The woman is trying to goad me. To buy time? She is capable of killing me. I can tell by the difference in souls. She is attached to the creature then. Not willing to use lethal blows. That will be to my advantage. Her aura is suppressing my own. That will have to be the first thing I breach then.

  I dart forward. I grab a bone for each of my hands. I swing and she dances away. My skills are lacking. How old is this body? The soul values are all wrong. I kick a skull towards the thing. It smacks the projectile away. I aim for a leg. The bone shatters against the scales. Bizarre, first a spider form but scaled, not an exoskeleton.

  My spare attention reads my skills as I engage. I need something. I throw another skull at her. [Vampiric Blood Kinesis]. But I have no mana aura. I dart forward again. She senses a different approach. She backs away. I continue to throw things as she dodges. She is tired. Here breathing is hitching. If I can just touch her. She forms another blunt dirt construct. Aimed for my shoulder.

  I pivot my head into its path. It crashes into my head. My head snaps back as I fall backwards.

  “Noooo.” The creature exclaims.

  Still no pain. I don't understand this growing desire in me but I spring back. My hand catches a leg. I feel a connection to her blood. I try to stop its movement. It stuns her. She grows pale. No exp, I jump onto the creature back. Her movement suggested she was incapable of physically reaching me here. I hug her body close to mine and try to seize more of her blood. If I can't kill this abomination through asphyxiation, then perhaps bursting her organs.

  I try to move the blood, finding greater resistance. But it's moving all the same. Collecting in her heart. Just a bit more to burst.

  Daughter, please.

  I hesitate. Just for a moment. A feeling of horror flits through me. I'm killing my own mother. I am knocked off the creature by a dirt construct. Tumbling. I feel the gouges but I just hunger for more. Hunger for what? Before I can collect my wits a barrel crashes into me. Exploding.

  Blood? My mind blanks as I writhe in this indescribable feeling. I feel an all compassing warmth. Love. My parallel minds are incapable of doing anything but riding this emotion. The spider is over me. She pulls the blood off the ground and forms a ball above me. The ball drips onto me and the euphoria starts again. Stronger each time.

  -----

  This is a daily reminder: You have 416 unallocated stat points

  The ball is almost spent. I need to—

  Another drop falls and my mind blanks. I see her walk over somewhere. I need to flee. Another drop. She is closer now. With another barrel. The top opens and more blood joins the previously diminished orb. She plans to keep me locked in here. Another drop.

  -----

  She grows more weary. She lapses for a moment. I seize the blood orb and devour it all. My mind blanks again but I will kill her when this passes.

  -----

  This is a daily reminder: You have 416 unallocated stat points

  My mind clears. I'm bound in some sort…it's silk. I struggle. A foot comes down onto my chest. Pinning me. I glare at the creature. Her face is ashen. Her hand is cut. Another drop falls onto me.

  I feel the despair, the hope, the love. She is going to die to keep me from escaping. I tremble at the sacrifice. She is doing everything she can for her daughter. My soul hurts at the feelings. A deep ache tremors through my connection.

  “I vow to cease my struggle and to not attempt anything else with this soul.” I whisper.

  The woman hears and lifts her foot. The hand seals.

  “Explain.” She says coldly.

  “I felt the emotions in your blood. I knew you were going to die doing this. If I fail and your daughter returns. She would be greeted by her dead mother. I.” I shudder. “I never would want that for my own daughter.”

  A hollow laugh rings out, “She is your daughter. In fact, of all her mothers. She spent the most time with you.”

  “Then why is she eating my soul?”

  “She fundamentally disagreed with your hybrid killing.”

  “I see, then my geas was lifted.” I lay my head back. “I can tell that I am incomplete. Could you tell me what year it is, based on the Cea'nila calendar?”

  “We are nearing the year 1707, going by her diary.”

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  She even writes her diary in my country's years. It was only the five hundreds, last I remember.

  “What is her name?”

  “Sara.”

  A Sarcea then. I want to ask about the three kingdoms. About my efforts. Whether the stalemate had continued for so long. Instead I just lay there.

  I lost. Though it seems I was a sore loser. I feel my early memories are missing. I am a hole ridden piece of cheese of a soul. I wonder about that. My conviction broke even though I remember being stronger. More sure. Is it this soul's influence or the gaps in my memory? Instead of that question I focus on my latest memory. One of contemplating serving something better than salad to a Sarcea. Probably this one. I feel a bit of warmth in that. For as horrendous as I was, I still cared. Even twelve hundred years later. I feel my chest warm.

  I blink.

  “Mother!”

  She gives me a bone weary smile as she starts freeing me from her silks. “How much do you remember?”

  I wince, “All of it.” She tilts her head confused. “What?”

  “The silver is receding in your hair. Is your soul rejecting her?”

  I shake my head, “No, I'm not sure.”

  Before I can elaborate, thoughts intrude in my head.

  Cea's orders, you are to round up the non Elves and feed them to the undead.

  Sir that can't be—

  A different thought.

  You have your orders, this is the only way to ensure no Elf Tapestry is lost.

