NT Rangers - Lad 31 - Leave Kara Be

Fin entered the council chamber. A long meeting hall with several filled tables dressed with food. Men sat scattered in seats, watching and observing the days events. They turned with interest as the alleged Hero walked down the center of the room towards the grand seat where the Patrician stood. An old, withered soul with a short, graying beard and a bald head with some tufts of gray around the side.. The Patrician leaned forward, spitting on the ground.
“The murderer has come to turn himself in? What a surprise. You're weaker than I was told. Thin arms, long hair. You're like a woman. I'll tell you, if you've come to warm my bed until I die I'll accept that as a mercy for you.” The room erupted in laughter.

Fin glanced around casually, nodding. “I thought you would want to know how I killed your son.” The Patrician went silent. Fin winked and pointed.
“That... That got your attention. Well, let me tell you. He did not die an easy death. When I found my family I felt gutted. I wanted to make a better world for them. I wanted them to see me and be proud, but when I saw them I knew instinctively that they had been killed. They were standing, living corpses that had been taken away by Sam. It was in my absence but...” He lowered his head.
“I still blame myself for not checking sooner.”

“That's enough. Capture this madman.” The Patrician ordered. The confidence was in his escorts. Two men that were as good as Slayers that remained in Orr in case the city was attacked by it's various enemies. The men, adorned in phalanx armor with cowled helms advanced on Fin. He looked to his left to the first, then to his right at the second. He waved his hand.
“Mass Unravel.” As he spoke those words he watched humorlessly as pieces of the men around him, even those sitting and minding their business and especially the two guards began to lose pieces of themselves in non-uniform chunks. They stopped, feel parts being taken out as if it were removed by a melon baller. They bled from those holes, but it was not drastic enough for them to die. They stopped and stood in terror as more of them disappeared until they could not stand, then as they gasped and finally lost pieces that they could use to gasp, every last part of them all faded. Only the patrician remained, stunned.
“So...” Fin continued, walking forward with slow, confident steps.
“I turned him to stone. I cracked off a piece of him, then I returned him just long enough that he could see what he lost before I froze him again and did the same over and over until nothing was left.” He sighed wistfully.

“Destroying Orr after that... It felt good but you weren't alive then. All the others related to Sam were gone so it felt empty sinking the city beneath the waves. Now, I feel it very appealing that you will be alive as the water rushes in and the land sinks. I want you to drown, like all your people are meant to. Death at sea? It's something an Orran strives for, no? I'm doing you a favor.”

“W-what!? Hey! What!?” The Patrician could not utter any other words.

Fin waved, then turned and walked out. “Are we going to fetch a boat, My Lord?” Jeane asked.
“Flying is faster.”

“For-”

Fin rubbed his eyes. “I told you to get a carriage. Did you?”

“Yes, of course.” Jeane bowed, stepping aside and motioning towards it.
“Everyone in. Ai, you're carrying us the who way.”

“Uhm.” She smiled nervously, her wings shuddering a little.

He got in and invited Jeane and Esther and Raithe inside with him. Once everyone was in he lifted his hand and spoke.
“Mass Shrink.” The carriage reduced in size so that it was just up to the middle of Ai's calf. She sighed with relief.

“I know Master had a plan!” She picked it up and they rose into the air.

The Hero nodded, watching from above as waves began to crash all around the city state. “This is faster than a boat. A Seraph by default has fast movement and the addition of more Aura only increases their speed. We can get there as fast, or maybe even before them depending on when they left.”

“What'll you do when we arrive?” Esther asked, crossing one leg over the other. She spread herself out over her side of the carriage comfortably since Raithe and Jeane flanked Fin on either side. He seemed to be in thought and was not answering.

“Master, are you thinking about-”

“Shut up!” Fin sneered. He threw his head back and closed his eyes.
“Jeane, confirm my thought and my observations on how this place works.”

Jeane cleared her throat. “This is simple a far grander recreation of the concept of a Personal Space. Arua transferred to Soma to make land and mass and Souls with Aura and Soma surrounding them, tuned to their Core to make up the people inside. Souls can proliferate and create new souls as with the regular cycle, and it seems as though the output they've reached is positive. It is not as much as one might think, as the upkeep required to keep this place running is massive, however a positive result is quite an achievement. It has been like that for centuries so they have been accumulating Aura but-”

“That is not all.” Esther lifted a finger. They don't store it, they reinvest it.”

“Reinvest?” The Hero questioned.

