It had been a week since Adore had met Maven, and she wasted no time starting the fusion process. Every day, Maven put Adore in a capsule and impaled her with two black wires with large needles at each end, into her back. The capsule was then filled with a strange green translucent liquid that put Adore into an unconscious state, but this didn't last long because the wires logged in her back would send electric shocks throughout her body, waking her up immediately to the feeling of her inside being shocked and burned healed and then burned again, this sequence of events would Last into she was finish.
She would try to scream due to the pain, but she was only met with the assault of the strange liquid rushing into her mouth and almost gagging her. But for whatever reason, the substance she was submerged didn't allow her to choke on, but it tasted disgusting, so not only was she being electrocuted, but she was also being assaulted by the foul taste of the the liquid intruding her mouth, which she couldn't stop because she was still in the process of screaming, although no sound escaped her mouth. This was the worst pain Adore had ever experienced thus far.
Adore couldn't even imagine a worse pain than what she was currently experiencing. The combination of being electrocuted and having her lineages fuse together was an incredibly unpleasant sensation. It felt as if someone was physically squeezing her insides, causing immense discomfort. This aspect of the process was particularly difficult because even after the treatment was over, Adore would still sometimes feel phantom pains throughout the day, as if the sensations were lingering in her body.
Despite the intense pain, Adore could see the improvements and benefits that resulted from the fusion process. In the weeks following her sessions, she noticed a significant shift in her power level and senses, although they were still not overwhelmingly significant.
Adore also realized that Maven was not just a sadistic woman who enjoyed torturing children. In fact, during the times when Maven was not subjecting Adore to her torture capsule, she treated her quite well. Maven would come to visit Adore in the morning and stay until at least 11 before leaving and repeating the process the next day. She would bring Adore clothes, ingredients for potions, magical books, artifacts, and weapons of all types. She would also bring regular books for Adore to read, dolls, and pretty jewelry. Maven would dress Adore up in pretty clothes and compliment her on how beautiful she looked.
Interestingly, Maven's personality seemed to change completely once she was done with the torture. She became affectionate and gushed over Adore's appearance. It was almost as if she had two different personalities: one for the torture sessions and one for everything else.
Currently, Adore found herself suffocated in Maven's affection, even though she was actually trying to leave for the guild. It had been a week since she had been there, and she believed that taking on more quests and focusing on strengthening herself would be beneficial. However, Maven had different intentions. Maven had actually brought even more clothes for Adore and insisted on dressing her up further, making it clear that she didn't want Adore to leave until she was finished with her plans
"Come on, Adore. I just got these clothes, and I would hate to have wasted my time collecting them all just for you to skip out on trying them on," Maven pleaded, trying to guilt trip Adore into letting her groom and dress her up.
Adore hesitated, "I'm very grateful for your gifts, but I have things I want to do today. I want to give my mice some time to go out and gain some strength of their own, along with Thomas now that they're all undead. Thomas needs to get stronger if he ever wants to help me bring down the holy."
, "I understand that, but you don't have to do that now. It's only 9 am. You have until 11 am to do whatever you want. I just want to spend some time with you before I leave. I feel like that shouldn't be too much to ask for." Maven said this with a pouty face and a sad, demeanor in order to win Adore over.
Adore pondered the situation for a moment and realized that she didn't necessarily have to leave immediately. She could simply wait until it was time for her usual departure at 11 am. In all honesty, she didn't think she would be missing much if she delayed her departure. However, she did have one concern: Blaze. Blaze often arrived around the same time as Adore, and although she hadn't asked Blaze to join her on her quest before, Adore considered the possibility that Blaze might ask to accompany her this time.
Since Adore's quest was primarily for her companions, all of whom were undead, she knew that if anyone were to join her, they would certainly encounter her eerie group. This would inevitably expose the dark magic emanating from them and could lead others to conclude that Adore herself was a dark mage. This was something she couldn't afford. Adore had managed to conceal her own dark presence after receiving training from Maven, but she had yet to learn how to mask the dark aura of her beast companions and Thomas. Becoming adept at that skill would require further training.
"Well, I understand that, but I want to get there a little early so I can avoid people trying to make a party with me. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean," Adore explained in a remorseful tone.
Maven sighed, "I don't understand why you just can't say no. It's not like you have to say yes. You're saying no to me right now, aren't you? You can do the exact same thing to them. I'm sure they won't mind. It's not like it's uncommon for people to explore dungeons themselves. Doing so allows you to keep all the profit and only worry about giving some profit to the guild."
Adore felt a mixture of surprise and admiration for Maven's extensive knowledge about guilds. However, she also acknowledged that Maven was not wrong, and saying "no" was always an option. It wasn't something Adore had a problem with, but if she were being honest, the real reason she wanted to leave was because the constant affection from Maven could become overwhelming at times. Adore simply craved some alone time with her companions. Unfortunately, it seemed like Adore wouldn't be able to win this battle, so she reluctantly decided to give in and allow Maven to have her way.
