I woke up to see Kazeka purring softly as she slept next to me. She slept soundly without a care at all. In fact, judging by how her tail gently stroked my leg as she slept, she must be quite happy with how everything turned out.
“I can't believe I just did that”, I whispered to myself.
Sleeping with the scariest person Ive ever met a day after meeting her. That's a first for me. Well done, me. However, that does leave another problem. I kind of had to reveal my true being to beat her in that arm wrestle. She is definitely gonna want answers, and frankly, I don't think I'm ready to answer them, which means it's time to do something I'm not proud of. I'm going to have to pull an Irish goodbye on Kazeka. I know, I know, it's scummy, and I hate doing it. Leaving after sharing something so intimate is so wrong. The least I can do is say goodbye to your face. But in this case, desperate times call for desperate measures.
My legs quietly rolled over to the side of the bed, and in one smooth motion, I sat up. The trick to a good Irish goodbye is to make sure none of your movements are too sud-
“Going somewhere?” I froze like a stone. How the hell did she notice me?!
I turned around to see Kazeka’s drop-dead gorgeous bod slowly rising out of bed.
“If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have caught you. But I'm not an emerald-ranked adventurer for no reason.” She said
“E....emerald!”I barked. She is that strong and I... I. OH GOD
“I can't believe I….” I couldn’t find the words. HOW THE HELL DID I PULL THAT OFF?! Suddenly, I heard Kazeka chuckle as she cuddled up close to me.
“Didn't you know?” She asked me as she pressed her head against my body.
I shook my head. “I had no clue you were so strong.”
“I try not to mention it much. People treat you differently when you're a higher rank. The last thing I need is people trying to please me to get a promotion. Frankly, I never wanted to be this rank, but... well, let's just leave it as a story for another time. ”
I nodded. I wanted to find out more, but honestly, I'm shocked at how down-to-earth she is. I could’ve never imagined her so casual before. She’s usually more uptight and regimented, but this is the first time ive seen her with her hair down.
“But enough about me, Utaari. Let's talk about you. What are you? Because I know for shit you ain't human”
“What gave the game away HA..ha...” I said as I slowly morphed my body back to its original form.
“GYAGHHHHHAAA! THAT FEELS SO GOOD!” I stretched and let my tentacles flop out. “It feels like taking off a tight belt. God, it's been so long…”
Kazeka stared at me in awe and confusion as she was met with a mass of tentacles and eyes that were my body.
“Wow....You certainly are… something.... I'm amazed; you've managed to both answer and not answer my question at the same time. Just what am I looking at here?” She said as she reached out and touched my tentacles. As she did, I noticed her slightly biting her lip. Before quickly stopping herself.
“Ohh, ready for round 2?” I teased
“No”, she said bluntly. But the slight smile she gave betrayed her
“Are you sure. I haven't even shown you half of my techni-“
“Just answer the question already.” She snapped
My tentacles deflated. I guess no round 2. I looked at Kazeka and gave her an earnest smile. “You wouldn't believe me if I told you”
“Try me”, she said with the confidence of a seasoned dancer.
“Well. If you insist. I died and was adopted by an immortal and all-powerful entity who turned me into this and sent me to this world on little more than a whim and a goal of getting rid of the status quo. Also, did I mention the entity is a damn good baker and makes some of the best treats your taste buds have ever tasted?”
Kazeka's eyes glazed over as she glared at me. What can I say, it is the truth minus a few details.
“Interesting story you got there,” Kazeka said. “But you could try to make it a tiny bit believable.”
“But that is the-“”
“Bah-bah-bah”, she interrupted, “Don't tell me anymore. Look, if you behave and are good to the people in this town, I don't give a rat's ass about your backstory. And besides, your backstory feels like something where the less I know, the better”
“Thank you, Kazeka... that…..that means a lot.”
She nodded. “No problem. You’re a good kid. I can see that. Just promise me you won't go around spraying every random person with that stuff.”
“Why not? You seemed to enjoy it. I remember your moans being louder than mine.” I teased. Kazeka slightly blushed and looked away. As she did, she revealed a black tattoo hidden behind her ear.
“That tattoo...”
Kazeka's eyes lit up. “ Oh, this. It's our goddess's unwanted gift to me.” She tilted her hair away, pulled her ear back, and revealed a tattoo in the shape of a Fortress.
“What does it mean?” I asked. Kazeka's eyes seemed to harden. I guess this is a sensitive subject “Look, Kazeka, you don’t need to tell me.”
“No, no. It's fine. I can't just grill you for information and not return the favour. The tattoo means defender. It sounds honourable, but it isn't.”
“How so?”
