She crooks her finger and smiles. Sigh. No point in stalling. Really, there’s nothing to be wary about. By now, I’m an expert at getting my ass kicked by her.
Hmm. I wonder what that says about our relationship?
Forget it. Not like we had a conventional partnership from the start.
“If you’re not going to come to me—”
Ah, thinking too long. I quickly bring up ...
2021-07-15 19:24:06 +0000 UTC View PostThe students are tense. I can’t blame them. This has been a week of horrors but this is the last day before Restday and Saintday. As such, an unspoken expectation hangs in the air.
That this will be the worst day yet.
Kierra stands in front of us, basking in it. Her helpers have multiplied, the two Foundation students joined by six others who stand at attention behind her back. ...
2021-07-15 19:23:27 +0000 UTC View PostTwo hours, several glasses, and a full stomach later, Kierra grabs me by the hand and leads me to our bedroom. Geneva trails behind us. I don’t like that smile she’s wearing or the curl to her tail. That only happens when she’s especially pleased.
“What are you up to?” I ask my grinning wife as she pulls me into our bathroom. Like the rest of the house, it’s ‘generous’. On...
2021-07-15 19:22:04 +0000 UTC View PostMuch later, I’m stumbling up our walkway after another long day when a gust of wind sends my hair billowing. Spitting the strands out of my mouth, I glare up at Aurelius who slowly floats down to hover in front of me. “Evening,” I say softly, trying to keep the hostility out of my tone. Knowing me, I probably fail.
“Miss Tome. I hope I didn’t startle you by dropping by so sudden...
2021-07-15 19:18:10 +0000 UTC View Post“Are you ready for this?”
Alana and I walk together to Kierra’s torture ground. We’ve gotten rather comfortable with each other. I heard somewhere that shared horror has a way of bringing people together.
I laugh at her question. “There’s no being ready for her. Expectations only make it that much worse when she goes beyond them.” Trust me, I am speaking from experienc...
2021-07-15 19:17:34 +0000 UTC View Post“What’s your full name?” Abel immediately demands.
Oof. Right off the bat with the name dropping. Here we have a lower noble or, at the very least, an aspiring one. “Lourianne Tome.”
“Tome?” He scoffs at me. I swear, with that kind of attitude you better be some long-lost cousin to the royal family. This place is full of annoying people. “Why did you pick up this tra...
2021-07-15 19:17:01 +0000 UTC View PostAlana and I drag ourselves away from the field as the bell tolls the end of our ‘lesson’. Many students are struggling to pull themselves off the ground. Kierra’s lesson feels like it lasted for hours but we have other classes to get to. “You alright there, friend?”
She just grunts in reply.
“Better pull yourself together. We’ve got to do it all again tomorrow.”
<... 2021-07-15 19:16:18 +0000 UTC View Post“These are dense plain wolves, or more commonly known as royal hounds. They naturally live on plains whose grasses can reach up to seven feet in height. They’ve developed a mental affinity, which allows them to communicate on their hunts to adapt to the lack of visibility. Because of that, they’re very easy to train. On my command, they’ll rush forward and take you down as easily as the...
2021-07-15 19:15:23 +0000 UTC View PostSaints give her guidance. What kind of introduction was that? She’s smiling her bloodthirsty smile, but to others, it might come off as friendly. Some of these idiots actually laugh, the excitement of seeing an elf and their inability to imagine someone truly threatening them obscuring her menace.
“Now then—”
“Um!”
We all look over to the girl who interrupted her. ...
2021-07-15 19:14:47 +0000 UTC View PostMana Theory is incredibly boring. It takes place in the Grand Center, the large building directly across from the Foundation Building where all the main classes are taught. There are far more people here, all dressed in different robes that I’m guessing show their affinities, but they have no time for initiates as they move to where they need to be. Luckily, all the initiate classes are on th...
