Swift's point of view

We have another meeting to discuss changes to the army. This 1 was to establish the future rules of the army. We went back and forth with plenty of rules. Most were the discussion of a dress code. Rules for infighting between members of the army. We talk of improvements that need to be addressed now and some that can be put on hold for a few months. The meeting is fairly calm and collected during most of it. Some shouting was done but nothing too serious. As for the rules put in place, they go as followed. 

1: There is no dress code. It would be impossible to get lizard men to wear armor, same with some of the elementalists. The color of red will be added to any equipment people will wear to show they are part of Kite's army. After discussing for a very long time (some pushing the color red very hard while Kite wanted a better color for blending in) People pushed it so hard that Kite conceded and the armies color was made red.

2: The rules for infighting in the army are as followed. Any fights will be settled with a fist fight. If any of the participants uses a weapon, they will be put in jail for 1 month. If they kill another member while using a weapon they will be put to death. If the fist fight becomes too violent, all participants will be thrown into jail for a single day to cool their heads off. Some pushed for stricter rules, others pushed for the rules to be looser. This was the middle ground for what people were pushing for.

3: The hierarchy was established. Going from Kite as the leader, generals next, captains chosen by the generals, sub captains to lead smaller groups, elite troops and regular troops. The rules each can give are varied between the ranks. A general will act as a leader to everyone in their group they are leading but still following the orders of Kite when he can give them. The generals are allowed to make their own decisions with their troops. The single rule being that they aren't allowed to put their troops in unnecessary danger or try suicide missions.

Discussing the changes that need to be done first. The biggest being the construction of gear for the pirates and bugbears. It will be a heavy task but they are the least geared, newest and weakest troops currently. Kite has been discussing his plans for gaining more troops before the war starts, so this might be put on hold until the full army has been gathered.

Kite had put forth most of the ideas of improvements that could be made. The construction of giant automatons have been started. Having mobile turtles that can be used as transport, protection and a mobile cannon firing base would be a huge advantage in the war. The construction of 50 black turtles is under way as well as a few prototype mobile bases as well. We'll have to see what Kite will come up with.

The things Kite can do still amaze me. After the meeting, I break off from the group and decide to take the day off. I've been very stressed out lately... I need to take my mind off things that have happened... I still need to learn how money works. I head through the portal to the murine folk village. I work my way into the village from the hub house that was given to Kite to store a portal scroll in. I greet some of the guards watching over the house before exiting and trying to buy some things. Each general gets compensated, I need to learn the value of these little different colored circles.

I check the shops, this village has become sort of a tourist destination now. Many people visiting and enjoying the company of the murine folk. Buying items while selling others, I walk up to a murine folk woman who is currently cooking food out in the open. I order one of whatever she is making and go to pay before she stops me and says I over payed by a lot. I thank her honesty, I had over payed by 20 times the normal amount. Pulling out 5 copper to pay for the meal, she said she would give me a discount if I ate there more frequently. I may take her up on that offer later.

I leave before asking for her name, I have to remember to ask her next time we meet. I buy a few more things, sort of getting an idea of what the value of these little circles are worth now. I feel satisfied over what I've done today. I head back through the portal to the fortress, stopping by the cafeteria for a second to grab a slice of raw meat before heading home. Today was a good day I think as I take the portal back to the lizard man village. The first day I've had to relax in a very long time.

I spend a few minutes in my hut adjusting a few things and dropping off the things I've purchased before I head outside again. I walk towards the cave at the back of the village, pulling out a torch that is needed to transverse the cave with sight. It is getting late, later than I would like to be. It has been almost a day since I've been here, I continue working my way through the cave. The feeling of peace and rest I had today slowly dissipating. Getting to the main room in the cave, some light seeps through as cracks in the mountain open the room up. Not much as it is far past noon, enough to passively light the room.

There he is, sitting in the room in the same position I left him last time. My brother Tough is sitting their motionless as I enter the room. Sitting in the dark… Until he smells the bloody meat I carry in. I throw it onto the floor as he rushes over, I speak to him.

“I'm back brother, still no news on a cure yet. If Leon hear's anything, he'll come back and we can fix you… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I couldn't save you.”

Tears begin to roll down my face as I stroke the hair on my brothers head as he mindlessly eats the raw meat I brought him. It's been months, MONTHS! Since he has been changed. I still weep every single time I come to feed him. I managed to catch him on the battlefield before anyone else could get to him. Quickly sneaking him to this cave so he wouldn't be slain by anyone else. He doesn't attack me, a small part of me wishes that it is because he knows I'm his brother… I'm not sure if that is the case though. All I can do right now is keep him fed and hope for a cure. I cry, I cry so hard that my snot and dribble fall onto him as I grab him tightly.

This will be the death of my second brother in less than a year. I can't handle that, we must find a way to fix him. Leon must find a way. It has been months of this already, feeding him before I go to sleep… I hope he stays in that cave and doesn't become a problem… I can't help but hope for a cure… I need to put my faith in Leon… If he can't find a cure, I would fall into despair that I don't think I could get out of.

