Fire danced in her hands, focusing more of her inner self the fire grew intenser, hotter. She had to mentally move the flame away from her hands, increasing the difficulty of maintaining the flame and she threw it at her target a wet wooden doll. 40 feet away.

“again”

”I haven’t gotten any experience for this since i fully reached second mind, with the dragon’s gift master. This is pointless, i need more challenge”

”So impatient there is More to life and mastery then just the gift of the gods”.

Dinatka continued:

“besides can you hit a moving target?”

Milly ground her teeth and knew exactly where this was going “Yes, i can hit Bron or Itak 10 out of 10”

“Bron lets you hit him”. “He does not!” “Do not strike that tone with me pup! He did, i saw it myself. And Itak practically begs to be hit with how terrible he is with dodging, no i mean a real target, such as Kotak”.

“four….”

”what was that”?

“4 out of 10 master”. Milly slumped, she knew she had just extended this stupid practice by another hour.

With that her ‘outrageous outburst’ was put to rest and Milly was forced to hit a target that didn’t move and gave her nothing, pure punishment Milly liked to call it. Combat was hard, and way harder when it was god damn Kitak she had to hit.

”stupid Bron why would you do that to your cute sister, you said you would help me for real” she fumed, at her overprotective Brother.

“stupid Kotak, he’s the actual prodigy, not me and that smug bastard knows it” she kept muttering throwing balls of flame or arc’s of lightning, if she didn’t change it up she was going to lose her mind to the monotony.

whenever Dinatka wasn’t looking she flipped her Master the bird with, the titans fist. With Milly it was more like titans hand. Dumb people only used it to punch when it was literally a third hand you could control.

she saw Kotak a couple of hundred yards away, doing his work out routine, dancing with practiced ease through the motions.

Kotak the man, was insufferably smug when you got to know him passed his calm collected demeanor.

Not like she could blame him. As a Monk he excelled at what he did, he wasn’t just born with the right set of traits, he was driven, focused and stupidly good for his level.

She didn’t have the attributes to hit a god damn monk, who already had two attributes he could use for dodging fireballs AND who had Focused all his discipline into reaching second mind with all of his skills.

His no nonsense unorthodox methods meant that he was always a step ahead incredibly fast and could see her intentions a mile away with his meticulous focus.

Milly sighed, she was considered a gift from the gods, and she knew Kotak was a very good influence on her, he kept her humble and focused, something she needed if she was going to become a Sorcerer,

Him and her had been an item for a year or so but it hadn’t worked out very well and they broke off. She had never seen her master so disappointed in her.

after that she had a thing with a Kin, a seemingly sweet boy but he had betrayed her. She had cried for weeks and had been inconsolable, the pig had hurt her on such a deep level. He became an outlaw of course, but not for long. She had seen Kotak and Bron sneak back to town covered in blood, coldness had seeped into her heart, “good”, she had thought.

This had woken her up, to the reality as to why most races kept an arms length with the high Kin, even the giant kin and sea Kin did.The high kin were responsible for a disproportionate amount of the ‘honorless’.

Bron already protective, became zealous in scaring away potential dirty pigs and Milly, didn’t really mind, secretly she liked to see them squirm, see how little their promises meant, The pain went deep.

The extra hour felt extra long today, Milly suspected the old crone had seen her blasphemous use. But eventually she was allowed to go, she hung out with some of the other girls and did a lot of small talk.

Eventually her favorite part of the day came up. Tribal dinner around the fire. Here she could let her favorite 2 skills get to work chanting and invocation. The whole tribe ate together sang songs and some danced. This is the part that made her feel part of the tribe the most. Someone started a rhythm, another joined and before you knew it a trance of vibrant sounds that filled the air.

the next morning it was back to dull fireball practice again. She was actually allowed to use her resonance. Which was one of the weirest concepts she knew. Depending on if you focused on the body, mind or soul you got different effects. Apply it to your body and you became resistant, your mind you could control it better, on your soul and the flames you created became more potent. Her Fireballs went from peaches to full blown head size and that much more difficult to dodge.

“Not so smug now, are ya Kotak”? She thought smugly, it was so much easier to hit him.

