by Jake Daniel
Gwen snored sweetly on my right side. Her slightly bronzed skin made her look like a goddess in the early morning light. I stared at her for a few seconds until I felt Dahlia shift behind me.
I stretched and turned to my opposite side and wrapped my arm around Dahlia’s midsection. I felt her breathing increase, and a shudder ran through her body.
She pushed herself up against me, lining up her perfect ass with my growing shaft. She let out a soft moan as she moved her hips up and down, rubbing her firm ass along my length.
I moved my hand up to her breasts and squeezed hard as my shaft grew harder. The sweet scent of her nectar strengthened and filled the air as she continued to grind up on me.
She pulled my hand down to her wet mound and shoved my finger deep inside of her. She moved it in and out, gyrating her hips faster until she came with a violent shudder. I smiled as she melted back into the bed.
I left my finger inside of her for a few seconds before pulling it out deliberately, sending another shiver through her.
She turned into me and kissed me with intensity. Her hands shot down to my erect staff, and she lowered herself to it, bringing it inside her mouth and moving her head up and down just as she’d seen Gwen do.
She wrapped a hand around my balls and squeezed gently, her mouth tightening around my length. Savoring every inch, she took my entire girth down her throat before rising again. She moaned and moved faster, bringing a hand up and pumping my base with one hand while concentrating on the top with her warm, soft mouth.
I felt several small tendrils lap at the tip of my member and it sent me flying over the edge. The corners of her mouth curved into a smile as I unloaded my hot seed inside of her mouth. After I’d fully emptied, she pulled back slowly and smiled. “Mmm, that was fun.”
She giggled and snuggled up next to me as I laid on my back with my member twitching and coming down off of something I’d never experienced before. She used her freaking tendrils. Holy shit.
I let out a long satisfied sigh and turned my head to check on Gwen. To my surprise, her eyes were wide open, a huge devious smile plastered across her face. “How was it?”
I grabbed a spare pillow and hit her with it playfully. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.” I rolled my eyes and placed my hands behind my head.
Gwen ran her finger over my chest and twirled it around in a patch of my chest hair. “That was hot. I can’t wait until you two are bound. Then the real fun can start.”
I laid there for a few moments, thinking about what I’d been experiencing. If the real fun had not actually started yet, then what the hell had I been experiencing over the past week and a half?! Other than having to deal with some assholes, this entire experience had been amazing.
I slipped out of bed while Dahlia drifted off to sleep with a smile across her face. I pulled on my pants and looked at the two goddesses laying naked in my bed for several seconds before heading downstairs and out the back door.
The next week proved mainly uneventful. The tavern was quickly becoming the central gathering spot for everyone who’d settled in. It was the best kept secret this side of Aurilon. We had travelers visit from all over, some even as far as the capitol.
Chloe was an excellent barkeep, and each day, at least twice a day, she’d corner me and reach into my pants. It was almost as if she wanted to ensure it was still attached. Not that I really minded too much.
The sun was just peeking over the walls as I walked toward the front of the manor. A few of the visitors were busy gathering materials and gearing up for the day.
I stretched and walked over to the lake to wash up. I wasn’t necessarily bashful and didn’t pay too much attention to the stares I’d get each time I’d strip down. Hell, most of the visitors we had at the manor didn’t even wear clothes most of the time.
I caught two of Gwen’s sisters watching me intently as I walked into the water. “You’re welcome to join if you’d like.” I called over to them, prompting a small giggle from each of them. They all knew Gwen would kick their asses if they’d try anything.
It was still early, with the sun barely cracking the horizon, but several of the others were already busy with projects around the manor.
I found Fap’zak huddled over some plans near a small fire, drinking a cup of steaming liquid. “Good morning Fap’zak, what are you drinking there? It smells like death.”
Fap’zak held his mug up to me and smiled. “Good morning, Logan, sir. This is fermented yak’s milk. Care for some?”
I held up my hands. “Nope, that’s alright. I’m good.”
The goblin gave me a small chuckle and turned his plans to show me what he was looking at. “See here?” He pointed a long green finger on the paper. It was a map of the manor and its surrounding lands. He had updated it after completing each building.
The manor was the central landmark along with the lake. Several small huts curved along the shoreline, with the tavern and farms a short distance away. The goblin traced a line from the lake to the manor. “This space here is currently open. After speaking to the others, there seems to be a need for a market. What do you think?”
I bent closer and reviewed the space. “I think it would work, but how about over here by Chloe’s tavern instead? That way travelers can pick up their goods on the way out and don’t have to cross all the way over here where it doesn’t make as much sense. Also, I think I may want to expand my house a little in the future, so I may need that space.”
Fap’zak rubbed his chin for several seconds before nodding. “Yes, Logan sir, that makes sense. I... actually agree. I knew you were smarter than those other humans, sir.” He turned and gave me an awkward salute and hurried away.
I took it as a compliment and chuckled as several of the other goblins rushed after him with hammers held firmly in their hands.
