“Yumi, are you ready?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Good, you've got all your gear here...” she briefly checks over my pack to ensure I have everything. “Alright, one last check. Status. Show Slave Status.”
With her second command, my complete Status information appears in my view.
Yumi Slave Rank: 3 Race: Human Age: 23
Job: Offensive Magic Class: Synergist Style Finesse Focus: Area Control
Health: 95/95 Stamina: 101/108 Mana: 445/445
Status
Strength: 46 Vitality: 63 Stamina: 89 Agility: 42 Mind: 396 Magic: 81 Remaining Potential: 140
Skills
Speech: 92 Reading: 84 Math: 58 Logic: 67 Serving: 16 Cleaning: 22 Magic Casting: 16 Magic Weaving: 23 Mana Regen: 16 Mana Absorption: 9 Rapid Casting: 15 Multi Casting: 15 Magic Control: 9 Mana Cleansing: 1 Mana Channeling: 7 Cooking: 18 Massage: 6 Sex: 4 Appraisal: 12 Diplomacy: 4 Maintenance: 4 Grooming: 9
Traits
Work Ethic: 77 Self-Esteem: 32 Loyalty: 63 Devotion: 71 Adaptability: 38 Integrity: 10 Obedience: 77 Restraint: 74 Sincerity: 32 Respect: 55 Charm: 22 Pride: 12 Trust: 51 Anxiety: 19 Hope: 19 Fear: 6 Dependency: 42 Servitude: 32
Misc Slave Rating: SSS
I frown a little. I've only gained a single Rank in the last month since we got back to Karshis, after going on two quests. They were higher difficulty for a better payout, so that's a really brutal leveling rate.
And more importantly, I only received twenty free potential on level up instead of thirty. Back in Thanifa, I learned that's the growth reduction caused by my slave crest. It reduces how much I grow as I Rank up. That's the result of Pannatir 'not favoring me as much because my crest marks me as beneath their view,' that I had vaguely described to me way back.
The real effect: a ten point reduction in free potential per level, which comes to about a twenty percent reduction in total stat gains on level up. That is... not great. It makes me want to see if there's any way to game it, like by having Master Liina release me right before I level, but I can never tell when it's going to happen, so it's not a reasonable plan. That, and it would cost a gold coin every time for a new slave crest.
This is what exp bars are for! Unfortunately, I can't get anything like that from my magic, I checked. A lot. I guess it's just something else I'll need to accept about being a slave, that I'll grow slower than a normal adventurer. Like my slave duties and the limits on my freedom. I'm not happy about it, but of course I'm not going to be happy with every aspect of being a slave. Life isn't perfect.
That's something I think I've come to terms with lately. Master Liina will tell me to do things I don't want to do sometimes, or stop me from doing things I do want to do. Those things are the master's decisions to make, not the slave's. That's what it means to be enslaved. And that's fine. It's freedom I'm willing to give up for Master Liina's care and protection.
Addressing the Status window in front of me, I note, “This looks good, Master. My Magic is still growing steadily, and I'm getting better at casting.”
“Good, let's get going.”
We head out the door. Our destination: the adventurer's guild. It's time to head to the meeting with Rothol we set up a month ago. We're taking all of our usual gear, though we hope we won't need it for any reason.
It's all pretty shoddy anyway. A lot was ruined in the Thanifa raid, like Master Liina's sword, shield, and most of her armor, so we had to buy new stuff in town, but Karshis isn't exactly the largest town with the best stock of high quality equipment.
Given that she had to cover two months of back-rent when we returned, I get the impression that a good deal of our purchases were funded by the money Master Liina received from Malic, but I never had the courage to ask exactly how much my first time was worth.
I've mostly tried not to think too much about it and interact with him normally at the guild since then, because I know that altraska don't get emotional or attached from stuff like that.
He was my first time, and it was amazing, and I'll hold that memory dear. That won't change that he's my best friend. Only friend, whatever.
It helps just a little bit that Master Liina wanted a massage when we returned from both of our quests, which inevitably ended with me in such a state she needed to deal with my urges.
All in all, I guess I'm a tiny bit more open sexually after what I've been through.
