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Bound Together (Cricket X HoW)

Harem of Whispers

Harem of Whispers

Planetoid
Joined
Aug 27, 2016
Location
United States
'Two Roads' a small village on the very outreaches between two large kingdoms. The town rarely saw a tax collector being to small to be worth the trip. Yet, with a population around thirty they still worked hard together to do what they could. It was commonly assaulted by bandits though all the farmers here had great skills with the bow. Green hills in every direction to many it would be a nice spot to live out the rest of one's life.

Rem however did not have dreams of living out the rest of his life here even after ten years here he kept a distance from the rest of the townsfolk. Working in the record keeping area as well as the library as much as they could call it used more as a medical home to treat the wounded, and the sick. Rem pulled the strange multi colored stone from his pocket running his thumb along the smooth stone feeling it warm in his hand knowing how to unlock it. Today was going to be a special day the first day he could start on the journey to reclaim what was his. Today he was going to be marked as a heretic for using forbidden arts though he had done so many times to heal the people here none new for sure he had power other than any other doctor.

Rem had been only fifteen when they had fled the castle the day his father, and mother had been killed for using the now forbidden magics that had kept the lands safe, and other kingdom's afraid. Small as they were magic was one force most kingdoms could not defend against or want to provoke when only a handful of mages able to level entire armies alone.

The young man was good looking by most standings while he hated it he lightened his hair with oils that made him look to have light brown hair unlike the natural black he was born with. Long pulled back, and tied off making it more difficult to identify the young prince who always had short cut hair. Simple made glasses that despite working he did not need. His emerald green eyes a stunning visage that the glasses somehow lessened which for his needs helped. His face was strong with a sharper jawline that somehow seemed to just fit a ruler. His body was built well for a man who kept up with working out, but did not focus on it. His focus was his magics not his body though he had to look like he was from a farming village not a hideaway king. Today he was wearing simple hide pants, and a vest to move through the warm weather of the season a small pack next to his bed to lead him on his travels.

Rem sighed as he took his knife cutting his thumb letting the blood run along the stone whispering softly in naming magic a simple incantation to bind the stone, and thus what it contained to himself as letting whatever came out free to do as it pleased would not be well. Then he simply tossed the stone infront of him knowing that with the last of his words the stone would shatter to release whatever it containted.
 
Where the stone shattered, the shards spread out and appeared to create a portal. The portal flared up with red energy and it looked as if something was moving just underneath the surface. Then, suddenly, a large red claw emerged. The claw grabbed upwards into the open air before reaching and making contact with the floor. The claw was covered in red and gold scales, with black talons. As the claw heaved the rest of the creature forward, a large dragon's head emerged. Then a second claw, then the body, a pair of wings, two hind legs. The dragon breathed a curl of smoke from its long snout.

But then, as soon as the tip of its long serpentine tail left the portal, the portal snapped closed. A wooshing noise could be heard before the dragon's form drastically shrank and transformed into a young human woman with bright red hair and tanned skin. At least, most of her looked human. Her eyes appeared more like the dragon's. Her body was slightly above average height and her figure was well filled out.

She blinked curiously as she took in her surroundings. Her name was... Mara, she remembered. She examined her body, not expecting to see herself as a human. She finally looked in front of her, at the human man. She had never seen him before... but instantly knew he had summoned her.

"My name is Mara," she introduced. "And you are... my summoner."
 
Rem blinked at the huge dragon stepping back for a moment before seeing her turn to human. He stared at her for a moment she was taller than most women he had seen he was a good deal taller than her which gave him the illusion of being more dangerous than she was. His voice was not even slightly shaky which was a blessing despite how he felt as dragons were a thing of myth, a creature of legend before him bound to do as he said.

"Please address me as Rem, Mara..." He tasted the name she gave as he seemed to think on it for a moment before simply looking over her for a moment she was most fair to him, and he red hair paired with those eyes made her a sight to truly behold. Though how useful was she to be to his conquest he wondered his gaze giving a look into his heart as he looked almost disappointed for the time being.
 
"Of course, Rem," she replied, fully looking him over. The name felt familiar to her, though she knew she had never seen him before. That was the way that their bond worked.

