Chapter 7

Someone is trying to rouse me from sleep by shaking me. Still, grumpy I turn around and try to catch up on some precious shuteye. This doesn’t go so well as the blanket is ripped from my grasp, before I’m lifted out of the bed, clothed, and carried into the common room; only then do I rub the sleep from my eyes and manage to find my bearings.

“Good morning. How are you?”

“Tired.”

“I’m well. And you?”

“Good, thank you. If you don’t mind, I have something to discuss with Freia in private.”

“Oh, sure.”

The two of us are going back towards the rooms when I speak up.

“What is it, Girard?”

“I think it’s prudent to let you know how incredibly dangerous, what you did yesterday, was.”

“I know. Aren dying is proof enough.”

“I’m talking about your interaction with Magus Gloomwood. You have a shocking propensity of putting yourself in harm’s way. I highly advise you to be extremely careful when in the presence of the King. We saved you thrice already, but if you continue being so reckless there is nigh, we can do to help you.”

“Gulp. Thank you. I’ll take it to heart.”

“See that you do.”

Finished, we return to the others and eat some bland oatmeal for breakfast.

The journey to the capital isn’t remarkably interesting. Both times that we are attacked by monsters I firmly stay away from the fighting, otherwise marvelling at the comfort the anklets give me, though the wonder doesn’t last long. Bored I strike up a conversation.

“We are going to be meeting your dad, right? What kind of person is he?”

“He’s really kind. Being King he’s also extremely busy so I haven’t been able to see him as often as I would have liked, but he always made sure my brother and I were well cared for. Ever since mom died, he’s been different. I don’t think he’d have ever agreed to an arranged marriage if she were alive.

I know he’s always had a strong stance against racial prejudice and has tried to solve conflicts peacefully, leading some people to believe our country is weak; especially since my brother is a half-elf.”

“Your brother is a half-elf? Does that mean you’re only half-siblings?”

“No, we share both mother and father. We’re of different races because during mothers first pregnancy my father was given the option to evolve from a human into an elf. Changing your race is rare and difficult so I’m super proud of him for accomplishing that.”

“How does such an evolution work? Do you just wake up one day in a different body?”

“Yes? I think so. I heard it becomes easier to gain an evolution by mimicking the race you wish to live as much as possible. You could try receiving an evolution option to become human again if you wanted to, though I’ve not heard of anyone successfully changing their gender without using Skills.”

I’m silent for a while trying to digest all the information Ayla just gave me.

“Would I need to become a human before I could gain the option of turning into an elf?”

“What? No. Any person can evolve into any other race, some of which are harder to qualify for than others, but it’s possible all the same. The only exceptions are half-races as they require two parents of different races and can’t be gained by evolving.”

By the time we stop talking the enormous walls of Demros are already looming over us. We quicken our step, spurred on by the proximity of our goal.

The city is massive. Far of I can make out another wall, which Ren tells me is where most nobles have mansions with another wall separating the noble quarter from Demros Castle.

The streets are packed with people and the houses turn from one-story buildings that don’t seem structurally sound, to proper buildings, slowly gaining additional height, until the nobles quarter, where the amount of real-estate appears to hold more significance than anything else. I even spied a huge lawn with a small shack as we walked past an intersection.

Arriving at the entrance to the castle for the first time the guards react to our presence.

“The princess has returned! Send someone to inform His Majesty!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Immediately after, we enter the courtyard and I can see the messenger almost tripping over their feet in their haste in delivering the news. Otherwhere there are people in expensive-looking clothes some of which are carrying books or scrolls, and, in another part, knights are training and sparring.

“I expect His Majesty will want to see you as soon as possible, Your Highness. Perhaps we should find an empty room and prepare to meet the King?”

Without answering Ayla veered into a side passage and lead us to a storage room.

“Girard, Matthew, you two stay outside and make sure no one enters.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Of course.”

With the door closed, Ayla and Lily almost tear open Alice and my Backpacks, while Erica and Ren undress us. The grip of the knights is rough as they manhandle us first out of our clothes and then into new ones, giving only a small respite in between for Ayla to cast Cleanse.

The sting of my skin peeling away is noticeably reduced, though still strong enough for me to curse my past self.

Now, having removed all the dirt and the grime from our travel and changed into a clean dress, I, along with the others, embark on our journey to meet the King once more.

Striding into the throne room our arrival is heralded by one of the guards bellowing.

“Entering, Her Highness Ayla Reynold and company.”

“Father, I have returned.”

Speaking such, Ayla, and Lily curtsy, while our entourage kneel.