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When we reach the guild, I spot Keane. It's honestly been really weird to see him around the guild this last month. After, you know, thinking he was dead. As it turned out, my slave crest from him wasn't released by his death, but by his enslavement, since slave crests can't be tied to other slave crests. A quirk in how they work that I didn't realize at the time.
I think Master Liina talked to him a bit back when everything was settling down. I did owe him a debt before, I'm guessing that she paid it off despite the voiding of our contract, to help Keane get back on his feet after basically losing all of his possessions when he was captured.
If or how that related to him later coming back to our house and them having sex, I don't think I want to know... In any case, I discovered that altraska are basically as casual about it as I expected.
And loud.
At least they seem to get along, I'm glad there aren't any hard feelings about how she basically took his slave, even if I wasn't a real slave at the time... Anyway, he joined up as our healer in one of our recent quests and everything went so smooth, it was great.
So now, when he sees us, he directs a wave our way. Drawing close, he greets us, “Liina, Yumi.”
“Hey, Keane.” With her greeting, I nod my head. I've gotten more accustomed to my sort of... passive role in conversations. It's kind of like, acting based on her words, or interacting with people by gesture, rather than actually speaking up and talking to them, at least most of the time.
There are other times too though. I'll either speak up, expressing my opinions to Master Liina rather than aiming my words at the person involved. Or sometimes, she'll gesture to me, to specifically speak my piece.
That does mean that she's basically reading me all the time, which while somewhat disconcerting, is also a bit comforting because it makes me feel like she'll always know when something is wrong or I'm upset, so she can help.
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Thankfully, that's a lot more rare now. My panic attacks and anxiety have let up massively now that I have a master to depend on to protect me. Currently though, the biggest source of my anxiety is the uncertainty surrounding having to sleep with people. Knowing her, she would be picky about who she chooses for something like that, but who knows if someone throws a ton of money at her for a night with me?
Well, for the time being, nothing like that has happened, so I mostly just leave it out of mind. One of those, 'if it happens it happens,' things, I guess.
Until my anxiety reminds me anyway.
But for the most part, life has been great this last month. We've finished a couple quests, made more money, and after this meeting, we have plans to head back to Rialetra to pick up more sturdy equipment.
Just one... sort of problem, at this particular moment. “So, what are you up to today?” Keane asks.
Even as she begins to speak, her tone goes stiff, since she knows where this is headed. “We're heading to the meeting with the Thanifa guild master.”
His tone drops. “The human?”
Ahhhh......
The one place Master Liina and Keane absolutely do not see eye to eye is on their opinions of humans.
Which is understandable. The people of Thanifa gave Master Liina a chance and got to know and understand her. They enslaved Keane. Of course he hasn't mentioned exactly what they did to him, but his expression whenever they come up is bad. I have a sneaking suspicion the only reason he still associates with me at all is because he knows I'm not one of them.
“Yes, if all goes well, it should help ease some of the hate between our races and make everyone safer. Fewer people getting kidnapped and enslaved is always a good thing,” she says pointedly.
“Yeah, yeah.” He waves it off since they've had this conversation a number of times already. “I'm going too, in case shit hits the fan. It'll be my chance at some payback,” Keane huffs.
I shoot a glance at Master Liina. “Yumi?” she asks, a tilt of her head giving me permission to speak up.
“Those assassins that kidnapped Keane already moved on. I don't think he'll have a chance for payback here,” I note, trying to not-so-subtly point out he's directing his revenge at the wrong people. It's the kind of misplaced hate that's likely been fueling this war for so long already.
Unfortunately, he disagrees. “Doesn't matter who attacked me. They were the ones who slapped a collar around my neck and threw me in a cage.” I point a small shrug at Master Liina. There really isn't much hope of seeing eye to eye on this. I don't even know if meeting Rothol himself would help.
Keane's not just angry at human arrogance in general, he's angry because of what has been done to him, personally.
“Well, it's always good to have another healer on hand, no matter what ends up happening.” Despite the argument, Master Liina nods to him anyway, and he grudgingly agrees.
While we've been standing around talking for a bit, people have been gathering. If the word of the upcoming meeting hadn't already spread all among the adventurers over the last month since we arrived, the big notices posted up by the guild certainly filled in anyone who somehow missed the gossip.
According to the information posted, the guild is calling it more of an expedition than an official quest. So while there's no pay, they're still helping form parties. Being the primary source of contact, we're going to be grouped up with the guild master himself. So after we wave goodbye to Keane, we go up to the counter to let them know we're here, and they wave us into the back.
