Chapter 309 – Re: Indeer

Day 53

Dawn

"La La La Ta Ta TAH DI Dah" Riana sang happily as she floated along the path to the gate, dragging behind her a large cart full of food scraps and offal from the cleaned and gutted monsters the other villagers had been eating. 

Hah, other villagers. Hehehe, look at me! A villager! A monster being treated just as well as any human or goblin here! Better even. Oh, if only my mother could see me now, she would shed her leaves.

She was happy with this new life since she met Rou and Sui. Using her race's innate shared knowledge, amplified by the life energy of that wonderful ogre, she was able to accomplish more than any Dryad, any Dorian, in the history of her race. And she did it all without earning the ire of all the sentient species around her. The human women, who would usually lead the charge to remove a dryad from their midst, even massaged her belly and feet in the evenings, making sure she was comfortable. It wasn't the same as if Rou was doing it, but it was an amazing experience.

She was also about to be the first Dorian to birth an actual trio of daughters... which concerned her. They were not developing as Dryads, nor as hobgoblins, but some odd hybrid of them both. Sui told her they seemed healthy enough during her daily morning check-ups, but since this was the first time something like this had ever happened, she was a little nervous about the end result. Birthing wouldn't be a problem as she could just split her belly open and release them, but she didn't know if they would need to be taken care of afterwards.

When I was born, I was fully grown by the time I paired to my tree. These girls... I don't think they'll be stuck to a tree like I was. They will still need one to gain energy, but... this is all new ground, and it's terribly exciting. I can't wait until Rou gets back from his journey; we can birth our daughters then! And I can finally show him our new pets!

"Oh! Umm... Riana? Are you okay? Let me help." A deep male voice said. She opened her eyes to see that big red ogre they called Kichi standing in front of her, with that wicked axe on his back.

She didn't like axes, or the fact that Rou had the villagers clearing the forest around them, but since he was planting both new trees and interesting seeds in the cleared fields, she swallowed her distaste and went along with his expansions without complaint. As long as plant life was allowed to continue to bloom, she would put up with some destruction of the land around them.  

"No need! Unless you want to help me feed the puppies!" She said, giving him a happy smile. She could feel that he had a lot of life energy, not as much as Rou, but plenty. He might be a good one to set one of her daughters up with someday. She giggled at the thought. A Dorian actually becoming a mother to her children for more than the birth and implantation.

I love Rou! He has given me so many new experiences! I never want to leave his side! I can't wait until he is back; I have so much to share with him!

"Puppies? What puppies?"

"The guard puppies, of course! Did you think I just put thorns on this wall to protect the village?"

"Umm... I dunno. I've never seen a wall until you grew this." He replied. "Does Rou know about the puppies?"

"Nope! Not yet! Hey, you busy? You can help me feed them if you want! Dragging the cart is no problem, but I could use a hand spreading it across the ground."

"Umm... I'm not really supposed to leave the gate."

"Oh, it will be fine. I'll just close the door. Come, Kichi, the puppies await!" She said, fluttering around in a circle, releasing pink blossoms from her hands in the process. 

"KICHI! RIANA! WE'RE BACK!" She heard Ee shout, causing her to float a little higher so she could see over Kichi's shoulders and through the open gate.

He is really tall. And wide. Yes, he would be perfect for one of my daughters. Now, how to convince Rou that- what in the world?

Ee, Mi, and Ruby were walking across the clearing towards the gate, dragging long litters loaded down with elves. There were three male humans with them as well, stripped naked and tied together by the ankles and necks. Sato was behind them, holding the end of the rope in one hand, her other hand holding that sword of hers.

"Kichi, run and get Sui! Now! And tell the women in the mansion that we have wounded." She said, floating the cart off to the side of the gate and then rushing towards her four sister wives and the litters full of wounded. The puppies could wait until later.  

That Evening

"Thank you, Lady Wayne. Without you and your people's intervention, I fear all my people would have been killed, and myself captured." The elf said, kneeling before Sui.

"Please stand up and take a seat. No need to be so formal right now; you have been through enough today." Sui said, looking down at her from Rou's throne. They had brought extra seating into the room for this meeting with the elven chief's daughter and surviving retainers, but after the last interaction with her people, she hadn't expected this deference. 

