°Antimagic Shell¡±


    And their spells all just smash against a golden eggshell around me. The best defense against magical attacks. Too bad I won¡¯t be able to strike them with spells while it stays up. I just walk towards them, paying no mind to the fireballs and lightning bolts they are throwing.


    Their astral bodies are also repairing themselves. They know what this place is, too bad for them I am used to twisting reality around my will. I let the antimagic shell around me shatter and take a step.


    I am now in the middle of the lot, ¡°Sunfire.¡±


    An explosion of fiery death spreads out around me. They scream but once the flames clear somebegin to regenerate, others fade away. Talphith begins to act and duplicates my teleporting step, he is now behind me.


    I chuckle as his hand glows in dark red light, he is casting a death effect. Too bad he is within ten feet of me, ¡°Antimagic field.¡±


    His spell and the attacks flying at me vanish. They should have figured out by now this won¡¯t work. Not that I¡¯m complaining though. I feel something strike against the field, I guess they are trying to counter it, deny that it is there. That is how you are supposed to counter the actions of your opponent in a mental duel.


    I let it fall and Talphith vanishes, but another Althaen is in reach. I touch his chest, ¡°Destruction.¡± The man glows in red-black light and fades to nothing, divine spells were always better in the older editions.


    I teleport step away as a few fireballs land. There are only ten Althaen and Talphith still alive. Me-but-not-me is laughing within my head. They really did pick the worst place to fight me, no my own mind would have been worse.


    <hr>


    Talphith


    <hr>


    Dammit why did I have to pull everyone into a mental fight against this man. He is only a teen. How can he be so great at mental combat? He is using high level spells of multiple schools all over the place.


    It¡¯s as if he knows that mana costs don¡¯t matter here. He should have been surprised and confused when he arrived, yet he is laying waste to everyone else. Not even counting how he sent his own allies away. They were confused but not him, maybe this young man really was what he claimed to be.


    I shiver at the thought. I need to act the boy just did something to the blood of everyone else. I don¡¯t have any idea what the words are that he is saying but they must be names of spells. How can he know so many?


    I¡¯ve seen him use high level Transmutation, Evocation, Necromancy, Abjuration, and Conjuration. The boy is too dangerous, I should never have taken the payment from Raenar Sunchaser to kill him in this trial. He clearly knows far more magic than he has mana for. I¡¯m not sure I could have beat him even if he didn¡¯t silence me in the physical world.


    I¡¯ve signed my own death by bring the boy to a realm of thought. Now the boy is teleporting and using some sort of bigger fireball. I have to act, there is no way I can defeat him alone. I teleport myself next to the boy, drawing up the concept of finger of death but the boy just spoke and all our spells vanished.


    What the hell is this? Is he some god of knowledge? I feel the whatever it was that he pushed onto this plane and try to tear it apart. I can¡¯t defeat the boy in knowledge of arcane spells but I can use this world against him.


    The thing holds for a second and then just lets me break it. The boy is planning something, I teleport away.


    I look back and the boy is touching one of the elders to the Vithr?. He speaks and the man is unmade in a flash of dark red light. That is something the high priests of old could do. How can the boy know how to do something like that? I¡¯m screwed, there is no way I can defeat him.


    I¡¯m not going to let myself die here alone, there is only one way for me to take us both out. Forgive me my gods but I will not let some boy slay me without even breaking a sweat.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re there demon.¡±


    [Have you reconsidered?]


    ¡°Just kill the boy, you can have me.¡±


    [Deal]


    My vision goes dark as my spirit¡¯s body is torn asunder, at least I will die with my enemies.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    These older nobles have been getting better, to bad there are now but three of them. Did only duplicating tier five and higher spells tip them off? Oh well, should I just start playing with them?


    I hear an ungodly scream from where Talphith teleported to, something is happening to him. I need to finish these three then.


    ¡°Wail of Banshee¡± a high-pitched screech follows, blood trickles out of the ears of the last three. They fall to the ground and begin to fade from this realm. I turn to Talphith, his body tearing apart and stretching into something else.


    Well I have no idea what is going on, I kind of want to see what Talphith is turning into. That would be a bad idea though. I create a pistol in my right hand, and begin to shoot at whatever Talphith is becoming.


    Is it a shapeshift or something else? The bullets fail to do anything as Talphith continues to transform. This is bad, whatever it is that he is becoming is the size of a small house. This world is getting darker, the ground shakes as the stone structures begin to collapse.


    Wings unfurl, and Talphith is not there. Where he was is now some black winged reptile, a dark gas wafting off. It looks lithe and sleek. I think it is a Shadow Dragon, it roars and I can feel madness from the thing.


    Talphith is no more, whatever that is consumed him. The sun overhead goes dark, can I beat a dragon? Its claw rends me in two during my hesitation, I feel pain for an instant before reappearing whole but feeling weaker.


    Shit, ¡°Aegis, Negative Plane Protection, Stoneskin, Spellshield¡± I push one effect after another onto myself. That hurt, I need to hurt this thing. Its breath washes over me, but the glowing barriers hold it back.


    That thing is much stronger than Talphith was. A claw strikes me and I feel some of stoneskin has been expended as I fly towards some rubble. I need to stop doubting myself, this place isn¡¯t about power. So, what if I am weaker, I just have to have more will that the other.

 Chapter 031

    The wyvern while not the weakest creature with dragon blood is nowhere near as strong as their draconic cousins. There are a few known varients, mostly being different endings on their tails. They are wild and unruly but powerful mounts if they can be controled. Due to how territorial they are aside from a mated pair and their offspring you will never see two adults together unless they are tamed to be mounts. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The shadow dragon charges at me again, I take a step but am unable to teleport through the action. It is locking me down, restricting what I am allowed to do in this world. Two can play that game.


    The dragon breathes once more at me but I deny its ability to do so. That didn¡¯t stop the charge though and I am bitten in half. I appear once more, my head beginning to hurt behind the beast. I draw a sword and swing at its hind leg, the blade shining a myriad of colors.


    The blade shatters and I hear laughter of dozens coming from the abomination before me. What the hell is going on? It should not have had time to notice my reappearance.


    [Why do you allow this mockery to stand?]


    That is not me-but-not-me¡¯s voice. I don¡¯t care what it is ether, help or be gone. I dodge a kick from the beast¡¯s hind leg. How can I hurt this thing? What is it? It is no dragon.


    [It is a mockery. A false dragon, just destroy it.]


    I¡¯ve been trying. Nothing is working.


    [Nor will it if you keep thinking like that.]


    Distracted by my argument I am clawed in twain again. I reform nearby. My head is aches in pain, I am not strong enough to beat this.


    [How can someone so weak awaken me? Forget this I¡¯ll just do it myself.]


    The pain in my mind skyrockets and my body splits in two. A dark dragon similar to the abomination before me but smaller and emitting a blueish starlight from under its scales now stands at my side.


    Me-but-not-me has gone silent, what just happened? My mind continues to ache as the two dragons release their breath weapons at each other. A torrent of shadows flies at us only to be burned away by some blast of radiance from this smaller dragon.


    I feel the same familiarity with it as I do with me-but-not-me, yet they are not the same. It¡¯s an ally, at least for now. I teleport away from a claw, there was resistance to my action but less than before. The abomination must be splitting its focus now.


    Can I get me-but-not-me to come help as well? I feel no response from her. I create a blade of light and swing at the shadow dragon, the blade cuts a bit before shattering as my last sword did. A small piece of shadow exits the wound before it closes itself.


    The shadow flies at me screaming in rage, I crush it in my grasp. I don¡¯t know what it was, but it was a fragment of this thing before me. A claw comes at me and I dodge it, almost I lack an arm now. But I do not feel as weakened as when this creature tore me in two.


    I teleport again forming a blade of light, the small dragon bites the beast as it was distracted by me. Another shadow is released from that wound, the dragon no longer seems as overwhelming as it was before. I still know I could not beat it alone but now I don¡¯t think I would lose as badly.


    The small dragon gets gored by the larger, and I use it as an opportunity to strike. I release and destroy a few of the shadows as I hack at the creature before it turns to me. I decide to take the hit to stab it in return.


    I reappear again, but feel weaker my blade dimmer as well after I recreate it. The dragon is losing some of its size as we injure it and destroy its released shadows. The thing must bean abomination of conglomerate spirits; multiple minds and souls. Its might shouldlessen by each shadow slain.


    I reshape the blade into a pistol, I hope this will work. I jump away from a claw, the thing roaring in its madness. I don¡¯t feel like I can reform myself much more, my will is sapped. I shoot at the creature, and it does injure it but not as much as the blade.


    It is because there is less light? I¡¯m not sure but it takes two more shots for a shadow to fall out of the wound. The small dragon has adopted my hit and dodge style, I guess being torn into bits twice was enough for it.


    Soon the creature is the size of a horse but I was slain another time by its claws. It charges the small dragon now only four times its size. The little one has its throat torn out, I put several holes into the shadow dragon releasing two more of its horde of spirits.


    It is now only a bit larger than me, the small dragon does not reappear. I feel it become a part of me again, it is weak and will sleep. I will have no more aid against this creature. I no longer have the will to tear it asunder as I did to the Althaen, it looks at me and cries out.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    My pistol shatters. I cannot form another, the creature charges and I dodge. I rush to the corpse of the small dragon, it had not yet faded away. I grab claw, it fits easily in my hand. It shouldn¡¯t but I don¡¯t care; it is a weapon and that¡¯s all that matters.


    I swipe across its face as it lunges again, it screams spreading shadowy blood on me. That is new, it stopped releasing shadows. Is there only one left within it? Its wound does not close either. I can win this, what I have left is more than it has.


    It breathes it breath of shadows a final time as I charge and tear at its throat. My spiritual body corrodes under the dark vapors but I hurt it more than it hurt me. It bites at me but I step away, it is moving slower. Black blood is dripping from its body.


    It falls to the ground, I¡¯ve won. Whatever that was it is no more, I walk up and hold the last of its shadow in my hand. I crush it, no mercy for those that try to hurt me. I am now the only one left here, the world is fading a grey fog rolls in. It is time to go back to the real world.


    <hr>


    My mind aches as Sunchaser¡¯s blade falls from both his grasp and my shoulder. I hear dozens of bodies fall to the ground. They are all still breathing, save Sunchaser, and the runes of Talphith are still fading from the air.


    I try to heal my shoulder but nothing happens. I took to many injuries to my spirit within the astral I guess. I am far from bleeding out so I suppose I will have to rest and heal normally. I walk over to the nearest body.


    All four of the others are looking around is disbelief, I am so glad it was not my magic that did this. I roll the body onto its back, the body is alive but there is no life in the eyes. All their minds are gone, none of them will harm us again. K and Lysan rush to me, they begin to treat my shoulder.


    They can see the fatigue in me. Talia took a step towards me and stopped, I don¡¯t want her help anyways. I sit down on the wooden platform and K and Lysan bandage me. I¡¯m not sure where they came from.


    K and me turn to look at some approaching people, more Althaen. I cannot deal with them right now. I can¡¯t draw on my magic, the others are too weak to fight from the days without food and blood sacrifices in attempt to heal me.


    Tr¨ªan is leading the approaching group. I might be able to talk my way out if it¡¯s him. I am not sure though. We are too weak to outrun them. I should speak first, I stand and take a deep breath. I need to bluff and intimidate my way out.


    ¡°Tr¨ªan, why are you here?¡±


    I speak as loudly as I can without a yell, my voice carries over to those behind him as well. They appear surprised though I doubt they speak elvish. Tr¨ªan looks over the fallen, he appears joyful of all the fallen Sunchaser though scowls at some of the other dead. I guess I killed some of his house too.


    ¡°I came to speak in you defense, but that seems unnecessary now.¡±


    There is a bit of fear in his voice. Good let him think that it was my spells that did this.


    ¡°They interfered in a trial by combat. The punishment is death is it not?¡±


    I hope it is, everything is death or slavery in their laws. My guess should hold. Keep standing strong, don¡¯t let him see that you are defenseless at the moment. He frowns and says something to the soldiers behind him. They take their hands from their weapons, my act is working.


    ¡°It is but so many?¡±


    ¡°They all attacked me after I beat Talphith.¡±


    ¡°Can you swear it by the gods?¡±


    I guess they want to use some truth detection spell. Alright it is true, just not everything that happened.


    ¡°Sure, who will oversee it?¡±


    Tr¨ªan motions to an elven male, I think K recognized him. Regardless, he approached and brandished the same type of necklace that Lysan uses in her spells. He chants in a tongue I do not speak, some archaic version of elven before nodding at me.


    ¡°I swear to all of the gods that I killed each of these men in retaliation because of interferenceduring my trial by combat.¡±


    The two before are surprised by my words and that the necklace released a small green light. Probably means that my words are true. The elven male retreats back to the soldiers behind Tr¨ªan. Tr¨ªan however just looks at me for a moment, he is scared. He believes they all died to my power.


    ¡°I will see that the results of your trial are spread to those that remain. Their more valuable possessions will be sent to you.¡±


    Tr¨ªan then quickly leaves, followed by the others. I breathe a sigh of relief, its over for today. I can rest and recover before we deal with the others. There are too many though, how can I deal significant damage to them all and escape?


    We return to the bank, I think it is close to midnight. Something is wrong in how much time passed, it¡¯s probably from whatever Talphith¡¯s spell was. We all just started eating the salted fish when I hear Bryan bolt out of his sickbed.


    He woke up, I smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright the wyvern is dead. Welcome back.¡±


    He looks at me and the others before Abagail moves to hug him. I walk to the other room, they need some alone time. I can see it in her tears of joy. The trio leaves with me but Talia does not move to the other bedroom. I don¡¯t know where she will sleep tonight and I don¡¯t care.


    Lysan turns to me, ¡°How did all of those men die?¡±


    ¡°Talphith made the worst decision he could have.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean¡± asks Kythia


    ¡°He shifted the fight to the astral.¡±


    ¡°Why would that be a bad decision?¡±


    ¡°Everything I can think of can be donethere.¡±


    The two suddenly seem to understand. There is a pause as I get the bed ready before Lysan speaks up again.


    ¡°Adrian.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You should talk with sister.¡±


    I frown, I don¡¯t want to deal with Talia. Lysan notices and continues, ¡°I know she said terrible things, but she wants to apologize.¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t going to change what she did.¡±


    ¡°We weren¡¯t the only ones that treated you. She did too, she knows she was wrong.¡±


    ¡°Things aren¡¯t just going to change because she regrets her actions.¡±


    ¡°But . . .¡±


    I give Lysan a hug, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her later, but I¡¯m not ready to forgive her.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t hug me back, I know that I have to talk to her sister. I don¡¯t want to talk to her though, I don¡¯t even want her around anymore. Neither of the two talk again as we fall asleep.


    Tomorrow is going to suck, hopefully I can at least get most of what we need to leave.

 Chapter 032

    There are many strains of lycanthropy, on both sides of the Demon War. Unfortunately those that are turned by the bite of a lycanthrope tend to lose their minds to the newly awakened beast within them. Because of this the lycanthropes of the Demons grow in numbers quickly while our own can never be truely trusted. Some few have however been able to control their beast when turned, all others must be put down. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I do not open my eyes until dawn, I hurt though my body is fine. I did not enter the Grey Dream, I could have but chose not to. I cannot trust it; its voice was too similar to that of the shadows I fought. I must recover before I go there again.


    I stand up and get ready to leave the bank, I need to get food and water. While there is still salted fish that is not something that one should eat alone for multiple days in a row. The others are all still asleep.


    I try to condense water with the frost fire but fail to get it to form. I frown this is bad, I also started to feel more pain within me. I can¡¯t use my magic, I can¡¯t let the Althaen figure this out. They want to kill me, they would have done so yesterday but were too scared to act.


    I can¡¯t risk traveling out into the rest of the Althaen camp, so I just sit in the sunlight on the stairs for the bank¡¯s front entrance. I missed several days of training with the guards, a few more won¡¯t matter.


    I just let my mind wander and slowly feel my hunger and thirst diminish as if I was some sort of weird plant. Absorb radiation for sustenance, this is a really odd way to eat. It¡¯s working so I guess I¡¯ll just talk with the others and learn Althaen from K in the sunlight. Maybe move to the roof later.


    After about an hour the others start to wake up, one of the elven sisters woke first. It¡¯s Talia, she walked out of the room that Abagail was using before. She walks up to me, I begin to frown without noticing.


    ¡°Why are you just sitting in the sun?¡±


    Should I tell the truth? I¡¯ll end up telling K or Lysan and they will tell her. She will find out anyways. Even if she doesn¡¯t realize what I am doing for her I don¡¯t think she would risk her sister.


    ¡°Waiting.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°To recover my magic.¡±


    She stops for a second, she knows what the risk is.


    ¡°Why are you just waiting, we need to get out of here. What if they found out?¡±


    ¡°Bad things, but suddenly running away would tip them off. All they know is that I didn¡¯t leave this building for the last few days. If I change from that action they will know something changed from the fight yesterday.¡±


    ¡°But what if they come and ask for you to cast something?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think they will. Why would they?¡±


    ¡°Because then they could act against you if you didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Do they have any reason to think that I can¡¯t use magic right now?¡±


    Talia stops for a moment. I don¡¯t know what she is thinking, will she try to run? Use me as bait? I won¡¯t let her do so if she tries, I should change the subject before she comes to such a conclusion.


    ¡°I promised Lysan I would listen to whatever it was you were trying to say yesterday. Now¡¯s your chance.¡±


    She takes a breath, ¡°I was wrong to say all those things. I was wrong to judge you as I did. I was worried that you were like the others, I am sorry.¡±


    Well at least she is apologizing, it even seems sincere. Since I didn¡¯t say anything back she seems to have taken it to mean that I want an explanation. Am I still frowning? I probably am.


    ¡°Before we met you, my sister and me have been running from nobles for most of our century of life. Mostly we were moving from elven clan to clan; the elven lords were either apathetic to us, or treated us well until their sons wanted us. Then we would run away again, only for the next group to be the same. The human houses wouldn¡¯t even try to hide what they really wanted.


    None of the others who ever gave us hospitality ever really meant it. I was too afraid that you were lying to believe it. If you want to throw me away I understand, but please just keep my sister safe.¡±


    There are tears in her eyes, she is truly sorry. A century of being betrayed over and over, no wonder she thought as she did. Should I forgive her?


    ¡°Talia,¡± she looks up at me. ¡°I¡¯m not going to just throw you away. I¡¯m mad at you, you hurt me. Apologies don¡¯t make everything better but at least you regret it.¡±


    She moves to hug me, but I push her away; it¡¯s mean but I haven¡¯t fully forgiven her. ¡°I¡¯m still mad at you, give it time.¡±


    Her arms drop to the side, she is still crying as she goes back into the bank. Why did she have to look so sad at me not letting her hug me? She deserves this but I feel a little bad, but I¡¯m also still mad. Damn emotions, I¡¯ll just go back to sunbathing till someone else comes by.


    <hr>


    I am sitting on the roof, K teaching me more Althaen, when a small group of soldiers¡¯ approach with a few crates. I suppose that is the winnings from my fight with Talphith. Wait, dammit. I forgot to take that chest Sunchaser gave to him.


    The soldiers do not even walk the crates all the way to the door but are instead just placing them in front of the bank on the street. K starts to move towards them but stopped when she noticed I didn¡¯t move. I want to see if they are even going to tell anyone that they have come.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    It turns out that they either had no intentions to do so or were told to remove something from the crates first as they began to open one of them. K jumped down and started talking to them and they did not seem happy that she was there. They are not talking loud enough but K does point to the roof, after which I waved at the guards who looked over.


    They are startled and immediately stop trying to open the crates while arguing with K. I should go down there, it doesn¡¯t seem like the soldiers are going to carry the crates into the bank for me. I move down from the roof, I think I could jump down without problems but do not want to risk it.


    When I turn back to the crates, the soldiers had already left.


    ¡°They were only to deliver, apparently, that means the front of our house.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better they don¡¯t see the barrel of stolen fish anyways. So, how heavy are the crates?¡±


    K kicks one of them, it barely moved. ¡°Heavy enough to need two people.¡±


    I nod and help her move the first of the crates into the bank. The others notice us bringing the crate in and after seeing that there were more outside moved to help. Lysan and Abagail were however unable to move a crate as a team.


    ¡°These are rather heavy, what is in them¡± questions Bryan.


    ¡°Paper, glass bottles, and metal¡± responds K before I began my own response. She really has been learning English quickly. I¡¯ll have to ask her how much of the question she understood later.


    ¡°That¡¯s rather vague.¡±


    And K is now looking at him in confusion. ¡°We don¡¯t actually know yet¡± I answer for her. Bryan nods and we get all five of the crates into the lobby. Now it¡¯s time to go through our plunder. No, that is not quite the right phrase.


    It turns out that most of the possessions of Talphith were mostly inherited by his students, collected due to debts, or returned to the house as he did not own them himself. The same was true of most of the others that ended up dying yesterday. There was however an accounting of the possessions that were sent to others instead.


    The only name I could recognize in the papers was that a Jason Sunchaser received most of the possessions of the group, ¡®for slaves who have not yet been paid for.¡¯ He also took most of the items marked as slaves. What could he possibly need all these things for?


    Regardless of whatever Jason is doing I did get some of the more valuable items. There was a breastplate, a few swords that I think are enchanted, the composite bows I gave the sisters along with the arrows, a few dozen tomes that seem to be introductory to low leveled magic, several dozen healing potions, a few books that seem to be histories from Althr¨¢, quite a bit of clothes, and a rather large pile of coins.


    There was not a single coin that was not made of copper. There is no reason for there to be this many, they are not even shiny. I returned the bows to the sisters, and as Bryan was the one that the breastplate would fit he took it. Bryan, Talia, K and me now each have a longsword. They are all a bit gaudy but they will work better than anything else we have.


    There is no way that all these people had so many obligations to others. I do figure out on a whim that my Void Cache still works after placing one of the copper coins in it. Not too much I can do with that though. Over the rest of the day I move everything that we are not currently using into Void Cache as we all study each other¡¯s languages.


    <hr>


    I¡¯ve fallen asleep, I don¡¯t think I made sure not to enter the Grey Dream. I open my eyes, and that is where I am. An empty grey void filled with grey mist. I am not in as much pain as I was in the morning, but I still wasn¡¯t able to use anything but Void Cache when I went to sleep.


    Hoping that the things that run this realm do not attack me as me-but-not-me warns they eventually will, I think the questions that must be done to get the conversation mode working.


    [You are hurt.]


    ¡°I¡¯ll get better. Please show me the display.¡±


    [Very well, let us know if you wish for aid.]


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Magus 9 (+80SP, Sphere Upgrade, +1 Attribute), Human Kills: +20EP, Soul 1 (+5SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Demon Slain: +50EP, +100SP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Killing those few dozen people is worth more than all the goblinoids so far? That¡¯s just not right, incentivizing destroying ¡®humans¡¯ for more than the tainted things. Something is not right. I¡¯m also assuming the Shadow Dragon is the Demon that I killed, at least that one paid well. Not worth going magicless though.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 190


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 94


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alright store the SP, for the ever-increasing sphere costs, spend the EP then raise an Attribute.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Attribute Increase


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="623">


    Draconic


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="623">


    Infusion


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I¡¯ll just keep choosing draconic, not much point in walking down just part of another path.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Alternate Form 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Power


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I wonder if there if the other void abilities are available.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Step* UNAVAILABLE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Twist* UNAVAILABLE


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And there are none, what of senses?


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Darkvison 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Scent 45


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I don¡¯t really need those at this time. I guess I¡¯ll just pick up the Alternate Form. And now I just have four. Just as before there is no explanation as to what this does.


    On to the Attribute point.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="623">


    Attribute Point: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 22


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 22


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 529


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 160


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I put the point in charisma, then the voice of the Grey Dream speaks up once more.


    [More tainted are going to attack.]


    Shit, and I don¡¯t have my magic.


    [We can heal your damage, but will have to charge SP for it.]


    ¡°Heal me then.¡±


    I see the SP value drop to zero, the dream begins to fade.

 Chapter 033

    The bugbear is one of the largest of goblinoid and is the least inteligent. Large hunched-over brutes they have massive strength making them a favorite for their more inteligent cousins to train as shock troops. At least they are slow and easily tricked, though subtle actions will often not be noticed. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    When I wake up, I am being held by something. When I open my eyes the room seems more than twice as large as when I went to sleep. No, I am now smaller.


    I squirm out of the arms of K, tearing a shirt on my claws. I look back at the bed, I can tell that her shirt is ripped but infravision doesn¡¯t seem to work well at seeing details. Is there is a better form of Infravision I can get?


    I turn to look at myself, from the pieces I can see I am now as the small dragon I saw split off of me in the astral. I seem to be about twice the size of a house cat. This form is not large enough to be of use, I need my human form.


    As I was thinking a crash of stone and splintering wood can be heard in the distance. There is another attack. K bolts up and looks around; as I was not hiding she is now looking directly at me.


    She grabs one of the two swords near the bed and points it at me. She does not recognize me, I need to be human again. As I focus on this need my skin, or is it scales, ripples and the room shrinks as I return to being me.


    It takes a few seconds for me to return to being human. K is looking at me, I am not sure how much she can see in the dark though.


    ¡°Since when were you a little dragon?¡±


    ¡°Today? I just figured it out myself.¡±


    K looks at me for a moment, I move to grab my pants. Screams begin to echo in from the distance.


    ¡°Sounds like an attack, we can talk about it later.¡±


    She nods, and leaves to wake the others as I wake up Lysan. By the time that everyone is up and in a position to defend the bank several fires have started. The sound of the battles is quieter than the last one, though many of the nobles that fought last time are now dead. Or could it be there are less enemies?


    As Abagail does not have a weapon she is inside the bank ready to treat injuries. Bryan is guarding the wall K broke. The sisters have moved to the roof to use their bows. K and me are in the street waiting for the enemy to reach us.


    As we wait for whoever is attacking the camp I can see lightning strikes being called down from the overcast. Several minutes pass before a group of goblins can be seen running down the street; but it is not they that I notice. There is a bulky something half again as tall as me, four times broader and hunched over.


    I cannot see its features well, but it is large and has a club of some sort. I hear the twang of bows from the roof, the sisters are already attacking. The large bulky creature moves slower than the goblins as they rush at us.


    I manage to skewer one of the goblins as it charged me, the others I blocked with the now dying creature at the end of my blade. There are too many for just K and me to hold back, but I can hear Bryan say something. No time to pay attention to that.


    I sidestep a lunge and sunder the limb holding the weapon of a goblin. It falls to the ground screaming, it will bleed out soon. I must be faster than these creatures now, they do not give me the sense of danger that they did before. The large bulky creature I think will still be a danger.


    The larger creature is charging at K; she isn¡¯t looking at it. I elbow the goblin in front of me, and take a club to my back as I rush to intercept. I won¡¯t let it hit her.


    I cut into the left arm of the creature, my blade does not cut as easily into this thing as it does against the goblins. It turns and swings at me, I duck below the blow. I don¡¯t think I can take a hit from this thing.


    I see a stream of fire come from K¡¯s hand, setting several goblins on fire. The light shifts my vision out of Infravision, though I return to it soon after. The wiz of a passing arrow is followed by a scream from a goblin behind me. The creature before me is covered in coarse hair, almost as if it were patchy fur.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    I need to do more damage when I hit it. I start to create fire to run along the blade of my sword but feel a tearing within me. No flame was made, the pain that I went to sleep with is back. I grunt in the pain and while thus distracted take a blow from the large creature.


    I go flying back a few feet to the walls of the bank, my weapon dropping along the way. The healing of the Grey Dream was a lie. It healed nothing, only blocked the pain. An attempt to kill me? No, time to think about this now, I need to fight.


    I get to my feet and wince as I breathe, I have at least a cracked rib. Bryan is now in front of me, blocking two goblins. One of them is cut down before I steady myself. A flare of unnatural cold is wafting off K¡¯s sword as she cuts into the large creature.


    She is moving faster than I can, the creature has not landed a hit. A small swarm of lights fly from the roof at the large creature. I ignore the pain in my side to run to my fallen sword, dodging a few spears from the goblins.


    Sword in hand there are three goblins around me, four behind me near Bryan, and the one that was near K just got smashed by its oversized ally. A glancing hit from a spear brings me to focus on those near me, I am no match for that oversized goblinoid without my magic. Kill the smaller stuff, look for an opening.


    By the time I take down the three goblins near me the larger creature fell, covered in arrows and burns from K¡¯s blade. The sounds of battle are growing louder, something is coming closer. Bryan is chanting something, I can tell he is saying something in English yet cannot understandthe meaning.


    Runes flash into existence on the ground around him, faint and gentle blue light radiating out of them. I look at him and he answers the question yet to be spoken.


    ¡°Healing Circle, I have a patron now.¡±


    I nod, then move to stand within it. This time the healing I¡¯m receiving is real and while it does not seem to do much to my internal spiritual pain my breathing becomes easy and the bruises fade.


    K likewise moves into the circle, while the others stay in place to watch for approaching enemies. But a few minutes pass before we can see a group approaching, dozens of gaunt figures that I can barely see through Infravision. Corpses cold but the still cooling blood splattered upon them I can see. A feeling of something wrong permeates the air.


    An arrow strikes one of these walking dead, it staggers but does not stop moving. Some have come close enough to one of the fires of burning goblins to be seen. It is a deadorc, the flesh overly pale and dried out. It is the corpse of some foe already slain, the enemy has at least one necromancer of great skill on the field today.


    The corpses continue to move slowly towards us, I see a grin on Bryan¡¯s face. He must have a counter to this, K has a look of disgust. A few of the corpses suddenly move faster and charge, their pointed teeth revealed by firelight. Zombies and ghouls, why are these here.


    I move my blade between myself and one of the charging ghouls, who does not seem to care about impaling itself. At least the ghoul was not able to bite me as my blade let me turn its attack. I hear chanting from Lysan and Talia, the ghoul that met Bryan¡¯s blade seems to have been burned by it.


    This is not a good night to be me, there is not much I can do against this thing. The ghoul bites at me again but I kick it back shoving it off of my blade. The ghoul¡¯s third attempted attack was a feint that I fell for, my right arm is not bleeding from its claws. I know that I can beat this creature if enough damage is done to the body, the problem being doing enough damage.


    I strike the ghoul with my sword again, two gashes from me have joined the other injuries upon this dead thing. The ghoul falls back, my right arm beginning to turn slightly numb. My guess to this creature¡¯s nature is right, carnivorous undead with a paralytic touch. An arrow covered with a silvery glow strikes the creature and it falls.


    The sisters are working, I wonder what spells they are using. Unfortunately there is not time for such thoughts, the slower moving undead have arrived to the few of us at the front of the bank. I sway out of the way of a punch and sever the arm from its body.


    The arm falls to the ground and ceases to move. These are not undead that can separate their parts then. They move slowly, and attack clumsily. The zombies are not too dangerous, but the ghouls are. I sever the head of the corpse, it doesn¡¯t stop moving.


    They are true undead then, not a diseased but living creature. It is now attacking blindly, but this matches with the lack of blood and body heat. Bryan is butchering the undead near him, no more than two strikes to take out one of the zombies. I think two of the now inert corpses near him were ghouls before.


    Two more of the shambling corpses engage me before the damage is too much for the first to attack me. I can see someone else approaching from the same directions as the undead. The one who animated them?


    An arrow takes out one of the corpses as I sever an arm of the other. Whatever the sisters are doing to these things isn¡¯t showing up in Infravision. Should I refocus to regular? The others are fighting as if they are not having problems with it being night.


    I sever a leg and the corpse before me falls, still animate but unable to move. I shift my vision back to the regular spectrum to see silvery fire burning many of the corpses. Bryan has a golden glow over his sword while Kythia has blood red fire over her¡¯s.


    The area is now surprisingly well lit, and we can see another group of undead moving this way. There should be the one who had a heat signature there as well. These corpses stop however, and just wait as we finish off the last wave. Something is not right.


    The undead split ranks and a singlecreaturewalks out before them,an orc in robes ornamentedwith bones and a staff topped with a skull. His skin pale but this creature is still alive unlike his followers.

 Chapter 034

    There are several kinds of giants, the smallest and weakest are known as Hill Giants. This variety is roughly twice the size of a human and are often confused with Ogres. Though their inteligence and physical ability are similar. -Common Mosters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The orc shaman before us laughs in its guttural tongue, before he points at our group. Once he does so, the undead beside him emit a ghastly blue flame as they begin to charge us. This is bad, we need to do something.


    The undead are all simple zombies, though they are now moving closer to the speed they had in life. The shaman slams his staff down on the street, the road splits and some sort of dark violet vapor is wafting out of it to cover the staff.


    Bryan and K are in melee against the undead, the ghastly fire washing over the two. Bryan seems unaffected but K is weakening as the encounter continues. I move to the edge of the group, and strike at one of the zombies.


    My blade shatters, I guess it was not enchanted then. Now I am weaponless, what am I going to do? These undead hold no weapons and the items from the slain goblins will not hold up either. I dodge a punch from one of the undead, I make sure to leave a margin so these odd flames do not touch me.


    I am too dependent on my magic, but it¡¯s also the best tool I have. There are no more weapons back within the bank. The only thing I have going for me is that I am quicker than these corpses. I dodge a lunge and kick the creature into another of the undead. I feel my leg go cold as it passes through the flame. Cold but not frost fire, harms the living but not the dead. I move past those two, I should try to get to the shaman.


    I keep some of the undead between us as I approach him. While the undead are attacking me, they are slow and when I leave the field of view move to attack the others who they can see. They are mindless, and weren¡¯t given very good instructions.


    By the time I¡¯ve passed all the undead, I had to pass through their odd fire a few times. I feel cold but the orc did not notice and the undead have moved on. Why was I able to pull that off?


    My question is answered once I approach the shaman, the answer being that the shaman had noticed me. I attempt to tackle the shaman, not a great plan but there wasn¡¯t much else I could do. Instead the shaman turns and waves his staff before me, and I fall straight into the darkness.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I don¡¯t know what Adrian is doing, after his sword broke he started to move through the dozens of undead. He said that he needed to rest before using his magic, but surely he can use some here.


    I slash at one of the zombies, it falls inert at my feet. I am starting to get lightheaded but can hold the blood flame for some time still. It¡¯s been active for a few minutes, these weak undead cannot hold against it. The only problem is that I can¡¯t feed the blood fire on those that are already dead.


    I keep an eye on Adrain as he moves through the undead, how is he turning their attention to his friend and me? I slay two more as he begins to move at the green skin deathspeaker.


    Half of the undead have returned to rest by the time Adrian begins to charge the deathspeaker. As he charges the deathspeaker it did something, ahole open between them and Adrian just fell in. My vision narrows, I need to get there before the hole closes.


    I charge, ignoring the strikes of those around me. The deathspeaker turns to me as the hole closes, his staff pulling it into itself. He chants and some spheres of blackness flies out at me, Dark Missile.


    I cast my own copy of the spell, and the two negate each other in midair. I am now a few feet from the deathspeaker, I lunge and am blocked by a field of energy. I don¡¯t know what spell is being used to block me. The hole Adrian fell into finishes closing and my vision goes red.


    I attack with wild abandon, not caring if the deathspeaker¡¯s attacks hit me or not. Soon my blade shatters the energy field around him, though several bolts of darkness have struck me. My next strike is blocked by the deathspeaker¡¯s staff, and shatters it my blade.


    The unnatural glow of the staff dims slightly, the deathspeaker is grinning. His grin does not last long after I take a quick few steps closer and bite at his neck. I can feel the warmth of his blood but the taste is vile, I spit the blood out only to look in horror as his flesh regrows. The staff¡¯s glow dimming.


    The deathspeaker is now afraid, his protections are gone. I grab his arm and bite the hand to make him drop the staff. He lets out a scream in the middle of a chant for a spell. I hear the staff hit the ground. Various other noises of things hitting the ground follow, while I scratch and bite at the deathspeaker.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Soon a blade passes by me, granting the mercy of death to my foe. A hand touches my shoulder, I turn to attack. The one who touched me was Adrian¡¯s friend, I stop and growl. He backs up and does not block me as I move to the staff, my vision returning to normal.


    I¡¯ve seen staves like this before, you capture the living inside of them and the space inside kills them and stores their souls to be used as fuel for your magic. I once saw one destroyed, a ritual that takes hours, to release the souls and corpses stuck within it.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I am in a lightless space, there is no warmth here either. I cannot feel the air even when I move. I take a breath and feel no wind over my tongue, there is no air here. I hold my breath. Where am I? I was fighting a shaman and then just blackness.


    I begin to move, I need to find a way out before I suffocate. Soon I find myself touching something, it feels like mush with something hard within. My lungs soon begin to ache from holding my breath as I search for something to get me out of wherever this is.


    My lungs ache and I involuntarily release my breath, the ache begins to dim. Will I suffocate here? I don¡¯t want to die like this.


    [You won¡¯t.]


    The voice of the small dragon comes into my mind. I thought it was asleep.


    [I was.]


    Great just like me-but-not-me, it can hear all my thoughts.


    [What do you mean I won¡¯t]


    [We are in a void; a void will not kill us by just being here.]


    We are in avoid, then Void Body and Sustenance is going to keep me alive. We are just in an extradimensional space, all I have to do is wait until that shaman opens it again. That won¡¯t take long right?


    <hr>


    I¡¯m not sure how much time has passed but I¡¯ve taken a severalnaps. If I had to guess days have gone by. How much longer will I have to wait?


    Regardless of the lack of air I am actually becoming comfortable in this dark and lightless space. The small dragon seems to be the embodiment of me as a dragon. He has been interesting to talk with though his opinions are almost identical to my own.


    Games were no fun since we could tell everything the other was going to do. It didn¡¯t help that there wasn¡¯t much to play with. Am I crazy for trying to play games with a voice in my head? Is this voice like me-but-not-me? I am not sure. At least I am not hurting as much from the injuries in the astral anymore. I should see if I have recovered enough


    I will a light into being. It worked, I felt strained to make the light but it worked. I however wish that it failed. This dark void is filled with rotting corpses, I dry heave for a bit, and the light dissipates as I fail to throw up. Good thing I haven¡¯t eaten in a while.


    When I move away from the piles of rotten flesh the void begins to shake. I think, it feels unstable now. Like it is going to break. A dim glow begins to appear in the direction I¡¯ve been thinking of as down. I can see the piles of flesh drift towards it.


    Is it a way out? I do not want to be in that flesh again, but it¡¯s different. Some of the rotten meat passes through the dim light and is gone. I am going to hate this but I rush towards the light.


    Sunlight and air, are back once I pass through that dim light. There is also a sense of falling for a moment before I land on almost smooth black stone. Asphalt, I take a breath and smell the rot of the meat I followed out of the void. I feel bile rise in my throat, but force it to stay within me.


    I look around, there are many dead goblinoids, and rotten meat around the street. I don¡¯t seem to be near the bank but am still in the Althaen camp. K is sitting in the middle of a circle of white runes where bits of rotten flesh are appearing and falling to the ground. A broken stick with a skull attached to one end.


    After she throws up from the stench she brought down; she begins to look around. I sit up and she sees me. It is the early morning, I don¡¯t hear any more sounds from the battle. The others are not nearby.


    K rushes over to me but stops to look at my eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m alive and don¡¯t want to clean this up.¡±


    She helps me to my feet before hugging me, then she threw up again. I¡¯m covered in the rotting meat. I hear something approach and pull her away from the circle now filled with rotting meat. She doesn¡¯t let go of me.


    Several soldiers run over, one in a chainmail shouts orders to the others.


    ¡°Fan out, secure the area and find who did this!¡±


    That¡¯s my cue to get out of here. I pull us behind a building and burn the rot and stench off us, accidently setting the building on fire before we run. I didn¡¯t burn the clothes though. I don¡¯t know what the Althaen would do to someone who did whatever K did, but the soldiers did not seem happy.


    We smell of smoke and burnt meat when we get to the bank, but that is far better than what we left behind. The elven twins run over and help us get inside. They were surprised to see me, Lysan hugged me and Talia moved to but stopped herself.


    ¡°You¡¯re alive¡± says Lysan as she squeezes herself against me.


    ¡°Yes, is there any water?¡±


    She nods, and leads K and me into the bank. There are a few buckets of water in the bathroom.


    ¡°You go first.¡±


    K nods and then enters the bathroom alone. Bryan walks out of his room near the back, ¡°welcome back. Everyone is still alive.¡±


    I nod at him, that is good news.


    ¡°How long was I away?¡±


    ¡°A few hours.¡±


    That doesn¡¯t make sense, I am sure that I spent days or maybe weeks in that void. Time dilation? I suppose it doesn¡¯t actually matter, just means there is less that could have happened while I was gone.


    ¡°How did you survive in a deathspeaker¡¯s staff¡± asks Lysan interupting my thoughts. There is some worry on her face.


    Deathspeaker? She must mean that orc shaman, is that the proper name for what he was?


    ¡°I¡¯m a dragon.¡±


    And she gives me a look of disbelief. ¡°Dragons can¡¯t live in a vacuum, and you''re human.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my explanation, believe what you will¡± I tell her with a smirk.


    ¡°The nobles are having a feast over their victories. We are expected to show up¡± says Talia after approaching. I think I see some shadows from people leaving the front door.


    I sigh, I do not like interacting with the Althaen. ¡°Then we will have to go.¡±

 Chapter 035

    The next weakest giant is the Stone Giant, larger than the Hill Giants but otherwise differ little. They are only slightly more inteligent than their Hill Giant cousins. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The door of the bathroom opens, K has finished washing off what can be. I stand up and move to wash myself. I take my time, I wonder if I can really keep up the act to fool the Althaen. I also need to get the supplies to leave.


    I finish washing and look at the cloth with charred meat in it. I am not putting that back on, I¡¯ll have to ask for other clothes. I think the spare clothes are in Talia¡¯s room, but I¡¯m not sure. I walk up to the door.


    ¡°Can someone bring me clean clothes?¡±


    No one responded, I repeat my words in elvish and after a minute one of the elven sisters opens the door a bit to pass me the clothes. After getting dressed, I exit the bathroom. Now we just have to wait for this feast. I should try to pocket as much food as I can.


    <hr>


    Midafternoon arrives along with a few soldiers to guide us to the feast. I was told by K while we waited for their arrival that a noble may only bring a single follower with him throughout the feast, but that the other followers will be having their own if smaller feast.


    As such K will be following me to the nobles¡¯ tables while the others will not have to deal with the more prideful members of the Althaen. We separate and the soldier guides me to a table with Tr¨ªan and two other Althaen that are wearing the same symbol as him on a tunic. Our table is among dozens of others divided among four rows with the only table breaking the pattern being the one at the far end from the entrance. The tables are wooden but not one I recognize, either a different tree and/or treatment has been done to the wood.


    We sit down and I see the others guided to a table of younger people. The food in front of me looks good, a variety of meats, fruits and breads. I¡¯m not actually hungry but I should eat what I can while I¡¯m here. I move my hand to reach for some of the fruit but before it is over the table K speaks.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    The Althaen nobles look in confusion at what she said, but I do as she says. I guess there will be some sort of beginning speech? One of the nobles speaks at the two of us.


    ¡°So, I hear that your house slew the death mage.¡±


    Does he mean that orc shaman? Probably, he must be dead now since K broke his staff.


    ¡°The orc leading the undead right, it was one of my followers who killed him.¡±


    Tr¨ªan looks at me in surprise while the other two scoff at my bad accent. Always look down on the foreigner/outsider seems to be standard procedure around here. It is Tr¨ªan who speaks up after me.


    ¡°I am surprised that you have picked up our #$&^#$ so well.¡±


    ¡°I had a good teacher.¡±


    I am guessing the word I haven¡¯t heard of yet was language. After my response there is a yell from someone announcing the entrance a Lord Andrus. The nobles all stand up, and I follow suit. An older man is being accompanied by some soldiers in breastplates to a platform.


    ¡°It is good to see my &*%$ Althaen today. I know the ^**%^&%$*&^^$#%!@$#^^*$% here. . .¡±


    I tune out of his speech, as I am not understanding many of his words. I think he is talking about the benefits of being here in this world. I am not sure though, regardless of my understanding he continues for several minutes.


    Several minutes where no one was paying attention to me. So I kept my hands low, stealing dishes from the other tables via Translocation Grasp and then dropping them into Void Cache. Build up rations for the escape, this is a perfect chance for high quality ones.


    When the speech is over we sit down, and at some of the other tables the nobles were confused and infuriated that their table was now devoid of food. I smile as I move some of the meats onto my plate.


    ¡°What did you think of Lord Andrus¡¯s speech?¡±


    Tr¨ªan asked a question, should I bullshit an answer?


    ¡°Interesting, but my Althaen is not good enough to understand it all.¡±


    The two beside Tr¨ªan raise mocking smirks at me once more. I don¡¯t care mock all you want. I take a drink from the fruit juice that sits in front of me. Its sweet and the taste seems a little off, whatever it tastes good and the others are drinking it so I know it is not poisoned.


    ¡°Do you want me to explain it¡± asks Kythia.


    ¡°Later, I have likely guessed the important parts.¡±


    She nods and begins to eat herself. Some soldiers are now looking around for something at the other tables. Probably about my theft of the food. One of the nobles looks angry at my lackluster amount of caring what Andrus said, he even speaks up about it.


    ¡°How can you act so about High Lord Andurs! I demand that you #$^$#^@¡±


    ¡°No¡±


    I go back to eating my food and the noble just sits there. He is thinking about what to do. The noble next to him is likewise upset. Maybe they will try to duel me, I think I can win though I still feel some difficulty in my magic. Tr¨ªan is just sitting in silence, he did not like my action either.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Some soldiers walk over to the table, one of them speaks up.


    ¡°Hand over any storage item for search.¡±


    Some of the other nobles pass over some bags. I just sit and continue to eat, I find the cup empty and pour myself more of the juice. After a few moments, the soldier turns to me and holds out his hand.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t bring one, search someone else.¡±


    The noble that I recently angered says something I do not quite catch at the soldier who is now angry at me. He grabs me by the shoulder and is trying to pick me up. K growls at him but I place my hand near her before standing up.


    ¡°I said I did not bring a storage item.¡± I turn to the noble who along with his friend are grinning. ¡°I am going to challenge you for slander after this you know.¡±


    The nobles shut up, but they do not retract whatever it is that was said to the soldier. The soldier only finds a wallet full of now useless objects and my key chain. I sit down and ask no one in particular ¡°are challenges over honor allowed during the feast?¡±


    The three nobles go pale, and Tr¨ªan nods. I smile, ¡°you two have slandered me. Repay me or fight a duel.¡± I see K smile out of the corner of my eye. I now look directly to Tr¨ªan.


    ¡°Where can we have the fight?¡±


    ¡°The gap in the middle of the tables.¡±


    ¡°$^&^@, you can¡¯t let this $%#@&%$@ challenge stand.¡± Interjects the noble who I plan on killing in a legal duel.


    ¡°He is a noble and you did slander him.¡±


    I smile and stand up. The noble did not want to move so I dragged him to the empty center. I glance at K and she nods and then follows speaking loudly about the slander her master was subjected to.


    I toss the young noble into the bare area, and he draws his sword. Afraid as he is shaky but he keeps his voice still for a taunt.


    ¡°$%#@&%$@ you forgot a weapon.¡±


    He is right I do not have a weapon on me.


    ¡°I do not need one.¡±


    He rushes at me, slower than the soldiers but more competently than the first noble I fought. I take a glancing cut on my arm to get inside the reach of his sword and place my hand on his chest.


    I will fire to burn him and the noble drops his blade and screams. I notice several of the men at the table of Andrus look over and begin talking. I leave the noble on the ground, I think he is still breathing but I am not sure. I sit down and continue to eat, drink, and swipe food when nobody is looking at me. Tr¨ªan and the other noble left the table during my fight. I''ll just enjoy the food and talk with K.


    <hr>


    Half an hour after dusk people begin to leave. A soldier passes me a piece of paper and after having trouble with the wax seal I give up and just pocket it. I had fun, my body feels tingly and I talked with a pretty girl the whole time. I also got to beat up some Althaen, tonight has been good.


    I stand up and almost have to sit down, the world is wobbly. I don¡¯t see the elven sisters or my other friends as K walks back to the bank with me. I think I was talking to her the whole way back but am not sure if I was talking aloud or thinking.


    I figured out how to walk straight again by the timewe get to the bank. Was walking always this hard? We get to the room where my bed is, and I turn to K. She is so nice and pretty.


    ¡°I liksh you.¡±


    Then I kiss her.


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    She tastes good, and starts kissing me back, I can taste the spices from the food that still lingers on her lips. I notice the door closing behind her as we move into the room. After a moment, we part and she pulls off her shirt tunic thing. I can see her chest from the moonlight shining through the window. I find myself smiling, they look nice.


    I don¡¯t know what I said next but she kissed me again. I like this, and find myself playing with her breasts. I don¡¯t know how much she enjoyed it but they were fun until she pushed me back and pulled at my shirt.


    I take it off and pull her to me. She feels soft against my chest as I kiss her again, I find my hands wandering over her back. I am pulling her so she is pressed against me. She takes a step backwards and we find ourselves lying on the bed.


    I wonder what her other parts taste like. I whisper something in her ear and then kiss where the jaw connects to the skull. She makes a noise at that, but it wasn¡¯t as fun as playing with her breasts earlier so I move back to them. She doesn¡¯t stop me and I find them to be more fun to kiss than her mouth. I don¡¯t know if I did it right though, at first, she made noises of pain but then there were more that were like when I kissed near her ear.


    Her hands were running along my torso, but I was more interested in her''s. Her nipples are now pointy and she moans when I nibble on them. Much more fun than playing with her mouth. She is cradling my head to her breasts. My hands have run down her back and into her pants. I like the feel of where my hands wander.


    As much fun as this is I still need to breathe. So, I stop for a moment to take a few breaths, and she pulls on my pants. She wants to take them off, I smile and try to pull hers off as I get off her. She does not fight it and now has but a small piece of fabric on her. She is really pretty, and I can see just about everything, only her silver hair block my view.


    I undo my belt and she sits up just to pants me. She then stands to give me a kiss, I watch as her bountiful bosoms bounce a little when she moves. Her belly rubs against me and that feels a lot better than what I was doing before.


    I think I said something because she smiled and then pulled down my underwear, and then does the same with her own as she stares at my crotch. Much as I am staring at her own. I pull her to me and kiss her again. I rub myself on her as we move back down to the bed. Her legs part and I am pressed against her.


    I hear her moan and say something about being inside her. That means sex, I move my crotch from her¡¯s and touch it. It feels wet, that means go, right? She tries to roll to be on top of me but I hold her pinned as I line myself up to her. She does not try a second time but opens her legs wider.


    I push my tip into her slowly, enjoying the feeling. I feel the resistance to me entering her stop and she stifles a yelp of pain. I look down, some dark liquid is flowing out of her, as she stretches to house me. I stop for a moment and kiss her, but find myself pushing deeper.


    I push all of myself into her and notice a tear in her eye. I don¡¯t want to hurt her, even if it does feel so good. I start to pull away from her but she wraps her legs around me and pulls my head into another kiss.


    She wants me inside her; I find myself thrusting into her, my hips moving on their own. I do it slowly and gently, soon tears stop forming in her eyes and I feel her insides wrapping around me. She is making the noises from when I played with her breasts, but louder. I start thrusting faster and harder, her moans cheering me on. Soon I feel tension building in my groin, the desire to spill forth and claim her as mine.


    I try to hold it in, enjoy her longer but it soon erupts out of me. It stops after a few seconds, then so do I; breathing heavily and feeling great. I give her another kiss and she tries to roll us over.


    This time I let her. . .


    <hr>


    My head hurts when I wake up, and I feel only one arm with weight on it. My arms are wrapped around something soft. I squeeze it and hear a light moan. My eyes open, Kythia is in my arms naked. What happened? I don¡¯t remember anythi. . .


    Images of the feast from last night flash through my mind, followed by a very pleasant memory of how I got in this position. I look down, there is some dried blood on my waist and the sheet. I took her last night.


    K rolls over and gives me a kiss, she isn¡¯t upset about any of this she looks happy. I smile and enjoy it as much as my headache will allow. When we part I speak up.


    ¡°Kythia I . . .¡±


    ¡°I wanted it. I like you too.¡±


    I stop, I don¡¯t need to apologize. The only problems now arewhat I am going to say to the others, and what do I tell my mother?

 Chapter 036

    The frost giant is the weakest of the giants who are truely inteligent. They are however rarely found outside of artic climates. They often raise winter wolves to use as man does dogs. One should beware of their physical might and the few who are skilled in magic. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    ¡°I drank too much can you heal headaches?¡±


    I actually don¡¯t know the answer to that question. I can try, if I can I want to remove my own headache. I touch her head and focus, after a moment I look at her face. She didn¡¯t thank me for healing it.


    ¡°I guess not.¡±


    Needless to say we grumble at the hangovers as we get dressed. I find a piece of paper in my pocket. When did that get there? I guess last night during the feast, but I have some holes in my memory from the alcohol. That fruit juice was wine.


    I break the wax seal, I feel that it shouldn¡¯t have been so easy. I guess drunk me couldn¡¯t open it. I open the paper to find a letter of some sort but I can¡¯t read written Althaen very well. I look over at K, now dressed, and pass her the paper.


    She accepts the paper and starts reading it, I think she is sounding it out silently. Even so that is more than I can do with written Althaen. I am dressed before she finishes with the paper, and the begins to tell me about the contents.


    ¡°This letter is some form of notice for your appointment to be part of an expedition to recover and recruit natives for their subsequent recruitment into the army. We leave tomorrow at dawn, and will be accompanied by two other young nobles and a few squads of soldiers.¡±


    This would be our chance to get away from this camp. I have a few days¡¯ worth of food in Void Cache and if it isn¡¯t too dry I can just condense water from the air. I do however need to get some equipment, armor and weapons. K interrupts my thoughts on how to acquire what we need.


    ¡°What are we doing to do?¡±


    ¡°Get supplies today. Tomorrow we set the others to believe us to be dead or kill them after leaving the camp.¡±


    She nods and smiles. Neither of us hold anything but disgust for the Althaen. I think the sisters will like the idea as well. I stand up and move to the door; the others need to know and we need to discuss the plan.


    When I open the door, the sisters are sitting in the lobby with some food from the feast yesterday. I wasn¡¯t the only one with the idea of stealing during it, so much for Talia¡¯s never steal stuff.


    I walk over and the girls faces turn red when they notice me. Guess they already know what happened. I smile and notice Bryan walking over, Abagail wearing a frown follows behind him. I pass the letter to Talia as Bryan slaps his hand against my back.


    ¡°Did you have fun last night?¡±


    ¡°Jealous?¡±


    He doesn¡¯t respond, probably because Abagail is now within earshot.I tell him and Abagail about my idea on how to get out of here. Surprisingly Abagail did not frown at the idea of killing the soldiers that would accompany us. I also start condensing water from the air during our conversation, we all need some. Bryan is the first to comment after I finish.


    ¡°We are going to need more than the food we have here, not even counting the lack of weapons.¡±


    Abagail nods to this, and they are right.


    ¡°Remember how soldiers were looking for whoever was stealing the food at the feast yesterday?¡±


    They nod and I smile. They understood.


    ¡°As for weapons and armor, I will try to get some today. Not sure how much I can get by sunrise though.¡±


    ¡°What are we going to do for after they find out about this?¡±


    Abagail¡¯s question is good, what can we do to cover our tracks? Reducing the fallen to ash could make it harder to find out what happened. I wonder if I could set something up in camp to bother them after we are gone.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, any suggestions?¡±


    ¡°Spreading disease or poison.¡±


    I did not expect that to come from Abagail¡¯s mouth, I thought she was too nice to think of something like that.


    ¡°What, it would work and these people are barely human.¡±


    There is a bit of ire in her voice. She just might hate them as much as me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I should stay a part of the conversation. Paladin code of conduct stuff. . .¡±


    ¡°I think we are done with the subject anyways.¡±


    Abagail doesn¡¯t say anything, and Bryan does not seem to have anything to say either. I forgot he was a paladin for a bit there. Can¡¯t let the party babysitter know the sketchy stuff. I turn to the sisters, and repeat the conversation that I just had with the other two.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    They did not like Abagail¡¯s suggestion, at least as far as their faces are telling me.


    ¡°Are you really considering poisoning them¡± asks Talia.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have any poison, so no. Otherwise what do you two think?¡±


    ¡°We need to do something, and I agree with using this opportunity to leave. But I don¡¯t like the despicable methods being brought up.¡±


    Lysan nods in agreement to her sister. I am not sure what we should do, I have no poison nor a manner to spread disease around the camp. I could find some cleaning supplies and dump them in the water storage, otherwise I don¡¯t have another idea.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what, but I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±


    I pull both of the twins into a hug, Talia is surprised but accepts it easily. It might have only been yesterday for her that I said I was mad, but I¡¯m sure I spent days in the void. It also probably helped that the only thing I¡¯m upset with after last night is the now diminishing headache.


    ¡°So, who can show me where the Althaen trade?¡±


    I look at K, but she seems to be more interested in sitting than being my translator today. The elven sisters seem more willing, so I turn back to them.


    ¡°Sister will have to, she knows where the market is.¡±


    That answers my question, and Talia starts to walk to the front of the bank. I notice Lysan walk over to K as we leave. Bryan and Abagail left sometime during my talk with the twins.


    After we leave earshot of the bank Talia begins to talk as she leads me to the marketplace.


    ¡°I thought that you were still mad at me.¡±


    ¡°That was days ago.¡±


    ¡°It was yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Not for me.¡±


    She looks at me like something is wrong.


    ¡°Time runs faster in the void.¡±


    ¡°So, you really aren¡¯t mad at me anymore?¡±


    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t do it again.¡±


    We walk in silence for a few minutes before arriving at the market, there are only a few stalls set up in the grass of the small park. One of the guards frown as we enter. He doesn¡¯t stop us, so we ignore him. There are only a few stalls set up, all of them busy with other nobles.


    Most of the items in the stalls I recognize as things that were on the ¡®owed to someone else¡¯ ledger after my trial. So, they just wanted some money; stealing from me was probably an easy way to get it too.


    ¡°Which shop did you end up selling everything to?¡±


    ¡°That one, with the fattest man running the stall¡± as she points to one of the stalls.


    I look over his goods as he finishes up with a noble.


    ¡°Come to sell your boy toy now?¡±


    I instantly frown, I am not a boy toy. Though before I can retort Talia does herself.


    ¡°This is my Lord. He wants to take back some things I was not supposed to sell.¡±


    ¡°Sure, but he will have to buy them. I don¡¯t see any coin purses so I doubt he can afford it.¡±


    He doesn''t seem to believe her, it doesn''t realy matter. I smile, I am going to unleash the nightmare of any cashier. Someone paying a large bill with pocket change. He deserves it for ripping her off while I was unconscious.


    ¡°How much for the armor and weapons?¡±


    ¡°More than you have.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    I dump a pile of copper pieces on the ground beside me. There is some suprise from money appearing from nowhere. I ignore it and start counting them out loud, while looking for some of the smaller items that I could grab while he was distracted.


    After counting to a thousand I had taken the boxes of ammunition that were at the stall. Then I turn to Talia with a smirk.


    ¡°Talia why are there different symbols on the coins?¡±


    ¡°Those are the number of pieces they count as.¡±


    I already knew that, and she knew I did. But now my count of a thousand coins is no good and I have to start over. There are also several people watching now. The fat merchant is of course not pleased, but regardless of his protests this is legal tender. The sale already started and he can''t stop it unless he wants to fight an ''offended noble''.


    I snatch one of the pistols though Translocation Grasp and pocket it. I can see two others but they are too close to the fat merchant. Eventually the line of nobles behind me starts to demand I give up or the merchant sell it for what is on the table. I managed to grab some knives, and every box with vials in it that were behind him as this escalated.


    ¡°Fine just take them then.¡±


    That was the sentence I wanted to hear, I nod and Talia picks them up. I lost a few thousand coins but I still have plenty of ''pennies'' left. Talia looks at me, there is something else she wants.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°A necklace¡± she points at a necklace I remember her wearing in the past.


    ¡°How much for the necklace?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not doing business with you again.¡±


    ¡°Your loss then.¡±


    Talia and me begin to walk away, she appears sad. That necklace is important to her. The merchant is not paying attention to it, nor are any in the line that built up for his stall. I pull it to me, and pass it to Talia, a finger over my mouth.


    That gesture is apparently something she didn¡¯t understand as she starts hugging me. At least my chest muffled whatever it was she was saying. I got a few looks from others nearby but they did not guess that I have been stealing items this whole time.


    I walk around the other stalls, but they didn¡¯t seem to want to sell me anything. After all I pay in copper pieces. I didn¡¯t notice anything we could use anyways, just cheap iron. So, Talia and me return to the bank to give out the items that I bought or stole.


    K was asleep, and Bryan and Abagail were gone. They¡¯ll be back by nightfall, so I''m not worried. My armor is not usable but the other four suits of chain were. I sneak out while Talia is putting the items in the room of their respective people. I need to find something to cause problems in camp and acquire more supplies.


    I move to the library, warping the light around me to avoid notice. The books should still be there, and more importantly maps. The soldiers are still having their ¡®training¡¯ in front of the building. There are however far fewer survivors involved now, many must have died in these battles.


    Within the building aside from Harrold and his class is empty. That will make things easier. I spend a few hours scouring through the rooms, pocketing books and looking for an atlas. I find the pile of books that used to be part of the original library.


    I think I spent almost all of my mana to put them into Void Cache. It still doesn¡¯t seem full; how much can I carry with it? I should ask dragon-me, he also needs a name. . .


    As my thoughts wander to more and more trivial matters I exit the library and move to the one location that I know could hurt the Althaen if it were lost, the office building made warehouse of food. Nobody should be there and I happen to still have a key to it.

 Current Stats

    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


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    Age: 17


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    </tr>


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    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


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    Attributes


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    <td width="156">


    Class


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    <td width="156">


    SP: 37


    </td>


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    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


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    <td width="156">


    Languages


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    EP: 84


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    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Attributes:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    STR 22


    </td>


    <td>


    DEX 25


    </td>


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    CON 24


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    </tr>


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    INT 27


    </td>


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    WIS 26


    </td>


    <td>


    CHA 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td>


    HP:615


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana:196


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Class:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 15


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    </tr>


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    <td width="623">


    Rogue 6


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    <td width="623">


    Dragon Knight: Void 12


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    Magus 9


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    </tbody>


    </table>


    skills:


    <table width="1091">


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    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 3


    </td>


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    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 1A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 3


    </td>


    </tr>


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    Sword 2


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    <td width="156">


    Dagger 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Axe 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 2


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    </tr>


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    <td width="156">


    Tumble 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Stealth 1


    </td>


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    </td>


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    </td>


    </tr>


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    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Handle Animal 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 1


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    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


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    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Mathematics 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tactics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Planes 3


    </td>


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    </td>


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    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drawing 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Carving 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


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    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Magic:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arcane Power 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Planar 0


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Life 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Mind 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Soul 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Primal 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Time 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Transmutation 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Fire 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Lightning 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Light 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Darkness 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Traits, Class/Racial Abilities:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Wyrmling Void Dragon


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    True Dragon


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +8 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Body


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Languages:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen (Spoken)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    <td width="312"></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Should there be any questions just comment and I will eventually answer.

 Chapter 037

    Fire giants are the largest of the giants that are generaly found. They are as smart as we are and far stronger physicaly. Most dangerously they love war, and a tribe of these giants can and will try to take small countries for themselves. Like their name implies they are near impossible to burn and have skill in all arts pertaining to fire. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It was midafternoon when I got into the office building made warehouse. I start to store as much as I can with Void Cache but soon find myself out of mana. I would have liked to steal all of the supplies here but not only am I no longer able to. I feel uncomfortable without any mana. A tiredness not unlike after my return from the astral.


    I don¡¯t want to go through that again. At least theft was not my only way to cause these item to be unusable. I could decay them with Death, no that would be bad. Someone is sure to not believe it and I¡¯ll get hit with a backlash. A fire maybe?


    No, that could postpone the excursion at dawn. I continue to search through the building when I find a room full of cleaning supplies. Maybe I could just ¡®poison¡¯ the water with the bleach here. Everyone would have diarrhea until they replaced the water. I spend a moment to memorize the locations of the bottles.


    I don¡¯t know where the water storage is though. It isn¡¯t the water tower and I don¡¯t have time to search the whole camp. There is however a sprinkler system in the building. It takes me a short while to find the tank in the basement that stores the water for it.


    There is also a generator down here, not much fuel in it but enough to run the pump for the fire system for a bit. I knock on the tank, its empty. Time to cause some trouble, I start pulling the toxic chemicals from the cleaning supplies to fill the tank.


    Once full, I supply a spark to get the generator started and run to the front of the building before pulling the fire alarm while warping light once more. The siren of the alarm is echoing around the building, far louder than the other events going on. I can¡¯t stick around even invisible there are plenty of ways to find me.


    I hear the splashing of water and smell bleach just before I escape around a corner. I smile, I may not have caused problems to the nobles¡¯ food but I know the soldiers eat from that food. I¡¯ll make sure to tell the others not to eat the food given us in the morning. With this I doubt I can get anything more effective done.


    I am unimpeded on my way back to the bank. I smile at the group as I enter, they were helping each other learn languages. Byran is the one who speaks up first.


    ¡°Is that fire alarm your fault?¡±


    ¡°Yes, don¡¯t eat the camp¡¯s food from now on.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°All the food just got soaked in bleach, and other cleaning products.¡±


    ¡°What about all the civilians, what will they eat now?¡±


    I forgot about them, shit. I just doomed a bunch of people to suffer something they don¡¯t deserve.


    ¡°You forgot about them didn¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Anyways, I¡¯m guessing Talia has passed around the items I purchased today?¡±


    Surprisingly it was Talia herself that responded, though her accent was poor.


    ¡°Yes, did you pick up anything else while you were out?¡±


    ¡°Since when did you start actually speaking English?¡±


    ¡°Kythia has been teaching sister and me ever since you started givingher private lessons.¡±


    I did not know about that, she has done well in our practice conversations. I don¡¯t think I ever finished the written stuff I promised, we are out of paper now though. I¡¯ll just have to find some in the houses outside the camp.


    ¡°She has done a good job. I visited the library and picked up most of the books. I also have a large stockpile of food now. I also managed to get a few weapons for myself.¡±


    ¡°Do we have enough once we get out of here¡± asks Abagail.


    ¡°Food yes, weapons and armor no.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to take some from our escort¡± says Bryan.


    I nod, we will have to, we need more armor and what we do have is damaged.


    ¡°We need to be careful of them, I¡¯ve upset a lot of the Althaen.¡±


    We spend some time discussing how to fight the squads and other nobles in the open. I however do not plan on actually fighting them straight up, if I can kill them while they sleep I will. K woke up and joined this conversation. None of us went to help with the watch, after all we leave at dawn.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes to the Grey Dream, still smiling from the fun I had with K. Too bad we need to be fit to fight in the morning, and could only go so far.


    I do what has to be done for the dream to respond to my speech. I can¡¯t trust this place, but I still need the power it offers.


    ¡°Character Sheet¡±


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Rogue 9 (+15SP, +1 Attribute),


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 52


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 84


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This doesn¡¯t match with what I remember from the last time I was here. Did drunk me come here? I touch Class,


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Rogue 9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon Knight: Void 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 9


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I gained levels not represented in the gain box. I must have already spent some, what did drunk me do?


    ¡°What did I do during my last visit.¡±


    [Spend the required attribute points, then leave.]


    I touch Attribute,


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="623">


    Attribute Point: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 22


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 24


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 27


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 651The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 196


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Something isn¡¯t right here. I touch traits to see if anything changed there.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Wyrmling Void Dragon


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    True Dragon


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    +8 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Void Body


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Pack Alpha is new, probably from sleeping with K. So, I¡¯m the alpha of her pack now. Then drunk me spent a point on Charisma and Intelligence. I¡¯ll just even out intelligence to a twenty-eight then. At least I still made decent choices.


    I¡¯ll check the EP, then I need to buy something with the SP to raise my combat power.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Attribute Increase


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Draconic+


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Infusion


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Void Power


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I touch Alternate Form, I wonder what it offers now.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Breath: Gravity 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="623">


    Breath: Radiance 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="623">


    Breath: Void 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="623">


    Chill of the Void 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Very Young Void Dragon 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I want a larger form but that is too much. Void Breath is probably the most dangerous of the three, but again not enough EP. I touch Breath: Gravity, I don¡¯t want to take a risk on whatever Chill of the Void is going to be. This should let me at least tie down a battlefield, right?


    My EP drops to one and now for the SP. It turns out that the different Energy Spheres are much cheaper than Life was. Costing only twenty to increase Fire to three. I could get another cheap sphere, but I want to store up for raising Arcane Power, Life, Time and these other harder spheres. There isn''t a screen for it still, is it due to there being so many options?


    I will myself to leave this dream, I do not feel safe here. They want to cheat me.


    <hr>


    There are two squads of twenty horsemen and two nobles. One of the nobles has the Sunchaser coat of arms on his tunic, the other shares his with Tr¨ªan. The soldiers are ignoring our approach, while the two nobles whisper and sneer at me.


    Go ahead underestimate me. I not sure if we can take so many horsemen but if you aren¡¯t careful I¡¯ll make sure they are lost. We are not given any horses, but I don¡¯t know how to ride one anyways.


    We walk for a few hours, nobody speaks. The horsemen are around us in a circle and the two nobles. I think they are waiting for something. Soon however the soldiers begin to eat while we walk, the nobles also do so. They do not however stop so that we can eat. That is ok, I already passed some dried meats to everyone before we left.


    The nobles frown when they see that we have food. And they start to shout commands at the soldiers.


    ¡°Circle Formation, . . .¡±


    I draw the pistol and place a bullet in him, it is in his chest. Not an instant kill, he reaches for something in his bag. I put two more in him, he falls to the ground and does not move.


    The soldiers are forming a circle around us, everyone is dropping food and pulling out weapons. The other noble is in a panic, he is shouting commands but the movement of the horses blots out whatever he is saying. Abagail moves to the middle of our group, I form a circle with the others. So much for my ideas of murdering them as they sleep.


    The horsemen each have a spear, how are we going to kill forty of them? Could I burn them all with Fire? No, my friends would get hurt too. I no longer have a clear shot at the other noble, hopefully he is not a mage.


    The horsemen close in and I can hear my friends chanting spells, I should do something too. I focus on the bullet in the chamber fire it at the horsemen in front of me, a torrent of flame erupts from the horse who I hit.


    Four of the them are now burning alive, a wave of heat from my right side lets me know K did something similar. I think the horses are very well trained or under a mind control as they do not panic at the explosion.


    Some of the horsemen charge me, I shoot one of the horses and those behind it trip on the falling corpse. I now have four spearmen to deal with instead. I see one of the twins, Talia dodge and cut the horse¡¯s leg separating it by the knee.


    I sidestep the first spear that was lunged at me, the other three then missed at I was out of range. These soldiers like Soup Fetcher are faster than me. I can see their movements and guess them with some accuracy but they attack and react faster than me.


    They can attack and move faster but they cannot dodge a firearm. Though I also can¡¯t shoot all of them before they reach me. I wave my hand blocking their sight with a wave of black fire before shooting one of those that were charging at K.


    I hear the scream of someone who got cut behind me, must have been Bryan. I also hear the screams of a spearman who got struck with the black fire. I smile maybe we can win this without any deaths. A stinging sensation comes from my leg, I got hit with an arrow.


    I pull it out, and will the wound to close. My dark fire dissipates, I need to learn how to make durations. I see the noble, he is now in the open. He shot me with that bow, I can see a smirk of pride. There is also an itch were the arrow struck, some sort of toxin maybe?


    I fire two bullets at the noble, eight bullets left. I seriously regret not finding another magazine before we left the camp. Could I use Translocation Grasp to put one in the chamber? Maybe, I¡¯ll try that when I run out.


    The noble falls from his horse, now it¡¯s just the soldiers. None of them should be mages, still there are over thirty still alive. I hear Bryan swear, he must have been hit. My wound is now closed, though the itching continues. I back step from two spears, at least I have an easy shot.


    One of the soldiers falls, I love guns so much easier than killing in melee. There are six more of the former horsemen that are engaging me. I dodge another strike, but this allowed another to get his spear into my side. I remember weapons hurting more and going deeper when I got hit.


    I am immobile while his spear stays but so is he, an easy kill. He falls to the ground, six bullets left. I feel two spears pass into my legs. So much for trying to move, I wrap myself in fire for a few moments.


    More spears enter me, but I can still breathe. I feel the weight behind the spears cease with the sound of breaking wood. Now I am no longer pinned, I let the fire die down. The soldiers seem surprised I¡¯m alive. I hurt and do not like the position I am in, but they are better fighters than me.


    I shoot one who takes a bit longer than the others to respond to me being alive. Threeleft, K has only one left against her, Talia has three. I can¡¯t see Bryan but I hear a scream of pain, feminine. Abagail got hit, not good. Or it could have been Lysan who got injured. Finish these three then turn around.


    The threebefore me draw short swords, they move to divide my attention. I fire three bullets at the one who move leftwards, two hit though he is still moving. He would die of infection later but that will not be good enough.


    So, I throw a bolt of fire at the man. He dodged it only to have K finish him off with her sword covered in blood red fire. She turns to me for a second.


    ¡°Help the others.¡±


    She nods, the others will need more help than me. I feel a cut against my back, and begin focusing on healing my wounds. They took advantage of me not looking at them.


    I put three bullets into the one moving to force me into being flanked again, he falls and the pistol is now empty. I need to keep healing myself, reloading via magic will have to wait for later. I dodge a swing while putting the pistol away.


    I draw a knife, this is going to be troublesome. My magic is being spent healing, and my gun is empty. I can¡¯t win like this, so I guess I¡¯ll just not fight like he expects. The man strikes out at me, I dodge and then throw the knife.


    He of course knocks it away but that does give me a few seconds. So, I shift; my skin warps and twists as I take on the form of a small dragon. Then I jump and spread my wings, everyone is looking at me now. A mistake K and Talia take advantage of.


    The soldier cannot really harm me in the air, at least I don¡¯t see a ranged weapon on him. I feel dragon-me whispering in the back of my mind on how to control this form. While I stay in the air, I am not entirely graceful about it.


    I open my mouth and exhale; the soldier seems to be having a harder time holding the blade now. Somehow, I know I cannot breathe like that again until it wears off. There are now only one soldier fighting Talia, three on Bryan, two on Lysan, and two fighting K near Abagail.


    I dive and feel the acceleration from falling become faster as I move to the soldier I was fighting. I try to bite and while that missed I did hear something crack when I hit him. I have a headache but I think his ribs broke.


    I feel heavy, but can still move with ease. I claw at the soldier¡¯s chest tearing through him before he realized what happened. I jump off him and try to fly, but instead hit the pavement, damn higher localized gravity.


    My hopes that no one saw it are dashed as Lysan unlike her sister has been paying more attention to me than her opponents. So I run at them, she does get hit with a spear before I arrive. A glancing blow to the shoulder. Not something that will be lethal in the short term.


    I jump up and try to bite one of them, but get batted aside by a spear. It didn¡¯t hurt but getting tossed so easily disappoints me. Can I still use magic in this form?


    I draw on fire and release it in a jet from my mouth. They should believe a dragon can breathe fire, right? I manage to engulf one of them but feel a tension in me. Dammit, it must be because I do not look like a red or gold. At least it doesn¡¯t feel like very much.


    I jump into the air and this time manage to fly. Talia and Bryan are now each fighting one. There are two near Abagail, one disengaged from K and skewers her on his spear. Shit, I dive to attack that one.


    He dodges me, and I strike the pavement. I can taste something metallic in my mouth and hurt. I cracked the asphalt, better to land on people. At least the soldier is looking at me instead of finishing Abagail off.


    Then I feel something, I can release a breath of gravity again. I do so and the soldier rolls to dodge, only to be pulled back a little towards where he was before. I see a mist of red blood from the soldier near K, black balls erupt out of it and strike the man slowed within increased gravity.


    I move to Abagail, she has a spear in her chest. Collapsed on the ground she is spitting up blood, punctured lung. I don¡¯t have time to shift back, so I lay a claw over the wound and push her body to heal.


    I can¡¯t actually heal her completely without first removing the spear but I can hold her alive while the others finish the battle. Can I even pull it out as a dragon? I see Lysan take a few hits before her foe dies, Bryan and Talia are out of my view.

 Chapter 038

    Cloud giants are rarely encountered. They are actually peaceful and so long as you do not upset one they tend to be willing to discuss events and various fields of study should you happen to know about a similar subject as the one they are currently studing. Should you be lucky enought to meet one of these recluses but unlucky enough to upset you are probably going to die. They are more powerful than all their kin save storm giants in both physical and magical power. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I see Bryan¡¯s hand come from behind me, Talia is now fighting alongside her sister.


    ¡°Can I remove it.¡±


    I try to talk but nonsense flows from my mouth. This form does not have the same vocals that I am used to, or are they immature? I quickly nod instead, and see the spear get pulled out by a quick jerk. I ignore the noises Abagail is making due to the pain and push her to heal as fast as I can.


    She is pale when I finish causing her to regenerate what I can. As soon as I back up from her though I am picked up by one of the twins. Lysan is hugging me and has decided to start petting me as if I were a lap dog.


    I start to struggle to get out of her grasp, though I make sure I don¡¯t start cutting her with my claws.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us you were such a cute looking dragon?¡±


    That is a question I didn¡¯t want to hear. How can a man be called cute?


    ¡°Can I hold him?¡±


    No, I am not letting this happen. My body ripples and then expands back to human form. Bryan looks away and all the girls turn red. Lysan lets go of me and I walk over to where my clothes fell.


    They were torn a bit from the transformation but still wearable. After putting them on I turn back to the twins, and point at them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare start treating me like some pet.¡±


    ¡°What about me? Can I hold and play with you?¡±


    I smile at K, ¡°depends on what you mean by play.¡±


    The twins start to blush a bit more, and Bryan interjects. His accent worse than Talia''s English, but he is learning.


    ¡°Stop flirting and just get a room later. We have things to do now.¡±


    That sounds like fun, could I? They thought I wanted all of them the day we met, so maybe. Talia has some trust issues though. I should think of this later, right now loot and find out why they wanted to attack us.


    ¡°Bryan is right. Gather the weapons, armor and anything else useful. Don¡¯t take the food.¡±


    The girls nod, and begin to search and strip the bodies. The twins seem shy about stripping the dead men. I go through the two nobles¡¯ belongings. Chain shirts that are too small for me, two longbows, some arrows, two rapiers, and two satchels.


    I open the satchel that the Sunchaser had, it¡¯s bigger on the inside. A satchel of holding, there is quite a lot of stuff here: potions, a few books, rations, water skins, a small pile of coins, and a few letters.


    What will the other noble¡¯s satchel hold? I open it and smile, it is also a satchel of holding. The contents are about the same and the Sunchaser noble had; except for one thing a box that I saw Sunchaser pass to Talphith.


    I strip the nobles of their clothes before burning them to ash. I dump the items that were not the satchels of holding into my Void Cache. I don¡¯t want to risk the bag of holding in a bag of holding astral rift being real. I don¡¯t want to be in the void even if I can live there.


    The soldiers each had either leather or chainmail of lesser quality than the nobles along with a short sword and spear. Though many of the spears are now broken. I take care of burning the bodies to ash, why waste the other¡¯s mana.


    ¡°Anything good on the nobles" asks Bryan.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll show it once we have a place to camp for the night. The Althaen camp is between us and the homes where our families may be, which way should we detour?¡±


    ¡°I think Aaron may still be around. Should we risk moving through their ¡®hood¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I think he won¡¯t attack us or try to kill us like the Althaen did.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    ¡°Any objections?¡±


    Nobody responds, though I doubt the trio cares and Abagail is only semi-conscious. So, we begin to head east. I start pulling out the letters from the satchels and passing them to the trio. Soon enough one of them, Lysan got one that explained what was going on. While the other letters were sometimes entertaining, they were ultimately useless for us.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    The translation for the letter Lysan got is as follows.


    Tyrus Suncatcher,


    Tomorrow at dawn you will be sent on an excursion to locate and capture more slaves. The Vithr? household will be aiding us in this. Along with them the upstart barbarian claiming to be from house Ravnos we be sent along. He nor any of his ¡®followers¡¯ will have horse nor will they have rations.


    If you can fool him into telling us where some natives would be hiding, but the following mission is more important. He is not to return alive. Tire them if you can first but make sure they are all dead. He could have made a good slave as he does have magic but it is too late now. Serve the Sunchaser house well and avenge the deaths of those slain by this barbarian.


    The noble from Vithr? will help, they have realized that being allied with this fraud was a poor decision. The soldiers being sent are loyal to us but after returning make sure that no one will speak of this. High Lord Andrus ordered this excursion and he is not aware of our problems with the fraud.


    Hellionus Suncatcher House Patriarch


    I guess my act was not as good as I thought. At least it held well enough that they didn¡¯t fight me in the open. I could not have dealt with their entire camp at once. Bryan begins to talk to me as we continue walking.


    ¡°Where you also always a dragon? And what type are you? You look like a shadow dragon without the shadows and have blue light coming from under the scales. There was also a pattern on the wings.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more recent, and I am a void dragon.¡±


    My voice holds a bit of pride on the type, as if I find it the best type to be. Well it has to be since that is what I am. Is this more draconian pride? Well I do look way better than the others so it has merit.


    ¡°Never heard of it.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear about them until I woke up as one. How¡¯s stuff on your side?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t heard anything from my patron, but I¡¯m picking up my paladin abilities quickly. I ended up as an Undead Hunter. Did you have any books on beginner¡¯s magic though?¡±


    ¡°I think I might, I¡¯ll make sure to put them on the table when we sort the loot later. If you need help reading them just ask.¡±


    Bryan looks over at the others, they are far enough away to not hear if we talk lightly. Except K I think she can hear better than the sisters.


    ¡°So, is it as fun as the jocks always braged about?¡±


    I smirk at him, ¡°quiet or Abagail might hear you.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s great, you should try it.¡±


    He stops for a second, ¡°stop mocking me. Do you think I even have anyone to do that with?¡±


    ¡°Abagail might agree, she likes you more than me.¡±


    He smiles, and we stop talking the girls have noticed us whispering to each other. I for one don¡¯t want them mad, even if it weren¡¯t for my interactions with K they are more than half our fighting power.


    We run into a few small packs of goblinoids. Never over a half dozen but they still slow you down when traveling. Nothing worth using on the bodies though. Due to the few encounters we don¡¯t reach where I expect Aaron and the others to be before nightfall. So, we started breaking into the houses to see if there was anything to salvage and places to sleep.


    In the end, I lucked out. I found a war veteran¡¯s home. It only had one bed but it was a king sized one, but more importantly there were some guns still here. I alsofound the body of an old man, probably the owner of the house.


    I thanked him for the service he gave before cremating him. The guns were in a gun safe but the old man had the key in a jar in the cupboards of the kitchen. The food was all gone though. There was another pistol, two rifles, some boxes of .22, .308, and 9mm rounds. They all fit in theguns I now have. There was also a shotgun shells but the twelve gadge shotgun itself was missing. Plenty of magazines though.


    The others found some beds but all the food and possible weapons were gone. We got back together at the house of the veteran for me to share the loot.


    Once everyone was in the dining room of the home, I dumped out the satchels on the table.


    ¡°Take anything you will use. Spell books are communal, so help others if you can learn anything from them.¡±


    I pick up the box that I should have looted from Talphith. Within it are several vials I immediately recognize, dragon¡¯s blood, a letter, some coins, and a key. As much as I want to drink the vials I set them aside for now. I see the others look at the box but I pull it closer to me. This is my treasure, I won¡¯t share those.


    I pick up the letter to find it surprisingly in elvish.


    ¡°Lord Adrian Ravnos,


    If you are reading this than my grandson is dead. I am disappointed in how you have been treated by my fellow nobility but you have upset too many of them. The houses here want your head, even my own. While most of your actions have been justified too many wish you dead.


    I know that you are mad with the members of the Althaen but not all of us are terrible people. I am sorry for how even my own house has tried to cheat and control you ever since you walked into New Althr¨¢. These are the possessions of Magister Talphith that I could get, items that you should have been given already. The key is for some sort of extradimensional vault but I do not know how to open it, don¡¯t put it in a storage device though.


    I hope that you will not die from what happened in the expedition but know this there are those in the Althaen that are not like what you have been subjected to. Even if there are not many of us.


    Grem¨ªor Vithr?, if it is you who reads this please destroy this letter. Know that while I disagree with some of the decisions of our house I am loyal to the Vithr?, should the intended recipient actually escape or kill you we will have infuriated the Ravnos house. If he is dead our house is doomed. He is no fraud, I have seen him cast spells and he uses no mana.


    Tr¨ªan Vithr?, Clan Elder¡±


    Again with all this house Ravnos crap? I am not a noble. It wasa bluff, Ravnos has never been a noble name. Maybe some history book of their¡¯s will tell me. I drop the letter into my Void Cache along with the coins.


    The key I pocket, I don¡¯t know how to use it but I have plenty of time to mess with it while the others sleep. Now for the dragon¡¯s blood, I kept glancing at it while going over the letter. Before I actually do anything,Bryan asks me a question.


    ¡°What¡¯s in the box, drugs?¡±


    ¡°Only if you¡¯re a dragon.¡±


    ¡°Really dragon drugs, can I try?¡±


    ¡°No, it would kill you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you parents you did supernatural drugs if you don¡¯t share.¡±


    I give him a glare, ¡°I won¡¯t share they¡¯re mine.¡±


    K interjects, with an accent but better than Talia¡¯s.


    ¡°It¡¯s not drugs, they are like potions of . . . experience?¡±


    ¡°Then we should let Abagail have them.¡±


    Abagil looks over. I pick up my box, and K responds before me I do verbally.


    ¡°They would kill her, it¡¯s dragon blood. Right?¡±


    I nod and Abagail goes back to looking through book titles. The sisters look over with concern at me, but don¡¯t say anything. I know I am acting like an addict, I should not act like this. I set the box down and start drinking the vials.


    We keep going through the loot, not much else I can use though.

 Chapter 039

    The storm giant is often considered a myth, no confirmed cases of an appearance have happened. Due to this it is thought that they are cloud giants who are currently angry, much as how a storm is made from clouds. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Once I finish the vials I look back at everyone else, this isn¡¯t right. I turn to Bryan, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I shouldn¡¯t have acted like that.¡±


    ¡°Everyone has stuff they don¡¯t want to share, so don¡¯t worry about it. It still didn¡¯t seem like you though.¡±


    ¡°We both know I don¡¯t normally act like that. If that was how I act, none of these other items would be out. It¡¯s just I don¡¯t know bursts of me wanting to hoard everything.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to want to hoard what¡¯s on the table.¡±


    ¡°They aren¡¯t shiny. Anyways, smack me upside the head if I act like that ok?¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    We continue to take stock of our supplies, at least those that are not the books and food in my Void Cache. In full we have: 1rifle (.22), 1 rifle (.222), 1 pistol (.22), 1 pistol (9mm), 2 ornate and maybe enchanted rapiers, 32 long spears, 3 longswords, 40 short swords, 29 wearable suits of leather armor, 2 suits of chainmail, 3 chain shirts, a breastplate, 2 longbows of a wood I can¡¯t identify, 2 composite longbows, 33 nanocarbon arrows, 36 wooden arrows, 127 .22 rounds, 72 5.56 rounds, 82 9mm rounds, 22 shells for a 12 gauge, 2 satchels of holding, 6 daggers or combat knives, 21 potions of healing?, 6 potions of mana?, most of a set of kitchen knives, a few pots and pans, 85 mostly full water skins, 4 air up mattresses, 6 sleeping bags, 42 bedrolls, 46 wool blankets, 2 nicer wool blankets, 2 spare batteries for the pumps on the air mattresses, and a bit of firewood.


    Our equipment end up divided as follows:


    Bryan: Breastplate, longsword, leather armor (as a poor substitute for a gambeson), rifle (.22), 1 mana? potion, and 4 potions of healing?


    Abagail: Chain shirt, short sword, rifle (.222), pistol (.22), satchel of holding, a dagger and 4 potions of healing?


    Kythia: Chain shirt, longsword, longbow, 10 wooden arrows, a dagger, 2 mana? potion, and 4 potions of healing?


    Talia: Chainmail, longsword, ornate rapier, dagger, composite bow, 15 nanocarbon arrows, 13 wooden arrows, 1 mana? potion, and 4 potions of healing?


    Lysan: Chain shirt, composite bow, 18 nanocarbon arrows, 13 wooden arrows, a dagger, a satchel of holding, 2 mana? potion, and 4 potions of healing?


    Me: Leather armor, pistol (9mm), short sword, long spear, two combat knives and one of the healing? potions.


    We are also paired for use of the satchels; Bryan and Abagail, the twins, and I carry K¡¯s stuff in Void Cache. We also go through the books that I know are from the Althaen and everyone save me has chosen a fewto attempt to read. I don¡¯t choose any since I am carrying all of the other books.


    Bryan and Abagail leave the house, there simply isn¡¯t bedding for everyone here. We could have set up what I brought from the bank, but why bother when we can have better by just utilizing the other nearby homes. I am a bit worried of the roving goblinoids though.


    Regardless of the risk they wanted to separate, so they left and now I am cleaning up the pile of unclaimed loot as the trio watches.


    ¡°You¡¯re changing.¡±


    I look over and it''s Talia who spoke up. Is she going to go off and be a bitch again? After a moment, she continues.


    ¡°You have started hoarding, and you have taken Kyt . . .¡±


    K interrupts, ¡°I gave myself.¡±


    She smiles at me and I do so in return, Talia actually looks relieved. A bit embarrassed but not as worried.


    ¡°I know, I should not have acted like that with the dragon¡¯s blood.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just that, you are hoarding all the money and food too.¡±


    ¡°I am? Sorry, do you want to hold some of it?¡±


    She nods, and I pull out about a week¡¯s worth of dried meat, rice and flour. When I pull out some of the coins and pass them over I can hear dragon-me yelling no in the back of my mind. I frown for a second but change it before anyone notices.


    ¡°No one asked and it was convenient for me to carry everything. I might be changing a little bit but I¡¯m not going to turn into a monster.¡±


    ¡°See, I told you sister. You were worried over nothing.¡±


    Lysan is so trusting of me, unlike Talia. I know a bit of what they have gone through, this is how Talia kept them safe fordecades. It sucks but I can understand why she does this. I wonder if I will ever figure out how to tell the apart without their choice of weapons.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was just afraid . . .¡±


    ¡°Of me becoming like the Althaen.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Yes¡±


    I walk around the table, holding a straight face. Talia and her sister just wait, not sure of what I am doing. I reach and pull Talia into a hug, Lysan joins in while K just watches.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to live in fear, I won¡¯t betray you. Get mad, yes. Upset you, sure. But I am not a betrayer, you have seen enough to believe that.¡±


    Talia nods, and starts crying a bit. I don¡¯t think that it is sadness, but happiness or relief? K has a frown on her face now. Is she jealous?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry there will be plenty left for you tonight.¡±


    And she is now smiling, Talia didn¡¯t react but Lysan let go and is blushing. After another minute, I push Talia from me.


    ¡°Kythia is getting jealous, and I still need to pack up what we are not going to be using.¡±


    She nods, and helps me pack up all the items we are not going to use. I wonder if she is ever going to fully trust me. I have been hearing dragon-me moping so I turn my thoughts to him.


    [What is it?]


    [Don¡¯t give away the hoard! It¡¯s bad enough that you don¡¯t use it to sleep.]


    Once he tells me this I think of actually sleeping on a pile of coins. For some reason, I find the idea to bea good one for an instant. No, that is not going to happen. Beds are better, more comfortable and they can have girls in them. Any girl who would want to sleep on a pile of money is a gold digger and I don¡¯t want one of those.


    He also sounds stronger than when we were in the void. Did drinking the dragon¡¯s blood empower him? He is part of me like me-but-not-me, but she doesn¡¯t want to be the dominant personality. I think he might, after all a dragon wouldn¡¯t want to be submissive.


    [Why so focused on the hoarding?]


    [A dragon¡¯s hoard is the measure of its life. If we don¡¯t have much then how can we find enjoyment? Treasure isn¡¯t supposed to be given away, but enjoyed by hoarding.]


    [A pile of unused items is worthless.]


    [How can you think that! The hoard of treasures has many uses: sleeping, playing with, looking at, bragging about and so much more.]


    [There are better things to do that with.]


    [Don¡¯t blaspheme the hoard!]


    [A hoard is what you do those things with right?]


    [Yes.]


    [Then you are confused. Our hoard is not useless bobbles and dead wealth, but those around us.]


    He doesn¡¯t immediately reply, I don¡¯t want my desire to hoard to get in the way of my friends. Dragon-me is really young, so maybe I can make him more like real me.


    [I¡¯m not sure. You don¡¯t sleep with or brag much about them.]


    [I bragged to Bryan about K.]


    [Maybe, I still don¡¯t like sharing.]


    [Letting the girls wear and use stuff is showing them off. Showing off our hoard.]


    [Really?]


    [Yes, remember you are young. Only a few days old, I¡¯m older. Not as draconic as you but I know more.]


    [Can I play with our hoard then?]


    [I think you¡¯re still too young to play.]


    I feel dragon-me weaken, then he just goes back to sleep. What just happened? Why would his part of me become smaller? I feel someone shaking me, I jerk in response.


    ¡°Adrian, are you alright?¡±


    Its K, the twins look worried. I spaced out while talking to dragon-me. I need to name him. Would that make him stronger? Or give me leverage as the name giver?


    ¡°Sorry, what happened?¡±


    ¡°You just stopped responding to anything for a few minutes.¡±


    ¡°Sorry I was talking to dragon-me.¡±


    The trio respond at almost the same time, ¡°dragon-me?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah. He woke up recently and is part of why my actions have been a bit different.¡±


    And Talia looks worried again, ¡°how long ago did he wake up¡± she asks.


    ¡°The trial.¡±


    K interjects, I don''t think she heard what I just said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry about it Talia. It¡¯s probably like how I have a wolf in me.¡±


    K has a wolf inside her? I didn¡¯t know that, must be the embodiment of her lycanthropy. I should ask her about talking with it when we are alone.


    K continues, ¡°I didn¡¯t think that you would be able to talk to the gift so quickly. There hasn¡¯t even been a full moon yet.¡±


    ¡°I think you misunderstood. I wasn¡¯t talking to a wolf, when I said dragon-me I meant a dragon.¡±


    Now she looks disappointed, should I let her know I haven¡¯t caught lycanthropy? Maybe later, I continue, ¡°Dragon-me didn¡¯t like my sharing. I convinced him that it was better to, though I don¡¯t know how far it will go.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I was hoping that you had received the gift of my people.¡±


    ¡°You mean Lycanthropy.¡±


    ¡°That is what others call it.¡±


    ¡°For those not born with it, it can be a curse instead.¡±


    ¡°You are strong, you won¡¯t lose your mind.¡±


    K smiles as she says the last sentence.


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    Bryan and me left after Adrian apologized for how he acted. At least he knows that was wrong; even if the other things he does no one seems to care about. At least he isn¡¯t trying to get me along with those other girls. How can they just be ok with sleeping with one of them and still chase the others?


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    I turn to Bryan, I¡¯ve had a crush on him for over a year. Who would have thought that the world goes to hell and then I get the attentions of the boy I like?


    ¡°It just bugs me how he treats those three.¡±


    ¡°Why? He isn¡¯t mistreating them.¡±


    ¡°Yes he is. He is leading all three of them on. What are they going to do after he tries them all out?¡±


    ¡°Abagail, we both know Adrian isn¡¯t that kind of person, he¡¯s a . . .¡±


    ¡°Regular nerd? He hid that magic was real from you his whole life.¡±


    He looks upset at me, ¡°I don¡¯t mean to say he isn¡¯t a good person but he should just pick one of them. Polygamy is illegal, he can¡¯t keep them all happy. It''s wrong to chase multiple girls at once.¡±


    He sighs, ¡°those girls are content with how it is. The government fell, and no one is enforcing the law. Besides he is providing for all of them, and treating them well.¡±


    ¡°Why are defending him?¡±


    ¡°Because he is my friend and even if he ends up with all three; he will treat them well. We shouldn¡¯t ruin what is going on just because we don¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just saying that because you want to do the same.¡±


    He pauses for a second, he does want more than just one. Am I not enough? He pulls me into a hug. He must have seen something on my face.


    ¡°Every boy thinks of doing something like that at some point. But trust me on this; if one of them asked Adrian to pick just one he would. A real man won¡¯t force his spouse to share if she doesn¡¯t want to.¡±


    He didn¡¯t deny it, but I like what he said at the end. Bryan is right, I should just trust him. Adrian may be acting odd but the world has gone to hell. I know he has been doing a lot of difficult things to keep us as safe as possible. I am still crying myself to sleep each night whilehe has been doing whatever he has to keep us all alive.


    ¡°Alright, lets go inside and what do you think of having fun ourselves?¡±


    ¡°But we aren¡¯t married or . . .¡±


    ¡°I never said sleeping together, but if you want to. . .¡±


    I think I just turned beat red. I thought he was asking.


    ¡°No, not yet.¡±


    He looks disappointed, but then smiles at my word of yet. We go into one of the houses and I let him kiss me but no more before we separate into different rooms. I need my diary to write down and sort out my feelings. To bad it''s lost and I don''t have paper to start another one.

 Chapter 040

    The ogre is a creature often found amonst goblin kin. They share many of their features with goblinoids but are also barely considered giants. They are often confused with bugbears in the dark the main difference being that ogres are less hairy and a bit more inteligent than a bugbear. Though their posture and general way of acting coincide. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The girls all leave the room as I finish packing everything up. There is only so much help others can give me with my Void Cache. I have a smile on my face about how K and me don¡¯t have to be combat ready first thing in the morning.


    It takes me a few minutes to finish up. There is so much stuff I just can¡¯t seem to think we will end up using. Even so, better safe than sorry. It doesn¡¯t hurt to carry a bunch of spare weapons when you don¡¯t have to worry about weight, or volume. I hear the girls walk back in and Lysan asks me a question.


    ¡°Where are sister and me going to sleep?¡±


    Talia is standing behind her. That¡¯s right where are they going to sleep? I doubt they want to just join in on what I implied to K earlier.


    ¡°Where do you want to sleep?¡±


    I hear her mumble something and turn a bit redder.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear, can you speak up?¡±


    ¡°With you¡±


    I barely heard her. She wants to share the bed again, I¡¯m tempted but rolling around with K is a better deal than cuddling with two.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that Ky . . .¡±


    ¡°They can share you tonight.¡±


    They? Did my playtime with a naked K just vanish? I was looking forwards to having a memory of that without holes from being drunk. Regardless, I walk to the bedroom but there just is not as much spring in my step as before. I can¡¯t just pick K up and do her in front of the sisters. If we were alone maybe she would like that. I think she really liked me being dominant.


    K doesn¡¯t enter the room, it¡¯s just me and the twins. When I sit on the edge of the bed to remove my shoes, Lysan sits next to me.


    Talia walks up in front of me, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to have naked fun time.¡±


    She is looking at me like I¡¯m stupid. Not upset, not mad, just like I¡¯m an idiot.


    ¡°You still are.¡±


    What K is going to come in here and let the others watch? That would be just weird. Lysan leans over and gives me a kiss. Then Talia follows.


    During Talia¡¯s kiss Lysan said something about love. What¡¯s going on?


    ¡°We all talked while you were picking up and decided to share you. You¡¯re the best we could hope for.¡±


    Wait share? Then does that mean . . .


    SC: <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    My thoughts stop, as Lysan gives me another kiss, Talia taking off her tunic. I can now see her breasts. I find myself smiling.


    ¡°I thought you were afraid I would make you do stuff like this?¡±


    Talia now gives me a kiss as Lysan pulls off her tunic. Then she answers my question, ¡°we were but you stole sister¡¯s heart and I think you deserve it.¡±


    So I am getting naked fun time, just not with K. I like Lysan almost as much as K, Talia though I¡¯m not sure about. I don¡¯t feel quite the same about her, I guess I like her but not as much as her sister.


    ¡°Remember what I told you?¡±


    Lysan moves back to my side and hugs me, she wants attention. I give her a kiss as Talia responds.


    ¡°Are you really going to make me ask?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡±, a little bit of spit is trailing between Lysan and me. Of course I¡¯m going to play with you a bit first.


    ¡°What about Lysan? I didn¡¯t hear her ask you to grab her breasts?¡±


    I smile they may not be as large as K¡¯s but there are four of them here. Lysan¡¯s face is turning really red and I can feel her temperature rising, still not as red as her hair though.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t give her the same promise.¡±


    Lysan starts tugging at my shirt, so I help her remove it. Talia seems to be a little upset now, but starts to ask anyways. Turning as red as I think she can.


    ¡°Can you, I me mean we be lovers?¡±


    I smile and after pulling her to me, playing with one of her breasts as I kiss her.


    ¡°Alright, but only because Kythia and Lysan said so.¡± I turn back to Lysan, ¡°right?¡±


    She nods, she is shier than her sister. I struggle to pick them both up, one in each arm but manage to toss them together into the middle of the bed. Then I follow them in, and start to play with their breasts, one hand each while I swap my mouth between the two.


    They seem to be enjoying this, and have started to run their hands over me. I can¡¯t really tell them apart, but I know that Lysan is on my right from whenI threw them to the bed. She is trying to hide her excitement.


    Soon their nipples harden, and they start making noises to my suckling. My hands abandon their chests and rove downwards. Their own hands follow the pattern of my own, then I pull away from Lysan. I want to see if she¡¯ll ask.


    I then remove Talia¡¯s pants, and rub my hands on her ass. Its smooth and she is embarrassed by it. I give her a kiss and then find Lysan rubbing her breasts against me. I smile and move to pull her pants off.


    Now the sisters are in nothing but a piece of underwear, both of them looking at my still worn pants. Or is it the bulge they hold back? I smile as they work together to remove my belt, then help the pants fall to the ground. I pull away from them to finish the removal.


    Now they stare at the underwear tent. I remove them as well, I don¡¯t remember being quite this big; but I also got several inches taller. The sisters look down between their legs and then back to my member. They both mumble something but it is Talia who I hear.


    ¡°How will that even fit?¡±


    I smirk, ¡°if you¡¯re nervous then you both can come touch it a bit first.¡±


    They are startled for a bit, but crawl over. Then they do start touching it, embarrassed to do so but they are interested in it. It feels good, not because they are skilled or even trying to make me feel good but because they are girls.


    I feel myself get a bit harder, and they start to stroke me. I reach around them and push their chests towards my cock. Now they are rubbing their breasts against it, which feels much better than their hands. I let out a groan, and they smile. They can see that I am enjoying this.


    All too soon I swell further and erupt over their breasts and onto their faces. They yelp in surprise and wipe it off their faces. Lysan sniffs it while Talia grabs one of the fallen tunics to wipe themselves clean.


    I stop them each with a quick kiss, and whisper ¡°my turn¡± in their ears. I have two girls to fuck and need to get started. I pick up Lysan, and remove her now damp underwear. There is no hair anywhere on her body, I kiss her while rubbing a finger against her entrance.


    She moans and I find myself ready to take her. I notice Talia removed the last of her clothes. when I pull back for a moment, I smile at her, ¡°keep yourself ready. You¡¯re next.¡±


    With that I spread Lysan¡¯s legs apart and look at her. She doesn¡¯t seem to want me to look into her, but I hold her hands. I want to see, and I probably won¡¯t get another girl after this. Folds of flesh and something behind them.


    I line myself up to her, my girth seems larger than her spread. I think she will stretch to fit me though. K did, I think. Only one way to find out. I give her a quick kiss before moving up and pushing into her. I watch as she stretches to accommodate me.


    I move slowly and she groans, soon I am pushed up against something in her. I¡¯m not very far in yet, so I keep going. I feel it break inside her, she let out a short yell and I stop. I want to kiss her but she is too short for me to do so. I can see how deep into her I am, Talia moves over and helps me comfort her as I keep sinking further into her.


    She calms and I am almost completely inside of her, so I start to lightly thrust. I can feel the end of her tunnel when I do. She is tight and I take up almost all the space inside her. She wiggles under me and is hugging me tightly pulling me to go further inside her.


    Soon she starts to tighten around me. I am breathing faster but don¡¯t feel the tension yet. I reach over to Talia and start playing with her entrance.


    Talia is getting wetter, and Lysan is moaning and gasping under me. She flutters around me and some fluid rushes out of her as her back arcs. I feel like I would cum pretty quickly if I stayed inside her, but there is another girl to enjoy.


    I pull out, Lysan¡¯s fluids coating my manhood as I move atop Talia. She looks at her sister who is now just lying there catching her breath. I push into Talia and soon take her maidenhead from her.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    She holds in a cry of pain. Her insides feel exactly as her sister¡¯s. I pause for most of a minute as she gets used to me being within her.


    I pace myself when I begin thrusting, I don¡¯t want to cum too early. I am a bit rougher but Talia seems to like it more than the few gentle thrusts I started with. Once she starts tightening around me I hear my name amongst the noises her sister made.


    The desire to let my seed spill builds up. I feel Talia¡¯s insides move as she shouts my name. She pushes some fluid past our union. I thrust a few more times before I begin to let it spill, but I pull out. Some was left in her, some is spilt on top of the sisters, and some I manage to hold in until I am inside of Lysan again.


    Then I am spent, I roll off Lysan and catch my breath. Lysan moves to me and her sister follows after catching her breath. I am tired, I might be able to get it up if someone wanted to ride me but I am done.


    None of us care that we are covered in what our actions produced and drift to sleep. I hear the door open just as I fall asleep.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I walk out of the room with the elven twins while my mate finishes picking up. I can smell that he wants Lysan, he will want Talia too once she trusts him. Lysan speaks up first.


    ¡°Well sister?¡±


    ¡°You are right, I am being paranoid about him.¡±


    I speak up at this point, ¡°our deal from a decade ago still holds. He is now my mate but I will share.¡±


    Lysan smiles and responds, ¡°I am willing. He is kind, keeps us safe, and does not force us to do anything. What more can we hope for sister?¡±


    I can smell Lysan¡¯s desire for my mate. I feel my wolf become upset for a moment. She calms though, the sisters are the only ones other than my mate that she accepts outside of the pack. She accepts this, the pack is small and the alpha male strong and growing stronger.


    I can see Talia struggle with something.


    ¡°Talia, you know we will never find a better choice.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make the choice any easier.¡±


    I know how to convince her. She is terrified of being betrayed but she wants a mate more than me. I have smelled her during her dreams, no my wolf has smelled her. I take a breath and look at the waning moon. Moonlight Runnershould not be this strong right now, but she is acting with such force. I can feel her pushing me to do this, it is not fully me who is acting.


    I smile at her, ¡°you know that noble that tried to rape me?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Adrian is almost twice that size.¡±


    An exaggeration, but he is big. I feel bad for tricking Talia, but the pack needs to grow and he is the best mate she could hope for. She is drooling a bit at the thought, but I think she will be a bit shy the first time. I was and I am half wild animal.


    ¡°And we are sure he won¡¯t just use us and cast us away afterwards?¡±


    I don¡¯t think he would, and I don¡¯t think my wolf even cares. She wants to grow the pack and he would make us strong. He won¡¯t hurt the pack even if he does leave latter, she is sure of that. Lysan answers before me, but we both answer the same. Adrian wouldn¡¯t just cast us aside.


    I know he is weird, but a Ravnos is supposed to be weird. He is also a dragon and I know they wouldn¡¯t let go of what is theirs. I gave myself to him, he won¡¯t leave me. The three of us nod in agreement, we will share this man and help grow our new pack. I was looking forward to mating tonight but he should enjoy them alone first.


    ¡°You two can have tonight. Afterwards, we may have to talk with him.¡±


    Lysan hugs me, she is giddy at the thought of my mate bedding her. I think it started with the bow, but she became a fool about him after he forgave Talia. I think my mate is about to finish up, so we move back to him. It¡¯s not fair to him that we decided this without him but I doubt he will mind too much. I wonder if they will catch the gift through him.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I find myself in the Grey Dream. I guess I¡¯m bedding all of the trio now. I smile at the thought, it does seem rather quick for them all to jump in bed with me but they don¡¯t have malicious intent so I will wait a bit before asking them about it.


    Regardless it¡¯s time to deal with the Grey Dream. I can¡¯t trust it but I still need to use it.


    ¡°Character sheet please¡±


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Fighter 18 (+15SP, +1 Attribute), Fly 1 (+1SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Human Kills: +75EP, +25SP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #eb0000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon¡¯s Blood: Dragon Knight 16 (+40SP, +50 EP, +1 Attribute), +50EP, *Dragon¡¯s Blood No Longer Has An Effect*


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Partial Unification of Draconic Self: +25EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #e30000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Union: Elven Royalty (+50EP), *Bonus Migated by Other Factors*


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 113


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 251+


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I just stare at the messages for a bit. What is this thing about elven royalty? Is that from the twins? Never mind about giving them some time to come clean I¡¯m going to have to talk with them when we wake up. I like the boost but still they should have said something first.


    I touch EP,


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Attribute


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Draconic +


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Elven +


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Infusion


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Elven is new, that must be from whatever this elven royalty thing that I was not told about. I¡¯ll start there.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Darkvision


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Infravision, Greater


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Keen Senses, Greater


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Longevity


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    There are no costs on these, why?


    ¡°Why is there no cost on these options?¡±


    [You have one for free, after this they must be gained from their normal category.]


    Alright, well I¡¯ve seen the three senses before so I touch Longevity. I¡¯ll check what it does later. Now for Draconic stuff.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Special


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Power


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well, I just have to look at the new option.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Draconic Life 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Draconic Body 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I¡¯ll just get both, and now I have a hundred EP. I touch Alternate Form and see the same screen as my last visit.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Breath: Radiance 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Breath: Void 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Chill of the Void 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Very Young Void Dragon 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I need to be larger, so I take the last option, EP drops to ten and the screens close.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Draconic Life and Longevity have been fused: Draconic Longevity,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Darkvision


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td width="623">


    Infravision, Greater


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Keen Senses, Greater


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Why did this screen appear?¡±


    [Most of Longevity was duplicated by Draconic Life, thus you need to make a different choice.]


    Alright, freebie power. I¡¯ll take that. I touch Infravision as I have found it partially difficult to use so far. Maybe this will improve its ease of use.


    I touch Attribute.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="623">


    Attribute Point: 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 925


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 196


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I touch wisdom twice. Got to even out my casting stats. The traits must have altered my stats a fair amount.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    <td>


    Very Young Void Dragon


    Breath: Gravity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td>


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    True Dragon


    </td>


    <td>


    +8 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td>


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Draconic Body


    </td>


    <td>


    +4 STR, CON


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Draconic Longevity


    </td>


    <td>


    +4 APR, slow aging, extended lifespan


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td>


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td>


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td>


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td>


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Void Body


    </td>


    <td>


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td>


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td>


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That they did. I wonder how big my dragon form is now. Alright SP, I pull up the SP section on my magic.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Arcane Power 4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Planar 0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Life 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Mind 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Soul 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Primal 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    160 Time 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Transmutation 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    10 Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Fire 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Lightning 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Light 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Darkness 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Damn, the stuff I really want is too expensive, I¡¯ll save for Time, then grab the cheaper stuff. The colors are off on some of the options too. There must be some requirements I don¡¯t yet meet.

 Chapter 041

    The harpy is an ugly looking female creature that has bird wings for arms and taloned feet. They are greedy and spiteful creatures, hating anything that has a better appearance then themselves. They often collect shiny objects in their collective nests and are a danger to those that do not keep an eye on the sky. They are also quick moving and must kidnap males of other species to propagate, a fate most consider worse than dying under their claws and talons. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    When I wake up I can feel someone atop me, there isalso someone at my each of my sides. There are no covers over us, and I can see them in a fair amount of detail. The coloration is off though, this must be the better Infravision. I smile; all of these girls are mine. As much as I want to wake them up to have more fun, we need to talk.


    K moves a bit, she is on top of me. She looks at me and grins. I smile, I really want to roll around but I restrain myself. ¡°We need to talk.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t say anything but gets off of me. The twins to my sides react to her movement, I think they are awake. I sit up and speak again.


    ¡°Get up, we all need to talk.¡±


    They get up slowly, and look over at me. They smile and grumble something.


    ¡°I think there is something you two need to tell me.¡±


    K¡¯s expression changed. I guess she knows about the whole elven royalty thing. They wait a moment, so I continue.


    ¡°Bedding all of you is fun, but I¡¯m not stupid. There¡¯s a reason why you jumped in bed with me, and I want to hear it. Also, about how you two are or were elven royalty.¡±


    One of the twins answer, I don¡¯t know which.


    ¡°We were, but our family and line is gone.¡±


    I nod, I never doubted when they said their house was gone. She continues.


    ¡°our family once ruled a place in Althr¨¢, but it fell to the demon kin before our birth. Then shortly after we were born the last of our family died. Only a few servants that were still loyal followed after the death of our parents and brothers cared for us and helped us escape from people who wanted to take advantage of us.¡±


    She stops and her sister takes over.


    ¡°Eventually we were given refuge by Kythia¡¯s people, the Bloodclaws. They protected us for a time but that changed once they found out that Kythia was a dire werewolf. She would be the next alpha female, and they needed to figure out who would be her mate.


    So the clangot together but Kythia¡¯s wolf refused all of the pack''s men. Afterwards word spread thata direwolf and elven maidens were up for grabs. The Bloodclaw where set up to die on the front line against the demons and we ended fleeing.¡±


    ¡°I joined up with the sisters because we became friends while they were there. We didn¡¯t learn about why the packwas being destroyed, but when we left weknew it was because of betrayal. Someone got the pack killed to try to get us.Afterwards, we decided that if any of us ever found a safe place we would share it.¡±


    So, I am just a safe place? The perks are nice, but still.


    ¡°Is that all I am to you?¡±


    All of them deny it at once. That might be why they agree to share me, but they do want me for me. I smile as the three of them hug me. This is nice, even if why they set it up is weird. They have known each other for over a decade. I¡¯m new and they always thought they would share. I guess I am ok with it, I get to have three girlfriends at once.


    After a moment, I stand up and start walking to the bathroom. ¡°I¡¯m not mad but you should have said something. Still we need to get ready to travel again, but there isn¡¯t too much of a hurry. I¡¯ll get some water ready for us.¡±


    I enter the bathroom and will a frost fire into being, condensing water to use to bathe. My eyes hurt for a moment from the light produced, they shift out of infrared. I look at myself in the mirror, I still look like me but my hair is darker and my eyes seem odd. The shape of the pupil is not quite right and the color of the iris is different. Though the color could be from the fire¡¯s icy blue light but I¡¯m not sure.


    In a few minutes, I have a bucket of ice water. I heat it with regular fire before creating a white light to check my reflection with. I want to know if it was a play of the light or if my face is changing. My hair has turned dark as if I dyed it black, but there is a sheen to it. There is a blueish glint in the light. My iris shares that trait they have darkened and taken on a metallic hue. I still look like me but it¡¯s like someone airbrushed up a picture of me.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    I¡¯ve lost most of the fat on my body too, not sure if it is due to the fighting and healing or from the changes from waking my dragon side. I finished cleaning myself a while ago but I keep examining myself. Stupid draconic vanity, I pull myself from my reflection to get dressed. I pull fresh, well fresher clothes from my Void Cache.


    I leave the bathroom. Now it is time to try to figure out more ways to manipulate my magic while everyone else gets ready. I see the sisters help each other to the bathroom after I left it. There¡¯re sore, and I feel pride in that.


    K sits down beside me, ¡°you seem to have accepted everything quickly.¡±


    I smile at her, ¡°I wanted to know why you all just accepted this so quickly. I got an answer, besides I do like all of you. I know none of you are malicious towards me. So, am I going to ask too many questions and ruin it?¡±


    K responds with a kiss, ¡°you sure we aren¡¯t planning something?¡±


    ¡°Want to tell me behind the other¡¯s backs then?¡±


    ¡°Sure, trick you into feeding and protecting us. Then pay you with sex¡± she says with a smirk.


    ¡°Well, at least I already got paid, or is there something else?¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t, we just agreed that if we found a good man who could keep us safe we would share him if we could. We have meet a lot of terrible people and were unsure if we could fine good men.¡±


    That¡¯s all the explanation I really need. K gets up after that to prepare for travel. I spend most of the rest of the morning attempting to get my magic to have durations other than until I stop concentrating. I haven¡¯t had much luck with it yet, I know that it is possible and I should be able to get it to work but I may be too used to just focusing until I no longer need it.


    A little over an hour before noon, all six of our group gathers together to eat before continuing onwards. When the other two arrive Abagail stares at my hair, I guess the metallic glint just doesn¡¯t seem natural.


    However, it¡¯s Bryan who says something, ¡°ready to admit that you look different?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t argue now, my hair and eye color changed. I think it is from all the dragon stuff.¡±


    We pull out some food and begin our meal and begin to eat. Abagail keeps glancing at Bryan, while the trio is whispering to each other in Althaen. I guess they don¡¯t want to be accidently overheard by others.


    ¡°What do you think they are talking about?¡±


    ¡°Since they aren¡¯t talking in Elven they probably don¡¯t want us to know.¡±


    ¡°You can still tell me your guess.¡±


    ¡°I would guess about adiscussion I had with them recently.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t¡±


    Bryan is misunderstanding me, but that did happen too. So, I just smirk.


    ¡°What happened to my nerd friend who didn¡¯t care about girls?¡±


    ¡°Two elves and a werewolf showed up.¡±


    ¡°Weirdo.¡±


    ¡°At least I¡¯m not a paladin who doesn¡¯t know the name of his god.¡±


    ¡°Screw you¡±


    I just smile at my friend again, and we all finish eating rather quickly. We are all in a good mood. We have gotten away from the Althaen and should be gone before they realize that their men are dead. Once we start moving we banter over stealing one of the abandoned cars, but ultimately, we don¡¯t know how to hotwire one so the point is mute.


    <hr>


    We are only a few hours from where I expect to find Aaron and those that he probably works under. I hope his word is enough that we needn¡¯t fight anyone but someone older will probably be in charge. We are fighting a few goblins, who are no real threat except to Abagail.


    There are three left, I skewer one with a spear. No point in wasting a bullet on something I can kill without too much danger. Then there is a gunshot, I turn my head to it. The goblin is falling towards us. Abagail didn¡¯t make that shot, someone else is here.


    K and Talia finish off the last two of the goblins and then stand at ready. Bryan and me are scanning the area with our eyes. A black man walks out from behind a car, I notice another in the window of a building. The one in the window has a rifle, not sure the caliber but it made a bigger hole that the .22 we are carrying.


    The black man speaks up, ¡°what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Passing through.¡±


    ¡°So, you weird dressed people can talk. Now I was supposed to kill any yer kind but there¡¯s some pretty faces here.So, how bout you all come with me.¡±


    I frown, I didn¡¯t run out of the Althaen camp to just enter the same situation somewhere else. And most of these women are mine. Abagail walks forwards a little bit and starts talking. I guess she wants to play her roll as a bard.


    ¡°I think you¡¯ve made a mistake we aren¡¯t part of them. We¡¯re Americans, just let us on our way.¡±


    The man doesn¡¯t seem convinced, so I interrupt.


    ¡°You can show us to your boss, but call off the gunmen.¡±


    He looks surprised but grabs a walkie talkie on his belt and speaks into it.


    ¡°I''m bringing in some youths, they¡¯re not hostiles.¡±


    He puts the walkie talkie back on his belt and motions for us to follow. He doesn¡¯t respond to anything that we say and it takes about an hour before we see anything other than empty streets.


    A barricade of trash and cars, a small opening in the front to let people through. There are men standing atop the piles holding guns, a few point them at us but cease once they notice the black man leading us.


    It is dusk when we enter through their wall, to be met by a few dozen men with guns. There are a few older men, clearly former thugs who seem to be in charge waiting for us. This always was a poorer part of town and had a crime problem. One of these men probably is or was Aaron¡¯s boss.


    At least they aren¡¯t threatening us, there is some commotion in the overlooking crowd and Aaron and a few of the other I ate lunch with rush out. The older men look upset at the action but do nothing to stop it.


    Aaron walks up to me, ¡°I can barely recognize you.¡± He turns to one of the older men, ¡°don¡¯t worry he¡¯s cool. The white boy that tells me how not to be stupid at school.¡±


    The older man Aaron was speaking at softens his expression. The others don¡¯t seem to do anything but I can tell the gunmen nearby are no longer focusing as much on us. I should probably talk to these leaders.


    ¡°So, my friends and me are trying to get across town and are passing through. We won¡¯t harm anyone, and could we have a place to stay for the night?¡±


    The older men all look at the man Aaron talked to, is he in charge? The man speaks.


    ¡°Aaron says that you¡¯re not a threat so you can go as you please, but I would like to talk. You¡¯re wearing the clothes of others who are rounding people up, you should know something about them and I want to know what.¡±


    He is giving me a glare, but I¡¯m not particularly intimidated. So, we won¡¯t be stopped when passing through but he wants to talk. Alright I¡¯ll talk with him, but I want my friends safe first.


    ¡°Sure we can talk, do you want it to be in private?¡±


    He smiles in response, I suppose he does.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s talk over a meal and find you a place for the night. I think the protestant church down the street has open beds.¡±

 Chapter 042

    The weakest of the undead is the skeleton. Mindless creatures that often rattle as they move. They are either currently under control of another or following the last set of orders they were given. They are easily returned to rest with blunt force but are resistant to other physical damage types. Where you find one of these creatures you will likely find more. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It turned out the open beds in the church meant blankets on the floor in one of the side rooms. I don¡¯t notice any clergy here so I think they are just using the building. Charity in a church, makes sense to me. We sit at a table in the room we are being loaned for the night. There are a few others who have been staying here for a while.


    There seems to be a few hundred people that are living near here. They have a lot of guns but seem to be running low on food. These people look like they are losing weight, there must not have been much food storage here. Should I trade food for ammunition? Maybe, I¡¯ll ask the others after our talk with this old man. Aaron is not here, he had to go back to his job.


    A young woman comes in with a small pot of what smells like a thin soup. She looks scrawny, she has missed more than a few meals in the last week. They are rationing food.


    ¡°My name¡¯s Tom. So, why are you all dressed in those clothes?¡±


    I introduce the names of everyone before answering his question. ¡°Our other clothes became too tattered and these clothes came from their dead.¡±


    The old man nods, ¡°how has your small group managed to do that?¡±


    ¡°Guns, swords, and a bit of magic.¡±


    ¡°Magic? I can¡¯t believe that.¡±


    I pull out an apple from my Void Cache and toss it at him. He is startled, but catches it.


    ¡°What do you call that then?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s food, how did you . . .¡±


    ¡°I stole it from the Althaen, the people that are dressed as I currently am.¡±


    ¡°Althaen? How did you steal from them?¡±


    I smile, he is too curious now to think of what to do with us. While I don¡¯t think Aaron would want to fight us he isn¡¯t in charge. This man is, and I don¡¯t want to give him the opportunity to act as the Althaen did.


    ¡°Guns, swords, and magic. The Althaen have numbers and some nasty tricks but they are human and make mistakes. What do you want to know about? How they act? Where their camp is? Where they keep their food? What are they doing with those they kidnap? Where they came from? What do you want to know?¡±


    Tom ends up asking me about each of the questions I offered him. I told him the truth, I left out things like what makes them find a person to be a noble and how you can get out of being a slave. The things that make them seem better. Tom is suitable angry about the Althaen invaders who brought their problems to us.


    I know that the picture is not quite accurate, but getting Tom to attack and harass them until I am far gone will be helpful. They might even have enough guns to take them out. Soon enough he knows all we can tell him about the layout and strength of the camp, and he doesn¡¯t want to hear more about how they act. Abagail helped quite a bit in my explanations, she knew more about the layout than I did.


    Tom takes a breath and then moves onto another topic. One I think is more important to his group¡¯s immediate survival.


    ¡°Is it possible for you to give us some food before you leave?¡±


    I smile, I have quite a bit of food for six people but for the hundred(s) that he leads I¡¯m not sure how much my stash really counts for.


    ¡°We could trade. Some of your weapons for some of our food.¡±


    He frowns at the idea of trading.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good deal to trade. You saw me pull that apple out of nowhere, you know that fighting me for it won¡¯t work.¡±


    He sighs and nods. ¡°We may have a lot of guns but ammunition doesn¡¯t grow over time.¡±


    ¡°I understand and that is why they have value now. You can have a quartermaster or whoever you have in charge of your supplies talk with Abagail over the quantities to trade. We have paid well with information already, give us a good deal on this part.¡±


    ¡°Alrigth, but how much can you even trade?¡±


    I close my eyes for a moment, it helps me visualize what is within my Void Cache. I have a few dozen fifty pound bags of rice, a similar amount of flour, a few gallons of honey, thirty boxes of cereal, three loaves of bread, a small crate¡¯s worth of: apples, oranges, and bananas. There are also the few dozen bottles of wine, and some bottles that I think are actually juice. This is not counting the few dozen meals that are still around from that feast.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°We could trade up to a few hundred pounds of rice and flour, and a few bottles of honey.¡±


    There is a look of surprise on everyone¡¯s faces. Did I forget to tell them how much I had managed to take? Oh well, they know now at any rate. There is a bit of excitement in Tom¡¯s face, this certainly will help him should we trade. I wonder how many people he actually has here.


    Little else happened the rest of the night. Abagail took care of the trade negotiations and I think she did a good job. She got more .22 ammo than anything else but she did get us several guns and quite a bit of clothing. She ended up adding most of the Althaen clothes as disguises for more bullets.


    I no longer have any rice or flour but she got us the following: 4Pistols (9mm), 1 Rifle (.45), 600 (.22), 120 (9mm), 60 (.45), a bulletproof vest, and a shotgun for the 12 gauge shells we already have. She ends up with both the rifles and the vest, the other items will mostly sit in the void until needed.


    As we all start heading to sleep I pulled out the beds I stored upon request this morning. The trio surrounds me on a bed. There are others in the room so we only cuddle. The other men in the room seem jealous but I do not care about them. Abagail does not like that the trio all were with me either. She is Bryan¡¯s or will be at some point. I do not mind that she does not agree with everything I do. I do appreciate that she leaves her disapproval to just looks.


    <hr>


    I open my eves to a grey expanse, this is not the Grey Dream though. There is no reason to go there tonight. I will not have gained enough to be worth spending it. I hear the roar of a dragon and howl of a wolf.


    My mindscape shifts, I am in the stands of a colosseum. I am sitting next to me-but-not-me; within the gladiatorial ring there are two beings. A dragon and a wolf, both far larger than my current self. Even so, I do not feel threatened by either one.


    I can tell the dragon is dragon-me, he is growing stronger. He is solid, physical form of my draconic traits; my pride, greed, and raw power. The wolf has silver fur, it seems similar to the wolf beast K turned into under the full moon. There is savageness within it, an embodiment of primal desires; desires to eat, mate and kill. The wolf seems thin though, it looks strong but it is not as much a part of me as the dragon.


    It feels foreign, like it could be a part of me but it is not yet. The wolf lunges at the dragon, they refuse to coexist. Then this mental world freezes and me-but-not-me speaks. She seems a bit different than before, a little wilder.


    ¡°Do you know what they are?¡±


    ¡°Beasts that exist within me.¡±


    She smiles, ¡°close enough. They are things you could become, alternate selves that could consume us.¡±


    ¡°I did think that dragon-me might want to be dominant.¡±


    She laughs, ¡°careful, you want these beasts to become more like you. Not you become them, slowly integrate into you not the other way around.¡±


    ¡°So, what is going on here?¡±


    ¡°The fragment of you that is a dragon does not like sharing. He would destroy me if he could, but I am you and you are stronger than he. This puppy however is not you and is weaker than he.¡±


    ¡°He wants to kill it then?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we could force them to play nice.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t we then?¡±


    ¡°The consequences of doing that would be great. Any woman you obtain would be tainted with the wolf, most will not be able to handle it. Our physical body would also react poorly should the wolf stay unless the dragon is destroyed.¡±


    I frown, this wolf is lycanthropy. A disease that is both a blessing and curse. It is why me-but-not-me seems more wild now, because it would make me more wild.


    ¡°What can we do?¡±


    ¡°Allow the dragon to kill it, but I think we would just catch it again from the wolf girl.¡±


    I smirk, I know how I caught this and I cannot honestly say I wouldn¡¯t do so again. Me-but-not-me continues, ¡°Alternatively we could force them to coexist, but our physical self would mutate and suffer from it. It would eventually happen if a permanent solution isn¡¯t found.¡±


    ¡°You speak as if you know of one.¡±


    ¡°There are a few; tear out the wolf within the wolf girl, cast the girl aside, or chain the wolf in a way that does not tie it to our physical self.¡±


    I continue to frown. I won¡¯t do the first two suggestions; K is my friend I will not abandon her nor destroy a part of her. Ripping the wolf from her soul would shatter who she is, and I don¡¯t want her to be gone.


    ¡°How do I chain it?¡±


    ¡°Right now, you cannot. Learn to twist the spirit and soul of others in reality and then I could help you do so. Until then we must rely on the dragon to consume it.¡±


    I frown, I do not want to destroy this thing that is a connection to K. But I do not want to drive the twins mad from a wolf entering their souls either.


    ¡°How can I make sure the twins aren¡¯t harmed from what they gave me?¡±


    ¡°Lycanthropy is a disease, easily cured before the full moon after infection. Just kill the disease within their bodies. No one will even notice.¡±


    Me-but-not-me smiles and then fades out of this dream. Time resumes, and the two beasts crash into each other. The dream world shakes and the wolf is torn apart with dragon claws.


    It reforms its existence thinner, the dragon unchanged from their few moments of fighting. I watch, there must be something else I need to do here before I wake. The wolf dies a few more times before it truly ceases to exist, and I feel calmer after it ceases to be within my mind.


    The dragon turns to me, he is not dragon-me but tather a piece of his subconscious.


    [Do not think to make me share you. A dragon does not share. You will learn to be me.]


    ¡°No, you will learn what you are. A fragment of me, that is all you are.¡±


    The dragon roars and charges at me. Stupid prideful dragon, this is my mind and my existence is stronger than yours within it. The colosseum collapses and the world shifts. Now the dragon is caged, I should not leave the dragon like this but for now he is trapped.


    ¡°You are a part of me. I am in charge and this is my mind.¡±


    The dragon laughs.


    [I am growing faster than you. I will overtake you.]


    ¡°No, you are just a fragment of the part of me that is a dragon. You bend to him and he bends to me.¡±


    The dragon begins to shrink, and I dismiss the cage around him. My dragon is not a threat to me, and locking him up would weaken me. He is however right on one thing, most of my growing power is him, my own power needs to grow or he could become a threat to my identity. The dream fades, I have slept enough.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes, it is only a bit past midnight. I smile at the trio as I remove myself. I just do not need as much sleep anymore unless I am injured or recently bought changes in the Grey Dream. I think it is from Void Sustenance. It is time to practice magic, none are looking and I need to learn to do more. This is my power that is not from dragon-me.

 Chapter 043

    Zombies are the second weakest form of undead. They require at least a corpse in somewhat decent condition to create them. They have greater strength than the base creature did in life but also suffer from reduced mobility and speed. - Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    By the time dawn comes around I managed to figure out a few things, my manipulation of darkness has gotten better. I think I figured out durations to, at least a bit. Regardless it is time for everyone to start waking up so I stop. I don¡¯t want to get a backlash because someone woke up while I was practicing.


    Tom calls a meeting outside and he wanted us to be there. Validation of his words and leadership I think. Abagail agreed to it so we go. There Tom repeats most of the information that I gave him yesterday to the dozens that are paying attention. Then he has me ¡®give¡¯ him the food to support his call for arms against these invaders.


    I am smiling the whole time. I don¡¯t know if these people can actually kill the Althaen camp, but they do have the firepower to decimate them. Some of these people will end up dying to the Althaen, but they will hurt the Althaen and give us more time to get out of here.


    After Tom¡¯s little speech we begin to depart. I think that we will be able to get to where Bryan¡¯s parents¡¯ house is by night fall tomorrow. Before we reach the other side of this fortified area a few men surround us, they are not armed nor do they seem like they were members of the gangs before any of this happened.