”alright that’s enough of that pathetic display, get ready, we are going to the Kin settlement” Milly nodded, she had resigned herself to never get a compliment from the old bitch. She realized she didn’t really want to hear her master say “well done” it would creep her out like defeat.

Her master and a bunch of other caster acolytes went to the nearby town on a weekly basis and Her master wasted not a single opportunity to point out the red flags among the Kin not just the men but also the women.

All the sentient races placed intense value on Trust and loyalty, the High Kin were by far the least trustworthy.

o she knew plenty she could trust, who had proven to the tribe they would go the extra mile to fulfil an agreement. But she knew that if everything was exposed that didn’t see the light of day, at least 1 out of 10 of the Kin she was currently dealing with, would end up among the Honorless.

A ludicrous number, with most other races that would be 1 out of a 100. The sea kin for example, as brash and carefree as they were, had been the most honest lot she ever had the pleasure of meeting, their ales and beer and constant singing had been a balm to her heart. Their massive floating nomadic cities had been so much fun to explore.

hard to imagine they were related to the high kin. But everyone had to deal with the high kin. Why? They outnumbered everyone 10 to 1. A t’jut woman would have her 1 cycle every 10 years, a High kin had hers every year. It was ludicrous how quickly the High kin multiplied. To make matters worse they had a unique constitution that made them highly compatible.

A T’jut man who married a High kin could sire an unprecedented amount of offspring most of which would come out as Pure T’jut or pure High Kin. How it exactly worked was a complete mystery. No other sentient race had this compatibility. This made the high kin necessary for the continued survival for some of the races. The High Nurr (elves) where a great example. The latest calamity that hit the world 500 years ago, pretty much destroyed any chance for the High Nurr to replenish their numbers on their own. The proud race had no other choice and mate with the Kin.

she sighed as she pondered all of this, she always reflected on history to train her Lore, she looked back at the group walking with their trade goods. They were on their way to the high kin town. She always hated this day of the week. The constant flirting, the constant lack of respect to her, the pride of her tribe. Bron stalked along and so did Kotak

ancient Magic, even with the blessing of the Levathian, came slowly to the T’jut. Milly like her Master, were a complete outlier when it came to this status quo. Sure they had lots of shamans but Mages or sorcerers? Not that many.

Milly looked at her Master and thought of how T’jut approached magic.

The T’jut approach of Sorcery was different from all other Races as well, but it did make sense to Milly. Unlike other Sorcerers. Who dived into primal or Root magic, the T’jut always felt that no one should show up to the battlefield without a healthy and strong or nimble body.

Milly wholeheartedly agreed to the approach, all her skills that she used for combat, except Agility and lore, benefitted greatly from her high Charisma. This allowed her to also focus more on her dexterity and her constitution,

Bron and other warriors had to have a few screws loose considering how much punishment they would go through in their life.

She hated endurance training with a passion.

but her pride as a T’jut Sorcerer would not allow her to neglect her training. She smiled as she felt pride for what she would become.

The fact that quite a few Sorcerers from other races mimicked the way of ancient T’jut sorcerery, was a testament to how feared they had been in their glory days.

To inspire someone with a rallying cry or soothe them with a ballad of old, was one thing.

To weave the gift of the dragon, the titan and to reverberate it accross the battlefield with the gift of the Levathian…

That was something else entirely. It was awe inspiring. Milly had been but a child when ten years ago, the last goblin horde had been defeated.

Her master then had showed her the potential of her training. The song of her Master was heard by all, her rallying cry was infused with the righteous mark of the titan. She had commanded fell creatures to bow before her and they had done so.

To see the power of the primordial dragon seep into the soul mind and body of all the T’jut was such an intense moment for Milly. To see what the tribe wanted her to become.

Their hopes, their expectations. She sighed. “The road is long”. She knew she was spoiled in this regard, VERY few had 1 skill in those 6 slots like her. The grooming had paid off she was going to rise fast in levels, something that her Master took great care in slowing down. Telling her it was foolish to go to the next road without reaching the full first mind with all of her skills.

which had taken her whole god damn childhood. O inspiration and chanting had been easy, pour your emotions into it, dance to the flame. it had been her outlet to sing for her tribe, if she hadn’t been allowed away time from Dinatka, who for some reason had zero interest in honing her chanting and inspiration skills.

