I watched Mara stir for a while, trying to adjust my body a bit to block the trespassing rays of light that seemed to assault her at every chance, slowly filling the room with their amber glow. She wiggled her back into me, filling any gaps that lingered between our bodies. I moved my head to the nape of her neck and rested there until I noticed her twitch at my breaths. She moved her arm and pinned my own against her, holding me there tightly.
"You're awake aren't you?" I asked, my voice a little sullen as my mind flooded with questions, wondering what our next move would be, where we should go, and how we were going to deal with this new threat. I had only been in this body for such a short time, and already I had religious zealots after me.
I could sense her smile as she responded, "For a while now. You felt a little distant, and when you didn't move closer I thought I'd take initiative. Her voice was soft, laced with some fatigue, but she seemed relaxed despite everything.
I tightened my grip around her, squeezing her tightly, maybe a little too tightly as she let out a small squeak that I found absolutely adorable. I wanted to do it again, but she shook herself loose and rolled over to look me in the eyes, so close that our noses nearly touched. She must have noticed as well because she pressed her head a little closer and brushed our noses together. Her mood was rather cheery, as expected from what little I knew about her, but she surprised me when she scrunched up her face as she examined me.
"Everything alright? you seem a little gloomy." She kissed my nose even as I tried to shift my features into a more positive form, but the worry was gnawing at me and it I couldn't help but let the negativity seep through.
"I know this place isn't much, and it's made so much better with you here, but…" I had some difficult decisions ahead of me, and I just hoped Mara would understand. "I think I need to check out of the village again before I do anything too rash. I should go down there, see if those religious guys are still hanging maybe get a little info, and I'll be back."
"You're leaving right now? Alone?" she threw an arm over me and pulled me close. "What if they catch you, shouldn't I come with you, we work really well together" It sounded more like a plea than a request. I wasn't sure how it had happened, but it seemed like both of us had gotten extremely attached to one another in a short day, or three if you count my time unconscious. I knew it was just infatuation, that there was something we saw in one another that we needed desperately at this particular moment, and who knew if it would last, but I wanted it to last. Be it a day, another week, or however long these feelings lingered, I wanted it to last. I doubted it would be so simple.
"I have the best chance of sneaking in and out unnoticed, and even if they find me, a couple hops through the shadows and I could lead them the wrong way before making it back in no time. I promise I won't do anything risky. It's strictly a peek in, listen, and get back kind of mission." I hoped I sounded more confident than I felt. I had only just learned this ability, though it had felt like I had known it all my life, which was true, as short as that last life was.
"I don't like it, but I'm not going to try and talk you out of it. I'll have something yummy for you when you can get and you can tell me everything you learned. Then we will need to figure out where to go from there. I still have some time before I have to make it to the capital. I left early so I could see the sights a bit, and I'm not that concerned about being late yet." Now that light had flooded the cabin, the green flecks of her hazelnut eyes shimmered, a near incandescent light as a smile returned to her face. "But I'm holding you to that promise," her gaze turned deadly serious, before breaking into a gentle giggle, Mara leaning in to kiss me on the lips before backing off and pushing me out of the bed.
I fell to the ground in a thud and it took me a moment to realize what had happened. "Of course," I playfully responded, rising to my feet and wandering over to where the bulk of my gear was stored. I began preparing for the trip as she watched me from the comfort of the bed. I could tell she was worried, but she really did believe in me, which was important because one of us had to have faith that we would make it out of this.
I tread through the forest, dagger out, making faint markings on the trees to guide me back. We had first found this place by happenstance and in the dead of night, so I couldn't risk leaving Mara there by herself while I wandered aimlessly through the forest, especially if I ended up with a trail of Paladins tracking me. I tried to establish a set of landmarks as well, such as the creek that flowed through a rotten log, the mossy boulder that looked like a hippo's face, and the skeleton of… well, it wasn't human, but it had long since been picked clean by scavengers.
I wasn't sure if I was going in the right direction, and it wouldn't be much of a help to me, but I decided I needed some help from my abilities.
[Wounded Pray Activated]
[Mana: 34/42]
The color of the world faded to muted greys as I scanned the area for any mass of red, orange, or yellow dots. Something to lead me toward the town. When I got nothing I wandered a bit and tried it again, and again, and again, trying to stagger it and allow for some mana regen between.
