Maxine's talent for alchemy had become wide spread in the past five years since she has been on this world. Thankfully, she was able to mislead everyone into thinking she only knew how to make healing potions as well as a limb regrowth potion and had asked the Hero's Association for various herbs and beast cores to 'experiment' with in exchange for healing potions. When in truth, she was using those herbs to concoct potions to increase the strength of her group or for poisons that she could use to fight with.

Silky made great strides in her cultivation and had reached silver stage rank three. Although Maxine had a great deal of trouble formulating a breakthrough potion for her. Thankfully, the arachne twins provided her with the necessary recipe. Unfortunately, finding herbs those particular herbs was too difficult since the main ingredient was non-existent on this world. Thus she had the heroes find a suitable alternatives, which was no easy task. It was difficult refining it with such limited herbs, but she managed it. She only failed a dozen times before she was able to make the breakthrough potion. 

Emily had a similar problem due to her divine essence while trying to break through to silver stage. Mostly because there were no herbs on this world with that posessed the divine attribute, but that wasn't a big issue. Maxine just made a normal breakthrough potion and it seemed to work. Although, Emily had to drink a few of them for it to actually work. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to progress very far into silver stage and was still at rank one. 

Howard, on the other hand, reached iron stage rank one. It surprised Maxine to no end that he was able to reach that stage at the age of eighty-eight and he gained a gift by regressing in his physical age to look like someone in his fifties. It made Maxine remark once again that he would have been a cultivation monster had he been introduced to essence earlier in his life.

Lanitherin, on the other hand, was the freak of nature Howard should have been. He had gone from having almost no cultivation to the peak of iron stage in just five years with only minimal help from potions. In another month, he would be ready to breakthrough to silver stage. Maxine had no doubt that his rapid rise in cultivation was in part due to his desire to be with Silky.

Unfortunately, Maxine's own progress was far less substantial. She had only managed to increase two ranks to match with Silky. However it was only because she had to focus on cultivating three energies rather than Silky's one. It would have been far less had she not managed to convince the heroes to gather beast cores and herbs in exchange for healing potions.

There was one other good bit of news. She managed to hack the main computer of the Four Horned Kanzil's ship two months ago. Although she nearly caused it to self-destruct in the process. She hadn't realized how dangerous that had been until after she saw the specifications of the ship. It ran on a zero-point energy reactor. If it had exploded, the explosion would have undoubtedly left a five mile wide crater at a minimum, but even at the maximum of fifty miles, the city she was in was well out of the blast radius. Thankfully, that was the end of the issues with that ship. It was relatively easy to repair once she got a hold of a few rare materials in the city and decided to start calling her new ship 'Hallas.'

There was one very large problem however. Hero Alec Ard had become increasingly more affectionate towards Maxine and he brought Maxine more of the beast cores and herbs than anyone else. He even went so far as to free every non-criminal slave in the city using his own wealth to prove that he was a changed man. While she appreciated the help, she didn't like attention from him, but even she had to admit that it helped with her androphobia. 

But something was beginning to make Maxine very nervous. She hadn't seen much of Mara or Aenwynn for the last few months and the time for the communication window with the Alliance had come and gone. She was worried that they were planning to capture her and it was why she insisted on everyone staying close to each other for the time being.

As of that moment, everyone in her group was resting in the room reserved for entertainment while Maxine nervously paced. "Mom, do you really need to pace like that?" Silky asked. She had grown up into a very beautiful young woman and was slightly taller than Maxine. Her bust was as big as Maxine's as well and she still had a little room left to grow. She kept her black hair at shoulder length for some odd reason that Maxine couldn't divine.

"It would make me feel more at ease as well if you sat down, teacher," Lanitherin agreed with Silky as usual. He had grown into a muscular young man. Although she found it odd that he let his hair grow halfway down his back in a pony tail tied with a leather cord.

Maxine stopped pacing and looked at Lanitherin and Silky. She hated to admit it, but Lanitherin's love for Silky had only grown since he had been here and had openly flirted with Silky for the past couple years. Even with her harsh requirements, she knew it was only a matter of time before they ended up getting married, but Silky had yet to reveal that she was an arachne to him. Maxine was worried he would reject her once he found out, but the mere fact that he liked spiders made her more optimistic.

"Fine," Maxine said and sat down on a rather comfortable chair.

"Why are you so nervous?" Emily asked with concern.

"I havn't seen either Mara or Aenwynn in the past couple months and it doesn't help that they were behaving oddly before they decided to disappear. It almost feels like they are up to something," Maxine answered and she sensed something very faint as if it was far away directly above her. But no matter how she scanned that area with her spiritual sense, she found nothing there. I know I'm not imagining things. So what the hell is that? I know it's getting closer because that sensation is getting stronger.

