The Cracking of bone, squelch of flesh, and her absent-minded smile.

I tried to throw up but only ended up dry heaving as she continued.

I just ate, but I just knew my body wouldn’t let anything out.

I was grabbing my knees, mortified at what I saw.

I looked back up to…the beast. She had just opened her bloody maw to remove a large nail red hot the size of an index finger

“Spicy, but unwanted,” she remarked as she flicked the nail into the kitchen sink.

She then swallowed her foul meal and licked up the blood on her lips, leaving nothing but bloody stains on her pure white fur.

She turned to look back at us, a salivating grin on her face. In a panic, I took up a stance that could charitably be called “battle ready” and morphed both my hands into angular short thrusting blades. Behind me, I could subconsciously feel the presence of my Sister’s tendrils, sharp and hardened. We would fight for our new lives, all three of our lives.

The Beast then closed her eyes and raised its paw-like hands to cover its face as she exhaled a stream of strangely odourless steam in front of us. Once her hands moved away from her face she spoke in her authoritative voice “I wish to broker a deal with you both.”

Thinking back on Mampara’s story I spat “How stupid do you think we are? Something as monstrous as you can’t have anything good planned for us”

I noticed her hands clench at my accusation, but she answered my assertion with the calm I’ve only seen on service workers“I only killed Mampara because it was the fastest way to end the curse.” she grabbed a chair that I swear couldn’t fit her moments ago “Miss Viola, I will be frank. I am smarter than Winda, stronger than Winda, more knowledgeable than Winda, I am simply better than Winda and with your help I can be free of her”.

I paused at that,

Kabiliti, telepathically:” You can’t be considering her offer, what if she demands to eat people?”

I responded to the beast “Depends on what you want.”

She grinned, and in an almost demonic tone, answered “INDEPENDENCE.”

I tensed up and raised my blade hands, ready to stab. In my periphery, I noticed Kabiliti’s tendrils start inching closer and I felt a single tendril wrap around my waist.

A look of annoyance briefly crossed her face and she dropped a bit of composer “Does such a thing as my freedom terrify you so? All I wish is to be my OWN person, NOT a curse.”

I can partially sympathise, but I’m not stupid enough to let loose a monster just because I somewhat feel bad for it.

Getting a sense of what I’m doing Kabiliti sends over a sensation of trust.

“Even if we said yes and agreed to help you. We don’t know how either one of us could free you”

Beast: “Oh you can, and I know it.”

She grinned unnaturally wide. Then, holding her low jaw quizzically added “Tho I suppose, with the Tokoloshe’s interference and Winda’s General incompetence, no one would have taught you two Firstborn how to properly use your Takardar Halis”

Or what?

She then clapped her hands and leaned in forward, trying and failing to make herself look less threatening.

Beast:” Let me show you my worth by teaching you how to use your Takardar Hali. After, you can judge whether to keep me or Winda”

The offer was tempting. She quickly picked up on how poorly we understand this world despite meeting us only moments ago and offered us information that, based on how she spoke of it, is both vital and common. As if she knew our car wouldn’t start because we hadn’t been told to turn the keys.

I mentally spoke to Kabiliti “I say we take her offer.”

She agreed, responding “If she wanted or needed us dead, she would have attacked by now. If she could force us to free her, she would have. Her freedom seems to genuinely require our willing consent…somehow. Take the offer, but be careful.”

I refocused my attention on the Beast in front of me” Fine, We will accept your offer. But if you try anything, the deal is off and we will side with Winda”

Beast:” Well that's more than Winda’s family has been willing to do; First, Think hard about yourself. What makes you, you.”

I did so and my character sheet popped up. But it looked a bit different

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

User Name: “Viola”

Level: 1

Race: [Un-named]

Race Type: Transformative.

Type Description: “You are designed to transform parts of your body in any way you see fit. Modify your body, Master it. and soon you will be able to transform more than your body”

Body Attributes:

Strength: 3

Dexterity: 3

Constitution: 3

Magic Attributes:

Control: 2

Stolen novel; please report.

Capacity: 2

Power: 2

Skills & Perks:

Seed of Godhood:

“You have been granted the Seed of Godhood, and with it, Gained the envy of the heavens. Evolve and grow your seed and you may ascend to godhood.”

+1 to all Attributes,

Gained “the Magic of creation” (level Max: 3),

Skill is hidden from all but the most powerful beings.

More benefits unlock as the level increases.

Alloy Body:

“Forged by powers beyond the gods. You have been blessed with a body that can take the properties of any metallic alloy you absorb.”

You can eat any alloy to gain its properties (Linked with ‘Lithvore’)

More benefits unlock as the level increases.

Lithvore:

“When you think about it, Meat and Plants are all just various minerals and compounds, so why not try Alloy and stone?”

You can eat any alloy to gain its properties (Linked with ‘Alloy Body’)

You can eat minerals and or Alloys in place of food

More benefits unlock as the level increases.

Life Giver(limited):

“Due to your race’s dangerously low population (2) it is possible to reproduce Via un-natural methods”

By expending all your mana you can breathe life into anything comprising 20% you, Kabiliti, and/or another member of your species. (Subject can’t already contain life/un-life)

Soul-Twin:

“You were once one. Once whole, Once Alone. But, for better or worse, you have become two.”

You can telepathically talk to your soul twin (Kabiliti) at no cost provided they are within 1 km,

Any farther will cost mana at a rate of 1 per km per minute.

If both twins are touching each other their memory becomes photographic and past memories can be easily accessed

Abilities:

* The magic of creation

Provided you know how something works you can spend Mana to create it.

