31- Forgotten truths

At last, with Feugan’s cooperation, Ayi was finally relieved of the ghost feeling of caresses not aimed to her, as well as tickles on members that certainly didn’t belong to her, giving her a moment of respite after the hectic morning that had taken place.

At least for a brief time.

While the small talk continued within the dragon’s room, walking on the hallway with firm and sure steps that didn’t betray his inner turmoil, the guildmaster approached the currently merry-filled room. With a female guild’s staff beside him, carrying a sizeable magic device. He glanced her way, which in turn made her look back at him with a reproachful look, almost as if admonishing about his current thoughts. He would have much rather carried the device in her stead, it wouldn’t have been an issue for him at all. But all the female staffers in his guild were quite strong-willed and very self-sufficient, with most of the staff being former to in advanced training adventurers all of them still in their prime, the rest of the staff took quite fast to the stubbornness of adventurers, for better or for worse.

For his part he was carrying a bag filled with a plethora of items and devices they would soon some to use, not heavy at all, “around half a score of stones maybe?” he thought as he carefully raised the bag once more.

While going over the things in the bag as well as the explanations he had to give about each one while he kept lifting the bag up, part mental part physical exercise, just in the manner in which he preferred to do things, they reached the door to the dragon’s room. He stopped in front of the door as he held his knuckles ready to knock, he took a deep breath and prepared himself. So many things had changed in the last few months, and yet they didn’t seem to stop or even show signs of slowing down, now he was about to introduce himself to a ‘new hero’, he would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous at all, otherworlders always had a different set of values and morals. At least this hero was a beastkin, or at least she was according to the reports that he had been given were correct. He had decided he wouldn’t blindly follow those thought to base his decisions, after all, it was very unlikely a dragon would call someone from a different race “master” with no reason at all, and that went double for someone that checked as “Dragon Lord” according to the magical examiner.

Steadying himself, he knocked the door. The response was swift and cordial, one of the Kobolds visiting the guild, opened the door and gestured him to enter. He found it very amusing, all his previous interactions with kobolds had lacked so much cordiality, or any at all. After all it was very challenging to bring demise to someone and be cordial about it.

Quickly putting his memories of adventuring days aside, entering the room as soon as he heard Mimiru’s cheerful voice calling his name as she waved in his direction, inviting him to the table.

It was then that he realized the weird scene unfolding inside of the room. A fallen knight in front of a dragon sitting on top of his hoard with the princess on his clutches-

…

“Naw, that’s just too dramatic” or so he thought to himself, ignoring the convoluted scene, he proceeded to go to the table ready to greet the new troublemaker beastkin lady that Feugan had brought.

“Greetings, I am Eckhardt Springs, functioning master of the adventurer’s guild…” after saying it he stopped for a brief moment, unsure for the third time in his life, trying to recall if there was any specific on how to treat someone from a different world.

“the lady accompanying me here is Jaquell D’Antre, staff chief of the guild” he said as he signaled to the human lady accompanying him.

From her part Ayi was quite baffled, finding herself unable to properly respond or even digest what she was seeing in front of her.

The man in front of her was quite obviously military. His muscular and obviously well-trained body, along with the short haircut and overly serious expression on his face, just gave that impression, but it went farther than that.

He wasn’t wearing any fatigues or didn’t seem to have candied himself up as it was so common on pretentious higher ups when trying to make an impression. His clothes while being simple (and gaudy) looked spotless and very well fitted despite his massive build. Albeit the clothes seemed more appropriate for some renaissance fair, red and black landsknetch vest and hosses, somehow still fitting on the flamboyant peacock’ish style of this realm.

A very white wrinkleless undershirt seemed to accentuate this militaristic impression of hers, along with leather boots and vambraces that would have been the envy of anyone, given the incredible polish work on them that made them look pristine.

Also, so far everything he had done spoke of discipline and command.

Even the way in which he moved once inside of the room, his short and concise mannerisms, the way he succinctly introduced himself.

Without even fully realizing it herself, Ayi found herself standing at attention. Her sudden movements had incited a surprised reaction in the room, filling it with a brief silence until she finally came to herself.

“I… I am sorry, that was… You kind of reminded me of some… people… and force of habit took a hold of me” She said, without a single hint of falsehood in her words, the man in front had in fact made her remember about half a dozen drill sergeants, as a matter of fact.

“I am…” She stopped for a second, a revelation coming to her. She had spent a whole lifetime under a different name. So a question was brought to her mind, “just who am I?, how should I introduce myself?”. Then the memory of her own proclamation flashed in her mind.

“I will look out properly, for all three of us, from now on.”

“I am Ayi ’Naa, It is a pleasure to meet you.” She said loud and clearly, which seemed to lift an eerie mood that had somehow settled within the room. She extended her right hand forth, now noticing the hulking man was still somewhat confused, his eyes darting from her direction to Mimiru’s.

This time she was surprised, Mimiru was standing at attention as well, a different posture from those she knew back from earth, that much was obvious, but it was an undeniable fact that the cheerful human girl that she had just met found herself caught by surprise by a higher-ranking officer. She was now asking herself if this was the core nature of the adventurer’s guild, she had a sudden flashback of the very unfit individuals at the training grounds, now more than ever it felt like they were undergoing basic. It made sense that an organization that was supposed to run the logistics and control ‘murder-hobos’ would need to be militaristic in nature. She felt a chill just from thinking of the possibility that she might find herself undertaking such a thing again.

