Ono Futa Drow Ranger

Amelia:

The air surrounding her was solid. Perhaps she could swim through it. No avail, whatever was holding her down needed to be moved. Perhaps she could grab and pull it off of her. Amelia reached out to grab nothing and took hold. It was heavy, or was it just stuck in place? No, her obstacle was being difficult on purpose. It didn't want to move, so rather than force it, she tried persuasion. She curled her fingers, and teased it out gently, until it trusted her timid touch.

Now you're mine!

She ripped it out of its confines, and reveled in the small victory. But there were others. Hundreds, all around her. They were chaotic, obnoxious. They needed to be put in their place. She found another. It was invisible, but she knew it was there. She teased this one out too with a more practiced touch. Once again it fell into her farce. She yanked it free.

Hah! Now you're mine as well.

A collection of precious baubles were hers. She coveted her little treasury, but she was tired now. They sought to be free of her will, and Amelia lacked the first notion of what to do with them. So she played. She ran them along her skin and tested their resistance to her grip. She let them free and saw how far they got before she trapped them again.

She squeezed them to test her strength. They squirmed, but her curiosity must be satiated. With enough force they popped with no sound or protest: just a satisfying release of energy.

"An infant learns to destroy before it can be taught to build."

There was that voice again. So familiar, so warm. Her body was cold and the voice could warm her. Amelia realized her eyes were closed. Was she sleeping? No, the voice was there, but in another world than her baubles. She would have to remember how to open her eyes to find it.

"Wake up, come back to me."

Amelia needed to find the speaker. It commanded her and she had never been more sure that she needed to awaken. She opened her eyes, but soon realized they were not open. She was stuck in a dream she couldn't awake from. Trapped in a claustrophobic loop that was quickly shrinking. She began to panic.

"Taste the air. Breath it."

Amelia had never even considered her breathing. What an odd sensation, the realization that your body is doing things you can control without your permission. She took back ownership of her own breathing and became distraught at how light her breaths were. She breathed deep. The air tasted so sweet. She lost sight of the baubles, but in return found her fingers lying at her side.

What had I been reaching with?

She awoke then. Sensation and feeling hit her all at once. Cold stone on her back. Soft fabric on her chest. This was the real world, and perhaps the most important thing was right at her side. She opened her eyes and found it.

Kono....

Amelia sat numbly at the edge of the shrine. She had a bowl in her trembling hands and was eating something out of it. The taste was there as usual: mushrooms and salt pork, but there was a lag to it. LIke each time she took a bite she only remembered the taste as a distant memory. She saw the baubles out of the corners of her eyes. She longed to feel that energy and pop them again, but the thought of returning to that place made her sick to her stomach.

Amelia watched as Kono fiddled with her gear. The drow was wearing her lighter armor again, and was inspecting the warped blade of her scimitar. Amelia found it difficult to look away from her. Every time she looked down at her food it was like the bright sun was irritating her eyes. Returning her view to Kono felt like relaxing under a shaded tree.

This must be the drow magic at play. At least I'm still sentient of what's going on.

Kono tossed the scimitar into the dirt with a sigh, and turned back to look at Amelia. The acknowledgement gave the girl a slight surge of satisfaction.

Strange... I know it's magic, but that doesn't make it feel any less real. Or maybe this is just what love feels like. I probably would have reacted the same way if she looked at me yesterday too.

"How do you feel Amelia?"

Amelia answered the question quickly with barely enough time to think her words over. "I think I'm in love with you. Or something. It's hard to tell." Amelia blushed.

Did I just say that?

Kono sighed and offered her a reassuring smile. "Love is an instinct just like any other emotion the mind uses to trick itself."

Amelia shook her head. "It's not the love thing I'm worried about. I expected and accepted that. It's my magic that I'm finding difficult to parse."

Kono nodded and Amelia was starting to find it easier to regain her composure.

"When I woke up, I felt like I was somewhere else. Like I was in between awake and sleep, like a fever dream."

"When you interact with mana you have to transport your consciousness to another place."

So that's why Kono and that other drow seemed to slip into meditation when they cast spells.

