When Ivan awoke he felt much better. He had maybe a little too much drink the night before thanks to Myrn, but his mind was clear, and his..other hungers were at bay; the hounds no where in sight of his minds hideaway up in his little tree of sanity. He stood and stretched before drawing his pack, or what passed for it, onto the bed and pulling out his gear, what he had of gear anyway.
“Good Morning Master.” Azalea said, sitting calmly and sounding bright before Tanya's grave within the Shroud. The space within was now lit by various duplicates of her lantern pole, but for all that the shadowed spaces only seemed deeper and darker.
“I told you just call me Ivan.” Ivan growled sleepily.
Azalea covered mouth with one hand and shrunk in clear embarrassment.
“Sorry...Ivan...” She replied.
Ivan nodded affirmation and Azalea's mood quickly brightened.
“Forgive her Master...” Penelope purred from the outer darkness of the Shroud. She wasn't exactly beyond his senses there, but she did tend to rest there when she felt like making herself less of a distraction.
Ivan still hungered to take in her lovely shape, and..appreciate her, but it wasn't the overwhelming desire of the night before. It might be if he let her out, but that was yet to be seen. He took a deep breath with that thought in mind and bid her come out anyway.
Penelope came after a moment, first peaking out from the Shroud, and up at him as if from a crouch. Ivan had no idea that she could actually appear, half in, half out, of the Shroud like that, but she did so now. Maybe it was just for a comedic purpose at the moment, but that could be really useful during a fight.
“Come here you.” Ivan said reaching down and grabbing her hand from where he could really only expect it to be through the shadowy transnational boundary.
Penelope made a soft girlish sound as he drew her up and out of the darkness.
She looked at him expectantly, watching him as he twirled her away with a dancer's fluid motions until she was positioned in the center of the room before him.
Ivan crossed his arms and looked her up and down.
Penleope unfolded her wings and arched her back stretching her arms first behind her head and then up into the air. Ivan watched the various things that did to her body and nodded reluctantly before carefully adjusting pants, and mocking a cough to hide his sudden blush.
Penelope laughed, but glanced at the door.
“-Your purpose for having me out Ivan?” Penelope asked softly.
She was of a height with him now, and built like Myrn, solid of build and muscle, but still very obviously and very attractively feminine.
Ivan corralled himself quickly and came to stand before Penelope.
She took a step back.
Ivan took another step toward her.
“Ivan...” Penelope warned.
Ivan found her fingers, reaching out to grab them and lifted them. He pulled her towards him gently and hugged her in the same manner. Penelope returned the embrace, obviously noting that his hands only touched her back, and that they didn't drift to caress her hips. Ivan nodded in the hug and turned his head to kiss her cheek affectionately.
Penelope eyed him carefully, a smile growing on her face regardless of what she might have been thinking with that raised eyebrow.
Ivan took a deep breath through his nose and nodded before stepping away, and pulling up the Shroud. He beckoned Penelope toward the welcoming shadows under his arm casually then.
Penelope just raised both her eyebrows in response, and then with realization, put her fists on her hips. Her expression warred between a pleased, evenly humored smile, and mock affront. She shook her head and let out a sigh eventually however.
Ivan chuckled as she slowly came forward toward him shaking her head. She was about to duck back into the Shroud when he leaned close to her ear, something dark and malevolent in him urging him to speak to her. The words came somewhat strangely as Ivan was not used to his heightened levels of charisma as of yet.
“In the stories it's only when the knight becomes a Lord that he can wed the Lady. Is that what it will take for you, my dark princess?” He whispered to her.
Penelope stopped in her tracks, and her eyes, bold and untainted by mischief or malice turned to him in surprise. Her goat-like eyes had been wide and watchful, but now their lovely irises focused on him, startled lights shining in their void like depths like stars in the night. Ivan could only grin at her, his tongue running over his own elongated canine that was suddenly, and obviously larger than it had been. Still he used it to make a point. Penelope's eyes took in his grin, and her cheeks colored deeply before she continued on into the Shroud.