"If you've forgotten, Aenwynn mentioned that she had a few blind dates set up by her parents before she left. Maybe she found someone she likes. That would definitely be a good reason she isn't here and why she was nervous before she left," Emily offered, "And Mara has always been like this. She can be gone for three months at a time without a word. So calm down."

"Alright, alright. I get it," Maxine finally acquiesced, but she added via spiritual sense, [I feel something coming from very far away in the sky and it's approaching fast. It's possible that it's a large group of Shadow Lords come to capture me. That's the real reason I'm so damn nervous.]

[Jesus, Maxine. Why didn't you say so earlier? It would've at least given me some context as to why you were as nervous as a chihuahua at a tap dancing convention,] Emily replied angrily, [But if you're right, we need to get out of here as quickly as we can.]

[I know,] Maxine answered, [But I don't want to leave this place unless we have to. It could just as easily be a first contact mission, but if it isn't, I may have to use that ship I repaired to get us off world in a hurry.] 

[What about Lanitherin and his sisters?] Emily asked, [Are you just going to abandon your student?]

[No, I won't, but I need to know where he stands,] Maxine answered.

[He's head over heels in love with Silky. Wherever she goes, he will too,] Emily answered with a knowing smile.

[But he doesn't know that she's an arachne yet,] Maxine countered.

[Are you so sure about that?] Emily asked, [You may not have noticed this, but he drew a very accurate drawing of an arachne not two weeks ago. It looked a hell of a lot like Silky.] That surprised Maxine.

Stolen story; please report.

Instead of talking with Emily more about it, Maxine decided to ask Lanitherin directly about his drawing. "Lan, I heard you drew a picture of a spider beastkin. Can I see it?" Maxine asked neutrally.

"He doesn't have it any more, mom," Silky said before Lanitherin could answer, "He gave it to me."

"All the same, can I see it?" Maxine asked yet again as a hint of suspicion entered her mind.

"No, it's mine," Silky said defensively. Oh? Now I'm really curious as to what it looks like. With a thought, Maxine searched Silky's room and found the picture in question. It was without a doubt a drawing of Silky in her arachne form and she was only wearing a bra and a thin strip of cloth over her crotch. She had clearly posed for this drawing. Why am I not surprised?

"Oh, really?" Maxine said with a voice laced with curiosity and a hint of hostility.

"Yes," Silky said with confidence.

"I can't believe your relationship has gone this far forward without me realizing it," Maxine said while shaking her head, "I will have to keep a closer eye on both of you."

"Teacher, what are you talking about?" Lanitherin asked nervously.

"I'm talking about that picture you drew," Maxine said and decided to tease them a bit, "To think, you would use my daughter as a model to draw strange beastkin variants. That had best be the limit of what you two have been doing. If it isn't, I think it would be wise to arrange for your wedding before Silky's condition starts to show."

"Wait, what?!" Lanitherin said hastily while blushing fiercely.

While Silky said at the same time with a face just as crimson red, "But we havn't done that yet."

"Yet?" Maxine asked as she raised an eyebrow. She was really enjoying teasing these two.

"Well, we.. um.. uhhh...," Silky stuttered nervously as her face burned a deeper red. Maxine couldn't take it anymore and just laughed happily. To think, I was worried that Silky would be rejected by Lan, but in truth, he has already found out and accepted her entirely. 

"I'm not mad," Maxine said happily as she walked up and hugged Silky, "In fact, I'm incredibly happy that you found someone that loves you, regardless of your situation. But I would have liked to know that you took that risk beforehand."

"I just wanted him to know the real me, not just what he has seen," Silky said quietly.

"I know, sweetie. I know," Maxine said comfortinlgy and she glared at Lanitherin, "You better not have said anything hurtful."

"I thought her legs were charming," Lanitherin said fondly. He's an ... odd one to find an arachne's legs charming. 

"That's good to hear," Maxine said happily and she looked at Lanitherin, "When do you plan to propose to my daughter?"

"But I'm not as strong as she is yet. That was one of your requirements," Lanitherin said reflexively. Good, he didn't say he wasn't going to. 

"I may have neglected to mention that you were as strong as Silky a few months ago," Maxine commented.

"But I'm only at the very top of B rank and Silky is at lower middle A rank.," Lanitherin said hollowly.

"True, but having two cores has a massive benefit. Your strength is nearly four times greater than someone at the same level," Maxine replied honestly, "So you are just a little bit stronger than she is right now. That means you can court her with my blessing, but I expect the both of your to keep your clothes on until you are both considered adults by my standards." 

"But mom, that's a few years from now," Silky complained.

"Precisely. It will give you two plenty of time to be sure about your feelings," Maxine said.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Olga, the head maid, said from the doorway, "But miss Mara is here to see you. She seems quite distressed." That doesn't bode well. 

"Then please lead me to her," Maxine said as she got to her feet and Olga took her to the main hall. 

