Maxine was standing infront of Aenwynn just outside of a rather spacious mansion set aside for visiting dignitaries. They had been staying at this building since yesterday. Although she had no idea why. Still she managed to coax out the female forest elf for a talk.

"I'm sorry for bothering you like this, but I have some questions about elves. Besides my mother, I've never actually talked to other elves," Maxine said, "I was just curious about your culture and how you strengthen yourselves."

The female elf smiled before she asked, "We are like any other people. We simply wish to live our lives in peace inside our forests. We have a few holidays such as the Yule festival. Each elf is taught a strict code of honor."

"I know. Mother was always insistent that I learned the meaning of honor," Maxine replied.

"At least she remembered that much," the female elf said, "I can smell the flesh of beasts on your breath. Didn't your mother teach you why you shouldn't eat meat?"

"She did, but I need to eat meat. I have hydra blood in my veins and without consuming meat, my health will rapidly deteriorate," Maxine explained.

"I see," the female elf said in understanding and her eyes widened in surprise, "Oh! I can't believe I've forgotten my manners. My name is Aenwynn and yours is?"

"Maxine Cinderson," Maxine replied, "I have one more question, but I don't know if you can help me with it."

"You won't know unless you ask," Aenwynn said.

"Alright then. I have a student that is a prodigy. He's already unmatched amongst normal humans when it comes to the use of a blade, but he lacks the means to become stronger. I was wondering if you have a suitable method or technique to help me with this," Maxine explained, "He doesn't need much. Even an inferior technique will suffice."

"No," Aenwynn said firmly to Maxine, "We won't share out cultivation techniques with humans, even if one is your student. They have no honor."

"Then I will teach him what honor is and if he fails to heed my teachings, I will end him myself," Maxine replied firmly, "It's my duty as his teacher."

"Very well, I will hold you to your word," Aenwynn said as she reached into a pouch at her waist to pull out a small book and handed it to Maxine.

"Thank you," Maxine said as she recieved the book and bowed to Aenwynn deeply.

"You're welcome," Aenwynn said, "But I must ask, what made you seek this out for a human child? He may be a prodigy, but that is rarely enough."

"When your people's guardian beast appeared a few days ago, most men fled from it, but my student held firm to protect his sisters. Such an act of bravery and familial love needed to be rewarded and I just don't see him acting dishonorably as long as he is taught properly," Maxine answered.

"That's a risky move," Aenwynn cautioned Maxine, "A noble boy could easily turn into a vicious bandit."

"But not if he is guided properly," Maxine retorted.

"Fair enough," Aenwynn said begrudgingly, "But remember your promise."

"I will," Maxine said and decided to change the subject, "How did things go with negotiations for the peace treaty? I'm surprised that you are not ironing out the details for the peace treaty at this very moment."

"Govenor Ard doesn't have that kind of authority, no matter how much he wants it," Aenwynn answered, "Several high ranking officials are enroute right now to discuss the details of the peace treaty. They should be here in another week."

"Oh, alright. I guess that means you will be around for a while longer," Maxine said.

"That's right," Aenwynn answered, "But I wish we didn't have to stay in this city. I miss the forests and it disturbs me to see so many enslaved."

"You're not the only one upset by this," Maxine agreed, "I'm trying to change thier policies, but they are being very resistant to my ideas on the matter."

"I wish you luck in that endevor," Aenwynn said supportingly.

"Thank you," Maxine said and noticed the time, "It seems I need to head back home. I need to spend time with my daughter and beloved. They've been asking me to go shopping with them."

"Oh, in that case, enjoy the remainder of your day," Aenwynn said with a slight smile on her face.

"The same to you," Maxine said before leaving and making her way back to the mansion. 

When she got back, Maxine found both of them watching a drama on the holographic TV with Lanitherin and his sisters. It was one of the few ways to pass time in this city aside from reading or taking up a hobby. 

Unsurprisingly, Lanitherin was sitting beside Silky with a stupid grin on his face. I wonder how much longer Silky will put up with that. I can't believe he hasn't figured out that she isn't interested.

"Hey there. Are you guys ready to go shopping?" Maxine asked. All of them jumped and looked at Maxine with excitement.

"Yes!" Silky shouted happily.

"Of course," Emily said with a small smile.

Ilanna timidly walked up to Maxine and asked, "Are we really going to get new clothes?"

