'Your blood will bind you together permanently. She is yours, and none shall touch her.'
"So, step one to my own harem?"
'Haha. In a sense, sure. She is your first follower. If you wish to be with her, then do so. Your blood triggered many reactions from her. I doubt she doesn't want you.'
I stared at Nera, curled up and sleeping peacefully. She was a beautiful creature, much more so than the women of my own world. Would she really want someone like me? It's laughable.
'Don't think like that, my lord. I believe you to be greater than you think.'
"You confuse me more and more, all the time. It's been... about two weeks since you appeared. Is there anything you want to tell me?"
'In time.'
"Fine, fine. We are gonna have to leave soon. How do we get her into town without alarming people? She is a lamia after all. They think she's a monster."
I laid out, relaxing myself as sleep took hold. It was much more comfortable in this cave than in that shack. I was also glad for the companionship, though one is... strange to me.
DDING
'I can hear you. Ass.'
The... hell? Weird system.
Then I succumbed to sleep.
DDINGDDINGDDING DAMMIT WAKE UP!
My eyes flashed open. There was a strange chill in the air as I felt the wind rush pass me... wait?
"Nera?!"
I was wrapped in her tail. She was speeding through the forest, her breath coming out in puffs.
DLS!
'I'm here, I'm here. The temperature dropped drastically. The fire actually froze! She went straight into instinct mode and grabbed you. We are nearing the village, but...'
In an instant, I went sailing through the air, I hit the ground, rolling into a nearby tree. I groaned as I pushed myself to my feet.
"Nera?"
Looking over, I saw ice covering most of Nera. She was passed out, shivering madly.
"What the hell happened? Why is it so cold?"
Snapping my fingers, a flame appeared, wrapping around my shoulders. I directed more to cover the icy bits I could see on her.
"Learning Flame Manipulation was worth it."
'My lord, hold her close to you. Get her to wake up, NOW. This ice is from another dark lord. They're at least level ten with this amount of power. You've only reached five after hunting and recruiting Nera!'
I pulled one of Nera's arms over my shoulder. Doing what I could, I dragged her through the trees. Her arms were slender, but the weight of her serpentine half made it hard to move.
'If you survive this, work out. You need the strength.'
The speed that Nera had used brought the gate to Autumn Village in sight within minutes, but the cold didn't dissipate for even a moment. I made my flames swirl around my feet, as well as trail along Nera. She didn't shiver now, but she was breathing too slowly.
Pushing open the gate, my breath caught.
"Oh ho ho. So there were still two hiding inside that blasted forest! Thanks for coming out of there for me!"
The sadistic grin on her face...
'Task Three:
-Survive
"Burn in hell."