Chapter 61

Mis-Translations and Mis-Communications

  I awoke to find a golden skinned beauty lying next to me. Her smooth skin was perfect, the only clothing she wore were white silken undergarments that barely afforded her nearly perfect body any form of modesty. I looked at her, and my mind blinked.

  With that one blink, I felt waves of emotions and memories trying to fight their way back to my consciousness. At first, I had feelings of lust for the woman, as I remember laying with her, or at least wanting to lay with her. Her golden hair was similar in its silken sheen to Goldhammer’s, that and her perfectly golden skin tone told me this woman had to be Goldhammer’s daughter.

  Shit, I thought to myself as I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Goldhammer was like a brother to me, these last ten days of fighting together side by side only made me realize why the Dwenvarians praised him so much. Then I remember last night was supposed to be the party, the one that marked his transition. A party where he didn’t drink a drop of alcohol.

  I remember the way the night started, where I had to drink enough for the two of us. As his bro, I was apparently obligated to fill in for him, at least for the first night.

  “This is a tradition of the Dwenvarians. A sign that Goldhammer will not be missed, as you his chosen bro will pick up the slack.” Jenna Da’anvil, his handler began. Then she added in a fast pace shortly afterwards that “this also helps you do everything you will need to do next. Also try not to use Cleanse too much, trust me.”

  With those words the night began.

  Blinking to myself I cast Cleanse on me to help remove any lingering traces of toxins within my body. Even now I noticed that my mouth felt and tasted like cotton. A quick smacking of my lips let me realize that there was a reason for that, as I reached up to pull out a piece of white cloth fabric from my mouth.

  At first, I stared at the piece of fabric stupidly, thinking I had seen that very cloth somewhere. Then noticing the intricate designs of hammers on the cloth, I realized where I had seen it. I looked up, and with a shock, I noticed this time there was a mouth sized bite mark in a portion of the cloth.

  While I had already suspected such actions, the scantily clad woman, and the piece of clothing in my mouth went a long way to confirm my suspicions. I was screwed. I had slept with my best friend’s daughter.

  The more I looked at her, the more I remembered different moments of the night. Moments when she didn’t have any clothes on, and we were in the middle of a very intimate process.

  As if awakened by my stare, the golden skinned beauty began to turn. As she did, light danced off her skin in ways that were mesmerizing. I wanted to look away, to save some face with my friend. To try to be able to look my friend in the eye once more and claim like all politicians, that I do not recall ever doing anything wrong.

  This thought of course was getting harder and harder to justify to myself. Especially as I watched every muscle of hers ripple and flex under strong golden skin.

  “Oh, you’re awake?” The thick husky voice of a female, that unfortunately sounded a little too like her famous father, asked.

  “Yeah.” Was all I managed. Then my eyes greedily drank in her body, which she seemed to be posing for me, as she sat up, exposing her rippling stomach muscles.

  I wanted to avert my eyes, but soon found my eyes locked on her silver eyes that shone brightly. Man, she even had the same eyes as her father. Then wanting to address the elephant in the room, I ask smoothly “so we?”

  As if understanding my intentions from those two words, she smiled warmly. It was a beautiful look on her face, as she nodded and answered. “Yes. You became my bro.”

  I had already begun looking away, at the first word. Saddened that I had betrayed someone who had become so dear to me over just ten days. Then her last words made me turn back to her.

  “Your bro?” I ask trying to confirm what I heard.

  Hearing that the woman nodded and smiled brightly. “Yes, and you were wonderful. Though I must ask, do you always cry that much during the act?”

  “The act?”

  “Yeah, the act of procreation, if so, I might have to start wearing a rain jacket.” She teased.

  “I cried?”

  “Yeah, at first, I thought it was because you were revolted by me. But then you kept saying ‘I really am pretty. You find me pretty.’” She said in a tone that did sound surprisingly a lot like me.

  “Hey. I don’t remember this, but…” I trailed off as I noticed one long silver hair of her father’s hanging from her chin. “One second.” I said, then without even thinking about it I reached over and grabbed the hair.

  Pluck.

  “Oww!” The Golden haired and skinned beauty remarked.