“It means they're smart and not greedy. Aura that's drawn out and used is lost, and maybe is lost inefficiently, however if it is never drawn from this simulation and simply gets cycled back in it acts like a sort of 'investment.' The profits keep feeding into the system to grow the system and therefore the profit grows and there's almost no risk. Until now anyway.” He chuckled.

“Can it be withdrawn at any time?”

“A Personal space has it's use and laws determined by the creator. Therefore the land and everything inside can be drawn from and converted to raw power at any time. It is similar to the power you draw from Irisia.”

The Hero nodded, waving his hand. “Unlike an Angel, however, which has near unlimited reserves, any power drawn from the simulation weakens it and therefore weakens the future output. So they likely have little interest in utilizing this power except in an emergency scenario.”

“For now.”

-

“Hey Lad.” Kara spoke hesitantly. She had found a way to get to his room on the ship. It was bigger than the Captain's quarters and sat at the lowest floor near the back. Looking around, the room was completely sitting bellow water level thanks to the weight of the ship. The room was luxurious, with carpeting and a nice bed and Lad even had a comfortable couch to sit at and a table to eat from.

“This is...” She trailed off.

“Yes, Kara?” Lad asked, reaching out towards a cup.

“Let me get that for you, Slayer.” The male sibling, Otto, offered. He picked up the glass that was just a simple reach away for Lad and presented to him. Lad nodded and stared into the half-full cup.

“Let me fill that for you, Slayer!” The sister offered excitedly, carefully pouring water from a pitcher she was holding.

Lad nodded again and finally drank somewhat uncomfortably. It was a bit embarrassing. “You really- Really. Neither of you have to do this.”

“Nonsense. The Slayer works hard so he should not have to lift a finger while in his own room!” Otto said in a determined tone.

Kara watched what just happened unfold with a blank stare. “Got it pretty good down here.” She hinted. Over on the bed both Kai and Yeong were cuddled up together, sleeping. Kai was drooling on the pillow. Yeong shifted over, seeming to be having a bad dream. She was only free for a moment before Kai closed the space and glomped onto her again in her own dream.

“I guess so. Is something up?”

Kara blushed. “Well...”

“Are you...” Lad smiled.
“Having any trouble.”

Kara exhaled through her nose and waved dismissively. “Not at all! No trouble at all.”

Lad nodded. “That's good.” He had decided to only help Kara if she was in trouble, or she asked for help. He assumed she would fairly quickly, but he realized something in making that deal with himself. Kara's pride barely allowed her to tell him she was having trouble. It was quite possible that she was having no trouble at all. The comfort of his room would be very welcome to her, considering her tastes, but she refused to ask outright and Lad refused to offer unless she asked directly so it was a stalemate.

Kara groaned. “Alright, just checking in on you kids. Enjoy.” As soon as she was outside the door her shoulders slumped.
“Thought I would be able to swing some comfort on my own but the Captain actually gave up that room to Lad, so everyone else on the ship moved down in accommodation.” She said to herself as she walked towards the stairs leading up.
“So now I gotta beg that kid just to have the barest of amenities? Blech.” As she reached the second floor below deck a man approached her with a mop and bucket.

“Someone threw up. It's pretty bad.”

Kara narrowed her eyes at him. “The.. Usual deal?”

“Yep. So, how's this work exactly? I clean it and you give me a blowjob?”

She cocked her head to one side and licked her lips. He was as gross as Orrans usually got, but it was nothing new. The Fox nodded.
“Yeah, that's the deal.”

He excitedly pulled down his pants. Kara dropped down as well. He was half hard so she was able to suck on his gross cock pretty easily without even having to touch it with her hands. It glided between her lips as it hardened inside.
“Why didn't you just join as entertainment if you're so good...” He groaned.
“And if you like it so much?”

She let it pop free of her lips. “You think I like it?” She spat between his feet.
“I don't, but, if I do this I can shirk my duties without much expectation. As an entertainer, doing this type of shit non-stop is the work I'd be doing so I'd probably be begging for a mop and bucket, instead.”

“Ah.” The man nodded with understanding, then squirmed.
“A-aaah.” He came in her mouth. She closed her eyes, swallowing and absorbing some of his meager Aura. There was not enough split between all the guys on the ship for her to feel recharged.

As she was walking away she cursed and thought out loud. “This sucks.”

An hour later and she was pulling her tunic down under her tits to let the First Mate touch them for a better lunch. An hour after that the Quartermaster bent her over a box of supplies and fucked her Raw. She had already been through all of these men many times already so they barely had much to offer. A strip tease for the captain, followed by a quick fuck to end out the day. When it was over, with even more potential for it to keep going at night it struck her. In panic she counted down in her head how long she spent in total fucking and sucking sailors and it was quite a lot. She flushed.
“I-It's a job!”

