Elena laid on her bed, resting her head on the pillow. As she did, she finally noticed her interface and the several blinking notifications alerting her that she had been ignoring herself.
She sat up, despite her tired muscles. While the talk with her friends earlier had done a great job of perking her up emotionally, her body and mind were both screaming at her to get some rest.
Elena checked her quest log first, just to see if there was an update to her quest.
Quest: Date Night Description: The head of your training class has finally made his way to you. Either win the fight and lose out on the date, or lose the fight and have a "memorable" experience. Warning: This is a multiple-stage quest. Further stages will be unlocked upon completion of earlier parts. Progress: 1 / 1 Reward: New Title, bonus experience, 5 shards Quest Chain Part 2 Unlocked Updated Quest: Be the Very Best Description: Your recent grasp at power has been more successful than you can even imagine. Deal with the consequences of your success. Reward: Unknown Warning: This is a multiple-stage quest. Further stages will be unlocked upon completion of earlier parts.
She read the title and started humming to herself. Her hooves began tapping to the beat, and her tail gently slid back and forth on the bed like a serpent. Visions of a TV show from her childhood came to mind as she tapped her feet. "Who ya gonna call...Ghostbusters," she sang softly.
She checked her inventory and, to her surprise, saw...wait, what? Elena looked down and noticed a 1 next to a small crown. She also had another box with an icon of a cloth handkerchief, a book, a cloak, and a fine-looking pocket watch. She quickly inspected the coin to see where it came from, but saw nothing. Did it come from Reginald? It had to come from him, she thought.
Elena took out the coin and looked at it, immediately whistling in appreciation at its beauty. It gleamed with a lustrous warm glow and reflected the light in a way that drew attention. Its surface was intricately engraved with fine details that showed significant artistry. On one side, a regal crown could be seen, the "gems" in the crown all made of the same metal as the coin but somehow a different color than the rest. Surrounding the crown were laurel leaves. Along the beveled edge were a series of small, precise notches.
The reverse side of the crown showed a dragon, its scales shining in blazing splendor. One could almost see the strength of the dragon as its muscles looked to be tensed and ready to reap any foe that approached. The dragon itself was surrounded by a border of interwoven patterns and ancient-looking runes.
What was also shocking was the weight of the crown itself. It was a substantial coin, and Elena could easily see it being a weapon...if it weren't so valuable. She thought back to the conversation she had with Lele and did some quick mental math.
Lele had said there were Tallies, Clips, Shards, Gleams, and Crowns. The shard was used to pay for an apartment, the gleam was for magic gear, and the crown was for the store. Clips would afford groceries, and a couple of Tallies were for kids and sweets. Each denomination was about a hundred more than the previous. If a tally was... like a... dollar.
Elena's eyes grew wide as her brain started to process how much this coin would be worth. The realization of what she was holding dawned on her. She dropped the coin on the bed out of reflex, as if merely touching the thing was an affront to its value.
'Oh crap,' she thought to herself. She looked around the room to make sure nobody could see her holding it. 'If I got caught with this, there'd be no way they'd think I just manifested it out of thin air. A hundred million dollars in my hand? There's no way. I had to be off. Maybe the tally is like a penny? If that was the case, it'd still be worth a million bucks. But a few tallies are worth a piece of candy. Maybe a tally's like a dime?' She rubbed her face, trying to soothe her nerves. She knew she should go back to looking at her stuff, but the idea she might be holding onto a hundred million dollars was just awe-inspiring. And if she was being honest, a little frightening.
"I might have to beat up the rich kid more often," she jokingly said to herself. Her body, ever the realist, protested in the form of phantom pain where she had been bisected. "Eh, good point," she conceded, rubbing her side.
Next, she checked the handkerchief.
Information Name: Silk Handkerchief Rarity: Common Description: A fancy silk handkerchief with the initials of "RL" embroidered in gold. It’s pristine, apart from a little bloodstain. Properties: Can be sold for a small amount of money or used to clean up after a fight Notes: It smells like expensive cologne. Perfect for reminding yourself how much better the other half lives.
