Day ~41~

Rea started off her morning by sharing breakfast with Lark and Meril.  When Rea stated that she would be late tonight because she'd be eating dinner at the tailor's shop, well, Meril spit food all over the table and Lark just complimented Lisa's cooking.  Needless to say Rea coyly reprimanded Meril for wasting food.  When Meril gave her an angry look Rea added that she was more than welcome to join Lisa and herself for dinner tonight...  After being kicked out of the mansion for the day Rea wasn't really sure what to do this morning until her doctor appointment.

Having decided that now was as good a time as ever to see the main plaza Lark had bragged about she was off.  Rea felt this early morning stroll to be a nice change of pace, the period of time when people are preparing food, setting up stalls, sneaking out of their lover's windows... Rea had to laugh at that guy, seriously if you're gonna climb out a window put on your pants first.  Giving the man a loud applause Rea succeeded in drawing about twenty pairs of eyes straight to his morning glory.  The best part was when a few merchants started to whistle and join in on the applause, Rea made a mental note to frequent their stalls more often as she continued on her merry way... stopping in her tracks Rea did a double take, her first [Hero-Darkest Knight]!... Bare naked and fleeing from an applause, reality can be harsh.

Off in the distance Rea could already see what Lark had been bragging about, trying not to get distracted by the early morning smell of freshly baked bread... and failing.  Three chelsea rolls later Rea was now admiring the massive intricate dragon-like fountain off in the distance.  Deciding to buy another roll and enjoy it while sitting in the plaza Rea resumed her march.  However before she got there the ophidian stopped dead in her tracks.  Breaking out in a cold sweat she didn't even breathe as a level 82 skinwalker emerged from an alleyway on her left.  The tall, handsome, well dressed man... skinwalker, didn't even look in her direction as it crossed the street and went down an alleyway on her right.  As she stood there paralyzed by fear memories of how Nathan had died suddenly started to pour back in, then in a moment of clarity she remembered his warning, "if that thing follows us back to Vestlei hundreds could die."

No longer hesitating Rea barged back into the bakery and quickly asked for directions to the adventurers guild.  Happily thanking the clerk for directions Rea bolted off towards the guild.  Not even slowing down as she sped through the plaza Rea was moving as fast as she could possibly go.  If the baker wasn't lying then Rea should already be halfway there now as she continued to ignore stalls, buildings, and people.  Rea did however stop as soon as she saw a weapon shop.  Quickly entering the shop she called out from the entrance, "Do you have an iron spear for sale?"

A rather petite, and slightly startled woman answered, "Yes we make iron spears, we even have one on display at all times.  I can''t sell you the display though."

Rea waltzed up and grabbed what was obviously the display spear.

Rea has obtained [Weapon-Spear] Journeyman's Iron Javelin

"I'll pay double for it."

The woman was a bit shaken as Rea began to pull out a handful of silvers, "I'm sorry I can't sell it to you, the price is four silvers and you have to wait miss."

Rea gave the woman an absolutely serious cold gaze and spoke in a loud clear voice, "Do you know what a skinwalker is?"

*gulp* "I do"

"I just saw one, I'm going after it, you're slowing me down.  Sell me the spear before I steal it!" she shouted impatiently.

The woman was at a loss for words and unsure of what to do, moments later Rea just scoffed and dumped her entire handful of silvers on the counter before dashing back out the door.  Running along the streets again she was drawing attention, ignoring peoples inquisitive and startled reactions Rea charged forwards without hesitation, spear in hand.  As she finally arrived at a large round building that reminded her of a saloon Rea looked up and saw a massive sign, GUILD.  

Briskly walking towards the wooden building Rea burst through the swinging wooden doors.  As the scent of meat and ale assaulted her senses Rea quickly took stock of her surroundings.  Saloon was a good description, this time in the morning no one was sitting at the bar.  There wasn't even a bartender, as Rea looked across the way to the many tables she realized that everyone was looking at her.  Using her [Psychometry] she quickly examined all of the sixteen people sitting around.  A grin appeared on her face, Level 27 [Hero-Martyr].  The hero was cloaked and sitting alone near another door in the back.

