What kind of beastkin is she?

She’s a rare griffon-re. There are creatures known as griffons. They are famous for having the front half of an eagle and the back half of a lion. Several different varieties exist, ranging from different birds and felines to the hippogriff with the back end of a horse, but they all come with the extremely rare reverse variant. All are noted by adding a “-re” at the end of the name.

There are beastkin versions of monstrous creatures in various worlds, and Elveil is one such uniquely occurring beastman. She’s a reverse griffon, although most of her physical appearance is likely altered by your original form.

Thanks for the giant explanation. Any weaknesses? Strengths?

She’s just like you. Aim for the destruction of her computer brain. Your strengths and weaknesses are the same as hers.

I let my feet slide along the stone floor, taking a wider stance. “Why do you have to have everything? Don’t you already have what you want?”

Elveil raised her arms. “The world belongs to only those who deserve it. Power is my birthright. But it’s not enough that it belongs to me, I need to take it. And your memories have shown me how.”

She darted towards me, swiping her claws across her body. I ducked under and swung my arm blade at her leg. Elveil lifted her leg and spun on her other leg in a spin. Her wing came slicing for my arm. I stabbed at the thick metal feathers with a bladed edge with my stinger arm, deflecting it.

The two of us backed away from each other. My mana battery was filling up, and I started infusing my arm blades with it. Kuljack came stomping towards us.

Elveil held out a wing, blocking his path. “Don’t fret, Kitten. I’m itching to test this new body.” He deflated. “I’ll call you if I need you. In the meantime, be a dear and grab a collar.”

“What’s the point of all this? Why can’t you just leave me be?” I looked around for an exit unsuccessfully. Her mention of a collar had my brain solving for alternatives frantically.

The shadows around her claws moved up her arms and started covering her chest and wings. “You’ve shown me what I’m up against. But you’ve also shown me a means to infinite lives. You’re all too valuable to let go of now. Don’t worry, I take good care of my pets.”

Her wings dripped with shadow magic. The ground sizzled at each drop. I quickly activated my lycan form. Elveil laughed. Her shadow magic ran down her legs and covered her talons while swallowing up her head.

“Your limited understanding of magic is adorable.” The queen of the Pawed Palace’s voice echoed through the room. “If you’d only understood the power at your fingertips…”

Everything slowed down as I let my mind focus and speed up as much as possible. Elveil’s body doubled in all dimensions while giving her a more bestial appearance. Her front arms dropped to the ground as she held a quadrupedal stance.

Then, in a blur, she moved so fast I barely registered it. I could do even less as I couldn’t move nearly fast enough. A paw as wide as I was tall slapped me into a wall.

I hit the wall so hard I was embedded into the wall with a huge crater. Most of my bones were broken. The pain was blinding and debilitating. The indent in the rock was all that was holding me up.

My estimation of her stats put her at least three times higher than mine in my lycan form.

Her skill with magic far exceeds your own. Unfortunately, you don’t stand a chance.

And I have nowhere to run.

We know. There’s no advisable course of action.

Then I have only one thing left to do. “Do what you want with me. Just let Killa and Shadara go.”

“You’re bargaining with me?” Elveil leaned in close to me. “And what reason do I have to agree? The slime would be an optimal means to keep you and me energized.”

I scowled as I leaned forward. “You don’t let them go; I will fight you until you kill me. And no matter what you do, Killa will fight you. She will not leave you any other choice but to kill her.” I smirked. “Is it worth losing both of us?”

Elveil let out a long, low growl. She sharply turned away. “For the slime and shifter outside the dungeon.”

Kuljack held up a large golden-copper hoop. “Right now, my love?”

“Do it!” she snapped. She then turned her head towards me and, in a more controlled tone, said, “After you collar my new pet, of course.”

I fell to the ground on my hands and knees after my bones finished reconstructing themselves. Kuljack placed the hoop around my neck. It shrank down and tightened uncomfortably. My mana regeneration dropped significantly, but it wasn’t nullified.

