Novel Yuusha Isekai! Youjo Suki! [Ch 1-152]

Discussion in 'Community Fictions' started by eharper256, Jun 28, 2017.

  1. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 23
    MONSTERS ARE OVERRATED


    I shield my eyes from the furious blast, and blink, barely in time, though this can’t save my hearing from the point-blank thunderclap, and it still leaves white spots everywhere in my vision.

    I get the impression Kerkyon might have screamed, or something, but all I can hear is a low whine in my noggin. He slams face first directly in front of me and the sage, huge clouds of steam rolling off him, and zaps of electricity still running all over his smoking armour plates. His sword clatters to the side and nearly falls off the platform.

    I’m glad Kaede’s Jutsu didn’t summon some kind of extreme purity water, or else the whole plan would have gone to the butcher along with my spleen. But luckily, it seemed to be conductive water, as I’d hoped, and as Identify pointed out to me as well, his resistance only applied when he was surrounded in air for some reason. Some kind of thing with wind spirits? Who the heck knows, it’s magic, after all.

    // I see. // Most… fascinating //

    Are you ok over there, Sage? The robe is swaying like some comedy drunkard routine.

    // Alas… // That was too much power… // Cannot maintain… //

    The figure starts to topple. Oh shit! I spin and help the overly large robe topple down as gracefully as possible, which isn’t very gracefully at all, since it’s like wrestling with a curtain. The old man inside is as light as the soft silk in which he is clad. Which is not too unusual I suppose, but still a surprise.

    Across the way, Aria staggers up, and carefully hops across to the side me and the sage are on, whilst Kaede is now helping Kiku stand up. Without any hesitation, Aria reverse grips the spear, and impales it down into Kerkyon’s exposed neck joint. My hearing decides to come back online just in time for the sickening thud as a gush of blood spurts over Aria’s chest. He twitches and goes limp, so maybe he actually lived through the blast? Tenacious bastard.

    Aria is breathing heavily now, her eyes have gone wide, and her hands are still clutched on her spear, which is still impaled into Kerkyon’s neck. Her knuckles have gone white. Oh boy. I settle the sage gently on the ground, and move a couple of steps over to her.

    “Are you ok, Aria?” I ask.

    She shakes a little, and tears are running down her face. I see. She really is a kind girl…

    “You did it Aria. You did well. It’s all over now. You can stop.”

    I gently rub the hands she is holding her spear with, and gradually, they loosen. She then starts to fall down, so I grab her hand to steady her.

    “Onii-chan… who is the monster here?” She looks up at me, fearfully.

    “It’s me, of course. I’ll eat you up!” I jest, grabbing her in a bear hug.

    She blinks repeatedly, as if she can’t believe what just happened… and then…

    “Kaa…. Kyahhh… Elijah, c-can’t you stop being a pervert for two seconds!?!?” Her deadpan delivery of that line somewhat dampens the impact. But it’s intentional, I think.

    “No can do. It’s part of my nature, princess…” I grin.

    But then she smiles a goofy grin as well, and starts to laugh, pushing me away in an elegant spin like she is doing a court dance. It’s pretty cute.

    Kiku and Kaede leap across to this spectacle. Kiku has entered ‘O RLY’ mode again, which is pretty disconcerting when she has one bloodied red eye.

    “And you girls? Are you ok as well? All of you were integral to this victory.” I ask.

    “You wot? I just acted as a sponge, Nii. It was your weird ass combo attack that actually did something.” Kiku denounces her own role in the battle.

    “Yes… which reminds me… how is it that you were even aware of the Serene Water Jutsu, Nii-sama?” Kaede asks.

    Oh shit! What a blunder! It’s true, I’ve known Kaede for not even an hour, and I know one of her secret techniques. I could get away with telling Kiku to throw her sword at the Crawler, because I saw that before, but…

    “It… it was the first skill I acquired on coming here… the ability to read others abilities.” I say.

    Aria looks at bit baffled; but then nods and says “Mmm, and use them, wasn’t it? His specialisation is learning things, Kaede. Quite useless in a pinch, he is, but I guess he is like… nnn…”

    “…untapped potential, yes?” Kaede finishes.

    “To be honest, Nii is pretty scary in his own way, even if his battle sense is crap.” Kiku adds.

    “He is a self-proclaimed monster, after all!” Aria appends with a smirk.

    Kiku and Aria burst out laughing together again, and Kaede looks like she missed a bus.

    “Ahem…” I clear my throat “…anyway, the mission, as impromptu as it was, was a success, I think.”

    The girls stop chattering, and look over the Sage, who is still laid down just a few feet from us.

    “Is the Sage ok, Onii-chan?” Aria asks.

    I go over to the sage, kneel down tensely, and take their ‘head’ into my arms. The robe is motionless, which is pretty disturbing and worrying. How do you check the pulse when you can’t even discern a person inside? But to answer my worries, a large snore is suddenly heard. The girls can’t stop from laughing, and neither can I. My arms relax somewhat.

    “Just exhausted, then. I mean, can any normal mage defeat twenty odd demons by themselves, and then throw out a massive thunderbolt like that last one? Especially at the age of this geezer?” I ask.

    “It’s true. Even though I assume the Sage is very powerful, and in their home, these demons would be a challenge for even an elite hunter squad like my Dad leads.” Kiku stops snickering to answer.

    With some appropriate timing, the robe of the sage, which now reveals itself to be magical, bursts apart in a rush of shadows, and disappears.

    To my honest shock this time, there is another cute girl inside. Long black twin-tails, amber-brown eyes, slender… and basically in her underwear besides a weird iron chain collar. And now she is lying on my lap.

    Aria gives me a look of unadulterated hate. H-how was I supposed to know about this one!?

    Considering the happenings so far, I guess I should have anticipated this... but why the heck is this world being so magnanimous to me? A flower on each hand would have been ample considering my usual luck in life, but no, I'm well on my way to a bouquet here!

    Aria clouts me round the noggin, and lifts up the Sage over her shoulder, getting her off my lap. At least Aria held back, because my skull is still attached, and if anything, I feel a pleasant, tingling feeling across my body. Please don’t tell me I’m turning M!?

    Strangely, though, I realise that my chest has also stopped hurting. As I get up again, I observe the neat slash left by Kerkyon has already healed up to an angry looking scar. There is still a neat gap in my tunic, showing off the six-pack I’m still not used to, but aside from the clotted blood, it hardly looks like I was just in a fight at all. Oh!

    “Aria… thankyou for healing me.” I say to her receding back.

    “Hmnph…” I barely hear in response as she trundles off down the stairs with her new girl-shaped sack of potatoes. I kind of feel sorry for the Sage; as her twintails are dragging along the floor behind Aria.

    I’m guessing Aria is taking her to one of the lower rooms. Kiku is busy snickering to herself, and Kaede appears to be keeping her distance from this spectacle, wisely.

    “So, I guess we’re going to be making ourselves at home, ladies.” I say.
     
  2. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    SIDE CHAPTER C
    POLITICAL MACHINATIONS


    I rose from the throne in surprise I couldn't mask.

    "My lord... is something the matter?"

    I turn my head in an impression of disdain, trying to hold back my urge to slaughter the fool that dares question me at all.

    The new minister, Asmodeus K'neth, shrinks from my gaze; and I steel myself.

    "Kerkyon La'brys is dead." I pronounce to the assembly.

    The hall of assembled demons starts to murmur.

    But as if to mirror my proclamation, a large black banner behind me to my left sets ablaze and burns to ash in mere seconds, which silences them once more. Truly a saddening loss, I could not have asked for a more capable retainer.

    "So he has failed after all. I told you he would not be able to handle the Sages. Detestable as they are, their pillaging of the world's bounties grants them exceptional power."

    I give Marchosias S'lein a glare. Even as my close advisor, there is a limit to the disrespect that can be allowed in the council chamber.

    "I mean... it was unfortunate that he could not match up to his reputation after all. He was a great choice, but..." He quails, realising his error.

    Goodness, I rue the day that came into power, if only because it means dealing with the two-faced machinations of politics and other demons always scurrying for favours. We like to think we are vastly superior to the scum of humanity because of our democracy, but is this so different from their courtly intrigue?

    "No. I will allow it. My choice was mistaken this time. I, and all those assembled, were aware that this was a risk laden operation." I state.

    "But it was an opportunity we could not miss... yes, we understand, Lord Principal N'vstvr." Agares G'dnihk, the Shadow Chancellor states.

    "And what of the human's seventh summoning?" Shax Rog'neth, the Treasurer asks.

    "A trifle, unfortunately. The blood of the Saint of Saulm was weak in the third princess. It will not serve our purposes. The individual summoned male was from a strange, magic-less world, and lacking in any power." Furfur Yik'saldik, the Magic Minister replies.

    "So they decided to return the hero?" I ask.

    "Strangely, no. He decided to aid them regardless, and King Legato allowed it for some reason."

    "Are we certain the death of Kerkyon is not instigated by this man? Was he perhaps more than expected?" I query further.

    "Do you doubt my appraisal, my lord?"

    Oh for heaven’s sake... I don't want to deal with Furfur's pride right now. These demons may call me paranoid, but I did not get to my age and proficiency in necromancy by being a fool. It is common sense to consider things like this, no? Well, whatever... I will have to find another way as usual.

    "Of course not, Minister. I trust your appraisal more than anything." I smile. He scrutinises me with a gaze, but nobody has ever been able to read me, even him, so he swallows and nods.

    "I believe we should adjourn for now whilst we consider the next movement of the military."

    I fold all of my six arms across my chest, and dismiss the congregation.

    After they leave, my close aide, Raum, clears up the paperwork and hands me a tankard of chilled holewasp mead.

    "Good work, my lord N'vstvr."

    I nod my appreciation and down the honey coloured liquid.

    "Bring me Barbatos Si'vesj. I have an urgent mission for them."

    This new hero is useless he says... I don’t believe that for second… so it is appropriate I dispose of them with my own right hand before they become dangerous.
     
  3. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 24
    BOUQUET OF THORNS


    We find our way to the lower area of the tower that we skipped by before. Perhaps to be expected, it is quite insulated and contains a safe and quiet living area. A large door replete with magic symbols does briefly block the way, but disappears quite rapidly. One can assume it has a handy Sage detector.

    Aria takes the Sage into an obvious bed-chamber, kicking me out and leaving me with Kiku and Kaede in the adjacent study.

