V2: Heaven's Tower

C1: A Creepy Roommate

The forests between the kingdoms of Falirwe and Pendragonia consist of large green pine trees. Although the trees here are not the largest in comparison to some of the forests in Falirwe, they are still massive.

The area is relatively non-aggressive for a wilderness, and is considered as one of the tamest areas. The only reason it hasn’t been claimed as territory is for the fact that the Forest Labyrinth dungeon is right in the middle of it.

Dungeons are a unique existence, created from the very world itself. Some say they’re created by gods, others think they’re living creatures themselves. But most can agree that they’re power comes from a very high concentration of mana at the deepest part of the dungeon.

The forest labyrinth is a forest maze, with a entrance at its center leading into another labyrinth layer beneath it. It’s common for dungeons to contain many layers, and each one increases in difficulty as they get closer to the high mana concentration.

Currently, Nova and Bahina are walking through the upper layer of the forest labyrinth. Around them, the corpses of several dead foxes turn into dust, leaving behind a few pieces of their bodies.

In dungeons, the monsters are created out of the energy of the dungeon instead of being naturally born. So when they die, their bodies turn into energy again except for a few parts of their bodies that manage to maintain their physical body because they received too much mana, such as the claws or fangs of these foxes.

“Crap, how did we get caught in this labyrinth.. I was just walking south..” (Nova)

“Hum, it’s because little brother was so lost in thinking about all the places he wanted to visit on the way to Heaven’s Tower. Didn’t you say you wanted to visit dungeons since your uncle and grandfather never let you try any?” (Bahina)

“I do, but not this one. This one is considered to be the weakest dungeon. It only goes down ten levels and the deepest layer only reaches the iron-rank, theres not even any boss monsters.” (Nova)

“I think I understand what you mean, everything is dying so easily…” (Bahina)

“True.. but I guess we can just sell the loot they drop for money at the adventurer’s outpost to the south west. It won’t do to fight anything challenging with only wooden swords..” (Nova)

“Thinking only about your swords, sheesh. Look at what you’re wearing.. My Nova looked so much cuter in those clothes Leilatha bought for you, and yet now they’re nothing but rags.” (Bahina)

“Eh.. I guess I’ll get new clothes too..” (Nova)

“.. And a haircut.” (Bahina)

“Shush. Let’s start collecting these drops, we’ll at least be able to get some cash from them.. But how am I gonna carry everything..” (Nova)

“You’ll have to go find actual monsters out in the forest little brother, use their hides to make a bag like we did in the other wildernesses.” (Bahina)

“Right. I recall that there are some bear-type monsters in this forest, their hides should be pretty good.. But first we have to get out of this damn maze.” (Nova)

….

A couple days later.

A storm has started up above the forest, pounding the land below with heavy rain. The trees are pushed about by the gale forces of the wind, as lightning strikes down at them, and water softens the ground into mud.

Nova and Bahina are running out of the forest tree line. Nova is carrying a large sack made out of connected bear hides. The sack bulges with items, making it almost as big as he is.

Both of them run through the fields of grass separating them from the adventurer’s outpost.

That is, until Nova’s foot accidentally lands inside a mole hole causing him to trip.

“Ah! Nova!” Bahina sees Nova land face first in the mud in front of him. “... Bahahahahaha!”

Nova pushes himself out of the mud, as it slowly drips from his face. He gives a dangerous stare at Bahina. “Haha, sorry little brother.. can’t.. help.. it.. bahahaha!”

“Oh yeah? Well let’s see how much you like it!” He throws a handful of mud at Bahina’s face. “Ah?! Is this a challenge?! Then I accept!” She begins kicking mud with her back paws.

As if a volley of arrows released by a squadron of archers is raining down on him, the mud begins landing all around Nova. “Cheating! This is unfair!”

“Nonsense little brother! This is battle!”

“Grr..” Nova lunges at Bahina, tackling her into the mud. Surprisingly, his smaller frame had the power to actually force a six foot Bahina to the ground.

“Gah! Mercy!” Nova begins pouring mud from the ground all over her.

“Gahahaha! Yes, fear m-” *BOOM* A sudden lightning bolt lands in the field nearby.

“”...””

