Aki
‘You really have been carrying this guilt with you all this time, my love?’ Lilyth asked me, as we sat embracing each other on one of the beds.
‘Y-yes,’ I blubbered.
‘You should have just talked to me about this. Still can. However many times you need. I know… it is not easy to let go of guilt. I still carry some of mine.’
‘Th-then w-why…’
‘Why have I been spending so much time with Caei back home?’
I nodded.
‘I feel more at ease with her. We are kindred spirits in a way. We are both strangers in an insane world learning who we really are now. We both suffered at the hands of Kojiro… well… Leera did, but close enough.’
‘S-something I cannot give you.’
‘No. You cannot. But that doesn't mean you are less valuable to me. Yes… Caeileera gives me comfort… but you give me strength. To keep going. To be there for you. With you. So that when you need me… I can give you comfort. Give you strength.’
‘So you…’
‘I still love you, Aki. Now and always. Never forget that.’
As relief flooded me, I nuzzled against her chest and bawled my eyes out.
Once I was capable of rational thought again, I found myself sitting between Lilyth's legs, my back against her chest, and my wife’s arms wrapped around my belly. We didn’t frequently sit in this position, as my tail got in the way too much, but we made it work.
Then we have done something weirdly romantic that I don’t think I’ve done with Lilyth since the Tower. I helped her with her perk point allocations. There was a certain intimacy to it. I would have to really trust someone to even let them look at my character sheet. The nature of some of the upgrades Lilyth had available was beyond personal too. Those were not “which spell I should learn” choices. Those were “how should I restructure my body” decisions. Lilyth explained to me how she unlocked them during the fight against those weird monsters because she had to finally consciously start relying on her abilities as a slimeling. The first thing that caught our eyes was something called [Rapid Regeneration].
Purchasable Ability: [Rapid Regeneration]
Type: Racial
Description: Allows the user to use their mana to regenerate their body.
Cost to learn: 2 Perk Points
It did seem nice, but Lilyth decided against taking it, calling it “useful on paper”.
‘The problem is… I am highly reliant on magic in combat. So every fight I would have to kneecap myself because “what if I need that mana to heal?”.’
I ended up agreeing with her.
‘Yeah. Some of us could hurt because of you holding back.’
One two-perk point trait that Lilyth did end up picking up was [Mana Refinement].
Trait: [Mana Refinement]
Type: Specialisation
Level: Novice
Description: Improves the efficiency of mana consumption. This trait develops with the use of spells and abilities.
Notice: The effects of this stack with spell and ability mastery.
I was surprised to see it being a “specialisation” trait since I never heard of those being a thing, but the answer came to me when I got a notification about discovering that particular trait. I would need to be level fifteen to be able to get it. I immediately earmarked two of my perk points for that, but Lilyth told me to not be hasty, as maybe I would get stuff more useful for me. This did make sense, as some of the generic options Lilyth had available, mostly related to Umbral and Air Arcanas, did not “unlock” for me.
‘Still… more efficient mana use is probably useful no matter what you do,’ she conceded.
That left us with three more perk points to spend. Two of them went to enhance Lilyth’s slimeling side. The first trait was a prerequisite for an entire tree of abilities she could get.
Trait: [Combat Morphs]
Type: Racial
Rank: Novice
Description: Allows the user to transform their bodies to become more useful during combat.
To our surprise, this trait came packaged with an ability.
Ability: [Form Claws]
Type: Racial
Rank: Novice
Duration: 1 minute
Description: Allows the user to turn their fingertips into claws.
Notice: This ability can be used without being in the Kitsune form
‘This is soooo coool!’ I exclaimed, after seeing Lilyth's fingers first turn into curved knives and then back to normal.
‘It feels… weird,’ she said. ‘But can’t wait for a chance to use those on something… hang on…’
Lilyth summoned her satchel and took out a notebook she got in Mer-Cas. She ripped out a page, turned one of her fingers into a claw and ran it across the paper, cutting it in two.
Can't help but notice that she immediately knew how to do that change efficiently. I would probably turn all of my fingers into claws.
‘SO Cooool!’ I repeated, genuinely awestruck.
Lilyth only responded by giving me a peck on the cheek, which made me giggle.