When we arrive in the room with Brialc, the huge lion-altra guild master, Master Liina stops short all of a sudden, and I nearly walk into her back. Resuming just as quickly, I jolt a little, trying to keep in step. It only takes a moment, after entering the room myself, to discover why.
There's a blue fox-altra standing next to the guild master. Veshic, the noble who still wants to enslave me... What is he doing here, and why is he ringed by slaves?
Hell, there are like ten of them, why does he want me too?
Apparently ignoring him, Master Liina walks up to Brialc. She bows, and I mirror the gesture, standing a half step behind her. “Guild master,” she greets him, before standing straight again.
“Liina. It's good to see you.”
“It's good to see you too,” she responds pleasantly.
“We actually have a powerful noble from Montheric coming with us today.” Brialc gestures to Veshic, who proceeds to introduce himself.
“Veshic of the Therfio noble family.” He dips into a shallow bow.
“Yes, we've met,” Master Liina then goes on in the exact same, conversational tone, “he plans to steal my slave because I won't sell her to him.”
There's a moment, a sort of hesitation brought on by her mismatched tone and words.
“Huh?” Brialc blinks a couple times, looking back and forth between the two of them, then at me.
“My my, what slander.” Veshic replies jokingly. “When I heard that Karshis was looking into peace talks with the humans, I simply had to come along to help. I went as far as having the local Bender send me back to Montheric so I could collect my escort of high rated combat slaves. It was all I could do to get back here with them in time to accompany you on your expedition.”
After that display, Master Liina stares at him deadpan for a few seconds, before turning back to Brialc. “So, are we almost done preparing? When do you think we'll head out?” Seeing Veshic's displeased expression at being utterly ignored, I smile. Master Liina definitely won that spar.
“Ahumm,” the guild master awkwardly clears his throat, turning a worried glance to the blue fox before answering. “We were waiting for you to arrive before heading to the front. Then we'll depart as soon as the expedition parties are formed.”
“That sounds good.” Then she gestures for him to take the lead, and he heads out. Veshic and his slaves follow right behind, still looking a bit miffed, and we bring up the rear.
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As he said, there's some more standing around and waiting, watching the nearly twenty parties, all ten or more strong, form up. Damn, I didn't realize we would have so many people coming... The initial plan was for a meeting between the guild masters, I hope us showing up with like, three hundred altraskan adventurers isn't an issue...
I mean, the posted info lists this as a two part expedition. Part one: go to the Thek Ruins to watch out for any trouble while the two guild masters meet. Part two: if the humans do cause trouble, wipe them out.
The way it's written definitely worries me, I hope the ones coming along to legitimately watch for trouble keep anyone who just wants to start a fight in check. I'm sure there are plenty of altraska like Keane who want it to turn into a bloodbath...
Once everyone is formed up into groups, Brialc gives a short speech, reminding everyone of the plan. At a small urging from Master Liina, he explicitly adds that they are absolutely not to attack unless it becomes clear that the humans wish to fight, not talk.
In order to avoid any possible incidents, he declares that he alone will make such a decision. We will only go to battle if he himself calls for it, or god forbid, he is somehow killed before he is able to make the call.
Like this, there are only two ways for things to go. Either we hash things out peacefully, or we utterly wipe out the humans. Either way, we win. No room for it to turn into a clusterfuck because some idiots step out of line and instigate a half-ass battle that only some join, that may cascade or not, or might just leave everyone worse off and worsen relations even more.
With that all said, we set out. It's three days to the ruins, and we'll arrive on the scheduled day of the meeting. The time's a little uncertain since the days here are so long, but we'll wait around for a while to make sure we don't accidentally miss each other or something stupid like that.
Traveling in a huge group like this, absolutely nothing on the road poses a risk to what is essentially an army, so we make quick progress down the road. In fact, I'd say the biggest issue is actually how we crowd out other travelers trying to use the road too.
The whole way, Master Liina and Veshic keep up their terse verbal sparring, with him trying to prove how accomplished of a slave master he is. In fact, he actually has a master crest, rather than an adventurer one. For the most part, Master Liina comes out ahead, since it's clear Veshic doesn't realize just how high my rating is.
