Chapter 6
Dreams of forgotten memories…
Mark Collier
About three weeks later…
Despite the actions of a few brave souls trying to kidnap me over the last few weeks, things were pretty normal. It was fairly common to be used as a quest when you are a merchant. Especially, at early levels. The trend did not stop if you made it to nobility. They just changed in the way they were done. If you were an adventurer, you had the right to defend yourself and fight off invading armies and such. As part of the working class, I had to do different sorts of things. Hire guards, build up an information network, spies, establish good relations, and manage to keep it all above board. Well, sort of… I had heard that there were criminal organizations that could be established in a similar way. But I did not want to work with criminals. I wanted to be legit. Even if I couldn’t be a hero that slew dragons, I could still do the right thing.
I steadily worked at my job. Fayt was relentless in her protection of me. Tyler continued to drink the rest of us under the table. And Rica was just as flirty as ever. She had mentioned in passing that her grandfather was coming for a visit.
I hope that he’s nice.
I continued to level. Slowly. Okay, I realized that I was cheating, but it still felt obscenely slow. There probably weren’t that many people out there with the advantages that I had. Plus Perk was probably the biggest cheat. Rich friends that allowed me to level that much faster, by purchasing everything for them. A loyal personal guard that I shouldn’t have even gotten for another couple of years. (Due to a drunken accident.) Security was an easier specialization to max out compared to Stock boy. I could basically cheat by using my power level earned skill. Negotiator had come in handy.
Now, I just sorted through items and fought sleep. Blacksmiths, enchanters, and adventurers had it easier in my opinion. They could level in interesting ways. All of them could level in basically any way that they wanted. Whether it was trying to create new and unique items or killing various types of monsters in new and exciting locations. They did not have to deal with the monotony of the same repetitive task. Day in and day out. They got quests on a nearly daily basis. I couldn’t even get a quest, unless one of my friends were looking for something specific.
Just because I had quests did not mean that I could do anything about them. I was close to finishing Rica’s pet quest. The problem was that when I hinted at the quality of Devil Dog she wanted, Rica claimed how she would love to have nothing less than a Rare Tier pet. Preferably a Noble Tier, Baron rank or higher. Which was the tier above Rare… sort of.
Well, let me explain this a bit. Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Unique were one set of tiers. Then there were the Noble tier items. Esquire, Knight, Baron, Viscount, Marquess, Royal, and Imperial. In that order. Coincidently, those were the same ranks for nobility. The Noble Tier items were better quality than the other tiered items. But only in each rank. Then there were the Holy ranked items. But they sort of followed the same rules as the Noble Tiered ones. And, if someone were lucky enough to find a named item? Those sort of fell outside the limits of rules and leveled with you. But it couldn’t be just any named item. The outfit that I wore did not count. It had to be something that was named by the gods and didn’t fall under the other tiered items. Usually, these items were found in high level dungeons or monsters.
So, Esquire was better than common but not uncommon. Depending on the situation, an Esquire ranked item could be better than an uncommon item. But a common item could never be better than an Esquire item. Confused? Great!
The problem I was having was that Noble Tier item prices were ridiculous. Especially pets. Because it was possible when certain requirements were met, they could increase in rank. Whereas the Common Tier items would stay at whatever rank they began with.
In theory, I could get her an Esquire Ranked pet, and take it to Imperial rank. But it was unlikely that pet could rank up to a Royal rank. The standard max was two to three Tiers, then again standard was not the same as the rule. There were rare occasions when a pet climbed all the ranks of nobility. Those were few and far between. You also didn’t want a pet that outranked your own noble rank by very much. If they were too high, it was likely the pet would not respect you or follow orders. Unlike humans, pets were born with an innate understanding of their rank and responsibilities. As they increased through the ranks, they instantly had a better understanding of their new responsibilities. Got it? Good. Me neither.
The thing that made a Baron ranked Devil Dog or any pet of that rank special, was that they could call a number of ghostly hounds or apparitions of the common Tier variety that could help them in combat. Esquire on the other hand could call only one. Rare ranked on the other hand could have powerful techniques that the others didn’t have. These techniques only increased as the ranks went up.
Needless to say, I couldn’t afford it just yet. That being said, I was getting closer. My hopes of surprising Rica on her birthday or in the ritual that we haven’t set a date for yet was my plan. The one bonus to being a Merchant was that you could usually find a way to earn some coins. Even if it meant buying from Paul to sell to Jim. I could easily make 50 gold coins a week, so long as Rica and Tyler kept bringing in the goods. With the new dungeon, they had nearly doubled daily proceeds to what they are now.
I think I understand why people go on a guided course now. It’s kind of like getting the boring stuff out of the way first. Maybe I should choose something more exciting next time. Errand runner maybe? I do have a guard…
As my thoughts wondered, I heard a slight cough from behind me.
“Sir?” Fayt stated. “We’re off course again. Are you sure that you want to work tonight?”
“Yes.” I grumbled. “It’s just a summer cold. I can tough it out for the night.” I had caught a bug or something that gave me quite a fever and nasty cough. With my constitution I had thought it would be pretty difficult to catch a cold. But then again, a virus can level just like an adventurer. That’s why high-level cities and towns did not have very many beginners. Children were protected by the system in that manner. If you caught a cold before having a class, you might die… but it wouldn’t have anything to do with the level of the virus.
Almost gently, Fayt gripped my shoulder. “Let me check. I can’t have you dying on me, right?”
I tried to shake her off as another dizzy spell hit me.
Fayt pressed her cool forehead against mine and gasped. “You’re burning up. We need to get you to a healer.”
With that, she picked me up princess style and we headed in the opposite direction. I weakly batted at her arms in an attempt to free myself. With the sorry state that I was in, it was like a child struggling against a tree. There was no getting free.
“Fayt…” I mumbled as I felt myself getting weaker. Something was up. I was getting weaker, way to fast.
Quest has begun! Would you like to say a few words? They may be your last.
Y/N
“You’re so pretty...” Was all my addled mind could muster before, I poked at a slightly protruding tusk that I hadn’t noticed until now.
***
Mark Collier
It was a strange feeling to be aware of your surroundings and not be able to respond. I knew that the healer had cast her spells. I heard her explain that some rare herb was needed to fix my condition. I felt the tears touch my cheeks as Fayt swore to recover the ingredients for the toxin. Hell, I felt her lips touch mine before she parted.
It was very odd. It sucked to be the victim of a quest. I don’t know if it was worse to be aware of the things happening, or to miss them entirely. I hate random system generated quests. Before I had gotten my class, I had hoped to be the one saving people from these kinds of things. Now however, I regret having those thoughts in the first place.
Am I just a footnote in her grand adventure? I wondered idly. Maybe one day she’ll mention me to her grandkids. The stupid merchant she had worked for at the start of her journey. Yeah, no. That’s stupid. Who am I kidding? If she remembers me at all, it’ll be because I had died and she just failed a quest.
