Dwarves are a very interesting race. They can see in complete darkness without irradiating mana like other denizens of the depth and can live their entire lives underground. A dwarf's diet in his cavernous home consists of fungi, some plants that thrive near thermal vents and magma flows and the meat of monsters and animals of the depths. Although they can digest and gain nutrition rock and gemstones, they are not lithovores and cannot subsist only on rocks. Their short stature and stable, sturdy legs are proof of their adaptation to the tunnels and rocky terrain of the underground. The constant threat from underground monsters and the cramped living conditions fostered in the minds of the dwarves a tight-knit sense of community. Their loyalty to their kin, kingdom and the few they consider as friends are unshakable.
Excerpt from the Great Compendium of the Races, vol 3
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It was obvious that Pearl intended to get the rapier.
It could not be allowed to happen.
"Pearl, we are your friends. Nothing will change that." Dawn spoke with a soft voice and pushed Cythrel off the bed on the opposite side from Pearl. The elf didn't resist and placed some distance from them without making a sound.
"My honor." She was trembling. Deep inside her mind, Pearl was unable to think properly. Fear, betrayal, grief, indignation, shame, and other emotions created a storm inside her, threatening to capsize her sanity.
She reached for the rapier and Aidan jumped to restrain her. Pearl's body frame was slender and even though she was three years older than Lumina, she was a finger or two smaller. He held her in an embrace, firm but kind.
"I'll marry you, but please don't spill blood." He whispered in her ear.
Pearl struggled but it was in vain. She hated being held and she could use violence to escape but she felt those strong arms holding her and she knew he could squeeze and hurt her. But he wasn't.
"I don't want to marry you." She answered.
"I won't force you to do anything." He said. "Can we resume our talk? Without bloodshed?"
"Release me, please." She let all the tension on her body go. Aidan felt Pearl become very, very soft in his arms. Dangerously soft.
"Of course, your Highness. Pearl, stay with us. Sit down and talk." He lifted both arms and took a step back.
Pearl looked backward at Aidan, Cythrel by the windowsill, Dawn on the bed in the same position and back at the rapier.
She only had to lift an arm and get it. She knew from Shinji's appraisal that the rapier was made with an adamantine alloy.
She could draw the rapier and fight.
She could sell her life with blood, for she knew there was no way she could win against two mages in that room.
"My honor." She sobbed, her muscles still sore from crying.
There was no answer.
"My honor..." She mumbled. Pearl clenched her fists once, twice. Her eyes still trained on the rapier hilt.
"And what about my honor, Pearl?" Dawn asked suddenly, her tone of voice pure haughtyness.
It shocked Pearl out of her self-pity. She turned her head to meet Dawn's eyes.
"Lumina?"
"Pearl, don't you do anything you'll regret later." Dawn's body language changed. Her voice full of derision. "Because I know what you are thinking, and we won't kill you. Nobody is killing anyone in this room." Dawn answered, her voice commanding.
"Are you Lumina?" Pearl asked, hopeful.
"No. Lumina is dormant, she can't speak even when she is active, stirring inside me. Sometimes I feel how she should speak, how she would speak in that situation and I go along. But right now it is just me. Although she is part of me too. Sometimes I can't draw a line on how much she influences me."
Pearl pondered at what Dawn said and thought of an answer.
"I didn't sully your honor, Dawn. Or Lumina's for the matter, I am a girl."
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"And so am I, dear Pearl. As you know very well. You did check every corner of my body back there." Dawn teased.
"You are just a puppet controlled by that man. A travesty in Lumina's shape!" Pearl shouted, angry.
Dawn looked down, at her own body, at her hands.
"I don't know about that. I really don't. It is true that we are one and I was a man for most of my life. But I spent months in this body alone. I learned about sore breasts from sleeping in the wrong position, about caring for my hair, my skin. On how to behave like a lady. I felt creeped out from the looks men gave me in the streets. I feared going downstairs during dinner time in an inn because I didn't want to be touched by some rowdy drunk. My mood swinging back and forth like the ocean tides.
"My name is Dawn and I am a girl, Pearl. I am a woman." Dawn spoke with absolute certainty and sincerity. It made Pearl take a step back.
"What? It is ludicrous..."
"Listen to me. I am part of Aidan. That is true. There is only one person controlling both me and him. I am a person split between two bodies. I can see both your forehead and your back right now."
"You are a man. Stop this lie. This is crazy. I... I don't know."
"Yes, I am a man. But I am also a woman. I can never go back to just being a man. I have feelings. Strange feelings no man could ever feel. This body is not a puppet. It is as much a part of who I am as your right arm is to you. Please believe me, Pearl."
The elf returned to the bed.
"They are a unique existence, your Highness. They cannot be measured the same as we single-bodied creatures." Cythrel reasoned.
"What will happen when Lumina gets her body back then? Because you are going to give her body back, aren't you?"
Pearl's suspicion was well-founded. If Lumina was about to die, why wouldn't Aidan just snatch her body, her status for himself? He was already speaking of Lumina's body as if it was his own. But something in there felt right. The person she spent time with was not Lumina. But she didn't feel or act like Lumina anyway. And Pearl found deep in herself that she liked this candid girl. How easy it was to be with her. She wanted to believe in Dawn, but it felt so wrong at the same time. So many things to think about, so many possible opinions she could have.