Elena took out the handkerchief, using some magic to pull away the blood. Once it was done, the description removed the bloodstain part. It felt very soft in her hand.
She ran the fabric between her fingers, and the feeling brought to memory a her foot started tapping, and soon enough, she was humming a tune that just popped into her head. The rhythm pulled her up from the bed, and she started moving—hips swaying, shoulders rolling, the handkerchief twirling with her like a dance partner. She spun, laughed a little at herself, and let the melody guide her as she weaved between the furniture. The soft fabric fluttered in the air, catching the dim light of the lantern, and she couldn't help but feel a little ridiculous—but it felt too good to stop.
And as if it were part of her impromptu dance, Elena pulled out the pocket watch and inspected it.
Information Name: Engraved Pocket Watch of Timekeeping Description: A gold-plated pocket watch that looks more decorative than functional. It’s engraved with a family crest and imbued with subtle magical properties. Properties:
* Grants the wearer a slight boost in agility (5%) for 10 minutes after activating the pocket watch.
* Can slow down time briefly (5 seconds) once per day, allowing the wearer to react faster in critical situations.
* Automatically adjusts to the correct time and chimes softly when you approach danger.
Note: Sure, it tells time—but now it can also make sure you’re always fashionably early. Or, ya know, give you a brief edge in a fight. And that danger chime? Consider it the classiest early warning system.
"Interesting item," Elena mused aloud. "I wonder if this was screaming at him the whole time he was fighting me, or if it just appeared because I beat him." Her foot continued to tap to the beat as her hips gently swayed. She threw the handkerchief up and spun before catching it, still caught up in the lingering energy of her dance.
Elena looked at the next item. She was hopeful for something cool, but the book was more her style. She reached for it, her curiosity piqued by what knowledge or stories it might contain.
Information Name: The Art of Subtle Arrogance Rarity: Uncommon Description: A small, leather-bound book, titled *The Art of Subtle Arrogance: A Guide to Wealthy Etiquette*. It’s filled with tips on how to appear classy while being insufferably superior. The book will adjust its text to fit the current social situation, offering snobby comebacks on demand. Perfect when you need to out-snob someone. Properties:
* Increases charisma by 5% when interacting with upper-class individuals.
* Provides a temporary boost to persuasive speech when quoting passages from the book (15-minute duration).
Notes: The rich kid clearly took this book to heart, and now it’s enchanted to help you win arguments with a condescending flair. Perfect when you need to out-snob someone.
Elena stopped dancing as she read the inspection. She flopped down on the bed on her stomach and looked incredulously at the book in her hand. "That asshole had a book on how to be a bigger asshole? God, he's such a fucking asshole!" she said to herself, almost incredulously. She flipped open the book and saw that the first page was filled with a cipher of some sort. She tried to determine what it was for and noticed that the cipher seemed to have nothing to do with the book itself.
She flipped to a random page in the book and read what it said out loud.
"True wealth is not merely the accumulation of gold, but the cultivation of an air so superior that those around you feel impoverished by their mere existence. It is in the very way you disdain the mundane, elevate the trivial, and speak with a languid confidence that suggests the world itself bends to your will."
Elena flipped to another page. "One does not simply possess wealth; one must embody it. Every gesture, every word must drip with the quiet condescension of one who knows their worth. Never engage with pleasantries with those beneath you - Acknowledging their existence is charity enough."
Flipping to another page, she felt her stomach drop out. "The poor plebeians exist for one purpose: Your personal amusement. Whether they dance for your entertainment, duel for your amusement or even share your bed, their satisfaction is irrelevant. What matters is your pleasure, your enjoyment. In time, they will come to understand this and may even delude themselves into believing they enjoy it too. After all, to bask in your presence is the highest honor they could ever hope to attain. Their lives are but a canvas for your whims, and it is your divine right as ruler to paint upon it however you see fit."
