CHAPTER 43: ON THE ROAD (3)

After that night of introspection 2 things happened, first my soul aspect raised by a single level and second I decided that I would try to fit an hour of meditation a day into my usual routine in an effort to keep myself centered.

It turns out that I quite enjoyed the meditation, I split it up into 2 parts. The first would be perhaps counterintuitively focused in my nature affinity, I would delve into it and explore the reaches of its effects on both me and my surroundings. This led cleanly into the second part were I would work to sift through my discoveries and work on either rejecting or accepting the aspects that I found.

For example o found that I was growing slightly apathetic to life around me, not to say I was disinterested but my previous reactions felt muted somewhat. This is one aspect that I adamantly rejected, I never wanted to become cold to those around me.

As for aspects that I accepted one example would be a newfound respect for the flora that I witnessed I had found myself admiring the beauty of the natural world and knowing that I did truly enjoy this aspect I accepted it.

This was not achieved instantly or through a singular meditation session but was something that I slowly worked on during the rest of the journey. I also spent time speaking to both Amanda and Kana telling them of my discovery and trying to get a better understanding of if this is normal and what possible ways there are to maintain your own beliefs.

It turned out that this was normal but usually wasn’t encountered till later ranks so they hadn’t thought to discuss it with me till I brought it up. But thankfully it seems that the method I had intuitively came across was actually the correct method to centering yourself and not allowing your affinity to overtake your personality.

So past that discovery the trip continued on. With me getting to know both Derek and his granddaughter Shara better. Whilst I wouldn’t say we became friends we were definitely on good terms with each other.

Dawn remained affixed to my neck for most of the time only leaving occasionally to receive attention from Kana and Amanda or when I put her to bed at night when I spent time satiating both my and my companions desires. We still had yet to have a night with all 3 of us at once but I felt that it wouldn’t be too long till that happened. I could feel myself shiver in delight at the thought eager to experience what would happen when that came to pass.

I often found myself wondering who between the two girls would end up being the more dominant, or would both stay in charge together and only focus their desires into me. Ohh I couldn’t wait to find that one out!

——-

~Kana POV~

It was the 5th day now since we had left the town and I had just swapped out for Lilly up front. I enjoyed my time conversing with Derek it was rare to find a human that seemed to care so little about the fact that I was a half breed and he would readily share his takes from his years traveling the lands as a merchant.

He was just getting into another such tale as we were entering a canyon of sorts. Well less a canyon and more that the road we were following went down in between to relatively large hills. I felt a chill go up my spine and I suddenly had a bad premonition about this path. "Hey Derek are their any other paths apart from going through here? Iv got a really bad feeling about that pass."

He paused his retelling and frowned. "Not particularly no, unless we turn around and travel back for several hours this is the only path forward. What is it your feeling lassy?"

I grimaced. "I’m not sure exactly I just feel like something is going to go wrong if we go down there." I paused for a while before knocking on the waggon and calling out. "Lilly, Amanda stay alert got a bad feeling about our current heading let’s not get caught off guard." Hearing them scramble to their feet I nodded before turning back to the front and sweeping my gaze back and forth. "Well I suppose we will just have to keep going, we will do our best to protect you."

With a grimace Derek just nodded and allowed the Oken to continue their ponderous march. As we followed the path around a bend we could make out a waggon off to the side of the road, but I couldn’t make out any people or animals nearby. That bad feeling I had in my stomach got considerably worse upon seeing that.

As we slowly got closer I was able to make out more details their were signs of a struggle clear in the area around the waggon, it had what could only be arrow holes in its side although no arrows were present and I could spot splotches of crimson both on the waggon and on the ground around it. Someone had definitely caught around here, sadly for them it didn’t seem to result in the waggons victory.

Just as we were about to pass the waggon a man stepped out from behind it and walked right into the middle of the path. "Oh there travelers why don’t you stop for a moment and have a wee chat with little ol me." The man was wearing mismatched leather armour with slicked back greasy blond hair and his crooked grin revealed some missing teeth.

