I'm now starting to think that first assassination with the chang clan was pure luck. This work could easily go off the rails. All assassination was improv. Killing was an art, and I still had a lot to learn, clearly.
I was now coughing and hacking as guards threw pieces of food at me and began threatening me. I searched the rooms upstairs, only to find nothing but more guards, many having sexual dalliances in the rooms above. One of the guards got so angry, he kicked me off the top floor of the main hall.
I landed through a wooden table, which shattered into pieces. I grabbed at my heart, "ahhhh…" in a last death croak, and stopped my heart. Pretending to be dead. As a beast with inborn magical energy in my blood, I could do this for a couple of hours at least.
The guards fell silent.
"Shit, shit!" The naked one who kicked me said.
"It's not your fault, he was losing it! We're probably all contaminated with the sickness now!"
"Oh, shit…" many immediately ran out to go to the medical ward. Soon after, almost all the guards had followed the first. The naked one looked around, "it was his fault right? I mean…he's been losing it for a while."
I heard grunts of affirmation, and finally they all left with the other guards. After a few moments of silence, I took a deep breath, and started laughing loudly.
"Hahahahaha. That was some top notch improv, who boy," I wiped a tear from my eye. "I thought it was over for a second, that illness thing was a stroke of genius, haha, who, boy…." my laughter trailed off.
"Hahaha, this is all completely useless nonsense, but I find it entertaining." Big star was pleased at the moment.
"That was pretty smart, but what now?" A good point was made by Au-ha, now what? I got up, and looked around. I saw some guard armor laying by a bedside, so I put it on.
Then, I felt a presence.
I didn't hesitate .A Full magnetic field pressing downwards, lightning speed and tail shooting out, I grabbed the deer by the neck, at last.
"No, wait, please put me down!" a gentle, small voice came from the deer. I wiggled its legs in desperation. It was too cute, so I set it down, but my tail still wrapped around it.
"What, you're a beast? I thought you were some random deer being used to spy on me." I sounded relieved.
"Well, actually, my mother did send me to scout for any assassins, a long while ago. I can read spiritual auras and detected you in the cart from the start. I also knew you were a beast from the start" The deer sounded high pitched and smug, a feminine voice.
"So, does she know?"
"No, I didn't tell her... But I have to say, It was very entertaining to watch you!" a voice full of innocence and excitement. It was too late now, I was already slightly bonded to the creature.
I remember the cyclops, I acted so fast as to not get attached.
"Your mother," I loosened the grip completely, "where is she?"
The deer stood there, and did not respond.
"What's the matter?" I urged.
"Mother, she….she's gone." the little deer began to choke out with pain.
"Gone? Dead?"
The deer shook her head in response. "I don't know where she went. These last few years, she said she kept hearing voices from her ancestors. She said that they would take her to the place she belonged."
The deer got down on the ground, bending its legs. "She went on a rampage, raining ice upon the mountain and claiming dominance within the clans. Those who refused to submit were killed. A few months ago, she said she was going to leave very soon, and went into seclusion."
"A while later, she was gone…" the deer sniffled. I sat next to it and began petting it.
"So, who leads the clan?"
"Just a few of the elders, with the current takeover of the Chang and Qin clans, it is imminent our clan will fall." It then turned her head to me. "Please do not kill anyone unnecessarily." eyes full of sincerity.
I laughed, "The Leaders of the Ye clan are kind people, though the queen may hold a grudge against your mother for killing her parents." I continued. "But, you are the Shi Leader's daughter? I thought she looked the same as the rest of the clan."
She looked up at me, and in a few seconds transformed into a young woman, blue-shining antlers, a thin layer of white fur imitating skin grew across her humanoid body. She was naked at the time, but did not seem to care.
"Only me and mother can do this, we are apparently a special type of beast, like you." She said that last part with friendliness.
She was an amazing looking woman, with soft eyes, yet sharp cheekbones. Her hair was a straight soft blue, and her eyes the same color. A mild-bodied woman, nothing too preposterous. I grabbed the cloak I had taken off in replace of the guard outfit, and put it on her, though it was many sizes too big.
She looked way too adorable.
