When I woke up the next morning, I found myself counting my blessings that I remained alive following my actions late last night with An'raie. I still remembered the strange taste of her lips as well as the way her tongue trembled when it struck mine. I also remembered the pleasure that rolled through her body enough to make her legs go weak.

I assumed that An'raie's pride was what kept her from acknowledging how much she enjoyed our brief matter. Then again, as I lay on my tarp, I pondered if it might be something else. Clearly, The Lonely Wail had influenced Diane's behavior somehow. Even Diane claimed she wasn't expecting to get horny at a time such as that.

Hell, I might have written it off if I hadn't seen that brief glimpse of green fire spread through Burnwood's eyes. After all, I fancied a late-night romp myself every once in a while. Yet, never would I have imagined that An'raie might be so desperate for pleasure that she'd seek it out in such a way.

Feeling bold, I further tested the limits of my luck by attempting to speak to An'raie. I called out to her for some time while I heard gentle huffs from my lovers. Well, all except Aesteal. I noticed that she was gone, but I wasn't concerned. She'd always been one to rise early in the morning. The same could be said of Maeloson. Perhaps one of these days I'd ask them why this was so.

As for An'raie, she responded not a single word from me. Hell, she was so silent I almost wondered if she was even still attached to my soul.

At some point, I stopped trying and left The Lonely Wail to her own devices. It was clear she had no desire to reciprocate so I offered not to push the issue. If there was one thing I'd come to understand about An'raie it was that when she wished not to be bothered she was willing to go through numerous measures to isolate herself. Sometimes, I wondered if that might be attributed to her former life as a witch in the black arts. Those like her usually isolated themselves from society, perhaps hoping to never be found unless the matter interested them.

Sighing, I leaned up. This made Diane and Naala's arms fall from my chest. They moaned, yet turned over. Amused, I kissed them briefly before I opened the tent and stepped outside.

I assumed it to be rather early in the morning because the morning's fog blew over the trees and the grass was wet with dew. Even so early, I couldn't help pinching the bridge of my nose when I saw a few members of my crew sprawled out around the barren fire pits like they were drunk off their asses. Some of them had fucking women's bras on their heads and a few of the lasses bore their tits out with a bottle in their hands.

Sometimes, I wondered if I should restrict the booze that passed through their lips. Rather than fret about potential bastards or bitches being born on my ship, I'd sooner worry if my crew might rupture their livers. An odd train of thought for a damned bastard such as myself to have, yet I knew not what else to make of the matter.

I offered my passed-out crew a grunt of dismissal, but turned my attention toward Cellanie and the tents her little Mage Association... associates pitched up. Of course, theirs had to look more grandiose than ours. The tents were pitched high, boasting space wide enough for at least six different people. The famed symbol of the Associate lay plastered near the top point of the tent, glimmering softly amidst the calm surroundings.

Feeling the chill, I briefly returned to my tent and grabbed my coat. I then strapped on my boots, and decided to search for Aesteal.

My journey took me a fair ways away from the campsite, trekking through wet grass and overgrown tree branches. Luckily for me, Aesteal's aura made her rather easy to track down. That said, I wondered what she might be doing that would take her steps so far away.

Interestingly, I received my answer when I happened upon a pleasant surprise. Even from where I stood, I heard Aesteal talking to someone and the noise only got louder as I got closer. When I pushed past some trees, I noticed Aesteal kneeling on the grass while clasping her hands.

Next to her, on a stump, sat Cellanie. The woman looked positively captivated as she watched Aesteal utter an elven prayer.

"And this is something which Fgg'rial elves cite every day?" Cellanie inquired.

"No. Though the words are similar, there is a definite stress between e and ei. The latter is normally used for celebrations of the great spirits while the former offers proper rest to the passing of those spirits not of a divine nature. When I was a citizen of the Fgg'rial Kingdom, I witnessed many foreign guests mess this up. Of course, we were understanding and some offered to teach those who were willing to learn," Aesteal replied.

Curious, I leaned against a tree and watched Cellanie write down notes with a magic quill. Even from where I stood, I made out some drawings and illustrations depicting Aesteal's kneeling position.

"And yet these same e and ei are used in the passing of the Elven King, yes? Unhalyn Crestmount, a special scholar of the Association did a thesis on this. I hope you don't mind. As far as I know, you're the first elves of Fgg'rial to become pirates. None of the others wished to impart such knowledge as some feared it was too close to the cultural integrity of the land," Cellanie spoke next, watching curiously as Aesteal stood to her feet.

I watched Aesteal stand up and dust off her knees. "I believe it was less about cultural integrity and more about a seeking of pride. Many believe that every king and queen chosen in Fgg'rial is the will of the Divine Spirits told by our oracles. We use the e and ei to honor the King and Queen as, somewhat, equal in part to the Divine Spirits. They carry the will of the spirits and that hasn't changed since our founding thousands of years ago. While I'm not sure what the reasons were, I'd assume it was because Fgg'rial was always known to be somewhat recluse. After all, it's no surprise that elves are among the highest in the slave trade. We hardly trusted the few visitors we did allow in when I was there. Perhaps we wished to keep the ways we elected our kings and queens a proper secret," Aesteal explained.

"And it's alright to tell me this?" Cellanie asked.

Aesteal smiled. "I have already been sold from my lands along with Maeloson. I'm not so honor-bound to not share some things. However, I believe as a mage and a scholar, you have a proper mind for inquiry, and your eyes mean no ill intent in the pursuit of such knowledge. It's for that reason that I don't mind imparting it to you."

The female mage pushed up her glasses and nodded. "I see. Thank you. I understand this must be difficult, but I promise to not use such knowledge haphazardly. Perhaps there is time for more?" she asked.

I couldn't help but chuckle as I saw Aesteal nod. Time passed as Cellanie asked more questions relating to Fgg'rial. The air surrounding the forest continued to warm and Aesteal finally claimed that they should return. Luckily for her, Cellanie agreed. The young woman made her way back the way they came while Aesteal grabbed her bow.

"How long have you been there, Sir?" Aesteal then called.

Not sad that I'd been caught, I stepped from around the tree I hid behind and walked over to my Bonded Elf. "You shall make a fine teacher one day," I said.

Aesteal turned to me. "I doubt the crew would be as interested in elven sophistry as she is."

Falling silent for a moment, I wrapped my arm around Aesteal's waist and pulled her to me. "I speak not of my crew, but of those much younger, rowdier, and personal than they. While it shall not happen in the near future, it shall be a future that I shall set upon us both, and I shall do it without hesitation," I replied.

It seemed that my words had their desired effect. Aesteal's cheeks grew red and I noticed the way her eyes looked into mine. "If you would have me, Sir. I would enjoy nothing more," she replied, sailing her hands over my arms.

Unable to resist, in the forests of Olipios, I kissed Aesteal and savored her flesh as she did mine. Her fingers ran through my hair while I grabbed her butt and lifted her into the air. She wrapped her legs around me, need steadily rising within her. The heat of her mouth and her tongue were such an exquisite feeling that I'd never tire of.

Unfortunately, we couldn't commit to our act as I knew the day had drawn late enough.

When we separated, I leaned my forehead against hers. "And yet, I shall indeed give you more. Now come, the day beckons," I said lowly, almost like it was our shared secret.

"Y-Yes, Sir," Aesteal panted, clearly aroused from her nipples pointed against her shirt.

When we returned, the camp was more awake than when I'd left. Men began to stir and others sat around the fire pits feasting on dried meats and fruits. As for the Cellanie's group, I could only fathom a guess that perhaps they weren't used to waking up so early since they looked at my crew with clearly exhausted disdain. Perhaps they were still tired from trying to keep up with us yesterday.

Sucking my teeth in annoyance, I walked over to their group. Immediately, the lot of them were on edge. They might have thought that I didn't know they were channeling mana to fire off spells at a moment's notice, but compared to the bastards I'd fought before these guys were hardly outta their first year at the Association.

"What do you want?" one of them asked, his voice tight and tense.

I glanced at him, watching his hands tremble against the lower parts of his robe.

"Fix the tone while I be in the best of moods else I might rethink this goodwill venture that I've decided to suffer through," I said, reaching into my coat.

I'll admit that I couldn't help but smirk when I saw the poor fuckers jump to their feet in worry. While my current age might suggest otherwise, it was nice to be taken seriously. It reminded me of my old life. Just walking into any normal town would make its denizens scatter to the furthest mountains or swim through even the most treacherous seas.

"And what goodwill could a pirate, especially one as infamous as you, bring?" another asked, taking the courage to come forward.

If there was one thing that annoyed me, it was my height. I sure as hell didn't remember being this small in stature compared to some men. The one in front of me stood a whole two feet tall. Yet, despite his frame, he seemed notably skinny.

"You'd be surprised how much goodwill I can foster when it suits me. That be unless you'd prefer it if I tax the lot of you for what I'm about to give you. I could just as easily do that. After all, it ain't right with me to give something over for free. I suggest you thank the lass in the tent. I'd not bother otherwise," I replied, making every bit of my intentions known.

The group continued to glare at me, yet I decided to ignore their looks. "Take these, one for each of you. Do not eat more than one a day. They should last you the entire time we have to suffer each other," I said, tossing them a jar of red pills from my pocket.

As expected, one of the mages quickly looked at them. "Rejuvenating pills? We already have enough of these. We don't need your charity," another, a woman, spoke up.

Sometimes I wished I were not so tied to my word as I made myself to be. I really wished that I might rid myself of these annoyances. I prayed there might be a favor so dire that I would need Cellanie's aid. That was the only reason I might find myself to suffer like this.

"And yet I've had to slow my men down for you lot more than a few times while you feast on shitty pills and pant like dying dogs in the Sairanian deserts. Quit making your lives, and mine, difficult," I said.

Before they could raise a complaint, I walked away just in time to see Cellanie emerge from her tent. I then turned my attention back to my crew, namely Maeloson. I spotted him sitting in a tree, popping wild berries into his mouth from time to time.

"Maeloson," I called.

Always the studious one, all it took was one glance in my direction before he stood in front of me ready to receive any orders I might have.

"How goes the fate of our followers?" I inquired.

Maeloson looked through the trees for a moment or two before turning back to me. "Either their beast mages have run out of mana to soar overhead or we've simply traveled too far too quickly. I haven't spotted any sort of potential spying from them. However, their camp still lies about twenty miles to the east. They still pursue us, but they are slowing down the march. Aesteal and I don't hear as many metal steps as before," he reported.

I supposed that wasn't surprising. My crew was more than capable of making most of the journey toward Charon's Landing in a few days without stopping. Our only impediment had to be our guests traveling with us.

"Aye, fine. Let them train their legs in their armor if they wish. Should their scouts be bold to come closer then do away with them. Surely they'll imagine it just to be one of the mysterious happenings in the West. As for right now, I wish you to head out to the mountains. You have two hours. Scout what you wish and report back to me. While it might have been a joke, indeed I'd rather not come to find a massive hole in the middle of the ground this time," I responded.

Maeloson quickly nodded. "I'll set out immediately," he answered.

Patting him on the shoulder, I dismissed him.

Following the time that he left, I gathered my mother and the others together. For two hours, we settled any affairs we might have had while we awaited the return of Maeloson. Now that I was aware of it, I wondered if perhaps I should have sent someone else with him. I'd rather not another arrow to my chest from him, unintentional or not.

Thankfully, it seemed that my suspicions and concerns were unfounded. Maeloson returned and stood next to me.

"Like many mountains, there are bandit patrols through this one. I've scouted at least fifty men, but they aren't difficult. Barely even worth a concern. However, the magic grows heavy once you pass through the steep mountain roads. Even now, there are no spirits in the trees, air, earth, or water. I believe the Lich will know of our goal once we've reached the mountain," Maeloson reported.

"And what of the lands beyond the mountain? How do they look?" I asked.

"On the surface, they bear no differences from the lands here. However, I think it's easy, at least for most of us, to sense the Lich's presence. There is dark magic seeping into the ground. Some of the grass has become corrupted and so have the trees. However, it seems to be just as you suspected, the Lich must be in hiding because the spread isn't deep. It must not wish to be discovered while it's doing... whatever it's doing," Maeloson answered.

I noticed Naala lean forward, putting her head in her hands. "So how many days is it gonna be to even get to this place? So far, aside from the dead silence in the forest, we haven't come across anything I'd call strange. I assumed we'd be blowing bullets through skeletons, fighting undead horsemen, and kicking the shit outta ghouls and bloodthirsty beasts," Naala said.

"Keep around this troublemaker, and you just might," Diane laughed, brushing her shoulder against mine.

"Then it sounds like we'd better be ready for anything, especially if this guy... girl... fucking bastard or bitch thing knows we're coming," my mother claimed.

Following that, I gathered my men along with Cellanie and her group. Having given them ample time to rest, we packed our things and made our way back on the road. While we journeyed, I saw Cellanie push through my men to come over to me.

"Thank you for the pills. While my associates were hesitant, no one was left unamazed by the contents of the jar. If I might ask, how was it made? Such a fresh fragrance that dwarfs even the smell of those produced by the experts in the Association, and it's easy on the mana veins. Many thought such a measure to be impossible," she stated.

