The Wultr ran for the rest of the day. It was a relief not having to speak with anyone for a while as I got my thoughts in order.

After I worked through my idiocy of bonding Sania, I mourned the loss of opportunity to allocate 110 stat points.

The flip side was that I most likely wouldn’t have to wait long before I next leveled at my current rate of progress.

While I wanted to talk about it with the others, I still ran through how best to use the points and the possible combinations that would best suit me.

The biggest question was how many point should I put into Internal Connection. If I put them all in, would I beat the curse easily? Could I free Sania? It was frustrating not knowing when a mistake now could be so costly.

I was jolted from my thoughts when the Wultr came to a halt. I felt anxious as we dismounted, wondering how the following conversations would go.

Of the Wultr, only Sania changed into her humanoid form to speak with us briefly.

“Your party should prepare the evening fire and make the area as comfortable as you can for yourselves. We will go and hunt for food.”

“Sounds sensible,” was all I could come up. I thought we would be getting straight into a conversational merry-go-round with me explaining myself again and again. And the Wultr growling at me. Sania simply nodded, before morphing back into her wolf form disappearing into the woods. The rest of the pack followed silently.

I turned to my companions and shrugged. “Let’s set up a camp then. Anyone any good with this sort of thing?”

“We will make camp,” Remus said. “Go quicker if we’re not explaining everything. Watch and learn, though.”

I nodded gratitude. “Thank you, Remus. I’ve done a bit of camping on a campsite, but nothing like this. I know we need firewood and something to start a fire with.”

Remus chuckled and approached a nearby tree. Putting his hand on the trunk, the air was suddenly filled with cracking, breaking noises. Dead wood began raining down from above him. The tree remained standing looking unharmed.

George immediately began collecting it from the floor. Remus moved on to the next tree and repeated the motion, with Tracy collecting this time. They quickly did five nearby trees and a pile of branches ranging in size was quickly formed, followed by a smaller pile set up efficiently by Tracy for the actual fire.

Once she was done, Remus pointed at it with a single finger. A small green bolt of energy shot out and hit the pile, causing it to burst into flames. The whole process took less than ten minutes.

Elsbeth clapped enthusiastically. “Perfect camping partners!”

As ridiculous as it looked, Remus, Tracy and George all took a bow, then got to work on clearing a sleeping area.

“Perhaps you should take the time to work on your Neuma while the Wultr are gone,” Elsbeth suggested.

“Yeah, I could do with going over it again. Thanks.” I walked off to a nearby rock feeling like I’d been dismissed, almost. But I did want to have a look over things. I hadn’t dared while riding Sania.

Once I was finished my meditation, I found the triplets had already cleared the ground and were laying down fir branches for a sleeping area. Joel was working with them now, too.

Mal and Elsbeth were deep in discussion and not wanting to interfere as they all seemed content, I just enjoyed a moment's peace.

When I cast my eyes on the surrounding forest, I had a strange feeling as my eyes swept over one particular area. Like a mild vibration at the base of my skull.

Somehow, I just knew that was the direction Sania was in. I figured it would be worth being aware of her presence, so I practiced recognising her location, following her as she moved. I became aware of when she came closer or went further away with the changing intensity of the subtle vibration.

When she returned, I watched the section of dark forest as she reappeared. I was right, too. She was in her humanoid form again with a large deer slung over her shoulder. Uncomfortably, she was looking directly at me too and if her feelings weren’t clear enough through the bond, that look she gave me on entering the clearing, yellow eyes glinting in the firelight, so full of resentment bordering on hatred. I just hoped she could feel the guilt and remorse I felt, back through the bond.

As the rest of the Wultr returned with more dinner, I was quietly concerned with how we would butcher and prepare the meat of the four large deer. I was also curious as to if the Wultr could eat this much meat.

I was no slouch when it came to putting a good steak away, but this seemed excessive, even for the size of our escorts.

They set about the carcass’s together with methodical, well-practiced skills. In less time than it would take me to get dressed, they were hanging strips and joints of venison above the fire, which were soon sizzling away nicely.

The Wultr didn’t give a damn what they ate from the deer and that included the internal organs. The triplets they weren’t too picky either and held their own in the sheer amount of meat that was consumed. My friends and I, including Elsbeth, were able to score the more tender cuts of meat because of that. I was surprised to see there were looks of disappointed around the fire as the last scraps were devoured.

After the meal, no one seemed too eager to talk about what had happened. We’d fallen into a kind of unspoken agreement that we would carry on as planned, only that Sania would have to accompany us for a little longer until I worked out a way to free her.

The Wultr chatted among themselves, generally keeping their distance from us, though they would talk to the triplets on occasion. Elsbeth and Mal continued to talk about Devotion related issues. Joel was deep in thoughts of his own and didn’t look like he wanted to be disturbed. Sania was much the same as Joel, staring into the firelight, not joining in with any conversations.