Kuljack patted my head. I flinched away after the first one. “Now be a good pet and stay put. I’ll come back and give you the tour and the basic rules; now you’re my love’s pet.”

Being called a pet was demoralizing. Killa, I hope you never learn about this. It would be much easier if you think I’m dead. I might as well be.

Elveil strutted over to Kuljack’s throne while the wall opened up for the stone golem as he left. The large reverse griffon shadow form of Elveil looked at the stone chair with contempt. She flapped her wings, leaving a pool of shadow mana. It then grew into an oversized fluffy bed people would give their pets. She crawled in it.

I turned to my discarded clothes and put them on. With nothing better to do, I headed over to Elveil.

“Why are you still in that form?” I asked. “How? It makes you look so beastly.”

She folded her wings to her side. “So? With this form, I’m so much more powerful. Your werewolf spell was cute for a first attempt.”

She extended a shadowy tendril from her body and wrapped it around to pull me to her face. “But this is only scratching the surface of the power you hold. I can maintain this form indefinitely. And after I improve my arcane stat and take the time to refine my efforts, I will expand even on this majestic form.”

She flicked a paw to shoo me away. “Find some other way to entertain yourself. I’m finished with you for now.”

My hand went to scratch at the collar around my neck. “Can you at least tell me about this thing?”

Elveil’s blue eyes flashed, and I found myself hurled through the air. I tumbled just past the doorway. My vision was full of static, and my muscles were sluggish to respond.

“That collar makes you mine.” The queen’s voice drowned out any possibility of hearing anything else. “With it, I can punish or reward you. After my kitten instructs you on other important matters, send him to me.”

The griffon beast lady lowered her head. I knew she didn’t need to sleep and was far from defenseless. As much as I wanted to run in and stab her through the eye, I instead brushed myself off, corrected my vision, and headed into the room she threw me into.

At first glance, the room looked odd. But as I looked around, the more the random shapes and objects looked like tools. They reminded me of that dwarf’s furnace where I bought my gun.

“It’s a forge,” I said to myself.

“Correct.” Kuljack’s voice behind me made me jump.

I turned to him. Despite his size, something about him seemed less imposing. “This is your forge, isn’t it.”

He nodded as he practically glided to the anvil in the center. “My love always appreciates my creations. When I was a fleshy mortal, I looked for any way to spare her from her fate.” His hands traced the edges of the anvil. “Alas, I was too late; I couldn’t find anyone to cure the mana plague. All I managed was to create that ring to house her soul while I found a way to revive her.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

His hand dropped to his side. “But it’s been impossible to find a body that could withstand the power of her soul and not contract the mana plague.”

I pointed to the floor. “Those people in the cells, that was you trying to revive her?”

He paced around the anvil. “Failures. It turns out the mana plague follows her soul.”

That was the result of a plague? Am I going to get sick?

No. Your cellular reconstruction will prevent any damage caused by such an affliction. And the shadow mana battery augment that prevents you from utilizing any other mana also prevents any infected mana from taking hold in your body.

So I was literally the perfect body for her. Great.

He picked up an obsidian hammer lined with opals. “I thought if an organic body couldn’t withstand the plague, I would make her a body.”

The stone golem placed a hand on his chest. “To prove that I could make a golem that was able to house a soul and still function, I performed the ritual on myself. Unfortunately, doing so has made me unable to perform the ritual again for my love.”

I tilted my head. “Are you searching for sympathy? Because you won’t get it from me.” I pointed at the band around my neck. “She’s a spoiled megalomaniac with an unhealthy obsession with world domination. She treats you as nothing more than a tool to use. At this point, I think she sees anyone as anything more than that.”

Kuljack wrung his hands around the hammer’s shaft. “Have you ever been in love? Have you ever given your entire self to someone else?”

