Day ~42~

For the first time in forever Rea was not the first one awake, as she opened her eyes Lucatiel pulled her in closer. Rea, pleased to be the one who was watched sleeping for once, just burrowed her face into the woman's chest.

"You know, after you chained me up I had expected rough... not... well, that."

Rea chuckled and looked up at her, "Sorry if I let you down but I just can't hurt my partner. I'm a bit of a sadist personality wise, but getting physical is about intimacy for me, I like to make love and hurting a partner has never made me feel good."

Lucatiel cringed a bit as she recounted her own actions yesterday, "You seemed to enjoy it when I..."

Rea cut her off, "I really didn't, I thanked you for raising the rank of my pain tolerance abilities. I enjoyed the leading up to you pouring that near scalding liquid on me, and I enjoyed what happened afterwards... but seriously, that was just painfully mean. If it didn't happen to raise a couple of useful abilities I probably would've chained you up, torn off your lingerie, worked you to a near climax, walked out, visited the guild, written a very explicit request for someone to rescue you, and called it a day."

Lucatiel was feeling a bit vexed with herself, "Sorry, I was really angry."

Rea bit her lip, "I still don't really get it, I was trying to save your life."

"You bent me over in an alleyway and..."

Rea interrupted her, "I told you that was gonna happen if you didn't drink!"

"I thought you were bluffing!" Lucatiel was starting to get heated again.

"You were dying!"

"I'm a martyr, we resurrect after one year if we die an unnatural death!"

"Oooh... well... that makes the whole dying for me thing feel a lot less noble."

Lucatiel gave her a flat look, "I still lose a year of my life when I die that way... why did you do it by the way?"

Rea, having calmed back down asked, "Do what?"

"Fight, I know you knew how badly out matched you were. I mean, are you suicidal or something?"

"A dear friend died fighting off a skinwalker to save my life a while back. I can see the true nature of most things, so when I see something like that in the middle of the city... can I really just turn a blind eye?"

"You really could, nonetheless managing to kill one is quite the feat for a... twenty year old woman?"

"Ahhh I was hatched... let's see, forty-one days ago?"

*cough cough* "What!?"

"I'm joking, this body is only that old but the soul," Rea pointed at her heart, "Is almost forty years old now."

Lucatiel had a pretty profound look of disbelief on her face, "Care to explain?"

Rea shrugged it off, "Not really, blame a goddess... and I'm not suicidal, I've got a better reason to live for a very long time than most people... my will to live is insane, you saw me crawl away and you saw what I did to that disgusting monster, even after it broke my shoulder and perforated my stomach."

Lucatiel nodded in agreement, "I'm sorry I doubted you, the world isn't a kind place, people tend to harden their hearts to survive."

Rea softened her expression and reached around to the back of Lucatiel's neck, while pulling her in for a kiss she spoke, "Keep your heart hardened Lucatiel, I'm a special case... oh crud."

Lucatiel moved herself closer to Rea as she pulled away, "What?"

"I missed all kinds of appointments yesterday..." *click* "...uh Lucatiel, haha, very funny."

Lucatiel smiled vacantly at Rea, "I want to make yesterday up to you."

Rea chuckled ruefully, "I'm really not mad, and I have a ton to do before enrolling at the academia obviously..."

"It's just one more day."

Rea gaped, "A whole day!?"

Day ~43~

Lucatiel decided that... well, it's just one more day, again.

Day ~44~

Having met her superior in the martyr Rea vacantly decided to leave without waking her, but not before gathering the chains into her pack, those chains would soon be smelted into nothingness at a certain farm's forge. While Rea left Lucatiel's cabin she made a mental note to never piss off or kill a Martyr, they'd just come back again one year later after all... Realizing she was disobeying that directive Rea reluctantly turned back around and deposited the chains where they had been... waking Lucatiel up in the process. It wasn't until later that evening that Rea finally managed to get away. Thinking of her new clothing Rea decided to visit Lisa first, that was a mistake. After explaining what had happened on the morning of the day they were supposed to meet Lisa got very, very worried about Rea. As it turns out most people would've just told the guards and let it be, not chase the monster down. Lisa ended up detaining Rea as well, thankfully this one wasn't chaining her to a bed. Rea very much enjoyed Lisa's reward for her heroism.

Day ~45~

This morning Meril, while searching for Rea, walked in on her early breakfast with the tailor. She wasn't nearly as angry with Rea as she could have been, and she calmed down a great deal more when Rea gave her the quick version of the story. Rea hadn't been expecting to get slapped for killing a skinwalker though. When she voiced a slight complaint Meril said it wasn't for killing the monster, it was for almost dying in the process. After asking to meet Lucatiel so that she could convey her thanks personally, Rea decided it was time to tell Meril where she'd been stuck at those three days. When Lisa, still laying next to Rea at this point, heard about Lucatiel's exploits she roughly yanked Rea back down and mounted her in front of Meril. At this point Rea extended the invitation she'd given Meril the other morning again, as the blushing maiden fled Rea finished breakfast.