"Au-ha, don't shock me please. I may think lusty thoughts of this woman from time to time."
She didn't shock me, but instead spoke calmly, "Well, I've thought about this from time to time. We are bonded on a deep level, at the soul, and what you feel I feel. I would like to experience the physical sensation of intercourse as well. If we can agree to a woman, we can have relations with her. That giantess queen though, is no good. I will not let us join a depraved orgy. Not yet"
What a strange conversation. I felt I was two people in one body.
"Okay, we'll have to agree on someone." I agreed, fairly content with the premise. Though I wasn't close to any women at the moment, at least the possibility was open.
"And I'm not going to have intercourse with a man, so don't ask."
"Awwww…"
This conversation occurred in less than a second, and to the deer-woman, it looked as if I merely thought for a moment.
I turned back to her.
"Lead me to the vault, and then I'll get you out of here." I proposed.
"I don't really have access to that…My mom and the elders are the only ones."
I smacked my lips, "Just lead me there, We'll smash in, take everything, and leave. In and out."
"You're crazy!" she said, with a weird smiling forming on her lips. "Fine, but dont kill them. In fact, let me knock them out." She was quite agreeable.
So, walked the young master, who had not been seen in the months since her mother disappeared. Many shocked stares followed us as she walked in a massive gown. A strange guard, me, followed behind her.
We went straight to the vault, the guards were also stunned.
"Young master Dia? Is that you?" one stammered out.
"Enough. Mother is in critical condition. Open the vault or else." she suddenly commanded. Good acting, I thought.
They stammered about for a second, then they looked at each other and nodded, opening the vault. We walked in, and they stared at me in even more confusion. She turned around, and nodded for them to close it.
"Nice acting, 'Dia'" I spoke her name for the first time. A small blush contrasted with those blue horns and pale skin.
"Thank you, I learned from watching the best." She flattered me.
I walked around the vault, only grabbing the herbs as usual. She was amazed at how I merely sucked all items into my pores with magnetic force, which of course landed in that inner storage space. Deeper inside, a small room of potions and pills. Many colors, and many potions.
Some were big, others small. Some glowing and shimmering potions, on podiums in the center.
I drank them all wildly, and au-ha gave a summary of all changes.
[10% elemental affinity, 5% elemental resistance, 5% agility, 20% ice resistance.], she continued, "You have also grown ancestral antler horns, which can be used for all elemental attacks."
I looked at a reflection in the glass bottles. My antlers were sparking of red electricity, they stretched 3 feet wide and 2 feet high. They were made of blood-alloy. I tested a few blasts of red lightning, which were much weaker than the third eye, but could be blasted continuously. Both of them could be used at once, to truly rain a lightning based hell upon all.
I felt my body also grow more immune to all ice, and in a smaller matter all elements. My lightning strikes grew a little purer, and the earth element in my bones grew purer, increasing my strength decently.
What a good vault! Good vault!
While before my antlers were faked, now they were pure. Though they were currently containing the element of lightning. The earth element was more supportive in nature, serving as an anchor for other elements, and adding strength to my body as a whole.
We walked out of the vault. I shouldn't need to explain the shocked stars once more as they saw my metal, red lightning coated antlers. Still, none of them spoke.
One brave guard said "What is going on? Young master Dia, please explain."
She turned around and said, in pensive tones, "All will be revealed soon, be patient." The clanspeople looked appeased at the answer. Some appeared relieved, and others anxious.
Like this, I walked out of the clan, no assissination has occurred. Well, at least not on the right targets. One day someone will have to clean up that storage unit.
I decided to keep the antlers, returning my tail and original face back. My tail was around 9 feet in length now, slightly altered by the pills. With my skin also regaining its slight red metallic luster.
She looked at me in curiosity, in awe of a true chimera. "Can I touch?" she asked vaguely, and I nodded. She gently rubbed her fingers along my skin, my horns, and my tail, which was surprisingly sensitive. A basic primal urge and heat began to boil, down deep. This continued tentatively for minutes.
Finally, she retracted her fingers, and asked my name.
"Mo-..." I paused, and decided to give up the name for the time being.
"Just Star."