:: Kai ::

“SHIIIIROOOOOOOOO!” A high-pitched and loud female voice interrupted the middle of our conversation. The moment I heard that voice I knew that I was about to meet another ‘interesting’ person.

Shiroe rolled her eyes. “Kai meet Hilda.”

I looked over to see the tallest woman that I had ever seen in my entire life…she was what 6’5…6’6.

She had long black hair and bright blue eyes, which heavily contrasted with her gold and silver priestess robes.

Jillian…or Hilda in this realm was only about 5’8 in real life and maybe 120 pounds. I didn’t have an exact measurement, but in the game you could see the outlines of her firm muscles under the robe.

It was like night and day compared to her character and personality in the real world. She even had a large war hammer strapped tightly to her back…everything about her contradicted itself.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you Shiro…Muuu…Gwen…” She turns to look at me for a second.

“I mean Phoebe will be back from her mission in about an hour or so. We decided that we would take a crack at the dungeon by ourselves…Nates friend is taking way to long.” She sighed as she sat down at the table next Shiroe.

“So whose this?” She finally took notice of the fact I was here…sort of. “Are you trying to come on to my little Shiro…cause I have dibs.” The overgrown Hilda puffed out her cheeks.

I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn’t think of what to say…no maybe I was just to baffled by this strange personality.

Shiroe spoke out on my behalf. “This is Kai, Nates friend.” Hilda leaned against Shiroe as she spoke. It might have been cute if there wasn’t such a huge size difference.

“Oooooh…so your Gideon. I thought you were one of Savy’s stalkers. God, those men are all so creepy.” She shivered as she spoke.

“Okay.” I said somewhat sarcastically before adding on. “Well anyway. I’m Kai and your Hilda right? Shiroe was just telling me a bit about you guys before you came by.”

“Oh was she, all good I hope.” Hilda’s smile was beaming as she turned to tickle the bashful Shiroe.

I watched as the two of them laughed. Shiroe was blushing a little bit…probably from being tickled and Hilda was having the time of her life.

Hilda had an odd personality, but I have to say it wasn’t exactly bad. I appreciated the fact that she didn’t hold back her thoughts. Maybe if I spent a little more time with her I would come to dislike it.

I decided to get something to eat while I was here. I figured I still had a few good minutes before the two of them pulled their selves out of their stupor.

It took me quite a bit of waving to get the waitresses attention. The young woman who was dressed in some kind of mix between a maid and butler outfit came over with a scowl on her face.

“Hey…I just wanted to get something quick to eat. Do you recommend anything?” I asked the young waitress.

She looked me over for a few seconds. Taking in my torn clothing. “I’m sorry we don’t serve slaves here, but your Master can order for you if she wishes.” I could hear the mocking tone in the woman’s voice.

Now I don’t consider myself a rash person…or quick to anger, but something inside of me just snapped when the words came out of her mouth.

“I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!” My enhanced voice ripped throughout the whole building. I slammed my fist into the table and it snapped into small fragments of wood.

I don’t know why…but my thoughts sort of just slipped out. Slavery had become somewhat of a touchy subject ever since I became a Cherubim and met my master.

I had never experienced it in a real life, but now that I had a strong connection with someone who experienced it. I felt privileged…no I felt I had a right to speak out against it.

The woman stared at me with horror in her eyes.

Status Effect Inflicted: Fear

It only took a brief second…seeing the look in her eyes…to realize that what I had done was wrong.

Her attitude may have pissed me off, but that was part of her culture. It was something deeply ingrained into her daily life.

I had different opinions and ideals, but I was not in my own home and my own country. I knew I shouldn’t have reacted that poorly, but…nonetheless I did.

Hilda was looking at me with a hint of fear in her eyes, but for some reason Shiroe was blushing…I had no idea why.

Shiroe was the first to speak up. “Why don’t we get out of here.” She stood up and moved around the broken table.

The three of us quickly evacuated the tavern…leaving only a small bag of coins for repairs.

:: Shiroe ::

I heard the words come out of the woman’s mouth. It was a common enough phrase. I had heard it several times, but we had never traveled with men…so I never really cared about standing up for them.

But this time was different…this was my Kai…I mean my friend. I wouldn’t let some lowly woman treat my Kai…my friend like that.