I watched as the goblins ran off to get to work and couldn’t help but think about my lodge back home. Hunting season would be in full swing now. I imagined that it would be quite a shock when the first group arrived and I was missing.
I exited the lake and pulled my clothes on. The lone centaur that had helped the others escape from Dunway stood across the lake from me.
I’d discovered his name was Teng Shun. Master Teng Shun. Gwen had told me he had many skills that were at rank eight or nine. Which meant he’d hit Honored and Saint ranks. He was the only one I’d met since arriving that had skills that high, although he’d devoted his entire life to cultivating.
When I closed my eyes, I could see a bright swirl of spirit around his body. I knew he was cultivating, and it looked like he was adept at it.
I hadn’t been able to bring that much spirit in at the same time and still had not learned how to separate out the different types. I stopped when I reached him and stared out at the water.
After nearly two minutes, the centaur cleared his throat and looked down at me. “Yes? Is there something I can help you with?”
“Actually, yes there is. Would you be willing to give me a few tips on cultivation? Gwen has helped me immensely, but I feel like I have enough capacity to do more. If that makes any sense?”
The centaur blinked slowly twice and nodded. “It takes many years to learn how to cultivate with every part of your core. It shows great awareness to know that you have additional capacity. It will make you very strong if you can use every portion of your core.” He took several steps and turned back toward me. “Close your eyes and focus on me.”
I did as instructed and watched as streams of bright spirit poured out of every living thing around us, from the trees to the grass.
The spirit came out in spirals like a helix, each strand twisting around the next and coiling tighter and tighter before entering through the centaur’s chest at different intervals.
I watched in amazement as he brought each single strand in by itself. It amazed me to watch him bring in a single thick strand, and then he separated four different spirit strands and brought them in by themselve
s. He made it seem so effortless.
Master Teng held out his arms with his palms facing the sky. He spoke with his eyes closed, his body unmoving. “Drink the contents of that cup there.”
I took a deep breath and picked up a small cup of leafy beverage sitting on a small table next to him. It smelled of mint and jasmine, but was tasteless as I downed it. Within seconds, my body tingled. I closed my eyes and held my arms out as the centaur did.
“Now, focus. Don’t see the strands as combined, focus on each one individually. See its unique qualities. What makes it different from the others? Too many can’t see the forest from the trees. It’s lazy, those who are unable are not willing to accept the challenge.”
I followed a strand of energy with my mind as it came up out of the water. As it neared me, another strand joined it. The centaur’s voice entered my head. “Focus on them individually. See the strand, lead it to your core.”
I did as instructed, focusing on one strand at a time, unwinding it and dragging it through my body to my core. I lost my grip on it several times, but I continued to grasp it with my mind and eventually dragged it through my body. In the past it had felt like quick jolts of electricity. This felt like I was pulling an electrified spaghetti noodle from my foot to my head.
I lost track of time as I pulled the strand higher and eventually it reached my core, spiraling tightly around it before I absorbed it. I fell to a knee and tried to catch my breath. It felt as if I’d just lugged an elk carcass straight up a cliff for five hundred yards. I rested my hands on my knees and nearly vomited. “Holy shit.”
Chapter Twenty
I pushed myself back up to my feet and rubbed my chest. “That was definitely an experience. I didn’t realize it would be so hard to control each strand individually.”
Master Teng chuckled and slapped an enormous hand on my back. “You continue to amaze me. Even some experienced cultivators cannot isolate strands, yet you did it on your first try. You’re special, Logan West, there’s no doubt about that.”
“What happens once you can control the strands with ease? It was hard to hold tight to that one strand, but I can see how, with a little practice, one may manipulate the strands to use them how they wish.” I rubbed my temples to combat a rising migraine as I waited for his response.
“Well, only top ranked grandmasters can manipulate spirit at will. I’m a Saint rank cultivator, but even I’ve found it difficult to manipulate over one strand at a time. For you though, you’ve only been here in Aurilon a short time, and you’re already cultivating more effectively than almost everyone that lives here. Treat it just like you’d treat any other skill that you’d like to master, and you will find success.”
“If there’s one thing I know about myself, it’s that I’m more determined than anyone I’ve ever met. Thanks for your advice and I’ll keep you informed of my progress.” I returned my focus on the lake and pressed down on my temple to review my current skills.
Current Skills
Sight—Rank 5: Grand Master
Endurance—Rank 3: Specialist
Tracking—Rank 3: Specialist
Aim—Rank 3: Specialist
Hunting–Rank 3: Specialist
Intercourse–Rank 4: Master
Resiliency–Rank 3: Specialist
Constitution -Rank 3: Specialist
Luck–Rank 2: Practitioner
Charisma–Rank 5: Grand Master
Intelligence–Rank 3: Specialist
Holy shit. I nearly fell backwards as I noticed that my skills had improved dramatically over the past week. At this rate, I’ll master every skill in a few days.
