Septus 27, 3023 A.M., day of Westar, 10:27 a.m.
At the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint…
Woooh!
Lafa thrust a dull sword and Wayne ducked to evade it.
Sliii!
Pah!
Thud.
Wayne slashed Lafa's chest with a dull dagger and then immediately followed it up with a spinning back kick to the stomach, causing Lafa to be blown away from the force before falling to the ground.
"Point," Vivian said.
Vooom!
She appeared blurry for a moment and then appeared standing beside Lafa before crouching down and casting a spell.
[Heal].
A faint yellow light enveloped Lafa's body and his injuries were cured.
Vooom!
She went back to her seat on the corner.
"Again."
Lafa got up and he and Wayne resumed sparring.
It's been a few days since Vivian returned at the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint and she has been doing a lot of things ever since.
At the moment, she was trying to learn Class Magic spells, specifically [Greater Heal] and [Blessing] so she ordered Lafa and Wayne to spar which also trains their Physical Arts. They weren't the only ones she was having to help her, Julius and Pamor were also included.
Since they were "helping" her learn Class Magic, she promised to compensate them.
Firstly, there was food and drinks.
One of the things she bought back at Fredo Village was food and wine. And even if she ran out of food, she could easily hunt every night.
Secondly, there was a weekly gold allowance.
She still had some money left. And even if she ran out of money, she figured that could easily loot from other places.
And lastly, she was going to owe them a favor.
As for their other responsibilities, specifically when it was their schedule to guard during the day, she issued an order that they had to "help her" during the day. In return, she would "help guard" during the day instead of hiding inside her office and only coming out whenever her help was needed.
No one dared to go against her, not even Lennon or Edgar who were the commanding officers. And if anyone had anything to say, like Lamont, she specifically instructed that they were free to say it to her face.
"Point," Vivian said.
Lafa was down once again so she turned into a blur and appeared beside him.
[Heal].
Lafa's injuries were cured.
"The both of you rest and eat for now."
Vivian turned to Julius and Pamor who were resting at the side.
"The both of you, your turn."
Julius got up and took the dull sword from Wayne.
Pamor, on the other hand, picked up the dull mace beside him and stood up.
When the 2 men got into the makeshift fighting ring, which was basically just an empty flat surface, they began sparring.
As for the reason why she partnered Wayne with Lafa and Julius with Pamor, since she was having them spar so that she could learn Class Magic, she figured that she might as well let them train properly. Based on what she had learned back in Luxen City, Basic Training and the Training Course, technically speaking, there are only 3 methods to level up Physical Arts.
The first one was to kill an enemy.
The second one was to fight someone who is at least equally strong as you.
And the third one was to fight someone using Magic or Elemental Weapons
However, there was actually also a fourth method. But it requires a person to have the Chaos Affinity.
Anyhow, since the first and third methods were not applicable and the fourth method was totally out of the question, she aimed for the second method.
***
3:42 p.m.
Vivian let out a yawn as she stared lazily at Wayne and Lafa sparring.
I've been doing this for 3 days already…
I still haven't learned [Greater Heal] or [Blessing]…
I mean, sure, I understand if I haven't learned [Blessing] yet…
But [Greater Heal]…?
That's a different story…
She recalled her time at Luxen City.
I healed some monsters…
I also healed a few people…
She recalled her time at the Holy City during Basic Training.
I also healed and sparred people there…
"Point," she said.
Vooom!
She went over to Lafa.
Why can't this guy win…?
His Physical and Magic Force isn't that far off from Wayne…
[Heal].
A faint yellow light enveloped Lafa's body and his injuries were cured.
Vooom!
She returned back to her seat.
"Begin."
The two men resumed fighting.
Well…
At least it hasn't rained today…
However…
A dark expression flashed across her face.
I can feel my period coming…
It will probably start tomorrow or the next day…
Tch…!
She clicked her tongue mentally.
What a useless gender…
She suddenly heard a commotion and she quickly turned her head to where it was coming from.