Just as I was about to say something. Kai screamed at the waitress. His voice was so powerful and commanding.

I wanted him to use that voice when he spoke to me…push me down and berate me with that voice. Command me and tell me….no never mind…I was just lost in thought. I’m not a pervert.

Status Effect Induced: Charmed

My face heated up the moment I read the blue status screen in front of me. I knew from watching the faces of Hilda and the waitress that they definitely did not receive the same screen.

I shook my head to try and get my thoughts in order. This situation was bad and it would probably get worse if we stayed.

“Why don’t we get out of here.” I said quickly as I got up and pulled the two of them along.

We left rather quickly after we left a small donation in order to fix the table. I wanted to get out of the area in case she decided to call the guards to arrest Kai for damaging private property.

I knew what happened to men that went to jail in this country. A country ruled by woman. It was a scary thing.

I decided to take a short-cut that I knew through the backstreets. Lachlan was an older town so most of the buildings were made from stone, but the farther you got from the town center the more wood buildings you would come across.

It was cheaper to build from wood than stone these days. All you needed was a saw and a map to find your way into the woods.

The three of us walked in silence until we finally made our way to a small wooden shrine at the corner of town. It was a quiet place…not many civilians came by.

It was a place that Phoebe, Hilda, and I often used as a meeting spot when we returned from questing on our own.

I figured we could talk hear without fear of retribution by the guards, until Phoebe came.

“That was interesting.” I smiled. Trying to break the ice after the tavern fiasco.

Kai seemed like he wanted to speak up, but he was still inwardly reflecting about something.

“Yeah…I hadn’t really thought about the whole slave thing since I’m a girl. Not many guys start here because…well yeah.” Hilda spoke softly.

Her outgoing personality from before had switched back to the personality she used in real life.

“Sorry.” Kai muttered.

“Its okay. I probably would have reacted similarly if I was in that situation…maybe.” I exclaimed trying to cheer up the depressed Kai.

“Was that a skill you used to inflict status effects?” Hilda immediately decided to shift the conversation, which I was very happy about.

“Its part of my Voice Manipulation ability. My voice becomes enhanced with mana and it can cause a variety of effects. Though…that was slightly unintentional.” Kai spoke quickly.

“Oh, is that like that Battle Cry skill that warriors have? What kind of tank are you by the way? I was curious since Nate seemed to talk you up a lot.” Hilda smiled.

“He’s a….” I was just about to announce Kai’s class when I felt a hand cover my lips. His hand muffled my words and I turned see the serious look in his eyes.

“Just a normal blade user with defensive skills.” Kai exclaimed with his hand still on my mouth.

“You promised you wouldn’t tell.” He whispered into my ear.

“Noooo…” Hilda rushed forward and pulled me away from Kai. “My Shiro…only I can whisper sweet nothings into her ear.” Hilda puffed out her cheeks again.

‘I think I’m becoming a masochist…no…no it can’t be.’ I thought. My face flushed as I remembered the pressure of his hand on my face…touching my lips.

:: Kai ::

I was feeling a little bad about my outburst back at the tavern, but after spending a little bit of time with Hilda and Shiroe…the joking around settled me down.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Three of us talked for about an hour or so about trivial things, until we finally reached the topic of school.

“Ne ne, Kai. I don’t think we’ve ever been in the same class.” Hilda said astutely.

I thought it over for a second and came to the same conclusion.

“Yeah that’s a little weird considering our school isn’t that big. We have what…a thousand kids.” I said back to her.

“Kai and I have shared a few classes.” Shiroe chimed in.

“History, Math, and…what’s the last one. Science, maybe?” I tried to recall all of them.

“You seem to remember a lot when it comes to little Shiro, but don’t think for a second that I will give up.” Hilda wrapped her arms around Shiroe as she rambled on.

“I remember all the pretty girls. It’s a habit.” I spoke truthfully without considering my audience.

“Ho ho ho…what a charming little man.” Hilda laughed.

Shiroe blushed as red as a tomato. She seems to do that a lot. I’m starting to think she might have a condition.

“Do you remember me?” A sweet melodic voice came from behind me.