"Yes," Maxine said gently, "All of you are going to get new outfits and some toys as well, if I can find some." Ilanna and Nala both smiled at hearing Maxine's answer just before both of them hugged Maxine. Maxine smiled contently as she gently rubbed the sides of their heads.

"Enough of that. If we don't head out soon, we won't have much time to look for clothes before dinner," Emily reminded them.

"Alright, let's head out," Maxine said after giving both the little girls one more pat on the head. 

They loaded up into the carriage and headed to the market district. It wasn't a very long ride, and Lanitherin was somewhat upset that they went to a women's clothing store first. However he changed his attitude when he got to see each new outfit that Silky would be wearing in the future. His sisters got jealous of the attention Silky was getting and insisted that Lanitherin offer his opinion on their outfits.

Maxine shook her head at their antics before she found a green dress with golden lace at the cuff and the hem of the dress. It revealed more of her neck and collarbone than she was used to, but it still looked quite nice. She found a red and a blue dress of similar style before she went to Emily and asked, "I'm going to go try some dresses on. Let me know what you think of them."

A few moments in the dressing room was all it took and she came out wearing the green dress. "How do I look?" Maxine asked.

"Great," Emily said with a big smile, "But you're not seriously going to work in that, are you?"

"No, but it would still be nice to wear for a formal occasion," Maxine replied.

"Good point. I will pick out a couple myself," Emily said. Maxine noticed the few outfits that Emily had picked were plain and were probably going to be her work clothes. I better find a few of those myself. Can't have the only two ordinary dresses that I have get bloodstained without any spares to be had.

Maxine found five more plain dresses for every day events and for her healing duties. Although she doubted they would remain unstained for very long. Bloodstains were notoriously difficult to get out of clothes.

After another hour of trying on various clothes, Maxine, Emily, Ilanna, Silky and Nala finally had enough clothes for nearly every occasion. Lanitherin was more than a little tired from being dragged everywhere by his sisters, but he was still wearing a goofy smile as he followed Silky around. 

When they finally reached the boys clothing store, Lanitherin spent no more than fifteen minutes picking out a few sets of clothes. One for formal wear and the rest were everday clothes and training garments. 

While they were loading their new clothes onto the carriage, Hero Alec Ard approached them. Maxine was instantly on guard, but she wasn't expecting what came next. He bowed his head.

"Please, forgive me for my actions the other day," Hero Alec Ard said, but Maxine could tell he wasn't sincere. He was doing nothing more than making a show of an apology.

"I assume that your father or the elves pressured you into this," Maxine said, "If you had a single iota of sense, you would know that no spoken apology can ever make up for trying to turn me into your slave. I can only imagine what you would have done to me had you succeeded, but I doubt I would have to imagine that hard. I just have to ask the other unfortunate souls that you have already enslaved."

"Then what do I have to do to change your mind?" Hero Alec Ard asked while clearly tyring to keep his temper in check. He didn't even deny that he enslaved others. He's a piece of shit.

"There isn't a thing you can do, but since you lack the intelligence to figure it out, I will explain it to you why in the simplest terms that I can," Maxine said coldly, "I detest slavers and those that keep slaves. I find them to be the second most loathsome creatures in existence."

"What's the first?" Hero Alec Ard asked almost instantly.

"It's a draw between those that murder children and rapists," Maxine answered coldly, "As it stands, I won't heal you unless you will die otherwise, but if I find out you are either of those things, nothing in this world would convince me to heal you. Even if it means your death and your father begs me on his hands and knees, I won't." Hero Alec Ard looked angry, but he wisely kept it to himself before storming away.

"That asshole deserved that," Emily commented.

"No, what he deserves is to have an explosive collar around his neck," Maxine said.

"Now that would be his just deserts," Emily agreed and she swiftly changed the subject, "Now, let's head home. The little ones are exhausted. Unlike us, they don't have any cores to help keep their stamina up."

"Lanitherin won't have that problem for much longer," Maxine said with a small smile, "I made a friend amongst the elves and got him a cultivation manual."

"That's great," Emily said happily, but she asked via spiritual sense, [Why can't he just use the same one we do?]

"I know," Maxine agreed, but added via spiritual sense, [I don't know how it will effect him. It's better to use a cultivation technique from this world. It will have fewer side-effects.]

"What's a cultivation manual?" Lanitherin asked.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"It's a book that will teach you how to become stronger," Maxine answered.

"Will I become as strong as you?" Lanitherin asked.