Ivan found himself smiling and full of energy as she settled inside. His limbs felt strangely energetic, alive with buzzing potential, like a racehorse kept in stable too long he supposed. There was something on the edge of his mind that he just couldn't touch yet, but it was definitely there carrying the weight of potential to come.
“Normally you would need to eat or drink some water before your mana is full. When you have Sparks its a little different. With rest and enough to eat the day before you'll wake with full mana everyday. Even then with three or four sparks you might not feel hunger for a great part of the day, and only need to drink to hasten your recovery at need.” Penelope explained, her tone measured and clear as she spoke from within the Shroud.
“What if I get five or six sparks? What then?” Ivan asked. His voice was tinged with humor, and was meant to be. No one ever seemed to gain more than four sparks, and Ivan imagined if someone did they wouldn't tell anyone about it. Something about the very idea of that made him shiver actually.
“You very likely would not need to sleep.” Azalea put in.
She tapped her chin with a pale finger and seemed to be recalling information through some skill. Ivan could feel her use her mana as she did it. She frowned after a little while and touched her head as if pained.
“You wouldn't want to sleep if you had five sparks. That much magical potential is dangerous. Being born with four sparks in most world's puts one in a dangerous category of ambition and potential..” Penelope retorted dryly.
“Does Ivan not have a similar condition then?” Azalea asked Penelope.
“What do you mean? He only fully manifested his first spark last night.” Penelope countered.
Azalea nodded from where she sat, but held up one hand and began counting as she made her points, eventually resting her slightly frightening weapon against her shoulder to count with her other hand as well.
“Ivan has the Knight, Fighter, Thief, Gardner, Scholar, and Ritualist Jobs. Each have their own branches and powers. Each of those jobs can reach at least to the Class Rank of Avatar. Particularly if Ivan managed to raise Knight, Fighter, and Thief to their Hero roles he would be almost unstoppable in any kind of head on physical combat. Just imagine the attributes from two hundred and thirty five levels. Imagine the passive skills that might boost them and play off of each other. ” Azalea explained.
Penelope stared at Azalea with a startled expression.
“His Dark Spark will most likely bind to his Occult Ritualist Job moving that forward at a progressive rate and empowering him to become a Dark Scholar and Master of Dark Arts. If he gains more magic it will likely be thalmaturgic in nature, and still likely relate easily to summoning more of us to his side to do his bidding. Already the Shroud is changing to house us better and channel out power while inside. The Shadows are deeper, and the outer limits expanded, meanwhile since I appeared here my lanterns now mark the paths through this garden.”
“You appear to have some knowledge my... fresh little demon...” Penelope said, still watching her carefully.
Azalea tilted her head in thought as Penelope paced around her.
“I spent the first several hundred hours of my existence informing myself on how I might expand my own influence to better serve the Master's of Eternity. Now I turn that knowledge to help Ivan, and will use what I know to choose my own path to serve both him and my own needs as is proper for a summoned being as you or I.” She said, carrying on in a neutral, and very diplomatic tone of voice.
Ivan listened while he finished dressing. He supposed it would be a bit of a leap, or an unwanted one at least, for his Dark Spark to bind to his Hedge Doctor job. The spark could of course manifest its own Job, but he was built widespread enough already so that seemed rather unlikely. Already his fellows had commented on his spread of Jobs with the discussion of triple, and double route adventurers. Truly, his was an extreme case now.
“Were I to swear to you Penelope would that fulfill the Liege requirement for the Questing Knight Job?” Ivan asked in a soft voice. He could hear the others rising in their rooms, as well as other guests waking and getting themselves ready for the day.
“Possibly.” Penelope said, but she sounded uncertain.
“If she were summoned in her full strength it would be certain Ivan.” Azalea confirmed.
Penelope shrugged and gave an idle nod of affirmation.
“If we're talking that far ahead we may as well mention you can swear yourself to a duty as King or Lord of enough people and meet the requirements for that job. It doesn't matter if you wear the crown you swear to or not, and there have been many Knight-Kings. The Jobs work together fantastically actually as I'm sure we'll find out in the future when we kill a few of them.” Penelope commented.
