Chapter 62 Spider and Scorpion.

The strongest of beings.

Are the ones that went through hardships and pain.

The ones who went through hell and came back.

But these are also the weakest of beings.

Tonisha, the Lady of Ventures.

“Is this bath together really important to you?” I ask her gently. I have a premonition that if I hurt her feelings, things will go badly. I have no idea how. But I can tell that they will, probably worse than Balusha.

“Yes! I mean, I am getting to know you, correct? And I've always wanted to take a bath with my sister, but Balusha is a bitch…”

I guess we have one thing we agree on, Balusha is a bitch… So this is some sort of bonding ritual to her? Ugh… fine… I hope she’s not a manipulative psycho… because if she is, I’ll kill her one day… Unlike the hag, I never made an oath to this creepy lady…

“Aren’t you going to take off your clothes?” she asks with a puzzled expression on her face.

Sure… I take off my clothes and climb into the empty cauldron. She floats inside the cauldron and drifts near me as if she's sitting. Her creepy hairy spider legs fold in odd ways that makes me wince internally. She gives me the set of potions, drinking a second set herself.

“Shouldn’t you… I don’t know? Fill the cauldron?” I ask in confusion when nothing happens.

She let out another forced laugh with her hand covering her mouth. Considering she’s naked and appears like a creepy spider without an abdominal sack from the waist down, the motion is extremely out of place. “Don’t worry. I take care of things for us with my mind. Just relax and let’s meditate together. Give me your hand…”

The moment our hands touch one another, I can feel her mana flow in addition to my own. She has so much mana. It’s overwhelming and humbling. Each one of her ten pools is massive, especially the gravity pool in her forehead. That one feels like it contains at least three hundred gems’ worth, possibly more.

Shortly after, a massive amount of energy is directly channeled into my crown mana pool. It’s only a small amount for her, but it fills me up to the brim, like fluid electricity flowing in my veins.

Then the water pours down, it fills up the cauldron, turning into the mushroom soup of souls. I drift into my fantasy land, clenching her hand for more power.

*

{28} Koshavi (February) the 21st

The water goes down and I can feel like I’ve almost connected my crown pool. Just a little longer! It simply took way too much effort. Connecting this one single pool felt like I have to open all the ten pools all over again. This was ten times the work I already did.

That being said, I would only be part way through instead of nearly done without her help… I’m glad I agreed to let her in, even if she indeed manipulated me into it, she only helped me. I don’t even care if she’s attracted to women, whether she just wanted to see me naked or just wanted some bonding experience with me… if in return, I get this much advancement it’s a worthy deal to me.

“Kabit?” I say when we get dressed.

“Yes?”

“Thanks…” I kiss her cheek, she deserves it.

“You’re welcome!” She flashes a thin smile at me, her freckled face gaining a tinge of red. She chuckles awkwardly and turns around.

Yeah… she’s not faking it… that’s probably her normal laugh… or she’s a really good actor of being a bad actor… I wonder how her legs turned out like that…

“Your legs? Did you change them on purpose? Or was it an accident?” I can’t hold back my curiosity.

She turns to face me, her thin smile and the tinge of red on her freckled face remain the same. “On purpose. I don’t use legs to walk anymore, so I utilized and weaponized them. You’ll also modify your body when you get to my stage…”

“And what about men?”

“What about them?” she looks at me, puzzled.

I raise my eyebrows at her.

She frowns.

"Ahem... snake?" I ask aloud after half a minute of awkward silence.

“Oh…” The tinge of red on her cheeks intensifies, turning into a deep shade of red. “You mean like an intercourse? Oh… ow… ah… ehm… I don’t have time for that. It’s distracting and pointless…”

Ok, that’s a sentiment I can get behind, distracting and pointless. I don’t want to marry… Not even Kolag?

If Kolag ever becomes an option, then yes… not someone else though… unless he’s a really good person… and I love him… I can’t have a husband that will be used by the hag against me…

Kabit looks down at her arachnoid legs. “…But. If I change my mind about it, I can always modify my legs and hips back to the way they used to be. It’ll require some work though. I am very good at alatonomy, or more commonly known as magical bodily modifications. If you want some changes to your body, let me know, ok?”

I see… I’ll stay in my natural human form for as long as I can, thank you… But I wouldn’t mind having those purple eyes you have… damn… they’re gorgeous… I’d look so much better having that pair of eyes… “What can your eyes do?”