I’d always taken pride in being a quick study. Although, I had little patience with learning, except if it were things I was interested in. Typically, anything relating to the outdoors. If I could’ve gone to a school that specialized in camping, hunting, fishing, and survival skills, I would’ve been top of my class.
I was the same rank as Gwen in Sight now. That one skill had proven to be incredibly useful until this point, however, I had neglected a few of my other skills. What I found interesting, though, was that I’d increased many of my skills despite ignoring them.
I decided I’d keep better tabs on what activities increased particular skills, although I still believed the most effective, and definitely my most preferred way to cultivate was with Gwen each night, and most mornings.
I closed my status screen and walked to the tavern. It was usually pretty calm in the mornings, and every sign of the wild night’s prior was always non-existent.
Chloe and her team of three bunny girls constantly impressed me with their cleaning skills. They took care of every traveler that passed through, and our current residents.
There wasn’t a night that went by since we built the tavern where we wouldn’t gather. It reminded me a little of the Silver Dollar Saloon back home, albeit with better talent.
I’d been more social over the past two weeks than I had over the past ten years combined. I was stronger, faster, and had more sex than I had in the entirety of my life until I arrived.
Gwen came out of the house in a silky white flowing nightgown as I stood in front of the tavern. Her nipples peeked through the delicate fabric as she walked toward me, looking like something out of a damned dream.
I walked toward her and gave her a big hug, holding her close to me, and feeling the warmth of her body pressed close to mine.
I released her, and she remained pressed up against me. “Good morning.” I paused and gave her a kiss. “I was thinking of heading out in a bit to do a little scouting. We’re running a little low on food, and it sounds like Fap’zak is working on a market so we may have a place to sell it, and even bring in a little extra...” I paused and realized I didn’t even really know what they used for currency here. “A little extra, coin?”
She ran her hand down my bicep and smiled. “Yes, coin. We used to have many designations before the King took over and standardized everything.” She stopped a passing goblin and pointed to a small bag attached to his hip. “Say, Goblin, may I see your coin pouch.”
The goblin’s hand hovered over the pouch while he contemplated. After a few seconds, he reluctantly handed the bag over to Gwen. “Please be careful, that’s my life savings.”
Gwen bent down and gave him a small peck on the cheek. “Don’t worry, I’ll return it shortly.”
The goblin grumbled and continued over toward the others as they constructed the new market. I chuckled lightly as I watched him walk away. “The way the goblin held his hand over that gold, you would’ve thought you were asking for his firstborn.”
Gwen smiled and dumped the bag’s contents out into her hand. “Goblins are very, very protective of their fortunes. I gave him a little extra encouragement.”
“You mean, you could use your Sight to influence him to hand those over?”
“Exactly. Now, look here, I’m going to give you a crash course in Aurilon currency.” Gwen spread four separate coins out in her palm.
I held her hand steady as she started at the left and explained what each one was. “There are four coins you can use to purchase items from local markets. They call the smallest and least valuable coin a bit.” She held up a small round gray coin with a wagon on one side. She set it down and picked up the next coin. It was blue and about twice the size of the bit and had a small leafy branch on one side. “This is a tender. Ten bits make up a tender.” She moved onto the next coin. It was golden with a bird claw. “This one’s a talon. Ten tenders make up a talon. And finally, this one...” She held up the last coin, which was the same size as the talon, but was octagon shaped with a crown marking its face. “This is, you guessed it, a crown, and is worth ten talons.” She returned the coins to the pouch and tied the end shut as it had been when she received it. “Pretty simple. You can use this currency anywhere across Aurilon. Of course, there are a few... outliers, who require tasks for payment, or tribute of some other type.”
; “Tasks and tribute?” I asked.
“Oh, you know, retrieve magical items, help someone cross a dangerous expanse, that sort of thing. Tribute, well, that usually amounts to sexual favors, which could be a very good, or terrible thing. Just know who you are working with before going that route.”
I laughed and nodded. “Hmm, what would it cost to get you to have a drink with me later?”
Gwen grabbed my chin and pulled my face close to hers. “See, you’ve already figured out how this whole tribute system works.”
She released her grip and kissed my lips. “I’m going to head down to the lake and wash up. See you later for… breakfast?”
I realized I was hungrier than I’d realized. “That’s probably not a bad idea.”
“It’s a date then.” She smiled and headed toward the lake.
I watched her walk away for several seconds and from the way she was walking; she knew I was watching as well.
I stopped a passing goblin and grabbed his stack of lumber before he tumbled over. The little guy’s work ethic impressed me. “Easy there, let me help you out.”
The goblin looked up and wiped his forehead, his large green ear protruded wildly on each side of his head. “Thank you, Logan sir. I may have gotten a bit carried away.”
“Not a problem, where would you like these?”
“Follow me, Logan, sir. Just up over here.” The small goblin hurried past the tavern.
I wiped my eyes, thinking I was seeing things as I reached the opposite side of the tavern. “When did you guys build this?”