I was alone for a very long time in my bed at the healer’s temple. Hours, maybe days, I couldn’t really tell. The healer checked on me a few times. Priests and acolytes as well. I had food forced down my gullet. Bandages that I knew I didn’t need, were wrapped around my head, chest, arms, and legs. And sponges dragged, dabbed, and scrubbed against my skin. I was poked and prodded more times than I could count.
Everyone seemed to use me for some form of XP gain. I wanted to cry. I wanted to shout. Hell, I wanted to be as far away as I could get from this situation.
Then I heard an unusual clicking noise in the hours that felt like they were out of routine.
“Mhmm.” A female voice hummed as the clicking noise drew closer. “This is the one?”
“Yes, mistress.” A soft pleasant-sounding male said. “This is the man that you were asking after.”
A delicate hand stroked my cheek. “Mark Collier.” She hummed. “You don’t look like much.”
“Right now.” The male agreed.
“How long?” She asked.
“I’m sorry, mistress?” The male was clearly confused. “What do you mean?”
“How long before he becomes who you say he will?” She asked as her hands worked gently.
“I’m not sure, mistress.” The male conceded. “In my previous life, I was just a common criminal. He was the emperor before I even opened my eyes to the rest of the world.”
“That is not what I asked, Darius.” She hissed.
“M-Mark should be reach Baron rank within the next five to ten years.” The man stuttered out quickly.
“And I was a mere concubine?” She questioned.
“Y-yes, mistress.” Darius agreed.
“Come, Darius.” She stated abruptly, and the clicking noise traveled away this time. “You are a regressor, you came to me, you are going to help me fix that.”
“Yes, mistress.” Darius stated with more conviction.
***
Fayt the half-elf/half-orc
Right after leaving the temple…
Fayt traveled as fast as her legs could take her. She barely noticed the rats and rabbits in the fields that she had used to gain her early levels. She ignored the signs posting directions, knowing this area better than most people. She leapt over the familiar potholes and slid beneath the downed trees that bandits used for trapping merchant caravans. She was heading for the mountains of Bendaff. Her mother’s home.
As Fayt traversed the land, she was more focused on the fact that she had failed to realize Mark should have gone to the healer this morning when he first showed signs of being sick. But nooooo. She had been ignoring his illness because she was worried that Mark had caught her in his bed. It was her fault for getting so comfortable. It was her fault that she couldn’t shake this feeling deep within.
Fayt was no fool. She could tell that Mark was not trying to tempt her. He wasn’t like the adventurers from out of town trying to turn every woman they met into an addition to their harem. She was also aware of how ugly she was compared to elves, and how weak she was compared to orcs. Neither race found her attractive and most of them made a point of telling her. Humans, demons, beast kin. They were all the same.
Fayt had the unfortunate side-effect of being the daughter of a powerful orc warrior that had taken an elf slave. Her father was a simple tailor. Her mother ran the counter selling the goods her father made. Her intimidation skill stacked with her barter skill and gained a tidy profit over the years. Fayt, already an outcast, had never told anyone that she was the offspring of a slave and his owner.
She wondered if that was part of why she had an infatuation with Mark. In a way, it was the same sort of thing. And even if her mother had a rough personality, she could be kind in her own way. Shelly was more than capable of showing love, she just chose not to do so in public. No matter what the townsfolk said.
Fayt took a shortcut through the Staying Woods. It was a forested area that Fayt knew well. Littered with giant spiders that trapped adventurers that were looking to make a name for themselves and a great location for those around level 10-12 to gain some experience. She used to take rescue and hunt quests here when she was around that level.
Grimlocks inhabited the next region. It was the in foothills and they were somewhat annoying. It wasn’t that they were stupid or that they liked to throw rocks to annoy young adventurers. No, it was a fact that they traveled in packs that ranged from 25-50. And if one of the little shits managed to escape before you killed them all, you would soon find yourself beset by a horde of the little fuckers raining rocks down on you like a storm. It was considered one of the toughest regions that you could level from 16-18 in the kingdom. And those that did do their leveling here were on a fast track to Tier 2. You learned a great deal about tactics in this region.
Even if it meant slowing her pace, it was still the quickest route to her destination. Fayt had accepted the quest from the priest and promised Mark that she would return with the ingredients. Ingredients that were located in the peaks of Bendaff…
***
Mark Collier
Dream world…
I was dreaming. I knew that I was. There was no other way to put it. My mind had clearly taken me back to when I was fifteen and had just finished a training exercise. Gale was there. I remembered the event clearly.
She had cornered me out by the lake. There was no one around. My instructor had wandered off. Rica had left, pissed at me for some reason. Becky was off hunting in the woods. I had just finished taking a dip in the water to rinse the sweat off. Birds were chirping, frogs croaking, and grasshoppers were leaping this way and that.
Gale just stood there, her dark elf tan and silver hair shined in all its glory. She had red glowing eyes and a frown on her face. Her arms were crossed just beneath her moderately sized breasts, and she was huffing. I wasn’t sure what to do. She had been wearing a thin strap around her waist and chest. I would say to cover her modesty, but the straps were barely big enough for that.
“Are you in love with Rica?” Gale demanded.
“N-no.” I stuttered embarrassed. “Why would you think that?”
Gale rolled her eyes. “You know that you don’t have a chance in hell, right?”
“Y-yeah.” I mumbled.
“Then why don’t you try chasing someone else?” Gale snapped. She had a desperate? no, angry look plastered to her face. “A loser like you probably couldn’t get a girlfriend.”
“I-I’m not.” I stammered. Glancing around and gesturing toward the town I continued. “Besides, I don’t really have any other options. Do I?”
Gale growled in frustration at the comment and kicked muddy water at me. “Asshole!” She spat before marching off.
“Gale, wait!” I chased her down and grabbed her hand. “What brought this on?”
Gale spun around with tears in her eyes. “There’s at least one other girl here and I don’t have a lot of options either! Rica’s already with Tyler and you won’t even look my way! You’re an ass, Mark!”
Stunned, I lost my grip on Gale’s arm as she sprinted away. What was I supposed to say? What should I have done? She was right. But she was also wrong. When I get my class, I could prove that I am better than Tyler. I don’t dislike Gale. But it was a little hard to see her as a woman when I saw her thing as a kid. Hell, we used to share a bath. Am I being too hard on her? I get that it’s probably more confusing to her than those around her.
“Shit.” I cursed myself as she disappeared. “If Gale would have just waited, we could have talked about it.”
I kicked myself for not having the confidence or words for the situation my whole way home…
***
Fayt the half-elf/half-orc
11 days before the end of the quest…
Fayt slashed the final Mountain Ape dispatching it was… distasteful. She hated slaughtering just for the sake of it. Even if she was on a quest. It had taken her days to get here. Only stopping in her mother’s hometown to deliver some parcels at her request. Only the chief had shown her a modicum of respect. That was more due to tradition and customs than knowing her or her mother.
Fayt didn’t care for that town much either. In the short few hours that she was there, she had been spat on, cursed at, kicked, and one time… had shit thrown at her. She knew better than to call her grandfather ‘grandfather’ unless she wanted to get into a duel to the death. After delivering the letter, he spat in her face and told her to go. The offspring of slaves did not have familial ties, they weren’t even on the level of cattle.
