“Your family is insane.”

The rest of dinner passes quickly. The hunters’ representative, who I learn is the fabled Emberton, spends several minutes trying to dissuade the duke and his wife from their decision. He may as well be talking to blocks of ice. They don’t bend, they don’t break, and they certainly don’t compromise.

Afterwards, the meal finishes quickly. There has to be other things to discuss but they lose importance in the face of the dragon of a decision spearheaded by the barbarian.

Alana’s expression has not improved since dinner. Since returning to her room, she has done nothing but stand before her mounted sword, brooding. Kierra and I are the opposite of her tense form, sprawled out on her bed. That doesn’t mean we’re not taking this seriously. Well, I am. My savage of a wife is positively thrilled, her excitement for the coming slaughter plain as day.

After several minutes staring at the mounted weapon, Alana turns to us, her gaze imminently serious. “Send your succubi to make sure no one is listening in on us.”

A thought is all it takes.

“Rolly, show yourself. No games.”

With a flash of light, the lueorale appears, gently floating down until she is standing on my stomach. She flashes a bright silver. From observation, I recognize the color as representing seriousness, or perhaps sincerity. It’s often donned during conversations of importance.

“This is not the time for exaggeration or bragging. Stuff your ego in a box, both of you, and tell me honestly…do you think you can win?”

An honest answer? “If we go all out…yes.”

She turns to Kierra, who chuckles. “My little conqueror speaks the truth though she is loathed to expose her secrets.”

Alana nods. “Then you need to tell me whatever it is you’re holding back because seven affinities is not enough to make you, or anyone else, that confident against so many opponents of unknown ability.”

I stiffen as her eyes bore into me. Just like that? “I, uh…”

“Lou. We’ve been through this. Unless you are doing something horrific like sacrificing infants to the elementals you consort with, it doesn’t matter to me. I love you. You love me. Get to it.”

She has gotten so much more comfortable with us. Or maybe her brazenness is being fueled by the desperation she’s trying to pretend she doesn’t feel. I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Then, I relax.

My fleshly form reverts to my normal oozey self. Rolly lets out an undignified squawk, flying up and off me. “What in the seven heavens is this?!” she yells, flashing a bright yellow. “You…you…”

Opposite to her outburst, Alana is quiet. Very quiet. “What does this mean?”

“Lou cannot speak for herself like this so allow me.” Kierra sits up, pulling a good bit of me into her lap and stroking my surface. “When she lay dying as a result of the man who kidnapped her, the elemental he summoned saved her life. In order to do so, it used a piece of itself.”

“A piece? So, Lou is half human, half…whatever that is?”

I form a limb of ooze and bob it up and down in a semblance of a nod. That’s my best guess, though now, I’d debate the half and half. There’s more ooze than woman, I think.

“And…what is it?”

“We do not know. Part of the reason we are interested in the Hall is to delve the records of their Summoning Hall to see if we can find any clues.”

“What do you know?”

“We know she has gained six affinities and suspect her body may hold the other two.”

“…what?”

“We also know that her form facilitates the changing of the body. She can transform without a spell, through simple instinct. If there was a pure affinity specifically for the art of shapeshifting, I would describe it as such.”

“…”

“Also, whenever she transforms into a new state, it is a pristine version of that state. It allows her to heal from any injury and physical exhaustion instantaneously.”

“…”

“All of this is done using her ooze, as she likes to call it. It appears to fuel her shapeshifting ability. We are still investigating it but the pets have described it as solidified mana. As long as she has ooze, she can transform without pause or complication. She can also condense her ooze. If she were to expand completely, I imagine she’d take up all the empty space in this house. Perhaps that would not be enough.”

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“…”

“Her ooze is also magic resistant.”

“Oh, for the love of—" Alana catches herself. “No, later. Continue.”

“Throughout the initiate year, I have been purchasing multiple manabeasts from the Guiness Company. While she has not practiced with them, Lou has a vast array of forms to draw upon. One to counter any type of magic, I am sure. Though such a display would raise a lot of questions.”

“Anything else?” Alana asks after a long pause.

“Oh, one final thing. The forms she uses functions as shells, as opposed to replacing her true body. Quite a mystery. The important thing is that no damage to the shell can kill her. Not having her heart pierced, her head smashed, or her whole body shredded. We have no idea what can permanently harm her besides consuming too much of her ooze.”

Alana nods once, sharply. “If all that is true…” For the first time, her frown eases. Her smile is devious and heart-stopping. “No wonder you two are so relaxed. Saints witness, we have a chance…no. We have an overwhelming advantage. An unstoppable, unkillable fighter with the physical prowess to rival a master caster.”

I revert to my prime form and have a good stretch. Kierra continues stroking me, trading ooze for smooth skin. “The problem is, if we do this, people are going to want answers. The capital lost its mind over the vague possibilities of what Kierra can offer.”