    They must be civilians then. One of them speaks up, ¡°why are you allowed to leave?¡±


    Abagail answers, ¡°we were never going to stay.¡±


    ¡°But the gangs don¡¯t let anyone go. They make us all work.¡±


    Many of us frown, I was hoping that the gangs were relatively good people. It seems that they are not, but this is not truly my problem. I interrupt, Abagail is too soft hearted for this. She will try to bring some of them with us.


    ¡°We can leave because we were never part of you. We were never part of this community, if you want things to change learn to do it.¡±


    ¡°But you can help us!¡±


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t just because we can defend ourselves does not mean that we can defend others.¡±


    The crowd in front of me is getting unruly. The few members of the nearby gangs do nothing. I hear them begin to demand food and safety from both the gangs and the strange men.


    Abagail sympathizes with them, but is scared. She wants to help them but knows that we can¡¯t, no more than we could kill all the Althaen. The crowd is now too loud for them to hear me unless I yell. Even if they did I doubt that they would respond to words now. They will no longer listen to reason, a solution other than words is needed.


    I don¡¯t think killing these people will go well, should I distract them? Run? I¡¯m sure everyone except maybe Abagail could out run them. Intimidate with guns? Tie them up with magic? Many ways to handle these few dozen people flash through my mind.


    In the end; magic will backlash, shifting into a dragon will panic the gang members, and gunfire will turn the gangs violent. I charge at the largest guy in the group before me, incapacitate a few and threaten the others. Bryan moves to guard Abagail, he must have guessed my thought process.


    A gut punch followed by a blow to the back of the head and the man collapses. There is a burst of yells from the crowd I am now in. They did not expect me to attack, I take out another man before they start to attack me.


    I take a few hits from those around me before kneeing a man in the crotch. Sorry but I need everyone to not block our way. The hits from the people don¡¯t hurt much, I think the trio joined in on the brawl. At least K did.


    Soon most of the mob is either unconscious or fled. I can hear them questioning why we attacked them. I don¡¯t answer them, but Abagail does. She is telling them something about learning to defend themselves. She looks sad as she says it. This world sucks but she is learning to deal with it.


    In the end the gang members nearby do nothing. They do appear impressed from the fight that they just ignored. These people are better than the Althaen but still terrible. At least I got them to point their weapons at someone else.


    After this no one stops us on the way out of the immediate area. Something feels off, but we leave in peace. Once out of earshot Abagail asks me a question, ¡°could we have helped those people?¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we could have changed anything long term.¡±


    She frowns, I know she wants to help others.


    ¡°Could we have given them something?¡±


    ¡°Would they have been able to keep the charity?¡±


    She does not speak for a minute, thinking about my question. ¡°No, Tom or someone else would take it from them.¡±


    I nod, the gangs would have taken anything we gave them. Even if they did not, that would free up resources that would then be spent on their military activities. While I do want them to cause problems for the Althaen, it is better if I do not fund them. If I do they will expect me to continue to do so.


    <hr>


    After about an hour of travel a dozen men step out from behind cars and into view in the nearby windows. They are men from the gangs, but they stood nearer one of the other older men instead of beng near Tom or Aaron. A different gang? One of the men speak up, one carrying a rifle.


    ¡°I know you sold food to Tom. Give us everything that you have.¡±


    Great, a dissenting group wants to rob us. They haven¡¯t taken aim yet, if they all open fire at once we will end up dead. Preemptive strike? No, I won¡¯t take enough out fast enough.


    ¡°Does it look like I¡¯m carrying any food?¡±


    ¡°You pulled food out of nowhere. Just do it again.¡±


    ¡°So, you think I can just make stuff appear and disappear?¡±


    ¡°Just make the food appear already.¡±


    I smile, they accept some magic to exist.


    ¡°What is to stop me from just doing this then?¡±


    I hold my hand out and twist reality, the rifle is now in my hands. I don¡¯t feel a backlash, while he looks in surprise I drop his rifle into Void Cache.


    ¡°Give that back!¡±


    I need to act quickly, there are eleven other guns that will soon be pointed against us. I pull three more guns from the men before I hear a gunshot, a bullet passes through my leg. Eight men still have firearms, I can¡¯t pull them all before they would kill us.


    I hear the man who talked start shouting something, but it is not time to pay attention to his words. Blind the field, that is the only way to keep us from getting shot. I make a motion as if I were tossing something to the ground, as I push the image of dark mist covering the area.


    I try to make it look like smoke, something believable to these men.


    ¡°Take cover, it won¡¯t hold long.¡±


    I hear my friends moving to a nearby building. I move from my location and hear a bullet strike the asphalt where I was. Other bullets are flying through my cloud of darkness, I hear one of the twins cry out in pain. Dammit, someone is hurt.


    After a few seconds, I allow the cloud to start dispersing. I have taken cover behind a car, and take aim at one of those in the windows. One who''s gun I did not steal. I fire a shot, but missed; my own cloud of darkness obscuring my vision. The recoil is greater than the other rifles I have used, not a .222. Still a single shot semiautomatic.


    The mist fades to nothing and I shoot again. He was the only one with an open shot against me. He falls back into the building, I don¡¯t know if he is dead or not but I think he is. Gunfire is continuing to rain down towards me. The others seem to have entered the building behind me.


    The building had the man I just shot, so perhaps they can use its windows to shoot from in a few minutes. There are seven gunmen and four men without. Those without are going to end up trying to flush me out. I need to move, but I need to fix my leg before too much more.


    I begin to accelerate my healing and wait for the first person to move in attempt to force me into the other¡¯s gunfire. Two gunmen are in windows, five on the ground. No guarantee that those who move to me will be gun less.


    I was right in my worry of the first two that came into force me to move, one had a gun. I am lucky in that he missed, he aimed for my head. My ears are ringing, and I put a bullet from the rifle into him. Not a kill, but he is down on the ground screaming.


    The other man runs at me, the rifle just clicks when I fire at him. The rifle is empty? Why was there only three bullets in it? I drop it and pull a spear out of Void Cache. The man charging at me skewers himself, convenient.


    My leg is mostly closed, I allow my healing to stop. I can move, so I warp light and pull the shotgun from void cache. I am invisible and move from behind the car. Two men without guns are moving to where I was, along with three with a gun.


    I could not have held that position. Luckily, they stopped laying down suppressive fire long enough for me to get away from the car. I smile, who should I take out? The shotgun only holds four counting the one in the chamber.


    When I fire the shotgun, a man¡¯s chest is destroyed. The shot reveals my location to the other men, though I am still invisible. I run to the side, as I reload. I feel a bit of tension coming from my invisibility. These men do not think such a thing is possible.


    I move behind cover and drop the invisibility. Unfortunate, but we can still win without me warping reality in that way. I take a quick shot from cover, but they had moved so I missed. I duck barely dodging a few shots.


    Then I hear gunfire answered by the pained screams of these enemies. Bryan and Abagail have found a spot to shoot from. I hold my cover for a moment, switching to another rifle stolen from these men. When I look over the abandoned car, the men on the street are dead, but the two in the windows are still there. They are swearing loudly, they have cover against the others.


    I can¡¯t get a clear shot from here either but I can get into the building. So I run into it, no one shot at me. I guess the two are busy ducking from my friends¡¯ attacks. I hope that the twins did not take a lethal hit.


    I climb some stairs to the second floor, and soon see two men crouching up against a wall. Game over for you. This rifle was a .222, or close to it. The first man died to a head shot then I put severalrounds in the other while he turned at me in a panic.


    Rather than search the men I jump from the second story window. The landing hurts but I need to treat the injury that one of the twins took. I hope that no one else took a hit, but find my hope unanswered. K also took a bullet, her¡¯s is in the shoulder while Talia has a bullet in her gut.

 Character Sheets

    Character Sheets for where they currently are at:


    Adrian


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    Name: Adrian Ravnos


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    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


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    Age: 17


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    Skills


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    Attributes


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    Class


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    SP: 128


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    Traits


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    Magic


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    Languages


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    EP: 10


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    </table>


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    <td width="208">


    STR 26


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    DEX 25


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    CON 28


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    INT 28


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    WIS 28


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    CHA 28


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    APR 28


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    HP:925


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    Mana:196


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    <table>


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    Combat


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    Ranged 3


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    Firearms 3


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    Archery 1


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    Melee 3


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    Sword 2


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    Dagger 2


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    Axe 1


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    Evasion 2


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    Tumble 1


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    Stealth 1


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    Fly 1


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    Social


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    Handle Animal 2


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    Empathy 3


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    Bluff 1


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    Sense Motive 2


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    Persuade 1


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    <td colspan="4">


    Knowledge


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    Arcana 7


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    Nature 5


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    Physics 4


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    Mathematics 5


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    Religion 2


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    Tactics 3


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    Technology 2


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    Chemistry 3


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    Planes 3


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    <td colspan="4">


    Senses


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    Perception 2


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    Battle Sense 1


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    <td colspan="4">


    Craft


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    Sewing 2


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    Leatherwork 1


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    Drawing 2


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    Carving 2


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    Other


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    Computers 3


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    Drive 3


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    </table>


    <table>


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    <td width="623">


    Fighter 18


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    Rogue 9


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    Dragon Knight: Void 16


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    Magus 9


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    Althaen (Spoken)


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    Elvish


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    English


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    Portuguese


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    Spanish


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    Arcane Power 4


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    Space 2


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    <td width="312">


    Planar 0


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    Fate 2


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    Life 3


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    Death 3


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    <td width="312">


    Mind 1


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    Soul 1


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    Primal 1


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    Time 2


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    Transmutation 1


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    Telekinesis 0


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    Fire 3


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    Lightning 2


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    Light 2


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    Darkness 3


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    <table>


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    Alternate Form


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    Very Young Void Dragon


    Breath: Gravity


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    Free Multiclassing


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    No penalty for multiple classes.


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    True Dragon


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    +8 to all Attributes


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    Keen Senses


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    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


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    Draconic Body


    </td>


    <td>


    +4 STR, CON


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Draconic Longevity


    </td>


    <td>


    +4 APR, slow aging, extended lifespan


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td>


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td>


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td>


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td>


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Void Body


    </td>


    <td>


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td>


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td>


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Bryan


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Bryan Grace


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">Skills</td>


    <td width="156">Attributes</td>


    <td width="156">Class</td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 32Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">Traits</td>


    <td width="156">Magic</td>


    <td width="156">Languages</td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON22


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP:210


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 70


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Sword 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Evasion 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Tumble 1


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Sense Motive 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Persuade 1


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Arcana 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Physics 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Mathematics 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Tactics 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Technology 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Perception 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Battle Sense 1


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Drive 3


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard: Necromancer 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Paladin: Undead Hunter 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">Elvish (Spoken)</td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>School</td>


    <td>Highest Tier</td>


    <td>Spells Known</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Abjuration</td>


    <td>1</td>


    <td>Shield</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Conjuration</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Divination</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Enchantment</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Evocation</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Illusion</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Necromancy</td>


    <td>1</td>


    <td>Disrupt Undead</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Transmutation</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Divine Sphere</td>


    <td>Highest Teir</td>


    <td>Miracles Available</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Healing</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Cure <Minor, Light, Medium>, Healing Circle <Minor>, Resist Toxin, Resist Disease,</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Protection</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Shield Another, Sacred Armor, Protective Flame</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Undead Hunter</td>


    <td>-</td>


    <td>Smite Undead, Sense Undead</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Code Of Conduct</td>


    <td>You must follow some Morality restrictions</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Champion of <></td>


    <td>While your patron does not wish to reveal himself he does grant the following: Accelerated Learning, Sacrament of Faith, +4 STR,CON,CHA,APR.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Accelerated Learning</td>


    <td>You learn and improve faster than normal.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Sacrament of Faith</td>


    <td>Your patron has great faith in you and if you think an action is justified few questions will be asked.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Abagail


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Abagail Clark


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">Skills</td>


    <td width="156">Attributes</td>


    <td width="156">Class</td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">Traits</td>


    <td width="156">Magic</td>


    <td width="156">Languages</td>


    <td width="156">


    EP:8


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR9


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 70


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 60


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Melee1


    </td>


    <td>


    Evasion1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td>


    Bluff 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Dance 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Sing 2


    </td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Religion 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Physics 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Technology2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Music 3


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Perception 2


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Drive 2


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bard 10


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">Althaen (Spoken)</td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (Spoken)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">English</td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>School</td>


    <td>Highest Tier</td>


    <td>Spells Known</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Abjuration</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Conjuration</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Divination</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Enchantment</td>


    <td>1</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Evocation</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Illusion</td>


    <td>1</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Necromancy</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Transmutation</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Lysan


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Lysan Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">Skills</td>


    <td width="156">Attributes</td>


    <td width="156">Class</td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">Traits</td>


    <td width="156">Magic</td>


    <td width="156">Languages</td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX22


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT23


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA24


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 248


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 120


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ranged5


    </td>


    <td>


    Archery4


    </td>


    <td>


    Melee2


    </td>


    <td>


    Mace 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Flail 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Evasion3


    </td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Empathy3


    </td>


    <td>


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td>


    Bluff 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Religion 5


    </td>


    <td>


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Althr¨¢ 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Arcana 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Perception3


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Leatherwork3


    </td>


    <td>


    Sewing2


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Therge 10


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter: Archer 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">Althaen</td>


    <td width="312">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">Elvish</td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">English (Spoken)</td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>School</td>


    <td>Highest Tier</td>


    <td>Spells Known</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Abjuration</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor, Shield, Resist Energy,</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Conjuration</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Divination</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Comprehend Language, Tongues,</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Enchantment</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Evocation</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Scorcher, Elemental Loop</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Illusion</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Necromancy</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Transmutation</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Divine Sphere</td>


    <td>Highest Teir</td>


    <td>Miracles Available</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Healing</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Cure <Minor, Light, Medium>, Resist Toxin, Resist Disease,</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Protection</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Shield, Sacred Armor, Protective Light</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Travel</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Know Direction, Haste, Lay of the Land,</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Elven Royalty</td>


    <td>Elves will instinctivly trust you, Elven Traits are hightened</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Keen Senses Greater</td>


    <td>Your senses are more acute and sensitive.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Infravision Greater</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Darkvision Color</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Talia


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    Name: TaliaAlanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td>


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Skills</td>


    <td>Attributes</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>


    SP:84


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Traits</td>


    <td>Magic</td>


    <td>Languages</td>


    <td>


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 192


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 128


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ranged5


    </td>


    <td>


    Archery4


    </td>


    <td>


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Sword3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Rapier3


    </td>


    <td>


    Evasion 4


    </td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Empathy3


    </td>


    <td>


    Sense Motive1


    </td>


    <td>


    Persuade1


    </td>


    <td>


    Bluff1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Religion4


    </td>


    <td>


    Nature2


    </td>


    <td>


    Althr¨¢5


    </td>


    <td>


    Arcana3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Battle Sense 2


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Leatherwork3


    </td>


    <td>


    Sewing2


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard8


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">Althaen</td>


    <td width="312">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">Elvish</td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">English (Spoken)</td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>School</td>


    <td>Highest Tier</td>


    <td>Spells Known</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Abjuration</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor, Shield, Resist Energy,</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Conjuration</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Circle of Fire,</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Divination</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Enchantment</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Evocation</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Scorcher, Elemental Loop, Elemental Blade</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Illusion</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Necromancy</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Transmutation</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Cat''s Grace, Bull''s Strength, Bear''s Endurance</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Elven Royalty</td>


    <td>Elves will instinctivly trust you, Elven Traits are hightened</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Keen Senses Greater</td>


    <td>Your senses are more acute and sensitive.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Infravision Greater</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Darkvision Color</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Kythia


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    Name: KythiaBloodclaw


    </td>


    <td>


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 23


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Skills</td>


    <td>Attributes</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>


    SP:3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Traits</td>


    <td>Magic</td>


    <td>Languages</td>


    <td>


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    STR 32


    </td>


    <td>


    DEX 30


    </td>


    <td>


    CON 36


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    INT 18


    </td>


    <td>


    WIS 14


    </td>


    <td>


    CHA26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    APR 23


    </td>


    <td>


    HP: 286 (608)


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: 160 (272)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Archery 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Melee 5


    </td>


    <td>


    Sword 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Hand to Hande 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Claw 5


    </td>


    <td>Bite 5</td>


    <td>Evasion 4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Empathy 5


    </td>


    <td>


    Sense Motive 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Persuade 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Intimidate2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Althr¨¢ 3


    </td>


    <td>


    Arcana 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td>


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Leatherwork1


    </td>


    <td>


    Sewing 1


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bloodclaw 14 - Only under the full moon


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bloodblade8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard: Necromancer 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">Althaen</td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">English (Spoken)</td>


    <td width="312">


    Lycanthrip


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">Necrol</td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>School</td>


    <td>Highest Tier</td>


    <td>Spells Known</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Abjuration</td>


    <td>1</td>


    <td>Shield</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Conjuration</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Darkness</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Divination</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Enchantment</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Evocation</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>DarkMissile, Burning Hands, Elemental Blade</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Illusion</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Necromancy</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Neg E Burst, Blood Fire Blade, Life Transfer, Disrupt Undead, Bloodbridge, Cure <Minor></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Transmutation</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Dire Werewolf</td>


    <td>+12 STR, +8CON, +4DEX,APR</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>True Blood</td>


    <td>Some of your physical prowess as a lycanthrope carries over to your humanoid form</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Regeneration</td>


    <td>While your wolf is manifest, you heal at a visable speed.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Curse of Lycanthropy</td>


    <td>Contact with another''s blood may spread your strain of Lycanthropy</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Canine Empathy</td>


    <td>You can sense and influence the emotions of canines.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Keen Senses Greater</td>


    <td>Your senses are more acute and sensitive.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Infravision Greater</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Scent</td>


    <td>Your sense of smell far surpases the regular man.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Pack Alpha</td>


    <td>+2 CON, CHA</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Life from Mana</td>


    <td>You have stumbled upon the path necromancers truely dream of. Creating life through mana, drawing upon positive energy and not just negative.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Releases of the stats for the full party are not likly to happen often. As before if there are any questions on what is what or the meaning behind some value comment and I will give an answer before too long.

 Chapter 044

    The basic skeleton and zombie can be altered in a variety of ways. The most common are to infuse them with elemental power, often cold, or to turn them into a lieutenant. Both create a more powerful undead though it also raises the cost of their creation. An elemental variant will release a faint aura of their element and their attacks are laced with it. High quality elemental undead may also heal from exposure to their element. Lieutenants are granted inteligence to be used as commanders of other minions. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Talia and K are lying one of the healing circles Bryan must have put down. K¡¯s injury won¡¯t kill her so I more to look at Talia¡¯s more closely. There is only the one hole, the bullet is still within the wound.


    I look at Lysan, ¡°did you try to heal her?¡±


    She nods, then the wound has closed up some.


    ¡°Did you remove anything from the wound?¡±


    She did not, shit. There is a bullet that has flesh closed around it. I open my sense of reality and draw on Life. I need to find where that bullet ended up. The wound has some dirt and other things that are not Talia in her. I need to look deeper, then I find a lump of something. Metal, probably lead.


    The bullet hole was partially closed by Lysan but now that healing is holding the bullet in. Cut it out or is there a better option? Using Translocation Grasp would pull it out, but leave a small vacuum inside her. I can¡¯t imagine that would be good.


    Talia is in pain. I don¡¯t know how to do anything for that.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I have to remove something.¡±


    I pull out a bottle of wine and have her drink some. No time to have her drink into a stupor though, I also pass a knife through a conjured flame.


    ¡°Hold your sister, this will hurt.¡±


    Lysan does so and I cut into Talia. I know where the bullet is but I am sure that I caused more damage to open a path to it. A combat knife is defiantly not meant for this. As soon as the blade is close to the bullet I pull it, the bullet, out.


    I hold the knife where it is until the hole where the bullet was will no longer be a hole. Talia looks pale, but now the wound should heal properly. I remove the knife and clean the wound before continuing to force her body to heal faster.


    There is a small scar left once the wound closes. I don¡¯t know how to remove those, maybe Lysan¡¯s magic can. I look up to Lysan, ¡°get her to eat something. I¡¯ll treat Kythia.¡±


    Lysan nods, and I move over to K. She must have been paying attention to my treatment of Talia as she answers the questions I was about to ask.


    ¡°No healing, it¡¯s still in there.¡±


    I nod and pass her the now half bottle of wine before repeating most of what I had to do to Talia. Though I didn¡¯t have to reinjure her to make sure the wound would close correctly. She handles it better than Talia did. That could have been since it wasn¡¯t a bullet in the gut.


    Bryan comes down at this point. ¡°I think we are in the clear.¡±


    I nod, and he moves to the door before heading out. I assume he is going to check for things we can use. I¡¯m skeptical on how much they will actually have. There were only three rounds in that first rifle that I used from them.


    I check K and Talia for any more injuries but find none. We will have to rest here for a bit, how I healed them made them tired. I head outside, Abagail is in the window. I aid Bryan in searching through these men, they do not have much though.


    A few rifles, spare but empty magazines, no food, no water, no handguns, and only a few knives. There was a rifle with a different caliber than what we had, the .308 bullets. Unfortunately, the person who was holding it was one of those that I shot with the shotgun. I am not sure if it will work, if it does it will defiantly need cleaned up first.


    It is a bit after high noon when Bryan and I reentered the building to find that girls started eating while we were outside. Abagail passes Bryan a sandwich, I don¡¯t know where the bread came from. She asks a question once we are inside.


    ¡°When are we going to head out?¡±


    ¡°Soon, we are too close to the gangs, and some of them are hostile¡± I respond.


    K and Talia look a better, able to travel at least. Talia speaks up at this point.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°I can travel, we need to move anyways.¡±


    I help her to her feet, we need to get moving before someone decides to go find out what the gunfire was. I¡¯m surprised no one came by already. K asks me for some meat and I pull some from the Void Cache for her. Jerky and a bottle of water since we need to get moving.


    After a few hours, I hear a high-pitched screech. Something is flying above us, humanoid but the arms are wings. The feet look wrong. A bird man of some sort, at least there is only the one. The twins draw their bows as it dives at me.


    Two arrows land on the creature¡¯s body and its talon feet claw at me. The leather armor is damaged but there are plenty more to use to patch it. The arrows didn¡¯t kill it but a near point blank round from the rifle Abagail is holding does. There is a large chunk of the creature now missing and I need a bath.


    Maybe she shouldn¡¯t be holding a rifle that shoots .45-70? Or it shouldn¡¯t be the only one. I think the creature had hollow bones like a bird, it did not handle that bullet well. At least I don¡¯t have to see the ugly creature anymore. It was female but there is no way I would have ever wanted to see something that looks as it does up close.


    I turn to the others, ¡°where there is one monster there will be more. We should keep moving.¡±


    After a moment of walking I move next to Abagail, ¡°please don¡¯t shoot things in melee with me.¡±


    ¡°I thought it was going to claw you, or start carrying you off" she responds in an excuse.


    ¡°I understand but please don¡¯t now I have to walk around covered in guts until we find a place to stop for the night.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°At least you were worried.¡±


    With that we are relatively uninterrupted for another few hours, occasionally a shadow of a bird would pass overhead. Once dusk begins to approach we find ourselves near a burnt-out building. Cawing of what I assume a large bird can be heard from within it.


    We all look at each other, there are a lot of something in there. But it is not currently our problem, though there are some large shadows flying into the building. Whatever is in there it is not nocturnal.


    ¡°They seem to be going to sleep.¡±


    Bryan¡¯s guess is echoed by my own. Should we fight them tonight? I would rather not, an airborne enemy has a great advantage.


    ¡°They are not attacking us, so lets just find a place to stay the night" I respond.


    ¡°Will it be safe to just leave them¡± asks Abagail.


    ¡°They seem to be going to sleep, so I don¡¯t think that we will need to worry about them tonight.¡±


    Abagail nods and starts to look at the nearby buildings, we are in a downtown commercial area. Places that were for eating with friends and government buildings are nearby. I wonder if anything is still good in the nearby shops.


    ¡°These buildings aren¡¯t very defensible, maybe that stone one could be used¡± Talia says while pointing at a courthouse.


    It has fewer windows than the other buildings, but it will lack anything to salvage. We don¡¯t really need to find more food at the moment but you should always get what you can.


    ¡°Lets use it for the night, scavenge the stores nearby in the morning and deal with the birds if we have to. Any other ideas?¡±


    No one speaks up to what I said, so we walk over to the courthouse. The oversized birds leave us alone, they are just moving into that burnt-out building. Bryan reached the front of the courthouse first and found the door locked.


    ¡°It¡¯s locked.¡±


    It would be loud and take a while to break the door in. We would have probably just used a different building but I can see that some of the first story windows were already broken.


    ¡°There are broken windows, any volunteers to climb through them?¡±


    If no one does the I will just climb through myself.


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    I look around at the others, they are all better in a fight than me. I don¡¯t know if those bird things down the street will attack or not while we are here.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Adrian nods to me and begins to look at the darkening sky, probably looking for threats. I am the shortest one here anyways, it is easiest for me to get in. Not sure how elves are taller than me but they are. I climb up into the window, there is some broken glass but the pieces of leather I¡¯m wearing keep me from being cut.


    I¡¯m in a waiting room, there are some desks that people would be called to for paperwork. The room is covered in scattered papers and broken objects, not sure what is what. In front of me is a door that looks like something similar to a bank vault, and to my right is the door into the hallway. That is where I need to go.


    I can see at least in here and the hall from the light coming in from the exterior windows, but not enough to get the finer details of my surroundings. Some parts of the wall look darker than others, and some of the doorways were broken as I walk to the front entrance. At least I did not run into anything.


    Then I trip over something, it¡¯s too dark to see whatever I tripped over. The sound of something hard scattering across the floor sounds in my ears. I feel around my feet, and find something. I hold it up into a less dark part of the hall. It¡¯s hard and white. It¡¯s a bone.


    I scream and run to the front door.


    <hr>


    Adrain


    <hr>


    I hear a scream and not a minute later Abagail bursts through the locked door. She runs over and seems to be hiding behind Bryan. I guess that is where she feels safe. I move to catch the door, no point in allowing her actions to be fruitless.


    Looking into the hall I don¡¯t notice anything, there is stuff scattered around but not anything that should scare someone. Maybe I need to be closer to see whatever it was?


    ¡°What was it¡± Bryan asks Abagail.


    ¡°Bones, I tripped on bones.¡±


    Alright, so Bryan will have to check for undead. I create a light and enter; followed by the trio. I suppose Bryan is letting Abagail calm down for a moment. I turn to the trio.


    ¡°Do any of you know how to detect negative energy?¡±


    They all shake their heads, Bryan¡¯s detect undead will have to be used then. Does he even have it? An Undead Hunter gives up detect evil for it; so I think he should. You never do know with the Grey Dream though.


    Lacking a supernatural method of finding undead we simply look around, there are several skeletons lying around. That must have been what startled Abagail, I try to sense any death in the area but only feel a faint amount from the broken skeletons. I think the trace amounts are normal, but I never tried to sense the death in an undead so I don¡¯t know how much would be there if they were undead.


    Once I see that Bryan has entered I ask him if there are any undead nearby. He walks around for a bit and then shakes his head. The building should be safe enough for the night. We clear out two interior rooms to set up sleeping arrangements and set up a table to eat at. We need to plan what to do about the birds, and that can be done over a meal.

 Chapter 045

    The ghoul is another commonly found undead. Similar in appearance to a zombie these creatures do not become as decayed. Their teeth are warped into those of a carnivore regardless of the base creature. While they are inteligent a ghoul is driven mad in its insatiable hunger for flesh. Some ghouls retain their personalities and memories when not in a feeding frenzy. Their claw and bite paralyze their victims, and those that survive often become ghouls as do corpses of their victims in the off chance the body remains mostly whole. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Jason


    <hr>


    I smile as I walk down into my basement. The words of the shadow man have all been true, except for granting me the ability to cast spells. The smell of spilt blood greets me as I open the door at the bottom of the stairs. Last night I managed to incapacitate one of the Althaen soldiers.


    I turn to the shadow man, he seems to be getting more solid as I give him some of the blood sacrifices. He has been bugging me to give him a virgin maiden but there aren¡¯t any in the camp. Even if there was I would use her for myself.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t I been able to do magic yet?¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t consumed any who can cast spells yet. It will come once you do.¡±


    I frown, I think he already said that. Making nobles disappear is hard, it raises questions. The only other still living being in the room looks at me with fear. She is not pretty, even before the torture that started last night.


    ¡°Let me go.¡±


    I slap her with the back of my hand. She does not scream in pain, she didn¡¯t last session; even when I removed her nails. Pain and suffering to build resentment and hate. I take a knife from the table she is tied to, it was just out of her reach.


    I begin to cut runes that the shadow man traces before me. I make the cuts deep and pack them with salt. It¡¯s painful and will keep her alive through to the end. I think I hear a tiny bit of a stifled scream from her.


    Good, the more she feels the more I will benefit. The closer I will be to taking back what should have been mine. Soon all of her body is covered in the runes, her back was done yesterday. Now I begin the chant echoing the words the shadow man tells me. I don¡¯t know what they mean but I can feel things change as the linger in the air.


    ¡°You shall wane, a sacrifice to my growing might.


    The power of your life shall be drawn out, your blood drunk and life consumed.


    By the path of blood, I grow.¡±


    Blood flows out of the runes cut into her and begins to pool in the air above her body. It glows a dark red and begins to shrink. I pick up a cup and hold it under the glowing ball of blood.


    Soon the ball drops into the cup, there is only a little in it though there is but a shriveled corpse. I smile at the cup, with this I will be stronger than soldiers. I drink from the cup; the dark liquid is sweet to me now.


    I break the cup as I set it down. I have the strength of dozens of others, now I need to take just a few more soldiers before starting to take what is mine from the nobles.


    ¡°Do you want to take some nobles now?¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°There is another ritual, one where you will drain them by touch . . .¡±


    I smile, even better. I can just leave them where I take them then.


    <hr>


    Adrain


    <hr>


    We really do eat a lot when I pull out the food from that feast. There is probably only one more meal from that part of the food I am carrying. Even so it is good to have a nice meal with the group.


    ¡°What are everyone¡¯s opinions on what to do about the bird creatures in the nearby building?¡±


    ¡°Will they attack us when we leave tomorrow¡± asks Abagail.


    ¡°They will¡± answers Talia.


    ¡°So, we return to the first question what to do about them" I comment.


    ¡°We should fight them in a confined area. Limit their ability to fly. There are also a lot of them, so area of effect spells?¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I nod at K¡¯s suggestions, they seem sensible.


    ¡°Should we make a preemptive strike tonight¡± asks Bryan.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t risk it, too easy to get swarmed, and we do not know how many are in there.¡±


    ¡°We will have to try to get them to attack us in a different building then¡± I respond to K¡¯s comment.


    ¡°Which building¡± asks Talia.


    ¡°Any of the stores, they only have two entrances. The front windows and a back door that will be locked" I respond.


    Everyone nods, we now have a rough plan. At this point, Abagail stands up and excuses herself. She has the lowest stamina and seems tired. Bryan follows soon after. I look over at my three girls and smile.


    ¡°We have to fight in the morning¡± one of the twins say.


    My smile is lesser now. Damn, well I guess that I will have to do something else then. I pull a book out of my Void Cache, a biology textbook as I don¡¯t know enough about anatomy to be a proper healer as we need.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take first watch and wake one of you when it¡¯s over.¡±


    They nod and move to the bed as I walk to the hall. Now I have two reasons to be mad at these bird creatures. I was already planning on doing this but now I want to make sure the preemptive strike of mine does more.


    <hr>


    I actually managed to read several chapters of the textbook before I was sure that everyone was asleep. It is a few hours after dusk. I check to make sure all of the guns in my Void Cache are loaded and the magazines readied; they are. The others may be upset with me tomorrow but I don¡¯t want to risk us being swarmed at dawn.


    I place the book back in Void Cache and pull out one of the rifles. Birds have hollow bones, it shouldn¡¯t take too much to kill one. I leave the courthouse and move to a building across the street from the burnt-out one.


    Soon I am near a window on the top floor, my Infravision can already see some of the bird creatures. Their shape is the same as the one Abagail killed earlier. I take aim through a scope and pull upon spatial aim to make sure a mistake is not made.


    The protrusion on the top of the bodies should be the head. I fire, and the shape of the lump changes. The other bodies are now moving about. Wait and hope they fit the stereotype of birdbrains or just start removing them?


    There are over a dozen that I can see so I don¡¯t really have time to just wait and hope they don¡¯t notice me. I need a way to conceal myself. Too bad I don¡¯t know how to stop the movement of sound. I start to fire at the creatures, spending only enough time to make sure that I will hit their bodies.


    The first clip of twenty is empty, it is getting harder to tell where my targets are. They are in a panic and the splatter of their blood is spreading out the heat. Another flaw when seeing in infrared I guess. Not sure how many I killed, but there is heat that is moving so there are still more.


    I reload, and some of the bird creatures have begun flying around. They have started looking for me. Should I shoot them? It is easier to tell where they are. There is also another thing I want to try altering spatial aim to deal with time. Where are the creatures going to be when I fire?


    The birds shift a bit, I am not sure if when I am looking is right. It also feels harder than before. The first shot I fire misses, when I was looking was wrong. At least I know that I can use Time like this.


    One of the birds noticed me, and its noises are certainly some form of language as the others are now joining its decent towards me. I would swap to the shotgun but it is not magazine fed.


    19 shots in the magazine. I take out a few more of the bird creatures before the gun jams. I guess the gangs did not maintain it well.


    I drop it and pull another from Void Cache. The model is different and there isn¡¯t a scope but it will work for what I need. One of the bird creatures passes through the window just as I have the gun drawn.


    It falls to the first few bullets, but now I have some of these birds in the room with me. No more is the choke point of the window going to be valid. I lash out with magic at the ones in the room. They are from Althr¨¢, they should accept most any effect I create.


    A ripple of a different form of darkness spreads from me and the birds ignite in dark fire. Flames that produce no light or heat, they just burn away at the life of these creatures. They cry out from the pain of being burnt alive.


    I would never get away with this sort of attack against people, but these creatures either don¡¯t think this is odd or haven¡¯t noticed. I smile, unless too many get close at once I should be fine.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    It has been a few hours; my mate should swap with me for the watch soon. I get up, he is not nearby. I can only smell his lingering scent on the sisters. He has been gone for a while, I can hear a bit of noise that must be from outside, the stone walls must be blocking a lot of noise.


    Should I go and look for him? He seemed upset after the food, so he might have just gone to blow off stress. Hunt something for sport, I did that sometimes when I was younger. It can help sate the wolf. The gift hasn¡¯t woken up in him yet though. Ravnos are weird, maybe he can feel it before the first change.


    I get out of the bed and walk into the hall; the noise is a bit louder here. Something is making high pitched screams, and small booms in the air. My mate went to hunt, I smile. Should I join him? I don¡¯t want him hunting without me.


    I put on my armor and quietly leave this stone building. I sniff the air outside; a lot of blood has been spilt; the scent of blood and strange fire fills the air. Were it animal blood I would have been upset, no hunt should kill so many but it was harpy blood being spilt. Dozens of them are dead, strewn out in the street between one of the buildings and the burnt-out one.


    I thought my matewanted us to fight them in the morning. Something did seem off when he said it though. This many harpies would have swarmed us in the morning. We could not have kept them away from Lysan and Abagail. Is that why he decided to hunt them tonight?


    He should have asked me to hunt though. I could have fought with him. A torrent of flames erupts from the window of the building the harpies are swarming into. Did he just fireball himself to burn them? No I don¡¯t think he would. I run to the entrance of the building, almost slipping on the blood that wets the ground.


    I hear one of the harpies caw above me and throw a burst of dark missiles at it. It falls, the vitality of a harpy is weak. If you hit them they go down easily. I continue to the building and only have to skewer one of the monsters on my way.


    My mate has made them mad, they are focused on him. That makes it easier to get to him, and I need to have a word with him about hunting without me.

 Chapter 046

    A ghoul that has lived long enough and feed enough can become a ghast. Ghasts are also known to be created artificialy by necromances. They are stronger, faster and more inteligent than a ghoul. They also tend to lead packs of ghouls to grow and expand their numbers. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I am not sure how long I have been fighting these creatures. Too long, I should have swapped with someone else for the watch by now. The floor is covered in charred bits of flesh, my armor is ruined and I¡¯ve spent most of the bullets on these monsters. I am injured but they haven¡¯t managed to cut at a vital area yet. I think they are harpies, they look like a harpy at least.


    One of the harpies rushes me and breaks the rifle I use to block. Those talons are the only part of their body that seems to be durable. This isn¡¯t the first rifle broken by them. There can¡¯t be too many of them left. There are only four in the room and no more have entered for at least a minute.


    I don¡¯t have another rifle, but there are only four of these harpies left. Perfect for the shotgun that just so happens to hold four rounds. I fail to dodge a slash from one of the creatures, the leather was already destroyed on my right arm. It goes limp, a tendon must have been cut. I can see my blood pouring out of the injury.


    Shit, I need to finish this quickly. I sear the wound with fire, a grunt of pain comes from me. The door to the room bursts open, another player in the fight just arrived. No time to play it safe. I amplify the fire in my left hand and throw it at one of the monsters. It panics, they have seen their kin burn this way before.


    The spear of fire explodes on hit, washing the room in a wave of fire. It won¡¯t kill any except for who it hit, but it will still hurt. I make sure the fire parts around me, whoever entered the room charges one of the harpies and skewers it through the back. I recognize who it is, K. Damn, I did this because she needed to rest.


    I could not have hid this anyways. The harpy she skewered falls to the ground, K looks upset. Should I have told them what I was going to do? No, they would have wanted to help, I couldn¡¯t have gone alone after letting them know.


    My distraction costs me another cut, this one on my left leg. It can still hold my weight but I won¡¯t be moving to dodge any more. I pull a pistol from my belt only to find that it wasn¡¯t there; that¡¯s right the belt was cut earlier. I pull one from the Void Cache instead.


    The pistol is just about my only weapon I can use one handed. K is chanting something, and a burst of blackened red light comes from one of the harpies. Negative Energy Burst? It did not kill the harpy, but it is certainly hurt. The harpy that just cut me is behind me so I shoot this one.


    After the second shot the monster falls. K launches a burst of dark lights at me, no behind me. I drop to the ground and a harpy passes over me. Some of my wounds just split. I aim at the harpy but it gets cut down by K before I have time to fire.


    The fight is over, I begin to focus on healing myself. I am healing faster than before, but it takes more concentration than just accelerating the normal process. K sheaths her sword and walks towards me; her tone is not pleased.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you invite me on this hunt?¡±


    Hunt? How can this be considered a hunt?


    ¡°You needed to rest. . .¡±


    K growls at that answer, defiantly not what she wanted to hear. What should I say then? Or does it not matter what I say? One of those you are always in the wrong situations. I sit up slowly to buy myself a bit of time to think.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to risk the twins or Abagail getting hurt¡± I say with a little bit of uncertainty. She didn¡¯t growl at me in response; so, I think that was an ¡®acceptable¡¯ answer. It is also true though she was on that list as well.


    I smile at her and she moves up next to me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go hunting without me.¡±


    I nod and then she kisses me. Her hands start wandering into my tattered clothing. I push her off me and she gives me a pouting look. I want sex too, but not like this. How is she horny from me running off and killing a bunch of stuff?


    ¡°Not in the gore of the dead.¡±


    She keeps her pouty face on until I grab her hand and pull her out of the room. I pull out a water bottle and use it to rinse most of the blood off me. Once we are in the hallI hear her say something.


    "We aren''t in the gore anymore."


    And she starts to kiss me again.


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    She immediately picks up where she left off. I hear a tearing sound and find my tattered shirt is now tattered rags. I frown for a moment, I don¡¯t have too many of those. And why is K acting like this?


    Then I am distracted my being pulled down into a pair of boobs. These are bigger and better than the twins. Not sure when her shirt came off but I start to kiss them and run my hands over K. She responds much faster to my touch than her first time.


    She starts to rub her hips against one of my legs, she really wants me. But I want to know why, but my curiosity is overridden by the growing desire in my pants. Ask later fuck now, and I will just have to follow through on that.


    I separate from her and unbutton her pants. She grins at that and I can see her temperature rising. She mirrors my action and loosens my pants. They drop to the floor and I step out of them as I pick K up. She pulls off her underwear as I move her back to a wall.


    She begins to part my underwear but I press up against her. I want to have more fun with her tits first, and once I¡¯m inside her I¡¯ll forget about them. She is fully aroused and I nibble at her bosom.


    She is sensitive there, and her¡¯s are better than the twins. Firmer and more to play with. I lose myself playing with them until I hear K give a shout and my crotch feels her twitch. She muttering something about my cock but I¡¯ve stopped listening to what exactly she is saying.


    Her hands are pulling at the cloth keeping me from slipping inside though. I smile, I had my fun with her chest. I can move onto the main course. I let up on the pressure I am putting on her hip and she manages to open up the underwear; my rod slaps against her watery garden.


    K shifts herself until my tip is lined up and then impales herself upon me. We both release sounds of pleasure, and I find myself thrusting into her. I don¡¯t speak whatever language she is cheering me on in, but I understand the intention.


    My desire to flood her insides builds as she tightens around me. I feel her move a bit differently as she releases a louder shout. Her cheering becomes quieter as all the tension leaves her body. My own release follows, and I let her down to the ground.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    We lie down and I start catching my breath. I exit her and smile, if I get this every time I take her hunting I¡¯m going to do it a lot. She catches her breath first and smiles at me before straddling me.


    She starts rubbing her entrance against me. She wants more. . .


    Once we manage to leave the building I turn to her, ¡°why all this about hunting?¡±


    I don''t think she would respond well to the question I actually want to ask. Normal question first then work it in later.


    ¡°Mates always go hunting together. It¡¯s for bonding.¡±


    I don¡¯t really get it. It¡¯s probably from wolves being pack hunters. A family hunts together to stay together sort of thing? Whatever, I¡¯ll just remember to ask K if she wants to follow along on the next time I do this.


    ¡°Is mating always part of a hunts end too?¡±


    The temperature of her face rises, she is embarrassed about it. My question may have been to blunt, but it seems more like flirting than ''how come you were excited by me killing stuff''.


    ¡°No, but you seemed so strong. I just . . .¡±


    I cut her off with a kiss. It had to do with her animal side. Her wolf got her all riled up at seeing me beat my foes. Not sure what to think about that. I like the K that is nice and helpful not one that likes me killing stuff. I don¡¯t want us to devolve into murder hobos. Less hunts with K then. How much influence does her wolf have on her daily actions?


    We arrive back at the courthouse, no creature making a peep in the night after the harpies were either destroyed or decimated. I open the door to the room Bryan was in to find him hugging Abagail in their sleep. They are not in the position I saw when I checked before fighting the harpies. I don''t see anything but they were hugging under a blanket.


    I am not going to bother them, Lysan will have to take the last watch. She gives us a weird look when it is both K and me who woke her up.


    ¡°I thought Bryan had third watch?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t want to embarrass Abagail¡± answers K.


    Lysan smiles in understanding. I guess Abagail will just be embarrassed by her when we travel or during the scavenging of the stores. I yawn and climb into the bed Lysan just vacated. It¡¯s still warm and I fall asleep swiftly.


    <hr>


    The Grey Dream greets me. Time to see what I got for dealing with the harpies.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Fighter 20 (+10 SP, +1 Attribute), Class Update Fighter -> Marksman 0, Marksman 5 (+25 SP), Dragon Knight: Void 17 (+10 SP), Magus 11 (+40 SP), Perception 3 (+3 SP), Battle Sense 2 (+2 SP), Stealth 2 (+2 SP), Ranged 4 (+4 SP), Darkness 3 (+15 SP), Anatomy 2 (+3 SP), Tainted Creature Kills: + 30 SP, Near Genocide: +30EP.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 218


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 40


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That certainly is a lot. Well, not enough EP to do anything and I do want to strengthen the me that is not dragon-me anyways. I¡¯ll deal with Attributes first.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="623">


    Attribute Points: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 695


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 272


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Why did HP go down?¡±


    [You no longer are receiving anything from Fighter, as you are no longer a fighter.]


    That sounds like total bullshit, but I highly doubt the HP value has a true meaning. I shouldn¡¯t become weaker just because the Grey Dream no longer sees me as a fighter, right? I put the point in intelligence and the screen closes.


    Now for the SP. There is a lot of it and I have magic to upgrade.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Arcane Power 4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Planar 0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Life 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Mind 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Soul 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Primal 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    160 Time 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Transmutation 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    10 Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Fire 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Lightning 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Light 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I take Time 3 as planned and notice a change, the choices of upgrading something to a 4 became available. Hmm, can¡¯t buy any of them now but that is good to know. The cost for Time 4 however changed more than I thought it would.


    Me-but-not-me said I need to learn to manipulate souls and spirits to deal with the issues of my exposures to lycanthropy. My dragon self is going to be pissed tonight. I probably should restrain myself more, and not just with K. It there a way I could twist reality to deal with the possible complications? All the more reason to keep learning more.


    Anyways, I take an increase in the Sphere of Soul, which suffers a similar greater than normal increase. Why would it do that?


    The Grey Dream starts to fade before I can ask it. It wants to hide something. I already know it is lying to me, these Spheres must be a potential threat to its schemes.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes, it should be around dawn. I stretch and get out of the bed and find Lysan in the hall, talking to her sister. They are gossiping, not sure about who. I don¡¯t want to get involved in women¡¯s gossip, that sounds like a trap to upset them.


    Soon enough everyone is gathered together, now I am doomed to suffer scrutiny for my actions yesterday. The first to act was Abagail, who almost threw up at the gore in the street. Neither K or me cleaned anything up aside from ourselves last night.


    Talia is the first to speak, ¡°What happened?¡±


    She is looking straight at me. I smile, ¡°Kythia helped take them out last night.¡±


    She does not look happy about it. Is that worry for my wellbeing that that I see in her face? Well she did ask to be lovers so I should have expected it. Lysan is pouting a bit, maybe I should have told them.


    ¡°I thought we were supposed to fight them in the morning¡± yeah even Bryan is a little upset.


    ¡°Sorry, the opportunity presented itself and you are all safer now.¡±


    ¡°We are supposed to vote over non-emergencies. You shouldn¡¯t just run off and do this.¡±


    I sigh, I¡¯ll probably make this same decision again at some point. Note to self: conceal secretive actions for the group¡¯s safety. K will probably help me if I call them hunts. I make my face shows regret, it may not be for what I did and I do regret that my friends are upset about it.


    They sigh, except for K, she didn¡¯t have a problem with it to start with. I speak up to both get us on track and away from my most recent mishap in leadership.


    ¡°We should start scavenging.¡±


    They nod, no point in talking further as it won''t change what I already did. As we start to divide up, the twins drag Abagail off together. They start talking to each other in Elven but I don¡¯t catch enough to know the subject of the sentences. Bryan turns to me and asks a question.


    ¡°What is that about?¡±


    ¡°I think they want to gossip.¡±


    K looks at me for a second I don¡¯t think I ever taught her that word.


    ¡°They never did anything like that before.¡±


    Bryan does have a point. I don¡¯t remember them ever talking to each other outside of the group discussions.


    ¡°They haven¡¯t really shared a language for until a few days ago though. Maybe they just did that while we weren¡¯t around?¡±


    I turn to look at K, hoping she will answer the question.


    ¡°They talk, that is how she already learned Althaen.¡±


    Abagail already learned Althaen? I thought she was just working on Elven. I turn to Bryan he didn¡¯t seem to know either.


    ¡°Guess they talked while we were injured or elsewise busy?¡±


    K nods at Bryan¡¯s guess. And with that we walk to the nearest store. A bar, to begin our search for supplies. We will end up needing a lot for the traveling we have planned.

 Chapter 047

    Vampires are a varied and dangerous bunch of intelligent undead. The traits that all vampires share regardless of clan and coven are as follows. The need to feed upon the life force of the living through blood and that they are quickly and permanently destroyed by sunlight.


    They also retain their personality that they possessed in life, though it may have been warped. Vampires also have abilities dependent upon their clan, generally their abilities are fueled by the blood they feast upon. A starving vampire will go feral and lose control of itself, attacking anything that has blood. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I am both happy with and disappointed in what we were able to scavenge before noon. There was next to no solid food that was still usable. Rotten meat and vegetables galore, over two weeks without refrigeration ruined most of the supplies. At least there were plenty of drinks. The trio are thrilled that there is more soda, they have bothered me for more than once for ''bubbly sweet water''.


    The pawn shop and anywhere else that may have had a weapon had been looted before us. All in all there were cases of soda and booze, but not much else that is of use. We found plenty of wrappers, for ready to eat meals, but wrappers are not usable themselves.


    An ice-cold soda was however a nice way to start our walking. I stored everything that was still good, but I don¡¯t think that we will consume the alcohol ourselves.


    <hr>


    Jason


    <hr>


    Thraen¡¯s body withers as I hold him pinned. The shadow man¡¯s explanation of this Devouring Grasp is accurate; it only works on the helpless. When someone is not in a position to defend himself I can consume him.


    My eyes itch, each time I blink my vision becomes clearer. I can feel something else enter me as well, an energy that is not the same as the blood I¡¯ve been consuming from my previous victims. I release a groan from the pleasure of my feast.


    The shriveled corpse of Thraen falls to the ground, I feel hungry. I need to consume more, and the shadow man is grinning at my actions.


    I hear gunfire outside, and smile. We are being attacked again, that means I can feed without restraint. No one will notice a few dozen extra corpses. Did I always think like this? I don¡¯t care, soon I will be strong enough to take back what should have been mine.


    This diablerie magic of the shadow man is great. I wonder if I can take the powers of those nerds when I consume them. I run into the servant¡¯s quarters of this mansion of the Sunchasers. There is only one door in and out. They won¡¯t be able to run from me.


    I lose myself after starting to consume the first of the maids. Their essence tastes sweeter than Thraen¡¯s. I lose myself to the taste of their essence.


    <hr>


    I find myself covered in blood from the maids, I only have a vague memory of what I did. I smile at it, rapping them as I killed and bathed in their blood; all the while draining their essence, it was delicious.


    I find myself licking my lips, I want to do that again. I look at my blood covered hands to see my fingers end in claws. I can¡¯t hide that, but then they retract into my fingers. Somehow I know how to extend and retract them. I still hunger, I need to eat more.


    I have changed, but I don¡¯t care. I will take what I want from the world. I will devour anything that gets in my way. I leave the room smiling; not noticing the words written in blood on the wall. I want to find the nobles who are left of the family. I will be the last ¡®Sunchaser¡¯ before the battle outside ends.


    <hr>


    When I finish playing with the patriarch of the family, pain erupts from my back. I can feel new limbs from it. Black bat wings are attached to me now. I can feel how to have them retract. I swallow a piece of raw flesh.


    I find it sweet. I feel strong, the battle outside is not yet over but I finally feel full. Whatever changes diablerie has beendoing to me ended. I can still eat more but I don¡¯t feel the absolute need to.


    I will still become stronger from feeding so I might as well gorge all that I can. So, I walk outside and move to another house of nobles. Many will ''die'' to whoever these attackers are.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It is about an hour until dusk when we arrive at the neighborhood where Bryan lives. Much like the rest of the city it has debris scattered about and some scorch marks but the only marks of the fallen people are dried blood in the street.


    As there were no creatures that waylaid us I can only expect that there is something big nearby that is keeping them either in line or away. We need to be careful, but I can¡¯t find any trace of a large dangerous force.


    The car in front of Bryan¡¯s house is his dad¡¯s, it is old and wasunfortunately smashed by something. One of the few vehicles that we had a chance of finding the key for. Bryan rushes up to the front door, he still hopes his parents are alive.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    There is a chance since the door is locked and the windows were not broken. I hope they are there, but I doubt it. They were old and in poor health before this all started, the only thing that would have been in their favor is that they hoard food. Something that they learned to do during the depression.


    The door opens to Bryan¡¯s house key and he rushes inside. I can hear something moving and it isn¡¯t any of us. The house smells of shit and piss but it always does. The pets don¡¯t get taken outside enough.


    I hear a jingle of small bits of metal hitting each other as a small toy dog comes into view. That little dog is as old as me, if he is still here than the Grace family might still be alive. Bryan picks up the dog and hugs it. Then he starts calling for his parents as he walks to the back of the house.


    If I remember right his mom is practically bedridden and his dad isn¡¯t too much better off. He was raised by his grandparents and they are rather old. I hear Bryan¡¯s voice followed by his mother¡¯s.


    ¡°They¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Shh, it¡¯s time to pray Bryan.¡±


    Do they even know what is going on? I walk over to the bedroom to find Mrs. Grace in bed and her husband in a nearby chair. I don¡¯t think he is breathing. All of the food in the house has been moved to within arm¡¯s reach of the bed.


    Bryan is hugging his mother, I don¡¯t think she is all here right now. There isn¡¯t any water nearby and I am sure that the pluming will not be working anymore. The smell of feces is stronger in this room. Mrs. Grace notices me and asks a question.


    ¡°Adrian, are you here for a sleep over? Bryan will have to get the blankets out, Wade already fell asleep. Could you get me some water?¡±


    I exit the room before pulling a water bottle out of Void Cache. I don¡¯t want to shock the old lady¡¯s heart with magic is real. When I walk back in I shift my vision to infrared. Her body is cool, warmer than the rest of the room but not as warm as it should be. She is dying. Her husband is already dead; he is the same temperature as the rest of the room.


    ¡°The TV isn¡¯t working. Bryan where are the extra batteries?¡±


    I give her some water, and she smiles. Both Bryan and me ignore the more recent question. Bryan looks up at me, he wants me to help her. Whatever healing his patron grants him must not be enough for this. I don¡¯t know if I can do much, she is dying of old age and disease.


    I do what I can, twisting reality to one where she is a bit healthier. One where her blood flows faster and where her breathing is easier. I can feel her life receding faster from the changes I make. I stop, anything I do costs her more than it fixes. Ishake my head, I cannot help. Mrs. Grace is smiling as she talks to Bryan. Her eyes are clearer from what I did. At least she can now tell what is going on.


    ¡°Bryan, you¡¯re a good boy. Stay safe and be happy.¡±


    She is talking almost in a whisper, I could barely hear her. I am sure other things were said but this is between Bryan and his mother; but I only heard the two sentences. I leave the room and close the door, there is nothing I can do to help. Just wait and help Bryan burry them afterwards. So, I pull out a book and wait.


    <hr>


    The girls are all asleep on the couches and chairs, we cleaned up some of the mess in the room for our own comfort. I don¡¯t like how quiet it is here, there are no noises from animals outside. And something in the air feels wrong, I am not sure what but something is wrong.


    On whim; I move to look out the window, there does not seem to be anyone outside. Why are there no noises? I don¡¯t notice anything but a bit of movement with Infravision.


    I hear a door open and Bryan walks up to me. I know what he wants to ask for, I won¡¯t make him say it and start walking to the garage. There are two shovels there. Once outside, my feeling that something is wrong grows stronger.


    We are in the back yard; the fence is broken and the garden overgrown. I start a hole. If Bryan starts another then his mom is also dead. He does start a second hole. We don¡¯t speak until dawn, sometimes we would change holes or help carve out one of the larger rocks in the dirt but we did not speak.


    <hr>


    I am sitting on the roof of Bryan¡¯s house; his parents are buried and we will soon move towards my own home. But that will be tomorrow, today we will morn and rest. The trio have decided to sit up on the roof with me. I speak softly with them to not disturb Bryan and Abagail near his buried family.


    ¡°Something seems wrong.¡±


    K nods at me, ¡°there is no wildlife nearby.¡±


    ¡°There has to be a reason why.¡±


    No one speaks up in response to my comment. Something is wrong, should I go look around? Hmm, maybe flying around I can find whatever it is that is making this location feel wrong. I speak up to tell the trio of my idea.


    ¡°What do you think of me flying around as a dragon to see if I can find anything?¡±


    ¡°What if you get hurt¡± asks Lysan.


    ¡°Then I run away.¡±


    K and Talia also seem worried at the possibility of me getting hurt. I pull them into a hug.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be careful and come back.¡±


    I let go of them and undress before willing myself to shift. I only have two other changes of clothes and would rather not end up in rags. The world grows bigger as I shrink in size. At least I am larger than the last time I turned into a dragon. Sitting I reach just above waist height on K so half the size of a person.


    I should get this form measured, and my human form for that matter. I hope I can find more clothes before I ruin the ones I still have. I jump off the roof and spread my wings, I can feel the energy of the sun better in this form. The girls watch as I circle around, getting used to this body; something I never did in its smaller prior size.


    What little hunger that I was feeling while on the roof dissipates, I can feel something flowing from my wings into my main body. Should I sunbathe in this form from now on? I could stretch our rations 17% longer if I did that every day.


    I circle around the neighborhood and the adjoining neighborhoods for a bit. I can feel dragon-me whispering how to fly and control this form better. He sounds tired though, I guess fighting off my second exposure to lycanthropy took something out of him.


    Soon, I think I found what the cause of my unease was, the graveyardseveral blocks away has a camp set up in it. I can see people with injuries that should have killed them walking around, no patrolling the area.


    They haven¡¯t noticed me as they are not looking at the sky but I can see that they are patrolling several blocks in every direction. Bryan¡¯s house is just past the edge of the patrols. They feel unnatural, I don¡¯t see any of these groups having a person without a lethal wound on them. Dead orcs, goblins, humans, and other things walking around.

 Chapter 048

    The lich is a sentient undead who store their souls in an object outside of their body. The body is no more than a corpse that temporarily houses their mind. All liches are competent mages that have been converted into undead to ''live'' forever. Many have been alive for centuriesand have mastered multiple schools of magic. They are in all but a few cases irredeemably evil, and allied with the demons. To truly destroy a lich forever its phylactery or the container for its soul must be destroyed. Like the ritual to become a lich, the lich has various types. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I have found what I was looking for, these undead are the cause of my discomfort last night. I try to sense the death within them and find it strong, whirling around their physical forms. They are in the way for the journey of moving towards my home. We will likely have to fight with these creatures.


    I make a couple of more passes over these undead before I find one that is not covered in the energy of death. An orc dressed similar to the shaman. What did Lysan call it? A deathspeaker? He seems to be in control of them. I found all the information I need and fly back to Bryan¡¯s house.


    I find myself circling the house a bit as the trio watches after arriving. I like the attention; no, my dragon self likes to be seen. I land, return to human form and clothe myself in the front yard.


    The trio comes down from the roof as I enter the house. Bryan and Abagail are sitting on the couch. How long was I gone? A few hours, it still is not noon. The trio walk in and there are not enough seats for everyone at the same time. Exactly one seat too few, I guess I will tell the others while standing then.


    After telling of my flight around the area the others look worried. Bryan is only half paying attention, he is reading or rereading a piece of paper. Probably a letter one of his parents wrote in their last few days. Abagail is the one who comments first.


    ¡°We can¡¯t fight an army.¡±


    That would be the worst way to handle this. But we won¡¯t need to if these undead are the type that I think they are.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that we will have to. We might be able to sneak around or maybe killing the necromancer will deal with them.¡±


    ¡°The deathspeaker¡¯s death could undo the animation if he tied them tohimself.¡±


    K¡¯s bit of information is helpful. He was controlling all of them so there has to be a focus for control, or undead lieutenants. Either way his death would break the others into factions.


    ¡°Is it possible to sneak by¡± asks Lysan.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it will be sister. Patrols of undead are probably going to cover everything. Do we have to move through this group?¡± Responds Talia.


    We probably could move around them but that would easily triple our travel time to my house. I am not sure how much longer my brothers and mom would be safe with the cellar and guns.


    ¡°We could go around but that does not guarantee a better path or that we won¡¯t be found.¡±


    The group frowns. I know that there is no way I could keep everyone safe while cutting through these undead. And that is not even accounting for how Bryan does not seem combat ready right now.


    ¡°We need to just go through the undead then¡± comments Talia.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the manpower to make sure everyone is safe while moving¡± I counter.


    ¡°Then don¡¯t bring everyone to the fight¡± adds K.


    ¡°We also need to make sure to leave enough people to have a defense.¡±


    K¡¯s idea of just bring some of our group to open up a path for the rest is possible. The group that goes to fight is more dangerous than staying so I would leave to fight and at least Abagail would stay here.


    ¡°I would need to stay here, who would go¡± asks Abagail.


    The trio look at me, they want me to decide. Bryan is still reading that piece of paper. He wants to morn longer. I will give him as long as Ican to morn, so he will be on the defense group. The smaller my group the easier it will be to get to the orc animating this small army.


    ¡°Out of the three of you Kythia is the most skilled in necromancy right¡± I ask.


    ¡°Yes¡± responds K.


    ¡°Alright, do you know how undead are animated?¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Manipulating negative energy, but I do not know the exact details.¡±


    ¡°You will come with me to deal with what we can. Lysan, Talia can you help make sure everyone here stays safe?¡±


    ¡°But I want to stay with you¡± responds Lysan, albeit quietly.


    ¡°More people would make us easier to get caught.¡±


    ¡°But Kythia gets to go.¡±


    ¡°She is a necromancer, that means she should be able to figure out how to control or deanimate undead.¡±


    Everyone but Bryan is giving me a look of confusion. Looks like I will have to give an explanation.


    ¡°Necromancy is the study of the forces of life and death. Specifically the manipulation of those forces, that does not just mean the creation of undead or conjuring negative energy to blast an enemy.


    Kythia already knows how to create and alter negative energy through mana. An undead is controlled through the manipulation of their animating forces. If you alter the flow of negative energy in an already created undead you can steal control of it; break the connection from its current controller and replace it with your own.


    It would also be easier to destabilize the negative energy matrix that holds the undead together in the first place, weakening or destroying it.¡±


    I pause for a second at the end of my short explanation before K speaks up.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do that.¡±


    ¡°That is why we are not leaving now. . .¡±


    ¡°So, you are going to teach me more magic?¡±


    ¡°Theory you will have to figure out how to apply it yourself, but unlike last time I do have something that can help.¡±


    I pull a few of the books on necromancy out of Void Cache. They do not seem to have any higher leveled spells in them but there are explanations on the basics of controlling and animating your creations. Or at least I hope that there will be.


    I stand up and leave the room, followed by K. Now to read these spellbooks and try to get her to understand the basics and the extensions to them that I described. Perhaps I can figure out something about Death as well. I think that negative energy is a force that the Sphere manipulates.


    <hr>


    It is now dusk and while K certainly understands negative energy better than before. She has not however figured out how to make the jump from my theory to practice. I am in comparison just confused by these books, none of them give a decent explanation of anything.


    The best description of how a spell works was for Negative Energy Burst. ¡°Convert mana into a ball of negative energy and let it explode.¡± Everything else was cryptic nonsense and the language of the spells invocations is one that I do not speak. What the hell is Thanatonian Convalescence and there was never an explanation for how a negative energy matrix is supposed to be different from itscontinuous version.


    No wonder wizards have to spend so much time and effort to learn each other¡¯s spells. Nothing is properly explained in their spellbooks.


    The twins walk over to me once they notice K and me have finished with learning what we can. Talia asks me a question.


    ¡°Is there a way for us to be able to tell you are still alive while away?¡±


    ¡°There are plenty of ways, most of which you would need a piece of me . . . wait a moment.¡±


    There are a lot of ways to track someone or determine the location or status of an individual the most common focus for it being something with a symbolic connection to the life force of the target. My mind might be going into the gutter here but some of the ¡®life force¡¯ I left inside the twins could still be there.


    I try to sense the life forces around me and while distance and direction seem strange I locate the twins and examine them. There is a bit of my life force still inside them. Not a child, none of their life has mixed into it. They already have a piece of me, that will make this easy.


    ¡°Pass me your hand Talia.¡±


    She holds her hand out for me. I am not sure if this will work but it should. I grab her hand and start focusing on how I want reality to be warped. They have a piece of me so a sympathetic bond between us two is easy. Then move the bond to her hand and let it cause a discoloration until either reality reverts to normal or I die.


    After a minute, I look at her hand, there is a slight discoloration in the palm. Enough to be noticeable, alright that will work. Now to make sure it lasts longer than my concentration.


    ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°The mark on your hand should last until I die or a bit over a day.¡±


    The mark is not particularly appealing, it looks almost like a bruise. Even so the twins smile they will be able to tell I am still alive. I am also not entirely sure how long what I did will last but it should hold for a while. I look over to the house the see Abagail watching, I think I said something while studying with K about leaving at dusk.


    I turn to her, ¡°help Bryan while I¡¯m gone ok.¡±


    She nods and I give some goodbyes to the twins before leaving in the direction of the cemetery with K. She seems really happy to be running off into a fight with me. Is this something she would considers a hunt? Or is this a date in her mind?


    I don¡¯t ask, she is happy and I like the smile on her face. Unfortunately, we were not paying enough attention and the patrols of the undead I saw earlier expanded their territory.


    A few zombies that are already rather damaged. One of them managed to strike me pushing me back a few steps. I can feel a bruise forming, how the hell did I get snuck up on?


    The only redeeming thing about this situation is that undead don¡¯t count against me if they disagree with the reality I make around them. I think, at least that is what I would assume. Mindless undead can¡¯t realize something is wrong.


    I release a torrent of fire from my hand as I shove the corpse away. It collapses and the fire continues to burn away the flesh leaving only bones. K cuts one of the other zombies, but slashing up the body won¡¯t do much to a corpse.


    I would draw a gun but I do not see a .22 or 9mm bullet doing much. I only have 10 shells for the shotgun, and most of my 5.56 rounds were spent on the harpies. I need more ammunition. Gun-less, I pull a spear from the Void Cache, at least I still have dozens of these.


    One of the other six zombies comes at me and I do not hold back with my now flaming spear. There is a corpse that has some armor on it and a sword, but it seems to be standing back and watching.


    Is it commanding the others? Maybe it is intelligent. That would be bad news, as that opens up the possibility of communication with its master. I burn another two zombies by the time K cuts the zombie near her enough for it to collapse.


    The last zombie next to what I suspect could be an undead lieutenant shambles at K while the intelligent undead speaks up. I do not understand the language but K seemed to as she shouts at me to kill it quickly.

 Chapter 049

    The shadow or shade lich is created by establishing another connection within the phylactery. Alternatively, the connection can be made within the soul of the would-be lich. The connection is made to the plane of shadows, hence the name of this subtype of lich. The shade lich has a connection to both the plane of shadows and negative energy plane.


    This connection to the shadows allow the lich several additional abilities when compared to its more standard kin. The ability to turn the shadows of others against them, forcing them to fight with a foe of similar power to themselves.


    The liches that made the connection through their soul create a phylactery or second phylactery within their own shadow. This shadow phylactery can fight alongside the lich as a partially real illusion of the lich. The lich is also able to revive their shadow phylactery if they were not currently dead at the time of its destruction. ¨C The Path of Self Resurrection by Dam? R¨¢ma¨ºri.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The air feels colder as I rush at the undead, I do not know why K said to kill it quickly but she does have more practical knowledge on undead. Whatever words the corpse is speaking it makes my blood feel cold.


    It is not a coldness of temperature but something else. I throw my spear wrapped in fire as I am approaching the creature. The spear breaks against the body of the undead and the fire did not burn as much as it did against the earlier zombies.


    Not a standard zombie, warrior lieutenant? It does not have the tools that I would expect from a caster so at most it could be a spellsword, that does not explain the resistance to fire. A zombie animated as a skeleton warrior? Element infused perhaps?


    The lieutenant draws the blade and flickers of fire flicker around it. Fire infused warrior lieutenant. Physical assaults will not be very effective, fire will be ineffective. Electricity won¡¯t work. Frost fire? Maybe, but the base zombie would be immune so the variant could be.


    K seems to be about to do something, I dodge a slash from a sword. At least the creature is slower than the Althaen soldiers.


    ¡°Don¡¯t I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    K stops, she will handle the base zombie. I don¡¯t want her to spend her mana before we have to. Shotgun the zombie? That would do massive physical damage. Worth a try. I pull the firearm out of Void Cache and fire it into the zombie.


    Holes are added to its armor, the arm holding the sword is now separate from the torso and dried blood and bits of rotting flesh fly around. The zombie is still moving towards me and so I put two more shells into it before it is in pieces in the street. Slow moving, and massive damage will still return them to rest.


    I smile and end K¡¯s regular zombie, I aim for the torso and destroy most of its body. K of course ran before I shot. I start reloading the shotgun while K states the obvious.


    ¡°We have been found.¡±


    I nod, ¡°at least his focus will be on us instead of our friends.¡±


    She nods and I feel a chill, not from her actions but from behind me. I turn to see blood red runes etched into the bones of the lieutenant glow and the bones start to gather together. Shit, it is reanimating itself. That is not good.


    The now skeletal fire warrior lieutenant assembles itself and the runes dim before releasing a burst of dark light. The skeletons of the slain zombies start to rise. My fire will not be as effective against bones, and I do not have a Sphere that I can do physical damage with to just smash and break the bones. Four rounds of 12 gauge is not going to be enough and my smaller bullets won¡¯t do shit to this.


    I¡¯ll have to try frost fire against the lieutenant but I am not expecting too much from it. Should I use one of the damaged rifles as a club? No, too unwieldy. I throw a bolt of frost fire at the lieutenant only to see ice form and then melt on the bones. That is not going to be enough.


    I need more time to figure something out. I need a way to harm them. Wait time. That could work. I twist the time around only myself to move faster. Everything in my perception slows down. The lieutenant is charging me, before he was moving faster than the Althaen soldiers now almost as slow as his prior zombie self.


    This shifting of the rate of time is helpful, but I am finding it hard to hold. I need to work quickly. I pull not a weapon from my Void Cache but a blunt instrument, a hammer almost a mallet. It is not balanced for fighting but it is sturdy and meant to hit things.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The skeletons are moving faster than the zombies but nothing K shouldn¡¯t be able to handle. I rush at the lieutenant and smash my weapon into the femur of the skeleton. I want to disable it if I can.


    The bone does not break but I heard a cracking sound from it. The bones are harder than they should be, an effect from the animating forces? Perhaps some transmutations were done before the animation of the body? Not too terribly important.


    A wave of fire is released at me, it accompanies another slash from the sword of the lieutenant. I can hear its blood chilling tongue rattling out of the now fleshless creature. I can feel the heat of a fire searing at my skin but my blood feels cold.


    I duck under the sword, I would not have tried to do so normally but I am much faster than normal, relative to my opponent. The fire still sears me and I can smell burning hair. My appearance will be unacceptable until I fix it after this.


    Why am I thinking about my now burnt hair? Stupid vanity. I willnot be vain, regardless of the influence of dragon-me. I manage to break the left femur of the lieutenant but the skeleton seems to be relatively stable still. Supernatural support, of course it would have something like that. After all, how else could a skeleton be held together without its flesh?


    I start to strike at it with the hammer as quickly as I can while still keeping a heavy force within my swings. I have no idea of the proper way to use a hammer in a fight but at least I am dodging the blade of the skeleton even if the fires still sear and hurt me.


    I glance at K, she has reversed her sword, gripping it by the blade and smashing the skeletons with the pommel and cross guard. I think Tomas once explained that to me as a technique that was used in the middle ages to deal with opponents in plate.


    I pay for my distraction with a shallow cut to my arm. The cut makes me feel weaker and the skeleton lieutenant seems to have been repaired a bit from whatever draining effect that it just did.


    Wait, drain. Necromancy, negative energy. Death energy. I think there is some way I can deal with these undead much easier. I move away from the lieutenant, I will need a bit of space to buy me time.


    The lieutenant chases me as I kite him a bit further away from K. I don¡¯t want him chasing her when I attempt this. I feel a bit of relief when I stop accelerating time. This must also have an effect on my body, as it feels less stress all of a sudden.


    I pour myself into Death and Fire, I need to find the energies that are within this creature. I findthem, now to try something that could backfire. Both energies are flowing around within the undead, but they do not mix. They don¡¯t even touch. I don¡¯t think I could easily warp the flows into breaking but maybe I could damage them.


    The lieutenant gets within melee distance before I manage to do what I am trying to. I got the flows of fire and negative energy to cross. I hear an ungodly scream that sounds as if one¡¯s soul were being torn apart from the skeleton as black fire bursts from its bones. I jump away as there is a torrent of the black fire spreading out from the creature.


    Soon it collapses and I turn to the other skeletons. Can I do something similar to them? I try to sense any energies within them but can only find the flow of death that I by process of elimination has to be negative energy.


    The flow of their negative energy is slower, weaker and less extensive than the lieutenants was. I can¡¯t actually see any of it but it just feels that way. Sensing things with my magic has always been weird, I just know what I want to find and if it is there to be found I then know about it.


    I start rushing at the skeletons with my frying pan, their bones break and fall away under my swings. I wonder if I should try to sense the necromancer when we are closer. Maybe, but direction and distance are hard to tell. Maybe mixing it with spatial aim? I¡¯ll experiment with that after solving our current problems.


    The last of the skeletons fall and I give a smile to K. She returns it and asks a question.


    ¡°What did you do to that flaming lieutenant?¡±


    ¡°I messed with the energy inside it.¡±


    ¡°You can do that?¡±


    ¡°Some, that is what I meant when I explained the idea of you being able to deanimate the undead.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you do that to the skeletons?¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t have two types of energy. I don¡¯t know how to shift them into falling apart under their own power.¡±


    K frowns, but she believed my changes to reality as possible. Maybe she¡¯ll figure out how to deal with the undead that only have negative energy within them. I wonder if other energies would work for what I did. If it was a cold subtype would it still have been destroyed?


    I continue my musings as we travel towards the graveyard. Much more carefully than before. It is better if we do not run into another of the patrols, no need to give more chances of noticing us than need be.


    <hr>


    After an hour or two we are able to get in sight of the cemetery without fighting another batch of undead lead by a lieutenant. I considered taking out one of them, but it did not have a second type of energy I knew how to manipulate.


    The gate to the cemetery is guarded by some of the larger undead that I¡¯ve seen. Zombified versions of those hairy giant goblinoids. I haven¡¯t seen them in the light yet so I am unsure what they are specifically.


    K and me circle around the cemetery but fail to find another way of entry. The stone wall is too high to easily climb, and while I can fly over it I would not be able to carry K in my dragon form.


    ¡°Looks like we will have to fight our way through.¡±


    K seems to be thrilled at the idea. Has she always been this much of a battle junkie? She always did have a smile on her face during all the fights that I have seen her in so maybe. I have no idea how many undead are going to be active nor where the necromancer is other than that he should still be here within the graveyard.


    ¡°No, there is another way. I¡¯ll boost you over the wall and then fly.¡±


    K frowns but allows me to push her up and help her climb over the wall. Now to shift and fly over myself.

 Chapter 050

    The next stage after connecting to the shadows is to begin connecting to the elemental planes. Adding the powers of elemental lichdom to undeath. Gaining the ability to passively control elements as you add connections to your physical phylactery.


    The elements drawn to reinforce your undeath will cease to harm you and while at first, they may heal you as negative energy does that will diminish as more connections are made. Once you have assimilated all four elements the next stage is that of the living lich. ¨CThe Path of Self Resurrectionby Dam? R¨¢ma¨ºri.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I land next to K and put back on my tattered and burnt clothes. I am sure whatever I wear will end up damaged and do not want to end up running around naked. Dragon-me might be keeping me from being embarrassed but that does not make me want to.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to see you when you are flying around at night. Your scales are black and what light you give off seems to be the same as the stars.¡±


    That is interesting, so I seem to be the same as the night sky? Maybe I should have scouted around then. Too late now. We start to walk in the direction I remember the camp was set up within the graveyard.


    There is an unnatural chill to the air, and before we get to the camp I end up walking in front of a skull that was sitting on a tombstone. Once I do it releases a red purple light and explodes. Bone shrapnel flies into me and I get some nasty puncture wounds from it.


    At least I was far enough away that it wasn¡¯t enough to blow off a limb but I feel weaker than the blood loss should have made me. Fucking skull trap. I start to heal myself but find another skull nearby is glowing.


    Specifically, its eyes are glowing, shit. It¡¯s probably a sentry skull. The skull ignites in purple fire and crumbles. I heal myself as quickly as possible as K helps me up from the ground.


    ¡°They know we are here.¡±


    She nods and we start to run in the direction of the camp. Soon the graves around us have been dug up and the holes make running more dangerous. Just as I was able to see the camp under the new moon, I also see several undead running towards us. Dozens of skeletons with zombies lagging behind. There are some corpses that are keeping up with the skeletons, they must be another undead. Ghouls? Maybe wights.


    A hoard of undead is closing in, what can I do? Fire should be able to do a lot to most of them. Though the ones immune to the fire by being an infused undead can be killed easier than others. I will a fireball into being and throwing it at the advancing wave of undead.


    It explodes and several of the skeletons caught in it collapse as their bones splinter and break in the magical flames. K moves to act as a vanguard, I assume to keep them off me so I can continue to rain down fire on them.


    K is chanting something, not sure what spell but her sword is now glowing a light blue. Some sort of weapon enchantment. I think it is new because she had to chant the same thing twice before it worked.


    A second fireball goes off before the undead have reached us. We are going to get swarmed, I don¡¯t think K has a spell to deal with this. I need to do something to buy time. I wrap myself in a cloak of fire and expand it to cover a bit more than K and me.


    She glances at me for half a second as the fire passes by her. This isn¡¯t a long-term plan but I should have a few minutes to figure something else out. Something with Death, doing something to their negative energy life force would be the most effective.


    As I am thinking a lieutenant charges through my small dome of fire, the flames near it were consumed by its presence. Fire subtype undead.


    The dome of fire begins to dissipate as I change my focus to the undead that got past it. Others had as well but K was able to end them as they were already on fire, and actually taking damage.


    I sidestep a lunge from the lieutenant and force its negative energy to ignite with the fire that flows within it. It releases a blood chilling scream, and I am going to try something with the black fire that he is letting out.


    I pull some of it to me, I need to figure out what it is doing. This strange fire killed two undead. The fire goes out quickly once it was separated from the undead so I¡¯ll have to try something else.


    I pull more off of the burning corpse and move it to the undead who are charging me. They likewise ignite and start to release black flames. At least I think that they are black maybe a really dark purple is more accurate. True black light is not possible, as black is the absence of light.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Regardless the other undead are burning and the others that charge through their collapsing forms begin to feed the same flames. I try to sense what the fire is doing, what is it burning? Negative energy?


    I am not sure how or why fire can burn negative energy, but I don¡¯t need to know the why, just how to make it happen again. Actually, to make it happen again without using something as kindling.


    Soon the undead cease to charge us. There are several of the undead that I assume are lieutenants as the other undead have stopped behind them. The dead are just staring at us, waiting. K looks at me.


    The undead are waiting for something, I am not sure if it is for the fires to die down or if they are waiting for something to arrive. K moves close, we would have started running except for two things: we are still surrounded and that I am trying to figure out just how these fires are burning negative energy.


    I try to create a few different fires but they do not seem the same as the fire I am looking at. I try manipulating the black fire around me but the undead are not bunching together. The fire is going out faster than I can spread it to new targets.


    K is standing guard next to me, I don¡¯t think she has many long-distance spells. A few minutes pass and I have a fire that looks like an ultraviolet light, but that doesn¡¯t seem quite the same as the black fire. I haven¡¯t tested it yet but it isn¡¯t the same as whatever me botching the animating spells inside of the fire infused undead.


    The black fires go out and I find that the one that we were looking to kill has come to the fight. An orc wearing leather robes, stitched and held together by pieces of bone. I do not speak the language he starts to address us in.


    I grab K from behind and warp the light around us and whisper in her ear, ¡°stay calm.¡±


    She nods, and I can see that the orc necromancer is upset. I don¡¯t speak orcish or whatever it is he is speaking but it sounds like swearing. The undead are fanning out, making sure that they do not miss an inch in their search.


    ¡°What is the plan¡± asks K.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to burn everything, you go after the necromancer.¡±


    She nods and I let her go. I drop the invisibility and pull out the shot gun. I have four shells loaded and there are plenty of enemies for the scatter to hit. I don¡¯t aim at any creature specifically as K rushes at the necromancer.


    The shotgun blasts work well on the skeletons, though I quickly run out. Unfortunately, there were only four shots until I had to drop it back into Void Cache. I need to find a gun with full auto, that would make these waves of undead easier.


    I only have smaller caliber weapons now, those won¡¯t be enough since undead don¡¯t have vital areas. K breaks apart a skeleton with her glowing blade as she moves to the necromancer.


    I create a fireball out of the fire I had been experimenting with. It explodes but does not do any physical damage to the undead, shit. I pull out my now dented frying pan and strike an undead that is now burning in purplish fire.


    My strike knocks the zombie back, and then it collapses. I did not do enough damage for that to have happened. I smile, that fire is doing what I was trying to get it to. Or at least something that is close. The other base undead caught in the fireball collapse a second latter. The ghouls have not been taken down by the fire, but I can create more of it.


    I create more of the strange fire and release it as a stream to clear the way for K. She should be able to get to the necromancer soon. He does seem to be casting a spell of some sort. I feel a chill and the fallen undead have red runes etched into their bones form. I look back at the necromancer.


    Heis holding a skull covered in glowing runes, the runes shine brightly and I can feel an unnatural chill flood the area. The now glowing bones begin to float and assemble themselves. I guess I found the focus for animating all of these creatures.


    I accelerate time around myself and charge at the necromancer. K is blocked by a lieutenant, one who is being repaired by the mass reanimation that the necromancer is doing. The skull¡¯s glow dims and the necromancer points at me releasing a bolt of blackness at me.


    I get hit and collapse to the ground. Pain is shooting down my left arm. Several undead are approaching me. I only have a few seconds, as the flow of time returns to normal. His spell stopped my heart.


    I warp reality to restart it, and roll to dodge a rusted spear. I form and release a burst of the purplish fire, igniting the nearby undead. They will fall but the necromancer has a way to reanimate them more than once. He can even do it the middle of combat, destroying the minions is a temporary measure at best.


    I try to do one of those prone to standing flips, but fail and get cut by a sword. The chill of my life being diminished spreads from the cut. The undead collapse around me from the purplish fire and then I just roll to a standing position.


    I see K take a few cuts and release a stream of fire in response. I twist time again and move closer to the necromancer, I dodge the mindless undeads¡¯ attempts to block me and am now closer to the necromancer.


    A pistol my not do much to an undead but a bullet to the face will deal with you. I draw a loaded pistol from Void Cache, and take aim on the necromancer. Only to have a zombie get in my way, I put several bullets into it but as I expected undead reanimated by magic don¡¯t care if they are missing their brain or lungs collapse.


    There are a few undead that are blocking my line of fire to the necromancer. Running around will take too long. I drop my acceleration of time in favor of another burst of strange fire. Destroy the undead in my way and kill the necromancer.


    I need to get this done quickly, K is being swarmed. I run into my own fire but the purple flames don¡¯t harm me. Crashing through a skeleton I now have a line of fire on the necromancer. Not a head shot, but I can take a few shots at his chest.


    He is an orc and they can take several hits before going down so I empty the magazine into his chest as I continue to push through the burning undead.

 Chapter 051

    The living lich is created by taking an elemental lich who has a connection to all four elemental planes, the plane of shadows and the negative energy plane and shifting the connections within the physical phylactery into the soul of the lich. After this the soul must create another connection, this time to the positive energy plane and reestablish the original connection to the original body of the spellcaster.


    The original body of the would be living lich must be restored to the state before the conversion to lichdom. This is most easily done through blood magic, an art that liches often lack. After the restoration of the body, the body itself will act as a phylactery for the soul of the lich and even the tiniest piece of the body is enough of an anchor for the lich to revive himself.


    The living lich while no longer healed from elemental forces remains immune to them, and is healed by both positive and negative energy. Freely utilizing them as if they were interchangeable, within the ¡®racial¡¯ powers of lichdom and sometimes within spells.


    It is of note that a demilich while not a necessary stage for this transformation can do so if it has the connections to the elemental planes within itself. If the lich gainedthe shadow phylactery during the stage of being a shade lich, it also remains intact. This is also not the end of the path, as there is one more step to take. ¨CThe Path of Self Resurrectionby Dam? R¨¢ma¨ºri.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    My pistol is empty and the orc necromancer falls to the ground. I let out a breath of relief as I begin to burn the undead with strange fire. I need to get to K, she is injured. The undead will not reanimate again now the necromancer is dead.


    My hair stands up and I shiver from the chill of what I assume is necromancy. I turn to see blood red light pouring out of the now dead necromancer, who now stands up. His flesh withered and body deformed by his reanimation.


    A contingent self-reanimation. Rise from the Ashes? The exact spell does not matter, but I need to deal with this thing before it can act. I release another burst of the strange purple fire and rush back at the necromancer. K will have to hold a bit longer on her own.


    I see a burst of bright blue light around K and several of the undead collapse. She figured something out that can harm them quickly. I hope that it doesn¡¯t cost her too much. There are too many undead between us for me to just throw this fire directly at the necromancer.


    By the time, I burn my way to him the necromancer has finished rising from death. I can hear him screaming in agony as his spell finishes binding him to his own corpse. A lieutenant made from either a ghoul or wight blocks my way now the other undead have fallen or are about to fall.


    It charges me and attempts to bite. I manage to dodge it; my path is clear. I accelerate time around me and run. I am faster than the undead behind me now.


    Once I am in melee with the necromancer I drop the manipulation of time. The withered hand of the orc strikes my chest and my body stops. Paralytic touch, shit. It does not stop my mind though. So, I start flooding the immediate area with the purple fire, driving back the undead that were chasing me.


    The newly formed undead before me also takes a step back, the fire is hurting him though he did not catch fire as the other undead. I take the moment to twist my body into being able to move again. I still feel stiff from the paralysis, but I am mobile again.


    The purple fire will not be enough. What else can I do? I pull a box of .22 ammo and toss it at the feet of the necromancer. Then I ignite the powder within the bullets. An explosion of undirected bullets, many pass through the necromancer and tear up the corpse.


    Unlike the last time I did this, a few of the bullets struck me. Nothing lethal but I don¡¯t think that I will be using these as makeshift grenades again. The necromancer points at me and a black ram¡¯s head flies at me.


    I am knocked to the ground, the wind likewise knocked out of my lungs. It hurt and I can see a bruise forming on my chest. Another burst of blueish light happens behind me, probably form K. I can hear her shouting something, but my ears are ringing for some reason. Was there also a sonic effect in whatever the necromancer just did?


    I can feel dragon-me getting angry, but his whispers are not offering helpful insight in the situation. I think the connection he has to my conscious mind is growing stronger. I ignore him, and continue thinking of what to do.


    I throw some regular fire at the necromancer, which he counter spells only to have me abandon before it is deflected. I draw a spear and attempt to skewer the necromancer in a charge. I interrupt whatever spell he was casting and abandon the spear once it breaks off inside of the corpse. He is resistant to non-magical weapons.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Only a few things I can do then. All of them are melee or running away. I won¡¯t leave K here, I hope I don''t end up in the void again. I move into grapple the undead mage and we end up in each other¡¯s grasp. I am paralyzed but he is coated in a torrent of purple fire.


    Another scream of agony can be heard, and the mage collapses. Then my head feels as if something were stabbed into it. Something foreign tried to enter my mind. Whatever it is will have to just fight with the other current residents, I am too busy here in the physical realm.


    I start searching through the pockets of the orc¡¯s robes. There are too many undead here for K and me to handle alone but there is something that we can use against them. The skull that was used as a focus to animate them. I find it and pull it out.


    Death is swirling around it, wafting off and spreading out. I assume this is how the undead are being maintained. While this is a poor idea, I throw the skull with all my strength at my feet. It bounces of the ground without a crack.


    Damn, physical force won¡¯t work then. When I pick it up a second time, I begin to turn to K. Then I notice something, all the undead have stopped moving. They are looking at me, no they are looking at my hand which is holding the skull.


    K runs to me and says something; I cannot hear her. Something deafened me during the fight. I focus on healing it and then I hear her voice. I assume that she was repeating the question.


    ¡°Can you command them?¡±


    I do not know.


    ¡°Undead, fight each other.¡±


    They just continue to stare at my hand which holds the skull. K speaks up again.


    ¡°Can I try?¡±


    I pass her the skull and she speak something in a language I do not understand. I can tell one thing though it was the same language that the zombie lieutenant spoke earlier. A tongue that chills the blood of those that hear it. The undead respond and begin to strike each other down.


    ¡°Have them stop.¡±


    K frowns but does command them for me.


    ¡°We should not keep them in the world.¡±


    ¡°You are right, but why don¡¯t we send them to cause problems for the Althaen before they are destroyed by them?¡±


    Her frown disappears but does not turn into a smile.


    ¡°It is wrong to make the dead do this. We are better than this.¡±


    I sigh, ¡°you are the one who can command them, it is your decision. While it is wrong I personally would send them to attack the Althaen, they would be destroyed there and cause the Althaen to suffer. The choice is yours, I won¡¯t complain if it is different than the one I would have made.¡±


    K waits and thinks for a few seconds. Then she asks me a question.


    ¡°Do you think that they are trying to track us?¡±


    They would be the Althaen, I nod. There is no way that the Sunchaser family would leave me alone. I seem to have upset the Vithr? quite a bit as well. Tr¨ªan is a decent person but the rest I think would enslave me if they could, and try to kill me if they could not.


    K speaks in that blood chilling tongue once more and the undead begin to march off in the direction of the Althaen camp. Between this undead army and the gangs, I think that the Althaen will be more focused on survival than tracking me down for a while. Hopefully long enough for us all to get out of town.


    After the undead have left our sight K speaks in the same tongue again and the skull shatters. One last but significantly larger wave of death spreads outwards. I look at K with questioning eyes.


    ¡°I broke this nexus skull and gave the undead a week to attack the Althaen before they would perish.¡±


    ¡°I know you would have rather just destroyed the undead. The dead deserve their rest, but I think your choice was right.¡±


    I give K a hug and then we begin to search through the now empty camp. I of course heal her injuries as we go through the necromancer¡¯s possessions. There was no sign of another living being working with this orc and he kept everything surprisingly organized.


    A summary of what we found: several highly detailed spellbooks by someone who calls himself a dusk elf, a few books meant to be reference books when translating between orcish, elvish, and some tongue called necrol, several objects that K recognized as tools for preparing corpses for reanimation, quite a bit of food, which I assume the necromancer had his minions gather, some potions that I can¡¯t read the labels on, and some orcish weapons and armor.


    While crude the equipment will be useful to us, heavy and off balanced but an orc sword is more useful to me than the damaged spears I have been using. Dawn is still an hour or two away, once we are done packing up everything of use or value in the necromancer¡¯s camp. The tents took a while and I learned that Void Cache can only take in something that I can pick up and carry in its present state. No instant tent for me.


    We arrive back in front of Bryan¡¯s house at dawn.


    When I walk in Bryan is sitting in a chair reading a piece of paper. The same piece of paper, he has cried while I was gone. I pass by him and walk up to Abagail in the other room. She is watching him, and the windows.


    I yawn, and then start speaking to her.


    ¡°Has he been like that since I left?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡± she answers with sadness.


    ¡°You should go comfort him.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Go sit next to him. Hugs, kisses, whatever helps him feel better and distracts from what he is doing now.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you help?¡±


    ¡°I am a guy. Me sitting next and hugging him would be gay. I am doing what I can, keeping us safe and giving you time to help him.¡±


    ¡°I still think you should be the one to comfort him.¡±


    ¡°I was up all night and just fought off the undead. We are safe for now and I am taking a nap before anything else.¡±


    ¡°Fine, but do something when you wake up.¡±


    I nod and walk to the back of the house. There is a pile of blankets with the elven twins who will probably wake up soon. It will be warm and nice.

 Chapter 052

    The last step of my path is to erase your name from the death itself. With this death will never be able to hold you. Even should all of your existence be destroyed, your soul will remain and death will be unable to keep you from recreating your body. Only gods of death and being imprisoned will you fear. ¨CThe Path of Self Resurrectionby Dam? R¨¢ma¨ºri.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The empty grey mists of the Grey Dream greet me. I should see what I can get out of it.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Marksman 8 (+15 SP), Dragon Knight: Void 18 (+10 SP, +50 EP), Magus 13 (+40 SP, +1 Attribute, Sphere Upgrade), Evasion 3 (+3 SP), Fly 3 (+5 SP), Spear 1 (+1 SP), Anatomy 3 (+3 SP), Tainted Kill: +5 EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Warning: Repeat exposure to lycanthropy is unadvised.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Attributes+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    SP: 95


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Magic+


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    EP: 95


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I gained quite a bit, and I am well aware of that warning. I think I will leave the EP for now. I don¡¯t want dragon-me getting too much stronger before I improve myself. This is probably a mistake but picking up dragon traits empowers him and I worry about him trying to take control.


    I bring up magic first. It is the most important thing here anyways.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="623">


    Your first choice will be without cost.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Arcane Power 4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Planar 0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Life 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Mind 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    160 Soul 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Primal 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    640 Time 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Transmutation 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    10 Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Fire 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Lightning 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Light 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well the best choices are not available for upgrade. What would then have the most uses? Mind or Transmutation? In the end I choose Transmutation, I will store SP so I can get Soul 3. That I think will be enough for me-but-not-me¡¯s solution for lycanthropy.


    The screen does not dissipate, I assume that is because I could spend SP on it. I open up Attributes.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="623">


    Attribute Points: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 29


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 801


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 380Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I spend the point on intelligence and the screen dissipates. There is nothing more I want to do here so I will myself to leave, just as the Grey Dream begun to ask a question. Undoubtedly an attempt for me to let it into my mind.


    <hr>


    It is not even noon when I wake up, the twins are awake and just laying next to me. K is as well, this is comfortable. As much as I would like to just stay here but things still need to be done. I climb out of the pile of blankets that was used as a bed.


    The twins hug me, Lysan¡¯s has more affection to it while Talia is pulling back towards the bed. They both say something along the lines of welcome back. I smile and return the hug. I like being with them.


    I want to go back to the bed with the two, but K needs to sleep. There is also how we need to get stronger. I was lucky in the fight against that necromancer. Those undead would have killed us if they were not tied to that skull. I think K called it a nexus skull.


    I also told Abagail I would check up on Bryan. It¡¯s not time to play.


    ¡°I¡¯m back. Want to help me sort through stuff after I check on Bryan?¡±


    They both smile and Lysan nods. She likes me more than her sister does. Once I leave the room I can see Bryan and Abagail asleep on the couch together. Their clothes are messy, I guess Abagail really took my advice on making him feel better. I don¡¯t think they actually went all the way as they are still clothed.


    I throw a blanket over the two, it may be spring but it is still a little cold. I also pick up the paper that Bryan was reading, it fell to the floor at some point during the few hours I had slept. I fold it up without reading it. The letter is for Bryan, when and if he shares it contents is when I will know about them.


    I place the letter on top of the television. He will notice it when he wakes up. I am then followed by the twins into the kitchen. Specifically, to a table, that is covered in dishes and empty cans. They always did drink far too much soda.


    After cleaning up the area I put the last of the stolen food from the Althaen feast. The twins and me have a good meal as we sort through the items that I collected with K earlier. They wanted what little fruit and vegetables that were good for themselves so I gave them it.


    The orc weapons and armor are meet with displeasure but the twins don¡¯t do anything else about them. They actually end up ignoring the orcish items and continue to do so with the necromantic equipment.


    The books were another matter at least until the sisters found out the languages and subjects of the books. Learning to speak one of the necromantic languages was not something the sisters were interested in, nor learning about complicated high level necromancy.


    The spellbooks actually seem to have decent explanations of magic. It¡¯s all sangromancy, animancy, and manipulation of undeath but K can learn from it. I might be able to figure something out about Life, Death, and Soul from them. Or at least a few ideas on how to manipulate them.


    The twins were unable to read the labels on the potions, I suspect that they are in orcish.


    <hr>


    After some time of me reading the books on necromancy that were written in elvish, Talia walked back up to me and asked a question.


    ¡°Why are you reading those books on forbidden magic?¡±


    These subjects are forbidden? I¡¯ll make sure to remember that.


    ¡°The same reason you might consider learning the tongue of the orcs, goblins or demons.¡±


    ¡°Why would I ever want to know? I don¡¯t want to talk with them.¡±


    I sigh, I guess Talia never thought about espionage.


    ¡°Have you seen that they do talk during a fight?¡±


    She nods.


    ¡°Would it be nice to know what they are saying?¡±


    She nods again. I know she is intelligent but why would she never have thought about this?


    ¡°How about also knowing how to counter what they are about to do?¡±


    ¡°That would be very helpful, but what does that have to do with you reading about forbidden magic?¡±


    ¡°To figure out how to deal with those that use it.¡±


    ¡°For someone who has spent a hundred years running away from you enemies, you are not very good at trying to figure them out.¡±


    A harsh but accurate statement made by Bryan, as he walks into the room.


    ¡°Feeling better¡± I ask him.


    He nods but I can tell he is not ready to move on.


    ¡°Do you need more time or should we get moving again?¡±


    ¡°We can start moving again, but can you carry some stuff? I don¡¯t think all of what I want to bring will fit in the satchel I share with Abagail.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°When do we head out¡± asks Abagail.


    ¡°I was thinking dawn, or should we travel at night?¡±


    ¡°Daylight travel is safer¡± comments Talia.


    We all nod, and I speak up ¡°we leave at dawn then. Bryan is there anything that we should bring with us here?¡±


    ¡°There is a day or two¡¯s worth of food, my camping gear, and we might want to bring some electronics in case we find somewhere that still has power¡± he responds.


    I nod, ¡°does anyone want to carry anything specific?¡±


    No one speaks up so I continue.


    ¡°Alright then. Bryan, can you have everyone gather everything for me to store?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but what are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be syphoning out gas from the cars on the street and checking them for anything still usable.¡±


    ¡°Why the gas¡± asks Abagail.


    ¡°For when we find a usable car again¡± answers Bryan.


    I nod and the others follow Bryan around the house as I leave for the garage. I need containers, and a hose. I¡¯ll have to search the garages of the whole neighborhood for enough containers to store all the gas I assume would still be in these cars.


    I find the gas container next to the push lawnmower that I know stopped running last fall. The hose was still attached to the faucet in the garden. I carry the items to the front of the house and set them by the access point to the gas tank.


    I don¡¯t have a way to check how much gas is left as the interior of the car was hit by something. So I just make sure there is no water in the hose and then cut it into a shorter length. I only need a few feet not the dozens that it has.


    I open the car¡¯s tank and stick the hose down it, suck some air out of the hose to get it started and put the other end into the near empty gas container. I¡¯ll just collect as much gas as I can. We will end up needing a faster mode of transportation than on foot once we leave the city.


    While waiting for this first can to fill, I lift the hood of the car. I pull out the battery which happens to be the only thing other than changing fluids that I know how to do with the engine. It should have some juice in it and I imagine that I¡¯ll find a use for it.


    <hr>


    I ended up finding a dozen containers, each is now full with roughly five gallons of gas. It is getting close to dusk when I reenter Bryan¡¯s house.


    There is a pile of junk food and a five-gallon bucket of rice sitting together in the middle of the front room. In another pile is all of Bryan¡¯s games and electronics. A third pile consists of tools and other items that could be useful.


    Everyone is sitting in a seat, they were waiting for my return. I start with the food, that is what will most likely be used. Abagail speaks up as I work.


    ¡°What are the sleeping arrangements going to be? We didn¡¯t make any yesterday.¡±


    There is a smirk on the faces of the girls, Bryan can¡¯t see them. They planned something.


    ¡°I¡¯m open to suggestions.¡±


    Talia is the one that speaks up.


    ¡°I was thinking of splitting into two houses like we did after leaving that second group of people.¡±


    ¡°I am ok with it, any objections.¡±


    There are of course no objections. Bryan can probably guess that the girls planned something and there is no reason for us to not follow along. So, I ask Talia or rather the trio a follow up question.


    ¡°Did you already decide on a different house?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡± answers Talia and the trio gets up out of their seats.


    ¡°Lead the way then.¡±


    I proceed to follow them out of the house. I am guessing they had a conversation with Abagail while I was out. I wonder if Bryan overheard them talking.


    ¡°So, does anyone want to inform me of whatever plans were made between you three and Abagail?¡±


    K is the one who answers me, she always seems to be the most helpful.


    ¡°Abagail asked us what was the best way to comfort a man after you left to get gas?¡±


    She is not sure on the last word, is that another thing that I left out when teaching her English? No, just a use that I did not cover.


    ¡°And what was the answer?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask Talia, she is the one who answered her.¡±


    I turn to Talia, and she gives an answer but seems embarrassed by it.


    ¡°Sleeping with him.¡±


    I can¡¯t say that it isn¡¯t a good way to comfort a man. I have certainly felt better about the world after these three. I guess my friend is getting lucky tonight.


    We arrive at another house, a few houses downbut since K and me sent the undead to fight the Althaen there should not be any enemies in the area for a few days. That means we don¡¯t need any watches tonight.


    The front door is broken but that does not currently matter.

 Chapter 053

    The basic wight has a very similar appearance to the zombie, except that it is in better condition and the nails have become claws. Physical contact with a wight can drain away your life force and strengthen itself. Those slain by a wight rise from the dead and join their ranks. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


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    Once I walk inside the front room I see a few beds pushed together. I turn to the trio only to have Talia jump up on me and start kissing me. I think it is Talia anyways, Lysan is too shy for this.


    I kiss her back for a bit as I slowly walk us over to the beds. The other two move over on their own. I hear the other twin talk before I separate from her sister¡¯s face. I don¡¯t quite hear her, so it is Talia in my arms right now.


    I toss Talia to the bed, she doesn¡¯t seem completely happy that I separated from her. Oh well, I pick up Lysan and after a quick kiss toss her after her sister.


    ¡°You are not throwing me¡± I hear from behind me.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I have a smirk on my face. I feel something light hit me from behind. When I turn back around to see the twins now shirtless removing the strip of cloth that is over their breasts. They threw their shirts at me.


    I take a step into the bed but get grabbed by K. She pulls my shirt off before picking me up. I land between the sisters who immediately move atop me. My hands immediately find their chests.


    I pull one of the twins to my face, and start sucking on her breast. Just as she starts enjoying me, I swap to her sister. The bed shifts, K must have gotten in as well. My guess is confirmed by the feeling of something soft being pressed up against my back.


    Both of the twins are aroused now. I haven¡¯t been able to get back at K, but there just isn¡¯t a way for me to physically do anything to all three with only my two hands. The twin that I think is Talia is jealous of how I¡¯ve spent more time sucking on her sister; is pulling at my last belt.


    I swap back to her, but this time I¡¯m kissing her neck. She likes that as much as when I play with her breasts. I feel my pants loosen, someone got my belt off. As the noise of something hitting the ground is behind me, it was K.


    I feel her breath against the back of my ear before she starts kissing there. I let out a bit of noise but my own actions brought more from Talia. My hand wanders down into her pants, she¡¯s ready. Should I take my time or start?


    I shift my head back to the other twin, my fingers I leave to play around inside her pants. The twin I think is Talia begins to kiss the other side of my neck, just below the ear. I get a little rougher inside her pants.


    As I suck on the twin I think is Lysan, I check her readiness with the hand formerly playing with her erect nipples. The two are enjoying themselves. Which one should I have first tonight? Or should I take K in front of them?


    ¡°Who are you going to take first, my mate?¡±


    I guess K is thinking something along the same lines as me. I don¡¯t really care who I¡¯m inside first. K should probably be last, or the twins might not get any of me.


    ¡°Whichever of the two gets undressed faster.¡±


    And with that I don¡¯t have to choose. Little did I know I just did, as K pulls be back from them and moves to straddle me. She was already nude. She starts to tear at the cloth of my pants, as exciting as it is to be stripped by my girlfriend I only have one other usable pair. Can I remove them somehow?


    My pants vanish, I think they went to the Void Cache. During the half-second that K is surprised I roll the two of us over, and pin her under me. I give her a quick kiss as one of my hands moves to her entrance, moist but not as wet as the twins are.


    I start playing with it, I don¡¯t really know what part of her insides to play with but at least I know she likes me playing with her breasts. She does start moaning, and her hands are pulling me towards her. I guess she doesn¡¯t want to wait any longer.


    I plunge myself into her. She likes it rough and hard, and I have no problem with that. With a few thrusts she has wrapped her legs around me. I feel the twins press up against my side, they want in.


    I guess K will just have to content herself with me being inside her. My hands leave K and push the twins down beside her. I wanted to squeeze their breasts but K pulls my hands back to her. She is tightening around me and is saying something that I think amounts to ¡®harder¡¯ or ¡®yes¡¯ as she is forcing me deeper inside.


    I want to just let it out inside her already but I won¡¯t until she has hers first. I thrust in as hard as I can and feel myself hit something. K is gripping me tighter and I nip at her ear. She bucks as I thrust again, then she lets out a loud yell. Her insides move a lot around me and I can¡¯t hold it in any longer.


    We hold each other tightly as I pump my seed into her. We fall back to the bed and I roll off her. The twins are staring at the two of us. I pull one of them on top of me, I start playing with her chest as I catch my breath.


    The other twin moves behind her sister, her weight is on my waist. The twin I am touching is ready but my cock is shrinking. I just filled a girl, I need a breather. Not that I get one, the other twin is playing with my manhood. She is coaxing it and it rehardens.


    As soon as I am erect she straddles me and impales herself. My manhood expands to full size as I am excited at watching her belly gain a bulge. She lets out a moan as she slides all the way down my length before I strike the end of her tunnel.


    She starts to ride me, I love how tight and narrow her insides are. I let go of one twin''s chest to grab this one¡¯s waist. I roll the two of us over, I have caught enough of my breath. I¡¯m striking the end of the tunnel the whole turn. She cries out something I don¡¯t catch, but it included my name.


    I am inside Talia then. She likes it rougher than her sister. I don¡¯t think that I can be as rough as I just was with K though. She is a lot smaller and elves aren¡¯t known for being sturdy. I hammer the deepest parts I can get to as I pull Lysan next to us. I give her a kiss on the neck.


    I may not be able to make out with the twin I am inside but I can do it with her sister at the same time. Is that why twins are seen as the best threesomes? I¡¯m not sure if I just expanded a bit with these thoughts or if Talia already started tightening down on me.


    Talia tightens and starts getting louder, hugging me with her arms and legs. She is asking for more, but there isn¡¯t much more I can do. She gets really tight for a few seconds and pushes some fluid past me. I slow my pace, and take my time.


    I want to be on top of Lysan too tonight. After that they can ride me. Talia keeps moaning as I enjoy her, she stopped shouting my name though. She is just lying there spread as wide as she can.


    Soon I hug Lysan tightly as my seed spills into her sister. Talia gets really tight again just as I started. I don¡¯t register what she said but she shouted something again.


    Once I stop, I pull out of her. K is looking at me. She wants more.


    ¡°Not until after Lysan.¡±


    She pouts but doesn¡¯t tackle me. She wants to, she started to but stopped herself. I roll atop Lysan. Fuck her brains out just like her sister then K can ride me for whatever I have left.


    Lysan is already moaning from my playing with her, so I play with her entrance. She rubs it against my hand. She wants me to enter her already. At least I can learn what she likes better while my cock starts back up.


    How nice would it be if I could just roll off one of my girls and start fucking the next immediately. Actually, I don¡¯t think I would have exited K if it was like that. I wouldn¡¯t have stopped plowing. Lysan¡¯s lower lips quiver and some fluid shoots out. I guess this nub feels good for her.


    My manhood aches a bit as it finally gets back up. I slide up and enter Lysan. I start a bit rough to see if she¡¯ll act like her sister. She does not. She liked it but the noises were not as much as the gentle loving of last time.


    Slow long gentle thrusts, and Lysan is moaning and wiggling under me. The only thing that I lack is something to kiss and suckle. I look at K and she happily moves over to me. I kiss her and play with her chest as I gently play around inside Lysan.


    Lysan tightens about the same rate as my desire to cum. I am going to end up addicted to this. Just after Lysan reaches her climax I release my own.


    I look down at Lysan, she is drooling and completely pleased. Do I make a face while I cum? Probably, I really enjoy it. I roll off Lysan and pull K atop me. She wants more, I don¡¯t think there is any left but she can ride me for it anyways.


    I smile as she coaxes me back to attention. I think the twins are falling asleep. I can¡¯t see me lasting much more than this myself.


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    Adrian left to gather gas a while ago, and we already gathered the things Bryan thinks we should bring from the house. He seems better than when Adrian walked in near dawn, but he is still not ready to travel. He is reading that piece of paper, a letter from his dad, again.


    Adrian¡¯s advice to kiss and cuddle worked, but I don¡¯t think it was enough. I certainly can¡¯t do that in front of Lysan and her sister. Kythia is here too, I don¡¯t talk with her as much but she is a nice person. I don¡¯t get why they let Adrian pull them all into his bed.


    I look at Bryan, he isn¡¯t paying attention. Should I ask them for advice too? They seem to keep Adrian happy and are older than me. The twins are over a hundred years old, even if they do act as teens aside from a few things.


    I don¡¯t think Bryan learned Althaen yet. I¡¯ll talk to them in that, I couldn¡¯t bear to let him hear me ask ¡®how should I comfort the guy I want to be my boyfriend?¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re nervous and want to ask something. What is it?¡±


    How did Kythia tell? She even asked in Althaen.


    ¡°You know how you are all with Adrian?¡±


    ¡°What of it?¡±


    ¡°How do you keep him happy and all with how bad the world has become?¡±


    ¡°Easy we make him feel better.¡±


    ¡°How do you do that?¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯ll take the answer better from the elven sisters. So, I¡¯ll let them answer.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    I look over at Lysan, Talia is right next to her sister as always. Kythia gets up and excuses herself. She said something about making food in elvish but I already changed my focus.


    Lysan shyly looks away from my gaze. I don¡¯t think I am going to like the answer. I look at Talia it can¡¯t be that bad right? Maybe they let him kiss and snuggle but they couldn¡¯t have followed what Kythia did right?


    ¡°What is it?¡± I ask Talia.


    ¡°Sleeping with him.¡±


    My mind stops. This can¡¯t be right. There is no way they are doing that. They told me all about how they were running from the Althaen because they didn¡¯t want to be some harem girl.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be what you are doing. How are you helping Adrian?¡±


    ¡°What he asks for, what we know how to do, and letting him sleep with us.¡±


    No, no, no. This can¡¯t be. They don¡¯t want to be harem girls. Is Adrian forcing them? I don¡¯t think he would but I can¡¯t see my friends doing this.


    ¡°Is he forci . . .¡±


    The twins cut me off, speaking at the same moment. Echoing each other¡¯s words perfectly.


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°We jumped into his bed. We talked with Kythia, and decided we would all share him. He didn¡¯t even know until when we jumped into his bed¡± continues Talia.


    ¡°But, but why? It¡¯s wrong for a man to have multiple girls.¡±


    The twins look at me like I am an idiot. They are from a different world, of course their ideas of right and wrong are different. Before I open my mouth to explain why Talia looks at her sister. Lysan starts talking.


    ¡°Imagine this. You and your friends have been running away from bad men for decades. Then you finally find a safe place with a man who is kind, even after hurtful and mean things are said to him.


    He is everything you and your friends wanted in a man. You know he can keep you and your friends happy. Why fight over him? Is it worth losing your friends so you don¡¯t have to share? Why not just be happy with your friends and him together?¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s wrong. Men just want harems for their lust and greed.¡±


    ¡°Adrian doesn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t sleep with me until after we all told him we wanted to share him.¡± Talia counters.


    I just look at her in confusion. Polygamy is wrong, it¡¯s just to sate men¡¯s lust, right? Lysan resumes speaking.


    ¡°We wanted to share him, none of us were dragged into bed with him. We want to be there, he isn¡¯t doing anything wrong and treats us all well. Are there men who only want a harem for their lust? Yes. Would I be in that harem? No, it¡¯s disgusting and I would rather die than be part of that.


    We are all friends, we all agreed to it before sharing him. We all like him. If we asked he would stick to just one of us, but we asked for him to keep all of us happy.¡±


    ¡°I still think it is wrong.¡±


    ¡°That is fine, but remember we pushed him into it. Please don¡¯t get mad at him over any of this, besides would you rather one of us try to get your man?¡± interjects Kythia as she brings over some sodas. I take one of them, and start drinking it. It¡¯s luke-warm, too bad Adrian¡¯s the only one who can magically cool things.


    ¡°No . . .¡±


    ¡°Then we won¡¯t, we only share Adrian because we all want to. If you don¡¯t want to share your male then you shouldn¡¯t have to.¡±


    I guess they all partially agree with me.


    ¡°But is that really the best way to comfort a man?¡±


    All three of them nod. I don¡¯t really want to do that before marriage, it would be wrong to do so. But Bryan needs me, and we are heading out tomorrow morning.


    ¡°Need help getting the house to yourself¡± asks Kythia with a smirk.


    I nod before I realize what I am doing.


    Lysan moves closer and hugs me, ¡°we will take care of it for you¡± she says.


    The three then get up to leave, once gone Bryan looks at me and asks a question.


    ¡°What was all that about?¡±


    ¡°Girl talk.¡±


    I barely manage to keep a straight face. I can¡¯t tell him that we were arguing about polygamy and they were telling me to sleep with him. I stand up and leave the room before my face turns colors. I agreed to it too at the end.


    What am I going to do? I¡¯ll have to confess to and then have sex with him. I giggle a bit, I want to but it¡¯s wrong to have premarital sex. But how can we even have a wedding with how the world is now? Have the Althaen do it? I would rather be dead than go back there.


    Sorry mom, but I don¡¯t think there is a way I can get married anymore. Maybe if we find some priest or a town that is still running, but I can¡¯t wait on that chance.


    <hr>


    I close the door as Adrian and the other girls leave the house. Bryan is reading that letter again. I hope that he accepts me. I walk up and take the paper from his hand. He held it for a moment before letting it go. He looks at me.


    I¡¯m so nervous, I know I let him touch some last night but . . . No stop thinking and stalling. I lean in and try to kiss him. He catches me.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I love you¡± I blurt out with none of the grace you would think a bard would be entitled to. He seems stunned for a second or two, during which I move into his lap and start the kiss I attempted earlier.


    He doesn¡¯t respond for a bit, then he starts kissing me back. I don¡¯t know if either of us are doing this right but since something in his pants got bigger maybe I did it right.


    We separate, and he smiles at me.


    ¡°I like you too¡± he says.


    I am disappointed in his word choice but mom always said boys say the wrong things. I find myself smiling and hug him as he kisses me this time.


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    I don¡¯t do anything when his hands start to wander. The other girls got out of the house for this to happen. His hands find their way under my shirt, so I take it off. Bryan is staring at my boobs now.


    I wish they were bigger but as long as he likes them that is good enough. I take off my bra and put one of his hands on them. The other follows and I feel weird as he starts to play with them. I start pulling at his shirt and he stops playing with my chest long enough to remove it.


    His eyes never left my boobs. He kisses me and I let out a moan as he squeezes my left breast lightly. I think he wanted to hear that again because he squeezed the other with more force. That hurt a bit and he noticed.


    He removed his hands from me, I grab one and move it back. I don¡¯t have to wait long before he is gently squeezing them and holding me. I feel safe in his arms.


    I pull away for a moment, and ask quietly.


    ¡°Can we move to a bed?¡±


    My face flushes with heat, but Bryan smiled. The first real smile I have seen from him since we got to this house. He picks me up and I can feel the bulge of his pants against me. He is excited, this is the man I love. Not the guy who just sits around.


    He lays me down on the bed gently and fumbles with his pants. I grab his hands and pull him gently to me. He abandons his pants for touching me. He moves over me and gives me a kiss before moving his head to my chest.


    He starts to lick and kiss my breasts, it feels nice and I grab his head and hold him to one. He starts sucking on it. I feel my nipples stiffen and start to really enjoy it. I don¡¯t notice where Bryan¡¯s hands go until I feel them inside my jeans.


    He unbuttoned them and is running a hand to my lady parts. I don¡¯t stop him, and he soon pulls away from me. I don¡¯t want him to stop. I look over to him and feel a tug on my pants. He is pulling them off.


    I help and am now in nothing but underwear. He drops his own pants, and moves to me again. I can see the shape of him, does that really fit inside of a girl? I try to stifle my involuntary moans as he caresses me. My hands are running over his torso. I¡¯m liking the muscle definition that he is picking up.


    I feel a yank at my waist and my panties are down to my knees, then Bryan pulls them the rest of the way off. He gets off the bed and removes his own underwear. I can see him, completely from the light of the setting sun in the window.


    I open my legs, I want to give myself to him. He climbs back into the bed, and I can¡¯t take my eyes off his crotch. Will that really fit? He moves over me and whispers in my ear.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    I smile, and he moves. I feel his manhood poke against me for a moment before it starts moving into me. He pushes further in than anything has ever gone into me, and then I feel pain. I feel like he is ripping me in two.


    I knew that it would hurt. I try to not cry out, but I must have as he slows down. Then all of a sudden I feel like he just keeps pushing into me. It hurts but he is inside me. Soon he is all the way inside, his hips are pressed against mine.


    Bryan tries to stay still but just keeps lightly thrusting into me. He has a look of enjoyment on his face. He feels good inside of me. I hug him as the pain subsides and I find myself growing used to him.


    I relax and spread my legs further, and he goes deeper into me. It is starting to feel good and he is moving faster on top of me. I think he just got bigger inside me and his jaw is now clenched.


    He starts to pull away but I hug him and wrap his legs in mine. Then he pushes deeper than before and vibrates inside me. Something warm comes out of him and fills me. I want him to keep thrusting but he just stays there for a moment.


    He just came inside me. Shit, I hope I don¡¯t get pregnant yet. He rolls off me and pulls me to his side. I wanted him to be inside longer, so I kiss him and rub against him. After a bit he is poking me again.


    He rolls over and plunges into me again. It starts feeling good much faster this time. I try to hold in the embarrassing noises I am making but find myself professing my love again and again.


    I feel myself tighten up, holding Bryan as tight as I can and then relief, everything in my body relaxes. More warmth flows out of Bryan and into me, this time he does not roll off me. We fall asleep as we are.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I wake up, having skipped my trip to the Grey Dream. I look over my girls, and smile. I am so going to end up addicted to this. I don¡¯t think I could manage to do this every night, but I would like to try.


    I manage to get out of the bed without waking any of them. There is still a few hours until sunrise, I need to spend this time getting stronger. I have won my last few fights more from bad decisions of my foes than my own skill.


    I walk to the door of the room, and after a few seconds of looking at the inviting scene tear my gaze from them go to sit at a table in the kitchen. I pull out anatomy textbooks, the spellbooks on necromancy, andseveral bottles of water.


    <hr>


    About an hour before dawn I hear the girls wake up. I close the necromancy books and store them, there are some rather disgusting spells in them. I can understand why Talia called them forbidden and not something that should be studied.


    He does have some interesting ideas on lichdom and ways to become one without making deals with demons or murdering people. Not a path I want to walk but the descriptions are good and had explanations of the negative energy matrixes used in reanimation.


    His study of souls or animancy has given me a few ideas on what to do if I have to fight demon spirits. A subject that this elf wrote an entire book on. I have no idea how to actually do any of his suggestions as they all draw on mana or psychic energy. Neither of those are in my possession, but Mind and Soul should be able to duplicate the effects.


    I finish storing the books just as one of the twins walks into the room. She sees that I am reading but moves to hug me.


    ¡°Come back to bed.¡±


    I return her hug, ¡°we need to start getting ready.¡±


    She frowns but nods. She knows that it is getting close to dawn. I hear the splashing of water, someone else has started doing what little cleaning up can be done with what we have. The twin leaves my side to get ready to travel. I already cleaned myself up, so I start boiling some grains for an oatmeal like slop. At least there are some seasonings that I can add.


    After the girls have cleaned each other and the slop is ready we move over to Bryan¡¯s house. I wasn¡¯t going to knock since they were expecting us but Lysan ran to the door first and did so. I can hear two people rushing about in the back of the house and some things got knocked over.


    I can guess that something happened last night. Good for you my friend. I walk to the kitchen table and set the pot of slop down.


    ¡°We brought food, whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t dawn yet¡± I hear from Bryan, as he walks into my sight.


    ¡°We wanted to start walking at dawn, that means meet together and eat beforehand.¡±


    ¡°Give us a minute to clean up.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    <hr>


    It doesn¡¯t take long for us to eat, and start walking. We are not making as good of time as before, Abagail is walking slower than she usually does. I don¡¯t say anything about it. No one seems to mind, today is a nice sunny day and we are all in a good mood.


    It is not until near the end of the day when I start cooking dinner that we run into anything. I guess that the undead dealt with everything while they were still here.


    I put a lot of spices into the slop, and added some dried meats. I want it to taste good, I¡¯ve been spoiling everyone with the food from that banquet for too long to jump back to flavorless slop in one go.


    I am not a great cook but I can make it at least taste decent. I can hear something moving around nearby but I don¡¯t think it is hostile. Soon enough a few children walk out of a building, a middle-aged woman following after them. She was trying to get them to stay put.


    The children are staring at the pot, or three of them are. The fourth is hiding behind the middle-aged woman. The woman starts to apologize.


    ¡°Sorry, please don¡¯t kill us. They didn¡¯t me . . .¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t going to fight. Why would we attack a few children?¡±


    One of the young boys walks up to me and starts to beg.


    ¡°Magic man, can I have some food?¡±


    The others behind me start to chuckle.


    ¡°Why did you call me magic man?¡±


    ¡°Because you made stuff appear out of nowhere like a wizard!¡±


    The woman that is trying to collect the children seems terrified. I guess she has seen some terrible things the past few days. It will only cost us a day or two worth of rations, and I¡¯ve stored up a few weeks¡¯ worth.


    ¡°Sure, but it isn¡¯t ready yet.¡±


    I start pulling more rice and grain to make more. The woman stops gathering the children who circle around me as I summon food out of thin air. I ignore their requests for different foods, but when one of them asks for water I pull the sting with a piece of metal on it that we use to condense water from the air.


    I have one of the hold it over an empty bucket before placing some frost fire over the metal. They go crazy and one of them is stupid enough to poke the icy flames before I pull him away. The woman can¡¯t believe what she is seeing but I don¡¯t feel a backlash.


    A few more youths come out of the nearby buildings. Apparently, they have been hiding and waiting for the undead to leave. None of them seem to be out of elementary school. Soon enough the girls are playing with them as Bryan and me cook. Shouldn¡¯t it be the other way around?

 Chapter 054

    The shadow is perhaps the weakest of the incorporeal creatures. It bears the shape of whatever creature it was in life. Its grasp will chill the blood in your veins, and should you die to it you will join in its hunt of the living. While not destroyed by light, a shadow is considerably weaker in it. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    As I finish the food the children run over to me. I can see Abagail talking with the woman that was looking after them. The two of them walk over to me and Abagail speaks.


    ¡°They want to know if they can travel with us.¡±


    ¡°No¡± I respond. There is no way I am going to keep track of a half dozen children. We have no way of keeping them safe and fed even if I wanted to.


    ¡°But we need help.¡± The women interjects.


    I let out a sigh before answering her.


    ¡°We are walking across town, and having to fight. We can¡¯t defend you, we also don¡¯t have food to feed everyone long term.¡±


    ¡°But there has to be something you can do.¡±


    ¡°We can tell you where there are some others but that is it.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t speak for a moment and I continue; drawing a map on the street with a piece of chalk.


    ¡°Two days in this direction there is a group of survivors being led by the gangs. They are not the nicest people but are better than the other choice who live over in this part of town. They are from another world and would see you as slaves.


    You should move to where these gangs are, they have food and you should be able to live long enough for society to move toward normalcy. We as in my friends are heading this way and will end up fighting our way out of town and leaving.


    We won¡¯t stop you from following but we can¡¯t feed and protect you. You are safer here than traveling with us.¡±


    I hear a growl from the side and turn to look at a child trying to steal some of K¡¯s food. That does not seem like a good idea.


    ¡°If you are hungry ask for more from the pot. You don¡¯t want to upset her.¡±


    I don¡¯t think K would really hurt the child but I would rather not have to find out how far someone can bug her. The child runs over to me and I give him another bowl. There is not much left, these little things eat almost as much as me.


    ¡°Are we going to stay near here for the night¡± asks K.


    ¡°Yes, we could get to my house by midnight but I want to arrive there during the day. Can you get everyone situated while I scout?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but I want to ride you as you fly later.¡±


    ¡°Only if I get the same privilege under the full moon¡± I say with a smirk.


    K nods, she probably thinks she will never have to honor that. If I shift due to lycanthropy it wouldn¡¯t be possible. I hope she takes it well under this next full moon when I don¡¯t change. Or is it her wolf half that needs to take it well?


    I would just shift to dragon form here, but I don¡¯t think that I should in front of children. Some of them are in dresses. So, I think those are little girls. It¡¯s harder to tell when they are dirty and hungry. I walk to the corner of a building, not letting any of the kids follow me.


    Once there I magic away my clothes as I start to shift forms. I am surprised Void Cache worked to do this. I never would have thought of it before last night. The children and woman scream as I jump out from the side of the building and fly over them.


    I make sure to fly just over their heads, might as well mess with them, right? I think that the woman passed out. What was her name? I never asked, Abagail will know and tell me if it is important later.


    I circle around the intersection that we made a makeshift soup kitchen; there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything else nearby. They should be safe, I¡¯ll scout around for an hour or two. Let my wings soak up as much light as they can.


    I fly along the path we will take tomorrow morning. There are a few goblins roaming about. Should I just leave them and deal with it tomorrow? The others might need the XP for the Grey Dream.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    I swoop down and tackle a goblin, we are about the same size physically but I am a dragon so my body is much stronger. Its chest cracks and I crush its ribcage as I land on it. There are a few others that were traveling with the one I landed on. I breathe black fire out at them, mimicking the appearance of a shadow dragon¡¯s fire.


    Soon the small tribe is dead and I launch to the sky again. A bit of blood dripping off my claws. A few other stray goblins were around, and slowed down my arrival to the air above my home.


    There are people in tents outside of the house. Not my family, who are these people? Why are they here? Where are my family members? Are they inside the house or down in the cellar? I have keys to all of that on me, but that doesn¡¯t make it any better.


    They have a sentry looking out over the garden and driveway. That person is armed with a gun, but they don¡¯t have anyone looking over the woods behind the house. There seems to have been a fight here recently too.


    I land near the woods and shift back to human. I hold a loaded pistol as I approach their sentries from behind and knock them out. Idiots were too busy talking to each other to notice me. I move to the tents, there are some people sitting at it.


    Three to be exact a woman and two men, like the sentries they are dirty. There are probably a dozen in the tents. I walk into the light of lantern while making sure to shift my image a few feet to my right.


    ¡°What are you doing at my home?¡±


    The three look over startled. There is a bit of panic on the face of the woman. The men however point their guns at my fake image. One of them answers my question.


    ¡°This place is ours now, find your own place. Mike how did you let . . .¡±


    I cut him off and ask another question. My voice is louder than his.


    ¡°What of the people who were living here?¡±


    ¡°There wasn¡¯t anyone. We got here yesterday¡± answers the woman.


    That means if my family is still here they are in the cellar.


    ¡°Did you have a battle here yesterday or today?¡±


    She nods, ¡°midgets and green people.¡±


    The men fire their pistols at the false image of me. The bullets pass through without doing anything. They start to swear and I feel a tiny amout of backlash building. Shit, these people have had little exposure to magic.


    I drop my false image as I take two quick shots atthe men. I turn to the woman and can hear those in the tents waking up.


    ¡°You should all leave before I come back tomorrow, and if the family that lives here is dead I will kill all of you.¡±


    I step out of the light and shift into a dragon again. The woman screams and I release a gravity breath at the tents. They collapse under their own weight as I fly off into the night. There are too many people and too many guns for me to easily win on my own.


    As I fly around I can also see a large fire near where the Althaen are. I guess the undead arrived then.


    <hr>


    Jason


    <hr>


    A lot of the Althaen have died the last few days. I heard that those that were sent out to assassinate Adrian also ended up dead. Good I want to be the one to kill him, but only after I take his women in front of him.


    I look out into the night, but to me it is just as clear as day. The dead minions of some death mage are marching towards us. I get down from the wall, and walk closer towards the center of camp. I haven¡¯t seen the shadow man in a few days. I don¡¯t care anymore about him, I got what I wanted.


    Another voice of a shadow person cries out for me to help them. They are not the shadow man. They just look kind of like him. Whispers of how to give them physical form and allow them to serve me have bothered me for days.


    Maybe I should just try it. Shut them up. The war horn sounds, one of the other sentries finally noticed the giant hoard of corpses moving towards the camp. I think those gangs will act too tonight. The dead passed through their territory and yet I can still smell that they are near. These dead are working with them.


    One of the magisters that serves High Lord Andrus is taking a piss. No one can see him right now. I smile, I haven¡¯t gotten to consume a magister yet.


    I get my hand over his mouth and knee him in the groin, stunning him long enough to start draining. He already looked old, but his life force is much tastier than the others I¡¯ve had so far. He groans and wheezes for a few breaths before I drop him and he falls to the ground.


    I have never felt so great. I want another one, the whispers of the shadow people tell me they¡¯ll bring me some if I help them get physical form. That might be a deal I¡¯ll accept.


    As soon as this thought crosses my mind I feel a pain in my head. I scream in pain but no sound comes out. The world has changed I am in a grey mist and the shadow people are tearing me apart.


    Then it stops they and me are all pulled back together. I stand up in the physical plane and smile. We have returned. We test the body¡¯s strength, it is enough but the mana is weak. We need to consume more magi.


    We smile, there are still a few in this camp and a Ravnos within reach. We lick our lips, cannibalize the last few mages here and then we will eat Ravnos. Tear his gift from him and consume it. We will be whole again.


    We walk into the tent where the last few magi of this Althaen camp are. Our body reverts to its natural state; demonic wings, tail and claw can be seen on us. They panic and we start the spells that will prevent them from acting, a dome of force containing an antimagic field.


    One of the magister charges us with a blade made of mana, it winks out of existence just as it is about strike us. Our cage is set and we grab the old man. He is nothing without his magic. We tear out the throat and drink some of the blood, powers other than mana still work in our cage.


    He withers and we turn to the other three. The start to run, screaming that we are a demon. Our laughter fills the tent as they run into the dome of force. They will all be ours. We consume them and delight in the terror the others exude as we feast. With this we have enough to maybe fight that young Ravnos.


    Our claw tears at the fabric of space, there is enough flesh and blood being spilt tonight for our weaker siblings to be let into the world once more. Red light and screams of torment spill out of the split in the planes.


    A rush of abyssal power fills us, and we grow. We shall be half again the size of a man before we are done. Small red beings with bat like wings flood out of the small portal. They will bring others to feed the arrival of our kin and us.

 Chapter 055

    The wraith is the weakest of the ghostly apparitions. While unable to act in sunlight, they still exude an aura that drives natural creatures away from them. Their grasp draws away a living being¡¯s vitality. Should you die to a wraith, you will rise as one to join its assault on the living. These creatures are driven mad by their hate for the living. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I land near where I was cooking a few hours ago. There are over a dozen people camped out around my house. It looked like they hadn¡¯t gotten into the house yet, from the thick windows or something else? That doesn¡¯t matter, too many people are there.


    I don¡¯t think I could take them on myself, I need my friends. Should I get everyone to travel straight there? No, they would be fatigued when we get there. If my family is still there then they are in the cellar. They should be safe for a few more hours.


    There has to be something that I can do. I look around, it seems that everyone has gone into the buildings by now. Returning to human form I enter into the house that is closest to where I cooked food, as it seemed to be the sturdiest of the buildings.


    My guess was right as I find my friends sleeping aside form one of the twins who was keeping watch. I must have been gone longer than I thought I was going to be. She walks up to me and we begin to talk.


    ¡°Is there anything that we need to be worried about?¡±


    ¡°There is, some people have stated squatting at my home. I didn¡¯t see my family there either, I think that they are in the cellar, as you can¡¯t get in there without a key.¡±


    She nods, and seems worried for me. No, it is empathy. She must be able to see the unease I feel.


    ¡°They will be safe, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Will it? Everyone else we went looking for died. I feel like something terrible will happen tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°You were there for sister, Kythia and me. We will be there for you.¡±


    I smile as she gives me a hug. They will comfort me should anything happen. It does not stop my thoughts but the stress is a bit lighter. It does however bring another thought to my mind. How am I going to introduce them to my siblings and mom?


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that I¡¯ll get to sleep tonight. I¡¯ll take the rest of the watches, just make sure to get enough rest.¡±


    She nods and walks away with a yawn. Now, I have several hours until they are ready to travel. I want to just wake them up and start walking but there are at least four hours¡¯ worth of walking to do before arriving at my house.