The towering man let a long deep sigh, for a brief moment looking very tired and much more his apparent age.

“Oi Mimiru. What do you think you are doing? We are not about to begin any sort training, we are not even in the grounds, unless you are keen on doing some laps just sit and help me out here, wouldya?” Ayi felt relief at the old man’s change of demeanor. In her experience, the most ruthless and unreasonable officers would never break their facade of absolute control or accept to any sort of mistake of their own, he seemed to care, she liked that.

“mmphm. I-Im sorry old man, you scared me comin here with your scary training face on” Mimiru half mumbled at first as she had to swallow a piece of bread she had in her mouth before properly answering.

“Oi! Are you being serious and respectful here or not?! You even did the salute with a piece of bread in your mouth! And you dropped the honorifics too fast just now didn’t ya?!”

At this point Mimiru made a gulping sound that it was equals part dramatic and hilarious, making everyone just chuckle at the exchange that had taken place.

“Anyway, lets deal with business first so this kido can go back to her food and maybe later she can show me if she can improve her lap times”

Now completely ignoring Mimiru's cries pleas for mercy, the guildmaster offered a seat to the much smaller woman accompanying him, which he promptly took as she put the large ornate blue crystal which she was holding, he took a seat beside her and in front of Ayi, signaling her to take a seat as well, he then put the sizeable bag he was carrying on the table and bringing everyone’s attention off the obviously magical device on the table and back to himself as the sturdy looking table creaked under the weight of the bag. He cleared his throat, then after briefly looking at each one of the otherworlders, Ayi, Feugan and Zoey, with a look in his eyes that was equal parts regret and melancholy. He finally locked eyes with Ayi, which made her in turn straighten up a little more to which apparently, he decided to just brush off as he continued speaking.

“Look. Miss ‘Naa, I know you would rather be with your family right now, if my reports are right, you have just…” He stopped briefly, which in turn made Ayi a little anxious for what he was about to say next. “arrived… you have just arrived from a long travel. And I would love nothing more than to let you all enjoy your awaited family reunion, but there are certain things that are best done by the soonest possible”

He then grabbed the bag he had brought, opening it and immediately bringing up a flask with a translucent green colored liquid from its contents, he extended his hand and offered it up wot Ayi. She took it and looks at it, using all her experience in concoctions and beverages he drew a simple conclusion. She had no idea what this liquid could be.

“T-Thank you. but what is this?”

The rugged old man cocked his head to the side for a moment until comprehension hit him.

“Oh! Sorry! That’s just some simple herbal potion to help relieve headaches and help with the stress, Brannon would just grab about any medicine and be able to list all its properties, I figured maybe that was an otherworlder thing”

“Ah, so this is tea then uh?” She said while looking at the transparent flask as gently brushed the cork stopper with a finger, perhaps it had more medicinal properties than what normal tea would bring to your 4 pm “English break”, given that magic and dragons were real, or maybe tea leaves were actually hard to come by. If earth’s bloody history on tea was an example to be believed, tea must be a commodity in any medieval civilization, doubly so if it had any actual magical and meaningful results, unlike the tea back at earth which had as many real tangible medicinal effects and properties as any Karen-bought essential oil.

“But why would you bring me this tea? You said its for headaches and stress, right? I don’t feel any sort of headache or ailment, in fact I can honestly said I had never felt better in my whole life” She answered with a certain warm feeling in her chest as she realized once again that her body was most definitely not giving her any sort of excruciating pain or that her head felt lighter than she could ever recall, she turned to look at Zoey, which in turn gave her a bright heart melting smile to which she had to answer back by caressing the head of her daughter.

“Is that so? Because apparently, you had an ugly altercation earlier today to which you answered back with ‘brutal’ force”

“THEY THREATENED MY DAUGHTER!!” Ayi had stood up again in a flash, slamming the table with her fist, her face red and her expression twisted in anger just as her voice had turned nearly into a snarl.

Somehow the guildmaster didn’t flinch or show any kind of surprise.

“Please, hear me out. That’s not what I am here for. As far as I’m concerned, those thugs had it coming, What I really find worth attention is your constant outbursts, I don’t think you are this prone to lose your temper. Therefore, I’m worried that something is affecting you this way.”

With each word as he explained himself, Ayi was able to relax, she then felt the small hand of her daughter on top of hers as she looked at her with a pleading look, she gave her a small apologetic smile. She tried her best to calm down, there was some truth to what the guildmaster was saying, she felt like her emotions were too transient, a lot of things had happened in a very short time, so it was obvious she would be in edge, she knew the feeling very well and if in this world of fantasy and magic there was a reasonable solution, she would gladly take it.

“I mean no offense with this” The guildmaster interrupter her thoughts as he decided to continue talking after some time which he had given her to digest his words and calm down a little more.

“Brannon suffered the same issues, he had never learned to process the energies in the land, which put his body and mind through a lot of stress…”

“I constantly regret that it took me weeks to realize that he wasn’t a lunatic, but rather a man that had spent weeks without proper control of his core” His voice had changed, in front of Ayi wasn’t the would-be-sergeant-bodybuilder from another world, but a morose man looking for atonement. The visage quenching her anger immediately.