Amelia became curious. "When I was still half asleep, you said something to me, something about infants and destruction."

Kono turned back to her work.

She's moving like she's worried about something. Why is she in such a hurry?

Finally the drow spoke. "It takes most mages months to get to the point where they can interact with mana, and there you were manipulating it like a curious child. You were pulling threads at random and it was only a matter of time before you did something... self destructive."

Amelia could sense worry in Kono's voice, but couldn't help but feel immense satisfaction with herself and her new power. "It felt like I was coaxing little worms out of their holes, and then popping them! What were they?"

Kono stood up and tossed Amelia her shirt. Amelia caught it with a bit of surprise; she'd forgotten she was still in that transparent dress.

"All things are connected by tiny particles so small you can't see them, even through the finest of lenses. Mages call it the weave. To use magic is to manipulate those connections and twist the weave to fit your purpose."

"Are we made up of these particles too?"

"Yes, but every living thing possesses a soul. Women can give birth and create souls, or give up that ability to instead thread the weave with their own souls."

"So my soul protects me from pulling away at my own weave?"

"No, it protects you from others. Only your choices can protect you from yourself."

Amelia gulped. "And the colors?"

"You seemed to catch on quickly enough. Every thread has a color, but there is no black thread. Black mana doesn't weave magic willingly, it coaxes, coerces, and twists the threads into place."

How fitting for a drow.

Amelia set to work putting on her clothes. She kept the dress on underneath... It was quite comfortable after all. Kono was already packed up and ready to go.

"Where are we going?"

"North, to Ridgecross."

Ridgecross? Why aren't we heading home? Do I even have a home anymore? Am I even Amelia anymore? I feel no urgency at all to return to the people I knew. It's weirdly... freeing. I can focus all of my energy on one thing: whatever Kono wants.

As they exited the grotto, Amelia took note of all the work Kono had done while she was asleep. The enemy drow's body was completely absent, and every goblin along the way was missing an ear. Amelia made sure to retrieve her treasure from earlier, but Kono wouldn't allow her to take any of the books; those the drow kept for herself.

So be it, she knows better than I do.

There was a strange mood in the air as they carefully stepped over the traps and exited the tunnel. Amelia felt like Kono was distressed about something, and that made her distressed as well. This whole love and empathy thing was proving to be quite frustrating when dealing with someone as stoic as Kono. Amelia was getting fed up.

"Ok, can you tell me what's happening? Being a slave to your will and all is quite difficult when you don't tell me what your will

is

."

Kono stopped. Amelia was relieved; it was much more difficult to keep up with her when she wasn't all plated up.

"Ridgecross is a trade hub for goods headed north. Conveniently, the dwarven trade company Sonne And Sons passes through every third full moon. Tomorrow is one such moon."

"Why are we traveling north?"

"I'm not traveling, you are."

"Wait, what? Why?" Amelia felt a sudden pang of panic. The prospect of leaving Kono was already scary enough. But going on her own? So suddenly?

Kono looked deep into Amelia's eyes. Her red hue was so comforting, but in this moment there was a commanding presence that Amelia could not resist.

"I won't be your mentor, I won't be your master, and I certainly won't be your mother. You're going to learn how to control your power without relying on me."

"I don't understand... how will I do that?"

"Far to the north in the great forests of the high elves there's a college unknown by most where magic is taught freely and all who show promise are allowed to study, even those "blessed" with black mana. There's a drow that teaches there, Telaneya. Go there and tell her Kono sent you, she'll know just by looking at you that you belong to me."

"Why her?"

Kono shrugged. "She owes me a "saved your life once" sized favor. That and your bag of emeralds should be enough to get you in."

"And after that?"

"Follow your dreams. Become the best mage you can. When I come for you, and I will come for you, I expect to be met by a mage worthy of your talents."

With this command, Amelia suddenly felt free. She had one singular purpose: gain power. Anything else, any doubts or insecurities, were completely obsolete. There was only Kono's will and Amelia's ability to fulfill it.

So there are benefits to submission.