As usual, the others found amusement in my plight, yet I couldn't deny that the woman's immense thirst for knowledge was rather infectious. While I knew many upstanding mages who would seek knowledge, I knew not so many who would converse with a pirate in order to get it. Stonewall was a strange one if I must so admit.

Unwilling to put up with so many questions, I handed her an alchemist's book. "Take care that you return it, lass. There be a library I need to return this to. Ask your questions in our downtime. Should I be in the mood, I shall address them. For now, we journey to a seemingly perilous destination. Best keep your wits about you," I said.

Cellanie took the book from me, marveling upon its face and spine before she cleared her throat. "Yes, I sense strange magic flowing through the forests now. It's just as the Lunkkak military men claimed. I fear we shall happen upon a powerful adversary," she replied.

"Then best you prepare yourself and your group as much as possible. This ain't gonna be a trip for the lighthearted," I warned.

Our journey took us past one more town before we came up a hill and saw the large mountains in the distance. As expected, they were a geographical marvel, spanning the land from north to south with such length that I couldn't even see the end of it. Like a great divide separating East from West, the mountain might as well have looked like a mighty fortress.

"Never a bad time to try me foot at mountain climbing," one of my crew members said.

"If it be anything similar to your ratline climbing, then I'll be sure to laugh if you fall on your ass. Just try not to take me down with you," another responded, a chorus of laughter coming from behind me.

I noticed Cellanie gaze at the mountains in wonder. She stepped ahead of us, turning her head this way and that. "I never thought the day might come where I might see the Omangis Mountains. Many natives in Olipios, and even many non-natives outside it, believed that these mountains not only separate Olipios, but also separate the very corners of East and West of the world. Many have studied its ways and formations. Some even think the mountains sank into the ocean depths, circling the world and aptly naming it Tagnilion Erthian Urantinus, The World Splitter, or the World's Spine. No mountains like it exist anywhere," she said.

"Aye, and others believe it to hold mystical properties. At certain times of the year, there be a saying that the mountains raise themselves to such heights that not even the most powerful avian beastmen can fly up its length. And worst yet, it never be the same spot. Some speculate it might be here, and others say it be on the other side of the globe. Ain't hardly a rhyme or reason to it," I said as I looked at the mountains.

Though I said this, it was thanks to Liara that I knew the truth, and both stories were rather correct. There was indeed a time when a part of the mountains raised themselves to absurd heights. However, it never happened yearly. It happened whenever it fucking wanted. No one, not even Liara, knew when it would do so. It could have one day after another. It could happen two years apart. It could happen one day and never happen again for thousands of years. Not many knew what to make of it.

As for what was up there, I purposed in my heart to find out at some point. I'd heard rumors of great wealth and power there, and Liara even guessed that one of the Ten Yalorian Crypts might be somewhere hidden in there, yet not even Liara could find out if there was. In fact, I now wondered if perhaps the Alchemist was led here in search of these mountains and if it related to Charon's Landing.

Cellanie looked to me, her next words breaking my thoughts. "Fascinating," she commented.

While I let Cellanie stew in her fascination, I turned to the rest of my crew. The day continued to draw long and I hoped to reach the base of the mountain before dark.

"It looks like we won't be alone, Captain," Naala pointed out.

I looked down and noticed along the sharp grooves of the mountain's edge men as roughly built as the Draegnarian slum inhabitants. They climbed the mountains well, daggers hanging between their teeth. A few wore face masks or carried bones around their waists like trophies, not so dissimilar from what I'd seen Nz'ia do. That said, it was hard to not spot their bloodshot eyes and disfigured hands. They looked more like beasts than humans.

"C-Cannibals," one of the members of the Mage Association behind me said.

The group quickly disappeared into the mountain while Maeloson came over to me. "The corruption appears to be spreading. They weren't like this when I'd seen them," he said.

"Aye, what bastard could stand against the power of a Lich like this? Either that, or they were always allied with the Lich and he transformed them when he knew we might be coming," I reasoned.

I then heard movement behind me. I watched one of Cellanie's mages approach her. "Cellanie, I believe it would be best if we stepped back from the mountain. The magic here is vile, much viler than we anticipated," one of them said.

I surveyed Stonewall's reaction. She looked back at the mountain. She then looked at me. "What do you believe we should do?" she asked. The one next to her scoffed, walking away.

"Ask the uncouth pirate of all people what to do? He'll lead us to our deaths!" the person grumbled, their form getting smaller and smaller.

"I'll take care of it. Just make sure the rest of your group sticks close to mine," I said.

I could tell the woman wasn't quite so accepting of my dismissal of the problem, yet I already knew how I'd overcome this annoyance. Corrupted or not, the lot still had water running through their bodies. Plus, Cellanie knew that I wouldn't stop her if she or her group tried to leave. I could tell she was perplexed by my confidence in the matter.

"Very well," she answered, walking back to her group. As expected, they began to flood her with their concerns and complaints. Some even reasoned that I might use the group to lure out the mountain dwellers.

...While not a bad plan, it was a much messier one than the circumstances required.

I faced my crew. I then commanded us to head down to the mountain. My crew followed after me, not even a word of complaint passing by their lips.

"Hahahaha, quit yer bellyachin'! You ain't seen the crazy shit the Captain can do. He might be a young lad, but ain't no better man to serve or sail under," one of my crew said I assumed to one of the trembling mages behind me.

The closer we got to the mountain, the more Nz'ia growled. He clenched his bone spear in his hands while the rest of us stared at the mountain's great height.

As we approached, I held up my hand and swiftly started gathering more and more clouds. I weaved my hands around the air in front of me. While more and more clouds gather, Nei and Lei pop their heads out to watch.

"More rain. How fucking wonderful," my mother grumbled.

I turned to her and laughed. "Not for this occasion, mother. What sort of captain might I be if I let my crew slip off the already slippery roads? I shall at least try not to assume such a horrid fate for them," I answered.

My mother didn't believe me because she looked at me skeptically. Yet, her worries were dispelled when she and the others realized what I was doing. I continued waving my hands as a heavy fog rolled over the mountain and through the forest.

"No offense, Captain, but you traded a storm of rain for a field of fog. Not sure which one's better," another man said.

I grunted. "Aye, well you lot can take your chances with the fog where you still have solid footing, take the rain where you can't see and it is equally slippery, or I could levitate the lot of you over the mountain, hoping that I got the concentration not to drop one of you on its sharp spears, or I could use magic to tunnel us through the mountain. I had thought you lot had grown sick of being in caves, but clearly, I be mistaken," I answered.

"Fog is fine! It's fucking great actually! We love fog!" another of my crew, a woman, replied.

"MMmmngh! HMmmmmngh! NNNNGH!" one of the men groaned into the hand of the woman who spoke. I watched her pleasantly smile while she kept a tight grip on his mouth.

I supposed I also could have teleported them over, but moving so many people would be taxing even for me. There was a reason even randomly teleporting with Aesteal and myself back on the second island was so taxing even with the uerantite in those caves.

"Maeloson, Aesteal, ready your bows just in case. While I be confident, I ain't gonna take the chance that cannibal bandits be all there is in these mountains," I warned.

"Yes, Sir," they both said, grabbing their bows and readying their arrows. Meanwhile, my mother, Naala, and Diane readied their guns as did the rest of my crew.

"Won't it be hard to find the targets in this fog?" Cellanie inquired.

"It ain't the human-like enemies we be readying for, lass. Captain's got those taken care of. Anything you see larger than the Xhaluter over there will be needing a bastard's trusty aide right here. Now quiet. Let the captain work," one mentioned.

Seeing as I heard no more of Cellanie's voice, I assumed she acquiesced to the request while I continued to blow an even thicker fog over the range of the mountains and the rest of the forest.

"Stick close lest you find yourselves lost in the mountain's pass," I warned, spotting the thin line of the road leading into the majestic mountains.

"Aye, Captain!" The others called.

Once we reached the mountain road, we all fell into silence. Though the fog was thick, I could navigate and it wasn't hard for my crew to follow after me. We stuck close together, the only sound being our steps along the ground and the distant howl of wind over the cliffs and ridges. Every once in a while a piece of stone would fall, reverberating through the rocky valley.

I glanced back at my crew, amusing myself with watching them. As expected, Maeloson and Aesteal had all their senses trained, their bows ready to be fired at a moment's notice. My mother twirled her blades between her fingers while Naala fancied herself a look into the fog with her pistols.

Suddenly, Nz'ia growled. "Tkuchi makemkem mi to!" he snarled. I watched him clench his spear out of the corner of my eyes. I then saw Diane whisper something to Goron. Others of my crew remained alert, albeit a few with some nervousness.

As for Cellanie and her men, I supposed the lot were more disciplined than I'd thought. A few of them took out magic artifacts and even began whispering incantations to themselves, applying all manner of positive spells to their bodies. One of them even whispered to Cellanie regarding my methods, yet she promptly dismissed the concerns, much to the irritation of the others.

All that said, Nz'ia's words stuck with me until I heard Maeloson quietly speak. "Sir, I smell blood," he said.

I nodded. "Aye, 'fret not. We have a few guests. You'll smell more. It just won't be our own," I said.

The others looked around, yet they had no need to. I sensed at least twelve bodies of water hiding amongst deep trenches and high above the stone cliffs. Their mana didn't exactly make them subtle either.

Clenching my right hand, I took control of the water within our unseen enemies and forced it out from inside them. They didn't even get the chance to scream when I sealed their mouths shut. They could only fall as ambient noise over the mountains, crashing and sliding into the trails below.

"What was that?" one of the Association mages asked.

"Guess some poor shit slipped and fell in the fog. It ain't our concern," I answered.

We continued onward and I dealt with the bandits quietly and without mercy. If there was anything to be surprised by, it was the knowledge of just how many I'd killed. While I hadn't been seriously counting, I assumed that I'd crushed at least fifty to sixty men. It made me wonder just how many of them were left.

The sun had long since gone down, but none of my crew wished to sleep in these mountains and neither did those of the Mage Association. The fog was still heavy and I knew not many of us had the power to see in the dark.

Thankfully, An'raie, though still not speaking to me, still merged her soul with mine and allowed me to peer into the darkness. She then granted me the ability to connect my mind with the rest of my crew. For the next three hours, I was forced to endure all kinds of thoughts while also cutting down any other bandits lurking in the shadows.

As soon as we came out the other side of the mountain, I ceased the spell and rubbed my temples.

"Sir, are you alright?" Aesteal asked.

"Aye. It was just a lot. And I know more about you lot than I ever wish to in this lifetime," I claimed, nursing the damned headache I'd received from my endeavor. Never would I wish to know the thoughts of over a hundred people simultaneously ever again.

I must have been more exhausted than I thought because I took a step forward only to stagger back until my mother caught me and held me up. "You sure as hell don't look alright. Come sit your ass down for a minute. No one's gonna lose their head in that time," she said, leading me away from the crew.

I laughed and thought to make a clever reply, but the words never found their way past my lips. Instead, my mother leaned me against a tree while I allowed everyone a few minutes of reprieve. I'd rather journey into the west side of the mountains a little more simply to make sure we weren't followed by the bandits. While I was confident we'd be more than equipped for any night assault, that didn't mean I fancied being disturbed.

While I caught my breath, Diane handed me her waterskin and I drank from it thankfully. I then watched Cellanie approach. "I'm not sure whether to be amazed or terrified that the stories told of you are true. Such a fog should have been impossible. I also noticed how each mana signature disappeared without a single attack. How did you do it?" she asked.

I grunted, sparing her a glance. "Ain't too many things living that ain't got water in them, Lass. Where there be water, I have a say in the outcome. Now, don't tell me you followed after me thinking I might be a false tale," I returned.

She looked at me plainly, yet even though it was dark I noticed a smile soon after. "I had suspicions as to such might, having never seen such feats before. However, I believe I am forced to contend with the reality. Had I the honor I would have enjoyed studying the origin of your might," she claimed.

Curiously, I looked at her. It was true that even I was curious as to the origin of my strength. I hadn't even asked Seraphina about the origin of hers. Surely most men don't just wake up one day and find themselves wielding the realm of Poseidon like it be their own kingdom.

"Care if you try. There's some shit you're better off not knowing. Believe me," Diane warned, drawing our gazes and a few others. She then looked out into the forest, a sharp and unsettled gaze coming upon her.

"Real shit you've got us into again, Captain. Maybe there was a good reason to come here. I smell the magic of that bastard back on that island. It's not as potent, but it still carries a rich, yet ominously vile stench," Burnwood commented.

Cellanie looked out into the forest. "Yes, I sense it as well. It's more than I've ever felt before. I admit that I'm feeling a little... underprepared for this task. I'd not thought such horrid mana could exist upon the realm of D'orn or any other. It flies in the face of nearly everything I've been taught," she uttered.

For one so surprised, she certainly seemed to be taking it better than others that I'd seen. "There are many things to learn and even more things to discover. You'll come to know that the more you think you know of this ball of water and dirt, the less you actually know in the end," I spoke.

Following that, I stood up, having rested enough. I gathered my crew together and we continued our trek through the west side of the mountains.

As Maeloson warned, we all started to catch glimpses of the Lich's corruption. Just like he saw, a few trees were notably different from others. Though it was dark, many of us sensed the vines strangling the bark of the trees. The leaves glowed a putrid mix of green and violet.

Even the grass itself was corrupted. What was once soft grass meant to be walked over by a man's boot and heel, how now become as sharp as a blade and as tough as steel.

Ever the curious bunch, one of my crew members reached out to touch a piece only for the grass to lunge at them aggressively like it had a mind of its own.

"By the fucking Red River. What the fuck kinda grass is this?" a woman of my crew questioned.

Cellanie walked over to the grass and knelt in front of it. When she placed her hand over it, we all watched the grass grow, clearly hoping to prick her palm which she held dangerously close. "Fascinating. It's such an aggressive plant life. The corrupting magic has not only changed its nature but also its very identity. Based on the way the magic flows and the way the grass attacks, I surmise it's either hoping to feast on us... or infect us with a vile curse," the glasses-wearing mage reasoned.

"You mean to tell me we're getting hunted by plants again?!" a man of my crew exclaimed.

One of the members of the Mage Association looked at him. "You have seen such a phenomenon before?" he asked.

"Well... not this type, but let's just say we had our study into fucking plants at one point. Hypnotized two of our crewmates and almost digested them had it not been for the captain," Naala pointed out.

Knowing they spoke of Kavtha, I looked back at the grass while I heard Cellanie speak. "Does this plant still exist?" she asked.

"No, and best you be glad that it doesn't. We burned it up well good, we did. Now, Captain, best I bring a grave matter to our attention. Where we gonna sleep? Sorry, but I ain't so keen to step on the grass anymore," another of my crew said.

"Tell thine crew there shall be no concern. Such rudimentary magic is easily taken care of," An'raie said, surprising me with her voice.

"You had no need to intervene. I'd have taken care of this matter," I said.

"Tis of use to me. Such magic shall fit mine purposes better than it might for thee," An'raie replied, falling silent once more. I then watched the vile mana in the grass seep into the air. Like flames dancing in the sky, they hovered overhead until they washed over me.

"Eric Drakclaw, have you gone mad? Stop absorbing the mana! Such vast quantities of wretchedness will taint your soul and render you less than even a vile beast!" Cellanie cried, drawing all attention to me. My ears picked up on the worries of Cellanie's other associates. They called me crazy, whispering that I'd planned to doom them and the rest of my crew in a foolhardy attempt at power.

As for Cellanie, I hadn't expected her to rush to my supposed aid to stop my "crazy" endeavor. However, before she could touch me, Diane grabbed her arm.

"Calm down. Believe me, I've thought him short a whole brain as well. But, there be a method to even the strange shit he does. He knows what he's doing," Diane said, forcefully dragging her away.

"Are you insane? Who can stand against such a large intake of corrupted black magic? We have to stop the process immediately and remove the tainted magic. Even a Grand Celestial would..."

"No offense, girl, but we've seen shit that would knock the balls off your Mage Association elders. You lot just catching the barest glimpse of it," one of my crew said.

Everyone remained quiet while An'raie continued to take in the magic of the Lich, clearly taking care to keep it from interacting with my own magic too much lest I find myself attempting to keep it from corrupting me as Cellanie feared.

Steadily, the grass lost its sharp structure and aggressive nature. Even in the darkness, I saw proper color return to the landscape until the fields and trees were left harmless.

"Walk further. Mine hand shalt taketh up all the power that this being hath left around. Such reckless use indeed showeth itself. This Lich hath not delved into proper mastery of the finer arcane arts," An'raie claimed.

I would have asked further questions, yet she seemed to not be so keen on talking to me unless absolutely necessary. I supposed a few nights ago wasn't so readily forgotten. As I desired not to irk her, I turned to my crew.

"Let's keep moving. We've wasted enough time here," I ordered.

"Aye, Aye, Captain!" The others said, though my focus was on Cellanie's disbelieving gaze. Her glasses hung around her nose while she looked at me.

"That... That's not possible," she muttered. The rest of her group shared the very same sentiments as she did until I turned around and continued on my way.

For another two or three hours, we continued to walk while An'raie absorbed the Grand Elder Lich's mana from the surroundings. After that time, I finally decided that we'd journeyed enough that there would be no risk of assault from anything else in the mountains.

Though it was safe, it took a demonstration from me that the grass and trees were safe to touch. Following my confidence, the others quickly walked through the forest, taking notice that they weren't as dense as the eastern side of the mountains.

We settled into an open plains section of the forest and pitched our tents. The whole time I felt Cellanie's eyes on me while we made fire pits and feasted on our stores of food. Though An'raie had cleansed much of the environment, no one seemed willing to hunt the animals here or taste the fruits of the land.

While I feasted on bread and dried meat, I saw the young female mage walk over to me. "Eric Drakclaw, may we speak?" she asked.

Aesteal and Naala looked at her while Diane and my mother ignored the commotion, focusing on their meals.

I looked at her as well. I was tired and I would have told her off, but the gaze I found in her made me rethink my course. I found myself groaning, yet I accepted her request with a nod. I felt Nei and Lei stir within me as I rose.

It seemed quite evident that the young woman was intent on leading me away from the campsite. Nevertheless, we didn't travel far when she stopped walking. The lass must have been starved for words because she remained silent for a long time. I almost thought to do away with this conversation, but luckily she found her voice.

"Eric Drakclaw, I admit that I'd not thought much of you in terms of mystic might. Of course, I was obviously aware that you had some since you knew illusion and shape-shifting magic, and I found it hard to believe the stories of C'ula. An entire nation devastated by one pirate ship that no one had ever heard of before. Yet, everything which you have done in the past few days seems to fly in the face of everything that I've been taught by my teachers. Research that I've presented in my classes seems like a mere child's report to what I've seen," she said.

I remained silent, watching her rub her shoulders.

"I admit that I'm a little scared of you and your crew. There are numerous reasons why many aren't accepted into the Mage Association. Even the newest students enrolled are considered to boast exceptional levels of mana that the average person can't hope to attain. From the beginning, we're taught that mana can only be increased through wisdom, study, life experience, and the accumulation of knowledge. Only special individuals are capable of wielding arcane power and physical might together, those with special physiques. Yet, I've studied your crew. Based on the tales of these people in texts and scrolls, none of them save the Xhaluter, Diane, and Goron boast such a physique, yet such mana should be impossible to obtain. It's as if your entire crew is a walking enigma," she explained.

Cellanie then proceeded to pace back and forth, sweat spilling from her forehead while she fixed her glasses. "To gain the level of mana that they possess, even if one spent ten lifetimes accumulating knowledge they would never be able to make it. And, no offense, but your crew doesn't seem to be very adept in the 'knowledge' area," she said.

I shrugged my shoulders. Well, she certainly wasn't wrong to think that. For as much wisdom as the bastards and bitches might have in surviving Draegnar, most of the lot wouldn't be passing any schools or writing any brain-rattling essays to Mage Association professors. Hell, over half my crew didn't even know how to read and write.

"Aye, the lot can be stupid sometimes. It be a part of their charm. Make the matter quick. I'm tired and the night draws long enough. What are you asking of me?" I asked, hoping to move this along. Granted, I had a pretty good idea of where this was going.

"Based on what I know, such a phenomenon could only come about if black magic was involved. Yet, again, all the signs I see point out that your mana is even purer than that of my teachers, or even my Elder Instructor. Even the headmaster pales in comparison. Only one time have I been surprised, and it was when the corpse of a mighty beast came into the control of the Ashen Crystal Empire. The things I've heard sound like the stuff of myths. Numerous scholars have begun rewriting long-established papers and books from that one monster," she claimed.

Finally, Cellanie turned to me. "Where did your crew find such capable strength? I wish to know," she said.

I laughed. "Of course you wish to know, lass. Anyone would wish to know how others become so powerful. Is that not why you joined the Mage Association?" I asked.

Surprisingly, Cellanie shook her head. "No. I joined because my family was poor and the tutors of the Association happened to pass by our town and take notice of me. He claimed I had potential and paid for me to enter the Association. My parents hardly spared a thought as to whether I would or would not attend. However, it worked out because my mother always told me I was inquisitive, always asking questions no one had the answers to, sometimes not even my own professors. Becoming a Celestial Mage would have just given me more answers to more questions. I merely wish to see, understand, learn, and... study," she claimed.

I raised an eyebrow. "You mean to tell me that you simply wish to amass a large fortune of knowledge and do nothing with it? Best you take care, Lass. You hardly be the first to think such a seastorm of thoughts. Take care that they don't capsize you as they have numerous others. The pursuit of knowledge has turned many a man's heart black just as much as the pursuit of wealth and fame. There be more to life than riches and there be more to the sea than knowledge. Aye, that might be rich coming from a pirate, but any true swashbuckler knows where the true riches lie," I reasoned, watching her glance off to the side.

"Be there truly nothing other than knowledge that would light a fire underneath the heart of a Mage such as yourself? Surely, the embrace of books is a cold and fleeting one even to the most seasoned researcher," I then commented, hoping to grant her more to think about.

There was a strange silence between the both of us, pirate and Association mage. "Would you simply hoard all this knowledge for yourself, burying it with your corpse once you die? Aye, explore the world, understand it, pursue it, question it, challenge it, yet dare to leave something behind for the fuckers who come after you. If you're gonna do something, best make sure the world realizes how crazy you were to do it and rest assured that the world shall reward you for that insanity," I said as I reached into my head and pulled out Nei.

When I opened my hand, Cellanie gasped when she saw Nei. My fairmaid looked back at her curiously, tilting her head while her fairy wings fanned in the cold air. Her tail glided over my hand while Lei popped her head out.

"I... that... how...!" Cellanie stammered. It was one hell of an amusing sight.

I reached into my pouch and grabbed a scroll. I then unsealed a book from Delverhold from its confines. "Care, Lass. This is a very dangerous book. Your desire, a man once had it before and this be but a taste of where such a matter led him and his legacy. Though he still lives, you shall see what might become of you should you seek nothing more than knowledge itself," I said.

Surprisingly, the woman didn't accept the book immediately. Rather, she impressed me when she looked at it skeptically. She then looked at me like the book might trap her soul within its confines for all eternity.

After a while, Cellanie took the book from me, albeit slowly, while keeping her gaze centered on the fairmaids as if she could hardly comprehend their existence.

Feeling that she'd seen enough, I turned around and walked back to camp.

"And our glorious captain returns. What was that about?" Naala asked, leaning back in the grass next to the fire.

"Lass had some questions. I had some answers," I answered.

I tried not to laugh when the others looked at me strangely, yet I noticed Cellanie walk back to her tent, the tome clutched firmly in her grasp. Her associates looked at me suspiciously, but I paid them no mind. Instead, I fed Nei and Lei with a few pieces of enchanted leaves. It seemed that they didn't care much for dried fruits or meats.

"So what do we do now?" Diane asked.

Following the question, my mother pulled out a map. "There are a total of three cities and five towns between these mountains and Charon's Landing. The first city is about three or four days away. Given the shit we just saw a few minutes ago, I'd bet my left boot that there's gonna be even stranger shit. It just depends, Eric. How do you want to approach the lands? Wanna keep going straight, come into them from the south, or come into them from the north?" she asked.

"We shall head straight in. There be no point in hiding. Besides, even without such stores of mana, the number of men I'm bringing hardly makes for such a subtle approach," I responded.

"Do we still not know where the Lich is hidden?" Maeloson questioned.

"Well, it's rather hard to sense the fucker with all this vile magic swarming about. As for the cities, I can't help but agree that they're likely to have some weird shit spawning in them. The Captain ought to know how a fucking Lich loves its damned black spells, especially Necromancers," Diane said with a grin.

"Tell thine harlot that her comments hath been heard and her humor hath no place of amusement. I wouldest not degradeth mine pursuits in such a frivolous manner," An'raie spoke.

Sometimes, a man might wonder just where the Wail started to care about what others thought of her. More often than not, she seemed content to just isolate herself from any matter not worth her attention.

Ever the accommodating captain, I spoke An'raie's words to Diane, and Burnwood snorted. "Please, I've been around you guys more than even I care to admit. When might the last time be that you didn't summon a fucking dog's favorite chew toy?" Burnwood then asked.

It seemed An'raie had washed her hands of the matter as she didn't bother responding. Thankfully, Diane didn't bother beating a dead horse. Instead, we continued to ponder our travels some more until the night drew late.

Even as I went to bed, I noticed a part of the Mage Association's tent with its lantern still on. I then climbed into my tent where Naala and my mother waited for me. I slept between them, each of them with their hands on my chest. Nei and Lei, typically slithered beneath my shirt and curled around each other on top of my stomach.

When I woke up the next morning, I found my cock buried deep into the crevice of my mother's ass. She certainly didn't seem to mind as she even brushed against my erection a few times. As much as I wished to grant her a pleasant morning in the form of an intimate embrace, I also knew that it would have to come later for we'd need to continue.

...And there would be a fucking later for sure!

It didn't take long for my crew to come together once again. The group of mages from the Association soon gathered. Of them all, I noticed that Cellanie looked the most exhausted. She kept pushing up her glasses, rubbing her eyes with her fingers. When she saw me looking, she turned her head away, perhaps talking to her men instead.

Not perturbed, I ordered us to keep moving. As expected, the Lich's magic continued to grow in density the closer we came. That said, it wasn't anything An'raie couldn't handle. I dare say she enjoyed taking in the Lich's magic for herself.

For days we traveled until we came upon our first town. The reactions of my men were mixed while those of the Mage Association gasped in horror.

"By the Great Ones. What vile thing has been done to this town?" one of the male mages of Cellanie's group asked.

My eyes narrowed when the lot of us saw rows of men and women strung up and tied by their necks over the town entrance. A dense veil of dark green mist flooded through the town. Buildings lay abandoned and copious amounts of fallen materials littered the ground, namely Olipios military uniforms, and even armor, weapons, and shields from those soldiers employed by the nation.

"Fuck, never thought me legs would be standing at the entrance of Draegnar again," One of my crew claimed, breaking the silence.

"Aye, only difference be that these houses look a whole lot better than the island's shithole of a poor district. Ain't even no dog shit on the ground or drunken bastard with a slit throat," a woman said, swirling her blade between her fingers.

"How can you all be so callous to such suffering?! Does the death of this town mean nothing to any of you?! Are you Draegnarians even human?!" A woman of the Mage Association blurted out, garnering the attention of the others.

"Quiet yer bellyachin', lassie. A sight like this be just another day upon the bloodstained roads of Draegnar. You lot never bothered trying to help us. Granted, we would have shafted you for trying, but this be no different from any other sight. In fact, I'd say this town's also got better birds than we do. Ain't no ravens and crows over the seashore," Another said.

Indeed, I noticed numerous crows cawing atop the barren roofs. Their eyes glowed with purple fire from the realm of Gilin, a realm known for possessing powerful otherworldly fire that was said to be able to control anything.

I turned and noticed Aesteal staring at the town evenly. Though her face remained stoic, I knew that her aura grieved for the masses. It ain't like a pirate to have such a bleeding heart, you'll run out of blood eventually. Yet, this was perhaps but one of the many things I loved about her.

"Can you take care of this mist?" I inquired to An'raie.

Rather than answer, The Lonely Wail flew into the air over the town. With nary any effort, she absorbed the green mist from the entire town, keeping it contained in the palm of her hand. Granted, it wasn't like I couldn't deal with it as well, but An'raie obviously made a good use for the mana from the corrupting spell rather than me who would have just destroyed it.

"If you wish to bury them, then you shall have the time," I said to Aesteal.

She looked at me in surprise before I turned to face the others. "Scour the area. While it hardly be gold and silver, it still catches fine coin. Take to your heart's content!" I ordered.

My crew cheered, walking into town. They ignored the disgusted looks from the Mage Association while Aesteal turned to me. "Thank you, Sir," she stated.

I patted her shoulder, letting her know that I needed not her thanks for this.

I watched my elven lover pull her bow back and shoot the corpses down. While I cared not for the fates of these men, women, and likely children, I knew that Aesteal did, and, had I the power, I'd ensure that no lover of mine might have such depressing thoughts.

"You fucking softy," My mother said, punching my shoulder.

"Softy! Softy! Softy!" Nei chanted after my mother. The latter laughed and the former soon followed suit.

Annoyed, I smacked my mother's ass and pulled Nei out of my clothes. "Keep the sass, and the two of you shall see how soft I might actually be," I warned.

Nei licked her lips invitingly while Lei laughed at her older sister. My mother just snorted. "If you're ever soft around me, then I think I'm doing something wrong," she replied.

I might have kissed my mother had the atmosphere not been so off-putting. Instead, I spent some time watching my crew loot the place while Aesteal and Maeloson, with the help of the Mage Association, took down the bodies. It seemed that not a single person had been left alive amongst the masses. A population of about two hundred or three hundred were buried outside the town.

Aesteal prayed for their souls while I looked at the town, a frown marring my face.

"What's the matter? You seem upset," Naala said, approaching me with Diane.

As expected of my powder monkey, she must have read my thoughts from whatever expression my face had worn. Luckily, it seemed that I didn't need to voice my thoughts as Diane did them for me.

"This is most likely where the Lich first arose, or at least it passed through here first before heading further West. It was most likely experimenting on the population. You can tell because the dumbass had a lot of magic seals on the ground. Even the bones of those people were tampered with. Hell, I bet some of those Olipios men investigating this area were a part of this group that disappeared. Question is, what's the fucker researching?" Diane asked.

Naala stared between us. "Well, supposedly this is where that Alchemist guy turned to next from his little getaway island. Maybe the Lich is experimenting with the guy's stuff?" Naala inquired.

"Aye, perhaps. Or this was simply his part in his own ventures. The bastard could have been experimenting on the masses and discovered The Alchemist's work later. Either way, that bastard's working on dangerous shit," I mentioned.

I heard the mighty steps of Goron come behind us. "Yes. There are marks to numerous powerful entities. Though The Lonely Wail has rid the town of the vile mist, the land and air are still cursed beyond her means. Powerful, yet deranged beings have tainted the soil. It will be a handful of millennia before this land might be made inhabitable once again. That is... without outside interference," he suggested, or at least it sounded like one to me.

Unfortunately, I had no proper incentive to help further than what I'd allowed Aesteal to do. Once the people were buried and a prayer for their souls done, I ordered us to continue on our journey.

As we left the town behind, I took notice of Aesteal's aura. Though still saddened, I felt there wasn't as much grief as before. Her face also seemed less even and more joyful. When she turned to me, she could hardly resist kissing my cheek, much to the amusement of my crew.

"Thank you, Sir. I pray that the Great Spirits shall tend to their souls," she claimed.

While the kiss was welcome, I resisted the urge to ruin her mood with a sarcastic comment. "So long as you be pleased with the result, then that shall be enough for me," I returned.

We continued on our way and the eerieness refused to cease. Unlike the first town, every town we passed for the next four days was left void of all life. Men, women, children, even animals, nothing seemed to be around the towns. Hell, there wasn't even armor to collect.

"Hmmm, I believe there is a pattern here. The Lich is growing in confidence," Cellanie said, parting from the crowd and looking upon one of the doors.

"And how would you know that, Mage Lady?" one of my crew inquired.

"As we travel further west, not only has the mana grown in density, but you can also see these small patches of disturbed ground. The residents were likely dragged away," one of Cellanie's members interjected, clearly not so amused by the show of disrespect from my crew member if the glare on their face might mean anything.

This one stepped forward and threw a clump of flower dust over the ground. We watched as the dust seeped into the dirt. The mage then held out his hands. "In the name of Hnanalin, Guardian of the Gate of Truth, I seek the road to vanquish evil. Iture!" the mage chanted, pouring a bit of blood from a jar on the ground.

"It's likely that the creature was once a mortal when it came into the first town. It started its experiments there until it was discovered turning into its current form. A large battle broke out with no survivors. It must have stayed in that town for some time, even combating the forces of the first city, along with any reinforcements that came from over the mountains. Once it had been satisfied, it moved on to other targets to test its knowledge on. Every town we've passed from the first has had missing residents. From this conjecture, we can theorize an increase in the creature's confidence," the man said as we noticed a blood lily come out of the ground.

Supposedly, blood lilies were very receptive to black magic. While it could absorb vile mana, it sure as hell couldn't compete with An'raie. I needn't even look at the flower to know that it had immediately turned green and withered away.

"The only question is, where could the Lich have gained such might in such a short amount of time?" The mage asked.

"The Lost Isles of Delverhold. It actually exists," Cellanie said, gaining surprised looks from everyone. Nearly every eye from my crew was on me while I continued to survey Cellanie's reaction. She stared at the tome I'd given her like it had become the greatest treasure in her entire life.

Another of the young woman's associates, a man, came forward. "Cellanie, enough of this. You have been clutching that tome for far too long. We have no time to deal with myths, legends, and fairytales. I don't know if you have been captivated by tales from this pirate, but do take hold of your nerve! You shall become a Celestial Mage in the coming months. Put away these childish notions!" he exclaimed, the limits of his patience reaching their end.

I watched Cellanie hold her head down. She took off her glasses and cleaned the lenses from the fog. She then faced her associate. "I have been putting away childish notions, High Magister Demman. Those fairytales, those myths, they were all true. I smell the mana on this book. Similar mana lies to the far east, further than any ship should dare travel. Additionally, some of it is even sheltered here. I thought the mana of this pirate crew was strange when I first saw them, but now I know. They've all been to Delverhold and most likely seen its wonders," she answered.

As soon as she finished speaking, I'll admit I was a little surprised. While sensing mana was hardly anything new for anyone of D'orn, being able to sense mana from so great a distance and so quickly was staggering, especially for a lass not enchanted with the magic of Delverhold. It seemed she was worth her salt to join the Mage Association or rise through its ranks.

"Cellanie, I have seen your aptitude. I do not think you of improper mind. What are you seeing that we're not?" another mage asked.

"I believe our guards would be the best answers to that question," Cellanie said.

Just like that, all eyes were on me before I urged us onward. We left the town and I'd begun the long, yet tiresome tale of Delverhold. Cellanie listened with rapt attention and fascination. Her associates were less believing though it seemed they clung to my words at least somewhat since they couldn't stop asking questions about the isles. Unfortunately, I had to dash their hopes of going back since the island had sunk into the seabed.

"And you couldn't bring them out with your mighty powers?" Demman asked. I was certain I heard some resentment in his voice, yet I made no concern of it.

"I appreciate that ye think much of me. However, it be beyond even me to lift five separate islands at once. Even harder to keep them up," I answered, not bothering to make note of how this High Magister felt about the news.

I then spoke that one of the Alchemist's journals described an experience of something in Charon's Landing, where the Lich was most likely situated.

"And you thought not to tell us this?!" one of the Association mages asked, seemingly unsettled with my methods.

I smiled. "I thought such distinguished mages of the Association wouldn't accept a lowly pirate's opinion of magical affairs. Clearly, I was wrong. Best I seek your forgiveness," I drawled, earning chuckles from my crew.

"How much does shit like that go for back in the Association? Betcha can't even buy a plate of pig's balls with a shot of scotch," a man of my ship said, guffawing at the unsettled looks of the Association group.

"Fancy yourself a shot of dog piss instead, Drugna?" another asked, making Drugna laugh even louder.

Either way, I continued with my story until we made camp. "And that be the grand tale of our journey. Think on it if you wish," I said, particularly staring at Cellanie.

"And just where are these mystical tomes which you claim to have garnered from these mystical isles? Surely, you have some proof to back up these asinine claims," Demman said.

The High Magister must have thought I hadn't noticed, but it would have been impossible for me to not see the subtle gleam in his eyes. Beneath his gaze was a mountain of greed and desire.

"High Magister Demman!" Cellanie exclaimed fearfully. She then looked at me worriedly.

I laughed. "Believe what you will, High Magister. However, I ain't the sharing type, and I think the lot of your men would do well to remember that we're pirates. We be a rather fickle and temperamental bunch. Best stay on our good side," I warned.

As if to emphasize my claim, a few of my men licked their blades while others swirled their guns in their hands.

"Your point has been noted, Eric Drakclaw. We apologize," a hooded woman claimed.

Following that minor ordeal, the camp settled into silence. Unfortunately, my time with the Association didn't seem to have an ending just yet as Stonewall found herself in front of me once again. Even before she could speak, I had a feeling I knew what she might ask.

"May we speak again, Eric Drakclaw?" she asked. As it turned out, should I ever hang up my pirate's coat I was sure I had a future as a mind reader.

Naala laughed. "Careful, Captain. Take anymore and we'll leave you a fucking husk," she said. Naturally, Cellanie looked confused, yet I stood.

"Fret not. I shall always have more than enough energy should I need to satiate all of you," I boasted.

"Fucking promises..." Diane grunted, waving us off as Cellanie led me away for the second time.

Once we were alone, I felt the need to speak a thought that happened upon my mind. "Dare you see me in secret like this anymore and your friends might think less of you," I commented.

Cellanie faced me and cleared her throat. "We have been on numerous undertakings together. If their perception of me would fall so low so quickly, then I believe it wasn't high to begin with. That said, the circumstances that we're finding ourselves in have forced my hand a little. I would not think it possible, but I feel a little bit out of my depth here. I have... studied the tome which you have gifted me over the many nights of this voyage. It's spectacular. It's so spectacular I am almost fearful of the strides this man was able to make. Some of them are beyond even what the greatest of mages in the Association spoke of, and to know that we're heading to a similar location fills me with unease," Cellanie spoke, walking back and forth while scratching her chin.

My eyes followed her and, even in the darkness of the night, I saw her legs tremble every now and then.

At some point, she stopped her pacing. "I'm forced to concede that I'm beginning to understand the weight of my words. I'd assumed this a simple matter of a mischievous beast, yet I've had my entire twenty years of study at the Association shattered in only a few days. As a scholar, I'm rather excited at the possibility, but every nerve of mine trembles like we've traveled to the far north. The bodies of men and women are so decrepit that they're barely identifiable. I've seen such dead before, but never in such grotesque manners..."

As I watched her, it seemed like Cellanie stopped talking to me and started mumbling to herself. The poor lass even bit the nail of her thumb again while the sound of crunched Fall leaves moved through her heeled boots.

"It be not too late to turn around. As you yourself stated, a favor from you be hardly worth shit to me if you're dead, especially if you're also too worried to continue the journey," I remarked, drawing the magefrom her thoughts.

After a long look at me, she finally sighed and straightened up. "I have thought about such a matter," she admitted, much to my surprise.

"However, I wish to know all the same. I wish to study. I wish to understand. I wish to comprehend this otherworldly feat. I'm not sure if the others would continue. After all, I am to be leading this expedition. High Magister Demman is simply there to observe my decisions. Whether to continue or not, is simply based on my decision," she said.

I chuckled. "Aye, that be the burden placed on those like us. You might think all of us of shoddy intelligence that don't attend your schools, but there be rules and lessons to be learned out here. Some bastards even older than you or I still ain't got it right. Every action, decision, and turn we make crashes the waves of others' lives. Not many be cut out for it," I said.

Then, Cellanie looked at me strangely. There was a weird pointedness to her gaze that I both liked and didn't like. Finally, she chuckled. "You are a strange young man. You speak like someone far older," she claimed.

I hummed. "Aye, I've been told that. You learn to grow a set of balls on Draegnar quickly as a young man," I answered.

Despite the crassness of my speech, Cellanie hardly seemed to mind. In fact, I dare say she found my words a little funny. Why, I had no idea but I bothered not with questioning it.

"...Have you truly been told The Lose Isles of Delverhold before?" Cellanie asked.

Rather than answer, I reached into my pouch for my scroll. I then unsealed another book from its confines, presenting it to her. "Whether you believe my tale or not is up to you. Just know that it is likely to be the same there as it is here," I claimed, handing her the book.

She looked at it for only a moment. Turning to me, she took off her glasses. "What is it you want, Eric Drakclaw? You mentioned dreams to me before. What is it that you desire above all else?" Cellanie asked.

For once, the smile upon my face fell. The mage waited for my answer patiently and I knew there were many ways I could go about answering this question. Thoughts of Leah burned within my mind as did thoughts of the rest of my former crew. Distant clouds rumbled, a clear sign of my declining mood. Yet, I allowed myself to think beyond them. Once they all lay dead at my feet, their rotting corpses food for the worms and bugs in the ground, I thought of what I might do next.

"A life worth living, Stonewall," I said as I left the tome with her and made my way back to my crew.

"Hahaha, glad to see you back, Captain! Take any longer and we just might... eat..."

Though I heard Naala's voice, I felt myself in something of a daze. I slipped into my tent and laid down. I didn't even bother taking off my clothes. Instead, I continued to look at the tent's ceiling while my thoughts drowned out the rabble outside.

"Mate alright?" I looked up, spotting Nei looking at me over my forehead. Even Lei showed herself out of my chest pocket, her eyes gleaning with concern.

Was I alright? What man be of right mind if he should become a pirate?

"Aye, I be alright, Nei," I said.

Nei slipped off my face and kissed me, her mouth pecking mine while Lei soon followed.

"Sir, are you alright?" asked Aesteal from outside the tent.

I closed my eyes, allowing my hands to touch and toy with Nei and Lei's hair. The two certainly seemed to enjoy the intimate touches, gently rubbing their tails over my skin.

"I be fine, Aesteal. Enjoy yourselves," I answered.

I heard no further response from Aesteal and she steadily moved away from the tent, albeit seemingly reluctantly.

While the noise outside continued, I thought of my former life. I thought of the children I'd sired. Indeed, I missed them. Each and every one of them I loved. Yet, I knew that I might never see them again as I doubted I'd be so willing to bed their mothers again. Though I loved my children, the manner in which I'd met their mothers sometimes wasn't the best. Some were nights of regrets that my youthful ignorance ignored, and others were ones of promises too big for any man to handle.

I knew there might come a day when I might give up the Mark of Hoɖ. Though I would try my best, I wondered if my lovers, or even I, might survive to see such a dream as a reality.

After a while, my thoughts laid me to sleep. At some point, I was joined by my lovers. No one spoke a word, yet I felt the way they each clung to me. The tent was much warmer than night compared to others.

More days passed by for my crew with those of the Mage Association still following behind us. Yet, I quickly noticed something different as we stepped over a hill. I held up a hand and everyone stopped. My eyes scanned the horizon, and I sensed a large body of water just over the hills and the horizon in the distance.

I faced everyone. "We shall make camp here and this shall be where we shall stay while we reside here. Set up the tents for beyond that hill lies Charon's Landing," I said.

My crew was naturally enthused by the idea of glory and treasure. Stonewall and her associates were less excited at the prospect of facing down the Lich, yet they obeyed and started setting up their own tent when we found a safe place to stay.

As always An'raie cleaned the air of vile magic mist and removed any cursed magic from the surrounding area for miles. We cleared some space and set up our tents. I then summoned Aesteal and Maeloson, patting their shoulders.

"Now, as we discussed. You both shall scout the land for a time. Do not overreach yourselves," I warned.

"Yes, Sir!" They exclaimed.

Before Aesteal could leave, I took her in my arms and kissed her. Her hands touched my arms and I sensed the way her ears trembled. Her mouth was hot, wet, and needy. Numerous times would her tongue strike mine before we separated.

"Be well, Aesteal," I then said.

She nodded. I was then forced to watch my elves pack their gear and their bows. They then vanished into the trees.

"Cistilla, while we await the report from the elves, I'd like to study the local land for a little while. Though we've discovered the source of this problem, I'd like to devise a plan to limit the corruption of its might. Should we leave it, I have no doubts the entire nation could be affected even if we remove the source. Such magic has been theorized to survive and thrive even if the base is removed," Cellanie said.

"Yes, Miss Stonewall," Cistilla, a younger mage, said. The rest of us watched them gather special tools and fancy trinkets before surveying the landscape.

"Goron, make sure that lot don't do anything stupid," I remarked.

He looked upon me for a while before he marched after them, his imposing steps hardly making him subtle.

"Damn, you've really gotten a handle on Goron lately. Only Lady Liara could get him to do stuff like that," Diane claimed, leaning on my shoulder.

"Perhaps the poor man's finally gotten used to me," I answered, gaining a chuckle from Liara's bodyguard.

"I guess it's true what they say. Keep eating shit for months on end, then it'll taste like the fucking king's banquet table. Should I congratulate you?" Diane inquired.

Rather than entertain her jests, I shoved Diane's arms off my shoulder. "Perhaps another time," I replied. Reaching into my coat's pocket, I pulled out one of the Alchemist's tomes. I hoped that previous failures in deciphering the treasures from the dirt piles might prove different today while I waited for Aesteal and Maeloson to return.

Of course, I wasn't allowed to keep my peace for very long because Nei and Lei grew too curious of my studies. I spent some time teaching them more of D'orn's language, though this was a little difficult since the Alchemist's book was thousands upon thousands of years old. Some parts were in one language and others were written entirely differently.

Yet, that wasn't the only trial set to fall upon me this day as it seemed that my crew had grown a bit restless. Many were eager to head over the hills and begin digging the lands of Charon's Landing. Some even joked that they might head off into the night to survey the city with Aesteal and Maeloson.

However, I knew the lot wouldn't make the endeavor. Greedy though they might be, my crew was hardly stupid. They knew better than to tangle with the affairs of magic following our experience on Delverhold. While some joked that they'd head off into the night, none were quite so willing to take such a courageous step forward.

At some point, I decided to stop studying as it seemed that I'd get no peace. Cellanie made her way over to me with her observations. I wondered if I should regret handing her those tomes from the Alchemist. I supposed an entire new realm had been opened to her and she would remiss to let such an opportunity slip through her fingers.

"I just don't understand. Such a matter flies in the face of everything I've studied back at the Association's institute. Though the cleansing magic works, the density of corrupting magic here is too potent, perhaps even twenty or thirty times as much as was theorized to be possible. No matter how many talismans we plant there is no way to counteract such an effect in time for us to prepare anything else.," she said.

"I'd be rather impressed if the lot of you could muster such an offense against this type of creature. It be best if you lot conserve your strength. It's been too long since the Lich has been here. Attempting to combat the spread of its influence now would only drain you of your might," I returned.

Cellanie sat next to me, pulling out one of the tomes that I'd given her. "It's rather interesting. Even the cleansing spells that I'd discovered in this tome have increased our efficiency by hundreds of times. Yet, we've still been unable to make suitable headway," she answered. She opened the boom and returned to the page I'd assumed she'd been reading.

When I snorted, I noticed her look at me curiously. "Even should you follow the Alchemist's guidance step by step, you and your ilk hardly have the mana to fuel its might. These pages were written by a man who was rumored to have nigh bottomless pools of mana. You be quite lucky that your bodies ain't gone into mana shock from the attempts," I claimed.

Though I'll admit my humor was rather mocking, I noticed Cellanie pay it no mind. Instead, she lifted one leg over the other. Believe me when I say I tried hard not to stare, yet my eyes found their pleasure in her long legs.

"Hmmm, I see. I had postulated such a matter, but I assumed that with all of us, it would be possible. I had been praised for exceptional mana stores, but it seems to not boast to much in the face of mythological figures. Would you be inclined to lending me a few of your men? Though many in my company would seek to deny it, the mana within them all far exceeds our own. Surely, they would be able to supply us with ample amounts of mana for the spells," Cellanie proposed to me.

I knew not what expression was on my face when I looked at her. "And what shall you give me in exchange for the services of my crew? Don't take my accommodation of you to mean that I'll be ready to fork over my fortune and my very ship to you. Keep this up and you'll find your debt to be higher than even you'd feel comfortable with," I claimed.

Stonewall looked at me for a long while. Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses, clearly showing that she might assume where my question had led. Out of the corner of my eye, I absently watched her clench the helm of her dress.

"Are you always so forthcoming?" she asked. I nearly missed the slight shiver in her voice, yet made no mention of it.

"You don't survive out here for very long otherwise, Lass. Best you keep that in mind when you ask for favors from an ill-reputed lot such as mine. I be a scourge after all," I claimed.

As much enjoyment as I received in tormenting the future celestial mage, I reached into my pouch and tossed her six mana potions. "Make use of these. They shall grant you what you wish. However, best you be aware that I give nearly nothing away for free. There shall be no free thing next time," I claimed, handing them to her while she continued to eye me warily.

Cellanie then stood up and walked away while I watched her go. Truth be told, though rather beautiful, I hadn't meant for my words to be taken as me attempting to bed her. Yet, I was sure that was where she might have assumed I was leading the conversation. Unfortunately, I'd have to squash her fantasy of the rogue pirate seducing the studious Association mage. I was much more interested in the coin I'd make than anything else. After all, Association mages were known to be loaded. Many Draegnarians held fantasies about stripping one of their loot.

Following that, Cellanie was much more successful in her endeavors with cleansing the ground, trees, and air. I supposed her concerns weren't entirely unfounded. After all, I imagined that even An'raie would have corrupted the second island had she been so violently cursed by the Alchemist. Perhaps the only reason it didn't was because the Alchemist's own magic was just that potent.

Following my affairs with Cellanie, day was quickly replaced with night. Given that I hadn't had much time to myself, what with me teaching Nei and Lei, enjoying the presence of my mother and Naala, and tending to some of the affairs with The Root, I sat in front of a firepit reading the things I couldn't get to in the morning.

"Eric Drakclaw. I hath n-need of thee. Make... haste!"

I closed my eyes for a moment upon hearing the voice of The Lonely Wail reverberating through the furthest reaches of my mind. Annoyed and irritated, I exhaled slowly so that I might not bring down a storm of rain upon the campsite.

"Be this an important matter?" I inquired. Even I'll admit this was rather stupid on my part to ask. An'raie hardly ever contacted me merely for a leisurely chat, and even then it was hardly one where I needed to visit her.

I received no answer to my question and rolled my eyes. Deciding to cut my losses, I entered my tent and did away with my clothes. Momentarily, I looked at my sleeping lovers and laid down between Diane and Naala. As soon as I lay down, I allowed my mind to drift away until I was back in the library of Liara's stored memories.

Not bothering to waste time, I journeyed into An'raie's space, passing by then numerous skeletons guarding her way until I found myself standing before her mighty, yet desirably frame. An'raie floated in the middle of the air, a large swirl of greenish-black energy in the palm of her hands.

"Alright, Wail, I be here. What matter be so grave that you would call me here?" I inquired.

An'raie didn't answer immediately, instead choosing to remain seated in the air. With how my day had gone, I nearly decided to speak again. Yet, I favored putting Aesteal's lessons of patience into practice. How I hated them to the ends of the hell itself. Nevertheless, I waited.

After a while, An'raie flew down until her feet touched the floor. "In the days prior to thine coming upon this land, I hath made mention that these arcane forces hath a familiar weaving toward them. As thee hath continued to traverse these lands, I now understandeth why this magic bears such a strange familiarity to me," An'raie said.

Once I heard that, my irritation lessened considerably. I watched her walk over to one of her numerous bookshelves, the very layout looking like what you might expect of a necromancer. Numerous skulls from those slain by her decorated the shelves, splitting sections of books with an eerily green glow attached to their carefully sculpted frames.

As my eyes followed her, I began to notice something unusual. I noticed the way An'raie moved across the floor. Unlikely how she might be normally, she took small, measured steps. More than once, I'd spot the way her legs trembled. Though her face remained neutral, she'd clench the hem of her dress sometimes before she made her way over to the bookshelf.

"Thee s-spoketh of this Lich, and mine thoughts hath drifted into memories I had not bothered venturing in for many seasons. While highly diluted i-in practice and execution, these magical affinities were studied under a coven that I findeth my participation in when I yet walked the lands of D'orn as a living v-v-vessel!" She said, grabbing a book from the shelf.

In hindsight, I should have thought more of her trembling words and irregular posture, yet I was unable to fully tear myself away from the day's interruptions. I supposed that was my cross to bear as the captain of a crew of fucking bastards and bitches. Either way, I figured I had to fix my attitude as this information was rather welcoming.

"So this Lich wields the same sort of magic that was studied while you were alive in your coven? It be rather surprising. I had assumed such interaction might be beneath you. I thought you more a loner than anything else," I answered.

Slowly, An'raie faced me, her eye mask making it hard for me to guess what she might be thinking. However, her lips were another matter. Though she struggled, I noticed the way her lips quivered. Just like her legs, they were unnerved, twitching every now and then. She even gripped the spine of her book more than I thought it needed to be held.

"Thee wouldest be right in thinking so. As I hath mentioned, 't-twas a time when I still walked the world as a being of flesh. Innumerable phases of the moon hath faded away since such a time. My time with this coven was when I had first set mine feet upon the path of the mystic arts and discovered my potential. I studied under this coven for numerous cycles until their usefulness hath led itself to an end. Being granted enough, I departed," She said, making it over to me.

I glanced at the book, taking note of the title, or rather the name of her coven. "The Sisters of Iron Rosemary? What luck might you have to run into a lot like that?" I questioned.

The Sisters of Iron Rosemary wasn't a popular coven. Hardly anyone knew they existed, and even fewer thought they were important. At the very least, Liara thought nothing of them. The lasses received their name because they'd conducted numerous black magics, casted spells, and performed sacrifices by mixing iron and rosemary.

Supposedly, rosemary was a good method for female mages to enhance their power. According to Liara, a goddess by the name of Yrma had blessed such herbs to grant more power to lasses seeking to study the mystic arts. I chuckled as I wondered how many Gaia worshippers that might offend.

Now what those poor lasses didn't know was that Yrma was a vile goddess. Unable to have her own children, she made those who followed her steal the children from any single mother, father, or family that they could get their hands on. The children were then sacrificed so that Yrma might... care for them herself. As expected, the group was hunted down mercilessly and many believed they'd been wiped out entirely for at least 200 to 700 years.

An'raie's lips remained even. "'Twas a companion from mine time that introduced me to them. I had need of materials and knowledge, and they hath a need of an able body. It had not been a concern of mine. Once I was finished, I left them to their practices," she claimed.

I looked at her carefully. "And the lot just let you go so easily? Knowing you, they would have been fools to try and let such a treasure like you go free," I complimented. I wasn't sure what the Lonely Wail made of my compliment as she continued to keep her face even, albeit still with trembling legs.

"T-Thine compliments are un-n-necessary. As for thine inquiries, mine talents were not unnoticed. While mine hands were unstained with such pointless activities, of which I knew angered the unbecoming sisterhood, still my contributions were too great to simply get rid of me for not partaking in their rituals. Once I left, they sent numerous sisters upon me. Each one met their end at my hand until they were offered no further alternative but to simply cut ties with me," she spoke, slipping her fingers through the pages of the book and granting me glimpses of the work done by the Sisters of Iron Rosemary.

Unfortunately, my eyes widened when An'raie suddenly dropped the book and violently pushed me away. I stumbled back, nearly landing on my ass. Soon enough, all the irritation started coming back to me.

"Make no mistake, An'raie. Though you might be more powerful than me in the mystic arts, do not think that I be letting you..."

Whatever I was going to say next died down when I looked at my body in surprise. Raw, untamed sexual energy was soaked into my body from An'raie as I saw her fall to the floor.

"N-NNNNNGH!" she groaned, grabbing the hem of her dress. I remained quiet as I absorbed all the lustful energy from her body as a result of the powerful orgasm that ripped through her body. Even amidst the dim light, I saw the remains of her arousal trickle down her leg.

Luckily for both of us, I managed to hide my amusement. "Be that the matter with you, An'raie? Surely, I haven't let you so unfulfilled for so much desire to exude from you," I said as I made my way over to her. However, I didn't get far because immediately she released a tremendous amount of mana from her body. The pressure forced me further back and the hairs on the back of my neck rose

"D-Do not touch me!" she wailed, trying to stand to her feet. She even tried to float since her legs seemed to have no strength, but that was a worthless endeavor. Between the growing lust, rapid outpouring of mana, and her futile attempts at controlling both, she was left tossed and turned like a ship at sea.

I continued to stand away from her, continuously feeding off her unfulfilled lust that seemed to be growing with each passing second. At some point, the smirk on my face fell. Concern washed over me. There was no way I should be absorbing so much power simply from An'raie. How could she hide this much arousal and I not take notice of it?

When I looked at An'raie again she seemed to be so aroused that the pain was threatening to overtake her body. However, that provided me with an opportunity. Her mana had grown unsteady under the onslaught that kept me at bay and I quickly took hold of the chance given me.

Using the Essence of Vilinlith to bolster me, I was given more than enough might to face the brunt of An'raie's wrath until I stood in front of her. As expected of the Lonely Wail, even standing this close to her I feared that our soulbound spell would come undone. Cracks were already starting to show themselves on my body. Should this continue, I wondered if I might die in my sleep. That'd be a bit more embarrassing than being betrayed by a pirate crew and left for dead with the sharks and other beasts of the sea.

That said, clearly the results of my enhancements revealed themselves. Though the cracks still showed themselves, they were nowhere as big nor appeared as rapidly like they did when An'raie and I had our first bout on the second island. Had I stood before her as I was then, I had no doubts that my soul might be hers to claim before I even made it half as close as this.

Once I was close enough, with all of the lust I'd taken from her, I fired it back into An'raie for but a moment. That moment was all it took for her to lose control of her violent mana. The pressure that seemed hellbent on pushing me away had finally ceased and I quickly took the time to absorb all the lust again.

Invigorated with such might, I stared down at An'raie. She panted heavily, her trembling fingers digging into the pages of the book she'd been sharing with me.

"M-M-Must thee embarrass me so?" she inquired breathlessly. Even now, I sensed the lust energy within her starting to accumulate once again.

"I be a bastard, An'raie. However, I believe I have dealt more right with you than most anyone that has not been aligned with my ship. Though I might jest, I seek to never embarrass or shame outside of a pleasant night of intimacy. That be especially true for a lass of such stature as yourself," I said.

I then knelt down and touched her shoulder, taking notice of the way she quivered. In her sexual deliriousness, she had not the focus to exert her mana further. While for most normal men or women, it might not be so difficult to do so, it was a nigh impossible task for someone like An'raie who'd spent centuries imprisoned on an island abandoned and dismissed of all desires. Her body, whether spirit or not, simply couldn't handle such an intake.

"Now, best you tell me what ails you? First, there was the matter in Hæňgaram. Then there was this matter with Diane. I shall not embarrass you further with recounts of other times I noticed your strange behavior. It be clear something has disrupted the seas within you. For you to gather up such unfulfilled desire and channel it into me dares make me think I hadn't been living up to my end of our deal at all. Speak lest this old body of this scourge be ripped apart for a second time," I then said, simultaneously absorbing more and more lust from her so that she might not be in so much pain.

There was silence for a long while. An'raie seemed to want to stubbornly keep her mouth shut. Yet, I noticed that not once had she made the motion to toss me out of her side of the realm. She very well could have and I'd have no current means of resisting it. It was the fact that she didn't do so that puzzled me.

After what seemed like so long, I was finally allowed to hear the explanation and, by the Seas of Tiiplur, it wasn't what I was expecting.

"Mine overconfidence against the mythical might of Vilinlith hath led to mine downfall. 'Tis unfortunate to realize that mine mind hath not comprehended so great a power as mine understanding had led me to believe," she explained, her voice low and measured, barely even above a whisper.

She remained silent a moment longer and then continued. "T-Thee hadst problems with thine eyesight back in the Ancient Lands of Tamalir..."

Supposedly the lands of Hæňgaram had been called the lands of Tamalir thousands of years before the birth of the empire.

"...a-and thee didst bout with the vile spirit of the higher realms, Alġnoth. Thee hadst not known it, but thine bout left vile traces of the spirit's corrupting mana within thine body. 'Tis why thine eyesight hadst closed and thee feeleth the effects of lethargy. Had mine hand not interfered thee wouldst have liked remained in such a state forever," she said, making my eyes widen.

I recalled my time in the empire and indeed I remembered when my eyes hurt and I felt more tired than normal. In fact, I remembered the face of Helios almost blinding me on more than one occasion.

"And that somehow led you to think fucking me might fix it?" I asked.

I heard her scoff. "Thine crass words are noticed and unappreciated. I hadst the means to do away with thine affliction, yet thee wouldst not have survived such an encounter upon thine own might. No other means lay available to me except that t-t-thee wouldst be strengthened by the powers of Vilinlith. While I lay with thee, I cured thee of thine ailments. However, unbeknownst to me, I hath acquired ailments of mine own. The essence of Vilinlith hath such grand might that it might even maketh one such as I addicted to its enticing presence," she admitted.

Surprised, I took my hand off An'raie. In her attempts to cure me of Alġnoth's cruel mana, she had partaken in the lustful essence of Vilinlith surrounding me. It seemed that its power had even stuck to her when our act was over.

"Aye, the shit be very powerful," I answered.

"Thine frivolous exploits indeed granted me measures of pleasure, yet they were no longer enough. The essence hath grown and thine exploits art not enough to settle the flames. I hath now understood that those thee layeth with hath become dependent on the might of Vilinlith. Shouldest thee not quell the addicting flames within thine lovers, they shall perish amidst the unquenchable might of the mighty demon," she then explained.

It was at this moment that I wondered if I might have made a mistake jumping into that pool as hastily as I did. What was even worse was that Nei and her sisters jumped into it as well. While Nei and Lei seemed to enjoy being exclusively with me, the rest of their sisters were more than happy to suck the dicks or lick the cunts of the rest of the crew. Of course, it wasn't like anyone onboard wasn't willing to reciprocate if given the opportunity. For all of Nei's claims to what children, I wondered why her sisters hadn't birthed some themselves. I imagined it was hard for a Draegnar bastard to blow his load into a willing lass who cared not where he launched it.

My mind pondered that matter a little before I remembered Aesteal. She had fallen into heavy sickness during that Draegnar auction. Her lust was so strong that even her skin seemed to change color at one point. It was only when I'd enjoyed my night with her that her body returned to normal.

Then I remembered Naala. She claimed my body looked pale which somehow translated to her sucking my cock. Apparently, her fixing of my man's mast brought back color to my face. The more I thought of it, the more concerned I became. Aye, indeed it seemed I'd unknowingly addicted my lovers to the essence I'd bathed in.

"If that be the case, then why had no one come to me the whole month I had been working on the ship? There be no..." I ceased my questions when I felt the lustful flames inside An'raie threaten to ignite again. There was enough lust in her body to keep a town fucking for two days straight. How she even remained sane, well, sane for a necromancer, was beyond me.

Gazing upon her, I exhaled a breath. "Your pride shall be your downfall once day, An'raie. Yet, that be one of the things this old bastard likes about you," I said. I then surprised An'raie by picking her up, and carrying her in my arms.

"W-What art thou doing? Cease this folly immediately and release m-m-me!" she voiced uneasily, shivering in my grasp with her legs dangling in the air.

"You spent the time to cure me. I should be a man unworthy of my coat and hat should I not return such a favor," I responded.

Slowly, An'raie's space turned darker and darker, the two of us fading away from it while she continued to try, and fail, at removing herself from me.

"I needeth not t-t-thine aid. I shall handle it by mine own hand. N-Never shall I let a man to make a fool of me! Thine kinda are a wretched existence. L-Leave me immediately!" she all but ordered.

Despite the harshness of her speech, I found myself more amused than anything, especially since she stopped struggling as my mind drifted us through the numerous halls that made up Liara's memories.

"I be Eric Drakclaw, Lass. I ain't the man you fell in love with on that island. Should you find me unworthy, then best you judge me upon my own merits instead of the misdeeds of others. I make my own trouble and I stand by the salt of my brow that these old boots still make the seas rattle. I need not hide the matters that I deal with nor how I understand them. Make of that what you will, but know that I shall never sail my flag beneath the shadow of another," I firmly claimed.

Once we arrived at my destination, I tossed An'raie onto a large oval bed beneath the glow of pale lavender light. Aside from a few perfectly sculpted dark columns, and a well-crafted floor, there was nary anything else in the room. The bed lay at the center of the room, the ethereal glow showering its light upon the both of us.

I'd taken this room from a memory I remembered Liara experiencing. She'd been invited to a castle where the queen tasked her with aiding in crafting a bedroom capable of training mana even under the weight of sleep. While Liara thought the matter beneath her, nevertheless the money the woman paid for the commission was enough for Liara to lend a hand.

Before the night was even over, Liara left with her pay having constructed a room with a simple mana crystal that conjured up a space for the user of the bed to train in while they slept.

And while my imagination was certainly lacking in some areas, I imagined An'raie might find its grandiose environment rather suitable.

Even with her eye mask barring her gaze from me, I just knew she might be glaring at me for my rather coarse actions. "H-How dare thee. I shouldest rip thee apart where thee standeth!" she claimed, shuffling her feet on the bed.

"Then I dare you to try. Grant me one last pleasant memory should you do so," I said, taking notice that the usual otherworldly wail in her voice had died away momentarily.

Before An'raie could stop me, I hovered over her. My hands pushed on both sides of the bed, granting her no place to look except for me. Though her gaze was fierce, her eyes were filled with uncertainty, watching every move I took.

An'raie spoke not a word when I discarded my coat, lazily dropping it on the floor. Her fingers clenched and, even over the lavender hue, I saw her bite her lips.

"Thou art the most insufferable man I hath ever dealt with! 'Tis no grander misfortune than to have allied with such a mockery!" she claimed, not even trying to get out from under me. It wasn't like I'd grown more powerful than her.

If An'raie truly desired, she could shove me off and there might be nothing I could do about it. Yet, she chose to remain under me, constantly gazing at me behind her eye mask. I gazed back at her, watching the way she panted, her chest heaving and her lips shivering.

"The answer to your predicament be a rather simple one then. You have only so long to shove me away should you truly wish. You have the means to do so, however, we both know that as sure as the seas are treacherous so too is your desire. If you would think otherwise, then prove it now," I said, my voice barely reaching above a whisper like we were afraid someone else might hear.

An'raie moved not one inch from beneath me, constantly staring until I figured that enough time had passed. Raising my hand, I touched her cheek. "T-Thee wouldst d-dare to truly..." she uttered, yet trembled when I caressed her burning face. My fingers glided over and my thumb rubbed her lips.

"I be a pirate, Wail. Stealing the lips of a maiden is but one of the many treasures I've taken throughout my life," I answered. I then lowered my body, deliberately slowly hoping to give An'raie more than enough time to come to terms with what might happen should she not reject me.

"T-Thou art indeed the foulest beast. E-Even more than the Betrayer..." she breathed until my lips came on top of hers. Immediately, her hands clenched and her legs tensed, the hem of her dress shifting against the sheets of the bed.

It seemed so strange. Despite the heat of her desire and the warmth of her skin, her lips were rather cold. In fact, her mouth seemed desperate to suck the warmth from mine. Yet, they were delectable. They were the greatest feast a salty scourge such as myself could dine on.

I offered An'raie no reprieve. I quickly split her teeth with my tongue and smothered her body with my own. "Mmmmmmmm... nhhahaaaaaa..." she panted, the smack of our lips reverberating through the void of our shared quarters.

Her tongue dueled with mine, almost like she was hoping that some semblance of her pride might remain. She might have conquered me had the lust not continued to disrupt her thinking. Her chest pushed against mine, her aroused nipples piercing into my skin.

In this space, there was no need for such things like air while our minds held together. I was allowed to kiss her as much as I wished, and she offered me no hints to otherwise.

"Nnnnnngh... t-thee m-must..." she spoke, yet her body betrayed her. When I'd attempt to retract my lips, she'd eagerly search them out before she could finish her thoughts. The sweat glistened from her forehead and down the side of her body.

While we locked lips, my hands refused to be idle. With An'raie starved of pleasing release for so long, I made sure that she'd savor every piece of this time. I touched her cheek and grazed my fingers through her hair. My other hand traced her body, sailing from her shoulders to her sides and down to her hips.

I knew not what was wrong with the Alchemist. As surely as I be the Son of Poseidon, I knew that if such a lass fancied me I'd almost get no work or research done. Instead, my thoughts would be trapped in her beautiful embrace. Like a succubus, she would have sucked my soul away from taking her to bed so often.

"M-MMMNGH!" An'raie groaned suddenly in my mouth, no doubt feeling my erection through my pants vigorously brushing against her stomach.

I offered one more kiss before I parted from her and surveyed her. Her panting increased, her hand rested over her forehead. I also noticed the way her eye mask slightly slipped off the side of her face. "T-Thee m-must cease. S-Strength leaves me. T-Thine lips are u-u-unfair," she said.

I chuckled, turning to her neck, and kissed her again. "Nhhhahaaaaa..." she groaned, surprising me by wrapping her arms around my hand and arms while I continued to tend to her. I laced her neck with kisses, letting nothing distract me from her. Having been so alone, I'd let nothing come before her enjoyment during such a time.

My hands grabbed her legs and she raised them up. Her body arched back with every strike of my tongue and her nails dug into my scalp. I sail down from her cheek to her neck and then I come to her chest.

It was then that I realized this might be the first time I saw An'raie fully naked with no darkness to bar my sight this time. To that that I was excited myself was the easiest bet of my life. Yet, like a long-lost lover, I undressed her slowly. Undoing the cloth around her left shoulder, I pulled her garment down and her breasts lay before me.

"A body such as yours be wasted on a bastard who couldn't dare treasure it. It's a feast for any man's eyes," I complimented.

"T-Thine compliments to mine form art unnecessary. W-What doth thee hope in s-shaming me further? Thee hath no need to lie that thee findeth pleasure in doing this" she reasoned.

I grinned. "I might lie about many things. However, there shall be no need to lie over such beauty," I said. Before she could brace herself, I fell on her again and my hands groped her two breasts. She groaned in utter pleasure, the flames of her lust burning and coursing into my bad.

I started slowly, enjoying her flesh and her lips. I rolled her breasts around in my palms, enjoying their supple weight. She kissed me back with no less passion and her hands began to roam the course of my young body. While her mouth might lie to herself, her body was a slave to his passions.

"Mmmmmm... mwahaaaaaa... haaaaaaa... gnhgh!" she moaned and groaned, my lips and hot breath warming and tickling hers. Once we parted again, I headed down and latched onto one of her nipples.

"Ooooooooh t-this pleasure... 't-tis impossible to m-make one such as I f-feel...!" She ceased again, turning her head and hissing when I playfully bit her sweet teat. I then moved to the other, even licking the sweat which poured from her.

Whether she knew or not, her hands were just as idle as mine. She rubbed my arms and her hands then sailed down my body, memorizing it like a wife for her husband. That said, it seemed I'd underestimated just how aroused An'raie was because I was suddenly filled with a burst of lust when she wailed into the air, staining the bed with her fluids.

When An'raie fell to the bed she huffed. "This surely be not the voice of a lass who wishes to cease. 'Fret not, An'raie to show much your fall into the realm of Aphrodite descends. Grant me a treasure that not even the Alchemist be privileged to have," I said, slowly kissing her body down further.

"T-Thee knowest not w-what thee asketh," she replied, her face, hair and body disheveled and delirious from the ecstasy.

"Shall I find out then?" I questioned, kneeling off the side of the bed. I lifted An'raie's dress. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised at the lack of undergarments. After all, what would an undead necromancer need with such things, yet that thought was hardly at the forefront of my mind for long. Instead, I looked upon her snatch. The aroma of her body stung my nose while her lips released a fountain of her womanly juices over her legs.

"So much juice. You'd fill up a fucking tavern tankard," I commented.

"C-Cease thine prattling. Mine own body obeyeth me not. Thine touch lights the flames and I canst not control them. E-Eric Drakclaw, please embarrass me no more than this," An'raie pleaded.

"I seek not to embarrass, Wail. I seek to satisfy and I shall do as I have promised you," I said, gently rubbing her legs.

"Eric!" An'raie screamed, grabbing the sheets of the bed while my mouth lay hold of her snatch. I lifted her legs up and rested them on my shoulders. In response, An'raie's legs gripped my neck, her delicate voice echoing through the room.

Her pussy. I dared not exaggerate, but her pussy was exquisite. I knew not how to describe the taste of what I savored. I'd lost control of myself. My tongue pierced her insides while my hands roamed the rest of her body. As if possessed, my tongue climbed through her body, striking and slurping at every nook and cranny that I could get. Copious amounts of her arousal floated into my mouth, even staining my chin.

"Nhhahaaaa ooooooh godsssss! E-Eric Drakclaw! GNnggnghgn!" The Lonely Wail cries, her body trembling like The Great Frost falls over her. My thumb spread open her lips and my tongue worked her clit. I even leave her pussy, reluctant as I am, to kiss and lick her long, slender legs. There was no doubt in my mind that she felt every caress, every piece of her body told me what she liked and the lust emboldened me forward.

In my lusty haze, I didn't even remember when my pants left the lower half of my body. My cock dangled in the air as An'raie's toes curled releasing her third or fourth orgasm. One of her hands grip my head, holding me in place

"NNNGNGHGHGGNGH!" Her body shook in my arms, her insides strangling my tongue while she flooded me with her essence. Once she was done, I surveyed my work. An'raie's clothes were a mess. Her hair was soaked in sweat and even through her eye mask, her skin couldn't hide the afterglow of the pleasure she'd experienced.

Feeling mischievous, I swiped my face and crawled back on the bed with her. "Zeus would not need to be so unfaithful if he had you for a wife," I said, holding my fingers near her mouth. In a daze, she licked them and savored her fluids until my fingers were clean.

"A-Art thou finished? 'T-Tis impossible for mine mind to stay sane with thine efforts," she claimed.

"Wish you for it to be over so quickly? Care you not to be truly taken care of by this?" I asked. An'raie froze when I rubbed my cock over her mouth. She doesn't move, yet I feel every shiver of her lips.

"You need not speak. I know you wish it so. Therefore, prepare me. Suck my cock and in turn, I'll fuck you and relieve you of the lust that has taken hold of you," I said softly.

I closed my eyes, throwing my head back when I felt the cool feeling of An'raie's mouth enclosed around my cock. She accepted me in and her tongue slurped at the underside of my shaft. I drew my hips in and she took all that I could offer. Though her mouth was still cold, there was a tantalizing feeling to be had there while she bobbed her head.

"Nnnnnnnngh! Fuck! Aye, the Alchemist was a fucking fool. To not welcome the embrace of a lass like you must have made a man wonder if he really was as smart as the legends claimed. Your mouth feels good, An'raie. Suck my cock deeper," I implored.

I wasn't exactly sure what got An'raie off, whether my perverse comments or my scalding remarks of her one-sided love, but she clearly enjoyed it. Her mouth hummed while she took me deeper until her face rested into my crotch. She sucked and weaved, her tongue coiling my cock like a serpent over its prey. When she popped it out, she licked it, her tongue never missing a single piece

Saliva fell from her mouth, yet she seemed to not care either way. She just slobbered on my cock, her hands caressing her tits while I bucked my hips into her face. Every thrust was an explosion of lustful essence and it took my whole nerve to not cum my entire load down her throat. Instead, I held my nerve, pushing her head over my man's meat while she gobbled it like a starved beast.

Feeling ready, I slipped out of her mouth. She said nothing and neither did I. For once, I had no words that might prepare her, or myself for this. An'raie and I were hardly what one would call friends. Some partners were friends and others were not. I knew her history had left her bitter toward my kind, yet still, for the sake of her vengeance, she placed trust in me that I might deliver her toward her goal. Though we might not be friends, or even what one might call lovers, I believed there might be an understanding between this ancient necromancer and this bastard of the sea.

I loomed over An'raie, touching her cheek again. Though she stopped panting, her chest kept beating. Wordlessly, she tried to turn her head away as she opened her legs to me, perhaps too embarrassed to face me. Yet, I would not allow such a notion. I faced her back to me and grabbed her eye mask. She reached a hand to stop me, resting it over my own.

"Let me look upon the woman whom I share this bed with," I said.

There was a brief silence until An'raie spoke. "Thou art a vile manspawn 'T-Tis most unfair that I canst not rise against thee. Do what thou will," she said, dropping her arm.

I removed her eye mask and I was graced with red eyes and slitted pupils. Like rubies in the night air, her eyes glimmered before me and I find myself speechless at her beauty. My throat felt dry, but my cock was hard enough to be nearly painful. Her body called to me and I responded before I could stop myself.

"Aye, truly a fucking bastard of a fool indeed. So many countless treasures that might glimmer in the day or night, yet the rarest of them all he ignored," I complimented, my lips moving as if on their own.

An'raie continued to look at me, seemingly unmoved by my words. Yet, I saw the corner of her mouth twitch. "Please speaketh not such words. Speaketh them no more upon me... lest... lest I grow more unspiteful of thee!" she claimed, almost ashamed of herself.

There was something arousing in her confession that bolstered my motions. I fell upon her and my hips met herself. Finally, the Lonely Wail's face contorted in bliss and unease when I pierced her inside. "Oooooooooh gods! W-Why doth thee make me feel this w- mmmmmmngnhgh!"

As I slipped into An'raie's body, her pussy spread itself to accept me. Inch by inch, I watched her face contort in bliss while she gripped the sheets of the bed. Her slippery insides clung to me tightly, kissing and accepting me without reprieve.

I kissed her again until I sank fully into her. Just like her upper mouth, her lower mouth was just as cold as I remembered. It was such a strange contrast between the warmth of her body outside and the coldness inside. However, I'd be a damn liar to say I didn't enjoy the motions.

We remained still for a while. Her flesh squeezed my cock. her pussy almost seemed like it shaped itself to fit my every inch. My body was a messy bundle of nerves. Untold pleasure sizzled my brain and made even my own body shiver. Everything she felt was felt by me.

"W-Why? Why doth it feel s-so good that even mine own body betrayeth me? His body is heavy. It layeth over top of mine and his being pierceth me so well. E-Every inch maketh me tremble with pleasures not of this realm. Yet, mine arms cling to him unwilling to let him go. W-What curse hath fallen upon me? Why must his lips feel so good against mine own?"

I thought myself crazy when I heard An'raie's thoughts floating about my head. She continued to kiss me fervently, closing her eyes and seemingly accepting the bliss I offered. The squelching noises of her cunt took me from my reverie and I proceeded to answer everything question she thought of with a hard thrust.

"Nnhah! Eric Drakclaw! Haaaah!" she cried into my mouth.

In and out, in and out, soon the room came alive with the sound of sex. I thrust in and out, her pussy grips my shaft at every turn. The lust powers us both. Every bump massages every vein. The crown of my cock pushed into the depths of her body. I knew where she liked it for the lust told me. I strike her spots well and her body submits to mine as a result.

"Nhaaaaaaaaa! T-Thee must c-cease. T-This pleasure, it shall ruin me. 'Twill bindeth me to t-t-th..." An'raie stammered, unable to finish whatever she was thinking. Meanwhile, she held one hand over my head and the other roamed my backside. Her tongue snaked with my own, and my hands rubbed over her breasts. I fondle them as my own, eager to possess them that no other man might know their wondrous spots of pleasure.

I fuck An'raie. I fuck her as much as I can. She refused to let go of my lips. She just kissed me over and over as if I might disappear if she didn't. She matched my thrusts, slamming her ass back into me. I even felt the way she squeezed the tip and base of my cock at the same time. Her juices drenched me while my precum slipped out, sticking to her constricting insides.

Finally, we part with a smack of our lips. I take her hands in mine and look down at her. When she looked at me, I saw the flush in her face. Her eyes were given over to pleasure while the bed shook.

"Nhhgghh! P-Please, t-thee must see reason. C-Cease thine p-powerful thrusting. S-Such an embrace s-s-shall hhhhhah s-s-surely...!" An'raie cried, still unable to finish whatever she might say. For all the words that proceeded out of her mouth, her body refused to accept such notions. Her legs hooked around my waist and her fingers tightly gripped mine. The bed creaked violently, only matched by the sound of our harsh slaps.

My mind was a myriad of thoughts and feelings. I piston in and out, feeling her toes curl behind me. Her voice was beautiful and just as delectable as the rest of her body. I paused only momentarily to rub her clit before I continue pounding away like a dog who'd just found his mate. My mind, my very being seemed so intoxicated by her womanly body. I dared even think that the Essence of Vilinlith was responding to my desires for An'raie, lengthening my shaft inside her.

"Nhaaaaa... ooooooogh... hahaaaaaa... T-Thou art s-so rough!" she said.

I knew not whether that was a complaint or not, but I assumed for former from the way she continued sucking in my cock with the tightening folds of her snatch. My eyes were tightly shut, bright spots of light pushed into my head while she held me close, wringing my flesh with hers. My cock drummed within her and my balls ache to release their pent-up seed. I somehow felt she knew it from the way her cunt coiled around my mast. She seemed so different from when we had sex the first time.

"Nnnngh!" An'raie trembled, moaning as she flooded my cock with another orgasm. Her lust burned hotter than even Diane's and I soaked it all in. I channel it back into her, letting her continue without a moment's hesitation. I slammed my sex down to meet hers, my balls resting against her ass. Though the denial of my orgasm was frustrating, it was more than worth it when I saw her.

"Haaaah... haaah... mmmmmm... h-hast thou regained thine senses? I-If so..."

I pulled my cock out slowly and then sank it back in at the same pace. An'raie's eyes rolled up in her head again, quickly cumming for a second time.

My orgasm wasn't far behind and she knew it. Whenever I pushed my cock into her, she welcomed it by wiggling her hips and weaving the slippery folds of her pussy around me. I gritted my teeth and pulled out, releasing my load over her body. Even her face wasn't free as she panted.

"T-This essence. 'Tis warm and s-stimulating. Never hath I felt such a vigorous feeling. This smell maketh mine body tremble. I-I must cease this quickly lest mine body desire more." An'raie claimed in her thoughts, heaving with sex-glossed eyes.

Not one to leave such a lass undesired, she groaned when I pushed my cock back into her. "There be a simple way to cease this matter, Wail. Simply push me away, deny this old scourge, and you shall be free," I said.

I knew she wouldn't. She also knew she wouldn't. Even when her arms were raised, her body refused to be denied what she'd been without for so many years. She could do nothing but grip my hand in hers while my cock sank back into her.I lifted one of her legs and turned her on her side. I kissed said leg while simultaneously thrusting again.

"S-Such beastly strength. Thine essence is too much for me," she breathed, looking upon me and my sweat-riddled body. I care not for that as I push forward, raising her leg high and my body over her. I pound into her, letting every damn skeleton that she's ever summoned know that their mistress is being filled with a captain's cock and enjoying it.

When I came, I didn't hesitate this time. An'raie threw her head back, hissing as I shoved my hips into hers. I fired my cum into her body, its sticky fluids coating her insides. My legs tremble and my arms nearly lose all feeling.

"W-Warm. 'T-Tis very warm, n-nigh scalding even. 'Tis the second time he hath... marked mine body with his essence. Yet, why doth it feel even greater than the last?"

I wished I could answer that question, but the lust didn't allow me to. I had an overabundance of power and stimulation that wouldn't be ignored. So, with the strength supplied to me, I picked An'raie up and sank her back on my cock.

"T-Thou art insane!" she exclaimed, holding tight to me while I grabbed handfuls of her ass and slammed her down.

"I have indeed been called that once or twice," I laughed, cumming again with her not long after.

If there was one thing I underestimated about An'raie, it was her enthusiasm. While she might not seem the type on the surface, never had I met a woman so willing to try something different. She rocked her hips on top of mine while her scarlet eyes pulsed with need. Her hands on my chest, she raised her hips and slammed them down. It seemed I'd chipped away at her hesitance from before as nothing was willing to stop her now.

"Haaah! Haaaaah! Thee best prepare thineself for making me act in such an unbecoming manner. I shall hear no protests from thee!" The Lonely Wail warned, biting her lip in pleasure.

Rather than respond, I grabbed her hips and thrust them forward forcing her to brace herself against me. She even bit into my shoulder when she came again, her eyes rolling up into her head. Mine were no different when I felt my cock unleash another torrent of cum into her.

For a woman so against fucking, An'raie certainly had a desire that matched my own. Her hands were on the bed while we stood up. I fucked her from behind, watching her bountiful ass slam into me.

"A-Art thou even human? How can thee fill me with so much of thee?" she asked, her legs shaking until I pulled her up and kissed her. Her lips smacked against mine, her tongue teasing my teeth until we parted.

"For a fine lass a man might endure even hell itself to see her fulfilled," I claimed, even growing bolder and spanking her ass with my hand. Despite her glare, she must have liked that from the way her pussy tightened over me. And, just as she'd done to me, I bit her neck as well, snarling like a damned animal as I sprayed my come over her back.

Had this been outside of our minds, I would have dared think that the sun might be rising already with how long we'd been fucking each other. Whether on the bed, on the floor, fucking, cuntlicking, or cocksucking, we simply couldn't get enough of each other.

"Oooh! Hnnnnnghgh! S-Such a burly and beastly thing. Ghngnghgh! MMmMMNngh! Haaaaaaa! W-Why doth it feel so amazing?" An'raie inquired, perhaps more to herself than me.

There were times were I thought I'd passed out on more than one occasion while An'raie wiggled her hips, pleasuring my cock with small sparks of pleasing lightning.

Yet, even this matter had to draw to a close as my partner and I found ourselves back on the bed, facing each other. My body was sticky and An'raie was covered in my cum. Nevertheless, we somehow settled into a slow fuck this time. I pulled out and pushed in slowly, enjoying every bit of the necromancer's body. Meanwhile, she works her hips well, squeezing me and tending to me with long strokes of her curves and wet slaps of our skin until my cock shivered again.

She knew it as well.

"T-Thou hast gone thus far, E-Eric Drakclaw. P-Prithee aware of the c-consequences of thine actions. N-No longer can I resist thine tender caresses of mine body. Do as thee wishest," she said, refusing to let me go by wrapping her legs around my waist. I exhaled a breath and expelled one last messy rope of sticky, filling cum into her body. I felt my very cock spurt it out, not once, not twice, not thrice, not four, not five, but six times, the lustful essence pulling out everything that it could. I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they might break while a strange feeling loomed over me.

There seemed to be something of an unknown feeling coming upon me as my mana felt suddenly cold and warm at the same time. A bunch of different memories filled my head rapidly, all while I felt my spurts of cum slide through An'raie's body.

The Lonely Wail inhaled deeply, the lust letting me know just how much she enjoyed the sensation, cumming with me and spraying my cock down with her scented fluids once more. Our senses still shared, I felt how weak her legs felt and how full of cum she felt. She continued to hold me, trembling in the fleeting embers of desire.

I thrust a few more times, getting as much of my cum into her as I could. While a chance of pregnancy with her was basically impossible, it was a nice thought to have for myself. How I imagined my seed seeking out her insides that she might carry my child somehow. Never had I cursed the Mark of Hoɖ more than then.

Finally, I fell back to the bed, hoping to catch my breath from the matter that might even put some orgies to shame. My body was caked in sweat with my arms and legs growing sore. My ears rang and my eyes looked at the dim light above us like it was the sun itself.

Even through my sex-filled haze, I heard An'raie panting next to me. Our senses were still shared and I couldn't help but grin when her legs trembled as my cum spilled out of her snatch. Her eyes were closed, perhaps contemplating the matter that was just done.

"T-This c-changeth... hngh... nothing," she groaned.

I snorted, surprisingly finding the strength to turn over to look at her. She stiffened when I rolled back on top of her. Her eyes were wide and I even noticed a hint of uncertain fear within her gaze.

"Then would you like me to continue until it does, Lass?" I asked. I had a bit of lust left. I was sure that with it, I could bring myself to full mast again.

"T-Thou art truly the king of fools. 'Twould have been best to leave me to suffer my affliction in silence," An'raie claimed. Whatever she might say next died out when I traced a finger over her stomach.

"Sorry Lass, a man be a bit more complicated than that. I know not about others, but a bastard takes care of his own, especially if he dares call himself a Captain. Had I truly wished to leave you with affliction I would have left you back on those isles," I remarked.

"Thee knowest not what thou hast done... and neither hath I. What sort of wretch couldest desire a discarded thing so earnestly?" An'raie answered, turning her head away from me. Her eyes then widened when I turned her back to me and laid my lips upon hers again. She grabbed my arms, her fingertips pressing into my skin, yet she didn't let me go. In fact, her arms sail up my arms and around my back.

"Forget you where I come from, Lass? Draegnar was the home of the discarded shit and wastes that D'orn threw out. Best you think carefully. Had you not fallen for such a shit, kings would have cheated on their queens for you, and princes would have laid up treasures for you. As sure as you might sail to your vengeance teach that bastard the type of lass he threw away. Make it the single greatest knife to the back that no blade might ever match. 'Twill be your reward for all your suffering. Until then, none aboard my ship shall be unsatisfied. Not even you, no matter how hard you protest," I claimed.

An'raie stared at me for a long while before. She said nothing and neither did I. Pirate and Necromancer simply soaked in the ambiance of the void around the bedroom we laid in.

Finished, I rolled off her and fell onto the bed, my mind still fresh with lust and ecstasy. Had I the right mind, I might have taken the time to speak with An'raie about the matter before her sexual unraveling. However, I was too tired and the backlash from so much lustful energy revealed itself. My spirit was heavy and my mind couldn't hold the room together any longer.

I was taken into a world my dreams crafted for myself, but before I could fully embrace them I noticed one more surprise. Though I dreamed sweet dreams, An'raie joined in them, standing at my side as I wielded my mighty cutlass and forged onward through the seas beyond.

Perhaps in my exhaustion that should have tipped me off that something was different.

Yet, it didn't.