“Will this tea- er… will this potion help me in controlling the… the energies that assail me?” Ayi cringed HARD as she said it, her face practically a draconic crimson hue by now. She felt like she was roleplaying a goofy fantasy dialogue out in the open. Feeling embarrassed to a degree she didn’t thought possible, perhaps also due to the unnatural effects of the realm to her.

“Oh! not at all. That will require some training and practice, which is what I come to offer you with as promptly as I was able to come. The potion, and it is a potion indeed, will alleviate the effects you suffer from the erroneous process of energy”

“I... see… and thank you for being so understanding”

“No need to be concerned about that Miss ‘Naa. I’m only an old man doing what I believe is right. Oh here, this beastkin cowl will help you muffle the excessive sounds until you get used to them” As he said it he offered a very plain looking cowl, making Ayi think of a simple medieval peasants cowl if you put some extra work for a proper arrangement for animal ears on top.

“Beastkin usually use something similar to this for their newborns, to help them muffle the sounds that would otherwise startle them due to their very sensitive ears. This is one made for adults to help them sleep, but it will serve us just fine”

“Brannon once told me that where he was from, there weren’t any sort of beastkin races in existence. So by a wild guess I thought on bringing it just in case the super sensitive ears were affecting you as well”

Ayi looked confused at the cowl, then at Zoey’s ears and back to the old man.

“Why would her ears affect me?”

“Uh…”

“{He means your ears, Master}”

“Why? What’s wrong with my ears?” Ayi panicked and moved her hands to the sides of her head, to where one would find ears on a human, yet she found only hair, she was paralyzed, feeling goosebumps run through her skin, slowly moving her fingers up along her head now in, until she reached a soft tuff of hair/fur covering her very own feline ears that she had somehow managed to not notice at all until this very moment.

“OH GOODNESS!! I AM A CATGIRL!!”

“P-Please Miss ‘Naa, let’s start with the potion and we will very slowly start the conversation from there”

30- Dragon-touched

For some time, we kept merrily chatting and snacking in Feugans room. Thankfully the events that had transpired in the morning felt like a distant event by now. This was certainly a novel feeling to me, such a direct and even violent confrontation would have had me riled for a whole day, souring my mood and making the current lighthearted conversation over some snacks, quite unlikely.

I distinctly remember the rest of the morning with no real issues, my manor, Zoey greeting me, the cool breeze coming through the window and the wind against my face when we came to the kingdom ridding on top of Feugan. Yet the very disagreeable part of the morning didn’t seem to cloud all my thoughts as I knew it would have done so had I still been in my small apartment in Utah.

Thinking back on it. we were going really fast weren’t we? Somewhere near 50 miles per hour perhaps. Of course this number wouldn’t be that impressive for an American car, or any modern car really. But it’s a vastly different feeling while being on a living creature that moves that fast. Feugan sure is {Awe inspiring.}

…

…

“Since we are quite perceptive of each other, do you think you could do something about your vivacious flirting going on?”

I thought almost like an inner conversation, but, focusing my thoughts towards Feugan. once I became aware of the link we shared, it turned to be quite a simple feat to convey ideas or even messages without much effort.

“{I am sorry master, but this is actually quite tame, Kara is showing great amounts of restraint right now. Asking her for even less would be akin to slapping her hands in public in order to refuse holding hands in public.}”

That was one point I couldn’t even discuss properly. Morals and common sense were things one would acquire over time and would vary depending on the location and times. And I knew very little of this realm I found myself in, it was the world I knew and used to share uncountable adventures with my dear friends. But even so, the inhabitants had proved to be different and it was obvious that the sense or normalcy was bound to be different as well. Even if the original San d’Oria kingdom was supposedly based on an old European ideal, the developers of FFXI had brought their own sense of morals and ideas, as such, San d’Oria ended up being quite stuck up with morals closer to that of a Victorian era. A stark contrast could be seen here almost immediately, everyone seemed way more open about affection and social interactions seemed rather liberal even. There were the armored peacocks in the guild. Bringing haunting images of pink, yellow and green leather subligars. On a different and more comforting example, Mimiru hadn’t stopped shaking hands for so long, giving a huge sigh of relief once she figured she wasn’t committing any sort of faux-pas with her handshake, and then she had proceeded to deliver more hugs among Zoey, Feugan and myself.

Thinking about it, no one thought it strange of me hugging Bannon either.

Interrupting me from my thoughts, for the umpteenth time, a ticklish feeling runs along my neck, like a soft intimate caress grazing my skin, surprising me and making me shudder as it ends up with the feeling of warm lips kissing my neck. I somehow remain in control of myself, avoiding jumping startled by these disembodied caresses, again, so far it seems neither Zoey nor Mimiru have taken notice of me whenever this has happened.

“While you seem unable to tone this down while your little sister present here, in the same room as you continue receiving such attentions, is there a way I don’t have to Feel all of the caresses that Kara is giving you?”

“{Oh its part of our link, quite the convenient tool against uncertain dangers. And yes, we can certainly tune it down, if we both focus on the idea of easing up the sensitivity-
Why yes! Just like that master! Splendid! I can certainly feel you quite intently trying to lower down the sensitivity of our shared senses!}”

“Why is it not going down? Why does it sound like you are not cooperating with me on this?-  Goodness gracious! I can feel her hands on your thigh!
Y-You are doing this on purpose aren’t you?!!”

