Chained - 17

After rejecting my advances, it’s an hour of inscribing before Gaius pauses. “I’m surprised you’re not asking what the runes do.”

Shifting my focus from the Mana he’d left in the rune, I snort. “It’s all Draconic; I’m focusing on where you inject the Mana.”

“These are Artificer runes,” corrects Gaius.

His ignorance draws out bitter laughter, and I point along his carved lines. The growling tones roll off my tongue as I pronounce three different Draconic words. “At the foundation, these three all mean stability in the dragons’ tongue, but the form of the stability differs. In order, they are: stability of a lair’s wall, stability against decay, and stability of footing. Effectively you’re telling the walls they need to endure and the surface not to be slippery.”

The written language is similar in some ways to Chinese characters; there are some for concepts, objects, places, and sounds. Among them, some look pretty different despite being very close in meaning.

“Draconic is a powerful language, spoken at the birth of the realm by the primordials involved in its crafting. You’re using the Mana's placement in the runes to bring it to life. It’s an Artificer rune because of how the Mana is inserted, but at its root, it’s Draconic. Do you want me to teach you the thousands of characters that comprise the language?”

“Thousands?” blinks Gaius, and his sweet surprise tickles the back of my nostrils.

“How many runes do you know?” I ask, curious about how far his Artificer knowledge extends.

Frowning, Gaius shakes his head. “Why would I tell you?”

“I can teach you every Draconic rune so you can experiment and find out how to place the Mana to activate its meaning,” I offer. “If I know what you already know, then we don’t have to waste time.”

“What is that going to cost me?”

Tapping my chin thoughtfully, I shrug and let my chains jingle with the motion. “I’ll consider it part of our contract, so they’d be rewards for when you’re good.”

“This is what devils do. Continually adding temptations until a person gives in,” accuses Gaius, even while his pupils widen.

“Except I’m not a Devil; I’m merely seeking to establish terms of conduct for intimate relations,” I counter.

“Coitus,” mutters Gaius.

“If you think intimacy requires penetration, you’ve got a limited imagination,” I scold. “How about I ask you where your limits lie, and you can decide what you wish to try? You’re all tense; wouldn’t it feel good to relinquish control?”

“You say you’re not a Devil, but you’re acting like one,” counters Gaius.

I wave a reproving finger and gently tap his nose. “You know how you can make me stop. Why haven’t you used your safe word?”

Pulling my chains in, I lean my naked form close, and he swallows convulsively. The pulse throbbing in his neck is so close I could kiss it with a flex of my lips. I teasingly sway with him, staying as close as I can without touching him, breathing softly as I do. With each exhalation, my breath softly brushes across his whiskers, raising goose bumps that have nothing to do with the cold. The scent of his muskiness and arousal ignited a spot inside my brain. Denial and anticipation swirl around the hope of him giving in. I try patience—and fail.

The neck muscle beside his throbbing pulse jumps as my lips touch his skin. Breathing in his rush of excitement burns like a fine scotch, and I trail more feathery kisses towards his jawline. The salty warmth of his flesh is ripe with the enchantments that protect against my coldness. His stubble should scratch against my lips; instead, the mundaneness of Mortal flesh can’t make an impression. I continue to brush his skin with soft kisses.

He groans, and I freeze. I’ve already crossed a line I would never in life, and I step back and restore my chains.

Panting away, he stares at me in confusion. “Why?”

Embarrassed, I act as if I’m settling my chains despite their weight’s perfect distribution. “Why what?”

“Why did you stop?”

“Lack of consent. I shouldn’t have touched you without consent,” I admit, my already rough voice harsh with shame.

“What do you mean?”

“Visualising teasing you is one thing. I’m breaking my rules when I touch you without consent. Until we form a contract, I don’t have consent. Even when we form a contract, I should confirm consent regularly, especially when stretching limits.”

I’ve no idea why I am telling him the basics of BDSM. Regularly checking the sub is alright and ensuring consent—a dominatrix is not a torturer—unlike what I've become.

“Then why did you?”

