Arriving at the Royal Capital
In the midst of using her hands, breasts, and body to lather Cairn's back, Elle surprised him by asking, "Just out of curiosity, do you like me~?" in a playful tone.
Before Cairn could answer, Elle moved her hands to his crotch, taking full advantage of her Dexterity to fondle and caress his balls while 'lathering' his shaft.
Since he wasn't entirely sure of his feelings, Cairn asked, "Does it matter?" instead of answering Elle's question. In response, she exhaled an amused chuckle and replied, "Kind of, but only if you plan on having kids. I already told you, but I can't get pregnant, no matter how frequently you fill me up. My genes will eventually be used to produce a Seventh Generation Dwarf, but only if I survive to the age of 1000. I wouldn't mind having you as the other donor, but you'll be long dead in 683 years..."
"Mmm..."
Though he could prolong his lifespan by entering the Tower of Ascension, Cairn understood what Elle was trying to convey. She didn't mind them being together, but if he wanted to leave a 'legacy,' he would need to look elsewhere.
Reinforcing Cairn's conclusion, Elle proposed, "You should court one of the Princesses of the Runegraad Kingdom. Even if you don't, the Royal Family will definitely want to use your genes to revitalize their bloodline. They might not do anything brazen like taking you prisoner, but you can be sure they'll do 'something' to try and secure your seed."
Furrowing his brows, Cairn muttered, "Sounds like a royal pain in the ass..."
"Eh, everyone has their circumstances," said Elle, making her way around to Cairn's front to continue 'washing' his junk, this time with the tip of his penis poking against her visibly glistening slit. Cairn knew she wasn't truly trying to 'provoke' him, but that didn't stop him from picking her up by her armpits, eliciting a girlish squeal from the petite Dwarf as he promptly slid her onto his dick.
"Is this your answer...?" asked Elle, breathing heavily as a prominent blush spread through her grinning face and tinged the rest of her body, causing her nipples to harden.
"I'll leave others to worry about the future," said Cairn. "I have a few plans of my own. But, at times like this, I only care about what's right in front of me..."
"You're beginning to sound like a Dwarf~" mused Elle, simultaneously linking her arms around Cairn's neck and shoulders, parting her lips to indicate she wanted to kiss. Thus, instead of responding with words, Cairn proceeded to make out with petite Dwarven beauty, extending their already lengthy bath time by nearly half an hour...
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After assuring Nello they would conscript her if they undertook any major construction projects in the Frontier, Cairn, Kaia, Elle, and Tarou departed Windrose with the wind at their backs, intending nearly 2,000km in eight weeks. During that time, Cairn, Elle, and Kaia became much closer. It was a little awkward during the first few weeks, at least for Cairn, but that was entirely due to reservations he carried over from his previous life.
From Cairn's point of view, Kaia had every right to be annoyed with him for spending so much time with Elle. If he were in her position, basically a 'third wheel' to a couple going through their honeymoon period, he would feel fed up within a few days. Kaia, however, seemed genuinely happy for them. She also became fast friends with Elle, even trusting the latter with her shearing, sparring Cairn the awkwardness and effort of having to do it himself.
Once Cairn accepted that he was the only one feeling awkward, and for no good reason, his life became much simpler. He no longer shared a bath with Kaia, as it was considered inappropriate for someone in a relationship to bathe with the opposite sex, but whenever Elle practiced her knitting in his lap, Cairn often used the loyal Karakut as a backrest. It was her nature as a Karakut to want to be close to the people she cared about, so by the time their motley crew reached the Royal Capital, Cairn, Kaia, and Elle had gotten used to napping together, especially when the weather was good. Tarou was right there alongside them, but for a variety of reasons, he and Cairn had each gotten into the habit of treating the other like air...
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Located to the far north of Cliabhann, built at the tip of a spear-shaped archipelago, was the most ancient and illustrious of the human cities, the Royal Capital of Runegraad. The ever-expanding metropolis served as the epicenter of culture and power throughout the Central Continent, not just for humans but all races. Even the Forsaken were not denied entry, but as the city served as the heart of the Restia Religion, represented by the Grand Cathedral of Light, it wasn't particularly 'accommodating' to those who lived outside the guidance of the Sacred Tenets.
Reinforcing the Church's or, more accurately, Restia's power, the massive, moon-like satellite serving as her home was located almost directly above Runegraad. Its true orientation was over a crescent-shaped island to the north, serving as the location of the Tower of Ascension, but because of its sheer size, everyone present in Runegraad felt the 'presence' of Restia constantly looming over them, even during the day. To most, this brought comfort, but to a growing number of others, it was a symbol of oppression and unnecessary oversight.
Within the city's expansive boundaries, a continuous tapestry of life unfolds. Towering, fairly modern structures blend seamlessly with ancient architecture, a testament to Runegraad's long and continued history. The streets teem with activity as people from diverse backgrounds converge, sharing their dreams and ambitions amidst the city's captivating aura. Merchants, Freelancers, and scholars breathed new life into the city with each successive generation, some with the sole goal of leaving their name in history while others sought personal wealth and power, things that could be passed on by typically only held value to the person who obtained them.
At the heart of Runegraad, the Grand Cathedral of Light stood as a towering monument of faith and spiritual guidance. Its hallowed halls resounded with chants and hymns, drawing devotees from across the Continent to its many galleries and places of worship. The stained glass windows decorating the halls depicted tales of devotion and heroism in visual form, but the main reason people traveled thousands of kilometers to visit the holy site in person was the massive, 300m tall statue located in its center, a construct of pure light that depicted their Goddess, Restia, in her most accurate form.
While Runegraad thrives as a center of religious and political power, it is also a melting pot of cultures and ideas. The city's markets offered a mesmerizing array of goods from across the Central Continent, ranging from exotic spices from the Frontier to rare artifacts discovered in the depths of Dungeons. Virtually everyone spoke the same language, but there were countless dialects, creating a dissonant but harmonious hum that alluded to the thousand years of peace that had brought prosperity to all the peoples of Cliabhaan.
Yet, beneath Runegraad's magnificent facade, a growing undercurrent of dissidence ripples through its streets. Some questioned the longstanding authority of the Church, while others grew dissatisfied with the restrictive policies of the Kingdom, legislation that saw much of Cliabhaan's wealth into the pockets of a handful of individuals. The city's inhabitants, once unified by their reverence and a desire for peace, now found themselves torn between upholding tradition and embracing change. This shifting of the dynamic within Runegraad hinted at a city on the brink of change, so as people flocked to the Capital to witness the Decennial Tournament of Champions, bringing with them news of the incidents transpiring in other cities, whispers of revolution and the coming of a new era began to echo in the backstreets and taverns, tainting the otherwise festive atmosphere with an undertone of nervous tension and conspiracy...
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Staring up at the somewhat 'menacing' Garden of Eternity, Cairn couldn't help but be reminded of the Traveler from a game called Destiny. There were no catastrophic tidal waves or gravitational fluctuations, but seeing a moon-sized satellite hovering a mere 500 kilometers above the ground was...intimidating.
Obstructing Cairn's view, Elle leaned over him from her position atop his shoulders, musing, "If you don't pay attention, someone's going to steal our spot."
"Yeah, yeah..." replied Cairn, directing his eyes to the front. They had been standing in a line outside Runegraad's Southern Lion's Gate for more than six hours. The city's population had increased from 12.3 million to 12.9 in preparation for the Decennial Tournament of Champions, so the line to get in was massive. However, as the event was comparable to the Olympics of his previous world, Cairn wasn't too surprised. If anything, he was glad they arrived seven weeks early as getting through the checkpoint would be a nightmare as the event drew closer to its start...