    I retrieved the rucksack I left in the tower lobby and settled down on the rather nice sofa, and whilst Kaede lit the fire, Kiku removed her helm and let down her hair to treat the gash on her hairline with some cloth doused in alcohol. She looks real cute with her helm off, even with blood on her collar.

    "Um... Nii? Is something the matter?" Kiku suddenly pipes up, fidgeting. I guess I was staring.

    "Oh, I was thinking you should get Aria to heal that." I say.

    "Bah... bollocks. This is nothing. I don't care much. If it was deep in my head, then sure, but no point wasting her power on a trifle. Besides… scars are a warrior’s pride, Nii." Rowdy Kiku quashes any pretence of concern I had, giving me a sinister grin.

    She's probably right. Kiku's a tough girl. If I was some kind of chauvinist, I'd probably say she should care about scars making her less cute or something, but I don't have any right to complain, really. Although, considering I have access to Earth's Akashic record, I wonder if it would be smart to pick up some modern medical skills when I get the chance?

    "Speaking of which, nii-sama, how is your own injury, yes?" Kaede inquires.

    "It's fine. A bit itchy. Magical healing is really something." I reply, hand unconsciously going to my chest, where the scar I have has already started to silver up.

    "Yes, she is a fortunate soul, to be able to use the blessings of Sendervil freely." Kaede remarks.

    "It's a rarity again, then?" I ask.

    "Good gods, Nii, you really don't know anything do you? Why Aria was popular in the guild?" Kiku rebukes me.

    "Why wouldn't a silver haired cute princess be popular?"

    Kiku audibly sighs.

    "Let me put it this way, Nii, would the royal family, by choice, allow a princess, even a third one, to go and muck around adventuring with rough monster hunters and mercenaries?"

    Oh... I guess it is a bit weird if you think about earth princesses. Anime and media loves the battle princess trope so much that I just assumed that was the norm here, but perhaps that’s a mistake.

    "One uses the tools for the jobs they are best at to survive, yes? It is only common sense." Kaede adds.

    "Oh, so you're saying that a potential Paladin is such a valuable asset, that its waste to not let one go out on the field?" I reason.

    "Nnnghh... um... well... close enough. It's not Paladins being rare as such, many warriors branch out that way to become survivable. But healing magic is hard for most people. You must understand why something works to make magic of it. It's why I suggested the Sage to you when you said you are good at understanding things quickly." Kiku patiently explains.

    Woah... I see. Magic is not just the case of clicking your fingers and saying magic words then. That’s funny, in fact, because it implies that healing magic needs medical knowledge anyway. And Aria isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. I guess that's what that whole thing of her using charisma in lieu of intellect in her skills was about. Still, it returns us to that queer dungeons and dragons paradigm where being prettier helps you heal. And how?! Sparklies are therapeutic, perhaps?

    "It seems I still have much to understand myself. I had no idea the Serene Wave Jutsu could have such an application, yes?" Kaede ponders.

    "Do you not use it often, Kaede?" I ask.

    "No. It is often considered the least of Jutsu; though perhaps I now see it is not lesser, but merely has to be applied with creativity… yes…” She pauses momentarily. “It was the point of much contention from my old master, that I was good at reading the scrolls, but not at applying their wisdom. It is mostly just hard practice to have the jutsu I have at all. They are difficult techniques to understand... and now I may never learn them." Kaede looks momentarily saddened.

    "Um... speaking of understanding things quickly... how did you learn to speak demonic from barely hearing a sentence, Nii?" Kiku tries to shift the topic.

    What?

    Kerkyon was speaking English... or not... it seems? Translation function-san, you've gotten awful smooth, haven't you?

    "Apparently it is a function of me being an Etranger. When I first arrived, Aria and her helpers talked what seemed to be a strange language, but now, I hear you and her and everyone in my native tongue. And apparently, that also applies to demons, now you mention it." I respond.

    Kiku looks mildly impressed for some reason, and Kaede is thinking about something. There is the sound of a door suddenly bursting open.

    "Most fascinating!" I hear behind me. It is a sultry, measured, and frankly seductive noise.

    "Gah! Put some damn clothes on!" Aria shouts.

    I turn around in (gentlemanly) interest only to be on the receiving end of a poking saming strike from Aria's fingers into my eyes.

    I spend about ten minutes squealing about and getting acquainted with the rug.

    However, I briefly witnessed nirvana from the Sage being naked besides her chain collar.

    Truly a wonderful day, even with the price being temporary blindness! (I hope its temporary…)
     
  4. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 25
    I JUST KNOW WHAT I KNOW


    By the time I recover my eyes, the Sage has been dragged away again and loaded into what is effectively a black two piece bikini with a flowing black cloak, long gloves and white socks, and several belted implements. She also still has that rusted iron collar with a chain. It's a serious fan-service outfit; but somehow it matches her slick black twin-tails and inquisitive brown eyes well. Aria is still stood with an exasperated expression to the side.

    "I apologise for a belated introduction. I am Seria Sesshouin. Mmm... you all have my gratitude for coming to my aid on this most dire of eves."

    The dissonance between her confident, mature voice, her smug pose and expression, and her flat loli body in the fan-service outfit is quite relevant to my interests.

    "And... mmm... you are most interesting, boy." she says, licking her lips.

    Whip me more, onee-sama! Ahem...

    "Err... just so there's no mistake... you are the Sage?" I confirm.

    "Mmm... that is correct. I am the seventh Sage of Thunder. Who else would I be?"

    Aria looks shocked and asks "It's hereditary?"

    Seria, the sage, arcs a well-defined eyebrow at Aria.

    "Of course it passes on. Do you think us Sages immortal, mmm? Though it is not via blood, as royalty. The crest is transplanted from master to apprentice. And imbuement, which you doubtless currently seek, is the act of providing a portion of that power." She explains.

    "I see. Passing the knowledge of one generation of sages to another to continue their eternal quest for research, something like that?" I say.

    "Mmm... Precisely like that. That, the 'path-down', is precisely what a Sage is. More than the individual, it is a long running inheritance. There are magi that have this practice in your world, then, Etranger?" Seria asks.

    Actually, I was just referencing my fan-boy knowledge of mages from that famous series where they fight for the Holy Grail; but it still makes sense as a system if we think that magic first requires understanding of the natural principles behind ones spells. Why learn all that over and over in new generations when you can pass down memories and save time?

    "No... There is no magic in my world. I just came to a logical conclusion based on the information."

    She grins at me like a predator that has found its next meal. I feel the old danger sense going off.

    "A clever boy, mmm...?." She looks under her eyes.

    "I wouldn't go that far. I don't know everything. I just know what I know."

    Thank you for the quote, class pres. It’s useful in times like this. This is almost certainly a test.

    "So you admit that you are a fool, then, mmm?"

    "Yes. Admission of ignorance is the first step taken by the wise man on the path to enlightenment. Which is why I seek you to teach me this… imbuement." I answer.

    "Fufufu... quite. Mmmm, I like you, boy."

    Seria steps into my personal space in an almost teleport type step, and peers closely into my eyes. Her scent enters my nose and makes my hair stand on end, and her irises are like deep pools of rich caramel. I tear my gaze away with some difficulty, but can't stop my heart speeding up. What the hell was that?!

    "Ufufufu. Most interesting, you can even pull yourself back from a fascination hex, mmm?"

    Aria gains a hannya face again at this development. She's becoming quite territorial these days, eh? She stomps over.

    "Whu-what are you doing to him!" Aria exclaims.

    "Ufufufu. My apologies, princess, I should not play with your things, should I? But I am not one to hand out an imbuement like a free sweet roll."

    "Then, do I pass your inspection, Sage?" I ask tentatively.

    She steps back from me, puts a finger to her cheek, and seems to look briefly troubled by scrunching her eyebrows before responding.

    "As you have saved my life, I shall brook you a degree of honesty. I have decided that I will never imbue anyone further. Not because I cannot; but because this power is not something that man or woman should ever wield."

    "How can you say that as one who wields it!" Aria shouts.

    Seria runs a hand through her left twin-tail in an unimpressed, dismissive gesture.

    "Yes, it doubtless reeks of hypocrisy from your view. But I say that the other sages, who give this power of imbuement on a whim, do so most likely with a degree of malice. If you were to know the truth..." She trails off.

    "You said 'anyone further' before. So you have taught in the past?" I point out.

    She looks briefly alarmed before smirking at me.

    "Mmm... What a blunder of the tongue when facing such sharp opposition..." She sighs. "Yes. Very well. I have. I shall not speak of it, though."

    It's no wonder the Sage of Thunder was mysterious and not thought of as being friendly. Heck, it wasn't even common knowledge that it was a young girl. Though if she has reservations like this, I'm guessing her power has quite a cost or a hidden flaw. Well... it sucks, but I knew from the start that this could well result in nothing.

    "Then I guess there is no room for negotiation, then." I sigh.

    She cocks an eyebrow.

    "Disappointing. Did I say I would refuse instructing you?" She counters.

    "What? You said..."

    "I said I would not imbue you with a Sage's mark. You came to the conclusion this was synonymous with study. It is not." She corrects me whilst waggling her finger.

    Oh. Oh! Right... Kiku said desperate mages in need of power quickly were the ones to request the sage’s power. That... that is the imbuement Seria was talking about, right? But of course... studying normally is still a regular thing. And what a better teacher than an Archmage type with seven generations of knowledge?

    "You wish to instruct me...?" I ask.

    "...in magic, yes? It is policy of the Sages as a whole to not interfere in the affairs of the outside. This includes the war. But nothing says I cannot observe and instruct a boy I find interesting. And this is nothing to do with any attempts on my life by demons, I'm sure you understand, kekeke..."

    Holy moly, she’s one scary piece of work, this girl. I get the feeling she calculated all this before even starting this conversation. I've been played all along. Magnificent.

    "Then, I see no reason to not accept, Sensei." I concur.

    "That will not do. You will call me Seria. And I take you as my student." She corrects me. Slightly disappointing I can’t throw a Sensei at her… never mind…

    "Then, my first and most important question, Seria."

    "Go ahead."

    "Why are you wearing so little!?"

    Gotta address this now, it’s critical!
     
  5. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 26
    THE SHOCKING TRUTH


    "Mmm, my exposed skin helps me conduct electricity without harming myself." Seria delivers in a deadpan response.

    "What... really?!" I exclaim.

    You mean to say there is a real reason after all? Wow...

    "No, of course not. I lied." She rebukes my new fantasy.

    "Fufufufu... hahaha..." Seria nearly bursts into tears from splitting her sides.