Ivan stopped for a moment as he was righting his clothing. He nodded, thinking her line of thought through.
“The Torch Bearers. They have the King Title Job, but Theadus has them all swear to him as holy vassals before he'll grant the title. Break their vows, lose their power, right?” Ivan asked.
“Yup.” Penelope said, popping her lips for emphasis.
She crouched before Azalea and peaked under her hood.
Azalea looked up at her and gave her an abashed smile.
“You're very pretty in this form Lady Penelope.”
Penelope returned a brief smile before the expression faded.
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“So what about you little lamb?” Penelope asked. “Your only job right now is some kind of recruit level of the Pathfinders of Eternity isn't it?”
“Yes. I am an Acolyte in truth. The same as may be found in this world.” She answered.
Ivan found his way out the door and headed downstairs with many other rising patrons of the Inn. More and more people seemed to be on the move apart from the people released from the prison camps. From what he had been hearing they were moving west around the mountains or north over the sea into Zon's nearest territory. Ivan couldn't blame them really, but something about it angered him.
“Ooh. That's good. You have a Divine Spark then?” Penelope asked, kneeling and turning up the girlishness of her appeal.
“I have the Holy, Unholy, and Fire Sparks actually. My power is not connected to Divinity and is designed to combat them in truth. Dark or Light, Fallen, or otherwise I am equipped to face any who would violate the variously sacred boundaries of Hell or try to steal a soul on its way to its proper place while under our watch.” Azalea answered.
Penelope blinked several times, and her smile was frozen on her face.
“The Elder who first woke me and showed me how to summon my Lantern was surprised by its shape. He expected me to awaken with four sparks, but I appeared only with the three standard sparks for Pathfinders.” Azalea went on.
Ivan came down the stairs, and saw Myrn waving her arms in the air at him. She was sitting at the same table as last night, but of course she would make sure he knew where she was. He made his way to their table, but made slow progress through shifting chairs and the quite full common room.
“He expected you to have a Metal Spark?” Penelope asked.
“Normally that is what an Iron Rod and Lantern instead of a torch mean for our kind. It's a special honor, and would have meant I had great potential to serve.” Azalea explained.
Penelope flicked her on the forehead through her cowl.
“Ow.” Azalea squeaked.
“Silly girl. You've been summoned. You may yet manifest that spark. Ivan-” Penelope said, standing and looking up, but just then Ivan was crashed into by Myrn.
“Look at your eyes Isaac!” Myrn blurted, her hands cupping both of his cheeks. She was beaming, her eyes alight with joy and energy. She had done her hair too it seemed. She was beautiful. The green ribbons through her scarlet hair shone the same color as her eyes in the morning light. Ivan couldn't help but smile at her honest energy.
“Alright give me a moment, I'll pull one of my eyes out and look at it.” Ivan said dryly.
Myrn sighed and fell back down on her heels. Her hands touched his face fondly.
“Well maybe I should go find a mirror instead, but you've done it haven't you? It must have kept you awake?” She asked, her expression painted with concern.
Ivan nodded.
“I tingled all over pretty terribly, and went through what felt like two or three fevers before it settled down. How bad do my eyes look?” Ivan asked, a self deprecating smile on his face.
“They look scary.” Myrn said simply. “I like them though. Purple is a strange color for eyes to be, but it looks good on you as long as you're relaxed. That pointed scowl thing you do when you're at rest could scare anyone though.”
“Ivan--” Penelope changed her eyes, and pointed them out to him.
Ivan ignored Penelope for a moment and concentrated on Myrn.
He smiled for her, just so that he might see a little more shine take to her eyes. It worked and she blushed, but kept her gaze on his own. She began laughing as he kept up his smile while crossing his eyes, and then started making kissy faces at her. She pushed him away while pulling him along to their table. Ivan relented and sat at the table with her. She crashed into his side coming after him, still rolling with gentle laughter.
