Loud pattering from the hooves of horses invades our rear flank. A party searching for us. I've got a plan though. We stop in-front of the massive crater and I enter the wagon with Meredith and Shiroi. They wait eagerly to hear my solution to our current predicament.

"Shiroi you and Meredith take the wagon around and I'll stay, make it believable."

They nod and move the wagon around to the opposite side of the crater. The party approaches and I yell across the crater.

“You think you can betray me, this is but a small extent of the power I've learned, I've killed fifty men with a single spell!" I yell.

The men halt behind me speaking amongst themselves. The approaching party seems uneasy at my boasting. Perhaps there’s a little fear in their hearts now.

"You bastard, how could you, all those innocent creatures you murdered just to prove your might,” Meredith yells.

I turn toward the party and draw my sword.

"Well, it seems I have an audience, would you like to behold my power?" I ask holding my hand out as if to cast a spell.

They look amongst themselves again and then ride off. I let out a deep sigh of relief and start to trek around the crater. Such a long walk, I should have told them to spare me one of the horses.

I reach the other side and Shiroi hops down from the wagon, hurrying to me.

“They fled, Shiroi was worried to leave you on your own, I know you showed strength at the tavern, but you have us now,” she proclaims grabbing my hand.

I touch her smooth scaly cheek to show appreciation for her concern.

"I know, and you both did well."

Meredith steps down and wraps her arms around me. I can feel her squeezing abnormally tight. Perhaps she is showing more signs of jealousy against Shiroi. Maybe that isn't it, maybe she's genuinely concerned for my wellbeing. I should stop thinking she wants to mate. She surely cares for me.

We climb back on the wagon and head off again. I'm worried about what made that crater, even more worried if it was man and not a beast. I've heard of warlocks who practice powerful magic, but a massive crater like that. The target was surely vaporized. Nevertheless, we shall continue onward.

We stop at a small clearing, and I can hear running water. The horses neigh with excitement at the sound. I unhook them so they can drink and graze. Meredith steps up behind me putting her gentle hand on my shoulder.

"We should take the time to bathe, I've some soaps and perfumes in my satchel,” she says with a lustful grin.

"I agree, let's rest a while and enjoy ourselves, we've no knowing how long our journey will be or where it will take us."

Meredith doesn’t hold back at all around me. I've hardly removed my tunic before she's stripped herself bare. Not that I'm complaining, her body is as beautiful as a flower in bloom. She moves closer to me with a look of longing on her face. I can't say I'm not intrigued by her advances.

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My cheeks turn red as she presses her bare breasts against me. She looks up and smiles.

"You're a dirty boy, why don't we clean you up a bit,” she says with a devilish smile.

If I'd employed her at the tavern, I surely would have spent every coin I had.

Though I avoid too many pleasantries with her, the bath is enjoyable. She doesn't seem too disappointed. I mean I don’t down right reject her. I just tell her we have more pressing matters. Romance can wait, like battle you must take your time and go about it skillfully. If you go rushing in, you are bound to get yourself or your partner hurt.

Night begins to fall. I've promised Meredith she can stay in my tent tonight.

"So, Meredith, would you like to read a tome?" I ask.

She gives me a look of embarrassment.

"I don't know how to read,” she says rubbing her shoulder.

I ruffle her soft hair. She’s kind of cute when she acts vulnerable.

"Don't worry, I'll read to you."

She seems to cling to my every word. This woman is surely infatuated with me. I'm not sure if I should pursue this, especially so early in our travels. I'll continue training her to fight. Maybe with some time she might become more to me than just a pupil.

Meredith falls asleep in my lap as I twirl her hair with my finger. I tuck her into her bedroll. It’s time for me to grab some rest too. I lay my head on my pillow.

It's not a moment later that I hear chanting from the woods that pulls me from my intended respite. I sit up curiously, then I hear profanity and slowly creep out of my tent.

"Gods be damned this spell worked just yesterday, how am I to be a mage if I can't even summon a dagger?" I hear a voice say from the woods.

Shiroi leans out of her tent, but I grab my sword and motion her back. I creep towards a small clearing where I see a man. Well, what seems like a man.

I step into the clearing sword ready as I see a, cat man? He’s almost my height with grey fur and murky green eyes. He’s adorned in robes that seem enchanted.

"Who are you, and what are you doing out here in the dead of night?" I ask.

He laughs.

"I could ask you the same my friend, and I promise you, the night is very much alive." He steps closer and I flaunt my blade as a warning. His eyes light up, "where my friend did you get that blade, is that, no it can't be, or could it?" he asks moving closer.

"This is my mother's sword, she fought bravely beside my father in the War of Dominions that brought peace to the realms until the destroyer came and disrupted the balance."

He moves ever closer seemingly unfazed by the fact that I could take his head clean off at any moment. He is mesmerized by the sword. He leans back with a big smirk.

"It is a summon sword, and by the markings it would seem it summons a female shadow stalker, have you summoned her? surely by now you have, oh or are you one of those? you don't use her for your own entertainment, do you? I've heard of perverse warriors taking their summons as-."

I cut him off.

"If you would excuse my language, what the fuck are you talking about?" I say sheathing the blade.

He scratches his head and takes a bow.

"My apologies I am Veneficus of, well I just go by Vene."

Gazing at him with suspicion I step forward. Surely it wasn't this imbecile cat man that caused that crater. More importantly though, what will he do if I scratch his ear? I do so enjoy scratching Neko ears, though most of the ones I’ve had contact with have been half-bloods. I reach my hand toward his ear, and he slaps it.

"That is wholly inappropriate, especially to greet a stranger," he pulls his hood over his ears, "you should be ashamed of yourself."

I don't know anything about their customs, maybe I offended him. I do have to ask him though.

"So that crater," I cough.

"Oh dear you saw that, you see I was trying to summon a succu-, never mind that, it didn't work and then it just went boom."

Shiroi steps up beside me out of nowhere, "you should ask him to join us, even the most pathetic mage has his uses."

Vene's eyes light up.

"She called me a mage."

"Yep, pathetic,” Shiroi says rolling her violet eyes.