As soon as Maxine walked into the main hall, she saw Mara nervously pacing. It only took a moment for Mara to notice her and she came running to Maxine.

"My elders mentioned you to the Shadow Lords," Mara explained. Maxine instantly paled.

"What do they know?" Maxine asked in horror.

"They believe that you are just a half shadow elf that lived here and you know some alchemy. So you should still have time to find a way off world," Mara explained, "As far as I know, the Shadow Lords sent word of your abilities to a large clan they owed a debt to called Kavros and they're on their way here now to persuade you to join them." Maxine sighed in relief. The Kavros Clan was far less of a threat to her than the Shadow Lords, but she had no doubt that any member of her clan would be able to identify her easily. Even if they didn't, they would easily infer who she is by the company she keeps. Damn it. Those idiots will just be happy to know that I'm still alive and will tell everyone that I'm alive without thinking. I need to disappear before they get here. Or at the very least, send everyone close to me away while they are here. Who am I kidding? As soon as they start asking around, they will know it's me. It's just better I disappear before they get here. I can always create a portal back to Earth before I use my ship to leave. 

"How long do I have before these people arrive?" Maxine asked.

"Two weeks at the earliest," Mara answered, "But from what I heard, they will slowly approach while broadcasting their intentions to avoid frightening the humans that live here, so probably closer to a month."

"I see," Maxine replied, "I need to talk to Emily and the others to figure out what I will do about it." That gives me enough time to figure out what I will do.

"Alright, but if you need anything, let me know," Mara said.

Maxine walked back to the room Emily and the others were at, but as soon as she entered that room, all of them were staring at her. She had no idea why.

"So what are you going to do?" Emily asked. Oh, it seems they listened in.

"I don't know," Maxine answered honestly.

"That isn't like you. You always have an escape strategy," Emily said, "It's like your thing."

"Not this time," Maxine answered. I just can't think of a strategy to hide this many people, especially when the Shadow Lords realize that I'm still alive. I won't even try and I don't want those precious to me to get hurt. I will leave alone.

"We can just leave like we did last time," Emily offered.

"No," Maxine said firmly, "If anyone is to leave, it will be just me. It's far harder to find a single person than half a dozen." 

Emily looked like she was about to protest, but Howard cut her off, "She's right, Emily. It was a poor choice in the first place for us to come with her. If it was Maxine by herself, it would be far less suspicious. Our mere presence here is an obvious clue as to who she is. Without us, she could quite literately disappear if she wanted to."    

"So what will happen with me and Silky?" Lanitherin asked as he looked at Silky with concern written all over his face, "Will we be going back to Earth? Or will both me and my sisters be abandoned here?" So, Silky told him that as well. Why am I not surprised.

"You can do whatever you wish. Although I would prefer it if Silky returned to Earth," Maxine answered, "My mother probably wonders how she is doing and I can imagine she would love to meet you and your sisters as well."

"Wherever Silky goes, I will follow," Lanitherin said resolutely, "What do you wish to do, Silky?"

"I want to go home," Silky said honestly, "I miss eating chocolate."

"What's chocolate?" Illana, Lanitherin's youngest sister, asked.

"It's a declicious treat," Silky answered, "Mom forgot to pack much of it and we ran out before we met the three of you."

"Don't remind me," Emily complained and she quickly changed the subject, "So when are you going to leave?"

"Before the Kavros Clan arrives," Maxine answered, "To where, I don't know." That's a lie and I know it. I already have an idea in mind to where I will go. It's a planet that is going to be invaded by the Four Horned Kanzils. I should be able to get there before they do. The only problem with that idea is that I will need to figure out the recipe and gather the ingredients for a potion to breakingthrough to gold stage. Beyond that, all I need to do is make a lot of nutritional potions and bring lots of food and water with me. If I hadn't done those experiments when low on energy, I would've probably just brough some healing potions. But it seems food and nutrition potions work better than anything else. The only drawback is that I have to use the restroom more often.

"I can help you decide where you will go," Howard said calmly, "It shouldn't be too hard to find a nice quiet world to hide on."

"Thank you, but I think it's better if I pick one for myself. It will be safer for all of us if you don't know where I will be going," Maxine answered.

"Fine, but will you at least keep contact?" Emily asked.

"I will try," Maxine answered. It's not like I'm any good at staying low key anyways, so I might as well keep in contact. As a bonus, any persuers are probably going to have to fight the Four Horned Kanzils just to get to me. Hell, I could even train a large group of those things into my persuers. 

"Better than nothing," Emily grumbled, "Do you want me to come with you to go shopping for supplies?"

"Of course, I do," Maxine answered happily as the two of them headed out of the mansion and to the market square. Afterall, she had a huge amount of space in her dimensional ring and fully intended to fill it to the limit with food stuffs, water and nutritional potions. She had no intention of much clothing with her. They would only get ruined from all the fighting she would go through.