To think I have so much QI after… I turned. Oh no, this is bad have I truly become Verick? I think as I explore my teeth with my tongue. “Shit. My canines or sharp as daggers,” I say before frantically ending the exploration of my teeth. OK, this may seem awful, but if it’s what the dark lady wanted, I must trust that the great ancestors would never lead me astray. I thought while slightly sitting up.

There is one problem, if I’m a Verick’s now, how do I cultivate? Could I even use the same path I practiced as a human? I mean my mandarins are still the same all be it quite a bit stronger. There’s also the fact that I’m basically on the path of becoming the accomplice to a criminal of not just a plant or federation, but the entire Q&9 front. And that’s not even touching on the fact that I’m now one of the most sought-after races to enslave.

Luckily, no one should be able to identify Iornhide in his weakened state, although I won’t lie all this feels pretty unbelievable. If it weren’t for the fact that I can sense Iornhide as we speak, I probably wouldn’t be inclined to believe it.

So, I can undoubtedly check Iornhide being my dyer that off the least possible lies, and if that much is true then could… could It truly be possible that the dark lady aided me with her protection? " But why?” I spoke aloud. Was it my prayer that she was answering, and if so, why now? Why not years ago, when I… when we needed her the most? Is this part of her design? Has the great ancestor wanted this for? I stopped my thoughts there.

I knew that was preposterous. The law of the heavens forbids the ancestors from meddling in things that are in order. At least according to the rules that they teach us in grad school. The most they’re allowed to assist in is that which is out of order or guidance in the path, which we can’t receive due to the bloodline block that previously scourged me.

I’m guessing whatever I was doing must have been bordering on breaching heaven’s order and would have had my soul cast into oblivion. Why? I don’t know, but attacking the dark mother for that which is not her fault is hopeless. I thought as I decided to fully rise and kick my feet off the side of the bed, only to be met by the annoying sound of the bed creaking in response to my every motion. “How loathsome,” I thought aloud while fully standing up.

“I guess it’s as good of a time as any to get in a nice shower” I divulged. I’d been rolling around in filth for who knows how long, and I’d like to experience something a little less crude for once.

Who knows how long it’ll be before I find myself rummaging around in muck again? So, with that in mind, I made my way to the door I assumed belonged to the bathroom (given it’s the only automated door beside the one Iornhide exited).

While hesitantly straightening my back in fear of the haze yet again immobilizing me. Only to find myself surprised when I’m able to not only straighten my back but do so without a bit of resistance.

The feeling of strong relief washes over my body, and I happily make my way over to the possible bathroom in stride. As I do, the realization that I might have grown a bit hits me. It could just be my imagination, but considering how close my head is to the ceiling, I doubt it.

My height before was no more than 5 feet even and living in a home of women 6 feet and over as well as factoring in the fact that most people on the planet had at least a small percentage of Bipedon ancestry. Meaning me being far from any ceiling was normal. So, noticing a change in height was a given.

Now, I was still nowhere near close enough to touch the ceiling without maybe standing on a stole or jumping. But that wouldn’t have been a feasible option for me a few years ago, and the closer I got to the door, the more real this realization became. Considering your average automated door is about 7 feet tall, and I was at least a foot and a few inches shorter than it. Which was a far cry away from the 2 inches most doors used to have on me.

Once I was finally close enough to trigger the sliding door’s motion sensors, allowing me to enter the bathroom, I came face to face with a smudged mirror barely displaying my pale and slender physique. “I hope I can finally gain some muscle,” I say as I pinch at my skinny arms before commencing to rid myself of the surprisingly well-stitched clothing that was loose on me.

Can’t say I’m surprised he couldn’t find a shirt that fits. Lanky isn’t a common size to come by, I thought while unbuttoning the long-sleeved dress shirt I was wearing, which was slightly ruffled at the collar. As I did, I decided to come a little closer to the mirror to inspect myself a bit more. Before noticing my reflection slightly flickering. Strange, I thought while running my hand through my pure white hair. “That’s new,” I thought aloud.