"As for your stay in Ridgecross, you'll need these." Kono handed Amelia a small pouch of coins. She held them with reverence. "There's two gold pieces and a few silver in there. The gold will get you a seat on the caravan, the silver will buy you a room in town. There's three inns in Ridgecross: two dumps and one overpriced dump. Go to the overpriced one, you won't be bothered there."

Amelia appreciated the instruction.

I wonder how intense the satisfaction will be of following her order.

"And one more thing." Kono drew a short sword and scabbard from her belt and handed it to Amelia. She held it awkwardly, and knew then and there that she would treasure it.

"I don't know how to use this..."

"Just keep it at your hip, it will dissuade any... unruly men."

"And if they fail to be dissuaded?"

"I'm sure you can adapt."

Amelia took off her pack and knelt down to place the pouch safely inside. She then slid the shortsword into her belt. It felt foreign at her hip, but also reassuring, like Kono was with her. She looked up at the drow. No, not just the drow. Her master. She opened her eyes wide like she knew Kono liked. She wished she could devise some words to let her know that she loved her, but what was the point? It was obvious, she had no choice anymore.

"Why are you so eager to send me away? Don't you want to spend some time with me?" Amelia shuffled down onto both knees and moved a little closer to Kono. It felt right to be there.

Kono bit her lip and tentatively ran her hand along Amelia's cheek. The girl happily pressed her face against Kono's palm and licked her lips. Kono pulled away.

"No... I don't think I do. The more we do this kind of thing the more difficult it will become for you."

Is she saying that for my sake or hers?

Amelia quickly hopped back up to her feet. Absolute obedience really was quite efficient.

"What about the elder? You gonna tell her I died?" Amelia was eager to start her new life.

"Burnt to a crisp, no body, no trace."

"How tragic."

"Tragic for my reputation. You're proving quite expensive."

"A small price to pay for unthinkable magic power at your disposal! And other benefits of course."

"I'll hold you to that. You wouldn't want to find out what happens if you fail me." Kono smiled at her.

"So this is goodbye then?"

"Yes."

Amelia wasn't sure what to do.

Should I kiss her? Hug her? Do a little twirl-

Kono pulled Amelia in for a single kiss. She felt like she was melting as their lips touched. Kono pulled away and Amelia felt off balance. It was over all too soon, and with that Kono turned and left.

Amelia readjusted her belt and put her hand on the hilt of her new sword. She turned north and took one last second to ready herself. Now her destiny was in her hands alone. Her goal? Power. She smirked.

So not much has changed.

Kono:

The night was far from young as Kono paced briskly down the cobbled streets of White River. Under the pale moonlight, the tall buildings cast long shadows, blanketing the narrow streets in a comfortable darkness. Kono preferred it this way; cities with their tight paths and predictable angles reminded her of the underground.

It might even feel like home if not for all the people bustling about by day, staring at her foreign complexion, and whispering hushed remarks they thought she couldn't hear. That's why she preferred the night. Under the moonlight, her skin blended in with the cold shadows, and the whisperers were sleeping nice and quietly in their homes.

However on this night the cool air was not refreshing, and the shadows offered no comfort. Kono's eyes longed to rest upon Amelia again, and the evening breeze could never compete with the girl's hot short breaths on her skin.

Was I a coward to send her away? Or has it just been long enough that desire is outweighing petty morality.

Indeed, fantasy weighed heavy on her chest: the feeling of soft blonde hair in her palm, the motion of it bobbing up and down in its place...

The clatter of a clumsy cat brought her back to the present. She locked her eyes onto the small black animal as it scurried away from her.

I'm so distracted even cats are getting the jump on me. I've suffered arrow wounds that hindered me less than this.

The familiar sight of the guild hall brought more than the usual relief; business was always a good distraction. The mercenary guild operated out of an unassuming building that could easily be mistaken for any mid class inn. The guild preferred it that way, after all their business was in blood and gold. Any pretense of heroics could draw the ire of knights and nobility who figured they had the monopoly on hearts and minds.

Kono entered the hall and pulled her hood down. The hall itself was dimly yet warmly lit by a large hearth that rose to the low ceiling. There were tables to one side with empty benches given the late hour. Kono did however spot a group in the corner, but before she could get a better look a tired voice caught her attention.

