{Alex}

That night I found my new tent far more spacious and my delightful tiger woman lying on my much larger bedroll waiting for me. She smiled and her tail flicked. “You are here by your own will?”

“My master asked me to provide you an incentive to stay with us.” I smiled at her.

“Then lay there and let me play for a little.” I reached into my pack and brought out the bottle of lotion I had been holding onto. I was going to take my time and make sure she never thought of other men. I oiled up my hands and stared at her feet.

“What are you doing?” she asked a slight fear in her voice. I rubbed her feet making sure to apply pressure to the balls and moved up to the arch.

“Just relax and enjoy,” I whispered. I worked my way up slowly making sure to rub and work on every muscle group. She groaned, growled, and writhed at every pressure point I hit. Once I reached her back she growled and arched as she moaned into the pressure. I knew I had hit a good spot and worked every nerve. Good kitten, tell me what you need. Reaching her upper back and shoulders she finally had her fill and passed out. I finished and lay beside her in the dark. I pulled her to me, and she wrapped around me like I was a little teddy bear. Worth it. Worth every moment. She somehow smelled even more amazing than the night before. I sighed into her exposed chest as she held me. She was a tiger mommy, and I was her little teddy bear. This is heaven.

The next day was mostly normal, excluding the increased requests for repairs. It was like they were trying to make me feel needed. That or the more likely reason they were trying to use me to fix everything before I left them. My pockets were getting nice and fat when Scarface came to me with a new and strange request. “Alex, I was wondering if you would look at my grandfather’s sword.” He laid it out in the back of the wagon. Iron, zinc, copper, they all sang, but that was like the mad warbling of a man singing country after one too many compared to this. The bright green sword sounded beautiful beyond words as it sang in my hands. Whatever this was, it was rare and worth reverence.

“What is it made of?” I asked in awe. He sighed looking at the blade.

“Mithril. My grandfather got it from an elf during the great war.” I didn’t care where he got it. I cared about hearing and healing it. I bet it sounded amazing when whole. I knew I didn’t have the power or ability to fix it. Not enough mana even if Mage helped me. The mentioned mage was looking at the broken blade in my hands with the same look in his own eyes.

“Can you do it?” he asked in amazement.

“Can I use a core’s mana for my own?” He shrugged. “If you get the giant’s core and everyone who has mana together, we can try something tonight. He wrapped up the blade and ran away to set things up.

Around the campfire, everyone gathered. I knew some would just be watching and others would be helping us. Scarface lay out the blade and a large core on top. “I couldn’t get the giant’s core, but I was able to get a firefox core. Something felt right about the core and the metal. I smiled and didn’t care if it looked evil or not.

“Everyone link up and let me draw from you.” I placed the softball-sized orb over the broken parts. My hands were on either side and felt the metal start to pull on me. Hands touched my back, and I started pulling in mana. My mana veins started to burn, and it hurt like hell. It was too much, but I started feeling more come in. The blade pulled everything I had, everything from the bracelet and so much more. The core started to be dragged down into the blade as though melting into it. My right eye turned red, and my nose started running. That was odd, but I was more interested in the magic I was doing. I felt the mana slack and looked back. The mage had passed out. I turned back and pushed harder, willing the blade to be whole. My hair stood on end, and I felt lightning spark between my fingers and into the blade. A shape formed in my mind and on a whim, I shaped it into the cross guard. Just like that, there was a boom and crack of lightning. It had worked. I leaned back and tried to laugh. Something was wrong though. I just kept going back and then my head hit the ground. Why couldn’t I hear? What was this? Oh, Pain. Everything hurt and I was going to pass out. I hoped I would pass out soon. Ouch. Thank God, everything went black.

I came to in the back of the wagon. It was moving. Why does this keep happening? This sucks. Everything hurt again. “What the hell?”

“You’re awake. I have no clue how you did it, but you opened your channels again. Everything I’ve read said it should have burned them out, not open them wider.” A picture came to my mind.

NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: MANA FORGED VEINS LEVEL 5. YOUR MANA VEINS CAN NOW CONDUCT MORE MANA.

I checked on the pool inside and found it to be the same size. My veins felt far stronger now. “Can skills level up?” The mage shook his head stunned.

“No. they can be unlocked, but I have never heard of one leveling up. What does that mean?”

“I have mana-forged veins level five now.” He just looked at me blankly. I would need a bigger bracelet and food. “I need food.”

“You should, you’ve been out for two days.” Fucking hell. I missed out on my tiger for two days. I would have to fuck her brains out to make up for it or that could just be my desire.

“How is the sword?” He beamed at me.

“Amazing. Gaia’s swinging tits. You not only fixed it, you imbued it with fire.” I remembered the symbol. A fire rune. Somehow I now knew what it was. I knew he would just have to touch the rune to light the blade. It would last for as long as the blade and user had mana. I just found another key. I smiled. He handed me a bracelet. “Put this on. No magic for at least a day.” I frowned. “You could easily screw up your channels.” I nodded and put it on feeling my connection to the mana shut off. It felt wrong and dirty like I was normal again. I didn’t like it.

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“Food now and then I need to talk to Yen.”

After a while, she hopped into my wagon and Mage said he would rather walk. She held up a basket and opened it. I smiled at her as I reached over to stroke her cheek. She blushed and rubbed my hand with that beautiful face. “Sorry, I have been preoccupied these past few days.” She held up a chunk of bread to me and I took a bite. She blushed looking as she watched me eat from her hand.

“It’s o o okay.” she was blushing madly. I took the bread from her hand and turned it over kissing the back softly. She bit her lip and sniffed my hair. “to to tonight?” I smiled leaning up to kiss her. The man driving the wagon frowned and turned away. Good, you don’t like it, don’t watch.

“Yes, tonight. My tent if you want.” She whimpered and stood quickly.

“I have to go.” she jumped, landing on the ground on all fours as she ran quickly away. It gave me a delightful view of her ass. “Sexy and cute all at the same time.” I laughed to myself, taking another bite of bread. Soon after Scarface came to me.

“Thank you for fixing my grandfather’s sword.” I nodded. “I have seven gold for you. I know it's not what it’s worth, but it’s all I have.”

“Works for me.” I took the bag with a smile. He looked at me blinking. “What? Did you expect me to argue or ask for more?” He nodded slowly. “Nope. I got a new skill and that is worth more than you’d think.” that is if you can think. I could have milked him for gold, but I wanted the town to like me and want to protect me. The best way to do that is to have a reputation. He beamed at me. Now I just needed to eat.

The wagon pulled into town, and I saw Happy Valley for the first time. I was not impressed. From the name, I expected something from the sound of music. This was not it. It was shabby, drab, and run down. The houses at least seemed well-built, and the people looked a bit rough. Yen pulled me to the side out of view of anyone and kissed me hard. I pulled her close and grabbed her ass making her squeak a little. I smiled up at her as she blushed down at me. “I know you won’t stay,” she said with regret. I smiled and pulled her chin down for a softer kiss. She moaned softly.

“No. I want to stay with you, but this life doesn’t suit me.” She nodded and bit her lip. “Next time you are in town, stop by and give me a reason to buy a new bed.” she shuddered and shook. She leaned down and whispered in my ear.

“Next time give me a reason to call you master instead.” I grabbed her ass and pulled her into another deep kiss as my dick stood tall and bravely pressed against her legs. She purred and pulled away as Captain came around the corner. She bowed to him and ran off.

“She tried her best and for that, I’ll fix your wagon before I leave you.” he looked at me blinking.

“You fixed everything we asked you to and for coppers.” I pointed at the wagon behind him.

“The axle is getting ready to snap on that one.” I walked over and touched it feeling the metal slide back into place. “How much is she worth to you?” he put his hands on his hips and smiled.