Our next pick was less “cool”, but still very useful.
Ability: [Harden Skin]
Type: Racial
Rank: Novice
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Duration: 30 seconds
Description: Allows the user to use mana to increase to make their body more resistant to damage.
‘Interesting,’ Lilyth mumbled as she tested the ability on the back of her palm.’ It feels… like the area went… numb. Can you try scratching it?’
I first tried tapping her skin, and good thing I did that because if I actually scratched it I would have likely lost that fingernail. Her hand felt as hard as a piece of wood or a rock.
I wonder if this has other applications… oh .. wait… she said her hand went numb. Nevermind.
‘I hardly felt your touch,’ Lilyth said, hopefully not noticing my dirty thoughts, though my tail, having a mind of its own again, did its best to betray me.
For her final perk point, I suggested Lilyth get something fun, or maybe dive into the Kitsune side more.
She did entertain me and actually got into that once we found the [Blink] ability.
Purchasable Ability: [Blink]
Type: Racial
Description: Allows the user to teleport within line of sight.
Cost: 10 perk points
Notice: You do not meet the requirements to purchase this ability. Requirements not met:
* Level 60 (Current Level: 18)
* Air Arcana Rank: Master (Current Rank: Novice)
* [The Swiftness of the Wind] (Ability) Rank: Master (Current Rank: Novice)
* [Energy Form] (Ability) Rank: Journeyslime (Ability not learned)
‘Ten Perk Points?’ she said. ‘That’s… pricey. Let me check this [Energy Form] thing.
Purchasable Ability: [Energy Form]
Type: Racial
Description: Allows the user to briefly turn their body into energy.
Cost: 5 Perk Points
Notice: You do not meet the requirements to purchase this ability. Requirements not met:
* Level 40 (Current Level: 18)
* [Mana Refinement] (Trait) Rank: Master(Current Rank: Novice)
* [Improved Mana Storage] (Trait) (Trait not possessed)
Purchasable Trait: [Improved Mana Storage]
Type: Specialisation - Racial
Description: Allows the user to store mana more efficiently within their body.
Cost: 3 Perk Points
Notice: You do not meet the requirements to purchase this ability. Requirements not met:
* Level 30 (Current Level: 18)
* [Mana Refinement] (Trait) Rank: Journeyslime (Current Rank: Novice)
‘Correction,’ Lilyth said. ‘That’s very pricey. All the traits and abilities are over eighteen perk points in cost. I should be able to get that, though that will leave me with very few perk points for other things, I think.’
‘It does sound fun and probably more perk points will be going our way than just from level-ups.’
‘True enough. I need to have some goals, I guess? Not gonna sit on Perk Points if anything else seems more important at the time, but [Improved Mana Storage] does seem as a no-brainer upgrade down the line since I AM a mage.’
I was sad to see I didn't have that trait available, a feeling made even worse by Caei later discovering she could get it. Apparently, a powerful douchebag of a grandfather or not… I wasn't magical enough to get that. I could only hope that my Abyssal heritage would also give me access to equally cool stuff. I mean… both [Abyssal Spark] and [Lesser Abyssal Bolt] were pretty good.
‘Your approach makes sense, I think,’ I said, shaking away my thoughts. ‘I don’t think you would be buying most of that stuff with Perk Points under normal circumstances. Traits… sure. Abilities, many of these can be taught I think. Especially the general ones.’
‘Makes sense. Though I doubt we will find a master of [Blink] anytime soon.’
In the end, Lilyth's final perk point was spent on an entry-level ability from what we started calling the Telekinesis Ability Tree.
Ability: [Lesser Manipulate]
Type: Racial - Psychic
Rank: Novice
Description: Allows the user to manipulate small objects using the power of their will.
Notice: You can use your knowledge of Air Arcana to empower some of the actions
Notice 2: As it is impossible for you to use Earth Arcana you will not be able to achieve results similar to a person capable of using it.
‘That’s a shame,’ Lilyth summed up the second message. ‘But can’t be helped, I guess.’
‘How would Earth Arcana help here?’ I asked, genuinely curious.
‘Gravity manipulation. It’s associated with Earth Arcana, like that[Floating Disk] Caei uses. So… it will be harder for me to lift things using that ability.
