Chapter 115 The Rush

An unknown time later, Evernya opened her vibrantly glowing eyes with a refreshed, tranquil expression. “How do you feel, my lady?” Her AI asked.

Evernya stretched her arms above her head, causing several cracks to sound throughout her shoulders and spine before responding, “Amazing, better than I’ve ever felt.”

Unable to resist testing out her body, Evernya scooted over to the edge of her bed, this time sliding off onto her feet with no hesitation. She noticed a drastic difference as she took several graceful steps forward, as if weightless. “Why do I feel so light? Am I that much stronger, or did I lose some weight? I did shrink after all.” Evernya inquired as she nimbly skipped around the bedroom.

Excited for her host’s progress, the AI enthusiastically replied, “both my lady, your body is both significantly stronger and lighter! To aid in flight, the third awakening cut your weight down to twenty kg, relying on your mana to offset the structural limitations, hence your physical difficulties before retraining your mana system.”

Upon hearing learning her weight, Evernya froze mid-step in shock, questioning out loud, “how the hell am I only twenty kilograms!? Won’t my body break down if I enter an area devoid of mana?”

“You could sustain yourself for a short time with the mana for your mana core, but yes, avoid mana dead zones at all cost.” Replied her AI.

Wonderful, all someone needs to do is stand five meters away with some anti-mana field, and I’m toast. Evernya grumbled mentally as she wandered into the bathroom.

She stopped in front of the mirror to inspect her new appearance up close. Yup, I have horns. However, other than more catlike eyes and a reduction in height, I don’t see any other changes. I don’t get how twenty kilograms translates to a petite but athletically curvy body, but at this point, nothing about my body makes sense. It sucks that I am stuck with the appearance of a teenager for the rest of my life, but it’s better than aging. At least I’m not stuck in the body of a child, though my lack of height puts me damn close. Oh well, no point in dwelling on my vertical challenges. Besides, I look damn cute.

After several minutes of admiring her appearance, Evernya gravitated toward the shower as if it’s calling her. Already naked, Evernya hopped in, closing the glass door behind her before turning on the water jets, shooting steaming scalding water from all directions, including the floor. She jumped in surprise as one such jet shot up a certain hole between her legs, forcing her to position herself away from any invading jets. However, despite her attempts to avoid intrusion, Evernya unconsciously leaned her hips forward, placing her groin at the edge of a jet, causing a pleasant warmth to radiate through her body. Evernya closed her eyes as her muscles slacken relaxed by the water jets, spraying every nook and cranny of her body.

After a few seconds, the water jets seemingly gain a life of their own as they randomly vary pressure and location, turning Evernya’s body into mush, starting up a loud motor, causing it to echo off the shower. Just as her legs gave out, a padded chair ascended from the floor, catching her limp body, allowing the jets to continue to assault their victim, eradicating any particle of filth.

By the time the jets finished conquering their victim an hour later, Evernya was fast asleep with a smile of contentment plastered on her face. A gentle breeze of warm air dried the napping Draecath without disturbing her.

Several hours later, Evernya’s eyes fluttered open, but she remained still on the chair for several more minutes, basking in the lingering aftereffects of the best shower she ever had. Wow, how could any shower top that? I’ll definitely have to try it out again before I leave, but for now, I probably should get moving now.

Reluctantly, Evernya dragged her sluggish body out of the shower and into the bedroom. She stared at the inviting bed for a moment before stumbling out of the bedroom down the hall leading toward the living room. By the time she made it to the couch, her body returned to its usual graceful self.

After plopping down on the comfy black leather couch in the living area, a thought came to her prompting her to ask, “why can’t I sustain myself with the mana from my mana core? I have a ton of it way more than I can take in through my fangs from the air.”