"That is my goal. To restore Lumina to full health as the Lumina we all know. I wish we could make her a bit softer and kinder, also a lot less haughty and bitchy though."
Pearl laughed at the joke. Hearty laughter. She sat back on the bed, her back exposed to a silent Aidan.
"What happens now?" She asked shoulders slumped in surrender.
"You have two choices. You can go back to Gohar through the tunnel. Take Gurf, Deb, and Lola with you. We part ways and let the fates decide where we stand next time we meet. Sora, Cythrel and I are going to the capital, we have a friend imprisoned there we need to release."
Going back to Gohar was troublesome for Pearl, and everyone knew that. She would have to deal with the otherworlder's disappearance. Face the royal court. Explain herself to her father. Without anything to show. Parting in uncertain terms also meant losing the chance of recovering her magic. Dawn and Aidan had a huge amount of mana each and an absurd affinity with the Underworld element. Even if she had the spell and the ritual formulae, it would be an epic quest to find another caster to do that magic for her. And diving deeper in her heart, she didn't hate what she had with these people around her. The candor, the freedom, the joy of companionship.
Yes, Pearl thought. She could save face with the argument that she was with a woman. Dawn did refuse to join her at the bath several times before she almost forced her. And she felt good like nothing else before that. Deep inside, she wanted more of that. Not only the sex but the skinship with another person. But that door would remain closed forever in her heart, she vowed to herself.
"And the other choice?"
"You forgive me, we stay friends, leave what happened in the dungeon in the dungeon, and then we go..."
Pearl grimaced. 'What happened in the dungeon' was much, much more than just two girls fooling around with each other. Dawn shut her mouth that very moment, covering it with a hand.
"Sorry, Pearl." Dawn hugged her. "Sorry, sorry, sorry." Her voice was almost breaking.
Pearl tapped Dawn's shoulder.
"You are excused, Dawn. I still mourn the loss, but as you told me, I must live on. For his sake as well as mine."
"Can we remain friends?"
"Yes, I guess. But please don't touch me with your male half. Ever again."
That hug when she reached for the rapier, it was the first time a man from outside her family held her like that. Even her father didn't display such physical closeness for years. She remembered the feeling of those strong arms holding her, protecting her from doing something very stupid and her heart wavered. For just a moment.
"What if you are in danger? Or unconscious?" Dawn smiled and teased. She could read Pearl's motives. She could feel the indecisiveness hidden in her voice. "Or when we are doing the ritual again to recover your magic?"
And it hit Pearl. She spent the whole night naked with them!
"Do I have to be naked for that ritual? Is it mandatory?"
"I'm afraid it is. And it means I'll have to see you naked again. With all my four eyes." Dawn giggled. Gone was the tension of before.
Pearl detached herself from the girl's arms. Enough skinship. She thought and found the question she wanted to ask. Several times. She was still suspicious.
"Will you really give Lumina's body back after you reach the capital?"
"I will need to research a lot of magic to make it possible. Get the headmaster's help if possible. But I won't stop at anything to give Lumina a chance to live the rest of her life as herself. I make that my oath under the gods. Will you help me, Pearl?"
"And will you live with only half of yourself, as you said before?" Yes, still suspicious. Pearl was stubborn like true citizens of Gohar should be. Too much dwarven influence in their culture.
"Apart from giving away my own life entirely, I am willing to make sacrifices. What will be, I don't know. I should be dead, Pearl. Every moment I live is a boon. One I don't want to waste regretting."
Another thing hit Pearl. This person in front of her is no princess.
"Dawn, you are a lowly noble. Address me properly!" Pearl pouted a little. Dawn was leading the conversation too much. She had to do something to get the upper hand.
"Sorry. Your request has been denied, Pearl. Best friends don't use titles with one another."
Dawn sighed and nodded, faking annoyance. Then Pearl asked, just a little bit excited and shy.
"Are we best friends?"
"Yes! We are best friends. I love you, Pearl. Non-romantically, of course." Dawn smiled, mischievously.
Pearl rolled her eyes. But there was something in Dawn that made her danger sense tingle.
"Are you remembering the bath right now?"
Cythrel's ears twitched. The elf wanted to be in that bath too. The water must've been piping hot. Dawn just smiled and closed her eyes in reminiscence.
"Yes! How could I ever forget that?"
Pearl looked behind her, Aidan was with his eyes closed and head lowered.
"Did you ever... with the boy... thinking of me?"
Dawn pushed Pearl away, making a disgusted face.
"Gross! I'd never do that! And I've never had the boy me touch this body here too if you are wondering."
They laughed, completely ignoring the other two bodies in the room. Pearl suddenly froze like she always does, and pointed at Cythrel.
"Hold a second. Why did Cythrel stay here listening to us? Your secret..."
Dawn waved a hand dismissively.
"She had already figured us out back when we reached Gurf's cabin. Smart elf."
Smarter than you, the implied conclusion drifted in the air. Pearl harrumphed, indignant.
Dawn hugged her again. "Silly princess. I'm just teasing you."
"Friends?" Pearl made a peace offering, feeling Dawn's chest touching her cheeks. Warm.
"Best friends." Dawn upped the ante.
"Just best friends." Pearl closed the negotiation. The 'with no benefits' part was implied.