Harvest Dungeon - 43 Chapter 43

-Vanessa Point of View-

I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched Jason close his eyes.

“He isn’t going to be happy when he wakes up.” Zephirah commented as she flew up from the bed.

“I would be surprised if he was. With all that has happened to him in such a short time, I am surprised he has been so kind to us.” I replied as I shifted my second form around so I could look at Jason’s sleeping face.

“What does that mean Vanessa?” Firenne asked looking to me.

I didn’t reply immediately as I stroked Jason’s hair while my other body bathed in his warmth his arm heavy but comforting around my waist as he continued to hold me in his sleep. I was worried for him, the affinity storm should be starting soon. For anyone else besides a neutral, the affinity storm was an incredible chance to harmonize with the elements they had an affinity with. As a neutral Jason couldn’t do that.

I didn’t know how it all worked, Lilian had explained it all to me, but none of it made sense to me. The gist of it seemed to be that the more elements that could affect him, the more painful, and potentially harmful it could be to him. Neutrals would be equally affected by all of them.

I hadn’t known of the risk to him until Lilian explained, then again only those who used magic would get the affinity test that caused this to happen. Besides that, neutral’s had become rare over the years. As many races had natural affinities, neutral was only something that humans, and those races closely related to them could be. With humanity’s lust for all women that were beautiful no matter their race, pure humans were a rarity on magic worlds.

“He’ll be fine now.” Lilian said reassuringly.

I nodded as I looked up at the beautiful fairy. Once again I lamented the perfect appearance of the mana races. It wouldn’t be so bad if they remained small without the ability to grow larger. Thankfully Lilian was already obsessed with another.

“You are sure?” Zephirah asked seriously.

Lilian nodded.

Zephirah relaxed a bit then looked to me. I met her gaze without flinching. She and I had an odd relationship. While I was just a spirit waiting for my body to reform we had a rather in depth conversation, forcefully. Given the opportunity Zephirah used her advantage over me to pick my mind apart, ensuring that I was not complicit in Seth’s plans, and wouldn’t be a threat to either of them in the future. As I wanted to stay by Jason’s side, she also placed a few safeguards within me to ensure I would never be anything but loyal and faithful. At least with those safeguards I granted my permission before she placed them in my mind.

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While I hadn’t enjoyed the process I couldn’t blame her for it either. Despite the fact that I had no control over my own actions, I had participated in the attack against them. I had gained her forgiveness, but only after she had scoured my mind. Now we were allies, kind of.

I know there would be many who would consider me insane for allowing such restrictions to be placed in my mind, but if it was the only way I could stay by his side I would do anything. I had told Jason my story, but I was sure he hadn’t really understood the pain I had been through. He didn’t really understand what he had saved me from. I knew Seth intended to make me into his own, and if that was all, it wouldn’t have been so bad. Being a mistress or concubine to a dungeon lord was respected in many of the worlds. It wasn’t just that though, he had murdered my family right in front of my eyes then trapped me inside my own mind. The hypnotism they used on me made me little more than an obedient doll that could only think as far as was needed to accomplish the goals set out for me. Thankfully I was required to pass off as a new recruit for the company or I would have spent most of my time in a foggy haze waiting for Seth to give me a new order. The times I had to spend like that were already bad enough, because even when the world was a foggy haze, I could still register what was going on around me, and the things I had witnessed Seth do, I didn’t want to tell Jason about. It was too horrible. Having to spend the rest of my life with that man would have been bad enough, but knowing he wanted to use my body even after those same hands had killed my family. It would have been a living hell. Jason saved me from that, and was even happy for me when I learned that my family really had survived. It was a debt I could never repay, so I would give him all I had. It helped that he was kind and handsome.

My gaze shifted away from the beautiful sprite to the other women in the room. Last night had been too exciting and exhausting that none of us had a chance to speak much to each other. Now however was the perfect time for a girl talk. Looking at the five girls, four magic beasts and the fire dryad who had all arrived suddenly and with no warning I wasn’t sure where to start. However I knew who had the potential to be the greatest threat.

“Let’s head upstairs before we start.” Zephirah suggested. “For all I know Jason might have set something up so he could overhear whatever we say despite being asleep.”

“Could he?” I asked surprised, Jason’s ability was a mystery to me allowing him to be able to bring out something new and surprising.

Zephirah shrugged. “It is hard to tell. His mind his difficult to read whenever he starts thinking in magic terms. Even as a one of the mana races, I can’t keep up with the theories and ideas in his head.” she admitted. “Kind of makes me both excited and scared to see what he will be able to come up with once he has greater access to the elements.”