Ignoring a few greetings she waltzed up to the cloaked hero who seemed to be enjoying a quiet ale, alone. "Excuse me," the hero ignored Rea, "I need you're help." Ignored again, "Are you deaf?" that comment only received an annoyed nod.  Feeling that time was of the essence Rea proceeded to ignore everybody else in the guild and mount the hero.  Once again she ignored all of the gasping.  Looking down at the surprised hero's face Rea noted that it was a she, and from what little Rea could make out she was seriously within her strike zone, older, sharp features, jaded green eyes... oh yeah.

"What are you doing?" the woman asked from beneath her cloak.

Brushing away her previous thoughts and getting back to the matter at hand Rea spoke quietly so that no one else could hear them, "Martyr, what would you do if a monster was running around the city killing people?"

Rea now had her attention, "I'd kill it."

"Can you kill a skinwalker?"

The woman didn't even justify that with an answer, after lifting Rea up and sitting her on the table she turned to the others, "I need an Iron blade!"

Everyone in the room got up at the same time as Rea pulled out her old iron falchion.  The woman looked back to Rea and took the blade, "Where is it?" and with that they were off.

In less than five minutes with hero in tow Rea arrived at where she'd first seen the skinwalker.  After going into the alley she had seen it disappear into Rea stopped and looked at the hero, "This is where I last saw it, not even fifteen minutes ago.  I bought a spear and found you then came back."

The woman looked a bit annoyed, "Why aren't people panicking with such a vile creature running around?"

"It isn't vile at the moment."

The woman looked at Rea and scoffed, "There is no way to tell a skinwalker from a human, I can't believe I followed you here."

Rea looked at the back of the woman in disbelief as she began to leave, "Wait, I really saw one, you can't just leave.  People will die, you're a hero."

The woman offered some final parting words, "Just because I'm a well known hero around here doesn't mean I put up with every person who cries wolf."

Rea looked back towards the direction her skinwalker had gone in and clutched the iron weapon in hand... Realities a bitch huh?

Rea had spent the last hour hurriedly exploring every alley in the general direction she had seen the skinwalker go but was having no luck.  Deciding that this really was getting her nowhere Rea, having noticed a rooftop access, climbed to the roof.  Looking across the city from on high was a new sensation, but not foreign.  She'd seen this sort of scenery a thousand times in her past life.  

Getting back to the hunt she began to hop from one rooftop to the next, searching desperately.  Rea had a chance once to reveal the skinwalker in the middle of a street and let it pass.  If people died at that thing's hands she wouldn't forgive herself.  With that in mind for another half hour Rea continued to speed along rooftops until finally she spotted the man again, relatively far away she couldn't be sure it was him.  Carefully closing the distance Rea noticed that just as she was stalking him, he was stalking someone.  As soon as he was close enough for her to be sure it's the skinwalker Rea began to shake with fear.  The memories of that day she'd met one before were still fresh.  But she couldn't let it stop her, she knew what was at stake and pushed herself forwards.

Rea continued to close the distance as quietly and carefully as possible.  Just as Nathan had believed he'd only have one shot to kill a skinwalker, Rea believed it even more so.  After the skinwalker entered another alleyway it sped up, Rea had done that movement herself a hundred times.  Knowing that it was going in for the kill she sprinted forwards and as soon as she was on the edge of a roof, nearly five meters from the ground, Rea could see it.  Picking another man up off of the ground by his neck the skin walker, with its back turned to Rea, raised one arm slowly, maliciously.

Without hesitating Rea leapt from the roof and as she fell, drove her spear downwards with all of her weight.  The creature howled in pain as Rea's iron javelin pierced a shoulder and sank in with a disgusting crack, she had missed.  Not being able to stop the momentum Rea rolled across the ground just behind the now fleeing man, he hadn't even tried to help her... not that Rea could blame him.  Feeling that things were more convenient this was anyways Rea turned to face the skinwalker.  After violently tearing the javelin out of its shoulder the monster spoke, "You ruined my skin woman."

Rea shrugged, "Even with the pretty skin you smell terrible, it really doesn't make a difference."

Rea regretted that as the now pissed off, but injured monster charged at her.  Realizing she was way too slow to dodge Rea just jumped backwards to lessen the impact of an outstretched fist.  That fist had opened and took hold of her.  Rea waited as the thing picked her up, she knew that her venom spit wouldn't do the trick.  So she was waiting, hoping for a chance to sink her fangs in.