"Perhaps. It depends all on you," Maxine answered, but in truth, she doubted he would ever form more than one core. His skill and special energy would make him nearly impossible to beat by anyone with just one core, but against someone with two cores, he would have a very hard time clenching victory. 

Lanitherin only nodded before jumping into the carriage with his sisters and Silky. Maxine shared a quick glance with Emily before getting on it herself.

The ride back was uneventful, but for some reason, she felt on edge. It was almost as if someone was watching her. However she didn't feel their gaze on her. It caused her to periodically spread out her spiritual sense five hundred feet in every direction to make sure she wasn't being watched or followed. I hope I'm just being paranoid. After not finding anything several times in a row, she finally relaxed. 

It wasn't until she exited the carriage with everyone else back at the mansion that she actually felt a gaze land on her, but thankfully, it wasn't a hostile gaze. Who could possibly be following me? Whoever it is, they are good. I can't even tell which direction they are in. Just as quickly as the gaze landed on her, it vanished. Hmm, I must have just been a passing curiosity.

However it wasn't until late at night and she was about to lay down in her bed when she started to get something from the spiritual mark she left on the man she interogated yesterday. She immediately closed her eyes and focused her mind on the spiritual mark to see and hear everything that man did.

The cell he was in was tiny, but that didn't matter. He was shackled to the wall with an explosive collar around his neck. Wow, talk about overkill. I think they even have an explosive belt on this guy.

"You look like shit," a someone said without revealing himself to the now restrained man.

"No shit, asshole. This is what happens when you have us rush in without gathering any intel on our targets," the restrained man said, "If we had more time, we would have known about those damn wolves."

"I don't care. That's your fuck up, not mine, but that's not why I'm here," the voice said, "Tell me what you told that elven woman."

"I only told her I heard your voice, which is all I really knew," the restrained man growled.  

"Oh, I think she got more than that," the voice said, "She left a gift for you in your head."

"WHAT?!" the restrained man asked fearfully.

"Oh, it's not harmful, but she can see and hear everything that you do when she focus' on you," the voice said, "It's a rather interesting piece of work. Only a genius or an offworlder could have placed that on you, especially without your knowledge."

"Can it be removed?" the restraiend man asked hopefully.

"Yes, but I won't bother. It will go away on it's own in another few days," the voice said, "But that's beside the point. You gave her information on me and that I will not tolerate. And after I'm done with you, I will deal with that elven woman."

"Wait!" the restrained man shouted as he got a glimpse of a four armed sillouette, but that was all he saw before his head exploded.

Maxine opened her eyes with a cold sweat. That being was a member of the evil races, but she wasn't sure which one. There were three that had that many arms. If she had only seen another detail other than his sillouette, she could have without a doubt identified his race. She hoped it wasn't a Four Horned Kanzil. They were the most dangerous and aggressive of the three, but none of them had anything stronger than gold stage. Still any of them would be enough to conquer this world without too many losses. 

Maxine quickly started heading for the front of the mansion. She couldn't risk that thing attacking this place and hurting any innocents. Unfortunately Head Maid Olga intercepted her when she was nearly to the front door.

"Pardon me, mistress, but Hero Alec Ard is here to see you," Olga said neutrally, "He seems rather insistent that he get to talk to you." He's here now?! Of all the dumb shit... Wait, I could use a meat shield. 

In an instant, Maxine already decided to use Hero Alec Ard to help her rid of this threat. "Oh, That will make things much easier," Maxine answered calmly even though inside she was worried, "I suggest you gather the rest of the staff and my family to hide in the bunker below the mansion. There is a rather disagreeable being coming this way and I believe he means to kill me." Olga gave Maxine a frightened look only once before running down the halls as fast as she could.

She spread her spiritual sense out and found the four armed being quickly approaching. She finally got a better look at it and it was as she feared. There was no mistaking the four short horns just above his brow, his tusk like fangs and his bright red skin. The man approaching was a Four Horned Kanzil. Thankfully, it was only at the peak of silver stage and it would be another two minutes before it arrived. Well, that's good, but those damn things are known to fight and win against cultivators that are more powerful. If I'm lucky, they will kill each other and 'Hero' Alec Ard will no longer be my problem.

Maxine withdrew her Twilight Iron Blades from her dimensional ring before manipulating their appearance to look more like a normal pair of blades and threw open the door with a movement of her essence. Hero Alec Ard looked at her with a dumbfounded look and quickly began backing away from her.

"Did you come here armed?" Maxine asked his slowly retreating figure.