Somehow, I remain calm and composed, still sitting at the table, while eating some dried fruit, nodding intently at the conversation that Zoey and Mimiru are currently holding about pastries, regardless of the complex sexual harassment/bullying Feugan was apparently imposing on me.

“{While this is certainly a safe place that we have procured, this does not apply to all the places within the inner city in the kingdom. Even more so if someone goes and decides to wander into the less savory parts of the piers.
Since I am not quite feeling any sort of conscious reflection on such actions, I thought it best to keep the connection fully active}”

Upon receiving such a message through our mental conection, I couldn’t help but to feel like I was in the wrong. There was no way anyone would just simply not feel anxious or angry about a dear one being exposed to danger, specially if the reason was because that someone was just caressly walking towards objetionable places.

Certainly less than a few hours ago all this had seemed like just a very enjoyable dream, which in turn had lead me to be careless and not only putting myself in danger’s way, but Zoey too. I had to at very least properly apologize and take matters more seriously from now on.

“I am sorry Feugan, I will look out for me- No… I will look out properly, for all three of us, from now on.”

“{I am glad that we have reached an agreement on the matter.}” I actually feel this message with a certain warmth, like a familial and gentle embrace, shared to my through our link.

“If you want we can just keep the link up, it is true that we can never be too cautious. You and your partner in crime can stop all the faux-fondling.”

“{Ah… No, It was not a pretense. This is the truly meekest Kara can keep to herself.}”

“OH GOODNESS HEAVENS!! I-I felt her touch m-my! y-you-your! I-I don’t even have one of those!!”

“{And it is nigh time to tone the conection down, it seems.}”

29- Into the dragon's lair

“{I Welcome thee, to my lair, oh brave adventurer.}”

I found myself gasping at the visage in front of me. The sudden realization left me speechless as well as having trouble taking my mind of the apparently dire situation I found myself in.

In front of me, laid a fine example of a dragon’s lair, the dragon sitting on top his golden hoard, a princess held captive, a plethora of kobolds excited to serve their master. In front of the dragon, laid a defeated knight, unable to muster the strength to move stand up and fight again.

Which might be my fault, but alas. Upon coming to a new world I have decided I shall be a better version of myself, for which I shall evade a negative thoughts, such as one in which I focus on pointing fingers about problems. Yes, better to be a problem solver than a problem accuser. A proactive mentality is known to be very important for an adventurer.

But it was indeed your fault, Master. Shush you, no finger pointing!

Behind the fallen hero, intruding my very thoughts and gazing intently at me stands a fearsome, magnificent, gallant, brilliant, handsom- Ok that’s enough, this is not even my own train of thought.

Since I had realized this is a different world than the one I was once born in, I had come to realize that my link with Feugan was very much real. Often finding my thoughts shared with Feugan, getting feedback and even comments on matters regarding opinions or ideas. Very much like how it was suposed to be in the original settings for a dragon companion with an spiritual link, something for which I had put in a lot of work into. Somehow it came very naturally, which was both disconcerting and soothing at the same time. With me being… well, me. I had developed certain bad habits with my trains of thought, more than once I had come to realize that certain self-doubts and negative ideas would be immediately shoved aside, I could feel Feugans presence in such moments, maybe it was his dragon pride, but in his eyes there was no doubt or buts regarding his self-worth and therefore mine.

Focusing again at the situation at hand, inside of my dragon’s companion room, as he remains sitting on top of his golden hoard with the captive princess at his side… Well... She is a little more closer to comfort to just say she is at his side, isn’t she?

The princess… Kara, was it? Wasn’t she supposed to be a barmaid?

Taking a look around, I came to realize that almost everyone else in the room seems overly intent on ignoring the fact that Kara is cuddling with Feugan. It is a weird visage to say the least. While Feugan is laying on the most cliché position for a dragon to await within his “lair” as to far to be sitting on top of a pile of gold. The “captive” princess Kara is, quite obviously a prisoner of the dragon known as Feugan, in the same manner someone is prisioner of a very warm embrace. And for all manner and purposes, it does seems like an embrace of sorts. Sitting almost on top of him, accommodated as if she was a model sitting sideways on a fancy psychiatrist's -chaise longue- sofa, leaning on Feugan’s forelegs as a resting point, with her head nestled against his neck, his tail coiling around her as if not only pull her closer but rather claim her too, just as she remains caressing him under his chin.

Now. Coming to the decision that I have seen enough of what is happening there. It somehow feels like I am witnessing a moment that is much more private than what the obviously flirting couple should be exposing to friends and family.

Oh goodness I think I saw some ruffling under her skirt. Nope! Not looking at them anymore!

Panicking a little, I found myself looking around trying to make sure my daughter isn’t looking at such a mature display of affection, at least not without the mention on how it shouldn’t be so openly shown in public. Bewildering now, frantically wondering just where did Feugan get such an aspect of personality. My mind quickly filled with tidbits of all the lore I had written for him.

Goodness, is this because is is suposed to like "human companionship"?! Because, this is most certainly not what i meant.