Now I only sensed sadness and loss from her. I couldn’t really blame her for feeling that way after the day she’d had.

She looked up meeting my eyes, and I suddenly realized I’d been staring.

Her sadness turned into anger faster than I would have thought possible. She remained where she was and there was a wall of emotion that I didn’t think I could safely cross this evening by going and talking to her.

“I’m sorry, Sania.” I said to myself, though I wanted her to know.

“Bond stealer! Is that you speaking?” Her voice blazed in my mind.

“Shit! Sania? Can you hear me?”

“Yes. Unfortunately.”

“I thought you were talking in my mind when it happened, but I couldn’t be sure. This is amazing. Weird, but amazing,” I thought back.

“Do not contact me like this again bond stealer. It is an unclean invasion, that makes what you have done, that much worse.”

“Roger, that,” I replied quickly. I started looking anywhere but in her direction. I seemed to be making a habit of doing that.

Frustrated I got Joel, Mal and Elsbeth’s attention. “Hey guys, can I have a word?”

“What’s up?” Mal asked.

“I obviously leveled a ton today. But I never got the opportunity to allocate the points. I’ve got like a hundred and ten just sitting there for when I next level and I wanted to talk to you guys about where to put them in.”

Elsbeth looked confused. “When you next level?” She asked.

“Yeah. That’s the only time we can access our stats,” Mal answered her.

“That is unfortunate. You have some strange differences with how everything works. The identification displays for a start. So unusual that you can see so much information about someone, yet you can’t even access your own information.”

“It’s damn well annoying, that’s what it is,” Joel added.

“How do you access your world sense Map, if you can’t access your statistics?” Elsbeth asked.

“Wink twice with my left eye,” he laughed as if feeling stupid for the action he had to do.

“That’s the same for me. And the Access action doesn’t work for the statistics? Have you tried variations?”

“Access action?” The three of us said at once.

Elsbeth touched her index finger and thumb together on each hand to demonstrate.

We all quickly did the same and up popped the goddamn stats page.

“It worked!” Joel yelled happily.

I let go of the action and the stats disappeared again. “Thank you Elsbeth you don’t know how much it means for us to be able to access that.”

Elsbeth looked embarrassed. “I just can’t believe I have been with you so long now and you didn’t know this. Children of three years old know how to do this.”

“Well, you may have noticed, we’re not from around here,” I said grinning. “Anything else we should know while we’re talking about it?” Mal asked. “Any other Access actions? Assume we know none of them at all, so go all the way to the simplest, that you take for granted.”

I nodded at Mal. It was a good question well phrased to not miss anything important.

“There aren’t that many,” Elsbeth replied. “Some I know are specific to me.”

“Is that because of your race? Elman?” I asked, suddenly eager to find out what race she was.

She laughed again. “Elman is just the second tier of humanity, Clive. You evolve at level 40 and again at level 80. I do not know if or when a third tier occurs, though I assume it would be at level 120.”

“Don’t you know anyone level 120?” I asked, in awe at the thought of someone that powerful.

“I don’t. Though there’s a good chance Natom Hilgresh is close or beyond.”

“As fascinating as all of this is,” Mal interrupted, can we get back to the access actions. You know. Walk before we can run and all that.”

“As I’ve said before. There aren’t many that are available to you right now. If you have the night vision skill, it’s activated by closing your eyes for a count of three, twice.

“Date, time and diary are a triple wink with your right eye and that’s it. Oh, and of course sleeping. But you already know that one.”

“Sleeping?” I asked. “There’s an access action for sleeping.”

“Of course there is. How else would you go to sleep?”

“By lying down with your eyes closed for as long as it takes,” I said. “I’m assuming that’s the Access action you're talking about?”

“Clive,” Sania said loudly. Drawing my attention from the conversation. She’d walked over to where we sat. “Rest your left hand on your temple and clench your right fist.”

For whatever reason, I did as she asked. The next thing I knew I was jolted from a deep sleep. I’d clearly fallen off the back of my log seat. Everyone in the camp was laughing. “And that’s how you go to sleep.” Sania said with a huge grin on her face.

I took the mockery on the chin because of what I’d done. Accident or not, I’d still forced her into a soul bond and ruined her life.

However, this would be the last time. She’d already punched me, now this. I only had one life, and I wasn’t being made a laughingstock for anyone’s pleasure.

“Good one, Sania. You should make that your last, though if it’s just done to shame me,” I said, as I got back to my seat.

Mal patted me on the back good naturedly. “That was funny man. You went over like a felled tree.”

I never got to answer him as Sania spoke again.