  Hearing that I paused as I looked first at the hair that had clearly been part of her chin a moment ago, then back to her. The hair was long too, it’s not like it could have popped up overnight. Suddenly my alcohol and sleep addled mind began to put things together, this might also be a side effect of the Cleanse I cast earlier too.

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  “Your last piece of your beard?” I asked, as I held the strand out to her.

  She looked at the hair and reached out for it, for a moment. Then she stopped herself and shook her head at the offending hair. “No, that is part of my past life. While some Dwenvarians might keep their beards as a sick trophy. I find the practice repulsive.”

  Hearing her words, I nod. Then more of what she said comes and congeals in my mind.

  “Wait, people keep their beards?”

  “From the transition, yeah. Some likely think the transition came too quickly and want to keep the beard to cling to the past. I…” She trailed off for a second. Then continued, as she locked gazes with me. “I likely would have done something similar with you. I have to say, at first, I had my doubts about you.”

  “About me?”

  “Yeah. I was hesitant to let a human into our culture. Especially for such a sensitive topic as this. Again, that is why I was almost mad at you crying last night. Until I realized they were tears of joy for being selected.”

  I paused, still not remembering this crying deal that she keeps talking about. But if this helps not cause an inter-galactic incident then I am all for this.

  “I have to say, I likely was caught a little off guard by the whole situation.” I paused, then asked the one question that was on my mind. “Goldie?”

  With that one word, she adjusted her gaze, so we were both staring at each other. That one-word question answered the last of my questions. But I felt rather awkward, as having just realized that this beautiful Dwenvarian female before me was none other than the Goldhammer. Everything they had been discussing over the past few days began to make sense. The talk of transition, evening going and calling Rendius by his transition name, Goldie. The talk of alcohol not being enough to keep him going anymore.

  There was a long awkward silence, so I decided to tell him, well now her, how I felt about their transition. “I have to say, you clean up nicely. You went into a cocoon of beard, chest, and back hair and came out a beautiful female.”

  Hearing that, Goldie smiled and leaned forward and hugged me. She was still very muscular, as her powerful arms pulled me in tightly.

  The longer Cleanse works its magic, literally, the more I begin to recall moments from last night. I remember a complete breakdown somewhere after the first ten drinks where Jenna broke down the glandular disorder that eventually affects all Dwenvarians, making them transition from males to females. The way alcohol and other granulated sugars can stave off the changes, but only for a short period of time.

  “I have to say, I lucked out when Jenna chose you as my Bro.” Goldie said, still cuddling next to me, jiggly parts of her anatomy pressed tightly against me, causing parts of me to rise to the occasion. Fortunately, she seemed to miss my involuntary reaction as she continued.

  “See we both knew I couldn’t choose another Dwenvarian, as that would likely cause a succession of power. Whichever faction the Dwenvarian belonged to would garner a lot of political power, as it meant I was effectively endorsing that faction. That left one of the other space faring races. The Endarians were out, as there is too much bad blood between our peoples. That left the Humans and the beastkin.”

  “Wait, there are beastkin?” I asked, suddenly imagining sleeping with cat eared beauties.

  “Aye, that there are. But they were mostly wiped out when they tried to fight both the Dwenvarians and Endarians at the same time. Now a few pockets of them exist, and there is a movement to get them added back to the folds of the galactic government. They are also out, as I have a severe allergy to dander. Also, I imagined having sex with one would cause a lot of friction.”

  As she spoke, I too imagined trying to be intimate with a furry beastkin, only to suffer rug burn during the middle of intimacy. As soon as I thought about that, all thoughts of trying to woo a beastkin quickly went out the window. Others can try it, but that would have to be distracting.

  “This of course left only the humans. At first this too was untenable, and it looked like I would have to pick an Endarian anyways. Until three months ago, when news of a human who had also undergone a change during their temple run hit the galactic news sites. Then there was the linking of you to being Heal Boy and the way you brought back Endar Rising, and I thought for certain we had lost you. Then the trial of bringing you up on charges for stealing certs you had generated. We thought the whole thing was a farce. But apparently it was a real thing. This was good for us, as it gave us time to get here and set up. Then we got word of when and where you would be released and the next thing I know, I am jumping from a five-story building trying to gain your attention.”

