It was a blessedly cool morning. The war between the fairies raged, as with every morning. It didn’t pause in respect for their passing. The war of nature continued uncaring.

They didn’t join their family for a morning breakfast or tearful goodbyes, it was time to go and the faster they were on the road towards Northwind village the better. It was their first stop.

Windy nipped at him, as he brushed her down before putting the saddle on her. He fed her the last of the pork he cut that morning. She chomped down the meat quickly and licked the blood from his hand. He enjoyed feeding and brushing Windy, she was a very sweet animal when you got to know her. “Who am I riding with? You or the not food.” Trixie said.

She wore a robe with a hood to shield her face from the harsh sun. Her tentacles eased out of her hood and wrapped around his wrist. They moved about up and down his arm, her big yellow eyes looked up at him pleading.

“You are going to ride with Margarette. I might need to fight, and I could hurt you if you rode with me. When I’m swinging my axe and beheading the bandits, I can’t be careful.” Her tentacles fell off his arm.

“Fine then.” She burbled and walked over to Margarette. Markus shook his head in exasperation. She would be the reason why he’d died of a heart attack at an early age. What was his life expectancy with her around 15 maybe 16 if he was lucky? “Most would say its until I’m an adult.” Markus rolled his eyes.

“I’m ten tons of no one wants to mess with me. My skull can rip through boulders with a headbutt.” Markus muttered telepathically.

“Skull cracking is an art, they all have weaknesses even yours. Should we roll play. I’m the big bad Mind flayer and you’re my helpless master. Or maybe we can shake it up. You’re my powerful master taking everything he wants from the poor little mind flayer.” Trixie said.

“Did you get into Margarette’s books?” Markus asked. She burbled keeping her hood down.

“She has some good stories of monster tamers trying to tame mighty centaur stallions only for the mighty stallion to turn the tables on his mistress all night long. I thought you humans fantasized about power plays.” Trixie said. Markus felt his face heat up and not for the first time, he thought that maybe his cousin was more trouble than she was worth.

“Ok, first no I’m not into power play fantasies. Second, my dick would rip you in two. And third I enjoy your company too much to need a gimmick to spice things up.” Markus said.

“Talking about your dick, how forward of you my naughty master. Shall we go back to my room, so I can show you how stretchy this naughty monster can be?” She looked up smiling with all her sharp teeth. He picked the silly mind flayer up and hugged her.

“Thank you for trying to take my mind off leaving. I appreciate it Trixie.” He felt her head tentacles wrap around his face. They were coated in slime and pleasantly cool to the touch.

“Anytime Markus, but next time stop me before it gets too embarrassing.” Trixie said.

“I knew it you were together. Its just like the centaur and the maiden.” They froze, and both turned to look at Margarette. The tentacles retracted back into the hood.

“Trixie will ride with you. If we get attacked they’re bound to hit me with either magic or arrows. I would prefer to keep you both safe.” She mounted her horse and helped Trixie up.

“Makes sense you look like a knight atop windy. If you were wearing armor some might mistake you for a hero aspirant.” Margarette said.

“You flatter me but we both know I look like an oversized farm boy trying and failing to look like a noble.” Markus said.

“If you would just lose the straw hat you would be fine.” Margarette mumbled. Markus gave a mental command and Windy took off.

He trained her to respond to burst of psychic energy. As a partial dark type, she couldn’t truly be affected by psychic power, but she could still feel it brush her by. That was they key to training her.

They galloped fast for a while then slowed to a steady trot. Windy wasn’t breathing hard. She was half phantasmal most physical needs were unnecessary. Even his weight was negated by her nature. He might as well be a hat to her. A typing he was interested in. The only problem was the price 10,000,000. More than he was likely to see in his lifetime.

As they traveled south they met many groups of knights traveling north. They waved a multitude of banners and moved in orderly lines. Wagons of supplies traveled behind them. Black smiths, lore wardens, enchanters, and alchemists followed with the wagons. Even merchants traveled hoping to buy some shiny enchanted artefact off a knight and set themselves for life.

One group carried a lion banner and stopped them. “Lady Margarette is that you? Who is this man riding with you? Why is he dressed so funnily?” One of the knights asked.

She looked over at Markus then back to the knight. “He is my cousin and my escort, Markus of Might.” The knight rode up close and held out a gauntleted hand. It looked more like a metal claw than a hand. He shook it anyway.

