Sister is in the smithy working iron. Before she came here, she had spent time walking in the forest for me. Without the dryad it was safe enough for Delores to have a hike. I have so many plants now. I replaced my trees. I go to them. I place my hand on them and twist them further. Spooky trees. My innate knowledge and senses allow me to change them through [Body Morphic Magic 2]. They would return to their default if felled but I have little worry of that.
I shortened the instance with the shops. What was a forest is now a cliff. My personal pets are up there. I hope my sister can extract herself soon from her self imposed cells. With the removal, I go and make a new room beyond the cells in all the other instances. It's just an open cave. A shaft of light beaming down on it. I expend our limited arcane regen placing various herbs around. Death trillium … better for it to be in the graveyard. I am there and place the death trillium on various mounds. I smile and return and find that the other three herbs are better placed in the field and forest. Huh, which leaves nothing for the cave I just made.
This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
I am in the smithy again. Mags is there, I see a pile of mithril braids in the corner. I smile. I feel the thirst. My reserves are low. That's progress, sister left the bliss for me. I drink what my body needs, not a bit more, sadly. I shift to the attendant. I had questions to ask of Mags.
“Are dryad flowers worth anything?”
“The older they are the better but even young ones can fetch small golds. Why not your true form while you have a moment, dear?”
“I locked myself into speaking with the dryad voice, it's my voice now.”
I give a brave smile and she gives me a shoulder hug.
“Why the question about dryad flowers?”
“I made a new floor to the dungeon by cannibalizing this instance. But there is nothing to place in it. I ended up spreading the various herbs on the current floors.”
“A pity a dungeon dryad flower would be static. Perhaps if we found one outside we could plant it here. They say monsters that are forced to live in dungeons can become part of it but retain their own systems. They can be quite troublesome really.”
“You mean they come back even after being slain.”
She shrugs. I pluck the flower on my head, willing it to grow its own root system. Only two days old but a hundred years has to start somewhere. I can't teleport to the cave. This body is locked to this instance. Instead I plant them at my feet. I made four more.
“I hadn't realized you were growing gold on your head dear.”
“It just keeps happening.”
Planting the dryad flower took no soul energy, I don't even think it is being maintained. Perhaps when it is plucked? I feel the only pull is from the nutrients it pulls from the dirt. That my soul mana replaces. Considerably less than the living thing. Perhaps the rest of the plants. Unlike the flower the rest will need to be seeded. That will be a lot of grass seeds. But in the end it will allow for more. I take a sip of my blood skin. Seems I will be limited at least by how much blood there is. I work on my weaving while seeds form and plop out.
-----
You're still here, sister.
-Wanted to work on weaving, sister. I made some seeds through our body. Just grass seeds so far, would you go out and plant them for me? Also there are five dryad flowers that need replanting.
I sour at her request. You know I can not manifest anywhere that can't contain me.
-Does this dungeon not contain you?
I think my changes might mean I could leave out the front. We have been letting pieces of our soul out that are part of our manifestation.
-If we left as the manifestation would the entrance move? Nevermind, what if we made the entrance small enough so your fat ass couldn't get through, sister?
I haven't had much luck changing the dungeon.
She appeared next to me, “You made this, did you not?”
I nod, she continues.
“So focus on just this instance entrance, make it so your fat bulbous ass can't pass through.”
I laugh and do as she says. It takes a bit but I feel it shift. I let out a huff.
“I did it, sister.”
“Well you've imprisoned yourself in this whole dungeon, Sara. I'm going to pet my rabbits.”
She left me…and I followed. I start sniveling and tearing up. She comes and hugs me. The various pets come to nuzzle me. We had spent a good amount of time doing that. I was glad to do her gardening.
-----
“These are most comfortable, Sara. The color seems to scream attention.”
“Showing off your underwear, mistress? They will be disappointed and only see white.”
She huffs at my tittering, disappointed that she wasn't able to scream for attention.
“It will be our secret mistress, how about some plain clothes that you will know to be garish.”
She smiles and nods. She looks to her bed.
“Would it trouble you too much to make linens as well?”
“Not at all, mistress.”