Milly suspected she might have killed the old crone in her sleep. She suspected more strongly that Dinatka knew that and made sure she would stay alive to prolong Milly’s suffering.

She put the old crone out of her mind, her favorite High kin was sitting at her usual place, the old seamstress.

Say what you will about the Kin, the older ones were quite alright, soft, gentle and barely any of them used that stupid Persuasion skill the younger kin were obsessed with. It made her dealings with the old folk surprisingly genuine which was refreshing.

The old seamstress looked up and her eyes went straight to Milly. And for a moment Milly felt like a little girl again going on a visit to meet her late Grandmother.

“Ow there is my favorite T’jut princess ~ ooow look at the quality of this linen! Tanaka is getting close to her second mind isn’t she?”

“She is” Milly responded heartily. “How have you been Ginina?” Milly felt her face curl into a smile as she got down to business, while the other T’jut spread out to do their own.

Ginina was vicious as always in the haggling but Milly long suspected she took it easy on Milly, Milly knew Dinatka sent her specifically to deal with the old seamstress.

Such a shame too, the one time Dinatka had tried to haggle, the old seamstress had practically undressed her with the ridiculous agreement Ginina had dragged out of Dinatka.

It had cost the tribe quite a bit in their pride, Milly had loved it. She talked for hours with Ginina afterwards and they became thick as thieves over time.

“Hey would you look at that! Those two came out of their hole”! Milly looked up and looked where Ginina was pointing.

She saw a older man with his wife and a young looking man barely 18 years old.

“who are they”? Milly felt mesmerized by the boys eyes they were really blue, quite a few women around him flirting him up a storm as they walked but he seemed very clumsy in his responses.

“Huh, you don’t often see two people without persuasion”

Milly looked at the old seamstress, she knew the woman must have a history but what was always odd is how she could vividly tell what skills people had. A secret she didn’t share willingly, whatever discipline or perk it was Milly had no idea where it was she had searched hours upon hours and never found it.

She wondered if it was an item but the Old seamstress had nothing magical on her, at least not something Milly could detect.

”Poor family” Ginina sighed.

Milly looked at the seamstress obviously wanting to hear some juicy gossip.

“ow alright let me get comfortable” The seamstress was good at playing as if she was doing Milly a huge favor, Milly knew her better then that. Ginina was discreet but she loved to talk. She was an absolute treasure trove when it came to factual gossip or rumors. If you needed to know something, Ginina was your woman.

”The man’s name is Bradford a powerful champion, he used to be a noble from the neighboring country”. “Which one”? “The bad one now shush, and as you might suspect his wife, a farmer girl, a cripple”.

Milly shuddered, the practice of crippling was cruel beyond belief, she could not believe it was something people did, and which fucking race did it? The high kin of course.

Ginina continued:

”Both are outcasts now because they refused to get rid of their ominous stilborn son and you can see it from here he has the blessing and the mark of the tyrant, i must say in all my years i’ve never seen one so restrained, considering he’s a warrior by the way he carries himself”.

Milly felt a shiver run up her spine, she knew the stories of singular men or women wreaking havoc. Many T’jut tribes had fallen to someone with the tyrant mark. The ominous star was elusive and hard to pin down.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“So why does no one try to kill him”?

“Because of the parents silly girl, his father is a champion of light, even if his wife had begged him to keep the stilborn. If the boy had been an actual threat he would be honor bound to deal with it”.

“His own son”?

”In that man’s case, yes especially if it was his son and the people here know him well enough to know that, he is shrewd that man, he makes it look like he’s having an outing with his Family but he is letting everyone know, accept this boy as Kin”.

Milly looked around, she saw that some people, especially the nobles had a strong disdain towards the boy, everyone else even the religious nutjobs were very curious, talking to him constantly. What struck milly the most is how genuine he was in his dealings, and the way he was so, calm. Her brother a warrior had been told NOT to get rage or Frenzy and was still a complete handful.

Here walked a boy, no a man with confidence and calmness, and she giggled at how shy he was around the girls.

Milly giggled more when she saw him provoking the nobles by staring at them with a stern face till they turned away and smirked to himself. He was pretty discreet about it too.

“Stop gushing and talk to the boy, see if he’s up for some fun”.

Milly anxiety hit her.