Once Rea left the shop, new clothing in hand and bills paid, she met up with Meril at the tempura stall and apologized. Meril commented that Lisa was much more daring than she had originally thought and she may have to amend that bonus story. At the mention of her bonus story Rea fell on hands and knees, the book had been on sale for two days already! Rea apologized to Meril and hurried off to her doctor's appointment. Luckily only a few women had come to Ella's clinic so far and they only managed to confuse her, she seriously had no clue who doctor feel good is. Rea didn't bother explaining and just apologized for her missed appointments before getting into their usual routine.

After her session with the doctor Rea decided that, the sooner the better, and made her way to the horsemonger farm. As soon as Rea was within a hundred feet of the place Melody stormed off and dragged her to the barn.

"I take it you heard?" Rea asked.

"This is me, Melody, giving you, Rea, a chance to explain why half the women I know are suddenly coming onto me," she said in a slightly annoyed voice as Rea nearly doubled over laughing. "Seriously I can't get a date with a man for the life of me and now you go and make..."

Rea cut her off, "I'm very sorry Melody, your name was never supposed to be in that book, I know the author and they accidentally got the wrong copy published."

Melody gave Rea another annoyed glare, "I got the book by the way." Rea's jaw dropped, "I read all of it." Melody dropped a pitchfork across the entrance to make sure no one can slide the barn door open, "I'm gonna hear about why you've been missing for the past few days, then I'm gonna enjoy doing all of the things you told this author about, complaints?"

"I should've asked them to publish it sooner," Rea would regret saying that in a few hours...

Day ~46~

The next morning Melody carried Rea over one shoulder into the cabin and deposited her in a nice hot bath. After Melody left to prepare breakfast Rea, completely out of it at the moment, just stared at the ceiling. She'd had no problems getting lucky in her past life as Noel, but this was getting a little crazy, even for her. Of course it started to make more sense when she thought of her [Natural Beauty] and [Charm] abilities. A while later, after making a resolution to focus more on training and less on grinding, Rea was leaving the bath to join Melody for breakfast. Corn hadn't realized she spent the night and woke up to take his morning bath. Once again Rea gave the boy an eyeful that he'd never forget. Breakfast after that was a bit awkward on the kid's part, Rea however, just laughed it off.

When she'd finally made it back to the Ainsworth mansion Rea ended up having a long discussion with Lark. The subject matter of chasing down monsters was heavily debated until Rea agreed to not do it again until she was much stronger. With that out of the way Rea, still a bit out of it, took another bath before leaving for her daily doctor's appointment. Everything had been going as it normally did and Rea was glad that Ella seemed unfazed by all the people asking to see doctor feel good. However when she walked into the examination room Rea nearly jumped out of her skin. Sitting there in her usual spot was one copy of [Book] "Misadventures Vol.6 "The Misadventures of a shameless Ophidian". Slowly turning to face the good doctor Rea let out a slight whimper..., "So what are we gonna try today doc?"

Ella glared daggers at Rea, "I was thinking today we'd actually examine the [Poison]."

Without complaint Rea let her take a sample and obediently watched as Ella ran various tests and experiments using her secretions. After a test involving one rather ugly little monster Ella gave Rea a sidelong glance, "So you figured it out the day I told you about [Poison]?"

Chuckling ruefully Rea answered, "Well it wasn't that hard, I also had some very good motivation."

Ella's entire face flushed red as she turned back to her little experiment, she could remember in vivid detail all of the things that had happened in this room with the ophidian. Now that Ella knew why Rea had been shuddering, shivering, gasping, writhing and screaming... well, Ella really couldn't face Rea properly right now.

Pressing the issue at hand Rea asked, "I don't suppose we'll be having any more experiments?"

With an outward sigh the doctor confirmed, "I don't think we will... you used me, in a very bad way."

Rea cocked her head, "Was it really that bad?"

"Elves are for the most part modest creatures Rea, the sort of things I did to you... Not just that, I've done it almost everyday since we first met, and now that I know the truth I can't get the images of you out of my head. The kiss was nothing compared to that. You even put it in a book."

Rea sighed, "Sorry about that, your name shouldn't have been in it... and I shouldn't have used you. It's just that back when it first happened there wasn't really anyone other than Meril, Lark, and you that knew what I am. You can probably tell that I really enjoy doing that sort of thing, so yeah, I used you... To be fair, you really misled me at first. Telling me to strip, lifting me onto a table, tearing my clothes off... then you practically had your way with me, I didn't ask for it the first time..."

"Stop, stop, stop," Ella interrupted as she remembered how she'd first treated the monster test subject, "Let's just call it even ok?"

Happy to not be hated by the elf, Rea gladly agreed to call it even, "So how's the poison?"