Because I wanted a taste of mortality again.

“Out of practice. You could have used your safe word, but I still shouldn’t have.”

“Or you’re bored? You wanted to learn to be an Artificer; I shall teach you as agreed, but part of that is working. Set a small slab of the ice you extracted down right there,” orders Gaius, and he points to the ground nearby. When a metre square section appears, he continues. “Carve each of the runes I’ve used, putting no Mana in place.”

Forming the ends of my chains into blades, I simultaneously engrave all the runes he’s used along the corridor. I ensure all the character inflections are correct, and a notification rewards me for challenging my limits.

[Engraving [M](3->4)]

My display puts a look of consideration in Gaius’ eyes, and he points back to the start of the passage. “Those runes I carved along the base of the left wall. Carve the first ten along the right-hand side but don’t embed any Mana. Ensure they are all the same size.”

Once I do that, he shifts into place, retracing them with his inscribing tools and allowing traces of Mana to flow. The runes come alive with their effects, and Gaius smiles in satisfaction. “Continue matching the runes from the other side of the corridor, and I’ll return to retrace them.”

“Fine.”

With that division of labour, the first full day of carving exceeds Gaius’ expectations, completing four rooms before he calls for sleep. He’d snatched meals while working with the same casual disregard I’d seen in more than a few obsessive individuals. Though he set Mana in all the essential runes, he sometimes had me carve additional runes in place and embed them with Mana.

It was not only the cosmetic runes he left to me but some fundamentals from his perspective. He explained runes that ensure footing are also suitable for preventing a weapon’s haft from slipping through sweating fingers. Others, added to shift moisture away, could force blood and viscera to move from a weapon’s blade. All are Draconic runes brought to life with injections of Mana.

The girls roused from their early reverie to move into the first room with an amusing mutter between themselves about not being dwarves. Unbothered by the wind, Quinctus claimed the antechamber while the others split into the three rooms when we announced we had completed them. When I set myself outside the girl’s room that night, I give Senca a toothy smile. With my back braced against the wall, my feet barely touch the far side. The two-metre width of the tunnel is wider than Titus needs to defend with his Gladius and shield, but he possesses the most efficient weapon from a defensive standpoint.

In the quiet of the deep night, my scratching into shards of ice is loud enough that it would carry without Gaius’ runes.

“Why do you dig at him?” Iarien asks. Her voice is soft, as if afraid of waking the sleepers, even Rúthel and Silevien having re-entered a reverie state with little else to do.

The melodic inflections of her Elvish words would have been thrilling to Julia. After that vision or memory the other day, she’s been increasingly on my mind. However, I don’t know why the elven lady in it reminds me of her.

Waiting to see if Iarien will persist, I consider the flash of flames reflected from my sub’s metal collar and Julia’s demise. Was her death also from whatever curse sent me here? If so, where is she now? My mind churns away, recalling the other scream I heard within that initial stone space after the darkness broke. Did I imagine hearing Rachel, or was that reality? Was Julia somewhere there too? Or already in Hell?

“Are you not going to answer?” questions Iarien, her persistence disturbing my considerations.

Turning to look in her direction causes the chains to rasp against the wall. “You’ve spent a couple of days avoiding speaking to me wherever possible, and now I should immediately answer?”

Iarien cutely looks away, all embarrassed, child-like innocence. “I had something I needed to work out.”

“You did? Was this the same something that had you quickly changing the subject the other day?” I ask and catch the whiff of a rare scent among this group—shame, perhaps? The temptation to dig into her pain gnaws at me, and my tone turns into a growl. “Forget it. Go back and meditate. Whatever you think you need to work out doesn’t involve me.”

Iarien’s scent turns sour, but she stays put and shakes her head rather than backing off. “That’s what I told myself. I tried to convince myself that you are not one of us, so our ways do not apply. That answer doesn’t sit well with me, and I can feel my ancestors’ discontent.”

“What is your people’s way that has you knotted up?”

“If someone saves your life, honouring them for it and serving their interests is right. To do less than that shows that you neither value your life nor respect your rescuer.”