Now also trying to remember all the adventures we had gone along before and even the people we had gone with, It was a most worrisome concern that my daughter might develop such a licentious personality just because I had been too lax on which friends she had interacted with or what she might have overheard me say.

I felt a great amount of relief when I realized that my daughter was sitting at the table, eating snacks and merrily talking with Mimiru and... a kobold? Now, paying more attention to my surroundings, at least the less embarrassing surroundings within the huge stone walled room. I came to notice that in fact there were a few kobolds in the room. As a matter of fact, there was one right in front of me. Maybe? I am not entirely sure because all I can see from my point of view is a big round platter with some dried fruits and cuts of cured meat on it. Upon peering under it, I find indeed a kobold, a small kobold struggling to stand on his tiptoes, trying his best for the platter to reach even higher, most likely. The small creature is wearing some sort of loose tunic and a cloth satchel. A vastly different look from what I had come to expect from a kobold due to my D&D knowledge, but aside from the more civilized look the garments gave to it, it was most definitely a kobold.

Snout, claws, scales, tail, little horns and a platter with snacks. Ok, it is a kobold, but they are certainly different to a degree.

Upon noticing how I was looking at him, the now startled scaled humanoid yipped in surprise, almost loosing balance and dropping the platter. For a moment it seemed like he wanted to bring it down to offer the snacks to her, now that he had my attention, but upon realizing that bringing such a big platter in front of him,  without dropping all the food in the process, was but a futile endeavor, he looked intently at me and made a soft chirping sound.

“Ah! Mom- er! Mistress! He is asking if you would like some snacks while we wait for the guildmaster to arrive!” Zoey merrily informed me. Waving at me, from the table, gesturing for me to join them.

“Oh! Ok, yeah that seems like a good idea”

Walking to the one side of the room, where my daughter, Mimiru and a kobold were looking at me, with plenty of snacks available, merry faces and a fierce intent to ignore what was happening on the other side of the room.

“Aanh!~ No!~ Master Feugan, there are-”

“SOO!! Zoey! Mimiru! What’s with the kobolds here?! Are they part of the guild? How come you can understand them?!”

My goodness, Feugan! Your little sister is in the same room!

“Ah yes! The kobolds!! Yes very good distra- er, question, Miss Ayi!!” Mimiru was swift to take onto the much-needed conversational distraction, and quite happy to be able to have an engaging conversation that could provide her guest with meaningful information. And a maintain a modicum of mental health for everyone.

“You see, within the nearby Dungeon forest south of the kingdom, we found a friendly tribe of Kobolds, some researchers were already there and had managed to translate their language and had started some sort of trade with them. So, they sometimes come back along with the researchers and visit Feugan. With him being a dragon, they would naturally worship him, I think? But he was also present for the -hallowing- of their new settlement.

As for being able to understand them, I am a beastmaster, my skill ‘Monster Talk’ allows me to talk with living creatures, such as the kobolds and even Feugan.”

“And Im also a beastmaster!!” Zoey jumped brimming with joy, as she made her statement. Being able to show some of her good sides was most definitely the reason that made her so happy on delivering that statement. The comment didn’t escape me though. Putting aside all the queries that had popped into my mind due to Mimiru's continuous deliverance of information bombs. 

Because, really, "Dungeon forest"? Kobold trade? Hallowing a settlement? Kobolds worshipping Feugan? Mimiru, you just shoved aside enough plot devices to make a novel writter feel blessed with inspiration.

I focused on Zoey, thought. About that little detail she mentioned. Her class. I had prepared a lot of groundwork to assist onto Zoey’s growth, as part of a roleplay in which she could have assisted me in battle, with a lower risk than most other classes. Such was the purpose of her being a beastmaster. The idea now made me a little anxious, but within a realm filled with monsters and magic, it was better to have means of protection available.

Mimiru had mentioned something along the lines of the guild being able to provide protection and housing for Zoey for now. Right now, that idea seems very reasonable and I find myself being quite grateful for such insight.

My cute little daughter.

Reaching out to Zoey, I gently stroke her head, she giggles softly as she smiles at me. Ah… there is really no turning back is it? I want to protect this smile of hers.

28- Training grinds

“Did you see that?!”, “The beautiful lady with Feugan!” “The lady Mimiru brought! She is strong!”, “That beautiful lady just knocked out Bannon!”

“She just killed Bannon!”, “Mimiru finally brought someone to off Bannon for her!”, “She first brought a dragon to deal with the guildmaster and now somneone to deal with Bannon”

“Better not get on Mimiru’s bad side!”, “I-I-I think I owe Mimiru some money what should I do?!”, “Ill lend you some money, man! better than to show up dead on a alley!”

“OII!!! I Brought no one here to do nothin’ to Bannon!! Ya hear me ya nosy lot?!!” Mimiru hotly exclaimed as she stood up and slammed the table with her arms, while protesting to the other adventurers that had been whispering, rather loudly at that, in the tavern side of the building they found themselves currently in.

“Look here he is alive n’ well! See?!” Mimiru continued while lifting Bannon and showing him forth with such an ease that made the poor passed-out adventurer seem like little more than a ragdoll on her hands.

“He is breathing! So he is alive! If anything this is what happens to him for his philanderous ways! He just came here and hugged a total stranger to him! It is divine punishment to playboys!!” As Mimiru now passionately explained, somehow shifting the events that took place, it somehow seemed to calm down the group of adventurers.

