Celyz leads me to a trench where two harvesters stand guard. I take Yvonne's short sword from her waist while the Princess pulls a flat chest out and sets it in front of us. The sword-sworn blinks a couple of times in surprise as she gets a close look at my eyes for the first time in days. A question for later.
There are a few discreet runes on the border, an uncomplicated construct likely meant to be activated if the parasite tries to escape but there isn't any energy in it right now.
“What are you going to do with that weapon?” Yvonne asks.
“Clear something out.” I grunt.
I swing the sword in the air a few times as I hesitate. It was easier to think up my plan that to put it into effect. I take deep breaths as I assemble a lion strike and signaling construct, preparing enemy and friend messages for the Little one.
I angle the sword to point it at the rim and kick the chest open. I find the Little one buried under a layer of dirt with the elbow and shoulder poking out. It's immobile but I don't trust that.
I wave my head at Celyz and Yvonne to get them to step back. I have to insist a couple of times but they do. I activate the signaling construct to send the message for friend and enemy at the same time to the Little one.
It doesn't move in the slightest so I poke it with the sword's point without really threatening to stab it before sending the messages again. I do this a dozen times to no avail as it doesn't react.
I scoff and bring the sword back for a real attack. I stab at where its biceps should be with all my strength. The Little one squirms just slightly to dodge my stabbing attack before counter-attacking as expected.
Its tendrils burst out of the earth towards my arm to grip at my wrist. Its movements are much too quick and precise for me to follow or block so I simply push my weapon further in to press my blade on its forearm.
I'm able to do this because it definitely expected me to pull away and was ready to stop me or use my movement to gain ground, it definitely didn't prepare for a counter-counter-attack.
The position I've taken prevents it from leveraging its tendrils' hold on my wrist to attack my throat with its root-like fingers, or at least make it clear that it'll get heavily injured if it tries.
The two of us pause, both able to injure the other but with me having an advantage as I've pretty much immobilized the parasite inside the chest with my weapon locking its forearm in place.
“This thing clearly doesn't get whatever it is you're trying to do, Jessica.” Yvonne says, panicking slightly.
“Oh, trust me, we understand each other just fine.” I reply coldly.
I detect Celyz taking a construct out of her body to my left. I don't waste time telling her to let me handle this as she clearly is. I even trust that she isn't using pheromones.
I focus back to the Little one to bombard it with the friend and enemy messages again, causing it to squirm in confusion and squeeze my wrist harder. I don't find that to be too much to worry about since the root-like fingers are the real threat and I have those pinned down.
I slowly assemble a lightning-armor-piercing construct over the sword, knowing that it'll be able to detect the flow and assess that its chances of obtaining the upper hand just dropped by a huge margin.
The parasite immediately retreats to the back of the chest throwing earth all around. It doesn't try to dislodge its wrist from under my blade but prepares to snap my wrist by curving its tendrils over one of the chest's corner ledges for leverage.
It also applies its hand to the bottom, which further dislodges the earth that was covering it. I notice that its fingers are thicker, longer, and more spaced out with each other around the palm than they were. It returned to what it looked like before it was implanted in me. The entire limb is in fact slightly larger.
I finish the lightning-armor-piercing construct before sending a broken friend and enemy message. The Little one and I remain immobile, I know for a fact that it's as aware as I am that there will be no victory for either of us without grievous injury.
“You're smaller, I win.” I tell the Little one.
It doesn't respond, or even react. I could think that it doesn't care but I'm pretty sure it simply doesn't understand. I ponder for a moment before setting my mind on the prey message.
It takes some tinkering, five whole minutes in fact, but I manage to make the parasite understand that I'm referring to it when I send the prey signal with very little energy and to myself when I send it again with a lot of energy.
It roils so hard that it cuts itself on my sword while also bruising my wrist. I chuckle and send two predator messages with the same ratio as before. It buckles again but a lot less.
“Yeah, I'm the one with the biggest claws.” I utter at it. “You're all bravado. The truth is you don't have the guts to brawl with me when your life is on the line even though you could win. You're scared to gamble without a clear path to my vitals.”
It read my sense of superiority through my tone or odor and decides to act. A network of silver strands flickers inside it just before it suddenly twists my wrist, which brings the sword up and away from it. It would have sprained or broken my articulation if I had locked it instead of leaving it loose.
I let go of my weapon and use the lion strike on my right leg to bring my boot down on the flat of my blade just as the parasite erupts out of the chest by swinging its roots at my throat by using its grip on my wrist.
It planned its angle of attack in such a way that the edge of my weapon won't come into contact with it. Unluckily for it, my boot shoved the blade back into its path. Although there is no luck involved here, only planning.