He sat with his new friends and let them all get a look at his new eyes.
“Now do the cloak.” Marvin said.
Ivan grinned and let the Shroud slip over him with its usual floating and fluttering as if it were really underwater. He let it cast over him and Myrn. The hood hid most of his face in shadows and looked up just enough at Marvin to let his eyes flash.
Marvin and Andy started laughing. Davian just kind of stared over his plate of food. Ivan let out a little chuckle and withdrew the Shroud. Myrn leaned into Ivan's side.
Ivan looked at her, and the deep smolder in her eyes. He blinked in confusion before realizing he had more or less exposed Myrn to Penelope's energy within the Shroud.
“You alright Myrn?” He asked sheepishly.
“Hmmmm...” Myrn purred and chuckled deep in her throat. “I think so...” She went on, licking her lips once as she leaned even closer into him.
Ivan jumped as her hand slid up his thigh, hidden from the others by the table.
Marvin coughed deliberately, and Davian suddenly choked on his food all the same. Andy started slapping Davian roughly on the back which seemed to pain him just about as much as choking on the vegetable was.
“That's what she gets for interrupting me.” Penelope said with a pout. “Now you will be just a delightful Templar Azalea. We'll have to train you correctly for that, but Ivan and I will have you well in hand between us. The sooner Ivan can bring us out in the open the better. It all starts with convincing Myrn, probably bedding her a few times, and then convincing the others. Which will be harder unless Ivan suffers a wild change of tastes.”
Ivan coughed and choked on the glass of fresh water he had just taken a drink from after convincing a much too friendly and focused Myrn she should do the same. He coughed until the water was clear; Davian helpfully handed him a napkin from the table.
“I saw a Paladin once that had a problem with his charisma like that. Still tried to be all noble and upright when he had young serving maids, old serving maids, and the Innkeeper's wife watching and waiting, and leaning over tables with their first three buttons or ties of their blouses undone. Got him in trouble eventually I think, and he was trying to avoid it.” Marvin said dryly. “You sure you didn't get the Rogue job last night too? Do a little extra charming somewhere?”
Ivan cast out a hand, summoning his conjured scroll and keeping it close to hand as he recovered from his small coughing fit. He willed away the basic information to bring up the perk list.
You have gained the Perk: Playing Hard to Get, through repeated special actions.
Effects: Fighting through your own desires and resisting temptation has increased your mental fortitude, and gives you a passive charismatic effect on your preferred sex.
You have gained the Perk: Flirtatious, through repeated special actions.
Effects: You've charmed others multiple times and will appear more friendly. This gives a small bonus to your Charisma Attribute.
You have gained the Perk: Lover of the Dark Lady--
Ivan smashed the scroll shut with his will as his eyes darted over the last of the perk list.
Myrn giggled, and leaned into him biting her lip. Ivan played into it acting abashed as she pressed her breasts against his arms intentionally. Marvin and the others chuckled as well.
“What did his inspection say?” Andy asked, fighting through laughter.
“Quite the reaction there I'd say. Tell us Myrn.” Marvin encouraged.
Myrn giggled some more and Ivan more or less acted out trying and failing to pry her off his arm.
“Playing Hard to Get, and Flirtatious.” Myrn purred, leaning close to him.
She accentuated each word with her actions and her tone of voice, but it was clear she was playing and teasing with him. Ivan acted appropriately abashed.
Penelope was grinning and leaning close to Azalea, the two having cut their conversation down to whispers. In the Shroud there was no way Ivan wouldn't hear what they said, but he would have to be paying attention at least somewhat to know what they had said.
Penelope had her own black Scholar's scroll open, purple text coming alight from the midnight pages as she read aloud.
“Lover of the Dark Lady. You have spent many nights in the romantic embrace of a female Demonic Presence and earned its affections. You are more resistant to that demon's corruption, and gain a small boost to Charisma based upon the level of that demon's corruption upon you.”
She didn't stop there even as the others started teasing him, all completely unaware of the succubus hidden within the magical shadowy realm of the Shroud.