“She is right, it was bound to happen some day”, “You had it commin man, why'd ya have to be such a horndog?”, “We will miss you Bannon”, “Hope we can drink again in the afterlife”, “Cheers to Bannon!!”

That and many more comments went thru the tavern, most of them killing the still living Bannon, all over again.

“Well I think its about time we move to a more private setting. Besides, the guildmaster should be ready to receive you properly, Miss ‘Naa” and with that said, Kara smiled warmly at Ayi, she then nodded to both Feugan and Zoey, standing from her seat with delicate movements more fitting to her maid attire than to her obviously muscular body. After signaling to Mimiru, she took care of Bannon, lifting him with ease and carring the unconscious man over her shoulder, with even much more of an ease than Mimiru showed.

“Ah… ok, yeah! that makes sense” Ayi stood up form her seat just like the rest of her group, following them now to what seemed to be the back of the building.

As she was following them, Ayi noticed how the towering maid was carrying Bannon like his weight was of no real concern or burden at all, which in her eyes was an impressive feat. She had lifted Bannon from the ground, but it was mostly due to the close position she took, and years of training and practical experience lifting friends in such a manner with bear hugs they would not soon forget. It hadn’t been easy to lift a fully grown male in full plate, but she had developed a proper technique by now.

She intended to ask about such strength, but as seeing how Kara was making small talk with Feugan, Zoey and Mimiru, she shied away from the idea. Preferring to just watch them and enjoy the warm sight in front of her.

As they finally reached the end of a long hallway, they exited the main building and Ayi found herself in what could only be described as some sort of training grounds walled within the grounds of what must be part of the adventuring guild. With groups of people obviously performing different kinds of weapon training, others running laps around the field and some even doing classic pushups and jumping jacks. Bringing forth many memories from her physical training as part of the Armed forces.

As they went through the training yard, something out of place caught her attention, she notices some of the obvious newbies in training are clustered in groups doing vastly different tasks than the rest.

The sight vastly confuses her. She had divised among the many groups performing physical training, groups of the most unfit people she had ever witnessed, running laps or doing some variant of jumping jacks, burpies and other kinds of cardio excersices. Being performed by either the scrawniest looking people in the whole place or by the most -rotund-. She could make a guess as to why. it’s not hard to guess that being an adventurer requires you to be in at least a decent enough physical shape. Which in fact brought the real concern as to why were they within the adventurer guild while being in such bad shape. She had the passing idea that it was some sort of fitness program for locals, but the people on the streets looked far more healthy than the poor fellows “running”. They somehow made a slow jog look like the most grueling activity, sweating bullets and some even falling to the ground completely exhausted. She had even witnessed the full sprint, exhaustion and fall of such a fellow, all within perhaps a lapse of just 10 seconds.

But what really threw her for a loop were the groups composed of most physical fit people she had seen since arriving to this new world. Overly muscular men and women, with bodies obviously more apt to be in a bodybuilding magazine than to go into a forest to pick herbs and kill slimes. They were… halfnaked and… meditating? It was very hard to tell and utterly confusing, a few were sitting in a lotus pose around a small campfire, which was by all means less weird than the others sitting on the lotus position inside of a small pool of water which covered their lower bodies with an overly pristine fluid she could only guess it was water. She really didn’t want to entertain any other possibility than water.

Those were the easiest to take seriously, as there was group that was either on the same lotus position (or at least she assumed they were!) while being covered by soil all the way to their necks, making them look like the silliest mounts of dirt she had ever seen. With all of them showing faces full of determination and keen concentration for a purpose that pretty much eluded her, and she was certainly sure that even if someone tried to explain it to her she would ask for them to repeat themselves, if anything, to make sure she wasn’t deluding herself into some more feasible reason.

And now that she was paying more attention to this meditating group of individuals, she realized there were a few of them on the rooftops, half naked too, and doing some sort of slow movements that made her think of tai chi videos she had seen in the internet. But with muscular men and women in their underclothes, on rooftops...

“Oh those are the advanced groups they… uh… I think it would be better if the guildmaster explained that, it would be easier to understand.” Kara interjected as she realized that Ayi had lagged behind, having come to a complete halt and looking intently at the group of half naked musclebound adventurers.

Ayi was definitely looking for some sort of explanation for such a behavior, then again, she had very valid doubts it was even possible to explain without having to rely on “oh it is because of magic”.

Now that she thought about it, that seemed about right. yes. Must be magic.

27- Adventurers life is for me

Now with the situation of her daughter’s maid job properly explained, Ayi was left with an uncomfortable mixture of emotions. First and foremost, she was glad the explanation had been satisfactory and that her daughter hadn’t been working as a maid, as cheap labor, just for someone else’s sake. Mimiru had even explained how thanks to Zoey working as part of the guild staff, aside from the rooming and protection, she had been able to start some degree of education done by the guildmaster himself, with him being a registered priest of the goddess of knowledge.

Those were great points that made Ayi feel even worse about her previous outburst, she was almost sure her emotions were able to be seen by more than one person as she now started noticing how there were more whispers which she could tell were aimed at her.

“I-I am sorry for my previous outburst. I was jumping to wrong conclusions of my own.”

