Bound Evil

Emily combed her fingers through her shoulder-length curls as she stared into the half mirror before her. Since coming to this world she’d had very little time to be able to take care of herself, normally that didn’t matter but one area she took pride in was her hair. Surly this world had some form of root treatment or oils she could use to keep her locks intact. Emily didn’t even have the most basic tools on hand. Glancing at her bedcovers in the mirror’s reflection Emily raised her voice

“Hey wake up sleepy head. Do you know where I can get a comb?”

The sudden inhale of breath from the beautiful man in her bed was the only sound in the room. Jesse blinked sleep from his eyes but when he saw her sitting at the desk a lazy grin slipped onto his face.

Stalking out of sheet he moved to stand behind Emily in the mirror. He was completely unashamed of the display of skin he was putting on offer. Moving over he placed his hands on her shoulders and began massaging again, doing his best to knock up against her bridge.

She’d learned last night that bridges were used for more than just drawing outside energy into the body. They could also be used to exchange power and pleasure between people, but Emily had shut that idea down before Jesse could get any funny ideas.

“You’re trying to distract me. What about my previous question?” Emily said as she bathed in the pleasure of his capable hands.

“You can find brushes on just about any level market. But you would have to go up a level if you wanted to get something to match your beauty. Perhaps I’ll procure you one as a gift”

Emily snorted as she got up, pulling herself free from his clutches.

“Nice try mister. Sadly, I've got things to do today. Grab your things, we’re out in five.”

Jesse still had the cheek to pout at Emily but she ignored him as she got changed herself. When she had everything, Emily shut the door to her room and shot Jesse a thankful wink. He’d taken the utmost care of her last night and Emily was almost sad to see him go. Though the happy spring in his step and jingle in his pocket made the parting easier.

Turning to Alex's door Emily’s face hardened slightly. She pounded on the wooden frame and waited patiently.

It took a whole minute but Alex opened the door, his hair still heavy with bedhead. The stubble in his chin was in need of a shave but he looked on at Emily with a casual grumpiness.

There was a brief awkward pause between them before Emily spoke first

“What are your plans for today? I want to see if Ashe will follow through on her promise and teach me magic.”

Alex scratched the back of his neck.

“I planned to go to see the black market at some point today. There are information brokers that can catch me up with the current war going on”

“Okay well then come with me. I’m pretty sure I could figure out the route, but I could use the guide.”

Alex shot Emily a tired glare and looked back into his room.

“Okay gimme a couple minutes to get ready.” is all he said before slamming the door shut in her face.

Emily left for the common room and ordered breakfast for the both of them. When Alex arrived he ate and they left right after that. But not before Emily got her obligatory cup of Night brew.

The paths down to the slums were becoming more familiar to Emily with each trip, it was almost a shame they would be leaving so soon.

Just as they were coming to the grey portions again Alex spoke for the first time on their quiet journey.

“Did you change over to the title?”

Emily knew what he was asking and thought back to the dreamscape last night.

Mercenary [Affiliation: Wandering Fang company]

Active: access to the Mercenary skill tree, the Wandering Fang skill tree, and command structures.

Passive: Increased learning speed when accepting contracts for coin. This is further increased when in proximity to the sub-species[Rime wolf].

The bonuses looked to be about what Emily expected but one line in particular had given her pause. Two words, really. ‘Command structure’ stuck out to her and so she had delayed slotting the title till she could talk to Alex.

“If I slot this title, it won’t force me to follow Kael's commands, will it? Or anyone higher up in the command structure than me right? Cus if that’s the case I’m not slotting it.”

Alex hummed as he shook his head.

“No, not directly. It would matter if we had it as our Actives, but in the case of a passive there is very little to lose. See it's a commonly held belief that even if you don’t agree with their orders, you still follow a Company leader's requests. Kael can’t force you to obey but if you step out of line enough he can remove the title altogether. Any skills you got while working under him would be revoked.”

As Alex spoke a chilling light appeared in his eyes. As though having his skills stripped from him was the worst thing he could imagine.

“So he can’t force us to do anything?”

“That’s not something his title can enforce, no. But he will have skills related to finding the people with his title as well as sensing if they are in danger. That's how he knew you were fighting one of his own.”

Emily nodded as they lapsed back into silence and Emily called the stars into her mind. Unslotting Performer only took a wave towards the stars to send them off, before she called Mercenary in its place.

Passive slot filled: Mercenary[Affiliation: Wandering Fang company] - Increased learning speed when accepting contracts for coin. This is further increased when in proximity to the sub-species[Rime wolf].

The moment she did the crowds of people around her shifted. No longer were they organized groupings of classes with their emotions on display, but it was not a complete waste as she could still make out the bearest of hints from the people around them.

It was like the title had been whispering the answers in her ears, but even though it was gone she could still make guesses from the lessons it had tried to impart.