Elena felt a wave of nausea wash over her as the words sank in. It wasn't just physical sickness—it was a deep, gut-wrenching disgust that clawed at her mind and soul. The passage seemed to echo in her head, Reginald’s sneering voice taunting her with each vile sentence. She could almost feel his presence looming over her, forcing those twisted beliefs upon her like a weight she couldn’t shake off. The mere thought of keeping the book, of having those words anywhere near her, made her skin crawl. With a sudden burst of revulsion, she hurled the book across the room, as if by doing so she could purge the filth from her thoughts. She rolled over onto her back, her hand pressing against her stomach as if trying to physically hold back the rising sickness—both mental and emotional—that threatened to overwhelm her. The words still lingered, poisonous and suffocating, and she felt hollowed out, violated just by reading them.
She looked back at the book and debated if she should burn it or give it back to Reggie as a suppository. Maybe both.
Finally, she looked at the cloak, growing tired of the book.
Information Name: Cursed Cloak of Endless Whispers Rarity: Epic Description: This dark, tattered cloak seems to be woven from shadows themselves. Wearing this cloak grants the wearer power but at the cost of their humanity, as it slowly erodes their compassion and empathy. Properties:
* Numbs the wearer’s emotions, making them immune to fear, charm, and empathy-based effects, but at the cost of their ability to feel genuine kindness or compassion. The more this effect protects you, the weaker your ability to feel kindness or compassion.
* Enhances the wearer's ability to exploit weaknesses, increasing critical hit chance and damage against already wounded or suffering opponents. Opponents will feel greater pain and torture from attacks caused by the wearer of this cloak.
* Emits faint malevolent scratches or whispers. The voices are barely audible, yet they relentlessly mock, taunt, and sow seeds of doubt and despair. Prolonged exposure to the whispers can break weaker minds, causing those around the wearer to slowly descend into madness over time.
* Can change shape and size to better fit the user. This cloak may also take the form of other pieces of clothing if desired, but will revert back to a cloak if no longer bound to a person.
Notes: Congratulations, you’ve found the perfect accessory for when you’re feeling extra heartless. Enjoy the whispers—they’ll keep you company as you slowly lose your grip on what’s left of your humanity. But hey, at least you’ll look good while everyone else is crumbling around you.
"God, even your equipment is telling me you're an asshole of the highest order!" Elena exclaimed, disgust evident in her voice. She put the cloak back in her inventory and vowed to never put that crap on.
Feeling unsettled by the contents of the book and the implications of Reginald's other possessions, Elena turned her attention to her quest log. She was unsure of what she'd see, but hoped it would provide some direction or at least a distraction from the disturbing items she had just examined.
Proficiency Updates Proficiency in Blood Control gained: New proficiency: 23%. New ability unlocked. Please consult the ability to see changes. Continue to increase your proficiency to advance your Tier. Proficiency in Hemokinesis gained: New proficiency: 8%. Continue to increase your proficiency to advance your Tier. Proficiency in Mana Bleed gained: New proficiency: 9%. Continue to increase your proficiency to advance your Tier. Proficiency in Gory Armaments gained: New proficiency: 14%. Continue to increase your proficiency to advance your Tier. Proficiency in Piercing Blood gained: New proficiency: 18%. Continue to increase your proficiency to advance your Tier.
Elena examined her skills, noting the new proficiency with a mix of curiosity and caution. She scrutinized each stat, weighing their potential impact on her abilities. The gravity of her recent near-death experience lingered as she considered how to allocate her points.
Her exhaustion made the decision-making process more challenging. Elena rubbed her eyes, trying to focus on the information before her. The implications of her choices weighed heavily on her mind - a wrong decision could leave her vulnerable in future confrontations.
She pondered the mysterious strength of her opponent and the unexpected level gain. The situation didn't quite add up, and a nagging sense of unease persisted as she deliberated over her stat allocation.
Battle Journal Experience gained: For defeating an enemy, loot has been added to your inventory. Experience gained: For completing a quest, loot has been added to your inventory. You have leveled up. You have leveled up. You have leveled up. Please allocate Attribute points.
Elena scrutinized her skills, her eyes widening as she took in the new proficiency. The implications of this new ability swirled in her mind, mixing with the lingering questions about her unexpected level gain. She weighed each stat carefully, considering how they might complement her new skills or shore up her weaknesses.