Fayt cursed herself as she wiped her eyes. They shouldn’t have affected her so much. She had gotten used to such treatment as a child. After her mother had moved them to Tarkon she was happy for a time. At least the beast-kin-town would treat her better. They didn’t. A few years later there was an influx of elves. She had thought that things were looking up. She had been wrong.
By the time that Mark had arrived, she had been used to living through life in that way. Even the adventurers avoided the ugly elf. As much as they liked having harems, she wasn’t to their tastes. And the ones that were interested… Well, they were worse off than her in the looks department. That or they were so bad at their job they expected her to carry them through dungeons. Not that any of this had hurt her feelings much. The part that sucked was that she had a hard time finding a decent party to join up with.
Because everyone knew that Adventurer parties were more like applications to join a harem of some sort, than an actual team. Sure, for some it was all about friendship and rewards, blah, blah, blah. But those were few and far between. For most, it was about allying with the most powerful person they could and exchanging being single for a lifetime of wealth and protection.
Then came the quest contract from the merchant’s guild. It was a cushy job. Fayt snatched it up before the others could. She did have to duel a mage for it, but that was over with quickly. Guardsman jobs were sought after due to the steady pay and easy XP. She had planned to double up on XP, adventuring and guarding. She was going to get rich and hit Tier 2 in no time. That was until Mark had revealed that precious secret about the level stacking bonus. She took it with a grain of salt.
Fayt figured that if she had stuck with Mark for about a week, it wouldn’t hurt her too much. With the raise to 4 silver a week and XP doubling to 100 a day, plus the 2 silver a week from the place that she was doubling up on… Fayt began to see Mark in another light. He gave away a valuable secret, paid her more in a week than she could earn from monsters in a month, and bought her dinner on a nightly basis. If you added in the stay at his mansion and friendly demeanor, it was no wonder that her heart felt like it would break her new armor every time she looked in his direction.
It wasn’t just that though. To Fayt it was the little things. Like the way he looked at her we she came to his defense. The words he used to describe the way she looked when asked. ‘Pretty’ and ‘beautiful’ were foreign words to her. Or at least not words she had heard to describe her. Even if he wasn’t interested in her in that way… she was in love.
It hadn’t taken much effort for Rica to invite her to their bed. She just beckoned Fayt in with a hand and a hushing motion. In what felt like a dream-like state, Fayt wobbled in on unsteady legs and laid on the bed.
It had felt soooo good!
Mark was warm and comfortable. Despite her warrior class and hard nature. For the first time in her life, Fayt felt… small, delicate, safe. It was as if in those arms, no harm would ever come to her. She felt girly. It had made her smile.
“I will save you, Mark.” Fayt muttered as she approached the final group of apes. She needed five Alpha Mountain Ape hearts. Next, she would have to gather Mountain Doe entrails, 10 of them! A massive problem for a sword wielding warrior. Luckily, so long as she could manage to stay quiet, she could take them down in one hit.
***
Mark Collier
Dream world…
Shealla panted as she looked deep into my eyes. There was lust in them, passion, a need to satisfy her heated desire, as she rode me like you would if you were trying to break in a bull or a horse. Kisses were plastered to my chest, neck, and mouth. The moment didn’t last long, it was my first time. But… It… Was… Glorious! Especially when she planted herself deep and laid her head on my chest.
I remembered this moment in my vivid dream. It was the night before I had received my class. Shealla had promised that she would meet me in Tarkon in two weeks. My plan was always to go there. I just wanted to be as far from this little shit hole of a town as I could. Then we spent most of the evening like this. Cuddling.
“I love-” I began.
“Shh…” Shealla whispered as she put a finger over my lips. “We both know what this was.”
“What?” I asked, about as naïve as ever.
“I need you.” Shealla said in a husky tone. “You want Rica and settled for me. Just… don’t. Please… don’t do that to me.”
“But-” I started.
“Mark.” Shealla choked up. “It’s already going to be bad enough. Your parents are kicking you out, your sister is being taken by the party, and I won’t see you for at least an extra two weeks. Probably a month. If you truly believe those words, tell me then.”
“Okay.” I huffed as I slapped her bare ass. “Pretty sure I got a thing for demon kin women though.”
Shealla chuckled. “Yeah, they got a thing for you too.”
A silence settled over us that lasted long enough for me to think Shealla had fallen asleep. It was no wonder that this had happened. What, with all the Charisma training and the flirting that was used to help it improve the fastest. Clair, Tyler’s mom, was another that had volunteered to help me with the training. We had not progressed this far.
“I love you too.” Shealla whispered...
***
Fayt the half-elf/half-orc
8 days before the end of the quest…
“Fucking fleet of foot deer.” Fayt cursed as she chased down a 4th creature from this part of the quest. “Why does that healer need so many ingredients?”
Fayt had gotten lucky and managed to find all of the Blue Ice Grass that she needed. All forty of them. That still left 7 Mountain Doe entrails and 1 Flower of Crystalized Mana. They only grew at the peak of Bendaff. Well, any mountain really. But this was the closest, most easily reachable peak.
If Fayt could manage to get 3 does’ today and 4 tomorrow, she would have enough time to reach the peak, collect the flower, and return with a day to spare. She crept through the woods and debated removing her armor for something much quieter. The problem was… she would lose all of her guard benefits. Her armor, as noisy as it was, was somehow linked to the boost that she received as a guard. Those boosts included a hefty bonus to… well, everything. She was smarter, faster, and stronger than ever. Her new charisma gave her a confidence that she never had before.
Until now, Fayt had dreamed of a quest like this. But, when she got the quest notification and read it, her heart sank.
Quest conditions met! Heroic Adventurer: As an adventurer you, you have fallen in love with a non-combatant. You must prove your love is worth saving and meets the requirements of the Adventurer’s Paradox. To do this you must save their life in the allotted time frame.
That notification had surprised her when she had left Tarkon. It had been delayed for some reason. But, it was not the notification that forced Fayt’s resolve.
Quest Updated! Heroic Adventurer: Update. The life of your employer/love interest’s condition has worsened. You must hasten your speed as the timer ticks down. Each hour that they go without treatment will enhance their pain.
With the updated status, Fayt had thrown caution to the wind and began using her berserker rage as soon as she saw the doe. Only about half of the deer that she had managed to kill were in good enough condition to recover the much-needed ingredients.
***
Gale the Wind Walker Mage
Four days from Tarkon…
“Gale.” Isabelle hissed. “What are all these people doing? They keep following us.”
“You got drunk, mother.” Gale rolled her eyes. “Then claimed that Mark was possessed by a demon.” She settled with a glare on her mother. “A fucking made up racial stereotype and you know it. That shit is not even possible.” Her view returned to the ropes at her wrists. “Then you found me leaving the Mages Guild and forced me to join this fucked up campaign.”
“What?” Isabelle was shocked. “That doesn’t sound like something I would do.” Then she did a double take at the fifty-some-odd adventurers following them. “What was that about Mark? Is he feeling better? Did Rica solve it? Did she fix him?”
