As clarity began to return to me, I realized what the fluid on my face was, and why my head hurt so much.

"..I'm bleeding? Why? The hell just happened.. We were just eating sandwiches and then.. Then.. Did we get hit by a Fragment? Erin! Raynolia! Lucious! Erik! Are you guys okay?"

While hollaring to the best of my ability, I felt unsure of whether or not they'd be able to hear me, as I couldn't even hear myself.

Feeling around as my vision slowly returned, I nearly jumped as I felt a large hand pat me on the back. Turning around, I vaguely saw the titan through blurry eyes, who seemed to be as battered as I felt.

As my sight continued to recover, I saw his mouth move, and shook my head in reply. While trying and failing to read the titan's lips, I tried to ignore my aching pains and spoke.

"Sorry. I can't hear you. I can't hear myself either. If you can hear me, please nod. If you're reading my lips but can't hear me, hold up two fingers. If you're like me and can't do either.. well.. We're pretty fucked."

I felt a wave of relief as the titan nodded, before extending out his hand and helping me to my feet. Looking around, I witnessed the horrid ruin that remained of the once cozy smithy.

As my gaze landed on a familiar shaft, I coiled several of my tails around the titan's hand for support and began dragging my weapon out from the rubble.

"I guess we got kind of lucky, eh, Erin? Honestly, It's surprising that we don't have horribly mangled limbs and broken bones after an impact like that..

The broken stones look like they're more than enough to do someone in too.. We should've been the ones hit the hardest by the impact, so the elves and Erik should be alright, right?"

While trying to maintain a facade of being calm amidst the rapidly growing feelings of panic and anxiety as I began using the spear as a walking stick amidst the eerie silence.

As the titan lead me out from the ruined building, relief washed over me as I saw the elves and titan, who looked a lot less haggard than I felt, though Erik looked remarkably depressed.

"Before you guys say anything, I'll say it now, I'm sorry, but I won't be able to hear you. My hearing's more fucked than a lady in a brothel. And that's one hell of a statement."

I cracked the best smile I could manage as I began wiping the blood off my face with the long blue bolt of silken cloth hanging from my spear.

"So, by any chance, do you guys happen to conveniently know sign language? If not, I'm really unsure how we'll be able to communicate.. Eh, what's that weird looking thing you're holding, Luci?"

As the elf stepped forward, she pressed the object that looked remarkably like a stamp against my face. As she did, it began to glow, and I felt a soothing sensation pulsing through my body.

In an instant, almost as if nothing had ever happened, my aches and pains completely vanished, and I realized my sense of hearing had already returned as Lucious began to speak.

"L'ja Skammr Fresta. A brief respite. It can heal just about anything short of having your body torn to pieces, in the blink of an eye. But, it has one problematic downside.

Starting three days later, you feel twice the amount of pain the injuries would cause, for the same amount of time you'd suffer if they weren't healed."

My overflowing awe and amazement towards the magical stamp-like object vanished in an instant, and was replaced by abject horror.

While feeling tears threatening to well up in my eyes at the thought, I recoiled away from the stamp-like thing as if she were holding out a viper.

"..That's just evil.. Well fuck me, the plan is pretty screwed. And things are just going to be getting worse from this point on, aren't they?

My ears drooped as I received a unanimous nod in reply, and sighed tightening my grip around my spear. I wiped my eyes, and asked the all important question.

"So, what do we now that the smithy is a total wreck? Start a bonfire and roast marshmallows until the Shards start showing up?"

I relaxed slightly as I felt Erin gently place his hand on my head, and raised my ears up towards him as I heard the titan begin to speak.

"Don't worry yer pretty little head about it, lass. Clear out the rubble, and ye'll see that our cellar is just fine. We built it sturdy and melded it, there should be no problems surviving getting hit by Fragments."

To my surprise, Raynolia cracked a mischievous grin, and commented with a chuckle. As he spoke, he began running his fingers through Lucious's messy hair.