2021-07-15 19:14:08 +0000 UTC View PostI’m a little surprised that my first class is held on an open field besides the Foundation Building, the center for all the acolytes focused on sharpening their physical prowess. The people hanging around the imposingly and honestly unattractive gray block of a building all wear polished armor, weapons attached to their waists and slung over their shoulders.
On one of the fields, a man ...
2021-07-15 19:13:13 +0000 UTC View PostThe Grand Hall is strict on their new students, dubbed initiates. We are told what to do and when to do it. I understand. Students come to this place from all over. They have to be sure that everyone has the same basic understanding of magic before they’re allowed into the wider world of higher education. Doesn’t make my current schedule easier.
On the first day of the spring semester...
2021-07-15 19:07:41 +0000 UTC View PostThe sun has set by the time we arrive at our new home. The tour didn’t last too long. The Grand Hall really is large but we saw plenty, including all of the markets and the front of the Beast Sanctuary where they do their manabeast research.
That place may as well be a city in of itself and Kierra was absolutely delighted to see it. Me? Her physical affinity boosts kept me energized eno...
2021-07-15 19:06:58 +0000 UTC View PostHe’s a bit strange. The only men whom I’ve seen with their heads completely shaven are poor farmers fighting against the creatures who take root there, but he is far from such. He also wears earrings, something usually reserved for women, along with a pendant, two thin bracers, and an ornate belt, all of them artifacts. Opposed to that, his feet are bare. Draped in thousands of crowns worth...
2021-07-15 19:06:15 +0000 UTC View PostOur small vacation in Quest has come to an end. The new semester starts in a little over two weeks and Kierra is starting to get anxious about preparing our house. If I’m honest, I’m also a little sick of the Myriad Zone. I think the constantly shifting colors are giving me headaches. Something uncomfortable about opening the window to a different sight every morning,
The luggage is q...
2021-07-15 19:05:36 +0000 UTC View Post“You again!” Howie doesn’t seem to care one lick about potential profit as he scowls at the men. “How many times do I have to tell you to stay out of here, Fredrick?”
The men walk forward. “Relax, you damn hobgoblin,” the one in the lead says. Howie is glaring daggers at him so this must be Fredrick. “I’m hoping you’ve reconsidered my guild’s offer.”
“I’d...
2021-07-15 19:04:57 +0000 UTC View PostHe gave it his best, he really did. If I had stayed human, I wouldn’t have made it past the second mug. However, quickly turning my insides to that of an elemental reset my tolerance after every mug, every sip if I wanted. He didn’t have a chance from the start. Howie doesn’t seem too upset about it. If anything, he seems quite pleased.
Once we got past the fifth round, he got into ...
2021-07-15 19:04:22 +0000 UTC View PostThe man turns around and…ah. That explains the lack of reaction. A pair of very sharp ears stick out of his shaggy dark hair. So, he’s an elf. Or maybe not? His ears kind of droop at the end and I’ve never seen another elf like that.
For Howie’s part, he isn’t thrilled to see us. Especially Kierra. He looks scared of her, which I wouldn’t be surprised by if we hadn’t just me...
2021-07-15 19:03:25 +0000 UTC View Post“I am so sorry!”
Maxine stands in the middle of our suite in the straightest bow I have ever seen. As in, I could use her spine as a measuring stick. And she’s holding it, despite how much discomfort she must be in, refusing to look up until I respond. Before I do, I look past her to Geneva leaning against the wall.
[I can’t say for sure without an interrogation, but her sur...
2021-07-15 19:00:51 +0000 UTC View PostThe employees here must go through rigorous training to always produce smiles like that. There’s no way they can be that happy, all the time. It’s a little creepy but I smile back at the man. “Yes?”
“Lady Tome. Everyone is so pleased that you are staying with us. Lady Guiness has prepared a small gift for you.”
I sigh outwardly but, on the inside, I’m still ha...