Her AI didn’t answer right away as she was busy downloading the schematics to a certain shower her host enjoyed. Once done with the download, a few seconds later, the AI answered, “Drawing mana from your mana core to sustain your baseline functions is incredibly inefficient. There is a reason the rotation I sent you relies solely on the mana from your surroundings. During the process of converting and condensing mana into your mana core, several key nutrients get stripped away. This process severely limits the nutritional value of mana stored in your mana core. As a result, this makes mana stored in your mana core malleable to magical feats or powering enchantments, but useless sustaining your body. It’s possible to take sustenance from your stored mana, but at the cost of wasting over ninety-five percent of the used mana. Even with your reserves, you have ten minutes at most before your mana depletes, killing you.”

“Does that mean I don’t need to eat and drink as much?” Evernya inquired.

“No, you will need to consume more because, with your higher mana grade, you require more mana to replenish your reserves. I would suggest at least three major high mana meals, preferably in liquid form a day, to sustain a healthy Draecath body. The issue with mana from the air is it diminishes too quickly. A proper meal of at least four liters of mana of decent quality will circulate through your system for about an hour, compared to a few seconds per breath of mana taken in through your fangs. Plus, it’s healthy for a Draecath to suck mana directly from another mana system at least once every couple of days. According to my data, no one knows why, but sucking the mana out of another being’s mana system provides astonishing benefits, including a slight uptick in the recipient’s mana grade if their meal has a higher mana grade. Plus, there’s always the orgasmic reward.”

Evernya’s face reddened, battling between embarrassment and arousal as she asked, “so I could theoretically live on sucking others dry?”

Her AI continued, having expected her host’s question, “Yes, but it’s not realistic as you have experienced yourself. No matter how experienced a Draecath is, a good meal directly from another being will turn them into an orgasmic mess, leaving them vulnerable. Despite the slight loss in nutrition, it is preferable to first remove the mana from a closed-off mana system, either by eating mana rich meat or siphoning the mana out into liquid form. Once the mana contacts air, most of the nutrients that induce euphoria in Draecath dissipate, allowing a Draecath to drink or eat their meal without the worry of leaving themselves vulnerable.”

Note to self always air out all mana before consuming in public. Evernya commented mentally before changing the subject. “So, did you choose a name yet?”

Her AI silenced for several minutes before a petite, black-haired, purple horned Draecath wearing a French maid outfit appeared in front of Evernya, causing her to jump in surprise. The new arrival’s purple slitted eyes sparkled in amusement as she bowed in greeting. “Hello, my name is Kya. I’ll be taking care of you from now on.”

Upon hearing a familiar voice in her head, Evernya relaxed as she glared at her AI. “Why did you surprise me? And how do you have a body?” Evernya questioned.

Despite a smug smile, her AI apologized, “I’m sorry, my lady, but I couldn’t resist. To better fit in with my host, they programmed me with several Draecath tendencies such as high curiosity and a slight lack of impulse control, though at a toned-down level. As for how I got a body.” Kya stepped through the coffee table in front of the couch before continuing, “unfortunately, I don’t have a body, but your words freed me from another order allowing me to create a virtual body.”

No longer on the defensive, Evernya dropped back on the couch and inspected her AI’s virtual body, causing Kya to do a little twirl, proudly showing off her creation. Standing a few centimeters taller than Evernya, clad in a formfitting French maid outfit showing off her petite body and modest bust, Kya stared at her host with an expected look on her pretty face.

Evernya quickly caught on to what her AI wanted, obliging, “I like your design, but why the French maid outfit and purple horns?”