Red's point of view 

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It has been about a month since I've left the fortress to meet with the fire elemental lord. I will need to swear allegiance to the leader in order to gain the power of the fire element to call upon. I got a notice to do this once I evolved, some of master's other pets did as well. My elemental lord is the closest, so I wont be gone for very long. The closer I get, the hotter it becomes. Days continue to pass as the temperature continues to rise, finally leading into a realm of fire. The lush green grass is changes to a far more dried out color. After walking for a few hours, even the grass can't live in this heat. I continue through it. The land almost seems to be infected with this heat, this must be the elemental lords doing.

It has been a single day since entering this heat domain. It is like the line between the elemental plain of fire and this world are waning and the fire domain is seeping in. I'm sweating so much I have disrobed and continued on my journey naked. Carrying my provisions in the void bag Kite had given me. I still have a portal scroll I can use to get back to the base if needed. If I run out of water, I will have to head back before I have fully changed. Once I'm done here, master said to hide the portal scroll close by but far enough away and hidden that no one would notice its location. 

Changing into my 9 tailed fox form helps with the heat a little bit… My body isn't designed to handle this heat though. I'm meant to throw the fire at people, not take it myself. I start to fantasize about having a nice soak in the hot springs like normal. Lust and me have a few conversations to pass the time. We have a very similar world view I've been inside her memories when master tamed me.

I frustratingly make it to where I can feel I should head. I feel I have a slight connection with the fire element right now and that by doing this, that connection will grow. Another day of pain and suffering of travel over, I finally make it to a giant hut. Entering, the feeling of heat hits me with a renewed intensity. The scent of smoke fills my lungs as I push through several layers of drapery hanging from the ceiling. It takes a minute to push through the fine silks and fabrics hanging to get to the center of the room. This is where the elemental lord is.

I have a good look around the room. Several people are all inside this room, servants catering to a single person. Running around doing things for the person sitting in the middle. I look at him now, he is surrounded by several scantily clad women. The women are all kinds of different monsters. One that seems to be a pure fire elemental, another snake looking women. Many weird monsters I've never seen before. I look at what the man is doing with them. In one hand is a giant pipe. The other is circled around several of the women and is moving back and forth between several sets of their breasts. 

The man is by far the most distinguished out of them all. About twice the size of a normal human, he looks almost like a giant. I know he isn't a giant though, he is something far more powerful. He is a fire genie, an efreet. A slight tinge of fear goes through me as I realize he could crush me so easily that I should be afraid. His skin is dyed a dark red color that reminds me of master's hair, wearing only pants, his chest has rippling muscles showing. He takes in a deep breath from his pipe and blows the smoke towards me before finally speaking.

“Who may I ask has entered my domain?”

“My name is Red, I've recently become a fire elemental creature and have come to show my submission and ask for you to open my elemental path until I can become strong enough to challenge you.”

His emotionless face curls into a smile at what I just said before he speaks next.

“It has been a long time since anyone has stated they are going to attempt to challenge me in the future. You must truly believe in your power to do something that silly.”

“I know I am not strong enough to fight evenly with you right now… I will be one day… I will get stronger.”

“HAHAHAHA! You have some moxie on you! And you are also very sexy. Why not become my eleventh wife instead of trying to kill me!? The more members of my harem the better, you will have whatever you desire if you do so. You will go without any want in the world if you become my wife.”

He takes in another deep inhale of his pipe as I hear Lust chime up in the back of my head.

“You don't have to marry him but you should try to have sex with him… I'm just wandering how a fire efreet is in bed… With how big he is, I bet he has a giant d-.”

I cut her off.

“I'm sorry but I can't take you up on that offer. I have a master already, I don't need a husband.”

The smile seems to fade from his face.

“Ah… That is a shame, for a monster as strong as you to be tamed… Your master might be even more interesting than you if he could tame you... May I ask who your master is?”

“You wouldn't know him by name. He is the leader of an army numbering in the thousands. He has just beaten the pirates at odds 5 to 1 against us. We absolutely crushed them. I have evolved 3 times within months of him taming me. He will be the reason for your death. My master Kite will come to defeat you eventually.”

I say this as smugly as I can. The fire genie is not displeased by this. I thought he would be angry, I thought he might have even attacked me… He only looks at me excited. A toothy smile covers his face as he speaks again.

“It has been hundreds of years since I've been challenged to a future duel. Do you not understand my power? Armies travel around my realm as to avoid my punishment. Kingdoms have challenged me and fallen to my power. You think a single human is strong enough to defeat not only a efreet, but the strongest efreet in existance!? You are foolish! You are foolish beyond compare! And that is why I like you! Come, drink, be merry as I open up the elemental channel inside you!”

The wording scares me a little… I start to think back on what Lust had said, what would the sex with a fire genie be like? I'm sure I have enough time to spare to stay here for awhile and get to the bottom of that question… As long as his wives don't get upset by me answering my question.