- Day 22 -

True power

With ‘cheaty’ mode over, boss pig’s corpse collected and my blood requirement properly sated, I returned to the camp using [Warp]. With the giant boar's death, the restrictions on my teleporting spells look to have been lifted, as I expected they would be--

“He went off by himself to kill the leader, didn’t he?”

An argument? Katharine looks to be giving Emily a hard time while being circled by the others.

“I... I dunno. Master said he was jus’ gonna take a nap--”

“Emily, seriously? You don’t expect me to believe he didn’t tell you what he was planning? He tells you everything--”

“No he doesn’t!”

I was kinda hoping I'd get back here before they noticed I was gone. This is unfortunate, but I guess I’ll have to come clean.

“Alright. You’ve caught me” I shout out as I walk out from behind the tent, waving to greet everyone as I do. “Seems I didn’t get back in time to go unnoticed, huh?”

“Indeed”, Risk replies loudly with his hands firmly on his hips. “Thought this was my show?”

“It was. I left all those to you, didn’t I?” Seeing my words not having the desired effect, I quickly continued. “Boss pig was preventing me from using [Warp]... So I had no choice but go find him or we wouldn’t have been able to leave.”

“Ah ha! I knew that speech was odd!”

“I kinda had a feeling you knew something was off...” I retorted with a shrug included. “You understand why I kept it quiet though, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. But what would you have done if we needed you while you were gone--?”

“Ah! Master told me to burn the wet grass--”

“Emily” I sighed as I placed my hand on top her shoulder with a sympathetic look. “You’ve just fallen for a trap.”

“You did know!” Katharine shouted, pointing sharply at Emily. Emily covers her mouth with both hands as she suddenly realised her mistake. Bella and Risk just give a solemn sigh while shaking their heads.

“Aburi” Bella called out in a commanding manner. “Get us out of here. I want a damn drink!”

“Shouldn’t we take the tent down first?” Emily asked Bella sheepishly and while doing her best to avoid eye contact.

“Ugh. Fine! Just hurry it up!” She snapped back instantly.

Emily, Sybil and Katharine began chatting amongst one another while taking to the task, leaving Risk, Bella and myself to look out over the carnage we were all responsible for in some way or another.

Risk and Bella both remained silent at the sight of what could only be described as yet another massacre by the team ‘Draconis’.

“This was quite a feat for us, huh?” I let the words slip out with a smirk.

“Feat?” Risk replied, wide-eyed. “In all my years as a fighter, I’ve never seen anything like this, nor even considered it possible that so few could face off against an entire army.”

“Really? There’s a story where I’m from about a band of three-hundred warriors pulling off something similar.”

“Seriously?” Bella asked with real interest.

“Yeah... It’s more of a tall tale though as no one knows the truth of it.”

Risk shakes his head again while kicking the dirt under his feet. “No one can question this though can they?”

“I guess they can't.” I replied with a shrug, letting my eyes scan over the carnage once more and letting the conversation fall.

Risk stood silent with me for a moment. Choosing to alternate his gaze between the corpses and myself before finally taking a quick deep breath and exhaling it slowly in a sort of drawn-out thought. “The kicker though; the thing that has me in utter disbelief is that not one of us has even a scratch on us.” He finally added.

“It’s Aburi's power, aint it?” Bella grunts back quickly while spitting out the water she had been gargling from her waterskin. “It’s made us into elites among elites, right?” Her gaze then falling to me.

“Aye, it has” Risk retorted, “But that’s why we have to be careful. A power to make feats like this possible? It invites disaster; People will covet this.”

I don’t disagree, but I don’t think Risk realises that soon enough he’ll be capable of feats like this all by himself. Well, if I have anything to say on it anyway.

“I don’t plan on giving this power out without reason” I put my arms on their shoulders and lean down heavily on them. “You’re my team, but you’re also my friends... Though don’t let that go to your heads as you’re also employees after all!”

“Right, alright. Alright friend.” Bella scoffs while pushing me off her. “You damn near finished over there! I want my ale!”

She heads off to see what’s taking the others so long, leaving Risk and I alone.

“Something else is concerning you, huh?” I turned to Risk as I asked. It was evident from his face.

“Concerning?” He lets out a chuckle. “No. Just thinking on something you past mentioned is all. It's nothing. Come on ‘friend’. Let's go help the lasses, eh?”