“Make it my last, Clive? Is that an order from my new slave master?”

“If it has to be. I’d rather you did it out of mutual respect, but that’s looking unlikely. You’ve already knocked me out in front of everyone. You keep calling me weakling, and now you try to make me look like a fool. I’ve already said my apologies and promised I’d make the situation right. It will go a lot easier if you lay off the animosity and efforts to belittle me.

“You belittle yourself by being pathetic,” she snapped looming over me and poking me in the chest. It didn’t look like it would be forceful, but I still went over the back of the log again, and it bloody hurt.

It didn’t seem to cause her too much pain to do, either. She snorted at me looking down to where I lay with derision.

“SIT!” I shouted at her. I’d felt terrible when the words servant at your behest, came up on the notification. Worrying that it meant I had some kind of control over her. Now I was just relieved, as she did indeed sit on the floor. I suspected if it hadn’t worked, I’d be in for a world of pain from her.

The look on her face was one of pure horror as she remained glued to the spot. Part of me was still wary of a ruse. That she was just pretending to obey, and would make a fool of me again before long. But for now I went with it.

A low growl came from her throat as she followed me as far as her neck would turn. Her eyes never leaving mine, promising vengeance for this. The other Wultr were on their feet now, growling and snarling and moving closer.

The triplets and my friends were up with weapons drawn, moving to defend me.

“I’m not comfortable with this, Clive.” Elsbeth said quietly enough so that only those closest to her would hear. “I will assist you only because of my promise to you and the Mother. But the use of compulsion is anathema to everything I believe in. There is every chance Devotion will not even allow me use of her power in defense of this action.”

I had no intention of fighting the Wultr, but I couldn’t tell Elsbeth that in front of Sania. She already thought I was an object of ridicule, and my bluffing would only serve to increase that. I had no choice but to ignore Elsbeth’s words and try to bring an end to this quickly. I felt awful. She was a huge apex predator and a strangely beautiful woman, too. She didn’t deserve this, but then neither did I.

“I’ve been dragged into this world against my will by demons who cursed me. My only concerns are saving myself and my friends and returning home with a little demon killing on the way.

To do that, I need to be as strong as I can both mentally and physically. Now this is the last time I’m going to say this. So take it in this time, because you’re not gonna hear it again. I’m truly sorry for what has happened with you, Sania. I will move heaven and earth to set this right. But if I’m going to be doing all this shit, the last thing I need is you attacking me, belittling me, and trying to make me look and feel like a fool. I’m many things, and not all of them good, but a fool and a pushover isn’t fucking one of them. So, it stops here and now. You either work with me to fix this or I leave you sitting there until I’m out of range and you just die, pathetic and powerless. Is that what you want?”

She seemed to be straining to get up, but couldn’t fight the compulsion I had over her. She finally sagged. I sensed strange conflicting emotions from her.

“That’s not what I want. May I stand, my alpha?”

“Only if you promise to never call me alpha again.”

“I promise to never call you alpha again,” she said slowly regaining her feet.

“I’d much rather we were team mates, Sania. Friends even, but I think I might be pushing the boat out a bit too far with that hope.”

“You’ve proven you have the power here. I know when to accept my fate,” she said bowing her head in deference.

“If I didn’t have you soul bound, you’d kick my ass,” I replied. Instantly regretting my self-deprecating words.

She didn’t seem to mind. “Power is power. This is how things are.”

“Well, cheer up, Sania. It won’t be for very long and I have no intention of ever commanding you like that again. It is a horrible abuse of power.”

She seemed to relax a little at my words. “You won’t?”

“I promise, I won’t compel you against your will again unless one of our lives are in danger or you’re intentionally working against me.”

Sania smiled. “I thank you for your promise. May I speak to the pack?”

“You do you Sania. As long as you don’t tell them to attack and kill me.”

“My life is precious to me, and I have submitted to you officially in the eyes of others. There is no deception here.”

“Crack on then,” I said retaking my seat.

“Fuck me, that was intense,” Joel said as I sat back down. “Needed doing though.”

“It did,” Mal added. “As much as I love watching you look like a total prick. That couldn’t have continued. I know it would have been hard for you to do.”

“Thanks, guys. It doesn’t make me feel any better but I’m glad you understood why.”

“Oh, we understood why,” Joel said.

“Yeah!” Mal agreed. “You’re fucking useless with women.”

“Assholes,” I muttered as Sania began talking.

“Wultr. You saw. You know. I’m no longer part of your pack. I hope you will accept me back when I return.”

“If you return and you are strong enough, I will accept your challenge,” Tyl said.

Sania nodded respectfully and Tyl continued.

“We will continue to escort you to Knuntang tomorrow, too.”

“Thank you, brother,” she said, and offered him a bow.