Shards of Reminisce Ch.56 ♥

Our unlucky cat finally gets paid from a certain twin, but with a twist.

I sit on the edge of my bed, wearing nothing but shorts, my mind racing as I try to make sense of what happened yesterday.

That thing—whatever the hell it was—spoke to me like it knew me personally. That scared me more than anything I've ever faced. Those grimm abominations can't even compare to that creature, even worse than what I went through in Patch. The way it said I was "different," the way it claimed I belonged to it, that we'd be "whole again"... that felt too real to dismiss as just another nightmare.

And then being dragged toward that hole, hearing those twisted baby cries, feeling those tiny hands clawing at me. My skin crawls just thinking about it.

All because I took that shard from Neo.

That makes little sense. I've absorbed these things before with no problems, not counting the one I found in Patch. The only difference was that this one came from some random guy Neo killed instead of being loose in the environment.

But why would that change anything?

I feel fine now, at least. Whatever happened didn't leave me sick or injured like I'd feared. Taking a look at myself, I can tell nothing's wrong with me physically. Besides, I could sleep it off eventually, which is something. But two incidents like this are setting a dangerous precedent.

I don't want a third time. Will there ever be a third time?

But I simply cannot stop absorbing more shards. I need them to fix this system and gain access to more abilities. They strengthen me, give me new options to work with.

Right…

I absorbed a shard, which means I should have gained something from it.

I summon my scroll and check for any notifications or updates to my system.

Nothing.

That's strange. But maybe the changes are just different this time. I tap the store icon and open the digital store to see if there are new options available.

I'm proven correct as more food choices appear, but they're still overpriced as hell. Disappointing, but not surprising considering the cost of simple chips and drinks.

As I keep scrolling, I pause when I notice something that isn't food. It's a vial of refined fire dust that's on sale.

"Fifty thousand?" I mutter, staring at the price. "For dust? That's fucking insane."

Even with the current shortage, it still doesn't cost that much on the market.

I already have plenty of dust stored away anyway, so there's no point in bankrupting myself for something I don't need.

I close the store, feeling rather disappointed by the updated catalog, and switch to the library tab instead.

The library has exploded with new titles—dozens, if not hundreds of them.

Initially, this excites me. Maybe I can find more training manuals or useful information. But as I scroll through the titles, they're all cheap literature. And not just cheap—the titles are simple story names.

'The Juniper Tree,' 'The Robber Bridegroom,' 'The Turnip.'

"What the hell?"

Those are strange titles, and the others have equally weird names that don't ring any bells. I tap one to check the synopsis, and it just makes me furrow my brow as it talks about cannibalism and other disturbing shit.

I close the library tab with a shudder.

There's nothing useful there, just creepy horror stories.

Time to check if I gained any personal improvements from that shard.

'Status.'

Ma’iq Rakhan

Race–Feline Faunus

Age 18

Class: The pugilist

Level–25 (88%)

Mentor – (Neopolitan)

Apprentice– Jeanne d’Arc

HP – 1120/1120 [90 regen per minute]

MP –2610/2610 [350 regen per minute]

SP – 4160/4160 [300 regen per minute]

STR–95

END–76  

DEX–87 

INT–56 

WIS–53

CHA– 57 (+3)

LCK–1 

Status: 

[The Big One protects yes, yes!]

[A hot drink]

[Clock Tower: Do you hear them yet?]

BLOCKED [Ȳ̶̨̼ỏ̪͔͍ͯ͜͞ú̴̷͔̦̥͍̊͞ ̴̘̲̤̮̠ͦͣͣ̕̕͟c̷͍̩̭͚͔̯̩̓͒ͭ̈́̿̕a̢̡̛̻̭̝̗̗ͥ̉ͬ̀͗̌҉n̸̡̡̡͔͖̺͇̭̯̊̄ͧ͑̍́’̱̗̼̞̱͉̃̾ͬ͂́̃̈͟͜͟t̨̨̨̠͓̗̩̙̙͆̏̅̑̀̅ͮ ̬̙̳̬͖͎́͗ͧ͊̾͗͊͢͜ḛ̷̡̹̟͙̖͍̒̊̈́͌ͥ͞ŝ̴̸̶͍̺̹́̇̓̉͜c̺̀̆́̄ͩͪ͘ͅa̸͚̭̪̔̌̈́p͎͆̐e ▒  (PERMANENT)

Apprenticeship: 25% of exp gained from apprentice actions.