“First Transgression of the Flesh. You have willingly embraced and shared romantic affections with a creature not of your own kind or nature. Through multiple acts this has changed from a status effect to a permanent perk. Your Charisma now has a greater effect on these creatures.”
“Second Transgression of the Flesh. You have willingly committed multiple romantic and at least one sexual act with a creature not of your own kind or nature. Your Charisma has an even greater effect on these creatures and your sins may be sensed by those with the ability.”
She hummed and scrolled up and down his long perks page, his friends teasing and her own deepening the warmth and color of his cheeks.
“Forbidden Meeting. You have been seduced by a succubus on more than one occasion. Her contact has tainted you and permanently increased your Charisma by a small amount.”
“Oooh this one's fun--Scent of the Fallen Daughter. You have been so corrupted by the demonic being, Penelope Inyx, that you now carry her scent, and produce it naturally through your body increasing the effect of your Charisma on any race similar to your own that smells you. You are now more vulnerable to her corruption than ever, and may fall under her direct influence. This is detectable only with specific knowledge of the Demon, Penelope Inyx, or by matching the demon's full strength with your own magic.” Penelope read, rather happily and loudly within the Shroud.
“Stop teasing him you guys. Isaac is a young adult, and a man at that. He has to make his way somehow.” Myrn said, her voice cutting through the other comments and laughter as she came to his defense. “-Besides--” She said, and then pulled Ivan into a kiss.
Ivan was startled, but Myrn really got into it. Ivan tried to...well he tried to...well Myrn's lips were soft and perfect, and the gentle grip of her arms around his neck was so encouraging... He kissed her back as well as he knew how to Andy's cheers and Marvin's disgust.
Myrn pulled away, biting her lip and grinning at him. Ivan almost went after her as the jeers of the three other men in the party rolled over him.
“That's what he gets for refusing my offer to keep him in my room last night.” Myrn said with a rather large amount of pride, and loudly enough to override the others.
Marvin looked more embarrassed for the group and their lack of decorum than anything, but blinked and wiped a smile from his face regardless. Davian nodded soberly, looking somewhat relieved, but he stank of jealousy. Andy just laughed. It was a deep belly laugh. Ivan tried to argue his point, that Myrn had been drunk, but Andy's laugh made him smile, and grow bashful on its own. He fought through it a little, but when Andy finally calmed down enough to look at him he just went up again.
Ivan started laughing too then, and Myrn along with him. Soon the whole group was chuckling and shaking their heads. Myrn smiled as the group eventually settled and she took the chance to affirm her intentions clearly by scooting close to Ivan's side on their shared bench. She smiled warmly at him. There was longing in her eyes, but more of that brilliant warmth that only came when a person knew they were respected in the deepest of ways. Ivan found himself moving his hand to touch her thigh. She blushed slightly until she found his hand under the table.
Myrn grinned at him then.
“Maybe we should stop somewhere again tonight and get a drink.” Ivan said to her, just loudly enough for the others to hear, but not as loudly as any of them had been speaking before.
Myrn blushed more deeply, looked at him carefully, and then shook her head.
“Maybe just for a comfy bed. If we stop at another Inn tonight I won't be drinking.” She said, her smiling growing so much that it began to twist her words with the giddy energy of her grin. Ivan's heart raced, but Myrn's hand clutched his own under the table giving him clear reassurance and confidence.
Penelope raised a hand, like a child at their lessons, to get his attention.
“Be careful Ivan. I will act with you to make sure you don't harm her. At this point we need her, and not as a thrall.”
Ivan tried not to show any reaction to that on his face and covered it by breaking off his smiling gaze at Myrn. He squeezed her hand as if to show he was feeling a little too abashed for much more today. She gave him a little space after that, but always had a grin for him when he looked at her there after.
“Thrall?” Azalea asked.