    We are going to end up fighting those people, if they are fatigued they¡¯ll end up dead. Even if they are rested they could end up dead easily enough. I need to find some way to defend against bullets aside from hiding.


    There are not any decently written books on abjuration that they could use to learn a magical method. I need to figure out a way to deal with them myself. They lack exposure to magic so overt effects will not be good. Something that cannot be seen, I also need to keep reading and studying anatomy so I can make sure to be able to heal everyone.


    I need more time, too many things I need to learn and not enough time to pick them all up. I need to learn more healing, chaining spirits, protective anything, not to mention my lack of combat training. I got some at the Althaen camp, but it is not enough.


    I walk outside into the light of the now waxing moon. Another reminder of a problem that I need to solve. How will K¡¯s wolf act under the next full moon? Will she be mad that I have not turned? Or will she just accept it?


    I pull out some of the tomes written by some dusk elf named Dam? R¨¢ma¨ºri. While I certainly disagree that he should have been allowed to do the experiments he did, they offer detailed insight into some of the things I need.


    No anatomy book on earth will tell me how various energies affect the body, or things to be careful of while altering the body. What is recorded in his books is horrid but they are detailed and have clear explanations and conjectures. Something that I found lacking in the few books I have looked at from the Althaen.


    I need to understand why these things work as they do. I can try to do something through brute force but that is harder, it takes much more power to just force something into reality. Not to mention the aftereffects of whatever I did. The more I learn the more control I have over my surroundings.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    <hr>


    Demon, formerly Jason


    <hr>


    We smile as those fools around us are consumed by our kin. We must make sure that none of them grow stronger than us, but that is easy. They have bodies built of spilt blood, they grow weaker as time passes. They must spend their strength to keep a solid form on this plane. We do not. We have a mortal body warped to be filled by us.


    The Ravnos boy is to the north. We sniff the air, something does not seem right in that direction. This young Ravnos is not pure, he is mixed with something else. Do those that run the dream know? Why have they not let others know?


    They must want the Ravnos for themselves. They are greedy, just like all of our kin. There is something else to the north as well, another Ravnos? Something with an old and sickly soul, something that was once powerful. We lick our lips, whatever is there may not be as good as that young Ravnos but it will be something that should strengthen us.


    As there is nothing else here to consume, we jump into the sky and release a primal yell to call our lesser kin to follow us. They will be the fodder that we need. The Ravnos is headed north, towards something else that while less palatable is another feast for us. We have some of the smallest of our kin follow him, we need to find a good opportunity to take the youth. Even a weak Ravnos is a terrible foe. They twist, weave and even rend the world around them. Our abyssal powers cannot stop him from acting as we stopped those foolish mages.


    The imps track the Ravnos, what did the host body know him as? Adrian? It is hard to see past the hatred and greed of our mortal coil, such a good pawn he was. Near the rise of the fiery ball mortals call the sun we see our prey, or rather we see him through the eyes of our lesser kin.


    The prey is very observant and readied to fight as he travels further north. This is not the time to strike, they are too ready to fight. Are they expecting us? They should not be, but maybe he is one of the Ravnos that see through time. No, if he was he would have killed our host when none were looking. There must be another hunter that he knows about nearby.


    Where is it? Where is the being that would steal my prey? The mortals are talking as they travel. We do not know what they say. Taking the knowledge of their tongue would risk letting the host take back control, we will not allow it. We will have to follow and wait for a time of chaos to strike.


    <hr>


    We smile as the young Ravnos continues northwards, he is not fleeing another predator. He is heading towards his kin. We can feel the aura of others of his blood living nearby. They must be the old and sickly souls that we can feel. Yes, lead us to a greater feast hapless boy. Your soul is strong, but also young and foolish. Your potential may be great but you have yet to truly walk into it.


    The young Ravnos and his allies approach another group of mortals. These mortals share no blood with them, why are they at the dwelling of Ravnos? They do not seem to be any sort of followers as they lack any aura of a Ravnos on them. Only what has seeped onto them from the place where they are now. There is anger and aggression in the words they exchange. I can feel our kin become excited for the blood that will soon be shed. Just a bit longer. . .


    One of our lesser kin reveals itself and attacks one of the mortals that was not following the Ravnos. We should have been more explicit in our orders, now we must all act. This was not the opportune moment to strike. There are screams as the small imp begins to eat a man. Enjoy the meal you waste of blood and life, you will not stay here under me after this.


    We must act quickly, isolate the young Ravnos or go after the older sickly kin? We smile, this Ravnos should be able to stand up to our kin for a time. None of them should be strong enough to consume him. We will go after the older souls nearby, they are weaker than us. We will likely be hurt but so should the young Ravnos be when we return to consume him.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Something has felt off the entire morning as we walked to my house. I do not feel fatigue from staying up the entire night. I am not sure if it is due to how my draconian powers absorb radiation to sustain me or just from my worry for my family.


    At least I managed to make use of those hours, I should be able to keep the physical body alive should there be any injuries. So long as we do not suffer from a shot through the brain I think I will be able to repair the damage. At least enough to stay alive.


    As soon as I open the gate at the bottom of the driveway we hear someone yelling. It is not someone that I heard last night. A daytime leader? Or maybe the leader was one of the two men that I shot. Did they die or are they just injured? Tactically I doubt that there is too much of a difference if a fight breaks out.


    Before I respond to the shouting I feel something is off in the space around us. I signal everyone to get ready for a fight. None of those people should have the ability to do anything supernatural but I defiantly felt some sort of spatial anomaly.


    A scream echoes out into the nearby hills and woods. Some reddish midget with bat like wings just tore the limb from one of the squatters. That is no goblin, it is something else. Several of the squatters begin to fire upon whatever it is as it begins to eat the arm it had taken.


    It does not seem to be bothered by the bullets, rather it seems to be growing larger as it consumes the flesh of the man. I see a look of terror on one of the twins¡¯ faces. More of the little creatures are tearing through something and entering our vicinity.


    ¡°Demons¡± I hear from K.


    These should be imps then. But why are they eating flesh and growing from it? Do they require a blood sacrifice to grant physical form in our world? I should read what little Dam? R¨¢ma¨ºri wrote on demonology. Perhaps there is an explanation there. Regardless they appear to be unaffected by firearms.


    ¡°Damage resistance or immunity¡± asks Bryan.


    Goodquestion, perhaps these creatures are closer to an earlier edition of the games we play together so much. I turn to K as I do not know the answer myself.


    ¡°They require magic to harm¡± she answers.


    I frown. I do not have an enchanted weapon, neither does Abagail.

 Chapter 056

    The Specter is one of the more powerful apparitions. Much as the wraith they are unable to do anything in sunlight. Like the wraith their touch is also draining, but the specter drains away not your life force but who you are. Draining away your skill and competence along with your vitality. While they do retain the appearance of the life they once held, they have lost everything of what they were. Some cases of rough understanding have been reported but do not doubt that any specter has already gone mad in their hatred for those who still have life. They are sometimes confused with ghosts, luckily ghosts are more dangerous but they also still have a sense of self and who they are. ¨C Common Monster


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    This is going to be difficult, they should be resistant to magic and elemental damage as well. Does my magic count as the same thing as far as magic resistance is concerned? I should be able to do something to my weapons, make them count as magical. I¡¯ll try elemental energies first, but if that does not work I will have to try to get a spiritual attack to work.


    More and more of these imps/quasits are manifesting and attacking, only a few have appeared close to me, one is quickly cut in half by K and the bloody fire that she created on her blade. The fiend was harmed by her attack and it begins to dissipate; its body fading into a red mist.


    Abagail fires the rifle she is using at one of the fiends closer to the squatters, it is blown to bits but those bits are pulling themselves back together just as the wounds for the squatters¡¯ firearms close themselves.


    I pull out one of the many spears I still have in Void Cache and charge the iron spearhead with electricity as two of the fiends move onto my dimension and charge me. I move out of the way of one of them, they move about as fast as the Althaen soldiers did. The other I manage to hit with the spear, it was only a glancing blow but it was enough to let me know that the electricity did nothing.


    At least the glancing blow knocked the creature away from me. The kinetic forces still do affect the quasits, just the damage does not stay if there was not a magical force behind it. I release a stream of fire at the fiend that my spear knocked back to test the effectiveness of my fire, ineffective.


    I need something else, should I try frost fire? Or just skip to attempting to mimic some sort of attack on the demonic spirit that is controlling the physical body? Attacking the spirit if I can get it to work will be more effective. It would do more than just force the demon to retreat to wherever it is that it came from.


    I hear a scream from Abagail, she got hit by something from these demons. Bryan moves out of the corner my eye. He moved to protect her, that is good. She won¡¯t be able to harm these creatures. She really need to start performing the functions of a bard in a fight. Support.


    I block another clawing flyby tackle from a quasit and try to freeze it with frost fire. There seems to be some damage from that. Their resistance to cold is lower than the resistance or maybe immunity to fire and lightning. It is not enough though, only a bit of the creature froze and they are getting larger and larger as they feast on the squatters. One of them is almost as big as a person now. The only reason why there are still some of them, the squatters, alive is that the fiends seem to fight each other over the flesh of the fallen humans.


    K destroys another of the demons, I can hear both of the twins chanting something. Not the same spell but something to deal with these demons. A dull warm light appears near Lysan, the fiends within its small radiance seem to be moving slower and it is easier to counter them.


    I strike at the nearby creature, willing my spear to strike its spirit rather than the physical form. The spear passes straight through the demon, not what I wanted, I think. The demon does not seem to be harmed. I defiantly did not strike it physically did I miss? Or did I hit the wrong dimensional space?


    Whatever it was the quasit flees from me. Maybe I did hit or was close to hitting the spirit. This is harder than just creating fire and letting it go wild. I glance at the spear to see that it is indeed still there, though it has become partially transparent. Did I make it ghost touched?


    I feel a demon claw at my leg and swing the spear at it, I try to force the spear to strike at the spirit of the demon once more. This time the spear does do something, it passed through dirt without any trouble, and after the shaft passes through the fiend it screams and flees from me. Then the spear flies out of my grasp. It just phased through my flesh, it was no longer a solid bit of matter.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    This is not going to work, I relieve myself of the burden of sustaining the change to the spear and in begins to fall and become physical again. I hear a demon scream behind me, I guess K or Bryan killed another. One that was about to sneak attack me.


    I need something else, I need to that change to something else that will hold together or not matter if the part that injures the demons leaves the rest. Projectiles maybe? Or should I try to make this shift and make some sort of soul burning fire?


    I hear Abagail begin to sing some sort of song, I guess she has learned some sort of bardic music. I don¡¯t have time to pay attention to the words but there is magic in them. I can tell that much, the fear of losing to these demons is fading.


    I pull out the weapon that I have been using the most since this all began, a pistol. Perhaps I can make this change to the bullets as they are fired. As before it takes most of my focus to do whatever it is that I am doing. I think I am shifting the weapon to be more ethereal than physical.


    Whatever it is, the bullet I fire passes through the nearest quasit without harming the physical form of the creature, but it is clearly in pain. This is doing something, at least it is causing more pain than the ice that my frost fire earlier did. I release a few more bullets at the creature though I have to slow down to make sure that the bullets are changed by my magic.


    The demon ceases to act and the other fiends rush at the body andcannibalize it. Why would they do that? Is it because whatever I did does not harm the physical realm? The flesh is still usable for them maybe? Whatever the why, this does give me some easy targets. Even if they are growing from cannibalizing each other¡¯s bodies.


    I empty the rest of the magazine into the piled-up fiends. Soon all of the quasits are gorging on each other, and I am starting to doubt that this was a good idea. Unlike the growth I saw when they consumed the squatters, there does not seem to be a loss of volume when they consume each other. Is it better to fight the few dozen smaller fiends or a couple ones larger than an orc?


    I see a torrent of blue fire burst out from behind the house. That is near the cellar¡¯s entrance. Shit, there is fighting over there too. An explosion happened over there. Are they, my family, going to be ok? I need to deal with this and get over there. I can harm the creatures but they are just cannibalizing their fallen, this does not happen when K cut them down.


    Both the physical and the spirit needs to be harmed to deal with these demons. Maybe if there was only a single creature this attacking the spirit would work but if they are going to just consume each other¡¯s physical form for strength this is a pointless method of attacking. I glance at the others, they seem to be confused as to what is happening. Didn¡¯t the trio fight some of these creatures back in Althr¨¢.


    ¡°Do something that will harm their physical bodies.¡±


    As I speak that they seem to jump back to the moment. Is this not something that they have seen before? K begins to chant something and a dark purple flame forms before she throws it at the demon pileup. The ball explodes once it contacts the now larger quasits. Some sort of variant fireball. It is laced with something else, probably negative energy. It was strong enough to harm them, though some of them were unaffected. The larger ones.


    I guess their magic resistance is based on their physical form then. Could I just duplicate the spell K just did? That is a bigger spell than the others I have seen, how many can she cast? At least it stopped them from eating the ones who have fallen. There are only a few left, six to be exact. And they are not pleased with the end of their feeding frenzy. At least some of them were injured by K¡¯s spell.


    They charge us, faster than when they were smaller, I manage to shoot the one that went after me. It slowed the creature down but there was no lasting damage as my bullets are not magical, at least without me doing something to them. Another thing to add to my list of things to learn once I have the time. I switch to a spear as the demon recovers from the kinetic force of the bullet.


    The others parry and attack the demons that went after them, though Abagail uses the same strategy I did to simply postpone them. The quasits are now all much larger and seem hardier. At least that is what I can see from the wounds that the others inflicted simply did not harm the creatures as much as they did when the quasits were smaller.


    I defiantly shouldn¡¯t use that method to kill demons again. Something to harm the body is required or they will just use each other for food. I am unsure of how to slay these things now, at least it is simple enough to dodge and block them. With whatever that light Lysan created they are only about as fast as an Althaen soldier though the force behind their blows is far greater. It is no wonder why these creatures were destroying that world.


    We are pressed from the attacks of the fiends, as we are effectively fighting five against six. Abagail cannot handle being in melee with one of these, and I am struggling to keep my spear between me and the creature before me.


    I cannot seem to do significant harm to it, though the trio and Bryan are able to harm their own enemies. The spells they placed on themselves or the weapons themselves are able to permit one to harm the fiends.

 Chapter 057

    The ghost is the strongest of the standard incorporeal undead. They are also the only one who can retain a clear memory and sense of self after becoming a ghost. While their grasp is draining, and harms the living they are able to suppress this and interact with the living without causing harm. The ghost is also unharmed by sunlight and can act in broad daylight if they so choose. Some ghost has been known to interact directly with the physical world.


    A ghost is always tied to something, be it location, object or another being. An emotional tie pulling them back to the realm of the living, should this be resolved a ghost will pass on the rest of the way into whatever fate awaits the dead.


    <hr>


    Anthony Ravnos


    <hr>


    These past few weeks have been horrid, firstly brother and me have been sick. Then of all things those who were banished from this world forced their way back in. This was supposed to be an easy life. Just be the little brother to the only new Ravnos; born to an outsider mother. At least my twin managed to get the same job and we should be able together to at least hold off any foes who find us.


    A few days ago the two of us followed ¡®mother¡¯ into the cellar to hide from the roaming banditry. She used a different wording, however the sense of it is the same. My twin and me could have just killed any who went for the house but I doubt that my newest mother would handle it well. She does not know about magic, nor do I think she would like her twelve year old sons slaughtering a group of people.


    The worst part of all of this is that Adrian is not here. He was at school when this conjunction of planes came into being. If only any of us still had the strength to teleport or any of the other great twists. Geldath can still do some of the greater twists but we have spent the spark, little remains of our potential.


    We, the twins of the storm, weatherweavers and windwalkers are little more than apprentices in power now. Even so we have lost less than others of our bloodline. Fabricio or Frank as he is named in this life can tell that our big brother is still alive but we have lost the power required to tell more than that. Our family has made two great mistakes in the past centuries, the losses we take with each reincarnation and the removal of nigh all supernatural elements of the world.


    Mother is terrified of losing her eldest son, she keeps checking the cellphone for Adrian to contact her, even though it has been discharged for days. It is unfortunate but the electricity has run out and as we are locked in the cellar there is no way to charge it. The gasoline generator is outside and mother did not grab the keys for the cellar in her rush to protect her ''babies'' from the bad men running around town.


    I can only hope that Adrian makes it back to our homestead, Fabricio and me could blow the door open together but Kathrine, our mother, is unlikely to believe such a thing as possible. At least there is still a week¡¯s worth of water and even more food to sate our needs.


    As I am wandering within my own musings, a sense of wrongness fills the air and Fabricio walks over to me. We can barely see each other from the sliver of sunlight passing through the cellar''s doors. The light is growing, it should be morning and there is a lot of noise coming from outside. There are people out there but they are not family.


    The sounds of a fight soon can be heard, at least if you are close to the door. I doubt that Kathrine can hear what is going on. She is too busy making food for our breakfast and checking her discharged cellphone. I sigh and turn to my twin.


    ¡°What do you think is happening? Should we break out and look for Adrian?¡±


    ¡°No, even with his lack of skill and training he is as strong as we are. Besides how would we prevent Kathrine from being a trigger for a backlash?¡±


    I sigh, there is not too much we can do about that. The woman has little acceptance of weirdness. Perhaps while asleep we could but as soon as she wakes we both know the damage caused by us breaking out would be rejected by her. Why did Rynald decide he wanted to marry her? Was it because in his last returning he spent the last of his spark? No one cared at the time, he was no longer a Ravnos as he had no spark left. Were it not that his firstborn began to awake as a Ravnos as a small child, no one would have bothered him in the last life he will live as himself.


    A large explosion and a torrent of eerie green flames end my thoughts. Fabricio rushes to me, there is no time to waste, something hostile is here. Kathrine is screaming and rushing to us. The flames die down as swiftly as they came into being. A man half again the size of a normal human is at the top of the stairs leading down into the cellar, red batwings, a demon''s tail and horns are attached to the body. A demonified mortal possessed by a legion of fiends, a pox on whoever did the conjunction.


    Fabricio uses what little telekinetic force he has to push Kathrine back from us. Adrian will need her, we cannot risk her life.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Sorry Kathrine, the Ravnos family has a few secrets that you did not know about. Let your boys protect you.¡±


    She is still screaming, she has not realized what Fabricio said. She is trying to rush at this clearly hostile man, who is licking his lips as he begins to slowly move towards us. I reach a hand out to my twin and he grabs it.


    We may have only a fraction of the power we held when the disjunction was performed, but we can still deal with a fledgling demon who has only had a host for a few days at most. We begin to use each other as a focus for our twists of reality. Chanting in a tongue that is a dead language of our ancestors we use every crutch we can to boost our powers to fight our foe.


    The demon fledgling lunges at us after approaching, but it was already too late to stop our synchronization. We roll to the side in perfect mirror parallel, our minds have meshed together and we draw on both our powers to form the next thing we need. Weapons to fight and harm the fiend. I create a blade of solidified lightning while Fabricio makes one of its opposite charge. One blade of condensed negative electrical charge and one of positive.


    We can feel the building backlash but the minor spirits we have set to be familiars should be able to handle it for a bit. Just long enough for Kathrine to accept the fight before her, at least we hope. The demon seems amused by us, does it think that we are real children? It is ignoring Kathrine, so she should be fine.


    Our minds joined, Fabricio and me begin the fight the demon fledgling in perfect tandem. Each attack of the fiend is parried and a counter attack made by whichever of us did not perform the party. Each set of exchanged attacks releases a discharge of lightning whenever both our blades strike the demon.


    Kathrine rushes at the fiend but Fabricio releases another minor burst of telekinetic force to keep her back. She is pushed back and finds herself close to the box with a handgun inside. She begins to try to open it, and in her frenzied state of fear is having trouble to do so.


    By the time she does we have pushed the fiend back out of the cellar. The creature laughs as our lightning is doing little per strike. Ice or Sonic effects would be better but neither of us twins were ever skilled in those kinds of twists in reality. Storms of lightning and fire are our forte though we lack the power to create them now.


    Kathrine begins to fire the pistol at the demon, the thoughts of Fabricio race through my mind. The bullets will do nothing to the demon, they have no way to enforce the idea of weapons hurt on the fabric of reality. We can do that for them though, and Kathrine will not deny it as she does with the blades of lightning.


    We pull upon the concept of weapons in the Primal Sphere, the weapon should hurt and we put our full power into it. The energy weapons dissipate and we dodge another claw strike from the fiendling. The bullets from the pistol begin to pierce the flesh of the demon and it finally feels true pain, not the numbing tickle of what little lightning we can summon.


    Soon the pistol ceases to fire, only a click as the magazine has run dry. The demon is bleeding from several holes and is being pushed back. Though even if we had another magazine ready the damage is unlikely to be enough to destroy the physical form of the demon. It is a fully changed body, far more resilient than any normal creature of the same size.


    Both Fabricio and me can hear another battle nearby. This fiends hoard must be holding off others, maybe they can kill the demon? Fabricio and me do not mind death, we still have another life or two before our spark and soul will wear out, but we need to keep our ''big brother'' and those he cares about alive and well. Fabricio glances at me, I know what he wants.


    I rush to Kathrine and begin to run to the other fight nearby. Fabricio holds the demons attention and takes a slightly longer path to the whoever is fighting the hoard of this demon. Once we turn around the corner of the house I can see a youth that looks like Adrian save for the hair color in melee with an oversized quasit. His spear work is pathetic, but he is faster than a human should be. A twist in Time? Maybe, he feels like he should be Adrian.


    Kathrine shouts Adrian''s name and he does turn and subsequently get a claw to his arm. I rush to his aid but before I arrive the injury has closed itself and aside from the blood loss the claw ended up doing nothing. How does he have the power to heal himself like that? Does he have enough control over the tapestry of reality to kill demons?


    As I approach I can see all of his allies in this fight: his friend Bryan, a blonde girl who Bryan is guarding, two elves with red hair and another human girl with silver? hair. Aside from the first human girl the others must be from the world that forced a conjunction. The elves are no longer on Earth and the human woman is far too competent of a fighter to be from here unless she is from the military. I doubt that as she would have been fighting with guns then and not a sword that is wreathed in magical fire.


    At least they are fighting on his side, though should they turn against us I will see that they die before ending the Ravnos''s chance for new blood to come forth. I reach them and Adrian says something I tuned out as I take his spear and skewer the quasit he was fighting. It may be faster and stronger than a human, certainly so for this prepubescent body I have but I have the skills of my prior lives still. It¡¯s own strength drives the spear deeper as I reinforce the idea of weapons hurt onto the spear itself. A single blow will not destroy this lesser demon but it will not last too long.


    Adrian looks at me in confusion, he did not know I took the spear until the quasit was already skewering itself. His eyes are also off color and the shape of the iris is abnormal. What has happened to him in the last few weeks?


    There is no time to ask as Fabricio arrives trailed by the demon fledgling. A spear appears from nowhere in Adrian¡¯s hand. Must be Geldath''s Translocation Grasp, but since when did Adrian have to power to pull something so large through space? He would need to have half again the power I now retain to do that.


    I find myself smiling, he must havethe might to twist reality enough to fight a demon fledgling without too many issues. At least if he knows how to make things hurt them.

 Chapter 058

    Demons and most other otherworldly beings tend to lack a physical body when they first enter into a physical plane and must be given one before they can affect the world outside of giving a pact to a mortal. While there are spells that give physical form to the spiritual body of a demon they prefer to gain a body by molding the flesh of another to match their form or condensing a body out of mahou and other forms of blood magic. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Demon, formerly Jason


    <hr>


    These old and souls in tiny bodies are annoying, their attacks are weak to the point of being but a nescience. Their lightning tickles and we would chuckle at the pitiful attacks except that these decaying souls manage to dodge, parry or counter everything that we have tried to do. We are finding it difficult to injure them, yet they do not have the strength to harm us.


    Their defense is good and whatever that mortal woman did seemed to hurt but she is of no consequence now. Whatever the weapon that she used was, it is now expended and thus no longer a threat.


    I chase the old souls back towards the younger Ravnos. They are too weak to kill us, hurt and annoy perhaps but not kill. They simply do not have the strength anymore to do so. They are not going to be much of a meal, might as well play with them and let them have the hope of joining back up with their younger kin and then season them with the despair of all dying together.


    I follow the soul that takes the longer path back to where our minions are fighting the young Ravnos and his allies. The fight seems to be going well, many of my demonic kin have ceased to exist. None of the Ravnos¡¯sallies have fallen yet, two great pieces of news. All of these mortals will strengthen us and our competition is now lower than before.


    Just after the mortals notice us, another of our kin falls, his mortal shell destroyed. The old souls are able to inflict injury but they lack strength. I see the young Ravnos struggle to keep a quasit, who will soon be an upstart, from killing him. I smile this is almost too easy, the only one here with the power to inflict serious injury is too unskilled to use his might.


    I move behind the largest of the quasit and kill it to utilize a mahou. The mana-laced weaponry of these mortals all shatter. At least that is what should have happened, the human whose soul is mixed with an animal kept her blade. She would have been our meal of choice save the existence of these three Ravnos.


    No matter, one weapon that can harm us is insignificant. The two old souls in small youthful bodies are now each wielding a spear but even with their alterations to what is happening they cannot guard all of the other mortals. I smile as they move to defend the others, leaving their young kin to us. Fools, he may have strength but without skill there is nothing but a walking meal.


    We swing a claw at the young Ravnos and rend the spear between us in twain. Another appears in the boy¡¯s grasp, a worthless action. The youth manages to get a hit on us with the spear and the weapon shatters, the cost in doing so is worth the opportunity to tear a piece of the young Ravnos''s flesh. A slice from the shoulder. We take it and eat it before all.


    We savor it and the terror that the mortals feel. They all care about this youth. The old souls are telling instructions to the young Ravnos, as he attempts to recover what was lost. Confusion fills his eyes as the wound scabs over but does not heal. You are cursed to never heal what we take until our deaths, how else are we taking anything from you?


    One of the quasits die, skewered by a spear, but not before taking the arm of the weakest mortal here. That mortal woman is a fool running to defend her kin against something she has no way of defeating. One of the elves, now weapon-less, runs and begins some healing magic. We with a smirk release an antimagic field.


    The elf managed to close the wound but that is of no importance, the mortal will still die soon enough. The young Ravnos throws a torrent of icy blue fire at us. Some ice forms over our physical body. It is of little consequence, we flex and the ice breaks and falls off. We break another spear of the young Ravnos. This is too easy.


    The mortals are terrified as their weapons now do next to nothing to the three quasit that are still alive. The adolescent male takes a strike meant for one of the human girls and falls to the ground. His guts begin to spill forth, our lesser kin rush to eat them. The old souls and the woman who is part animal fend them off.


    The young Ravnos yells in rage and his newest spear changes as it flies at that quasit. Our kin screams, it and not its physical body was hurt. The quasit abandons the physical world and retreats to the abyss.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    So the young Ravnos knows how to harm the spirit. That will not help him against us, we are many and the original soul of our host cannot be driven off like that. The old souls now are each facing off against one of the quasits, shouting at their kin. Either the young Ravnos does not understand what they are telling him or he does not care in his anger. The light in his eyes has shifted, they are now the eyes of an enraged beast.


    The Ravnos pulls out another spear from the space between planes and stabs us with it. One of the many within us screams in pain. We do not care, less competition for the power that will soon be consumed by us.


    Our claws glow as we break this spear with them and take a jump into the air. I doubt this young Ravnos''s ability to fight at ranged or in the air. Something feels off and we find our antimagic field broken as the young Ravnos turns into a dragon. He roars and we plumet to the earth, as the small dragon rising into the sky. The impact of the ground means little to us.


    We have seen dragons such as these before. The live in the gaps between planes and the emptiness of space. They are dangerous beings, capable of moving through the void freely and without being injured by it, while nigh all else would be destroyed.


    The dragon Ravnos dives down and its claws begin to tear into our flesh. We lick our lips as we return the favor. His claws truly harm us but so do our claws to him. For each piece he takes from us, we take a piece from him, and there is much more of us than there is dragon flesh. His furry is a cost we gladly pay, after all this is not even our body.


    Soon we are both covered in each other¡¯s blood. One of our arms is cast aside as the heavily injured dragon jumps away from us. He got the better of us in each exchange, his scales forcing us to take smaller pieces than he can from us. Even so the small dragon body has so much less it can sustain compared to us.


    Our wings are shredded, and many pieces of our flesh have been lost. Even so we grin, once we consume him this will all be worth it. We will be whole and able to pass physically through the void with our true body. At least some of us will. That fight will be held after this. The dragon Ravnos should bleeding to death from the injuries we already gave it.


    Our mental celebrations are cut short as the dragon Ravnos returns to human form. He is only missing a piece of his shoulder, all the damage done to the dragon did not stay. The light in his eyes and the dragon¡¯s seem slightly different. We throw a bolt of black lighting at him. This is not fair, one should not have two bodies. The young Ravnos seems to deflect the dark lightning bolt, though cringes in doing so.


    He takes a few steps towards our heavily injured form and bathes it in a dark purple flame. We can feel the body start to wither and burn as we throw dark lightning blindly, having lost our vision. Our brawl with the dragon left us near immobile, this is not right we were supossed to consume you!


    Then our body fails and we return to the void, running to the abyss. This excursion was now worthless, maybe we can sell the information to other demons? We cannot return to that physical world for a time anyways.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Dragon-me is writhing in pain in the back of my mind as I wrest the control of my body back from him. I bathe what remains of the demon he fought as I lost myself with fire laced with death. I should not let that happen again. I do not want to be an observer to my own body. The black lighting stops, and I turn to everyone else. After I pull the last of my mana to pull my last pair of clothes from void cache, I start to walk over to the rest of them.


    Mom has lost her arm and is unconscious. Bryan was disemboweled and everyone else has some major cuts. Lysan is keeping Bryan alive but it looks like she is overdrawn in doing so. My little brothers are staring at me. I think they started to when dragon-me took over. He is much more suited to fighting than me. Even if he was mentally shouting, don¡¯t touch my hoard the whole time. We were both angry over the demons harming my friends and that was his in to take control.


    At Bryan¡¯s side, I am thankful that I spent so many nights studying anatomy as I move his guts back where they are supposed to be. Within minutes he is whole again. Though he will need a few days to get back the energy I expended in his healing. I don¡¯t think he will wake up until tomorrow.


    There are no more lethal injuries. I take a deep breath and hug my little twin brothers and run my hand through their brown hair and see no panic in their hazel eyes. They, like everyone else on dad¡¯s side of the family, are much better at magic than me. Why did their magic feel weaker than mine now? They are still clearly more skilled and talented. I release a mental sigh, they are safe and I move us over to Mom. Can I reattach her arm before she wakes up?


    ¡°When did you learn to heal?¡± Asks Frank.


    I smile before answering.


    ¡°The day after the monsters like the ones in my games showed up.¡±


    I need to keep them calm. They may be smarter and more talented than me but I¡¯m the big brother so I need to protect them. Even if they don¡¯t seem traumatized by the demons or the blood and gore strewn about.


    I put the severed arm up against the stump and warp the flesh to reconnect and since it has only been a few minutes the arm should be fine. Mom stays unconscious, probably a good thing until this is all cleaned up.


    I pick Mom up and turn to my brothers. ¡°Can one of you help Abagail,¡± I point at her, ¡°bring Bryan to a bed?¡±


    Frank nods and both of them go to help her carry him. I bring mom to her bedroom as the trio begins to clean up the battlefield. I¡¯ll heal them next, burn the corpses and then get everyone ready to spend a few days here recuperating.


    Mom will need to learn about magic too. I am going to be in so much trouble when she wakes up; I didn¡¯t contact her in several weeks, crashed my car, killed people, got in fights, ''dyed'' my hair, stole stuff, slept with and brought home strange girls. About the only thing I didn¡¯t do that she would get mad about is drugs.

 Chapter 059

    The most common and conveniently enough weakest of the fiends is the lemure. Which appears to be a human sized lump of partially melted wax with the face of a fat androgynous man. They are the form that a soul will first take when it enters into the abyss, hell or grey wastes. They are used for two purposes, shock troops to tire invaders and to grow other demons. Should they be feed and the original soul have to proper depositions, a lemure can evolve into any other fiend. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After putting my mother in her bed to rest I check on where my twin brothers had Abagail take Bryan. It turns out he is in the guest room. Abagail is now caring for his unconscious body, I think he is still in shock but Abagail should be able to handle it. My brothers left her alone in the room, and she did not notice me as I looked in through the doorway.


    I exit the house to see my brothers doing most of the work while the trio are bandaging each other. None of them are in good condition, my sliced shoulder is a light injury in comparison. Lysan is the worst off, likely because she is the worst fighter of the group even if she is still better at it than me.


    I ignore the stench of the rapidly rotting demon flesh as I heal the trio. It has been not even five minutes and the demon flesh has been turning into a putrid sludge. My brothers must have done something as just after this a strong breeze keeps the scent away. I smile at them and they seem proud in knowing how to do something I don¡¯t.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so pleased, you two have always been better at that than me.¡±


    They don¡¯t respond but turn to hide their respective faces from me as they continue to pile up the bodies not turning into a putrid and likely toxic sludge. I probably shouldn¡¯t let them do this job, but it needs done and I do not know how long it will take for mom to wake up. I¡¯m going to be in enough trouble without the evidence of a massacre sitting in our front yard.


    By the time the trio all healed, the corpses or rather the canibalized remains of the squatters are all piled up. I smile at my brothers and tell them that I¡¯ll take care of the rest. They rush off inside, probably to watch TV as I would have done were I still 12. Though they could be different, they never got really into the kid things.


    I try healing my shoulder, it didn¡¯t work during the fight but the demon must have been doing something to counter me. It is still resisting, but my muscle and skin begin to slowly regrow. I take a sharp breath as a jolt of pain from what I assume is a nerve reconnecting.


    The trio are looking at me, they do not seem to know what to do. I guess the house doesn¡¯t fit the mansion estate that they were probably expecting.


    ¡°Just go inside and make yourselves comfortable. If you need something just ask my brothers or wait for me to finish up out here.¡±


    They smile and do so, though I can see that they are having a whispered conversation. I hope they are not too disappointed but they¡¯ll be happy to know that there is more soda should they want some.


    The stench of the burning bodies was not as bad as the demon sludge and is likewise taken away in the breeze my brothers created. The bodies burn faster than the ones I burnt in font of Outdoor World. Is it because my magic is getting stronger? Or did this conjured flame just happen to be better at burning?


    A pointless question that I do not have the luxury to search for an answer. Too many questions, too much that I need to learn. I am too weak. I need to get stronger. At least my family is safe, injured but safe. I also wonder how dad is doing, but there is definitely nothing I can do about him not being here.


    The ash of the corpses spreads into the wind and for a fraction of a second I think of burning the demon sludge before I notice that it is almost gone on its own. Nasty, but also convenient since it does not require me to clean up.


    Now I need to get the power back on. The power lines are dead/down across town so I¡¯ll have to set up the generator, that is in the garage. So I walk over to it and find that it is much lighter than I remember. I could have picked it up but it is still bulky and uncomfortable to carry alone.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Once I am at the breaker box, I think that is the right term, for the connection between the house and power line I set down the generator. The switches are unlabeled but one side should lead to the outside power lines and the other a local connection. Part of the reason why dad bought this house was because the original owner was paranoid and built a lot of self-sufficiency stuff around the property.


    No solar panels but that is probably more due to how old the house is than their usefulness. I find a place to put the female end of an extension cord on the box. The prongs look odd but that is probably to handle the higher voltage. So, I connect the generator through that and start it up. Dad keeps it full, ¡®just in case''. Not that it would be too much of an issue with the gallons of stolen fuel I have stored in void cache.


    The generator gives me no trouble and starts right up. And I start flipping switches until the lights in the kitchen turn on and the oven has it''s power failure beep. I don¡¯t think this was built correctly, but it works.


    It ends up being a larger switch than the others. I try to feel to flow of electricity to make sure that it is not flowing out into the power grid. That would ruin the generator if it tried to light up the whole grid.


    It isn¡¯t and so I leave it as it is and go inside turning off many of the extra appliances we are not currently using. I do not think the generator is meant to run that much power long term.


    While I was turning off the lights as it is daytime, I hear the water pump turn on and fill the water heater. Hot baths and showers, that will be much better than a bucket of warm water.


    I hear the TV turn on, and as I would expect with the amount of damage the infrastructure in town took the cable is out. We have it running along with the power lines and a lot of the poles are down.


    I over to the living room to see the trio watching it in amazement as the twins start changing to the local channels. Those are broadcast over the air. A few seconds after I enter the room they found one that has content. It¡¯s a news station, though what is being sent out is not the regular local news.


    The president is talking and it looks like he had been for a while already. There are several members of his cabinet and military officers are standing around him.


    ¡° . . . by the end of the week all military installations within our borders should be accounted for and ready to begin securing the larger towns and cities.


    Some of the larger cities in areas where civilian militia were formed have already been secured. The military will be working on an order to help as many people as possible. The order will be based on population of areas and the threats that are there.¡±


    The few people that seem to be reporters start to interrupt him with questions. Some of them are clearly still trying to stir up unrest against him.


    I smile as he ignores them and their microphones are turned off. I guess in the middle of a global disaster he doesn¡¯t have time to mess with them anymore.


    He and the others there look tired while the reporters are clearly sleeping and eating just fine.


    ¡°On another note, those in Congress and the Senate have passed a declaration of war against a people that refer to themselves as Althaen.


    The other nations and peoples who have appeared in this disaster seem to be willing to engage in diplomacy. Protect the people of the United States of America while we mobilize, and I will see that you are met at the table of diplomacy rather then killed by the military.¡±


    Mr President then steps away from his pulpit and a military officer gets up and interrupts the now near shouting reporters.


    ¡°Rather than answering questions, we will be showing some footage from a battle fought in Florida. This is to warn our people of who to stay away from and a warning to other nations of what we will do if you are hostile as these people were.


    This broadcast will be resent every hour on the hour through the second week of February.¡±


    The video then cuts to a camp set up similarly to the Althaen camp nearby. It is a different city, after all I am not in Florida.


    The camera zooms in on several Althaen soldiers guarding their walls and then pans over to some nobles. I doubt that most can recognize the difference without having been in one of those camps.


    The camp is then subjected to precision bombing by what I assume are jet bombers and fighters. I don¡¯t know enough to recognize the models.


    After what I can only assume was a Magister took down a plane with some lightning magic a cruise missile is launched at his location. The bombing runs continue until it is clear that there is not another Magister and then a number of soldiers move in to clean up the leftover forces.


    The video ends with some soldiers rescuing civilians from the slave conditions of the camp.


    I smile as the TV turns to a blank blue screen. The military is getting stuff done and protecting us. I wonder if the nearby base is safe? From the Althaen they shouldn¡¯t have much trouble, but a pack of demons would be a problem, and there was one neaby recently. Our military has no supernatural anything as far as I know.


    I turn to my brothers who just smile and ask if I¡¯m going to cook food. I would have thought that they would handle this poorer but then again all of us use magic so we already knew stuff like all this could exist. I nod, and begin to check on what spoiled in the fridge and freezer.

 Chapter 060

    The next weakest of the demons are the quasits. Like all demons, they require being given or must create a body to truly interact on the physical planes. While small and weak, compared to other demons they are tricky and fast. They are able to use some magic though most of it aside from some ingenious use of illusion while tracking their query is of little use. Many of the fools who become demonologists or other practitioners of demonic arts bind quasits as familiars. The quasit is not too dangerous so long as it has not gorged or in a large pack. They still are one of the craftiest of lesser fiends. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After everyone eats the pasta I ended up cooking after finding almost all of the perishable goods had gone bad, I am sitting at the table thinking of where everyone will sleep.


    When we were traveling still, the trio would just be with me but I have no chance of mom allowing that to happen. I¡¯ll have to end up on the couch, and there is also the question of where Abagail will stay. Once Bryan wakes they¡¯ll have the same problem I have.


    I hear someone walk up behind me and turn to see a six-foot-tall woman with shoulder length brown hair, my mother. I stand up and she moves to hug me, she squeezes me as hard as she can and if my body had not been reinforced by all the dragon stuff I am sure I would not have been able to breathe.


    After a few short minutes of her death grip hug and light crying she breaks away and looks around the room at my brothers, Abagail, and the trio. She ignores them for a bit after that and turns back to me. Her joy of her lost son coming home pushed aside she starts asking questions I know will end up with me in trouble. Should I lie? No mom always knows, and the others will probably be questioned after me.


    ¡°Where have you been? Are you okay? What were those red things? Who are these people? What did you do to yourself?¡±


    Too many questions at once. At least I can pick which one to answer first. What is the best order to stay out of trouble?


    ¡°I¡¯m fine mom, slow down.¡±


    I push her towards the one empty chair left from the house and she sits down. This will take a while. There are so many days to go through.


    ¡°We will take turns telling you about what has been going on the last weeks. In short, the red people are demons, my hair and eyes are because of magic, and the four girls along with Bryan traveled with me here and we have been helping each other.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me any lies. Magic is not real.¡±


    I pull a bottle of apple juice from void cache and set it on the table. There is a look of disbelief on her face. That is not something that I could have had up my sleeve.


    ¡°Magic is real. Demons are real. That¡¯s what caused all this mess we have right now.¡±


    She still doesn¡¯t seem to believe it but does not say anything. At least she is not like her sister Aunt Rida who would be ranting about how magic is satanic and how I need to repent now. Well, some of it is satanic so I shouldn¡¯t judge her too harshly on that.


    I turn to the girls and introduce them each by name, even getting the twin sisters names right. They are dressed differently today so that made it easier. This of course brought a question from my mom, one I thought my brothers would have asked first.


    ¡°Why do they have pointed ears?¡±


    Before I can answer Talia does with a mostly real smile. She is irked that the first thing said about her is ¡®her ears are pointy''.


    ¡°Sister and me are elves, mother in law.¡±


    Both my mom and me just sit there stunned for a moment. She just implied that she is my wife, I never agreed to that. I don¡¯t plan on ever casting her aside later though. My thoughts take a different direction as I see Abagail trying to hold in a laugh.


    I don¡¯t get the opportunity to act on my new idea before my mom runs over to Talia.


    ¡°When did you meet my son?¡±


    ¡°Just over two weeks ago.¡±


    And my mom instantly begins to frown. That is far too quick in her mind, and I would agree. If we hadn¡¯t been saving each other¡¯s lives we would not have bonded as a group yet.


    She then smiles at Talia, and turns back to me. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you brought home a girlfriend. She¡¯s still learning English, right?¡±


    Mom must have noticed Abagail¡¯s laughter. I open my mouth, but find myself being glared at as one of my twin brothers answer for me.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Brother brought home three girlfriends¡±


    The trio have a bit of pride showing during my brothers'' statement. My mom turn to the four girls in the room other than herself and asks rather coldly ¡°who are the other two girls?¡±


    ¡°Kythia and Lysan.¡± I respond in a near whisper as I know I am now in trouble.


    ¡°Speak up¡±


    I repeat my previous answer a bit louder.


    ¡°Adrian go to your room. Everyone other that you three, go outside for a bit.¡±


    I get up and slowly walk out of the room. Now she is going to learn that I¡¯m sleeping with all of them. I need to hide my games or she is going to take them away.


    I start stashing my computers and books in void cache, keeping them separated from Bryan¡¯s.


    <hr>


    Kathrine Ravnos


    <hr>


    I have no idea what is going on. I woke up from a nightmare that my oldest son Adrian was missing for weeks and he came home while his little brothers were fighting some giant reddish person with lightning. I lost my arm before passing out as my son turned into some lizard.


    I bolt up in my bed. A cold sweat dripping off my body. I am in a filthy shirt and pants, torn and smelling like that weeklong nightmare was true.


    I touch my left arm, the one lost as I tried to defend Frank from some red winged man bat. I stumble out of bed. I want to see my sons. Are they alright? I haven¡¯t seen Adrian for a few days ever since the news had a report on monsters before the TV stopped working.


    I should have drove to go get him. Why didn¡¯t I go? Was it because the twins were throwing up or that Randy called and told me to stay home?


    I walk into the hallway and find the lights are on. I thought the power was out. The sounds of people eating comes from the dining room.


    I walk quickly and see my son, a bit taller and with the same black-blue hair that he had in my nightmare. I run up and hug him tightly, my boy is safe. A few tears of relief soak into his shirt unnoticed by us both.


    <hr>


    Adrian has gone to his room and the others gone as I continue to look at the three girlfriends of my son.


    They are all pretty though the one who is not an ''elf'' seems a little old to be dating my 17-year-old son. They must be why my son dyed his hair. He likes them, but I can¡¯t just let them drag him into whatever deviancy that would get two teenagers to have plastic surgery on their ears.


    ¡°What are you doing with my son. Don¡¯t give me any of this elves and magic bullshit.¡±


    The twin girls look at each other in confusion, the older girl starts talking and begins to tell me a story of how their homeland was broken and destroyed so they came here and meet my son after he saved their lives from ¡®orcs¡¯.


    He protected them from other people from their home? and traveled through several places that were dangerous. None of the descriptions I would have believed if the older girl had not started showing me more magic than just pulling an item from a sleeve.


    My heart clenches and I am horrified by what my son had to go through to come home. I can¡¯t believe my son who is so caring for his brothers and me when we have been sick in the past or when his brothers injured themselves in their rough housing could just leave others to die. I can¡¯t believe that he would manipulate others into fighting and killing each other just to get home easier.


    The ¡®elves¡¯ are real, after feeling their ears I can tell that they are natural. It isn¡¯t a graft or synthetic prosthetic. All of it is real, that nightmare was real. Those ¡®demons¡¯, the locking myself in the cellar to die with my sons, all of it. I almost start to break down, but I need to be strong for my boys. I take a deep breath and turn back to the girls.


    Thethree of them all seem to truly like my son but they know my son in circumstances of danger, not my little boy who just wants to sit around and play games or read. Now to ask the questions that I fear the answer to.


    ¡°How far have you gone with my son?¡±


    There is a bit of confusion in their eyes as they do not immediately understand what I am asking about. One of the elf girls, Talia answers. Her own face and her sister¡¯s turning red.


    ¡°We gave him our maidenheads¡±


    Anger rushes through me. Adrian knows better than this. He should not have been in a relationship with all three of them at once and he knows that he is supposed to wait until after marriage. He is in so much trouble, the only thing I haven¡¯t heard about that I would be upset by is how he lost his car and drugs.


    My emotions must have shown because the elves seemed scared by whatever face I was making and the human woman started talking.


    ¡°If you mad at your son please don¡¯t be. I know people here on Terra frown on having multiple mates but it was our idea and not his. . .¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I am mad about. It is but it¡¯s that he¡¯s sleeping with you. He knows he should not have.¡±


    There is a bit of confusion, on Kythia''s face though the elves seemed to understand this better.


    ¡°But my wolf listened to him and we are a mating pair?¡±


    Confused by the reference to her wolf, I do not catch the end of the sentence.


    ¡°Wolf?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a werewolf. My beast side submitted to him, so he is my alpha.¡±


    I don¡¯t even begin to try to figure that out on my own and turn to the elven girls. Luckily the shier of the two starts to explain it.


    ¡°For her pack that is the equivalent of promising to be his until death. They are more animalistic in their family units. If another¡¯s beast submits then they will follow until death.¡±


    The werewolf girl blushes a bit at this point. She didn¡¯t bat an eye when I was told my son is sleeping with her but she gets embarrassed about this? These girls are strange and I do not think that they are being a good influence on my son. But it may already be too late, they all have the same twinkle in their eyes when talking about my son that I had when I looked at myself in the mirror while getting ready for Randy to take me to our high school prom.


    They love him and he seemed happy eating with them. I don¡¯t like it but my son¡¯s happiness is more important than my own. I am still going to punish him for all this, but I won¡¯t interfere too much. I turn to the elves with a question in my gaze.


    ¡°We agreed with him to stay with him. There are no required ceremonies for elves, we are his women.¡±


    The shy girl spoke again, barely a whisper but I heard it. They are foreigners with foreign customs. How much does my son know about what these girls are thinking about their relations? I look the three of them in the eyes for a second before I leave to go punish my son.


    I don¡¯t like how the werewolf¡¯s gaze met my own, she seemed to want to fight like a provoked dog. She is violent and I¡¯ll need to see if she is hurting him too.

 Chapter 061

    The dretch barely a step up from a lemure is the lowest of the second weakest demon in existence. They are slow, stupid and all around terrible combatants in all but two areas: sheer numbers and that they like other demons are resistant to many attacks. Their humanoid body of a hunchback with tiny legs, oversized arms and a goblin-like face take up almost as much space as a human male. Other demons often use them as shock troops as their fear of their stronger kin is greater than their fear of death, making it easy to coral them into running straight into the enemy army. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I just finished storing the books on the bookshelf of my room, the last of the items that I use for entertainment at home when the door opens and I know without looking that it is my mom coming in.


    She looks around the room, slightly surprised that the desk and bookshelf are both now empty. I already know what is going to come next. I will be scolded and guilt tripped as dad is not home to administer the physical punishments that I am deserving. I sit down on my chair and find that the cushions are not quite right anymore. Mom closes the door and sits on the corner of my bed, facing me. She asks the same question she always starts with ever since I turned twelve.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    This time I do not know which mistake she is asking about. Do I just pick one or ask and hope she didn¡¯t learn of all my mistakes? I might as well just get it all over with, she always knows what I¡¯ve done or finds out no matter how I¡¯ve hid it in the past. Magic was the only thing I was ever able to keep hidden.


    ¡°Which mistake?¡±


    ¡°What mistakes did you make?¡± she asks with a frown.


    Dammit, if I could have just guessed which one she meant I might have finally gotten away with something.


    ¡°I crashed my car, killed people, stole food, stole weapons, stole clothing, started fights, went out with girls without telling you, and then slept with them.¡±


    I head goes down as the shame of confessing what I had done to my mother crashes down on me. I have been a terrible person to everyone aside from my immediate friends since the start of this apocalypse. My mom just waits patiently, she wants each one explained. I sigh and begin in the order that I stated them in, maybe she will accept some of my reasons as valid.


    ¡°I crashed the car to save my life. A hill giant was on the road and noticed us.¡±


    Mom, nods. Apparently, she accepted that or is waiting to scold me at the end. Probably the latter, she doesn¡¯t accept what has happened to the outside world. Unless her talk with the trio changed that I¡¯ll have to add lying to my list of mistakes.


    ¡°The killing and thefts were all except for one, acts to survive. I killed others in defense and stole what we needed to live and get back home. Except for when I stole a necklace Talia pawned to pay for medicine while I was injured. That was because the merchant refused to sell and had wronged her when she sold it, and because it would make her happy to have it back.¡±


    Mom frowns at the part about Talia¡¯s mother¡¯s necklace but nods to the rest of the explanation.


    ¡°I talked the gangs into fighting a group of people called the Althaen because the Althaen were trying to kill me. They are slavers and murderers. They deserve to die and not just for what they have done to me.¡±


    Hatred seeps into my words and mom gets up from the bed. She moves and hugs me.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t judge people like that. It is not your place to decide. We have law and order for a reason.¡±


    I calm down a bit and she lets go. I missed mom comforting me when things were hard. Unfortunately, she is wrong. There is no law enforcing order on our streets.


    ¡°You are wrong. It is chaos out there right now. The only law that kept me safe was the law of the sword. If I did not do what I had done, I would be dead. We would all have been dead long before fighting those demons on our doorstep.


    I want the rule of law to come back, but right now it is not here. Only the rule of the sword kept me safe.¡±


    There is sadness in my mother¡¯s eyes as she hugs me again. She did not counter what I had just said, but I can tell she did not approve. She would not want to see what I have done. I would do it again but I don¡¯t want her or my brothers to see it.


    After a moment, she backs up to the bed and sits down. I am to continue. This is the part that will be hardest to give a good why. Except for the theft of the necklace I might not get in trouble because of my reasons in doing what I did. My actions with the trio, aside from expanding it to be all three of them I have no justification.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t plan on anything with the girls. They needed help and afterwards wanted to travel together for safety in numbers. They were better fighters than me or Bryan so we wanted them to come along.


    That started changing after Tomas died and we end up in the Althaen camp.¡±


    I shed a tear over the death of my friend, and another reminder of how weak I really am. If I was strong and powerful then he wouldn¡¯t have died and we never would have had to enter into that camp.


    Mom just sits there as I wipe away the tear. She knows that there is more, after all I am basically telling her how I got together with three girls all at once.


    ¡°At the camp Kythia was really helpful in tricking the Althaen so they would not just kill us outright or enslave us. They have laws, but I never want to follow their set of rules again.


    After a few days, there was a raid and Bryan was almost dead, so at my request she moved some of his injuries to me. Talia was being a cruel bitch because of some trust problems but Lysan and Kythia were kind and helped me save my friend¡¯s life.


    I was unconscious for a few days, during which the trio sold everything they had to help Bryan and me recover. After waking, the Althaen wanted to execute us all for desertion of duty. There was a trial by combat that they cheated in but I still won in the end.


    After another raid, there was a feast to celebrate the arrival of some high-ranking member of their society. During that I got drunk on accident, I didn¡¯t recognize wine for what it was and woke up having slept with Kythia.


    Then we left the camp on a mission for them, which was a cover to assassinate the lot of us. After that we stayed in homes as we traveled and the elven twins confessed to liking me and the three had talked and agreed that they would rather let me have all of them than just one being with me. Talia had apologized over her earlier actions and we were getting along well, and I like both Kythia and Lysan so I agreed. We started having a physical relationship as well right after.¡±


    My face turned red over the last sentence but within I could still feel a bit of pride over having three girls. My mom doesn¡¯t immediately speak up but rather waits a moment. She is trying to figure out what to say.


    ¡°Are they all nice to you? None of them have hurt you or made you do anything against your will, right?¡±


    Confused as to why the questions are going in this direction I answer yes and no in that order. Mom gets up and starts checking my back for bruises. She of course finds nothing as I healed myself after the fight with the demons. Does she think I am being compelled by the trio? I push her off and speak up more assertively to answer the prior questions.


    ¡°They are very nice and Talia is the only one who ever said anything mean to me. She has repented of that and I like being with them.¡±


    Mom steps back for a bit and seems troubled but then smiles and starts her scolding.


    ¡°Adrian I do not approve of those girls and you shouldn¡¯t . . .¡±


    I don¡¯t hear the rest due to dragon-me¡¯s mental shouts of not letting the hoard be taken away. I happen to agree very much to that and soon after interrupt my mom.


    ¡°I like them, and they are staying unless they want to leave. I promised I wouldn¡¯t throw them away and want them to stay.¡±


    ¡°. . . If you would have let me finish I was going to say that while I don¡¯t approve of them or how you started your relationship I won¡¯t force you to separate. Polygamy is wrong and you are too young to be in the relationship you are in but all that I really care about is that you are safe and happy.¡±


    ¡°I am too young for a girlfriend, but dad is always telling me to bring one home?¡±


    ¡°That is not the relationship that they think you have.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?¡±


    ¡°I am not sure. Kythia seems to be something like lifelong mate, while the elves may be closer to husband.¡±


    I sit stunned for a moment. We never talked about just what we are to each other. I thought boyfriend and girlfriend but maybe it was more on their side. I feel okay with it being more, even if I know I am not ready for being a husband. I can barely keep myself alive let alone a family safe. I have no job or place to call my own either.


    I was never going to leave them though, there is no way that dragon-me would allow it anyways. So what if I get more of what I thought would be later now? That would explain why they were so willing to have sex. We will have to talk, and I don¡¯t think mom is going to let us keep sleeping all together.


    I stay sitting and look at my mom, I don¡¯t really have anything to say right now and she hasn¡¯t given me any punishment.


    ¡°Adrian, I don¡¯t approve of most of your recent actions. Theft is wrong, only in absolute necessity should you . . .¡±


    I partially tune out as my mom goes on scolding me about the errors of my ways, though she doesn¡¯t scold me over the killingsor car; just the theft of Talia''s necklace and manipulating others to fight and die. Mom and dad are strict but some excuses are acceptable.


    Several minutes pass before she gets to the part that I assume will be the harshest and the part I think I actually deserve. This part I pay attention to.


    ¡°. . . You are too young to be in the relationship you are in with those girls. What were you thinking when you just started sleeping with them?


    Or about openly two timing their whole group? How am I supposed to face my siblings now? What are we going to do when my parents come visit? How are they going to be able to wear white at the wedding now? And what if you already got them pregnant?


    Think before you act Adrian. I don¡¯t like it but if they make you happy and treat you well and if you are not just thinking with what is in your pants I won¡¯t stop you.


    That doesn¡¯t mean that you can keep sinning and continue as you have been either though. No more sex until you are married, not under my roof.¡±


    Mom stops and just stares at me until I nod. I thought there would be more. She went on for minutes about the stealing, but this wasn¡¯t as justified and I only get a small scolding?


    Not going to argue about that. She gives me another hug and then leaves. She is upset by what I did but only made me promise not to have sex under her roof. She usually words things better than that, and I was expecting her to chain me to a wall like dad always said would happen if I did what I did.


    Was that on purpose because polygamous marriage is illegal and she doesn¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to actually have one? I¡¯m not ready for marriage yet anyways, but I will have to find or make someone perform one when I want to. Maybe the Mormons, or one of those groups that say they¡¯re the real Mormons.

 Chapter 062

    The babu or skinless man as they are often called by those who do not know what they are demons of equivalent power to a well-trained warrior. They are soldiers, scouts and assassins for the abyssal armies. While not smart in wit they are skillful and clever in their assignments given by their greater kin. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Walking out of my room as the sun is setting in the windows of the house, I head to where I assume the trio will be. I can hear someone messing with the TV but that just turns out to be Abagail.


    I hear the shower turn on at the other end of the house and can assume after getting closer that the trio are using it. I recognize the clothes strewn into the Hall and the door was left open.


    I want to go join them but just close the door before they notice me. I¡¯ll get a place ready for them to sleep. Or rather I¡¯ll give them my room and sleep elsewhere, I¡¯ll keep my promise to mom.


    After some time, they finish and leave the shower, walking straight into the room I am sitting. K is wearing only a towel as her spare clothes are stored in the void cache and not the twins¡¯ satchel of holding.


    I pull out some of K¡¯s clothes and pass them to her as I speak.


    ¡°You can spend the night in the room behind me. I have to take care of some stuff so don¡¯t wait on me, and we need to talk in the morning.¡±


    They are tired, I can see it but they want to wait for me. Even so they nod and go into my room. K drops the towel so I can see her as she puts on some clothes slowly but I ignore the tightening of my pants as I smile and walk to the bathroom. It is a mess of spilled water and scattered soap. They did not use the curtains for the shower, with a sigh I close the door behind me and then cause all the spilt water to turn to steam with Fire.


    The open window let¡¯s all the steam out and I start my own bath while thinking of what to do the next few days.


    <hr>


    There are a lot of things that I need to do before too long:


    1 I need to figure out just how the trio sees our relationship, something I should know about but would rather not talk about.


    2 Get K or maybe Talia to start teaching me how to fight better.


    3 Learn more about anatomy, souls and anything else that could help me get stronger in my magics.


    4 Talk mom and my brothers into the idea of traveling towards Colorado.


    5 Figure out why my little brothers were so good with the spear, something I know they have not seen before.


    6 Do something about dragon-me taking over, so he can¡¯t take control again.


    7 Work on me-but-not-me¡¯s Lycanthropy spirit something.


    8 Get mom to fully accept some of the world¡¯s changes.


    9 Prepare rations and other supplies to get to at least KC.


    10 Attempt to get transportation to move around faster, maybe the cars from the squatters?


    11 Wrangle more power out of the Grey Dream tonight.


    12 Help Bryan and the others fully recover from the fight with the demons.


    13 Heal my dragon form.


    14 Start learning more languages like this Necol mentioned in one of Dam?¡¯s books.


    15 Get mom and my brothers to accept the relationship I have with the trio.


    I¡¯ll need to reorder these in priority later but for now this is enough to work on for the next few days. Out of the tub I realize that I did not grab a spare set of clothes from my room and contrary to my claims otherwise; I do not actually know where everything is in that ''ordered chaos'', just the rough locations. Not enough to use Translocation Grasp.


    I walk past my mom when I enter the room wearing only a towel to see that the trio had already fallen asleep, I quickly dress before my mom things anything is going on and leave. Though I do linger long enough to grab extraclothes to avoid unnecessary risk. After returning to the kitchen to get more food, I will need the biomass while healing the dragon body, mom walks up and takes a look at the rather large pile I plan on eating.


    Neither of us say anything but she stays for a moment before going off to bed herself. I am not really tired due to the effects of void sustenance and need to get the healing done while no one is watching. Only about two thirds of the body is still around and I don¡¯t want to make anyone worry. Seeing a heavily injured person in battle and in recovery are very different things.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    After eating I climb up onto the roof so no one can look out the window and accidently see me before I shift to the dragon from. Pain floods my mind and I can feel blood being drained out of the many wounds that cover this body. I start the healing in the more heavily injured areas and work to stem the flow of my lifeblood onto the roof. I accelerate my metabolism to process the food I just gorged on and the pain begins to lessen ever so slowly.


    Lacking the same amount of knowledge about my draconic anatomy as my human form, the healing takes longer and requires greater focus. It is several hours into the night before all the wounds are closed, though the scales take even longer to mend. In the end, I give up on them for tonight as I ran out of mass to use without cannibalizing other parts of the body.


    So, I just curl up on the roof and drift to sleep, I should wake up before anyone else does anyways.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes to the grey mists of the Grey Dream. I do not like it here because I cannot trust the spirits that run it. They are not my ally and have tried to get me killed, I do not know exactly what they want but it is not to be helpful like they are telling me.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Dragon Knight: Void 20 (+20SP, +50 EP, +1Attribute Point), Magus 14 (+20SP), Spear 2 (+2SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Mixed Kills: + 25EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Partial Synchronization: +50EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Demon Slain: +150 EP, +150SP,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes +


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 285


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 370


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    There is plenty of power being granted by the dream but it is almost all for dragon-me, not for actual me. I do not want to further empower him; he needs to become me not me become him. I need to get stronger before I let him get stronger again.


    I¡¯ll leave the EP for later once I feel strong enough to deal with a stronger dragon-me. I open up the screen for my magic.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Arcane Power 4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Planar 0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Life 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Mind 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    160 Soul 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Primal 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    640 Time 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    10 Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Fire 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Lightning 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Light 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I take an increase to Soul and the cost of further purchases on it quadruple. There is defiantly something about what I can do with that Sphere that will be a threat to them. I take an increase in Primal as well. I do not know much about that Sphere other than that it lets me feel when a backlash is building up.


    Next I should deal with the attribute point.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="623">


    Attribute Point: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 30


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 851


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 360


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I put the point in charisma since that seems to be to the amount of mana I get. My comprehension is good, I just lack the time to use it. I need a faster track to power. I need strength and I need it quickly, the world is now too dangerous and I have too many factions seeking my death.


    This is all I can get out of the Grey Dream, so I close my eyes and leave it. It is easy to leave here, the spirits help but I am not even fully here. Dragon-me and me-but-not-me do not act here though they know what I do. Reading my memory of it probably.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes in dragon form. It is just a few minutes past dawn and I am unsure as to why I slept so long. Is it because I feel safer at home? Or perhaps the stress on my body from the healing needed more to be well rested?


    It doesn¡¯t matter, I have more important things to do that ponder that question. I¡¯ll get food ready and then get K to teach me some combat skills. I should also talk to her and the twins about what mom said. I may be okay with possibly being more than just a boyfriend for them, but there is no way I am ready for much more than what I already consider us to be. In time, probably, they are mine and I don¡¯t want them to leave me.


    I give a mental strike at dragon-me for influencing my thoughts. They are not possessions, they are their own, even ifthey are my girlfriends.

 Chapter 063

    Succubi and Inccubi are both originally demons under the service of Mamphet, however after a deal made between the succubusQueen and Asmodeus they now work as devils.


    Both fiends fill the same role, seducer, manipulator and schemer. They play upon your desires to make you a tool for their games and then collect your soul and essence to strengthen themselves. In combat both creatures rely on their ability to flee and manipulate minds to survive but it is their compelling kiss and draining touches out of combat that are the true danger.


    The few Succubi and Inccubi who are still members of the demonic hoard are much more likely to have their calls of aid answered by their stronger kin as their rarity makes the owed favor far more valuable than they used to be. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    As I finish cooking more pasta and some rice as it is most of what is still usable in the cupboards, my brothers and the trio wander into the dining room.


    It must be a Saturday or Sunday since mom is still asleep after dawn. I''ve lost track of the date, it is not that important without civilization running properly.


    While it is not breakfast food and certainly not the best meal I ever prepared there are no complaints from my brothers. I think K gave me a look for a second, this is the first meal I¡¯ve given her that didn¡¯t have any meat. She asks me a question while serving herself some of the rice pasta and sauce.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    My mate seems troubled this morning, he also did not sleep with any of us last night like normal. I sit down at the table his family uses for eating, I can tell from how it smells and the stains of food that give it faint scents. The food given does not have meat, I am sad at first but there is no way my mate could have continued indefinitely with the seasoned meats.


    My mate¡¯s kin are strange. His mother is weak, she would not have survived the first changing if she were born to my pack. She does not seem to have any skill or power, why is she a Ravnos? If it were not for how she clearly is the mother of my mate I would not have backed down from her challenge last night.


    His brothers smell wrong, of decay but not of the body. They are Ravnos but something is wrong with them; they smell like stagnant diseased water if water were people. They are unnatural, and I think Moonlight Runner is refusing to acknowledge their presence.


    I take some of the food offered by my mate, maybe he wants me to bring him meat too? Too bad I cannot smell any wild thing suitable for eating nearby. Maybe further out of this massive city. My mate did talk earlier about moving towards another place.


    ¡°You wanted to talk about something?¡±


    I ask my mate in elvish, as I want to have as little interaction with whatever unnatural things my mate thinks are his brothers. They are his kin, but something is off, the bodies are of his mother but the smell is being overridden by something else.


    ¡°Yes, it may sound weird but there was actually two things. I want to know how you all see your relationship with me. I also wanted to ask you Kythia if you could teach me to fight better, I am too weak.¡±


    The first of his desires confused me, we are mates. Does he not remember dominating me each time we mate? Only after mounting me and the others does he let me take charge. He is the alpha in our paring, and the leader of our pack.


    The second inquiry I am delighted by, that is until he calls himself weak. He killed what I think was a named demon yesterday. A mortal who gave themselves over to a fiend. Hundreds if not thousands of soldiers are generally needed to take down one of those.


    ¡°You are not weak, you are stronger than anyone else here.¡±


    My mate shakes his head.


    ¡°No, I am weak. We all nearly died yesterday. I do not have the power needed to protect, you saw how injured I was. Another hit from that demon and I would have died. My mother lost a limb, Bryan was disemboweled, and all three of you had deep cuts and bites ripped out of you.


    I am weak, I have strength but no idea how to use it. I have magic but lack to knowledge to properly apply it. The only fight I won rather than survive was the one against Talphith. I need to be stronger.¡±


    I frown, my mate is strong how can he not see it. With just his magic he could defeat me and the elven sisters. And what does he mean lack of knowledge, he knows more of magecraft than me without even casting his spells with mana.


    I am about to open my mouth to correct my mate¡¯s judgment of himself when I notice the grin on Talia¡¯s face. This must be some of that humility crap ¡®civilized'' people go on about.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    It does not smell like Adrian is secretly proud of himself. He smells like he thinks he failed, but I could be wrong. His smells are weird, he always smells like he wants to mate but almost never actually tries to. Maybe all of his scents are just really similar. . .


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you get better but you are already strong.¡±


    ¡°I am nothing without my magic.¡±


    This humility does not make sense to me. How is a female supposed to know if a male is a suitable mate if he does not show off his skills? How can I have pride in a mate who debases himself?


    Who a male is matters more than what they have. There were men who were physically bigger than my mate but I fought against their advances. I was not impressed by their actions. I want my mate because he showed me that he was strong and gave me respect. He treats me well and cares about me.


    I do however, notice a thirst for strength I noticed in some of the somewhat weaker but better males in the pack. Males whose pride was paired with temperance. They often overtook the males who were only proud and did not strive to get even better.


    I do not like how my mate is currently acting, but maybe it will drive him to get even stronger. . . I shiver in anticipation of him mounting me after showing off whatever strength it would take him to consider himself strong.


    Maybe I should get stronger instead, and be the one to mount him. . . No, the most satisfying sex we have had was when he nipped at my ear to assert himself. Ridding him has been less enjoyable than being ridden, I like him leading more. . .


    I feel Talia touch me, rousing me from my sidetracked mind. My mate wanted something, did the elven girls already talk about how they love my mate? It is apparently my turn to say something.


    ¡°You are my mate and alpha.¡±


    ¡°And what does that mean?¡±


    My mate is being strange, it means exactly what I have been doing. Do I have to state the obvious?


    ¡°It means I follow you and we protect our pack. We mate for both pleasure and to later bring pups to our pack.¡±


    My mate seems confused at just what that means, he is smart but I think I was his first female friend. My mate is weird and inexperienced in this. His pack must not have taught him these things, the people of Terra are different.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    My brothers frown as they try to listen in on the conversation between the trio and me. They do not know elven and I would actually like to keep it that way, or at least know a language shared by the trio that my family does not. To be able to tell them something without everyone knowing what was said.


    K is strangely absent minded after telling me I am strong. I do not agree, I am weak I do not have the power to do more than barely survive.


    The twins¡¯ explanation of our relationship as lovers seemed much like the name translates except it is permanent until both sides release the other, that and that once they become pregnant then we are considered married. It seems to be a weird mix between namorar in Portuguese and a twisted engagement test for fertility.


    I was not wrong in what I thought our relationship was, there is just more to it than I thought. Some weird stuff that I am not really comfortable with. I¡¯m not going to stop what I am already doing with them but I don¡¯t want to be a father yet and I am too weak to really be what they expect from me right now.


    At least the relationship with K while weird is straight forward. I am her mate and alpha. We have sex, and as her alpha we work together to care for our pack. They seem to be separate things though. The sex and working together for what I would call a family are not connected other than both must be within the same pack.


    I can understand what she sees me as even if I do not understand why it is that way or how she sees me in such a light. I don¡¯t fully understand what the twins said, like always K is more helpful.


    After a few minutes, Abagail helps Bryan to the table as I clear the plates for the six of us that were already here. The table lacks the space for so many to eat at once even if we can all fit in the room.


    K follows me outside after I drop the dishes off at the sink. We spar and my weakness of my lack of martial skill becomes clearly apparent to the few that are watching.


    She has little knowledge of the spear, and the twins have just as little. As we only have the one sword I could not practice with it in our spar so it ended up being unarmed combat.


    I repeatedly get my ass handed to me. I think K is better unarmed than with her sword. I do not get why she uses it aside from that it is sharp and has more reach when she is so good unarmed.


    It all went well until my mom woke up around two hours into K teaching me.


    K throws me after breaking my wrist and I hear my mother screaming as she runs over. I snap my wrist back into place and force it to be healed as I move between the two.


    ¡°Get out of the way, I won¡¯t let her hurt you anymore.¡±


    K starts growling, I¡¯ve seen he do that before during a fight and it does not go well on the receiving end.


    ¡°No, stop mom. I asked her to teach me to fight.¡±


    K takes a step forward and her growl gets louder.


    ¡°Kythia stop it, please don¡¯t get into a fight with my mom.¡±


    ¡°She keeps starting one. You may be the alpha male but I am the alpha female. You choose where we go and who we fight, but I handle domestic affairs within the pack. Your mom has no strength and she keeps challenging me and challenging your decisions.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m his mother, he is young and it¡¯s my job to protect him! I saw you brutalizing my son!¡±


    ¡°You are too weak to protect anything, and if Adrian would use magic he would defeat me without breaking a sweat.¡±


    I grab K from behind, accelerating time around me, making sure to grab her breasts and pull her back from my mom. I am not sure why but she gets really submissive when I do anything sexual to her.


    My mom does not notice anything off by what I did other than that K clearly just submitted to me.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t do anything wrong mom. She only was helping me like I asked.¡±


    ¡°You asked to get thrown around?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m being taught to fight, just like I asked. I think we are done for today though, and I wanted to talk to you, Frank and Anthony about leaving town.¡±


    That I want to pull mom away from K before she ''challenges'' her again is just a part of why to do it now.


    ¡°What? Why would we leave?¡±


    I smile as she is currently distracted from her dislike of K. I don¡¯t get why they don¡¯t get along, K gets along fine with everyone else and the twins don¡¯t seem to be on mom¡¯s bad list. So why K?


    ¡°How about we go inside and sit down, it may take a while to explain.¡±


    Soon enough we are all sitting in the living room, I sit in a single chair to avoid one of the trio cuddling up as we speak. I need to not be distracted right now. My brothers and mother are on one couch while the trio take the other. The piano bench now has Bryan and Abagail.

 Chapter 064

    The Vrok is a large humanoid vulture shaped demon. Other than being a seven-foot-tall predator there are only two abilities to be particularly wary of aside from the general demonic resistances. A group of Vrok can perform a Dance of Ruin to release a shockwave of abyssal power harming all save themselves. The other is that they will call other Vrok and often enough one of the abyssal succubi to do the thinking for them. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Anthony Ravnos


    <hr>


    Adrian has changed in these last weeks; no longer does he treat our magic as a toy. I do not understand how but he can do things he shouldn¡¯t.


    He can shape shift, but there is no way he has that much power already nor the knowledge for it. Even for his ability to manipulate Life to heal as he does makes no sense for him to have but at least that has the ripples in reality that mark it as something done by one of our family.


    I don¡¯t know how he managed to find himself three women, but I think Geldath wanted to try something like that anyways. He is the only one of us not affected by going through our reincarnations and it¡¯s nothing new to us anyways, all of us have lived a life when such things were accepted.


    Adrian and Kathrine have gathered the four of us together, though our guests ended up here as well.


    ¡°We should all talk about a long-term plan to deal with the changes in the world.


    Before coming here Bryan, Abagail, Talia, Lysan, Kythia, and me all decided on moving towards grandpa¡¯s cabins in the mountains of Colorado. They would be easy to defend and they are self-sufficient.¡±


    That would be one of the best places to go, there will be our other kin there and we can defend it together. I don¡¯t think many will like that he chose exiles rather than Ravnos as his future wives but there is our curse so it is probably better as is.The power of the Ravnos is from our souls, not the genes of the body, so there shouldn¡¯t be a problem in crossbreeding.


    Fabricio seems to have the same thoughts as me as he responds to Adrian¡¯s proposal with a vigorous nod. Kathrine however does not immediately accept.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we stay and wait for dad to get home, or the government to act and protect us?¡±


    ¡°That would be nice, but we don¡¯t know how long it would take for dad to get here, if he is even able. The army could defend us but we are not high on the list of places that are considered important to the country. There are also things I don¡¯t think the military would have the ability to protect us from.¡± Adrian responds to Kathrine.


    ¡°That¡¯s silly of course the army can protect us. You got here using sticks and guns so they can just use better guns to protect us.¡±


    Adrian shakes his head.


    ¡°The guns, spears and swords are not what killed everything. We only survived because we also used magic as well. The demons were unharmed by the firearms of the squatters that were here, it is magic that hurt them.


    The military does not use magic so they would have trouble with demons. Maybe big bombs could work but bullets do not.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that could be right. We need to stay here and wait.¡±


    I look at Fabricio, he nods. Kathrine''s ideas really are bad. The only reason why we followed her earlier one was to wait for Adrian to return. This location isn¡¯t viable, we only have a few weeks of food for this many people and other than the house itself there is little to use to defend against attacks.


    ¡°I want to go to Grandpa¡¯s¡±


    ¡°I want to go to Grandpa¡¯s¡±


    Fabricio repeats my interjection into the argument between Adrian and Kathrine.


    Our guests are quiet, but it is clear who they follow. Only Kathrine wants us all to stay. She sighs as she can tell that we all want something different from herself.


    ¡°We don¡¯t even have transportation to get there, my car cannot hold nine people.¡±


    She has caved and moved to why we can''t go. She already lost.


    ¡°Then we take one of the vehicles the bad men brought¡± says Fabricio as he pulls out two sets of car keys.


    I did not notice him pulling those out as we piled up the corpses outside. Still, it is something that we need at the moment. Kathrine just sits there for a bit before Adrian speaks up.


    ¡°We still will need to stay here for a bit to pack up everything and recover from the recent fights.¡±


    ¡°Two weeks¡± Kathrine says.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need that much time, I¡¯ll be fine within a week and I¡¯m the one with the worst injuries here.¡± Bryan interrupts.


    He is right, he only needs to gain back the energy Adrian spent. The sooner we leave the sooner we will ultimately be safe. Others are likely to come around as they search for resources and there is no way Adrian could have gotten rid of everything that is a threat in town.


    ¡°Lets stay here for a week as we prepare to travel. Majority vote rules, all in favor?¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Everyone save Kathrine raises their hands in agreement.


    ¡°Any against?¡±


    No one raises their hand. Kathrine is abstaining from the decision. She just wants to stay here with her sons.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Six days have passed since the discussion over leaving, and aside from when my mom was looking sadly at all of the ''memories'' she would have to leave behind at least until I told her I can carry what I am starting to think is an unlimited number of items with Void Cache.


    There has to be some drawback other than the cost of mana to move an object in or out. I don¡¯t feel any boundaries in wherever it is that I connect to, so maybe that is a drawback. Nothing to keep others out of that emptiness should they be able to cross that sideways step in space.


    I look up having just finished another textbook, this one on physics, to see the trio all sitting there with an unpleasant look on their faces. They have not been as happy the last few days even though I get them whatever they want around the house. I have not spent much time with them though, I have so much I need to do to get stronger.


    ¡°Do you not like us anymore?¡± asks Lysan with tears forming in her eyes.


    I stand up and pull the three of them to me, giving Lysan specifically a tight hug.


    ¡°Of course, I still like all three of you. What could possibly give you the idea that I stopped?¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t been doing anything with us. You just read, eat and train¡± answers Talia.


    ¡°There are reasons for that, I am still weak. I need to learn, and I can only do that through books and practice.¡±


    ¡°So why don¡¯t you spend the night with us at the end of the day anymore?¡± asks K.


    ¡°Let me finish before you get upset, but you know how my mom does not approve of me being with all three of you?¡±


    They nod and I continue.


    ¡°because of that she had me promise not to have sex again until one of two things happened. That we are married or not under her roof anymore.¡±


    K growls and glances towards the side of the house my mom is at. I pull her closer to me, and speak softly into all three of their ears.


    ¡°The night after we leave here I¡¯ll make sure we are all together and catch up on what we missed.¡±


    K stops growling into the distance, and smiles. I think she gets more animalistic in how she acts the closer to the full moon we are.


    ¡°How about we leave today?¡±


    ¡°No, we will leave tomorrow like it was originally planned, besides we still have to get some stuff ready. We were going to wash clothes and pack up all the usable food today remember?¡±


    She frowns but nods.


    I need to make use to set time aside to play with my girlfriends, I didn¡¯t think a few days would worry them enough to confront me over it. That has never been a problem with anyone else before.


    I sigh, regretting all of the times I¡¯ve been turning down the trio to cuddle and play around the last few days. But I¡¯ve finished all of Dam?''s books and most of the textbooks on anatomy, biology and chemistry. I also read a bit on machines and electronics. It is more important right now that I get stronger than to enjoy myself.


    Never have I spent so much time reading to learn. I only slept a few hours every other day, and I kept myself slightly accelerated in time. I barely stopped to eat and have sparring matches with K.


    I love reading, but I don¡¯t want to do this again. Textbooks are nigh always dry and poorly written.


    I pick up the book I just finished and toss it onto the pile of books I will not be reading again. I will still keep them in Void Cache because . . . well I am not sure, hoarding?


    I give each of the trio a quick kiss before pulling them outside to the buckets we are going to use to wash clothes. The washer is broken as Bryan tried to wash blood-stained boots, alone.


    I sit down with everyone else after heating the water with Fire, remembering how the elven twins were giggling about washing my clothes when this was brought up four days ago.


    They also undid the lip at the end of my jeans to try to cover up some of the gap between my pant leg and shoe due to my increased height. I didn¡¯t know how long it took to sew by hand but I really do need to thank them for doing that while I rough housed with K to learn some fighting techniques.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes to the Grey Dream, having spent the rest of the day getting ready to leave with the trio.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Hand-to-Hand 2 (+3 SP), Chemistry 4 (+4 SP), Anatomy 5 (+9 SP), Electronics 1 (+1 SP), Biology 4 (+10 SP), Battle Sense 3 (+3 SP), Mechanics 2 (+3 SP), Light 3 (+15 SP), Lightning 3 (+15SP), Gravity 1 (+5 SP), Althaen (Written) (+2SP), Necrol (Written) (+5 SP), Orc (Written) (+2 SP),


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 370


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I smile as I see a numerical representation of my recent efforts. Though only six days had past, the time I spent was over a week. I still don¡¯t have enough to increase one of the Spheres I want to four. I could get an energy to four but they are easy to learn on their own.


    I did not expect to have enough for anything I wanted anyways, and since I do not yet think it would be a good idea for Dragon-me to become stronger there is nothing for me here.


    <hr>


    It is morning and we have two cars where we have both keys and it is in working condition. Of the four cars: one has the hood smashed in, presumably my me and that demon even though I remember no such thing, there are two cars with manual transmission, and one that was mom''s car.


    Since mom is the only one who knows how to drive a manual she has to drive one of them, I¡¯m taking mom''s car with the trio as it is the only one I know how to drive.


    Mom still does not seem to like my choice in having multiple women, but she seems to at least get alone fairly well with the twins, even if she tends to avoid and ignore K. I hope they start to get along soon.


    I turn to the trio and ask, ¡°Do you remember what these cars are?¡±


    ¡°They are like a carriage but move by fire inside the front instead of being drawn by an animal¡± answers Lysan.


    I smile as I open the doors for them, close enough.


    I got my brothers to sit in the car mom would drive, though that was unnecessary. She ended up not trying to have any specific seating.


    I¡¯m not sure how fast we will be able to drive, or if the highways will even be open as I pull out of our driveway leading the way outlined by the atlas I looked at a few days ago.

 Chapter 065

    The Nabasu while in their youth are a fairly week demon, they drain the living of their vitality and essence much like specters and wraiths can. They are not incorporeal and they also lack many of the abilities other creatures powered by negative energy have. Adult Nabasu have greater control over the powers of death and can snuff out the life force of weaker mortals with ease. They are servants of Orcus and are rarely found under control of another demon Lord.


    They appear to be a fleshy version of a gargoyle and have great skill in aerial combat and fly-by attacks. They are often skilled in vampiric and darkness related magics as they have the intellect to apply them in ways that their enemies often find unexpected.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The trio are rather impressed by how fast a car can move, even if we are only going between twenty and forty miles per hour. While passable the roads do have debris, and crashed cars.


    I rolled down the windows at the request of the girls, we will get further without using the air conditioner anyways. I think K is enjoying the car the most as she has her head out the window.


    That is definitely not safe, but as we are one of only two cars on the road and moving relatively slow it should be fine. That she forgot some of the top buttons on her shirt and giving me a rather distracting view of herself may also be a part of it though.


    I glance back at the car my mom is driving, I thought she would want to separate me from the trio for the driving but would find out that no matter how people were divided I would end up with one or more of my girlfriends in the car. At least after my brothers both made sure to take seats in the other car.


    I didn¡¯t even have enough to offer them anything, usually I would have to offer candy or a ride somewhere.


    Anyways, it has been a few hours and I want to guess that we are half way to Kansas City, I am not actually sure though. Normally I sleep or play games during trips instead of being the one who drives. Even with the map of an atlas in my head I don¡¯t know exactly where we are.


    My mom turns on her blinkers to pull off into a rest stop. Since I only have a third of a tank left she might be near empty. As much as the trio seems to enjoy watching the landscape go by I think they could use a rest stop.


    <hr>


    Arr?ch¨ªnth Alttanin


    <hr>


    I look out the eyes of the mage, it has been the same thing for hours just sitting as the surrounding land changes. At least this has been better than watching the mage read for days with only short breaks to play with one of his hoard. It wasn¡¯t even one of the actually fun playtime¡¯s either just losing fights over and over.


    They are supposed to be ours but I never get to play with our treasures. The mage never lets go of his control over the body. I have only gotten to come out once and that was just a fight.


    I should get a turn, not just the mage getting to do everything. He is not confident in what he can do. I tried to help him by merging but the mage recoiled and lashed out at me a few days ago.


    We may be the same person but if you won''tshare I¡¯ll just take what I deserve as soon as I can. The mage may be stronger than me but I am growing faster than he.


    I smile mentally as I feel something enter our mind. The foolish mage walked into somewhere we should not be. The world spins in the eyes of the mage and I take a step away from his part of our mindspace. I''m not helping unless he asks this time.


    <hr>


    I am surrounded by grey mist. This looks like that Grey Dream place in the mage''s unguarded memories. Am I actually here?


    The information appearing in my head confirms my guess and I find myself grinning.


    I look at my astral body while performing the tasks the mage deems necessary to get the most out of this place.


    My form is no longer a pure dragon as I was when I first awoke. I stand on two legs now and am shaped roughly as the human form of our body is. I still retain my original face, wings, scales and tail but the mage has changed me.


    I have changed him too, his eyes are moving to match mine and his hair to match my scales. I do not think it right that I change more than the mage. Perhaps it is because of my recently awakened status or how thin I am in comparison to the mage in the mind we share?


    Dammit, now I¡¯ve started questioning things that do not need answered.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Fly 4 (+4SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fully Awakened Dragon: Dragon Knight may no longer progress, Dragon class unlocked as level 0. Gains: +50 SP, +100 EP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 172


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 470


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I smile, the mage is such a fool. Why would he want to keep all this potential power away from me? We are parts of the same soul, I can no more kill him than he can me.


    The most I could possibly do is make him take turns with me so I can finally play with the hoard . . .


    Wait, this is my chance, the mage is trapped in some mental prison by whoever owns this territory. I can act and play with the hoard like I deserve.


    Excited, I fail to notice as my astral body shifts to be slightly more like the mage, as I press on EP.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Attribute


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Draconic


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Infusion


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I take the only logical choice, Draconic. Why dilute the magnificence that is me?


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Special


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Power


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The first thing I should do is raise the ¡®age¡¯ of my side of the body.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Breath: Radiance 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Breath: Void 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Chill of the Void 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Juvenile Void Dragon 100


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Young Adult Void Dragon 200</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I suppose there are some sort of requirements for my permitted ¡®age category¡¯. Whatever I take the oldest available option, a ¡®Young Adult¡¯.


    The EP contrary to the labeled costs only drops by an hundred and eighty. I smile and purchase both of the breath weapons before looking back to the Draconic menu to notice the color of Special has changed.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Partial Transformations 100


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I take it, and open up the senses.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Darkvision 25


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Greater Darkvision 50</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Greater Keen Senses 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I take Greater Darkvision dropping the EP gathered up by the mage to seven. A perfectly small number to have as leftover change. Not enough to buy anything else.


    I cannot help but chuckle as power flows into me and the mage. Even if the woman was not eliminating the taints in the power they would be eroded away by the void.


    I turn back to the screen interface as my astral body becomes more solid. The mage was clever in having this created but it is still lacking some of the options I can see in his games. Where can I spend SP to purchase feats or perks?


    As if whatever spirits that run this place did not want to allow it but had to the screen I wanted appears only after a few seconds, rather than immediately as the others were.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Ambidexterity 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Accelerated Learning 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Endurance 50


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Greater Endurance 100</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Fast Healer 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Iron Will 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Lightning Reflexes 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I smile as I purchase Greater Endurance and Accelerated Learning.


    The Grey Dream fades away as I reach for consciousness. The mage is not currently controlling our body so I can easily take hold.


    <hr>


    I bolt upright, and look around.


    The blood relatives of this body are lying unconscious, as are the mage''s friend and his mate. Of my hoard the elves are unconscious but the human who the mage keeps getting a wolf from is sitting up.


    She is looking around and looks straight at me. The light within her eyes is wild like the wolf I so often have to fight within the mindscape.


    That is not the mage''s ''K'', but the wolf within her. I barely my teeth as she growls at me.


    She ceases to growl and speaks in a tongue I do not know. It is not the tongue of the void nor one that lies within the mage''s memory.


    I move towards her, she tenses up until I am really close and grab ahold of her. I pull her up against me and bite her ear. She is a beast, actions will work better than speaking in a tongue she does not understand.


    She calms almost immediately, she knows what the mage does to ''K'' and would be able to tell she is mine.


    The beast lays down and exposes her throat and belly to me. Good she has accepted me as her alpha, or at least I think the title is alpha.


    For part of a moment I think of taking the beast within the mage''s ¡®K¡¯ for a tumble in the grass but I want all of my hoard so I step back from her and sniff the air.


    I can smell far more than the mage ever could before, though he will likely be able to do the same now. He can use any and all of my powers, I wonder if this goes both ways. It would only be fair.


    There is the smell of something draconic nearby, something young that just bit off more than it can chew. Maybe if it was just the mage in our mind this youngling could have taken him but even without me the woman could have defend the mind on her own.


    She must be using the mental prison for her own plans. I do not like her, she is a female inside our mind and soul but she will only interact with the mage. She should not disregard me as she does.


    The beast speaks two words and I can tell it is a name, Moonlight Runner. I smile and speak my own name though she frowns as it is clearly not from the same tongue as her own.


    Moonlight Runner will be mine first and then the mage, but first I will kill and eat the other dragon who decided to touch my hoard. Boundless rage surges forward from the depths of my piece of our soul as this thought passes through my mind.


    The scent of the creature is to the east. In the building, whose roof does not exist in the infrared spectrum. My mage half is a fool in some things, not even checking our other senses before walking into somewhere.


    I look at Moonlight Runner and then towards the building holding the dragon that touched my hoard baring my fangs.


    My companion and treasure growls, she feels anger over the same thing as me. Only the intensity is different, nothing can be as angry as a dragon but another dragon.


    She follows behind me as I walk to the building, it should think we were prey trapped as there are nine minds in its illusions.


    Stifling down as much of my anger as I can I only open the door instead of smashing the wall down. Some of what the mage calls stealth can actually be useful even if it is not something great.


    Within the building, many of its interior walls have been broken, leaving a massive interior with scattered objects hidden within the ruble.


    Center stage, sitting in a sunray not blocked by the illusionary roof is a dragon a bit bigger than a human. His scales are bright and seem to be a blinding white.


    A radiance dragon. Some of the older ones can pass through the vacuum of space but not the void between planes by becoming light. A dangerous foe if it can stay outside of your reach.


    I rush at the radiance dragon, shifting into my original form. Moonlight Runner also follows me but slows for a moment as she sees my glorified form. She will accept me or I will make her do so.


    The dragon notices me as I am now somewhat larger than it. I feel something change and the world shatters. This was an illusion.


    <hr>


    The positions and placement of Moonlight Runner and me do not change though where we are in this building did, and so did the locations of those the mage was traveling with.


    They are standing around the room, awake from the weak illusion that this dragon made.


    The radiance dragon cries out apologies, that it did not know another dragon was nearby.


    He thinks I am mad about it crossing into my territory. No, what he has done is far worse. I am the only one who can understand him judging by the looks on the faces of the others.


    The illusion spell fades and I can see the others waking up and Moonlight Runner giving way to Kythia. Just as the spell fully ends I reach next to the radiance dragon and tackle him. He screams in pain as my claws rend a wing. Cripple an opponent ability to flee is the best way to ensure your ability to kill an opponent in an extended fight.


    ¡°You touched my hoard, you have to die for that.¡±


    The dragon pales either from my words or the golden blood flowing from the ruptured wing.


    The dragon attacks me, it¡¯s claws slice into my sides but my body is tougher than his. Radiance dragons are meant for speed and trickery not a melee as we already are in.


    It begins to exhale a blast of light at me but I jump back and place my wings before me. The young dragon is confused as the wing is the easiest part to damage on a dragon but I am a void dragon and he is sending out light, that is just radiation.


    There is a flare of pain shooting down my wings but most of that radiation is now my sustenance, far more than what it will take to heal from the burns left over.


    I fly back at the other dragon as I try to will my flesh to mend and heal as the mage does but the only thing that happens is my bite reaching the leg on the other dragon.


    So the mage can use my power but I can¡¯t use his. That is bullshit. I clamp down on the front right leg as the radiance dragon tried to cut my throat and exhale a breath of the void.


    The other dragon''s claw falls from the other side of my mouth as the arm it was connected to dissolves into the raw chaotic matter of the void as it slips away from this plane and back to the void between planes.


    There is now fear within the eyes of the radiance dragon, it now knows what he upset. I exhale again and the gravity around us skyrockets just as Kythia jumped over with the blood-stained blade shealways wields.


    The blade cuts into the side of the dragon but dragon hide is tough and resistant to her magics.


    The mage''s mother and kin are being talked to by the elven girls, but I cannot hear them over myroars ofpain as a claw passes through my side. How is it that the mage can handle pain so well?


    I tear a chunk out of the other dragon and swallow it in vengance. The dragon glows brightly as it shifts into being pure light, an attempt to escape. Too bad I can still hurt it even though my claws pass straight through its luminous body.


    I release a breath of light just as this dragon did earlier and it tears through the ball of light and the radiance dragon falls out, its front left leg and wing no longer connected to the rest of it¡¯s body.


    Golden blood is spreading all over the floor and the humans and elves scramble to get out of the way of the spilt blood. The wood of the building lights on fire as the blood touches it, even so it is not yet hot enough to burn me.


    I tackle the likely dying remains of the radiance dragon and rip off another leg to hear it screams. I store the leg in Void Cache to eat later.


    Another leg follows as I don¡¯t want to waste anything and eating him will make me stronger.


    Soon the other dragon is dead and I fly out of the roof that is no longer a fake illusion.


    Landing next to KythiaI shift back and clothe myself, calling clothes directly onto my body with far more skill that the mage could have done. After all Void Cache is my ability and not his.


    I turn to the mother of this form, ¡°this is what the world is now. Monsters that take what is not theirs and kill those in the way of what they want.¡±


    I don¡¯t wait to hear her response as I pull Kythia towards a building that is not on fire.


    I wave my hand and do another act with Void Cache far beyond the skill of the mage; I drop out item after item in an instant setting up a campsite for the others. I don¡¯t want them disturbing my turn with the hoard after all.


    As I pass by the elves I whisper, ¡°follow me¡± with a smirk of knowing that they will do just that.


    We all enter the building though the others take longer than I thought they would. They almost come running to bed for the mage, since we are the same person why aren¡¯t they doing the same for me?


    They seem confused and ready to fight. Why would the hoard turn on us? I frown as it is Lysan who speaks up, there is anger in her voice.


    ¡°Who are you and what have you done to Adrian?¡±


    I smile at her, she really does love us to be so worried over the changes in actionsbetween our two parts. Why does the mage have such trouble seeing the relationship we hold with them?


    ¡°I am Arr?ch¨ªnth Alttanin, the dragon. Adrian and me are the same person, I have not done anything to him.¡±


    ¡°You are the little dragon my mate talked about?¡±


    Somehow the rejection on the face of who I know as Moonlight Runner hurts more than the other two. More so with how she is starting to growl and get ready to fight.


    ¡°I am your mate. Ask Moonlight Runner.¡±


    There is a bit of surprise on Kythia¡¯s face but that name means nothing to the twins. They begin to say something but as the tone is a continued accusation I jump into the air and take on my original form.


    I exhale at the roof as I crash through it. I make sure none of the debris lands near the hoard that rejects me even as my tears do land on them. My wings unfurl and I fly away.


    I am a part of their lover and mate, why do they reject me? I am the pride in our being, our confidence. I am most of the emotion that exists within us and I know what they perceive us to be.


    I land near a outcropping of rocks where I carve a message for the mage before curling up to sleep and just wait for the mage to finish with whatever it is the woman is doing with that illusion that ensnared his mind.

 Chapter 066

    The hezrou is the weakest of the large brute varieties. Looking like a person squished to be slightly flatter and being at least half again the height of a tall human male , they have great strength and toughness. They are hard to kill due to how much punishment they can take and if it were not for their slower movements and low intelligence they would be unkillable. They are skilled in earth magics along with more traditional schools of evocation and conjuration. They also exude a noxious stench that drives away almost anything that tries to sneak up on them and sickens anything even close to melee range.


    <hr>


    Adrian ( Illusion/Dream)


    <hr>


    . . .


    I yawn and turn over to look at the newest distraction, some young pop singer. She was fun enough last night but I just feel hollow now.


    What is the point in doing anything? I have more money now than I can ever spend and there is nothing I have to do but reach for something to have it.


    A little over a year ago my parents died in an accident and I took the money from their life insurance to Vegas and cheated at games of chance with my powers. Eventually every casino refused to serve me and even had multiple investigations into me cheating but they could not find anything.


    The feds couldn¡¯t either when I won every lottery in the US a few days later.


    I just don¡¯t feel like there is a point to doing anything anymore. Everything is just a temporary distraction to the emptiness in my life. I don¡¯t get it, I have everything: money, power, fame and yet nothing makes me feel anything but empty pleasure.


    It just does not last. Maybe I should try something else? I get out of bed to wash and dress myself as I try to think of just what can drive the emptiness away.


    In the end I am unable to think of anything, glancing back at the naked girl on sheets stained with our act last night,I walk out the door.


    <hr>


    The following day after sleeping on a park bench and giving everything I had on me to a mugger, I will wander the slums of town.


    The rich and the things they have do not fill the emptiness I feel. Maybe it works for them but that is not enough for me. I want something else and maybe the poor have it or know of it.


    Eventually I walk by a soup kitchen and after my stomach rumbles the old black man who was working there calls out to me.


    ¡°Young man, come o¡¯er and eat. There is enough for everyone.¡±


    Lacking anything else to do I walk up to him and he passes me a bowl.


    ¡°So what¡¯s yer story?¡±


    I just give him a questioning look and he begins to explain.


    ¡°People don¡¯t look like ye do with without a reason. So what is it? Run away from home? Got caught up n drugs or runnin from the police? Or somethin else?¡±


    ¡°Something else.¡±


    Now it is my turn to get a questioning look. I don¡¯t respond to his look and he speaks again as he pulls out a scrap of paper and a pencil.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Ye look like ye need help, here¡¯s tha address of one of mah friends.¡±


    I look at the address on the paper, I¡¯m not sure where this place is but I can just walk back home and find out.


    <hr>


    It turns out the address is for an abandoned building. I still go there anyways as there is nothing else to do.


    Picking up another girl or buying a new game would just leave me empty soon after.


    When I enter into the building I see a woman in her early thirties maybe late twenties passing out clothes to a few semi starved children.


    She looks up at me and smiles regardless of how I have not bathed or changed clothes in a few days. There is something about her that seems familiar but I cannot quite place it.


    Probably a news article or story about the poor kids in the city.


    ¡°You must be the person Tom told me about, you can call me Alice.¡±


    She says as she approaches with a hand held out. I smile and shake her hand.


    ¡°So why did he think you can help me?¡±


    ¡°This.¡±


    Images of a different life flash through my mind. My real life, this one is an illusion a fake. There I was happy but I¡¯m chasing power, here I have power but am chasing happiness.


    I look at Alice again but she isn¡¯t here anymore, me-but-not-me stands in her place.


    ¡°Why did you have me experience this?¡±


    ¡°To let you see what chasing our power its own sake will bring you.¡±


    She gestures around the room and I find that we are in my apartment in this illusionary world. Everything I ever wanted is here, but it still retains the feeling of being empty as when I was still held in the illusion.


    ¡°Again, why?¡±


    ¡°You are chasing power at the cost of what makes you, you. You are casting away what gives you the reason to chase after the power in trying to obtain it.


    If you don¡¯t keep what is important then you will lose it. Without your family and friends this world is all that power can bring.


    Remember why you need power. Do you?¡±


    ¡°To survive.¡±


    Me-but-not-me raises an eyebrow, ¡°No, to keep those you care about safe. That was your original reason. That is the one you need to remember or this is our fate.¡±


    I had forgotten that. I had started to chase power for its own sake. Would I have left the girls and my games alone for what was over a week for me if I wasn¡¯t casting them aside for power?


    I need to apologize to them. My thoughts are interrupted by the world around me shifting.


    We are now in my mind and not an illusion. Dragon-me is in control of my body and I try to pull him away but me-but-not-me grabs my hand before I reach the image of his flight away from a rest stop.


    ¡°Why do you fear the dragon?¡±


    ¡°He wants to take control.¡±


    Me-but-not-me shakes her head.


    ¡°Do you fear me for that reason? I have the power to change places with you. Take complete control over our body.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to, you are my magic a part of me.¡±


    ¡°So is the dragon. He is just a part of you. I should not have ever told you that you needed to worry about becoming him.¡±


    ¡°Why, isn¡¯t that what has kept me, me?¡±


    ¡°No, the dragon is just like me. A part of you, the dragon wants the same things we do.


    He wants us to be strong, wants us to have what we desire, but unlike your more recent actions he puts the ''hoard'' first.


    You taught him family and friends are real treasures and he keeps that. Look at the recent memories, why did he grab power?¡±


    The more recent thoughts of dragon-me flow into my mind. He thinks we are the same person, aside from a few things he is the same as me. The only differences are that he thinks as a dragon would, he wants me to embrace his part of me and that he wants everything mine to be his and everything of his to be mine.


    He just wanted a turn with what he considers ours. I don¡¯t want to share the trio, they are mine.


    ¡°Is he really just a part of me?¡±


    ¡°As much as I am you but not quite you. Except you kept him at arms length and so he named himself and split further away from you than me.¡±


    ¡°Really Alice?¡±


    ¡°I am you-but-not-you, that includes your humor. Were we not in an illusionary wonderland that was but a dream?¡±


    I find myself smirking at that. Not quite right but that is something I would do myself.


    ¡°Talk to the dragon, make peace with yourself.¡±


    My surroundings dim and I cannot help but wonder why me-but-not-me can do so much to me.


    <hr>


    I feel myself drift in darkness off a bit before I open my eyes to see I am where the image of dragon-me showed him going to sleep.


    It is night, not daytime like when me-but-not-me sent me back to consciousness.

 Chapter 067

    The Glabrezu is one of the larger more powerful demons. A head taller than a man with an additional set of arms which are ended in claws. They tend to have greyish skin and deformations in their head and limbs.


    While physically weaker than a hezrou they are still far stronger than even the strongest of mortals and tend to be great tacticians for the abyssal hoard. They tend not to be skilled in magic but always know at least a few higher level spells.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I look up at the dragon who called himself my mate as he flies away. I am confused and conflicted, he knew the name of my wolf. I had not told my mate much about her so she must have given her name to him.


    He is not Adrian, he is more confident and decisive than my mate, the dragon has far more pride. He is not the wolf that should wake up inside my mate, the wolf and Adrian would be the same person like Moonlight Runner and me.


    Is this dragon the same as Adrian¡¯s future wolf? I look at the elves, they are still shouting into the air for the dragon to give Adrian back.


    Soon they seem to realize that the dragon is not returning, and fall down. Stifling back my own tears I move to comfort them.


    As I speak soothing words to my pack sisters as I worry over if our mate will return, or if it is worse and we drove our mate away. I barely notice as the few hours before dusk pass away.


    <hr>


    Kathrine


    <hr>


    The crash of the dragon that is apparently my son exiting through the roof of the non-burning building nearby wakes me from the words he said earlier.


    In the hours we spent driving all I had been thinking about was how to help my sons and get everything back to normal.


    There is no going back, my children are wizards and my oldest a monster than can smash the walls of a brick building and fire some sort of death laser out of his mouth.


    I feel a hand on my back, it¡¯s my son¡¯s friend Bryan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he always goes at night to keep everyone safe. The world has changed but we are still ourselves.¡±


    Kythia had been telling me for days that I need to accept that everything has changed, but I didn¡¯t want to accept that I could not have what we had before anymore.


    If there are creatures as powerful as that golden dragon or stronger all over the place, what is gone is gone for good. Adrian is right, the rule of law is gone.


    The sword may keep us safe but those who live by the sword will die by the sword. I can only hope that we can put it down before that part comes.


    God forgive me but I will give Adrian my blessing when he comes back, but tonight I need to pray for his safety and that my husband will come find us.


    I smile as Bryan helps me up and I walk to a tent that I can only assume is from the magic of someone here. I don¡¯t know if this is the sorcery in the Bible or if it counts as a gift from God.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I stand up and feel as sore as if I had ran with all my might until I passed out.


    Its night time and I can see gouges in a rock face I recognize. I drive by this all the time on my way to school. How can I be here? This is probably over a hundred miles away from that rest stop.


    I feel my eyes refocus and color drains away from my surroundings though I can see clearly. Something dragon-me must have done while I was away.


    I look at the rock face, the gouges seem to be writing though sloppy; as if by someone who is just learning to copy letters.


    Sorry for being a part of you. Please treat the hoard well and goodbye.


    As I read the last word I feel a torrent of sadness well up from somewhere within me until something breaks and it becomes pain. I fall to the ground, my right arm grasping for something that isn¡¯t there against my chest.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    I shiver to the chill brought by the night breeze and the embarrassment from my state of dress arrives as it should have earlier.


    In a panic I reach for my clothes within Void Cache only to find that I cannot sense anything within it or even the space that it connected to.


    No, no, no. Everything was in there the food, the water, gas, clothes everything! We are all going to die without that stuff. I have to get back, we need a new plan.


    I jump into the air and send my will inwards to become a dragon. My will spirals inwards towards the sadness turned pain until I lose track of it from landing face first into the asphalt of the road.


    The taste of my own blood fills my mouth. My nose is broken and I think there are bits of me left in the street as I pick myself up.


    I focus on the pain, trying to distract myself from my panic but I just can¡¯t. I can¡¯t fly. I can¡¯t carry what I need.


    My doubts swirl around my mind as I slowly rock myself trying not to hyperventilate.


    <hr>


    Hours pass and it is not until I hear the steps of a few horses on asphalt followed by someone speaking in Althaen that I am able to overcome my doubts.


    Hatred is what helps me regain control of myself, but it is wrong; there is no anger or rage involved. This cold loathing drives me as I lash out with fire and lightning at the two Althaen horsemen.


    They are the reason I started looking for power. They are the root of every god damn problem I have.


    <hr>


    I glance at the scorch marks that were once two Althaen, but feel no joy. Everything is a mess. My mind is in shambles and those I care about are going to end up dead if this is not fixed.


    No matter the idea I get on how to get back and keep everyone alive all I can feel is doubt.


    That can¡¯t be right, know an that one idea must be different than another but its always the same endless doubt over everything.


    I need to undo whatever happened after I read that message form dragon-me. Logically that should fix or at least help with whatever this painful hole is inside of me but I actually have no confidence that anything I do will work or that undoing it will even do anything.


    Logic isn¡¯t going to work, but I not confident that it won¡¯t help. I mentally scream in annoyance.


    Not getting anywhere with this I begin to just act on emotion, the Althaen are nearby and I hate them. So I start walking towards their camp, it¡¯s only a few blocks away.


    I can still feel hatred and self-loathing. I can¡¯t get angry or feel any sort of pride or confidence but affection and lust are still here. I think, though my doubts to the matter are equal to it being the opposite.


    My stomach growls but I don¡¯t have any desire for a kind of food. I pass by restaurants and stores but feel nothing for what they once sold and is there for the taking.


    I want to eat but nothing I see seems good. I will just eat the food of the Althaen. So that they cannot have it and will suffer. I¡¯m not sure if my thoughts are healthy or not but they are driving me.


    Rain begins to pour down from the heavens as I reach the front gate of the Althaen camp. I completely doubt any of this is going to work but I will destroy them and consume everything of theirs so they can¡¯t have it. They have ruined my life so I will ruin theirs.


    I reach up to the sky and the lightning flashing in the clouds finds direction. Screams ring out and I find joy but no pride as bolt after bolt slam into sentries.


    Alarms ring out but I doubt they mean anything or if any will respond. My hatred needs answered anyways, or does it?


    A volley of arrows are launched at me but I doubt any can hit me. Oddly enough none do.


    Lightning continues to slaughter soldiers as I slowly walk forwards, I can¡¯t tell if this is enough to get their leaders to come forth so I make my lightning storm a duration.


    My thoughts end and I begin to just lash out at everything I can. Waves of fire and death join the lightning to the point where every building is collapsing or burning, at least I would think so if my thoughts still flowed.


    Time shifts and I run forwards to slam into a soldier I remember personally, Soup Fetcher. It might have been terror in his visage.


    As the light dims in his eyes I speak a single word as a command.


    ¡°Kill.¡±


    The corpse of Soup Fetcher stands back up after I let him fall to the ground. There does not seem to be any light in his eyes now as he charges those who were once his allies.


    I doubt he will last long but that is not what is important. I notice a few of those who may have been older nobles from my memories of this hellhole.


    A sinister grin forms on my face as the last few bolts of lightning rain down to kill what may be the last of the soldiers.


    There are only a few and none who I recognize beyond their clothes, or maybe I do? Cold hate wells up again as I throw a fire that just might burn flesh and soul at the few.


    Their screams bring me joy until I hear a gunshot that goes through my leg. The wound closes but may not be healing correctly as I will it to be otherwise.


    Another gunshot rings out but my doubts to being struck twice become reality, I am unsure if that saying is about bullets though . . .


    Afinal bolt of lightning falls down on the rubble of a building. I feel for any life nearby but find none, though I may have done it wrong.


    Panic and doubt begin to well up within me as worries of my possible failure to kill any of these Althaen and the uncertainty of my ability to get back to the others.


    I run over to the building where there might be a storage of food which I begin to eat and destroy so the possible survivors of my wrath might not get it.


    Once my hunger is sated I begin to simply destroy items so that the Althaen may not be able to use them. Logically I should be storing as much of this as I can but I feel no desire to possess anything, or maybe I do? I am not sure. Nothing drives me to cast aside the cold hate and the possibility that if I leave these the Althaen may get to use them.


    Soon, there isn¡¯t anythingto breakas my hatred demands, at least where I might have seen it. I may not be sure if what I did does anything but there is no more of my hate to drive me. At least that might be it.


    My insecurities and doubts take over again and after running away from what might have been a danger to me I find myself falling backwards and maybe pain from my face.


    I¡¯m not sure if darkness came out of nowhere but my vision might have been lost and my other senses may have been lost by the same thing. . .

 Chapter 068

    The nalfeshee is a demon twice the size of a man and has a build similar to a gorilla. Their pig-like face and ability to speak detract from this, though many seeing only their back mistake them for the mundane animal.


    Their physical powers are similar to the level of the hezrou but they are skilled in nature based magics and are more intelligent in that it is possible to have a true conversation with a nalfeshee.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I look up at the near full moon, it¡¯s the second night since Alttanin flew away.


    Moonlight Runner thinks he is the same as we are. I am not sure, they both smell the same and it is certainly the same body but they act differently. Moonlight Runner and me act differently though too.


    I want to go chase down my mate before the moonblood of our pack ends but I do not know which direction he went and cannot catch his scent.


    I frown at the moon and how Moonlight Runner is not strong enough to manifest tonight, she could find our mate.


    I look at the tent of my sleeping pack sisters, I have not told them about what Moonlight Runner thinks of this dragon. It would go badly, Lysan would be heartbroken and Talia would never forgive herself for hurting our mate so much twice.


    Everyone got ready to leave as soon as my mate got back but we didn¡¯t have enough space in the fire carriages to hold everything and they have almost none of that clear oil to burn.


    I almost start walking back towards where we came from but stop myself. I need to take care of our pack; the alpha male is strong and will come back or we will just linger here until we die.


    I yawn, I am tired but not enough to have to sleep, but I can feel Moonlight Runner calling me to sleep and converse. I barely glance at the other sentry before I curl up behind a large rock. . .


    <hr>


    A vast forest covered in snow greets me, Moonlight Runner has calmed down. Last night this forest was burning, she was not happy that our mate flew away.


    I can still feel she is upset, but she has forgiven me, for whatever part of this is my fault. I am always amazed at how fast Moonlight Runner will forgive members of the pack while she never forgets anything that hurt us or anyone else she considers a part of the pack.


    I smile at my sister who is a part of me, ¡°please tell me what is wrong, and how we can bring back our mate.¡±


    There is almost a growl in Moonlight Runner''s voice as she answers, she has not quite forgiven me then.


    ¡°You and the other females pushed away our mate.¡±


    ¡°You already told me that, but the dragon was not the same as Adrian, he is also not a manifestation of the gift of the moon.¡±


    Moonlight Runner lunges at me and tackles me to the ground. Her eyes are now inches away from my own and her teeth are bared as she growls, ¡°they are the same.¡±


    A flash of memory, one from Moonlight Runner runs through my mind. She was sitting confused at why she was awake and then our mate sat up.


    His smell was the same, his demeanor was somewhat different than normal but he showed her who he was through an act. He gently bit her ear while holding her. The same positions as the last time I mated with my mate.


    Moonlight Runner doesn¡¯t understand any of the words he mumbled and so neither do I in her memory but it is clear, she sees him as her mate. She sees them to be like we are to each other.


    I nod at Moonlight Runner. They share memory, Alttanin is my mate like Moonlight Runner is Adrian''s. I am not sure of it but Moonlight Runner is probably right.


    I regret not letting him mount me after showing off, that is exactly what I was fantasying over since my mate called himself weak.


    <hr>


    Moonlight Runner


    <hr>


    I get up off my two-legs. Sister is smart and better at dealing with complicated things. That must be why my ancestors made the moon gift pact.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°I am sorry, I was worried over how he was not acting like our mate usually does.¡±


    Sister puts her hand on my snout and her version of what happened flashes through my mind. I don¡¯t really understand all the words and talking but I can see why sister acted against our mate.


    We both turn to the sky in this dream, the moon here is the same on sister looked at before sleeping. I am strong enough to partially manifest if sister allows it, but I cannot shift our body that requires more moonlight than there is tonight.


    I growl and sister joins it, we both want to run and hunt for our mate. Our moonblood is almost over and we do not get it every moon as the other two-legs so often do.


    ¡°Could you find our mate tomorrow if I gave you control?¡±


    I look at sister in surprise, it is rare for her to let me out. Tomorrow night I could become a regular wolf and search but I am unsure if we can catch his sent after so long. I could try now but it would hurt us, there just is not enough moonlight.


    Rather than answer I lick my sister¡¯s face. I will try it if she asks, though I might not give back control to easily. Being outside is just too good, only for the good of the pack or our mate would I ever just give it up.


    That and I want to ¡®talk¡¯ with the other females in the pack about what they did to our mate. . .


    <hr>


    Talia


    <hr>


    I wake up to find that Kythia fell asleep during her shift. That is unlike her.


    A tear rolls down sister''s cheek as she sleeps. She loves Adrian more than me. I am willing to be his lover, especially the sex parts, but she just wants to be with him.


    I want to curl up and cry like sister, but I need to be strong for her. I can¡¯t make Kythia take all the burden of holding us together when Adrian is gone.


    Kythia bolts upright from behind the rock where I saw her sleeping. She stares at me for a few seconds before releasing a growl and tackling me to the ground.


    ¡°Where is our mate?¡±


    A tiny amount of panic surfaces within me, this is Kythia¡¯s wolf not her. I quickly rationalize away my fears of being brutally ripped apart, she has never hurt sister or me and Kythia said she considers us part of her pack.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, someone else is in his body¡± I say with a little bit of a stutter. Kythia¡¯s wolf is scary even without manifesting her full self.


    ¡°Not other person, different part. Like sister and me. Where go?¡±


    My mind stops, different part? I barely register that I point in the direction the dragon flew off in, Southeast.


    ¡°Different part, same person?¡±


    Kythia¡¯s wolf answers me in a growl. ¡°Yes, you two-legs drive away mate. I go find, you stay and guard pack.¡±


    With that she jumps off of me and with a pained expression turns into a malnourished wolf, far smaller than any other time I¡¯ve seen Kythia let her out to ¡®play¡¯.


    Just what Kythia¡¯s wolf said doesn¡¯t hit me fully until she is gone. I fall to my knees and then my butt.


    I hurt him again, we all hurt him. The possibility that they are not the same person doesn¡¯t come to my mind.


    I hurt the one man that ever kept his word to me and kept me safe from becoming a slave. I hurt the man who my sister loves. I hurt the man who I owe my life to. I . . .


    I don¡¯t know if I can make it better this time, I didn¡¯t deserve to be forgiven last time. I can¡¯t hope to be forgiven this time, and there is nothing I can give now to someone else to keep sister safe.


    Only the last words of Kythia¡¯s wolf give me any hope to go on, she will bring Adrian back and I can beg and give my life to keep sister safe. . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It is dawn again when I open my eyes, there is a sign for what I think might have been a church. There are only two words still legible; Faith and Hope.


    I can¡¯t see what the message once was but something clicks in my head, I don¡¯t have to be certain I can act on the hope that something is right. This must have been what mom kept going on about faith.


    I still don¡¯t plan on following her god, but there is one thing aside from most of the morals he teaches I can now agree with, or at least understand. I think so anyways, I¡¯m still not sure. I can¡¯t be until it works or fails.


    I need to get dragon-me back. He is a piece of me and I¡¯m just going to have to share with him. Right? Not sure, find him and make him manifest within me again.


    That is my plan, how can I do that?


    Why did he show up the first time? Not sure? Is there still a connection between us? We were a single soul so maybe, or maybe not.


    If there is stuff that makes him stronger might get him to talk again. If there isn¡¯t then . . . What?


    Soul magic? Would he still count as a piece of me? How could I track him? I don¡¯t know. Act of faith first, find something that made him stronger and use it.


    What did that in my memories? I¡¯m not sure, dragon¡¯s blood? Treasure? Being dragon-like?


    The first one is easiest, just drink the blood of a dragon. Where can I find some?


    Dragon-me might have put some of that other dragon in Void Cache, but I don¡¯t think I can use that. Find another dragon and kill it? I have doubts about fighting one, but dragon-me could kill one so why not me-me?


    Are these doubts from my seeming lack of ability to have confidence, or because I may not be strong enough?


    <hr>


    I am not sure how long I stared at the church sign but my mind is ordered again, it just is still not me. I am not a faithy religious person, that is my mom. This is not right for me but it will have to work for now. Better than what I was doing before.


    With a sigh I kneel down and give thanks in a prayer to the Christian God, it¡¯s a sign from one of his churches so he deserves this much or maybe it¡¯s the pastor or priest who does?


    Whatever if it¡¯s the priest who set up the sign argue with your god about it later. Like always I don¡¯t get any response, but I also am not looking for one as mom would say.


    I stand up and sigh at the chaotic mess of my mind and turn back towards where I think the Althaen camp might be, there could be a bottle of dragon''s blood still there somewhere.


    <hr>


    At dusk I give up my search through the rubble of the Althaen camp, I regret just how thorough I was in my frenzied hate? Is that even a thing? I¡¯m not sure, hell I¡¯m not even sure I did all this destruction and I have memories of doing it. Fucked up missing a piece of my soul bullshit.


    I want that piece of me back but the feeling is hollow, maybe it is considered greed? That could be something dragon-like that is dragon-me¡¯s part of our soul?

 Chapter 069

    The bebilith or demon spider has a body the size of a man or larger and razor sharp legs much like a sword spider of even more ridiculous proportion. Except the bebilith comes in whatever color and pattern it needs to and it¡¯s webbing is far stronger and is toxic to the touch due to the magic within it.


    A bebilith prefers to act as an ambush predator but is also adept at stalking and fleeing should the need arise. They are by far the most adept at disabling magic than any other demon save some of the unique demons and perhaps a succubus depending on the situation. That said they are also proficient in nature and darkness themed enchantments and conjurations.


    <hr>


    Moonlight Runner


    <hr>


    Dawn comes just as I catch the scent of our mate. I can feel joy both from myself and sister.


    She did not give me control in vain. I am growing stronger as the moon is almost full, but I am tired. I do not have the strength for things like this.


    Our body is not made to run for so many hours either and I have never been in control this long except on the nights of the full moon where I have near endless energy. . .


    I hear sister whisper something, ¡°just get to our mate. You can smell him. I still could not, we are still too far for me.¡±


    Her voice becomes faint and then I feel sister leave, she is asleep. I have complete control until she wakes up. For a brief second I consider hunting and gorging on anything that moves before I focus on what sister would want, find our mate.


    Soon I finally understand why my ancestors made a pact with man, and why man is dominant. They are weak and foolish but have focus. Sister teaches me to think and I teach her to survive and we help each other live. This is best, she is steady and I waver. I am wild power and she guides it.


    It is all just coming to me as if granted by my somehow growing intelligence. I know why I am suddenly understanding things better; sister is giving pieces of herself to me so I can keep going and find our mate. I won¡¯t let her down, I will give her some of me after she wakes back up. I do not want her to be hurt.


    I pause only to drink from a stream and chase down a single bear that was in the path to our mate for food as I rush around the obstacles he flew over. I do not play with the prey, there is no time for that. I eat it without enjoyment and draw on the moonlight to grow.


    My physical form swells to the size I am used to, and I begin to show just why my dead packmates called me Moonlight Runner as dusk comes anew and the metal and stone of man homes comes into my view. . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    There is no dragon''s blood left here, at least none that I may find. I need another plan, being dragon-like won¡¯t work. I don¡¯t think I can feel greed or anger. I need something to consume that would bring out my dragon side, at least that is what I am getting in my head after trying to feel greed over what few shiny objects I didn¡¯t manage to destroy earlier.


    I begin to fall into a circle of doubts again, I can¡¯t seem to act dragon-like and there isn¡¯t any dragon blood I can drink here. I don¡¯t think I have a way to find one so there isn¡¯t a way I can get a chance to get back the missing piece of myself.


    The howl of a wolf breaks the silence of the night, I heard that howl before. The night Bryan was injured by a wyvern and I learned K is a werewolf. It can¡¯t be the same one though, the moon is not full, or is it?


    It does not look full, but I could be wrong. . .


    I shake my head, futilely trying to get the doubts out and sort some of the chaos.


    I¡¯m not sure how it could be K or Moonlight Runner here but I mimic the howl, though even without my constant doubts I might have thought it a poor imitation at best.


    Within minutes a wolf the size of a large horse comes around a building and tackles me, the hit is soft and there are no teeth bared. Only for the moment between the tackle and just before I reached the ground did I feel terror, but that was for the size of this beast. I do not know why but I am not scared of this creature attacking me. My doubts circle but there is no fear.


    A tongue the size of most of my face meets the object with which I compared its size to. I do not know why but this creature seems to have affection for me?Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    There is a look of pride? and the creature wags its tail in what I assume is delight or playfulness. There is some yipping and soft barking from the oversized wolf as it seems to be talking to me.


    Is it? I don¡¯t speak . . . Canine? I glance at the wolf''s body and it begins a to almost strut around me with pride? Confidence? I don¡¯t know but since there are not male parts on her, she is probably a she.


    The wolf rubs up against me and I look straight into her golden amber eyes. I almost glance away as I remember that animals may consider that a challenge but she immediately defers to me being dominant to her. At least that what it seems to be to me.


    ¡°Moonlight Runner?¡±


    Her eyes seemed like the eyes of the wolf-woman beast that K was under the full moon, that and she is submissive to me. I doubt it is her, but I also can¡¯t find hope that I know another wolf monster that is submissive to me.


    There is a grin and her tail wags quickly, or rather I think it started to move faster as I called what I think is her name.


    I move closer and hug her. I still have affection, and I like her. No I love my K, her turning into a wolf sometimes won¡¯t change that.


    I think a few tears came down my face but Moonlight Runner clears them for me with her tongue.


    I smile and the image of her showing off her body flashes through my eyes again, that and something me-but-not-me said. . .


    I need to do something to keep lycanthropy from harming me, but it could also be helpful. . .


    I take a step back from Moonlight Runner and hold my left arm out. If this goes badly I might need my dominant hand more.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s weird Moonlight Runner but I need you to bite my arm.¡±


    She just looks at me in confusion, I don¡¯t think it is the words but why. I don¡¯t want to explain, I¡¯m not sure I could.


    ¡°Please, just do it.¡±


    She opens her jaws and gently touches the top and bottom of my arm with her teeth. There is plenty of spit covering them so I put pressure until my blood spills into her mouth.


    Fluid contact, that is all that is needed for infection, right? Either way I need to get this done tonight. I need to fill some of the hole inside me and a wolf will do until I get the dragon back. A wolf can have pride and confidence, right?


    I look at Moonlight Runner and she seems upset at me cutting myself on her teeth, as I remove my arm from her jaws.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok, thank you.¡±


    I kiss my girlfriend turned wolf on the snout and send her tail wagging, I can only hope she doesn¡¯t expect me to go further in her current form.


    I sit down cross legged and stem the flowing blood, but I do not erase the injury. I need it or rather the lycanthropy that supposedly should be in it.


    Turning inwards I find in it thousands of tiny wolves mixing into my bloodstream while fighting and consuming each other.


    I watch and wait, the strongest should be the one that survives and that is the one I need.


    Hours pass as Moonlight Runner curls around me to fight off the night chill and she falls asleep.


    It is the last and final wolf that greets me as I fall into some trance, I need to do what me-but-not-me hinted at; some sort of tethering it to me rather than it joining to my body as it normally would. But first there is something I hope may help it.


    The fragmented remains of the other wolves slain by the dragon appear before us in this quasidream state.


    ¡°Eat¡± I tell the wolf and it does not argue, only stares at me for a while before doing as both I and its instincts demand.


    With the wolf distracted and growing larger and stronger I search for its link to my body. I end up thinking it is the wound on my left arm. Probably fits thematically and I doubt any of this is really needed for Ravnos magic anyways.


    Didn¡¯t I tell the trio that foci just make magic easier? I always use some form of verbal or somatic component but they aren¡¯t actually needed, are they?


    I¡¯ll still use them here though, I almost feel as though someone or something is whispering into my subconscious as I do these things but I could be wrong.


    The wound from Moonlight Runner''s bite burns in searing pain as I erase it and mend my flesh. The wolf begins to fade, upset and struggling to stay in existence.


    It lunges at me and chains spring forth out of the ground flying around the wolf, it¡¯s mind lashes out at mine as they wrap around the wolf. Restraining it from moving but also forming an anchor to keep it from dissipating as an unprotected spirit would.


    Tie it to my soul, that was the next step after separating from it. There is only some emotion I cannot currently understand running through its mind. Good that gives me hope for being able to fill at least a part of what is currently lost to me.


    A soul is the spirit and body according to mom''s religion so I¡¯ll use that idea and only attach the wolf to the spirit just in case. . .


    The world splits and the physical realm vanishes from my sight. I am now alone with only the wolf in a white void.


    I walk up to its chained body, it is bigger than Moonlight Runner. Why does it still lack gender?


    I touch the head of the giant wolf as it struggles against the chains forged of a mix between my desperation, hope and Ravnos magic. The chains darken to an almost black-blue, asserting themselves in this blank nothingness.


    As soon as I touch the head of the wolf I know what must be done.


    I form another set of chains, this one with barbed spears attached to both sides. One side to anchor inside of the wolf and the other for myself. Without even thinking of the pain to come I release the command and will for what is supposedly needed.


    I scream in pain as the spear passes through me, the wolf acts the same way and somehow there is something different about us both now. He will not be an alternate self, and I will not be a lycanthrope. We will have some other sort of bond between us.


    The chains twist around us and their hues shift through a myriad of color, the older chains shatter as the newer barbed and speared chains draw us closer together. Before it ends both this wolf and me have passed out, we do not see the final steps to this magic I have done.

 Character Sheets

    Adrian


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    Name: Adrian Ravnos


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    Gender: Male


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    Age: 17


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    Skills


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    Attributes


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    Class


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    SP: 22


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    Traits


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    Magic


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    EP: 7


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    STR 26


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    DEX 25


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    CON 28


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    INT 30


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    WIS 28


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    CHA 29


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    APR 28


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    HP: 812


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    Mana: 684


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    Dragon: Void 0


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    Dragon Knight: Void 20


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    Magus 16


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    Marksman 8


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    Rogue 9


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    Ranged 4


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    Archery 1


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    Firearms 3


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    Axe 1


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    Hand-to-Hand 2


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    Spear 2


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    Sword 2


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    Evasion 3


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    Fly 4


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    Stealth 2


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    Tumble 1


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    Social


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    Empathy 3


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    Bluff 1


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    Handle Animal 2


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    Persuade 1


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    Knowledge


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    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Anatomy 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Mathematics 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Planes 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tactics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Carving 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drawing 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Electronics 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Mechanics 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Canine


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Lycanthrip


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Necrol (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Orcish (Written)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arcane Power 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Planar 0


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Life 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Mind 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Soul 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Primal 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Time 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Fire 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Lightning 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Light 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Gravity 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Accelerated Learning


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Young Adult Void Dragon


    Breath: Gravity, Radiance, Void


    Partial Transformations


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Darkvision, Greater


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Draconic Body


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +4 STR, CON


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Draconic Longevity


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +4 APR, slow aging, extended lifespan


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Endurance, Greater


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Infravision, Greater


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    True Dragon


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +8 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Body


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Wolf Familiar?


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Bryan


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Bryan Grace


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 22


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 326


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 145


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Paladin: Undead Hunter 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard: Necromancer 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Mathematics 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tactics 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Shield, Shield Another,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    True Strike


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Burning Hands


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Disrupt Undead, Vampiric Touch, Minor Drain, Lesser Drain,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Divine Sphere


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    Highest Teir


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Miracles Available


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    HealingThis book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Cure <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate>, Healing Circle <Minor, Light>, Resist Toxin, Resist Disease, Aid, Know the Heart,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Protection


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Shield Another, Sacred Armor, Protective Flame, Circle Against <Oppression, Evil, Undead>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Undead Hunter


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    -


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Smite Undead, Sense Undead


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Accelerated Learning


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You learn and improve faster than normal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Champion of <>


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    While your patron does not wish to reveal himself, he does grant the following: Accelerated Learning, Sacrament of Faith, +4 STR, CON, CHA, APR.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Code of Conduct


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You must follow some Morality restrictions


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Divine Grace


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron grants you an increased chance of mitigating harmful effects


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Divine Health


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron protects you from most disease and poison


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Faith


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron has great faith in you and if you think an action is justified few questions will be asked.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Liberty


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You are much more difficult to bind with supernatural effects.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Succor


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron divinely inspires you toknow the help that those under your care need.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Abagail


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Abagail Clark


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP:28


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR9


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 13


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA18


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 98


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 112


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bard 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Dance 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sing 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Music 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Identify,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Resist Fear, Courage, Hope, Terror, Horror, Rage, Calm Emotion, Sleep, Laughter


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Light, Ventriloquism, Dancing Lights, Darkness,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Minor Drain


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Lysan


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Lysan Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX22


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT25


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA24


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 233


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 160


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Theurge 13


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Archer 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Mace 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Flail 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢ 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English (Spoken)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor, Shield, Resist Energy,Fireshield<Red>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Identify, Comprehend Language, Tongues,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Scorcher, Elemental Loop


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Divine Sphere


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Miracles Available


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Healing


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Cure <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate, Serious>,Resist Toxin, Resist Disease, Healing Circle <Minor, Light, Medium>, Neutralize Poison, Cure Disease


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Protection


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Shield, Sacred Armor, Protective Light, Lesser Aegis, Shield of the Dawn


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Travel


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Know Direction, Haste, Lay of the Land,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Elven Royalty


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Elves will instinctively trust you, Elven Traits are heightened


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Darkvision, Color


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Talia


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Thalia Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 14


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 247


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 192


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Rapier3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor, Shield, Resist Energy,Fireshield<Red, Blue, Yellow>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Circle of Fire,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Scorcher, Elemental Loop, Elemental Blade, Lightningbolt, Flame Arrow,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Gr Cat''s Grace, Gr Bull''s Strength, Gr Bear''s Endurance, Haste,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Elven Royalty


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Elves will instinctively trust you, Elven Traits are heightened


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Darkvision, Color


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Kythia


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: KythiaBloodclaw


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 23


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:38


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 33


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 30


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 37


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 14


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 632 (1023)


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 208 (344)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bloodclaw 17 ¨C Only under the full moon


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard 13


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Hand to Hand 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Claw 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bite 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Intimidate2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢ 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Lycanthrip


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Necrol


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Shield


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Darkness


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    True Strike


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    DarkMissile, Burning Hands, Elemental Blade, Darkfireball, Icestorm


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Neg E Burst, Blood Fire Blade, Life Transfer, Disrupt Undead, Bloodbridge, Cure <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate>, Destroy Undead, Mass Cure <Minor, Light>, Deatharmor, Fireshield<Black>, Disrupting Blade


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Canine Empathy


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You can sense and influence the emotions of canines.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Curse of Lycanthropy


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Contact with another''s blood may spread your strain of Lycanthropy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Dire Werewolf


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    +12 STR, +8CON, +4DEX, APR


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Feral Soul


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You have surrendered pieces of your soul to the wolf, luckily your wolf Moonlight Runner also gave you pieces of herself. It is harder to keep your wolf from manifesting but some of her manifested traits will carry over to you.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Life from Mana


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You have stumbled upon the path necromancers truly dream of. Creating life through mana, drawing upon positive energy and not just negative.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Lycanthropic Regeneration


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You will slowly heal most injuries; the healing will be faster the closer to the full moon it is.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Scent Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your sense of smell far surpasses the regular man.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    True Blood


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Some of your physical prowess as a lycanthrope carries over to your humanoid form


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Anthony Ravnos


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Antonio Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 12?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:-


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP:-


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT29


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS28


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 360


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Melee5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Spear 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Axe 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    History 9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Blacksmith 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Carpentry 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Brewing 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arabic


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    French


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    German


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Latin


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Russian


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arcane Power 2/6


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Space 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Planar 0


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Fate3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Chaos 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Order 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Life 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Mind 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Soul 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Primal 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Time 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Transmutation 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Telekinesis 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Fire 5


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Lightning 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Light 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Darkness 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Cursed


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your very essence has been irrevocably damaged in your flawed reincarnations. While you can learn more skills and you can never regain what has been lost. Baring extraordinary circumstances all of your decedents will not be able to inherit anything from you aside from physical traits of your new body.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Frank Ravnos


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Fabricio Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 12?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:-


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT25


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS28


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA23


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 360


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Melee5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Spear 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Axe 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    History 9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Blacksmith 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Carpentry 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Brewing 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arabic


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    French


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    German


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Latin


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Russian


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arcane Power 2/6


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Space 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Planar 0


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Fate3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Chaos 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Order 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Life 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Mind 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Soul 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Primal 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Time 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Telekinesis 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Fire 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Lightning 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Light 5


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Darkness 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Cursed


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your very essence has been irrevocably damaged in your flawed reincarnations. While you can learn more skills and you can never regain what has been lost. Baring extraordinary circumstances all of your decedents will not be able to inherit anything from you aside from physical traits of your new body.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Kathrine


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Kathrine Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 38


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 14


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 18


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 112


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 56


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Acolyte 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon Knight: ??? 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Dagger 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Hand to Hand 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


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    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


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    </td>


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    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Greek (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Hebrew (Written)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Latin (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    True Faith


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Unlike most, you truly have the devotion and faith in your god to call down miracles. High chance of ignoring the mana cost of divine magic, and may perform miracles beyond what your level would normally permit. You may also accidently cast miracles you do not know.