Once I finally fully unbuttoned my shirt, my pants were next which was pretty straightforward. Just a quick zip and I was free. Thankfully Everything down there looked about the same, so after taking one last look I swiftly turned to make my way to the tube before something caught my eye. In the mirror, tracing up the entirety of my back and only stopping at the back of my hairline, was a long tattoo of a centipede. “Oh, ancestors I wonder what this could mean,” I said while slowly making my way to the bath.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Could it be because of all the centipedes I ate? Couldn’t be right? If so, would I get a tattoo like this every time I…” a strong ache stung in my throat before I could even begin to finish my sentence. Followed by all the moisture in my mouth being lapped away and vaporized.

Leaving my mouth the driest it had ever been, and to make things worse my canines began to putrid and throb with searing pain. What’s going on? I thought as I fell to my knees. Damn, right when I was about to indulge myself, something just had to happen. I thought while simultaneously clenching at my throat in hopes of dulling the pain before I heard the sound of the bathroom’s automated door sliding open and greeting me with Iornhide’s presence, accompanied by what seemed like two clear bags of red liquid.

“what's...What’s that” I strained out. “Blood,” he said as he threw a bag at me and stared with a look of anticipation. The mere proximity to the bag of blood made my mouth water, and I realized. Yet again I’d have to consume something, distasteful, but regardless of that fact, I was sure it wouldn’t be anything compared to having to eat insects, regardless of how tasty they were.” shit so be it” I said as I rip at the bag with my teeth and slurped up every Marcel of the sweet and tangy nectar inside of it.

“ha ha ha” laughed Iornhide, with a base that was far from what should come out the mouth of someone his age. or at least the age he resembled. “You so easily drink the blood of another mortal with little thought.

Even worst of initiates put more thought into feasting on their own than you have,” he said in a tone befitting of his appearance. “I’d expected, for it to be a month before this happened.

For the hunger to already be claiming you not even within a day of your return is unheard of, I’d not even had the chance to leave before the feeling of you being in distress had claimed me. I took out a couple of blood bags I bought some time back, just in case, but I didn’t think you’d need them.”

“Oh please. It isn’t as if I drank from the nape of a living mortal. I'd eaten far worse these past years,” I said not caring to address the rest of his rant at the moment. I had a shower to get to worrying could come after. “I’m just happy that awful episode is over. Now excuse yourself. I’d like to finally take the shower I’d been preparing for,” I said before standing up and grabbing at the clothes that sat on the sink to hide my sensitive bits. “I’d also appreciate it if you’d at least guard your eyes when seeing Me in the nude, you’d think such a renowned Verick would have proper manners.”

“Do you mistake me for a child, because I assure you, I have the life experience to prove my maturity? Besides, I’ve seen worse sights, I can handle a few sex organs. Said Iornhide with a prominent attitude. “Who said it was for your comfort, does mine no longer matter? How selfish of you, I argued.

“I…whatever, hurry and bath, I’ve decided to bring you with Me to run an errand due to a lack of… identification. Which given my current situation is quite a problem,” said Iornhide as he hovered his hand over his body, for added effect. “So be it, now leave, I feel even filthier after this encounter.” Iornhide then turned and made his way to the automated door before it slid shut behind him, and I got on with finally taking a shower.

█▓▒▒░░░2 hours later ░░░▒▒▓█

I may have indulged myself in my shower for a little too long, but is that so wrong? I didn’t think so. Couldn’t say the same for the very livid Verick child currently lecturing me. “Or you dense, who takes a two-hour long bath, you do understand we only have so long to before check-in, and I also have other engagements to tend to.