    Aria has face-palmed again (though is looking through said palm, not very sneakily). Kiku is shaking, her eyes covered by her fringe, and Kaede is trying out an eyebrow raising exercise.

    "Hahaha! You looked so... so... oh my... you're actually serious?" Seria finally seems to realise.

    "Well... aren't you interesting, boy?" She stretches outwards, rolling her shoulders, like a cat sunning itself... it’s pretty seductive in that outfit... "Mmm, I've not even really considered that this body could be of appeal to men." She follows up.

    "No, it’s mostly just him, Seria-sama. Elijah is a serious lolicon pervert." Aria explains with her hannya face returned.

    Seria looks over the group and smirks.

    "Mmm, truly, how could it have slipped my mind to not notice your party has a certain theme? But I suppose I myself am supporting this further. To have an ability to subconsciously bring together girls of a certain age and configuration is another mystery you appear to conceal, boy… ufufufu…"

    If you could figure out why this is happening, Seria, I'd actually be grateful. I could publish a self-help book about harem pheromones (or something) and live the easy life with lolis off the proceeds.

    "Mmm... well, I guess I have no specific reason. It is easy to move around? Fufufu, what an interesting apprentice. Your very first question is not one covered by my extensive knowledge... how ludicrous! I'm certain our journey will be fun."

    "Um... Journey...? So you will be joining us, Seria? I thought Sages couldn't leave their towers?" Kiku asks.

    "Whoever perpetuated that rumour is either a fool, or a genius. Probably both. Of course we can leave. Mmmm... My crest will be diminished, less efficient on prana economy. But not to a heavy extent. And I never get many visitors in this day and age in any case." She explains. "Besides, among other things, I am long overdue a certain errand to retrieve a grimoire that I loaned to the last boy I taught."

    "Oh? Who was your previous student?" I ask.

    "Hmmm... who was it again...? something... ah yes... David? No... Dustin? No... Douglas! Yes! Douglas Mullight."

    Aria almost falls over from shock.

    "Whaaaatttt?!? The magic school headmaster? He was taught by you? But... what? You can't be... was this recently?" She exclaims.

    "Oh yes. It wasn't too long ago... I think? He stayed for a year to learn the basics of thunder and lightning control. Quite an endearing young lad; full of ideals like all young men are. Very dirty too... would always tell me he'd jump in my bed if I had a big chest. Hmm... considering Elijah’s reaction too, perhaps I do underestimate my voluptuousness? I should be more aware of this in the future..."

    Aria has fallen over properly now and is twitching on the sofa.

    "Is something the matter, Aria?" Kiku pokes her with the sheath of one of her swords.

    "I don't understand. I was taught in class by the headmaster a month ago..." she responds, muffled by a pillow.

    Huh... oh! Wait a minute... this can't be what I'm thinking, right?

    "Aria... how old is the headmaster?" I ask urgently.

    "I don't know... but he must be at least...? Urrr... His granddaughter Rishya is one of my school friends!"

    I almost forgot she doesn't do big numbers. But... it must be! In my excitement, I trigger Identify Other on Seria.

    --------------
    SERIA SESSHOUIN
    THE SAGE OF THUNDER
    LEVEL 15 ARCHMAGE

    --------------
    HP>> 13/17 (=STR+END)
    MP>> 120/267 (=(INT+PER) x 3)
    202 YEARS OLD (APPEARS 11)
    --------------
    Strength 3
    Agility 11
    Endurance 14
    Intellect 60
    Perception 29
    Charisma 17

    <<Heir of Thunder EX>> (Sage’s Inheritance. Passively converts local spiritual power into Electrical energy to boost spell power. Regenerates 30 MP per minute when at rest. Multiplies Max MP by x3.)
    <<Crest of Thunder>> (Sage’s Inheritance. Stores memories of all Thunder Sages, and their combined research. User can choose to imbue chosen individual with a portion of these memories.)
    <<Fragment of the Elder Dragon>> (Sage’s Inheritance. Halts aging upon receipt of this power; increasing lifespan by x6. Passively boosts Endurance by +6.)
    <<Spark Cannon>> (Foundation
    Thunder Magic, costs 6 MP, Fires a scatter burst of electric discharges, grounds quickly, but may paralyse.)
    <<Shockwave>> (Foundation Thunder Magic, costs 7 MP, Creates a localised thunderclap, knocking back assailants with high force.)
    <<Frozen Flight>> (Electromagnetic Magic, costs 13 MP. Magnetic field is projected, halting and reversing incoming metallic objects.)
    <<Sky Splitter>> (Thunder Magic, costs 22 MP. Paints own magical field and that of the target with ionic imbalance, creating a lightning blast fuelled by own Prana.)
    <<Thunder-Step>> (Thunder Magic, costs 12 MP. Allows self to transform into electrical current and ride other thunder spell to target.)
    <<Lightning Chaining>> (Meta-Thunder Modifier, costs +10 MP. Added to other Thunder Spell, increases electrical conductivity of targets selected, vastly increasing likelihood of lightning to fork and conduct this way after striking.)
    <<Linear Gauss>> (Ultimate Electromagnetic Magic, costs 85 MP. Accelerates ferrous object to Mach 5.7 via a mass driver effect. Requires 100 Metre acceleration space.)
    <<Torrhammer>> (Ultimate Thunder Magic. Rapidly increases electrostatic potential of a target to deliver a lightning strike of infinitely high power. Infinite MP can utilised, with scaling voltage and area of effect.)


    +19 other spells stored in Sage’s Crest (cannot be identified)
    --------------

    Holy crap. I was right! She's a real lolibaba. Amazing. Not to mention that crazy spell selection.

    "Oho... scrying?" Seria looks under her eyes at me seductively. "Did you get a good peak behind my curtain, fufufu?"

    "You... you're two hundred and two years old, Seria!?!?" I almost shout.

    "Oh, that'll not do, student of mine, you should know better than to ask a maiden her age, teehee!" She puts a fist to her head and sticks out her tongue.

    That all but confirms it... not that I have any reason to doubt Identify Others prowess...

    Today, assembled gentleman, men of culture and taste, fellow lovers of certain age ranges, I have struck gold! I present, the never aging loli!!!!!
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2017
  6. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    SIDE CHAPTER S
    SAGELY CONCERNS


    Fufufu... you sure seem interested in a girl's dark history. I can barely recall the details, but I assume you will press me for them anyway, mmmm?

    Well... you may find this difficult to believe, but the first Sage was taught by the original Dragon, Rah'lyeh, long before there were true kingdoms of demons and men. The dragon was akin to the nine gods in its power, and doubtless just as whimsical. It disappeared from the world after that. Who knows what its goal was?

    The first Sage was quite insane. Too much knowledge, I think. But he managed to think of the future, creating the 'Path Down', splitting his knowledge into seven, and passing it to seven apprentices.

    Myself? Well... I was the child of plantation slaves. I was nine years old, and had just started my life of endless toil; when there was an uprising, which eventually led to the abolishment of slavery and the formation of the Kingdom of Jeraldine from the ashes of the Empire of Syjil. My parents died, and I nearly starved, when I fled the civil war. Through chance, whilst desperately trying to live off the wild, rather ineffectually, I came across the Thundergash and its tower.

    I don't know what drove the previous Thunder Sage, Velour, to pick up a slip of a girl like me. Maybe she didn't want a young girl’s rotting body on her doorstep. But likely she was just near the end of her life, and even back then, the tower was not a frequently visited hot-spot. Probably that.

    But she sheltered and fed me, and then, as I recovered, gave me strict lessons on magery, languages, mathematics, and culture, with food and a nice bed as my reward.

    Being a simple creature back then, I honestly thought I had died and gone to the heavens.

    Over the next two years, I developed quite well. Apparently I had good potential in my head, it was just that my prior upbringing had failed to utilise any of it.

    I'm sure you can guess the remainder. As I turned eleven I realised Velour had really started to age; and that this was probably not normal. She had been a beautiful lady with waist-length copper locks when I first beheld her, which is what enticed me to grow out my own hair, but shortly after I turned eleven and began the first blushes of my adolescence, she was almost a bedridden old crone.

    I didn't really understand what I was getting into, but I accepted her Crest just a week or so before my twelfth birthday, as she was nary skin and bones.

    The flood of six generations of memories is quite something...

    But here I am today. I have taught several students in my days. Time is something that is relative when you spend months at a time researching magical theory, so the days often blur together.

    It is not especially unusual to have to deal with the chore of an upstart mage or other assailant who has come to the foolish conclusion they can kill me to take my power. But I had never been quite as close to death as I had been with fighting the demons for the first time, especially their leader, who almost seemed tailored to fight me.

    My life has actually been very lucky, now I look back on it. A slave turned archmage, and now, a strange man and his entourage of young girls saving me from almost certain death. A man who is quite ridiculous, but whom has been the first thing I have found interesting outside of magic for many, many years. Fufufu… I wonder how this will turn out?
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2017
  7. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    Yup treble post! I call shenanigans! The Seria stuff just kinda didn't stop coming for some reason. She talks alot so I guess she's easy to write.

    As usual, here's her character image to go with her side chapter as well, in case you were having trouble imagining a seductive lolibaba in a fanservice outfit 0_0'

    [​IMG]
     
  8. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 27
    LOST IN TRANSLATION


    Aria sits up from being prone, clearly surprised by the Sage's age being so high. Similarly, Kiku's mouth is agape. Kaede... seems entirely unfazed. But is she?

    "Is it entirely surprising, mmm? I suppose ten generations or more being the norm does perpetuate rumours of immortality... fufufu." She snickers whilst flicking her hand through a twintail.

    "What is especially peculiar is actually this boy with whom you travel, though." Seria quips.

    "Quite right."
    "Um... that’s true"
    "...yes."

    The girls all agree. I feel like I'm in one of those classic anime scenes where multiple imaginary arrows pierce my back.

    "Out of interest, all four of you, if you can understand me, please say yes now." Seria continues.

    "Um, yes?" I say.

    Seria looks highly bemused. I look at the other girls who have failed to respond, and am somewhat mystified. What?

    "I suspected as much. It didn't occur to me at first, because it was just natural from my perspective, but by my view, you are speaking in a rather archaic Syjilian dialect, boy. I was just speaking this, yet you can interpret me as if I were speaking Jezzethan, like I am now. That switch was seamless from your perspective, correct?" Seria says.

    "What switch, what? Oh... I see... so I auto-translate even when the subject switches language?" I muse.

    "Fufufu... that is right. Also vice-versa; when you address us directly, you speak the language we are all most familiar with at all times; even though you are doubtlessly speaking the tongue of your native world."

