Bolt Action Serenade

“Uhm…” It took my a few moments to gain my bearings. Probably because a muscular orc woman with her tits on full display was right there, but also because it felt like my mind was somewhat… Pudding-ish? “Where am I?”

“In Brigga’s vardo. You were looking at your Status and started streaming and bleeding then passed out. Jaina patched you up and we brought you both on board. There’s a town a few days away she was going to get you treated at, but you seem fine to me.” she shrugged and kept sharpening her weapon.

“Oh… uh, thank you.” I shook my head, both to pull my gaze away from green breasts and to try and remember the important thing poking at my mind.

A voice groaned in my ear sounding tired and sore “Ooh fucking gods above, that felt awful.”

“Carmilla! Are you okay, what happened?” I yelled out, noticing the orc suddenly staring at me in confusion and gripping her axe a bit tighter.

“I am Redagga, I do not know that name.” The orc said to me with eyes narrowed. I ignored her, my elemental love was more important.

Carmilla grunted “I… I got an advancement. That doesn’t happen to elementals. I grew, I grew so much, gods Esme I’m so strong. But it was too much and I didn’t fit anymore and it was throwing me out. I fought it so hard, Esme I promise I did but it wasn’t enough.”

“I know, I know love, but you’re with me again, that’s what matters.”

The orc, Redagga, stood “Who are you speaking to?”

[Me. Her contracted… no, Bonded Elemental. Gods it’s so different than a contract. Somehow weaker and stronger at the same time.]

She blinked “I will retrieve your lover and the Seer, this is beyond guard duty.” she grumbled and stomped off to a spiral staircase in the corner, heading down and muttering something under her breath.

Once we were alone I whispered “I saw her again, in the Dream. I learned her name, Vei’Ryn Tayalora. She did something to make sure we could stay together. Something that put her risk.”

I could feel Carmilla’s heart pulse with gratitude. “Than we shall serve her for the rest of our days my love.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” I smiled.

I took a moment to look around. I was in a fairly large bed, one built into the entire end of a long slender room with simple furniture that was also all built into the walls. There was a desk, a chest, a slim closet, and a small cushioned bench. Everything in a rich dark wood that a lantern attached to the wall spilled warm light across. It gave the room a feeling of comfort and coziness, especially considering it was pretty small. Not uncomfortably so, but enough that if I wanted to do some stretches I would have to go outside. The bed was big enough for like ten people though, oddly enough.

Jaina rushed up the stairs and across the room and nearly tackled me in a hug “Oh gods Esme! Are you okay? What happened? Carmilla wasn’t answering when I asked her!” Which was a very nice feeling, especially considering she was as naked as Redagga had been.

In fact, so was the new orc that followed her in. An old woman with a warm face and a body far less ravaged by time than her braided gray hair and wrinkles would have suggested. Some small voice in my mind saw her and thought Would.

“Uh, did all our clothing explode when I conked out or something?”

The old orc snorted in amusement and sat on the bed right next to me. “Little smart ass, aren’t you?” she said as she reached over and pulled my head closer. Jaina didn’t say anything or stop her so I figured it was probably fine. “I see flecks of the Dream, you’ve been going somewhere interesting, haven’t you?”

“Hey, I’m sorry but I’m still trying to catch up on things. Can we slow down and fill me in before the interrogation?” I grumbled.

[I too would like to know what is going on. Not that I’m complaining about the view.]

The old woman laughed “HA! Little pervert elemental, that’s a new one on me.”

[I’m not so little anymore, my dear.]

“Ooh I think I like this one.” She chuckled “I’m Dekarru, Shaman and Seer of the Willow Creek Nation. I understand you are Esme and her contracted blood elemental, Carmilla?”

[I think some details about that have changed actually. But I’m afraid I won’t be revealing secrets until we have a better idea of our current situation.]

“Fair enough. You want to take it from here, Healer?” she said, turning to face Jaina.

My Nurse nodded and slid into the bed next to me. She was weirdly comfortable being naked with these people so I was looking forward to a story. “Firstly, you’ve been out for two days. We don’t know what happened. You were looking at your status after that demon finally died and the you suddenly started screaming. Carmilla’s runes started bleeding badly and you fell unconscious. I treated you with my Spells and Skills but we didn’t know what was wrong and Carmilla wasn’t answering me. Dekarru helped so much, her abilities and knowledge of healing are so much more than I can even grasp the depth of. I don’t know if you’d have been okay without her.”

The old orc just shrugged noncommittally.

I swallowed and put an arm around Jaina, I knew she was still freaking out a little bit about it and likely would until she had an explanation for what happened.

“Anyway, when you fell Briggavel called for help and the others carried you inside. They helped me tend to you over the past couple of days. They are good people, don’t worry. Even if Dekarru is a cranky old leering bat.”