------
The gnome enters the smithy. He freezes at seeing me. I started to be able to track those inside me…inside the dungeon.
“I hadn't believed it when he said you were larger than before.”
“All the better to shape metal, a large copper to sharpen the weapon.”
He places the weapon on the ground and backs away. I roll my eyes and use a construct to flip the sword to me. I begin the simple pleasure of grinding the blade to be keener. When I am done I place it on a rack and return to my anvil. He examines the blade. He is about to flip my fee to me when he asks a question.
“Do ye have an example of your work, perhaps a mithril one.”
I popped the sword my sister had forged and placed it on the rack, he had scurried away as I approached. He went over and pulled it out. Examining the work.
“Quite well balanced, what does the glyph work do?”
“It is the entirety of the golem backflip rune, when piercing flesh it will attempt to force that flesh to perform the motion, to disastrous results.”
“How much?”
“That one is personal. A could make another that is the same length as your sword for sixty large gold. That's without the glyph work.”
“And with?”
I shrug, “Another twenty large gold.”
“That’s alot.”
“It will take six pounds of mithril to forge the sword. At mithril's rate it's a bargain.”
He eyes the sword and decides to put it back.
“Something to save for then.”
He flips the coin, the egg dissolves and he is outside the dungeon.
-----
“Your tea, my mistress.”
“Thank you, Sara.
Do you think we could go to the dungeon today? Your sister told me she had a hilarious idea to suggest to you.
What would that be?
-Na uh, not telling till you're here.
She titters at me. My ability to read her memories hasn't returned to me. A product of me shutting her out from before?
I will take you there.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Good we will leave through your room after the meal.
Siiiiister. All I hear is her titters.
-----
We had to wait for my sister to wake up. Delores explored our new shops.
“So exactly why did you want our mistress here for this?”
“Simple sister, the increased mortification will no doubt make it all the more possible. Etahehe.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose as Delores looks dazed.
“Seems the mistress needs more training, sister.”
She huffs. When Delores' daze wears off, sister pops out a fairy to explain.
“Simply put, since I can make seeds of any plant, you should be able to make eggs of any animal with our body.”
“There are only two monsters that we know of that come from eggs.”
Delores interrupts, “Why does it matter if it is originally from an egg or not.”
Sister answered before I did, “It doesn't but we still have to mentally process it, which is why you're here, mistress.” I know what my sister is going to say next, "It's time for you to be a hydra mommy, Sara.”
“My body is clearly too small to lay a hydra egg.”
She nods, “That one clearly is.”
I gulp and look at Delores. She tilts her head. Sister speaks again, not using the fairy, not being fair.
“Mistress, you totally want to see Sara's manifestation right? To watch her squirm as she forces an egg far too great for her body to birth. Then after she is done, you get to see the best part, she is going to need to eat afterwards. I know you heard the staff talking about how she never bothers to eat in the kitchen.”
She is dazed again and I am already beyond mortification. Delores regains her senses before I do.
“Please Sara, show me.”
I barely hear her so stuck in my own creeping revulsion. Delores perks up as sister winks at her…
“Sara as your mistress, I demand you produce a hydra egg.”
-----
My mind snaps back when the pain of the egg starts to form inside of me. Delores is staring at my black carapace, sister shoos her away. I breathe heavily. Its fucking huge. Twice the size of a water melon. My ovary is shredded as the egg finishes, it releases it. How can it be released? My body tears as it travels down a birth canal made for golf balls. So much pain and it's out, along with a great deal of blood. My abdomen is torn to shreds by the effort.
Sister places a hand and heals me. A full ten percent of my life core. I am breathing heavily, light headed. Delores brings a bucket detached from the well.
“I don't know why you wanted me to bring blood, Sara. Do you not think there is already enough here?”
I take the bucket from her and empty it into my mouth. My body shudders. Delores looks shocked by the development. My sister's fairy speaks.
“Excellent sister, I just need you to do that four more times. Mistress, she is going to need more buckets before she begins again.”
I gasp, “You do realize that baby hydra are mouth fed for at least a week before they can hunt on their own.”
“Which just brings your mortification full circle. Don't worry sister, the Maknor spiders you will need to birth start off smaller.”