“Its ok! I can understand. I mean it is great that you care so much, or that’s what I think.”

“{Perhaps some food is in order. It seems like a good moment as any to change the mood. Besides I don’t think Master has had food as of yet.}”

“I am here Lord Feugan, did you have need of me?”

“{Why, yes. You have quite an opportune timing, Kara.}” Without anyone noticing, the happy chime of one of the barmaids came into the conversation on an almost too natural way, the maid had arrived at almost the exact moment Feugan had merely suggested for more refreshments, besides the tea that Zoey had procured. “I introduce you to my master, Ayi’Naa. Just like me, she is a hero from a different world”

“I understand, it’s a pleasure meeting a hero such as thee.” And with a short bow and a simple delicate and somehow elegant curtsy, that came from a giant of a woman.

Ayi found herself in an impressive state of bewilderment. With a lot of questions regarding what was taking place. Perhaps the very first among those should have been why so many people were able to talk normally with Feugan, but since she had somehow managed to find herself surrounded by such people, this very intriguing thought didn’t even reach the top of her concerns. Her mind immediately ranked her doubts in order to stablish them into semi coherent mumblings that had by all means been intended as some sort of communication.

First and foremost in her mind, was the question on just how had such an impressive looking woman sneaked on them. In her mind this was a very valid question. It is not your everyday a woman of approximately 5’11” (maybe? or at least that was the measurement Ayi made in her mind if her sense of size was even right in this different world) could actually sneak up on anyone. Right now she wanted to put Kara and Mimiru back to back with her having a measuring tape on hand. But not only was this lady tall, she seemed build like a brickhouse. An outstanding showcase of impressive muscles developed and trained for battle, most likely. Dut somehow not in a bad way at all, regardless the impressive build the barmaid showed, Kara was quite comely, she seemed like a beautiful fantasy female warrior.

Not so much as an amazonian though. Rather, she feels like a barbarian {princess}.

Disregarding the weird, almost alien thought that somehow felt not quite her own, Ayi continued observing Kara. She could imagine Kara being a very popular female athlete, in her previous world.

In fact, for the current fantasy world she found herself in, if Kara hadn’t been wearing a barmaid tyrolean dress, like all the other barmaids, Ayi could have only imagined her dressed in a combination or fierce-looking armor and furs along with a fantasy twohanded battle axe in hand. This particular image in her mind would have been just perfect with wild red hair, which Kara didn’t have at all. Which, brings forth the next point, this particular barbarian-esque lady in front of Ayi, had a short  and dazzling jade green hair that shone in a way that made her blink more than once and ponder on the possibility of Kara being photoshopped in real time. And the final blow to break all of Ayi’s mental images about female barbarians, images she had built onto this point with the endless help of biased internet imagery, was the refined and delicate manner in which Kara moved. All her movements were done with a certain elegance and flair as she was deftly serving them drinks, dried fruits and delicate pastries. Which now made Ayi realize, she had been left to her inner thoughts for far too long. She was pretty darn sure the table only had but some cups of tea before Kara arrived, now they had a small little feast of fruits, pastries, snacks as well as a couple jars with drinks.

She had been far too entranced with the sight of Kara, to a disturbing degree even. She was aware that she had never been blind to the beauty of other females, but she had definitely never stopped all her actions and just gawked at another woman before.

“Ah… er. Nice meeting you, Kara. And thank you for the refreshments.”

“Mm-mmm! Definitely! Kara you always know what to bring to cheer a girl up!” Replied Mimiru in a kind and earnest voice, an earnest voice full of breadcrumbs and jam.

“My my, Mimiru! You should some restrain, Lord Feugan and his master are here you know! First impressions are important!” The towering maid chided Mimiru as she somehow had not only managed to fill her own mouth with pastries and some tea, but she also refused to allow such a trivial issue from deterring her of voicing her gratitude.

Ayi couldn’t help but to chuckle at such a common everyday exchange taking place in what for couldn’t be described as a different world, maybe even a different realm or plane? She wasn’t quite sure about it. But it would surely take some time to get used to it, so she definitely thought it was nice to see such mundane interactions would still happen.

Looking at her own daughter serving her some more tea, arranging a plate with varied dried fruits and slices of meat, she noticed that Zoey was looking intently to Kara as the big barmaid was also preparing a plate for Feugan.

Uh? she has been almost glued to the right side of Feugan this entire time…

“Feugan, Mimiru. Its good to see you in good health!” Came a jovial and masculine voice that almost forced everyone to turn and look at young man that had arrived.

***

Bannon had seen Mimiru enter the building along with Feugan and Zoey. Zoey had not only quickly become part of the guild’s staff in order to provide her with protection and the benefits of life within the kingdom’s walls. She had turned into an staple of the guild’s mess hall. Oh just how many doting idiots were now present if only to watch over her. Some of them even retired adventurers and guards! Ugh don’t you look at me and lift your cup to cheer now that she is back! I am stuck here today because of you!

As one of the many bothersome inside jobs that the old man kept creating to ‘dissuade him of the adventurer’s life’, Bannon found himself watching over Zoey “in secret”.