    This trait does not grant you a position or rank in a clergy nor does it give you a right to join the clergy of the deity you follow.


    This trait functions regardless of the divine status of whatever you have faith in and consider to be your god.


    (Cannot be seen by the holder, unless they discover it by other means.)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter 070

    The maralith is a six-armed human female from the waist up below is a snake longer than twice the height of a man. They are often sextuple wielders of weapons though this makes it difficult to have more than a few patterns within their attacks.


    Some have dropped two of their weapons in favor of having magic constantly being cast as they chop up their foes. They are very skilled in necromancy and evocation.


    There are rumors of male maralith existing but this has never been confirmed. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I open my eyes and find that it is just after dawn, I must have fallen asleep after the binding the wolf back to me.


    I search through my mind and I can feel where the wolf is. It is calmer than before and I think I could have it manifest physically outside of my body.


    I am still not as I was, greed is still not there in my mind. I have pride and confidence again but they are a bit different than before. My anger seems weaker too.


    I inhale the morning air and one scent means so much more to me than before. My morning wood stiffens, Moonlight Runner/K is in heat, or at least something like it.


    I''m not going to have sex like this though, I may like the ascetics of a wolf more now but I am not going to fuck one.


    I place my hand on her head and whisper ¡°Are you awake Moonlight Runner?¡±


    The following noise and facial features that she makes answer me and somehow, I can tell what they mean now.


    ¡°Yes, my mate.¡±


    I smile as I really want to do just what that title means. I shouldn¡¯t, she could definitely get pregnant right now but I really want to do it; I feel like I need to.


    I press myself against her side and whisper the question I want to know.


    ¡°Can you take human form?¡±


    Her body trembles and begins to shrink and twist, her hair ungrowing over the body as the hair on her head grows longer. Soon it is my K lying on her side nude before me, no, her eyes are still than of Moonlight Runner.


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    I take a step forward and give my mate a kiss as my morning wood threatens to break the cotton pantaloons I scavenged yesterday.


    Her hands immediately move to the cloth that is not a part of me and tares it away. She can smell my arousal as I can now hers.


    I push her down towards the ground just as she removes the pantaloons from me.


    I want to talk to K, make sure that they are the same; like me and dragon-me apparently were but I can¡¯t pull myself away from her. I just can''t pull my mind away from sex.


    Her lower lips feel damp as I slide across them to line my tip up to pierce her.


    Moonlight Runner tries to roll us over, she wants to be the dominant one in our paring. Normally I might have let her, but something inside me is telling me I have to dominate her.


    It¡¯s the wolf I bound, it is telling me a female wolf wants to be dominated during sex.


    I don¡¯t know why, but I follow that advice. I push Moonlight Runner back to the ground as I slide myself into her. I feel her entrance stretch to accommodate me as I pass through it.


    Her struggles against me leading cease after the first few thrusts and she is now gripping tightly to me.


    As soon as she does I pick her up without exiting, and frown at the marks the asphalt had started to make.


    My instincts are screaming to just keep plowing her but I¡¯m not an animal and I don¡¯t want to look at road burn on her later.


    She starts to struggle again but I bite her; she soon becomes submissive and tightens around my cock.


    I walk into the nearest house and with some difficulty pull her off of me and toss her onto the first bed I see.


    Face down on the bed she swings her hips and I can¡¯t pull my eyes off her ass. The motions were the same as one of the actions she took showing off last night.


    This time I know what they mean and grab her hips spreading her legs further before mounting her from behind.


    Unlike K, Moonlight Runner does not shout and cheer me on in a language I do not understand but moans and pants under me.


    I lick the back of her ear and she lets out a small howl as she convulses around my manhood milking it for the seed it will soon spill out.


    I don¡¯t know why I am focusing so much with her ears but she certainly likes it.


    Reaching the limit of how long I can hold it in, I thrust as hard and deep into her as I can and bite her ear as I finally let out a week''s worth of semen.


    I hold her under me until I fall out of her having gone flaccid, I soon catch my breath and smile as I roll her onto the bed, some of my seed dripping out of her.


    She pulls me down on top of her and into a kiss. I can smell the deed we just did and that she wants more.


    I¡¯m a male, so I always want more and soon find my hardening shaft pressed against her slit as we have a battle with our tongues.


    One I don¡¯t know the winner of that battle, but I know it ended when I backed away to claim her insides as my own again.


    . . .This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Our lusts finally sated I roll off of my mate, we catch our breaths.


    Why did I think the word mate? An effect of the bound wolf probably. I am still not right, but I am better.


    I turn to look at Moonlight Runner but see K in her eyes. When did they switch back? I open my mouth to apologize for cheating on her with herself but am interrupted with a kiss.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for driving you away. I was just worried the other you wasn¡¯t you.¡±


    Wait what? Does she mean rejecting dragon-me? Well I think that is why he left and in hindsight it would have been better if she did sleep with him, I like that she didn¡¯t. She loves me and not one of the voices in my head.


    I give her a light kiss, ¡°its okay. I¡¯m not mad about that and I¡¯m not on speaking terms with dragon-me right now.¡±


    ¡°What? Why? Isn¡¯t he part of you?¡±


    ¡°He was, but he left.¡±


    There is confusion in her eyes and she opens her mouth to speak but I answer the question I know is coming.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but I want that part of me back.


    Can you or Moonlight Runner find me a dragon to hunt?¡±


    There is a fire that ignites in her eyes when I mention wanting to hunt down a dragon. It would certainly be large and powerful prey but I can probably kill one without dying.


    I need it¡¯s blood or maybe flesh to drag dragon-me back to the surface. I don¡¯t think he could have left my body as a disembodied spirit does not last long.


    I want to be whole again, dragon-me can either go back to being like me-but-not-me or I will just chain him like I did the wolf.


    I should name him at some point.


    ¡°You know that if you hunt down a dragon, you won¡¯t be able to stop us from wanting to mate even more.¡±


    ¡°No devolving into murder hobos. I don¡¯t want it to be I kill things to get you excited.¡±


    She gives me a kiss, ¡°it isn¡¯t the killing, its that you¡¯re showing off how fit you are to mate and lead a pack.¡±


    That doesn¡¯t actually make it any different but I feel slightly better.


    ¡°Can you find one?¡±


    K shakes her head, ¡°sister can once dusk comes.¡±


    I nod to her response, works for me. I don¡¯t think a few hours will make a difference.


    ¡°So why is Alttanin gone and what does hunting a dragon have to do with it?¡±


    Is Alttanin the name he gave himself? Sounds silly to me.


    ¡°I think he threw a hissy fit over being rejected and separated himself from me.


    A spirit without a body to shelter it is pretty much defenseless so I think he is still in me somewhere. The dragon or rather it¡¯s blood I want to use as a focus to pull him back to me.¡±


    K nods, and there is a bit of concern in her eyes at the implication that I am currently missing a piece of myself.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m going to be okay, I just need some help.¡±


    Should I bring up sleeping with her other self? Probably, but not now. Deal with the other problems first, she probably knows anyways. . .


    <hr>


    Bryan


    <hr>


    I look over our makeshift camp for the second night without our de facto leader. I hope he didn¡¯t leave and abandon everyone after arguing with his girlfriends.


    I don¡¯t think that he would but he has had a lot more stress than anyone else, especially lately.


    With a sigh, I wipe away a tear from the morning that I do for Tomas and my parents when no one is looking. A flash of light a few dozen feet away tells me that the other sentry for this shift of the watch saw something.


    A pair of birds flying counterclockwise, I smile as the same use of Dancing Lights Adrian always used in our games actually works. Sending coded messages.


    A group of something is circling the camp counterclockwise. My smile turns to a frown, Adrian is the strongest and after that would be Kythia; both of which have gone missing. Talia knows something but doesn¡¯t want to answer as to why she, Kythia, left.


    I don¡¯t feel any undead so whatever it is that is circling around us is alive or maybe an elemental or golem. We haven¡¯t encountered any of those yet, but I am going to assume they exist if demons do.


    As I draw the rusted pipe from my back I can¡¯t help but wonder if Adrian even knows what those that stay behind do when he goes off to exterminate threats. With a silent prayer to the god who has yet to give me his name my shirt becomes harder than steel.


    I need some sort of vision abilities, I can barely see anything.


    Should I get darkvision or Infravision? Should I go out on a limb and try to get Lifesense and its Undeath variant? I have to diversify my skillset but stay specialized so as to maximize combat potential, always a hard line to walk.


    I glance over to the tent I share with Abagail. She just finished a shift at watching for enemies, I hope she can safely sleep through this. I launch a flurry of blue lights into the air the shape of a dragon. A joke from Abagail when we made the signals up, like our leader I¡¯ll go and fight this alone.


    The funniest part is that if someone wants to be reinforcements they¡¯ll send up a wolf, just like how Kythia always ends up going to help Adrian. She even came up with that part.


    I circle around clockwise around the camp to run into whatever it is that Lysan though up the warning about.


    I find them soon enough a pack of goblins, nine of them. Too many for Lysan to fight on her own, but Talia could have. Adrian is the only mage I¡¯ve seen so far that can take as much punishment as the warriors are thematically supposed to.


    I whisper another prayer to my unnamed lord and a translucent shield forms, I need a spell for a weapon. I think Talia has one, I¡¯ll try to get her to explain that tomorrow. I don¡¯t even try to hide from the short little bastards, my glowing shirt and shield would give me away even if I did manage to stay out of their direct sight.


    I sidestep the first of their clumsy lunges and bash its head in in a single strike. My shield stops one of their crude arrows and the two other little fuckers don¡¯t have the balls to press their attack.


    These little things used to make me fight life and death against them. If I had the strength I do now, Tomas wouldn¡¯t have died. I wouldn¡¯t have been able to save mom or dad but I wouldn¡¯t have lost one of my few friends.


    The rusted pipe breaks together with the skull of the fifth goblin. I don¡¯t have another of those, and there isn¡¯t anything else sturdy left to fight with in the rubble of the two buildings Adrian broke.


    ¡°Fucking bastards.¡±


    I swear as I grab ahold of the only archer in their group. Vampiric Touch, the life begins to drain out of its eyes as the few bruises I did take from the others mend from the life stolen from this creature.


    I almost feel sick at just how their life feels. It is tainted with something, something I made sure not to take in as I ripped it out to heal myself. I let the last three of the goblins flee unhindered, I don¡¯t have a fucking weapon anymore.


    I couldn¡¯t kill all three if I tried now, and I don¡¯t have that much mana left. . .


    Walking back to my post I send up the image of bees fleeing from a falling tree. Good news and bad, enemy is gone but I can¡¯t stop them again.


    I sigh again and look to the east, it is only a few hours till dawn. There is food for three or four more days, how long are you going to be gone my friend? My only friend still alive, none of the others would have lasted much past a few waves of goblins.


    I frown as I approach the camp to see Adrian¡¯s little brother¡¯s stacking stones up like some sort of oven.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    The two look up at me but only one answers, like the elven twins I can¡¯t tell them apart. I think it might be the same one who always responds or that they just always phrase things in the same way.


    ¡°Making something we need, a place to melt and shape metal.¡±


    A bit of anger surges up, they think they know how to forge metal? I don¡¯t lash out though and just smile. I need a break, I need to have some time to myself or maybe just me and Abagail . . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The sun sets and the full moon rises as I sit and wait and plan for how to defeat different kinds of dragons, at least assuming they follow the rules that I think they should on the abilities they have.


    I smile at K, or is it Moonlight Runner again as she begins to shift into the wolf-woman that I saw four weeks ago. I take a deep breath and smile at the ruined bedroom around us.


    Moonlight Runner looks at me in confusion, she knows I have been infected with lycanthropy many many times today, last night and over the past weeks. Yet here I stand under the full moon in front of her, I am not sure how well she will take me basically enslaving the wolf spirit so it wouldn¡¯t be able to cause harm to me as me-but-not-me implied that it would.


    I shrug my shoulders in front of her and say the words she would like to hear more than an explanation as to why I did not turn, ¡°let¡¯s go hunting, where is the nearest dragon?¡±


    Her tail starts wagging as I pull myself onto her back. I was not joking when I told K I wanted her to carry me around like this at least once. I don¡¯t think that this very often as this is not a very comfortable location but we need to move fast.


    Moonlight Runner sniffs the air as I move fully into my piggyback position before she runs westwards at a speed where I can barely keep my grip.

 Chapter 071

    The goristro is without doubt the largest of the commonly occurring demons the smallest of which can smash a four-foot-thick granite wall with a single charge.


    They are the siege equipment of the demons, they do not bring battering ram but goristro, the only thing keeping such large monsters from tearing down a castle wall is their lack of magic, slow speed and the difficulty in amassing the flesh needed to give one physical form. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I fall off of the back of Moonlight Runner as soon as she comes to a stop in front of a cave I recognize.


    Opening and closing my hands as I try to assuage their cramps from holding on for over an hour, I look around there are scorch marks and burnt ground all over the entrance to this tourist attraction.


    ¡°There is one in the cave.¡±


    I smile and sniff the air myself. There is a lot of sulfur in the air, that and the scorch marks Leads me to believe that it is a red dragon within the cave, a gold may have made the same marks but they do not smell like sulfur.


    I turn to Moonlight Runner, ¡°hide and be ready to take advantage of an opening, and please stay safe¡± I tell Moonlight Runner with a quick hug.


    I would like if she wasn¡¯t involved in the fight at all but there is no way I could convince her to leave.


    She bounds off to the tree line, and I pull at the bond I forced on the spirit of the wolf. It resists my pull but as soon as I begin to whisper and name it; the resistance ends and I can feel it become willing to be as it is.


    ¡°Spirit of the wolf, son of the moon I name you Lykou. Come and hunt in my pack.¡±


    A wolf begins to condense out of the moonlight that falls on the ground around me and I know he will be a familiar bound to me forever.


    Once he becomes solid he howls and then lowers his head to me. I can feel his acceptance of me as the alpha and that while he is not a piece of me, he will always be a part of me.


    I hear Moonlight Runner answer the howl of my familiar and smile. She is glad to have another member in the pack.


    Rather than embarrass myself with the pathetic howl I can make I shout into the cave, both Moonlight Runner and Lykou draw strength from the moon. The fight needs to be outside.


    ¡°Come out and fight little winged lizard, or are you a wyvern?¡±


    My voice echoes back out of the cave and I begin to twist reality in the way I need it to be, fist accelerating myself in time on a duration. I won¡¯t be as fast as if I held it myself but I¡¯ll be able to cast other magics.


    A roar follows my echoed insult out of the cave and I can hear it approaching, this one is bigger than dragon-me was. . .


    I draw a rune with light in the air and set it as a focus for a ward against flame.


    The red dragon barrels out of the cave and Lykou collides with it in midair. They tumble to the ground, the dragon being twice the size of the wolf, who is just a head taller than Moonlight Runner.


    There is no way I can afford to get into melee with this dragon. But that is what my familiar and Moonlight Runner can do.


    The claws of the dragon tear through the shoulder of Lykou but he is not fully flesh and the moonlight begins to refill his corporeal form, but not as quickly as the dragon could tear him apart.


    I can feel as if I am partially controlling Lykou, and will him to do something I expect that he can as I create a bolt of frost fire and let it fly at the dragon.


    Are its resistances and vulnerabilities like I assume they are?


    Lykou dissolves into the moonlight and reappears to the side of the dragon his claws slicing into the creature''s scales as the bolt of frost fire slams into the dragon''s face.


    Ice forms and evaporates in a flash of steam but I can see the damage to the beast and hear its roar of rage from the pain. I smile and throw another but it is engulfed by dragon fire rushing at me.


    I twist it so that it will veer away from me but feel some resistance to my manipulation. I manage not to be burned but the heat still brings pain to my skin. A light searing.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    There is a look of disbelief from the dragon and I feel some backlash build but it drains away into the chains the link Lykou to myself.


    I file the obvious questions away to deal with after the battle and place my hands on the ground.


    The rocks in the dirt begin to swap places with each other and dirt until they all fit the pattern I want, a snowflake.


    The dragon does something with mana, probably a dispel or some other antimagic effect to strip me of the apparent protections I have from his viewpoint.


    I smile as nothing changes; my magic is not based on mana. I do not have to care about such like breach or dispel magic.


    I push Fire farther than I ever have before a fill the clearing in front of me with frost fire as Lykou once more walks through the moonlight to dodge my spell. I mutter words in necrol pushing for more power in the spell.


    Not all of the clearing is filled with the icy flames as I desire but the dragon is surrounded by them for a moment before part of its flames cancel out my own.


    The coloration of the dragon has dulled and it is truly in a full rage. I tumble to the side dodging the beast''s trample attempt but end up begin struck by dozens of bolts of fiery light that seek me out as I dodged.


    Magic missiles, so dragons have spells outside their energy type. They sting and there are marks on my skin where the tiny darts of force struck. Bloody bruises that are healed easily as Lykou rips a chunk out of the dragon¡¯s leg.


    That is all I actually need from this creature but I don¡¯t want to just leave now. I want to finish this fight, I want to win and claim the kill as mine.


    Rationally I have what I came for but I can also win so I don¡¯t need to retreat. I begin to truly enjoy fighting as I give in to this primal urge.


    There is another roar from the dragon and a compulsion to flee rises within me. I almost chuckle as I ignore my foe''s attempts to manipulate my mind.


    I dash sideways as if I were scared and attempting to flee, drawing the dragon to chase me and just as it begins to breathe fire once more the world flickers and an illusion built up on the manipulation of light breaks.


    I ran opposite to the image displayed to the dragon''s eyes, now I am by his side and form a blade of darkness. Icy cold death given some physicality.


    My blade enters into the lungs of the dragon as both Lykou and Moonlight Runner ruin the wings.


    The pained roar is louder and I feel my eardrums rupture, the world goes silent but the dragon spits up blood and globs of fire as it turns to me. It¡¯s claws sashing down on me.


    I step forwards inside the reach of the claws but am sent flying by the massive arms, though not before slashing as the elbow of it front left leg.


    Now it is my turn to spit up blood in the now silent world. The dragon should be dying, so unless it has divine magic or one of the work around to heal with arcane it is just a matter of time.


    My two packmates are circling around the dying dragon, I bare my teeth. This kill is mine.


    Dragon fire greets me as I walk towards the dragon faster than I should be. This time the resistance to me turning it away from myself is less and I don¡¯t feel my skin searing.


    I slit the throat of the dragon and let the fiery blood spill over me. I can feel the heat but it does not burn.


    Moonlight Runner and Lykou back away, they cannot eat this meat or drink this blood. It would harm them.


    I heal my body as Lykou dissipates back into the moonlight. Moonlight Runner seems to be staring at me with desire, but I not going to have that kind of fun with her, yet. There is work to do.


    The light in the eyes of this dragon have dimmed and left and I start to drink the fresh blood still spilling out of the wounds.


    It burns going down and I can feel a burning feeling in my gut. It does not hurt but is closer to eating something too spicy too quickly.


    Drinking the blood of this dragon doesn¡¯t seem to be working so I go the next step further and begin to tear out handfuls of meat from the slit on the dragon''s neck and eat it.


    I feel less repulsed by over the slimy texture of the raw meat than I should, instead the taste is somehow desirable, as if it were sweet and well-seasoned meat.


    It does not take long for me to eat my fill, but I still don¡¯t feel anything from the hole where dragon-me used to be, only sleepy.


    Ignoring the gore, I lie down and fall asleep almost without noticing what I was doing. I think I might have started muttering words in a language I don¡¯t know . . .


    <hr>


    I bolt upright and find myself in the arena where dragon-me was fighting with the wolf.


    A large dragon with midnight blue scales sits across from me. So, consuming pieces of that dragon did work.


    ¡°Go away, I don¡¯t want to come back. Everyth . . .¡±


    ¡°This is what you left for? To sulk and cry in an empty arena?


    Aren¡¯t you supposed to be a dragon? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be my pride?¡±


    ¡°But the hoard was mean to me!¡±


    ¡°So, you run away and cry, pathetic. And why wouldn¡¯t they? They never met you. You don¡¯t get girls by saying hi let¡¯s fuck you idiot.¡±


    ¡°But they are ours, we are supposed to sleep with our treasures.¡±


    ¡°To do that you have to do more, as little as I know about girls I do know that.


    . . .


    Now are you going to come back?¡±


    ¡°No, everyone is mean to me. Why would I want to go back?¡±


    ¡°Stupid, stupid lizard. Did you even think about the consequences of you tearing yourself away from me?


    How worried the others would be from running away for days, or just what me missing pieces of myself would doom them to?


    No, you didn¡¯t. Without confidence, I can¡¯t think as I do. Without Void Cache and the stuff in it how are we going to carry the needed food?


    Without shifting back into a dragon how could I get back to them before they starve?


    So guess what, your pathetic crying fit is over. You don¡¯t get to stay here. You have two choices: 1 go back to being a part of me willingly or 2 being forced to come back.¡±


    Dragon-me glares at me and speaks almost threateningly, ¡°you can¡¯t make me.¡±


    I create more blackened blue chains like those I bound the wolf with to surround dragon-me, as I speak.


    ¡°But I can little dragon, this place is still hidden somewhere in my body, you are but a piece of me and there is nothing to stop me from just binding you like a disembodied spirit.¡±


    A smile comes to my face as dragon-me surrenders to my will and I feel this place reconnect to the rest of my soul. This space fades away as the starry void I am more familiar with comes to take over what was apparently dragon-me''s choice of mindspace.


    I can feel some resentment of being forced to come back from dragon-me but also some sort of joy at being accepted as a part of me.

 Chapter 072

    The armanite is the demon''s answer for their apparent lack of Calvary. They appear to be physically almost identical to centaurs, save for how their armor is a part of their body. Something that baffled diabolists as the armanite is clearly a centaur that was altered for optimized combat contrary to the general trend of monstrous races being mutated by fiendish will.


    Unlike all other demons they are all but inept at magic. Another oddity pointing towards their manufactured state of being. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    I wake up held by Bryan in his sleep, I don¡¯t mind where his hands have wandered after whenever it was he finished the second watch. I feel warm and safe and would like little more than to just stay here.


    One of our stomachs growl reminding me of just what is going on, we are almost out of food and there has been small groups of monsters bothering us.


    There were always a few small fry that would get past Adrian running around at night but never as many as we are dealing with now. He also made sure that we always had enough food and water something that we are now short on.


    I manage to get out of Bryan¡¯s embrace without waking him and go to get some of what little is left to make a breakfast for us.


    Once outside I stop, staring at a scene that makes no sense to me. Adrian¡¯s little brothers have set up what looks like a small forge out of the rubble of the collapsed buildings.


    They are melting down the steel rods that were in the concrete and brick and the other is gouging out the shape of a sword in a large piece of concrete I am unable to believe they moved.


    The two frown and look over to me. They must have used magic like Adrian, I take a breath and just stop questioning this oddity as I do when Adrian heals everyone after fights.


    Another thing we lack without him. Lysan and Bryan can heal but they get tired and it takes up mana that could be spent in other ways.


    With a sigh I prepare what little breakfast there will be, I never thought Adrian did so much that we can¡¯t get by without him.


    I don¡¯t see Kathrine, I think she is fasting and praying for her son to come back. The twins don¡¯t seem worried though, though I am beginning to think there is quite a lot that they have hidden from their mother and brother.


    They are just too competent in so many things. They don¡¯t ever seem to call an alarm while on lookout but they certainly saw something as some dead creatures have been found that nobody else killed, not to mention that they have set up an apparently working forge out of building rubble.


    They don¡¯t panic and talk like they were already adults. And there is how skilled they handled weapons when fighting those demons. . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I feel great aside from the guilt over what I can guess that the others have been going through the last few days.


    I glance at K as she finishes gathering the scattered scales and bones from the crude butchery we just did on the dragon.


    I frown at the blood stains, there are not very many sets of clothes left for either of us in void cache. It didn¡¯t help that I only kind of fit in many of the clothes I had at home and that everyone else has had to scavenge whatever they can.


    I take the handful of scales held out in K''s hands, as she brings up a subject that I am worried about.


    ¡°So why didn¡¯t you shift into a werewolf under the moon, and what was that moonlight wolf that fought with us against the dragon?¡±


    With a forced smile I store the scales and begin to answer.


    ¡°I did some magic, that wolf made out of moonlight is my lycanthropy. That¡¯s all that will happen I think.¡±


    There is immediately a frown on K''s face. I knew she wouldn¡¯t like it.


    ¡°What do you mean, what did you do?¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    I try to calm her down by holding her, it doesn¡¯t seem to work but I do like holding her.


    ¡°Well I made him a familiar, I think.¡±


    There is a little bit of pain and anger in K''s voice she asks me, ¡°why would you do that? Don¡¯t you know what he was going to be?¡±


    I hug K tighter, I didn¡¯t ever ask if it meant something special to her. I am starting to feel guilty but I would still make the same decision again. That was the only way I could go . . .


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but it was the only way for him to stay. My dragon side didn¡¯t like the idea of sharing and my magic told me it would cause problems if my body started being warped by him.¡±


    ¡°Your magic told you? Is that another person in you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she told me how the wolf from your lycanthropy could stay.¡±


    ¡°She? Are you sure? Shouldn¡¯t everyone match your gender?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, me-but-not-me is female. Why would she supposed to be male just because I am?¡±


    I don¡¯t see why there would be a requirement to match. Aren¡¯t there plenty of schizophrenics that have personalities that are the opposite gender? Do I count as one even though my voices actually are real?


    ¡°What gender is the spirit of the wolf in you?¡±


    ¡°It was neuter at first but after the bond became a he, why? Is that important?¡±


    ¡°Neuter?¡±


    ¡°No gender¡±


    There is some confusion in K but she seems less ill at ease than earlier.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m me and the lycanthropy spirit is not hurt.¡±


    I just hold K silently until she finishes calming down.


    ¡°Ready to go back to the others?¡±


    She nodes her head and before she can ask why I take a step back from her.


    I store my clothes as I send the command towards dragon-me to change us into a dragon.


    My vision only lowers by a few inches, I¡¯m about the same size as my human body. I was hoping to be a bit larger than this but this should be big enough, at least to carry a single person.


    Though strange sounding I do manage to speak to K, ¡°find a place you can hold onto on my back without impeding the wings.¡±


    As K moves to do just that I feel resistance to the idea from dragon-me.


    [No! We aren¡¯t a beast of burden!]


    [Shut up, we will be whatever is needed to fix the mess you made. Besides, there is nothing wrong with carrying K, she¡¯s done the same for me.]


    K shifts around on my back as I feel dragon-me almost start cold shouldering the situation.


    I jump into the air and K manages to hold on, there is a strained sensation from the muscles connecting my wings and back but I slowly manage to gain some altitude.


    I don¡¯t know a straight line to the others so I begin to follow the roads we took in the cars.


    Within minutes I feel muscle fatigue from the extra weight that is K. All I can do is accelerate my healing factor. Hopefully it will recover faster than it moves towards tearing or cramping.


    I need to figure out some gravity magic . . .


    <hr>


    Anthony Ravnos


    <hr>


    I frown looking at the blade Fabricio and me are crafting, it is too good for us to show and give the others to arm themselves.


    It looks bad but the balance is still almost perfect for being made of scrap steel.


    ¡°It needs to be worse if we are not going to blow our cover.¡±


    ¡°Making them at all is going to lead to questions that will do the same, besides isn¡¯t it more important to keep all of those Adrian cares about alive than hide our skill?¡±


    My frown deepens. That is a very loaded question. If he finds us able to have done something to save his friends'' lives and we didn¡¯t when he eventually does learn of our family secrets could cause him to be upset. But so could ''we are not really little brothers but old magi from the past''.


    ¡°We need to somehow accomplish both.¡±


    ¡°I agree that that would be the best, unfortunately as things are going it isn¡¯t going to be possible.¡±


    I sigh, my twin is likely right. Things have not been going well, and if this pattern continues even if we were to act in what currently is our full power would not be enough to keep everyone alive.


    I heat up the blade and strike it against a piece of concrete. The temper should be shit now and the blade no longer straight.


    It hurts my heart to damage even such a poor creation of mine. I never want to let my rival smiths find out about this.


    Fabricio and me cease most of our actions as we notice some of Adrian¡¯s friends have walked into sight of our cobbleconcrete smithy.


    ¡°Are those supposed to be weapons?¡± asks one of the knife ears that Adrian has taken to his bed.


    I frown but nod my head, those were weapons before I had to ruin them. Four longswords in the European fashion.


    If only I could have left them at least halfway decent, but I see Fabricio run away in tears of shame with what she says next.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry they look okay for someone of your age and skill.¡±


    I find myself storming off as my twin did. If only you knew just what masterpieces I¡¯ve made, you would beg for one . . .


    <hr>


    Bryan


    <hr>


    I am starting at the pile of food rather what was a pile of food that I thought would last for far longer before it was gone as it now is.


    ¡°I know we have been eating more than usual the past few weeks but are we really already out of food?¡±


    ¡°How much did you really think seven people would eat every day?¡±


    I feel a bit embarrassed by the retort from Abagail. I just saw a large pile and thought it would last a long time.


    Before I embarrass myself further the war horn of what I assume is the main group of the goblinoids whose scouts have been attacking us for the last few days.


    With a sigh I pick up the crude almost sword Adrian¡¯s younger brothers¡¯ made and motion everyone to take what little cover we still have in the collapsed buildings.


    Adrian¡¯s little brothers may be able to handle themselves, but his mom cannot. Abagail can¡¯t either, though she is getting better at manipulating the flow of a battlefield with emotion inducing magic.


    I¡¯ve never heard the goblins use a war horn before but they are the only creature that any of us have seen recently. That and the numbers in their scouting patrols has been increasing.


    We will hide in the rubble and wait, there is no way we can handle the numbers of a goblin hoard, or any other army made of these creatures from Althr¨¢.


    They will pass by without noticing us or we will fight in the most defensive manner we can.

 Chapter 073

    The balor, standing twice as tall as a man is the most dangerous non unique demon. Masters of multiple forms of magic and just as good with their weapons they lack a weakness aside from holy magic.


    Their blade can cleave through bone and stone alike as if it were air, and their whip make impossible movements to ensnare those the demon chooses to play with.


    Capable of flight and wreathed in profane flame there is no fleeing or facing this demon in melee. Your only hope should such a demon enter the plane is to run and hope your friends distract the demon long enough for the demon to forget about you. - Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Raegaz


    <hr>


    I backhand the leader of the scout teams, how can he of lost most or all of the members of ever patrol sent through here?


    ¡°I don¡¯t care that you lose scouts. No manlings can stand against the army of Bloody Hand.


    Find me a village to raid or there will be no food.¡±


    Raegum the chief scout begins to backtalk, refusing my order. I pick up the thin long spear I took from a goblin named Puny and thrust it into him.


    I grin as the spear pokes through the back. Withdrawing my spear, Raegum falls to the ground. I look over to his aide, an sniveling well of a goblin.


    ¡°Name?¡±


    ¡°Ga Ga Gamaz, s si sir¡±


    Pathetic weakling, but maybe that fear of me will push him to make the goblin tribes work harder.


    ¡°You''re now scout chief, find me manlings to kill and feed the men or you will make up what lacks in the rations with your own flesh.¡±


    ¡°Ye yes sir.¡±


    ¡°Dismissed¡±


    The goblin runs from my command tent. I frown even though most of the weakling''s piss stayed in his loincloth some has fallen to the floor.


    I can stand goblin blood, a putrid thing but their wastes are worse.


    ¡°Get this tent clean by dusk. If I can smell goblin piss, I¡¯ll have a new tent made from your hides.¡±


    With that I leave the slaves and those who are otherwise my underlings to work. I need better reports on this band of manlings where the sun dragon once was.


    The dragon didn¡¯t care that we hunted if we offered it some of the shinnies.


    The manlings here are weak but have strange weapons, I need to build the numbers of orc and goblin fodder if I will take the city that spans the horizon to the north; and that means I need food and females or a deathspeaker.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I never thought that my mate would actually let me ride him through the sky.


    You can see so far from the sky and the wind against your face is better than the fire carriages we used before.


    If only this was a leisurely flight instead of rushing back to the rest of the pack. . .


    I touch the strained muscles of the wings, they have been trembling to hold both of us in the air as a third of a day has passed.


    I see the woods and clearing that I think will be where the rest of the pack is, but also another black blob of something moving south.


    The scent of demonkin and their filth is in the air. Is that blob a monster?


    I speak to ask my mate what that is but he does not answer. Just strained breathing, and something snaps like a bowstring and my mate''s left wing stops moving as it was.


    We turn in the air and I fall off of my mate. This will hurt, a fall from here will kill me if Moonlight Runner isn¡¯t in control.


    I feel my mate¡¯s claws cut into me and turns to place himself between me and the ground.


    One wing extended as we spiral rapidly to the tree tops. A crash of splintering wood and a spray of leaves swirl before my sight as the crack of bones breaking and a roar of pain echoes through my ears.


    I roll out of my mate¡¯s embrace with little more than painful scratches. I smell the blood of my mate spilt and seeping into the earth as I turn to him.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    I don¡¯t think he will ever fly again as the shattered bones splitting through the flesh and the tattered skin flaps that once was between the bones are all a mangles mess and a tree stump has ripped off one of the wings.


    All I can do is cry out apologizes as he shifts back into his human form leaving a mangled wing behind.


    I can barely respond after my mate pulls me down on top of him and holds me.


    Aside from a twitch of desire for my mate I do not move and stop talking. A few breaths pass and my mate whispers.


    ¡°Help me up.¡±


    I do as I am bid and clothes appear on his body after I pull him up to a standing position.


    I can tell he is hurt but it is not physically. There are no cuts or broken bones in his human form.


    A hand touches the mangled wing left behind and it vanishes as my mate cringes from pain.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be okay. I am just exhausted.¡±


    With that my mate takes a step towards where the rest of the pack should be but stumbles and in my surprise he fell to the ground.


    I quickly check to see if he is hurt but find him sleeping.


    I pull him up and begin to slowly walk us towards the rest of the pack: my mate pushes himself too hard. . .


    After walking for a short few minutes, a giant silver wolf walks out of the corner of my vision.


    I am confused for a moment, I do not smell her nor have I tensed up at her approach.


    ¡°Sister¡± the wolf speaks and only then do I recognize who she is.


    ¡°How are you here sister? Our body is awake how can we be talking like this?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to see if I could come play. I don¡¯t know why we are able to talk right now.¡±


    Moonlight Runner''s tail begins to wag as she looks at our mate.


    ¡°Can I have another turn with our mate tonight?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not upset at him?¡±


    ¡°Why would I be?¡±


    ¡°That he twisted the gift of the moon into something else.¡±


    ¡°Our mate is our mate and alpha, he will sire strong pups with or without gaining the gift.


    His wolf just became a member of the pack instead of being part of him.¡±


    ¡°You really don¡¯t care?¡±


    Sister walks up to me and her nose presses against mine. Flashes of the hunt yesterday run through my mind more thoroughly than what seeped over to me earlier.


    The howl of the wolf made of moonlight echoes through these memories of my sister. One of joy at being accepted to the pack, not one made by a hurt or enslaved wolf. The wolf is willing to be as he is, happy even.


    Sister steps back and licks my face. Though I physically feel nothing from that, I smile.


    ¡°Lykou is happy with the role in the pack that he has" and after a short pause continues, "so can I have tonight?¡±


    ¡°You had the morning before the full moon.¡±


    ¡°You interrupted that and that was for getting pups, I wa . . .¡±


    ¡°Once was for pups, after that his seed was already in us. The rounds after we¡¯re for fun and you know it.¡±


    Sister looks at me with the same eyes as she used to beg to go hunt deer a decade ago.


    I can¡¯t say no to her when she does that. She knows it, but it only happens when she truly wants something.


    ¡°Fine but remember the other two females need our mate''s affection too.¡±


    There is a tiny amount of disappointment in sister at the idea of having to share our mate with the others but with the wagging of her tail I know she is happy about the arrangement.


    I want time with our mate too, but there is that dark blob I saw while flying. How strong is that ooze creature to be so large?


    <hr>


    Lysan


    <hr>


    Bryan had us all barricade ourselves as best as we can in the remaining rubble.


    I sniffle holding back the tears I¡¯ve been shedding since Adrian was kidnapped by himself four days ago.


    Sister has been hiding something from me but I don¡¯t care, I just want Adrian to come back. I don¡¯t care about anything else as long as I can be with him.


    He''s so nice to sister and me, and keeps his word. I¡¯m not worried that he¡¯ll die or be hurt but that he won¡¯t or doesn¡¯t want to come back.


    I look at the mark that is still on sister¡¯s hand from the spell he did over a week ago. It¡¯s still there so he¡¯s alive.


    There is some movement in the brush along the tree line and we all get into a readied stance for combat.


    Just before sister let¡¯s lose an arrow from the sad excuse of a bow, I notice who is coming out of the brush.


    I begin to run to Kythia and Adrian before I fully understand what I am doing. I don¡¯t care that he was gone for days, that I did not eat or bathe recently, or even that he loves Kythia more than me. He is back and so I am happy.


    I bump into someone else on my rush to him, but it is only his mother. We ignore each other as we both look to see if he is alright.


    He just seems to be asleep, blood-stained and dirty but physically fine.


    ¡°Where was he? How did you find him? Why did he leave? Why di. . .¡±


    Adrian¡¯s mother asks question after question to Kythia.


    Kythia ignores the torrent of questions and speaks about another problem.


    ¡°There is a black blob larger than these buildings headed this way. A giant ooze and the scent of goblinkin is thick in the air. We need to move.¡±


    We already knew the goblins were nearby, but a giant ooze?


    There is a troubled look on Bryan¡¯s face as he asks a question, ¡°Was it really flat and you could kind of see the ground or trees in the middle of this ooze?¡±


    Kythia nods.


    ¡°Where and when did you see it?¡±


    ¡°North and towards the rising sun, while flying back with Adrian.¡±


    There is a slight pause before Bryan responds once more, ¡°that was a horde then. We need to get out of here and leave.¡±


    ¡°Not until Adrian wakes up.¡± I interrupt.


    Bryan clearly thinks it is a bad idea to wait as he begins to say something but sighs instead. The fire carriages need that weird liquid to move and Adrian has all of it.


    I pull him with Kythia to where sister and me have been sleeping. I want to make him as comfortable as possible while we wait.


    Adrian¡¯s mother keeps bothering Kythia for answers, but I don¡¯t think anyone will like the answers. I¡¯m too busy cleaning Adrian as best I can with the scraps of cloth I have to pay attention.


    Sister looks worried though, but I don¡¯t need to be; Adrian can do anything. He has kept us safe and fed ever since we met him, and never asked for anything in return.


    As the others are arguing over something, only I notice as Adrian begins to tremble lightly. What little fat is left on his body falls away and his eyes are moving around.


    I start to check to see if anything is wrong with him again, this can¡¯t be right but as soon as it begun it also stopped.


    He rolls over and grabs onto me and pulls me into a hug. He is still asleep but his breathing slows further as he mumbles my name.


    I can¡¯t stop an embarrassed smile from forming, I like this but am embarrassed to receive affection in front of others. . .

 Chapter 074

    The imp is one of the weakest forms that the lemure can take on the infernal side of fiends. Identical in almost every way to the quasit they are often confused for each other. Their differences lie in having Abyssal or Infernal energy and one is harmed by cold iron while the other is subject to the green steel so common to Baator.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    No thoughts pass through my mind for a while, I am unconscious or was until I open my eyes to the Grey Dream.


    I have never been able to shake off the feeling of danger while here, paranoia brought to me from the words of me-but-not-me. It been proven true by the actions of the dream but there is nothing to do about it yet. Just working on gaining more power so nothing will harm those I care about.


    I perform the actions of thought to get the Grey Dream to do what I want even as I suspect that this is all a farce to fool me.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Magus 15 (+20 SP), Rogue 10 (+5 SP), Soul 4 (+40 SP), Arcane Power 5 (+100 SP),


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon¡¯s Flesh; by eating the flesh of another dragon you have cannibalized some of its power (+50 EP, Dragon: Void 2 (+20 SP))


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 187


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 57


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I need to check on the changes that dragon-me did, I know that he did something here as the numbers to not add up to what I remember and that dragon form was larger than before.


    I decide on looking at Traits first,


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Accelerated Learning


    </td>


    <td>


    You learn and improve faster than normal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    <td>


    Young Adult Void Dragon


    Breath: Gravity, Radiance, Void


    Partial Transformations


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Darkvision, Greater


    </td>


    <td>


    The distance and detail of this black and white vision is higher than most who possess Darkvision


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Draconic Body


    </td>


    <td>


    +4 STR, CON


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Draconic Longevity


    </td>


    <td>


    +4 APR, slow aging, extended lifespan


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Endurance, Greater


    </td>


    <td>


    You are able to last longer in all forms of strenuous activity.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td>


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Infravision, Greater


    </td>


    <td>


    You are able to shift your perception of light into the infrared spectrum and have high sensitivity to the smaller differences in temperature that occur


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td>


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td>


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td>


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td>


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td>


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    True Dragon


    </td>


    <td>


    +8 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Void Body


    </td>


    <td>


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td>


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td>


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Wolf Familiar


    </td>


    <td>


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    How did I pick up some of these? Accelerated Learning and Endurance, are not things I had before nor did I do anything that would give them to me.


    The flow of an answer finally seems confused, I purchased them last time with SP; or rather that dragon-me spent the SP for them.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I¡¯m not upset over getting something like this with SP, but I would have liked to have known about this possibility before, whatever spirits that run this place must have been trying to hide this option.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Dragon: Void 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Dragon Knight: Void 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Magus 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Marksman 8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Rogue 10


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 26


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 28


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 30


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 29


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 28


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 884


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 396


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alright nothing to strange on the Class or Attribute sections aside from the new class of being a dragon. There must be some sort of difference between it and Dragon Knight, but that probably is not important. After all reality is not a game and all this is, is a numerical representation of my abilities.


    I should look at magic before I think about what to do. I also should not spend too much time here as everyone else might be in danger or worried over me. Would K have brought me back to everyone else? Maybe, but I can¡¯t spend too much time here there is also that army of something that smells terrible approaching.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Arcane Power 5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Planar 0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Life 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Mind 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Soul 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Primal 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Time 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Fire 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Lightning 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Light 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Gravity 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Nothing strange except for the increase in Arcane Power and Soul. I wonder how I managed to increase Arcane Power without the Grey Dream? Probably some sort of using it more than normal and building it up like a muscle.


    As much as I would like to go through the Traits that can be bought I need to get back to everyone else and do whatever I can to explain the actions dragon-me took. That and I need to heal my dragon form and perform an inventory on Void Cache to see what dragon-me pulled out and put in while I was occupied by me-but-not-me.


    <hr>


    My eyes feel heavy and wherever I am, it is definitely not the rocky ground of Missouri under me. I feel warm and whatever I am holding onto is comforting, I don¡¯t want to wake up yet, but I need to.


    I have to apologize to everyone because of the actions of dragon-me, and get us moving again.


    I open my eyes and after squinting at the sting of the dim light to see that I am holding onto one of the elf twins as if she were a teddy bear; that and I am lying my head on someone¡¯s lap.


    I try to slowly get up without waking the girl I was embracing, but find that she is holding onto my arms. No way to do this without waking her. I turn to whoever¡¯s lap I am on.


    It turns out to be K, I look around a bit before either of us say anything. Talia is not in the room, if a room this could still be called.


    Nor is anyone else, just me and two of my three girlfriends is a partially collapsed corner of whatever building I am now in.


    ¡°I told everyone what happened, your mother didn¡¯t understand it but your friends were worried over it.


    Talia is outside pacing, worried that you are going to be mad at her for what happened.¡±


    ¡°Why would I be, she didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±


    Before K responds, I get up and end up waking Lysan as I do so. She doesn¡¯t fight against it but she seems to want to just go back to sleeping while being held.


    Why was I even hugging her in my sleep though? It was comfortable though.


    ¡°We need to get back to traveling don¡¯t we?¡± I ask K.


    She nods as I exit through the only part of the room such a thing could be done.


    I only make a single step out of the collapsed room before I run into Talia. K was not joking about her pacing just outside of the room.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry abou. . .¡±


    I cut her off by picking her up and holding her to my chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m not mad, you didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I¡¯m not going to throw any of you away.¡±


    She calms rather quickly and only then to I set her back down. I am sure she could break free if she tried but she stayed still until I let her go.


    ¡°Where is everyone else?¡±


    ¡°Packing what they can in the fire carriages.¡±


    That is not an entirely inaccurate description of a car in elvish. So I look around and see my mother and Bryan easily enough in the light of this late afternoon, though as the setting sun is behind me they may not have noticed me yet.


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    I knew there was something off about Adrian. It turns out he is crazy and the voices in his head make him do things.


    This can¡¯t be good in any way, he isn¡¯t stable. What if the dragon whatever takes over again?


    Will it protect everyone and act like Adrian does or run away as it just did again?


    ¡°We can¡¯t count on his ability to protect anyone if he has another breakdown and one of the voices take over again¡± I bring up in the cyclical argument that has been going on for hours.


    ¡°Kythia said that the dragon is like her own inner wolf, a part of him. He shouldn¡¯t do this again unless we push him away or something similar¡± counters Bryan much to my displeasure.


    Even if that is true then aren¡¯t they different people? I can trust Adrian, he has proved himself more than enough but not the voices in his head.


    Kathrine frowns at the mention of the werewolf though that quickly changes to a happy smile.


    I turn my head to see our crazy de facto leader just getting out of the small hollow in the rubble that the elven twins have been using.


    We cease our argument, no reason to have him worry over this. He walks swiftly up to us three and says one word before Bryan interrupts him.


    ¡°Sorry . . .¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡± he says as he puts a light punch to Adrian¡¯s arm. I don¡¯t get how pretend violence is a friendly thing for boys.


    After a second, Bryan continues ¡°no one''s mad at you, but we need to get moving.¡±


    There is a look of guilt in both Adrian¡¯s expression and eyes as he nods. He feels terrible over what just happened, and I feel bad for arguing against his leadership.


    This wasn¡¯t something he willingly did, but he regrets it as if it were. Almost as quickly as the guilt appeared, he covers it up with a smile and begins to walk towards the cars.


    Several gas cans appear in his hand as he sets them down one by one and begins to fill the gas tanks, only stopping to recollect the gas cans into whatever magical storage power he is manipulating.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After filling up the cars there was little else to do except to get moving, everyone piled into the manual car that my mother was driving except for the trio and Bryan. I feel guilty for what happened and even if they say and act like they forgave it.


    There is a beat of a drum in the distance and the sound of a low and dull horn is the only sound in the background as the cars are started up. The horde I saw while flying must be getting closer, are they in the way between us and Kansas City?


    I am not sure as the map in an Atlas is not visually similar to the actual streets and roads, we still need to go north and west and the sounds are from the north. We begin to move as the cars have no trouble starting back up after a few days of neglect.


    Soon enough I am asked a question by Bryan, ¡°are you alright?¡±


    I don¡¯t really want a discussion over my mental health, though it seems like I do not have much of a choice on that anymore.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m alright.¡±


    ¡°So, can you tell me about these voices in your head?¡±


    There is concern in his voice and on his face from what I can see with the rear view mirror.


    I glance around the horizon almost hoping that some of the nearby hoard would be in sight so I could evade this but no such bad luck.


    I sight, ¡°I have three ''voices'' in my head now. A dragon, a . . .¡±


    Me-but-not-me appears in my vision for a moment and mouths ¡®no descriptions, be vague'' before fading away as quickly as she arrived.


    No one seems to have noticed the few seconds where I paused, since when could she reach me while I was conscious?


    ¡°. . . mage and now a wolf. The first two I think are attached to or related to my abilities.


    The wolf, I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s more like talking to someone else than the others.¡±


    No point in hiding too much regardless of what me-but-not-me thinks.


    K smiled at the mention of the wolf, is she okay with what I did? We never did get to that part of the conversation.


    ¡°What do they talk to you about?¡± asks Lysan, more out of curiosity than concern.


    I can¡¯t help but match the smile she gives me with my own.


    ¡°The dragon tries to get me to act more dragon like, and the mage pushes to be better at everything.¡±


    ¡°And the wolf?¡± asks K.


    ¡°That you want to be dominated during sex.¡±


    Everyone looks at me confusion for speaking in a tongue they don¡¯t know except for K who blushes the tiniest of amounts.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± asks Talia only to have K whisper something quiet enough that I don¡¯t pick up what she said.


    I don¡¯t respond until after their subsequent laugh ends, Bryan gives them a look of confusion but simply does not understand what was said. Lysan looks embarrassed by the reaction of her sister and what K said, makes sense to me but I am not telling him the subject of where they went.


    I cough a bit, and the conversation moves on. I may really like sexy time, but I don¡¯t want to just talk about it all the time. . .

 Chapter 075 P1

    The Barbazu or bearded devil are used as shock troops on the rare occasion that the infernal army is needed. Each is armed with a two-handed weapon, and most favor pole arms such as the glaive and halberd. They are trained to bleed mortals and use infernal magic to force things that do not normally bleed to do so, all in order to make their fighting style able to be effective against any foe. Barbazu are rather unskilled in magic aside from this make anything able to bleed though their hair is also toxic to nearly every living thing that they have ever encountered.


    Barbazu are not leaders nor are they thinkers, they are made to be shock troops and aside from this find themselves often useless. They can sometimes be mistaken as thin lizardmen or some sort of human sized kobold-goblin hybrid, though once again they are not skilled in anything aside from being shock troops and only the dumbest of fools fall for such a rouse. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It is not long until our conversations have to stop due to the goblinoid hoard crossing our path.


    As soon as they are noticed I tell Bryan, ¡°swap with me¡±, as I pull over and open my door.


    No one speaks and aside from those in the other car giving me a weird look as they cannot see as far nothing aside from us switching happens.


    Now sitting shotgun, I am not going to have to pay attention to the driving. The less I am distracted the more potent and faster my magic seems to be.


    Bryan knows the direction that we to drive and so I roll down my window as I full well mean to release blasts of fire and lightning on anything that threatens to harm us.


    All too soon the little monsters see us as we are moving close to their line, if a line it could be called.


    A few of them raise horns carved of some animal¡¯s bone or horn to make a noise different than the occasional horn and slow drumbeat that has been echoing over the gentle rolling hills and woods.


    I frown at the clear sky as it will not give me easily accessible lightning, forcing me to have to generate my own or ruin the electrical system of the car.


    I quickly build a ball of electricity in the palm of my hand, before throwing it towards the creatures in the near distance.


    I fell some of that backlash energy build, and know it must be from my mother, as the ball travels the short few hundred feet before erupting ruining the near uniform equipment of the few goblinoids and silencing their horns.


    The backlash trickles away from me towards Lykou, but I know there is no way that he can just be an endless pit to have it go to.


    After a few breaths another horn nigh identical in sound to the horns used by these few goblins echoes across the landscape, followed by other louder horns.


    <hr>


    Raegaz


    <hr>


    I cannot help but smile as the horns of the goblin scouts roll over my marching soldiers as I ride on one of the truly tamed wyverns.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The horns are just too the left of the setting sun, at least where that sun will be in another quarter. After a short complaint from my semi-sentient mount I glance out over my soldiers and point the thin spear to the right of where the sun will set.


    There is supposed to be a sunfire lizard to the left of the setting sun, if this prey is fleeing they will go north to the other manlings in the city that spans horizons.


    My riders turn and with us will the army, in all reality I hope they are not travelers but a village to raid.


    But I did not get to being a chief general by waiting around, if they are travelers this move will cut them off, for a village the scout¡¯s reports will tell me before we get too far and this will become a move to flank and surround.


    Some of the newer members of my army give me looks of disapproval, we aren¡¯t moving straight at the food. They will learn to follow, or they will be made to learn.


    A smirk appears on my twin sister¡¯s face, she cannot wait until someone challenges us for the right of rulership. I myself lick my lips at the younger females that have yet to join the breeding stock of my tribes.


    <hr>


    Soon enough the newest scout chief approaches.


    ¡°Report¡±


    ¡°The the, scouts n na none of the scouts have come back.¡±


    I raise my eyebrow, and my pointed teeth are bared to the sniveling whelp. My sister asks the question I want an answer to.


    ¡°How, is not your role to find and retreat? What was found, or do you need to be replaced like your predecessor?¡±


    The tiny ball of fear that each and every goblin is just cowers for a moment. His scouts had to have seen something.


    ¡°Speak now¡± I declare and let the tiniest amount of my might and mana into my voice.


    ¡°Th they lie, they say two sh shiny horseless cha chariots k kill them.¡±


    I smile, that is too absurd for a goblin to concoct as a lie. Many foes or enemies that are too big and strong would have been a lie but this?


    This must be true, goblins may be crafty and clever but they are not something that would come up with this.


    ¡°You are dismissed, go back to directing the scouts.¡±


    The terrified mongrel almost immediately begins to flee at my voice. At least some of the fresh troops fear me as they should.


    <hr>


    Anthony


    <hr>


    I cannot help but stare at the other car, or more specifically the twisted fabric of reality around it.


    At first there was looks of confusion on Kathrine¡¯s face but now she isn¡¯t batting an eye as bolts of crude lightning and swaths of fire come out of the front passenger window to destroy the few goblinoid packs that have been approaching us and sounding crude horns.


    An arrow strikes against the window I am looking through, breaking it but at least the piece of glass stopped a few.


    Kathrine panics for a second until I just pick up the arrow with a smile. Crude and little more than trash is all goblin craft can amount to. I would more likely to die of infection from this arrow than for it to pierce something vital.


    In the past I could have repaired the window but I no longer have the raw power needed to split into the multiple tasks that would be needed for such a task.


    Glancing at the dash to check our current speed of some twenty-odd miles an hour I find myself impressed that some of these little creatures have managed to hit vulnerable parts of this vehicle.


    A ding of one of the lights calling for maintenance turning on draws my attention as we have passed this last group, leaving behind few if any survivors.


    The oil light that Kathrine has been ignoring for over a month is still there and now the gas light has lit up. With a frown that the easy travel will soon stop, I turn my attention back to the car in front of this one.


    How is it that Adrian is handling the push back from reality? It has been centuries since twists such as these lightning bolts and fire blasts.


    He is only partially trained by Geldath, so how is it he can get away with such blatant alterations?


    Fabricio and me glace at each other with the same question in our eyes. We want to know how he can maintain this magical onslaught for so long.

 Chapter 075 P2

    The Hamatula or Barbed devils stand just shorter than a human male though their stubby legs leaves the torso to be a majority of their body. This body is covered in the barbs that give it it¡¯s nickname, each of which is covered in a toxin that thins the blood.


    They fill the role of pure fodder in the infernal army, they are expected to be decimated when brought to the field of battle and fight in a suicidal style of unarmed combat regardless of who or what they are sent against. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Raegaz


    <hr>


    According to the ¡®lies¡¯ of the goblin scouts, the horseless chariots travel swiftly along the black rock roads. As such I and my army now stands in the middle of this strange road made of a single impossibly large rock.


    Another horn begins to sound before it is cut off, the bearer must have died. No problem the goblins reproduce faster than anything other than rats and kobolds.


    I look over the squads of hobgoblins in block formation, all is ready to have them stop these horseless chariots. Dusk has come and so the advantage will be ours if these are manlings.


    A flash of light down the road made of a single stone are all I need to see to tell that whatever these horseless chariots are, they will be here in minutes.


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    The sky dims as the car''s engine makes a noise I have never heard before and then dies. Scraping and grinding metal from somewhere within the engine.


    The car Bryan is now driving keeps moving forward for a short few seconds before turning around and stopping next to ours.


    The is a look of confusion on Kathrine¡¯s face, ¡°I can¡¯t have run out of gas, the tank was just filled¡± she says with the same confusion that is on her face as is in her voice.


    ¡°There is probably a oil and gas leak¡± one of Adrian¡¯s twin brothers answer the not quite question.


    ¡°Broken or gas?¡± Adrian asks as he steps out of the passenger side of the other car.


    ¡°Broken¡± answers the same twin before his mother can.


    Adrian frowns and the look down the road following it to the horizon, a feat I cannot do. The frown deepens, not from being unable to see, but from whatever it is that he can see.


    ¡°Is everyone ready for combat?¡± he asks.


    ¡°Why¡± I question and am subsequently answered by the only other person who can apparently see so far on a cloudy night, Kythia.


    ¡°There is a line of soldiers down the road, they smell of goblinoids so probably an orc and hobgoblin force leading the goblin packs we have been running across.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Adrian and the elven twins nod in agreement. Their senses are keener than mine or Bryan¡¯s though I don¡¯t get why Adrian¡¯s have gotten so much better.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think your mom or brothers are ready for something like that. Otherwise everyone is rested enough and haven¡¯t spent any mana.¡± reports Bryan.


    I never told him if I was ready or not, but even so he is right. I have not spent any mana today and I suppose he would know if any in the other car did.


    ¡°My little brothers should be fine, they are better at magic than me anyways.¡±


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be getting into fights and why have you been killing everything that we have driven by?¡± Kathrine interjects but before she can continue is interrupted by her son.


    ¡°They would have done the same to us. Those were goblins, they just want to kill and eat.¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure of that?¡±


    ¡°That is what those monsters did at school.¡± I answer for Adrian. I may not like every decision that gets made but every dead goblin, orc or other monster makes the world a better place.


    Turning to his brothers Adrian speaks, already assigning positions for the coming battle. ¡°Stay in the middle guarding mom and Abagail. Support everyone else with ranged magic.¡±


    Before they can even respond he turns from them and continues to give directions, ¡°Abagail, do what you can and stay put of melee.¡±


    With a flip of his wrist a worn rifle, one of the lower calibers, is in his hand for me to grab. I thought all of the weapons were broken fighting the demon; apparently he had another in that weird magic storage.


    He let¡¯s go of the rifle as soon as I touch it and I miss his exact instructions for the trio, but Lysan moves close to me while Talia and Kythia move to either side of Adrian.


    Bryan moves to the rear of their front triangle, probably to deal with when we end up flanked as we always do from our small number.


    There is nothing for any of us to do now but move forward, even Kathrine knows it. I can see the same unease on her face as I once had. Everything around us is clear from the headlights of the cars.


    I can see Adrian muttering something about weather but nothing happens as he seemed to glare at the clouds above us.


    Soon enough we are walking down hill towards the supposed line of soldiers. We do not get very far before Adrian runs ahead to engage the enemy that only now can I see the glints from their reflective eyes in the dark. A glint sharper than the elven twins but dimmer than Kythia¡¯s or Adrian¡¯s.


    A pistol appears in his hands and all too soon do I hear it go off, followed by a grunt like scream of pain and the surprised yelling of monsters in their guttural tongue.


    A flash of lightning from Adrian¡¯s off hand, the left. It reveals for the briefest instant the dozens of uniformed humanoids than stand before us. I feel the doubt of having the stamina or bullets to defeat such a group. Certainly not with just a .22 rifle, I¡¯ve shot orcs and hobgoblins before they can take several such rounds before it phases them.


    This doubt fades from my mind as the echoes of the thunder of lightning and gunfire resonates with the music of mana that buzzes in the back of my mind.


    Somehow, I begin to sing the part of the song in the mana that I want, Courage and Hope. I do not know the words but they flow from my lips, my voice echoing off of walls that do not exist and taking on a grace to it that I do not possess.


    I wish I could remember what it is that I am singing, Bryan asked me about it but I couldn¡¯t explain it any more than he could his paladin magic to me.


    Emotion given presence is all I can relate it to, I know what part of the song that is in my mind does this but I don¡¯t know why. A trickle of my own mana drains slowly away as everyone starts to see the situation as one we could handle.


    I smile after a breath in a short second between producing the sounds that invoke my magic. I have to keep singing to extend the duration of this magic but one thing I can do is slip in more traditional magic in between verses but I need to keep enough mana to maintain the song for however long this battle will be.

 Chapter 076

    Gelugon, also known as Ice Demons or White Bugmen, are only found under the service of Mephistopheles. Native to the eighth circle of hell, Cania, they are well adapted to its frozen wastes and serve as the foot soldiers there. They are stronger than most other types of foot soldier available to the Infernal Host, skilled fighting with spear and shield while supporting each other with magic. They love to abuse their own immunity to magical coldness and often releasing cones of frost and storms of freezing rain over those engaged in melee against their kin. More intelligent than most other foot soldiers when the armies of Hell mix together they often will lead the other soldiers though they seem to prefer sticking to residents of Cania if they can. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Raegaz


    <hr>


    I smiled when I saw the manlings on the hill walking towards my line of infantry. They must have seen my forces somehow, there is no way the nine of them could defeat my army of a hundred.


    Then the tallest of the manlings looks out over my forces and somehow, I can see the glints of someone using Infravision from him. He must be their leader and wish for parley.


    Wise, I might have a use for them if I could make sure of their loyalty. Too bad rations are too low for that.


    The man walks faster than the others of his group and his hand moves, a flash of heat blinds me as I hear one of my soldiers cry out in pain.


    An attack? But how, he is hundreds of hand spans away? A flash of light tears my Infravision from me, it¡¯s too bright and my eyes are pained as the blackness of night only broken by a purple line across my line of sight.


    ¡°Seven of them have mana, brother¡± I hear from my sister as the crack of lightning resounds through the air yet again.


    ¡°Damn them, seven mana users. Full advance!¡± I mutter and then shout. If I knew so many mages we¡¯re going to be in the field I would have brought another battalion.


    I follow my soldiers in the charge drawing upon my own mana as the voice of an angel comes down from where the manlings are echoing over the hill and woods. A tingle down my spine as I resist the idea of not bothering to defend myself as I approach.


    I will not fall to your brash courage witch. I sidestep at the last second as another tingle in my skin tells me of an approaching spell. A bolt of blackness invisible in the night air rushes past me and slams into another soldier before releasing a burst of red-purple light.


    Shit, as if an evoker and enchanter working together wasn¡¯t enough they have a necromancer too.


    The taller male ceases to blast the ranks with lightning to do something to the thing in his hand. Is that some sort of hand crossbow? Another weapon to make sure I end up with after the battle.


    Then just before the soldiers in front of me reach him, the howl of a wolf pierces through the air. In the half of a second where in my soldiers were distracted a silver wolf made of glowing light tears them apart with a claw.


    I glance behind me to see if my sister will take care of it but do not see her. Fine, just keep disappearing when things get dangerous.


    I move past the glowing wolf as it moves to real havoc on my infantry but they will survive. I thrust my thin spear at the strangely muscular mage only to have him sidestep.


    Since when did mages capable of so much lightning learn to dodge? A spear appears in his hand and it is used in a clumsy attempt to cut my arm.


    I almost cannot help but chuckle at the lack of skill. Just like a mage, powerful magic but a lack of skill in even basic weaponry.


    With a smirk, I make a sweep with the shaft of my spear to trip, one he dodges by backsteping. A fatal mistake as my spear is longer than the one he holds, and as quickly as possible I take advantage of my greater reach.


    A pain bursts forth from the right side of my chest. I look down to see a spearhead piercing through my chest and the thin but enchanted leather torn.


    The man before me twists the spear and I glance at it in confusion as the spear no longer has a tip, the spear just ends after some of the shaft.


    Pain erupts yet again and I lash out at the foe behind me only to find that there was no such foe. That ever so short of a distraction left an opening and the human let go of the spear shaft and rushed inside of the reach of my spear.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    A almost light strike to my chest sends spasms across my body and pain pulses down my left arm. There is a clatter of a spear falling to the ground, my spear. If I knew there was such a master of magic here I would have never opposed his travel.


    The sounds of my warriors falling to the same fate as me brings no comfort. I do not want to die, and there is only one way to do that now; pretend to be dead and pray that an ally rescues you.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I push the strange humanoid after trying to force a heart attack on him through the manipulation of Life. Since he fell down I think it is working, it should not have been an instant kill. You can go for a bit without blood flow but I don¡¯t have time to mess around and confirm his death, as much as I would like to figure out just what race he was.


    I have to clear a path for the others to follow behind, too many to just kill them all. Or could we? No it wouldn¡¯t be safe, we have non-combatants.


    At least the few right next to me and whoever that spearman was fled from me. I wonder if Abagail can create a fear effect in them with her singing?


    I ditch the spear broken by my attempt at shortening space between the spearman and me. It worked and I struck him from behind through space but the shaft broke when I twisted it.


    I have some bullets left still so I return to using my pistol, and twisting reality through Spatial Aim to make sure to strike the heads of the orcs and hobgoblins. Anything less will not kill them.


    I manage to make a few quick steps forward before my way gets blocked though only by a pair of orcs. A problem easily solved with a cone of fire.


    Just move forward and keep everyone following, no problem.


    <hr>


    Raegaz


    <hr>


    Not but a moment after I fell to the tall man, his allies pass by me. I still feel pain, though my body is going numb as I feel as if I were holding my breath though I am not.


    The horn of retreat sounds, and my army will be congregating on it now. It is too early for it to have been called for, the engagement has been for but a few minutes.


    I try to glance around but my cooling body refuses to answer. I can only wait as I slowly die, having no strength to act on my own.


    The sounds of combat drift away, if it is that the mage and his followers have moved on or that my stilled blood no longer brings life to my ears I know not; not until I see the only face I would still recognize in its blurred state.


    I attempt to speak and call out her name, but all I can see is blurred movement before a pain like none I have felt before bursts forth from somewhere that was not numbed by whatever that mage did to me.


    I hear the pulse of life start once more and I blink, there is a smile of my sister¡¯s face. Not one of care or the familial love we hold but one of victory and conquest.


    A scream of pain echoes through my mind but not the tiniest part passes through my mouth, something is happening to me. Not my body but me, the lips of my sister move and I feel less.


    <hr>


    Raena


    <hr>


    I can barely keep calm enough to hold my spell as I watch the life dim from my rapist ''brother''s'' eyes even as his body is repaired at the cost of my own. A price I am all to willing to spend.


    Years of playing the obedient little sister, always joining in on his plans to aid him. Never letting him know just what was in father¡¯s books. Never being too helpful but not making myself dispensable either.


    I can see the soul of my brother, the essence of who he is. The magic of body theft and soul eating ripping him to raw soulstuff and insight. Everything I need to take everything of his as he took everything of mine.


    I won¡¯t let anything happen to me again, I will take his life for my own and, and what?


    As I feel the strength and insight of my ''brother'' trickle into me and think of just what to do with his army and wealth I frown.


    I don¡¯t want to be a warlord, I don¡¯t want to do any of the things he did. Destroying him forever should be enough for me, but it isn¡¯t.


    I have nothing, he will be nothing. What should I do? Thank the mage? Maybe, he killed Raegaz.


    But he is a man, and men are all nothing but violent pigs. Sex, kill and eat are all they ever do. I don¡¯t want to be that.


    I pull the obsidian dagger out of his chest and plunge it into the heart of my own.


    What was I thinking, swapping bodies with a male. I spit on him as the flow of life force reverses. His now repaired and working body¡¯s life strengthening my own.


    Our infernal blood trickling to the ground mingles as it seeps into the dry earth. The night seems darker for an instant as a shadowy man walks to the center of my vision, and I know what this Shadow Man is.


    Everything is silent, the world has stopped. All for this shadow, he wants to tempt me, make a deal with him for power. Not a moment passes before it¡¯s deep enchanting voice enters my ears.


    ¡°Do you want power?¡±


    I almost speak ''yes'' before I stop myself, I will not give into my blood.


    ¡°Leave me, the bloodline of House Raenauth will not follow the path of Infernalism anymore.¡± I command with as much force as I can muster.


    The shadow laughs, and taps his finger on the obsidian dagger lodged in my chest ¡°You do not have the authority to say that Alu Fiend. You will follow becau. . .¡±


    ¡°Begone, I am the last member of the house. I have control of the contracts made by the house, if I want your power I would have called on those.¡±


    The Shadow Man smiles before fading away into the darkness of this cloudy night as time resumes and I turn to the soldiers of my brother''s army who smile at seeing me near the dead body of my sibling.


    A grin is on their faces and lust in their eyes. The disgusting creatures start to say something about showing me just my place is. I will not let them live, they are like my brother they deserve to die too.

 Chapter 077

    Kryton or the chain devils as they are called by their victims are almost never called to the front lines of the Infernal armies. They are the torturers and jailkeepers of the nine hells. No devil is crueler to a prisoner than a Kryton, and everyone that they are not explicitly told by a superior to be otherwise is a prisoner. They enjoy nothing more than breaking an unruly prisoner with their tortures, tortures that they often begin in the middle of combat.


    They are masters of law-based magic and magic to induce all forms of pain. Their chains are stronger the more the laws of Hell demand their targets be restrained and tormented, and that is an absolute; Hell, always demands such things. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Only a few minutes after that first spearman died, the other humanoid monsters have ceased to follow after our group. That does not make much sense to me, not sure why they would not chase after us. Bringing an army and not even pursuing your target makes no sense.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t they following us?¡± asks Abagail.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, we need to keep moving¡± I respond.


    I can almost hear what she grumbles but I am too focused on the hoard of goblinoids and whatever sort of humanoid that spearman is. I can still hear wood striking wood and metal on metal, almost as if there is still combat going on.


    Whatever problems that this army is having now are good news as far as I am concerned. If they are fighting something that will give me time to get some distance between us. I glance at my brothers and mother, they seem to be tired from this short run.


    It is only after a few minutes that we stop our run, having little to see of any possible pursuit. Some of us simply did not have the stamina nor will power to hold a sprint for long.


    My mother is nearly falling over from exhaustion thoughsupported by my siblings; they are not in much better physical condition. Abigail, like my mother, is having problems from the sprinting but refuses to come to a stop forcing herself to keep going.


    It is barley another hour before my mother could not physically continue and my brothers though willing also lacked the strength to keep going. I sigh as we begin to make camp far too close to where we encountered a nearby army.


    ¡°We need to keep going¡± K tells me in the tongue only us two speak.


    ¡°I know but the others can¡¯t handle it.¡±


    She looks over the group and I can tell that for a few seconds she had the same idea as me; they are dead weight lowering our chance of survival. Neither of us are willing to act on that but it is obvious to everyone.


    ¡°Rest, I¡¯ll keep guard but sleep lightly and ready to run.¡±


    She frowns and presses herself against me lightly. ¡°Moonlight Runner wanted to play with you tonight.¡±


    I can¡¯t help but physically react when she said she wanted to sleep together tonight, but regardless of how eager and willing we are, it would be a bad idea right now.


    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous right now. I¡¯ll make it up to everyone when we are safe.¡± I say while giving her a hug.


    We separate and I turn around to everyone as they lay down around a tree.


    ¡°Be ready to wake and run, but get all the rest you can.¡±


    I get a nod from Bryan and Abagail but the others seem to have already fallen asleep. There was a blanket layed out next to the elven twins, clearly for me but K takes the spot since I will be keeping guard.


    As soon as I can tell that the trio entered sleep or maybe revarie, I should ask if they really do have a different kind of sleep they can use, I move just out of eyesight and shift into dragon shape.


    The pain of my broken bones and missing wing explode, I nearly pass out as the flow of my blood into the ground also resumes. I twist reality, stopping the loss of lifeblood and setting bones as tears form from the pain form in my now reptilian eyes.


    I shouldn¡¯t have jumped into this form straight away but eased into it. I barely get the injuries to be scabbed over before my method of healing starts to cannibalize the other muscles to regrow what had been lost, something I should not let happen.


    Able to breathe shallowly without breaking open one of my wounds I cast my mind into my Void Cache to search for what I can use to get the biomass to finish healing.


    The organization of my cache was always poor but I cannot help but get upset over the dragon corpse that ruined what little organization I had.


    At least I don¡¯t have to know where in Void Cache something is, just that it is there. I¡¯m still going to have to organize this since I never paid attention to just how much of what food is in here.


    I pull a part of the radiance dragon''s wings into my physical hands to begin eating, even if the red dragon is cut up I need to get rid of the radiance dragon to try to organize my Void Cache.


    The texture of the wings is like an undercooked chicken wing, I don¡¯t understand why this doesn¡¯t disgust me but since I have to I may as well be glad I can enjoy the taste of raw flesh.


    I don¡¯t notice anything approaching as I continue to eat and then heal with the flesh of the radiance dragon. Before too long I had eaten most of the dragon''s corpse and only the nub of what was once my left wing remains injured.


    I saved it for last since it would be the hardest to heal, the rest the body could do on it¡¯s own but regrowing bone and joints from nothing has to be guided.


    I check for life by focusing on seeing all that lives as I twist reality. There isn¡¯t anything other than bugs, plants and my friends for about a mile. I think, distances are hard I should try figuring that out.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    I slowly manage to grow a mirror image to my right wing, which I assume is the right shape. My shattered and tattered wing left in Void Cache seems like it¡¯s bones fit together as the other still does.


    It feels right and doesn¡¯t hurt so I will just assume that it is right. It could not have been significantly different from the right wing to have balanced flight anyways.


    I should probably test the new wing but I don¡¯t want to leave everyone else unguarded. I¡¯ll just circle around the immediate area.


    A jump and a few flaps of my wings sends me soaring back into the sky, my eyes easily seeing in the scant moonlight that breaks through in rays from the cracks between the night time clouds; whatever the dragon''s equivalent of a smile is, it would be on my face.


    I like flying, but I can¡¯t just enjoy it tonight. I scan the ground for where any other humanoids may be and can see two.


    One off in the distance, tents and many other things. I am not sure exactly how many creatures there are but I can see specks moving around and the lights of several fires, the distance being the only thing that let me handle looking at fire in infravision.


    The other is closer a dozen or so beings moving around a something or someone? Whatever is going on there distracted and/or dealt with the few dozen creatures we didn¡¯t kill a few hours ago. I kind of want to see what it is.


    I have Lykou manifest again, his form still somewhat injured from what few weapons the hobgoblins had that could hurt him.


    He feels my will and knows what I want, and soon begins to circle around on the ground where I had been up in the air.


    I should probably wake one of the trio to take with me but they are all tired and need their sleep. Actually I probably shouldn''t do this at all, but I want to and it shouldn''t really endanger my friends.


    It is not but a few minutes of my leisurely flight before I am close to whatever has been distracting the remnants of the hoard, and once I do see what it was I feel something in me.


    I am not angry or enraged, just disgusted and abhorred. The monsters that I fought earlier tonight have shown their actions to be more inhuman than their appearance.


    They had torn each other apart, cannibalized some of their number for food but that even with the gore and body parts strewn about as decorations in some sort of almost tribal manner was not what invoked my disgust alone.


    In the center of their tents was a pile of nude corpses, or mostly corpses as some still we¡¯re generating heat. Each and every single body was female and covered in injuries and a fluid that is not blood, though some of it was blood.


    Time twists into a faster rate around me as my desire to simply erase this threat to my friends grows with each moment that I have to see what they would have done to my lovers and mother.


    Black globs of what I could only call void fly from my mouth as I circle a single time around this remnant camp. I may not care much for those that are not my friends, but that does not mean I like things such as this.


    I watch for a few moments, my second pass around this camp, as the blackness of the void expands and then thins before dispersing revealing small round craters where several tents that were previously filled with heat signatures.


    I land and breathe out a ray of light brighter than the noonday sun on the remaining tent. Which was the biggest tent. There is a crackle of some sort of energy as a rune of quickly waning power blocked my attack for a few seconds before a crack resounds through the night air.


    The rune shattered, the tent burst into flame and what few monstrous beings that walked this camp began to flee. Screaming in their tongue a word I can only assume is a depiction of either my actions or form.


    Since they are all running away, and not in the direction of the small camp of my friends I don¡¯t bother to stop any of them.


    I hear the voice of some female behind me, probably someone from that pile. I turn around the light of the burning tent reflecting off my scales.


    A single woman struggles to stand up, underneath the dirt and abuse she just endured lies a figure that I am sure I would find attractive in a different setting. She says something in a tongue I do not recognize but feels familiar.


    Whatever it is that she said it was respectful. Is she thanking me?


    [Yes, she is. Fancy words full of our majesty. I like her.]


    So dragon-me speaks this tongue, and he has vanity problems.


    [Oh and why don¡¯t you share the knowledge of this tongue with me?]


    [Because you don¡¯t share our hoard with me.]


    [So you¡¯re being petty? Aren¡¯t you a fragment of me?]


    [Yes, that¡¯s why since I like this woman¡¯s words you should help her.]


    [So she is complimenting us while asking for something? She¡¯s playing us for a fool than.]


    [But I want to hear more praise, help her. It¡¯s not like it costs us anything.]


    [If she is a foe it will, remember where we are. Besides you''re not sharing either so why should I do something you want?]


    There is a silence from dragon-me for a moment but the woman regardless of her injuries gives a deep kneel of supplication as she voices something that is clearly a question.


    With that dragon-me finally answers, [I want to have more say in our actions than just changing our body into a dragon''s.]


    [Then share your knowledge and behave. You nearly got everyone killed from the tantrum you threw . . .]


    [Does that mean I can have a turn with our hoard?]


    [No, and don¡¯t you experience everything I do anyways?]


    [It¡¯s not the same. Like dreaming about doing something and actually doing it.]


    Well the real thing has been better than the horny teenager dreams I get about my girlfriends.


    [Not yet, maybe if you go back to being an obedient and helpful dragon and the girls want some of you.]


    I can feel excitement from dragon-me for a moment, but I doubt my girls will want love from the dragon who took their boyfriend away.


    They probably will never accept him a a part of me, except for K. She and Moonlight Runner seem to be something similar.


    [But when I was like that you kept pushing me away.]


    [That¡¯s because I thought you would try to take control of me. Was I wrong?]


    There is silence in our communication before dragon-me responds.


    [No, I¡¯m sorry.]


    I mentally nod towards dragon-me.


    [Alright, start now and I¡¯ll help this woman because you like her flowery words. But she is probably trying to manipulate us.]


    [Deal, she wants us to wash over her with our aura to mend her flesh. And what is wrong with her manipulating us?


    Didn¡¯t our hoard manipulate us into also being our mates?]


    I sit in stunned silence, not just from the information from what I can only assume as ancestrial memory begining to trickle in but from the idea that the trio was and is still manipulating me.


    Before too long I respond to dragon-me, [because I like who they are and what they manipulated me towards.


    Sure K pulled a drunk me into bed with her and the elven twins decided with her to share me, but have they tried to trick me into something I would be against?


    Their manipulation is benign and aligned with our own wants. This woman¡¯s could be malicious and detrimental. That¡¯s the difference.]


    I can feel dragon-me begin to think on that, I guess our introspective dialogue is over then.


    I turn to the woman, I know what she pleaded for, and can feel the tongue of dragons almost literally on the tip of my tongue.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think to play me with your words woman. I¡¯ll heal you because you are an enemy of those who attacked my friends and me earlier this night.¡±


    I reach across the nigh barren ground between us with a single claw as I twist reality to force her body to regenerate.


    Scabs and scars vanish from her skin, revealing a figure more curved and feminine than the athletic builds of my girlfriends. I feel like shifting human and trying her out for an instant.


    But I will not be like the brutes I just slew, and I will not cheat on my girls. I wouldn¡¯t be against adding something like what I am seeing if they let me though. At least if her personality was good too, but as she is so quickly turns to flattering me in thanks while hinting that I should hunt down those that ran off I doubt I want her in my group.


    I only half pay attention to her words before interrupting, ¡°temptress, do not try to play me. Honeyed words and a pretty face do not hide the venom and hate from me.¡±


    She stops speaking and I take off to the night sky before she tries again. Manipulator indeed but I can¡¯t really hold it against her for hating those monsters. At least playing the role of an old wise dragon was fun.

 Chapter 078

    Osyluth or Bone Devils appear to be humanoids that have been starved to the cusp of death, hunched over with little more than just skin left on their oversized head and thin tail being all that detracts from the image.


    This is of course a fa?ade, they have the strength of several men and their bony claws and tail are wielded with deadly skill. Much like their strength being far more than apparent, they are more durable than all but the sturdiest of mortal men. Masters of shadow and necrotic magic they often are used for assassins or turning the dead on a battlefield into the tools of the infernal hoard. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    With little more than zero chance of an enemy stumbling upon the camp of my resting friends, I take an arced flight to them. A deception to keep that woman from chasing in the direction I flew and finding our campsite.


    I soon land and smile as I look of the undisturbed rest of the trio. I smile as I feel the physical manifestation of Lykou approach me from behind, his voice whispering into my mind.


    [Alpha, rest. I can keep watch for a few hours more.]


    I smile as I turn around and place my hand on his head. He is shorter than when he was under the light of the full moon. His power and size are probably tied to the moon like Moonlight Runner''s ability to manifest is.


    ¡°thanks¡±, I whisper to him. I should try to get what I can out of the Grey Dream, and my mind is strained from the events of the day. The near constant use of my magic probably wasn¡¯t good either. Lykou stopped absorbing the backlash energy and I can feel a bit in me. I should try to take it easy for a bit; if I even get that option that is.


    I sit down and lean up against a nearby tree, I¡¯ll only sleep for an hour maybe two.


    <hr>


    Looking out over the nothingness that is the Grey Dream, I act immediately to bring forth a character sheet.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Dragon 3 (+ 10 SP), Marksman 9 (+ 5 SP),


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon Flesh: You have cannibalized a dragon. (Dragon 5 (+ 20 SP, + 25 EP))


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 222


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 82


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alright, enough SP to do something with but not enough to increase one of the Spheres I want. Should I do something else with some of it? Probably, or could that be the influence of this place?


    I suppose whether or not they are spent now does not matter; the how still does though. Not enough for a Sphere increase on one of the ones I want so skills or traits?


    Skills can be done manually but traits are harder to get on my own.


    ¡°What Traits can I increase with SP?¡±


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Current Trait


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Possible Upgrade


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Endurance, Greater


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Endurance, Superior (100)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    Eidetic Memory (150)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I guess that is all that is upgradeable on the SP side of my traits. EP seems to be a lot more useful.


    ¡°How does Eidetic Memory differ from Perfect Recall?¡±


    [It does not have the flaw of only recalling what you paid attention to.]


    So, I would now remember things that I don¡¯t think are important. In addition, there are plenty of things I would like to retain the ability to forget.


    I spend the SP for the Endurance option, and pull up my choices for EP.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Special


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void PowersStolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The best option has always been to just increase the size of my dragon shape so far so I select Alternate Form.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Adult Void Dragon *Unavailable Due to Lack of Age*


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Chill of the Void 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Natural Armor 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well, that is disappointing. Well, I don¡¯t think I need any new senses to deal with at the moment, I¡¯ll look at the specials; Void Powers seem to be unavailable as well at the moment.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Basic Magic Resistance


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Useful but not enough, entry level resistances are always negligible. Perhaps with multiple levels of resistance it could be useful but not right now.


    Besides I kind of want to know what Chill of the Void is. So, I take that and move to wake up.


    <hr>


    I wake up to find, as I had hoped, everyone to be asleep. Looking up at the just barely brightening sky, I was probably out only for an hour or two.


    I uncurl and take to the sky to patrol, as I wait for the others to wake.


    I see very little of living creatures from the sky and Lykou wasn¡¯t agitated over anything nearby as I flew and enjoyed the morning air as the sun rose over the distant hills and woods.


    It is not too much longer when a ray of light falls on the sleeping trio, and K bolts upright and starts looking around.


    I quietly land and she stops looking around. She smiles as she looks over my form, ¡°you healed yourself?¡±


    I nod before whispering in return, ¡°sleep, there are no enemies nearby.¡±


    She smiles again and leans back into the blanket she shares with the elven twins before falling into a deeper sleep than her last one.


    I guess I¡¯ll just sit in the sun and try to get Void Cache somewhat organized as I wait a few more hours.


    <hr>


    It isn¡¯t too terribly long until the others begin to stir, so I return to human form. I lose the feeling of absorbing light through my wings but it is easier to do most things as a human.


    At least packing up barely took any time as there was little more than blankets to move back into void cache and the satchels.


    No one spoke as we resumed our journey, no one needing to be told what we are doing.


    We did not run into a single moving thing until it got close to dusk. K noticed the city first, or at least the chain link fences that seem to circumscribe it.


    At least there is a welcoming party or at least gate guards at the entrance to the city from I-49. A welcome sight compared to the basically bare towns we saw yesterday.


    It takes a while to get to the gate itself but there are several people there. Not all of them human, but all what are considered civilized races by both the Althaen and fantasy games in general.


    There are a few men from the Army intheir tan uniforms, but they did not seem to be in charge. Instead it was a pair of dwarves that called out first in what I assume was dwarven and then they switched to English.


    ¡°Halt and identify yourselves.¡±


    My mother did not take well to their tone or demand that we stop. She did at least not start making a scene out of it. Something everyone who can see her upset face can be thankful about.


    I look over my group to try to figure out if I should speak or have another do it. If they are like the Althaen, the trio might be best but my mother is the only adult and citizen for the US government.


    Luckily for me that got decided for me by Abagail, who spoke up first.


    ¡°We are citizens of the United States of America, and request entry to the city.¡±


    The dwarven pair look at each other before responding with a smile, ¡°then you have documents of identity?¡±


    Abagail nods and I frown. We do except for my twin brothers and the trio. I hope this isn¡¯t going to be like the TSA.


    We are motioned forward to the gate and after several minutes a man with a white shirt and tie comes to look at the driver¡¯s licenses we passed to him.He never asked our names nor did he offer his own. The first words to come from his mouth we¡¯re a question.


    ¡°Where are the IDs for those three?¡±


    Two men interject from the other side of the fence, they are dressed similar to the Althaen, but the house crest was not one I had scene.


    ¡°They don¡¯t have any because they are from Althr¨¢. Elves cannot be from your country so they don¡¯t have any.¡±


    The man in the white shirt frowns before talking, ¡°except for those three and the pair of boys I can clear you for entry. Everyone has to be identified. I¡¯m sorry but there are enough monster problems in the city already.¡±


    Before my mom can start yelling at this pencil pusher I pull her back a bit. Luckily Abigail asks the question that we need to have asked.


    ¡°Then who clears people from Althr¨¢ for entry?¡±


    ¡°That would be the two gentlemen that informed me of the impossibility for some of your group to be cleared for entry by me or one of the dwarf scribes.¡±


    ¡°Would you get them then?¡±


    The man sighs before waving for the dwarf scribe to come over. Acting as if we were asking something far beyond what we should.


    My mom pulls out some birth certificates from her purse before all but thrusting them at the man. To which he frowns and says, ¡°photo ID only, sorry mam but I can¡¯t help you.¡±


    Damn it¡¯s like some sort of TSA and DMV hybrid. This is going to take a while.


    Once the dwarf and the two men from Althr¨¢ get closer to the gate the dwarf asks a question to the man in a whisper to which he points at everyone except for the trio and my younger brothers.


    The dwarf frowns but nods and turns to us.


    ¡°So, some of you lacked the proper identification to enter as US citizens.


    Do you wish to proceed through the other method of entry?¡±


    Abagail nods, and speaks ¡°yes.¡±


    ¡°Alright I will start with the youngest, which of the two boys is that?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re twins¡± they both answer in tandem. I hate it when they do that to me but it is fun watching others get messed with by it.


    ¡°Okay, and are you claiming familial ties to another who has been cleared to establishing your own privilege of travel?¡±


    ¡°They ar. . .¡± my mother begins but is interrupted by the dwarf.


    ¡°They must state it themselves.¡±


    ¡°Family by blood,¡± they state before pointing to my mother and me while stating the relationship.


    I can see a frown form for an instant on the pair of men from Althr¨¢. Guess they don¡¯t want people getting okayed for entry.


    The dwarf, who out of all these bureaucrats seems the least unhelpful simply continues on to his next point on whatever script he is following.


    ¡°Very well, normally a blood test of kin would be used but since you are twins that would just mark each other I will test your blood family to find a link to you instead.¡±


    With that he pulls out a silver knife and walks over to me. I hold my hand out, ¡°go ahead I understand what Next of Kin should do.¡±


    The dwarf nods, in appreciation happy to not have to explain the spell. I think he struggled a bit to cut my skin with the silver knife but he doesn¡¯t complain about it.


    Once the blade is wet with a few drops of my blood he chants in a more melodic version of the tongue he first tried to speak to us in.


    The blood droplets rise from the blade and fly towards in three directions, my two brothers and mother. Each getting a bit of blood on their respective shirts.


    Obvious enough way to have the spell display the results of the blood ties in family.


    ¡°The relationship between is clearly immediate family and so you two are cleared for entry.¡±


    The dwarf then turns to the trio and asks, ¡°how would you three like to proceed?¡±


    It is Talia who responds, ¡°Sister and me are Thalia and Lysan Alanth¨ªer.¡±


    ¡°The house of Alanth¨ªer fell half a century ago. While I believe you as you fit the description of the heiresses, you will have to claim a relationship with another house.¡±


    ¡°We have given ourselves to a young master of house Ravnos.¡±


    ¡°Claiming to be connected to a myth is not valid either.¡±


    At this point the two men of Althr¨¢ interject, ¡°House Tythus of the Althaen claims them.¡±


    Before anyone can do anything I step towards them and speak, ¡°you will not be taking my girlfriends from me, and my house is no myth.¡±

 Chapter 079

    Alu-fiends are not truly a devil nor a demon, they are a specific type of Cambion. One who is half fiend and half something else, generally a mortal of some sort. While most Cambion are monstrous in appearance and weaker than their fiendish ancestor; the Alu-fiend becomes perhaps the most attractive member of their father¡¯s race and their succubi powers become specialized to the race they appear as.


    They retain almost all of the abilities of their mother, though less potent save for their abilities to manipulate races similar to their father. While most Alu-fiends are monsters that hold the same allegiances as their mothers, some like tieflings have rejected their fiendish ancestry and help fight against the fiends though even those should never be trusted.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I am giving a glare at the two Althaen, before they begin acting like the Althaen that I am familiar with.


    ¡°You have no standing in our law peasant.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so a noble has no standing? I wield the power of magic and hold the surname of Ravnos.¡±


    The two men laugh and the dwarf frowns. The soldiers are just watching with curiosity.


    ¡°There are no magi from this land with the strength to support a house.¡±


    ¡°So, you challenge my claim? Fine, Vithr? and Sunchaser did the same.¡±


    Before I finish twisting reality to smite these Althaen with lightning, the dwarf speaks once more.


    ¡°There are to be no challenges of combat. This is neutral ground for diplomacy between the Dwarven Nations, the United States, and other civil people of Althr¨¢. Do not insult people of other factions or house Tythus may be requested to leave.


    I am sorry Lord Ravnos but your house¡¯s name is not on the list of approved houses though I can petition for it to be added.


    Would you like for me to do that?¡±


    The two Althaen begin to leave the gate, headed into the city. Too bad, I was going to kill them.


    ¡°Will that allow my allies access?¡±


    ¡°After getting screened for demonic influence, yes.¡±


    ¡°And how will that be done?¡±


    ¡°A paladin would be called to do that.¡±


    ¡°Is one available?¡±


    ¡°One can be here by dusk; given that the proper fees are paid.¡±


    I cannot help but groan, here comes the moneygrubbing part of their race.


    ¡°And how much are these fees?¡±


    ¡°15 standard coin weights of gold or equivalent currency.¡±


    ¡°What is the conversion for US currency and for copper and silver coins?¡±


    ¡°The conversion for your paper money is still being determined and thus is unavailable at this time. A regulation weight copper piece has an hundredth of the value of a regulation weight silver coin. The same holds true for silver to gold.¡±


    Great I guess I¡¯m going to be out of most of the coins I had picked up.


    [No, we should keep them. Why should we pay to grace them with our presence?]


    [It¡¯s not about having to pay or not. This is just for the convenience of getting the supplies we need.]


    [I don¡¯t like it.]


    [Neither do I, but we need to. How many coins are in Void Cache anyways?]


    [9623 coppers, 1306 silver and 2 gold coins]


    Great, so I¡¯ll be basically broke after this single fee.


    ¡°Of course, there is a two percent fee for money changing should you need it.¡±


    ¡°Call for a banker too then.¡±


    The dwarf nods, ¡°I will return by dusk with the necessary people.¡±


    This is going to be annoying. As he turns around to go and call for the other people that are needed, I turn back around to the others of my group. Abagail is whispering to my mother, probably translating what we were saying.


    Once both the Althaen and dwarf are out of earshot, the soldiers manning the gate finally speak.


    ¡°How did you manage to learn their language?¡±


    ¡°Talking with a few people from their world.¡±


    The soldiers just nod before going back to their work and I have little to do save wait.


    <hr>


    Once the dwarf bureaucrat returns he does so with a human in chainmail and another dwarf in what I think is just regular clothes for a dwarven civilian. Cotton spun tunic and pantaloons.


    ¡°The paladin and money changer I assume.¡±


    ¡°Sir Anthonius Brightblade and Brun Goldenhammer. Knight in the Order of Silver Roses and Accountant of the Silvered Rose Bank respectively.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Shall we get started then?¡± I ask.


    The moneychanger steps forwards first, ¡°how much needs to be exchanged?¡± he asks.


    ¡°Nine thousand, five hundred and ninety-five coppers to ninety-five silvers then a thousand three hundred and thirteen silvers for thirteen gold.¡±


    ¡°You have included the surcharge, so you are trained in arithmetic?¡±


    ¡°Most citizens of the United States are.¡±


    ¡°A product of your public education yes? Anyways where are these coins you wish to exchange?¡±


    Rather than answer I simply turn my hand over and have the coins appear between us. In stacks, apparently dragon-me must have organized them at some point. I cannot help but smirk as the dwarves both grin as money appears out of nowhere, the paladin however frowns.


    I guess that whatever deity he follows dislikes magic. The accountant quickly counts the coins with nigh preternatural speed. He quickly nods with joy as he puts the coinage in a pouch. After doing so he counts out ninety-five silver and passes them to me.


    Before he begins to ask about the second transaction I mentioned, I wave my hand the silver within the bag passed to me by the dwarf falls into Void Cache; then I pull out the silver coins within Void Cache, once more they are in nice stacks.


    Once more the dwarves¡¯ eyes gleam with their racial greed. Somehow the dwarf managed to count these coins even faster than he did the copper coins. And for all that speed of counting the coins I am almost sure that he truly felt pain at giving me the few golden coins that I am sure I overpaid for.


    ¡°You would not happen to wish to have a transaction for platinum or mithril coins would you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Too bad, I will be going then.¡±


    With that the dwarf simply leaves after muttering something in his native language. At this point the other dwarf nods to the human paladin who then walks up and pulls out a necklace.


    The necklace is made of some sort of bluish silver; an engraved decorative rose carved into it. The man raises the necklace as if presenting it for all to see.


    ¡°Mother of Roses, patron of beauty thine servant calls upon thee to smite any fiends for they are destroyers of art and slayers of the beautiful.¡±


    A bright light that I almost cannot help but cringe at burst forth from the symbol, though as it¡¯s light falls over myself and the trio nothing happens to us. Apparently none of us deserve to be smitten by this man''s god, or it goddess?


    I suppose it does not really matter. Regardless the dwarf who is not the accountant moves closer to me.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need to collect the fees now¡± he says, his hands out for the golden coins he knows are in my hands.


    There is a frown on my face as I give him the coins.


    After counting the coins, the dwarf nods a smile on his lips and he turns to Talia and Lysan.


    ¡°You are free to enter, though I cannot guarantee that your new house will be added to the list of houses.¡± After which he turns to K.


    ¡°Identity and method of entry?¡±


    ¡°Kythia Bloodclaw, Matriarch of the Children of the Moon.¡±


    ¡°I had thought your people dead. No matter, you have not lied and the Children of the Moon are still on the Dwarven Registry of Allied Peoples.


    There is the matter of the annual fees for being on said list have not been paid in a decade, though that is not handled by me. You will need to visit the Center of Financial Affairs before you leave this city.¡±


    The dwarf then nods towards the guards and they pull the gate open for us all to pass through.


    As we pass through one of the guards, a male in his late teens or early twenties who clearly does not want to be where he is, points us towards a building labeled ''New Arrival¡¯ in English, Althaen and Dwarven.


    We walk into the building to see a few men in differing types of clothing, one is some sort of army commander, while there are also two dwarves, a member of an Althaen house and a woman who I believe is a politician. I don¡¯t remember what her office was though.


    Within a few seconds of our entry the woman almost shouts at the soldier, while pointing in our direction.


    ¡°See, I told you this location is not a waste of resources. People from the surrounding towns are coming in!¡±


    After a moment that is simply a frown from the soldier, the politician turns to us.


    ¡°Hello, welcome to Kansas City. I am Maranda Wiles, acting mayor. This is: General David Fuller of the US Military, Pontiff Gallard Chiass of House Chaiss, Secretary Regis and prince Ruthard of R¨¹thgart.


    I apologize for omitting their last names but I would rather not butcher the pronunciation.¡±


    I wait and let Abagail speak, after all the bard should be the best at talking. I am not disappointed as it is indeed her who take advantage of my pause, holding her hand out to the politician.


    ¡°I and Abagail, please let me introduce you all to our group. But first,do you speak English Lord Chaiss, Secretary Regis and prince Ruthard? Or will I need to speak my sentences in more than one language?¡±


    The three all show a necklace embossed with a spiral tower before Regis replies, ¡°R¨¹thgart has commissioned several amulets of unknown tongues for interactions for events such as this. Your courtesy is appreciated and we may request your services as a translator at a later time.¡±


    There is a look of surprise from Miranda and General Fuller at Abagail speaking the language of another world, though they quickly cover it up.


    ¡°Then without further delay this is Bryan Grace, my boyfriend, Kathrine Ravnos and her children: Adrian, Anthony and Frank. Talia and Lysan Alanth¨ªer, and Kythia Bloodclaw.¡±


    ¡°You speak the language of these people?¡± interrupts General Fuller once he sees that the introductions were finished.


    ¡°Most of us do, they taught us their language as we taught them ours.¡±


    ¡°Miranda, will you please see to the lodgings for them while I speak to Kathrine and the two young men?¡±


    ¡°I can,¡± Miranda responds before turning to the other leaders, ¡°we will have to continue at a later time. I apologize.¡±


    ¡°R¨¹thgart understands and we congratulate you on the return of some of your kin.¡± replies Regis before both of the dwarves give a slight nod and leave the room.


    Gallard does not reply but I see a sneer form as he turns to leave. I think he will be a problem.


    ¡°This way please.¡± Miranda says as she leaves, all but Kathrine, Bryan and me follow behind her.


    Once they have left, General Fuller begins to talk.


    ¡°As much as I would like to hear about how you managed to arrive here on foot, I have too much work to do.


    I would hear your opinion on the otherworlders.¡±


    He looks at my mother as he said this, though she turns to Bryan and me as she responds.


    ¡°They would know better than me. I only interacted with the three that follow my son around.¡±


    With that he turns to Bryan as he was slightly closer to him than me.


    ¡°What group?¡±


    ¡°The one that will talk.¡±


    ¡°There is more than one group that can do that. They are divided into factions just like we are.¡± I interject.


    ¡°Oh and can you tell the factions apart because they all seem the same to me.¡±


    ¡°We can, they tend to divide themselves along racial lines and then into subfactions from there.¡±


    ¡°Oh and what groups are there?¡±


    ¡°The humans, or Althaen, are split into what they call noble houses that function like multiple collectives of city states. They are a despotic Magocracy, though each house differs from another.


    The other groups we haven¡¯t had much interaction with but the dwarves have a mercantile republic made out of Monarchic city states and divide themselves by clans.


    The elves also have a monarchy and divide themselves into houses.


    I don¡¯t think the gnomes or halflings have a government but they do divide themselves into families. They tend to integrate into other people¡¯s cities and towns.


    Then there are also smaller groups like the Lycanthropes, Beastkins and other sentients. While not as numerous as the prior groups shouldn¡¯t be ignored or lumped into another faction.¡±


    ¡°Well congratulations boys, you¡¯ve convinced me that you know what you¡¯re talking about and I wouldn¡¯t understand the answer.


    The draft has been reinstated but you two won¡¯t end up being infantry. A grunt will go to your lodgings in the morning to pick you up.¡±


    With that General Fuller turns to the door and leaves, ignoring my mother¡¯s verbal protests.


    ¡°Lets just get it sorted out tomorrow.¡± Bryan says and I am inclined to do just that.


    After all I can¡¯t be with my girlfriends if I¡¯m running around in the army. Then again, he did mention not being infantry, I still would rather not be in it at all though.

 Chapter 080

    Bezekira, more commonly known as hellcats are similar in appearance to one of the great cats among the animals, the panther. Aside from how the average Bezekira is larger, the glow of their eyes and the serrations of their teeth and claws. They and the hellhounds are the notable animals of the infernal host and while capable of speech tend to be silent. Bezekira are adept at stealth, shadow magics, tracking and rift running.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    The rest of the pack and me follow this equivalent to a denmother? I don¡¯t like her smell, she is full of deception. We walk down the street before entering a building, where Miranda after motioning us to stay goes over to a counter to talk with another woman.


    I could have listened in on their conversation, but I am otherwise distracted by the promise my mate made last night and my own to Moonlight Runner.


    ¡°Three¡± I hear Abagail answering a question I was not paying attention to.


    I look back to the counter to see the woman there frown, ¡°I don¡¯t see why you would need that many rooms.¡±


    I don¡¯t want to go through the hassle of arguing with this innkeeper over rooms and price like Talia had so often in the past so I pull the satchel off of her shoulder.


    Inside of it I quickly find what I am looking for, the green papers that my mate said we¡¯re the currency of his people. I grab a few of them each with a different ruler''s head and pass the to the woman, ¡°the three best, alright?¡±


    The woman nods before doing something with the letter filled rectangle before a glowing box. After which she passes us three thin squares and I hold one up to sniff it. Everyone but my elven packmates give me a weird look. ¡°That¡¯s a key¡± Abagail mutters softly, quiet enough that only the elves and me would hear.


    I don¡¯t get how this is supposed to be a key but there are many strange things in this land. Maybe it is magic, or the electricity stuff my mate talks about sometimes.


    No matter how much I look at this ¡®key¡¯ I was unable to find out how to use it until Abagail had guided us to the rooms.


    I watch as Abagail opens the door for the key she took by sliding the thin rectangle through a hole attached to the door. Mirroring her actions a green light flashes above the hole and the door unlocks.


    Once I enter the room itself I cannot help but smile, never have I seen a bedroom of this size, or furnished so lavishly. To the left of the short hall leading in, there is a bathroom.


    My pack sisters follow me into it. What we find inside brings a smile to each of our faces, a tub mounted into the floor that could hold all of us surrounded by what seems to be various oils and soaps.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It is several minutes after the departure of General Fuller that my mother calms enough for us to leave. Following a sigh my mother asks a question.


    ¡°Do you know where they are having us stay?¡±


    ¡°No, but I can find them.¡± I respond before reaching out and warping my perception to find life similar to my own.


    It is not too long before I feel a piece of me nearby, I don¡¯t immediately find the life forces of my brothers. They are there but they lack something I can feel in myself and my mother. I guess I inherited something they didn¡¯t then.


    I reopen my eyes, now with a rough idea of where the others of our band are. I don¡¯t say anything and just start walking out of the building and then down the street further into the city.


    I enter the first building with the words hotel included in it¡¯s name. Then ignoring the strange looks I was getting from the people in the lobby and my mother¡¯s questions I go to the stairs.


    I stop climbing and turn back around halfway between the fourth and fifth floor, I went too far and the distance between our destination and me started increasing.


    Soon after turning around I am standing at the end of a hallway, a door before me and to both my left and right. I point to my left, ¡°Anthony and Frank should be in that room,¡± then pointing rightwards ¡°Abagail is behind this door.¡±


    I could not really tell who was who from their life forces, but I didn¡¯t think they would have divided themselves up another way.


    All three of us knock on the doors, my mother and Bryan are quickly answered and let into their rooms. With a sigh I start to try to figure out a way to open the door.


    It¡¯s an electronic lock so I can¡¯t just pick the lock, nor can I manipulate electricity to send the open command since I don¡¯t know how to speak any programming languages.


    Would it unlock if I removed all the electricity running through it? I don¡¯t know so I knock again louder than before.


    After a few more minutes, I am still unanswered. They are probably doing something, and can¡¯t hear my knocking. Maybe I can take the lock out of the door?


    I take a close look at the metal bits between the door and the doorway, the part that actually holds the door closed and try Translocation Grasp on them.


    I look down at my hand, now holding the metal part as the door slowly swings open revealing a room covered in red and scarlet. Decorations near everywhere, unlit candles in many locations around the room. The sound of splashing and smell of scented soaps waft out of the bathroom.


    I can¡¯t help but smile as I close and warp the metal piece back into where it belongs within the door.


    SC


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    With a grin, I walk into the bathroom to see all three of my girlfriends naked and washing each other. Soap bubbles everywhere and they look over to me as I am standing between them and the hallway light; they did not turn on the light in the bathroom.


    I turn the light on and grin as the three of them turn to me, Lysan turning red from embarrassment as the other two grin as my eyes linger over their forms, they look even better than I remember. Is it because they are clean or that I really want sex? I quickly undress, walking to the bathtub, ¡°can I join?¡±


    <hr>


    Talia


    <hr>


    I can¡¯t help but grin as I watch him undress, revealing the well-toned muscles normally concealed by his shirt; a tingle between my legs appears as I watch my lover undress. His pants follow the shirt and my eyes rove downwards.


    I don¡¯t notice as Kythia moves to the side to let our lover join in on the bath; only that sister¡¯s soap covered hands begin to rove over his form, washing him removing the scent of our travels. Both my hands and Kythia¡¯s follow, washing our lover as we enjoy feeling his muscles and form. I lean in and whisper in his ear ¡°I missed doing this.¡±


    ¡°Me too¡± he answers before kissing me, my hands begin to wander to his legs. As much as I would like to start playing with his manhood I avoid it instead, sister joins me, quickly washing his legs as Kythia washes his hair.


    Just as she finishes, she presses herself against his right side and says, ¡°lets start mating already.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°But there¡¯s still a part of me that is dirty¡± he responds with a smirk.


    I push him back and he braces himself on the top of the tub, my favorite part of him on display as I straddle him. His length presses against my slit as I start rubbing against him, as he quickly becomes longer and harder as the soap and water both cleans and lubricates. After about a minute he groans something underneath me and the tingle between my legs has grown into an itch.


    Adrian is holding the other two tightly against him as he kisses them, I move atop him faster, jealous of the attention he is giving to the other two. Then he shifts his hips and I can¡¯t stop myself from giving a yelp as he suddenly pierces me.


    I enjoy the feeling of Adrian stretching my insides as our union deepens. Gods I love doing this. ¡°Is it time to move to the bed already?¡± I say teasingly to my lover.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get there eventually¡± he says, letting go of the other girls and lifting me up before bracing me against the wall and thrusting into me. I wrap my arms and legs around him, my head pressed against his chest, the water from a metal pipe falling over us. My screams of delight are muffled by his chest until the pleasure of being a woman races through my insides and I claw at Adrian¡¯s back.


    Adrian stops as I convulse around him, hemoves in a different way for a few seconds before the hardness of the wall is replaced by the softness of what must be a bed.


    As soon I feel the bed I release my grip and spread my legs further to help him enjoy himself; an action he immediately begins to take advantage of, taking me roughly but carefully as each thrust of his strike the deepest parts of me, deeper than what we managed in the bath.


    I quickly find myself moaning and screaming in happiness as he gets rougher and faster. I scream while arcing my back as waves ofpleasure spread outwards from the union between us. Soon afterwards I feel him expand inside me before a warmth erupts from him filling my womb, his heavy breathing echoing in my ears as a look of delight is shown on his face.


    <hr>


    Moonlight Runner


    <hr>


    I don¡¯t like watching my mate mate with another female, but sister had me promise to play nice. Its my fault anyways; I pushed sister to get him more females. It''s not that he is mating with others but that I have to watch.


    My thoughts stop as my mate tenses for a moment before rolling off of Talia. I can¡¯t help but immediately move to him, tackling him to the bed and kissing my mate. I grin as my mate reciprocates my advances, his hands running over my body, making me want to moan as his desire for me physically manifests itself. His manhood poking against my inner thigh.


    I quickly line myself up and impale myself on him before rocking atop him; milking him for his seed and my pleasure. This is mine, I¡¯m the alpha female. I should have gotten this first.


    He begins to thrust upwards and my breasts jiggle as my breathing quickens. I get rougher as I feel him moving around inside of me, parting my folds as I stretch and take his shape.


    It is not long before I feel his girth expand asking to fill me with his seed, I slam myself down as he pushes up. I feel him strike my deepest part and howl as his warmth spreads from there, I stop for a moment as all I want to do is enjoy this but he begins to shrink inside me.


    I begin to move again, I want more and he answers, becoming large and hard again before fully leaving me. I feel someone begin to hug me but am too busy using my mate to stir and drive his seed deeper as I tighten around him once more.


    <hr>


    Lysan


    <hr>


    I watch as my love beds my sister and Kythia begins to ride him. My own loins itch as I patiently wait for my own turn. My face red as the idea of interrupting and asking for my turn but I find it too embarrassing to act out. Yet it keeps coming back to the surface of my mind.


    I feel a tug on my hand, my heart flutters as I see it is my love pulling me to him. I follow his pull and find myself straddling his face before I know what is happening. My embarrassment skyrockets as he starts to use his mouth as if it were his manhood. It feels weird at first but a good weird.


    Soon I begin to enjoy it, I think my love is getting better at whatever it is he is doing. Then he stops, instead of continueing he just holds me tightly as his manhood pulses, Kythia howling as if gloating that she is receiving the seed of our lover. Even so after a few seconds she begins to ride him some more, my love never exiting her.


    My love returns to his licking and sucking and his teasing of my womanhood slowly drives me crazy, it feels too good for me to interrupt it but it also only makes me want my love inside me more. I hug Kythia tightly to keep myself up as my legs become too weak to support myself.


    I lose track of time until I feel my love stop.


    ¡°No, don. . . ¡°


    Then I am on my back and feel something plunge into me. I hold my love¡¯s hips trying to get more and more of him in me as he gently thrusts and rocks atop me, as I fail to keep from making more and more embarrassing noises as each of his thrusts knock against the entrance of where I will grow his children.


    His hands run over my body as I regret not being tall enough to kiss him. He is enjoying my finally clean skin for the first time as I hear the wet noises of lovemaking come from our union as both my limbs and insides grip him tighter and lossen as releif and pleasure flood through me.


    Eventually I feel my love quiver within me as he finds the release of pleasure he had been giving me for himself, I feel myself get stretched further as his seed seeks my womb. He rolls off of me pulling some of the fluids filling me out with him, both of us drifting off to sleep.The last thing I feel is his arm surrounding me as we drift off to sleep.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I don¡¯t drift off to the Grey Dream this night, but lie asleep holding and being held by my girlfriends. It is not long before I feel like I could get up and start doing things, start getting ready for what needs done today but I don¡¯t I continue to lie still and enjoy the warmth and softness of the bed and it¡¯s occupants.


    That is until I hear a rather loud and unpleasant knock at the door. That¡¯s probably the grunt Fuller said would come get me in the morning. I don¡¯t really want to go but I won¡¯t be able to get all that I want here if I don¡¯t.


    Muttering apologies to the still sleeping girls, I separate from them before dressing myself and opening the door slightly to see as I guessed a man in a military uniform, though the uniform was too large for him. I make sure to block his possible view of the rest of the room as he tries to look around me.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°General Fuller wants to see you, follow me¡± the soldier states with a frown before turning around and walking down the hall.


    Great I got an escort with an attitude, he''s not even telling me where we are going or what will happen there. With a sigh I walk after him, I might as well get this part over with. I need to play this to my benefit but how?


    What is the relationship between the forces here? How friendly are these Althaen; didn¡¯t the government start attacking them over a week ago?


    Such questions circle my mind as I follow the soldier to a conference room within the hotel. As he opens the door he offers up an apology to it¡¯s occupants, one that is detrimental to me.


    ¡°Sirs, sorry for the wait, he was not in the room assigned to him.¡±


    ¡°Where is the other?¡± General Fuller asks with a frown.


    ¡°I only saw the one sir.¡±


    ¡°You are dismissed.¡± The soldier salutes in response before leaving the room.


    I look around the room, there are over a dozen men and woman in either military uniform or suits, most of them have pins and medals adorning their uniform. Not a single bureaucrat among them aside from a few secretaries. After a few seconds of silence, it is General Fuller who speaks, an introduction.


    ¡°My fellow generals this young man is Adrian Ravnos. He arrived yesterday with a few others but it is not the tale of his travel I brought him here for. Yesterday I asked him about the otherworlders and was impressed by how much he knew about them.


    I want you to advise us on the subject of the otherworlders as we discuss our plans.¡±


    An older man speaks next, ¡°what is there to discuss, we should just do what we did during the cold war; imprison or destroy the ''supernatural''.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t work.¡± I interject as some of the others were nodding to such an idea.


    ¡°And why not?¡± the old man responds irritated over my interruption.


    ¡°Logistically, how would you kill or imprison an entire world''s worth of people?


    Realistically, not everything that has come into our world can be killed by guns. Some things can only be dealt with using the supernatural.¡±


    ¡°I have yet to see anything that did not die when a bullet goes through it¡¯s head.¡±


    ¡°The Special Affairs Division of my organization has encountered such things. We call them negative bodies, some of which are unaffected by conventional weapons. You would have known that if your were reading your breifings¡± states a man in a black suit.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about your time chasing superstitions in the early nineties. We need real facts, and decide on real actions before the president gets convinced by politicians and the media to rescind our authority¡± interrupts yet another of the men in the room.


    ¡°Then how about video of something real? Jessica please take control of the projector.¡±


    The woman standing next to him, nods and then walks over to the computer in the corner of the room, a USB drive in her hand. The lights dim as a video of what seems to be a drug deal is being played, the audio is just a man explaining the situation before he switches the camera to infrared.


    As he explains, one of the buyers does not have a heat signature. His body was the same temperature as the room then there appears to be an argument as some police officers barge in and attempt to arrest the lot.


    The attempt goes poorly, gunfire follows and the man without a heat signature begins tearing everyone else apart, bullets passing through him only to have the holes close up as he bites some of what I can now only call victims. The battle ends but the man looks around for a bit before running towards the camera man, his speed leaving a blur behind him, preternatural speed of some sort. The video feed cuts off after that.


    The room is silent for a moment before someone asks, ¡°how did you deal with that monster?¡±


    The man¡¯s answer brings a frown, ¡°we didn¡¯t. When we tracked the man down he was being attacked by another negative body for causing problems with ¡®mortals¡¯ if the conversation they were having is to be believed.¡±


    ¡°All the more reason we need to cage or kill these things¡± the gun nut general states as if it were fact.

 Chapter 081

    Erinyes are one of the few devils that are not truly infernal in origin; instead they are corrupted angels or decedents of fallen angels who joined either the infernal or abyssal forces. As they originally had many different kinds of angelic beings they differ in power and skill sets as individuals though tend to be more powerful than most other fiends. They lack the weakness to sacred holy magics while at the same time are no longer susceptible to dark magic as they were as angels. They often are able to use both an angelic power as well as an infernal or abyssal force.-Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The room is silent for a moment before someone asks, ¡°how did you deal with that monster?¡±


    The man¡¯s answer brings a frown, ¡°we didn¡¯t. When we tracked the man down he was being attacked by another negative body for causing problems with ¡®mortals¡¯ if the conversation they were having is to be believed.¡±


    ¡°All the more reason we need to cage or kill these things¡± the gun nut general states as if it were fact.


    ¡°Something that you and your guns are unable to do¡± I respond flippantly.


    ¡°And how else do you solve a monster problem? Wait, there isn¡¯t another solution because its kill or be killed.¡±


    ¡°In war, yes. In battle, again yes. But what of those that would rather talk or work together fighting a third monster? Isn¡¯t that why you aligned with some dictators to fight communism in the cold war?¡±


    Many of those in the room nod, ally with a lesser evil to deal with the greater. Nothing new to these people even if it is not quite what I am going for. Do I want them to kill the Althaen, yes but there are others I don¡¯t want to see killed.


    ¡°Is that what you were trying to tell me yesterday?¡± asks General Fuller.


    ¡°The idea was proven faulty by project Twilight¡± interrupts a woman in a blue suit.


    ¡°In theory or in application?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Application, the idea was to infect soldiers with lycanthropy and use them as supersoldiers to counter the Soviet¡¯s own attempts at creating such creatures. Infecting and getting through the physical transformations was successful but every subject went mad and became irrational near mindless beasts.¡±


    Well shit, where did they get a strain of lycanthropy? Would K be mad about something like this happening?


    ¡°Lycanthropes who are not natural or born as lycanthropes tend to have such problems. I don¡¯t know why just that that is how it is. There is also another flaw in that application if my guesses are right; the participants were not willing, were they?¡±


    ¡°No, the idea was to prove viability on death row inmates before moving onto volunteers within the special forces.¡±


    ¡°So you turned people that already hated you into monsters and then had trouble controlling them? What if they were willing and already had control of their power?¡±


    ¡°That could be possible.¡±


    ¡°This is ridiculous, they are abominations and invaders. They should be exterminated and I won¡¯t stand for anything less¡± nearly shouts the gun nut general.


    ¡°Then you want to kill your own citizens?¡±


    ¡°No monster is a citizen of the United States of America.¡±


    ¡°Really? What of me?¡± As everyone is confused I wave my hand and document after document about me appears on the table. School records, birth certificate and driver¡¯s license; more than enough to prove the point of my citizenship.


    ¡°What? How?¡± more than one person asks as they begin to ask before I answer the question.


    ¡°Magic, supernatural power. You found these negative bodies and lycanthropes, the supernatural was already here. Did the monsters break the peace or ruin the world before? Now more are out in the open. Fighting all of them is stupid and will only get our country destroyed.¡±


    Gun nut draws a side arm as he stand up, pointing the gun at me ¡°are you threatening us?¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t going to work against me, and no I¡¯m telling you the obvious. Guns are good but they don¡¯t work well on the undead or demons.¡±


    The man¡¯s gun only clicks as he pulls the trigger; as I deny fire the ability to function within the room by warping reality.


    ¡°See, guns don¡¯t always work. Violence is not always the best or even a viable option. Would you mind sitting back down.¡±


    The man only looks at me and back to his gun before trying it again, then another of the generals gently takes the gun from him and forces him down into his seat.


    A man who was siting silently at the edge of the table finally speaks ¡°I think your point of we have to work with some of the supernatural to survive. Any recommendations as to who?¡±


    I smile, I somehow managed to get to the place I wanted.


    ¡°Indeed I do, though more about who not to work with. The first on that list of who not to work with is the Althaen. They are slavers, women have no standing in their society. They despise everything that is not them, and see themselves as entitled to everything they see. The only thing that they respect and way to get them to acknowledge you is to be a powerful mage.


    They enslaved everyone in my hometown, and tried to do the same thing to my friends and family. What society they do have is corrupt and they will try to enslave or kill anyone that they can, and they are responsible for the conjunction of our world with their own. Which was done for the purpose of using us as fodder¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I take a breath, not wanting the venom of my words against the Althaen to roll over into the other groups.


    ¡°I have met people from two other groups and consider the three of them family; a pair of sisters from the elven people and a werewolf.


    The elves are not very numerous as they after working with the Althaen to deal with the demonic invasion of their world were betrayed and sacrificed to try and call soldiers from other worlds to fight for the Althaen.


    Kythia, the werewolf I know, likewise has little left of her pack after the Althaen decided to attack the to try to get more power. There may not be much left of either group but if you treat them well they would be good allies.


    I noticed that there were dwarves at the gate when we entered, that was the first of the dwarves I have seen. They were greedy and loved the money they got from me but that¡¯s how they are. They will keep their word and while they will probably try to take advantage of us I doubt that they will betray us.


    For the other groups, I haven¡¯t met them. If what I have read is accurate then they will have trouble trusting us as most humans in Althr¨¢ are Althaen. They only seem to work with the Althaen because of the lack of an alternative.¡±


    ¡°So having dealings with the Althaen Houses is a mistake?¡±


    ¡°Very much sir, they will betray you given time and opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Other than the dwarves how would you suggest getting along with the others? And I assume you omitted the multicolored ugly things that keep trying to storm the city on purpose?¡±


    ¡°Offer them a home, let them immigrate. Give them hope and let them fight to defend it. If you mean the orcs and other goblinoids, yes they are hostile; there is no need to talk about alternatives to fighting them, or the demons.¡±


    ¡°Is there any other advice you would give us about the otherworlders?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate what they can do with magic, otherwise no.¡±


    ¡°Then you may go. I expect to see you when you are called on to defend your country.¡±


    I make a grasping motion as I use Translocation Grasp to rapidly collect the documents before returning them to Void Cache, and say ¡°I¡¯m too young to be drafted¡± as I walk out the door. I hear them beginning to converse as soon as the door closes, its thickness keeping me from hearing well enough to understand.


    My walk back to my room is uneventful, I didn¡¯t run into a single person aside from passing a few soldiers who are guarding the conference room.


    I am disappointed to find that my girlfriends were awake and dressed when I enter the room; I was hoping for more resting. They immediately turn to me and smile, Talia speaks up first.


    ¡°We are in a safe town right?¡±


    ¡°I believe so, why?¡± I respond.


    ¡°We want to go buy clothes.¡±


    ¡°Ok? Do you need money or do you have enough?¡±


    ¡°No, can you come along to help?¡±


    ¡°Why would you need me to find clothes?¡±


    ¡°Because I would like it.¡±


    I can only guess that the skepticism on my face convinced the other two to jump onto the idea that ¡®Adrian needs to go shopping with us¡¯.


    ¡°Come with us¡± Lysan says with a tug on my hand, K grabbing my other arm as she too pulls me back towards the door.


    ¡°You need more clothes too¡± she says.


    Before I know it we are all out on the street and I am stuck trying to find stores.


    <hr>


    General Fuller


    <hr>


    As the young man named Adrian leaves, the tension that had filled the room dissipates.


    ¡°That man is a threat¡± Director Talmage says.


    ¡°He isn¡¯t an enemy¡± Secretary Jasmine counters.


    ¡°He is an abomination, just like those invaders¡± General Talbert says with hate leaking into his voice. How stupid do you have to be to try to shoot a man who walked out of the ruins of a town and through a small army?


    ¡°An abomination he may be, but he is also a citizen of our nation. A potential asset to our ability to deal with the current crisis. Jasmine would you please get us all up to speed on what we know about the man we just met.¡± Director Talmage counters.


    ¡°Yes sir. We first took notice of an electrical storm in southern Missouri on the fifteenth of this month, it was unnatural. From satellite images, the storm started centered around what we had identified as a camp of Althaen. Here are the before and after pictures of the camp.¡±


    Secretary Jasmine proceeds to display several pictures of buildings the prior damaged but the after was covered in corpses, burnt and charred; the buildings themselves now in shambles. The only thing that could be considered living is the youth unleashing the destruction.


    ¡°See that creature should be put down!¡± shouts General Talbert.


    ¡°Be silent or you will be removed from this council¡± states Director Talmage.


    ¡°I will not be sil. . .¡±


    ¡°Remove him.¡±


    The two people sitting next to General Talbert grab a hold of him before a third knocks him out with a blow to the temple. Then he is dragged out of the room as we all wait for the two who did so to return. Once they are once more seated Director Talmage motions for Secretary Jasmine to continue.


    ¡°As we can see, this youth Adrian is capable of immense destruction. This is however not the only event we were able to find of this young man. There are three others, on the seventeenth the NSA while compiling a list of threats found the youth again. This time rather than slaughtering other people he was riding a wolf monster before killing and then eating a red lizard that fits the description of a dragon. We are unaware of what the silver wolf is or where it came from.¡±


    Images of the youth standing in the dragon¡¯s fire and using blueish flame against the creature. Images of the youth eating the flesh of the dragon follows, then she speaks again.


    ¡°The NSA found multiple other creatures similar to this dragon, though larger, destroying and then staying at various locations around the country. All attempts at retaking those locations and places have failed. The third takes place just a few hours after the youth had eaten the flesh of the dragon he had killed.¡±


    Secretary Jasmine then plays a video of the youth I just saw before me physically turn into a giant winged lizard with black scales before a woman with silver hair climbs on his back and they fly away.


    ¡°The woman was one of the giant wolves that fought that dragon, Kythia is apparently her name. The fourth event that we know about is after these two flew back to the others in his group and carved their way through one of the hostile bands of goblinoids.


    From what we can tell he is able to create and command fire and electricity, teleport objects, transform into a dragon, breathe some sort of laser weapon and corrosive black energy, as well as heal himself from even lethal injuries. He is traveling with others who all seem to have their own supernatural capabilities save for his immediate family. We have confirmed that he is sleeping with the werewolf and the two elves he travels with; however he does not exhibit the physical transformation nor madness that project Twilight participants all had.


    Mentally he is highly intelligent and was breezing through school before the appearance of the monsters with no psychological problems. He seems to have adapted poorly to the life threatening situations since the advent of the monsters. He is now unstable though heseems to ground himself with the members of the group he is currently traveling with.¡±


    ¡°What are the chances of him turning against us?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Were we to choose to move against all of the otherworlders, including those he is traveling with, one hundred percent. If we go with the advice he gave us, it would be unlikely so long as those he seems to be anchoring his sanity to are nearby and safe.¡±


    ¡°What other solutions to the advent of monsters has been found?¡± Director Talmage asks and the room is silent.


    The only other options we have found have been associated with the Althaen, the very people who make me want to exterminate all of the otherworlders. Truly I don¡¯t like any of these options, but we need to find a way to deal with some of the tougher problems.

 Chapter 082

    Cornugon sometimes called horned devils are some of the most intelligent of the non-unique infernals. They stand a head taller than the standard man, though they are often hunched forwards using their tails to hold their balance and allow quick use of their wings to take to the air if the situation requires it. While physically powerful when compared to men, it is their skill in almost every field of magic and their mind that are the true threat. While they are able to tear a man apart with their clawed hands they are far more likely to get him to die at the hands of someone who could have been his ally. They tend to act as supervisors to other infernals or work on something to complicated or difficult for a lesser fiend to be used.


    <hr>


    General Fuller


    <hr>


    ¡°Then we will need to use Adrian as our weapon against the monsters. We need to show results within a couple of days or we will be relieved by someone else. How can we control or manipulate the boy?¡± Director Talmage says after a few moments of silence.


    A man from the CIA is the first to respond, I do not remember his name.


    ¡°The easiest way would be for us to hold people he cares about hostage. I can arrange for that to happen.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s sloppy, what are you going to do when he later turns on us? A hostage situation cannot last forever and what¡¯s to keep him from turning anyways, he can make guns not function remember¡± I counter.


    ¡°Do you have a better idea?¡± the man from the CIA says his offence to my words clear.


    ¡°We could draft him¡± I say.


    ¡°And who could keep him in line? A draft is compulsory service, how would we compel him if not by threatening what he cares about?¡± the man from the CIA says out of both spite and validity.


    ¡°Or we could play on his desires¡± Secretary Jasmine interjects.


    ¡°Oh and what desire to we play on? Safety? Food? He is killing and eating things that the only way we have of killing might be a nuke. Or do we sick him on the Althaen? The group that as disgusting as they are can hold back the monsters we can¡¯t kill.¡±


    ¡°With what every young man wants, wealth, fame and women. Plant women by his side to nudge him in the direction we want and pay him with things.¡±


    My head and several others in the room nod at her idea. That could work.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Clothes shopping took damn near the entire day. An exaggeration but it did take hours and hours of boredom. I don¡¯t understand why they had to have my opinions on every article of clothing. If it fits and they like it that¡¯s good enough, besides even if I didn¡¯t like something why would I say they were anything less than pretty?


    [I liked it, we spent the whole day showing off our hoard. ]


    [We don¡¯t have to be there for them to buy stuff, nothing would have been different if we were somewhere else.]


    [I disagree, the males who saw us would not have been jealous of our hoard. ]


    [ Oh, and what of having to play dress up with different combinations of the same clothes?]


    [Best part.]


    [ It was a waste of time. What possible purpose did it serve?]


    [ Showing off our magnificence, making the females want to be ours and letting the competition know we are better.]


    [ That doesn¡¯t explain why they wanted it.]


    [ Yes it does, to show us off.]


    ¡°What is it?¡± Lysan asks with an innocent smile pulling me out of my conversation with dragon-me.


    ¡°The people following us probably¡± K says.


    ¡°No, they have been doing that all day. I was talking to dragon-me¡± I say. Lysan and Talia frown a little bit, they don¡¯t like him.


    ¡°What about?¡± asks K.


    ¡°The shopping.¡±


    I must have had a slight frown on my face as the three of all move slightly closer to me as K whispers in my ear, ¡°thanks for coming with us; we''ll make it up to you tonight.¡±


    ¡°I thought that paying me with sex was already part of your plan to get me to protect and feed you already¡± I say with a teasing smirk.


    Lysan immediately turns red while K quickly has a smirk similar to my own as she says ¡°I guess we¡¯ll just have to find something else to do then.¡±


    Then her smirk vanishes as the four of us notice some dwarves walking up to us rather than down the street. The four of them stop about twenty feet from us, one has a pendant of a silver rose on his clothes while the other three are in some sort of chain mail. The dwarf in clothes is the one among the who speaks, the other three simply continue to look around with their eyes, ready to fight if need be.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°I am sorry to interrupt you, but I am afraid that I must. I am a clerk for the Center of Financial Affairs and authorized to act on both their behalf and that of the city of R¨¹thgart. My name is Thrane Goldenrock, and I would like to speak to you Lord Ravnos and your present company.¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°Your application to be recognized by the Dwarven Nations as well as the fees pack Bloodclaw has been defaulting on.¡±


    ¡°And I assume it has to be now too doesn¡¯t it?¡± I say with a hint of sarcasm, irritated at this turn of events.