"No, why?" Hero Alec Ard said fearfully.

"It would have been better if you had been armed. I have a very hostile guest approaching and I believe he won't want to leave any witnesses. So unless you want to die, take up a fighting stance," Maxine warned Hero Alec Ard. It's better that he's prepared for what's coming. I don't need this idiot getting cheap shotted because he wasn't prepared. Two on one are much better odds than one on one. It's especially important since I can't use my battle form. 

The Four Horned Kanzil arrived mere moments after Hero Alec Ard took up a unarmed fighting stance. Maxine nearly tripped when she saw it. It towered over both of them at seven and a half feet tall and she saw it's signature red skin and four short horns on it's brow. It even had the tusk like fangs jutting out of it's mouth. It was holding a sword in each of it's four arms, but she couldn't figure out why it was only wearing a loin cloth. She figured it would have worn at least some kind of protective clothing. Must be a cultural thing or he just doesn't need any armor. 

"Hello, little elven girl," the Four Horned Kanzil said mockingly, "Am I interrupting you and your boyfriend?"

"He isn't my boyfriend, nor will any man," Maxine stated coldly, "I prefer the company of women."

"Hah!" the Four Horned Kanzil barked a laugh, "No matter. The both of you will die along with anyone else that sees me." Maxine didn't bother continuing their talk. It served no purpose and she charged forward aggressively.

She slashed out with both of her blades at him, but he blocked her attack before stabbing at her twice. She narrowly dodged being stabbed in her left breast and right thigh by twisting her whole body. She used an upward slash of her right blade as she retreated back, but her opponent didn't chase after her. Instead he went straight for Hero Alec Ard, whom hadn't moved an inch. He appeared to be frozen stiff from fear. Shit! He's supposed to be a battle hardened warrior, not some untested greenhorn! 

Maxine raced after the Four Horned Kanzil, but at this distance, he had gained too much of a lead for her to catch up in time. Hero Alec Ard finally snapped out of it just as four sword slashes were thrown at him. She fully expected to see him cut into multiple pieces, but that didn't happen. She heard was four metal on metal impacts followed by a series of sparks. Unfortunately, the Four Horned Kanzil didn't show any signs of slowing as he lashed out with a kick and sent Hero Alec Ard hurtling into a distant reinforced wall. He hit the wall with enough force to have it collapse on top of him.

Maxine only spared Hero Alec Ard a glance to see if he was still alive. He was, but he was out cold. Fucking useless piece of shit. To think, he almost enslaved me.

Just as Maxine reached her opponent, she lashed out with both of her blades, but was blocked by one of his left blades. She was immediately forced to go onto the defensive as all four of his arms started attacking her wildly. His attacks were without form and seemingly random. But that's what made him so difficult to fight. There was no pattern for her to capitalize on.

For ten seconds, she was dodging and parrying every attack, but there was no room to counter attack. It made her frustrated and angry. I should be able to handle this. He's weaker than me, although not by much, and a hell of a lot slower. I can't get anywhere by defending alone. I NEED TO DO SOMETHING! 

Without thinking, she hacked at one of the Four Horn Kanzil swords to both attack and defend against his assault. Strangely after their weapons collided, he retreated three steps and he looked surprised. 

In a moment of enlightenment, she continued to push forward by combining attack and defense in to each of her movements. Her blades gradually began to change colors while they fought. One became black and the other white. She knew this effect was from the Yin Yang Blades technique, but she wasn't consciously focusing on it. 

Within moments, the Four Horned Kanzil was being overwhelmed by Maxine's fluid and seemingly endless attack and defensive style. This time it was the Four Horned Kanzil's turn to be on the defensive. Unfortunately he had other idea as he lashed out at her with all of his swords at once. When their weapons collided, it was the swords that shattered, but the force of the impact knocked Maxine's blades out of her hands. Shrapnel flew at her face and forced her to close her eyes and turn her head.

The next thing she knew Maxine had been knocked on the ground with the Four Horned Kanzil sitting on her waist and both of her arms were pinned at her sides by the lower set of the Four Horned Kanzil's arms. His upper set of arms reached for her neck, but paused for a moment as a lustful look crossed over his face. His hands reached down and tore open her dress and bra to reveal her breasts. 

Maxine was horrified, and she quickly began to panic while desperately thinking of a way out of this situation. NO! I will not let this bastard rape me! In desperation, she took a deep breath in and breathed out every last drop of acid that she had in a single acidic spray directly into his face. 