It would appear that my sister aims to spoil our babies.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
I wake up to a note in front of me.
Sister,
Delores will be traveling out of her father's demesne to visit relatives. In the off chance that distance prevents our switching, I have matured your five hydra eggs, and all those lovely spiderlings. They should be hatching soon mommy. Either I will hear your cursing this morning or in a month. It's better this way.
Sara Maxwell Magdeline
Ps. Watch the store for me, if I'm right, you won't sleep till I return.
Pps. Use illusion magic to do it as me.
Ppps. Only half the core though, being so far away is scary.
Not even a day and a single parent already. I hear a crack…my babies. She had left them on the cliff above.
-----
I rode in the carriage with the head attendant and Delores.
“I can't fathom why father was so insistent on visiting family in the capital.”
“Did he not tell you, miss?”
“Tell me what?”
“The Bronfkin army has made a breakthrough and marches on the lord's lands, most of the citizens have fled.”
My eyes widened at that. How long before I could return to sister. Will she be fine alone…will I?
-----
Grab a baby spider from my back. Place the baby spider in my mouth, crunch the baby spider all up, grab another from my back, place another in the mouth and crunch it all up, reach over grab the awake baby hydra head and regurgitate it into the baby mouth. She is so happy. Mommy is happy too, baby. Just four more to feed. Then I get to do it all over again when the other heads wake up.
-----
The carriage is stopped. There is shouting. Delores wishes to know what's going on. I pull out a knife.
“Exit the carriage. Leave your weapons. If you channel mana, we will not hesitate to kill.”
I look to Delores, “Professional soldiers, Pimar mostly, I can not guarantee your safety should I fight.”
“They will wish to use me as leverage on father. I apologize but I must ask you to leave your knife here, Sara.”
I start removing my knives. The head attendant becomes shocked at how I was so armed while Delores huffs a laugh. I press one knife to my sternum and into my soul. Just in case.
We exit out of the carriage. Delores keeps her poise steady as does the head attendant. There are about twenty Pimar here. The smell of blood reaches my nose.
“The noble brat has one of our own collared, further proof of Atlas depravity.” Random soldier number one.
“I placed this on myself prior to my employment with the house, Xavious. Nor am I Pimar.”
The captain gives me a pitying look, “Do not worry sister, we will free you of your collar and geas.”
And they are not listening.
“You, the [Head Attendant] return to your lord, he can negotiate with General Kaitiner.”
“Go Yosef, I have Sara.”
“As if we would let you keep one of ours as your [Slave].” Random soldier number two.
“I will not be parted from my mistress. Also not one of yours.”
We are led away, the rest of the guards were slain.
-----
One of my instances has a great deal of adventurers. It's rather unusual. Not much profit to split rewards in forty ways. I sigh, I really want to see. I focus my sight there, I am the dungeon, my sister can do this. I used to be able to do this … I can see them. Pimar, dressed the same. Soldiers? They are rather orderly.
Mags, there are soldiers inside my dungeon, tug my soul if they are from Bronfkin.
I feel a tug.
Mags, can I eat their souls right? Enemy soldiers are terrible people, right? I would be doing the Queendom a service, tug to consent.
No tug. Best to be sure.
Mag, you must be busy, are you sure I can't eat them?
A strong tug, damn. I sigh.
Mags, would it be helpful if I cause them to be anemic and shellshocked?
Just when I thought she wasn't going to let me, I felt a tug. I smile.
-----
“Captain Qin, the cart we confiscated is too big for the entrance. You'd think bleedin’ adventurers would know the entrance size.”
“We will just have to bring the meat out for the camp. There seems to be a good number of rabbits here.”
I move almost all my aura on top of them. They all start to quail as they bear the brunt of worthlessness. Some begin to stab themselves.
“Soldiers remember yourselves, the dungeon aims to crush us.”
An aura emanates from the captain. Curious. The soldiers who started killing themselves stopped. I made an illusion on the shoulder of one who was most eager to stab someone else. It's the devil me. Cruel. I whisper to him.
“Why not do it, he deserves it doesn't he? You deserve it, don't you?”
