I hand the container back to Isabella.
“I'm sorry if the slime is a bit different from before…”
She gives me another face I can't pick out and puts it down and looks at the slime.
“It appears to be tinged red, [Priestess]. Care to explain?”
“I may have eaten the previous one…”
I feel annoyance radiate off her, “I can't bring a dungeon monster out of the instance, Sara.”
“Oh no, that one is a hundred percent real slime.”
She just stares at me. Gregory chimes in, “There have been reports of real monsters appearing in the dungeon, Dame Isabella. I am guessing the [Priestess] has a way to make them.”
Isabella's annoyance grows, “Why is this dungeon classified as a tier two? It clearly needs a citadel.”
I sigh.
-----
“You should dismount Kal. The quarry is not much farther.” My fairy intones.
She nods and slides off. Mags turns to me.
“You should be able to handle this alone. Just don't start trying to bite the damn thing. It's just a knot of vines. Cut enough and it dies.”
“Are we not going with her?”
Mags just shakes her head.
“She will be fine, you on the other hand would likely be paralyzed from the sap of the plant.”
“I do not understand why she would be different.”
“My body doesn't absorb anything but blood, annoying food wise but hard to poison me.” My fairy speaks while sitting on my head. I smile.
“Only hard?”
I suspect if the poison is carried in the blood it could harm me. Alcohol can be absorbed that way. I don't bother airing out my suspicions. She has collected enough of my secrets.
I will my mithril sword and dagger to my hands. Duel wielding. I chuckle. Don't let Cecelia know.
-She would just roll her eyes.
Too true sister. I walk towards the scent. A vine twitches towards me and I pull my leg back and cut down…Damn Qorth is right, my legs are in the way. I shift to my attendant form. My clothing disappeared and my foot was snagged. Shit.
Before I can sever it I am pulled off my feet. I land on my back as more vines wrap around my legs. I sit up even as my legs begin to burn. I did not want to be naked for this. A set of robes covers my top. I start hacking at vines when my arms are pinned. What… this thing seems much more intelligent then Mags led me to believe. I get dragged closer to the knot even as I struggle.
I hear a screech. I look up and see a centipede monster with a multiarm woman at the top.
? ? Centropalir
Fuck. I feel nips in my body. I look down and see miniature versions of the creature begin to burrow into my body. The pain is immense, should have been Red doing this fight. The little horrors don't have a mana aura. I seize their blood and pull it into myself. A cascade of notifications is interrupted by the wailing of the bigger one. I create fire constructs around the places I am being held. I burn but so does the plant. I break free just as the big one pushes me down. Its arms pin my limbs. Its body winds around me even as I struggle. It wrenches my neck to the side with its top two arms and bites down. Looking to crush my throat. Too bad I don't need it to breathe.
I try to force void constructs into the creature but its own mana aura is forcing me back. Its teeth grate against my bone. It rears back at the sound. Why am I so slow…I wiggle the knife in my hand and stab the beast. It tears. The grip slackens. The blood coats me. I gained some stats, but I feel even slower. I continue stabbing while the beast tries to pull away. The blood shower slows me further. My body locks up as the beast itself slumps over. Damn why?
You have gained the skill [Resist Poison] Basic 1
Resist Poison - oh Sara, you were just thinking about this
Basic - your body processes poison based off your constitution and this skill, each new poison levels the skill, go collect them all Sara
Gain 1 exp
Damn, it must be a paralytic instead of just a killing one. Being forced undead would be preferable to being stationary. Nothing for it, a ring pops out of my soul onto the wound of the monster. I move the blood in my arm. It rips my hand off and flops the appendage onto the ring. It is an excruciating experience, a blood tendril is still between my wrist and hand. My mana activates the trinket and the blood pulls out of the creature. More poison is absorbed directly into my blood. The vines wrap around me trying to pull me away. It's too late.
Gained 264 exp from Centropalir
50 Temporary stats become Permanent
Heys its the 1000 Perception boon
And now a third slot for boosting, sensing a pattern here?
Only fifty stats gained? I pull my hand back to more pain. A paralytic that leaves the pain receptors intact. The vines have gone from pulling me away to pulling me further in. I ignite the damn thing. It burns. I do as well. What is left of my robes burns away.
Gained 38 exp from Creeping Leech Vines
I pull back the flames. Everything hurts and I can't move my muscles. I dare not attempt to use my blood to move the body, fearing further damage. I direct a thought to Mags.