“Let’s head to the outpost.”

“Yep. Sounds good.”

They begin sprinting even faster than before towards safety. Even if one was a powerful warrior, in the face of nature they were nothing but an insignificant insect.

….

The adventurer’s outpost at the borders to the Forest Labyrinth was mostly for new adventurers with low levels, as such it wasn’t as fancy some of the others. For example the one Nova lived at with Leilatha had paved roads, stone buildings, and was fairly well built.

However this one was much more humble, with wooden buildings, dirt roads, and was only about a third of the size. However, right now the biggest issue was.. the dirt roads.

With the rain, all of the roads had been turned completely muddied.

*Ah, geez, the mud here is even worse than the field outside.* (Nova)

*Mm, but it’s not as bad as the swamp. There you could barely move your feet if you caught stuck in the mud.* (Bahina)

*Don’t even remind me of that nightmare.. To think I spent almost two years there…* (Nova)

*Look little brother, theres the inn.* (Bahina)

*Good, let’s get inside quick.* (Nova)

Upon entering the inn, Nova realizes that he’s being stared at.

*Ah.. Geez.. Everyone’s staring.. Let’s quickly get a room, we need to wash all this mud off.*

“Uhm, sir. Could I get a room please? I don’t have money right now, but I will definitely tomorrow. I’ll even pay more than the cost to make it up to you?”

“Ah… um.. I’m sorry young lad, but I just sold the last room to this man right here.. I apologize..”

*Damn.. maybe this guy will let us shar..

This guy looks creepy as hell. I can’t even see his face that clearly with the hood, and he’s wearing nothing but black leather.. What do you think Bahina..?*

*I don’t want to sleep in the rain, just ask him. He’s probably just a rogue or something who got back from the dungeon.*

*Right.. Maybe I’m being overly suspicious.*

“Ah, sir, is it okay if I ask to share the room with you? I know it seems like a pain, but.. this sack is full of monster drops so I can definitely pay you well and I can just sleep on the floor. Please?”

“Fine. But you have to take a bath first, I don’t want you stinking up the room.”

“Haha, no problem! Thanks a lot, sir! C’mon Bahina, let’s go to the baths.”

Nova quickly runs to the baths followed by Bahina.

….

In the back of the first floor of the inn is the large public bath, which takes up a large area. (Think japanese style indoor public bathhouse.)

As adventurers with monster companions are common, there is even an area to wash them as well.

However, there is still separation between the men and women baths. Never want to give people the temptation at committing a crime, so it’s better to keep things orderly.

In the mens side of the bath, Nova is pouring water from a bucket over Bahina and scrubbing out all of the mud in her fur with a towel.

“Guu… To have Nova scrub me so thoroughly.. I’m getting excited..haah”

“Yeah, yeah. Keep it to yourself you lewd beast.”

“Hnn.. I want to wash Nova too, come here little brother..” Bahina sneak attacks Nova with her tongue, licking him clean.. Well, clean with her saliva.

“Gah! Quit it! You’re going to make me smell bad!” He pops her in the head with the towel.

“Denied again.. Curse these baths, taking away my right to bath Nova in my smell.”

“I’d rather not smell like raw meat and blood while in town, thank you very much. All the mud is out of your fur now, let’s get in the bath.”

They then enter the large pool of heated water.

By using mana crystals to power a basic heating spell, the baths can be kept hot during the peaks hours for bathing. This is something an inn can afford to do, since buying the mana crystals is easy for them. But for families who live in homes, it would cost too much to try doing the same for their baths.

As such, families who worked in the adventurer’s outpost would often visit the inn to bath. Such as right now, there were several adult men of various races, some with their sons and some by themselves.

Nova dipped his head in the water, soaking himself in it, then bursts back out of the surface. His long hair is flung back over his shoulders, and because of his elven blood, his face has an elvish look to it. Combined with his long hair however, this elvish look makes him look feminine.

A man a few feet away bathing with his son just saw Nova come back out of the water and fling his hair behind his back, however he slightly blushes at the confusion of Nova’s looks.

“Uhm.. Excuse me miss… This is the men’s bath, I think you might have entered the wrong one..”

Nova looks over at the man.. first he has a confused look.. then he slowly realizes what the man has just said.