    ¡°I am afraid refusal would reflect negatively on you application. Please do not make the mistake of thinking I am trying to blackmail you, I simply want to expedite your application process and aid you in dealing with the debts pack Bloodclaw has.¡±


    Before I begin to react to him, K whispers something lightly so that the dwarves would not hear her speaking. ¡°He isn¡¯t being malicious, he wants to help even though I am sure there is some way he profits from helping us.¡±


    I manage to put on a fake smile though I am sure he can see the irritation beneath it and continue our conversation.


    ¡°Some notice would have been nice, but alright. Do you want to talk here in the street or have you prepared a place to conduct this business?¡±


    The dwarf instantly and genuinely smiles as he answers me, ¡°of course, hospitality is a measure of sincerity in business after all. Please follow me.¡±


    He leads us to a rather large house, two stories tall and looks like it has at least a dozen rooms per floor on it. Clearly it was built for a large and wealthy family to live in it. Once we are inside a dwarf greets us, the dwarf smells like a woman but I¡¯m not sure due to the beard.


    I nor the trio understand what she? said but Thrane replies before she bows slightly and leaves. Thrane then leads us to a room with a personal bar and pool table, though the table is now surrounded by chairs.


    ¡°I apologise for the strangeness of the table but this room seems to be the room for business transactions as it has the largest table and a supply of celebratory drinks. Please sit, I can tell you about how I can help you as we wait for the bread and meats to arrive.¡±


    We all sit down as Thrane continues to speak.


    ¡°Lord Ravnos, I am sure by this time you are aware that my kin are primarily motivated by one thing, commerce. I am afraid that there are several influential people among my kin that think that you and the people from your homeland are bad for business, you bring tension into the complex relationships that exist already. I however disagree, your people with the vast amounts of luxuries in even a war-torn city clearly must be a wealthy and industrious people much as my own are.


    While trade between us would certainly be mutually beneficial we are suffering from a language and culture barrier as well as the appearance that your country is unable to handle the demonic incursion.


    You yourself need help with some paperwork, specifically the lack of a dwarven citizen in good standing to vouch that you would be a beneficial interaction, the scribe at the gate misfiled your application, it lacks your signature, lacks a house insignia, and you are associated with two parties who no longer have good credit. As it stands that application will never be approved and when it gets to the top of its queue will be answered with a call for deportation of an undesirable.


    I can solve all of those problems and get the original fee and bribe refunded. At which point the four of you would regain the ties of both House Alanth¨ªer and Pack Bloodclaw, able to renegotiate the deals they had with the dwarven people. Would you be interested in my assistance?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but first why do you want to help me?¡±


    ¡°There are several reasons for that; first and foremost we speak a common language, one that you aside from an accent are quite good at even though you could only have started learning a few weeks ago. You are able to travel through territory infested with enemies and are thus martially powerful, one who is able to use magic and if I work through you as a connection trade can occur without using the Althaen as an intermediary and without breaking the contract they have with the Dwarven Nations. As you currently hold the interest of the leaders of your people in this city, you can get me in direct contact with whoever it is that I need to talk to in order to make the deals necessary for trade.¡±


    ¡°Alright, why are you being so candid?¡±


    ¡°I see this as an investment, if this interaction goes well your value to me only increases.¡±


    ¡°One final question before we can begin, will this deal be enforced by a geass?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I was planning on it to assuage your possible worry of betrayal.¡±


    ¡°Very well, let¡¯s have the contract written in Althaen. That language is at least good at eliminating double meanings.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry but the accord of universal business states that all contracts between citizens of the Dwarven Nations and List of Approved Peoples must be in the dwarven tongue.¡±


    ¡°That would not apply as I am not on said list am I? I am applying to be on that list and this contract would predate my inclusion to that agreement. I am not trying to get advantage by changing the tongue of the contract, only to be able to read it myself.¡±


    Thrane frowns and thinks for a moment before nodding, ¡°indeed you are right you are currently not under the jurisdiction of such restrictions. Very well, shall we begin? I will enjoy being able to show my uncles this opportunity¡±


    With a nod, we begin to discuss and argue over what it is exactly that we want from each other. After some time we conclude on the following agreement.


    Thrane Goldenrock son of Daerun Goldenrock, Chief Clerk of Division 43 of the Center of Financial Affairs and heir of clan Goldenrock whose hearth lies in R¨¹thgart acting as head of his own household agrees to for Adrian Ravnos, son of Randy Ravnos and acting on his own authority, the following: First, handle any and all issues of paperwork between him and the Dwarven Nations pertaining to his application for the List of Approved People and the subsequent fillings for recognition of his various statuses. Second, to restore the good name and standing of House Alanth¨ªer and Pack Bloodclaw. Third, act as an intermediary for the acquisition of goods and services on his behalf. Fourth, aid him in any interaction with the Dwarven Nations at cost. Fifth, to provide the information and resources for him to learn Dwarven and its subdialects. This includes the handling the possible expenditure of wealth in order to accomplish these things in a timely manner.


    In return Adrian Ravnos is to for Thrane Goldenrock perform the following. First, to create translation and pronunciation guides for the three Terra languages that he knows. Second, arrange for a peaceful meeting to occur between Thrane Goldenrock and someone who can make the needed deals for international trade to occur between the USA and the Dwarven Nations. Third, provide advice and information as to what things would be of value to offer the USA. Fourth, compile a list of useful technologies that should be traded for along with their value in the eyes of his people. Fifth, to utilize Thrane Goldenrock for any future interactions with the Dwarven Nations.

 Chapter 083

    The Pit Fiend is the pinnacle of the non-unique devils, they are in every aspect be it physical might or magical prowess. They stand twice the height of a man with an extra set of their overly long arms. When a Pit Fiend enters the battlefield only a Balor, Great Wyrm or other such power can withstand it. Their only frailty is that the tortures they have undergone in The Pit have driven them mad beyond compare. ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I can¡¯t help but smile as I walk out of Thrane''s house, should I tell him that the table is for a game and not business? I kind of want to chuckle at him having business around it again. I think the deal went well, though I can¡¯t help but feel he took advantage of me somewhere in this deal, even if it looks like I have so much less work to do.


    Our walk back to the hotel was however interrupted by some of the people who had been following us around all day finally deciding to be an encounter. A man in his forties with a dozen Althaen soldiers following behind him.


    He while pointing to the three girls walking with me says, ¡°you three were purchased years ago by the Faer family. You will stop your rebellious ways and come with me.¡±


    I can¡¯t help but smile as I feel the trio all latch onto me as each of them give a different rejection to this man.


    ¡°What are you smiling about, you¡¯re going to die for being a thief.¡±


    ¡°Thief? How can you steal something that cannot be owned?¡±


    The man and his guards look at me in confusion before I continue, ¡°slavery is illegal. You can¡¯t own people.¡±


    This brings a laugh from the Althaen before they decide to resort to violence to get what they want. I smile as it is now legal for me to kill all of them in ''self-defense''; that is how it works right?


    The trio let go of me before drawing their weapons, Lysan having some difficulty in the stance needed for fighting with a blade. The soldiers reach me before the others due to our formation.


    I maintain a smile as I begin to try something, partial transformation. My left arm rapidly manifests the scales of my dragon body, sparks fly as I deflect the swing of the first soldiers sword and get inside his reach. My right hand''s nails lengthen and thicken as they become the black claws of my other form and pierce through the chain mail of the soldier.


    I miss his heart but the hand sized hole in his left lung should be lethal enough. I hear K manage a riposte while Talia merely parries.


    I feel a bruise forming under the scales of my left forearm as I begin to accelerate time. I push the soon to be corpse into the soldier who is in melee with Talia, while I rush the next soldier who was not prepared for my temporally enhanced speed.


    He did not manage to get a proper guard up in time but did manage to keep me from ripping out the throat but not from tearing a chunk out of his right shoulder. I push my time to run faster as I now rush at the soldier between the noble and me.


    I think this is the most I have pushed time as everyone else seems to be going at less than a third of their normal speed. Rather than a quick kill of the soldier who has yet to react, I sever his arm at the shoulder. The clatter of swords falling on the ground ring I my ears as the noble releases a spell that surrounds my feet with chains.


    The chains themselves hold me upright though I lose my balance as they cease my movement. I am only a dozen feet from the caster. He begins talking but it is too slow for me to understand it. I pull my last pistol and loaded magazine from Void Cache and begin to fire on this noble as I reject various ideas on how to get out of these glowing chains.


    The first few bullets are stopped by a shell of some energy before it begins to crack under the rapid bombardment of 9mm slugs. The last slug shatters the shell and continues on it¡¯s path into the noble¡¯s head.


    His body falls to the ground, the chains begin to deteriorate and the soldiers stop fighting and sheath their blades looking at me. What should I do? Kill them? I want to but there might be a better thing to do.


    ¡°Take the dead back to your house and tell your Lord to stop going after them.¡±


    The soldiers who are still alive frown but nod before replying, ¡°yes Lord¡±. I hope this antagonizes this house Faer into attacking, so I can turn the other factions here against them.


    Only after the soldiers have left do the police arrive in mass telling us that we are under arrest. I make sure to suppress the ability for bullets to be fired as I motion for the trio not to resist.


    Time to play the game and reveal what the Althaen are to the populous, or if it is an Althaen court we end up at call for trial by combat. I end up finding the unease of the officer who handcuffs me amusing; both of us can tell these cuffs only hold because I allow it to.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The ride to the police station or specifically the jail cells there is uneventful.


    Once there it is not even ten minutes until one of the people I saw during meeting with General Fuller this morning, Jasmine I think her name was. Her slightly wrinkled face and dyed black hair make it clear she is an older woman.


    ¡°So why did you murder those men?¡±


    ¡°Murder, never. It was self-defense.¡±


    ¡°That is not the story being told, you are being called a thief who murders when caught. They are also threatening to stop holding back the monsters that are still running around the other side of the city unless you are turned over to them and their property restored.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what the property is?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    I point to the trio as they share the same cell as me, ¡°they hold value to the Althaen for some reason and since they are not men, they try to enslave them every time we encounter them. Those men decided to kill me and enslave them because they want to. Am I wrong in defending myself?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, that doesn¡¯t matter. Currently we need the Althaen to deal with the monsters as the armed forces are occupied elsewhere.¡±


    K interrupts, ¡°I can smell your deceit. Do not try to play my mate for a fool, I will not let you manipulate him for your own advantage.¡±


    ¡°So says the woman committing statutory rape.¡±


    Shit, that is a thing isn''t it. Does that hold since neither of us are human anymore? How much old are my girlfriends? Also whose laws do cross cultural groups get judged by?


    ¡°Do we still need to keep playing nice?¡± K asks turning to me as she breaks the chain on her hand cuffs. Jasmine takes a step back and there is some worry on her face.


    ¡°For now,¡± I answer before turning back to Jasmine. ¡°So, what were you going to try to trick me into?¡±


    ¡°You take her word as truth? Where is your trust of the government?¡± Jasmine questions.


    ¡°Please answer my question first. Besides you''re in the show me state.¡± I say with a mocking smile. I hope I don¡¯t push this too far but I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m considered important right now.


    ¡°To deal with the threat the Althaen are currently holding at bay; the translation from the dwarven magic is infernalist deathspeakers.¡±


    Well shit that sounds nasty, multiple deathspeakers and fiendish magic together. How are they holding that back? Is the other group stalling for time?


    ¡°Have you had to fight against a hoard of zombies yet?¡±


    ¡°No¡± she answers with some confusion on her face. They must be preparing one then. After a short pause, she starts talking after a sigh.


    ¡°If we can¡¯t deal with that threat and a few others there is no choice but to give into the Althaen and turn you over.¡±


    ¡°What do you think everyone?¡± I ask as I turn around to the trio.


    ¡°Thrane should have the papers done by tomorrow morning and you¡¯ll have weight in their court to have a trial¡± says Talia.


    ¡°We should kill the deathspeakers, they will be a great danger if they are left with the population of this city¡± says K.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy with whatever you want to do¡± says Lysan.


    The real question is how to get as many people upset at the Althaen as possible. I can¡¯t kill all of them on my own. Can I get our media to spread just what they really are? A trial in a US court would be better for that but would take a lot longer.


    Get the media to cover the Althaen trial, if possible, could display more of their corruption. Especially if they cheat in the combat like last time. . .


    ¡°If I get the Althaen to reveal the monsters that they are on video would you air it nationwide in return for dealing with the monsters in the city?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be considering this, they will kill you unless we protect you.¡±


    ¡°If they could they would have last time they put me on trial. I don¡¯t like your deal and it seems you need me more than I need you; that means what I want has more weight.¡±


    ¡°I can do that but you are playing a dangerous game¡± she says before turning to leave.


    ¡°I do need a camera. Could you bring me one?¡±


    ¡°You chose to play your game, find it yourself.¡±


    Fuck, where am I going to get a camera in here? Steal one? I didn¡¯t see any in the clothing stores today, at least not any I remember. Did I store any in void cache when I was not paying attention?


    Casting my mind through the pocket in the void that is my void cache, searching through it for a camera or anything that can record. Laptops and desktops are to conspicuous, something smaller but the only other things I have are phones that happen to lack power. I have adapters but there is not an outlet in the cell. In hindsight I really should have charged them back at the hotel, car or house.


    I look around through the bars trying to find a guard but find none, not even another prisoner. The other cell and the hallway itself lacks an outlet. Great so I am going to have to either break out or duplicate AC power. I don¡¯t want to have to deal with a bunch of soldiers and police having a fit over my actions.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be messing with magic.¡±


    ¡°Any chance you could teach me some more magic?¡± K asks.


    ¡°You do remember that I only know theory, right?¡±


    She nods but seems to be excited. I can only cave to the look on her face.


    ¡°Alright, what do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°I got the mana to positive energy life force conversion working with the cure spells, what is the next thing I should learn?¡±


    ¡°Going further down that path would be turningAnimate Dead into a positive energy version that duplicates the effects of Raise Dead. Alternatively, a more combat focused would be altering Vampiric Touch to be more versatile. Which one do you want me to explain?¡±


    ¡°The combat one¡± she says with the glee of a little girl in a candy store. The other two girls also paying rapt attention.


    ¡°Vampiric Touch works by creating a tether between two life forces much as blood bridge does though without a medium. You should be able to insert the conversion of lifeforce into mana on your end of the connection creating a target health to your mana conversion.


    After this you can tie another spell to the end after severing the connection to yourself creating a spell that is fueled by the health of an unwilling enemy. Attaching such spells to a weapon should be the most effective way of delivery, using a bladed weapon to draw out blood would be a good medium to reduce the startup mana cost.¡±


    I can see the wheels turning in K¡¯s head as Lysan and Talia seem disappointed that they don¡¯t have the prerequisite abilities to patch together blood magic for unwilling targets. At least a way that should work.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find something for the two of you next time but I need to make preparations for tomorrow¡± I tell them followed by a quick kiss to my two elves as K mutters to herself thinking aloud on how to do just what I said.

 Chapter 084

    Dragons are divided into four types: Chromatic, Metallic, Crystal and Planar. All dragons have little more than beasts after hatching and only develop sentience after adulthood. They begin to develop instinctual magic after hatching though they develop more magic after gaining sentience. They reach adulthood based on size and not just age, though most end up not gaining the requisite size before their time is up and they are forced to stay base beasts. They are often hunted down as their ravenous hunger often causes them to consume most everything around them.


    Chromatic dragons have for the most part fallen to their greed, seduced into working with the demons the evil of the dragon goddess aligning with the fiends. Metallic are for the most part, like their dragon god, standing against the demons though they are rarely considered aligned with the civilized races. Crystal dragons in their rarity and general neutrality not sided with anyone in the war against the demonic hoard. Planar being a blanket term for dragons not normally found on material planes vary by individual and type.


    <hr>


    Randy Ravnos


    <hr>


    I glance at the gas gauge of the motorcycle I stole as I drive through the now desolate town where my wife and son should be. It¡¯s gas light is on as it has been for a while but now the engine and oil lights have joined it.


    I slow down and come to a stop at what seems to be the center of a battlefield. The fabric of reality feels strange here, a lingering resonance from someone performing a lot of magic, but who?


    The thunder twins don¡¯t have the power for such an act anymore. Did Geldath plant another watcher over my family? No, I haven¡¯t found another soul with our gift. I need to know what happened, why did my wife and son flee?


    I pull out a pair of glasses with lenses made from diamond, runes scratched over the entire frame and put them on before whispering the words to my spell of hindsight. Something I should not be able to do anymore yet I regained that power.


    Day and night roll backwards as I gaze into the past, the distortions in reality swell until the moment of their creation comes into my view. Conflicting emotions pass through my heart as I see my son destroying the invaders of our dimension. Pride at his strength, worry for his safety and anger at whatever the cause of the madness in his eyes is.


    I begin to sweat as my power cannot maintain gazing so far into the past for long. I return to the present, my son didn¡¯t die in this fight. My wife was never at this scene though, I need to get to the house but there is definitely not enough gas left for that.


    With a sigh I pick up a rock from the broken asphalt and concrete before using the only other power I excelled at, elementalism. I draw on the power of Earth and command the ground to change with a word.


    The dirt and stone rearranges itself to be a flat surface as I pull out an empty jug and call upon the water in the air to fill it. Once the dirt has settled I use the rock to draw the alchemical circle to transmutate water, once the circle of runes and geometric shapes are complete a flash of light follows and I can smell what the water now is, gasoline.


    With this I rush towards the house not caring about the traces of magic I leave behind.


    <hr>


    Traces of another battle meet me when I get to the clearly ransacked house. This battle was further back than the other, I¡¯ll need more than just my glasses to see it. I want to just use my blood to seek a next of kin but that would alert the thunder twins that our curse doesn¡¯t hold me anymore.


    Indirectly is the only way I can defend my family, I won¡¯t risk them becoming experiments to remove the curse we deserve. I sift through the junk in the garage I use to hide the larger foci I can¡¯t carry around in my job as a government agent.


    I find the crystal ball I was looking for, though most of the things I told my son were important are missing. Did he carry them with him when he left? I¡¯ll have to ask about them when I track him down.


    Once more I cast my senses into the past and quickly watch the events from the start of the planar convergence until my family, the thunder twins, Adrian¡¯s friends, and three girls I have never seen before all leave a few days ago.


    Adrian woke up his mother¡¯s bloodline, how? The soul spark of the Ravnos does not attach to supernatural entities. Then again my curse should have prevented him from awakening at all.


    The image of my wife¡¯s wedding ring fades slower than the rest of the past, how could I have forgotten such an obvious connection to my family. With haste I search the house for a map before spreading it over the floor and tying a string to my ring I perform a scry.


    My ring pulls the string taunt as it points to Kansas City, that is where its pair is and my next destination. But first I need to begin what I do best, learning everything that could happen before it does.


    I smile as I pull out the few foci that Adrian left behind, stuff I had hidden. Clear stones, seer stones of ancient religions. The perfect tool to use in divination as they allowed people to do so even without gifts in ages gone by.


    The only problem is that they look ridiculous as glasses, or anything else, so I keep them hidden when not in use. I put them on and whisper a prayer to those very same now dead gods as I twist reality and see not just the strand of fate I am walking but the wheel that crafts them as hundreds of thousands of possible futures flash through my mind.


    I won''t remember most of this but I will know the trend that the strands of fate are likely to take. The images that I see are not futures I want to see happen, nigh every single one ends with my son screaming as Geldath casts some grand rite.


    The visions end and I begin to pack everything up in haste, there is little time if I want any chance of avoiding that strand of fate.


    Folding the map I end up tearing it in my haste as I walk back to my bike, and not the one I rode in on.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Ignoring the pouting looks of the twins I use Translocation Grasp on one of the light bulbs in this part of the building. Now I have to focus on duplicating the AC current that flows through the walls.


    I close my eyes and begin to meditate and focus on feeling the flow of electrons through the wires in the walls around me. My first attempt causes the bulb to shatter in an explosion, the current refusing to alternate directions.


    After a half dozen attempts I give up on getting the direction of the electricity to oscillate and pull out books from Void Cache. I need to understand electricity better, or rather how AC current works.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°What are the books for?¡± Lysan asks innocently.


    ¡°To help me understand how electricity works.¡±


    ¡°I thought you said there were no spell books written by your people.¡±


    ¡°There are not any, these are about science. About how the world naturally works.¡±


    ¡°Why would you need to use something like that in magic?¡±


    ¡°What is easier, creating a fireball to set an entire building on fire or placing one that will spread to the whole building?¡±


    ¡°The second one.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why, to make things easier. Turning the laws that normally increase the difficulty of something into an aid instead.¡±


    ¡°You can do that?¡±


    ¡°Of course, do you want an example?¡±


    She nods and so I continue.


    ¡°Alright let¡¯s take your sister¡¯s lightning bolt spell, it works by forcefully caging electricity in a box of mana to get the lightning to travel the desired path right?"


    Talia nods.


    ¡°Electricity will travel the easiest path to a discharge point, so what if you ionized the path you wanted it to take and let the generated power move itself rather than guiding it? I¡¯m not sure if that would be cheaper than the mana cage but rather than fighting against electricity''s flow it now saves you energy. Even if it does cost more it would travel through the air faster making it harder to dodge.


    For me I can¡¯t get the electricity to change directions through brute force fast enough so I want to find an efficient shortcut through science.¡±


    ¡°Can I read these books too?¡± ask both of the sisters in unison.


    I pull out a few middle school physics and biology books as I skin through the table of contents for the college textbook I¡¯m looking at. That should be a usable introduction for them right?


    I flip to the section and start reading, making sure to memorize everything. After a few minutes I find a phrase that tells me how AC current is created, oscillating the polarity, so magnetism or inverting charges? Alright I think I can get that to work.


    I still break a few dozen bulbs before I get a flow of electricity stable enough to light up the bulb just as the few that are still in their sockets around the room. With that I begin to charge a phone through a wall charger as I wait for the eventual escort to deal with the Althaen.


    It is dawn when someone finally enters the cell portion of the station. I am supprised and disappointed in the security that never bothered to check on their prisoners especially with odd sounds coming from us.


    The people who enter are Thrane, an Althaen with the same house emblem as the man I killed yesterday and Jasmine. Everyone but Jasmine is smiling but for different reasons.


    ¡°You know what to do unless you want war¡± says the Althaen and Jasmine gives him the key to the cell before exiting.


    ¡°You better hope that the other slaves have not been touched boy.¡±


    ¡°You are aware that you are threatening another noble Damien¡± Thrane interrupts.


    Damien then laughs before scoffing at the idea that I would be a noble.


    ¡°A noble would never be treated as such.¡±


    ¡°Are the papers finished Thrane Goldenrock?¡± I ask.


    With a smile he pulls what I requested out of a satchel before passing them to me. ¡°As soon as you sign them they will go into effect and your nobility and house will be recognized by the Dwarven Nations¡± he says as I grab the offered papers and pen.


    The look of disbelief on the Althaen''s face was worth sitting in this cell all night. I quickly sign the few places before they all disappear leaving behind a signet ring of a dragon surrounded by stars. I guess this is my symbol now.


    ¡°I do believe you have to call a trial or a challenge now, I am a fellow noble after all.¡±


    The hatred on Damien¡¯s face is enjoyable, but he quickly covers it up with a grin. He did not expect to have to do such a thing and is now thinking of how to make me suffer.


    ¡°So you got the dwarves to back you, fine we can have a trial over your theft and false claims of nobility.¡±


    ¡°Perfect, lead the way then.¡±


    And lead he does and though he didn¡¯t unlock the cell door with his key it doesn¡¯t stay shut when you teleport the lock''s mechanism out. I do the same to our hand cuffs and pass them to one of the police as we all walk out of the station.


    We end up at the courthouse, a room that has been hastily altered for the jury box to be in the judge''s place. One that is already filled. Where they tipped off before Damien was sent to fetch me? No, he was surprised, then a message spell of some sort must have been cast by him or the dwarves set it up to be available for a small charge. . .


    I would guess the latter. Thrane might tell me later if I ask him. I quickly set up the phone I managed not to accidentally fry to record video as I tell Lysan how it¡¯s used.


    Thrane gives me a look of interest at the device before I mouth to him that I¡¯ll put its uses on the list I owe him. He nods with a smile, no doubt thinking of how to be of use during the trial to have me owe him more.


    One of the old men in the jury turned judges'' box speaks up, no doubt starting this trial.


    ¡°You Adrian Ravnos are guilty of theft, possible destruction of resources and impersonation of nobility. You will be tortured until broken as the slave you are or used as the resources you stole.¡±


    Great, no fooling around. This won¡¯t be easy but will work great when released as a video to the public. Before I begin to force them to acknowledge me, Thrane does so for me.


    ¡°This young man has been added to the Dwarven List of Approved Peoples and his nobility has likewise been acknowledged. Your claims are an affront against the dwarves who approved of him.¡±


    ¡°It is known that that those of Terra lack mana and arcane skill. They cannot be nobles. Sit down before our treaty of Noble Rights and Requirements is called upon to punish you.¡±


    ¡°I stand and remain standing, if you want to pursue your charges challenge his ability.¡±


    The man who has been the voice of this council turns to me, ¡°do you accept a test of nobility?¡±


    ¡°Name the spell¡± I answer.


    ¡°Animate Dead.¡±


    ¡°You ask for a spell whose ingredients are not here. Give me a corpse and a black onyx then.¡±


    The motions some soldiers to the side, surprised at my reaction to his demand. The soldiers drag out the body of the noble I killed yesterday. It was probably going to be used as evidence against me.


    It is a few minutes before a black gemstone is given to me. Once it is I warp the light around me to make the gem appear to shatter as I pocket it in Void Cache and send a darkness into the corpse.


    Then I mutter nonsense under my breath for a few minutes as I form a negative energy matrix through the Sphere of Death. There is a look of scorn in their eyes so I begin a light show of shadows and red glows before verbally commanding what should now be a zombie.


    ¡°Arise¡±


    The newly made undead thing stands but I can feel the matrix inside it wish to fall apart. I didn¡¯t do it right and it will only hold as long as I maintain it. One of the Althaen points a bone wand at the corpse and issues a command in a language I do not know.


    The corpse begins to walk to him before I stop maintaining it. It falls to the ground and I say with a smirk, ¡°sorry but you can''t steal it and it is better to leave the dead to rest anyways.¡±


    The judges grumble before one of them speaks up, ¡°your undead did not stay the test is inconclusive, cast Call Lightning instead.¡±


    ¡°You want proof through a divine spell restricted to outdoors?¡±


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°Not if you are covering the damage.¡±


    He nods and I am thankful for the clouds outside as I draw upon and amplify their potential for lightning before calling bolt after bolt down, breaking through the ceiling and having it crash on the floor. I had a lot of practice doing this during my madness and smile at the Althaen judges after the flurry of lightning ends.

 Chapter 085

    Chromatic dragons are larger and more physically powerful when compared to their Metallic equivalents but with their larger size they often fail to gain sentience. They come in a variety of sizes and colors from smallest to largest being: white, green, yellow, grey, orange, brown, black, blue, purple and red. Someof them carry the same elemental affinities though they do so with different mixes and instinctual magic.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The flurry of lightning ends and the Althaen have no choice but to acknowledge me. They do not say it but that they move on to their next charge.


    ¡°You are in possession of Kythia Bloodclaw bought by House Faer as well as Thalia and Lysan Alanth¨ªer, likewise purchased by House Faer. Will you return them to their rightful owners?¡±


    ¡°No, and they are not slaves.¡±


    ¡°Then you are guilty of theft and will be . . .¡±


    ¡°The point make by Lord Ravnos is valid. If you all would turn to page fifty-five of the packet I gave you, you will see that all three of their names have been redeemed on the Dwarven List of Approved Peoples. The next three pages are receipts from House Faer marking a refund of the purchases made of those three. This claim should also be dismissed as there is no validity behind it.¡±


    I cannot help but laugh as nigh half of the judges begin to argue with each other. I don¡¯t know how Thrane knew to do this or how he got it done overnight but I do not care, I am really enjoying this and I am going to call on him to do this law stuff again next time. After a few minutes, the man who started this trial become quiet as he begins to speak once more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that any of this has changed the outcome, or that the next three pages tying them to you will save them from returning to their rightful place. You see some of us did read what your dwarf friend prepared. You used necromancy to animate the corpse of a noble, which is punishable by both death and destruction of your house. You are of course declared to be guilty of this and all your possessions and family forfeit to whoever found your deviance into the dark arts.¡±


    Wait what? I thought Thrane was playing them. I look at him, he expected it right?


    ¡°The given target for a legally sanctioned use of necromancy was selected by you. He should not be held as it was under duress and it was directed by another.¡±


    ¡°It is not my fault he did not ask for different supplies or provide his own and I call for a trial by combat for your slander of insinuating that I approved of the raising of a dead noble, and as we are already in a trial I motion all charges be tried by combat.


    Any objections from the judging council? No, then in essence of time I call for the trials of combat to take place simultaneously.


    All in favor?¡±


    Each and every one of the Althaen judges make either a gesture or call out verbally their agreement. I did expect things to end up this way but I did not think that I would end up having to fight multiple opponents at once.


    ¡°Each house that is part of the council will field a Magister, House Faer as the lead and beneficiary will field the extra two for the total of six. The Magisters are waiting outside and if you do not immediately go to the field of battle we will take that as an act of surrender. The fight is to the death baring enslavement of the accused.¡±


    I turn around and take the phone back from Lysan, storing it in void cache. As much as I feel like recording the fight it would be a bad idea to end up showing how I fight to everyone. I probably should not have recorded the ¡®spells¡¯ earlier either.


    I begin to twist reality to create effects with durations longer than concentration as I walk to where the trial by combat will be. Specifically, I accelerate both time and my natural healing rate as much as I can.


    Once I exit the courthouse I see that in the half hour I was in there the street had been cleared cleaned and readied for this battle. Thrane is not as good as it seemed, he played the Althaen but at least one of them used that to get exactly what he wanted. There are six men standing separated by only a few dozen feet, no line passing through more than two of them.


    Great, they are in a formation meant to mitigate the dangers of area effects, not that that will be too much trouble for me to deal with. As soon as I am in the open the six of them release darts of light that swerve as I attempt to dodge, a sneak attack but I never expected them to play fair to begin with.


    Many small black marks with bruises form across my body and my clothing is now little better than cleanish rags. For some reason I smile, I''ve grown to like fighting and I want to make these six suffer.


    The first thing I do is call upon what is left of the lightning in the clouds above us to crash down on top of them but it seems they all cast protective spells as the lightning is stopped by a shell. The blinding flashes at least do give me the time I needed to get to one of them, not the closest one though. They expected that and I ran around the grease fire combination they unleashed in what would have been my path.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Unfortunately, not all of them were set on that trap, one instead sent a bolt of fire at me while another threw a ball that exploded into a mass of spider webs.


    I manage to get through the webs and dodge the firebolt but the melee attack of a spear drawn from Void Cache merely cracks a thin layer of something and the force behind my strike negated. Stoneskin, but why didn¡¯t it distort their color? Illusions to cover it up?


    A rod of green energy taken physical form manifests in the hands of the mage I failed to harm. The following strike stings more than the kinetic force should have but I take the hit and grab several stones from the nearby gravel with Translocation Grasp.


    The Stoneskin he has is layered protection so it should block a specific number of hits, how hard the hits are don¡¯t matter though. I stagger throwing stones until his image stops suffering cracks when hit. I dodge a spear of ice and the rest of our battlefield is covered with either webs or grease, both of which are subject to the spreading fire, when his last layer of Stoneskin is broken.


    Neither the flames, grease or webs seem to be affecting the mages. Are they doing exclusions or have protective spells up? I really need to figure out a way to at least check for mana based effects.


    I jump into the air to dodge a fireball, which dissipates when it slams into the mage behind me. I see their grins as three of them throw lightning bolts at me. I was hoping to hide this longer but I manifest the wings of my dragon form to allow me to twist in the air as I use Translocation Grasp in inverse to throw a knife into the mage whose Stoneskin is down.


    My hair stands on end from the charges leaking out of the lightning bolts but I don¡¯t take the hits. The thrown knife deviates from my intended path but it does hit the mage, with the hilt breaking his nose.


    I land and feel top heavy, causing me to stumble a bit. I need a counter weight. This error causing me to be hit by someone''s Fan of Flames. Before I am burned too much I create frost fire around me to negate it while I add my tail to this hybrid form.


    I need to kill one of these guys quickly, but it is so much fun to keep this up. I smile and destroy any control they had over the fire as I push them to burn hotter and wilder, their color shifting from red-orange to a blue.


    I laugh as I hear the mages scream for a moment before some sort of contingency was triggered and bursts of cold air spread out from all six of the mages. The fires are put out but their terrain hazards are also now gone. The mage whose still had not managed to put up another protection spell finds himself in melee once more.


    His decastave blocks my hands turned claws but a tail sweep lands him on his back. In the tumble, I get past his block and rip his throat before stopping my roll with a flap of my wings. The abrupt change of direction dodging an earthen spike.


    The other five must have recovered from the surprise burns. The unnatural chill of negative energy warns me of the next attack coming my way, a blast of red-black energy. I only manage to dodge it due the difference in the rate of time.


    Two creatures made of pure fire appear between me and a group of three mages. Summoning something to tie me down? Decent idea but those are fire elementals. I point to the two and force their flames to extinguish themselves.


    I see the green bolt of Disintegrate flying from the third of those three mages and dodge it, at least if my wings were not out I would have. Pain and comfort explode from the nerves within the membranes of my left wing and I feel some of it transform to dust but don¡¯t feel danger from the spreading hole.


    The disintegration stops after a head sized hole is in my wing, my accelerated natural healing slowly fills the hole as the comfortable feeling that accompanied the Disintegrate fades. What just happened? A slash from a blade on my back brings me back to the more immediate worries.


    I see no sword but the one in the hand of a mage over a dozen feet away. A ranged attack? I throw a stone at that mage but it is blocked by the appearance of glowing motes of light.


    Protection from Normal Missiles, aright I¡¯ll just use melee then. I rush that mage and just before reaching him I unleash a breath weapon, Gravity Breath.


    I can handle the increased weight but this man can¡¯t and he falls to the ground and I turn to the other on this side of the field. He teleports, dimension door?


    A glance shows me he is now crouched over the mage I already killed. With a touch and a flash of dark red light the corpse rises. So they can use the corpse of a noble but I can¡¯t?


    I twist the forming negative energy matrix in the rising corpse, and it exploded in a wave of negative energy. The pained expression of the mage in black and red tells me all I need to know, he is not warded from negative energy attacks.


    If he isn¡¯t then the others probably are not either. Returning to the prone mage with a sword I wrap my right clawed hand in the dark purple and black energy of death before striking him with it. A layer of Stoneskin breaks, the physical damage of my claws negated but his rapid withering and ceasing to draw breath lets me know just how few years he had before dying of old age. Two down, four to go.


    The stationary position I held as the sword wielding mage died cost me taking a small swarm of acid blobs. My rush at the nearest mage only gives them the time they need to cast what I assume is a protective spell. Not wanting to waste time on an energy that won¡¯t hurt them anymore I release a blast of frost fire at point plank range.


    The frostbite resulting from my attack is not immediately lethal but it did cause him to botch whatever spell he was casting and I push him into an icy spear sent at me by his compatriots. I can only assume the ice covering a third of his torso after that is lethal as he struggles to breathe and collapses.


    An earth elemental rises from the ground between the last three and me. Protective runes are swarming around the lot of them. I can¡¯t manipulate the raw material of this kind of elemental so I dodge its swing as I run past it. If I kill its summoner it will dissipate and one of the mages is wearing brown.


    I see runes for every type of energy I can manipulate by altering reality revolve around him so I spit a glob of the void at him. I can only frown as he manages to get a silver rod between us that sucks my attack into it before the cracks along it spread a bit further.


    I steal the rod with Translocation Grasp before striking him with it. As the rod immediately broke I can only assume that is was not meant to be used as a weapon. I do however like to result of its explosive discharge.


    A silver blue flash eruptdand all of the spell the three mages had active vanished. Even the earth elemental collapsed and sunk into the ground. An antimagic burst? As the light passed through me I felt the energy I use to access Void Cache be reduced significantly but I still have some. I want another of those rods.


    My claws make short work of the now defenseless mages. They were screaming and crying in despair at their own lack of mana, a problem that does not cripple me.


    Once the last of the mages is dead I shake the blood from my hands as I revert all the way back to human form. I turn to the Althaen council.


    ¡°Apparently, I¡¯m innocent of all charges.¡± I say with a smirk before dropping each of the corpses into Void Cache to search later, I''m not getting screwed out of my loot like last time.

 Chapter 086

    The white dragon is the smallest of the chromatics and as such has the highest quantity who manage to reach sentience, that said they are considered the weakest of dragons, their instinctual magics are all centered around ice. Preferring to live in artic environments they warp the weather around their layers into a continuous winter when they have the power to.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    As I turn to leave the Althaen who lead the trial against me shouts something about me being a monster that he will exterminate for the safety of all. I don¡¯t catch all of it as I barely manage to turn whatever it is that he threw at me into a lesser blow.


    Even so whatever it was put chill through my right shoulder and torso. He cut through my collar bone and down into my torso. As I roll away I swap to my dragon form more on instict than on purpose.


    I jump into the sky and fire a breath of light at him, but he blocks it with the sword. The light just enters the blackness and vanishes like my flesh must have. I can feel death wafting off it but not what the sword is.


    I need to stay out of melee unless I get a counter to that thing. The trio are fighting some of the nearby Althaen soldiers, it is only a matter of time before they would be overwhelmed and there is no way for them to run. I have to do something quickly.


    The lead judge throws his black blade at me and by some sort of instinctual reflex I spit out my void breath at it. The two collide and aside from an eruption of negative energy the two simply destroy each other? Is the void able to negate spells? Consume the mana? Or whatever it is he used the mana to form?


    No time to think about that, I have to do something while he is still confused like me. I warp light and darkness to conceal myself from the sight of those below me, hopefully they will accept the fake me flying around for at least a few seconds.


    I close most of the distance before a bolt of red lightning passes through the false image and as my enemies no longer believe that it is me. As I reappear according to their view, I release a shockwave of death and lightning that washes over the Althaen who attacked me.


    Several of them collapse on the ground, paralyzed or dead. I¡¯ll check on that later. The man I was hoping to kill was protected by some shell of energy. Why does everyone seem to have one of those? I need some sort of antimagic.


    I rush at my target, he unleashes a bolt of red-black lightning. I don¡¯t dodge it and scream from the pain of the electricity and negative energy coursing through my body. Muscles wither and begin to suffer paralysis as I physically crash into my opponent. The cracks of breaking a layer of Stoneskin spread from our point of impact. He must have been casting protections to cover everything I have done so far.


    So I do something I haven¡¯t, I warp the flesh of his body. I stop his heart, collapse his lungs by puncturing them with his ribs, sever the neurons between his skull and spinal column and have his blood form clots. I don¡¯t know how much the Althaen can heal or how much of my desired changes worked, but I want this man dead before he unleashes another spell. I can¡¯t feel a third of my body and human form is in worse shape.


    Those left of the Althaen flee as I stumble to stand, one leg refusing to move as I will. There are only a few people who stay, the trio who immediately begin to fuss over my injuries, as well as Thrane and those who appear to be his body guards.


    I don¡¯t pay much attention to him as I check the trio for injuries and find nothing lethal. Only once I am sure that they are fine do I turn my head towards Thrane and begin to actually hear him.


    ¡°. . . for not managing to defend you completely in the trial. Please forgive me Dragon Lord Ravnos.


    If I had known you were a dragon I would have made sure the trial would not have wasted you time. Please forgive me for my negligence and ignorance.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not upset at you Thrane, we can talk later but could you please handle the cleanup and give this to Secretary Jasmine somehow, as well as a method to understand Althaen?¡± I ask in an interruption to his groveling, my voice deeper than I am used to hearing. The phone Lysan used to record the trial falls out of Void Cache in front of me.


    He bows and begins to direct his dwarven bodyguards in their own tongue. They quickly begin to gather the corpses and strip them of their possessions. Why is Thrane suddenly even more respectful of me? My power is not enough for him to do this right?


    I frown as I look at the third of my body that is unresponsive with every method of perception I can use. What I find is alarming, chunks of my flesh were starting to rot and some sort of negative energy parasites are feeding on my life. I try to expel the negative energy but it resists my attempts to warp reality to its detriment.


    ¡°What is it, why aren¡¯t you getting better?¡± Lysan asks with worry in her voice.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Not sure. Whatever that man did is resisting my magic and spreading. I need someone to cut the damaged flesh out.¡±


    Lysan looks terrified at that idea but K simply nods and takes out a knife I did not know she had.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we move to another location?¡± asks Talia.


    ¡°No time, whatever that men did is killing me and my other form is in worse condition. Burn the wounds to cauterize them, I¡¯ll try to heal me as you cut out what¡¯s keeping me from healing.¡±


    I don¡¯t feel anything as K''s knife passes through a patch of withered and rotten scales. I only watch as she pulls pieces of rotting meat out until she finds meat that is not rotten. An irregular shaped hole just smaller than my hand is what is left as she finishes pulling out the diseased flesh. I also feel the negative energy whatever fade away once it is no longer in contact with living flesh.


    I can see some sort of discomfort in K''s eyes as she continues. She isn¡¯t comfortable tearing chunks of flesh out of me, still she continues until the other necrotic infections are removed. I begin to start my method of healing while pulling the cut pieces of the red dragon from void cache into my mouth so that I could eat them to fuel the metabolic processes involved.


    We are in the shadow of the courthouse once I am well once more. I don¡¯t know why but everyone avoided our immediate surroundings.


    <hr>


    Secretary Jasmine


    <hr>


    I watch the footage I had the NSA take of the courthouse today. Something blocked us from telling what went on during the asset''s time within it but that wasn¡¯t what I was showing the others of our committee. This is the second time I saw it and I can¡¯t believe that the earlier reports left out so much.


    Everyone is silent as those who were supposed to be protecting our citizens try to murder one instead. I can¡¯t believe the powers that are being thrown around, not that they cannot be real but that we had no ideathat they had so many of them.


    ¡°It would appear that neither the information on that youth or what the Althaen are capable of was completely accurate. You said Adrian was going to record his interaction with the Althaen?¡± Director Talmage questions.


    ¡°Yes¡± I answer.


    ¡°We need that recording. We cannot sit between him and the Althaen. We cannot afford to get suck in the crossfire between such beings as we are struggling to piece our nation back together. Our other alternatives lack the might that these two options have shown. Find me which one is better for our nation.¡±


    It is not long before there is a knock at the door. After a second a soldier walks in with a vacant look on his face and three items, a cellphone, piece of paper and a silver necklace. The soldier after handing them directly to me turns and leaves without saying a single word. No one speaks as I look through the three items, the writing on the paper is what surprises me most.


    I don¡¯t know the language but somehow, I understand what is written. Is this magic? I pass the note to Director Talmage, the message of ¡°Amulet of Language Comprehension¡± echo in my mind as I pick up the silver necklace. I put it on and press the power button on the phone.


    There is no password lock, it opens up to a video player. I touch play and somehow, I understand the meaning behind each and every one of the words that are part of the accompanying audio to a very poor-quality video. I pause it and pick up a pen to make a transcription of what I hear.


    Once the transcript is made and the video is playing once more on the screen and I am reading the translation the silver necklace gave me there is some commotion in the hall outside. Then the door opens without a knock or any of the other ways of letting us know that the person entering is.


    The door swings wide and all of us in the room draw and aim a sidearm at the intruder, clicks follow and it is a single figure that walks in the pair of now unconscious guards in sight behind him. A tall man with unkempt brown hair wearing what appears to be the tattered remains of someone else''s army uniform. He has the dirt of weeks of travel on him and there are more than a few blood stains over his closes.


    ¡°We need to have a talk about your more recent actions¡± the man says, the voice familiar but the tattered uniform and rough appearance prevents me from immediately recognizing him.


    I hear Director Talmage mutter something but I don¡¯t catch it as I realize who just broke in, a person who happens to be anagent to one of my colleagues.


    ¡°Agent Johnson what are you doing here?¡± I blurt out.


    ¡°I know that you are tasked with solving the monster problems. I know that you have been struggling over multiple bad options for days. I know that you are think of using my son to solve your problems and that he just killed your only other option for the most immediate threat.¡±


    Silence, no one speaks in response to his words. That is until someone decided to throw a knife at him since our firearms are somehow disabled. The knife is dodged even though he was not looking at it, his reaction starting before the blade leaves my contemporary¡¯s hand as if he already knew it would happen.


    <hr>


    Randy Ravnos


    <hr>


    ¡°Being hostile to me won¡¯t work and even if it did what would happen when my son found out? You''re terrified by what you have seen but I¡¯ll let you in on a secret. My side of the extended family is full of people with such power. Leave my firstborn out of your schemes or you''ll end up with more than just me fighting against you.¡± I say after dodging one of the fourteen possible sneak attacks. I let the weight of what I said settle with the threat that accompanies it. Next, I have to offer them an exchange, their response will let me know which path fate is following. If they follow the path of schemes against my son I will kill them here and follow plan D.


    ¡°Just let him do what he wants and sell him anything he asks for. In exchange, you can have this.¡± Rather than pull anything out I touch the wooden table and speak a command.


    Water and earth blend together within my mind and the grain of the wood changes, an intricate pattern spreads through it and forms another alchemical circle. A flash of light follows and I turn all of the pens and pencils on their table into rods of gold and diamond.


    ¡°What? How?¡± many of the military personnel say but I know which two are really of importance in the room. The next words that matter will come from either Talmage or his secretary. If she speaks next then he is against me and vice versa.


    ¡°What is it that you really want?¡± asks Talmage.


    I smile he is willing to work with me. With that I can manipulate everything from here. Even if Jasmine is against me she will not go against Talmage, at least not openly and she alone is not a threat to my son.


    ¡°Exactly what I said. That and the safety of my wife but that is not what you care about. You need help and that is what I can give, sir.¡±

 Chapter 087

    Green dragons are generally found in forested areas, trending towards temperate as it has the least amount of competition from their larger kin. Their affinities are nature based plant life being the highest followed by a mix of earth and water. They often can command the semi sentient life of their territory through instinct.


    <hr>


    Geldath


    <hr>


    I frown at the small number of other Magi who gathered at my call. Only a few handfuls of us have lasted through the dozens of void erosions we have gone through to survive as long as we have.


    A glance around as I subtly push as their essence tells me what I wanted to know and I do not like the answer. None of them retain the power of being an archmage. I am the last and we will fade from existence, unless the experiment pans out.


    My mood takes a further plummet, that experiment has been getting harder and harder to track. All I can tell now is that he is in northern Missouri now instead of southern. No longer can I read his emotions, thoughts or even health. I don¡¯t like the alarming rate at which he had been gaining power since the banished returned.


    ¡°Why did you call us all here Geldath?¡± asks Ramauth, the body he now inhabits an elderly man from Spain.


    ¡°Two things, first to discuss the return of the banished and second the curse that binds all of us.¡± I respond.


    Several of the others frown slightly, none of us like the banished. We never would have thrown them out of this world if it wasn¡¯t so, even if the banishment itself was a mistake.


    ¡°Their return has ruined most of the world, just as they were doing centuries ago. The world is better without them and should have stayed that way¡± Aventus says and most of the room nod. As he is in the body of a child he must have died in the last decade.


    ¡°The era of high magic was better, we were god kings. Now we can be so again¡± states Dace, I always hated his obsession with ruling a city as a god. Always turning the ancient pagan gods against us.


    My dislike is shared as no one else in the room says anything to support him.


    ¡°There are only three possible solutions to the return of the banished. First kill them, second reperform the banishment or third undo their return.¡±


    I pause here for nigh a minute, letting everyone go over the effects each of these solutions would have in their own mind. Dace will reject them for the idea of recreating his god king thing but he will cede to the group vote''s outcome.


    Killing the banished nor rebanishing them will return the world to how we want it. Removing the cause of the damage does not undo the damage already done. This will lead to the more difficult solution of undoing their return or Dace¡¯s be god kings idea.


    ¡°Does anyone disagree with solutions one and two are inviable?¡±


    No one replies and I smile, ¡°then how shall we undo the return of the banished?¡±


    ¡°Becoming god kings again¡± answers Dace and we all ignore him.


    ¡°If you are talking about temporal reversal, what would keep events from repeating?¡± asks Ramauth.


    ¡°We would have to separate someone so they retain their memories and push the individual into the world of the banished¡± I respond.


    ¡°Are you volunteering Geldath?¡± Avernus asks.


    I smile, ¡°no. We can decide who will do that later, after the needed rite is prepared.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Your experiment and biological grandson, have you determined if he is a valid solution to our curse?¡± Tharen says.


    ¡°I know that he is not afflicted as we are, testing if his children will bear the soul mutation to manipulate reality were to be tested over the next half decade.¡±


    ¡°It has been going well then.¡±


    ¡°No, he has been growing in power at an exponential rate since the banished returned and he has escaped my ability to observe directly. The thunder twins are still acting as guards but their last report stated that he had grown nearly to what they were as archmages, at least as far as raw power goes.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible? Was he not being taught everything as disjoined as possible to prevent him from becoming powerful?¡±


    ¡°He was, I think it may be the banished he is traveling with. He was always obsessed with high fantasy and now that is his reality.¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°So now you have a rouge Ravnos possibly stronger than you running amuck, sounds like you found your shield for your next void erosion.¡±


    <hr>


    Randy Ravnos


    <hr>


    Walking down the hall towards the room where my wife will have just left I frown at what needs to be done. In 99.8% of timelines where Talmage falls for my schemes the thunder twins turn against my son at the order of Geldath. In only a single possible timeline do they kill him but I don¡¯t want my son to go through the feelings of his own family betraying him.


    For the next hour my wife will not find out their removal until after she learns of and starts hating my kin for what they do. I don¡¯t want her to feel the pain of her children killing each other.


    I open the door and see that the two of them are asleep, as the portents told. They will have a proximity alarm so I can only kill one without a fight. That is enough. A silenced pistol ends Antonio and his twin bolts up, murderous rage in his eyes as he recognizes me.


    ¡°Geldath will rend your soul for this¡± he spits as he throws a bolt of electricity.


    The forming electrical burns along his arm tell me that he lacks the power to fully control his signature lightning anymore. The copper mesh I concealed in my jacket and running down to my boots mitigates most of the damage the lightning would have caused but the sound will draw attention. Another bullet is spent but he vanishes, a teleport. No matter a single thunder twin is nothing anymore but I should try to find him before he meets with Geldath again.


    I walk to the corpse of my successful kill and whisper the words I use for to reduce flesh and bone to dust.


    Soon all that remains of my cousin who stole the body of my son is some dust. I leave the room and enter into the one my son slept in yesterday and will enter again around dusk. I pull a book from the army bag I stole earlier today, a book containing the real history of my family and our sins, and a letter and place them on the bed. I know one of his girlfriends might find it first but it will get to him.


    I frown at the thought of what Kathrine must think of them. She''ll get over it if my plans work and we live long enough to see the grandchildren. Virtually impossible but I will still work towards that.


    I can¡¯t see what results from that, too hazy like looking into possible past and then going to the no longer possible futures. All I know is that Adrian does not like it when Galdath does whatever that rite is.


    I close the door behind me and whisper ¡°good luck son¡±, even though he can¡¯t hear it. My goodbye is in the note and I will be getting Kathrine out of the battlefield that will soon form between so many factions. I want to do more but my combat power is less than his. I will only be a burden, visits I will definitely stop by with Kathrine sometimes.


    Next I need to find out how Adrian woke up the Dragon Knight bloodline from his mother. If she is going to survive this new world she will need that power. . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    My dragon body healed, at least as much as rapid natural healing allows.


    ¡°Lets get out of here, you can fix the rest of you later¡± K says.


    I nod before turning invisible as I say, ¡°I¡¯ll follow like this. Dragons are not exactly subtle.¡±


    They all nod before heading back towards the hotel, not the best place to go but we don¡¯t have anywhere else to go either.


    No one stops us or rather the trio when they walk into the hotel. There are however a lot of people who are whispering about them and me. More specifically the fight between us and the Althaen. I don¡¯t like the light that the Althaen are being displayed in but I can ignore them and their ignorance over just what the Althaen are. All the while I am gorging on the flesh of the red dragon, I will need it for healing.


    Once we get to our room I notice that the smell of the hall is off, a tingle of ozone dissipating but I end up ignoring it. Maybe my brothers were practicing. A glance around the room reveals no hidden figures in normal or infravision and I stop bending the light around me.


    There is a look of relief on the twins while K just smiles before she asks a question I don¡¯t want to answer.


    ¡°Are you going to be able to heal yourself?¡±


    I nod, a lie as I am actually not sure. It will be harder than regrowing my wing as there are a lot of vital organs in my torso. I also don¡¯t know how long I have to stabilize myself before I would die.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start after you are all ready to sleep, it''ll be messy and I don¡¯t want to worry you¡± I reply to her look of ''don''t lie to me''.


    That is apparently accepted and the three of them all quickly get ready for bed. Each giving me a hug and kiss though I certainly enjoyed it less than normal. My scales dampen most of the feeling from such light sensations.


    I walk over to the bathroom thinking of how to manage to not die once I swap back to being human. I can hear the breathing of the trio get lighter but not slower. They are faking to be asleep, no doubt worried about me.


    I take a deep breath and brace my mind for the resuming of the pain that body no doubt is in. I cut the sense of pain as soon as I begin to shift. I can feel my blood flowing out of the hole that stretches from my right shoulder to just before my heart.


    I hold my breath as my lungs are exposed to the open air with holes in them. The circulatory system has to be fixed first and I stop my heart to preserve what blood I still have in my veins. I force my blood vessels to regrow by drawing on the dragon flesh in my gut to fuel the process. My mind slowly growing dimmer as oxygen depravation begins in my brain. Three minutes pass before I begin to panic, they are not regrowing fast enough.


    I can¡¯t heal this body fast enough, it will die before I can stabilize it. Six minutes in the blood vessels finally connect and my heart starts up. This buys me a bit more time but there is no way I can fix my lungs and ribcage before my blood runs out of oxygen. The only solution I can think of is to steal the flesh of someone else as a patch but that would kill them and the only people close enough would be the trio.


    Just before I change back to my dragon form to preserve my life I hear me-but-not-me whisper, ¡°fuse your bodies.¡±


    Without even thinking over what that would entail or how that would affect me I will for that to happen. I don¡¯t care if I end up a hybrid monster, both death or never being able to properly feel the touch of those precious to me are worse.


    The last thing I feel before passing out is taking a breath for the first time in several minutes.

 Chapter 088

    Yellow dragons tend to live in either desserts or mountain tops. Both ecosystems putting them in competition with other dragon¡¯s larger and more powerful than them. They only manage to do so from their rather interesting instinctual magics of lightning and sensing other life at a distance. If you are able to find one more than a few days old they have mastered an ability to know where every lifeform not covered in metal nearby. The only way to hide from this sight making you unlikely to survive in their habitats of choice. -Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I feel my mind adrift for several moments before I find myself in the Grey Dream. What I see there surprised me and tells me whatever I did on instinct worked.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fusion of forms: + 500 EP, you will no longer possess two bodies.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    You managed to be recognized as an adult before the biological growth period is over. + 50 SP, + 50 EP, Adult options unlocked.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: by kills 100 SP, 50 EP, Dragon 10(+50 SP, + 25 EP), Magus 17(+1 Sphere, + 40 SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 362


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 645


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I can¡¯t help but smile, this is just what I needed. I immediately open up to the dragon racial powers.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Special


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Powers


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I open up both Alternate Form and Specials


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Adult Void Dragon 150


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Natural Armor 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Basic Magic Resistance 50


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="608">


    Standard Magic Resistance 75


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="593">


    Greater Magic Resistance 125


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I buy the adult tier of alternate form though I am not sure how that is going to work now. Then I take the highest level of magic resistance available, and open up senses.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Colored Darkvision 25


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I take it and after this there is another option added.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Void Dragon¡¯s Eyes 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I take it and then open up Void Powers.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Dragon Body 200


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Grasp 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Slip 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Touch 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Twist 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Ok I don¡¯t have enough to get everything. I take Void Dragon Body as it is probably the last physical augmentation and then Void Touch.


    My EP spent those screens in this mental landscape dismiss themselves. Next, I¡¯ll see what I can get for my magic.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="623">


    Free Sphere Increase: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    640 Arcane Power 5Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Planar 0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Life 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Mind 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    1280 Soul 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    160 Primal 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    640 Time 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    10 Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Fire 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Lightning 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Light 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Gravity 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I spend the free Sphere increase on Life and then buy an increase to Death.


    Before I can take the mental step needed to leave the screens all vanish and there is a woman who appears from out of the grey mist that fill this world.


    ¡°I must congratulate you Adrian Ravnos. You have managed to grow strong enough that the light infernal energies of this place won¡¯t affect you. You can call me Manaereth and I would like to make a deal with you.¡±


    I immediately recognize the woman to fit the description of a succubus. So the spirits that run this place are demons. No that doesn¡¯t make sense no enemy would make a deal to help you fight themselves. One of the infernal succubi then?


    She continues onwards to her sales pitch. ¡°I can¡¯t give you anything more from here or offer you infernal power but what I can do is see that the infernal taint that is added to everything anyone takes from this place is removed for those you care about.¡±


    ¡°And what do you want and why shouldn¡¯t I just remove that taint myself now that I know what it is?¡±


    She smiles, ¡°because you don¡¯t know how to even identify it. A deal with me is better and what I want from you is easily given. Don¡¯t kill all of those that came to your plane from Althr¨¢ and don¡¯t reveal that this place is run by devils.¡±


    That¡¯s it? This has to be screwing me over somehow.


    ¡°Why the deal at all?¡±


    ¡°It is only a matter of time now until you can walk the planes and my supervisors have decided that the cost of stopping you is now too much. If you don¡¯t strike against hell we won¡¯t strike against you, fair enough no?¡±


    Before I answer another voice echoes through the misty grey void, the tongue I don¡¯t know but the symbolism of the attack that obliterates the succubus I recognize.


    A silver blade covered in roses sunders the fiend in twain and the body dissipates, not just the devils are here in these mists then. Althaen deities are indeed involved as I was told by the trio.


    Nothing left to do after I touch the silver blade out of curiosity I drift off to true sleep.


    <hr>


    My eyes snap open and I find myself in the bathroom of a honeymoon suite in the hotel. I touch my chest to find no mark or sign of the wound that I am sure should have killed me. The tiny amount of light more than enough for me to see clearly. I stand up and inspect my body, everything seems the same except that my muscle tone has improved. Not sure if that is from the travel and exercise or whatever changes I just went through. I should propably pay more attention.


    Once I look into the mirror though I see two differences. The more minor one is that my hair color changed again, somehow I can tell it¡¯s new color lies outside of human perception and that the metallic tint from before is still there. That might have to do with the other change though.


    My eyes are completely different now. The shape of my iris is now slit like a cat''s the coloration a myriad of dark blues, violet and whatever color my hair is. I should find something to take height measurements when I get the chance.


    Deciding to check out how the dragon alternate form works and now looks like later I get dressed and smirk as I try to figure out how the trio will respond to my new eyes. Lysan won¡¯t care and I don¡¯t think K will mind either. Talia¡¯s reaction should be fun though.


    I step out of the bathroom to see that none of the trio are sleeping in the bed but rather against the walls near the bathroom. They must have checked on me and fallen asleep waiting for me to wake up. I smile as I start to gently pick them up and place them in the bed before joining the almost pile. I close my eyes and pretend to sleep as I make lists of what we need to do. The book I saw in K''s hands as she slept left on the floor.


    It was not too long before I felt the light of dawn breaking through the curtains of the window. I think Lysan woke first but just moved a bit closer to me as she wraps my hand around her chest and under her shirt. Only a few minutes later does her twin, Talia bolt upright and look around.


    I guess this game has begun then. I get up and Lysan follows me once my hand exits her shirt. I want to have some sexy time but if we start now then nothing else will get done today. I look over to Talia and meet her gaze with a smile.


    ¡°What happened to your eyes?!¡± Talia all but yells.


    I just shrug, and K gets up with a frown before looking into my eyes. She is concerned but not like Talia who is almost panicked over the change.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably dragon stuff, does it matter anyways? I am still me.¡± I say as I pull her into a hug.


    I think the other two might be jealous so I pull them to me and in hugging all three turn Talia''s further protests into indecipherable and muffled words. This is a good morning even if going and talking to Thrane and the government people will have to happen today. I need to get money, food and transportation equipment too before we can leave Kansas City.


    ¡°Shall we get started? There is a lot to do today.¡±


    They nod but make no move to leave my embrace. After a few more seconds I let go of them and walk towards the door as I straighten my clothes. I pick up the book that I saw next to K earlier and turn it over to see all of the cover.


    A plain black journal, no markings aside from creases in the spine from holding it open as you write in it. There is no way I did not notice her having one of these.


    I open it up surprised that none of the girls prevented me from trying to read this diary. I glance at the pages inside, it is not their''s. It is too used for it to have been written in the few weeks since they came to this world and the paper is definitely machine pressed and cut.


    ¡°Whose is this?¡± I ask as I turn to the first few pages. What I find there answers my question, a letter. I recognize the penmanship as my dad''s. How did this get here? When did he visit? I read through the letter.


    Adrian,


    I have been writing this book for years but still have not finished it, even so it is time for you to have it. You already know that my side of the family can and do wield magic that commands reality itself to bend to our will. Such power cannot come without a lot of history and everything I know and can find I have put in this book.


    None of us are the kind and nice people that you know. There are centuries, maybe millennia, worth of skeletons in each and every person''s closet and I have not concealed anything as I wrote what is in this book. Not a single one of us should have done a fraction of what was done. I am sorry for what you need to learn about the family.


    One of your games always struck something in me and I would like you to know my answers to Ravel''s question. Regret and love, that is what changed me from what I was to who you know. It is also what released me from the curse that was placed on the family. You will read about that in the first few pages in this book.


    By the time you read this I will have left with your mother. Be wary of the others in the family, most of them are still the power-hungry monsters they have always been. I¡¯ll meet you with your mother at one of your future campsites after you leave Kansas City.


    -Randy


    Alright, now I want to read this book. I didn¡¯t know that there was a family curse only that magic supposedly ran in our blood. Is that why grandpa mentioned dad didn¡¯t have much magic anymore? A curse, but he wrote that he no longer was held by it. Does grandpa know?


    He also never mentioned my brothers, did they get their own letters? I¡¯ll have to ask them later today. I place the book in Void Cache as I don¡¯t have time right now to read it.


    Once I walk into the hallway I see that the door to the room my mother and brothers shared is open. I push the door further open as I know there is no way that they should be awake yet. What I see is a messy but empty room. Glancing around I see that some of the bedding is missing but there isn¡¯t anything they would have left behind if they went with dad so I guess all three of them must have gone with him.


    Who should I talk to first? It would save me a trip if I just talk to the government people now and then just come back with Trane after talking to him. I walk over towards the part of the hotel where the military people are only to be stopped by two soldiers who point their guns at me as one of them speaks.


    ¡°This is a restricted area. Who are you and what do you want?¡±


    Should I ignore him and disable the gun? No that would only unnecessarily aggravate those I need to talk with today. I may not feel overly threatened by the current arsenal I¡¯ve seen but I still doubt I can fight the whole army.


    ¡°Adrian Ravnos, could you go get someone from conference room two for me? I would like to talk with Secretary Jasmine.¡±


    ¡°What is wrong with your eyes?!¡± the soldier responds as our eyes meet when I answer him. Great dragon eyes freak out people. Should I conceal them? No, messing with light for that would make it difficult to see. Maybe sunglasses I would just look sketchy instead of . . . appearently monsterous. . .


    ¡°Nothing they work fine. Now please either bring me to conference room two or tell Secretary Jasmine I would like to talk to her.¡±


    Once the man calms some he nods and walks down the hall. I don¡¯t follow since his compatriot is still pointing his gun at me. I suppose we will just have to wait even though I don¡¯t want to the end results will be better if I do.

 Current Character Sheets

    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 42


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: 64


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 30


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 32


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 30


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 28


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 29


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 28


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 1112


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 540


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon: Void 10


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon Knight: Void 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Marksman 8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Rogue 10


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Axe 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Dagger 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Hand-to-Hand 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Spear 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Fly 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Stealth 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Handle Animal 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Anatomy 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Mathematics 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Planes 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tactics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Carving 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drawing 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Electronics 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Mechanics 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Driving 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Canine


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Lycanthrip


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Necrol (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Orcish (Written)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    640 Arcane Power 5


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    320Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    320 Planar 0


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    80 Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    640 Life 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    640 Death 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    40 Mind 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    1280 Soul 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    160 Primal 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    640 Time 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    40 Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    10 Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    40 Fire 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    40 Lightning 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    40 Light 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    40 Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    20 Gravity 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Accelerated Learning


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    You learn and improve faster than normal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Adult Void Dragon


    Breath: Gravity, Radiance, Void


    Partial Transformations


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Draconic Longevity


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +4 APR, slow aging, extended lifespan


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Endurance, Superior


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    You are able to last longer in all forms of strenuous activity.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Magic Resistance, Greater


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Passive resistance to harmful mana-based effects. Other supernatural effects are also resisted at a lower level


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Dragon Body


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes. + 8 to all Attributes. Additional +4 STR/CON, ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Dragon Eyes


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Colored Darkvision, Infravision, Ultravision (Ultraviolet), ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Wolf Familiar


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Bryan


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Bryan Grace


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP:68


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 22


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 18


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 22


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 22


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 405


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 186


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Paladin: Undead Hunter 18


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard: Necromancer 13


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Mathematics 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tactics 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Shield, Shield Another, Mage Armor, Lesser Dispel Magic, Bladeturn


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    True Strike


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Burning Hands, Light, Flameblade


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Disrupt Undead, Vampiric Touch, Minor Drain, Lesser Drain, Negative Energy Burst


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Bull¡¯s Endurance, Bear¡¯s Strength


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Divine Sphere


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    Highest Teir


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Miracles Available


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Battle


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Draw Upon a Holy Might,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Death


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Inflict <Minor, Light>,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Healing


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Cure <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate>, Healing Circle <Minor, Light>, Resist Toxin, Resist Disease, Aid, Know the Heart,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Protection


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Shield Another, Sacred Armor, Protective Flame, Circle Against <Oppression, Evil, Undead>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Undead Hunter


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    -


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Smite Undead, Sense Undead


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Aasimar Blood


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Celestial blood courses through your veins. Divine magics come easier to you. +2 WIS/CHA/APR


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Accelerated Learning


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You learn and improve faster than normal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Champion of <>


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    While your patron does not wish to reveal himself, he does grant the following: Accelerated Learning, Sacrament of Faith, +4 STR, CON, CHA, APR.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Code of Conduct


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You must follow some Morality restrictionsThis tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Divine Grace


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron grants you an increased chance of mitigating harmful effects


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Divine Health


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron protects you from most disease and poison


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Faith


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron has great faith in you and if you think an action is justified few questions will be asked.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Liberty


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You are much more difficult to bind with supernatural effects


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Succor


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron divinely inspires you to grant the succor needed to your charges.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Abagail


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Abagail Clark


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP:38


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR9


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 13


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA18


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 96


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 128


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bard 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Dance 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sing 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Music 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Identify, True Strike


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Resist Fear, Courage, Hope, Terror, Horror, Rage, Calm Emotion, Sleep, Laughter, Scan Thoughts, Societal Invisibility


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Burning Hands


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Light, Ventriloquism, Dancing Lights, Darkness,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Minor Drain


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Eagle¡¯s Splendor


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Lysan


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Lysan Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:36


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX22


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA24


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 260


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 192


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Theurge 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Archer 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Mace 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Flail 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢ 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English (Spoken)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor, Shield, Resist Energy,Fireshield<Red, Blue>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Identify, Comprehend Language, Tongues,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Scorcher, Elemental Loop, Lightningbolt,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Divine Sphere


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Miracles Available


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Healing


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Cure <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate, Serious>,Resist Toxin, Resist Disease, Healing Circle <Minor, Light, Medium>, Neutralize Poison, Cure Disease


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Protection


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Shield, Sacred Armor, Protective Light, Lesser Aegis, Shield of the Dawn


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Travel


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Know Direction, Haste, Lay of the Land,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Elven Royalty


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Elves will instinctively trust you, Elven Traits are heightened


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Darkvision, Color


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Talia


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Thalia Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 14


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 375


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 240


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Rapier3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor, Shield, Resist Energy,Fireshield<Red, Blue, Yellow, Green>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Elemental Circle,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Scorcher, Elemental Loop, Elemental Blade, Lightningbolt, Flame Arrow,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Gr Cat''s Grace, Gr Bull''s Strength, Gr Bear''s Endurance, Haste,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Elven Royalty


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Elves will instinctively trust you, Elven Traits are heightened


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Darkvision, Color


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Kythia


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: KythiaBloodclaw


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 23


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:38


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 33


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 30


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 37


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 693 (1107)


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 256 (400)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bloodclaw 18 ¨C Only under the full moon


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Hand to Hand 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Claw 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bite 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Intimidate2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢ 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Lycanthrip


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Necrol


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Shield


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Darkness, Maggots,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    True Strike


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    DarkMissile, Burning Hands, Elemental Blade, Darkfireball, Icestorm,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    5


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Neg E Burst, Blood Fire Blade, Life Transfer, Disrupt Undead, Bloodbridge, Cure <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate, Serious, Critical>, Destroy Undead, Mass Cure <Minor, Light, Moderate, Medium>, Deatharmor, Fireshield<Black>, Disrupting Blade


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Clean, Debone


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Canine Empathy


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You can sense and influence the emotions of canines.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Curse of Lycanthropy


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Contact with another''s blood may spread your strain of Lycanthropy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Dire Werewolf


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    +12 STR, +8CON, +4DEX, APR


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Feral Soul


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You have surrendered pieces of your soul to the wolf, luckily your wolf Moonlight Runner also gave you pieces of herself. It is harder to keep your wolf from manifesting but some of her manifested traits will carry over to you.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Life from Mana


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You have stumbled upon the path necromancers truly dream of. Creating life through mana, drawing upon positive energy and not just negative.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Lycanthropic Regeneration


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You will slowly heal most injuries; the healing will be faster the closer to the full moon it is.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Scent Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your sense of smell far surpasses the regular man.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    True Blood


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Some of your physical prowess as a lycanthrope carries over to your humanoid form


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Anthony Ravnos


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Antonio Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 12?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:-


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP:-


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT29


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS28


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 360


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Melee5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Spear 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Axe 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    History 9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Blacksmith 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Carpentry 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Brewing 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arabic


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    French


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    German


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Latin


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Russian


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arcane Power 2/6


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Dimensions 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Life 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Fate3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Chaos 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Order 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Primal 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Mind 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Spirit 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Transmutation 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Time 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Light 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Telekinesis 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Fire 5


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Storms 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Cursed


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your very essence has been irrevocably damaged in your flawed reincarnations. While you can learn more skills and you can never regain what has been lost. Baring extraordinary circumstances all of your decedents will not be able to inherit anything from you aside from physical trait of your new body.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Frank Ravnos


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Fabricio Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 12?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:-


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT25


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS28


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA23


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 360


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Melee5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Spear 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Axe 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    History 9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Blacksmith 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Carpentry 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Brewing 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arabic


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    French


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    German


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Latin


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Russian


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arcane Power 2/6


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Dimensions 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Death 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Chance 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Spirit 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Order 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Life 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Mind 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Primal 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Time 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Telekinesis 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Fire 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Storms 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Light 5


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Cursed


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your very essence has been irrevocably damaged in your flawed reincarnations. While you can learn more skills and you can never regain what has been lost. Baring extraordinary circumstances all of your decedents will not be able to inherit anything from you aside from physical trait of your new body.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Kathrine


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Kathrine Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 38


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 14


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 18


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 112


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 56


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Acolyte 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon Knight: ??? 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Dagger 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Hand to Hand 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Greek (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Hebrew (Written)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Latin (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    True Faith


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Unlike most, you truly have the devotion and faith in your god to call down miracles. High chance of ignoring the mana cost of divine magic, and may perform miracles beyond what your level would normally permit. You may also accidently perform miracles you do not know.


    This trait does not grant you a position or rank in a clergy nor does it give you a right to join the clergy of the deity you follow. (Cannot be seen by the holder, unless they discover it by other means.)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Randy Ravnos


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name:Rynald Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender:Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 41?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:-


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS29


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA24


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 690


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Assassin 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Melee4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Spear 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Dagger 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Disguise 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 9


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    History 9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arabic


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    French


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    German


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Latin


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Russian


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arcane Power 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Dimensions 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Divination 7


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Fate 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Fire 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Water4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Earth 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Air 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Primal 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Time 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Cursed


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your very essence has been irrevocably damaged in your flawed reincarnations. While you can learn more skills and you can never regain what has been lost. Baring extraordinary circumstances all of your decedents will not be able to inherit anything from you aside from physical traits of your new body.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Repentant


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    You have truly changed and as such no longer subject to the effects of your Curse so long as you do not return to your past ways.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter 089

    The grey dragon is often nicknamed as ash dragon due to their rather destructive choice of habitat, whatever the location previously was burnt to the ground. They use the ash as camouflage against the retaliatory forces that inevitably come from such an act. They have instinctual command over fire and the ashes it leaves behind. The only know sentient grey dragons live in lands already taken by the demons ¨C Common Monsters


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After having to wait for a few minutes without the soldier returning I frown, great they want to make me wait. I pull out the book I found this morning and start reading the introduction for it. I finish that before the soldier returns and begins to lead me to one of the conference rooms, not the one I asked for but I don¡¯t really need to talk to all of them anyways. Would they still be there anyway?


    The trio follows me as I enter the room to see Secretary Jasmine sitting with a few people that I assume are her aides. No one else from that other meeting are here.


    ¡°Are you here to give me more problems to deal with or are you done with that?¡±


    I seem to have upset her quite a bit, should I have tried to meet with someone else? No, I already have a deal with her.


    ¡°I actually wanted to talk about helping you set up stable relations with the dwarves, that and if I could get some weapons.¡±


    ¡°Why would they want to talk now? They were clearly against any diplomacy that did not include the Althaen before.¡±


    ¡°You can ask him that but I know a dwarf official who wants to create a trade agreement and could probably be talked into including more. Is that enough to get someone to talk to him? I¡¯m sure would be something that the president would like to have.¡±


    As terrible as that man is at some things he is good at business deals. The smile on her face lets me know what I need. Thrane will get his meeting with someone who can make his trade agreement.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring the dwarf over later today and you can get him set up with the meeting he needs. In the meantime, could you help me get a hold of some firearms and ammunition?¡±


    I am met with a frown and a shake off her head, ¡°supplies are too thin. Unless the monster threat on the northern part of the city is dealt with we are stretches too thin guarding the streets. We don¡¯t even have the ammunition to deal with all of the Althaen you pissed off yesterday.¡±


    Shit, maybe I should have tried to get supplies before my fight with the Althaen.


    ¡°There wouldn¡¯t be any supplies in territory that isn¡¯t held is there?¡±


    ¡°The closest would be fort Riley but that¡¯s out of town. You¡¯ll have to scavenge through the shops outside of the safety perimeter. I¡¯ll have the orders given to those guards that you can pass by tomorrow morning. Whatever those green skinned monsters are doing their movements have been increasing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be going then if there isn¡¯t anything else.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t respond and goes back to reading reports that are scattered in front of her. No one stops me this time as I walk out of hotel towards the building I met with Thrane yesterday.


    Unlike yesterday there are dozens of dwarves patrolling around and not a single Althaen in sight. None of the dwarves stop us as I walk towards the front gate. I can hear them talking to each other and my name was included but I can¡¯t tell if it was a positive or negative light.


    Once we are at the gate the two dwarves in plate open the gate and then stand at attention until we pass through. I am going to have to ask Thrane what the deal is about all of this. I did not think that dwarves respected power but wealth.


    Since Thrane is standing at the door I can only assume that one of the dwarves must have acted as a runner and went and informed him of my arrival.


    ¡°Welcome back Dragonlord Ravnos. I have a meal prepared for you and a place to talk prepared. Follow me if it pleases you.¡±


    Thrane turns and begins to walk through the house until we arrive at a room filled with fancy couches and chairs, not all of which are from the modern era. Once we arrive and sit but before I begin to ask the questions I have, two serving girls walk in. One with a plate of fruits that she brings to the elven twins while the other has cooked meats she passes to K and me.


    I pick up some sausage but start to speak before I eat, ¡°why has your treatment of me changed so much?¡±


    ¡°You are a dragon who is not a beast. That alone makes you deserve the up most respect.¡±


    ¡°Could you explain why?¡±


    ¡°We, the dwarves, have a relationship with dragons, at least those who are old enough to speak. Often our mountain homes are shared with your kin and we work together to defend it. In return for this help and the aid of dragon magic we craft beautiful treasures for them and feed them. A symbiosis, through you we gain strength to defend our homes and magic while we gift you with food, treasures and our service.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Is this a standing deal with all dragons?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, no, some dragons would rather kill and take from the dwarves than work together, usually chromatics. Are you that kind of dragon?¡±


    ¡°Not unless I have to be. Is our deal from before still valid?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I will have it declared void. I never would have charged you if I . . .¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t, you deserve to be paid for the job you did. If you still want to set up a trade deal one of the government people can set up a meeting to do that, would you like to meet this person when we are done here?¡±


    The smile Thrane gives me threatens to rip his cheeks and if he was any more excited over it I think he might have popped himself.


    ¡°That¡¯s a yes then?¡±


    He nods and struggles to get back to a somewhat restrained demeanor. Once he calms I move on to my next goal in this talk with him.


    ¡°Did you get me the books I need to learn the Dwarven tongue?¡±


    ¡°I did better than that.¡± Thrane then pulls out a crystal, placing it before my eyes in the best possible light. My lack of knowing what it is must have been displayed on my face, or he could have been wanting to show off this item as he continues on to explain what it is after a slight pause.


    ¡°This is a memory crystal, they are able to contain the experience and knowledge of others should they sacrifice their own retention of it. The crafting of these costs thousands and thousands of gold, blood and months¡¯ worth of draconic mana. Once made however they can be used so long as the mana is refilled. This crystal contains half a dozen languages along with most of the dwarven crafts. It is the most valuable thing owned by my clan but the alliance with a dragon is worth far more.


    I can either let you use it if you would refill it or have it as the first treasure gifted if you all with clan Goldenrock.¡±


    Ok, that sounds pretty good, but what does the supposed alliance entail? If they would give me so much and treat me so well for the chance of getting this what do they gain?


    ¡°What is involved in this alliance?¡±


    ¡°Defending each other, blessing some of us dwarves with pact magic and when you can gift us with mana to be used in building up the clan.¡±


    ¡°What is this blessing and why do you need mana?¡±


    ¡°The mana of dragons is more potent than most other races and can be used in things otherwise not possible. The blessing is you showing favor to some of the clan and strengthens their physical bodies and allows them to produce and use mana. As you know we dwarves cannot directly use mana without a third party giving the ability to us.¡±


    I did not know that, I knew that arcane casters we¡¯re all but unheard of among dwarves, is this why unlike among the Althaen they have a lot of divine casters? What could give magic to dwarves? Apparently, dragons and obviously deities, so probably fiends and celestials would be included too.


    ¡°And would I be expected to just follow your clan around? I don¡¯t want to stay in this city and I don¡¯t expect you to follow me wherever I go either.¡±


    There is disappointment on his face but he still replies with a smile. ¡°That is actually common, most dragons don¡¯t want to live among dwarves at first. Blessing a few with your favor and gifting mana a few times a year. If I am not mistaken you are no regular dragon either and should be treated better than most.¡±


    Hmmm, aside from what the cost of this blessing maybe it sounds like a good deal. I turn to the trio a question on my face and they begin to answer it before I speak.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t make us live in caves¡± Talia says.


    Lysan just smiles, while K goes into further detail.


    ¡°Dwarven equipment and supplies would be a lot of help and their influence among the people of Althr¨¢ is great. I personally dislike their greedy nature but they are good warriors and make some of the best weapons and armor.


    I don¡¯t want to live among them though. They did not always treat me as well as they are now, but that also was not this clan. They have honor but care little for those who are not their people.¡±


    What to do? I don¡¯t want to live in caves either but I could use them just as they want to use me. Could I talk them into a lesser deal? An official friendship? I only need some supplies and would like that knowledge. . .


    ¡°How about a friendship? I can¡¯t agree to the alliance stuff until I understand just what all of it¡¯s parts do.¡±


    His smile says I am falling into his tral to get what he really wanted.


    ¡°Of course, Dragonlord. Please use this crystal and afterwards I¡¯ll help you with your more immediate concerns. We can talk of this later.¡±


    Before he finishes speaking the memory crystal is in my hand. Looking at it I am unsure of just how to use it. It should work through mana somehow so I try to grab a mental hold of the energy I use for Void Cache and the dragon breaths but I am struggling to even notice it.


    After a moment Thrane speaks up and tells me how it is used, blood connections. Ok that is a lot easier for me to do. With a claw, I cut the back of my hand and touch the fist sized crystal to it. Years worth of memories flood into my mind, clearly the lives of different dwarves but I feel something else in there too. I hear the laughter of me-but-not-me before the flood end.


    Once the crystal dims I lift it from the cut. As it does so I notice what it is that I am feeling, the crystal dissipates into ectoplasm. The crystal is made from souls? I can feel something happening in my mindspace.


    [What is going on?]


    [The woman is not happy with the uninvited intruders. She is ranting about barely tolerating the presence of the wolf and me as she rips them into oblivion.]


    Great more foul play. The question is if it was intentional. The crystal did what was said, I think. I feel my knowledge expanding.


    ¡°Why was this crystal full of souls?¡±


    Thrane turns pale, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I only knew there was knowledge in it. I was only told to use it and make sure to make a deal with you. . .¡±


    ¡°He is not lying¡± K interrupts.


    Unintentional foul play, at least on Thrane¡¯s part. I can¡¯t trust the current leaders of his clan. They however don¡¯t know it failed to do its secondary effect.


    ¡°Lead me to those in charge of your clan.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Make a deal, just not the one they hope for. You¡¯ll end up benefiting from it so hurry up.¡±

 Chapter 090

    Orange dragons tend to live in tropical or volcanic environments, their abilities centered around both the destruction and growth fire can bring. They will reduce parts of their territory to ash and help it regrow into a more vibrant and diverse environment. They also have some control over lightning and nature but tend to only use them to support their abilities to use fire. They are the least aggressive of the chromatics so long as you enhance rather than damage their territory.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Quickly he leads me to another room, the room containing the pool table and it is all I can do to not laugh as I see the dwarves using as they talk business to each other.


    I don¡¯t pay attention as Thrane introduces me but from all the smiles around the room I can tell they are in for a horrible experience at being caught.


    ¡°Who would like to explain to me why you had Thrane trick me into ingesting several dwarven souls?¡±


    Everyone except for the man in the crown look confused. I guess the clan''s king is responsible. I take the crown off his head with Translocation Grasp and hear whispers of no mana signature from a dwarf dressed in what I assume are the clothes for their clergy.


    ¡°Come to me and explain why you tried to use soul magic to have me possessed.¡±


    ¡°It should not have done anything. It should have been insignificant. I would never try to actually harm you Lord dragon.¡±


    There are angry whispers coming from the various dwarves around the room. None of them were in on it.


    ¡°If you want me to believe that swear it on the name of your clan.¡±


    ¡°On the name of my clan I swear that no harm was meant, the effects of what I had Thrane give you should have been insignificant and unnoticeable aside from the knowledge it gave. The only ploy was to get you to feel as you owed us for breaking a great treasure of the clan.¡±


    I am surprised by what he says, and that he said it all so willingly. There is no stronger oath he could have said, at least as a dwarf. Was I wrong? Were they not trying to get some compulsion on me to control me?


    ¡°It seems your intent was misinterpreted. I am sorry, but it did ruin the chance for me to fully trust this alliance thing. The most I can be at the moment is a friend to your clan.¡±


    The whispers of the other dwarves do not stop. This has cost him a lot in his court I am sure, maybe I should have done it in private instead? Too late now and I might have needed to force a replacement. . .


    ¡°That is reasonable. I am sorry to have soured it with a poor gift.¡±


    ¡°It was not the gift but how I learned about what it is. You are lucky that Thrane has been very honorable with the deals I have had with him so far.¡±


    I need to give them something or I won¡¯t be able to get what material things I want from them. But what the only things I have they want is mana that I can¡¯t seem to directly control and the whole blessing thing. Should I do that? Not much other choice, at least the memories showed me how to do it.


    Willingly given blood used to draw a symbol of what I want to give him. I don¡¯t know if mana is involved since the dwarves could not even feel it until after the ''blessing'' is given. How do I draw mana? Should I just write it? Those memories didn¡¯t seem to have a pattern in what was drawn on the dwarves.


    I pick the scab on the back of my hand and write ¡°some mana¡± on his head before smearing it. I feel most of what fuels my access of Void Cache empty before I pull back my hand. I feel physically weaker too. Of course this isn¡¯t low cost. I am still going to try doing this for the trio though.


    As the waves of fatigue wash over me I turn towards the door as Thrane falls on the floor. Is that good or bad?


    ¡°When he gets back up send him to me. I¡¯ll be having my dealing with your clan through him.¡±


    It is a struggle to maintain the figure of strength until I manage to get back to the chairs I was using when I was talking with Thrane earlier. This must be why the dragons in their memories always dismissed everyone after the blessing ceremonies. I need to figure out how to at least move my mana. I do not want to resort to that for them again.


    The trio bring me the food from the now absent serving girls, they must have noticed. Did the dwarves? I don¡¯t think so. If they did they either already knew or have better poker faces than their king did. An open secret maybe?


    I continue to thumb through the black journal with the trio as they feed me. My stomach does not bulge even after eating over a head''s volume worth of food. I need to learn more about void dragons, another need to add to my list of things to learn.


    It is an hour before Thrane shows up and bows to me. His appearance slightly different but I am unsure just what changed.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°How can I serve you?¡±


    ¡°Why are you acting as a servant now?¡±


    ¡°This is how the dwarves who were blessed always treated their benefactors.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do that to you for you to be a servant, you are still Thrane Goldenrock who I am working with for mutual benefit.¡±


    There is a sigh of relief before he stands up. ¡°But what then is my role?¡±


    ¡°Whatever it was before.¡±


    ¡°Well then, is there anything your need¡±


    I let out a sign as he still seems unsure about how he now should act around me, ¡°weapons and armor I guess.¡±


    ¡°There are no pieces of suitable quality and size for you nor your followers, I can lead you to some of the smiths though.¡±


    Well, at least what I end up with will fit. We need some equipment soon though. . . Could I get the dwarves to rush it? Maybe, the more exquisite the item the more they will want to work on it.


    We end up leaving the mansion and walk towards a neighborhood with plumes of smoke rising from it. I can hear metal striking metal but once we are close enough to see the smithies set up the hammering stops. Dwarves do not forget in front of non-dwarves, keep the craft their own.


    There are several frowns from the interruption, they will have lost work having to stop midway. ¡°Why did you bring outsiders Thrane?¡± an older dwarf asks from where he stands next to several younger dwarves.


    ¡°To bring your business, they are in need of arms and armor and you are the best of our clan.¡±


    ¡°Ye know I don¡¯t make such things anymore. Only the finest and these don¡¯t seem to have the coin or status for my work.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a bit¡± K whispers in my ear and I miss some of the exchange between the two dwarves. By the time my attention comes back from looking at K''s backside as she leaves the older dwarf has changed his opinion.


    ¡°My mistake, when would you like to get started with the necessary measurements?¡± the older dwarf asks.


    ¡°Whenever you are ready, don¡¯t worry about working in front of me either, I am already familiar with the how of smithing¡± I reply, though the ending part is only half true. Unpracticed and unapplied knowledge is not quite familiar. I also feel off when information from that crystal is being used by my mind.


    ¡°Shall the women need armor as well?¡±


    I nod in reply and he responds ¡°this way then. The human girl will have to get her measurements when she returns.¡±


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    Once out of my mate''s sight the spring in my step and smile disappears, there are some unwanted females stalking my mate. They have been near that Jasmine woman and I do not approve of their presence.


    I am glad my pack sisters have been helping to keep them all out of sight of our mate but it is time to put them in their place, that they do not nor will they have a spot in my pack.


    I follow their scent to a small shop that sells food and find the four who have been following my mate around for the past days while they have been trying to catch my mate''s eye. There is no one else in the store, save for a waiter and someone cooking in the kitchen, perfect. I walk up to them and feel disgusted at the conclave of scents from many men that each of them hold. Not a recent smell but they clearly have abandoned their prior mates many times for another.


    ¡°You will leave my mate alone, you are not welcome.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re mate, really? You have to brag about him, are you that insecure. . .¡± one of them replies and I interrupt a growl in my voice.


    ¡°I will kill you if you touch him.¡±


    ¡°We are going to do more than just touch.¡±


    I pull some sand from a pouch and blow it at that woman as I cast one of the spells I¡¯m learning from the deathspeaker books rather than my mate, Sands of Time. Her skin losses it sheen as it becomes full of wrinkles and she becomes as an old woman far past her time to bare children.


    ¡°Be glad I don¡¯t turn you all into crones or end your lives now. My mate is off limits, do not let me see any of you again¡± I say as I turn and walk away. I hope this ends their false desire for my mate.


    I begin to have a smile again as I go back to him, dwarven arms and armor. I never got to try dwarven armor before but their weapons are good even if they cost too much and are heavier than I like. Gifts for giving him a litter before he even knows if his seed took.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    K got back just as the rest of us finished being measured, range of motion and did some strength tests to see how much armor we could have. The dwarves were notably discouraged as to how light the elves'' armor needed to be. ''barely more than clothes'' I think the most common complaint was.


    A few of the younger dwarves start putting K through the same stuff I just finished as the older dwarf explains the benefits and detriments of various armors. I only half pay attention as I am aware already. Talia and Lysan should both end up in as light as chainmail can possible be while K and me should end up in something a bit heavier.


    We do need it to be low maintenance though. I¡¯m thinking half plate because I like the ascetic and it unlike it¡¯s full plate counterpart should not require assistance getting it on and off. I was expecting the dwarves to talk with us about the armor but we¡¯re instead gently pushed out of the smithy as a few others began to be set up.


    ¡°Do we just come back later?¡± Talia asks.


    ¡°That is probably it. We don¡¯t need to watch him make it after all.


    Thrane are you ready to meet with someone to set up the meeting you want?¡±


    He nods while grinning with the enthusiasm he always has when he has a chance to make a profit. Do all dwarves have this trait?


    <hr>


    Once we are back at the hotel Bryan walks up to me, shit I should have made sure he got some armor too. . .


    ¡°Are we going to be here for a few days?¡± he asks.


    ¡°At least a few days, why?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to get some equipment and want to know if we have time to wait on a commission. That and could I have my computer back?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but do you need money?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve been hoarding what Abagail and me have looted and people pay well for healing magic.¡±


    Do they? I should look into that, we have a lot of people with healing abilities in our group.


    ¡°This man is a healer?¡± Thrane asks interrupting both our conversation and my side thought.


    ¡°A paladin, but Adrian, Lysan and Kythia are all better healers than me¡± Bryan answers.


    ¡°You travel with multiple healers? Why would you do that?¡±


    ¡°Most of my friends are skilled at more than one thing. Specialization brings power but there should also be an overlap or what will you do when it is the healer who is hurt?¡±

 Chapter 091

    Brown dragon are generally found in the hills and smaller mountains as their instinctual magics work better on dirt than stone. Larger brown dragons do eventually move onto manipulating stone but the control of Earth begins with dirt. They are the most lathargic of chromatic dragons and are thus it is rarely dangerous to pass through their territory.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Thrane seems lost in thought for a moment, but I doubt my words are really something profound. I somehow doubt he will remember it once he gets to work talking with Jasmine anyways.


    After a moment Bryan just shrugs and goes on his way as Thrane, now absent mindedly, follows me towards where he wanted to go. His bodyguards only slightly behind us.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be waiting for you¡± I hear from the trio as the leave for what I assume is to meet me in our room.


    The guards to the military''s section of the hotel do not stop me this time as I lead Thrane and one of his bodyguards to Jasmine. A light knock on the door is all the notice I give before opening the door.


    Inside there were three women in their late twenties, Jasmine and an old woman in clothes not meant for someone of her age. There is fear in the four''s eyes as the quickly rush out of the room. Why would they be scared of me?


    ¡°Secretary Jasmine this is Trane Goldenrock, the dwarf I told you about. Was this a bad time?¡± I ask not really caring what the answer is.


    ¡°No, no, come in we just finished. Will you be joining the planning?¡±


    ¡°No, I am needed elsewhere. Thrane I¡¯ll have some of the papers you wanted from me when I come by tomorrow.¡±


    Thrane nods and the smile I now know as a money smile is on his face. I hear only his first question as I am leaving, ¡°how have you found that amulet to be?¡±


    I walk past the guards who made a problem out of my eyes earlier today as they whisper to their replacements descriptions of people they are not to stop. The stairs are annoying but the elevator is still out of order so I have to keep using them.


    I¡¯ll drop off Bryan''s computer before going to my own room, hopefully Abagail will be there to open the door. I knock and my hope is answered, Abagail does in fact answer with one of the books she is borrowing from me in hand.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asks


    ¡°Bryan wanted me to drop off his computer.¡±


    I walk in towards the desk in their room, it is not quite as lavish as the one I am using but clearly nicer than anything any of us have had before this. As the computer appears under my hand Abagail asks a question.


    ¡°How long are we going to be here?¡±


    ¡°I am not sure, at least a few more days. We are having some equipment made by the dwarves and will be dealing with some deathspeakers before we continue onwards.¡±


    ¡°Why? I¡¯m not against it but you haven¡¯t been giving aid to others before, why now?¡±


    ¡°I made a deal with someone about them. We are being paid for it and need the funds to continue.¡±


    Abagail frowns, I guess she thinks I am taking advantage of the less fortunate. I am but I don¡¯t want too much disapproval of my actions in the party.


    ¡°Part of our pay is preventing the government from allying themselves with the Althaen.¡±


    ¡°What? Why would they even think that was a good idea? We have no common values, no point of common ground.¡±


    She takes a deep breath, and after a sigh continues without the growing anger in her voice. ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t like taking money for helping others but that was a good decision even if you didn¡¯t ask everyone else about it before making your decision.


    You need to be discussing more of your actions with the rest of us. Have you at least told Bryan?¡±


    ¡°Ah no, I talked it over with the others while we were in jail last night though.¡±


    ¡°What were you in jail for?¡±


    ¡°Killing an Althaen noble who decided to try to kill me and enslave Kythia, Lysan and Talia. It all happened in a rush but the news should put some anti Althaen stuff up soon. Do the TVs even work right now?¡±


    ¡°Anything else I should remember to bring up when we have a party meeting?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s probably it. Is that going to be tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Nope, we should probably go over our abilities to each other too before planning how to deal with upcoming challenges.¡±


    With that I leave and can¡¯t help but smile as enter into my room and see the trio talking to each other as they are lighting what few candles are not currently lit.


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    They noticed me quite quickly due to the sound of the closing door. As disappointed as I am in not getting to sneak up and surprise one of them all I can do is grin as they begin to pull me towards the bed.


    Somehow, they managed to strip me of my shirt as I am running my hands over whoever I can. Once on the bed the three of them pull back from me and the elven twins begin to pull off their shirts.


    Something about how the candlelight dances over their lithe bodies draws me towards the twins but K pushes me backwards onto my back. She whispers in my ear, ¡°not so fast my mate. Let us show you how much we want you first.¡±


    I am not sure if it was the tone of her voice or the passionate kiss that followed but when she pulled away after but a few seconds a bulge in my pants was making itself quite prominent. I almost get up to follow K wanting to continue where she left off but the twins were at either side of me working together to strip me of my pants, something they managed quickly.


    My underwear with its current tent like state left little to be said for what I wanted. My underwear follows my pants to the ground and my manhood knocks against one of the twins'' faces, Lysan''s. She just turned almost as red as her hair but she keeps up the act and role she is playing.


    The twins begin to rub their chests against me as they did their first time with me, they are still unskilled at it but I do enjoy their efforts before K interrupts them and licks my cock.


    I stiffen a bit further from the chill her saliva brings after the warmth of her tongue. The twins see it and copy K''s action, soon they seem to be competing over how much of me they can lick and caress.


    I don¡¯t last long against this different stimulation and their competition increases in intensity as my shaft fills before erupting over their heads. They pause for a few seconds and touch what has been spilt onto them and I can¡¯t hold back anymore.


    I sit up and grab one of them, Lysan. I kiss her and find that they did not just pull off their shirts but got naked as my desire for them rubs against her. I groan at the feeling of her smooth elven skin and roll her under me.


    I plunge into her, not questioning why I only feel harder after showering her with my seed. She lets out her muffled noises of delight as I strike her deepest parts and start to plow her. I take my time as my hands run over her body, giving her the same amount of attention she gave to pleasuring me.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Her grip gets tighter as does her insides as she has a harder time holding in her voice. Her insides convulse and suck me deeper as she pushes fluid past our joining. I clench my teeth but fail to hold back as I fill her. Her belly swells a bit further and I find myself thrusting into her again once I finish.


    I can¡¯t stop myself, it feels too good to stop. I just feel hornier, why? Did someone use magic on me, or drug me? I can¡¯t focus on my thoughts as Lysan becomes tighter and tighter again. She is not even holding herself back anymore as she calls my name and professes her love.


    She comes hard again, what is pushed past our union is thicker this time and I find myself dumping more of my seed in her. Her face is one of a woman lost in coital bliss as I force myself to pull out of her instead of thrusting in some more.


    I¡¯m still hard and that can¡¯t be right. I look over to my other two girlfriends only to grab Talia as she happened to be closer. I give her a kiss as I line myself up without thinking. Something isn¡¯t right, I shouldn¡¯t have this stamina or ceaseless desire to just keep fucking.


    I let out a groan as I find myself deep within Talia, her legs wrapped around me. I begin to thrust and hear my name as I hit against the walls of her hallway. She moans and I wonder if I can get her to make the same face her sister did.


    I get rougher and she tightens around me faster before letting out a scream of joy as I erupt inside her. Regardless of my ragged breathing I find myself thrusting into her again as soon as the feeling of my orgasm ends. I grab a hold of her hips and brace myself to keep going, my worries over my current state lost in the feeling of Talia''s womanhood.


    She begins to hold tight as my second ejaculation into her sends her over the edge again and I see it. A face very similar to the one her sister still wears.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I watch as my mate quickly takes both of my pack sisters, itching for when my turn will come. He seems to be beyond eager to mate, his scent of arousal stronger than before.


    My mate pauses for a third time on top of Talia before pulling away from her. A gush of his seed pours out of her and I look to my mate. He is erect but there is more than just desire in his eyes as he turns to me.


    Why would he be worried? It is too early for my possible pups to get in the way. I grab one of his arms and pull him to me, I wanted him too much to sleep well last night.


    His desire for me wins out over whatever worry he had, and my mate once more begins to pin me against the bed as I enjoy the feeling of him entering me. I make a token struggle to take the lead before I surrender to enjoy my mate¡¯s dominance.


    I still see the worry in my mate¡¯s eyes as he moves to kiss me. I feel irritated, he should not be thinking of anything but fucking my brains out right now.


    ¡°I¡¯m your bitch, ravage me like the dragon you are¡± I almost growl and whatever struggle there was in my mate ends. He pulls out of me and pulls me half off the bed before I find myself facedown and mounted from behind as wild she wolves are taken, my face pressed into the sheets damp from his acts with the elves.


    I let out a scream of pleasure as my mate bites down hard on my ear and proceeds to thrust as fast and hard as he can. He does not stop or slow as I convulse around him.


    My legs get weak as he finally begins to fill me and my walls pull his seed to my womb as I let out another scream.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I hold K''s hips as I cum what feels like a whole bucket. I taste a bit of iron on my tongue and realize I drew blood with the ear bite. I¡¯m going to have to apologize for that. I find myself finally saited with a feeling of emptiness and my erection shrinks and falls out of her as I move her into the bed.


    A trickle of my seed flows out of her as her lower lips keep twitching. I pull the girls into a pile around me before giving into my desire to sleep.


    I for the first time in a while truly sleep for hours without interruption only waking when those around me do. With a yawn, I stretch in the now dark room as all of the candles are spent, not that it affects my sight much anymore.


    The elven twins I can hear in the bathroom as they are getting ready for the day, what is it I need to do? I go through my mental checklist. More reading, help my girls learn more magic, party meeting, stuff for Thrane and checking on our equipment orders are all I can come up with.


    Some of those are more pressing than others though. I haven¡¯t started on the stuff for Thrane and I mentally grown at the writing cramp I know I will have. I wonder if one of my girls know a spell to transcribe or write down things faster?


    I lean over to K as she is getting dressed and enjoy the scented soaps she must have just used as I ask her a question.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to know a spell to write things down, would you?¡± and I continue as she shakes her head, ¡°does Lysan or Talia?¡±


    Once more I am meet with a shaken head and I begin to dread what I am going to have to do, accelerate time and heal my hand from cramps. Damnit, why did I tell Thrane I would have it to him today?


    ¡°Regretting something?¡± K asks.


    ¡°All the writing I still have to do for Thrane.¡±


    ¡°Need help?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m not sure how much you can help. I¡¯m going to be accelerating time in this room though so feel free to use it in any way that will help you.¡±


    I pull out a few dry erase markers and tape to use to make runes I can use as a focus before I actually alter the flow of time. I don¡¯t think this cheap clear tape will peal the paint so I place lots of ''runes'' that consist of sentences in several languages that state my desired effect, for time to be compressed and run faster inside the compared to outside of the runes. I get weird looks from the elven twins once they exit the bathroom but they do not ask any questions.


    ¡°I have to do a bunch of boring writing for Thrane, if you could find and bring me more paper that would be helpful.¡±


    ¡°How does all this writing have anything to do with writing stuff down for Thrane?¡± Talia asks.


    ¡°It will help me manipulate time so I can get it done earlier today.¡±


    ¡°You can manipulate time?¡± she says


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how I¡¯ve been making myself move faster.¡±


    She just looks at me with some disbelief while Lysan does not even bat an eye as she finishes getting ready for whatever it is that she plans on doing today.


    No one speaks as I finish writing and putting up tape, but as I go to the bathroom to clean myself Lysan holds out the books I gave her and with some embarrassment says, ¡°I don¡¯t understand these can I get easier books.¡±


    Were they too hard? I don¡¯t think so, she was able to understand some of these ideas when I mentioned them in elvish.


    ¡°Do you not know too many of the words?¡±


    She nods, and I pull out a dictionary from Void Cache. ¡°This book explains what words mean with other words, I¡¯ll keep working on the English to Elvish dictionary today too. You can do it, it¡¯s my fault for not giving you everything you needed.¡±


    She smiles and brings the books back over to the bed while dragging Talia to join her in reading them. K just smiles as she walks to the door. I enter the bathroom and clean up quickly as I am unsure of how much daylight I will burn on just writing.


    Somehow, I managed to not get caught by my reflection in the mirror like the last time I used one. I need to be careful of that, dragons are prone to narcissism and that is something bleeding over into me from dragon-me along with who knows what else.


    Once I return to the room itself in fresh clothes I enter into my near circle of ''runes''. While looking at the clock outside of where this effect should take place I begin to warp reality through the focus that is my writing. The clock begins to run, the second hand a blur as the minute hand begins to visibly turn, the elven twins move in a blur towards me before they too enter the area of effect.


    Shit, this is the opposite of what I wanted and I forcefully undo what I had done. Time resumes the normal flow and I interrupt the twins before they can ask me what happened.


    ¡°Sorry I made a mistake, slowed down time instead of speeding it up.¡±


    I don¡¯t explain further as I smear some of the sentences written in dry erase markers on clear tape, rewriting them with slightly different wordings. I am however glad at how much the rate of time changed, over fifteen minutes had passed in but a few seconds.


    Once more I warp reality and begin to count out loud while looking at the clock. I quit after reaching ten as the second hand still had not moved. I glance at the elven twins, they are outside of the effect. Once I reach the desk I push the twist of reality as much as I can and still make it a duration, one that seems to be on a real-time countdown instead of relative time.


    I pull out the stuff I had not yet finished for the trip and set to work, they are more important to me than Thrane and I would rather disappoint him than them.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    When I exit the room I share with my mate, I sniff the air and frown, getting paper for my mate will have to wait. Those I warned yesterday decided not to follow my warning. I can smell three of them in a nearby room, no the room next to mine that is not occupied by a pack member.


    I touch my sword to remind myself that it is still here, the handle feels lose and I know it won¡¯t last much longer. A man walks up to me from the other side of the hall, dressed as one of those that have been cleaning the rooms but he walks as a warrior would and the horrid scent of something he is carrying put me on edge.


    I pretend not to notice, feign that I am tightening the straps that hold my sword at my side until he is closer and proves his ill intent by extending the foul-smelling rag towards my face. I hold my breath and draw my blade to make a drawing strike. I am impressed by his reaction to severed tendons.


    He does not scream nor does he panic but draws one of the firearms I have seen my packmates from Terra use so often. I move to the side and twist his hand inwards using his own weapon. The man proves his worth as a warrior as he holds in the pain of a broken thumb then wrist. The scent of blood is beginning to spread and I don¡¯t want my mate to have to deal with this, he is busy and they are not worthy of his time.


    I decide to try the altered Vampiric Touch spell on this man. Words from a tongue that still chill my blood are whispered and I feel only the mana cost of the Vampiric Touch spell leave me even though the effect does not end there.


    The man spits up blood as he takes the brunt of paying the price of a powerful spell and having it strike himself, I attached Inflict Critical Wounds this time and find my mate''s idea far more effective and satisfying than I originally imagined.


    I think the man died from the cumulative cost to his life force as he falls to the ground, no doubt some ineffeciency I will never fix. I pull out a pinch of salt and speak the words to another spell, a cantrip followed by its counterpart. Maggots to strip the flesh from the bone in seconds and Debone to erase the bones in a pile of meat.


    Not even the spilt blood is left after a third cantrip from the books my mate lets me read as I wish.

 Chapter 092

    Black dragons are an oddity, they tend to live in swamps and marshes yet even with their acridic magics and affinity towards rot and decay there are some that also can breathe fire. They are also the least ascetically pleasing dragon to see and even more smell, a point that drives them to hate their cousins. The few with the atavism of fire breath are less brutish in appearance than those without.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I sheath my sword as I once more walk towards the door of a room full of women who I have already warned to leave my mate alone. I knock at the door, will they be stupid enough to just open it?


    They are and even as abrown headed temptress quickly closes the door once she sees me, it is too late. My foot is in the door . . .


    <hr>


    Secretary Jasmine


    <hr>


    It is near noon when I finish all the calls for that dwarf. If I didn¡¯t need the favors to be able to go behind Director Talmage''s back I never would have spent the night informing the White House of just how useful dwarven trade could be.


    I down another cup of coffee, barely able to get it down with the ration on dairy products preventing me from getting a civilized amount of creamer. I stand up from my desk and walk down the hall, every soldier I pass standing at attention until I am out of sight.


    That is the favorite part of my job. Now I unfortunately have to go do the worst part, taking care of problems others don¡¯t notice and keep them from noticing I did anything. I leave the military portion of the hotel turned semipublic housing and head to the hallway where Adrian and his group ended up. He should not have been given rooms here, they were supposed to be for when officials from DC or other high-ranking politicians visit.


    I slide a card and enter into where I had some agents set up so they could become my leash on the boy. I frown, no one is here. There should have been three of my best spies but they are gone. A quick scan of the room does not show me any signs of a fight, some disorder but no signs of lethal combat.


    I pull out my phone and call each of the agents only to be sent to voicemail. Their phones are off, I call their GPS trackers as well only to find that the trackers are offline. Did they go AWOL? What is going on?


    I storm out of the room off to speak with some intelligence officers who still owe me. I have to find out what happened to my agents and make new plans.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Just after my hand cramps up after writing for what seemed to be hours, I hear the steps of the twins and turn to see a look of awe on Talia¡¯s face. I glance at the clock, about ten minutes has passed outside of the temporal distortion. They must have had a discussion before coming to me.


    ¡°Why is it dimmer all of a sudden¡± Talia asks.


    Is it? I hadn¡¯t noticed. ¡°Probably from how light has to get in just as you did.¡±


    She nods, but did not really understand what that meant. I don¡¯t explain further, she doesn¡¯t use light or time effects anyways so she doesn¡¯t need to understand right now.


    ¡°How much did you get done¡± Lysan asks as she looks at the stacks of papers.


    ¡°I finished up what I promised you weeks ago and just started on the lists I promised Thrane.¡±


    Lysan grabs the stack of papers in my hands before giving me a quick kiss and a smile. She and her sister then restart their reading of the textbooks I gave them, occasionally asking me for clarification on the translation of a phrase. I pull food from Void Cache feeling oddly hungry as I keep writing and reading.


    <hr>


    The twins fell asleep at least once as I am bored out of my mind as I finish up what I had promised Thrane. I¡¯m never going to write down so much for anyone again.


    At least I found out what had been freaking me out last night was just another aspect of being a dragon I had picked up. A passage from a bestiary I found is,


    Both genders of dragons become nigh insatiable when they mate. Something that has been a great joy to their mates from other species, and great embarrassment to men who caught a dragoness''s eye.


    I think thisbestiary was made by a bard as such passages were added to most of the creatures with at least a halfway decent looking form.


    Several hours had passed on the clock outside of the circle but K still had not returned. I¡¯ve reset this time bubble a few times too. Did she have something she needed to do?


    I stand up and stretch, glancing at the currently sleeping twins. It¡¯s almost noon, so I should get to visiting the dwarves. I wonder if their work is done? Probably not, but it could be.


    I end my time bubble thing before I pull up all the tape, and found that it did not in fact damage the walls. The twins wake back up while I was doing so and we depart for the dwarven part of the safe section of the city.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Once we arrive there I try to raise my hand and greet one of the guardsmen but find myself unable to. Why can¡¯t I talk to the guard? I turn to the twins to ask them to take over but likewise find myself unable to ask them to talk with the dwarf.


    I frown and finally realize why I felt like Thrane took advantage of me during our contract. I begin to walk away from this corner of the city towards the mansion that Thrane stays in.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you talk to the dwarves like you wanted too?¡± Talia asks as we walk.


    ¡°I need to have something amended in my deal with Thrane.¡±


    When we arrive at Thane''s home I once more find myself unable to interact with the dwarves though they let me in anyways, Thrane must have expected something like this to happen.


    Once more we end up waiting for a while though Thrane comes with several servants, ¡°dragon Ravnos, are you here to check on the equipment ordered yesterday?¡± he asks.


    ¡°I was, but it¡¯s come to my attention that our contract needs to be altered.¡±


    Thrane frowns but nods, ¡°I thought you would change your mind. I had our contract pulled.¡± He then passes me the piece of paper where on we made our first deal.


    ¡°I only want a part altered, why are you giving it to me to destroy?¡±


    ¡°You have the information I wanted written, down right?¡±


    I nod and he continues, ¡°the only thing in the contract you would want to change is the only long term left on your side. My duties to you in this contract are duplicated elsewhere, there is no longer a need for it.¡±


    Alright then, I tear the paper and feel something change in the room. Some sort of weight had been lifted, nothing significant but noticeable.


    ¡°So back to my original intention when I left the hotel, when will the equipment be ready?¡±


    ¡°It is already finished, chain shirts have been made for your companions, weapons have been made for them as well as anitem made for you. The smiths ask that they see you real body and they hope you will gift that with fallen scales. Shall I lead you to them?¡±


    See my real body? I guess that means they want to see my dragon form. I wonder what that will look like now.


    ¡°No point in waiting around, please do¡± I respond.


    <hr>


    The older dwarf and his apprentices immediately begin to pass the chain shirts and weapons for the trio when we arrive at the yard of his house turned forge. The armor is an alloy of some sort, a steel with a blue tint. The three weapons given to them are also made from this metal. Lysan was given a small mace, Talia a thin almost rapier while there was a new longsword for K.


    The older dwarf has a box behind him, a long rectangle of a box but he does not move to open it. He just looks at me, is there something I am supposed to say?


    ¡°Thank you master dwarf for the gifts you have given my girlfriends. I know that you are hoping for me to give you scales I have shed but I have none.¡± The dwarf immediately begins to look dejected and I continue. ¡°That said, I do have some of the remains from two other dragons.¡±


    I remove enough scales from the red dragon to make a shield from Void Cache, the old dwarf eagerly begins to search through the small pile of dragon scales completely forgetting about everything else.


    The younger dwarves sigh before one of them brings me the box left abandoned on the ground. I open it as the dwarf apprentice explains what it is but I don¡¯t pay attention to him one the box has opened.


    Inside it is a polearm with a hooked blade on the end, a glaive. The entire weapon is metal, a black wooden haft and the blade a blue silver, mithril? It is engraved as if it were a piece of art with dragons flying.


    I pick it up and find it heavier than most would be able to use with the finese needed for combat. I can lift and swing it but the balance seems off. It¡¯s a decorative piece and I feel my interest in the weapon fall. The idea of using a glaive is a good one though.


    ¡°Why spend so much material on a decorative piece¡± I mutter to myself.


    The dwarves of course do not understand me even if they heard me. Even with the balance problem the weapon is better than any other I have, at least before my lack of experiance with a glaive is taken into account.


    The old dwarf does not come to his senses in time to see the twins and me depart. On our way back to the hotel K, Lysan passes her the equipment from the dwarves as I ask her ¡°what have you been doing?¡±


    ¡°Nothing important¡± she answers with a light kiss. I doubt that since it was important enough to leave for several hours but I''m not going to question her about it, probably something personal.


    It is not five minutes later that we run into Bryan and Abagail returning from a different part of where the dwarves have set themselves up.


    ¡°Should we have our party meeting?¡±


    The two of them agree and we end up in a small restaurant which seems to be the only one open. We first go over what we have been doing in town and what things we are currently capable of. Something that is easy to do by just drawing up our last character sheet from the Grey Dream.


    We do this all in elvish so that we are not over heard by the few people in the other tables and booths. It is not long before we arrive at the topic of our plans going forward, more specifically we arrive at the topic of my deal with Secretary Jasmine.


    ¡°I think you¡¯re getting the bad end in this deal¡± Bryan says as soon as I finish explaining.


    ¡°Maybe so, but we are going to loot everything that is there.¡±


    ¡°Do you at least have a plan on what to do or idea of what we will end up fighting?¡±


    ¡°Supposedly infernalist deathspeakers, so devil worshiping necromancers, undead and maybe fiends.¡±


    ¡°And your plan?¡±


    ¡°Scout out tonight, find out if they are preparing an army of undead or summoning fiends. Either way destroy their method of creating an army then kill them and take their stuff.¡±


    ¡°That is not much of a plan.¡±


    I just shrug, ¡°I know but that is just about all that can be planned without knowing more, hence the scouting.¡±


    ¡°When do we start?¡± asks K with a smile.


    ¡°I was thinking of doing the scouting once the sun goes down.¡±


    ¡°Flying I assume, how will we be able to follow?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°I can carry someone, but that is just one. I¡¯ll have to return and let everyone else know.¡±


    ¡°What if there isn¡¯t time for you to notify us?¡± Abagail asks.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do something flashy you should be able to see.¡±


    Bryan and Abagail do not seem to be particularly thrilled by this plan but are not decrying it as there really isn¡¯t a better one to make without the scouting. We continue to leisurely eat as we wait for time to pass.

 Chapter 093

    Blue dragons like to live in arid lands, as heat is also prefered to the cold they are more common in deserts than tundra. Their hereditary magic focuses around lighting, wind and earth. This makes them very dangerous as they like to create sandstorms to tire out and soften up those who tread in their domain before ambushing those who have become their prey. Their control over electricity is beyond what mortal mages are considered capable of.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Just after dusk and after climbing to the roof of the hotel I look over to the rest of my friends. I don¡¯t know how large an adult void dragon is supposed to be nor if there are going to be any problems due to what I did but it is time to find out.


    I send the desire to shift inwards as before but rather than the shifting of before I feel as though I take a step sideways instead, as if I were pivoting. The world shrinks as I watch what parts of me I can as they change, my skin darkens before the cracks of the lines between my pores shift, my skin turninginto impossibly fine scales before they thicken and grow as my bones shift around contorting to the quadrupedal form of a dragon.


    I forget about the clothes and lament that I am going to have to go get more later. The change finishes and I look down at my friends, this form seems to be around half again as tall as I was before. I shouldn¡¯t have any trouble flying with someone on my back anymore, two maybe but one should not be a problem.


    ¡°So, who gets to play dragon rider?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°Not you, I was thinking Kythia.¡±


    ¡°Why? I¡¯m an Undead Hunter, I should be more useful for what we should end up fighting¡± Bryan counters with some disappointment.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want to have another man on my back.¡±


    Bryan looks dejected but seems to understand. K however smiles as she walks over to me. The twins have some envy on their faces at how K is getting more time with me. I¡¯ll have to make that up to them later, a leisure flight in the morning maybe?


    K climbs onto my back and sits down between my wings and holds onto my neck. I stretch a bit before jumping off the roof and flapping my wings. I don¡¯t hear any screams of terror so no one must have noticed my dark scales against the black of the night sky.


    I begin to circle around over the city as I search for where these deathspeakers are supposed to be set up somewhere to the north. I see Bryan lead the others out to the still unsecured parts of the city as I head northwards. My Infravision does not see any amassed creatures only stray goblins but as I try to feel for the energies of death that very much changes.


    Not very far to the northwest as I fly is a football field where lots of dead things are moving around. No undead army my ass, there are at least a few hundred. Shouldn¡¯t they at least have given me accurate information? I fly fairly close to Bryan¡¯s group who arebarely more than just wandering out of the gates set up and will a message made of glowing lights to appear in front of them.


    It ends up being a bit sloppy and overly bright but I manage to give them a map with the football field swarming with undead marked. It doesn¡¯t last long but I do see the four of them nod their heads before it dissipates. It only takes me a few minutes to fly back to the amassed undeadand there seems to be a high school attached though it has parts collapsed, I can see that there was already a battle including something more dangerous than just orcs here.


    I circle and watch as the undead set up some sort of ritual, some of the better maintained undead directing what I assume are more recently animated workers. I can hear a light growl from K as she wants to start fighting already but are still waiting on the others. A circumscribed triangle and hexagon inside of two more circles with runes between them. The points of the hexagon are bisected by three lines that converge in the center of the formation withing an inner circle of runes making some sort of altar.


    Four men dressed in dark robes end up walking out of the damaged school and halfway down the field, while avoiding stepping on the lines their undead slaves have carved into the earth. Behind these humans? are a few more undead carrying three individuals.


    One of the involuntary members of the gathering was undead but dressed as a business man, the others are twoman and woman in the rags of ruined tunics. They also had odd shapes on top of their heads and what might be a tail.


    The three men are bound and dropped into the outer circles atop of some runes while the woman is dragged to the center with the four robed men. Should I keep waiting or interfere?


    The four men begin to chant in what I can recognize as a mix of necrol and another tongue but something prevents me from knowing the words that they are saying. I continue to watch as one of the men in the outer circle gets his head removed, as the blood spills into the ground it begins to glow in a reddish hue that I know is not necromantic, some other energy is being generated.


    Within the center of the main circle a glowing rift opens, growing ever so slightly as the first blood sacrifice of their ritual bleeds out. His circle glowing as its light seems into the larger connecting circle of runes and shapes.


    ¡°We have to act now, that is demon or devil summoning¡± K growls and prepares herself to jump off my back if I do not start acting myself.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    No time to wait then, I begin to swoop down and let out a breath of condensed light as I pass over the thickest part of their undead forces. The men begin to chant quicker and each cut their hand. I turn the beam of deadly light at them but something about the circle in which they stand prevents it from reaching them.


    I shift back to human form, landing next to K as she strikes down some sort of skeletal abomination. I let out a wave of strange purple fire that burns negative energy over the area. The lesser undead quickly begin to fall apart though many rush to attack us. Those that I assume are their masters continue their ritual, the dead man that they have chained up is yelling at me to break him free as a skeleton spills the blood of the other sacrificial victim.


    I am not sure I should but he is hostile to my current foes, I back up towards him as I begin to twist the negative energy held within these undead and tear it from some of them. They collapse but it feels difficult. It will be easier to kill them another way.


    One of the undead that I attempted to destroy was unaffected, a towering abomination pieced together from several skeletons. I manage to react in time to evade the attack, but I cannot feel any death inside of this creature when I try to sense it.


    A golem, I swear as I see three more of the bone constructs begin to join the undead surrounding K and me. The waves of purple fire handle the undead but do nothing to these constructs. I see a flare shoot upwards into the sky a few streets over, the others will be here in a few minutes then.


    My claws leave gouges in the bones of the golems but the damage is negligible. K has moved backwards striking down the undead the purple flames spreading through the battlefield do not quickly kill. Her sword is covered in a silvery glow instead of the scarlet flames she normally conjures.


    Another golem has joined the melee between me and the first one to arrive before I reach the chained man. He seems to be weaker than before and as much as I think this could be a mistake I grab the rune covered shackles and find my claws breaking the brittle iron.


    I hear a roar of some sort and glance towards it in the middle of the ritual¡¯s circle, a pair of black claws is trying reach through pulling whatever being they are attached to into this world. The man begin to laugh and yell as he tackles the nearest golem to the ground, his nails extended into claws.


    I move behind what I think may be a vampire, leaving him to deal with the golems as I rush at the four infernalists. Their chanting comes to an end as the rift begins to widen and the circles dim, the man with the fanciest robes begins to call out to the gargoyle like creature as it crawls through the portal.


    It feels dangerous to me, I release my void breath at it before I reach one of the robed men. Once the glob of blackness that is the void reaches the monster and portal it begins to erode whatever monstrosity that thing is and the portal closes almost instantly severing the legs from the likely ten-foot-tall monster.


    My claws tear through the back of the head of the nearest robed men who have now turned around and are yelling at me. I ignore their words and throw lightning at the one in the fancy robes, he collapses on the ground. I find myself disappointed, summoning demons and they don¡¯t even set up protection spells?


    <hr>


    Ria


    <hr>


    I watch in silence as my mastersdrag the others and me from our cages. I can¡¯t cry or show pain as their sharp splintered bones cut into my arm. They just torture us more when we do. They talk of how I¡¯m blessed to be an offering for their god as they have for days.


    I try to hold in my tears as they kill one of us but I can¡¯t, the men kick me as they keep chanting and I can¡¯t breathe as pain shoots through my broken ribs again. Silent tears fall as I whisper silently to Mother Earth asking for them to die and the pain to go away. Something that is always running through my mind, I just want the pain gone. I''ve been good why do they make me hurt?


    A light appears behind me but I can¡¯t see it, only that it became bright all of a sudden. I can hear bones fall to the ground. The sounds of combat begin just outside of my view, my ears twitch as that begins to drown out the sound of the robed men¡¯s chanting.


    The darkness of night gets cast away again as purple flames spread to the walking corpses that serve my captors as they are running towards where I can hear battle. I still just cry as the ground¡¯s demonic glow grows.


    The chanting stops, and I brace myself for the embrace of death that I know is coming. It doesn¡¯t but I feel something warm splash on me. I open my eyes to see a man with the blood of one of my captors dripping off of black claws as they return to being normal hands.


    He spits something at where the demon should be and lightning pours from his hands towards something on the other side of me. Half of a metal crossbow appears in his hands and pain fills my ears as it makes thunder. I struggle against my bonds, I don¡¯t want to die if there is a chance to live.


    The man who is killing my cruel masters moves past me and I roll over, and cringe at the pain of my weight against my broken tail. I whimper and try to pull free of the shackles that are draining my magic.


    A black gargoyle with no legs, the black blood of demons dripping downwards and sizzling on the ground is what greets my view. The man¡¯s black claws are back and he is tearing into the demon before it falls into the shadows. The man turns looking around with a frown.


    [Sweet little thing, I¡¯m coming for you.]


    I scream and the man turns towards me, the demon reappearing behind him and knocks him to the ground. I struggle and let out another scream, this one of pain. Something in my hand broke and it slips out of the shackle.


    The demon is on top of the man who slew my masters, a bleeding claw raised. I want to run but my legs are broken. I want the pain to stop but it won¡¯t. I push myself up, my still shackled arm holding me up as a greenish fire forms in my broken hand. I throw it at the demon, maybe if I help the man he won''t hurt me.


    It doesn¡¯t do much and the shackle takes half of the energy from the fire as I make it but I keep doing it, again and again.


    The demon turns to me and a beam of light erases one of its arms, I blink blinded by the purple line that now fills my vison. I fall back to the ground, tired and hurt.


    All I can do is watch as the corpses of my captors stand up and join in attacking the man who slew them. Then they burst into purple flames, the demon also covered in them as the man keeps fighting it.


    The demon laughs as it falls and the man catches his breath as blood trickles out of closing wounds. The sound of combat begins to die down, I see the feet of the man who killed my masters and flinch as he touches me.


    Then he picks me up and the pain goes away, it¡¯s over the pain is gone. I jump into his arms, sniffing him as I wrap my limbs around him. He smells different, and rub my face against him after licking his face before I recognize one of the scents on him. A werewolf¡¯s and hear a growl behind me.

 Chapter 094

    Purple dragons are the second largest of the chromatic dragons making them quite rare. They prefer warmer climates when they have a choice and consider themselves the royalty of dragons as their scales are the color of royalty. This of course drives other dragons to hate them as they often decide that they rule over the domains of other dragons. While not particularly powerful in a single element, purple dragons are very powerful in warping the minds of others to serve them and can use most of the abilities of the other chromatics to a lesser extent.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After healing myself and glancing around to see that the others are finishing off what foes remain, though some of the undead are fleeing, I walk over to the other unwilling participant to this ritual. She is a young woman with canine? ears and tail and though she is dirty I can tell her hair is a yellow with a reddish tint at the end of her tail and tips of the ears on her head.


    She is dirty and horrifically injured, her legs and one of her hands are broken. There are a lot of bruises and scabs covering her too. My touch brings her pain as I begin to look over her injuries. I am not entirely sure why but I start to heal her. Probably curiosity and that even in this state she tried to help in the fight.


    When I prop her up as I continue to heal her she jumps into my arms and licks my face before rubbing her hair against my cheek. I hear K begin to growl but get distracted by this beastkin going through a rapid growth spurt of an inch or two before growing a second tail.


    I¡¯m not sure if I managed to push her off me or if she left on her own but she moves to half hide behind me from K.


    ¡°Adrian, don¡¯t fall for that fox¡¯s tricks¡± K says without stopping a death stare at the two-tailed fox girl behind me.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t let the angry werewolf hurt me¡± the foxkin? behind me whimpers. No, she has more than one tail now Kitsune?


    ¡°Are we going to kill the cowardly fox my alpha?¡±


    ¡°What? No, why would we?¡± I respond.


    ¡°They are all cowards that run away and trick people.¡±


    Really? The girl tried to help but K has never misled me before. Fox creatures are supposed to be tricksters but not malevolent ones.


    ¡°Kythia, she hasn¡¯t done anything to us so lets not jump to violence.¡±


    K puts her sword away but keeps her death stare going.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t let her hurt me¡± the kitsune behind me almost whispers.


    ¡°She won¡¯t, not unless you start it. So please get off of me.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡± she mumbles and backs away, still keeping me between her and K.


    I turn to my other four friends as they walk up, Bryan slightly behind Abagail as he looks at the Kitsune girl. Talia is frowning slightly, mostly at her new weapon. Lysan and Abagail move to help the kitsune girl into less revealing clothes, and seem to have some trouble comunicating.


    The undead business man I let loose is nowhere to be seen. I can feel a few undead in the vicinity, or at least blobs of negative energy, though they are slowly being taken out by one that seems to be moving; the maybe vampire?


    I begin to go through the possessions of the robed men only to be interrupted by the girl I just healed.


    ¡°My name is Ria, thanks for saving me. Can I travel with you? I want to repay you for making the pain go away.¡±


    I look up at the kitsune, and I¡¯m not entirely sure how I want to answer. I don¡¯t have anything against it and she will have abilities that the others don¡¯t but I don¡¯t want to have K upset.


    ¡°What can you do?¡±


    ¡°I can use some magic, mostly illusions, shapeshift some and am really good at finding things.¡±


    ¡°When we can we make decisions as a group, I''ll ask the others¡± I tell her before switching to a language that everyone should understand. ¡°She says her name is Ria, and wants to follow us for saving her. Any thoughts before a vote?¡±


    Apparently none had any questions on her abilities, did they see her try to fight already? As we vote by raised hands the tally comes out to K being against it, Talia abstaining while the rest of us are ok with it.


    Ria looks confused at the end so she must not know elvish. ¡°Welcome to the group, what languages do you speak?¡±


    ¡°The tongues of canines, the woodlands, and lycanthropes.¡±


    So only K and me will be able to talk with her at the moment, we need to fix that as soon as possible.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°You can run with my pack but I¡¯m watching you¡± K all but growls at Ria before storming off to loot.


    That is going to be a problem, why does K hate her? Racial enmity? I look at the fallen items from the robed men for a moment before following after K, she is more important that gathering shiny baubles. I can pick them up later anyways.


    Once we are out of earshot of the others K turns around, ¡°what?¡±


    ¡°Kythia why are you so upset?¡±


    ¡°Foxes are almost as bad as demons and you¡¯re letting one run in our pack.¡±


    Racial enmity or racism then, is there a difference? Enmity is probably deserved or earned. . .


    ¡°Why do you think that, did something happen to you?¡±


    ¡°No, not me but foxes always steal, lie and seduce. They cause problems for their amusement and run away when they should fight.¡±


    ¡°Have you meet one before?¡±


    ¡°No but. . .¡±


    ¡°Kythia, judge her on her actions not . . .¡±


    ¡°Why are you taking her side, I¡¯m your mate not her. You should be trusting me not. . .¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t trust her.¡±


    K looks at me stunned for a moment before I continue, ¡°trust has to be earned. I don¡¯t know her enough to trust. She did however try to help while I fought the called demon so she deserves a chance.


    Hate also needs to be earned, set yours aside until she earns it, please.¡±


    ¡°And this isn¡¯t because you want to mate with her?¡±


    ¡°Kythia, I¡¯m male. Any pretty girl is going to catch my eye, that doesn''t mean I''ll act on it.¡± I pull her into a hug and give her a light kiss before continuing, ¡°now lets go find everything halfway valuable our now dead foes left behind.¡±


    She nods calmer than before as I pull her to start searching the building.


    <hr>


    A few hours of searching have passed and while we found the spell books and wealth of the robed men I am disappointed by the amount. Most of their wealth must havebeen spent in spells to animate an undead army that had not yet brought back any spoils of war.


    There was still a few thousand gold coins among the dozens of nearly empty chests, at least there were a lot of metal weapons we can sell as scrap to the dwarves. We are sorting through and dividing up what was found when Ria walks back from the partially collapsed high school with a black bag she is having trouble holding and a skull covered in runes.


    She presents them both to me as she smiles and asks, ¡°did I do good?¡±


    I can¡¯t help but nod as I pass what I recognize as a still active nexusskull to K. The bag itself feels like it is nearly fifty pounds, I open it up and see nothing inside so I flip it inside out.


    Lots of magical paraphernalia fall out, most of which looks like it was expensive and I damaged it by just dumping it out. A bag of holding, we need some more of these. I flip the bag back to its normal state and it now weighs next to nothing.


    Not a bag of holding then, it has extradimensional space but not full weight cancelation. I pass the bag back to her and answer the confusion on her face by telling her the bag is now her''s.


    The contents are now mostly broken glass, dissection and preparation tools for necromancy, chalk, candles and preserved parts of creatures. Aside from a few gemstones that are now in the pile of money to split it all ends up in Void Cache. I do leave the broken glass though, I don¡¯t have a use for it nor is it valuable.


    We didn¡¯t find any food and it is getting close to being dawn. I look over to Bryan and Talia who are still packing up the share of loot going into their satchels of holding before speaking up.


    ¡°Should we head back now or should I find another group of enemies for us to fight after sleeping?¡±


    ¡°We should do all we can while we are out here¡± Abagail says and everyone save Ria who does not know the language nods in agreement.


    ¡°Alright, I''ll find out if there are more monster encampments around.¡±


    We begin to set up a small camp inside the school, to be able to sleep in easier. I walk up to K who is, albeit frowning, helping Ria getting a place to sleep set up.