The shaman snorted “I’d put you over my knee but you’d probably like it!”

Jaina chuckled and pushed her face into my neck. She took a moment, likely just to enjoy the feeling of me and reassure herself that I was okay. “You probably want to know about the nudity, right?” I just nodded with a smirk. “Okay so, Willow Creek is a traditionally orc nation that venerates a goddess of nature. Some groups of the tribe follow what they call the Green Mother’s Path, which is very naturalistic.”

“Why cover what the Green Mother gave us? If clothing doesn’t serve a purpose beyond ‘societal propriety’ we don’t see a point in it.”

“Exactly that.” Jaina said with a nod.

“And your girl here was kind enough to join us in our ways. Not really something we required, but it’s appreciated.” she chuckled “She’s got a tight little ass too, been nice to have some new skin to lust over.” She cackled and slapped her knee.

Jaina blushed and stuck her tongue out at Dekarru.

I let a small grunt of thought. “Okay so, ‘traditionally orc’ nation?”

The shaman spoke up “Used to just be a bunch of orc tribes that came together when something threatened us from outside. But we don’t care about race, just respect. You don’t even have to conform to our ways as long as you don’t insult them. So we’ve picked up a lot of folks fleeing the wars over the past few years. Like Briggavel and her vardo, just trying to escape the fighting. We’ve had a good few non orcs in our villages for longer than I’ve been alive but all the recent bloodshed has really jumped those numbers up.”

“Okay, I have questions but too many and about more than just all this.” I said, rubbing my eyes. “I need to talk with Jaina and Carmilla alone please. No offense but-”

“No need to explain yourself Stareyes, you brats talk and then come and see us when you’re done. Breakfast is almost ready and we’ll be setting out not long after.”

Once alone I took a breath. “Okay so, I saw her again. She apparently makes dream pockets that let her talk to people without other gods finding out. So that’s the safe means of communicating we have right now.” I said first, my mind just kinda grabbing onto details to throw at Jaina and Carmilla. My Nurse, no, my Healer, squeezed my arm and gave me a reassuring smile. I took a breath and let the tension I hadn’t noticed drain from me. “Alright. I’ve learned a lot…”

Several minutes later Jaina was pressing herself into my side, the fact that I had a name for the girl I loved drew out the romantic in her hard. “We’ll find her, I swear. I don’t know when but I promise I will help however I can.”

[I agree love and I cannot wait to meet someone that stirs your heart so.]

“That’s what you two are focusing on? I mean, I just slapped a giant glowing sign on my back saying ‘hey, interesting and or dangerous thing, come and get me’ and you want to talk about my childhood crush?”

Jaina grunted and pulled back “I guess that’s fair. Oh! Have you checked your status like she said yet?”

I blushed and turned my eyes away from her “I was just about to do that when you came in naked and distracted me.”

She smirked. “Suuuuure you were.”

I stuck my tongue out and pulled my Status up. “Oh holy balls. What in the actual fuck?”

[Love, is everything allrig- OH MY GLORIOUS GODDESS! How did I miss this? It’s enormous in here! Love, what happened?]

“… I have fifty Focus. She increased my Focus to fifty. That’s not even everything. My Force is twenty and my Endurance and Willpower and both at thirty four. No change to Coordination or Strength but by the abyss what the hell is this?”

Jaina stared at me wide eyed. “You’re still only level eighteen, right?” and when I nodded she just blinked and worked her jaw for a few long moments before she spoke. “Okay, I understand what she meant that others would notice. That is an absolutely insanely high Attribute for your level.”

“Oh no, oh hell, there’s more. I have a new Skill.”

[Embrace of the Endless Dream: Rank E – Bonus to Focus gained each level.]

“Well that’s two Attributes that gain a passive increase every time I level. Wow.” I muttered.

[Love, that means we should never have to worry about me outgrowing you again.]

I breathed and nearly fell over the relief was so palpable. “Oh thank you Vei’Ryn, thank you my goddess.” I muttered, fighting tears of joy.

“Esme, didn’t she say something else had not changed? Is there something that didn’t change that should have?” Jaina said softly as she rubbed my arm.

“Right, okay, let me go over everything.” I sat back up and pulled my Healer close as I went over everything. “I… I mean nothing stands out? I dunno, I don’t think I’m good at puzzles like this. I don’t see anything that wasn’t expected. Everything I figured would change has.”

“Your Skill ranks?”

“As expected.”

“HP and MP totals?”

“Max is right, though it looks like my MP is still refilling too slowly, that’s something to look into.”

“Level eighteen?”

“Yes.”

“Your name?”

“Still Esme Dreamsinger.”

“Esme…” she stared at me in disbelief.

“Huh?” I blinked

“You learned your birth name from Helanna, remember? It didn’t change to match that?”

I stared at my name in my Status for a few more moments “… no. Huh.”