Kathleen said that her father was much more composed and welcoming to the main character, but his daughter seemed overly excitable and liked to kick and punch the main character after he saved her. Apparently, things have changed this time around. Maybe because some of her people survived? The fact that it was women, not men, surrounding her when she woke up? Not important right now, but I should try and think on that later when I review my notes.

"It was no problem. Clan Wayne intends for this place to become a center for healing and recovery, and our Lord makes it his goal to defend others in their time of need."

"Indeed, my Lady. Is the Lord around? I have a request for him, one I wish to ask him directly."

"He hasn't returned yet, though he should be back soon. Is this about your war with the humans?"

I am through acting like his wife! He is coming back one way or another, and he is going to start dealing with these problems himself! Jean is three days away from the northern portal, and I haven't had a chance to finish the homes yet for our new villagers.

"Yes. I take it you have already received a visit from my people."

"We did, though, as I told him, we do not have the forces to spare to aid in the defence of your village."

"Truly? With the power your warriors showed last night, surely you should be able to come to our aid. Did he try to intimidate you and not offer a good reward for your services? I assure you, after what I saw, I can increase it significantly."

"No, he was... adequate, but I'm afraid even if the lord had returned, along with the rest of our warriors, we wouldn't be able to stop an army that large. According to the intel we gathered, several small armies are gathering to the north, and some of the men have already entered the forest. They are travelling in smaller bands as they make their way through, but there are around 1600 soldiers approaching." She said, relaying what Angel had told her from overhearing conversations Jean had with the commander of one of the armies. 

"That many? I need to return home and let my father- Argh!" She said, standing up too quickly and nearly falling on her face.

"Easy. Sit down before you hurt yourself. I cleared the toxins from your blood, but whatever poison that was has left you weakened. Give yourself and your people the night to recover, and we will see about getting you back to your village tomorrow."

"Please... I would still wish to talk with your lord before we go. Is there any way you can contact him?" Mail said, kneeling at her feet instead of sitting down on the chair.

"Do you hope to convince him? Is my word not good enough?" She replied, her voice chilly.

"While I admit I do hope that is the case, that is not my only concern. I... I wish to ask if we can send our elderly and children to this place, in case we cannot stop the armies with whatever forces we are able to muster. You seem to have significant defences here, and should be able to protect our people in case the worst comes to pass."

Sui stood up and knelt beside her, placing a hand on the trembling woman's shoulder. There were tears in her eyes, and Sui could tell she was terrified at the thought of losing her people to the invaders.

Oh me. With those tears, Rou would agree to help her without question... just like he helped me in the past until he figured out I was fake crying. But that is not necessarily the best thing for this village. Still, I don't want to see her people hurt either.

"You can send your people here. If any of your people are severely wounded, they are welcome as well. However, if your people fail in their defence, they will be expected to become citizens of our village and join Clan Wayne. Our Lord wishes to make a culture where all peoples are welcome, where xenophobia is frowned upon. Make no mistake, your people will be expected to assimilate to this new culture we are creating, leaving their old ways of thinking behind. They will be welcome in helping build this new nation, and have input in the direction it goes, but I won't have them being racist to those you believed were below you. Which, if I recall correctly, was anyone who wasn't an elf until recently."

"Ahh... If those are your terms, then I will only accept them if I may talk with your lord first. No disrespect, my Lady, but I am not comfortable with what we both know is surrendering my people to anyone but the actual lord of your people. Please allow me that much respect."

"Very well. Lina!"

"Yes, Milady?" Lina replied. She had been waiting at the side of the room, happy enough to fall into the servant role as she watched everything that was going on. While she was technically still in charge, she had ceded that responsibility to Sui and acted as her advisor instead of the one Rou left in charge. She said something about writing an epic ballad about how she and Rou had built a kingdom from nothing but a cave, but Sui had been too tired at the time to really care. 

"Please show our guests to their rooms. Also, if they wish, allow them access to the baths. A good soak in the hot tub before bed will do wonders for their constitution."

"Of course, Milady. If you will come with me, Lady Mail."

After the elves followed Lina from the room, Sui turned to Returner. "Do you have a beacon stone for me?"