This task bothered him for several reasons. First, he was forced to remain within the guild, unable to go out and take actual jobs. And second, the job was incredibly redundant in itself. Some of the people he was supposed to keep his eyes on were part of “Zoey’s Fanclub”. He had been tasked to spy on one of their “secret” gatherings, due to the concern of the maids hearing rumors of a gathering of unlikely attendees.

You old goats! You have your own children! Some of you have your own grandchildren!

The little wolfkin not only had a big and mean looking dragon brother. He didn’t pry too much into it, families were weird and diverse, he knew this firsthand. She was also being watched over by an unlikely assortment of retired guards, magicians and adventurers. The maids were ever vigilant of her safety too! Some of the guild’s staffers were not even retired, more than a few of them were actually fierce adventurers still in their prime, taking advantage of the guild job’s perks as a learning experience. A solid learning experience, given how zealous the guildmaster was on sharing all his knowledge “for whenever he retires”

Tsk. As if he seriously plans to retire!

It was then that he realized that Mimiru’s group had an extra person, a very lovely looking person!

As he continued watching over them, once Zoey had left for some drinks, he noticed they seemed to be having some sort of argument.

Oh? I don’t sense this as a friendly conversation with Mimiru.

Bannon focused his senses on the group, he was confident he could get some information this way. Bannon was after all, quite proud of his skill in sensing people’s motives and feelings, he was very capable of sensing if someone was lying even if he was eavesdropping on a conversation. He had been giddy with excitement when he realized he could sense some of Feugan’s intentions, while it was hard and cumbersome, he liked to think he was exercising his skill even more.

Feugan is elated and he… he fully respects her?!! He -RESPECTS- her?!

This was beyond rare for the dragon. Even amicable feelings were uncommon, Mimiru could be counted as a rarity on the dragon’s feelings, even for Kara it took some time for the dragon to open up to. Bannon tried his best to remain calm and thought of his options and possible implications. He was certain this beautiful lady was no other than Feugan’s master. Feugan had only shown respect which almost bordered on a sense of veneration when the conversations were related to his master.

He knew Mimiru wouldn’t appreciate him dropping in, she had never been too fond of the persona he had built in order to become an adventurer, and he would have let them be and maybe be informed later on. But Mimiru was so darn carefree! They had gone straight for the food, she should have send word to the old man. If she was intent on getting snacks they should have gone to Feugan’s room! It was deeper into the grounds of the guild, further away from a plethora of possible prying eyes, the guild’s clients, food providers, other adventurers, gossip mongers and so on. Since it was also a room created for larger species of enlightened beings, it was spacious enough to hold a meeting between all the involved people.

Bannon stood up from his table and headed to their table mentally preparing himself for Mimiru’s disdainful remarks.

"I would have brought some of my sister's bread had I known I was going to tell her to stop eating". He grumbled to himself.

“Feugan, Mimiru. Its good to see you in good health and good compa-” 

Everyone’s attention was diverted to the sudden noise of a clattering chair that had fallen, as Feugan’s master almost jumped to her feet the moment Bannon started talking to their group

“BRANNON?!!! My Goodness, it is you!!”

 “UGH!!” Bannon couldn’t help himself when he felt the vice grip of an unexpected hug, tightening to such degree in which not only he felt like it was painful, but he was certain he needed to do something to stop it before it turned into an actual life-threatening concern.

“Ma’am please listen I don’t think-” Unable to continue, interrupted as suddenly Bannon found himself lifted off the ground while being crushed in the fierce hug.

“This is great!! HAHAH!! Now we can go on real adventures together!! Slay monsters! Save Princes and Princesses alike! Fight for Justice and save kingdoms!”

“T-that doesn’t sound bad but- UgH!!” Bannon found that It was hard to concentrate. Partly because he found himself in the arms of a very beautiful beastkin female, partly because he found himself lifted off the ground, by a seemingly innocuous person. And mostly because he felt how he was running out of air from her current show of affection.

Congratulations!

By your interactions you are eligible to a “System/Fate upgrade”

Do you wish to undertake the changes?
< Accept / Refuse >

Warning.

By accepting this, you will be granted access to previously blocked classes. New classes can be accessed through further interactions, feats and achievements. All training performed and skills that should have been acquired before the update will not automatically unlock previously inaccessible classes or skills. Any progress towards said classes/skills will be taken into consideration, decreasing the previous requirements depending on each situation and current standing. Affected classes will still be shown and the updated requirements listed as well.

Bannon was now speechless. On one part because of the menu right in front of him. But mostly, because he was rapidly running out of air.

This was the solution he had been looking for so many years! The menu of the chosen heroes was right in front of him! Giving him messages straight from the will of the realm and the gods. With no doubt in his mind he willed his thoughts towards the word “Accept”, until finally the word itself seemed to glow followed by a soft bell chime just as the magical menu disappeared and a new one appeared.

Congratulations!

You have accepted a System/Fate upgrade!

The changes will begin as soon as your next resting sleep.

At last!! A definitive solution to his father’s “curse”! Bannon was elated. Already imagining himself giving his sister a wide smug look, she had always shared an equally conservative mentality with their father. But now!! Now he would now take his birthright and raise as one of the greatest adventurers in the realm. Bards would sing songs of his adventures. He would travel the land and correct the wrongs! Save princes and princess! Fight for justice!

And with many more optimistic and chivalrous ideas in his mind, Bannon passed out.