I think he thinks I'm around a B rating, so she gets more than a few good laughs at some of his comments where he greatly undervalues me. When she rebuffs him, I think he's taking her comments as insincere, trying to play me up rather than me actually being as high rated as she's hinting at. She definitely doesn't want to outright reveal my actual rating to him though, since it would probably just drive him to pursue me even more desperately.
As weird as it is to think about, I actually feel kind of proud of my high slave rating. It means I'm a good slave and valuable to Master Liina. It means I deserve her care. Because I can fulfill my duties to her, anything she needs. Up to just a few months ago, I'd probably have thought something like that was crazy, but now I don't, as long as she takes good care of me.
Thankfully, the verbal sparring stays verbal all the way down the road to the Thek Ruins. Once we arrive, everyone basically just sets up camp to wait. Looking around a little, it seems like these ruins were originally a rather large town, based on the way there are some structures standing, just enough to mark out where the roads would have been.
After a little while of everyone spreading out and sitting around, we get called over with the guild master, to an area in the middle of the ruins. It must be where the main town square was, since it's a nice big open area, ringed by some of the largest remaining ruined structures. A couple of them even have parts of roofs left, and look like they might provide some shelter from rain.
Given the central location, it's a pretty good bet this is where the humans will eventually come as well, so we just wait for a while.
As we sit, Veshic comments on my magic, since I've been continuing my endless casting practice along the way as usual, just summoning elements over and over as fast as I can, trying to make the whole process as fast and automatic, as reflexive as possible. I basically end up with a cloud of rapidly appearing and disappearing elements, hovering all around me the whole time.
“That is certainly some impressive speed casting,” he says. “But are you sure she can take down her targets with such weak spells?”
“Hah, you should see when she gets serious. Her magic power is still low, but she's going to be an incredible mage, I swear,” Master Liina praises me, and I perk up happily.
“Is that right?” Veshic responds, eyes still drilling into me. Even the guild master is watching me with some interest. “How about this? If, say, something goes wrong with negotiations and, perhaps, something happens to you, I would certainly do my best to take her in and keep her safe.”
I'm expecting another retort, but for some reason, Master Liina hesitates before answering this time.
“You know what? Assuming you're not the one who gets me, yeah, that sounds good.”
I do a double take.
And so does Veshic.
He sputters through a few incoherencies for a moment. After all of her shit-talking, I don't think he even believes her. “Huh? Why?” he actually winds up asking.
She chuckles and shows her teeth. “You're an egotistical dickhead, but you take good care of your slaves. I think she'd get by alright with you as a master if something really did happen to me.”
I blink owlishly when she suddenly admits that. But then she turns to me. “First choice would probably be Malic, I know she'd do great with him, I'd mostly be worried about him spoiling her too much. Too bad he's not here. Keane, he might be alright, but probably not attentive enough to her needs. You're a good third because you could protect and care for her. Too bad you keep trying to kidnap her...” She rolls her eyes.
When she puts it that way, it's actually a bit funny. In a... really weird, kind of creepy way, actually... I shake my head. This is weird to think about.
“Hey Veshic, why do you want her so bad?” Master Liina finally asks. “Why are you so damn persistent about my slave?”
“Huh? Because I saw her and decided she would be mine.”
“Seriously?” she scoffs. “You just decided that's how it would be and expected everyone else to follow along?”
“Of course! I am Veshic Therfio! You are the only idiot stubborn enough to stand against me like this!”
“Hahaha!” Master Liina breaks up laughing at his ridiculous outburst. “You really think you just, what, deserve her because of your noble title?”
“Of course, a commoner like you wouldn't understand.” He shakes his head knowingly. Just... how stuck up is this guy...?
“Would a night with her be enough to get you off my case?”
“M-Master!” I cry when she suddenly offers that. With- With him?!
“Of course not!” He actually turns his nose up, but I don't care how stupid it looks, I'm so relieved... “Once she's mine, I can have her whenever I want.”
Nope, relief gone.
Sliding up next to Master Liina where she's sitting on the ground, I practically hug her side. No matter what, I'll never go with him... She shakes her head and chuckles a little, ruffling my hair.
When the conversation eventually trails off, we end up sitting around for a while, waiting.
We wait.
And wait.
And wait...