The beast spoke as it tightened a grip on her shoulder, "You will regret that girl, we will take our time eating you.  My daughter will wear your skin and devour your family."

Rea nearly panicked at that moment as she realized that the thing was saying there are more than one of them.  As it slowly continued to tighten his grip she howled out in pain. *CRACK!*

The skinwalker dropped Rea, "Humans are so fragile."

Feeling like her shoulder was, no definitely is broken as all hell, Rea knew there was no time.  If they were still here then this was a meeting place, feeling the urgency Rea used her working arm to take hold of his nearest leg and sank her fangs in.  The surprised skinwalker howled out in pain, and as she dug in deeper it turned to drive a speared hand straight down.  The hand sunk into her abdomen but even with the pain and disgusting taste in her mouth Rea didn't let go until it fell over on top of her.

[Job-Spearman] Level 19!

Ability [Disrupting Throw] learned.

[Job-Spearman] Level 24!

Ability [Improved Piercing Power Lv. 3] learned.

[Job-Spearman] Level 30!

Ability [Maiming Spear] learned.

Pushing the now dead skin walker off she looked down to access her injury, I'm so dead...  Doing her best to get away Rea began to crawl back towards a main street as consciousness faded.  When she had managed about ten feet someone stepped out in front of her.  Seeing as the person was obviously not panicking at the sight of her Rea was afraid to look up.  Knowing that this was probably the end she took in one final breath. The last thing Rea saw as she did look up was another skinwalker, being beheaded by a martyr.

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Out of a guilty conscience the cloaked martyr had doubled back after parting ways with Rea.  She was honestly surprised to see Rea charge off, following her for a while longer it was apparent that this young woman was desperately searching for the skinwalker.  Seeing this the martyr decided she'd better watch the girl until she gave up.  On the off chance that she hadn't been lying this woman won't be able to kill a skinwalker is what she had thought.  The martyr gave up... that tenacious girl had continued for more than an hour to scour the city and even moved to the rooftops.  Feeling like it was no longer any of her concern and she had done enough the martyr took one last glance back in Rea's direction.  Shock wouldn't even begin to describe what she felt when the girl was suddenly gone.  Feeling like she wasn't the sort to give up, ever, the martyr rushed along the rooftops to the last place she'd seen the girl.  After smelling blood she quickly vaulted down into an alley and upon turning the corner saw a young girl standing near the person who had asked her for help earlier.  That person, covered in blood looked up just as the girl moved to attack her.  The martyr knew she had to be a skinwalker in that moment and with a single powerful slash from behind took the girl's head off.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Now taking in the scene before her she traced, with her eyes, the path Rea had crawled and noticed another body.  The woman who had asked her for help had already lost consciousness, and by the looks of it, was as good as dead.  So she moved quickly to inspect what she believed was another victim.  As soon as she got close the gash in his shoulder revealed that it was another skinwalker... the woman had managed to kill a skinwalker.  The martyr returned to Rea's side to take a closer look at her wounds.

Finding that her initial conclusion was right and this woman was dying she thought of her only hero class ability, [Martyrdom].  An ability used to turn the tides of massive battlefields, sacrificing one person, taking on the deathly wounds of everyone within range, resulting in an unidentifiable corpse.  This woman was dying because of her, looking back now she remembered her younger self who had always relished in the thought of using [Martyrdom] to become a famous hero for all of time.  Now, this one person who was dying because of her own petty actions, this woman was enough.  As soon as she activated it the martyr could feel Rea's wounds suddenly becoming her own.  Still looking down at the now uninjured woman she fell beside her.  

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Rea almost immediately stirred, with her wounds healed but adrenaline still pumping like mad she had been quickly reawoken.  Freaking out at the moment it took her a good ten seconds to realize that her wounds were gone.  She remembered the second skinwalker dying, and now, looking to her right she noticed the collapsed martyr.  Rea knew something had to have been done by the martyr to save her so she moved to thank the older woman.  When Rea touched the woman's shoulder she groaned in pain, at that slight groan Rea proceeded to rip the martyr's cloak open.  Bleeding from the abdomen without her steel plated armor having a single dent in it, groaning in pain with a mangled shoulder.