"Las-Easy las-now!"
There was a caravan at the South Gate. And in front of the caravan was a large carriage being pulled by four Tamares which became restless and each of them was moving in opposite directions as they got closer to Vivian.
If one were to ask Vivian to describe the appearance of the Tamare, it looked like a cow but was thicker, its body was covered in long brown fur, and its hooves were larger.
Crackle!
Crackle!
The coachman swung the whip on his hand and it made some crackling sounds.
Crackle!
Crackle!
After a few more whips, the animals stopped resisting and continued moving forward but were still so wary of Vivian that they all had their eyes on her as they moved cautiously.
However, that wasn't the end of it.
Crackle!
This time around, behind the large carriage, there was a group of armed people riding Karfaxes and behind them was another carriage, but smaller or normal in size, being pulled by two Tamares.
The Karfaxes and the other Tamares started to become restless as well.
Vivian didn't bother to move and simply watched the caravan pass her by. She had already grown tired of such incidents that she would welcome a monster to attack her so that she would be able to collect some coins from them.
But so far, that hasn't happened.
When the large carriage passed Vivian by, she squinted her nose because it was assaulted with a foul smell and she knitted her brows.
Demon-kins…?
Inside the large carriage, there were what looked like male humanoid creatures packed together like sardines with barely any clothes on. Most of them were seated on the dirty floor with their wrists and ankles chained together and they had a collar engraved with runes around their necks. And for the few, this is where the true horror began. Their arms and legs were chopped off and they were chained to the sides with the chains wrapping around their bodies to keep them in place like a piece of meat painting for display. And just like the ones who were seated on the floor, they too had a collar engraved with runes around their necks.
Whether they were dead or alive, Vivian couldn't tell, all she could see were faces of anger or hopelessness, or both, emancipated figures and poor hygienic conditions.
They must be for the upcoming Feugo Festival…
Based on what she knows about the Feugo Festival which will be hosted by Viscount Lozario and his family who are part of the Duke's Faction and will be held at Plano Town, there will be several events during the festival. However, the main event would be a fighting tournament and the winners would be welcomed to be part of the Viscount's forces.
But still…
Slaves, huh…
Back in the Luxen City and at the Holy Kingdom, any form of slavery was prohibited. However, when it came to the Marbleam Kingdom, although slavery was legal, it only applied to demon-kins and there were strict laws around it.
Wait…!
Can I even refer to them as people…?
In Vivian's original world, there were only humans. And the closest animal with the same DNA as them were chimpanzees.
She continued looking at the demon-kins inside the large carriage.
They look too dirty for me to be able to tell their species…
But I think that one is a Larker…?
So that's what a Larker looks like in real life…?
But don't they have white hair…?
I never knew they could also sport gray hair…
Before this, she has only seen demon-kins through drawings and has read about them at Basic Training and the Training Course. And based on what she learned, the appearance of a Larker was generally human. The only difference is that they have white hair, their skin is dark-red and they have sharp teeth. Moreover, they're blessed with the Dark Affinity. Furthermore, when a Wave is imbued with the Dark Affinity and a human is struck by its curse, they would turn into a Larker.
And I think that one is a Monkeigh…
I don't know if it's because of their sorry state or they're just downright ugly…
If she were to describe the Monkeigh, they basically looked like the humanoid monkeys from the Planet of the Apes movies. And based on what she knows, they're blessed with the Earth Affinity. And when a Wave is imbued with the Earth Affinity and a human is struck by its curse, they would turn into a Monkeigh.
Behind the large carriage was a group of human fitted in fighting gear underneath their cloaks and riding wary Karfaxes.
Some of them glanced at her.
"Las-Honored Las-Priestess Las-Inquisitor," they said and nodded.
And behind them was the smaller carriage, which, to Vivian's surprise, also housed captured demon-kins but worse.