Rested Experience: 50% increase from all sources of EXP (1 level worth of exp remaining)

The Road to 30 : Provides a multiplicative 100% bonus to all sources of EXP

What the hell are those new conditions? Clocktower and Hot Drink? And they don't seem to be timed either, unlike the other temporary conditions that usually appear in my status. Those are weird titles, and all I've gained are just three extra points to CHA, which doesn't look like much.

And that CHA doesn’t seem to do much to help me either.

What a meager reward.

That sucked. Sucked a lot, considering how much I suffered yesterday, and all I get is this pittance. Going through that nightmare hell should've given me something more substantial than a tiny boost to my charisma.

Whatever. 

I won't cry over it. I still got something at the end of the day, and maybe I'll find some use for these weird conditions later. Though what the hell "Clocktower" and "Hot Drink" are supposed to do is beyond me. 

Especially the first one, asking if I hear something. 

Which I don’t obviously.

My ears perk up when my bathroom door opens, and I turn to look over my shoulder. A damp billow of steam emerges, followed by Miltia stepping out with a towel wrapped around her head and another around her body, looking refreshed from her shower.

"You are still sulking? It’s been a while." she comments with a raised eyebrow, running the towel through her damp hair. "What's got your tail in a twist this time?"

Right. She crashed here for a couple of hours after we got back. It's around 11 AM now.

“Just thinking.”

Obviously, she used the couch because there's no way in hell I would've given up my bed to her. Although no complaints since we both wanted to drop dead and sleep all the hours we were owed.

"Still surprised you got a place to call your own," she continues, glancing around my bedroom with those emerald eyes. "You're one of the lucky ones, all things considered."

"Unlucky, more like."

It has been always one bad thing after the other, as if there is some sort of biased balance for when something good happens to me.

"Don't be so dramatic. You should know how difficult it is for faunus to find decent housing, despite this being Vale Kingdom and all that progressive bullshit they love to preach." She wrings out her hair with practiced efficiency. "Most landlords still find excuses to turn away anyone with ears or a tail."

"Don't fucking remind me of that crap," I mutter, my ears flattening against my head as I remember getting evicted from my last place because of exactly that kind of bullshit. The memory of that permanent mark on my record still pisses me off. Just thinking about it sours my mood completely.

Although, Neo got all my stuff back and recovered my money, so it evened out in the end.

"Either way, you should decorate this place a little," Miltia says, gesturing at the bare walls and minimal furniture of my room. "It's pretty basic and empty. Looks like a prison cell, honestly."

"It’s still new. And it serves its purpose well enough."

"Barely. Where's your personality? Your style? You need to go shopping for furniture and decoration, otherwise this will be just a room from a hospital." She shakes her head in obvious disapproval. 

I roll my eyes and stand up, stretching my arms above my head and letting out a long yawn. The late morning stiffness in my joints protests the movement.

"So, what's the plan now?" I ask, changing the subject before she can give me more unsolicited advice.

"I don't know, to be honest." Miltia shrugs, securing the towel around herself better. "I figured I'd grab some food somewhere and head back to the club. Sis might start asking questions if I don’t show up and get annoyed."

"She is that bossy?"

"I told you, Melanie and I have an arrangement. Since I used some of my free time last night, now I need to give some in exchange." She smirks slightly. "Besides, the club doesn't open until night anyway, and I don't do any prep work, so I have hours to kill."

"You could just stay here a bit longer," I suggest, then immediately wonder why I said that. "Not like I have much to do, anyway. We could head back to the club together later, if you want."

Miltia raises an eyebrow, studying my face with interest as she takes a step closer. "That's surprisingly considerate of you. Feeling guilty for slamming me against the floor yesterday?"

I just chuckle, remembering that moment. "A fight's a fight. Everything goes."