Buoyant from her host’s praise, Kya’s face lit up in a brilliant smile, showing her virtual fangs poking out from her upper lips. “Being a personal AI, I figured it would be appropriate to wear a maid outfit. As for my choice of coloring, that one is more complicated. To understand my choice, you first need to learn about Draecath hierarchy. All Draecath have black hair and pale skin, but their coloring varies depending on their heritage. For example, Highborn Draecath come in three colors of varying shades, which happened to be what you call prime colors red, blue, and yellow. The closer you are to prime coloring higher your status within Draecath society. Every time a Draecath of different coloring mate, there is a chance their offspring blends their coloring, deluding their potential. Over time, more prime Draecath interbreed, creating Secondary Draecath green, purple, and orange. These Secondary Draecath then mixed further, giving birth to the common Draecath or Tertiary encompassing any non-primary or secondary colored Draecath. Secondary and Tertiary Draecath are still powerful in their own right. Still, their mixed coloring weakens them significantly, cutting them off from one or more psionic types and reducing their overall mana grade potential. As for you, your mother is a Secondary dark green Draecath while your father was Primary deep blue, giving you a decent chance of inheriting a prime coloring. As for me, how could I choose a prime coloring as an AI serving a prime Draecath? My specific choice came down to purple because your coloring is blue while your mate has red eyes creating purple.”

What a simple but effective hierarchy system. I find it sad that those of mixed coloring can’t compete, but at least it isn’t some bullshit human nobility thing where they aren’t physically any better than a peasant yet still looked down on them. I don’t know much about Draecath society, but at least I have a leg up being a prime colored Draecath. Though my mother seems powerful despite her secondary coloring, Evernya thought.

As Evernya’s eyes roamed the black and green apartment, a realization clicked. “This is my mother’s apartment, isn’t it?”

Freed from another order, Kya replied, “yes, it is. As you probably have noticed yourself, your coloring significantly affects your design choices. Draecath fashion mostly consists of black with accents of that specific Draecath’s coloring, hence your affinity for black and blue.”

Holy crap, no wonder I’ve always gravitated towards dark colors, typically black and blue, even when I was human. Let’s not talk about my extended goth phase in middle school and high school! Sometimes I wish my memory wasn’t so vivid!

Evernya shook her head to clear her cringe filled memories as she thought. I have to say I approve of Draecath fashion. I don’t have to worry about choosing the color of my outfits when I only need to deal with two colors. Some may call it boring, but to me, it’s convenient. Any further thoughts fell at the wayside when the lights flickered, as the mana density in the air dipped. Evernya gasped for breath before the mana levels recovered a moment later.

Unsurprised, Kya glanced up at the lights as if she really was looking at them before commenting, “that’s our cue, my lady. The mana batteries sustaining the facility need time to recharge. Unfortunately, when the living staff abandoned the facility, they disconnected the main mana lines limiting us to mana batteries charged by an artificial lay line, which has a limited output far below the needed mana to power this facility.”

Panicked, Evernya stared at Kya’s avatar as if they could die at any second. “We need to get out of here now! What if the mana cut off!? You said so yourself I wouldn’t survive without mana!”

Still unconcerned, Kya replied, “don’t worry, my lady, we have plenty of time.”

Evernya sucked in a deep breath while stroking her tail with trembling hands, trying to calm her nerves as she questioned, “I thought we had over a week. It’s only been a few days. Why is the mana already depleted?”

“It has been over a week. You spent five days retraining your mana system.” Kya revealed.

Evernya’s eyes widened in surprise, exclaiming, “five days!? How? Why am I not hungry!?”

“The mana in this facility is extra dense and pure, specially designed to sustain a Draecath as it negates the need of supplementary mana outside of mana depleted through exertion,” Kya explained as she ordered her robot army to prepare her host’s supplies.

With a quick mental command, both the current time in both the facility and Sespina displayed themselves in her vision. Upon seeing the current date in Sespina, Evernya shot to her feet, pacing the living room. “Why didn’t you tell me the entrance exams are today!?” Evernya questioned.

“Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about that backwater college,” Kya sneered.

Upon catching her AI’s expression, Evernya glared accusingly. “If I have a near-perfect memory, there is no way an AI such as yourself could forget.”

While keeping a perfectly straight expression on her cute virtual face, Kya said, “I don’t know what you are talking about, my lady.”