Mother, the thing is dead but I got poisoned by a Centropalir.
She shows up above me. She gingerly picks me up and carries me back to Kalidia. It's in vain, my body screams in pain.
“Why is she naked and bipidal?”
I try to speak but the muscles don't move. A fairy pops out, “My legs were in the way and I switched to this form to cut the vines at my feet. A Centropalir ambushed me. It managed to poison me. I was bound by the vine and had to burn it and my clothes away.”
“How are you not suffocating? Why won't you heal her”
Guess that's why I can't talk, my tiny lungs are paralyzed.
“Her body does not accept life magic anymore.” She whispers into my ear. “Sara Maxwell Magdeline sleep.”
-----
Soul raised to 966
Soul raised to 973
I don't see the messages. I am on the floor of my dungeon. My body is writhing. I have never been awake in a real body for this. It is not pleasant. My vertebrae divide. And again. And again. And again. I whimper. What the hell was a Centropalir anyways… I feel my arm socket pivot by ninety degrees. The muscles follow. I want to black out but the pain keeps coming. My torso tapering expands. At the bottom of my ribs a new set of arms explode out, it has two sets of elbows. My torso elongates ruining my waist 2.0. A third set of arms explodes out of the area where my waist was. This one with three elbows. I am shuddering from all this pain. My scalp itches, what was my hair falls to the ground. Thin vines replace it, the same color but far longer and all manipulatable. I hug my body, shuddering. I am shaken. I look up and see Delores…
“Sorry mistress, I am no longer presentable.”
“Systems Sara, drop the decorum for once. Are you alright?”
I nod and turn my body. Jeremy, who was also beside me, pulls back. Jasmine hides behind Hischurl who has a hand at his sword.
“Why are you all…”
O, my hips didn't move with my motion. I was able to turn my body by a hundred and eighty degrees at just my second set of arms. Six hundred plus vertebrae… I pull myself back and wrap my hair around my torso and lower four arms. I try to reach my sister but she is unconscious. Damn, I can't change my body without her. The longer I stay like this the more it will take to remove the changes. I hope she wakes soon. I am shaken again.
“Sorry, Delores, I was thinking.”
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She smiles at me, “You know, I think I like it when you use my name. Do keep doing that.” The smile grows, “But only you Red, Violet must maintain the distance.”
I frown as she laughs at that. She wishes to loosen the side that wishes for decorum while constraining the one who would laugh at it.
“Systems, why did this happen?”
“I was told I didn't need to divulge my secrets to you, Jeremy, and I will take advantage of that now.”
“I only ask in concern, Red.”
“Sorry, I just need to wait for Violet's return. I feel like I give away my secrets too readily sometimes.”
-----
I wake up, unable to move. Mags is over me, she looks over my condition and whispers to me again.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 48 unallocated stat points
I had ushered Delores and her guest back to the estate. They have been using my personal entrance the last few times. Opting to avoid the scrutiny of the knights. To my benefit this time. I am in my sister's couture. Spinning webs. Grateful we never removed the spinnerettes from this form.
“So is this like an often thing?”
“Hmmm?”
“Changing your body.”
“O, anytime we eat a soul, we etch desirable traits into our soul.”
“This is desirable?”
I frown at Lea. She laughs at that. I continued my work. It's harder without my claws.
“Before I could reject changes, but after my body morphic became fueled by blood, the changes are just optional now.”
It is her turn to frown, “But you don't have access to your blood magic…”
I pat her arm. Considering I have six, it's easy to spare one. I muse as I work.
It's just so bizarre. I lost my tail when I gave my core away, which only gave Lea my tail. She couldn't remove it. Even after the core was hers. It would be funny if, when I gave her another core, it would just add a tail. From cat to fox. Would that mean I would have multiple tails? I laugh at that. Sara the Kitsune. My soul shudders at that…my eyes widened, it's not stopping…I can feel a deep etching. Lea is next to me.
“Sorry, I felt like I inadvertently changed something.”
“Sara, how large is your soul?”
I look at Lea, she can't betray me. I whisper the number. She can hear it just fine.
“Eleven soul days…with that much…”
I huff out a laugh, “I seem to cause people to become nervous whenever they find out.”
“Sara, souls your size aren't meant for children, not for someone who is still going through the process of finding out who they are…your soul responds to your will and you don't have years of memories to define how your body should be. It is little wonder a passing thought changes you so deeply.”