“More scared than excited.” Lilian chipped in. “Nuetral’s get access to elements most aren’t even aware of. What they have been able to accomplish with them in the past are both wondrous and terrifying.”

Zephirah flinched. “Forgot about that.” she mumbled then gestured towards the door.

No one objected. Everyone was well aware of the fact that when Jason was asleep Zephirah was the ultimate authority within the dungeon. We gathered in the living room facing each other. Jesaline had curled up in Firenne’s lap. Despite feeling better she still seemed exhausted. Firenne on the other hand seemed rather conflicted and unsure.

Elisia seemed rather carefree as she laid out on one of the couches, while Rena and Selia seemed nervous. Having spent so much time under Seth’s control I had learned how to read serpents, and Rena couldn’t stand still as she nervously shifted from talon to talon.

“So lots to talk about.” Zephirah said as she landed on the coffee table and started to walk on it while I took a seat. Lilian settled onto my shoulder a moment later. I was partly surprised until I remembered that of everyone here her and I were guaranteed to stay. She had already made her agreement with Zephirah to fight for her in the mana race war, and I wasn’t going to leave Jason.

“As of right now, none of you have to stay here.” Zephirah started.

“Umm.” Jesaline spoke up uncertainly.

“Even you. Despite the injury to your soul, you can leave. You are stabilized and your fire returned. With your bond to Firenne, you will recover even if you don’t remain.” Zephirah told her.

“So not just going to toss us out and hope for the best?” Firenne asked cautiously.

“Not even sure if I am tossing you out. That is why we are talking. Jason wouldn’t be happy if I just tossed you all out.” she replied.

“So much for all the harem talk you have been spouting since I arrived.” Elisia commented.

“That is for Jason’s sake, poligamy isn’t normal on his world. As a dungeon lord he needs to get used to the idea and accept it.” I informed them.

Firenne winced. “Do we even need to have this conversation?” she asked with a sigh. “The kind hearted dungeon masters are a pleasure to work for but they never last long enough to make it worth it.”

“And you seem awfully well informed for a woman who spent most of her life alone.” I pointed out.

Firenne smiled at me. “Don’t underestimate my age, I spent many years in my mother’s grove before leaving to find my own tree. It was a very popular grove for those who were magically inclined.” she responded.

“A university grove?” I asked. They were groves located to the magic universities.The grove provided safe and willing company for the students and faculty while the grove received optimal breeding partners. As dryads could only bare dryads who stayed with their mother’s there wasn’t even a worry about fathering children.

Firenne smiled and nodded.

“Off topic.” Zephirah reminded.

“Sorry.” I apologized.

“No worries.” Zephirah responded then looked to Firenne. “Yes he is kind, but he is also strong, and suspicious enough to survive despite that. Elisia and Selia are here because of their fathers and can be partly trusted because of those same fathers. Both also need something from Jason so they receive a modicum of trust. Rena is suspect but has been vouched for by Selia so her actions will reflect on Selia. You are tied to Jesaline who was dependant on the dungeon to heal. Now that that has been resolved you return to being the greatest threat.” Zephirah said laying everything out.

I leaned forward a bit in excitement. This was the conversation I wanted to have the most. While most of the other girls were beasts now, I knew that they would eventually be able to take human form. As much as I knew that Jason needed to be able to bond with the other racial leaders under his command, I didn’t want to share him. Not yet anyways. Worse though Firenne already had a human form, so if she stayed, my place beside Jason could be threatened. Which didn’t even take into account the other two threats that weren’t even here. Unconsciously my other form clung onto Jason in my anxiety.

“I am staying.” Elisia spoke up first her tail wagging slowly.

Elisia met my gaze briefly then turned her gaze to Zephirah who was also watching the wolf. “No gambling.” Zephirah finally told the wolf.

“I known.” Elisia replied happily her tail picking up speed.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, even if I was sure that this would be the outcome. Elisia’s presence made me feel uncomfortable. Unlike all of the other girls Elisia had already proven herself. She could have stood back and watched without helping during Seth’s attack. I was sure her father would have assisted her leaving if she couldn’t stand Seth once he became the dungeon master so she had little reason to help. Sure she needed something, but I had the feeling that the aid she needed wasn’t difficult to gain. Plus she already seemed to have become fond of Jason. Yet I couldn’t forget the image of her coming at me with her teeth bared, or the feel of those same teeth ripping out my throat. I know it was necessary, but it didn’t erase the memory of it.

Yet Jason needed support, and Elisia was a warrior, she could assist in the protection of the dungeon, and help him grow stronger. While he had his magic, that wouldn’t always be enough. So I kept my feelings to myself. Hopefully I will be able to get over it with time.