Mara gestured to her body after Rem's expression looked like one of displeasure. "I'm sorry to be in this... state. I don't know what's happened. Something to do with the magical energy, but my true form, as you saw, is contained for the time being." Perhaps it had something to do with the summoning process? "I think I can reach out channel some of it," she reassured. If she focused, perhaps she could breathe fire, or sprout wings, for example. "I am sworn to be a great asset for your goals," Mara added, "so I will do what I can."

Mara was a beast of great destruction, even if she didn't look it as a human. She had been summoned many times long ago, by vengeful warlords and crusaders alike. She fought by their sides ferociously, tearing apart many an enemy. But finally powerful mages had sealed her away in a stone and made it increasingly difficult for others to reach her. That clearly hadn't stopped Rem. Still, she wasn't sure how long she had been banished for. She was aching to stretch her claws and fight.

"What will you have of me? Please, tell me your enemies."
 
Rem let out a slow breath letting the look on his face fade, not accustomed to apologizing he simply did not however the soft red flush to his face showing the look was not intentional. "Please i mean no offense to be honest things for me are very dire, and with diminished strength my plans have been disrupted..." His words were very matter of fact as he motioned her to sit down his mind in two places at once making plans even as he spoke to her of his position.

"Your kind, and my talents have been banned in this land. Any link to the arcane, and divine are looked as tools of demon's and none who show such skills are allowed to live. Though to be fair I am marked for death regardless." At this he seemed to be a little more brooding his muscles tense every fiber of him hated the man he used to call Uncle, "Tiber Kastor killed my, family... He would do anything to bring myself, and anyone who might help me to a very painful death."

Rem left it unsaid that he did not have any allies, even those faithful to his father feared the king. His armies carried magical weapons of old to kill magic kind a sort of necessary evil to rid the land of any with the gift. "They very well might have a means to kill you in a weakened state... Though, to be honest I do not know your natural limits as they may be." This brought him back as more of a question that could help his goals.
 
Mara sat down beside him and studied his face intently as Rem spoke. It was clear that he was in a tough position, and she felt as if she could sense his burden from his expressions alone. This was not at all what she was used to-- it seemed she was clearly partnered with an underdog in the situation. Her past summoners had practically had armies at their disposal. Ah, well, Mara was up for a challenge. She already felt like she wanted to sink her teeth into the people after him.

"In that case we made need more magical assistance. We can seek out more stones and magic weaponry to give us an edge. Perhaps by finding other magical items we can help to unseal my powers," she explained. Mara felt constrained in a human form, like her body was too tight. Additionally, she was wearing a long sleeved shirt with a leather corset-like accessory around her waist. It certainly accentuated her curves, along with well-fitting trousers. Her body had come equipped with practical clothing.

"It might be a good thing that my form is less conspicuous this way, if we don't want to draw attention to ourselves just yet. I don't know my natural limits yet either... as a dragon, I'm practically unstoppable," she claimed boldly, "but as a human..." she examined herself, "I might just be stronger and tougher for the time being."
 
"Legends of your kind are far reaching do not assume safety just because in the past the only option was to run..." His voice was calm, but his expression was one of contemplation as he thought on going after more stones more magical stones they were not easy to find even her stone was hidden in the royal crown for generations with no one, but the queen knowing of it's origins.

Remember looked over to her taking in her looks for a moment before speaking slowly, "I am planning on making you my familiar." His statement was plain wondering how she would react many looked at it as complete subjugation however to her he wondered if that mattered considering her age his lifetime would be but a blink.

Lights slowly started flickering outside townsfolk who herd the noise of her release or possibly having seen her emerging which would prove difficult for him though it was not a big concern. His plan was brash, but he had intended on just busting into the castle with her leading the charge. Thinking on it now he admonished himself knowing that plan would have ended his life with her back in the stone more likely than not.
 
"Familiar?" she echoed Rem's words and gave a scowl. "I have never been such a thing. At worst, I am treated as a mere weapon but not a familiar." She inwardly felt she was too strong to be just a familiar... but she remembered the fleshy human body she was in, which suggested anything but.

Perhaps if Mara was still a dragon, or if they had an army beside them and were not facing an incoming angry mob, a familiar would be a stupid decision. But this was a different situation and Mara reasoned that it would require a different course of action, all while the sound of townsfolk grew louder.