I grimaced and whipped my head around looking for additional people over the ridge. I then heard Lilly’s voice softly coming towards me from the back. "I can sense at least 7 other people just beyond the ridge line they have us surrounded." Not enjoying the sound of that but also feeling that the man in front of me wasn’t particularly strong I equipped my bow in an instant and whilst not aiming it at him made it clear that I was ready to do so if needed.

"Hi there, we want no trouble now we are just passing through, let’s not get into any altercation now." Dereks supprisingly calm voice spoke out. But a quick glance his way and I could tell he was nervous as he had likely also heard Lilly call.

"Oh now I’m afraid that just won’t do old timer, me and my mates need some help ya see and I’m sure such upstanding folk like you would be understandin of our plight." The slimy man answered with a cocky sneer directed at me in particular.

As my mind raced the flap opened up behind me and none other than Lilly stepped out to stand on the front seat besides me. Her usual friendly smile is now replaced with a cold smirk of her own as she looks down at the bandit before us. When she speak her tone is cold and cutting not matching her words at all, it sends a small shiver down my back.

"Oh I’m afraid we won’t be able to do that boy, so why don’t you and your 7 little friends scamper off and go find somewhere else to play your little games." As she speaks a subtle wave of power washes out of her, for me and Derek is feels light and refreshing and I recognise it as her aura power. For the bandit in front of us his face goes pale and he starts to shiver.

"W-what the fuck are ya!" He stammers out.

"I’m no one that you want to know, as my friend said we are just passing through and want no trouble." Lilly responds her tone staying cold.

The bandit takes a involuntary step backwards and looks about ready to agree when a loud voice speak up from our right. "Oi mage slut how about you stop showing off and just hand over your valuables or we will gut ya like the last ones that came by here!" I turn to look and see a scrawny looking wolfkin boy holding a poor excuse for a bow and is aiming it at Lilly.

I internally laugh at how stupid that kid must be to make that his last words. And sure enough before anyone else can speak up 3 thick roots stab out of the ground around the man and tear him apart, one goes for the stomach one the chest and the last goes straight through his head. The roots quickly retract leaving the body to stand there for a moment before it collapsed to the ground dead.

Silence envelops the area until it it broken by Lillys calm yet cold tone. "Well he was an idiot, I really don’t like being called a slut so the next person to do so will also die. Now will you move your sorry arses or will we have to make you move?" The slimy bandit up front is staring at Lilly with horror as he backs up rapidly.

"Hey I’m s-sorry missy we meant nothin by it we will be outa your hair in just a jiffy." I snort at the cowardly behaviour of these bandits as I watch the man child scamper away.

"Well that was anticlimactic." I say in a chipper tone once the man is out of earshot. I hear Derek let out a snorting laugh as he looks over at Lilly who whilst still standing there looking at the nearby hills is no longer exuding her aura.

"Well that was a damn fine showing there mrs Lilly, now let’s get outta here before they change their minds." And with that he spurs on the Oken and they speed up to a trott.

We soon exit from the valley and as we leave it behind I cannt help but let out a relieved sigh. The days continues on with us all keeping an eye out in case the bandits decide to chase us down or if they are waiting in nightfall. We do spot a cluster of trees as we are approaching dusk so I urge Derek to take us into that for the night. He seems apprehensive at first but follows my advice.

We soon make camp in the center of the grove of trees and I allroach Lilly. "Hey Lilly can do you do you nature thing and make us harder to find but not make it too obvious to the merchants?" I softly ask her, seeing her scrunched up face as she considers the question I cannt help but quickly grab her and pull her into a kiss as soon as I see her start to nod. "Great love ya! Also Amanda is on first watch tonight." I see her face flush red in embarrassment which is just delightful to my eyes. I already cannt wait for the night to come.

——-

Vicious Lilly is back!

Will delve more into her mental state in the future as she comes to turns with how her magic is effecting her. Let me know if you have any ideas on how to progress that!