The man pulled trying to knock him off his horse. Markus didn’t move. “I’ve knocked many a squire from their horse that way you’re the first to walk into the trap without falling off their horse. Your skilled and that’s something to be proud of. I’m guessing you’re on your way to the academy.” Markus nodded his head keeping his face stony. “See that they make something of you then boy. I didn’t know boys could look like men at thirteen.” Whispers went through the group of knights. Most were about him being thirteen.

“Who is that in the robe. A hand maiden of yours Margarette?” The knight asked.

“No Alexander, it’s a mind flayer.” The man chuckled.

“Good humor, something your father lacks. I’m glad you took after your mother. Tell the girl to be warier, when she wakes up.” He turned to Markus. “As for you, young man. See that you watch after Margarette. She’s a good girl.” Alexander kicked his horse and his men joined him going down the road.

“But I really am a mind flayer.” Trixie said. Markus snorted and nudged Windy back into a trot.

Northwind came into view midday. The guards let them in easily enough. “Why didn’t you warn them about the second demon lord?” Markus asked. Margarette shook her head.

“They couldn’t have turned tail without looking like deserters. That’s a quick and easy way to meet the headsman. No, its better to send a letter to my father and let the noble council and the king act on the information.” He paid the fifty points to have Windy put up and an extra fifty to have fresh meat brought to her.

“Easy on the points tuition is 20,000. I hope you also have enough for room and board.” Margarette said. Markus blinked and blinked again.

“That’s a lot of points. I might have to enter a dungeon to pay that off.” She chuckled.

“Surely you jest. A dungeon to pay for tuition. You might as well head to fight the demon lord.” Margarette said.

“No, I could probably handle a few floors at least.” She shook her head.

“Unless you have an army at your back I don’t recommend it. Dungeons this close to haven have to be strong to survive. A single floor has a standing army of mobs and a story that the adventurer must play through. Even safe zones that allow them to leave. Not to mention all the unique monsters bred within a dungeon. I heard a set of bog Hag eggs were sold in this very city. They were golden and the hatched bog hags were beautiful. They each went for 10,000 and 100,000 in haven. Those are the type of things you find in a dungeon. The adventurer who got them journeyed through the bog and was quested by a dryad. Do you think you can do something like that?” Markus still had three of those eggs in his inventory. He sold off the first three to see what they would go for once they hit haven. He felt screwed over by that deal.

“That wasn’t a dungeon and it wasn’t very hard to track down the Bog Hag. The Dryad gave me a compass that tracked the thing. Pa gave me his bow for the hunting trip. It made killing the mother easier.” Markus said.

“Your kidding me you’re the one who found the eggs. Do you have any idea how much they’re worth to a monster tamer? 100,000 is low balling it. If I had one, I could host an auction through the merchant’s guild and get 1million easy.” Markus took one out of his inventory. Her eyes locked on it.

“When we get to haven, put it together, we can split the profits fifty fifty.” Markus said. She fluttered her eyelashes.

“Markus you know you’re my favorite cousin, right?” Markus crossed his arms and waited for whatever she was going to say. “Well I think we can do business together. Monster eggs, dungeon artefacts, and dungeon treasures. You’re a farmer and I’m a noble. If you farm the dungeons I can move the crops to auction and get the most points for them. Then we split it fifty fifty right.” He nodded. She brightened up to the point he feared she may explode. “We need to draw up a business contract, we need an arbiter now.” Margarette said.

“That’s all well and good. I need to pick up a friend for our journey to Redgate. Anyone in town you know that might travel with us. Safety in numbers and all that.” Markus said. She nodded.

“You have a cousin in law that lives here. Tristen my half-brother. One of my father’s many bastards that survived mother’s culling.” Margarette said.

“You don’t seem too broken up about it.” Markus said.

“About what my father screwing every pretty face or my mother killing the resulting avalanche of black marks on the noble name Leonidas?” Margarette said. Markus chuckled.

“Both, though most would have problems with their mother killing their siblings, half or not.” Markus said. He felt a knock from Trixie and let her in.

“They are threats to her claim of heir. Every male is another she will eventually have to kill on her way to the family seat.” Trixie said, Markus questioned her words. “Her mind is like an open book to me. I don’t think she can even sense me moving about in her memories.”

“They are just stepping stones that I must eventually crush. I’m glad I have one male relative with no claim on the noble seat.” Margarette said. “Let us find Tristen one of the craftiest of my father’s bastards.” Markus followed her past the merchant district and into the slums.