Something I said? I say a lot of things...

“...Probably a good idea before Bella goes on a rampage.”

“Aye…” Risk stops dead suddenly and turns back to me again. “Don’t you think it’s off?” He asks. His voice now in a whisper.

“What’s off?” I reply, also in a whisper. Confusion probably evident on my face.

“I’ve been thinking this for a while now, but the women to men ratio here.. it’s off, right?”

I burst out laughing at the complete randomness of the question.

“What? You don’t like travelling with beautiful and powerful women?” I retort while barely containing myself.

“Beautiful?” He quips back while chuckling. “Aye, I guess Katharine there matches that, granted. But then we have two children and Bella. A forty-year-old man trapped--”

I bellow out laughing, almost in tears to cut him short having completely lost control. “I get it. Oh my, I see your point! I’ll not be able to look Bella in the eye without laughing now! Oh damn, that’s funny!”

Risk just chuckles while nodding.

“Ah, we can always take Gruff and the girls on our next outing if it bothers you that much.”

“That would be nice. That Millie” Risk’s voice begins to trail off as he catches his own words, “...is good company...”

Seems I missed a development? Millie and Risk, huh? I never would have guessed she was his type. Mainly because I’d always assumed there’d be a sort of social taboo on relationships with slaves... Actually thinking about it there would definitely be social stigmas on this, and hoops beyond hoops if you didn’t care. You’d likely have to ask the owner's permission to court a slave first, perhaps even sell yourself into the owner's servitude in order to be with them? Or somehow convince them to sell the slave to you... In any case, it’s surprising Risk would let that slip so casually considering his usual nature...

“Oh...? Is that so~?”

“Don’t put it like that. She’s just a nice lass is all.”

“Maybe you should tell her that. She’s the bashful type after all.”

“You...wouldn’t have an issue with that?”

“Not if she didn’t, why would I?”

“She’s your--”

“If the next word out of your mouth is ‘property’, we will have a problem, good sir.” I smile wolfish, half joking.

“Right. Of course...” Risk replied solemnly and with an expression that’s hard to read.

After finishing packing up the tent and collecting the various empty bottles laying around from consumed tonics, all-the-while listening to old man Bella’s obsessive ranting about being tired and wanting ale, I eventually used [Mass Warp] to return us all to Gillia.

Having slugged it out in a muddy ravine for an entire night during heavy rainfall, its needless to say that our party was quite a sight to behold as we traipsed through the streets of the small town looking for a decent Inn with multiple baths available-- that also had a bar fit to Bella’s demands.

Eventually we did happen upon one. Well, it happened upon us to tell the truth actually as a small boy led us to it after spotting our sorry state. His mother owned and ran it, and I have to admit that it’s got a good atmosphere about it.

Silver King Coin x4 -> x2

Copper King Coin x12 -> x16

There was a minor argument about who got to bathe first. The inn only had three baths, and there are six of us. Emily and Sybil said they would share with me and Katharine to solve the problem, which I immediately vetoed without making eye contact with Katharine… I’m slightly concerned that Sybil may be spending too much time with Emily…

Putting it firmly out of mind, I sent the two of them into one of the baths together as it solved the immediate problem of Emily trying to pull me along to a bathroom with her and Sybil.

Katharine got the second, and I took the third after Risk and Bella stated an ale would be their top priority.

“Drinking in the bath is the best.”

-- Casandra (Bella) Drapel

I retrieved everyone's luggage from inventory and handed it to them before heading off to dive-bomb into my hot bath.

Just like the one we have at home, this bath was open-aired and surrounded by stone pillars. But unlike ours, it was basically a cemented stone hole in the ground. Still, it’s filled with wonderfully hot water… and those damned lavender-smelling oils that I’ve come to hate.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve called it ‘home’ ” I hear myself respond unexpectedly.

I believe you’re right verbal me. Thinking about home makes me wonder how the girls are doing… How Kate’s doing.

… … ...

Argh! That damn woman. She’s firmly nested up here now! Every quiet moment I get she just pops right in; Her and those bloody curves. Which was her goal, I know! I get it!