The townspeople didn't sound like they were rioting but they were curious and untrusting of the commotion Rem caused. "Fine," Mara conceded to Rem. "I'll follow what you plan, even if that plan is me as a familiar." They would need a plan, considering they didn't have any sheer advantages at the moment.

She peered out the window to the group approaching the building. "Run? Hide? Fight?" she suggested. "Play it off as usual? I don't think they'll recognize me as any danger yet."
 
Rem took note of her reaction letting out a small breath knowing she could not hurt him was slightly a relief, but to have a dragon near still kept his nerves on edge. She was less dominant than he would of thought with no need to put her in her place he could stay focused seeing the people gather he ignored it for now knowing they would wait for the wretched old man who ran the town so he could ignore it for now. "Ill simply let them know your an old friend who sought me for my healing talents, do not let anyone here see magic it is still banned out here."

The frown he held showed how that made him feel with the countless children, and even adults with one foot in the grave he had brought back from the brink of death only to have to be able to pass it off as raw skill when in reality it was magic, and poultices that did the trick. The kingdom looked at being touched by magic as dark, evil, and vile. "Another stone though, I suppose that being one held you it might be worth looking into, but I do not really know where to start." The stones were things of myth, and legends as no one alive in the last five generations even knew what they were much less how to open them.
 
Mara got thoughtful for a moment as she tried to think about the stones she knew. One of the last warlords she had accompanied had made it a goal to gather stones of great power, some of which may have held other creatures banished long before her.

"Let me see a map," she said determinedly, and began rummaging without care through some drawers and shelves in the room. Specializing in mostly destruction she did not pay attention to delicate things or organization. Mara was moving quickly as if she was afraid her thought would leave her. The thought she remembered where one of her previous summoners had been heading last. "You can talk to the townspeople," she meant as a suggestion.
 
Rem watched her interested by her tone, and how she moved pulling one of the scrolls off the floor she knocked aside, and taking one from her hand placing them on the table, "Those are the two more recent maps." He did not know if she would know how to read the newer scripts, but he let her do as she pleased while it interested him not minding as he cleaned up the mess reorganizing what she moved before he sighed hearing the knock on the door he moved to it with a calm grace before opening it an elderly man standing peering inside the second he cracked the door to which he invited the man in with seemingly no care.

"Elder Walker I see you heard the commotion I do apologize..." He then grew silent acting as a simple librarian would bowing his head not blocking the man's entrance as he walked in to look at the lady. His gaze on Mara was very disapproving of both her dress, and her energy such things not being seen as lady like in this village while many other areas were more open here was more traditional. Rem intentionally did not warn her planning to use this as practice. "Who are you my dear." His voice was somewhat wrong as if pretending to sound kind as he eyed what she was doing with interest.
 
Mara had spread out one of the maps indicated over the table and was looking over it with intensity. The landmarkers were vaguely familiar, as if she was in a different town and had only heard of these places in passing. Also, it was hard to say how long she had been banished, and things changed. She looked... a mountain range to the west, yes, that sounded very promising. There was a stone there, she thought confidently, at the top of one of the peaks.

When she heard a voice directed at her she looked up with her bizarre eyes looking through the red hair that had fallen in front of her face. It probably gave her a wild look. "Who am I, I could tear you--" she blurted, ferocious and instinctive. But she stopped herself, and hopefully it had come out as a mumble. At the moment she couldn't really tear the elder apart. The disrupted townspeople would sooner kill her and Rem. She shot Rem a bitter look, because she thought he would have handled this, telling them she was a friend.

"--I'm a friend of his, and my sister needs his healing talents. I sought him out in the hopes I could return with some herbs or salves."
 
Rem watched the man with a clear hatred, but a kind of nervousness that belied a darkness this elder had, Rem could as ready see this man dead however knew it would cause trouble. Elder Walker looked at her biting back a vile curse as he seemed to hiss, the gentle old man not even a visage as he barked letting spittle go in her direction slamming a hand on the table, "Lies of a mage, I should have your tongue girlie!" His hand on a dark blade that radiated danger to any with a touch of magic a blade like that could repel magic, a dangerous artifact that could even cut a dragon's hide.

Rem wanted that dagger, but neither were fully safe from the blade, and despite the age of the man, he knew how to wield that blade with deadly skill. "That boy while good with medicines cant get two feet into the fields without being hurt. A klutz, and a fool." The Elder did not even look back to Rem knowing he knew better than to argue with the elder he had taught that boy what fear was growing up. "Speak the truth or I will cut you both down for heresy."
 