Her tone and bitter scent prompt me to sneer. “Except I’m not a someone, I’m a something? Is that why the three of you stopped talking whenever I got close?”

“They have other views on our responsibility to discharge the debt since you’re not a Snow Elf. You’ve made it clear you have your code and try to adhere to it. Are we not lesser than we should be if we don’t adhere to our code? Seeking exceptions to our rules just allows the dishonourable to claim their own exceptions.”

“Weighty matters for a child to be considering,” I sneer.

“A child in elven terms,” protests Iarien.

“That is not a condition you want to shed. Being a child offers you protections within my rules,” I caution her.

Iarien frowns, and I can taste her thickening frustration overriding her shame. “Are the rules all that matters to you? You’re also very selective about answering questions.”

“Then let me make matters clear. You’re children, and I expect nothing from you. Earlier, you didn’t clarify who you were speaking about, so ask your question again,” I order.

“Why do you dig at him?” repeated Iarien. “I had originally meant Gaius but Vitus as well, though you also dig at others.”

“Try including criteria in the question. Gaius is wound up. He needs to relax; putting someone else in control for some fun would stop him from falling apart the way—” I stop, not wanting to spill about his mini-breakdown in the courtyard. “I think he’’ll be an excellent submissive, or at least vigorous. Vitus I dig at because I loathe him, maybe even hate him—he’d make a good Devil. Isn’t that a disgusting compliment?”

“You being not a Devil, after all,” notes Iarien.

“Now you get it,” I say and close my eyes to focus on the scents carried by the breeze and remove their sulphurous yellow's unsettling effect on Iarien.

“How do you know Draconic?”

“Listening in when I was speaking to Gaius?”

Iarien shrugs, and there isn’t a hint of embarrassment. “There isn’t much else to do.”

“It’s part of my heritage,” I reply. “Do you believe there are any left alive in your home?”

“The attackers were driven back; those who captured us merely fled first,” explains Iarien.

“Since you’re awake, keep watch and yell if the pervert comes to bother you; I’m doing more work.”

By the morning of the third day we’ve punched the schedule into submission, and I wonder when Murphy’s Law will say hi. The only excitement so far was a mated pair of dire bears that weren’t deterred by the temporary wards.

Inventory has let me carve out a kitchen area and a tunnel off to one side where amenities are added for when we’re snowed in. Runes make it easy to turn sewage into ash and even running water that doesn’t immediately freeze. Black garnets set into doorways add a black privacy curtain at a touch. It’s a neat little set-up to give their occupants privacy but, unfortunately, does nothing to deaden scents—though I've smelt worse in Hell.

It’s simple to cut and engrave the corridor to where we planned the stairs. The spiral goes without a hitch until we’re down three full turns. The base of the fourth revolution cuts into pure blue ice. Its scent isn’t mundane but planar, and its age says it’s not from any time in the last century or two. Only when we’ve lined the entire descent with runes does Gaius tap the ice wall.

“Why is the ice like this?” Gaius asks, looking up from the last rune he’s set on the spiral's central pillar. His words are barely a murmur, and his gaze roams over the nearly clear ice of the last five steps.

Turning at the end of the narrow stairs I’ve cut so far, I dip a hand behind my shroud and purr a teasing reply. “I might tell you for a price, but then the do’s and don’ts still have to be discussed.”

“We’ll have that conversation after we’ve got a base established,” grumbles Gaius, which is the most promising admission I’ve had so far.

Maybe because the motions of my hand cause his lust to spike, even though all I’m doing is stroking my thigh, I’ve managed to get past the work-focused state he has been in since making me his rune monkey.

“Then give me a kiss, and I might give you an answer,” I offer, but I don’t remove my chains.

He eyes them warily and stays above me on the stairs curve.

Spreading my arms, I offer a smile. “Well?”

“Aren’t you going to remove the chains?” questions Gaius nervously.

“You’ve protection against cold,” I counter.