… …

I don’t understand why she stopped back then though, she could have easily had her way with me right there-and-then and I never would have been able to resist it. I was utterly entranced by her at the time… By her eyes… By her motions, her breath. Ah quit it you and stand down! It’s just us right now.

...

No. I guess I do get it. I think we both know ‘it’ by now. I want her, she wants me, but that’s the game isn’t it? If she instigates it, she’ll not let it proceed. She wants to see how close to the edge she can really push me before I bend to my lust. She’s getting off on the power play, seeing me all weak to her will. A dynamic shift. Where I typically have power over her, she suddenly has all the power.

...

So. I guess the answer’s simple then. If I want it to stop that is... Which I both do, but I also don’t…? Which I also know is unfair to Kate--?

Wait. Is it unfair to her though? Really? That vixen knows where my heart lies, and yet she continues this little game! ...But I get that too. Mind games aside, I see the long term ploy. Overpower one desire with another. And it’s working. To her credit, it really is working. At least it’s working to the degree that I can’t stop thinking about her sexually...

...

Ugh! Trunky! This entire situation is your fault! I’ve never been one to let my member do the thinking till now!

“We’ve never been in a situation like this until now--”

Don’t defend him! He’s the problem here! Wait-- Why are you even still here!? Go away until our next crisis!

...I-I need to think about something else. Which shouldn’t be hard, it’s not like I’m hurting for topics to digest right now. Time travel, demons, rituals, pigs, rulers, Aslogia, Rus, Alexander, Graham, Royalty, factions. My mind boggles with more topics than I care for.

Guess if I were to pick the most pressing matter, it’d be the ‘ruler’ topic as it completely shits on my plans for Aslogia.

I’m choosing to believe that AE was not aware of territory restrictions before today, and if you were AE, I suggest you say nothing. I won’t accept that bullshit about ‘trivial to survival’ you spun last time.

[** ... **]

...I have to admit though, the territory and ruler information does fill in a few of the blanks on how all the various monster species in the dungeon one-day abruptly decided to lead a full-scale attack against the invading humans. The description Katharine gave of the attack she bore witness to in Aslogia does appear similar to what we witnessed last night, though she didn’t seem to see the comparison.

The ruler there must have also issued an order, and everything went nuts like the orcs in Lova. But with a little more intelligence behind their actions by setting up ambushes and luring the expedition in too deep to escape.

...

It doesn’t shed any light on why it happened in the first place though. Why one day, all of a sudden, the dungeon went on a killing spree.

My only clue on that right now is that silly poem, suggesting it's a golem of some kind. Perhaps it was slumbering and something or someone woke it up?

Well, the immediate issue with this is the teleportation tactic I had planned on using might be out the window, so I’ll concentrate on that.

… … ...

I only see three options that could count as alternatives, but none of them will let me check on Torrent’s team. They all mean I’ll have to reside inside the dungeon until the boss is dead, and that’s a real problem.

I need to time clearing the dungeon with his team completing their mission of baiting Rus. To be absolutely honest, Torrent’s teams' mission is far more important than ours in Aslogia. Anything that puts me out of touch with them is out of the question. If they fail or something goes wrong and I don’t hear about it? Then we’ll all be dead, regardless of whether I take Aslogia or not.

...

Alright, metaphorically speaking we’d be dead. I can’t see them being able to kill us at this point. But the girls would definitely be in trouble.

...

There has to be an item or device that will either allow us to communicate or will enable us to come and go despite a territory's rules…

[** Displaying to optic-nerve interface **]

Hm? A pocket dimension?

…

Ah, the idea being that I create it and inside we have no restrictions on [Warp], smart--

Holy crap, tier ten? You expect me to be able to cast this by myself, AE? I don’t even understand the spell computation scribble. And where would we get a dragon's tear from, huh?

A sudden image of a dragon chopping onions causes me to smile.

No. That’s not an option. As cool as it would be. What else have you got?

[** Displaying to optic-nerve interface **]

...That could work. What node did you find this on?

[** Library of Zero **] [** Forbidden Classification **]

Forbidden? Why?

[** Unknown. Data incomplete **]

That’s a little worrisome, though it would definitely work, and does make me wonder why these gate stones don’t exist everywhere--?

Oh, I remember now. This is a nope as well. The mental degradation on the human mind. I get it. Makes sense it would be forbidden… Although...