Inside the small carriage were chained women and children demon-kins -- or at least that's what they looked like in her eyes. Although they had more clothing compared to the ones from the larger carriage, they still sported barely any clothing. On top of that, all of them had a look devoid of hope as if they couldn't care anymore what was going to happen to them next.
The caravan continued moving until it reached the North Gate and entered the Marbleam Kingdom.
Vivian stood silently as she stared at the small carriage.
"Honored Inquisitor Monad?" a male voice rang in her ears.
She turned her around and saw Wayne and an injured Lafa.
"Oh, sorry about that," she said and then approached Lafa.
[Heal].
Once Lafa's injuries were cured, she took a step back.
"Begin."
The two men resumed sparring once again.
Vivian shook her head mentally.
What am I even thinking…?
For starters, this is another world…
A world with magic, demons, monsters and other supernatural creatures…
Of course they would have their own culture and views shaped by their own history and surroundings…
And plus, it's not like my hands are any cleaner either…
But still…
She bit her lower lip.
The more reason why I need to get stronger…
***
8:01 p.m.
As Vivian stepped out of the Priests' Quarters building, light rain fell from the night sky but she paid no attention to it and she began walking.
And when she finally arrived at the location, a smile appeared on her face.
Now I can train properly…
What stood in front of her looked like a large box made out of bricks and cement. But in reality, it was a room, a training room to be exact.
The room stood about 12ft tall and 10ft wide and there were no windows or holes except for a small door in front of her. Most of the materials used in building it were bought at Fredo Village. Once she arrived at the border checkpoint a few days ago, she immediately ordered the Guards to make this for her within the compounds and it was finally finished today.
She paid the Guards some coins for their efforts of course.
Vivian opened the small door and what greeted her was nothing but darkness.
She activated a spell.
[Halo].
A golden ring appeared on her back and it illuminated her surroundings a bit. She stepped inside the box and then locked the door behind her.
The interior of the room was very simple.
Aside from the fact that there were no windows or holes so neither light nor air could escape, the walls and ceiling were nothing but plain cement and the ground was simply dirt. However, there was a small table that was close to a nightstand with some candles on top of it.
I won't suffocate here, right…?
She began undressing and then hung all of her clothes, including her mask, on the hooks located at the door.
She activated a spell.
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!
She transformed into a 3-meter-tall Lesser Demon.
The demonic eyes scanned around her surroundings.
Hmm…
Seems air-shut…
So unless there's some kind of magic here that allows a person to see through walls, then I'm fucked…
But just in case…
***
10 minutes later.
Hmm…
No one came attacking…
I guess it's safe…
She checked her demonic tail and aimed at the middle with her finger.
[Power Finger].
Woo-riiiip!
Thud.
About 4ft long of her tail was separated from her body and she caught it with her hand.
I think this length is enough…
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!
The mutilated tail on her body recovered to its full length and she held the severed tail on her hand that she cut off earlier in front of her before sitting down on the floor which was plain dirt.
I hope this works…
[Power Whip].
Whoo--riiip!
She swung the severed tail to her back and layers of skin, meat and bones got shredded into bits and pieces.
"Ouch…!"
She could feel blood running down from her back and hear the blood dripping to the ground as she stared at the severed tail on her hand.
It didn't break…
She let out a chuckle and the tentacles on her mouth wiggled.
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!
The wound on her back was completely healed.
She positioned her mutilated tail to the front once again.
[Power Whip].
Whoo--riiip!
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!
[Power Whip].
Whoo--riiip!
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!
She didn't stop and kept repeating the process.
***
A few moments later...
[Power Whip].
Whoo--riiip!
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!
Vivian was about to whip herself again when something happened.
The mutilated tail on her hand disintegrated.
Just as I expected…
Even my own tail isn't indestructible…
Well…
At least it lasted for around 10 whips…
And whether this works or not, I still have no idea…
[Power Finger].
Woo--riiip!
She cut off about 4ft of her tail once again.
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!
The mutilated tail on her body recovered to its full length.
Time to resume…
[Power Whip].
Whoo--riiip!
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!