  I begin to shudder as I grip my head. It is not isolated. They are all saying it. Whenever my name is used I hear about the Lich's orders.

  -O I can feel your distress. Can you hear me yet? I know you have claimed Sarcea's body and strengthened our bond. I hope my thoughts can reach you soon.

  I almost seize the tether right there and scream at this violation of my soul. Instead I cry. I can't let her know I can hear her. She would drive me insane. Force compels into me. I need composure. And an iron will. To weather this and the horrors I hear in my mind. I barely hear Mags when I engage the mental tail.

  She steps back slowly. I look at the woman.

  “Cea…” She growls.

  I don't wince. “Almost. I am still Sara under all this. I am just borrowing the idealization I have of her. Of her strength of will. Which of course made my body match hers. Almost match hers.”

  “Almost?”

  I look behind myself. I gain a wry smile. The clothing shifts to be a bustle over it.

  “Its not important. I need to get you to something fresh. Maybe a Yetna tiger.”

  I provide a bit of blood to warm her. We begin walking. Well I was walking. She was on my back. My hands are behind me, cupping her spider abdomen. It is awkward but I make it work. My level two mental core does not provide a lot of strength but being over a hundred is enough. Her arms draped over my shoulders. Her head was lolled a bit over my right side.

  “Thank you. Why do you need an iron will?”

  You have gained [Mental Magic 2] Basic 3

  Gain 2 exp

  “The lich's geas makes any who speak my name send telepathy to me if they have the ability. I couldn't hear it till now,”

  “‘Til you regained your mental magic.”

  “Yes, worse still, you initiated a battle with me to prevent Cea's soul from pulling the rest of her soul into myself. She had already strengthened the tether between us. The lich spoke to me as if it was my sister. I feel the connection between us is unseverable now.” I said tersely.

  I feel her weariness grow, “Sorry, I hadn't realized what was happening quick enough. I fail—.”

  “None of that. You did what you could and almost died doing it. I couldn't ask for more. You are precious to me, mother. Do not wish you had been better when my debt is already so very large.”

  The warmth radiates between us.

  “How is your soul doing?”

  “It expanded with the memories of those I devourered. I only have a bit spare. I will need to wait to rest.”

  She winces, “‘Til after we slay a Dragon.”

  “Yes, are you going to be able to stay awake?”

  “That's supposed to be my question to you.” I radiate my disapproval at her. She sighs. “I will rest when we get to the citadel.”

  When she can have someone else suppress my aura. She is a full Tibyder with two minds, yet…

  “You're already worn out. You haven't truly slept since we reunited, neither of your halves have. It's taking both of you to suppress the lich's aura. Quite frankly you should have alternated with Ophelia.” I hear a growl from her. “So what ruined the relationship between you two?”

  “I believe I told you I didn't want to talk about it.” I continue walking in silence. She gives an exasperated sigh. “I wouldn't commit to having children. She moved on.”

  “Sorry.”

  “It's how it goes. It was a mutual separation. I never was ready for that step and she was. It still hurts when I see her.”

  “And her children.” I said bluntly.

  “Yes.” A bit of seething. I lean my head against hers.

  “I can certainly understand the desire to not lose children, mother.” I radiate more warmth to her.

  She huffs out a sigh. “I suppose so, Cea.” Her arms grip me tighter.

  “For one who encouraged a merger you seem the most hurt when saying the name.”

  “I can't even tease you with Jam until this is over.” She huffs out.

  I give a small smile to that.

  “So what is this telepathy telling you?”

  The warmth flees me. My heart grew colder. “Genocide.”

  -----

  We exit the dungeon. Both my knight and lover are there. I almost fell out my tail at the embarrassment of the thought. I take a breath and calm my heart. Not yet a lover. Just a sweet heart.

  Gregory looks confused while Glindinal takes a defensive stance.

  “Calm yourself, Glindinal. I am still Sara under this form.”

  Her eyes narrow. She doesn't waste a moment looking at my Tapestry. No, she watches every twitch of my body. Ready to attack or flee. “Prove it.”

  I can't release the tail. My mental state would crack and the Lich would know. Instead I am next to Gregory. My hand on his arm.

  Look away.

  His head turns. The Elf girl trembles even as she slowly turns her body towards me. I flip my bustle up. Just long enough for her to see.

  “Satisified?” I pull the mental mana out of the knight. He gasps.

  “What was that for?” He growls.

  “I need my will to remain strong, Sir Gregory. It will be hard enough listening to Glindinal chortles.” I give a glare to the spasming Elf. One that says to keep this truth to herself. It has mixed results in sobering her up from her mirth.

  “Oh system, I can't.” A laugh escapes her. Very mixed results.

  My glare remains steady on her. “Mother, I don't have my nose. Where is the closest tiger?” I whisper.

  Instead of answering, a leg lifts and points in a direction. I started walking that way. I hear them start to shuffle.

  “Stay here, I need the tiger to attack me, not flee.”

  When we enter the forest, my mother whispers to me. “It's a cute tail, Cea.”

  I gave a smile but felt I should have laughed at that. Hmm, I feel I need more than just Cea's will. My hair takes on a golden sheen.