"Yeah, it's survived all the crazy things Erik has made just fine, a Fragment or three shouldn't be able to make a dent in it."

In response to the comment from Raynolia, Erik flicked the elf's ear. Tails twitching with a sudden surge of curiosity, I couldn't stop myself from asking the question.

"..Uhm, Erin.. Now that he's said that, I kinda want to know.. From the sound of it, the smithy getting wrecked like this isn't all that unusual?"

As I turned to look up at the titan expectantly, he simply responded with a wry smile, a shrug, and he began slowly stroking the top of my head.

"It is fairly unusual, aye. Normally, Erik would only wreck half the place. Making a hole in the roof, breaking a door, or shattering a few windows.

Ye can chat all ye'd like later, it's time to get clearing rubble. Veina Iae will wait for no one, and ye probably don't want to be out in the open when she arrives."

With a pout, I flicked my ears back and sighed, before beginning stretching as I prepared myself for the coming labour.

"One thing I want to know though.. Those huge pieces of crystal.. You said they were called a Fragment, right? ..They look kinda like they're big lumps of krion?"

"You're not wrong about that, Arata. The Fragments are massive krion crystals. Shards can only be born from an intact Fragment though, and not from normal krion crystals."

As I crouched down to begin picking up the large pieces of broken stone, I paused, and turned to look towards the elves and titans for instruction.

"Start by the doorway, lass, and work ye way in. Raynolia and Lucious, the two of ye should join her in clearing the lighter things. Ye can just throw out anything broken or cracked."

With a salute to the titan, I gave the elves a glance, before beginning the work with a sigh while turning my ears away from the mess before me.

"We're gonna get all sweaty and dusty from this, aren't we? All this dust and what not won't stick to my tail fluff.. I hope. Really don't want any of this stuff in my ears either."

While throwing a large stone to the side, I turned my head to glance at the elves as I heard Lucious mention my name in a very amused tone of voice.

"Of all things to worry about in this situation, Arata, you're worring about whether or not you'll need to bathe? Not the massive Fragments raining down, or Veina Iae's march towards the village, but instead whether or not you're going to have to clean your fur?

..Does being around a male while you're in season affect a vixen's thoughts that much? That's actually kind of scary."

While replying, I simply shrugged and flicked my tails to the side as I pulled another large piece of rubble out of doorway and moved it to the side.

"I have no idea. It's my first time being in heat, so I don't think I can objectively tell you the difference. Other than being really damn turned on all the time. But there's no point in worrying myself to death over something I can't do anything about, right?"

As I carefully began clearing away the splintered chunks of wreckage that had previously been the smithy's large wooden door, I turned my ears back towards the elves as Raynolia spoke up.

"Well, that's a fair point. Though, Arata, you do look like you're quite nervous.. Are you worried because of Veina Iae's Fragments? Or are you just having difficulty keeping your desire to mate under control?"

"Of course I'm not. After all, I'm a diligent and dependable girl who has her priorities straight.. Ah screw it. Okay, okay, stop giving me that look of disbelief. I'll admit it, it's hard."

I sulkily tossed chunks of the broken door aside, along with the last remnants of my dignity, and began pouting as I heard Lucious laugh.

The next moment, a sudden chill ran up my spine, along with the feeling that something was looking at me. As my heart began pounding in my chest, I froze in place, desperately trying to keep my calm.

"There's nothing to get so embarassed about, it's the mating season after all. Though I'm curious, Arata, what's your preferred type of male? Hmm? Arata?"

My tail fur began standing on end as my ears barely caught the sound of something quietly moving for a brief instant. As I looked toward the direction out of the corner of my eye, I heard Raynolia speak in a low tone.

"..Luci. There is one. Arata, on the count of six, get the spear, and be ready. One.. Two.. Three.. Four.."

As the elf began counting, I slowly breathed out, trying to relax my tense muscles, preparing myself to face the source of my fear.

"Five.. Six!"