    That... what the hell! No wonder I appeared to be speak demonic when talking to Kerkyon. Translation function-san, I truly have underestimated your crazy OP-ness. But I bet this is only able to work because of that access to Akasha and learning on-the-fly type thing, right?

    "This is a very envious ability for spying operations, yes?" Says Kaede, always the practical one.

    "Not to mention smoothing over so much diplomacy." Aria adds, nodding.

    They're not wrong. I could make crazy money having this kind of flawless translation ability on earth. That does lead me to another question, though.

    "So, going by what you said, you are from... would it be... Syjillia, Seria? Where is that?" I ask.

    "I feel like I should know where that is... but?" Aria looks confused.

    "Syjillia? Syjil!? As in the Great Conquering Emperor Rumius Syjil?" Kiku looks rather shocked again, perhaps recalling some obscure battle history.

    "Fufufu... correct. You know of it... because it is here. This part of Syjil became Jeraldine around 192 years ago, after a civil war." Seria answers.

    Oh shit. I didn't even think of the fourth dimension... Seria really is an old maid hiding in a loli's body. Its little wonder she can come to logical conclusions about things so fast, like her appraisal of my translation. Still... pretty amazing.

    "Well, enough of that." Seria changes the subject, "You are welcome to stay here for the evening. When my power is fully recharged and I have made a few preparations, I would recommend us moving to the Sandy Shore Temple for your training."

    Seria sweeps her cape dramatically, and appears to leave for upstairs again. Loli or no, she certainly has that theatrical archmage thing down to a tee.

    The study and surroundings of this living floor are comfortable enough, with three sofas arrayed around the fireplace, a nice balconied window looking over the scenery, as well as a padded chair at the desk by the shelves, with several doors behind us leading to bedrooms including the Sage's master room. It seems a lot for a single person, in fact. I wonder if it was meant to accommodate several people? Quite possibly... if her predecessors had several students at once?

    "I'll be on a sofa then." I say.

    "Nii, there are enough bedrooms for all of us, if you share with Aria!" Kiku guffaws.

    This gets the previously thinking Aria to leap up from the sofa and shout.

    "Dammit Kiku! That was an accident!" She retorts, but her jump up was clearly too sudden and she trips over the rug, arms wheeling. I grab her hand to steady her.

    She has another pick and mix of emotions as I do, eventually pushing me away upon quickly regaining her balance.

    "F-freaking heck... w-why is he always there at the most embarrassing..." she mutters under her breath.

    Kiku has broken out into a full guffaw again, loose hair shaking, and even the edge of Kaede's mouth has quirked upwards.

    I do my best to entertain. Poor Aria, one mistake and her reputation is tarnished forever. It's tough being a cute princess!
     
  9. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 28
    A NEW GOURMET


    Sometime later, I have been recruited by Kiku to help in the kitchen. It turns out the lower floor also accommodated a store room, a dining area, and a larder as well. We were told by Seria, who returned periodically, that we were welcome to use the supplies.

    Kiku, who still had her hair down and helm removed, was inspecting a wheel of cheese and length of sausage she had retrieved, whilst I was chopping up some greens.

    "What are we making here?" I ask.

    "Um... I'm having to improvise. A gratin with sausage and Defris shoots. With breadcrumbs rather than flaked rootwarts."

    She rubs the side of her head in contemplation. The cut above there has scarred nicely now.

    "It's... it's really missing several key ingredients here. Does the sage just eat cheese and bread!?" She exclaims.

    "I guess cheese toasties are pretty easy if she is just trying to study all the time. Academics are always like that." I say, kind of relating to this condition from my own student days... though unlike my experience, it doesn't look like Seria is lacking money.

    "T-toesteez?" She looks at me, raising an eyebrow.

    Oh right... I think I've ascertained that sometimes, an English word doesn't get translated, like when I told Aria about Cars. I'm guessing because it has no equivalent.

    "You melt slices of cheese in-between toasted bread slices. Not exactly gourmet food, but its quick and easy and pretty good for breakfast." I explain.

    Kiku looks like she is pondering seriously.

    "You... melt the cheese... because the bread is hot? It becomes gooey between crisp slices? A contrast... Huh..." she mutters to herself "...of course, if there are strange fruits, there will also be new ways to prepare food... how could I not figure that out...?"

    "I'm not exactly a professional, but I'm sure I could remember a few dishes from my world, if you'd like that, Kiku?"

    "I'd love that, Nii!" She exclaims with a serious expression, fists balled in front of her face. So cute! I ruffle her hair again.

    She chitters and gives me a radiant smile that makes me tingle.

    Kiku really does love her food, doesn't she?

    Sometime after, the rather large pot of crispy gratin is prepared, and smells lovely.

    "Um... hehe... nice work, Nii." Kiku compliments.

    "Huh? I hardly did much this time. It was all you." I reply.

    "No, no... um... the support is critical for a chef. Celia-shishou always said that running a restaurant relies on everyone. So... um... even just chopping and cleaning is important." She denounces me intensely.

    "Hmm... I see. Then... thanks Kiku. And good job."

    "Nnn... that’s right." She nods, blushing slightly.

    "So is Celia your cooking teacher? Do you want to be like her?"

    Kiku looks shy and goes a bit wide eyed.

    "Um... hehe... I did mention her... oops... well... um... it's a secret." She grins.

    "Haha... well, fair enough. I think you'd be cute no matter what you did, Kiku."

    "Hnn... you silly twat, Nii! Y-you should s-save that for Aria-chan! I'm not worth all that much." Rowdy Kiku rebukes me, looking away.

    "No way. If a girl is cute, pretty, or good at something, you should tell her. You're worth plenty, Kiku. You said just before that support is important. You're an important support to me here. I value you. It's the least I can do."

    She looks shocked, but we really need to keep drilling at her low self-confidence, don't we?

    "Nnn... um... ok... t-thanks... Nii"

    She twiddles her fingers and her fringe covers her eyes a bit, but I can tell she has a funny smile.

    "Let’s get this food to the others. I bet they'll love it."

    She nods, and picks up the pot with a large glove. I follow her into the dining area. The smell has apparently already attracted a roving Ninja, whom is sat at the foot of the long table, in a patient, meditative posture.

    I go into the study to retrieve an Aria, and when I return with her, Seria has also reappeared again and positioned herself at the head. How she got past me is a mystery... bloody wizards.

    Well... never mind. I sit at the table after retrieving a bottle of what I believe is beer from the side cabinet.

    "I must say, this seems extraordinary! It is a very long time since I sat to have a proper meal like this." Seria remarks.

    Hehe... I knew it. I give a knowing glance and wink to Kiku and she smirks and looks away, blushing slightly as she lays out cutlery.

    Nothing like a bonding session with fine food, and lolis for company!
     
  10. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 29
    LOST IN THE SHADOWS


    "And I suppose, that is roughly what has happened so far." I say, nodding to myself.

    After the meal, I had given a rundown of my summoning and the three days I had been here so far for the benefit of the newer girls, with supplements to my story from Aria and Kiku at times, who didn't forget to mention me vomiting in my first fight, much to everyone’s amusement. Scoundrels.

    They were sure were an action packed set of days, though.

    I also got to learn that Kaede had been tailing us since I saw the Placktaurus, the flying whale thing. Funnily enough, this meant a number of the false positives I received from my danger sense could well have been attributed to a hidden assassin with uncertain motives (from my perspective). Which is good to know; it means that’s even more reliable than I first thought.

    Besides this brief admission though, Kaede has looked a little left out of the proceedings so far. Aria and Kiku have already established their little rapport, after all, and Seria is the kind that can talk your ear off when she gets on a topic she knows a lot about... and even as a recluse, she knows a lot about a lot with several generations of memories and two hundred years on the clock.

    I don't miss it when Kaede manages to slip away as rowdy Kiku is making a joke. I wait a few seconds for an appropriate lull, and stand up myself.

    "Just gonna find the facilities." I say.

    "Is that otherworld speak for the bathroom, boy? Fufufu... well, it’s down a floor unfortunately. End of the corridor. Don't get lost in the shadows." Seria tells me with a wry expression. I think she's on to me.

    I give a sheepish grin and nod, pretending innocence. It appears to work on Aria and Kiku, at least.

    Fortunately, I don't have to go far to find the missing ninja. The study has a windowed balcony, and she is sat on the railing, watching the zaps of lightning rise to rods below, silently. The magical muting on the thunderclaps is pretty disconcerting when viewed this way. She notices me quickly and turns her head, standing to attention.

    "Nii-sama? Do you have an order for me, yes?" She asks.

    "Hmmm... nope. I was just seeing if you were ok."

    She scrunches her eyebrows.

    "Do you... not trust me? That is understandable."

    What? How did she come to that conclusion... oh... I see, she thinks I'm checking up on her. I give her a smile.

    "If you would rather be left alone, I understand. There is no reason for me to not trust you. You saved my life." I assure her.

    She grimaces, as if she has swallowed something disgusting, and looks away.

    "No... I cannot stop you if you want to stand around here." She says, deadpan.

    I also walk over to the balcony to watch the lightning. We stand in silence for a couple of minutes.



    "Like this lightning, you should not get close to me, Nii-sama." She eventually muses.

    "Because I will be blinded by your beauty?"

    Her eyebrows scrunch again as she looks back at me.

    "If I am beautiful, then the world must have truly become a foul place, yes?" She rebukes. "I make no mistake of what I am. I am a killer. I cannot cry for my enemies, like the princess, or be proud of my prowess, like the mercenary girl. I am a just a blade. A tool. You should treat me as such."

    Man, I'm really surrounded by troublesome girls, aren't I? Obedience is certainly a strong trait in her... and by the sounds of it, she has internalised the fact that she has been a murderer, pushed it aside. But even so, I can't let this horrify me. I think there is something bright in there... I just have to draw it out of the shadow.

    "And if I am a connoisseur of weapons?" I pause, giving her a wry smile. "Kaede; I don't care what you used to be. Blade or tool or not, all that matters is that you want to be here, and that I would like you here as well."

    She looks down at her feet.

    "I don't know. I have not been able to want for anything in my life. I was told, I did, I was given. Because that is what a blade is for, Nii-sama." She says, tentatively.

    Hmm, I can't even begin to imagine her life. Was she trained from birth to be an assassin? But she is missing something important here.

    "A blade cannot choose to save the life of another." I state, with a serious tone.

    Her head snaps back up, she opens her mouth, closes it again, then puts a hand to her temple.

    "Indeed..." Is all she can say.