As soon as her acid hit his face, it began to melt and he screamed while covering his face with all of his hands. Before Maxine could throw him off, Hero Alec Ard tackled the Four Horned Kanzil off of her and began to grapple with it. Unfortunately even wounded as he was, the Four Horned Kanzil was quickly overpowering Hero Alec Ard.

Without wasting a moment, Maxine got up and retrieved her blades and cut off the Four Horned Kanzil's arms and legs. The Four Horned Kanzil was still alive, albeit in pain, and that suited Maxine just fine. But for now she needed to deal with Hero Alec Ard.

"Thank you," Maxine said begrudgingly to Hero Alec Ard and noticed him staring at her exposed chest, "What? Never seen a pair of breasts before?" Hero Alec Ard coughed and winced in pain before turning around. He must have broken something. Serves him right for standing there like a deer in headlights.

Maxine trembled breifly at the thought of almost being raped and quickly used her energies to temporarily staple the front of her dress back together. As she finished, she regained her composure, but she knew she would be having nightmares tonight.

"What is that thing?" Hero Alec Ard asked without turning around. Maxine only now noticed the heavy bruising on his face. She ignored him and noticed that the Four Horned Kanzil was now unconscious. She guessed due to blood loss since it was bleeding quite heavily. 

"I'm not sure," Maxine lied, "But whatever it is, it's not friendly. Still I will find out what it is and why it attacked me in the first place." She walked up towards the now defenseless and groaning Four Horned Kanzil. She wanted to know if it sent information out and to find out where it's ship was. She wanted to have options if she had to leave this planet.

"How will you do that?" Hero Alec Ard asked while turning to watch her.

"Easy. I will rip the information out of it's head," Maxine replied coldly, "Unfortunately, it might probably turn it into an idiot, if I'm not careful."

"What?!" Hero Alec Ard exclaimed, but Maxine didn't bother talking to him as she placed her hand on top of the unconscious Four Horned Kanzil. She turned her spiritual sense into blades, but it wasn't necessary. He was in too much pain to resist her attack into his mind. Thus she caused almost no damage to his mind as she rummaged through his memories. Most of them were of battles or similar scouting missions. It took her awhile to find his most recent memories and she let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't sent any information back to his homeworld on this planet yet and his people rarely sent any attackers to a world that was competent enough to kill the scout. Unfortunately his ship was keyed to his particular biosignature and was thus useless to Maxine unless she figured out how to hack the computer system. Regardless, the ship itself was horribly damaged and needed some resources to be repaired before it would be spaceflight capable. I wonder how it got damaged in the first placed. In any case, I will have a couple new hobbies. Figuring out how to hack that system and repair it will take quite awhile. 

But before she could retract her spiritual sense, it was forcibly locked into place as visions of uncountable women of various races flooded her mind. Each of them were raped and subsquently died from the rough treatment from the Four Horned Kanzil. But what made it worse was that she was in the place of the woman in each of those memories. Even though she didn't experience their pain, she saw what he did to each of them. Many of them were eaten alive as he raped them.

It was horrifying and she screamed internally at this nightmare as she heard the howling laughter of the Four Horned Kanzil. In desperation, she lashed out with her spiritual sense to stun his mind to free herself. Thankfully it worked.

Maxine quickly withdrew herself from his mind and restrained herself from killing the bastard before turning to her mansion. She wanted him to be tortured by the Hero's Association for information, not that she expected him to give them any.

Regardless after being bombarded by those memories of rape, Maxine was in a very fragile state of mind. She had to struggle to keep herself from breaking down into tears at the horror of what she just experienced.

She ignored Hero Alec Ard completely as she quickly made her way inside her mansion. The handful of staff saw her face and one of them ran off. Just keep it together for a little longer. I can't let them see me fall to pieces. I know how those corrupt pieces of shit like to take advantage of people in fragile states.

Right as Maxine was walking up the stairs to her room, Emily quickly came up to her and asked, "Maxine, what's wrong? Olga told me there was a fight. Are you alright?" But Maxine didn't answer. She was completely focused on reaching her room.

Emily followed her the whole way with a concern written all over her face and finally when the door to her bedroom was shut, Maxine let herself express the horror of what she had just experienced. Tears ran down her face as she quickly hugged Emily and started crying. She hated to admit it, but deep down, part of her was still a scared and abused young woman. I don't know what I would do without Emily here. I just hope that bastard hasn't caused my androphobia to come back.