The instant Raynolia finished counting, I leaped backwards from the doorway, only to see a flash of something dark cleave through the stones of the doorway in which I had been standing.

Ignoring the pain in my feet, I dashed across the broken stones to grab the spear off the ground. Spinning around as I caught hold of it, a shiver ran up my spine as I saw two massive ebon limbs reach down to make contact with the stone floor with a rasp.

As the creature eerily descended down from above like an oversized spider, the limbs twisted disturbingly as the other four legs dropped to the ground, bringing itself fully into view.

Long black hair, skin the color of white concrete, a distinctly female figure, and below her hips, was a horrid six legged monstrosity reminiscint of a spider.

With a sound like cracking bones, the creature's head turned like an owl, revealing inky eyes with glowing blue irides, and sweetly smiled.

My blood ran cold as her body contorted with the same noise, before rotating in place with her torso turning in the opposite direction its head had turned, the twisted skin of her neck normalizing as if she had been facing us directly the entire time.

"Arata.. Be careful, don't be deceived by its behavior. A hit from one of those legs can do a titan in, much less us."

While the elf spoke, the monster began to stretch, smiling sweetly as she faced us. Then, to my surprise, it did something completely and utterly out of my expectation.

She raised up her right hand and gestured for us to come, before reaching down to her crotch with her left, and placed her right hand on one of her breasts.

After a moment, I realized what it was doing and my legs nearly gave out under me. The sudden turn of events I was witnessing left me feeling stunned beyond disbelief.

"Wha.. Why.. Why did it.. Why is it.."

While the monster continued playing with her body without any care for the tension or atmosphere, it took a step forward, and blue patterns reminiscent of circuit boards on her legs began to light up.

"It's a Shard, Arata, don't expect any semblance of sanity from it. And more importantly.. It's coming."

Tightening my grasp around my weapon as the Shard took a second step closer, I nearly jumped as one of her rear legs suddenly snapped out towards the remainder of the wall like a whip.

As the limb cleaved into the stone, I flinched as I heard the horrid sound of stone crunching, which was followed by what sounded like a series of expletives from the titan brothers.

Eyes widening as I saw the elves dart torwards the monster, and on a reckless impulse, I followed their lead, only to see the Shard's leg snap out towards me.

As I desperately tried to avoid it, I twisted my body as I leaped aside, and felt a searing pain as its leg grazed mine, gouging out a wound across the surface.

Rolling as I landed, I spun up and onto my good knee, and held up the spear shaft as the leg slammed down towards me. While feeling my bones creak horribly as if they were threatening to break, I barely managed to divert the Shard's leg away.

Gasping for breath to try and calm my pounding heart and heaving chest, and while trying to pin down the Shard's outstretched leg, I heard a howl of rage unlike any other.

Looking up as I put my entire body's weight and strength into attempting to prevent the Shard from moving its leg, I saw one of the titans charge towards it, with a massive anvil in his hands.

I almost let go of the Shard's leg from shock, as he barely even tried to dodge the Shard's attack, and it tore a gaping hole through his side.

The next moment, he unhesitatingly leaped foward, and smashed his anvil down onto the Shard's upper body with a sickeningly wet crunch.

Feeling a spasm in the leg as I watched in awe and horror, the titan relentlessly slammed the anvil onto her body over and over again, and with each blow, the horrible sound and sight seemed even more sickening than before.

Turning away from the nightmarish sight of the Shard's humanoid upper body being crushed into a pulp, I felt my stomach churning, as it seemed as if it were threatening to turn itself inside out.

"I'm going to have nightmares after this.. No doubt about it, this is going to give me nightmares.. Ugh, I feel like throwing up.."

As I began to retch, I heard one of the elves quietly speak up from behind me, before feeling the pain in my leg vanish, followed by a hand, slowly caressing my back.

"..Arata. It's done, the Shard's dead. I'm sorry you saw that happen. Though it was a only a Half Shard.. Erik was a bit excessive. The carcass is starting to melt, so.. It doesn't look so bad anymore."