    I think its best not to push this further right now.

    "We'll all be waiting." I say, nodding to her.

    I turn to go back to the dining room. As I take a step, I feel a tug on my sleeve. I look back.

    "Nnn... you... you have my gratitude, for... being one who treats their weapons well." She whispers under her breath, then let’s go of my tunic.

    Good enough for now.

    I give her a smile again as I walk off, and she looks away shyly. Cuuuute!
     
  11. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    Sorry the Friday chapter was late, by the way, it was crazy busy for me yesterday. I thought I'd sneak that Kaede development chapter in when I got up this morning (haha). Here's the actual Saturday one. We've hit an even THIRTY already!! :LOL: I wasn't even expecting this story to hit twenty chapters!! Still, I'm enjoying writing it alot, and I hope you're all enjoying it as well.
    ------
    CHAPTER 30
    DELICIOUS FUTURES


    As the time comes for us to rest, Seria offers her own bed in jest; I'd love to accept…but with a rising sense of danger I resolutely turn her down, and end up on the sofa. It's by far the safest option, especially seeing as how I shouldn't have an incident with a sleepy Aria this way.

    Not that I mind. It’s a pretty luxurious sofa, and it’s close to the main fireplace. Pretty cozy.

    Looks like taking Kerkyon down didn't cause me to level up, but that’s not a surprise. I didn't really contribute much directly besides enabling the plan. If anything, I expect Kaede and Seria got most of the reward, because that’s how these things work.

    I shut my eyes and find the busy day catches up with me promptly.

    I awaken to the sun rising over the crater of the Thundergash, and the smell of toasted bread.

    I feel a bit sticky from sleeping in my clothes, but I guess it can't be helped.

    I wander over to the dining room, finding a sleepy looking Aria with bed-hair, dozing face-down at the table. She is bereft her cape.

    "Morning, Aria."

    "Nn... morning..." She acknowledges to the woodwork.

    I sit down in the seat opposite her, just in time to see Kiku coming out of the kitchen with her attempt at toasties. From the smell, I expected as much.

    "Good morning, Kiku. You're trying that out already?"

    She shrugs. "Um... thought I might as well whilst the obvious ingredients presented themselves, Nii."

    Her platter is set down on the middle of the table, with what appears to be an entire loaf and most of a cheese wheel converted into toasties. Despite the fact that this is her first attempt, they're almost artistic, like shop-bought ones, with even toasting all across them.

    I take one and bite down into it, and they're as great as they look, concealing a ham slice inside as well.

    "Delicious as always, Kiku. You got it perfect first try. You're really talented with cooking." I compliment.

    "Oh... um... hehe... thanks Nii." She chitters, blushing.

    Aria appears to wake up at this, raising a zombie like hand to grasp a toastie and insert it into her mouth.

    Suddenly she jerks up as if hit by Seria's lightning.

    "What? What is this!?" She shouts, looking agast.

    She proceeds to cram the entire thing into her mouth, giving herself a hamster like appearence with puffed out cheeks.

    I can't help but laugh at the sight, and neither can Kiku.

    She doesn't seem to care, though, and just stuffs yet another toastie down her throat.

    "It looks like we've got another bread and cheese obsessive here, Kiku." I laugh.

    "Fucking bollocks... you're probably right."

    "Is someone talking about me?" Seria says, suddenly appearing from somewhere. How does she do that?

    Similarly, I notice that a Kaede has also silently appeared and is already eating. Although her expression is frigid as usual, it feels like her eyes are smiling at least.

    After everyone has made a mess with breadcrumbs everywhere and filled their stomachs, we decide to have another strategy meeting.

    "Um... Seria... I'm confused. You said before that Nii should train at the Sandy Shore Temple?" She asks.

    "Mmm, I did say that." She nods.

    "But that is quite a long distance, yes? Is there an issue with Valley of Lost Souls?" Kaede adds.

    Apparently, Sandy Shore Temple is quite a way along the coast, back the way we came. I believe Kiku did mention it is an option a few days ago as a good training place, but it was rejected along with the Fire Sage for being too much of a round trip.

    Seria raises an eyebrow.

    "You do have me now, or have you forgotten? I can send us there with a leygate. What do you think I have been preparing all this time?" She muses.

    Aria and Kiku look shocked.

    "Is that some sort of transportation magic?" I ask.

    "Oh, yes, of course. The magical theory is rather complex in truth, but the effect is that we can be thrown along the spiritual leylines to crux points. It is the most efficient means of travel." Seria nods.

    "Um... I wasn't aware that ley-gating still worked? Battle histories say that large armies used to do it, but..." Kiku questions.

    "I don't know why, but... mmm, it is true, the paths are weaker, the journey rougher. My old memories imply the Sages of yore used to find it quite effortless." Seria agrees. "Still... it is quite possible, if we stick to high concentration cruxes and keep our party small."

    There used to be teleporting armies in this world? Cripes, that would play hell with battle tactics. I wonder why it became harder?

    "So this allows groups to teleport instantly?" I clarify.

    "Mmmm... Not exactly instantly. No one has ever been able to quantify the speed of transfer, as it fluctuates. But it is much faster than walking, for sure. How do you think the demons came here?" Seria explains.

    "The tower is one of these... cruxes?" I ponder.

    "Mmm... Not the tower specifically, boy, but the Thundergash on which it is built is a tear directly into the Etheric vein that manifests as primal electric power as it discharges." Seria continues.

    Aria looks swirly eyed at this technical explanation, but I think I understand. An 'etheric vein' is a pretty cool idea.

    "It is a constant source of undead, the Sandy Shore Temple. It was built as a maze of containment over a crux of death energy that manifested from a catastrophic battle during my early years. The Valley of Lost Souls is similar, but whatever once happened there involved drowning, and was a very long time ago, so the effect is much weaker." Seria patiently relates, looking aside with a finger touching her lips.

    She really does know a lot... I can see why it would be a mistake to consider oneself learned in her presence.

    “Well... I don't have a problem with it. Let’s go with that.” I say.
     
  12. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 31
    A TOWER FAR BEHIND


    "So... are all monsters generated by... cruxes?" I ask.

    "No... most cruxes are benevolent, and many monsters are natural. Monster study and pattern analysis is one of the big mysteries of the world, though..." Seria answers, tapping her forehead.

    "Nnn... my Dad was a specialist. It is why he's in charge of the guild... hehe..." Kiku seems proud.

    "And why your sister rose so high in the knights as quickly as she did. She knows how to read monster patterns and help co-ordinate a group well." Aria adds about Kako. She really does sound terribly perfect... no wonder Kiku feels inadequate all the time.

    Kiku puffs out her little chest and snickers to herself, though, still clearly proud of her nee-chan.

    "Oh? I am rather behind in my own knowledge. It would be of interest to me to query them both on the latest advances." Seria nods, ever the academic.

    "Hahhh... so wouldn't all this require coming back on ourselves to go to the capital?" Aria wonders.

    "Mmmm... perhaps I wasn't too clear. We must, in fact, stop there first, due to the distance of the leygating, by my calculations on the rate of vein decay." Seria adds.

    So back to where I started? Well... if it’s the most efficient option.

    "I see. So a couple of days there and then moving on for further training." I clarify.

    "Correct. It is always so refreshing that you are quick on the uptake, boy!" She says, clapping her hands together and flexing them.

    "Um... when do we go?" Kiku asks.

    "I anticipate charging to be ready in around an hour. Please make your final preparations, and meet me at the top. Feel free to take from the tower whatever you feel is useful. I shall not need return for some time." Seria clarifies.

    "Nn... understood." Aria nods.

    Seria stands up and sweeps her cloak dramatically as she leaves. Apparently it’s an ingrained habit.

    After she leaves I decide my best of action would be to rob the garden of bomb materials. Getting Terrimarr especially.

    "What will you be doing, Nii-sama?" Kaede inquires with a quizzical expression.

    I answer the girls and they all widen their eyes.

    "Then I shall accompany you, yes. I know of the optimal parts of the leaves you must cut." Kaede states.

    "That would be helpful, thanks Kaede." I agree.

    Kiku decides to investigate and pack food supplies, and Aria helps her.

    Me and Kaede move swiftly to the arboretum. We find a set of pouches, and a roll of waxed paper in a chest behind the gazebo, along with gardening gloves and secateurs.

    A ninja dexterously wielding a large pair of scissors is pretty whack, but she adeptly makes precision snips to take the sides off the broad club-shaped leaves before pruning them entirely. I see small sprinkles of powder from the dark leaves fall as she does her cuts, and I'm guessing this is the contact blood-thinning, rash inducing stuff. I don't know if it will effective at all on the undead, but gather up the leaves and powder with the gloves and wrap it carefully in paper.

    "Will this be sufficient, Nii-sama?" She queries, after I have put away about ten leaves.

    "This should be plenty." I concur. "You're really good at this, Kaede." I compliment.

    Her eyebrow quirks up "Raising deadly plants was perhaps the most serene of our occupations. I... I didn't dislike the calm of it; yes..." She states, furrowing her brow.

    Perhaps that explains the Herbalist I skill she mysteriously had tucked among her Ninja arts.

    Whilst we are there, I also tear off bark of something called a Diocondes Tree, as well stripping fibres from the Faselock Vines, and collecting a bunch of Ghostfruit. The Ghostfruit is obvious, as is the fibre, but my skills inform me that the rough bark serves as a perfect match striker, and hence useful in making basic detonators.

    As I wrap up the last of pouches, Aria and Kiku appear with a sack of food, as well as the large camping backpack. I secure the pouches to a side handle and follow them as we all head up to the apex of the tower.

    It occurs to me along the way that all the demon bodies have gone, and the gap in the tower sealed up as well. Evidently, Seria was busy with this yesterday. I'm confused as to how she did it, though.

    As we reach the top, the whole room is awash with swirling motes of light, which are slowly dancing in a cyclonal pattern around the central platform. It evokes the image of swirling dust in an old room, but far prettier. A large, rather complex diagram of lines and flowing script I can't really comprehend has been painted on the floor in blue, and is glowing slightly. Seria stands in the middle, arms folded across her bare midriff, waiting expectantly, with her eyes shut.

    Her eyes snap open, and I can't help but briefly admire how beautiful she looks among the visual effects, which have clearly consumed our shows budget.

    The other girls are also clearly at awe over this spectacle.

    "Well... don't just stand there slack-jawed!" Seria growls. "You believe it easy to hold onto a spell of this calibre, mmm? Come here already!!"