By the time Alice and I realise what is going on so did everyone, apart from Ayla, standing in front of us, including the King.

“And who are these people you brought, who refuse to bow before their King.”

“Cough. These are my friends, Freia and Alice, they came here from another world, and I would ask you to allow me to make them my retainers.”

“No.”

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For a moment everything paused, as Ayla needed time to understand her father's unexpected refusal.

“What? Why?”

“You shirk your duties and run away like a coward, forcing me to end out knights in search of you. Then, you return and have the gall to ask a favour from me? Do you take me for a fool? No, I’ll have you confined in your quarters until tomorrow next week when you’ll be married to Prince Paul Ironheart.”

“What? But that’s…”

“A fine day for you to start a new life as a wife.

And you two will be thrown into the dungeon. I’ll find out how long you’ve been skulking through my Kingdom, how you poisoned my Queen, and why. Guards, take them away.”

Even before I could comprehend what happened, Alice and I are grabbed from behind and dragged out of the room, down a long staircase, and into two cells facing each other. Once inside, the guards search us, confiscating the daggers Ayla gave us, along with our backpacks and my anklets.

With the guards gone I pace in my cell unable to stay still or do anything. After long deliberations, I try to come to terms with our fate being entirely out of our hand, but no matter what, my restlessness doesn’t abate.

“Freia?”

“Yes?”

“What will we do now? I don’t think they’ll accept us not knowing anything.”

“There isn’t anything we can do. We’ll have to wait and hope for the best.”

…

“Freia, when was the last time you did it?”

My eyes bulged. Staying in this cell is a death sentence for me. Realising this I start feeling claustrophobic and my unease grows. After rattling the bars and demanding to be left out or at least transferred into Alice’s cell was met with silence, I did the only other thing I could think of to help me in my predicament.

Sitting on the cot I flip up my skirt and remove my underwear before furiously rubbing myself between the thighs as if my life depends on it, which it does. Ignoring the pain, I increase the pressure on my clitoris to force myself into arousal. Eventually, I calm down though I’m unsure if that is because I gave up on my futile actions or whether masturbating actually helped, despite the rough treatment.

“Ow. It hurts.”

“Of course, it does. You weren’t gentle at all. I hope you’ll treat me better than you do yourself because I’m not into masochism.”

“I didn’t think I was either, but maybe I was wrong.”

Alice gives me a curt nod before sitting down to Meditate. I follow suit as there isn’t much else to do.

Beginning my exercise, I feel the Mana around and within me, while slowly increasing the area I focus on. At some point, I’m disturbed by a large amount of Mana coming closer.

“Here is your supper. Enjoy.”

After saying so the soldier pushes a bowl of soup with bread and a small bucket of water into each of our cells, then walks away.

Despite what was said I could not find it within myself to enjoy the meal. Partly because of the poor taste and partly because of the dreary environment.

Finished with the meal, I check my notification.

Masturbation has reached Level 2

Masturbation has reached Level 3

Masochism - Level 1

Your private areas can transmit more than pleasure. For example, pain. Congratulations on finding that out, please enjoy.

Meditation has reached Level 11

Mana Sense has reached Level 3

Mana Sense has reached Level 4

Mana Sense has reached Level 5

Then I take a look at my Stats.

Strength: 12

Agility: 13

Dexterity: 13

Perception: 12

Reaction: 12

Intelligence: 13

Constitution: 12

Vitality: 14

Endurance: 16

Vigour: 12

Willpower: 14

Wisdom: 13

I wonder what these Stats represent.

Strength is a measurement of how much force you can exert.

Agility affects the speed and precision of large movements of your body.

Dexterity defines how nimble you are.

Perception determines how well you can take note of the world around you.

Reaction describes the delay required between assessment and action.

Intelligence discerns the potency of your Mana.

Constitution provides a larger Health Pool along with a minor boost in Health Recovery.

Vitality increase the Health Recovery and the Health Pool to a lesser degree.

Endurance and Willpower work the same as Constitution, but for Stamina and Mana, respectively.

Vigour and Wisdom heighten you Stamina and Mana Recovery as well as their respective Pools, though in a smaller quantity.

Ok. I’m fairly sure my Stats used to be lower so how did they increase.

Training, by exerting yourself to or passed your limit for an extended period will increase the respective Stats. Other methods to raise Stats include gaining a Class, levelling up, and gaining Titles.

So that’s why they are higher now.

With nothing else to do, I decide to tire myself out doing push-ups, sit-ups, and flexibility exercises until I fall asleep.