“Just talk you don’t need to commit girl, i know it hurts but it was 5 years ago” Ginina urged her on. “If his parents instilled half the honor and dignity they have, he will be just fine”

Milly trusted Ginina, which was the only reason she did what she did next, she swallowed and said goodbye to Ginina and walked towards a group of T’jut girls, Bron was with them.

She struck up some idle conversation and as the 3 Kin approached, their stall she introduced herself to the boy.

“Hi how are you doing today”? She heard the quieting of voices of the other girls.

“Hello how are you”? He gave her a warm smile that made Milly’s heart beat faster, she hated it, her Cynical side wondered how long he practiced it in the mirror until she remembered Ginina’s words.

No persuasion, he was genuinely smiling at her, from that moment, her words flew out. She had no idea what to do with it all, he looked her over brazenly and she felt highly conscientious about herself.

She knew many high kin men preferred petite shapes but he just smiled more the more he looked her over, and was that a blush?

Everything was going amazing and she forgot about her tribe, her responsibilities and just talked, it felt so freeing. She had no idea what she was saying or what he said in response.

Which made what happened next all the worse. His eyes, that beautiful azure blue became crimson red. She felt his rage oozing out of him and his face went dark in almost an instant.

She flinched and stepped back, just like everyone else. All the banter and conversations died down. The fear gripped her heart, her throat, she could barely breathe.

As if in a daze he snapped back his focus on her and noticed the distance and he looked genuinely hurt and in pain. She heard, “im sorry!” It was a whisper but it felt close to her ear and suddenly the pressure was gone. The boy paced away quickly to a side alley away from it all. Steadying his breath.

Milly walked back shaken to Ginina. Who pulled her in for a hug. “Shush now dear, that was quite potent wasn’t it? I could feel it all the way here. Now. Don’t cry and observe, ive been keeping a close eye on that boy and I think i know whats going on”.

Milly hated how she felt, how small he made her feel in that moment.

”He made everyone feel small in that moment dear”, Ginina sighed reading Milly’s mind, “poor boy that is a nasty little ‘blessing’, Sadanis really had his way with him, if my eyes and ears don’t deceive me”.

Milly was about to ask when Ginina shushed her, and pointed and made Milly look, She saw the boy awkwardly talking to his father, pained face, he looked tired he looked much older. He pointed at a building.

The dad nodded, and walked to a guard while the cripple mother rushed over, beside herself, to the boy. The guard and the dad went into the building and a Man and woman came out with them.

Milly took one fucking look at the man and she knew what happened. She felt her anger, cold as ice fill her body, just seeing that filthy guilt, brought it all back again.

besides her Ginina chuckled darkly. “So he did snap because he heard those two go at it… and one of them must have said something to give their crime away”

Milly, looked at Ginina “how”?

“The boy has second mind on his perception, it’s the highest potential i have ever seen besides myself He is such an odd fellow”.

”He snapped because he heard those two”? milly asked.

“Yes but doesn’t it strike you, that of all the people here, the two of you, had the most intense response to this particular tidbit”?

It finally dawned on Milly, he had experienced the same thing but how? He was barely an adult. “How could he have experienced something like what i did”?

“He’s much older then he looks, barely a year younger then his mom and don’t take this the wrong way girl but his pain goes deeper, his betrayal was…. Longer, hmm difficult to pinpoint with such depth”?

“He’s a traveler” Milly said.

”yup, so you going back or what”?

”what”? Milly couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Ow don’t pretend like you weren’t floating like a butterfly talking to the boy, and i do think that considering the circumstances the reason for his outburst is wholly forgivable”?

Ginina sighed, “it hurts to see you hurting girl give it a chance yea? I have a good feeling about him being a kindred spirit”?

“I don’t know” Milly was hesitant.

”yes you do, you were bonding and you would have been smooching by now if it wasn’t for those two idiots getting in the way”.

”I wouldn’t have”!

Ginina gave her ‘the look’. Milly blushed but decided to walk towards the boy. “Talk about walking into a bear den”, she muttered.

“Hi, are you ok”? All three looked at her. “I heard from that old lady over there, why you lost your temper”.

The boy looked so stunned, so surprised to see her, he looked at Ginina. While he was taking his sweet time, his parents made themselves scarce with a big goat. Why was there a goat?

