Depthless Hunger

Chapter 256: A Seductive Proposition

As comfortable as Kai was outside civilization, he didn't mind spending some time in Sandflower City again. For one, he just wanted to explore, since he felt like he'd gotten so little time there on their first visit. So long as he was in Lady Ceryyn's company, the elves wouldn't refuse him anywhere, though he suspected he'd get a worse reception on his own.

Currently Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena were using their time more productively, engaged in some sort of chakra cultivation that would allegedly prepare Zae Zin Nim for an improved advancement. They didn't need his help, so he wasn't sure of the details. For his part, Kai took the time to get more information about the legendary beast hunts in the Elven Wilds.

Apparently unicorns were the most prized prey, but other animals were disturbed by the hunts as well. He was particularly interested in a sort of winged horse called a pegasus, presuming he could consume any of its essence. While he was in the city, he took the opportunity to eat some meals made from chakra-using animals, practicing trying to absorb some of its power. So far he'd only gained as much as what other trained warriors could absorb, but his monstrous hunger reacted strongly.

With the others busy, most of his travel had been in the company of Ceryyn. Kai wasn't so dense that he couldn't see that she was expressing some interest, but he had no idea what that meant. Since she was an elven lady, was she trying to begin an elaborate courtship process? Was eating anything with her a suggestive act?

He had no idea, but Kai was pretty sure that there would be a lot of elves glaring at him if he touched her, so he stuck with being friendly. Politics were complicated enough with all the different elven factions and their opinions on foreign allies. Of course, there were moments he was tempted to just give in to the glamour that made her seem like a goddess...

The quarters they had been given were three separate bedrooms that linked in a hallway with a central sitting room that was itself larger than most of the places he'd lived. As soon as Kai got into that first room he saw that Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena were working there again, and Omilaena waved at him.

"We need more chakra," she said with an impatient gesture. "You're just in time."

"Sure." Kai activated his spatial ring and summoned the boxes of their supplies. As they took what they needed, he decided to finally voice this question. "Why have me hold them? If you kept them here, you wouldn't have to wait on me."

"Your spatial ring will keep them frozen and prevent any chakra from leaking or weakening." As she explained, Zae Zin Nim found what she wanted and then handed the box back to him. "Besides, our resources are safest in your spatial ring."

"Unless he accidentally starts another war," Omilaena said. "Or runs into a sad-looking orphan and gives everything away."

Zae Zin Nim actually let out a brief laugh and Kai stared - since when were the two of them getting along like this? He didn't mind the joke at his expense, of course. If anything, he was just glad they still made him a central part of things even as Rosemount let them leap ahead in power.

"So do you know where we're going next?" Kai asked.

"I am sorry, but we must still decide." Zae Zin Nim lowered her head as if it was a real apology. "Most likely I will choose a location with higher density qi, which will require more time to ascend. But I believe the result will be worth it. Please be patient."

He blinked again, wondering at her shift in attitude. "It's completely fine, really. Remember how long I took in Yulthens, trying to earn enough money to buy qi? And that was just the Qi Condensation stage, you're facing a much bigger gap."

"You're both too impatient," Omilaena said as she sat back with a flask of chakra. "Anyone can guzzle a bunch of energy and get to around 500 Power or so. By taking her time, Zae Zin Nim is going to vault straight over the early limits, and we all know how strong Kai really is."

"Maybe, but I'm going to need to find a new source soon. I'm a long way from the next stage of cultivation and none of my training is going to give me a jump as big as the two of you."

They worked together for a while and Kai went back to conventional cultivation. Even if the next stage was far off, he'd seen just how powerful those leaps in strength could be. There might come a time when he needed that power and he couldn't afford to sit and cultivate for months.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

In the underground city there weren't natural signals of the time of day, but the elven lanterns shifted to cooler colors to represent night. Of course, the three of them would normally train much later than that. They were interrupted by a messenger at their door, who handed Kai a fancy silver card and then left.

It appeared to be written in elaborate elven calligraphy, but thanks to the Alltongue Fruit he read it immediately:

Kai Clanless,

I have greatly enjoyed spending time with you over the past days, and indeed coming to know you over the past months. If you desire, please meet me in my quarters tonight.

Lady Ceryyn Sandflower

All he could do was stare down at the letter in shock. That couldn't mean what it looked like... could it? He was still staring when Omilaena snatched the letter out of his hands and read it over, then she let out a low whistle.