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Gale glared daggers at her mother. Again. “The first time you decide to sober up in years and you do it during one of your grand schemes? Why the hell should I answer you?”
Isabelle reached across the gap between their horses and grabbed Gale by the shoulders. “My baby boy is feeling better. Are you certain? Come on Gale, don’t lie to me now.”
Gale cringed. She knew exactly how much her mother wanted a son. Especially after Gale developed boobs. Isabelle had practically claimed Mark as her own afterward. Nearly ignoring Gale in the process. It was a big part of why Gale chose to identify as a woman. That and the constant badgering of her mother to make Mark join the family. An idea that Gale did not hate. Or didn’t hate when she was younger. But now that she has had time to grow and explore the world…
In the years after his death, Isabelle had not taken it well. She drank a lot. She was manic depressive and turned nasty when she drank. It had literally split her personality. When she was sober, the rare few times that that had occurred, she was a decent mother. Almost like she had been when they were growing up. It was a whole different matter when she was drunk.
Eventually, Gale nodded. “Rica sent Mark’s character sheet.”
Isabelle glanced back at those trailing behind them and sighed. “That’s good, sweety. How do we get them to stop following us?”
“You took over as party leader.” Gale groaned. “You do it.”
“I did?” Isabelle asked. “When?”
“Like thirty years ago.” Gale smirked. “Just after the last time you were sober.”
“Why?” Isabelle quizzed. “I thought Mike was the leader.”
“Yeah.” Gale snorted. “Until he lipped off one too many times about Mark. You nearly killed him and Livia.”
“Well…” Isabelle nodded. “That does sound like something I would do…” She had a pensive look on her face. “Does that make you the vice leader? Can you just tell them to go home?”
Gale shook her head and ground her teeth. “No, you made Mark the vice leader. With me just under him. You said that it was the proper place for me.”
Isabelle facepalmed. “Did I really say that? I’m sorry, sweety. Can you ever forgive me?”
Gale rolled her eyes. “Stay sober and I’ll think about it.”
Isabelle beamed. “As long as Mark is okay, I promise, I will.” She edged her horse closer. “So… do you think you might try again?”
“Mother.” Gale groaned. “It’s been like sixty years. Do you really think that I’m still holding a candle for Mark, of all people?”
“That’s not a no.” Isabelle chimed, before she excused herself to disband the campaign.
***
Fayt the half-elf/half-orc
4 days before the end of the quest…
Fayt growled in frustration as chased yet another doe. It was the final one. She had given up chasing them two days ago as she knew that she would need to find and collect the flower. It was pure luck that she had found it and a pack of the deer at the same time. They had nearly eaten all of them in the patch of frozen flowers.
Enraged at the sight of her ingredients disappearing, Fayt slaughtered six of the animals that were more focused on eating the flowers than running from her. There was only one flower left, she had noticed as she took in the carnage around her. Blood had soaked the snow, turning it crimson red and half melted. She scrambled for the crystalized mana flower and placed it in her satchel for protection. Then she collected the intestines of the doe that were lying dead around her.
Not for the first time, Fayt had considered pinning the flower on her chest in order to draw the creatures in. But, with the flower being fragile, crystalized mana, she did not want to chance destroying it while killing the monsters. With the expanded inventory space in her bag that she received as a boost for guarding Mark, she knew that it would be safer in her bag than anywhere else. Apparently, traders had a separate sort of inventory perk that allowed for more space in their bags, chests, crates, and wagons. She hadn’t known that. In fact, until this journey, she hadn’t even realized that it was a possibility. She was used to her old way of doing things. Large traveler packs and extra bags for various types of loot. You made a lot more for herbs and other types of ingredients if they weren’t saturated in blood. That went for gemstones as well. As for the reason that you separated armor and weapons… well, the weapons could damage the armor and vice versa.
“DIE!” Fayt roared as she charged the doe she caught in the corner of her eye.
Congratulations! You have earned 2,396 XP.
The doe toppled over as relief settled throughout Fayt’s veins. Tears came to her eyes as she watched the head and neck topple forward to the ground and its body fell sideways. She made a quick slice with her sword and dug what she needed from the corpse.
“Hold on, Mark.” Fayt whispered. “We’re going to make it.”
***
Mark Collier
Some days later…
Pain coursed through my body as the hours ticked by. I hallucinated strange events that felt out of this world.
“Get up.” A gravelly voice demanded. “I said, get up or I’ll continue the lesson regardless of you defending yourself.”
“Y… yes, sir.” I whimpered as I tried to stand and hold the shield again.
Now I remember…
My father was training me to be a tank. I was fourteen and made the mistake of getting into one of his spirits bottles the night before. He pounded the shield relentlessly. His wooden training sword slapped, stabbed, and swiped any part of my body that wasn’t covered by the shield. Any time the shield dropped I would get hit in the ribs or an exposed limb. Which also included my head.
“If you think you’re a man.” Father swung his sword so hard the hit knocked my shield aside and crashed into my shoulder, crushing it in the process. “Then block like a man.” He stepped forward and slammed the pommel of the blade into my temple. The thought was ridiculous. My father was a Knight Tier Adventurer. With his strength and speed, there was no way that I could defend my classless self.
It… rang… my… bell. Instantly, I was falling with the world spinning around me.
I heard a crashing noise as I lay there.
“Why don’t you try that shit on me you old drunk.” A deep baritone boomed.
“This is none of your fucking business, Tyler!” Father snapped at the unfamiliar voice.
“You made it my business with that last shot.” Tyler growled with a crashing noise that rang like a hammer on metal. “Nobody cares if the kid had one of your cheap drinks.” A banging noise even louder this time. “But if I see you pull another stunt like that…” This time there was a roar. “I’ll fucking kill you.” The next thing I knew there was a massive pair of minotaur hands picking me up. “You okay kid?”
I nodded. For some reason my mouth wasn’t working and felt numb.
Tyler grinned. “Good.” He patted my shoulder. “Don’t let him hit you like that again, okay? Let me know if he does. Got it?”
I nodded again. Touching my jaw, where the blow landed, due to being just fast enough to dodge by that much. I realized why my mouth wasn’t working. It had been shattered and hanging limp.
“Come on.” He wrapped a massive arm around my shoulder. “My mother has something that will fix that right up.”
***
Fayt the half-elf/half-orc
1 day before the end of the quest…
“Shit!” Fayt cursed herself for getting caught up in a Grimlock Horde. She was cutting it close to begin with and decided to sprint through the area. Chancing that she could use hit and run tactics to get through the area. She killed those that got in her way and ran from the rest. The problem that she was having was that the escapees would run ahead of her and alert other groups of Grimlocks.
Grimlocks were ugly little bastards. Slimy six-foot-long caterpillars with a half-dozen insectoid legs. Multiple beady eyes cover their head. And a nasty black mucus that seemed to be a constant leakage from their mouths. Their arms were too short to connect to each other. Which is why she suspected that they threw rocks, rather than wielding weapons.