“Your chains go to the far extremes of cold. I’d prefer not to chance losing skin from their touch,” objects Gaius.

“No confidence in your work?”

Gaius shakes his head. “That’s not it. I know the limits of my work.”

A mocking smile curves my lips, and when my gaze lifts toward his, I provoke a nervous swallow. The warm spices that tickle my nostrils have excitement mingled with fear. “Knowing your limits is important, and so is stretching them.”

“Remove your chains, and then I’ll pay you your kiss,” haggles Gaius.

Though the spicy aroma of his fear is enticing, since he’s offering to meet me halfway, the chains disappear. He skips down the stairs separating us. As soon as he’s close, I loop an arm around his back and pull him in tight, getting a grunt of surprise. “I didn’t say it would be a chaste kiss.”

The hunger in my growl makes his eyes widen. Burying the fingers of my free hand in his hair, I ravage his mouth with a passionate kiss until his scent rages with a desire that drowns out all trace of fear. Though I’ve got one of his hands trapped near his side, his other comes around to caress my side and bravely raises to cup me. With each motion of the kiss, he slowly massages the side of my breast. Growling in the back of my throat at the crude gentleness, I don’t even pause but continue feasting on his lips.

When I pull away, he moves with me to continue the kiss, and his hand on my breast slides down to settle along my ribs. At his persistence, my fingers in his hair pull him back to get separation. His ragged breath dusts my skin with fleeting warmth, and the moisture in his breath causes a plume of frost. His gaze widens as I trace his lips with delicate flickers from my forked tongue, enjoying the taste of excitement and desire that burns deep into my brain.

“Acceptable,” I quip after I find my voice. “The ice has an extra-Planar source, but its energy has mingled with this Plane for at least a century, if not over two.”

“Which means it’s not the first time the Plane’s been accessible from here,” pants Gaius. “And all this ice won’t stop an Elemental from swimming through it if one of them comes out onto this Plane.”

[Planar Lore [Ad](14->15)]

“Now, that is a good point,” I admit. “And it’s not something I’d considered.”

“Earth elementals can glide through stone,” states Gaius before he draws out the plum line Titus had Blessed tonight. It points downwards at a shallower angle than it had from the top of the stairs. “I believe we should get the main stairs and passageway set before we worry about extra rooms.”

As soon as I collect the next spiral section, another notification appears.

[Inventory [J](25->26)]

We continue carving the spiral down two more levels, and the runes I’ve been setting in place give me enough experience to gain a level Artificer; along with the improving Embed Mana.

[Embed Mana [Ap] (30) -> [J](1)]

The notification for improving Embed Mana comes with a noticeable reduction in Mana each use, increasing the number of runes I can inscribe before tapping out. We hit ice clear as glass while looping around to form a defensive corridor. A white Rift is visible through it, hovering mid-air in the centre of a domed cavern whose edge we’re skirting. Unlike the circular forms of portals, or the open doorways of gates, this is a wound sliced open in the Plane’s fabric, energy pulsing along its edges. As I watch, I can sense the Rift’s energies growing more vigorously and imagine the far end is shifting position. Powdered ice and snow hide the floor, but I can see dozens of small icicle forms, airborne seeds dancing in the Rift’s breeze, skimming across that surface. Who knows what lies beneath?

“Entities besides elementals and spirits exist in Para-Elemental Ice, right?” I ask.

“Various monsters that can handle frozen conditions,” agrees Gaius.

That’s the only confirmation I need to rip out another section of ice. “Then there is still a point to completing the corridor the way Titus wanted. Any ideas how you’ll keep that Rift open?”

“Some,” allows Gaius before he starts on the next rune. “How do you do so many runes in a day?”

It’s a question of pure curiosity, with no ill intent behind it, so I answer truthfully. “Hunter provides Mana as well.”

Gaius progresses along, retracting another four runes I’ve cut and embedding them with Mana before he speaks again. “Does your faith in Order guide you with the precision of the runes?”

“It’s satisfying to take part in precision work. Though a Hunter would benefit from tracking something down, not just cutting up ice,” I say.