Mara's facade dropped and her lip curled-- acting pleasant, especially after years of imprisonment would not be easy. She rolled the map up, holding it with her hand. She eyed the blade but stood tall and approached the Elder by taking a step closer. He wanted the truth? So be it.

"I am a dragon, unchained after what may be a hundred years of banishment," she hissed in a low voice. Anger was thrumming through her bones. This is what she had been yearning for, but she wasn't sure how to channel it. "I've been dormant for too long and am very eager to stretch."

Mara looked at the old man. She knew nothing about him, but if Rem was being wary perhaps the Elder was more powerful that he looked. She stayed out of arm's reach but her muscles were tensed in order to act. If she could focus, perhaps she could burn this whole place down.
 
Elder Walker eyes widened, her look made it possible he did not know which to do to kill her where she stood or drag her in front of a magic guard who would make sure she was dealt with accordingly. The man decided his course of action by spinning on Rem dagger in hand, "You fool boy messing with such things, did all those lashings for reciting rebellion do you no good!" The man was raging despite his movements that of a fighter near ready to plunge the blade into Rem though slightly torn as if looking for a way not to kill the young man he still saw as a boy.

Rem on the other hand shocked by her declaration placed his hand on his head sighing showing his disapproval as he pointed to a chair, "Mara please be seated." This was no request he pulsed it through the bond with her to make it a command she would be very hard pressed to break. Rem squared his shoulders letting his head tilt up while looking down on the elderly man, "What she so carelessly says is true Elder Walker..." The two seemed to regard each other for a long moment before the Elder in a almost defeated gesture lashed out at Rem looking to sink his blade into Rem's shoulder.

Rem knew he could not effect the Elder with his magic, however himself was very simple as he suddenly cast a quickness spell on himself his hand strikes she perfection as he struck the old man so quickly he had not the time to recoil his own strike sending the elder to the floor while Rem held the dagger. Rem then made a quick pointing gesture as the Elder suddenly grew silent as he seemed to try to scream or call for help. "Mara your temper will cause us trouble if you can not deflect a old fool like this."
 
Mara was prepared to try out her abilities-- if there were any-- and was ready to kill the old man. But she was not ready for him to round on Rem. She could defend her summoner, she could strike the Elder from behind-- but instead she was asked to sit.

Her face flashed with annoyance as she felt the tugging of the magic on her body. It was very clearly an order to her very soul, and resisting it would be a mighty effort. She sat in the chair to watch the scene unfold. Rem would sure regret keeping her out of things if this ended badly... but her summoner came out victorious.

"I've never been in this situation," she protested. She tried to keep the anger in her voice calm. "You said you'd have the conversation handled, and my body is made for fighting, not coming up with lies. If I had fought him, I could have won, even as a silly human. That is where my abilities lie." Mara took a breath and tried to think of a compromise. "I might just need more time to adjust."
 
He spun the blade calmly in his hand as he looked to her, "And if he had cut you deep with this, I would be spending the next year getting you out of a stone again..." He said it calmly before the blade shattered in his hand falling to dust on the ground seeing as such tools were simply to dangerous to keep around them even if it could have been a valuable tool. "I needed a situation I could control to see you on your own..." He sounded disappointed he knew dragons could be creatures of immense destruction, but he had also heard of the valuable knowledge they held. She had been used for only one purpose for far to long.

Though seeing that as a problem for another time he turned to the Elder his voice had a calm tone, with a threatening inflection as he spoke, "I want you to remember Elder I have been healing your people for years, my magic touching them leaving its imprint. You call the guards to keep looking, and the current king will know you have been harboring an old prince so I assume you will keep quiet about this?" The old man looked on the verge of passing out knowing even unknowingly doing such a thing would end in the slaughter of the whole town. Followed by his eyes growing wide staring at the man who made such a claim though having strong magical ability was a feature the prince was known for.

Rem looked to Mara, calmly his voice soft yet careful, "I am sure I am going to hear about this, can it wait to we are well on our way then?" This was clearly him asking as he picked up his bag waiting for her to decide what to do he knew it was dangerous to force her to his whim to often. "Also had you killed the man, we would be spending the next couple of months evading the kingdom instead of being able to travel mostly unmolested."
 