"Wow, I guess she got tired of dropping hints." Omilaena raised her eyebrows at him. "I'd do it in your place. I hear elves with powerful glamours are absolutely amazing in bed."

"But... this... uh, isn't that a political problem?"

"Elves take marriage pretty seriously, but lovers? Just one of the benefits of being powerful and insanely beautiful."

"I don't... I mean, I like her, but..." Kai's words stumbled to a halt as he saw that Zae Zin Nim had taken the letter.

And was staring at him with barely-disguised fury.

.

..

.

"Honestly," Kai said, "I'm surprised as you. I didn't-"

"Go," Zae Zin Nim told him flatly. "Obviously you like her, and she's a close ally."

Omilaena could see exactly where this was going. The two of them could be cute at times, struggling to tackle their own feelings, but this was going to turn ugly. In theory they could have discussed it like adults... if only they had the emotional intelligence for that.

Normally she wouldn't have wanted to get involved, but being a part of a team meant sacrifices. Some more extreme than others.

Zae Zin Nim plastered on a smile and returned to her room, while Kai just sat down with the invitation. Omilaena sighed and trusted him not to rush while she pursued the other woman. She caught up just as Zae Zin Nim entered and was about to slam the door.

"Go away," Zae Zin Nim snapped, "or go join them. I don't care."

When she tried to close the door, Omilaena caught it. For now she was still much stronger than the other woman, so she pushed into the room by force. Zae Zin Nim raised her other hand to slap her and Omilaena caught her wrist before the blow could land.

"You do care." Omilaena pulled the other woman closer, forcing them to lock eyes. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"

"What?" Zae Zin Nim gasped and tried to pull back. "How did you know?"

Omilaena managed not to heave a sigh only through heroic effort. "It's obvious. You're just so tightly wrapped up in your own problems that you can't admit it."

Finally Zae Zin Nim's body relaxed and she pulled back, hiding her face with her hair. "I... I admit I care for him... but Deadwaste is so different... and my body is ruined... and I've said nothing for so long, he obviously thinks I'm not interested..."

"Just stick with the first part. If you say nothing and then get angry with him over it, that's your fault."

"But... but..."

"Alright, look." Omilaena shifted behind her and began pushing her out the door. "You don't have to make any grand declarations of love. But if you can't go in there and say something honest, I will strip you naked and throw you in Kai's general direction. Then we'll see how honest you are."

Amazingly, it worked. Zae Zin Nim began moving under her own power and walked back to the central room, where Kai was looking even more uncomfortable than before. She hesitated as soon as she saw him and almost retreated, but then marched forward and dropped down to bow opposite him.

"Please don't."

"What?" Kai blinked at her. "Uh... you mean..."

"If you truly love Ceryyn and want to spend your life with her, then that's okay," Zae Zin Nim said, her eyes still lowered. "But if not... I don't want to see you go. I know that I'm just your ally and this is none of my affair and I have nothing to offer and I don't even know what I feel sometimes but I had to s-"

"Okay."

Zae Zin Nim looked up in shock and even Omilaena regarded Kai with surprise. He had spoken so directly, and she could see the nervousness in his posture, but his gaze was steady. As if it really was that simple for him.

"I care what you think," Kai said earnestly. "Most likely I'll be traveling with the two of you for a long time and we'll leave a lot of others behind. Your opinion matters more to me than a lover."

He knelt down opposite Zae Zin Nim and started to extend a hand toward her, but she pulled back and clutched her heart. "I don't know how I feel yet," she said too rapidly. "I know that's not fair to you. Just... just let me regain my old self. It's not long now."

"Of course." Kai smiled at her gently. Zae Zin Nim flushed and then ran off down the hallway - this time Omilaena let her go. In her absence Kai just sat as if stunned, then slowly shook his head. "Uh, did I screw that up?"

"You could have done worse," Omilaena said with a shrug. "Honestly, you two are ridiculous. Just fuck already."

"That seems to be your go-to solution." Kai sighed and waved the silver invitation. "What do I do with this? Am I going to start a feud by refusing?"

"You just need to be considerate... so yes, you'd probably start a feud on your own. What we're going to do is reply with a similar letter declining without insulting..."

As Omilaena helped Kai navigate elven politics and romance, she wondered what the hell she was doing. In a thousand years of planning she never would have imagined that her path upward would have involved helping two kids stumble toward what looked to be a sickeningly sweet confession.

This had better all be worth it.