Glancing over my shoulder towards Raynolia as he tried to comfort me, I forced a weak smile as I tried to suppress my feelings of nausea.

"May I ask.. Does Erik have some kind of serious grudge against Shards or something? I mean, I know it wrecked his smithy, but for him to kill it by relentlessly beating it to a pulp with an anvil like that.."

I turned an ear the opposite direction as I heard Erin's voice, and as I listened to the titan's statement, Erik's overwhelming fury suddenly made sense.

"Well lass, as infuriating as having the smithy ruined might be, Erik wouldn't fly into a rage and ignore ye and his own safety to attack it. Though only a Half Shard, ye can't treat it like a joke.

Ye see, rather than having a ruined smithy, the reason that brother of mine went berserk.. Is that the Half Shard's attack hit him between the legs, and his wound had to be healed with L'ja Skammr Fresta.

There's not a male in this world that wouldn't be enraged after something like that happened, don't ye think, lass?"

My feelings of horror somewhat faded as the reason behind the titan's rage sunk in, and I began to feel pity for Erik as I glanced towards him.

Peeking towards the carcass, I found myself surprised as I witnessed it visibly melting into a puddle of inky fluid, revealing pieces of blue crystal protruding through remaining parts of the carcass.

"..That's really gross. ..Anyway. Why'd you guys call it a Half Shard? Does that mean there's another one of it lurking around here somewhere? Or something else?"

Raynolia replied to my question while patting me on my shoulder, and I began to feel weak in my knees as the tension drained out of me.

"They're called Half Shards when the Shard is formed from a severely damaged Fragment.. Half Shards are.. Luci, do you remember how to translate the phrase so Arata can understand it?"

I turned to look at Lucious, who sighed and shrugged, before knitting her eyebrows for a moment. After a few seconds of thought, she slowly spoke up.

"A feeble, crippled, and retarded creature that's as well developed as a fruit that was stepped on while it formed. It doesn't translate quite right, but it's understandable enough, right, Arata?"

My ears flattened back against my head and I flicked my tails to the side as I heard the elven girl's statement. As a feeling of dread began to gnaw at me from within the pit of my stomach, I asked the question on my mind.

"..Kind of. But.. How could that monster be considered to be feeble or crippled? I mean, there was definitely problems with its head, but can you really call that thing a feeble cripple?

It crushed through that rock wall with more ease than chopping a cabbage. Hell, just diverting the thing's leg made me feel like my bones were going to break. And that's supposed to be weak?"

The next moment, I felt a massive hand gently land on my head, which was followed by Erin's completely unassuring reply.

"Indeed, never look down on yer opponent, lass. Remember, they are the beasts of the runes. They are born of the crystals, and wield the power of the runes as easily as we breathe. In a contest of strength, lass, we will never be their match.

Nor are they stupid, as the Half Shard's attempt at an ambush must have proved to ye. But ye see, lass, they can't learn, nor can they change. But we do."

In response to the titan's statement, I turned around to stare at him long and hard. After a minute had passed, I slowly spoke.

"So you're saying.. We're completely fucked, and we're going to keep getting fucked until somebody figures out how to stop getting fucked?"

"Aye, lass, that's a less nice way to put it. But that's how every behemoth that has fallen has been brought down. Trial and error."

While resisting the urge to find a table to flip, I groaned and buried my face into my hands as I began to seriously regret my choice to stay.

"Lass, though disappointing, ye need to remember, there is no time to sulk. Unless ye'd like to know what it's like to get overrun by Shards, there's work to be done."

Grudgingly, I looked up at the titan and gave a long sigh as I gathered my resolve together. After a moment, I gave Erin a crisp salute, and spun around with a flick of my tails.

"Well, screw it. We just need to clear out the rubble and wait till more monsters to fight appear, right? We've killed one already, so that means we can kill more of them."

