This is a daily reminder: You have 352 unallocated stat points

  I woke up to find the dwarf at the fire.

  “I'm rested, I can take the next watch.”

  He eyes me with a bit of skepticism, “Ain't a monster this time. I still prefer to stay awake.”

  “I mean if I was waiting for you to sleep, exhausting yourself to the point of delirium works too.”

  He frowns at me, “Point taken.” He tossed a bit of metal at me, “Just needs to be embedded in your chest again. Best to do it before we reach the next town.”

  I look at the contemptible thing. “I don't think I can do it myself.”

  He sighs. “I ain't got mental magics…you're goin’ to thrash if I try. We just don't got enough people for this.”

  I frown at that. I pick up the metal. I stow it away with my bottle.

  “How long till the next town?”

  He shrugs, “Two days.” He turns away from the fire and me. Deciding he will risk sleep after all. Snores don't take too long.

  I pull out the bracelet. The blood red gems studded all around the item. Five. The rune work implies Body Morphic Magic to maintain…seriously. Why did they make this? It's to ensure my bladder is not connected to my anus. Is that weird? I sigh. I take another out. This one ensures my stomach can not process raw meats. This anklet prevents metal absorbtion…metal? Why can my body absorb metals? Does that mean it can, now? How? I think for a moment. The last anklet is just a store of power to help maintain the changes for the other three.

  I absorbed those thunder stag traits before. I almost ended up walking on all fours. And that spider form I assume was a blend of so many monsters. Even though it was an illusion, I tried to set my eyes on what that illusion did. Are there other parts I could regain? But the blood mana was too much to maintain changes. I look again at my jewelry. I smile.

  -----

  “Holy all mighty systems, you are goin’ to eat me.”

  I look at Stone. Should have noticed his heart beat was returning to wakefulness. He looks a lot smaller. “Sorry, I was just checking this body for my next change. I couldn't decide between this smelling ability or these legs.”

  “Ahhhh. Fark, could you not talk with bewitchin’ in your voice. Your voice is like a dryad.”

  My soul resonated with his words. At my very core it felt like something that was missing was filled. My voice. I just sat there stunned.

  “Mourns…MOURNS.”

  “Sorry.” He winces, I look at Said. She huffs and flicks me in the forehead. That too feels familiar.

  “Apologies, I was…” I scrunch my face and try again. “That is to…” I can't stop doing it.

  “What the idiot is trying to say is that she hadn't realized her voice had that effect. After you said her voice was like a dryad her soul woke up and now she is afraid her voice is a dryad now.” Said intones.

  “You can't turn it off.” Stone asks. I shake my head in the negative. “But your pixie can.” I give an affirmative nod. He scratches the back of his head. “Shit Mourns, nevermind. If you're changin’ yourself further, perhaps not so many attention grabbin’ ones.”

  But legs…fine. Maybe later. I still have to wait for my right eye to settle. My new and improved jewelry pieces are busy anyways. I look at Said.

  “The idiot would like to know if you would be willing to inspect her other form to see if any internal parts were worth incorporating into her body.” Said asked to my consternation at her phrasing.

  “I prefer us movin’ but a moment sure. To be honest, I might be a weee bit curious myself.”

  I smile and nod at Said. She boops my nose. At least the form isn't burning soul now. It must be only when I am undead. Stone approaches after my form settles. His life mana eyes focusing. He becomes confused but starts talking.

  “Well this spider butt thing is almost entirely reproductive organs. I would've thought a spinnerettes but-” I show him my bottom arm palm, “Oh there they are, why in the palm of all places?” He sees my look, he continues. “The skin appears to have a great deal of extra nerves. These two arms have organs I have never seen but being attached to spinnerettes I am guessing they make silk, this one got another different one, this one also different.” He points to my middle set of arms, “There are a lot of muscles attached to these palm orifices. Have you tried them?” I shake my head, he frowns but keeps looking. “I am not seein’ any blood vessels at all, just ya slime blood. Your bones are solid. Not bone at all. A metal? Lemee feel the weight of ya arm…Doesn't feel heavier than expected. No heart…no lungs… Glands attached to your sharp canines. I suspect it is venomous. They look similar to the ones in this arm.” He points to my left middle. He moves to my hair. “Multiple flowers and the hair's alive and metallic?”

  He attempts to snap a piece and fails, cutting his hand instead. The hair absorbs it greedily and I can taste it. I shudder as I am perplexed. He scowls but heals his hands. He is about to say more when I turn my head.

  “Mourns?”

  Said flits over, “She smells six approaching from that direction.”

  I return the frown Stone had.

  “Well we best prepare for our visitors.”

  -----

  The five elves approach the burnt out fire and Stone. Four of them are armed. The fifth bound at the wrist. Rin. Were they using her to track me? Their soul values were quite a bit larger than mine.

