Chapter 31 – Feeding the Beast
“Hey-
“Uh-”
…
All three of us sit around the roaring campfire, the fire burning deep into the night with the atmosphere a little peculiar. Truth be told, things have been somewhat awkward as my suspicion of Shade’s origin continues to grow.
To the left of me sits, or lies a disguised dragon with her head against my lap. To the right, an uncomfortable beastkin stroking her fluffy tail. Does she realize I’ve noticed something? Can I bring it up without raising suspicion? Otherworlders are taboo in this world so there has to be a subtle way I can say something and not come across as trigger happy.
While I continue to ponder and chew my thumb over this, Lena pulls herself off my lap and then does something extremely brazen.
“Yo Shade… are you from that other world?”
‘What the heck, Lena!? Can she read my mind through my thighs!?’
“…”
Shade’s reaction is telling, rapidly shaking her head to deny the accusation. With how much force she seemed to shake her neck, even causing that broken chain still attached to her collar to rattle, it seems suspicious.
“You sure? My gut is normally good with this thing… Sera will back me up! I sussed her out at the start.”
“To be fair, mentioning Agora’s Abyss is the main reason why. Why did you ask her that?”
Not exactly sure where we’ve gone with this, Shade just continues to look on blankly. Yet, there still remains a slight amount of fear deep within her eyes, I’m now certain she’s the same as me.
“I’ve spent enough time around you to pick things up, Sera, it’s like a fish out of water thing. Your scent and auras are similar as well… oh, and that, look! Her eyes just did the thing!”
For just a brief second, although it appears faded, it’s very clear to both of us Shade’s eyes were just glowing blue. How dare she look at my numbers without my consent!
“Guess we have the same ability. Would’ve been nice to know beforehand about that tell, maybe an avatar with blue eyes would help?”
“Uh… ability? I’m not sure what you mean, Sera.”
“You don’t have any abilities? Not even purchasable ones? How did you do that then?”
“I just opened up the little thing above your head.”
“Huh, guess that comes inbuilt to yours. You do have an inventory, right? Sorry… let me slow down a minute and start at the beginning. We did enter this world the same way at least, right? Dying inside the VR pod?”
I think my excitement hasn’t started to show and I’m not giving Shade a moment to think. It doesn’t help I seem to forgotten we may not be from the same Earth or universe if that multiverse stuff is anything to go off.
“Uh huh… I don’t remember dying though. A couple of years ago, I woke up in the forest alone. I have a small inventory if that matters, I can increase that if I upgrade stamina after levelling up. Weren’t we supposed to be here with more people?”
Colour me intrigued because this answers a lot. By the sounds of it, she can access everything I can, apart from abilities.
“Yeah, the last group of otherworlders were here three hundred years ago. Just to make sure, we are from the same world, right? That being Earth?”
Shade nods in response, this unfortunately doesn’t help all that much. For all I know, the Earth she comes could covered in nazis! Some might even say our current world is run by them…
“Let’s try this, say the first word that comes to mind and we’ll definitely know if we’re from the same place. Tea?”
“Cup.”
“Brittania.”
“Um... Waves?”
“Hmm… fascists?”
“Awful.”
“Global warming.”
“Myth… uh, it’s not! That’s just what some people say.”
“Heh… Earth?”
“Flat. Same thing as before.”
“Oil.”
“War.”
“What about… Leader?”
“Clown.”
| [Speechcraft improvement +1] |
“*Coughing*.”
Laughter spewing from my lungs, both look on in confusion for different reasons by my reaction. It doesn't confirm if we're from the same reality, but if her first thought is clown, I can think of many who fit that bill, no matter the country.
“Anyways… we probably should get some shut-eye.”
About to put her head back in my lap, Lena suddenly stops, only to grin and form a small glint in her eye.
“Hehe, we could do that, Sera. Or, we could give Shade the experience and fright of a lifetime!”
Facepalming because I know exactly what she’s referring to, it looks like we’re back on the grind tonight…
__________
“This… I’ve never seen anything this beautiful.”
“Heh, you’ll get used to it. It’s always better to fly at night or on an overcast day, less chance of being noticed.”