“People think defending is the honourable act of protecting something or someone, but that’s only part of it. Defending means putting your life or the lives of others in front of unstoppable, usually deadly force. In the goddess's eyes, my life is essentially forfeit. My tattoo dictates that if something dangerous arrives, I have to be the one in front, the one to defend, which would be fine if the thing I was defending was sentimental to me, but most of the time it was for rich assholes who only care about their pockets. Our goddess has decided that if it comes to it, I have to sacrifice my life at the drop of a hat for a bunch of people who wouldn’t give a rat's ass about me. Sure, there are worse tattoos than this, but it's my life. I choose who I sacrifice it for, not her!”
Kazeka's eyes returned to their previously sharp nature; however, this time there was a mix of anger and sadness. This tattoo. Just what kind of pain has it caused her?
“Is that why you became guildmaster to fulfil your tattoo?” I asked, steering the conversation to something lighter.
“Partially utaari. The other reason was the peace and an easy retirement”
“RETIREMENT! You don’t look a day over 20!”
Kazeka chuckled. “Your flattery is appreciated. But I'll have you know I'm 70.”
My jaw dropped. “70! I hope I look that good at your age!”
Kazeka laughed, her previously sharp eyes disappearing. I'm interested in what happened, but I can't push Kazeka on this. She can tell me when she wants to.
‘Just to inform you, daughter of mine.” Ovu chimed. ‘You don’t age.’ Wait, so I'll forever be in my teens!
‘You can be as old as long as you want. That body is yours to sculpt to your desire, as you’ve learnt with your recent escapade.’
“amazing.”
“What is?” Kazeka said curiously
“Uhh, you are! Every part about you, especially your ass, god I love your ass”
She chuckled, “You are the second person to ever say that in my 70 years of living”
“ONLY SECOND!?! It should be said more often! I'll scream it from the heavens! If I have to!”
“Please don’t.” she laughed as she snuggled close to me. hahaha man talking to Kazeka casually like this is such a breath of-
*Grumble…..*
We both paused for a moment before glancing down towards Kazeka's stomach.
“Hungry?” I asked innocently. She nodded, “Thanks to you, I missed my afternoon meal, my stomach so empty I could eat a cow! 3 cows actually.”
“3 cows? I'm surprised you have space in your belly for anything after I filled you so well.” I teased.
Kazeka blushed again, “s..shut up! Do you want something to eat or not? I can get someone to bring us up something if you want?”
I shook my head, “Don’t bother. I have this.” I raised my hand and summoned up 2 slices of Ovo’s sticky toffee pudding.
Kazeka stared at me “Where did you even get that!”
“You already know where” Her eyes went blank for a moment before she rolled them and took a slice.
“You really are trying to make me believe that story, huh.” Kazeka took the pudding and took a bite. Her dimisive appearance immediately changed as the cosmic sugar hit her tongue.
“Alexia’s tits! This stuff is amazing!” she yelled as she devoured 1 slice, then another, then another.
“Careful, Kazeka, it will go to your thighs. The last thing we want is that ass getting fatter, or do we?” I teased. She ignored me and finished off her 4th slice. Before I even finished my 2nd.
“Woooh, that’s what I needed” She threw herself back and sighed with a contented smile.
“I never imagined you could be relaxed.”
She chuckled. “I'm just enjoying the moment before I return to my day job.”
“Speaking about your day job,” I asked. Kazeka glared at me with an expression that said: “Really, you're gonna do this now?”
“A deals a deal kazeka. I won.”, I said, taking another bite out of Ovu’s delectable pudding.
“Well, I wouldn’t class that as winning. You didn’t beat me with your strength!”
“Did your hand touch the table?” I asked mockingly. She rolled her eyes and let out a defeated sigh.
“Look, you won, and I do want to authorise you to go to honour our agreement, but as guildmaster I can't do that”
“Kazeakaaa!” I complained.
“Let me finish”, she snapped. “Whilst I can't authorise you to go on that mission. I can send you on an easier mission close to that area. If I remember. There was a herb gathering mission 2 clicks south of the first disappearances. Now I don’t have an all-seeing eye, so what you do when you are out there is your business.”
“Thank you, Kazeka.”
“Think of it as a thank you for our time together. I'll give you copies of the very little information we have already, but you must promise me this utaari”
“Anything” Suddenly, Kazeka grabbed my cheek and held it still “This isn't a joke. Any sign of danger, anything you even think is slightly too strong for you. You. Come. Back. 70 years is a long time, and ive seen some shit, lost a lot of good folks. I don’t want to put your name on that list.”
Kazeka's face changed; her eyes showed the years her face didn’t. If there were any doubts she was 70 in my mind, those eyes crushed them behind the tough exterior; she cares a lot.
“I promise.”
“Good.” She leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I returned it to her several times. I don’t know what prompted this, but Nothing could ruin this moment
‘sweet, daughter of mine, sorry to remind you. But you have 12 hours to sleep with Luka’
…………….SHIT!