This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
The mistress is getting bored of eating rabbit. I caught another one anyway. Her annoyance was greeted with titters.
This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
I got to fight another Maknor bear. It wasn't very interesting. The blood was good though. Delores wanted to go back to eating rabbit. Said bear was way too gamey. Not like I had anything better than dirt to prepare the meat with. Perhaps I should find some mandrake. Then she wouldn't complain.
This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
O system my nose is being assaulted by everything. I don't know how far away it is but I can smell the swamp…and the capital past it. Delores laughed at me. Until I changed her nose to match mine. She begged me to change it back. I only tittered at her.
-----
I wrinkled my nose. Did my nose change? I already could smell everything in my instance. I wonder what is so unique about bear noses. I shrug and begin chiseling some more runes.
“Did anything change, my Lady, other than being slightly larger.”
“Something different about my nose but I already could smell everything here, Qorth.”
“Why not go to one of your bigger instances then, are you able to smell all of that?”
“I don't wanna.”
“Are you still pouting because we told you your hydras needed their own space?”
“Nooooo.”
“She misses having spiders crawling inside of her.” Cecelia called me out.
I huff, “It was just so uniquely awful.”
“Your carapace collapsed, Sara.” Cecelia points out.
“I was still fine.”
“You were literally slurring words cause one nipped your brain.” Qorth this time.
“One oh four had an accident. That's all, she didn't mean to hurt mommy.”
“I'm still not sure how you became attached after chewing them for your hydras.” Cecelia says in a huff.
Ahhh memories, so many to share with my sister.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
“It's a swamp.”
“With hydras and spiders, mistress.”
“I'm not sure why you believe that makes it better.”
“Just look at all the colors.” I titter.
“O I see them, Sara, I also see giant webs and lots of fetid water.”
“Ah, but you already know the smells, it's got to be old hat by now.”
“It would have been if you hadn't coached me to remember smells.”
I titter at that. She has [Scent Memory] now, she will never forget all the lovely smells, ever.
“Not like you will be walking in it, mistress.”
“Knowing you, there is a deep part you will ‘accidently’ fall into.”
I titter.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
“Do you actually know where in the capital your family is, mistress?”
“Uhhhhh.”
Should have known, she is looking very raggedy and I'm not much better. I head towards the Maxwell store.
“I know that's not the way to the noble quarter.”
“I doubt we will be given more than a shout for guards in the noble quarter. Come I know who can give us directions, mistress.”
She huffs but follows.
-----
“Thank you for meeting with us, Lord Maxwell.”
Delores puts on as much airs as she can while looking like she just fell in the swamp. It was only the one time.
“Of course, I am always available for Xavious's children, what can I assist you with?”
“Yes…um…”
I titter and she looks annoyed at me. Maybe twice.
“I need directions to my family estate in the capital, the Sdrea house. I was waylaid and had to flee my carriage and only just arrived on foot.”
I titter more. Fran looks at me.
“I will summon a carriage at once to deliver you. I am sure you wish to return to your family immediately to rest.” And clean.
“Thank you, Lord Maxwell.”
I bow my head as Delores curtsies. As we leave, the lord hands me a book. I thank him again for remembering.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
-----
A book plops out of my chest. I put my chisel down. The runes are almost done.
“Ah, they contacted Fran.”
“How do you know?”
I showed Cecelia and Mags the book on enchanted embroidery.
“I had asked for it before I got pressed into service for the Queendom.”
Cecelia scowls at me at the mention. Much of my descent accelerated there. A great deal of pain but I did meet Qorth. Gregory was fine in the end. I suppose.
I opened the book and found that anti wrinkle embroidery is the first one. I know what my sister will be doing tonight.
-----
I should have soul bound my needle. I huff. After bathing Delores and myself, I helped her into bed. She asked if I was exhausted at which point I teased her of only needing three hours of sleep. She pointed out that such an enhancement was not a change in appearance. I pointed out that I was only hired to take care of one of her.
“[Head Attendant] Barbara, our travels unfortunately cost me my needle and thread, could I bother you for a spare?”
“Ah, you poor dear, you hardly ate and you lost your needle. I'll get you a spare.”
“Thank you, ma'am.”
I watch her go, I have already thought of implanting a seed to have her give me blood freely, to flat out killing her. I titter. Perhaps a visit to Gadvak is in order.
“Here you are dearie.”
“Thank you, ma'am.”
I empty my bloodskin. Not enough. Sister fills it…I empty it again. Never enough. A third time, she is so kind. I empty it once more, the blood thrumming inside me with nowhere to go but my gluttony. She doesn't fill it immediately again. Rude. Ah there we go, another for gluttony. She didn't fill it again. Very rude. After a nap I head to Gadvak.
-----
I'm breathing heavily.
“My lady, what's wrong?”
I fill her bloodskin again. I should stop. She drank it all again. And again. Qorth shakes me.
“Sara, are you alright?”
I give her a smile.
“Sister was just having a bit of blood, it's the only way I can enjoy it right now.”
I fill the skin again, feel even greater heights.
“Sara, you need to save some for your babies right. They like blood as well.”
My babies, sister would unknowingly deprive them. I should wait till morning. I sit idly while feeling the glow. It fades in time and I start to feel more lucid. Qorth has left, which is confusing. She usually stays the night with me. I feel a part of my soul rapidly heading towards Maknor. Mags? I wonder why?
The bliss starts again.
Gained 10 exp from Goblin
Then it ends. Dungeon goblin. Sister must be—
Again bliss.