It had few available angles of attack to begin with and I reacted too quickly for it to get clear of the threat. With the small distances involved, I can easily press my advantage by shoving the weapon against it with my foot and pin it back down into the chest
I'm glad to find out that the parasite figured out that struggling against the safe flat of a blade with a lightning-armor-piercing construct will still result in it eventually getting sliced through and consequently chose to back down.
“Fuck, that was way too close even though I was more than ready for it.” I grunt.
“Please stop doing these kinds of things.” Yvonne gripes from close-by. She moved a single step behind and to my left while I wasn't paying attention to her, which I would have noticed before.
“It had limited leverage in that chest and few angles to attack from which Jessica restricted from the start while never giving it a chance to coil up. Not to mention that it only has its own reserves to draw from.” Celyz explains. Despite the supporting words, her voice is slightly shaky.
“Well, it isn't over yet.” I smirk.
I pull my right arm away while putting all my weight on the parasite, forcing it to unravel its tendrils. Once it does, I dismantle my lightning-armor-piercing construct and recover the sword while removing my foot.
I hand the sword back to Yvonne and watch the Little one throw earth back over itself in a vain attempt at camouflage. I send it a friend message and reach out to it with my right hand.
The parasite hesitantly reaches out with a tendril while keeping the rest prone. I have no doubt it would strike if it had an open wound to infiltrate with its appendages in order to paralyze me, but I do wonder the extent to which my paranoia plays a role in that assessment.
“Do you think it would attack me if it could?” I ask Celyz.
“It isn't expressing as much right now but it did have that intent before we removed it.” She replies.
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“Hm.” I grunt.
The Little one carefully taps my hand before slowly brushing it. I take it more as an admission of loss now than as an apology as the parasite has shown no guilt in the time we spent together.
“I'll eat you next time.” I tell it while sending it a prey message accompanied by a predator one indicating myself.
It doesn't strike, which I take as a sign that it'll pick its battles with me more carefully in the future. I snap the chest shut on it once it retreats its tendrils and pick it up, grunting from the effort after our short but tiring bout.
I head back to the tent where my liangi case is, I stored all of Elizabeth Vil's gear inside from the dagger and mask to the intricate chain-mail shirt. I set the chest next to it and turn to Yvonne.
“I won't be telling anyone about anything.” She says, scrutinizing my eyes.
“Not worried about that.” I reply with a small smile. Did anyone even tell her I had the Rykz mode of detection, or this new one? I trust her but there's no sense in cluing her in if she has no knowledge. “Do you mind lending me your short sword and telling me why you keep staring?”
“Your eyes, they shine a bit when light hits them... sometimes.” She replies.
“That's beyond vague.” I note, frowning.
“It's weird, but kind of nice when it happens don't worry.” Yvonne quickly adds. “You can see fine, right?”
“I can.” I nod. “Light is just a bit brighter than I recall.”
I hold my hand out for the sword. Yvonne marks a distinct hesitation but she unfastens her belt sheathe from her waist and gives it to me. I throw it over the three shirts and two pairs of pants I'm wearing, resolving to quickly go back home for real winter clothes.
“Alright, I'm going to go alone.” I tell Yvonne and Celyz. “I want to speak to the others without a chaperone.”
“Do you mind if I stick around until you've spoken to Idali? I can help if there's another issue.” Yvonne replies, concerned.
“Idali isn't really dangerous and I can handle myself.” I reply sharply.
“...” Celyz and Yvonne stare at me silently.
“I'll come back to pack when I do Yvonne, but I need space, alright?” I tell her, gritting my teeth at being seen as the little girl who didn't dare to talk back to Nobles.
“Okay.” The sword-sworn agrees.
She takes out five portions of flow and gives them to me before returning inside the tent, tapping my shoulder in a supportive way as she passes by. Celyz shifts uncomfortably, her tail is swinging behind her in an awkward manner.
“Do you mind telling me where I can find Fenyz, Cetyz, and Idali?” I ask.
“You'll find their escort if you head south, Idali won't be far from them.” Celyz replies softly.
“I'll meet you anywhere you want at noon.” I tell her.
“No place or moment will ever be suitable to part ways.” Celyz utters with difficulty.
“Pick one where you feel safe, I'm willing to go as far as you want.” I reply with an encouraging smile despite the pang of pain her tone causes in my chest.
“I feel safe with you, the lake will do.” Celyz whispers.
Why am I sticking with this? Because I keep going, I cannot hesitate. People have died from my indecision, my inability to find a solution, or my weakness. Celyz departs before I can settle my internal debate.
I take a deep breath and head south. I know from experience that there isn't anything either Celyz or I can say to each other that'll solve our fears about each other's feelings and physical compatibility short of putting them to the test.
I find Idali training by striking a small wall of logs which was likely left behind when the Rykz dismantled the spiked palisade that surrounded the camp. Her spear has a Vuskyt head which is slightly longer than the ones Fenyz uses.
“Idali!” I call out.