"Aye lass, that's the spirit! Ye might make a fine warrior one day. Anyway, ye can head on in now, no more than one Shard can be born from a Fragment, so if another shows up, ye can bet that we'll see it first."

Rolling my eyes at the titan's statement as I felt a pat on the back, I stretched, and looked towards the remainders of the Shard's carcass and muttered.

"I don't know what it means to be a fine warrior, but if becoming a fine warrior means fighting things like that all the time.. I'd rather not be one."

Massaging my shoulders as I sat my rear down alongside Lucious, I grumbled while savoring the fragrance coming from the huge pot Erin was using to cook.

"My shoulders are still so damn sore.. While lifting all those rocks probably made it worse, why doesn't getting that L'ja something or other relieve muscle pain?"

"Arata, are you sure that it's not just from you carrying those big ones around? Anyway, it only heals injuries, it's not a panacea."

Feeling Lucious poking the side of my breast as she replied in a teasing tone, I responded by lightly slapping her hand away with a tail.

"My only problem with carrying these around was that nobody told me that my clothes got messed up by the Shard. While they don't cover much to begin with, you could have at least let me know that my breasts slipped out of my top.."

"There's not much of a difference between what you're wearing and being naked. Besides, the linen's sheer enough to see through when you've been sweating."

I reflexively covered my chest as I looked down, before angrily looking up at my companions with an embarrassed pout, only to see the titans look away, while the elves were visibly trying not to laugh.

"You could've told me that earlier! My dignity.. ..Actually, now that I think about it, I haven't had any semblance of dignity remaining since the time I met you elves."

Raynolia gave me a strange and confused look, before asking a question that left me utterly speechless.

"Why're you bothered by getting seen, anyway? You seemed perfectly happy to be getting seen, touched, and were a bit, erm, enthusiastic earlier. And rather eager to get my pants off.."

After a long moment of silence, I gave a lame reply that couldn't even convince myself of its sincerity.

"W-Well, the first time is because like you said, you drugged me with an aphrodisiac, and then gave me some kind of wine that intensified it..

And then the next time was after I went into heat, and I'm still having a hard time controlling myself.."

"Eh? What're are ye talking about, lass? There isn't such a thing. If there were such a thing as an aphrodisiac, there'd hardly be a difference for ye werebeasts between being in season and not."

I blinked a few times in response to the titan's comment, before turning my head to look back and forth between Raynolia and the titan in confusion.

"Well, lass, since he said that to ye.. I can tell ye he didn't mean any harm. Since he mentioned an aphrodisiac, I'd bet he was trying to not scare ye away by telling ye about Hel's Shadow."

Cocking my head to the side as I listened, I gestured for the titan to continue while giving Raynolia's leg a jab with my foot.

"Hel's Shadow draws out what lurks in the darkest corners of our hearts.. It reminds us of what we wish to forget, gives our fears form, while desires are drawn towards.. I suppose ye could call it Hel's Depravity."

My suspicion towards the elves began to fade, only to be replaced by a gnawing feeling of dread as I recalled how met the elves, and how I had enjoyed it.

"..So you're saying, that by staying here, I'm taking a huge risk? That if I spend too much time in this world, it's going to change me?"

Raynolia sighed and softly spoke, placing a hand on my leg and beginning to gently caress my skin as he replied.

"No, Arata. It already has."

I opened my mouth to disagree, but then stopped, and closed it. Thinking back to my behavior since I had taken my first step in this world, I grimaced as I accepted the fact for what it was.

'Fuck.. He's right. While fantasizing about such scenarios isn't anything strange.. If I actually think about it, my behavior has been anything but normal. Sure, I'm a lewd girl, I've always been.

But lewd girl or not, a sane response to how I met the elves, would be to never fucking touch that machine again, and find a therapist immediately. And not.. What I've been doing since I've met them.'

Feeling Lucious place her hand on my shoulder, I somewhat relaxed, realizing that I had unknowingly begun panicking. As she began patting me on the back, she spoke softly into my ear.