On a warm and stary night, the moonless sky glows like an aurora, an uncommon sight considering the two glowing moons are nowhere to be seen. With a minimal amount of wind and heat radiating between all three of us, it makes flying this time of night a hell of a lot more bearable.
Yet, the only person who doesn’t appear to be in a good mood is our carrier. She’s noticeably disappointed.
“Boo… you’re boring, Shade. Was hoping you’d pee your pants like Sera or something!”
“Heh, never did that up here. Puked a couple of times, but never that. Didn’t think you’d be the type to want to be peed upon, Lena.”
Turning her head and tutting at me in frustration, I guess that tease really wasn’t appreciated.
“Hmph… squeeze Sera tighter so she starts to regret that comment, will ya, Shade?”
“Uh… o-kay?”
Partly down to not wanting her to fall and probably a slight amount of jealously, I’m forced to sit in front while Shade wraps her arms around my waist from behind thanks to Lena. Now, I’m also forced to receive a binding hug from another… my life really is disastrous!
‘Heh, let’s just hope we make decent time. Considering how high Shade’s stats are compared to mine, her arms are really thin…’
__________
“It’s… not exactly awe inspiring, is it?”
“Just say it how it is, Sera! All this travelling for this shithole of a town? How are we supposed to find a cure here?”
“*Yawn*... it could be worse. No one is getting chained, whipped, or chopped up and placed on pikes. It’s boring, but peaceful.”
…
‘That’s… a fair point. Should we ask? Sometimes boring is best.’
At last, the town of Britany awaits! Due to our previous experiences, I think it’s safe to say, me and Lena have a different outlook on the world compared to Shade.
From a small hilltop, pretty much everything this small-town offers us can be seen from here. Silver lining is that this place does appear equipped well enough at least. An adventurer guild branch, a smithy, a couple restaurants, a clinic, a few bars and a church, it has enough to be considered a town. Out here in the wastes, we’ll take what we can get.
But before we progress any further down the dry dirt track, unfortunately at a slow pacing because Shade’s leg isn’t one hundred percent yet, a couple of nobles stomp on by, practically marching through us.
“Those lowlife degenerate scum! Out of everything they could’ve taken… they had to leave me with you.”
“Mother always called you pathetic, if only I had seen the light of her wisdom weeks ago.”
“Ungrateful brat… if only she tumbled down the stairs nineteen years ago.”
‘Damn… no clue what that was about.’ [A-N] Confused? See Chapter 24.5
Causally walking by with a dragon in hand and a beastkin unconsciously brisking her tail against my leg, a brow raises, a subtle, yet inquisitive one.
“Shade… can I ask you something personal? Sera might grump out about it though.”
“O-kay?”
“Why would I be grumpy?”
“Because you’ll give me the silent treatment or something. I want to know if she’s really the same as you… like really the same. If the world you come from, people have a thing for wanting to experience the other side.”
‘What is she on abou- oh. For the love of Seraphim, don’t ask this, Lena!’
Sometimes we’re too in sync and this is another of those moments, Lena’s curiosity knows no bounds.
“Uh, I’m not sure what you mean.”
“She’s trying to ask if you were a dude or not. Not sure why it matters.”
“It doesn’t matter, Sera! I just like knowing things, that’s all.”
Taking a moment to catch up to what we’re talking about, Shade’s expressionless face gains some colour and she starts to squeak a little. That colour is obviously red.
“Uh, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t. Y-You’re… really a guy, Sera?
You’d think spending twelve hours on Lena’s back would be enough time to reveal about my ‘curse’, I’m pretty certain Shade fell asleep at some point.
“Aye, mind of a man, body of an elven goddess. Have a guess who likes this ill-fate of mine more than myself?”
“Hmph… just because it’s true doesn’t mean you have to say it.”
Now pouting and crossing her arms at me, we continue to follow Lena along, yet none of us even seem sure where we’re going. We pass a few people wandering by, the town remains eerily quiet though.
‘If I know anything about Lena, she’s following her nose. Food is always the major priority… elves are a close second though.