She immediately swipes her weapon to the side and brings it back in a ready to strike stance. I lay my right hand on the short sword's pommel, affecting a casual but confident posture.
I make my way to her in an arc around her target wall. She turns to keep facing me, shifting her footing in accordance to remain on her guard. I pull my weapon out when I reach a three-meter distance.
“One bout, no more.” I tell her.
“Done.” She grins.
I raise the sword and shift stances until I stop on a high stance with the blade above my head. It feels comfortable and allows me to either swipe down at her spear from many angles.
She brings her left leg forward, taking a single step. That small movement would be non-threatening, or no more threatening than normal, for anyone else but Idali. The fact that she's placing her right leg behind her means, in my opinion, that she's preparing to use it to propel herself forward at me.
I tense up, readying myself to jump to my left, which is her right. The reason being that she is holding her spear on her right side with the corresponding hand in the back.
That means it will be harder for her to pursue someone on that side as it'll cause her to cross her arms if she doesn't adjust her charge, which she likely can't if she relies on her parasite to provide a burst of speed.
She leans forward. It takes me a split second to leap to my left, and her right. She departs with a loud thump. I immediately assess that she's closing the distance too quickly for my dodge to work.
I bring my short sword down on her spear. The strike diverts the weapon but doesn't cut through the wood. Idali's shoulder impacts my belly. I sprawl down, coughing my lungs out. She grins as she stands over me. I exaggerate my pain a little, causing her to frown in suspicion.
“You're trying to spoil my revenge win from our spars on the ship!” She exclaims in outrage.
I ignore her but she starts poking me with the end of her spear so I quickly stop. I decide to sheathe my weapon, finding no sign of aggression from her and thinking that a show of trust will do much for her self-confidence.
“Your form looked good.” I tell her. “Not sure about going for a head-on attack like that though.”
“All sweaty.” She grunts. “I figured it was the best way to put you down in one go.”
“True.” I smile, holding my hand out.
She takes hold of it and picks me up. I let go of her hand but stand right there in front of her, quite suddenly finding her very attractive, from the brief contact my shoulder just made with her chest to her high cheekbones.
Idali starts slowly leaning in, aiming to kiss me. I jump back in panic, knowing very well the reason behind my attraction. She pouts and closes in on me. I take more steps back before throwing her a glare that makes her blink and pause.
“Right, you don't do casual.” She mutters, vexed.
“You want to take a break? I've got a few stories that could help you out.” I tell her, firmly set on ignoring the non-event.
“Sure.” She sighs.
Idali pulls her shirt off, revealing the tight gray piece of cloth holding her breasts in place. I bite my lower lip but don't look away as she sits on the shirt. I take the spot in front of her.
“Don't feel cold?” I ask.
“Not really, no.” Idali shrugs.
“You might want to cover yourself anyway, your symbiont is definitely pushing your body more than is healthy.” I advise her.
“At least something is.” She says, sticking her tongue out.
“That was a weak innuendo at best.” I comment while repressing an amused smile.
“Fine, I'll find a coat.” She rolls her eyes at me.
“Don't you dare to put me in the same category as Yvonne.” I tell her. “I won't be hovering to make sure you do.”
“You're doing better than last time, I can tell.” Idali says.
“Panicked a little, sorry. It didn't have anything to do with you.” I explain.
“Yvonne told me.” Idali nods. “How has it been with Lady Lance?”
“Rocky, it's still screwed up, as you described it last time.” I reply. “Can't wait to see her again.” As Jessica.
I quickly divert the conversation by telling her about my experience going around incognito and at night during the curfew in Meria. Much of it is likely useless to her considering she's worked as a city guard but she listens seriously.
I then run her through the process I went through to figure out how to break into the institute, how I refined my plan and the lucky breaks involved in my success.
I hammer in the fact that obtaining the Rykz sense apparently involves the parasite attaching to the spine and growing tiny filaments into her brain, although I use the word symbiont.
I finally insist on keeping everything involved secret as Suxen is likely not the only one who would be interested in what the Silver Hive gave us despite the fact that the Rykz would likely use their attempts to use the parasites against them.
I part with Idali after the discussion, relieved about the progress she's made in a few days. My arousal in her presence wasn't all that difficult to handle considering it also evoked fear in me.
I think I understand Aisha's thought process in trying to sleep with me as she likely wanted to get it over with and use that intimacy to improve our relationship.
I still don't think any better of the Shade, I don't mind that others have casual sex but using that for gains seems cold-hearted to me. Or rather, a cruel calculation. I shouldn't be buying into the thing said about the Lisilese anymore than those said of the Rykz before encountering them.
I take my time strolling as I seek the Princesses' escorts even though I cool down from my encounter with Idali rather quickly. I still feel conflicted about Leomi's order about what I can do with myself, it makes me feel wanted but also smothered.