“They have many abilities. They let me turn invisible on a whim.” for a moment I lose sight of her. Her voice comes from near my ear and I feel her hesitant hand on my shoulder. “they help me in other planes of existence, especially higher ones… they’re also really useful in the dark or the fog… even magical darkness… and they can hypnotize weak-minded beings… anything below first rank… Some times, they even let me read minds. I am terrible at understanding people, so it helps…” She appears above me, floating upside down. "Unfortunately, I cannot read your mind, you have too much mana. I can read the minds of regular mortals." Yeah... How unfortunate...

“Can you make those eyes for me too?” I look up, meeting her gorgeous eyes above me.

She bites her lips, it looks weird upside-down. “Sure! I’d be happy to!" she calls out with too much cheerfulness. "I sincerely hope you have the money to pay. But I’m ok with giving you a loan, as long you pay me an interest. So when do we get started? Oh, sorry… ahem… I forgot to mention I’ll need materials. Yes, mmm… materials. I took them from a demon you see? And I also used some Komachi blood and a Sphinx’s spinal fluids to make them usable… so… if you can get me a Yolkilor demon’s eyes, Komachi blood, and a Sphinx’s spinal fluids, I’ll craft them for you! You may be able to find some on the market. It’s ok if they’re dead, but the eyes have to be fresh! You need two eyes for all the functions. For some eye types, it’s enough to have a single one… Oh! Oh! And the spinal fluids have to come from a gynosphinx! Um… that’s a female Sphinx, the ones without a mane. Male is no good! Because you’re also a female. Maybe we can try and make do with lamia, but there’s a chance of failure with lamia’s spinal fluids.” She truly expects me to get those creatures from the market?! What market?

Okay… I have a long way to go… “What can your legs do?”

“This.” in a blink, her legs reach me from all sides almost touching my skin. At the tip of each one of these legs, there is a sharp edge, dripping a viscous purple liquid. She flips and floats down, her legs surrounding me from all directions. A moment later, and they retreat into her heavy skirt as if nothing happened.

She gives me a thin predatory smile that sends chills down my spine. Those legs are fast, very fast, I would be dead before I manage to move a muscle. It’s an unsettling thought.

"This is my last line of defense. I sincerely hope I won't have to use it, but should Iron or glass..."

"Having fun, sista?” Balusha enters the cellar with a smug grin. Kabit stops mid sentence and turns to face her. I can almost see the invisible sparks flying between the two.

“Nice to see you too, Lusha…” Kabit’s straighten her back and flashes a large fake smile at the voluptuous woman.

“Aww how sweet, we both know you don’t mean that! Can we get to the part where you tell me how my love makes me stupid, please? That’s more fun!” Balusha crosses her hands on her ample chest. Her scorpion braid moves on its own in Kabit’s face, and I can hear the braid hissing.

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“You’re a menace. I am ashamed to call you a sister. And for the thousandth time, I never slept with Kynator.” Despite the sharp words, Kabit’s voice isn’t aggravated, more like hazy toneless sentences.

“Why… we both know that’s not true! But you lie and lie and LIE!!!” Balusha attacks Kabit with the last syllable, breathing a greenish substance out of her mouth.

A purplish barrier flickers into existence around Kabit as she floats backward. Her feet land on the wall, or at least it seems that way, but I know she doesn’t have feet. “Ooze. I sincerely hope you know why he doesn’t desire your presence. It is because you are obsessed with him. You do not love him. He told me that he sincerely wishes he had never slept with you. He called it a mistake.” Kabit preaches in her emotionless voice, almost mumbling as if she's talking in her sleep.

“Shut up!!!” Balusha screams, a stark contrast to Kabit’s calm. The ground trembles and items around the cellar fall to the ground. Now I can understand why every potion bottle in here is made out of metal instead of clay, or why the fragile looking jars on the shelves are tied up to the walls. The cage at the edge rattles, and the unconscious pixie inside gets flung around, hitting the metallic bars over and over.

An orange ray flies toward Kabit who dodges it by flipping and standing on the ceiling. I back off to the edge of the cellar slowly. I remember the wild battle between Rushmia and Navaro, and the waves of acid that washed the room. I’m aware that these two can probably kill me without even noticing.

“And the saddest part. Back then. He was sincerely trying. Do you wish to know how many times he came to me and mom for advice about his relationship with you? One hundred and twenty four that I know of. You only have yourself to blame.” Kabit keeps poking this bear with her toneless stick.