“That’s so weird, I nearly did the same thing! A-All those guy parts were a l-little intimidating.”
Slightly blushing at the thought of what I presume is a schlong, a memory comes to mind about how long I spent inside the creator.
“I sure hope you didn’t spend as long as I did, scrolling through a hundred and fifty boob variants. Detailed creation screens are always the bane of my existence.”
“There were over a hundred and fifty!? Uh… woah.”
As if we’re now chuckling in a foreign language, Lena just looks at the both of us confounded. She eventually catches up, all the while having an eye glued to my own boobs now.
“Seraaa… you know you never actually told me how you looked as a dude. Hehe, it couldn’t have been that embarrassing, right?”
‘She automatically goes to assume I was embarrassed? You’re terrible, Lena.’
“Heh, a good reason for that, my dear tsun-dragon. Think gothic, emo and punk styling, all into one. Ocean blue eyes, died jet black hair like a stereotypical protagonist, guyliner. Oh, a choker completed the look as well.”
With a tut coming from one side and complete shock from the other, it’s safe to say I think travelling as a three could be fun.
“Really!? That’s how you looked as a guy!?”
“Hehe, ignore Sera’s sarcasm, Shade. She does this a lot; you’ll get used to it.”
“This time I’m not being sarcastic, Lena. The choker and makeup, disregard that… apart from a couple nights out that are best left forgotten. The rest is all true.”
…
A moment ago, Shade was full of shock and now said shock explodes inside Lena. Is it really that hard to believe that’s who I was? I’m a sarcastic, cynical bastard who liked listening to MCR, of course that’s how I looked!
It could’ve been worse… like for example working in IT, wearing programmer socks and visiting furry conventions, because ALL people who run the tech industry are like that. There’s always another level to any amount of madness… you have an idea how much that stuff costs!?
“This entire time… I could’ve teased you on that, yet you never said! What the fuck, Sera!?”
Said shock actually turns to sadness, does Lena want to tease me that badly? Don’t answer that.
“Teasing only works if you’ve got something to be embarrassed about. I’m not sure why you’re so surprised, this entire avat—Sera’s backstory is about being a wannabee vampire, I lived for that stuff.”
[Author-Notes] I only just learned how to use EM dashes (—) so let’s see if I can remember to use them going forward.
Now giggling along, Lena responds with a quick peck on the cheek, then continues leading us onwards to wherever it is we’re going!
“Hehe, g-guess I’ll have to kiss your neck some more attention… ah, your name! What did you go by in that mystical world full of buildings that scrape the sky?”
…
A silence falls upon our party and my confidence disappears six feet under, an uncomfortable subject has come up.
“Maybe another tim—Lena look! A restaurant! Fancy a bite to eat? Shade could definitely do with some fatting up.”
Pointing to what looks to be a small bistro, I’m interrupted when Lena practically jumps at me. Putting her face right up to mine, then scrunching it up, sometimes I wish she lacked perception.
“I’ll pretend you didn’t just use Shade as an excuse. For that, guess who’s buying all three of us steak today?”
‘Heh, story of my life.’
A fitting punishment, yet the idea of me splashing out on cow meat seems have made Shade a little uncomfortable.
“Uh… steak? I’m not sure that’s really appropriate. Just some stale bread will be enough, I’ll pay you back once I get this collar off.”
‘Huh? Why would her collar help paying me back? Eh, I’ll ask another time.’
Purposely ignoring the pleas for stubborn selflessness from the one still brushing her tail against me, she’s
__________
“Why is there so much food!?”
“Knowing Lena… it really isn’t. Remember, a third each. And don’t just take out the good bits.”
“*Stomach growling*… you see the abuse Sera puts me through, Shade? You forgot the steak!”
“Did you see any cattle around here? Unless mages can summon up a secret cow level from thin air, poultry is all they serve.”
With a face positively glowing, one by happiness and the other grumpiness, we have in front of us a feast for the ages.
Chicken, eggs, tomatoes, leeks, bread, potatoes, stew. What we have on the platter ahead of us is more than enough to feed a few.