[Wounded Pray Activated]
[Mana: 30/42]
[Wounded Pray Activated]
[Mana: 26/42]
[Wounded Pray Activated]
[Mana: 20/42]
[Perception has leveled to 15 from 14]
Regardless of the outcome, I had previously decided to stop at 20 mana just in case I needed to use Shadow Dance. I was about ready to sit down and give myself a break when I noticed a small red dot off in the distance, and beside it was an even fainter yellow one. I made my way in that direction, careful of my every step, using everything I had briefly learned from my Shadow Lynx days to sneak up on my prey. It wasn't really prey, even if it was a Paladin, I had promised not to engage. As I made my way closer, I thought maybe it would be okay to take them out if they were alone, because it would make one less foe to deal with later.
By the time I reached my target, I was ready to kill, but what revealed itself was no danger to me or Mara, it was a young boy, no older than 15. He had taken out two small rabbits and had just finished tying them up to separate ends of a stick that he then tossed over his shoulders. He hadn't noticed me so I watched and waited a while, slowly regaining mana in the process.
[Mana 25/42]
The boy looked around a bit and I ducked behind a bush before peeking out a moment later. He was already heading back to wherever he lived, and with any luck, it would be the small town we came from. I marked another notch on a tree and followed at a significant distance. If worst came to worst and I somehow lost the kid, I could use my ability to locate him again so long as he hadn't trailed off too far from my range.
It didn't take too terribly long before I noticed the foliage clearing up and soon after I could smell the smoke from chimneys and the faint murmur of several voices. When I had gone as far as I could without entering the clearing surrounding the town, I knelt down and observed. The sun was high in the sky now and though the shadows were few and far between, there was enough coverage for me to retreat, and several covered areas within the town if I needed to advance. I wasn't sure what the range on this ability was and only hoped that I wouldn't be hit with a mana cost should I discover I was too far to use it.
As everything came into focus and I could finally make out what was happening, the sight that greeted me was worse than I had expected. Paladins in gleaming white and gold armor patrolled the streets, their heavy boots clanging against the cobblestones. Villagers huddled in doorways, their faces heavy with fear and exhaustion. The central square, usually bustling with life, was now a stage for interrogation and intimidation. I needed to get closer, and though I had been still for a short time, my mana wasn't where I wanted it. I could get in there and provided nothing happened for a few short minutes, I could get out, but then I would be on my own until I either drank a mana potion or ran long enough to jump to a shadow again.
[Mana 35/42]
I decided I had to go into town, I wouldn't get any info if I couldn't hear what they were saying. After a moment of fighting with myself over the right course of action, I activated my ability.
[Shadow Dance Activated]
In a flash, or whatever the shadow equivalent of that would be, I found myself in an unoccupied stable stall. It reeked of manure, mildew, and horse ass, but no one would be checking in here anytime soon unless we had new arrivals. With the influx of armed warriors patrolling the town, I doubted there would be much tourism happening today. It didn't take long before voices assaulted my senses and I honed in on them, trying to make out what they were saying.
"You think we don't know?" barked a man in heavy plate, his voice sharp enough to carry over the panicked murmurs around him. He stood at the center of a group of villagers, his armor a solid gold–or at least colored so–that caught the afternoon sun and blinded anyone who looked directly at him. Someone in a leadership role, no doubt. Beside him was a younger soldier, her face twisted in a sneer as she gestured toward a trembling shopkeeper.
"Sheltering a heretic is a sin against the gods themselves," the leader continued, his voice cold and callous. "You jeopardize not only your lives but the fate of the entire world by harboring this abomination."
The shopkeeper stammered something I couldn't make out, but it clearly wasn't what the paladin wanted to hear. Without warning, the soldier beside him struck the man across the face with the pommel of his sword, sending him sprawling to the ground.
I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to intervene.
"Bring him to the others," the leader commanded. "Perhaps a few hours in the stockade will loosen his tongue."
As the soldier dragged the shopkeeper away, another paladin approached the leader, saluting crisply.
"Sir, we've confirmed it," he said. "One of the heretic's victims was Captain Aisling."
The leader's jaw tightened, and his gaze darkened. "Aldric was one of our finest. This… creature will pay for what it's done."
The paladin hesitated, then asked, "What are your orders, Commander?"
The commander—now identified as the leader of the entire group—gestured toward the town square. "Double the patrols. Question everyone. If they so much as look like they're hiding something, I want them brought to me. And prepare the pyres. If we catch this heretic, we'll make an example of him."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Aldric must have been one of the three paladins we'd taken out in the alleyway. The leader's fury was understandable but was burning someone alive an appropriate response?