Balusha tugs on her braid like she's trying to rip her own head off. “Like you’re better! Who are you to give me relationship advice you forty years old virgin!!!”

Eh? Didn’t you say she slept with your ex? That and being a virgin doesn’t go together…

Kabit scratches her cheek, still standing on the ceiling. “You know that intercourse doesn’t interest me…”

“Virgin~ Virgin~ Virgin~” something metallic flies toward Balusha making a sharp whistle. But the moment it reaches the blond woman it turns into dust, preventing me from seeing what the item actually was.

Balusha laughs loudly, “aw~ poor little spider~ no one wanna talk to you! And you know why? Because you’re the creepiest shittiest person I’ve ever met!” another whistle and another cloud of evaporating dust near Balusha.

Looks who’s talking, you’re both creepy… But if I had to pick, I’d pick Kabit. If these are the insults Balusha throw at her, I now know for sure that she isn’t a manipulative psycho. That’s a relief, if she’s just socially awkward I can live with that… Better than a crazy jealous bitch who'd threaten to torture me for fun… that’s for sure…

“Inara! Doesn’t she creep you out?” Balusha addresses me. Oh no… you’re not dragging me into this! Kabit gives me an expectant purple look and I know I have no way out of this. Snakes! If I exclaim that I don’t want to get involved Kabit will take it personally, but if I say that I actually like Kabit, Balusha wouldn’t take it lightly. I am stuck between a scorpion and a spider. Both can kill me in a blink of an eye. I have to choose who is going to kill me. Balusha is stronger… but Kabit is friendlier… closer to my age… same affinity to magic… and easier to get along with… Balusha won't consider this as a serious favor... Kabit would.

I shake. I don’t want that pain again… I… Snakes no! She won’t scare me into liking her!

“You’re the one who’s creeping me out Balusha!” I shout with every scrap of defiance I can muster. If I am going to suffer anyway… I can at least say what’s on my mind.

“HaAHaAHaAHaA!” Kabit’s mad laughter sounds genuine for the first time, she laughs like an insane villainesses from a bard's tale. “Hear that, lusha? You’re way creepier than me! Inara, tell us sincerely why is Balusha so creepy?” Her normally toneless hazy voice is now cheerful, happy, and sounds genuine for the first time.

So was it a façade after all?!

Balusha’s black glare scares the hell out of me.

Can you please leave me out of this?! “She tortured me… then threatened me with more torture…” Nothing to do with your obsessive jealousy, nothing at all…

Balusha points at me. “Then you should know better sista!”

Immense pain goes throughout my body. It feels like someone is skinning me alive. I can’t even scream, I’ve lost my voice. But despite all of that, it’s nowhere near the *pain* I felt with her venom.

“hmph! I am creepy uh? Say that again! Eh?! I can’t hear you!!!” Now she’s closer, her blackened eyes getting closer to my face. I can’t move, I can’t speak, I can’t make a noise. My heart drums violently in my chest. All of my skin is on fire as if someone stabbed multiple heated forks and dragged them across my skin.

“Creepy~ creepy~ Lusha is creepy~” behind her, Kabit floats toward the cellar’s door and slams it behind her. If I had hoped she’d protect me from this angry scorpion, I am sorely disappointed.

To my surprise, the pain is gone and Balusha pats my cheek. “You’re ok sista. You got a big pair there, never be afraid to speak your mind, ke?” The blond woman turns to give a chase to her spidery sister, and leaves me alone in the cellar, trembling in fear. I raise my hand and observe my skin. I expect to see scars, but there's not a single trace of the pain I felt but a moment ago. They act like teenage girls! To think I am the only one who’s biologically a teenager here, and even that is biologically only… ugh what was that spell?! I am glad she wasn’t serious this time…

“I have very good children, yes?” The hag shows up behind me with a proud smile on her wrinkly face.

Yeah… good children! Your dear ninety years old daughter just cast a torture spell on me for a childish reason… then told me not to be afraid to speak my mind… what the snake?!

“Kikikiki… don’t want to be trampled to death, do we? And you cannot help me or your siblings with your meager power, yes?” Maybe my facial expression is easy to read, or maybe she just figured the obvious. It doesn’t matter.

“Pretty much. Do I have a choice here?” I ask sarcastically, hoping she'd have something in mind for me.

The hag shakes her head slowly. “You don’t have a choice kikikiki…” My heart misses a beat. “I shall send you away on a training trial, yes? I have planned to do so later anyway.”