Rea isn't stupid and she could see what had happened, picking up the iron falchion while still kneeling over the woman Rea removed her left glove.  Rea knew she could very well be exposing her secret in public here, or this hero could get up and slay her... but none of that mattered, this woman who hit her strike zone was dying.  Rea would be damned before she lets such a woman die when she could very well easily save her life.  The woman was staring back at Rea and showed a slightly surprised expression when she saw the mangled arm with needle scars all along the elbow joint.  Rea made a small cut on her left forearm and proceeded to put it right up to the woman's face.  Using her right hand she picked her head up and pulled it closer.  The woman glared at Rea and refused to drink her blood.  Rea being Rea she glared back and said, "You will drink my blood, if you don't I will, right her, in public, flip you over, pull your pants down, and drain my blood into one of your other holes.  I don't know if that'll work, but I'll sure as hell enjoy the view before it gets messy.  Do you really want your final moments to be like that?"

Unfortunately the woman still refused to drink her blood... so Rea did as promised.

Less than three minutes after... treatment, the hero turned over and proceeded to knock Rea the fuck out.  After that she picked Rea up over one shoulder and left the skinwalkers where they were.  The first person she passed by was instructed to tell the guards to come burn bodies.  When this person asked about her unconscious passenger the martyr pointed out bloodstains and said she was taking her to a doctor.  That was a bold faced lie...

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Upon waking up Rea found that she was on a rather comfy bed, the ceiling was wooden, so were the walls.  She couldn't see a window...  Thankfully someone had washed the taste of skinwalker out of her mouth, but the smell of something burning was bothering her...  At this moment Rea was thinking that staring at her half naked captor as she labored away on a cast iron stove wouldn't be so bad if her hands weren't chained to the bed post.  Upon some closer inspection Rea could see that it'd take breaking both of her thumbs to be free.  Deciding not to break those thumbs in a futile attempt at escaping a hero class person, Rea relaxed and enjoyed the view.  

Just as she'd guessed earlier this person, if Rea was right, would have to be in her late forties or early fifties.  Short stature, just a few inches shorter than her own current height.  Rather than grey, her hair seemed silvery-white, medium length and wavy, not entirely displeasing.  Rea had already seen her face once and looked into those emerald eyes, remembering that face almost made Rea want to call out and inform her captor that she was already awake.  The toned, tightly compacted muscles of a well trained body were a bit intimidating, and she was humming some sort of quiet song while absently rocking back and forth at the stove.  The way she rocked was really getting to Rea, especially because the woman had taken off her cloak and armor... Rea really was quite confused.  None the less she was enjoying the view of white garters and corset lacing, especially when she remembered taking the lingerie off before.

It really wasn't until Rea had taken in a full, appreciative view of the woman that she noticed her own pants were missing.  Bare naked from the waist down and no longer confused, Rea broke out in a cold sweat as the woman turned around with a vindictive smile on her face.  Before she could speak Rea interrupted her, "I did it to save your life ya know?"

The woman nodded, "I know, that's why you're not dead."

Rea chuckled a bit, "Uhhhh, ya know I tried to get you to drink it..."

The woman cocked her head sideways, "I know."

"I warned you what I was gonna do..."

The woman was now slowly walking towards Rea with a pot, "I know."

Feeling that something terrible and probably inevitable was about to happen Rea gave up and went for broke, "You know, to be completely honest here, I'm a huge pervert and whatever you do will probably just excite me..."

The woman grinned maliciously, "I'm gonna chance it."

When she started moving towards Rea again the shameless ophidian gave up, "Please spare me, hero."

The woman sat her pot down and scooped some steaming liquid into a cup, "Eye for an eye love, eye for an eye... promise I won't do any permanent damage."

Rea, feeling quite ashamed at the moment crossed her legs.  She already knew this woman's name because of [Psychometry] but had never been able to call her by it because the woman never introduced herself... sensing that she may soon lose all reason and start screaming the woman's name, revealing her powerful ability in the process, she attempted to prompt an introduction.  "I'm Rea Ainsworth by the way, and once again, being completely honest here, I would like nothing more than to spend all night long making it up to you."  