  5 78 Elf Competent Mage, Hunter

  47 Elf Basic Mage, Hunter

  61 Elf Apprentice Mage, Hunter

  55 ? Elf Intermediate Mage, Hunter Captain

  A Ranger core unit? If Rin is their captive they are definitely here for me. Stone greets them.

  “Oy, what the fuss and why you be bringin’ a bound girlie with ya.”

  The Elves eye him while they twitch their ears. They wish to find me by sound. Luckily I don't breathe or have a heart beat. I wait in my tree and watch.

  “There was movement before. Don't look up, something large climbed a tree before we arrived. I can't hear any usual vitals though. Possible cover use.” The competent mage says in a [Quintarl?ne] whisper.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Well that's not good. They heard my movement.

  “Dwarf, we came here looking for a [Princess].” The captain says slowly, stilted.

  “Ah I see, but as you can see, I ain’t a [Princess].”

  It takes a moment but the captain frowns. He turns to Rin.

  “Which way. Is she above us?”

  Rin cowers. He strikes her. My rage boils. I can see the bruising on her body. She hasn't healed herself. She had listened to my written warning.

  “Answer the question.”

  I feel something open up on my cheek. He could compel her and yet he strikes her.

  “She is in front of me.” Rin speaks in monotone.

  This incenses the captain. The next strike puts Rin to the ground. She is still dazed.

  “Oy, hittin’ a child is in bad taste.” Stone gets up.

  “You caught me, I'm right here.” Said interrupts, appearing before the captain's face. Her eyes glow red.

  “A chimera? This creature looks absurd. Are you fae? Why do you claim to be the [Princess]?” The captain's eyes narrowed at Said.

  Said ignores him and floats from him to Rin face, “[Junior Priestess] wake up, your [Head Priestess] allows you to burden her with your thirst for now. There's plenty of blood to be had.”

  “Sar?” Rin asks.

  I feel my thirst increase while I see the bruises reduce on Rin. The captain snatches at Said. His hand just goes through her. She giggles at him.

  She flits away to where I can smell the sixth one. The captain turns to Rin.

  “Answer me, Is that thing truly what we've been tracking?”

  Rin's face once again slackens, “A piece of [Head Priestess] Sarcea's soul is that fae.”

  The captain grows annoyed, he turns towards the sixth, “Qunitin, capture the thing. Use mental magic to stun it. It was ethereal when I grabbed for it."

  The sixth pops up and points at Said, “Sarcea, stop and become solid.”

  Said stops and falls. A bit of my reserves starts to drain as she makes a mental construct of her body. I roll my eyes at the act.

  “I do feel like I am bein’ ignored here.” Stone chimes in.

  The captain rolls his eyes, “Stay still and be silent.”

  “That's right rude.” Stone says while the sixth Elf walks towards his teammates with Said.

  “I suggest you follow the words said, Dwarf. Less we make them true by force.” The captain says in his stilted [Common] with a sneer.

  Stone simply stays ready, but being out numbered leaves him little recourse.

  23 ? Elf Competent Mage, Hunter Vice Captain

  The sixth Elf arrives with Said. Said eyes focus and she starts laughing. I removed my eye patch. Let her watch. My mana aura pushes down onto the lowest level hunter. It breaks through. She starts laughing too. She swings her sword at the second lowest level. It's clumsy, she is fighting my blood control. But it startles the others. Her laughs mix with terror, “Haha It hurts haha so ha much. I can't haha control my ha arm.”

  Her breathing becomes ragged as the competent mage hunter wraps his arm around her neck and he holds her sword arm. That's dangerous sir, what if she doesn't get enough air to her brain. Her body slackens, he begins to let go. I stop the blood entirely. She dies. He drops her fast. Clawing at his face.

  “No no no Kilna, I let go before… Why? Captain I didn't mean to. I've done this so many times before. Why?”

  He starts to laugh. As does the Apprentice. I don't eat the soul of ‘Kilna’. I feel a soul tether connect to me. Not yet.

  “Control yourselves.” The vice captain reaches the competent mage hunter. “Its an aura, sir”

  The captain grows annoyed, he pushes out his own. The two laughing stop and start gasping for air.

  “[Vice Captain], I didn't mean to.”

  Said begins to laugh louder. I want to join in but safety first. The competent mage begins to wail, his vice captain embraces him. The other two face Said as her laughter grows louder, fed by the wails. I titter myself. They all look up. I laugh in earnest as my aura blankets the area. It struggles against their captain. The undead ‘Kilna’ stabs through the two huggers while they are distracted.

  Gain 124 exp from Quintin, Competent Mage, Hunter Vice Captain

  Gain 105 exp from Elf Competent Mage, Hunter

  More soul tethers snap to me. I had no desire for any of these souls. Their screams cause the last two to tear their eyes from me. The three new undead walk towards them. Their aura joins my own. It over powers the captains. They start laughing. I come down from my perch. The apprentice mage begins to stab themselves. They die before I reach them. The captain struggles on even as he laughs. I approached him. He tries to compel me but he can't speak beyond his laughter. I mentally prepare myself. His soul will give me insight into what's been happening. I wrap his body in silk, and get ready to bite down. My Cea eye begins to see letters form.