"It's going to be alright, just breathe slowly.. A deep breath in, exhale slowly. Deep breath in, exhale slowly. That's it. Good girl. Remember, what's important is how hasn't it changed you, not how it has changed you. Alright?"

As I began to calm, I saw Erik grab the giant ladle from Erin, before chopping his hand down on Erin's head as he began to furiously scold him.

"Ye damn whalemouthed fool, haven't we told ye countless times to think before ye speak? This is why ye're still a virgin, ye're dumber than the nails ye forge, and ye don't know when ye should keep yer damn mouth shut!"

In response to Erik, Erin furiously leaped up, and I almost looked away as I felt that a fight was about to break out. And to my surprise, Erin silently struck a pose instead.

Almost immediately, Erik followed suit, and I found myself utterly dumbfounded. Gawking in confusion while failing to comprehend what was going on, I rubbed my eyes as a strange tension permeated the air.

My confusion only grew as the titans switched poses, and I began to feel like my head was about to overheat. With tails and ears twitching from nervousness, I turned my head to give the elves a pleading look.

"Don't mind them, Arata, it's a normal titan pose battle. Titans are by far the most peaceful of the races. Although, they can quite scary when furious.. Like you witnessed earlier, when Erik was taking vengeance against the Shard."

My face almost cramped as I heard Raynolia's comment, and I nearly reflexively retorted in response the sheer bizarreness of it.

'The hell is even going on anymore? We went from fighting Veina Iae's Shard, to discovering that I had been mind fucked and corrupted, like a genuine hentai heroine, without even knowing it..

Now I'm witnessing two titans doing what seems to be some sort of bodybuilding competition or something, while they're cooking a stew, in the midst of being besieged by like, the seventh most horrifying monster in existence?'

Feeling seriously ready to flip a table, I grabbed the massive ladle and began stirring the stew contained within the oversized cooking pot.

"So then, while the titans.. Battle it out, do you elves have any ideas on what to do to pass the time? Like, for example, singing songs or something?"

Raynolia grinned at me and replied, while wrapping his arm around Lucious's shoulder. Looking at the elves as I stirred the stew, I began to feel envious as I listened to Raynolia.

"That's a pretty great idea, Arata. Singing is a great way to lift spirits. So, Arata, won't you start it off by singing a song for us all?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden request from the elf, and sighed as I saw the elves' expectant smiles. Glancing around as I took a deep breath, I quietly replied as a song came to mind.

"Well, fine.. I guess there's an original one I could sing for you elves.. But promise you won't laugh, alright? It's unfinished and could use a good bit of editing, and it's probably pretty bad.. Anyway, here goes."

With a second deep breath to calm myself, I began to sing, while watching the elves' reactions as I hoped that I wasn't about to publicly embarrass myself.

"If I could have one more day, I would take you as my prey. Bring me higher, tear it away. I'm loving you like a wildfire, gonna mark you with my desire.

So come get a little closer now, can you feel it, burning beneath my breast? You brought it on, you turned me on.

Kiss me with desire, hold me tight. You've got me all alight, you've made me yours tonight. I'll be your Scheherazade, and you'll be my king.

Under the moon's soft white, in the depths of our passions alight. Together, one thousand, and one nights, will pass like a day.

Tear away my robes and crown, no need for time or reason, I'm all ablaze in my season. Hold me tighter, you've made me a wildfire, I'm burning with desire, a passion like fire.

With your hand on my thigh, and your breath on my skin, I'll ride my love who lies beneath me. Love and desire, in the swing of my hips. Passion and fire, as I kiss your lips.

All alight, through the night. Til the dawn, let's go on, keeping the passion ablaze. Hearts and bodies intertwined, making love in the moon's soft light.

Hold me tight, we're mating tonight. I love the look in your eyes, and the taste of your lips. The sound of your cries, as I shake my hips.."

I trailed off as titans stopped their pose battle, only to have the elves and titan all stare at me in silence. Amid the awkward silence that followed, my tails began to squirm as I started to feel nervous.