‘Ah… That's a shame indeed.’
Hmm… I wonder though… Yeah… that has traction… Once she gets better with using this…
As we sat and went over her abilities I became more and more aware of her warmth and the softness of her body. That, coupled with some of the naughtier thoughts I had about some of these throughout the process, awoke something within me that I had been suppressing since the battle for the mansion.
If Caei managed… then maybe I will too.
‘I think that's all…’ Lilyth said finally.
Then she proved that my growing excitement did not escape her notice, as her hands began questing all over my body, finally stopping at all the right places. Then our lips met and for a moment we forgot about everything but our warm, soon naked, bodies.
After we were done showering afterwards… Well… we didn't quite just shower… But after we were done, we rejoined the others… well… we tried to, but ended up needing to give Caei and Rennie some privacy.
Lilyth
As the girls were readying themselves for us to resume our exploration of the dungeon, I decided to spend those moments of calm before the storm in the observation room. It would probably be the last chance for me to see anything space-related ever, so I was making the most of it. Alas, it wasn't peaceful as my thoughts kept racing back and forth.
For one, I would be lying if I said I didn't have to overcome some serious mental blocks for both the bonding sessions with my loved ones, but at least I gave them some pleasant memories… should anything happen. It was worth it too. I really needed that myself given the circumstances. I just wished that whatever awaited us didn't force me to choose who to save, because I loved both Aki and Caei too much without the choice being… difficult.
It also weighed heavily on my conscience that Ren would always lose that particular contest. She was a good girl. She didn't deserve to be discarded like a piece of trash just because I loved Aki and Caeileera more. I could only pray to any god that would listen that if it came to that someone else would look after her. At that moment, I really understood why militaries tend to frown upon fraternising between officers and their underlings.
What about the Sacred Company of Thebes? Weren't they stronger fighters because they were fighting to protect their lovers?
Still… all those thoughts reinforced my decision to dive deep into my monstrous side. If… if… surrendering a bit of my old self meant there would be a tomorrow for me and my loved ones… then it was a sacrifice worth making.
I looked at myself in a small hand mirror I stole from the bathroom. My eyes still didn't go back to green, though perhaps their colour shifted due to me being a shadow kitsune now…
Though come to think of it… those eyes weren't real… they were just what my subconsciousness formed. I closed them and focused on the thought of the irises becoming green. There was a brief sensation of morphing and upon raising my eyelids I saw that my eyes did indeed turn green. However… a new problem arose - the pupils went from round to slightly vertical. I panicked and tried going back to blue, but it didn't solve the problem. Even when I just focused on shifting my pupils it did jackshit.
Nonono
Having absolutely terrible timing, Caei entered the room then.
She smiled upon seeing me, but that quickly turned into her frowning when she saw my distress.
‘You okay?’ she asked.
‘Y-yeah,’ I lied.
‘Stop bullshitting me, Lilyth. What's going on?’
‘Close the door…’ I asked and then, when we had some privacy, explained my predicament to her.
The embracing of my inner monster.
My conflicting thoughts about Ren.
My ocular issues.
A worried expression appeared on her face.
‘First… don’t feel guilty about your thoughts about us and Ren, and don’t worry in advance. Maybe it won't come to that… and if it does… any plans you make now… any thoughts you have… will likely prove meaningless. It’s possible the choice will be for you to definitely save one person or try to save more and die yourself, dooming all of us. Now that I think about it… that one sounds more like you. Save everyone or die trying.’
She smiled warmly.
‘As for the other thing… I don’t know… I understand why you are doing that. And no matter what happens… know that I will always love you. And while I realise that our… predicament makes this impossible, you can always stop taking those upgrades if you feel they have too many negative effects on you. The eyes… I like. They give you this really nice dangerous look. However since it doesn't matter what colour they have from a “power” perspective, could you make them green? I think that colour is prettier.’
‘Your wish is my command,’ I said and, since I indeed also preferred green to ice blue myself, did as she asked. ‘And, Caei… thank you. Sharing this… made it easier.’
‘We are married. It’s part of my “job” to help you carry your burdens.’
I took her hand into mine.
‘Doesn’t make me appreciate this any less.’