Bookmark that. I want to research it later as building warp gates could be extremely useful and lucrative. Anything else?

[** Displaying to optic-nerve interface **]

Nightwalking, seriously? You want me to converse by giving people nightmares? Points for originality AE, but no. Besides, I can’t seem to learn it for some reason. What else?

[** Nothing found **]

Well, that sucks. I guess we table this for now. I’m long past pruning at this point anyway. I can’t stay in this bath any longer or I’ll become some sort of water goblin.

I stood up while chuckling at my own joke before my eyes spotted something truly wonderful.

Hey, awesome! Towels do exist in this world! I’ll have to ask the innkeeper where to buy some before we leave and stock up.

I wrap myself up and open the door leading back into the tarven--

“Ah, I was coming to get you!”

Katharine was standing by the bathroom door facing me as I opened it. Her damp hair pulled forward over one shoulder and wearing a towel that was barely long enough to cover both her ample chest and upper thigh at the same time.

“Risk and Bella want to know if we want to take it easy today or eat quickly and get back on the road?”

“I... Er. I’m good with, er, whatever...”

“S-Something wrong?”

“Wrong? ...N-No. I wouldn’t say anything...is wrong.”

“I-I see...”

“...”

“...I should go--”

“Get dressed. Yeah. Of course. Er, me too. Of course. Em--Er, thanks for letting me know. Wait. I mean yes. I’m good with whatever the group wants to do, excuse me.”

AAHH!

Oh my lordy!

Really!

Really, really, really!?!

S-she didn’t see, right? He’s covered, yeah. So it’s fine...right?

Who the hell am I kidding! She totally saw you! How could anyone not see you when you’re standing to attention!

I want to die!

I want to die again!

Greeny, a do-over; give me another do-over! PLEASE!?

…

Seriously, I don’t think I’ll be able to look her in the eye for a while after this…

…Seriously. Oh I want to scream.

...

After sitting in the rented room for a while to ‘cool off’ while ‘drying’ myself thoroughly, I put on some clean clothes. I left my dirty ones to the innkeeper to clean for just a copper before heading down to meet up with the others.

Copper King Coin x16 -> x12

I know I said one copper, but I felt so bad only paying one coin considering the state my attire was in, so I overpaid her. She promised to have them back to me within a couple of hours and thanked me for my generosity. The conversation dragged on for a while as I was stuck in a continual loop of apologising and thanking her. You know, typical British overbearing-politeness?

‘I’m terribly sorry and thank you ever so much. No no, I insist, please. I’m really sorry and thank you so much. I shouldn’t have gotten so dirty, I’m really sorry about that. Thank you. No really.’

The only people who have us beat at that is probably the Japanese...maybe? I don’t know what I’m saying at this point. Damn Katharine and her captivating beauty. I’ve become a bumbling idiot!

Downstairs, everyone was sitting around a table chatting with each other while eating and drinking.

Risk sees me and kicks out the chair beside him, gesturing to me and then it. By his cheerful demeanour, I’d guess he’s on his fourth round, and one glance at everyone's faces makes it pretty clear we’re staying here for the rest of the day.

“You take longer to bathe than any man or woman I know!”

He mouths off as I take the seat beside him.

“Well at least I smell clean after I wash. Can’t say the same for all present.”

Emily bursts out laughing, and Katharine tries to hide a smile... and an unexpected burp with her hand.

“Oh”, he laughs with a single raised brow and an awkward grin, “Get that down yer, you’ve got some catching up to do.”

“I think you’ll be passed out by the time I catch up, but I’m game to try.”

And the rest of the day devolved from there.

Beer after beer, song after song. We thrashed about the inn like something from an old western. None of us cared that it wasn’t even midday when we started drinking, nor that not one of us had slept the night before. Everyone drank, everyone talked, everyone sang and was merry. Well, everyone except Emily. The poor girl managed two ales then passed out. Credit where credits due though, that’s one more than last time. We can call that progress!

...

Evening came in and the tavern started to fill up with its regulars and a live band. Sybil lifted Emily, and Risk carried Bella up to their respective rooms as both had wholly passed out by this point. Risk insisted I not go anywhere, “As the night is still young!” But I have my suspicions he’s likely going to fall asleep beside, or atop Bella when he finally gets her up those stairs over there. He’s that drunk.