The dragon raised her eyebrows in mild surprise that Rem destroyed the knife. It was a dangerous yet possibly valuable asset, and he must have decided it could do more harm. It seemed that the situation was resolved, for the most part. Hopefully the cowering old man would hold his end of the agreement.

Still, she ground her teeth and made a disapproving face. It could wait. This summoning relationship was proving to be very out of the ordinary given what she had usually experienced. But it all started when she got stuck in a human body, of course. Becoming a full dragon would be her main objective, as everything would change once she could do that.

Mara gave a pointed glare towards the Elder until he finally understood it was time for him to leave and he fearfully scrambled from the building.

"Well then," she spoke, "one of the stones we'll want is likely on the top of the mountain range on that map. One of the warlords I served in the past frequently mentioned making our way towards there, but we never reached it."
 
Rem moved to the map, looking at the large overview map before grabbing a more specific one. His voice was calm as seemed to be thinking, "That range was leveled to make room for a city, the people there are quiet." He sighed lightly not shocked a stone would be there it was practically it's own kingdom which tended to be where they were held, "That's at least a week trip north, then another week just to get up the mountain..."

He circled a town a little out of the way, "That town will be a good place to learn more about the people of that area I have never been there myself." His voice was thoughtful as he looked to her to see what she thought of his plan not knowing if magic was a good way to go up the mountain, and even if he wanted to flying in that region would either treat you to an arrow of a demise on the side of the mountain from the winds.

The elder left for the time being, but Rem knew they would have to leave today the town would ask questions the elder would shrug it off with Rem's lie to protect the town, but if they stayed the Elder may 'find' reason to believe the town doctor was practicing magic, "We need to leave before daybreak..."
 
The range was leveled for a city? Mara listened with curious surprise. She had not seen outside this building since she was summoned, and a large number of things were likely to have changed since she was last awake... whenever that was.

She ended up flopping over on her side with a sigh as if resigning herself to what Rem said. It was a bit dramatic looking, perhaps. But the situation was frustrating and there wasn't much to do about it. "Fine," she said. "During the trip I can use the free time to see if I can regain any powers." Mara also considered that maybe as time went on her body would adjust. "And you can show me what you mean about how to properly react to and deceive humans."

Her eyes flicked to the window to see what time of day it was. Near evening? "I'm as good as ready," she affirmed. "I've been sleeping a long time, so I think I won't be needing much yet. There is nothing to keep me here besides you, so I'll leave when you plan to."
 
Rem thought to himself on her powers as that could prove to be a problem either she use them, and like a shining Light in the darkness they would attack. "Taking it easy may be wise at this point keeping our head's down so we do not draw to much attention." With that he picked up his bag, and then took her with him beyond the blank expressions of the townsfolk who looked to her with a queer fascination she was odd here many happy to see her leave without incident.

Short travels led them into a forest path the fresh clean air a fair from the smell of farmland, and animals was a welcome reprieve the traveling light on such a well worn path. Rem turned to her his voice slow as he knew they were away from the small community, "So tell me something, what was it liked being locked in the stone?" His eyes took her in as if to watch if he overstepped his bounds with such a question.
 
Mara looked over all the townspeople, regarding them with caution, which was unusual for her. Well, she was leaving, and they seemed to let her go without anymore protest. If they conquered this area she would happily watch them fall.

The forest was quite nice, in the least because there were no more people that Mara couldn't threaten. But also, forests were one thing that never changed every time she got summoned throughout the years. You could always rely on the trees to be there.

Rem's question brought a sour feeling to her chest. It was mostly bitter anger at those who had the nerve to seal her away like that in the first place. But being inside the stone wasn't entirely torture. "It was... nothingness. I was still conscious and vaguely aware, almost like in a dream-like state, but there was nothing to command my attention. I'm sure some go insane trapped in a void like that. At first, it was horrific. Having this immense power and body to fight with, and then suddenly losing it all." Mara clenched a fist and snarled. "But... my fury cooled and I let my mind float along. To me, losing a concept of time didn't harm me, it was what allowed me to survive. Years felt like they might be minutes. And then I was awoken again." And how she yearned to stretch her wings, but this form was better than nothing.
 
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