    This wakes us up, and we quickly shuffle across one of the access ramps and stand inside the glowing circle.

    "I highly recommend holding hands. Do it now!" Seria shouts, holding out her palms.

    Aria is blushing at this sudden order, but I take her hand in my left, and Seria's in my right. Kiku looks somewhat dissatisfied at this, but takes the hand of Aria and Kaede, whilst Kaede grabs Seria with her remaining hand.

    With the pentagon of us completed, Seria nods, and her eyes begin to glow with a silver and blue lustre that appears to pour out of her brown irises. It's a strange combination of colours.

    There is the smell of burning, and paint thinner, and a vicious snapping noise that makes my ears ring as the whole room bends sideways disconcertingly. We’re on our way…
     
  13. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 32
    A KNIGHT INDEED


    I feel like I really should be in a police box at the moment; with this weird tunnel like effect swirling around me. I can't see any of the girls at the moment, nor even my own body. It feels like I've been ripped from reality entirely. But there is an odd warmth to my clasped hands...

    "/5 !7 >/0u? Vv1!/ yo^ 83 T!n3 0N3 vvln0 54V35 U5?"

    What? Was that a voice?

    I don't have time to ponder further about this, though, as my ears pop, my stomach turns, and I'm almost overwhelmed by a flash of garish colour and light.

    I feel a huge sense of deja vu, as, with swirling magical effects around me, I land on one knee into what is clearly the castles summoning chamber.

    However, this time, I am landing in a pentagonal formation with four lovely young girls, and it seems we have a welcoming entourage of twelve burly men pointing crossbows our way...

    One of them fires at us. Still disoriented from the teleportation, I barely have time to register that a bolt is about to drill into my skull, and this time, even precognitive evasion is caught off guard. Death taps me on the shoulder and asks for a curry.

    But I'm still not out of plot armour quite yet, it seems. The bolt stops a mere inch from my face, making me break out in a cold sweat. It then lurches in mid-air and slams into the shoulder of the portly man who fired it, making him squeal in pain and drop the crossbow. The other men almost fire at us in reaction, but...

    "DO YOU MIND NOT FORCING ME TO CAST A SPELL DIRECTLY AFTER LEYGATING! I AM THE SAGE OF THUNDER! DO YOU MEAN TO CROSS ME?!" Seria shouts, her voice a literal storm that blows the men back half an inch and cows them.

    "HALT! Cease fire!" A woman’s voice shouts from the other side of them. Fortunately, the ballisticians are nothing if not disciplined, and they drop their crossbows and stand to attention, besides the man crying on the floor.

    "You imbeciles! You nearly shot your own princess!! Wedge, I've warned you how many times about not firing early?! How many times?!" The rant continues.

    The woman who the voice belongs to appears from between the men. She is tall and distinguished looking, in a white over-coated uniform that accents her impressive chest. Two bastard swords are slung over her back, and she has a full head of pale green hair in a bunched ponytail. She promptly kicks the already downed man with her greaved foot, making him squeal further. The other men have looks of pity.

    "Nee-chan!?" Kiku exclaims.

    So this is Kako? Cripes...

    Kako looks to our group, blinks, and then looks back at the men with a vicious smile.

    "And apparently you also nearly shot my cute little sister AS WELL. Oooh, you lot are going to have some ~very~ special training tomorrow! Vicks, carry Wedge to the infirmary. You're dismissed!!"

    The men all swallow and grimace, but salute and march out. Even though one of those guys nearly made me go all King Harold, I almost feel sorry for them...

    As they leave, Kako goes down on her knees in front of Aria.

    "I cannot apologise enough for my foolish men, your majesty. Please punish me for their failings if..."

    "There is no need for that. It is, if anything, the Sage of Thunder and the Etranger you should apologise to, Ser Arnas." Aria says.

    "Oh... of course... please accept my apologies." Kako says.

    It's a pretty strange thing, having a voluptuous knight woman on her knees apologising to you...

    "No... It all turned out fine. These things... happen." I shrug. I'm not a vindictive sort.

    "Hmmph... well, if the boy is satisfied, then I guess you got off lucky, girl. I'll turn a blind eye this time in deference to him and your sister. You had best take us to the King however." Seria adds.

    Kako stands up, giving Kiku a strange expression. I guess that's not surprising. The sage basically just declared she owed Kiku a favour.

    "Of course, I shall take you to his majesty immediately. Let us go." Kako begins to lead us out, and Kiku runs up to her side and grabs her sleeve.

    "Um... it's nothing much, nee-chan... I didn't..."

    "She only helped save my life and all, and then cooked me a fine meal!" Seria exclaims from behind.

    I almost get the impression that the meal was the more important of those two from Seria's intonation. I... I'm just hearing things, right?

    Kiku looks crestfallen as if she's done something naughty. Kako stops and blinks repeatedly. These two sisters have a weird relationship. Given what I've seen of Kako, I feel as though she is only capable of providing tough love... poor Kiku.

    "It... it sounds like... you've done well, Kiku." Kako seems to almost struggle to say this.

    Nevertheless... Kiku fidgets and looks radiantly happy. How cute!

    Well, I guess it’s time to see King Legato again before we move on to other errands.
     
  14. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 33
    HAPPY TO SERVE


    "Father! Why didn't you ever tell me about that feature of the basement room!?! Isn't this dangerous when anyone can leygate there!?" Aria exclaims.

    I feel as though King Legato should adjust his glasses right now, but he doesn't have any. I'm starting to miss the ability to do so myself. Nevertheless he remains impassive despite his daughter shouting.

    Meanwhile, the ninja maid suddenly appears and starts pouring tea. I don't think I'll ever be used to that... even though I've gained a real ninja now...

    "Aria... did you think we had a room specifically for summoning rituals?" He says.

    "I-I! O-Of course not..."

    She totally did.

    "... I see. Then, as you ~know~, the strategic value of the centre of a crux would be immense to those interested in constructing a place to run a nation, right? It is centre point of the nation’s prana lines, and hence, where the power is strongest." Legato patiently explains.

    "Um... but also buried in a chamber with one exit to partially help with security?" Kiku adds.

    "Correct." The king nods. "True, it is double edged sword, but with fewer every decade able to transport others, it has gradually become redundant at this function."

    He takes a sip of his tea. I wonder if his tea is harder than it appears given how much he liked his booze the last time I saw him, though perhaps that was my fault for being unexpectedly mediocre.

    "In any case, you are due to brief me on your progress so far?"

    We are in a reception room at the moment. We had interrupted a session of a ruling council as we arrived, with several bigwigs and peoples representatives. From what I understood, Jeraldine ran a constitutional monarchy, similar in part to my home, though with only 20 representatives from across the country, and no prime minister, as ultimate power still lay with the King. But it was refreshing that nobles were deliberately limited to one third of the attendees, and the council was mostly not hereditary.

    Even so, much like the time I was introduced to them, I don't think the council was especially enamoured with me. Ikemen shoes to fill, and taking away the last princess is probably not helping my case either. Still, Legato seems more appreciative, and has an expression of mirth as I explain the last few days.

    "It seems as though you are finding your feet. Defeating a Crawler alone would be a worthy deed for one such as yourself, but aiding in the defeat of a demon general is better still." He seems impressed. Perhaps he had rather low standards though...

    He rubs his chin and continues... "The sage has the right of it, Sandy Shore temple was once a training ground for knights and mercenaries alike. It is a good choice for encouraging your continued growth."

    He nods to the Ninja maid, and she leaves his side to leave briefly.

    "And you say you will be present for a couple of days?" He asks.

    "Mmm, it was slightly below my predictions. I anticipate 36 hours will be enough in this case." Seria clarifies.

    Interestingly, it is actually just past midday now, so the leygating in this case actually took us around two hours. So basically converting two days of travel to two hours. Not bad economy wise, though it is pretty strange that, from my perspective, it was barely seemed a minute. Time dilation is a funny thing.

    "Very good." Legato turns to Aria. "Aria, you shall accompany the Sage to see Douglas for her errand. Do not think I am not aware you did not inform the school you were leaving. Rectify this."

    Aria looks like she has swallowed a hot coal. "But daaad... the headmaster and that girl are a paaain..." she whines.

    It's the first time I've seen her act this spoiled. Well... ok, she can be bratty quite alot, but because she is crazy beautiful, she can almost pass it off as cute rather than whiny, right? Errr yeah... I have a weakness, don't I? She still gets a chop to the head from her unimpressed father, though.

    She sulks. Were we supposed to visit there before we left? Seems like it. I wonder what she was trying to avoid by playing hooky like that?

    "In the meantime, you undoubtedly have a variety of things you can do in the city in that time to improve your next venture." He nods.

    He's right of course. Although I borrowed a spare tunic from Seria, it's not as adequately fitted as the slashed one. We have those Crawler plates to sell, Kiku's sword to repair. I should certainly find a place to make bombs. It's the usual town phase downtime present in any good game.

    At this point, the Ninja maid reappears through the door holding a small bag. She has acquired a pair of spectacles on her nose. Although she has little presence, like the self-proclaimed 'furniture' from a certain famous huge kinetic novel, she has a certain mature beauty and refinement this way, with her blue hair in a side-tail, and her traditional long skirted maid dress, which she pulls off well.

    She gives the bag to her liege reverently and he nods.

    "Thank you, Leanne." He says, smiling at her. She nods back.

    Aha, this girl finally has a name. Yes, it suits her.

    King Legato looks back to me, and hands me the bag, which crisply jingles and is heavier than it looks.

    "Three myriads and twelve bounds. This is all I can get away with, but it should be of use."

    Aria almost jumps up.

    "Father! You were forbidden from passing money and things to the Etranger! The council..."

    Ho... I did wonder why I didn't get an allowance when we left, even getting a junker newb sword is traditional in the games.

    "I don't know what you're talking about, Aria. I just withdrew a part of my personal allowance for investment in the country."

    Her mouth works like a fish as if processing that statement.

    "Leanne! You know he will..." She tries a different route of attack.

    "His majesty withdrew funds for the country. They will be utilised in development of the town militia. This was already discussed in session today." She responds, finally demonstrating her level-toned and harmonic voice for the first time. It’s a shame she doesn't talk much.

    Aria sighs hugely with an exaggerated gesture. Yep, this pair are in conspiracy, Aria. It was pretty clear when it was Leanne that was fetching the money, right?

    Still, it’s kind of heart-warming that they're apparently braving a risk to their authority for me.

    "But!" Aria starts.