Fayt watched as the timer ticked down. She was just a few hours from town and knew that it would take some time for the potion to be made. The trip was a six-hour sprint away. The potion would probably take at least that much time. And she was sitting with just over 14 hours remaining on the timer.
Fayt glared at the massive army of Grimlocks and knew that it would take longer to go around the horde than to kill them. If she hadn’t decided to take a rest in celebration for collecting the final ingredient, she could have gone through here properly. But, after so many days without sleep, she couldn’t help but pass out as the tension that had been fueling her hunt had released.
Now, she spat on the ground and gripped her massive weapon, readying for a charge. She had already decided that her only option at this point was to cut down the low-level monsters. They were more of a nuisance to her than anything else at this point. With her new armor and boost to her stats, they couldn’t really damage her like those apes in the mountain.
It was more that they were just so clumped together that she couldn’t pass without slaughtering them, or at least thinning the herd. This was why you used stealth tactics in this area. She shook her head. Stealth was her weakest ability. When she had been leveling in this area, she used an atypical pattern. Mainly because her Berserker class did well with slaughtering small groups on mass.
Fayt took one last deep breath and charged the incoming horde.
Why were these things so stupid? She thought as she swept her sword horizontally, cleaving a dozen of them instantly. Can’t they tell that I’m much more powerful than they are?
And so, the battle began. Fayt, sliced, chopped, cleaved, and smashed the insignificant monsters in front of her. No matter where she turned, there was a beast to be cut down as it tried to overwhelm her. She wished that she could just charge through. Or that she could use magic like Rica. Her arsenal of area attacks constituted swinging her sword wider. They were so much lower than her on the leveling scale that she barely received XP for killing them. Maybe one or two total per swing. If she were killing them one at a time, she suspected that she wouldn’t even receive XP. That was to be expected with her as close as she was to Tier 2. All of which meant… the fight was as boring as it sounded. Nothing like it was at level 18 or 20 even.
Hours passed as the combat continued and she was glad for the boost to her constitution. Otherwise, Fayt would have been overwhelmed. The beasts never stopped coming. But she grinned as she had noticed that she was near the boundary of their territory. She noted the thinning rows of enemies, Fayt chose to breakthrough and charge for the city.
It wasn’t an epic battle. It was more of a slow grind through severely under-leveled opponents. Like pushing a loaded wagon from a rut. Annoying and difficult to do by yourself, but doable with high enough stats. She would have chuckled at the stupid creatures and gloated, if she had the time.
Instead, Fayt sprinted for town as she knew that her time was short…
***
Mark Collier
Suddenly, I woke. The sensation of fluids spraying into my mouth to force me to swallow and nearly caused me to choke in the process. But I was more distracted by the lips that were pressed to mine. Without knowing who it was, Rica I assumed, I gripped the back of her head with my weakened arm and surprised her with a return kiss. It wasn’t until my thumb brushed across a very pointy ear, that I realized something was wrong.
“Fayt?” I questioned, weakly.
“I was too late.” Fayt was crying. “We thought we lost you.”
“What?” A reed thin voice escaped my lips. As I took in my surroundings, I noted that there were two healers, one elven and one bunny kin. They looked exhausted and ready to keel over. But smiled, genuinely happy, when they noticed that I was responsive.
“There were only minutes left on the clock for the quest when I made it back.” Fayt spoke softly. She sounded embarrassed. “I tried to get here faster. But the damn Grimlocks held me up. Master Ivan said that we should try anyway. He brewed the potion and suggested that I force you to take it.”
Over her shoulder I saw Rica. “You ok with this?”
“Yes.” Rica nodded as she pat Fayt on the back. “She worked hard and never gave up. I don’t begrudge her a kiss.”
Wanting to shrug but feeling too weak to do so, I sighed. “You’re going to break what little honor I have left. My parents will be pissed.”
Rica smiled sweetly. “They’ll get over it.”
Smiling at her joke, I checked my notifications and was stunned to see the result.
Congratulations! Hired guards has reached level 4.
Hired guards: Level 4 – (1/2 your stats to boost your personal guards. 1/2 slot available. You may now hire two guards for your property to one personal guard. Limit of 8 personal guards. Guards that protect your property gain ¼ of your stats.)
There were other notifications, but this one couldn’t be minimized.
Rica must have mistaken my reaction for something else. “They came as soon as they heard that you were ill. Grandfather is hosting them in his camp as we speak.”
Not trusting my voice to speak, I just nodded. Maybe it was true. I found that it was hard to give a shit at the moment. Fayt began to stand, and I did the only thing I could to keep her close. I gripped her arm as tight as I could. Unfortunately, it was not strong enough for her to notice. Slumber took me once more as she left me in Rica’s care.
***
“Oh, Mark.” Rica whispered. “What we’ll we ever do with you?” She whispered as she stroked my cheek.
I stayed silent. This was the first time I had noticed her speaking while I slept. It was nice and I didn’t want to embarrass her. I felt warmth all around me as she held me in her arms.
“Do you think he’s mad at me?” Fayt whispered.
Too my shock!
“Does that smile look like its mad?” Rica questioned. “Does his body look like it’s reacting in a negative way? No, Fayt, Mark is not mad. He is simply stubborn. That is why we let him sleep.”
“O-okay…” The large, softer than her figure would suggest, elf girl whispered as she laid her head back down. “The temples healers are okay with us being in here, right?”
“Yes.” Rica giggled. “With Mark no longer in danger of dying, they actually recommended that we return to our routine in hopes of fueling his recovery.”
“But to be naked like this in the temple?” Fayt asked, unsure.
I had the most intense urge to take a peek. Instead, I behaved like a gentleman and refused to betray their trust. I liked to think of myself as an honorable pervert. So long as I didn’t get caught, I was not a pervert. With two sets of eyes on me, there was a good chance of being caught.
Maybe this was the first time Fayt had done something like this. It did seem like the type of thing Rica would con someone into doing. Maybe she and Rica had a thing. In that case, I could step aside.
I always knew that I wasn’t good enough. A sadness settled into my core. What can I say? Their adventurers. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Perhaps we can stay… friends. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
“Shh…” Rica shushed me with a soothing tone and gently kissed my forehead. “It’s okay, baby. Everything is fine. You’re with me, love.”
What? You’re with Fayt! I wanted to shout but held back.
“It’s just a nightmare.” Rica pressed in close. “Come on, Fayt. He’s angry, help me. I hate seeing that look on Mark’s face.”
“What do I do?” Fayt asked after a moment’s hesitation.
“Just tell him that you love him.” Rica whispered. “It usually works for me. But… I don’t know… this feels different.”
“I-I love you, Mark.” Fayt stuttered. “I don’t know Rica; he doesn’t look any different.”
“Shhh…” Rica tried to get her to lower her voice. “Just tell Mark what you told me.”
“I-I c-can’t.” Fayt sounded embarrassed.
I felt my anger slip a bit. She can’t help it. Anyone would fall in love with Rica. I did.
“It’s fine, see.” Rica assured her. “He’s not as angry as you might think.”