Evernya shook her head in exasperation as she turned toward the door leading to the hall. “So, how are we leaving? It’s already 1 am august 17th, only six hours until the exam. Unless we have a portal leading me directly to Meira’s house, we have to factor in travel time too.”

After making a thinking face for a few seconds, Kya replied, “the portal at the end of this hall will lead us to your inheritance vault. From the vault, I don’t know without maps of the area, but according to your memories, all we need to do is make it to the nearest city to hitch a ride on the portal network to Druth.”

While gesturing to her sapphire blue horns, Evernya inquired, “Won’t these be a problem?”

With an apologetic expression, Kya responded, “I’m sorry, my lady, but without learning more about this Sespina Federation, I cannot say for sure, but I’m sure we will find a way.”

“So let me get this straight. I have to rush across a potentially hostile country in less than six hours,” Evernya commented, pinching her brow in frustration.

With an optimistic expression, Kya assured, “I’m sure it will be fine. If you’re worried, we can call Meira once we find phone reception.”

Another dip in mana puffed Evernya’s tail, causing her to dash toward the door leading to the hall. As Evernya approached the door, it opened on its own, granting her access to the hall. Evernya ignored the boring concrete walls and dimming plants she now knew are rich in mana in favor of jogging to the right. A minute later, she reached a familiar vault door. She spun the handle before pulling it open as if it was weightless.

Well, one thing’s for sure. I’m a lot stronger than my previous stay here. That damn door took forever to open way back then! Evernya marveled as she made her way up the stairs, taking two steps at a time.

At the top of the stairs, a familiar light greeted her in the form of a white rippling portal inside an arch at the opposite side of the otherwise empty twenty meter by twenty meter room. Without hesitation, Evernya darted toward the portal as if her life depended on it, only for her to bounce off an invisible wall upon contacting the rippling white portal.

Evernya rebounded off the portal as if hitting a trampoline, skidding to a halt several meters away. Curious and confused, Evernya cautiously approached the portal again, this time tentatively poking it with her right pointer finger. “Why can’t I go through?” Evernya inquired as she continued to poke her finger into the rubbery membrane of the portal.

Kya appeared in her vision to her right while slowly shaking her head at her host’s antics. “Do you have any idea how much mana it would take to maintain a portal between dimensions? To give you an idea. To keep a portal of this size open for a few minutes, it would take several tanks on par with the one you evolved into a Draecath. Currently, the portal is only in standby mode since it takes more mana to build a new portal than maintain this one without a destination.”

With a hint of desperation in her glowing sapphire blue eyes, Evernya ordered, “what are you waiting for? Open it. I can feel the mana dropping.”

Kya stilled with a faraway look as if she was communicating with something before responding, “I’m sorry, my lady, but please hold on for a few more minutes. My robots are transporting essential supplies from storage.”

“I don’t care about some supplies I want to get out of here as soon as I can!” Evernya exclaimed as she felt another dip of mana, causing her breath to hitch for a moment.

Kya flashed an apologetic look before turning her attention to her robots, commanding them to pick up the pace.

Several agonizing minutes later, Evernya’s sensitive ears picked up the sound of approaching robots. A moment later, a dozen robots gathered in the room, each carrying a crate as wide and tall as Evernya’s short stature. The last robot carried up a cart, placing it in front of the portal. The other robots stacked their crates on the cart before backing away, giving space for Evernya to sit down on the bench seat at the front of the cart.

After performing a few last-minute calculations, Kya announced, “okay, my lady, I will open the portal momentarily.”

After receiving a nod from her host, Kya powered up the portal, causing the room to dim as the mana thinned, straining against the load. Evernya gasped for breath, slumping against the bench seat as her body rapidly weakened.

Fortunately, within seconds, the portal brightened, showing a distorted image of the vault room. Unable to propel itself forward under its own weight, several robots piled in behind the cart, giving it a push to send it rolling through the portal, just barely fitting its bulky form through the archway.