2021-07-15 19:00:16 +0000 UTC View PostSomeone knocks on our carriage door. Switching my nose to that of a wolf’s, I breathe in Maxine’s scent and gesture for Geneva to open the door. The young merchant gives us a radiant smile. “We’ve arrived a little later than expected but there’s still plenty of time before the semester starts. We could head straight for the Grand Hall or we could stay and explore the city for a few da...
2021-07-15 18:59:31 +0000 UTC View PostI would like to say that the bandits were the end of our troubles but my misfortune held strong. We had the displeasure of wandering upon a manabeast as it crossed the road.
Manabeasts are special animals that can use mana. Some quirk of nature gives them a pure affinity. Then of course, there are the manabeasts who live long enough to gain sentience, becoming divine beasts. Those can gai...
2021-07-15 18:58:52 +0000 UTC View Post“…huh?”
He’s not the only one giving me a confused look. It makes me want to laugh which only convinces me more about my decision. “Skills, boy.” Even though he’s not much younger than me. “Cooking, cleaning, sewing. Am I making sense?”
“I, um, I…my father used to work in a manor. I helped, er, my lady.”
“Good enough. You’re hired!”
“Huh?...
2021-07-15 18:58:13 +0000 UTC View PostMy recent experiences traveling on the King’s Road haven’t been great. First, I was abducted by a madman who used me as a component in one of the worst summoning attempts I’ve ever seen. Then, on the way to Summer Spire, we were attacked by bandits. Admittedly a lot less dangerous than the first situation but it speaks to a pattern.
But I won’t let that color this trip. Surely, af...
2021-07-15 18:56:47 +0000 UTC View Post“Coo coo~” [Master Lou, it’s time to wake up.]
I’m slowly pulled out of my dreams by a sweet voice. One eye opens and I see Bell crouched beside my head, one small hand on my cheek. The precious creature is holding a glass of water with her tail and offers it to me as I sit up. I rub her smooth head as I down the water, loving the smooth texture even more than wetting my dry throa...
2021-07-15 18:56:14 +0000 UTC View PostExcuse me, what? I raise my head again, ignoring Fen’s attempts to pull me back as I stare at my cousin. “Did you just say—”
“Yes.” Jac’s eyes are wide with excitement. “All of humanity gathered onto this continent after the Great War but our family isn’t from here. We’re from Green Mountain. There are records passed down through our family for hundreds of years. They ...
2021-07-15 18:55:39 +0000 UTC View PostFather walks out behind them. Hearing my invitation, his brows come down but he continues walking.
“Lou, I rather not deal with any of your games tonight.”
Jac tries to pull away but I hold fast. Please. I spar with an elf with a pure physical affinity. Like some noblewoman who spends her free time knitting or some other nonsense can compete. She can do nothing as I pull her thr...
2021-07-15 18:54:57 +0000 UTC View PostOur journey to the Grand Hall begins in the morning. I’ve had a good time preparing for it; trying to figure out Kierra’s designs and failing miserably, taking advantage of the Guiness Company’s impressive warehouse with Maxine’s ‘friend’ discount, catching wild horses to pull our carriage. Good times…
And because a cloud always passes across a clear sky eventually, there we...
2021-07-15 18:53:47 +0000 UTC View Post“Someone’s happy with herself.”
Twenty minutes later, we walk out of the Golden Spider and wait on the curb outside with our arms linked together as Geneva fetches our carriage. With the warmer weather, more people are on the roads, though only the wealthier nobles and their well-dressed attendants can be seen given we’re in the Affinity Market. As in, those without a well-develop...
2021-07-15 18:52:56 +0000 UTC View PostI open my eyes and take in my reflection. Huh. She sure loves her buckles. The vest over the white shirt has four, the silver especially sharp against the dark blue-violet material. Where did she even find a dye like this? It reminds me so much of Cosmo’s coloring.
The dark pants are baggier than anything I’ve ever worn, three buckles on either thigh tightening it above the knees. A l...
2021-07-15 18:52:02 +0000 UTC View Post