“I see…I say I would hold off on leveling Lea but I haven't leveled for two weeks and I went up fifty soul just yesterday.”
She gives me pitying eyes. My other attention finishes the dress.
You have gained [Two Separate Minds 2] Apprentice 1
Apprentice - Share a sense between your attentions
Gain 4 exp
Share our eyes then. I put the new work dress on. My arms go through each hole. Weird how the further down they go the more bends. Was the original creature like that or am I just blending spider traits. I show off to Lea.
“Your lack of symmetry just makes it look weird. Also why did it rotate your arm socket anyways.”
I shrug and find that I just thrust my shoulder backwards…I try again, this time as if I am pushing my shoulders forward. A shrug like before occurs.
“Ya, I suggest you avoid shrugging.”
I frown at that. It earns another laugh.
-----
I still can't move…
Sister?
-I'm here Violet, are you alright?
Sorry my body is paralyzed, Mags keeps putting me to sl—
-----
“Red, I think this is the first I have ever seen you spill tea before.”
I look down, my streak has ended…It will be a long while before I can overcome it.
“Sorry Delores.” I use my water rod to pull the liquid off the table and fling it behind myself.
Mags tug my soul if what you are doing is necessary for Violet's health.
She does. I trust her. I just wish she trusted my sister to explain why she was doing it.
“I think we should head further in.” Jeremy opines.
“I would suggest not, our party is too small and unbalanced for the bandit keep portion. Few regular groups make it past there.”
“All the more reason to try.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“At least wait for your sister.”
He grouses but relents. Jasmine looks annoyed and relieved.
“Your [Attendant] is out of turn again, I don't care if she is the dungeon, she should respect decorum, Delores.”
Delores looks at me and sees that I am back to being stoic, “I actually prefer Red to loosen up, but in this case she is simply responding to my fathers instructions of keeping us from harm.”
Jasmine pouts, her knight Hischurl interjects, “My Lady, I am all but certain that Red qualifies as pseudo nobility already, if not more.”
I sour at his words. Then notice the cups.
“Delores, do you wish me to brew more tea?”
“No, we are fine, Red.”
I remove the plates and put away the tea set. My chest warms. I stagger. It's back, my tears begin to flow. My blood core is back.
“Red, you’re bleeding…”
“Sorry Delores, my sister's dramatics have infected me and my tears carry blood now.”
I pulled the blood back into me, happy that I could. I can't stop smiling. I don't even care that my dress was ripped from my new tail. I start sipping blood. My thirst is ravenous with this new even larger core.
-----
I stick my foot into my blood pool, my eyes roll up as I fall in. I become lucid in an empty pit. O I shouldn't have done that. Next time remove taste buds before submerging myself. Not that I could. I feel my body. I seem to have accumulated a decent portion of someone's blood. The poor fool but since I don't know if they deserve it I absorb the stored blood. I save their life as my body thrums in bliss. My eyes rolled up again ahhhhhhhh I took blood from this man so many times. I must endeavor never to find out who it is. My gluttony could kill the man.
When lucidity returns I find the core only half full. I let out a sigh and spent some to remove the taste buds on my skin. Only temporary, too much. I dull them instead, better. The pit fills again and I relax.
“Seems a waste to absorb through the skin.”
I smile, “Not when you can taste it with your skin, but even before sometimes a slow soak of bliss is nice Lea. Care to join me.”
She considers then disrobes and climbs in.
“Okay this is nice, still drinking feels preferable.”
“Not like you can't do both.”
She laughs.
“I'm glad your tail and core are back.”
I just smile and wait for that core to ignite.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 48 unallocated stat points
A supplicant has tied themselves further to you
Remaining Soul 68
Soul raised to 980
I stop brushing Delores hair for a moment. Mom…no this is a happy moment. Not like I will keep it in the end.
Congratulations mom.
She tugs my soul. I smile.
“Something good, Red.”
“Yes, I just grew closer to my mom.”
She gives me a sad smile. I give her a hug from behind. This shocks her.
“My apology for making you feel sad, even if inadvertently.”
-----
“I am glad you have regained your height and returned to two arms.”
I smile, is it that or my bust you are most happy to see? The strain on my blood core is great but manageable. I hope it will lessen through the day. I have yet to return to my full C after all. I deflect a sword strike.
“Why are you making illusions above you?” Jeremy asks.
He swings the sword. Deflected.
“You were boring me, I needed a distraction.”
He laughs as he pulls back.
“Your banter is truly demeaning, Lady Magdeline.”