Her foreignness and lack of tangible proof of profit kept them on their leashes, their attention limited to probes for more information. “If I demonstrate the ability to demolish two hundred hunters, people are going to have questions. And they’ll ask them. Aggressively.”

“Victory is tight. Information doesn’t leave the fort easily. Zachariah may think to screw us over by sharing secrets, maybe. I don’t know if he’d compromise a valuable asset to the war for personal gain. That is, if you’re comfortable taking the risk.”

Her enthusiasm wanes as she gauges how comfortable I am exposing my secrets. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care. Somewhere deep inside, there is still the shadow of the old Lou, a no-name noblewoman with small prospects and smaller expectations. Who grew up being constantly reminded how much better every other noble house was. Who learned to fear those in power, as all it would take was annoying the Grimoires to end the Tome bloodline.

But I…I’ve changed. I would dare say I’ve grown. Perhaps grown beyond confidence into the realm of arrogance because I don’t have that fear anymore.

Hearing Kierra’s summation then talking about fighting two-hundred hunters and concluding it’s not only possible but trivial, I have a new appreciation for my abilities. Geneva’s been worming her way into the capital. I have Kierra’s family behind me. I…can trust that. Just like a contracted elemental, all my advantages are nothing if I am too afraid to use them.

“I’ll do it. For you. For us.”

And her smile returns.

“The succubi should be guarding us at all times. Therefore, Rolly. I need you to gather information on the opposition.”

“If we stick together, Geneva can protect us both. She should work together with Bell.”

Alana scowls. “There’ll be no time to sleep. My brother wouldn’t sink so low as to sabotage us but I can see him allowing opportunities for the hunters to do so. She and Bell should work in shifts.”

Isn’t that the same thing? “Geneva doesn’t need sleep.”

“…right. Not a thrall.”

“A thrall could stay up all night and day if needed too. Their vaguely human forms are a misconception. They are not human. They don’t have our weaknesses.”

“…do they have any weaknesses?”

“Their summoners.”

She chuckles. “Which isn’t a weakness at all with you. I’m beginning to think summoning isn’t fair.”

“Well, usually people with my talent don’t go looking for help in another realm. I inherited strength but stuck to what I know. You’re not going to find someone like Mr. Talented drawing summoning circles.”

“I see your point. This works out very well for us. With Geneva and Bell to provide support, I don’t see anyone as your equal.”

“They will not be the only ones fighting.” I yelp as Kierra pokes a ticklish spot. “I will be very upset if you leave no prey for me.”

“Wouldn’t dare.”

“Everything the guilds own…” I don’t think Alana is greedy but even she is salivating at the thought of such a hoard. “It will rain shit and chaos if Victory marches on Quest but my father will do it. And Zach, who started all this with his reckless behavior, is going to get the blame for losing the hunters for the foreseeable future and for igniting a war. He’ll be lucky if he isn’t forced to live past the Peaks until he can bring back the head of a winter lord.”

“Why did he do it?” I ask, squirming away from Kierra’s wandering hands. “I…I guess I expect more from your father’s apparent heir.”

My future wife looks at me like I’m simple. “Lou, he had a good plan. Normally, two hundred hunters are always worth more than a caster and a summoner.” She nods toward Kierra. “How could he expect someone to brazenly stand up and declare otherwise? He couldn’t even refute the claim as Kierra leveraged her ‘culture’ to prevent a duel.”

I chuckle as I recall her so-called traditions…still might not be a joke.

“He could have left it there but what if Kierra really could deliver on her bravado? I imagine I made him uneasy with my brazen attitude and there were the rumors of what happened in Quest, no doubt greatly exaggerated. He needed a way to test our ability but he couldn’t do it directly.

“So, he tells the hunters about the right of challenge, knowing you can’t refuse.” She sighs. “I might have…reacted hastily, urging to fight. Father is right. They were outsiders. I knew something was wrong. I could have gone to him, asked him to intervene. But there are people who would have taken that for weakness. He certainly would have presented it that way.

“For the longest time, I’ve hated the idea of being seen as inferior to the other children. My legitimate siblings.” She clicks her tongue. “I think he anticipated that I would jump at any fight and no matter how it goes, he gets some benefit. If you’re weak, the hunters get rid of you. If you’re strong, he knows what you can do. It’s a win-win.”

“But if backfired with this March thing.”

“Did it? I wouldn’t be surprised if he anticipated something like this too. At least, with his mother behind him. Neither he nor Eleanor reacted when they heard Kalise’s idea. He didn’t object. He always reacts when he’s upset but when he’s pleased, he tries to hide it.

“You don’t grasp it because you’re you, but for anyone else, this is a death sentence. Zach thinks this is a death sentence. He, no. No one can fathom the possibility that we are going to win. Kalise…I think she has an inkling how capable Kierra is but she’s just anticipating a good show, not for us to win. I didn’t think we could win. Your abilities are…incomprehensible. Especially what you’ve revealed today.”

She smiles sweetly. “I can’t wait to see Zach’s face when he realizes just how badly he’s screwed.”