Her fingers hovered over the interface as she deliberated. The memory of Reginald's sword piercing her abdomen flashed through her mind, a stark reminder of the consequences of being underprepared. Elena bit her lip, the pressure of making the right choice bearing down on her already exhausted mind.
She glanced back at her inventory, thinking of the unsettling items she'd acquired and the challenges that were gearing up to face her even now. The weight of her decisions felt heavier than ever. With a deep breath, Elena steeled herself. “God,” she said to herself. “Each point allocated could mean the difference between life and death in this hellhole.”
Blood Control (Hemorrhage, Coagulate) Update: New options available. Please consult the ability to see the changes.
Elena mentally checked on the ability, her brow furrowing in surprise at what she saw. Three paths opened up, each leading in a different direction. She couldn't tell how deep each path went, but she had a feeling each was substantial. Unfortunately, she also couldn't see anything regarding further choices in the path.
Feeling the weight of the decision before her, Elena looked at the options and made her way down the list. She scrutinized each path, trying to discern any hints about their potential outcomes or requirements. The lack of information about future choices in each path added an element of uncertainty that made her hesitate.
Her exhaustion made it difficult to focus, but the importance of this decision kept her alert. Elena considered how each path might align with her current abilities and the challenges she'd faced so far. She also thought about the unpredictable nature of her situation and how each choice might prepare her for unknown future obstacles.
Blood Control: New Options Available Absorb Blood: When a creature under the effects of your Blood Control bleeds, you may choose to absorb a bit of their life essence, increasing your HP by the amount lost. Increases to Endurance will increase the HP gained per equivalent amount lost. Improved Bleed: Increase the amount of blood loss per point of mana spent. Increases to Intelligence will increase the efficiency of this conversion. Lifeblood: Passively give yourself or others faster healing based on your mana and intelligence. Warning: Leaving choices undecided for too long will result in a random ability being assigned.
She faced three path abilities and a warning. She realized this was how normal people acquired their abilities—they simply waited. However, she had a choice. Her nerdy gamer brain began analyzing the options before her. She could absorb blood, kill enemies faster, or give herself a fast heal. Drawing from her gaming knowledge, Elena recognized that a burst heal would be far superior to a fast heal in combat. But out of combat? Fast heal was absolutely fantastic. She also noted that Lifeblood apparently increased healing for others, whereas absorb blood seemed to benefit only herself.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
She pondered her choice for a long time. Improved bleed would be advantageous if she had to kill something, which, she admitted to herself, was likely to happen quite frequently. Absorb blood probably offered significant burst healing, which would be incredibly useful in combat. Lifeblood, on the other hand, would allow her to return to fights more quickly.
Elena tapped her finger on her cheek as her head rested on her chin. Then a thought occurred to her—it wasn't just about her, was it? Lele had mentioned she needed to become a good candidate for teams. Technically, Lele had told her to ensure she had a team that was the best fit for her. But Elena wanted to make sure teams would be glad to have her too. She tried to reason it out. She could focus on killing her enemies, which would make her healing less important. But Lele's team had seemed excited at the prospect of replacing their healer. Maybe a passive heal was better? But that didn't necessarily mean she'd be their primary healer, just someone good to keep on the side to keep them fit for second or third battles.
She wondered if magic healing was rarer, or if she was misinterpreting the situation entirely. Elena got up and felt the cold breeze on her skin. A thought struck her. 'Shit, I'm only wearing panties.' She turned to the side and examined her profile. 'Next time I'm out, I should get that nice comfy red bra. I bet it’d go well with my skin.’ She bit her lip as she envisioned what she’d look like. ‘That'd look hot.' The realization that she was just wearing panties made her immediately look for a nightgown. Not seeing it, she checked her inventory and found it in the wardrobe section again.
Elena put on the nightgown and started to leave the room when she stopped. She looked at herself and then down at her body. 'I was worried I was just wearing panties...' The realization that her first thought had been 'I need to cover up because I don't want to give the boys a show,' followed by 'I should really get an attractive bra' was something she'd never have considered as John. In fact, she hadn't really thought about being John in a few days. If anything, she noticed she was thinking about her old life as John less and less. She looked at her face, and like the last time, it took a few seconds for her to remember what she used to look like as John. The thought sobered her up quickly.