For the remainder of Maven's visit, she dressed Adore in various outfits, gushed over her cuteness, and showered her with affection, whether it be through hugs, kisses, pats on the head, or treats and food. Once Maven was finished, she presented Adore with a book that enhanced spells. Adorned with the name "Orion" at the center and the words "Book of Offense" beneath it, this book introduced Adore to the concept of spell enhancement. Although Adore had briefly read about it before, she hadn't delved deeper into its practice due to her inability to experiment with it at the time.
"Oh, I see this piqued your interest. Would you like to know the effects of the runes in this book?" said Maven.
"Yes, of course. I've read about spell enhancing, but it seems that the only way to use spell enhancing is to go out on your own and find books with the rune required to do so," admitted Adore.
"That's right. That's because there are so many types of spells, such as healing, buffs, debuffs, offensive, defensive, and creation. Each type of spell has its own set of runes that help them become stronger and more potent. But you have to understand something. Adding spell enhancement runes can be tricky and might even cause you to misspell or cast a dud. So you shouldn't use them unless you really need to until you have a better understanding of magic. And at your level, if you constantly used them, you'd be misspelling and casting duds all over the place. So take your time with it," advised Maven.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"I understand. I definitely will. What percentage does this book enhance spells by?" asked Adore eagerly. She really was happy to learn about spell enhancing. She hoped one day she'd be good enough to use them every time she cast a spell.
"Well, this book enhances defense spells by 30%. But you need to understand that the higher the percentage of the spell enhancement runes, the more complicated the runic patterns will be. Some people could end up taking years before they can learn runes at that particular percentage level. I'm sure it wouldn't take you that long once your lineages had fully fused, but until then, it would take you at least 6 months or so before you could even think of casting these runic patterns.
There are a total of 3 runic patterns in this book that cover range, power, and concentration. I'm sure you understand what the other two do, but the last one helps with how pure the concentration of mana is in your attack. This can enhance the power of an attack by leaps and bounds, but it can also be hard to control at lower tiers. Now, this isn't to be confused with power enhancement because that just adds more unconcentrated mana with the same amount of impurities from your surroundings in your attack, which is easier to control, " said maven.
"Really, that's amazing! I can't believe how much the runes are capable of doing. But I have a question; What tier do you think I would need to be before I could use these enhancements at least semi-constantly?" asked Adore.
"Well, given how much more information you'll be able to process when you fully fuse all your lineages, it will probably be around the mid-5th tier at best, but it's hard to say now," said Maven.
"Wow, really? Only 2 tiers and one stage away? That means I need to work as hard as possible to get there. So, Maven, now that it's 11, I'm going to head out. Have a safe trip home, MO... I mean, Ms. Maven."
Maven waved at Adore and ignored her little slip up, and walked back to the front door to reveal a purple and black portal that had taken the place of the regular entrance. Before stepping through the portal, she turned around and blew a kiss to Adore. Bashfully blushing, Adore hurried to her room to change into something more practical. She had been wearing a large, white, and pink puffy dress with a gigantic pink bow, which wasn't ideal for movement.
In her room, Adore switched into a black halter top and a purple and black skirt adorned with striped patterns in those same colors. Underneath, she wore a white petticoat. She made sure to equip all her artifacts, including a recent acquisition from Maven—a sword with icy and watery properties. The blade showcased a dark blue color with light blue edges and white engravings, intricately lined with mysterious runic patterns. The silver sheath and handle featured a dragon head design where the blade met the handle. Adore chose to sling the sword across her back simply because she liked the way it looked. Once fully prepared, she headed back to the front door and exited the house.
------------------------1 HOUR LATER
"Robby, we're close to the city. You can rest now and save your energy. We'll be doing a lot of fighting and cave exploring today, so be prepared," informed Adore .
"Yes, master," replied Robby happily.
"Master, will we all be fighting today?" asked Alice, her excitement evident.
"Yes, all of you will. I am planning to take on a high-ranked yellow quest, if possible, so that you can all practice and build your strength," Adore explained.
"Yes! I can't wait! I've been practicing some attacks in one of the larger rooms in the mansion. And although everyone else has been doing the same, I've been having the most fun," Alice shared eagerly.
"I've noticed. I'm considering spending more time in the soul space myself and taking advantage of the training opportunities it provides. It seems like you all have been doing well with group training. Good job, keep it up. I might reward you with some treats soon," Adore mentioned.
"Yeah!" exclaimed all the mice in agreement.
"Speaking of training, Alice can be quite the sadist. Sometimes it seems like she enjoys beating us so intensely. But I must admit, I appreciate her enthusiasm. Without her tough approach to training, I don't think I would be as strong as I am now," Thomas commented.
"I do enjoy it. Why wouldn't I? It's the best part of my day," Alice admitted.
"Oh wow, how frightening," replied Thomas.
"Hey, I understand that you all are having fun training, but please try not to traumatize each other too much," Adore interjected, displaying a tinge of worry.