Phew… I let out a relieved sigh. “For how long? How long will your war take?”

“No matter how long the war will take, I shall send you away for two years.” She lifts two of her talon-like fingers. “If I or your siblings do not contact you within two years, then it means we’re dead, yes?” the possibility sends a chill down my spine. If someone is able to kill them, then I won’t be able to change a thing. “You shall go to the Gray Islands. It is a cursed land under a watch of a dying demigod. It is a training ground for the towers. Ascended mages cannot go there, only apprentices can. Gather your things, and prepare for a harsh journey. Be ready to go within three hours…”

“Right!” I turn around and run toward the cellar door. I have quite a lot to organize.

“Oh and two more things, child… Here.” She hands me a familiar scaled leather pouch. "I've placed ten soul container in here. There are plenty of magical beasts to hunt on the Gray Island, yes?”

I nod with a smile.

“You may also take as many books as you wish from my library, but do not take too much. You shall be traveling with what you are carrying, and books are heavy, yes? Don’t take any books that teach new spells, I have a gift prepared for you, a gift which shall render them useless.”

I nod thankfully for both the ability to access her library and her gifts. She still cares for my progress and not just my safety. She doesn’t do it to quiet her conscience if she even has a conscience to begin with. Regardless of how she acted toward me in the past, she truly cares for me.

“Thanks, mother…” I may never see her again. Yes, a part of me truly hates her, a part of me wants to even kill her. But another part also likes this old hag. I have a lot of mixed feelings about her. No matter how she treated others; to me, she was a caring teacher and the closest thing I currently have to a parent. If all she wants in return, is for me to treat her as ‘mother’ I can give her that…

“You are most welcome my daughter.” Seeing the pleasure on her face fills me with self-disgust.

This woman!

This creature!!

This monster!!!

She eats human beings! They’re nothing but cattle to her! She doesn’t deserve happiness! She only deserves death and misery! How can I allow myself to bring her such happiness?! I hope she loses this war! I hope she and all of her black-hearted children die! I hope…

I heave a heavy sigh. I don’t mean any of that. I treat her as a second family now even in my head. Just like Kynator said, I may not like everything she does, but she was good to me. And most importantly I am powerless to change her behavior and ideologies.

It all comes to power in the end.

*~*~*

Power level: 3rd stage apprentice.

Mana pools status:

Crown-knot: Affinity 10: formed: 1 gem replenished per five minutes.

Neck-Bridge: Affinity 6: formed: max amount of gems drained per day: 66

Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: formed: 6 gems. Conversion ratio: 6:1

Air: Affinity 4: formed: 18 gems

Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 9 gems

Light: Affinity 3: formed: 14 gems

Water: Affinity 6: formed: 27 gems

Earth: Affinity 1: formed: 4 gems

Wood: Affinity 2: formed: 9 gems

Gravity: Affinity 9: formed: 40/41 gems

Cantrip known:

Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword. Shavi’s Hair Dryer, Aria’s Enhanced Hearing.

Fire: Nuriss’ Flame. Effrat’s Firefly, Effrat’s Fire Breath. Sorladika's Lesser Heating.

Light: Noxi’s Light, Lako’s Blinding Light.

Water: Water Evocation, Water to Ice, Ice to Water, Water to Vapor, Vapor to Water, Mayan’s Icy Spike, Ayla’s Water Jet.

Earth:

Wood:

Gravity: Lumina’s Kinetic Burst. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s lesser shield. Imari’s Minor Telekinesis. Imari’s Jump. Leo’s Pull. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light Body. Alino’s Heavy Body.

Spells known:

Gravity: Alino’s weightless bodyb.

Focus capability: 11 patterns

Social status: Inara, Daughter of Mysteries. Apprentice to the Maven of Mysteries.

Wealth: 1854 gems. 1421 golden peas, 7 silver scales, 37 copper bits.

Items:

Magical necklace. Contain a 100 gems of general mana, can be drained like a mana pool. It’ll recharge by itself at the rate of five gems an hour.

1 simple healing potions.

1 potion of lightning body.

1 potion of mana, medium grade.

An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment keep the pouches’ content fresh.

Fresh rose petals, 25g

5 soul bottles. (Ownership Maven.)

Companions:

Languages:

Toml’a Fluent

Sinteo Fluent

Myrsha 6/10

Felul 1/10

Injuries and scars: