What looks like an abandoned hunter's hut from the outside, becomes the dusty closet of a house in the suburbs.
This marvelous and concerning discrepancy, appears to be a constant in the Enclosed Amalgams, varying their size, theme, and, as could not be otherwise, native hostile creatures.
Though the overdeveloped brain with menacing teeth, is rapidly eliminated by a single swing of Amanda's sword, cleaving vertically in half the oblivious creature, letting in full display a purple gem embedded in the interior it's corpse.
"What is the thing in the brain?". I ask curiously. Ines crunches down and picks up the gem, surprising Amanda, who apparently couldn't see the evident glowing object until the Barking Bitch held it.
"Crystallized Emts, Between Vitality and Mentality. Eating them in «Concordance». Or ingesting them in the appropriate dose after their refinement, can provide «Experience» in decent quantities".
"How can i find out this measurements?".
Ines makes an Are you serious dumbass face?
"Amnesia remember?. Explain to me everything, like you would do to a toddler".
The Barking Bitch sighs, and complies. "It's very simple, let your Emts flow, directing them to the fingerprints on your right hand, trying to align your fingers at the same height and tap a surface".
{Sounds simple}.
I do as Ines instructed, tapping my fingers against the adjacent wall, creating two burn lines that extend from my thumb and index finger.
"Wow!. No wonder you're so crazy!". The Barking Bitch comments with bewilderment and surprise. "You have an absolute affinity with Ordinance and Vitality. That means «Wine» alignment, and every point in another Stat, will be direly detrimental to you".
{So my initial natural Stats while arriving at Loutharn, shouldn't have included Mentality, much less Radiance}.
{If so, has to be related with the machinations planned by the Mirror Me. He probably exchange some of his Stats for part of my Ordinance and Vitality. Which could explain how he went from being a scrawny dwarf. To a tall, burly weakling}.
"What am i supposed to do in these cases, Ines?. It's not like i can lose Stats. Or is that an option?".
"That's not entirely accurate, but in essence, yes. Trading Subclasses are the best solution. Each Subclass grants 10 Stat Points to you. But Trading Subclasses can exchange one stat for another, effectively reducing the discrepancy within your own alignment".
"My goal should be my Stats only possessing Ordinance and Vitality?".
"That's right, Vurckair. But don't forget there are drawbacks in this approach".
"Thanks for telling me Barking Bitch. You still have to pay me for the Embryon though".
"Argh!. You are disgustingly annoying!". Ines complains, snapping her fingers the Minion doberman rapidly tracking the scent of the Nifflers and the Convoy's people.
The dog doesn't go out, instead, he moves to the basement, where there is an evident colourful inconvenient drawn in the floor.
{It's a fucking «Beacon»}.
However, the canine does something even stranger, he doesn't circles or sniffs any tips of the ethereal star, passing above them, staring blankly at the wall without getting near to it, as if the smell's trail vanished right there.
{We arrive too late, and only Vosha knows about Beacons and how they work}.
"Should we go back, Lustful Beast?. There's nothing to do here". Nonchalantly remarks Ines, a sentiment i share with her, but one that Amanda doesn't understand.
"We're not going to look any further?".
"Not needed, the answer is right there". I say pointing to the multicolored star, but the Vanguard is puzzled. "I don't understand".
Ines intervenes. "She cannot see it. Only those who have awakened their own Stats can".
"How can she do that?".
"By participating in the progress to complete one of our Subclasses, this way, she gain access to the Panel of her Profile".
"I can help her really fast then…". I turn to face her, sternly commanding her. "Kneel, and open your mouth wide".
Amanda blindly follows the order, unfazed by our physical proximity, my groin almost on her face.
The bodysuit's genital part disappears, freeing my hardened manhood. "Breath profoundly and brace yourself, it's not going to take long if you withstand the struggle".
Ines's appalled gasp doesn't distract the dutiful Vanguard from the advice i gave her, inhaling deeply and slightly raggedly as my hands rest on her head, ruffling the short brown hair, guiding her to engulf my virility, steadily reaching and passing Amanda's throat.
[ Piercer ] [ 2 / 20 ]
{So Sehey didn't count because i didn't went to deep}.
Her eyes water with the intrusion, her gag reflexes spasming uncontrollably, disturbing her measured tranquil respiration.
But not for much, i spare her by stepping back, exiting the Vanguard's mouth, my cock glistening with a layer of her saliva, filling the basement with her coughs and prolonged breaths.
Ines's astonished gaze darts to my girthy shaft, causing in her a cocktail of emotions, as the pole is thicker than her sword's handler.
"Profile Panel". Amanda's phrase emanates an ethereal interface from her chest, catching Ines's attention.
[ Amanda Vanguard ]
[ Legionary ] [ Level 0 / 9 ]
[ Progress ] [ 1 / 5 ]
[ 2 ] [ + ] [ Spirituality ]
[ 2 ] [ + ] [ Vitality ]
[ 2 ] [ + ] [ Mentality ]
[ 4 ] [ + ] [ Ordinance ]
[ 0 ] [ × ] [ Radiance ]
{The natives are extremely hindered. Their Level Limit is already determined, and to improve, are literally dependant on us. No wonder why the Nobles and Vagrants reverence the Lost Souls to the point of fanaticism}.
With our primary task proving unattainable, we limit ourselves to explore the area around the suburb's houses, eliminating various Floating Brains, scavenging useful items, and storing them in suitcases that we wrap up in curtains, sheets or tablecloths, ensuring i can smear the fabric copious amounts of my natural lube, to serve as a protective layer.
An hour later, we left the Enclosed Amalgam with Amanda at the front, a precaution not unfounded, because when Ines and I cross the hunter's hut entrance, the construction fades away.
{It seems like Ines was correct, our presence really force the Enclosed Amalgam to stay for longer}.
I sigh, annoyed at my own ignorance, more so because it was supposed to be my first day of lessons at the Lyceum, and when barely an instant will pass at our return due to the Time discrepancy. I prefer to receive reliable theoretical knowledge beforehand.
The rain of ink becomes heavier and thicker, closer to the tar consistency, hurrying in our way back towards the Stronghold…