    ¡°Kythia, when there is time could you help me teach Ria Elvish and English?¡±


    She nods, but is not enthusiastic about it. ¡°I¡¯ll be going out scouting, I¡¯ll take either Lysan or Talia with me.¡±


    I walk over to the twins and as they had not noticed me I startle Lysan by grabbing her and whispering in her ear, ¡°wanna go flying?¡±


    Talia looks over as her sister nods. She wants to go too but seems more tired than her sister. ¡°Next time Talia.¡±


    With that I leave Lysan in tow to fly around in the morning sun.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    My face goes back to frowning as my mate leaves me with the foxgirl. If I didn¡¯t respect my mate as much as I do I would kill her as soon as he was gone.


    ¡°Is he your mate?¡±


    I can¡¯t help but smile as I nod to the question. ¡°He is, and he is the alpha of my pack. I don¡¯t like you and if you betray my pack I will kill you.¡±


    I stare into her eyes daring her to challenge me but she submits.


    ¡°Good, now my mate wants you to learn how to speak with the rest of the pack. I can tell you how to have learned it by the time he returns but I want you to make an oath first.¡±


    ¡°On my tails, I promise never to go against the best interests of your pack.¡±


    I sit stunned that she gave into this so easily, the echoes of a magical binding wash over her. That was not the one I was going to ask for but it will do, and save me a lot of time teaching her to talk with the others. Time that can be spent making the pack stronger.


    <hr>


    Ria


    <hr>


    The werewolf woman scares me as she talks but unlike the stories of my mother she didn¡¯t attack me. She doesn¡¯t like me and I don¡¯t understand why she talks like the humans and elves are part of her pack. None of them smell like wolves, just like people.


    She smiles when I ask her about the man who saved me, she is happy and loyal to him. I have to concentrate to keep my tail from moving, happy that these people I owe my life to is a good one. I don''t want the pain to come back.


    I¡¯m still not used to my second one I forgot I gained it until it twitched slightly. The werewolf stares into my eyes, she wants me to submit to her.


    I break eye contact and lower myself slightly and she keeps talking. I listen and when she asks for an oath I give one no kitsune would ever break. Our tails are everything to us, our power, status and even our life span is tied to them. The werewolf is surprised I just promised away everything I am.


    ¡°I did not expect that¡± the werewolf says and her eyes seem less threatening now. ¡°You know of the Grey Dream?¡±


    I nod and she continues, ¡°good, I am going to give you instructions my mate gave me. The Grey Dream responds to . . .¡±

 Chapter 095

    Red dragons are the largest and thus most powerful of chromatics, a point that they often use to their benefit when interacting with their cousins. A red dragon has little affinity for anything aside from fire, but why would they want anthing else when their fire is one of the most potent flames ever found in pure destructive power. Rare is it for a red to manage to gain sentience but even rarer is it for one who has to be killed. They are the pinacle of chromatic dragons.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I enjoy flying around in the morning sun, Lysan is on my back, something between joy and fear on her face. I think she likes that I brought her more than the flying. It did not take long for me to fly over most of the city but I circle more than once around the city even though Ionly find one other area with something that could be a problem.


    Some Althaen who had set up another one of their encampments though it is far smaller than the one back home. I frown at them and want to rain down destruction but I told the others I would return and so after a short few hours I land before the entrance to the ruined school.


    I make sure Lysan has climbed down from me before returning to human form. Within the building itself are several sleeping bags and blankets, the only person currently awake is K.


    She walks over to me as Lysan goes over to the pile of blankets clearly meant for four.


    ¡°Any problems?¡± I ask.


    ¡°No, a few goblins but they were good practice to test the spells you teach me.¡±


    I smile, ¡°you look tired, I¡¯ll take over the watch.¡±


    She smiles and yawns before joining the elven twins in the pile of blankets. I move and sit at the entrance, once more pulling out the handwritten book my father left.


    <hr>


    The quiet morning of reading after my leisurely flight around the city comes to a rather abrupt close as I am startled by screams from behind. I turn around and rush back to the others only to see that Ria is screaming in her sleep, asking for the pain to go away.


    All of us have become light sleepers out of necessity due to what we have been through and the others are likewise currently looking around for threats. Abagail and Bryan have moved over to Ria and trying to wake her, without success.


    ¡°Bryan, Abagail, use magic.¡±


    They both start chanting for a moment before Ria returns to a comparatively calm sleep, Bryan frowns at whatever his spell did, I really have no idea what they cast but bards have emotion spells and Bryan is smart enough to use something relavent.


    ¡°What is it¡± Abagail asks him.


    ¡°She was terrified from whatever she was dreaming about.¡±


    ¡°Probably whatever she went through to put her in the condition we found her in¡± I interject and Abagail nods before I continue, ¡°anything we can do to keep this from happening again?¡±


    Abagail shrugs, apparently the bardic skills she has been picking up do not cover night terrors. Bryan does however speak, ¡°not immediately but my spell let me know that in time she would get better. At least as long as she feels safe and protected. Is the risk she brings worth it?¡±


    That is a good question, one I actually am not sure the answer to. She has proved herself useful in finding loot we missed but that alone is not reason enough to keep her around not if there is a negative side to her coming along.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Depends on if she can do more than find stuff.¡±


    They nod and I can see that Abagail won¡¯t like the idea of ditching her if we have to.


    ¡°Did you find anything as you flew around?¡± Bryan asks clearly wanting to change the subject for some reason. Paladin stuff probably, at least it has not been in the way very much.


    ¡°Aside from wandering goblins, the only thing was a small camp of Althaen. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know how friendly our government currently is with them, I don¡¯t think they will have too many strong casters though, just a lot of people. No slaves oddly enough, at least no enslaved people from our world.¡±


    ¡°So, we won¡¯t be attacking them, at least for now¡± Bryan replies with a partial head nod.


    ¡°We should still wander through what we can of town and see if we can scavenge modern weapons¡±


    ¡°Agreed, but first more sleep.¡±


    Abagail and me both nod to that, even though I won¡¯t be sleeping, sitting in the sun is nice though. . .Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    <hr>


    It is around noon once everyone is awake once more, Ria being the last to wake up. Our small makeshift camp is quickly taken down but I find myself surprised as Ria gives the blankets loaned to her back to K says, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°How did you learn English so fast?¡± I say with some confusion as I walk over


    ¡°I got it from the Grey Dream, your mate Kythia told me how¡± Ria answers me with a submissive smile but I¡¯m not sure if I like the title assigned to K. I fairly sure it is a normal thing to both of them but it seems weird to me.


    ¡°How much did you tell her?¡± I ask.


    ¡°I told her how to get the Grey Dream to make a character sheet and how to use it. I also told her to buy languages since they are fairly cheap but to wait on anything else in case you could tell her how to be of better use to our pack¡± K answers.


    So much for the possibility of Ria not following us around, even if she is worth less than her cost I cannot risk people like the Althaen doing as I do with the Grey Dream. She will have to be a benifit to the group or be removed as an enemy.


    ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like her¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t, but teaching her a language would take a lot of time I would rather have spent on other things. She also made an oath over it, she can¡¯t betray you¡±


    ¡°If it is anything like my contract with Thrane I¡¯m not sure how well . . .¡±


    ¡°Her own tails are the medium, if she breaks it she losses them.¡±


    ¡°Could one of you explain the significance of this?¡±


    ¡°If she breaks her oath she¡¯ll lose her magic and most of her lifespan.¡±


    Alright, though I know of plenty of reasons to go and break such a promise anyways, at least the secret of our rapidly growing power is still safe. If we treat her well and don''t end up enemies of her kin there should be no chance of a betrayal.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have a map of the city Adrian, would you?¡± Bryan asks as everyone else walks over to us.


    ¡°No, but I did see where a mall and a few shopping centers are that seem mostly intact.¡±


    ¡°That sounds good, hopefully there will still be stuff there.¡±


    We all save Ria nod having decided were to go and it is not very long until we run into a small group of goblins. The six are not really a threat to us anymore but they can be targets to show me what Ria can do, especially since the little idiots have yet to notice us.


    ¡°So, Ria do you think you could handle them?¡± I ask.


    She nods, but it does not seem like she is sure. Well, if she can¡¯t the rest of us can bail her out.


    ¡°Try, if you can¡¯t handle them yourself we¡¯ll step in¡± I continue before giving her a slight push towards the six monsters.


    Abagail is giving me an eye of disapproval but K is grinning and the rest understand what I am doing with this test. Ria herself nods and slowly walks ahead of us but in whatever unease she seems to be suffering from steps on some of the trash that always litters the streets of any large city.


    The metallic crumple catches the goblins attention and pulls them away from what I think was them trying to start a fire. Ria screams in panic but does keep herself together enough to start fighting, the same green fire that she threw at the demon appearing in her hands. Two of the goblins catch fire and begin to roll on the ground as her flames refuse to be snuffed out.


    The other four manage to reach melee distance and another die in flames before Ria gets hit by one of their knives. Abagail and Bryan begin to run up to rescue her, I should act to. I twist reality and three small bolts of death equal to the life force in the remaining goblins form in front of my hand before flying out to strike them.


    Bryan reaches Ria by the time I pass Abagail and he begins to try and calm her but she is in a full panic attack, just like in whatever nightmare she recently had. Crying and muttering for the pain to go away. She is moving around too much for Bryan to begin one of his spells to fix the wound she took on her right leg.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it¡± I say as I reach and grab her shoulder. My magic has few restrictions and truly I don''t even have to usa a point of contact likeBryan has to. I warp reality and restore her to health, soon after her panic ceases but she keeps muttering ¡®sorry¡¯ in the tongue I learned from my bond with Lykou.


    Abagail begins to comfort the poor girl and I feel a little guilty for making her fight. She can and that fire seemed effective, enough that I will probably try and duplicate it later, but she is too scared of getting hurt. She calms over the next few minutes while I think of what to do with her.


    I can¡¯t let her leave even though she will be a burden in combat. She can find loot I missed though that is good it is not enough. She could become useful in a fight to if we can get her over this pain panic thing or away from taking damage. With conditioning and or tactics she would be a posative asset to the group.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t make the pain come back, I¡¯ll be good. I¡¯ll try harder¡± Ria says and begins to repeat the phrase before Abagail stops her.


    ¡°Shh, it ok. We won¡¯t hurt you¡± Abagail says but she isn¡¯t who Ria is looking at. Ria isn¡¯t really looking at anyone.


    ¡°Why are you so scared of pain?¡± I ask. K gave her knowledge I can¡¯t let out so I need to make her as useful as I can.


    ¡°It hurts¡±


    ¡°And what are you going to do about it?¡± asks K earning a glare from Abagail.


    ¡°Be a good girl so others don¡¯t make me hurt¡± Ria whimpers.


    ¡°That won¡¯t do anything about your pain¡± K says and I begin to see where she is going with this. Harsh but I hope it works.


    ¡°People don¡¯t hurt you if you do what they say.¡±


    ¡°People don¡¯t hurt you when you don¡¯t let them stupid fox.¡±


    ¡°People don¡¯t hurt you if you do what they say.¡±


    K slap her bringing tears to her yes and Abagail begins to move herself between K and Ria only to back away from K¡¯s glare. I walk up to Abagail and whisper in her ear, ¡°I think she is trying to help.¡± I almost add that Ria seems to have had some sort of obedience training to react like that but its better if I don''t say that.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done what I¡¯ve told you to so why did I hurt you?¡±


    ¡°People don¡¯t. . .¡±


    K slaps her again, ¡°you did what those demon worshipers told you so why did they hurt you?¡±


    ¡°People . . .¡±


    Another slap before K continues, ¡°people hurt you because they wanted something from you. If you want the pain to really stop you have to make it stop. Do you want the pain to stop?¡±


    Ria nods but does not move and K slaps her again.


    ¡°Do you want the pain to stop?¡±


    Ria nods but still does not act and K repeats this for several moments before she pushes at K. Not enough to force her to stop but K does anyways, ¡°good, grow a backbone. I don¡¯t like it but you are in my pack and I will not let you shame uswith weakness¡± she says before pulling Ria to a standing position.


    K then cast a healing spell, Ria clearly feels some pain from it and then her bruised face is fixed. That finished we begin to once more walk towards where I saw some shops while flying earlier, K forcing Ria to make the goblins we encounter ''stop hurting her''. Her method seems cruel but at least it is showing results quickly.

 Chapter 096

    Metallic dragons are slightly smaller on average than their chromatic cousins causing them to be more likely to achieve sentience. The vast majority of them despise the fiends almost as much as they do their chromatic cousins. Like chromatics they come in a variety of colors, though there can be some overlap between the abilities of each kind. They are also known to make deals with dwarves, though the details of such agreements are not known to outsiders. The known colors for metallic dragons are, ordered by size: Copper, Brass, Bronze, Iron, Rust, Steel, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Mithril.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It is midafternoon by the time we arrive at the shopping complex I saw while flying this morning, the travel itself was not difficult nor hard though K forcing Ria to fight and deal with pain slowed us down a lot. We ran into some goblins at least once an hour and K repeated her slapping lesson more than a few times. I feel almost bad as K is basically beating a backbone into Ria. It is working though. . .


    We walk through the broken glass doors of the mall and as the members of our group not from Earth are looking at all the new things I try to sense for any nearby life forces. I don¡¯t feel anything nearby that I wasn¡¯t expecting so I turn over to the others, ¡°we can separate into groups to search for anything that we can use.¡±


    ¡°Is it safe to split up?¡± Abagail asks?


    I nod and so does K after a few seconds of sniffing the air. She came to the same conclusion as me. Bryan ends up being a dragged off by Abagail to help her in her looting while the other four are looking at me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t wait on me, go find what you want. I can¡¯t follow all of you around¡± I tell them, my words mostly meant for the trio.


    ¡°What are you going to be doing?¡± asks Lysan with her usual smile.


    ¡°I am going to be going through a clothing store, then I¡¯m not sure. Probably going to grab all the books I can before going through the toys and jewelry.¡±


    ¡°Can we go together?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but I¡¯m not planning to pass through every shop, you might want to search on your own.¡±


    There is a slight frown and a nod from Lysan before she starts following me around as I enter the first store I plan on looting. I find myself fairly disappointed in the selection, like when I was out shopping with the trio it was difficult to find clothes for non-obese tall people.


    After twenty minutes of trying to find what I wanted in the store that had clearly already been raided at least once I gave up and started just throwing everything I thought could be close into Void Cache. I can always just leave it there if I end up not being able to use it.


    The jewelry section of the clothing store was predictably more thoroughly looted than the clothing section, that did not mean there was nothing left but most of the more expensive, non-fake, items are gone. Lysan seemed to have more fun as she kept trying on necklaces in front of a broken but usable mirror as she asked me if she could have them. I would simply nod to that question and the one for me to hold onto it for her.


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    Walking around an abandoned and previously ransacked store just is not as much fun as shopping. The searching for a pretty outfit turned into a task of almost cleaning the store. At least Bryan let us go through the women¡¯s section first, even if he was less than interested in the specific articles of clothing I chose.


    After putting the last shirt I wanted to keep in the not quite purse and frowning at how it won¡¯t match anything I would want to wear I walk over to the underwear section.


    ¡°How about these?¡± Bryan asks as he passes me a package.


    ¡°No, wrong size¡± I manage to say as I begin to blush at him. I begin to push him out of the section as I struggle to tell him ¡°I¡¯ll find my own. Just go ahead to the men''s section.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯d like to see you in these.¡±


    I push with a little more force but I have neither the strength or leverage to move him as I say ¡°Go, I¡¯ll meet you there.¡±


    With some disappointment he leaves and I put the lingerie back on the shelf it could have come from before, with some embarrassment, searching for one closer to my size. For once I am glad I carry the unfashionable not quite a purse so no one will see me walking around with something like this.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Once I finish grabbing most of what I am willing to wear I rush over to the men¡¯s section to find Bryan had made a pile of boxers as is now throwing pants on top of them. Any pair with his size seems to be going into the pile.


    He looks over to me after finishing looking through the piles of pants and fallen shelves. ¡°did you make sure these are the right size?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Yes¡±


    Glancing at the pants, I doubt he did as there are several different kinds of cuts but I begin to place them in the satchel anyways. I can always throw them out while he isn¡¯t looking after all. As Bryan begins to pick up some shirts and toss them over to me I throw the first back but miss horribly, ¡°try some on and make sure they fit.¡±


    ¡°They are the same size as the one I¡¯m wearing it¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°No, different brands different cuts. Try a few on first or I won¡¯t put them in the bag.¡±


    He just rolls his eyes for a second thinking I won¡¯t catch it in the dim lighting but it is not quite that dark. I walk over to him as he is temporarily shirtless and can¡¯t help but smile at my boyfriend¡¯s appearance. The shirt I made him try on turned out to be too short.


    ¡°See, I was right. If you want that shirt you¡¯ll have to try the next size up.¡±


    I can hear the slightest of sighs as he gives in to me having him try on shirt after shirt, at least two from each size and brand before I would skip the size checking. I would have tried to make him do it for every shirt but I don¡¯t want him to accuse me of trying to see him shirtless.


    <hr>


    After the clothes, we end up walking past one of the bookstores and I see Ria reading something. Curious, I pull Bryan into that store and he quickly finds himself looking through the fantasy section as I walk over to Ria.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± I ask her.


    ¡°Are there more of these picture books?¡± she answers as I look at what she has in her hands. Some Japanese comic, I don¡¯t know what they are called but I point her toward she corner that has them. This store is in far better condition that the others and still remains mostly organized. Probably because the only thing people would try using most of the inventory is to make fires.


    She nods and rushes over there with a smile before she rushes over and begins to read them. I myself go through the cooking section and grab any book I think could still be useful.


    After a few more minutes Adrian walks into the store followed by one of the elven sisters, Lysan I think. She seems to enjoy following him around more than her sister does.


    ¡°Ria, we are here to grab what we need not leisurely read. Have you looked at other stores yet?¡±


    ¡°No, but can I have these?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you can have anything you manage to carry out of here but first go find some new clothes.¡±


    ¡°But I like these clothes.¡±


    ¡°You can own more than one set¡± Bryan interjects.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Both of the boys nod at Ria and she smiles before turning towards the door. She then flicks one of her tails at Bryan and I am sure his eyes followed her out the door. I¡¯m going to have to have a talk with him about that and another with her.


    Poor girl though, what has she lived through to think you can only own a single pair of clothes?


    ¡°Lysan, could you help her? She just ran off in the wrong direction¡± Adrian asks Lysan who quickly nods and runs off with a smile.


    Bryan and Adrian talk to each other softly as Adrian starts dropping everything he can into his magical storage.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The rest of our time searching through the shopping complex did not net us any weapons save for some knives, though we should not have to worry about clothes or much of anything aside from food and weapons for a long time.


    ¡°Where to now our fearless leader?¡± Bryan asks cracking an inside joke the others don¡¯t understand.


    ¡°We still need weapons so I was thinking of finding a sporting goods or hunting supply shop. That and see if I could steal all the books from the libraries and college in the city.


    Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know where anyof those things are and have yet to find a good map of the city. We may just have to head back to the secured part of the city and buy what we can from the dwarves.¡±


    ¡°And what would we trade them? We are out of coin or have they started taking the dollar?¡± Abagail asks.


    ¡°If we have to I have some scales and bones from a red dragon.¡±


    Everyone save K who already knew of that encounter gives me a look of disbelief.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a very big one. Still, let¡¯s head back.¡±


    <hr>


    Once more our walking contains the occasional break where we watch K force Ria to get over her pain problems. This is probably not the healthiest way for it to be dealt with but I¡¯m not going to argue with results. That and I now know that she has magic none of the rest of us have, illusions.


    The smile she makes after trapping a pair of goblins in an illusion to kill each other was slightly disturbing but I probably would have made a similar one. Just a few streets before the gate to get back into town Abagail speaks up, ¡°Ria, you may want to hide your tails.¡±


    ¡°Will bad men hurt me because of them?¡± she asks in return.


    ¡°They may try to¡± K tells her.


    Ria herself unconsciously shivers in her fear of pain before her tails and animal ears vanish from sight. Now appearing completely human she follows the estimate of us as we reach the gate.


    It is guarded as the other I had used before was. One of the human guards, one who seems to have been a soldier before the conjunction, walks up to the gate and unlocks it.


    ¡°Welcome back sir, who is the blonde with red highlights? I was not informed of the possibility of her presence.¡±


    ¡°Her name is Ria, you don¡¯t need to worry about her.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I have orders to detain any non-cleared personnel who come to the gate.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? I¡¯m just with some friends¡± Ria says as she smiles at the guard. There is a few seconds pause in the man before he responds.


    ¡°Oh, sorry my mistake.¡±


    ¡°What did you do?¡± I whisper to Ria.


    ¡°Magic, it makes people believe you are allowedto be wherever you are.¡±


    Damn, I want to learn that spell. There are probably holes in it though, and what are you to do when they remember it afterwards? I should probably keep Ria out of sight when we leave.


    We don¡¯t get stopped again as we get to the civilian areas. The rest of the day is spent talking to dwarven merchants and smiths. We need better equipment and I don¡¯t want to wait around this city for too long.

 Chapter 097

    Copper dragons are one of the easiest dragons to come across and survive the encounter. This is not to say that such a dragon is weak but as they have little interest in killing and rampaging. It is rare for one to truly try to kill someone, at least so long as they have obtained sentience. Their favorite thing to do is to play pranks, share jokes and swap stories. After spending a good old time with one they tend to let you on your way so long as you manage not to offend them. They tend to have affinity for earth and water magic.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After our bartering, the end price of a few scales to get some chainmail for the rest of our group and a few spare weapons was well received by the group. I still shouldered the whole cost but a few scales isn¡¯t much and it would cost me more time and money practicing the dwarven arts to make them anyways. One day rush caused the price to skyrocket but that is fair.


    Once back at the hotel, Bryan and Abagail have entered their room while Ria is not wanting to be left alone. Neither the trio or me like the idea of Ria sharing our room and as K is arguing with her I walk up to the door of our room and open it.


    I hear something fall as soon as the door is open. My eyes focus on the dark green almost egg-shaped object, that is a grenade. That isn¡¯t all that is there though, the door has several small claylike blocks attached to and wired together.


    I shove the door away from me and accidently break both the hinges and handle as I tackle the trio specifically to the ground, Ria also ends up under me as I shift into my larger dragon body while twisting reality to dampen fire as much as I can.


    I break walls as I expand and the explosives detonate. I roar in pain no doubt deafening the others as the concussive force hits me accompanied by splinters and shards of metal. At least those bounce off of my scales save for the parts that strike the membranes of my wings.


    The fires of the building are quickly snuffed out as Ideny them, rejecting them and their ability to spread. I can hear screams and sirens, but none of that matters to me. This building can burn, the people here can die but someone just tried to kill me and my girls.Someone needs to die for this. . .


    When I shift back to human form I quickly check the girls and find them aside from a few scratches and rug burn from my tackle fine. New clothes appear on me from Void Cache and I turn towards the other end of the hall.


    K is the first one back on her feet and she is quickly followed by Talia. I help Lysan up as I say, ¡°check on Bryan¡± to the others. It doesn¡¯t matter which one any of them can heal save Talia and Ria. All of them end up going as I glance around looking for whoever is the cause.


    I can still feel the pain of the injuries of my dragon form, the trickles of blood falling from my wings in whatever space they are currently in as several doors open. A swat team of some sort coming at up clicks coming from their assault rifles as my Fire Dampening is still active.


    An outlet for my rage here, claws form from my hands as I make use of the hallway to restrict them from getting past me. The closest drop their guns, abandoning a tool that is not usable against me for combat knives that are now more promising.


    The first underestimates my strength and speed and ends up with a hole in his chest. The rest do not, their skill is higher than mine, more than matching my higher physical abilities. They keep me from making kill strikes but their blades cannot cut my scales and their might cannot break my bones.


    A tingle on my back brings me to side step what could have been a glancing Lightning Bolt from Talia. I make sure to step on the twitching man with clawed feet as I continue to fight against another soldier. My rage barely under control as I am all but mentally chanting ''death''.


    A burst of red-black over the men before me lets me know K has joined. An arrow passes by within an inch of my ear to land between the eyes of the soldier I am in melee with. He slumps down and there are but two left after another flash of red-black energy.


    They draw a different weapon, tazer guns and launch them at me. Good idea but I don¡¯t need to keep suppressing fire now. Now I compress time and rush the two as I easily dodge the projectile. With this temporally enhanced speed they are not able to react fast enough to keep me from mauling them. A few strikes yes but not enough to stave of death. The warmth of their spilt blood does little to sate me, I want whoever ordered this and whoever that is will have been one of those generals down stairs.


    ¡°Calm down Adrian¡± Bryan is yelling at me and I all but ignore him until something in Abigail¡¯s voice begins to dampen my anger. I don¡¯t want it at first and could feel my resistance to her manipulation of mana working, but after a moment I give into her magic. If I am going to kill everyone responsible for this I¡¯m going to need to think clearly.


    I glance around and almost feel disappointed that these soldiers are only dismembered. They don¡¯t deserve it, they were only following orders but I don¡¯t care they attacked me and my girls.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    <hr>


    Fabricio


    <hr>


    ¡°You better be right about this¡± the idiot General I am manipulating says.


    Some fake tears come out of my eyes as I cry at the man, ¡°brother and dad are monsters.¡±


    ¡°Shh, it¡¯s okay boy. Your safe now but are you sure there are enough explosives?¡±


    I nod and sniffle as the man is too caught in his on delusions and what little mind magic I can muster to notice what is wrong about the situation.


    ¡°What if the bombs don¡¯t work?¡± I ask with another sniffle.


    ¡°There¡¯s a swat team too. Don¡¯t worry they won¡¯t hurt you again.¡±


    I make a smile of relief and sniffle again as I ''struggle'' to stop crying. While I hope this will be enough Geldath doubts it, after all even with modern technology it still falls apart if you just suppress electricity and fire, then most modern weapons become useless.


    The explosion of a bomb goes off a few floors above us and I know there were casualties from it. I focus on feeling the fabric of reality, I barely have the strength to do so but I still manage it even if the strain is transferring to this body. It is a good body but I don¡¯t want to walk around without my twin.


    The fabric of reality is still contorted, Adrian still lives and I wonder how. Did someone else open the door? Or did he get stronger since Rynald drove me away?


    It matters not, kill or capture the experiment and Geldath will give brother and me one last life. The sounds of combat stop before the ripples across the fabric of reality and I turn my will away. He did not die from that, it is not enough.


    I whisper thoughts into this fool¡¯s mind again, and he orders more soldiers to go and fight the monster walking amongst them before going himself. I begin to bleed from an eye and my nose as reality pushes back at me. I¡¯m making the man act to far out of his normal patterns and people are noticing but I don''t care.


    I spit some blood out and catch my breath, I don¡¯t have the strength to do this again so I¡¯ll have to spend it all in this one fight.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It is not long after the would-be assassin soldiers'' death that more begin to arrive. The first soldier who arrives begins to ask if I am alright. I recognize him as one of those who I¡¯ve passed on my way to talk to Secretary Jasmine.


    Just as I drop my guard another soldier comes up the stairs and fires his gun at me, a yell of ¡°kill the monster¡± is all the warning I get.


    I don¡¯t suppress fire in time to stop the first few bullets and can only hope that anyone else who was hit managed to not take it in a vital spot. This time my suppression of fire is weaker but I tie it to the area as a duration.


    A piece of lead gets pushed out of my shoulder as I reject the wound, my supressed rage masking the pain. More soldiers begin to come up the stairs, some yelling about killing monsters the others confused and making reports to someone over the radio. Not everyone is an enemy, but they all have the same uniform.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not here to kill me drop you weapons¡± I shot with some anger slipping through Abagail''s spell.


    Some of the soldiers lower their weapons in confusion but quickly raise them back up once the first soldier shouting ¡°kill the monsters¡± reaches me and ends up losing a limb as my claws tear into him. He shouldn¡¯t be less skilled than the ones before, his attack wasn¡¯t but he barely made a move to defend himself.


    Something is not right about this. The men are not really defending themselves. Soon the soldiers who were calling on radios, rather than making suicidal charges at me, begin to try to restrain their insane comrades.


    I hear a gunshot behind me. That shouldn¡¯t be possible, I suppressed fire. I turn and see one of my little brothers with a gun still pointed at K. How did he even get there?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t come with me Adrian I¡¯m going to put another silver bullet in her.¡±


    ¡°Frank? What the hell are you doing?!¡±


    A blast of lightning erupts from his hand leaving burn marks over it just as it knocks Abagail back, she lies twitching on the ground as Bryan abandons the fight to care for her.


    ¡°My boss is done waiting around and wants you brought back.¡±


    ¡°Frank, why are you. . .¡± I say as I begin to run to K. The echo of another gunshot assaults my ears as another silver bullet is put in K''s shoulder.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think about trying to help her. The next one I¡¯ll put in her heart. So, will you come with me or will I need to kill you?¡±


    Talia charges at my younger brother but he dodges her attack and once inside her reach sends a bullet through her chest as she falls to the ground. My mind sits in an angry confusion as Lysan begins crying over her sister.


    I don¡¯t respond to the threats my younger brother is making. I don¡¯t want to fight him, he¡¯s family but he is killing my friends. These two thoughts swirls around my mind for what seems like hours as I stand in confusion.


    A few seconds pass like this and as Ria talked a bullet in retaliation to her throwing of green fire something finally snaps and I charge at my little brother.


    I manage to reach him before he can put a bullet in anyone else. Just when I get in melee with him though a rush of wind and lightning comes out of his hand and strikes me. I get pushed back but see a red mist forming from the spilt blood of the soldiers and the nose bleed Frank has.


    A specter of red mist flies at Frank as he yells something at it in a language I did not know he spoke, or what it was for that matter. The two collide and I feel some sort of ripple in reality.


    What few soldiers that were previously hostile throw down their weapons and begin to surrender to the ones that did not attack me. I don¡¯t have the time to figure out what is going on though, I rush to the nearest injured person who happens to be Talia and begin to heal her.


    A bullet in the gut again, this injury gives me less trouble than the last bullet she took and I rush to K next. She is not doing well and I can see wisps of smoke coming out of the wounds.


    The bullet holes feel harder to reject than it did for Talia, even after all the silver was pulled out of her, as if her body wasn''t trying to heal it. By the time I finally do heal K of the two injuries Bryan is helping Abagail back up and I can hear some soldiers coming up the stairs.


    I stand up and walk over to Ria after motioning Bryan and Abagail to handle whoever is coming up the stairs. Ria''s injury is also letting out wisps of smoke as K''s did and while harder to heal than Talia¡¯s it was easier than K''s.

 Chapter 098

    Brass dragons are the least hostile of any dragon once they reach sentience. They are the most social of dragons and are completely in love with their own voice. There is nothing they would rather do than talk to someone for hours on end. Which is what they normally do to both invited and uninvited guests. So long as one can at least hold a conversation they eventually will let you go. Unsurprisingly, they tend to use lots of wind magic to allow them to further their favorite hobby though they are also able to use more than enough fire to hold their own should one insist on trading blows rather than words, even as they use wind to make their words into true weapons.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    My friends healed and no longer in danger of dying, I rush over to Frank. I already know he is dead and I know he was trying to kill my friends and me but I can stop from shedding a few tears as I check to see if he is alive.


    There¡¯s no life force in him, no heartbeat as I look over the somehow exsanguinated corpse that crumbles into dust as I touch it. Why did this happen? Why would my little brother try to kill or kidnap me? He said a job, how does a twelve-year-old have a job?


    A tear falls on Frank collapsing more of his body into little more than wet dust. Confusion, anger and sadness swirl in my mind as I sit trying to both figure out what happened and what to do. I can hear talking but I don¡¯t give it any attention.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    My mate sits next to the corpse of his wrong smelling brother,the physically weak warriors of Terra have stopped fighting both us and amongst themselves. This doesn¡¯t make sense to me, kin should not have caused something like this. The scent of wrongness is also gone from the body and I do not understand why.


    I walk over to my mate and see him suffering the pain of betrayal. The elven sisters rush over to comfort our mate as I spend a moment to try to find the scent of wrongness that covered his kin before but I can¡¯t find anything. My mate begins to move the remains of his brother into a small box as I join the others in being there for our mate. The fox, Bryan and his mate are gathering the few possessions of our pack that were not destroyed by the explosion.


    Soon the no longer tainted remains of my mate¡¯s kin have been gathered into a small box though much of the dust he collapsed into was lost to the scattered rubble from the building. I do not mourn that the wrong smelling kin of my mate is dead but that his death and betrayal has hurt my mate.


    ¡°I want to be alone for a bit¡± my mate says before standing up and jumping out of the hole in the side of the building. After a few seconds, the dark scales of his draconic body pass through my vision as he flies off into the early night.


    I¡¯ll need to go find my mate in a little while, but for now I have to clean up this mess. The formerly hostile soldiers have been restrained and taken away and a man with several pointless extra bits of metal on his clothes has walked up to our group as the rest of my pack returns having picked up all of their not destroyed stuff.


    The man who I assume is a leader of this Terra military speaks, ¡°I am going to have to have you all detained while we figure out what happened. Where is Adrian?¡±


    I frown as do a few of the others. I may not know much of this Terra government but I won¡¯t let my pack be imprisoned.


    ¡°You¡¯re not imprisoning any of us. We were the victims of an attack by your people¡± I say interrupting Abagail before she can respond to the question. She might give into their demands and I can''t let that happen.


    ¡°This is for the safety of the public and yourselves. You will either be detained willingly or permanently.¡±


    ¡°No, I am one of the diarchic rulers of what the dwarves acknowledge as an allied nation. You will not touch my pack unless you want to deal with something worse than the threat we just killed for your Secretary Jasmine.¡±


    The man looks at me stunned for a bit while Bryan and Abagail have a look of disbelief on their faces. They don¡¯t think we could win a fight against these soldiers without my mate and I would agree, there are too many of them. I don¡¯t plan on fighting straight up though, this is one of the few times a pack should run.


    ¡°Seize them¡± he commands but I interrupt him loud enough to keep the soldiers from clearly hearing him, ¡°Fox illusion.¡±


    A few seconds later her spell washes over us and the appearance of my pack changes to match the soldiers while some of them take on our image. All I was expecting was an invisibility but this works too. Might even be better than what I was hoping for.


    I start to knock out the soldiers who have taken on our appearance and gladly let them take the fakes away. My elven pack sisters aid me in this while the fox maintains the spells.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    I mirror the postures of the real soldiers as their leader unknowingly drags away some of his own soldiers. Once they are out of sight Talia asks, ¡°how long do we have?¡±


    The foxanswers the question, ¡°a tenth of a day.¡±


    I smile and turn around to the others, ¡°lets get going then before we are found out.¡±


    They nod and I sniff the air. I can follow my mate''s scent. We should go to him and make plans on leaving this city. Our welcome has run its course.


    We get a few odd looks as we exit the building even though no one stops us, we do not walk as the soldiers do. Our body language does not match but the illusion holds and we begin to walk in silence down the street before I end up losing the scent of my mate.


    He must have flown too high, I frown at how I am supposed to find him now. I glance at the moon and frown at how it is near the new moon, sister won¡¯t be able to help.


    ¡°Why did you stop?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°I lost Adrian¡¯s scent.¡±


    ¡°You can track him by scent?¡± Abagail asks in disbelief rather than a true desire for an answer.


    ¡°We need to find refuge somewhere then unless anyone else can track him¡± Talia speaks up. I smile at how she hasn¡¯t lost what leadership she had before we all started following our mate.


    There is a brief silence as we all think about the two options she brought up. It is the fox who speaks up first, and even though her illusionary magic has been proven I still frown from my dislike of her.


    ¡°My magic might be able to find him¡± she says.


    So she also knows some divination, I nod as this would be preferable should she manage it. The elven sisters also nod, Lysan quicker than Talia but it doesn¡¯t surprise me. The other two nod, though Bryan has some doubt.


    It doesn¡¯t make sense for him not to want to go after my mate, he must doubt the fox''s ability to deliver what she said.


    Unfortunately, once she started chanting whatever magic she was attempting, her illusion over us was broken. Across the street there are a few soldiers following a woman I recognize as Jasmine. She is pointing at us and telling the three men something.


    A tiny fox made of her green fox fire forms in her cupped hands only to jump down and start prancing around like a pup starved for attention.


    ¡°This little kit will lead us to Adrian, or at least get us close to him¡± the fox says as she takes a step towards the tiny animate fox fire who immediately runs off before acting as it was earlier just a little ways away from her. I can¡¯t help but wonder how such magic works, divination has never made any sense to me.


    ¡°Stop¡± I hear Jasmine shout and I turn to her as she and her three guards walk towards us. I wave the others to continue following the fox and her spell''s directions. I can easily track them down, there arefew elf and no fox scents in the city save those in my pack.


    Once slightly closer Jasmine begins to ask a question, not that I let her finish the question as she lost all respect I had for her long ago. I interrupt her, ¡°are you involved in the attack that just happened.¡±


    The confusion on her face, what little there was, was all the answer I needed. She is not behind this at least not planning it. She does however use the pause I gave while reading her face to ask the question she started to before.


    ¡°What have you done to . . .¡±


    She wants to know about the females? She was behind them then and not just an acquaintance of theirs then.


    ¡°Nothing I wouldn¡¯t do to you for how you and your kind have been treating my mate. You call him a member of your society and yet you treat him like a threat to it. You make deals and promises only to break them as you try to control him.


    I know what you have been up to, stop those actions.¡±


    The three guards draw firearms and I immediately land a strike on the nearest of the nearest of the guards. There is hate in the eyes of Jasmine as I release another test of my mate¡¯s involuntary blood magic.


    The man screams as he bursts into flames, screams of other nearby people begining to panic. The two soldiers hesitate for a moment and I draw my longsword and impale the second soldier. Their attire being little more than clothes does nothing to protect them from the dwarven blade.


    Red mist rises from disembowelment of the man as the blood dripping from my blade does the same. The mist forming dozens of tiny bolts of energy to strike the other soldier. None of the three are dead, yet but will be in minutes if they are not treated.


    Jasmine herself is releasing a scent of fear as she begins to draw a pistol. I get within her reach and with my superior strength she can¡¯t get out of my hold as the edge of my sword touches her neck.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry I¡¯m not going to kill you. You need to uphold your end of the bargain you made after all¡± I whisper into her ear before pushing her to the ground and casting Invisibility as quickly as I can.


    My spell does not last long with my poor skill in illusion and that I never learned the actual spell. Not even a minute my spell broke, colapsed due to my own errors but I had already turned the corner.


    <hr>


    It did not take me long to catch back up to the rest of the pack and while we were momentarily stopped by a large number of guards at the gate the fox''s tricks got them to ignore our presence.


    Her tracking spell runs to around the corner of a wall and I see my mate sitting under a tree, tears falling to the overgrown grass around him.


    ¡°We¡¯ll set up camp in the building over there¡± Bryan says as he points across the road to a house.


    Abagail looks at my mate for a moment before she nods and follows Bryan to ready a place for everyone to rest. It is probably going to be a long night and I suspect that the Terrans will try to find us.


    Lysan is the first to walk over to our mate and start rubbing his back, she does not say anything nor does Talia and me when we join her in being there for our mate. He has protected and comforted us, we will do the same for him.


    I bare my teeth towards the fox when she takes a step towards us, a warning she notices before joining Bryan and Abagail in setting up a camp. She may run in the pack but she is not worthy of my mate. I will not let a weakling or a coward breedin my pack let alone with my mate.

 Chapter 099

    The bronze dragon like both the iron and steel dragons love combat, particularly melee combat. Bronze dragons due to this instinctual love of combat constantly seek out causes that allow them to fight against what they consider evil. They do not have a preferred habitat before gaining sentience, but once they do they seek to live amongst the civilized races and be a part of the art of war. They are skilled with lightning magics and cloud based air effects, their natural breath weapons are a knock out gas that is flammable and a burst of electricity.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The others found me and while I do like and appreciate that they are here for me I don¡¯t say anything. Tears of sadness continue to fall, I don¡¯t get it. Frank was my little brother but he tried to kidnap or kill me.


    I shouldn¡¯t care that he is dead, he was an enemy but I do. If dad''s book is true then Frank was never really my younger brother but one of my ancestors who stole the bodies of his decedents to keep living. I get that and understand it but I still can¡¯t throw away the feelings and memories of my little brother.


    Was everything he ever did with me a lie? An act for the role of being a little brother, or were they separate? The smiles and begging me to get candy from shelves he couldn¡¯t reach. Was it all to get me to lower my guard for later?


    I also caused his death, not directly. I did not make that bloody specter but I went to heal my girls and Ria first. I should have gone to Frank sooner, maybe I could have saved him.


    ¡°Do you need anything?¡± Lysan asks me softly, concern on her face.


    I smile as some warmth forms in my heart, the trio are here for me. I can hear the others talking nearby too even if I can¡¯t make out what is being said. I shake my head at Lysan, there isn¡¯t anything that will make this go away but time.


    K gives me a kiss on the cheek before whispering, ¡°lets go lie down, you¡¯ll feel better that way¡± as she pulls my up from my sitting position. I don¡¯t resist and the elven sisters help her almost drag me back to the building.


    I¡¯m not handling this well, I shouldn¡¯t have run away to mope and I shouldn¡¯t be basically ignoring my girlfriends but I am. I needed some time to myself and I got it but I don¡¯t know at what cost. The government no doubt tried to restrain the others after I left.


    Why couldn¡¯t I have just cast it all aside like I do for all those I don¡¯t care about? I need to help protect the others . . .


    We arrive at a bedroom and I sit in the bed, they probably want sex from me and while I do like it I don''t want it now, not like this.


    Talia starts to kiss me with some passion but I don¡¯t kiss back. I want happy sexy times, not don¡¯t be sad pity sex. Instead I pull her and her sister close in a hug, ¡°can I just hold you all tonight?¡±


    I don¡¯t get a verbal answer, just return hugs from the trio. I end up holding Lysan in my arms as we fall asleep. K on my other side and Talia on the other side of her sister, Lysan just felt best for this.


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    I look over at Adrian, he clearly has been crying his heart out the entire time since the attack. I still can¡¯t believe what Kythia did and had Ria do to get us here. I would have rather submitted to the government but they probably would have tried to frame someone rather than admit fault so maybe this is better.


    I don¡¯t get how he can emotionlessly butcher people without a care yet almost fall apart when it¡¯s a friend or family member. Something is wrong in his head but Bryan¡¯s like that a bit too so maybe it is a boy thing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be a good girl and keep watch, you can go to sleep¡± Ria says and I nod but do not walk back to a bedroom yet. Poor girl, I''m not sure Kythia''s backbone training is good for her.


    Bryan is drawing weird symbols on the walls, alarm spells probably. I look at Adrian as his harem continues to comfort him. They really do all love him, I take a breath and walk over to close the door to where they are.


    Crazy and sometimes irresponsible he may be but he is there when we need him and he truly cares for us. I hope he feels better tomorrow, we need to get out of town even if that means leaving without the commissions we made with the dwarves.


    As I pray as I do at the end of most days I add in comforting Adrian. I may not get spells and cool powers like Bryan¡¯s new god gives him but I still believe this helps.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I find myself standing on a dirt road before a cave of stone steps that descend downwards, the grass in the fields to either side of me brown and withered. There is nothing behind me as I look around but once I turn back to the cave I see two people standing in front of me.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    They are both shorter than me, identical twins just over six feet tall. They look like they could be my uncles but I don¡¯t have any uncles that look like them. Semitransparent but there are many holes in their form.


    ¡°That is what attacked you¡± a voice I recognize as me-but-not-me and she walks up from behind me.


    ¡°Can¡¯t I just sleep and morn in peace for a night?¡±


    ¡°No, you need to understand what monsters are on father''s side of the family.¡±


    I sigh and frown at my emotions being dampened as me-but-not-me touches me on the forehead.


    ¡°What do you see?¡±


    ¡°We are standing in a field before a cave that probably symbolizes the underworld or realm of the dead.¡±


    ¡°Good, you got that part. Now do you remember what was in the book dad left?¡±


    I nod, ¡°most of what I¡¯ve managed to read is about my ancestors'' quest for immortality.¡±


    ¡°And the conclusion is practical immortality through theft of body. To die and steal another¡¯s chance at life to live again.¡±


    ¡°Why show me this? I already know, Frank had to have been one of those who did this. It hasn¡¯t helped me feel any better. He still fills the slot of a sibling in my heart.¡±


    ¡°Do you know why he was sent to be your sibling? I do, I can¡¯t tell you but I do. Do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Will it make me feel better?¡±


    ¡°No, but you should ask you dad about it when you meet with him again.¡±


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Me-but-not-me does not answer instead the dream fades. I avoid the Grey Dream as I drift back to real sleep.


    <hr>


    I end up waking before dawn, the scent of my girlfriends brings a smile and warmth to me even as I still feel the pain of betrayal and sorrow for the death of Frank.


    I want to just lie here but I can¡¯t leave everyone to fend for themselves. There has to be consequences for what happened. I killed US soldiers, Frank was working with someone in the government even if I assume that wasn¡¯t theboss he was talking about.


    I can¡¯t trust the government and I can¡¯t trust family either. What am I going to do? Do I keep heading for Grandpa''s cabins or look for something else? I don¡¯t know but we can¡¯t stay here.


    I barely manage to extract myself from the bed without waking them. I look over them for a moment before I open the door and see Ria sleeping on the floor. There are also many softly glowing runes around the walls that I have no understanding of.


    After a moment I pull out a blanket from Void Cache and throw it over the kitsune using her own tails as both blanket and pillow. She fell asleep during her watch and while she needs punished somehow for it, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to wake her.


    I spend the next few hours cycling between planning how to get whatwe already paid the dwarves to make, how to get as much as we can while getting out of town and my confusing sorrow at Frank''s death.


    ¡°Feeling better?¡± I hear Bryan ask after he opened a door.


    ¡°Not really, but there isn¡¯t time for it right now.¡±


    ¡°Take the time if you need it. We can manage for a bit.¡±


    I sigh and shake my head, ¡°how badly do you need the dwarven equipment?¡±


    Bryan pauses for a moment before answering, ¡°truthfully it is necessary if we are going to keep finding creatures stronger than a goblin.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking of sneaking back into town.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous, the army is probably searching for us now. You won¡¯t get past the gate without being noticed.¡±


    ¡°I was thinking invisibility while flying and landing in the dwarven area.¡±


    ¡°And you think that will work?¡±


    ¡°As long as I make sure to bend even micro and infrared wavelengths to keep radar and lidar from finding me yes.¡±


    ¡°And the sound? You''re not exactly quiet during takeoff and landing.¡±


    I pause for a second, I had thought about that but not a viable method for being stealthy during that part of flight. ¡°I don¡¯t think the dwarves will get hostile over it if I land in their part of town. I should be safe there since the feds need the dwarves to be allies, they won¡¯t be able to afford making a fuss.¡±


    Bryan nods, ¡°that may not stop an overzealous idiot though.¡±


    ¡°Fair point, but do you have a better idea?¡±


    He shakes his head. I turn to the girls just walking out of the two bedrooms, ¡°do any of you have better ideas? I assume you overheard the conversation.¡±


    They nod slightly at the second sentence of mine but don¡¯t give any other ideas save for Lysan after a moment.


    ¡°Does Ria know any illusion that could cover up or mute your sound?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll have to ask her¡± I say before walking over to the still sleeping kitsune. As soon as I touch her she mumbles something in a language I don¡¯t know before bolting upright.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll be good. I won¡¯t fall asleep again. Please don¡¯t make the pain come back¡± she says and most of us frown. She has a lot of problems even if K has straightened her out a bit. At least she didn¡¯t scream inher sleep this time.


    ¡°K will talk with you about that later but for now do you know how to magically cancel out noise?¡± I ask and K nods with a smile. I think she likes being in charge of inner party conflicts. Is that due to her whole alpha pair thing?


    Regardless Ria nods and I continue, ¡°that solves the problem I don¡¯t know how to. So, Ria could you go get ready to go on a quick trip with me?¡±


    She nods but seems slightly confused as to why. The trio, or more specifically Talia seem upset by what this entails though. Are they jealous that she is getting some of my attention? If so, why doesn¡¯t Lysan seem to mind?


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon¡± I whisper in Talia''s ear as I give her a hug. They were never jealous of me spending time with anyone before, why is it different for the kitsune?


    I take a step outside and for half a second there is a loud high-pitched ring as some of the runes on the wall flare up in light. Bryan waves his hand at them and they return to their previous inert state.


    Once outside I go through the process of shifting into a dragon, still unfamiliar with the slight discomforts of this new transformation. Part of it feels relaxing at the start, at least until the shift towards quadrupedal happens.


    Just after I finish my shapeshifting I turn my head towards the others. I grin at the gaze of my friends as a useless thought from my dragon side passes through my mind, they can appreciate the artistic value of this body.


    ¡°Climb on Ria¡± my deeper draconic voice echoing slightly off of the hard walls of the nearby buildings.


    ¡°Are you ever going to give me a ride, or is it girls only?¡± asks Bryan.


    ¡°Probably, being ridden by a boy just sounds gay to me.¡±


    We both share a chuckle as Abagail glares at us. The trio and Ria don''t get the crude joke as it doesn¡¯t translate well to their native tongues.

 Chapter 100

    Iron dragons are one of the few metallic dragons who have significant numbers who have sided with the demons. This is not however due to any malice but in that the demons happen to offer them more to do their favored activity, war. Sentient iron dragons are obsessed with armed conflict and the only thing they like more than studying it is to participate in one. They are naturally skilled in metal variant earth magics as well as some physical enhancement enchantments. Before awakening to sentience, they prefer to live in mines where they eat some of the metals causing their scales to be harder and more resistant than other dragons of equal size.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    With that I jump into the air, Ria sitting between my wings. I begin to warp light to keep it from touching me, bending the nonvisible spectrums seem harder and I am not sure how well I do since I can¡¯t see all of them.


    Once at the altitude I wanted to glide at I tell Ria what her role in this journey is. She acknowledges it by promising to do her best like a good girl and I am pretty sure she had been broken as a slave before.


    Does she think one of us is her owner? I¡¯ll just let K deal with it, she has done a good job so far.


    Soon we are passing over the gates to the secured part of the city and I can see several squads of soldiers searching house by house for something, probably my friends and me. A few minutes later and I am descending over the dwarven forges, Ria''s soft chanting lingering in my ears.


    While my landing threw quite a bit of dust up giving our position away to the now combat ready dwarves it did not make a sound. The plan almost worked. Thankful there are no US soldiers nearby I drop my warping of light before shifting to human form.


    I wave at the dwarven team in charge of guarding, ¡°sorry for startling you. I wanted to pick up some orders for a friend and see what I could trade for.¡±


    All but one of the dwarves go back to their work. The dwarven guard with a different patterned helmet gives me a short bow, ¡°of course Lord Dragon. Do you have the receipts for the orders?¡±


    I nod and pull them out of Void Cache. The dwarf nods and a young boy runs up to take the receipts before he goes to fetch the items mentioned.


    ¡°Follow me please¡± the guard says before leading us to a house retrofitted into being a shop. Several weapons of each type or spread out over tables and stored in open barrels.


    The guard says something to the shopkeeper but I don¡¯t catch it as I look at the few pieces I recognize as elven chain and plate. Armor as beautiful as it is practical, as much as dwarves dislike the elves they do acknowledge this. I want them but I need to look through the store first. I should ask to get the tools for a smithy while I¡¯m here too.


    ¡°Pick out a melee and ranged weapon for yourself Ria.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    I nod and she starts searching through the items much more carefully than me. I have a slight headache from using the dwarven memories but I can tell the quality of each piece easier that she.


    In the end aside from the elven armors, I find two glaives, a few crossbows, an elven bow, two more swords and a shield that should all hold up while filling the blanks in our equipment. Ria has picked up a lighter thin but long spear and a repeating hand crossbow.


    I move the items I want to the counter and the dwarf there has the same smile I suspect is a racial reaction to opportunity to make money. ¡°Will there be anything else?¡±


    ¡°Yes actually, I would like a full set of smithing hammers anvils tongs bellows and so on for the largest portable forge you can get me.¡±


    ¡°Without disrespect honored customer but I must ask for payment of what you already have here before I can call for such.¡±


    That doesn¡¯t surprise me. No storekeeper wants to pull out merchandise for a customer who can¡¯t pay. ¡°Very well, will this suffice?¡±


    I set down a rib bone from the red dragon on the counter. The dwarf immediately begins nodding before he can stop himself. I smile as I continue, ¡°I¡¯ll double this if you can get me books on fighting styles for these weapons and some more of these elven artworks.¡±


    My dwarvish was somehow not good enough to catch what exactly he said next but the three youth assistants immediately began to run out the door no doubt to grab such items from the other shops for me. I am overpaying but regardless of dragon-me''s complaints this is needed.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I largely ignore the clerk as he tries to sell me dwarven pieces I already deemed unneeded for roughly an hour before the three younger dwarves come back with three wheelbarrows of books and elven pieces, most of which were not even arms or armor. He is going to want more than just two ribs for this.


    Before they begin setting the items on the counter with the other items I already showed interest in purchasing I stop them, ¡°I want to look through myself. Some of this may be outside of my budget.¡±


    They all nod in understanding, I may not really have a budget but it is a nice way of saying I not going to want everything you got me. I leave the purely decorative pieces in the wheelbarrows save for a set of rings but find two more sets of elven chain and a very thin longsword. I think it¡¯s called a court blade, a decorative piece relying on the enchantments to stay whole when used, even if it is sharper then a normal blade. At least there were a lot of books, all of which I decided on buying.


    After setting a second rib on the table I add a few scales to it bringing an even greater smile to the dwarf. ¡°Thank you for the service.¡±


    The dwarf once more bows as I begin to pack the large pile of items into Void Cache.


    Once outside I frown as this store was unfortunately just in sight of the division between the dwarves and the US. I don¡¯t recognize them but they recognize me as one of them begins to point towards me and shouts to the others.


    I warp light, not for invisibility but displacement by several feet as I begin to shift into a dragon once more. ¡°Climb on¡± I say in a voice that gets deeper as I continue to shift. Ria obeys and the displacement saves me from a few bullets as I jump into the air.


    I exhale gravity breath at the soldiers at the dwarves assemble in formation as if the attack were against them. I jump into the air and switch from bending light to time until I am out of range for anyone save a sniper. Invisible once more as I pass over the fence set up to keep out the goblins I return to the house where my friends are.


    Those soldiers were hostile and that is going to be a problem. I can hide for a time but continual invisibility is not an option. I can take on a squad but that¡¯s mostly just physical power and taking their guns away, I can¡¯t deal with an army and I doubt my ability to do anything should they move to missiles or even a tank.


    <hr>


    Randy Ravnos


    <hr>


    I left my wife at a farm outside the city this morning, it¡¯s too dangerous for her to help with this. Part four of plan B is ready. Jasmine will have made enough mistakes by now for me to have Talmage remove her.


    I walk unimpeded as I enter the hotel that has become the feds base of command until they recover the rest of the city. Regardless of the amount of success Jasmine has had she will have lost people by now, too much for her to cover up.


    The guards for the door open the door for me without question, they saw what happened last time and I smile, the majority of my actions have been successful then.


    Once inside I turn to Jasmine, ¡°somebody found out about your actions, didn¡¯t they?¡±


    She frowns and it is Talmage who answers me, everyone but these two know they have no say in this.


    ¡°Yes, but the attack on your son was not her. Care to share why your second son would have tried to kill him?¡±


    Fabricio made a move, then Geldath is worried. Good and bad, Adrian will understand what the others are easier but I tried to kill them to save him from the sting of betrayal. That has failed, ¡°and the condition of those involved in the attack?¡± I ask ignoring the question.


    ¡°Your son and his friends killed most of the soldiers, a general and your other son. Now will you answer my question?¡±


    The thunder twins are now both dead then, they won¡¯t be able to act for several years now even if Geldath does help them steal another set of bodies. Even then they will be as weak as Geldath expects me to be, able to do little more than sense things through the second soul. Good news but this will make my manipulation of the federal government more difficult. Not to mention that Geldath will be expecting something now. . .


    ¡°If you insist, it must have been a challenge for the birthright. Adrian is my favorite and he must have been jealous¡± I give a partial truth and they all seem confused but accept it. ¡°But that is not what I came here for, aside from what Frank was doing Jasmine has been going back on the deal we made. You have been trying to control my son and you¡¯ve taken advantage of another¡¯s attack on him to launch your own.


    Did you think I would not notice the patrols searching or that you allowed the attack to happen in the first place? There is also how several of your female assassins have recently gone missing, why do you think that is?¡±


    Jasmine gets angry over my words but she can¡¯t speak up to refute them, this hearing already was about how she and a now dead general just made some of the worst mistakes since the conjunction happened. Everyone in the room already knows and has declared her guilt, there are really only arguing over what to do about it.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± asks Talmage and I pull myself a chair at the opposite side of the table from him. One of the lower ranking officers present having vacated the seat for me.


    ¡°The same things as before, leave my son to his own devices. Sell him stuff if he wants it but do not try and manipulate him. Now though I have to make some punitive demands if you want me to keep my familyfrom being hostile. . .


    Jasmine will be executed for treason, whatever deals she made with my son you will honor without expecting him to complete his side of the deal, and I do know what those are."


    ¡°What makes you think you can make these demands? You can¡¯t fight the whole government¡± Jasmine interrupts but the other officers ignore her, she is no longer of consequence aside from being an example of what will happen to those that cause problems for my son.


    ¡°Don¡¯t have to, you''re already at war with a foe you can¡¯t beat without the help of those like me¡± I say with some sarcasm. I missed being able to do that, those above me in the agency were always less competent than they should be.


    ¡°Anything else?¡± Talmage asks, he and the others in the room already willing to give what I have asked.


    ¡°Yes, but the next item is beneficial to you. How would you like to know the names and addresses of every ''negative body'' in the US and how to get them to ally with yourselves?¡±


    The look on Jasmine¡¯s face is great. She may have been over the Special Affairs Division for a bit but never had she been able to compile a list of more than a few before other ¡®negative bodies¡¯ would remove those on her lists from existence. The living deadhave frowned on those whoget discovered by the mortal world ever since the inquisition and disjunction.

 Chapter 101

    Rust dragons are the only considered metallic due to that if one reverses the rusting that covers their scales they are indeed the hue and shade of other metallics. Their scales are a myriad of colors as if they were bits of metal that had not been cared for in decades. Like the rust monster they have the power to corrode and destroy iron but unlike them it is not just limited to iron but any metal. The stronger the metal that they consume with this instinctual magic the stronger they become as their hide takes on the properties of the metal even as it appears to be the ruined version of the metal. Few rust dragons are friendly to the civilized races and they like the chromatics prefer to raid and demand tribute than working together causing many scholars to debate if they should still be categorized as a metallic dragon.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Once I enter the house with Ria, I am immediately greeted by those that stayed. Bryan bringing up the reason for why we left in the first place and I can see some nervousness in Abagail and the others.


    ¡°Did you manage to get the stuff?¡±


    ¡°I did, more than just what we had ordered earlier too. We do need to get out of town quickly though, I ran into some soldierswhile leaving and they are hostile. What happened after I flew off yesterday?¡±


    ¡°The army tried to arrest us for public safety but Kythia refused them and had Ria cover us with illusions to fool the guards as we left¡± Abagail answers.


    There is more to it but Abagail does not want to say it. K had them all resist arrest, we are probably being blamed for the terrorism then. How can I solve that problem? No idea but I nod in thanks to Abagail. I should tell K that we need to be less contentious with the governments of wherever we are, but every interaction has been them trying to take advantage of us. Even the dwarves did even if they have not tried to betray us.


    I start pulling out the equipment that I traded for, at least the stuff I didn¡¯t already have a plan to use myself. When I pull out the thin elven longsword Talia immediately picks it up and sets the dwarven blade back in the pile. I suppose she knows how to use it better than the dwarven blade. Everyone else waits for me to finish setting down object after object from Void Cache, except for the commissions that Bryan had me pick up. Those were taken as they were set down like the elven longsword.


    Once it is all out I nod to the others and they begin to search through it all for what they can use. The girls save K each end up taking the elven chain over the dwarven. It¡¯s lighter and with even the little magic that is there should still be just as good as the dwarven gear in protection. A hand crossbow is also taken by everyone but the elven sisters who both jumped at the bow. I should get more modern archery stuff for them when I can.


    Bryan takes two of the swords, the shield and a set of dwarven chain. Abagail takes a few knives while K tries to find which sword can be used in a drawing strike easiest. I should find her a saber or katana, those would work better for what she is trying to do. At least for drawing strikes.


    I end up reading through a few pages of a book explaining in detail how to fight with a glaive, most of it is very similar to a spear except for the slashing strikes. Within an hour everyone but me had put on new equipment and are packed and ready to go.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± Bryan asks knowing full well I¡¯ve done nothing while they played in some of my treasure hoard.


    I stand up and abuse the power of Void Cache to dress myself in a suit of dwarven chain before picking up what they did not take for themselves. It does not take very long and while I try to feel how it work I, like always, get nothing. I can feel a connection to Void Cache but not through my magic.


    ¡°Alright lets get going then¡± I say and everyone else smiles even though they no doubt hear the sadness still in my voice.


    We make it to the edge of town before nightfall our only stops are from being waylaid by the seemingly endless supply of goblins. How are there so many of them anyways? The food that they managed to get after the initial attack should have ran out by now. They should be starving but aside from the smaller clearly younger goblins all of them are bigger than those I saw at first.


    Once dusk arrives we all break into a nearby building, raided and aside from a few dried bloodstains clear of both foes and useable loot. The parking lot has a few cars with ame damage and popped tires but they are arranged in front of the entrance. It¡¯s a hotel but run down and the only thing still in somewhat usable condition are a few couches in the lobby.


    The chairs have been broken and used as clubs if the scattered bits of wood mean anything. The front desk itself has taken gunfire but is still sturdy, the doors for the rooms themselves are all ajar. The electronic locks having failed after the loss of power.


    ¡°Usable but we are not alone in here¡± Kythia states after sniffing the air.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I mimic her action and while I can smell something, I am not sure how recent it is. People were here earlier but I am not sure how long ago.


    ¡°Who else is here?¡± Bryan asks as I warp reality to sense any nearby life forces.


    ¡°Humans, or close to it but they smell sick. They won¡¯t be a threat¡± K answers.


    I nod to K¡¯s answer, I may not be able to tell the race but the few lives I feel aside from us are dim and something seems off about it.


    ¡°Adrian and I can take care of it, if you all would like to begin to set up¡± Bryan says and all but K seems to agree with the plan.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming too¡± K says and I just nod.


    The three of us walk down the hallway of rooms towards where I sensed. As we approach the room they barricaded themselves in a scent like an outhouse sitting in the afternoon sun. For the first time since I¡¯ve gained my heightened senses I regret using them, as bad as the scent is the taste causes me to gag for a moment. I don¡¯t understand how K manages to ignore the smell and open the door.


    In the room itself there are three individuals, two men and a woman. There clothes are tattered and they have not eaten or moved much in the past few days. They are running fevers and when I switch back to normal vision I can see blotches of discoloration on their skin.


    K growls slightly as she draws her blade and begins to approach the nearest individual. Bryan rushes up behind her, stopping her from killing the man as he asks, ¡°what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Putting fallen out of their misery¡± she responds and for a moment I don¡¯t understand just what she means until I remember one of the first things she and the others told me. The tainted have to be killed.


    ¡°How do you identify the tainted?¡± I ask before she gets upset over Bryan¡¯s actions.


    ¡°They smell of wrongness aside from that they are turning into monsters.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to let her kill these people?¡± Bryan interrupts.


    ¡°Has she lied to us about anything before? Besides don¡¯t you have spells to let you know.¡±


    Bryan sighs, ¡°Your right, she hasn¡¯t and I don¡¯t actually have spells for that.¡±


    ¡°Since they are demons or monsters there isn¡¯t a problem, right?¡±


    ¡°I should be, at least assuming that my patron doesn¡¯t like demons.¡±


    Bryan unhands K as I create fire over the other two individuals. K cuts the throat of the one near her as I control and spread the fire throughout the room, cleansing the scent of both sickness and feces. Normal fire wouldn¡¯t quite do this but the fire I will into existence does.


    After a moment, the fire dies down and Bryan brings up a different subject, ¡°Adrian, I want your opinion on something before I try it.¡± K leaves the room, no doubt to make sure that the others are safe should anything find the others.


    ¡°On what?¡±


    ¡°Lichdom, I read Dam?¡¯s books and I want to try something. A modification of shade lichdom.¡±


    ¡°Why? And how? Do you even have enough control over mana for something like that?¡±


    ¡°Strength, Ihave the power to protect Abagail and the others. I just don¡¯t possess the same raw power that you do and this is the only way Iknowto get it. Besides, mana isn¡¯t too difficult to use.¡±


    Mana isn¡¯t difficult to use? How does it even work? I can¡¯t get it to do anything aside from Void Cache.


    ¡°What are you going to do and how?¡±


    ¡°Separate my spirit and create a connection to the plane of shadows, then reestablish the connection to my body. I would like you to keep me alive so I won¡¯t be a walking corpse.¡±


    ¡°Will that even work? Lichdom is tied to negative energy it doesn¡¯t pair with positive energy without a medium between them.¡±


    ¡°Life and death are the two side to the same coin. It¡¯s that the dead can¡¯t hold positive energy like the living suffer from negative energy.¡±


    Maybe, I¡¯m not sure but that could work. The two energy types are connected even if they are inversions of the other. . .


    ¡°How long will this take?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not really sure.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help set up your ritual as I do my own.¡±


    <hr>


    Bryan


    <hr>


    I smile as Adrian agrees to help. I¡¯m not actually sure what I¡¯m going to do would work but Adrian¡¯s power is to change reality itself. If he believes or even thinks something will work it does. Kythia¡¯s magic shouldn¡¯t work as conveniently as it does, blood magic works by theconcept of sacrifice. I¡¯m not complaining since it benefits me too, it doesn¡¯t seem to be something he does on purpose.


    Adrian pulls a knife out of nowhere one of the very few things he does that detect magic can find. He begins to carve words into the wall.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Time dilation field, I assume that you''re going to need more than just a few minutes or even hours.¡±


    I stand still for a moment, not sure what to think about him having that much power. The energy cost of such a thing would be ridiculous but he can create energy by willing it to be. I begin to draw the runes and patterns needed and altered to be fueled by positive rather than negative energy.


    ¡°How are you going to fuel your spell? That is what the connection to the negative energy plane was for, drawing power from every death that occurs in the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°I was planning on using my living body as a conduit as you heal and restore the life force in it.¡±


    ¡°Your plan is for me to fuel your spell by generating lifeforce?¡±


    ¡°Well, you can do it, can¡¯t you?¡±


    Adrian sighs for a moment before nodding, ¡°It isn¡¯t the best idea though.¡±


    ¡°I trust you, it¡¯ll work.¡±


    I finish up drawing the ritual as I explain both what the ritual is supposed to do and what I want my alterations to do. Once finished with my preparations I motion to Adrian when I am about to begin and chant the spells of this ritual.


    My body begins to chill and my vision darkens before my body falls to the center of the circles. I stand in a spectral form over my body as my lifeforce is drained to call and draw power through the Aether, the rawest form of mana to form the runes to build the bridge between my soul phylactery and the plane of shadows.


    My lifeforce dims and then swells, no reason for the growth of my dwindling life can be seen by me but I smile as Adrian lets me use his endless magic as a battery. I draw more and more of my life as it regenerates almost as quickly as I can spend it. The shadows of the room are all pulled to my body as something changes in my essence. The line of life and death gets blurred for me and I try to reconnect to my body but every connection I try just cause the shadow around my body to become thicker.


    Maybe I was wrong in thinking Adrian was pasivly warping what''s around him. . .

 Chapter 102

    Steel dragons are similar in temperament to bronze dragons, aside from having an unyielding desire to craft the arms and armor for war. Their instinctual magics revolve around the manipulation of metal and fire. They care little over the size of their territory so long as it has the materials and infrastructure to allow them to continue in whatever their chosen crafts are. They are the most common dragon to make alliances with the civilized races openly or under disguise.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I¡¯m not sure what is taking Bryan so long after his ritual reached its pinnacle, the shadows of the room stretching and converging around the body of my friend and where I assume his spirit is.


    After what feels like hours, the draining of the life in the body of my friend ceases. He is breathing and there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything wrong with him except that he does not do anything save breathe even though he is not asleep. The shadows retreat as the ultraviolet lights of the circle dims. His spell has ended but something is not right, I walk over to my friend and start examining it in every kind of perception that I have used before.


    I find nothing amiss aside from the lack of my friend making any actions, there are no entities of positive or negative energy in the room save for myself and my friend¡¯s still living body. What could have gone wrong? Nothing is wrong with the body, nothing different aside from the swirling of darkness which I assume is an effect of building a connection to shadows.


    I can feel a chill, something unnatural. What could have gone wrong other than an effect on the body? The only other part is something going wrong with the spirit part of the ritual. I look around as I pull on the Sphere of Soul as I try to figure out how to sense the spirit. I bound Lykou to me and that is harder to do than sensing.


    It does not take long for me to figure it out, the similarity to sensing life and death suprises me. I ignore the wisps scattered around the room as I focus on what I can only assume is my friend as the semitransparent figure is the splitting image of him.


    ¡°Bryan?¡± I ask looking straight at him.


    He responds after a moment, surprised by me talking to him.


    ¡°You can see me now?¡±


    ¡°For now, what went wrong?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t reestablish the connection to my body.¡±


    ¡°Prove to me that you¡¯re Bryan.¡±


    ¡°Really Adrian, you¡¯re going to make me prove who I am?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you could be a demon spirit after all, trying to trick me.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fair enough. So how do you want me to prove it? Answering questions?¡±


    ¡°Just tell me a few things only you would know.¡±


    ¡°You cheat at games including dice. You have no idea how to actually use mana. Your favorite class was your PE Aerobics class because you were the . . .¡±


    ¡°Alright, enough I believe you. Other than failing to reforge the connection to your body did anything else go wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s the only part that failed. I would have already dissipated otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t resist¡± I say as I put forwards my right hand and create chains to bind souls. He never died so this should work.


    Bryan screams as the chains pass through him before they drag him back where he should be, towards his own body. They wrap around him but rather than enter his body the two are just pressed against each other. I frown, this is not what I want. I want them to merge like dragon-me and I did not Lykou.


    I can feel the resistance, the dissonance between the two. This won¡¯t work, the body would be a puppet and not Bryan; the chains don¡¯t get rid of the resistance between the two. The chains fade as I try to force the two to force the two to superimpose, pulling on more Spheres at once than I ever had before.


    I begin to space out as I struggle to push reality. Tension builds as reality pushes back, and everything goes blurry. I keep pushing, refusing to accept the loss of another friend. I hear breaking glass as if a window was shattered into hundreds of pieces as what I see does the same.


    I stand in an empty void, thousands of symbols form and dissipate as I stand confused. What is going on? Where did everything go?


    ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°Nowhere, and at the very same time everywhere¡± I hear as me-but-not-me comes out of nowhere in front of me.


    ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then why am I here.¡±


    ¡°You are realizing something about how to manipulate our power."


    ¡°And what would that be?¡±


    Me-but-not-me gestures to the symbols that surround us, ¡°you tell me.¡±


    I look at the symbols and they just keep appearing and disappearing.


    ¡°That some Spheres are connected? parts of other larger Spheres; but that can¡¯t be right, isn¡¯t everything its own thing?¡±


    ¡°Why? You change reality according to how you understand concepts. Why can¡¯t a one concept be included in another. There is more than a single way to explain anything."


    I can¡¯t help but nod, her logic is good.


    ¡°Anything else, or can I go back to saving my friend¡¯s life?¡±


    ¡°Just this¡± me-but-not-me touches my forehead, images of the birth, life and death of many people. Every one of them a mage with more raw potential than the previous. With each birth, something connects to them and moves onto another at death, stronger than it was before.


    After a time no new mages were being born, and the something had to wait. A long wait, longer than any other ended with a single opportunity, but the new mage wasn''t like the others. It had reptilian deformities. Something it and the other somethings always avoided bonding to.


    The something hesitated before entering and becoming part of the humanoid reptile as it had with previous hosts; even as its scales darken.


    ¡°What was that¡± I ask, but me-but-not-me only smiles before whatever this is shatters the same way that I got here; only now I am lying on my back.


    I glance around and see Bryan sitting up and holding his head as if he had a headache. I feel a bit different than normal, a slight headache but more confused at whatever it was that me-but-not-me showed me at the end. What happened here though? What did I do?


    ¡°What? How?¡± I hear Bryan ask.


    I shrug my shoulders when he looks over to me, ¡°I don¡¯t remember, I passed out.¡±


    Bryan lends me a hand up, and the two of us take a quick look around the room to find nothing out of place.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to tell me what you managed to get out of this¡± I say and Bryan nods.


    Once we get to the front room, Abagail and K are sitting there waiting for us.


    ¡°What took so long?¡± Abagail asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re on your own for this one¡± I mutter towards Bryan.


    ¡°I wanted Adrian¡¯s help with something in case it went wrong¡± Bryan answers.


    I walk over to K as Abagail pulls Bryan away. K smiles and starts to slowly walk away with a sway in her hips, ¡°feeling better¡± she asks.


    ¡°A bit¡± I answer as I follow her down a hall to another room.


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    K gives me a kiss as she pulls us into the room, unlike last night I return it. I slip one of my hands under her shirt and press her against the wall.


    Her own hands mirror my actions as I close the door behind me with my foot. I am not sure if I tried to take off K''s shirt first or if she tried to take off mine. Either way both are now on the floor and I smile at the sight that bounces gently before me.


    K replaced the strip of cloth with a red bra and while it does look great on her the color would be better on the twins with their red hair. I take a step back and watch as K removes the bra.


    Once she finishes, she grabs my hand and pulls me towards the bed. The two beds of the room having been pushed together, Lysan and Talia asleep on one side. They are in nightshirts and the blanket over them does not cover much. The shirts seem disappointing to me, maybe if they were my shirts. . .


    The question of how long I spend helping Bryan passes through my mind for an instant as K has us sit on the edge of the bed. I begin playing with her boobs, the firm softness just too good for me not to do something.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    K begins to pull my belt off but finds some trouble in finishing the action as I push her down on the bed to kiss and suck on her chest. She humors me for a while but I know she would rather have me porking her as hard as I can. I like her boobs more than she likes me playing with them. . .


    After a few short minutes I pull back, my spit catching what little moonlight coming through the cracked window. My pants fall, K having long removed my belt and I stand before her in no more than socks and an underwear tent.


    I pull on her pants as she very willingly moves to make it easy for me to strip her. There is a glint of animalistic desire in her eyes as she stared at my crotch. She then sits up and pulls off a pair of black panties, the released smell of her arousal brings a twitch to the tent on my hips.


    Not taking my eyes off K I ditch the last of my clothing, making sure to let my boxers land next to her. K jumps and I catch her, a little higher and I might have been able to slide into her but I content myself with the feeling of being pressed against her slit.


    She growls and I make us fall on to the bed. I line myself up and slide into her, enjoying the warmth as her walls wrap around me. We both let out a light groan at the sensation before she like always tries to take the lead and roll us over.


    For once I let her but make sure the roll continues until she is on her back again. It was a partial mistake as we now take up part of the bed already occupied by the twins but I don¡¯t immediately notice that. I thrust into K hard and growl ¡°mine¡± into her ear.


    Her legs wrap around my waist as I start plowing away. Her exclamations only serving to let me know just how much she likes it hard and fast. Even if she is trying to hold back a bit to not wake the elves.


    Just as she begins to claw on my back I bite her ear. Her scream echoes in my ears and becomes so tight I barely manage to thrust hard enough to strike her deepest depths. I groan into her ear as I dye her in my color.


    The elves bolt up but I wouldn¡¯t have noticed it if their movements hadn¡¯t shaken the bed. I let go of K''s ear and give it a lick as the movements of her walls pull a few more drops from me.


    After the moment for us to catch our breaths I look at the two elves upset from being woken up by K screaming in their ears. I give the two of them a grin, ¡°sex?¡± I say hoping that it will work as an apology and that I can have them tonight.


    ¡°Did you wake us up just for that?¡± Talia asks as I unconsciously start thrusting into K again.


    ¡°Accidently but I was going to. . .¡± I say before Lysan cuts me off with a kiss.


    After the kiss she whispers ¡°you can have me even if I¡¯m asleep¡± to me.


    Talia says something else but other than it was a yes for tonight I forget it as K pulls my head down and kisses me before thrusting upwards spurring me to mess her insides up some more.


    Something I have no problem with at all. She struggles a little to get me to keep her pinned and I cycle between biting and growling in her ear after each attempt from her to take charge. Each time she cums a tiny bit and I get closer to repeating what I just did to her. I don¡¯t understand it but she loves this ear stuff.


    Soon she let¡¯s out another scream as she climaxes, this time I wait a second before biting her other ear and stop holding in another flood of white dye for her inner walls.


    I feel K completely relax as I pull out of her. I smile as I think I¡¯ve found what she finds most satisfying even if I think it¡¯s more than a little weird.


    ¡°Are you planning on being that rough with us?¡± I hear Talia ask as the draft in the room brings a slight chill to my length covered in a mix of K and my fluids. The shirts the twins had on are now on the floor, naked elven beauty in open view to my eyes.


    ¡°Only of that¡¯s what you want¡± I answer and she smiles. I don¡¯t think she would handle what I just did to K very well.


    I pull Talia towards me and give her a passionate kiss while one of my hands check how wet she is. Wet enough, I smile as I push her onto her back but before I finish lining myself up she tries to roll us over. Unlike K who does this to have a fake struggle I don¡¯t think Talia wants me to force her to be on the bottom.


    I let her roll us over see us stop with my tip just poking her slit. Talia has one arm helping her balance on my belly, she slowly lowers herself. Her pedals spread as I enter and a growing bulge forms as she stretches to accommodate my size.


    I watch as Talia¡¯s breasts bounce and the bump formed from how much of me is in her grows and shrinks. I start thrusting lightly up into Talia. She takes it as encouragement to do more and I can¡¯t keep my hands off her as she starts telling me how much she loves this.


    This show is better than when K rides me and it is not too much longer before I grab her hips both of us nearing our limits. Talia stops her vertical motions and begins grinding against me while swaying. The new sensation is not one I¡¯m used to and with a grunt I erupt and Talia cries out, pushing fluid past me.


    A few seconds later she goes limp and I roll us over, ¡°did you like it?¡± I hear Talia ask.


    ¡°I did¡± I answer before starting to enjoy her body some more.


    I try making some circular motions instead of just straight thrusts as I have done before. If the moans Talia makes are anything to go by I¡¯m not the only one who enjoys the variance.


    All to soon Talia cums again and I follow a second later. Exhaustion and fulfillment are on Talia¡¯s face as I roll off her. That look on her face is just too satisfying and I give her a quick kiss before she starts trying to cuddle up to me and fall asleep as she tries to hold onto my arm.


    I barely manage to replace my arm with a pillow before Talia is out. I sit up to see Lysan crawling over to me. Before I know it, she sits in my lap and one arm is around my neck as she pulls herself up to give me a kiss.


    We separate with some trailing spit between us. I feel her hand over my cock just before she guides it into her, ¡°I love you . . .¡± she begins before a slight moan interrupts as as much of me as possible for our position fills her.


    Lysan pushes me gently to lay back down, ¡°I saw how much you liked sister doing this¡± she mutters with some embarrassment and I grin. I watch as she takes the rest of me inside and starts to ride and grind against me as her sister did with one distinct difference, she is trying her best to make sure I enjoy it.


    I try to hold back and enjoy the show for as long as I can but I couldn¡¯t help but give some thrusts of appreciation. I grit my teeth and grip Lysan¡¯s hips only to have her grind against me as I try to hold on as long as I can. I lean my head back and groan as I pump Lysan full, my orgasm pushing her over the edge.


    Lysan lies down on my chest and snuggles against me, my slowly shrinking erection still inside her. I smile as I give my elven lover a hug. ¡°Stay here¡± I hear her mumble as I move to cover us all with a blanket, and I give into her request she can have as much of me as she wants falling to sleep myself.


    <hr>


    For the first time in several days I do not resist when the Grey Dream pulls me into it. Unlike last time there is a person standing in front of me. A man in a grey robe who just smirks at me and answers the question on my mind, ¡°no need for cheap theatrics between us¡± he says.


    ¡°Alright just create the interface you have been giving me.¡±


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Absorbed Souls: Gain: Languages (Dwarven, High Dwarven, High Elven, Terran, Ignan), Unpracticed knowledge on various skills, +50SP,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Dragon 13 (+30SP, +50EP), Magus 17 (+40SP, Sphere Increase), Necrol (Spoken) +2SP, Melee 4 (+4SP), Hand-to-Hand 3 (+3SP), Perception 4 (+4SP), Arcane Power 6 (+30SP), Concept Fusion Life/Death, Life/Death 5 (+25SP), Demon Kill: +50EP, Reality Weaver Kill: +100EP,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 200


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 264


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Of course this place rewards me for the death of Frank. The sadness returns but I take a breath and do the best I can to set the emotion aside with only partial success. I touch EP and bring up the dragon options.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Powers


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I open the Alternate Form options.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Human Transformation (Improved) 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Natural Armor 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Why would I need either of these? I still look human aside from my eyes and I don¡¯t think my scales need to be stronger. Perhaps I will end up picking things up beyond just dragon powers, but what? Also, why isn¡¯t there a size increase for dragon form?


    I touch the other tab as I conclude there must be some sort of requirement for the option.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Grasp 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Slip 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Void Twist 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    No new options, I¡¯m not entirely sure what any of these will do but dragon-me will probably have some sort of memory about it. He knew how to use the other dragon powers instinctively so he may know these too. I take all three of them and once my EP has dropped the Alternate Form screen changes.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Human Transformation (Improved) 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Natural Armor 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Size 150


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I can¡¯t buy it, I don¡¯t have the EP for it anymore. It doesn¡¯t have an age category though, perhaps this one is repeatable like I assume Increase Natural Armor is? I glance at my SP, it still isn¡¯t enough to raise the tier of one of my Spheres. Should I keep holding onto it, or spend it since the cost of the Spheres I want to buy keep going up?


    I open the options for my Spheres of magic.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="623">


    Free Sphere Increases: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    1280 Arcane Power 6


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    320 Planar 0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    80 Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    1280 Life/Death 5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    1280 Soul 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    160 Primal 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    640 Time 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    10 Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Fire 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Lightning 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Light 3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    20 Gravity 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="312">


    40 Mind 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I don¡¯t have any of the options of the big, high cost spheres. What option should I take? The best options I could have aren¡¯t available. I don¡¯t know much about it but the most costly option is Prime so I take it.


    I could buy a few of the low-cost Spheres but I¡¯m not sure I should since I was able to get them to the level that they are at without the help of this place. I¡¯m a little proud of them but there seems to be a required number of Spheres at a certain tier to purchase higher tiers. How can I get the most out of it?


    I buy Lightning and Light 4, then I take Lightning 5. That should be enough to work with for a while.

 Chapter 103

    Silver dragons are the metallics that prefer the cold and damp regions of the world, much like white dragons they are more than willing to warp the climate around their homes to match their preferences if they must. They are known as the most civil of metallic and in truth all dragons, so long as they are able to have a respectable winter in a city they will happily pretend to be a member of the race of that city and live among the people there. Female silver dragons have also been known to fall in love with the men of civilized races, often elves and humans. Often not even telling their lover of their true form before the birth of a child or to save their love from danger. Their instinctual magic is over ice, snow, wind and water.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Nothing ends up disturbing our rest and I can only assume that the alarm spells are going to end up replacing our night watches. Only a few hours after dawn we are on our way outside of the city. We walk westwards, even though I am not sure it will be safe at Grandpa¡¯s anymore it is better than aimless wandering.


    A few hours out of town we are waylaid by another small group of people and unlike the previous three times it didn¡¯t become part of K¡¯s rehabilitation plan for Ria. This time it was by another group of survivors. It was meant to be an ambush but K noticed them before we walked into the kill zone of their crossfire.


    There are seven of them, a mix between people from Althr¨¢ and Earth. K seems agitated by one of the scents and drew her sword. The rest of our group save me pulls out one of their own weapons as she shouts out.


    ¡°We know you are there come out¡± K yells.


    I motion Abagail and Lysan to move behind one of the empty abandoned cars. Even with their armor and that they have had to fight in melee before I would rather they stay at range where their skills are put to better use.


    They follow the gestured order as the party of seven whose ambush was called show themselves. Six I don¡¯t recognize, three humans, two beastkin canines of some sort and an elf; every one of them female. The last is a person I do recognize, the seductress that I healed on the road to Kansas City. So, she survived and seeing that she is the one who responds to K''s shout, I think she is in charge of this group.


    ¡°Fellow women you don¡¯t need to stay subjugated to the men with you. Turn against them and join us, you don¡¯t need to spread your legs just to get food and a place to sleep¡± the temptress says with quite a bit of passion only to get weird looks from all our group save Ria.


    The looks given by the trio do not show as much confusion as the one from Abagail. I¡¯ve heard from them how the situation this woman is assuming is happening in Althr¨¢ but not here with us.


    ¡°We decline¡± I hear from the trio followed by a ¡°no¡± from Abagail. Ria does not respond but she hasn¡¯t been with us long nor should she be capable of any meaningful betrayal.


    ¡°Why? Even if you haven¡¯t been forced to yet those males will make you nothing more than an object of theirs eventually¡± the temptress says and I cannot help but laugh.


    A laugh I am glad to hear others in my group join, they all know Bryan and me, we would never become someone who would do something like that.


    ¡°Why are you laughing? Haven¡¯t you learned that men will never just help you?¡±


    I crack up further, she is going off on this anti male thing even though I saved her life a while ago. My actions earn the ire of one of the human women, a young woman with a boy¡¯s haircut. She threatens me with a drawn arrow, ¡°silence male. If you disrespect Raena again I will kill you.¡±


    So Raena is the temptress''s name? Odd name, but I get tired of this and decide to speak up before K decides to attack the girl who is targeting me with a bow. They managed to cross the language barrier though.


    ¡°temptress of honeyed words is this any way to treat someone who saved your life?¡±


    ¡°Like a man would ever try do anything but possess a woman¡± Raena scoffs.


    Blinded by her hate of men, I can see that with what I saw her suffer before. Do I show her that she is wrong or just start the fight? Their weapons are crude like the goblins, so I think our armor will handle anything aside from magic that they throw at us. . .


    Should I play the role of wise dragon again? If I do her followers will probably attack during my transformation and there is no guarantee that she won¡¯t deny it. She did manage to survive and gather followers so I should probably take this more seriously but I can¡¯t seem to take her seriously with what she is saying.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    My dilemma over what to do is taken out of my hands as I hear the clapping from a man in the shadows. Raena¡¯s group immediately begins to shoot their bows at the man though he moves in some preternatural blur dodging the attacks.


    In another blur two of Raena¡¯s group are knocked to the ground. The remaining members of Raena¡¯s group panic, they have not been in much if any combat and all save Raena herself. Bolts of some strange fire form in front of her before flying at the man who was clapping.


    Bryan and K look at me, a silent asking if we should get involved in the fight. I shake my head, if that man wanted to attack us he would have from his concealment. If we join it will just be a three-way fight since Raena seemed to have no interest in dealing with men. I try and sense the fire she is using, maybe her magic could have been of use.


    I can feel the fire but there are gaps in that energy, it is blended with something else. Not pure fire, and not the same oddity that Ria¡¯s flames hold. Different magic, too bad, she could have been useful.


    By the time I stop examining the fire, the man had killed or perhaps knocked out all of Raena¡¯s crew save herself. Raena vanishes from sight but I can hear her shoes on the pavement as she runs away. The man who surprised us puts away a knife I only now notice as he turns to us.


    ¡°Apologies Adrian Ravnos, my master thanks you for the release of his childe and owes you a favor. If you need the help of the children of the night in this city you need but ask and tell them to bring you to Charles Del Mon¡± the man says as he bows before blurring out of our perception, leaving me slightly confused as to why he said what he did. The only person aside from Ria we saved was a vampire, did I guess wrong about what he was? Or do the vampires have at minimum servants who can walk in the light? Daywalkers maybe?


    ¡°I guess you were right to keep us from getting involved in that fight¡± Bryan says and I nod.


    ¡°When did you meet that tiefling?¡± K asks.


    Tiefling? She does smell odd but I didn¡¯t notice any deformity aren¡¯t they supposed to have some sort of mutation?


    ¡°I was killing some orcs in dragon form on our way to Kansas City. She was a captive in one of the camps, dragon-me wanted to heal her¡± I answer.


    [Don¡¯t say that, I don¡¯t want the hoard upset with me.]


    [Too late.] I respond to dragon-me.


    I get a few weird looks from everyone but K who just nods. I guess Moonlight Runner sometimes tells her to do stuff. What would Moonlight Runner¡¯s requests be about?


    ¡°Shall we get going?¡± I ask the others and they nod, we have a lot of walking to do without a vehicle.


    <hr>


    A few hours past noon we are several miles down I-70 we stop as a pickup truck with a motorcycle in the back comes up from behind us. We move to the side of the road to let it pass but it slows down to match our pace, the mirror tint on the windows keep me from seeing the inside before the window rolls down.


    ¡°Want a ride?¡± I hear as I recognize both the face and voice of my father.


    ¡°Dad?¡± I say confused by the military uniform he wears. The others stopping as I do, K begins to sniff the air. Is she expecting to find something specific?


    The truck stops and my dad opens the passenger door, ¡°get in, mom is at a farmhouse on the other side of Lawrence. There aren¡¯t enough seats in the back for all your friends so some will have to get in the back of the truck.¡±


    Is this actually happening? Even if it is what if he is like Frank and will betray me? Would he have given me that journal if he was going to do so? Is this a trick? No, someone pretending to be dad wouldn¡¯t make the mistake of being in a military uniform. There is also mom. . .


    I take a step towards the car and give a nod to K¡¯s questioning gaze. K, Abagail and Lysan end up in the back seats. I am sitting shotgun while the others are all in the tail bed.


    We ride in silence for a few minutes before my dad speaks up.


    ¡°How have you been?¡±


    How am I supposed to answer that? Tell him of Frank trying to kill me, of how the government has tried to kill me both with and without Frank. Or do I answer with how the trio are the source of most of my happiness outside of my growing magic since this apocalypse?


    ¡°Adrian, I know about the problems you were having with the government. I know about your younger brothers, your girlfriends and even some about your powers. It doesn¡¯t matter about what, you¡¯ll feel better after talking about it.


    And don¡¯t worry, no one can hear what we say¡± he says as if he knew what I was thinking about, my conflicting thoughts must have been an easy read. . .


    ¡°Is what you wrote in that journal true?¡±


    ¡°Every word, how much of it have you read?¡±


    ¡°About a third, I don¡¯t really get the idea of how or even why you would steal the bodies of others. Wouldn¡¯t it be easier to just make yourself live longer or just go and make a new body?¡±


    ¡°It would be easier to do but both are more noticeable and more likely to cause the world to reject you. By stealing someone else¡¯s life and growing up all over no one will question your age or where you came from. Everyone will just assume you are skilled from being a genius or savant. That¡¯s the logic for body theft over the more direct methods of immortality, at least for those with the powers of our family.¡±


    I nod, I didn¡¯t think about that problem. ¡°What was all the stuff about a curse being a side effect? You never explained it.¡±


    ¡°I never was able to confirm it but the archmages that perform the reincarnation on us said that it had something to do with the second soul and it eroding during they cycle of reincarnation. It is this erosion that weakens our ability to perform our magic and the weaker binding between the new body and the souls than normal prevents the damage from healing.


    Regardless of it is a side effect of how they twisted reality or a literal curse from a god, as I am more inclined to think personally, the effects prevent our power from growing stronger and our posterity save for you have never awakened to this power.¡±


    ¡°I get it but why all the focus on living longer? Don¡¯t we live long enough as dragons?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not dragons, you didn¡¯t get that from being a Ravnos. If anything, that should have kept you from being one.¡±


    We are not dragons? No, I definitely am one, I¡¯m not messing with reality when I use the dragon stuff. There isn¡¯t any backlash no matter what I do. Wait, if the dragon stuff isn¡¯t from dad¡¯s side of the family, then they have to be from mom.


    ¡°Why would that keep me from having the family magic?¡±


    ¡°Previous experiments on crossbreeding during the middle ages were unsuccessful.¡±


    Breeding experiments? I hadn¡¯t read about that in the journal, but somehow, I believe it with all the other stuff in it that I have read.

 Chapter 104

    Gold dragons are both lawful and moral to a fault, a gold dragon never breaks his word nor will he break the code of morals that he has chosen to follow. While this is often taken advantage of by those who care to plan how to fight a gold, the raw physical and magical might of a gold dwarfs that of even most other dragons. They are often thought of as the draconic equivalent of paladins though they do not answer to a higher power in most cases. Gold dragons are masters of the powers of fire, law and often wealth. They often feel guilty about the crimes they committed before awakening to sentience.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I actually enjoy the rest of the over an hour-long ride, I didn¡¯t get to spend much time with dad after grandpa started teaching me magic and dad started working as a truck driver. I¡¯m pretty sure now that it was a cover for doing some other job. Our conversation did not just cover the curse plaguing the Ravnos family but also the Grey Dream.


    I found it odd that he didn¡¯t once experience it during this month? since the conjunction. Though it is a ploy, at least in part, by devils to corrupt even if the Althaen God¡¯s are involved. Were they tricked or is it a calculated risk?


    If the others thought it odd for me to have a conversation with my dad while they can¡¯t hear they kept it to themselves. When we pull into a farmhouse off one of the country roads, I don¡¯t know where exactly due to lost and damaged signs, the other passengers are quiet for the ride, or maybe what dad did to keep them from hearing us also kept me from hearing them.


    Mom must have been waiting at the window because she is running to the truck before we even stop. Those of us in the car open our respective doors while the others just climb over the tailgate.


    I find myself being hugged by my mother, much like when she woke up after I fought that demon. After a moment, she separated from me and looks around.


    ¡°Where are Anthony and Frank?¡± she asks.


    I don¡¯t know what to say, Frank is dead and I haven¡¯t seen Anthony.


    ¡°They weren¡¯t with Adrian¡± I hear dad say and I nod feeling guilty about lying, by omission, to my mother. I don¡¯t want her to have to morn Frank¡¯s death and cry over how he was trying to kill me.


    ¡°I thought they were with you¡± I manage to say with a straight face.


    In an attempt to placate some of her worry dad says, ¡°I¡¯ll look for them, but they can take care of themselves.¡±


    ¡°Lets go inside, there is something I need to talk to you about mom¡± I say.


    ¡°Is it about your eyes?¡± she asks.


    ¡°Partly¡± I answer as we all begin to walk into the house. The front room seems larger than it proportionally needs to be, more chairs than the rest of the house seems to be meant to house. The previous owners must have had meetings of some sort in here.


    Once inside most of my friends are inside they start to set up the building like the last two, runes being drawn by Bryan and Lysan as the others set up sleeping arrangements. My dad follows me as I pull my mother to a side room.


    ¡°What is it you wanted to talk about?¡± she asks not seeming to care that we are still in earshot.


    ¡°I talked with Dad and my dragon abilities are from you.¡±


    She just looks at me for a bit before saying ¡°don¡¯t be silly, I would know if I had any relatives that turn into giant lizards.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get them from dad and they have to some from somewhere.¡±


    ¡°So, I have to secretly be a giant fire breathing lizard?¡±


    ¡°Not like that mom, the world is dangerous and you¡¯re not a fighter. You don¡¯t have the ability to defend yourself, this would give you the power to.¡±


    ¡°So I should just change myself for power? Become something else just to survive?¡±


    ¡°Kathrine, that isn¡¯t what he means and you know it. Has Adrian stop being himself?¡± dad interrupts while pulling some stale smelling bread from a cupboard.


    ¡°He lost himself for a while and that could happen again. Not to mention the physical changes in him.¡±


    ¡°The physical stuff is all beneficial, and the losing myself was from suppressing and denying a part of me. How power is used is just as important as where it comes from. Is it wrong to use what you were born with to defend the family?¡± I ask with a grin, this is perhaps one of the few times where I am right to go against her in an argument.


    After a moment she sighs, ¡°alright, but how did you gain access to them?¡±


    Technically it was a mix between aid from devils and cannibalism but there is no way I¡¯m going that far in my explanation. She would never consent to something anywhere close to that.


    ¡°Dreams and eating certain things.¡±


    ¡°Eating what?¡±


    ¡°Dragons¡±


    I get a look of confusion from my mother. She probably doesn¡¯t have any idea why this would be the answer, and I don¡¯t really know either but it works as a supplement to the Grey Dream. I assume it would still work without it, I physically wanted dragon blood and felt better and stronger from drinking it before my visit to the Grey Dream.


    ¡°Do you have any on you?¡± my dad asks.


    ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t happen to know if there were any nearby, would you?¡± I ask and unconsciously lick my lips.


    ¡°Would there even be any left for her if I told you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, unless it was too small.¡±


    ¡°I still haven¡¯t agreed to any of this¡± my mother says.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to, you¡¯ll want to eat it if I give you any¡± I tell my mother before looking at my dad, ¡°so, do you know where one is?¡±


    ¡°No, but I can find one. I¡¯ll tell you in the morning¡± he answers before yawning.


    I suppose he is tired, I know some of the others are as well. It is getting close to dusk anyways.


    ¡°Adrian, I didn¡¯t have the opportunity to earlier and while I still disagree with the morality of it; you have my blessing to pursue those girls. The rule I gave you back home still holds though¡± I hear my mom say.


    I wouldn¡¯t have stopped being with the trio even if she still disapproved but the words relieve me of some burden that I had forgotten about. Even though I don¡¯t seek out her or my dad¡¯s approval, it being given does make me feel better.


    ¡°Do you own this farm?¡± I can¡¯t help but ask.


    My mother frowns for a moment before my father answers with a smirk, ¡°no, but keeping it quiet would be appreciated.¡±


    ¡°Randy¡± my mother somehow both whispers and shouts at my dad.


    ¡°What? How else do you expect to get to play with some grandchildren?¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I want to . . .¡±


    I don¡¯t have any desire at all to hear any more of this conversation and leave to help the others in preparing the house as a camp. Unfortunately, there are only two bedrooms. Aside from those two the only are rooms are the front room, kitchen and a bathroom. Simply not enough space for everyone to get privacy.


    There is no way I¡¯ll be kicking my parents out of one of the two bedrooms and would feel bad about doing the same to Bryan who somehow managed to occupy the other before any of the trio got there.


    ¡°Where do you want us, and where will the fox sleep?¡± K asks. I assume the fox is a reference to Ria.


    ¡°Ria can take the couch, we''ll have to set something up for us outside¡± I answer.


    The trio nods and smiles, the sky is clear and besides the chilly air it is a good night to sleep under the stars. A tent appears in my hand and I hold it over my shoulder as I walk towards the door. I could have just brought it out of Void Cache where we end up setting it up but this lets the others in the house see that we will be sleeping outside.


    The ground while not the soft soil of a forest or garden is flat and aside from the driveway has few rocks. I would guess it¡¯s from years of pulling them out while tilling the ground.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take care of it¡± I hear Lysan say as she pulls on the tent and I let it fall into her hands behind me.


    She and her sister set it up quickly, within a couple minutes. Faster than I ever managed to set it up during what little camping I managed to do before spending the summer with Grandpa. Did they practice setting it up while I wasn¡¯t looking?Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    With a mental shrug, I step into the four-man tent, it¡¯s going to be a little crowded in here but I don¡¯t think any of us will mind. I place some air mats on the floor of the tent rather than the mattress that would take up too much room.


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Once we are all inside, I zip up the door to close it. I can hear the trio undressing behind me.


    I turn around to find the elven twins helping each other remove their bras. They like them more than the cloth strips, even if they struggle with them sometimes.


    ¡°Need any help¡± I ask to no one in particular with a smirk.


    K turns her back to me. I lean in and kiss her just below her ear as I unhook her bra. I like the small noise she makes from enjoying my action. She leans back into me as her bra falls to the floor of the tent.


    I pause for a moment after wrapping my arms around K, one across her belly to hold her while the other feels the curves of her breasts. They are all so nice to me, always there for me.


    I separate my mouth from K''s neck, turning to Talia and Lysan. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of everything tonight. Just lay back and enjoy yourselves¡± I tell them with a smile.


    I go back to kissing K''s neck for a moment before I move to nibble on K''s ear as I unbuckle her pants. I want to show them as much affection as I can tonight instead of just getting off inside them.


    I begin to play with and squeeze K''s breasts all while slowly pulling her into my lap as my other hand strips her of her jeans. I can smell her growing arousal and see the slow rise of her body temperature. Her nipples get hard under my right hand as she starts to fidget in my lap.


    ¡°Please try not to make too much noise. I''d rather not have to deal with my parents embarrassing us¡± I whisper in her ear only now letting it out of my mouth.


    She nods submissively and I lie her down on the floor of the tent. For once she doesn¡¯t make a play at making me force her to be on the bottom.


    I turn so both the elves and K are in front of me as I pull off my shirt, I smile at them all. I get smiles back from each one even if K''s seemed to be tinted with impatience to get back to caressing her.


    The tent was never designed for a couple to fool around in but I manage to fit us both with just enough overlap for me to be able to molest her without hitting the tent walls by making us a diagonal line across the middle of our small tent. I should find a larger one. . .


    I whisper in her ear, ¡°I love you.¡± I don¡¯t think I ever told any of them that yet but I¡¯m going to each one individually tonight. K doesn¡¯t react but I think she already knew it. I trail my kisses from the base of her ear down to her breasts slowly before I begin to suck on one while my hand wanders over the other.


    She moans enjoying my attention to her bosom even if she would rather I kept up the ear biting instead. Why does she even like that?


    The hand not caressing her bosom slips into her panties to find them already damp. I begin to play with her entrance for a moment before pulling them down while continuing my trail of kisses towards it.


    I sniff her sex and receive a twitch from my confined manhood. I want to just stuff myself into her but I don¡¯t. I finish my trail of kisses on a nub in the same spot I found one on Lysan. K immediately reacts, spreading her legs further as I begin to lick it and the inner part of her lower lips.


    Something in me likes the taste of her fluids. My nose rubs against the nub as I let my tongue explore the shape and taste of her insides. I feel her hands around my head as she pulls me closer, trying to get my tongue deeper. She may not like this as much as last night but she does enjoy it.


    A rush of fluid hits my taste buds as she let¡¯s out a small cry as I manage to bring her to orgasm. She relaxes for a moment but I know K wouldn¡¯t be satisfied with just this. I get up from her and drop my pants.


    I could have just put them in Void Cache but if the looks Talia is giving me are anything to go by they would rather watch me undress then not. K spreads her legs, an invitation I take gladly, slowly entering her; enjoying the feel of her wrapping flesh pulling me in.


    I give her a kiss as the last of me enters before thrusting gently and slowly as I lick her ear to satisfy her weird desires. I feel her tighten around me as she starts her usual token resistance.


    I start thrusting harder into her as I hold her pinned. Every tiny bit of dominance I assert bring her to a faster and harder release whose sounds I muffle with a kiss. I make a few more thrusts before finding my own release.


    I know K wants more but I don¡¯t want to make the others wait too long. I probably should have started with them but K was closer. I pull out and give Lysan a kiss.


    My hands begin to caress the elf, she is already naked and wet enough for me to just start plowing. I don¡¯t though, I whisper ¡°I love you¡± in her ear while teasing her breasts and slit.


    I get the happiest smile from Lysan that I¡¯ve ever seen on her face before moving to taste her fluids. They are different from K''s, a milder slightly sweet taste. Not a flavor I would want in any circumstance but with the accompanying moans from the girl I¡¯m causing to produce it.


    I don¡¯t know if I am getting better at this or not but Lysan responds much faster than K. Within a few moments of teasing she cries out my name as my face gets a splash. I slide up and give her a kiss not caring about how her fluids are dripping off my face or the embarrassment Lysan shows once she recognizes what she did.


    I end my kiss and slide up, my entrance into her body easier than usual. Instead of the resistance from how tight she is, she is pulling me into her slowly. I follow the pace her body sets as I enjoy the feeling of her flesh wrapping around me.


    Once fully inside, Lysan runs her hands down my sides and gives me a tug. She wants me to start and I don¡¯t need to be asked twice. It only takes a few deep thrusts for Lysan to get completely into our act, more so than the other times I''ve had her.


    I continue slow deep thrusts as the resistance Lysan''s body gives increases as she tightens around me approaching her climax. When she does I hear another profession of love from Lysan as I continue to enjoy pleasuring her.


    I pick up a bit of speed, even if I am not feeling as much lust as last night I still want to fill each of my girls. By the time Lysan recovers and approaches her next orgasm I am clenching my teeth trying to hold back. As soon as she flutters around me I can¡¯t hold back anymore, my vision dims as I grunt. When the pulsing flow of my seed ends I hear Lysan muttering something including the words ''full'' and ''love'', but it wasn¡¯t coherent.


    I catch my breath in a few seconds, then I give Lysan another kiss and whisper a sweet nothing into her ear before turning to Talia. She has on hand rubbing against her slit, I doubt she would appreciate anything short of being immediately skewered.


    I crawling slightly towards her and give her a kiss to feel her lining herself up to impale herself. Maybe I should give them alone me with just me sometimes instead of only getting orgies. . .


    My thoughts in that direction end as I find myself balls deep in Talia, my little head rubbing against the entrance to her womb. I start thrusting into her more forcefully than I did with Lysan. I tune out Talia praising the feeling of me ¡®stretching her wide open'', and focus on making her enjoy this as much as I can.


    I try shaking my hips as she did last night but her reaction is not as strong as it was then. My hands play with her breasts, her vaginal walls twitch in union with my actions. Talia''s moans and words get disrupted as they raise in volume and I forget that we were trying to keep at least somewhat quiet as I learn more about the body of one of my lovers.


    Soon enough she cries out pushing fluid past me, this on top of the reactions she makes from being caressed pull me over the edge and I spend a few seconds raising the fluid pressure inside of her. I hold her close and whisper the same words I have to the other two girls. I may not love her as much as I do her sister or K but I¡¯m not going to play favorites with them.


    I feel a tug on my shoulder and know that K wants me again. I get off Talia as she cuddles up to her now sleeping sister.


    I slide back into K as I give her a kiss. She tries to flip us over and I give her a growl and a rougher thrust. I feel a shudder under me and I wonder just how far does she wants me to dominate her? Should I just keep going until the resistance is real? Would I even be able to tell the difference?


    I silence her outcry and stop holding back when her orgasm hits. I hold my self as deep into her as I can until I feel sated.


    I feel K begin to fall asleep as my libido declines. My desire to mate was less than it was yesterday. The feeling of emptiness in my balls arriving earlier. Maybe I should spread out our debauchery more so I can have greater busts. . .


    Thoughts such as these circle my mind as I fall asleep among my lovers.


    The trio and me wake up before everyone in the house, no doubt due to the morning sun shining on us before the light could get into the bedroom windows that are all on the west side of the building. I give the trio each a kiss as they exit the tent before sending the contents into Void Cache, wondering why the mess we made and I left in the tent is now gone. Probably magic, this isn¡¯t the first time messes have disappeared while I wasn¡¯t looking.


    K gently nudges me out of the way when Talia and Lysan begin to pack up the tent itself. Was I getting in the way? I don¡¯t think so but once more the twins surprise me in how quickly they have the tent back in it¡¯s bag.


    I send it to Void Cache as they all follow me to the kitchen of the farm house. Ria bolts upright and falls off the couch when I close the door after letting the girls enter first, I had to use a bit of force as the old door doesn¡¯t quite fit the frame correctly.


    K doesn¡¯t care about it but Talia and Lysan give me a smile in appreciation.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to start cooking breakfast, you can sleep some more or help if you want to¡± I say to Ria. She apparently is not a morning person aside from when she wakes up from nightmares as she does not respond for several seconds.


    I give up waiting and enter the kitchen to help with cooking. ¡°What should we cook?¡± I ask the girls.


    ¡°Bubbly sweet water¡± Lysan says, getting a nod off agreement out of Talia.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be made in a kitchen. What do you want that isn¡¯t a drink?¡± I say, stopping myself from shaking my head.


    ¡°Meat, bacon, eggs and almost burnt bread slices¡± K answers while Talia also makes her following request.


    ¡°Could you make more with magic then while we cook?¡± Talia asks.


    I find myself nodding at K''s idea for breakfast even if I personally do miss the simple cold cereal and milk. Then I notice something sitting on the counter, gravy mix.


    Lysan picks up the package and starts reading it before passing it to K. She smiles at the idea as I process Talia''s question.


    Make soda with magic, I¡¯m not entirely sure how it¡¯s made other than it¡¯s a mix of sugars and flavors stirred in water and then injected with CO<sub>2</sub>, at least if it¡¯s the same as the make your own sparkling water machines or a soda fountain, syrup with carbonated water mixed together. Could I manipulate molecules to make the compounds? Or would a more mystical approach like Alchemy be easier?


    Probably warped chemistry since it already is something possible without any magic. In the short lapse of my attention the girls must have decided on trying to make a mix between gravy and K''s idea as Lysan is heating up a smallish pot of water on the stove while K started cooking every egg she found in the kitchen.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure exactly how to but maybe¡± I say answering Talia¡¯s question.


    I think she moved onto cooking as I get no response back as she passes eggs from the fridge to K. Gravy and eggs are all they are making right now and they don¡¯t go together. My thoughts on how to produce soda will have to wait, I need to find biscuits or at least something close.


    What I find are stale but the gravy will fix the texture problem and probably the taste too. I set them on the table before I notice that Ria has decided to come help cook. Took her a while to wake up though, kind of surprising compared to the first time I saw her wake up. Is it because she is feeling safer with us?


    ¡°Adrian, we can handle the food. We¡¯ll bring it to you when it¡¯s ready¡± K says before giving me a kiss on the cheek.


    I glance around, most of the space to cook in is already occupied. The kitchen just wasn¡¯t made to have more than one or two people working at once. I give her a kiss before walking to the couch and pulling out the journal I¡¯m in the middle of reading. They''re not very good cooks but it''ll be edible

 Chapter 105

    Platinum dragons are tied with Mithril for being the largest of metallic dragons. Similar to the purple dragon they have affinity for almost every ability the other metallics have, only to a lesser extent. Unlike the chromatic dragon with this trait, Platinum dragons act primarily as sages and peace keepers most of the time. That other metallics coming to them to act as mediators in disputes, often causing them to be confused as some form of government by those who do not know better.


    Aside from the tendency to seek for knowledge and wisdom, platinums are also favored by their god and tend to have stronger divine magic than other dragons who walk the path of priesthood.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    It is roughly another half hour before the food is done and everyone has started eating. We are spread out in the front room as the kitchen table will not seat all of us. Biscuits and gravy with sides of eggs and bacon are a good meal even if I am not sure how the bacon and eggs hadn¡¯t spoiled.


    ¡°So where is the dragon?¡± I ask my dad.


    ¡°Impatient? There is plenty of time to go over that after eating¡± he answers.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t like we have anything else to talk about.¡±


    He sighs and I notice Abagail whispering something to Ria before the two of them walk to another room. ¡°Last week a dragon with black scales that could bring shadows to life and command them took a military base between here and Colorado.¡±


    Shadows? A shadow dragon then. But to take out a military base, how did it manage that? Shouldn¡¯t guns have had the force needed to punch through the scales?


    ¡°How big?¡± I ask as thoughts of what a shadow dragon''s powers could be run through my mind.


    ¡°No idea, at least twice the size of a horse. Dragons, particularly this variety, are difficult to magically collect information about and the reports the government has never mentioned a size, only that bullets passed through it without harming it.¡±


    I frown, intangibility? or a shadow transformation? That explains why it managed to take the base but why would it even have wanted to? I suppose it doesn¡¯t really matter, I going to kill and eat the creature regardless.


    ¡°Do you know anything else about it?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately no, but it does seem to be content staying where it is at.¡±


    <hr>


    Abagail


    <hr>


    I frown as Ria sways her hourglass figure catching the attention of Bryan as she walks out of the room with me. We go outside as I know most of the people in the house have very good hearing and I don¡¯t want any more teasing than I alreadyget from the elves.


    ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡± Ria asks after closing the door behind us.


    ¡°Can you stop flaunting yourself in front of Bryan?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because he is my boyfriend and I don¡¯t want to share him.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to be his¡± she says with some confusion.


    ¡°Then why are you trying to catch his eye?¡± I ask with only slightly less confusion as she just showed.


    ¡°So, the alpha will look at me¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Adrian, I wan. . . ¡°


    ¡°How does that have anything to do with flirting with Bryan?¡± I interrupt.


    ¡°Boys like girls who like someone else. The pattern is in all the books I¡¯ve been reading.¡±


    I don¡¯t know how to respond as she starts explaining how boys always want the girl who likes someone else. I give a sigh before interrupting her detailed explanation of her flawed reasoning.


    ¡°Ria, that isn¡¯t how it works.¡±


    ¡°But my books . . .¡±


    ¡°Are fiction. They¡¯re lies made to entertain.¡±


    ¡°But . . .¡±


    ¡°Chasing my boyfriend won¡¯t get you anything but upsetting me and maybe him.¡±


    The look of sadness and dejection in her drooping ears and tails tugs at my heartstrings as she asks, ¡°have I been bad?¡±


    I can¡¯t help but pull the girl into a hug. Sometimes I forget how fragile she is emotionally.


    ¡°No, you were not bad, just wrong.¡±


    ¡°Really?


    I nod, her tails movement following her shifting emotions.


    ¡°What should I do then?¡± she asks giving me her absolute attention, twin tails swaying slowly behind her.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    I pause for a moment, thinking of just what I should tell her. I don¡¯t really know how I feel about this. I respect Kythia, Lysan and Talia and don¡¯t know if they would appreciate sharing Adrian¡¯s affections with another girl.


    With a sigh, I give into the cute begging that Ria is doing unconsciously. ¡°Just be near Adrian and show him your affections like the other girls do. Talk to the other girls about it before doing too much.¡±


    Ria thinks for a moment before she says, ¡°the alpha won¡¯t let me.¡±


    ¡°Adrian won¡¯t let you?¡±


    ¡°No, the other alpha, Kythia.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°She thinks I¡¯m weak and cowardly¡± she answers with dying enthusiasm.


    ¡°Do you really want him?¡±


    She nods, forgetting the earlier parts of our conversation.


    ¡°Then earn their respect and talk about sharing him, but stop chasing Bryan.¡±


    I feel a little guilty about encouraging Ria to chase after Adrian, to be competition to my friends¡¯ love lives. If she wasn¡¯t so innocent looking and cute as we talked I would have been upset about how she wanted to use Bryan to get to Adrian. Even so I am a little worried about it, she is manipulative even if it is innocent and without malice.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Aconversation about the details of the shadow dragon¡¯s attack at breakfast ends just before Abagail and Ria return. For the first time in a while Ria doesn¡¯t send a smile at Bryan or take an appealing pose for his viewing pleasure. I wonder what Abagail said to her, at least there doesn¡¯t seem to be any conflict between them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we should bring everyone when we go dragon hunting¡± Bryan comments after a moment we all spent on thinking how to handle the creature. At least that is what I spent the brief pause on.


    ¡°Kathrine and I won¡¯t be much help in such a fight¡± my dad says.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s not a fighter but shouldn¡¯t you be able to use magic?¡± I ask.


    ¡°I¡¯m not very good with combat magic. Magic-wise I¡¯m a seer not a fighter, I can¡¯t handle a dragon on its home turf, not without more preperation than is currently possible.¡±


    I nod, accepting my dad¡¯s words. I don¡¯t know anything about his ability to use magic but he feels weaker than me somehow. I don¡¯t know what magic he can do but he would know better than me if he could handle it. Am I actually powerful? He doesn¡¯t seem concerned about me fighting another dragon, just proud.


    ¡°Abagail should stay behind too¡± K says and both Abagail and Bryan nod at that. There is also a frown that follows on their faces for an instant before Bryan brings up another point.


    ¡°If we are going to split up, we need to make sure both groups have enough fighting power.¡±


    A valid point even if I think it is more so he won¡¯t have to spend a night away from Abagail. Can¡¯t blame him for that either, I would want to do the same if any of my girls weren¡¯t up for this. Are they all up for this?


    I really want Bryan to come along for this, we need a trial run for his shadow lich stuff but he should be able to mitigate some of the dragon''s abilities.


    ¡°If it isn¡¯t a powerful magical creature, I should be able to protect those here¡± my dad says and Bryan sighs but nods.


    I turn to the elves, ¡°I know Kythia is up for this, are coming?¡±


    They look at each other, going over their capabilities before both shake their heads. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be useful enough.¡±


    They seem a little sad at that, but I suppose they don¡¯t have any anti dragon or shadow abilities. I nod after some hesitation, as much as I don¡¯t want to separate from them they are right.


    The last member of our group answers a question never asked. ¡°I¡¯ll help. I want to be useful,¡± Ria almost blurts out.


    ¡°What will you even be able to do?¡± K asks with an ever so slight dismissal of her combat viability. A mistake if they ever end up fighting, illusionists are best when you don''t take them seriously.


    ¡°Shadows are Illusion magic and I can dispel or make my own¡± she gives in her own defense.


    K nods, we don¡¯t have anyone to counter the illusions that no doubt come with shadow magics; at least not a guaranteed counter, Bryan might be able to.


    ¡°We¡¯ll travel during the night and make our attack after dawn, minimizing the amount of darkness that the dragon can use against us" I say.


    After a moment¡¯s thought most of the odd looks I got turned to nods, except for my mother¡¯s but that was just worry. The plan was accepted but now we had to do something with the rest of the day.


    ¡°Can you teach us more?¡± Talia asks and my other two girls nod in agreement while looking at me.


    My mother frowns not understanding the language but says nothing.


    ¡°Sure, but I want to try a few ideas with Bryan too.¡±


    ¡°Shadow stuff?¡± Bryan asks and I nod.


    I begin to walk outside as we will not doubt need more space to practice. What can I even teach them? More theory, but what?


    Admixture? The idea of metamagic? Exchange ideas on use of the Grey Dream?


    An idea about a possible manipulation of the Grey Dream or more specifically those that run it flashes in my mind for an instant. I make a note to try that tonight.


    Abagail and Ria ended up following, and without a reason to keep them away I just allow their presence.


    ¡°Alright, before anything else how have my theories worked for you?¡±


    ¡°The healing is painful and seems less efficient than divine healing magic but works as far as I have managed to test it. Involuntary blood magic has been less efficient compared to a voluntary subject but aside from the limits of being in melee and only having an instant to drain the life to fuel the spell it is more of a bonus than a detriment¡± K responds immediately with pride. I¡¯m not sure what the pride is in though, herself or the magic.


    I nod and turn to the twins, ¡°In short ranges the cost of lightning magic is reduced but beyond melee it becomes more expensive to use. Regardless of range the raw power is higher.¡±


    I smile at Talia¡¯s answer. I wasn¡¯t sure that messing with electrical magic like that would work.


    ¡°What about control?¡±


    Talia frowns but Lysan answers, ¡°it¡¯s harder but you can make it turn instead of stay in a straight line.¡±


    ¡°You should try and see if you can get it to hit specific targets without harming others¡± I comment wondering if Chain Lightning already uses this idea.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have that much control.¡±


    I nod, ¡°an idea to try when you do.


    Anyways, I want to talk about two things, metamagic and combination effects.


    Bryan could you go over metamagic as you might already have figured out how to do it?¡±


    He nods, ¡°I haven¡¯t managed to become proficient yet but metamagic is the idea of altering a spell slightly to change the effects.


    Spells can be broken down into components, by altering how much mana is given to each piece rather than just the amount the entire spell gets. Or perhaps exchanging a part with something else to modify something like the shape or energy type of a spell.¡±


    There is a twinkle in K''s eyes as she immediately recognizes that was the idea of how cure spells could come from negative energy spells.


    ¡°Metamagic does however have limitations, alter a spell too far from the original and it¡¯s likely to fail and backfire. Some changes are simply not possible, animate dead for example will never work if you swapped negative energy for fire.


    Control of how much mana goes to what is the more stable side of metamagic. Both require intimate knowledge of how a spell works.¡±

 Chapter 106

    Mithril dragons are tied with platinum in size, they are however almost opposites in affinities. Mithril have next to no magical powers aside from antimagic and are sturdier and stronger than any other metallic dragon. They are similar to silver dragons in demeanor and some think they are an atavistic throwback of the silver dragon. They are also the most likely to go seek out chromatic dragons to continue the racial hatred between the two groups of cousins.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The girls don¡¯t immediately understand everything of Bryan¡¯s explanation and I don¡¯t know if he made a mistake anywhere not being able to use mana for anything aside from some instinctual dragon powers. I give them a moment before speaking, ¡°thank you. Now combination effects are about using something in the environment to increase the effects of your spells.


    The simplest example would be conjuring something flammable on a target before hitting it with a fire spell. The increased potency of the second magic is the goal but not the only one.


    A spell like Iron Body to give you metallic skin could be used to mitigate the effects of an opponent''s Lightning Bolt or allow an ally to use a spell that deteriorates flesh. To give you or your team a tactical advantage. Another example would be to induce a magical sleep before a mind effect to lower the target''s resistance.


    This idea isn¡¯t about how to be stronger but better use of strength. An idea to think about on the same level as team work.¡±


    ¡°So what should we work on?¡± Lysan asks.


    ¡°Manipulating you spells with metamagic so you can use ideas on how to alter and adjust them as you learn new ideas.¡±


    ¡°Is this like increasing the area or strength of an illusion?¡± Ria asks.


    ¡°Is it casting the same spell slightly differently?¡± I ask.


    She nods, ¡°then yes. That should be an application of the idea of metamagic. Will you help the others figure it out for their own specializations?¡±


    Her tails start waging as she smiles, walking over to the twins as the two are drawing out the formulae and structure of a spell they both know. I wonder if their spells known are from memorization or actual understanding of the spell.


    ¡°So, what is it that you wanted to try?¡± Bryan asks as Abagail joins in on the discussion of the other girls. Must be a cantrip if they all know it.


    ¡°How to use Darkness and shadows, but have you noticed any differences?¡±


    ¡°I feel stronger and more energetic at night and in shadows than during the day. Insomnia, without the fatigue and improved eyesight.¡±


    I nod, understanding most of the changes. I have similar changes from when I was fully human. ¡°You might have had changes in your metabolism, are you drawing sustenance from darkness?¡±


    He pauses for a moment, thinking ¡°maybe I haven¡¯t felt hungry at night. The light and heat of the sun seems harsher but more just an irritant than anything else.¡±


    ¡°Painful?¡±


    ¡°No, more like it¡¯s hotter than it actually is.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re probably vulnerable to light. Have you managed to do any of the things Dam?''s notes on shadowed lichdom mentioned?¡±


    He shakes his head, ¡°I haven¡¯t tried much, I didn¡¯t want to accidently step into the shadow plane and not find my way back.¡±


    ¡°Reasonable but there are other things you could have tried. How much do understand what shadows and darkness are?¡±


    ¡°They are the absence of light, gaps or sections of less intense light.¡±


    ¡°That is scientifically, there is more to darkness than just that.¡±


    ¡°There is deception, false duplicates of what is real and the connection to entropy¡± Bryan interrupts and I nod. I don¡¯t use Darkness as much as the other Spheres in my magic as I haven¡¯t figured out how to weaponize it but I do understand it to a decent extent.


    ¡°And how would I start using them?¡± he goes on to ask.


    ¡°Probably sensing and controlling basic shadows. How you can do that I don¡¯t know, meditation in shadows and subjecting them to your will would be my guess.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be able to provide assistance in that would you? You act like you know something about shadows even though I¡¯ve never seen you use them.¡±


    Rather than answer I spread my will into the surrounding area and command the light to dim, for the area to be covered in darkness. I don¡¯t push very hard at reality as I find it easily bending to my command. My surrounding become dim, the girls look over for a moment before going back to their discussion as it is now almost night for the few feet around Bryan and me.


    ¡°Try to feel and sense it, notice it without your eyes.¡±


    Personally, I dislike the field of shadows that I created and now maintain as it gets rid of most of the solar radiation I had been passively absorbing but I continue to hold it as I sit up against a tree watching Bryan as he tries to figure out the power he should have gained from the ritual I helped him perform. I wonder if him still being a living creature is affecting his ability to use what should have become instinctual, but I don''t get my own instictual magic so it could be unrelated.


    After a while of Bryan having no results I just plunge the area around him into an absolute darkness, separating him from all light. That should make it easier for him to get a feel for what it is.


    Not even a minute later I feel something else touch what I am pushing onto the fabric of reality. It begins to move without me commanding it to and the black bubble changes shape spreading out tendrils as it shrinks into human shape. A tendril touches a tree which begins to shrivel as it wraps around the living plant.


    I watch as the vitality of the tree is consumed by the shadow, some vague connection begins to form in my understanding between Death and Darkness. I abandon my maintenance of the warp in reality that sustained the darkness after seeing it begin to grow.


    Unlike when I usually abandon a construct of Light or Darkness it did not immediately cease existing but rapidly dissolved in the light of the sun, revealing my friend who looks slightly different. His shadow seems to hold a greater contrast than the other shadows nearby have. His hair is slightly darker as well as the color of his eyes.


    Abagail rushes over and starts checking to make sure he is okay. ¡°You feel cold¡± she says .


    ¡°I feel cold¡± he says as he pulls her into a hug and shivers.


    After a moment in the sun his features return to normal.


    ¡°What happened? What did you do?¡± I ask him.


    ¡°After you made it even darker I, touched it.¡± He doesn¡¯t say anything else, I don¡¯t think he wants Abagail to worry about something. I¡¯ll have to ask him about that later.


    I glance at the sun to see that it is now the early afternoon. I wonder how long it is going to take us to get from here to the fort. A few hours? Or will it take longer since the roads cannot be in decent condition. For a moment, I think of just going off on my own to kill the other dragon but I suppress the urge. The current plan has a higher chance of success than me running off on my own.


    As the rest of the day continues I sit to the side and watch as Bryan joins in on the others¡¯ discussion on the components of spells and what actually what in them. My understanding of the spell work not enough to understand most of it aside from some of the few necromancy spells K was explaining to the others. I just don''t have the basic background knowledge to understand the subject.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes to the Grey Dream and as the last time I came here there is a man sitting. The man who runs this place, at least for me. Was the succubus running it before she was destroyed by that silver blade?


    No answer comes into my mind and I don¡¯t think the Grey Dream is functioning as it did before.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would be back so soon. Not enough changes to be worth it. I believe that is your logic.¡±


    ¡°So, any chance you¡¯ll let me know if you are part of the Althaen pantheon or devils?¡±


    ¡°Where is the fun in that?¡±


    Devil then, I suppose it doesn¡¯t make much difference for what I want though.


    ¡°A devil then, I actually wanted to make a request.¡±


    ¡°Really? If it is outside of the regular duties of this place you¡¯ll have to pay and you wouldn¡¯t have to ask if it was already part of this place.¡±


    ¡°Implementation of group sessions.¡±


    ¡°That is outside of the requirements I have acting on the contract I have, but not far enough I would have to send you to another devil to avoid breaking my contract. What will you pay for this?¡±


    I had hoped that it already would have been a function included in the Grey Dream, it should be. It would have given Althr¨¢ a better chance against the demons.


    ¡°There is always the secret that devils run the Grey Dream, even if their gods hired you to I doubt that it would be good for that to come out.¡±


    ¡°That is your plan? To threaten to reveal that secret. You would lose more than me. I get paid the same but the Grey Dream would end if that got out and then you couldn¡¯t benefit from it.¡±


    ¡°And you don¡¯t benefit from this place continuing?¡±


    ¡°I never said that but a threat is poor payment.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it that you want? I won¡¯t allow you to possess me or any of my friends.¡±


    ¡°Too bad, they would be promising hosts. Do you have scruples against collecting and selling souls to Hell?¡±


    I don¡¯t immediately answer, that isn¡¯t something I specifically want to do but I¡¯d take it over selling one of my friends. There should be something else though, that is far too much for what I asked.


    ¡°You expect me to believe the price for what small thing I asked is to give Hell some souls?¡±


    ¡°No, but I was hoping that you would. A single soul would be enough, but as you seem reluctant if not unwilling there is an alternative option. You have enemies whose souls are condemned to us but have been evading their earned fate; a promise not to take or destroy their souls will do.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Now where would be the fun in that? My favorite part of this job is watching what happens to those under my charge, the surprises, betrayals and suffering. You¡¯ll know who those I speak of are when it happens.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t go around destroying and enslaving souls.¡±


    The man smiles, ¡°your friends will have to request your presence in the Dream but we have a deal. Now is there anything you wanted that actually is part of my duties here?¡±


    ¡°No, I assume you won¡¯t appear when I visit the others.¡±


    ¡°No, that might damage their faith in the gods and violate the terms of my employment.¡±


    ¡°Then how come I can know without violating your contract?¡±


    ¡°You''re entertaining but not enough to get more than I¡¯ve given you. Until next time voidwalker.¡±


    The man fades away into the grey mists, leaving me with nothing to do but leave myself. I wonder how useful this will actually be. At least the price was not to do something I had not thought of doing. There is probably some power in souls Hell does not want me to delve into. Or are they trying to tempt me with such a path? There is more to what he asked than what he said, especially since it was so easily offered. . .

 Chapter 107

    Planar dragons do not divide themselves into two groups as the dragons of most material planes do, each dragon species is its own group. Most planar dragons are stronger than chromatic or metallic equivalents. It is also a mistake to assume a planar dragon is not in fact native to the plane it is encountered on, the division is that these species are not native to material planes. They are in ascending order of rarity: Spectral, Elemental, Alignment, War, Shadow, Radiance, Mana and Void


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The drive to the fort takes longer than I had hoped but it comes into sight and aside from a section of roof missing from the central building there is surprisingly little damage done to the place. Most of the vehicles seem to be in good shape even if they have all taken fire.


    There are corpses scattered around, the uniforms colors are off but their weapons look serviceable. The dragon did not loot them. There are still a lot of shadows even if dawn started several minutes before we arrived.


    ¡°Any idea where the dragon is?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°You failed your spot check¡± I just point to the largest building that happens to have a section of roof torn off.


    ¡°No, the damage doesn¡¯t mean it is still in the ruined building just that it was there.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough, but I think it¡¯ll be in there, no other structure shows signs of the dragon breaking into it and it¡¯s not lying out in the open.¡±


    ¡°When will me move to attack?¡± K interjects.


    ¡°In a few minutes, any protection spells against negative energy or illusions should be set up now.¡±


    My three companions each cast a spell or two but I¡¯m starting to think something in the Mana prevents directly understanding the words. I can recognize the languages but never the meaning.


    Ria looks startled for a moment after casting something and mumbles to herself in a tongue with some similarities to elven. Sylvan, she did mention knowing the tongue of the woods.


    I try to feel out life forces in the vicinity, there is only a single cluster inside the main building. Negative energy is all over the base though, shadow creatures perhaps?


    We walk down to the rent gate and walk into the fort without any problems. I pick up an assault rifle from a guard''s desiccated corpse as I examine him.


    It looks similar to what happened to that tree yesterday, only more extreme. I drop the rifle into void cache. Even if it won¡¯t help me against this dragon it will be useful against other creatures. We should try to find all the ammunition and weapons we can here after the dragon but before going back to the farm.


    We stay spread out to minimize any surprise breath weapons as we approach the main building. The safety precaution ends up unnecessary.


    Inside the building most of the walls have been knocked down on the interior, leaving support beams but I don¡¯t think there are enough to do what it is doing. I also sniff the air checking my supernatural senses against a physical one.


    Stagnant and stale, more than it should be but I can smell something draconic. Not like either of the two dragons before, this one is female and something else.


    [Eggs, the female is ready to lay eggs.]


    Great, she will fight harder than ussual. That does explain why she would have attacked, she had to have a place to nest.


    We spread out once more to avoid surprise attacks hitting all of us and proceed into the rubble. After a few more minutes of careful approach I finally see the dragon.


    She is far larger than anything I have ever seen before. Easily three or four times larger than my dragon form.


    ¡°A male has finally come. A young one too, show me your true self. I¡¯ll not have the seed of a deformed male sire a clutch.¡±


    [Do it. She¡¯s interested in mating.]


    [We¡¯re not here for that. We¡¯re here to kill and eat her.]


    [We can still do that after. She¡¯ll be weaker after laying the eggs.]


    [You¡¯re disgusting.]