  Do not eat their souls, Sarcea. I will hunt you myself should I lose another Tampestry to your gluttony.

  How dare she? Fine. I look at the laughing captain. I bite down.

  “Why do you have our Majesty's eye?” He gurgles out. I drain him fully. His soul powers the fifth undead. Five tethers. I look at the various undead. Let her see her precious Tapestries. I put my eyepatch back on.

  Gain 203 exp from Elf Intermediate Mage, Hunter Captain

  “Fark, Mourns.”

  I giggle but calm. My thirst was relieved as was Rin's. Said reverts me back as I walk over to my junior priestess. She looks horrified at the carnage. The daze of the compel ending with the Captains death.

  “What are you?” She croaks out.

  I give her a sad look, “Not an Elf, sorry Rin. I couldn't meet up with you in the east.”

  Her eyes grow distant. She starts to grab at me. My eyes widened. The geas. Fark. I speak again, with authority.

  “I am not a Hybrid either, Randinrin.” The words of the head priestess sink into her. Rin blinks her eyes.

  “Sar?” She asks, I nod. “I never made it past the castle gate. They knew you were heading there immediately. I'm sorry I led them to you.”

  I shake my head and hug her.

  “Not to break the reunion an’ all but killin’ Elves with an aura tends to get attention around here.”

  Rin tilts her head at Stone, his thick [Common] a bit too hard to follow I guess. “He says we need to go.” She gives me a dazed look. Damn it, Said.

  “Sorry, sorry.” The pixie says while giggling. I look at the five undead.

  -----

  “Mourns, why you bring four of these things with us.”

  “Mourns?” Rin looks at Said with an inquisitive look.

  The pixie rolls her eyes, “She who Mourns is her adventurer name. The Dwarf asked why we brought our escort.” Rin nods her head.

  “Great to be translatin’ but you could answer my question.”

  I look at Said. She looks a bit frazzled, “You said you needed more hands to do the implant.”

  He turns and looks at me, a bit shocked. I nod. Pulling out the piece of metal.

  “Fark, fine go tell your Rin to keep an eye out. Your ghoulies need to hold your limbs down. Get a stick to bite down on.”

  Said relays that to Rin, while I pick up a decent stick. Stone levels out some ground.

  “Don't heal yourself till I'm finished with ya, I prefer not to have to cut more than I need ta.”

  I remove my robe and undershirt and lay down. The stick goes into my mouth. Bleh. Stone hovered over me, his knife in hand. I just stare at him. He sighs and begins the cut. I bite down on the wood. My undead held me down as the pain just overwhelmed me. I cry but I don't scream. He reaches my sternum and starts to carve. It takes so long. I want to tell my undead to release me but I bear it. I have to. He places the metal into my chest then backs away. The wound seals and my thirst grows. The undead let go and I rolled into a ball. The pain is gone but the memory is fresh.

  I huff out a breath and cycle the mana. I hear the steady beat. A moment later my chest begins to rise and fall. My lie resumes again. I look to Stone and mouth a ‘thank you’ at him. He nods. Rin runs over with Said.

  “Why did you do that?” She glares at Stone.

  I look at Said. You were supposed to explain that. She gives me a frazzled look and sighs.

  “You hear it now, don't you [Junior Priestess]. She needed to sound like the living.”

  Rin looks aghast at Said, “Are you implying she is not?”

  “Sometimes. She is looking paler than usual at the moment.” Said giggles.

  The coldness from before is larger.

  Soul lowered to 27

  You have gained [Necromancy Magic] Intermediate 3

  Gain 40 exp

  I watch a bit of my soul break apart and go down my tethers. Seems to maintain the connection has a cost. But I need them to delay my pursuers. She'll know who I killed, probably where they were headed. Showing their deaths was likely a bad idea. I look to Said, her tail is halfway to that black green again. I wonder if my hair is?

  I sigh and walk to another tree, eyeing the pine needles warily. I channel it all but there is still coldness. I push back before the tree finishes dying. I almost got distracted. Why am I still feeling this undeath? The coldness radiates from where the tethers connect to me. That is disconcerting Rin looks shocked at the tree.

  “I know Rin, she wastes all that lovely undeath killing trees.” Said does not improve the mood.

  “Undeath?”

  “Her core fills with it when she uses blood mana, she can't regain blood main without using it.” Rin's eyes grow scared at Said words.

  “Sar, let me heal you instead.” I look at Rin with sad eyes, then I look at Said. She huffs out a bit of exasperation but complies.

  “Your thirst you feel when healing will make you undead. Unlike her.” Said points at me, “You can't return from that. She can't guarantee when she can relieve you of it.”

  “Blood right? That's wot you need for this thirst.”

  I give a side glance at Stone and nod.

  “Blood?” Rin asks Said. The explanation only makes Rin paler.