"Then I regret not kicking you in the nuts when I had the chance," she fires back with a grin. "Or clipping your tail."

"You tried. I was just better." I sit back onto my bed.

"Barely. Next time I won't make the same mistake." She moves closer again, close enough that I can smell her shampoo—something floral but pleasant.

"Next time? I thought it was a onetime thing since you have your schedule and all that."

"Told you, I'm rusty. I need to practice and get back in shape, otherwise things can get a lot worse for me than just nasty bruises." She sits down on the edge of my bed. I don't mind since she still has her towel on, so she isn't dampening the sheets.

"I'm the one who was looking for training though."

"We both can be training at the same time." She rolls her eyes. "Though I have to admit, when you changed weapons, the way you fought was completely different. I hate to admit it, but you moved much better than me. What gives?"

Right. I fought Miltia as a pugilist and then Neo as a dancer.

"Would you have preferred if I fought you with that form?"

"Mmmm... Yes. I would have learned a lot more from that." She turns to face me more directly. "You know how to fight, but that other form was objectively better—a lot more technique, almost on a par with what I was taught at the preparatory. How can you have two entirely different fighting styles?"

Obviously, I won't talk about my class system, much less the entire system.

"I told you already. I'm just that special."

The twin keeps her stare on me before she bursts into laughter. "Seriously? Again?" She shifts closer, her knee almost touching mine. "That only works once, Ma’iq. After using it more, it loses its charm and makes you look dumb."

"Does it though?" I lean back slightly, propping myself up on my elbows.

"Oh, it definitely does." She scoots further onto the bed, turning to face me fully. "You'll have to try harder than that to impress me."

"Who says I'm trying to impress you now?"

"Please. When you fought against Neopolitan? You were definitely trying to make an impression." She shifts even closer, and now we're both sitting properly on the bed, facing each other. "Not that I minded, of course. I could still learn a couple things from just watching, I really liked how you performed the kicks for example."

Really, what’s with this girl

"Besides…" she stars her tone differs from before. "We're finally alone for once."

I blink. "Yeah, nobody comes here."

Well, Neo does, but that’s rare since we are mostly in her place.

Miltia's lips curve into a knowing smile. "Exactly. No interruptions this time. No sister snooping around..."

"Oh. Oh." A grin spreads across my face. 

Honestly, I really need something to get my mind off things and while sudden this could be a good option.

"There we go," she purrs, moving even closer as she takes the towel off her head, letting her damp black hair cascade down. "It took you a while."

"It was just a little." I put a finger on the edge of the second towel and playfully tried to pull it down but not really applying any force.

"Just a little?" She laughs, reaching out to trace a finger along my arm. "I offered to join me in the shower earlier."

Right… I wasn’t really paying any attention.

"Well, better late than never, right?"

Her green eyes locked with mine, and I saw a hint of mischief as she smirked. "Much better. Especially since your psycho girlfriend isn't here."

Just then, my scroll chimes with a message notification. I glance at it quickly—it's from Neo.

'Pancakes waiting, kitten!'

How convenient.

But I can do this quick AND then go grab that breakfast.

Miltia gets to check the screen of my scroll and catch the message and looks at me. 

"She made me a late breakfast." I reply.

"Well," Miltia says, leaning closer until I can feel her breath against my cheek, "she'll just have to wait. Her. Turn."

Before I can respond, she closes the distance between us, her lips pressing against mine in a soft but deliberate kiss. It's brief—just a peck—but there's no hesitation in her.

When she pulls back, she's wearing that same confident smirk, but that image doesn’t last with the blush creeping up to her face and the way she averts her gaze.

[Affection with Miltiades Malachite has been increased by 3, 5/100]​

"There, no interruptions this time."

I can't help but grin. "No annoying bursting through the door in to drag you away?"

"Definitely not." Miltia shifts closer, her hand still resting on my arm. "And I still need to make it up for you."

So she remembers how I didn’t get to finish once back then.

"And what exactly did you have in mind?"

It is a question that doesn’t need an answer as I simply hook her towel with my finger and pull it down, setting her body free from her restraints.