“How can you tell?” Fayt asked again. “I don’t see the difference.”
“You see this crinkle right here.” Rica stated. “And that crease next to his mouth. Mark isn’t hard to read, you just have to learn to pay attention to the small details.”
What? I’m like an open book. Who would think that I was hard to read?
“Ah, I see it now.” Fayt remarked. “What does that crinkle mean?”
“Oh, no.” Rica sounded worried. “That’s confusion. I think Mark has been eavesdropping.”
“Hardly eavesdropping when you are laying on top of me.” I grumbled, keeping my eyes closed. “You don’t have to lie to me. I’ll be fine.”
“What?” Rica asked.
“Look, I get it.” I stated. “You two are in love. Don’t let me come between you. But, please, let me process it in peace.”
“Mark…” Rica sighed.
“Go, please.” I spoke firmly. “I would rather you didn’t see me in this state.”
I could feel the tears coming and willed them to stall their efforts.
“Baby.” Rica sounded amused.
“Go, now!” I demanded in probably one of the louder tones that I had ever used.
I felt her recoil away as if I had struck her. Fayt scurried off me. There was a clatter of what I assumed to be armor.
“No.” Rica spat back. “Fayt, stay where you are. Mark, open your fucking eyes. You are not a child, do not behave like one.”
This was the most controlling/serious that Rica had sounded since the day that I ‘came back.’ I forgot that she could be like this. Honestly, it was kind of hot. I opened my eyes.
“Good.” Rica smiled as she touched my chest. “Now, we’re going to talk about this like the adults that we are. Stop just assuming shit. Fayt, would you like to start?”
Fayt nodded as she approached, covering her exposed bits as best she could. “Mark, sir.”
“Cut the sir shit.” Rica snapped. “You do not act as if there is a disparity of rank when in love.”
Fayt nodded again as she steeled herself. “Mark, I love you. At first, I thought that it must be what it felt like to have a friend. You were so nice, buying me dinners and accepting me into your home. I had also believed that this could just be a cushy guard job. But, then… as I guarded your back from attacks, I began to notice little things. How you treated those around you, the respect you gave when earned, the way you refused to do business with people that were unscrupulous.”
It sounded as if she were just listing off attributes.
“Fayt…” Rica smiled. “We talked about this. Just tell Mark what you told me, or he won’t believe you.”
Fayt looked at Rica nervously. Minutes passed as she wracked herself with indecision, beads of sweat formed on her brow, and her normally tan long elven ears were nearly glowing red. She must have forgotten her nudity as she covered her face and nodded slowly.
“The truth is…” Fayt spoke in a muffled tone through her hands. “I don’t know why. I like you. You’re handsome, you’re more serious than anyone I know, and I can’t get you out of my head. When you are not near me, I desperately need to find you. When I see a threat, all I want to do is protect you. When you sleep, I have to be nearby. I don’t get it myself.”
As a person that has had his class fuck with him, I thought about it for a second. “Are you sure that this isn’t because of your duty as my personal guard?”
Fayt shook her head vehemently. “No, I’ve done guard duty before. It’s nothing like that.” She touched her chest. “This is something more.”
I tilted my head at Rica, as if to ask. ‘Are you okay with this?’
Rica nodded.
“I honestly don’t know what to make of this.” I stated. “But I won’t turn you away. If you are fine with things as they have been, who am I-”
Rica cuffed me upside the head. “Don’t let that stupid rule about one wife thing get in the way… Besides, it doesn't say anything about girlfriends.”
I barely heard her through a ringing in my head. That one little smack nearly gave me a concussion.
“Right.” I nodded. “Like I said.” I glared at Rica. “I won’t turn you away Fayt. You’re my favorite Bodyguard.”
“She’s your only guard.” Rica stated with a bemused look.
“Not for long.” I grinned as I laid back down, dizzily. “I can now hire another personal guard or two property guards.”
“What?” They asked in unison.
“Yeah.” I mumbled as I began to drift off once more. “Whatever you did, you leveled it twice.”
“Mark…” I heard my name as they began to speak, but nothing else.
***
My dreams were vivid. I sat on the back of the wagon as I heard Tyler and Rica fight with monsters. A strange figure approached, he stood at a massive 7 foot some odd inches. Bright golden wings were protruding from his back. The wings were easily half again as tall as he was.
I began to back away in fear as he approached. My hands scrabbled for anything to hold onto. A deafening thump began to pound in my head. His smile grew wider as he approached. Which caused a dampness to soak my pants for some reason. I tried to cry out for help. Pleaded in my head for my body to obey.
“My, my…” The figure stated once he was within an arm’s length. “You… Are… Just… Perfect.”
A shrill screech erupted from my throat as a strong pressure beat down on my soul.
“Finally, my son will live again.” He bowed sincerely. “Thank you for your sacrifice.”
As I tried to regain control of my body and flee as fast as I could… he snatched me by the leg and flew away. We soared through the chill of the night on the wings of the most terrifying figure I had ever met. The figures of Rica and Tyler giving chase quickly disappeared from sight. All I could hear was the cackling laughter of a fallen Angel carrying me through the night.
A shift in the dream occurred and suddenly I was placed on an altar. Several godlike figures surrounded me. The massive fallen angel. Obviously. Fricking asshole. Stood at the side as if presenting me as some sort of prize horse.
A woman with wolf like features while still looking human, not wolf kin like at all, stood across from him. As if she were making a challenge to his very being. She had the tail, teeth, ears, and nose of a wolf. But that is where the similarities ended. Her skin was like that of a porcelain doll, creamy and flawless. She stood tall and proud. Despite her size I got the strong sensation she was about as moveable as a mountain.
Off in an area all to themselves was a massive beast with the cold, hard eyes of something that wanted nothing more than to shred the world to pieces. He had to be a Chimera. I could see the features of all kinds of monsters blended together, but not in the horrific mage/alchemist sort of way.
In the back stood a figure made of pure shadow. I couldn’t make out much of their details.
Next to him was a woman covered in the most regal and expensive finery that I had ever witnessed.
A giant demon king stood between the angel and the wolf woman.
“The summit has been called.” The demon king announced. “And it has been answered. For what reason have you done this, Michael first of the fallen?”
“I have found the vessel.” The angel, Michael announced.
To which there was a resounding gasp that echoed from each mouth excepting that of the demon king.
“Asmodeus, I demand the right of succession.” Michael stated.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” The wolf woman snapped taking a step forward. “That is my child, he has suffered enough.”
“Meloney.” The shadowy figure chided. “When you took in with a human, you knew that this could happen. The filthy creatures are full of betrayal.”
“I had to watch as those humans NEARLY KILLED HIM ON A DAILY BASIS.” The room shook as Meloney’s voice turned from a sneer to a shout. “I will not stand aside as you try to finish the job.” She finished much calmer.
Fear ran through my body as the beings spoke. Powers greater than me, than the world, were meddling in my fate. It sounded as if I were about to die.
“Meloney, dear.” The female in the finery approached with a laugh that reminded me of a weasel. “His class has been chosen and as the goddess that presides over said class, I could only see this as a boon for him.”
