I glared at the poop tube with gritted teeth and tears in my eyes. “Discipline? No, this feels like a humiliation ritual. But fine, I’ll do it.”

  I wiped my nose and raised my hand. I summoned a water ball and scaled it to the diameter of the tube entrance.

  It spun faster before slowing as I adjusted the speed and velocity.

  I approached the tube and held the waterball about an inch away. This needs to be done perfectly or the blowback will be unpleasant.

  I took a deep breath and fired the waterball.

  It shot forward and slammed against the tube.

  Boom!

  The water pushed the poop forward; the tube groaned and creaked as it made its way down. Then, I heard a loud pop and saw a light outside the tunnel.

  Outside, the poop was pushed into the river below with a splash. A person stood near the river, covered in shit and water.

  A guy, who looked around with murder in his eyes.

  “WHO THE FUCK—“

  I quickly reinstalled the wooden rod and locked it in place before he had the chance to lock eyes with me.

  I stepped away from the tube with heavy breaths as I gripped my knees. If that guy came knocking I was running.

  I literally cannot afford to pay for anything else.

  Why was he even there?

  Ugh, it’s not important. I straightened up and wiped my nose. It was still fried from the smell, but the air was already clearing.

  Somewhat.

  I turned back to the war hounds. They had been silently watching me the entire time. A shiver ran down my spine. It’s actually terrifying how they don’t make any noise.

  My gaze shifted to the vat filled with monster meat. There was a pitchfork next to it, along with a small set of steps.

  It’s better to feed them first. That way they don’t look at me as food while I’m cleaning.

  I shook my head and approached the vat. I picked up the pitchfork and stabbed it into the dirty mix of rotten and bloody meat.

  The smell of copper was pungent.

  I pulled the pitchfork out and approached the closest pen. The hound inside stepped forward and poked his head over the pen door.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  I brought the pitchfork to his mouth and he opened it to reveal rows of sharp teeth. He gently took the meat into his maw and pulled it off the pitchfork.

  He dropped the meat on the floor of his pen, then looked up at me again.

  I blinked.

  “What?” I asked, lowering the pitchfork.

  The hound tilted its head.

  I swallowed.

  “Please don’t eat me, mister doggy.”

  The dragon sighed deeply. “Boy, gather another serving.”

  Oh, right.

  I turned back to the vat and jammed it back into the vat. When I returned to the pen, the hound took the meat off the pitchfork again.

  Then he gave me that same look again.

  So I gathered one more serving and that seemed to do the trick. He dropped the meat onto the floor and began to eat.

  I went on to feed the rest and it was the same story. They only ate after receiving their third serving. Once they were all eating I took a step back to watch them.

  They ate rather gracefully even as the sound of cracked bones filled the room. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

  I placed my hands together and summoned six water clones. I had to be careful when using this many clones.

  The more you summon, the weaker they become as individuals, and the rate at which Ouro is drawn increases.

  Still, these weren’t for fighting.

  I hand the clones open the pen doors and step inside. Each pen was similar so that was less processing on my part.

  Anyway, I had the clones clean the pens. There wasn’t much to do considering these creatures didn’t really seem to make a mess.

  After sweeping out the pens and cleaning up the blood, the clones turned to face the hounds. They raised their hands over their matted fur and began to run a gentle wash.

  The hounds were skeptical at first, but soon leaned into the clones as they worked.

  I needed to be quick about this as I could already feel my reserves draining.

  And no amount of breathing could replenish my ouro at the rate I was burning it.

  The clones brushed down the matted fur and steamed it. Over and over, until the hounds looked like they just left a spa.

  I dispelled the clones with the wave of my hands and took another breath. The war hounds began licking up the water from the floor of their pens.

  Shit, I forgot to give them something to drink.

  Without thinking I walked up to the closest hound and summoned a water ball. The hound raised its head and began to lick the waterball.

  I watched him closely. Within me, I felt the unexplainable urge to pet him. The intrusive thought beat out reason and I reached my hand to touch the hound.

  But before I could do it, I felt a presence behind me.

  Multiple actually.

  That’s when I looked over my shoulder to see the other hounds had stepped out of their pens and were staring down my waterball like it was a billion yen.

  My heart dropped out of my ass. Or at least that’s what it felt like. I didn’t even hear them move.

  They continued to stare down at my waterball.

  I nervously cleared my throat. “You know I was coming to you guys next, right?” I raised my other hand and summoned another waterball.

  The hounds stepped forward and began lapping up the water.

  I stood there, questioning how I went from the highs of nobility to becoming a living water fountain.

  As I did that, I heard the basement door open. Then, a voice. “Well, well, for someone afraid of getting eaten, you sure got close.”

  Kalie.

  “I’m still very afraid,” I replied. “But I will admit, these are some well-trained puppies.”

  Kalie stepped forward with her arms crossed.

  “Demons often let war hounds roam freely around their camps, so they mustn’t go around eating people.”

  She tilted her head. “Lafayette.”

  I raised my head. “Hm?”

  “I got a visitor earlier. A man covered in water and shit, do you have any idea about that?”

  A lump formed in my throat. If I say it was me, is she going to make me pay for it? I really can’t afford it, but would it be worse if I lied?

  I mean, it’s obvious she knows it was me.

  I sighed deeply. “Yes.”

  Kalie stepped past the war hounds who were still drinking from my hands. She looked into my eyes. “You know how much it costs to pay for the damages?”

  Any happiness I had was completely drained as I dropped my head. “No.”

  Kalie stood over me in silence. “It’s three silver. That’s thirty copper, covering someone in the literal shit of others carries an expensive fine.”

  I frowned and lowered my hands, dispelling the water balls. The war hounds tapped their paws on the ground and went to lick the floor.

  I was never gonna leave this continent, was I? Maybe I was too hard on Jax regarding Kalie.

  Jax would’ve scammed me but at least I’d have been getting paid.

  Kalie laughed. “You should see the look on your face.” She teased and pressed a finger against my forehead.

  “Huh?”

  “I was just messing with you. That guy, he wasn’t owed anything. He took a risk cleaning his boots near our section of the river and paid the price. You’re good.”

  I raised my head.

  “You, you tricked me? Why?”

  She shrugged. “Don’t know, maybe I just wanted to see how you reacted.”

  Was she testing me? Why? What does she even gain from that? I stood there, my face making all kinds of expressions ranging from confusion to anger.

  Kalie laughed again.

  “That’s not funny! None of this is funny! From the moment I got here, I had to deal with so much bullshit! Litith kidnapped me from my fiancée, and I got dropped off in a death forest. I had to deal with Jax and his crap, then I had to clean up literal shit. And you wanna scare me with a stupid prank?! I hate you!”

  Kalie paused. “You have a fiancée?”

  “YES! And I miss her! I want to get back to her, but I can’t, cause I’ve only been here two days and I’m already in debt! Forced to be a damn janitor while you make jokes at my expense!”