To think you’d call me mannerless when you can’t even fathom the idea of being punctual,” squeaked out Iornhide. His veins protruded quite vividly as he fumed at my lack of punctuality. which I’d admit I may have overstepped quite a bit, regardless of the fact I wasn’t going to let a child tell me that. “it’s hard to be punctual when you weren’t given a time, or I don’t know, maybe a destination what even are these engagements?” I deflected.

“Oh please, any decent individual would know better than to go two hours without notice, before prior engagements, especially if they aren’t aware of time, don’t be a child. Besides you were in such a rush to get me out of the bathroom. I just thought it best to wait for you to leave the shower to address the details. I never thought I’d have to wait. TWO HOURS!! to do so,” retorted Iornhide. “Whatever. I’m not the child here, you’re the 12-year-old. I’d say I’m quite mature, and might I add FULLY GROWN!!” I scuffed.

“How dare you if not for my position I’d have your ba…” “knock knock knock” Before Iornhide could finish his statement, he was cut off by a knock at the door. “Hello, Aamina said If you don’t show some identification, and bring a garden for sign out, she’ll kick you out herself.” said a muffled masculine voice.

“Shit you see what you’ve done, a moment ago they were saying I had to bring identification for check-in, and now they’re saying we need to get out. You better have an identification chip, because if not we are in trouble, Aamina is at least three stages above me. And I don’t stand a chance in escaping, let alone a straight fight with her,” said Iornhide in a whispered tone.

“Yeah, yeah, I know; I know Luckily for you I have one injected in my lobe, the one thing that was affected the least these past years. I do have a question though. What exactly are we going to do after signing out? I asked while some man was still banging on the door. “You should have thought of that before you decided to lock Me out of the bathroom, ignore my knocking, and bathe for two hours.”

Annoyed by Iornhide’s retorts. I decided to go to the door without dignifying him with a reply. once I was in front of the door, it immediately slid open, and without notice, A brown-haired man ended up knocking me right in the middle of my four head. “ow” I said while almost falling over before I was quickly caught by the huge men standing a few inches away. “Serves you right,” said Iornhide as he followed behind me. “Oh, I… I’m… I’m so sorry honored friend. I… I swear I didn’t mean to. I just didn’t notice you there, I honestly only met to knock on the door” said the tall man, as he worriedly surveyed me with his golden gaze.

“I swear, I’d never do something so crude on….” said the brown-headed beast of a man currently towering over me as his huge hand laid on my shoulder for stability. “it’s fine. It’s fine I understand, and even if it was on purpose if you were doing so in hopes of hitting this little menace, I can’t say I blame you, I’m just disappointed that I got in your way. I said as I watched Iornhide roll his eyes at my words” Oh no, I would never Mr…. I’m sorry I don’t think I’m familiar with your name, I hope you can forgive my blunder enough to present me with it, I’ve heard a lot about you, but the young one here tends to refer to you as guardian, we were honestly starting to believe you weren’t real.

“I’m as real as you are tall, honestly what are they feeding you? I’ve never seen anyone so big” I said while looking up at the brown-haired man as he rubbed at his hair while simultaneously evading my gaze. Which I found quite strange, did I say something rude? “Ha ha ha, yeah I blame it on my father is a Falonel decedent, so most of my family is quite tall,” he said before finally returning my gaze with his own. “Oh, so your Bipedon.”

“Hybrid. But again ma… sorry. I mean sir would you mind sharing your name with me? He said while yet again looking away. I know there was no way I said anything wrong this time, or maybe I did. Was it that I asked for his race? “Yes, yes. That’s right sorry, I’m Aubrey Everclune. If you’d like you can check my identification chip for confirmation.”

“Actually, that’s what I was up here for. Amina asked me to bring you both down so she could do it personally. Would you mind following me to the elevator downstairs so we can get that started?” he said while turning around and motioning for us to follow. Despite how nice the delivery of his question was, I knew it was nothing more than a Courtesy, and there was only one right answer.

‘Sure” I said as me and Iornhide followed behind him out of the room.