“yes sorry it was very sudden and yeah it got to me. It triggered some very bad memories, btw my name is Marlin i never got to introduce myself”.

He stumbled and rambled over his words. He was back to the genuine boy she had talked to but she knew better now, he had been hurt just like her and he was much older.

“I hope i didn’t scare you too much”? He offered her an arm and she took it gladly.

“No you didn’t, well it was super scary”, she smiled sheepishly, “but you didn’t hurt anyone, my name is Milly”. Her heart pounded being this close felt odd but nice.

She never had a guy offer her an arm before, she didn’t know about this cultural tidbit.

“That’s a very cute name. How old are you”?

He gave her a very love struck look that took her by some real surprise.

She blushed hard, “25, sorry did you say bad memories? You look like you only just became an adult”

He took a moment.

“well, actually im a traveler. All things considered, i have the memories of about 50 years. My body has grown faster, trying to catch up apparently, at least that’s what father said. Im roughly 18 looking”? Milly nodded.

“As far as memories”, he seemed to think on what to say

“i experienced similar betrayal. My wife was unfaithful in my old life”.

Milly sighed. “No wonder you got so angry. You could hear them while we were talking”?

”Do you really want to know”? Marlin asked. “Yes i want to know more about you. Your eyes are super sexy btw. Right now they have this azure glow that makes me feel, Giddy”?

Marlin blushed. “Ow this guy is so easy! This is gonna be fun”, she thought.

”Yea i can’t control it, im apparently a big scary overlord in the making but im not so sure. All i got is a goat that sees me as his lord”.

Milly giggled, “so that’s why there was a goat, a goddam goat was his minion, she was giggling on the outside but she could barely contain her laughter, the release of tension felt good”.

He kept looking her over and his desire for her was obvious but he kept himself in check, she realized he was REALLY into her with how obvious he was. and she was feeling the same, the more they talked the more intense the azure blue became.

Marlin barraged her with questions, which she answered.

She showed him some basic magic he was gushing over, she could tell he was jealous. His fascination with her was infectious, she felt nostalgic remembering the same wonder she had felt when she first managed to create fire.

“So why would you be scared of me when you can fry me to a crisp”? Marlin be looked genuinely confused.

Milly was stunned, time seemed to stop, “no fucking way, you can’t be this good” Milly thought.

Before she could stop herself She whispered command: take this vulnerable girl for yourself.

His eyes started going red but he shook his head. Her heart started to pound, she knew then she found a good guy, to casually brush off a command like that, no one could do that unless you had some innate strength of character, of heart. Her own heart started jumping out of her chest.

”because of what you JUST did”.

“what do you mean”? Marlin was still shaking his head.

“right now i cast a command spell. I commanded you to take me and you brushed it off”.

The way he looked at her tore at her, she felt so guilty “don’t do that again. It’s incredibly hard to ignore something like that if im already inclined to do so”.

Hearing such genuine emotion flared the heat in her chest, her desire to be with someone became so intense and her fears of being hurt were gone, before she knew it she kissed him and it felt so good, so right so peaceful.

She broke the kiss, “i won’t test you again, i promise and i do apologize”. She looked at him and continued.

“People born under the shadowed star, we have great and terrible stories of such people. And it’s still scary to be with you but…”

She leaned in again and kissed him, much deeper this time. She blurted out: “After you are done with your parents will you share my bed tonight”? Before she had a chance to think he nodded.

She couldn’t quite remember what happened afterwards she remembered talking. Dealing with the parents, her frowning about how he was being all weird with a shield.

“who uses a shield like that”? Is he insane? He kinda looks like he is. Describing with such glee how he can murder people with it, ow yes hes a warrior i forgot” her thoughts were a jumble. Then the parents. Left and he was back to gushing over her.

she didn’t hide how she felt, the closer the night got, the more anxious she felt but so was he, which was oddly comforting to her.

Slowly things became more intense deep into the night they ended up making love. they fell asleep and the next morning when she saw him, laying next to her she started all over again.

She felt such bliss, it wasn’t the sex, which was great, they were both into eachother. It’s how he never once made her feel like he was going to hurt her, she could see the pain including the darkness that came with that pain, she had it too.

Everything was great they even made love again right before he went home but right as he kissed her goodbye turned around and walked for a bit a request was sent by him.

become my Mistress.