This leaves Katharine and I alone at opposite ends of the table. Neither able to look at each other for more than a couple of seconds and while grinning ear to ear. She smiles at me once more, tilts her head, resting it on the back of her hand before nodding twice and getting up to come to sit beside me.

“So” She says, grinning widely.

“So?” I reply, grinning widely.

Katharine looks me in the eye for a moment and we share a gaze before she finally gives and bites her lower lip, still smiling as she shakes her head “Nothing.”

I give a single nod and take a sip of my drink, smacking my lips exaggeratedly afterward before frantically bursting out laughing.

This seemed to tickle Katharine as she also starts giggling uncontrollably for a moment. Then suddenly, she stops and puts her hand over her mouth. A few seconds of smiling and raised eyebrows between us later, she continues.

“I’m sorry about earlier. It wasn’t proper of me to come before you like that.”

“You’re sorry? I exposed you to--”

She bursts out laughing, interrupting me.

“You did, didn’t you! Ha, that’s quite the mighty weapon you have there Aburi!”

“Wow, and I thought I was drunk!?”

“Ahh, I know! I know! Hee! I’m so sorry, this isn’t how a lady should talk! I forget myself.”

“Don’t be absurd. I’m enjoying seeing this laid back side of you--”

“It’s not annoying?”

“No, how could it be--?”

The band shifts to start playing a new, faster song as I finish my sentence. Katharine immediately seems to lose track of the conversation to start lightly slapping my arm to its beat.

“Ah, this song makes me want to dance that dance again. That one from the party, remember?”

It does have a similar tune, but it's a lot faster and more ‘Southern country’ than classical, but I can feel what she means.

“I remember. It does have a similar rhythm doesn’t…” I pause with a wicked smile at a foolish thought. “Would you like to dance?”

“Here? B-but no one else is dancing?”

I stand, looking for her hand.

“So? They’ll see us and join in--”

Or they won’t, but we’re drunk; who cares!

“O-okay” She takes my hand, and I immediately pull her up and close to me. “Haha! Let me get my footing!”

“The song’s a little faster than last time. Are you sure you can keep up?”

“Can you?”

“Then don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

I was very surprised as we danced. Not that Katharine was able to keep up with the quick twists and dips, or at the fact we didn’t bump into a single table, chair or person in the crowded bar. No, what had me surprised was the fact that people did actually join in dancing to the song and subsequent songs thereafter.

Katharine and I even ended up switching partners at one stage as we copied and learnt another groups dance before rejoining each other to carry it on. Honestly, I don’t know how either of us had the energy, but we didn’t stop until the band finally declared they were finished for the night.

“Aw… Already?” Katharine states while looking dejected.

“Already she says. We’ve been dancing for hours already.”

“I know, it’s been so much fun!”

“I can’t deny that.”

She smiles cutely at me causing me to grin ear to ear.

“Shall we sit for a bit?”

Katharine nods hard, throwing her long hair forward over her face and causing me to burst out laughing. Both sweaty and laughing uncontrollably with and at one another, she drags me by the hand back to our table.

“That was, I don’t know. That was just--” Katharine frantically tries to explain herself. Trying and failing to find the right word to describe the night as she leans over the table, arms stretched across it.

“Fun?” I state simply to break her out of her perpetual loop and finish the sentence while bracing myself up with the table.

“Right!? I haven’t had this much fun since the party!”

“I also enjoyed myself.. and the company.”

“Mmhm.” Katharine nods twice in quick succession, causing her loose golden-brown hair to fall forward and slightly lean over her face again She makes no effort to move it back, instead, looking up at me through it.

“Are you trying to be cute or something? Cause it’s strangely working.”

“I don’t try to be cute. I just am. It’s how I was made. Yep.”

“We need to get you drunk more often.”

Our expressions start to mirror each other as we calm and sit looking into one another's eyes, neither moving as the rowdy bar patrons are filtered outside. The noises from the closing bar slowly fade from my ears until all I can hear is the sound of my heart thumping in my chest. Katharine gives me an unexpected sly smile as she tilts her head, lifting my hand to rest it against her cheek. Her deep blue immobilising eyes focused intently on me.

She’s too damn beautiful for me to even have a single coherent thought about anything-- I lean in, powerless against her--

“Aburi! We’ve got a problem!”