Pulling the robe closed, Elena went across the hall and knocked on Lily's door. From the other side of the door, she heard, "Just a moment!"
Lele opened the door and looked at Elena. "Hey Bright eyes!" Elena looked a bit shocked and saw Lily sitting on her bed. They were both also in nightgowns, but from the fact they weren't fastened, it looked like something they had just thrown on. "I'm sorry, this must be a bad time. I'll come back later," Elena said.
Lele pulled her in and closed the door behind her. "It's alright luv. What's up?" The thought of being there with these girls in skimpy nightwear made Elena's cheeks flush with color. Lele's nightgown wasn't quite fastened in front, and Elena saw quite a bit more of her than she would normally expect to see. She took a few moments to gather her thoughts after sitting down.
Lily spoke up first. "Elena, can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot," Elena replied.
Lily asked her, "Do you find it distracting?"
Elena looked at Lily, a bit confused. "Sorry, do I find... what distracting?"
"Let me preface this by explaining my thought process," Lily began, her tone calm and measured. "I'm curious about the cognitive and psychological continuity of self. Particularly in cases like yours, where one's physical form has undergone such a profound transformation. This isn't simply a case of transformative magics. You're not transformed into something that looks like Elena. You ARE Elena. Given your unique experience - transitioning from being John to now being Elena - I'm curious how your perception has adjusted. For example, this situation we're in: three of us, sitting here in a bedroom, all three of us dressed in little more than nightwear."
"I cannot imagine that you did this frequently back on Earth. So I wonder if this is something that would be distracting or perhaps even uncomfortable for you before. Now as Elena, do you find you can engage in these kinds of scenarios without your attention being pulled elsewhere, or do certain aspects of this setting still catch your attention?"
Elena blinked a few times as Lele rolled her eyes. 'Did she know what I wanted to talk about?' Elena asked herself.
"Lily," Lele gently chided her friend. "Luv, you're going to scare the poor girl."
Elena shook her head. She turned to Lele. “I don’t mind answering. And yeah. I still think of myself as a guy," she said, but it wasn't as forceful as she wished it was. "A married guy," she quickly amended. "And are you asking if I find you attractive?"
Lily blinked, then shook her head. "Well, no," she responded, but the hint of a smile came to her lips. "Well, that wasn't the main point of my question. But your perception of us, including whether you find us attractive, could certainly influence your level of distraction. My curiosity is more about whether this feels normal to you now, or if part of you still feels like an outsider, out of place, or distracted by us or the environment."
Elena blinked a few times, feeling a bit sheepish. "Oh... well, I guess it's still a bit distracting," she admitted. "I mean this kind of situation would have been pretty unusual for me before, and I guess it still kind of is. But yes, you're both attractive. Honestly, I find most people attractive here. Where I'm from, some people like Lele here would be classified as a supermodel."
Lele clutched her chest in mock horror, but her smile told Elena she was joking. "I wouldn't be a bestmodel?"
"No," Elena chuckled. "That's not a thing. And besides, you're not that good looking anyway."
Lele threw a pillow at Elena, who caught it and continued her explanation. "Even you, Lilly. You might not be a supermodel, but you'd be a Vegas Ten. Honestly, I see so many people walking around that would have easily been some of the best-looking people back on Earth. Their pictures would have been in magazines or in movies. At this point though, I think I've become a bit numb to it? You can only see so many mind-blowingly attractive women before seeing the 50th one loses a bit of its luster."
Lele stuck out her tongue at Lilly. "I'm sorry that you're just a Vay-gas Ten, when the real beauties here are supermodels."
"Occasionally I'll still see a girl that makes me wish I could get to know her better, but that's happening less and less. I think it mainly happens when I see women who are Adepts? But I am glad that you two want me to be part of this group. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't get some people to hang out with. And something tells me that most people would be hesitant to have my blue ass covering them on a team," Elena said, her tone a mixture of gratitude and self-deprecation.