The work progresses well with minimal conversation, and within a day, we’ve almost got the corridor ready to breach the chamber. Gaius is adding the final protections and reinforcing the corridor’s choke points when the Rift swells to allow a figure to emerge.

Its lower body is a collection of icy boulders that flow effortlessly, a porpoise swimming across the surface of the ice and snow. Its upper body comprises white frosted blocks of jagged ice that move in only a rough semblance of unity. Without hesitation, it rushes towards us and spears through the Rift chamber’s wall. While it flows through the ice like a diver through the water, it hits Gaius’ barrier just before the corridor, and its form shivers. The runes along the length of the wall flare with the impact, highlighting the shards of the Elemental’s form spraying away from it. The energy of its flesh dissipates into the ice, fading with the runes’ illumination.

Rushing to the end, where we’ve not yet set the protections, causes the Elemental to spin and chase me. Emerging from the wall, it swings at me with serrated blocks of ice that I entangle with chains and pull its strike out of line. The simpleness of its attacks and the speed Metal Control grants me over my chains gives me a clear advantage.

[Species: Ice Elemental

Level: 80

Health: 2,400

Mana: 300

Defence: 90

Melee Attack Power: 250

Magic: 20

Combat Skills: Grab [Ad] (32), Engulf [Ad] (22), Smash [Ad] (35), Innate Spell forms - Various Ice effects

Details: An Elemental can require ten or more years of energy accumulation to reach this size.]

Reforming dozens of chains’ ends into ice picks, I unleash them, punching in repeated blows. As they pump away like sewing machines, the Elemental struggles to get free, and a tug-of-war starts. It twists and turns, a fish landed on the hook of the chains that entangled its limb. I keep it mockingly out of arm’s reach as it flails and entangle each wild strike. The energy and the whistling accompanying each strike makes it clear I wouldn't get away unmarred if it struck.

As it extends another limb, I react without thought, and the blow shatters the finger I lifted into its path. The sensation of broken bones and dislocated joints ignites pleasure in my arm and spine. It leaves my mind buzzing with an afterglow that has my pussy twitching and draws an ecstatic moan. The desperate Elemental sends Ice bolts and hailstorms to thump uselessly against my flesh, causing the retreating Gaius to pick up the pace.

My excitement speeds up the chains, and I shred the Elemental under the accumulated damage. The essence of its ‘flesh’ ends up frosting the floor like a slushie machine blowing its load.

[Combat Summary:

Ice Elemental x1

Total Experience Gained: 4,450

Artificer: +2,225

Hunter: +2,225

Metal Control [Ad](36->37)]

At least Profile Mastery splits combat experience, but Hunter is falling behind with all the runes I’ve been carving. Interesting that Gaius’ barrier looked to have hurt the Elemental, but he didn’t get a share of the combat experience with it. Did it only shake loose excess material?

A gleaming blue gemstone shows up as I draw in the ice, water, and snow coating the corridor.

[Item: Ice Gem

Note: Intense Mana compression common within elementals creates these gems. The Ice type is beneficial for enchantments with the Ice Affinity involved and also for those with Water or Air requirements at lesser efficiency.]

Holding it up, I turn and find Gaius at the far end of the corridor. “Ice Gem.”

“We’ll need at least a few thousand more,” advises Gaius.

“I don’t think the Ice Mephitis will have any,” I say, motioning to the crystalline figures still twirling about the snow and ice around the Rift. “I’m still concerned that something is waiting to ambush us.”

“I’ll stand well back when you enter the chamber,” advised Gaius.

“Why don’t you get Titus and the others?” I ask. “I’ll hold a position before the Rift, and they can clean up the trash.”

When Gaius heads off, I adjust my profile and consider a resource I’d been hoarding.

Artificer and Hunter have filled gaps in my attributes, but I’ve got twenty-seven bonus attributes sitting unspent. The experience from the runes makes increasing my Intelligence to deepen my Mana Pool tempting, but I leave them unspent now. I’ll consider my options once my newest classes hit level thirty.