Shit covered the streets and the smell of piss filled the air with its ammonia stench. The streets hadn’t been repaired in years pot holes covered the place. Large slashes covered the rooves.

“He had a unique mother. Father isn’t always too selective of where to stick it.” Margarette said. “Let’s get this over with. This place is so gross.” She said. Markus looked around feeling out the minds around them. Trixie didn’t want to touch her robe to the filthy ground, so she rode on his shoulders.

They found a house with a door painted rust with blood. The blood had long since chipped away. Bodies of dead knights covered the ground a banner still held in one man’s hand. It was the symbol of a closed fist encircled with flames. Might the mark of the knight order that emulated his Pa.

“As the Hero of Might’s sister and a noble lady, the knight order swore fealty to my mother. She used them to hunt down my father’s bastards. Am I still your girly cousin or has reality shattered my façade.” Markus kicked a rotten body towards her. She yelped and jumped away from it.

“Just as girly on the inside as the outside then.” Markus said. She glared at him and her face turned a shade of pink.

“You were supposed to accept me as a strong woman. That ruined the moment Markus.” He smiled and turned to the door.

“I’ll see if he’s in there.” She nodded. Markus took a deep breath. “Tristen bastard of James are you in there?” His yell sounded out as a mighty bellow that shook the glass windows. Even the door rattled, and he heard a crash inside.

A few more crashes resounded before the red door slammed open. A boy that looked like them except for black hair and yellow eyes looked between them. “Oh, if it isn’t my half sister and a friend. What do I owe to this visit?” The boy muttered before yawning.

Margarette was about to say something but Markus beat her to it. “We are going to Redgate for the academy auditions. Numbers decrease the likelihood of a bandit attack so, want to join us.” The boy yawned and shook a main of hair. Markus soon realized that the boy had the makings of an actual lion’s main.

“Shocked by my appearance. Dad fucked an actual Leonidas, a proud feline monster with psychic powers. I see why my dear sister had you come here to my den. I’m probably the youngest apprentice rank telekinetic in the halo mountain valley.” He paused and blinked when his psychic energy was quickly swallowed up by Trixie. “Is that a mind flayer. Sister do you mean to kill me and doom my mind to eternity in her thoughts? His fangs showed themselves. Markus bent his knees in preparation to subdue him.

“Knock it off Tristen, if I wanted you dead, I would have had your cousin in law rip through your den after you.” Tristen growled.

“I’m the true heir to the noble house of Leonidas not you.” Markus walked to the side and cleared a place for Trixie. Tristen watched as he walked up to him. “You think you can intimidate me with height. I’m half Leonidas not dire bear.” Markus snatched the boy by the throat and lifted him off the ground.

Waves to telekinetic forced crashed down on him with no effect. His own power was more than enough to hold him up and fight off another’s psychic will. After all Markus had reached the next stage in telekinesis already.

Tristen gurgled and slashed at Markus with his clawed hands. Eventually, he stops. “Fine, I will travel with you to the academy. Release me.” Markus dropped him on the ground. “Your tough sister while you have your dog with you. But what will you do when he’s gone?” Margarette drew a sword he didn’t know she had. It felt dark in nature.

“I’ll just have to poke you with this then.” Margarette said holding up a rapier. He looked it over seeing the small amount of darkness enchanted in the steel. The Dracul symbol was placed on the hilt, was it possible Marie could have made it. He didn’t know for sure and it didn’t matter anyway.

“Right we just need to pick up Anna then we can head out in the morning.” Markus said he turned and a slash went down his back. It felt like a five hot iron ripped down scalding the skin as they went. Before he or Margarette could retaliate, Trixie leapt on his back and her tentacles quickly wrapped around him firmly. The look of triumph on Tristen’s face had abruptly shifted.

“Let him live Trixie.” Markus said just before her teeth bit down. Tristen glared at him with all the hate he could muster. “Let him live with this dishonor and the dishonor of knowing he wasn’t worth killing. He’s just a boy like me, just a bit dumber than most.”

“He attacked you from behind if your back wasn’t, so thick you would be paralyzed. Let me eat him and unravel his every memory let me unmake him.” Markus made a hushing noise and pulled her off one tentacle at a time.