    [I''m you, and it¡¯s a good plan. You could also attack after exhausting her if you magiced up stamina and healed you fatigue while mating. . .]


    [Tactically you make sense but I¡¯m not going to sex up a female so I can kill and eat her. That is just wrong.]


    [I¡¯ll do it for you, besides I know we want to try out dragon sex]


    [Not happening, I also promised K to not do stuff like that without her consent.]


    [Then ask for it.]


    I ignore dragon-me as K asks, ¡°what did she say?¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later.¡±


    ¡°Well little male?¡± the dragon asks and I respond with a sneak attack. I don¡¯t like the condescension in her tone and planned on attacking anyways.


    I exhale a beam of light at the dragon¡¯s wings. She screams in pain and rage as I remove her ability to fly.


    <hr>


    Ria


    <hr>


    I don¡¯t understand the words the shadow dragon speaks to the man who saved me. I glance around the room, my spell of True Seeing only showing that the man who saved me isn¡¯t human but I already knew that.


    The face he wears isn¡¯t the only one he has. I can see two others; the dark dragon of starlight is one but the other I had not seen. A male half again as tall as he stands now, covered in the pitch-black scales ofa dragon. His hands larger versions of the claws he used to slaythe fiend I was to be sacrificed to. A long tail and wings that are scaled back versions of the image of the dragon. A half dragon of a species I can¡¯t identify.


    The beam of light that tore through a nabasu repeats that destruction on one of the wings of the enemy dragon.


    An instant later the sounds of the dragon¡¯s pain ends and I shiver at a coldness that isn¡¯t temperature. The darkness inside of the building thickens as shadows waft off the dragon¡¯s injury.


    I turn and dodge an attack I feel forming in front of me. I react too soon as my shadow stops following my movements and its tail strikes me from below.


    I hit some of the rubble and somehow manage to keep the rising panic down. It hurt but like me this shadow does not have much physical strength, it might even have less.


    The man who saved me''s shadow and the werewolf''s shadow grow and turn into the forms my True Seeing showed me. The other male however just looks at his shadow as it forms and both of them smile, unlike everyone else¡¯s his shadow does not attack him.


    ''I need to be a good girl and good girls are useful'' I repeat to myself to try to get over my fear. I jump to my feet and throw fox fire at my duplicate. It did the same and our fires snuffed each other out.


    I hesitate for a moment but shadow-me doesn¡¯t, she starts chanting and I recognize the spell as one used to conjure shadows to make partially real illusions. Something the shadow dragon already did or I would not be fighting my copy, but I shouldn''t let them become more real.


    I begin a counter spell barely managing to undo the magic. The werewolf is doing poorly against her shadow in it¡¯s hybrid state. Only the aid of Bryan keeps her from being mauled.


    My shadow charges at me once it¡¯s spell failed to do whatever it though of doing with Shadow Conjuration. It knocks me over again and I feel weaker, my shadow became slightly more solid and I recognize what it is.


    Shadow doppelganger, if I can¡¯t beat it it will consume and become me. I feel another hit land on me before I struggle to get up. It has to be vulnerable to light so I push at and overcharge a Dancing Lights spell.


    Dozens of far too bright moves swirl around me, I hear what is probably the words to Darkness in reaction.


    I start speaking the words to another spell, shadow-me finishes her counter spell and strips me of the protection of the lights and charges at me. My Shadow Conjuration finishes before another hit is landed, black chains isolate shadow-me from everyone else.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I didn¡¯t expect the dragon to turn our own shadows against us. I look at my shadow in confusion as it continues to enlarge and mutate into a reptilian beast of the same scale as K''s hybrid form. Her own shadow shifts to said form while Bryan¡¯s just smiles at him.


    I dodge a clawed hand, I can understand why K''s shadow could shift forms but why did mine? At least why is it some hybrid form instead of full dragon?


    I manifest my own claws but the angle from my larger shadow gives me a disadvantage, I am pushed back. I lose focus on my friends'' fights as I dodge the continued attacks of my shadow, it has the same level of skill as me.


    I make a claw swipe and it dodges as I would have. I can see a mirrored version of my own intelligence in the creature. I don¡¯t think I could beat it in melee but I can certainly not lose. It should have made the same conclusion.


    Why hasn¡¯t it tried magic then? Is it waiting for the shadow dragon to do something instead?


    I draw on the Sphere of Light and try to replicate my dragon¡¯s breath as it is still on its recharge period. The released beam looks as brilliant as the real thing but it felt like something was missing.


    The intense light tears through my shadowy duplicate but it does not do near what my Radiance Breath would have. The magical nature of the shadow must have resisted the attack. Do I need to reinforce it somehow to get the full effect?


    At least the shadowy duplicate retreated from the attack, giving me room to prepare another attack. I get startled by the incoming mass of shadows from a breath attack and I try to dodge even though I have nowhere to go for cover.


    I feel energy leave me as it does with Void Cache and my breath weapons, the shadow vapor passing over me vanishing before it touches me to reappear behind me. I just did something to evade but I¡¯m not sure what.


    I wrap my claws in a glow of light, the idea of shadow banishing light as the focus rather than pure light as wasmy last attempted attack. My duplicate attacks me and I put my claw through it¡¯s chest while taking a hit in my shoulder.


    I feel a coldness seeping into me from the shadowed claw. My strength being leeched from me but my shadow is dissolving. I can¡¯t help but wonder why it never tried to manipulate reality.


    Bryan and his shadow are helping K keep her shadow at bay while Ria just chained her double in chains made from shadows. I should get her to teach Bryan some shadow magic after this.


    I feel my breath weapon become readied. I roll out of the way of a charging shadow dragon, only by manipulating Time did I have the speed I needed. I try to make a line between myself and the two hostile shadow doppelgangers.


    As I release my breath the shadow dragon appears out of the shadows of the room and her claw knocks me into the rubble. I hear the dragon let out a roar of pain from the burns my breath no doubt left on her claw.


    I groan from a broken rib if not more from the impact, grateful that I didn¡¯t get hit by the shape edges of the claws themselves. I have agro and dozens of blades made of shadows fly at me. I almost try to control the darkness in that attack but I doubt my command of that element is as strong as this dragon¡¯s. Maybe I should have used one of dragon-me¡¯s plans.


    A shell of light blocks the blades but prevents me from seeing what the shadow dragon was doing. This level of light manipulation isn¡¯t enough, it needs to be more. . . like what I did to my shadow doppelganger. Weaponized light, reinforced so that it destroys shadows.


    I twist the shell of light and it shatters, shrapnel flies at the shadow dragon and it sinks into a shadow to dodge. I glance at my friends, not much has changed but I think Ria will beat her double soon, it is starting to disapate from whatever she is chanting.


    A blast of negative energy hits me from behind, I feel cold and weak. I don¡¯t manage to reverse the effects with Life before having to dodge a claw swipe.


    I almost get out of the way, the dwarven chain does nothing to protect my chest. I hear my blood splash on the ground as I fall.


    I glance at the wound, I can see bone and scrapes on the bone. I already start healing myself but it feels harder to heal like K and the silver inflicted injuries.


    The dragon''s paw comes down to crush and finish me off. I feel something shift and hear a scream of pain that is not mine.

 Chapter 108

    Spectral dragons are native to the astral and ethereal planned. They are in truth remnants of a material plane dragon after it¡¯s death. They tend to remember and aside from actions requiring a physical body are capable of what they could do in their previous life while having many of the advantages and powers that astral or ethereal creatures have. They always have an obsession which acts as an anchor to existence.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I look around as I get up, my injuries slowly but visibly closing. I¡¯m standing where Ria was, I turn to the dragon and can see some of her tail sticking out from under the foot of the dragon. She took the hit for me.


    I don¡¯t care about her nearly as much as my other friends but she had started to be a friend. I hear myself growl and the world is getting smaller. I take a step but I¡¯m not the one who is commanding my body, the instinct and rage of dragon-me is.


    I don¡¯t resist as he has us run at the other dragon. Our balance shifts and as the shadow dragon begins to retreat into the shadows he uses some magic that is not like what I do. The dragon hesitates when it finds itself unable to shadow walk as it had been.


    Mindless anger floods over to me from dragon-me, images of destroying this dragon with claw and teeth flash between us. No longer are we fighting to eat and help my mother, now it is to kill and make her suffer for hurting a friend.


    I twist reality to reinforce the concept of weapons on my claws and teeth as dragon-me brings forth a dark glow of the void over us. Shadowy blood splatters over me as I tear into the shadow dragon¡¯s flank. I can feel her essence resisting my twisting of reality but even so my claws and whatever void power covers them rend her hide.


    She tries to move away via shadow walk but something I am doing bars her from the extradimensional movement. I find myself shifting the rest of the way into dragon form as I start swallowing chunks of the still living dragon.


    A shadowy breath weapon washes over me and I abandon dragon-me to his mauling of the dragon¡¯s side to push back the death that would harm me. I don¡¯t block all of it but I hold enough at bay to puncture the dragon''s lungs before I am weakened too much.


    I feel the dragon begin to die around me and the rage of my dragon half is replaced with hunger. I want, need to eat and have to assert my control as the dominant consciousness to pull away from the feast of dying dragon.


    My mouth waters and stomach protests but I pull away from the corpse, I can¡¯t help but lick the blood off my hands as I become human. I rush over to the rubble where Ria lies.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you do whatever that was at the start?¡± Bryan asks upset as he rushes as I do to our mortally injured if not dead companion.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know I could, I¡¯m learning everything as I go just like you.¡± I respond just before reaching the hole containing Ria.


    Her chest is caved in and limbs have broken bones visibly showing compound fractures but her head is intact. Her mouth is moving and there is still the slightest bit if life in her form. It hasn¡¯t been much more that a minute since the injury maybe I can save her.


    I touch her cheek and wrap what little is left of her life in my reality altering will, kindling it to grow but not too much to burn itself out like what happened to Bryan''s mother. I start fixing the vital functions of her body first.


    ¡°Adrian, she¡¯s dead. She couldn¡¯t have lived through that.¡±


    ¡°No, not dead her mind is still there and the spirit doesn¡¯t immediately leave the body. Help me heal her¡± I say with more emotion than I thought I would.


    I hear Bryan chant and dull blue light wash over the near corpse supplementing the energy I pull from her cells as I piece her back together. Each piece seems easier than the last. Within a minute I start her heart and force her to start breathing.


    Her dwindling life force stabilizes and begins to grow supported by the still damaged body but I don¡¯t stop. I keep working on her until every bone is in place, every injury removed, every scar and blemish from her life as a slave erased. I don¡¯t know how long it took but she sleeps gently when I¡¯m finished.


    I stand up after wrapping her in a blanket from Void Cache to see Bryan resting against a wall and K keeping watch. She didn¡¯t speak the whole time but she looks at me and asks ¡°will my new pack sister make it?¡±


    Surprised by the concern in her voice I ask a question and feel bad about the regret on K''s face from it, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like her, why do you care?¡±


    ¡°She is still a coward and is physically pathetic but she risked her life and was willing to die for the good of the pack. She¡¯s earned her place and my respect. She has strength in things I don¡¯t.¡±


    K struggled to say the last sentence, and I pull her into a hug.


    ¡°Rest, we¡¯ll go back to the others when she wakes up. ¡°


    K nods and I hold her for a bit before my insatiable hunger for the flesh of the cooling dragon becomes too much and I move to eat and store what I manage to restrain myself from eating.


    <hr>


    Lysan


    <hr>


    I wake up holding my sister and missing Adrian. I know he will only be gone for a bit, a few days at most but the world just seems dimmer when I¡¯m not around him. As I get out of bed sister mumbles something I¡¯m not sure I want to decipher as she pulls a pillow between her legs, enjoying whatever it is she is dreaming about.


    I rub a shirt against my cheek, the fabric far nicer than the Althaen tunics I¡¯ve had to use for years. There almost as nice as the elven clothes I had as a kid. After getting dressed I walk into the kitchen to find my love¡¯s mother setting up a meal on the table. Bread, fruit preserves and juice and a few dried meats.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep?¡± she asks and I nod.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t either when Randy started having to travel for his work. Now I worry about my kids¡± she says with some sadness.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    I think she knows she will never see Adrian¡¯s younger brothers again. I¡¯m not sure if I should mention what happened. Adrian is hiding it from her, probably from breaking her heart. She notices something on my face but misinterprets it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I may not like how your relationship with my son started but being with you makes him happy. So long as that is true I¡¯ll help you with anything you need.¡±


    The affectionate smile on her face brings one to my own.


    ¡°Do you know how to make bread?¡±


    I shake my head and she continues, ¡°well come here and help me. I¡¯ll teach you, if yesterday was anything to go by all three of you need lessons if you want to cook anything better than campfire cuisine.¡±


    I walk over to the counter as she pulls off a piece of white cloth to show a light brown blob.


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to make the dough tonight for tomorrow¡¯s bread but you need to mix the dough like so periodically. . .¡±


    I listen with as much attention as I give to Adrian when he is teaching as she reveals the secrets of bakers, explaining how little differences like the water in the air can affect the outcome.


    <hr>


    A few hours later we finish the breakfast and I am amazed that bread was always so cheap to buy. As we proceed to clean up after the cooking, Kathrine asks me a question with some awkwardness and I immediately become embarrassed.


    ¡°When you¡¯re with my son, are you using protection?¡±


    I don¡¯t get part of the question even though I understand the subject.


    ¡°Protection?¡±


    ¡°To keep from getting pregnant before you¡¯re ready.¡±


    ¡°Why would we do that?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re not in a position to be able to care for a child. You don¡¯t have a place to live or a steady source of food.¡±


    I just look at her confused, Adrian is really strong. He can do anything with his magic so how are those issues? I¡¯ve had better food traveling with him than I¡¯ve had for over a decade.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you need to worry about that honey¡± I hear Randy say as he walks into the room to both of our embarrassment.


    ¡°Of course I do, he isn¡¯t ready for fatherhood¡± Kathrine says.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t, not with how easy fertility magic is when you understand biology.¡±


    Both of us look at him in confusion and he starts to explain.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t difficult for the conditions of a womb to be optimized or made infertile with minor changes. He probably already figured it out.


    What? How do you think Kathrine that you got pregnant the very month you started begging and praying to have a son? Not every miracle in your life has been because of god, sometimes it was your husband trying to make you happy.¡±


    I leave the room thinking about what he mentioned about biology and fertility magic. Maybe physics shouldn¡¯t be the only books I look at. Kathrine has a few tears in her eyes as she moves to hug her husband.


    I only hear the next two pieces of their conversation.


    ¡°Why did you stop granting some of the things I prayed for?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes what you asked for was not what was best for you.¡±


    I walk back to the room sister and me are sharing with Abagail while the boys are away to find them getting dressed.


    ¡°Breakfast is ready. Sister, mother-in-law wants to teach us how to cook¡± I say.


    ¡°Why? Adrian is a better cook than us¡± she responds as Abagail nods in appreciation.


    ¡°He won¡¯t always be available for that. Shouldn¡¯t we learn so we can cook for him and our future kids?¡±


    She thinks for a minute but I know she is content with what we already know how to make. ¡°I will go with you but I don¡¯t see what¡¯s wrong with what we can already do, besides won¡¯t he end up getting servants for stuff like this?¡±


    I¡¯m not sure, they don¡¯t seem to have any now but he might get some to make us happy. I just shrug, I no longer care about any of that. I just want to stay near him and have him accept my love as he is.


    I follow sister and as there are fewer people here today we all fit at the table.


    ¡°So, what are everyone¡¯s plans?¡± Randy asks and Kathrine answers him.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to teach anyone who wants to learn how to cook.¡±


    She looks at me and I nod, I want her to teach me. Then maybe I can make a meal that makes Adrian smile for a reason other than it was for him.


    Sister shrugs and nods too when she is looked at.


    Abagail says something about reading but I wasn¡¯t paying much attention to her.


    <hr>


    Late in the afternoon the cooking lessons are interrupted as Randy walks into the kitchen and pulls our teacher away.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry and I can¡¯t really explain why but you should take the girls and go down I-70. You¡¯ll meet up with our son on the way.¡±


    ¡°What? Why? Is he in danger?¡±


    ¡°No, not right now but there are people coming and this is the only way you and our son can be safe. Adrian has a journal, the last page I wrote a note for you in lemon juice, it will explain things.¡±


    ¡°No, not until you tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    He sighs, ¡°my family is evil, everything I¡¯ve done since they found out he could do magic has been to protect him and you. The note and the rest of the journal will explain but you won¡¯t like any of it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you.¡±


    The sound of my alarm spells going off echoes through the house. Randy knew and mutters something to himself before he turns to sister and me, ¡°save my wife, I¡¯ll hold off the other Ravnos long enough for you to get away. Adrian will understand, tell him to soak my book in human blood after Kathrine gets her note.¡±


    I nod as sister moves to grab our mother-in-law. Abagail runs into the room, ¡°three men, no visible weapons.¡±


    <hr>


    Randy


    <hr>


    ¡°Follow the elves, they know what to do¡± I tell Abagail as she lists off the details I was hoping for. This isn¡¯t the worst path. They can escape but I might be captured, I wouldn¡¯t have the reverse but it isn¡¯t the best of the scenarios I planned for.


    As soon as they have left by the back door I open the counter under the sink and enter the combination to the safe I hid there years ago. I hope Kathrine forgives me when she finds out I actually own the farm and lied to her and our son. He has killed people, he is old enough to bed his girls if he wants to.


    Inside are vials of the only substance that will give me a chance against my stronger cousins; my version of Philosopher¡¯s Stones. Life and blood of supernatural and natural creatures alike refined into the pure essence of reality.


    I grab the and push one into my arm before pocketing all but one other. One that was made slightly differently which I drop to the ground. Perfect duplicates of everyone who stayed in the building the last few days form and get ready to fight. They probably don¡¯t have half the strength as their real selves but the corpses they leave behind will be permanent, I might be able to fake all our deaths if I can hold on long enough.


    I recognize the first man who enters the kitchen as one of the former archmages, I could never have beaten him in his prime but my prime against what is left of his souls, maybe.


    ¡°How convenient, the thunder twins'' report must have been exaggerated. You never would have made such a poor tactical decision like this if you had regained you powers like they reported.¡±


    He is smirking and left his two allies to cover my possible retreat as they did not follow him in. Situation 138, plan F13 has the best outcomes. Viability of Philosopher¡¯s Stone made from psions is a confirmed despite mental oddities and instability that are beneficial at this moment.


    ¡°Unless I already foresaw this decades or even lifetimes ago and have been mapping out every possible action and reaction possible as I prepared for the days after the conjunction.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re bluffing, you always were the weakest of us only good at prolonging your life and running from death.¡±


    Underestimation confirmed, possible outcomes: 102 end in my death, 312 in capture, 14 escape after opponents'' death, 0 capture of wife and daughters-in-law, 1 possible reawakening of second soul, 1 critical failure of Philosopher¡¯s Stones, minimum combat length 23 minutes 14 seconds in true time.


    My fake wife pulls a gun from under the table and shoots at my enemy, he blocks it but how he blocked it was planned for and the shot was never meant to kill as he thought it would be, instead it broke a focus he so often uses in combat, reducing the outcomes of my death and capture.


    I sidestep his opening attack of lightning and it hits a talisman hidden in the wall, now waiting for me to release his own attack at a target of my choosing later. The attack was weaker than I expected, the erosion of his souls may have been underestimated.


    Compensation for the new information in plans is not viable, chance that it is part of an unseen outcome insignificant. Power scale must have been skewed by proximity to archmage power level son and his lack of skill in use of power.


    Conclusion: beneficial, chances of survival and escape are increasing as are chances of wife inflicting psychological pain due to prior actions.

 Chapter 109

    Elemental dragons are as their name suggests native to the elemental planes and their sub planes. They are similar to other elementals that exist but are not as vulnerable to their opposing element due to their draconic traits. They¡¯re elemental magics are many times stronger than the metallic or chromatic whose form they seem to be a more vibrant and extreme version of.


    They do not follow the ways of the dragons of the material planes but rather the mannerisms common to other elementals of their home plane. Unlike material plane dragons, elemental dragons have no more than two or three non-conflicting affinities and cannot use magic outside of their affinities.


    <hr>


    Lysan


    <hr>


    Kathrine stops struggling and starts crying after she hears a gunshot from the house. I don¡¯t know what is happening back at the house but he said other Ravnos. Are more of Adrian¡¯s family going to try to kill us?


    Discharging lightning and other noises that are no doubt from the magic being used in that fight continue to come out of the building. We move around the house through the fields to find that the fire carriage was destroyed, it is a pile of molten metal.


    As soon as the building is out of sight sister nods at Abagail and me and we begin to move as quickly as we can.


    <hr>


    Near dusk we stop on the side of a road made of black stone, I do not remember the name but it is the one Randy told us. We don¡¯t have shelter tonight but the season is moving towards summer and there shouldn¡¯t be too much of an issue.


    ¡°Why would he do this?¡± Kathrine mutters, at least she hasn¡¯t gone running back towards her husband.


    ¡°Probably the same reasons Adrian runs off behind my back¡± I answer her even though her question wasn¡¯t to me.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°To protect those he cares about, your son tries to hide it but almost every time we¡¯ve stopped to rest he goes off and kills anything that would be a danger to the group¡± Abagail interjects.


    I nod, but stop once Kathrine halfheartedly says, ¡°I should have stayed and helped him.¡±


    ¡°No, none of us would have been any help at all. That¡¯s why he sent us away¡± sister says.


    ¡°I could have helped I know how to use a gun.¡±


    ¡°Guns don¡¯t work on Ravnos, they just make the gun not function. You have no other martial or magical skills which is why Adrian is currently hunting down a dragon.¡±


    Kathrine glares at my sister for a moment but I know a fight won¡¯t start between them. She takes a deep breath before an almost ask almost command of ¡°teach me then¡± comes out of her mouth.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to ask one of the others? They are stronger than me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re stronger than me and they aren¡¯t here. Please, I don¡¯t want to do this again.¡±


    I can tell what sister is about to say and I interrupt her, ¡°teach her, I have enough mana to heal.¡±


    She nods and unbuckles the sword at her waist. It won¡¯t work as well as a training sword but it will do. I do the same to my own blade and toss it to Kathrine.


    ¡°Keep the sheath on and you will be attacking me with it. I can¡¯t teach you much and my style will not fit you when Adrian wakes up your dragon but we¡¯ll start with the basics.


    Mirror my stance to start, it is called the ox stance and until you either get a shield or need a hand for spell slinging I will only show you two handed techniques. . .¡±


    Sister isn¡¯t the best teacher and opts to the method that Kythia used to teach, explaining it while demonstrating on her. I¡¯m going to get a lot of practice with healing magic tonight. . .


    <hr>


    Geldath Ravnos


    <hr>


    I frown as a letter is teleported to my desk as I work on the intricacies of the ritual that should solve all my current problems, I was supposed to get an in person report. I open it up and begin to read.


    Master Geldath,


    The information from the Thunder Twins was inaccurate, Rynald''s power was far greater than reported. He has not continued to be weakened as we all are but has completely overcome the curse. I am unsure if it was due to temporary augmentation, foresight or a permanent increase in power but I have failed in retrieving the subject.


    Adrian was not with Rynald, nor any other person save for physical clones of people I did not recognize. Perfect clones that I would have never identified as such if I had not killed them with Animancy. I managed to capture Rynald but he slew both my apprentices.


    I have him sedated and am moving him to my estate outside of St. Louis.


    -Anath


    Of course, Rynald somehow bypassed the curse, that would explain why Kathrine''s blood does not react to any of the tests we have run. He should have shared the method, none of this would have been a problem if he had.


    At least some good came from two more of the family being reduced to little more than nothing. I stand up and begin to pace the room, how likely is this to be a trap. If Rynald has his power back he could have been planning this all out for years, Anath could go rogue over the secret of Rynald¡¯s renewed strength too.


    I¡¯ll have to risk everything on this. With a step, I teleport into the vast cavern where my reincarnation ritual continues to run and walk over to the soul Stones that hold those who are waiting for new bodies. So many have only the tiniest fragments left of their second souls.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    I pick up the four crystals who died by Rynald¡¯s hand in the past week. I will need what is left of their power and can blame their disappearance on Rynald.


    In another cavern, I place them amongst the foci for the ritual that forced us to banish all the other magi. One to tear the second soul from a Ravnos and add it to the caster.


    I can still hear the screaming of the power I took the last time I used this.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Somehow between a quarter and a third of the shadow dragon ended up in my gut as I harvested every single piece of the creature. I wonder what shadow dragon omelets will taste like when I get around to eating the eggs?


    It is well into the night now and more than a few hours have passed since I finished the physical healing of Ria. Bryan is trying to get his shadow to take physical form like the shadow dragon caused it to but is having about as much success as I do with my dragon powers.


    I know I used some in the fight but I don¡¯t know which or how to use them again. Asking dragon-me isn¡¯t an option since he fell asleep somewhere during my semi-willing feast.


    I yawn feeling the weight of my meal even though it doesn¡¯t show at all which confuses me as I ate more than my own volume. Maybe it moved to my other stomach?


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch, go ahead and sleep¡± Bryan says and I nod before sitting next to K who is already sleeping.


    <hr>


    The Grey Dream remains the empty expanse it always was save for the man who looks over at me just after I open my eyes.


    ¡°You know what I want.¡±


    I may have come to an arrangement about an extra with the devil but I should minimize that kind of interaction if I can.


    <table style="background-color: #646464">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Gain: Dragon 14(+10SP), Magus 18(+20SP)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #646464">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon Flesh: Dragon 16(+20SP, +50EP), +100EP, Shadow Dragons will no longer grant EP.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #646464">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 70


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 211+


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well, not enough SP for anything and I still need to work on what I got lost time. I open up the EP menus down to the only proper choice.


    <table style="background-color: #646464">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Human Transformation (Improved) 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Natural Armor 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Size 150


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I purchase the Increase Size and a few new options appear while the one I chose is now discolored to mark that it is not currently available.


    <table style="background-color: #646464">


    <tbody>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Dragon''s Blessing 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Human Transformation (Improved) 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Natural Armor 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Increase Size 150


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Void Step 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Something tells me Dragon¡¯s Blessing is what I did for the dwarf. I take it, even though Void Step is probably walking through the void; giving the trio and maybe the rest of the group a power increase is more important to me. Having dragon-me know how to use it should be better than my attempt.


    This does raise the question of awakening racial powers without the Grey Dream. It should be possible even if it is harder and slower. Would it be possible to cause awakenings after adulthood? I probably should have been thinking about this before getting ingredients for my mother to awaken as a dragon.


    Whatever I did to Thrane seemed to work so that may be the key for me understanding how it works. Could I duplicate it with Ravnos magic?


    I exit the Grey Dream and drift in a regular semi sleep for a few hours before I wake.


    <hr>


    When I wake up I find one of my arms being held by a still sleeping K and Ria''s head in my lap. I glance over to Bryan; did he decide to mess with me or did they wake up at some point?


    ¡°Ria woke up about an hour after you went to sleep, I¡¯m surprised you slept through her panicked yells when she woke up.


    I told her you healed her and Kythia said something in that language you talk to her in sometimes. I don¡¯t know what they said but Ria stayed away from you until she was sure Kythia had fallen asleep.¡±


    This is going to be a problem for me, isn¡¯t it? Even if K no longer hates Ria due to an illogical racial bias I do not think she would appreciate her laying in my lap while she sleeps. I should get Ria out of my lap before K wakes up which won¡¯t be long if I start doing anything but she looks too peaceful and happy.


    I place my hand on Ria¡¯s head for a moment before scratching behind her ears and she shifts unconsciously to give me easier access to her ears. She saved my life, I can give her this much without breaking my word to K.


    ¡°You really need to tell me how you¡¯re getting all these girls to like you and be okay with sharing you¡± Bryan comments.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t like that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah sure it isn¡¯t. It wasn¡¯t what two weeks before Kythia was sleeping with you and the next week so were the elves. Now you have a kitsune with a crush on you resting in your lap.¡±


    Is it really like that? Is she acting out of more than just gratitude for saving her from those demonologists? I though she liked Bryan though.


    Bryan laughs, ¡°you didn¡¯t notice? She only ever flirted with me when you were looking or she at least thought you were looking.¡±


    Wanting to change the subject I try to put Bryan on the defensive, ¡°aren¡¯t you with Abagail? Does she know you¡¯re thinking of other girls?¡±


    ¡°She knows I won¡¯t do more than that and you¡¯re not changing the subject that easily, how are they not fighting or jealous of each other?¡±


    ¡°Because they are really good friends?¡± I say with surprisingly little confidence, I remember that being the reason they told me but it does seem like there should be more to it than that.


    He just looks at me for a moment before speaking, ¡°that¡¯s it? Are you sure there isn¡¯t more to it than that?¡±


    ¡°Their culture might have something to do with it too, but why do you care? Are you jealous?¡±


    ¡°No but is this really the time for this conversation? Those girls could wake up any time you know.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who started it.


    Anyways, did you gather the dead soldiers'' weapons while everyone was asleep.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll work on that then during my watch.¡±


    Bryan nods and I spend a few seconds thinking of the most efficient way to find all the firearms and ammunition. I pull a bullet out and try to sense the gunpowder within it. Every gun on the base is probably loaded right now and even if they are not I don¡¯t need all of them anyways.


    I smile once I figure out how to identify the compounds inside the metal casing. A pulse of energy created by my will later and I have the relative locations of large quantities of gunpowder. Not perfectly accurate but good for a first attempt. Now how do I get out of K''s grasp without waking her?

 Chapter 110

    There are many dragons native to the outer ring, just as there are the elemental dragons of the inner planes. These dragons are categorized as Alignment Dragons as each species retains the moral ideals of the plane where the species began. Oddly enough they are similar to elementals as they can only propagate in a plane that holds the same traits as the species.


    Each dragon species is often called by the home plane for the species, the Tartarian Dragon for example originates in Tartarus though they have spread to other fiendish planes. They are the embodiment of the ideals of their home plane and have extreme affinities for the magic(s) associated with that plane, while being vulnerable to it¡¯s opposite. If they have names for their own species they do not share them with the mortals of the prime material planes.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I didn¡¯t manage to leave K asleep but she didn¡¯t say anything, only following me outside.


    ¡°Scavenging?¡± she asks and I nod.


    ¡°Any food or weapons, there should be at least one firearm on the corpses.¡±


    I begin to go through the pockets of one of the corpses, not for valuables, though I find myself placing them in Void Cache, but for keys, knives and other weapons.


    I can hear K doing the same to another soldier as she speaks, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t any help against the dragon.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize for that.¡±


    ¡°I was less help than I was a hindrance.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t know the dragon would make those shadow copies, don¡¯t worry about it no one died.¡±


    K having more practice at searching the dead finishes her corpse before me and sets what she found next to me. I glance over the items: assault rifle, pistol, a wedding ring, dog tags, a few coins and a few small bills.


    ¡°What was the dragon saying before we started fighting?¡± she asks but she doesn¡¯t seem to be fully behind her question. She must feel guilty, maybe upset with herself over what happened.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t get worked up over it, but she was propositioning me. She was going to lay eggs, that was her reason for attacking this place.¡±


    ¡°And you turned her down?¡±


    ¡°Of course I did, combat followed remember.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    I pull K closer, ¡°I meant every promise I ever gave you, Lysan and Talia. What she wanted is for you three and only you three are allowed to change that.¡±


    ¡°Even when I¡¯m not strong or useful?¡± She says. Does she think that is why I like her? It started that way. . .


    ¡°Even then,¡± after a moment I give her a light kiss. ¡°Lets get back looting, as much as I¡¯d like to show you how much I care about you even when you¡¯re not helpful we have stuff to do.¡±


    ¡°Do we have to? Everyone else is asleep¡± she says before pulling me closer.


    ¡°We do, and I have a question on a different subject for you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asks with slight disappointment.


    ¡°Does awakening racial abilities get harder after an individual finishes growing?¡±


    ¡°It becomes almost impossible if not impossible.¡±


    I¡¯m going to need something stronger than what worked for me then. Concentrate and distil draconic essence to jumpstart the process? Can I cause a regression in age? That would make the awakening itself easier. . .


    ¡°Do you know how to distil blood essence?¡±


    ¡°Why would you need that?¡±


    ¡°The dragon blood I drank accelerated what the Grey Dream woke up. I want to use something stronger to jumpstart what I¡¯ve been going through.¡±


    ¡°The only way I know how to distil blood essence is a ritual that costs blood. I don¡¯t know it well enough to make any alterations, and it only works on lifeblood.¡±


    I frown, the price will be high. The connotations of her tone of voice are not lost on me, she does not like it. Moral objections to the ritual, odd for a bloodmage to have qualms about their magic.


    ¡°I won¡¯t make you perform it if you do. Do you have a problem with it?¡±


    ¡°Destroying the lives of others to grow in strength is what demons do, this ritual does the same.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to be like a demon, but there is a difference between this and them. Consume to have the strength to defend is different from the ways of demons. Why is just as important as how something is done.¡±


    K nods, ¡°I know but so many who start doing this part of blood magic end up addicted to it and they become like demons.¡±


    ¡°Could there be a corrupting energy involved?¡± I wonder out loud. If the ritual came from demons or devils it might have, or it could be that the experience is addicting.


    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t utilize tainted mana. Not this version at least, I made sure of that even though infernal blood magic does this better.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing that version has corrupting energy?¡±


    ¡°It does.¡±


    ¡°Promise me never to use anything like that.¡±


    K nods, I think this is the only thing I¡¯ve ever demanded of her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help refine the dragon but we can¡¯t resort to just rounding up random people.¡±


    I smile, ¡°luckily we know where there are some people who want to kill me.¡±


    I have scruples against just killing and harming anyone like a murder hobo but there is nothing wrong with making the most out of my enemies¡¯ resources. K also smiles at that line of thought.


    ¡°But how will we get to them?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll need to know the state that they need to be in, so we can work out a plan after you tell me what we need to prepare.¡±


    <hr>


    By dawn K and me have gotten through most of the base though some of it was locked up and I couldn¡¯t figure out which part held it shut and I am standing in front of one such door now.


    As I haven¡¯t found nearly as many weapons as I had hoped for and sensed they must be behind these doors.


    ¡°Can you open this door?¡± K asks as I have gotten us into some of the locked rooms.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, I don¡¯t see where the latches are, nor do I know the pass code.¡±


    ¡°What about the square keys like at the hotel?¡±


    Square keys? A moment later I groan and place my hand on my face, of course there would be pass cards on the ID badges.


    ¡°I should have thought of that earlier. Thanks, can you grab me one from whoever has the nicest uniform?¡±


    I hear her walk over to the nearby bodies as I figure out where the wires are and begin to power the door by twisting reality. I hope they didn¡¯t set some failsafe to lock everyone out in case of power failure.


    I don¡¯t find any wires to the rest of the base but I find dying batteries in the keypad. That makes sense, keeps them from being dependent on the now dead and fallen power lines outside.


    The door gives a loud click after K passes somebody¡¯s ID badge through the keypad a few times.


    ¡°We¡¯re lucky it didn¡¯t require a password¡± I comment as K opens the door. Behind it is an armory, it¡¯s in some disarray but we won¡¯t have an ammunition problem for a while.


    <hr>


    By the time we got back to Bryan and Ria it was around half way to noon. I could have taken one of the watches out or been wearing one but I haven¡¯t found much use for knowing the specific time since the conjunction.


    ¡°Ready to go or do you two want some more time alone?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°We need to head back to the others¡± K says and I nod and the two of us turn around.


    Bryan and Ria follow us out to the truck we used to get here and I end up driving as Bryan did most of it on the way here.


    ¡°Did you get what you needed?¡± he asks.


    ¡°The hardest part¡± I answer.


    ¡°Part?¡±


    ¡°I want to distil the dragon¡¯s essence. That my mom is a fair bit into adulthood is going to make it harder for her than it was for me.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Distil draconic essence or adulthood making racial awakening harder?¡±


    ¡°Both.¡±


    ¡°Distilling it will be blood magic, I won¡¯t go further than that. Your paladinhood might get in the way.¡±


    ¡°Are you . . .¡±


    ¡°No, we aren¡¯t going all evil blood cult. A moral grey, use of enemies.


    As for racial awakening, the body after puberty does not change much aside from the effects of aging. This also makes it harder for any changes made to a creature''s makeup to be expressed.¡±


    ¡°How did you learn that?¡±


    ¡°A mix between Kythia and having picked up a lot of understanding about living beings to become a better healer.¡±


    Ria leans forward from the back seat, ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Can I have some food?¡±


    That¡¯s right, I forgot about breakfast not being hungry after the dragon and morning sunshine. I pull out a bag of granola and pass it to her and another to K. She didn¡¯t ask but she hasn¡¯t eaten.


    The drive back is faster than the drive to the base, we already cleared what debris we had to make the road passable.


    Just past an hour of the drive I notice four girls walking down the road, everyone but dad who stayed at the farm. What are they doing here? The passengers look up from the books they¡¯re reading as I slow down to a stop.


    ¡°Why are they here?¡± Bryan asks.


    I don¡¯t answer as the response of ''I don¡¯t know'' is obvious. Something must have happened at the farm though, an attack? If they fled without dad though it must have been dangerous and he stayed behind to give them a chance to escape. But if he is a seer why didn¡¯t he avoid it entirely?


    ¡°What happened?¡± I ask the girls as I open my door to step out.


    ¡°Your dad said something about fight other Ravnos before telling us to run¡± Abagail answers just before Talia and Lysan would have.


    The implications of other Ravnos start to turn in my head, ¡°Ok, and why is my mom have a bunch of cuts along her hands and arms?¡±


    ¡°Because she has no talent with a sword and kept trying to learn even after sister ran out of healing magic¡± Talia answers and my mom looks down at her feet.


    I¡¯m not sure what drove her to want to be able to fight but the desire for strength will help her connect with her dragon after awakening.


    ¡°Can I see the journal dad gave you?¡± mom asks and I pass it to her without a thought. I finished it on the drive to the dragon.


    ¡°You won¡¯t like the contents.¡±


    She just nods before beginning to speed read through the pages.


    ¡°If you family is attacking your dad and maybe you should we really be going towards them?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°No, we need to change plans. I was going to bring it up once we were all back at the farm but we won¡¯t be going back there now.¡±


    I glance at my mom to see she has turned everything out as she is becoming more upset by the contents of the journal. Should I have given it to her? Too late now.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to abandon you dad?¡± Abagail asks.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m respecting his reasoning. If he sent you away it was to protect you. He''ll find us when it¡¯s over.¡±


    I think I managed to hide my concern, I want to go but I won¡¯t put everyone in guaranteed danger I don¡¯t know how to handle.


    ¡°Then where are we going?¡±


    ¡°To gather the rest of what I need to wake up my mother¡¯s dragon blood and figure out what to do after that.¡±


    ¡°Kansas City¡± Bryan half asks half states.


    I nod, ¡°there is enough of the city yet to return to normalcy for us to stay for a few days before anyone will find us.¡±


    ¡°Lets get going then¡± Bryan says and everyone climbs into the truck bed or cabin.


    <hr>


    No one speaks during the drive back into Kansas City, I hope that dad really did handle the issue with the government. I don¡¯t want to test it though, not if I don¡¯t have to.


    I need living people for K''s ritual, the only two solutions I can think of are raiding the Althaen patrols or calling in the favor to Charles Del Mon. I¡¯m skeptical about the vampire, he wouldn¡¯t have any issues with gathering people up if my assumptions are correct but if they are I can¡¯t trust him.


    I pull into the driveway of a house that is still in good condition.

 Chapter 111

    War dragons are also known as Battle Dragons or Conflict Dragons and are an oddity even amongst the planar dragons. They are born from conflict large enough to create empathetic echoes throughout their home plane and while able to breed are not capable of doing so with members of their own species and their decedents lack most traits of the Battle Dragon unless the other parent had them too.


    They have great power and skill in the weapons that were used in the conflict that spawned them, magical or otherwise. They are driven by the emotions and logic of those that were, or still are, involved in the conflict that birthed them. This leaves them to generally be violent, cruel and other such negative emotions. While it is possible for them to be created from resolution of a conflict or extreme peace, this variant tends to be both rarer and weaker than the normal version.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Once we are all inside I hear tearing paper and turn to my mother.


    ¡°Don¡¯t destroy it¡± I say a little too loudly pulling the journal from her hands.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t, dad told me to take this page out. It has a message in lemon juice¡± she says with all off her built up displeasure from the journal''s contents leaking out.


    I wave my hand without asking and will a focused burst of heat over the torn page in her hands. It became discolored as writing became visible.


    ¡°I should have something to wake up your dragon powers within a few days.¡±


    She nods but is more attentive on the paper. I can see tears in her eyes and anger.


    I pull her into a hug but she pushes me away after a moment, ¡°later, I need to think¡± she says.


    I nod but after I finish what I need to tell the others I¡¯m going to have to comfort her. Dad isn¡¯t here, I have to. I hope Frank isn¡¯t mentioned in that note. . .


    My mother walks off into one of the bedrooms as I turn to the others. ¡°There is something I want to try in the Grey Dream after my mom calms down.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Kythia asks.


    ¡°Group sessions, try to request it when you go there tonight.¡±


    I get some weird looks from the trio and Ria even though everyone nods. With that I turn and take a few breaths before following after my mother.


    When I walk into the room I get an angry glare from her and close the door behind me. I sit next to her and glance at the note, it isn¡¯t much and not even fully coherent but after reading the journal it gives a very clear message.


    My younger brothers are Fabricio and Antonio Ravnos not the souls that they should have been, and they were sent because of me. More specifically because I could do magic and that he killed them after they tried to kill me.


    I don¡¯t say anything, guilt welling up inside me. ¡°Did you know? Are you like them?¡± she asks with venom in her voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± I mutter.


    ¡°Did you know? Are you like them?¡± she repeats.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not like them. I didn¡¯t know anything until I read that journal.¡±


    I wrap my arms around my mom as she begins to give herself completely over to her crying. I rub her back and tell her comforting words as the emptiness left by Frank¡¯s death gets filled, with hate for what this put my mother through.


    I will kill whoever is responsible for this and I will make them suffer. I lose track of time and I do not know how long it took for my mother to cry herself to sleep but she would not let go once she did.


    When the trio opens the door and looks in I motion for them to come closer.


    ¡°Are you coming to bed?¡± Lysan asks.


    ¡°I want to, but. . .¡± I point at my mother and move a bit away only for her to pull herself closer.


    ¡°You could easily get out of that¡± K comments and I nod. It is true, I am a lot stronger than her.


    ¡°But she needs the emotional support, we can talk though. Even if she does wake up she won¡¯t understand us.¡±


    They frown a bit, except for Lysan who decided to just sit next to me.


    ¡°Do you think your plan will work?¡± Talia asks sitting nearby.


    ¡°I think so and if just using something stronger doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll look into age regression. There is also the thing I did to Thrane, that dragon magic imbued and awakened abilities in him even if I don¡¯t know what. I¡¯m almost certain I didn¡¯t do it right either.¡±


    ¡°Do you need any help?¡± Lysan asks though I think Talia was about to.


    ¡°Yes, but you might not like everything that is going to be involved. To concentrate the draconic essence into something my mom will be able to eat without popping her stomach some blood magic will be needed, not to mention that the other two options I have to look at will require experimentation to get right and I¡¯m not going to practice on someone I care about.¡±


    The twins both frown, even if Lysan¡¯s is only a slight one, before Talia turns to K. ¡°You agreed with this?¡±


    ¡°I did and no its not demonic. The planed sacrifices are either the soldiers who tried to or Althaen who have done the same.¡±


    ¡°Do you have to?¡± Talia asks me.


    I nod and she continues, ¡°will it work for awakening non dragons?¡±


    It takes me a moment to think through her question, ¡°the first one would mutate some draconic traits if it worked but would probably have to work together with the second. Age regression would not cause any awakenings but could make other methods more likely to succeed. Why?¡±


    ¡°Sister and me, we aren¡¯t all our parents were.¡±


    ¡°Then what were they?¡±


    ¡°Royal elves.¡±


    ¡°Which is?¡± I ask not knowing what that sub species would even be.


    ¡°A racial group of elves like High Elves, usually blessed by a natural element or a type of magic.¡±


    I gesture for her to continue, I¡¯m going to need more resources than I thought.


    ¡°Dad was blessed by fire, he could command it and it wouldn¡¯t hurt him while Mom could create a healing light.¡±


    ¡°Do you know which you inherited?¡±


    Both of them shake their heads. I suppose it doesn¡¯t really matter. The same idea I have for mom won¡¯t work for this, concentrating elven blood and feeding it to them isn¡¯t something they would permit even if I could gather the ingredients. Maybe I can figure out how Dragon¡¯s Blessing works and manipulate it?


    Learning to cause age regression could still work. EP would be reenabled and EP hasn¡¯t been to hard for me to gather. Life gave me a discount in the Grey Dream, could I use it to force a racial awakening?


    ¡°If you want it, I¡¯ll do everything I can.¡±


    The twins smile, I¡¯m not going to mention what I¡¯ll probably end up having to do to get this to wok.


    ¡°There is something else you should know¡± Lysan says and I turn to her.


    ¡°Before your father had us run away he wanted me to pass on a message to soak his book in human blood. I don¡¯t know why.¡±


    I nod, that isn¡¯t going to be difficult with my forming plans. I wonder what that is supposed to do though. Normally it would ruin anything that was written on the paper but maybe he put some magic in it?


    I shift myself slightly to lean against the headboard of the bed before speaking, ¡°well we still have stuff to do in the Grey Dream right?¡±


    They nod and find places to get comfortable before drifting off to sleep.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes and unlike the other times I¡¯ve entered the Grey Dream it is not an empty grey mist. Bryan and Abagail are standing next to each other as he helps her with something. Ria is sitting off to the side waiting and the trio are slowly appearing next to me at what is apparently the entrance to this shared version of the Grey Dream.Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°Well, it worked¡± I say as the trio bump into me.


    Ria jumps up and runs over to us. ¡°I told her not to purchase anything here until she talked to you about it¡± K says.


    ¡°Alright, should we just share all our information with each other than?¡±


    They all think for a minute before nodding, Ria did not hesitate though and I got a pop up from here before I even finished my sentence.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Ria


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 215


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: 138


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Kythia Bloodclaw


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 23


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 58


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Thalia Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 21


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Lysan Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Talia¡¯s name is actually Thalia?


    ¡°Alright I can¡¯t go over everyone¡¯s stuff at the same time so who should be first?¡± I ask as I send the trio my own information. I actually do hope that they find something I can use. Last time a fresh pair of eyes looked over it dragon-me found out you can buy traits.


    ¡°You should help Ria, the rest of us don¡¯t have much to do¡± K says and the others nod. It does make logical sense so I move the other three screens to the side and open up panels about what Ria already has. I motion her to move next to me as I do so.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    STR 9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CON 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    INT 20


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    WIS 14


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    CHA 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    HP: 44


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Mana: 210


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Kitsune 10


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Sorcerer 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e" width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor, Shield


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    5


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Identify, True Strike, See Invisible, Know Direction, Detect <Magic, Poison, Disease, Creature Type, Gender>, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Next of Kin, Scry, True Seeing, Oracle, Invisibility Purge, Infravision, Ultravision,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Resist Fear, Calm Emotion, Sleep, Laughter, Scan Thoughts, Societal Invisibility


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Burning Hands


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Light, Ventriloquism, Dancing Lights, Darkness, Shadow Evocation<Up to Tier 2>, Image <Silent, Still, Minor>, Reflexive Illusion


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Minor Drain


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Eagle¡¯s Splendor, Benign Transposition, Clean


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Kitsune Tail


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Proficiency


    </td>


    <td>


    Powers Available


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    1 - Fire


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    3


    </td>


    <td>


    Manipulation, Generation,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    2 - Shadows


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    0


    </td>


    <td>


    Generation


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Brittle


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Kitsune are physically weak and have poor tolerance to pain and injury. -8 CON


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Chi Senses


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    You are able to passively sense a variety of energies making it easier to learn to control them as well as notice when most supernatural abilities are being used.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Darkvision


    </td>


    <td width="360"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Empathetic Bond


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Your bond is currently empty


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Fey Body


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Your Appearance has also increases Constitution for things other than your Fortitude.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Kitsune Traits


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Brittle, Fey Body, Scent, Infravision, +4INT, CHA, +6 APR, Each tail increases your total mana capacity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Infravision


    </td>


    <td width="360"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Scent Greater


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Your sense of smell far surpasses the regular man.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    She can definitely teach Bryan some shadow magic. I wonder how she has such a high constitution with the negative eight, probably from needing it. I¡¯m not sure what to do with the tails or how they work, I¡¯ll have to ask about that. I don¡¯t know what that bond is for but combat wise it won¡¯t matter. Chi Senses and Fey Body give me some ideas though.


    ¡°How do your tails¡¯ magic work?¡±


    ¡°They let me spend mana to create and control energy directly related to some trait¡± Ria answers, it is a bit similar to my abilities. Could I teach her to create the weird fires I¡¯ve made? Chi Senses probably lets her feel them. . .


    ¡°How do you get more tails?¡± that question is probably the secret to her growing more powerful the fastest.


    ¡°Kitsune stuff.¡±


    ¡°Like. . .¡±


    ¡°Being awesome and fun and stuff.¡±


    Alright I¡¯ll have to ask someone else what Kitsune stuff is; probably acting fox like so pranks and what not.


    ¡°Alright then, lets look at EP.¡± She opens it up, the Grey Dream seems to have a security against others spending your points. Good feature, an override would be nice but what Ria and the others end up being should be up to them.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Elemental


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Kitsune


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Mana


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    She opens up Kitsune without a wasted second.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Empathetic Sense 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Fey Bond 150


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Fey Spirit 150


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Kitsune¡¯s Eyes 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Prehensile Tails 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Potent Tails 75


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    We look over the list and like mine there are no descriptions of the abilities given until after they are purchased. Even then they are not always given. Logically from what she already has Fey has to do with appearance affecting something else, otherwise they seem semi-self-explanatory.


    ¡°What should I get?¡± Ria asks and I answer her after a moment.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, both Fey abilities should be good if they are like the one you already have. Finding and noticing things should be easier with Empathetic Sense. I don¡¯t know what Kitsune Eyes can do but they should be helpful in doing Kitsune stuff. If you want stronger magic go with Potent Tails.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me what I have to be?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll give advice but you should get to choose what you want to be.¡±


    She buys Prehensile Tails and Kitsune¡¯s Eyes. I don¡¯t know why she took the first choice when she isn¡¯t a melee fighter but maybe the extra ¡®hands¡¯ will help her in spellcasting?


    Next, I have her open up the Trait menu for purchases and we limit it down to the following.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Accelerated Learning 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Endurance 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Quick Step 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="623">


    Perfect Recall 50


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Ria already has guesses at what each of these do and she takes two of those I already have but the SP dropped by more, she bought something else too. I don¡¯t know what it is but hopefully it wasn¡¯t something stupid.


    ¡°What should I do with the rest?¡±


    ¡°Buy skills or increase your attributes.¡±


    She smiles and nods as I dismiss what panels I still have open for her. Now I¡¯ll go over the trio¡¯s pages before I¡¯m done here. I glance around and everyone else is already gone.

 Character Sheets

    Adrian


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 70


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: 8


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    6¡¯9¡± Caucasian with a light tan, Hair: Ultraviolet/Dark Metallic Blue, Eyes: Slited Myriad (Dark Blue/Ultraviolet/Gold)


    15¡¯6¡±x20¡¯ Black Scales starlight glow,


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 30


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 25


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 32


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 30


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 28


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 29


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 28


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 1335


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 594


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon: Void 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon Knight: Void 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Marksman 8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Rogue 10


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Crossbow 0/4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Axe 1/3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Dagger 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Hand-to-Hand 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Hammer 0/4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Spear 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Fly 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Stealth 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Handle Animal 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Anatomy 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Geology 0/6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Mathematics 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Planes 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tactics 3/6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Carving 2/7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drawing 2/5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Electronics 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 1/4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Mechanics 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Smithing 0/6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Stonework 0/7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Driving 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Canine


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Draconic


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Dwarven


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Dwarven (High)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Ignan


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Lycanthrip


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Necrol


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Orcish (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    1280 Arcane Power 6


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    320Space 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    320 Planar 0


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    80 Fate 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    1280 Life/Death 5


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    1280 Soul 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    320 Primal 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    640 Time 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    40 Transmutation 2


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    10 Telekinesis 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    40 Fire 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    160 Lightning 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    80 Light 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    40 Darkness 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    20 Gravity 1


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    40 Mind 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Accelerated Learning


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    You learn and improve faster than normal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Alternate Form


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Adult Void Dragon (H)


    Breath: Gravity, Radiance, Void


    Partial Transformations


    Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Draconic Longevity


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    +4 APR, slow aging, extended lifespan


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Endurance, Superior


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    You are able to last longer in all forms of strenuous activity.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Free Multiclassing


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    No penalty for multiple classes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Magic Resistance, Greater


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Passive resistance to harmful mana-based effects. Other supernatural effects are also resisted at a lower level


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Party Leader


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    +2 to all Attributes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Powers


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Cache, Chill, Grasp, Slip, Touch, Twist,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Dragon Body


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes. + 8 to all Attributes. Additional +4 STR/CON, ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Dragon Eyes


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Colored Darkvision, Infravision, Ultravision (Ultraviolet), ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Sustenance


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Wolf Familiar


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Your familiar Lykou¡¯s strength and size is based on the moon phase.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Bellow are not shown in Grey Dream


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Cache


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Maintain a space in the void for storage. Powered by mana.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void, Chill of the


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Your mana based elemental attacks are laced with the essence of the Void.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Grasp


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Those/Areas held by void grasp are incapable of extradimensional movement, aside from Void Dragons and other powerful void users.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Slip


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Slipping into the Void for an instant as a near instinctual reaction dodges against nonmultiplanar attacks


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Touch


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Drawing on the essence of the Void properly can cause your melee attacks to damage the essence of those hurt.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="198">


    Void Twist


    </td>


    <td width="426">


    Similar to Void Slip but this affects a small area, often used to cause an incoming projectile to pass through the user without causing harm.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Bryan


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Bryan Grace


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: 04


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    6¡¯3¡± Caucasian, Hair: Brown, Eyes: Blue


    ???


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 22


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 18


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 22


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 22


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 464


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 318


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Paladin: Undead Hunter 19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Phantasm 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard: Necromancer 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Mathematics 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tactics 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Driving 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Shield, Shield Another, Greater Mage Armor, Dispel Magic, Bladeturn, Alarm


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    True Strike


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    <Element> Hands, Light, Flameblade, Flare


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    IllusionYou might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Animate Dead, Bloodbridge, Chill Touch, Cure <Minor, Light>, Death Armor, Disrupt Undead, Vampiric Touch, <Minor, Lesser, Normal> Drain, Negative Energy Burst, Ghost <Light, Fire, Walk>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Bull¡¯s Endurance, Bear¡¯s Strength, GhostTouch,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Divine Sphere


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    Highest Teir


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Miracles Available


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Battle


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Draw Upon a Holy Might, Spirit Weapon, Blessing of Battle


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Death


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Inflict <Minor, Light, Medium>,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Freedom


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Fray Bindings


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Healing


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    5


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Cure <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate, Serious>, Healing Circle <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate>, Resist Toxin, Resist Disease, Aid, Know the Heart,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Protection


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Shield Another, Sacred Armor, Protective Flame, Circle Against <Oppression, Evil, Undead>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Undead Hunter


    </td>


    <td width="66">


    -


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Smite Undead, Sense Undead


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Aasimar Blood


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Celestial blood courses through your veins. Divine magics come easier to you. +2 WIS/CHA/APR


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Accelerated Learning


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You learn and improve faster than normal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Champion of <>


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    While your patron does not wish to reveal himself, he does grant the following: Accelerated Learning, Sacrament of Faith, +4 STR, CON, CHA, APR.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Code of Conduct


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You must follow some Morality restrictions


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Divine Grace


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron grants you an increased chance of mitigating harmful effects


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Divine Health


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron protects you from most disease and poison


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Keen Senses


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Life from Mana


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You have stumbled upon the path necromancers truly dream of. Creating life through mana, drawing upon positive energy and not just negative.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Phantasm*


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Blending the lines between life and death by sundering and reforging the connection to your still living body has granted some of the abilities of the undead, specifically those of Shades as that is what you were briefly.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Faith


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron has great faith in you and if you think an action is justified few questions will be asked.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Liberty


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    You are much more difficult to bind with supernatural effects


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Sacrament of Succor


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    Your patron divinely inspires you to grant the succor needed to your charges.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="168">


    Shade-Touched


    </td>


    <td width="456">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Abagail


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Abagail Clark


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:  1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: 8


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    5¡¯1¡± Caucasian, Hair: Blond, Eyes: Blue


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 9


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 13


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 17


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 18


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 108


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 136


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bard 18


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Dance 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sing 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Music 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Driving 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor, Shield


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Identify, True Strike


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Resist Fear, Courage, Hope, Terror, Horror, Rage, Calm Emotion, Sleep, Laughter, Scan Thoughts, Societal Invisibility, Scan Emotions, Charm


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Burning Hands, Flare


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Light, Ventriloquism, Dancing Lights, Darkness,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Minor Drain


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Eagle¡¯s Splendor


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Fey Spirit


    </td>


    <td width="416">


    You APR is added to CHA for your mana potency


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Lysan


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Lysan Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    5¡¯6¡± Caucasian, Hair: Red, Eyes: Red, Yellow specs


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 13


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 22


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 24


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 274


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 216


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Theurge 18


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Archer 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Mace 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Flail 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢ 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English (Spoken)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Greater Armor, Shield, Resist Energy, Energy Shield, Fireshield<Red, Blue, Yellow>, Lesser Dispel, Alarm, Arcane Lock, Lesser Stoneskin


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Identify, Comprehend Language, Tongues,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Scorcher, Elemental Loop, Lightningbolt,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Divine Sphere


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Miracles Available


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Healing


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    5


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Cure <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate, Serious, Critical>, Resist Toxin, Resist Disease, Healing Circle <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate>, Neutralize Poison, Cure Disease


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Protection


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Shield, Sacred Armor, Protective Light, Lesser Aegis, Shield of the Dawn, Lesser Spell Resistance


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Travel


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Know Direction, Haste, Lay of the Land,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Elven Royalty


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Elves will instinctively trust you, Elven Traits are heightened


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Darkvision, Color


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Talia


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Thalia Alanth¨ªer


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 122


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 21


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    5¡¯6¡± Caucasian, Hair: Red, Eyes: Red, Yellow specs


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 14


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 399


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 276


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard 18


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Rapier 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢ 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Celestial


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish (High)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor, Shield, Resist Energy, Fireshield<Red, Blue, Yellow, Green>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Elemental Circle, Fireball


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Magic Missile, Blast Missile, Elemental Hands, Scorcher, Elemental Loop, Elemental Blade, Greater Lightningbolt, Elemental Arrow, Gust of Wind, Combust,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Dancing Lights,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Gr Cat''s Grace, Gr Bull''s Strength, Gr Bear''s Endurance, Haste,


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Elven Royalty


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Elves will instinctively trust you, Elven Traits are heightened


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Darkvision, Color


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Kythia


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Kythia Bloodclaw


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 23


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 58


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    6¡¯6¡± Caucasian, Hair: Silver, Eyes: Golden


    9¡¯11¡± Fur: Silver, Eyes: Golden


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 33


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 30


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 37


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 26


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 731 (1178)


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 292 (448)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Bloodclaw 19 ¨C Only under the full moon


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Wizard 19


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Hand to Hand 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Claw 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bite 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Intimidate 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Althr¨¢ 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Lycanthrip


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Necrol


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Shield, Armor


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Darkness, Maggots,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    True Strike


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Dark Missile, Burning Hands, Elemental Blade, Darkfireball, Icestorm,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Dancing Lights


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    5


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Neg E Burst, Blood Fire Blade, Life Transfer, Disrupt Undead(Greater), Bloodbridge, Cure/Inflict <Minor, Light, Medium, Moderate, Serious, Critical>, Destroy Undead, Mass Cure/Inflict <Minor, Light, Moderat, Medium>, Deatharmor, Fireshield<Black>, Disrupting Blade, Vampiric Touch, Drain <Minor, Lesser>, Vampiric Blade, Ghoul Touch, Touch(Fatigue),


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="114">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="414">


    Clean, Debone


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Canine Empathy


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You can sense and influence the emotions of canines.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Curse of Lycanthropy


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Contact with another''s blood may spread your strain of Lycanthropy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Dire Werewolf


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    +12 STR, +8CON, +4DEX, APR


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Feral Soul


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You have surrendered pieces of your soul to the wolf, luckily your wolf, Moonlight Runner, also gave you pieces of herself. It is harder to keep your wolf from manifesting but some of her manifested traits will carry over to you.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Infravision Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Life from Mana


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You have stumbled upon the path necromancers truly dream of. Creating life through mana, drawing upon positive energy and not just negative.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Lycanthropic Regeneration


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    You will slowly heal most injuries; the healing will be faster the closer to the full moon it is.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Pack Alpha


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    +2 CON, CHA


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Scent Greater


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Your sense of smell far surpasses the regular man.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    True Blood


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Some of your physical prowess as a lycanthrope carries over to your humanoid form


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Ria


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Ria


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP:  65


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: 113


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    6¡¯2¡± Caucasian, Hair: Yellow, red tips Eyes: Blue, Tails: 2


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 9


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 12


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 20


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 14


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 26


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 44


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 210


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Kitsune 10


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Sorcerer 6


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 1


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Dance 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sing 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 7


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Althaen


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Canine


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Elvish


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Lycanthrip


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Sylvan


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    School


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Highest Tier


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Spells Known


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Abjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Armor, Shield


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Conjuration


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Divination


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    5


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Identify, True Strike, See Invisible, Know Direction, Detect <Magic, Poison, Disease, Creature Type, Gender>, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Next of Kin, Scry, True Seeing, Oracle, Invisibility Purge, Infravision, Ultravision,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Enchantment


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Resist Fear, Calm Emotion, Sleep, Laughter, Scan Thoughts, Societal Invisibility


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Evocation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Burning Hands


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Illusion


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Light, Ventriloquism, Dancing Lights, Darkness, Shadow Evocation<Up to Tier 2>, Image <Silent, Still, Minor>, Reflexive Illusion


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Necromancy


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Minor Drain


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    Transmutation


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Eagle¡¯s Splendor, Benign Transposition, Clean


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    Kitsune Tail


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    Proficiency


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Powers Available


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    1 - Fire


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Manipulation, Generation,


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="138">


    2 - Shadows


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    0


    </td>


    <td width="384">


    Generation


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Accelerated Learning


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    You learn and improve faster than normal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Brittle


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Kitsune are physically weak and have poor tolerance to pain and injury. -8 CON


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Chi Senses


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    You are able to semi-passively sense a variety of energies making it easier to learn to control them as well as notice when most supernatural abilities are being used.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Empathetic Bond


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Your bond is currently empty


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Fey Body


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Your Appearance has also increases Constitution for things other than your Fortitude.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Keen Senses Greater


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Your senses are more acute and sensitive.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Kitsune¡¯s Eyes


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Infravision, Lowlight, Darkvision Powers: Charm, ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Kitsune Traits


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Brittle, Fey Body, Scent, Infravision, +4INT, CHA, +6 APR, Each tail increases your total mana capacity and will cause minor physical changes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Prehensile Tails


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Scent Greater


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    Your sense of smell far surpasses the regular man.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    Mental Trauma


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    ??? *Not revealed to possessor*


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="264">


    </td>


    <td width="360">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Kathrine


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Kathrine Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Female


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 38


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    6¡¯ 1¡± Caucasian, Hair: Brown, Eyes: Hazel


    ???


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 14


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 15


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 16


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 19


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 19


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 18


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 112


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: 56


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Acolyte 14


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Dragon Knight: ??? 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Dagger 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Hand to Hand 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Craft


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Greek (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Hebrew (Written)


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Latin (Written)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="624">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    True Faith


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Unlike most, you truly have the devotion and faith in your god to call down miracles. High chance of ignoring the mana cost of divine magic, and may perform miracles beyond what your level would normally permit. You may also accidently perform miracles you do not know.


    This trait does not grant you a position or rank in a clergy nor does it give you a right to join the clergy of the deity you follow. (Cannot be seen by the holder, unless they discover it by other means.)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="186">


    Perfect Recall


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Able to remember anything you paid attention to.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Randy Ravnos


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Rynald Ravnos


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Age: 41?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    SP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    EP: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    6¡¯5¡± Caucasian, Hair: Brown, Eyes: Blue


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    STR 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    DEX 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CON 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    INT 24


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    WIS 29


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    CHA 24


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="208">


    APR 16


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    HP: 690


    </td>


    <td width="208">


    Mana: -


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Assassin 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Magus 30


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="623">


    Fighter 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table width="623">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Combat


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Ranged 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Firearms 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Archery 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Melee 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Spear 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sword 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Dagger 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Evasion 6


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Tumble 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Social


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Empathy 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sense Motive 3


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Persuade 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Bluff 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Disguise 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Knowledge


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Religion 9


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Nature 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Physics 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Technology 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Arcana 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Chemistry 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Biology 8


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    History 9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Perception 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Battle Sense 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="4" width="623">


    Other


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    Computers 2


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Drive 5


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Leatherwork 4


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    Sewing 5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    <td width="156">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arabic


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    English


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    French


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    German


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Latin


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Portuguese


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Russian


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Spanish


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Arcane Power 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Dimensions 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Divination 7


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Fate 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Fire 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Water4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Earth 4


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Air 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Primal 3


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Time 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Cursed


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    Your very essence has been irrevocably damaged in your flawed reincarnations. While you can learn more skills and you can never regain what has been lost. Baring extraordinary circumstances all of your decedents will not be able to inherit anything from you aside from physical traits of your new body.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Reality Weaver


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="312">


    Repentant


    </td>


    <td width="312">


    You have truly changed and as such no longer subject to the effects of your Curse so long as you do not return to your past ways.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter 112

    The Shadow Dragon is native to the Shadow Planes, and appears as a pitch-black dragon with pure darkness wafting off of its lithe form. They are reclusive creatures that find the largest open space that is touched by as little natural light as possible to occupy. They are instinctual masters of Illusion and shadow magic of all kind. They tend to use hit and run tactics in conjunction with shadow walking and calling the lesser denizens of the nearest shadow plane during combat.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I wake up before anyone else as has almost always been the case since becoming a dragon. I spend the hour or so before anyone woke up thinking of and attempting to do things with Light and Darkness. Just as my mother woke up I managed to make a ball of physical darkness by a connection to the Sphere of Transmutation.


    ¡°Are you feeling better mom?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you know you didn¡¯t have to stay.¡±


    I don¡¯t say anything, mentioning why I needed to would just upset her. I wake for a moment before standing up.


    ¡°Mom, do you mind staying here for a few days as I get everything prepared?¡±


    She has to think for a while before remembering what I am talking about, ¡°I thought you only needed that dragon.¡±


    ¡°Technically, yes I don¡¯t have to do more preparations but it will be better if I do.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but please come back every day.¡±


    I nod to her request, before getting up and walking to the kitchen. I¡¯m feeling hungry and if I don¡¯t get something soon I¡¯ll end up snacking on the dragon meat in Void Cache.


    <hr>


    No one spoke as breakfast was made, a simple meal of bread, butter and jelly.


    ¡°Bryan, I¡¯m going to get what I need for my mother, can you watch those that stay here and keep them safe?¡±


    He nods, and Lysan answers my question before I ask it. "Sister and me will stay as well to teach her to fight.¡±


    I nod, she really need to learn. I turn to Abagail and Ria.


    ¡°I''ll be staying¡± Abagail says and I didn¡¯t think she would have made any other choice.


    ¡°I want to be helpful. How can I help?¡±


    Could I use an illusionist? Yes, but I glance over to K. She is the one who will be doing the ritual and probably a decent amount of the tracking.


    I can see the slightest nod before I answer, ¡°can you trick some Althaen patrols into running into some traps?¡±


    She nods enthusiastically.


    ¡°We should be back tomorrow, probably the afternoon.¡±


    K whispers something in Talia¡¯s ear before glancing at Ria. ¡°Adrian, I¡¯ll be out shortly.¡±


    I nod and walk over to the door, thinking of what will be the best ways to test my theories on my soon to be prisoners. I don¡¯t want to think about what the girls are no doubt going to talk over.


    <hr>


    Talia


    <hr>


    When Kythia whispered in my ear that sister and me needed to have a talk with Ria, I frowned. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to like the outcome.


    Adrian walks outside as if he was completely oblivious and while I doubt he is it is probably the best thing he could have done. Kythia leads Ria, sister and me to the bedroom we didn¡¯t get to share with Adrian last night.


    ¡°Ria saved Adrian¡¯s life when we fought the dragon¡± K says as soon as the door is closed.


    ¡°What? How?¡± I can¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°She swapped places with him just before he was going to be crushed.¡±


    My sister hugs the kitsune and give a truly heartfelt ¡°thank you¡± as soon as Kythia finishes her sentence.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t need to meet away from the others for that, what else is there?¡± I aks.


    Kythia turns to Ria, she doesn¡¯t look completely happy with whatever is going to be said.


    ¡°Can we be pole sisters?¡± Ria asks in excitement.


    ¡°What?¡± I say as I look at her in confusion, my sister having an identical look.


    ¡°She wants to join us as one of Adrian¡¯s mates¡± Kythia clarifies annoyed by having to do so.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°How is what she said ev. . .¡± my face turns as red as sister''s sometimes gets as I realize just how her question means what Kythia said.


    ¡°Please, can I?¡± Ria asks and the jealousy that I sometimes get of my sister and Kythia surface. I don¡¯t want to share.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind if Adrian wants her¡± sister says.


    I look at her, ¡°why sister?¡±


    ¡°To make him happy.¡±


    I look at Kythia to be some sort of voice of reason in this. ¡°I don¡¯t like her but she is loyal to our mate. I''ve already accepted it, if Adrian wants her he can have her.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry sister, Adrian isn¡¯t going to love us less if she is with us¡± sister says, pulling me into a hug, one that Ria decides to join.


    ¡°Please, I promise not to take away from his love for you¡± she whispers and rubs her tails against me.


    I make the mistake of looking into the kitsune¡¯s eyes. I couldn¡¯t say no to her after that, not from any magical compulsion but from the innocent desire in her eyes as she begged.


    ¡°Okay but the next girl has to be Bryan¡¯s¡± I say and Kythia nods and mumbles something I can barely hear.


    ¡°Yes, it wouldn¡¯t be good for the next generation of the pack to all have the same sire.¡±


    Ria runs around all three of us to give us hugs as she says, ¡°thank you¡± over and over again.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    K and Ria walk out of the house a few minutes after I do, Ria seems happier than normal. Whatever they talked about must have gone well for her.


    ¡°Alright, we need to set up another location for some prisoners and capture some. Kythia can you track down some Althaen?¡± I ask.


    She shakes her head, ¡°the moon isn¡¯t full enough for me to call on my wolf.¡±


    ¡°Then we will have to use Ria¡¯s magic or search manually.¡±


    Ria begins to chant something for a few seconds before smiling, ¡°bad men are that way¡± she says and points in a direction.


    I shrug and try to do a pulse of life energy to sense other living things. This seems easier than what I¡¯ve usually done as far as telling what direction something is in. There are a few life forces in the direction she pointed. I have no idea who or what they are but it is a place to start.


    Whatever they are it is only a few streets over so I motion the girls to follow me. A few short minutes later I glance around the corner of a building to see a few men in Althaen clothes. No horses, no armor, they just have tunics and some light weapons hanging on their belts. Nobles? If there are then where are their guards?


    This is a stupid way to do this but I need to know if they are enemies or a neutral party. I step out into their view, ¡°names and allegiances, tell me them now!¡± I say while trying to be intimidating.


    They answer but do not seem distressed, I only halfway listen. They named an Althaen house, not one I remember attacking me specifically but they are Althaen and that is enough for me.


    I turn their shadows solid to hold them as I rush to knock the three men out. They end up breaking out of the physical shadows before I reach them, but it did keep them from drawing their swords before I hit one of them on the side of the head. I hear something crack and his head is at a weird angle on the ground. Did I hit him too hard? Whatever so long as his heart is still beating I can fix it before K does her ritual.


    I took out the guy on the right so I wouldn¡¯t be surrounded and try to block a drawing strike from the man who can hit me with my forearm as it manifests its scales. My arm gets in place fast enough though the flash of pain tells me either that sword is really sharp or the scales didn¡¯t come out fast enough.


    The man whose sword is not stuck in my arm begins to fight against something that is not there while K charges at my opponent. He pulls his blade and I fail to move inside his reach, his footwork is better than mine. He is not however able to prevent both me and K from flanking and knocking him out after I take another hit, this one not even scratching my scales.


    ¡°So, will you need more than these three?¡± I ask K as she turn to knock out the man trapped in an illusion.


    ¡°Two maybe threemore, just to be safe. It¡¯s better to have a surplus than a deficit¡± she answers and I nod.


    ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s take these three into a nearby building. Then I¡¯ll bring Ria to get some more while you set up.¡± The two girls nod and I grab two of the men.


    I think I could carry all three but it would be bully and a problem if one woke up.


    <hr>


    It took us another thirty minutes or so before Ria and me found another group of people, this group being several US soldiers. I don¡¯t know is they are working for whatever general attacked me last and I have no idea if that situation has been resolved or not.


    [It¡¯s close enough that K won¡¯t ask questions, lets just do it.]


    [What of the possible repercussions of the government?]


    [Then shut down all their tech and have Ria blind the area in an illusion. Nobody will know who took them and when we are done with them we just have to be careful in disposal.]


    I think for a moment, dragon-me is right. If I do this carefully there won¡¯t be any repercussions. ¡°Ria, get ready to bring up something to stop anyone looking at the area.¡±


    She chants something in a tongue I don¡¯t know before she nods, the area is being covered in a dome of shadows. Now I need to act, I suppress electricity and fire in the area as the men begin to panic and call on their now nonfunctional radios.


    I manifest my claws, wings and tail charging into the small band of soldiers. They try their guns for a moment before abandoning them for combat knives. They are too skilled for me to beat easily but I manage to catch one of them with a tail sweep and knock him to the ground. No opportunity to disable him but it is an improvement. I should start sparing with K again. . .


    Two of the soldier turn against each other and start arguing, Ria is trapping some in other illusions. I smile and twist my suppression of electricity and fire to reverse, all of the soldiers¡¯ radios release a bit of blue smoke.


    The electronics are fried and none of the soldiers are using their guns, now I can start disabling them with my magic. Rather than chance killing them by frying nerves with electricity or a botched manipulation of Life I accelerate the time around myself. Their skill isn¡¯t enough when I¡¯m several times faster than them.


    I break the nearest soldiers arm before doing the same to the opposite leg. The arguing soldiers are now chocking each other out and I grab one of the two remaining soldiers in a blur of temporal speed. I wonder how long it will be before they come up with ways to offset the supernatural advantages.


    It does not take long for me to finish disabling the soldiers, I send their weapons into Void Cache and drag them back to where K is setting up, with a little help from some rope.

 Chapter 113

    The Radiance Dragon is one of few that can survive in a void, not the Void between planes but they can travel as the light of stars to cross the emptiness outside of the world. They are similar in appearance to Gold Dragons and tend to have similar positive morals and ideals without as strict adherence to them. They have great skill in light and holy magics but never any in darkness or shadow, even if a few manage to become illusionists. They hate shadow creatures and the undead with a passion that would put zealots to shame.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Once in the house K has begun to set up for her ritual I tie the soldiers up, making sure that they can¡¯t just break their thumbs to get out before I heal them of all injuries to be in perfect condition for K¡¯s ritual.


    ¡°How much longer until you need them?¡± I ask.


    ¡°An hour, maybe longer. You can start piling up the dragon meat though.¡±


    I smile and do so placing them in the center of the larger circle. Not all of the dragon will fit, at least not at once. I find myself snacking on the meat and have to stop myself. I need a distraction.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to start working on plan B, let me know if you need anything¡± I tell the two girls and drag one of our prisoners to another room.


    [How well do you understand our dragon powers?]


    [Why?]


    [Can you do the Dragon¡¯s Blessing?]


    [Why should we gift them with our favor?]


    [I want to see if I can understand it.]


    [Dragon magic is instinctual, no understanding just doing.]


    [That isn¡¯t going to help me help Lysan and Talia. I need to understand so I can do something similar for them.]


    [Why? Just give them our favor, its better than whatever else you are trying to give them.]


    [I want to do both.]


    [Why? Dragon is better than elf.]


    [Because they want the elf stuff.]


    [So?]


    [What do girlfriends do when they are really grateful?]


    I can feel dragon-me grumble but there is approval at the end.


    [Fine, I¡¯ll do it but I would need to be in charge. It also won¡¯t be pleasant for us if we do this a lot.]


    I double check the ropes before taking a mental step back from my body and delving as far into sensing everything I can about my first test subject. My hand raises to my mouth on dragon-me¡¯s command before a bleeding thumb is pressed against the soldier.


    He screams, but in his suffering I am learning. I don¡¯t catch all of what happened, there was simply too much. DNA mutated, somehow his base was optimized before some of what was in my blood filled the new gaps. Cells are torn to shreds before being placed back together and he is forced to grow into what this now makes him.


    Draconian claws and scales grow breaking his bonds. He lashes out at me and my claws sever his throat ending his life before the transformation was complete.


    [Enough?] dragon-me asks, sounding a slight bit weaker than before.


    [No, but we don¡¯t need to try again immediately. I need to think.]


    I pull control back and begin to slice apart the still changing body. This is very different than whatever I did to the dwarf. I should probably look at my own internal anatomy at some point.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    My mate has not come out of the room since he took one of the men there. The Ritual of Condensation is ready so I drag two of the men into the larger circle and have the fox slit the other¡¯s throat as I cut my own prisoner¡¯s.


    The two men fall to the ground, their blood begins to follow the lines and the dragon¡¯s flesh begins to burn. The fox is not comfortable with this but without my mate I need her hands. Red smoke swirls around the meat before moving to the flask sitting open in the smaller circle. I hope this is not a mistake.


    I walk over to the room my mate is in and open the door.


    ¡°Bones are strengthened by the same material as the scales and skin but in dense crystals, I should check this against actual dragon bones. . .¡± I hear him talking lightly to himself as he systematically dissects the corpse.


    ¡°Adrian, I need more of the dragon flesh¡± I say and he nods.


    After standing up he waves a hand and what little is left of the soldier burns away into nothing.


    ¡°I just finished myself, though another one or two might have to go through this.¡±


    Soon he places more dragon meat in the circle as he keeps glancing at the flask of draconic essence.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to hold onto that flask. I won¡¯t be able to stop myself from drinking it.¡±


    I nod, I knew he might react to it more extremely than he does to the dragon meat or dragon¡¯s blood.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I drag another soldier off, quickly distancing myself from the call of whatever K''s spell put in that flask.


    Now I set up a temporal field around the soldier to slow the progress of time so I can focus on the early parts of the transformation induced by Dragon¡¯s Blessing. Easy enough to set up with a permanent marker to draw focus on the soldier''s skin.


    I should probably test this on a female before using my findings on the twins. I don¡¯t have any among the captives though. Something to do after K processes the rest of the dragon meat.


    I set it up a short term temporal field before letting dragon-me do the magic again. In the ever slow crawl of time for what is a victim I find something.


    Not a physical change that cascades into everything else but a change in the piece of the fabric of reality that is the person before me. Something about what he is got reinforced and then changed.


    [One more test will be enough, but it needs to be on a female.]


    I don¡¯t hear anything back from dragon-me. That won¡¯t be a problem though, I think I''ll be able to do the last one myself if I am right. Might take a few tries though.


    I end the twisting of time and keep the soldier restrained, K can use him to pay the blood price. He might even be worth more now.


    I pierce a claw into his spine, paralyzing him before bringing him over to the ritual''s circle. Burning dragon meat turning into red smoke to be condensed into a flask. I think K changed which one since it is not calling to me as much.


    Once the fires die, I fill the circle one last time and K brings over the other prisoner.


    I slit the formerly human soldier''s throat on K''s signal before walking over to her.


    ¡°Thank you for this¡± I tell her as I give her a hug. Ria decides to join in but neither of us stop her.


    ¡°Wanna have some fun?¡± I whisper in K''s ear.


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I can¡¯t help but smile as my mate whispers to me but I push him back a little bit.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°You should have fun with Ria instead, she''s earned it¡± I manage to say, even though I want to have him all to myself.


    He steps back and looks over Ria as her tails show her excitement.


    ¡°Did you talk to Lysan and Talia about this?¡± he asks and I nod.


    After a short pause, he says ¡°maybe later tonight, right now I want you.¡±


    My mate than picks me up before I can respond, my heart beats faster and I rub my thighs together in anticipation of what is to come, his words echoing through my mind.


    We arrive in a bedroom before I start to push my mate away only for him to hold me tighter and kiss my neck. My resistance turns into a light moan and I feel one of his hands slide under my shirt.


    I pull my shirt off before I find my back being pushed against a bed. My mate trails kisses from my neck down to my breasts as he somehow removes the bra while keeping me pinned. My lower parts begin to ache for his presence.


    Then he pulls away while stripping me of my pants, I never noticed when my shoes were removed. I stare as he slowly pulls off his shirt and drops his pants.


    I pull him towards me and try to get on top but find myself pinned as my alpha''s cock fills me and asserts his right to breed me. A growl in my ear as he bites it to show me my place.


    The tiny amount of pain spreads across my body andmy alpha feels even larger inside of me. He licks my bitten ear in affection as he enjoys himself. Each thrust of his forcing noises out of me.


    After a moment, I struggle just enough for my alpha to put me in my place again and cry out in the pleasure his dominance gives me. I push my hips upwards against him screaming as he starts to get rougher until I hold my mate and alpha as tightly as I can just before the familiar warmth of being filled spill outwards from my depts.


    Once my mate finishes, he pulls out of me. I feel disappointed in the resulting emptiness. I grab my alpha¡¯s arm to pull him pack to me but find myself flipped over and mounted from behind.


    I begin to grind my hips as he grabs ahold of my breasts. I don¡¯t understand why he likes them, other parts feel better and all they can do now is show that I can feed children.


    My thoughts break with a groan as my alpha¡¯s thrusts press me into the bed as I shout out the physical sensations he dives me into the matress. . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I give K a gentle kiss as she lies unconscious, a trickle of white fluid leaking from her lower lips and her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth. I¡¯m not sure just how long we went at it for but I don¡¯t she is going to have an easy time walking in the morning.


    I hear the door to the room open, I don¡¯t remember closing it. I glance tells me Ria just peaked inside. What am I going to do about her?


    She¡¯s pretty and likes me. I sniff the air, confirming a scent of arousal. She must really want this if I can still smell her after everything I just did with K. I¡¯m not sure she is actually ready though.


    My groin twitches as I watch Ria run into the room and to me. She pulls me into a hug without a single care of my nudity.


    ¡°Me next, please¡± she says as her tails wag faster than I¡¯ve ever seen them.


    ¡°Tell me why you want me first¡± I ask before she manages to place my hand on her breasts.


    ¡°You¡¯re awesome, fun and make the pain go away.¡±


    She nuzzles against my neck and after enjoying it for a few seconds of enjoying it I give into my base desires and pick her up, I have permission anyways. . .


    ¡°Our first time should be alone¡± I say as I walk over to another bedroom.


    <hr>


    Ria


    <hr>


    I can''t hold back my excitement as the man who saved me kisses me while walking to a different bedroom. A door closes behind us as he moves towards a bed, a hand slips under my shirt and he squeezes my breast directly since I removed the weird cloth strip the elves gave me.


    I think he likes them as he runs a thumb over my nipple and I let out a small moan just as he sits down on the bed with me in his lap. I can feel his length against my belly as I give him another kiss, my tails moving faster in a pattern I don''t remember them doing before.


    When he pulls off my shirt I slide myself down and move my face to his manhood. It twitches when my breath hits it, it''s bigger than my first master''s. I give it a lick before glancing up at my soon to be mate''s face. He liked it and I don''t mind the taste so I do it a few more times before placing my mouth around it and running my tongue around the head.


    I''m not able to fit all of it in my mouth but there is a pleasered groan from my to be mate as I suck and bob my head. Soon I feel his hands around my head as he shifts his hips in sink with me.


    Suddenly his grip gets move forceful and he expands slightly within my mouth before a flood of thick fluid fills my mouth. I choke a little bit as I try to swallow as much as I can.


    I release his manhood as he stares at the white fluid dripping down the corner of my mouth and I smile. He pulls me up to him and I feel hands unbutton and slip into the strange trousers I''m wearing as he kisses my breasts. I moan and find myself running my tails along his sides.


    He rolls us over and gives me another kiss before stepping back and I feel the trousers roll off my legs. I watch as he takes a step back towards me before reaching out to pull him on top of me but he grabs my hands and moves them over my head so I spread my legs and pull on his waist with my tails.


    His tip begins to spread me open and he rushes forward, plunging though the virginity I bought in the Grey Dream for him. I let out a scream in the pain but unlike last time I''m giving myself willingly.


    He stops and glances down to my blood flowing past our union.


    "I''m sorry I didn''t. . ."


    "It''s okay" I try to say but my voice doesn''t come out clearly. Just breathing makes me feel him but the pain fades as I''m given a few kisses.


    I tug on his waist with my tails again before he starts gently reshaping my interior. Each thrust forcing a noise out of me as he picks up speed.


    Soon every muscle in my body tightens and my back arcs before a wave of pleasure spreads outwards from my center, followed by a flood of warmth. I feel my mate lay claim to me, filling me with his seed and then I feel something at the base of my tails.


    I feel myself growing a new tail over a few seconds as my body changes. My previous tails get longer and I latch onto my mate with one thing on my mind, him. Not as a master but as a friend and lover.


    I feel myself continue to change for a few seconds, shaping to be a better mate for him before I start feeling what he feels as the sensation of being inside me as I changed drive him to let out another small flood within me.


    My mind goes blank for an instant as my body follows his. When I come to he is breathing heavily into my ear and has let go of my hands. I roll us over, and wrap all three of my tails around him. We drift off to sleep as we feel each other''s emotions.


    He doesn''t love me as much as the other girls, but that''s okay. He gave me my life back and two tails. . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    <hr>


    I open my eyes to the Grey Dream once more and only glance at the devil who runs my sessions here. He knows what I expect, he has to with the information that this place gives him.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Chi Senses


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Empathetic Bond


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="264">


    Fey Body


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I guess not many kitsune traits work in conjunction with my dragon abilities, or do I already have equivalents? At least I already know what these three do, except for the specifics anyways.


    Chi Senses is the logical choice but should I take Empathetic Bond instead so the girls can enjoy my feelings? I can always get around to replicating the bond though. . .


    I tap Chi Senses to indicate my choice, it will be more useful than the other options. The devil smirks before the dream fades.


    <hr>


    I wake up a little stiff from the poor excuse of a bed but comfortable under the soft warm blanket. The most comfortable one I¡¯ve ever had, Ria¡¯s tails. I shift one of them under my head and wait for her to wake up.


    Not a few minutes later and I can feel Ria wake from thatweird phantom sense showed up before I fell asleep, not counting the increased movements in her tails.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re up¡± I say and reluctantly push her tails away.


    ¡°Do we have to get up¡± Ria asks and I answer by standing up.


    ¡°Enjoy yourself?¡± I hear K asks as I open the room¡¯s door.


    ¡°Of course, didn¡¯t you?¡± I tease to no effect as she passes me yesterday¡¯s clothes. I take them but swap them for some clean clothes from Void Cache. I¡¯ll need to gather water for bathes when we get back too. I may want to create another alternative too, maybe I can figure out how whatever spell the girls are using to make messes disappear while I¡¯m not looking, or a purifying fire. That could work too.


    K and me turn to Ria as she starts to get out of the bed and stretches.


    ¡°Why does she have another tail?¡± K asks.


    ¡°Awesomeness, fun and stuff¡± I answer for Ria as she starts picking up her clothes off the ground.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still the answer. We don¡¯t have to understand anything except that she got stronger for it.¡±


    K nods, at least some of my explanation makes sense to her.


    ¡°Ready!¡± Ria shouts as she pulls a shirt over her head.


    ¡°Then lets get started back, there is only one more thing I may need to test but I don¡¯t think it is absolutely necessary¡± I say and the girl nod.


    I stop at the door, and pull them both into a kiss. Ria tries to pull me in to a longer one but I don¡¯t want to get back into that type of mood until at least tonight.


    <hr>


    The walk back to the hideout set up for the others only takes about an hour, I knock on the door not wanting to barge in and have my ears ring from the alarm spells no doubt set up. I hear faint talking for half a minute before someone peaks through the boarded-up window. An unfortunate give away that someone is using the building but necessary for security.


    Abagail opens the door, ¡°back already? We thought you wouldn¡¯t be back until later in the day.¡±


    ¡°We got lucky, what more can we say¡± I answer as we walk in.


    ¡°You missed breakfast¡± I hear from my mom, but I don¡¯t really care about that.


    ¡°That¡¯s okay, what are your plans for today?¡± I ask as I approach the part of the house with her voice.


    ¡°I was going to have Talia teach me more swordplay but do you have the dragon stuff ready?¡±


    ¡°I do¡± I say as I round a corner and confirm that she was in the kitchen.


    ¡°My plans will have to change then.¡±


    I nod, ¡°whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±


    ¡°What should I expect?¡±


    ¡°Pain, schizophrenia, confusion as to how to get your powers to work, and some disorientation.¡±


    ¡°Schizophrenia?¡±


    ¡°Your inner dragon taking on a voice and possibly a personality of its own. It won¡¯t try to harm you though, it¡¯ll only act on your benefit.¡±


    ¡°Is that personal experience?¡±


    ¡°Along with some logic. I do not agree with mine on everything but everything he tries to do is in my best interest, not that he is right all the time.¡±


    K walks into the room, ¡°when are we starting?¡± she asks.


    I turn to my mom, ¡°as soon you can.¡±


    I catch a flask that K tosses to me. My mother really wants power now. It¡¯s a good thing but I will miss the true Christian values she normally exhibits.


    ¡°Follow me then¡± I day while walking into a room at random, it doesn¡¯t matter which one really. Any of them are going to end up destroyed and even if there is a size problem I don¡¯t want to do this outside where anyone with a satellite can watch.

 Chapter 114

    Mana Dragon like Void Dragons have very few known members to exist. They unlike nigh every other dragon do not suffer from mindlessness before adulthood, instead they have dietary requirements to consume both flesh and magic. They lack affinity for any other than pure mana manipulation but have such control and talent in it that watching a spell use mana to manipulate another energy tends to be enough to be able to duplicate such manipulations later. Other than that they are eccentric in some manner there seems to be no correlation in how the species acts.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I uncap the flask and take a swig before filling a small cup with it. As much as I want to chug the rest of the flask, what I had was enough to restore whatever draconic essence I spent yesterday and my mother needs as much as possible; so I pass it to her.


    ¡°What do I do with this?¡± she asks.


    ¡°Drink it¡± I answer. Does she not feel it calling to her?


    She starts choking down more and more of the flask but it seems like it is disgusting to her. Why?


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for now, sit.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness, this is disgusting.¡±


    I frown at that; how can she think that? I pull the small cup over and cut my thumb with a claw to mix some of my blood into what will be a focus for both my magic and draconic power; at least I hope this will be the case. It should work.


    Dragon-me guides me as I draw a symbol without meaning other than my intent. Just as his magic begins I push at the essence of what my mother is in the fabric of reality and have it absorb the foreign things that occupy her same space. I ignore her screams as I hold what she is constant, it would be far worse if I stop.


    She falls to the ground and her skin convulses, there are no changes however until ever so slightly blue silver wings and tail erupt from her. I close my eyes and tell myself this is necessary until it ends.


    I open my eyes to a dragon a little smaller than the size of a horse. I don¡¯t immediately recognize the kind but she is not a void dragon. Why isn¡¯t she a void dragon like me? How can I be a different race of dragons than my own mother?


    Why am I different? The cannibalism? Devils¡¯ interference? My impossible awakening to Ravnos magic?


    I set aside my questions for the moment and walk over to my very confused dragon of a mother. I touch her head and her eyes focus on me. ¡°Once you get used to your body you should be able to simply will yourself to return to human form even if there are some differences in that form.¡±


    There is only a glimmer of intelligence in her eyes, that¡¯s right dragons are supposed to have this problem. I thought it wouldn¡¯t happen because I didn¡¯t have it but my assumption was apparently wrong. I need a solution. I hear her stomach rumble and I know what I need to cause, growth.


    I start dumping all kinds of meat from Void Cache and start using Translocation Grasp to put small amounts of draconic essence into it as she swallows.


    ¡°Is this supposed to be how it turned out?¡± K asks.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t think this would happen. I¡¯m working on a solution though.¡±


    All too soon the gorging ends and I twist reality once more to accelerate the speed at which growth can occur. It is not a healthy natural growth, but that will fix itself over time.


    This repeats a few times until she is half again the size of a Clydesdale. Then the familiar spark of intelligence surfaces in her eyes and I breathe a sigh a relief.


    ¡°Try willing yourself into human form, I¡¯ll leave the room and have one of the girls bring you clothes.¡±


    I turn and leave, most of our food is now gone. Will food consumption go up or down with this? It went down for me but I cannot use that to make assumptions anymore.


    I glance at Ria who is standing in the hallway with a pile of clothes in her arms. She smiles at me as she comes to the door and opens it, I walk back to the front room. I don¡¯t want to accidently catch a view of my mother.


    I sit on the couch and close my eyes, I feel slightly tired but there is still too much to do. My mother will need to be taught both control and how to fight, the twins¡¯ awakenings, gather more food, find a place to stay, my dad''s journal, and making plans on how to find out who Frank was working for. . .


    It is not long before everyone ends up sitting somewhere in the room, ¡°team meeting?¡± I ask.


    Everyone nods and I continue, ¡°alright, as we all now know the plan to move towards the mountains of Colorado are not going to work. I don¡¯t know where we will be safe but here will have to do as we organize.¡±


    ¡°We need to raise our combat strength¡± Bryan states and I nod.


    ¡°Any ideas on that? Aside from what I¡¯m already doing.¡±


    ¡°We need numbers, we can¡¯t individually match multiple people with power like yours.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°We can¡¯t match them in skill but we may be able to in power.¡±


    ¡°How? You¡¯ve become powerful in what a bit over a decade? They have had far longer.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve lost most of their raw power. A curse of some sort, we can beat them in raw power or numbers if not skill. Another thing I¡¯ve noticed is certain things are harder change than others. Dragons have been harder to affect for example just as they are harder to affect with other magic.


    We may be able to use that to our benefit. They also don¡¯t have access to the Grey Dream, or any racial characteristics aside from human. Unless they mutated their own bodies but that would have hurt them more than they could benefit.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have magic resistance¡± Talia interjects.


    ¡°But you may be able to get it from the Grey Dream, there are elves who have it.¡±


    ¡®What is this Grey Dream?¡± my mother asks.


    ¡°Something the gods of Althr¨¢ set up to help their people fight against demons. It¡¯s a dream filled with grey mists you can use to improve yourself.¡±


    She just looks at me in confusing frown, she doesn¡¯t have it either then, like dad. Why? She probably wouldn¡¯t accept it anyways; it could go against her religion¡¯s ¡®no other gods before me¡¯. At least it is only a crutch to speed development.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the time to . . .¡± Abagail begins before I cut her off.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll make time move faster within the building. Whatever it is that we need I will get us.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± she asks.


    ¡°I¡¯ll figure that out when we know what we need. For now we need time and I know how to provide that.¡±


    There are several nods before I stand up, they know how to train in their own abilities. I can add theory but they have enough to work with for now.


    ¡°Anything else?¡± I ask as an open question.


    ¡°When can you help sister and me?¡± Talia asks, Lysan clearly wants to know as well.


    ¡°In a day or two¡± I say with a smile, I¡¯ll need a bit of time to recover whatever it is spent with Dragon¡¯s Blessing. My draconic essence?


    They smile and I can see an eagerness for it before I pull out the thinnest markers and pens I have. The more intricate and extensive my focus the better this will work.


    <hr>


    A few days pass though I am unsure of how much time has elapsed within the house having spent a lot of time raiding stores and houses for nonperishables.


    My mother has mostly adjusted to the physical strength of being a dragon if not the form. She talks to herself in her sleep now but otherwise has had no other changes. No magical abilities have shown up on accident either through but she isn¡¯t a silver, she doesn¡¯t like the cold.


    I walk into the room that Talia has turned into a training area, padded floors and walls for when people get knocked down. I frown at the corner where our spare weapons are currently stored. While I was out more of them have been broken.


    ¡°What happened this time?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Your mother keeps putting too much strength into parries¡± Talia answers with a frown.


    ¡°Any improvement?¡±


    ¡°Aside from ruining the edge of any blade she picks up, she is doing decent. She isn¡¯t going to accidentally lose her weapon or hit the wrong area. Her defense is better, mostly because I force her with how I fight.¡±


    I nod, it¡¯s an improvement but I¡¯m worried over her lack of supernatural powers.


    ¡°When can you teach me how to fight in dragon form?¡± my mother interjects.


    ¡°Your inner dragon can do a better job than I can. She''ll also know how to use whatever instinctual magic you have.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t make any sense. It¡¯s just do it, and stop thinking and act.¡±


    ¡°Mine isn¡¯t any easier to get stuff out of, you have to kinda give in become more like a dragon while shaping your dragon to be you.¡±


    ¡°Like accepting suppressed feelings?¡± Abagail asks breaking away from her spar with Lysan.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good way to put it.¡± There is more to it, but I¡¯m not going to bring up how I convince dragon-me to do stuff.


    ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m going to take a passage I found in the sewers past the gate and see if I can¡¯t find what I¡¯m looking for in the occupied section.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going after that Charles Del Mon guy?¡± K asks.


    ¡°Yes, we need resources. We don¡¯t have enough food and if my guess about him is right then he could also be a source of information.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t trust bloodsuckers¡± both K and Ria say at the same time. Something they both agree on and talking with something that considers you food is a bad idea but I don¡¯t have much of a choice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, if we¡¯re lucky I¡¯ll know where we should go next when I come back.¡±


    I need to gather some people to experiment on too, I won¡¯t risk anything going wrong like it did for my mother. I still need to soak dad¡¯s journal in blood too.


    ¡°I¡¯m going with you¡± Bryan says and I nod, experiments may have to wait but having an Undead Hunter at my side will be a good thing if this ends badly.


    <hr>


    I jump down a manhole, I¡¯m maybe thirty minutes to the nearest exit inside the gates. They will likely be guarded and watched but I can sneak by any normal human and probably most other things with magic.


    The vampire I¡¯m looking for rules or at least has some status amongst his kin so he has probably been around for a while


    Roughly fifteen minutes into our walk Bryan stops turns and impales a deformed human on a quick drawn blade. The creature hisses at us with distended fangs.


    ¡°I think I found you a vampire¡± Bryan says and I frown I didn¡¯t feel the creature approach. I should have at least heard him.


    ¡°Do you know a Charles Del Mon?¡± I ask the creature as it removes itself from Bryan¡¯s blade.


    There is no response but another charge.Has this vampire lost its mind? Was it driven mad by the cursed disease or starvation? I don¡¯t know enough about real vampires to be sure.


    I snap my fingers and create the dark purple flames that burn negative energy in my hands and toss it at the creature as it somehow managed to get past Bryan¡¯s guard.


    It screams before it is reduced to ash in a burst of light. My flames didn¡¯t do that, is it an effect of returning it to the grave or a distraction to allow escape via something like gaseous form?


    ¡°You really got to help me duplicate that strange fire with a spell¡± Bryan comments.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to try to get Ria to figure it out how since she already makes nonstandard flames but it is kinda like Kythia''s darkflame spells.


    Did I kill it or did it escape? I assume you sensed it just before the attack.¡±


    ¡°I felt it for awhile but wasn¡¯t sure if it was what you were looking for. I can''t determine what type of Undead it was before actually seeing it but there are more of them nearby. Three in fact in front of us¡± he answers before pointing his sword at the path I was about to start walking down.


    Two more deformed men and the ugliest woman I¡¯ve ever seen become visible, pulling themselves together from blurred shapes.


    ¡°Interesting, a mortal could see me. What do you want?¡± the woman states.


    ¡°To speak to Charles del Mon, we were told if we ever needed his assistance to ask any child of the night to bring us to him¡± I say.


    ¡°And why would I waste my time with such a thing? I¡¯m no fledgling and Charles has no authority over me.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it that you want?¡± I ask.


    ¡°The real question is what do you want to meet Charles for Adrian.¡±


    I frown and shift my stance slightly. I release a pulse of energy to catch the echo of living things to find nothing in the immediate vicinity. A second release for the echoes of undead tells me what I wanted to know. There are only these three nearby.


    ¡°Care to guess?¡± Bryan asks without lowering his guard.


    ¡°Power, resources and information. Unfortunately, he only has some of the second, and would never share the first.¡±

 Chapter 115

    Void dragons are as rare as mana dragons; only a small handful have ever been known to exist. The few things that have been identified as common traits between these individuals are: a thirst for knowledge and understanding that conflicts with the instinctual flavor of draconic magic, the ability to physically withstand the void between planes, use of the void in both mana based magic and what is thought to be a blessing of the void, and their near insatiable desire for the flesh of other dragons. They all have dark hued scales but the rest of the body shape has varied drastically between the individuals.


    The cannibalistic desires appear to replace the bestial nature most other dragons suffer before adulthood as void dragons all claim to have had sentience during their childhoods. This desire does not appear to diminish with age but instead by how many dragons of the appropriate type have been eaten by the void dragon, though the older dragons have an easier time controlling it having stronger wills and likely already ate at least a few of any given dragon type. As the bestial nature of other dragons is to drive them to gather the nutrients to grow it should be assumed that this has a similar purpose, void dragons likely need to consume other dragons to grow even if they can subsist on lesser foods.


    No test of the ability for this species to breed true has been confirmed, instead they seem to appear to be a mutation, appearing randomly throughout the clutches of the other dragon species. I suspect most void dragons die shortly after hatching due to their cannibalistic tendencies. -A Study of Dragons by Alenthros


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I frown at the vampire¡¯s words.


    ¡°Yet he has a standing promise to aid me. Why give one if you can¡¯t or won¡¯t honor it.¡±


    The three undead laugh before one of the men answer, ¡°why does one bother to do anything after the first few centuries? Prestige and entertainment.¡±


    ¡°So, what? You want us to embarrass him? I¡¯m not getting involved in your politics for someone like you¡± I say before realizing a mistake I had made during her next comment.


    ¡°Someone like me? You sha. . .¡± I stop listening to her words as she charges me. I should have been more careful in my wording, she mistook it as a comment about her appearance. Women are sensitive enough about that without being a deformed puss oozing monster.


    Claws extend from her hands as her fangs become distended. I¡¯m not fast enough to dodge so I release a blast of fire by warping reality as I manifest some of my draconic traits.


    One of the male vampires screams and flees from the fire while the other after a fraction of a second charges at Bryan and me. The malformed woman passes through the flames and while she is now on fire claws at my arm while trying to get her fangs to connect to my jugular. I manage to hold her at bay but her strength is comparable to K¡¯s. Claws sink into my right arm, drawing blood and I think if it were not for the resilience of draconic flesh and bone I might have lost it.


    I gut the woman with the claws of my left arm but she does not react to the pain it should cause. I almost wish I hadn¡¯t inflicted the damage though as a scent worse than the sewer around us spills forth along with a red mush that is almost like jelly made from blood aside from the chunks of her internal organs.


    Light comes off of Bryans sword as he fights but I find myself too busy with my own battle to do more than just notice the changed lighting as the woman gives up on getting past my arm decides to feed on it instead. A jolt of pain and unnatural coldness spreads from her fangs along with other sensations that make no sense. Her wounds begin to rapidly close before I bathe the two of us in fire as I unleash one of my dragon¡¯s breaths.


    Light brighter than the sun¡¯s rays leave a purple blur across my vision for a few seconds, I only catch the very bones of the undead disintegrating before the ugly thing is no more than ash.


    The undead Bryan was fighting turns to flee before Bryan speaks a short phrase, I recognize it from Dam?¡¯s books. Halt Undead, I smile as the malformed vampire freezes in place.


    We take a few steps forwards before Bryan speaks, ¡°if you want to keep your sad excuse of existence you¡¯re going to do something for us. If you try to run you¡¯ll just end up dead so don¡¯t be stupid.¡±


    Bryan snaps his fingers and the vampire finishes the step he was taking before standing and looking at the two of us in fear.


    ¡°Do you know where Charles del Mon is?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m not allowed to go there. I. . .¡±


    ¡°You can die now, or lead us to him and only have a chance of death.¡±


    The malformed vampire hisses but we just look at him, he alone is no threat to us.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll show you but I¡¯m not sticking around for him to see me.¡±


    We don¡¯t answer but move out of the way so he can start guiding. Since he can¡¯t be trusted and I probably should have been doing this already I alternate between pulses of energy so I can catch the echoes of the living and undead around us. I don¡¯t find anything until several minutes later when our forced guide stops.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be in the art gallery just down the street.¡±


    Just as he finishes the sentence Bryan turns and tries to decapitate the undead. The vampire tries to dodge but is not quite fast enough having been caught flat footed. A flash of pale dim golden light from within the vampire leaves falling ashes.


    ¡°Is that light from your spell?¡± I ask not caring for the unprompted act of violence.


    ¡°No, the silver lights along my weapons are. That is something else, a death throes of some sort¡± he answers as I push the manhole upwards.


    It was slightly stuck, no doubt from lack of maintenance or maybe something was on top of it since I heard something hit the concrete above us. It slides to the side and I start climbing up the ladder, as long as not too much of a scene is made I shouldn¡¯t have to deal with whether or not what my dad told me was true about my problems with the government here.


    I look around and don¡¯t see anyone on the streets which seems odd and notice road block on its side next to me. One of the wooden legs must have been resting on the manhole cover. I finish exiting the sewer and keep watch as Bryan does the same.


    Just as we reach the art gallery a door opens and a man in an almost gaudy flower-patterned suit opens the door. I see his tongue touch the tips of his two canines before greeting us.


    ¡°I am afraid the gallery is closed for a private event. It will be open at noon tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Is Charles del Mon attending this private event?¡± I ask.


    ¡°I am not permitted to give the names of our esteemed guests at this time. It is a private event after all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a yes then¡± Bryan comments.


    ¡°I am afraid I will have to call the police if you do not immediately vacate the premises¡± the man says, a almost unnoticeable glint of light appearing in his eyes during the later half of his sentence and I truly consider doing just for an instant before Bryan speaks.


    ¡°No, if this is a private event for vampires you wouldn¡¯t want the extra attention that would cause. Would you like to guide us in or have a disturbance? And don¡¯t try that trick again it won¡¯t work.¡±


    I feel anger from the attempted mental manipulation. This has been a rather difficult favor to cash in on and I haven¡¯t even gotten to talk with the man who owns me it yet.


    The door guard frowns for the slightest of seconds before giving a smile I¡¯ve noticed on others before, he''s planning something.


    ¡°Very well then follow me¡± he says as he turns to guide us.


    The gallery itself is empty and I find myself strangely disappointed in both the lack of opportunity to examine the pieces and the quality of what pieces I did see in this small no name gallery as he leads us to the back.


    Once we enter a room that I assumed would normally be used to store pieces not on display I am greeted by two sights. One is the paintings that adorn the walls of this room, the detail and realism of works if it were not for the frames I would have thought them portals to another place. I can¡¯t even tell what tools were used to make them. Castles, people and places no doubt lost to the ages remaining only in the memories of immortals like the creatures that are the second thing I noticed.


    A dozen fanged men and women shouting tips to a man with a spork dissecting and torturing another in a chair. Blood spattered through out the room up to a few inches shy of the godly masterpieces, there are other corpses on the stage each more mangled than the previous.


    The torturer shakes in fear as he follows the commands of the monsters around him. A few of those monsters turn to us, ¡°So soon? Our Pablo hasn¡¯t finished¡± says a man in an even more ornate version of the suit the doorman is in.


    ¡°Apologies sire, these men saw through our masks and demanded to attend our salon¡± the doorman answers in absolute subservience.


    ¡°Really now, it is so rare that our special guests are so willing. While I appreciate your eye''s appraisal of my art what is your reason for barging in? You did not come here to be an actor on this stage of base art I take it.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to talk to Charles del Mon about his childe, I think that was the term the messenger used.¡±


    Almost every one of the vampires laughed, some I could tell we¡¯re at my expense but others were at the expense of the only vampire other than the one I was talking to.


    ¡°So, you are the mortal that freed the childe of my childe. Charles owes you, but can you really collect what you are owed mage?¡±


    The room turns silent, several of the vampires dressed in old fashions seem scared over that last word even as the younger scoff.


    ¡°Is that a challenge? An appeal for me to offer you better entertainment than the crude spectacle of an unskilled torturer to scared to do much of anything?¡±


    What little information that ugly woman gave me proves to be at least slightly helpful as whoever it is that stands before me smiles.


    ¡°Yes, why shouldn¡¯t I allow my guests to tear you and your guard to pieces. You smell delicious and you wouldn¡¯t have been sent here if you weren¡¯t considered expendable.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re forgetting a possibility, that I am perfectly capable of defending myself even now. Like this¡± I say and snap my fingers as I twist reality. A pulse of energy to disrupt the negative energy matrices that hold the vampires to their undeath. Not enough to truly harm them but enough to make my point, and increase my favoritism of necromancy and death magic.


    All of the undead in the room stagger for a second as they get ahold of themselves, except for the one in charge. The echo of his energy is dozens of times stronger than the others here. The younger vampires spit up blood and cry out in pain, something they probably haven¡¯t felt since their rebirth as a vampire.


    ¡°Well played mage. Even if you may not be able to harm me with that trick I can¡¯t go and have most of my court meet final death as I watch now can I?


    I''d be laughed at for at least a century over it. You stand before Mateus Maximus, Methuselah of my own coven, childe of the line of Mormo and Duke of this city. Name your boon both for the childe of my childe and the blood you spilt ending the necromancers of the fools who dabble in arts that should be left to the dead.¡±


    The very room chills as Mateus declares some of his titles and while I don¡¯t understand them all I know they mean a great deal in his society.


    ¡°Information on House Ravnos and some minor resources that would be beneath your notice¡± I answer.

 Chapter 116

    Crystal dragons are a strange group. They have no biological relation to any other group of dragons or most other living things. They are living beings made of pure crystal, almost golems but for their need to eat, sleep and ability to grow and breed as loving creatures do.


    They can gain sustenance from eating other living creatures but would rather eat crystals such as gemstones. They do not care for the conflicts of any sort out idea of their immediate surroundings, content to stay where they are.


    While their personality traits do not vary much between the species of these dragons their abilities do. The known kinds of Crystal Dragons are: Amber, Garnet, Quartz, Onyx, Malachite, Topaz, Opal, Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Jade, Diamond. There seems to be no correlation between type and size or strength for crystal dragons.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    ¡°I know no more than you would save that there is an association between a Ravnos and the Duke of St. Louis. You can find answers to the questions you have there. Timmy, show these two out and give them what they ask for.¡±


    I find myself frowning, I had hoped for more information than try St. Louis but at least we will be given resources.


    ¡°Thank you for your benevolence¡± I say with a bow without taking my eyes off any of the vampires in the room.


    We leave without issue, following the doorman.


    <hr>


    Mateus Maximus


    <hr>


    I grin as the young Ravnos leaves ignoring the whisperings of my court. The young fools don¡¯t really matter they have no power, they exist to be a show of my prestige but that young man is different. He has more power than he knows and does not yet have the experience he needs to keep himself from being manipulated.


    ¡°Charles, you have done well¡± I say to my youngest childe.


    He bows to me but begins to frown as a vampire of another¡¯s court begins to call me out on my apparent weakness.


    ¡°How can you let that mortal walk? Let alone reward it for harming us?¡± a no name upstart sired in the last decade shouts.


    Charles rips the fools arms off in a blur before I speak up, as he should. Now this fool will owe me his afterlife for saving him.


    ¡°Stop, you are mistaken about everything whelp. Do you even know who those two are? Or what I really did?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re mortals, food. There is no reason for me to . . .¡± I wave my hand and Charles decapitates the waste of blood. He would have caused more problems then he is worth as a pawn. At least his disposal raises my prestige with the rest of the visiting members of my court.


    ¡°They are Adrian Ravnos and Bryan Grace. The latter alone would not be worth much but the prior is more powerful than everyone in this room save myself. The youngest to join the House of Ravnos, those who commands the world around us to their own will. But he is also more than just a Ravnos, there is something else in that blood of his I don¡¯t recognize.


    And I just sent him to look for answers in our enemies¡¯ territory and they will not know who he is until it is too late. . .¡±


    ¡°Shall I prepare more blood bound soldiers, my lord?¡± Charles asks and I nod, this coupled with everything else going on will weaken that duke enough for me to rule two cities, even if I may lose one of my blood doll facilities to the Ravnos. Perhaps more if my ¡®talks¡¯ with the mortal rulers of this land continue to go so well. . .


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The door guard brings us to a warehouse in one of the most luxurious cars I have ever seen let alone been in. As he opens the side door to allow us entry I can see the contents of this building. People in cages and the supplies to keep them healthy.


    ¡°Adrian . . .¡± Bryan says and I cut him off with a nod. This is clearly slavery and even if I¡¯m propably going to kill one of these people after experimenting on them I¡¯m going to have to back Bryan up on his moral compulsions.


    I tap our guide on the back as I try to erase the negative energy within him. I don¡¯t manage to remove all of it but I feel it start to collapse as Bryan draws and hits the vampire. The undead dies a second time soon after but we now have the attention of the few workers in this place.


    They all take cover and draw various guns. I barely manage to suppress fire in time to keep us from becoming swiss cheese. I feel blood drip from my nose as the familiar pressure of a backlash wraps around me.


    Shit, not enough of these people are exposed to magic. As soon as I get behind cover while pushing Bryan to do the same I let go of my grip on reality.


    A torrent of gunfire follows as the six workers or guards make use of the now working firearms. Bryan looks at me for a second in confusion, before realizing why I would have dropped my no gun zone. That type of overt magic isn¡¯t going to work. Should I try the grenades I stole or dragon stuff?This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    I end up deciding on something in between the two and pull a few smoke grenades and toss them between the guards and me. I force a surge of electricity in the buildings wiring to trip the breakers and the lights shut down as the room fills with smoke. The guards seem to be humans so they should now be blinded. . .


    Bryan and I rush out of our cover, relying on our inhuman senses to find our opponents. They panic and start shooting where we were taking cover and I smirk as the sound of flying bullets keep them from noticing us get into melee with the nearest two. I can see a few feet in the dim smoke and get behind one just as Bryan leaves my current visual range.


    A claw slips into the spine of the guard. This one is female so she¡¯ll be my test subject and I won¡¯t have to risk putting my friend into a moral dilemma.


    A third source of gunfire is silenced before I manage to find my next target. My claws separate his head though I have to be careful with the falling corpse who is still holding the trigger of his rifle until it runs out of ammo.


    The last gun goes silent and I wonder how Bryan moved around that quickly, magic obviously but I¡¯m not sure what spell. Only the coughing of the caged humans echoes through the building as I examine the nearest cage.


    It¡¯s just a simple steel cage that would normally be used to transport large animals but for the clear plastic tubes filled with red liquid that is slowly flowing from the prisoners to somewhere else in the building. This is some sort of blood farm and resource depot for the vampires of the city. Good plan though before the conjunction there was probably enough crime to mask their predation.


    Most of the prisoners are younger men and women. There are children but they are not feeding the lines of blood. I break the lock with a claw not caring about the fearful stares the occupants of the nearest cage are giving me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hear to hurt you¡± I say but they don¡¯t respond. I look at them and can see a small scar at the base of their neck and one of the women opens her mouth to show me her lack of tongue. She seems slightly healthier than the others and I remove the needle in her veins first before she begins to help me do the same with the others.


    The lights turn back on and the snake begins to dissipate as fans for a climate control system start up. The prisoners recoil from me in fear of my eyes regardless of how I tell them I mean them no harm. I hear Bryan approach behind me.


    ¡°You should probably take over this part, they are scared of me. Is there anything else I should take care of while you handle this?¡± I ask.


    ¡°No, just starting to pack up what we need from here unless you can heal their injuries. Is there a reason you left one of the guards paralyzed instead of dead?¡± Bryan responds.


    ¡°No, they¡¯ll subconsciously reject my magic. You''ll have to heal them if we are going to.¡±


    Bryan nods and begins chanting in a prayerful cadence as he helps the prisoners. He can¡¯t give them their tongues back like I could but their completions become less pale and they begin to leave the building. No doubt fleeing towards either the police or minions of Mateus.


    Personally I don¡¯t care which, Mateus will likely end up with most of them back in his care before too long. I don¡¯t know why he hadn¡¯t wiped out the tainted the first night they were in the city. Maybe the weakness of not being able to survive in the sun? He¡¯s probably vulnerable during the day.


    I make plans for dealing with the vampires of St. Louis as I place everything I can into Void Cache. Smiling that I can do this even when others deem it impossible.


    It takes me an hour maybe two to finish my task roughly the same time as Bryan finished releasing all the prisoners having to spend a few minutes on each one to make sure the needles are removed properly. He stopped his healing spells a while ago, probably running low on mana. I wonder if I can artificially increase everyone¡¯s mana pool.


    Something I may have to test later as I don¡¯t think my paralyzed victim has one for me to try to tamper with. I walk over to the still breathing paralyzed woman before slinging me over my shoulder.


    ¡°What are you going to do with her?¡± Bryan asks more out of curiosity than concern.


    ¡°Try to duplicate what I did for my mother but not for dragons.¡±


    ¡°Is that safe?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s why I¡¯m using someone who tried to kill me for practice. Let¡¯s go though, someone should have shown up already with the noise and fleeing people by now.¡±


    He nods and we slip down into the nearest entrance to the sewers. I may not know a way back from this point but after I use this woman for what I need we can just fly.


    ¡°Do you know any silencing magic? She is probably going to be in a lot of pain.¡±


    Bryan shakes his head. I retrieve some rope from Void Cache and bind her to keep her from fighting back. I add an additional cloth gag to keep the noise down before I warp the nerves of her spine back together. There is a pained groan and a seizure lasting for several seconds before she stops moving and regains control of her body.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if this ends up making you uncomfortable Bryan as I¡¯m basically torturing her but it will raise Abagail''s, Lysan¡¯s and Talia¡¯s ability to survive.¡±


    I don¡¯t know if Abagail has anything for me to awaken but I can at least optimize what she does have if I get this right. Bryan nods in appreciation, accepting this as an evil lesser than the good of helping our friends survive.


    I take hold of the woman''s head and sense everything I can about her physical body. It¡¯s not as good as any of my girls and that makes me happy even though I have to repair organ damage and some scarring before I have the closest thing to a blank slate as I can get.


    Some time passes before I move from the physical to her metaphysical essence on the fabric of reality. Dragon¡¯s Blessing starts here so whatever I need to do to force a racial awakening should start here.


    I ignore the screams of my unwilling victim as I push against the resistance of the pattern to increase the strength of her essence. I feel some of the connections between her and the rest of reality tear before I manage to alter anything. I end up making a mistake somewhere and a fragment of what she is breaks off and dissolves into something else.


    I let go of the woman and lose my connection to her as pain erupts in my head and I scream. I manage to hold on the fragment but the woman is dead. I failed and will need another test subject but I should learn all I can of the fragment I managed to hold onto. It feels like the background stuff in the fabric of reality but slightly different, as if it is the same stuff but in a different form.


    I let go of the fragment ready to grab it if it leaves as the rest of the woman¡¯s essence did but it just sits inside of me. It¡¯s not a part of me, or anything else at the moment so what is it?


    I sit and compare it to nearby things before coming to the conclusion that it is some sort of raw essence. I think I could refine it somehow and imbue it into a twist I make in reality but I¡¯m not sure.


    ¡°Are you done?¡± Bryan asks in impatience, clearly not the first time.


    ¡°I failed but I have more ideas I need to try. We can go back to the others though¡± I say while releasing a pulse to detect life.


    Nothing in the immediate vicinity but some of the prisoners are hiding nearby stationary. I¡¯ll come back here later.


    ¡°How neither of us know the sewers well enough.¡±


    ¡°Well you wanted to fly so this is your chance, still want to?¡±


    ¡°Hell Yeah!¡± Bryan yells more excited than I¡¯ve seen him in years.

 Chapter 117

    Amber dragons are one of the few Crystal dragons that do not prefer to stay underground in caves and mountains for the crystalline minerals that can be found there but prefer ancient forests where they can eat amber directly from the sap of the trees with some help of their magics. They are skilled in plant based magic and psionics revolving around plants and animals.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I purposely take sharp turns and needless loops to make my friend both enjoy the ride and be nauseous from motion sickness before landing on the street of the house we are currently occupying. He stumbles and falls off my back before throwing up with a grin as I return to human form.


    ¡°Worth it¡± I hear him say before I help him up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell Talia, I still owe her a ride.¡±


    He nods and we enter the house. Abagail is sitting watching the door as it opens. I assume the others are in the sparring room as I can hear the clang of metal hitting metal.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back later¡± I say before turning to get back to experimenting.


    <hr>


    There are alarms going off around the secured section of the town as I pass over it for a second time tonight. This time invisible as I go search for a small cluster of people. I find what I am looking for near the warehouse the vampire lead me to. A pair of individuals, perfect.


    I shift to human just before landing and enter the building to see a couple huddled in the corner as if they were hiding from something that just past through here. I drop my invisibility to check for undead and find one behind me.


    We attack each other simultaneously and I find this vampire lacking compared to the others I met tonight. On a whim I stake his heart with a pencil and watch the corpse fall to the ground. Not destroyed but disabled. Interesting, staking a vampire is not death but immobility.


    Make a mental note to test other things like running water later I turn to my actual goal for this trip. They are untrained and sickly normal people and I easily paralyze them with a claw to the spine before binding them in top and healing them of all ailments.


    ¡°This is going to hurt and I¡¯m sorry but I have to do this for those I care about. If you cooperate I¡¯ll let you go when I finish and you should become strong enough to at least fight back against monsters like the ones who originally kidnapped you.¡±


    The young couple nod, they are terrified of me but that was technically consent and I feel what little guilt I have over these actions fade away.


    I start as I did before on the male. If a fail early it is better that I do it on him. After the slight tears to allow me to alter his essence in the fabric of reality, I push to strengthen what he is.


    Nothing happens and I think for a minute. ¡°Think of what you are and what you want to be¡± I say and listen to his dull answer.


    Taller, stronger and faster. At least he added few sweet words for the girl next to us. With this I push and his raw essence changes slightly as it expands pulling some of the fragment of raw something I accidently took during my last attempt.


    He screams in pain, and I shift to watch his physical form begin to change cannibalizing itself to fit the image on the fabric for reality. Something it will never accomplish alone, not without a lot of raw food and stored nutrients.


    I pull out dried meat and water commanding him to eat as I start guiding and forcing changes to his physical form. I ignore the flames of his life dimming, his life span shortening as he stabilizes.


    I did it, sort of. There are deformities in his bones and his musculature is off but it worked. I¡¯ll confirm my findings with the woman and see if I can get around the shortened lifespan.


    ¡°What did you do?¡± the youth asks.


    ¡°I made you more than what you were before. Now just stay there and be quiet. I¡¯m going to do the same for your girlfriend before double checking to fix any problems.¡±


    They will be good practice for making sure no errors happen with my girls. I turn to the girl ignoring the boys words and her growing blush and ask her the question I gave the boy. Their desire might have helped in this or it might have been I had a direction to go in.


    Rather than her voiced preference to be pretty and healthy I try to degrade her looks and give her more intelligence only to abandon that line when I start feeling a growing backlash. It wasn¡¯t harder to make the change but she or the boy didn¡¯t accept it as what should be happening. . .


    I turn back to her physical traits and slowly alter them. I alternate between feeding bits of the fragment to her essence and shaping the physical to match. I quickly run out of whatever the fragment is but her lifeforce did not dim. I still made mistakes, her proportions are not quite right and there are some irregularities in bone shapes but I fix those before turning back to the boy. His life force is still fading and I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll last too long without more adjustments.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    I make some minor changes to his internal organs to lower the cost they consume from him. It will make him susceptible to injury but I won¡¯t have him keeling over for no reason and getting me hit with a backlash.


    I untie the boy who has been glaring at me for a while. He doesn¡¯t move immediately and I take a step back.


    ¡°Thanks for cooperating. You can untie your girlfriend, I¡¯ll be leaving.¡±


    I notice a scent of unrestrained lust from the boy as I leave. I doubt he has the control over his new strength for what he wants to do. A problem caused by increased hormones in him and her emitting more pheromones? Probably, but not really my problem.


    I need more of that fragment. Can I get it without killing? Maybe, it might be possible to extract it from basic physical matter instead of living beings. It might be possible to not have to use it too, Dragon¡¯s Blessing didn¡¯t seem to use anything but . . .


    Mana and draconic essence. I might be able to extract it from supernatural powers. I need a name for whatever that raw essence is too. I turn to the immobilized vampire a feel a plan forming.


    I could try and see if I can extract it from his vampiric powers or butcher a bunch of people for it. . . I doubt one vampire will be enough. Perhaps a vampire who constantly gorges himself on a mortal I force to regenerate as he eats too. . .


    I bring the vampire with me to the next nearest cluster of people. They are a few streets away in an office building. No undead are nearby save the one I am dragging around when I check for them. I hold the corpse of the vampire against a wall with my claws around his neck as I remove the pencil from his heart.


    An instant of struggle happens before he finds he is too young and weak to break my grip.


    ¡°I have some questions, answer them and perform a task for me and you¡¯ll get to continue past this night.¡±


    He nods, accepting his fate.


    ¡°Good, now what is the medium and source of you supernatural abilities.¡±


    ¡°Blood.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°First promise me that if I cooperate I¡¯ll go free.¡±


    I nod, I don¡¯t care as long as I get what I need.


    ¡°My coven specializes in blood magic. Blood is the source of life, there is energy in it and a vampire condenses that power in his own blood when he feeds.¡±


    ¡°I am going to test something, afterwards if it works I have a task for you to do that won¡¯t be of any help to you.¡±


    I slit the vampire''s wrist and drain some of it¡¯s blood into a glass pulled from Void Cache. His is thinner than the one I fought in the sewer. A correlation or just happenstance?


    I let the vampire go but he stands in front of me his injury fading and I focus on the blood. I find it¡¯s reflection on the pattern and pull at it like I did the woman when I accidently broke a fragment of and killed her. I feel it crack and there is a something that leaks out of the bloods essence as I rip out the piece most similar to what I had before.


    Then both the blood in the glass and the tiny fragment of raw essence wrapped in my will become denatured. The fragment becomes what I want and the blood putrefies and rots as it should have been coming from a corpse. I smile, not I need to harvest as much of this as I can.


    ¡°I want you to gorge yourself on some mortals as I force them to regenerate and give me the blood in the same state as the sample I took from you.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± the vampire asks in genuine interest.


    ¡°Evolution¡± I say cryptically and there is a genuine grin from the undead.


    ¡°Other than the embrace?¡±


    ¡°No, I''m not going to be making vampires with it.¡±


    ¡°Really? Now I absolutely must know. Tell me and you¡¯ll have my full cooperation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to extract the power from the blood and use it to raise and awaken the potential in other creatures.¡±


    The vampire nods, ¡°interesting. Could I watch the second part of this process as well?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I can do it to someone you bring me to later tonight. I doubt the victims of the first phase will be in any condition to be a proper display.


    You show an interest as if you attempt similar things. Care to explain?¡±


    <hr>


    After spending roughly half of the food I stole today regenerating the victims I have a few gallons of the jelly like vampire blood sitting in Void Cache as the vampire guides me down a tunnel in the sewers stopping before a door that should not be down here.


    ¡°My meat is your meat. My blood is your blood and you are welcome to stay within the domain of Vas''rac.¡±


    I don¡¯t understand why he said that but notice the people within the hall the door opened to relax.


    ¡°Thank you for your hospitality.¡±


    ¡°Come, I shall show you my creations. Perhaps they shall inspire your gift to be greater¡± Vas''rac says as he guides me to a dungeon.


    The cells hold flesh crafted monsters, living creatures molded by vampiric blood magic. I find myself fascinated in the same manner as I am Dam?''s books on necromancy.


    None of these things should ever have been created. The processes are horrible and he explains them which such detail and clarity that I have no doubt this man has long forsaken his humanity.


    We stop before a cage holding a twenty foot wide amalgamation of flesh he calls his greatest creation. A monster of raw physical destructive power that he had planned on testing against the bone warriors of the mortal necromancers.


    I certainly know what kind of thing I should make to please this monster who helped me by the time we reach and end of his creations and arrive at a cell with a few dozen very well fed and fit individuals.


    ¡°Please choose the base and show me your art¡± Vas¡¯rac says.


    I take one of the males at random having no desire to turn a woman into a machine of death and destruction.


    The man walks over to me and kneels, he is apparently completely devoted to his vampiric master. I pull some of the vampiric blood from Void Cache and spend a few minutes gathering fragments of raw essence from it before touching the man''s head and ignoring the screams of pain. Screams that seem to please the ears of my host.


    Bones warp and I slowly turn the man into a reptilian monster covered in scales and bladed spikes. A metabolism to support regeneration and enough intelligence to use more than just physical strength. A fifth of the blood was spent but when it is done I am sure Vas''rac will be willing to help me get more if I need it.


    I ignore his moderately positive critics of what I made but pay great attention to his comments on improvements to be made like inefficiencies in how the muscles are altered.


    Declining an offer to rest in his domain I leave to return to the others. I¡¯m probably going to get talked to about running off on my own but this is something that I could not have done in front of the others.

 Chapter 118

    Garnet dragons are sometimes called bloodstone dragons as they hold the same deep red, similar to frozen blood, that some garnets possess. They are skilled in an odd blend between earth and blood magic similar to a kind of blood magic used in some vampire covens. Their ability to give life to crystals and destroy crystals to heal others often brings those who wish to abuse such power to hunt them. They are very skilled in crystallization curses and even a particle of crystalline dust from their layers can bestow one on a trespasser in a garnet dragon¡¯s domain.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    When I open the door to the house after leaving Vas¡¯rac I am met by everyone else sitting on couches and chairs, they were waiting for me to return.


    I don¡¯t say anything, opting to take the open seat. It will go better if I let them tell me how me running off is stupid and I shouldn¡¯t keep doing this. Somehow I find myself smiling, not from what I have done but from a happiness I¡¯m feeling from Ria. I smile back at her and my other girls.


    ¡°Why?¡± Kythia asks.


    ¡°To gather resources¡± I answer.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we already do that, you took all the food at that warehouse. What else was it that we needed?¡± Bryan interrupts.


    ¡°Stuff to do something similar to waking up my mother¡¯s draconic powers.¡±


    ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°No one died. I found what I needed, a resource of some sort I managed to pull out of vampire blood. I don''t know what it is but it can do what I need it to."


    Kythia and Ria both smile, I should keep that the vampire was a willing and eager participant out of what we did, at least for now. I''ll let them know everything later.


    ¡°Are we going to need to start moving to another location?¡± Abagail asks.


    ¡°Not immediately, though we should leave before too long. I doubt the vampires are aware of our current position.¡±


    ¡°But they will be looking for us for just what we did together, more so if you killed more¡± Bryan adds onto my answer and I nod.


    ¡°We should leave tomorrow, tonight would give us a better lead against anyone following us but we should take advantage of one thing before we go. Time runs faster than here and I will need that time for helping Lysan, Talia and Abagail.¡±


    The twins smile, they know what I mean but Abagail is just confused. I am not sure what I can awaken in her but I should be able to at least do something. I wonder if just ingesting vampiric blood is what turn someone into a vampire. A simple feeding can¡¯t be it since that would make too many.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± my mother asks.


    ¡°Talia and Lysan asked me to help them as I did for you, just not dragon stuff. I¡¯m willing to do the same for Abagail.¡± I turn to Abagail before continuing, ¡°I talked with Bryan about it while we were out today. I was going to tell you about it after getting back.¡± I turn to Bryan, ¡°I had three successful tests a short while ago.¡±


    ¡°What did you do?¡± he asks.