After an additional four hours of waiting, it was finally Cairn's, Kaia's, Elle's, and Tarou's turn to enter the city. Unfortunately, though Kaia was allowed free entry, Cairn, Elle, and even Tarou had to pay 5,000 Graadis to acquire entry passes. Elle received a discount due to her status as a B-Rank Freelancer, but Cairn had to pay full price since his name, origin, and other identifying information weren't in any of their systems. As for Tarou, his intellect allowed him to forgo having a collar and leash placed on him, but he had to be registered as a C-Class Exotic Pet under the ownership of Elle.
"There goes half our money..." grumbled Cairn, his expression set in a frown as he directed a side-long glance at Tarou, the Chinchilla's head poking out from the front of Elle's jumpsuit.
"Eh, it's not that big a deal," contended Elle. "There's bound to be one or more Dwarf-owned workshops in the area. If I ask, one of my gen-mates will lend us some starting capital. There are only a thousand of us in each generation, so we tend to look after one another."
Looking up to meet Cairn's gaze, Elle added, "You could also scout them like you did me. The opportunity to accompany a you-know-what doesn't present itself often. I mean, you're only the second in history."
"I'm fine with it, so long as they agree to work under you," replied Cairn. The thought of having another girl that looked like Elle around was a little 'disconcerting,' but he was pretty confident in his restraint. What worried him was the very real possibility that Elle would be completely okay with her 'sister' joining them...
"Eh, Dwarves don't usually follow a hierarchy, but I'll let them know," said Elle.
Interrupting Cairn's and Elle's discussion, Kaia very softly advised, "We're being followed..."
As this wasn't the first time they had been tailed, Cairn remained calm and kept his eyes forward, asking, "How many...?" in an equally faint tone.
"I only detect one, but there could be others," replied Kaia, her wine-red eyes meeting the gazes of several groups watching them with emotions ranging from intrigue to annoyance. The sight of a Karakut in the Capital wasn't exactly common, so nearly everyone glanced in their direction at least once.
"Are they an enemy...?" asked Cairn.
"I'm not sure," replied Kaia. "I don't detect any animosity, but there is–"
Before Kaia could finish speaking, a slender, athletic-looking woman with windswept blonde hair darted past them like a physical manifestation of a tempest. She didn't attack them, but as powerful wind compelled them to shield their eyes, a loud "Chiiiiiiiii-!?" resonated through the city streets as the thief dashed away with Tarou thrashing about in a magical bag...
"Tarou...!" shouted Kaia, the hair across her body standing on end as she prepared to give chase. Before she could, Cairn stopped her with his hand and arm, shouting, "Don't...!" in a sharp, barking tone. His actions confused and left Kaia frustrated, but once she learned what his Insight had discerned, she immediately understood why he had stopped her...
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Name: Hilde Estrade Runegraad
Race: Human(95%), Dragon(5%)
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Title: Blind Bandit(Increases success rate when Stealing)
Class: Rogue(Epic)
[Attributes]
Level: 34/95(301,344/316,085)[Princess(20), Rogue(14)]
HP: 33,492/36,862
MP: 4,590/6,885
Str: 49+10
Agi: 138+134
Vit: 319+198
Int: 142+28
Dex: 266+165
Cha: 175+210
Talents: [Royal Pedigree(20)], [Finesse(14)], [Blessing of Wind(34)], [Blind(100/100)], [Mana Sense(73/100)], [Etiquette(68/92)], [Singing(66/92)], [Politics(58/84)], [Knife Mastery(56/81)], [Dual-Wielding(47/80)], [Swordmanship(45/80)],[Thievery(44/79)], [Acrobatics(44/72)], [Stealth(40/68)], [Musical Arts(36/65)], [Dancing(35/65)], [Lockpicking(25/63)], [Trap Mastery(22/59)]
Skills: [Incitement(MAX)], [Haste(MAX), [Siren Song(MAX)], [Wind Blade(MAX)], [Feather Walking(MAX)], [Backstab(MAX)], [Auto-Detect Life(MAX)], [Auto-Detect Traps(MAX)], [Auto-Detect Treasure(MAX)], [Cross Slice(7/10)], [Double-Thrust(5/10)], [Assassinate(1/10)]
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(A/N: RIP Tarou...)