Partway through my training regimen I am reminded of my bodily functions and have to pause to let the remains of my dinner pass. We’ve been in civilisation for a few days now and I still have not been able to take a piss in private. At least it’s back to only being watched by Alice, but this lack of privacy is unnerving. even back home no one was so blatant about watching ones every move.

In the short spans where I’m unable to continue exerting myself, I empty my Mana Pool while practising my Mana Manipulation.

At some point sleep overtook me and I wake up with one guard pushing a breakfast consisting of bread and water into my cell.

My training takes on an almost religious quality as I throw myself into it trying to distract me from my impending doom. Though it is not meant to be as I have to stop and satisfy my urges just as a guardsman comes to deliver lunch.

“I’ve never had someone asking me to fuck them like this, but sure I’ll do you.”

He enters and removes his trousers without delay, only realising that my actions were not an invitation when he crumbles to the floor with my foot between his legs. When the understanding of what I just did dawns on me I quickly push him into the hallway and call for a guard hoping more people will prevent him from trying again.

“Jason, what happened?”

“This bitch was jerking off in front of me clearly wanting some of my dick when suddenly she kicked me in the balls. And if she wants to play rough, I’m inclined to accommodate her.”

“Oh? Maybe she just wanted more people to join the party? She’s pretty enough I’m sure we can share.”

“Stop it, you dolts. She obviously isn’t interested in you, so leave her alone.”

“What are you saying, Amanda? Why would she show us this if she didn’t want us inside of her?”

Only when Jason mentions this do I notice that I’ve continued Masturbating while they were talking.

“Don’t come near me, I warn you. Just go and leave me alone.”

Luckily, Amanda respects my wishes and drags the other two idiots away before anything can happen. Great, now I might live at the cost of being raped. Curiously, I’m not as against the idea nor against lying with a man as I thought I’d be, still, I’m Frederick, a heterosexual guy, at heart and won’t let a man enter me if I can help it.

After they left and I ate my meal I change my practice to Meditation and Mana Sense. Thankfully, there is no further commotion when supper arrives, and I sleep after pleasuring myself again.

Opening my eyes, I see a young lad in front of my cell, who begins stammering once he notices I’m awake.

“He-Hello, I-I’ve been told to co-come down here a-and have se-sex with yo-you. Plea-Please, don’t ki-kick me.”

As he was about to enter, I forestalled him by saying.

“Not interested. Go away.”

“Bu-But…”

“Go. Away.”

“Ri-Right.”

With him gone I eat my breakfast and just as I begin training, my urges kick in and I’m left with Masturbating once more. This time though it doesn’t stop and after rubbing my skin raw, I start pressing my vulva against the bars while moving up and down. As I’m still bearing my private parts open to the world it becomes exceedingly difficult to deny the slouch of men that appear with my lunch. Especially, with my ever-increasing need, do I require ever more effort to not succumb to lust.

I barely manage to satisfy myself, ashamed that it was only possible because I got excited at having a crowd watching me hurt myself.

The rest of the day I pass training, though I start feeling weak and can neither complete the physical training nor concentrate on my Meditation for long.

I relieve myself before going to bed, where I mostly toss and turn instead of gaining any rest.

There must have been a time, in which I managed to sleep as I don’t remember being chained up naked with a burly guard dangling his penis in front of me.

“Finally, awake, are we? You know it’s is incredibly rude to dismiss our kindness to help you. Well, if you’re not going to accept it, we just need to force you too.”

“Mmhh mph.”

Speaking through a gag has never been my strong point, and my attempt merely causes the guy to laugh.

“Sorry, but we are forbidden from helping you if you reject us, so I had to make sure you wouldn’t be able to.”

“Wes, you better not be where I think you are!”

“Shit!”

He dresses up in a hurry, but by the time he is ready to leave Amanda shows up and slams him against a wall. When she sees me, still bound, and gagged, she sucker-punches him and throws him down the hall before releasing me.

“Sorry. You really should let one of them do you though, otherwise, they will be permitted to rape you.”

“I’m not interested in men. Say, would you be interested to…”

“Me? No. Don’t get me wrong you’re cute, but no I’ll not have sex with you.

I’ll pass on the message that you want a girl and that’s it.”

“Sigh. Thank you.”

She leaves me alone and after reporting Wes she stays nearby to keep any more people from forcing themselves onto me. In the meantime, I don’t even bother to put my clothes back on instead masturbating furiously, even going so far as to push chunks of the bread I was given, at lunch and supper, into my vagina before eating it.

My sleep is even more uneasy as caressing my clitoris and fingering myself prevents me from relaxing, properly. Hopefully, some girl will avail herself to me tomorrow.