After Adore finished what she had to say, she started to notice someone behind her making their way towards her at an alarming rate. She found it strange that Twyla hadn't warned her about this beforehand. Without hesitation, she quickly turned to meet whoever was approaching. As she faced the person, she found herself looking into Blaze's eyes. She honestly didn't know why she hadn't considered this possibility, especially since Twyla hadn't alerted her to someone closing in. Although she knew she should rely on herself for such situations, she had become accustomed to relying on Twyla for warnings.
"Oh I'm sorry did I startle you, honestly I'm surprised you sensed me giving your a mage but It wouldn't be the first time." said blaze.
Adore pondered Blaze's words for a while and began to find it peculiar that she was now able to sense her presence, something she hadn't been able to do before. Could it be a result of the torture she had endured? Had it somehow heightened her senses? It seemed like the only plausible explanation. Adore was genuinely surprised that, after just a week of undergoing the treatment, she was already experiencing some benefits.
"Um, yeah, I've been practicing to hone my senses a little. Nothing too special, but hey, how are you, Blaze?" Adore realized she had just lied for no reason and decided to change the topic so Blaze wouldn't ask her to elaborate any further.
"Oh, I'm good. I'm just coming to the guild to get started on some quests. I finally became a blue-rank adventurer, so now I'm trying to grind my way to becoming one of the top blue-rank adventurers in the guild before the selections happen. I really want that letter of recommendation. I don't have any connections to a high-born family; it's just me and my low-born mom. So, I have to work hard to get what I need, you know?" explained Blaze.
"Yeah, I understand. I'm not really here to get a letter of recommendation, but I still have something I'm working hard for in order to achieve my goals. I don't have any room for shortcuts, nor do I have any to use," replied Adore.
"Oh yeah, I feel that. I'm surprised someone like you doesn't want to go to a school of mystical arts, given how talented you are, you know?" said Blaze.
"Yeah, it's just not something I'm looking for right now. I'm sure in the future it might be an option," said Adore.
She wanted to tell Blaze that she was going to the School of Gemini, until she realized that she would have to explain how she got a letter of recommendation. She would rather Blaze not treat her differently if she learned that she knew someone with connections to a high-born family,
"I understand that not everyone wants the same things. Just surprised, that's all. So, what do you have planned for today quest-wise? I can only do high-tier and mid-blue quests if I want to make it into the top 10 of the blue-rank adventurers," Blaze inquired.
"Oh, I'm actually looking to do some high-tier yellow-ranked quests. I would do blue, but I haven't finished the required amount of yellow-ranked quests yet, so I have no choice but to stick with what I've got," Adore explained.
"I understand. Well, hey, I'm sure you'll make it in no time. You are a powerful mage. I'm surprised that no one has asked you to join their party, but I guess you would have to be here for that to happen," Blaze commented.
"Yeah, I know. I've just been busy training and practicing so I can become a better mage. I don't want to fall behind," Adore replied.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me. I was just talking," said Blaze, a little flustered.
While Adore and Blaze were talking and walking, they soon found themselves arriving at the guild. They really enjoyed each other's company and didn't even notice the passage of time. When they finally made it to the front of the guild, they were greeted by Ryan, who had just finished a conversation with a muscular boy who couldn't have been older than 14. The boy carried a huge axe and wore silver armor. He had wolf-like features, including wolf ears, a tail, and sharp nails. His skin was lightly tanned, and all his hair, including the ones on his ears and tail, was golden brown. Despite his size, the boy seemed a little flustered while talking to Ryan, which was strange. It almost looked comical given his stature. He was also unusually tall for his age, standing at 6 feet, honestly Adore was only able to infer his age by observeing the child like face he had. The boy followed behind Ryan as he approached the two girls.
"Oh, look who it is, the hothead and her mage friend. Is this going to be a recurring thing, you two walking together like a couple? Please," Ryan said in a mocking tone.
"Ryan, stop being an asshole. What are you doing out here anyway? And who's this meathead? Your new muscle brain to help you on your scavenger hunts?" Blaze replied, a little flushed but hiding it well.
"Hey, I'll have you know I'm very competent. I'm not just some meathead, you ass," the muscular boy fired back.
"Yeah, Blaze, you shouldn't be mean to someone who hasn't provoked you. He was just sitting there minding his own business. I'm sure you could have insulted Ryan without involving someone else. And Ryan, please stop being so rude. It's not kind to talk to people the way you just did. You should know better, you're older than both of us," Adore interjected.
"Well, I... Anyways, who are you, my mom? I'll do as I please. And to answer your question, we were just conversing before making our way to our quest," Ryan retorted.
"Adore's right. I'm sorry... um, what's your name?" Blaze asked.
"Armond!" the muscular boy replied with a bit of attitude.
"Okay, I'm sorry, Armond. I didn't mean to insult you. Ryan just annoyed me, and you happened to be there," Blaze apologized.
"What a good apology. I should be so grateful. I'll make sure not to be, as you say, 'just there' anymore since it bothers you so much," Armond replied sarcastically.
"See, Adore? I tried," Blaze said.
"Okay, as fun as this was, I have plans for today, so I'll talk to you all later. I'm trying to get a quest done before it gets too dark," Adore stated before making her way into the guild, leaving them to their own devices.