The woman got up onto the bed and spread Rea's legs, raised those legs over her shoulders while scooting in, then picked the cup up and pushed forwards, rather skillfully causing Rea's rear to raise up.  Rea didn't even struggle... "Lucatiel Silversword, martyr and hero, this may sting a little..." Rea blushed uncontrollably and looked away from her.  Seeing her look away blushing Lucatiel figured it was because Rea was feeling pretty exposed... the woman realized how wrong she was when her gaze shifted to the region of Rea she was about to exact vengeance upon, she'd never seen anyone getting so..."Wow, I can't believe you're... wow..."

Rea chuckled ruefully while grinding and twisting her hips into Lucatiel's abdomen, "Hah, guess I really can't hide anything like this, ever wondered how it feels to be an open book?"  With Lucatiel caught off guard Rea bent her knees down over the woman's shoulders and pulled her in close, "Care to flip a page? Check the binding? Examine my contents? I hear it's a very good read."

Lucatiel sighed, pulled her head out from in between shivering thighs, and placed a free hand on Rea's pelvis to stop her from moving, "Here I thought you were making the pervert line up... I'm still gonna chance it."  Lucatiel slowly slid her hand lower and spread apart a rather heated section of Rea's anatomy.

Letting out a slight moan Rea asked, "Mind blowing on it first?"

Lucatiel gestured to the cup of steaming liquid, "This is supposed to be hot, blowing on it would defeat the point."

Rea grinned roguishly at Lucatiel, "I wasn't talking about the cup."

*Psssssssshhhhhhh* "UNIIIIVERRRRSE!"

... in retrospect Rea was happy to have made the obviously experienced older woman blush from ear to ear, by the time her pot was empty Rea had gained a few more rank ups. [Minor Fire Resistance] became moderate and [Minor Endurance] also became moderate.  

Now quite pleased with her upgraded pain tolerance and fire resistance Rea gazed directly into Lucatiel's green eyes and muttered in a quivering, winded voice, "Thanks for that."

The woman, who still had Rea's legs pinned down, could only sigh at the bizarre ophidian she'd just made the mistake of trying to get even with.  As Lucatiel leaned down over Rea to unlatch her chains she commented, "Something is really, really wrong with you."

As soon as Rea heard the chains click she wrapped her tense, shaky legs around Lucatiel's waist and sat up.  She'd done it so fast that Lucatiel didn't even have the chance to counter before Rea assumed the mounting position and began to lock lips.  Thanks to her superior strength she did manage to push Rea back enough for them to just be face to face.  Rea gave her a perplexed look, "If you didn't want this you'd have your clothes on, I was winding up just watching you stand by the stove."

Lucatiel asked, "... just to be clear here, you don't eat people right?"

Rea laughed in her face, "For lunch? No!"

Feeling just a slight tinge of guilt Lucatiel asked, "That... was pretty hot, sure you're up for this?"

Lucatiel relaxed her arms as Rea moved back in close and whispered, "Explaining how, up for this, I am would take me all night long," Rea toppled Lucatiel, mimicked the way she'd been treated earlier, and while absently toying with a garter added, "so I'll just show you... all... night... long."

"What makes you think I'll let you," *click*, "did you just?" Lucatiel looked up at her hands that Rea had swiftly latched in chains.

Rea made an impish grin while snapping another garter and skillfully unlacing corset strings, "I'm not sure how you unlatched them."

"Just reach around the top and push the pin in, it can't be done if you're locked in like this."

Rea now raised then pushed down on her legs resulting in a complete reversal of their earlier positions, "I thought with the timing that I locked you up my intentions were obvious Lucatiel, I'm repaying a favor."

Lucatiel gave Rea a flat look, "Do you really want to make me angry again?"

"Hah, after what you did the first time? Hell yes, owowowowowow, uhhh could you not break me in half with your thighs?"

"Let me go and I won't break you." Lucatiel challenged.

Rea gave her an appraising gaze, "I'm gonna chance it."

This time Lucatiel was the one laughing.

Rea's eyes softened as she gently began to roll a villainous tongue over her own lips, "To be honest, I am a little sore... So the chains stay on while I cool down, right now this, is a one sided show hero.  I'm about to do things you've never even heard of."

Sensing a once in a lifetime opportunity Lucatiel loosened her grip, then looked away and muttered, "Do as you like..."

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