  Hearing the chain of events from his lips caused a bit of the mystery to go away. Also remembering the bearded drunk, falling to the ground was hilarious. Just remembering that intro, I began to chuckle. “Yeah, you were terrible with that intro.” I said teasingly.

  At this her cheeks flushed red, as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know if you remember this, but I told you much the same last night. When we were about to partake together. That is when you started crying. Well, it was after a few of my beard hairs fell on you. I thought you were grossed out, as most people are at that. I must admit, I was grossed out when it happened with Jenna.”

  “Wait, you and Jenna?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Yes, she asked me to be her bro as well. I can’t tell you how important this role is, as you are the first person we turn to. The first person that truly accepts us for who we are. It is also important that you be with us throughout the process of transition, as that makes the relationship more meaningful. So, thank you.”

  “That’s right, Bro has some formal meaning for you all?” I asked.

  “Yes, it is a rank and title that very few earn. It stands for Breeding Rights Originator. Meaning you are with me through our first child.”

  Hearing that, my mind spins to keep up. “And that child will be a boy?” I ask, as I pause and try to gain more time to think about the prophecy of the way to break out of this endless cycle of death and rebirth. Could I pass on this legacy to another? To my own son? Could I even have a child? I knew or at least thought I knew I couldn’t have children with humans, but Rayquel seemed to think I was more than capable of having an Endarian child. Did the same hold true for a Dwenvarian child? Fortunately, I was pulled from getting too lost in my own thoughts by her reply

  “Well yeah, what else would they be?” She asked, as if there was an option. Then shrugging, I couldn’t help but agree with her logic.

  Then another portion of her comments hit me. “So, you are stuck with me until we conceive?” I ask.

  She smiles and nods. “Yep, you are stuck with me. For quite some time if last night is any indication of your prowess.”

  “Oww!” I say in sort of mock outrage. I had a lot going on, and the entire process had been long. Still, it was likely a great benefit that I could not remember her as she made her transition. Instead, I just saw her for who she was now, and where she had come from.

  She shifted her body slightly, causing parts of me that had been resting comfortably to rise to the occasion. I looked to see that I was wearing boxers, but even then, the soft material did little to hide my current condition. Almost as if feeling my discomfort, Goldie looked down.

  “Oh, it looks like your mighty hammer has risen once more.”

  “Oh, that is terrible.”

  “Hey, that is what you called the little guy last night.”

  “Little?”

  “Well not so little.” She said, cooingly as she stroked my back.

  “That’s right this is the mighty hammer of Ragnarök.”

  “Oh god, you did remember that stupid nick name for it.” She said, in a dry tone.

  “I think I liked the old you better.”

  “Well fortunately, your little friend seems to like me just fine.” Goldie said.

  I am about to say something else, but then I just pause and stare into her eyes. There is a moment when I see she still feels slightly ill at ease. I must admit that I feel slightly unnerved by this as well. I mean the signs were there all along, but I just tried to ignore them. That is, I ignored them, until they transformed into a beautiful woman almost overnight. There were a few hours where the alcohol really helped. Especially the parts where excess muscles, blood, and organs were shed. I do remember casting my Healing magic on them at that point.

  But here we were, both bros. Well just me, I am the only breeding rights originator here. That of course is a bad translation, but that is the closest we can get to what the words are in English. She stares up me, her eyes slightly panicking. I am terrible at this sort of thing, so I just do what feels natural. I lean over and kiss her.

  It is a soft and wonderful kiss, that has us both exploring each other’s body within seconds.

  Finally, after a few minutes we come up for air, and I am more than ready to unsheathe my hammer. God that sounds so stupid, even to me. I apologize. But I am ready for this. I look at her, and don’t want to say anything to ruin this moment. There are months of pent-up frustration that I need to get out. Especially as this is the first person I have been with since Mel. I still don’t know what to think of everything. I know she was a semi-divine construct, but why? Why did she want to play with my emotions like that?

   Almost as if sensing that my mind had gone somewhere else, Goldie leaned back and stared at me. Once our eyes met and she was certain she had my full attention, she said the one word that made my heart flutter.

  “Thanks.”

  With that one word, she waited until recognition was seen in my eyes. Then we continued what we started the previous night, I was her bro after all.