    "These funds are sure to help contribute to the nation’s defence." I interrupt her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

    Leanne, the maid, nods at this. "It is good you understand quickly, Ser Elijah. Very good." She says, smiling.

    "Unlike a certain stupid daughter of mine..." Legato sighs, tapping his head.

    Aria puffs out her cheeks. It's cute as usual. It's funny that I'm totally not the only one to bully her. Poor Aria.
     
  15. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 34
    NOBLE DISASTER


    Did I mention before just how pretty this capital looks? It's an easy place to become fond of, especially compared to the frequently grey inner cities I'm mostly used to. I got to see a few rather vibrant places on the way to the School of Magic, like the Fish Market, Anticular Street, and the resplendent Cathedral of Saulm.

    Kiku decided to go and get the monster parts sold and her melted sword looked at. Kaede decided to join her, because she came to the conclusion it would be best to register herself as a mercenary. I was hoodwinked to go and see Douglas, the headmaster, along with a strutting Seria and sulking Aria providing a comedy contrast with each other... especially as Aria has switched back to a white and silver noble dress.

    I tried to give Kiku some of the money that Legato had assigned to me, but she wouldn't accept it, saying she had already promised to use the sales of monster parts. She seems to value her word, which I suppose is unsurprising if she was raised by the reliable kind of loyal mercenary, and from what I've heard, her father is very much that.

    The school itself was surprisingly modest, crammed up against one of the inner cities walls like a barnacle. It’s not a place that screams mystery and magic. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought it just some kind of rich tenement with a fetish for statues and decorative hedges.

    Aria leads us promptly through the halls, attracting some attention and whispered gossip from other milling students. It's probably the fact she is famous and yet is hanging around with a girl in negligee and a guy with a too small tunic. We must look a right trio.

    Aria knocks on the door marked 'Headmaster, Douglas Mullight' and we get a prompt "Please enter!” so Aria sighs, puts on a smile, and opens the door.

    "Aha... the main actress returns from her hiatus. You do like making all my lessons difficult, don't you, Your Majesty?" I hear as I follow her in.

    The room is a cluttered mess. I imagine, were it not being used as a mixed office, laboratory, and library, it might be big and spacious, but one gets the impression this man is a serious hoarder. Looking at him, sat at his desk, he has a grey beard, blonde hair with streaks of white, and a fair few wrinkles. He also rocks a beret and a baggy black robe. Almost a stereotypical wizard except the hat.

    But most importantly, old. In his sixties. And yet Seria was talking about him being a horny young man...

    Speaking of which, he now seems to notice the fact that Aria has not come alone, and he almost immediately leaps out his seat.

    "What's wrong, boy? Is there a ghost behind me?" Seria snarks as she closes the door and moves past me to sit on a pile of very large books seductively.

    "Sesshouin?!?" He coughs, his eyes going wide.

    "In the flesh. Or the ectoplasm, going by that look." She grins, clearly enjoying herself.

    "Y-you can leave the tower!?"

    Seria rolls her eyes.

    "I'm seriously wondering who came up with that..." she muses, finger on her cheek.

    "But... how is it that..." he looks bewildered.

    "Um... headmaster, I'm here to announce that I... that I won't be able to attend for a while." Aria states. She's either throwing the man a lifeline or just completely failing to read the mood here. I'd bet it's the latter with Aria.

    He blinks and looks back at Aria, his head working quickly, and I can almost see the click occur inside of him that just entirely chooses to black out Seria's existence under the pretence of official duty.

    "I see. And what would be the reason for this? As you're aware, this education is mandatory for all..." He prattles.

    "I would be the reason." I decide to interrupt.

    He looks across at me. I feel a minor prickle of danger and I swear his eyes glow for a second.

    "You're to marry, princess?" He says, coming to completely the wrong conclusion.

    "THAT'S WRONG!!" She immediately slams his desk. Her super-strength appears to be used as there is a slight cracking of wood and his alchemical bottles briefly hop into the air.

    Seria starts to guffaw to herself at this scene, but before Aria can fully correct the situation, the door immediately slams open again, as an urgent sounding voice shouts:

    "ARIA!! IS IT TRUE YOU GOT PREGNANT IN A LOVE TRIANGLE WITH A WITCH AND A SOLDIER?"

    Due to the crammed and messy room, I'm actually stood in the doors path, since I moved aside to let Seria through, so my Precognitive Dodge lurches me forward to save me from being crushed.

    In getting out of the doors swing, however, I end up in the flight path of the blue blur that has just burst open the door, and it collapses into me a high speed.

    As I'm already stuck in a rather odd reflexive position from a twisting leap, I don't have the balance to take this impact and we both go reeling onto the floor, knocking the wind out of me, and continuing the trend of having me fall on my ass from dodges beyond my control.

    But...

    Oh my...

    Though I don't have too much experience in this matter, I don't think any man can mistake the feeling of bouncy breasts pressed against their chest...

    I shake my head to clear my vision, and yes indeed, there on my chest is a girl with red irises and shoulder length wavy blonde hair in a thin blue noble dress, who is now disoriented as she groans and rolls off me into a pile of books. At least she spared me the cliché of sitting up in a straddle position.

    But... this is incredible. She definitely looks Aria's age, but there can be no mistake that she has some fine oranges growing in her orchard! This... having found the loli-baba, could it be that I am also the first witness to an oppai-loli as well?!

    "Oh gods!? Elijah, what the hell did you do to Rishya!?"

    I snap out my reverie to see Aria stood above me suddenly with an even scarier hannya face than usual, cracking her knuckles, as Seria's guffaw in the background turns into a fighting-for-breath lunatic cackle.

    My danger sense skyrockets so hard it gives me a migraine. I have a feeling this is going to hurt...
     
  16. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    Did a few minor edits for consistency.

    Most notably, I realised that I had started calling the Fighter's Guild the Mercenaries Guild. The latter makes more sense in retrospect of what it is, so I edited the earlier references to match this. In case you were confused and thought Kiku and Kaede had gone somewhere different.
     
  17. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 35
    EDUCATION


    "And this foolish rumour mill of a girl is my granddaughter, Rishya, whom I raised." Says Douglas, the headmaster. It turns out that he is also a Duke and one of the nobles faction.

    "Spelt with a 'y', I'll have you know." The blonde girl states imperiously, puffing out her reasonably sized chest. "I am Aria's best friend."

    Assuming I didn't cause her to lose brain cells when I crashed into her, then apparently, she's an idiot like Aria too. Like histmunch in pod.

    "As much as it pains me to admit it... Rishya has been around me forever." Aria sighs exaggeratedly.

    "She says I'm a pain, but I'm always saving her..." Rishya looks proud.

    "...Even when I don't need saving!"

    "...and nobody else talks to her..."

    "...Because you're around all the time!"

    "...If they cannot stand our combined radiance, they have no right to be with us."

    Wow. I watch their exchange like it’s a verbal tennis match. Finishing each other’s sentences... they're like a married couple! I guess my plans need to change, Aria's taken already!

    "She is certainly a... special girl." I say, swallowing a grin.

    "Why thank you, Ser Etranger! See Aria! Even your future groom appreciates me!" Rishya claps her hands, not detecting my sarcasm.

    "He is NOT my groom!!" Aria shouts, balling her fists. She's being such a tsundere, right?

    "Now, now, that’s just a formality. It is grand he is taking responsibility for your baby." Rishya pats her on the shoulder, looking starry eyed.

    "I am NOT pregnant!!" Aria looks like she has a headache.

    "There, there. Just because you don't feel it doesn't mean you haven't got a bun in the oven. You need to stop deluding yourself now you have slept with him." Rishya closes her eyes and pats her chest, making it wobble.

    Aria is quivering with an explosive concoction of emotion. This particular piece of information was originally omitted in Aria giving a recounting of events, but Seria was 'kind' enough to add fuel to Rishya's burning delusions by mentioning it.

    My face probably looks mighty strange as well, and Seria has barely stopped for breath from sniggering the entire time, tears in her eyes. Douglas has face palmed with both hands.

    Rishya is certainly a special girl, I meant what I said. She has undying conviction in herself, an irrepressible good manner in her conduct, and it genuinely feels as though she cares for Aria. You would think she is trolling; but she absolutely believes everything she is saying... and has even added the details of the story we have told to Douglas in order to mould it around her own truth (it's just Seria doing the trolling).

    Well... as entertaining as it is to watch Aria inadvertently get bullied like this, I guess I should step in to save her... but I feel like I can only change this catastrophic misunderstanding by pulling it out by the roots... which won't be pretty.

    "Excuse me, Rishya?" I ask.

    She turns back to me again, her chest jiggling slightly. It's mighty distracting.

    "Yes, Ser Etranger, how may I serve you?" She asks, giving a dazzling smile with her baby face.

    I don't see any other choice here.

    "Are you are aware how babies are made?" I drop the nuke.

    Seria literally falls over and rolls on the floor laughing; and Aria suddenly jumps and gains a hannya face, frantically crossing her arms in a 'no' gesture. Rishya’s eyes go wide and her eyebrows scrunch.

    "This witch girl is awfully rude... hmmph!"

    "Please don't mind her, she has problems restraining herself." I say, serious toned.

    "Quite. Ahem! It is curious you do not know the answer. But to respond to your enquiry; they are made when you sleep with a man." She answers.

    Well, she's not wrong. But I think she has the wrong sleep in mind.

    "It actually... requires an extra step." I say, trying to restrain myself from using a deadpan voice.

    "Oh! Yes, I am aware it requires a close hug as well!" She nods, cupping her face in her hands and blushing.

    T-This is physically painful. Do I have to go all the way with her?

    "And... there is another thing as well. While... hugging... a man must... join together with the girl. He puts his..." I gulp.

    She is staring at me intently now with her big red eyes. I feel like I'm about to commit a terrible crime as she leans into my face. I hear 'kiniarimasu!!' from a certain school detective anime in my head... and it's not helping...

    "His what!?" She asks intensely.

    Aria has now covered her face and is peeking out her fingers, blushing. Oh for fucks sake... I'm truly sorry about your daughter, headmaster, but she cannot possibly be allowed to be this sheltered. Let there be ruin!

    "His p*nis. It gets big when he likes the girl, and it goes inside her when she is naked and it makes them both happy. I did NOT complete this crucial step with Aria. So she is not pregnant." My tone is entirely deadpan as the words spill out in a torrent.

    Rishya appears frozen in place. Her eyes start to swim as if entire portions of her brain are being rewritten. She gulps and staggers backwards, waving her hands frantically, and causing her chest to sway.