“You are talking about erasing his soul and replacing it with another.” Meloney growled. “What happens to my son then?! What happens when there is nothing left of Mark?! We’re not talking about reviving the soul of a dead demigod. What you are trying to do is wipe him from existence!”
“Who cares?” Asked the shadowy figure. “You just admitted that he is useless. Barely surviving childhood? What could your Mark possibly achieve? I vote that we proceed.”
Meloney growled in anger at the shadowy figure. “You will rue this very day Calan. You better keep your fucking shadow worshipers off my mountains.” She spat. “As for you Fickle Fina, you don’t have a clue what you are bargaining for.”
“Oh, but I do Meloney dear.” The weaselly woman, Fina giggled. “I’m ridding myself of a filthy mountain spawn and gaining a descendent of the All-Father.”
Before Meloney could lunge at Fickle Fina, the Chimera stepped between them. His back was to Meloney as he spoke to Fina. “I’m with the Mother of the Mountain. You gain too many followers from the deaths of my creations, Fickle Fina.”
“That’s 2 – 3.” Michael stated as he looked toward Asmodeus. “What say you?”
Asmodeus looked around the room and I got the sense that he was older and more powerful than the rest of them combined. He looked amused. “You want my decision?”
“Yes.” Michael said smugly, as if he knew how it would go down.
Asmodeus snorted and frowned. “Fine. You get your son… until the adventures show up to rescue him.” Before Meloney could interject, Asmodeus turned on her. “After that is done, one of my subordinates will resurrect the body. Then they will share the vessel.” He turned his gaze on the rest of the room. “No more interference. From anyone. Or I will come back with an army and crush the lot of you. This is not a matter that you should be calling on a General from any army for. You are lucky that it was me that answered your summons… and not my brother in the Angelic army, nor my son in the Neutral legion.” He let that sink in for a moment before speaking again. “They would have obliterated you for interfering with the mortals.”
Then… then he was gone.
I panicked, I fought and struggled with the straps that bound me. I begged and pleaded for someone, anyone to save me. I looked to the wolf woman that seemed somewhat subdued by Asmodeus. Manacles appeared to have bound her in place. I bore witness to the glowing orb that popped into existence in the hand of the approaching Angel. The shadowy figure’s expression was hard to make out, but it seemed to be joking with Fina. Fina continued to giggle. And the Chimera was the only one that looked remorseful.
Pain.
Not a physical pain nor was it mental. The pain seeped deep into my core as the orb was pressed to my flesh. It felt as if the orb were trying to cannibalize me from the inside out. I raged against the storm. I fought it with every ounce of strength that I had. The orb ripped away at my senses, it tore my soul from my limbs, my gut, and my heart. I did the only thing that I could think of doing. Gathering what little bit of me that remained and I tucked the rest of it away in a dark place in the back of my mind.
As the dream progressed, I got the sense that I had hidden myself within the shadows of my mind for a very long time. From time to time, I would struggle to be free. It would only last until I felt pieces of me burn away again. Which caused me to retreat.
The Fallen Angel, Michael, had spent copious amounts of time instructing the being that shared my soul. He was educated on the histories of why adventures were evil. How to eliminate them. The best methods to get them to kill one another. And so on and so forth.
The worrisome part for me was that he was also teaching him how to suppress my soul. How to keep it locked away. And how to bide his time and regain control. I paid very close attention to these lessons. Even as he had instructed his son to use deceptions and convince the Adventurers to prove just how vile they could be. His father had convinced him to have a disintegration spell placed upon him. I wasn’t so sure that there weren’t any spells used in the suggestion.
Eventually, I was alarmed by a presence I had not seen or heard from in a very long time.
The parasitic soul that had taken over had doubts and planned to rebel against his father’s instructions. He planned to kill the humans and keep my body for himself. He held no love for any of them. He was going to lead a monster army and lay waste to civilization. I heard his thoughts and bid my time for this very moment.
In life, I believe that there’s a moment in everyone’s life. To some it may occur more than once. But it happens. To all of us. Whether it’s a missed item on the receipt at the general trade store. Or a loved one that needs an organ transplant. A moment that defines who you are. One that we can choose how to respond to it. And nobody, no one at all, can decide that moment for us.
Because we are the only ones that would know the true answer or reason behind it. The choice may be big; it might be small. But when it comes, you know it. Its where you must draw a line in the sand and say, ‘this is me; this is who I am.’
Nobody is perfect all the time. But when these moments come you can be perfect. A thieving scoundrel that chooses to save the life of a child at the cost of their freedom. A hero that chooses a cowardly act to save their own reputation. A villain that sacrifices themselves for the greater good in a time of dire need.
I may not be a hero. I might never be able to save the world. But I could damn well save my friends.
There was a struggle as I took control. The Angel had noticed the switch, and had it not been for the intervention of Rica and Tyler. I suspect that he would have struck me down himself.
As I expressed my feelings for her and conveyed the love that I held in my heart as she was beaten back. My limbs were shredded a centimeter at a time as I spoke each word. I explained to her how much I enjoyed watching her smile. Even if I wasn’t the one that put it there. Blocking out the pain that threatened to make me pass out. I spoke of the times when we were children and the crush I had had since I was six and she was seven. When I had caught the flu and she stayed by my side until I recovered.
How she was the only bright spark I had to look forward to in this entirely too shitty of a life. I told her to find her true love because I knew that they were out there. I said that I would always be with her in my memories and hoped that she would find some fondness in the short amount of time that we had spent together.
Tyler lay in a crumpled heap near her and an urgency to save them took over. I caught a glimpse of Becky from the corner of my eye and smiled before giving a final screw you to the boss.
“Fuck you!” I pointed at the Angel. “Fuck your fucking son! And fuck this fucking shithole! I am so fucking done. I hope you burn in hell.”
My dream fades as my flesh is torn from my body with naught but bones left.
***
“That’s probably the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had.” I said as I got up. Can’t let the ladies know that I’m having freaking nightmares. I could feel the cold sweat that covered my body. A few unchecked notifications blinked in my vision as I realized that I hadn’t checked them all after waking in the dead of night. I couldn’t really blame myself either. What with Fayt’s declaration and Rica knocking some sense into me.
Congratulations! Achievement gained! Martyr.
Congratulations! Achievement gained! Dual soul.
Congratulations! Achievement gained! Damsel.
Martyr – You have sacrificed yourself to save a number of individuals. +5 Charisma, +2 skill points, +1 ability point.
Dual soul – You are in a constant internal struggle with a soul trapped inside your body. Down forget to beat it down if you don’t want to lose yourself. +5 Wisdom, skill gained: Will + 2.
Damsel – Wow, just wow. You have needed to be rescued so many times that you actually got an achievement for it. You, my dear, need some help. +10 to all stats, +5 to all skills. You get nothing for maxed out skills.
Quest updated! You have earned 1200 XP, 20 silver, and Trader’s shoes.