As I watched the villagers being herded and berated, I caught sight of a familiar figure—they had the innkeeper! He stood near the edge of the square, his face pale but defiant as he argued with one of the paladins.
The sight sent a pang of guilt through me. These people were paying the price for my actions. I needed to do something. But what? I decided to wait longer, at least until my mana had topped off and I was in a comfortable place to escape. I checked its status, a full 42/42, but there was still much I needed to learn. I pondered for a moment before asking the system.
Can I use Parasitic Reserve on a portion of my mana and health, or does it need to be the maximum? Also, what's the limit?
[System Request Acknoledged]
[Parasitic Reserves (Passive/Active)]: Allows you to store a portion of your parasitic form's unused health or mana to release into yourself or your host when needed
[You may store any amount of existing mana and health in your reserves until they have been filled. Current limits: Mana: 10/10. HP: 10/10.]
[Current reserves: Mana: 0/10. HP: 0/10.]
Okay, okay, and I still have 2 unused skill points to use. What would happen if I upgraded Parasitic Reserves, and can I use it multiple times to increase my reserves, like if I had 20/20 could I save 10 now and 10 later?
[System Request Acknoledged]
You may store health and mana as many times as you would like until the reserves have been filled. At level 5, you may store stamina for future use as well.
Note: When you activate the skill [Parasitic Reserves] it will consume the entirety of your reserves. Mana, health, and if applicable, stamina, all in one action.
Fuck, I should have done this before I left. Alright, well, toss a point into this ability, no, make it two points, I'm going to need it.
[Parasitic Reserves has leveled to 2 from 1.]
[Parasitic Reserves has leveled to 3 from 2.]
Maximum reserves: Mana: 30/30. HP: 30/30.
Current reserves: Mana 0/30. HP: 0/30.
Go ahead and throw 20 hp and 20 mana into reserves.
[Acknoledged. Diverting energy to reserves]
I was suddenly hit with an overwhelming pain as it felt like the mana was being violently torn from my body. That was nothing compared to the feeling of my very life-force ripping from me. I groaned in agony and heard a guard take notice. I quickly scrambled to a pile of hay, still in a great deal of pain, and tossed some over me in haste, trying my best to cover myself and ignore the horse waste mixed in. They really needed to clean these more often.
I heard a nearby Paladin speak to his comrade, "Hey, I heard something in the stalls, I'm going to check it out."
"Seriously? We have more important shit to do than to investigate a pissy horse."
"It'll just be a second, you know what would happen if it turned out we missed a chance at interrogating a potential heretic"
"Whatever, just get back here quick, if the commander sees me alone, he's going to have questions, and I don't think, 'A horse made some noise' is going to cut it."
"Yeah, I'll be right back"
I heard his boots clacking against the cobblestone as he moved from one stall to another. At one point he must have tried to pet a horse, because I heard him grunt as it tried to bite his gauntlet, followed by the sound of him thwaking the horse, causing even more commotion as it reeled and bucked in protest.
"Get the fuck back here man, you can't just punch horses, by the fucking gods you need to get under control." The second guard tried to whisper/shout back at him. This was all interrupted by the sound of metal crushing into teeth, flesh, and bone as that familiar booming voice echoed across the square.
"Don't ever let me catch you using the gods' names in vane. Get your ass over to the stockades, you're going to be joining the riffraff this shift to teach you some piety. Now collect your teeth, get off your ass, and do it on the double!" The commander… Well, commanded, followed by the clattering of armor and rapid footsteps receding into the distance.
"And you, why were you not at your post?" The commander had found new prey, the poor fool checking stalls seemed to be shaking in place.
"I, uh, Sir, I was checking stalls for those hiding from interrogation. I thought I heard something and wanted to make sure. My… er, due diligence… SIR!" This guy was a mess, but he spoke the truth, so I had to give him that.
The commander came storming toward him to the point that I felt fear enough for the both of us, I couldn't imagine what they were feeling.
"You did well Paladin, we need more holy soldiers such as yourself. Don't let your companions ever talk you out of doing the right thing. I take it the stalls are clear?" The praise seemed laced with a deadly ulterior motive that the young man didn't pick up on.
"YES SIR!" he saluted, refusing to make eye contact with the commander, "Nothing to report here."
"Good," the commander responded coldly, "Now back to your post, I will assign you a new partner. Keep up the good work." and with that, the commander left and I felt I had overstayed my welcome. I would need to report back to Mara and set the next steps of the plan in motion… once I figured out what they were.
[Mana 22/42]