Emily couldn't feel anything from the Mercenary title but like the others perhaps it would take time to figure out its function. Emily was so busy concentrating on the stars that she didn’t notice Alex stop in front of her.

Almost bumping into him Emily looked around and realized they had arrived at the tavern much faster than she thought.

The scene was just as rowdy as Emily remembered, but there was a stark contrast between the laid-back group she’d seen yesterday and the bustling atmosphere now.

Bodies rushed back and forth carrying weapons and tools around. Carts of supplies were being pulled into the area and for the first time, Emily spotted a few of the domesticated Rime wolves out of their stalls. Several people seemed to be working on them, preparing them for travel. Emily ignored all this and entered through the front door.

Alex stepped in behind her but caught her attention above the murmur in here.

“I’m going to find out where they keep their weapon stocks in this place. I’ll head out later to the market, do you want me to fetch you when I do?”

Emily gave him a nod and then turned towards the inner section of the tavern, heading to the sleeping quarters.

Even as Emily passed through this once jovial tavern people were moving around pulling creates from deeper in the building and packing all manner of supplies into their packs. No one was idle save for a teenager stilling crossed-legged on one of the tables in the center of the room. He had short brown hair and leaned back on his arms sleepily as though none of the activity around him had anything to do with him. No one seemed to care that the kid was lazing about but to be honest neither did Emily.

She walked passed him without another glance but she could feel his brown eyes on her back.

Emily headed down the hallway, pretty sure Selia’s room was around here somewhere. When she found the familiar door she banged on it and waited. When no response came she called out to her and Ashe, wiggling the nob as she did so but it became clear no one was inside.

Putting her arms on her hips Emily let out a sigh.

Moving back into the main tavern lobby Emily did a once-over again trying to ignore the kid staring lasers into her.

Unfortunately, no one in here was paying her any mind and she needed a guide if she was going to find Ashe.

Finally locking eyes with the squirt, Emily headed in his direction.

Before she could even get a word out, he spoke in an arrogant tone.

“You’re the wench that killed Ron aren't you?”

Emily’s eyes narrowed, and when she got to him, she placed her middle finger to her thumb and thwacked the child in the middle of his forehead with a full-powered flick.

“Ouch, shit what the heck was that for!”

“For calling me a wench, duh.”

“You can’t do that to me, I’m a Yellow Adept, I’ll go on strike.”

Emily shrugged.

“Not my problem, you’re the one who's going to get into trouble.”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

Emily wanted to pull a tongue at him but she had a feeling that would be taking the joke too far.

The kid looked frustratedly at Emily but glanced away when she held his gaze.

“Why did you even come over here if all you wanted to do was fight?”

Emily smiled and sat against the table.

“What’s your name?”

“...Nox”

“Well, Nox, I’m looking for an... acquaintance and was coming over to ask if you knew where she was.”

Nox looked doubtfully at Emily.

“Why should I bother?”

Emily hummed as she placed a finger on her bottom lip.

“Hmmm, cus then I’ll owe you a favor, redeemable for as long as I’m with the Wandering fangs.”

Nox looked thoughtful.

“... Who you looking for?”

Emily told him and his face lit up with warmth and a severe case of verbal diarrhea.

“I’m not sure where Ashe is now, she only got here the other day, but she might be hanging out wherever Selia is. There’s no one in the holding pens right now so she’s probably out back training or helping lift heavy things.”

Emily pushed off the table causing it to wobble slightly.

“Alright, if your information is good then I owe you one. Make sure to redeem it soon, I’m not a patient woman.”

Nox’s brows came together managing to make him look both worried and annoyed at the same time.

“Yeah, I get it, but I’ll hold you to that, okay?”

Emily laughed warmly.

“I won't ever renegade on a deal or a favor, that much I can promise you. Just make sure you can handle the aftermath.”

Nox frowned at her with skepticism, but Emily didn’t mind.

Emily was just about to leave when a man with a crate of glass bottles came up to Nox.

“Adept nox, can you please store this along with the main supplies.”

Nox nodded and then made three rapid hand gestures, causing a yellow glow to dance from his palm and wrap around the crate.

The object phased out of existence, first turning transparent and then disappearing completely with a pop.

Emily’s eyes widened and Nox wore a smug look on his face. Emily had seen spatial abilities many times before, but in this world, the value of being able to store your supplies on a long journey could not be understated. Emily immediately wanted to learn this spell and was even more interested in the mechanics of the spell. Did the items in this alternate plane still age and spoil? Or were they just gone until Nox called them again?

Nox looked so proud that he turned to the man.

“Actually, you know what, I’m gonna take an early lunch. I wanna take this lady... Actually, what is your name?”

Emily gave him her name and the guy told Nox he would have a lot of work when he got back but the kid didn’t seem to care. Leading Emily out of the front door and around the side of the building.