Lele shrugged. "Just be careful. Also, be careful with what teams scout you. I'm sure you probably didn't have to worry about it much as a guy. But as a girl, there will be plenty of guys who would be more than happy to get to know you better the same way you do, regardless of what you look like. And some of them will offer things to you to convince you to join."
Elena nodded, a hint of relief in her voice. "Yeah. Luckily after Reggie earlier, I think that most boys will hopefully treat me as hands-off."
Lele shrugged again, her expression skeptical. "Maybe. Maybe not. Guys can be... singularly focused at times."
Elena nodded once more, her voice carrying a weight of understanding. "Trust me, I'm aware."
Lele shook her head from side to side. "Sorry luv, I know you used to be a guy, but it's hard to think of you as a guy when you're quite obviously a woman. And a feminine-looking one at that."
Elena's hands subconsciously brushed at her robe as she stood in front of the girls, a sense of unease settling in her chest. She felt kind of close with them, closer than she had with anyone else in the world, and a part of her wanted to confide in them. The nagging worry that had been gnawing at her, the fear that she was losing herself, that John was fading away and Elena was taking over completely, pressed against her consciousness.
As she opened her mouth to speak, a wave of guilt washed over her. They had their own problems, their own struggles. It would be a selfish thing to do, she thought, to burden them with her existential crisis. The words caught in her throat, and she remained silent, her internal conflict hidden behind a facade of casual conversation.
The air in the room seemed to thicken with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Elena's fingers continued to fidget with her robe, a physical manifestation of her inner turmoil. The camaraderie she felt with Lele and Lilly was a double-edged sword – a comfort in her new reality, but also a stark reminder of how much had changed.
Her mind raced, replaying Lele's words about being "obviously a woman" and "feminine-looking." Each descriptor felt like another nail in John's coffin, another step away from who she used to be. The cognitive dissonance of her situation – being grateful for their acceptance while simultaneously fearing the loss of her former self – created a whirlpool of conflicting emotions.
And maybe being a woman wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Death would definitely suck more.
Elena's gaze darted between her two companions, searching their faces for any sign that they might understand her internal struggle without her having to voice it. But their expressions remained neutral, unaware of the tempest brewing within her. The weight of her unspoken confession pressed down on her, a invisible burden that she couldn't share but couldn't ignore.
Elena bit her lip, the words she truly wanted to say catching in her throat. Instead, what came out was something else entirely - something safer, yet still revealing in its vulnerability.
"Well... do you think I'm pretty?" she asked, her voice a bit softer than normal. The vulnerability she felt slipped into her tone, betraying the complexity of emotions behind the seemingly simple question. A large part of her hoped they would say no, that maybe she wasn't as different as she feared.
Lele noticed the slight tremor in Elena's voice and could easily see this was a bit of a touchy subject for her. She was about to respond, but before she could, Lily, as always, was already diving headfirst into the question.
Lily didn't seem to register the social weight of the question, instead approaching it with the same analytical mindset she always used. "Attractive," she mulled over, almost as if she were testing the word. "Physically, yes. You are attractive. Your features are symmetrical, your skin is clear, and you have a distinct presence that aligns with conventional standards of beauty. Additionally, your white hair would be considered by many men to be quite striking and unusual, which could increase your perceived attractiveness."
Elena felt a lump forming in her throat as Lily continued. It was not the response she was hoping for. Lily shook her head back and forth as if still appraising Elena. "But there's also your demeanor, your confidence, and how you interact and treat others and yourself. This is where you're lacking. Not with your treatment of others, but how you perceive yourself. You tend to lack confidence which can be perceived as less appealing, especially when people are looking for a partner. Whether a man or a woman. It might make it more challenging for you to connect with someone on that level because they see your uncertainty as a barrier to intimacy."
Lele's eyes widened slightly and she quickly interjected. "Woah Lily. That's a bit harsh, don't you think?" She glanced at Elena, her expression a mix of concern and surprise.
Elena's gaze dropped to the floor, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her robe. She struggled to process the conflicting emotions surging through her - the desire to be accepted clashing violently with the fear of losing her old self completely. Lily's blunt assessment of her lack of confidence hit particularly close to home, touching on the very core of her internal conflict.