"..What's wrong? Why're the four of you looking at me like that? Was I singing off-key? Or was it.. Really that bad of a song?"

The silence from the onlookers broke as Erik coughed. As the titan sat down, he began replying while continuing to give me a strange look with a raised eyebrow.

"Honestly, lass, yer song left me unsure of what to think of it. While yer song sounds nice, it also sounds like ye're requesting that someone take ye to bed and mate. Did ye write the song while ye were in season or something?"

My ears flattened with a mix of frustration and annoyance, and I replied while turning away with a grumpy swish of my tails.

"If I were going to be doing that, I'd openly proposition the person. While I admit that I'm feeling horny as fuck and that it's hard to control myself around you men, but I still have some semblance of my dignity.. I think."

"Lass, ye might just want to care less about dignity and more about getting them tails of yers away from the fire before it spreads to yer fur."

As I heard the titan's reply, I pulled my tails back and scrambled away as I felt my heart seemingly lurch with a burst of panic.

Frantically looking over my tails while I checked for any signs of fire or burnt fur, I began to relax as I realized that no harm had been done.

While turning around to face Erik, I grumpily pouted and glared at the titan while folding my arms beneath my breasts. In response, the titan simply smiled and shrugged.

"..Anyway, it's been remarkably peaceful despite the fact there's an artillery fort turned monster girl on her way to destroy the village.

I kinda expected to feel a lot more like we're under siege, I've only heard like.. A total of six impacts so far, including the one that hit us. Why is that?"

Cocking my head to the side with curiosity as I saw the elves exchange a glance with waggling ears, I heard Erin speak up in a gloomy tone of voice.

"Aye lass, didn't expect ye to notice that. And the answer to ye question, is that before Veina Iae reaches our village, she'll be passing through Retheuil and Buzancy."

With a shrug of my shoulders, I replied, unsure of how to react to the titan's statement. Glancing towards the elves, I gave them a pleading look as I waited for an explanation.

"Ye see, lass, Retheuil and Buzancy are our sister villages. The problem is that them damned orcs have long been intent on logging Retz, and taking control of the quarries shared between the villages of the forest.

And ye can bet yer rump that they'll try to take advantage of it. Forcing their way in to plunder the land while praising themselves to the skies for their benevolence in offering aid to the depraved elves and werebeasts."

Looking back and forth between the titans and elves, I shrugged, and turned one ear towards each duo as I heard Lucious begin softly speaking.

"As Erin has said, the Orcs are our biggest problem. While Veina Iae may destroy all in her path, the major worry is the orcs. Because as he already said, they'll try and seize the lands."

As the elves began speaking to the titans in what sounded like french, I lied down on my side. While letting my thoughts wander, I ran my fingers over the shaft of the spear I had been given.

'I'm starting to think.. That my decision to get into the machine might not have been a bad one. It's been strange, terrifying.. And exhilarating.

New companions, new friends, new sights, new experiences. Horrifying monsters, lusty and intimate moments, all sorts of strange and exciting things that can't be found in the real..'

Closing my eyes as I held the spear shaft to my chest, tears began to threaten to well up as I tightly gripped the cold metal pressed against my skin.

'..And I'm scared, Dana. When I think about the fact that this isn't the real world.. I almost don't want to return. A place where I'm not treated like a pathetic, unsightly leftover.. I'm afraid of seeing all this disappear.

I am me, not anyone else, I can't be anyone else. Arata, not Tae, I'm not some deluded fugue patient. They're completely wrong.. Hey, Dana. If my disappearance would bring Tae back, would you miss me?'

All of a sudden, my body stiffened as I heard a familiar voice whispering by my ear. A shudder ran through me as it spoke, and my mind blanked out as I opened my eyes wide.

"Ssshh, Arata, I am here. Can you guess who it is? There's no need to be afraid, I'm right here. Hasn't the old goblin told you many times that you should face the person speaking to you?"