I crossed my arms. “My sisters mean the world to me. I accepted this for their safety.”

“You’re sisters with the slime and beast woman?”’

“Sworn sisters.”

He gave a slight nod. “I understand. Then you understand what I mean when I say that there’s nobody I believe in more. As her pet, you will see a new side to her. She appreciates my devotion and my creations. I believe there’s something she will find that she appreciates from you.”

I tapped a finger on the collar around my neck. “That’s very hard to believe. I’m nothing more than her prisoner. She’s only keeping me around as a failsafe.” He doesn’t feel evil to me. He’s just brainwashed by her somehow. “You created this, didn’t you?”

Kuljac nodded enthusiastically. “Oh yes. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It’s my personally created alloy of titanium and netheidium. The wearer can still use magic at my love’s permission, but it keeps them limited so they don’t kill themselves thinking to disobey my love.”

He truly believes everyone will be better under Elveil. If I’m trapped here, let’s see if I can use that to my advantage in some way.

He put the hammer back. “Sorry. I’m getting distracted. My love likely wishes for me to show you where you will be staying and give you the rules. But let’s make sure you’ll have everything you need to be comfortable.”

I furled my brow. “This is the part where you put me in my cage.”

He looked confused. “No. I wouldn’t dare put my love’s pet in a cage. Not unless she told me to. She wouldn’t do that unless you gave her a reason to. As long as you behave, you will have all your freedom. Just follow the rules.”

I sighed and slumped my shoulders. “We’ll see about that. What are these rules?”

Kuljack waved me to another doorway. “Mostly when your master tells you to do something, do it. Also, please protect her and do everything you can to grow her kingdom. She’ll feed you, give you a place to rest, and protect you in return. That’s a fair deal, right?”

I shrugged. Not really. He says I’ll have freedom, but it doesn’t seem like that. That and being called a pet is demeaning. Although he won’t see it like that. Kuljack thinks it’s a great privilege or something.

As I followed the stone golem into a library, one more worry nagged at me. “Kuljack, did those two, the slime and panther beastwoman, leave the dungeon?”

He turned his head back as he continued walking forward. “I carried them out. The slime was especially resistant. She said she wouldn’t leave without you.”

“You didn’t hurt them, right?” My arm blade slid out slowly and silently.

“Oh no. I wasn’t ordered to,” he said a little too jovially for my liking. “She calmed down after I said you were staying safe with my love and that you wanted them to leave.”

I quickly retracted my arm blade. Killa is a higher level than me, and she was no threat to him. If I used my lycan form, it’s possible I’d be able to kill him. But to what end? I still have to deal with Elveil. She has a much stronger, magically enhanced form than me.

“There are also a few more rules for you.” Kuljack led me into a bedroom. It had a simple bed, a table, and a chest. “You are to refer to my love as Master, my queen, or mother.”

Each of those titles disgusted me as they ruminated in my mind, most of all “mother.” If I have to pick one, it’ll have to be the queen. She is the queen of the Pawed Palace. So it isn’t that hard to stomach calling a queen a queen. But she isn’t my queen. I don’t want one.

I walked over to the bed. The only reason I agreed to this whole mess was to make sure Killa and Shadara were safe. And now they know I’m here. It wouldn’t surprise me if they figure that I’m here against my will and try to stage a rescue operation or something.

“Is that all?” I didn’t hide the venom in my voice.

“You don’t sound happy.” Kuljack sounded truly disappointed. “If you need anything else at all, please, don’t hesitate to ask. I can make anything you need, and if you need to go hunting for food, the dungeon will have plenty for you. All you need to do is ask, and I’ll guide you to our secret entrance.”

I clenched my fist. “Of course I’m not happy. Your love, my queen—” I had to suppress a shudder “—is holding me captive. This isn’t what I want. You call me a pet. It’s the most demeaning thing I’ve ever experienced.”