Ella, glad to be back on topic, answered, "Unlike the venom it doesn't begin to deteriorate after leaving the body, at least not quickly. You could coat weapon's in this, it isn't lethal either, just a potent paralytic... and it seems to have undergone a mutation from external stimulus," taking a closer look at her test subject she muttered, "I can't believe this..."

Rea was very happy to hear that it wouldn't kill someone if she accidentally got some on them in her sleep, "That's good news, what's the mutation?"

"Through external stimulus... likely through my experiments, your [Poison] has gained the effects of an aphrodisiac..." *Pfft-AHAHAHAHAHAH!!!* Ella absently glanced at the now laughing and rolling ophidian, "I can't believe you."

Rea, now recovering from her attack, gazed up at the doctor, "Ahhh, this reminds me of when we first met..."

Ella pursed her eyebrows in a look of utter confusion, "What?"

"Nothing, thank you for helping me develop my [Poison] doctor."

Ella, still pretty angry, responded with, "It was not my pleasure to be of service."

Rea, feeling the raw anger in her voice, asked, "Should I still come by to give blood?"

"You've done more than enough here Rea, and I've done what I promised. Please don't come here anymore," her emotionless, doctor like vibe from when they first met had returned.

Rea was really loathing herself right about now, "For what its worth, I am sorry Ella. I never meant to hurt you, I just don't think things through all the time... so, this is goodbye?"

Without facing Rea she answered, "It is."

Rea got up and walked up behind of her, "I'll really miss your company Ella."

"You'll miss doctor feel good..," scorn obvious in her rising voice.

Rea backed off at that moment towards the door, "I'll miss Ella Wyrmwind, I'll miss her vegetarian cooking, I'll miss the way her eccentricities make me laugh, and yes I will miss the way that Ella Wyrmwind touches me."

Ella, visibly shaken by Rea's words, looked up at her as she began to leave. Rea could see the inner turmoil she'd caused the doctor, the confusion behind clenched teeth, and the sad, sad eyes. While looking at the state she had reduced a woman she'd found so comforting to be near to, Rea clenched her fists, loathing, self-hatred really didn't even begin to explain what she was feeling now. She couldn't leave things like this so walking away from the door, she approached Ella, and against her better judgement locked lips with the doctor once more.

Pushing her away Ella shouted, "What are you doing!?"

Rea gazed right into her silvery-white eyes, ran a hand through her long ginger hair, and whispered, "If you really want, this will be the last time we see each other, I promise."

Ella scoffed, "So you want to use me again before you go?"

Rea shook her head while guiding a few gentle fingers over Ella's ear, "I'm not blind, I've seen the way you were looking at me, remembering what I'd done to you. I know you wanted another kiss." Ella tried to avert her gaze, Rea wouldn't let her, "I truly am sorry, and this, what I'm doing right now, is me being selfish again. Leaving things this way, it'll haunt me for years. I really am very, very fond of you. I can't change what I did, but I can leave you with some better memories. I've used you all this time, so use me. Let me make you writhe to your very core. Tell me that you don't want this, just say no and I'll leave forever."

Ella's voice trembled, "You're the worst."

Rea's voice cracked in response, "You're wrong Ella, the worst is better than me."

"..." Ella had given in.

A few hours later Rea was getting up to leave behind a despondent elf. Over the course of the past few hours, for certain reasons, she had calmed down. With her emotions in check Ella began to remember more of her first meeting with Rea. The more she thought about it the more she could see how damn obvious Rea had been. With that in mind, before Rea could leave she spoke up, "You said the people of your world ruined you as a child, what did you mean?"

Rea paused for a moment and let out a sigh, "I was born in the middle of a war, terrible things happen in war. Human beings can be disgusting creatures... I'd rather not talk about it Ella."

No longer able to be completely furious with her Ella gave Rea one last goodbye, "I remembered, I gave you my word. When you're ready to have a daughter find me, I said I'd be your doctor after all."

Rea smiled wryly, "and if I come crawling back sooner?"

"I'll feed you to my tribe's dragon," when Rea snickered she added, "that isn't a joke."

As Rea left the room Ella could hear her quietly mutter one more apology, she really wasn't sure where to stand on the matter of forgiveness. When they first met Rea proved to be a unique and driven individual, she had greatly enjoyed their time together, but the deception was irking her. Long lived elves thrive on mutual trust... but, considering the recently discovered and amended view of Rea, a unique, driven, and perverted individual. Well, the more she thought about it the more she realized just how much Rea had been enjoying the experiments. As Ella clearly remembered Rea's reactions she wasn't sure if she could really blame her for keeping it a secret... a rather obvious secret. Putting any and all thoughts of the ophidian out of her mind Ella went on to test some of Rea's leftover [Poison] on herself. Potency proved to be very high, both ways. While she sat there, both legs she had applied the [Poison] to were completely paralyzed. As her pulse continued to rise Ella vacantly hoped that Rea wouldn't misuse the [Poison] any time soon, about a minute later she went on to misuse... treat the symptoms of the [Poison].

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