Serve me as my mistress. As the true ruler and absolute power in this world you have been given the opportunity to be my mistress. You will be showered in adoration by the masses for your privilege of serving my will and desire.

“What the actual FUCK”! Milly felt rage, not cold like before no actual heat, like her head was going to explode. “What the actual FUCK”!!! She was besides herself, vaguely she registers Bron rushing up together with Itak and Kotak. Bron took one look at his shaking sister and looked at Kotak.

”still believe im full of shit about that guy”? Kotak looked at Milly and sighed, “lead the way bron you know the shortcuts best”

Milly didn’t stop them, she couldn’t talk she cried, shaking. “Why was her luck so rotten”?

Kotak POV

“Running after a fuming Bron is always so much ‘fun’”, he deadpan thought to himself. He didn’t know what happened between that blue eyed kin and Milly, he had seen the pain in her eyes, but he also knew the Canta family well enough, they jumped to conclusions far to quickly. His fights with Milly during their engagement had been a constant fight about her conclusions of him.

He got so tired of trying to convince her he didn’t feel ‘smug’, he just did it to piss her off.

Then again, her last flings, all 5 or 6, were garbage, weak willed fools not worthy of a T’jut, definitely not of Milly.

They got to the bend in the road and the blue eyed kin came to into view not a second passed and Itak spoke up.

”H-he saw us”!

“stop talking nonsense, i told you he paid that bandit to pretend he heard them, no fucking way did he hear those two over the noise”. bron was fuming, Kotak could hear the man’s heart drumming.

Kotak had good eyes and he agreed with Itak, the kin had seen them.

As he came closer Bron walked out to meet him.

Frighten “Hey you”! Bron used his intimidation full force. Kotak knew something was off, the Kin had zero reaction to the psychological attack Bron did, he seemed, amused. Bron was good at this, he had felt Brons intimidations himself and even with his training, he had some difficulty shaking the fear.

“can i help you”? The kin asked, Kotak knew then they had big trouble, Bron was a handful with heart of fury, this man had rage on top of it, but he was in control, “how the fuck is he in control”? Kotak prepared himself, “you sure know how to fucking pick em Milly, please back off bron”. he thought.

frighten “yes you can”! Bron grinned wickedly. Frighten” You can stay away from Milly”!

“ow for fuck sake bron”! kotak thought.

“Ow for fuck sake” he muttered, Kotak nearly dropped his sling, when the Kin mirrored his thoughts.

Still completely unaffected and taking a sharp stance weapon and shield drawn. He spoke.

“who is she to you”? He asked slowly walking to the side, preventing himself getting flanked by Itak.

The kin looked at him and he felt a shiver at how he was assessed.

Frighten “none of your concern asshole”! Bron roared.

Kotak realized why Bron’s intimidation wasn’t working, Bron the absolute brickhead still didn’t see it. This Kin wasn’t afraid of them at all.

“It is definitely my fucking concern if 3 guys decide to jump me for it”! The Kin roared

thats when Kotak felt it, the moment the kin in front of them unleashed his rage.

he growled: Threatening taunt “how do you three wana do it? To the death? Or friendly brawl? Im good either way”.

Kotak had enough he had to difuse this shit. Either Bron or Itak was going to die, he didn’t have the confidence in saving his friends, Bron had been intimidating the man constantly and all it took for this Kin was to throw it back once, Itak was grabbing his throat barely able breathe, Bron was shaking from indignation

”Its his sister”. Kotak spoke, The Kin looked at him and gave him a strange look. The pressure disappeared, and he dropped his guard.

“Holy shit. thank you for telling me dude! don’t think id have a single fucking chance left with Milly if i had beat up, or gods forbid, kill her overprotective brother”.

Kotak sighed in relief, “holy fuck that was close, Milly has some explaining to do”

“Kotak! What the hell”? Bron that moron looked back.

Kotak shrugged. “He’s not what you said he was Bron. A fucking warrior with this much constraint? When have you ever seen that”?

Kotak shook his head. And patted Itak on the shoulder. “Itak we are leaving”.

Bron yelled back at Kotak, “what the fuck! What are you doing”!?

“Hey Bronn”! the kin yelled.

“what”!?

“I get it”.