“I can think of a couple of things.”

I can't stop myself from staring as they sway slightly with each breath she takes. She doesn't look away either as I reach up, cupping one in my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. Decently sized and soft.

"Mmmmm," she moans softly, closing her eyes.

She doesn't push me away, so I keep going, kneading it with my fingers and gently rolling the nipple between them. Her reaction is more than obvious, but the way she bites her lip makes it even better.

But then she grabs my wrist and pushes my hand away. "None of that," she says, pushing me onto my back and shifting on top of me. "I'm the one who's supposed to be making it up to you, remember?"

She climbs on top of me and I feel her bare skin pressing against me. I don't resist as she reaches down to tug at my shorts, pulling them down with my underwear and letting my member spring free.

She doesn't waste time wrapping her hand around my shaft and stroking a few times before letting it go.

I'm already half-hard, but that feeling alone is enough to get me fully erect, especially as she leans forward, pressing her breasts against my chest and kissing me again, more insistently than before her tongue probing my lips for access which I quickly give her access to.

Her tongue explores my mouth while my hands explore her body, moving up and down her back and over her thighs before grabbing her ass again. She's wet already—I can feel it as she presses herself against my shaft, smearing it with her fluids as she keeps grinding against me.

I let out a groan when she bites my lip playfully, breaking the kiss and pulling back to look down at me. She has a devious smirk on her face as she looks into my eyes, her hips moving up and down as she is working those hips on me, making sure my tip rubs her sensitive button.

"Fuck..." She moans. "I-I really hate those rules that stop me from going all the way."

I remember Melanie talking about it, which makes me feel a little disappointed. "Me too."

I don't have the chance to say more than she leans down and kisses me again, her tongue exploring my mouth once more for a moment before I wrestle for dominance while she continues moving her hips up and down. I can feel my tip rubbing against her burning but slick entrance, and the way she moans into my mouth makes it even better as she occasional probs the entrance but pulling away.

My hands move from her firm ass to her thighs, tracing along her skin before I find her legs, squeezing her supple flesh and assist her with her movements.

She breaks the kiss again, panting as she looks into my eyes. "Y-you're a lot… better at this than I expected," she says between breaths.

"Practice."

She burst in laughter as she sit up, shifting back slightly so that my shaft is pressed between her thighs now instead of against her entrance. Her hands run over my chest and abs as she looks down at me.

"Well, then you better keep practicing." She smirks, moving her hips forward and back, rubbing her wet lips along my shaft teasingly slow but increasing her pace before I could raise a complain.

I groan, watching her breasts bounce with each movement she makes, unable to tear my eyes away from the sight.

She notices this and widens her smile, grabbing my hands and placing them on her breasts, urging me to play with them as much as I want. An offer I gladly take.

I keep staring at her as she moves up and down against me, her breathing becoming more ragged as she gets closer to her climax since her body twitch more and more.

"You feel so good," she pants, her hands moving to my chest and digging her nails into my skin. "D-don't stop."

I don't reply, keeping my focus on her.

Taking advantage of how slippery we were, I moved in tandem with her, feeling the heat of her pussy and the way she squeezed my shaft with her thighs.

The feeling is almost too much to bear, but I try to hold back for a bit longer. I want this to last and stretch that pleasure.

But Miltia doesn't seem to have any intention of slowing down, moving faster and faster until she stops, letting out a long moan as her body visibly trembles. I watch as her face contorts in pleasure as her orgasm hits her full force and gripping my erection harder than before.

It's enough to send me over the edge as well, my own climax crashing into me and I let out a long groan as I spill everything between her belly and thighs.

She leans forward again, pressing her forehead against mine while she catches her breath.

"So, tell me... Who's better?" She asks teasingly, pinching my ears. "Me, or your little mute?"

Neo. No contest.

But I have a powerful feeling that I shouldn’t answer that question. Ever.

So I look away...

Only for my eyes to land onto the only pair hetero-chromatic eyes I know, materializing right next to me.

--------------------------------

AN: The next chapter will be longer. But I did manage to get back in time so this worked which is great.