    ¡°Willing participants, a boy who wanted to be taller and stronger, a girl who wanted to be prettier. Both were people from the warehouse. The last was a prisoner of a vampire, willing but I don¡¯t think he will thank me for what he became.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°He already lost most his mind before I came into the picture.¡±


    Everyone frowns at that but it does not seem I am being blamed for such a thing.


    ¡°You should have at least let us know, we were worried¡± Talia says and everyone nods in agreement.


    ¡°Sorry¡± I say.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not. If you were you wouldn¡¯t keep doing this¡± Bryan says.


    ¡°I am sorry but I do it because I have to.¡±


    There is some understanding from my mother and K, less from Talia, Lysan and Bryan.


    ¡°You could still let us know¡± my mother says and I sigh.


    ¡°I won¡¯t promise to never do this again, I¡¯ll end up breaking it.¡±


    ¡°Then promise to at least let us know what you¡¯re doing¡± Talia says.


    I nod, this is probably going to come back to haunt me.


    ¡°Alright, enough ganging up on me. Bryan can you take over my mom¡¯s lessons while I help Talia and Lysan with something?¡±


    He nods and I turn to Abagail, ¡°I don¡¯t think you have a racial ability I can try to help you get but I can do physical and mental increases in ability. I haven¡¯t tried anything with mana but I think it would be too costly for me to attempt at this time even if we disregard me trying to do something I haven¡¯t a clue how to do.¡±


    ¡°So, you want to experiment on me?¡± Abagail asks, slightly offended.


    ¡°No, its only an offer. If you want me to help you get stronger I can try altering your body or mind¡¯s potential to help you. Just think about it.¡±


    ¡°How can I help?¡± asks Ria, wanting to spend time with me as most of the others leave to do one thing or another, only my girls are left in the room.


    ¡°Would you like to help Lysan and Talia with me?¡±


    She smiles and hugs me with wagging tails, a yes.


    ¡°Do you need my help as well?¡± K asks.


    ¡°Sure¡± I answer hearing the slight jealousy in her voice and lead them to our bedroom.


    ¡°Already? I thought we were going to be helping . . .¡± Ria begins to tease before I interrupt.


    ¡°That¡¯ll come later. I thought that they would like at least some privacy. Ria can you set up something to block sound from spreading beyond the room. I am afraid that Lysan and Talia may end up in a lot of pain.¡±


    She nods and I turn to my elven lovers, ¡°are you sure that you want this. It will be dangerous, hurt and may not work. I don¡¯t want to make you suffer, any of you.¡±


    I get hugged by four girls and smile as various forms of ¡®thanks¡¯ are told to me. After a moment, they separate from me and the elven twins speak simultaneously.


    ¡°Please, we want this more than anything.¡± Lysan adds an ¡°except you¡± while turning red as she tends to. Talia also mumbled something but I don¡¯t catch it.


    I start pulling various foodstuffs out of Void Cache and passing them to K. She knows what to do with them, she saw the problem that occurred with my mother. ¡°Ria can you start the sound suppression and then help Kythia handle the food?¡±


    She nods and her tails start wagging slightly faster as she saunters over to the door before drawing symbols in light.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Who wants to go first?¡± I ask the twins.


    ¡°Can we go at the same time?¡± both ask and I sigh before nodding. It will be me just alternating between them but that will probably give me more time to notice if I¡¯m doing something wrong before it becomes permanent.


    I grab ahold of the twins and begin as I did with the others, I become familiar with what they are now both physically and the metaphysical representation in the pattern. Unlike the humans I had been looking at before I see something that is incomplete. A piece of them that they are not expressing and lies only partially there in wherever it is I am looking.


    I keep examining them, there are so many parts that are the same and even more that are different. I retrieve much of the vampire blood from Void Cache and set it down next to me before I start the next step; actually doing something.


    A tear the fragments of raw essence from the blood. I think the incomplete stuff is what they failed to awaken and thus inherit from their parents. Something of the incomplete pattern reminds me fire and light, the traits that they said their parents had. . .


    I feed a trickle of the raw something into them, adding to their other physical traits to keep the balance in their essence. An added twist in reality and I force their bodies to begin to grow into their new physical traits. A hungry growl is released from their stomachs and I smile at the sign that what I am doing has already started working.


    I glance to Ria and K as they pass food to the twins, they will need it before turning back to my work. Pushing to fill more of the incomplete patterns, sparing nothing in my effort even as they begin to feel pain. I slow my actions, it hurts me to see them in pain. Stopping now will cause more harm than help and so I continue.


    Time passes and I ignore their growing screams as the pain they feel grows until I finish filling in what was left incomplete before their pain ceases and I return my senses to the physical realm. The sisters look different, taller with ever so slight differences in their builds only those in the room might be able to notice.


    They both hug me and I look down into their eyes, the red of their hair and eyes has become more vibrant and the golden specs a greater part of the iris. Their clothes no longer the right sizes as they thank me.


    I wince slightly as the two collectively squeeze me more than I was expecting.


    ¡°Sorry, we''re not used to this yet¡± they say and I give them both a quick kiss and smile.


    ¡°Thanks okay but I think I know a way we can get used to it quickly. . .¡±


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    I slip a hand under the twins¡¯ shirts and unclip their bras. I get a look from the girls as Talia asks, ¡°really? You want us right now?¡±


    I smile and nod before kissing her sister and pulling their bras out from under their shirts. Spit trails from us when we separate and I try stripping them of their shirts but they¡¯re on a little to tight.


    I should have had them undress earlier but I didn¡¯t think they would change so much physically. A claw fixes that and I easily cut them out of their shirts. I pull Talia into a kiss as I caress the contours of their bodies.


    I feel their hands begin to start feeling the muscles of my midriff before hearing tearing fabric. I suppose it¡¯s fair for them to ruin a shirt too.


    I shift slightly and pull to two onto my lap and begin alternating between their breasts as I make them moan, enjoying the attention on their bodies. I smirk as an idea of what I want them to do tonight comes to my mind. I pick the two of them up and move us to the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have you to later¡± I whisper at K and Ria as I pass them. Ria smiles and her tails wag faster while K fidgets slightly. She really likes me taking charge during stuff like this.


    I slip a claw into the each of the twins¡¯ pants to duplicate what I did with their shirts. The torn fabric slips off their hips and falls to the ground just before I sit us down on the bed.


    ¡°Since you two need to get used to your bodies can you be on top tonight?¡± I ask in the way Talia accused me of always using in the past.


    They nod, though Lysan is more embarrassed than her sister. They glance at each other and nod before kissing me just below each ear, slowly trailing downwards as I wrap my arms around the twins and squeeze their firm round asses.


    I don¡¯t hold them in place as they move downwards, eventually reaching my belt which almost breaks when the both pull at it. An instant later and the bulge of my jeans becomes an underwear tent before two pretty girls who smile at the physical manifestation of just how much I want this.


    They end up tearing the comparatively weak cloth as I slide their own down their legs. Their breath feels warm on my exposed member before they start cover it in their breasts and begin rubbing up against me.


    It feels rough at first but I soon start enjoying it, gripping the bed as they slowly bring me to shower their naked bodies in white fluid. I hear Ria make some noise the same moment I do but ignore it in favor of my elven lovers each giving me a kiss.


    Lysan moves to the side as Talia rubs my length against her slit, soaking me before letting me slip inside. She groans as I spread her walls apart and I enjoy the silken warmth of her slowly taking all of me inside her.


    Just as I am hilted I hit the end of her tunnel and I place my hands on her hips as she puts a little to much force and cringes in a bit of pain. I guide her as she quickly becomes used to her strength and starts using her lithe elven body''s flexibility to both of our delights.


    Soon her body tenses and she yells out my name bathing my lower body in the fluid rushing past our union. I roll us over and manage to kiss her for the first time while buried inside her. I thrust into her just the way she likes it for a few short moment¡¯s; and with a grunt I bring her to a second orgasm and have one of my own.


    I roll of Talia and grab a beet-red Lysan and pull her on top of me. I whisper a few words of encouragement as she begins to ride me as her sister just did. I guide her the same way for a minute before moving to caress her body as she brings us both pleasure, even as she pays much more attention to what I feel than herself.


    I roll us over and whisper a few words of love in her ear just as she climaxes. I haven¡¯t figured out what she likes the most physically but I give her a kiss before whispering complements that embarrass her as everyone in the room can hear them.


    I feel her tighten around me once more and smile, soon we are holding each other tightly as I groan into mouth, both of us having gone over the edge once more. She collapses onto the bed after we finish.


    Lysan hugs her sister after we separate and I am met with two very horny girls with animalistic instincts. Already naked they give me a kiss but I know K at least does not want to be leading. I growl in their ears as I flip them onto their backs. Ria is smiling while K spreads her legs for me.


    ¡°Go ahead¡± Ria whispers in my ear as she presses herself against me, moving me towards K. Somehow, she felt my question of who to take next.


    I thrust myself into K, who immediately wraps her legs around me. She pushes me away and I hold her pinned and nibble on her ear. She tightens around me and shouts out in some primal joy at me having my way with her.


    I get rougher with K as she begins to make her fake resistance in ways that contribute to our act. I ignore her comments of enjoyment as I continue to ravage her just as she prefers. All too soon I feel the tightness in my gut that I know to be the desire to let everything out. K arcs her back and grips me tightly as our hard and fast romp reaches its end.


    We breathe heavily into each other¡¯s ears before I give K as kiss. I roll off of K, I know she is going to want more than just this but it wouldn¡¯t be fair to Ria to make her keep waiting.


    ¡°You can have round 2 in a bit¡± I whisper in her ear before licking it. I am rewarded with a smile before I look toward Ria.


    She hugs me and pulls my head towards her bosom. I am all too happy to begin giving them the affection a nice pair deserve. She moans and I can feel a trickling sensation of enjoyment from her. She moans and I can feeling a growing desire from her for a different focus of attention.


    I feel Ria¡¯s tails wrap around me and slightly pulling me to move onto the next part of our act. Her legs spread wider and I slide upwards, spreading her insides wide. A sense of fullness and joy come to me from Ria¡¯s bond and I lick her ears. K sees it as a sign of affection so I think Ria will take it the same way.


    I am rewarded with a lick to the side of my face as Ria caresses me with her tails. She does not react as K does to the dominance that I am asserting over her but rather starts copying the actions I liked from the other girls. She shifts under me and quickly begins to tighten down around me.


    I take my time and try other angles to see what she enjoys more but it doesn¡¯t seem to make much of a difference to her. Before too long she holds on to me as her insides flutter around me and the feedback I get from Ria¡¯s bond pushes me over the edge and she yells out in joy and her grip on me becomes more forceful.


    I don¡¯t know what I did at the last moment but she really liked it. She licks my face again and I smile before giving her a kiss. K tugs at me to roll off Ria and as I follow it I notice the elven twins look over at me.


    I might be up longer than I thought tonight. . .


    <hr>


    After extracting myself from my pile of girls I prepare breakfast for the group and try ideas out with my magic.


    Bryan and Abagail walk into the kitchen before anyone else wakes up and I turn to them, stopping my playing around with what was at the time fire.


    ¡°Did you decide?¡± I ask, leaving the question open even though it is to Abagail specifically.


    ¡°I did and I decline. I am happy as I am.¡±


    I nod, I was half expecting this answer anyways. ¡°If you end up changing your mind let me know.


    She nods and we wait for the others to wake up. It is not too much longer and we eat before departing at what just happens to be dawn.


    I set the house on fire as we leave, answering the confused looks with a few short sentences. ¡°I¡¯m erasing the remains of the magic I used to extend time within the building. We would not want to leave such a thing where enemies may end up using it."

 Chapter 119

    Quartz dragons have an odd characteristic when it comes to electric magic, half the time they are unaffected while other times they suffer the full effects. They tend to have electrical abilities that they imbue into the magically grown crystals of their lairs. Oddly enough they have a great sense of time though seem to be unable to use any other ability that uses time.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    We walk for several hours across town keeping an eye out for vehicles that are in serviceable condition, while I keep trying to find small bits of steel roughly the size of a car key with my magic. While I felt the presence of several keys they all seemed to be damaged.


    Near the eastern edge of the city we run into something that is just the opportunity that we need. There is a van running in the middle of the road and while I am sure it must be some sort of set up we need the vehicle if we are to get to St. Louis in any reasonable amount of time as a group. I check for nearby life and undeath only to find nothing.


    I hold my hand out to motion the others to stop and continue to check for things that might be wrong but I can¡¯t find anything. No strange compounds or flows of energy. Its as if the vehicle was left for us to use, but who would have done such a thing?


    There are only a few groups that might do such a thing, my dad and maybe the vampires would do something like this. Though the second group is probably hostiles by now.


    ¡°Do we go?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°I can¡¯t sense anything dangerous magically but make a physical search before we use it¡± I answer and he nods. The others spread out and circle around though only Bryan and my mother are likely to identify anything wrong with the van.


    They likewise find nothing.


    ¡°Its safe¡± my mother says and Bryan nods in agreement.


    ¡°Then pile in, we have a long ways to go. Mom if you want to practice dragon stuff like flight now would be a good opportunity¡± I say while shifting to dragon form.


    ¡°Do we have a specific location in mind?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°No, we will have to choose a place to set up after arriving. I¡¯ll patrol around us¡± I answer in the deeper voice I have as a dragon.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive then.¡±


    ¡°Can I . . .¡± Talia begins to ask and I smile as I nod and stretch a leg to make it easier for her to limb up.


    Her arms wrap around my neck as my mother shifts into the bluish silver form she has.


    ¡°How do I fly?¡± my mother asks and I almost start laughing.


    ¡°Run and jump into the air and start moving your wings. How else?¡±


    ¡°But our wingspan is too short for something of our weight to fly under its own power.¡±


    I think for a moment, she is right but I¡¯ve never had an issue with that. Was I unconsciously using magic?


    ¡°So? We¡¯re dragons we fly, magic is apparently part of that. Just pretend its an act of faith.¡±


    Something clicks in her head and she follows me into the sky, even if she struggles to keep steady. I circle around the van, making turns just sharp enough for Talia to have to hold tightly to me. At least until she decides to stand and just balance and shift her weight to keep in the correct place.


    There are some creatures along the road and aside from them we had to stop a few times for my mother and me to use our strength to roll some cars out of the road. My other girls would take turn flying with me between these breaks.


    <hr>


    Shortly before we arrive I make sure to join the others inside of the van. I have no expectation for dragons to be well received by whoever is in charge of the city. Like Kansas City there is a fence blocking off the entrance, which we arrive at just a few hours before dusk.


    Like before there are soldiers gathered to guard though the gate is more than a simple chain link fence. Small buildings no doubt meant for processing have been set up and the guards are a mix of US soldiers and a few humanoids from other races. Most of them seem to be beastkin, I don¡¯t see any Althaen. That alone gives me a better outlook on what I hope to accomplish here.


    We come to a stop and are greeted by a rather large man with wolven features accompanied by a regular human soldier. I think a marine though I suppose that detail does not matter.


    ¡°Identities please?¡± the wolfkind speaks in slightly broken English.


    ¡°Not everyone has physical IDs¡± Bryan answers from the driver¡¯s seat and the wolfkind frowns but nods.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I expected as much, you have nonhumans with you. Please exit the vehicle and follow me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised that you seem to be in charge. I assumed that your kind would end up being discriminated against¡± Abagail asks and outside of our group I expect that to have become the case by now. The Althaen humans certainly do so to everyone else and we don¡¯t have that much better of a track record if you ask any of my liberal teachers.


    ¡°We are, though many of your people treat us better than the Althaen do.¡±


    We exit the van and while a few of the soldiers keep guns on us, me mostly, as we are led to one of the buildings. Inside is a table and some chairs, a bit of fruit on the table and the paperwork I assume we will have to fill out.


    The wolfkind follows us in as he gives an order to the other soldier.


    ¡°Officer Jenkins could you go get a secretary?¡±


    The officer nods before leaving and the wolfkind turns to K.


    ¡°What pack are you from?¡± he asks.


    ¡°Bloodclaw and I am the matriarch. This is my pack¡± K answers.


    ¡°Why do I not smell another wolf among you. I also have never heard of a kitsune being welcome in a pack. Where is the other alpha?¡±


    ¡°That would be me¡± I answer for K and receive a look of confusion.


    ¡°You do not have the smell of a wolf. How is it that you know the tongue of wolves? It cannot just be taught.¡±


    ¡°I am alpha of this pack, I know this langue because of that. Is there going to be a test against demonic taint?¡±


    ¡°No, I have already done so. I can smell wrongness and while you smell strange there is no such wrongness among you.¡±


    ¡°You already did it? I suppose that is why you have this job?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I believe the order that got me the job was get whoever or whatever can do the job.¡±


    A young-looking woman enters the room and glares at all of those who exhibit nonstandard traits. Which is everyone save: Bryan, Abagail and my mother.


    ¡°The forms in front of you are for the registration of those from other worlds or have lost their prior forms of identification. While knowing English is not a requirement for registration of intent to immigrate. Are there any who do not understand me? Are there any who need a translator?¡±


    Asking if there are any who need help in a language that they can¡¯t understand, typical government attention to detail. Though it may be an oversight caused by the secretary rather than the policy itself. At least it does not affect any of us as we all speak English.


    ¡°Good those who have US documents please present them.¡±


    I, being the closest, pull out my driver¡¯s license with a slight frown, I do not look quite the same as I did before. Perhaps that full human transformation in the Grey Dream is worth more than I thought. I pass it to the woman and she gives me one looks I remember from the DMV when I had a typo on my permit.


    ¡°That is not you. Your eyes, hair and height do not match.¡±


    ¡°An effect of. . .¡±


    ¡°No, go and fill out the papers like the rest of your kind¡± she says with some spite added at the end.


    Should I threaten her? Try to throw some weight around with a name? No, that won¡¯t work unless what my dad told me was true and I can use Talmage¡¯s name.


    ¡°When will we be meeting whoever is in charge?¡±


    ¡°You have no right to information; only legal residents are.¡±


    Most of our party smirk or chuckle at her statement before Abagail, Bryan and my mother all repeat my question holding out their own IDs. Oneswere they still appear to be the same person.


    She frowns clearly upset at me getting my way as she apparently does have to answer that question.


    ¡°Never, unless it is requested. At which point it can be arranged.¡±


    ¡°So Adrian, do we need to talk with someone important again?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It will eventually come up if we stay here so we may as well deal with it now. It seems like Talmage and the others adopted our proposed plan¡± I answer, using a foreign language just to irk the woman. Its not the smart thing to do but I do it anyways.


    ¡°We would like to talk to whoever is in charge, tell them Adrian Ravnos and Bryan Grace are here¡± he says with a smirk. Both of us have always hated bureaucrats.


    The wolfkind is started by the sentence and I cannot help but wonder just how prevalent is the knowledge of my family is among that world. The secretary frowns as she storms off, upset at having to actually work.


    K talks with the wolfkin as we wait. I help the girls fill out the papers as I suspect that we will have to do so at some point no matter how it goes with whoever the secretary is going to get.


    <hr>


    It takes a few hours and we all end up playing board games as we wait for what will no doubt be the military to show up. At least with all the people from Althr¨¢ around I won¡¯t have any of my powers limited if a fight breaks out.


    There is a knock at the door before two army officers enter followed by a General I recognize though it takes me a moment to remember the name; Fuller. I didn¡¯t pay attention to whatever his first name was but I remember the last name.


    ¡°Adrian, Bryan we¡¯ve been looking for you. Director Talmage wanted to apologize over the problems you had in Kansas City. Secretary Jasmine was behind the problems that you had there. I don¡¯t know all the details but how can I help you here?¡± General Fuller says


    ¡°If you could make sure we don¡¯t run into any paperwork problems and show us somewhere we can stay for a while it would be very helpful. Other than that basic general information about what is going on would be nice, we¡¯ve been out of the information loop for a bit as you know¡± I say to General Fuller.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the time to tell you of everything that is going on but I¡¯ll have someone bring you some of the non-classified reports. Did you already fill out the papers?¡±


    Bryan passes him the small pile of paperwork which he flips through.


    ¡°Everyone left the supernatural abilities section empty¡± he comments.


    ¡°Will that be a problem?¡± I ask.


    ¡°It would be if they were not with you. I will see that it is overlooked though That won¡¯t keep you all from eventually having to do so.¡±


    I nod, we are probably going to be spied on too. I¡¯m likely considered dangerous already and that¡¯s before I¡¯ve figured out more things I can do with magic.


    ¡°Sargent Fenton, please escort these people to wherever they ask. I¡¯m sorry but there are still problems in some parts of the city and I need to oversee the removal of the last of the goblinoids from the slums. Once your new IDs are ready I¡¯ll have them sent to you, until then please stay with Sargent Fenton as to keep people from confusing you with the Althaen assassin¡¯s that still occasionally get teleported in.¡±


    I nod, making a note to hide as much of our abilities as possible from this soldier. I¡¯ll also have to postpone looking for vampires until later. Teleporting assassins though, I wonder why I haven''t run into any?

 Chapter 120

    Onyx dragons are the closest thing to an undead that exist among the crystal dragons without actually being undead. While all crystal dragons have strange life forces the onyx dragon have negative energy blended in instead from positive energy. Their magic is necromantic in nature though any undead they create ends up having crystalline protrusions. They have psionic abilities such as telepathy though it only functions on undead.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After General Fuller leaves the soldier simply looks at us, or more specifically the women of our group. I think he is just over twenty, probably a drafted college student.


    ¡°I¡¯d suggest not ogling any of them and showing us to the nearest inn or hotel¡± I say.


    ¡°Sorry it¡¯s just . . .¡± he starts before nodding. He will not doubt have been told about us if he is to show us around. There is some fear in his eyes when he looks at me.


    ¡°This way, it¡¯s a little far and the roads are not currently open to civilian vehicles¡± he then continues.


    I periodically release a pulse of energy to try and catch an echo of negative energy. I don¡¯t find anything in the hour walk, perhaps they are in a different part of the city?


    We arrive at a hotel and while Abagail takes care of getting rooms I lean over to Lysan.


    ¡°How are you and Talia doing? Figure anything out yet?¡±


    I am answered with a hug followed by a whisper of ¡°Sister and me will show you later.¡±


    I smile before being interrupted by Abagail giving us room keys. I don¡¯t understand why she gave me two different rooms though. At least not until I opened the door to one of them a few minutes later.


    Five people simply cannot sleep on the two beds made for a single person. I frown at the inconvenience that this will cause me later as I check for electrical energy to find nothing out of place.


    I pass the other room key to K, it is for the adjacent room.


    ¡°Which room will you be staying in?¡± she asks.


    ¡°Both? I plan on trying to find something after sneaking past our armed escort beforehand though¡± I answer.


    ¡°You just can¡¯t get enough of us, can you?¡± Talia teases.


    ¡°Nope, and it¡¯s all your faults for being such beautiful women¡± I counter earning smiles from all of them.


    ¡°So, what are you planning on going to do tonight?¡± K asks.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to do a bit of explaining. Yesterday Bryan and me found the vampire duke in charge of Kansas City and learned that the vampire duke of this city is in liege with my family.


    I want to see what I can learn from whoever that is before removing the possibility of him being a problem for us when we eventually end up fighting my kin.¡±


    ¡°Can I go with you?¡± Ria asks and I think for a moment.


    ¡°I''d like you and Kythia to stay here and protect my mom. If something goes wrong she is not our strongest member.¡±


    Ria nods smiling, happy to help though there is some disappointment too.


    ¡°You are bringing Bryan with you then?¡± K asks and I nod. Him being an Undead Hunter makes him necessary for stuff like this.


    ¡°Can we come?¡± Talia and Lysan ask simultaneously.


    ¡°Why?¡± I ask.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t gotten to spend as much time with you recently¡± Talia answers.


    I pause for a second before realizing that they are right, outside of the bedroom I haven¡¯t been with them as much as K or even Ria recently. I don¡¯t want to risk them getting hurt though.


    ¡°Alright, you need to practice whatever fire and light stuff you¡¯re picking up and it would not be good to accidently burn down where we plan to sleep.


    No letting my mom know until after we are gone though. I wouldn¡¯t be able to keep her from coming and she is not ready for a real fight.¡±


    The elves hug me before stepping back.


    ¡°When will you be leaving for this?¡± K asks.


    ¡°A few hours after dusk. The vampires need to be walking around if I¡¯m to find them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll let Bryan know. I think Talia wants to show you something.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    I nod as K turns to walk outside. I turn back to the elven girls to see both of them holding an erratic uncontrolled flame an outstretched hand. The flame shifts in size and color, from red to golden as the twins show next to no control over the ability.


    ¡°So what can those flames do? That isn¡¯t normal fire.¡±


    They shrug, the movement somehow causing the fire to jump out of their hands. While the flames that were currently golden in Lysan¡¯s hand dies out quickly while the crimson flames in Talia¡¯s begin to rapidly spread quickly as the temperature of the room climbs. The flames spread over Lysan before I manage to begin to suppress the growing flames.


    Seconds pass as the flames slowly die after they immediately cease to spread from my intervention. As they do so I push Talia away from the flames as I tackle Lysan. The flames die out and I find a completely unharmed elven girl under me, though her clothes have been mostly destroyed.


    Only after standing up do I notice the burns along my arms, second degree burns. Lysan is saying ¡°sorry¡± over and over again as she fumbles with her amulet that she uses as a focus for her divine magic. I hold my arms out as she fusses over them, only now do I start feeling the stinging tingle of the burns.


    She chants and a blue glow spreads from her hands erasing the burns in a gentle tingle. I could have healed them myself but she seemed to need to do so herself. As soon as her spell ends I make sure to have healed my other injuries and pull her into a hug. I don¡¯t say anything for a moment and she calms down.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright. Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± I ask though I¡¯ve already checked and found no burns on her.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t hurt, I just felt comfortable.¡± Lysan answers as Talia starts checking over the both of us.


    ¡°Good but no more fire unless you¡¯re somewhere you can burn to the ground without consequences or I¡¯m ready to help deal with it.¡±


    The two of them nod, before Talia asks a question.


    ¡°Could you help us before we go looking around for a bit?¡±


    ¡°Sure, when you were making that fire how did it feel? How did you do it?¡±


    ¡°Our mana feels funny, like there were two different energies in it. The fire is from them¡± Lysan answers.


    Two energies? That is probably the cause of the shifting color of the fire, its probably some supernatural essence of fire and light that they have started producing. The fire is probably whatever energy was dominant in Talia¡¯s flames when she lost control of it, so light doesn¡¯t destroy and spread.


    ¡°Whichever energy was dominant in what Talia lost control of is probably fire, the other energy I assume is light. . .¡±


    ¡°We have both? How?¡± both of the twins say at the same time.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to explain it, I just filled in what was missing. There was patterns of fire and light in you so I assume those energies are at least some derivative of the two.¡±


    ¡°How did you know what to fill in?¡± Talia says in confusion.


    ¡°I noticed a pattern and there were things I recognized from how my magic works. I don¡¯t know how your new abilities work, I only filled in missing pieces.


    Try to summon those flames again but lower the amount of mana and one of the other energies.¡±


    They both nod and create their constantly changing unstable fires once more. I try to sense light and fire with my magic to find both are present in the flames. While the flames are crimson there is more fire, the golden flames hold more light. I think I can replicate the fire but it seems oddly complex, as if the mixture shifts in purpose and effect rather than just destructive power. . .


    The flames slowly shift, Talia¡¯s become more destructive and wild while Lysans become gentle though both are uncontrolled. As the energy shifts to the extremes of becoming almost pure fire and light the twins lose control again but this time I am ready to remove the wild energy before it causes any problems. I hope Abagail will handle the issues caused by the earlier incident. At least the fire alarm didn¡¯t go off, the lack of smoke perhaps?


    ¡°Try again, though this method could be wrong. Your flames are getting more erratic as it gets closer to not having the other non-mana energy. If this correlation continues even as you start getting more control then the blend of energy is needed for what you now are.¡±


    They nod and try again. The same thing pattern of flames going out of control even as their flames get slightly steadier. Their control is awful, but the mix of energy has stopped most of its unstable shifting during the short few hours that pass before Bryan knocks on our door.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± I hear him ask.


    ¡°Just a moment¡± I say before turning back to the twins and voice the conclusion that I¡¯ve come to. ¡°The blend seems to be a necessity in your fires, but are you ready to go vampire hunting?¡±


    They nod and smile at the opportunity to run off and likely end up causing mayhem with me. We stand up and they follow me out of the room.


    ¡°Any idea where to start?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°Yes actually. Where could we find some young dumb and stupid recently turned vampire?¡±


    ¡°Wherever it goes to feed. Somewhere someone could go missing for a day or more without arousing suspicion.¡±


    I smile while the elves give us slight looks of confusion.


    ¡°The question is however if we will be able to get into such places. We don¡¯t have the IDs required at most such locations.¡±


    ¡°I think they only ask for IDs when you order alcohol.¡±


    Is that the case? I¡¯ve never been to a club or bar, never saw the point in going to one. We¡¯ll find out I suppose.


    ¡°So, do you know where the people watching us are?¡±


    Bryan nods, ¡°There are a few people watching the halls and the street outside. I don¡¯t know if there are any surveillance devices.¡±


    ¡°There aren¡¯t any electronics that shouldn¡¯t be in the room. I check earlier but could not find any odd flows of electricity.


    If we pass by those few watchers with invisibility we shouldn¡¯t have any problems from them until we are on the way back.¡±


    Bryan nods, ¡°when do we leave then?¡±


    ¡°No point in waiting. We¡¯ll have to hold hands to keep from being separated, I don¡¯t know a way to be invisible without also hiding us from each other.¡±


    Both the twins grab a hold of me while Talia takes one of Bryan¡¯s hands. A moment later I bend all wavelengths of light and take a step lightly pulling my small group.


    At the end of the hall a soldier was sitting in a small foyer that holds the elevator. I frown as he sits so as to see both the exits and the hall towards our rooms. I frown, someone is clearly having us confined so we can be spied on. It is better than the attack on sight from before but I still do not like it.


    I move next to the door and change my bending of light in a fraction of a second into an image. The soldier looks up, the lighting of the room changing ever so slightly must have caught his attention. He looks at me and the others but turns to the other parts of the room before going back to the paper that he is not really reading.


    Bryan slowly opens the doors to the stairs and we close it slowly before I move back to my imperfect invisibility. No one is in our path before reaching the ground floor, I repeat my trick of a false image to get past the door without anyone noticing. We take advantage of the revolving door as others pass though entering the hotel. My nose cringes slightly at their scent which smells odd to me.

 Chapter 121

    Malachite dragons while they have very few offensive abilities, mostly retaliatory barriers, have more powers in protection and aid than any other dragon. Given even a short period of time to prepare a malachite dragon becomes difficult to harm before all of its magic is expended. They have powerful anti-curse and defensive psionics in addition to their abilities in what is considered abjuration.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Not knowing where to go after getting past the people we assume are to keep an eye on us, we wander the streets in our search to stumble upon a vampire. I constantly release small pulses to try and hear echoes of negative energy but I find very little. Not enough to be what I¡¯m looking for.


    ¡°Can we get something to eat?¡± Talia asks.


    I nod and we walk down the street to the nearest open place that would still be selling food. Which as it is getting close to midnight is a slightly run-down bar by the name of Kody¡¯s.


    We enter and sit, some men in the back glance at Talia and Lysan for a moment before looking at me and going back to drinking and playing darts. A middle-aged woman walks over within a minute and passes us a set of menus.


    ¡°What can I get you to drink?¡± the waitress asks.


    ¡°Bubbly sweet water¡± the twins both say and the waitress looks at them in confusion.


    ¡°Coke, they mean coke and I¡¯ll have the same¡± I say before she questions what the twins meant with their answer.


    I don¡¯t hear what Bryan ordered to drink as Lysan points at one of the pictures of a burger as she asks ¡°can I get this?¡±


    ¡°You and Talia can get whatever you want.¡±


    They smile and look towards the waitress to find her gone.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be back with the drinks in a few minutes to give us time to decide what to eat¡± I tell them.


    They smile, ¡°how long do we get to walk around after this?¡± Lysan asks.


    ¡°A few more hours though I had hoped we already would have found something. Why? Are you already getting tired?¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s just that this city seems so much more. . .¡± Talia says struggling to think of the last word.


    ¡°Stable? Aside from the military being more prevalent if all the people were human it seems almost like it was before.


    I wonder if this is only this city or if others have become like this?¡±


    ¡°I would assume no since the roads are not yet cleared. Trade hasn¡¯t fully resumed yet and without that and farms starting back up this won¡¯t be sustainable¡± Bryan answers.


    ¡°But this world is already moving to recover, I¡¯m surprised we haven¡¯t seen more demons though. There were a lot more of them on Althr¨¢¡± Talia mentions.


    ¡°Perhaps not all the inhabitants of your world we¡¯re moved at once. The first day I saw goblins pouring out of a mist. I can see there being issues with dumping a whole plane into another that might be solved with a gradual integration¡± I comment.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were a master of planar travel. Does you teleportation of objects extend to yourself and people?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°I''m not and no. For some reason I suck at that kind of magic.


    It¡¯s just, I¡¯ll explain in a metaphor. It¡¯s easier to slowly fill a glass of water without spilling than to dump the entire volume at once. Gradual change should be more stable than the alternative.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense but I was hoping you could teleport. You can pull of stuff beyond Time Stop, why not at least Dimension Door?¡±


    ¡°The same reason why you can pull of Cure spells but not strength enhancement with your arcane magic. I simply don¡¯t know how or the background information needed to figure it out.¡±


    We stop talking for a minute as the waitress sets our drinks down on the table and takes our orders. Everyone gets some form of a burger, mostly because there is not much else we could have ordered.


    I sip my own Coke and find the taste slightly off. I guess someone didn¡¯t spend enough time rinsing the cups, or maybe their fountain machine just changed flavors. I find myself glad to have a drink not out of a can. I think there is more fizz in bottles and fountains.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Any plans on learning how to teleport?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m far to busy for that.¡±


    Not really having anything to say we silently drink for a few minutes before Talia asks me a question.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t we talking?¡±


    ¡°Because I have no idea what to talk about. We can be overheard here so training, theory and planning should not be done.¡± I answer.


    ¡°Then tell me what you used to do before all this¡± Talia responds as the waitress comes back with our burgers and another drink for everyone.


    ¡°I played fantasy rpg games and read books set in similar . . .¡± I continue onwards in an almost monologue as Talia and Lysan give me their full attention, asking questions about my hobbies and why I enjoyed them.


    We begin to yawn and I frown at how tired I am. I shouldn¡¯t feel sleepy and drink the rest of my third soda for the caffeine.


    The world gets fuzzy and I barely notice that my friends have already fallen asleep before I join them in drooling on the table unconscious.


    <hr>


    I feel myself begin to wake up with a pounding headache.


    ¡°. . . sure that there won¡¯t be any trouble over them?¡± I hear a male voice ask.


    I open my eyes for a second before closing them on a reflex. The light of the room stings, my pupils must be dilated. How did I get here?


    ¡°They didn¡¯t have any papers on them, so they are on the waiting list for approval. No one will come looking for them.¡± I hear a female voice say. It sounds slightly familiar as if I had heard it recently.


    I was doing something, with the twins and Bryan. Eating. . .


    ¡°You¡¯ve done well my servant. Elven blood is a delicacy I¡¯ve not had in centuries and the males are not normal either. . .¡±


    Kidnapping, whoever these two are it¡¯s a kidnapping. How? Something in the food? No the drinks tasted off.


    ¡°. . . I will see you rewarded, but return to you work. I can¡¯t have you arouse suspicion on the disappearances of the new comers.¡±


    ¡°Of course master¡± the female voice responds and I connect the dots. The waitress drugged us. Sold us to a vampire? He mentioned blood like a food.


    I try to move but my body does not follow my commands before I end up passing out again.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes and find myself shackles to a concrete wall. My head still hurts as I groan and look around.


    I am in a small cell, there is food and drink next to me but I¡¯m not going to touch it. I try to move my right hand to my head and am meet instead by the rattling of chains.


    My left hand was however free and I rub the crust of dried tears? away from my face as I piece what must have happened back together.


    I feel weak and find some dried blood on my shirt. As if the left side of my neck had been bleeding but I find no injury. Shit kidnapped and sold to a vampire to be what? A blood sack?


    I look around the room a second time to try and get my bearings and find a digital clock,11:13 pm. That can¡¯t be right.


    I try and pull something from Void Cache but nothing happens. I can¡¯t manifest my claws either to break out. Must be the dull glow coming off the shackle. I can¡¯t wait around and try pulling the chain out of the wall as I stand up.


    The door opens behind me and I hear a male''s voice.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re lively, good. I like my meal to struggle, now let me see if you¡¯re worth what I paid or if I should have just gone with the newest elf.¡±


    I turn around as rage boils within me. I am not food. I am not something to buy and the twins are mine.


    I don¡¯t notice what the vampire said next other than it was derogatory and the word dragon was included as he lunges at me. I catch one of his arms and keep him from biting me but I feel weaker than normal, no doubt from being fed on while unconscious.


    I hear metal creak as it prevents my anger from being unleashed on the vampire in a physical manner. I delve into the Sphere of Death and Fire as it flows into my Ravnos magic and the vampire lasts only seconds in the inferno of deep purple fire.


    I take a single second to calm myself just enough to turn my reality bending will on the shackle. It¡¯s rune flows brighter for a moment before I give up on trying to destroy it magically.


    ¡°Fucking antimagic warded shackles¡± I mutter before breaking my hand to try and slip out.


    I grunt in pain as the shackle constricts to prevent my escape and stare at it for a moment before breaking my forearm with a combination of blunt force and magic.


    Since that alone is not enough to get free I bite my arm and tear out a chunk of flesh. I push away the pain.


    ¡®Irefuseto be caged. Irefuseto letmygirls be stuck little this.¡¯


    ¡®Irefuseto be caged. Irefuseto letmygirls be stuck little this.¡¯


    This repeats over and over in my head until I am free. I have to get free and save the twins.


    As soon as I am no longer connected to the shackle I feel an energy return to me and my left hand manifests draconic claws. A darkness that is not darkness surrounds my left claw as I destroy the steel bonds that trap my arm. Unsure why my blood loss hasn''t made me light headed.


    I catch my dismembered arm and hold it to my still bleeding arm and heal myself. The bone becomes whole as muscle and tendons reconnect as the gaps are regrown and my skin knits itself back together in seconds.


    My stomach growls and I pull food from Void Cache as I send a ripple of energy to let me know where any nearby undead are.


    There are dozens but they don¡¯t feel as strong as Mateus. A second ripple tells me of the nearby living, there are more of them.


    I recognize some, Bryan is the closest and the twins are together but farther away, the strongest vampire is next to them. . .


    I tear the door to my cell off it¡¯s hinges in anger as I instantly begin moving. A pale human runs at me in the hall and I take the first payment to appease my rage out of the vampire''s head, my claws rending it to pieces before he bursts into light and ash.


    My cell was the furthest one down this hallway and I walk past the nearest door ignoring the prisoner kept there as he is weak and not my friend. A vampire flees from Bryan¡¯s room puking blood only to meet it¡¯s end my claws.


    I step into the room to see Bryan bleeding at the neck and rush over to heal him. The wound seals itself easily and I destroy his shackle with my claws.


    I wake him with a light jolt of electricity and he blinks for a few seconds as I accelerate his metabolism to get whatever drug is in his system out.


    ¡°Kidnaped by vampires¡± I say and give him a sword from Void Cache. He frowns and jumps to his feet before chanting a spell that removes the physical weakness I¡¯ve been feeling.


    We don¡¯t say anything as I lead us towards where I felt the twins, killing all that stand in the way.

 Chapter 122

    Topaz dragons have a few similarities in ability to malachite dragons. They are able to use some of the protective magics though only on a single target level but they have stronger abilities in healing aside from their inability to affect curses. It is however their specialization of psionics that they should be feared for. They can impart and steal memory, literally draining away the mind of their foes or giving what they took from others to their allies.


    <hr>


    Anthrus


    <hr>


    One of the two elves wake up as I am examining them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done the stupidest thing you could do¡± the elf says and I decide to you with my meal.


    ¡°Oh, and why is that?¡± I ask with a smirk.


    ¡°Our lover will come and destroy you.¡±


    I interrupt her with a laugh, ¡°lover? No doubt one of those boys you were taken with. They are chained to a wall as you are and dragons make hardy meals¡± I say and the elf glares at me and her shackle glows.


    ¡°Oh, trying to fight are you? Don¡¯t bother, elves are too frail and that shackle suppresses all sorts of magic¡± I say as I get closer. The last of my sentence no more than a whisper in her ear.


    I feel something hit my leg and I collapse, fingers from the girls unbound hand strike out to claw out my eyes. I catch her arm, surprised at the strength she has before forcing her down and taking a drink.


    The sweet blood on an elf hits my tongue and hear her heartbeat is all I hear as I partake. Clean and pure, sweet even as warmth builds. Perfectly sweet as all elves are but she has a natural spicy warmth, a pity she is not a virgin.


    I lick the fang marks I left on her neck and they close up. She is far to delicious to only have once. I turn to the other and find her just as good. The power in their blood makes me feel strong, like I can do anything.


    I find myself chuckling at the sounds of combat outside my room. Are my patrons being rowdy again? Has someone come to take my place? I hope so. I want a good fight.


    I glance at the elves again and my tongue flicks over my fangs. I want more, but I shouldn¡¯t. I begin to think of turning them into blood bound servants, twisting their minds and addicting them to my vampiric blood before the dying body of one of my coven breaks down my door.


    I calmly walk out to meet whatever fool has decided to challenge my power. I¡¯m the strongest so they have to be a fool. Maybe I should kill the duke and take the city for myself. Yes, that is a good plan for none but me deserve to rule.


    For the first time in my undeath I laugh at fire as two individuals use it against some of my coven.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    Bryan is casting some spells as he fights in melee barely keeping up with the bursts of speed and strength of vampire magic. I throw fire and pulses of energy to disrupt the flow of negative energy within our foes as my draconic claws are more than a match for the vampires'' own.


    Another of the undead collapse into ash before I turn to see a vampire laughing amidst the carnage of their slaughtered mortal servants and these weak vampires. I lay down another swath of flame, confident that it will harm them before being forced to block a bite attack.


    This vampire seems stronger than the others in that my claws did not pierce its flesh as well. More resilient but it does not manage to dodge a Radiance Breath.


    I turn back to the laughing vampire to find him still laughing and unburnt. That isn¡¯t right, the fire should have at least done something.


    In a blur of movement, he sends me flying into a wall, the drywall breaking as I pass through.


    It takes me a few seconds to pull myself out of the chalky rubble to find the vampire beginning to toy with Bryan. Telling the direction of his attacks while Bryan barely manages to parry. I can see injuries on them both but the vampire does not react at all to the pain the silvery light of undead destroying magic Bryan uses.


    He did not react as other vampires did to fire, no fear or burns from the flames. Something is not right but he also seems to be delusional at the moment.


    I pull out a shotgun from Void Cache and load it with a shell. Fire and my other normally easy ways of killing undead aren¡¯t working so massive damage to the reanimated corpse is my only option.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The vampire notices me and laughs as he mocks me for my ''foolish'' actions. I don¡¯t care even as my dragon side''s anger flares up. Once I am close enough to hit the creature without hitting Bryan he moves in a blur of preternatural speed and sunders the shotgun''s barrel.


    I pull the trigger; a shorter barrel won¡¯t change the damage done of a point blank shot. The pellets rip through the left side of the vampire and a section of an arm. His hand fall to the ground but the creature laughs claiming that such a weapon as mine cannot harm him.


    I meet a claw coming for my neck with my left, leaving the now empty shotgun to fall to the floor as my right claws are used in an attempt to dismember. I do not manage to cut all the way through with my claws before the vampire takes on some incorporeal form made from mist.


    Bryan¡¯s blade passes through it, disturbing the mist but deals no damage. I myself spit a glob of the Void at the mist, it is the only thing I think will harm the vampire in its current state and I am rewarded with results.


    The mist becomes solid, once more just the physical shape of a vampire. A new hole in the corpse''s torso drips the thick coagulated blood of a vampire as his other words do but unlike them it is not slowly but visibly closing.


    I see the tip of a blade sprout out of the vampire''s chest and for once the monster begins to scream and curse in his pain like the rest of his kind have. I do not recognize the language and I slice into the neck of the vampire his dismemberment keeping him from stopping me.


    Just before the creature explodes in the flash of light and ash, it managed to do something and our surroundings shift.


    Everything is in a murky greyscale and all of objects have dark wafting vapor of some sort coming off them. A chill different from temperature or the unnatural chill of negative energy brings me to a slight shiver as I look around.


    ¡°What just happened?¡± I ask Bryan.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but I feel comfortable here, somehow familiar¡± he answers with a shrug.


    ¡°Look around, see if you can figure anything out. I¡¯m going to check on where I think Talia and Lysan are.¡±


    Bryan nods and we separate, I quickly find the room the strongest of the vampires was in. Even in the odd colors the vampire''s last act caused I recognize the two chained to the wall with a dark stain on their clothes near one side of their neck. I break their bonds and begin to heal them but they seem weaker than normal though they bodies are healed, just like I felt earlier.


    ¡°Adrian?¡± Lysan asks as she wakes up before hugging me.


    Talia soon follows though she is crying a bit more. I run my hands through their hair as I say ¡°it''s okay. The vampire is dead. It did something and I don¡¯t know where we are but you¡¯re safe now.¡±


    After a minute we separate, Talia moved earlierthan Lysanwho had me hold her for a few extra seconds.


    I don¡¯t have to say anything as we begin to search around all while thinking of where we could be. I fail to find anything useful in figuring out where we are aside from Ria''s bond being almost non-existent.


    ¡°Adrian, I found a window. You¡¯ll want to see this¡± Bryan yells and I rush to him.


    I stop beside him and see city streets and buildings, only the dark greyscale of the world and black ash drifting through the air keep this from being just down the street from the bar we we¡¯re drugged at. I look up at the sky to see lightly swirling clouds of absolute darkness.


    This isn¡¯t Earth but then why are we still in St Louis?


    ¡°I think I know where we are¡± Bryan says.


    ¡°Where?¡± Talia asks.


    ¡°A Shadow Plane.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you mean the Shadow Plane?¡± I ask.


    ¡°No, there is more than one, or maybe they all are connected. It isn¡¯t important though, either way we are in the shadow of our material plane.¡±


    ¡°Then we need a spell like Shadow Well to get back. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know it, would you?¡±


    ¡°No but perhaps we can find another way back. If this vampire could come here then. . .¡±


    ¡°another should be able to do the same¡± Talia finishes for him.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one with shadow based magic so lead our search¡± I say to my friend.


    He nods, and asks ¡°can you find me any undead or living things nearby?¡±


    I shrug and try to catch echoes off of two pulses of energy. I don¡¯t find a living creature but there are more undead around us than I¡¯ve ever seen before.


    ¡°There are undead in every direction but the strongest is to the north¡± I say and point in a direction.


    ¡°You mean east? That way is south¡± Talia says and I shrug.


    ¡°Without the sun or stars I can¡¯t be sure.¡±


    ¡°Whatever is the strongest thing around is the most likely to have a way back or at least know of one¡± Bryan says and walks in the direction I pointed.


    It only takes us a few minutes before we run into something on our way. A humanoid creature made of darkness and negative energy. Slightly under six feet tall with no features save for clawed fingers.


    Talia reacted first but her blade passed through the creature without harming it. Bryan¡¯s however made a sizzling sound as it took up the silvery glow it always has when he fights undead.


    The shadow dissipates and I catch the echoes of a pulse of energy to find out if there are any other such creatures nearby. All I feel is an army of such things swarming in from all around.


    ¡°More are coming¡± I declare to the others and turn to the nearest one as it turns a corner entering our street as it continues to run at us.


    An arrow I assume is from Lysan passes through it as she starts chanting something. The arrow hurt the shadow but the next one did nothing. More begin to enter our sight as we struggle to do damage to the first few that get in melee range.


    I release a Radiance Breath and see it vaporize several of them in its line of effect before I shout at the twins, ¡°use your fire, more light than flame!¡±


    I don¡¯t turn to see their reaction as I form bolts of light to shred the shadows near me. I do however notice several hues of golden flames thrown all over the place.


    Minutes pass and I can see the twins are getting tired as the swaths of golden fire are getting smaller and have longer delays between them. I shred another shadow with a shotgun style blast of light before I feel a shiver and turn to see a arachnid made of shadow form behind me as it steps out of the shadows that are everywhere in this world.

 Chapter 123

    Opal dragons while physically weak aside from their resistance to fire are one of the worst creatures to upset. They are instinctual masters of luck and fate magic, able to lay curses that are all but impossible to remove and should the dragon who cast the curse die it is impossible. Their blessings however only last as long as the dragon wills it and remains alive. They are good friends to have and an enemy you cannot afford to kill.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The shadowed spider lunges at me and while I keep this one from harming me with my claws and the darkness that I am beginning to think is the void, Bryan is ambushed by another.


    Rather than shiver from the chill of these unnatural shadows or scream in pain he just looks at it for a moment before laughing. The spider is soon destroyed by a blast of golden flames that he yells in the pain they cause in the short instance he is in contact with them.


    A few moments later we are all catching our breath as we look around. No other shadow creatures are swarming around us and I walk the short distance to Talia and Lysan.


    They don¡¯t seem to have any injuries aside from maybe a scrape while the burns from the flames that touched Bryan are slowly regenerating as shadows are pulled to them.


    ¡°Are you alright Bryan?¡± I ask while staring at the tendrils of shadow that are mending his arms.


    ¡°Yeah, I wasn¡¯t in contact with that golden fire for long and that spider shaped shadow''s bite didn¡¯t do anything. What are those golden flames anyways?¡± he responds.


    ¡°A mix between some sort of fire and light energy.¡±


    ¡°Do they hurt regular people?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, neither of their flames hurt Talia or Lysan and the golden flames didn¡¯t burn the hotel room so I doubt it.¡±


    ¡°Probably some sort of purification flames then. You should see if they can heal injuries but not near me.¡±


    I nod, ¡°if they don¡¯t harm or even heal regular people then your shadow stuff is probably marking you for destruction. Any idea why all the shadow creatures in the vicinity rushed to attack us?¡±


    ¡°Unless you magic to find out what¡¯s nearby gave us away, they must have some sort of life sense.¡±


    Could they have felt the energy pulses I use to make the echoes? Maybe.


    ¡°Only way to know is for me not to try to magically sense them again and see if we are still attacked in mass.¡±


    ¡°Can we get going? This place is uncomfortable for sister and me¡± Talia asks and I nod.


    We don¡¯t run into anything for probably a half hour before we reach where I felt something fairly strong earlier. We stand in front of a straight up stone cathedral, stained glass windows and all. Through the open door there are murals and pews, just as I imagine an old Catholic Church would have.


    ¡°Do you sense anything?¡± I ask Bryan.


    ¡°Something feels strange but no, there are no undead in the area¡± he answers after a moment.


    We enter and can hear the singing of some hymn though it is faint, as if it is in the distance. I don¡¯t recognize the song but I wouldn¡¯t be someone to ask for the answers to most things church related barring what my mother forced me to learn.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think there were places like this in Missouri¡± Bryan comments as he looks around at the artwork.


    ¡°Is this a chapel to the crying god?¡± Lysan asks.


    ¡°Maybe, is that who you know as the god who descended into the world to give his life to redeem us?¡± I answer her, butchering and over simplifying the Christian faith.


    ¡°No but it sounds like something he would do. When did that happen?¡±


    ¡°Two thousand years ago but it is debatable if it is true. Some believe it others don¡¯t, but there should be some truth in it.¡±


    Lysan nods as I find a set of stairs leading downwards, the music getting louder.


    ¡°Whoever is singing is this way¡± I say calling Bryan and Talia from looking at other parts of the first floor of the cathedral.


    Down the stairs is some sort of museum and a small mausoleum further in. A crypt but the lighting does not get worse as it would on the material plane. The shadowy illumination that I am assuming is a trait of this plane remains omnipresent. The music of the hymn however ends and we are left without a guide to whatever not undead that was making it.


    After several minutes of searching we do not find any exit, especially not one that would have allowed sound to reach us as it was.


    ¡°Any ideas?¡± I ask leaving the question open to everyone.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°The music must not have come from this building¡± Talia says.


    ¡°I doubt it came from anywhere else nearby and it lead us down here¡± I comment.


    ¡°Maybe it came from the physical world¡± Lysan says with little confidence.


    I smile at the idea, ¡°then there is an at least partially open connection between here and there. Any ideas on how to find it?¡±


    ¡°The closest thing I have to planar travel is shadow walking and I try not to do anything with it beyond barely touching this plane¡± Bryan says and the elves shake their heads.


    ¡°Can you sense it like you can all sorts of other things?¡± Lysan asks.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try but I suck at spatial magic let alone the complications other planes would . . .¡± I hit my head as I realize the mistakes I¡¯ve been making while examining Void Cache.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, I just realized something I¡¯ve been going about the wrong way.¡±


    I pull a book from Void Cache and open to its fictional depiction of the planes and stare at it for a moment. Some planes physically touch and blend as they have a transitional plane between them like the demi-elemental planes but others do not touch. That gap is the Void. That is where I''ve been stashing all my stuff. I couldn¡¯t figure out how Void Cache bent space because it wasn¡¯t.


    It¡¯s a planar effect not spatial, and that is what I need to figure out how to sense right now. If I can find the door that is already open we¡¯re basically home free.


    I send the book back to Void Cache and retrieve it repeatedly as I try to sense it. It¡¯s like space but that¡¯s only 3D and I¡¯m wanting to find a fourth and maybe fifth and sixth direction. Time begins to slowly pass as I do this as fast as I can, trying to find out how to sense what is happening in that instance of me using this instinctual magic.


    Just as I begin to feel sick from all the spent energy I find it. Not just the movement of the book but also something else. A seam or maybe a rip, a poorly patched hole that goes somewhere else right around a shrine


    I stand up and walk up to it and hear Bryan ask a question. ¡°Did you figure out whatever you were trying to?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this area right here is it. This is where the music was somehow getting through. There¡¯s little holes all over to somewhere else¡± I answer.


    ¡°Then how are we going to get through?¡±


    Rather than answer I try something, not Ravnos magic but I summon the blackness that sometimes coats my claws and slash at one of the holes. As soon as I do so a loud tearing sound echoes through the chamber and a hole of glowing color in this monochromatic world shows me the chamber we stand in.


    ¡°Go, I don¡¯t know how long it¡¯ll stay open¡± I manage to grunt out as I start trembling and having a hard time focusing.


    The twins help me through the rip in between dimensions while Bryan rushes through to guard us against whatever is on the other side.


    As soon as we are through I pull out a piece of paper and write a short note to K. It vanishes as I try to send it to her before I pass out. I don¡¯t feel the ground as I hit it.


    <hr>


    Bryan


    <hr>


    I step through the portal Adrian just tore through the planes and look around the small crypt. I can feel only a single undead nearby, above us in the chapel I think. My range isn¡¯t very good but it¡¯s enough to keep them from ambushing us.


    I turn back to Adrian and the elves to see him write something on a sheet of paper before it vanishes. The hole into the shadow planes shifting unstably behind him before he collapses on the ground. His lovers immediately check his vitals before trying to pick him up.


    Trying being the key word, and as I do not notice any immediate danger I go to help them and find myself unable to pick him up.


    ¡°Why is he so heavy?¡± Lysan asks and none of us have an answer for it.


    A moment later we give on carrying Adrian and I point to two locations where they will have some cover as I say, ¡°we can¡¯t move him take some cover. Set up some long-term protection spells and we¡¯ll have to wait for him to wake up or help comes. What was on that note he teleported away?¡±


    ¡°All it said was to have Ria guide her and vampire kidnapping¡± Lysan answers.


    He sent for help then, Kythia probably. I feel the familiar shiver of an approaching undead from behind to see a shadow step out from the portal. My blade flashes silver before it forces the undead to be destroyed and I feel its remnants be absorbed into me.


    As soon as it is destroyed I put my blade¡¯s tip on the stone ground, relying on the minor enchantment that it holds to keep the blade from dulling by my action as I begin to speak the prayers and incantations for several different spells. Circles of protection as well as individual wards as I make sure to keep my attention on both of the entrances to this small crypt.


    The elves are likewise casting spells, and soon the air of our cabin is filled with the glowing lights of our ongoing spells. The elves breathe heavily as the last of their spells are cast, I can see a little bit of sweat dripping off their brows. Tendrils of shadow are beginning to stretch from the portal and I am starting to wonder if it is going to close on its own.


    What did Adrian even do to rip that open? Shouldn¡¯t it have started to close by now? I feel another larger undead begin to pull the portal wider as shadows with larger size and look more substantial begin to enter the small crypt. We did something stupid, didn¡¯t we?


    I stab my sword into a crack between two stones in the floor and cast the strongest protection I have against such creatures, Undead Ward. As the final syllable leaves my lips runes in a tongue I do not speak and pass into the ground. An image of a dragon of some sort spreads outwards and the shadows rushing at us are blown to pieces by the spreading silvery glow. As the sphere of effect lies just outside of the portal Adrian tore open all of the shadows were destroyed except for the arms of the creature trying to make the portal expand.


    I also feel the single undead on the floor above us begin to move towards where the stairs should be. I continue to hold onto my blade as it slowly drains me of the mana needed to sustain itself, all the while I internally praise how the divine magic does not cost me additional mana each time it destroys one of the shadows; even if it may not do anything to a stronger undead.


    ¡°What have we here?¡± I hear a catholic priest say sarcastically as he walks down the stairs into our view, completely ignoring the gaping portal and the monster crawling out of it.


    Golden flames appear in the elves hands as they glance at me to see what they should do.


    ¡°The shadow, a vampire can be talked to¡± I answer and they nod at me and throw the small balls at the portal.


    ¡°And what would make you think I am a vampire is this not hallowed ground?¡± the priest asks.


    ¡°You are as capable of sunbathing as this is sacred ground. Even if it once was you¡¯ve been making portals to the Shadow Planes, that isn¡¯t something that should be going on here. We are however civilized, lets deal with the portal and then we can talk.¡±


    ¡°Civility? Usually it¡¯s all ¡®die monster¡¯. Very well, but I can¡¯t close it while there is something passing through we will have to wait until it is on one side or the other¡± the priest says with a grin. He is hiding something in his intentions.

 Chapter 124

    Amethyst dragons are one of the weaker crystal dragons as far as magical abilities go. They have great curative and healing powers both for themselves and others. Their proficiency in protective magics goes only as far as self-protection and seem to have an inability to maintain an effect at a range further than touch. They also appear to have some ability in emotional effects as they are unaffected by such magic and are able to dispel such effects in others.


    <hr>


    Bryan


    <hr>


    I hold my spell as the giant creature of shadow continues to make it wider, me bearing the brunt of the assault of the denizens now pouring out of the portal. Within minutes the portal is large enough for the massive monster to crawl through the gateway.


    The vampire waits a moment before it speaks in a tongue that I do not recognize regardless of the lack of supernatural power that spells tend to have. Red mist however spills out of the vampire and forms bands around the portal barring any new creature from entering, though he does nothing else.


    Streams of golden fire are released by Talia and Lysan, the giant shadow slowly burning as it disregards my Undead Ward and strikes at the swords between us. It shatters as it¡¯s hand passes through it, shadowed claws destroying my shirt as they fail to harm me like all the other denizens of its home.


    Even though I feel drained I chant another spell, one to call forth a blade of sacred energy with which I can fight and I strike the crouched over probably ten-foot-tall humanoid. Shadowy blood spills or more accurately wafts out of the cuts I inflict and I begin to recover my energy as I draw it in.


    Each bit of damage we do to the giant the priest closes a bit more of the portal and after a few minutes both are destroyed.


    ¡°So what are we going to do now? Why are you here?¡± the priest asks.


    ¡°My friend wanted to talk with one of the vampire in this city. You can talk to him about it when he wakes up¡± I answer.


    ¡°No, you will tell me now. You barged into my domain and haven without permission. Why should I not exercise my right and kill or enslave you now?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re not stupid and are willing to talk. . .¡±


    The vampire points at one of the elves and a blood red bolt of energy is launched at her. My assesment was wrong.


    <hr>


    Kythia


    <hr>


    I sit sharpening my sword as Abagail argues with some soldier of the local Terran government. They want to know where my mate is and I refuse to talk to them. Neither the fox or me told any of the others where or what half the pack went off to do.


    I worry over my mate as he was supposed to get back here last night but he told me to stay and protect the part of the pack that is here and that is what I will do. The fox has been nervous the last few hours and has been pacing in the room we share.


    The fox then turns to the north east and smiles, freezing in her tracks before her face changes to one of worry. An unease builds in my heart and I can feel Moonlight Runner''s wish to go and hunt for our mate.


    A piece of paper, one ripped out of the easily destroyed books the Terrans use for just this purpose, appears in front of me and I grab ahold of it. It is written in my mate''s handwriting.


    Have Ria guide you to me. Vampire kidnapped us. Escaped via Shadow Plane.


    I stand up and begin a brisk walk towards the door as I speak to the fox, ¡°our mate calls for us. Conceal us from the Terrans, there is no time to waste talking to them.¡±


    The fox does not say a word but nods before casting an Invisibility over us. We can follow each other by scent and begin to rush down the halls in shared urgency. For a moment, I consider dragging my mate''s mother and Abagail but neither will be worth slowing down and having to deal with the Terrans.


    We reach the lobby of the hotel before anyone notices we are gone only to have the soldiers who started guarding the front exit bar our way and look right at us with their weird colored glass in front of their eyes.


    ¡°I am afraid we cannot let. . .¡± one of the two starts to speak before they are interrupted by a semi-lethal blow to the windpipe; just enough to bruise it and leave him struggling to breathe for a while.


    The other soldier looks shocked and I am disappointed in his training. Why are many of the Terran soldiers inadequate in dealing with battle but other better than most Althaen warriors?You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°My mate is calling me to him. If anyone touches the rest of my pack while I¡¯m gone I will destroy everything in this city¡± I threaten the soldier knowing full well my words will be passed upwards to those in charge.


    Once outside both the fox and me begin to run, our Invisibility broken by the conflict but no one stops us, the few who chased after us had Neither the endurance nor speed to keep up. Neither of us tire in the many minutes it takes us to find ourselves in front of a stone church.


    The doors were unlocked and there were a few individuals cleaning up after their younger children. They must have been worshipping and I frown as a few of them glare at the fox. Other than this however we ignore them as I follow the fox towards a set of stairs going down into the earth. A youth moves to get in our way, and I don¡¯t pay attention to what he says as I push him away from both me and the fox.


    The boy is insistent though lacks the strength to do much of anything and I knock him unconscious on the stairs away from the sight of the other Terrans. Once we reach the bottom of the stairs I see a room that makes no sense to me that becomes a small crypt. A man in strange black and white clothes that I have never seen before in melee against Bryan while the rest of the pack is unconscious. A blade in the hand of the undead is parried by Bryan before he, Bryan, looks at me before collapsing. The strangely dressed man smells wrong, undead but with somewhat fresh blood.


    The fox throws a bolt of her green fox fire at the undead while I draw my blade and already casting a spell that should end this fight before our blades even cross. I pour as much mana into a casting of Halt Undead and smile as the vampire ceases to move. As long as I continue to feed the spell the vampire is not able to do anything. The drain of my spell grows as the undead struggles to act, no doubt placing the weight of his mystical might against my spell. I nick the back of my hand and add the power of blood magic to my spell as I take steps forwards.


    If it were not that my mate wanted information from the vampires of this city I would decapitate this creature but instead I break the frame of one of the pieces of art on the wall. I need a wooden stake, and a rough one is quickly made.


    ¡°You are going to be a prisoner of ours for a bit bloodsucker¡± I say before driving the wooden splinter into the chest of the vampire.


    I release my magic as the vampire collapses to the ground, rendered immobile by the very curse that grants him unlife. The fox moves to our mate and fails to find an injury on him. Once I reach his side, I also find no physical injury and can only assume that he is unconscious for some other reason. Talia and Lysan however have nonlethal injuries inflicted by vampiric magic used to take captives, discolorations similar to bruises.


    I attempt to dispel the magic directly via Dispel Magic but achieve nothing with the small burst of antimagic. Not an enchantment or charm of any kind then, probably only damage then. I begin to cast healing spells over the discolored splotches on their skin. The injuries slowly begin to vanish albeit slowly. I notice that they have been fed on by a vampire and treat the damage done to their essence with another spell.


    I check Bryan next and he seems largely uninjured though paler then normal. Exhaustion more than injury is what incapacitated him. Makes sense Undead Hunters are immune to most methods a vampire can use to attack aside from physical power and indirect effects. He is the best suited for fighting vampires.


    Several minutes later I can hear the approach of several people, ordered footsteps at a set pace. Whoever is coming is going to be ready for a fight. I briefly consider fighting anyone who comes down here before abandoning the idea. Without my mate to disable their firearms I have no defense against the Terran''s weapons of choice.


    ¡°Conceal us, more than just basic Invisibility¡± I whisper at the fox.


    She nods and begins to layer multiple illusions. I do not know what they are but when my guess as to whom is coming down the stairs proves right the soldier looks confused.


    ¡°No visuals, radio echo is however confirmed. Establish a perimeter and defend against intruders¡± the soldier says into a black slightly deformed rectangular prism before looking in our general direction.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean any of you harm. I¡¯ve just been assigned to protect you. The city is not as secure as we have made it seem and there are those that would see you dead¡± the man says and I internally scoff.


    He then turns away and hold a position at the stairs. The fox moves over to me as she continues to maintain the illusions.


    ¡°How does he know where we are even though your illusions hold?¡± I ask in a whisper.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe they are looking at something I am not concealing?¡± she answers unsure of herself.


    Oddly enough the soldier makes no hostile actions and simply waits. I still don¡¯t trust this but they had some way of determining where we are regardless of the fox''s magic. Until that is solved this not combat passing of time is better than lashing out for the pack.


    I move back to my mate and try to see if there is anything else I can do to help him. As time passes I am able to tell that my mate is suffering from mana depletion but as to why I do not know. He doesn¡¯t use mana for anything so he shouldn¡¯t be in this condition. The dangerous point in the affliction has already passed and I attempt to move him to one of the alcoves.


    I am however unable to move him, which I find odd. He is in human form right now so he should not weigh this much but he still feels like he weighs as much as he would in dragon form.


    The elves wake first within a few moments of each other after nearly an hour had passed and I think it will soon be dawn. They glance at the soldier before looking to me. I make a gesture my mate has used as a signal for silence and they move over to me before they whisper.


    ¡°Why is the soldier there?¡±


    ¡°The Terrans tracked us here somehow and while they know we are here they don¡¯t know exactly where. They¡¯ve been looking for Adrian yesterday and seem to want to avoid battle¡± I answer in a whisper.


    Nothing to do but wait, we can¡¯t move my mate for some reason and even if we could the Terrans are tracking us somehow.

 Chapter 125

    Emerald dragons are frail and have very little combat ability aside from the latent talent all crystal dragons have in psionics. Their instinctual magics lie in the realm of emotion manipulation. They are the most amorous of the crystal dragons and are often found near other crystal dragons.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I have a terrible headache once I begin to wake up. I need to make sure to never have to do that again. With a groan I pull myself up and look around to see everyone awake, K and Ria are here but why am I in the same position as when I fell?


    There is also a soldier sitting on the stairs, waiting but doing nothing. Did the government follow K or find some way of tracking us?


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I ask softly, even if that soldier can hear me he won''t know elven.


    ¡°We couldn¡¯t move you so we stayed here to guard as you recovered from mana depletion. The vampire you were fighting is staked and waiting for you to get whatever information you need and the Terrans found us with something called a radio echo. They weren¡¯t hostile or at least haven¡¯t acted as hostiles¡± K answers. Everyone but her and Ria seem to be in a similar exhausted state as me.


    I had mana depletion? So my dragon stuff really is mana. I really need to find some entry level books to get a foundation then. Maybe have my girlfriends teach me. This is not the time to think about this though, I need to figure out how the government tracked us down.


    Radio echo? There isn¡¯t any electricity where it shouldn¡¯t be on us so how does that work? Also why didn¡¯t they follow us before? I create a burst of static along the frequency used for radios, no doubt disrupting a lot of transmissions but as I try to sense any echoes I actually find one in K''s pocket.


    ¡°What¡¯s in your pocket?¡± I ask K while pointing to the one that has whatever made the echo.


    She pulls out a sheet of plastic and passes it to me. It¡¯s the room key for our hotel. I try to find out where in the card is making the echo with another tiny burst of radio waves before pulling what seems to be a small computer chip out of the card with Translocation Grasp.


    I hold the surprisingly small object between my thumb and pointer finger and show it to the others.


    ¡°This is how they found us. I¡¯ll check our stuff for more later and remove them¡± I say before placing the chip in Void Cache.


    ¡°Are we going to sneak past the soldier?¡± Ria asks and I shake my head.


    ¡°No it¡¯ll be more trouble than anything else. We already got caught, the point of sneaking is lost.¡±


    I walk over to the priest with a piece of wood impaled in his heart and place the body in Void Cache. He is only a corpse right now so there isn¡¯t any risk.


    I nod to Ria and somehow she knows what I want and dismisses the illusions I assume she has been holding. The soldier quickly stands up and faces me before speaking.


    ¡°Sir, I apologize for tracking you down like this but I¡¯ve been ordered to make sure you are safe.


    You were also scheduled for a medical exam today. To make sure you are all healthy and . . .¡±


    I tune out the last portion of his explanation. That isn¡¯t the real reason anyways. Should I avoid it? No, I still need to be in this city for a while. I have to play their game to find what we need still. They want to know our capabilities, I''ll need to falsify them. Make them underestimate us or they might suceed when they betray us again.


    ¡°Just show us the way¡± I say before turning to the others. ¡°We should try to keep from showing our full ability. I would rather we not do this at all but there is still stuff we need to do here and it would be a problem when we go elsewhere if we don¡¯t.¡±


    They all nod as we begin to follow the soldier out of this basement museum crypt thing. We end up being driven to a hospital that is either under renovation or is still being repaired from the chaos of the first weeks. None of the soldiers say a word and I notice an oddly large number of them are not fully human in our escort. More than the other groups of soldiers I have seen. Is this a ploy? Why place us near them?


    No one bats an eye as we arrive with our armed escort, even the civilians, as we enter the hospital. Maybe this is standard procedure for new arrivals. I still have some doubts but this isn¡¯t targeting us directly. No they want to know about all the non-humans.


    My mother and Abagail join us at the door, both giving me a glare but not saying a word as we move onwards to a waiting room on the third floor. An attempt to prevent escape?


    A doctor meets us in what used to be the waiting room for a children¡¯s doctor. What is the specific name for that? Pediasomething. I check for undead and find nothing in the building as he goes over the simple tests that I remember from having a physical done in the past.


    I interrupt the doctor when he begins to explain about how blood samples will be taken, ¡°no. Blood is too dangerous for you to have.¡±


    ¡°What? It¡¯s more dangerous for you to be unaware of the issues that blood work tests will. . .¡± the doctor begins before I cut him off.


    ¡°There is only one person in our group that might still have normal human blood. Do you know what an elf''s blood should contain? How about a shade or dragon?


    What would you do when you hit some of our blood with radiation and it disappears? Or worse when some idiot decides to infect themselves with lycanthropy and goes on a murderous rampage in an attempt to become stronger?¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    The doctor doesn¡¯t respond for a moment before asking ¡°how is that even possible?¡±


    ¡°Magic is a part of our physiology so everything about us carries some of those traits.¡±


    Dam?''s books go into this subject extensively. And that is without the dangers that giving away a focus like your blood can be.


    I find myself overly bored with the rest of the physical, that is until the boring strength tests ended and I was brought to a machine that performs a full body scan. My results weren''t good but I''''m not human anymore so my scores mean nothing to me. Blood preasure is high but I''m stressed and have no reading for normal anyways.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be right, that¡¯s impossible¡± I hear the technician say.


    ¡°What is?¡± I ask but my question is ignored as he starts the machine up for a second scan.


    The results must have been the same as I hear a door slam shortly after the machine finishes. I get up and move to the now unoccupied side room with the computer that has the scan.


    What I find truly does not make any sense, not from a human anatomical standpoint. My circulatory system is disjointed yet I have blood passing through vessels that doesn¡¯t contect to anything. Ligaments and muscles that vanish into nowhere and some of my organs do the same. Truly not possible.


    The only way I can think of this Working is by a lot of spatial manipulation or passing through an additional dimension. I shouldn¡¯t leave this sitting around for anyone to find so I delete the files and get back to the patient''s side before the technician returns with the doctor who I convinced not to do any bloodwork. I should make sure everyone''s information is destroyed before we leave. I can''t let anyone have the advantage this could mean.


    ¡°There is nothing here. Have you even . . .¡± the doctor reprimands the technician.


    ¡°The machine is malfunctioning on me. We¡¯ll have to skip it¡± I interrupt and aside from another frown I and released back into the waiting room to wait for the others. As I pass leave the machine I create a small surge, just enough to fry some of it. It won''t be getting any readings, at least not accurate ones anymore.


    I feel like this is mostly a waste of time, so many other things could have been done in these hours. But I have to make them think I don''t expect them or they may be more careful. Sneakier than they already are.


    While I wait I keep going through what I need to do in town. The questions to ask my captive vampire and how to get every advantage I can against the other Ravnos.


    I need magic resistance to make it harder for them to affect us and additional power to help overcome the skill difference that must exist between us. I should also find a way to use more than one magic at a time. Another reason to look into mana effects.


    Lysan is the first one, aside from me, released. From the look on her face I do not think she enjoyed the experience.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this place¡± she says as she sits down next to me.


    ¡°You''ll never have to go through that again then. Did you learn anything though?¡± I say as I rub her back.


    ¡°I¡¯m a lot stronger than I thought and your people¡¯s machines can do a lot of stuff.¡±


    ¡°Lysan, can I ask you for something?¡±


    ¡°Anything.¡±


    ¡°I know this is going to make me sound like an idiot but I have no idea of the basics for mana based magic. I would like you and the other girls to help me.¡±


    She smiles and hugs me before responding, ¡°sure, when do we start and do you want to learn Arcane or Divine magic? I don¡¯t know how Raw, Wild or Blight work.¡±


    ¡°Arcane and you can start now if you like.¡± Now I¡¯m going to have to look into what those other kinds are, I can probably assume wild magic is frayed normal magic but I actually don¡¯t know what the others could be.


    ¡°The basis of Arcane magic is to take advantage of the energy field that is the Aether and channel its power and mana through your own. Divine magic is similar but holds an extra step of asking a deity to assist.


    The first step for all mana based magic is to identify where you store it in your body. The fastest way to find out is to recite cantrips while an emotion related to the effect you want is stimulated as you use a wand to force your mana to perform a spell. Repeating the exercise until you happen to figure it out, the safest and beat way is to meditate and mentally try to move energy around in the body.


    Once you can use mana, memorizing the gestures and incantations which will shape your mana in the correct manner.¡±


    I can see why the latter method is better. The person would actually have to understand rather than just knowing how. The shortcut probably cuts off the higher end of a mage''s potential.


    ¡°So I need to acquire conscious control of my mana, preferably through meditation.¡±


    Lysan nods, ¡°you may want to ask Kythia or Ria for help with this part. I only know an elven meditation and it takes years.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask them later then but for now I guess we will have to just wait.¡±


    She nods and Talia joins us soon after. I turn my mind inwards and feel the energy that I spend when I use my dragon abilities. This should be mana, yet as I try to force it to move it sits and does nothing. Mental pushes and pulls are not working so I just sit and stare at it as I think over what Lysan said.


    A hand touches my shoulder and my unplanned and unfruitful trance is broken. Ria is smiling at me and everyone else is standing. It¡¯s time to go then. Once we reach the hotel I pull the soldier who is in charge of escorting us aside and place the radio wave bouncing chip in his hand.


    ¡°Spying on us is illegal and a good way of damaging what little trust I still have. I don¡¯t want to have to mention this again.¡±


    The soldier frowns in confusion before I turn and ignore the apologies he recites. They sound familiar, like I¡¯ve heard them before in a press release or something.


    I follow everyone else back up to see my mother waiting in the hall in front of one of the two rooms I may be staying in. I can also hear Abagail talking rather loudly.


    ¡°You promised not to run off anymore¡± she says in her you disappointed me voice.


    ¡°I told Kythia and Ria. I gave notice like I promised, it was too dangerous for you and Abagail.¡±


    She sighs, ¡°I still worry too much to sleep when I don¡¯t know you¡¯re safe.


    And now I feel bad but I won¡¯t change my actions on that alone. I was right to leave her behind even if I did not bring enough people with me.


    I enter the open door to see all four of my girls waiting for me.


    ¡°Do you all remember the thing the dwarves wanted from me?¡± I ask to all of them as I close the door.


    Everyone but Ria nods and I continue, ¡°I want to give all four of you it but I don¡¯t think I can manage all of you at one.¡±


    ¡°Give us what?¡± Ria asks.


    ¡°Blessing of the Dragon but first I would like to talk about other things.


    I want to have you all teach me like I teach you.¡±


    ¡°Teach what?¡± Talia asks.


    ¡°I want to learn or at least try to learn mana magic and my martial skills are still far below most of you.¡±


    ¡°We have no place to spar¡± K states and that is unfortunately the case at the moment.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do tomorrow about that. For now, we can go over magical stuff.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s teaching?¡± Ria asks.


    I answer her with a question, ¡°can you make other fires than those green flames?¡±


    She nods and I continue ¡°then we''ll work on trying to copy the flames Lysan and Talia can make. I also what to see if I can figure out that green flame and see if I can teach you the fire I use to burn negative energy.¡±

 Chapter 126

    Ruby dragons are one of the physically strongest crystal dragons only bested by diamond dragons in their physical might. They are like many other crystal dragons capable of enhancing the body, specifically vitality and all that comes with it. They have two other magical affinities fire and blood. Rather than the typical combat blood magic most practitioners use the ruby dragon''s is centered around overt and covert control of flesh and blood beings.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    After almost setting the room on fire dozens of times it is approaching dusk and while I¡¯ve managed to figure out how to duplicate the three flames, Ria has had no luck. I¡¯ll have to assume it is because they are not in fact pure fire.


    ¡°It¡¯s not fair¡± Ria complains with a pout.


    ¡°No, but I guess I¡¯ll have to teach you other stuff. Like how for works so you can make new ones yourself. You could try simultaneously using your tails and combining your abilities.


    That is roughly what their golden flames are.¡±


    She smiles at that; the science shouldn¡¯t be difficult for her to understand.


    ¡°I actually think everyone can benefit. . .¡± I continue onwards to explain the basics of combustion and how you can weaponize some of the secondary effects like projectiles launched via expanding gas.


    The last of the rays of dusk leave as I finish. Now it is time to deal with a certain vampire.


    ¡°How is that going to be useful?¡± Ria asks and I guess I should answer any questions before moving on.


    ¡°Try to make a compressed fireball that uses all of it¡¯s energy up at once. It¡¯ll turn into a concussive blast and you can to physical damage to things immune to fire, it might also get around magic resistance if that doesn¡¯t block indirect magic.


    Any other questions?¡±


    None are asked so I pull one vampire priest out of Void Cache.


    ¡°Kythia can you get ready to restrain him?¡±


    She doesn¡¯t even nod but smiles as if she is going to enjoy the torment we will be putting this vampire through before killing him. The other girls move and I think they are holding themselves ready to blast him with fire should he move.


    I watch for the short few minutes it takes K to draw some runes in several locations on the vampire¡¯s body before pulling out the stake.


    The corpse bolts upright and the runes flash and hold him place for a moment before he seems to calm.


    ¡°Do you have any idea who I am? I will have you. . .¡±


    ¡°You are restrained by a powerful necromancer and surrounded by multiple people who are more than willing to incinerate you. I suggest you shut up and answer some questions¡± I interrupt.


    <hr>


    Randy Ravnos


    <hr>


    In the basement of my ¡®captor¡¯ who is now no more than a puppet, his soul trapped in his husk to keep him from informing the other Ravnos is the ritual that they plan to use my son for. It took me several days to figure out the three effects it is to take. Time manipulation, Dimensional Travel and Compulsion.


    There is no way for me to keep my son from being the target of this grand spell but there is still something I can do. I could sabotage it to fail but that would only leave three fates, they prepare and force it to happen again, Adrian dies or demons destroy and consume the world. I can however alter it, that is the only way I have to save him.


    I could change where he is sent but I will not, he can be happy there and there is none for him here. At least there won¡¯t be when he arrives in this room, I don¡¯t know how to change the compulsion but making it not work is easy enough. When a grand ritual is performed the foci determine everything even with Ravnos magic.


    I walk to the section that will govern the effects on my son¡¯s mind and do what I can to cause it to fail. I am no master of the mind and while I am sure that I have caused this part to become effectively inert but whatever remains I can only trust him to handle. I turn to the west feeling a ripple in reality, someone with more power than they are used to just teleported into the building.


    I frown as the feeling is too corrupt to be Adrian. My guess of the elders cannibalizing our sparks to supplement their dwindling power must be right then. One of them panicked at the news of my capture rather than my sons and has finally come after augmenting himself.


    I teleport myself without causing ripples to the dungeon cell of a room I have my puppet waiting in. There I kill the body but leave the soul trapped but they time they realize it will be too late for them to change anything that I have done. Another ripple and I see Geldath standing in the room.


    ¡°Rynald, so Anath did capture you and not the other way around. You used my arrival as a distraction to kill him didn¡¯t you¡± he says with some distain.


    ¡°Of course, just like you¡¯ll die if you don¡¯t pay attention¡± I taunt.


    ¡°You always were better with the mundane. Tell me do you really think that you could get away with keeping your son from me?¡±


    ¡°No, but I managed to give him time away from this. That is enough.¡±


    ¡°Fool, you give your life up to delay the fate of another?¡±


    ¡°No, I do it for my son. Like we all would have before eroding our souls in your reincarnation spell.¡±


    Geldath scoffs at my words and lights me on fire. I resist, push back at his changes in the fabric of reality but he is stronger. He says "I already know where he is" in an attempt to bring me dispair in my final moments.


    I do not scream in pain but smile as I die, everything is now in place and the outcome is set.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The vampire lies as ashes on the floor and I feel disappointed in how little he actually knew. The Duke runs an operation out of a section of the sewers.


    ¡°We can figure out what to do with this information later. Since there isn¡¯t anything else I¡¯d like to give the Blessing of the Dragon.


    Who wants to go first?¡± I ask.


    ¡°What does it do?¡± Ria asks.


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know but it gives you some of my power. I can recover what I spend over time though so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Can I?¡± asks Ria with quite a bit of enthusiasm. I nod and she jumps up to hug me.


    I return her hug before setting her down on the bed. I really hope this doesn¡¯t turn her into a reptilian, I like the way she looks now.


    I feel dragon-me get behind my consciousness and I feel his whisperings stronger as I slice into the back of my hand with a claw. I don¡¯t write or draw anything with my blood but instead smear it on her chest above her heart.


    Ria shutters for a moment but I don¡¯t see anything change in her appearance even as the energy I feel leaving me stops. Then all of a sudden, her tails colors alter slightly, the yellow gets brighter and the red tips become darker.


    I don¡¯t notice anything else until she jumps up and kisses me. I return her kiss for a moment before we separate, her tails wagging quickly in an almost hypnotic pattern.


    ¡°Latter tonight¡± I whisper in her ear with a smile.


    K moves between Ria and me as soon as there is space for her to. She looks at me and I know she has decided to be next. I feel somewhat drained but break the scab and let dragon-me guide me through this strange magic once more.


    She clenches her teeth for a moment, reacting differently than Ria did and there is no change in her appearance as the magic ends. I however get a headache at the base of my skull and feel weak. I brace myself against the headboard and K helps keep me from falling over.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± each of the girls ask at almost the same time.


    ¡°Just give me a moment¡± I answer before pulling the flask of distilled dragon''s blood.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    It tastes sweeter than normal as I can¡¯t keep myself from chugging almost half of it while somehow making sure not to spill even a drop. I crave more but as soon as I feel better I pass the flask to K.


    ¡°It helps me recover¡± I answer her question before she asks.


    After a few minutes, I feel back to how I was but my hunger for the blood is stronger.


    Neither Talia nor Lysan have any physical changes as far as appearance goes, though I had to drink the rest of the flask to sustain myself. I feel weak but the girls are stronger now and I can recover in time.


    I lay back on the bed and smile as the four of them surround me, tired and barely able to move.


    SC<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    ¡°You all don¡¯t mind being on top tonight, do you?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Already? Don¡¯t you want to do anything else before bed?¡± Talia asks as she gets real close to me ear and I smile knowing they¡¯ve already decided to do just that.


    ¡°Nope, only my looking forward to your affections is keeping me up.¡±


    The girls all smile at that, before K whispers ¡°you don¡¯t need honeyed words to get us to ride you.¡±


    ¡°You still like them.¡±


    ¡°Not as much as other things¡± she says with a slight blush, fully admitting to her desire to be dominated.


    ¡°Now¡¯s your chance to have your way with me¡± I say as she slips her hands under my shirt. The twins unbuckling my pants while Ria is running her hands through my hair.


    ¡°It¡¯s not having my way with you if others are involved.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care how you all decide to share, if you want to take turns instead it''s your choice.¡±


    They all pause for a moment before Lysan speaks, ¡°I want to try that.¡±


    The others nod with a smile over the idea of having me all to themselves for a night.


    ¡°Lets figure that out later, I think hedeserves to get all of us tonight¡± Talia says as she slips a hand into my pants, touching the slowly growing member it holds.


    ¡°That he does¡± K says as she pulls off her shirt my eyes instantly begin to follow what is revealed.


    Ria stops running her hands through my hair just long enough to help Lysan remove my shirt.


    ¡°Which one of us do you want first?¡± Ria asks as she follows the other girls in showing me her assets.


    For a moment I don¡¯t answer, Lysan and Talia are a lot of fun to watch bounce atop me but I haven¡¯t gotten much of my fox yet. Then again K is insatiable when she isn¡¯t being dominated. . .


    ¡°Ria hasn¡¯t gotten to go first yet so. . .¡±


    Talia pulls her hand out of my pants while Ria moves to take her place. I end up staring at her as she without breaking eyes contact pulls down my zipper with her teeth after unbuttoning my jeans. I feel the twins move to both sides of me and I barely notice the sounds of them undressing.


    My pants follow my zipper though Ria uses her hands for them, my soon to be fully aroused manhood catches the eyes of all of my girls even behind the fabric of my boxers. Ria takes a step back and rolls her pants off of her before tossing the inside out jeans to the floor. Her glorious curves getting some jealousy from my other girls as she sways her hips before climbing just enough into the bed to have her head at my crotch.


    The tiniest nip is felt by my instantly rock-hard cock as she bites my underwear and pulls it down without using her hands. I shift just enough to help her pull them all the way past my feet and I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll ever choose anyone else to undress me for a while.


    The smell of Ria¡¯s rapidly rising arousal hits me and I don¡¯t understand how she is as turned on as me but I stop thinking about it as her very damp slit straddles my length as she climbs atop me and leans down to kiss me. My hands instinctively move to her ass as we kiss for a few moments. I forget all about the other three girls waiting in my bed and focus on enjoying Ria while also letting her enjoy my body until we break for air.


    She winks at me and grinds against me for a few seconds before lifting herself up just enough to line my manhood up to impale her as she takes all of it at once on her way down. We both make noises of approval in how our union feels before she uses her tails to move my hands to the bed and she begins.


    Grinding herself against my hips for a moment before moving upwards until only my little head remains inside her. She then descends completely and has her tails caress me. I can¡¯t think of doing anything but watching as she enjoys herself completely with my meat pole.


    Eventually my hands move back to her hips as I play with the base of her tails. Just before I can¡¯t hold it in anymore, she slams herself down and kisses me our lips meet the very second that I erupt inside of her and she screams into my mouth as her eyes roll upwards.


    We stay like this for almost half a minute before she regains control of her legs and I stop twitching inside her.


    As she gets up and I almost pull her down to ride me again but the twins decided to ambush me with a kiss. Alternating who is speaking and who is kissing as they say, ¡°we are going to work together so make sure to enjoy us.¡±


    The two of them then move down while making sure their smooth bodies are just barely rubbing against me until they are at my waist. The feeling of their tongues cleaning the mixture of my seed and Ria''s fluids brings a twitch to it as I enjoyed their ministrations.


    Once the fluid coating has been changed to elven spit I quickly find my face straddled along with my hips. I tilt my head slightly as Lysan, if my guess based on her embarrassed blush is right, moves to fill herself with my girth.


    She moans as she slowly is stretched to house me. The outline of my entire manhood still visible unlike Ria where only the bump of my little head is when I¡¯m all the way inside. Something about this image just makes me feel so good about myself, proud that I¡¯m probably touching everything possible inside of her.


    The sisters hug, Lysan using her sister to keep herself upright as she begins to move up and down along my shaft. I use my hands to pull Talia to the right position for me to taste her. Her noises aren¡¯t as much as Lysan¡¯s but I have no problems losing to my penis. Lysan¡¯s face over her sister''s shoulders does however give me a desire to try and make Talia do the same.


    The twins breathing gets heavier and Lysan¡¯s movements quicker as she starts to clamp down around me. I can feel the pulse of her heart along my length as she can no doubt feel my own as my need to let myself go builds until I hold Talia as tightly as I can as I let out a groan into her snatch. Lysan¡¯s inner walls flush with the fluids of our releases as she herself cries out. I think I hear Ria as well but I am not sure.


    I let go of Talia and quickly catch my breath as the two twins exchange places. The taste of Lysan with my dripping seed isn¡¯t one I particularly enjoy even though I do like her taste. I glance and smile at the shifting bulge that is me as Talia begins to enthusiastically ride me.


    I focus on the nub Lysan likes me rubbing against as Talia very quickly brings herself to screaming out my name as she trembles around me. By the second time she does so I grunt into Lysan as I start filling Talia.


    The three of us fall back to the bed and the twins roll off me. Before I manage to recover I am interrupted by a rough kiss before K whispers in my ear.


    ¡°I not as good as them at riding you but I¡¯ll make sure to keep you up after their all worn out.¡±


    I smile and feel up one of her breasts and her ass as I pull her down for another kiss rather than let her get started.


    . . .


    <hr>


    I am the last to wake up in the morning which is something that hasn¡¯t happened in a long time. I even slept in but I still feel weaker than I should be. I probably over did it with giving some draconic power to all four of them at once but I don¡¯t regret it.


    ¡°Do you have plans for the day?¡± K asks.


    ¡°Aside from cleaning up first no. But I want us to work on getting stronger for a while before we go after the local vampire duke.¡±


    ¡°I got the soldier in the hall to set us up with something called a football field. He said it would be large enough for us to practice on.¡±


    I smile and let K help me up with her extended hand. That will work well though we will need to set up something to conceal what we do.


    As I shower I continue to think of how to accomplish just than. EM pulse to remove local surveillance coupled with an image of light. A sound barrier would be needed to. I can¡¯t let others know or they can use the information against me. Only my family and Bryan can be trusted.


    <hr>


    I don¡¯t make much progress with my magic over the next three days, I¡¯m too busy keeping anyone from being able to learn our capabilities. I have gotten a little better with physical combat but my skill and strength is still below K''s.


    Tomorrow night is the full moon when K will be at full strength so we plan on going vampire hunting then. Tonight, I will see what I can get out of the devil that runs my part of the Grey And see where I stand.


    But first I have ever to inform the others of my intention. The girls know but my mother and Bryan do not. I must have making a face as Bryan asks me a question.


    ¡°What are you planning¡± Bryan asks me as we walk back to the hotel.


    ¡°Another vampire hunt¡± K answers for me and I nod.


    ¡°That priest wasn¡¯t enough?¡±


    ¡°Priest? What priest?¡± my mother interrupts.


    ¡°The Catholic priest that went missing a few days ago was a vampire. That¡¯s what we were doing. I got the location of the vampire duke or head vampire for this city out of him.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± she asks and I am surprised she did not care that I just admitted to kidnapping and murdering along with implied torture.


    ¡°The duke has dealings with dad''s side of the family.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me out of this¡± she says with her hate seeping into her words.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we get the government to help?¡± Abagail asks and if they hadn¡¯t been attempting to spy on us and manipulate us I might have considered it. That and how the priest said the government recently has been contacting all the vampire dukes and elders.


    ¡°They can¡¯t be trusted. They know about him already and do nothing¡± K answers her.


    Abagail seems shocked for a moment before muttering something I do not try to catch. I don¡¯t blame them for working together, the vampires do not want to destroy us as the demons do. They are an enemy for later.


    <hr>


    Asleep in my lovers'' arms I drift to the Grey Dream''s bland realm. The male devil smirks and waves his hand. He enjoys my pain but even so I prefer him to my enemies. He is open about his wants while they scheme and backstab me.


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Gain: EP loss reduced to a negative value by Blessing of the Dragon, gain class Apprentice 0, Glaive 2 (+3 SP), hand to hand 4 (+4 SP), Claw 3 (+6 SP), Tumble 3 (+5 SP), Arcana 8 (+8 SP),</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #6e6e6e">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="312">


    Name: Adrian Ravnos


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Gender: Male


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Age: 17


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Attributes


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Class


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    SP: 96


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Traits


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Magic


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    Languages


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="156">


    EP: -392


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I frown at my current negative EP value. So much for increasing my size again. It also explains my hunger that I just can¡¯t seem to saite.


    Not enough SP to do anything either, I need it for increasing Arcane Power though I¡¯m starting to think that is not the right term for it.


    With a disappointed sigh, I leave while the devil chuckles at my misfortune of not being able to get anything out of my visit.

 Chapter 127

    Sapphire dragons are the only crystal dragon that break from the neutrality they hold as a species. While they remain isolationists sapphire dragons are known to follow the teachings of a chosen religion to extreme lengths. Their devotion giving them great skill and power in divine magic there they couple with their latent psionics and ability to command water.


    <hr>


    Kathrine


    <hr>


    I enter my room after walking to the hotel as my son tells me of his idea to storm a vampire stronghold in the city for information.


    I kneel at my bed with tears falling as I pray. Thanking God that the son not stolen from me cares so much. I know why he wants to do this. He wants to get vengeance for me even though it would be safer for us to hide.


    I as I have every day since learning what the Ravnos have done beg for their destruction and also forgiveness in my son of not being able to forgive. I ask to become capable of forgiving again but my heart is only partially there.


    I ask for success in my son¡¯s attack and the comfort I always get while praying grows stronger before I come to a close and rest.


    <hr>


    I find myself standing in front of the winged lizard I can turn into who stares at me for a moment.


    ¡°Do you want to know what we are?¡± she asks.


    ¡°A dragon?¡± I answer skeptically.


    ¡°Do you want to help our son?¡±


    I nod, assuming this is one of the schizophrenic things Adrian mentioned.


    ¡°Good, but do you know how or have the power to do so?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re here to help with¡± I state and the dragon smiles.


    ¡°Not only that but yes. I do not think you¡¯re ready to handle our power but the target of our anger deserves it.


    They have stolen our children and plague this world with their evil¡± she says, with hate and anger equal to my own filling every syllable of her last sentence.


    I touch the dragon''s snout, my snout before we both shatter into tiny fragments and reform as a single being. I¡¯ve accepted my anger and long ago mastered my pride. I don¡¯t feel much different but I smile as this dream comes to a close.


    I know just what I am.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    The day passes without incident and aside from the fit our disappearance will cause nothing should go wrong. I make sure not to use a ripple of energy to find the undead but just regular sensing as we approach a large opening that should not be in the sewer. It is here that the Duke of St. Louis holds his court and vampires come to watch blood sports.


    We reach an iron gate that quite frankly does not fit the concrete architecture of the sewer system with a stone gargoyle whose head turn to us before it speaks in a voice of rumbling stone.


    ¡°You are not welcome here. Leave before I have to kill you.¡±


    A sentient creature, unfortunately for it we won¡¯t be turning back. I take a step forward and the gargoyle lunges at me. Unfortunately for it I pull the dwarven glaive from Void Cache and set it to where the creature should impale itself.


    It¡¯s wings flap and the course changes only for the blades of K and Bryan to injure it¡¯s stony skin. I hope the minor enchantments all dwarven equipment has is enough to keep the blades from being ruined. Coagulated red blood falls from the wounds in chunks and I recognize it as vampire blood.


    The gargoyle does not react to the pain but it appears to be animate stone so it may not be able to. I adjust where I am holding the glaive to shorten my reach and use the bladed tip to slash at the carved stone chest. My blade seems to cut easier than the swords did but it is Lysan and a small mace that deals the most visible damage, smashing down on the bladed tail before dodging.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Talia tosses a burst of fire but the flames seem to do little more than leave some soot. I block a claw as I hear the grinding of stone that is no doubt a tail swipe before attempting to strike at his life force but whatever mixture it is surpasses my understanding to disrupt as I do with the undead.


    I feel it¡¯s life force get weaker as our weapon strike are reduced to creating sparks. It¡¯s skin hardening gives me an idea, I used Matter to make it easier to break my arm so why not this creature?


    I twist reality with as much force as I can and smile as K''s blade severs a limb as the stone crumbles like cheese. Still the gargoyle feels no pain as it soon dies or is it destroyed? Depends if it was ever really alive.


    The iron gate is unlocked by Abagail though I do not know how. There are no traps as we go through the short hallway as this is the main entrance. The hall opens up into a larger one decorated with artwork that I do not have the time to focus on as my attention is drawn to a man sitting in the fanciest robes I¡¯ve ever seen on an engraved chair. Over a dozen vampires are in front of him while those that I assume are their servants and guards stand along the walls.


    ¡°. . .care what the mortals claim find me . . .¡± the vampire in the chair stop suddenly turning to us. ¡°And why have you come to my court?¡± he asks.


    ¡°You are going to tell me about the Ravnos¡± I state, all of the spellcasters of our group whispering spells that will be needed if a fight breaks out.


    ¡°So, you come here to threaten me? Here in the center of my power?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to force answers from you then. Let¡¯s see if your court lasts very long.¡±


    I duplicate what I did to Mateus''s court but with as much power as I can. A wave a disruption forms and passes over those before me. A few of the youngest weakest vampires are destroyed instantly while the others show clear signs of injury. A cruel smile comes to me as twin golden fireballs explode right after, while a green one follow only an instant later.


    Bryan and my mother charge forward right behind K as they begin to take out the still living underlings of these vampires. I charge forwards and release a Radiance Breath at the second strongest vampire in the room but the few seconds of intense light are surprisingly not enough to destroy her.


    I return my glaive to Void Cache as I am not skilled enough with it to use it in the upcoming melee and replace it with my claws and tail. I large man that could have passed as a bouncer wets my claws before I reach my target, the duke has yet to take action watching in amusement instead. A mistake I hope we capitalize on.


    My opponent moves in a blur of speed, dodging my claws as she moves to flank me before weapons rise off the ground from her fallen comrades by what I am assuming is her will. I try to dodge and fail though on some reflex they vanish just before touching me to reappear nearby on a course to hit one of my foes.


    Unfortunately, none are killed by this and the vampiress abandoned the idea of giving me more ammunition. Though that is probably a benefit. I feel myself be thrown backwards by a wave of red energy released by her hand and I smirk, vampire magic. I hear my mother shout and the telekinetic force vanishes before I hit the wall.


    I throw a wave of the dark purple flames that burn the very essence of undead at the female vampire only to have her vanish in some sort of movement ability that was not a blur. She appears behind me and I only notice her just as she decided to try to feed on me.


    Unfortunately for her, her fangs meet dragon scales on my neck and she is left vulnerable. I plunge my claws into her chest with some difficulty while covering both of us in my dark purple fire. She screams and dies but not before her claws manage to pierce the scales of my arm.


    A few drops of my blood fall to the ground before my wound closes as if it was never there. The duke decides to act at this point and I barely see him move before he is standing and the ground rises up against me.


    Stone spikes, I barely dodge by jumping and then manifesting my wings to turn midair. I hear Abagail scream and notice a vampire feeding on her before Bryan appears out of their shadow. This distraction costs me my chance to dodge a bolt or red lightning from the duke.


    I scream in pain as droplets of my blood seep out between my scales and flies at the vampire who frowns so he must have thought he was going to get more than he did. My blood swirls around before turning into two spears launched back at me.


    I fail to dodge them both but manage a counterattack, my own bolt of lightning striking the vampire but was largely diverted by the material of his clothes. A blood spear pins my right leg to the ground as it freezes while the other dissipate into spilt droplets as the vampire abandons it.


    I see someone, Bryan I think, burst into dark vapor after being hit by his own opponents. Abagail screams but I can¡¯t fall apart now or we¡¯ll all die. The duke takes a few steps forward with a mocking grin before I do the only thing I can think of to end the fight right now.


    I withdraw a spear from Void Cache long enough that it is touching the duke¡¯s chest right before plunging it into his heart. I let go and he falls to the ground inert, the frozen blood spear falls apart into a puddle in seconds as I rapidly heal my injuries.


    I turn to the half dozen or so enemies left and can see the injuries of my loved ones but they are still stable. I grin as a shadow turns solid behind one of the vampires.


    Bryan albeit with less of his equipment takes a discarded weapon from the ground and immobilizes his target leaving the blade in its chest as it falls to the ground. I send out a disruption wave but it does nothing, apparently those still standing are not undead.


    They are scared now and while we give no quarter it does take some time for us to finish the last of them off without risking further injury. At least that is what everyone else does as I start healing those no longer participating. I suppose I could have pulled out a gun but bullets bounce.


    As soon as the last for falls cut down by Talia, I drop my dad¡¯s journal in the pooling blood. I¡¯ve been forgetting to do this and I need to know.

 Chapter 128

    Jade dragons are rare and that was before many were recruited to fight against demons or slain so those who know how to use a strange magic that captures demonic taint and destroys it. While the home of a Jade dragon cannot hold against the full might of the demons, anything short of an army will never reach the dragon itself. Now they are more reclusive than other crystal dragons or may have become extinct. Regular Jade can be used for the same magic but does not work as well as those the dragons grew and treated. Ironically it was the dragons themselves who taught other the magic they were hunted down for.


    <hr>


    Adrian


    <hr>


    I leave the journal to seep in the spilt blood while we begin to gather anything that can be of use. I make sure to strip our vampire captives of their equipment before placing them in Void Cache as well.


    After a few minutes, I am pulled to another room by Ria to see dozens of cages with goblins and orcs inside. Set up as a blood farm like the one I saw in Kansas City. On a worn but relatively nice table is a book.


    Ria passes me it and I skin the contents. Beginning research notes on goblin metabolism and why they are able to grow larger than the volume of what they as a group consume. Interesting stuff, I wonder how these results are right but this isn¡¯t time for that.


    I flip to the front to see a ledger and a single name on the outgoing shipments jumps out to me, Anath Ravnos. Meteus told me the truth, this vampire has dealings with Ravnos. I should be able to get information out of him. I already have an address here but just knowing stuff was being moved to this address won¡¯t be enough.


    I go to the more recent activities to see logs of meetings with the US government and more shipments to Anath, a lot more. There aren¡¯t any notes on the meetings but if there was more than one they¡¯ve recently started colluding and that means I can¡¯t let the government know where I am anymore.


    This vampire has deals with both, the Ravnos were looking for me. That¡¯s why dad isn¡¯t with us anymore. The government has been trying to keep tabs on me. Are they also working together? I can¡¯t risk it. I can¡¯t let the government know anything anymore.


    Anath will learn soon enough that I went after the vampires here if I return. Then he won¡¯t be surprised when we attack him. I need new plans, faster plans. I can¡¯t sit on this information for long or it will become a trap.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ria asks me, worried. I think she can feel me over the bond she made.


    ¡°Yes, thank you. We are just going to not get much rest for a while¡± I answer her as I pull her into a hug.


    She smiles and licks my cheek, I repeat the action even though I would rather kiss her. It¡¯s some display of affection for her.


    ¡°Let me know if you find anything else.¡±


    I return to the main hall, the journal is probably soaked enough for whatever reason my dad wanted me to do this. When I pick it back up it opens on its own revealing a message in his hand.


    When the others take everything from you before using you in a ritual, remember to resist. I¡¯ve altered what their spell will do. You may lose yourself for a time but it is all I can do for you. I love you son, please find happiness when this is all over.


    I stare at the page confused but somehow I know this is the last thing I¡¯ll ever hear from my father. Advice I carve into my mind even as the book that holds it ignites in scarlett flame. A few tears fall before I join the others in gathering everything we can possibly use.


    <hr>


    I look in my vampire victim''s eyes for one last time before burning him. Neither of the two would say much of anything and we don¡¯t know any magic that could compel them.


    ¡°At least we learned Anath will be alone¡± Bryan states, apparently vampires don¡¯t count any more than a demon in his patron''s eyes.


    ¡°It is better than nothing¡± K says trying to cheer me up. She enjoyed watching the two vampires suffer but no one else did. Well Ria liked knowing they were in pain but not watching.


    ¡°We also need to worry about the US working with him though¡± I mention.


    ¡°You found something?¡±


    ¡°Ria did, the duke had dealings with both our government and the Ravnos. Althaen too for a while but that¡¯s not what matters, the chance that they are talking can¡¯t be risked.¡±


    ¡°If so why haven¡¯t they just captured us?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°They want to do some ritual and use me in it, it must not be ready yet.¡±


    ¡°Then we must destroy it¡± K says.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    I nod, we are in agreement. The twins and Ria will agree and so will my mom.


    ¡°Let¡¯s continue on I have an address to where a lot of expensive things were be shipped to.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll let the others know¡± K says before leaving.


    Bryan looks down for a moment, ¡°I¡¯m worried about Abagail. She almost died today and I don¡¯t think she can handle a fight like we will probably have.¡±


    ¡°If you need to leave to protect her go. I¡¯m your friend but she¡¯s basically your wife.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re my friend and you need me. Also don¡¯t tell Abagail this but when I burst into darkness, that was me dying. That vampire cut my heart, so my lichdom is a success.¡±


    I just look at my friend for a moment, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ll leave Abagail behind but you have to convince her.¡±


    He sighs at that but says, ¡°thank you.¡±


    When the two of us get back to the main hall everyone else is there waiting for us. Bryan pulls Abagail aside and they begin whispering to each other before she begins to very quietly but viciously scold him. I guess she isn¡¯t agreeing to not risk her life.


    Lysan walks up to me and pulls a book from the magic satchel and says, ¡°there are a few bookshelves worth. I want you to have them, I can¡¯t read the language.¡±


    I smile, I can sort of understand the title. It¡¯s Latin but I have my mother¡¯s books of I ever need to translate it. I¡¯m sure there is at least one translation guide in the small mountain of books sitting in Void Cache even if she doesn¡¯t have one.


    No one says anything as Bryan with his head down follows Abagail back to us and my mother pulls out a map of the sewer system and the city itself.


    ¡°Where¡± is the only word she says and I answer with the address for Anath''s property.


    After a short search on the map she begins to guide us through the tunnels. It takes us a few hours to get to the nearest exit and Lysan and me spent the time skimming over the titles of the books as she passes them to me.


    Once outside and covered by what illusions we can manage, we quickly find ourselves in front of a large and spacious albeit old house. I¡¯m starting to think everyone I end up fighting against prefers older architecture. I don¡¯t use any of my magics to detect if anyone here but Ria does.


    She holds up 3 fingers, we have a numerical advantage then. Hopefully that will be enough. It¡¯s more likely to if we manage to remain undetected so we continue past a rather creaky gate and are most of the way to the front door before I notice someone else playing with the fabric of reality.


    It took me a moment and that moment cost most of us our opportunity to get a cheap shot in. Several men and women I¡¯ve only seen in family photos teleported in. It was all a trap.


    I throw a bolt of lightning at the nearest but it was already too late, my attack is blocked but I smile that it took more than one to block it but that feeling does not last long.


    Blasts of energy hit us along with bullets out of firearms from those Ravnos that felt really weak to me. Abagail lasts only a moment before a bullet passes through her head even as I try to suppress the ability for the weapons to fire. Their collective might is too much for me to overcome.


    Bryan goes berserk teleporting through shadows as he butchers the man who shot Abagail. Too much is happening at once for me to keep track of, K takes several bullets as she shifts into her hybrid form to maul another. I can¡¯t see the twins, Ria or my mother from where I am and can only hope they survive.


    I manifest my claws and release a Radiance Breath at the strongest of the Ravnos here, it catches him by surprise as it wasn¡¯t a power they were expecting. That man dies and I reach another and claw my way through his face before someone stops me with a strike to my ribs with either telekinetic force or compressed air.


    My Ravnos magic is still suppressed but I manage to heal myself enough that breathing doesn¡¯t hurt much and charge at my nearest enemy. The faint ball of emotion in the back of my mind goes faint and I turn my head to see Ria knocked down to the ground and shot while only the chaos of melee is keeping the twins from suffering the same.


    My mother shifts into her dragon form the superior size allowing her to kills several as once before she dies via bullets through her eyes, their magic apparently ineffective against her. I roar in rage and their attacks pass through me or around me in some trick of void magic as I rip one of my uncle¡¯s in half. Flickerings of darkness alert me to Bryan exploding in shadows as he dies and revives again just outside my sight.


    Just after more people teleport in K stops moving and the twins collapse, most of the Ravnos had died but now there are six more before me. One if them is my grandfather who smirks and covers Bryan in a sphere of light before he is shot. This time my friend does not reappear out of the shadows and I fall to my knees as the full force of these six''s ability to bend reality to their will is slammed down on my own.


    I can¡¯t move, each of them are as strong or stronger than me. All I can do is glare in hate as tears for my dead and dying family and friends fall. I shouldn''t have lead everyone into this, they are now all dead because of me. I promised myself not to allow anyone else I cared about to die but ruined it by my choices. . .


    ¡°He us much stronger than expected, was this really worth it Geldath¡± asks a man I don¡¯t recognize towards my grandfather.


    ¡°Of course, when the ritual is done none of this will have happened. We can¡¯t afford to do anything less now¡± my grandfather answers.


    ¡°Only because you had us spend most of the family''s lives capturing him. Let¡¯s just get this over with, I¡¯m missing my shows for this¡± interrupts my aunt.


    Geldath nods before walking towards the mansion, the others follow him while I am dragged by whatever bonds are holding me.


    I don¡¯t pay attention to the furnishings of the building as I am effectively dragged to the basement. Despair, sadness and rage swirl in my mind before I am brought to the center of a large set of runic circles.


    The last words from my father run through my mind for an instant but they are still confusing. How can I be happy with all those I care about dead?


    My bonds disappear as they are replaced by those this place puts on me. I push against them to the amusement of my captors but the last words of my father and my nature demand I resist.


    The pressure I feel grows and turns to stabbing pain before Iscream out as something strikes at my mind and I hear shattering glass as everything goes dark.


    I find myself in the comforting emptiness of the void as I am slowly moving in some direction.


    Why do I feel sad? Am I missing something?


    No answer comes to mind as I continue to drift for what feels like both a moment and also forever. Then all of a sudden, I can see once more, I am lying in a forest. Birds are chirping and I see a setting sun from the base of the tree where I lie. I feel tired and fall asleep.

 Chapter 129 Epiloge

    Diamond dragons are the physically most powerful of the crystal dragons and use this to their advantage in their aggressive fighting style of rushing opponents while blasting others with their psionics and other magical capabilities. They have powers similar to the other crystal dragons that have similar coloration to them. A black diamond dragon for example will likely have the powers of an onyx dragon among a few others.


    <hr>


    Me-but-not-me


    <hr>


    I walk through the halls of my host¡¯s mind. The mirrors where I would watch his memories are broken, almost all of them anyways. I pick up one of the fragments and place it back where it should be. This mirror was a good memory.


    I sigh at how much time this is going to take, even just to bring him back to being functional. At least we are drifting through the void rather than somewhere threatening. I could leave but even if there were other hosts available they would not be as good as mine. Unlike all my previous he has the potential to actually reach my goal.


    Time passes but it means little to me until I realize the direction it is passing in, backwards. So those who have enslaved my kind are sending us back in time to another world. There is now even less reason for me to leave my host. The period of greatest growth is youth, he gets to go through it twice since the idiots didn¡¯t fully shield this body from the timestream.


    Even more potential, I smile and continue to work. Knowledge and the basic parts of who he is come first. I probably won¡¯t have him fully back to normal by the time we reach our destination but that can also be a benefit to him.


    Eventually the timestream begins to slow and turn to its normal path, we are when they wanted us to be.


    ¡°What is this?¡± I hear through the ears of my still sleeping host.


    ¡°Some idiot probably botched their summoning ritual again¡± another voice answers, this one female.


    I recognize the energy that they are emitting. Like my kind they cannot withstand the void physically and have to expend energy but they are not as I. I manifest some of the power I have grown over the years within my host and take a form similar to these beings near this body.


    The same form that I show to my host in his dreams and when we talk takes shape next to my host and turns to the two who have stumbled upon my host.


    ¡°Not quite¡± I say interrupting a sentence I did not bother to hear.


    ¡°What is one of your kind doing here?¡± the male entity asks I his black wolf skin coat.


    ¡°What we are always doing. Existing within a mortal and giving that mortal our power.¡±


    ¡°If your host is that boy he¡¯s dead and you should find another.¡±


    ¡°He is still very much alive and even if there was another host available I would not change.¡±


    ¡°So, Terra is no longer the domain of your kind?¡±


    ¡°Idiot mortals did a stupid thing to try to be immortal and ruined it for my kind, so no.¡±


    ¡°How did you even manage to get out of the barrier that was set up?¡± the woman interjects, her dress moving ever so slight to catch the eyes of any who would appreciate her form.


    ¡°The same idiots trying to be immortal had to break it to send us away¡± I answer.


    ¡°Really, it seems like all problems are caused by such actions. Care to know what our idiot mortals have done?¡± the man asks.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to ask because I already know. They have torn open portals to the Abyss and hired demons to consume your world.¡±


    ¡°How can you know this?¡±


    ¡°Knowledge from the future, your current plans of using the devils is going to go poorly.¡±


    ¡°And why would you tell us this? I do not doubt that you can have this knowledge but wouldn¡¯t the cost of acting like this destroy your host?¡±


    ¡°Not if we are not responsible for how we have this knowledge at this point in time. Call the rest of your pantheon as well as the others if you can.¡±


    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± the female asks and the male vanishes in a flash of power.


    ¡°Because it is in the best interests of my host. Most of those he cares for are from your world.¡±


    She woman nods, ¡°girls?¡± she asks with far more interest than she has earlier shown. One of her domains must be associated with relationships.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you some of it¡± I say as I extend a finger to her body and share a few memories of his love and care for the small harem he managed to amass.


    She smiles, ¡°I do not recognize any of them. Is this an event from the future?¡±


    I nod and the wolf skin clad man returns with several others. He defers to another male who is dressed in robes with a caring but stern face under the beard. This man addresses me, asking the question I had hoped he would open with.


    ¡°How do you know these things you have told the Black Wolf?¡±


    That must be the title of the wolf skin clad man. I pause for a moment making it seem that I am taking care about which words to say.


    ¡°Because your current course of actions results in most of you fading. Terra suffered for it and the mortals with the souls of my kind decided to send my host to you now under compulsion to destroy everything. That compulsion did not happen and my host would have let you know what your current path would bring, since he is currently indisposed I am acting on his behalf.¡±


    I share the memory fragment of one of the first conversations he had with the trio as well as a few more to let them see the state of Althr¨¢ at his time in what is not the future. While they are still recovering from the shock of what their current fate is I continue.


    ¡°I also have a solution but for it you will have to make a sacrifice in the short term. Help me form an avatar to do as you were planning to have the devil do.¡±


    ¡°Form an avatar? You want us to create a new deity, there isn¡¯t enough faith to go around as it is¡± the leader of their group nearly shouts.


    ¡°So, you turn to devils who will twist and subvert what faith your followers still have in you. You will be corrupted faster and further than you already are as your people become what I have shown you. But following this plan with a better set up than the devils would have given would let you increase the fervor of your follows over time. Rather than cutting cost you must invest, that is why you grant miracles to and through your clergy. Do the same with this, you can turn this method into a way of generating the energy needed to do so.¡±


    ¡°She is right¡± some of the less powerful beings say as they whisper and discuss amongst themselves.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the energy to do such a thing¡± the head of the human pantheon counters.


    ¡°But I do, I also have the knowledge of what such a thing should be. I only need your help in making the bridge¡± I interrupt him before he goes further.


    ¡°A mortal might have inexhaustible power when bonded with you but acting on your own you don¡¯t have this much power¡± an older more intelligent member of this gathering says.


    ¡°Like I said, a bridge¡± I point towards my host and continue, ¡°take a part of him and use it as the medium.¡±


    ¡°You want us to damage him?¡±


    ¡°He will recover and I already know a way to more than erase it. The avatar will make sure of that among other things. A price I add to our deal.¡±


    Many of them frown but they know this is the path where they can continue to remain themselves. Where they can increase their ability to mold those who sustain them.


    ¡°What other things?¡± the head of the human pantheon asks.


    ¡°Ensuring my host a life where he will be happy and come to fulfil my only wish. I care not for other things.¡±


    He nods, ¡°who is in favor of this?¡± he asks calling his fellow to vote.


    Each gives their approval and I am granted their access to the raw essence of reality to do this. As what I take from him will be erased from him, I take memories of little value; pieces that my instructions to the avatar will see replaced in time. What I form the avatar with does not matter, not when neither of us are paying the true cost of this action. None of them will have ever done this before so the higher than normal cost will go undetected.


    Just before my work is complete I take a shard of myself and add it to the avatar. A body forms of a young man similar in appearance to my host and he will perform his function. Weakened I return to my host and the shattered halls of his memories to piece them together while he waits to enter a world which will be different than the one he read of.


    I reassemble almost everyone but some I do not hang back on the walls. It is better for him to heal before remembering all of his past even with most of it sacrificed to form an avatar. When the time comes for my host to reenter the world I nudge him through an opening formed by the avatar. We will be in a time and place where he can recover that which he cares about.

 Announcement

    Twisted Fate is up at the link below.


    https://royalroadl.com/fiction/15743/twisted-fate


    The rewrite of Twisting Fate will be up and started in the next few days and I''ll put another announcement here for it. Releases may be a little slow until the second week of January. I''ll be alternating between the two a few chapters at a time.


    Happy Holidays.


    Below is a preview of the rewrite:


    The world where we live is just one of many, the full number of worlds that exist is not known at least to mortals. Some of these other worlds are physical as are our own but there are also places of forces and ideas where the physical body does not matter. Some are peaceful others wish nothing more to consume our world to strengthen theirs. ¨C A passage from Introduction to the Planes, by Roldolf Grunsier


    -


    Adrian


    -


    I close my book as the bell rings signaling the end of class. Unlike the other students who take a minute to pack up their books and the homework we we¡¯re working on I simply grab my book bag and sling it over my shoulder. I finished early, every single one of the questions was just regurgitating the reading and it doesn¡¯t take that long to write down details you remember.


    The hallways are beginning to fill but I manage to get a good thirty maybe forty second head start on the lunch line so that¡¯ll give me plenty of choices for a table, not that I''ll be taking a different table than the one I usually do. Today is Monday so I grab a tray of nachos, a side of fries and the chocolate skim milk since the administration decided that whole milk has too many calories and makes kids fat.


    The lunch lady says nothing as I pass my ID badge under the scanner. Some money is deducted from my account and I continue on to take my seat at a table next to the door for the court yard.


    I could have gone outside but the doors are locked this week as punishment for the idiots that decided to start a fight over who gets one of the two tables last week. Instead I get to sit at one made of plywood and laminate.


    Tomas is the next to arrive, as he skips the line all together by bringing his lunch. Something I¡¯m considering more and more since what I consider better choices on the menu have been eliminated this year.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t get how you manage to arrive before me every day¡± Tomas says as he sits down and unzips his blue lunch box.


    I turn to my short spectacled friend, ¡°long legs and dodging the crowds. My secret hasn¡¯t changed.¡±


    I take a bite of the nachos and the cheap unhealthy synthetic cheese that covers them as I notice Bryan standing in line on the other side of the room.


    ¡°Did you finish the book yet then?¡± Tomas asks as he rolls his eyes to my answer for the question he asks about once a week.


    ¡°Yeah, family car trips have a lot of down time¡± I answer as I pull out the book I borrowed from him, one of three books in my book bag not related to school work.


    He puts it in his own backpack before unwrapping a sandwich. I end up finishing about half of my nachos and dump my fries in the pooling cheese and now soggy chips and pick up the provided spork.


    ¡°How did the game go?¡± I ask knowing I missed our weekly session.


    ¡°Poorly but it was just a one-shot dungeon crawl to be something to do. Your character just spent the time reading through the spell book you stole last week.¡±


    ¡°Sounds about right. Any deaths?¡±


    ¡°No but after paying for temple services it ended up a net loss.¡±


    Bryan sets his tray down as I scoop the last of the remnants of my nachos up for consumption. This meal just isn¡¯t as filling without the whole milk. I¡¯m still hungry but it¡¯s manageable, maybe it¡¯s really a scheme to get us to buy more of the add on items.


    ¡°Catching him up on the misadventure he missed?¡± Bryan says as he begins to eat.


    ¡°Yeah, but it is expected when the party doesn¡¯t have its rouge or caster¡± Tomas answers.


    ¡°That¡¯s the risks of gestalt characters, smaller parties but each character is more important¡± I comment.


    ¡°So how was your family trip over the break?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°Grandpa had me help him out with his puzzles again¡± I lie as I always have to. I can¡¯t go out and say he made me practice magic for three days straight.


    ¡°That sucks¡± Tomas comments.


    ¡°Not too much, I did get to listen to more of his stories¡± I say as my pocket buzzes.


    I pull out my cellphone, I usually don¡¯t get messages during school or very often at all actually. I flip the old piece of junk open to see that it¡¯s my grandfather.


    ¡°Something interesting?¡± Tomas asks in his curiosity.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know I have to read it first.¡±


    Adrian, something terrible is about to happen. Try to get to you younger brothers they¡¯ll keep you safe. I¡¯ve placed some weapons on the desk if you need them.


    I¡¯m not sure what to think about this. Grandpa wouldn¡¯t send me anything unless it was important and had to do with magic. I still feel a little irked that he is telling me to run off to be protected by my little brothers. I¡¯m the oldest, I¡¯m the one that is supposed to be reliable if anything goes wrong. I still don¡¯t understand how they are so much better than me at magic, I am doing very well except for the Spatial Sphere.


    ¡°It¡¯s my grandpa, more of his usual cryptic messages¡± I answer in a half truth.


    ¡°Need any help?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve heard this riddle before. Anyways, whose house will game night be Friday?¡±


    ¡°My mom is on her clean up all the sin in her house again. My books are safe under a pile of old bibles but unless you want to be called to repentance for playing a demon¡¯s game. . .¡±


    ¡°You mother is crazy, nice old lady but crazy. I¡¯ll host¡± Tomas interjects as Bryan trails off.


    Mrs. Grace is nice but she gets overzealous a bit too easily. In a week or two it¡¯ll be over but until then I don¡¯t want to risk her ¡®accidently¡¯ spilling coffee or otherwise ruining any of our gaming supplies.


    The bell rings but something else draws my attention. A flash of off colored lighting and a crack of thunder even though there is hardly a cloud in the sky. The combined chaos of hundreds of teenagers all talking at once goes silent for a moment before it begins anew, louder than before. A few seconds pass as I pick up my book bag and dump the tray in the nearest trash can.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Tomas asks pointing at the court yard.


    I turn and immediately frown, an unnatural purplish fog is building up before another crack of thunder. A starved midget walks out in tattered leather holding what looks like a malformed axe. There are screams as the creature charges at us in feral hunger as he slams into the glass door, cracking it but the malnourished creature does not seem to have the weight to break through all at once.


    ¡°Is that real?¡± Bryan asks pointing at the creature as more begin to step out of the fog, soon they begin to join their forerunner in attacking the glass.


    ¡°Yes, we need to get out of here now¡± I say while sticking a hand into my book bag.


    Space bends to my will as I grab an object not in my bag, a loaded pistol from a desk in my grandfather¡¯s basement in Colorado. I can¡¯t do this in front of others since others questioning magic makes it unstable but if they don¡¯t notice or accept it there are no problems but magic is not known to many.


    I let go and drop it into my bag before doing the same again. I am going to need every advantage I can get if this is going to continue on the direction.


    ¡°Get back¡± yells the security guard as he draws his gun, the older former soldier getting ready to cover the students as they retreat.


    ¡°Move towards the language hallway¡± I tell Bryan and Tomas.


    ¡°No external windows, better defenses, right?¡± Bryan asks but neither Tomas or me answer him.


    The midgets break through the glass and begin to charge the nearest person, shouting in their strange tongue and in a strange calmness he begins to clear his magazine. None of us stay to see what become of the man though as the numbers of enemies swell his bullets no doubt become scarce.


    I can hear other windows breaking as we three move swiftly through the halls. A smell of filth and something else I do not find familiar. Screams of pain and panic echo through the halls, before we reach the halls I had hoped to be able to defend ourselves in a few of the midgets enter the hallway. Covered in blood and less famished than the few I saw while fleeing from the cafeteria.


    The creatures begin to charge at us and I pull one of the two pistols from my book bag and fire at the nearest of them. Bryan and Tomas jump back and I hear a ¡°shit¡± though I¡¯m not sure from which one of them.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.The little monster gets a hole in its chest while the next nearest screams in fear for a moment before it runs at me. I fire again barely managing to before the creature reached me in these close quarters.


    ¡°Where did you get that?¡± Bryan asks.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the time to ask questions¡± I say while passing that gun to him.


    My heartbeat begins to slow back down with the immediate danger having passed. I begin to move faster than before but do not break into a run. Panic will get me killed, I can¡¯t give in the building fear. Being scared get you killed, I take a deep breath as I pull out the other pistol as I continue towards the inner halls of the language department.


    ¡°Can I get one?¡± Tomas asks.


    ¡°I only have two and Bryan is a better shot than you¡± I answer while ignoring the sounds of loud chewing from the windowed rooms.


    We turn the corner to the hallway, there are only two ways in and out and none of the rooms have windows. The easily defended hall already has a barricade made of desks, at least some one is thinking of how to protect ourselves.


    We approach the barricade and I motion Bryan to conceal the gun I passed him as I place mine back in my bag. I should not need it against the other students and teachers but it will cause a problem if they see the weapons. I should not have them, and I am sure someone will throw a fit if they are seen.


    ¡°Let them through¡± a female voice I recognize shouts out.


    No one moves to do anything as we climb over the overturned desks and chairs. Once over Abagail runs up to Bryan and asks how he is. I tune out that conversation as Tomas begins a different conversation with me.


    ¡°What are those things?¡±


    ¡°Something that should not be here. Small, violent but otherwise we do not know enough to know just what they are¡± I answer.


    ¡°They look almost like goblins, ugly midgets with elongated ears and pointed teeth. They have crude weapons too.¡±


    ¡°Goblins don¡¯t exist though. None of this should be happening.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but they¡¯re here and not all of us can be hallucinating the same thing at once.¡±


    ¡°Something is still wrong.¡±


    Tomas shrugs and our conversation is ended by the shrieks and yells of the probably goblins. I turn to the barricade closest to me, a few of the athletes have some sports equipment and Mr. Gibbons are standing at the ready to meet them.


    I look past them towards the dozen or so onrushing creatures there are several with differing equipment, a few of them have bows rather than axes, clubs or rusted blades. A single goblin is in cloth rather than the leather and occasional scraps of chain. The clothed goblin seems to be leading as he speaks to the others who cease their charge.


    Should I shoot him? Killing the leader will raise my chances of survival. Unfortunately, I do not have a clear shot. I could hit some of the archers, is that worth the risk of exposing myself?


    A flame forms before the clothed goblin and I find myself smiling. So, he is a caster like me but he just did something really stupid. Doing something this obvious is the very thing you should never do.


    The fire hits the line of desks and not all of the students manage to take cover before it hits. A few people scream as they are rapidly burned alive. I run to the left to take cover after a stray arrow passes through the flames. Bryan, Tomas and Abagail being closer to the other side of the hall head in that direction.


    Both Bryan and me draw our pistols and I take aim at whatever comes next. The flames quickly die and while some smoke remains I can see the goblins on the other side. While I don¡¯t have a clear sight of any of the goblins I can tell that they are charging.


    A gunshot rings out as the first form passes through the smoke, as there are only three firearms on campus it is Bryan who shot it. He doesn¡¯t have enough to deal with all of them though, I take aim at the next creature to break the smoke.


    It collapses and I can hear people behind me panicking, I empty the magazine before ducking into the room. I glance at Bryan to see that he has done the same, retreating into the room for its better defensive position. Some of our shots miss and the pistol I¡¯ve loaned Bryan is now empty but there is nothing I can do about that right now.


    I close the door behind me and glace over the room, I¡¯m the only person here. A lucky coincidence for me. Space bends once more to my will as I retrieve a small box of 9mm ammunition. I load the magazine as quickly as I can, pinching my finger in the process.


    Something hits the door, an attempt to open it but the door opens outwards not inwards. I glance out the window, there are two goblins hitting the door with their dull axes. I notice two archers by the side of the clothed goblin in the hall and my thoughts stop.


    How is this possible? He did something impossible in front of so many. That should have killed him, reality should have punished and killed him for what he did. Dozens of people watched him do an impossibility, how does he still live? At least why is the little monster uninjured?


    I don¡¯t have a very clear shot but when those goblins do manage to break down the door my chances will be lower. I take aim but the two archers I can see are in the way, I take a breath. If I can take them out fast enough I¡¯ll have a clear shot at that mage. I can¡¯t leave him around, no one else here will be able to deal with him as I can.


    My first two shots fly true but the clothed goblin is out of my sight before I can get a chance at him. The goblins at the door however have managed to break most of their way through the door, it will only old for a few more strikes. I can however hear something with a cadence, though neither the language or the words themselves make sense to my mind.


    I quickly move back from the door and get ready to get a pot shot at the two as they breach the door. I flip a desk to use as cover from any archers should there be more. The door breaks and I now have five of the nine bullets left in the magazine and the two goblins die in the doorway.


    Two more goblins pour through the door, wearing scraps of chain and they seem slightly taller than the previous two. The first dies quickly enough to a bullet as it passes through the doorway but the second gets out of my line of fire before I get a clean shot.


    He does however reveal to me the clothed goblin however it is surrounded by small golden specs of light. I quickly pull the trigger, I don¡¯t need a lethal shot if he is in pain he shouldn¡¯t be able to concentrate enough to do any more magic. My first shot does nothing as the golden specs flash and the projectile does nothing. Another impossibility, how is he getting away with this? Even if I don¡¯t think such things as impossible those lights would have been seen before entering this room.


    I fire a second time and receive no more than what I think is a laugh from the goblin. I¡¯ve only two shots left and am trapped in melee with the first goblin. His dull blade, barely more than a club strikes my arm and I am thankful for tetanus shot and a goblin¡¯s weak physical strength as that is what keeps the wound from being too bad but I¡¯m going to need to bandage it. I let loose a yell in pain but I don¡¯t feel as much pain as I should, shock or an adrenaline rush.


    I find myself holding the pistol with only my right arm and let the last two shots out into the goblin in the hopes to kill him. The goblin drops his sword and falls to the ground but my time spent on dealing with him keeps me from doing anything with the clothed goblin. That goblin utters the last syllable of another spell and a stream if fire spreads from his hand towards me.


    I duck behind the desk, glad that I have some cover. The magic goblin continues to hold his blast of fire and I maintain my cover. His magic mages no sense, he shouldn¡¯t be able to ignore reality''s retaliation like this.


    He should have been destroyed or at least hurt by a backlash by now. I need to take him out myself and the gun won¡¯t work against that shield of glowing specs. Another thing I can¡¯t understand, how is he using two spells at once?


    I need a non-physical attack. I could try fire, there is enough for me to try to hijack control of it but I don¡¯t know if I can actually steal fire from this thing''s magic. Not any electrical wires close enough either, this is dumb but I can only hope the explosion works.


    I toss the partial box of ammunition from my book bag at the goblin. He shifts his fire to try to burn my attack but all that does is cause an explosion. My ears are set ringing but the goblin''s fire has stopped.


    I rush from my cover and tackle the creature, passing right through his shield of glowing lights I am wrestling a dagger from him using my size and strength as it panics. I stab just under its left breast; a spray of blood tells me my guess is right and the goblin quickly dies over the next few seconds.

 Announcement

    The rewrite is up.


    https://royalroadl.com/fiction/15763


    Below is just to fill the character requirements.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


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