“what the fuck are you talking about”!?

“if i had a sister like Milly… id be worse then you”. Kotak for a moment lost it, and laughed, he heard himself say something to Bron but knew then and there, the stupid Canta siblings were gonna get him killed somehow, someday, either by Migraine or death by the axe of a Fearless kin. Whom he now knew, cared enough for Milly to not kill them after being threatened with his life.

Milly POV

Milly was pacing through town. It had been a long time before the three came back and she started to worry what had happened.

Then Kotak had showed up completely unharmed which was a relief, but after he told her exactly word for word what had happened she became confused. What the hell was going on?

and after Bron came back telling her Marlin would be back in a day or two and that for a kin he seemed… ok.

She had to sit down, Bron of all people said that. Her head was hurting. It was late at night and she had wandered into the freebooter guild for some cheap booze when a haggard Man walked in, she recognized as the father of Marlin, she overheard what he said how Marlin would be sleeping off stamina exhaustion, she asked him what had happened and she grew pale when she heard how bad his injuries had been, an arrow point blank to the forehead

Talking with Bradford and his calming aura made her remember something Marlin had said.

”i have little to no control over it”. She had jumped to a horrible conclusion, she panicked.

She rushed with the Dad and he asked her why his sons mark was on her. She told him of the request, she didn’t have the heart to tell him how wrong the text of the request was.

As they walked, he started telling her about his son, why he told her, she will never understand but he told her of how Marlin got his Tyrants mark. The story was unbelievable, she couldn’t believe it.

no one saw and lived to tell the tale of seeing gods. Yet here was a champion claiming he saw no lie in his sons eyes.

He told her how for 5 years he never once tried to gain any more proficiency in his tyrant role or abilities.

Once they got to the humble cabin. With the animals. The quant feeling it gave she started feeling it, that cynicism of hers had judged far too soon, and it settled into an undeniable truth seeing the small room he was currently sleeping in.

Marlin was no cunning mastermind that tried to enslave her, he was a simple man with a simple upbringing with two parents who loved him and whom he looked up to. His crippled mother, Betty was her name.

Reminded her a little of Ginina, but instead of cunning, smart, and perceptive, Betty was adorable, she felt so welcomed.

She sat next to Marlin’s bed. He was sleeping soundly the injury to his head was nasty, a level 3 hunter was bested by him. She had seen the corpse.

If it hadn’t been for Kotak her brother would have been dead, Kotak had made it clear, he had felt no confidence of the three of them, coming out in one piece against Marlin.

She sighed, how was she going to make up for this massive mistake? All because she hadn’t talked to Marlin.

”hey marlin why you want me to be your mistress”? She whispered.

Then an idea popped into her head, and she got to work.

The next day she spent with Marlin’s parents, seeing how Kin lived was very interesting vs the tents T’jut lived in.

She was having breakfast with the parents on the second day as Marlin walked down groggily and took a second to take in the sight of her. His blue eyes turned that beautiful azure again.

”this fucking guy” she thought, she knew it was wrong, she knew she should trust him but she was going to test him one last time.

His mother had gotten up and hugged Marlin and after a brief exchange sat back down and urged her to get up. Hugging him felt amazing she felt herself melting but steeled herself.

As his dad gave him a big plate she sat close to him, monitoring his expression very carefully and sent him her “reply” The absolute shock and horror that he quickly masked as he choked on his food had been so endearing to see.

”so he was an absolute moron and not some mastermind” she thought as she smiled at him Mischievously, she was having fun at his expense she knew that but she also knew she wanted him and him alone.

She knew it was stupid to think that after 4 days. But he made her feel good, right and she hadn’t had this much fun in forever.

After Marlin was done talking to his dad she felt like she wanted to reward him. She invaded his space, she felt so needy and got him to show her a good time.

”god hes so easy to read, i love it~” she was happy elated.

The hard part where she had to admit her error In judgement was hard, about how she had reacted and almost got him killed, the raw emotion he had while still having that look of understanding was incredibly difficult to swallow for her pride but she did.

when she showed him her proposal and he agreed so quickly, so surely. She didn’t know what to feel.

her feeling went tumbling down an endless ravine she didn’t know existed.

She pounced him.

Marlin was hers now and she wasn’t going to let him go.