"Yes. Just make sure it's outside of your pocket dimension. Everyone in a three-metre radius will be teleported back here when I activate the spell." She said, handing her an amethyst crystal the size of a chicken egg. 

"Good enough. Teleport me back here at dawn. Rou and I have a lot to talk about, and I don't want to be interrupted. Oh, and please go and check on the girls for me after I leave. They looked exhausted when they went to bed."

"Of course, my Lady. I will activate the spell at dawn. Good luck."

"Thanks." She replied, stuffing the crystal into her pocket dimension, then closed her eyes and focused. A few moments later, she disappeared from the throne room, leaving Returner alone.

"Hmm... that eye of the lord's is an interesting artifact. I wonder if Pande and I can work out how to make it activate for someone other than Sui. Or... could the trans dimensional magic be incorporated into its teleportation? This warrants further study." She mused.

She didn't understand why Lord Rou had run off, but it didn't really bother her too much. Her previous master would disappear as well, sometimes for months at a time, without telling her. At least now there were other people around she could talk to, instead of wandering around that treasury like a ghost unable to leave the material plane. She would be forever grateful to him and Pande for this new chance at life. If he chose to use her as her old master did, she would gladly help him with those urges, but with the number of women he had surrounded himself with, she doubted that her services would ever be required in that regard. And unlike those women whom the lord rejected the other day, she was perfectly fine with that outcome. Just being by his side from time to time was more than enough for her.

She left the room a few moments later, heading for the lord's chambers to fulfill the lady's wishes before she searched for Pande to discuss her thoughts on the lord's eye. If nothing else, she was a dutiful servant and was happiest when fulfilling that role.

When Sui materialized out of Rou's eye, she realized something was wrong.

"Where am I? I thought he was wandering the forest?" She said, looking around at the snowfield she was standing in. It was nearing twilight, and the mountain peaks surrounding her were still lit by the setting sun, a few stars just starting to show in the sky behind them. There was a frozen lake nearby, along with a scraggly pine forest along its shore. It was really a beautiful place. 

The problem was that Rou was nowhere in sight. She tried to focus on his eye again, but couldn't see out of it any longer. She could move her body into it, but not look out to see where he was.

Is he blocking me somehow?

A gust of wind hit her, the cold air immediately raising goosebumps on her skin and pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Crap. I'm not dressed for this!" She grumbled, pulling her shawl out of her pocket dimension, covering as much of her exposed skin as she could. She was really going to have to get the tailor to start making clothing other than these damn bunny suits when she got back from the expedition. "Now... where is he?" 

Seeing no other promising option, she started walking toward the lake. If she couldn't find Rou, she would cast water breathing and submerge herself in its waters until dawn arrived. It was clearly a hot spring; the open waters and shimmer of heat were easy to see even from this distance.

As she approached the lake, she noticed a small log cabin in the treeline, buried deep enough that she couldn't see it from where she arrived. There was a narrow trail leading from the shore up to the cabin, also invisible from where she had been. 

"Has he been seriously up here in the mountains, enjoying a hot spring while the rest of us slaved away in that village!!!" She growled, pulling up her non-existent sleeves and stalking towards the little hut. She knew he needed to deal with his issues, but it had been nearly two weeks now. He had responsibilities back home, and several pregnant women who were waiting on him. The fact that they didn't seem to mind his absence irked her to no end. "If I were fat with his child, I would want him beside me, taking care of me. Not traversing across the wilderness alone, fighting battles in his mind! That isn't healthy!" 

She arrived at the cabin, which was smaller than their bedroom, and pushed the door open. The inside was almost empty, with only a small bed made of his Dig blocks, covered in pine bows, a block chair and table, and a small block hearth with an armful of firewood beside it. There was some warmth coming from the coals, but it was clear that it hadn't been fed any new wood for some time. His jacket and pants lay on top of the pine boughs, apparently used as his sheets to keep the needles from bothering his skin.

She was about to stalk back outside but paused and looked at the austere way he was living. Really looked at it.

Why? Why would he live this way when he has a castle he could be living in, with a soft bed full of warm bodies? People that care for him? Cooks making him food? Plumbing? Why did he run here... wherever here is? What did... what did we do so wrong that he felt the need to escape that life and live as a hermit?