“Thirty gold.” too rich for my blood.

“Keep her safe and next time you pass through we will have a drink and she will be staying with me.” He smiled and nodded. Sadly I would never get the chance as the caravan would be attacked by bandits about four months later. She would be sold to another caravan.

“I will hold you to that.” I put my pack on my back and followed the red work of art through the wide street to a large stone building. Mcdonalds' Knight reached up and knocked on the doors. A large man came out of a small door and looked up at McDonald's and then down at me.

“That one I understand. What the hell do you want?” he said to me. He was tall, built like a blacksmith, and had a beard that a dwarf would be proud of. His long copper hair was pulled into a braid that went down his back. Dressed in only a pair of wide tan pants he hooked his thumbs into the rim of. I hoped he wasn’t going to pull them down.

“Hello Sir, I’m looking for a job.” he frowned at me.

“You.” he pointed up at the Knights. “Get your ass inside. “You” he pointed at me. “Get fucked.”

“Did that last night. I’d rather have a job if you don’t mind.” he leaned back and laughed.

“Come on in.” he walked inside as the large door opened. I saw a shop that had five outcoves. Three of them held Knights. I wasn’t given the chance to look them over or drool over them before being dragged into an office. He slammed the door and growled at me. “Now are you familiar with contract magic?” I nodded. “Can you read?”

“Not yet.” He groaned.

“Fine. Verbal contract. For the time of our first meeting, you will be unable to lie. If I am happy with your answers you will be offered a job for the next three months.”

“Let’s make this fair. Neither of us can lie.” He raised an eyebrow.

“For the time of our first meeting, NEITHER of us can lie. If I am happy with your answers you will be offered a job for the next three months. Do you agree?”

“Yes, I agree.” I felt a slight weight on my neck as my face went slack. I had faked my expressions almost all the time. It seemed like that was a lie. Interesting.

“Now what are your skills?” I moved my head to the side as though looking at a bug.

“Metal magic, Mana forged veins level five, Metal sense, Enchanting. Sadly I only know the fire rune and my mana is going to be a pain in the ass for you” he looked at me blinking.

“What is wrong with you?”

“There is a medical term for what is wrong with my brain, but I know it won’t translate. My emotions aren’t normal. Muted most of the time. I have learned to fake it though.” He nodded but still looked a bit worried.

“I had an uncle like that. He was a good man, but never hid it. Don’t hide from me when we are alone.” I nodded. “What else may bite me in the ass?”

“I’m a wanderer and I like beast women.”

“No judgment here, I like demon women.” he blinked and blushed. I gave him a slight smile and nodded. “The Wanderer thing is odd. I take it you are one of Princess Gvlodanda’s failures?”

“Yes. I am free to speak about it though. Old and moldy broke the contract and shorted me two gold.” He roared with laughter. I smiled and he stopped.

“That smile is unsettling.” I stopped and stood there blankly. “What do you want?” I stared smiling knowing my words would unnerve him more. Did I want to screw this up?

“I want to build horrors that will bring this world to its knees and do so safely from the shadows with a harem of beautiful beast women.” He stood there a slightly worried look on his face.

“You scare me. I like you. I don’t think I can afford you though.” He blinked. “I now see the flaw in both of us being unable to lie.”

“I have to share, so do you.” I laughed slightly.

“How much does someone need to live on?”

“Two silver a month.”

“How much do you pay one of your workers?”

“I pay one of my grunts three silver, but Jordean I pay thirty silver a month.”

“So pay me three and let me show you I am worth more. If I fail, you are out nothing. If I prove my worth, we can talk later.” He nodded and held out his hand.

“Welcome to the team. Call me Yavl...”

“Let me stop you there. I won’t care about what your name is. I’ll just call you Boss.” He stood there blinking and then burst into laughter.

“I like the sound of that Runt.” I took his hand and felt the pressure lift from my neck. I fought to keep my face blank.

“I can start in the morning. Now who do I talk to about a house?”