The room felt suddenly smaller, the air thicker. Elena could feel Lele's concerned gaze on her, could sense the tension that had sprung up in the wake of Lily's words. She wanted to say something, to laugh it off or change the subject, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she stood there, caught between the person she was and the person she was becoming, unsure of how to bridge the gap. Her cheeks warmed with heat, a mix of embarrassment and a bit of self consciousness settling in. “Oh…” was all she managed to say, her heart sinking a little further.
Elena watched as Lily's brow furrowed, the other girl realizing she might have said something wrong. Lily blinked, then tried to process the situation. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insulting. Just trying to be honest," she said, her voice softer now. "What I meant to say was that you are pretty, Elena. Very pretty. I know of many men and women that would be happy to see you looking at them in the morning. Every morning."
Lily continued, her tone more thoughtful, "And honestly, your personality is wonderful. You're kind, strong, and Lele says she gets the impression you're incredibly loyal. Those traits are attractive too. People who take the time to get to know you will see that. You're quite pretty, but more importantly than that, you're a good woman."
Lele took a moment and then put a hand on Elena's shoulder. When their eyes met, Lele asked gently, as if the words might be painful, "Hey, Elena. Are you... ok?"
Elena nodded, but her eyes were a bit blurry from unshed tears.
Lele looked into Elena's eyes for a few moments more, searching for lies, and ultimately nodded. "Yeah, Lily's just... being Lily. But don't let that get you down, luv. Okay? You're perfect just the way you are. You’re a beautiful woman, and anyone would be lucky to be with you. And hey, if you ever want to talk about anything, we're here for you. Anything at all."
Elena gave them both a small appreciative smile, though her heart felt heavy. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
Lele smiled, and Lily got off the bed to give Elena a hug. Lele joined in on the hug. They both sat back down on the bed, and a few moments later, Lily pulled out a small bag. Lele moved over and slapped the bed next to her. Lily passed the bag to Lele, who took something dark out of it and passed it to Elena.
Elena looked at what Lele had given her, and immediately the sweet, rich smell of chocolate filled her nose. She pulled out a piece and put it in her mouth. She didn't know what percentage of cacao it was, but it was creamy and only a little bit bitter. Elena instantly felt her spirits rise, and suddenly the world didn't seem that bad.
She closed her eyes for a moment and savored the chocolate melting in her mouth. She heard one of the girls moaning in pleasure, and when she opened her eyes again, they were both snickering. Elena realized she was the only one who had eaten her piece yet.
Lily held out her hand and Elena passed the bag back to her, where she popped a piece of chocolate in her mouth.
Lele wiggled her eyebrows while looking at Elena. "So. You're a moaner. That'll probably give you a few points on the attractiveness scale. But moan loud enough and most teams-"
"Shut up," Elena said and smacked Lele's knee with the back of her hand. "Shame we don't have ice cream," she added, remembering something her wife used to do when she was in a funk. After the piece of chocolate and the girls' company, it felt like something was missing. Elena looked over and saw the girls staring back with blank faces.
Lily spoke up first. "Why would we want to freeze cream? I can't imagine chewing on frozen cream would make it taste any better."
Elena's eyes grew wide. "Don't tell me you've never heard of ice cream."
Lele looked over at Lily. "So when you mixed the-"
Elena interrupted her. "You don't have ice cream here?"
Lele teasingly said, "I thought you just said don't tell you. Did you forget already? If not, make up your mind, blue eyes."
"Ok look. I will put aside the travesty that is your current lack of ice cream for a moment, but the fact you've never had it before is almost barbaric. But we can discuss that later. I came here because I need your help with something," Elena said, her tone becoming more serious.
The girls instantly grew serious. "What's wrong?" Lily asked.
"I've got to choose what power I get." They both looked incredulously at Elena, and then the questions started flying.
"Interesting. You get to choose your advancement as well?" Lily asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and a slight confusion. "Does the system give you a choice every time you reach a milestone? Or is this an anomaly? How does it present the options to you? Are they all equally viable or is any one marked as clearly superior? And-"
Lele sighed audibly. Her breath had a tone and it was clearly sharp and jealous, though she seemed to be trying to hide it. “Bright eyes, I wish you knew how much I both love and hate you right now."