She sat down on the bed and picked up his jacket, clutching it to her chest and breathing in his scent. She wasn't good at thinking; she knew that, but she knew something was wrong... Rou... he wasn't this way. He wasn't someone who would run away from his responsibilities just because it was difficult. He had shown her a different path, a pathway of being responsible, of being accountable. For him to say those things, to just abandon them... no... something must be wrong. Terribly wrong. 

"All these new skills we have gained must be messing with... how he thinks... how he reacts. Add to that the rapid power gain he has received since coming to this world... he... is worried... worried he is becoming something he doesn't want to be..." She said, trying to piece the puzzle together in her mind.

She had always been powerful as far as she could remember; coming here with Rou was the weakest she had ever been. These powers were nothing for her, a severe handicap compared to her old self. For him, though... he was trying to deal with his rapidly growing strength, not to mention touching the power of the divine for the first time. He was a mortal being, not born as a god. She had no frame of reference for his issue, but she could appreciate how that could mess with someone's mind. Add all the other minor stresses they had been piling on him, and it was a wonder he didn't fall down the path of becoming an evil megalomaniac. 

"He always gives... gives everything he has... yet everyone keeps wanting more. Not to mention, everyone in this world just seems to think just by sleeping with him, it will make everything better. He is stretched so thin...riding hard with those amplified hormones, he is losing himself. He came up here... not to run... but to try and reset himself, so he can give us everything all over again. Oh, Rou..."

She spread the jacket back down on the bed, trying to leave things as she found them. She pulled the amethyst out of her pocket and placed it on the hearth, in case she fell asleep. She would stay here and wait for him to return. She wasn't going to lay into him as she had planned, but to talk. To offer her ear and, if he was willing to share, actually listen to his problems, instead of continuing to be one. 

She smiled as she stoked the fire and then stripped down, a bit of playfulness returning to her demeanour. "In the meantime, that hot spring is calling me. If I'm going to be stuck here waiting for him, I might as well enjoy the place! I've worked hard; I deserve a little break too!"

Wrapped only in her shawl, she left the cabin and ran to the lake and jumped in as naked as the day she was born. The waters were hot, on the verge of scalding, but she loved it. She lay back and relaxed, watching the stars slowly fill the sky as the night fell.

Eventually, the moon rose, casting a glimmer on the surrounding fields of snow and giving the place a magical feel. She sighed, sitting back against a stone, wondering where in heck Rou was. 

*SNORT*

She turned her head towards the sudden noise in the otherwise silent landscape. Standing a short distance away, backlit by the moon, was a massive white stag nearly five metres tall at the shoulder, with giant crystal horns. She could feel the power coming from this creature, and she was in awe. It was a sacred beast, a demigod of sorts, though of the animal variety instead of humanoid. Its golden eyes watched her, but she felt no malice in its gaze.

It turned and started down the hill, and she gasped. Rou was riding on its back, controlling its flanks with his thighs. His silver hair billowed behind him, showing off his chiselled form as he rode toward her, his large chest tattoo glowing silver in the mellow moonlight. His eyes bled flames of mana: gold and silver from his pearlescent one, blue and black from his real one. 

Oh me... he is gorgeous... and that power... what is this? No, Sui. Stop drooling... You’re here to talk to him, to support him, not to... oh, me, he is completely naked. How is he able to stand being naked in this cold!

Rou and the stag slowly made their way down to the shore where she was mostly submerged in the water, and she could feel colour forming in her cheeks that had nothing to do with the heat. Not saying anything, nor taking his eyes off her, Rou stopped the beast at the edge of the lake where she left her shawl. He looked powerful, primal. Like he just walked out of one of her erotic fictions into real life. Just the pressure of his energy made her insides feel wet.

No... this was not what I wanted to feel. I'm here to help him, not lust over him. He is a person, one that is hurting... not... just... oh, his thing is hard...  

"Umm... Hi... What are you doing?" She said weakly, completely forgetting how she wanted to start this conversation.

"I'm on a Stag." He said, smiling down at her with an almost animalistic grin on his face. He looked like he was ready to devour her.

She gulped.