"Hey you didn't hear me"? She said while walking back and grabbing me by the shoulder.
I raised my arm and brought my elbow straight down, once her arm was locked in my armpit I knelt down slightly she leaned forward following the force, I let go before she could pull back.
I brought my open hand up and clenched her by the neck while rising and queezing, pushing her away when I felt her mana build up
It was no more than three seconds but she got the point.
"I don't like being touched" I said with the same tone as I would order a chicken sandwich.
The shock turned to anger, she clenched her fist lowered her head and glared at me like a child about to throw a temper tantrum.
"Fine, stay here then for all I care" she turned and with a gust of energy she was off.
I spotted five different arrays that are made with the silver mana oil and another orange and green substance.
The silver was drawn all around and the red and green acted like the different components guiding the energy from its power source, which is the goblet.
The more I stared the more it made sense to me, each array had a different function, three of them are meant to extract the energy coming from the goblet.
The other two contained the energy within a certain area, all together they worked cohesively.
My question was what material can draw in world energy like this?
Stepping into the array I felt the lingering energy get drawn in and Ava sucked it up like a fiend.
I felt her relief from the building hunger she shared with me unknowingly.
But it was only momentary, 'So much for a full course meal' I chuckled.
'What I really want to know is what material can effect world energy like this and even draw it in'.
'The red and green parts of the array are bio organic that's for sure' she said.
'How do you figure'.
She sent me back my own vision of the array, the red and green are dissipating quickly but it had a twinkle to it.
'That's an energy signature' I said taking a step back out of the circle.
'Yep'.
I could feel her fatigue kicking in.
'Don't say 'yep' like that, that's what I say'.
But alas she was already back to liquid.
Being it noon I decided to treat myself to a drink, taking long swigs not worrying about a refill.
I smelled rain again, it had a distinct aroma.
I recognized it as the cactus in the southwest, I smiled thinking that this was worth the trip.
I took off the leather wrapping on my hand seeing the red energy rushing underneath.
It circulates my one hand, both feet and the organs and intestines in between.
My blood clotted fast, and my cells seemed to use this energy to multiply but the healing process created heavy scarring in comparison to world energy.
There was a wrinkled scar in the web of my hand and my calluses thicker then before.
I was also outgrowing my clothes, but I made them loose fitting for this reason.
I heard footsteps and glanced at the opening while wrapping my hand back up.
The young mixed blood girl and a yellow eyed dark woman who stood at six feet and owned every inch of her magnificent body came walking in, one barefoot the former with brown sandals.
The silky red and black robe hung open on her shoulders, the sash on her waist was loosely tied allowing her long lushes legs to bless the world.
With a body supported by calves that belonged on a horse she oozed confidence from every pore.
"By the gods you are an audacious one" her yellow pupils glittered as she spread her perfect lips into a smile.
I was standing admiring the angles and looking for an opening just in case things went south, I didn't bother to hide the heavy blood flow in my pelvis.
"Shameless"! screamed the young girl her eyes wide as she stared at the leather tent I was pitching.
"Yes" was all I said with a face straighter than a steel cable wire.
I loved my body whether I was male or female either a cat or dog, it didn't matter as long as I was alive.
And that came with some urges.
"Who is the mage that is escorting you" asked the dark woman I assumed was Mage Kata.
"Mage Rumi and Mage Alia" I said and her whole face changed becoming one of shock.
"Liar"! the girl said taking a step towards me and I took a step to the right ready to run out at any minute.
"That's enough Lissi go back to Bilin and tell her I am taking care of this, I'm sure the others are exaggerating things" Kata said while never taking her eyes off me.
'Sultry' I thought, it made me even more aware of the danger this huntress in a red dress posed.
Lissi scoffed and turned around looking satisfied with a victory of a made up battle in her mind.
"My name is Kata of House Inka, who are you"?
"I am Ambrose from the East" I said giving her a slight nod.
"Where in the east"?
"The far east" she smiled at my obvious attempt to dodge her question.
"Audacious, shameless and mysterious... don't play coy with me boy" she smiled and stepped closer to me, I stepped to the right and began to circle her placing the exit to my back.
"How did you know to come here"?
"I followed the sand, I didn't know you would be here" I lied like only a perfectly stable narcissist could.
There was a silence in the air along with a tension that made my already erect member twitch.
"Rumi and Alia have already departed from here, if you would still make the trip to the Association the next group will be here after the next season maybe longer".
"I see, thank you for your guidance" I gave her another short bow.
"Then follow me" she walked right past me and headed into the suns bright rays.
I noticed a difference immediately.
When I walked with Jasha everyone ignored us or walked away but right now people where taking the initiative to greet us, or should I say her.
Some waving from the opening in the large rocks or offering a red fruit that looked like a giant strawberry.
My stomach growled so loud it made Kata turn her head back and look at me.
She led me to the largest black boulder in the center of the settlement and walked me inside going to the right towards another cave that tilted downwards.
We reached an underground bath with ten pillars, five on each side.
Arrays are strewn across the sides of the pool with steaming water.
Kata turned to look at me with a smile playing on her full lips.
"Now... take your clothes off".