Lily’s brow furrowed. “I find it fascinating that you get to make this choice. You know, this really is some of the greatest discoveries in the field of arcane magic. Where are you getting the choices from?" Lily continued her analytical mind already racing to figure out the logic behind it.
Elena had to hold up her hands after they asked several questions each with no sign of stopping. "Ladies, I'll be happy to answer your questions, but I feel like I'm on a bit of a timer." They both fell silent and looked at her expectantly. "My blood control has reached 20% efficiency and apparently I get a new option for it. And I don't know what to pick. So please help!"
She told them the options, and they both immediately chose the power lifeblood. Elena asked why.
"Because it's a team heal," Lele spoke up instantly. "Don't misunderstand me. There are lots of healers out there. But keep in mind they are rarer than many other power sets. Yet no team without a healer makes it long in this world."
"What about your team? You don't have a healer," Elena asked.
"We're investing in a future teammate. I just hope they don't screw up and pick a sucky option," Lele said teasingly.
Lily gave a response from a more logical standpoint. "Most of your healers have spells and powers that will close wounds. But those are usually big drains on mana and cost a valuable resource on any battlefield. Time. While having a big heal is desirable in the heat of battle, having a passive ability will be highly sought after. Usually because that means you're also going to have bigger heals later."
Elena looked at the girls and asked a question she didn't know if she was allowed to. "What happened with your healer?" They both became somber.
Lele spoke first this time. "We lost him. He was a good man. But about a month back we were fighting a fire drake that had taken up residence in a mountain near a small village. Drakes are insidious creatures that grow to be quite large. They eat livestock and occasionally people. Leave one alone and it'll eventually claim kilometers of territory as its own and at that point it's almost too powerful for normal teams to clear out. So we were sent there to stop it. But unlike normal drakes, that one could turn his lair to lava. It screamed and He..." She choked up a bit and after a few moments of calming herself spoke again. Her words were preceded with sniffles, and wet eyes. "The villagers were all glad that they were safe. But now we're down a healer." A tear came to her eye. "He was an amazing man. Even after his death he's still saving people."
Elena looked at her and put a hand on her knee, letting her know that being there for friends wasn't a one-way street. "I'm sorry for your loss. What was his name?"
"Aelion."
"You said he's still saving people from death. Did he cast some spell or something on you?"
"No. He saved you."
Elena was a bit shocked when Lele said that. "What do you mean?" she asked, unable to see any buff or healing that might have been performed.
"Remember that first day downstairs? We heard you could use blood magic and were a demon. I had to make sure that you weren't somebody trying to deceive us and I ended up cutting your hand."
Elena took her hand off Lele's knee and instinctively rubbed it. "...yeah. Still not happy you did that. I get why, but it was kind of a dick thing to do."
"Well, do you remember what you said and did?" Lele asked.
Elena shook her head. "Not really. I mean I remember trying to punch you, but the table got in the way."
"You tried to get my friend out of there and create a distraction. You thought she was in danger, and made yourself the target. You did exactly the same thing my brother did, and for a fleeting moment had the same look on your face." Realization dawned on Elena when she heard that, and she looked more somber.
Lele continued, but could only choke out the first word before taking another moment to compose herself. "I... if I didn't know you or him any better... Let's just say that at that moment I would have sworn you were the one related to him. I knew it had to be a sign from him that you were ok in his eyes. And he was an excellent judge of character."
"Well, I'm glad you didn't kill me," Elena said.
"Me too, bright eyes. Me too," Lele responded.
"I didn't realize your family was made up of such beautiful looking people," Elena said as she gently fluffed her hair.
Lele looked at her and snorted. "Nah, he was ugly as a Deadmire Serpent. It's really a shame for you." They laughed for a bit, and eventually Elena went back to her powers, choosing lifeblood.
She left the girls and made her way back to the room to allocate her free points and go to bed. She put 4 points into Stamina, 1 point into Charisma, and 1 in Strength. As her head hit the pillow, Elena read her sheet one more time.