Kuljack looked shocked at my words. “But pets are cared for, treasured, and loved. Are those not good things?”

I stomped my foot. “I’m a person. People aren’t meant to be owned. People aren’t property.”

His voice grew serious. “I’ve seen people keep animals as pets, slaves, and everything in between. Mages create and destroy golems on a whim. People tame and dominate lesser creatures and animals.”

Kuljack shrugged. His voice returned to its more relaxed tone. “You can be just as loved as any pet I have seen. My love treats her pets well, and you’ll be treated with the best care. You are a part of her collection after all. I can see that you have much love to give and that you deserve to have love given back to you. Let us take care of you. It might be hard to get used to at first, but my love is an amazing person who knows how to care for all of her pets.”

My fists groaned at how hard I clenched them. “I don’t want to be a pet.”

“That doesn’t matter.” The stone golem held out a hand. “That will always be your place in her household. But if it helps, think of yourself as a guest rather than a pet. Although never speak against her, I would advise against trying to deny or ignore your place. If you upset my love, she won’t hesitate to correct you. The collar will let her do that at any time.”

“Like throw me around with a thought?”

He squared up to me. “That and much more if substantial correction is required. When a child or pet breaks the rules, they must be punished. The collar is for your safety. You can’t have thoughts of rebellion. They will only get you killed.”

I stared at him incredulously. “You’re almost as bad as her if you believe this is for my good.”

The stone golem beastman slumped his shoulders. “This is all new to you. I can understand if you’re a little resistant to the idea. But you’ve only seen one side of her. Give my love a chance.“ He held his hands out again. “There’s got to be something I can do to help put you at ease.”

“I doubt that.” I crossed my arms. As I did, my hand brushed against my gun. It hasn’t been as useful lately. I need a stronger one. My eyes settled on Kuljack’s still offered hands. Maybe I can get him to improve my equipment. It won’t be the strongest he can make. He’s not that stupid—but maybe I can get myself strong enough through levels and augments to overthrow Elveil.

I pulled the gun and placed it in his hands. “Can you make this more powerful?”

Kuljack’s eyes glowed as he inspected it meticulously. “This is quality craftsmanship. Whoever made this knew what they were doing.”

“Can you?”

He snapped out of whatever admiration stupor he was in. He waved the gun. “Absolutely. There’s just one problem. The material won’t withstand much stronger enchantments. I can make you a new one if you like. If you want it bigger, I can do that too.”

I shook my head. “No. Keep it that exact size. I’m used to it.”

Kuljack almost skipped out of the room, cradling the gun. “I’ll get started as soon as I can. It should only take a few days.”

Alone in the room, I laid down on the bed. Orange, we have work to do.

Do you wish to run the training simulator? What is your objective?

I need to be faster. So whatever it takes, we’re going to make me used to fighting things faster than Elveil by the time Kuljack finishes making that gun.

I closed my eyes and let my mind run at full capacity. We worked on my fighting style and using all parts of my body at the same time.

Orange watched me from the side with an almost emotionless stare. But there was something new in her eyes, as they seemed to shine a little brighter.

“You’re proud of me, aren’t you?” I asked.

My doppelganger gave a slight nod. “It seems that way. This is new.”

I took a quick break from the obstacle course Orange created for me. “Orange, do you know what you are, really?”

“What do you mean?”

I grabbed her hand. “Elveil couldn’t touch my soul, but she was able to take over you. Why?”

Orange tilted her head. “Elveil didn’t take us over. She only suppressed our presence. Once you were no longer in contact with her source of power—the ring—we regained control of the remaining nanites in your head.”

I held her cheeks in my hands. “Orange, did The Game Master create you? Do you know how?”

Orange hesitated. “I…He did, but I don’t know how.”

“Orange, do you have a soul?” There, I asked it.

Something in Orange shattered after I asked my question. She simply faded from my mind. I hung my head as I returned to the obstacle course.

Was I not supposed to ask?