He rushes and stabs the Pimar who had wronged him in some unknown way. A part of me wants to see the memories and understand why…but no Mags was sadly clear on that. The soldier dies, I send him outside with enough blood to survive. Probably. At least until Mags gets to him. The soldier who sent him back was restrained. The captain speaks to him.
“Soldier, explain yourself. What is that thing on your shoulder?”
I pop another devil on a jittery one. I don't whisper this time.
“They say only those with devils will survive, you want to survive don't you?”
The others turn towards the jittery one, see her fear and turn their weapon towards her.
“What evil is this?
The devil on the skittish one disappears while a new one on the closest one to her does.
“Kill.”
He does, others tackle him, shouting ‘no brother’ and ‘why brother’. I titter, oh system I'm tittering like my sister, now. They all grow more nervous. Must have done it through the dungeon. Sister is right, it does make them want to die more, the titters increase until it's a full blown cackle. A new devil pops onto the captain's shoulder.
“Execute him to make an example, maybe both of them. Actually best to just put to sword anyone with a devil.”
“You will not have my mind.” His hand goes through the illusion. Before he has a chance to warn his soldiers, I pop an illusion on half of them.
“He will have to start executing those with devils, there are too many of us not too.”
Only a quarter lash out, but it's enough. The soldiers all fight each other until it is only the captain left standing. My titters a full blown cackle. He looks around panicked. My aura slowly grows denser around him.
“Anyone still alive, report, anyone…”
He slits his own throat before long.
So much blood for my babies. That those babies feed my bigger babies doesn't matter. They will be back in three days. Bigger and ready to feed my babies more.
A supplicant has tied themselves further to you
Remaining Soul 826
I feel my soul mend a bit more. I fueled her growth. I sent them all to die. I breathe, still cruel. Still morose.
‘Gratz on the level Mags.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
“I will not be separated from my mistress.”
The guard looks at me with pity in his eyes. I feel anger in him as well. Anger at Delores. They believe the manacle around my neck makes me subservient to her. It's all very annoying.
A commanding Pimar enters the tent. He looks at the two of us. Delores in a chair, I am behind her.
“Are you this General Kaitiner I heard spoken of?”
Delores prods the Pimar. He scans the room. Does his fur get all itchy under that breastplate? Maybe they shave that area. But then it would be itchy afterwards. Wonder how they deal with it.
“Your [Slave] is not a Pimar.”
“She is not my [Slave], you can clearly see she is a [Maxwell Attendant]. This is absurd, the Queendom banned slavery.”
“Yet the nobility of Atlas utilize slaves to get a headstart on their young. The titles she has are being displayed through a [False Soul].”
I take off my ring and place it down on the ground. He checked something on his belt.
“There, you see, still a [Maxwell Attendant].”
“She is still using [False Soul], perhaps the manacle.”
“I simply prefer not to reveal my level, the ring should be enough to show I am an adventurer.”
I place the ring back on my finger.
“Still doesn't mean you do not have the [Slave] title forced on you. The manacle could be set to reinforce the narrative. We will see it off shortly.”
“I would suggest not doing that.”
“Why is that?” He fishes for another item.
“‘Cause then I would be free.”
I titter. He looks at me strangely, then a familiar trinket comes out. He looks at me through various lenses. He stopped at the green lens.
“Release the life magic you have engaged.”
I sigh, “The tent is too small.”
“I don't understand.”
“I'm bigger than this tent.”
“Then step out of it.”
I look at Delores.
“Your master is in my custody, [Slave]. Out of the tent.”
I step out. There are a myriad of tents here. An army. Stone walls encircle the encampment. The work of dirt mages? I will my clothes away and resume my true self. Reclothing myself before they get a good chance to see.
“I have not seen your kind before.”
He is eye level with me now. I titter at that. He steps back. Right, shit.
“Why do you attempt to bewitch me?”
My fairy pops on my shoulder.
“Apologies, I have been cursed by a dryad to have her voice. My true body can't help but speak in it.”
“I have never heard of such occurring on the slaying of such.”
“I was in the middle of eating her.”
“Eating her?”
I really want to laugh.
“If you free me, I'm sure you will understand soon enough.”
I give a toothy grin as the fairy winks out.