“I’m a boy dammit! A boy!” He stands up out of the bath and points at his male identity, his face is red with embarrassment.

“Oh, ahahaha, my mistake lad. You just have quite the pretty face and long hair, I got confused.” Other men in the bath also laugh, causing Nova’s face to get even redder.

*Bahina! I’m definitely getting that haircut.*

*Hehe, but I think this Nova is cute too.. Maybe little brother could be a little sister..*

*WHACK* Nova bops Bahina on the head with a fist, *Who the hell are you calling a little sister?!*

….

Nova goes upstairs in the inn, and finds the room he knows the man from earlier to be staying in.

Earlier he had put his stuff in the room and while he knew this to be risky, he knew the man wouldn’t try running anywhere with his stuff while it was storming outside. Plus the adventurer’s hall was closed, so he couldn’t even sell it anywhere before Nova found out he took it.

Nova is wearing a robe he borrowed from the innkeeper, something to replace his muddied ragged clothes he came with until he got new ones.

Upon entering the room, he spots the man lying the bed, seemingly asleep.

*Guess he was tired.. Oh well. I’ll go sell the stuff in the morning, and pay him. Let’s get up early tomorrow.*

*Nnn, I’m quite tired as well.. Never got to have a good sleep with my Nova in a while, come herreee little brotherrr..*

Bahina pulls Nova to her with a paw as she begins to lay down on the floor.

*Geez, you’re lucky your fur is so comfortable..*

*Fufu, don’t try to hide the fact that you enjoy being cuddled, are souls are connected little brother..*

*Shush..*

Laying against the furry body of his older sister, Nova and Bahina fall into a light sleep of which they became accustomed to from living in the wilderness for so long.

….

The next morning, the sky has cleared up. The rays of the sun shine down on the adventurer’s outpost, slowly drying the muddied ground.

The light peeks in through the window of room twenty three, landing on a cloaked figure sleeping under the blankets of the bed.

Slowly, the figure rises out of the bed, and stretches while yawning.

(Fuu.. To think that the alcohol would be so strong.. Maybe my tolerance is too low..)

Currently her illusion is no longer active, and her smooth black hair rolls down her shoulders as her hood falls back. Her mist blue eyes scan the room, taking in her surroundings.

(Ah! Where’s that guy? Did he run away?! Looks like it.. Tsk, if I ever see him again I’ll teach him some lessons on justice.)

She shifts her legs out of the bed, touching her feet to the floor. Standing up, she stretches again, loosening up her limbs.

(Ahhh, that feels nice. I guess I can change out of this leather and wash my skin with a rag and water. Wouldn’t want to give away my identity by going to the baths.)

She begins stripping herself of the hide leather armor, cloak, and everything else revealing the figure trapped beneath.

Her smooth, dark-gray skin reflects the light coming through the window. Her black hair rolls down her back and shoulder, resting itself upon her breasts. They’re humble in size, but not too small. Her figure has nice curves, with a small waist but a good sized butt. Her legs are smooth, and give off a womanly allure that would guide a man’s eyes to the treasure hidden between them.

Although she is nearly twenty years old, she only looks to be about fourteen compared to human standards. Elves develop slower, but once they reach their peak they’ll stay there for a very long time.

As she begins taking a washrag, drowning it in water from the faucet sink in the room, which is created by using a water spout spell and powered by a mana crystal, she wipes the grim built up on her skin.

Right at this moment, the door to the room opens, and she freezes in shock.

“Sir! I’m back from the adventurer’s hall and running a few errands. I can pa-”

She stares in shock at Nova, who has just entered the room. His hair has been cut short, to a shaggy-medium length, with his bangs brushed to the side. The stripes of black hair have been straightened out, and his the deep red hair, black stripe pattern can be seen. His golden irises, are staring straight at her, as if they’re afraid to move. His clothes have changed to simple black cloth shirt and shorts, but still no shoes.

His mouth is hanging open from having been frozen mid-sentence, and his cheeks are slowly turning bright red.

“DIE PERVERT!” She grabs her knife and throws it at him.

“SORRY!!!” He runs out of the room, slamming the door shut right as the knife lands in the door.

Nova Chapter List