“He’s just a stupid boy. Hopefully, he will outgrow his pride and become a man worth something. That’s why he’s going to the academy to outgrow his dumb pride.” Markus said in a soothing voice. More tentacles left and slowly Markus took Trixie in his arms. The black hole that represented her mind didn’t frighten him anymore. He often touched it and felt their emotions mix. He looked into her light-yellow eyes. A shade brighter than Tristen’s piss color. Soon they would change to a shade of purple and she would be an adult. He felt worry for him and anger at food for daring to touch her Markus. A deep feeling of possession came over her when she looked at him. He sent his own calm emotions. The pain had already faded replaced with worry for her.

“So, this isn’t an assassination attempt. You really are taking me with you to Redgate and then the academy.” Markus nodded, and Trixie migrated to his shoulder.

Sara Red was at her father’s store. “Markus and Milady,” Sara gave a polite curtsy. “What are you doing here, I thought you would be on your way to Redgate?” Sara said.

“I thought you would come with us. You have a strong fire ability.” She looked pensive.

“Markus, I’ve only broken into the initiate stage a weak ago. I’m not cut out for the academy. Father said he found me a descent man a merchant from Haven. Can you believe it, I’m going to live in the capital?” Markus didn’t let the confusion touch his face. Tristen snickered.

“So, this is the girl you wanted to bring with us. She has fire the most common element and hasn’t even reached novice. You wanted to bring her with us. Now that is a joke. Is this one of those sick tricks nobles play on commoners. I didn’t think you had it in you to try and impress my sister.” Trixie punched him in the stomach and he grunted.

“We have some time we could go to Vali. A new core should have regenerated I can maim the monsters and you can finish them with fire. That should get your levels up quickly.” Markus said hopefully. Margarette put her hand on his elbow. A look crossed her face like Ma’s. He was missing something he just couldn’t figure it out.

“No, that’s ok Markus go maybe I’ll see you in the capital after the wedding.” He felt a chill run through him. Like this was the last time he would see his childhood friend. He had come here over the months and they talked she would light things on fire. She spoke of subjects she would like to take at the academy. Or maybe she was just humoring him.

“Alright, he gently hugged his friend. Have a good time at the capital.” They left for the inn. He felt a weight on his shoulders, no his shoulders just felt heavy for some reason.

“Markus, I won’t leave you. I want you to know that.” Trixie said. He nodded and gave her a smile and she smiled back. Her mouth full of dangerous teeth didn’t look odd to him anymore.

Full stats and skills 2

Psychic

Telekinesis: Journeyman 1 Telepathy: Initiate 2, Empathy: Initiate 1

Willpower +1,000,000% Intelligence +2% Willpower +1%

Intelligence +10,000% Charisma +0.02% Intelligence +0.01%

Defense +100%

Slash +1%

Pierce +0.01%

Life Support: Initiate 10 Flesh Puppetry: Initiate 50

Willpower +10% Willpower +50%

Vitality +0.1% Vigor +0.5%

Dark

Tentacle: Novice 50, Eye: Novice 10, Familiar: Initiate 10

Willpower +5000% Perception +1000% Willpower +10%

Pierce +50% Dark Resist +10% Dark Resist +0.1%

Vitality +0.5% Miasma +0.1%

Ice

Freeze: Apprentice 50

Willpower +500,000%

Ice Resist +5000%

Spell Damage +50%

Fire Resist +0.5%

Light

Chains: Apprentice 10

Willpower +100,000%

Defense +1,000%

Light Resiste +10%

Dark Resiste +0.1%

Monster Tamer

Communicate: Novice 2

Charisma +200%

Mental Resist +2%

Spirit Resist +0.02%

Misc

Farming: Beginner 70 Mob Slayer: Beginner 90 Hunter: Beginner 10

Intelligence +0.7% Intelligence +0.9% Agility +0.1%

Movement: Novice 13 Eating: Initiate 50 Axe Mastery: Novice 7

Mobility +1300% Nourishment +50% Strength +700%

Dexterity +13% Vitality +0.5% Dexterity +7%

Agility +0.13% Vigor +0.07%

ASI(Abilities/Skills/items)

Stats base points% ASI% Net stats

Vitality x50 100 131.22 231.22

Endurance x50 100 130 230

Strength x3 100 700 42

Dexterity 1 100 20 2.4

Agility 1 100 0.2 2

Intelligence 1 100 10k 200

Willpower 1 100 1605k 32.1k