“Ivan's nearing a transition to a living demonic entity. His Dark Spark will aid in that, but good news is, and was, the Shroud was slowing, and is now even more empowered by means of the Dark Spark--and you too darling-- to stop that change. Ivan will change regardless, but now closer to when we want it to, especially with you in here being effective enough to reverse the passive corruption. He's gained Skills already, however that will further corrupt him, and if he keeps pulling me out for kisses that will get even worse.” She explained.
Azalea nodded in understanding.
“Wouldn't your joining in a purely sexual act like that cause the change anyway?” The young demon asked.
Penelope smiled at her, but shook her head.
“If I directly possessed the girl perhaps, but I will only partially possess her. That way I can act to hold up the levers of her mind to keep Ivan from bending her will with his nascent Incubus Skills. Charm on its own can be dangerous, but I'm almost sure now Ivan will have Dominate Mind, and Overwhelm Senses. Fighting inclined Incubus often do since they use it to attack their opponents minds during more straight up fights. Succubi usually don't get into those kinds of fights until we're ready to kill and have the opportunity, but it takes all kinds.”
“So you will act in essence to keep her mind safe from Master's instinctual attempts to bind her?” Azalea asked.
“More or less.” Penelope agreed with a shrug. “I like her too and want to keep her around. She's just the right type of girl to be a proper healthy concubine for him. Those hips and breasts were made for child rearing. Perhaps if I spend a little time on it, I can remember the trick an Incubus once showed me that caused mortal women to ovulate.” Penelope mused aloud.
Ivan meanwhile was trying to eat his breakfast as the two talked. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep drink from his large flagon of water. He pushed the two and their talk out of his head and listened to his friends joke and get ready for the day. They had a number of hunts ahead and Ivan would be getting some good experience.
“So what's your fundamental magic skill?” Myrn asked brightly amid the more casual conversational topics of weather, and where they would be stopping today. The only thing they had spoken of that was of note to Ivan was the hour Marvin had asked for near the river to level his Fisherman Job.
Ivan looked at Myrn as was confused for a moment. Her gaze shifted from one of his eyes to the other, and she looked delighted at the change. Ivan smiled back at her.
“What do you mean?” Ivan asked.
“Right!--You have a spark. What magic came with it?” Andy said, still working on his second plate all this time while speaking with everyone.
“Yeah that's a good point.” Marvin agreed.
“Mine's called Snap Sound. It scales with my mana use and well-- you saw what it does.” Davian put in, seeming earnestly interested.
Ivan thought for a moment, searching his mind and feeling out the mana. Once he was looking for it the sensation suddenly became obvious along with a few other things. He could feel it there with the powers granted him by his summons as they were stored within his soul through the Shroud. He understood its effects and magical background instantly, but still used some little mana to confirm with information available in Demonology 1.
“It's a hex.” He said aloud, airing his thoughts.
Myrn's eyes went wide. Andy and Marvin gave Ivan serious looks.
“I drain mana from targets I wound. As long as the wound remains and they aren't dispelled I will continue to drain mana from them.” He explained further.
“First it's that nasty magic knife you have, and now that? Jeez Isaac.” Andy said, but smiled.
“Aren't Hexes Black Magic though?” Davian asked.
“He has the Dark Spark.” Marvin chuckled. “Did you think he was going to gain a Fundamental Skill that produced rainbows?”
“Well no I suppose not, but isn't that bad? Won't...certain people find it very...repulsive?--for lack of a better word.” Davian said, his tone and gestures diplomatic.
Myrn let her eyes drop to the table in serious thought. Ivan squeezed her hand gently reassuring her.
“He's a thief and will be a Rogue. The authorities will already have a natural distaste for him. It's fine. We're in a party now and he's just a scary utility type damage dealer. -Lots of types like that in adventurer parties. They will know what's up as long as one of us—” Andy said, and paused for a moment to point at Myrn. “-Is pretty and disarming enough, or—” Pointing at himself then' “-Is friendly, handsome, and pleasant enough to balance out his effect.”
Davian gave Andy a dry look, and Marvin just laughed. Myrn smiled at Andy across the table as he got back to eating. He stopped mid bite to wink at her, and she chuckled.