A man approached her. “Oh, hey Dog. Can I trade some juice for a blowjob.”

“Yes.” She nodded begrudgingly. Kara stopped.
“I mean no.”

The man looked at her. “Uh, which is it?”

Kara walked away, pondering. She had lived a whole new life for centuries. She gave up the life of whoring around and sleeping with many men in exchange for a simpler, more comfortable life of training and discipline. The thought struck her and she sat down somewhere private on the deck as the ship rocked and the sun set.

“How much did I really change?” It had been two weeks since they left Orr and she had done everything she could to preserve her pride. In a warped way that even included selling herself, because that somehow was not worse. After being on the wagon for so long she still felt very little stigma from sleeping with lots of men but the true problem which made her think hard about it was why. She closed her eyes and thought back.
“Every decision I've made up until now, I've always avoided sacrificing my pride above all else, because I thought it was important.” She smiled. It was actually quite simple. Even if she slept with men, pretended to submit to them and give them what they wanted, she could find a way to do that and preserve her pride. In fact, she only did it in such a way that she could. There was never anything given away for free and she always maintained her state of mind. She curled up and leaned her head on her knees.
“Why did I love Cao Young?” She smiled wistfully.
“Ah... I remember now. It was because he left me with nothing and never allowed me maintain my pride for too long. He was just that kind of person. I was never allowed to save face but it didn't feel humiliating because he didn't either. He was a guy that was without pride or restraint to begin with.” She laughed.
“He was so cool. Doing everything you want to do without thinking. It was so easy to fall into the pace he set and that was probably the best time I had. No mission. No goal. No pretense.” She thought back.

-

“Kara!” Young burst into the room she was meditating him.

“W-what!? Could you knock?”

He ignored her complaint. “I decided! It's going to be good.”

Kara stared at him. It was never good when Cao Young decided something. “What did you decide?” Since she was done meditating anyway she left the lotus position and ladled some water from a bucket into her mouth.

“We're gonna have kids. I'm gonna master becoming a father.” He stated excitedly.

Kara spat out what was in her mouth, it dribbled down her chin. “You want to have kids? With... Me?”

He looked at her strangely. “Who else. You're the closest woman to me.”

She blushed deeply and wiped herself off. A smile crossed her lips. Cao Young was not a bad partner. In fact, he would make an excellent progenitor. Thought of grandeur began floating around her mind over a new Coven in the East built of strong Martial Artists. Since Soma was able to be raised by Foxes it would be effective, and other skills could still be developed. She stood up and dusted herself off, adopting a sultry tone.
“I have a few conditions, Cao Young. I-”

He stopped her and began to leave, saying over his shoulder. “Ah. That's fine, I'll get the second one in line to do it.”

Kara shook. “W-wait!” She shouted after him.

He walked back in with a dull expression. There was no manipulation or calculation present. “Yeah?”

“Uhm...” She shifted awkwardly, her face bright red. The fur on her ears stood up and she got goosebumps over her body.
“How-however you want. That's fine. Let's just do it. I'll follow your lead so you can do what you want.” She wondered what she was saying. If she was really going to be subsumed by this man. Surprisingly, as she was feeling at her lowest he embraced her warmly.

Young whispered. “I'll also have to Master being husband to you, then. I preferred you, so I'm glad you said yes.” Kara knew that those words said by any other person in any other context would be a power play to melt her down, to turn her into an accessory to him. The reality was, Young was doing that with no intent and no desire. He was simply the type that made it happen. He did everything he wanted to, and you were either with him or you were not.

“I'm with you.”

-

“He's the only person I was like that with. It wasn't a bad feeling but I thought it would be exclusive to him. Maybe I'm wrong?” As she was pondering out loud a sailor spotted her from afar and was about to ask for a favor. She stood up and walked past him, much to his surprise. Her tail swayed behind her as she descended one, two, three floors to the bottom. Lad's room. She entered. Kai was riding him. They stopped, shocked by the intrusion.

“K-kara!?” Kai gasped.

“Uhm.” Lad froze.

Kara's head hung. She approached the bed and sat down beside them, paying zero mind to what they were just doing. Lad was even still inside of Kai and she still simply did not care. Kara looked over, staring Lad in the eye.
“Lad... The truth is I am actually having a hard time. Can I stay with you?” She knew that if she had been invited, she never would have reached this point. She would have simply carried on.