Gained 10 exp from Goblin
-----
I throw the goblin aside. These temporary feelings are a poor substitute for real blood. I lift the third goblin up and bite into him. Bliss and then not. Perhaps it would be better if I bite them faster. I proceed to the next pack, my eight legs carrying me. I pin two under my front feet again. Pick up a goblin in each hand. They squirm. I cause the one in my right hand to bleed with just a quick application of life magic. Just enough to keep dribbling into my hand. The bliss begins. Slow. I bite the one in my left hand, draining it dry. I have a moment of heightened bliss that returns to the little dribble I had felt before. Damn, I was hoping to maintain the height. Nothing for it. I get the next three goblins blood into me.
I spy the axen, the first charges. My fore legs catch the horns, it forces me back a few kings feet before I lift him up and sink my fangs into its neck. It at least lasts longer. But the abrupt cut off is just so jarring. I take five more before I reach the real quarry.
This is a daily reminder: You have 8 unallocated stat points
The hydra rears and I leap at it. My four front legs pin the two outer heads. My hands grasp the two inner. I bite down at the base of the left. Drinking deeply. Oh yes. This is a creature that will not die soon. Bliss just keeps building as the hydra blood flows in me. So much. And it ends as all the others do. So abrupt. I should have gone to the five header in the swamp.
-----
Qorth returned with Cecelia. I am breathing heavily now. Sister has devoured fifteen hydra so far. The emotional whiplash is too much. Does she plan to devour the entire dungeon? I feel so unsatisfied with the bliss ending so abruptly. I don't think my sister will be satisfied by the time she is done. It begins again. I hear Cecelia and Qorth try to talk to me. The bliss ends.
Gained 40 exp from Hydra
You gained 16 unallocated stat points
Assigning these stat points will reset your level and Tier your race up. You have 25 hours before the stats are assigned to your lowest stat (Strength).
That's going to hurt. I titter. The bliss starts again.
-----
Another hydra falls. Doesn't even give me exp anymore. I huff. I see the morning begin to peak. Another huff. I head back. The mistress will need me in two hours. I head up to the woman waiting at the entrance. I shift to my attendant form.
“Hello Mags.”
“You've been busy, Sara.”
I smile, “Here to collar your [Matriarch].” The smile is a lie.
“I can feel you are unsatisfied by your foray.”
I huff, “The bliss ends too soon. Abruptly. It's a tease. I simply desire more. Sister was kind enough tonight at first but cut me off.”
“She panicked when she thought you would deprive her Maknor spiders their lakes.”
“Lakes?”
“So she describes it, the cave you made is now a lake of blood with the dryad flower on an island in the back. Her hydra guards it while the spiders are in the ceiling. They dip down for a drink and the hydra eats another spider.”
“I miss my dungeon.”
“You wish to return don't you?”
“Doesn't mean I want that collar.”
“Your sister forged it. Inscribed the runes herself. Not an iron band but her mithril. You know your metal is stronger than regular ore right. It will take more than an army blacksmith to sunder this one.”
“You wish to entice me by saying my sister made it but then tell me it will be nigh unbreakable.”
“I do.”
She throws the band at my feet.
“You have yet to say the words, do you plan to come so near me while I am so unsatisfied.”
“I'm not saying the words this time. You are.”
No titter this time, I simply laugh. It takes a while to quiet down.
“Why would I do that?”
“I'm not going to give you the speech again. I am not sure you care. You decimated an army because it amused you. The Queendom victory against Bronfkin is assured, your goal of high placement is in sight and you made no move to claim credit. Because you are amused by being an [Attendant]. Which I still find hilarious. So I will say this instead, daughter. Your fun will end tonight if you don't place that collar on. You will walk by me, perhaps kill me, devour the gate guards, rouse the capital and be slain. I know not how many you would kill but there are real monsters in that place. Ones that would snap me like a twig.”
“You think I can not control myself?”
She gives me a sad smile, “I don't think you want to.”
It's true, I don't. I lost something when I died as my manifestation. The three days of oblivion. The dryad spoke of not caring after rebirth. Perhaps that's what it was. Sister still cries for the pain she causes. Sister is cruel because she knows her actions are cruel. I don't care about how others see my actions, cruelty requires knowing the harm you are doing. Her emotions bleed into me and if our soul heals I may begin to care again. I stand on a precipice deciding on whether to try to have empathy again or to go and die.
If this body dies, does sister become a regular dungeon? Our promises we made when we were singular still burn me. I know Phenolp, Sencea and Vanessa require my pregnancy to return, they are too closely tied to my soul to allow any other to carry them. And an even older promise exists, to make it in this world, father…
I reach down and touch the collar. I begin to say the words I remember from Mags. She stops me.
“Would it not be more amusing if you say it in your voice?”
I smile. She is right at that. To infuse desire into it would be hilarious. We would grow to desire our collar. My body shifts to my true self.
“We will not drink or absorb any blood beyond what my body physically needs. We will not assume a more monstrous form than we truly are. We will not drink blood to chase a feeling or to hide from our own. We will not mute our own feelings to hide from our thirst. We will not think on or discuss these prohibitions, endeavoring to make them an intrinsic part of ourself.”
We spoke from our soul, channeled our soul mana into it. My soul core is nearly empty. My arcane core is empty as well. All my cores are empty. My reserves are out. I do not put the manacle on with my eyes shut like my sister did. I put it on gently, it clasps, and I breathe. The manacle disappears. It will resist mental sight through my skills. A part of me, of us. My soul pulls a bit closer together.
-----
For a moment, I had spoken with my sister as one. She had put our restraint on. I forged it, she infused it. I look down at my manifestation. I'm smaller now. The body is like my true self, the black carapace is back to being a myriad of colored scales. Fewer are pitch black. I could walk out of my dungeon now. I don't fear the thought anymore. I desire the prohibitions I placed on myself. My cage is personal now. I will the entrance of our dungeon to be my true selfs size once again.