    "Eh... What? That... oh no! That... it all... OH NO! Those special parts... that... Ah... AHHHHH!!!" She cries, falling on her rear.

    Though I can nary believe I just had to do such a thing, it had to be done. How can anyone possibly be as sheltered as this at her age?

    Perhaps it is guilt, but I still feel a wrenching in the pit of my stomach. I have probably just shattered this poor girl's innocence in a single blow. And yet, I am more relieved than anything that she did not say 'what's a p*nis?'.

    Well... this turned out to be one hell of a school visit. Not the sort of learning I expected to promote, though. I prepare to go dogeza and kiss the floor in apology to Douglas, but he is leaning back in his chair and looks unimaginably relieved. He then leaps up and thanks me, grasping my hands. I guess he has had his own difficulties with raising this girl...

    Such crazy... much wow...

    ---------
    I was a little bit concerned I made Rishya into too much of an idiot... :cautious: but I think I've just about balanced her on the precipice of being sheltered and naive at the moment. Her reasons will be explained shortly as well...
     
  18. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    CHAPTER 36
    POSITIVELY CLERICAL


    Unfortunately, Douglas doesn't spend long on being happy at his daughter's progress.

    "Father! You must allow me to accompany Aria to protect her!"

    "Rishya... I appreciate the thought, but I don't think you'll be able to protect me. You're not even trained in fighting techniques." Aria pleadingly tries logic on her.

    "I do not mean from swords. I will protect you from this man." She replies, giving me a hateful expression as she pats her chest. Logic is out the window. She literally wants to be a cock-block, after all, now she knows what that implies. I think breaking her innocent delusions as I did has not enamoured her much to me, and she has become stubbornly adamant.

    "Rishya, where they are going will be very dangerous. The princess needs fighters, not handmaidens." Her father adds.

    "Nonsense. I cannot swing a blade, but I have no peer when it comes to the healing arts, father. Even you are aware that Master Manato praises my ability." She responds.

    "I thought that might be the case." Seria suddenly whispers in my ear.

    I jump slightly, turning to look at her, raising an eyebrow. Her eyes are close, flashing with her intelligence, and despite her grin, she has actually become vaguely serious now.

    // It is true // The girl is an idiot savant // She is rather loved by light spirits //

    She speaks in my head again whilst Aria and the headmaster continue to try and persuade her.

    Is that so? You can tell?

    // Yes, they continually swirl around her // I believe there is consensus among Sages that they favour those with strong convictions and belief and love //

    Love and peace, is it? Bloody typical holy type spirits.

    // Fufufu // It is why they have the worst compatibility with me, compared to vindictive thunder ones //

    Hmm, so spirits have personalities like that. I guess Seria is pretty vindictive.

    // Your gall never ceases to amaze and entertain me //

    She grins a dangerous grin. Oh shit... of course she can read my thoughts. Does she know how much I was thinking about boobs earlier? CRAP! I just thought about them!

    // Fufufu // As much as I would enjoy keeping you in a perpetual state of fear // Not all the time // Requires much concentration and eye contact // Your perversions are safe with me //

    I immediately look away from this dangerous loli-baba and I hear her snicker.

    "But daaad... you let Yuuzu go. And even though I hate this man, he needs my help!" Rishya is still pleading... she’s so contrary!

    "Yuuzu is already eighteen, and can protect herself better than anyone. But ultimately, if you are not needed by the Princess and the Etranger, then that’s final." Her father says.

    Who's Yuuzu? I must have missed something while Seria was in my head.

    Oh well... it's up to me, huh? I decide to appraise Rishya. It can't hurt to know the extent of her capabilities, right?

    --------------
    RISHYA MULLIGHT
    NOBLE CHERUBIM
    LEVEL 5 CLERIC

    --------------
    HP>> 17/20 (=STR+END)
    MP>> 70/70 (=(INT+PER) x 2.5)
    12 YEARS OLD
    --------------
    Strength 8
    Agility 4
    Endurance 12
    Intellect 19
    Perception 9
    Charisma 20 (+2)

    <<Selfless Justicar>> (Very dedicated to helping those in need, even at own demerit. Passively attracts Light Spirits, multiplying MP by x2.5, and boosting healing power by 33%.)
    <<Noble Blood of Mullight>> (Grants bright golden blonde hair, red eyes. +2 Charisma.)
    <<Physician II>>
    (Allows learning of INT-based Healing Magic. +3 Intellect for purposes of first-aid.)
    <<Heal I>>
    (Healing Magic, costs 6 MP, Heals 25+(8) HP)
    <<Heal VI>>
    (Healing Magic, costs 18 MP, Heals 100+(33) HP over course of ten seconds)
    <<Haemocura>> (Healing Magic, costs 6 MP, Purges Blood of Poisons, Stops Bleeding.)
    <<Limb Knitting>> (Healing Magic, costs 37 MP, allows limbs to be reattached, and the rapid healing of third degree burns, broken bones, and nervous system damage.)
    <<Mind Clearance>> (Healing Magic, costs 13 MP, clears head of confusion, drunkenness, blindness and deafness; unless permanent.)
    <<Flashcannon>> (Light Magic, costs 20 MP. Focuses Light Spirits power into a searing heat beam. Deadly, but requires charge up time of at least seven seconds.)
    <<Flash-Fortify>> (Blessing Magic, costs 18 MP. Creates a barrier of force that prevents one attack and reciprocates the force entered into it twofold back at the assailant. Superior version of Bulwark of Purity.)
    <<Solar Blessing>> (Light Magic, costs 14 MP. Cast on Self only. Halves MP costs for next three Light or Healing spells cast.)
    --------------


    Huh... she's actually surprisingly intellectual? I guess its just common sense she lacks, or perhaps it’s an expert ability to delude herself? But one things for certain, she certainly has that cleric vibe, with the wide range of handy recovery and support skills.

    She shivers slightly, and fastens a hateful gaze on me, crossing her arms across her chest protectively. I've noticed this a few times now... but the more magically inclined targets of Identify Other seem to be able to clearly detect its usage. I suppose it is prying them for information somehow... I'm fairly sure the title at least must consider their own opinions. Aria and Kiku apparently showed less of a reaction, didn't they?

    "Well… I'm not going to be so cruel as to attempt to stop a girl from accompanying her 'best friend' so long as she understands the dangers." I say.

    "As befits your dirty character you resist... eh...?" Rishya says, blinking and looking confused. She clearly had a canned response ready and it wasn't the right one.

    Aria rolls her eyes but says nothing. I think she's being tsundere again, and actually enjoys Rishya's presence even if it does occasionally frustrate her. She wouldn't have smacked me so hard for a random stranger.

    "Fufufu... as a Sage, I can vouch for the fact that your granddaughter appears surprisingly competent, Douglas, and would be a practical asset to our party. Unlike her grandfather was when he was five years her senior..." Seria adds from behind me. Douglas visibly crumples.

    Rishya looks incredibly aghast at something and is wide-eyed.

    "Whu- what is this? You are not adverse to my presence?" She manages to spit out.

    I shrug, and hold out my hand. She stares at it suspiciously, like it might attack her... but slowly raises her own palm to meet it.

    "Welcome to the resistance, soldier." I say, gruff voiced.

    I always wanted to say that!

    "The lolicon pervert legend grows..." Aria whispers under her breath, sighing exaggeratedly...
     
  19. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    SIDE CHAPTER R
    CHILDHOOD FRIEND


    Hmmph... Rishya Mullight is the name given to me by my father... although I don't know him. My parents, Rhiannon and Adrian, were both mages, but died shortly after my birth due to an accident. I have a cousin called Yuuzu who is Uncle Lawrence's daughter, but I treat her like a big sister.

    Grandfather says, with a weird proud look, that I and Yuuzu both look a lot like grandmother when she was young, though I can't see it besides the fact we both have red eyes?

    He and Uncle Lawrence raised me and Yuuzu as a weird old man team. It makes me a bit worried sometimes that I'm not very girly as a result, especially since Aria-chan isn't very girly either. S-so much so that... when I was four... I told Aria I would marry her when I grew up.

    I think that I was designated as the princess’s playmate, since Grandfather is a Duke from an old family as well as the magic school headmaster. I was told I should stick to Aria, in any case, and I always tried my best, even when Aria always did things that made me cry, like playing in high places and collecting frogs from mud. I would always have to cover for her when she was naughty as well. I decided it was my job to protect her, no matter what!

    I didn't realise this was quite special until I was older. I heard, later on, that I was the only girl to actually keep up with her. Despite the fact she made my early life hell… I’m still proud to be her friend. Her silver hair is crazy pretty and she's actually a very sweet and brave girl, even though she's having a teenager phase lately.

    We would often talk late into the night as we grew up. Aria’s favourite stories were always about scary monsters who would kidnap princesses and the knights that would fight against them. But whilst I found them scary sometimes, Aria decided that she would prefer to be the knight rather than the princess.

    So, as you can imagine… she was always getting in scrapes, so I got grandfather to give me a staff and teach me how to heal. I worked really hard, studying horrid things like blood and bones from the books in the study, and I also realised that if I ask my staff nicely while doing the incantations, he always helps me out!

    Grandfather seemed really surprised when I showed him I could heal a cat with a broken leg that I found on our estate when I was ten. Though that cat was mean and scratched my hand afterwards, it still made me feel good. And grandfather said I was very skilled to make bones get better, so it made me proud I’d done something better than Aria at last!

    S-so h-how can she like that man? Why!? It's pretty clear she does! He's so horrible!

    I think... I think I kind of knew w-what sex was... grandfather always tried silly things to teach us, and the more naughty girls at school are always talking about what it might be like... but I... liked thinking it was something cuter. Is that so bad?

    It didn't interest me at all, g-got it!? I...I was only pulling Aria's leg by saying she was pregnant. But he basically didn't take my hints at all and described it in detail! What a monster!

    Aria must be deluded by his lolicon molester ways! Me and my partner have to protect her on her journey!
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2017
  20. eharper256

    eharper256 Purveyor of Dubious Medicinal Elixirs [since 1885]

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2017
    Messages:
    383
    Likes Received:
    107
    Reading List:
    Link
    TRIPLE POST!!!!

    Here's Rishya's picture as well, of course...
    [​IMG]
    Like Aria's image, her noble dress in on the right (what she also apparently wears to school: makes sense to me~ its a noble school, and don'cha just hate it when Sailor Fuku mysteriously appears in a setting for no reason besides author fetish?). Her adventuring outfit on the left; though Elijah has not seen the latter in story yet! As per usual, click for full size at imgur.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2017