"You're late." The woman behind the counter tapped her long nails impatiently on an open book. Her skin was black as the night sky, which made the whites of her annoyed eyes all the more obvious.

"There were some complications." Kono approached the counter and presented the elder's writ.

The clerk ignored the writ, opting instead to rest her forearms on the counter as she leaned forward. Her bosom was hardly ample, but any woman at this angle would have plenty on display.

"Everything with you is a complication, Kono". She smirked now, encouraging Kono's brief visual foray down her shirt.

"I do my best to keep your nights interesting, Aisha."

Aisha was the guild's night clerk. She ran all of the mercenary facing business of this hall, from relaying magical messages to selling special order equipment. She was far from her homeland, as all guild clerks were. That way they were less likely to play favorites to certain quest givers, or get emotionally involved.

Aisha stood up straight again, brushing her long braided white hair back in place behind her back. She deposited the writ under the counter and produced a small pouch of coin in return. "Fifty silver even, and your report?"

"Goblin's from the north, about two dozen of them, lead by a particularly astute little fucker. Oh, and a bugbear for spice."

Aisha raised an eyebrow a little as she filled out the report. "More and more goblins from the north. Word is Lord Bafford might put a bounty out on them."

Back when they had a bounty on me it was fifty gold at least.

"I should have shown up later then." Kono took the coin pouch and felt its somewhat disappointing weight in her hand.

Aisha scoffed: the telltale sign that a rant was about to begin. "Oh yes, another great bounty! Now every moron with a pitchfork can brave the depths of a goblin den!" The sarcasm was evident in her voice. "Oh, and come back dead when I have to send a real party to scrape their remains off the walls. Even better, why not buy yourself a sword first? Then the goblin's will have both experience and weapons!"

Kono shrugged. "We all have to start somewhere."

Aisha's dark cheeks reddened, and she even pouted a little.

Oh gods, this is going to be a long one.

"When nobles press their fat thumbs on the scales they tip the whole contraption and fuck everything up. The village I was raised in, Aishinai, we had a similarly idiotic lord. A tribe of gnolls was out terrorizing the countryside. Now he could have mustered his men and rode out to meet them, but he wanted a "glorious" victory you see. So every farmer, woodsman, and what have you was ordered, by law of course, to melt down their tools into spears and their pots into helmets."

"Did you win?" Kono asked to break a brief silence.

"Oh we won. We won "gloriously". Problem was spears don't make good plows, and helmets don't make good pots. Famine took Aishinai by that winter. Point is, people should know their place, and the place of others."

"You seem to have made yourself a nice place here." Kono offered.

Aisha sighed, her cheeks were less blushed and her eyes went from angry to a little tired. "It's difficult having the solution to all the world's problems. Yet here I am, single handedly running the operations of an entire guild hall."

"The night operations."

"We all have to start somewhere."

Kono chuckled at that. Ambitious and sharp, the guild was lucky to have Aisha. "Come to think of it, the goblin leader had a nice sword he must have pilfered off someone. Maybe you're right."

"Was he your "complications"?"

"Well, that would be a little embarrassing to have in the report."

"I'll make sure to add it."

Kono grimaced silently to herself as Aisha filled out the report.

And there's my reward for lying, but the potential blowback from the truth would be far worse than a footnote.

Aisha shut the book with a sigh. "And your room for the night? The usual?"

Kono eyed her again; Aisha's posture relaxed in response, and her pale eyes softened. "I think so, and a glass of something strong with just a little sweet."

"Oh that won't be necessary." The guild girl turned to the shelves behind her. They were stocked with weapons and alcohols both expansive and cheap. Everything an adventurer could need. She grabbed a bottle off of a high shelf. The light coating of dust proved it was an expensive one. "Someone's already bought something for you."

Kono took the bottle with a raised eyebrow.

Faerie Glow Brandy... I'm a sucker for gimmicks, and elf brandy teases my tastes just right. Whoever got this knows me well.

"And who's my benevolent patron?"

Aisha pointed to a group hidden away at a corner table. "He is."

Kono approached the table of adventurers, bottle in hand. A smile fell on her face as the stout figure at the head of the table came into view.