Requires source materials.

The mana cost is calculated based on the materials used, size, and complexity of the Item.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The stats were the same, but the apprentice. Instead of the boring and plain box from before, the sides and edges were made of a black and white triangle marble pattern, with 3d obsidian statues of my silhouette on either side styled like East African batiks. Both statues appeared rather relaxed, the left was holding up the screen with a finger while curling a dumbbell with one hand while the right was simply leaning on the border, head supporting the top and fervently reading a waist-high pile of marble books. The bottom border was some kind of odd mix of sci-fi light slits embedded into the marble while the top was a simple red clay roof with 5 evenly spaced empty rectangular clits The background was still that boring paper plain white though.

“You should be seeing a box displaying information about you, as much information as you are aware of anyway. Its appearance reflects how you view yourself and can change as you do. That is your Takardar Halis” the beast continued in an instructional tone

I tried looking around it and to my surprise, it only snapped to face me when I willed it to, but when I didn’t it maintained its place in space as well as its orientation.

Beast: “Winda did that too when her mother taught her of this”

I snapped to look at her and she almost looked…sad? Guilty? But upon noticing my attention she reverted removed her mournful expression and continued “Now try thinking about if you have any tasks to do while your Takardar Halis and of any tasks you want to be done”

I did so and the sheet grew a bit taller to accommodate a “Core” tab and a “Tasks” tab that was greyed out. “Wait, so this system works on awareness of its functions?” I blurted out

The Beast simply let out a short humanlike chuckle and answered “Yes, and I’m glad you're smart enough to figure it out on your own. It took a whole year for Winda to come to that realisation. I think I’ll enjoy working for you”.

I paused and glared at her “I didn’t say ‘you got the job’ ” I corrected, but she simply composed herself and retorted “But you need the best and, of the two of us, I’M the best,” she declared while pointing to her chest.

She started ranting “I originally thought Chuma was a fool but considering what he's been able to achieve while being forced to pick the worst options he reasonably would? Now that you’ve freed him I want to see what he can do. But Winda? Winda is a failure, a parasite and even she knows it.”. Her eyes were full of a deep-seated hatred of her other half “Her mind drifts like a fly, only focusing on worthless things. she has the charisma of a skittish Impala with a guile of a panicking Tembo.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath “She is as useful as rotten wood to you. You are a clever woman and I just know we’ll get along perfectly.” there was a hint of desperation in her voice. I opened the Tasks tab

As I did so the 2 statues turned to look at information that showed up

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Current tasks:

[None present]

Given tasks:

* Go get clothing [tied to Fate quest]

* Assigned to: “Chuman”

* Agreed upon conditions: “acquire 2 sets of female attire”

* Rewards: Possible Progress in Fate Quest

Quests:

[Superseded by Fate Quest]

Your Fate Quest is active.

You only get one

Current Fate Quest Objectives.

* Help your Sister create her body

* She appears to have lost most of what she gained and you know nothing of your surroundings so you have successfully conceived “Chuma” to help you in exchange for freeing him from the “Pointless struggle” curse [reward has already been given by killing the curse maker and beneficiary].

* Chuma appears to have found help through a woman named Winda. She and her beast have assisted in rewarding Chuma. They both appear to want to join your Fate Quest, but separately. Who will you allow to join you? [Warning, the response will change their reward for this Objective. Both sisters will need to make a choice]

Race Quests.

* Raise the population of your [Un-named] race by [Let's say 4 for now. I’ll make the first milestone stupidly easy.].

* This quest was started by Kabiliti, One of the Founding Twins, due to her choosing the Race Perk “Unique Spawn” and, as recently discovered, Her strong desire to leave something positive in this world.

* This is an endless Objective that carries on after death.

* All members of the [Un-named] race are participants but only those designated by the founders and their heirs may know of the quest’s existence.

|This rule can be edited by Founders and their Heirs|

* All rewards apply to every member of the [Un-named] race.

Population: 2/4

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The choice seemed clear. Pick the girl, not the monster.

“Wait!” Kabiliti screamed into my mind “Something doesn’t seem right.”

Viola, telepathically:” What, she’s clearly cartoonishly evil. This whole time she’s been screaming ‘Big Bad Evil Gal’ vibes”

Kabiliti, telepathically: “I know, but doesn’t seem a bit…forced to you? Like she doesn’t know how else to act”

Viola, telepathically:” So what, you want to give her freedom on a hunch?”

Kabiliti, telepathically: “No, I want to give her a chance.”

A bright light started intensifying behind me and Kabiliti’s tendrils started glowing a golden yellow.

_________________________________________________________________________

!Alert!

The Powers of a God have been used!

The Price is being paid

_________________________________________________________________________

I panicked, She’s going to sacrifice more of herself!

I looked behind myself to find Kabiliti’s body radiating a golden light and her form seemingly screaming. I grabbed onto her shouting “You're not paying this price alone sister!” as a blinding pain struck my arm.

In a short moment, I felt like a god.

I was god.

I knew her, our intention.

_________________________________________________________________________

!Alert!

The ”Blessing of the Twin Gods” has been bestowed Upon |Name Obscured by primordial|

!Alert!

Primordial Influence detected

!Alert!

The Gods are aware of the existence of two Seeds of Godhood

!Alert!

Primordial Influence detected

!Alert!

Two Seeds of Godhood have been temporarily Obscure

Primordial Message:

“It’s only been two days. What are you two doing?”

!Personal Alert!

A Primordial Ban has been placed upon you.

The ban will be lifted when an unknown criteria is met.

_________________________________________________________________________

“Everything Hurts”.