I knew whose voice that was. It was the voice of the girl I had loved since junior high. My angel, Guinevere Hastings.

“I…uhh…ch’yah I do.” I stuttered as I turned around to see a goddess in human form.

She had the same beautiful long blonde hair, but it was tied up in some kind of Chinese toothpick contraption (Chopsticks).

Her left eye was covered by some kind of black leather eye patch so the only eye that you could see was the green one and it was so beautiful…like a lush green forest.

Gwen’s…no Phoebe’s figure was pretty much the same as it was in real life. Spectacular and curvy. If I were a dog I would be wagging my tail and sticking out my tongue right now.

She was a moderate height, about the same as she was in the real world, but she had a set of daggers strapped to her waist and a full body leather cat suit. Some kind of special assassin gear from the Order of Valkyria…I would find this out later…for now I was to busy staring.

“Hmmph.” I heard Shiroe’s displeased voice from behind me and I quickly looked towards the sky…hopefully Phoebe didn’t think I was some kind of pervert.

“Should we dungeon now?” Phoebe spoke quietly.

Phoebe was the mysterious type or the cool beauty if I had to put her in a category. She was quiet and spoke with few words, but she had a nice sounding voice and looks to match.

Hilda was also a cool beauty in real life, but when it came to the game she acted more like the main character from an anime’s violent childhood friend. Her voice was nice, but a little pitchy.

Shiroe was pretty much the same here as she was in real life. She was the rich beauty who thinks that everyone should love her…at least that’s what I thought of her at first, but my opinion has gradually started to change.

Unlike them I was a decent looking guy who says things he shouldn’t at the wrong times and didn’t really fit into a category or stereotype.

“So what’s the name of the dungeon were going to?” I asked smoothly.

Shiroe seemed to just let out a sigh as she waited for the outgoing Hilda to answer.

“Its an amazing dunegeon…I think it was called ‘Grove of the Headless Thak’ or something.” Hilda blurted out.

My eyes widened and my ears only tuned in into one word ‘Thak’

Chapter 19: Status

Status WindowName:KaiAlignment:NeutralLevel:20Class:BardRace:CherubGender:MaleTitlesSongscryerFame:120Infamy:950-Health:500 / 500Health Regen:4.5 / SecMana:650 / 650Mana Regen:6.0 / SecStamina:750 / 750Stamina Regen:6.0 / Sec-Strength:44 (+47)Agility:53Vitality:58Intelligence:59 (+5)Wisdom:69 (+5)Endurance:78Luck:37 (+47)-Attack:10-15Defense:40 (+70)Physical ResistancesSlashing:25 (+42)Piercing:25 (+42)Crushing:30 (+42)Elemental ResistancesFire:10%Water:10%Wind:10%Earth:10%Light:10%Darkness:10%

Skills/Abilities:

Spoiler :

Iron Skin: Intermediate Lvl 4 (8%)

Willpower III: Intermediate Lvl 3 (33%)

Seven Pathways Meditation: Novice Lvl 9 (88%)

Mana Manipulation: Intermediate Lvl 1 (74%)

Voice Manipulation: Novice Lvl 6 (43%)

Music Mastery: Novice Lvl 7 (42%)

-Song of Renewal: Intermediate Lvl 2 (4%)

-Song of the Slumbering: Novice Lvl 6 (45%)

-Song of Sorrow: Novice Lvl 3 (26%)

Sword Mastery: Novice Lvl 6 (45%)

-Rapier Mastery: Intermediate Lvl 2 (73%)

+Rapid Thrust: Novice Lvl 6 (12%)

Illusion Magic Mastery: Novice Lvl 3 (47%)

-Disguise: Novice Lvl 3 (13%)

-Glamour: Novice Lvl 3 (17%)

-Clone: Novice Lvl 1 (0%)

Equipment:

Spoiler :

Swift Iron Rapier (10-15) Atk – (16/30) Durability

Torn Leather Vest (+10) Defense (-2) Luck – (11/15) Durability

Mangled Cloth Pants (+5) Defense (-1) Luck - (5/10) Durability

Rugged Leather Boots (+7) Defense (+3) Agility – (9/12) Durability

Necklace of the Black King (+10%) Magic Resistance – (25/25) Durability