Find out what is driving up the price of pets! As you have begun to search for your missing history a new, terrifying development has occurred. You have been reborn after a duel for your body. How and why were you reborn? What exactly happened in the 60 years that you don’t remember? How much of your dream was a lie and what did the other being do to your body? Time to figure it out.
Fayt smiled shyly as Rica sighed. “Not to ruin this beautiful moment.” Rica stated as she refused to lift her head from my shoulder. “But Tyler and I have a good recommendation for your second personal guard.”
“Someone I know?” Fayt asked. She was still technically part of the Adventurers Guild.
“I don’t know, maybe.” Rica said. “Slender wolf kin girl. Goes by the name Mouse.”
“Eh, sort of.” Fayt rubbed at my pecs that seemed to have grown some overnight. “Her family was killed by a pack of Dire Panthers or something. Said the only reason she survived was because she was the runt and hid from the danger. Now, she mostly works solo though. Are you sure that Mouse would be willing to work for Mark?”
“Yeah…” Rica said, yawning. “We saved her out in the woods. She said that she was starting to tire of hunting enemies that didn’t understand her need for vengeance. Something about finally realizing that it was just in their nature. When I spoke to her a few days ago, Mouse, told me to contact her when a position became available, and she would think about it.”
“If your plan is to build me a harem, please don’t.” I sighed. “It’s hard enough gaining levels as is. I still don’t have enough Intelligence and Wisdom for the whole kidnapping extortion thing. I got lucky with Tommy because he was a Tier 1 thief that wasn’t very smart. What happens when I have to deal with someone moderately powerful? What happens when I, me a low-level merchant, have to go through the Rite of Faith or the Test of Strength to gain the honor of anyone? If I survive, there is a good chance that I am either a target with my women stolen, or that my women are stolen, and no one knows who I am. I can’t fight an orc or cast unbeatable magic to gain Fayt. With you I at least have a chance at the Demon’s Luck portion. But I will die when I have to walk through a hall filled with demon fire.”
“Shut up.” Rica lightly slapped my cheek. “Unholy fuck! Is that what has been holding you back? Mark, it’s not as bad as you might think. Non-combatants do not have the same trials that Adventurers have. As a merchant trader, you must present an item of worth. One that values both the relationship and the estimation of your desired companion’s worth. There are a few key factors though. First, it must not be just the most expensive item out there. You must put actual thought into getting it. Second, one of the demon kings or higher will judge your estimation and decide if and how much of a blessing/curse to bestow upon you. As for that Demon’s Luck bs, that’s more like entertainment. There is a fair amount of gambling based upon the Demon King chosen, the type of gift chosen, among many other estimations. Depending upon your blessing, we will receive a portion of the proceeds.”
“It’s similar for my people as well.” Fayt mumbled, refusing to get up. “The elves will probably base it off the type of magical enchantment and item selected. Suitability, as well as a few other things. Mom’s people on the other hand do have a contest of strength. But you will not be facing off with warriors. You will need to procure a suitable slave and have them battle in pit fights. This slave is then expected to survive as long as possible. If they manage to win, a number of things could happen. But that doesn’t matter so much. Your slave must survive at least 6 rounds in order for you to gain the approval of my mother’s people.”
“Oh.” I said, I wasn’t sure whether I should be happy or disappointed.
I had heard many things over the years. Especially, pertaining to the rituals involving the gaining of a wife. Each race had their own ritual. Because I only really knew adventurers, most of the details were along the more grueling combat-oriented stakes. Like how the dwarves who followed the Mountain Mother, started off with a combat tournament. Which was followed by enduring temperatures, while locked in a cave or cage depending on what was available, that most normal people would die from. To finish it off, the champion of the tournament, which may not have been the original suitor, would have to get the prize to submit sexually in front of a crowd of onlookers. If they managed to win and have enough energy to continue, any willing participants from the crowd may step up to try their hand.
You could potentially enter the ritual with the intent of having a single bride and leave with a fully-fledged harem. The only guaranteed person in the group was the prize. Typically, the champion was wiped out after the first bout with the prize.
“That’s not so bad.” I agreed.
“What’s not so bad?” A familiar voice asked as the door opened.
“Nothing.” I muttered.
An older than I could remember version of Becky stood next to my bed shaking her head. She held a slight smile on her face. “It’s good to see you brother.”
“You too, Becky.” I couldn’t hold back my own smile.
She squinted as she looked at me. “Are you certain that you are my brother?”
I rolled my eyes. “Who else would think it was a mistake for you to stop styling your hair with pigtails? They were adorable.”
“You little shit.” Becky rebuked me and I could tell that she was happy. Despite the tone of her voice. “My wives are here, and I won’t have you repeating that to them.”
“Are they cute?” I asked, back to a serious face. “As I recall, any suitors of yours needed to meet my approval first.”
“Yeah, well, a lot has changed.” Becky said, flippantly. “They are way hotter than your women though.”
“Fuck off.” Rica teased her with a one-finger salute. “How about we play catch up later? I’m trying to get this stubborn mule to break his vow of chastity.”
“Good luck with that.” Becky barked with harsh laughter. “Come on. Time to get up. The healers said that if Mark survived the night, he would be free to go. There’s a trial at hand and I don’t want to miss it.”
“Trial?” I questioned.
“Yeah.” Becky snorted. “Baal’s got Shealla imprisoned out there. And he’s been chomping at the bit to speak with you.”
“Coming from the Captain of Mark’s Revenge, really?” Rica snorted. “Bit on the nose with that one.”
“Captain?” My gaze bounced back and forth between the women. “Captain of what?”
“I lead an honorable band of free spirits across the most dangerous waters in the world.” Becky explained. “Discovering new lands and helping those in need.”
“So, you’re a pirate?” I teased.
“No.” Becky looked offended. “I’m a-”
“She’s a pirate.” Rica agreed.
“That’s not it.” Becky looked abashed. “So, what if we raid governors and slavers for their goods. It’s not like they are doing anyone any favors.” She mumbled.
I grinned. “The Shieldmaiden pirate. Whatever would your mother think?”
Becky grinned back. “She’s your mother too. Besides, Livia was pissed.”
“Livia?” Becky had never called our mother that.
“Yeah.” Becky made a hurry up gesture as we climbed from the bed. She gave Fayt the once over. “I take it back… you little lady, are welcome to join my crew any day.”
“Hands off.” Rica scolded. “She’s just confessed her feelings for Mark. Right after saving his life.”
Becky’s hands went up and she backed away in defeat. “Hey, I get it.” She winked at Fayt. “But if you’re ever looking to move on, the offer is there.”
“Oh, fuck off, Becky.” I laughed. “Always trying to take what’s mine. First it was Mr. Cuddles…”
“Now, it’s Mrs. Cuddles. Come on be a team player here, Mark.” Becky’s laughter rang through the halls as we got dressed and continued to joke. Much like when we were kids, my nudity did not offend her in the least. I knew then as a do now, Becky liked the ladies. She blatantly made lewd suggestions toward Fayt, while Rica openly pouted about being interrupted in the midst of her ‘master plan.’ It felt like we were kids again.