My eyes narrow at him as he swings again, another deflection.
“And here I thought I was only an [Attendant].”
Block, deflect.
“If what Sir Hischurl said was true, I have been rather uncouth around you. For quite some time.”
More deflections. The wooden swords resounding their clashes. I pout.
“Whether it is true or not I prefer to not be addressed as such while fulfilling my duties. You would place me above Delores.”
His strikes are slowing down, “That is fair, but you are sparring. Your superiority clearly demands deference. I thank you for the instruction, Lady Magdeline.”
We part. He may not be able to hit me with that sword but I feel he scored some blows all the same. Delores approaches. She raises her wooden sword. She has a rather mischievous smile.
“Ready to begin, Lady Magdeline?”
I just groan. The sounds of wooden swords fill the air again.
You have gained [Mental Mana Core] Master 1
Master - Hey another two physical cores, two tails
Gain 64 exp
Fuck, how many times am I going to have to remake my dress. I step back as Delores stops. Looking behind myself I see another bushy tail. No longer the thin cat tail. My imagination is running away with my form. It's weird that every soft hair was alive.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 48 unallocated stat points
I stab a few times with the new spear. My dreams have finally caught up to my sisters. I doubt things would have changed if she had a spear but at least she wouldn't have ended up naked. I should ask Cecelia for some instruction.
A supplicant has tied themselves further to you
Remaining Soul 68
Soul raised to 984
I push out my mana aura from her droplet of my blood in her. My fairy pops out.
There are three bodies of elves around her. The smell of blood surrounds the area.
“You shouldn't have seen this, Sara.”
I am next to her and hugging her. The illusion is gone.
“Please don't do this for me, mom. You don't have to kill for me.”
She pats my head, “They were looking for Lea and the one who freed her.”
I just buried my head into her more. It's too much.
-----
I hardly notice when my dress rips again. A physical arcane core formed next to my other two. I simply start work on the next dress. Morosely.
-----
I lift my body up from the ground. Shit my arms are different. I hear a crack of a fire. Kalidia rushes over to me.
“You can move.”
“Sorry for the worry.”
I look down at myself, two new sets of arms. I turn my body and find it can go a full three sixty on myself. Which is good since my arms don't swing behind myself anymore. Such a strange configuration. I see my changes have robbed me of my waist…my eyes widen. My sister must have become this while awake.
“Damn it, mother, you should have left me awake. I am certain the others will be freaking out about Red right now.”
“You were paralyzed with no way to heal yourself. You fancy waiting three days like that? I felt it best for you not to lose your mind. Or worse, you change yourself in an attempt to stave off the nightmare.”
Three days have passed? I look at my soul. The etchings aren't there. I feel my malleability makes them instantly accepted now. I pull my four lower arms back into myself…the blood passives are too great. They return and I drink. I huff a bit and pull just the lower set into myself. That seems doable. I pull my waist back in and rotate my top set of arms back. Painful but I should be able to maintain that.
“I'm not sure if it ever gets better watching you change your body.”
“Sorry Kal, we should head back. I need to see to fixing Red's body as well.”
“Keeping a second set of arms?”
“All I can manage for now, mother.”
-You can keep going…I can manage.
Sister no, the longer you wait the harder it will be…
-The core is back, also you have two new physical cores…and two additional tails.
Are we a fucking kitsune… I turn my body to look at my new tails. The mass of black hair is far bushier on them… and alive. Vines… Just like what is on the top of my head. Would they have been every hair follicle? I twitch my eyebrows…also vines. At least they were not longer. I reach up and touch my vine hair. Soft as hair. Bizarre.
-Sorry I may have caused the additional tail thing before the core grew back. Our soul etched ourselves over an idle thought.
Sounds like more than just an idle thought. We seem to be unable to pick a monster to be.
-Sorry.
I feel the lethargy over the thought.
Sister do not torture yourself over this.
-Cecelia had to kill three Elves in town…that I know of.
I pale at that, I look at Magdeline.
“Just how many have died to keep my secrets, mother?”
She winces at that.
“I didn't want you to know, but I do not regret ordering the purge, they are hybrid hunters.”
“You'll start an Elf feud. What if they send someone who's strong?"
She shakes her head, “The Queendom had already warned the Elves off from coming into our lands hunting for hybrids. It's the only thing keeping you safe. If they sent anyone more than a tier two here they would start a war.”
I start to shudder.
“Is Sara a hybrid?”
Damn it.