Before we get the chance to say grace or itadakimasu, food on the plate disappears in the blink of an eye, a hungry dragon is somebody you don’t want to make wait. Yet, only two of us have started eating. For whatever reason, Shade hasn’t lifted up her fork. Even as she sits there staring at the food, her eyes look on as if it’s invisible.
“If you don’t like it, Shade, you can order something else. They probably do dessert in here.”
“Uh, it’s not that, Sera. It doesn’t feel right without being given a command.”
…
Hate flows through both me and Lena, our hatred of this slavery epidemic rises.
“Sera… I regret splitting that slaver rat in two. He needed to suffer more.”
“Skinning him like a pelt would’ve worked a charm… what is the command, Shade?”
Grabbing my closest hand, lifting it above her head and then making it pat her frizzy hair twice, what seems a pointless gesture flicks a switch in Shade’s brain.
‘Hmm… that’s okay, I guess. Decent food, good company, what more could you ask for? Maybe some seasoning, I guess.’
Even though all three of us may tuck into our dinner, now only two because Lena’s has scoffed her portion like a pig, we could be here for hours looking at Shade’s shaky hands. Bruised and slightly swollen, I can only hope that was done impaling her owner’s skull.
Lending a helping hand by supporting her trembling wrists, Shade is taken back a little, but immediately stops caring when that potato finally rises to her mouth. This could take a while to finish.
‘One step at a time, Sera. It doesn’t matter how much you want to end slavery and protect Shade, project ending slavery is an unrealistic quest with no end goal in sight.’
| [QUESTLOG] | ||||||
| [Details] | [Risk] | [Reward] | ||||
| [Ask around the town of Britany for a reignition potion, maybe someone has one there?] | [Unknown] | [Unknown] | ||||
| [The Alchemist's Bucket List.] [1/24] | [Extreme] | [Insane] | ||||
| [New] [Become the harbinger of Seraphim and fight to rid the world fully of slavery!] [/s] | [Extreme] | [Pride] | ||||
‘Heh, this better be a joke in poor taste, Guide, you prove my point exactly. It doesn’t matter which world, some kind of slavery will always exist out there…’
__________
“Look Sera, she’s humming in her sleep!”
“Heh, shh Lena. I’ll kick you in a minute if you don’t quieten down.”
“Hehe, evil Sera. Someone might hear you and think you’re abusing me.”
“Considering me and Shade are the minorities in this world, highly doubt that. Besides, I’d need the whole tank top, tattoos, and can of beer to complete the wife beater look.”
“Hehe, are you saying we’re now married or something, Sera?”
“Hey, you’re the one who goes against dragionic tradition. In the eyes of your parents, we might as well be.”
After spending what feels like an hour helping Shade eat, the second I take my eyes away from her, she’s asleep. Even as more patrons enter the bistro and the place grows livelier for lunch, she’s out cold. Obviously that huge meal and the lacklustre sleep from dragon riding has put her into a trance.
‘Hmm… wonder what tune that is.’
A whisper of a tune, the slightest of a whistle that combines into a melody, it’s hard to make out but Shade definitely is humming some tune. Toot dee dee, tu-re-lu…
Yet, despite how relaxed and peaceful Shade looks, there is another who can tell things aren’t that simple.
[This Guide needs to inform Sera a memory in lingering nearby, presumably from the one known as Shade.]
'That’s unexpected, didn’t think I’d be able to see otherworlder memories. Should we take a peek?'
For some reason, I’m feeling somewhat deturbed from looking inside her head. I doubt I’d think twice watching Lena chase squirrels, or chewing on bandits. Shade, I’m not it’s a good idea to disturb her privacy.
[Sera is thinking far too much on this, lingering memories are meant for Sera to be seen. This guide recommends viewing said memory and if things are too horrible to witness, then it can be excited.]
‘It’s not the harshness of it, Guide, it’s the morality of peeping. Eh, screw it, you are meant to guide me so I’ll listen. Hope you know you’re taking any blame that comes from this.’
[This guide predicts Shade won’t be the type to care. However, a warning must be made before viewing this, Sera. It may go down a dark and gritty path…]